bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Natural weathering of soft- and hardwoods modified by contact and flame charring methods
Authors: Kymäläinen M. , Lourençon T. V. , Lillqvist K. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractExterior cladding boards benefit from a known service life that makes planning of maintenance and replacement procedures easier. Among the different wood modification methods, surface charring of wood is expected to increase the lifespan of wooden elements in building façades. This paper reports the properties of surface charred Norway spruce, Scots pine and Silver birch in Southern Finnish climate over a natural weathering period of one year. Several modifications were examined, namely variants of contact and flame charring. These also included oiled and brushed surfaces. The flame charred samples of spruce and birch withstood the weathering well, with some minor flaking and cracking. The thick pine samples cracked extensively regardless of modification, raising questions on suitable density and thickness of wood destined for a charring modification. Contact charring did not seem suitable for outside uses at least in direct sunlight, as the colors faded, and surfaces cracked within all examined groups. The spectroscopical methods employed also revealed degradation of contact charred wood lignin, whereas the flame charred surface consisted mostly of recalcitrant carbon structures rather inert towards weathering. This highlights the importance of sufficient structural degradation of wood components in creating a weathering resistant surface, and also shows that a thicker thermally modified layer does not necessarily improve the weatherability in contact charred wood.
Non-persistence to antihypertensive drug therapy in Lithuania
Authors: Treciokiene Indre , Bratcikoviene Nomeda , Gulbinovic Jolanta , Wettermark Bjorn , Taxis Katja 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Purpose
Poor persistence to antihypertensive therapy is an important cause of treatment failure. Investigating persistence is especially important in countries with a high cardiovascular mortality, like Lithuania. The aim of this study was to describe the antihypertensive treatment at initiation, to determine the percentage of patients not being persistent with antihypertensive treatment after 1 year and to explore factors associated with non-persistence.

Methods
In this cohort study, data on dispensed prescription medicines from the Lithuanian National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) were used. All adult patients with a diagnosis of hypertension having first antihypertensive dispensed in 2018 were included. Descriptive statistics was used to determine the number of patients started with monotherapy and combination therapy. Treatment choice by Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) and number of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) was described. Non-persistence was assessed using the anniversary method. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore factors associated with non-persistence.

Results
A total of 72,088 patients were included into the study, 56% started on monotherapy treatment, with 49% being dispensed an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, and 44% started on combination therapy. Overall, 57% of patients were non-persistent after 1 year. Patients’ gender and prescriber qualification showed no association with non-persistence. Younger patients, patients from rural area, patients started with monotherapy, and patients with no medication change had higher odds to become non-persistent.

Conclusions
The majority of patients were initiated with treatment following hypertension management guidelines, but it is of concern that over half of the patients were non-persistent to antihypertensive therapy in the first year.
Greenhouse-gas forced changes in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and related worldwide sea-level change
Authors: Couldrey Matthew P. , Gregory Jonathan M. , Dong Xiao , Garuba Oluwayemi , Haak Helmuth , Hu Aixue , Hurlin William J. , Jin Jiangbo , Jungclaus Johann , Köhl Armin , Liu Hailong , Ojha Sayantani , Saenko Oleg A. , Savita Abhishek , Suzuki Tatsuo , Yu Zipeng , Zanna Laure 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe effect of anthropogenic climate change in the ocean is challenging to project because atmosphere-ocean general circulation models (AOGCMs) respond differently to forcing. This study focuses on changes in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), ocean heat content ($$\Delta$$
Δ
OHC), and the spatial pattern of ocean dynamic sea level ($$\Delta \zeta$$

Δ
ζ

). We analyse experiments following the FAFMIP protocol, in which AOGCMs are forced at the ocean surface with standardised heat, freshwater and momentum flux perturbations, typical of those produced by doubling $$\hbox {CO}_{{2}}$$

CO
2

. Using two new heat-flux-forced experiments, we find that the AMOC weakening is mainly caused by and linearly related to the North Atlantic heat flux perturbation, and further weakened by a positive coupled heat flux feedback. The quantitative relationships are model-dependent, but few models show significant AMOC change due to freshwater or momentum forcing, or to heat flux forcing outside the North Atlantic. AMOC decline causes warming at the South Atlantic-Southern Ocean interface. It does not strongly affect the global-mean vertical distribution of $$\Delta$$
Δ
OHC, which is dominated by the Southern Ocean. AMOC decline strongly affects $$\Delta \zeta$$

Δ
ζ

in the North Atlantic, with smaller effects in the Southern Ocean and North Pacific. The ensemble-mean $$\Delta \zeta$$

Δ
ζ

and $$\Delta$$
Δ
OHC patterns are mostly attributable to the heat added by the flux perturbation, with smaller effects from ocean heat and salinity redistribution. The ensemble spread, on the other hand, is largely due to redistribution, with pronounced disagreement among the AOGCMs.
Glomerular filtration rate in critically ill neonates and children: creatinine-based estimations versus iohexol-based measurements
Authors: Smeets Nori J. L. , Teunissen Esther M. M. , van der Velden Kim , van der Burgh Maurice J. P. , Linders Demi E. , Teesselink Elodie , Moes Dirk-Jan A. R. , Tøndel Camilla , ter Heine Rob , van Heijst Arno , Schreuder Michiel F. , de Wildt Saskia N. 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Background
Acute kidney injury (AKI) and augmented renal clearance (ARC), both alterations of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), are prevalent in critically ill children and neonates. AKI and ARC prevalence estimates are based on estimation of GFR (eGFR) using serum creatinine (SCr), which is known to be inaccurate. We aimed to test our hypothesis that AKI prevalence will be higher and ARC prevalence will be lower in critically ill children when using iohexol-based measured GFR (mGFR), rather than using eGFR. Additionally, we aimed to investigate the performance of different SCr-based eGFR methods.

Methods
In this single-center prospective study, critically ill term-born neonates and children were included. mGFR was calculated using a plasma disappearance curve after parenteral administration of iohexol. AKI diagnosis was based on the KDIGO criteria, SCr-based eGFR, and creatinine clearance (CrCL). Differences between eGFR and mGFR were determined using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and by calculating bias and accuracy (percentage of eGFR values within 30% of mGFR values).

Results
One hundred five children, including 43 neonates, were included. AKI prevalence was higher based on mGFR (48%), than with KDIGO or eGFR (11–40%). ARC prevalence was lower with mGFR (24%) compared to eGFR (38–51%). eGFR equations significantly overestimated mGFR (60–71 versus 41 ml/min/1.73 m2, p < 0.001–0.002). Accuracy was highest with eGFR equations based on age- and sex-dependent equations (up to 59%).

Conclusion
Iohexol-based AKI prevalence was higher and ARC prevalence lower compared to standard SCr-based eGFR methods. Age- and sex-dependent equations for eGFR (eGFR-Smeets for neonates and eGFR-Pierce for children) best approached measured GFR and should preferably be used to optimize diagnosis of AKI and ARC in this population.

Graphical Abstract
A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information
Homodimeric complexes of the 90–231 human prion: a multilayered computational study based on FMO/GRID-DRY approach
Authors: Paciotti Roberto , Storchi Loriano , Marrone Alessandro 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe molecular interaction properties and aggregation capabilities disclosed by PrP-E200K, a pathogenic mutant of the human prion protein, were investigated in detail using multilayered computational approaches. In a previous work, we reported that the electrostatic complementarity between region1 (negative) and region3 (positive) has been assumed to lead to a head-to tail interaction between 120 and 231 PrP-E200K units and to initiation of the aggregation process. In this work, we extended the PrP-E200K structure by including the unstructured 90–120 segment which was found to assume different conformations. Plausible models of 90–231 PrP-E200K dimers were calculated and analyzed in depth to identify the nature of the involved protein–protein interactions. The unstructured 90–120 segment was found to extend the positively charged region3 involved in the association of PrP-E200K units which resulted to be driven by hydrophobic interactions. The combination of molecular dynamics, protein–protein docking, grid-based mapping, and fragment molecular orbital approaches allowed us to provide a plausible mechanism of the early state of 90–231 PrP-E200K aggregation, considered a preliminary step of amyloid conversion.
Social ties and home bias in mergers and acquisitions
Authors: Carril-Caccia Federico , Garmendia-Lazcano Aitor , Minondo Asier 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThis paper explores whether social ties, proxied by Facebook friendship links, can explain why the number and value of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are greater within countries than between countries. We find that social ties are positively correlated with the number and value of M&As. We also demonstrate that the home bias in M&As is greatly reduced once we control for the differences in social ties between and within countries. We further find that social ties particularly facilitate M&As when the level of corruption is high, press freedom is limited in the target country, and there are more cultural differences between the acquirer and target countries.
Cancer-specific mortality in breast cancer patients with hypothyroidism: a UK population-based study
Authors: McVicker Lauren , Cardwell Christopher R. , McIntosh Stuart A. , McMenamin Úna C. 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Purpose
Epidemiological studies have indicated a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism in breast cancer patients, possibly related to shared risk factors and breast cancer treatments. However, few studies have evaluated how hypothyroidism impacts survival outcomes in breast cancer patients. We aimed to determine the association between hypothyroidism and breast cancer-specific and all-cause mortality.

Methods
We conducted a population-based study using the Scottish Cancer Registry to identify women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2010 and 2017. A matched comparison cohort of breast cancer-free women was also identified. Using hospital diagnoses and dispensed prescriptions for levothyroxine, we identified hypothyroidism diagnosed before and after breast cancer diagnosis and determined associations with breast cancer-specific and all-cause mortality. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for potential confounders.

Results
A total of 33,500 breast cancer patients were identified, of which 3,802 had hypothyroidism before breast cancer diagnosis and 565 patients went on to develop hypothyroidism after. Breast cancer patients had higher rates of hypothyroidism compared with cancer-free controls (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01–1.30). Among breast cancer patients, we found no association between hypothyroidism (diagnosed before or after) and cancer-specific mortality (before: HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.88–1.12, after: HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.63–1.49). Similar associations were seen for all-cause mortality.

Conclusion
In a large contemporary breast cancer cohort, there was little evidence that hypothyroidism, either at diagnosis or diagnosed after breast cancer, was associated with cancer-specific or all-cause mortality.
Clever-1 positive macrophages in breast cancer
Authors: Mutka Minna , Virtakoivu Reetta , Joensuu Kristiina , Hollmén Maija , Heikkilä Päivi 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Purpose
Common Lymphatic Endothelial and Vascular Endothelial Receptor 1 (Clever-1) is expressed by a subset of immunosuppressive macrophages and targeting the receptor with therapeutic antibodies has been shown to activate T-cell-mediated anti-cancer immunity. The aim of this research was to study Clever-1 expression in breast cancer. Specifically, how Clever-1 + macrophages correlate with clinicopathologic factors, Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) and prognosis.

Methods
Tissue microarray blocks were made from 373 primary breast cancer operation specimens. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E-staining) and immunohistochemical staining with Clever-1, CD3, CD4 and CD8 antibodies were performed. Differences in quantities of Clever-1 + macrophages and TILs were analyzed. Clever-1 + cell numbers were correlated with 25-year follow-up survival data and with breast cancer clinicopathologic parameters.

Results
Low numbers of intratumoral Clever-1 + cells were found to be an independent adverse prognostic sign. Increased numbers of Clever-1 + cells were found in high grade tumors and hormone receptor negative tumors. Tumors that had higher amounts of Clever-1 + cells also tended to have higher amounts of TILs.

Conclusion
The association of intratumoral Clever-1 + macrophages with better prognosis might stem from the function of Clever as a scavenger receptor that modulates tumor stroma. The association of Clever-1 + macrophages with high number of TILs and better prognosis indicates that immunosuppression by M2 macrophages is not necessarily dampening adaptive immune responses but instead keeping them in control to avoid excess inflammation.
Components Related to Long-Term Effects in the Intra- and Interpersonal Domains: A Meta-Analysis of Universal School-Based Interventions
Authors: Mertens E. C. A. , Deković M. , van Londen M. , Spitzer J. E. , Reitz E. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe aims of the present meta-analysis were to (1) examine long-term effects of universal secondary school-based interventions on a broad range of competencies and problems and (2) analyze which intervention components were related to stronger or weaker intervention effects at follow-up. Fifty-four studies of controlled evaluations (283 effect sizes) reporting on 52 unique interventions were included. Long-term intervention effects were significant but small; effect sizes ranged from .08 to .23 in the intrapersonal domain (i.e., subjective psychological functioning) and from .10 to .19 in the interpersonal domain (i.e., social functioning). Intervention components were generally related to effects on specific outcomes. Some components (e.g., group discussions) were even related to both stronger and weaker effects depending on the assessed outcome. Moreover, components associated with long-term effects differed from those associated with short-term effects. Our findings underscore the importance of carefully selecting components to foster long-term development on specific outcomes.PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019137981.
The Tutor of Resilience Program with Children Who Have Experienced Maltreatment: Mothers’ Involvement Matters
Authors: Giordano F. , Salimbeni C. Taurelli , Jefferies P. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractResilience is a dynamic process involving the presence and interaction of personal and environmental factors that modify the impact of adversity. Resilience-building interventions are therefore important for improving trauma-related outcomes in children and caregivers exposed to adversity. This study examines the impact of the Tutor of Resilience (TOR) program on beneficiaries’ trauma-related symptoms and on mother–child interactions in a group of children exposed to maltreatment (N = 186; mean age = 11.95; SD = 2.50). Assessments were completed at baseline and post-intervention. RM-ANOVAs indicated significant improvements for most trauma symptoms (anxiety, anger, post-traumatic stress, and disassociation, but not depression) in the intervention group relative to a control group (N = 88; mean age = 10.76; SD = 2.57), and indicated further improvements to anxiety and dissociation for the intervention group when mothers were involved. Mother–child interactions also improved over time, as did their overall trauma symptoms and distress. Findings support the effectiveness of the ToR, especially when involving mothers.
Optimising the zoospore release, germination, development of gametophytes and formation of sporophytes of Ecklonia radiata
Authors: Praeger Christina , Magnusson Marie , Lawton Rebecca 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe kelp Ecklonia radiata has become a target for controlled cultivation. However, to date there are no standardised protocols for the hatchery stage of this species that result in high rates of germination, gametophyte development and transition to sporophytes. Therefore, the objective of this study was to quantify the effect of photoperiod, light intensity, temperature, nutrient media and use of GeO2 on the key hatchery processes of germination, gametophyte development and transition to sporophytes in controlled laboratory experiments. Germination of E. radiata was high (≥ 85%) throughout the study, regardless of treatments. Temperature had a major effect on the length of gametophytes, which increased with increasing temperature. The formation of sporophytes was favoured when individuals were maintained under 17 °C continuously, while reduced by approximately 30% when using F/2 compared to PES nutrient media. Overall, the recommended conditions for the hatchery stage of E. radiata are to maintain cultures under a 12 h L:12 h D photoperiod at 17 °C as this resulted in higher germination rates, good gametophyte development and higher transition to sporophytes compared to other treatments. Moreover, the use of GeO2 has to be limited to no more than 2 days as extended use has detrimental effects on the development of sporophytes. Finally, storage of sorus-bearing fronds of sporophytes up to 4 days after the collection from the field generally increased the number of released zoospores and is a simple mechanism to increase the fertility of brood stock.
Educational reform and teachers’ agency in reconstructing pedagogical practices in Kazakhstan
Authors: Yakavets Natallia , Winter Liz , Malone Kathy , Zhontayeva Zhanyl , Khamidulina Zarina 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThis paper explores how schoolteachers in Kazakhstan engaged with the Renewed Content of Education (RCE) that has been introduced by the Government, and how changes in their beliefs and understandings influenced classroom practice. The study draws on the ecological model of teacher agency and elaborates on factors that contribute to the formation of teacher agency. The study used a mixed methods research design and is based on data collected over two years in rural and urban schools across three regions of Kazakhstan. Altogether, 227 teachers having different levels of experience with the new curriculum were involved in focus group discussions. The findings demonstrate that the majority of teachers acknowledged the value of the RCE, its short- and long-term benefits for students, and the broader aim of boosting the economic competitiveness of the country. At the same time, the findings suggest that, while a surface change occurred in teachers’ beliefs, their pedagogical practices, and the learning context, there is limited evidence that the teachers moved fully to new ways of teaching and embedded the principles of the RCE in practice. Through our findings, we verified the centrality of socially dynamic relationships in educational change. Teachers shared agency in developing their own rules and routines for collaboration. This paper adds to research on educational change in an international context by showing that the scope for teacher agency in reform implementation increases when teachers are able to develop deep reform-oriented beliefs, discourses, and pedagogical understanding.
Mechanical, electrical, thermal and tribological behavior of epoxy resin composites reinforced with waste hemp-derived carbon fibers
Authors: Bartoli Mattia , Duraccio Donatella , Faga Maria Giulia , Piatti Erik , Torsello Daniele , Ghigo Gianluca , Malucelli Giulio 
Published: August 2022

AbstractShort hemp fibers, an agricultural waste, were used for producing biochar by pyrolysis at 1000 °C. The so-obtained hemp-derived carbon fibers (HFB) were used as filler for improving the properties of an epoxy resin using a simple casting and curing process. The addition of HFB in the epoxy matrix increases the storage modulus while damping factor is lowered. Also, the incorporation of HFB induces a remarkable increment of electrical conductivity reaching up to 6 mS/m with 10 wt% of loading. A similar trend is also observed during high-frequency measurements. Furthermore, for the first time wear of these composites has been studied. The use of HFB is an efficient method for reducing the wear rate resistance and the friction coefficient (COF) of the epoxy resin. Excellent results are obtained for the composite containing 2.5 wt% of HFB, for which COF and wear rate decrease by 21% and 80%, respectively, as compared with those of the unfilled epoxy resin. The overall results prove how a common waste carbon source can significantly wide epoxy resin applications by a proper modulation of its electrical and wear properties.
Graphical abstract
Identification of Kuroshio meanderings south of Japan via a topological data analysis for sea surface height
Authors: Sakajo Takashi , Ohishi Shun , Uda Tomoki 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThis study proposes an algorithm to identify stable Kuroshio meanderings by extracting topological features from a sea surface height (SSH) gridded dataset in 1993–2020. Based on the mathematical theory of topological classifications for streamline patterns, the algorithm provides a unique symbolic representation and a discrete graph structure, which is referred to as the partially cyclically ordered rooted tree (COT) representation and the Reeb graph, respectively, to structurally stable Hamiltonian vector fields. We have confirmed that the temporal variations in the Kuroshio southernmost position south of the Tokai district captured by the algorithm are well consistent with the existing results by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The algorithm based on the topology detects five meandering periods: The three of them correspond to large meandering events detected by the JMA, while the two of them are offshore non-large meandering events. The topological data analysis reveals that a large cyclonic eddy inside of the meandering is split into two small eddies near the termination of the most meandering events.