bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ultra-broadband infrared gas sensor for pollution detection: the TRIAGE project
Authors: Napier Bruce , Bang Ole , Markos Christos , Moselund Peter , Huot Laurent , Harren Frans J M , Khodabakhsh Amir , Martin Hans , Briano Floria Ottonello , Balet Laurent , Lecomte Steve , Petersen Christian R , Israelsen Niels , Bastviken David , Gålfalk Magnus , Kubiszyn Łukasz , Warzybok Piotr 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Air pollution is one of the largest risk factors for disease or premature death globally, yet current portable monitoring technology cannot provide adequate protection at a local community level. Within the TRIAGE project, a smart, compact and cost-effective air quality sensor network will be developed for the hyperspectral detection of gases which are relevant for atmospheric pollution monitoring or dangerous for human health. The sensor is based on a mid-infrared supercontinuum source, providing ultra-bright emission across the 2–10 µm wavelength region. Within this spectral range, harmful gaseous species can be detected with high sensitivity and selectivity. The spectroscopic sensor, which includes a novel multi-pass cell and detector, enables a smart robust photonic sensing system for real-time detection. With built-in chemometric analysis and cloud connection, the sensor will feed advanced deep-learning algorithms for various analyses, ranging from long-term continental trends in air pollution to urgent local warnings and alerts. Community-based distributed pollution sensing tests will be verified on municipal building rooftops and local transport platforms.
Electronic transport across extended grain boundaries in graphene
Authors: Majee Arnab K , Aksamija Zlatan 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Owing to its superlative carrier mobility and atomic thinness, graphene exhibits great promise for interconnects in future nanoelectronic integrated circuits. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD), the most popular method for wafer-scale growth of graphene, produces monolayers that are polycrystalline, where misoriented grains are separated by extended grain boundaries (GBs). Theoretical models of GB resistivity focused on small sections of an extended GB, assuming it to be a straight line, and predicted a strong dependence of resistivity on misorientation angle. In contrast, measurements produced values in a much narrower range and without a pronounced angle dependence. Here we study electron transport across rough GBs, which are composed of short straight segments connected together into an extended GB. We found that, due to the zig-zag nature of rough GBs, there always exist a few segments that divide the crystallographic angle between two grains symmetrically and provide a highly conductive path for the current to flow across the GBs. The presence of highly conductive segments produces resistivity between 102 to 104 Ω μm regardless of misorientation angle. An extended GB with large roughness and small correlation length has small resistivity on the order of 103 Ω μm, even for highly mismatched asymmetric GBs. The effective slope of the GB, given by the ratio of roughness and lateral correlation length, is an effective universal quantifier for GB resistivity. Our results demonstrate that the probability of finding conductive segments diminishes in short GBs, which could cause a large variation in the resistivity of narrow ribbons etched from polycrystalline graphene. We also uncover spreading resistance due to the current bending in the grains to flow through the conductive segments of the GB and show that it scales linearly with the grain resistance. Our results will be crucial for designing graphene-based interconnects for future integrated circuits.
Time-resolved cathodoluminescence investigations of AlN:Ge/GaN nanowire structures
Authors: Jungclaus Jörgen , Spende Hendrik , Hille Pascal , Schörmann Jörg , Waag Andreas , Eickhoff Martin , Voss Tobias 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Light emitting diodes represent a key technology that can be found in many areas of everydays life. Therefore, the improvement of the efficiency of such structures offers a high economic and ecological potential. One approach is electrostatic screening of the quantum-confined Stark effect (QCSE) in polar III-V heterostructures by n-type doping in order to increase the oscillator strength of electronic transitions in quantum structures. In this study, we analyzed the cathodoluminescene (CL) spectra of different functional parts of individual AlN/GaN nanowire superlattices and studied their decay characteristics with sub-nanosecond time resolution. This allows us to extract information about strain and electric fields in such heterostructures with an overall spatial resolution <100 nm. The samples, which were investigated in a temperature range from 10 to 300 K by using time-integrated cathodoluminescence spectroscopy (TICL) and time-resolved cathodoluminescence spectroscopy (TRCL) consist of GaN bottom and top layer and a 40-fold stack of GaN nanodiscs, embedded in AlN barriers that were doped with Ge. We show, that the QCSE is reduced with increasing doping concentration due to a screening of the internal electric fields inside GaN nanodiscs, resulting in a reduction of the carrier lifetimes and a blue shift of the emitted light. Due to the small diameter of the electron excitation beam CL offers the possibility to individually analyze the different functional parts of the nanowires.
Characterization of Airborne Particulates and Worker Exposures in Electro-static Powder Coating Operations
Authors: Lee Chia-wei , Chung Shun-hui , Hsu Yu-ting , Chang Hong-bin , Chien Yeh-chung 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
This study was to examine the airborne particulates/dusts and worker exposures in electro-static powder coating operations. Temporal variation and size distribution of dusts were assessed using direct-reading instrument, while the worker task-specific dust exposures (n = 41) were measured in three factories using conventional filter method. Additionally, toxic metal levels in the coating powder (n = 27) were analyzed to assess hazard potentials. Continuous monitoring of airborne respirable dust levels indicated large temporal variation across a normal working day. The particulate levels outside spraying booths were generally low (below 0.10 mg m−3) during normal spraying operation, but short-term level may reach as high as 21.8 mg m−3 (averaged at 4–5 mg m−3) when specific task such as cleaning the pipelines and spraying booth, was performed. Exploratory assessment on particle size distribution at four major working zones, administration, uploading, spraying, and baking, indicated no major difference among the zones, and between factories. The particle count median aerodynamic diameter was 0.88–1.69 µm, while the mean number concentrations were 10.97, 15.17, 18.49, and 27.03 (# cm−3) for zones administration, uploading, spraying, and baking, respectively. The worker task-specific dust exposures were found low during normal spraying, with the mean short-term total and respirable dust concentrations being 0.88 and 0.41 mg m−3, respectively. Both levels increased to 3.48 and 5.19 mg m−3, respectively (P &lt; 0.05), if powder changing and system cleaning were done. Short-term total and respirable dust concentrations were 94.2 and 56.1 mg m−3, respectively, when complete cleaning process was performed inside spraying booth. Both levels exceeded the short-term exposure limits. The mean concentration of metals in the powder samples were 6.78, 9.52, 10 717, 2805, 1020, and 1361 µg g−1 for Pb, Cr (total), Al, Fe, Cu, and Sr, respectively. This study demonstrated that cleaning of spraying booth resulted in high dust exposures well exceeding the exposure limit. Toxic metals, particularly Pb, Cd, and Cr (total), levels measured in the powder samples were found low, and the resulting exposures were below the exposure limits, indicating relative low risks associated with the exposure at current dust levels.
cfDNApipe: a comprehensive quality control and analysis pipeline for cell-free DNA high-throughput sequencing data
Authors: Zhang Wei , Wei Lei , Huang Jiaqi , Zhong Bixi , Li Jiaqi , Xu Hanwen , He Shuying , Liu Yu , Liu Juhong , Lv Hairong , Wang Xiaowo 
Published: May 2021

Abstract

Motivation
Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is gaining substantial attention from both biological and clinical fields as a promising marker for liquid biopsy. Many aspects of disease-related features have been discovered from cfDNA high-throughput sequencing (HTS) data. However, there is still a lack of integrative and systematic tools for cfDNA HTS data analysis and quality control (QC).

Results
Here, we propose cfDNApipe, an easy-to-use and systematic python package for cfDNA whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) data analysis. It covers the entire analysis pipeline for the cfDNA data, including raw sequencing data processing, QC and sophisticated statistical analysis such as detecting copy number variations (CNVs), differentially methylated regions and DNA fragment size alterations. cfDNApipe provides one-command-line-execution pipelines and flexible application programming interfaces for customized analysis.

Availability and implementation
https://xwanglabthu.github.io/cfDNApipe/.

Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The eyes have it: dim-light activity is associated with the morphology of eyes but not antennae across insect orders
Authors: Freelance Christopher B , Tierney Simon M , Rodriguez Juanita , Stuart-Fox Devi M , Wong Bob B M , Elgar Mark A 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The perception of cues and signals in visual, olfactory and auditory modalities underpins all animal interactions and provides crucial fitness-related information. Sensory organ morphology is under strong selection to optimize detection of salient cues and signals in a given signalling environment, the most well-studied example being selection on eye design in different photic environments. Many dim-light active species have larger compound eyes relative to body size, but little is known about differences in non-visual sensory organ morphology between diurnal and dim-light active insects. Here, we compare the micromorphology of the compound eyes (visual receptors) and antennae (olfactory and mechanical receptors) in representative pairs of day active and dim-light active species spanning multiple taxonomic orders of insects. We find that dim-light activity is associated with larger compound eye ommatidia and larger overall eye surface area across taxonomic orders but find no evidence that morphological adaptations that enhance the sensitivity of the eye in dim-light active insects are accompanied by morphological traits of the antennae that may increase sensitivity to olfactory, chemical or physical stimuli. This suggests that the ecology and natural history of species is a stronger driver of sensory organ morphology than is selection for complementary investment between sensory modalities.
Sympatric occurrence of deeply diverged mitochondrial DNA lineages in Siberian geometrid moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae): cryptic speciation, mitochondrial introgression, secondary admixture or effect ofWolbachia?
Authors: Makhov Ilia A , Gorodilova Yelizaveta Y U , Lukhtanov Vladimir A 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe divergent sympatric mitochondrial lineages within traditionally recognized species present a challenge regularly faced by taxonomists and evolutionary biologists. We encountered this problem when studying the Siberian geometrid moths, Alcis deversata and Thalera chlorosaria. Within each of these species we found two deeply diverged mitochondrial lineages that demonstrated a level of genetic differentiation exceeding the standard interspecific DNA barcode threshold. Using analyses of nuclear genes, morphology, ecological preferences and Wolbachia endosymbionts, we tested five hypotheses that might explain the mitochondrial pattern observed: cryptic speciation, ancestral polymorphism, interspecific mitochondrial introgression, secondary admixture of allopatrically evolved populations and an effect of intracellular Wolbachia endosymbionts. We demonstrate that in A. deversata and Th. chlorosaria the mitochondrial differences are not correlated with differences in nuclear genes, morphology, ecology and Wolbachia infection status, thus not supporting the hypothesis of cryptic species and an effect of Wolbachia. Mitochondrial introgression can lead to a situation in which one species has both its own mitochondrial lineage and the lineage obtained from another species. We found this situation in the species pair Alcis repandata and Alcis extinctaria. We conclude that the mitochondrial heterogeneity in A. deversata and Th. chlorosaria is most likely to be attributable to the secondary admixture of allopatrically evolved populations.
Neurobiological and behavioural outcomes of biofeedback-based training in autism: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Surgent Olivia , Dean Douglas C , Alexander Andrew L , Dadalko Olga I , Guerrero-Gonzalez Jose , Taylor Desiree , Skaletski Emily , Travers Brittany G 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The human brain has demonstrated the power to structurally change as a result of movement-based interventions. However, it is unclear whether these structural brain changes differ in autistic individuals compared to non-autistic individuals. The purpose of the present study was to pilot a randomized controlled trial to investigate brain, balance, autism symptom severity and daily living skill changes that result from a biofeedback-based balance intervention in autistic adolescents (13–17 years old). Thirty-four autistic participants and 28 age-matched non-autistic participants underwent diagnostic testing and pre-training assessment (neuroimaging, cognitive, autism symptom severity and motor assessments) and were then randomly assigned to 6 weeks of a balance-training intervention or a sedentary-control condition. After the 6 weeks, neuroimaging, symptom severity and motor assessments were repeated. Results found that both the autistic and non-autistic participants demonstrated similar and significant increases in balance times with training. Furthermore, individuals in the balance-training condition showed significantly greater improvements in postural sway and reductions in autism symptom severity compared to individuals in the control condition. Daily living scores did not change with training, nor did we observe hypothesized changes to the microstructural properties of the corticospinal tract. However, follow-up voxel-based analyses found a wide range of balance-related structures that showed changes across the brain. Many of these brain changes were specific to the autistic participants compared to the non-autistic participants, suggesting distinct structural neuroplasticity in response to balance training in autistic participants. Altogether, these findings suggest that biofeedback-based balance training may target postural stability challenges, reduce core autism symptoms and influence neurobiological change. Future research is encouraged to examine the superior cerebellar peduncle in response to balance training and symptom severity changes in autistic individuals, as the current study produced overlapping findings in this brain region.
Breast cancer type 1 and neurodegeneration: consequences of deficient DNA repair
Authors: Leung Emily , Hazrati Lili-Naz 
Published: May 2021

AbstractNumerous cellular processes, including toxic protein aggregation and oxidative stress, have been studied extensively as potential mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration. However, limited therapeutic efficacy targeting these processes has prompted other mechanisms to be explored. Previous research has emphasized a link between cellular senescence and neurodegeneration, where senescence induced by excess DNA damage and deficient DNA repair results in structural and functional changes that ultimately contribute to brain dysfunction and increased vulnerability for neurodegeneration. Specific DNA repair proteins, such as breast cancer type 1, have been associated with both stress-induced senescence and neurodegenerative diseases, however, specific mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, this review explores DNA damage-induced senescence in the brain as a driver of neurodegeneration, with particular focus on breast cancer type 1, and its potential contribution to sex-specific differences associated with neurodegenerative disease.
Underwater Image Enhancement With Optimal Histogram Using Hybridized Particle Swarm and Dragonfly
Authors: Prasath R , Kumanan T 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Typically, underwater image processing is mainly concerned with balancing the color change distortion or light scattering. Various researches have been processed under these issues. This proposed model incorporates two phases, namely, contrast correction and color correction. Moreover, two processes are involved within the contrast correction model, namely: (i) global contrast correction and (ii) local contrast correction. For the image enhancement, the main target is on the histogram evaluation, and therefore, the optimal selection of histogram limit is very essential. For this optimization purpose, a new hybrid algorithm is introduced namely, swarm updated Dragonfly Algorithm, which is the hybridization of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Dragonfly Algorithm (DA). Further, this paper mainly focused on Integrated Global and Local Contrast Correction (IGLCC). The proposed model is finally distinguished over the other conventional models like Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram, IGLCC, dynamic stretching IGLCC-Genetic Algorithm, IGLCC-PSO, IGLCC- Firefly and IGLCC-Cuckoo Search, IGLCC-Distance-Oriented Cuckoo Search and DA, and the superiority of the proposed work is proved.
Repeated Passive Mobilization to Stimulate Vascular Function in Individuals of Advanced Age Who Are Chronically Bedridden: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Pedrinolla Anna , Magliozzi Roberta , Colosio Alessandro L , Danese Elisa , Gelati Matteo , Rossi Stefania , Pogliaghi Silvia , Calabrese Massimiliano , Muti Ettore , Cè Emiliano , Longo Stefano , Esposito Fabio , Lippi Giuseppe , Schena Federico , Venturelli Massimo 
Published: May 2021

Abstract

Background
Vascular dysfunction and associated disorders are major side effects of chronic bed rest, yet passive mobilization as a potential treatment has only been theorized so far. This study investigated the effects of passive mobilization treatment on vascular function in older, chronically bedridden people.

Method
The study sample was 45 chronically bedridden people of advanced age (mean age: 87 years; 56% female; mean bed rest: 4 years) randomly assigned to a treatment (n = 23) or a control group (CTRL, n = 22). The treatment group received passive mobilization twice daily (30 minutes, 5 times/wk) for 4 weeks. A kinesiologist performed passive mobilization by passive knee flexion/extension at 1 Hz in one leg (treated leg [T-leg] vs control leg [Ctrl-leg]). The CTRL group received routine treatment. The primary outcome was changes in peak blood flow (∆peak) as measured with the single passive leg movement test at the common femoral artery.

Results
∆Peak was increased in both legs in the Treatment group (+90.9 mL/min, p &lt; .001, in T-leg and +25.7 mL/min, p = .039 in Ctrl-leg). No difference in peak blood flow after routine treatment was found in the CTRL group.

Conclusion
Improvement in vascular function after 4 weeks of passive mobilization was recorded in the treatment group. Passive mobilization may be advantageously included in standard clinical practice as an effective strategy to treat vascular dysfunction in persons with severely limited mobility.
Alcohol Consumption and Methylation-Based Measures of Biological Age
Authors: Kresovich Jacob K , Martinez Lopez Alexandra M , Garval Emma L , Xu Zongli , White Alexandra J , Sandler Dale P , Taylor Jack A 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Epigenetic age acceleration is considered a measure of biological aging based on genome-wide patterns of DNA methylation. Although age acceleration has been associated with the incidence of diseases and death, less is known about how it is related to lifestyle behaviors. Among 2316 women, we evaluate associations between self-reported alcohol consumption and various metrics of epigenetic age acceleration. Recent average alcohol consumption was defined as the mean number of drinks consumed per week within the past year; lifetime average consumption was estimated as the mean number of drinks per year drinking. Whole-blood genome-wide DNA methylation was measured with HumanMethylation450 BeadChips and used to assess 4 epigenetic clocks (Hannum, Horvath, PhenoAge, and GrimAge) and their corresponding metrics of epigenetic age acceleration (Hannum AgeAccel, Horvath AgeAccel, PhenoAgeAccel, and GrimAgeAccel). Although alcohol consumption showed little association with most age acceleration metrics, both lifetime and recent average consumption measures were positively associated with GrimAgeAccel (lifetime, per additional 135 drinks/year: β = 0.30 years, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.11, 0.48, p = .002; recent, per additional 5 drinks/week: β = 0.19 years, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.37, p = .04). In a mutually adjusted model, only average lifetime alcohol consumption remained associated with GrimAgeAccel (lifetime, per additional 135 drinks/year: β = 0.27 years, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.50, p = .02; recent, per 5 additional drinks/week: β = 0.05 years, 95% CI: −0.16, 0.26, p = .64). Although alcohol use does not appear to be strongly associated with biological age measured by most epigenetic clocks, lifetime average consumption is associated with higher biological age assessed by the GrimAge epigenetic clock.
Development of Balanced Whole System Value Measures for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Care in the IBD Qorus Collaborative Using a Modified Delphi Process
Authors: Oliver Brant J , Kennedy Alice M , van Deen Welmoed K , Weaver S Alandra , Heller Caren , Holthoff Megan M , Bank Jeffrey , Melmed Gil Y , Siegel Corey A , Nelson Eugene C 
Published: May 2021

Abstract

Background
The IBD Qorus Collaborative aims to reduce variation and increase the value of care for the adult inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) community. To evaluate the success of the collaborative, we aimed to develop a balanced set of outcome measures that reflect a multistakeholder view of value in IBD care. To achieve this, we used the Clinical Value Compass framework and engaged a mixed-stakeholder group to conduct a modified Delphi process. The end result was a 10-measure set to assess the value of IBD care.

Method
The modified Delphi process included 3 iterative rounds of blinded voting and interactive webinar-style discussion. We recruited 18 participants for the Delphi panel, including clinicians, researchers, patients, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation staff, and payers. Participants first identified constructs to measure, then identified the tools to measure those constructs. A literature review and environmental scan of current measures in 4 domains were performed, and relevant measures were proposed for discussion and voting in each domain. Throughout the process, participants were invited to contribute additional measures.

Conclusion
The modified Delphi process led to selection of 10 value measures across 4 domains: (1) patient experience; (2) functional status; (3) clinical status; and (4) health care costs and utilization. We have successfully completed a 3-stage modified Delphi process to develop a balanced set of value measures for adult IBD care. The value measure set expands upon prior efforts that have established quality measures for IBD care by adding cost and experience of care elements. This work positions IBD Qorus to better assess, study, improve, and demonstrate value at individual, system, and population levels and will inform and empower related research, improvement, and implementation efforts.