bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reconfigurable Implication and Inhibition Boolean logic gates based on NAD+‐dependent enzymes: Application to signal‐controlled biofuel cells and molecule release
Authors: Bollella Paolo , Kadambar Vasantha Krishna , Melman Artem , Katz Evgeny
Published: March 2021

The Implication and Inhibition Boolean logic gates were realized using NAD+/NADH‐dependent dehydrogenases combined with hexokinase competing for biomolecule input signals. Both logic gates operated with the same enzyme composition and their reconfiguration was achieved simply by redefining the input signals. The output signals produced by the logic gates were analyzed optically and electrochemically, particularly using enzyme‐modified electrodes. The logically processed input signals were used to switch operation of a biofuel cell and activate a molecule release process.
Functional network estimation using multigraph learning with application to brain maturation study
Authors: Wang Junqi , Xiao Li , Hu Wenxing , Qu Gang , Wilson Tony W. , Stephen Julia M. , Calhoun Vince D. , Wang Yu‐Ping
Published: March 2021

Although most dramatic structural changes occur in the perinatal period, a growing body of evidences demonstrates that adolescence and early adulthood are also important for substantial neurodevelopment. We were thus motivated to explore brain development during puberty by evaluating functional connectivity network (FCN) differences between childhood and young adulthood using multi‐paradigm task‐based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measurements. Different from conventional multigraph based FCN construction methods where the graph network was built independently for each modality/paradigm, we proposed a multigraph learning model in this work. It promises a better fitting to FCN construction by jointly estimating brain network from multi‐paradigm fMRI time series, which may share common graph structures. To investigate the hub regions of the brain, we further conducted graph Fourier transform (GFT) to divide the fMRI BOLD time series of a node within the brain network into a range of frequencies. Then we identified the hub regions characterizing brain maturity through eigen‐analysis of the low frequency components, which were believed to represent the organized structures shared by a large population. The proposed method was evaluated using both synthetic and real data, which demonstrated its effectiveness in extracting informative brain connectivity patterns. We detected 14 hub regions from the child group and 12 hub regions from the young adult group. We show the significance of these findings with a discussion of their functions and activation patterns as a function of age. In summary, our proposed method can extract brain connectivity network more accurately by considering the latent common structures between different fMRI paradigms, which are significant for both understanding brain development and recognizing population groups of different ages.
The effect of alcohol sales restrictions on alcohol poisoning mortality: Evidence from Russia
Authors: Skorobogatov Alexander S.
Published: March 2021

This paper examines the tough anti‐alcohol legislation recently introduced in Russia, which due to regional variation allows it to be used as a natural experiment. The effect of the restricted trading hours on alcoholic poisoning mortality is estimated. To establish a causal link, difference‐in‐differences and synthetic controls are used. The main conclusion is that the sales restrictions lead to higher alcohol poisoning mortality, which implies that more toxic alcohol surrogates serve as substitutes for commercially available alcohol.
Dying from envy: The role of inequality
Authors: Japaridze Irakli , Sayour Nagham
Published: March 2021

We hypothesize that when interpersonal comparisons, often referred to as “keeping up with the Joneses”, are operational, relative deprivation (income inequality) results in increased likelihood of morbidity among lower income households. Using a simple theoretical model, we show that the larger the income disparities between “the Joneses” and “the followers”, the higher is the followers' expenditure on conspicuous consumption and the lower is their expenditure on health. We empirically test our hypotheses using Canadian data from the Canadian Community Health Survey and the Survey of Household Spending and US data from the National Health Interview Survey. We find that, in peer groups defined by geographic proximity of residence or similar socio‐economic background, larger income disparities are associated with higher spending by the followers on conspicuous consumption, lower health expenditure, worse self‐reported health and younger age at death.
The effects of structure, process and outcome incentives on primary care referrals to a national prevention programme
Authors: McManus Emma , Elliott Jack , Meacock Rachel , Wilson Paul , Gellatly Judith , Sutton Matt
Published: March 2021

Despite widespread use, evidence is sparse on whether financial incentives in healthcare should be linked to structure, process or outcome. We examine the impact of different incentive types on the quantity and effectiveness of referrals made by general practices to a new national prevention programme in England. We measured effectiveness by the number of referrals resulting in programme attendance. We surveyed local commissioners about their use of financial incentives and linked this information to numbers of programme referrals and attendances from 5170 general practices between April 2016 and March 2018. We used multivariate probit regressions to identify commissioner characteristics associated with the use of different incentive types and negative binomial regressions to estimate their effect on practice rates of referral and attendance. Financial incentives were offered by commissioners in the majority of areas (89%), with 38% using structure incentives, 69% using process incentives and 22% using outcome incentives. Compared to practices without financial incentives, neither structure nor process incentives were associated with statistically significant increases in referrals or attendances, but outcome incentives were associated with 84% more referrals and 93% more attendances. Outcome incentives were the only form of pay‐for‐performance to stimulate more participation in this national disease prevention programme.
Short and long‐term outcomes of three‐dimensional printed surgical guides and virtual surgical planning versus conventional methods for fibula free flap reconstruction of the mandible: Decreased nonunion and complication rates
Authors: May Matthew M. , Howe Benjamin M. , O'Byrne Thomas J. , Alexander Amy E. , Morris Jonathon M. , Moore Eric J. , Kasperbauer Jan L. , Janus Jeffrey R. , Van Abel Kathryn M. , Dickens Hunter J. , Price Daniel L.
Published: March 2021

Background

To determine whether virtual surgical planning and three‐dimensional printed cutting guides (3D/VSP) improved radiographic bone union compared to conventional methods (CM) in fibula free flap (FFF) reconstruction of the mandibles.

Methods

Retrospective study from the years 2000–2018 at a tertiary hospital. Osseous union was evaluated by a radiologist blinded to each patient's treatment.

Results

Two hundred sixty patients who underwent FFF tissue transfer, 28 with VSP and 3D cutting guides. Bony union was not achieved in 46 (20%) patients who underwent CM compared to 1 (4%) of patients with VSP and guides (p = 0.036). FFF complication was significantly higher in CM with 87 patients (38%) compared to three patients (11%) in 3D/VSP (p = 0.005). Median time to bony union for patients who underwent CM was 1.4 years compared to 0.8 years in 3D/VSP.

Conclusions

3D/VSP reduced the rate of radiographic nonunion and flap‐related complications in FFF reconstruction for mandibular defects.
High‐ionicity fluorophosphate lattice via aliovalent substitution as advanced cathode materials in sodium‐ion batteries
Authors: Gu Zhen‐Yi , Guo Jin‐Zhi , Zhao Xin‐Xin , Wang Xiao‐Tong , Xie Dan , Sun Zhong‐Hui , Zhao Chen‐De , Liang Hao‐Jie , Li Wen‐Hao , Wu Xing‐Long
Published: March 2021

As a cathode for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs), Na3V2(PO4)2F3 (NVPF) with 3D open framework is a promising candidate due to its high working voltage and large theoretical capacity. However, the severe capacity degradation and poor rate capability hinder its practical applications. The present study demonstrated the optimization of Na‐storage performance of NVPF via delicate lattice modulation. Aliovalent substitution of V3+ at Na+ in NVPF induces the generation of electronic defects and expansion of Na+‐migration channels, resulting in the enhancement in electronic conductivity and acceleration of Na+‐migration kinetics. It is disclosed that the formed stronger NaO bonds with high ionicity than VO bonds lead to the significant increase in structural stability and ionicity in the Na+‐substituted NVPF (NVPF‐Nax). The aforementioned effects of Na+ substitution achieve the unprecedented electrochemical performance in the optimized Na3.14V1.93Na0.07(PO4)2F3 (NVPF‐Na0.07). As a result, NVPF‐Na0.07 delivers a high‐rate capability (77.5 mAh g−1 at 20 C) and ultralong cycle life (only 0.027% capacity decay per cycle over 1000 cycles at 10 C). Sodium‐ion full cells are designed using NVPF‐Na0.07 as cathode and Se@reduced graphene oxide as anode. The full cells exhibit excellent wide‐temperature electrochemical performance from −25 to 25°C with an outstanding rate capability (96.3 mAh g−1 at 20 C). Furthermore, it delivered an excellent cycling performance over 300 cycles with a capacity retention exceeding 90% at 0.5 C under different temperatures. This study demonstrates a feasible strategy for the development of advanced cathode materials with excellent electrochemical properties to achieve high‐efficiency energy storage.

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Remaking Community With Art
Authors: Park Ahram , Vasudevan Lalitha
Published: March 2021

Authors featured in this department share anthropological perspectives and qualitative insights to redefine community in adolescent and adult literacy practice.
Light emitting diode‐red light for reduction of post‐surgical scarring: Results from a dose‐ranging, split‐face, randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kurtti Alana , Nguyen Julie K. , Weedon Jeremy , Mamalis Andrew , Lai Yi , Masub Natasha , Geisler Amaris , Siegel Daniel M. , Jagdeo Jared R.
Published: March 2021

Scarring has significant esthetic and functional consequences for patients. A need exists for anti‐scarring therapeutics. Light emitting diode‐red light (LED‐RL) has been shown to modulate skin fibrosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LED‐RL to reduce post‐operative scarring. Cutaneous Understanding of Red‐light Efficacy on Scarring was a randomized, mock‐controlled, single‐blind, dose‐ranging, split‐face phase II clinical trial. Starting 1 week post‐surgery, patients received LED‐RL irradiation and temperature‐controlled mock therapy to incision sites at fluences of 160, 320 or 480 J/cm2, triweekly for 3 weeks. Efficacy was assessed at 1, 3 and 6–12 months. The primary endpoint was difference in scar pliability between LED‐RL‐treated and control sites. Secondary outcomes included Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale, collagen and water concentration, and adverse events. There were no significant differences in scar pliability between treated and control scars. At certain fluences, treated scars showed greater improvements in observer rating and scar pliability, reflected by greater reductions in induration, from baseline to 6 months compared to control scars. Treatment‐site adverse events included blistering (n = 2) and swelling (n = 1), which were mild and resolved without sequelae. LED‐RL phototherapy is safe in the early postoperative period and may reduce scarring.
Supporting autonomy in youth mentoring relationships
Authors: Davis Amanda L. , McQuillin Samuel D.
Published: March 2021

The preference for and exercise of autonomous decision‐making in adolescence is a normative developmental process. Yet, increased autonomy is associated with both risks and benefits. Connection to others through positive relationships, including mentoring relationships, is one context that predicts healthy autonomous decision‐making. In other ways, such relationships can interfere or stifle the development of autonomy. In synthesizing the existing scientific literature on autonomy development and autonomy‐supportive practices, we propose a framework for considering the role of mentors in supporting autonomy through five domains of influence: role modeling, encouraging, providing access to resources, relationships, and experiences, advocacy, and conversations about behavior change. We provide suggestions for research and practice.
Vitamin D3supplementation does not enhance the effects of resistance training in older adults
Authors: Mølmen Knut Sindre , Hammarström Daniel , Pedersen Karianne , Lian Lie Anne Cecilie , Steile Ragnvald B. , Nygaard Håvard , Khan Yusuf , Hamarsland Håvard , Koll Lise , Hanestadhaugen Marita , Eriksen Atle Lie , Grindaker Eirik , Whist Jon Elling , Buck Daniel , Ahmad Rafi , Strand Tor A. , Rønnestad Bent R. , Ellefsen Stian
Published: March 2021

Background

Lifestyle therapy with resistance training is a potent measure to counteract age‐related loss in muscle strength and mass. Unfortunately, many individuals fail to respond in the expected manner. This phenomenon is particularly common among older adults and those with chronic diseases (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD) and may involve endocrine variables such as vitamin D. At present, the effects of vitamin D supplementation on responses to resistance training remain largely unexplored.

Methods

Ninety‐five male and female participants (healthy,n = 71; COPD,n = 24; age 68 ± 5 years) were randomly assigned to receive either vitamin D3or placebo supplementation for 28 weeks in a double‐blinded manner (latitude 61°N, September–May). Seventy‐eight participants completed the RCT, which was initiated by 12 weeks of supplementation‐only (two weeks with 10 000 IU/day, followed by 2000 IU/day), followed by 13 weeks of combined supplementation (2000 IU/day) and supervised whole‐body resistance training (twice weekly), interspersed with testing and measurements. Outcome measures included multiple assessments of muscle strength (nvariables = 7), endurance performance (n = 6), and muscle mass (n = 3, legs, primary), as well as muscle quality (legs), muscle biology (m. vastus lateralis; muscle fibre characteristics, transcriptome), and health‐related variables (e.g. visceral fat mass and blood lipid profile). For main outcome domains such as muscle strength and muscle mass, weighted combined factors were calculated from the range of singular assessments.

Results

Overall, 13 weeks of resistance training increased muscle strength (13% ± 8%), muscle mass (9% ± 8%), and endurance performance (one‐legged, 23% ± 15%; whole‐body, 8% ± 7%), assessed as weighted combined factors, and were associated with changes in health variables (e.g. visceral fat, −6% ± 21%; [LDL]serum, −4% ± 14%) and muscle tissue characteristics such as fibre type proportions (e.g. IIX, −3% points), myonuclei per fibre (30% ± 65%), total RNA/rRNA abundances (15%/6–19%), and transcriptome profiles (e.g. 312 differentially expressed genes). Vitamin D3supplementation did not affect training‐associated changes for any of the main outcome domains, despite robust increases in [25(OH)D]serum(∆49% vs. placebo). No conditional effects were observed for COPD vs. healthy or pre‐RCT [25(OH)D]serum. In secondary analyses, vitamin D3affected expression of gene sets involved in vascular functions in muscle tissue and strength gains in participants with high fat mass, which advocates further study.

Conclusions

Vitamin D3supplementation did not affect muscular responses to resistance training in older adults with or without COPD.
Comparison of methodologies to detect hemoglobinopathy carriers in a multi‐ethnic sperm donor population
Authors: Isley Lauren J. , Chamberlain Aleisha K. , Callum Pamela , Shamonki Jaime
Published: March 2021

An estimated 7% of the world's population are carriers for a hemoglobin disorder. Current guidelines recommend carrier screening by complete blood count, with follow‐up hemoglobin electrophoresis or fractionation based on abnormal result or ethnicity. Advances in molecular genetic testing are thought to increase carrier detection. This study compares carrier screening methodologies in a multi‐ethnic sperm donor population. A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from a US sperm bank. All men underwent carrier screening for hemoglobin disorders via complete blood count, hemoglobin fractionation, and molecular testing. Results were compared using counts and percentages. McNemar's exact test was used to examine differences in the marginal probabilities of screening methodologies. Of the 438 tested, 25 (5.7%) were identified as carriers of at least one hemoglobin disorder by molecular testing. Seventeen (68%) of those carriers were missed by recommended methods. No identified carriers were detected by recommended methods but missed by molecular testing. The difference between these discordant pairs was significant (p‐value < 0.001). The majority (44%) of carriers were mixed ethnicity, followed by 36% White. Results indicate that molecular screening methodologies have a greater ability to detect carriers of hemoglobin disorders compared to currently recommended methods in a multi‐ethnic population.
6 feet apart but working together
Authors: Redlinger‐Grosse Krista , Anderson Kimberly , Birkeland Laura , Zaleski Christina , Reiser Catherine
Published: March 2021

Prior to COVID‐19, the field of genetic counseling was responding to a workforce shortage in patient‐facing roles through efforts to increase the training capacity within existing programs, as well as development of new programs. These efforts were hindered by the number and capacity of fieldwork training sites. COVID‐19 heightened this barrier with a sudden restriction on student training for an indefinite period of time. The onset of these restrictions highlighted the need to think creatively and, more importantly, collaboratively for ways to not only expand but also maintain fieldwork training capacity.

Described here are two different collaborative efforts in response to pandemic‐related cancellations of important curriculum components: 1) the development of clinical simulation experiences and coursework shared between two ACGC accredited training programs; and 2) the creation of a virtual laboratory curriculum between an ACGC accredited training program and a non‐academic laboratory partner.

This Professional Issues paper illustrates how collaboration with our academic and non‐academic colleagues benefits students, training programs and non‐academic partners beyond the needs of the initial crisis of a global pandemic.
Mortality predictors among patients with HIV‐associated pulmonary tuberculosis in Northeast China: A retrospective cohort analysis
Authors: Wu Yongfeng , Yang Yang , Wei Huaying , Jia Lin , Jiang Taiyi , Tian Yakun , Guo Caiping , Zhang Yulin
Published: March 2021

The coexistence of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection leads to high morbidity and mortality in these populations. Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) has decreased TB incidence in HIV‐infected patients, this coexistence still prevails in China. Patients with HIV–PTB admitted to Beijing You An Hospital from 2014 to 2018 were retrospectively enrolled, and information on demographics, clinical characteristics, and laboratory findings were extracted from medical records. Predictors of death, including age (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR]: 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–1.05), tobacco use (AHR: 2.76; 95% CI: 1.54–4.94), history of tuberculosis (AHR: 3.53; 95% CI: 1.82–6.85), not being on ART (AHR: 2.94; 95% CI: 1.31–6.63), extrapulmonary tuberculosis (AHR: 2.391; 95% CI: 1.37–4.18), sputum smear positivity (AHR: 2.84; 95% CI: 1.61–4.99), CD4+ T cell count ≤ 50 cells/µl (AHR: 3.45; 95% CI: 1.95–6.10), and initiating ART ≥ 8 weeks after the initiation of antituberculous therapy (odds ratio: 3.30; 95% CI: 1.09–10.04). By contrast, there were no deaths among the six patients who began ART within 8 weeks after the initiation of antituberculous therapy. Age, tobacco use, not being on ART, extrapulmonary tuberculosis, sputum smear positivity, and CD4+ T cell count ≤50 cells/µl predict those patients at high risk of death among HIV‐infected patients with PTB, and the time of initiating ART after the initiation of antituberculous therapy is also important for prognosis.
Visualizing pre‐osteoarthritis: Integrating MRI UTE‐T2* with mechanics and biology to combat osteoarthritis—The 2019 Elizabeth Winston Lanier Kappa Delta Award
Authors: Chu Constance R. , Williams Ashley A. , Erhart‐Hledik Jennifer C. , Titchenal Matthew R. , Qian Yongxian , Andriacchi Thomas P.
Published: March 2021

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of pain and disability for which disease‐modifying treatments remain lacking. This is because the symptoms and radiographic changes of OA occur after the onset of likely irreversible changes. Defining and treating earlier disease states are therefore needed to delay or to halt OA progression. Taking this concept a step further, studying OA pathogenesis before disease onset by characterizing potentially reversible markers of increased OA risk to identify a state of “pre‐osteoarthritis (pre‐OA)” shifts the paradigm towards OA prevention. The purpose of this review is to summarize the 42 studies comprising the 2019 Kappa Delta Elizabeth Lanier Award where conceptualization of a systems‐based definition for “pre‐osteoarthritis (pre‐OA)” was followed by demonstration of potentially reversible markers of heightened OA risk in patients after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and reconstruction. In the process, these efforts contributed a new magnetic resonance imaging method of ultrashort echo time (UTE) enhanced T2* mapping to visualize joint tissue damage before the development of irreversible changes. The studies presented here support a transformative approach to OA that accounts for interactions between mechanical, biological, and structural markers of OA risk to develop and evaluate new treatment strategies that can delay or prevent the onset of clinical disease. This body of work was inspired by and performed for patients. Shifting the paradigm from attempting to modify symptomatic radiographic OA towards monitoring and reversing markers of “pre‐OA” opens the door for transforming the clinical approach to OA from palliation to prevention.
Yield and antiyield genes in common bean (Phaseolus vulgarisL.)
Authors: Reinprecht Yarmilla , Qi Yanzhou , Shahmir Fariba , Smith Thomas H. , Pauls Karl Peter
Published: March 2021

High yield is the primary criterion for the development of new cultivars at the University of Guelph common bean breeding program. As a complex trait, yield is encoded by a number of genes contributing minor effects while also being significantly affected by environmental factors. Genes that increase yield with fixed resources have their effects by increasing input use efficiency. When suppressed, theBnMicEmUPgene has a positive effect on seed production inArabidopsis. Preliminary work has shown that ortholog of this gene (Phvul.009G190100) exists in common bean, and its expression was negatively correlated with yield in a field test of 10 navy bean cultivars with different yield potentials. The aim of this research was to characterize thePhvul.009G190100gene and to develop gene‐based marker(s) to test for alleles associated with high yield in common bean. A database search identified a second yield‐related gene (Phvul.009G202100) on the same chromosome (Pv09), which is a homolog toPhvul.009G190100. Both genes contain a DUF1118 protein domain, which has the molecular characteristics of a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor, based on in silico analysis. Temperature switch polymerase chain reaction (PCR) markers, which were developed for both genes, were significantly associated with yield and maturity in 42 bean genotypes belonging to different market classes. The work will benefit bean breeding programs by making them more efficient in selecting high yielding cultivars, and it will directly benefit bean producers through accelerated access to new, high yielding cultivars.
When normative framing saves Mr. Nature: Role of consumer efficacy in proenvironmental adoption
Authors: Do Khoa T. , Wang Chen‐Ya , Guchait Priyanko
Published: March 2021

This study examines the proenvironmental persuasion of the so‐called normative framing that incorporates normative influence (i.e., social norms) into message framing (i.e., loss vs. gain). Across three green contexts (i.e., towel reuse, paperless adoption, and ugly food consumption), this study shows that normative gain is consistently more effective than both normative loss and pure normative influence in promoting proenvironmental act, which is particularly motivated by positively framed information under the prospect‐theoretic reasoning. This superior effect of normative gain is explained by the psychological sequence from collective efficacy to self‐efficacy as the serial underlying mechanism. This study further unveils the boundary condition of anthropomorphism in amplifying this superiority (i.e., Mr. Nature, happy earth face) and reveals that the advantageous effect of normative gain is stronger among those low in interdependent self‐construal. Our findings might provide helpful and relevant guidelines for businesses to operate sustainably by shifting their customers' behaviors to be greener.
Longitudinal Changes in Isolated Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder‐Related Metabolic Pattern Expression
Authors: Kim Ryul , Lee Jee‐Young , Kim Yu Kyeong , Kim Heejung , Yoon Eun Jin , Shin Jung Hwan , Yoo Dallah , Nam Hyunwoo , Jeon Beomseok
Published: March 2021

Background

It remains unclear whether and how the isolated rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD)‐related metabolic pattern (RBDRP) changes with disease progression in iRBD.

Objective

To examine longitudinal changes in RBDRP expression in iRBD patients and to explore trajectories of relative metabolic activities of individual brain regions constituting RBDRP.

Methods

In this cohort study, 25 iRBD patients (mean age [±standard deviation], 69.2 ± 5.3 years; 12 [48%] patients were men) and 24 age‐matched healthy controls were included. The patients underwent at least two18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scans at baseline and at the 2‐year and/or 4‐year follow‐ups. We measured the RBDRP expression of the patients and controls which was validated by reproduction in a separate iRBD cohort (n = 13).

Results

At baseline, the RBDRP expression discriminated iRBD patients from healthy controls. However, the RBDRP expression z scores tended to decrease over time in the patients, especially with longer follow‐ups, and this tendency was observed even in patients with high‐risk of phenoconversion. Furthermore, the degree of RBDRP expression at baseline did not predict the disease conversion. The RBDRP breakdown was mainly provoked by the attenuation of relative hypermetabolism in the frontal cortex including premotor areas and relative hypometabolism in the occipital cortex. The putaminal metabolic activity increased steadily with the disease progression.

Conclusions

The RBDRP expression in iRBD patients was altered significantly over time. Some of the brain metabolic changes seem to represent attempted functional compensation against ongoing neurodegeneration. The RBDRP expression measurement at one time point may not be a reliable biomarker for predicting disease conversion. © 2021 The Authors.Movement Disorderspublished by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Assessment of characteristics of surface solar irradiance on consecutive days using a self‐organizing map and clustering methods
Authors: Watanabe Takeshi , Oka Kazutaka , Hijioka Yasuaki
Published: March 2021

The assessment of surface solar irradiance as a resource is a major research topic in renewable energy. A method for assessing the characteristics of global horizontal solar irradiance (GHI) at the surface on consecutive days is proposed in this work. A self‐organizing map and cluster analysis are used as core analysis techniques in the proposed method. Using this method, the regional and seasonal characteristics of GHI for five consecutive days are analysed. One hour accumulated GHI data from ground observation stations in Japan are used. Time series assigned to each node on the topological map of the self‐organizing map are characterized by strength and variability. The probabilities of occurrence of each node on the map differ between stations. Then, using the probabilities as a feature vector for quantifying the characteristics of each observation station, a cluster analysis is conducted to divide stations into clusters according to the dissimilarity of the features. The results show that there are three major regions in which the station characteristics are similar in Japan. Additionally, another cluster analysis is conducted to investigate the seasonal characteristics of the occurrence of time series patterns. It is found that consecutive cloudy days occur frequently in winter and during the rainy season, whereas consecutive clear days occur frequently in spring and summer.
An empirical interpolation method for two‐dimensional vector fields and vector measurements
Authors: Silva Francesco A. B. , Lorenzi Stefano , Cammi Antonio
Published: March 2021

This article presents two extensions of the empirical interpolation method (EIM) designed to deal with vector interpolation problems. These reduced‐order modeling techniques are aimed at exploiting pointwise (vector) measurements to obtain the unknown field reconstruction and they are preferred to other, more efficient, techniques as the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) because of their intrinsic capability to identify measurement positions and to perform field reconstruction. The “EIM‐roto” method implements rotation matrix coefficients and should be intended as a composition of rotations and dilatations of the vector basis functions. The “EIM‐orto” implements diagonal matrices coefficients and can be intended as the interpolation, component by component, of the unknown vector field, projected on a fixed reference system. The two techniques are tested over the lid‐driven cavity benchmark, in laminar conditions. The results obtained on this study case highlight how the “EIM‐orto” interpolation does not allow a reliable reconstructions, while the “EIM‐roto” interpolation allows reconstruction performances close to the POD ones (here used as reference method). In particular, the worst reconstruction error, that is, the maximum L2 − norm of the residuals, decreases exponentially, reaching 5% with 25 basis functions. This result can be consider satisfactory, considering the nature of the problem.
How access to non‐farm income affects farm investment in rural India?
Authors: Zeeshan  , Khan Mohd Arshad , Khan Md Riyazuddin , Pandey Neena , Kaushik Isha , Hoda Md Nurul , Khatoon Noorsaba
Published: March 2021

This study examines the impact of non‐farm income on farm investment using a nationally representative dataset of 35,200 farm households in rural India. We find a heterogeneous effect of non‐farm participation on farm investment. Unconditional Quantile Regression (UQR) method has been applied to check whether farm investment differs between households with and without access to non‐farm incomes at diverse levels of farm investment quantiles. We found that non‐farm income has a positive and statistically significant impact on farm investment throughout all quantiles except the lowest quantile (0.25th quantile). Besides, we also found consistently rational results for our control variables. The results highlight the important role of non‐farm income in improving farm investment. Therefore, improvement in rural households' access to non‐farm employment opportunities could offer an effective mechanism to expedite productivity‐ augmenting investment to the farm.
Novel risk factors for glucarpidase use in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Hispanic ethnicity, age, and the ABCC4 gene
Authors: Zobeck Mark C. , Bernhardt M. Brooke , Kamdar Kala Y. , Rabin Karen R. , Lupo Philip J. , Scheurer Michael E.
Published: March 2021

Background

Carboxypeptidase G2 (CPDG2; glucarpidase) is a rescue drug for patients at risk for kidney injury from high‐dose methotrexate (MTX). As there are no strategies for predicting patients who will require CDPG2, we evaluated the role of demographic, clinical, and genetic factors for CPDG2 use.

Procedure

Cases who received CPDG2 and controls who did not were identified by chart review of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients who received MTX doses between 1000 and 5000 mg/m2 between 2010 and 2017. We used multivariable Bayesian logistic regression to evaluate the association of CPDG2 use with demographic and clinical variables and, on a subset of patients, with genetic ancestry and 49 single nucleotide variants previously associated with MTX toxicity.

Results

We identified 423 patients who received 1592 doses of MTX. Of the 18 patients who received CPDG2, 17 (94%) were Hispanic. No patients who received 1000 or 2000 mg/m2 of MTX received CPDG2. Hispanic ethnicity (odds ratio: 4.68; 95% compatibility interval: 1.63–15.06) and older age (1.87 [1.17–3.17]) were associated with receiving CPDG2. Of the 177 patients in the genomic cohort, 11 received CPDG2. Each additional G allele of rs7317112 in ABCC4 increased the odds of requiring CPDG2 (3.10 [1.12–6.75]). Six other loci (NTRK1/rs10908521, TSG1/rs9345389, STT3B/rs1353327, SCLO1B1/rs4149056, GATA3/rs3824662, ARID5B/rs10821936) demonstrated probabilities of association between 88% and 97%.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that demographic characteristics, including Hispanic ethnicity and age, are associated with CPDG2 use. Additionally, we provide evidence that inherited genetic variation is associated with risk of requiring CPDG2. If validated in independent populations, this information could be leveraged to develop targeted toxicity prevention strategies for children with ALL.
Contacting a single nanometer‐sized pinhole in the interfacial oxide of a poly‐silicon on oxide (POLO) solar cell junction
Authors: Bayerl Paul , Folchert Nils , Bayer Johannes , Dzinnik Marvin , Hollemann Christina , Brendel Rolf , Peibst Robby , Haug Rolf J.
Published: March 2021

The electrical current through poly‐Si on oxide (POLO) solar cells is mediated by tunneling and by nanometer‐sized pinholes in the interfacial oxide. To distinguish the two processes, a POLO junction with a measured pinhole density of 1 × 107 cm−2 is contacted by different contact areas ranging from 1 μm2 to 2.5 × 105 μm2, and the temperature‐dependent current–voltage curves are measured for the different devices. Model regressions to the measured curves, their temperature dependence, and the quantized value of contact resistances indicate average numbers of pinholes per device corresponding to the expected pinhole density. For the small contacts, the different transport processes can be studied separately, which facilitates further improvements in respect to the present‐day POLO junctions. Single‐pinhole transport is found for one of the contacts with an area of 1 μm2. Random telegraph noise observed for this device in the current–voltage characteristics shows a high sensitivity to single charges.
The function of root mat fungal communities: Changes in response to pH and phosphorus addition
Authors: Burke David J. , Carrino‐Kyker Sarah R. , Chervenak Catherine F. , Hoke Adam J. , Hewins Charlotte R.
Published: March 2021

Societal Impact Statement

Acid deposition affects forests in eastern North America, Europe, and eastern Asia, and reduces nutrient availability for forest trees. Reduced nutrient availability can reduce tree growth and forest productivity. Our research suggests that trees may rely on fungi, including mycorrhizal fungi, that colonize root mats near the soil surface for nutrient acquisition in forests subjected to acid‐induced nutrient limitation. These fungi may increase acquisition of nutrients from organic matter. Forest management practices that limit surface soil disturbance and damage to root mats, especially during timber harvesting activities, may be important for conserving forest productivity in regions subjected to acid deposition.

Many temperate forest soils are affected by a legacy of acid deposition, which can mobilize soil aluminum and reduce phosphorus (P) availability. These chemical changes are mostly manifest in mineral soil. However, many temperate trees have extensive shallow roots, or root mats, which are found on the surface of mineral soil. These root mats are in contact with the O horizon where substantial organic nutrients exist. But the role of root mats in accessing nutrients in nutrient limited, acidic soil is not well understood.

We examined root mat fungal communities and their function using an existing 6‐year ecosystem‐level pH and P manipulation experiment, which artificially increased pH by more than 1.5 units and increased available P threefold. Dominant fungal taxa on roots were identified using Sanger sequencing and broad community changes were assessed using DNA fragment analysis. Nutrient acquisition within root mats was assessed by measuring the extracellular enzyme activity in rhizosphere soil.

Fungal community structure changed with soil pH, while P availability altered extracellular enzyme production of phosphomonoesterase, β‐1,4‐glucosidase, and leucine aminopeptidase.Quercus–Fagusroot mats contained ectomycorrhizal fungi andAcerroots contained both ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Interestingly, bothAcerandQuercus–Fagusroot mats contained ericoid mycorrhizal fungi, which were less abundant at higher pH.

Our results suggest an important role of root mats in nutrient acquisition from organic sources in temperate forests. These root mats could assist plants in overcoming the legacy of acid deposition in temperate forests.
Relationship between anxiety symptoms, clinical control and quality of life of children with asthma: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Tomaz Barbosa Renata Ramos , Monteiro Karolinne Souza , Cavalcanti Maciel Álvaro Campos , da Silva Fernanda Elizabeth Pereira , Jales Lucas Menescal , Santino Thayla Amorim , do Amaral Cleia Teixeira , de Mendonça Karla Morganna Pereira Pinto
Published: March 2021

Objective

To investigate the relationship between anxiety symptoms and factors related to clinical control and quality of life of children with asthma aged 7–12 years.

Methods

A cross‐sectional comparative study involving children recruited from a reference center for asthma treatment in the city of Natal‐RN. Diagnosis, control and severity were performed following GINA recommendations (2019). Sociodemographic information and spirometry results from a bronchodilator test were collected. Modified Fisher's scale, clinical control questionnaires (c‐ACT and ACT), quality of life assessment (PAQLQ) (total score and domains) and anxiety symptoms assessment (SCAS) (total score and domains) were applied.

Results

The sample consisted of 42 children with asthma. Symptoms of social phobia (as identified by SCAS), and household head education were related to clinical asthma control (p = .006; R
2 = .19). Total SCAS score, guardian's education and physical activity were related to total PAQLQ (p < .0001; R
2 = .33). SCAS was related to the activity limitation domain of PAQLQ (p = .004; R
2 = .17). SCAS, gender, and physical activity were related to the PAQLQ symptoms domain (p = .003; R
2 = .32). The guardian's education, physical activity practice, and the symptoms of separation anxiety, panic attack and agoraphobia (as identified by SCAS) were related to the emotional domain of PAQLQ (p = .004; R
2 = .45).

Conclusion

The present study shows evidence of an association between anxiety symptoms, poorer clinical control, and health‐related quality of life in children with asthma.
Crystal structures of inhibitor complexes of M‐PMV protease with visible flap loops
Authors: Wosicki Stanislaw , Kazmierczyk Maciej , Gilski Miroslaw , Zabranska Helena , Pichova Iva , Jaskolski Mariusz
Published: March 2021

Mason‐Pfizer monkey virus protease (PR) was crystallized in complex with two pepstatin‐based inhibitors in P1 space group. In both crystal structures, the extended flap loops that lock the inhibitor/substrate over the active site, are visible in the electron density either completely or with only small gaps, providing the first observation of the conformation of the flap loops in dimeric complex form of this retropepsin. The H‐bond network in the active site (with D26N mutation) differs from that reported for the P21 crystal structures and is similar to a rarely occurring system in HIV‐1 PR.
Micro RNA‐induced gene silencing strategy for the delivery of siRNAs targeting Meloidogyne incognita in a model plant Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Hada Alkesh , Patil Basavaprabhu L , Bajpai Akansha , Kesiraju Karthik , Dinesh‐Kumar Savithramma , Paraselli Bheema , Sreevathsa Rohini , Rao Uma
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Occurrence of multiple biotic stresses on crop plants result in drastic yield losses which may have severe impact on the food security. It is a challenge to design strategies for simultaneous management of these multiple stresses. Hence, establishment of innovative approaches that aid in their management is critical. Here, we have introgressed a micro RNA‐induced gene silencing (MIGS) based combinatorial gene construct containing seven target gene sequences of cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD), cotton leaf hopper (Amrasca biguttula biguttula), cotton whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and root‐knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita).

RESULTS

Stable transgenic lines of Nicotiana benthamiana were generated with the T‐DNA harboring Arabidopsis miR173 target site fused to fragments of Sec23 and ecdysone receptor (EcR) genes of cotton leaf hopper and cotton whitefly. It also contained C2/replication associated protein (C2/Rep) and C4 (movement protein) along with βC1 gene of betasatellite to target CLCuD, and two FMRFamide‐like peptide (FLP) genes, Mi‐flp14 and Mi‐flp18 of M. incognita. These transgenic plants were assessed for the amenability of MIGS approach for pest control by efficacy evaluation against M. incognita. Results showed successful production of small interfering RNA (siRNA) through the tasiRNA (trans‐acting siRNA) pathway in the transgenic plants corresponding to Mi‐flp18 gene. Furthermore, we observed reduced Mi‐flp14 and Mi‐flp18 transcripts (up to 2.37 ± 0.12‐fold) in females extracted from transgenic plants. The average number of galls, total endoparasites, egg masses and number of eggs per egg mass reduced were in the range 27–62%, 39–70%, 38–65% and 34–49%, respectively. More importantly, MIGS transgenic plants showed 80% reduction in the nematode multiplication factor (MF).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates successful validation of the MIGS approach in the model plant, N. benthamiana for efficacy against M. incognita, as a prelude to translation to cotton. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Finite‐time energy‐to‐peak quantized filtering for Markov jump networked systems under weighted try‐once‐discard protocol
Authors: Shen Hao , Ru Tingting , Xia Jianwei , Cao Jinde , Wang Jing
Published: March 2021

This work addresses the finite‐time energy‐to‐peak filtering issue for networked systems subject to quantization effects and the weighted try‐once‐discard (WTOD) protocol, in which the random changes of coupling connections are governed by a Markov chain. To avoid the conflict in data transmission, the WTOD protocol is introduced to the communication between the sensor node and the filter, which guarantees that just one sensor node has access to send data at each transmission instant. In addition, the quantizer is employed to improve the reliability of data transmission. The objective of this article is to construct a filter such that the filtering error system satisfies the requirements of both the finite‐time boundary and the specified energy‐to‐peak performance. Based on the Kronecker product, the Lyapunov stability theory and an improved matrix decoupling method, some sufficient conditions are established through disposing of convex optimization issues. Ultimately, the availability of the designed filter is illustrated via a numerical example.
Emergence and Future of Exsolved Materials
Authors: Kousi Kalliopi , Tang Chenyang , Metcalfe Ian S. , Neagu Dragos
Published: March 2021

Supported nanoparticle systems have received increased attention over the last decades because of their potential for high activity levels when applied to chemical conversions, although, because of their nanoscale nature, they tend to exhibit problems with long‐term durability. Over the last decade, the discovery of the so‐called exsolution concept has addressed many of these challenges and opened many other opportunities to material design by providing a relatively simple, single‐step, synthetic pathway to produce supported nanoparticles that combine high stability against agglomeration and poisoning with high activity across multiple areas of application. Here, the trends that define the development of the exsolution concept are reviewed in terms of design, functionality, tunability, and applicability. To support this, the number of studies dedicated to both fundamental and application‐related studies, as well as the types of metallic nanoparticles and host or support lattices employed, are examined. Exciting future directions of research are also highlighted.
Rise of the DIS structure function FL at small x caused by double-logarithmic corrections
Authors: Ermolaev B. I. , Troyan S. I.
Published: March 2021

Abstract

We present calculation of FL in the double-logarithmic approximation (DLA) and demonstrate that the synergic effect of the factor 1/x from the $$ {\alpha}_s^2 $$

α
s
2

-order and the steep x-dependence of the totally resummed double logarithmic contributions of higher orders ensures the power-like rise of FL at small x and arbitrary Q2.
Holographic complexity of LST and single trace $$ T\overline{T} $$
Authors: Chakraborty Soumangsu , Katoch Gaurav , Roy Shubho R.
Published: March 2021

Abstract

In this work, we continue our study of string theory in the background that interpolates between AdS3 in the IR to flat spacetime with a linear dilaton in the UV. The boundary dual theory interpolates between a CFT2 in the IR to a certain two-dimensional Little String Theory (LST) in the UV. In particular, we study computational complexity of such a theory through the lens of holography and investigate the signature of non-locality in the short distance behavior of complexity. When the cutoff UV scale is much smaller than the non-locality (Hagedorn) scale, we find exotic quadratic and logarithmic divergences (for both volume and action complexity) which are not expected in a local quantum field theory. We also generalize our computation to include the effects of finite temperature. Up to second order in finite temperature correction, we do not any find newer exotic UV-divergences compared to the zero temperature case.
New AdS2 backgrounds and $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 conformal quantum mechanics
Authors: Lozano Yolanda , Nunez Carlos , Ramirez Anayeli , Speziali Stefano
Published: March 2021

Abstract

We present a new infinite family of Type IIB backgrounds with an AdS2 factor, preserving $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 SUSY. For each member of the family we propose a precise dual Super Conformal Quantum Mechanics (SCQM). We provide holographic expressions for the number of vacua (the “central charge”), Chern-Simons terms and other non-perturbative aspects of the SCQM. We relate the “central charge” of the one-dimensional system with a combination of electric and magnetic fluxes in Type IIB. The Ramond-Ramond fluxes are used to propose an extremisation principle for the central charge. Other physical and geometrical aspects of these conformal quantum mechanics are analysed.