bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Voltage-gated proton channels from fungi highlight role of peripheral regions in channel activation
Authors: Zhao Chang , Tombola Francesco 
Published: February 2021

AbstractHere, we report the identification and characterization of the first proton channels from fungi. The fungal proteins are related to animal voltage-gated Hv channels and are conserved in both higher and lower fungi. Channels from Basidiomycota and Ascomycota appear to be evolutionally and functionally distinct. Representatives from the two phyla share several features with their animal counterparts, including structural organization and strong proton selectivity, but they differ from each other and from animal Hvs in terms of voltage range of activation, pharmacology, and pH sensitivity. The activation gate of Hv channels is believed to be contained within the transmembrane core of the protein and little is known about contributions of peripheral regions to the activation mechanism. Using a chimeragenesis approach, we find that intra- and extracellular peripheral regions are main determinants of the voltage range of activation in fungal channels, highlighting the role of these overlooked components in channel gating.
A potential all-electronic route to the charge-density-wave phase in monolayer vanadium diselenide
Authors: Trott Matthew J. , Hooley Chris A. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe transition metal dichalcogenides offer significant promise for the tunable realisation and application of correlated electronic phases. However, tuning their properties requires an understanding of the physical mechanisms underlying their experimentally observed ordered phases, and in particular the extent to which lattice vibrations are a necessary ingredient. Here we present a potential mechanism for charge-density-wave formation in monolayers of vanadium diselenide in which the key role at low energies is played by a combination of electron–electron interactions and nesting. There is a competition between superconducting and density-wave fluctuations as sections of the Fermi surface are tuned to perfect nesting. This competition leads to charge-density-wave order when the effective Heisenberg exchange interaction is comparable to the effective Coulomb repulsion. When all effective interactions are purely repulsive, it results instead in d-wave superconductivity. We discuss the possible role of lattice vibrations in enhancing the effective Heisenberg exchange during the earlier stages of the renormalisation group flow.
Atomic-scale homogeneous plastic flow beyond near-theoretical yield stress in a metallic glass
Authors: Yu Jiaxin , Datye Amit , Chen Zheng , Zhou Chao , Dagdeviren Omur E. , Schroers Jan , Schwarz Udo D. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe onset of yielding and the related atomic-scale plastic flow behavior of bulk metallic glasses at room temperature have not been fully understood due to the difficulty in performing the atomic-scale plastic deformation experiments needed to gain direct insight into the underlying fundamental deformation mechanisms. Here we overcome these limitations by combining a unique sample preparation method with atomic force microscopy-based indentation, which allows study of the yield stress, onset of yielding, and atomic-scale plastic flow of a platinum-based bulk metallic glass in volumes containing as little as approximately 1000 atoms. Yield stresses markedly higher than in conventional nanoindentation testing were observed, surpassing predictions from current models that relate yield stress to tested volumes; subsequent flow was then established to be homogeneous without exhibiting collective shear localization or loading rate dependence. Overall, variations in glass properties due to fluctuations of free volume are found to be much smaller than previously suggested.
Exploring the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza in diabetic nephropathy using network pharmacology and molecular docking
Authors: Zhang Lili , Han Lin , Wang Xinmiao , Wei Yu , Zheng Jinghui , Zhao Linhua , Tong Xiaolin 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) on diabetic nephropathy (DN) were examined using a systematic network pharmacology approach and molecular docking. The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database was used to screen active ingredients of SM. Targets were obtained using the SwissTargetPrediction and TCMSP databases. Proteins related to DN were retrieved from the GeneCards and DisGeNET databases. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using common SM/DN targets in the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) database. The Metascape platform was used for Gene Ontology (GO) function analysis, and the Cytoscape plug-in ClueGO was used for Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Molecular docking was performed using iGEMDOCK and AutoDock Vina software. Pymol and LigPlos were used for network mapping. Sixty-six active ingredients and 189 targets of SM were found. Sixty-four targets overlapped with DN-related proteins. The PPI network revealed that AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), VEGFA, interleukin 6 (IL6), TNF, mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), tumor protein p53 (TP53), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14), and JUN were the ten most relevant targets. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the common targets of DN and SM were mainly involved in advanced glycation end-products, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and immune regulation. Molecular docking revealed that potential DN-related targets, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF), NOS2, and AKT1, more stably bound with salvianolic acid B than with tanshinone IIA. In conclusion, the present study revealed the active components and potential molecular therapeutic mechanisms of SM in DN and provides a reference for the wide application of SM in clinically managing DN.
Extraction of jet engine parameters from micro‐Doppler signatures using continuous wavelet transform
Authors: Ramakanth Shreya , Soundarresan Soundarya , Arumuganainar Dyana , Mamgain Reena , Kumaraswamy Hosadurga V. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractMicro‐Doppler signatures in jet engine modulated (JEM) radar signals are used to extract jet engine features for automatic target recognition. Herein, a novel algorithm based on the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) is used to determine the spool rate and the number of blades of a jet engine. The return signal is represented at multiple scales to form a scalogram for time‐frequency analysis. Further, the energy of the scalogram across various scales is computed and salient local maxima in the energy plot are extracted. The signals are analysed at the corresponding scales of salient local maxima and are used to extract spool rate and chopping frequency. The algorithm is applied to the simulated JEM signals affected by noise and investigated using Coiflet and complex Morlet wavelets. In the presence of noise, the proposed algorithm using both the wavelets has shown better performance when compared with the modified Hilbert Huang Transform (HHT) algorithm.
Lifetime enhancement of wireless sensor network using solar energy harvesting technique
Authors: Kaur Harmandeep , Buttar Avtar Singh 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe finite energy of batteries associated with wireless sensor networks is a major constraint, which limits its lifetime. One of the methods to overcome this major limitation is the energy harvesting (EH) systems. There are many energy sources available nowadays, but solar energy is flexible, mature and is an external power source; so, it is broadly utilised for EH in the wireless sensor network to enhance the life of the network. The solar EH technique along with the low energy adaptive clustering hierarchy protocol is applied. The charging and discharging curves of the battery and energy status of the nodes are propounded. The simulation results demonstrate that the lifetime of the battery and the network gets augmented after applying the solar EH technique.
Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection Inhibits Fibrinolysis Leading to Changes in Viscoelastic Properties of Blood Clot: A Descriptive Study of Fibrinolysis in COVID-19
Authors: Hammer Stefanie , Häberle Helene , Schlensak Christian , Bitzer Michael , Malek Nisar P. , Handgretinger Rupert , Lang Peter , Hörber Sebastian , Peter Andreas , Martus Peter , Mirakaj Valbona , Gawaz Meinrad , Geisler Tobias , Althaus Karina , Rosenberger Peter , Bakchoul Tamam 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackground Accumulating evidence indicates toward an association between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and procoagulatory state in blood. Thromboelastographic investigations are useful point-of-care devices to assess coagulation and fibrinolysis.Objectives We investigated the hypothesis that the procoagulatory state in COVID-19 patients is associated with impaired fibrinolysis system.Methods Altogether, 29 COVID-19 patients admitted to normal wards or to the intensive care unit (ICU) were included in this descriptive study. Whole blood samples were investigated by thromboelastography to assess coagulation and fibrinolysis. Additionally, standard routine coagulation testing and immunoassays for factors of fibrinolysis as plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activity and α2-antiplasmin (A2AP) were performed.Results A significantly increased lysis resistance and a significantly longer time of lysis after adding tissue plasminogen activator were observed in blood samples from ICU COVID-19 patients compared with healthy controls (maximal lysis: 3.25 ± 0.56 vs. 6.20 ± 0.89%, p = 0.0127; lysis time: 365.7 ± 44.6 vs. 193.2 ± 16.3 seconds, p = 0.0014). PAI-1 activity was significantly higher in plasma samples of ICU COVID-19 patients (PAI-1: 4.92 ± 0.91 vs. 1.28 ± 0.33 U/mL, p = 0.001). A positive correlation between the activity of PAI-1 and lysis time of the formed clot (r = 0.70, p = 0.0006) was observed.Conclusion Our data suggest that severe SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with impaired fibrinolytic activity in blood, where fibrinolytic inhibitors are elevated leading to an increased resistance to clot lysis. Thromboelastography could offer a tool to investigate the contribution of the fibrinolytic status to the procoagulatory condition in COVID-19.
Potential of CRISPR/Cas13 System in Treatment and Diagnosis of COVID-19
Authors: Khodavirdipour Amir , Piri Motahareh , Jabbari Sarvin , Khalaj-kondori Mohammad 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) belongs to coronaviridae families like sarbecovirus (SARS), and causes pyrexia, pertussis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in major. Started from Wuhan, China, COVID-19 now forced the World Health Organization (WHO) call it a global pandemic. These dreadful figures elevate the need for rapid action for a rapid diagnostic tool, an efficacious therapy, or vaccine for such widespread disease. In this article, we reviewed all the latest research and trials including conventional antiviral medicines that have a narrow and finite effect on COVID-19. Recently, some advances were made by a nucleotide/nucleoside analogues (NUC) inhibitor (remdesivir), ivermectin (antiparasitic drug), and convalescent plasma; the later one has more recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Additionally, a clinical-grade soluble human angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2), named hrsACE2, was able to inhibit the infection of human blood vessel organoids, as well as the human kidney organoids, by the virus. As of now, innovative therapeutics based on the CRISPR/Cas13d might overcome the challenge of COVID-19 either as a treatment option or precise and rapid diagnostic tool due to its rapid and precise nature. In this updated comprehensive rapid review, we tried to cover all recent findings in terms of genomics, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Therapy: A Nonsurgical Treatment Modality for Mandible Fracture Nonunion?
Authors: Abel Adam R. , Reeve Gwendolyn S. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractStandard treatment of mandibular nonunion includes debridement and application of maxillomandibular or rigid internal fixation techniques, with adjunctive bone grafting when necessary. Frequently described in the orthopaedic literature, low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy (LIPUS) is a noninvasive treatment modality used to accelerate healing of fresh fractures and established nonunions. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review to determine the extent of LIPUS study in the treatment of mandibular nonunions to identify whether LIPUS represents an effective nonsurgical alternative or adjunct for nonunion management. A literature review was conducted to investigate published reports on the utilization of LIPUS in treating mandible fracture nonunions. The search yielded two randomized controlled trials demonstrating favorable healing parameters in fresh human mandible fractures treated with LIPUS, two randomized controlled trials demonstrating osteogenic differentiation in human mandibular fracture cellular components, and one study reporting improved healing at rabbit mandibular osteotomy sites. No articles published reports studying LIPUS in facial fracture nonunion were identified. This report reviews published literature on mandibular nonunions, and the evidence of LIPUS use in long bone nonunions. There are no known studies presenting LIPUS treatment of mandible fracture nonunions. However, on the basis of published orthopaedic data, LIPUS therapy could be considered as an adjunct or alternative to traditional surgical management of select mandible fracture nonunions.
Lexical evidence for ancestral communication in Black South
African English
Authors: Peters Arne 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The present chapter derives from a comprehensive
project on culture-specific conceptualizations in Black South
African English. It carries out a lexico-semantic analysis of
conceptualizations of ancestral communication in Black South African
English and is based on a 66,634-word corpus of 424 unedited
classifieds published in 48 consecutive editions of the South
African Daily Sun newspaper as well as on a
54,000-word corpus of ethnographic interviews with meso-/acrolectal
Pedi, Sotho, Swati, Tswana, Xhosa and Zulu L1-speakers of English.
The chapter addresses the central role of the ancestors in
traditional and retraditionalized Black South African communities
and the importance of intact communicative bonds between the
physical and the spiritual parts of the community. In addition, the
analysis produces lexico-semantic evidence for the processes of
nativization and contextualizations in Black South African English
by examining the ritualized communicative act of throwing
bones as conducted by diviner-diagnosticians in mediated
ancestral communication. Finally, the chapter proposes a model
representation of the vertical organization of ancestral
communication schemas in Black South African English. The present
chapter communicates with Peters (2021), which
provides a more detailed account of the cultural-conceptual
background of witchcraft and traditional healing
as represented in Black South African English herbalist
classifieds.
Food safety and methods to ensure food security in the face of climate change.
Authors: Tripathi Jyoti 
Published: February 2021

Abstract

Serious social, economic, and ecological consequences of climate change due to the high levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in our atmosphere resulting from a wide range of human activities including the burning of fossil fuels and land use have impacted weather events world over. Extreme weather events and warmer global temperatures are likely to be more frequent with an adverse overall effect on agricultural production unless there is an urgent reduction in GHG emissions. There is thus an immediate need for increasing adaptive capacity in agriculture to long-term climatic trends and increasing variability in weather patterns. Climate change also poses significant challenges to global food safety due to the emergence of new pathogens, insect pests, and toxicants. Food safety threats cause an enormous burden on economies due to disruptions or restrictions in global and regional agrifood trade, food loss, and associated income. Food safety thus plays a critical role across the four pillars of food security-availability, access, utilization, and stability. Climate change is likely to create new safety issues entailing reassessing our tolerance to risk and safety limits presently established for the human food chain. The present review focuses on the factors affecting food security and safety as a consequence of climate change and the pre- and postharvest strategies that need to be adopted to mitigate these effects for enhancing food safety and global food sufficiency in future.
Self-powered and high responsivity photodetector based on a n-Si/p-GaTe heterojunction
Authors: Liu Yali , Wu Xiaoxiang , Guo Wenxuan , Li Mengge , Niu Xinyue , Yao Jiadong , Yu Ying , Xing Boran , Yan Xiaoyuan , Zhang Shucheng , Sha Jian , Wang Yewu 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Heterojunction integrated by two-dimensional/three-dimensional materials has shown great potential applications in optoelectronic devices because of its fast response speed, high specific detectivity and broad spectral response. In this work, the vertical n-Si/p-GaTe heterojunction has been designed and fabricated, which shows a high responsivity up to 5.73 A W−1 and a fast response time of 20 μs at zero bias benifitting from the high efficiency of light absorption, internal photocurrent gain and strong built-in electrical field. A specific detectivity of 1012 Jones and a broad spectral response ranging from 300 to 1100 nm can also be achieved. This work provides an alternative strategy for high-performance self-powered optoelectronic devices.
Measuring muscle quality: associations between echo intensity and normalized strength and power
Authors: Giuliani Hayden K , Laffan Megan R , Trivisonno Abigail J , Gerstner Gena R , Mota Jacob A , Arieta Luke R , Ryan Eric D 
Published: February 2021

Abstract

Objective. Muscle quality has received considerable attention within the literature due to its influence on health and performance. However, it has been assessed by various measures (e.g. ultrasound imaging, normalized strength), contributing to a lack of a consensus definition. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between common muscle quality measures: vastus lateralis echo intensity (EI) and peak torque (PT) and power (PP) normalized to thigh lean mass (TLM) and thigh fat mass (TFM). Approach. Participants’ (n = 39; age = 32.7 ± 8.2 years; %BF = 24.1% ±8.1%) whole body and leg composition was assessed via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and custom thigh analyses. Subcutaneous fat-corrected muscle EI was assessed via ultrasonography. Maximal PT and PP of the dominant leg extensors were examined on a calibrated dynamometer and were normalized to both TLM and TFM, respectively. Pearson product-moment correlations were used to examine the associations between EI and PT/TLM, PT/TFM, PP/TLM, and PP/TFM. Main results. Greater muscle EI was significantly related with lower PT/TFM and PP/TFM (r = −0.74 to −0.70, P < 0.001), but unrelated to PT/TLM or PP/TLM (P ≥ 0.205). Significance. These findings suggest that ultrasound imaging (muscle EI) and normalized strength and power may not be used interchangeably to define muscle quality, and muscle EI may be more sensitive to the adiposity of the limb than TLM. Future research should consider using separate and consistent definitions when referring to imaging-derived or normalized strength and power values of muscle quality.
Nonlinear harmonic excitations in collisional, asymmetrically-driven capacitive discharges
Authors: Liu Jian-Kai , Kawamura Emi , Lieberman Michael A , Lichtenberg Allan J , Wang You-Nian 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The standing wave effect, which may lead to center-high density profiles in high frequency capacitive discharges, can be enhanced by nonlinearly excited harmonics. In this work, a nonlinear transmission line model, which solves for the electromagnetic fields in the time domain, is coupled to a two-dimensional bulk plasma fluid model to study nonlinear effects in asymmetric cylindrical capacitive argon discharges. An analytical collisional or collisionless (ion) sheath model is used to determine the stochastic and ohmic sheath heating and the nonlinear dependence of sheath voltage on sheath charge. We first examine a base case of a 20 mTorr argon discharge driven with an electron power P
e = 40 W at a frequency f = 60 MHz, using collisionless and collisional sheath models. For the collisionless sheath model, the nonlinearly excited harmonics near the series and spatial resonance frequencies significantly enhance the on-axis power deposition and lead to a sharp peak of electron density at the discharge center. The collisional sheath model gives a smaller sheath width, leading to lower series and spatial resonance frequencies and a smaller source voltage for the fixed electron power. As a result, lower harmonics with broader spatial profiles and decreased magnitude are excited, reducing the center-high plasma nonuniformity. Then, we examine the discharge in a pressure range of 20–100 mTorr at fixed P
e = 40 W and f = 60 MHz, using the collisional sheath model. As pressure increases, the harmonics gradually damp out, and the enhancement of on-axis power deposition becomes less significant. At the same time, more power is localized near the powered electrode edge due to decreased skin depth and smaller energy diffusion. As a result, the density peak shifts from the radial center to the powered electrode edge.
Heat pulse propagation and anomalous electron heat transport measurements on the optimized stellarator W7-X
Authors: Weir G.M. , Xanthopoulos P. , Hirsch M. , Höfel U. , Stange T. , Pablant N. , Grulke O. , Äkäslompolo S. , Alcusón J. , Bozhenkov S. , Beurskens M. , Dinklage A. , Fuchert G. , Geiger J. , Landreman M. , Langenberg A. , Lazerson S. , Marushchenko N. , Pasch E. , Schilling J. , Scott E.R. , Turkin Y. , Klinger T. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The optimized stellarator Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) is designed to have an approximately quasi-isodynamic magnetic configuration with reduced neoclassical transport in comparison to a classical stellarator, and turbulent transport is expected to be a significant source of anomalous heat transport across the plasma minor radius. The ion temperature gradient driven mode and the trapped electron mode (TEM) are thought to be responsible for the ion-scale turbulence in W7-X plasmas with volume averaged pressure below 1%. In this work, the electron temperature gradient driven turbulence is shown to be a good candidate for the explanation of the observed electron heat flux, in the inner plasma region where the density gradient is weak (in the outer region, a relatively stronger density gradient would drive additional TEM turbulence). The experimental electron heat transport measured during electron cyclotron resonant heating power and plasma density scans is compared to neoclassical predictions, and the stiffness in the electron heat transport measured during transient transport experiments is presented in three common magnetic configurations of W7-X. In low-⟨β⟩ plasma discharges, the stiffness in the electron heat flux, quantified by the ratio of the heat pulse to power balance diffusivity,

χ

e

H
P

/

χ

e

P
B

, is measured to be less than 2, and trend downwards with increasing collisionality.