bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A critical examination of Iacono and Ben‐Shakhar's critique of Ginton's innovative technique for estimating polygraph CQT accuracy in real‐life cases
Authors: Ginton Avital
Published: September 2020

Given the inherent difficulties in validating the comparison question polygraph test (CQT) by using a wide range of the conventional two categories of studies—field and laboratory— (NRC ‐ The polygraph and lie detection, 2003), the innovative method presented by Ginton (Psychology, Crime & Law, 2013, 19, pp. 577–594), has been considered to be a breakthrough (Raskin & Kircher, 2014, Validity of polygraph techniques and decision methods. p. 82). In their recent review of the current status of polygraph validity, Iacono and Ben‐Shakhar (Law & Human Behavior, 2019, 43, pp. 86–98), dedicated a significant portion of their article to scrutinising that novel approach. They did applaud Ginton's innovation for the development of the new methods but criticised its outcomes to the point that nullified any contributions it might have had in dealing with the long‐lasting controversy regarding the CQT validity. The present response to that critique examines their argumentations in dismissing Ginton's study point by point, indicating reliance on some speculations that had nothing to do with reality and a profound misunderstanding or misinterpreting of the data.
Neutrophils produce proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory extracellular vesicles depending on the environmental conditions
Authors: Kolonics Ferenc , Kajdácsi Erika , Farkas Veronika J , Veres Dániel S , Khamari Delaram , Kittel Ágnes , Merchant Michael L , McLeish Kenneth R , Lőrincz Ákos M , Ligeti Erzsébet
Published: September 2020

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important elements of intercellular communication. A plethora of different, occasionally even opposite, physiologic and pathologic effects have been attributed to these vesicles in the last decade. A direct comparison of individual observations is however hampered by the significant differences in the way of elicitation, collection, handling, and storage of the investigated vesicles. In the current work, we carried out a careful comparative study on 3, previously characterized types of EVs produced by neutrophilic granulocytes. We investigated in parallel the modulation of multiple blood-related cells and functions by medium-sized vesicles. We show that EVs released from resting neutrophils exert anti-inflammatory action by reducing production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cytokine release from neutrophils. In contrast, vesicles generated upon encounter of neutrophils with opsonized particles rather promote proinflammatory processes as they increase production of ROS and cytokine secretion from neutrophils and activate endothelial cells. EVs released from apoptosing cells were mainly active in promoting coagulation. We thus propose that EVs are “custom made,” acquiring selective capacities depending on environmental factors prevailing at the time of their biogenesis.
Reconstructing the spatial distribution of large vegetation formations during the mid‐Holocene in Romania: a predictive modeling approach
Authors: Patriche Cristian Valeriu , Pîrnău Radu Gabriel , Roşca Bogdan
Published: September 2020

The present study tests the usefulness of SoLIM software and GIS techniques for the reconstruction of large vegetation formations from the mid‐Holocene period in Romania. We used current reference climate data (temperature, precipitation) and the current extent of ecological regions in Romania to derive climate optimality functions for each vegetation formation. The optimality functions were used to simulate current and past distributions of vegetation. The results showed that the current and mid‐Holocene simulated spatial distributions of vegetation are quite similar. Changes were found for about 14% of the Romanian territory (33 946 km2), the most important being the retreat of coniferous forests in favor of mixed forests and of mixed forests in favor of forest steppe. The former is validated by previous pollen‐based studies showing the transition from coniferous forests to mixed forests that occurred in several areas of the country after the mid‐Holocene. The study demonstrates the potential of this methodological approach to reconstruct past vegetation formations, and at the same time that it is a straightforward and expert knowledge‐based method. Although our application uses only climate factors, the results can be further refined by incorporating additional drivers (soil and landform information, site‐specific pollen and fossil data, wildfire data) for a more accurate inference of paleovegetation.
Evolution of optical phonons in epitaxial Ge1−ySny structures
Authors: Kim Young Chan , Lee Taegeon , Ryu Mee‐Yi , Kouvetakis John , Rho Heesuk
Published: September 2020

We report polarized Raman scattering results of Ge1−ySny (0 ≤ y ≤ 0.09) epitaxial layers grown on Ge‐buffered Si substrates. Polarized Raman spectra from the sample surfaces revealed strong Ge–Ge longitudinal optical (LO) phonon responses. The Ge–Ge LO(z) phonon wavenumber decreased systematically as the Sn content increased. Linear fitting results of the Ge–Ge LO(z) phonon wavenumber shifts as a function of Sn content suggested that a partial strain relaxation occurred in the Ge1−ySny layers. Spatially resolved Raman mapping measurements from the cross section of a Ge0.938Sn0.062 samplev showed that the peak wavenumber of the Ge–Ge transverse optical phonon decreased gradually toward the top surface, providing direct evidence that the residual built‐in strain initially formed at the Ge0.938Sn0.062/Ge interface tended to relax gradually along the growth direction. Further, a hydrogen inductively coupled plasma treatment induced a greater homogeneous strain profile in the Ge0.938Sn0.062 layer.
Overcoming bread quality decay concerns: main issues for bread shelf life as a function of biological leavening agents and different extra ingredients used in formulation. A review
Authors: Taglieri Isabella , Macaluso Monica , Bianchi Alessandro , Sanmartin Chiara , Quartacci Mike Frank , Zinnai Angela , Venturi Francesca
Published: September 2020

As is widely accepted, the quality decay of freshly baked bread that affects product shelf life is the result of a complex multifactorial process that involves physical staling, together with microbiological, chemical and sensorial spoilage. In this context, this paper provides a critical review of the recent literature about the main factors affecting shelf life of bread during post‐baking. An overview of the recent findings about the mechanism of bread staling is firstly provided. Afterwards, the effect on staling induced by baker's yeasts and sourdough as well as by the extra ingredients commonly utilized for bread fortification is also addressed and discussed. As inclusion/exclusion criteria, only papers dealing with wheat bread and not with long‐life bread or gluten‐free bakery products are taken into consideration. Despite recent developments in international scientific literature, the whole mechanism that induces bread staling is far from being completely understood and the best analytical methods to be adopted to measure and/or describe in depth this process appear still debated. In this topic, the effects induced on bread shelf life by the use of biological leavening agents (baker's yeasts and sourdough) as well as by some extra ingredients included in the bread recipe have been individuated as two key issues to be addressed and discussed in terms of their influence on the kinetics of bread staling. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Laser additive manufactured Ti‐6Al‐4 V alloy: Anodizing and its effects on mechanical properties and corrosion resistance
Authors: Chandramohan P. , Raghu R. , Pradeesh Kumar D.
Published: September 2020

Ti‐6Al‐4 V components were developed in different orientations (horizontal and vertical) using an additive manufacturing technique called direct metal laser sintering process and heat treated under 3 different procedures (heat treatment‐1, heat treatment‐2 and heat treatment‐3). Anodizing was done at different voltages (8 V–12 V and 18 V–22 V) in the as‐sintered and heat treated conditions. Corrosion test was carried out in artificial saliva. Mechanical properties like tensile strength, elongation were tested; microstructure was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and chemistry of corrosion products were analyzed using energy dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy. The results of corrosion tests have been correlated with the measured tensile strength and ductility. The same is also correlated with the dry sliding wear results published from our earlier research. Anodized (8 V–12 V) horizontal built‐heat treatment‐3 specimen and anodized (18 V–22 V) horizontal built‐heat treatment‐2 outperforms other combinations in terms of corrosion. Nevertheless, considering the outcome of mechanical testing, the specimen built in horizontal orientation and anodized at 18 V–22 V is preferred for biomedical applications that needs the combination of both mechanical property and corrosion resistance.
From heat to entropy
Authors: Hoffmann H.‐J.
Published: September 2020

Milestones in the development of thermodynamics are the discovery of the absolute temperature scale and the recognition that differential “heat” is a form of energy given as the product of absolute temperature and differential entropy. Following a new path, the last statement results from a careful analysis of the heat transfer applying the first theorem without reference to the usual cycles in thermodynamics. This confirms also characteristic properties of entropy. In particular, the total entropy can never decrease in a process. In thermal equilibrium, the differential thermal energy is proportional to the differential entropy with the constant of proportionality being the temperature of the heat and entropy. Hence, thermal energy and entropy are transferred simultaneously into the same storage facilities, some of which are mentioned. However, the issue which one is the superior quantity is obsolete. The entropy is maximum for a given amount of exchanged thermal energy and, vice versa, for a given amount of exchanged entropy the concomitant energy is minimum. We calculate the thermal energy and entropy of phonons (as bosons) in oscillators and of electrons (as fermions) in their states of solids and melts as examples from statistical thermodynamics. The thermal energy or heat is the sum of the energies of all bosons and fermions in their elementary states or quantum states according to Bose Einstein and Fermi Dirac statistics in thermal equilibrium minus the total energy in the limit T→0 K. The entropy can be written as mixing entropy of all of these quantum states weighted with their occupancies, in agreement with an earlier publication. Thus, entropy is a logarithmic metrics of the number of all possible variants to distribute the respective total energy over all elementary states in thermal equilibrium.
Recovery of Impaired Endogenous Pain Modulation by Dopaminergic Medication in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Florin Esther , Koschmieder Kim C. , Schnitzler Alfons , Becker Susanne
Published: September 2020

Background

Of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), 30% to 85% report pain. However, mechanisms underlying this pain remain unclear. In line with known neuroanatomical impairments, we hypothesized that pain in PD is caused by alterations in emotional‐motivational as opposed to sensory‐discriminative pain processing and that dopamine recovers the capacity for endogenous emotional‐motivational pain modulation in patients with PD.

Methods

A total of 20 patients with PD played a random reward paradigm with painful heat stimuli in addition to assessments of pain sensitivity once with and once without levodopa.

Results

Levodopa increased endogenous pain inhibition in terms of perceived pain intensity and un/pleasantness compared with a medication off state. Higher clinical pain was associated with higher increases in pain inhibition. Levodopa did not affect heat pain threshold, tolerance, or temporal summation.

Conclusion

Patients with PD seem to be predominately impaired in emotional‐motivational as opposed to sensory‐discriminative pain processing. A differential understanding of pain in PD is urgently needed because effective treatment strategies are lacking. © 2020 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Higher order mixture nonlocal gradient theory of wave propagation
Authors: Faghidian S. Ali
Published: September 2020

The higher order mixture nonlocal gradient theory of elasticity is conceived via consistent unification of the higher order stress‐ and strain‐driven mixture nonlocal elasticity and the higher order strain gradient theory. The integro‐differential constitutive law is established applying an abstract variational approach and appropriately replaced with the equivalent differential condition subject to nonclassical boundary conditions. The introduced higher order elasticity theory provides, as special cases, a variety of generalized elasticity theories adopted in nanomechanics to assess size effects in continua with nanostructural features. The well‐posed higher order mixture nonlocal gradient theory is elucidated and invoked to examine the flexural wave propagation. The closed‐form wave propagation relation between the phase velocity and the wave number is analytically derived. The determined wave propagation response and ensuing results are compared and calibrated with the pertinent molecular dynamic simulations. The demonstrated results of the phase velocity of the flexural wave propagation detect new benchmarks for numerical analyses. The proposed higher order size‐dependent elasticity approach can be profitably employed in rigorous analysis of pioneering nanotechnological devices.
Experimentally investigating the degradations of the GaN PA indexes under different temperature conditions
Authors: Zhou Shaohua
Published: September 2020

In order to understand the PA's indexes, degradations with respect to the temperature changes before suppressing such degradations or compensating those temperature effects of the PAs. The degradations of the gallium nitride (GaN) PA indexes under different temperature conditions with a fixed relative humidity of 85% are investigated experimentally. The S21, power‐added efficiency (PAE) and output power of the PA degrade with the increase of the temperature. The main reasons for these degradations are discussed and analyzed in this paper. The results presented in the paper can help designers to understand the temperature effects on degradations of GaN PA indexes comprehensively so that the designers could consider the effects in the design cycle of the temperature compensation circuits in advance.
Sperm chromatin condensation and single‐ and double‐stranded DNA damage as important parameters to define male factor related recurrent miscarriage
Authors: Ribas‐Maynou Jordi , Abad Carlos , García‐Segura Sergio , Oliver‐Bonet Maria , Prada Elena , Amengual Maria José , Navarro Joaquima , Benet Jordi
Published: September 2020

The aim of the present work is to characterize the relationship between sperm protamine deficiency and single‐ and double‐stranded DNA damage and to assess the diagnostic potential of chromomycin A3 (CMA3). For that purpose, semen samples from 90 human males with different clinical features were included (fertile donors, patients with recurrent pregnancy loss [RPL], and infertile patients). DNA condensation was analyzed by CMA3 and different types of DNA fragmentation were analyzed through the comet assay. A positive correlation between DNA condensation and single‐stranded DNA fragmentation was found (Rs = .456; p = .05). CMA3 presented differences between fertile donors and all other groups (p < .001). Interestingly, patients with RPL, who were able to achieve a pregnancy, and infertile patients showed similar values of CMA3 (p > .05). Receiver operating characteristic curves and the profiles obtained by the combination of Comet assays and CMA3 indicate that the CMA3 test may be an interesting approach to distinguish those subjects with higher pregnancy loss risk from fertile donors (CMA3 area under the curve 0.928, with a confidence interval of 0.849–1.000). The present work shows that DNA condensation is related to oxidative damage, which affects mainly protamine‐rich regions. The profiles observed in different clinical groups showed that CMA3 might be useful for the diagnosis of RPL risk when combined with Comet assays.
The outsourcing conundrum: Misappropriation of intellectual property in supply chains
Authors: Chakravarty Amiya K.
Published: September 2020

In an outsourcing arrangement, the principal must weigh the potential savings in manufacturing cost against the risk of intellectual property (IP) misappropriation by suppliers. While formal legal measures for protecting IP exist in many countries, they are by no means perfect. We consider a market‐based approach where the supplier can sell the acquired IP to a third party imitator or can become an imitator if the imitation‐cost is not large. We identify economic‐equilibrium scenarios that discourage excessive misappropriation of IP. We find that IP sell/purchase transactions can happen only if the market potential has a moderate value. It can also motivate the supplier to become imitator. A large market, while attractive to the imitator, causes the principal not to outsource. In a small market, on the other hand, the imitator is unable to compete especially with a high‐quality imitation. Interestingly, we also find that the combined sales of the principal and imitator decreases, if the imitator increases IP purchase. We establish that the principal can benefit from partial outsourcing implying that a proportion of the components are outsourced, if the market potential is large.
Nutrition Parameters for Assessing Malnutrition in a Population of US Veterans With Hepatitis C Virus
Authors: Agoulnik Dorothy , Lewis Sherri
Published: September 2020

Background

Chronic liver disease often leads to malnutrition in patients. Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are at greater risk for misclassification due to disease‐specific changes in fluid, muscle, and fat status. Tools traditionally used to diagnose malnutrition may not be applicable in the HCV population, and delaying malnutrition diagnosis may contribute to disease progression. The aim of the present study is to determine and compare the incidence of malnutrition in US veterans with HCV by using 3 different malnutrition assessment tools (subjective global assessment [SGA], American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics [ASPEN‐AND], and Royal Free Hospital Global Assessment [RFH‐GA]).

Methods

Thirty‐three US veterans were evaluated for malnutrition according to SGA, ASPEN‐AND, and RFH‐GA protocols using a prospective, descriptive study design.

Results

Fifteen participants (45.5%) were classified with malnutrition using any criteria (SGA, ASPEN, or RFH‐GA). All 3 tools had good agreement, with ASPEN‐AND to RFH‐GA having the highest specificity and sensitivity. Of those classified with malnutrition using any assessment tool, mean body mass index was 26.6 (P = .014), subjective muscle loss was the most frequently encountered parameter, and 6 (40%) of 15 also had fluid accumulation.

Conclusions

The results indicate that malnutrition and particularly muscle wasting is common in US veterans with HCV. All 3 tools had good agreement and the most commonly used nutrition parameter was muscle loss (subjective). In a malnutrition assessment tool for the HCV population, both subjective and objective measures of body composition should be included.
Learning‐based parametrized model predictive control for trajectory tracking
Authors: Sferrazza Carmelo , Muehlebach Michael , D'Andrea Raffaello
Published: September 2020

This article is concerned with the tracking of nonequilibrium motions with model predictive control (MPC). It proposes to parametrize input and state trajectories of a dynamic system with basis functions to alleviate the computational burden in MPC. As a result of the parametrization, an optimization problem with fewer variables is obtained, and the memory requirements for storing the reference trajectories are reduced. The article also discusses the generation of feasible reference trajectories that account for the system's dynamics, as well as input and state constraints. In order to cope with repeatable disturbances, which may stem from unmodeled dynamics for example, an iterative learning procedure is included. The approach relies on a Kalman filter that identifies the repeatable disturbances based on previous trials. These are then included in the system's model available to the model predictive controller, which compensates them in subsequent trials. The proposed approach is evaluated on a quadcopter, whose task is to balance a pole, while flying a predefined trajectory.
How to use the MEROPS database and website to help understand peptidase specificity
Authors: Rawlings Neil D. , Bateman Alex
Published: September 2020

The MEROPS website (https://www.ebi.ac.uk/merops) and database was established in 1996 to present the classification and nomenclature of proteolytic enzymes. This was expanded to include a classification of protein inhibitors of proteolytic enzymes in 2004. Each peptidase or inhibitor is assigned to a distinct identifier, based on its biochemical and biological properties, and homologous sequences are assembled into a family. Families in which the proteins share similar tertiary structures are assembled into a clan. The MEROPS classification is thus a hierarchy with at least three levels (protein‐species, family, and clan) showing the evolutionary relationship. Several other data collections have been assembled, which are accessed from all levels in the hierarchy. These include, sequence homologs, selective bibliographies, substrate cleavage sites, peptidase–inhibitor interactions, alignments, and phylogenetic trees. The substrate cleavage collection has been assembled from the literature and includes physiological, pathological, and nonphysiological cleavages in proteins, peptides, and synthetic substrates. In this article, we make recommendations about how best to analyze these data and show analyses to indicate peptidase binding site preferences and exclusions. We also identify peptidases where co‐operative binding occurs between adjacent binding sites.
Molecular characterization of western corn rootworm pyrethroid resistance
Authors: Souza Dariane , Siegfried Blair D , Meinke Lance J , Miller Nicholas J
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND

Western corn rootworm (WCR) pyrethroid resistance has been confirmed in the western US Corn Belt. Toxicological and biochemical studies indicated that multiple mechanisms of resistance might be involved in the resistance trait, such as enhanced metabolism and/or kdr target‐site mutation(s) in the voltage‐gated sodium channels. To characterize the mechanisms of WCR pyrethroid resistance at the molecular level, pairwise comparisons were made between RNA‐Seq data collected from pyrethroid‐resistant and ‐susceptible WCR populations. Gene expression levels and sodium channel sequences were evaluated.

RESULTS

Seven transcripts exhibited significantly different expression (q ≤ 0.05) when comparing field‐collected pyrethroid‐resistant (R‐Field) and ‐susceptible (S‐Field) WCR populations. Three of the differentially expressed transcripts were P450s overexpressed in R‐Field (9.2–26.2‐fold). A higher number (99) of differentially expressed transcripts was found when comparing laboratory‐derived pyrethroid‐resistant (R‐Lab) and ‐susceptible (S‐Lab) WCR populations. Eight of the significant transcripts were P450s overexpressed in R‐Lab (2.7–39.8‐fold). This study did not detect kdr mutations in pyrethroid‐resistant WCR populations. Other differentially expressed transcripts that may play a role in WCR pyrethroid resistance are discussed.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that P450‐mediated metabolism is likely to be a major mechanism of WCR pyrethroid resistance, which could affect the efficacy of other insecticides sharing similar metabolic pathways. Additionally, results suggested that although laboratory selection of a pyrethroid‐resistant WCR population may help to characterize resistance mechanisms, a field‐selected population provided rare and perhaps major variants corresponding to the resistance trait.
Efficacy of metam potassium on Fusarium oxysporum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Meloidogyne javanica, and seven weed species in microcosm experiments
Authors: Khatri Kshitij , Vallad Gary , Peres Natalia , Desaegaer Johan , Regmi Homan , Boyd Nathan
Published: September 2020

Background

Metam potassium (metam‐K) is a soil fumigant widely used to control plant pathogens, nematodes, and weeds in Florida plasticulture production. The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of metam‐K against Fusarium oxysporum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Meloidogyne javanica, and seven important weed species under controlled conditions. The optimal rates generated in this study provide insight into the efficacy of metam‐K for field application.

Results

F. oxysporum and M. phaseolina were similarly sensitive toward metam‐K with a 90% effective concentration (EC90) of 478 and 493 μmol kg−1 soil, respectively. Meloidogyne javanica was the most sensitive pest with an EC90 of 25 μmol kg−1 which is similar to previous studies. Chenopodium album was the most sensitive weed seed with an EC90 of 260 μmol kg−1. Geranium carolinianum and Medicago lupulina were the least sensitive weed species with EC90 values of 786 and 567 μmol kg−1, respectively.

Conclusion

It is apparent from these results that metam‐K can effectively control important pests in Florida plasticulture production systems with the correct application rate and adequate exposure of pest to the fumigant.
Quantum Conference Key Agreement: A Review
Authors: Murta Gláucia , Grasselli Federico , Kampermann Hermann , Bruß Dagmar
Published: September 2020

Conference key agreement (CKA), or multipartite key distribution, is a cryptographic task where more than two parties wish to establish a common secret key. A composition of bipartite quantum key distribution protocols can accomplish this task. However, the existence of multipartite quantum correlations allows for new and potentially more efficient protocols, to be applied in future quantum networks. Here, the existing quantum CKA protocols based on multipartite entanglement are reviewed, both in the device‐dependent and the device‐independent scenario.
Seeing into the future: The role of future‐oriented coping and daily stress appraisal in relation to a future stressor
Authors: Raper Mitchell J. , Brough Paula
Published: September 2020

Recent research has identified the value of distinguishing between employee's appraisals of their work‐based challenge, hindrance, and threat job demands, and of how employee's future‐oriented coping is associated with key occupational outcomes. The current study extends this research by assessing the extent to which employee's proactive and preventive coping techniques each directly and indirectly predicted challenge, hindrance and threat appraisals. Utilizing a daily diary design, 89 undergraduate students completed five daily surveys focused on a common future stressor. Results suggested daily appraisals do not change as much as expected, with only challenge appraisals reducing across the 5‐day period. However, both proactive and preventive coping moderated daily stress appraisals, such that when proactive coping was high, challenge appraisals increased and hindrance appraisals decreased. Similarly, preventive coping appeared to reduce both hindrance and threat appraisals. Theoretical and practical implications of the multi‐level and dynamic nature of appraisals and future‐oriented coping are discussed.
Single‐Pore versus Dual‐Pore Bipyridine‐Based Covalent–Organic Frameworks: An Insight into the Heterogeneous Catalytic Activity for Selective CH Functionalization
Authors: Vardhan Harsh , Al‐Enizi Abdullah M. , Nafady Ayman , Pan Yanxiong , Yang Zhongyu , Gutiérrez Humberto R. , Han Xiaolong , Ma Shengqian
Published: September 2020

Exponential growth in the field of covalent–organic frameworks (COFs) is emanating from the direct correlation between designing principles and desired properties. The comparison of catalytic activity between single‐pore and dual‐pore COFs is of importance to establish structure–function relationship. Herein, the synthesis of imine‐linked dual‐pore [(BPyDC)]x%‐ETTA COFs (x = 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) with controllable bipyridine content is fulfilled by three‐component condensation of 4,4′,4″,4′″‐(ethene‐1,1,2,2‐tetrayl)tetraaniline (ETTA), 4,4′‐biphenyldialdehyde, and 2,2′‐bipyridyl‐5,5′‐dialdehyde in different stoichiometric ratio. The strong coordination of bipyridine moieties of [(BPyDC)]x%‐ETTA COFs with palladium imparts efficient catalytic active sites for selective functionalization of sp2 CH bond to CX (X = Br, Cl) or CO bonds in good yield. To broaden the scope of regioselective CH functionalization, a wide range of electronically and sterically substituted substrates under optimized catalytic condition are investigated. A comparison of the catalytic activity of palladium decorated dual‐pore frameworks with single‐pore imine‐linked Pd(II) @ Py‐2,2′‐BPyDC framework  is undertaken. The finding of this work provides a sporadic example of chelation‐assisted CH functionalization and disclosed an in‐depth comparison of the relationship between superior catalytic activity and core properties of rationally designed imine linked frameworks.
Modification and Validation of Low‐Cost Recreational GPS Loggers for Tortoises
Authors: Paden Lance M. , Andrews Kimberly M.
Published: September 2020

Some chelonians, such as the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), spend much of their time underground in burrows. Often, they will retreat into these burrows when approached. This predator avoidance behavior may potentially influence the spatial use patterns that researchers directly observe via manual telemetry. In an effort to record the movements of gopher tortoises using affordable methods that reduce behavioral effects, we devised a novel application for Global Positioning System (GPS) loggers, specifically that of a low‐cost recreational unit that could be modified for extended deployment (~6 months) under gopher tortoise‐conditions. We conducted a stationary testing study of these GPS loggers whereby they were deployed at specific depths (0.5 m, 1.0 m, and 2.0 m) inside inactive burrows and on the surface at our study site in southeastern Georgia, USA, during summer 2017. This stationary trial allowed us to characterize the effect of burrow depth on GPS fix success rate (FSR), mean location error (µLE), and root mean square of the location error (LERMS). We found that µLE and LERMS increased with increasing depth underground; µLE ranged from 17.34 m on the surface to 69.98 m at the 2.0‐m depth. However, following exclusion of LE outliers >3 standard deviations from each treatment mean, LERMS decreased to 8.6 m at the surface to 40.46 m at the 2.0‐m depth. The FSR varied by burrow depth from 0.51 (2.0‐m depth) to 0.99 (surface). Additionally, we provide our attachment and deployment methods as used for studying the spatial ecology of the gopher tortoise with modified recreational GPS loggers. Overall, the modified GPS loggers performed well, obtaining 146,118 successful GPS fixes on 38 individual gopher tortoises during 84 unique deployments, each approximately 3.5–6 months in duration. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.
Surgery for patellar dislocation has evolved towards anatomical reconstructions with assessment and treatment of anatomical risk factors
Authors: Uimonen Mikko M. , Repo Jussi P. , Huttunen Tuomas T. , Nurmi Heikki , Mattila Ville M. , Paloneva Juha
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Increasing knowledge on the treatment of patellar dislocation has resulted in the development of new surgical techniques for patella stabilisation. National incidence and trends in surgery for patellar dislocation were examined using data from the Finnish National Hospital Discharge Register (NHDR). The hypothesis was that an increased understanding of the pathophysiology of patellar instability has increased the popularity of reconstructing damaged structures and modification of anatomical risk factors.

Methods

Data from the years 1997–2016 were collected from the NHDR database using ICD-10 diagnostic codes and the Nomesco Classification of Surgical Procedures (NCSP) codes. Surgical procedures were categorised into subgroups representing the main surgical approaches of patellar dislocation. Total incidence of surgery for patellar dislocation and change in incidence during the study period were calculated.

Results

A total of 9702 operations for patellar dislocation were performed during the study period. Median (IQR) patient age at time of primary surgery was 23 (18–34) years. The total incidence of surgeries remained stable across the study period at of 8.9 per 100,000 person-years. Incidences of ligament reconstruction, femoral osteotomies and osteochondral fragment reimplantation operations multiplied during the study period. Ligament reconstruction procedures were the most performed operations at the end of the study period.

Conclusion

The incidence of surgical procedures for patellar dislocation remained unchanged during the years 1997–2016. Ligament reconstruction procedures increased in popularity. Surgical techniques have shifted towards the reconstruction of damaged structures and the modification of congenital anatomical risk factors for patellar dislocation. Diversified surgical techniques have enabled the tailoring and combining of stabilizing procedures according to the patient’s individual anatomy.
A three-stage quality diagnosis platform for laser-based manufacturing processes
Authors: Stavropoulos Panagiotis , Papacharalampopoulos Alexios , Stavridis John , Sampatakakis Kyriakos
Published: September 2020

Diagnosis systems for laser processing are being integrated into industry. However, their readiness level is still questionable under the prism of the Industry’s 4.0 design principles for interoperability and intuitive technical assistance. This paper presents a novel multifunctional, web-based, real-time quality diagnosis platform, in the context of a laser welding application, fused with decision support, data visualization, storing, and post-processing functionalities. The platform’s core considers a quality assessment module, based upon a three-stage method which utilizes feature extraction and machine learning techniques for weld defect detection and quality prediction. A multisensorial configuration streams image data from the weld pool to the module in which a statistical and geometrical method is applied for selecting the input features for the classification model. A Hidden Markov Model is then used to fuse this information with earlier results for a decision to be made on the basis of maximum likelihood. The outcome is fed through web services in a tailored User Interface. The platform’s operation has been validated with real data.
Non-emptiness of the alpha-core: sufficient and necessary conditions
Authors: Basile Achille , Scalzo Vincenzo
Published: September 2020

We give sufficient and necessary conditions for the non-emptiness of the alpha-core in the setting of strategic games with non-ordered and discontinuous preferences. In order to prove our results, we can avoid the use of Scarf’s Theorem for NTU-games, by suitably appealing to the Ky Fan minimax inequality. Examples clarify our conditions and allow the comparison of our results with the previous ones.
Gegenbauer and Other Planar Orthogonal Polynomials on an Ellipse in the Complex Plane
Authors: Akemann Gernot , Nagao Taro , Parra Iván , Vernizzi Graziano
Published: September 2020

We show that several families of classical orthogonal polynomials on the real line are also orthogonal on the interior of an ellipse in the complex plane, subject to a weighted planar Lebesgue measure. In particular these include Gegenbauer polynomials $$C_n^{(1+\alpha )}(z)$$

C
n

(
1
+
α
)

(
z
)

for $$\alpha >-1$$

α
>
-
1

containing the Legendre polynomials $$P_n(z)$$

P
n

(
z
)

and the subset $$P_n^{(\alpha +\frac{1}{2},\pm \frac{1}{2})}(z)$$

P
n

(
α
+

1
2

,
±

1
2

)

(
z
)

of the Jacobi polynomials. These polynomials provide an orthonormal basis and the corresponding weighted Bergman space forms a complete metric space. This leads to a certain family of Selberg integrals in the complex plane. We recover the known orthogonality of Chebyshev polynomials of the first up to fourth kind. The limit $$\alpha \rightarrow \infty $$

α
→
∞

leads back to the known Hermite polynomials orthogonal in the entire complex plane. When the ellipse degenerates to a circle we obtain the weight function and monomials known from the determinantal point process of the ensemble of truncated unitary random matrices.
Mig1 localization exhibits biphasic behavior which is controlled by both metabolic and regulatory roles of the sugar kinases
Authors: Schmidt Gregor W. , Welkenhuysen Niek , Ye Tian , Cvijovic Marija , Hohmann Stefan
Published: September 2020

Glucose, fructose and mannose are the preferred carbon/energy sources for the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Absence of preferred energy sources activates glucose derepression, which is regulated by the kinase Snf1. Snf1 phosphorylates the transcriptional repressor Mig1, which results in its exit from the nucleus and subsequent derepression of genes. In contrast, Snf1 is inactive when preferred carbon sources are available, which leads to dephosphorylation of Mig1 and its translocation to the nucleus where Mig1 acts as a transcription repressor. Here we revisit the role of the three hexose kinases, Hxk1, Hxk2 and Glk1, in glucose de/repression. We demonstrate that all three sugar kinases initially affect Mig1 nuclear localization upon addition of glucose, fructose and mannose. This initial import of Mig1 into the nucleus was temporary; for continuous nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of Mig1, Hxk2 is required in the presence of glucose and mannose and in the presence of fructose Hxk2 or Hxk1 is required. Our data suggest that Mig1 import following exposure to preferred energy sources is controlled via two different pathways, where (1) the initial import is regulated by signals derived from metabolism and (2) continuous shuttling is regulated by the Hxk2 and Hxk1 proteins. Mig1 nucleocytoplasmic shuttling appears to be important for the maintenance of the repressed state in which Hxk1/2 seems to play an essential role.
Designing everyday automation with well-being in mind
Authors: Klapperich Holger , Uhde Alarith , Hassenzahl Marc
Published: September 2020

Nowadays, automation not only permeates industry but also becomes a substantial part of our private, everyday lives. Driven by the idea of increased convenience and more time for the “important things in life,” automation relieves us from many daily chores—robots vacuum floors and automated coffee makers produce supposedly barista-quality coffee on the press of a button. In many cases, these offers are embraced by people without further questioning. However, while we save time by delegating more and more everyday activities to automation, we also may lose chances for enjoyable and meaningful experiences. In two field studies, we demonstrate that a manual process has experiential benefits over more automated processes by using the example of coffee-making. We present a way to account for potential experiential costs of everyday automation and strategies of how to design interaction with automation to reconcile experience with the advantages of a more and more powerful automation.
Comparative de novo transcriptome analysis of barley varieties with different malting qualities
Authors: Leišová-Svobodová Leona , Psota Vratislav , Stočes Štěpán , Vácha Petr , Kučera Ladislav
Published: September 2020

Barley is one of the most important crops in the world. Barley is used as both food and feed and is important for malt production. Demands for malting quality differ among countries and customs. Malting quality is a complex characteristic involving barley genetics, the environmental conditions during barley growth, and the technological parameters of the malting process. In this study, the hypothesis was that there were no differences between two groups of barley varieties with different but defined malting qualities, which was tested using RNA sequencing during selected stages of malting. In total, 919 differentially transcribed genes between the two barley groups were identified and annotated. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were primarily assigned to gene ontology (GO) terms of oxidation-reduction process - oxidoreductase activity, response to stress, carbohydrate metabolic process, and proteolysis - hydrolase activity, and metal ion binding. Genes connected with the plasma membrane and its integral components also play important roles in malting quality. DEG profiles of selected genes in the three malting stages indicate a complex character of malting quality. Many single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertions and deletions (indels) were identified. SNPs and indels with the best quality were used for primer design. After optimization and validation, five molecular markers were developed for use in barley breeding.
Environmental effects of tourism and its seasonality on Mediterranean islands: the contribution of the Interreg MED BLUEISLANDS project to build up an approach towards sustainable tourism
Authors: Andolina Cristina , Signa Geraldina , Tomasello Agostino , Mazzola Antonio , Vizzini Salvatrice
Published: September 2020

The Mediterranean basin is amongst the world’s main tourist destination, and its islands are a major attraction, being sites of historical, cultural and naturalistic importance. This is beneficial for the local economies, but it may also represent a great burden on the coastal environment, where other human pressures are concentrated. The awareness of detrimental side effects of tourism together with the importance to take into account social and economic facets has led to the concept of sustainable tourism, which, however, represents a goal far from being attained. A good opportunity to promote sustainable tourism was provided by the Interreg MED BLUEISLANDS project, whose main aim was to identify, address and mitigate the effects of the seasonal variation of waste generated by tourism on Mediterranean islands. Here, we present the methodological framework of the project aimed at biomonitoring coastal seawater in highly touristic sites using macroalgae as valuable bioindicators of seawater quality and improving its status through the implementation and assessment of mitigation measures that included also the involvement of stakeholders. Outcomes of the project highlighted the effectiveness of such an integrated approach, confirming the importance of choosing proper indicators and tools that can support the development of management plans aiming to mitigate environmental impact and foster sustainable tourism.
Online Reconfiguration of Distributed Robot Control Systems for Modular Robot Behavior Implementation
Authors: Wirkus Malte , Arnold Sascha , Berghöfer Elmar
Published: September 2020

The use of autonomous robots in areas that require executing a broad range of different tasks is currently hampered by the high complexity of the software that adapts the robot controller to different situations the robot would face. Current robot software frameworks facilitate implementing controllers for individual tasks with some variability, however, their possibilities for adapting the controllers at runtime are very limited and don’t scale with the requirements of a highly versatile autonomous robot. With the software presented in this paper, the behavior of robots is implemented modularly by composing individual controllers, between which it is possible to switch freely at runtime, since the required transitions are calculated automatically. Thereby the software developer is relieved of the task to manually implement and maintain the transitions between different operational modes of the robot, what largely reduces software complexity for larger amounts of different robot behaviors. The software is realized by a model-based development approach. We will present the metamodels enabling the modeling of the controllers as well as the runtime architecture for the management of the controllers on distributed computation hardware. Furthermore, this paper introduces an algorithm that calculates the transitions between two controllers. A series of technical experiments verifies the choice of the underlying middleware and the performance of online controller reconfiguration. A further experiment demonstrates the applicability of the approach to real robotics applications.
Temporal Huber Regularization for DCE-MRI
Authors: Hanhela Matti , Kettunen Mikko , Gröhn Olli , Vauhkonen Marko , Kolehmainen Ville
Published: September 2020

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) is used to study microvascular structure and tissue perfusion. In DCE-MRI, a bolus of gadolinium-based contrast agent is injected into the blood stream and spatiotemporal changes induced by the contrast agent flow are estimated from a time series of MRI data. Sufficient time resolution can often only be obtained by using an imaging protocol which produces undersampled data for each image in the time series. This has lead to the popularity of compressed sensing-based image reconstruction approaches, where all the images in the time series are reconstructed simultaneously, and temporal coupling between the images is introduced into the problem by a sparsity promoting regularization functional. We propose the use of Huber penalty for temporal regularization in DCE-MRI, and compare it to total variation, total generalized variation and smoothness-based temporal regularization models. We also study the effect of spatial regularization to the reconstruction and compare the reconstruction accuracy with different temporal resolutions due to varying undersampling. The approaches are tested using simulated and experimental radial golden angle DCE-MRI data from a rat brain specimen. The results indicate that Huber regularization produces similar reconstruction accuracy with the total variation-based models, but the computation times are significantly faster.