bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Whole exome sequencing uncovered highly penetrant recessive mutations for a spectrum of rare genetic pediatric diseases in Bangladesh
Authors: Akter Hosneara , Hossain Mohammad Shahnoor , Dity Nushrat Jahan , Rahaman Md. Atikur , Furkan Uddin K. M. , Nassir Nasna , Begum Ghausia , Hameid Reem Abdel , Islam Muhammad Sougatul , Tusty Tahrima Arman , Basiruzzaman Mohammad , Sarkar Shaoli , Islam Mazharul , Jahan Sharmin , Lim Elaine T. , Woodbury-Smith Marc , Stavropoulos Dimitri James , O’Rielly Darren D. , Berdeiv Bakhrom K. , Nurun Nabi A. H. M. , Ahsan Mohammed Nazmul , Scherer Stephen W. , Uddin Mohammed
Published: February 2021

Collectively, rare genetic diseases affect a significant number of individuals worldwide. In this study, we have conducted whole-exome sequencing (WES) and identified underlying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in five children with rare genetic diseases. We present evidence for disease-causing autosomal recessive variants in a range of disease-associated genes such as DHH-associated 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis (GD) or 46,XY sex reversal 7, GNPTAB-associated mucolipidosis II alpha/beta (ML II), BBS1-associated Bardet–Biedl Syndrome (BBS), SURF1-associated Leigh Syndrome (LS) and AP4B1-associated spastic paraplegia-47 (SPG47) in unrelated affected members from Bangladesh. Our analysis pipeline detected three homozygous mutations, including a novel c. 863 G > C (p.Pro288Arg) variant in DHH, and two compound heterozygous variants, including two novel variants: c.2972dupT (p.Met991Ilefs*) in GNPTAB and c.229 G > C (p.Gly77Arg) in SURF1. All mutations were validated by Sanger sequencing. Collectively, this study adds to the genetic heterogeneity of rare genetic diseases and is the first report elucidating the genetic profile of (consanguineous and nonconsanguineous) rare genetic diseases in the Bangladesh population.
Work absence in patients with asthma and/or COPD: a population-based study
Authors: Dierick Boudewijn J. H. , Flokstra-de Blok Bertine M. J. , van der Molen Thys , Toledo-Pons Núria , Román-Rodríguez Miguel , Cosío Borja G. , Soriano Joan B. , Kocks Janwillem W. H. , van Boven Job F. M.
Published: February 2021

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma impact on work productivity, but their population-based burden and clinical predictors are understudied. In this observational, real-life study, work absence of 14,383 asthma and/or COPD patients present in the MAJORICA cohort (Spain) was compared with the general population. Using multivariable regression, we studied the association of work absence with demographic and clinical characteristics. Patients with asthma and/or COPD had more work absence than the general population (15.2% vs 8.9%, p < 0.0001). Patients with asthma had more often periods of work absence compared to patients with COPD (16.0% vs 12.8%, p < 0.0001). The number of days absent were, however, less in asthma than in COPD (median: 15 days [IQR: 5–51] vs 39 days [IQR: 13–134], p < 0.001). Patients with asthma–COPD overlap were in between (14.5% with absence; median: 27 days [IQR: 10–82]). Comorbid anxiety, allergic rhinitis, and sleep apnoea were independently associated with more work absence.
Characterizing decoherence rates of a superconducting qubit by direct microwave scattering
Authors: Lu Yong , Bengtsson Andreas , Burnett Jonathan J. , Wiegand Emely , Suri Baladitya , Krantz Philip , Roudsari Anita Fadavi , Kockum Anton Frisk , Gasparinetti Simone , Johansson Göran , Delsing Per
Published: February 2021

We experimentally investigate a superconducting qubit coupled to the end of an open transmission line, in a regime where the qubit decay rates to the transmission line and to its own environment are comparable. We perform measurements of coherent and incoherent scattering, on- and off-resonant fluorescence, and time-resolved dynamics to determine the decay and decoherence rates of the qubit. In particular, these measurements let us discriminate between non-radiative decay and pure dephasing. We combine and contrast results across all methods and find consistent values for the extracted rates. The results show that the pure dephasing rate is one order of magnitude smaller than the non-radiative decay rate for our qubit. Our results indicate a pathway to benchmark decoherence rates of superconducting qubits in a resonator-free setting.
Entanglement formation in continuous-variable random quantum networks
Authors: Zhang Bingzhi , Zhuang Quntao
Published: February 2021

Entanglement is not only important for understanding the fundamental properties of many-body systems, but also the crucial resource enabling quantum advantages in practical information processing tasks. Although previous works on quantum networks focus on discrete-variable systems, light—as the only traveling carrier of quantum information in a network—is bosonic and thus requires a continuous-variable description. We extend the study to continuous-variable quantum networks. By mapping the ensemble-averaged entanglement dynamics on an arbitrary network to a random-walk process on a graph, we are able to exactly solve the entanglement dynamics. We identify squeezing as the source of entanglement generation, which triggers a diffusive spread of entanglement with a "parabolic light cone”. A surprising linear superposition law in the entanglement growth is predicted by the theory and numerically verified, despite the nonlinear nature of the entanglement dynamics. The equilibrium entanglement distribution (Page curves) is exactly solved and has various shapes depending on the average squeezing density and strength.
Immunomodulation for optimal cardiac regeneration: insights from comparative analyses
Authors: Farache Trajano Luiza , Smart Nicola
Published: February 2021

Despite decades of research, regeneration of the infarcted human heart remains an unmet ambition. A significant obstacle facing experimental regenerative therapies is the hostile immune response which arises following a myocardial infarction (MI). Upon cardiac damage, sterile inflammation commences via the release of pro-inflammatory meditators, leading to the migration of neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes, as well as the activation of local vascular cells and fibroblasts. This response is amplified by components of the adaptive immune system. Moreover, the physical trauma of the infarction and immune-mediated tissue injury provides a supply of autoantigens, perpetuating a cycle of autoreactivity, which further contributes to adverse remodelling. A gradual shift towards an immune-resolving environment follows, culminating in the formation of a collagenous scar, which compromises cardiac function, ultimately driving the development of heart failure. Comparing the human heart with those of animal models that are capable of cardiac regeneration reveals key differences in the innate and adaptive immune responses to MI. By modulating key immune components to better resemble those of regenerative species, a cardiac environment may be established which would, either independently or via the synergistic application of emerging regenerative therapies, improve functional recovery post-MI.
Adaptation of the small intestine to microbial enteropathogens in Zambian children with stunting
Authors: Amadi Beatrice , Zyambo Kanekwa , Chandwe Kanta , Besa Ellen , Mulenga Chola , Mwakamui Simutanyi , Siyumbwa Stepfanie , Croft Sophie , Banda Rose , Chipunza Miyoba , Chifunda Kapula , Kazhila Lydia , VanBuskirk Kelley , Kelly Paul
Published: February 2021

Environmental enteropathy is a major contributor to growth faltering in millions of children in Africa and South Asia. We carried out a longitudinal, observational and interventional study in Lusaka, Zambia, of 297 children with stunting (aged 2–17 months at recruitment) and 46 control children who had good growth (aged 1–5 months at recruitment). Control children contributed data only at baseline. Children were provided with nutritional supplementation of daily cornmeal-soy blend, an egg and a micronutrient sprinkle, and were followed up to 24 months of age. Children whose growth did not improve over 4–6 months of nutritional supplementation were classified as having non-responsive stunting. We monitored microbial translocation from the gut lumen to the bloodstream in the cohort with non-responsive stunting (n = 108) by measuring circulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS-binding protein and soluble CD14 at baseline and when non-response was declared. We found that microbial translocation decreased with increasing age, such that LPS declined in 81 (75%) of 108 children with non-responsive stunting, despite sustained pathogen pressure and ongoing intestinal epithelial damage. We used confocal laser endomicroscopy and found that mucosal leakiness also declined with age. However, expression of brush border enzyme, nutrient transporter and mucosal barrier genes in intestinal biopsies did not change with age or correlate with biomarkers of microbial translocation. We propose that environmental enteropathy arises through adaptation to pathogen-mediated epithelial damage. Although environmental enteropathy reduces microbial translocation, it does so at the cost of impaired growth. The reduced epithelial surface area imposed by villus blunting may explain these findings.
GDIS, a global dataset of geocoded disaster locations
Authors: Rosvold Elisabeth L. , Buhaug Halvard
Published: February 2021

This article presents a new open source extension to the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) that allows researchers, for the first time, to explore and make use of subnational, geocoded data on major disasters triggered by natural hazards. The Geocoded Disasters (GDIS) dataset provides spatial geometry in the form of GIS polygons and centroid latitude and longitude coordinates for each administrative entity listed as a disaster location in the EM-DAT database. In total, GDIS contains spatial information on 39,953 locations for 9,924 unique disasters occurring worldwide between 1960 and 2018. The dataset facilitates connecting the EM-DAT database to other geographic data sources on the subnational level to enable rigorous empirical analyses of disaster determinants and impacts.
Author Correction: Cathepsin g Degrades Both Glycosylated and Unglycosylated Regions of Lubricin, a Synovial Mucin
Authors: Huang Shan , Thomsson Kristina A. , Jin Chunsheng , Alweddi Sally , Struglics André , Rolfson Ola , Björkman Lena I. , Kalamajski Sebastian , Schmidt Tannin A. , Jay Gregory D. , Krawetz Roman , Karlsson Niclas G. , Eisler Thomas
Published: February 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
The quality of life of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and their parents during the Coronavirus disease 19 emergency in Japan
Authors: Ueda Riyo , Okada Takashi , Kita Yosuke , Ozawa Yuri , Inoue Hisami , Shioda Mutsuki , Kono Yoshimi , Kono Chika , Nakamura Yukiko , Amemiya Kaoru , Ito Ai , Sugiura Nobuko , Matsuoka Yuichiro , Kaiga Chinami , Kubota Masaya , Ozawa Hiroshi
Published: February 2021

This study aimed to reveal how the COVID-19 stay-at-home period has affected the quality of life (QOL) of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and their parents and to identify possible factors that enabled them to maintain their QOL. We enrolled 136 school-aged children (intellectual quotient ≥ 50) and their parents and administered QOL questionnaires to assess the maladaptive behavior of the children; depression, anxiety, and stress of the parents; and activities of their daily lives. The relationship between their QOL and clinical features was examined. The decrease in QOL of children and parents was associated with the mother’s limited job flexibility. Decreased QOL was also associated with changes in the sleep rhythms of the children. Maladaptive behaviors in children were associated with parental stress. However, maintained QOL of some families who faced these same conditions of job stress and sleep disorders was associated with less parental stress, less parental depression and anxiety, and milder maladaptive behavior in children. Both mothers with limited job flexibility and changes in the sleep rhythm of children were associated with reduced QOL of children and their parents. Low parental stress was associated with decreased maladaptive behavior in children and with maintained QOL of the family.
Optimal fishing effort benefits fisheries and conservation
Authors: Rees Adam , Sheehan Emma V. , Attrill Martin J.
Published: February 2021

The ecosystem effects of all commercial fishing methods need to be fully understood in order to manage our marine environments more effectively. The impacts associated with the most damaging mobile fishing methods are well documented leading to such methods being removed from some partially protected areas. In contrast, the impacts on the ecosystem from static fishing methods, such as pot fishing, are less well understood. Despite commercial pot fishing increasing within the UK, there are very few long term studies (> 1 year) that consider the effects of commercial pot fishing on temperate marine ecosystems. Here we present the results from a controlled field experiment where areas of temperate reef were exposed to a pot fishing density gradient over 4 years within a Marine Protected Area (MPA), simulating scenarios both above and below current levels of pot fishing effort. After 4 years we demonstrate for the first time negative effects associated with high levels of pot fishing effort both on reef building epibiota and commercially targeted species, contrary to existing evidence. Based on this new evidence we quantify a threshold for sustainable pot fishing demonstrating a significant step towards developing well-managed pot fisheries within partially protected temperate MPAs.
A rapid screening model for early predicting novel coronavirus pneumonia in Zhejiang Province of China: a multicenter study
Authors: Dai Yi-Ning , Zheng Wei , Wu Qing-Qing , Hui Tian-Chen , Sun Nan-Nan , Chen Guo-Bo , Tong Yong-Xi , Bao Su-Xia , Wu Wen-Hao , Huang Yi-Cheng , Yin Qiao-Qiao , Wu Li-Juan , Yu Li-Xia , Shi Ji-Chan , Fang Nian , Shen Yue-Fei , Xie Xin-Sheng , Ma Chun-Lian , Yu Wan-Jun , Tu Wen-Hui , Yan Rong , Wang Ming-Shan , Chen Mei-Juan , Zhang Jia-Jie , Ju Bin , Gao Hai-Nv , Huang Hai-Jun , Li Lan-Juan , Pan Hong-Ying
Published: February 2021

Novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) has been widely spread in China and several other countries. Early finding of this pneumonia from huge numbers of suspects gives clinicians a big challenge. The aim of the study was to develop a rapid screening model for early predicting NCP in a Zhejiang population, as well as its utility in other areas. A total of 880 participants who were initially suspected of NCP from January 17 to February 19 were included. Potential predictors were selected via stepwise logistic regression analysis. The model was established based on epidemiological features, clinical manifestations, white blood cell count, and pulmonary imaging changes, with the area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of 0.920. At a cut-off value of 1.0, the model could determine NCP with a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 82.3%. We further developed a simplified model by combining the geographical regions and rounding the coefficients, with the AUROC of 0.909, as well as a model without epidemiological factors with the AUROC of 0.859. The study demonstrated that the screening model was a helpful and cost-effective tool for early predicting NCP and had great clinical significance given the high activity of NCP.
Rate of achievement of therapeutic outcomes and factors associated with control of non-communicable diseases in rural east Malaysia: implications for policy and practice
Authors: Keng Zhi Yi , Saw Yu Mon , Thung Senk Chung , Chong Woon Wee , Albert Amanda , Kariya Tetsuyoshi , Yamamoto Eko , Hamajima Nobuyuki
Published: February 2021

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are an increasing problem worldwide, including in Malaysia. National surveys have been performed by the government but had poor coverage in east Malaysia, particularly in rural regions. This study aimed to describe the achievement of target therapeutic outcomes in the control of diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HPT), and dyslipidemia (DLP) among diabetic patients in rural east Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among DM patients who visited the NCDs clinic in Lundu Hospital, Sarawak, Malaysia, from Jan to March 2016. In total, 214 patients (male, 37.9%; female, 62.1%) were recruited using a systemic sampling method. Multiple logistic regression models were applied to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and confidence interval (CI) for the target therapeutic achievement in the control of DM, HPT, and DLP. Compared to the national average, therapeutic target achievement in Lundu was higher for DM (43.0% vs. 23.8%), equal for DLP (35.8% vs. 37.8%) but lower for HPT (30.9% vs. 47.9%). DM patients who had at least yearly HbA1c monitoring (AOR 2.30, 95% CI 1.04–5.06, P = 0.039), and those 58.7 years or older (AOR 2.50, 95% CI 1.32–4.74, P = 0.005) were more likely to achieve the therapeutic target for DM. Health promotion and public education regarding HPT needs to be emphasized in rural Malaysia. HbA1c monitoring at least once a year was one of the important factors associated with achieving DM control in rural east Malaysia. Accessibility to HbA1c tests and monitoring should be ensured for diabetic patients.
Self-incremental learning vector quantization with human cognitive biases
Authors: Manome Nobuhito , Shinohara Shuji , Takahashi Tatsuji , Chen Yu , Chung Ung-il
Published: February 2021

Human beings have adaptively rational cognitive biases for efficiently acquiring concepts from small-sized datasets. With such inductive biases, humans can generalize concepts by learning a small number of samples. By incorporating human cognitive biases into learning vector quantization (LVQ), a prototype-based online machine learning method, we developed self-incremental LVQ (SILVQ) methods that can be easily interpreted. We first describe a method to automatically adjust the learning rate that incorporates human cognitive biases. Second, SILVQ, which self-increases the prototypes based on the method for automatically adjusting the learning rate, is described. The performance levels of the proposed methods are evaluated in experiments employing four real and two artificial datasets. Compared with the original learning vector quantization algorithms, our methods not only effectively remove the need for parameter tuning, but also achieve higher accuracy from learning small numbers of instances. In the cases of larger numbers of instances, SILVQ can still achieve an accuracy that is equal to or better than those of existing representative LVQ algorithms. Furthermore, SILVQ can learn linearly inseparable conceptual structures with the required and sufficient number of prototypes without overfitting.
Stellate cell computational modeling predicts signal filtering in the molecular layer circuit of cerebellum
Authors: Rizza Martina Francesca , Locatelli Francesca , Masoli Stefano , Sánchez-Ponce Diana , Muñoz Alberto , Prestori Francesca , D’Angelo Egidio
Published: February 2021

The functional properties of cerebellar stellate cells and the way they regulate molecular layer activity are still unclear. We have measured stellate cells electroresponsiveness and their activation by parallel fiber bursts. Stellate cells showed intrinsic pacemaking, along with characteristic responses to depolarization and hyperpolarization, and showed a marked short-term facilitation during repetitive parallel fiber transmission. Spikes were emitted after a lag and only at high frequency, making stellate cells to operate as delay-high-pass filters. A detailed computational model summarizing these physiological properties allowed to explore different functional configurations of the parallel fiber—stellate cell—Purkinje cell circuit. Simulations showed that, following parallel fiber stimulation, Purkinje cells almost linearly increased their response with input frequency, but such an increase was inhibited by stellate cells, which leveled the Purkinje cell gain curve to its 4 Hz value. When reciprocal inhibitory connections between stellate cells were activated, the control of stellate cells over Purkinje cell discharge was maintained only at very high frequencies. These simulations thus predict a new role for stellate cells, which could endow the molecular layer with low-pass and band-pass filtering properties regulating Purkinje cell gain and, along with this, also burst delay and the burst-pause responses pattern.
Dietary micronutrients intake and plasma fibrinogen levels in the general adult population
Authors: Padron-Monedero Alicia , Rodríguez-Artalejo Fernando , Lopez-Garcia Esther
Published: February 2021

Plasma fibrinogen predicts cardiovascular and nonvascular mortality. However, there is limited population-based evidence on the association between fibrinogen levels and dietary intakes of micronutrients possibly associated with inflammation status. Data were taken from the ENRICA study, conducted with 10,808 individuals representative of the population of Spain aged ≥ 18 years. Nutrient intake (vitamin A, carotenoids, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, magnesium, selenium, zinc and iron) was estimated with a validated diet history, and plasma fibrinogen was measured under appropriate quality checks. Statistical analyses were performed with linear regression and adjusted for main confounders. The geometric means of fibrinogen (g/L) across increasing quintiles of nutrient intake were 3.22, 3.22, 3.22, 3.16, and 3.19 (p-trend = 0.030) for vitamin E; 3.23, 3.22, 3.20, 3.19, and 3.19 (p-trend = 0.047) for magnesium; and 3.24, 3.22, 3.19, 3.21, and 3.19 (p-trend = 0.050) for iron. These inverse associations were more marked in participants with abdominal obesity and aged ≥ 60 years, but lost statistical significance after adjustment for other nutrients. Although dietary intakes of vitamin E, magnesium and iron were inversely associated with fibrinogen levels, clinical implications of these findings are uncertain since these results were of very small magnitude and mostly explained by intake levels of other nutrients.
Eco friendly nanofluidic platforms using biodegradable nanoporous materials
Authors: Park Sungmin , Hong Seongjun , Kim Junsuk , Son Seok Young , Lee Hyomin , Kim Sung Jae
Published: February 2021

Splendid advancement of micro/nanofluidic researches in the field of bio- and chemical-analysis enables various ubiquitous applications such as bio-medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring, etc. In such devices, nanostructures are the essential elements so that the nanofabrication methods have been major issues since the last couple of decades. However, most of nanofabrication methods are sophisticated and expensive due to the requirement of high-class cleanroom facilities, while low-cost and biocompatible materials have been already introduced in the microfluidic platforms. Thus, an off-the-shelf and biodegradable material for those nanostructures can complete the concept of an eco-friendly micro/nanofluidic platform. In this work, biodegradable materials originated from well-known organisms such as human nail plate and denatured hen egg (albumen and yolk) were rigorously investigated as a perm-selective nanoporous membrane. A simple micro/nanofluidic device integrated with such materials was fabricated to demonstrate nanofluidic phenomena. These distinctive evidences (the visualization of ion concentration polarization phenomenon, ohmic/limiting/over-limiting current behavior and surface charge-governed conductance) can fulfill the requirements of functional nanostructures for the nanofluidic applications. Therefore, while these materials were less robust than nano-lithographically fabricated structures, bio-oriented perm-selective materials would be utilized as a one of key elements of the biodegradable and eco friendly micro/nanofluidic applications.
Effects of exercise on cervical muscle strength and cross-sectional area in patients with thoracic hyperkyphosis and chronic cervical pain
Authors: Moon Hyunghun , Lee Sung-Ki , Kim Won-Moon , Seo Yong-Gon
Published: February 2021

There is a lack of studies comparing the effects of different exercise types in patients with thoracic hyperkyphosis. Twenty-four subjects were divided into three groups: corrective exercise, resistance exercise, and physical therapy. The groups performed their respective interventions, two times per week for three months. Clinical outcomes, including the value of Cobb’s angle, cervical muscle strength and endurance, and the cross-sectional area of the cervical deep muscles were measured pre- and post-intervention. There was a significant difference in the changes in the thoracic Cobb’s angle between the groups (P < 0.001). The corrective exercise group revealed a significantly superior increase in muscle strength and endurance between pre- and post-intervention (P < 0.012). There was a significant difference in the cross-sectional area of the cervical deep muscles included longus capitis and multifidus between the groups (P < 0.036 and 0.007, respectively). The corrective exercise group showed the most significant increase in cross-sectional area between pre- and post-intervention (P < 0.012). A corrective exercise program is a more effective intervention than traditional resistance exercise and physical therapy for improving the thoracic Cobb’s angle, cervical muscle strength and endurance, and the cross-sectional area of the deep muscles in patients with thoracic hyperkyphosis.

Trial registration: KCT0005292.
Creation of a gene expression portrait of depression and its application for identifying potential treatments
Authors: Gammie Stephen C.
Published: February 2021

Depression is a complex mental health disorder and the goal here was to identify a consistent underlying portrait of expression that ranks all genes from most to least dysregulated and indicates direction of change relative to controls. Using large-scale neural gene expression depression datasets, a combined portrait (for men and women) was created along with one for men and one for women only. The depressed brain was characterized by a “hypo” state, that included downregulation of activity-related genes, including EGR1, FOS, and ARC, and indications of a lower brain temperature and sleep-like state. MAP kinase and BDNF pathways were enriched with overlapping genes. Expression patterns suggested decreased signaling for GABA and for neuropeptides, CRH, SST, and CCK. GWAS depression genes were among depression portrait genes and common genes of interest included SPRY2 and PSEN2. The portraits were used with the drug repurposing approach of signature matching to identify treatments that could reverse depression gene expression patterns. Exercise was identified as the top treatment for depression for the combined and male portraits. Other non-traditional treatments that scored well were: curcumin, creatine, and albiflorin. Fluoxetine scored best among typical antidepressants. The creation of the portraits of depression provides new insights into the complex landscape of depression and a novel platform for evaluating and identifying potential new treatments.
Climate change as a driver of food insecurity in the 2007 Lesotho-South Africa drought
Authors: Verschuur Jasper , Li Sihan , Wolski Piotr , Otto Friederike E. L.
Published: February 2021

Climate-induced food production shocks, like droughts, can cause food shortages and price spikes, leading to food insecurity. In 2007, a synchronous crop failure in Lesotho and South Africa—Lesotho’s sole trading partner—led to a period of severe food insecurity in Lesotho. Here, we use extreme event attribution to assess the role of climate change in exacerbating this drought, going on to evaluate sensitivity of synchronous crop failures to climate change and its implications for food security in Lesotho. Climate change was found to be a critical driver that led to the 2007 crisis in Lesotho, aggravating an ongoing decline in food production in the country. We show how a fragile agricultural system in combination with a large trade-dependency on a climatically connected trading partner can lead to a nonlinear response to climate change, which is essential information for building a climate-resilient food-supply system now and in the future.
Development of a comprehensive assessment model for coral reef island carrying capacity(CORE-CC)
Authors: Chen Ming , Su Fenzhen , Cheng Fei , Zhang Yu , Wang Xuege
Published: February 2021

Coral reef islands provide precious living space and valuable ecological services for human beings, and its sustainability cannot be ignored under the pressure of human activities. Carrying capacity (CC) assessment has gradually become an important means to measure sustainability of islands. However, there is little comprehensive evaluation of the carrying capacity of coral reef islands, and traditional evaluation methods are difficult to express the social-ecological characteristics of coral reef islands. The present paper proposes a comprehensive assessment model for coral reef island carrying capacity (CORE-CC) which comprises dimensions of resources supply, environmental assimilative, ecosystem services, and socio-economic supporting. According to the characteristics of the coral reef islands, the core factors and indicators of each dimension are selected and the corresponding assessment index system of "pressure-support" is constructed. The assessment involves (1) identification of carrying dimensions and core factors, (2) pressure/support measurement and (3) assessment of carrying state. A case study is conducted in Zhaoshu Island of China, demonstrating the applicability of CORE-CC model and serving as a reference for adaptive management.
Variations in morphology, physiology, and multiple bioactive constituents of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos under salt stress
Authors: Cai Zhichen , Liu Xunhong , Chen Huan , Yang Rong , Chen Jiajia , Zou Lisi , Wang Chengcheng , Chen Jiali , Tan Mengxia , Mei Yuqi , Wei Lifang
Published: February 2021

Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (LJF) is an important traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of various ailments and plays a vital role in improving global human health. However, as unable to escape from adversity, the quality of sessile organisms is dramatically affected by salt stress. To systematically explore the quality formation of LJF in morphology, physiology, and bioactive constituents' response to multiple levels of salt stress, UFLC-QTRAP-MS/MS and multivariate statistical analysis were performed. Lonicera japonica Thunb. was planted in pots and placed in the field, then harvested after 35 days under salt stress. Indexes of growth, photosynthetic pigments, osmolytes, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes were identified to evaluate the salt tolerance in LJF under different salt stresses (0, 100, 200, and 300 mM NaCl). Then, the total accumulation and dynamic variation of 47 bioactive constituents were quantitated. Finally, Partial least squares discrimination analysis and gray relational analysis were performed to systematically cluster, distinguish, and evaluate the samples, respectively. The results showed that 100 mM NaCl induced growth, photosynthetic, antioxidant activities, osmolytes, lipid peroxidation, and multiple bioactive constituents in LJF, which possessed the best quality. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between the accumulation of phenolic acids with antioxidant enzyme activity under salt stress, further confirming that phenolic acids could reduce oxidative damage. This study provides insight into the quality formation and valuable information to improve the LJF medicinal value under salt stress.
Author Correction: Empirical dynamics of railway delay propagation identified during the large-scale Rastatt disruption
Authors: Büchel Beda , Spanninger Thomas , Corman Francesco
Published: February 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Ultra-broad spectral photo-response in FePS3 air-stable devices
Authors: Ramos Maria , Carrascoso Felix , Frisenda Riccardo , Gant Patricia , Mañas-Valero Samuel , Esteras Dorye L. , Baldoví José J. , Coronado Eugenio , Castellanos-Gomez Andres , Calvo M. Reyes
Published: February 2021

Van der Waals materials with narrow energy gaps and efficient response over a broadband optical spectral range are key to widen the energy window of nanoscale optoelectronic devices. Here, we characterize FePS3 as an appealing narrow-gap p-type semiconductor with an efficient broadband photo-response, a high refractive index, and a remarkable resilience against air and light exposure. To enable fast prototyping, we provide a straightforward guideline to determine the thickness of few-layered FePS3 nanosheets extracted from the optical transmission characteristics of several flakes. The analysis of the electrical photo-response of FePS3 devices as a function of the excitation energy confirms a narrow gap suitable for near IR detection (1.23 eV) and, more interestingly, reveals a broad spectral responsivity up to the ultraviolet region. The experimental estimate for the gap energy is corroborated by ab-initio calculations. An analysis of photocurrent as a function of gate voltage and incident power reveals a photo-response dominated by photogating effects. Finally, aging studies of FePS3 nanosheets under ambient conditions show a limited reactivity of the outermost layers of flakes in long exposures to air.
HDXmodeller: an online webserver for high-resolution HDX-MS with auto-validation
Authors: Salmas Ramin Ekhteiari , Borysik Antoni James
Published: February 2021

The extent to which proteins are protected from hydrogen deuterium exchange (HDX) provides valuable insight into their folding, dynamics and interactions. Characterised by mass spectrometry (MS), HDX benefits from negligible mass restrictions and exceptional throughput and sensitivity but at the expense of resolution. Exchange mechanisms which naturally transpire for individual residues cannot be accurately located or understood because amino acids are characterised in differently sized groups depending on the extent of proteolytic digestion. Here we report HDXmodeller, the world’s first online webserver for high-resolution HDX-MS. HDXmodeller accepts low-resolution HDX-MS input data and returns high-resolution exchange rates quantified for each residue. Crucially, HDXmodeller also returns a set of unique statistics that can correctly validate exchange rate models to an accuracy of 99%. Remarkably, these statistics are derived without any prior knowledge of the individual exchange rates and facilitate unparallel user confidence and the capacity to evaluate different data optimisation strategies.
Emergence and evolution of social networks through exploration of the Adjacent Possible space
Authors: Ubaldi Enrico , Burioni Raffaella , Loreto Vittorio , Tria Francesca
Published: February 2021

The interactions among human beings represent the backbone of our societies. How people establish new connections and allocate their social interactions among them can reveal a lot of our social organisation. We leverage on a recent mathematical formalisation of the Adjacent Possible space to propose a microscopic model accounting for the growth and dynamics of social networks. At the individual’s level, our model correctly reproduces the rate at which people acquire new acquaintances as well as how they allocate their interactions among existing edges. On the macroscopic side, the model reproduces the key topological and dynamical features of social networks: the broad distribution of degree and activities, the average clustering coefficient and the community structure. The theory is born out in three diverse real-world social networks: the network of mentions between Twitter users, the network of co-authorship of the American Physical Society journals, and a mobile-phone-calls network.
The impact of the counterion in the performance of ionic hydrotropes
Authors: Abranches Dinis O. , Benfica Jordana , Soares Bruna P. , Ferreira Ana M. , Sintra Tânia E. , Shimizu Seishi , Coutinho João A. P.
Published: February 2021

Highly hydrophilic counterions such as sodium or chloride are not good choices as counterions to achieve efficient hydrotropy.
Exploring the kinetics of actinyl–EDTA reduction by ferrous iron using quantum-mechanical calculations
Authors: Kim Sooyeon , Bender Will M. , Becker Udo
Published: February 2021

The redox kinetics of actinyl (An(v/vi)O2+/2+)–EDTA (An = U, Np, and Pu) by ferrous iron are calculated using quantum-mechanical calculations under both circumneutral and acidic conditions. EDTA complexation does not prohibit but slow down the reduction of actinyl–EDTA by ferrous iron.
Role of metcar on the adsorption and activation of carbon dioxide: a DFT study
Authors: Megha  , Banerjee Arup , Ghanty Tapan K.
Published: February 2021

Significant adsorption and activation of CO2 molecule on Ti8C12 metcar.
Elucidation of the mechanism and structure–reactivity relationship in zeolite catalyzed alkylation of benzene with propylene
Authors: Xing Shiyong , Liu Kaikai , Wang Tiefeng , Zhang Rufan , Han Minghan
Published: February 2021

The intrinsic mechanism and structure–reactivity relationship were systemically elucidated using the alkylation of benzene with propylene as a model reaction based on the periodic DFT calculations.
Photogeneration and the bulk quantum efficiency of organic photovoltaics
Authors: Ding Kan , Huang Xiaheng , Li Yongxi , Forrest Stephen R.
Published: February 2021

The bulk quantum efficiency is the ratio of current generated in the active region of a bulk heterojunction to the light absorbed. Using this parameter, we can distinguish the location of recombination between the heterojunction and the peripheral layers of the organic photovoltaic cell.
Regulatory effect of volatile compounds in fermented alcoholic beverages on gut microbiota and serum metabolism in a mouse model
Authors: Ji Mei , Fang Cheng , Jia Wei , Du Hai , Xu Yan
Published: February 2021

This study demonstrates that volatile compounds partially reduce the ethanol-induced liver injury by regulating gut microbiota and serum metabolism.
Construction and optimization of a microbial platform for sustainable biosynthesis of poly-N-acetyllactosamine glycoprotein in the cytoplasm for detecting tumor biomarker galectin-3
Authors: Yuan Jian , Jiang Xiaolong , Zhang Huijing , Bai Jing , Zhang Jing , Wang Yuhui , Lu Gege , Xu Huimin , Liu Huanhuan , Liu Bin , Huang Di
Published: February 2021

A carbon AEIOU system was established to rewire the metabolic network of strain to facilitate sustainable synthesis of poly-LacNAc glycoprotein.
Liquid marble-based digital microfluidics – fundamentals and applications
Authors: Ooi Chin Hong , Vadivelu Raja , Jin Jing , Sreejith Kamalalayam Rajan , Singha Pradip , Nguyen Nhat-Khuong , Nguyen Nam-Trung
Published: February 2021

Liquid marbles are microliter-sized non-wetting droplets. Their versatility makes them an attractive digital microfluidics platform. This paper provides state-of-the-art discoveries in the physics of liquid marbles and their applications.
Development of zeolite-A incorporated PVA/CS nanofibrous composite membranes using the electrospinning technique for pervaporation dehydration of water/tert-butanol
Authors: Achari Divya D. , Hegde Sachin N. , Pattanashetti Nandini A. , Kamble Ravindra R. , Kariduraganavar Mahadevappa Y.
Published: February 2021

Using the electrospinning technique, composite nanofibrous membranes were developed on a dense PVA layer from a solution of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/chitosan (CS)/zeolite-A.
Comment on “Size dependence of bubble wetting on surfaces: breakdown of contact angle match between small sized bubbles and droplets” by H. Zhang and X. Zhang, Nanoscale, 2019, 11, 2823
Authors: Rusanov Anatoly I. , Tatyanenko Dmitry V. , Shchekin Alexander K.
Published: February 2021

The theoretical arguments of the paper commented contain errors and cannot explain the simulation results. We suggest that line tension and adsorptions at interfaces may be responsible for a difference in the contact angle size dependencies for droplets and bubbles.
Cisplatin nanoparticles boost abscopal effect of radiation plus anti-PD1 therapy
Authors: Wang Ying , Shen Na , Wang Yue , Li Mo , Zhang Wanze , Fan Liwen , Liu Linlin , Tang Zhaohui , Chen Xuesi
Published: February 2021

CDDP-NPs amplify RT-induced ICD to prime CD8+ T cells and increase their infiltration into non-irradiated tumors by enhancing CXCL10 secretion, eventually augmenting the abscopal effect of RT plus anti-PD1.
A bioinspired oxoiron(iv) motif supported on a N2S2 macrocyclic ligand
Authors: Deutscher Jennifer , Gerschel Philipp , Warm Katrin , Kuhlmann Uwe , Mebs Stefan , Haumann Michael , Dau Holger , Hildebrandt Peter , Apfel Ulf-Peter , Ray Kallol
Published: February 2021

A mononuclear oxoiron(iv) complex 1-trans bearing two equatorial sulfur ligations is synthesized and characterized as an active-site model of the elusive sulfur-ligated FeIVO intermediates in non-heme iron oxygenases.
Controlling silver morphology on a cramped optical fiber facet via a PVP-assisted silver mirror reaction for SERS fiber probe fabrication
Authors: Long Yuting , Li Hong , Yang Xinxin , Yuan Yufei , Zheng Mengjie
Published: February 2021

Controlling the morphology of silver nanoparticles on a cramped and curved optical fiber facet is urgently needed to obtain SERS optical fiber probes with high performance.
Spotlighting main group elements in polynuclear complexes
Authors: Gabbaï François P. , Jones Cameron , Lu Connie C.
Published: February 2021

François Gabbaï, Cameron Jones and Connie Lu introduce the Chemical Science themed collection on the topic of main group elements in polynuclear complexes.
Current limitation for the machine side converter of permanent magnet synchronous generator wind turbines during grid faults
Authors: Nasiri Mojtaba , Arzani Ali , Savaghebi Mehdi
Published: February 2021

Preservation of wind turbines (WTs) grid‐connectivity during grid faults and grid‐code (GC) compliant reactive power injection at PCC during voltage drops is an imperative task to perform in modern WTs. This is known as the low‐voltage ride‐through (LVRT) capability of WTs, emerging as an integral GC requirement. Despite current provision of LVRT in PMSG‐based WTs, there is still likelihood of grid voltage drops leading to adverse effects in wind power plants. In this research, a peak current limiter has been designed for machine‐side converter (MSC) of the PMSG‐based WT to execute GC requirements in a reliable manner. This scheme is capable of preventing over‐voltage across the dc link of back‐to‐back (BTB) converter and over‐current in the grid‐side converter (GSC). A dual current controller is utilised for regulating GSC positive‐ and negative‐sequence components. A prominent feature of the proposed controller is its simplicity and applicability to available BTB control systems. On the other hand, the WT mechanical system operates as a storage device during voltage drops, eliminating the need for installing external apparatus such as energy storage systems and braking choppers across the dc‐link. Simulation results conclude the reliable operation of the WT equipped with MSC current limitation scheme during grid faults.
Coordinated demand response of power‐to‐gas and FlexGas technologies in integrated power and gas system to accommodate wind energy
Authors: Le Lingling , Ai Xiaomeng , Fang Jiakun , Zeng Kaiwen , Zhang Menglin , Chen Zhe , Kristensen Per G. , Wen Jinyu
Published: February 2021

Power‐to‐gas (P2G) provides a promising solution to accommodate wind power in recent years, which accelerates the integration of the power system and gas network, as well as the development of the integrated demand response. This study proposes a two‐layer scheduling framework to coordinate P2G and FlexGas as demand response in the integrated power and gas system (IPGS) under wind power uncertainties. Firstly, the model for FlexGas technology is developed, enabling the end‐users to switch between natural gas and electricity to produce heat. In the upper‐layer optimisation, considering the optimal use of the linepack storage of the natural gas system, a two‐stage stochastic scheduling model for the IPGS is established. In the lower‐layer optimisation, the aggregated model reflecting the heterogeneity of the FlexGas users is derived. Simulation results on the integrated IEEE 39‐bus power system and 27‐node gas system show that the coordinated demand response can reduce the wind curtailment and improve economic efficiency for the IPGS. Moreover, the two‐layer scheduling framework is validated to be effective and computationally efficient.
Co‐optimisation model for the long‐term design and decision making in community level cloud energy storage system
Authors: Li Xiangyu , Chen Guo , Dong Zhao Yang
Published: February 2021

Deploying the cloud energy storage system (CESS) is an economic and efficient way to store excess photovoltaic generation and participate in demand response without personal investment on pricy energy storage equipment. It is a shared battery energy storage system (BESS) for local residential and small commercial consumers, which is designed and controlled by the CESS operator. Based on the profit purpose, the CESS operator not only pursues the most economic operating strategy, but also tries to minimize the total investment on the design stage. This paper considers the investment on the batteries, power conversion system, reactive power compensation equipment and the cost including battery degradation cost and operation cost. The electricity price uncertainty and the voltage deviation of the CESS node caused by power exchange are also considered. Moreover, the cases of a largely centralized energy storage system and multiple distributed energy storage systems are all modelled. Finally, an original robust cooptimization model is transferred to a mixed integer linear programming model (MILP) and solved in GAMS. Numerical results based on historical data from 300 residential consumers in Australia present that the battery degradation cost and price uncertainty can't be neglected.
Grundlagen der praktischen Kontaktlinsenanpassung. Teil 2
Authors: von Livonius Bettina , Emminger Ralf , Ring-Mangold Theresia
Published: February 2021

In Zeiten der unbegrenzten Verfügbarkeit der Austauschlinsen im Internet und beim Discounter ist die Kontaktlinse mehr und mehr zum Lifestyle-, aber auch zum Wegwerfprodukt geworden. Dieser zweite Teil des Beitrags thematisiert die praktische Durchführung einer Kontaktlinsenanpassung und geht auf mögliche Komplikationen ein, die beim Kontaktlinsentragen auftreten können.
Echografie
Authors: Fiorentzis Miltiadis , Foerster Andreas M. , Rating Philipp , Bechrakis Nikolaos E.
Published: February 2021

Die Echografie ist ein klinisches, nicht invasives Verfahren, welches für die Berechnung der Achsenlänge des Auges, die Darstellung von Pathologien des Kammerwinkels, der Iris und des Ziliarkörpers eingesetzt wird. Es dient außerdem dem Management vitreoretinaler Pathologie und der Differenzierung intraokularer Tumoren. Dieser Beitrag beschreibt die Methodik der unterschiedlichen Untersuchungsmöglichkeiten sowie die wichtigsten Krankheitsbilder, die mittels Echografie diagnostiziert werden können.