bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid Processing of Uniform, Thin, Robust, and Large‐Area Garnet Solid Electrolyte by Atmospheric Plasma Spraying
Authors: Wu Yulong , Wang Kuangyu , Liu Kai , Long Yuanzheng , Yang Cheng , Zhang Haitian , Pan Wei , Si Wenjie , Wu Hui
Published: June 2023

All‐solid‐state batteries (ASSBs) are rapidly moving toward commercialization as a promising high‐performance energy storage device for portable electronics and electric vehicles. One of the most challenging problems hindering the industrialization of ASSBs is the lack of technologies for cost‐effective and large‐scale manufacturing of high‐quality solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) with about the same thickness as the polymer separators in conventional lithium‐ion batteries. Herein, atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) is adopted as a practical route to process large‐scale, uniform, and thin SSEs to conduct Li‐ions and further to manufacture ASSBs. Garnet‐type Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) films with thicknesses ranging from 30 to 300 µm are successfully manufactured with direct APS technique followed with a post annealing treatment. The electrolyte reaches a high Li‐ion conductivity of 3.82 × 10−5 S cm−1 at room temperature (25 °C). Additionally, the LLZO film with a thickness of 300 µm shows a flexural strength of 157 MPa. Li/LLZO/Li and Li/LLZO/LiFePO4 cells are assembled with the films, both showing stable cycling performance. The APS method shows scalability in solid‐state electrolyte film production, and most importantly, such a process is highly compatible with the current battery industry.
Visible‐Light‐Induced Synthesis of Thioethers through Three‐Component Reactions of α‐Diazoesters, Thiols, and Cyclic Ethers
Authors: Lv Yufen , Wang Zhiwei , Hao Jindong , Zhao Xiaohui , Wei Wei
Published: June 2023

Thioethers are important sulfur‐containing compounds that have widespread application in organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry and materials science. Herein, a visible‐light‐mediated three‐component reaction of α‐diazoester, thiol, and cyclic ether leading to thioether has been developed at room temperature. Through this methodology, a variety of three‐component coupling products with the introduction of the ring‐opening of ether could be efficiently assembled under photocatalyst‐ and additive‐free conditions.
Combating loneliness: The role of neighbourhood ICT, environmental attractiveness, and a sense of belonging to a local community
Authors: Latikka Rita , Savela Nina , Rubio‐Hernández Rosana , Koivula Aki , Makkonen Jouko , Nieto Fernández Fernando , Väänänen Kaisa , Oksanen Atte
Published: June 2023

Neighbourhoods can provide a sense of belonging to a local community and support subjective well‐being. Our goal was to gain novel insight into the value of neighbourhood information and communication technology (ICT) in combating loneliness. Furthermore, we were interested in how a sense of belonging to a local community can be a potential mediating factor and the role of environmental attractiveness. We used data from a nationwide survey of Finnish respondents (N = 1,226) and structural equation modelling for data analysis. We found that perceived environmental attractiveness and a sense of belonging to a local community were negatively associated with loneliness, while the use of neighbourhood ICT was positively associated with loneliness. Perceived environmental attractiveness and use of neighbourhood ICT were positively associated with a sense of belonging to a local community. Perceived environmental attractiveness and use of neighbourhood ICT were negatively associated with loneliness via a sense of belonging to a local community. Our results suggest that perceived environmental attractiveness and use of neighbourhood ICT could help reduce loneliness by enhancing a sense of belonging to a local community. Interventions aimed at improving perceived environmental attractiveness and individuals' senses of belonging to a local community could be particularly helpful in combating loneliness. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.
An overview of the consumer‐centric disruptive technology research: Insights from topic modelling and literature review
Authors: Beheshti Moein , ZareRavasan Ahad , Mahdiraji Hannan Amoozad , Jafari‐Sadeghi Vahid , Sakka Georgia
Published: June 2023

This review aims to assess the most prevalent disruptive technologies of the past decade and evaluate them from a dual perspective. This study utilises the technology life cycle framework to classify disruptive technologies into three phases, (i) emerging, (ii) industry, and (iii) customer‐focused research outcomes. Subsequently, entities using six thematic categories via topic modelling are assessed to determine the research trajectory about customers, industries, and theory. The present study utilises the Latent Dirichlet Allocation framework for topic modelling, a quantitative tool that employs advanced statistical methodology to extract semantic knowledge from large text corpora. This approach offers a more comprehensive and insightful categorisation of information compared to traditional research review models such as archive review, meta‐review analysis, and systematic literature review. After the review, over 750 articles were analysed and classified according to their unique themes and technological emphasis. The study suggests practical applications that could enhance industrial progress through disruptive technology. Furthermore, by identifying gaps, the authors suggest multiple research prospects for forthcoming investigations on disruptive technologies and their impact on consumer behaviour. This research is novel in various aspects. This research is by far the only research record in the last decade that provides a systematic literature review of disruptive technologies with an extensive focus on customers. Considering the methodological perspective, this research uses topic modelling as a new literature review model, enabling analysing more research outputs and yielding more valuable findings than traditional methodologies.
Small Molecule AIEgens for Illuminating Sub‐Cellular Endoplasmic Reticulum, Mitochondria, and Lysosomes**
Authors: Ingle Jaypalsing , Das Bibhas , Chaudhary Keshav , Mondal Anirban , Basu Sudipta
Published: June 2023

Organelles are the working hubs of the cells. Hence, visualizing these organelles inside the cells is highly important for understanding their roles in pathological states and development of therapeutic strategies. Herein, we report the development of a novel highly substituted oxazoles with modular scaffolds (AIE‐ER, AIE‐Mito, and AIE‐Lyso), which can home into endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria, and lysosomes inside the cells. These oxazoles showed remarkable aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) property in water and in the solid state due to dual intramolecular H‐bonding, which was confirmed by pH‐ and temperature‐dependent fluorescence studies followed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Confocal laser scanning microscopy studies revealed that AIE‐ER, AIE‐Mito, and AIE‐Lyso efficiently homed into ER, mitochondria and lysosomes, respectively, in the HeLa cervical cancer cells and non‐cancerous human retinal pigment epithelial RPE‐1 cells within 3 h without showing any toxicity to the cells with high sub‐cellular photostability. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of highly substituted oxazole‐based small molecule AIEgens for organelle imaging. We anticipate these novel AIEgens have promise to image sub‐cellular organelles in different diseased states as well as understanding the inter‐organelle interactions towards the development of novel therapeutics.
Controlling the Reactivity and Interactions between Hydrogen and Palladium Nanoparticles via Management of the Particle Diameter
Authors: Moumaneix Lilian , Rautakorpi Akseli , Kallio Tanja
Published: June 2023

Tailoring the interactions between hydrogen and palladium is crucial for numerous industrial and research applications. The fine control of Pd nanoparticles (NPs) diameter is promising to address this problem when other means, i. e. temperature, pressure, or cell voltage, are set by the ongoing process. We investigate the electrochemical behaviour of Pd NPs in the presence of hydrogen over a large range of particle diameters, between 3.8–21.5 nm. The study is carried out in both a three‐electrode setup and a proton pump. A linear relationship between the H/Pd ratios and the NPs diameter is evidenced. The increase in particle size is accompanied by an extension of the loading duration to reach a stable hydride. Beyond H absorption, the HER and HOR kinetics are examined as a function of the particle diameter. The smaller the particle the higher the catalytic activity, with exchange currents ranging between approx. 1.7–9.8 mA mgPd−1.
KFe(C2O4)F: A Fluoro‐oxalate Cathode Material for Li/Na‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Pramanik Atin , Manche Alexis G. , Smeaton Megan T. , Sougrati Moulay‐Tahar , Lightfoot Philip , Armstrong Anthony Robert
Published: June 2023

The iron‐based polyanionic fluoro‐oxalate material, KFe(C2O4)F (KFCF), has been synthesized by hydrothermal methods. This compound shows promising reversible lithium and sodium insertion properties as a cathode material. The material delivered a first‐cycle discharge capacity of 120 mAh g−1 at ∼3.3 V (Li+/Li) and 97.4 mAh g−1 at ∼3.0 V (Na+/Na) in LIB and NIB, respectively. Stable cycling performance was observed in both cases. The involvement of reversible Fe2+/Fe3+ redox was confirmed by ex‐situ Mössbauer spectroscopy supported by first‐principles calculations. This study reveals promising performance from a mixed oxalate‐fluoride based polyanionic material thereby opening up further possibilities for materials discovery in the design of new electrode materials.
Mechanistic Aspects of the Crabtree‐Pfaltz Hydrogenation of Olefins ‐ An Interplay of Experimentation and Quantum Chemical Computation
Authors: Helmchen Günter
Published: June 2023

Introduction of Crabtree's iridium‐based hydrogenation catalyst in 1977 marked a paradigm shift both with respect to the role of iridium in homogeneous catalysis as well as catalytic hydrogenation of olefins. In 1998, Pfaltz introduced an improved catalyst, by use of BARF− as anion, and established the first chiral variant of the Crabtree catalyst. This led to numerous practical highly enantioselective syntheses. Elucidation of mechanistic details posed great problems because of instability of the crucial intermediates. A remarkable breakthrough was achieved by Brandt, Andersson et al. in 2003, based on dft calculations. These authors replaced a previously assumed IrI/IrIII catalytic cycle by a novel IrIII/IrV cycle. The proposal was experimentally verified by Pfaltz in 2014 and corroborated by advanced quantum chemical calculations. This essay is an attempt to describe a fascinating interplay of experiments and quantum chemical calculations for an important synthetic method.
Evaluating the performance of anal cytology and high‐risk HPV genotyping for detecting anal HSIL in a clinic‐based sample of people living with and without HIV in Puerto Rico
Authors: Ramos‐Cartagena Jeslie M. , Keller Kandyce , Guiot Humberto M. , Muñoz Cristina , Colón‐López Vivian , Deshmukh Ashish A. , Suárez Erick L. , Tirado‐Gómez Maribel , Ortiz Ana P.
Published: June 2023

Background

Given the disproportionately elevated anal cancer risk in high‐risk populations, it is important to assess the performance of commonly used anal cancer screening tools to improve the effectiveness of detection and treatment methods. This study evaluates 1) the concordance between anal cytology and histology results and 2) the performance of cytology and high‐risk human papillomavirus (HR‐HPV) genotyping as screening tools for detecting histologically confirmed anal high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL).

Methods

Data from the Anal Neoplasia Clinic in Puerto Rico (2014–2021; n = 466) was used. The clinical performance of anal cytology and HR‐HPV genotyping to detect HSIL was compared to the gold standard: high‐resolution anoscopy‐guided biopsy. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and κ coefficients were calculated.

Results

A total of 66.95% of the patients were men, 74.0% were people living with HIV, 76.2% had anal HR‐HPV infection, and 40.34% had histologically confirmed anal HSIL. The weighted κ statistic between the tests (cytology and histology) was 0.25 (p < .001). The sensitivity and specificity of cytology alone to detect anal HSIL were 84.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78.3%–89.1%) and 36.0% (95% CI, 30.3%–42.0%), respectively. Anal HR‐HPV genotyping had higher sensitivity (92.2%; 95% CI, 87.4%–95.6%) and similar specificity (34.8%; 95% CI, 29.2%–40.7%) compared to cytology. The two tests combined (positive results following cytology or HR‐HPV test) improved sensitivity to detect anal HSIL (97.9%; 95% CI, 94.8%–99.4%), but specificity was compromised (19.2%; 95% CI, 14.7%–24.4%).

Conclusion

Although HR‐HPV genotyping improved the detection of anal HSIL, HR‐HPV testing had lower specificity than anal cytology alone.
Protocol Considerations for In Vitro Metabolic Glycoengineering of Non‐Natural Glycans
Authors: Dammen‐Brower Kris , Tan Elaine , Almaraz Ruben T. , Du Jian , Yarema Kevin J.
Published: June 2023

Metabolic glycoengineering (MGE) refers to a technique where non‐natural monosaccharide analogs are introduced into living biological systems. Once inside a cell, these compounds intercept a targeted biosynthetic glycosylation pathway and in turn are metabolically incorporated into cell‐surface‐displayed oligosaccharides, where they can modulate a host of biological activities or be exploited as tags for bioorthogonal and chemoselective ligation reactions. Over the past decade, azido‐modified monosaccharides have become the go‐to analogs for MGE; at the same time, analogs with novel chemical functionalities continue to be developed. Therefore, one emphasis of this article is to describe a general approach for analog selection and then provide protocols to ensure safe and efficacious analog usage by cells. Once cell‐surface glycans have been successfully remodeled by MGE methodology, the stage is set for probing changes to the myriad cellular responses modulated by these versatile molecules. This manuscript concludes by detailing how one of these detection methods—flow cytometry—can be successfully utilized to quantify MGE analog incorporation and set the stage for numerous follow‐up applications. © 2023 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Incubation of cells with sugar analogs

Support Protocol: Routine growth and maintenance of Jurkat cells

Basic Protocol 2: Cell viability assays

Basic Protocol 3: Periodate‐resorcinol assay to measure analog uptake and incorporation into metabolic pathways

Basic Protocol 4: Quantitation of cell‐surface glycoconjugates
Analysis of Neutrophil Responses to Biological Exposures
Authors: Anselmi Natalie K. , Bynum Kiana , Kay Jason G. , Visser Michelle B.
Published: June 2023

Neutrophils are an important part of the innate immune system and among the first cells to respond to infections and inflammation. Responses include chemotaxis towards stimuli, extravasation from the vasculature, and antimicrobial actions such as phagocytosis, granule release, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation (NETosis). Studying how neutrophils respond to a variety of stimuli, from biomaterial interactions to microbial insults, is therefore an essential undertaking to fully comprehend the immune response. While there are some immortalized cell lines available that recapitulate many neutrophil responses, ex vivo or in vivo studies are required to fully understand the complete range of neutrophil phenotypes. Here we describe two protocols for neutrophil isolation for further ex vivo study: recovery of neutrophils from human peripheral blood, and isolation of neutrophils from the oral cavity. We also discuss an in vivo model of general inflammation with the murine air pouch that can be used to assess numerous parameters of neutrophil and immune activation, including neutrophil recruitment and biological activity. In these protocols, the cells are isolated to allow for a high degree of experimental control. The protocols are relatively straightforward and can be successfully used by labs with no prior primary cell experience. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Neutrophil isolation from human blood

Basic Protocol 2: Neutrophil isolation from the oral cavity

Basic Protocol 3: Murine air pouch model of general inflammation
Target slinging of droplets with a flexible cantilever
Authors: Fang Wei , Wang Shun , Duan Hu , Tahir Shahid Ali , Zhang Kaixuan , Wang Lixia , Feng Xi‐Qiao , Song Meirong
Published: June 2023

Control of the directional bounce of droplets impacting solid surfaces is crucial for many agricultural and industrial applications. However, for the universal impact process of raindrops on plant leaves, little is known about how the highly coupled and complicated fluid–structure interaction controls the postimpact motion of droplets and endows the leaves with tenacious vitality. Here, we report a leaf‐like superhydrophobic cantilever to flexibly bounce droplets with well‐defined directionality and controllability. Through theoretical modeling and three‐dimensional fluid–solid coupling simulations, we find that the flexible cantilever significantly relieves the impacting forces of raindrops to reduce droplet fragmentation and enhance water repellency. The results further uncover the scaling relations of the droplet bouncing direction with respect to Weber number and cantilever stiffness. By this technique, the seemed disorganized postimpact movements of droplets are programmable and predictable, achieving the goal of where to point and where to hit automatically. This work advances the understanding of natural droplet impact phenomena, opens a new avenue for delicately controlling liquid motion in space with soft materials, and inspires a plethora of applications like soft robots to transport materials and energies, monitor plant growth as well as predict pathogen transmission in plants.
Unauthorized ingredients in “nootropic” dietary supplements: A review of the history, pharmacology, prevalence, international regulations, and potential as doping agents
Authors: Jędrejko Karol , Catlin Oliver , Stewart Timothy , Anderson Ashley , Muszyńska Bożena , Catlin Don H.
Published: June 2023

The first nootropic prohibited in sport was fonturacetam (4‐phenylpiracetam, carphedon) in 1998. Presented here 25 years later is a broad‐scale consideration of the history, pharmacology, prevalence, regulations, and doping potential of nootropics viewed through a lens of 50 selected dietary supplements (DS) marketed as “cognitive enhancement,” “brain health,” “brain boosters,” or “nootropics,” with a focus on unauthorized ingredients. Nootropic DS have risen to prominence over the last decade often as multicomponent formulations of bioactive ingredients presenting compelling pharmacological questions and potential public health concerns. Many popular nootropics are unauthorized food or DS ingredients according to the European Commission including huperzine A, yohimbine, and dimethylaminoethanol; unapproved pharmaceuticals like phenibut or emoxypine (mexidol); previously registered drugs like meclofenoxate or reserpine; EU authorized pharmaceuticals like piracetam or vinpocetine; infamous doping agents like methylhexaneamine or dimethylbutylamine; and other investigational substances and peptides. Several are authorized DS ingredients in the United States resulting in significant global variability as to what qualifies as a legal nootropic. Prohibited stimulants or ß2‐agonists commonly used in “pre‐workout,” “weight loss,” or “thermogenic” DS such as octodrine, hordenine, or higenamine are often stacked with nootropic substances. While stimulants and ß2‐agonists are defined as doping agents by the World Anti‐Doping Agency (WADA), many nootropics are not, although some may qualify as non‐approved substances or related substances under catch‐all language in the WADA Prohibited List. Synergistic combinations, excessive dosing, or recently researched pharmacology may justify listing certain nootropics as doping agents or warrant additional attention in future regulations.
Characterizing the heterogeneity of eastern hemlock xylem water isotopic compositions: Implications for the design of plant water uptake studies
Authors: Li Kevin , Knighton James
Published: June 2023

Xylem water isotopic compositions (2H, 18O; δXYLEM) can be used to estimate plant water uptake depths; however, environmental heterogeneity in these measurements may prevent reaching robust conclusions. Bayesian mixing models used to estimate plant water uptake depths often assume that measurements of δXYLEM and candidate water uptake sources are normally and identically distributed. We tested if δXYLEM measured across 30 Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière) trees met these assumptions. Bootstrap simulations suggested that the distributions of hemlock δXYLEM data were non‐normal in March, April, June, and July and that between 15 and 26 hemlock δXYLEM samples were required to reject the assumption of normality. In June, July, and August, δXYLEM was significantly predicted by a multivariate linear regression with tree sapwood depth or elevation, rejecting the assumption of independently distributed observations. A comparison of dry season hemlock water uptake depth estimates between a Bayesian mixing model and a process‐based ecohydrological model calibration showed differences, with the Bayesian model estimating a substantially greater proportion of shallow water uptake. These results highlight the need for standardized field sampling protocols for δXYLEM and analytical methods that will lead to more robust estimates of plant water uptake depths. These findings also suggest that water uptake functions conditioned on landscape and tree structural variables could substantially advance the representation of plants in ecohydrological models.
Opposite response of N2O emissions in different seasons to warming and precipitation addition on a temperate steppe
Authors: Wan Zhiqiang , Gu Rui , Ganjurjav Hasbagan , Hu Guozheng , Gao Qingzhu , Chen Xuemeng , Gu Xiling , Chun Xi , Zhou Haijun
Published: June 2023

Climate change is an important issue that affects both global warming and precipitation, and the main cause is increased N2O emissions. Temperature and moisture are key factors in grassland ecosystem's response to climate change, and they can affect N2O fluxes. To clarify the impacts of warming and precipitation changes on N2O fluxes, an experiment was conducted in a semiarid steppe in Inner Mongolia, China over a nine‐year period (2011–2019). Plant productivity and soil nutrient dynamics were examined concurrently from 2017 to 2019, and N2O fluxes were monitored in response to different treatment conditions: control (C), warming (W), precipitation addition (P), and warming and precipitation addition (WP). The results showed that N2O emissions in the growing season were higher than those in the nongrowing season. Warming and precipitation addition had no significant effect on N2O fluxes compared with ambient conditions. Compared with P treatment, warming increased N2O flux in nongrowing season and decreased it in growing season. N2O flux was positively correlated with soil temperature and moisture (p < 0.05). Warming had a significant positive effect on soil NH4+‐N, whereas additional precipitation had a large positive effect on soil total nitrogen and soil nitrate nitrogen. With the WP treatment, soil microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) and soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) increased by 53.8% and 41.9%, respectively. The decrease in N2O emissions during the growing season in the W treatment compared with the P treatment may be largely attributed to the greater dominance of Leymus chinensis. The results highlight that changes in species dominance play an important role in regulating N2O emissions, and that the N2O fluxes in the nongrowing season account for a large proportion of the changes in N2O fluxes. Therefore, The warming effects on N2O emissions during nongrowing seasons should be further investigated.
The prognostic impact of specialist cardiology input in patients admitted for heart failure and normal ejection fraction
Authors: Cannata Antonio , Badawy Layla , Anyu Anawinla Ta , Samways Jack , Sweeney Mark , Jordan‐Rios Antonio , Zakeri Rosita , Scott Paul A. , Piper Susan , Plymen Carla M. , McDonagh Theresa A. , Bromage Daniel I.
Published: June 2023

Aims

Specialist cardiology care is associated with a prognostic benefit in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) admitted with decompensated HF. However, up to one third of patients admitted with HF and normal ejection fraction (HFnEF) do not receive specialist cardiology input. Whether this has prognostic implications is unknown.

Methods and results

Data on patients hospitalized with HFnEF from two tertiary centres were analysed. The primary outcome measure was all‐cause mortality during follow‐up. The secondary outcome was in‐hospital mortality. A total of 1413 patients were included in the study. Of these, 23% (n = 322) did not receive in‐hospital specialist cardiology input. Patients seen by a cardiologist were less likely to have hypertension (73% vs. 79%, P = 0.03) and respiratory co‐morbidities (25% vs. 31%, P = 0.02) compared with those who did not receive specialist input. Similarly, clinical presentation was more severe for those who received specialist input (New York Heart Association III/IV 83% vs. 75% respectively, P = 0.003; moderate‐to‐severe peripheral oedema 65% vs. 54%, P < 0.001). Medical management was similar, except for a higher use of diuretics (90% vs. 86%, P = 0.04) and a longer length of stay for patients who received specialist input (9 vs. 4 days, P < 0.001). Long‐term outcomes were comparable between patients who received specialist input and those who did not. However, specialist input was independently associated with lower in‐hospital mortality (hazard ratio 0.19, confidence interval 0.09–0.43, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

In‐hospital cardiology specialist input has no long‐term prognostic advantage in patients with HFnEF but is independently associated with reduced in‐hospital mortality.
Circ_0000033 up‐regulates NUAK2 by sequestering miR‐378a‐3p to promote breast tumorigenesis
Authors: Dai Yijun , Shi Wenjian , Qiu Yanru , Xu Tianwen , Lin Jianguang , Su Yunxia
Published: June 2023

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), including circ_0000033, were shown to be abnormally expressed in breast cancer (BC) and play an important regulatory function in the development of this cancer. This study aimed to investigate the action and mechanism of circ_0000033 in BC carcinogenesis. Specifically, levels of genes and proteins were analyzed using quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) and western blotting. Circ_0000033 was highly expressed in BC tissues and cells. Properties of cells with modified expression of circ_0000033 were characterized using an in vitro colony formation assay, EdU assay, flow cytometry, caspase‐3 activity analysis, transwell assay, and tube formation assay, respectively. Functionally, knockdown of circ_0000033 suppressed BC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in vitro. An in vivo experiment was conducted using a murine xenograft model and showed circ_0000033 silencing also impeded the growth of BC in nude mice. The binding between miR‐378a‐3p and circ_0000033 or NUAK2 (NUAK Family Kinase 2) was validated using a dual‐luciferase reporter assay. Circ_0000033 sequestered miR‐378a‐3p and resulted in NUAK2 release, indicating a circ_0000033/miR‐378a‐3p/NUAK2 regulatory network operates in BC cells. Circ_0000033 down‐regulation in BC cells was accompanied by decreased NUAK2 and increased miR‐378a‐3p expression. Moreover, the anticancer effects mediated by circ_0000033 knockdown were abolished by miR‐378a‐3p inhibition or NUAK2 overexpression in BC cells. Overall, circ_0000033 up‐regulates NUAK2 through sequestration miR‐378a‐3p, which promoted breast tumorigenesis, suggesting circ_0000033 is a promising therapeutic target for BC treatment.
Solid oxide cell electrolytes deposited by atmospheric suspension plasma spraying at high velocity and high temperature
Authors: Kuhn Joel , Kesler Olivera
Published: June 2023

Metal‐supported solid oxide cells with Yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolytes fabricated by atmospheric plasma spraying are routinely found to have open‐circuit voltages (OCVs) below the Nernst potential due to gas crossover and combustion resulting from electrolyte defects. To improve splat bonding and reduce coating defects, YSZ electrolytes were fabricated here at >800°C substrate temperatures and torch‐substrate relative velocities of 4 and 12 m/s by atmospheric suspension plasma spraying. Electrolyte microstructures appeared dense, with porosities estimated to be approximately 2.2–3.5 vol%. Minimal segmentation cracking was observed on samples fabricated at 12 m/s. The full cells that were electrochemically tested had permeabilities in the range of 4–6 × 10−19 m2, and the maximum recorded OCV was ∼26 mV below the Nernst potential for 750°C. Potential performance gains from YSZ deposition at substrate temperatures >800°C may have been masked by poor substrate‐fuel electrode contact. Using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, it was found that the ohmic and polarization resistances decreased and increased, respectively, over time. The calculated distribution of relaxation times of the tested cells, together with observations from the literature, were employed to identify possible cell degradation mechanisms observed during short‐term durability testing.
Benefits of nanotechnology for occupational ergonomic design: A positive step toward more protection of workers' health
Authors: Nasirzadeh Nafiseh , Omari Shekaftik Soqrat , Keshavarz Zahra
Published: June 2023

Nowadays, the combination of “Nanotechnology” and “Ergonomics” has been known as “Nano‐ergonomics.” Nano‐ergonomics can help to develop more comfortable conditions in workplaces. So, the aim of this study is to reveal benefits of nanotechnology for occupational health and safety design, especially ergonomic design. The search strategy was provided based on cochrane guidelines with main search terms of “Nanotechnology,” “Nanomaterial,” and “Nanoparticle” combined with “Ergonomics” and “Human Factors.” PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences and Google Scholar Databases were researched for relevant articles. Also, Google search engine was used to find nano‐ergonomic commercial products and to complete the research with identifying additional information. A total of 32 articles were first achieved. By providing Synthesis Without Meta‐analysis reporting guideline, finally, four studies were regarded as appropriate. The results showed that nanotechnology has developed in three major areas of ergonomics such as physical, environmental, and cognitive ergonomics, which is a positive step toward more protection of workers' health. Although, there are not any original article related to nanotechnology for ergonomic product design, they are offered as the commercial products by the largest companies such as Amazon. Also, workers at the nanotechnology‐related industries have the challenges of exposure to toxic nanomaterials. So, before the application of nanomaterials, we should have proper knowledge of nanomaterials‐caused toxic hazards and how to handle them.
Using continuous electrical conductivity measurements to derive major solute concentrations in karst systems
Authors: Richieri Beatrice , Bittner Daniel , Hartmann Andreas , Benettin Paolo , van Breukelen Boris M. , Labat David , Chiogna Gabriele
Published: June 2023

Hydrochemical data of karst springs provide valuable insights into the internal hydrodynamical functioning of karst systems and support model structure identification. However, the collection of high‐frequency time series of major solute species is limited by analysis costs. In this study, we develop a method to retrieve the individual solute concentration time series and their uncertainty at high temporal resolution for karst springs by using continuous observations of electrical conductivity () and low‐frequency ionic measurements. Due to the large ion content and non‐negligible concentrations of aqueous complexes in karst systems, the concentration of each solute species occurring as free ion and as part of aqueous complexes are computed separately. The concentration of species occurring as free ions are computed considering their contributions to the total , whereas the concentration of the species as part of complexes are obtained from speciation calculations. The pivotal role of the complexation processes for the reconstruction of solute concentration time series starting from the signal is investigated in two karstic catchments with different geologies and temporal resolution of the available hydrochemical datasets, that is the Kerschbaum dolostone system in Austria and the Baget limestone system in France. The results show that complexation processes are significant and should be considered for the estimation of the total solute concentration in case of SO4, Ca, Mg and HCO3. The signal of a karst spring can be used to interpolate and quantify the dynamics of those solutes characterized by large contribution (approximately >6%) to the total and low relative variability, that is HCO3, Ca and Mg. Moreover, the presented method can be used to estimate concentrations of solutes when applied to karst systems with stationary and hydrogeochemical homogeneous contributing area. On the contrary, the method is affected by large uncertainty in case of dynamic systems characterized by varying contributions of water from different geological areas. This study aims to contribute to the problem of hydrogeochemical data availability and to support future works on karst systems conceptualization.
Advances in probing single biomolecules: From DNA bases to glycans
Authors: Hou Baofei , Zhang Teng , Yang Huixia , Han Xu , Liu Liwei , Li Linfei , Grazioli Cesare , Wu Xu , Jiang Nan , Wang Yeliang
Published: June 2023

Imaging biomolecules in real space is crucial for gaining a comprehensive understanding of the properties and functions of biological systems at the most fundamental level. Among the various imaging techniques available for biomolecules and their assembled nanostructures, scanning probe microscopy (SPM) provides a powerful and nondestructive imaging option. SPM is unique in visualizing intrinsically disordered biomolecules at the nanometer scale (e.g., glycans). This review highlights recent achievements in studying biomolecules using SPM technique, focusing on DNA bases, amino acids, proteins, and glycans. The atomic‐level analysis of biomolecules made possible by SPM allows for a more accurate definition of the local structure–property relationship. High‐resolution SPM imaging of single biomolecules offers a new way to study basic processes of life at the molecular level.
Risk of epithelial ovarian tumors among women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A nationwide population‐based cohort study
Authors: Frandsen Clarissa L. B. , Svendsen Pernille F. , Nøhr Bugge , Viuff Jakob H. , Maltesen Thomas , Kjær Susanne K. , Jensen Allan
Published: June 2023

An association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and epithelial ovarian tumors is biologically plausible as conditions inherent to PCOS such as excessive androgenic hormones, reproductive factors and obesity are also risk factors for these hormone‐sensitive tumors. However, previous studies have showed conflicting results and have various methodological limitations. This population‐based cohort study investigates the association between PCOS and epithelial ovarian tumors and includes all women born in Denmark between January 1, 1940 and December 31, 1993 (n = 1 719 304). PCOS diagnoses, ovarian cancer and borderline ovarian tumor diagnoses, covariates, migration and vital status were obtained from the Danish national registers. Adjusted cox proportional hazard regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for epithelial ovarian cancer and for borderline ovarian tumors overall as well as for histological subtypes separately. During median 26 years of follow‐up we identified 6490 women with ovarian cancer and 2990 women with borderline ovarian tumors. Overall, we observed no marked associations between a diagnosis of PCOS and overall epithelial ovarian cancer or overall epithelial borderline ovarian tumors, irrespective of time since diagnosis. However, we found an increased risk of ovarian cancer among postmenopausal women with PCOS (HR 2.28 95% CI 1.02‐5.09) and an increased risk of serous borderline ovarian tumors (HR 2.34 95% CI 1.21‐4.53) in women with PCOS compared with women without PCOS. Importantly, low statistical precision is a crucial limitation of our study and in previous studies and larger studies with longer follow‐up are therefore warranted.
Open access publication of obstetrics and gynecology research in Africa: A dalliance between poverty and paywalls
Authors: Ubom Akaninyene Eseme , Mbiiza Christabel Mweene , Topcu Elif Goknur
Published: June 2023

Synopsis

Open access publishing remains a challenge in Africa due to poverty and poor research funding. There is a need for global action.
Structural changes of polysaccharides from Astragulus after honey processing and their bioactivities on human gut microbiota
Authors: Tian Yufei , Wu Jiacai , Zheng Yili , Li Mengyu , Xu Xia , Chen Hongyuan , Rui Wen
Published: June 2023

BACKGROUND

Astragali Radix (also known as Astragulus) is a traditional medicinal and edible homologous plant for tonifying Qi. Honey‐processed Astragalus is a dosage form of Astragali Radix processed with honey, which exhibited better efficacy of tonifying Qi than the raw product. Polysaccharides are their main active components.

RESULTS

APS2a and HAPS2a were initially isolated from Astragulus and honey‐processed Astragulus. Both of them are highly branched acidic heteropolysaccharides containing ɑ‐configuration and β‐configuration glycosidic bonds. The molecular weight and the molecular dimension of HAPS2a decreased and the GalA contained in APS2a was converted to Gal in HAPS2a. The α‐configuration galactose residue 1,3,4‐α‐Galp in the backbone of APS2a was converted to the corresponding β‐configuration galactose residue 1,3,4‐β‐Galp in the backbone of HAPS2a and the uronic acid residue T‐α‐GalpA in the sidechain of APS2a was converted to the corresponding neutral residue T‐α‐Galp in the side chain of HAPS2a. Bioactivity results showed that HAPS2a had better probiotic effects on Bacteroides ovatus, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains than APS2a. After degradation, the molecular weights of HAPS2a and APS2a decreased with the changes in their monosaccharide composition. The contents of total short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and other organic acids in HAPS2a group were higher than APS2a group.

CONCLUSIONS

Two novel high‐molecular‐weight polysaccharides named APS2a and HAPS2a had different probiotic activities in vitro, which might be due to their structural differences before and after honey processing. Both of them might be possibly used as an immunopotentiator in healthy foods or dietary supplement. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Natural regeneration offers an effective way for large‐scale restoration of degraded lands in Tigray, Ethiopia
Authors: Araya Haileselassie Ghebremariam , Wasonga Oliver Vivian , Mureithi Stephen , Birhane Emiru
Published: June 2023

Land rehabilitation through exclosures has been recognized as a promising practice in the restoration of degraded drylands. This study evaluated woody species density, diversity, cover, and biomass production from three regeneration approaches (EMTs): (1) Naturally Regenerated (ENR) exclosures, (2) exclosures with Soil and Water Conservation Structures (ECNR), and (3) those enriched with exotic and local plant species in addition to SWC structures (ECP) among which empirical evidence of comparisons are lacking for appropriate decision making of which restoration strategy to promote. Primary data were collected from a total of 72 study plots located across transects laid within exclosures and in adjacent grazing areas with similar ecological condition. Interview with 331 households and focus groups was used to further understand the effects. Regression analysis revealed that the mean difference in herbaceous and canopy cover, herbaceous and woody biomass, and woody species density and diversity of the three EMTs was statistically significantly higher than in the adjacent open grazing areas. Moreover, herbaceous biomass in ECP differed significantly from that of ECNR. The results indicated that ENR and ECP equally enhanced the selected vegetation parameters. This is predominantly attributed to the comparable responsiveness of many degraded areas to natural regeneration as they do to active regeneration approaches. Implementation of natural regeneration is suitable for immediate recruitment of strategy in terms of resources, time, and meeting objectives before decisions are made for assisted models of exclosure that require massive campaigns to construct soil and water conservation structures and huge seedling production in the dryland areas.
Peptides as “better biomarkers”? Value, challenges, and potential solutions to facilitate implementation
Authors: Latosinska Agnieszka , Frantzi Maria , Siwy Justyna
Published: June 2023

Peptides carry important functions in normal physiological and pathophysiological processes and can serve as clinically useful biomarkers. Given the ability to diffuse passively across endothelial barriers, endogenous peptides can be examined in several body fluids, including among others urine, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid. This review article provides an update on the recently published literature that reports on investigating native peptides in body fluids using mass spectrometry‐based platforms, specifically those studies that focus on the application of peptides as biomarkers to improve clinical management. We emphasize on the critical evaluation of their clinical value, how close they are to implementation, and the associated challenges and potential solutions to facilitate clinical implementation. During the last 5 years, numerous studies have been published, demonstrating the increased interest in mass spectrometry for the assessment of endogenous peptides as potential biomarkers. Importantly, the presence of few successful examples of implementation in patients' management and/or in the context of clinical trials indicates that the peptide biomarker field is evolving. Nevertheless, most studies still report evidence based on small sample size, while validation phases are frequently missing. Therefore, a gap between discovery and implementation still exists.
An improved method for intracellular DNA (iDNA) recovery from terrestrial environments
Authors: Medina Caro Diego , Horstmann Lucas , Ganzert Lars , Oses Romulo , Friedl Thomas , Wagner Dirk
Published: June 2023

The simultaneous extraction of intracellular DNA (iDNA) and extracellular DNA (eDNA) can help to separate the living in situ community (represented by iDNA) from background DNA that originated both from past communities and from allochthonous sources. As iDNA and eDNA extraction protocols require separating cells from the sample matrix, their DNA yields are generally lower than direct methods that lyse the cells within the sample matrix. We, therefore, tested different buffers with and without adding a detergent mix (DM) in the extraction protocol to improve the recovery of iDNA from surface and subsurface samples that covered a variety of terrestrial environments. The combination of a highly concentrated sodium phosphate buffer plus DM significantly improved iDNA recovery for almost all tested samples. Additionally, the combination of sodium phosphate and EDTA improved iDNA recovery in most of the samples and even allowed the successful extraction of iDNA from extremely low‐biomass iron‐bearing rock samples taken from the deep biosphere. Based on our results, we recommend using a protocol with sodium phosphate in combination with either a DM (NaP 300 mM + DM) or EDTA (NaP + EDTA 300 mM). Furthermore, for studies that rely on the eDNA pool, we recommend using buffers solely based on sodium phosphate because the addition of EDTA or a DM resulted in a decrease in eDNA for most of the tested samples. These improvements can help reduce community bias in environmental studies and contribute to better characterizations of both modern and past ecosystems.
Integrative Brain States Facilitate the Expression of Parkinson's Tremor
Authors: Dirkx Michiel F. , Shine James M. , Helmich Rick C.
Published: June 2023

Background

Parkinson's disease (PD) rest tremor emerges from pathological activity in the basal ganglia and cerebello‐thalamo‐cortical circuits. A well‐known clinical feature is the waxing and waning of PD tremor amplitude, but the mechanisms that drive this variability are unclear. Previous work has shown that arousal amplifies PD tremor by increasing between‐network connectivity. Furthermore, brain states in PD are biased toward integration rather than segregation, a pattern that is also associated with increased arousal.

Objective

The aim was to test the hypothesis that fluctuations in integrative brain states and/or arousal drive spontaneous fluctuations in PD rest tremor.

Methods

We compared the temporal relationship between cerebral integration, the ascending arousal system, and tremor, both during cognitive load and in the resting state. In 40 tremor‐dominant PD patients, we performed functional magnetic resonance imaging using concurrent tremor recordings and proxy measures of the ascending arousal system (pupil diameter, heart rate). We calculated whole‐brain dynamic functional connectivity and used graph theory to determine a scan‐by‐scan measure of cerebral integration, which we related to the onset of tremor episodes.

Results

Fluctuations in cerebral integration were time locked to spontaneous changes in tremor amplitude: cerebral integration increased 13 seconds before tremor onset and predicted the amplitude of subsequent increases in tremor amplitude. During but not before tremor episodes, pupil diameter and heart rate increased and correlated with tremor amplitude.

Conclusions

Integrative brain states are an important cerebral environment in which tremor‐related activity emerges, which is then amplified by the ascending arousal system. New treatments focused on attenuating enhanced cerebral integration in PD may reduce tremor. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Spatial scaling of soil microbial co‐occurrence networks in a fragmented landscape
Authors: Wang Pandeng , Li Shao‐Peng , Yang Xian , Si Xingfeng , Li Wen‐Jun , Shu Wensheng , Jiang Lin
Published: June 2023

Impact statement

Habitat loss has been a primary threat to biodiversity. However, species do not function in isolation but often associate with each other and form complex networks. Thus, revealing how the network complexity and stability scale with habitat area will give us more insights into the effects of habitat loss on ecosystems. In this study, we explored the relationships between the island area and the network complexity and stability of soil microbes. We found that the complexity and stability of soil microbial co‐occurrence networks scale positively with island area, indicating that habitat loss will potentially simplify and destabilize soil microbial networks.