bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electoral Manipulation and Regime Support
Authors: Reuter Ora John , Szakonyi David
Published: March 2021

Does electoral fraud stabilize authoritarian rule or undermine it? The answer to this question rests in part on how voters evaluate regime candidates who engage in fraud. Using a survey experiment conducted after the 2016 elections in Russia, the authors find that voters withdraw their support from ruling party candidates who commit electoral fraud. This effect is especially large among strong supporters of the regime. Core regime supporters are more likely to have ex ante beliefs that elections are free and fair. Revealing that fraud has occurred significantly reduces their propensity to support the regime. The authors’ findings illustrate that fraud is costly for autocrats not just because it may ignite protest, but also because it can undermine the regime’s core base of electoral support. Because many of its strongest supporters expect free and fair elections, the regime has strong incentives to conceal or otherwise limit its use of electoral fraud.
Exploiting Database Management Systems and Treewidth for Counting
Authors: FICHTE JOHANNES K. , HECHER MARKUS , THIER PATRICK , WOLTRAN STEFAN
Published: March 2021

Bounded treewidth is one of the most cited combinatorial invariants in the literature. It was also applied for solving several counting problems efficiently. A canonical counting problem is #Sat, which asks to count the satisfying assignments of a Boolean formula. Recent work shows that benchmarking instances for #Sat often have reasonably small treewidth. This paper deals with counting problems for instances of small treewidth. We introduce a general framework to solve counting questions based on state-of-the-art database management systems (DBMSs). Our framework takes explicitly advantage of small treewidth by solving instances using dynamic programming (DP) on tree decompositions (TD). Therefore, we implement the concept of DP into a DBMS (PostgreSQL), since DP algorithms are already often given in terms of table manipulations in theory. This allows for elegant specifications of DP algorithms and the use of SQL to manipulate records and tables, which gives us a natural approach to bring DP algorithms into practice. To the best of our knowledge, we present the first approach to employ a DBMS for algorithms on TDs. A key advantage of our approach is that DBMSs naturally allow for dealing with huge tables with a limited amount of main memory (RAM).
Chebyshev-based array for beam steering and null positioning using modified ant lion optimization
Authors: Pradhan Hrudananda , Mangaraj Biswa Binayak , Behera Santanu Kumar
Published: March 2021

A modified ant lion optimization (MALO) algorithm is proposed in this article, for the synthesis of Chebyshev-based arrays by optimizing amplitudes and phases of excitations, and element spacings. Modification in ant lion optimization is achieved by hybridizing it with chaotic particle swarm optimization. The optimization process is employed to obtain an array pattern with the least possible sidelobe level. Close-in sidelobe level minimization for optimum pattern synthesis is suggested. Instead of only steering the main beam towards the desired direction presented by some popular optimization methods, the beam steering along with null positioning in other specified direction is also achieved employing MALO. Considering the arrays with the same design parameters and the results of other optimization algorithms, the performance of MALO is evaluated. The results show that MALO provides considerable improvements in an array pattern compared to the arrays optimized using other optimization algorithms and the uniform array.
An Interpolation Method to Reduce the Computational Time in the Stochastic Lagrangian Particle Dispersion Modeling of Spatially Dense XCO2 Retrievals
Authors: Roten Dustin , Wu Dien , Fasoli Benjamin , Oda Tomohiro , Lin John C.
Published: March 2021

A growing constellation of satellites is providing near‐global coverage of column‐averaged CO2 observations. Launched in 2019, NASA’s OCO‐3 instrument is set to provide XCO2 observations at a high spatial and temporal resolution for regional domains (100 × 100 km). The atmospheric column version of the Stochastic Time‐Inverted Lagrangian Transport (X‐STILT) model is an established method of determining the influence of upwind sources on column measurements of the atmosphere, providing a means of analysis for current OCO‐3 observations and future space‐based column‐observing missions. However, OCO‐3 is expected to provide hundreds of soundings per targeted observation, straining this already computationally intensive technique. This work proposes a novel scheme to be used with the X‐STILT model to generate upwind influence footprints with less computational expense. The method uses X‐STILT generated influence footprints from a key subset of OCO‐3 soundings. A nonlinear weighted averaging is applied to these footprints to construct additional footprints for the remaining soundings. The effects of subset selection, meteorological data, and topography are investigated for two test sites: Los Angeles, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah. The computational time required to model the source sensitivities for OCO‐3 interpretation was reduced by 62% and 78% with errors smaller than other previously acknowledged uncertainties in the modeling system (OCO‐3 retrieval error, atmospheric transport error, prior emissions error, etc.). Limitations and future applications for future CO2 missions are also discussed.
Exposure Pathways of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Through Soil, Streams, and Groundwater, Hawai'i, USA
Authors: Nelson Stephen T. , Robinson Schuyler , Rey Kevin , Brown Leeza , Jones Norm , Dawrs Stephanie N. , Virdi Ravleen , Norton Grant J. , Epperson L. Elaine , Hasan Nabeeh A. , Chan Edward D. , Strong Michael , Honda Jennifer R.
Published: March 2021

Although uncommon, nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary infection in the Hawaiian Islands has a relatively high incidence and mortality compared to the mainland U.S. As a result, this study examines the possible geological and hydrological pathways by which NTM patients may become infected, including the environmental conditions that may favor growth and transport. Previously suggested infection routes include the inhalation of NTM attached to micro‐droplets from infected home plumbing systems and aerosolized dust from garden soil. In this study, we evaluate the possible routes NTM may take from riparian environments, into groundwater, into public water supplies and then into homes. Because NTM are notoriously hydrophobic and prone to attach to surfaces, mineralogy, and surface chemistry of suspended sediment in streams, soils, and rock scrapings suggest that NTM may especially attach to Fe‐oxides/hydroxides, and be transported as particles from losing streams to the aquifer on time‐scales of minutes to days. Within the aquifer, flow models indicate that water may be drawn into production wells on time scales (months) that permit NTM to survive and enter domestic water supplies. These processes depend on the presence of interconnected fracture networks with sufficient aperture to preclude complete autofiltration. The common occurrence of NTM in and around streams, in addition to wells, implies that the natural and built environments are capable of introducing a source of NTM into domestic water supplies via groundwater withdrawals. This may produce a persistent source of NTM infection to individuals through the presence of NTM‐laden biofilms in home plumbing.
Multi‐Event Analysis of Plasma and Field Variations in Source of Stable Auroral Red (SAR) Arcs in Inner Magnetosphere During Non‐Storm‐Time Substorms
Authors: Inaba Yudai , Shiokawa Kazuo , Oyama Shin‐ichiro , Otsuka Yuichi , Connors Martin , Schofield Ian , Miyoshi Yoshizumi , Imajo Shun , Shinbori Atsuki , Gololobov Artem Yu , Kazama Yoichi , Wang Shiang‐Yu , Tam Sunny W. Y. , Chang Tzu‐Fang , Wang Bo‐Jhou , Asamura Kazushi , Yokota Shoichiro , Kasahara Satoshi , Keika Kunihiro , Hori Tomoaki , Matsuoka Ayako , Kasahara Yoshiya , Kumamoto Atsushi , Matsuda Shoya , Kasaba Yasumasa , Tsuchiya Fuminori , Shoji Masafumi , Kitahara Masahiro , Nakamura Satoko , Shinohara Iku , Spence Harlan E. , Reeves Geoff D. , Macdowall Robert J. , Smith Charles W. , Wygant John R. , Bonnell John W.
Published: March 2021

Stable auroral red (SAR) arcs are optical events with dominant 630.0‐nm emission caused by low‐energy electron heat flux into the topside ionosphere from the inner magnetosphere. SAR arcs are observed at subauroral latitudes and often occur during the recovery phase of magnetic storms and substorms. Past studies concluded that these low‐energy electrons were generated in the spatial overlap region between the outer plasmasphere and ring‐current ions and suggested that Coulomb collisions between plasmaspheric electrons and ring‐current ions are more feasible for the SAR‐arc generation mechanism rather than Landau damping by electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves or kinetic Alfvén waves. This work studies three separate SAR‐arc events with conjunctions, using all‐sky imagers and inner magnetospheric satellites (Arase and Radiation Belt Storm Probes [RBSP]) during non‐storm‐time substorms on December 19, 2012 (event 1), January 17, 2015 (event 2), and November 4, 2019 (event 3). We evaluated for the first time the heat flux via Coulomb collision using full‐energy‐range ion data obtained by the satellites. The electron heat fluxes due to Coulomb collisions reached ∼109 eV/cm2/s for events 1 and 2, indicating that Coulomb collisions could have caused the SAR arcs. RBSP‐A also observed local enhancements of 7–20‐mHz electromagnetic wave power above the SAR arc in event 2. The heat flux for the freshly detached SAR arc in event 3 reached ∼108 eV/cm2/s, which is insufficient to have caused the SAR arc. In event 3, local flux enhancement of electrons (<200 eV) and various electromagnetic waves were observed, these are likely to have caused the freshly detached SAR arc.
Evaluation of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Height From Wind Profiling Radar and Slab Models and Its Responses to Seasonality of Land Cover, Subsidence, and Advection
Authors: Rey‐Sanchez Camilo , Wharton Sonia , Vilà‐Guerau de Arellano Jordi , Paw U Kyaw Tha , Hemes Kyle S. , Fuentes Jose D. , Osuna Jessica , Szutu Daphne , Ribeiro João Vinicius , Verfaillie Joseph , Baldocchi Dennis
Published: March 2021

In this study, we evaluated the effect of land cover, atmospheric subsidence, and advection on the annual dynamics of atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) height from two contrasting sites. The first site is the Walker Branch forest, a deciduous forest of temperate climate, complex topography, and cloudy summers. The second site is the Sacramento‐San Joaquin River Delta, a site of Mediterranean climate, flat terrain on a local scale, and clear summers. After testing a new algorithm to calculate ABL heights from 915 MHz radar wind profilers, we evaluated a hierarchy of three slab models to recreate the diurnal and annual patterns of ABL growth. We found that the lower ABL heights in the Delta, particularly during late summer, are driven by the combined effects of increased atmospheric subsidence and marine air advection. In both sites, the annual pattern of ABL height was strongly correlated to total daily incoming radiation, and in the Delta, the annual pattern of ABL height closely followed the seasonal patterns of sensible heat flux from a mosaic of different land covers. A land composite of latent and sensible heat fluxes obtained through a meso‐network of eddy covariance measurements and the ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) mission resulted in higher model skill, thus showing that land cover heterogeneity is an important driver of ABL growth. Model simulations show that in the Delta, restoring agricultural land to wetlands with large open water areas could result in a reduction of ABL height during those months with low subsidence and advection.
The Influence of Slipface Angle on Fluvial Dune Growth
Authors: Naqshband S. , Hurther D. , Giri S. , Bradley R. W. , Kostaschuk R. A. , Venditti J. G. , Hoitink A. J. F.
Published: March 2021

Dunes dominate the bed of sandy rivers and they respond to flow by changing shape and size, modifying flow, and sediment transport dynamics of rivers. Our understanding of and ability to predict dune adaptation, particularly dune growth and decay, remain incomplete. Here, we investigate dune growth from an initial flatbed in a laboratory setting by continuously mapping the 3D bed topography using a line laser scanner combined with a 3D camera. High‐resolution profiles of flow velocity and sediment concentration providing both bedload and suspended sediment fluxes were obtained by deploying Acoustic Concentration and Velocity Profiler technology. Our analysis reveals that the magnitude of the dune slipface angle, which determines flow separation and controls turbulence production, adjusts to the imposed flow at time scales similar to the evolution of dune height and length. The initiation of a flow separation zone intensifies through scour, and results in acceleration of the dune growth. Gradients in sediment transport and the rate of dune growth are inherently linked to spatial variations in slipface angles. During dune growth, the slipface angle evolves differently than the ratio of dune height to length, which immediately reaches its equilibrium value after dune initiation.
Impacts of Coral Growth on Geochemistry: Lessons From the Galápagos Islands
Authors: Reed Emma V. , Thompson Diane M. , Cole Julia E. , Lough Janice M. , Cantin Neal E. , Cheung Anson H. , Tudhope Alexander , Vetter Lael , Jimenez Gloria , Edwards R. Lawrence
Published: March 2021

Coral geochemical climate reconstructions can extend our knowledge of global climate variability and trends over time scales longer than those of instrumental data. However, such reconstructions can be biased by coral growth and skeletal architecture, such as growth troughs, off‐axis corallite orientation, and changing growth direction. This study quantifies the impact of skeletal architecture and growth on geochemistry using measurements of coral skeletal density, extension rate, and calcification rate, and uses these metrics to improve paleoclimate reconstructions. We present paired geochemistry‐density records at Wolf Island, Galápagos, from three Porites lobata corals: two new paired density and geochemistry records from one fossil coral, and new density data from two previously published modern geochemistry records. We categorize each sampling transect used in this record by the quality of its orientation with respect to skeletal architecture. We observe relationships between geochemistry and density that are not detected using extension or calcification rate alone. These density‐geochemistry relationships likely reflect both the response of coral growth to environmental conditions and the nonclimatic impact of skeletal architecture on geochemistry in suboptimal sampling transects. Correlations of density with Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca, and Mg/Ca are consistent with the Rayleigh fractionation model of trace element incorporation into coral skeletons. Removing transects with suboptimal skeletal architecture increases mean reconstructed SST closer to instrumental mean SST, and lowers errors of reconstruction by up to 20%. These results demonstrate the usefulness of coral density data for assessing skeletal architecture and growth when generating coral paleoclimate records.
Uncertainty Quantification and Global Sensitivity Analysis for Transient Wave Propagation in Pressurized Pipes
Authors: Wang Xun
Published: March 2021

Accurate simulation of pipe transient wave is crucial for the design, reliability assessment, and defect detection of water supply systems. However, this is a difficult task since the wave propagation media in pipeline systems are often highly complex and involve a range of uncertainties. Experimental data show that key parameters such as valve closure time, wave speed, and pipe material coefficients are strongly uncertain and stochastic that may vary in a wide range. To analyze the transient behavior in such complex environments, surrogate models are built to realize the fast computation of uncertainty propagation. Three surrogate modeling methods, i.e., the polynomial‐chaos‐expansion, ordinary‐Kriging, and polynomial‐chaos‐Kriging, are tested and compared in terms of transient wave forecast accuracy. The global sensitivity is then analyzed via the Sobol index method, by which the most influential uncertainty sources on various transient signal features are identified.
Proteasome 26S subunit, non-ATPases 1 (PSMD1) and 3 (PSMD3), play an oncogenic role in chronic myeloid leukemia by stabilizing nuclear factor-kappa B
Authors: Bencomo-Alvarez Alfonso E. , Rubio Andres J. , Olivas Idaly M. , Gonzalez Mayra A. , Ellwood Rebecca , Fiol Carme Ripoll , Eide Christopher A. , Lara Joshua J. , Barreto-Vargas Christian , Jave-Suarez Luis F. , Nteliopoulos Georgios , Reid Alistair G. , Milojkovic Dragana , Druker Brian J. , Apperley Jane , Khorashad Jamshid S. , Eiring Anna M.
Published: March 2021

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting BCR-ABL1 have revolutionized therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), paving the way for clinical development in other diseases. Despite success, targeting leukemic stem cells and overcoming drug resistance remain challenges for curative cancer therapy. To identify drivers of kinase-independent TKI resistance in CML, we performed genome-wide expression analyses on TKI-resistant versus sensitive CML cell lines, revealing a nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) expression signature. Nucleocytoplasmic fractionation and luciferase reporter assays confirmed increased NF-κB activity in the nucleus of TKI-resistant versus sensitive CML cell lines and CD34+ patient samples. Two genes that were upregulated in TKI-resistant CML cells were proteasome 26S subunit, non-ATPases 1 (PSMD1) and 3 (PSMD3), both members of the 19S regulatory complex in the 26S proteasome. PSMD1 and PSMD3 were also identified as survival-critical genes in a published small hairpin RNA library screen of TKI resistance. We observed markedly higher levels of PSMD1 and PSMD3 mRNA in CML patients who had progressed to the blast phase compared with the chronic phase of the disease. Knockdown of PSMD1 or PSMD3 protein correlated with reduced survival and increased apoptosis in CML cells, but not in normal cord blood CD34+ progenitors. Luciferase reporter assays and immunoblot analyses demonstrated that PSMD1 and PSMD3 promote NF-κB protein expression in CML, and that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) further activates NF-κB in scenarios of TKI resistance. Our data identify NF-κB as a transcriptional driver in TKI resistance, and implicate PSMD1 and PSMD3 as plausible therapeutic targets worthy of future investigation in CML and possibly other malignancies.
Genetic identity and genotype × genotype interactions between symbionts outweigh species level effects in an insect microbiome
Authors: Smee Melanie R , Raines Sally A , Ferrari Julia
Published: March 2021

Microbial symbionts often alter the phenotype of their host. Benefits and costs to hosts depend on many factors, including host genotype, symbiont species and genotype, and environmental conditions. Here, we present a study demonstrating genotype-by-genotype (G×G) interactions between multiple species of endosymbionts harboured by an insect, and the first to quantify the relative importance of G×G interactions compared with species interactions in such systems. In the most extensive study to date, we microinjected all possible combinations of five Hamiltonella defensa and five Fukatsuia symbiotica (X-type; PAXS) isolates into the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. We applied several ecological challenges: a parasitoid wasp, a fungal pathogen, heat shock, and performance on different host plants. Surprisingly, genetic identity and genotype × genotype interactions explained far more of the phenotypic variation (on average 22% and 31% respectively) than species identity or species interactions (on average 12% and 0.4%, respectively). We determined the costs and benefits associated with co-infection, and how these compared to corresponding single infections. All phenotypes were highly reliant on individual isolates or interactions between isolates of the co-infecting partners. Our findings highlight the importance of exploring the eco-evolutionary consequences of these highly specific interactions in communities of co-inherited species.
Predicting spatial patterns of soil bacteria under current and future environmental conditions
Authors: Mod Heidi K , Buri Aline , Yashiro Erika , Guex Nicolas , Malard Lucie , Pinto-Figueroa Eric , Pagni Marco , Niculita-Hirzel Hélène , van der Meer Jan Roelof , Guisan Antoine
Published: March 2021

Soil bacteria are largely missing from future biodiversity assessments hindering comprehensive forecasts of ecosystem changes. Soil bacterial communities are expected to be more strongly driven by pH and less by other edaphic and climatic factors. Thus, alkalinisation or acidification along with climate change may influence soil bacteria, with subsequent influences for example on nutrient cycling and vegetation. Future forecasts of soil bacteria are therefore needed. We applied species distribution modelling (SDM) to quantify the roles of environmental factors in governing spatial abundance distribution of soil bacterial OTUs and to predict how future changes in these factors may change bacterial communities in a temperate mountain area. Models indicated that factors related to soil (especially pH), climate and/or topography explain and predict part of the abundance distribution of most OTUs. This supports the expectations that microorganisms have specific environmental requirements (i.e., niches/envelopes) and that they should accordingly respond to environmental changes. Our predictions indicate a stronger role of pH over other predictors (e.g. climate) in governing distributions of bacteria, yet the predicted future changes in bacteria communities are smaller than their current variation across space. The extent of bacterial community change predictions varies as a function of elevation, but in general, deviations from neutral soil pH are expected to decrease abundances and diversity of bacteria. Our findings highlight the need to account for edaphic changes, along with climate changes, in future forecasts of soil bacteria.
Microbial metabolism and necromass mediated fertilization effect on soil organic carbon after long-term community incubation in different climates
Authors: Ni Haowei , Jing Xiaoyan , Xiao Xian , Zhang Na , Wang Xiaoyue , Sui Yueyu , Sun Bo , Liang Yuting
Published: March 2021

Understanding the effects of changing climate and long-term human activities on soil organic carbon (SOC) and the mediating roles of microorganisms is critical to maintain soil C stability in agricultural ecosystem. Here, we took samples from a long-term soil transplantation experiment, in which large transects of Mollisol soil in a cold temperate region were translocated to warm temperate and mid-subtropical regions to simulate different climate conditions, with a fertilization treatment on top. This study aimed to understand fertilization effect on SOC and the role of soil microorganisms featured after long-term community incubation in warm climates. After 12 years of soil transplantation, fertilization led to less reduction of SOC, in which aromatic C increased and the consumption of O-alkyl C and carbonyl C decreased. Soil live microbes were analyzed using propidium monoazide to remove DNAs from dead cells, and their network modulization explained 60.4% of variations in soil labile C. Single-cell Raman spectroscopy combined with D2O isotope labeling indicated a higher metabolic activity of live microbes to use easily degradable C after soil transplantation. Compared with non-fertilization, there was a significant decrease in soil α- and β-glucosidase and delay on microbial growth with fertilization in warmer climate. Moreover, fertilization significantly increased microbial necromass as indicated by amino sugar content, and its contribution to soil resistant C reached 22.3%. This study evidentially highlights the substantial contribution of soil microbial metabolism and necromass to refractory C of SOC with addition of nutrients in the long-term.
OTUB1 prevents lethal hepatocyte necroptosis through stabilization of c-IAP1 during murine liver inflammation
Authors: Koschel Josephin , Nishanth Gopala , Just Sissy , Harit Kunjan , Kröger Andrea , Deckert Martina , Naumann Michael , Schlüter Dirk
Published: March 2021

In bacterial and sterile inflammation of the liver, hepatocyte apoptosis is, in contrast to necroptosis, a common feature. The molecular mechanisms preventing hepatocyte necroptosis and the potential consequences of hepatocyte necroptosis are largely unknown. Apoptosis and necroptosis are critically regulated by the ubiquitination of signaling molecules but especially the regulatory function of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) is imperfectly defined. Here, we addressed the role of the DUB OTU domain aldehyde binding-1 (OTUB1) in hepatocyte cell death upon both infection with the hepatocyte-infecting bacterium Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and D-Galactosamine (DGal)/Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced sterile inflammation. Combined in vivo and in vitro experiments comprising mice lacking OTUB1 specifically in liver parenchymal cells (OTUB1LPC-KO) and human OTUB1-deficient HepG2 cells revealed that OTUB1 prevented hepatocyte necroptosis but not apoptosis upon infection with Lm and DGal/TNF challenge. Lm-induced necroptosis in OTUB1LPC-KO mice resulted in increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and rapid lethality. Treatment with the receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase (RIPK) 1 inhibitor necrostatin-1s and deletion of the pseudokinase mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) prevented liver damage and death of infected OTUB1LPC-KO mice. Mechanistically, OTUB1 reduced K48-linked polyubiquitination of the cellular inhibitor of apoptosis 1 (c-IAP1), thereby diminishing its degradation. In the absence of OTUB1, c-IAP1 degradation resulted in reduced K63-linked polyubiquitination and increased phosphorylation of RIPK1, RIPK1/RIPK3 necrosome formation, MLKL-phosphorylation and hepatocyte death. Additionally, OTUB1-deficiency induced RIPK1-dependent extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation and TNF production in Lm-infected hepatocytes. Collectively, these findings identify OTUB1 as a novel regulator of hepatocyte-intrinsic necroptosis and a critical factor for survival of bacterial hepatitis and TNF challenge.
Author Correction: Cross-species single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals pre-gastrulation developmental differences among pigs, monkeys, and humans
Authors: Liu Tianbin , Li Jie , Yu Leqian , Sun Hai-Xi , Li Jing , Dong Guoyi , Hu Yingying , Li Yong , Shen Yue , Wu Jun , Gu Ying
Published: March 2021

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41421-021-00251-8
Phase-field model of precipitation processes with coherency loss
Authors: Cheng Tian-Le , Wen You-Hai
Published: March 2021

A phase-field model is proposed to simulate coherency loss coupled with microstructure evolution. A special field variable is employed to describe the degree of coherency loss of each particle and its evolution is governed by a Ginzburg-Landau type kinetic equation. For the sake of computational efficiency, a flood-fill algorithm is introduced that can drastically reduce the required number of field variables, which allows the model to efficiently simulate a large number of particles sufficient for characterizing their statistical features during Ostwald ripening. The model can incorporate size dependence of coherency loss, metastability of coherent particles, and effectively incorporate the underlying mechanisms of coherency loss by introducing a so-called differential energy criterion. The model is applied to simulate coarsening of Al3Sc precipitates in aluminum alloy and comprehensively compared with experiments. Our results clearly show how the particle size distribution is changed during coherency loss and affects the coarsening rate.
Underestimation of respiratory symptoms by smokers: a thorn in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease diagnosis
Authors: Gogou Evdoxia , Kotsiou Ourania S. , Siachpazidou Dimitra S. , Pinaka Maria , Varsamas Charalampos , Bardaka Fotini , Gerogianni Irini , Hatzoglou Chrysi , Gourgoulianis Konstantinos I.
Published: March 2021

Primary care centers are ideal positions to identify chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We determined the COPD prevalence among ever-smokers aged 40–65 years attending a 2-year program conducted in 22 Greek primary healthcare centers and made comparisons between genders, patients less than or greater than 55 years, and newly or previously diagnosed COPD patients. A total of 117 persons, after studying 1100 people, were diagnosed with previously unknown or known COPD, providing a COPD prevalence of 10.6% among the study population. In all, 7.5% of the participants were newly diagnosed with COPD. Women with COPD reported smoking less but experienced worse respiratory and depressive symptoms than men. A total of 19% of the COPD population below 55 years experienced wheezing and exacerbations more frequently than older patients. Newly diagnosed COPD patients were significantly younger, reported a significant burden of symptoms without seeking medical help. Primary health care has a crucial role in the early detection of COPD among unsuspecting smokers.
Leveraging graph-based hierarchical medical entity embedding for healthcare applications
Authors: Wu Tong , Wang Yunlong , Wang Yue , Zhao Emily , Yuan Yilian
Published: March 2021

Automatic representation learning of key entities in electronic health record (EHR) data is a critical step for healthcare data mining that turns heterogeneous medical records into structured and actionable information. Here we propose , an algorithmic framework for learning continuous low-dimensional embedding vectors of the most common entities in EHR: medical services, doctors, and patients. features a hierarchical structure that encapsulates different node embedding schemes to cater for the unique characteristic of each medical entity. To embed medical services, we employ a biased-random-walk-based node embedding that leverages the irregular time intervals of medical services in EHR to embody their relative importance. To embed doctors and patients, we adhere to the principle“it’s what you do that defines you”and derive their embeddings based on their interactions with other types of entities through graph neural network and proximity-preserving network embedding, respectively. Using real-world clinical data, we demonstrate the efficacy of over competitive baselines on diagnosis prediction, readmission prediction, as well as recommending doctors to patients based on their medical conditions. In addition, medical service embeddings pretrained using can substantially improve the performance of sequential models in predicting patients clinical outcomes. Overall, can serve as a general-purpose representation learning algorithm for EHR data and benefit various downstream tasks in terms of both performance and interpretability.
2D exfoliated black phosphorus influences healthy and cancer prostate cell behaviors
Authors: Fasolino Ines , Soriente Alessandra , Caporali Maria , Serrano-Ruiz Manuel , Peruzzini Maurizio , Ambrosio Luigi , Raucci Maria Grazia
Published: March 2021

Nowadays, prostate cancer is the most widespread tumour in worldwide male population. Actually, brachytherapy is the most advanced radiotherapy strategy for the local treatment of prostate cancer. It consists in the placing of radioactive sources closed to the tumour side thus killing cancer cells. However, brachytherapy causes the same adverse effects of external-beam radiotherapy. Therefore, alternative treatment approaches are required for enhancing radiotherapy effectiveness and reducing toxic symptoms. Nanostructured exfoliated black phosphorus (2D BP) may represent a strategic tool for local cancer therapy because of its capability to induce singlet oxygen production and act as photosensitizer. Hence, we investigated 2D BP in vitro effect on healthy and cancer prostate cell behavior. 2D BP was obtained through liquid exfoliation. 2D BP effect on healthy and cancer prostate cell behaviors was analyzed by investigating cell viability, oxidative stress and inflammatory marker expression. 2D BP inhibited prostate cancer cell survival, meanwhile promoted healthy prostate cell survival in vitro by modulating oxidative stress and immune response with and without near-infrared light (NIR)-irradiation. Nanostructured 2D BP is able to inhibit in vitro prostate cancer cells survival and preserve healthy prostate cell vitality through the control of oxidative stress and immune response, respectively.
Cyst formation in proximal renal tubules caused by dysfunction of the microtubule minus-end regulator CAMSAP3
Authors: Mitsuhata Yuto , Abe Takaya , Misaki Kazuyo , Nakajima Yuna , Kiriya Keita , Kawasaki Miwa , Kiyonari Hiroshi , Takeichi Masatoshi , Toya Mika , Sato Masamitsu
Published: March 2021

Epithelial cells organize an ordered array of non-centrosomal microtubules, the minus ends of which are regulated by CAMSAP3. The role of these microtubules in epithelial functions, however, is poorly understood. Here, we show that the kidneys of mice in which Camsap3 is mutated develop cysts at the proximal convoluted tubules (PCTs). PCTs were severely dilated in the mutant kidneys, and they also exhibited enhanced cell proliferation. In these PCTs, epithelial cells became flattened along with perturbation of microtubule arrays as well as of certain subcellular structures such as interdigitating basal processes. Furthermore, YAP and PIEZO1, which are known as mechanosensitive regulators for cell shaping and proliferation, were activated in these mutant PCT cells. These observations suggest that CAMSAP3-mediated microtubule networks are important for maintaining the proper mechanical properties of PCT cells, and its loss triggers cell deformation and proliferation via activation of mechanosensors, resulting in the dilation of PCTs.
Benchmark and application of unsupervised classification approaches for univariate data
Authors: El Abbassi Maria , Overbeck Jan , Braun Oliver , Calame Michel , van der Zant Herre S. J. , Perrin Mickael L.
Published: March 2021

Unsupervised machine learning, and in particular data clustering, is a powerful approach for the analysis of datasets and identification of characteristic features occurring throughout a dataset. It is gaining popularity across scientific disciplines and is particularly useful for applications without a priori knowledge of the data structure. Here, we introduce an approach for unsupervised data classification of any dataset consisting of a series of univariate measurements. It is therefore ideally suited for a wide range of measurement types. We apply it to the field of nanoelectronics and spectroscopy to identify meaningful structures in data sets. We also provide guidelines for the estimation of the optimum number of clusters. In addition, we have performed an extensive benchmark of novel and existing machine learning approaches and observe significant performance differences. Careful selection of the feature space construction method and clustering algorithms for a specific measurement type can therefore greatly improve classification accuracies.
Unravelling the secrets of the resistance of GaN to strongly ionising radiation
Authors: Sequeira Miguel C. , Mattei Jean-Gabriel , Vazquez Henrique , Djurabekova Flyura , Nordlund Kai , Monnet Isabelle , Mota-Santiago Pablo , Kluth Patrick , Grygiel Clara , Zhang Shuo , Alves Eduardo , Lorenz Katharina
Published: March 2021

GaN is the most promising upgrade to the traditional Si-based radiation-hard technologies. However, the underlying mechanisms driving its resistance are unclear, especially for strongly ionising radiation. Here, we use swift heavy ions to show that a strong recrystallisation effect induced by the ions is the key mechanism behind the observed resistance. We use atomistic simulations to examine and predict the damage evolution. These show that the recrystallisation lowers the expected damage levels significantly and has strong implications when studying high fluences for which numerous overlaps occur. Moreover, the simulations reveal structures such as point and extended defects, density gradients and voids with excellent agreement between simulation and experiment. We expect that the developed modelling scheme will contribute to improving the design and test of future radiation-resistant GaN-based devices.
Optoproteomics elucidates the interactome of L-type amino acid transporter 3 (LAT3)
Authors: Wang Liquan , Sun Xiwen , Lu Linjie , Marie Arul , Carrel Damien , Zhao Shu , Mille Clemence , Song Qiong , Zhang Yan , Ye Shixin
Published: March 2021

Membrane proteins are crucial for diverse biological processes. Optoproteomics technique enables the capture of proteome with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution.
A novel Co-based MOF/Pd composite: synergy of charge-transfer towards the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Alfonso-Herrera Luis A. , Torres-Martínez Leticia M. , Mora-Hernandez J. Manuel
Published: March 2021

A novel Co-based MOF/Pd composite (LEEL-037/Pd-C) presented an electronic transference (Co 3d orbital → linkers π* → Pd 5S orbital) promoting an enhanced OH− adsorption, thus improving the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline medium.
Structure and sum-frequency generation spectra of water on neutral hydroxylated silica surfaces
Authors: Smirnov Konstantin S.
Published: March 2021

Phase-sensitive sum-frequency generation vibrational spectrum of water on neutral hydroxylated SiO2 surfaces is rationalized with the help of classical molecular dynamics simulations.
Detection of coronavirus in environmental surveillance and risk monitoring for pandemic control
Authors: Yao Linlin , Zhu Wenting , Shi Jianbo , Xu Tailin , Qu Guangbo , Zhou Wenhua , Yu Xue-Feng , Zhang Xueji , Jiang Guibin
Published: March 2021

A schematic illustration of the environmental transmission of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 as an example) under different scenarios during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Impact of service line replacement on lead, cadmium, and other drinking water quality parameters in Flint, Michigan
Authors: Rockey Nicole C. , Shen Yun , Haig Sarah-Jane , Wax Madeleine , Yonts James , Wigginton Krista R. , Raskin Lutgarde , Olson Terese M.
Published: March 2021

This study elucidates the short- and long-term impacts of lead service line replacement in Flint homes following a corrosion event.
Three Mn–viologen complexes containing 1-carboxyethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium: crystal structures, photochromism and theoretical calculations
Authors: Zhao Guozheng , Liu Wenya , Yuan Fang , Liu Jinjian
Published: March 2021

Three Mn–viologen complexes containing CEbpy were prepared and displayed excellent photochromic properties by intramolecular or intermolecular electron transfer.
First-principles thermal transport in amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5 at the nanoscale
Authors: Duong Thuy-Quynh , Bouzid Assil , Massobrio Carlo , Ori Guido , Boero Mauro , Martin Evelyne
Published: March 2021

Thermal conductivity of amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5 at the nanoscale from first-principles calculations.
Intense nonlinear dielectric and magnetic resonances of core–shell Ni@graphene composites and their improved microwave absorption properties
Authors: Liu Ying , Zhang Xiaoyu , Chen Xin , Wu Yanxia , Zhang Caili , Wang Jian , Ji Jianlong , Li Kexun
Published: March 2021

Core/shell Ni@graphene composites are prepared by an in situ CVD process using PMMA precursors. The composites exhibit intense nonlinear dielectric and magnetic resonances at Ku-band frequency range, which are benefit to the absorption of microwave.
A dual-channel incoherent broadband cavity-enhanced absorption spectrometer for sensitive atmospheric NOx measurements
Authors: Pakkattil Anoop , Saseendran Aiswarya , Thomas Arun P. , Raj Anjana S. , Mohan Ardra , Viswanath Deepa , Chatanathodi Raghu , Varma Ravi
Published: March 2021

A novel dual cavity UV-VIS spectrometer for sensitive monitoring of urban NOx and other interfering pollutants.
Intracellular enzyme-powered DNA circuit with a tunable amplifier for miRNA imaging
Authors: Yu Yingjie , Li Lidan , Li Guobao , Zhou Xu , Deng Tingting , Liang Meng , Nie Guohui
Published: March 2021

An intracellular enzyme-powered DNA circuit with a tunable amplifier for miRNA imaging.
Design of double-shell TiO2@SnO2 nanotubes via atomic layer deposition for improved lithium storage
Authors: Sun Li , Xie Jiayue , Lei Guanglu , Liu Xianghong , Ma Jianmin , Zhang Jun
Published: March 2021

TiO2@Void@SnO2 nanotubes synthesized by atomic layer deposition (ALD) display high capacity for lithium storage.
Sign dependence of MCPL spectra on type and position of substituent groups of pyrene and phenanthrene derivatives
Authors: Hara Nobuyuki , Kitahara Maho , Sugimura Takaharu , Toda Hayato , Shizuma Motohiro , Ito Akari , Miyasaka Makoto , Fujiki Michiya , Imai Yoshitane
Published: March 2021

Achiral pyrene and phenanthrene derivatives with electron-donating hydroxyl/methoxy and electron-withdrawing carboxylic acid groups exhibited magnetic circularly polarised luminescence at 360–410 nm in dilute solution under N-up and S-up Faraday geometries at 1.6 T.
Oxidative esterification of alcohols by a single-side organically decorated Anderson-type chrome-based catalyst
Authors: Wang Jingjing , Jiang Feng , Tao Chaofu , Yu Han , Ruhlmann Laurent , Wei Yongge
Published: March 2021

An efficient strategy was reported for oxidative esterification reaction by a single-side organic decorated Anderson-type chrome-based catalyst in high yield. The CrIIIMo6-OH could be simply recycled many times and maintain high catalytic activity.
Single-atom-nickel photocatalytic site-selective sulfonation of enamides to access amidosulfones
Authors: Yang Jianjing , Sun Zongzhao , Yan Kelu , Dong Haozhe , Dong Hongyan , Cui Jiakai , Gong Xutao , Han Shilin , Huang Limin , Wen Jiangwei
Published: March 2021

A single-atom photocatalyst Ni/TiO2 was developed for the visible-light-induced site-selective sulfonation of enamides to give amidosulfones with 36 examples up to 99% yield.
Tuning the reversibility of hair artificial muscles by disulfide cross-linking for sensors, switches, and soft robotics
Authors: Leng Xueqi , Zhou Xiang , Liu Jiayu , Xiao Yicheng , Sun Jinkun , Li Yaowang , Liu Zunfeng
Published: March 2021

Twisting and cold-marcelling of hair fibers makes reversible and irreversible biodegradable artificial muscles.
Preparation condition optimization and stability of cubic phase CdS in photocatalytic hydrogen production
Authors: Li Yixian , Yin Mingcai , Sun Jiangfan , Liang Kaiyue , Fan Yaoting , Li Zhongjun
Published: March 2021

Cubic CdS prepared with a Cd : S ratio of 5 : 8 and an aging time of 6 h exhibits excellent activity and phase stability.
Synthesis and triplet sensitization of bis(arylselanyl)BOPHYs; potential application in triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion
Authors: Hasegawa Ryohei , Iwakiri Shinji , Kubo Yuji
Published: March 2021

Bis(arylselanyl)BOPHYs 1 and 2 were prepared as novel triplet photosensitizers, TTA-UC behavior of 1 with 9,10-diphenylanthracene being investigated.
Improving the photocatalytic activity of benzyl alcohol oxidation by Z-scheme SnS/g-C3N4
Authors: Li Yan , Pan Chengsi , Wang Guangli , Leng Yan , Jiang Pingping , Dong Yuming , Zhu Yongfa
Published: March 2021

The formation of the Z-scheme heterojunction between SnS and g-C3N4 facilitates the separation of electrons and holes, thereby increasing the conversion of benzyl alcohol.
Cytochrome P450 enzymes in fungal natural product biosynthesis
Authors: Zhang Xingwang , Guo Jiawei , Cheng Fangyuan , Li Shengying
Published: March 2021

P450s play crucial roles in fungal natural product biosynthesis by mediating various common and uncommon reactions.
3′-(Phenyl alkynyl) analogs of abscisic acid: synthesis and biological activity of potent ABA antagonists
Authors: Diddi Naveen , Lai Leon , Brookbank Benjamin P. , Hussain Saad , Nambara Eiji , Todd Christopher , Nourimand Maryam , Tar'an Bunjamin , Song Dongyan , Holbrook Larry , Doshi Ketan , Loewen Michele C. , Luna Emily K. , Shipp Jennifer , Leach Jan E. , Robinson Stephen J. , Abrams Suzanne R.
Published: March 2021

We report an efficient two-step process to convert the plant hormone abscisic acid from a germination inhibitor to a germination promoter and ABA antagonist, by addition of a rigid phenyl alkynyl moiety to the 3’-carbon atom of the ring of ABA.
Bright near-infrared α-tetraphenyletheneBODIPY nanoprobes with high aggregated state emission quantum yields in aqueous system for lipid droplet-specific imaging
Authors: Guo Xing , Tang Bing , Wu Hao , Wu Qinghua , Xie Zeyu , Yu Changjiang , Hao Erhong , Jiao Lijuan
Published: March 2021

Novel near-infrared lipid droplet-specific α-tetraphenyletheneBODIPY nanoprobes exhibited bright aggregated state quantum yields up to 0.81 in aqueous system and were applied for real-time bioimaging.
One-step fabrication of a stretchable and anti-oil-fouling nanofiber membrane for solar steam generation
Authors: He Mantang , Liu Huijie , Wang Liming , Qin Xiaohong , Yu Jianyong
Published: March 2021

Stretchable and anti-oil-fouling polydopamine-encapsulated carbon nanotube/polyurethane nanofiber membrane is designed for solar-driven clean water production.
Recent advances in surface/interface engineering of noble-metal free catalysts for energy conversion reactions
Authors: Cai Rongming , Ju Min , Chen Jinxi , Ren Jiazheng , Yu Jun , Long Xia , Yang Shihe
Published: March 2021

Recent advances in characterization techniques and surface modification strategies of energy conversion catalysts are reviewed, with an emphasis on surface defect engineering, surface crystalline property modulation, surface structure tailoring and heterointerface construction.
Synthesis of triethoxysilylated cyclen derivatives, grafting on magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles and application to metal ion adsorption
Authors: Li Hao , Ménard Mathilde , Vardanyan Ani , Charnay Clarence , Raehm Laurence , Oliviero Erwan , Seisenbaeva Gulaim A. , Pleixats Roser , Durand Jean-Olivier
Published: March 2021

The adsorption of metal ions through ligand-functionalized magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles is described.