bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Combined tests with Xpert MTB/RIF assay with bronchoalveolar lavage fluid increasing the diagnostic performance of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis in Eastern China
Authors: Liu Qiao , Ji Ye , Martinez Leonardo , Lu Wei , Shi Xudong , Wang Jianming , Zeng Yi 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global public health threat. Misdiagnosis and delayed therapy of sputum smear-negative TB can affect the treatment outcomes and promote pathogen transmission. The application of Xpert MTB/RIF assay in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) has been recommended but needs clinical evidence. We carried out a prospective study in the Nanjing Public Health Medical Center from September 2018 to August 2019. Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients were enrolled in the study if they had negative results of sputum smear. We compared the performance of Xpert MTB/RIF assay in sputum and BALF using sputum culture as the reference. In addition to this, we applied parallel tests using sputum culture, sputum-based Xpert MTB/RIF assay and BALF-based Xpert MTB/RIF assay to jointly detect smear-negative PTB using clinical diagnosis as the reference. With mycobacterial culture as the reference standard, Xpert MTB/RIF of BALF showed a higher sensitivity (14/16, 87.5%), but a relatively lower specificity (57/92, 62.0%). Xpert MTB/RIF of sputum showed relatively lower sensitivity (6/10, 60.0%) and higher specificity (63/88, 71.6%). Compared with sputum culture, Xpert MTB /RIF assay reduced the median detection time of MTB from 30 to 0 days, which significantly shortened the diagnosis time of the smear-negative TB patients. Among the combined detections, the positive detection proportion was improved with significant differences comparing with sputum culture only, from 11.1% (10/90) to 46.7% (42/90) (P < 0.05). Our study showed Xpert MTB/RIF in BALF had a better performance in detecting MTB of smear-negative patients.
High‐Density Seismic Refraction Imaging of Plate‐Boundary Structures in the Slow Earthquake Gap Zone off Western Kii Peninsula, Nankai Trough
Authors: Qin Yanfang , Fujie Gou , Kodaira Shuichi , Nakamura Yasuyuki , Kaiho Yuka , No Tetsuo , Obana Koichiro , Miura Seiichi 
Published: December 2020

AbstractDespite recent observations of slow earthquakes along the Nankai subduction zone, none have been reported in the central Nankai Trough between the Kii Channel and Cape Shionomisaki. In November 2018, a very dense array of 96 ocean‐bottom seismometers were deployed by JAMSTEC to acquire active‐source seismic refraction dataset (supplemented by a multichannel seismic reflection profile) from the seaward side of the subduction trough to the accretionary prism off Cape Shionomisaki. We applied traveltime tomography to the refraction data to constrain the P wave velocity down to the upper mantle, coordinating with a migrated seismic reflection profile to confirm the depth of the Moho and interpret shallower structural features. From a comparison with a transect across the Kumano basin, we conclude that structural and physical differences between these two locations, especially the geometry of the subducting plate surface, lead to different slow earthquake activities.
Caspian Sea and Black Sea Response to Greenhouse Warming in a High‐Resolution Global Climate Model
Authors: Huang Lei , Lee Sun‐Seon , Timmermann Axel 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe Caspian Sea and the Black Sea are the Earth's largest inland seas. How their temperature, circulation, and freshwater balance will respond to greenhouse warming remains unresolved. Previous studies have relied on coarse‐resolution coupled or regional uncoupled climate models with limited abilities to resolve regional features. Here, we present results from century‐long greenhouse warming simulations conducted with the Community Earth System Model using a global horizontal resolution of 1/10° in the ocean and inland seas and 1/4° in the atmosphere. In response to CO2 doubling surface temperatures in the inland seas increase by about 2.5°C. An overall reduction of wind stress curl causes a spin‐down of the main gyre circulations, reaching about −20%/CO2 doubling for the Black Sea Rim Current. Increased future evaporation translates to negative equivalent sea level trends of about −0.1 m/year/CO2 doubling. The robust climate shifts presented here are likely to impact ecosystems, fisheries, and threaten existing coastal infrastructures.
Recent Shift in the Warming of the Southern Oceans Modulated by Decadal Climate Variability
Authors: Wang Lina , Lyu Kewei , Zhuang Wei , Zhang Weiwei , Makarim Salvienty , Yan Xiao‐Hai 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIt has been reported that the Southern Hemisphere oceans experienced rapid warming during the decade‐long global surface warming slowdown (2003–2012) and the earlier period of the Argo record (2006–2013). In this study, we analyze updated observations to show that this rapid warming has slowed down, leading to less contribution of the Southern Hemisphere oceans to the global ocean heat storage (∼65% over the available Argo period 2006–2019). Two warming hotspot regions, the southeast Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, have experienced cooling over 2013–2019. This decadal shift is related to variations in the Southern Annular Mode and Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation. The isopycnal deepening (shoaling) forced by changing winds dominated the regional ocean temperature changes over the earlier warming (later cooling) period. Our finding demonstrates how decadal variability modulates long‐term climate change and provides important observational information for the ongoing calibration of decadal prediction systems.
Diurnal Ocean Surface Warming Drives Convective Turbulence and Clouds in the Atmosphere
Authors: de Szoeke Simon P. , Marke Tobias , Brewer W. Alan 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSunlight warms sea surface temperature (SST) under calm winds, increasing atmospheric surface buoyancy flux, turbulence, and mixed layer (ML) depth in the afternoon. The diurnal range of SST exceeded 1°C for 24% of days in the central tropical Indian Ocean during the Dynamics of the Madden Julian Oscillation experiment in October‐December 2011. Doppler lidar shows enhancement of the strength and height of convective turbulence in the atmospheric ML over warm SST in the afternoon. The turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) dissipation rate of the marine atmospheric ML scales with surface buoyancy flux like previous measurements of convective MLs. The time of enhanced ML TKE dissipation rate is out of phase with the buoyancy flux generated by nocturnal net radiative cooling of the atmosphere. Diurnal atmospheric convective turbulence over the ocean mixes moisture from the ocean to the lifting condensation level and forms afternoon clouds.
Characteristic Scales of Drainage Reorganization in Cascadia
Authors: Struble William T. , Roering Joshua J. , Dorsey Rebecca J. , Bendick Rebecca 
Published: December 2020

AbstractVariations in uplift, erosion, climate, and bedrock are commonly invoked as key controls on drainage basin morphology, yet the scale of landforms that define changes in regional drainage networks has not been addressed, limiting our ability to predict their planform evolution. Here we use two‐dimensional (2D) continuous wavelet transforms of topography in Cascadia to highlight dominant topographic features at different scales. Surprisingly, our wavelet analysis shows that for wavelengths >30 km, the Cascadia Forearc Lowland (CFL) spans the entire margin. Separately, we compare observed catchment boundaries with synthetic boundaries generated on topography filtered with 2D Gaussian functions. We observe reorganization of synthetic drainage networks from an arc‐to‐coast drainage system into arc‐spanning, margin‐parallel river systems, akin to the modern Willamette River and coincident with the CFL. In concert with field observations of stream capture and Willamette Valley expansion, we propose that the Cascadia forearc is actively transitioning to a predominately margin‐parallel river system.
Survival of the enveloped bacteriophage Phi6 (a surrogate for SARS-CoV-2) in evaporated saliva microdroplets deposited on glass surfaces
Authors: Fedorenko Aliza , Grinberg Maor , Orevi Tomer , Kashtan Nadav 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSurvival of respiratory viral pathogens in expelled saliva microdroplets is central to their transmission, yet the factors that determine survival in such microdroplets are not well understood. Here we combine microscopy imaging with virus viability assays to study survival of three bacteriophages suggested as good models for respiratory pathogens: the enveloped Phi6 (a surrogate for SARS-CoV-2), and the non-enveloped PhiX174 and MS2. We measured virus viability in human saliva microdroplets, SM buffer, and water following deposition on glass surfaces at various relative humidities (RH). Saliva and water microdroplets dried out rapidly, within minutes, at all tested RH levels (23%, 43%, 57%, and 78%), while SM microdroplets remained hydrated at RH ≥ 57%. Generally, the survival of all three viruses in dry saliva microdroplets was significantly greater than those in SM buffer and water under all RH (except PhiX174 in water under 57% RH survived the best among 3 media). Thus, atmosphere RH and microdroplet hydration state are not sufficient to explain virus survival, indicating that the virus-suspended medium, and association with saliva components in particular, likely play a role in virus survival. Uncovering the exact properties and components that make saliva a favorable environment for the survival of viruses, in particular enveloped ones like Phi6, is thus of great importance for reducing transmission of viral respiratory pathogens including SARS-CoV-2.
Demographic analyses of a new sample of haploid genomes from a Swedish population of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Kapopoulou Adamandia , Kapun Martin , Pieper Bjorn , Pavlidis Pavlos , Wilches Ricardo , Duchen Pablo , Stephan Wolfgang , Laurent Stefan 
Published: December 2020

AbstractEuropean and African natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster have been the focus of several studies aiming at inferring demographic and adaptive processes based on genetic variation data. However, in these analyses little attention has been given to gene flow between African and European samples. Here we present a dataset consisting of 14 fully sequenced haploid genomes sampled from a natural population from the northern species range (Umeå, Sweden). We co-analyzed this new data with an African population to compare the likelihood of several competing demographic scenarios for European and African populations and show that gene flow improves the fit of demographic models to data.
Uncovering the chemistry behind inducible morphological defences in the crustacean Daphnia magna via micro-Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Ritschar Sven , Bangalore Narayana Vinay Kumar , Rabus Max , Laforsch Christian 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe widespread distribution of Crustacea across every aquatic ecological niche on Earth is enabled due to their exoskeleton's versatile properties. Especially mineralization of the exoskeleton provides protection against diverse environmental threats. Thereby, the exoskeleton of some entomostracans is extremely phenotypically plastic, especially in response to predators. For instance, the freshwater zooplankton Daphnia forms conspicuous inducible morphological defenses, such as helmets, and can increase the stability of its exoskeleton, which renders them less vulnerable to predation. In this study, we reveal for the first time the chemical composition of the exoskeleton of Daphniamagna, using Raman spectroscopy, to be composed of α-chitin and proteins with embedded amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC). Furthermore, we reveal the exoskeleton's chemical changes associated with inducible defense mechanisms in the form of more substantial mineralization, which is probably correlated with enhanced carapace stability. We, therefore, highlight the importance of calcium-biominerals for inducible morphological defenses in Daphnia.
Clinical features of BK-polyomavirus and cytomegalovirus co-infection after kidney transplantation
Authors: Jehn Ulrich , Schütte-Nütgen Katharina , Bautz Joachim , Pavenstädt Hermann , Suwelack Barbara , Thölking Gerold , Reuter Stefan 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBK polyomavirus (BKPyV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) are the main viral pathogens affecting the graft and recipient outcome after allogenic kidney transplantation. It has recently been found that infection with both viruses has a greater impact on kidney graft function than a single infection. We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 723 recipients who received kidney transplantation between 2007 and 2015 after living and postmortal donation for differences in risk and outcome parameters regarding BKPyV (DNAemia) and CMV (CMV DNAemia) co-infection compared to sole viremias and to patients without viremia. Of all kidney allograft recipients in our cohort, 8.2% developed co-infection with BKPyV DNAemia and CMV DNAemia, 15.1% showed BKPyV viremia alone and 25.2% sole CMV DNAemia. Acute rejection was closely linked with co-infection (multivariable analysis, p = 0.001). Despite the fact that the estimated glomerular filtration rate of patients with co-infection was noticeably reduced compared to patients with BKV or CMV infection alone, transplant survival and patient survival were not significantly reduced. Co-infection with BKPyV and CMV in kidney transplanted patients is significantly associated with inferior allograft function. Since co-infection is strongly associated with acute rejection, co-infected individuals should be considered a risk collective.
Physical distancing and risk of COVID-19 in small-scale fisheries: a remote sensing assessment in coastal Ghana
Authors: Okyere Isaac , Chuku Ernest O. , Ekumah Bernard , Angnuureng Donatus B. , Boakye-Appiah Justice K. , Mills David J. , Babanawo Raymond , Asare Noble K. , Aheto Denis W. , Crawford Brian 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe novel coronavirus is predicted to have dire implications on global food systems including fisheries value chains due to restrictions imposed on human movements in many countries. In Ghana, food production, both agriculture and fisheries, is exempted from restrictions as an essential service. The enforcement of COVID-19 prevention protocols, particularly social distancing, has been widely reported in Ghana’s agricultural markets whereas casual observations and media reports on fish landing sites suggest no such enforcements are in place. This study aimed to provide sound scientific evidence as a basis for informed policy direction and intervention for the artisanal fishing sector in these challenging times. We employed an unmanned aerial vehicle in assessing the risk of artisanal fishers to the pandemic using physical distancing as a proxy. From analysis of cumulative distribution function (G-function) of the nearest-neighbour distances, this study underscored crowding at all surveyed fish landing beaches, and identified potential “hotspots” for disease transmission. Aerial measurements taken at times of peak landing beach activity indicated that the highest proportion of people, representing 56%, 48%, 39% and 78% in Elmina, Winneba, Apam and Mumford respectively, were located at distances of less than one metre from their nearest neighbour. Risk of crowding was independent of the population at the landing beaches, suggesting that all categories of fish landing sites along the coast would require equal urgency and measured attention towards preventing and mitigating the spread of the disease.
Indirect overgrowth as a synthesis route for superior diamond nano sensors
Authors: Findler Christoph , Lang Johannes , Osterkamp Christian , Nesládek Miloš , Jelezko Fedor 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy ($$\hbox {NV}^{-}$$

NV
-

) center shows excellent spin properties and sensing capabilities on the nanoscale even at room temperature. Shallow implanted $$\hbox {NV}^{-}$$

NV
-

centers can effectively be protected from surface noise by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond overgrowth, i.e. burying them homogeneously deeper in the crystal. However, the origin of the substantial losses in $$\hbox {NV}^{-}$$

NV
-

centers after overgrowth remains an open question. Here, we use shallow $$\hbox {NV}^{-}$$

NV
-

centers to exclude surface etching and identify the passivation reaction of NV to NVH centers during the growth as the most likely reason. Indirect overgrowth featuring low energy (2.5–5 keV) nitrogen ion implantation and CVD diamond growth before the essential annealing step reduces this passivation phenomenon significantly. Furthermore, we find higher nitrogen doses to slow down the NV–NVH conversion kinetics, which gives insight into the sub-surface diffusion of hydrogen in diamond during growth. Finally, nano sensors fabricated by indirect overgrowth combine tremendously enhanced $$T_2$$

T
2

and $$T_2^*$$

T
2
∗

times with an outstanding degree of depth-confinement which is not possible by implanting with higher energies alone. Our results improve the understanding of CVD diamond overgrowth and pave the way towards reliable and advanced engineering of shallow $$\hbox {NV}^{-}$$

NV
-

centers for future quantum sensing devices.
In-depth blood proteome profiling analysis revealed distinct functional characteristics of plasma proteins between severe and non-severe COVID-19 patients
Authors: Park Joonho , Kim Hyeyoon , Kim So Yeon , Kim Yeonjae , Lee Jee-Soo , Dan Kisoon , Seong Moon-Woo , Han Dohyun 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected over forty million patients worldwide. Although most coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients have a good prognosis, some develop severe illness. Markers that define disease severity or predict clinical outcome need to be urgently developed as the mortality rate in critical cases is approximately 61.5%. In the present study, we performed in-depth proteome profiling of undepleted plasma from eight COVID-19 patients. Quantitative proteomic analysis using the BoxCar method revealed that 91 out of 1222 quantified proteins were differentially expressed depending on the severity of COVID-19. Importantly, we found 76 proteins, previously not reported, which could be novel prognostic biomarker candidates. Our plasma proteome signatures captured the host response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, thereby highlighting the role of neutrophil activation, complement activation, platelet function, and T cell suppression as well as proinflammatory factors upstream and downstream of interleukin-6, interleukin-1B, and tumor necrosis factor. Consequently, this study supports the development of blood biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets to aid clinical decision-making and subsequently improve prognosis of COVID-19.
Coordinated operation of hydrogen refuelling and fast charging combo station under normal and contingent conditions
Authors: Bao Zhiyuan , You Shi , Hu Zechun , Wen Yilin 
Published: December 2020

AbstractFuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are rapidly growing owing to the increased public awareness of energy and environmental issues. Infrastructure for hydrogen production, transportation, and allocation is essential for FCEV promotion. For consumers, availability of few hydrogen refuelling stations is the primary concern. Currently, public charging infrastructure for battery electric vehicles, for example, fast charging station, has a more widespread coverage compared to infrastructure for hydrogen refuelling. With an electrolyser, the existing power grid can be used as an alternative to hydrogen supply and transportation infrastructure, which is still being developed. The authors propose a new conceptual combo station acting as both a hydrogen refuelling station and a fast charging station. This station can satisfy the requirement of FCEVs and battery electric vehicles, and even operate under a blackout situation. To quantify the value of coordinated operation, an optimal operation formulation of a combo station is developed. It is found that such a combo station is capable of saving land rents, reducing power network reinforcement cost, and boosting energy self‐balance capability under blackout condition.
Key index framework for quantitative sustainability assessment of energy infrastructures in a smart city: An example of Western Sydney
Authors: Yang Jiajia , Liu Hangyue , Wang Yuxuan , Qiu Zihang , Dong Zhaoyang , Suzuki Tadashi , Noguchi Toshihide , Watabe Masaharu 
Published: December 2020

AbstractHuman society is experiencing a rapidly changing environment in which energy shortages and an ongoing climate crisis have been identified as two of the major challenges to the sustainable development of human civilization. In the face of these challenges, the concept of a smart city is proposed which aims at achieving sustainable development, increasing the quality of life, and improving the cost‐effectiveness of existing and new energy infrastructures. To this end, this study proposes a general framework with a three‐tier story chart for guiding the establishment of sustainability assessment models and the selection of their indicators. In addition, a quantitative analysis method is developed for assessing the sustainability of energy infrastructures in a smart city, which indicates how the long‐term sustainability of the energy infrastructure can be achieved. The proposed method incorporates extensive environmental, economic, and social indicators, which go beyond conventional facility‐level criteria and seamlessly relate to the broader community that benefits from the renewable energy transition (including energy construction, operations, and energy services). The proposed methodologies can be implemented through collecting the corresponding history data of the indicators and following the analysis procedures presented in this study. The proposed methodology can serve as a supporting tool for decision‐making on new infrastructure investment and policymaking toward sustainable development. Case studies in Western Sydney were carried out to demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed methodologies.
Transnational power‐transaction model considering transaction costs under the support of consortium blockchain
Authors: Feng Yingchun , Fan Jie , Chen Hao , Wang Qixin , Wang Beibei , Wang Jiale 
Published: December 2020

AbstractTransnational power trading can promote the development of global energy Internet, which can enable various countries and regions to optimize the allocation of resources on a larger scale. However, transnational electricity trading still faces many challenges. First, the issues of trust, member management, and huge transaction volume hinder the development of transnational power trading. Second, the issues of considering the differences among countries and establishing a reasonable and efficient transnational power market trading mechanism are also particularly important. The emergence of a consortium‐blockchain technology provides a new idea of solving these problems. The distributed‐ledger technology and member‐management services of a consortium blockchain can solve the problems of trust in the transnational power transaction and access the review of market subjects. Simultaneously, the chain‐code technology can be used to improve the efficiency of transactions. Therefore, according to the actual needs of transnational power transactions, the applicability of the consortium‐blockchain technology was analysed. Then, a mathematical model of transnational power transactions that considered the transaction costs was designed, and simulation tests were conducted on Hyperledger Fabric. The calculation example shows that the proposed transaction model plays a positive role and significance in promoting transnational power transactions and stabilizing the market.