bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pre-pandemic psychological and behavioral predictors of responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in nine countries
Authors: Lansford Jennifer E. , Skinner Ann T. , Godwin Jennifer , Chang Lei , Deater-Deckard Kirby , Di Giunta Laura , Dodge Kenneth A. , Gurdal Sevtap , Liu Qin , Long Qian , Oburu Paul , Pastorelli Concetta , Sorbring Emma , Steinberg Laurence , Tapanya Sombat , Uribe Tirado Liliana Maria , Yotanyamaneewong Saengduean , Alampay Liane Peña , Al-Hassan Suha M. , Bacchini Dario , Bornstein Marc H.
Published: December 2021

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescents (N = 1,330; Mages = 15 and 16; 50% female), mothers, and fathers from nine countries (China, Colombia, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Philippines, Sweden, Thailand, United States) reported on adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing problems, adolescents completed a lab-based task to assess tendency for risk-taking, and adolescents reported on their well-being. During the pandemic, participants (Mage = 20) reported on changes in their internalizing, externalizing, and substance use compared to before the pandemic. Across countries, adolescents’ internalizing problems pre-pandemic predicted increased internalizing during the pandemic, and poorer well-being pre-pandemic predicted increased externalizing and substance use during the pandemic. Other relations varied across countries, and some were moderated by confidence in the government’s handling of the pandemic, gender, and parents’ education.
Image Under Fire: West German Development Aid and the Ghana Press War, 1960–1966
Authors: Weigel John Wesley
Published: December 2021

During the 1960s, development aid helped West Germany project a benign image while it discouraged diplomatic recognition of East Germany. In Ghana, however, this effort clashed with the Pan-Africanist aims of President Kwame Nkrumah. Four periodicals under his control attacked West Germany as neo-colonialist, militarist, racist, latently Nazi and a danger to world peace. West German officials resented this campaign and tried to make it stop, but none of their tactics, not even vague threats to aid, worked for long. The attacks ended with Nkrumah's overthrow in early 1966, but while they lasted, they demonstrated that a small state receiving aid could use the press to invert its asymmetric political relationship with the donor.
Mitral valve perforation, a hole-in-one for 3-dimensional echocardiography
Authors: Wilkes J. Kevin , Adachi Iki , Sachdeva Shagun
Published: December 2021

Mitral valve perforation is an uncommon aetiology of mitral regurgitation in the paediatric population. We present a case where 3-dimensional echocardiography assisted in the diagnosis of the source of mitral regurgitation and the surgical correlation.
Twenty-year trends in use of electroconvulsive therapy among homeless and domiciled veterans with mental illness
Authors: Tsai Jack , Szymkowiak Dorota , Wilkinson Samuel T. , Holtzheimer Paul E.
Published: December 2021

Background

To examine socioeconomic disparities in use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) among homeless or unstably housed (HUH) veterans with mental illness.

Methods

National data from medical records in years 2000 to 2019 on 4 to 6 million veterans with mental illness, including 140 000 to 370 000 homeless veterans served annually from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system, were analyzed to examine ECT utilization and changes in utilization over time.

Results

ECT utilization was higher among HUH veterans (58–104 per 1000) than domiciled veterans with mental illness (9–15 per 1000) across years with a trend toward increasing use of ECT use among HUH veterans over time. Among HUH and domiciled veterans who received ECT, veterans received an average of 5 to 9 sessions of ECT. There were great regional differences in rates of ECT utilization among HUH and domiciled veterans with the highest overall rates of ECT use at VA facilities in the Northeast and Northwest regions of the country.

Discussion

ECT is commonly and safely used in HUH veterans in a comprehensive healthcare system, but geographic and local factors may impede access to ECT for veterans who may benefit from this treatment. Efforts should be made to reduce barriers to ECT in the HUH population.
Relationship Between Self-Reported Concomitant Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms and the Post-Concussion Symptoms Scale (PCSS)
Authors: Thomas Garrett A. , Riegler Kaitlin E. , Guty Erin T. , Arnett Peter A.
Published: December 2021

Objectives:

The current study explored how affective disturbances, particularly concomitant anxiety and depressive symptoms, impact baseline symptom self-reporting on the Post-Concussion Symptoms Scale (PCSS) in college athletes.

Methods:

Athletes were separated into four groups (Healthy Control (HC) (n = 581), Depression Only (n = 136), Anxiety Only (n = 54), Concomitant Depression/Anxiety (n = 62)) based on their anxiety and depression scores. Groups were compared on Total PCSS Score as well as 5 PCSS Symptom Cluster scores (Cognitive, Physical, Affective, Sleep, and Headache).

Results:

The three affective groups reported significantly greater symptomatology than HCs, with the Concomitant group showing the highest symptomatology scores across all clusters. The depressive symptoms only group also reported significantly elevated symptomatology, compared to HCs, on every symptom cluster except headache. The anxiety symptoms only group differed from HCs on only the cognitive symptoms cluster. Additionally, the Concomitant group reported significantly increased PCSS symptomatology, in terms of total scores and all 5 symptom clusters, compared to the depressive symptoms only and anxiety symptoms only groups.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that athletes experiencing concomitant depressive/anxiety symptoms report significantly greater levels of symptomatology across all 5 PCSS symptom clusters compared to HCs. Further, results suggest that athletes experiencing concomitant affective disturbance tend to report greater symptomatology than those with only one affective disturbance. These findings are important because, despite the absence of concussion, the concomitant group demonstrated significantly elevated symptomatology at baseline. Thus, future comparisons with post-concussion data should account for this increased symptomatology, as test results may be skewed by affective disturbances at baseline.
Potential impacts of policies to reduce purchasing of ultra-processed foods in Mexico at different stages of the social transition: an agent-based modelling approach
Authors: Langellier Brent A , Stankov Ivana , Hammond Ross A , Bilal Usama , Auchincloss Amy H , Barrientos-Gutierrez Tonatiuh , Cardoso Leticia de Oliveira , Diez Roux Ana V
Published: December 2021

Objectives:

To develop a simulation framework for assessing how combinations of taxes, nutrition warning labels and advertising levels could affect purchasing of ultra-processed foods (UPF) in Latin American countries and to understand whether policies reinforce or reduce pre-existing social disparities in UPF consumption.

Design:

We developed an agent-based simulation model using international evidence regarding the effect of price, nutrition warning labels and advertising on UPF purchasing.

Setting:

We estimated policy effects in scenarios representing two stages of the ‘social transition’ in UPF purchasing: (1) a pre-transition scenario, where UPF purchasing is higher among high-income households, similar to patterns in Mexico; and (2) a post-transition scenario where UPF purchasing is highest among low-income households, similar to patterns in Chile.

Participants:

A population of 1000 individual agents with levels of age, income, educational attainment and UPF purchasing similar to adult women in Mexico.

Results:

A 20 % tax would decrease purchasing by 24 % relative to baseline in both the pre- and post-transition scenarios, an effect that is similar in magnitude to that of a nutrition warning label policy. A 50 % advertising increase or decrease had a comparatively small effect. Nutrition warning labels were most effective among those with higher levels of educational attainment. Labelling reduced inequities in the pre-transition scenario (i.e. highest UPF purchasing among the highest socio-economic group) but widened inequities in the post-transition scenario.

Conclusions:

Effective policy levers are available to reduce UPF purchasing, but policymakers should anticipate that equity impacts will differ depending on existing social patterns in UPF purchasing.
COVID-19 pandemic and the great impulse to telemedicine: the basis of the WONCA Europe Statement on Telemedicine at the WHO Europe 70th Regional Meeting September 2020
Authors: Petrazzuoli Ferdinando , Kurpas Donata , Vinker Shlomo , Sarkisova Valentina , Eleftheriou Androulla , Żakowicz Anna , Aarendonk Diederik , Ungan Mehmet
Published: December 2021

Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication and information technologies to support the delivery of healthcare at a distance, guaranteeing patients healthcare by facilitating access where barriers exist; the COVID-19 pandemic has attracted worldwide interest in this field.

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the main pros and cons of telemedicine, which serve as the basis of the WONCA Europe Statement at the WHO Europe 70th Regional Meeting on 14 September 2020.

Pros of telemedicine include virtual healthcare at home, where patients receive support in certain conditions without leaving their houses. During a pandemic, it can be adopted to limit physical human interaction. Unfortunately, it can negatively affect the quality of the doctor–patient relationship, the quality of the physical examination, and the quality of care. Telemedicine requires effective infrastructure and robust investments to be feasible and effective.
Democratic Backsliding in Poland and Hungary
Authors: Bernhard Michael
Published: December 2021

How is it that Poland and Hungary, formerly regional leaders in democratic progress in east central Europe, have become widely cited cases of democratic backsliding? According to the political science literature on democratization, the path by which they exited communism should have favored stable democratic outcomes. This paper reexamines that literature and argues that it misses potential populist dangers inherent in the combination of accommodation and contention in the democratization process in both countries. The paper argues that changes in the structural conditions under which Polish and Hungarian democracy operated markedly improved the chances of success for populist actors in electoral competition, explaining the rise of PiS and FiDeSz. Particular attention is paid to the role of the global economic crisis of 2008 and the European refugee crisis of 2015.
Spatial Variation in Humidity and the Onset of Seasonal Influenza Across the Contiguous United States
Authors: Serman E. , Thrastarson H. Th. , Franklin M. , Teixeira J.
Published: December 2021

In recent years, environmental factors, particularly humidity, have been used to inform influenza prediction models. This study aims to quantify the relationship between humidity and influenza incidence at the state‐level in the contiguous United States. Piecewise segmented regressions were performed on specific humidity data from NASA's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) and incident influenza estimates from Google Flu Trends to identify threshold values of humidity that signal the onset of an influenza outbreak. Our results suggest that influenza incidence increases after reaching a humidity threshold that is state‐specific. A linear regression showed that the state‐specific thresholds were associated with annual average humidity conditions (R2 = 0.9). Threshold values statistically significantly varied by region (F‐statistic = 8.274, p < 0.001) and of their 36 pairwise combinations, 13 pairs had at least marginally statistically significant differences in their means. All of the significant comparisons included either the South or Southeast region, which had higher humidity threshold values. Results from this study improve our understanding of the significance of humidity in the transmission of influenza and reinforce the need for local and regional conditions to be considered in this relationship. Ultimately this could help researchers to produce more accurate forecasts of seasonal influenza onset and provide health officials with better information prior to outbreaks.
Overestimate of C4 Plant Abundance Caused by Soil Degradation‐Induced Carbon Isotope Fractionation
Authors: Da Jiawei , Li Gen K. , Ji Junfeng
Published: December 2021

The carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) of soil organic matter (SOM) is a widely used proxy for terrestrial vegetation. However, SOM decomposition can cause C isotope fractionation, which remains poorly constrained in ancient soils thus clouds the interpretations of paleosol‐δ13CSOM records. Here, we report new δ13CSOM records of the Holocene paleosols from the Chinese Loess Plateau and investigate how the decomposition of SOM affects the preserved δ13C signal and the inferred vegetation changes. Our results reveal significant C isotope fractionation, as SOM in bulk paleosol samples are systematically enriched in 13C (up to 3‰) compared with contemporary SOM occluded in calcite nodules, the latter of which are thought to resist degradation. Such fractionation is likely due to the selective preservation of 13C‐enriched microbial biomass by fine‐grained minerals. Previous studies based on paleosol‐δ13CSOM records that underestimate or neglect the 13C‐fractionation related to SOM decomposition probably overestimated the abundance of regional C4 biomass.
Coseismic and Early Postseismic Slip Models of the 2021 Mw 7.4 Maduo Earthquake (Western China) Estimated by Space‐Based Geodetic Data
Authors: He Lijia , Feng Guangcai , Wu Xiongxiao , Lu Hao , Xu Wenbin , Wang Yuedong , Liu Jihong , Hu Jun , Li Zhiwei
Published: December 2021

The May 22nd, 2021,7.4 Maduo earthquake occurred on an intraplate fault of Bayan‐Har block in the Tibet Plateau. Here, we derive the coseismic and early postseismic surface deformations from the Sentinel‐1 (S1) interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data. We use the subpixel offsets of SAR and Sentinel‐2 (S2) optical images to determine the surface rupture traces. The fault geometry and coseismic fault slip distribution of multi‐segmented ruptures are estimated by inverting InSAR interferograms and SAR pixel offsets. We show that at least five fault segments with curved geometry are activated, with a peak coseismic slip of about 5 m. The geodetic data inversion suggests that an NW‐striking blind segment near the Eling Lake may have ruptured during the 2021 event. Postseismic slip inversion with the 60‐day cumulative line‐of‐sight deformations, shows that the early afterslip of 0.1 ∼ 0.3 m occurred mostly toward the downdip direction of the main coseismic slip asperities. The afterslip geodetic moment accounts for approximately 15.3% of the coseismic one. Coulomb stress analysis shows that the nucleation of the Maduo earthquake is partially facilitated by the 1947 M7.7 Dari earthquake.
Long‐Term Trends in Chesapeake Bay Remote Sensing Reflectance: Implications for Water Clarity
Authors: Turner Jessica S. , Friedrichs Carl T. , Friedrichs Marjorie A. M.
Published: December 2021

While ecosystem health is improving in many estuaries worldwide following nutrient reductions, inconsistent trends in water clarity often remain. The Chesapeake Bay, a eutrophic estuary with a highly populated watershed, is a crucial testbed for these concerns. Improved efforts are needed to understand why some measurements of downstream estuarine water clarity appear to be uncorrelated with watershed management actions, and multiple metrics of clarity are needed to address this issue. To complement in situ measurements, satellite remote sensing provides an additional tool with which to assess long‐term change in water clarity. In this study, remote sensing reflectance (Rrs) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on satellite Aqua was evaluated from 2003 to 2020 at multiple wavelengths for surface waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Trends show an overall long‐term decrease in Rrs in the upper estuary for all wavelengths, yet an increase in Rrs in the lower estuary for green wavelengths. Trends in band ratios show long‐term decreasing red‐to‐green and red‐to‐blue ratios, yet long‐term increasing green‐to‐blue ratios. Seasonally, trends in band ratios were relatively consistent throughout the year and along‐estuary, whereas single band reflectance trends varied seasonally and along‐estuary. In the lower Bay, Septembers showed the strongest decreasing trends in red reflectance, while early spring and summer had the most pronounced increasing trends in green reflectance. These trends suggest that the system has experienced a long‐term reduction in suspended solids concentration and light attenuation without a systematic reduction in chlorophyll‐a concentration.
An Ensemble‐Based Eddy and Spectral Analysis, With Application to the Gulf Stream
Authors: Uchida Takaya , Jamet Quentin , Poje Andrew , Dewar William K.
Published: December 2021

The “eddying” ocean, recognized for several decades, has been the focus of much observational and theoretical research. We here describe a generalization for the analysis of eddy energy, based on the use of ensembles, that addresses two key related issues: the definition of an “eddy” and the general computation of energy spectra. An ensemble identifies eddies as the unpredictable component of the flow, and permits the scale decomposition of their energy in inhomogeneous and non‐stationary settings. We present two distinct, but equally valid, spectral estimates: one is similar to classical Fourier spectra, the other reminiscent of classical empirical orthogonal function analysis. Both satisfy Parseval's equality and thus can be interpreted as length‐scale dependent energy decompositions. The issue of “tapering” or “windowing” of the data, used in traditional approaches, is also discussed. We apply the analyses to a mesoscale “resolving” (1/12°) ensemble of the separated North Atlantic Gulf Stream. Our results reveal highly anisotropic spectra in the Gulf Stream and zones of both agreement and disagreement with theoretically expected spectral shapes. In general, we find spectral slopes that fall off faster than the steepest slope expected from quasi‐geostrophic theory.
Neuron-specific chromosomal megadomain organization is adaptive to recent retrotransposon expansions
Authors: Chandrasekaran Sandhya , Espeso-Gil Sergio , Loh Yong-Hwee Eddie , Javidfar Behnam , Kassim Bibi , Zhu Yueyan , Zhang Yuan , Dong Yuhao , Bicks Lucy K. , Li Haixin , Rajarajan Prashanth , Peter Cyril J. , Sun Daijing , Agullo-Pascual Esperanza , Iskhakova Marina , Estill Molly , Lesch Bluma J. , Shen Li , Jiang Yan , Akbarian Schahram
Published: December 2021

Regulatory mechanisms associated with repeat-rich sequences and chromosomal conformations in mature neurons remain unexplored. Here, we map cell-type specific chromatin domain organization in adult mouse cerebral cortex and report strong enrichment of Endogenous Retrovirus 2 (ERV2) repeat sequences in the neuron-specific heterochromatic B2NeuN+ megabase-scaling subcompartment. Single molecule long-read sequencing and comparative Hi-C chromosomal contact mapping in wild-derived SPRET/EiJ (Mus spretus) and laboratory inbred C57BL/6J (Mus musculus) reveal neuronal reconfigurations tracking recent ERV2 expansions in the murine germline, with significantly higher B2NeuN+ contact frequencies at sites with ongoing insertions in Mus musculus. Neuronal ablation of the retrotransposon silencer Kmt1e/Setdb1 triggers B2NeuN+ disintegration and rewiring with open chromatin domains enriched for cellular stress response genes, along with severe neuroinflammation and proviral assembly with infiltration of dendrites . We conclude that neuronal megabase-scale chromosomal architectures include an evolutionarily adaptive heterochromatic organization which, upon perturbation, results in transcriptional dysregulation and unleashes ERV2 proviruses with strong neuronal tropism.
Large-scale emergence of regional changes in year-to-year temperature variability by the end of the 21st century
Authors: Olonscheck Dirk , Schurer Andrew P. , Lücke Lucie , Hegerl Gabriele C.
Published: December 2021

Global warming is expected to not only impact mean temperatures but also temperature variability, substantially altering climate extremes. Here we show that human-caused changes in internal year-to-year temperature variability are expected to emerge from the unforced range by the end of the 21st century across climate model initial-condition large ensembles forced with a strong global warming scenario. Different simulated changes in globally averaged regional temperature variability between models can be explained by a trade-off between strong increases in variability on tropical land and substantial decreases in high latitudes, both shown by most models. This latitudinal pattern of temperature variability change is consistent with loss of sea ice in high latitudes and changes in vegetation cover in the tropics. Instrumental records are broadly in line with this emerging pattern, but have data gaps in key regions. Paleoclimate proxy reconstructions support the simulated magnitude and distribution of temperature variability. Our findings strengthen the need for urgent mitigation to avoid unprecedented changes in temperature variability.
Evolution of the conductive filament system in HfO2-based memristors observed by direct atomic-scale imaging
Authors: Zhang Ying , Mao Ge-Qi , Zhao Xiaolong , Li Yu , Zhang Meiyun , Wu Zuheng , Wu Wei , Sun Huajun , Guo Yizhong , Wang Lihua , Zhang Xumeng , Liu Qi , Lv Hangbing , Xue Kan-Hao , Xu Guangwei , Miao Xiangshui , Long Shibing , Liu Ming
Published: December 2021

The resistive switching effect in memristors typically stems from the formation and rupture of localized conductive filament paths, and HfO2 has been accepted as one of the most promising resistive switching materials. However, the dynamic changes in the resistive switching process, including the composition and structure of conductive filaments, and especially the evolution of conductive filament surroundings, remain controversial in HfO2-based memristors. Here, the conductive filament system in the amorphous HfO2-based memristors with various top electrodes is revealed to be with a quasi-core-shell structure consisting of metallic hexagonal-Hf6O and its crystalline surroundings (monoclinic or tetragonal HfOx). The phase of the HfOx shell varies with the oxygen reservation capability of the top electrode. According to extensive high-resolution transmission electron microscopy observations and ab initio calculations, the phase transition of the conductive filament shell between monoclinic and tetragonal HfO2 is proposed to depend on the comprehensive effects of Joule heat from the conductive filament current and the concentration of oxygen vacancies. The quasi-core-shell conductive filament system with an intrinsic barrier, which prohibits conductive filament oxidation, ensures the extreme scalability of resistive switching memristors. This study renovates the understanding of the conductive filament evolution in HfO2-based memristors and provides potential inspirations to improve oxide memristors for nonvolatile storage-class memory applications.
A mechanical metamaterial with reprogrammable logical functions
Authors: Mei Tie , Meng Zhiqiang , Zhao Kejie , Chen Chang Qing
Published: December 2021

Embedding mechanical logic into soft robotics, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and robotic materials can greatly improve their functional capacity. However, such logical functions are usually pre-programmed and can hardly be altered during in-life service, limiting their applications under varying working conditions. Here, we propose a reprogrammable mechanological metamaterial (ReMM). Logical computing is achieved by imposing sequential excitations. The system can be initialized and reprogrammed via selectively imposing and releasing the excitations. Realization of universal combinatorial logic and sequential logic (memory) is demonstrated experimentally and numerically. The fabrication scalability of the system is also discussed. We expect the ReMM can serve as a platform for constructing reusable and multifunctional mechanical systems with strong computation and information processing capability.
Bacterial vaginosis and health-associated bacteria modulate the immunometabolic landscape in 3D model of human cervix
Authors: Łaniewski Paweł , Herbst-Kralovetz Melissa M.
Published: December 2021

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an enigmatic polymicrobial condition characterized by a depletion of health-associatedLactobacillusand an overgrowth of anaerobes. Importantly, BV is linked to adverse gynecologic and obstetric outcomes: an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections, preterm birth, and cancer. We hypothesized that members of the cervicovaginal microbiota distinctly contribute to immunometabolic changes in the human cervix, leading to these sequelae. Our 3D epithelial cell model that recapitulates the human cervical epithelium was infected with clinical isolates of cervicovaginal bacteria, alone or as a polymicrobial community. We usedLactobacillus crispatusas a representative health-associated commensal and four common BV-associated species:Gardnerella vaginalis,Prevotella bivia,Atopobium vaginae, andSneathia amnii. The immunometabolic profiles of these microenvironments were analyzed using multiplex immunoassays and untargeted global metabolomics.A. vaginaeandS. amniiexhibited the highest proinflammatory potential through induction of cytokines, iNOS, and oxidative stress-associated compounds.G. vaginalis,P. bivia, andS. amniidistinctly altered physicochemical barrier-related proteins and metabolites (mucins, sialic acid, polyamines), whereasL. crispatusproduced an antimicrobial compound, phenyllactic acid. Alterations to the immunometabolic landscape correlate with symptoms and hallmarks of BV and connected BV with adverse women’s health outcomes. Overall, this study demonstrated that 3D cervical epithelial cell colonized with cervicovaginal microbiota faithfully reproduce the immunometabolic microenvironment previously observed in clinical studies and can successfully be used as a robust tool to evaluate host responses to commensal and pathogenic bacteria in the female reproductive tract.
α-Synuclein aggregation in the olfactory bulb induces olfactory deficits by perturbing granule cells and granular–mitral synaptic transmission
Authors: Chen Fengjiao , Liu Wei , Liu Penglai , Wang Zhen , Zhou You , Liu Xingyu , Li Anan
Published: December 2021

Olfactory dysfunction is an early pre-motor symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD) but the neural mechanisms underlying this dysfunction remain largely unknown. Aggregation of α-synuclein is observed in the olfactory bulb (OB) during the early stages of PD, indicating a relationship between α-synuclein pathology and hyposmia. Here we investigate whether and how α-synuclein aggregates modulate neural activity in the OB at the single-cell and synaptic levels. We induced α-synuclein aggregation specifically in the OB via overexpression of double-mutant human α-synuclein by an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector. We found that α-synuclein aggregation in the OB decreased the ability of mice to detect odors and to perceive attractive odors. The spontaneous activity and odor-evoked firing rates of single mitral/tufted cells (M/Ts) were increased by α-synuclein aggregates with the amplitude of odor-evoked high-gamma oscillations increased. Furthermore, the decreased activity in granule cells (GCs) and impaired inhibitory synaptic function were responsible for the observed hyperactivity of M/Ts induced by α-synuclein aggregates. These results provide direct evidences of the role of α-synuclein aggregates on PD-related olfactory dysfunction and reveal the neural circuit mechanisms by which olfaction is modulated by α-synuclein pathology.
Protein microparticles visualize the contact network and rigidity onset in the gelation of model proteins
Authors: Rouwhorst Joep , van Baalen Carlijn , Velikov Krassimir , Habibi Mehdi , van der Linden Erik , Schall Peter
Published: December 2021

Protein aggregation into gel networks is of immense importance in diverse areas from food science to medical research; however, it remains a grand challenge as the underlying molecular interactions are complex, difficult to access experimentally, and to model computationally. Early stages of gelation often involve protein aggregation into protein clusters that later on aggregate into a gel network. Recently synthesized protein microparticles allow direct control of these early stages of aggregation, decoupling them from the subsequent gelation stages. Here, by following the gelation of protein microparticles directly at the particle scale, we elucidate in detail the emergence of a percolating structure and the onset of rigidity as measured by microrheology. We find that the largest particle cluster, correlation length, and degree of polymerization all diverge with power laws, while the particles bind irreversibly indicating a nonequilibrium percolation process, in agreement with recent results on weakly attractive colloids. Concomitantly, the elastic modulus increases in a power-law fashion as determined by microrheology. These results give a consistent microscopic picture of the emergence of rigidity in a nonequilibrium percolation process that likely underlies the gelation in many more systems such as proteins, and other strongly interacting structures originating from (bio)molecules.
SARS-CoV-2 ferritin nanoparticle vaccine induces robust innate immune activity driving polyfunctional spike-specific T cell responses
Authors: Carmen Joshua M. , Shrivastava Shikha , Lu Zhongyan , Anderson Alexander , Morrison Elaine B. , Sankhala Rajeshwer S. , Chen Wei-Hung , Chang William C. , Bolton Jessica S. , Matyas Gary R. , Michael Nelson L. , Joyce M. Gordon , Modjarrad Kayvon , Currier Jeffrey R. , Bergmann-Leitner Elke , Malloy Allison M. W. , Rao Mangala
Published: December 2021

The emergence of variants of concern, some with reduced susceptibility to COVID-19 vaccines underscores consideration for the understanding of vaccine design that optimizes induction of effective cellular and humoral immune responses. We assessed a SARS-CoV-2 spike-ferritin nanoparticle (SpFN) immunogen paired with two distinct adjuvants, Alhydrogel® or Army Liposome Formulation containing QS-21 (ALFQ) for unique vaccine evoked immune signatures. Recruitment of highly activated multifaceted antigen-presenting cells to the lymph nodes of SpFN+ALFQ vaccinated mice was associated with an increased frequency of polyfunctional spike-specific memory CD4+ T cells and Kb spike-(539–546)-specific long-lived memory CD8+ T cells with effective cytolytic function and distribution to the lungs. The presence of this epitope in SARS-CoV, suggests that generation of cross-reactive T cells may be induced against other coronavirus strains. Our study reveals that a nanoparticle vaccine, combined with a potent adjuvant that effectively engages innate immune cells, enhances SARS-CoV-2-specific durable adaptive immune T cell responses.
Characterizing the energy use of disabled people in the European Union towards inclusion in the energy transition
Authors: Ivanova Diana , Middlemiss Lucie
Published: December 2021

Designing environmental policy to take account of social difference is increasingly recognized as essential to address both effectiveness and justice concerns. So far there is limited research on the experiences of disabled people in the environmental literature, amounting to a failure to recognize this substantial constituency. Here we compare disabled households’ embodied energy use, income, risk of poverty and energy poverty, and other socio-demographics with other households in the European Union. We find that households including an economically inactive disabled person earn less and consume 10% less energy than other households, and are more likely to experience energy poverty. Disabled households have lower consumption than other households in most categories, with the exception of basic consumption such as food, energy at home (gas and electricity), water and waste services: in effect they have less—and sometimes inadequate—access to resources. We conclude that more attention should be paid to disabled households needs to ensure a just energy transition.
Linking solar minimum, space weather, and night sky brightness
Authors: Grauer Albert D. , Grauer Patricia A.
Published: December 2021

This paper presents time-series observations and analysis of broadband night sky airglow intensity 4 September 2018 through 30 April 2020. Data were obtained at 5 sites spanning more than 8500 km during the historically deep minimum of Solar Cycle 24 into the beginning of Solar Cycle 25. New time-series observations indicate previously unrecognized significant sources of broadband night sky brightness variations, not involving corresponding changes in the Sun's 10.7 cm solar flux, occur during deep solar minimum. New data show; (1) Even during a deep solar minimum the natural night sky is rarely, if ever, constant in brightness. Changes with time-scales of minutes, hours, days, and months are observed. (2) Semi-annual night sky brightness variations are coincident with changes in the orientation of Earth's magnetic field relative to the interplanetary magnetic field. (3) Solar wind plasma streams from solar coronal holes arriving at Earth’s bow shock nose are coincident with major night sky brightness increase events. (4) Sites more than 8500 km along the Earth's surface experience nights in common with either very bright or very faint night sky airglow emissions. The reason for this observational fact remains an open question. (5) It is plausible, terrestrial night airglow and geomagnetic indices have similar responses to the solar energy input into Earth's magnetosphere. Our empirical results contribute to a quantitative basis for understanding and predicting broadband night sky brightness variations. They are applicable in astronomical, planetary science, space weather, light pollution, biological, and recreational studies.
Using a convolutional neural network for classification of squamous and non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer based on diagnostic histopathology HES images
Authors: Le Page Anne Laure , Ballot Elise , Truntzer Caroline , Derangère Valentin , Ilie Alis , Rageot David , Bibeau Frederic , Ghiringhelli Francois
Published: December 2021

Histological stratification in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is essential to properly guide therapy. Morphological evaluation remains the basis for subtyping and is completed by additional immunohistochemistry labelling to confirm the diagnosis, which delays molecular analysis and utilises precious sample. Therefore, we tested the capacity of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to classify NSCLC based on pathologic HES diagnostic biopsies. The model was estimated with a learning cohort of 132 NSCLC patients and validated on an external validation cohort of 65 NSCLC patients. Based on image patches, a CNN using InceptionV3 architecture was trained and optimized to classify NSCLC between squamous and non-squamous subtypes. Accuracies of 0.99, 0.87, 0.85, 0.85 was reached in the training, validation and test sets and in the external validation cohort. At the patient level, the CNN model showed a capacity to predict the tumour histology with accuracy of 0.73 and 0.78 in the learning and external validation cohorts respectively. Selecting tumour area using virtual tissue micro-array improved prediction, with accuracy of 0.82 in the external validation cohort. This study underlines the capacity of CNN to predict NSCLC subtype with good accuracy and to be applied to small pathologic samples without annotation.
Development and evaluation of bidirectional LSTM freeway traffic forecasting models using simulation data
Authors: Abduljabbar Rusul L. , Dia Hussein , Tsai Pei-Wei
Published: December 2021

Long short-term memory (LSTM) models provide high predictive performance through their ability to recognize longer sequences of time series data. More recently, bidirectional deep learning models (BiLSTM) have extended the LSTM capabilities by training the input data twice in forward and backward directions. In this paper, BiLSTM short term traffic forecasting models have been developed and evaluated using data from a calibrated micro-simulation model for a congested freeway in Melbourne, Australia. The simulation model was extensively calibrated and validated to a high degree of accuracy using field data collected from 55 detectors on the freeway. The base year simulation model was then used to generate loop detector data including speed, flow and occupancy which were used to develop and compare a number of LSTM models for short-term traffic prediction up to 60 min into the future. The modelling results showed that BiLSTM outperformed other predictive models for multiple prediction horizons for base year conditions. The simulation model was then adapted for future year scenarios where the traffic demand was increased by 25–100 percent to reflect potential future increases in traffic demands. The results showed superior performance of BiLSTM for multiple prediction horizons for all traffic variables.
Stress corrosion cracking behavior of 20MnTiB high-strength bolts in simulation of humid climate in Chongqing
Authors: Chen Lin , Wen Juan , Zhang Luyu , Li Zheng , Li Guangwen , Ming Chengwu
Published: December 2021

20MnTiB steel is the most widely used high-strength bolt material for steel structure bridges in China, and its performance is of great significance to the safe operation of bridges. Based on the investigation of the atmospheric environment in Chongqing in recent years, the corrosion solution to simulate the humid climate of Chongqing was designed in this study, and the stress corrosion experiment of high-strength bolts in the simulated humid climate of Chongqing was carried out. The effects of temperature, pH and concentration of simulated corrosion solution on the stress corrosion behavior of 20MnTiB high-strength bolts were studied.
Construction of a core collection of native Perilla germplasm collected from South Korea based on SSR markers and morphological characteristics
Authors: Sa Kyu Jin , Kim Dong Min , Oh Jun Seok , Park Hyeon , Hyun Do Yoon , Lee Sookyeong , Rhee Ju Hee , Lee Ju Kyong
Published: December 2021

The leaves and seed oil of Perilla crop (Perilla frutescens L.) have attracted interest as health foods in East Asia. This crop has been traditionally cultivated and used for a long time as a folk plant, especially in Korea. In our study, the 22 SSR markers and eight morphological traits were used to assess the genetic diversity and population structure, to select a core collection of 400 Perilla accessions conserved in the RDA-Genebank of South Korea. A total of 173 alleles were detected and the number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 15 (average = 7.9). Gene diversity and polymorphic information content ranged from 0.138 to 0.868 (average = 0.567) and 0.134 to 0.853 (average = 0.522), respectively. The 400 accessions were not clearly distinguished geographically by STRUCTURE and UPGMA analyses. A core collection (44 accessions) was selected from the entire collection by using PowerCore. The core collection accounted for 11.0% of the entire Perilla collection, including 100% of the number of alleles maintained in the whole collection and with similar or greater Shannon–Weaver and Nei diversity indices than the whole collection. The core collection selected by SSR markers was evenly distributed in three clusters on a scatter plot by eight morphological traits. The first core collection of Perilla accessions was constructed, and it maintained allelic richness. Further modification of the core collection is expected with the continuous addition of new accessions of the two cultivated types of Perilla crop and their weedy types.
The spin-dependent properties of silicon carbide/graphene nanoribbons junctions with vacancy defects
Authors: Khanlar Golnaz , Vishkayi Sahar Izadi , Soleimani Hamid Rahimpour
Published: December 2021

We have designed high-efficient spin-filtering junctions composed of graphene and silicon carbide nanoribbons. We have calculated the spin and charge transport in the junction by non-equilibrium Green’s function formalism combined with the density functional theory to find its spin-dependent electrical conductance, thermal conductance and Seebeck coefficient. In addition, the effect of Si and C atoms vacancies on the transport properties of the junction has been carefully investigated. The enhanced spin-filtering is clearly observed due to the edge and vacancy effects. On the other hand, vacancy defects increase the electrical and spin conductances of the junctions. The results show that the considered junctions are half-metal with reduced thermal conductance which makes them a suitable spin-dependent thermoelectric device. Our results predict the promising potential of the considered junctions for application in spintronic devices.
Corrosion behavior of HRB400 and HRB400M steel bars in concrete under DC interference
Authors: Ding Qingmiao , Gao Yuning , Liu Ruiyang , Li Yaozhi , Jin Lei , Ma Han
Published: December 2021

The influence of direct current interference on the corrosion behavior of HRB400 and HRB400M steel bars in simulated concrete solution was studied using methods such as weight loss experiment, electrochemical experiment, surface technology and product analysis. The research results showed that with the increase of DC interference voltage, the corrosion rates of HRB400 and HRB400M steel bars would increase. The corrosion resistance of HRB400M steel bars was better than HRB400 steel bars under the experimental conditions. In addition, direct current interference could cause damage to the corrosion product layer on the surface of HRB400 steel bars and HRB400M steel bars. And the corrosion form and corrosion product types of HRB400 and HRB400M steel bars would be affected by direct current interference. The main corrosion products of HRB400 steel bars included γ-FeOOH and Fe2O3 when it was not interfered by DC. When DC interference was applied, the main corrosion products included Fe3O4 and Fe2O3. The corrosion products on the surface of HRB400M steel bars were mainly Fe3O4 and Fe2O3, and the types of products increased to form Cr2O3 and MnFe2O4.
Recent progress in fluorescent aptasensors for the detection of aflatoxin B1 in food
Authors: Chen Yi
Published: December 2021

Aflatoxin B1 pollution is one of the most critical issues of food safety and has been categorized as a group I carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Thermodynamic solubility of celecoxib in organic solvents
Authors: Verma Vivek , Soto Rodrigo , Bhattacharya Shayon , Thompson Damien , Ryan Kevin M. , Padrela Luis
Published: December 2021

This work investigates the solubility of the stable polymorph of celecoxib (CEL) drug in a range of pure organic solvents, including methanol, isopropanol, butanol, ethyl acetate, acetonitrile, and toluene, within the temperature range 278–303 K.
Quantitative structure determination of adsorbed formate and surface hydroxyls on Fe3O4(001)
Authors: Ryan P. T. P. , Payne D. J. , Lee T.-L. , Duncan D. A.
Published: December 2021

Quantitative determination of the adsorption site of hydroxyl and formate species formed during the adsorption of formic acid on Fe3O4(001).
Investigation into the performance decay of proton-exchange membranes based on sulfonated heterocyclic poly(aryl ether ketone)s in Fenton's reagent
Authors: Liu Qian , Zhang Shouhai , Wang Zhaoqi , Han Jianhua , Song Ce , Xu Peiqi , Wang Xu , Fu Shaokui , Jian Xigao
Published: December 2021

The shielding effects of pendant benzenesulfonic groups to radical attacks on molecular chains and introduction of phthalazinone units decrease the breakages at ether bonds to improve the radical tolerance and proton conductivity of membranes.
The universal relationship between sample dimensions and cooperative phenomena: effects of fractal dimension on the electronic properties of high-TC cuprate observed using electron spin resonance
Authors: Naito Toshio , Fukuda Yoshiaki
Published: December 2021

We have found a general relationship between the dimensions of the sample structures and the physical/chemical properties.
Photoelectrical properties of integrated photodetectors based on bilayer graphene quantum dots with asymmetric metal contacts: a NEGF-DFT study
Authors: Ghandchi Majid , Darvish Ghafar , Moravvej-Farshi Mohammad Kazem
Published: December 2021

We have developed the right atomic-molecular ab initio calculations-based model to investigate photoelectrical properties of photodetectors based on graphene nanodot structures with two probes.
Resolving competing conical intersection pathways: time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy of trans-1,3-butadiene
Authors: Seidu Issaka , Neville Simon P. , MacDonell Ryan J. , Schuurman Michael S.
Published: December 2021

Time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy is a particularly sensitive probe of nonadiabatic molecular wave packet dynamics.
Effect of solvent motions on the dynamics of the Diels–Alder reaction
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyong , Lefebvre Pierre-Louis , Harvey Jeremy N.
Published: December 2021

The solvent cage expansion/contraction and the volume changes of the solute associated with barrier crossing occur separately in time.
Enzymatic X-ray absorption spectroelectrochemistry
Authors: Cząstka Karolina , Oughli Alaa A. , Rüdiger Olaf , DeBeer Serena
Published: December 2021

X-ray absorption spectroelectrochemistry has the potential to provide insight into enzyme mechanisms. However, protein loading on the electrode surface must be optimized and controls in place to differentiate electrochemically driven changes from beam induced damage.
Interplay of structural and dynamical heterogeneity in the nucleation mechanism in nickel
Authors: Díaz Leines Grisell , Michaelides Angelos , Rogal Jutta
Published: December 2021

By analysing transition path sampling trajectories, we show that dynamical heterogeneity plays a key role in the mechanism of crystal nucleation in an elemental metal, nickel
Acid functionalized hydrochar as heterogeneous catalysts for solventless synthesis of biofuel precursors
Authors: Chhabra Tripti , Dwivedi Prachi , Krishnan Venkata
Published: December 2021

Synthesis of biofuel precursors via the hydroxyalkylation alkylation reaction by using acid functionalized hydrochar catalysts.
Harnessing visible-light energy for unbiased organic photoelectrocatalysis: synthesis of N-bearing fused rings
Authors: Gong Ming , Huang Mengmeng , Li Yabo , Zhang Jianye , Kim Jung Keun , Kim Jong Seung , Wu Yangjie
Published: December 2021

C–H activation was realized via the synergistic catalysis of visible light and photocurrent applying self-biasing photo-electrocatalytic strategy, which could effectively avoid the excessive oxidation of active intermediates.
Hierarchical NiSx/Ni2P nanotube arrays with abundant interfaces for efficient electrocatalytic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural
Authors: Zhang Baolong , Fu Hui , Mu Tiancheng
Published: December 2021

A sequential electrodeposition interface engineering strategy has been proposed for preparation of metal sulfide/metal phosphide nanotube arrays with abundant interfaces for efficient electrocatalytic oxidation of 5-HMF to FDCA.
A survey of 3D printing technology applied to paper microfluidics
Authors: Fu Elain , Wentland Lael
Published: December 2021

This critical review describes efforts to apply 3D printing technology to the advancement of paper microfluidic device development.