bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Method for the production of pure and C-doped nanoboron powders tailored for superconductive applications
Authors: Capra Marco , Loria Federico , Bernini Cristina , Bovone Gianmarco , Moros Alice , Stöger-Pollach Michael , Schachinger Thomas , Bernardi Johannes , Siri Antonio Sergio , Vignolo Maurizio 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
The present paper describes the improvement of the performances of boron powder obtained applying the freeze-drying process (FDP) for the nanostructuration and doping of B2O3, which is here used as boron precursor. After the nanostructuration process, B2O3 is reduced to elemental nanoboron (nB) through magnesiothermic reaction with Mg. For this work, the usefulness of the process was tested focusing on the carbon-doping (C-doping), using Cblack, inulin and haemoglobin as C sources. The choice of these molecules, their concentration, size and shape, aims at producing improvements in the final compound of boron: in this case the superconductive magnesium diboride, which has been prepared and characterized both as powder and wire. The characteristics of B2O3, B and MgB2 powder, as well as MgB2 wire were tested and compared with that obtained using the best commercial precursors: H. C. Starck micrometric boron and Pavezyum nanometric boron. Both the FDP and the magnesiothermic reaction were carried out with simplicity and a great variety of doping sources, i.e. elements or compounds, which can be organic or inorganic and soluble or insoluble. The FDP allows to produce nB suitable for numerous applications. This process is also very competitive in terms of scalability and production costs if compared to the via gas technique adopted by nanoboron producers currently available on the world market.
Blue phosphorene reactivity on the Au(111) surface
Authors: Zhang Wei , Enriquez Hanna , Zhang Xuan , Mayne Andrew J , Bendounan Azzedine , Dappe Yannick J , Kara Abdelkader , Dujardin Gérald , Oughaddou Hamid 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
The synthesis of blue phosphorene by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) has recently come under the spotlight due to its potential applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, this synthesis remains a significant challenge. The surface reactivity between the P atoms and the Au atoms should be considered for the P/Au(111) system. In the MBE process, the temperature of the substrate is a key parameter for the growth of blue phosphorene. During the initial growth stage, irregularly shaped Phosphorus clusters grow on top of Au(111) surface at room temperature. When the substrate temperature is increased, these clusters transform into a phosphorene-like structure with a honeycomb lattice. An atom exchange reaction is observed between the P and first layer Au atoms under thermal activation at higher temperature, where the P atoms replace Au atoms to form a blue phosphorene structure within the top Au layer and at the step edges.
Efficient fusion of photonic W-states with nonunitary partial-swap gates
Authors: Wei Hai-Rui , Liu Wen-Qiang , Kwek Leong-Chuan 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
We introduce a nonunitary partial-swap gate for fusing arbitrary small-sized photonic W-states into a large-scale entangled network of W-state efficiently without ancillary photons. A partial-swap gate is designed in an optical architecture based on linear optics elements. By introducing auxiliary degree of freedom, this gate provides a higher success probability with less cost. Our implementation can create a larger target state with a simpler set-up than previous proposals for W-state fusion. Also all ‘garbage’ states are recyclable, i.e., there is no complete failure output in our scheme in principle.
The Impact of High-quality Development of China’s Economy and the Change of Industrial Structure on Energy consumption in Transportation
Authors: Wang Xuecheng , Zhang Yi 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
This paper explores the impact of high-quality economic development orientation and changes in China’s industrial structure on sustainable transportation development, including the impact of changes in transportation volume, transportation demand characteristics, and transportation energy consumption. the quantitative model of the relationship between macroeconomic factors like industrial structure changes with transportation demand and energy consumption is constructed. On this basis, traffic energy consumption is predicted under the future economic development scenarios. The research shows that the economic development model and the change of industrial structure are highly correlated with the energy consumption of transportation. The economic high-quality development scenario, following the corresponding change of transportation modes will increase the transportation energy consumption per transportation volumes, and the total amount transportation volumes and its energy consumption will decline.
Simplified Calculation of Energy Efficiency Index for Plate Heat Exchanger
Authors: Lu Hongliang , Ren Bin , Pu Zhe , Si Jun , Ren Facai , Du Yannan 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Based on GB/T 27698.3-2011 heat exchanger and heat transfer element performance test method Part 3: Plate heat exchanger, a simplified method for the calculation of energy efficiency index is proposed other than just experimental data required by NB/T 47004.1-2017 plate heat exchangers-part 1: plate-and-frame heat exchangers. The new equation of EEI in term of 12 parameters δρ
, λρ
, lh,l
c, dh,d
c, Ch,Cc,ah, bh,ac,bc
incorporates both fitted correlations of experimental result and parameters for fluid physical properties and working conditions. Therefore, the method omits the intermediate processes such as total heat transfer coefficient k and pressure drops for both sides. It also solves the accuracy problem that deviates from the standard working conditions and is difficult to realize practically. The new test of high cost is unnecessary to obtain the energy efficiency index for old plate heat exchangers with part experimental data or correlations.
Bounds on 2-torsion in class groups of number fields and integral points on elliptic curves
Authors: Bhargava M. , Shankar A. , Taniguchi T. , Thorne F. , Tsimerman J. , Zhao Y. 
Published: August 2020

We prove the first known nontrivial bounds on the sizes of the 2-torsion subgroups of the class groups of cubic and higher degree number fields

K
K

(the trivial bound being

O

ϵ
,
n

(

|

D
i
s
c

(
K
)

|

1

/

2
+
ϵ

)

O_{\epsilon ,n}(|\mathrm {Disc}(K)|^{1/2+\epsilon })

coming from the bound on the entire class group). This yields corresponding improvements to: (1) bounds of Brumer and Kramer on the sizes of 2-Selmer groups and ranks of elliptic curves, (2) bounds of Helfgott and Venkatesh on the number of integral points on elliptic curves, (3) bounds on the sizes of 2-Selmer groups and ranks of Jacobians of hyperelliptic curves, and (4) bounds of Baily and Wong on the number of

A
4

A_4

-quartic fields of bounded discriminant.
Temporal Changes in Cuticular Hydrocarbons During Worker-Reproductive Transition in the Eastern Subterranean Termite (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)
Authors: Sun Qian , Haynes Kenneth F , Zhou Xuguo 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
In social insects, the reproductive division of labor is often regulated through communication using cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) that indicate caste identity and reproductive status. In many termites, workers retain reproductive potential and can differentiate into ergatoid reproductives, and this process is mediated by the presence of reproductives in sex- and age-specific patterns. However, little is known about the variation of CHCs profiles during this transition. In this study, we analyzed the CHC profiles of workers in comparison with ergatoids of different age, sex, and mating status in the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae), one of the most widely distributed termite species in the world. Both female and male ergatoids were characterized by the presence of tricosane and a group of long-chain and methyl-branched hydrocarbons (chain length ≥ 33), which were found in significantly lower quantities from workers. In addition, CHC profiles differed between newly differentiated (3–4 d) and old (20–25 d) ergatoids, but no difference in CHC signatures was found between females and males based on identified compounds. Heneicosane, a previously reported royal recognition pheromone in R. flavipes, was not detected in ergatoids examined in this study. The results of caste- and age-dependent variations suggest that CHCs may act as releaser pheromones that mediate caste recognition and age-related interactions between reproductives, but analytical results of identified compounds in this study do not support CHCs as sex-specific primer pheromones that regulate nestmate fertility. Royal pheromones in termites may involve complex hydrocarbon blends and non-hydrocarbon substances that await further investigation.
Monetary value of informal caregiving in dementia from a societal perspective
Authors: Pitkala Kaisu H , Laakkonen Marja-Liisa , Kallio Eeva-Liisa , Kautiainen Hannu , Raivio Minna M , Tilvis Reijo S , Strandberg Timo E , Ohman Hannareeta 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Background
Dementia is a condition which results in a high cost of care, a significant proportion of which is the cost associated with informal care. In previous studies, informal caregiving has been challenging to assess due to difficulties in estimating the true time spent on caregiving work and how to value caregivers’ time. The aim of this study was to compare the costs of dementia among patients living alone and among those living with a caregiver to show the monetary value of informal caregiving from a societal perspective.

Methods
Data from our four dementia trials using the same measures were combined, allowing the inclusion of 604 participants. Participants were followed up for 2 years or until death for their use of health and social services. Use of all services was retrieved from medical/social records. We also included the costs of lost productivity of those caregivers who were not retired.

Results
The total mean cost of services and lost productivity was €22,068/person-year (pyrs). Participants living alone had a mean cost of €45,156/pyrs, whereas those living with a spouse had a mean cost of €16,416/pyrs (mean cost ratio 2.99, 95% confidence interval 2.64–3.39). Participants living alone and having &lt;15 Mini-Mental State Examination points had higher costs than people with dementia in institutional care.

Conclusions
Detailed data of service use and characteristics of people with dementia showed that from a societal perspective, living alone is a very strong determinant of service use in dementia. Informal caregivers do invaluable work for society.
Impact of reflex fosfomycin susceptibility testing on the utilization of carbapenems for definitive extended-spectrum β-lactamase Escherichia coli urinary tract infection treatment
Authors: Deemer Kevin , Grey Jonathan , Fronczek Christopher , Marr Kerry 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Purpose
A protocol was started within a large health system to automatically test all confirmed extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)–producing Escherichia coli urine isolates for susceptibility to fosfomycin, an antibiotic not routinely included in such testing in most institutions. This study assessed the effectiveness of the protocol at reducing carbapenem use for the definitive treatment of ESBL E. coli urinary tract infection (UTI) through several endpoints.

Methods
Eighty and 99 patients were compared pre- and postintervention, respectively. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who received definitive carbapenem therapy. Key secondary outcomes included median total carbapenem days of therapy (DOT), discharge on intravenous UTI antibiotics, and median total antibiotic DOT.

Results
Preprotocol vs postprotocol definitive carbapenem use was seen in 59 of 80 patients (73.8%) and 71 of 99 patients (71.7%) (95% confidence interval [CI] for difference, -11.1% to 15.1%; P = 0.76). The rates of step-down to oral agents pre- and postintervention were 15 of 59 (25.4%) and 35 of 71 (49.3%) (P = 0.004). Median carbapenem DOT in those receiving carbapenems decreased from 8 to 4 days (95% CI, -5 to -1 days; P = 0.001). Median total DOT decreased from 10 to 8 days (95% CI, -3 to -1 days; P = 0.002).

Conclusion
Implementation of a laboratory policy to automatically test ESBL positive E. coli for fosfomycin susceptibility did not reduce the percentage of patients receiving at least 1 dose of carbapenem treatment. It did result in a larger percentage reduction in step-down use of intravenous antibiotics for UTI prior to discharge, reduction in carbapenem DOT, and reduction in total antibiotic DOT.
CaNDis: a web server for investigation of causal relationships between diseases, drugs and drug targets
Authors: Škrlj Blaž , Eržen Nika , Lavrač Nada , Kunej Tanja , Konc Janez 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Motivation
Causal biological interaction networks represent cellular regulatory pathways. Their fusion with other biological data enables insights into disease mechanisms and novel opportunities for drug discovery.

Results
We developed Causal Network of Diseases (CaNDis), a web server for the exploration of a human causal interaction network, which we expanded with data on diseases and FDA-approved drugs, on the basis of which we constructed a disease–disease network in which the links represent the similarity between diseases. We show how CaNDis can be used to identify candidate genes with known and novel roles in disease co-occurrence and drug–drug interactions.

Availabilityand implementation
CaNDis is freely available to academic users at http://candis.ijs.si and http://candis.insilab.org.

Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Improving Instructional Fitness Requires Change
Authors: Herrera Jose , Haskew-Layton Renée E , Narayanan Madhavan , Porras-Alfaro Andrea , Jumpponen Ari , Chung Y Anny , Rudgers Jennifer A 
Published: August 2020

AbstractTransmission of information has benefitted from a breathtaking level of innovation and change over the past 20 years; however, instructional methods within colleges and universities have been slow to change. In the article, we present a novel framework to structure conversations that encourage innovation, change, and improvement in our system of higher education, in general, and our system of biology education, specifically. In particular, we propose that a conceptual model based on evolutionary landscapes in which fitness is replaced by educational effectiveness would encourage educational improvement by helping to visualize the multidimensional nature of education and learning, acknowledge the complexity and dynamism of the educational landscape, encourage collaboration, and stimulate experimental thinking about how new approaches and methodology could take various fields associated with learning, to more universal fitness optima. The framework also would encourage development and implementation of new techniques and persistence through less efficient or effective valleys of death.
S-DolLion-MSVNN: A Hybrid Model for Developing the Super-Resolution Image From the Multispectral Satellite Image
Authors: Gavade Anil B , Rajpurohit Vijay S 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Super-resolution offers a new image with high resolution from the low-resolution (LR) image that is highly employed for the numerous remote sensing applications. Most of the existing techniques for formation of the super-resolution image exhibit the loss of quality and deviation from the original multi-spectral LR image. Thus, this paper aims at proposing an efficient super-resolution method using the hybrid model. The hybrid model is developed using the support vector regression model and multi-support vector neural network (MSVNN), and the weights of the MSVNN is tuned optimally using the proposed algorithm. The proposed DolLion algorithm is the integration of the dolphin echolocation algorithm and lion optimization algorithm that exhibits better convergence and offers a global optimal solution. The experimentation is performed using the datasets taken from the multi-spectral scene images. The optimal and effective formation of the super-resolution image using the proposed hybrid model outperforms the existing methods, and the analysis using the second-derivative-like measure of enhancement (SDME) ensures that the proposed method is better and yields a maximum SDME of 67.6755 dB.
Metoprolol exerts a non-class effect against ischaemia–reperfusion injury by abrogating exacerbated inflammation
Authors: Clemente-Moragón Agustín , Gómez Mónica , Villena-Gutiérrez Rocío , Lalama Doménica V , García-Prieto Jaime , Martínez Fernando , Sánchez-Cabo Fátima , Fuster Valentín , Oliver Eduardo , Ibáñez Borja 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Aims
Clinical guidelines recommend early intravenous β-blockers during ongoing myocardial infarction; however, it is unknown whether all β-blockers exert a similar cardioprotective effect. We experimentally compared three clinically approved intravenous β-blockers.

Methods and results
Mice undergoing 45 min/24 h ischaemia–reperfusion (I/R) received vehicle, metoprolol, atenolol, or propranolol at min 35. The effect on neutrophil infiltration was tested in three models of exacerbated inflammation. Neutrophil migration was evaluated in vitro and in vivo by intravital microscopy. The effect of β-blockers on the conformation of the β1 adrenergic receptor was studied in silico. Of the tested β-blockers, only metoprolol ameliorated I/R injury [infarct size (IS) = 18.0% ± 0.03% for metoprolol vs. 35.9% ± 0.03% for vehicle; P &lt; 0.01]. Atenolol and propranolol had no effect on IS. In the three exacerbated inflammation models, neutrophil infiltration was significantly attenuated only in the presence of metoprolol (60%, 50%, and 70% reductions vs. vehicle in myocardial I/R injury, thioglycolate-induced peritonitis, and lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury, respectively). Migration studies confirmed the particular ability of metoprolol to disrupt neutrophil dynamics. In silico analysis indicated different intracellular β1 adrenergic receptor conformational changes when bound to metoprolol than to the other two β-blockers.

Conclusions
Metoprolol exerts a disruptive action on neutrophil dynamics during exacerbated inflammation, resulting in an infarct-limiting effect not observed with atenolol or propranolol. The differential effect of β-blockers may be related to distinct conformational changes in the β1 adrenergic receptor upon metoprolol binding. If these data are confirmed in a clinical trial, metoprolol should become the intravenous β-blocker of choice for patients with ongoing infarction.
Soil P reduces mycorrhizal colonization while favors fungal pathogens: observational and experimental evidence in Bipinnula (Orchidaceae)
Authors: Mujica María Isabel , Pérez María Fernanda , Jakalski Marcin , Martos Florent , Selosse Marc André 
Published: August 2020

ABSTRACT
Little is known about the soil factors influencing root-associated fungal communities in Orchidaceae. Limited evidence suggests that soil nutrients may modulate the association with orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF), but their influence on non-mycorrhizal fungi remains unexplored. To study how nutrient availability affects mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal fungi associated with the orchid Bipinnula fimbriata, we conducted a metagenomic investigation within a large population with variable soil conditions. Additionally, we tested the effect of phosphorus (P) addition on fungal communities and mycorrhizal colonization. Soil P negatively correlated with the abundance of OMF, but not with the abundance of non-mycorrhizal fungi. After fertilization, increments in soil P negatively affected mycorrhizal colonization; however, they had no effect on OMF richness or composition. The abundance and richness of pathotrophs were negatively related to mycorrhizal colonization and then, after fertilization, the decrease in mycorrhizal colonization correlated with an increase in pathogen richness. Our results suggest that OMF are affected by soil conditions differently from non-mycorrhizal fungi. Bipinnula fimbriata responds to fertilization by altering mycorrhizal colonization rather than by switching OMF partners in the short term, and the influence of nutrients on OMF is coupled with indirect effects on the whole fungal community and potentially on plant's health.
A comparison of the inhibitory activities of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium against Penicillium expansum and an analysis of potential antifungal metabolites
Authors: Qiao Nanzhen , Yu Leilei , Zhang Chengcheng , Wei Chaozhi , Zhao Jianxin , Zhang Hao , Tian Fengwei , Zhai Qixiao , Chen Wei 
Published: August 2020

ABSTRACT
The infection of fruits by Penicillium expansum (P. expansum) do not only cause economic loss but also potentially endanger human health, especially because few biocontrol agents against this fungus have been well studied yet. In this work, to verity the antifungal activity against P. expansum of 22 Bifidobacterium and 44 Lactobacillus, dual-culture overlay assay, microtiter plate well assay and agar spot assay were successively performed. One of the strain, Bifidobacterium adolescentis (B. adolescentis) CCFM1108 exhibited the most potent inhibition ability among all tested strains. Additionally, we showed that multiple antifungal compounds produced by tested strain synergistically inhibit the growth of P. expansum, including lactic acid, acetic acid, 3-phenyllactic acid and p-hydroxyphenyllactic acid. Those active compounds mentioned were detected in the cell-free supernatant and characterized by metabolomics analysis using GC-MS. Correspondingly, B. adolescentis CCFM1108 supernatant disrupted plasma membrane integrity of the P. expansum mycelial and drastically reduced patulin production in P. expansum. The inhibitive effects of B. adolescentis CCFM1108 were also confirmed with three other P. expansum strains. The active inhibitory properties of Bifidobacterium strains, especially B. adolescentis CCFM1108, indicate that B. adolescentis can be potentially used as a novel bioagent to prevent or delay fungal spoilage on fruit.