bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
APOE moderates the effect of hippocampal blood flow on memory pattern separation in clinically normal older adults
Authors: Memel Molly , Staffaroni Adam M. , Cobigo Yann , Casaletto Kaitlin B. , Fonseca Corrina , Bettcher Brianne M. , Yassa Michael A. , Elahi Fanny M. , Wolf Amy , Rosen Howard J. , Kramer Joel H.
Published: April 2021

Pattern separation, the ability to differentiate new information from previously experienced similar information, is highly sensitive to hippocampal structure and function and declines with age. Functional MRI studies have demonstrated hippocampal hyperactivation in older adults compared to young, with greater task‐related activation associated with worse pattern separation performance. The current study was designed to determine whether pattern separation was sensitive to differences in task‐free hippocampal cerebral blood flow (CBF) in 130 functionally intact older adults. Given prior evidence that apolipoprotein E e4 (APOE e4) status moderates the relationship between CBF and episodic memory, we predicted a stronger negative relationship between hippocampal CBF and pattern separation in APOE e4 carriers. An interaction between APOE group and right hippocampal CBF was present, such that greater right hippocampal CBF was related to better lure discrimination in noncarriers, whereas the effect reversed directionality in e4 carriers. These findings suggest that neurovascular changes in the medial temporal lobe may underlie memory deficits in cognitively normal older adults who are APOE e4 carriers.
Reinforced electrospun nanofiber composites for drug delivery applications
Authors: Anup Neelima , Chavan Tejas , Chavan Shruti , Polaka Suryanarayana , Kalyane Dnyaneshwar , Abed Sara Nidal , Venugopala Katharigatta N. , Kalia Kiran , Tekade Rakesh K.
Published: April 2021

Electrospun technology becomes a valuable means of fabricating functional polymeric nanofibers with distinctive morphological properties for drug delivery applications. Nanofibers are prepared from the polymer solution, which allows the direct incorporation of therapeutics such as small drug molecules, genes, and proteins by merely mixing them into the polymeric solution. Due to their biocompatibility, adhesiveness, sterility, and efficiency in delivering diverse cargoes, electrospun nanofibers have gained much attention. This review discusses the capabilities of the electrospun nanofibers in delivering different therapeutics like small molecules, genes, and proteins to their desired target site for treating various ailments. The potential of nanofibers in administering through multiple administration routes and the associated challenges has also been expounded along with a cross‐talk about the commercial products of nanofibers for biomedical applications.
Complete remission following icotinib administration in an advanced ectopic thymic carcinoma patient harbouring the EGFR exon 19 deletion
Authors: Zu Yunfen , Luo Yan , Li Chongyang , Zhao Juan , He Tingting , Shi Xiaoliang , Li Xin
Published: April 2021

Background

Ectopic thymic carcinoma (TC) is an extremely rare disease with a poor prognosis. The main treatment for early TC is surgery, although an effective treatment for advanced TC is lacking.

Methods

We present the case of a 61‐year‐old man with advanced posterior mediastinum thymic squamous cell carcinoma. Amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)–polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was used to investigate the molecular and mutational characteristics of this tumour.

Results

After chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the tumour showed disease progression. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the tumour was positive for CD117 (specific for primary TC), CK19, CD56 and Ki67. ARMS‐PCR analysis revealed an EGFR exon 19 deletion in the patient. The patient subsequently received icotinib treatment and achieved complete remission for 3 years.

Conclusions

This case report suggests that tyrosine kinase inhibitors are a potential treatment strategy for patients with TC harbouring EGFR alterations.
Understanding the implication of autophagy in the activation of hepatic stellate cells in liver fibrosis: are we there yet?
Authors: Lucantoni Federico , Martínez‐Cerezuela Andreu , Gruevska Aleksandra , Moragrega Ángela B , Víctor Víctor M , Esplugues Juan V , Blas‐García Ana , Apostolova Nadezda
Published: April 2021

Liver fibrosis (LF) occurs as a result of persistent liver injury and can be defined as a pathologic, chronic, wound‐healing process in which functional parenchyma is progressively replaced by fibrotic tissue. As a phenomenon involved in the majority of chronic liver diseases, and therefore prevalent, it exerts a significant impact on public health. This impact becomes even more patent given the lack of a specific pharmacological therapy, with LF only being ameliorated or prevented through the use of agents that alleviate the underlying causes. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are fundamental mediators of LF, which, activated in response to pro‐fibrotic stimuli, transdifferentiate from a quiescent phenotype into myofibroblasts that deposit large amounts of fibrotic tissue and mediate pro‐inflammatory effects. In recent years, much effort has been devoted to understanding the mechanisms through which HSCs are activated or inactivated. Using cell culture and/or different animal models, numerous studies have shown that autophagy is enhanced during the fibrogenic process and have provided specific evidence to pinpoint the fundamental role of autophagy in HSC activation. This effect involves – though may not be limited to – the autophagic degradation of lipid droplets. Several hepatoprotective agents have been shown to reverse the autophagic alteration present in LF, but clinical confirmation of these effects is pending. On the other hand, there is evidence that implicates autophagy in several anti‐fibrotic mechanisms in HSCs that stimulate HSC cell cycle arrest and cell death or prevent the generation of pro‐fibrotic mediators, including excess collagen accumulation. The objective of this review is to offer a comprehensive analysis of published evidence of the role of autophagy in HSC activation and to provide hints for possible therapeutic targets for the treatment and/or prevention of LF related to autophagy. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Discovering the wild side of urban plants through public engagement
Authors: Vega Kevin A. , Schläpfer‐Miller Juanita , Kueffer Christoph
Published: April 2021

Societal Impact Statement

The Anthropocene has seen declining biodiversity inextricably linked to our societies, values, and choices. This requires ecologists to engage with the public in ecosystems such as cities to learn from and help inform their values and experiences regarding their role in urban nature. This article presents a transdisciplinary citizen science project on spontaneous urban vegetation in the context of urban botany, art‐science, and participatory research that engages with the ecology of cities. We address the interdependence of ecological and social networks, suggesting how plant ecology can become more relevant for society in the Anthropocene, while presenting a specific methodology for engaging the public with urban botany.

Cities are socio‐ecological systems that require new ways of thinking and engagement to successfully conserve biodiversity. In this article, we present the citizen science project Where Seeds Fall which was undertaken in the city of Zurich, Switzerland. It was developed in an “ecology with” cities approach seeking to conduct research with the humans living in the ecosystem while learning from and helping inform their values.

Our project brings together the perspectives of ecologists, artists, and planners on the three themes of urban wastelands, spontaneous vegetation, and ecological connectivity. It is placed in the context of urban botany, environmental arts and participatory research.

Volunteers placed trays of bare soil (without seeds) in their gardens and balconies and monitored what plants arrived and germinated. They then were able to share information about their trays (images, species lists) with one another through a spatially explicit web platform. The project was accompanied by public outreach events and artistic interventions in public space.

This article presents the methodology of the project so that it can be replicated elsewhere. Based on the experiences with the project we discuss evolving transdisciplinary perspectives on wild plant biodiversity in cities.
Quantifying and Adjusting Plasmon‐Driven Nano‐Localized Temperature Field around Gold Nanorods for Nucleic Acids Amplification
Authors: You Minli , Jia Pengpeng , He Xiaocong , Wang Zheyu , Feng Shangsheng , Ren Yulin , Li Zedong , Cao Lei , Gao Bin , Yao Chunyan , Singamaneni Srikanth , Xu Feng
Published: April 2021

Fast nucleic acid (NA) amplification has found widespread biomedical applications, where high thermocycling rate is the key. The plasmon‐driven nano‐localized thermocycling around the gold nanorods (AuNRs) is a promising alternative, as the significantly reduced reaction volume enables a rapid temperature response. However, quantifying and adjusting the nano‐localized temperature field remains challenging for now. Herein, a simple method is developed to quantify and adjust the nano‐localized temperature field around AuNRs by combining experimental measurement and numerical simulation. An indirect method to measure the surface temperature of AuNRs is first developed by utilizing the temperature‐dependent stability of Authiol bond. Meanwhile, the relationship of AuNRs′ surface temperature with the AuNRs concentration and laser intensity, is also studied. In combination with thermal diffusion simulation, the nano‐localized temperature field under the laser irradiation is obtained. The results show that the restricted reaction volume (≈aL level) enables ultrafast thermocycling rate (>104 °C s−1). At last, a duplex‐specific nuclease (DSN)‐mediated isothermal amplification is successfully demonstrated within the nano‐localized temperature field. It is envisioned that the developed method for quantifying and adjusting the nano‐localized temperature field around AuNRs is adaptive for various noble metal nanostructures and will facilitate the development of the biochemical reaction in the nano‐localized environment.
Mehr als nur der Schmetterling – ein Leitfaden durch die Vielfalt des kutanen Lupus erythematodes
Authors: Heil P. M.
Published: April 2021

Die vielen klinischen Varianten des kutanen Lupus erythematodes (CLE) können solitär oder im Rahmen eines systemischen Lupus erythematodes (SLE) auftreten, auf dessen Vorkommen regelmäßig gescreent werden muss. Neben dem weiblichen Geschlecht und genetischen Faktoren stellen Sonnenexposition, Rauchen und manche Medikamente Risikofaktoren dar. Die wichtigsten CLE-Formen sind der akut-kutane LE (z. B. Schmetterlingserythem, generalisiert makulopapulös, enoral), der subakut-kutane LE (z. B. anuläre Form) und der chronisch-kutane LE (z. B. vernarbend diskoide Läsionen, Pannikulitis, Chilblain-LE). Die Diagnose beruht vor allem auf der Klinik und der Histopathologie, hinzu kommen autoimmunserologische Befunde und die direkte Immunfluoreszenz. Milde CLE-Formen können lokal therapiert werden. Reicht dies nicht aus, ist neben einem Steroidstoß Hydroxychloroquin die Systemtherapie der Wahl. Erweiterte therapeutische Optionen stellen Methotrexat, Retinoide, Dapson, Mycophenolat Mofetil, Azathioprin, Thalidomid, Belimumab und Rituximab dar. Alle CLE-Therapien sind off-label. Eine Aktualisierung der Impfungen sollte nach Möglichkeit vor Beginn einer Immunsuppression stattfinden. Zur Objektivierung des therapeutischen Ansprechens eines CLE empfiehlt sich das regelmäßige Scoring mittels RCLASI (Revised CLE Disease Area and Severity Index). Präventiv ist Sonnenschutz (Cremen, Kleidung, Reiseziele) von höchster Wichtigkeit, da Sonnenexposition Schübe provozieren kann. Ein LE stellt keine Kontraindikation gegen eine Schwangerschaft (SS) dar, jedoch sollte diese nicht in einem Schub eintreten, da dies das Risiko für Fetus und Mutter erhöht. Therapeutisch kommen während einer SS v. a. Steroide, Hydroxychloroquin, Dapson und Azathioprin in Betracht.
Empathy and Prosocial Behavior in Siblings of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Systematic Review
Authors: Orm Stian , Vatne Torun , Tomeny Theodore S. , Fjermestad Krister
Published: April 2021

Siblings of children with ASD have, as a group, more autistic traits than typically developing individuals. A high prevalence of autistic traits may (or may not) include lower scores on measures of empathy and prosocial behavior compared with typically developing individuals. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of studies of empathy and prosocial behavior in siblings of individuals with ASD. We conducted a comprehensive literature search of studies published until March 2020. We identified 16 studies with a total of 1066 siblings that met inclusion criteria. Based on the review, we conclude that the current literature suggests that siblings of individuals with ASD exhibit normative empathic abilities and prosocial behavior.
The International Law on Climate Change
Authors: Mayer Benoit
Published: April 2021

Global climate change is a topic of continuously growing interest. As more international treaties come into force, media coverage has increased and many universities are now starting to conduct courses specifically on climate change laws and policies. This textbook provides a survey of the international law on climate change, explaining how significant international agreements have sought to promote compliance with general norms of international law. Benoit Mayer provides an account of the rules agreed upon through lengthy negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and multiple other forums on mitigation, geoengineering, adaptation, loss and damage, and international support. The International Law on Climate Change is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students studying climate, environmental or international law. It is supported by a suite of online resources, available at www.internationalclimatelaw.com, featuring regularly updated lists of complementary materials, weblinks and regular updates for each chapter.
An Alternative Approach for Constraining 3D‐Displacements With InSAR, Applied to a Fault‐Bounded Groundwater Entrainment Field in California
Authors: Murray K. D. , Lohman R. B. , Kim J. , Holt W. E.
Published: April 2021

We explore the use of elastic Green’s functions in inversions of one‐dimensional Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) observations to recover three‐dimensional displacement fields. This approach enforces coupling of the horizontal displacements and limits the need for prior assumptions about the subsurface sources, driving the deformation or explicit damping of a given dimension of the full 3D deformation field. We apply these methods to data from the Coachella Valley, California, where artificial groundwater recharge in 2017 and the associated increases in pore pressure resulted in ground displacements of up to 12 cm. This area is covered by Sentinel‐1a/b data for two overlapping paths from both ascending and descending orbits, as well as an east‐west flight line from the Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR), providing five unique line‐of‐sight geometries. The regularization approaches applied to the Sentinel data alone agree in most respects, with the elastically coupled approach producing a slightly better fit to the independent UAVSAR observations. Our results suggest that the 2017 groundwater entrainment in the Coachella Valley is likely associated with significant horizontal displacements that led to contraction across the fault bounding the northern side of the basin, as well as increases in right‐lateral sense of strain in some areas along the fault.
Incorporating Wind Information in the Inversion of Co‐Located Pressure and Seismic Data for Shallow Elastic Structure
Authors: Tanimoto Toshiro , Wang Jiong
Published: April 2021

When surface pressure is large, seismic noise between about 0.01  and 0.05 Hz is mostly generated by wind‐related surface pressure changes. By analyzing this phenomenon using co‐located pressure and seismic data, we can derive shallow elastic structure in the uppermost 50–100 m. However, there still remains a difficult question on seismic excitation by wind‐related surface pressure because of complexity in wind behaviors. Roughly speaking, it consists of the mean shear flow and turbulence. The mean flow should act like a moving pressure source on the surface while turbulent parts act like a stochastic source as the surface pressure field becomes heterogeneous. We point out that this complexity may be reduced by selecting time intervals of stable wind direction. During such time intervals, pressure changes occur in the direction of winds, which justifies us to use a relatively simple, moving pressure source model. We quantify the stability of wind direction by the standard deviation of wind direction data (ΔΨ). For stations with co‐located wind, pressure, and seismic data, we propose to select time intervals with small ΔΨ first and apply our inversion method based on the moving pressure model. In the absence of wind data at a station with co‐located pressure and seismic data, we propose to analyze the high‐pressure end of data, as this selection partially satisfies the stable wind condition.
Upper‐Atmosphere Mass Density Variations From CASSIOPE Precise Orbits
Authors: Calabia Andrés , Jin Shuanggen
Published: April 2021

Thermospheric mass density (TMD) measurements are invaluable to accurately estimate and predict the position and velocity of orbiting objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Existing observational methods and predictive models have some problems (e.g., accuracy, resolution, coverage, cost, etc.) to describe and forecast the actual air drag variations as required for practical applications. With the increasing number of LEO satellites equipped with high‐precision Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers, the precise orbits can be used to obtain non‐gravitational accelerations, and therefore estimate TMD variations. In this study, TMD is estimated from the precise orbits of CAScade SmallSat and IOnospheric Polar Explorer (CASSIOPE) at one‐second time step, and the TMD variations following the February 2014 geomagnetic storm are investigated. Using this method, a more detailed description than previous methods and empirical models is given with short‐term TMD variations during geomagnetic storm conditions. The empirical model NRLMSISE‐00 shows less pronounced and more averaged variations, while CASSIOPE‐derived TMD can reflect the abrupt disturbances triggered by the geomagnetic storm. CASSIOPE TMD shows a correlation of 72.4% to the merging electric field Em index, while the NRLMSISE‐00 model shows a correlation of 42.1%.
Modeling the Spatiotemporal Association Between COVID‐19 Transmission and Population Mobility Using Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression
Authors: Chen Yixiang , Chen Min , Huang Bo , Wu Chao , Shi Wenjia
Published: April 2021

The ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has posed a serious threat to human public health and global economy. Population mobility is an important factor that drives the spread of COVID‐19. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the impact of population flow on the spread of COVID‐19 from a spatiotemporal perspective. To this end, a case study was carried out in Hubei Province, which was once the most affected area of COVID‐19 outbreak in Mainland China. The geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) model was applied to model the spatiotemporal association between COVID‐19 epidemic and population mobility. Two patterns of population flows, including the population inflow from Wuhan and intra‐city population movement, were considered to construct explanatory variables. Results indicate that the GTWR model can reveal the spatial–temporal‐varying relationships between COVID‐19 and population mobility. Moreover, the association between COVID‐19 case counts and population movements presented three stages of temporal variation characteristics due to the virus incubation period and implementation of strict lockdown measures. In the spatial dimension, evident geographical disparities were observed across Hubei Province. These findings can provide policymakers useful knowledge about the impact of population movement on the spatio‐temporal transmission of COVID‐19. Thus, targeted interventions, if necessary in certain time periods, can be implemented to restrict population flow in cities with high transmission risk.
Ablation of p75NTR signaling strengthens gamma–theta rhythm interaction and counteracts Aβ-induced degradation of neuronal dynamics in mouse hippocampus in vitro
Authors: Andrade-Talavera Yuniesky , Balleza-Tapia Hugo , Dolz-Gaitón Pablo , Chen Gefei , Johansson Jan , Fisahn André
Published: April 2021

Gamma and theta brain rhythms play important roles in cognition and their interaction can affect gamma oscillation features. Hippocampal theta oscillations depend on cholinergic and GABAergic input from the medial septum-diagonal band of Broca. These projecting neurons undergo degeneration during aging and maintain high levels of neurotrophin receptor p75 (p75NTR). p75NTR mediates both apoptosis and survival and its expression is increased in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. Here, we investigate the importance of p75NTR for the cholinergic input to the hippocampus. Performing extracellular recordings in brain slices from p75NTR knockout mice (p75−/−) in presence of the muscarinic agonist carbachol, we find that gamma oscillation power and rhythmicity are increased compared to wild-type (WT) mice. Furthermore, gamma activity is more phase-locked to the underlying theta rhythm, which renders a stronger coupling of both rhythms. On the cellular level, we find that fast-spiking interneurons (FSNs) fire more synchronized to a preferred gamma phase in p75−/− mice. The excitatory input onto FSN is more rhythmic displaying a higher similarity with the concomitant gamma rhythm. Notably, the ablation of p75NTR counteracts the Aβ-induced degradation of gamma oscillations and its nesting within the underlying theta rhythm. Our results show that the lack of p75NTR signaling could promote stronger cholinergic modulation of the hippocampal gamma rhythm, suggesting an involvement of p75NTR in the downregulation of cognition-relevant hippocampal network dynamics in pathologies. Moreover, functional data provided here suggest p75NTR as a suitable target in the search for efficacious treatments to counteract the loss of cognitive function observed in amyloid-driven pathologies such as AD.
The risk of pulmonary tuberculosis after traumatic brain injury
Authors: Liu Hsin-Yueh , Liao Kuang-Ming , Liang Fu-Wen , Hung Yi-Chieh , Wang Jhi-Joung , Shen Te-Chun , Ho Chung-Han
Published: April 2021

After traumatic brain injury (TBI), an inflammatory response in the brain might affect the immune system. The risk of pulmonary infection reportedly increases in patients with TBI. We aimed to evaluate the risk of tuberculosis (TB) in patients with TBI in Taiwan. All participants were selected from the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients with TBI were defined as patients in ICU with intracranial injury, and comparison cohort were patients in ICU without TBI diagnosis. There was a significant difference in TB risk between the patients with TBI and the comparison cohort according to age and the Charlson’s comorbidity index (CCI) score. Thus, we divided patients based on CCI into three groups for further analysis: mild (CCI = 0), moderate (CCI = 1/2), severe (CCI > 2). Mild-CCI group had a lower TB incidence rate (0.74%) and longer time to TB development (median: 2.43) than the other two groups. Moderate-CCI group had 1.52-fold increased risk of TB infection (p < 0.0001) compared with mild-CCI group. In the severe-CCI group, patients aged ≥ 80 years had 1.91-fold risk of TB compared with mild-CCI group (p = 0.0481). Severe-CCI group had significantly higher mortality than the mild-CCI group (p = 0.0366). Patients with TBI and more comorbidities had higher risk of TB infection with higher mortality rate.
PolyQ-expanded proteins impair cellular proteostasis of ataxin-3 through sequestering the co-chaperone HSJ1 into aggregates
Authors: Yue Hong-Wei , Hong Jun-Ye , Zhang Shu-Xian , Jiang Lei-Lei , Hu Hong-Yu
Published: April 2021

Polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion of proteins can trigger protein misfolding and amyloid-like aggregation, which thus lead to severe cytotoxicities and even the respective neurodegenerative diseases. However, why polyQ aggregation is toxic to cells is not fully elucidated. Here, we took the fragments of polyQ-expanded (PQE) ataxin-7 (Atx7) and huntingtin (Htt) as models to investigate the effect of polyQ aggregates on the cellular proteostasis of endogenous ataxin-3 (Atx3), a protein that frequently appears in diverse inclusion bodies. We found that PQE Atx7 and Htt impair the cellular proteostasis of Atx3 by reducing its soluble as well as total Atx3 level but enhancing formation of the aggregates. Expression of these polyQ proteins promotes proteasomal degradation of endogenous Atx3 and accumulation of its aggregated form. Then we verified that the co-chaperone HSJ1 is an essential factor that orchestrates the balance of cellular proteostasis of Atx3; and further discovered that the polyQ proteins can sequester HSJ1 into aggregates or inclusions in a UIM domain-dependent manner. Thereby, the impairment of Atx3 proteostasis may be attributed to the sequestration and functional loss of cellular HSJ1. This study deciphers a potential mechanism underlying how PQE protein triggers proteinopathies, and also provides additional evidence in supporting the hijacking hypothesis that sequestration of cellular interacting partners by protein aggregates leads to cytotoxicity or neurodegeneration.
Suspended sediment load prediction using long short-term memory neural network
Authors: AlDahoul Nouar , Essam Yusuf , Kumar Pavitra , Ahmed Ali Najah , Sherif Mohsen , Sefelnasr Ahmed , Elshafie Ahmed
Published: April 2021

Rivers carry suspended sediments along with their flow. These sediments deposit at different places depending on the discharge and course of the river. However, the deposition of these sediments impacts environmental health, agricultural activities, and portable water sources. Deposition of suspended sediments reduces the flow area, thus affecting the movement of aquatic lives and ultimately leading to the change of river course. Thus, the data of suspended sediments and their variation is crucial information for various authorities. Various authorities require the forecasted data of suspended sediments in the river to operate various hydraulic structures properly. Usually, the prediction of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) is challenging due to various factors, including site-related data, site-related modelling, lack of multiple observed factors used for prediction, and pattern complexity.Therefore, to address previous problems, this study proposes a Long Short Term Memory model to predict suspended sediments in Malaysia's Johor River utilizing only one observed factor, including discharge data. The data was collected for the period of 1988–1998. Four different models were tested, in this study, for the prediction of suspended sediments, which are: ElasticNet Linear Regression (L.R.), Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) neural network, Extreme Gradient Boosting, and Long Short-Term Memory. Predictions were analysed based on four different scenarios such as daily, weekly, 10-daily, and monthly. Performance evaluation stated that Long Short-Term Memory outperformed other models with the regression values of 92.01%, 96.56%, 96.71%, and 99.45% daily, weekly, 10-days, and monthly scenarios, respectively.
Understanding drivers of wild oyster population persistence
Authors: Teixeira Alves Mickael , Taylor Nick G. H. , Tidbury Hannah J.
Published: April 2021

Persistence of wild Pacific oyster, Magallana gigas, also known as Crassostrea gigas, has been increasingly reported across Northern European waters in recent years. While reproduction is inhibited by cold waters, recent warm summer temperature has increased the frequency of spawning events. Although correlation between the increasing abundance of Pacific oyster reefs in Northern European waters and climate change is documented, persistence of wild populations may also be influenced by external recruitment from farmed populations and other wild oyster populations, as well as on competition for resources with aquaculture sites. Our understanding of the combined impact of the spawning frequency, external recruitment, and competition on wild population persistence is limited. This study applied an age-structured model, based on ordinary differential equations, to describe an oyster population under discrete temperature-related dynamics. The impact of more frequent spawning events, external recruitment, and changes in carrying capacity on Pacific oyster density were simulated and compared under theoretical scenarios and two case studies in Southern England. Results indicate that long term persistence of wild oyster populations towards carrying capacity requires a high frequency of spawning events but that in the absence of spawning, external recruitment from farmed populations and other wild oyster populations may act to prevent extinction and increase population density. However, external recruitment sources may be in competition with the wild population so that external recruitment is associated with a reduction in wild population density. The implications of model results are discussed in the context of wild oyster population management.
Optomechanical crystals for spatial sensing of submicron sized particles
Authors: Navarro-Urrios D. , Kang E. , Xiao P. , Colombano M. F. , Arregui G. , Graczykowski B. , Capuj N. E. , Sledzinska M. , Sotomayor-Torres C. M. , Fytas G.
Published: April 2021

Optomechanical crystal cavities (OMC) have rich perspectives for detecting and indirectly analysing biological particles, such as proteins, bacteria and viruses. In this work we demonstrate the working principle of OMCs operating under ambient conditions as a sensor of submicrometer particles by optically monitoring the frequency shift of thermally activated mechanical modes. The resonator has been specifically designed so that the cavity region supports a particular family of low modal-volume mechanical modes, commonly known as -pinch modes-. These involve the oscillation of only a couple of adjacent cavity cells that are relatively insensitive to perturbations in other parts of the resonator. The eigenfrequency of these modes decreases as the deformation is localized closer to the centre of the resonator.
Thus, by identifying specific modes that undergo a frequency shift that amply exceeds the mechanical linewidth, it is possible to infer if there are particles deposited on the resonator, how many are there and their approximate position within the cavity region. OMCs have rich perspectives for detecting and indirectly analysing biological particles, such as proteins, viruses and bacteria.
Publisher Correction: MLIP genotype as a predictor of pharmacological response in primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension
Authors: Canut María I. , Villa Olaya , Kudsieh Bachar , Mattlin Heidi , Banchs Isabel , González Juan R. , Armengol Lluís , Casaroli‑Marano Ricardo P.
Published: April 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
2D Self-assembled molecular networks and on-surface reactivity under nanoscale lateral confinement
Authors: Verstraete Lander , De Feyter Steven
Published: April 2021

Lateral confinement at the nanoscale impacts the kinetics and thermodynamics of on-surface self-assembly, enabling fundamental insights in the assembly process as well as control over network morphology and reaction products.
Highly efficient electrocatalysts for overall water splitting: mesoporous CoS/MoS2 with hetero-interfaces
Authors: Huang Wen-Huan , Li Xi-Ming , Yang Xiu-Fang , Zhang Hua-Bin , Wang Fei , Zhang Jian
Published: April 2021

A mesoporous binary CoS/MoS2 with active hetero-interfaces was assembled through a facile sulphuration process from a CoMo-bimetallic HZIF, which exhibited excellent electrocatalytic OER and HER activity, and superior water splitting performance.
A new hydrazone-linked covalent organic framework for Fe(iii) detection by fluorescence and QCM technologies
Authors: Li Dian-Mei , Zhang Shu-Yuan , Wan Jia-Yi , Zhang Wen-Qian , Yan Yi-Lun , Tang Xi-Hao , Zheng Sheng-Run , Cai Song-Liang , Zhang Wei-Guang
Published: April 2021

A new stable hydrazone-linked covalent organic framework was synthesized, which can be used as either a fluorescent probe or a COF-based QCM sensor for the identification of metal ions, showing high selectivity and sensitivity toward Fe(iii) ions.
Vibrational circular dichroism studies of exceptionally strong chirality inducers in liquid crystals
Authors: Koenis Mark A. J. , Nicu Valentin P. , Visscher Lucas , Kuehn Christian , Bremer Matthias , Krier Mireille , Untenecker Harald , Zhumaev Ulmas , Küstner Bernd , Buma Wybren Jan
Published: April 2021

Chiral dopants are used in liquid crystal displays to introduce uniform helical alignment. VCD can provide unambiguous determination of the absolute configuration and structural details of such a dopant, while X-ray crystallography fails.
Parameter optimization of the spectral emission of laser-induced tungsten plasma for tokamak wall diagnosis at different pressures
Authors: Wu Ding , Sun Liying , Liu Jiamin , Lyu Yan , Wu Huace , Yuan Shu , Hai Ran , Li Cong , Feng Chunlei , Zhao Dongye , Ding Hongbin
Published: April 2021

The ambient pressure influences the plume expansion and spectral emission, and two pressure regions are observed to distinguish the enhanced plasma shielding effect.
A nano-surface monocrystalline BiVO4 nanoplate photoanode for enhanced photoelectrochemical performance
Authors: Gao Bin , Wang Tao , Xue Hairong , Jiang Cheng , Sheng Lei , Huang Xianli , He Jianping
Published: April 2021

A nano-surface monocrystalline BiVO4 photoanode with a large surface area is prepared by a low-cost and simple etching process.
Carbazole-functionalized cobalt(ii) porphyrin axially bonded with C60/C70 derivatives: synthesis and characterization
Authors: Ovchenkova E. N. , Bichan N. G. , Gruzdev M. S. , Ksenofontov A. A. , Gostev F. E. , Shelaev I. V. , Nadtochenko V. A. , Lomova T. N.
Published: April 2021

Depending on the structure of the fullero[60]/[70]pyrrolidine, the carbazole-functionalized cobalt(ii) porphyrin forms donor–acceptor systems of different compositions.
Dual-signal lateral flow assay using vancomycin-modified nanotags for rapid and sensitive detection of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Wang Shu , Shen Wanzhu , Zheng Shuai , Li Zhigang , Wang Chongwen , Zhang Long , Liu Yong
Published: April 2021

A colorimetric-fluorescent dual-signal lateral flow assay was proposed for the sensitive detection of S. aureus by using vancomycin-modified SiO2–Au-QD tags.
Supporting effects of a N-doped carbon film electrode on an electrodeposited Ni@Ni(OH)2 core–shell nanocatalyst in accelerating electrocatalytic oxidation of oligosaccharides
Authors: Shiba Shunsuke , Ohta Saki , Ohtani Kazuya , Takahashi Shota , Kato Dai , Niwa Osamu
Published: April 2021

The supporting effect of a N-doped carbon film induced superior crystallinity in electrodeposited Ni@Ni(OH)2 core–shell nanoparticles.
Self-assembly of cellulose for creating green materials with tailor-made nanostructures
Authors: Hata Yuuki , Serizawa Takeshi
Published: April 2021

This review article summarizes recent research progress on the self-assembly of cellulose and the applications of assembled cellulose materials, especially for biomedical use.
Formation of size-tunable CdS rhombic dodecahedra
Authors: Hsiao Chien-Hsuan , Chen Chun-Wei , Chen Hsiang-Sheng , Hsieh Pei-Lun , Chen Yi-An , Huang Michael H.
Published: April 2021

Zinc blende-phased CdS rhombic dodecahedra have been synthesized for the first time in an aqueous solution. The nanocrystals display size-dependent light absorption and emission band shifts and hence band gaps.
Environmental security and sustainable development of large urban centres
Authors: Polyakova Ekaterina , Gorina Larisa
Published: April 2021

Our article focuses on the environmental security and sustainable development of large urban centres. In addition, it analyses the demographic and ecological situation in the Russian Federation in order to determine the environmental influence of the social and economic factors as well as the factors of development and growth of large urban hubs. The results demonstrate that there exists a necessity to increase the environmental security in order to foster the sustainable development in the regions and urban centres that would lead to the better satisfaction with the level of life, lower mortality, and growing economic well-being. All of these can be achieved using balanced state support and policies targeted at increasing environmental security and creation of the sustainable future for the generation to come.
The heterogeneous effect of democracy, economic and political globalisation on renewable energy
Authors: Lyulyov Oleksiy , Pimonenko Tetyana , Kwilinski Alexey , Us Yana
Published: April 2021

This paper summarises the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on international cooperation’s role in combatting climate change and its impacts. The primary purpose of the research is to determine renewable energy development reliance on democracy and globalisation levels. The objects for analysis are Ukraine and countries with different democracy regimes: full democracy (Finland, Denmark, Spain), flawed democracy (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic) and hybrid democracy (Ukraine, Turkey and Montenegro). To gain the research goal, the authors examined data on the share of renewable energy, GDP per capita, labour force and gross fixed capital formation from 2012 to 2019. The data was retrieved from the Eurostat database, World Data Bank, KOF Swiss Economic Institute and the Economist Intelligence Unit. The following methods and tests were used: Levin, Lin, and Chu test; Augmented Dickey-Fuller Fisher and PhillipsPerron Fisher unit root test; Im, Pesaran, Shin’s panel unit root tests. The authors used the Pedroni test to cointegration among variables. The Fully Modified OLS and Dynamic OLS panel cointegration techniques were applied to evaluate a statistically significant longer-term relationship between variables. The findings confirmed that for countries with the hybrid regime, the changes in political and economic globalisation provoked the rapid growth of renewable energy compare with countries from full and flawed democracy.
Environmental investment as a factor of sustainable economic development in the context of transformation of the external and internal environment
Authors: Sheina Ekaterina , Kurdyumov Aleksandr , Zavyalova Maria
Published: April 2021

The desire to avoid dependence on the principles of the commodity economy, as well as the ultimate exhaustion of natural resources, encourages the state and business to search for new mechanisms and technologies for the reproduction of public goods. One of the key dominants in this direction is the field of ecology, environmental conservation, and, as a result, the development of environmental investment projects. However, the new investment principles require not only sustainable interest of investors and economic entities, but also an extensive developed legislative framework, protective mechanisms for reducing investment risks and highquality financial regulation of this process by the state. The development of environmental investment will contribute to the sustainable growth of the Russian economy in the context of the transformation of the external and internal environment, the general improvement of the environmental friendliness of the production of national goods and services, and will also allow to establish an alternative direction of green financing.
Structure design and reliability analysis of Al-Ti lugs
Authors: Feng Yunwen , Zhang Jiale , Xue Xiaofeng , Zhong Xiaoping , Xie Wei
Published: April 2021

Aircraft lug joint is the key part of load transfer. In order to improve the safety of lug joint, on the premise of meeting the design requirements of static strength and fatigue, the composite connection lug structure design technology of different metal materials is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the damage safety design and life reliability analysis of the lug structure are studied theoretically. Secondly, based on the concept of damage safety design and the design principle of deformation coordination, the design method of composite connection lug with deformation coordination is proposed, and the thickness ratio of single ear is 0.8:1:0.8. Finally, the reliability of the composite lug is analyzed. The results show that the structural design scheme of aluminum-titanium composite ear piece can meet the requirements of static strength and damage tolerance, and compared with the conventional ear structure, the failure probability of structure mission life is greatly reduced when the weight of the composite connection lug is only increased by 4.9%. The proposed method can effectively guide the structural design of composite ear piece.
Study on creep damage and crack growth for TC11 under complex stress loading
Authors: He Yuxin , Ma Yu'e , Cao Rui
Published: April 2021

In order to investigate the creep damage and creep crack growth of TC11, we established the finite element model based on ductility exhaustion constitutive model. This paper uses the uniaxial creep test of TC11 at 500℃ as a reference and studies the effect of initial crack dimensions on crack growth of CT specimen and surface crack specimen. The initial crack length of CT specimen has a significant effect on creep crack growth of TC11 material. The larger the initial crack length, the higher the crack growth rate, the crack tip equivalent stress and the crack tip stress triaxiality. The initial crack length has a greater influence on creep crack growth for deep crack specimens(a0/W=0.6, a0/W=0.7) than that for shallow crack specimens(a0/W=0.3, a0/W=0.4, a0/W=0.5). When the stress intensity factor Kπ/2 at the deepest location of surface crack is the same, the crack growth length of each specimen in the depth direction at the same time is approximately twice as much as that in the length direction. With the increase of initial crack size, the crack growth rate of surface crack decreases gradually. And the effect of initial crack length on crack growth is greater than that of initial crack depth.
Dynamics of flow in a branching channel
Authors: Uruba Václav , Procházka Pavel , Skála Vladislav
Published: April 2021

Flow in a branched channel is studied experimentally using the PIV technique. The presented study is concentrated on clarifying the dynamical behaviour in individual branches. The 11 branches issuing from the main channel perpendicularly, all channels are of rectangular cross-section. First, the time-mean flow-field is shown, then the flow dynamics is investigated using the OPD method. Flow patterns and frequencies are evaluated in three selected branches. The separated flow in branches exhibits highly dynamical behaviour, which differs substantially in the branches close to the inflow, in the main channel middle and close to its end. The typical topologies and frequencies of the detected quasi-periodical structures in the channel braches are shown in the study. Mostly, the flow-fields are populated by trains of vortices with alternating orientation and saddle-like structures. The flow-field close to the channel walls affects heat transfer process between the wall and fluid.
Influence of rotational speed and torque on meshing efficiency of double helical gear transmission system
Authors: Wang Cheng
Published: April 2021

The accuracy of gear meshing efficiency model is the key to study the influence factors of gear meshing efficiency. Experiment is an effective method to verify the theory model. Therefore, the acquisition of experimental value of gear meshing efficiency is particularly important. Taken double helical gears as the research object, on the analysis of a large number of experimental data, the experimental value of gear meshing efficiency for double helical gears are calculated and then the influence of rotational speed and torque on meshing efficiency of double helical gears is studied. Firstly, the calculation method of transmission efficiency for experimental value in different layout of gear test-rigs with closed power flow is summarized. Secondly, the calculation method of meshing efficiency for experimental value in gear test-rig with closed power flow is introduced. Thirdly, the calculation method of load-dependent bearing loss is given. Finally, the experimental value of meshing efficiency for double helical gears is calculated and the influence of rotational speed and torque on meshing efficiency of double helical gears is obtained, which lays a theoretical foundation for the further improvement of the transmission efficiency of double helical gears.
Social representations of animal diseases: anthropological approaches to pathogens crossing species barriers
Authors: Keck Frédéric , Lainé Nicolas , Morvan Arnaud , Ruhlmann Sandrine
Published: April 2021

Debates about emerging infectious diseases often oppose natural conceptions of zoonotic reservoirs with cultural practices bringing humans into contact with animals. This article compares the representations of cross-species pathogens at ontological levels below the opposition between nature and culture. It describes the perceptions of distinctions between interiority and physicality, between wild and domestic, and between sick and dead in three different contexts where human societies manage animal diseases: Australia, Laos and Mongolia. Our article also argues that zoonotic pathogens are one of the entities mobilized by local knowledge to attenuate troubles in ordinary relations with animals, and shows that the conservation of cultural heritage is a tool of mitigation for infectious diseases emerging in animal reservoirs.
Recent Advances in Heterogeneous Ir Complex Catalysts for Aromatic C–H Borylation
Authors: Motokura Ken , Maeda Kyogo
Published: April 2021

Aromatic C–H borylation catalyzed by an Ir complex is among the most powerful methods for activating inert bonds. The products, i.e., arylboronic acids and their esters, are usable chemicals for the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction, and significant effort has been directed toward the development of homogeneous catalysis chemistry. In this short review, we present a recent overview of current heterogeneous Ir-complex catalyst developments for aromatic C–H borylation. Not only have Ir complexes been immobilized on support surfaces with phosphine and bipyridine ligands, but Ir complexes incorporated within solid materials have also been developed as highly active and reusable heterogeneous Ir catalysts. Their catalytic activities and stabilities strongly depend on their surface structures, including linker length and ligand structure.

1 Introduction and Homogeneous Ir Catalysis

2 Heterogeneous Ir Complex Catalysts for C–H Borylation Reactions

3 Other Heterogeneous Metal Complex Catalysts for C–H Borylation Reactions

4 Summary and Outlook