bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sludge amendment accelerating reclamation process of reconstructed mining substrates
Authors: Li Dan , Yin Ningning , Xu Ruiwei , Wang Liping , Zhang Zhen , Li Kang
Published: February 2021

We constructed a mining soil restoration system combining plant, complex substrate and microbe. Sludge was added to reconstructed mine substrates (RMS) to accelerate the reclamation process. The effect of sludge on plant growth, microbial activity, soil aggregate stability, and aggregation-associated soil characteristics was monitored during 10 years of reclamation. Results show that the height and total biomass of ryegrass increases with reclamation time. Sludge amendment increases the aggregate binding agent content and soil aggregate stability. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and light-fraction SOC (LFOC) in the RMS increase by 151% and 247% compared with those of the control, respectively. A similar trend was observed for the glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP). Stable soil aggregate indexes increase until the seventh year. In short, the variables of RMS determined after 3–7 years insignificantly differ from those of the untreated sample in the tenth-year. Furthermore, significant positive correlations between the GRSP and SOC and GRSP and soil structure-related variables were observed in RMS. Biological stimulation of the SOC and GRSP accelerates the recovery of the soil structure and ecosystem function. Consequently, the plant–complex substrate–microbe ecological restoration system can be used as an effective tool in early mining soil reclamation.
Analyses of transcriptomes and the first complete genome of Leucocalocybe mongolica provide new insights into phylogenetic relationships and conservation
Authors: Duan Mingzheng , Bao Haiying , Bau Tolgor
Published: February 2021

In this study, we report a de novo assembly of the first high-quality genome for a wild mushroom species Leucocalocybe mongolica (LM). We performed high-throughput transcriptome sequencing to analyze the genetic basis for the life history of LM. Our results show that the genome size of LM is 46.0 Mb, including 26 contigs with a contig N50 size of 3.6 Mb. In total, we predicted 11,599 protein-coding genes, of which 65.7% (7630) could be aligned with high confidence to annotated homologous genes in other species. We performed phylogenetic analyses using genes form 3269 single-copy gene families and showed support for distinguishing LM from the genus Tricholoma (L.) P.Kumm., in which it is sometimes circumscribed. We believe that one reason for limited wild occurrences of LM may be the loss of key metabolic genes, especially carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), based on comparisons with other closely related species. The results of our transcriptome analyses between vegetative (mycelia) and reproductive (fruiting bodies) organs indicated that changes in gene expression among some key CAZyme genes may help to determine the switch from asexual to sexual reproduction. Taken together, our genomic and transcriptome data for LM comprise a valuable resource for both understanding the evolutionary and life history of this species.
Optical characterization of non-thermal plasma jet energy carriers for effective catalytic processing of industrial wastewaters
Authors: Naz M. Y. , Shukrullah S. , Rehman S. U. , Khan Y. , Al-Arainy A. A. , Meer R.
Published: February 2021

An argon plasma jet was sustained in open air and characterized for its chemical composition. The optically characterized plasma jet was used to treat industrial wastewater containing mixed textile dyes and heavy metals. Since plasma jet produces UV-radiations, the photocatalytic TiO2 was used to enhance plasma treatment efficiency especially for degradation of dyes. Mixed anatase and rutile phases of TiO2 (5.2–8.5 nm) were produced through surfactant assisted sol–gel approach. The emission spectrum confirmed the presence of excited argon, OH, excited nitrogen, excited oxygen, ozone and nitric oxide in the plasma jet. The spectral lines of excited Ar, NO, O3, OH−, N2, $${\mathrm{N}}_{2}^{+}$$

N

2

+

, O, $${\mathrm{O}}_{2}^{+}$$

O

2

+

and O+ species were observed at wavelength of 695–740 nm, 254.3 nm, 307.9 nm, 302–310 nm, 330–380 nm, 390–415 nm, 715.6 nm, 500–600 nm and 400–500 nm. These reactive species decompose the organic pollutants and separate the heavy metals from the water samples. The conductivity of plasma exposed water samples increased while pH and hardness decreased. The atomic absorption spectrophotometry analysis confirmed the presence of heavy metals in the samples, which were effectively removed through plasma treatment. Finally, the effect of plasma treatment on Staphylococcus aureus strains was more pronounced than Escherichia coli strains.
Bacterial bile duct colonization in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma and its clinical significance
Authors: Bednarsch Jan , Czigany Zoltan , Heij Lara Rosaline , Luedde Tom , van Dam Ronald , Lang Sven Arke , Ulmer Tom Florian , Hornef Mathias Walter , Neumann Ulf Peter
Published: February 2021

Abdominal infections including cholangitis represent a major problem in patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA). Thus, we investigated bacterial colonization of the bile ducts and determined its impact on postoperative outcome focusing on abdominal infections. A cohort of 95 pCCA patients who underwent surgery between 2010 and 2019 with available intraoperative microbial bile cultures were analyzed regarding bile duct colonization and postoperative abdominal infection by group comparisons and logistic regressions. 84.2% (80/95) showed bacterial colonization of the bile ducts and 54.7% (52/95) developed postoperative abdominal infections. Enterococcus faecalis (38.8%, 31/80), Enterococcus faecium (32.5%, 26/80), Enterobacter cloacae (16.3%, 13/80) and Escherichia coli (11.3%, 9/80) were the most common bacteria colonizing the bile ducts and Enterococcus faecium (71.2%, 37/52), Enterococcus faecalis (30.8%, 16/52), Enterobacter cloacae (25.0%, 13/52) and Escherichia coli (19.2%, 10/52) the most common causes of postoperative abdominal infection. Further, reduced susceptibility to perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (OR = 10.10, p = .007) was identified as independent predictor of postoperative abdominal infection. Bacterial colonization is common in pCCA patients and reduced susceptibility of the bacteria to the intraoperative antibiotic prophylaxis is an independent predictor of postoperative abdominal infections. Adapting antibiotic prophylaxis might therefore have the potential to improve surgical outcome pCCA patients.
An under-ice bloom of mixotrophic haptophytes in low nutrient and freshwater-influenced Arctic waters
Authors: Søgaard Dorte H. , Sorrell Brian K. , Sejr Mikael K. , Andersen Per , Rysgaard Søren , Hansen Per Juel , Skyttä Annaliina , Lemcke Signe , Lund-Hansen Lars Chresten
Published: February 2021

The pelagic spring bloom is essential for Arctic marine food webs, and a crucial driver of carbon transport to the ocean depths. A critical challenge is understanding its timing and magnitude, to predict its changes in coming decades. Spring bloom onset is typically light-limited, beginning when irradiance increases or during ice breakup. Here we report an acute 9-day under-ice algal bloom in nutrient-poor, freshwater-influenced water under 1-m thick sea ice. It was dominated by mixotrophic brackish water haptophytes (Chrysochromulina/Prymnesium) that produced 5.7 g C m−2new production. This estimate represents about half the annual pelagic production, occurring below sea ice with a large contribution from the mixotrophic algae bloom. The freshwater-influenced, nutrient-dilute and low light environment combined with mixotrophic community dominance implies that phagotrophy played a critical role in the under-ice bloom. We argue that such blooms dominated by potentially toxic mixotrophic algae might become more common and widespread in the future Arctic Ocean.
Using electrical impedance tomography for rapid determination of starch and soluble sugar contents in Rosa hybrida
Authors: Qian Ji , Zhou Juan , Di Bao , Liu Yang , Zhang Gang , Yang Xin
Published: February 2021

Soluble sugars and starches are important metabolites of plant life and physiological markers of plant stress response. There is an urgent need to develop a non-destructive and rapid method for determining plant starch and soluble sugar contents. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) technology has been used to determine the physiological state and cold resistance of select plant tissues. However, so far there have been no reports on the use of EIT for the rapid estimation of soluble sugar and starch contents. In this study, EIT was used to obtain reconstructed voltage values and estimate starch and soluble sugar contents in the stems of three Rosa hybrida cultivars during February to May, which were grown in the Specimen Park (38° 50′ N, 115° 26′ E) of Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding City, Hebei Province, China. Stems from two of the cultivars were used for establishing regression models for starch and soluble sugar contents as functions of reconstructed voltage values. The third cultivar was used to test the accuracy of the regression models. The quadratic regression model was best for determining soluble sugar content and the logarithmic regression model was best for determining starch content. Thus, this research provided technical support for using EIT to analyze changes in physiological parameters and to rapidly estimate physiological indexes of plants. More studies were now needed to validate the results in this paper.
Prevalence and molecular characterization of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in the Lue ethnic group of northern Thailand
Authors: Sathupak Suwapat , Leecharoenkiat Kamonlak , Kampuansai Jatupol
Published: February 2021

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is one of the most common enzyme disorders. Prevalence and variant distribution of G6PD deficiency can vary in different regions and among differing ethnic groups. To reveal the G6PD frequency and molecular characterization among the Lue ethnic group of northern Thailand, blood samples of 296 unrelated individuals collecting from 6 Lue villages were analyzed. The observed G6PD enzyme activity ranged from 0.11 to 20.60 U/g Hb. Overall, 13.51% (40/296) of the individuals were identified as having G6PD deficiency status. The prevalence in males was 14.28% (20/140), while that of females was 12.82% (20/156). The most common G6PD variants in the Lue were the Kaiping 1388G > A (5.40%) and Canton 1376G > T (6.42%) types. Observed prevalence and variant types of the G6PD gene in the Lue population are similar to that of the Tai-Kadai speaking ethnic groups in southern China, which is consistent with their historically close line of ancestry. However, the founder effect that occurred during the Lue’s transboundary migration from China to Thailand showed its impact upon different patterns of G6PD distribution among each Lue village.
Neutrophil degranulation interconnects over-represented biological processes in atrial fibrillation
Authors: Kawasaki Makiri , Meulendijks Eva R. , van den Berg Nicoline W. E. , Nariswari Fransisca A. , Neefs Jolien , Wesselink Robin , Baalman Sarah W. E. , Jongejan Aldo , Schelfhorst Tim , Piersma Sander R. , Pham Thang V. , van Boven Wim J. P. , Driessen Antoine H. G. , Jimenez Connie R. , de Groot Joris R.
Published: February 2021

Despite our expanding knowledge about the mechanism underlying atrial fibrillation (AF), the interplay between the biological events underlying AF remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to identify the functionally enriched gene-sets in AF and capture their interconnection via pivotal factors, that may drive or be driven by AF. Global abundance of the proteins in the left atrium of AF patients compared to control patients (n = 3/group), and the functionally enriched biological processes in AF were determined by mass-spectrometry and gene set enrichment analysis, respectively. The data were validated in an independent cohort (n = 19–20/group). In AF, the gene-sets of innate immune system, metabolic process, cellular component disassembly and ion homeostasis were up-regulated, while the gene-set of ciliogenesis was down-regulated. The innate immune system was over-represented by neutrophil degranulation, the components of which were extensively shared by other gene-sets altered in AF. In the independent cohort, an activated form of neutrophils was more present in the left atrium of AF patients with the increased gene expression of neutrophil granules. MYH10, required for ciliogenesis, was decreased in the atrial fibroblasts of AF patients. We report the increased neutrophil degranulation appears to play a pivotal role, and affects multiple biological processes altered in AF.
MDM4 inhibition: a novel therapeutic strategy to reactivate p53 in hepatoblastoma
Authors: Woodfield Sarah E. , Shi Yan , Patel Roma H. , Chen Zhenghu , Shah Aayushi P. , Srivastava Rohit K. , Whitlock Richard S. , Ibarra Aryana M. , Larson Samuel R. , Sarabia Stephen F. , Badachhape Andrew , Starosolski Zbigniew , Ghaghada Ketan B. , Sumazin Pavel , Annis D. Allen , López-Terrada Dolores , Vasudevan Sanjeev A.
Published: February 2021

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common pediatric liver malignancy. High-risk patients have poor survival, and current chemotherapies are associated with significant toxicities. Targeted therapies are needed to improve outcomes and patient quality of life. Most HB cases are TP53 wild-type; therefore, we hypothesized that targeting the p53 regulator Murine double minute 4 (MDM4) to reactivate p53 signaling may show efficacy. MDM4 expression was elevated in HB patient samples, and increased expression was strongly correlated with decreased expression of p53 target genes. Treatment with NSC207895 (XI-006), which inhibits MDM4 expression, or ATSP-7041, a stapled peptide dual inhibitor of MDM2 and MDM4, showed significant cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects in HB cells. Similar phenotypes were seen with short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated inhibition of MDM4. Both NSC207895 and ATSP-7041 caused significant upregulation of p53 targets in HB cells. Knocking-down TP53 with shRNA or overexpressing MDM4 led to resistance to NSC207895-mediated cytotoxicity, suggesting that this phenotype is dependent on the MDM4-p53 axis. MDM4 inhibition also showed efficacy in a murine model of HB with significantly decreased tumor weight and increased apoptosis observed in the treatment group. This study demonstrates that inhibition of MDM4 is efficacious in HB by upregulating p53 tumor suppressor signaling.
The acidified drinking water-induced changes in the behavior and gut microbiota of wild-type mice depend on the acidification mode
Authors: Whipple Brandon , Agar Jennifer , Zhao Jing , Pearce David A. , Kovács Attila D.
Published: February 2021

Acidification of drinking water to a pH between 2.5 and 3.0 is widely used to prevent the spread of bacterial diseases in animal colonies. Besides hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is also used to acidify drinking water. Here we examined the effects of H2SO4-acidified drinking water (pH = 2.8) received from weaning (postnatal day 21) on the behavior and gut microflora of 129S6/SvEv mice, a mouse strain commonly used in transgenic studies. In contrast to HCl-acidified water, H2SO4-acidified water only temporarily impaired the pole-descending ability of mice (at 3 months of age), and did not change the performance in an accelerating rotarod test. As compared to 129S6/SvEv mice receiving non-acidified or HCl-acidified drinking water, the gut microbiota of 129S6/SvEv mice on H2SO4-acidified water displayed significant alterations at every taxonomic level especially at 6 months of age. Our results demonstrate that the effects of acidified drinking water on the behavior and gut microbiota of 129S6/SvEv mice depends on the acid used for acidification. To shed some light on how acidified drinking water affects the physiology of 129S6/SvEv mice, we analyzed the serum and fecal metabolomes and found remarkable, acidified water-induced alterations.
Assessing technical and biological variation in SWATH-MS-based proteomic analysis of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells
Authors: Eagle Gina L. , Herbert John M. J. , Zhuang Jianguo , Oates Melanie , Khan Umair T. , Kitteringham Neil R. , Clarke Kim , Park B. Kevin , Pettitt Andrew R. , Jenkins Rosalind E. , Falciani Francesco
Published: February 2021

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) exhibits variable clinical course and response to therapy, but the molecular basis of this variability remains incompletely understood. Data independent acquisition (DIA)-MS technologies, such as SWATH (Sequential Windowed Acquisition of all THeoretical fragments), provide an opportunity to study the pathophysiology of CLL at the proteome level. Here, a CLL-specific spectral library (7736 proteins) is described alongside an analysis of sample replication and data handling requirements for quantitative SWATH-MS analysis of clinical samples. The analysis was performed on 6 CLL samples, incorporating biological (IGHV mutational status), sample preparation and MS technical replicates. Quantitative information was obtained for 5169 proteins across 54 SWATH-MS acquisitions: the sources of variation and different computational approaches for batch correction were assessed. Functional enrichment analysis of proteins associated with IGHV mutational status showed significant overlap with previous studies based on gene expression profiling. Finally, an approach to perform statistical power analysis in proteomics studies was implemented. This study provides a valuable resource for researchers working on the proteomics of CLL. It also establishes a sound framework for the design of sufficiently powered clinical proteomics studies. Indeed, this study shows that it is possible to derive biologically plausible hypotheses from a relatively small dataset.
Bsep expression in hilar cholangiocarcinoma of rat model
Authors: Zhang Meng-yu , Wang Jie-ping , He Kai , Xia Xian-ming
Published: February 2021

Develop a rat model of hilar cholangiocarcinoma for detecting bile salt export pump (Bsep) expression in hilar cholangiocarcinoma tissues, in order to provide a new therapeutic target for the gene therapy of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Sixty male Wistar rats (body weight, 190 ± 8 g) were randomly divided into three groups (the experimental group, the control group and the sham operation group, n = 20 each) as follows: The three groups were fed a standard diet, the experimental group was injected by cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cell suspension along the hilar bile duct into the bile duct bifurcation with microsyringe, the control group was injected by normal saline, the sham operation group did not inject anything. Every day assess the rats’ mental state, diet, and motion by using Basso–Beattie–Bresnahan and combined behavioral score. At 4 weeks, one rat of the experimental group was sacrificed after it was administered anesthesia, and we recorded changes in hilar bile duct size, texture, and form. This procedure was repeated at 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, hilar cholangiocarcinoma developed only in the experimental group, thereby establishing an experimental model for studying QBC939-induced hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Tumor formation was confirmed by pathological examination, and hilar bile duct tissues were harvested from both the groups. A real-time polymerase chain reaction assay and an immunohistochemical assay were used to analyze the expression of Bsep in hilar bile duct tissues of each group. From the second week, the rats in experimental group began to eat less, and their body mass decreased compared with control group and sham operation group. After 6 weeks, we detected hilar cholangiocarcinoma in the hilar bile duct tissues of 18 rats (90%) in the experimental group. In the experimental group with hilar cholangiocarcinoma, we found that the levels of total cholesterol, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin were higher compared with those in the control group and sham operation group. Simultaneously, muddy stones emerged from the bile ducts of rats in the experimental group. The Bsep/Gapdh mRNA ratio in hilar cholangiocarcinoma, control group and sham operation group differed markedly. Light microscopy revealed a granular pattern of Bsep protein expression which reacted with the anti-Bsep antibody. Each section was randomly divided into six regions, with 80 cells were observed in every region. Sections with > 10% positive cells were designated positive, Sections with < 10% positive cells were designated negative. Each group included 4800 cells. In the experimental group, 1200 cells (25%) were positive, in the control group, 3648 cells (76%) were positive and in the sham operation group 3598 cells (75%) were positive, and this difference was statistically significant. Bsep expression significantly decreased in hilar cholangiocarcinoma of rats than those in control group and sham operation group, suggesting that drugs targeting Bsep are a new strategy for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
Arrayed CRISPR reveals genetic regulators of tau aggregation, autophagy and mitochondria in Alzheimer’s disease model
Authors: Duan Lishu , Hu Mufeng , Tamm Joseph A. , Grinberg Yelena Y. , Shen Fang , Chai Yating , Xi Hualin , Gibilisco Lauren , Ravikumar Brinda , Gautam Vivek , Karran Eric , Townsend Matthew , Talanian Robert V.
Published: February 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease with poor prognosis. New options for drug discovery targets are needed. We developed an imaging based arrayed CRISPR method to interrogate the human genome for modulation of in vitro correlates of AD features, and used this to assess 1525 human genes related to tau aggregation, autophagy and mitochondria. This work revealed (I) a network of tau aggregation modulators including the NF-κB pathway and inflammatory signaling, (II) a correlation between mitochondrial morphology, respiratory function and transcriptomics, (III) machine learning predicted novel roles of genes and pathways in autophagic processes and (IV) individual gene function inferences and interactions among biological processes via multi-feature clustering. These studies provide a platform to interrogate underexplored aspects of AD biology and offer several specific hypotheses for future drug discovery efforts.
Repurposing a digital kitchen scale for neuroscience research: a complete hardware and software cookbook for PASTA
Authors: Virag D. , Homolak J. , Kodvanj I. , Babic Perhoc A. , Knezovic A. , Osmanovic Barilar J. , Salkovic-Petrisic M.
Published: February 2021

Widely available low-cost electronics encourage the development of open-source tools for neuroscientific research. In recent years, many neuroscientists recognized the open science movement for its potential to stimulate and encourage science that is less focused on money, and more on robustness, validity, questioning and understanding. Here, we wanted to contribute to this global community by creating a research platform based on a common digital kitchen scale. This everyday ordinary kitchen tool is sometimes used in neuroscience research in various ways; however, its use is limited by sampling rate and inability to store and analyze data. To tackle this problem we developed a Platform for Acoustic STArtle or PASTA. This robust and simple platform enables users to obtain data from kitchen scale load cells at a high sampling rate, store it and analyze it. Here, we used it to analyze acoustic startle and prepulse inhibition sensorimotor gating in rats treated intracerebroventricularly with streptozotocin, but the system can be easily modified and upgraded for other purposes. In accordance with open science principles, we shared complete hardware design with instructions. Furthermore, we also disclose our software codes written for PASTA data acquisition (C++, Arduino) and acoustic startle experimental protocol (Python) and analysis (ratPASTA R package—R-based Awesome Toolbox for PASTA, and pastaWRAP—Python wrapper package for ratPASTA). To further encourage the development of our PASTA platform we demonstrate its sensitivity by using PASTA-gathered data to extract breathing patterns during rat freezing behavior in our experimental protocol.
Construction of porous 2D MOF nanosheets for rapid and selective adsorption of cationic dyes
Authors: Li Huijie , Gao Kuan , Mo Bingyan , Meng Qing , Li Ke , Wu Jie , Hou Hongwei
Published: February 2021

2D-MOF nanosheets with ultrathin and porous features and plentiful exposed surface-active sites could effectively and selectively separate cationic dyes from water.
Outside the box: quantifying interactions of anions with the exterior surface of a cationic coordination cage
Authors: Ludden Michael D. , Ward Michael D.
Published: February 2021

The binding of anions to the surface of an octanuclear coordination cage HW, which carries a 16+ charge, in aqueous solution, was studied using a fluorescence displacement assay with fluorescein as the probe.
Asymmetric double-conjugate addition of alkenylboronic acids to dienones catalyzed by chiral diols
Authors: Zhang Ping , Chai Guo-Li , Yao En-Ze , Guo Li-Xiao , Liu Xue-Yu , Chang Junbiao
Published: February 2021

An efficient asymmetric double-conjugate addition of organic boronic acids to dienones catalyzed by chiral 3,3′-disubstituted-BINOLs or hydroxytetraphenylenes has been developed.
Synthesis of a novel Ce(iii)/melamine coordination polymer and its application for corrosion protection of AA2024 in NaCl solution
Authors: Zorainy Mahmoud , Boffito Daria C. , Gobara Mohamed , Baraka Ahmad , Naeem Ibrahim , Tantawy Hesham
Published: February 2021

We present the synthesis of a new cerium(iii)–melamine coordination polymer (CMCP) by a mixed-solvothermal method and its characterization.
Coronene diimide-based ‘bowl’ nanostructures as red emitters for the analysis of latent fingerprints and metal ion detection
Authors: Singh Prabhpreet , Sharma Poonam
Published: February 2021

We report CDI 2 as a red emitter (CIE 0.67, 0.33) with 100% colour purity in the solid state forming a ‘bowl’ shaped nanoarchitecture and its use in the visualization of latent fingerprints and in the metal ion detection in an aqueous medium.
The effects of linalool acupoint application therapy on sleep regulation
Authors: Xu Lei , Li Xiaofei , Zhang Yumeng , Ding Meng , Sun Baoshan , Su Guangyue , Zhao Yuqing
Published: February 2021

This study explored the hypnotic and sedative effects of the main component of lavender, linalool, when applied to the Shenque acupoint of mice and rats.
Synthesis and solvent-controlled self-assembly of diketopiperazine-based polyamides from aspartame
Authors: Yin Hongrong , Takada Kenji , Kumar Amit , Hirayama Thawinda , Kaneko Tatsuo
Published: February 2021

Diketopiperazine-based polyamides have been synthesized from aspartame, and could self-assemble into particles with various morphologies in different solvents.
Lithium-ion attack on yttrium oxide in the presence of copper powder during Li plating in a super-concentrated electrolyte
Authors: Shiga Tohru , Masuoka Yumi , Nozaki Hiroshi , Ohba Nobuko
Published: February 2021

When Li plating was conducted on a Cu + Y2O3 composite electrode in a super-concentrated electrolyte, a potential drop and subsequent potential plateau were observed, where Li plating occurs and Li+ attacks the Y2O3 crystals.
Role of electrostatic interactions in the adsorption of dye molecules by Ti3C2-MXenes
Authors: Lim Sehyeong , Kim Jin Hyung , Park Hyunsu , Kwak Chaesu , Yang Jeewon , Kim Jieun , Ryu Seoung Young , Lee Joohyung
Published: February 2021

The adsorption mechanisms of organic dyes by 2D “MXenes” were systematically investigated with a particular focus on the electrostatic interactions between the dyes and MXenes.
Flow biocatalysis 101: design, development and applications
Authors: Benítez-Mateos Ana I. , Contente Martina L. , Roura Padrosa David , Paradisi Francesca
Published: February 2021

Flow biocatalysis: where to start? This tutorial review aims to guide and inspire new-comers to the field to boost the potential of flow biocatalysis.
Practical strategies for enhanced performance of anode materials in Na+/K+-ion batteries
Authors: Xiao Shuhao , Li Xinyan , Li Tingshuai , Xiang Yong , Chen Jun Song
Published: February 2021

In this review, the effects of different strategies, such as engineering heterojunctions or diffusion paths, and designing alloys or hollow structures, are discussed in order to address the problems faced by the anode materials for SIBs/PIBs.
Retraction: Long noncoding RNA ANRIL protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury by sponging miR-195-5p and upregulating Bcl-2
Authors: Fisher Laura
Published: February 2021

Retraction of ‘Long noncoding RNA ANRIL protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury by sponging miR-195-5p and upregulating Bcl-2’ by Hui Zhao et al., RSC Adv., 2019, 9, 35624–35635, DOI: 10.1039/C9RA04898G.
Retraction: Exosomal miR-25-3p derived from hypoxia tumor mediates IL-6 secretion and stimulates cell viability and migration in breast cancer
Authors: Fisher Laura
Published: February 2021

Retraction of ‘Exosomal miR-25-3p derived from hypoxia tumor mediates IL-6 secretion and stimulates cell viability and migration in breast cancer’ by Zhengmin Li et al., RSC Adv., 2019, 9, 1451–1459, DOI: 10.1039/C8RA06750C.
Detection of an ionized gas outflow in the extreme UV-luminous star-forming galaxy BOSS-EUVLG1 at z = 2.47
Authors: Álvarez-Márquez J. , Marques-Chaves R. , Colina L. , Pérez-Fournon I.
Published: February 2021

BOSS-EUVLG1 is the most ultraviolet (UV) and Lyα luminous galaxy to be going through a very active starburst phase detected thus far in the Universe. It is forming stars at a rate of 955 ± 118 M⊙ yr−1. We report the detection of a broad Hα component carrying 25% of the total Hα flux. The broad Hα line traces a fast and massive ionized gas outflow characterized by a total mass, log(Mout[M⊙]), of 7.94 ± 0.15, along with an outflowing velocity (Vout) of 573 ± 151 km s−1 and an outflowing mass rate (Ṁout) of 44 ± 20 M⊙ yr−1. The presence of the outflow in BOSS-EUVLG1 is also supported by the identification of blueshifted UV absorption lines in low and high ionization states. The energy involved in the Hα outflow can be explained by the ongoing star formation, without the need for an active galactic nucleus to be included in the scenario. The derived low mass-loading factor (η = 0.05 ± 0.03) indicates that, although it is massive, this phase of the outflow cannot be relevant for the quenching of the star formation, namely, the negative feedback. In addition, only a small fraction (≤15%) of the ionized outflowing material with velocities above 372 km s−1 has the capacity to escape the gravitational potential and to enrich the surrounding circumgalactic medium at distances above several tens of kpc. The ionized phase of the outflow does not carry sufficient mass or energy to play a relevant role in the evolution of the host galaxy nor in the enrichment of the intergalactic medium. As predicted by some recent simulations, other phases of the outflow could be responsible for most of the outflow energy and mass in the form of hot X-ray emitting gas. The expected emission of the extended X-ray emitting halo associated with the outflow in BOSS-EUVLG1 and similar galaxies could be detected with the future ATHENA X-ray observatory, however, there are no methods at present that would assist in their spatial resolution.
The AMBRE Project: Origin and evolution of sulfur in the Milky Way
Authors: Perdigon J. , de Laverny P. , Recio-Blanco A. , Fernandez-Alvar E. , Santos-Peral P. , Kordopatis G. , Álvarez M. A.
Published: February 2021

Context. Sulfur is a volatile chemical element that plays an important role in tracing the chemical evolution of the Milky Way and external galaxies. However, its nucleosynthesis origin and abundance variations in the Galaxy are still unclear because the number of available stellar sulfur abundance measurements is currently rather small.

Aims. The goal of the present article is to accurately and precisely study the sulfur content of large number of stars located in the solar neighbourhood.

Methods. We use the parametrisation of thousands of high-resolution stellar spectra provided by the AMBRE Project, and combine it with the automated abundance determination GAUGUIN to derive local thermodynamic equilibrium sulfur abundances for 1855 slow-rotating FGK-type stars. This is the largest and most precise catalogue of sulfur abundances published to date. It covers a metallicity domain as high as ∼2.5 dex starting at [M/H] ∼ −2.0 dex.

Results. We find that the sulfur-to-iron abundances ratio is compatible with a plateau-like distribution in the metal-poor regime, and then starts to decrease continuously at [M/H] ∼ −1.0 dex. This decrease continues towards negative values for supersolar metallicity stars as recently reported for magnesium and as predicted by Galactic chemical evolution models. Moreover, sulfur-rich stars having metallicities in the range [ − 1.0, −0.5] have very different kinematical and orbital properties with respect to more metal-rich and sulfur-poor ones. Two disc components, associated with the thin and thick discs, are thus seen independently in kinematics and sulfur abundances. The sulfur radial gradients in the Galactic discs have also been estimated. Finally, the enrichment in sulfur with respect to iron is nicely correlated with stellar ages: older metal-poor stars have higher [S/M] ratios than younger metal-rich ones.

Conclusions. This work has confirmed that sulfur is an α-element that could be considered to explore the Galactic populations properties. For the first time, a chemo-dynamical study from the sulfur abundance point of view, as a stand-alone chemical element, is performed.
Steady state by recycling prevents premature collapse of protoplanetary atmospheres
Authors: Moldenhauer T. W. , Kuiper R. , Kley W. , Ormel C. W.
Published: February 2021

Context. In recent years, space missions such as Kepler and TESS have discovered many close-in planets with significant atmospheres consisting of hydrogen and helium: mini-Neptunes. This indicates that these planets formed early in gas-rich disks while avoiding the runaway gas accretion that would otherwise have turned them into hot-Jupiters. A solution is to invoke a long Kelvin-Helmholtz contraction (or cooling) timescale, but it has also been suggested that thermodynamical cooling can be prevented by hydrodynamical planet atmosphere-disk recycling.

Aims. We investigate the efficacy of the recycling hypothesis in preventing the collapse of the atmosphere, check for the existence of a steady state configuration, and determine the final atmospheric mass to core mass ratio.

Methods. We use three-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic simulations to model the formation of planetary proto-atmospheres. Equations are solved in a local frame centered on the planet.

Results. Ignoring small oscillations that average to zero over time, the simulations converge to a steady state where the velocity field of the gas becomes constant in time. In a steady state, the energy loss by radiative cooling is fully compensated by the recycling of the low entropy gas in the planetary atmosphere with high entropy gas from the circumstellar disk.

Conclusions. For close-in planets, recycling naturally halts the cooling of planetary proto-atmospheres, preventing them from contracting toward the runaway regime and collapsing into gas giants.
Has Local Government Debt Promoted Economic Growth in developing countries? New evidence from a survey in China
Authors: Wu Tao , Zhong Peng , Wu Lingyue
Published: February 2021

Based on the panel smooth transition regression (PSTR) model, this paper empirically analyzes the relationship between Chinese local government’s bond financing and economic growth, with the quarterly panel data of bonds issued by local governments and their investment and financing platform companies in the open market from 2008 to 2018 as samples. The research shows that there is a gradual non-linear relationship between local government bond market financing and economic growth in China. With the increase of the scale of local government bond market financing in China, the effect of bond market financing on economic growth will gradually decline and have a negative effect. This result means that for developing countries like China, it is not advisable to rely solely on government investment to drive economic growth.
Research on brand development of Central Public-interest Enterprises
Authors: Li Li Lin
Published: February 2021

The author of this article divided the development of central public-interest enterprises into four stages according to the different emphases stressed in every period, thoroughly analyzed the actuality, achievement and problems and advanced opinions on the concept and reform aim of Chinese trademark system. It is dedicated to clarify some basic concepts relating to brand strategy, on the basis of which, analyze ways to build trademarks and the important role brand strategy plays in achieving sustainable development of enterprises.
An Analysis of Cross-sectional Investment Portfolio with the Consideration of Risk and Return
Authors: Luo Jingzheng , Guo Jiasheng , Li Hui
Published: February 2021

Recently, investors are requiring diversified options on the security investment, while the sudden incidents, such as the trade war and the pandemic of COVID-19, make the investment market more volatile and turbulent. Thus, this article will discuss how investors can make rational investment decisions by using the Markowitz’s portfolio theory and its Mean-Variance Model in the U.S. investment market, in order to meet the requirement of diversification and to earn relatively stable profit. Therefore, the data spanning from 2016 to 2020 is used to provide investors with more reliable and comprehensive investment information. Meanwhile, a novel cross-section portfolio is given to fulfill the diversified and innovative investment needs of investors. The industries included are car industry, biopharmaceutical industry and financial service industry. Furthermore, the results reflect the actual situation to a large extent, including the weakness in the US market in December 2018 due to uncertain Fed policy and the impact of the COVID-19 in 2020. In this article, an Intra-Industry analysis based on the net asset values of the three targeted industries will be carried out first, then the Macro analysis will be conducted based on the optimal portfolio of the three industries. A conclusion of the findings is included at the end of the article.
Research on Preference regarding Online Consumption Behavior towards Geographically Indicated Agricultural Products
Authors: Wang Chunying
Published: February 2021

Taking rice, people’s staple food in most areas of China, as an example, this paper has searched relevant evaluation and literature of online stores specializing in geographically indicated agricultural products on those leading e-commerce platforms such as Taobao and Jingdong. The goal is to determine the main attributes considered by online consumers and apply conjoint analysis method to analyzing the significance level of each attribute when they purchase geographically indicated rice. It is indicated that online marketing of geographically indicated agricultural products entails identifying consumer characteristics and the orientation, while product distributors and industry associations should build a sound and traceable system of agricultural products to enhance consumers’ trust.
Frontier Dynamic Research on China’s “Three Rural” Financial Development under the Background of Inclusive Finance: Based on Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Qian Ying , Han Wang Hai
Published: February 2021

In recent years, the central government has continued to focus on the issues of “three rural”, and the financial development of “three rural” under the background of inclusive finance has increasingly become a topic of common concern for scholars. This study supplements the relevant research literature after the “19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China” report, especially since the “Village Revitalization Strategic Plan”, and provides a certain reference for the theoretical research and practice of “three rural” financial development. Based on CNKI data, applying Cite space bibliometrics software, the research results were visualized and analyzed by bibliometric method, cluster analysis method and knowledge mapping technology. From the perspective of literature review on the “three rural” financial development, this paper integrated research to excavate research status, identify research interests and reveal development trends. Results show that banking institutions and academic institutions are high-yielding institutions, and teamwork has not yet formed; inclusive finance, rural finance, targeted poverty alleviation, small loans, rural revitalization, etc. are the focus of research attention; digital inclusive finance and rural revitalization are relatively new research contents.
Analysis on Economic Growth under Different Prevention and Control Measures of Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Yang Wenyi
Published: February 2021

By the end of 2019 a novel kind of coronavirus which can infect human and trigger pneumonia is found in Wuhan City, China. The contagious virus rendered itself highly dangerous to attack human’s immune system, and humans have to suspend their daily routine to derail the spread of this virus, named Covid-19 by WHO. It has upended the world, especially when people cannot go out to work and spend to create economic value in awe of contagion, leading to a nosedive taken by economic growth, and the healthy crisis transferred into an economic crisis. To control over the spread of virus and save economy, governments took many measures, but the effect varies from country to country. This article aims to find the liaison between the how fast and deep the governments are to fight against Covid-19 and how that relates to their recovery of economic growth, taking China and USA as typical examples, and draw the conclusion that the speed and depth the control taken over Covid-19 features a positive correlation with the recovery of economic growth.
Research on the Effect of Monetary Policy on Financial Accelerator—Based on the empirical analysis of Chinese steel enterprises
Authors: Zhao Chenyi , Yu Xuefei
Published: February 2021

From the perspective of principal-agent, the theory of financial acceleration holds that due to the defects of the financial market, external shocks will be amplified by the financial market and accelerate the transmission in the real economy, and the impact on small enterprises is greater than that on large enterprises. According to the theory of financial deceleration, the agency cost caused by financial friction is counter-cyclical, which restrains credit scale to some extent, prevents excessive debt, and thus alleviates external shocks. According to the empirical analysis of panel data of iron and steel enterprises and the existing empirical results of the real estate industry, it is found that there is no financial accelerator effect or financial reducer effect in the field of iron and steel enterprises. China’s financial accelerator is more focused on bubbly assets where growth is expected and continues to be overheated despite policy tightening. That would trigger a bigger debt crisis and greater economic volatility.
An Analysis of the Narrative Function of the Economic Elements in Their Eyes Were Watching God
Authors: Liu Jiana
Published: February 2021

In Zora Neale Hurston’s representative work, Their Eyes Were Watching God, economic elements occupy a large proportion. This paper aims to analyze economic elements and explore the narrative function of the economic elements in the novel: to participate in the construction of the social background, to advance the development of the plot and create the conflict between characters, to promote the shaping of the characters. Through the narrative function of economic elements in the above aspects, Hurston explores and reflects on the economic status of black women, the value of black women’s life, and the equal status of black men and women in society.
Construction of Theoretical Capital Progress Curve Model of Power Grid Infrastructure Project Based on Contract Payment Terms
Authors: Yang Junyi , Yue Fuchang , Gao Qian , Xu Shijie , Hong Yu , Wang Lixin , Tang Jie
Published: February 2021

In order to implement the central government’s major deployment of preventing and punishing statistical falsification, improving the authenticity of statistical data, and further improving the science and accuracy of power grid project funding forecasts. By studying the fund payment law of power grid infrastructure project and constructing the theoretical capital progress curve model of power grid infrastructure project, the progress and time point of fund payment in each link of the whole process of the project can be effectively controlled. Scientific prediction of the project life cycle at all stages of the fund demand, financing arrangements and payment control to provide a reference.
The Economic Interpretation and Realization Form of the Integration of Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Industries under the Strategy of Rural Revitalization
Authors: Mao Yaping
Published: February 2021

With the continuous deepening of domestic reform and opening up, rural development has also been paid more and more attention by the state, and rural revitalization has also attracted widespread social attention. Under the strategy of rural revitalization, the integration of rural primary, secondary, and tertiary industries is critical to the development of the entire rural area, and it also contains many economic theories. This article mainly analyzes the economic interpretation and realization form of the integration of rural primary, secondary and tertiary industries under the strategy of rural revitalization in order to provide reference for the development of related industries.
An Empirical Analysis of the Industrial Trade Relationship between China and Central Asia from the Perspective of the Belt and Road Economic Belt
Authors: Feng Chun , Liang Guojian , Luo Zhijun
Published: February 2021

The Central Asian countries are very rich in mineral resources. They are an important production area of the world’s energy resources and an export area of the world’s energy industry, which greatly compensates for the shortage of China’s overseas energy resources supply. China and the Central Asian countries have complementary industrial advantages and the continuous development of economic and trade between the two sides. Reached a new height. This article selects relevant statistics of import and export products of representative industries in China and Central Asia in recent years, and attempts to explore the industrial status of China’s and Central Asian countries’ industrial imports and exports from multiple perspectives, hoping to gain influence on China and Central Asian countries. Industrial import and export industry factors, and to these industrial factors to further put forward the development of China and Central Asian countries industry import and export related industries countermeasures.
Research on the influencing factors of family firm innovation
Authors: Liu Yingrui
Published: February 2021

Family business plays an important role in the world’s economic activities, and has made great contributions to the stability and development of the economy of various countries. Innovation is an important but inexplicable part of the strategic focus of family business. Based on the existing literature, this paper discusses the factors that influence the innovation behavior of enterprises from the perspective of family involvement and external environment.