bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Characterization of Non-leaching Inorgano- and Organo-montmorillonites and their Bactericidal Properties Against Streptococcus Mutans
Authors: Şahiner Aslı , Özdemir Günseli , Bulut T. Hakan , Yapar Saadet 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe direct application of heavy metal- and quaternary ammonium-based antibacterial agents can cause inconvenience such as irritation, short-term applicability, discoloration of the tissue, and environmental concerns. The immobilization of these agents on montmorillonite (Mnt) was expected to diminish these effects by hindering direct contact of the ions with the target tissues. The objective of the present study was, therefore, to prepare inorgano(I)- and organo(O)-montmorillonites (I/O-Mnt) and to determine their potential uses in such biomedical applications. Na-montmorillonite (Mnt-Na) was modified by hydrothermal and microwave irradiation methods using Cu2+/Zn2+, and quaternary ammonium and/or anionic surfactants. The effect of the structures formed by immobilization on Mnt surfaces on antibacterial activity was investigated. Quaternary ammonium surfactants were cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) with a linear alkyl chain, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) with a single aromatic ring, and benzethonium chloride (BZT) with double aromatic rings. N-lauroyl sarcosinate (SR) was the anionic surfactant. The samples were subjected to thermogravimetric (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. Desorption tests showed that the antibacterial efficacy against Streptococcus mutans stemmed from I/O-Mnt and not from the ions released from the material surfaces to the aqueous phase. The results of the antibacterial studies showed that the existence of a linear alkyl chain and a double aromatic ring were the structural factors causing the greatest antibacterial effect. The time-kill tests revealed that Mnt-CTA, Mnt-BZT, and Mnt-CP-SR were effective against Streptococcus mutans within 5 min of contact. With the new findings, they were identified as possible selective and potent bactericidal agents and promising candidates for biomedical applications.
Economic influence activities and the strategic location of investment
Authors: de Figueiredo John M. , Raiha Davin 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThis article examines the economic influence activities (EIAs) of firms. We argue that firms invest in jobs and establishments in districts of congressional committee members that have oversight over their businesses and industries. This investment increases as legislators’ power rises in Congress. Our theory makes three predictions. First, EIAs by firms will be higher in congressional districts where the legislators have substantial political influence over the firm, relative to districts where legislators have little influence over the firm. Second, EIAs will increase with the legislators’ power on the focal committee. Third, when a legislator exits the committee, EIAs will diminish, but previous investments in the district will remain. We test these predictions by analyzing the Trinet census of establishments, mapped into the committee structure of the US Congress, by tracking the investment and employment of firms in each industry in each congressional district over time. Using fixed-effects models, we show the predictions of the theory find substantial support in the US Senate but not the House. We explore causality by using exogenous exits of politicians by death and scandals to further complement our analysis, and discuss why EIAs may be less likely to occur and detect in the House.
Purposes in Law and in Life: An Experimental Investigation of Purpose Attribution
Authors: da Franca Couto Fernandes de Almeida Guilherme , Knobe Joshua , Struchiner Noel , Hannikainen Ivar R. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThere has been considerable debate in legal philosophy about how to attribute purposes to rules. Separately, within cognitive science, there has been a growing body of research concerned with questions about how people ordinarily attribute purposes. Here, we argue that these two separate fields might be connected by experimental jurisprudence. Across four studies, we find evidence for the claim that people use the same criteria to attribute purposes to physical objects and to rules. In both cases, purpose attributions appear to be governed not so much by original intention or by moral value as by current practice. We argue that these findings in the cognitive science of purpose attribution have implications for jurisprudential questions involving purposivist legal interpretation.
Recognizing sponge inSpongiostromaGürich, 1906 from the Mississippian of Belgium
Authors: Lee Jeong-Hyun , Riding Robert 
Published: August 2022

AbstractSpongiostromaGürich, 1906 from the Mississippian of Belgium was initially provisionally placed in Foraminifera and subsequently compared with hydrozoans and microbial carbonates. For nearly 100 years, the term spongiostromate has been widely applied to clotted microbial fabrics in stromatolites and oncolites. Examination of the type material shows thatS. mæandrinumGürich, 1906, the type species ofSpongiostroma, consists of numerous juxtaposed millimetric pillow-like masses permeated by thin anastomose sparry microscopic fibers (vermiform fabric) in fine-grained groundmass, locally traversed by millimetric rounded to elongate partly sediment-filled openings. Here we interpretS. mæandrinumto be a lobate sponge composed of mammiform papillae formed by calcified spongin network and traversed by canals and spongocoel. These are typical features of calcified remains of keratosan demosponges. We redescribe and reviseS.mæandrinumand interpret it as a keratosan demosponge with papilliform morphology. This upholds Gürich's (1906) initial opinion thatSpongiostromacould be a sponge and supports suggestions that keratosan vermiform fabric has long been confused with microbial carbonate. SinceS.mæandrinumis not a stromatolite, it is inappropriate to use the term spongiostromate to describe microbial carbonate microfabric.
THE ECONOMICS OF WALKING ABOUT AND PREDICTING UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE USA
Authors: Blanchflower David G. , Bryson Alex 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
We show consumer expectations indices from the Conference Board and the University of Michigan predict unemployment upticks in the USA up to 18 months in advance, both at national and at state level. These data predict six of the last six recessions called by the NBER Business Cycle Dating Committee 6–18 months before the date of recession. The consumer expectations data for 2021 and 2022 are consistent with recession.
Challenges and frontiers of computational modelling of biomolecular recognition
Authors: Wang Jinan , Bhattarai Apurba , Do Hung N. , Miao Yinglong 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Biomolecular recognition including binding of small molecules, peptides and proteins to their target receptors plays a key role in cellular function and has been targeted for therapeutic drug design. However, the high flexibility of biomolecules and slow binding and dissociation processes have presented challenges for computational modelling. Here, we review the challenges and computational approaches developed to characterise biomolecular binding, including molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations (especially enhanced sampling) and machine learning. Further improvements are still needed in order to accurately and efficiently characterise binding structures, mechanisms, thermodynamics and kinetics of biomolecules in the future.
A simple and fast triplex-PCR for the identification of milk's animal origin in Halloumi cheese and yoghurt
Authors: Kastanos Evdokia , Papaneophytou Christos , Georgiou Thanasis , Demoliou Catherine 
Published: August 2022

AbstractIn this research communication we describe a straightforward triplex-PCR protocol able to differentiate the origin of milk from three closely related species (goat, sheep and cow) in Halloumi, a cheese with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), and yogurts. Halloumi must contain at least 51% sheep or goat milk, therefore, the fraudulent adulteration of this cheese with excess of cow milk must be routinely tested. The assay employs one universal forward primer and three species-specific reverse primers giving rise to 287 bp (cow), 313 bp (goat), and 336 bp (sheep) amplicons, under the same amplification conditions. This protocol, when used to test a small number of Cyprus commercial products, correctly detected mislabeling in Halloumi (2 out of 6 samples were adulterated) and yogurt brands (1 out of 4 was adulterated). The suggested protocol is a reliable tool for identifying the origin of milk in Halloumi cheeses and yogurts and can be used in any laboratory equipped with a thermocycler and an agarose gel electrophoresis apparatus.
How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact the wellbeing of family care-givers? A longitudinal study of older adults in Germany
Authors: Ehrlich Ulrike , Kelle Nadiya , Klaus Daniela , Möhring Katja 
Published: August 2022

AbstractPrevious research was not able to identify an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on family care-givers' wellbeing due to cross-sectional data structures, care-giver-specific samples or non-probability sampling designs. In this article, by drawing on longitudinal data from a random and representative sample of the German population aged 40 and older, we overcome methodological limitations of previous research. We examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wellbeing (life satisfaction, depressive symptoms, loneliness) of different groups of family care-givers (new care-givers, continuous care-givers, past care-givers) and non-care-givers in Germany. We derived a balanced sample of n = 3,875 individuals aged 43–97 (mean = 66.5 years, standard deviation = 10.2 years) from the German Ageing Survey (DEAS) to explore changes in wellbeing between 2017 (pre-pandemic) and June/July 2020 (pandemic). Using a first-difference approach, we found that the pandemic has a negative impact on both non-care-givers' and family care-givers' wellbeing, with increased levels of depressive symptoms and loneliness compared to pre-pandemic times. Changes in depressive symptoms of family care-givers did not significantly deviate from non-care-givers. However, continuous care-givers showed more pronounced increases in loneliness compared to non-care-givers. Our results suggest that family care-givers' wellbeing merits particular attention when considering the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals' wellbeing.
Judicial Dissent at the International Criminal Court: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis
Authors: Maučec Gregor , Dothan Shai 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThis article explores the phenomenon of judicial dissents at the ICC. The main subject is the process of collective decision-making and judicial deliberations in cases where members of a particular ICC chamber cannot reach a consensus on factual, substantive or procedural issues and render a unanimous decision. The article examines why and when international criminal judges dissent according to the views expressed by ICC judges. Drawing heavily on field research in The Hague, the article presents a qualitative analysis of the ICC judges’ perceptions and experiences of using dissenting opinions at the Court. Empirical findings derived from interviewing ICC judges support the hypothesis that international criminal judges’ personality, that is, their character differences (such as self-discipline and other work habits), their previous career experience, and their field of expertise determine their likelihood of using judicial dissents. In case of disagreement within an ICC Chamber, judges with criminal law backgrounds who previously worked as professional judges are more likely to append their dissent to a majority ruling with which they do not agree than international judges, diplomats, and professors with public international law expertise who are more willing to discuss and negotiate in order for the Court to speak with one voice.
Increases in maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy and infant cortisol reactivity: Mediation by placental corticotropin-releasing hormone
Authors: Rinne Gabrielle R. , Somers Jennifer A. , Ramos Isabel F. , Ross Kharah M. , Coussons-Read Mary , Dunkel Schetter Christine 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBackground:Maternal depressive symptoms in pregnancy may affect offspring health through prenatal programming of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. The biological mechanisms that explain the associations between maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and offspring HPA axis regulation are not yet clear. This pre-registered investigation examines whether patterns of maternal depressive symptoms in pregnancy are associated with infant cortisol reactivity and whether this association is mediated by changes in placental corticotropin-releasing hormone (pCRH).Method:A sample of 174 pregnant women completed assessments in early, mid, and late pregnancy that included standardized measures of depressive symptoms and blood samples for pCRH. Infant cortisol reactivity was assessed at 1 and 6 months of age.Results:Greater increases in maternal depressive symptoms in pregnancy were associated with higher cortisol infant cortisol reactivity at 1 and 6 months. Greater increases in maternal depressive symptoms in pregnancy were associated with greater increases in pCRH from early to late pregnancy which in turn were associated with higher infant cortisol reactivity.Conclusions:Increases in maternal depressive symptoms and pCRH over pregnancy may contribute to higher infant cortisol reactivity. These findings help to elucidate the prenatal biopsychosocial processes contributing to offspring HPA axis regulation early in development.
Adolescents’ knowledge and beliefs regarding health risks of soda and diet soda consumption
Authors: Miller Caroline , Dono Joanne , Scully Maree , Morley Belinda , Ettridge Kerry 
Published: August 2022

AbstractObjective:To examine Australian adolescents’ knowledge and beliefs regarding potential health consequences of soda and diet soda consumption and nutritional aspects of soda and explore associations with consumption.Design:A survey utilising a nationally representative sample (stratified two-stage probability design) assessed knowledge of nutritional contents and health consequences of soda, and beliefs regarding health risks of diet soda, and soda and diet drink consumption.Setting:Australia.Participants:9102 Australian school students (12–17 years) surveyed in 2018.Results:Adolescents had lower nutritional knowledge (sugar content (22·2 %), exercise equivalent (33·9 %), calories/kJ (3·1 %)) than general knowledge of health risks (87·4 %) and some health effects (71·7–75·6 % for tooth decay, weight gain and diabetes), with lower knowledge of heart disease (56·0 %) and cancer (19·3 %). Beliefs regarding health effects of diet soda were similar, albeit not as high. In general, female sex, older age and less disadvantage were associated with reporting health effects of soda and diet soda, and nutritional knowledge of soda (P< 0·001). Those reporting tooth decay, weight gain, heart disease and diabetes as health effects of soda and diet soda were lower consumers of soda and diet drinks (P< 0·001), as were those with higher nutritional knowledge (sugar content and exercise equivalent;P< 0·001).Conclusions:This study highlights possible knowledge gaps regarding the health effects of soda and nutritional knowledge for public health intervention. When implementing such interventions, it is important to monitor the extent to which adolescents may consider diet drinks as an alternative beverage given varied beliefs about health consequences and evolving evidence.
How providing a low-cost water filter pitcher led Latino parents to reduce sugar-sweetened beverages and increase their water intake: explanatory qualitative results from the Water Up!@Home intervention trial
Authors: Santillán-Vázquez Claudia , Hernández Lucero , Reese Amanda C , Burgos-Gil Rosalina , Cleary Sean D , Rivera Ivonne M , Gittelsohn Joel , Edberg Mark C , Monge-Rojas Rafael , Colón-Ramos Uriyoán 
Published: August 2022

AbstractObjective:This study sought to explain results of the Water Up!@Home randomised controlled trial where low-income parents were randomised to receive an educational intervention +a low-cost water filter pitcher or only the filter. Parents in both groups had reported statistically significant reductions in sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and increases in water intake post-intervention.Design:Qualitative explanatory in-depth interviews analysed thematically and deductively.Setting:Washington, DC metropolitan area, USA.Participants:Low-income Latino parents of infants/toddlers who had participated in the Water Up! @Home randomised controlled trial.Results:The filter-stimulated water consumption in both groups by (1) increasing parents’ perception of water safety; (2) acting as a cue to action to drink water; (3) improving the flavour of water (which was linked to perceptions of safety) and (4) increasing the perception that this option was more economical than purchasing bottled water. Safe and palatable drinking water was more accessible and freely available in their homes; participants felt they did not need to ration their water consumption as before. Only intervention participants were able to describe a reduction in SSB intake and described strategies, skills and knowledge gained to reduce SSB intake. Among the comparison group, there was no thematic consensus about changes in SSB or any strategies or skills to reduce SSB intake.Conclusions:A low-cost water filter facilitated water consumption, which actively (or passively for comparison group) displaced SSB consumption. The findings have implications for understanding and addressing the role of water security on SSB consumption.
A nonlinear association between body roundness index and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in general population
Authors: Zhou Dan , Liu Xiaocong , Huang Yuqing , Feng Yingqing 
Published: August 2022

AbstractObjective:The aim of the study was to investigate the association between body roundness index (BRI) and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in general population.Design:A retrospective cohort study.Setting:The status of cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality of participants were followed through 31 December 2015. Multivariate adjusted Cox restricted cubic spline regression models and Kaplan–Meier survival curves were used to evaluate the relationship between BRI and cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality.Participants:A sample of 47 356 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1999–2014 with aged ≥18 years.Results:Mean age was 47 years and female were 49·9 %. During a median follow-up of 92 months, 4715 participants died from any cause, with 985 died of CVD. In multivariate adjusted Cox regression, compared with the lowest quartile of Body roundness index (BRI), the hazard ratios (HR) for all-cause mortality from other quartiles were 0·83, 95 % CI (0·75, 0·92), 0·73, 95 % CI (0·65, 0·81) and 0·80, 95 % CI (0·72, 0·89), respectively (Pfor trend < 0·05) and the HR for cardiovascular mortality from other quartiles were 0·79, 95 % CI (0·62, 1·00), 0·78, 95 % CI (0·62, 0·99) and 0·79, 95 % CI (0·62, 1·01), respectively (P for trend > 0·05). In the restricted cubic spline regression models, the relationship was showed U-shaped between BRI and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. In Kaplan–Meier survival curves, the lowest cumulative survival rate of cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality was recorded in the highest BRI quartile.Conclusions:The U-shaped association between BRI and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in a large population-based cohort was observed.
Avoidable burden of stomach cancer and potential gains in healthy life years from gradual reductions in salt consumption in Vietnam, 2019–2030: a modelling study
Authors: Aminde Leopold Ndemnge , Cobiac Linda J , Phung Dung , Phung Hai N , Veerman J Lennert 
Published: August 2022

AbstractObjective:Excess salt consumption is causally linked with stomach cancer, and salt intake among adults in Vietnam is about twice the recommended levels. The aim of this study was to quantify the future burden of stomach cancer that could be avoided from population-wide salt reduction in Vietnam.Design:A dynamic simulation model was developed to quantify the impacts of achieving the 2018 National Vietnam Health Program (8 g/d by 2025 and 7 g/d by 2030) and the WHO (5 g/d) salt reduction policy targets. Data on salt consumption were obtained from the Vietnam 2015 WHO STEPS survey. Health outcomes were estimated over 6-year (2019–2025), 11-year (2019–2030) and lifetime horizons. We conducted one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses.Setting:Vietnam.Participants:All adults aged ≥ 25 years (61 million people, 48·4 % men) alive in 2019.Results:Achieving the 2025 and 2030 national salt targets could result in 3400 and 7200 fewer incident cases of stomach cancer, respectively, and avert 1900 and 4800 stomach cancer deaths, respectively. Achieving the WHO target by 2030 could prevent 8400 incident cases and 5900 deaths from stomach cancer. Over the lifespan, this translated to 344 660 (8 g/d), 411 060 (7 g/d) and 493 633 (5 g/d) health-adjusted life years gained, respectively.Conclusions:A sizeable burden of stomach cancer could be avoided, with gains in healthy life years if national and WHO salt targets were attained. Our findings provide impetus for policy makers in Vietnam and Asia to intensify salt reduction strategies to combat stomach cancer and mitigate pressure on the health systems.
Clinicians’ perceptions of the emotional impact of providing palliative care: A qualitative interview study
Authors: Dijxhoorn Anne-Floor , Raijmakers Natasja , van der Linden Yvette , Leget Carlo , Brom Linda 
Published: August 2022

AbstractObjectivesMany aspects of palliative care, such as managing (complicated) symptoms, conducting goals-of-care conversations, and repeated exposure to loss, can be stressful to clinicians. Previous research on the emotional impact of providing palliative care was mainly done in specialist settings. However, the majority of palliative care is provided by clinicians who are not specialized in palliative care, and can be supported by palliative care specialists only when needed. Therefore, this study aimed to gain insight into the emotional impact of providing palliative care on clinicians, both palliative care generalists and specialists.MethodsA qualitative interview study among 21 clinicians (11 doctors and 10 nurses) working in hospitals, home care, or nursing homes in the Netherlands was conducted. Between February and June 2019, 13 palliative care generalists and 8 specialists were interviewed. Interviews were thematically analyzed by two researchers.ResultsAll clinicians considered the emotional impact of providing palliative care to be substantial and experienced both positive and negative aspects of providing palliative care. Several aspects of providing palliative care can support or undermine emotional stability. These so-called facilitators and barriers, such as practicing self-care and complexity of palliative care, were found at three different levels: individual, team, and organization.Significance of resultsAlthough clinicians experience providing palliative care as meaningful and valuable, the emotional impact is considerable. Negative and positive aspects often co-exist. Further insight into the dynamics and magnitude of the emotional impact of providing palliative care is needed in order to create a healthy working environment and develop adequate interventions.