bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ecolabel: Is more information better?
Authors: Ghazzai Hend , Lahmandi-Ayed Rim 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
We study in this paper the effect of the type of information provided by an ecolabel. For this purpose, in the framework of a model of vertical differentiation, we compare the effects of a partial information label (Type I) and a complete information label (Type III) on firms' profits, industry profit, consumers' surplus, environmental damage and social welfare. A partial information label indicates that the environmental quality of a good exceeds some given threshold. The authority issuing a partial information label chooses its labeling criteria while maximizing the social welfare. A complete information label indicates the exact environmental quality chosen by firms. We prove that while a partial information label always improves the social welfare and deteriorates the green firm profit compared to a complete information label, the comparison between the two types of ecolabel in terms of the brown firm's profit, the industry's profit, the consumers surplus and the environment depend in a non-obvious way on the marginal cost of quality and on the environmental sensitivity to quality.
Automatic identification of meibomian gland dysfunction with meibography images using deep learning
Authors: Yu Yi , Zhou Yiwen , Yang Yanning , Zhou Yabiao , Tan Yuejiao , Wu Lianlian , Hu Shan 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background

Artificial intelligence is developing rapidly, bringing increasing numbers of intelligent products into daily life. However, it has little progress in dry eye, which is a common disease and associated with meibomian gland dysfunction(MGD). Non-invasive infrared meibography, known as an effective diagnostic tool of MGD, allows for objective observation of meibomian glands. Thus, we discuss a deep learning method to measure and assess meibomian glands of meibography.
Methods

We used Mask R-CNN deep learning(DL) framework. A total of 1878 meibography images were collected and manually annotated by two licensed eyelid specialists with two classes: conjunctiva and meibomian glands. The annotated pictures were used to establish a DL model. An independent test dataset contained 58 images was used to compare the accuracy and efficiency of the deep learning model with specialists.
Results

The DL model calculated the ratio of meibomian gland loss with precise values by achieving high accuracy in the identification of conjunctiva (validation loss < 0.35, mAP > 0.976) and meibomian glands (validation loss < 1.0, mAP > 0.92). The comparison between specialists’ annotation and the DL model evaluation showed that there is little difference between the gold standard and the model. Each image takes 480ms for the model to evaluate, almost 21 times faster than specialists.
Conclusions

The DL model can improve the accuracy of meibography image evaluation, help specialists to grade the meibomian glands and save their time to some extent.
Synthesis of polyaniline coating on the modified fiber ball and application for Cr(VI) removal
Authors: Li Xiao , Fei Guang Tao , Xu Shao Hui 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
In this study, polyaniline (PANI) is prepared by means of chemical oxidization polymerization and directly loaded on the modified fiber ball (m-FB) to obtain macroscale polyaniline/modified fiber ball (PANI/m-FB) composite, and then its removal ability of Cr(VI) is investigated. The effects of different parameters such as contact time, pH value and initial concentration on Cr(VI) removal efficiency are discussed. The experimental results illustrate that the favourable pH value is 5.0 and the maximum removal capacity is measured to be 293.13 mg·g-1. Besides, PANI/m-FB composites can be regenerated and reused after being treated with strong acid. The kinetic study indicates that the adsorption procedure is mainly controlled by chemical adsorption. More importantly, the macroscale of composites can avoid secondary pollution efficiently. Benefiting from the low cost, easy preparation in large scale, environmentally friendly, excellent recycling performance as well as high removal ability, PANI/m-FB composites exhibit a potential possibility to remove Cr(VI) from industrial waste water.
Urban Heat Island High Local Water-Vapor Feedback Estimates Requiring Albedo Management
Authors: Feinberg Alec 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
In this paper, we analyze warming data on Urban Heat Islands (UHI) in dry versus humid environments to estimate local water-vapor feedback from city growth. We find looking at such data and comparing rural to urban areas, UHI local water-vapor feedback is about 3 W/m2/oK to a maximum of 4 W/m2/oK. Relative to global climate feedback estimates of about 2 W/m2/o K, this is a factor of 1.5 to 2 times higher. This UHI effect is observed during daytime hours. Water-vapor feedback is known to be one of the most important in our climate system and thought that it can double the direct known forcing and is found here to be an even stronger UHI local effect. We suspect with city growth there is a loss of natural convection cooling and an increase in dome heat/humidity from UHI impermeable surfaces since warm air holds more water-vapor creating a local greenhouse gas (GHG). These are key contributors to local water-vapor feedback raising local temperatures in humid cities. An optimum way to mitigate this effect is with UHI albedo management. We suggest that this warming effect can be an important factor in UHI global warming contributions and should be mitigated.
Effects of the Sigma-1 Receptor Agonist Blarcamesine in a Murine Model of Fragile X Syndrome: Neurobehavioral Phenotypes and Receptor Occupancy
Authors: Reyes Samantha T. , Deacon Robert M.J. , Guo Scarlett G. , Castillo Jessa B. , Wildt Berend van der , Morales Aimara P. , Park Jun Hyung , Klamer Daniel , Rosenberg Jarrett , Oberman Lindsay M. , Rebowe Nell , Sprouse Jeffrey , Missling Christopher U. , Cogram Patricia , Kaufmann Walter E. , Chin Frederick T. , McCurdy Christopher R. , Altimiras Francisco J. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS), a disorder of synaptic development and function, is the most prevalent genetic form of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. FXS mouse models display clinically-relevant phenotypes, such as increased anxiety and hyperactivity. Despite their availability, so far advances in drug development have not yielded new treatments. Therefore, testing novel drugs that can ameliorate FXS’ cognitive and behavioral impairments is imperative. ANAVEX2-73 (blarcamesine) is a sigma-1 receptor (S1R) agonist with a strong safety record and preliminary efficacy evidence in patients with Alzheimer's disease and Rett syndrome, other synaptic neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. S1R’s role in calcium homeostasis and mitochondrial function, cellular functions related to synaptic function, makes blarcamesine a potential drug candidate for FXS. Administration of blarcamesine in 2-month-old FXS and wild type mice for two weeks led to normalization in two key neurobehavioral phenotypes: open field test (hyperactivity) and contextual fear conditioning (associative learning). Furthermore, there was improvement in marble-burying (anxiety, perseverative behavior). It also restored pAkt and BDNF levels, two major signaling markers, in the hippocampus. Positron emission tomography (PET) and ex vivo autoradiographic studies, using the highly selective S1R PET ligand [18F]FTC-146, demonstrated the drug’s dose-dependent receptor occupancy. Subsequent analyses also showed a wide but variable brain regional distribution of S1Rs, which was preserved in FXS mice. Altogether, these neurobehavioral, biochemical, and imaging data demonstrate that the same doses that yield measurable receptor occupancy are effective for improving the synaptic and behavioral phenotype in FXS mice. The present findings support the viability of S1R as a therapeutic target in FXS, and the clinical potential of blarcamesine in FXS and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Sirt6 reprograms myofibers to oxidative type through CREB-dependent Sox6 suppression
Authors: Park Byung-Hyun , Song Mi-Young , Han Chang Yeob , Moon Young Jae , Bae Eun Ju 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Expanding the exercise capacity of skeletal muscle is an emerging strategy to combat obesity-related metabolic diseases and this can be achieved by shifting skeletal muscle fibers toward slow-twitch oxidative type. Here, we report that Sirt6, an anti-aging histone deacetylase, is critical in regulating myofiber configuration toward oxidative type and that Sirt6 activator can be an exercise mimetic. Genetic inactivation of Sirt6 in skeletal muscle reduced while its transgenic overexpression increased mitochondrial oxidative capacity and exercise performance in mice. Mechanistically, we show that Sirt6 downregulated Sox6, a key repressor of slow fiber specific gene, by increasing the transcription of CREB. Sirt6 expression is elevated in chronically exercised humans and mice treated with an activator of Sirt6 showed an increase in exercise endurance as compared to exercise-trained controls. Thus, the current study identifies Sirt6 as a new molecular target for reprogramming myofiber composition toward the oxidative type and for improving muscle performance.
Prevalence and associated factors for stunting, underweight and wasting among children under 6 years of age in rural Hunan Province, China: a community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Li Huixia , Yuan Shan , Fang Hualing , Huang Guangwen , Huang Qun , Wang Hua , Wang Aihua 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
The existing epidemiological data cannot represent the situation of malnutrition among Chinese children, particularly those in rural China. Hence, in this community-based cross-sectional study, the prevalence and associated factors of stunting, underweight and wasting among children (age < 6 years) from rural Hunan Province were analyzed.
Methods
Totally 5529 children aged 0 to 71 months and their caregivers were randomly chosen by multistage stratified cluster sampling from 72 villages from rural Hunan, which covered 24 towns in 12 counties. Data about the children and their mothers, caregivers and family conditions was acquired using unified questionnaire, and the length/height and weight of each child were measured using unified instruments. The prevalence of malnutrition among children were evaluated using the length/height for age, weight for age, weight for length/height, and body mass index for age z scores, which were computed according to the 2006 and 2007 WHO Child Growth Standards.
Results
The prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting among the 5529 children are 4.4% (241), 3.9% (217), and 4.0% (221), respectively. The significant associated factors on higher risks of malnutrition in the children are low birth weight, maternal gestational weight gain < 10 kg (stunting); low birth weight, maternal gestational weight gain < 10 kg, ethnicity of caregivers being minority (underweight); low birth weight, ethnicity of caregivers being minority (wasting). High education level of caregivers and high family food expenditure are common protective factors for all three types of malnutrition, except that high family food expenditure is not protective for wasting.
Conclusions
The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting is low among rural children under age of 6 years in Hunan. As for the measures, the gestational care and reasonable diet of mothers should be strengthened, and nutritional deficiency during pregnancy be avoided, which will prevent low birth weight. Education about nutrition must be promoted among minorities.
Influence of light-irradiated Noccaea caerulescens on the characteristics of dissolved organic matter in its rhizospheric soil during phytoremediation
Authors: Niu Yao , Wang Zhansheng , Wang Hanfei , Yang Xiaoying , Cao Min , Luo Jie 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
It has been observed that suitable light irradiation can improve the phytoremediation efficiency of various plants by enhancing their growth rate and metal uptake capacity. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of light irradiation on metal mobilization and translocation in soils have rarely been reported. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the variation in dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the rhizosphere of Noccaea caerulescens when irradiated with different combinations of red (0, 25, 50, 90, and 100 % red) and blue light. N. caerulescens was induced to secrete significantly more DOM, relative to the control, into its rhizosphere after being irradiated with pure red light and other red light combinations; this increased the bioavailability of soil Cd. Moreover, the concentrations and proportions of the hydrophilic DOM fractions, particularly hydrophilic acid, which exhibited a high affinity for Cd, increased with increasing ratios of the red light. Furthermore, DOM secreted because of the light irradiation treatments exhibited a significantly higher Cd extraction ability compared with that of the untreated control; this consequently increased the Cd uptake capacity of N. caerulescens. The results demonstrated that the secretion of more DOM, particularly hydrophilic acid, plays a pivotal role in improving the phytoremediation efficiency of N. caerulescens.
Multiple shoot induction in zygotic embryos: A strategy for acceleration of banana breeding
Authors: Suthanthiram Backiyarani , Subbaraya Uma , Swaminathan Saranya , Palani Durai , Selvaraj Eugin Perianayagaraj , Vadivel Selvaraj , Somasundram Saraswathi Marimuthu , Raju Karthic 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The presence of residual female fertility in most of the parthenocarpic banana accessions, embryo culture technique encourages the banana breeder to develop new hybrids through conventional breeding. Desirable trait can be fixed in banana in the first generation of hybrid progenies, but their evaluation is a long process owing to non-availability of uniform suckers/planting material. The duration of the breeding cycle can be reduced by developing more number of plantlets per hybrid event under in vitro embryo culture. Thus efforts were taken to standardize the multiple shoot formation from single embryo through media manipulation and decortications of embryo culture derived single plants. Success on multiple shoot formation was achieved up to 75% and 95% in seeded accessions of M.acuminata and M.velutina embryos respectively. In general, enhanced regeneration efficiency and rate of multiple shoot formation were recorded in media with BAP concentration of 17.76µm. Single in vitro plantlets derived through embryo culture were decorticated to 3 cubic cm size that resulted in 100% multiple shoot formations. This technique has been implemented from the seeds obtained from controlled pollination (18 cross combinations) and open pollination (nine accessions) of various genomic groups (ABB, AAB, AA) and their genetic fidelity of multiple shoots were also confirmed through microsatellite markers. As this technique, i) enhances the regeneration of hybrid seeds; ii) overcomes the risk of field mortality of the hybrid progenies and iii) allows simultaneous evaluation for multiple traits, will accelerate the breeding program by reducing the time taken for the release of potential banana hybrids.
TGF-β1 and Its Signal Transduction Pathways: Are They Corelated With The Elastic Characteristics of Breast Lesions?
Authors: Zhang Meng Ke , Li Shi Yu , Wang Bo , Liu Gang , Wang Zhi Li 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Shear wave elastography (SWE) can evaluate the tissue stiffness. Previous studies showed that the elastic characteristics of breast lesions were related to the components of extracellular matrix (ECM) which was directly or indirectly regulated by transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-β1). However, it is rarely reported whether there is a correlation between TGF-β1 and the elastic characteristics of breast lesions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between TGF-β1 with its signal transduction pathways and the elastic characteristics of breast lesions.Methods: 135 breast lesions in 130 patients were included. Before operation or biopsy, SWE was performed. Elastic characteristics such as the maximum, mean, minimum and standard deviation (SD) of elastic modulus (Emax, Emean, Emin, Esd), the elastic ratio of the lesions to the peripheral tissue (Eratio) and the "stiff rim sign" were recorded. The expression levels of TGF-β1, Smad2/3, Erk1/2, p38 MAPK, JNK2, PI3K and AKT were detected by immunohistochemistry. The elastic characteristics and the expression levels of the above-mentioned indexes of benign lesions were were analyzed.Results: Emax, Emean, Esd, Eratio, “stiff rim sign” detection rate and the expression levels of TGF- β 1, et al. of benign were lower than those of malignant lesions (P＜0.0001). The expression levels of TGF- β 1, Smad2/3, Erk1/2, p38 MAPK, JNK2, PI3K and AKT were correlated with Emax, Emean, Esd, Eratio of breast lesions, the expression levels of TGF- β 1, et al. of lesions with “stiff rim sign” were higher than those of lesions without “stiff rim sign” (P＜0.05). And the expression levels of Smad2/3, Erk1/2, p38 MAPK, JNK2, PI3K and AKT were corelated with that of TGF- β 1 (r=0.678, 0.633, 0.645, 0.611, 0.589, 0.663, P＜0.0001).Conclusions: The expression levels of TGF-β1, et al. of breast lesions were corelated with the elastic characteristics, the expression levels of Smad2/3, Erk1/2, p38 MAPK, JNK2, PI3K and AKT were corelated with that of TGF- β 1, which speculated that TGF- β 1 might play an important role in the stiffness regulation of breast lesions through multiple signal transduction pathways.
Generational Sensitivity Alteration in Chironomus Yoshimatsui to Carbamate and Pharmaceutical Chemicals and The Effect on Catalase, CYP450, and Hemoglobin Gene Transcription
Authors: Ishimota Makoto , Tomiyama Naruto 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
To ascertain the tolerance mechanisms of aquatic organisms to artificial chemicals, intergenerational sensitivity changes of Chironomus yoshimatsui to a carbamate pesticide (pirimicarb) and pharmaceutical chemical (diazepam) were investigated. The larvae (< 48-h-old) in each generation were exposed to both chemicals for 48 h and then the surviving chironomids were cultured until the fifth generation (F0–F4) without chemical addition. The 48-h 50% effective concentration (EC50) value of chironomids was determined for each generation. In the pirimicarb treatment group, the EC50 values significantly increased in F3 and F4, and those in the diazepam treatment group slightly increased. Catalase, Cytochrome P450 and hemoglobin (Hb) mRNA levels were monitored to see whether these were related to the trans-generational sensitivity. Although the generalized linear model results showed that the sensitivity to diazepam was slightly increased in the diazepam treatment, we could not find any mRNA levels related to sensitivity alteration. In contrast, the model approach showed that the chironomids exposed to pirimicarb trans-generationally became tolerant with increasing Hb mRNA levels. Therefore, they might decrease their oxidative chemical stress by modifying Hb gene transcription.
Simulation of a Charged Al2O3 Film As An Assisting Passivation Layer For a-Si Passivated Contact p-Type Silicon Solar Cells
Authors: Pu Tian , Shen Honglie , Tang Quntao 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
In this paper, a charged Al2O3 tunneling film as an assisting for amorphous Si (a-Si) passivated contact layer is proposed and theoretically simulated for its potential application in improving a-Si passivated contact p-type (a-PC-p) solar cell. The concept is based on an Ag/n+ c-Si/p c-Si/Al2O3/p+ a-Si/Al structure. The key feature is the introduction of a charged Al2O3 layer, which facilitates the tunneling of holes through an Al2O3 insulator layer accompanied by the reduction of interface defect density (Dit). The negative charge in the Al2O3 layer makes the energy band of p-type c-Si bend upward, realizing the accumulation of holes and repelling of electrons at the c-Si/a-Si interface simultaneously. The influence of interface negative charges (Qit) between a-Si and c-Si, Al2O3 thickness, Al2O3 bandgap, interface defect density (Dit) at the a-Si/c-Si interface are systematically investigated on the output parameters of a-PC-p cells. Inserting a charged Al2O3 film between the c-Si/a-Si interface, a +4.2 % relative efficiency gain is predicted theoretically compared with the a-PC-p cells without the Al2O3 layer. Subsequently, the device performance under various temperatures is simulated, and the insertion of a charged Al2O3 layer obviously decreases the Pmax temperature coefficient from -0.336 % /℃ to -0.247 % /℃, which is analogous to that of Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin layer (HIT) solar cell. The above results demonstrate a better temperature response for a-PC-p cells with a charged Al2O3 layer, paving a road for its potential application in high-efficiency and high thermal stability a-PC-p solar cells.
The effect of copper doping on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of cadmium oxide thin films using the spray pyrolysis technique
Authors: Davari Fatemeh , Fadavieslam Mohammad Reza 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
In this study, the pure and Cu doped CdO thin films with various doping concentrations (0 to 5 at.%) were deposited on soda-lime glass substrates, using the chemical spray pyrolysis technique. The effects of Cu doping on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of thin films were, then, investigated. The films were characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersive x-ray analyzer (FESEM-EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and electrical resistance; van der Pauw techniques were also used to measure the Hall effect. X-ray diffraction studies showed that the thin films were polycrystalline only with cadmium oxide phase with the cubic face-centered crystal structure and the preferred orientations were along (111), (200), (220), (311), and (311) planes. The FE-SEM and AFM images also showed that with an increase in Cu doping levels, the grain size and surface roughness of the thin films decreased from 472 to 38 nm and from 163 to 54 nm, respectively. The expected element compositions were confirmed by EDX. The optical bandgap of the thin films ranged from 2.42 to 2.56 eV, and as Cu dopant increased, so, too, the optical bandgap. As the Cu doping concentration increased from 0 to 5 (at.%), the electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient were found to increase from 3.74⋅10− 4 to 8.77⋅10− 3 Ω.cm and 8.28⋅10− 6 to 2.52⋅10− 5 v/k (at 100 Co temperature difference), respectively; the carrier concentration and carrier mobility were also found to decrease from 3.24⋅1020 to 1.76⋅1020 cm− 3 and from 55.5 to 4.05 cm2/v.s, respectively. The Hall effect and thermoelectric studies revealed that the films exhibited an n-type conductivity.