bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bioremediation of heavy metals pollution from acidic coal gangue with sulfate-reducing bacteria
Authors: Ma Daozhi , Liu Xinyu , Zhang Mingjiang , Wang Jianlei , Hu Xuewu , Yan Xiao , Tang Chuiyun , Zhong Juan
Published: February 2021

Acid mine drainage (AMD) generated by acidic coal gangue has caused coal mine area environmental degradation. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) was used to inhibit the oxidation of metal sulfide minerals from acidic coal gangue in Kaili city, Guizhou province. Four experimental groups (named as CK, R-M, R-S, R-SCa) were carried out, the results showed that SRB can effectively raise the pH (2.3 in CK, 7.8 in R-SCa) and inhibit heavy metals leachability. The low initial pH of the system can retard the start-up of sulfate reduction process. The leaching toxicity test indicated that the leachate of heavy metals in coal gangue after bioremediation was significantly reduced. High-throughput sequencing analysis showed the diversity of SRB genera in R-SCa (e.g., Desulfotomaculum and Desulfobulbus was detected) was enhanced in comparation to R-M and R-S. The results demonstrated that SRB significantly inhibit acidic coal gangue contamination and the biostimulation is also a potential solution due to indigenous SRB existence.
Study on the complaining behavior of tourists in Scenic spots: The Case in Shaanxi China
Authors: Duan Zhaowen , Zhang Tingwei , Jiang Rui , Xie Shan , Sun Hanyu
Published: February 2021

With the development of the Internet and the popularization of online social platforms, online reviews have become an important channel for tourists to express their travel experience, and they have also become important information references for tourism companies to improve their products and services. This study took 9 tourist attractions in Shaanxi Province as the research object, collected tourist negative word of mouth on TripAdvisor and Ctrip, and explored the online complaining behavior of tourists in the scenic spots. The results show that: (1) Failed scenic services, mismatches between expectations and the scenic environment, not being treated fairly by scenic employees, and other reasons are the main motives that cause tourists to complain online. (2) Tourists’ complaints about scenic spots are mainly concentrated in five areas: Crowded, tourism attraction, service, tickets, management and others. The complaints of tourists from different scenic spots are slightly different. (3) Tourists of different nationalities have different incomes and cultural backgrounds, which lead to different complaints about the scenic spots. The research results of this article are conducive to the managers of scenic spots to understand the content of tourists’ complaints and the reasons of tourists’ complaining behaviors, and it is conducive to the smooth implementation of the remedial measures after the event by enterprises, thereby enhancing the satisfaction of tourists.
Biodiesel synthesis by transesterification using coal-based solid acid catalyst
Authors: Yu Hewei , Niu Shengli , Lu Chunmei , Wei Wei , Zhang Xingyu
Published: February 2021

The medium metamorphic degree of bituminous coal with high oxygen content and low ash content is selected as the carbon carrier to prepare an efficient carbon-based solid acid catalyst through partial carbonization and sulfonation approach, and then is employed to catalyze transesterification of palm oil with methanol for biodiesel production. The strength of catalyst is characterized by Hammett inductor method. The reaction parameters are optimized by single factor method. Results demonstrate that the prepared catalyst possesses the Hammett acid strength range of 0.8<H0<3.3. The maximum biodiesel yield of 97.8% is obtained at catalyst dosage of 6 wt.%, transesterification temperature of 160 °C, molar ratio of methanol to palm oil of 18 and stirring rate of 1000 rpm for 8 h. Moreover, the catalyst exhibits satisfactory activity in catalyzing simultaneous esterification and transesterification when 20 wt.% oleic acid is added to palm oil.
Building Digital Operation and Maintenance Based on BIM
Authors: Yu Wenhong , Bai Jinchao , Li Hui
Published: February 2021

This paper analyzes the difference between digital operation and traditional operation, expounds the obvious advantages of digital operation and maintenance by comparing in many aspects, and expounds the importance of BIM technology in digital operation and maintenance management. However, the digitalization of operation and maintenance management has just started, so this paper analyze the operation process of digital building operation and maintenance system, and put forward the prospect of digital operation and maintenance management in the future.
Fault Location Approach for Teed Transmission Line Independent of Wave Speed
Authors: Chaoqi Cui , Yahang Cheng , Bin Liu , Su Dong , Ling An , Zhewei Diao
Published: February 2021

The uncertainty of traveling wave speed always causes big deviations to the fault location. In order to conquer the influence of traveling wave speed on transmission line fault location, a new method of fault location was presented in this paper. The method contains two main parts: the establishment of the identification matrix for the fault section and fault point location. Firstly, the arrival times of the initial fault traveling waves are used to form the identification matrix for the fault section, and the fault section can be identified according to characteristics of element in the formed identification matrix, and the matrix avoids the influence of wave speed; Secondly, a new locating algorithm without influence of wave speed was derived based on the principle of double-node traveling wave fault location. The simulation results show that the arrival time of initial fault traveling wave can be detected accurately, and then the fault section and the fault point can be located exactly by using the method proposed by this paper. And the method is unsusceptible to wave speed, fault type, transition resistance.
Economic analysis of energy storage multi-business models in the electricity market environment
Authors: Xu Zhicheng , Feng Junshu , Yan Xiaoqing
Published: February 2021

At present, with the continuous technical and economic improvement of the energy storage, the large-scale application of energy storage is possible. However, the current energy storage development still has the problem of insufficient business models and single energy storage income. With the continuous improvement of China’s electricity market mechanism, a flexible market environment will provide more feasible business models and market space for energy storage development. This paper simulates the charging and discharge strategy of electrochemical storage in the market environment and the income situation under the “stack value” applications. The results show that a flexible market mechanism and multi-functional applications in the market environment are beneficial to the improvement of the energy storage economy.
Stakeholder Behaviours and Grid-Source Coordinated Planning Mode under Market Circumstance
Authors: Li Nan
Published: February 2021

Under market circumstance, the power generation side is divided into several power generation companies that have autonomous right of decision-making. The competition pattern of pluralistic stakeholders brings new challenge to the power planning of power grid and source coordination. The paper systematically studies the impact of power system reform on the three sides of power source, grid and load, analyzes the decision-making behaviours of pluralistic stakeholders under market circumstance, and proposes the mode of source-grid coordinated planning.
The forward modeling for surface-borehole observation responses of polarized sphere in uniform electric field
Authors: Niu Zheng , Zhang Haibo
Published: February 2021

Surface-borehole induced polarization method is a common geophysical method in metal exploration. The forward calculation results of the borehole observation responses can provide reference and support for practical work. In particular, the forward results of spherical polarized target can be equivalent to massive ore body or karst caves and other low-resistivity anomalies. In this paper, the forward simulation of borehole induced polarization responses is carried out by using the electric dipole model equivalent spherical polarized body. The results show that the polarization degree of the excitation source at different positions is different, and the closer the proximity is, the stronger the secondary field anomaly is. Borehole observation has advantages for the identification of deep ore bodies. Under the same offset condition, the closer the distance from the borehole is, the stronger the responses will be. The results of this paper can provide reference and basis for relevant research work.
Degree of Belief Analysis and Control Method of Reliability Assessment Result of Existing Structures
Authors: Yao Jitao , Huang Bin , Liu Xiaohuan , Yan Mingdong
Published: February 2021

Reliability assessment result of existing structures is analyzed on the basis of a few samples, which often has strong subjective uncertainty and will affect reliability assessment result and structural safety. In this paper, belief function is introduced to quantify the subjective uncertainty and analyze influence of different degree of belief on structural failure assessment. The calculation method of degree of belief of reliability evaluation result of existing structures and optimization model under complex multiple degree of belief environment is proposed. Furthermore, reliability degree of belief control method is proposed to remedy the defect that subjective uncertainty has not been taken into account in past control methods. It is found that calculation results of different failure probability depend on degree of belief, which affects safety assessment of existing structures. The degree of belief calculation method of reliability structure proposed in this paper quantitatively reduces the influence of subjective uncertainty and makes assessment result more accurate and scientific.
Analysisand research on the heat load forecasting of solar central heating
Authors: Zuo Chao , lu Xiaojuan
Published: February 2021

With the decrease of traditional energy reserves and the improvement of environmental protection requirements, people pay more and more attention to the efficient and clean application of new energy[1]. In this paper, through the analysis of the historical data of a heat exchange station in a small district in Lanzhou, two prediction algorithmsof BP neural network and SVM support vector product are used to predict the heat load. The two predictionalgorithmsareusedtopredicttheheatload, and the optimal prediction algorithm is found out based on the analysis results. On this basis, the optimal prediction algorithm is used to make long-term and short-term prediction of heat load. Accurate prediction of solar energy central heating system can provide reference for the operation of solar thermal storage system, make great use of the utilization rate of solar energy in the heating system, reduce the waste of clean energy in the solar central heating system, reduce the use cycle of traditional energy and reduce carbon emissions. At the same time, forecasting the heating load in advance can reduce the waste caused by the lag of hot water, reduce the energy consumption of the heating system, and enable the thermal company to provide heat according to the needs of users, reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction.
Research on design of the real-time monitoring system for full hall steel tubular scaffolds
Authors: Chen Fan , Wan Wendong , Fan Yibo , Qi Xiaohai
Published: February 2021

Full tubular scaffolds are widely used in substation engineering. However, full hall steel tubular scaffolds collapse can lead mass casualties without effective safety management. The real-time monitoring system for full hall steel tubular scaffolds can prevent collapse accidents. Aiming at the monitoring demand of full hall steel tubular scaffolds, research on design of real-time monitoring system is carried out. This paper mainly discusses system design principle, system function design and system formwork design. The function design part refines the different function permissions of users in different roles, and the framework design part analyzes the composition of the system and the way of data transmission.
The impact of pipe jacking method entrance and exit construction on the surrounding environment
Authors: Zongrun Qi , Junyan Liu , Ke Gong
Published: February 2021

This paper analyzes the effect mechanism of pipe jacking on the surrounding soil disturbance during the construction of subway station pipe jacking, and uses MIDAS GTS/NX to numerically simulate the impact of pipe jacking on the surface and internal forces of the building. During the construction, the influence of the surrounding soil disturbance and the existing railway track was studied, and the law of the influence on the surrounding buildings and the ground surface during the pipe jacking construction process was analyzed and studied.
Research on Bearing Capacity of Post-grouting Super-long Bored Pile
Authors: Ma Hailong , Ma Yufei , Yao Wenhong , Chen Chi
Published: February 2021

The bearing capacity of the post-grouting super-long bored pile, calculated by the standard enhancement coefficient, is 66% larger than that of the measured. The FEM analysis shows that when the grouting radius at the pile end is 1.5 d and the permeating height of the cement slurry is 4.05 m from the pile end, the end resistance enhancement coefficient is 1.17, and the pile side average friction resistance enhancement coefficient is 1.31 within 12 m above the pile end. The calculated bearing capacity is close to the measured bearing capacity of the post-grouting pile by those enhancement coefficients. The calculation shows that: a) in the case of no grouting, the pile end reaction force is about 5.78% of the pile top load; b) in the case of grouting, when the grouting diffusion radius at the pile end is 1.5 d and the permeating height from the pile end is 4.05 m, the post-grouting pile end reaction force is about 6.78% of the pile top load; and c) after grouting, the load transmitted to the pile end cannot be significantly increased; d) using the reinforcement coefficient suggested by the Standard, the calculated bearing capacity is larger than the measured.
Seismic performance of grouted sleeve connected precast pier based on steel hysteretic model
Authors: Lei Song , Peng Kai
Published: February 2021

The static and quasi-static behaviors of cast-in-place pier and grouted sleeve connected precast pier are simulated by ABAQUS, which are based on the steel hysteretic constitutive model. The accuracy of the finite element simulation is verified by comparing with the existing experimental results. Then the simulation results of the two types of piers are compared and analyzed. The results show that: the seismic performance of precast pier connected with grouting sleeve is similar to that of cast-in-place pier, they both have good plastic deformation capacity. When the displacement is large, grouting sleeve connected pier has higher hysteretic energy dissipation than that of cast-in-place pier, it’s suitable in high earthquake region; The steel hysteretic model can better simulate the seismic performance of reinforced concrete structure under cycle load.
Deformation monitoring and numerical simulation analysis of ultra-deep working well
Authors: Wu Xiuming , Ren Feng , Zhu Shiqi
Published: February 2021

Taking an ultra-deep working well in Jinan as the background, a three-dimensional finite element model of the excavation of the foundation pit was established using nonlinear finite element analysis software MADIS GTS/NX. The numerical simulation of the excavation process of the foundation pit, combined with the actual measured data, studied the deformation law of the envelope structure under the underground continuous wall and internal support support scheme. The results show that the three-dimensional finite element model can better consider the influence of the spatial effect of the foundation pit on the underground continuous wall and the surface deformation around the foundation pit. The calculated value and the measured value have a small gap, and the development trend is almost consistent. The optimization design and deformation control of the supporting structure of the project provide a basis and also have reference value for the design and construction of similar projects.
Optimization of Multi-stage and Multi-cluster Fracturing Technology for Horizontal Wells in Jilantai Buried Hill
Authors: Feng Hanbin , Jia Yuanzhao , Xu Zhengdong , Cao Jiefeng , Wu Gangfei
Published: February 2021

The Jilantai oil field is rich in reserves of metamorphic rock potential reservoirs, Some wells drilled in the early stages, recorded wells see better oil and gas display, but the oil test yield is low, so it needs fracturing to put into production. Conventional fracturing has a small range, low output and short stable production period. In order to improve the effect of reservoir reconstruction, multi-segment and multi-cluster fracturing technology for Jilantai metamorphic rock horizontal wells has been developed.. According to the well trajectory and logging interpretation results of well s1-1, we have formed a volume fracturing mode of large-scale +large displacement + low sand ratio plug-in plus sand by optimizing the staged cluster perforation scheme, fracture pattern scale and operation parameters, thus communicating more natural fractures and forming a complex fracture network system. The well is divided into 10 sections and 28 clusters of fracturing, after pressure of 49.2t daily oil, 31.49t of daily oil, the current production is stable, the effect of fracturing increase yield is remarkable. Through the successful application of multi-stage and multi-cluster fracturing technology in this well, a new technology of volume fracturing for metamorphic reservoir in Jilantai formed, which lays a foundation for the efficient development of this area.
Research on comprehensive treatment of historical building engineering
Authors: Li Wuhuan , Yuan Fangying
Published: February 2021

The protection and effective use of historical building projects is of great significance for improving and effectively allocating environmental resources, preserving the essence of urban culture and historical context, and enhancing the soft power and comprehensive competitiveness of the city. At present, the protection of historical buildings needs a lot of funds and folk forces. In terms of investment and financing, government capital is still the main body of investment, and social capital has not been fully mobilized. In order to protect urban buildings and environmental resources, it is necessary to integrate various funds and technologies to promote the full protection of environmental resources.
Perspectives on titanium-based metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Nguyen Ha L
Published: February 2021

Chemistry of titanium metal–organic frameworks (Ti-MOFs) encompasses the linking of various titanium-oxo clusters formed mainly by hydrolysis of titanium precursors and organic linkers. Owing to the high reactivity of such titanium precursors, the crystallites of Ti-MOFs are hardly obtained without applying tricky synthetic approaches. For the past decade, scientists have exhaustedly pursued many methodologies to overcome the synthetic challenges of Ti-MOFs. Achievements are indeed observed. However, challenges remain, which not only hinder the versatility of Ti-MOF chemistry but also limit their applications in photocatalysis. This perspective seeks to concisely summarize the Ti-MOF chemistry and discuss viewpoints of the author on how to promote the diversity of Ti-MOFs. The author hopes that future perspectives of this work will help direct the research in this field.
Using machine learning to predict concrete’s strength: learning from small datasets
Authors: Ouyang Boya , Song Yu , Li Yuhai , Wu Feishu , Yu Huizi , Wang Yongzhe , Yin Zhanyuan , Luo Xiaoshu , Sant Gaurav , Bauchy Mathieu
Published: February 2021

Despite previous efforts to map the proportioning of a concrete to its strength, a robust knowledge-based model enabling accurate strength predictions is still lacking. As an alternative to physical or chemical-based models, data-driven machine learning methods offer a promising pathway to address this problem. Although machine learning can infer the complex, non-linear, non-additive relationship between concrete mixture proportions and strength, large datasets are needed to robustly train such models. This is a concern as reliable concrete strength data is rather limited, especially for realistic industrial concretes. Here, based on the analysis of a fairly large dataset (>10,000 observations) of measured compressive strengths from industrial concretes, we compare the ability of three selected machine learning algorithms (polynomial regression, artificial neural network, random forest) to reliably predict concrete strength as a function of the size of the training dataset. In addition, by adopting stratified sampling, we investigate the influence of the representativeness of the training datapoints on the learning capability of the models considered herein. Based on these results, we discuss the nature of the competition between how accurate a given model can eventually be (when trained on a large dataset) and how much data is actually required to train this model.
The Effect of Fee Shifting on Litigation: Evidence from a Policy Innovation in Intermediate Cost Shifting
Authors: Helmers Christian , Lefouili Yassine , Love Brian J , McDonagh Luke
Published: February 2021

We study the effect of fee shifting rules on litigation. First, we build a model to study the theoretical effect of a change in cost-recovery rules on case filings, (postfiling) settlement, win rates, and plaintiffs’ average litigation expenditures. We then undertake an empirical analysis of the introduction of an intermediate cost shifting rule that falls between the English and American Rules: a reform that limits the size of fee awards to successful litigants in cases decided by the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC), one of two venues where IP cases may be filed in England and Wales. Our empirical analysis takes advantage of heterogeneity among case types and compares IPEC cases with intellectual property cases litigated at the PHC of England and Wales, which was not subject to this reform. We find that patent case filings increased following the IPEC’s shift from a pure English Rule to a rule that caps costs awards. Consistent with our model’s predictions, we also find evidence that smaller plaintiffs both won less often and settled more often postreform, as well as evidence that larger plaintiffs spent less on litigation postreform.
Vascular smooth muscle cells in atherosclerosis: time for a re-assessment
Authors: Grootaert Mandy O J , Bennett Martin R
Published: February 2021

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are key participants in both early and late-stage atherosclerosis. VSMCs invade the early atherosclerotic lesion from the media, expanding lesions, but also forming a protective fibrous cap rich in extracellular matrix to cover the ‘necrotic’ core. Hence, VSMCs have been viewed as plaque-stabilizing, and decreased VSMC plaque content—often measured by expression of contractile markers—associated with increased plaque vulnerability. However, the emergence of lineage-tracing and transcriptomic studies has demonstrated that VSMCs comprise a much larger proportion of atherosclerotic plaques than originally thought, demonstrate multiple different phenotypes in vivo, and have roles that might be detrimental. VSMCs down-regulate contractile markers during atherosclerosis whilst adopting alternative phenotypes, including macrophage-like, foam cell-like, osteochondrogenic-like, myofibroblast-like, and mesenchymal stem cell-like. VSMC phenotypic switching can be studied in tissue culture, but also now in the media, fibrous cap and deep-core region, and markedly affects plaque formation and markers of stability. In this review, we describe the different VSMC plaque phenotypes and their presumed cellular and paracrine functions, the regulatory mechanisms that control VSMC plasticity, and their impact on atherogenesis and plaque stability.
Disability Disadvantage: Experimental Evidence of Hiring Discrimination against Wheelchair Users
Authors: Bjørnshagen Vegar , Ugreninov Elisabeth
Published: February 2021

Disability is associated with persistent labour market disadvantages. What is not clear is the extent to which these disadvantages result from employers’ discriminatory hiring decisions. Although observational research and laboratory experiments provide indicative evidence of its existence, few studies have used randomized field experiments such as correspondence studies to investigate the occurrence of disability discrimination. This article extends current knowledge by presenting the results of a correspondence study used to measure discrimination against wheelchair users in a new context: the Norwegian labour market. In the experiment, 1,200 fictitious applications with randomly assigned information about the applicants’ disability status were sent in pairs to 600 private sector employers with job openings. The experiment documents negative effects of disability on callbacks from employers across various occupations. The findings suggest that discrimination in hiring processes is a mechanism through which disability-related inequality in employment outcomes is perpetuated.
Abnormal pattern of left atrial activation and asynchronous conduction predicted the occurrence of new atrial fibrillation: evidences for Bachmann’s bundle block in atrial fibrillation pathophysiology
Authors: Seewöster Timm , Marinov Kaloyan , Löbe Susanne , Knopp Helge , Nedios Sotirios , Bollmann Andreas , Hindricks Gerhard , Dinov Borislav
Published: February 2021

Aims

Evidences suggest that recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with left atrial (LA) remodelling. The goal of this study is to establish a method for assessment of LA remodelling and find predictors for the development of AF.

Methods and results

This prospective study included patients without a history of AF who were evaluated using pulsed-wave tissue Doppler imaging (PW-TDI). P-wave onset to A′-wave (PA′ interval) was measured at the septal, lateral, anterior, and inferior mitral annulus. Abnormal LA activation pattern was defined as an upward LA activation over the coronary sinus and delayed activation anterior. Left atrial asynchrony was measured as (i) the difference between the septal and lateral PA′ interval (DLS) and (ii) the standard deviation of all four PA′ intervals (SD4-PA′). The follow-up for AF recurrence (AF+) was based on symptoms and 7-day Holter electrocardiograms. Ninety-eight patients (mean age 58 ± 15 years, 47% female) were included. During a follow-up of 28 ± 9 months, AF was documented in 10%. More pronounced LA asynchrony was observed in AF+ group: DLS (AF+) 39 ± 16 vs. DLS (AF−) 20 ± 11 ms; P < 0.001, and SD4-PA′ (AF+) 18.6 ± 6.4 vs. SD4-PA′ (AF−) 11.7 ± 4.2 ms; P < 0.001. Abnormal LA activation was frequently observed in AF+ patients: 60% vs. 27%; P = 0.033. Electrocardiogram sign of Bachmann’s bundle block (BBB) was associated with prolongation of SD4-PA′: SD4-PA′ (BBB+) vs. SD4-PA′ (BBB−) = 18 ± 6 vs. 13 ± 4.5 ms; P = 0.007.

Conclusions

More pronounced LA asynchrony and abnormal LA activation pattern were associated with new-onset AF.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family medicine residency training
Authors: Awadallah Nida S , Czaja Angela S , Fainstad Tyra , McNulty Monica C , Jaiswal Kshama R , Jones Teresa S , Rumack Carol M
Published: February 2021

Background

Family physicians have played a unique clinical role during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized that the pandemic would be associated with significant deleterious effects on clinical activity, educational training, personal safety and well-being.

Objective

We conducted a national survey to obtain preliminary data that would assist in future targeted data collection and subsequent evaluation of the impact of the pandemic on family medicine residents and teaching faculty.

Methods

An anonymous online survey of residents and faculty was distributed via the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors list serve between 5/21/2020 and 6/18/2020. Survey questions focused on clinical and educational activities, safety and well-being.

Results

One hundred and fifty-three residents and 151 teaching faculty participated in the survey. Decreased clinical activity was noted by 81.5% of residents and 80.9% of faculty and the majority began conducting telehealth visits (97.9% of residents, 91.0% of faculty). Distance learning platforms were used by all residents (100%) and 39.6% noted an overall positive impact on their education. Higher levels of burnout did not significantly correlate with reassignment of clinical duties (residents P = 0.164; faculty P = 0.064). Residents who showed significantly higher burnout scores (P = 0.035) and a decline in levels of well-being (P = 0.031) were more likely to participate in institutional well-being support activities.

Conclusions

Our preliminary data indicate that family medicine residents and teaching faculty were profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Future studies can be directed by current findings with focus on mitigation factors in addressing globally disruptive events such as COVID-19.
Climatic criteria for successful introduction ofQuercusspecies identified by use of Arboretum data
Authors: Madsen Corrie Lynne , Kjær Erik Dahl , Ræbild Anders
Published: February 2021

Climate change is projected to have a major influence on forest tree populations and composition. Translocation of species outside their historic range has been suggested to maintain healthy forests and tree species. The introduction of exotic species into botanical gardens and arboretums worldwide demonstrates the ability of many trees to grow outside their natural habitat and may play an important part in avoiding climate driven extinction if grown in a matching climate. However, it remains to be determined which climatic factors are the most important predictors of climatic match. In this study we use information from the arboretum in Hørsholm, Denmark, to analyse differences in performance of translocated Oak (Quercus) and show how data from tree collections can be used to predict success of assisted migration. Our data included archive lists of georeferenced Northern hemisphere introductions of Quercus, and assessments of their survival and growth rates in nursery and the Hørsholm arboretum. Using logistic and linear regression we modelled the importance of different bioclimatic predictor variables for survival and growth rate. Several correlations were identified across the Quercus genus. Survival of Quercus species depended primarily on the temperatures at the origin, whereas growth on the other hand was more dependent on a match in precipitation. The negative correlations indicated that introductions were less successful from sites with higher temperatures and wetter conditions. The study demonstrates an approach to use historical data collected from arboreta and botanical gardens in climate change research. This new approach can provide useful information in relation to assisted migration for an array of poorly investigated species where this may be the only source of information.
Does geographic spending variation exacerbate healthcare benefit inequality? A benefit incidence analysis for Indonesia
Authors: Sambodo Novat Pugo , Van Doorslaer Eddy , Pradhan Menno , Sparrow Robert
Published: February 2021

The Indonesian government has made some ambitious steps to achieve Universal Health Coverage through the newly formed National Health Insurance [Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN)], establishing a single-payer insurance agency and prospective provider payment mechanism. This study aims to assess the benefit incidence of healthcare funding in the JKN era, and its distribution by socio-economic status considering regional variation in unit costs. We evaluate whether the benefit incidence of funding is skewed towards urban and wealthier households. We also investigate whether standard benefit incidence analysis using national unit costs underestimates regional disparities in healthcare funding. Lastly, we examine whether the design of the JKN provider payment system exacerbates regional inequalities in healthcare funding and treatment intensity. The analysis relies on Indonesia’s annual National Socio-economic Survey (Susenas) and administrative data on JKN provider payments from 2015 to 2017, combined at district level for 466 districts. We find that the benefit incidence of healthcare expenditure favours the wealthier groups. We also observe substantial variation in hospital unit costs across regions in Indonesia. As a result, standard benefit incidence analysis (using national average unit transfers) underestimates the inequality due to regional disparities in healthcare supply and intensity of treatment. The JKN provider payment seems to favour relatively wealthier regions that harbour more advanced healthcare services. Urban dwellers and people living in Java and Bali also enjoy greater healthcare benefit incidence compared to rural areas and the other islands.
Negotiating the Legacies of Intragroup Violence in Timor Leste
Authors: Igreja Victor
Published: February 2021

The end of the Cold War raised the profiles of international tribunals and truth commissions as official mechanisms for dealing with the legacies of political violence around the world. However, these mechanisms have the tendency to generate somewhat stark accounts of the past and present, and of guilt and heroism, and are thus an inadequate forum for grasping the complexities of protracted, multiple and fracturing intragroup violence. This article is based on fieldwork in Timor Leste. It analyzes the unresolved legacies of Timorese intragroup political violence through a focus on the interventions of political leaders in the Timorese national parliament over time, coupled with an analysis of some of their autobiographies. It reveals how the crisscrossing histories of violence and fluctuating group affiliations have shaped ongoing political struggles, from silence and denial to unsettling voices and deliberations, which constitute sources of enduring political negotiations, mistrust and tension among Timorese leaders.
Symmetric Decompositions and the Veronese Construction
Authors: Jochemko Katharina
Published: February 2021

We study rational generating functions of sequences $\{a_n\}_{n\geq 0}$ that agree with a polynomial and investigate symmetric decompositions of the numerator polynomial for subsequences $\{a_{rn}\}_{n\geq 0}$. We prove that if the numerator polynomial for $\{a_n\}_{n\geq 0}$ is of degree $s$ and its coefficients satisfy a set of natural linear inequalities, then the symmetric decomposition of the numerator for $\{a_{rn}\}_{n\geq 0}$ is real-rooted whenever $r\geq \max \{s,d+1-s\}$. Moreover, if the numerator polynomial for $\{a_n\}_{n\geq 0}$ is symmetric, then we show that the symmetric decomposition for $\{a_{rn}\}_{n\geq 0}$ is interlacing. We apply our results to Ehrhart series of lattice polytopes. In particular, we obtain that the $h^\ast $-polynomial of every dilation of a $d$-dimensional lattice polytope of degree $s$ has a real-rooted symmetric decomposition whenever the dilation factor $r$ satisfies $r\geq \max \{s,d+1-s\}$. Moreover, if the polytope is Gorenstein, then this decomposition is interlacing.
Strategic Spirituality: Positive Psychology, the Army, and the Ambiguities of “Spirituality Fitness”
Authors: Weitzman Steven
Published: February 2021

In the wake of increased mental health issues resulting from combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, psychologists affiliated with the field of positive psychology developed a resiliency training program for the US Army that included strengthening “spirituality fitness” as one of its goals. The initiative represents what may be the largest single effort to use spirituality to intervene in people’s mental health, but it also represents an intervention in the semantics of spirituality, an attempt to make it signify in new ways. This study treats this intervention as an exercise in “strategic ambiguity,” the use of unclear language to balance between contradictory goals, and draws from this approach some inferences about what it is that those working in the field of positive psychology import into the spirituality they have promoted within American military culture.
Impact of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support on piperacillin exposure in septic patients: a case–control study
Authors: Fillâtre P , Lemaitre F , Nesseler N , Schmidt M , Besset S , Launey Y , Maamar A , Daufresne P , Flecher E , Le Tulzo Y , Tadie J M , Tattevin P
Published: February 2021

Objectives

To describe the impact of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) devices on piperacillin exposure in ICU patients.

Methods

This observational, prospective, multicentre, case–control study was performed in the ICUs of two tertiary care hospitals in France. ECMO patients with sepsis treated with piperacillin/tazobactam were enrolled. Control patients were matched according to SOFA score and creatinine clearance. The pharmacokinetics of piperacillin were described based on a population pharmacokinetic model, calculating the proportion of time the piperacillin plasma concentration was above 64 mg/L (i.e. 4× MIC breakpoint for Pseudomonas aeruginosa).

Results

Forty-two patients were included. Median (IQR) age was 60 years (49–66), SOFA score was 11 (9–14) and creatinine clearance was 47 mL/min (5–95). There was no significant difference in the proportion of time piperacillin concentrations were ≥64 mg/L in patients treated with ECMO and controls during the first administration (P = 0.184) or at steady state (P = 0.309). Following the first administration, 36/42 (86%) patients had trough piperacillin concentrations <64 mg/L. Trough concentrations at steady state were similar in patients with ECMO and controls (P = 0.535). Creatinine clearance ≥40 mL/min was independently associated with piperacillin trough concentration <64 mg/L at steady state [OR = 4.3 (95% CI 1.1–17.7), P = 0.043], while ECMO support was not [OR = 0.5 (95% CI 0.1–2.1), P = 0.378].

Conclusions

ECMO support has no impact on piperacillin exposure. ICU patients with sepsis are frequently underexposed to piperacillin, which suggests that therapeutic drug monitoring should be strongly recommended for severe infections.
Phase II study of cetuximab plus S-1/cisplatin therapy in Japanese patients with advanced gastric cancer
Authors: Yamaguchi Kensei , Fuse Nozomu , Komatsu Yoshito , Fujii Hirofumi , Hironaka Shuichi , Omuro Yasushi , Muro Kei , Yasui Hirofumi , Ueda Shinya , Nishina Tomohiro , Watanabe Morihiro , Ohtsu Atsushi
Published: February 2021

Objective

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of first-line S-1 plus cisplatin in combination with cetuximab for Japanese patients with advanced gastric cancer, including gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

Methods

This open-label, single arm, multicenter, phase 2 trial was conducted to assess first-line cetuximab plus S-1 plus cisplatin for advanced gastric cancer. A total of 40 patients from 10 centers were enrolled. Cetuximab was administered weekly, with the initial infusion at 400 mg/m2 and then 250 mg/m2 each subsequent week. S-1 plus cisplatin chemotherapy was concomitantly conducted in a 5-week cycle: S-1 (40–60 mg, adjusted for body surface area) was given twice daily for 3 consecutive weeks, followed by a 2-week rest period, and cisplatin (60 mg/m2) was given on day 8 of each cycle for a maximum of 8 cycles. Treatment continued until the occurrence of radiographically confirmed progressive disease, unacceptable toxicity or withdrawal of consent. The primary endpoint was the best overall response. Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival and safety.

Results

A total of 40 patients were evaluable. One patient (2.5%) had a complete response; 15 patients (37.5%) had a partial response. The observed overall response rate according to the independent review committee was 40.0% (95% confidence interval, 24.9–56.7; P = 0.7043 [one-sided null hypothesis: overall response rate ≤ 43%]); median PFS was 5.6 months (95% confidence intervals, 4.2–8.3). No adverse events leading to death were reported during the study, and no specific safety concerns were observed.

Conclusions

Overall, the addition of cetuximab to S-1 plus cisplatin was well tolerated in patients with advanced gastric cancer but provided no additional clinical benefit in this study.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01388790.
A review of the AJCC melanoma staging system in the TNM classification (eighth edition)
Authors: Ogata Dai , Namikawa Kenjiro , Takahashi Akira , Yamazaki Naoya
Published: February 2021

In the eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging Manual, several modifications were made for melanoma. These modifications were aimed at improving the prognosis prediction accuracy of the staging system. The main modifications are as follows: the cutoff value of the T1 category has been changed, and there are new classifications of stage IIID and of M1d (metastasis of the central nervous system). These changes will allow for more accurate stratification of melanoma prognosis. However, it is necessary to validate the new modifications through future clinical research.
The Heterogeneous Landscape and Early Evolution of Pathogen-Associated CpG Dinucleotides in SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Di Gioacchino Andrea , Šulc Petr , Komarova Anastassia V , Greenbaum Benjamin D , Monasson Rémi , Cocco Simona
Published: February 2021

COVID-19 can lead to acute respiratory syndrome, which can be due to dysregulated immune signaling. We analyze the distribution of CpG dinucleotides, a pathogen-associated molecular pattern, in the SARS-CoV-2 genome. We characterize CpG content by a CpG force that accounts for statistical constraints acting on the genome at the nucleotidic and amino acid levels. The CpG force, as the CpG content, is overall low compared with other pathogenic betacoronaviruses; however, it widely fluctuates along the genome, with a particularly low value, comparable with the circulating seasonal HKU1, in the spike coding region and a greater value, comparable with SARS and MERS, in the highly expressed nucleocapside coding region (N ORF), whose transcripts are relatively abundant in the cytoplasm of infected cells and present in the 3′UTRs of all subgenomic RNA. This dual nature of CpG content could confer to SARS-CoV-2 the ability to avoid triggering pattern recognition receptors upon entry, while eliciting a stronger response during replication. We then investigate the evolution of synonymous mutations since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, finding a signature of CpG loss in regions with a greater CpG force. Sequence motifs preceding the CpG-loss-associated loci in the N ORF match recently identified binding patterns of the zinc finger antiviral protein. Using a model of the viral gene evolution under human host pressure, we find that synonymous mutations seem driven in the SARS-CoV-2 genome, and particularly in the N ORF, by the viral codon bias, the transition–transversion bias, and the pressure to lower CpG content.
Elucidating the role of long intergenic non-coding RNA 339 in human endometrium and endometriosis
Authors: Holdsworth-Carson Sarah J , Churchill Molly , Donoghue Jacqueline F , Mortlock Sally , Fung Jenny N , Sloggett Clare , Chung Jessica , Cann Leonie , Teh Wan Tinn , Campbell Katie-Rose , Luwor Rodney , Healey Martin , Montgomery Grant , Girling Jane E , Rogers Peter A W
Published: February 2021

Endometriosis is a complex disease, influenced by genetic factors. Genetic markers associated with endometriosis exist at chromosome 1p36.12 and lead to altered expression of the long intergenic non-coding RNA 339 (LINC00339), however, the role of LINC00339 in endometriosis pathophysiology remains unknown. The aim of this work was to characterize the expression patterns of LINC00339 mRNA in endometrium and endometriotic lesions in situ and to determine the functional role of LINC00339 in human endometrium. We employed RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), quantitative RT-PCR and in situ hybridization to investigate the abundance of LINC00339 transcripts in endometrium and endometrial cell lines and to describe the pattern and localization of LINC00339 expression in endometrium and endometriotic lesions. LINC00339 mRNA expression was manipulated (overexpressed and silenced) in endometrial stromal cell lines and RNA-seq data from overexpression models were analysed using online bioinformatics platforms (STRING and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis) to determine functional processes. We demonstrated the expression of LINC00339 in endometriotic lesions for the first time; we found LINC00339 expression was restricted to the lesion foci and absent in surrounding non-lesion tissue. Furthermore, manipulation of LINC00339 expression in endometrial stromal cell lines significantly impacted the expression of genes involved in immune defence pathways. These studies identify a novel mechanism for LINC00339 activity in endometrium and endometriosis, paving the way for future work, which is essential for understanding the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
Activation of the antiviral factor RNase L triggers translation of non-coding mRNA sequences
Authors: Karasik Agnes , Jones Grant D , DePass Andrew V , Guydosh Nicholas R
Published: February 2021

Ribonuclease L (RNase L) is activated as part of the innate immune response and plays an important role in the clearance of viral infections. When activated, it endonucleolytically cleaves both viral and host RNAs, leading to a global reduction in protein synthesis. However, it remains unknown how widespread RNA decay, and consequent changes in the translatome, promote the elimination of viruses. To study how this altered transcriptome is translated, we assayed the global distribution of ribosomes in RNase L activated human cells with ribosome profiling. We found that RNase L activation leads to a substantial increase in the fraction of translating ribosomes in ORFs internal to coding sequences (iORFs) and ORFs within 5′ and 3′ UTRs (uORFs and dORFs). Translation of these alternative ORFs was dependent on RNase L’s cleavage activity, suggesting that mRNA decay fragments are translated to produce short peptides that may be important for antiviral activity.
Role of a local transcription factor in governing cellular carbon/nitrogen homeostasis inPseudomonas fluorescens
Authors: Naren Naran , Zhang Xue-Xian
Published: February 2021

Autoactivation of two-component systems (TCSs) can increase the sensitivity to signals but inherently cause a delayed response. Here, we describe a unique negative feedback mechanism enabling the global NtrB/NtrC regulator to rapidly respond to nitrogen starvation over the course of histidine utilization (hut) in Pseudomonas fluorescens. NtrBC directly activates transcription of hut genes, but overexpression will produce excess ammonium leading to NtrBC inactivation. To prevent this from occurring, the histidine-responsive repressor HutC fine-tunes ntrBC autoactivation: HutC and NtrC bind to the same operator site in the ntrBC promoter. This newly discovered low-affinity binding site shows little sequence similarity with the consensus sequence that HutC recognizes for substrate-specific induction of hut operons. A combination of genetic and transcriptomic analysis indicated that both ntrBC and hut promoter activities cannot be stably maintained in the ΔhutC background when histidine fluctuates at high concentrations. Moreover, the global carbon regulator CbrA/CbrB is involved in directly activating hut transcription while de-repressing hut translation via the CbrAB-CrcYZ-Crc/Hfq regulatory cascade. Together, our data reveal that the local transcription factor HutC plays a crucial role in governing NtrBC to maintain carbon/nitrogen homeostasis through the complex interactions between two TCSs (NtrBC and CbrAB) at the hut promoter.