bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanotheranostics in epilepsy: A perspective for multimodal diagnosis and strategic management
Authors: Shende Pravin , Trivedi Riddhi
Published: January 2021

Epilepsy is a common but a complex neurological disorder with limited practices for successful management due to the complicated neuronal network and lack of knowledge of epileptic pathophysiology. Theranostic systems such as implantable devices and biodegradable nanomaterials offer better tailor‐made methods for the detection and treatment using nanotechnology‐based approaches for patients with epilepsy. Miniaturized nano‐implantable devices and biosensors equipped with operations to mimic neurostimulation demonstrate excellent opportunities in profiling the disease and assist in comprehension of the relationship between the disease and host. This strategy is developed for diagnoses and mapping brain activities to integrate and target therapeutic nanosystems in epilepsy. Non‐invasive class of nanotheranostics such as biodegradable and stimuli‐responsive polymers includes nanomaterials that utilize bio‐physico‐chemical processes or stimuli as a source for detecting the state and progress of the disease. The superior form of nanotheranostics encompasses in‐situ diagnostics with triggered release at the specific site. This review article focuses on the nanotheranostic strategies for epilepsy, their implications, challenges and new potentials for detection and therapy in personalized medicine. The concept of “on‐demand” release of drugs at the site of action using bio‐responsive theranostic approach reveals a potential for developing a point of primary care for epilepsy in the future.
Chain structure, linear viscoelasticity and extensional rheology of poly(4‐vinyl biphenyl‐stat‐styrene) statistical copolymers
Authors: López‐Barrón Carlos R.
Published: January 2021

A series of statistical copolymers of 4‐vinylbiphenyl and styrene were prepared via free radical polymerization to investigate the effect of the comonomer ratio on their microstructure and rheological properties. The glass transition temperature of the copolymers follows a nonlinear monotonic decreasing dependence with increasing styrene content which is well described by the Gordon‐Taylor equation. WAXS measurements reveal that both the backbone to backbone and the inter‐phenyl distances (d1 and d2, respectively) are decreasing functions of the styrene content in the copolymers. The apparent monomeric friction coefficient, calculated from dynamic frequency sweeps in the linear viscoelastic regime, decreases exponentially with the styrene content in the copolymer. We postulate that the strong effect of the copolymer composition on the friction coefficient is due to the larger overlapping distance between phenyl rings of adjacent polymer chains (doverlap), giving rise to stronger aromatic π–π interactions, which in turn results in stronger friction between adjacent chains. The increase in doverlap and monomeric friction coefficient also leads to a significant increase in the extensional strain hardening measured during extensional startup flow measurements.
Associations between peak oxygen uptake, lung function, and bronchiectasis in children with cystic fibrosis in the era of CFTR modulators
Authors: Du Berry Cassidy , Westrupp Nicole , Shanthikumar Shivanthan , Welsh Liam
Published: January 2021

Background

With the emergence of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) may become a less sensitive measure of pulmonary disease progression in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Increasing evidence shows that peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) is a strong predictor of prognosis in CF. The primary aim of this study was to describe the associations between peak oxygen uptake, lung function, and bronchiectasis in children with CF in the era of CFTR modulators.

Methods

Spirometry and a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) were performed on the same day and compared to markers of disease severity. Markers of disease severity included a number of pulmonary exacerbations resulting in hospital admission within the preceding 12 months, body mass index, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA) infection, and bronchiectasis.

Results

Fifty‐two subjects (24 female) with CF participated in the study with a mean (SD) age of 13.8 (2.4) years, range 8–18 years. Forty‐nine participants met satisfactory criteria for a maximal CPET. A significant correlation was found between relative VO2peak %predicted and FEV1%predicted (r = .546, p < .001). A total of 4/49 children demonstrated an impaired aerobic capacity despite normal spirometry. Participants who had experienced one or more pulmonary exacerbations in the previous 12 months had a significantly lower relative VO2peak %predicted (p = .02).

Conclusions

In children with CF who have mild pulmonary disease, there is significant correlation between FEV1 and VO2peak. In all, 8.2% of participants had an abnormal CPET result despite normal spirometry, and preceding pulmonary exacerbations were associated with poorer CPET outcomes. CPET may offer important prognostic information for clinical decision making in this new era of CFTR modulators.
Protein structure search to support the development of protein structure prediction methods
Authors: Ayoub Ronald , Lee Yugyung
Published: January 2021

Protein structure prediction is a long‐standing unsolved problem in molecular biology that has seen renewed interest with the recent success of deep learning with AlphaFold at CASP13. While developing and evaluating protein structure prediction methods, researchers may want to identify the most similar known structures to their predicted structures. These predicted structures often have low sequence and structure similarity to known structures. We show how RUPEE, a purely geometric protein structure search, is able to identify the structures most similar to structure predictions, regardless of how they vary from known structures, something existing protein structure searches struggle with. RUPEE accomplishes this through the use of a novel linear encoding of protein structures as a sequence of residue descriptors. Using a fast Needleman‐Wunsch algorithm, RUPEE is able to perform alignments on the sequences of residue descriptors for every available structure. This is followed by a series of increasingly accurate structure alignments from TM‐align alignments initialized with the Needleman‐Wunsch residue descriptor alignments to standard TM‐align alignments of the final results. By using alignment normalization effectively at each stage, RUPEE also can execute containment searches in addition to full‐length searches to identify structural motifs within proteins. We compare the results of RUPEE to the protein structure searches mTM‐align, SSM, CATHEDRAL, and VAST using a benchmark derived from the protein structure predictions submitted to CASP13. RUPEE identifies better alignments on average with respect to TM‐score as well as scores specific to SSM and CATHEDRAL, Q‐score and SSAP‐score, respectively.
Comparison of cardiac rehabilitation (exercise + education), exercise only, and usual care for patients with coronary artery disease: A non‐randomized retrospective analysis
Authors: Hu Yanqun , Li Li , Wang Taihao , Liu Yuanyuan , Zhan Xiaohong , Han Shuyan , Huang Li
Published: January 2021

Cardiac rehabilitation program is well‐established but the Rehabilitation After Myocardial Infarction Trial (RAMIT) is reported that it does not affect mortality and morbidity of patients after myocardial infarction during follow‐up period. The objectives of the study were to compare functional walking capacity, risk factor control, and morbidities in follow‐up for cardiac rehabilitation (exercise + education), exercise only, and usual care among patients with coronary artery disease. A total of 492 male and female patients (age range: 45–73 years) with coronary artery disease after myocardial infarction or underwent percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting surgeries referred to cardiac rehabilitation were included in the study. Patients were participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program (exercise + education, CRP cohort, n = 125), exercise only (USC cohort, n = 182), or usual care (NCR cohort, n = 185). Data regarding incremental shuttle walk test, lipid profile, the Patient Health Questionnaire 9, and morbidities in follow‐up of patients were retrospectively collected and analyzed. After completion of 1 year, cardiac rehabilitation program (p < 0.0001, q = 20.939) and exercise (p < 0.0001, q = 6.059) were successfully increased incremental shuttle walk test. After completion of 1 year, cardiac rehabilitation program reduced low‐density lipoprotein (p = 0.007, q = 3.349) and depressive symptoms (p < 0.0001, q = 5.649). Morbidities were reported fewer in the patients of CRP cohort than those of USC (p = 0.003, q = 3.427) and NCR (p = 0.003, q = 4.822) cohorts after completion of 1 year of program. Cardiac rehabilitation program (exercise +education) improved functional walking capacity, controlled risk factors, and reduced morbidities of patients with coronary artery disease than exercise only and usual care (Level of evidence: III).
Engineering Oxygen‐Irrelevant Radical Nanogenerator for Hypoxia‐Independent Magnetothermodynamic Tumor Nanotherapy
Authors: Shen Yujia , Dong Caihong , Xiang Huijing , Li Cuixian , Zhuang Fan , Chen Yixin , Lu Qing , Chen Yu , Huang Beijian
Published: January 2021

Tumor hypoxia substantially lowers the treatment efficacy of oxygen‐relevant therapeutic modalities because the production of reactive oxygen species in oxygen‐relevant anticancer modalities is highly dependent on oxygen level in tumor tissues. Here a distinctive magnetothermodynamic anticancer strategy is developed that takes the advantage of oxygen‐irrelevant free radicals produced from magnetothermal decomposable initiators for inducing cancer‐cell apoptosis in vitro and tumor suppression in vivo. Free‐radical nanogenerator is constructed through in situ engineering of a mesoporous silica coating on the surface of superparamagnetic Mn and Co‐doped nanoparticles (MnFe2O4@CoFe2O4, denoted as Mag) toward multifunctionality, where mesoporous structure provides reservoirs for efficient loading of initiators and the Mag core serves as in situ heat source under alternating magnetic field (AMF) actuation. Upon exposure to an exogenous AMF, the magnetic hyperthermia effect of superparamagnetic core lead to the rapid decomposition of the loaded/delivered initiators (AIPH) to produce oxygen‐irrelevant free radicals. Both the magnetothermal effect and generation of toxic free radicals under AMF actuation are synergistically effective in promoting cancer‐cell death and tumor suppression in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. The prominent therapeutic efficacy of this radical nanogenerator represents an intriguing paradigm of oxygen‐irrelevant nanoplatform for AMF‐initiated synergistic cancer treatment.
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis
Authors: Hofbauer Thomas M. , Ondracek Anna S. , Lang Irene M.
Published: January 2021

Despite effective therapeutic and preventive strategies, atherosclerosis and its complications still represent a substantial health burden. Leukocytes and inflammatory mechanisms are increasingly recognized as drivers of atherosclerosis. Neutrophil granulocytes within the circulation were recently shown to undergo neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, linking innate immunity with acute complications of atherosclerosis. In this chapter, we summarize mechanisms of NET formation, evidence for their involvement in atherosclerosis and thrombosis, and potential therapeutic regimens specifically targeting NET components.
An Effective Intrusion Detection Model Based on Pls-Logistic Regression with Feature Augmentation
Authors: Gu Jie
Published: January 2021

Computer network is playing a significantly important role in our society, including commerce, communication, consumption and entertainment. Therefore, network security has become increasingly important. Intrusion detection systems have received considerable attention, which not only can detect known attacks or intrusions, but also can detect unknown attacks. Among the various methods applied to intrusion detection, logistic regression is the most widely used, which can achieve good performances and have good interpretability at the same time. However, intrusion detection systems usually confront with data of large scale and high dimension. How to reduce the dimension and improve the data quality is significant to improve the detection performances. Therefore, in this paper, we propose an effective intrusion detection model based on pls-logistic regression with feature augmentation. More specifically, the feature augmentation technique is implemented on the original features with goal of obtaining high-qualified training data; and then, pls-logistic regression is applied on the newly transformed data to perform dimension reduction and detection model building. The NSL-KDD dataset is used to evaluate the proposed method, and the empirical results show that our proposed method can achieve good performances in terms of accuracy, detection rate and false alarm rate.
Perosonalized Differentially Private Location Collection Method with Adaptive GPS Discretization
Authors: Liu Huichuan , Zeng Yong , Liu Jiale , Liu Zhihong , Ma Jianfeng , Zhu Xiaoyan
Published: January 2021

In recent years, with the development of mobile terminals, geographic location has attracted the attention of many researchers because of its convenience in collection and its ability to reflect user profile. To protect user privacy, researchers have adopted local differential privacy in data collection process. However, most existing methods assume that location has already been discretized, which we found, if not done carefully, may introduces huge noise, lowering collected result utility. Thus in this paper, we design a differentially private location division module that could automatically discretize locations according to access density of each region. However, as the size of discretized regions may be large, if directly applying existing local differential privacy based attribute method, the overall utility of collected results may be completely destroyed. Thus, we further improve the optimized binary local hash method, based on personalized differential privacy, to collect user visit frequency of each discretized region. This solution improve the accuracy of the collected results while satisfying the privacy of the user’s geographic location. Through experiments on synthetic and real data sets, this paper proves that the proposed method achieves higher accuracy than the best known method under the same privacy budget.
Logarithmic correction to the entropy of extremal black holes in $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 1 Einstein-Maxwell supergravity
Authors: Banerjee Gourav , Karan Sudip , Panda Binata
Published: January 2021

Abstract

We study one-loop covariant effective action of “non-minimally coupled” $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1, d = 4 Einstein-Maxwell supergravity theory by heat kernel tool. By fluctuating the fields around the classical background, we study the functional determinant of Laplacian differential operator following Seeley-DeWitt technique of heat kernel expansion in proper time. We then compute the Seeley-DeWitt coefficients obtained through the expansion. A particular Seeley-DeWitt coefficient is used for determining the logarithmic correction to Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of extremal black holes using quantum entropy function formalism. We thus determine the logarithmic correction to the entropy of Kerr-Newman, Kerr and Reissner-Nordström black holes in “non-minimally coupled” $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1, d = 4 Einstein-Maxwell supergravity theory.
Aquaporin-1 and aquaporin-9 gene variations in sudden infant death syndrome
Authors: Opdal Siri Hauge , Ferrante Linda , Rognum Torleiv Ole , Stray-Pedersen Arne
Published: January 2021

Several studies have indicated that a vulnerability in the development and regulation of brain function is involved in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The aim of this study was to investigate the genes encoding the brain aquaporins (AQPs) AQP1 and AQP9 in SIDS. The hypothesis was that specific variants of these genes are part of the genetic vulnerability predisposing infants to sudden unexpected death. The study included 168 SIDS cases with a median age of 15.5 (range 2–52) weeks and 372 adolescent/adult deceased controls with a median age of 44 (range 11–91) years. In the AQP1 gene, the rs17159702 CC/CT genotypes were found to be associated with SIDS (p = 0.02). In the AQP9 gene, the combination of a TT genotype of rs8042354, rs2292711 and rs13329178 was more frequent in SIDS cases than in controls (p = 0.03). In the SIDS group, an association was found between genetic variations in the AQP1 gene and maternal smoking and between the 3xTT combination in the AQP9 gene and being found lifeless in a prone position. In conclusion, this study adds further evidence to the involvement of brain aquaporins in SIDS, suggesting that specific variants of AQP genes constitute a genetic predisposition, making the infant vulnerable to sudden death together with external risk factors and probably other genetic factors.
Identifying the paths of climate effects on population dynamics: dynamic and multilevel structural equation model around the annual cycle
Authors: Selonen Vesa , Helle Samuli , Laaksonen Toni , Ahola Markus P. , Lehikoinen Esa , Eeva Tapio
Published: January 2021

How environmental factors influence population dynamics in long-distance migrants is complicated by the spatiotemporal diversity of the environment the individuals experience during the annual cycle. The effects of weather on several different aspects of life history have been well studied, but a better understanding is needed on how weather affects population dynamics through the different associated traits. We utilise 77 years of data from pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), to identify the most relevant climate signals associated with population growth rate. The strongest signals on population growth were observed from climate during periods when the birds were not present in the focal location. The population decline was associated with increasing precipitation in the African non-breeding quarters in the autumn (near the arrival of migrants) and with increasing winter temperature along the migration route (before migration). The number of fledglings was associated positively with increasing winter temperature in non-breeding area and negatively with increasing winter temperature in Europe. These possible carry-over effects did not arise via timing of breeding or clutch size but the exact mechanism remains to be revealed in future studies. High population density and low fledgling production were the intrinsic factors reducing the breeding population. We conclude that weather during all seasons has the potential to affect the reproductive success or population growth rate of this species. Our results show how weather can influence the population dynamics of a migratory species through multiple pathways, even at times of the annual cycle when the birds are in a different location than the climate signal.
Relationships between resource availability and elevation vary between metrics creating gradients of nutritional complexity
Authors: Lee Mark A. , Burger Grace , Green Emma R. , Kooij Pepijn W.
Published: January 2021

Plant and animal community composition changes at higher elevations on mountains. Plant and animal species richness generally declines with elevation, but the shape of the relationship differs between taxa. There are several proposed mechanisms, including the productivity hypotheses; that declines in available plant biomass confers fewer resources to consumers, thus supporting fewer species. We investigated resource availability as we ascended three aspects of Helvellyn mountain, UK, measuring several plant nutritive metrics, plant species richness and biomass. We observed a linear decline in plant species richness as we ascended the mountain but there was a unimodal relationship between plant biomass and elevation. Generally, the highest biomass values at mid-elevations were associated with the lowest nutritive values, except mineral contents which declined with elevation. Intra-specific and inter-specific increases in nutritive values nearer the top and bottom of the mountain indicated that physiological, phenological and compositional mechanisms may have played a role. The shape of the relationship between resource availability and elevation was different depending on the metric. Many consumers actively select or avoid plants based on their nutritive values and the abundances of consumer taxa vary in their relationships with elevation. Consideration of multiple nutritive metrics and of the nutritional requirements of the consumer may provide a greater understanding of changes to plant and animal communities at higher elevations. We propose a novel hypothesis for explaining elevational diversity gradients, which warrants further study; the ‘nutritional complexity hypothesis’, where consumer species coexist due to greater variation in the nutritional chemistry of plants.
A computational modeling approach based on random fields for short fiber-reinforced composites with experimental verification by nanoindentation and tensile tests
Authors: Rauter Natalie
Published: January 2021

In this study a modeling approach for short fiber-reinforced composites is presented which allows one to consider information from the microstructure of the compound while modeling on the component level. The proposed technique is based on the determination of correlation functions by the moving window method. Using these correlation functions random fields are generated by the Karhunen–Loève expansion. Linear elastic numerical simulations are conducted on the mesoscale and component level based on the probabilistic characteristics of the microstructure derived from a two-dimensional micrograph. The experimental validation by nanoindentation on the mesoscale shows good conformity with the numerical simulations. For the numerical modeling on the component level the comparison of experimentally obtained Young’s modulus by tensile tests with numerical simulations indicate that the presented approach requires three-dimensional information of the probabilistic characteristics of the microstructure. Using this information not only the overall material properties are approximated sufficiently, but also the local distribution of the material properties shows the same trend as the results of conducted tensile tests.
Disruptive technologies in agricultural operations: a systematic review of AI-driven AgriTech research
Authors: Spanaki Konstantina , Sivarajah Uthayasankar , Fakhimi Masoud , Despoudi Stella , Irani Zahir
Published: January 2021

The evolving field of disruptive technologies has recently gained significant interest in various industries, including agriculture. The fourth industrial revolution has reshaped the context of agricultural technology (AgriTech) with applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and a strong focus on data-driven analytical techniques. Motivated by the advances in AgriTech for agrarian operations, the study presents a state-of-the-art review of the research advances which are, evolving in a fast pace over the last decades (due to the disruptive potential of the technological context). Following a systematic literature approach, we develop a categorisation of the various types of AgriTech, as well as the associated AI-driven techniques which form the continuously shifting definition of AgriTech. The contribution primarily draws on the conceptualisation and awareness about AI-driven AgriTech context relevant to the agricultural operations for smart, efficient, and sustainable farming. The study provides a single normative reference for the definition, context and future directions of the field for further research towards the operational context of AgriTech. Our findings indicate that AgriTech research and the disruptive potential of AI in the agricultural sector are still in infancy in Operations Research. Through the systematic review, we also intend to inform a wide range of agricultural stakeholders (farmers, agripreneurs, scholars and practitioners) and to provide research agenda for a growing field with multiple potentialities for the future of the agricultural operations.
Differing impacts of two major plant invaders on urban plant-dwelling spiders (Araneae) during flowering season
Authors: Bauer Tobias , Bäte Daria Alison , Kempfer Fabian , Schirmel Jens
Published: January 2021

Plant invasions can have major impacts on ecosystems and influence global species diversity. In Central Europe, Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) and American goldenrods (Solidago canadensisandS. gigantea) are important invaders often establishing dense and homogeneous stands, especially in urban and other disturbed habitats. We investigated their impacts on plant-dwelling spiders (abundance, family structure, guild structure) and potential spider prey items during flowering season within an urbanized landscape using a paired design comparing invaded and native reference vegetation plots. In general, flowering American goldenrods and Himalayan balsam had no significant impacts on the spider family composition. Invasion of American goldenrods further had no effect on total spider abundance and potential prey item abundance. In contrast, goldenrods showed a significantly increased crab spider (Thomisidae) abundance while being less inhabited by web builders. Himalayan balsam negatively influenced free hunters and running crab spider (Philodromidae) abundance, while we found no effects on other groups and total spider abundance. For Himalayan balsam, potential prey item abundance was higher than in native vegetation stands. Notwithstanding that our results only represent a snapshot of the system, they suggest that large-scale removal of urban goldenrod stands during flowering season might negatively influence local spider abundance, especially of crab spiders. Management efforts should therefore be accompanied by compensation measures to avoid disruptive effects on local plant-dwelling spider communities.
Observation of Nociceptive Processing: Effect of Intra-Epidermal Electric Stimulus Properties on Detection Probability and Evoked Potentials
Authors: van den Berg Boudewijn , Buitenweg Jan R.
Published: January 2021

Monitoring nociceptive processing is a current challenge due to a lack of objective measures. Recently, we developed a method for simultaneous tracking of psychophysical detection probability and brain evoked potentials in response to intra-epidermal stimulation. An exploratory investigation showed that we could quantify nociceptive system behavior by estimating the effect of stimulus properties on the evoked potential (EP). The goal in this work was to accurately measure nociceptive system behavior using this method in a large group of healthy subjects to identify the locations and latencies of EP components and the effect of single- and double-pulse stimuli with an inter-pulse interval of 10 or 40 ms on these EP components and detection probability. First, we observed the effect of filter settings and channel selection on the EP. Subsequently, we compared statistical models to assess correlation of EP and detection probability with stimulus properties, and quantified the effect of stimulus properties on both outcome measures through linear mixed regression. We observed lateral and central EP components in response to intra-epidermal stimulation. Detection probability and central EP components were positively correlated to the amplitude of each pulse, regardless of the inter-pulse interval, and negatively correlated to the trial number. Both central and lateral EP components also showed strong correlation with detection. These results show that both the observed EP and the detection probability reflect the various steps of processing of a nociceptive stimulus, including peripheral nerve fiber recruitment, central synaptic summation, and habituation to a repeated stimulus.
Effects of nuisance submerged vegetation on the fauna in Norwegian rivers
Authors: Velle Gaute , Skoglund Helge , Barlaup Bjørn T.
Published: January 2021

The abundance of aquatic vegetation is increasing in rivers and lakes worldwide. The aim of this study was to find how the macrophyte Juncus bulbosus Linnaeus affects salmonids and benthic macroinvertebrates in Norwegian rivers. The proliferation of J. bulbosus in the study rivers commenced after the development of hydropower in the 1960s and 1970s. J. bulbosus is now considered a nuisance for humans in many areas of the rivers. We found a higher density of juvenile fish and higher density, weight and species richness of invertebrates in areas with J. bulbosus than in areas with gravel, suggesting that the vegetation is not limiting fish and invertebrates. This may be because macrophytes increase the surface area and provide shelter, food and a variety of ecological niches. Adult salmonid fish can be negatively affected when their spawning grounds are covered by vegetation. However, overgrowth is not common and may take years since fish clear the river bed of macrophytes during redd digging, indicating competition between macrophytes and fish for riverbed habitat. Our results suggest that one should not assume that outgrowths of macrophytes have negative impacts on the ecosystem. It is important to map all impacts and distinguish nuisance to humans from effects on the ecosystem.
Synthetic tethered silver nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide for alkaline oxygen reduction catalysis
Authors: Tinker Henry R. , Bhide Malavika A. , Magliocca Emanuele , Miller Thomas S. , Knapp Caroline E.
Published: January 2021

There is currently an enormous drive to move away from the use of Pt group metals in catalysis, particularly for fuel cells, because of their increasing rarity and cost. Simultaneously, there have been advances in the application of graphene supported nanoparticular catalysts. However, these Pt-free, graphene supported catalysts can be complex to produce, show poor catalytic activity and degrade quickly due to particle agglomeration or isolation. Herein, we report a one-pot synthesis of silver nanoparticles (NPs) tethered to a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) template via organic linkages. This is one of the few silver precursor formations that have been combined with graphene oxide (GO) to simultaneously establish linkage binding sites, reduce GO and yield tethered nanoparticles. These materials are shown to efficiently catalyze the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline environments, with aminoethanol linkages to 21.55 ± 2.88 nm Ag particles exhibiting the highest catalytic activity via the four-electron pathway. This method, therefore, offers a straightforward route to produce effective catalysts from inexpensive precursors, which could be developed further for significant industrial application.

Graphical abstract
In situ observation of the impact of hydrogen bubbles in Al–Cu melt on directional dendritic solidification
Authors: Werner T. , Becker M. , Baumann J. , Pickmann C. , Sturz L. , Kargl F.
Published: January 2021

Much research has already been focused on the solid-bubble interaction in the interdendritic space for solidifying materials. However, commonly, bubble nucleation is not limited to the mushy zone but also occurs in the liquid melt. In the present research on an Al-$$10 \, \%\mathrm {wt. \,}$$

10

%

wt
.

Cu alloy, the interaction between these bubbles and the approaching solidification front becomes apparent under in situ X-radiography and allows for new insights into the influence of bubbles on the solidifying microstructure. The observed effects comprise bulging of the solidification front toward the bubble, bending of dendrites in front of the bubble, coronal outgrowths surrounding the bubbles, as well as bubble growth, bubble pushing, and bubble eruption. It is found that for the present Al–Cu alloy, the local variation in the solidification speed can be attributed to the bubbles’ insulating properties. The range of this effect was observed to be up to $$900 \,\upmu \text {m}$$

900

μ
m

, depending on the bubble diameter, locally increasing solidification speed by up to $$350 \, \%$$

350

%

. The influences of Marangoni vortices and coronal nucleation of misoriented dendrites around bubbles on the homogeneity of the microstructure are discussed. A comparison with experiments on model alloys and simulations from various other studies highlights the similarities and differences to this metallic alloy system.
Selective oxidation of aromatic alcohols in the presence of C3N4 photocatalysts derived from the polycondensation of melamine, cyanuric and barbituric acids
Authors: García-López Elisa I. , Abbasi Zahra , Di Franco Francesco , Santamaria Monica , Marcì Giuseppe , Palmisano Leonardo
Published: January 2021

A set of C3N4 samples has been prepared by using melamine, cyanuric acid and barbituric acid as the precursors. The materials were subjected both to physical and chemical characterization and were used as photocatalysts for the selective oxidation of aromatic alcohols in water suspension under UV and visible irradiation. The photoactivity of the materials versus the partial oxidation of four substituted benzyl alcohols was investigated. The type and position of the substituents in the aromatic molecule influenced conversion and selectivity to the corresponding aldehyde. The presence of barbituric and cyanuric acids in the preparation method has changed the graphitic-C3N4 structure, and therefore both the characteristics of the material and the ability of light to activate the surface of the photocatalyst. The most active material prepared in the presence of melamine and cyanuric acid showed a remarkable selectivity towards the aldehyde even under visible irradiation.
Resolutions provide reasons or: “how the Cookie Monster quit cookies”
Authors: Bales Adam , Handfield Toby
Published: January 2021

Why should we typically act in accordance with our resolutions when faced with the temptation to do otherwise? A much-maligned view suggests that we should do so because resolutions themselves provide us with reasons for action. We defend a version of this view, on which resolutions providesecond-orderreasons. This account avoids the objections typically taken to be fatal for the view that resolutions are reasons, including the prominent bootstrapping objections.
Does general relativity highlight necessary connections in nature?
Authors: Vassallo Antonio
Published: January 2021

The dynamics of general relativity is encoded in a set of ten differential equations, the so-calledEinstein field equations. It is usually believed that Einstein’s equations represent a physical law describing the coupling of spacetime with material fields. However, just six of these equations actually describe the coupling mechanism: the remaining four represent a set of differential relations known asBianchi identities. The paper discusses the physical role that the Bianchi identities play in general relativity, and investigates whether these identities—quapart of a physical law—highlight some kind ofa posteriorinecessity in a Kripkean sense. The inquiry shows that general relativistic physics has an interesting bearing on the debate about the metaphysics of the laws of nature.
Development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the identification of the invasive wood borer Aromia bungii (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from frass
Authors: Rizzo Domenico , Luchi Nicola , Da Lio Daniele , Bartolini Linda , Nugnes Francesco , Cappellini Giovanni , Bruscoli Tommaso , Salemi Chiara , Griffo Raffaele V. , Garonna Antonio P. , Rossi Elisabetta
Published: January 2021

The red-necked longhorn beetle Aromia bungii (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is native to east Asia, where it is a major pest of cultivated and ornamental species of the genus Prunus. Morphological or molecular discrimination of adults or larval specimens is required to identify this invasive wood borer. However, recovering larval stages of the pest from trunks and branches causes extensive damage to plants and is timewasting. An alternative approach consists in applying non-invasive molecular diagnostic tools to biological traces (i.e., fecal pellets, frass). In this way, infestations in host plants can be detected without destructive methods. This paper presents a protocol based on both real-time and visual loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), using DNA of A. bungii extracted from fecal particles in larval frass. Laboratory validations demonstrated the robustness of the protocols adopted and their reliability was confirmed performing an inter-lab blind panel. The LAMP assay and the qPCR SYBR Green method using the F3/B3 LAMP external primers were equally sensitive, and both were more sensitive than the conventional PCR (sensitivity > 103 to the same starting matrix). The visual LAMP protocol, due to the relatively easy performance of the method, could be a useful tool to apply in rapid monitoring of A. bungii and in the management of its outbreaks.
High performance hydroxyapatite ceramics and a triply periodic minimum surface structure fabricated by digital light processing 3D printing
Authors: Yao Yongxia , Qin Wei , Xing Bohang , Sha Na , Jiao Ting , Zhao Zhe
Published: January 2021

High performance hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramics with excellent densification and mechanical properties were successfully fabricated by digital light processing (DLP) three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. It was found that the sintering atmosphere of wet CO2 can dramatically improve the densification process and thus lead to better mechanical properties. HA ceramics with a relative density of 97.12% and a three-point bending strength of 92.4 MPa can be achieved at a sintering temperature of 1300 , which makes a solid foundation for application ℃ in bone engineering. Furthermore, a relatively high compressive strength of 4.09 MPa can be also achieved for a DLP-printed p-cell triply periodic minimum surface (TPMS) structure with a porosity of 74%, which meets the requirement of cancellous bone substitutes. A further cell proliferation test demonstrated that the sintering atmosphere of wet CO2 led to improve cell vitality after 7 days of cell culture Moreover, with the possible benefit from the bio-inspired structure, the 3D-printed TPMS structure significantly improved the cell vitality, which is crucial for early osteogenesis and osteointegration.
Effect of processing parameters on in situ screen printing-assisted synthesis and electrical properties of Ti3SiC2-based structures
Authors: Lorenz Mylena , Travitzky Nahum , Rambo Carlos R.
Published: January 2021

This work reports on the development of pastes containing Ti, TiC, Si, and C elementary powders for in situ synthesis of Ti3SiC2 via screen printing. Four paste compositions were manufactured using two powder mixtures (Ti/Si/C and Ti/TiC/Si/C) with different stoichiometry. The pastes were screen printed onto Al2O3 substrates and sintered at 1400 ℃ in argon varying the dwell time from 1 to 5 h. The printed pastes containing TiC and excess of Si exhibited the lowest surface roughness and after 5 h sintering comprised of Ti3SiC2 as the majority phase. The electrical conductivity of this sample was found to range from 4.63×104 to 2.57×105 S·m–1 in a temperature range of 25–400 ℃.
Unity of Science
Authors: Tahko Tuomas E.
Published: January 2021

Unity of science was once a very popular idea among both philosophers and scientists. But it has fallen out of fashion, largely because of its association with reductionism and the challenge from multiple realisation. Pluralism and the disunity of science are the new norm, and higher-level natural kinds and special science laws are considered to have an important role in scientific practice. What kind of reductionism does multiple realisability challenge? What does it take to reduce one phenomenon to another? How do we determine which kinds are natural? What is the ontological basis of unity? In this Element, Tuomas Tahko examines these questions from a contemporary perspective, after a historical overview. The upshot is that there is still value in the idea of a unity of science. We can combine a modest sense of unity with pluralism and give an ontological analysis of unity in terms of natural kind monism.
Villa Landscapes in the Roman North
Authors: Derks Ton , Roymans Nico
Published: January 2021

This edited volume presents a synthesis of recent research on villas and villa landscapes in the northern provinces of the Roman world. It offers an original, multi-dimensional perspective on the social, economic and cultural functioning of villas within the context of the Roman empire. Themes discussed include the economic basis of villa dominated landscapes, rural slavery, town-country dynamics, the role of monumental burials in villa landscapes, and self-representation and lifestyle of villa owners. This study offers a major contribution to the comparative research of villa landscapes and the phenomenon of regionality in Roman rural landscapes. Amsterdam Archaeological Studies is a series devoted to the study of past human societies from the prehistory up into modern times, primarily based on the study of archaeological remains. The series will include excavation reports of modern fieldwork; studies of categories of material culture; and synthesising studies with broader images of past societies, thereby contributing to the theoretical and methodological debates in archaeology.
Cross-border copyright, complexity and collaboration: Approaching intellectual property across an international consortium of photo archives
Authors: Fournier Melissa Gold
Published: January 2021

What are the cross-border intellectual property and copyright issues faced by PHAROS, an international consortium of photo archives, in the creation of an open access research platform? How does the consortium define open access? Are approaches to copyright in reproductive media across the US, UK and EU compatible, and can 14 partners from six countries agree to assess and express rights in the same way? Developments in the field and the consortium's 2020 International Copyright Workshop project have helped PHAROS define and address these issues.
Realization of analytic moduli for parabolic Dulac germs
Authors: MARDEŠIĆ PAVAO , RESMAN MAJA
Published: January 2021

In a previous paper [P. Mardešić and M. Resman. Analytic moduli for parabolic Dulac germs. Russian Math. Surveys, to appear, 2021, arXiv:1910.06129v2.] we determined analytic invariants, that is, moduli of analytic classification, for parabolic generalized Dulac germs. This class contains parabolic Dulac (almost regular) germs, which appear as first-return maps of hyperbolic polycycles. Here we solve the problem of realization of these moduli.
Variable embedded agent in Sason Arabic
Authors: AKKUŞ FARUK
Published: January 2021

The paper investigates the syntax and semantics of an indirect causative construction, ‘make’ causatives, in Sason Arabic with a focus on the syntax of the embedded structure and the status of the implicit embedded agent. On the basis of several diagnostics, the study demonstrates that ‘make’ embeds an agentive VoiceP, which also manifests an active-passive alternation despite the absence of any morphological reflex. Regarding the nature of the implicit embedded agent, the paper argues that it is present as a free variableà laHeim (1982) generated on the Voice head itself. In so doing, it adds to the ontology of null arguments as well as suggesting that licensing of a grammatical object is dissociated from the projection of a specifier.
Are prescription misuse and illicit drug use etiologically distinct? A genetically-informed analysis of opioids and stimulants
Authors: Dash Genevieve F. , Martin Nicholas G. , Agrawal Arpana , Lynskey Michael T. , Slutske Wendy S.
Published: January 2021

Background

Drug classes are grouped based on their chemical and pharmacological properties, but prescription and illicit drugs differ in other important ways. Potential differences in genetic and environmental influences on the (mis)use of prescription and illicit drugs that are subsumed under the same class should be examined. Opioid and stimulant classes contain prescription and illicit forms differentially associated with salient risk factors (common route of administration, legality), making them useful comparators for addressing this etiological issue.

Methods

A total of 2410 individual Australian twins [Mage = 31.77 (s.d. = 2.48); 67% women] were interviewed about prescription misuse and illicit use of opioids and stimulants. Univariate and bivariate biometric models partitioned variances and covariances into additive genetic, shared environmental, and unique environmental influences across drug types.

Results

Variation in the propensity to misuse prescription opioids was attributable to genes (41%) and unique environment (59%). Illicit opioid use was attributable to shared (71%) and unique (29%) environment. Prescription stimulant misuse was attributable to genes (79%) and unique environment (21%). Illicit stimulant use was attributable to genes (48%), shared environment (29%), and unique environment (23%). There was evidence for genetic influence common to both stimulant types, but limited evidence for genetic influence common to both opioid types. Bivariate correlations suggested that prescription opioid use may be more genetically similar to prescription stimulant use than to illicit opioid use.

Conclusions

Prescription opioid misuse may share little genetic influence with illicit opioid use. Future research may consider avoiding unitary drug classifications, particularly when examining genetic influences.
X-ray powder diffraction data of LaNi0.5Ti0.45Co0.05O3, LaNi0.45Co0.05Ti0.5O3, and LaNi0.5Ti0.5O3 perovskites
Authors: Souza Mariana M. V. M. , Maza Alex , Tuza Pablo V.
Published: January 2021

In the present work, LaNi0.5Ti0.45Co0.05O3, LaNi0.45Co0.05Ti0.5O3, and LaNi0.5Ti0.5O3 perovskites were synthesized by the modified Pechini method. These materials were characterized using X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction coupled to the Rietveld method. The crystal structure of these materials is orthorhombic, with space group Pbnm (No 62). The unit-cell parameters are a = 5.535(5) Å, b = 5.527(3) Å, c = 7.819(7) Å, V = 239.2(3) Å3, for the LaNi0.5Ti0.45Co0.05O3, a = 5.538(6) Å, b = 5.528(4) Å, c = 7.825(10) Å, V = 239.5(4) Å3, for the LaNi0.45Co0.05Ti0.5O3, and a = 5.540(2) Å, b = 5.5334(15) Å, c = 7.834(3) Å, V = 240.2(1) Å3, for the LaNi0.5Ti0.5O3.
Narrative heroes and civic builders in Newcastle city region during the nineteenth century
Authors: Barke Michael , Taylor Peter J.
Published: January 2021

The literature on nineteenth-century Newcastle city region is a narrative of industrial progress premised upon technological prowess. But there is another story to be told about the transformation of a relatively small northern town into a conurbation with the attributes of a modern city. This second process of ‘rounding out’ the city with social, cultural and political institutions to accompany the economic prowess is relatively under-reported. In this study, we follow 1,621 individuals and compare their record of being mentioned in the literature to their participation in 343 local institutions. The focus is directed towards those who are much more visible in the literature compared to institutional membership – ‘narrative heroes’ – and those with the reverse pattern, much more to be found in institutions than in the literature – civic builders. The two sets of individuals are discussed and reasons for their contrasting positions are suggested.