bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
TiO2nanotube array-modified electrodes for L-cysteine biosensing: experimental and density-functional theory study
Authors: Hussain Muhammad , Khaliq Nilem , Nisar Amjad , Khan Maaz , Karim Shafqat , Ali Khan Adnan , Yi Xie , Maqbool Muhammad , Ali Ghafar 
Published: September 2020

AbstractWe report a non-enzymatic facile method for the detection of L-cysteine (L-Cyst) using free-standing TiO2nanotube (TNT) array-modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs). Self-organized, highly ordered, and vertically oriented TNT arrays were fabricated by anodization of titanium sheets in ethylene glycol-based electrolyte. Detailed electrochemical measurements were performed and it was found that modified GCE exhibited high current compared to the pristine counterpart. The high current of the modified electrode was attributed to the high surface area and enhanced electrocatalytic activities of the TNTs toward the L-Cyst oxidation. Under the optimum conditions, the modified electrode exhibited a high sensitivity of ∼1.68 µA mM−1cm−2with a low detection limit of ∼0.1 mM. The fabricated electrode was found to be sensitive to pH and electrolyte temperature. The real sample analysis of the proposed method showed a decent recovery toward L-Cyst addition in human blood serum. Furthermore, the density-funcational theory (DFT) analysis revealed that TNTs have greater affinity toward L-Cyst, having stronger binding distance after its adsorption. The higher negativeEadsvalues suggested a stable and chemisorption nature. The density of states results show that theEgapof TNTs is significantly reduced after L-Cyst adsorption. The modified GCE showed excellent selectivity, enhanced stability, and fast response, which make TNTs a promising candidate for the enzyme-free detection of other biological analytes.
Enhancing classification accuracy of fNIRS-BCI using features acquired from vector-based phase analysis
Authors: Nazeer Hammad , Naseer Noman , Khan Rayyan Azam , Noori Farzan Majeed , Qureshi Nauman Khalid , Khan Umar Shahbaz , Khan M Jawad 
Published: September 2020

Abstract

Objective. In this paper, a novel methodology for feature extraction to enhance classification accuracy of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)-based two-class and three-class brain–computer interface (BCI) is presented. Approach. Novel features are extracted using vector-based phase analysis method. Changes in oxygenated

Δ

H
b
O

and de-oxygenated

(

Δ

H
b
R

) haemoglobin are used to calculate four novel features: change in cerebral blood volume (

Δ
C
B
V

), change in cerebral oxygen exchange (

Δ
C
O
E

), vector magnitude (|L|) and angle (k).

Δ
C
B
V

is the sum and

Δ
C
O
E

is difference of

Δ

H
b
O

and

Δ

H
b
R

, whereas |L| is magnitude and k is angle of vector. fNIRS signals of seven healthy subjects, corresponding to left-hand index finger tapping (LFT), right-hand index finger tapping (RFT) and rest are acquired from motor cortex using multi-channel continuous-wave imaging system. After removing physiological and instrumental noises from the acquired signals, the four novel features are calculated. For validation, conventional temporal, spatial and spatiotemporal features; mean, peak, slope, variance, kurtosis and skewness are also calculated using

Δ

H
b
O

and

Δ

H
b
R

. All possible two-feature and three-feature combinations of the novel and conventional features are then used to classify two-class (LFT vs RFT) and three-class (LFT vs RFT vs rest) fNIRS-BCI using linear discriminant analysis. Main results. Results demonstrate that combination of four novel features yields significantly higher average classification accuracies of 98.7 ± 1.0% and 85.4 ± 1.4% as compared to 68.7 ± 6.9% and 53.6 ± 10.6% using conventional features for two-class and three-class problem, respectively. Validation of proposed method on an open access database containing RFT, LFT and dominant side foot tapping tasks for 30 subjects also shows improvement in average classification accuracies for two-class and three-class fNIRS-BCIs. Significance. This study provides a step forward in improving the classification accuracies of state-of-the-art fNIRS-BCIs by showing significant improvement in classification accuracies of two-class and three-class fNIRS-BCIs using novel features extracted by vector-based phase analysis.
Brazilian amazon indigenous peoples threatened by mining bill
Authors: Rorato Ana C , Camara Gilberto , Escada Maria Isabel S , Picoli Michelle C A , Moreira Tiago , Verstegen Judith A 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
The Brazilian Amazon has the highest concentration of indigenous peoples in the world. Recently, the Brazilian government sent a bill to Congress to regulate commercial mining in indigenous lands. This work analyzes the risks of the proposed mining bill to Amazonian indigenous peoples and their lands. To evaluate the possible impact of the new mining bill, we consider all mining license requests registered in Brazil’s National Mining Agency that overlap indigenous lands as potential mining areas in the future. The existing mining requests cover 176 000 km2 of indigenous lands, a factor 3000 more than the area of current illegal mining. Considering only these existing requests, about 15% of the total area of ILs in the region could be directly affected by mining if the bill is approved. Ethnic groups like Yudjá, Kayapó, Apalaí, Wayana, and Katuena may have between 47% and 87% of their lands impacted. Gold mining, which has previously shown to cause mercury contamination, death of indigenous people due to diseases, and biodiversity degradation, accounts for 64% of the requested areas. We conclude that the proposed bill is a significant threat to Amazonian indigenous peoples, further exposing indigenous peoples to rural violence, contamination by toxic pollutants, and contagious diseases. The obligation of the government is to enforce existing laws and regulations that put indigenous rights and livelihoods above economic consideration and not to reduce such protections.
Regional and county flows of particulate matter damage in the US
Authors: Sergi Brian , Azevedo Inês , Davis Steven J , Muller Nicholas Z 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Despite several decades of declining emissions, the health costs of particulate matter (PM2.5) in the US remain substantial, with more than $1 trillion in annual damages. We analyze the inter-county impacts of PM2.5 for 2008, 2011, and 2014 and find that even though emissions from point sources have fallen over this period, the share of PM2.5 attributable to pollution transported across county and state boundaries is still considerable in many localities. Importantly, the benefits of reduced emissions are not uniformly distributed nationwide, with 26% of counties—concentrated in the South, Midwest, and Pacific Northwest—experiencing worsening health damages since 2008. Around 30% of all US counties receive 90% of their health damages from emissions in other counties, and these damage-importing counties also tend to have lower median incomes. Our results support continued state and federal cooperation to meet air quality standards and reduce the damages caused by PM2.5 from transported air pollution.
Enhancement of wear and erosion-corrosion resistance of Inconel 718 alloy by liquid nitriding
Authors: Xue Ling , Wang Jun , Li Longyi , Chen Guang , Sun Lan , Yu Shaoqiang 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Inconel 718 alloy is often used for the oil and gas industry, which usually failed due to the erosion-corrosion of multi-phase flow. In this study, we expect to enhance the wear and erosion-corrosion resistance of Inconel 718 alloy by liquid nitriding and a high-hardness nitrided layer with the thickness of about 9.5 μm on the surface of Inconel 718 alloy was formed by liquid nitriding. Wear and erosion-corrosion tests were performed on untreated and nitrided Inconel 718 alloys. Results show that abrasive wear and adhesive wear occurred in both nitrided and untreated samples at different temperatures (25 °C, 100 °C and 200 °C). The width and depth of the wear track and the wear rate of the nitrided samples are all smaller than that of the untreated samples. Liquid nitriding significantly improves the wear resistance of Inconel 718 alloy because of the high-hardness nitrided layer. The nitrided Inconel 718 alloy exhibited an improvement of almost 80.3% in the erosion-corrosion resistance compared to their untreated counterparts. The weight loss rate of the erosion-only shows an obvious reduction after liquid nitriding. The surface nitrided layer with high hardness effectively protects the substrate, and prevents the material from the erosion-corrosion of multi-phase flow consisting of the SiO2 particles and the acidic solution, so that the total weight loss of nitrided Inconel 718 alloy decreased evidently.
Spatial entanglement and state engineering via four-photon Hong–Ou–Mandel interference
Authors: Ferreri A , Ansari V , Brecht B , Silberhorn C , Sharapova P R 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
The phenomenon of entanglement is the basis of quantum information and quantum communication processes. Entangled systems with a large number of photons are of great interest at present because they provide a platform for streaming technologies based on photonics. In this paper we present a device which operates with four-photons and based on the Hong–Ou–Mandel interference. The presented device allows to maximize the degree of spatial entanglement and generate the highly entangled four-dimensional Bell states. Furthermore, the use of the interferometer in different regimes leads to fast interference fringes in the coincidence probability with period of oscillations twice smaller than the pump wavelength. We have a good agreement between theoretical simulations and experimental results.
Evaluating the effect of grain size distribution on thermal conductivity of thermoelectric materials
Authors: Das Priyabrata , Bathula Sivaiah , Gollapudi Srikant 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
The influence of grain size (d) on the thermal conductivity (k) of thermoelectric (TE) materials has been well established through experimental studies. However, the effect of grain size distribution, described by S

n
, on k has not been reported before. Since thermal conductivity is a key contributor to the figure of merit (ZT) for thermoelectric materials, studying the effect of grain size distribution, an important microstructural descriptor, on k is necessary. In the current study we are evaluating the effect of S

n
on the k of thermoelectric materials by using data reported in literature on bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) and lead telluride (PbTe). We first check for correlations between k and d. In literature, mathematical correlations between lattice thermal conductivity (k

l
) and d have already been reported but the same is missing for electronic thermal conductivity (k

e
) and d. By analysing literature data for bismuth telluride and lead telluride at 300 K, we identified a linear correlation between k

e
and d, wherein an increase in d leads to an increase in k

e
. This dependence of k

e
on d was combined with the dependence of k

l
on d to establish the overall dependence of k on d. Subsequently, the grain size distribution effect was imposed by using a log normal distribution. The analysis revealed that for a given grain size, an increase in S

n
leads to lowering of the thermal conductivity of the material. The analysis was also extended to bimodal grain size distributions wherein the microstructure was designed in a way to contain a mixture of both nanocrystalline and microcrystalline grains.
Multimodal analysis of gene expression from postmortem brains and blood identifies synaptic vesicle trafficking genes to be associated with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Gao Xiaoya , Huang Zifeng , Feng Cailing , Guan Chaohao , Li Ruidong , Xie Haiting , Chen Jian , Li Mingchun , Que Rongfang , Deng Bin , Cao Peihua , Li Mengyan , Lu Jianjun , Huang Yihong , Li Minzi , Yang Weihong , Yang Xiaohua , Wen Chunyan , Liang Xiaomei , Yang Qin , Chao Yin-Xia , Chan Ling-Ling , Yenari Midori A , Jin Kunlin , Chaudhuri K Ray , Zhang Jing , Tan Eng-King , Wang Qing 
Published: September 2020

Abstract

Objective
We aimed to identify key susceptibility gene targets in multiple datasets generated from postmortem brains and blood of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and healthy controls (HC).

Methods
We performed a multitiered analysis to integrate the gene expression data using multiple-gene chips from 244 human postmortem tissues. We identified hub node genes in the highly PD-related consensus module by constructing protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks. Next, we validated the top four interacting genes in 238 subjects (90 sporadic PD, 125 HC and 23 Parkinson’s Plus Syndrome (PPS)). Utilizing multinomial logistic regression analysis (MLRA) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC), we analyzed the risk factors and diagnostic power for discriminating PD from HC and PPS.

Results
We identified 1333 genes that were significantly different between PD and HCs based on seven microarray datasets. The identified MEturquoise module is related to synaptic vesicle trafficking (SVT) dysfunction in PD (P &lt; 0.05), and PPI analysis revealed that SVT genes PPP2CA, SYNJ1, NSF and PPP3CB were the top four hub node genes in MEturquoise (P &lt; 0.001). The levels of these four genes in PD postmortem brains were lower than those in HC brains. We found lower blood levels of PPP2CA, SYNJ1 and NSF in PD compared with HC, and lower SYNJ1 in PD compared with PPS (P &lt; 0.05). SYNJ1, negatively correlated to PD severity, displayed an excellent power to discriminating PD from HC and PPS.

Conclusions
This study highlights that SVT genes, especially SYNJ1, may be promising markers in discriminating PD from HCs and PPS.
Most important carpological anatomical characters in the taxonomy of Apiaceae
Authors: Kljuykov Eugene V , Zakharova Ekaterina A , Ostroumova Tatiana A , Tilney Patricia M 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Carpological anatomical characters are important in the taxonomy of Apiaceae. At present, it is necessary to include them in any critical revision of taxa of every rank, to characterize species and genera and to identify groups of related taxa. To create standardized descriptions of these taxa, we have compiled a list of taxonomically important fruit anatomical characters. This list includes 15 characters and 79 character states. Fruit anatomical characters are often constant in genera and can characterize genera or groups of closely related genera. However, the same anatomical character can occur in distant taxa. All anatomical characters are illustrated on schematic transverse sections of mericarps or in photographs.
‘Sacrifice zone’: The environment–territory–place of disposable lives
Authors: de Souza Marcelo Lopes 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
‘Sacrifice zone’ is how a certain type of segregated and stigmatized space has become internationally known. In such a space, the physical and mental health and the quality of life of human beings are compromised in the name of ‘economic development’ or ‘progress’ – but ultimately for the sake of capitalist interests. This article offers a discussion of how environmental issues, power relations and the production of subjectivity intersect in the production of a kind of space that is typical of how residential segregation correlates with patterns of industrial location and the neglect of the health and well-being of the poor by the state apparatus in the (semi) periphery of the capitalist world system.
Parasitoids, Nematodes, and Protists in Populations of Striped Cucumber Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Authors: Coco Angela M , Lewis Margaret T , Fleischer Shelby J , Tooker John F 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
The striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum (Fabricius), is an important pest of cucurbit production in the eastern United States, where most commercial producers rely on insecticides to control this pest species. Biological control provides an alternative to insecticide use, but for A. vittatum, top-down control has not been well developed. In the northeastern United States, two parasitoid species, Celatoria setosa (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tachinidae) and Centistes diabroticae (Gahan) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) have been reported from A. vittatum, but their distribution is poorly known. To determine whether these parasitoid species are attacking A. vittatum in Pennsylvania and the amount of mortality they provide, we characterized the parasitoid dynamics in two distinct efforts. First, we reared parasitoids from beetles captured at two research farms. Second, we focused on one of these farms and dissected beetles to quantify both parasitoid and parasite species attacking A. vittatum. Both efforts confirmed Cl. setosa and Cn. diabroticae, and parasitism rates varied widely between locations and among years (4–60%). Unexpectedly, our dissections revealed that a potentially undescribed nematode species (Howardula sp.) as the most common parasite in the community. We also discovered gregarine protists. Despite being smaller than females, males were more commonly attacked by parasitic species, but we detected no relationship between the size of beetles and abundance of parasitic species in A. vittatum. This work provides a baseline understanding of the parasitoid and parasite community attacking A. vittatum and advances opportunities for conservation biological control using these natural-enemy species.
Management of pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders in patients infected with SARS CoV-2: pharmacological and clinical issues
Authors: Fogacci Silvia , Fogacci Federica , Favari Elda , Toth Peter P , Borghi Claudio , Cicero Arrigo F G 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) continues to spread throughout the world. It is known that among patients with hypertension, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, or cardiovascular diseases, COVID-19 is associated with greater morbidity and mortality compared with patients without these conditions. This correlation is of great importance in pregnant women affected by COVID-19, since it usually leads to the development of a serious clinical complication. In particular, managing hypertensive disorders in pregnancy can be problematic because antihypertensive medications may interact pharmacologically with drugs used to treat COVID-19. This review focuses on the safety of drug treatment for COVID-19 in pregnant women treated with antihypertensive medication. Several databases were searched to identify relevant literature. A few antihypertensive drugs and antithrombotic treatments are known for having a beneficial effect in the management of hypertension and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. In this review, we focus on the expected drug–drug interactions with the experimental agents most often used to treat COVID-19. The current indications for the management of hypertension-related disorders in pregnancy maintain their validity, while the risk of pharmacological interaction with the currently tested anti-SARS-CoV-2 medications is relatively low.
COVID-19 as a Stressor: Pandemic Expectations, Perceived Stress, and Negative Affect in Older Adults
Authors: Whitehead Brenda R 
Published: September 2020

Abstract

Objectives
The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic is appraised as a stressor influences perceived stress (PS) and psychological well-being during the event. Here, the association of older adults’ expectations concerning the pandemic’s duration and impact with PS and negative affect (NA) is investigated. Based on the stress and coping framework, PS is expected to mediate the association between COVID-19 expectations and NA.

Methods
Seven hundred fourteen residents of the United States and aged 60 and older completed an anonymous online survey in late March 2020 reporting PS, NA, and expectations regarding the pandemic.

Results
Regression analyses controlling for demographic factors revealed that more dire pandemic expectations significantly predicted PS and NA directly, and the effects on NA were significantly mediated by PS.

Discussion
Findings provide evidence that expectations about a pandemic influence the extent to which older adults experience stress and NA in the midst of a pandemic event. Implications for mental health are discussed.
Redshift of earthquakes via focused blind deconvolution of teleseisms
Authors: Bharadwaj Pawan , Meng Chunfang , Fournier Aimé , Demanet Laurent , Fehler Mike 
Published: September 2020

SUMMARYWe present a robust factorization of the teleseismic waveforms resulting from an earthquake source into signals that originate from the source and signals that characterize the path effects. The extracted source signals represent the earthquake spectrum, and its variation with azimuth. Unlike most prior work on source extraction, our method is data-driven, and it does not depend on any path-related assumptions, for example, the empirical Green’s function. Instead, our formulation involves focused blind deconvolution (FBD), which associates the source characteristics with the similarity among a multitude of recorded signals. We also introduce a new spectral attribute, to be called redshift, which is based on the Fraunhofer approximation. Redshift describes source-spectrum variation, where a decrease in high-frequency content occurs at the receiver in the direction opposite to unilateral rupture propagation. Using the redshift, we identified unilateral ruptures during two recent strike-slip earthquakes. The FBD analysis of an earthquake, which originated in the eastern California shear zone, is consistent with observations from local seismological or geodetic instrumentation.
Innovation, governance, and capabilities: implications for competition policy
Authors: Teece David J 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Oliver Williamson’s contributions to many subfields of economics are salutary. However, he was recognized by the Nobel Laureate Committee primarily for his work on the boundaries (scale and scope) of the firm. This tribute endeavors to marry Williamson’s transaction cost economics with a capabilities framework to obtain new insights into how the scope and scale of technology companies influence their competitive performance in today’s digital economy. The role of big data and learning are highlighted. Strong implications for competition policy, and for management, emerge from the fusion of the two frameworks. Such fusion yields a more granular view of management and policy issues but requires the policy analyst to understand not just industrial economics but also the technology management literature which also has useful insights for competition policy and regulatory professionals.
Effects of sphere suspension on echosounder calibrations
Authors: Renfree Josiah S , Andersen Lars N , Macaulay Gavin , Sessions Thomas S , Demer David A 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Echosounders may be calibrated by suspending a solid metal sphere in the acoustic beam and adjusting the system gain so that the measured target strength (TS) equals the theoretical value for the sphere. The suspension apparatus (i.e. net bag or loop of line glued into a hole, and control lines) may appreciably scatter sound, potentially affecting the sphere-echo intensity and phase, and hence the calibration uncertainty. Here, we characterize the effects of conventional suspension materials and configurations on measurements of sphere TS and recommend approaches to mitigate the observed effects on echosounder calibrations. We show that the effects of suspension lines on both calibration accuracy and precision change with line type and increase with line diameter and acoustic frequencies above ∼100 kHz. Compared to commonly used polyamide (nylon) line, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (PE) line has an acoustic impedance closer to that of water and therefore has a lessened effect on measurements of sphere TS. The effects may be mitigated in a practical manner using a 0.38-mm diameter, multifilament, PE line for the suspension.