bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent Advances in 2D Materials for Photodetectors
Authors: Jiang Jian , Wen Yao , Wang Hao , Yin Lei , Cheng Ruiqing , Liu Chuansheng , Feng Liping , He Jun
Published: March 2021

Photodetection technology has been systematically studied due to wide practical applications in temperature monitoring, thermal image technology, and light communication systems. To date, photodetectors based on multitudes of 2D materials have been reported because of their excellent performance. On account of their novel physical properties with ultrathin thickness, cost‐effective preparation with mechanical transfer process, natural passivated surface without dangling bonds, various bandgaps corresponding with a wide photoresponse, and so on, new 2D materials emerge to play significant roles in the field of photodetection. In this regard, a great advance has been achieved in terms of preparation and device application, especially in the last decade. However, there are still some challenges to obtain high‐performance photodetectors, such as growing high‐quality 2D materials, achieving higher quantum efficiency, effectively separating the photogenerated electron–hole pairs, and so on. In this review, the recent development of the state‐of‐the‐art photodetection composed of 2D materials is summarized. Moreover, the key parameters and mechanisms in photodetectors are highlighted, and an overview on 2D materials and their heterostructures is provided. Finally, the strategies for improving the performance of photodetectors are also highlighted. The review will provide a guide to further practical applications in photodetection devices.
Surface/Near‐Surface Structure of Highly Active and Durable Pt‐Based Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction: A Review
Authors: Kong Fanpeng , Shi Weize , Song Yajie , Ren Liping , Sun Xue , Wang Jiajun
Published: March 2021

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are highly promising energy‐conversion devices because of their zero‐emission and high efficiency. A great deal of Pt is of significant necessity on the cathode to accelerate the rate of kinetically sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and maintain the long‐term operation, leading to the prohibitive cost of PEMFCs and limiting their widespread deployment. In the past decades, numerous efforts including manipulation of composition, morphology, and structure have been devoted to improving their higher activity and stability, but still lag behind the actual requirement. ORR is a typical surface‐sensitive electrochemical reaction and its process is mainly determined by surface/near‐surface structure. Herein, the recent advances in the manipulation of surface structure are summarized. The ORR mechanism and evaluation method for activity and stability are introduced. Then, solutions toward the engineering of surface structure and its effect on activity and stability are presented. Finally, comments on the future direction of nanocatalysts for ORR are presented in terms of engineered surface structure.
Low birth weight and its relation to physical fitness parameters in children: Its negative effect on muscle strength and cardiorespiratory endurance
Authors: de Souza Livia Victorino , de Meneck Franciele , Parizotto Giovanna Pachele , Franco Maria
Published: March 2021

Background

There is increasing evidence that low birth weight has a negative effect on physical fitness, muscle strength, and cardiorespiratory endurance, although the findings are inconsistent.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate whether birth weight acts as a prenatal determinant of physical fitness parameters and to determine the role of environmental or biological variables on this effect.

Methods

One hundred and sixty‐seven children aged 6–14 years were included in this study. The anthropometric data, physical activity index, standing long jump, flexibility, handgrip strength, and cardiorespiratory fitness were evaluated.

Results

A positive correlation was found between birth weight and cardiorespiratory fitness (r = .349; p < .001), right handgrip strength (r = .337; p < .001), and left handgrip strength (r = .320; p < .001), suggesting that children with low birth weight had the worst performance in both cardiorespiratory endurance and grip strength tests. These findings remained significant after adjustment for prematurity, sex, age, physical activity index, and body mass index (BMI). Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed a significant interaction of high birth weight, older age, and low BMI in predicting better cardiorespiratory endurance (R2 = .308). When handgrip strength was tested as the dependent variable, we found that high birth weight, male sex, and older age emerged as important determinants for both sides.

Conclusion

Children aged 6–14 years born with a birth weight < 2.5 kg have low handgrip strength and cardiorespiratory fitness, which seems to be mediated partially by influences of both prenatal environment (e.g., birth weight) and biological variables (e.g., age, sex, BMI).
Rhodium(II)‐Catalyzed [4+2] Annulation of Ester‐Tethered 1‐Sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐Triazoles and Hexahydro‐1,3,5‐Triazines
Authors: Duan Shengguo , Meng Hui , Jablasone Saygbechi T. , Luo Huan , Xu Ze‐Feng , Li Chuan‐Ying
Published: March 2021

A rhodium(II)‐catalyzed [4+2] annulation of ester‐tethered 1‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles and hexahydro‐1,3,5‐triazines, which features a chemoselective 1,2‐ester migration of α‐imine rhodium carbene intermediates, has been developed. Most of the valuable 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidine derivatives were generated in good to excellent yields under mild conditions. Several important derivatization reactions have been performed.
Deepen into sleep and wake patterns across Alzheimer's disease phenotypes
Authors: Falgàs Neus , Walsh Christine M. , Neylan Thomas C. , Grinberg Lea T.
Published: March 2021

Although, the clinical variants of Alzheimer's disease (AD) show distinct patterns of cognitive and behavioral decline, disease progression, and neuropathological features, it is unclear if this clinical heterogeneity extends to sleep‐wake patterns. Sleep and wake disturbances are frequent in typical AD, often preceding memory loss and negatively impacting the quality of life of patients and caregivers alike. Still, sleep and wake disorders are often misdiagnosed and undertreated in typical AD. Better characterization of sleep‐wake features in AD clinical variants is an unmet gap of high importance because these differing patterns may require tailored treatment strategies. Moreover, as wake‐promoting neurons are located in subcortical nuclei and degenerate early in typical AD, contrasting the profiles of sleep‐wake patterns in typical and atypical AD aids diagnosis and brings a unique opportunity to uncover the mechanisms underlying AD clinical variants at the subcortical level and mechanisms for selective neuronal vulnerability.
Noninvasive Mapping of Ripple Onset Predicts Outcome in Epilepsy Surgery
Authors: Tamilia Eleonora , Matarrese Margherita A. G. , Ntolkeras Georgios , Grant P. Ellen , Madsen Joseph R. , Stufflebeam Steve M. , Pearl Phillip L. , Papadelis Christos
Published: March 2021

Objective

Intracranial electroencephalographic (icEEG) studies show that interictal ripples propagate across the brain of children with medically refractory epilepsy (MRE), and the onset of this propagation (ripple onset zone [ROZ]) estimates the epileptogenic zone. It is still unknown whether we can map this propagation noninvasively. The goal of this study is to map ripples (ripple zone [RZ]) and their propagation onset (ROZ) using high‐density EEG (HD‐EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG), and to estimate their prognostic value in pediatric epilepsy surgery.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed simultaneous HD‐EEG and MEG data from 28 children with MRE who underwent icEEG and epilepsy surgery. Using electric and magnetic source imaging, we estimated virtual sensors (VSs) at brain locations that matched the icEEG implantation. We detected ripples on VSs, defined the virtual RZ and virtual ROZ, and estimated their distance from icEEG. We assessed the predictive value of resecting virtual RZ and virtual ROZ for postsurgical outcome. Interictal spike localization on HD‐EEG and MEG was also performed and compared with ripples.

Results

We mapped ripple propagation in all patients with HD‐EEG and in 27 (96%) patients with MEG. The distance from icEEG did not differ between HD‐EEG and MEG when mapping the RZ (26–27mm, p = 0.6) or ROZ (22–24mm, p = 0.4). Resecting the virtual ROZ, but not virtual RZ or the sources of spikes, was associated with good outcome for HD‐EEG (p = 0.016) and MEG (p = 0.047).

Interpretation

HD‐EEG and MEG can map interictal ripples and their propagation onset (virtual ROZ). Noninvasively mapping the ripple onset may augment epilepsy surgery planning and improve surgical outcome of children with MRE. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:911–925
The Golden Age: Shining the Light on Theragnostics
Authors: Yang Yamin , Wang Hongjun
Published: March 2021

Gold nanoparticles have attracted unprecedented attention as one of the leading nanomaterials in the field of biomedicine. Of particular interest are their inherent and geometrically tunable optical properties upon the interaction with light, facilitating breakthroughs in light‐mediated diagnosis and therapeutics. Herein, an up‐to‐date overview of the current research in utilizing versatile gold‐based nanosystems with distinctive optical features for optical imaging and phototherapy is provided. The recent advances in optical biosensing, surface‐enhanced Raman scattering‐based detection, photoacoustic imaging, optical coherence tomography, photothermal therapy, light‐triggered drug release, photodynamic therapy, and optomodulation of neural functions using the novel and elegant gold nanostructures of unique design are summarized. In recognition of the burgeoning popularity of integrating multiple diagnostic and therapeutic functions in one system, recent developments of various multifunctional gold nanoplatforms for the light‐enabled concomitant diagnosis and therapy are also highlighted. In the end, the current limitations and perspectives in clinical translation of gold nanomaterial‐assisted photodiagnosis and phototherapy are discussed along with the concluding remarks.
Hybrid ceria and chitosan supported nickel nanoparticles: A recyclable nanocatalytic system in the reduction of nitroarenes and the synthesis of benzopyran derivatives in green solvent
Authors: Mahajan Ankush , Gupta Monika
Published: March 2021

Mesoporous, highly temperature resistant, magnetically separable, bimetallic, and organic‐based photoluminescent nanocatalyst has been prepared. Chitosan can act efficiently as a support material for preparing nanocatalysts. Hybrid ceria, that is, iron‐doped‐cerium oxide (Fe@CeO2), was prepared via coprecipitation method. Chitosan–iron‐doped‐ceria nanocomposite was prepared and kept in a solution of NiCl2 to adsorb Ni2+ ions, which were then reduced with NaBH4 to accumulate nickel nanoparticles. The characterization of nanocatalyst was performed using different techniques such as X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), high‐resolution transmission electron microscope (HR‐TEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectra (EDX), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) analysis. The catalyst was found to have a very small size about 2–3 nm and having a large surface area of about 121 m2 g−1, which was stable up to 800°C. It was also found to be photoluminescent. The catalyst thus prepared is useful for the reduction of nitroarenes, which is a toxic compound that is often found as a pollutant in the environment, to anilines, key intermediates for the fine chemical, agrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries. Also, nanocatalyst was used for the synthesis of various substituted tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyrans, which is an essential structural component in various natural products, in good to excellent yields.
Children with autism spectrum disorder show altered functional connectivity and abnormal maturation trajectories in response to inverted faces
Authors: Mamashli Fahimeh , Kozhemiako Nataliia , Khan Sheraz , Nunes Adonay S. , McGuiggan Nicole M. , Losh Ainsley , Joseph Robert M. , Ahveninen Jyrki , Doesburg Sam M. , Hämäläinen Matti S. , Kenet Tal
Published: March 2021

The processing of information conveyed by faces is a critical component of social communication. While the neurophysiology of processing upright faces has been studied extensively in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), less is known about the neurophysiological abnormalities associated with processing inverted faces in ASD. We used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to study both long‐range and local functional connectivity, with the latter assessed using local cross‐frequency coupling, in response to inverted faces stimuli, in 7–18 years old individuals with ASD and age and IQ matched typically developing (TD) individuals. We found abnormally reduced coupling between the phase of the alpha rhythm and the amplitude of the gamma rhythm in the fusiform face area (FFA) in response to inverted faces, as well as reduced long‐range functional connectivity between the FFA and the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) in response to inverted faces in the ASD group. These group differences were absent in response to upright faces. The magnitude of functional connectivity between the FFA and the IFG was significantly correlated with the severity of ASD, and FFA‐IFG long‐range functional connectivity increased with age in TD group, but not in the ASD group. Our findings suggest that both local and long‐range functional connectivity are abnormally reduced in children with ASD when processing inverted faces, and that the pattern of abnormalities associated with the processing of inverted faces differs from the pattern of upright faces in ASD, likely due to the presumed greater reliance on top‐down regulations necessary for efficient processing of inverted faces.

Lay Summary

We found alterations in the neurophysiological responses to inverted faces in children with ASD, that were not reflected in the evoked responses, and were not observed in the responses to upright faces. These alterations included reduced local functional connectivity in the fusiform face area (FFA), and decreased long‐range alpha‐band modulated functional connectivity between the FFA and the left IFG. The magnitude of long‐range functional connectivity between the FFA and the inferior frontal gyrus was correlated with the severity of ASD.
Instandsetzung einer geschädigten Anlegerbrücke in der Nordsee
Authors: Wolff Lars , Bruns Michael , Raupach Michael
Published: March 2021

Die Umschlaganlage Voslapper Groden in Wilhelmshaven ist ein Tiefwasseranleger für den Umschlag von chemischen Produkten. Infolge der Exposition im Meerwasser zeigen die Stahlbeton‐ und Spannbetonbauteile verschiedene komplexe Schadensbilder, die eine umfangreiche Instandsetzung des Bauwerks erfordern. So weist eine Vielzahl der Bauteile ausgeprägte Schäden in Form von Rissen und großflächigen Hohllagen infolge Alkali‐Kieselsäurereaktion (AKR) auf. Weiterhin haben aus dem Meerwasser stammende Chloride bereits großflächig zu Bewehrungskorrosion geführt. Die beiden für sich gesehen getrennt ablaufenden Schädigungsmechanismen überlagern sich im vorliegenden Fall, sodass im Zuge einer Instandsetzung der betreffenden Stahl‐ und Spannbetonbauteile beide Schädigungsmechanismen berücksichtigt werden mussten. Im Zuge einer Pilotinstandsetzung in den Jahren 2010 und 2011 wurden erste Teile der Umschlaganlage durch Kombination verschiedener Instandsetzungsprinzipien, u. a. durch Anwendung des Prinzips des kathodischen Korrosionsschutzes (KKS), instand gesetzt. Im Jahr 2019 erfolgten erneut Untersuchungen an den beiden in den Jahren 2010 und 2011 instand gesetzten Bauteilen der Umschlaganlage. Im Zuge dieser Untersuchungen konnten keine neuen Schäden an den instand gesetzten Bauteilen festgestellt werden. Basierend auf diesen Erfahrungen wurde im Jahr 2020 mit der Instandsetzung weiterer Bauteile der Umschlaganlage begonnen.
Knockout of vasohibin‐2 reduces tubulin carboxypeptidase activity and increases paclitaxel sensitivity in ovarian cancer
Authors: Koyanagi Takahiro , Saga Yasushi , Takahashi Yoshifumi , Tamura Kohei , Yoshiba Takahiro , Takahashi Suzuyo , Taneichi Akiyo , Takei Yuji , Urabe Masashi , Mizukami Hiroaki , Fujiwara Hiroyuki
Published: March 2021

Vasohibin‐1 (VASH1) is a VEGF‐inducible endothelium‐derived angiogenesis inhibitor, and vasohibin‐2 (VASH2), its homolog, exhibits proangiogenic activity. VASH2 is expressed by various cancer cells and accelerates tumor angiogenesis and progression. VASH2 was recently shown to exhibit tubulin carboxypeptidase (TCP) activity related to microtubule functions. Paclitaxel (PTX), an effective chemotherapeutic agent that is widely used to treat ovarian cancer, inhibits microtubule depolymerization and may interact with VASH2. We herein established several VASH2 knockout ovarian cancer cell lines using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system to examine the intracellular tubulin detyrosination status and PTX chemosensitivity. The knockout of VASH2 did not affect the proliferation or sphere‐forming activity of ovarian cancer cells in vitro. A Western blot analysis of VASH2 knockout cells revealed the weak expression of detyrosinated tubulin and upregulated expression of cyclin B1. The knockout of VASH2 significantly increased chemosensitivity to PTX, but not to cisplatin in ovarian cancer cell lines. The knockout of VASH2 reduced TCP activity and increased cyclin B1 expression, resulting in increased PTX chemosensitivity in ovarian cancer cells. The inhibition of angiogenesis and regulation of microtubule activity may be achieved in ovarian cancer treatment strategies targeting VASH2.
Consistency of the S5 DNA methylation classifier in formalin‐fixed biopsies versus corresponding exfoliated cells for the detection of pre‐cancerous cervical lesions
Authors: Reuter Caroline , Preece Matthew , Banwait Rawinder , Boer Sabrina , Cuzick Jack , Lorincz Attila , Nedjai Belinda
Published: March 2021

Methylation biomarkers are promising tools for diagnosis and disease prevention. The S5 classifier is aimed at the prevention of cervical cancer by the early detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). S5 is based on pyrosequencing a promoter region of EPB41L3 and five late regions of HPV types 16, 18, 31, and 33 following bisulfite conversion of DNA. Good biomarkers should perform well in a variety of sample types such as exfoliated cells, fresh frozen or formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) materials. Here, we tested the performance of S5 on 315 FFPE biopsies with paired exfoliated cervical samples using four different conversion kits (Epitect Bisulfite, Epitect Fast Bisulfite, EZ DNA Methylation, and EZ DNA Methylation‐Lightning). The S5 values from FFPE biopsies for all kits were significantly correlated with those obtained from their paired exfoliated cells. For the EZ DNA Methylation kit, we observed an average increased methylation of 4.4% in FFPE. This was due to incomplete conversion of DNA (73% for FFPE vs. 95% for cells). The other kits had a DNA conversion rate in FFPE similar to the cells (95%–97%). S5 performed well at discriminating <CIN2 lesions from CIN2+ lesions on the FFPE with all kits given optimized adjustments to the cut‐off. The area under the curve (AUC) for S5 on FFPE was not significantly different from the paired cells (0.74–0.79 vs. 0.81). The best sensitivity and specificity were obtained for EZ DNA Methylation after the adjustment of the cut‐off to reflect its lower conversion rate. Consistent methylation results can be obtained from FFPE material regardless of the conversion kit used. The S5 classifier performed as well on FFPE material as on exfoliated cells with adjusted cut‐off allowing easier clinical implementation.
Ultralow Co Loading Phenanthroline‐based Porous Organic Polymer as a High‐efficient Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Fixation of CO2 to Cyclic Carbonates at Ambient Conditions
Authors: Zhang Xiaofeng , Ding Junhao , Qiu Bo , Li Dajian , Bian Yunpeng , Zhu Dandan , Wang Shimin , Mai Wenpeng , Ming Shujun , Chen Jian , Li Tao
Published: March 2021

The exploration of cost‐effective and efficient catalysts for the transformation of CO2 into chemicals at room temperature and low CO2 pressure is a key challenge. Here, a green synthesis method of porous organic polymer was developed, which was obtained by the Scholl coupling reaction via polycondensation of 1,3,5‐triphenylbenzene and 1,10‐phenanthroline at room temperature. The polymer has a large surface area (1074 m2 g−1) and exhibited excellent CO2 capture of 77.26 cm3 g−1 at 273.15 K and 1.00 bar. After loading cobalt acetate, an ultralow Co loading phenanthroline‐based porous organic polymer was obtained with very high catalytic efficiency in TOF of 263 h−1 for the fixation of CO2 to cyclic carbonates at room temperature and atmospheric with free‐solvent, which is over six‐fold than that of a molecular analogue, 1,10‐phenanthroline‐Co(OAc)2. This work provided a facile, powerful, green, and efficient strategy for designing porous organic polymers as high‐efficient heterogeneous catalysts in the fixation of carbon dioxide.
Conceptual Membraneless Fuel Cell Device Based On Ionic Liquid|Water Interface
Authors: Teixeira Santos Keyla , Suffredini Hugo Barbosa , Wittstock Gunther , Angelucci Camilo Andrea
Published: March 2021

Ionic liquids (ILs) are considered as a new‐generation electrolyte for electrochemical devices such as fuel cells. When in contact with water, ILs can form a liquid|liquid interface due to their hydrophobicity. This feature allows us to build a conceptual membraneless device for energy generation by combining the oxygen reduction and hydrogen oxidation reactions in acid aqueous electrolyte and in [Bmim][PF6], respectively. The IL|water interface serves as an ion‐exchange interface, allowing the proton transfer between the phases. The open circuit voltage (OCV) between the two half‐cells
achieves 1.34 V with a maximum power density of 0.7 μW cm−2 at room temperature. Changes in the pH show no influence in the Galvani potential difference resulted from the IL|water interface and in the
half‐cell. Besides the relative low fuel cell power, the conceptual device has wide margin to improve, mainly in the cell design.
A Strain‐engineered Helical Structure as a Self‐adaptive Magnetic Microswimmer
Authors: Shi Xiaojie , Liu Jinrun , Kong Ye , Xu Borui , Li Tianlong , Solovev Alexander A. , Mei Yongfeng
Published: March 2021

Inspired by flagellar bacteria, helical microswimmers are proposed in many biomedical applications due to their efficient propulsion at low Reynolds numbers. And the ability to swim through a confined environment such as a blood capillary is an urgent issue to further expand their functions both in vivo and in vitro. Herein, we report an inorganic but soft helical microswimmer that can accurately navigate and achieve self‐adaptive locomotion driven by a weak magnetic field. The microswimmer is made via nanomembrane self‐rolling method. The motion of helical microswimmer is influenced by its structures such as size and pitch, which can be precisely manipulated by strain engineering during fabrication. Self‐adaptive motion is demonstrated in a confined capillary filled with viscous fluid. This helical microswimmer is expected as a magnetic microtool applied to thrombosis treatment as a combination of rigid inorganic materials and soft helical structure.
Influence of various mouthrinses on color stability and whiteness of resin‐based restorative materials
Authors: Çarıkçıoğlu Burak
Published: March 2021

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of commonly used mouthrinses on the discoloration and whiteness of resin‐based restoratives (RBR). Two hundred disc shaped specimens (5mm diameter, 2mm tick) of a micro‐hybrid composite (FZ‐Filtek Z250, 3M ESPE), a ormocer (AD‐Admira, Voco), a giomer (BE‐Beautifil II, Shofu) and a compomer (DX‐Dyract XP, Dentsply) RBRs were prepared (50 from each). The specimens were stored in distilled water for 24 h, then immersed for another 12 h in five mouthrinses of distilled water, Klorhex, Tantum Verde, Oral‐B Complete Lasting Freshness and Listerine Cool Mint. The specimens were subjected to color measurements, using a spectrophotometer (VITA Easyshade V, VITA Zahnfabrik) before and after immersion. Color change (ΔE00) and whiteness index (WID) were calculated and data were analyzed using one‐way ANOVA, two‐way ANOVA and post‐hoc Tukey’s test (p < 0.05). BE was the most colored RBRs in all solutions. ΔE00 values of all RBRs immersed in Tantum Verde were above the acceptability threshold. DX showed the highest negative ΔWID values in all solutions. ΔE00 and ΔWID showed higher values for all RBRs when immersed in Tantum Verde. FZ and AD are the most successful, BE and DX are the most unsuccessful RBRs in terms of on color stability and whiteness caused by the use of mouthrinse. After all RBRs were immersed in different mouthrinses, they changed in terms of color and whiteness.
Cloud service discovery method: A framework for automatic derivation of cloud marketplace and cloud intelligence to assist consumers in finding cloud services
Authors: Alkalbani Asma Musabah , Hussain Walayat
Published: March 2021

The increase in the number of cloud services advertisements, needs for cloud services marketplace to enable significant interaction with cloud consumers. Majority of the existing literature has focused on developing algorithms (such as matching algorithms) and assumed the availability of cloud service information. Furthermore, little attention is given to the efficient discovery of cloud services over the internet. Existing approaches unable to describe a user‐friendly method of harvesting related cloud services from the web. Moreover, the existing literature lacks a comprehensive ontology to represent cloud services and a registry for cloud services publication and discovery. The incomplete information prevents discovering accurate services and deriving intelligence from cloud reviews data. The paper presents a framework for automatic derivation of cloud marketplace and cloud intelligence (ADCM&CI) that assist cloud consumers for an effective and efficient cloud service discovery. The framework depends on the capabilities of the Harvester as a Service (HaaS) crawler that provides a user‐friendly interface to extract real‐time cloud dataset. The paper used Protégé OWL a domain‐specific ontology to extract meaningful data from a semi‐structured repository and transform to SaaS ads attribute. The framework conducts sentimental analysis to excerpt the polarity of reviews that assist potential consumers in service selection. The paper considers three measures—precision, recall and F Score as a benchmark and evaluates the accuracy of the proposed approach using machine learning methods—SVM, KNN, Decision Tree and Naïve Bayes algorithms. Through experiments, we validate and demonstrate the suitability of the proposed framework for an effective and efficient cloud service discovery.
Changes in haemolymph parameters and insect ability to respond to immune challenge during overwintering
Authors: Řeřicha Michal , Dobeš Pavel , Knapp Michal
Published: March 2021

Overwintering is a challenging period in the life of temperate insects. A limited energy budget characteristic of this period can result in reduced investment in immune system. Here, we investigated selected physiological and immunological parameters in laboratory‐reared and field‐collected harlequin ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis). For laboratory‐reared beetles, we focused on the effects of winter temperature regime (cold, average, or warm winter) on total haemocyte concentration aiming to investigate potential effects of ongoing climate change on immune system in overwintering insects. We recorded strong reduction in haemocyte concentration during winter; however, there were only limited effects of winter temperature regime on changes in haemocyte concentration in the course of overwintering. For field‐collected beetles, we measured additional parameters, specifically: total protein concentration, antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, and haemocyte concentration before and after overwintering. The field experiment did not investigate effects of winter temperature, but focused on changes in inducibility of insect immune system during overwintering, that is, measured parameters were compared between naïve beetles and those challenged by Escherichia coli. Haemocyte concentration decreased during overwintering, but only in individuals challenged by Escherichia coli. Prior to overwintering, the challenged beetles had a significantly higher haemocyte concentration compared to naïve beetles, whereas no difference was observed after overwintering. A similar pattern was observed also for antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli as challenged beetles outperformed naïve beetles before overwintering, but not after winter. In both sexes, total protein concentration increased in the course of overwintering, but females had a significantly higher total protein concentration in their hemolymph compared to males. In general, our results revealed that insect’s ability to respond to an immune challenge is significantly reduced in the course of overwintering.
Antagonistic and mutualistic interactions alter seed dispersal of understory plants at forest edges
Authors: Parker Wyatt J. , Buono Carmela M. , Prior Kirsten M.
Published: March 2021

Seed dispersal by ants is an important interaction in North American eastern deciduous forests, where 30–40% of understory plants are myrmecochores, with seeds that possess lipid‐rich appendages (elaiosomes) that attract seed‐dispersing ants. Contemporary forests are fragmented and have regenerated from being previously cleared (secondary forests). In secondary forests, and especially along edges, myrmecochores are a depauperate component of forests. Here, we assess if seed dispersal of myrmecochores by ants, particularly the keystone disperser, Aphaenogaster sp., is intact in forest interiors compared to edges. In three North American northeastern deciduous forests, we compared myrmecochore cover and richness, seed dispersal by ants, and the abundance and richness of ants and other forest floor invertebrates between interiors and edges. We also conducted a seed removal experiment, excluding either ants, rodents (seed predators), or ants and rodents, to test their effects on seed dispersal between interiors and edges. We found differences in the composition of understory plants between interiors and edges, with edges lacking myrmecochores. We also found that seed dispersal by ants was lower in two of the three edges and corresponded to Aphaenogaster sp. abundance. Antagonistic interactions with an invasive slug that is an elaiosome robber, Arion subfuscus, was more apparent than damage by rodents in the experiment, negatively affected dispersal by ants more at edges than in interiors. Here we show that changes in mutualistic and antagonistic interactions affect seed dispersal at forest edges and that not all forest edges are the same, with some more intact than others. Understanding how seed dispersal is impacted in contemporary forests is important towards the goal of conserving and restoring depauperate forest understory communities.
Novel reproductive behavior in an Asian frog: sex‐reversed inguinal amplexus
Authors: Sung Yik‐Hei , Lee Wing‐Ho , Ng Ho‐Nam , Crump Martha L. , Karraker Nancy E.
Published: March 2021

Amphibians exhibit diverse reproductive behaviors, including nine documented types of amplexus, the behavior in which male and female frogs position themselves for courtship, oviposition, and fertilization. All known forms of amplexus involve the male on top of or in line horizontally (cloacal apposition) with the female. Here, we report a novel form of amplexus observed in Lau’s leaf litter toad (Leptobrachella laui; Megophryidae) in Hong Kong, China. Termed “sex‐reversed inguinal amplexus,” the female climbs on top of a male and the male transports the female to a concealed breeding site. We were unable to determine whether this was the amplectant position in which frogs engaged during oviposition or solely during courtship and prior to oviposition, but there are a number of possible evolutionary drivers that may have given rise to this behavior, including limiting suitable oviposition sites or strong competition for males among females. Further research will be necessary to understand the evolutionary origins of this novel reproductive behavior.
Migration distance and maternal resource allocation determine timing of birth in a large herbivore
Authors: Aikens Ellen O. , Dwinnell Samantha P.H. , LaSharr Tayler N. , Jakopak Rhiannon P. , Fralick Gary L. , Randall Jill , Kaiser Rusty , Thonhoff Mark , Kauffman Matthew J. , Monteith Kevin L.
Published: March 2021

Birth timing is a key life‐history characteristic that influences fitness and population performance. For migratory animals, however, appropriately timing birth on one seasonal range may be constrained by events occurring during other parts of the migratory cycle. We investigated how the use of capital and income resources may facilitate flexibility in reproductive phenology of migratory mule deer in western Wyoming, USA, over a 5‐yr period (2015–2019). Specifically, we examined how seasonal interactions affected three interrelated life‐history characteristics: fetal development, birth mass, and birth timing. Females in good nutritional condition at the onset of winter and those that migrated short distances had more developed fetuses (measured as fetal eye diameter in March). Variation in parturition date was explained largely by fetal development; however, there were up to 16 d of plasticity in expected birth date. Plasticity in expected birth date was shaped by income resources in the form of exposure to spring green‐up. Although individuals that experienced greater exposure to spring green‐up were able to advance expected birth date, being born early or late with respect to fetal development had no effect on birth mass of offspring. Furthermore, we investigated the trade‐offs migrating mule deer face by evaluating support for existing theory that predicts that births should be matched to local peaks in resource availability at the birth site. In contrast to this prediction, only long‐distance migrants that paced migration with the flush of spring green‐up, giving birth shortly after ending migration, were able to match birth with spring green‐up. Shorter‐distance migrants completed migration sooner and gave birth earlier, seemingly trading off more time for offspring to grow and develop over greater access to resources. Thus, movement tactic had profound downstream effects on birth timing. These findings highlight a need to reconsider classical theory on optimal birth timing, which has focused solely on conditions at the birth site.
Excluding mammalian predators increases bird densities and seed dispersal in fenced ecosanctuaries
Authors: Bombaci Sara P. , Innes John , Kelly Dave , Flaherty Victoria , Pejchar Liba
Published: March 2021

Islands are epicenters of animal extinctions and population declines. These losses exacerbate biodiversity loss and disrupt ecological services in areas of high endemism. Island defaunation is primarily driven by invasive mammalian predators, and mammal eradications are reversing population declines for some island species. Invasive mammal eradications may also have the capacity to restore ecological interactions, along with the recovery of island fauna. Here we show that invasive mammal eradication in fenced ecosanctuaries results in higher rates of bird foraging on fruit, and higher bird‐mediated seed dispersal, than in similar forests without mammal eradication. We further show that higher foraging and seed dispersal is related to higher densities of native bird species, after accounting for natural variation in fruit availability. For the many other systems globally that are under threat from invasive mammals, New Zealand’s fenced ecosanctuary model offers a promising tool for restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Feasibility randomized‐controlled trial of online acceptance and commitment therapy for painful peripheral neuropathy in people living with HIV: The OPEN study
Authors: Scott Whitney , Guildford Beth J. , Badenoch James , Driscoll Elizabeth , Chilcot Joseph , Norton Sam , Kemp Harriet I. , Lee Ming J. , Lwanga Julianne , Boffito Marta , Moyle Graeme , Post Frank A. , Campbell Lucy , Josh Jo , Clift Paul , C de C Williams Amanda , Rice Andrew SC , McCracken Lance M
Published: March 2021

Background

Neuropathic pain negatively affects quality of life among people living with HIV (PLWH). This study examined the feasibility of conducting a full‐scale randomized‐controlled trial of online acceptance and commitment therapy (“ACT OPEN”) for neuropathic pain in PLWH.

Methods

Using a parallel‐groups design, thirty‐eight participants were randomized to ACT OPEN or a waitlist control (2:1). Participants completed standard self‐report outcome measures at baseline, and two‐ and five‐months post‐randomization. Participants were aware of their allocation, but assessment was blinded.

Results

Twenty‐five participants were randomized to ACT OPEN and 13 to the control (of 133 referrals). ACT OPEN completion was 69% and two‐month trial retention was 82%. Treatment credibility and satisfaction scores for ACT OPEN were comparable to scores reported in previous trials of cognitive‐behavioural treatments for pain. Four adverse events were reported during the study, including one serious adverse event; all of these were unrelated to the research procedures. Small to moderate effects and 95% confidence intervals suggest that the true effect may favour ACT OPEN for improvements in pain intensity/interference and depression.

Conclusions

A full‐scale RCT of online ACT for pain management in PLWH may be feasible with refinements to trial design to facilitate recruitment.

Significance

Research on pain management in people living with HIV has primarily focused on pharmacological treatments with limited success. This is the first study to show the potential feasibility of a psychological treatment based on acceptance and commitment therapy delivered online and tailored for pain management in people with HIV (“ACT OPEN”). ACT OPEN may be a promising treatment in this population and further evaluation in a full‐scale randomized‐controlled trial appears warranted.

Trial Registration: The trial was registered (clinicaltrials.gov; NCT03584412).
Mexican Small-Scale Fisheries Reveal New Insights into Low-Carbon Seafood and “Climate-Friendly” Fisheries Management
Authors: Ferrer Erica M , Aburto-Oropeza Octavio , Jiménez-Esquivel Victoria , Cota-Nieto Juan José , Mascareñas-Osorio Ismael , López-Sagástegui Catalina
Published: March 2021

As a society, we are confronted with the question of how best to feed an expanding human population, and some have pointed to seafood as a “climate-friendly” option. To date, the contributions of small-scale fisheries (SSFs) have been largely excluded from studies on food footprint. Here, we calculated the Emission Intensity profiles for seven seafood types generated by Mexican SSFs. Based on these results—which indicate that there exist several low-carbon SSFs in Northwestern Mexico—we provide a coarse approximation for the total carbon footprint of Mexico’s motorized small-scale fleet. Finally, we scrutinize the utility of non-fuel data (such as GPS data) in predicting fuel consumption/carbon emissions across SSFs. To our knowledge, this is the first life-cycle assessment to compare multiple seafood products generated by Mexican SSFs, and the first published link between tracking data and carbon accounting for SSFs specifically. We discuss how these results, in combination with insights gained from monitoring efforts in Northwestern Mexico, might be used to inform and incentivize “climate-friendly” fisheries management. While carbon footprint represents just one component of sustainability, this article serves as a helpful case study for those preoccupied with carbon accounting and fishers sustainability in traditionally data-limited scenarios.
The effect of British Columbia's Pharmacare coverage expansion for opioid agonist treatment
Authors: Hongdilokkul Natt , Krebs Emanuel , Zang Xiao , Zhou Haoxuan , Homayra Fahmida , Min Jeong Eun , Nosyk Bohdan
Published: March 2021

Opioid agonist treatment (OAT) is the evidence‐based standard of care for people with opioid use disorder. In British Columbia, Canada, only social assistance registrants received full coverage for OAT prior to the introduction of the Pharmacare Plan G coverage expansion on February 1st, 2017. We aimed to determine the effect of the coverage expansion on OAT initiation, re‐initiation, and retention. Using linked population‐level data, we executed a difference‐in‐differences analysis to compare outcomes of individuals eligible for the additional coverage and social assistance registrants already receiving the most generous coverage for OAT prior to the policy change, adjusting for individual and prescriber characteristics. We found Plan G coverage expansion significantly increased OAT retention. Specifically, coverage expansion decreased the number of OAT episode discontinuations by 12.8% (95% CI: 8.4%, 17.2%).
Evaluating sedimentary PAH bioavailability based on equilibrium partitioning and passive sampling at the Dover Gas Light Superfund Site (Dover, Delaware, USA)
Authors: Burgess Robert M. , Grossman Scott , Ball Gerald , Kady Thomas , Sprenger Mark , Nevshehirlian Stepan
Published: March 2021

From 1859 to 1948, the Dover Gas Light plant produced combustible gas for industrial, commercial, and residential applications using pine resin, coking coal, oil, and wood, and finally, a coal–gas process. Waste coal tar was discharged into the St. Jones River in Dover, Delaware (USA), via a ditch and culvert and, following plant closure in the 1940s, through groundwater flow from structures buried on the site. By the end of the 20th century, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination of the sediments in the St. Jones River was suspected to have occurred, and state and federal agencies initiated environmental assessments of the newly designated Superfund site. The current study investigated the spatial distributions of total PAHs in St. Jones River sediments adjacent to the site and evaluated their bioavailability. In 2017, 34 sediment cores were collected, sectioned, and analyzed using an on-site fluorometric screening technology indicating total PAH sediment concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 15 000 mg/kg (wet). A subset of cores involving 20 samples of various depths was selected and further analyzed by conventional GC/MS analysis for 16 parent PAHs. In addition, a 34-day in situ deployment of polyethylene passive samplers was performed to measure vertical bioavailability profiles of parent PAHs in sediments at three locations and overlying waters at four stations. Freely dissolved concentrations (C  free) of total PAHs were estimated based on equilibrium partitioning (EqP) of the GC/MS results and the passive sampling findings. C  free values were used to calculate acute and chronic toxic units ranging from 1.4 to 56, based on EqP and 1.3 to 15 based on passive sampling. For six samples where comparative data were available, EqP calculations overestimated bioavailability by < 2- to 54-fold. Combining rapid field measurements with more accurate analyses of sediment concentrations and bioavailability in a tiered framework supported a time-efficient and cost-effective site investigation. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:1215–1228. © Published 2021. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

KEY POINTS

Applied a combination of screening technology, analytical analyses, and passive sampling to assess a sediment site contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Equilibrium partitioning (EqP) and passive sampling used to determine and compare freely dissolved concentrations (C  free) and toxic units. Tiered approach provided time- and cost-effective and scientifically robust decision-making framework.
The problem of annual inflation rate indicator
Authors: Arlt Josef
Published: March 2021

In economic practice, the annual inflation rate is commonly used. As a one‐sided moving average of the annualized inflation rate, it is approximately 6 months behind the annualized and monthly inflation rates and the CPI. The annual rate of inflation is, in fact, a smoothing transformation that removes the seasonal component from the annualized inflation rate, assuming the presence of all seasonal unit roots. In reality, however, the CPIs, and thus the annualized inflation rates, do not contain most of seasonal unit roots, resulting in spurious cycles of annual inflation rates, which pose difficulties in assessing and interpreting their development dynamics. Their practical applications in econometric analyses are limited because the unit root tests too often do not reject the zero hypothesis of the presence of unit roots when annual inflation rates are actually stationary. Parameter estimates of the annual inflation rate models are biased and inaccurate, allowing only incorrect short‐term forecasts. The above facts make use of the annual inflation rate indicator in real economic situations questionable.
A novel colorimetric chemosensor for selective and highly sensitive determination of thiourea: An approach toward a molecular keypad lock
Authors: Tavallali Hossein , Rahimi Eisa , Deilamy‐Rad Gohar , Karimi Mohammad Ali , Tavallali Maryam
Published: March 2021

A novel simple reversible colorimetric chemosensor has been designed and developed using 4‐(2‐pridylazo) resorcinol (PAR). The colorimetric receptor PAR has been successfully applied for the determination of Hg2+ ions, and then the PAR‐Hg2+ complex has been used for thiourea (TU) measurements in aqueous‐buffer medium. This chemosensor exhibited an obvious color change from yellow to bright red in the presence of Hg2+ in aqueous solution. In addition, the resulting PAR‐Hg2+ complex sensed TU through naked‐eye, showing recovery from PAR‐Hg2+ to PAR, in aqueous solution. The detection limits reached up to 3.01 nmol/L for Hg2+ and 8.5 nmol/L for TU. The operational simplicity and cost‐effectiveness of colorimetric measurements using PAR and Hg2+ were achieved. Based on this, the designed method was well used to determine the analytes in industrial and environmental samples. The molecular switching between two chemical inputs (Hg2+, TU) consequences in the IMPLICATION molecular logic gate, which has been integrated sequentially to procedure a sequential information processing device.