bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Abnormal increases in reactive oxygen species in dying insects infected with nematodes
Authors: Tonogawa Urara , Matsumura Takashi , Ono Masaya , Yoshiga Toyoshi 
Published: November 2020

AbstractStress enhances the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in animal plasma. Increased ROS alter various physiological functions, such as development and the immune response, but excessive increases could be harmful. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that abnormally increased plasma ROS levels are associated with animal death. Injection of the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegansinto insect larvae caused high mortality inGalleria mellonella, and the plasma ROS concentration was four times higher than M9 buffer‐injected larvae. There was no difference in plasma antioxidant activity after nematode injection. However, coinjecting nematodes with an antioxidant (ascorbic acid orN‐acetylcysteine) suppressed increases in ROS concentrations by the nematodes and increases in the number of nematodes in the larvae, which increasedG. mellonellasurvival. These results suggest that the abnormal elevation of ROS associated with the stress caused by nematode propagation is lethal forG. mellonella.
Object traversing by monocular UAV in outdoor environment
Authors: Hu Jinwen , Zhang Houxin , Li Zhuoyi , Zhao Chunhui , Xu Zhao , Pan Quan 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIn search and monitoring tasks, object traversing scenarios are more challenging than avoidance and tracking. In this paper, we propose an object perception and path planning algorithm which can detect hollow objects and calculate a traversing path in real‐time. Meanwhile, a general vision unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system framework is designed to implement the proposed algorithm. A series of fundamental but effective algorithms are utilized in combination to detect hollow objects, and then the triangulation is applied to calculate the 3D position of the object. In order to improve the detection accuracy, a path planning and motion control algorithm is designed to enhance the safety and stability during traversing. The actual experimental results show that the UAV system is robust and feasible.
A Tale of Two Utilities: Cyanotoxin Response Plans
Authors: Hayden Anna , To Priscilla , Gorzalski Alexander S. , Shin Jin , Spiesman Anne 
Published: November 2020

Key TakeawaysCyanotoxin occurrence is difficult to predict and detect, yet cyanotoxins at high concentrations are acute health concerns, raising the stakes for utility response.There's no one‐size‐fits‐all method to respond to harmful algal blooms. Utilities should customize their response plans to their specific circumstances and characteristics.Two water utilities in the same US region developed different yet equally comprehensive, reliable plans.
Brain wiring with composite instructions
Authors: Hiesinger P. Robin 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe quest for molecular mechanisms that guide axons or specify synaptic contacts has largely focused on molecules that intuitively relate to the idea of an “instruction.” By contrast, “permissive” factors are traditionally considered background machinery without contribution to the information content of a molecularly executed instruction. In this essay, I recast this dichotomy as a continuum from permissive to instructive actions of single factors that provide relative contributions to a necessarily collaborative effort. Individual molecules or other factors do not constitute absolute instructions by themselves; they provide necessary context for each other, thereby creating a composite that defines the overall instruction. The idea of composite instructions leads to two main conclusions: first, a composite of many seemingly permissive factors can define a specific instruction even in the absence of a single dominant contributor; second, individual factors are not necessarily related intuitively to the overall instruction or phenotypic outcome.
Association between the frequency of daily intellectual activities and cognitive domains: A cross‐sectional study in older adults with complaints of forgetfulness
Authors: Iizuka Ai , Suzuki Hiroyuki , Ogawa Susumu , Takahashi Tomoya , Murayama Sachiko , Kobayashi Momoko , Fujiwara Yoshinori 
Published: November 2020

AbstractObjectivesFrequent engagement in intellectual activities has been shown to reduce the risk of developing dementia. The present study sought to examine the association between the frequency of daily intellectual activities and cognitive domains in older adults with complaints of forgetfulness.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted as a part of regional health examination in Tokyo from 2014 to 2016. A total of 436 participants were asked the frequency of intellectual activities in four categories: 1) reading, 2) writing, 3) using technology, and 4) watching TV and listening to the radio. The Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA‐J) scale was used for the cognitive assessments. The relationships between MoCA‐J scores and each intellectual activity were explored.ResultsBinominal logistic regression analysis revealed that the frequencies of reading, writing, and using technology were significantly related to the language and attention, language, and memory domains, respectively, even after adjusting for demographic characteristics.ConclusionsThe results suggested that the frequency of daily intellectual activities differed depending on the activity type, and each activity was related to a specific cognitive domain.
Gender‐related difference in altered fractional amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuations after electroacupuncture on primary insomnia patients: A resting‐state fMRI study
Authors: Shi Xiao‐Hua , Wang Yu‐Kai , Li Tie , Liu Hong‐Yu , Wang Xin‐Tong , Wang Zhi‐Hong , Mang Jing , Xu Zhong‐Xin 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundPrimary insomnia (PI) is defined as a sleep disorder with no definite cause or inducement. Electroacupuncture, a treatment of inserting needles into specific points on the body surface and applying electrical stimulation, has been proved effective in treating PI with minimal adverse effects. However, the influence of gender difference on the clinical treatment efficacy of electroacupuncture for PI patients remains unclear. Therefore, we designed a clinical trial to compare the clinical treatment efficacy of electroacupuncture for PI patients with different genders. The research on the mechanism of electroacupuncture suggested it could modulate the sleep and wakefulness by activating or deactivating brain regions via a needling/tactile somatosensory specific stimulus. Therefore, we also designed a resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs‐fMRI) study to detect the spontaneous brain activity of PI patients before and after the electroacupuncture treatment.MethodThirty PI patients were recruited to accept 5‐week electroacupuncture treatment on HT‐7. Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) questionnaires were used to evaluate the clinical treatment efficacy. Rs‐fMRI was employed to observe the spontaneous brain activity in the resting state at the baseline and after 5 weeks of electroacupuncture treatment, which was measured by the fractional amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuations (fALFF).ResultThe AIS and PSQI scores were significantly decreased both in the female PI group and the male PI group after treatment. The decreased PSQI of female patients was significantly more than that of male patients (p < .05). The gender‐related difference in the cerebral response to electroacupuncture was mainly in posterior cingulate and supramarginal gyrus.ConclusionThere is a gender‐related difference in the clinical treatment efficacy of electroacupuncture for PI patients, and female patients may benefit more from electroacupuncture. Gender‐related differences in the cerebral response to electroacupuncture may be one of the factors affecting clinical treatment efficacy.
Macroeconomic instability and interest rate spreads in Ghana
Authors: Owusu‐Ankamah Emmanuel , Sakyi Daniel 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThis paper investigates the extent to which interest rate spreads is associated with macroeconomic instability in Ghana. Using the Maastricht Criteria, quarterly data on inflation, budget deficit, prime rate, external debt and exchange rate were collected from 2008 to 2018 to construct a composite macroeconomic instability index. The resulting index was used to evaluate the long‐run and short‐run relationship between macroeconomic instability and interest rate spreads with the aid of the autoregressive distributed lag and bounds test approach to cointegration. The results revealed that macroeconomic instability had a positive long‐run and short‐run relationship with interest rate spreads. Non‐performing loans and loan‐to‐deposit ratio are found to be negatively related to interest rate spreads both in the short and long run, although the relationship is not statistically significant. From a policy‐oriented point of view, it is recommended that policy makers concentrate on managing macroeconomic instability as a means of boosting savings and investment.
Financial materiality in the informativeness of sustainability reporting
Authors: Schiehll Eduardo , Kolahgar Sam 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThis study examines whether financial materiality in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure benefits the stock market by increasing the amount of accessible and relevant firm‐specific information. Based on the value relevance of information and the principle of financial materiality, we demonstrate that disclosing material ESG information increases stock price informativeness. We conduct an automated content analysis of 150,000 electronic documents filed by firms listed on the S&P/TSX Composite Index from 1999 to the end of 2014. Our findings show that ESG disclosure is indeed value relevant for investors and that financial materiality in ESG disclosure leads to more informative stock prices. In addition, the effect of ESG disclosure on stock price informativeness differs across the ESG components, being more sensitive to the social component. This study contributes to the literature on sustainability reporting, and in particular to the ongoing discussion about whether the financial materiality of ESG issues matters. This study also deepens the understanding of agency theory predictions about the economic effects of ESG disclosure.
Oxidative Alkenylation of Arenes Using Supported Rh Materials: Evidence that Active Catalysts are Formed by Rh Leaching
Authors: Luo Zhongwen , Whitcomb Colby A. , Kaylor Nicholas , Zhang Yulu , Zhang Sen , Davis Robert J. , Gunnoe T. Brent 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThis work focuses on the synthesis of supported Rh materials and study of their efficacy as pre‐catalysts for the oxidative alkenylation of arenes. Rhodium particles supported on silica (Rh/SiO2; ∼3.6 wt% Rh) and on nitrogen‐doped carbon (Rh/NC; ∼1.0 wt% Rh) are synthesized and tested. Heating mixtures of Rh/SiO2 or Rh/NC with benzene and ethylene or α‐olefins and CuX2 {X=OPiv (trimethylacetate) or OHex (2‐ethyl hexanoate)} to 150 °C results in the production of alkenyl arenes. When using Rh/SiO2 or Rh/NC as catalyst precursor, the conversion of benzene and propylene or toluene and 1‐pentene yields a ratio of anti‐Markovnikov to Markovnikov products that is nearly identical to the same ratios as the molecular catalyst precursor [Rh(μ‐OAc)(η2‐C2H4)2]2. These results and other observations are consistent with the formation of active catalysts by leaching of soluble Rh from the supported Rh materials.
Arylative Allenol Cyclization via Sequential One‐pot Enzyme & Palladium Catalysis
Authors: Naapuri Janne M. , Åberg Gustav A. , Palomo Jose M. , Deska Jan 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe one‐pot combination of halogenation biocatalysis and Suzuki‐type cross coupling enables the direct arylative cyclization of allenic alcohols with boronic acids. This modular approach to unsaturated five‐membered O‐heterocycles proceeds in an aqueous emulsion with air as terminal oxidant. Here, the enzymatic oxidative activation of simple halide salts acts as traceless ring‐closure‐inducing event to trigger the subsequent C−C coupling. With the original protocol merging soluble proteins and a homogeneous SPhos‐based palladium catalyst as a template, a novel heterogeneous nanobiohybrid was developed. Consisting of an oxidase matrix hosting small spherical palladium nanoparticles, this enzyme‐metal hybrid exhibits catalytic competence for both the biocyclization as well as the C−C bond‐forming cross coupling, underlining the potential of this new techniques for streamlining chemoenzymatic approaches.
Understanding Support Effects of ZnO‐Promoted Co Catalysts for Syngas Conversion to Alcohols Using Atomic Layer Deposition
Authors: Nathan Sindhu S. , Asundi Arun S. , Singh Joseph A. , Hoffman Adam S. , Boubnov Alexey , Hong Jiyun , Bare Simon R. , Bent Stacey F. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractCo2C, an emerging catalyst for the conversion of syngas to oxygenates, shows support‐sensitive behavior that has not yet been fully explained. Here, we characterize Co catalysts modified with ZnO atomic layer deposition on SiO2, carbon, CeO2, and Al2O3 supports. We find that under syngas conditions, ZnO‐promoted Co transforms into Co2C on SiO2, carbon, and CeO2, but not on Al2O3. Moreover, the support affects the extent of carburization: while the SiO2‐supported catalyst carburizes completely, carbon‐ and CeO2‐supported catalysts show incomplete conversion of Co to Co2C. These three catalysts also exhibit different oxygenate selectivities. In contrast, the modified Al2O3‐supported catalyst retains the Fischer‐Tropsch catalytic properties of metallic Co. By depositing increasing amounts of Al2O3 by ALD on the SiO2 support, decreasing Co2C formation and oxygenate selectivity occurs. In‐situ XANES reveals that Al2O3 prevents Co2C formation by enabling the ZnO to restructure into ZnAl2O4 during reduction. Thus, in addition to modifying the active catalyst phase, the promoter can also strongly interact with the support, significantly impacting catalyst performance.
Fe2O3/TiO2/Activated Carbon Nanocomposite with Synergistic Effect of Adsorption and Photocatalysis
Authors: Baniamerian Hamed , Teimoori Mostafa , Saberi Masoud 
Published: November 2020

AbstractFe2O3/TiO2/activated carbon (FT/AC) nanocomposites supported on silica gel beads were synthesized using a sonochemical method and fully characterized. The response surface method was applied to optimize the removal of Pb(II) ions by nanocomposites under visible light. The experiments were conducted by adjusting three parameters, i.e., initial concentration of Pb(II) ions, dosage of Fe2O3/TiO2 (FT) photocatalyst, and pH. The FT/AC nanocomposite showed higher efficiency for Pb(II) ion removal in comparison with FT due to the synergistic effect of activated carbon combined with Fe2O3/TiO2.
Molecular Imprints Frozen by Strong Intermolecular Interactions in Place of Cross‐Linking
Authors: Ayadi Cherifa , Anene Amira , Kalfat Rafik , Chevalier Yves , Hbaieb Souhaira 
Published: November 2020

AbstractA new way to freeze molecular imprints in a polymer material is reported. So far, molecular imprinted polymers (MIP) involve copolymerization of a functional monomer and large amounts of cross‐linking agent, which keeps the template shape memory in rigid molecular imprints. MIP materials are prepared herein without cross‐linking agent. Stiff chains of polyaniline grafted on a solid support as a brush‐like material achieve the necessary rigidity. Differential adsorption to imprinted and non‐imprinted materials provides evidence of molecular imprints. A correct adsorption isotherm for mobile adsorbed layers (Volmer isotherm) is introduced instead of the popular but inadequate Langmuir isotherm. Non‐selective adsorption is entropic, whereas adsorption to molecular imprints has an enthalpic contribution coming from specific interactions. Fast adsorption kinetics are a definite benefit with regards to applications such as chromatographic separations and chemical sensors.
Numerical analysis of the operating characteristics of a large‐scale CFB coal‐gasification reactor with the QC‐EMMS drag model
Authors: Liu Yang , Huo Pengju , Li Xiaohong , Qi Haiying 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe operating characteristics of a 60 m high industrial circulating fluidized bed (CFB) coal‐gasification reactor were investigated numerically based on the Eulerian‐Eulerian approach. The QC‐EMMS drag model was used to describe the gas‐solid drag reduction caused by particle clusters. The simulations predicted the overall characteristics of fluidization and gasification inside the CFB reactor riser. The simulated results are in agreement with measured data from the field test. Then, the numerical model was used to analyze the influences of the steam/coal ratio, pulverized coal‐particle size, and operating pressure. The results show that each of the three operating parameters has a great impact on different performance parameters, such as the solid mass circulation rate, the H2/CO ratio, the effective syngas yield, and the average bed temperature. The predicted data were then correlated to provide supports for optimizing the operations of large‐scale CFB coal gasifiers.
Effects of gas leakage from the dipleg on the pressure characteristics in a cyclone separator
Authors: Wang Di , Sun Liqiang , Yan Chaoyu , Wang Jiangyun , Wei Yaodong 
Published: November 2020

AbstractGas leakage from the dipleg of a cyclone separator usually exists due to the the inlet and dipleg output being in a common space. To gain further insight into the pressure characteristics produced by such gas leakage, the pressure drops and instantaneous pressures in a cyclone separator were measured by a U‐tube and dynamic pressure sensors, respectively, under the conditions of different inlet velocities and gas leakage rates. The results showed that the pressure drop linearly decreased with increased gas leakage rate. And the instantaneous pressure fluctuation amplitudes of some regions were greatly affected by gas leakage variations. Instantaneous pressure data were processed in terms of SD, which revealed that the oscillation of the vortex core caused the pressure fluctuations. When the pressure of the upward gas leakage was equal to that of the axial wall surface, the end of the vortex core attached to the lateral wall and formed the larger pressure fluctuation. A power spectral density analysis was carried out for pressure time‐series data, and then the swing frequency (180 Hz) of the vortex core end was detected on the cyclone separator wall surface in the cone lower region (tapping 4). As a consequence, gas leakage could lead to separated particles being re‐entrained, which might heavily deteriorate separation performance of the cyclone separator.
Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol over Non−Cu‐based Heterogeneous Catalysts
Authors: Sha Feng , Han Zhe , Tang Shan , Wang Jijie , Li Can 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe increasing atmospheric CO2 level makes CO2 reduction an urgent challenge facing the world. Catalytic transformation of CO2 into chemicals and fuels utilizing renewable energy is one of the promising approaches toward alleviating CO2 emissions. In particular, the selective hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol utilizing renewable hydrogen potentially enables large scale transformation of CO2. The Cu‐based catalysts have been extensively investigated in CO2 hydrogenation. However, it is not only limited by long‐term instability but also displays unsatisfactory catalytic performance. The supported metal‐based catalysts (Pd, Pt, Au, and Ag) can achieve high methanol selectivity at low temperatures. The mixed oxide catalysts represented by MaZrOx (Ma=Zn, Ga, and Cd) solid solution catalysts present high methanol selectivity and catalytic activity as well as excellent stability. This Review focuses on the recent advances in developing Non−Cu‐based heterogeneous catalysts and current understandings of catalyst design and catalytic performance. First, the thermodynamics of CO2 hydrogenation to methanol is discussed. Then, the progress in supported metal‐based catalysts, bimetallic alloys or intermetallic compounds catalysts, and mixed oxide catalysts is discussed. Finally, a summary and a perspective are presented.
Exotic species drive patterns of plant species diversity in 93 restored tallgrass prairies
Authors: Kaul Andrew D. , Wilsey Brian J. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractA primary goal of restoration ecology is to understand the factors that generate variability in species diversity and composition among restorations. Plant communities may assemble deterministically toward a common community type, or they may assemble stochastically, ending differently because of weather conditions during establishment, soil legacy effects, or exotic species propagule pressure. To test these alternative hypotheses, we sampled plant communities and soil at 93 randomly selected restored prairies distributed throughout Iowa, USA. Five remnant sites were sampled as a reference. We tested our hypotheses using multiple regressions and investigated the strength of direct and indirect effects on species diversity and richness using structural equation models. The prairie restorations were highly variable in their age, size, diversity, soil characteristics, and how they were managed post‐seeding. The strongest predictor of plant species richness and diversity was the degree of invasion, as measured by the abundance of exotic species. Restorations planted with species‐rich seed mixes had reduced exotic species abundance, which led indirectly to higher species richness of restorations. Sites with higher organic matter and a more linear shape had a direct positive effect on exotic abundance, which in turn decreased diversity. We found little support for deterministic assembly, and diversity did not increase with the age of planting. Our results indicate that restored prairie communities tend to assemble into states of high or low diversity, driven by invasion from exotic plant species. Management of exotic species is essential for maximizing species diversity in temperate grassland restorations.
Intensive Laboratory experiences to safely retain experiential learning in the transition to online learning
Authors: Lashley Marcus , McCleery Robert 
Published: November 2020

AbstractField‐based course work has been foundational to Ecology and Evolutionary Biology curricula. However, opportunities for these experiences gradually have decreased over the past few decades and are being replaced with technology in the college learning environment. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic facilitated a rapid transition of all field‐based courses to online only delivery, which we argue has forced us to reconsider how to deliver course content to retain field experiences in a manner that is safe during the pandemic but robust to ever changing constraints in the college classroom. Here, we propose pairing an intensive laboratory experience with an otherwise online delivery. We discuss several advantages of intensive laboratory experiences that occur in the field over a short but intensive time period over that of the traditional low‐intensity weekly laboratory structure. In particular, intensive laboratory experiences are safer during the pandemic because they allow the group to be tested and isolated, allow more flexibility for students with competing interests for their time, and also enhance student interpersonal skills while still providing strong reinforcement of the skills typically honed through experiential learning. We present case studies for how we intend to apply our proposed model to two courses that heavily rely on field‐based experiential learning to facilitate adoption.