bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantifying vegetation response to environmental changes on the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)
Authors: Herrera Estrella E , Stoeth A , Krakauer N Y , Devineni N 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The vegetation of the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) is strongly influenced by climate. El Niño events, seasonality, isolation, volcanism, and increasing human activity define the ecosystems of the archipelago. Given their socio-cultural and economic importance, it is critical to monitor the response of Galapagos vegetation to changes in climate and assess its vulnerability. This study explores the potential to use Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as a proxy to describe trends in primary productivity in the Galapagos (2000–2019) and models the relationship between NDVI and climate variables including evaporation and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration.
From numerous possible co-variates compiled from reanalysis and satellites, we identify the independent variables that most strongly influence NDVI using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method. Significant variables, including carbon dioxide concentration, evaporation, and autocorrelation (1-month and 12-months lagged NDVI) are then used to model NDVI in a generalized linear model (GLM) framework. The model predicts NDVI more effectively where values for NDVI are high (high elevation, lush vegetation), and clearly reflects seasonality. Validation of the model across pixels produces R
2 values ranging from 0.05 to 0.94, and the mean R
2 is 0.57 (0.65 for elevation >20 m). This methodology has the potential to continuously and non-intrusively monitor vegetation changes in sensitive ecological regions, such as the Galapagos.
Ternary organic photodetectors based on pseudo-binaries nonfullerene-based acceptors
Authors: Zhang Tianyi , Moser Maximilian , Scaccabarozzi Alberto D , Bristow Helen , Jacoutot Polina , Wadsworth Andrew , Anthopoulos Thomas D , McCulloch Iain , Gasparini Nicola 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The addition of a third component to a donor:acceptor blend is a powerful tool to enhance the power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells. Featuring a similar operating mechanism, organic photodetectors are also expected to benefit from this approach. Here, we fabricated ternary organic photodetectors, based on a polymer donor and two nonfullerene acceptors, resulting in a low dark current of 0.42 nA cm−2 at −2 V and a broadband specific detectivity of 1012 Jones. We found that exciton recombination in the binary blend is reduced in ternary devices due to the formation of a pseudo-binary microstructure with mixed donor–acceptor phases. With this approach a wide range of intermediate open-circuit voltages is accessible, without sacrificing light-to-current conversion. This results in ternary organic photodetector (TOPD) with improved Responsivity values in the near-infrared. Moreover, morphology analyses reveal that TOPD devices showed improved microstructure ordering and consequentially higher charge carrier mobilities compared to the reference devices.
EPSOL: sequence-based protein solubility prediction using multidimensional embedding
Authors: Wu Xiang , Yu Liang 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Motivation
The heterologous expression of recombinant protein requires host cells, such as Escherichiacoli, and the solubility of protein greatly affects the protein yield. A novel and highly accurate solubility predictor that concurrently improves the production yield and minimizes production cost, and that forecasts protein solubility in an E.coli expression system before the actual experimental work is highly sought.

Results
In this article, EPSOL, a novel deep learning architecture for the prediction of protein solubility in an E.coli expression system, which automatically obtains comprehensive protein feature representations using multidimensional embedding, is presented. EPSOL outperformed all existing sequence-based solubility predictors and achieved 0.79 in accuracy and 0.58 in Matthew’s correlation coefficient. The higher performance of EPSOL permits large-scale screening for sequence variants with enhanced manufacturability and predicts the solubility of new recombinant proteins in an E.coli expression system with greater reliability.

Availability and implementation
EPSOL’s best model and results can be downloaded from GitHub (https://github.com/LiangYu-Xidian/EPSOL).

Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Histopathological features for coexistent invasive cancer in large colorectal adenomatous polyps
Authors: Emmanuel A , Haji A , Gulati S , Moorhead J , Papagrigoriadis S , Hayee B , Diaz-Cano S 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Background
Histopathological features associated with coexistent invasive adenocarcinoma in large colorectal adenomas have not been described. This study aimed to determine the association of histopathological features in areas of low-grade dysplasia with coexistent invasive adenocarcinoma.

Methods
High-grade lesions (containing high-grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma) from a cohort of large (at least 20 mm) colorectal adenomas removed by endoscopic resection were subjected to detailed histopathological analysis. The histopathological features in low-grade areas with coexistent adenocarcinoma were reviewed and their diagnostic performance was evaluated.

Results
Seventy-four high-grade lesions from 401 endoscopic resections of large adenomas were included. In the low-grade dysplastic areas, a coexistent invasive adenocarcinoma was associated significantly with a cribriform or trabecular growth pattern (P &lt; 0.001), high nuclear grade (P &lt; 0.001), multifocal intraluminal necrosis (P &lt; 0.001), atypical mitotic figures (P = 0.006), infiltrative lesion edges (P &lt; 0.001), a broad fibrous band (P = 0.001), ulceration (P &lt; 0.001), expansile nodules (P &lt; 0.001) and an extensive tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte pattern (P = 0.04). Lesions with coexistent invasive adenocarcinoma harboured at least one of these features. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for coexistent invasive adenocarcinoma, using frequencies of adverse histopathological factors in low-grade areas, was 0.92. The presence of two or more of these adverse histopathological features in low-grade areas had a sensitivity of 86 per cent and a specificity of 84 per cent for coexistent invasive adenocarcinoma.

Conclusion
Several histopathological features in low-grade dysplastic areas of adenomas could be predictive of coexistent adenocarcinoma.
Non-Linearities, State-Dependent Prices and the Transmission Mechanism of Monetary Policy
Authors: Ascari Guido , Haber Timo 
Published: June 2021

AbstractA sticky price theory of the transmission mechanism of monetary policy shocks based on state-dependent pricing yields two testable implications that do not hold in time-dependent models. First, large monetary policy shocks should yield proportionally larger initial responses of the price level. Second, in a high trend inflation regime, the response of the price level to monetary policy shocks should be larger and real effects smaller. Our analysis provides evidence supporting these non-linear effects in the response of the price level in aggregate US data, indicating state-dependent pricing as an important feature of the transmission mechanism of monetary policy.
Invertebrate decline reduces bacterial diversity associated with leaves and flowers
Authors: Junker Robert R , Eisenhauer Nico , Schmidt Anja , Türke Manfred 
Published: June 2021

AbstractDefaunation including invertebrate decline is one of the major consequences of anthropogenic alterations of the environment. Despite recent reports of ubiquitous invertebrate decline, the ecosystem consequences have been rarely documented. We exposed standardized plant communities grown in the iDiv Ecotron to different levels of invertebrate numbers and biomass and tracked effects on the diversity and composition of bacterial communities associated with flowers and leaves of Scorzoneroides autumnalis and Trifolium pratense using next-generation 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Our data indicate that invertebrate decline reduces bacterial richness and β-diversity and alters community composition. These effects may result from direct effects of invertebrates that may serve as dispersal agents of bacteria; or from indirect effects where animal-induced changes in the plant's phenotype shape the niches plants provide for bacterial colonizers. Because bacteria are usually not dispersal limited and because species sorting, i.e. niche-based processes, has been shown to be a dominant process in bacterial community assembly, indirect effects may be more likely. Given that a healthy microbiome is of fundamental importance for the well-being of plants, animals (including humans) and ecosystems, a loss of bacterial diversity may be a dramatic yet previously unknown consequence of current invertebrate decline.
Narratives of Democracy and Care in Colm Tóibín’s The Testament of Mary, Naomi Alderman’s The Liars’ Gospel and Sinan Antoon’s The Corpse Washer
Authors: Yebra José M 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
This article aims to explore how narratives can respond to the current crisis of democracy addressed by critics such as Pierre Rosanvallon, Jacques Rancière, Zygmunt Bauman and Carlo Bordoni among others. To do so, I analyse three texts of the last decade, Colm Tóibín’s The Testament of Mary, Naomi Alderman’s The Liars’ Gospel and Sinan Antoon’s The Corpse Washer. Although they do not tackle democracy as a political discourse, they do address its mechanics of representation, the first two being rewritings of the Gospels through the eyes of Christ’s mother (from a Catholic and a British Jewish standpoint respectively), while the third looks at occupied Iraq through Jawad, a Shiite corpse washer. Through the three protagonists’ humility and ethics of care, these texts provide the basis for my exploration of democratic narratives that complement the classic representability of democracy with compromised relationality.
On the modelling of self-gravitation for full 3-D global seismic wave propagation
Authors: van Driel M , Kemper J , Boehm C 
Published: June 2021

SUMMARY
We present a new approach to the solution of the Poisson equation present in the coupled gravito-elastic equations of motion for global seismic wave propagation in time domain aiming at the inclusion of the full gravitational response into spectral element solvers. We leverage the Salvus meshing software to include the external domain using adaptive mesh refinement and high order shape mapping. Together with Neumann boundary conditions based on a multipole expansion of the right-hand side this minimizes the number of additional elements needed. Initial conditions for the iterative solution of the Poisson equation based on temporal extrapolation from previous time steps together with a polynomial multigrid method reduce the number of iterations needed for convergence. In summary, this approach reduces the extra cost for simulating full gravity to a similar order as the elastic forces. We demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method using the displacement from an elastic global wave propagation simulation (decoupled from the Poisson equation) at $200\, \mbox{s}$ dominant period to compute a realistic right-hand side for the Poisson equation.
Staffing the United Nations: China's motivations and prospects
Authors: Fung Courtney J , Lam Shing-hon 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
A developing public commentary views China as exerting influence in international organizations to legitimize and disseminate PRC foreign policy values and interests. This article examines an understudied source identified by PRC elites to promote influence in the United Nations system: dispatching PRC nationals as international civil servants, specifically in a targeted pursuit of executive leadership positions. Using decades of UN staffing data, we find that apart from Russia, China holds the fewest executive leadership posts among the aspiring and permanent members of the UN Security Council. Moreover, China is yet to lead an agency addressing international security matters. US and European staff contributions are significantly higher at all staffing levels of the international civil service. Still, the data shows that China made modest, targeted gains in most specialized UN agencies, and agencies headed by PRC nationals show faster increases in PRC staff members, though all base numbers were low. We draw from Chinese-language sources to discuss issues facing China in increasing its international civil service numbers, affecting the country's ability to shape global governance.
Cannabinoids in Oral Fluid: Limiting Potential Sources of Cannabidiol Conversion to Δ9- and Δ8-Tetrahydrocannabinol
Authors: Coulter Cynthia , Wagner Jarrad R 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
In late 2019, the National Laboratory Certification Program (NLCP) published an article reporting on the potential analytical conversion of 7-carboxy cannabidiol (CBD-COOH) to 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) in urine samples. The same conversion is possible in oral fluid with the parent analyte cannabidiol (CBD) converting to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC) under strong acidic conditions. With the recent rise in states legalizing the use of THC and the availability of products containing only CBD, unless the analytical in vitro conversions are controlled, the detection of Δ9-THC or Δ8-THC in oral fluid may not clarify whether the donor was using a CBD product or licit or illicit THC product. Authentic oral fluid samples submitted for cannabinoid analysis were subjected to multiple sample preparation procedures and extraction methods to determine the conditions that allow CBD to convert to THC. CBD single analyte controls prepared from a certified THC-free source were added to the batch to monitor the rate of conversion. Samples were prepared using a base hydrolysis, solid phase extraction, derivatization and analysis by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS-MS). The base hydrolysis and derivatization were tested independently and did not contribute to the conversion rate. Adjusting the pH of the sample preparation and extraction from pH 2.0 to pH 5.0 changed the conversion rate from 5 to 1%. A pH of 6.0 was not strong enough to extract the cannabinoids efficiently. Removing the acid component of the preparation and extraction procedure eliminated the conversion to THC; however, this did reduce the analyte recovery depending on which extraction column was used. Processing time also contributed to the conversion rate. With smaller trial runs, conversion was not always seen, but with larger validation batches low-level conversion of 1–2% was observed. A fully validated LC–MS-MS method utilizing solid-phase extraction was developed for CBD, Δ9-THC, Δ8-THC and cannabinol. The method specifically targets those analytes found in oral fluid after CBD administration and those that are seen during in vitro CBD conversion. CBD administration was performed using a certified THC-free CBD control.
Face Burns: A 4-Year Experience
Authors: Rasmussen Stephanie A , Romanowski Kathleen S , Sen Soman , Palmieri Tina L , Greenhalgh David G 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Burns on the face pose unique management challenges because they are in a place that is constantly visible, so scars are hard to hide. The goal of this study was to review our experience of adult patients who had face burns. We performed a retrospective review of adult patients (≥18 years old) who were admitted to a regional burn center from July 2015 to June 2019 with face burns. Sex, age, ethnicity, burn etiology, burn size, and discharge status were collected from electronic medical records of the patients who met study criteria. Descriptive statistics, Student’s t-tests, and chi-square tests were performed in Stata/SE 16.1. Significance was defined as a P-value &lt; .05. In 4 years, 595/1705 patients (~35% of admissions) were admitted with face burns. The mean age was 44.9 ± 17.0 (mean ± SD) years, with the majority being men (475, 80%). The mean burn size was 19.8 ± 20.9% TBSA with 10.1 ± 19.8% TBSA being third degree. The mean head burn size for any face burn was 2.8 ± 1.8% TBSA. The majority of burns were due to flames (478, 80%) and of those 122 (21%) were from accelerant use and 43 (7%) resulted from propane or butane use. Scalds caused 53 (9%), electric 25 (4%), hot tar 5 (1%), and chemical 5 (1%). Overall, 208 (35%) patients had grafting of some portion of their body, but only 31 patients (5.2%) had face grafting. The mean age of those with face grafting compared with patients who did not need grafting was 45.9 ± 13.8 and 44.9 ± 17.2 years, respectively. Patients who needed grafting had a mean third-degree burn size of 31.7 ± 25.4% TBSA and a mean head (including face) burn size of 4.7 ± 2.0% TBSA, whereas patients who did not need grafting had a mean third-degree burn size of 8.9 ± 18.7% TBSA and a mean head burn size of 2.7 ± 1.8% head TBSA. Patients requiring face grafts had longer lengths of stay, intensive unit stays, ventilator days, and mortality than those whose face burns healed spontaneously. Overall, head burns in adults were common within the 4-year time span we studied, but only a small fraction (5%) had face grafts. The patients who needed grafting for their head burns had significantly larger total body and face burns and had a 2.4-fold higher mortality rate compared to patients who did not need grafting. Most face burns were caused by flame, especially the use of accelerants or flammable gases. Prevention efforts should focus on avoiding the use of accelerants and being careful with flammable gases.
Injected Breast Materials: Review of Imaging Features and Characteristics
Authors: Gao Yukun , Karimova E Jane , Phillips Jordana , Fein-Zachary Valerie , Dialani Vandana , Mehta Tejas S , Mehta Rashmi , Slanetz Priscilla J 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn the United States, silicone and saline breast implants with their familiar radiologic appearance are the mainstays of breast augmentation. However, less well-known sequelae of unconventional injected materials introduced for cosmetic and noncosmetic purposes may also be encountered on breast imaging—for example, free silicone, paraffin and/or oil, polyacrylamide gel, autologous fat, and hyaluronic acid, which are encountered in the setting of breast augmentation. Breast injection of go-yak is not cosmetic but also results in characteristic imaging findings. Breast changes due to extravasation of chemotherapy or interstitial brachytherapy can mimic the appearance of injected noncosmetic materials. Because many of these materials can mimic or obscure imaging findings of breast cancer, it is important to recognize their varied appearances and the limitations of imaging alone in delineating breast injection material from cancer. Given the relatively uncommon incidence of injected materials into the breast, this article aims to review the imaging appearance in order to aid radiologists in maximizing cancer detection and ensuring optimal patient management.
Femoral cartilage damage occurs at the zone of femoral head necrosis and can be accurately detected on traction MR arthrography of the hip in patients undergoing joint preserving hip surgery
Authors: Schmaranzer F , Lerch T D , Steppacher S D , Siebenrock K A , Schmaranzer E , Tannast M 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The primary purpose was to answer the following question: What is the location and pattern of necrosis and associated chondrolabral lesions and can they be accurately detected on traction MR arthrography compared with intra-operative findings in patients undergoing hip preservation surgery for femoral head necrosis (FHN)? Retrospective, diagnostic case series on 23 patients (23 hips; mean age 29 ± 6 years) with diagnosis of FHN undergoing open/arthroscopic joint preserving surgery for FHN and pre-operative traction MR arthrography of the hip. A MR-compatible device for weight-adapted application of leg traction (15–23 kg) was used and coronal, sagittal and radial images were acquired. Location and pattern of necrosis and chondrolabral lesions was assessed by two readers and compared with intra-operative findings to calculate diagnostic accuracy of traction MR arthrography. On MRI all 23 (100%) hips showed central FHN, most frequently antero-superiorly (22/23, 96%) where a high prevalence of femoral cartilage damage was detected (18/23, 78%), with delamination being the most common (16/23, 70%) damage pattern. Intra-operative inspection showed central femoral head cartilage damage most frequently located antero-superiorly (18/23, 78%) with femoral cartilage delamination being most common (14/23, 61%). Traction MR arthrography enabled detection of femoral cartilage damage with a sensitivity/specificity of 95%/75% for reader 1 and 89%/75% for reader 2. To conclude, femoral cartilage damage occurs at the zone of necrosis and can be accurately detected using traction MR arthrography of the hip which may be helpful for surgical decision making in young patients with FHN.
Aboveground biomass and its biotic and abiotic modulators of a main food bamboo of the giant panda in a subalpine spruce–fir forest in southwestern China
Authors: Xiong Xinyu , Zhu Jiangling , Li Sheng , Fan Fan , Cai Qiong , Ma Suhui , Su Haojie , Ji Chengjun , Tang Zhiyao , Fang Jingyun 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAs one of the main food bamboo species of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), Fargesia denudata is widely distributed in the understory of spruce–fir forests in the mountainous area of southwestern China. However, the driving factors of its biomass and distribution in the forests are still unclear. We conducted a systematic investigation of the tree and shrub layers (including bamboos) of 209 subplots (20 m × 20 m) in a Forest Global Earth Observatory plot, the Wanglang Plot (25.2 ha), to explore the effects of abiotic (topographic and soil characteristics) and biotic (tree density, total basal area (TBA), shrub coverage, etc.) factors on the aboveground biomass of F. denudata (bamboo biomass hereafter). Bamboo biomass averaged 1.17 ton/ha, with a large variation from 0 to 4.88 ton/ha (95% confidence interval) among the 209 subplots. Bamboo biomass increased significantly with elevation, slope and mean diameter at breast height of trees, and decreased significantly with tree density, shrub coverage and soil pH. However, bamboo biomass was not significantly correlated with tree TBA, aspect, soil organic matter or total nitrogen content. The random forest model indicated that topographic factors and biotic factors had greater influences on the bamboo biomass than soil characteristics in general. Specifically, topographic factors mainly affected the bamboo biomass by changing tree density and soil characteristics. Our results can provide valuable guidance for the protection of giant pandas and the management of subalpine spruce–fir forests.