bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of hybrid fillers of Mg–Al layered double hydroxide and nanoclay on the mechanical behavior and formability of glass laminate AA5052‐reinforced epoxy composites
Authors: K. Logesh , Bright Renjin J. , P. Hariharasakthisudhan , R. Vijayan
Published: September 2021

This research work investigates the influence of hybrid particulate fillers, Mg–Al layered double hydroxide (LDH), and nanoclay (NC), on the mechanical properties and formability of glass laminate AA5052 epoxy composites (GLARE). The composite laminates were prepared by varying the weight percentage (i.e., 3, 4, and 5 wt%) of the hybrid fillers in the epoxy resin. The conventional hand layup technique was utilized for the fabrication of the laminates. The tensile test samples were prepared in different orientations with respect to the rolling direction (i.e., 0°, 45°, and 90°) to address their anisotropic nature. The flexural, impact, lap shear, and formability tests were conducted as per ASTM and IS standards. The Erichsen cupping test was performed to study the formability of the composite laminates. For each test, the results were compared with that of the laminates containing individual LDH filler, NC filler, and no filler material. The results showed that the composite laminate with 5 wt% of LDH + NC hybrid filler exhibited enhanced tensile properties, impact energy, and lap shear strength while the laminate of 4 wt% LDH + NC filler possessed better flexural properties. The formability of the composite laminates with hybrid LDH + NC fillers was observed to be lower than that of the laminates with individual filler materials and laminate without any filler. The variation observed in the test results was justified by investigating the failure mechanism of the composite laminates using a scanning electron microscope.
Effect of feedback type on enhancing subsequent memory: Interaction with initial correctness and confidence level
Authors: Wang Lingwei , Yang Jiongjiong
Published: September 2021

Feedback is an important factor to enhance subsequent memory, showing that memory performance increases after the feedback than after the no feedback condition during retrieval practice. However, most studies have provided answers as feedback and only examined memory accuracy. It is unclear whether memory is enhanced over time when other types of feedback (e.g., correct/incorrect) is given. In addition, during retrieval practice, participants' responses differ in correctness and confidence level. To what extent these initial memory features interact with feedback type to influence subsequent memory accuracy and confidence level remains unclear. In this study, to address these questions, participants learned a series of sentences, then during the retrieval practice phase, different types of feedback—feedback with correct/incorrect and answer (CA‐feedback), feedback with answer (A‐feedback), feedback with correct/incorrect (C‐feedback), and no feedback—were given after they performed a cued‐recall test and rated the confidence. After retention intervals of 5 min, 1 day, and 7 days, they took final tests, followed by the confidence rating. The results showed that different types of feedback influenced subsequent memory and forgetting by different mechanisms. The CA‐feedback and A‐feedback enhanced memory performance by correcting initial errors and increasing the confidence of correct trials, but the corrected memory was more easily forgotten from 5 min to 7 days. Compared to A‐feedback, the CA‐feedback maintained the corrected memory after 1 day. The C‐feedback did not correct initial errors but slowed the forgetting rate and reduced the confidence of incorrect trials. This study highlighted the interaction between feedback type and initial memory features (correctness, confidence) to influence subsequent memory performance, including memory accuracy and confidence level.
Obstructive sleep apnea and metabolic disorders in morbidly obese adolescents
Authors: Haim Alon , Daniel Sharon , Hershkovitz Eli , Goldbart Aviv D. , Tarasiuk Ariel
Published: September 2021

Background

Little known about the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in morbid obese adolescents and the association between OSA and comorbid factors.

Aim

To examine the association between apnea–hypopnea index (AHI, a measure for OSA severity) and metabolic morbidity among morbidly obese adolescents.

Methods

We performed a population‐based retrospective cohort study by reviewing sleep study, metabolic indices, and comorbidity‐related data of a cohort (n = 106) of adolescents referred to a bariatric surgery clinic. We compared subjects with moderate/severe OSA (AHI ≥ 5) versus no/mild OSA (AHI < 5) OSA and three groups of subjects with increasing body mass index (BMI) concerning sleep‐study and metabolic indices using univariate analyses. To assess the link between AHI and ferritin levels a multivariate linear regression (adjusted for BMI and mean cell volume) was preformed.

Results

A total of 71 patients met the inclusion criteria. Subjects with moderate/severe OSA (n = 32, 45%) had higher BMI, cholesterol, cholesterol/high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio, hemoglobin A1c, and serum ferritin levels (p < .05). AHI significantly increased across BMI strata (p = .02). Multivariate linear regression indicated that moderate/severe OSA was associated with higher levels of ferritin, unstandardized β = 49.1 (nIU/ml) (p = .025).

Conclusions

Morbidly obese adolescents with moderate/severe OSA versus no/mild OSA have a higher risk for metabolic complications. Therefore, OSA management should be considered in adolescents with morbid obesity, in addition to weight loss.
Critical illness related to community acquired pneumonia, its epidemiology and outcomes in a pediatric intensive care unit of Pakistan
Authors: Zeeshan Arsheen , Abbas Qalab , Siddiqui Arsalan , Khalid Farah , Jehan Fyezah
Published: September 2021

Background

To determine the epidemiology and outcomes in critically ill children admitted with severe community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and to identify risk factors associated with mortality in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)

Methods

Retrospective review of medical records of all children (age 1 month to 18 years) admitted to PICU with CAP from January 2013 to March 2018 was done. Patients admitted in last 2 weeks before current illness and those with bronchiolitis (based on clinical diagnosis) were excluded. Data were collected on a structured proforma and included demographic, clinical data, comorbidities, therapeutic information, laboratory data, and outcome data. Results were presented as mean with SD and frequency with percentages. Factors associated with mortality were analyzed, using logistic regression for both univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

A total of 187 children with severe CAP were identified, 53.5% (n = 100) were <1 year of age and 65.2% (n = 122) were male, 32.6% (n = 61) were underweight, and 24.6% (n = 46) were stunted. A total of 94% (175) required mechanical ventilation. Mortality among the cohort was 20.3% (n = 38) with median length of mechanical ventilation 4 (2–8) days, and median length of PICU stay was 6 (4–12) days. PRISM score >10 on admission, presence of systemic illness, empyema, and length of PICU stay 14 (±2) days were associated with increased mortality among critically ill children admitted with CAP (p < .05).

Conclusions

Severe illness on presentation, presence of systemic illness and empyema are associated with increased mortality in children admitted to the PICU with severe CAP.
Species prevalence and plant traits discriminate between herbicide resistant and susceptible weeds
Authors: Hulme Philip E , Liu Wenting
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND

Herbicide resistant weeds pose one of the most significant global challenges to sustainable food and fiber production. Plant traits are assumed to play a significant role in determining whether a weed is likely to evolve herbicide resistance but there have been few quantitative assessments to date. There is therefore an urgent need to investigate both the demographic and evolutionary characteristics of weeds to predict which weed species are likely to evolve herbicide resistance. Here, the discriminatory power of multiple plant traits was examined by comparing herbicide resistant and herbicide susceptible weeds in the United States.

RESULTS

Despite the taxonomic and agronomic similarity of herbicide resistant and susceptible weeds in the United States, differences between these groups were captured by a relatively small set of explanatory variables. Herbicide resistant weeds were found across more states than susceptible species and this suggests widespread weeds also happen to be more problematic in crops and therefore specifically targeted for weed control. In terms of traits, herbicide resistant species were more likely to be outcrossing, have unisexual flowers and be wind pollinated as well as have larger chromosome numbers and seed size than herbicide susceptible weeds.

CONCLUSIONS

A trait‐based approach to understanding herbicide resistance confirms many assumptions as to the genetic attributes that make a weed more likely to evolve herbicide resistance. Scope therefore exists to build better risk assessment tools to identify future herbicide resistance hazards by incorporating plant traits, environmental tolerances, and evidence of herbicide resistance elsewhere in the world. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Thin‐Film Solar Cells of an Indium‐Modified Silver Antimony Sulfide Selenide Absorber Prepared by Spray Pyrolysis
Authors: Tang Mingrui , Yu Junsheng , Tang Hua , Cheng Jiang , Li Lu
Published: September 2021

Silver antimony sulfide (AgSbS2) is considered a promising photovoltaic absorber material because of its suitable bandgap, large absorption coefficient, and environmental friendliness. However, the photovoltaic performance of AgSbS2‐based solar cells is far from expectation and the applications of AgSbS2 are limited by the underdeveloped fabrication technology. Herein, an effective method is developed to improve the photovoltaic performance of devices by adding indium (In) into the Ag–Sb–S system followed by a selenization process. With the addition of In, the morphology uniformity and the crystallinity of the films are simultaneously improved due to the diminished defects such as pinholes and cracks, leading to a better heterojunction interface between Ag1−x
In2x
Sb1−x
S
y
Se2−y
and CdS. The Hall effect measurements demonstrate that the carrier concentration of the films effectively increases to 8.16 × 1014 cm−3 on adding In. The optical characterization suggests that In addition significantly enhances the optical absorption and broadens the absorption wavelength range. Furthermore, the conduction band offset between the absorber and the buffer layer is substantially reduced by adding In, which lessens the carrier recombination at the interface, increasing the carriers transport efficiency. The power conversion efficiency of the Ag1−x
In2x
Sb1−x
S
y
Se2−y
device is largely improved from 0.74% (In/Sb = 0) to 1.98% (In/Sb = 0.47).
Preferential Placement of Aligned Nitrogen Vacancy Centers in Chemical Vapor Deposition Overgrown Diamond Microstructures
Authors: Götze Arne , Striegler Nico , Marshall Alastair , Neumann Philipp , Giese Christian , Quellmalz Patricia , Knittel Peter
Published: September 2021

The usefulness of nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond is augmented by a low defect and impurity density in the surrounding host material, and applications benefit from the ability to control the position of the NV centers. Herein, a process to create NV centers on single‐crystalline diamond microstructures by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is presented. Pyramidal structures with {111} side facets are formed during the intrinsic overgrowth of dry chemically etched cylindrical pillars on a substrate with {100} surface orientation. A thin nitrogen‐doped epitaxial layer is deposited on top of the pyramids resulting in the creation of NV centers exclusively on the {111} pyramid side faces. Optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) and spin echo measurements reveal preferential alignment of the NV centers in a single {111} direction and a time of . The time of the NV centers is limited by the surrounding substitutional nitrogen (P1 center) concentration of . A low density of other paramagnetic spin noise is detected by double‐electron electron resonance (DEER) measurements.
Prediction of gradient‐based similarity functions from the Mellor–Yamada model
Authors: Łobocki Lech , Porretta‐Tomaszewska Paola
Published: September 2021

Gradient‐based implicit similarity functions are derived theoretically from a few variants of the Mellor–Yamada algebraic turbulence‐closure model under assumptions of local equilibrium conditions in a stably stratified shear flow. The solutions are compared with empirical functions presented by Sorbjan. Good agreement is found in the range of gradient Richardson number extending up to around 0.2. The gradient‐based scaling framework offers better accuracy and reliability than the traditional Monin–Obukhov framework, as it circumvents the problems of small values of fluxes and cross‐correlations. It is also possible to separate the specification of the master length‐scale from the calculation of similarity functions describing second moments and dissipation rate. The related discussion of model performance at higher is included. It is unclear whether the current countermeasures against spurious flow decoupling reflect the observed features of turbulence in the very stable regime, due to the apparent breakdown of the Richardson–Kolmogorov energy cascade, as found by Grachev et al.
Quantification of phytic acid in baby foods by derivatization with (trimethylsilyl)diazomethane and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis
Authors: Yu Saisai , Cai Chenggang , Wang Yan , Sheng Chunqi , Jiang Kezhi
Published: September 2021

Rationale

Phytic acid (PA) is both a naturally occurring nutrient and a widely used food additive for conferring antioxidant properties to food. PA can be found in baby foods and it is essential to monitor PA content due to its anti‐nutritional properties when present in excess. Current methods for determining PA content are unsatisfactory because interference from inositol phosphates and inorganic phosphates complicates PA quantification.

Methods

Baby foods were extracted using aqueous HCl, and the extractant was subjected to derivatization with (trimethylsilyl)diazomethane after de‐metalation using a cation exchange resin. The PA derivative was quantified using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) with a multi‐response monitoring mode (m/z 829 to 451).

Results

The linearity of the developed analytical method ranged from 10 to 1000 ng/mL for PA with R2 > 0.999. Reasonable reproducibility was obtained with an intraday relative standard deviation (RSD; N = 5) of 4.5% and an interday RSD (N = 5) of 5.7% at a concentration of 10 ng/mL. The developed method was successfully applied to determine PA content in various baby foods, with PA recovery between 90.6% and 119.8%.

Conclusions

A robust and sensitive method for the determination of PA in baby foods has been developed by methyl esterification with (trimethylsilyl)diazomethane and using LC/MS/MS analysis. The established method showed good anti‐interference and precision, and it has been applied for the determination of PA in various baby foods.
Preparation and Properties of Hollow Magnetic Liquid Crystal Molecularly Imprinted Polymers as Silybin Sustained‐release Carriers
Authors: Tan Ni , Chen Can , Ji Kang , Liao Sen , Liu Yaqing , Hu Lin , He Leqing , Ding Zui
Published: September 2021

In this work, a new drug carrier, the hollow magnetic silybin liquid crystal molecular imprinted polymer (HMS@LC‐MIP) was prepared through the reverse atom radical transfer polymerization(RATRP) method. In order to decrease the degree of cross‐linker, the liquid crystal ingredient methylphenyl dicyclohexyl ethylene, a kind of physical cross‐linker, being able to replace the chemical cross‐linker partly, was introduced into the synthetic system. The characterizations of HMS@LC‐MIPs were investigated by FT‐IR, VSM, TEM and so on. A series of adsorption experiments showed the maximum adsorption capacity and the adsorption equilibrium time of HMS@LC‐MIP were 18.53 mg g−1 and 180 min, respectively, and the relative selectivity factor β=2.06 implied HMS@LC‐MIP had the high selectivity to the template. The in‐vitro release experiments exhibited HMS@LC‐MIP possessed the good responsiveness to pH values and the desirable slow release performance with 48 h of sustaining time. In short, the HMS@LC‐MIP should be of a potential as drug sustained‐release agent in the future.
Al‐Incorporated Mesoporous Silica Supported ZnFe2O4 for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Chen Dan , Zhang Yingying , Wang Daoyuan , Wang Weide , Xu Yao , Qian Guangren
Published: September 2021

Non‐noble metal photocatalysts have received widespread attention with the popularity of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Here, a brand‐new series of ZnFe2O4/Al‐MCM‐41 photocatalysts were synthesized with a simple hydrothermal strategy and analyzed through various characterizations. The results revealed that 40 % loading of Zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) showed the most remarkable hydrogen evolution effect without noble metal decorated. It has a maximum photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of 4525.4 μmol g−1 in 3 h, which is about 5.4 times higher than that of pure ZnFe2O4. These results are mainly owing to the loading of Al‐MCM‐41, which can provide more surface reaction sites and delay the recombination of charges and holes. Moreover, the composite shows good cyclability and stability, with a high hydrogen evolution after three repeated cycles.
DNA Interactions and Antiproliferative Activity Studies of Octahedral Nickel Complexes of Two Extended Phenanthrolines
Authors: Coban Burak , Saka Engin , Yıldız Ufuk , Akkoç Senem
Published: September 2021

Two new imidazophenanthroline derivatives, namely 2‐(4‐bromo‐(2,1,3)‐benzothiadiazol‐7‐yl)‐1H‐imidazo[4,5‐f][1,10]phenanthroline (btdip), 2‐(dibenzofuran‐3‐yl)‐1H‐imidazo[4,5‐f][1,10]phenanthroline (dbfip) and their octahedral nickel complexes [Ni(phen)2(btdip)]2+(1) and [Ni(phen)2(dbfip)]2+(2) have been synthesized and characterized by CHN analysis, ESI‐MS, NMR and UV‐vis spectra. Their DNA binding abilities were spectrophotometrically, hydrodynamically and electrophoretically studied and found that whilebtdipbinds DNA externally,dbfipbinds in the grooves and both of their nickel complexes also bind DNA through grooves giving severe DNA damage in the presence of peroxide. The compounds were screened against four different human cancer cell lines using MTT assay method. The results obtained showed that both ligands are active against DLD‐1, and furtherdbfipis found to be more active than positive control drugs against DLD‐1 and HepG2 cell lines. The complex2has more antiproliferative effect than1against MCF‐7 and HepG2 cells. On the other hand, complex2was found to have more toxic effect on HepG2 cells than the standard drugs cisplatin and ploxal‐S.
A Mitochondria‐Targeted Fluorescence Probe for Visualizing Detection of Hypochlorite in Living Cells
Authors: Luo Pan , Xu Jiawen , Shen Bin , Xu Peng
Published: September 2021

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an extremely common inflammatory disease that can lead to joint destruction and irreversible damage. Establishing a reliable and simple analytical method is essential for the early assessment of RA. Hypochlorous acid (HClO) serves as a biomarker, and patients with inflammatory diseases often have abnormal levels of HClO. A novel mitochondria‐targeted fluorescent probe ((E)‐2‐(2‐(6‐((dimethylcarbamothioyl)oxy)naphthalen‐2‐yl)vinyl)‐1‐ethyl‐3,3‐dimethyl‐3H‐indol‐1‐ium, Hcy‐HClO) has been designed with the purpose of monitoring HClO level fluctuations in biological systems. In the presence of HOCl, intramolecular charge transfer fluorescence is triggered, and the probe exhibits a clear change in the fluorescence signal under simulated physiological conditions. The probe features a fast response (5 s), high selectivity and sensitivity, and a lower detection limit towards HOCl. In addition, the probe exhibits great biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity. More importantly, the probe can effectively aggregate mitochondria and be applied to the imaging of intracellular HClO. It is possible that the developed probe is able to act as a powerful tool to diagnose and monitor various inflammatory diseases, including RA.
Chitosan‐Modified Polyvinyl Alcohol Membrane High Performance in Biodiesel/Methanol Pervaporation Separation
Authors: Gu Liuyu , Zhang Zongqi , Yang Su , Liu Xueping , Zhang Mengting , Gao Lijing , Xiao Guomin
Published: September 2021

The chitosan doped polyvinyl alcohol film are prepared by blending heating method. The prepared membrane is characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM) and universal testing machine. The surface of the cast membranes is generally flat, and the pervaporation process would cause the membrane to have a wrinkled shape. These membranes can be used for pervaporation to separate methanol/biodiesel mixtures. This paper studies the effects of different chitosan additions, feed temperature and feed concentration on membrane performance. When the chitosan doping amount is 30 % by mass of polyvinyl alcohol at 40 °C, the maximum flux reaches 569.212 g m−2 h−1. At the same time, the separation factor increases as the methanol concentration in the liquid decreases. When the methanol mass fraction is 10 %, the separation factor can reach 116.717.
All‐in‐One Zeolite–Carbon‐Based Nanotheranostics with Adjustable NIR‐II Window Photoacoustic/Fluorescence Imaging Performance for Precise NIR‐II Photothermal‐Synergized Catalytic Antitumor Therapy
Authors: Zheng Ziliang , Jia Zhuo , Qin Yufei , Dai Rong , Chen Xuejiao , Ma Yanchun , Xie Xianmei , Zhang Ruiping
Published: September 2021

In the second near‐infrared (NIR‐II) biowindow, multimodal optical imaging‐guided precise antitumor therapy is a novel strategy for high‐efficiency tumor theranostics, however, the all‐in‐one dual NIR‐II photoacoustic (NIR‐II PA) and NIR‐II fluorescence (NIR‐II FL) nanoprobes have been rarely reported mainly due to the short of a simple and universal design approach. Herein, a NIR‐II PA/NIR‐II FL imaging‐adjustable nanozyme (HSC‐2) is designed and developed to guide precise photothermal‐catalytic synergistic therapy. Based on the ionic liquids adsorption capacity, the electronic structure of zeolite nano‐Beta (three dimensional 12‐ring pore system and large surface area) can be turned from the indirect band gap to direct band gap via doping carbon in the framework, resulting in outstanding NIR‐II FL emission characteristics. As the silicon etching reaction proceeds, HSC‐2 shows superior dual‐modal NIR‐II PA/NIR‐II FL imaging performance facilitated by the optimal silicon‐to‐carbon ratio, simultaneously ensuring efficient tumor photothermal therapy (PTT) in the NIR‐II window. Impressively, the peroxidase‐mimic activity of HSC‐2 in the tumor microenvironment could be further remarkably enhanced by its photothermal effect, leading to excellent synergistic PTT/catalytic therapy. Moreover, the HSC‐2 exhibits dual‐enzyme activity, and its catalase‐like property could effectively eliminate excessive ROS for protection of the normal cells.
Determining the Role of Fe‐Doping on Promoting the Thermochemical Energy Storage Performance of (Mn1−xFex)3O4 Spinels
Authors: Carrillo Alfonso J. , Chinchilla Lidia E. , Iglesias‐Juez Ana , Gutiérrez‐Rubio Santiago , Sastre Daniel , Pizarro Patricia , Hungría Ana B. , Coronado Juan M.
Published: September 2021

Mn oxides are promising materials for thermochemical heat store, but slow reoxidation of Mn3O4 to Mn2O3 limits efficiency. In contrast, (Mn1−xFex)3O4 oxides show an enhanced transformation rate, but fundamental understanding of the role played by Fe cations is lacking. Here, nanoscale characterization of Fe‐doped Mn oxides is performed to elucidate how Fe incorporation influences solid‐state transformations. X‐ray diffraction reveals the presence of two distinct spinel phases, cubic jacobsite and tetragonal hausmannite for samples with more than 10% of Fe. Chemical mapping exposes wide variation of Fe content between grains, but an even distribution within crystallites. Due to the similarities of spinels structures, high‐resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy cannot discriminate unambiguously between them, but Fe‐enriched crystallites likely correspond to jacobsite. In situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy confirms that increasing Fe content up to 20% boosts the reoxidation rate, leading to the transformation of Mn2+ in the spinel phase to Mn3+ in bixbyite. Extended X‐ray absorption fine structure shows that FeO length is larger than MnO, but both electron energy loss spectroscopy and X‐ray absorption near edge structure indicate that iron is always present as Fe3+ in octahedral sites. These structural modifications may facilitate ionic diffusion during bixbyite formation.
Single thoracic epidural injection for intra‐ and post‐lateral thoracotomy analgesia in a dog
Authors: Tonge Mary , Robson Katherine , Alderson Briony
Published: September 2021

A 16‐month‐old cocker spaniel, body mass 15 kg, was presented for general anaesthesia for thoracotomy and lung lobectomy. Preanaesthetic medication was with intramuscular medetomidine (0.01 mg/kg) and methadone (0.2 mg/kg). General anaesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with propofol and ketamine infusions. A single thoracic epidural injection with levobupivacaine (0.5%, 1 mg/kg) and morphine (0.1 mg/kg) at the 12th‐13th thoracic intervertebral space was performed. Postoperative analgesia was with one intravenous dose of methadone (0.2 mg/kg), levobupivacaine (1 mg/kg) via indwelling thoracostomy tube and intravenous paracetamol (10 mg/kg) every 8 hours, and meloxicam (0.1 mg/kg) orally every 24 hours. Pain scoring (Glasgow CMPS‐SF) was carried out every 4 hours until 1 hour after removal of the thoracostomy tube, never exceeding 2/24. No further opioid analgesics were administered and the patient was discharged with no complications.
Gold nanoparticles in virus detection: Recent advances and potential considerations for SARS‐CoV‐2 testing development
Authors: Wang Jianxin , Drelich Adam J. , Hopkins Caroline M. , Mecozzi Sandro , Li Lingjun , Kwon Glen , Hong Seungpyo
Published: September 2021

Viruses are infectious agents that pose significant threats to plants, animals, and humans. The current coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), has spread globally and resulted in over 2 million deaths and immeasurable financial losses. Rapid and sensitive virus diagnostics become crucially important in controlling the spread of a pandemic before effective treatment and vaccines are available. Gold nanoparticle (AuNP)‐based testing holds great potential for this urgent unmet biomedical need. In this review, we describe the most recent advances in AuNP‐based viral detection applications. In addition, we discuss considerations for the design of AuNP‐based SARS‐CoV‐2 testings. Finally, we highlight and propose important parameters to consider for the future development of effective AuNP‐based testings that would be critical for not only this COVID‐19 pandemic, but also potential future outbreaks.

This article is categorized under:

Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing

Diagnostic Tools > In Vitro Nanoparticle‐Based Sensing
Topological field theories induced by twisted R-Poisson structure in any dimension
Authors: Chatzistavrakidis Athanasios
Published: September 2021

Abstract

We construct a class of topological field theories with Wess-Zumino term in spacetime dimensions ≥ 2 whose target space has a geometrical structure that suitably generalizes Poisson or twisted Poisson manifolds. Assuming a field content comprising a set of scalar fields accompanied by gauge fields of degree (1, p − 1, p) we determine a generic Wess-Zumino topological field theory in p + 1 dimensions with background data consisting of a Poisson 2-vector, a (p + 1)-vector R and a (p + 2)-form H satisfying a specific geometrical condition that defines a H-twisted R-Poisson structure of order p + 1. For this class of theories we demonstrate how a target space covariant formulation can be found by means of an auxiliary connection without torsion. Furthermore, we study admissible deformations of the generic class in special spacetime dimensions and find that they exist in dimensions 2, 3 and 4. The two-dimensional deformed field theory includes the twisted Poisson sigma model, whereas in three dimensions we find a more general structure that we call bi-twisted R-Poisson. This extends the twisted R-Poisson structure of order 3 by a non-closed 3-form and gives rise to a topological field theory whose covariant formulation requires a connection with torsion and includes a twisted Poisson sigma model in three dimensions as a special case. The relation of the corresponding structures to differential graded Q-manifolds based on the degree shifted cotangent bundle T*[p]T*[1]M is discussed, as well as the obstruction to them being QP-manifolds due to the Wess-Zumino term.
Evaluation of a machine learning classifier for metamodels
Authors: Nguyen Phuong T. , Di Rocco Juri , Iovino Ludovico , Di Ruscio Davide , Pierantonio Alfonso
Published: September 2021

Modeling is a ubiquitous activity in the process of software development. In recent years, such an activity has reached a high degree of intricacy, guided by the heterogeneity of the components, data sources, and tasks. The democratized use of models has led to the necessity for suitable machinery for mining modeling repositories. Among others, the classification of metamodels into independent categories facilitates personalized searches by boosting the visibility of metamodels. Nevertheless, the manual classification of metamodels is not only a tedious but also an error-prone task. According to our observation, misclassification is the norm which leads to a reduction in reachability as well as reusability of metamodels. Handling such complexity requires suitable tooling to leverage raw data into practical knowledge that can help modelers with their daily tasks. In our previous work, we proposed AURORA as a machine learning classifier for metamodel repositories. In this paper, we present a thorough evaluation of the system by taking into consideration different settings as well as evaluation metrics. More importantly, we improve the original AURORA tool by changing its internal design. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed amendment is beneficial to the classification of metamodels. We also compared our approach with two baseline algorithms, namely gradient boosted decision tree and support vector machines. Eventually, we see that AURORA outperforms the baselines with respect to various quality metrics.
Characterizing Hope: An Interdisciplinary Overview of the Characteristics of Hope
Authors: Pleeging Emma , van Exel Job , Burger Martijn
Published: September 2021

What we hope for has a large impact on how we feel and behave. Research on the determinants and effects of a hopeful disposition is increasing in several academic fields, such as psychology, nursing and organizational studies. However, how hope is defined differs significantly between disciplines, leading to fragmentation in the insights that we can draw from this research. This systematic review aims to provide an extensive overview of the ascribed characteristics of the concept of hope in ten different academic fields. Using phenomenographic research methods, these characterizations are collected and categorized to offer a comprehensive conceptual framework of hope. The resulting framework comprises 7 themes and 41 sub-themes. We show how this framework can be used to obtain a fuller understanding of the concept of hope and of possible blind spots within specific research fields.
Comparison of methods for sensitivity correction in Talbot–Lau computed tomography
Authors: Felsner Lina , Roser Philipp , Maier Andreas , Riess Christian
Published: September 2021

Purpose

In Talbot–Lau X-ray phase contrast imaging, the measured phase value depends on the position of the object in the measurement setup. When imaging large objects, this may lead to inhomogeneous phase contributions within the object. These inhomogeneities introduce artifacts in tomographic reconstructions of the object.

Methods

In this work, we compare recently proposed approaches to correct such reconstruction artifacts. We compare an iterative reconstruction algorithm, a known operator network and a U-net. The methods are qualitatively and quantitatively compared on the Shepp–Logan phantom and on the anatomy of a human abdomen. We also perform a dedicated experiment on the noise behavior of the methods.

Results

All methods were able to reduce the specific artifacts in the reconstructions for the simulated and virtual real anatomy data. The results show method-specific residual errors that are indicative for the inherently different correction approaches. While all methods were able to correct the artifacts, we report a different noise behavior.

Conclusion

The iterative reconstruction performs very well, but at the cost of a high runtime. The known operator network shows consistently a very competitive performance. The U-net performs slightly worse, but has the benefit that it is a general-purpose network that does not require special application knowledge.
Stress- and Time-Dependent Formation of Self-Lubricating In Situ Carbon (SLIC) Films on Catalytically-Active Noble Alloys
Authors: Jones Morgan R. , DelRio Frank W. , Beechem Thomas E. , McDonald Anthony E. , Babuska Tomas F. , Dugger Michael T. , Chandross Michael , Argibay Nicolas , Curry John F.
Published: September 2021

Low shear strength (30 MPa) organic films were grown in situ on Pt0.9Au0.1 surfaces via cyclic sliding contact in dry N2 with trace concentrations of ambient hydrocarbons. We present a systematic investigation of the stress- and time-dependent film formation. Steady-state friction coefficients were found to be as low as µ ~ 0.015 and inversely proportional to contact pressure, revealing non-Amontonian behavior. Above a Hertzian contact pressure of ~500 MPa, shear strength dropped, indicating an activated process. Raman spectroscopy identified non-uniformity in areal coverage and relative order with contact pressure. Regions of steady-state low-friction behavior exhibited spectra similar to DLC coatings. Atomic force microscopy was used to study the formation and growth of films at the nanoscale. Stress- and time-dependent measurements suggested a sublinear increase of film volume with time, and a transition from growth to wear at a Hertzian contact pressure of ~1.2 GPa.
Risk factors and plant management activities for the terraced agricultural systems on the Amalfi coast (Italy): an interdisciplinary approach
Authors: Cicinelli Emanuela , Caneva Giulia , Savo Valentina
Published: September 2021

Cultivated terraces are outstanding modifications of mountains and hills to obtain arable land. These terraced agricultural systems are widespread traditional landscapes within the Mediterranean area. The cultivated terraces of the Amalfi Coast (Southern Italy) are outstanding examples of cultural landscapes, and they represent one of the key descriptors of the UNESCO Site. Terraces have characterized the landscape of the Amalfi Coast for a long time as their construction started during the Middle Age. However, their conservation is now threatened by abandonment, which has dramatically risen in the last 60 years, and by the ongoing climatic changes with the increased incidence of heavy rainfall events. We combined interviews with local farmers and vegetation surveys to understand which management activities are carried out to improve the conservation of cultivated terraces on the Amalfi Coast. To this end, we analyzed the linkages between these management practices and their influence on the vegetation growing on the terrace risers. Our informants identified the maintenance of waterways and walls as crucial factors influencing terrace and slope stability. The preservation of the integrity of terraces depends on periodic vegetation control and the maintenance of water drainage systems, which are carried out thanks to the active presence of farmers. According to our informants, the vegetation growing on the walls has a relevant role in the stability of terraces, and we found a prevalence of Hemicryptophytes that increase with the number of interventions over the year. Thus, active and vital agriculture becomes pivotal for the preservation of this cultural heritage.
Finite Element Analysis of a Novel Anatomical Locking Guide Plate for Anterior Column and Posterior Hemi-Transverse Acetabular Fractures
Authors: Deng Junhao , Li Ming , Li Jiantao , Li Zhirui , Meng Fanqi , Zhou Yanmei , Tang Peifu , Zhao Yanpeng , Zhang Licheng
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The increasing worldwide prevalence of anterior column-posterior hemi-transverse fracture (ACPHTF) brings formidable challenges to orthopaedic surgeons. Our newly-designed locking plate had previously demonstrated promising effects in ACPHTF, but evidence of their direct comparison with conventional internal fixations remains lacking. In this study, we aimed to compare our novel plate with the traditional devices via finite element analysis.

Methods

The ACPHTF model was created based on a 48-year-old volunteer’s CT data, and then fixed in three different internal fixations: an anterior column locking plate with posterior column screws, double column locking plates, and our novel anatomical locking plate. These models were next loaded with a downward vertical force of 200 N, 400 N and 600 N, and the stress peaks and displacements of three different sites were recorded and analyzed.

Results

We first tested the rigidity and found that our newly-designed locking plate as well as its matched screws had a greater stiffness especially when they were under a higher loading force of 600 N. Then we evaluated the displacements of fracture ends after applying these fixations. Both our novel plate and DLP showed significantly smaller displacement than LPPCS at the anterior column fracture line and the pubic branch fracture line, while our novel plate was not obviously inferior to DLP in terms of the displacement.

Conclusion

This novel plate demonstrates a distinct superiority in the stiffness over LPPCS and DLP and comparable displacements to DLP in ACPHTF, which suggests this novel anatomical locking guide plate should be taken into consideration in ACPHTF.
Democracies and International Law
Authors: Ginsburg Tom
Published: September 2021

Democracies and authoritarian regimes have different approaches to international law, grounded in their different forms of government. As the balance of power between democracies and non-democracies shifts, it will have consequences for international legal order. Human rights may face severe challenges in years ahead, but citizens of democratic countries may still benefit from international legal cooperation in other areas. Ranging across several continents, this volume surveys the state of democracy-enhancing international law, and provides ideas for a way forward in the face of rising authoritarianism.
‘Who is this Renaissance? Where did he come from?’: Englishness and the Search for an American National Style, 1850–1900
Authors: Ricci Patricia Likos
Published: September 2021

The identification of the American elite with the Renaissance in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, as seen in the extended Capitol Building and National Mall in Washington DC, can be traced back to architectural, historiographical and cultural trends taking place in Britain. The writings of John Ruskin, Walter Pater and John Addington Symonds framed the debate in the United States. At first Ruskin’s antipathy towards the Renaissance was exacerbated by the Nativist Party’s opposition to Catholic immigration, but then the writings of Pater and, particularly, Symonds achieved what Wallace K. Ferguson described as ‘the thorough naturalization of Renaissancism in the English-speaking world’. Symonds’s Hegelian interpretation of the historical era as a ‘spirit of self-conscious freedom’ enabled Americans from the 1870s onwards to post-rationalise the Renaissance as a national style. Symonds dethroned the Ruskinian cult of the Gothic and celebrated Renaissance classicism and secular individualism. His image of Italian despots as ‘self-made men of commerce’ and an ‘aristocracy of genius and character’ appealed to US capitalists, while his admiration for the sumptuous palaces built by these Renaissance ‘men of power’ reinforced the evolutionary theories of the British sociologist Herbert Spencer, whose principle of ‘the survival of the fittest’ became the creed of American plutocrats as they built their own palatial houses. Finally, his frequent references to the discovery of America by Columbus came to legitimise the image of the US as the heir of Renaissance culture, as proclaimed at the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893.
Flagler’s Whitehall: Beaux-Arts Grandeur in the American Tropics
Authors: Morgenstern Tamara
Published: September 2021

In a second career begun in his retirement, Henry Morrison Flagler (1830–1913), the cofounder of Standard Oil and one of the wealthiest citizens in the United States, embarked on the development of the tropical wilderness of Florida. Starting in St Augustine, he built a network of luxury hotels and railroads that became the infrastructure for modern Florida. Creating a counterpart to the premier summer resort of Newport, Rhode Island, Flagler transformed Palm Beach, an undeveloped barrier island, into a winter playground for the new American aristocracy, starting with the Georgian-style Royal Poinciana Hotel. It was Whitehall, however, the mansion built for Flagler in 1900–02 as a wedding gift to his third wife, Mary Lily Kenan, that became the resort community’s monumental showplace. Designed by the New York firm of Carrère & Hastings in the Renaissance-derived classicism of the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, the stately white palace fronting Lake Worth embodied Flagler’s cultural aspirations as a patron of the arts. As the first major client of Carrère & Hastings, Flagler was critical in launching the career of one of the most prominent architectural firms of the Gilded Age. This article examines Whitehall in the context of Flagler’s business practices and personal goals, consistent with Andrew Carnegie’s ‘Gospel of Wealth’. Architectural opulence not only boosted Flagler’s mercantile purposes, but also reflected a belief, nurtured by his relationship with Carrère & Hastings and other close associates, about the importance of classical architecture and the arts in the development of society.
A NOTE ON THE ASCRIPTION OF ENNIUS,ANNALES5 SKUTSCH
Authors: Nethercut Jason S.
Published: September 2021

This note adduces corroborating evidence for Skutsch's ascription of Enn.Ann. 5 to a description of the water cycle in the speech of Homer in the proem to theAnnales. Despite the flawed argumentation in Skutsch's presentation and despite a general reluctance among scholars to endorse his ascription, this note argues that his solution should remain part of the scholarly discussion, not least because there are aspects of Skutsch's argument that remain uncontested and because Lucretius seems to endorse this location of the fragment in the originalAnnales.
WORMS AND THE MAN IN LUCILIUS
Authors: Goh Ian
Published: September 2021

This piece explores possible reasons for Lucilius’ suggestive reference to worms,emblemate uermiculato, in the famous comment (about speech arranged akin to mosaics) which has survived from Book 2 of the satirist. The fragment can be set metatextually amid other extracts of Lucilius to show the poet's agency and skill, considered as having influenced aspects of its own afterlife (especially in Hor.Sat. 2.4) and appreciated in its historical context as a hit at Publius Mucius Scaevola, who died from phthiriasis.
THE BEGINNING AND END OF APPIAN'S MITHRIDATEIOS
Authors: McGing Brian
Published: September 2021

This article deals with the structure of Appian's Mithridateios. All the manuscripts begin with two chapters (now numbered 118 and 119) that, in his 1785 edition of Appian, Johannes Schweighäuser argued could not represent the opening of the work: a folio had been removed from its proper place towards the end of the work and mistakenly placed at the beginning. All editors followed Schweighäuser until recently, when there has been a tendency to accept the manuscript order of chapters. This creates a very different start for the work, meaning that it begins with the Greek words ὧδε μέν, an impossibly compressed way of saying ‘The following book sets out how …’. By examining the issues involved, particularly the language of Appian and his general practice in structuring the separate works of his Roman History, this article seeks to demonstrate that the Mithridateios cannot have begun as the manuscripts set out. It also argues, however, that the two chapters in question do not fit well at the end of the work, either; and that the reason for this, and for the displacement of the chapters in the first place, is the repetitive summary material at the end of the work. In chapters 118 and 119, it is argued, Appian has used different source material without integrating it properly with what preceded and followed, thus leading to an untidy ending. This was made more orderly by removing chapters 118 and 119 and putting them at the beginning.
Roller dung beetles of dung piles suggest habitats are alike, but that of guarding pitfall traps suggest habitats are different
Authors: Asha G. , Navya K.K. , Rajesh T.P. , Sinu Palatty Allesh
Published: September 2021

Roller dung beetles play a pivotal role in the nutrient distribution in soil and secondary dispersal of seeds. Dung beetles are sampled either using a dung-baited pitfall trap or an exposed dung pile on the ground. While the former method is useful for a rapid survey of dung beetles, information on the ecology and behaviour of dung beetles can be lost, which the latter method provides, but underestimates species diversity due to its inefficiency in trapping rollers. Efficiency of a new method for sampling rollers—installing guarding pitfall traps around dung piles—is assessed in three habitats—contiguous tropical rainforests, fragmented forests, and disturbed used home gardens—and two diel periods—day and night. Five guarding pitfall traps were installed at 50 cm radius around dung piles. About 98% of the total rollers were sampled in pitfall traps. The habitats were similar when the roller catches of only dung piles—conventional approach—were analyzed, but were different when the rollers of guarding pitfall traps were considered. The roller abundance was negatively affected by forest fragmentation and land-use change. About 98% of the rollers were collected at daytime. Using guarding pitfall traps around dung piles is highly recommended for dung beetle diversity studies.