bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of platinum and pre-oxidation on the hot corrosion behavior of aluminide coating with NaCl at 1050 °C
Authors: Peng Jubo , Huang Taihong , Song Peng , Huang Wenlang , He Yang , Ma Tao , Yang Bixiao , Liang Yuwei , Wu Minxuan , Chen Rong 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The hot corrosion behaviors of the aluminide coatings with different treatments on the surface of Ni-based alloy at high temperature were investigated. The aluminide coating modified by three different methods (pretreatment, Pt-modification and both), and then all the specimens were oxidized in lab air with NaCl salt at 1050 °C. During cycle oxidation, oxide scales on the surface of the aluminide coatings presented different morphologies, composition and corrosion behaviors. The oxide scale on the surface of the as-received aluminide coating without any treatments showed a poor dense and a bad adherence. However, the oxide scale on the surface of the aluminide coating with both Pt-modification and pre-oxidation exhibited the best hot corrosion resistance. In the NaCl corrosion environment, different treatments resulted in different corrosion mechanisms. Without any treatments, the oxide scale with NaCl at high temperature occurred internal active oxidation, which could promote the corrosion process and form the pores in the oxide scale. The internal active oxidation also presented in the oxide scale on the surface of the aluminide coating with pre-oxidation.
Superconductivity in scandium borocarbide with orbital hybridization
Authors: Wu W , Li Y J , Zhang J H , Yu Z H , Liu Z Y , Zheng P , Yang H X , Dong C , Liu K , Xiang T , Luo J L 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Exploration of superconductivity in light element compounds has drawn considerable attention because those materials can easily realize the high T
C superconductivity, such as LnNi2B2C (T
C = 17 K), MgB2 (T
C = 39 K), and very recently super-hydrides under pressure (T
C = 250 K). Here we report the discovery of bulk superconductivity at 7.8 K in scandium borocarbide Sc20BC27 with a tetragonal lattice which structure changes based on the compound of Sc3C4 with very little B doping. Magnetization and specific heat measurements show bulk superconductivity. An upper critical field of H
c2(0) ∼ 8 T is determined. Low temperature specific-heat shows that this system is a BCS fully gapped s-wave superconductor. Electronic structure calculations demonstrate that compared with Sc3C4 there are more orbital overlap and hybridization between Sc 3d electrons and 2p electrons of C-C(B)-C fragment in Sc20BC27, which form a new electric conduction path of Sc-C(B)-Sc. Those changes influence the band structure at the Fermi level and may be the reason of superconductivity in Sc20BC27.
The precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of Cu–Ni–Mn–Fe alloy during aging under elevated compression stresses
Authors: Shi Hao , Zou Juntao , Chen Jingren , Xiao Peng , Cao Fei , Liang Shuhua 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The Cu–Ni–Mn–Fe alloy is prepared to study its precipitation behavior and mechanical properties during aging under elevated compression stresses. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), hardness and tensile tests are used for this investigation. The results indicate that the stress-aging treatment leads to the formation of fine, equiaxed grains and twins within the matrix of Cu–Ni–Mn–Fe alloy. During the stress-aging, the density of θ-MnNi precipitates initially decreases and then increases. The stress is further increased from 220 to 385 MPa, the vacancy concentration and dislocation density increase rapidly owing to creep deformation, while the strain-induced effect accelerates the precipitation of θ-MnNi. The results show that the tensile strength and hardness of Cu–Ni–Mn–Fe alloy initially decrease and then increase, and the tensile strength and hardness of the Cu–Ni–Mn–Fe alloy are 890 MPa and 274 HB under the compressive stress of 385 MPa, and the elongation remains at 8.72%. It is mainly attributed to the application of compression stresses during aging, which can enhance both the strength and ductility of the alloy.
Preparation of graphite phase carbon nitride (g-C3N4) micro-nano bouquet by thermal polymerization
Authors: Ma Feiwen , Ji Yuchun , Liu Bingsai , Wang Jilin , Zhou Bing , Zhen Guoyuan , Long Fei , Zou Zhengguang 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
A novel kind of g-C3N4 micro-nano bouquets were successfully prepared via a simple method using melamine and ammonium chloride as raw materials. X-ray diffractometer (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), x-ray energy spectrometer (EDX), transmission electron microscope (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM),fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the as-synthesized samples. The results indicated that the samples presented graphitic C3N4 micro-nano bouquets. Every microstructure was composed of many petals cross gathered along with the different directions. And the tip of every single petal contained quantities of nano bouquet structures with smaller diameters. In addition, abundant nanoparticles/nanorods distributed and intertwined together on the surface of the nano bouquet structure, and then formed cocoon-like porous morphology. Besides, based on the experimental results, the reasonable chemical reactions and the corresponding growth mechanism during the preparation process of g-C3N4 micro-nano bouquets were proposed. Finally, the UV–vis results showed that the sample was a wide band gap (about 3.11 eV) semiconductor.
Effect of thermal annealing on the optical stability of amorphous Ge–Se–Te films
Authors: Chen Jinbo , Qin Jingshuang , Zhang Limeng , Chen Yimin , Shen Xiang , Gu Jierong , Xu Tiefeng 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Ge–Se–Te chalcogenide films with Ge content from 10% to 27% were prepared using thermal evaporation. The films were annealed with different times, and the changes of the linear refractive index and optical band gap of the films with different chemical compositions were investigated. It was found that, after 30 h of annealing, the Ge20Se8.5Te71.5 film exhibits the smallest change ratio in terms of linear refractive index (<0.5%), optical band gap (<1.5%), and thickness (<2.5%). Therefore, this component has the best optical stability in the Ge–Se–Te system studied in this paper. The optical band gap of Ge20Se8.5Te71.5 is about 0.8 eV, and the refractive index exceeds 3.4, which is beneficial to the applications in Te-based optical waveguide devices.
Inferring microenvironmental regulation of gene expression from single-cell RNA sequencing data using scMLnet with an application to COVID-19
Authors: Cheng Jinyu , Zhang Ji , Wu Zhongdao , Sun Xiaoqiang 
Published: October 2020

AbstractInferring how gene expression in a cell is influenced by cellular microenvironment is of great importance yet challenging. In this study, we present a single-cell RNA-sequencing data based multilayer network method (scMLnet) that models not only functional intercellular communications but also intracellular gene regulatory networks (https://github.com/SunXQlab/scMLnet). scMLnet was applied to a scRNA-seq dataset of COVID-19 patients to decipher the microenvironmental regulation of expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 that has been reported to be correlated with inflammatory cytokines and COVID-19 severity. The predicted elevation of ACE2 by extracellular cytokines EGF, IFN-γ or TNF-α were experimentally validated in human lung cells and the related signaling pathway were verified to be significantly activated during SARS-COV-2 infection. Our study provided a new approach to uncover inter-/intra-cellular signaling mechanisms of gene expression and revealed microenvironmental regulators of ACE2 expression, which may facilitate designing anti-cytokine therapies or targeted therapies for controlling COVID-19 infection. In addition, we summarized and compared different methods of scRNA-seq based inter-/intra-cellular signaling network inference for facilitating new methodology development and applications.
Drug repurposing for COVID-19: could vitamin C combined with glycyrrhizic acid be at play by the findings of Li et al.’s database-based network pharmacology analysis?
Authors: Huang Yu-Xi , Wang Wen-Xiao , Tang Yu-Ping , Yue Shi-Jun 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The outbreak and pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019 has caused a severe public health burden and will challenge global health for the future. The discovery and mechanistic investigation of drugs against Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is in deadly demand. The paper published by Li and colleagues proposed the hypothesis that vitamin C combined with glycyrrhizic acid in treating COVID-19 and its mechanistic investigation was performed by a database-based network pharmacology. In this letter, we present critical comments on the limitations and insufficiencies involved, from both the perspective of network pharmacology and current evidence on COVID-19.
C-C Chemokine receptor-like 2 (CCRL2) acts as coreceptor for human immunodeficiency virus-2
Authors: Islam Salequl , Moni Mohammad Ali , Urmi Umme Laila , Tanaka Atsushi , Hoshino Hiroo 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIntroductionMost of the typical chemokine receptors (CKRs) have been identified as coreceptors for a variety of human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIVs and SIVs). This study evaluated CCRL2 to examine if it was an HIV/SIV coreceptor.MethodsThe Human glioma cell line, NP-2, is normally resistant to infection by HIV and SIV. The cell was transduced with amplified cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) as a receptor and CCR5, CXCR4 and CCRL2 as coreceptor candidates to produce NP-2/CD4/coreceptor cells (). The cells were infected with multiplicity of infection (MOI) 1.0. Infected cells were detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Multinucleated giant cells (MGC) in syncytia were quantified by Giemsa staining. Proviral DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and reverse transcriptase (RT) activity was measured.ResultsIFA detected viral antigens of the primary isolates, HIV-1HAN2 and HIV-2MIR in infected NP-2/CD4/CCRL2 cells, indicated CCRL2 as a functional coreceptor. IFA results were confirmed by the detection of proviral DNA and measurement of RT-activity in the spent cell supernatants. Additionally, MGC was detected in HIV-2MIR-infected NP-2/CD4/CCCRL2 cells. HIV-2MIR were found more potent users of CCRL2 than HIV-1HAN2. Moreover, GWAS studies, gene ontology and cell signaling pathways of the HIV-associated genes show interaction of CCRL2 with HIV/SIV envelope protein.ConclusionsIn vitro experiments showed CCRL2 to function as a newly identified coreceptor for primary HIV-2 isolates conveniently. The findings contribute additional insights into HIV/SIV transmission and pathogenesis. However, its in vivo relevance still needs to be evaluated. Confirming in vivo relevance, ligands of CCRL2 can be investigated as potential targets for HIV entry-inhibitor drugs.
Identification and characterization of circRNAs encoded by MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Cai Zena , Lu Congyu , He Jun , Liu Li , Zou Yuanqiang , Zhang Zheng , Zhu Zhaozhong , Ge Xingyi , Wu Aiping , Jiang Taijiao , Zheng Heping , Peng Yousong 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe life-threatening coronaviruses MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-1/2) have caused and will continue to cause enormous morbidity and mortality to humans. Virus-encoded noncoding RNAs are poorly understood in coronaviruses. Data mining of viral-infection-related RNA-sequencing data has resulted in the identification of 28 754, 720 and 3437 circRNAs encoded by MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, respectively. MERS-CoV exhibits much more prominent ability to encode circRNAs in all genomic regions than those of SARS-CoV-1/2. Viral circRNAs typically exhibit low expression levels. Moreover, majority of the viral circRNAs exhibit expressions only in the late stage of viral infection. Analysis of the competitive interactions of viral circRNAs, human miRNAs and mRNAs in MERS-CoV infections reveals that viral circRNAs up-regulated genes related to mRNA splicing and processing in the early stage of viral infection, and regulated genes involved in diverse functions including cancer, metabolism, autophagy, viral infection in the late stage of viral infection. Similar analysis in SARS-CoV-2 infections reveals that its viral circRNAs down-regulated genes associated with metabolic processes of cholesterol, alcohol, fatty acid and up-regulated genes associated with cellular responses to oxidative stress in the late stage of viral infection. A few genes regulated by viral circRNAs from both MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 were enriched in several biological processes such as response to reactive oxygen and centrosome localization. This study provides the first glimpse into viral circRNAs in three deadly coronaviruses and would serve as a valuable resource for further studies of circRNAs in coronaviruses.
Dorsal Hippocampus to Infralimbic Cortex Circuit is Essential for the Recall of Extinction Memory
Authors: Qin Cheng , Bian Xin-Lan , Wu Hai-Yin , Xian Jia-Yun , Cai Cheng-Yun , Lin Yu-Hui , Zhou Ying , Kou Xiao-Lin , Chang Lei , Luo Chun-Xia , Zhu Dong-Ya 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder subjects usually show impaired recall of extinction memory, leading to extinguished fear relapses. However, little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying the impaired recall of extinction memory. We show here that the activity of dorsal hippocampus (dHPC) to infralimbic (IL) cortex circuit is essential for the recall of fear extinction memory in male mice. There were functional neural projections from the dHPC to IL. Using optogenetic manipulations, we observed that silencing the activity of dHPC-IL circuit inhibited recall of extinction memory while stimulating the activity of dHPC-IL circuit facilitated recall of extinction memory. “Impairment of extinction consolidation caused by” conditional deletion of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) in the IL prevented the dHPC-IL circuit-mediated recall of extinction memory. Moreover, silencing the dHPC-IL circuit abolished the effect of intra-IL microinjection of ERK enhancer on the recall of extinction memory. Together, we identify a dHPC to IL circuit that mediates the recall of extinction memory, and our data suggest that the dysfunction of dHPC-IL circuit and/or impaired extinction consolidation may contribute to extinguished fear relapses.
Orientation Tuning and End-stopping in Macaque V1 Studied with Two-photon Calcium Imaging
Authors: Ju Nian-Sheng , Guan Shu-Chen , Tao Louis , Tang Shi-Ming , Yu Cong 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Orientation tuning is a fundamental response property of V1 neurons and has been extensively studied with single-/multiunit recording and intrinsic signal optical imaging. Long-term 2-photon calcium imaging allows simultaneous recording of hundreds of neurons at single neuron resolution over an extended time in awake macaques, which may help elucidate V1 orientation tuning properties in greater detail. We used this new technology to study the microstructures of orientation functional maps, as well as population tuning properties, in V1 superficial layers of 5 awake macaques. Cellular orientation maps displayed horizontal and vertical clustering of neurons according to orientation preferences, but not tuning bandwidths, as well as less frequent pinwheels than previous estimates. The orientation tuning bandwidths were narrower than previous layer-specific single-unit estimates, suggesting more precise orientation selectivity. Moreover, neurons tuned to cardinal and oblique orientations did not differ in quantities and bandwidths, likely indicating minimal V1 representation of the oblique effect. Our experimental design also permitted rough estimates of length tuning. The results revealed significantly more end-stopped cells at a more superficial 150 μm depth (vs. 300 μm), but unchanged orientation tuning bandwidth with different length tuning. These results will help construct more precise models of V1 orientation processing.
Evergreening in the Euro Area: Evidence from Survey Data and a Conceptual Framework
Authors: Steinkamp Sven , Tornell Aaron , Westermann Frank 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Since the beginning of the financial crisis in 2007/2008, new lending in the euro area has slowed sharply and the old loans experienced ‘evergreening’, that is, bad loans have been rolled over rather than being liquidated. Even though ameliorating evergreening is key to promote lending for new investment projects and growth, no systematic evergreening measures exist. In this paper, we propose a new cross-country evergreening index and develop a public-choice model to explain why evergreening may reflect the incentives of regulators to forebear. Our evergreening index is based on a survey we designed and was administered by the ifo Institute to about 1000 experts in over 80 countries. We bring the model to the data using a heteroscedastic probit model and find that evergreening is higher in: (i) euro-area countries than in the rest of the world; (ii) in countries facing bank distress; and (iii) is highest in countries which experience banking distress and are members of the euro area. These results are consistent with our theoretical model. (JEL codes: F33, F55 and E58)
The Influence of Cognitive Parameters on Olfactory Assessment in Healthy Children and Adolescents
Authors: Gellrich Janine , Sparing-Paschke Lisa-Marie , Hummel Thomas , Schriever Valentin A 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Olfactory threshold and odor identification tests are frequently used for assessment of olfactory function in children and adolescents. Whether olfactory test results are influenced by cognitive parameters or sex in children and adolescents is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of cognition, age and sex on “Sniffin’ Sticks” olfactory threshold and “U-Sniff” odor identification performance in a pediatric population. A total of 200 participants between age 6 and 17 years were included. Olfactory function (olfactory threshold and odor identification) was assessed using the “Sniffin’ Sticks.” In addition, age appropriate cognitive testing was applied. The results of this study indicate that odor identification test performance is positively correlated with age (r = 0.31) and verbal abilities of children (r = 0.24). Olfactory threshold results are only marginally influenced by age (r = 0.18) and are not associated with cognitive test performance. Olfactory assessment using olfactory threshold and “U-Sniff” odor identification testing is suitable for children and adolescents when considering age in the interpretation of test results.
Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Reveals Different Courses of Disease in Pediatric and Adult Cerebral Malaria
Authors: Sahu Praveen K , Hoffmann Angelika , Majhi Megharay , Pattnaik Rajyabardhan , Patterson Catriona , Mahanta Kishore C , Mohanty Akshaya K , Mohanty Rashmi R , Joshi Sonia , Mohanty Anita , Bage Jabamani , Maharana Sameer , Seitz Angelika , Bendszus Martin , Sullivan Steven A , Turnbull Ian W , Dondorp Arjen M , Gupta Himanshu , Pirpamer Lukas , Mohanty Sanjib , Wassmer Samuel C 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Background
Cerebral malaria is a common presentation of severe Plasmodium falciparum infection and remains an important cause of death in the tropics. Key aspects of its pathogenesis are still incompletely understood, but severe brain swelling identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was associated with a fatal outcome in African children. In contrast, neuroimaging investigations failed to identify cerebral features associated with fatality in Asian adults.

Methods
Quantitative MRI with brain volume assessment and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram analyses were performed for the first time in 65 patients with cerebral malaria to compare disease signatures between children and adults from the same cohort, as well as between fatal and nonfatal cases.

Results
We found an age-dependent decrease in brain swelling during acute cerebral malaria, and brain volumes did not differ between fatal and nonfatal cases across both age groups. In nonfatal disease, reversible, hypoxia-induced cytotoxic edema occurred predominantly in the white matter in children, and in the basal ganglia in adults. In fatal cases, quantitative ADC histogram analyses also demonstrated different end-stage patterns between adults and children: Severe hypoxia, evidenced by global ADC decrease and elevated plasma levels of lipocalin-2 and microRNA-150, was associated with a fatal outcome in adults. In fatal pediatric disease, our results corroborate an increase in brain volume, leading to augmented cerebral pressure, brainstem herniation, and death.

Conclusions
Our findings suggest distinct pathogenic patterns in pediatric and adult cerebral malaria with a stronger cytotoxic component in adults, supporting the development of age-specific adjunct therapies.
A Cluster of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Tenosynovitis Following Hurricane Relief Efforts
Authors: Turner Nicholas A , Sweeney Mollie I , Xet-Mull Ana M , Storm Jeremy , Mithani Suhail K , Jones David B , Miles Jeremy J , Tobin David M , Stout Jason E 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Background
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are a rare cause of infectious tenosynovitis of the upper extremity. Using molecular methods, clinical microbiology laboratories are increasingly reporting identification down to the species level. Improved methods for speciation are revealing new insights into the clinical and epidemiologic features of rare NTM infections.

Methods
We encountered 3 cases of epidemiologically linked upper extremity NTM tenosynovitis associated with exposure to hurricane-damaged wood. We conducted whole-genome sequencing to assess isolate relatedness followed by a literature review of NTM infections that involved the upper extremity.

Results
Despite shared epidemiologic risk, the cases were caused by 3 distinct organisms. Two cases were rare infections caused by closely related but distinct species within the Mycobacterium terrae complex that could not be differentiated by traditional methods. The third case was caused by Mycobacterium intracellulare. An updated literature review that focused on research that used modern molecular speciation methods found that several species within the M. terrae complex are increasingly reported as a cause of upper extremity tenosynovitis, often in association with environmental exposures.

Conclusions
These cases illustrate the importance of molecular methods for speciating phenotypically similar NTM, as well as the limitations of laboratory-based surveillance in detecting point-source outbreaks when the source is environmental and may involve multiple organisms.