bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The interplay of financial education, financial inclusion and financial stability and the role of Big Tech
Authors: Jonker Nicole , Kosse Anneke 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe entry of Big Techs in the financial ecosystem might affect financial stability, among others through the opportunities and challenges they create for financial inclusion. We survey the literature to determine the effectiveness of financial education in improving financial literacy and inclusion and assess the impact of financial inclusion on financial stability. We argue for new research to determine whether financial education can help people to reap the financial‐inclusion benefits that Big Tech may bring. We also conclude that financial‐inclusion opportunities created by Big Tech might introduce financial stability risks and underline the importance of proper supervision and regulation.
Application of a trait‐based climate change vulnerability assessment to determine management priorities at protected area scale
Authors: Harper Jack R. M. , van Wilgen Nicola J. , Turner Andrew A. , Tolley Krystal A. , Maritz Bryan , Clusella‐Trullas Susana , da Silva Jessica M. , Cunningham Susan J. , Cheney Chad , de Villiers Atherton L. , Measey John , Foden Wendy 
Published: July 2022

AbstractEstimating and planning for the impacts of climate change on the biodiversity of protected areas is a major challenge for conservation managers. When these areas are topographically heterogenous and contain species' entire ranges, this challenge is exacerbated because the coarse spatial scales of Global Circulation Model projections provide limited information for within‐park management. South Africa's Table Mountain National Park, home to three endemic amphibian species in just ~24,500 hectares, provides a case study for identifying conservation needs under climate change. Selecting the park's herpetofauna as pilot taxa, we identified life history and demographic characteristics believed to make species more sensitive and less able to adapt to climate change. We organized these into assessment frameworks and, through a combination of literature review and expert elicitation, reviewed and used them to assess climate change vulnerability of 18 amphibian and 41 reptile species. The assessment highlighted that 73% and 67% of the park's reptile and amphibian species, respectively, had at least one high‐sensitivity and low‐adaptive capacity trait. Using ordinal and additive scoring methods, we identified the species most vulnerable to climate change and highlight the park areas containing their highest concentrations. These areas will be used to inform landscape‐scale management priorities and park use zones. The current IUCN Red List assessments for these species do not incorporate climate change vulnerability. Considering some species appear to be threatened by climate change, their conservation needs might be underestimated. Identifying the most vulnerable species and the mechanisms underpinning their vulnerability can guide the identification and prioritization of conservation needs, while the highlighted knowledge gaps inform priorities for monitoring and research. While comprehensive climate change adaptation planning for Table Mountain National Park requires additional assessment of other taxonomic groups, this trait‐based assessment example highlights a viable tool for assessing climate change vulnerability in protected areas.
Reconceptualization of Coefficient Alpha Reliability for Test Summed and Scaled Scores
Authors: Almehrizi Rashid S. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractCoefficient alpha reliability persists as the most common reliability coefficient reported in research. The assumptions for its use are, however, not well‐understood. The current paper challenges the commonly used expressions of coefficient alpha and argues that while these expressions are correct when estimating reliability for summed scores, they are not appropriate to extend coefficient alpha to correctly estimate the reliability for nonlinearly transformed scaled scores such as percentile ranks and stanines. The current paper reconceptualizes coefficient alpha as a complement of the ratio of two unbiased estimates of the summed score variance. These include conditional summed score variance assuming uncorrelated item scores (gives the error score variance) and unconditional summed score variance incorporating intercorrelated item scores (gives the observed score variance). Using this reconceptualization, a new equation of coefficient generalized alpha is introduced for scaled scores. Coefficient alpha is a special case of this new equation since the latter reduces to coefficinet alpha if the scaled scores are the summed scores themselves. Two applications (cognitive and psychological assessments) are used to compare the performance (estimation and bootstrap confidence interval) of the reliability coefficients for different scaled scores. Results support the new equation of coefficient generalized alpha and compare it to coefficient generalized beta for parallel test forms. Coefficient generalized alpha produced different reliability values, which were larger than coefficient generalized beta for different scaled scores.
Temperature variability interacts with mean temperature to influence the predictability of microbial phenotypes
Authors: Fu Fei‐Xue , Tschitschko Bernhard , Hutchins David A. , Larsson Michaela E. , Baker Kirralee G. , McInnes Allison , Kahlke Tim , Verma Arjun , Murray Shauna A. , Doblin Martina A. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractDespite their relatively high thermal optima (Topt), tropical taxa may be particularly vulnerable to a rising baseline and increased temperature variation because they live in relatively stable temperatures closer to their Topt. We examined how microbial eukaryotes with differing thermal histories responded to temperature fluctuations of different amplitudes (0 control, ±2, ±4°C) around mean temperatures below or above their Topt. Cosmopolitan dinoflagellates were selected based on their distinct thermal traits and included two species of the same genus (tropical and temperate Coolia spp.), and two strains of the same species maintained at different temperatures for >500 generations (tropical Amphidinium massartii control temperature and high temperature, CT and HT, respectively). There was a universal decline in population growth rate under temperature fluctuations, but strains with narrower thermal niche breadth (temperate Coolia and HT) showed ~10% greater reduction in growth. At suboptimal mean temperatures, cells in the cool phase of the fluctuation stopped dividing, fixed less carbon (C) and had enlarged cell volumes that scaled positively with elemental C, N, and P and C:Chlorophyll‐a. However, at a supra‐optimal mean temperature, fixed C was directed away from cell division and novel trait combinations developed, leading to greater phenotypic diversity. At the molecular level, heat‐shock proteins, and chaperones, in addition to transcripts involving genome rearrangements, were upregulated in CT and HT during the warm phase of the supra‐optimal fluctuation (30 ± 4°C), a stress response indicating protection. In contrast, the tropical Coolia species upregulated major energy pathways in the warm phase of its supra‐optimal fluctuation (25 ± 4°C), indicating a broadscale shift in metabolism. Our results demonstrate divergent effects between taxa and that temporal variability in environmental conditions interacts with changes in the thermal mean to mediate microbial responses to global change, with implications for biogeochemical cycling.
Long‐term cultivation of Miscanthus and switchgrass accelerates soil organic carbon accumulation by decreasing carbon mineralization in infertile red soil
Authors: Fu Tongcheng , Xu Yi , Hou Wei , Yi Zili , Xue Shuai 
Published: July 2022

AbstractPerennial energy crops (PECs) such as Miscanthus spp. and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) may have particular influence on microbial communities and their functions in soil organic carbon (C) utilization and mineralization (Cm). In this study, long‐term effects of PECs on Cm and soil hydrolase activities were examined in bulk and rhizosphere soils of Miscanthus and switchgrass grown on a red soil in South China. Long‐term cultivation (10 years) of PECs led to increases in soil organic C (SOC) and the absolute Cm of bulk and rhizosphere soils. Total Cm was correlated with dissolved organic C and dissolved organic nitrogen (N) in red soils. The specific Cm in bulk soils of switchgrass and Miscanthus were decreased by 11.73% and 20.67% comparing with the control group, respectively. Cultivation of PECs led to a relatively high C/N ratio. There was a difference in priming effect on activities of β‐glucosidase (BG), leucine amin peptidase, N‐acetyl‐β‐glucosaminidase (NAG), and phosphatase between rhizosphere and bulk soils. Compared with the control without PECs, BG activity did not change significantly in bulk soils of PECs, whereas NAG activity decreased significantly. Soil microorganisms were generally limited by soil C and phosphorus (P) in the red soil. The C and P limitations were significantly linearly related with relative Cm (p < 0.05). Phosphorus limitations in microbial communities were lower with PECs than in the control, indicating that cultivation of PECs could provide an optimal nutrient environment for both plants and microorganisms. Thus, long‐term cultivation of PECs increased SOC content but decreased specific Cm rates. However, because C and P limitations remain for plants and soil microbial communities, optimum fertilization is also necessary for sustainable growth of PECs on red soils.
Targeting cancer stemness mediated by BMI1 and MCL1 for non‐small cell lung cancer treatment
Authors: Lin Erh‐Hsuan , Hsu Jhen‐Wei , Lee Ting‐Fang , Hsu Chiung‐Fang , Lin Tsung‐Hsien , Jan Yi‐Hua , Chang Hsiang‐Yi , Cheng Chun‐Ming , Hsu Hui‐Jan , Chen Wei‐Wei , Chen Bo‐Hung , Tsai Hsing‐Fang , Li Jung‐Jung , Huang Chi‐Ying , Chuang Shih‐Hsien , Chang Jia‐Ming , Hsiao Michael , Wu Cheng‐Wen 
Published: July 2022

AbstractLung cancer is the leading cause of cancer‐associated death, with a global 5‐year survival rate <20%. Early metastasis and recurrence remain major challenges for lung cancer treatment. The stemness property of cancer cells has been suggested to play a key role in cancer plasticity, metastasis and drug‐resistance, and is a potential target for drug development. In this study, we found that in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), BMI1 and MCL1 play crucial roles of cancer stemness including invasion, chemo‐resistance and tumour initiation. JNK signalling serves as a link between oncogenic pathway or genotoxicity to cancer stemness. The activation of JNK, either by mutant EGFR or chemotherapy agent, stabilized BMI1 and MCL1 proteins through suppressing the expression of E3‐ubiquitin ligase HUWE1. In lung cancer patient samples, high level of BMI1 is correlated with poor survival, and the expression of BMI1 is positively correlated with MCL1. A novel small‐molecule, BI‐44, was developed, which effectively suppressed BMI1/MCL1 expressions and inhibited tumour formation and progression in preclinical models. Targeting cancer stemness mediated by BMI1/MCL1 with BI‐44 provides the basis for a new therapeutic approach in NSCLC treatment.
Poor glycemic control rather than types of diabetes is a risk factor for sarcopenia in diabetes mellitus: The MUSCLES‐DM study
Authors: Hiromine Yoshihisa , Noso Shinsuke , Rakugi Hiromi , Sugimoto Ken , Takata Yasunori , Katsuya Tomohiro , Fukuda Masahiro , Akasaka Hiroshi , Osawa Haruhiko , Tabara Yasuharu , Ikegami Hiroshi 
Published: July 2022

ABSTRACTAims/IntroductionThough poor glycemic control and insulin treatment are reported to be associated with sarcopenia in type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes may be a stronger risk for sarcopenia. We therefore studied the effect of the type of diabetes, glycemic control, and insulin therapy on the prevalence and characteristics of sarcopenia.Materials and MethodsA total of 812 Japanese patients with diabetes (type 1: n = 57; type 2: n = 755) were enrolled in this study. Sarcopenia was defined as low handgrip strength or slow gait speed and low appendicular skeletal muscle mass.ResultsAmong participants aged ≥65 years, the sarcopenia prevalence rate was higher among patients with type 1 diabetes (20.0%) than among those with type 2 diabetes (8.1%). The prevalence rate of low handgrip strength was higher in type 1 diabetes (50.0%) than in type 2 diabetes (28.7%). In logistic regression analysis, type 1 diabetes was significantly associated with the prevalence of low handgrip strength. In logistic regression analysis, medication with insulin was significantly associated with the prevalence of sarcopenia; this association was not retained after adjusting for HbA1c.ConclusionsThe prevalence of sarcopenia in older adult patients was higher in those with type 1 diabetes than in those with type 2 diabetes. Among the components of sarcopenia, the difference was most prominent in the frequency of low handgrip strength. Poor glycemic control rather than type of diabetes or insulin treatment was revealed to be a primary risk factor for sarcopenia in diabetes mellitus.
Adults with concomitant atopic dermatitis and asthma have more frequent urgent healthcare utilization and less frequent scheduled follow‐up visits than adults with atopic dermatitis or asthma only: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Ali Z. , Egeberg A. , Thyssen J.P. , Ulrik C.S. , Thomsen S.F. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractBackgroundAtopic dermatitis (AD) and asthma often co‐occur in the same patient, and healthcare utilization is related to disease severity of these diseases.ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to investigate differences in healthcare utilization in adults with concomitant AD and asthma compared to patients with asthma or AD only.MethodsAll Danish adults with a hospital diagnosis of AD, asthma or concomitant AD, and asthma recorded in national registries were included. Healthcare utilization data were obtained in 3‐month intervals from 2 years prior to index date (the date of the first hospital diagnosis) and to 5 years after.ResultsA total of 12 409 patients with AD were included (11 590 with AD only and 819 with concomitant AD and asthma), and 65 539 with asthma only.Adults with concomitant AD and asthma had higher risk of hospitalization for AD (OR 1.38, 95% CI (1.15–1.67), P = 0.001) and asthma (OR 1.16, 95% CI (1.00–1.35), P = 0.047) compared to patients with only AD and asthma, respectively. These patients also had fewer visits in outpatient clinics for AD (OR 0.10, 95% CI (0.08–0.12), P < 0.001) and asthma (OR 0.34, 95% CI (0.29–0.39), P < 0.001) compared to patients with only AD or asthma. Outpatient clinic visits for rhinitis were more frequent among patients with concomitant AD and asthma compared to patients with only AD or asthma.ConclusionAdults with concomitant AD and asthma had different patterns of healthcare utilization compared to adults with AD or asthma alone, suggesting that improvements in management and monitoring may reduce unscheduled healthcare visits and lower healthcare costs.
Industrial manufacture of fruit decorated rice puddings–An overview
Authors: Sompolski Marcin , Hefft Daniel Ingo 
Published: July 2022

AbstractRice pudding is a popular dessert that is eaten across the globe. Variations include the TurkishSutlaç, GermanMilchreis, and IndianKheer. This review article presents the industrial manufacture of a fruit topped rice pudding. Special emphases have been laid onto the process flow, key equipment, and critical control points. This review covers the entire manufacturing chain from product intake to packaged good and will relate back to key industrial equipment required to achieve a unit operation. Further, environmental considerations have been reflected upon.Practical ApplicationsThis review addresses a gap in the literature compiling a comprehensive overview on the manufacture of rice puddings. To compile such a review knowledge must be drawn from dairy processing, grain technology and, given this particular work considers decoration, fruit processing. However, rice pudding is an internationally enjoyed dessert, therefore, it has been deemed as useful to compile this knowledge for the wider food process engineering community.
Convective and pulsed microwave drying of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) shreds: Kinetic modeling, retention of bio‐actives, and oil yield
Authors: Potdar Pratik Pandit , Kaur Preetinder , Zalpouri Ruchika , Ummat Viruja 
Published: July 2022

AbstractAn experimental study was conducted to assess the drying kinetics of lemongrass shreds, dried using two different drying methods and retention of bioactive compounds in the dried lemongrass. Convective drying (CD) was carried out at 45°C for 7 h, whereas during pulsed microwave drying (PMD), lemongrass shreds were exposed to microwaves at 1350 W for 3‐3‐2‐1‐min pulsed intervals with a 30‐s pulse gap. Experimental data were fitted to three drying models, namely Lewis, Henderson and Pabis, and Page models, to determine the moisture ratio as a function of drying time. The bioactive compounds were analyzed before and after drying to assess the changes during the drying process. Pulsed microwave dried samples showed maximum retention of total chlorophyll: 13.85 mg/g, ascorbic acid: 17.80 mg/100 g, flavonoids: 2.64 mg/g, and highest antioxidant capacity of 74.02%. Moreover, microwave‐assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD) of these samples yielded 1.54% essential oil with a specific gravity of 0.89.Novelty impact statement

The synergistic influence of PMD and MAHD process on the quality of dried lemongrass shreds has not been investigated earlier.

Polynomial fit‐MR and polynomial fit‐lnMR for moisture ratio were found to have the highest R2 values for both drying methods.

Retention of bioactive compounds was observed to be higher in PM dried samples compared with convective dried samples.
Mycoflora, aflatoxins, and antimicrobial properties of some Ghanaian local spices and herbs
Authors: Kortei Nii K. , Kumah Grace , Tettey Clement O. , Agyemang Alfred O. , Annan Theophilus , Nortey Nathaniel N. D. , Essuman Edward K. , Boakye Adjoa A. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractFungi are significant contaminants and destroyers of spices. This study aimed at determining the mycoflora, mycotoxins, contaminants, and antimicrobial properties of some local spices; dawadawa (Parkia biglobosa), nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), turmeric (Curcuma longa), aniseed (Pimpinella anisum), ocimum (Ocimum basilicum), and clove (Syzygium aromaticum). Fungal culturing, identification, and enumeration were done with Dichloran Rose Bengal Chloramphenicol (DRBC). High‐Performance Liquid Chromatographer with a Fluorescence detector (HPLC‐FLD) was used to determine the aflatoxin levels in all spices. Mueller‐Hinton Agar, chloramphenicol, normal saline, and extract were used with Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus mutans to determine the antimicrobial activity of the spices (extracts). Twelve (12) fungal species belonging to seven (7) genera were recorded from the spices. The genera were predominantly; Aspergillus, Fusarium, Rhizopus, Penicillium, Mucor, Trichoderma, and Rhodotorula. Aflatoxins were detected in dawadawa only. Antimicrobial activity of the extracts had effective inhibition against the microbes investigated.
The association between plasma metabolites and future risk of all‐cause mortality
Authors: Yan Yingxiao , Smith Einar , Melander Olle , Ottosson Filip 
Published: July 2022

AbstractBackgroundMetabolite profiles provide snapshots of the overall effect of numerous exposures accumulated over life courses, which may lead to health outcomes in the future.ObjectiveWe hypothesized that the risk of all‐cause mortality is linked to alterations in metabolism earlier in life, which are reflected in plasma metabolite profiles. We aimed to identify plasma metabolites associated with future risk of all‐cause mortality.MethodsThrough metabolomics, 110 metabolites were measured in 3833 individuals from the Malmö Diet and Cancer—Cardiovascular Cohort (MDC‐CC). A total of 1574 deaths occurred within an average follow‐up time of 22.2 years. Metabolites that were significantly associated with all‐cause mortality in MDC‐CC were replicated in 1500 individuals from Malmö Preventive Project re‐examination (MPP), among whom 715 deaths occurred within an average follow‐up time of 11.3 years.ResultsTwenty two metabolites were significantly associated with all‐cause mortality in MDC‐CC, of which 13 were replicated in MPP. Levels of trigonelline, glutamate, dimethylglycine, C18‐1‐carnitine, C16‐1‐carnitine, C14‐1‐carnitine, and 1‐methyladenosine were associated with an increased risk, while levels of valine, tryptophan, lysine, leucine, histidine, and 2‐aminoisobutyrate were associated with a decreased risk of all‐cause mortality.ConclusionWe used metabolomics in two Swedish prospective cohorts and identified replicable associations between 13 metabolites and future risk of all‐cause mortality. Novel associations between five metabolites—C18‐1‐carnitine, C16‐1‐carnitine, C14‐1‐carnitine, trigonelline, and 2‐aminoisobutyrate—and all‐cause mortality were discovered. These findings suggest potential new biomarkers for the prediction of mortality and provide insights for understanding the biochemical pathways that lead to mortality.
Conjugal testamentary practices in Canada: The gendered effect of children from other unions
Authors: Pugliese Maude , Belleau Hélène , Biron‐Boileau Camille 
Published: July 2022

AbstractObjectiveThis article explores the conjugal testamentary practices of married and cohabiting people aged 25–50 depending on having children from other unions, shared children, and gender.BackgroundAfter the death of a partner, inheriting may reduce adverse financial consequences for the surviving spouse. However, the deceased's will defines whether or not the spouse inherits. Moreover, unmarried people may be less likely than the married to include their partner as one of their heirs, and parents (especially mothers) of children from previous unions may hesitate to bequeath to their current partner. Yet, conjugal testamentary practices remain understudied.MethodUsing data from Québec, Canada (N = 3052) and controlling for socio‐demographic factors, multinomial models explore the will status of cohabiting and married people and the position of partners as heirs depending on children situation and gender.ResultsAlthough most married people count their current partner as one of their heirs, only a minority of cohabitors do so. Also, cohabiting people with children from previous unions are less likely than those without to make their current partner an heir, especially if the couple has no shared children. In contrast, married women with children from previous unions are as likely as those without to include their spouse among their heirs, and married men are more likely to do so if they have children from a different union.ConclusionResults support the hypotheses of a matrilineal tilt in wealth transmissions as stepfamilies diffuse and of a “swapping families” effect of remarriage for men.