bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Set of stress biomarkers as a practical tool in the assessment of multistress effect using honeybees from urban and rural areas as a model organism: a pilot study
Authors: Nicewicz Łukasz , Nicewicz Agata W. , Kafel Alina , Nakonieczny Mirosław
Published: October 2020

A decrease among honey bee populations (Apis mellifera) in the traditional apiaries has been observed in recent years. In light of this negative phenomenon, urban beekeeping seems to be an appropriate alternative solution for the bee population in reducing the toxic effects of a large number of pesticides that are commonly used in agricultural ecosystems. Despite the rapid development of urban beekeeping, there is little information regarding the different aspects of the defense effectiveness of bees from the urban and rural areas. The study was aimed to show whether honey bees from these two locations differ in the level of the valuable biomarkers of stress exposure helpful in establishing which bees, from urban or rural areas, are under greater environmental pressure. For this purpose, foragers from an urban rooftop apiary and a traditional rural apiary were collected. The chosen biomarkers were measured in various tissues of bees. The activity of glutathioneS-transferase and acetylcholinesterase, the level of total antioxidant capacity, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), and defensin were selected for the analyses. In our opinion, the Hsp70 and defensin levels seemed to be important in the indication of urban multistress factors. The higher level of heat shock proteins and defensins in tissues/organs of bees from the urban apiary—in the gut (an increase, respectively, 92% and 7.3%) and fat body (an increase, respectively, 130% and 7.8%), known as targets of environmental toxins, pointed out the urban environment as highly stressful at both the individual and colony levels. In turn, high total antioxidant capacity was measured in the guts of honey bees from rural area (an increase 107%). Such a situation suggests a different mechanism of defense and specificity of rural and urban environmental stressors and also honey bees foraging activity.
Trends of Positive Youth Development Publications (1995–2020): A Scientometric Review
Authors: Qi Shaojie , Hua Fengrui , Zhou Zheng , Shek Daniel T. L.
Published: October 2020

In recent decades, the positive youth development approach has gained momentum among researchers and practitioners who focus on youth potential and adolescent well-being. In this study, 1435 academic works on positive youth development (PYD) are collected from the Web of Science using CiteSpace, reviewed and analyzed. First, the number, subject distribution, country, and institution of published papers are presented, and the author collaboration network involved in PYD is analyzed using network analysis. The results show that authors and institutions in Western societies are the main contributors to PYD research and that interdisciplinary collaboration is gradually growing. Using document co-citation analysis, research hotspots in the field were investigated. Furthermore, the research frontiers and trendy topics in PYD from 2010 to 2019 were found by using burst detection, and research gaps were identified. The findings provide research directions for future PYD studies in the field of applied quality of life research.
Die Therapie der schweren Akne
Authors: Valencak Julia
Published: October 2020

Die Akne ist eine der häufigsten chronisch-entzündlichen Gesichtshauterkrankungen und mit einem hohen Leidensdruck behaftet. Die Therapie der tief entzündlichen schweren Akne ist schwierig, da teils nebenwirkungsreiche Medikamente über Monate eingenommen werden müssen. Allen voran ist das Isotretinoin das Medikament der Wahl. Es gibt jedoch noch einige andere therapeutische Möglichkeiten, die je nach Pathogenese der Akne zusätzlich zu einer Verbesserung beitragen können.
Integration of small RNAs, degradome, and transcriptome sequencing provides insights into the differences between Shizhu ginseng and Yuan ginseng
Authors: Peng Mengyuan , Chen Yanlin , Wang Wenjuan , He Zhihua , Dai Wangqiang , Lin Zhiyun , Yang Zemin , Gong Mengjuan , Yin Yongqin , Han Bin , Zeng Yu , Wang Yingfang
Published: October 2020

Panax ginseng is one of the most popular herbs which have been used as an important traditional Chinese medicine since ancient times. Yuan ginseng and Shizhu ginseng,which belong to P. ginseng, are widely used as substitutes for wild ginseng in clinical practice. Clinical practice has proved that the clinical efficacy of Shizhu ginseng is better than Yuan ginseng. However, current research cannot completely explain this phenomenon. Considering that small RNA may be one of the pharmacodynamic substances of P. ginseng, it is challenging to investigate differential miRNAs between Shizhu ginseng and Yuan ginseng. In this study, the transcriptome, small RNAome and degradome of P. ginseng were studied by high-throughput sequencing. A total of 63,875 unigenes and 43,950,137 small RNA clean reads were obtained from the roots of P. ginseng. Among 3206 differentially expressed genes, 1190 genes were up-regulated in Yuan ginseng when compared with Shizhu ginseng. 24 known differential miRNAs and 7 novel differential miRNAs were obtained. The 304 targets of 24 differentially expressed miRNA (17 known and 7 novel) families are mainly related to energy metabolism, biotic stress and disease immunity in ginseng itself. Through the association analysis of mRNA and miRNA, our work gives a better understanding of the difference between Yuan ginseng and Shizhu ginseng. Considering the cross-kingdom regulation of plant miRNAs, our results may provide a foundation for understanding the miRNA-dependent clinical efficacy in P. ginseng.
A rainbow blow-up lemma for almost optimally bounded edge-colourings
Authors: Ehard Stefan , Glock Stefan , Joos Felix
Published: October 2020

A subgraph of an edge-coloured graph is calledrainbowif all its edges have different colours. We prove a rainbow version of the blow-up lemma of Komlós, Sárközy, and Szemerédi that applies to almost optimally bounded colourings. A corollary of this is that there exists a rainbow copy of any bounded-degree spanning subgraphHin a quasirandom host graphG, assuming that the edge-colouring ofGfulfills a boundedness condition that is asymptotically best possible.

This has many applications beyond rainbow colourings: for example, to graph decompositions, orthogonal double covers, and graph labellings.
Public Rights
Authors: Singer Joseph William
Published: October 2020

Scott focuses on the conflicts in the state of Louisiana over a provision in the post-Civil War Louisiana Constitution of 1868 that guaranteed “public rights” to all regardless of race. While we still live with shockingly high levels of racial discrimination in public accommodations, front and center today are claims that the Constitution's guarantee of religious liberty requires exemptions from state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. To understand the historical context within which we confront this issue today, it will help to understand how public accommodations law has changed over time through the course of United States history.
Mid-upper arm circumference as a screening tool for identifying adolescents with thinness
Authors: Sisay Binyam Girma , Haile Demewoz , Hassen Hamid Yimam , Gebreyesus Seifu Hagos
Published: October 2020

Objective:

To evaluate the performance of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) to identify thinness in the late adolescence period (aged 15–19 years) in Ethiopia.

Design:

We conducted a school-based cross-sectional study. The receiver operating characteristics curve was used to examine the validity of MUAC compared with BMIZ-score to identify adolescents with thinness (BMIZ-score <−2sd).

Settings:

Fifteen high schools (grade 9–12) located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Participants:

A total of 851 adolescent (456 males and 395 females) were included in the study.

Results:

The prevalence of thinness and severe thinness among high-school adolescents in Addis Ababa was 9·5 % (95 % CI 7·7, 11·7 %). The overall AUC for MUAC against BMIZ-score <−2 SD was 0·91 (95 % CI 0·88, 0·93). The optimal MUAC cut-offs to identify thinness were 23·3 cm for males and 22·6 cm for females. These cut-off points give high sensitivity and specificity for both males (a sensitivity of 87·9 % and a specificity of 75·9 %) and females (a sensitivity of 100 % and a specificity 88·2 %).

Conclusions:

MUAC has a comparable level of accuracy with BMIZ-score to identify thinness in adolescents aged 15–19 years. Hence, MUAC could be used as an alternative tool for surveillance and screening of thinness among adolescents aged 15–19 years. The optimum cut-off proposed by this study may incorrectly include a large number of adolescents when used in a relatively well-nourished population. In this situation, it would be necessary to choose a cut-off with greater positive predictive value.
Collective action, opportunism, and class agency under ineffective state enforcement: Marx on English Factory Laws
Authors: Ertürk Korkut Alp
Published: October 2020

The paper focuses on a previously unexamined aspect of Marx's discussion on the 19th century English Factory Acts, and highlights its broader relevance for contemporary discussions about the role of institutions in a market economy. The capitalists' enlightened self-interest was to better husband their work force by limiting the workday and curtailing child labor, but market competition put them in a Prisoner's Dilemma creating an opportunism hazard. The ‘Factory Acts’ addressed the problem, but the state lacked the capacity to enforce them effectively. Marx held that the organized power of workers played an essential role in how the Factory Laws could gain traction at a time when state enforcement was unreliable. Organized labor's threats of sanction were credible enough to lower the expected benefit of non-compliance, enabling capitalists to commit to acting in their long-term, collective self-interest.
Higher BMI, but not obesity-related genetic polymorphisms, correlates with lower structural connectivity of the reward network in a population-based study
Authors: Beyer Frauke , Zhang Rui , Scholz Markus , Wirkner Kerstin , Loeffler Markus , Stumvoll Michael , Villringer Arno , Witte A. Veronica
Published: October 2020

Background

Obesity is of complex origin, involving genetic and neurobehavioral factors. Genetic polymorphisms may increase the risk for developing obesity by modulating dopamine-dependent behaviors, such as reward processing. Yet, few studies have investigated the association of obesity, related genetic variants, and structural connectivity of the dopaminergic reward network.

Methods

We analyzed 347 participants (age range: 20–59 years, BMI range: 17–38 kg/m2) of the LIFE-Adult Study. Genotyping for the single nucleotid polymorphisms rs1558902 (FTO) and rs1800497 (near dopamine D2 receptor) was performed on a microarray. Structural connectivity of the reward network was derived from diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging at 3 T using deterministic tractography of Freesurfer-derived regions of interest. Using graph metrics, we extracted summary measures of clustering coefficient and connectivity strength between frontal and striatal brain regions. We used linear models to test the association of BMI, risk alleles of both variants, and reward network connectivity.

Results

Higher BMI was significantly associated with lower connectivity strength for number of streamlines (β = −0.0025, 95%—C.I.: [−0.004, −0.0008],p = 0.0042), and, to lesser degree, fractional anisotropy (β = −0.0009, 95%—C.I. [−0.0016, −0.00008],p = 0.031), but not clustering coefficient. Strongest associations were found for left putamen, right accumbens, and right lateral orbitofrontal cortex. As expected, the polymorphism rs1558902 in FTO was associated with higher BMI (F = 6.9,p < 0.001). None of the genetic variants was associated with reward network structural connectivity.

Conclusions

Here, we provide evidence that higher BMI correlates with lower reward network structural connectivity. This result is in line with previous findings of obesity-related decline in white matter microstructure. We did not observe an association of variants in FTO or near DRD2 receptor with reward network structural connectivity in this population-based cohort with a wide range of BMI and age. Future research should further investigate the link between genetics, obesity and fronto-striatal structural connectivity.
Epigenetic targeting of neuropilin-1 prevents bypass signaling in drug-resistant breast cancer
Authors: Abdullah Ammara , Akhand Saeed Salehin , Paez Juan Sebastian Paez , Brown Wells , Pan Li , Libring Sarah , Badamy Michael , Dykuizen Emily , Solorio Luis , Andy Tao W. , Wendt Michael K.
Published: October 2020

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-amplified breast cancers are treated using targeted antibodies and kinase inhibitors, but resistance to these therapies leads to systemic tumor recurrence of metastatic disease. Herein, we conducted gene expression analyses of HER2 kinase inhibitor-resistant cell lines as compared to their drug-sensitive counterparts. These data demonstrate the induction of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which included enhanced expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) and axonal guidance molecules known as neuropilins (NRPs). Immunoprecipitation of FGFR1 coupled with mass spectroscopy indicated that FGFR1 forms a physical complex with NRPs, which is enhanced upon induction of EMT. Confocal imaging revealed that FGFR1 and NRP1 predominantly interact throughout the cytoplasm. Along these lines, short hairpin RNA-mediated depletion of NRP1, but not the use of NRP1-blocking antibodies, inhibited FGFR signaling and reduced tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Our results further indicate that NRP1 upregulation during EMT is mediated via binding of the chromatin reader protein, bromodomain containing 4 (BRD4) in the NRP1 proximal promoter region. Pharmacological inhibition of BRD4 decreased NRP1 expression and ablated FGF-mediated tumor cell growth. Overall, our studies indicate that NRPs facilitate aberrant growth factor signaling during EMT-associated drug resistance and metastasis. Pharmacological combination of epigenetic modulators with FGFR-targeted kinase inhibitors may provide improved outcomes for breast cancer patients with drug-resistant metastatic disease.
White-matter functional topology: a neuromarker for classification and prediction in unmedicated depression
Authors: Li Jiao , Chen Heng , Fan Feiyang , Qiu Jiang , Du Lian , Xiao Jinming , Duan Xujun , Chen Huafu , Liao Wei
Published: October 2020

Aberrant topological organization of brain connectomes underlies pathological mechanisms in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, accumulating evidence has only focused on functional organization in brain gray-matter, ignoring functional information in white-matter (WM) that has been confirmed to have reliable and stable topological organizations. The present study aimed to characterize the functional pattern disruptions of MDD from a new perspective—WM functional connectome topological organization. A case-control, cross-sectional resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study was conducted on both discovery [91 unmedicated MDD patients, and 225 healthy controls (HCs)], and replication samples (34 unmedicated MDD patients, and 25 HCs). The WM functional networks were constructed in 128 anatomical regions, and their global topological properties (e.g., small-worldness) were analyzed using graph theory-based approaches. At the system-level, ubiquitous small-worldness architecture and local information-processing capacity were detectable in unmedicated MDD patients but were less salient than in HCs, implying a shift toward randomization in MDD WM functional connectomes. Consistent results were replicated in an independent sample. For clinical applications, small-world topology of WM functional connectome showed a predictive effect on disease severity (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale) in discovery sample (r = 0.34,p = 0.001). Furthermore, the topologically-based classification model could be generalized to discriminate MDD patients from HCs in replication sample (accuracy, 76%; sensitivity, 74%; specificity, 80%). Our results highlight a reproducible topologically shifted WM functional connectome structure and provide possible clinical applications involving an optimal small-world topology as a potential neuromarker for the classification and prediction of MDD patients.
GDF11 inhibits cardiomyocyte pyroptosis and exerts cardioprotection in acute myocardial infarction mice by upregulation of transcription factor HOXA3
Authors: Li Zhange , Xu Honglin , Liu Xin , Hong Yang , Lou Han , Liu Heng , Bai Xue , Wang Lei , Li Xia , Monayo Seth Mikaye , Mokembo Justine Nyakango , Jha Nabanit Kumar , Yang Baofeng , Zhang Yong
Published: October 2020

NLRP3 (Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor pyrin domain-containing 3) inflammasome-mediated cardiomyocytes pyroptosis plays a crucial part in progression of acute myocardial infarction (MI). GDF11 (Growth Differentiation Factor 11) has been reported to generate cytoprotective effects in phylogenesis and multiple diseases, but the mechanism that GDF11 contributes to cardioprotection of MI and cardiomyocytes pyroptosis remains poorly understood. In our study, we first determined that GDF11 was abnormally downregulated in the heart tissue of MI mice and hypoxic cardiomyocytes. Moreover, AAV9-GDF11 markedly alleviated heart function in MI mice. Meanwhile, GDF11 overexpression also decreased the pyroptosis of hypoxic cardiomyocytes. PROMO and JASPAR prediction software found that transcription factor HOXA3 was predicted as an important regulator of NLRP3, and was confirmed by ChIP assay. Further analysis identifying GDF11 promoted the Smad2/3 pathway resulted in HOXA3 overexpression. Taken together, our study implies that GDF11 prevents cardiomyocytes pyroptosis via HOXA3/NLRP3 signaling pathway in MI mice.
Closely related species show species-specific environmental responses and different spatial conservation needs: Prionailurus cats in the Indian subcontinent
Authors: Silva André P. , Mukherjee Shomita , Ramakrishnan Uma , Fernandes Carlos , Björklund Mats
Published: October 2020

Phylogenetically closely related species are often assumed to have similar responses to environmental conditions, but species-specific responses have also been described. These two scenarios may have different conservation implications. We tested these two hypotheses forPrionailuruscats (P.rubiginosus,P.bengalensis,P.viverrinus) in the Indian subcontinent and show its implications on species current protected area coverage and climatic suitability trends through time. We fitted ecological niche models with current environmental conditions and calculated niche overlap. In addition, we developed a model for the Jungle CatFelis chausto compare species responses and niche overlap estimates withinPrionailuruswith those for a related sympatric small cat species. Then we estimated the proportion of current suitable environment covered by protected area and projected climatic models from past (last interglacial) to future (2070; RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) conditions to show implications on population management and conservation. The hypothesis of a similar response and niche overlap among closely related species is not supported. Protected area coverage was lowest forP.viverrinus(mean = 0.071, SD = 0.012) and highest forP.bengalensis(mean = 0.088, SD = 0.006). In addition, the proportion of the subcontinent with suitable climate varied through time and was species-specific. ForP.bengalensis, climatic suitability shrunk since at least the mid-Holocene, a trend that can be intensified by human-induced climate warming. ConcerningP.viverrinus, most predictions show stable future climatic suitability, but a few indicated potential loss. Climatic suitability forP.rubiginouswas predicted to remain stable but the species exhibited a negative association with intensive agriculture. Similar responses to environmental change by phylogenetically closely related species should not be assumed and have implications on protected area coverage and natural trends of species climatic suitability over time. This should be taken into account during conservation and management actions.
Asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum malaria prevalence among adolescents and adults in Malawi, 2015–2016
Authors: Topazian Hillary M. , Gumbo Austin , Puerto-Meredith Sydney , Njiko Ruth , Mwanza Alexis , Kayange Michael , Mwalilino David , Mvula Bernard , Tegha Gerald , Mvalo Tisungane , Edwards Jessie K. , Emch Michael , Pettifor Audrey , Smith Jennifer S. , Hoffman Irving , Meshnick Steven R. , Juliano Jonathan J.
Published: October 2020

Malaria remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Malawi, with an estimated 18–19% prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum in children 2–10 years in 2015–2016. While children report the highest rates of clinical disease, adults are thought to be an important reservoir to sustained transmission due to persistent asymptomatic infection. The 2015–2016 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey was a nationally representative household survey which collected dried blood spots from 15,125 asymptomatic individuals ages 15–54 between October 2015 and February 2016. We performed quantitative polymerase chain reaction on 7,393 samples, detecting an overall P. falciparum prevalence of 31.1% (SE = 1.1). Most infections (55.6%) had parasitemias ≤ 10 parasites/µL. While 66.2% of individuals lived in a household that owned a bed net, only 36.6% reported sleeping under a long-lasting insecticide-treated net (LLIN) the previous night. Protective factors included urbanicity, greater wealth, higher education, and lower environmental temperatures. Living in a household with a bed net (prevalence difference 0.02, 95% CI − 0.02 to 0.05) and sleeping under an LLIN (0.01; − 0.02 to 0.04) were not protective against infection. Our findings demonstrate a higher parasite prevalence in adults than published estimates among children. Understanding the prevalence and distribution of asymptomatic infection is essential for targeted interventions.
Investigation of structural proteins in sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) body wall
Authors: Wang Yanchao , Tian Mo , Chang Yaoguang , Xue Changhu , Li Zhaojie
Published: October 2020

Structural proteins play critical roles in the food quality, especially texture properties, of sea cucumbers and their products. Most of the previous studies on sea cucumbers focused on few individual proteins, which limited our understanding of how structural proteins influenced the quality of sea cucumbers. Inspired by the clarification of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) genome, we established an integrated data of structural proteins in the sea cucumber body wall. A portfolio of 2018 structural proteins was screened out from the sea cucumber annotated proteome by bioinformatics analysis. The portfolio was divided into three divisions, including extracellular matrix proteins, muscle proteins, and proteases, and further classified into 18 categories. The presence of 472 proteins in the sea cucumber body wall was confirmed by using a proteomics approach. Moreover, comparative proteomics analysis revealed the spatial distribution heterogeneity of structural proteins in the sea cucumber body wall at a molecular scale. This study suggested that future researches on sea cucumbers could be performed from an integrated perspective, which would reshape the component map of sea cucumber and provide novel insights into the understanding of how the food quality of sea cucumber was determined on a molecular level.
Surgical site infections following caesarean sections at Emirati teaching hospital: Incidence and implicated factors
Authors: Alnajjar Munther S. , Alashker Dalia A.
Published: October 2020

The rate of delivery by caesarean sections is increasing globally and, therefore, the incidence of post-caesarean surgical site infections (SSIs) is probably also going to rise. The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence of SSIs after caesarean operations and to explore the factors associated with an increased risk of post-caesarean SSIs. A retrospective study was performed to assess all women who underwent caesarean sections from January 2016 to December 2017 at Al Ain Hospital in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Backward multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to specify the variables that were significantly and independently connected with the development of post-caesarean SSIs. In total, 807 women underwent caesarean deliveries at the study site hospital during the two-year study period (January 2016–December 2017). Post-operative SSI was detected in 11 (1.4%) of the women who underwent caesarean operations. Of these, 11 (100%) women were diagnosed post-discharge, within 30 days after the date of the surgery. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that increased gestational age (P = 0.045) was significantly and independently associated with the development of post-caesarean SSI. Increased gestational age was found to be an independent predictor of post-caesarean SSIs. This identified risk factor should inform targeted health care policies to reduce the rate of SSIs.
Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio predicts prognosis in unresectable pancreatic cancer
Authors: Iwai Naoto , Okuda Takashi , Sakagami Junichi , Harada Taishi , Ohara Tomoya , Taniguchi Masashi , Sakai Hiroaki , Oka Kohei , Hara Tasuku , Tsuji Toshifumi , Komaki Toshiyuki , Kagawa Keizo , Yasuda Hiroaki , Naito Yuji , Itoh Yoshito
Published: October 2020

Inflammation-based prognostic indicators have been developed to predict the prognosis in patients with pancreatic cancer. However, prognostic indices have not been established in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer, including those without indication for chemotherapy at diagnosis. This study aimed to identify the predictors in all patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. We retrospectively analyzed data of 119 patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer from June 2006 to September 2018. The following laboratory parameters were evaluated: the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), modified GPS, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), C-reactive protein albumin (CRP/Alb) ratio, and prognostic nutritional index (PNI). We performed time-dependent receiver operating characteristic analysis, overall survival (OS) analysis, and univariate and multivariate analyses to determine the prognostic factors in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. The cut-off value for NLR was determined to be 3.74. The 6-month OS rates in low and high NLR groups were 75.5% and 18.8% (P < 0.001). In the univariate analysis, advanced age (P = 0.003), metastatic pancreatic cancer (P = 0.037), no treatment (P < 0.001), worse Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) (P < 0.001), high GPS (P < 0.001), high modified GPS (P < 0.001), high NLR (P < 0.001), high PLR (P = 0.002), high CRP/Alb ratio (P < 0.001), and low PNI (P < 0.001) were identified as the prognostic factors. The multivariate analysis revealed that metastatic pancreatic cancer (P = 0.046), no treatment (P < 0.001), worse ECOG-PS (P = 0.002), and high NLR (P < 0.001) were independently associated with OS. We revealed that the high NLR could be an independent indicator of poor prognosis in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.
Health assessment of important tributaries of Three Georges Reservoir based on the benthic index of biotic integrity
Authors: Li Zongfeng , Zeng Bo
Published: October 2020

China’s Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) is the largest water conservancy project in the world, and plays a significant role in flood control and water transport. To study the health status of the tributaries of TGR, we set up 175 sampling sites, including 15 reference sites and 160 impaired sites on 36 important tributaries of TGR, and collected zoobenthos at these sampling sites. We selected 26 candidate metrics, analyzed them in terms of the distribution range, discriminant ability and correlation. Eight core metrics (i.e., total taxa, ephemerida + trichoptera + plecoptera taxa, diptera taxa, ephemerida%, trichoptera%, Shannon–Wiener diversity index, dominant species% and filter%) were identified, and then the benthic indexes of biological integrity (B-IBI) was established. The B-IBI was then used to evaluate the ecological status of 36 tributaries of TGR. Among all the sampling sites, “excellent”, “good”, “fair”, “poor” and “very poor” accounted for 5.14%, 13.14%, 28.00%, 44.57%, and 9.14%, respectively. Among all streams and rivers, “excellent”, “good” “fair”, “poor” and “very poor” accounted for 5.56%, 41.67%, 50.00%, 2.78%, and 0%, respectively, showing a general good condition for all tributaries. There was a significant difference in health status between tributaries in the TGR dam and those in its upper reaches. The B-IBI established in this study can capture the health status of 36 important tributaries of TGR. This study does not only enrich the practice of health assessment using B-IBI, but also provides some reference for the evaluation of similar rivers across the world.
Helminth eggs from early cretaceous faeces
Authors: Barrios-de Pedro Sandra , Osuna Antonio , Buscalioni Ángela D.
Published: October 2020

The exceptional fossil site of Las Hoyas (upper Barremian, Cuenca, Spain) yields abundant small to medium vertebrate coprolites, hindering the search for parasites. We studied the contents of 29 coprolites that were previously classified into distinct morphotypes. Several parasitic eggs were retrieved from two of these coprolites, confirming the second record of digenea trematode eggs and nematode (ascaridid) eggs from an Early Cretaceous locality. The cylindrical coprolite containing anisakid eggs was likely produced by a crocodylomorph as the parasite host, whereas the bump-headed lace coprolite indicates the role of a fish as an intermediary or definitive host of the trematodes and ascaridids. These trace and body fossils show that the Las Hoyas 126–129 Ma lacustrine ecosystem documents the early connection between basal Gonorynchiformes fish and digenetic trematodes.
Implantable HDAC-inhibiting chemotherapeutics derived from hydrophobic amino acids for localized anticancer therapy
Authors: Bhagat Somnath Dharmaraj , Chanchal Abhishek , Gujrati Mansi , Banerjee Aditi , Mishra Ram Kumar , Srivastava Aasheesh
Published: October 2020

Amino acid derivatives with potent HDAC inhibition and hydrogelation abilities show strong potential against a variety of cancer cellsin vitro.
Mechanistic insight into initiation and regioselectivity in the copolymerization of epoxides and anhydrides by Al complexes
Authors: Popowski Yanay , Moreno Juan J. , Nichols Asa W. , Hooe Shelby L. , Bouchey Caitlin J. , Rath Nigam P. , Machan Charles W. , Tolman William B.
Published: October 2020

Pentacoordinate Al catalysts comprising bipyridine (bpy) and phenanthroline (phen) backbones were synthesized, their activity in epoxide/anhydride copolymerization studied, and the products of stoichiometric ring-opening of anhydrides characterized.
Selection of threose nucleic acid aptamers to block PD-1/PD-L1 interaction for cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Li Xintong , Li Zhe , Yu Hanyang
Published: October 2020

In vitro selected threose nucleic acid (TNA) aptamers blocked PD-1/PD-L1 interaction and significantly inhibited tumour growth in xenograft mouse model.
Fluorescent imaging of cytoplasmic nucleolin in live cells by a functionalized-engineered aptamer
Authors: Yin Junfa , Chen Shaokun , Song Yuanyuan , Wang Hailin
Published: October 2020

A novel biosensing nanoplatform based on aptamer and polymer-grafted graphene oxides can specifically fluorescently visualize nucleolin in live cell cytoplasm, distinguishing cancer cells from normal cells.
Synthesis, structure, and heterogeneous Fenton reaction of new Cu(ii)-based discrete Cu2Lx coordination complexes
Authors: Wang Qi-Bao , Jing Zi-Yan , Hu Xiang-Ming , Lu Wen-Xin , Wang Peng
Published: October 2020

Cu2L4 cage and Cu2L2 macrocycle were obtained and the heterogeneous Fenton reaction experiments showed that they are good photocatalysts in the photocatalytic degradation process of MB with using hydroxyl radicals and high-valence copper ions.
The phenoxyl group-modulated interplay of cation–π and σ-type interactions in the alkali metal series
Authors: Prampolini Giacomo , d'Ischia Marco , Ferretti Alessandro
Published: October 2020

An extensive exploration of the interaction PESs of phenol and catechol complexes with alkali metal cations reveals a striking effect of –OH substitution on the balance between cation-π and σ-type noncovalent interactions.
Ultrathin ZnTi-LDH nanosheets for photocatalytic aerobic oxidation of aniline based on coordination activation
Authors: Liu Cheng , Guo Wei , Chen Jinsong , Zou Junhua , Wang Zhiwen , Wu Ling
Published: October 2020

Aniline is chemisorbed and activated on ultrathin ZnTi-LDH nanosheets, facilitating the photocatalytic aerobic oxidation of aniline under visible light.
Rare antimony(iii) imidazole selone complexes: steric controlled structural and bonding aspects
Authors: Nandeshwar Muneshwar , Adinarayana Mannem , Srinivas Katam , Velappan Kavitha , Prabusankar Ganesan
Published: October 2020

Rare antimony(iii) selone complexes in a super crowded environment have been synthesized and characterized.
Pore engineering of metal–organic frameworks for ethylene purification
Authors: Liu Shuang , Dong Qiubing , Zhou Yanli , Wang Suna , Duan Jingui
Published: October 2020

Representative progress on metal–organic frameworks for ethylene purification is reviewed based on four categories of adsorption mechanisms dominated by pore engineering strategies.
Integrative platform for the selective recovery of intracellular carotenoids and lipids from Rhodotorula glutinis CCT-2186 yeast using mixtures of bio-based solvents
Authors: Mussagy Cassamo U. , Santos-Ebinuma Valéria C. , Kurnia Kiki A. , Dias Ana C. R. V. , Carvalho Pedro , Coutinho João A. P. , Pereira Jorge F. B.
Published: October 2020

Mixed biosolvents as a promising and environmentally benign solution for the recovery of carotenoids and lipids from yeast biomass.
Synthesis, X-ray structure, antiproliferative activity, interaction with HSA and docking studies of three novel mono and binuclear copper complexes containing the maltol ligand
Authors: Zahmati Eraj Malihe , Eriksson Lars , Alibolandi Mona , Babaei Maryam , Saljooghi Amir Sh. , Ramezani Mohammad
Published: October 2020

The present study aims at synthesizing three new copper(ii) complexes of maltol in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline-, 2,2′-bipyridine- and 4,4-dibromo-2,2′-bipyridine ligands.
Nickel(ii)dibenzotetramethyltetraaza[14]annulene complex immobilized on amino-functionalized TUD-1: an efficient catalyst for immediate and quantitative epoxidation of cyclohexene under ambient conditions
Authors: Abboud Mohamed , Sahlabji Taher , Eissa Murad , Bel-Hadj-Tahar Radhouane , Mubarak Ahmed T. , Al-Zaqri Nabil , Hamdy Mohamed S.
Published: October 2020

Nickel(ii)dibenzotetramethyltetraaza[14]annulene complex immobilized on amino-functionalized TUD-1 as a new nanocatalyst for spontaneous and quantitative epoxidation of cyclohexene under ambient conditions.
Interlayer engineering of MoS2 nanosheets for high-rate potassium-ion storage
Authors: Kang Wei , Wang Yuchen , An Cuihua
Published: October 2020

Se–MoS2 with expanded the interlayer spacing and more active sites, exhibits better rate performance (75% capacity retention) as potassium ion batteries anode.
Switchable slow relaxation of magnetization in photochromic dysprosium(iii) complexes manipulated by a dithienylethene ligand
Authors: Kong Ming , Feng Xin , Li Jing , Wang Jia , Zhang Yi-Quan , Song You
Published: October 2020

The admirable photochromic and magnetic properties of two dithienylethene-based complexes can be modulated with UV/Vis light irradiation.
Dawson type polyoxometalate based-poly ionic liquid supported on different carbon materials for high-efficiency oxidative desulfurization with molecular oxygen as the oxidant
Authors: Gao Yan , Lv Ziyan , Gao Ruimin , Hu Guangfa , Zhao Jianshe
Published: October 2020

A kind of supported catalyst was facile synthesized with polyoxometalate based-poly (ionic liquid) as active components and different carbon materials as supporter. The supported catalyst P[C2VP]MoV/AC possesses high activity for 99.4% DBT removal rate.
A universal strategy for high-yield producing water compatible boron nitride nanosheets
Authors: Liu Panlin , Ding Jiheng , Su Shengpei , Yu Hiabin
Published: October 2020

Boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) have shown great potential in thermal management applications owing to their high thermal conductivity, electrical insulation, and chemical stability.
Predicted 2D ferromagnetic Janus VSeTe monolayer with high Curie temperature, large valley polarization and magnetic crystal anisotropy
Authors: Guan Zhaoyong , Ni Shuang
Published: October 2020

VSeTe shows ferromagnetic ground state with high Curie temperature and obvious valley splitting, and its EA along in-plane direction.
Synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from monosaccharides catalyzed by superacid VNU-11–SO4 in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid
Authors: Thuy Nguyen Linh Ho , Vo Huong Thi , Phan Ha Bich , Dinh Dang Minh Huy , Le Hoang Doan Tan , Tran Phuong Hoang
Published: October 2020

Superacid VNU-11–SO4 has been considered as a promising heterogeneous catalyst in the conversion of glucose and fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in ionic liquid.
Holmium(iii) molecular nanomagnets for optical thermometry exploring the luminescence re-absorption effect
Authors: Wang Junhao , Zakrzewski Jakub J. , Zychowicz Mikolaj , Vieru Veacheslav , Chibotaru Liviu F. , Nakabayashi Koji , Chorazy Szymon , Ohkoshi Shin-ichi
Published: October 2020

HoIII complexes bearing organic luminophores and inorganic metalloligands are an effective tool for achieving the unique conjunction of single-molecule magnetism and thermometric luminescence re-absorption phenomenon.
Impact cratering in sand: comparing solid and liquid intruders
Authors: de Jong Rianne , Zhao Song-Chuan , Garcia-Gonzalez Diana , Verduijn Gijs , van der Meer Devaraj
Published: October 2020

Crater characteristics are compared for droplet and solid ball impact on a granular target at the same effective impact energies.
Recent advances in 2D/nanostructured metal sulfide-based gas sensors: mechanisms, applications, and perspectives
Authors: Tang Hongyu , Sacco Leandro Nicolas , Vollebregt Sten , Ye Huaiyu , Fan Xuejun , Zhang Guoqi
Published: October 2020

This review provides perspectives on metal sulfide-based gas sensors, including the crystal structure, gas sensing mechanisms, applications, and strengths–weaknesses–opportunities–threats (SWOT) analysis.
Improved negativity condition for a quadratic function and its application to systems with time‐varying delay
Authors: Zeng Hong‐Bing , Lin Hui‐Chao , He Yong , Zhang Chuan‐Ke , Teo Kok‐Lay
Published: October 2020

This article studies the stability problems of linear systems with time‐varying delay. An improved negativity condition for a quadratic function parameterised by time‐varying delay is derived. Based on this condition, less conservative stability criteria are obtained. Through two well‐known numerical examples, it is proved that the proposed method can reduce the conservativeness of the computed results.
Two‐step locating method for aircraft wake vortices based on Gabor filter and velocity range distribution
Authors: Shen Chun , Li Jian‐bing , Zhang Fu‐lin , Chan Pak‐wai , Hon Kai‐kwong , Wang Xue‐song
Published: October 2020

Aircraft wake is a pair of strong counter‐rotating vortices generated behind a flying aircraft, which might be dangerous to the following aircrafts. The real‐time and precise locating of aircraft wake vortex‐core positions is essential in the aviation safety field, especially in airport traffic management. This study proposes a two‐step vortex‐core locating method which uses the Gabor filter to make a preliminary locating and the velocity range distribution to make a fine locating consequently. The combination of Gabor filter and Doppler velocity distribution can improve the method's adaptability to complex background wind field and mitigate the impact of noise. Numerical examples and field detection campaigns from Changsha Huanghua International Airport and Hong Kong International Airport have well verified the good performance of the method, in terms of both accuracy and real time.
Optically thin circumstellar medium in theβLyr A system
Authors: Brož M. , Mourard D. , Budaj J. , Harmanec P. , Schmitt H. , Tallon-Bosc I. , Bonneau D. , Božić H. , Gies D. , Šlechta M.
Published: October 2020

The complex binary systemβLyr A has an extensive observational dataset: light curves (from far UV to far IR), interferometric squared visibility, closure phase, triple product measurements, spectral-energy distribution, high-resolution spectroscopy, differential visibility amplitude, and also a differential phase. In particular, we used spectra from the Ondřejov 2m telescope from 2013 to 2015 to measure the emission in Hα, He I, Si II, Ne I, or C IIlines, and differential interferometry by CHARA/VEGA from the 2013 campaign to measure wavelength-dependent sizes across Hαand He I6678. This allowed us to constrain not only optically thick objects (primary, secondary, accretion disc), but also optically thin objects (disc atmosphere, jets, shell). We extended our modelling tool, Pyshellspec (based on Shellspec; a 1D local thermodynamical equilibrium radiative transfer code), to include all new observables, to compute differential visibilities/phases, to perform a Doppler tomography, and to determine a jointχ2metric. After an optimisation of 38 free parameters, we derived a robust model of theβLyr A system. According to the model, the emission is formed in an extended atmosphere of the disc, two perpendicular jets expanding at ∼700 km s−1, and a symmetric shell with the radius ∼70 R⊙. The spectroscopy indicates a low abundance of carbon, 10−2of the solar value. We also quantified systematic differences between datasets, and we discuss here alternative models with higher resolutions, additional asymmetries, or He-rich abundances.
The kinematics of young and old stellar populations in nuclear rings of MUSE TIMER galaxies
Authors: Rosado-Belza D. , Falcón-Barroso J. , Knapen J. H. , Bittner A. , Gadotti D. A. , Neumann J. , de Lorenzo-Cáceres A. , Méndez-Abreu J. , Querejeta M. , Martín-Navarro I. , Sánchez-Blázquez P. , Coelho P. R. T. , Martig M. , van de Ven G. , Kim T.
Published: October 2020

Context.Studying the stellar kinematics of galaxies is a key tool in the reconstruction of their evolution. However, the current measurements of the stellar kinematics are complicated by several factors, including dust extinction and the presence of multiple stellar populations.

Aims.We use integral field spectroscopic data of four galaxies from the Time Inference with MUSE in Extragalactic Rings (TIMER) survey to explore and compare the kinematics measured in different spectral regions that are sensitive to distinct stellar populations.

Methods.We derive the line-of-sight velocity and velocity dispersion of both a young (≲2 Gyr) and an old stellar population from the spectral regions around the Hβline and the Ca II Triplet. In addition, we determine colour excess, mean age, and metallicity.

Results.We report a correlation of the colour excess with the difference in the kinematic parameters of the Hβline and the Ca II Triplet range, which are dominated by young and old stellar populations, respectively. Young stellar populations, located primarily in nuclear rings, have higher velocity dispersions than old ones. These differences in the rings are typically ∼10 km s−1in velocity dispersion but can have a mean value as high as ∼24 km s−1in the most extreme case. Trends with age exist in the nuclear rings but are less significant than those with dust extinction. We report different degrees of correlation for these trends among the galaxies in the sample, which are related to the size of the Voronoi bins in their rings. No clear trends for the line-of-sight velocity differences are observed. The absence of these trends can be explained as a consequence of the Hβline masking process during the kinematic extraction, as confirmed by dedicated simulations.

Conclusions.Our study demonstrates that kinematic differences caused by different stellar populations can be identified in the central regions of nearby galaxies, even from intermediate resolution spectroscopy. This opens the door to future detailed chemo-kinematic studies of galaxies, but also serves as a warning against deriving kinematics from full-spectrum fitting across very wide wavelength ranges when intense star formation is taking place.
Responses of nitrogen stable isotopes in fish to phosphorus limitation in freshwater wetlands
Authors: Hong Jianming , Gu Binhe
Published: October 2020

Human-induced eutrophication has altered ecological processes in aquatic ecosystems. Detection of ecological changes is a prerequisite for protecting ecosystems from degradation. In this study, nitrogen stable isotopes (δ15N) in fish are evaluated as indicators of environmental changes in south Florida wetlands. Stable nitrogen isotope (δ15N) data of select fish species and water quality collected from the Florida Everglades between the 1990s and 2000s were used to assess the relationship between total phosphorus concentrations and δ15N ratios. The δ15N ratios in nine of ten select fish species increase significantly as total phosphorus concentration in the surface water increases. There were significant relationships between total nitrogen concentration in the surface water and δ15N ratios in several fish species. The pattern of changes in δ15N ratios along nutrient gradients suggests that increased eutrophication is recorded as the δ15N ratios in fish. The lack of human wastewater loading, the dominance in agricultural runoff and the high TN:TP ratio suggest that phosphorus is the limiting factor driving ecosystem productivity and the changes of δ15N ratios in fish. Results from this analysis demonstrate that δ15N ratios in fish integrate biotic responses to eutrophic process over time and could be a robust indicator for early ecological changes.
Consumer legal protection in the EU
Authors: Dzúrová Mária
Published: October 2020

Consumer protection is a very wide-ranging issue and needs to be given due attention. It concerns the safety of consumers in the environment of individual countries of the world, it concerns the consumer safety of certain groups, such as the European Union. The basic frameworks of consumer protection are set by the guidelines of world organizations - the UN, WHO, but also the European Union and individual member states. In the area of consumer protection, attention is paid to major health problems caused by unsuitable food, such as food scandals, various types of diseases - mad cow disease, swine fever, covid 19.
Application of optimal control theory on optimal advertising expenditure in monopoly
Authors: Grisáková Nora , Štetka Peter
Published: October 2020

Presented paper is being focused on Optimal control theory, Variation Calculus and its economic application. Aim of this research paper is to shortly describe Optimal control and Variation Calculus and to present how can we deal with these type of issues. The last part of this paper is presenting possible economic application of Optimal control, based on the maximization of profit in monopoly while introducing new product on the market. Our control variable is the advertising rate, which affects the profit of monopoly through advertising expenditures and as a state variable was the market share defined.