bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparative analysis on Hopf bifurcation of integer‐order and fractional‐order two‐neuron neural networks with delay
Authors: Xu Changjin , Aouiti Chaouki 
Published: August 2020

SummaryThis article mainly focuses on the stability and the existence of Hopf bifurcation of integer‐order and fractional‐order two‐neuron neural networks with delay. First of all, we obtain the sufficient criterion to ensure the stability and the existence of Hopf bifurcation of integer‐order two‐neuron neural networks with delay. Next, we establish the sufficient condition guaranteeing the stability and the existence of Hopf bifurcation of fractional‐order two‐neuron neural networks with delay. The study reveals that the time delay has a vital effect on the stability and Hopf bifurcation of integer‐order and fractional‐order two‐neuron neural networks with delay. By comparative analysis on Hopf bifurcation for integer‐order and fractional‐order two‐neuron neural networks with delay, we find that under an appropriate parameter conditions, the stability region can be enlarged, and the time of appearance of Hopf bifurcation of the involved two‐neuron neural networks can be postponed by using fractional‐order case. Finally, computer simulation results are presented to illustrate the theoretical findings. The established results of this article play an important role in designing and controlling networks.
Break Binge Eating: Reach, engagement, and user profile of an Internet‐based psychoeducational and self‐help platform for eating disorders
Authors: Linardon Jake , Rosato John , Messer Mariel 
Published: August 2020

AbstractObjectivesInternet‐based psychoeducational and self‐help platforms hold promise for alleviating existing help‐seeking barriers and addressing the unmet needs of people with eating disorders (EDs). In this paper, we report data related to the reach, engagement, and visitor profile of Break Binge Eating, an online platform designed to provide evidence‐based information and self‐help strategies for people at all stages of an ED.MethodTwo sources of data were presented: (a) usage data from platform visitors generated through Google Analytics; and (b) characteristics of a sample of platform visitors (n = 786).ResultsIn 13 months, approximately 46,311 unique users worldwide have accessed this platform, with usage rates rapidly increasing each month. Most visitors came from organic searches (when ED‐related information is directly searched in a browser). Self‐help content was the most accessed material, and 81% of the sample stated that their reason for accessing the platform was to get help. Sample visitors were highly symptomatic; 52% met criteria resembling a threshold ED and 87% engaged in at least one ED behavior in the past month. Across different symptomatic subgroups, ∼50% were unsure whether they needed help, ∼80% were not receiving any help, and ∼75% were highly concerned with their symptoms.ConclusionThis online platform has broad reach and is engaging its intended audience. It is an aim of this platform to improve mental health literacy, facilitate symptom recognition and improvement, and alleviate help‐seeking barriers. Evaluating whether this platform is achieving its intended aims in a randomized controlled trial is the next step.
A Novel Electrochemical Sensor for Simultaneous Determination of Hydroquinone, Catechol, and Resorcinol Using a Carbon Paste Electrode Modified by Zn‐MOF, Nitrogen‐doped Graphite, and AuNPs
Authors: Mashhadizadeh Mohammad Hossain , Kalantarian S. Marzieh , Azhdeh Afsaneh 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIn this work, the carbon paste electrode was modified with a composite of a metal‐organic framework, nitrogen‐doped graphite, and gold nanoparticles and used as an electrochemical sensor for dihydroxybenzene isomers. The morphology and characteristics of the modifiers were found by SEM and FT‐IR. Electrochemical techniques showed the specific surface of the electrode to be significantly enhanced. The outcome achieved shows that this novel sensor displays an excellent electro‐catalytic activity towards the oxidation of these isomers. The sensor was applied to the simultaneous determination of each three isomers using DPV with a linear response in the concentration range of 5–105 nM.
The influence of electrolyte concentration on nanofractures fabricated in a 3D‐printed microfluidic device by controlled dielectric breakdown
Authors: Islam Md Fokhrul , Yap Yiing C. , Li Feng , Guijt Rosanne M. , Breadmore Michael C. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractA three‐dimensional‐printed microfluidic device made of a thermoplastic material was used to study the creation of molecular filters by controlled dielectric breakdown. The device was made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene by a fused deposition modeling three‐dimensional printer and consisted of two V‐shaped sample compartments separated by 750 µm of extruded plastic gap. Nanofractures were formed in the thin piece of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene by controlled dielectric breakdown by application voltage of 15–20 kV with the voltage terminated when reaching a defined current threshold. Variation of the size of the nanofractures was achieved by both variation of the current threshold and by variation of the ionic strength of the electrolyte used for breakdown. Electrophoretic transport of two proteins, R‐phycoerythrin (RPE; <10 nm in size) and fluorescamine‐labeled BSA (f‐BSA; 2–4 nm), was used to monitor the size and transport properties of the nanofractures. Using 1 mM phosphate buffer, both RPE and f‐BSA passed through the nanofractures when the current threshold was set to 25 µA. However, when the threshold was lowered to 10 µA or lower, RPE was restricted from moving through the nanofractures. When we increased the electrolyte concentration during breakdown from 1 to 10 mM phosphate buffer, BSA passed but RPE was blocked when the threshold was equal to, or lower than, 25 µA. This demonstrates that nanofracture size (pore area) is directly related to the breakdown current threshold but inversely related to the concentration of the electrolyte used for the breakdown process.
Two capillary approach for a multifunctional nanoflow sheath liquid interface for capillary electrophoresis‐mass spectrometry
Authors: Höcker Oliver , Knierman Mike , Meixner Jens , Neusüß Christian 
Published: August 2020

AbstractCE hyphenated to ESI‐MS (CE‐ESI‐MS) is a well‐established technique to analyze charged analytes in complex samples. Although various interfaces for CE‐MS coupling are commercially available, the development of alternatives which combine sensitivity, simplicity, and robustness remains a topic of research. In this work, a nanoflow sheath liquid CE‐MS interface with two movable capillaries inside a glass emitter is described. The setup enables a separation mode and a conditioning mode to guide the separation capillary effluent either into the electrospray or to the waste, respectively. This enables to exclude parts of the analysis from MS detection and unwanted matrix components reaching the mass spectrometer, comparable to divert valves in LC‐MS coupling. Also, this function improves the overall robustness of the system by reduction of particles blocking the emitter. Preconditioning with electrospray interfering substances and even the application of coating materials for every analysis is enabled, even while the separation capillary is built into the interface with running electrospray. The functionality is demonstrated by analyses of heavy matrix bioreactor samples. Overall, this innovation offers a more convenient installation of the interface, improved handling with an extended lifetime of the emitter tips and additional functions compared to previous approaches, while keeping the higher sensitivity of nanoflow CE‐MS‐coupling.
Genetic Variation Influences Tolerance to a Neonicotinoid Insecticide in 3 Butterfly Species
Authors: Kobiela Megan E. , Snell-Rood Emilie C. 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Neonicotinoid pesticides harm nontarget insects, but their sublethal effects on butterflies are understudied. We exposed larvae of 3 butterfly species (Pieris rapae, Colias philodice, and Danaus plexippus) to low levels of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid in their host plants and followed individuals to adulthood. Imidacloprid altered adult body size, especially in female monarchs, but its effects varied across maternal families, highlighting the importance of considering genetic variation in ecotoxicological testing. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:2228–2236. © 2020 SETAC
The capacity of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder individuals to make autonomous decisions about pharmacological treatments for their illness in real life: A scoping review
Authors: Pons Enric Vincens , Salvador‐Carulla Luis , Calcedo‐Barba Alfredo , Paz Silvia , Messer Thomas , Pacciardi Bruno , Zeller Scott L. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackground and aimHaving decision making capacity is central to the exercise of autonomy in mental health care. The objective of this scoping review is to summarize the evidence on the capacity of people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder to make decisions about their treatment in real life to support medical practice.MethodsSystematic search of observational studies on the assessment of capacity of patients with schizophrenia, psychosis, or bipolar disorder to make healthcare and treatment‐related decisions, conducted in any clinical setting published up to January 31, 2020 was performed. Free text searches and medical subject headings in English were combined in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsycInfo. Publications were selected as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale for observational studies was used to assess the quality of publications.ResultsThirty publications were reviewed. According to the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale criteria, the publications reviewed were good quality. Findings showed that more than 70% of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder outpatients understood treatment options at the point of making decisions about their illness and healthcare. Patients treated voluntarily had considerably better scores for decisional capacity than those treated involuntarily. The burden of psychiatric symptoms could compromise decisional capacity temporarily. Decision‐making capacity improved over time from admission to discharge from hospital, and with treatment among psychiatry inpatients. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients could be as competent as nonpsychiatric individuals in making decisions about their treatments in everyday life.ConclusionsThis scoping review provides a body of evidence for healthcare professionals in need of assessing the capacity of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients for autonomously decide about their treatments. Decisional capacity judgements should consider variations in capacity over time and be based on the type of decision to be made, the severity of symptoms, and the specific phase of the mental disorder.
The democracy income‐growth nexus in the southern African development community revisited
Authors: Kouassi Eugene , Coulibaly Sandotin , Akinkugbe Oluyele , Mougoué Mbodja 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis paper uses a dynamic panel model to examine the link between democracy and income growth in the Southern African Development Community regional bloc. The democratic capital stock, which captures the nurturing and strengthening of the policy and decision‐making environment and processes, as well as other social institutions in a nation, regardless of the degree of technological development is used as proxy for democracy. This distinguishes our approach from earlier studies of this nature; particularly for developing countries of sub‐Saharan Africa. Our results suggest that democracy has no direct impact, and perhaps no impact at all on income growth, even though there appears to be many complementarities between democratic institutions and the immediate ingredients of economic development. The results of our analysis are also robust to alternative definitions of democracy. Moreover, the conflictual signals that derive from our sensitivity analyses using the indices of ethno‐linguistic fractionalization and the politically relevant ethnic groups further strengthen the nature of the complexities associated with the debate on democracy and income growth in developing countries. In the absence of the democracy variable, our analysis reveals that income growth is significant, even with high ethnolinguistic fractionalization. These no doubt call for additional inquiries and methodological constructs in the income‐growth democracy nexus literature.
Do investors gain from forecasting the asymmetric return co‐movements of financial and real assets?
Authors: Mandal Anandadeep , Poshakwale Sunil S. , Power Gabriel J. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractRecent research on asset allocation emphasizes the importance of considering non‐traditional asset classes such as commodities and real estate—the former for their diversification properties, and the latter due to its importance in the average investor's portfolio. However, modelling and forecasting asset return co‐movements is challenging because the dependence structure is dynamic, regime‐specific, and non‐elliptical. Moreover, little is known about the economic source of this time‐varying dependence or how to use this information to improve investor portfolios. We use a flexible framework to assess the economic value to investors of incorporating better forecasting information about return co‐movements between equities, bonds, commodities, and real estate. The dependence structure is allowed to be dynamic and non‐elliptical, while the state variables follow Markov‐switching stochastic volatility processes. We find that the predictability of return co‐movements is significantly improved by incorporating macro and non‐macroeconomic variables, in particular inflation uncertainty and bond illiquidity. The economic value added to investors is significant across levels of risk aversion, and the model outperforms traditional multivariate GARCH frameworks.
Peer effects in R&D investment policy: Evidence from China
Authors: Peng Zhen , Lian Yujun , Forson Joseph A. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractUsing a typical linear model on a sample of listed firms in China over a period of 10 years (2006–2016), this study empirically attempts proving how peer effects influence corporate research and development (R&D) investment decision. The study goes further to demonstrate that peer effects play a significant and critical role in determining corporate R&D investment policies, and by extension the more important determinant than most traditional firm‐specific factors. After dealing with endogeneity bias and conducting further robustness checks, the above conclusions were valid in this study. It has been theorized in contemporary research that both information and market competition are the main channels through which one can best appreciate peer effects and that firms with weak information acquisition ability and in highly uncertain or competitive environment are more likely to be affected by peer groups. We also find evidence that a firm's R&D investment status relative to its peer firms will affect its R&D investment decision. Moreover, the direction of peer effects follows the law of imitation. Thus, firms are more likely to imitate those peers who share similar characteristics. Yet, leading firms and state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) are exceptionally different as their R&D decisions are sensitive to both peer‐followers and non‐SOEs respectively.
Revisiting the linkage between oil and agricultural commodity prices: Panel evidence from an Agrarian state
Authors: Gokmenoglu Korhan K. , Güngör Hasan , Bekun Festus Victor 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis paper utilizes panel methods to consider the dynamic relationship between oil and agricultural commodity prices. The study makes use of monthly measures realized data for six agricultural commodity prices, including cocoa, coffee, wheat, palm oil, soybeans, beef and crude oil. The dataset spans the period 2006–2015 and includes a measure for the effective exchange rate. The results of a panel unit root test suggest that all the variables are stationary after taking the first difference. The Fisher/Johansen cointegration test is then used to suggest that the dataset includes a single cointegrating vector. A regression on the long‐run characteristics of the data is then used to show that crude oil prices are positively correlated to agricultural commodity prices. This suggests that oil price for the case of Nigeria drives demand for agricultural crop commodity. The results show that agricultural commodity prices in Nigeria are responsive to global oil prices. The subsequent causality test that account for heterogeneity tests performed on the first difference of the variables reject the null hypothesis of no Granger causality in either direction between crude oil prices and agricultural crop commodity. This suggests that oil prices drive agricultural commodity prices and vice versa. Based on these outcomes several policy directions were rendered in concluding section.
Stochastic convergence in real personal disposable income in the EU: A note
Authors: Cuestas Juan C. , Monfort Mercedes , Ordóñez Javier 
Published: August 2020

AbstractEconomic convergence has long been a declared objective of the EU and has been considered the fundamental mechanism for achieving socioeconomic cohesion. Even so, the empirical literature finds a lack of real convergence as geographical clusters have emerged. In this paper, we contribute to the literature on income convergence in the EU by analysing convergence in real disposable income across European countries. In contrast to the previous results on real convergence in the EU, we find that most of the countries are converging to the same equilibrium level.
Polyanhydride nanoparticles stabilize pancreatic cancer antigen MUC4β
Authors: Liu Luman , Kshirsagar Prakash , Christiansen John , Gautam Shailendra K. , Aithal Abhijit , Gulati Mansi , Kumar Sushil , Solheim Joyce C. , Batra Surinder K. , Jain Maneesh , Wannemuehler Michael J. , Narasimhan Balaji 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal malignancies and represents an increasing and challenging threat, especially with an aging population. The identification of immunogenic PC‐specific upregulated antigens and an enhanced understanding of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment have provided opportunities to enable the immune system to recognize cancer cells. Due to its differential upregulation and functional role in PC, the transmembrane mucin MUC4 is an attractive target for immunotherapy. In the current study we characterized the antigen stability, antigenicity and release kinetics of a MUC4β‐nanovaccine to guide further optimization and, in vivo evaluation. Amphiphilic polyanhydride copolymers based on 20 mol % 1,8‐bis(p‐carboxyphenoxy)‐3,6‐dioxaoctane and 80 mol % 1,6‐bis(p‐carboxyphenoxy)hexane were used to synthesize nanoparticles. Structurally stable MUC4β protein was released from the particles in a sustained manner and characterized by gel electrophoresis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Modest levels of protein degradation were observed upon release. The released protein was also analyzed by MUC4β‐specific monoclonal antibodies using ELISA and showed no significant loss of epitope availability. Further, mice immunized with multiple formulations of combination vaccines containing MUC4β‐loaded nanoparticles generated MUC4β‐specific antibody responses. These results indicate that polyanhydride nanoparticles are viable MUC4β vaccine carriers, laying the foundation for evaluation of this platform for PC immunotherapy.
Development of methylcellulose‐based sustained‐release dosage by semisolid extrusion additive manufacturing in drug delivery system
Authors: Cheng Yiliang , Qin Hantang , Acevedo Nuria C , Shi Xiaolei 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe objective of this study is to fabricate customized dosage forms using extrusion‐based 3D printing for the sustained delivery of theophylline. The therapeutic paste was prepared by combining various doses of theophylline (0, 75, 100, and 125 mg) with different concentrations of methylcellulose (MC) A4M (8, 10, and 12%). The paste was then 3D printed into semisolid tablets under optimized printing conditions. The rheological properties of printing pastes were related to the 3D printability. Our results indicated that to be 3D printed using the current platform, the storage modulus (G′) of the printing paste should be higher than the loss modulus (G″) during the frequency sweep (0.1–600 rad/s), and the tan δ should fall in the range of 0.25–0.27 at 0.63 rad/s. The printed tablets formulated with 10% MC showed the highest overall quality, considering the aspects of resolution, texture, and shape retention regardless of the dosage. The scanning electron microscopy images indicated that the cross‐linked structure of MC A4M formed the microscale porous microstructure, which has the potential to embed the theophylline, thus delayed the release through the barrier effect. The in vitro dissolution test revealed that the 3D printed tablets exhibited a sustained release during the first 12 hr. The findings in this study will support the development of customized, personalized medicine with improved efficacy.
MALAT1 recruited the E3 ubiquitin ligase FBXW7 to induce CRY2 ubiquitin‐mediated degradation and participated in trophoblast migration and invasion
Authors: Wu Lianzhi , Liu Qian , Fan Cuifang , Yi Xiaofang , Cheng Biheng 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which MALAT1 regulates CRY2 expression and participates in trophoblast migration and invasion. Three patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion, four patients with missed abortion, and four women who underwent artificial miscarriages were enrolled in this study. Quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were used to detect RNA and protein expression, respectively. Trophoblast migration and invasion were detected by wound‐healing and transwell invasion assays. RNA pull‐down and Co‐IP assays were used to indicate the interaction between MALAT1 and FBXW7 or the interaction between FBXW7 and CRY2. The results showed significantly decreased MALAT1 expression in the villous specimens from the RSA patients relative to that in the villous specimens from the missed abortion patients and the normal villous specimens. MALAT1 promoted trophoblast cell migration and invasion by negatively regulating CRY2 protein expression. MALAT1 recruited FBXW7 to impair CRY2 protein stability. In conclusion, MALAT1 downregulation in trophoblasts might be related to miscarriage. MALAT1 may recruit the E3 ubiquitin ligase FBXW7 to induce CRY2 ubiquitin‐mediated degradation and participate in trophoblast migration and invasion.