bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comprehensive benefits evaluation and its spatial simulation for well‐facilitated farmland projects in the Huang‐Huai‐Hai Region of China
Authors: Wang Xiaoqing , Shi Wenjiao , Sun Xiaofang , Wang Meng 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe establishment of well‐facilitated farmland in recent years has played a key role in addressing the issues of land fragmentation and food security in China. However, few researches focused on the spatially explicit simulation of comprehensive benefit levels (CBL) of well‐facilitated farmland projects in each 1 km × 1 km grid. Here, we analyzed the CBL of well‐facilitated farmland projects in the Huang‐Huai‐Hai Region (HHHR) of China during the 12th Five‐Year Plan period (2011–2015) using 568 questionnaires. Furthermore, we proposed a method based on a logistic regression model to analyze the CBL‐affecting factors and predicted the probability of high, middle, and low CBL in each 1 km × 1 km grid. The results showed that there were significant regional and interprovincial differences in the comprehensive benefits evaluation results. The projects with medium and high comprehensive benefits values were mainly located in southern Hebei Province, western Shandong Province, and southeastern Henan Province. The economic and social benefits of the projects in the plain areas contributed greatly to the increase in the comprehensive benefits of farmland. In contrast, the ecological benefits were greater for the projects in mountainous and hilly areas. The spatial prediction results indicated that 42.5% (22.5 million ha) of the HHHR, mainly distributed in plain areas, was predicted to have a high CBL with a probability of more than 0.5. Our findings are essential for governments to examine the construction benefit in this period, and the spatially predicted CBL probabilities can be used as a reference for well‐facilitated farmland layouts and future planning.
Narrow‐leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) β‐conglutin: A multifunctional family of proteins with roles in plant defence, human health benefits, and potential uses as functional food
Authors: Jimenez‐Lopez Jose C. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractLupinus angustifolius or narrow‐leafed lupin (NLL) is an important Pulse world‐wide and an outstanding alternative source of high quality proteins. NLL β‐conglutin (vicilin or 7S acid globulin), a multigene family of proteins, is the main representative protein in NLL seeds exhibiting multifunctional properties and benefits recently discovered. These functions may result from specific structural features of NLL β‐conglutins in comparison with most legume vicilin proteins. From the agricultural side, NLL β‐conglutin proteins (1a) exert antifungal properties promoting enhanced plant resistance to necrotrophic oomycete pathogens and (1b) displaying functional interplay between storage protein mobilization and seed oxidative metabolism as a functional regulatory and signalling crossroad for the control of physiological underlying processes of the seed dormancy breakage and release, during germination, and seedling growth. NLL β‐conglutins benefits go beyond nutritional properties because displayed nutraceutical functions make them an outstanding source of innovative ingredients for functional food. They have antioxidant activity and anti‐inflammatory properties, which are able to improve inflammatory‐related diseases such as type 2 diabetes through (a) regulation of insulin signalling pathway, (b) improving insulin sensitivity, (c) facilitating glucose uptake by cells, (d) together with their capacity for balancing the oxidative homeostasis, metabolic, and signalling pathways (e) while reducing reactive oxygen specie production and increase cellular oxidative defence capacity. Interestingly, NLL β‐conglutins also display anti‐nutritional properties as proteins capable to elicit allergic responses in sensitized individuals. This review outlines newly discovered knowledge of the narrow‐leafed lupin β‐conglutin proteins drawing on information gained from structure‐functional properties, agriculture benefits, as well as nutraceutics and molecular allergy point of views.
Kerker‐Type Intensity‐Gradient Force of Light
Authors: Xu Xiaohao , Nieto‐Vesperinas Manuel , Qiu Cheng‐Wei , Liu Xiaoshuai , Gao Dongliang , Zhang Yao , Li Baojun 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe intensity gradient of light represents the most important property for optical tweezers to manipulate small particles, which is known to produce a conservative optical force that is either attractive or repulsive. Here, it is shown that Kerker interference, the interplay between electric and magnetic dipoles induced in nanoparticles, permits the intensity gradient to exert a nonconservative optical force, in the case of a standard optical trap created with linearly or elliptically polarized Gaussian beams. The Kerker‐type intensity‐gradient force has an “anisotropic” directionality, and it tends to repel particles away from the beam axis. Such repulsive effects can greatly sensitize the particle trapping behavior of optical tweezers to the particle size. Utilizing these peculiar properties, all‐optical sorting of Si nanoparticles is theoretically demonstrated, with tunable size‐selection criterion and accuracy.
Whole exome sequencing establishes diagnosis of Charcot–Marie–Tooth 4J, 1C, and X1 subtypes
Authors: Michaelidou Kleita , Tsiverdis Ioannis , Erimaki Sophia , Papadimitriou Dimitra , Amoiridis Georgios , Papadimitriou Alexandros , Mitsias Panayiotis , Zaganas Ioannis 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundCharcot–Marie–Tooth (CMT) hereditary polyneuropathies pose a diagnostic challenge. Our aim here is to describe CMT patients diagnosed by whole exome sequencing (WES) following years of fruitless testing.Methods/ResultsThree patients with polyneuropathy suspected to be genetic in origin, but not harboring PMP22 gene deletion/duplication, were offered WES. The first patient, a 66‐year‐old man, had been suffering from progressive weakness and atrophies in the lower and upper extremities for 20 years. Due to ambiguous electrophysiological findings, immune therapies were administered to no avail. Twelve years after PMP22 deletion/duplication testing, WES revealed two pathogenic variants in the FIG4 gene (p.Ile41Thr and p.Phe598fs, respectively), as a cause of CMT 4J. The second patient, a 19‐year‐old man, had been suffering from hearing and gait impairment since at least his infancy, and recently presented with weakness and dystonia of the lower extremities. In this patient, WES identified the p.Leu122Val LITAF gene variant in heterozygous state, suggesting the diagnosis of CMT 1C, several years after initial genetic analyses. The third patient, a 44‐year‐old man, presented with progressive weakness and atrophies of the lower and upper extremities since the age of 17 years old. In this patient, WES identified the hemizygous p.Arg164Gln pathogenic variant in the GJB1 gene, establishing the diagnosis of CMT X1, 8 years after testing for PMP22 deletion/duplication.ConclusionNovel diagnostic techniques, such as WES, offer the possibility to decipher the cause of CMT subtypes, ending the diagnostic Odyssey of the patients and sparing them from unnecessary and potentially harmful treatments.
Genome sequencing identifies a homozygous inversion disrupting QDPR as a cause for dihydropteridine reductase deficiency
Authors: Lilleväli Hardo , Pajusalu Sander , Wojcik Monica H. , Goodrich Julia , Collins Ryan L. , Murumets Ülle , Tammur Pille , Blau Nenad , Lilleväli Kersti , Õunap Katrin 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundDihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) is one of the key enzymes for maintaining in the organism the supply of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), an essential cofactor for aromatic amino acid hydroxylases. Its dysfunction causes the condition of hyperphenylalaninemia together with the lack of neurotransmitters.MethodsWe report a patient with biochemically diagnosed DHPR deficiency, with extensive molecular investigations undertaken to detect variations in quinoid dihydropteridine reductase (QDPR) gene. Sanger sequencing of QDPR coding regions, exome sequencing, QDPR mRNA PCR, and karyotyping were followed by trio genome sequencing.ResultsShort‐read genome sequencing revealed a homozygous 9‐Mb inversion disrupting QDPR. Structural variant breakpoints in chromosome 4 were located to intron 2 of QDPR at Chr4(GRCh38):g.17505522 and in intron 8 of the ACOX3 gene, Chr4(GRCh38):g.8398067). Both nonrelated parents carried the variant in heterozygous state. The inversion was not present in gnomAD structural variant database.ConclusionIdentification of the exact breakpoints now allows further straightforward molecular genetic testing of potential carriers of the inversion. This study extends the pathogenic variant spectrum of DHPR deficiency and highlights the role of structural variants in recessive metabolic disorders. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a large, canonical (rather than complex) homozygous pathogenic inversion detected by genome sequencing.
Transgenerational Inheritance of Betaine‐Induced Epigenetic Alterations in Estrogen‐Responsive IGF‐2/IGFBP2 Genes in Rat Hippocampus
Authors: Yang Yang , Jiang Wenduo , Yang Shu , Qi Fulei , Zhao Ruqian 
Published: February 2020

ScopeBetaine serves as a methyl donor for DNA methylation. Here, the effects of betaine on hippocampal expression of neurogenesis genes and their DNA methylation status across three generations are investigated.Methods and ResultsPregnant rats (F0) are fed control and betaine‐supplemented diets throughout gestation and lactation. Female F1 and F2 offspring at weaning, together with the F0 dams, are used in the study. Hippocampal expression of aromatase, estrogen receptor α, and estrogen‐related receptor β is downregulated in F1, together with the estrogen‐responsive insulin‐like growth factor 2/insulin‐like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGF‐2/IGFBP2) genes. However, all these genes are upregulated in F2, which follows the same pattern of F0. In agreement with changes in mRNA expression, the imprinting control region (ICR) of IGF‐2 gene is hypomethylated in F1 but hypermethylated in F2 and F0. In contrast, the promoter DNA methylation status of all the affected genes is hypermethylated in F1 but hypomethylated in F2 and F0. Methyl transfer enzymes, such as betaine homocysteine methyltransferase and DNA methyltransferase 1, follow the same pattern of transgenerational inheritance.ConclusionThese results indicate that betaine exerts a transgenerational effect on hippocampal expression of estrogen‐responsive genes in rat offspring, which is associated with corresponding alterations in DNA methylation on ICR of IGF‐2 gene and the promoter of affected genes.
Evaluation of Organically Modified Layered Double Hydroxides as Fillers for the Preparation of Polymer Nanocomposites in Miniemulsion Polymerization
Authors: Silva Rodrigo Duarte , Lona Liliane Maria Ferrareso , Dubé Marc Arnold 
Published: February 2020

AbstractLatexes of poly(n‐butyl acrylate‐co‐methyl methacrylate) [P(BA‐co‐MMA)] filled with magnesium–aluminum layered double hydroxides (MgAl‐LDHs) are synthesized using miniemulsion polymerization. Three commercial LDHs organically modified with different types of anions are used as fillers (Perkalite F100S, Perkalite A100, and Perkalite AF50) and three different types of surfactants are tested to stabilize the miniemulsions including a cationic, an anionic, and a nonionic one. Stable LDH‐containing miniemulsions are prepared with a mixture of sodium dodecyl sulfate and Triton X‐405 and the polymerizable co‐stabilizer octadecyl acrylate. They are then polymerized to yield nanocomposite latexes. Depending on the type of LDH used, the presence of the inorganic material in the reaction medium affects the polymerization kinetics. X‐ray diffraction analysis of the resulting nanocomposite films suggests exfoliation of the inorganic material. The glass transition temperature of the nanocomposites is not affected by the LDHs and the decomposition temperature of the nanocomposites determined by thermogravimetric analysis is greater than that of the pure polymer.
Modelling of localized ductile fracture with volumetric locking‐free tetrahedral elements
Authors: Xu Yanjie , Biswas Raja , Poh Leong Hien 
Published: February 2020

SUMMARYFinite element analysis of ductile fracture with tetrahedral elements faces two numerical issues: volumetric locking and mesh sensitivity. In this paper, two widely adopted remedies for volumetric locking (F‐bar and mixed field) are evaluated, and the superior performance of the mixed field method is demonstrated. Building on the mixed field formulation, a gradient enhancement is further incorporated to resolve the mesh sensitivity. It is shown that a localizing gradient enhancement can avoid a spurious spreading of damage induced by the conventional gradient approach. A locking‐free, regularized ductile fracture is first presented via a uniformly tapering plate example. Finally, a shear plate test on ferrite‐bainite steel is considered. Numerical results obtained with the proposed approach are shown to capture the rapid strain softening and localized shear fracture phenomenon observed experimentally.
8‐node hexahedral unsymmetric element with rotation degrees of freedom for modified couple stress elasticity
Authors: Shang Yan , Li Chen‐Feng , Jia Kang‐Yu 
Published: February 2020

SummaryA new C0 8‐node 48‐DOF hexahedral element is developed for analysis of size‐dependent problems in the context of the modified couple stress theory by extending the methodology proposed in our recent work (Shang et al., Int J Numer Methods Eng 119(9): 807‐825, 2019) to the three‐dimensional (3D) cases. There are two major innovations in the present formulation. First, the independent nodal rotation degrees of freedom (DOFs) are employed to enhance the standard 3D isoparametric interpolation for obtaining the displacement and strain test functions, as well as to approximatively design the physical rotation field for deriving the curvature test function. Second, the equilibrium stress functions instead of the analytical functions are used to formulate the stress trial function whilst the couple stress trial function is directly obtained from the curvature test function by using the constitutive relationship. Besides, the penalty function is introduced into the virtual work principle for enforcing the C1 continuity condition in weak sense. Several benchmark examples are examined and the numerical results demonstrate that the element can simulate the size‐dependent mechanical behaviors well, exhibiting satisfactory accuracy and low susceptibility to mesh distortion.
A contact algorithm for cohesive cracks in the extended finite element method
Authors: Fang Huangcheng , Zhang Dingli , Zhou Mozhen , Fang Qian , Wen Ming 
Published: February 2020

SummaryCracks with quasibrittle behavior are extremely common in engineering structures. The modeling of cohesive cracks involves strong nonlinearity in the contact, material, and complex transition between contact and cohesive forces. In this article, we propose a novel contact algorithm for cohesive cracks in the framework of the extended finite element method. A cohesive‐contact constitutive model is introduced to characterize the complex mechanical behavior of the fracture process zone. To avoid the stress oscillations and ill‐conditioned system matrix that often occur in the conventional contact approach, the proposed algorithm employs a special dual Lagrange multiplier to impose the contact constraint. This Lagrange multiplier is constructed by means of the area‐weighted average and biorthogonality conditions at the element level. The system matrix can be condensed into a positive definite matrix with an unchanged size at a very low computational cost. In addition, we illustrate solving the cohesive crack contact problem using a novel iteration strategy. Several numerical experiments are performed to illustrate the efficiency and high‐quality results of our method in contact analysis of cohesive cracks.
Development of the Interpersonal Processes of Care Survey–Japanese version
Authors: Shiozawa Takuma , Yamaguchi Sosei , Matsunaga Asami , Sawada Utako , Fujii Chiyo 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAimsIn the past two decades, there has been growing interest in patient‐doctor communication in psychiatry, and several treatment options have been established. This study aimed to develop the Interpersonal Processes of Care Survey–Japanese version (IPC‐J), which measures multidimensional communication and the relationship between doctors and patients in Japanese psychiatry.MethodWe conducted a cross‐sectional questionnaire survey at one psychiatric hospital and two psychiatric clinics in Japan and investigated the factor validity, convergent validity, internal consistency, and test‐retest reliability of the IPC‐J.ResultOverall, 148 eligible patients participated in the study and were included in the analyses. Data from 16 participants were used to examine test‐retest reliability. An exploratory factor analysis using 23 items from the IPC scale was performed to clarify the factor structure in a Japanese psychiatric setting. The final IPC‐J contained 22 items and a two‐factor structural model. High internal consistency (α > .8) and moderate test‐retest reliability (interclass correlation > .65) were observed. Regarding convergent validity, the factor 1 “Doctor's communication‐related attitudes and skills” was significantly correlated with service satisfaction, empowerment, and medication adherence, whereas the factor 2 “Consideration for the patient's to promote own treatment decisions” was correlated with service satisfaction and medication adherence.ConclusionThe IPC‐J appears to be a useful tool for assessing patient views on interpersonal communication with doctors in a Japanese psychiatric setting. While the analysis suggested utilizing an IPC‐J with 22 items, the full IPC‐J can be used in cross‐cultural studies.
Planting Roots, Making Place: Urban Autochthony in Port Vila Vanuatu
Authors: Kraemer Daniela 
Published: February 2020

ABSTRACTA contentious issue for Pacific Islanders, as well as researchers of the Pacific Islands, is ni‐Vanuatu notions of ‘belonging’ to urban centres. Previous research in Vanuatu has shown that despite generations of people born and raised in Port Vila, the nation's capital, the urban centre is not generally perceived as a ‘place’ to which urban migrants can say they are from. For many, exclaiming that one is ‘from’ town is tantamount to admitting one has ‘no place’. This paper, based on fieldwork among a group of urban young men in Freswota, a residential community of Port Vila, argues that in contrast to this, Freswota young men are generating a new locative identity. Their urban community rather than their parents' home island places is emerging as their primary location of belonging and the source of their sense of self, personhood and social identification. As such, these young men are the urban autochthones of the country.
Domestic cats and their impacts on biodiversity: A blind spot in the application of nature conservation law
Authors: Trouwborst Arie , McCormack Phillipa C. , Martínez Camacho Elvira 
Published: February 2020

Abstract

Free‐ranging domestic cats Felis catus, from owned pets to feral cats, impact biodiversity through predation, fear effects, competition, disease and hybridization. Scientific knowledge regarding these impacts has recently increased, making it timely to assess the role of nature conservation legislation in this connection. We do so with particular regard to the obligations of governments around the world under international wildlife law.

First, we provide an overview of current knowledge, based on a literature review, concerning the ways in which domestic cats impact wildlife; the resulting effects on native species’ populations and ecosystems; and available strategies for addressing these issues. In light of this knowledge, using standard legal research methodology, we then identify and interpret relevant legal instruments, with a particular focus on international wildlife treaties. Lastly, we identify and assess factors that may influence the implementation of relevant obligations.

The outcomes of this analysis indicate that numerous legal obligations of relevance to free‐ranging domestic cats already apply under global treaties such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on Migratory Species and World Heritage Convention, and a range of regional legal instruments for biodiversity conservation. Of particular significance are obligations concerning (a) invasive alien species; (b) protected areas and (c) protected species.

Many national authorities around the world are currently required, under international law, to adopt and implement policies aimed at preventing, reducing or eliminating the biodiversity impacts of free‐ranging domestic cats, in particular by (a) removing feral and other unowned cats from the landscape to the greatest extent possible and (b) restricting the outdoor access of owned cats.

Factors that can influence or impair the application of these obligations include considerations of feasibility, scientific uncertainty, the interests of cat owners and the (perceived) interests of domestic cats themselves. Even if such factors may to some extent explain why many authorities have hitherto failed to take effective action to address the threats posed by free‐ranging domestic cats, from a legal perspective these factors provide little ground for justifying non‐compliance with international wildlife law.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Micromechanics analysis of carbon fiber/epoxy microdroplet composite under UV light irradiation by micro‐Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Fu Xiu , Yi Danqing , Tan Chengyu , Wang Bin 
Published: February 2020

AbstractEvaluation of the surface morphology, chemical groups, interfacial microstructure, and mechanical properties of carbon fiber/epoxy resin microdroplet composites during ultraviolet photodegradation was carried out. The axial stress distribution and interfacial shear stress (ISS) distribution of the carbon fiber/microdroplet composite at 0.25% and 0.62% strains with different UV irradiation times were obtained using micro‐Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that after 40 hours of UV irradiation, tiny particles appeared on the surface of the carbon fiber/microdroplet sample, and with prolonged irradiation, the tiny particles grew larger and more in number. Benzyl methyl ketone was observed after 40 hours of UV irradiation, and the formation of the quinone methide structure, which causes the discoloration of composite, appeared after 300 hours of UV irradiation, and the tiny particles formed on the composite might be benzyl methyl ketone. The maximum axial stress reduced to 53% and 37%, and maximum shear stress reduced to 67% and 66%, for the 0.25% and 0.62% strain samples, respectively, when the UV irradiation time was extended to 940 hours. A power‐law function of ISS with irradiation times was proposed and is represented by τ0.25 = 66.78 ‑ 8.296 × 10–6 t2.26 and τ0.62 = 81.24 ‑ 2.20 × 10–6 t2.49. It was further determined that the loss of mechanical properties was slow during the first 300 hours of UV irradiation. This work provides a new approach for studying the influence of UV irradiation on the interfacial properties of fiber/polymer composite.