bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety of acupuncture in oncology: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Höxtermann Melanie D. , Haller Heidemarie , Aboudamaah Shaimaa , Bachemir Armin , Dobos Gustav , Cramer Holger , Voiss Petra
Published: March 2022

Background

Acupuncture is frequently used to treat the side effects of cancer treatment, but the safety of this intervention remains uncertain. The current meta‐analysis was conducted to assess the safety of acupuncture in oncological patients.

Methods

The PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus databases were searched from their inception to August 7, 2020. Randomized controlled trials in oncological patients comparing invasive acupuncture with sham acupuncture, treatment as usual (TAU), or any other active control were eligible. Two reviewers independently extracted data on study characteristics and adverse events (AEs). Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool.

Results

Of 4590 screened articles, 65 were included in the analyses. The authors observed that acupuncture was not associated an with increased risk of intervention‐related AEs, nonserious AEs, serious AEs, or dropout because of AEs compared with sham acupuncture and an active control. Compared with TAU, acupuncture was not associated with an increased risk of intervention‐related AEs, serious AEs, or drop out because of AEs but was associated with an increased risk for nonserious AEs (odds ratio, 3.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.16‐13.35; P = .03). However, the increased risk of nonserious AEs compared with TAU was not robust against selection bias. The meta‐analyses may have been biased because of the insufficient reporting of AEs in the original randomized controlled trials.

Conclusions

The current review indicates that acupuncture is as safe as sham acupuncture and active controls in oncological patients. The authors recommend researchers heed the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) safety and harm extension for reporting to capture the side effects and better investigate the risk profile of acupuncture in oncology.

Lay Summary

According to this analysis, acupuncture is a safe therapy for the treatment of patients with cancer.

Acupuncture seems to be safe compared with sham acupuncture and active controls.
Determination of Microporous and Mesoporous Surface Areas and Volumes of Mesoporous Zeolites by Corrected t‐Plot Analysis
Authors: Desmurs Lucie , Galarneau Anne , Cammarano Claudia , Hulea Vasile , Vaulot Cyril , Nouali Habiba , Lebeau Benedicte , Daou T. Jean , Vieira Soares Carla , Maurin Guillaume , Haranczyk Maciej , Batonneau‐Gener Isabelle , Sachse Alexander
Published: March 2022

Zeolites are well‐known microporous catalysts involved in many industrial applications. Their microporosity yet impedes diffusion of bulky molecules. To overcome this drawback, zeolites with hierarchical bimodal porosity, e. g. micropores and mesopores, are developed. In this context, it is important to develop/use methods able to evaluate accurately the textural properties of mesoporous zeolites. t‐Plot can be in theory used for determining the micro‐ and mesopore surface areas and pore volumes. However, classical t‐plot analysis overestimates the mesopore surface areas and underestimates the micropore volumes for hierarchical micro‐/mesoporous materials. Measurements performed with mechanical mixtures of FAU‐Y and MCM‐41 allows to provide corrections, which are up to date limited to mesoporous FAU‐Y. The present work describes specific corrections of the t‐plot for a broader series of zeolites including MFI, *BEA and MOR, based on a set of mechanical mixtures of zeolites and MCM‐41. Minor correction factors are required for MOR, whilst for MFI and *BEA similar corrections as for the FAU‐Y are inferred for the micropore volume. As far as the surface area is concerned higher correction factors are required for MFI compared to *BEA. This corrected t‐plot analysis is applied to characterize a great variety of mesoporous zeolites prepared by micelle‐templating.
Rational Design and Synthesis of Ag−Cu2O Nanocomposites for SERS Detection, Catalysis, and Antibacterial Applications
Authors: Sayson Luce Vida A. , Regulacio Michelle D.
Published: March 2022

With the growing desire to incorporate enhanced properties and multiple functions into a single nanostructured system, research on nanocomposites has intensified in recent years. Several material combinations have already been studied, giving rise to a rich library of hybrid nanomaterials. In this Minireview, attention is directed toward Ag−Cu2O nanocomposites, which integrate the strong plasmonic features of metallic Ag and the semiconducting properties of Cu2O. There are numerous ways by which these two materials can be arranged in a nanocomposite, leading to diverse types of hybrid configurations (e. g. core–shell, core–satellite, yolk–shell, Janus). The synthetic protocols that have been used in fabricating these different hybrid structures are amply discussed in this paper. Also described are the remarkable properties that arise from the union of Ag and Cu2O, and how these properties can be utilized in the fields of sensing, catalysis, and antibacterial treatment. Lastly, knowledge gaps and future directions are identified in the concluding section.
Efficient design of dual‐mode nano counter: An approach using quantum dot cellular automata
Authors: Khan Angshuman , Arya Rajeev
Published: March 2022

Quantum dot Cellular Automata (QCA) is a promising paradigm after CMOS technology due to low power consumption and small area requirements. As the counter is the most important and fundamental component of the QCA sequential logic family, therefore current effort has been made to design and analysis a dual‐mode counter. The reported dual‐mode nano counter can be operated as a Ring counter (R‐counter) as well as it can be operated as a Twisted‐ring counter (T‐counter). To achieve this, two inverters, four majority voters, and four D flip‐flops have been fully utilized. The main advantage of this design is that a single nano‐counter circuit can perform both tasks of R‐counter and T‐counter, which therefore eliminates the design constraint of double QCA layouts. In addition to that, the proposed 4‐bit QCA layout is easily expandable to n‐bit as per needs. With compared to the best‐reported design, the proposed dual‐mode counter has 75% and 29% less delay and cell count respectively. The area‐delay cost, QCA‐specific cost, and energy‐delay cost of the proposed circuit are approximately 13 times, 228 times, and 61 times superior to the previously reported best design. The designs were verified using the popular QCA layout design software QCADesigner 2.0.3. Simultaneously, two energy estimate tools, QCAPro and QCADesigner‐E (QDE), were utilized to investigate the circuits' energy dissipation.
A novel multilabel video retrieval method using multiple video queries and deep hash codes
Authors: Akbacak Enver
Published: March 2022

Most videos consist of multiple clips. Namely, videos usually have multiple spatio‐temporal information. However, existing video datasets are of single video clips. Additionally, content‐based video retrieval methods have been implemented based on a single query clip. However, a single query may not be sufficient for better expressing intention concerning the query. Besides, it narrows the capability to search for multiple semantics. How to deal with retrieving videos having multiple clips has not been adequately investigated. This study proposes a novel multilabel video retrieval method that utilizes multiple video clips as queries. Whatever the number of queries, it transforms a multi‐query video retrieval into a single‐query video retrieval. The method is independent of both the video features and distance metric types. However, we propose a deep video hashing method to achieve speed and efficiency. Experiments performed on three prepared multilabel video datasets have proven the effectiveness of the proposed method. The source codes of the study are public.
Solvent‐Free Hydrogenation of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural and Furfural to Furanyl Alcohols and their Self‐Condensation Polymers
Authors: Wang Ting , Xie Weizhen , Pang Yujia , Qiu Weiwei , Feng Yunchao , Li Xiujuan , Wei Junnan , Tang Xing , Lin Lu
Published: March 2022

2,5‐Bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF) as well as furfuryl alcohol (FFA) are considered as highly valuable biomass‐derived alcohols resembling aromatic monomers in polymer synthesis. Herein, a series of cobaltic nitrogen‐doped carbon (Co−NC) catalysts calcinated at different temperatures were synthesized and tested for the solvent‐free hydrogenation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to prepare BHMF. It was found that the Co−NC catalyst calcinated at 600 °C (Co−NC‐600) exhibited a superior catalytic activity in the hydrogenation reaction mainly due to the doping of graphitic N, which probably facilitated the polarization of H2 to afford H+ and H−. Consequently, Co−NC‐600 offered a high BHMF/FFA yield greater than 90 % with a nearly complete conversion of HMF/furfural (FF) at the optimal conditions (80 °C, 4 h, and 5 MPa H2). After the hydrogenation reaction, Co−NC catalyst was facilely recycled by magnetic separation, and the obtained BHMF/FFA was then successfully transformed into hypercrosslinked polymers with an excellent CO2/H2 storage capacity comparable to aromatic hydroxymethyl polymers. Therefore, this is a novel and facile two‐step pathway for the conversion of biomass‐derived HMF/FF towards functional polymers from both industrial and environmental perspectives.
130‐nm BiCMOS design of low‐pass negative group delay integrated RL‐circuit
Authors: Ravelo Blaise , Rahajandraibe Wenceslas , Guerin Mathieu , Agnus Benoît , Thakur Preeti , Thakur Atul
Published: March 2022

A design method of low‐pass (LP) negative group delay (NGD) integrated circuit (IC) implemented in 130‐nm BiCMOS technology is investigated. The LP‐NGD circuit is composed by RL‐network with BiCMOS high Ohmic unsalicided N+poly resistor and symmetrical high current spiral inductor. The design methodology of the investigated LP‐NGD circuit is explained by chip layout process. Then, the pre‐simulation is performed with the design rule check (DRC) and 225 μm × 215 μm layout versus schematic (LVS) approaches. The LP‐NGD design feasibility of the BiCMOS IC implementation is validated by AC frequency domain simulation with realistic component implementation constraints. As expected, the ideally calculated and simulated results show NGD of about −100 ps with 1.12 GHz cut‐off frequency and −6 dB attenuation. Moreover, the LP‐NGD function is also verified with transient analyses with Gaussian pulse and arbitrary waveform signals. As expected, despite the attenuation, the output signal leading and tailing edges appear in time‐advance of about −100 ps compared to the input ones.
Digitally generated Trail Making Test data: Analysis using hidden Markov modeling
Authors: Du Mengtian , Andersen Stacy L. , Cosentino Stephanie , Boudreau Robert M. , Perls Thomas T. , Sebastiani Paola
Published: March 2022

The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a neuropsychological test used to assess cognitive dysfunction. The TMT consists of two parts: TMT‐A requires connecting numbers 1 to 25 sequentially; TMT‐B requires connecting numbers 1 to 12 and letters A to L sequentially, alternating between numbers and letters. We propose using a digitally recorded version of TMT to capture cognitive or physical functions underlying test performance. We analyzed digital versions of TMT‐A and ‐B to derive time metrics and used Bayesian hidden Markov models to extract additional metrics. We correlated these derived metrics with cognitive and physical function scores using regression. On both TMT‐A and ‐B, digital metrics associated with graphomotor processing test scores and gait speed. Digital metrics on TMT‐B were additionally associated with episodic memory test scores and grip strength. These metrics provide additional information of cognitive state and can differentiate cognitive and physical factors affecting test performance.
Can gut microbiota throughout the first 10 years of life predict executive functioning in childhood?
Authors: Eckermann Henrik Andreas , Ou Yangwenshan , Lahti Leo , de Weerth Carolina
Published: March 2022

Animal models suggest that the gut microbiota can influence cognitive development and functioning via various pathways. In line with that, a first human study found associations between infant fecal microbiota composition and cognition at 2 years of age. This longitudinal study investigated whether fecal microbiota composition in infancy and childhood is associated with executive functioning in childhood. We followed healthy individuals from birth to their 10th year of life. Executive functioning was assessed using the Digit Span working memory test at 10 years of age and the ecologically valid Behavior Rating Inventory for executive functioning at 8 and 10 years. Stool samples were collected at month 1, 3 and 4 as well as at 6 and 10 years. The V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA was analyzed to determine microbial composition at the genus level. Using established statistical techniques for microbiota analysis, we did not find associations between fecal microbiota composition and executive functioning after accounting for breastfeeding, maternal education, child sex and age. Our study results are most compatible with the absence or only a weak relationship between infant and childhood fecal microbiota composition and executive functioning in childhood in healthy community children.
Exploring joint HPA–inflammatory stress response profiles in adolescent girls: Implications for developmental models of neuroendocrine dysregulation
Authors: Bendezú Jason José , Calhoun Casey D. , Vinograd Meghan , Patterson Megan W. , Rudolph Karen D. , Giletta Matteo , Hastings Paul , Nock Matthew K. , Slavich George M. , Prinstein Mitchell J.
Published: March 2022

Prior research has struggled to differentiate cortisol stress response patterns reflective of well‐regulated versus dysregulated hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis function among adolescents. Here, we show how exploring profiles of joint HPA–inflammatory stress responsivity, and linking those profiles to pubertal development and peer stress exposure may aid such distinction. Adolescent girls (N = 157, Mage = 14.72 years, SD = 1.38) at risk for psychopathology completed assessments of salivary cortisol and pro‐inflammatory cytokines (i.e., tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β, and interleukin‐6) prior to and following the Trier Social Stress Test. Adolescents, a close friend, and a caregiver completed questionnaire measures of peer stress and pubertal status. Multitrajectory modeling of adolescents’ cortisol and cytokine levels revealed three profiles: low cortisol response–stably low cytokine (n = 75), high cortisol response–stably moderate cytokine (n = 47), and low cortisol response–stably high cytokine (n = 35). Relative to low cortisol response–stably low cytokine, adolescents exhibiting the high cortisol response–stably moderate cytokine profile were more advanced in their pubertal development, but presented with similarly low levels of peer stress exposure. Despite showing cortisol responses that were indistinguishable from low cortisol response–stably low cytokine, adolescents exhibiting the low cortisol response–stably high cytokine profile were more pubertally advanced, but also more likely to have experienced chronic peer strain (self‐report) and relational peer victimization (close friend‐report). These findings thus illustrate the potential value of taking a multisystem approach to studying adolescent stress responsivity and underscore the importance of considering developmental and social factors when interpreting cortisol stress response patterns. Ultimately, such work may help inform developmental models of neuroendocrine dysregulation and related risk for psychopathology.
Nhlrc2 is crucial during mouse gastrulation
Authors: Hiltunen Anniina E. , Vuolteenaho Reetta , Ronkainen Veli‐Pekka , Miinalainen Ilkka , Uusimaa Johanna , Lehtonen Siri , Hinttala Reetta
Published: March 2022

The loss of NHL repeat containing 2 (Nhlrc2) leads to early embryonic lethality in mice, but the exact timing is currently unknown. In this study, we determined the time of lethality for Nhlrc2 knockout (KO), C57BL/6NCrl‐Nhlrc2tm1a(KOMP)Wtsi/Oulu, embryos and the in situ expression pattern of Nhlrc2 based on LacZ reporter gene expression during this period. Nhlrc2 KO preimplantation mouse embryos developed normally after in vitro fertilization. Embryonic stem (ES) cells established from KO blastocysts proliferated normally despite a complete loss of the NHLRC2 protein. Nhlrc2 KO embryos from timed matings implanted and were indistinguishable from their wildtype littermates on embryonic day (E) 6.5. On E7.5, Nhlrc2 KO embryo development was arrested, and on E8.5, only 6% of the genotyped embryos were homozygous for the Nhlrc2tm1a(KOMP)Wtsi allele. Nhlrc2 KO E8.5 embryos showed limited embryonic or extraembryonic tissue differentiation and remained at the cylinder stage. Nhlrc2 expression was ubiquitous but strongest in the epiblast/ectoderm and extraembryonic ectoderm on E6.5 and E7.5. NHLRC2 is essential for early postimplantation development, and its loss leads to failed gastrulation and amniotic folding in mice. Future studies on the evolutionarily conserved NHLRC2 will provide new insights into the molecular pathways involved in the early steps of postimplantation development.
Invader abundance and contraction of niche breadth during replacement of a native gammarid amphipod
Authors: Montgomery W. Ian , Elwood Robert W. , Dick Jaimie T. A.
Published: March 2022

The introduction of non‐native species to new locations is a growing global phenomenon with major negative effects on native species and biodiversity. Such introductions potentially bring competitors into contact leading to partial or total species replacements. This creates an opportunity to study novel species interactions as they occur, with the potential to address the strength of inter‐ and intraspecific interactions, most notably competition. Such potential has often not been realized, however, due to the difficulties inherent in detecting rapid and spatially expansive species interactions under natural field conditions. The invasive amphipod crustacean Gammarus pulex has replaced a native species, Gammarus duebeni celticus, in river and lake systems across Europe. This replacement process is at least partially driven by differential parasitism, cannibalism, and intraguild predation, but the role of interspecific competition has yet to be resolved. Here, we examine how abundance of an invasive species may affect spatial niche breadth of a native congeneric species. We base our analyses of niche breadth on ordination and factor analysis of biological community and physical parameters, respectively, constituting a summative, multidimensional approach to niche breadth along environmental gradients. Results derived from biological and environmental niche criteria were consistent, although interspecific effects were stronger using the biological niche approach. We show that the niche breadth of the native species is constrained as abundance of the invader increases, but the converse effect does not occur. We conclude that the interaction between invasive G. pulex and native G. d. celticus under natural conditions is consistent with strong interspecific competition whereby a native, weaker competitor is replaced by a superior invasive competitor. This study indicates a strong role of interspecific competition, alongside other known interactions such as differential intraguild predation, in rapid and expansive species replacements following biological invasions.
Urbanization increases floral specialization of pollinators
Authors: Suni Sevan , Hall Erin , Bahu Evangelina , Hayes Hannah
Published: March 2022

Understanding how urbanization alters functional interactions among pollinators and plants is critically important given increasing anthropogenic land use and declines in pollinator populations. Pollinators often exhibit short‐term specialization and visit plants of the same species during one foraging trip. This facilitates plant receipt of conspecific pollen—pollen on a pollinator that is the same species as the plant on which the pollinator was foraging. Conspecific pollen receipt facilitates plant reproductive success and is thus important to plant and pollinator persistence. We investigated how urbanization affects short‐term specialization of insect pollinators by examining pollen loads on insects’ bodies and identifying the number and species of pollen grains on insects caught in urban habitat fragments and natural areas. We assessed possible drivers of differences between urban and natural areas, including frequency dependence in foraging, species richness and diversity of the plant and pollinator communities, floral abundance, and the presence of invasive plant species. Pollinators were more specialized in urban fragments than in natural areas, despite no differences in the species richness of plant communities across site types. These differences were likely driven by higher specialization of common pollinators, which were more abundant in urban sites. In addition, pollinators preferred to forage on invasive plants at urban sites and native plants at natural sites. Our findings reveal indirect effects of urbanization on pollinator fidelity to individual plant species and have implications for the maintenance of plant species diversity in small habitat fragments. Higher preference of pollinators for invasive plants at urban sites suggests that native species may receive fewer visits by pollinators. Therefore, native plant species diversity may decline in urban sites without continued augmentation of urban flora or removal of invasive species.
Traits across trophic levels interact to influence parasitoid establishment in biological control releases
Authors: Jarrett Benjamin J. M. , Szűcs Marianna
Published: March 2022

A central goal in ecology is to predict what governs a species’ ability to establish in a new environment. One mechanism driving establishment success is individual species’ traits, but the role of trait combinations among interacting species across different trophic levels is less clear. Deliberate or accidental species additions to existing communities provide opportunities to study larger scale patterns of establishment success. Biological control introductions are especially valuable because they contain data on both the successfully established and unestablished species. Here, we used a recent dataset of importation biological control introductions to explore how life‐history traits of 132 parasitoid species and their herbivorous hosts interact to affect parasitoid establishment. We find that of five parasitoid and herbivore traits investigated, one parasitoid trait—host range—weakly predicts parasitoid establishment; parasitoids with higher levels of phylogenetic specialization have higher establishment success, though the effect is marginal. In addition, parasitoids are more likely to establish when their herbivore host has had a shorter residence time. Interestingly, we do not corroborate earlier findings that gregarious parasitoids and endoparasitoids are more likely to establish. Most importantly, we find that life‐history traits of the parasitoid species and their hosts can interact to influence establishment. Specifically, parasitoids with broader host ranges are more likely to establish when the herbivore they have been released to control is also more of a generalist. These results provide insight into how multiple species’ traits and their interactions, both within and across trophic levels, can influence establishment of species of higher trophic levels.
A bowhead whale in the eastern North Pacific
Authors: Towers Jared R. , Pilkington James F. , Mason Ernest A. , Mason Ernest V.
Published: March 2022

Bowhead whales occur in the Arctic year‐round. Their movements are largely correlated with seasonal expansions and reductions of sea ice, but a few recent extralimital sightings have occurred in the eastern and western North Atlantic and one was also documented in the western North Pacific over 50 years ago. Here we present details of a juvenile bowhead whale that was photographed and filmed from above and below the water while it was skim‐feeding in Caamaño Sound, BC, Canada on May 31, 2016. This sighting occurred over 2000 km southeast from the nearest known range for this species in the Bering Sea at a time that most bowhead whales in that region would have been migrating northeast. This sighting represents the first and only documentation of a bowhead whale in the eastern North Pacific to date.
Coinfection with a virus constrains within‐host infection load but increases transmission potential of a highly virulent fungal plant pathogen
Authors: Susi Hanna , Sallinen Suvi , Laine Anna‐Liisa
Published: March 2022

The trade‐off between within‐host infection rate and transmission to new hosts is predicted to constrain pathogen evolution, and to maintain polymorphism in pathogen populations. Pathogen life‐history stages and their correlations that underpin infection development may change under coinfection with other parasites as they compete for the same limited host resources. Cross‐kingdom interactions are common among pathogens in both natural and cultivated systems, yet their impacts on disease ecology and evolution are rarely studied. The host plantPlantago lanceolatais naturally infected by bothPhomopsis subordinaria, a seed killing fungus, as well asPlantago lanceolata latent virus(PlLV) in the Åland Islands, SW Finland. We performed an inoculation assay to test whether coinfection with PlLV affects performance of twoP.subordinariastrains, and the correlation between within‐host infection rate and transmission potential. The strains differed in the measured life‐history traits and their correlations. Moreover, we found that under virus coinfection, within‐host infection rate ofP.subordinariawas smaller but transmission potential was higher compared to strains under single infection. The negative correlation between within‐host infection rate and transmission potential detected under single infection became positive under coinfection with PlLV. To understand whether within‐host and between‐host dynamics are correlated in wild populations, we surveyed 260 natural populations ofP.lanceolataforP.subordinariainfection occurrence. When infections were found, we estimated between‐hosts dynamics by determining pathogen population size as the proportion of infected individuals, and within‐host dynamics by counting the proportion of infected flower stalks in 10 infected plants. In wild populations, the proportion of infected flower stalks was positively associated with pathogen population size. Jointly, our results suggest that the trade‐off between within‐host infection load and transmission may be strain specific, and that the pathogen life‐history that underpin epidemics may change depending on the diversity of infection, generating variation in disease dynamics.
Differences in brain morphology of brown trout across stream, lake, and hatchery environments
Authors: Závorka Libor , Koene J. Peter , Armstrong Tiffany A. , Fehlinger Lena , Adams Colin E.
Published: March 2022

It has been suggested that a trade‐off between cognitive capacity and developmental costs may drive brain size and morphology across fish species, but this pattern is less well explored at the intraspecific level. Physical habitat complexity has been proposed as a key selection pressure on cognitive capacity that shapes brain morphology of fishes. In this study, we compared brain morphology of brown trout, Salmo trutta, from stream, lake, and hatchery environments, which generally differ in physical complexity ranging from low habitat complexity in the hatchery to high habitat complexity in streams and intermediate complexity in lakes. We found that brain size, and the size of optic tectum and telencephalon differed across the three habitats, both being largest in lake fish with a tendency to be smaller in the stream compared to hatchery fish. Therefore, our findings do not support the hypothesis that in brown trout the volume of brain and its regions important for navigation and decision‐making increases in physically complex habitats. We suggest that the observed differences in brain size might be associated with diet quality and habitat‐specific behavioral adaptations rather than physical habitat complexity.
Land use conversion to agriculture impacts biodiversity, erosion control, and key soil properties in an Andean watershed
Authors: Galindo Víctor , Giraldo Carolina , Lavelle Patrick , Armbrecht Inge , Fonte Steven J.
Published: March 2022

The conversion of natural vegetation to agricultural land uses in mountainous Andean landscapes threatens an array of key ecological processes and ecosystem services (ES). In protected areas and buffer regions that provide water to cities, it is critical to understand how interactions between plants and soil communities sustain a range of ecosystem functions associated with nutrient recycling, soil structure, and erosion control. We sought to examine how land use conversion within a mountainous tropical forest landscape influences the diversity of vegetation and soil macrofauna communities, soil physicochemical properties, and hydrological regulation services. Biodiversity and a suite of key soil‐based ES were compared in five major land uses of the Cali River watershed: (1) annual cropping systems, (2) coffee plantations, (3) pastures, (4) abandoned shrubland, and (5) secondary forests. The diversity of woody and herbaceous vegetation, as well as soil macrofauna, was assessed in each land use. Soil chemical fertility and aggregate morphology were assessed via laboratory analyses and visual separation of soil aggregates based on their origin. Infiltration, runoff, and sediment production were measured using a portable rainfall simulator. We found a decrease in the diversity of woody vegetation across land uses to be associated with lower diversity of soil macrofauna. At the same time, agricultural management, annual crops in particular, supports the largest earthworm populations, likely due to increased organic inputs and low impact tillage, which appears not to diminish soil fertility and water infiltration. In contrast, the low soil fertility in pastures was associated with the lowest values of soil C, poor aggregation, and high bulk density and likely reflects overgrazing, with negative implications for water infiltration and erosion. Associations between the different sets of variables, evaluated with co‐inertia analysis, highlight the hierarchical relevance of plant cover and woody diversity on ES. The biological complexity associated with intact forest cover appears to generate “bundles” of co‐occurring ES, with this land use demonstrating the highest infiltration, and low runoff and sediment losses. Our findings demonstrate that forests and tree‐based agricultural systems may better contribute to the provision of multiple ES, including biodiversity conservation and hydrologic regulation.
Daily torpor reduces the energetic consequences of microhabitat selection for a widespread bat
Authors: Alston Jesse M. , Dillon Michael E. , Keinath Douglas A. , Abernethy Ian M. , Goheen Jacob R.
Published: March 2022

Homeothermy requires increased metabolic rates as temperatures decline below the thermoneutral zone, so homeotherms typically select microhabitats within or near their thermoneutral zones during periods of inactivity. However, many mammals and birds are heterotherms that relax internal controls on body temperature and go into torpor when maintaining a high, stable body temperature, which is energetically costly. Such heterotherms should be less tied to microhabitats near their thermoneutral zones and, because heterotherms spend more time in torpor and expend less energy at colder temperatures, heterotherms may even select microhabitats in which temperatures are well below their thermoneutral zones. We studied how temperature and daily torpor influence the selection of microhabitats (i.e., diurnal roosts) by a heterothermic bat (Myotis thysanodes). We (1) quantified the relationship between ambient temperature and daily duration of torpor, (2) simulated daily energy expenditure over a range of microhabitat temperatures, and (3) quantified the influence of microhabitat temperature on microhabitat selection. In addition, warm microhabitats substantially reduced the energy expenditure of simulated homeothermic bats, and heterothermic bats modulated their use of daily torpor to maintain a constant level of energy expenditure across microhabitats of different temperatures. Daily torpor expanded the range of energetically economical microhabitats, such that microhabitat selection was independent of microhabitat temperature. Our work adds to a growing literature documenting the functions of torpor beyond its historical conceptualization as a last‐resort measure to save energy during periods of extended or acute energetic stress.
Handheld pH‐Meter‐based Electrochemical Aptasensing of Carcinoembryonic Antigen on Multifuctional Magnetic Beads
Authors: Chen Shaobo , Lin Shujin , Han Xiao , Han Xianlin
Published: March 2022

Methods derived from immunoassays and aptasensors have been established for monitoring of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in biological fluids, but most involved complex procedure and various reactions. We designed an uncomplicated and convenient electrochemical aptasensing platform for the quantitative monitoring of CEA on multifunctionalized magnetic beads with a handheld pH meter as the read‐out. Initially, CEA‐specific aptamers were covalently conjugated to magnetic beads, and then hybridized with glucose oxidase‐labeled complementary strands to construct multifunctional nanoprobes. After addition of target CEA, the analyte interacts with the corresponding aptamer and then release the complementary strand. After magnetic separation, the released glucose oxidase‐labeled complementary strands hydrolysed glucose, thereby leading to a change in pH of the detection solution, which was quantitatively monitored on a hand‐held pH meter. Under the optimum conditions, the aptasensor based on pH meter exhibited well responses relative to CEA concentrations inside the dynamic range between 0.01 and 100 ng mL−1 and detection limit at least 9.3 pg mL−1. Good duplicability, high specificity and ability for long‐term stable storage are obtained for the as‐prepared aptasensors. Additionally, human serum specimens were determined through pH‐meter‐based aptasensors, and the results closely matched the commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of human CEA.
Recent Progress in Perovskite Materials Using Diammonium Organic Cations Toward Stable and Efficient Solar Cell Devices: Dion–Jacobson
Authors: Malouangou Maurice Davy , Yang Yifan , Zhang YuJing , Bai Luyun , Matondo Jadel Tsiba , Tabu Mbumba Manala , Waleed Akram Muhammad , Guli Mina
Published: March 2022

Perovskite solar cells have been intensively studied recently due to their superb optoelectronic properties and rapidly increasing power conversion efficiency. However, perovskite solar cells with the AMX3 structure as the light‐absorbing layer have a big stability problem. Multiple alternatives have been developed to ensure their stability, such as dimensional engineering (2D and 2D/3D), which consists of the incorporation of large organic cations into the perovskite structure. Research in dimensional engineering has been prevalent in the Ruddlesden–Popper phases. The presence of this large cation slows the decomposition and improves the stability of perovskites. Thus, new 2D perovskites are being studied based on Dion–Jacobson (DJ) phases, consisting of the addition of diammonium cations and leading to the formation of 2D and 2D/3D perovskites with better stability due to their hydrogen bonding on both sides. Moreover, 2D DJ perovskites offer the advantage of decreasing the gap between layers with higher contacts, which improves not only their optoelectronic properties, but also their charge transport properties. This article begins with an overview of the crystal structure and optoelectronic characteristics of 2D perovskites. Then, the progress achieved currently in using DJ‐phase perovskites in photovoltaic is assessed. Finally, the possible research routes for producing low‐dimensional perovskites are highlighted.
Gender expression is associated with selection of uterine preservation or hysterectomy for pelvic organ prolapse surgery: Novel methodology for sex‐ and gender‐based analysis in gynecologic research
Authors: Cummings Shannon , Ramage Kaylee , Scime Natalie V. , Ahmed Sofia B. , Brennand Erin A.
Published: March 2022

Objective

To explore whether patient characteristics were associated with gender expression, and to further determine impact of gender expression on patient selection of hysterectomy or uterine‐preservation in pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery.

Methods

Within a prospective cohort, a self‐reported gender expression tool classified patients as expressing gender polar (i.e., reporting only feminine traits) or non‐polar gender scores (i.e., reporting feminine and masculine traits). Multivariate modeling explored associations of gender expression with traditional socio‐demographic variables, and with selection of hysterectomy or uterine‐preserving surgery. Descriptive statistics of socio‐demographic variables were reported by frequency, proportion and mean (SD).

Results

177 participants completed the gender score questionnaire. Overall, the sample had a more feminine gender expression with the majority of respondents classified as gender polar (67.23%, n = 119). Participants with non‐polar gender scores were 2.53 times (95% 1.05–6.09) more likely to choose uterine preservation versus hysterectomy‐based surgery. Gender polarity was weakly associated with age, but no other sociodemographic variables.

Conclusion

Gender expression is not tightly associated with socio‐demographic variables, and is thus a novel measurement in gynecologic research. Gender polarity appears to be associated with choice to undergo hysterectomy. Further research is required to understand this relationship and implications in clinical outcomes.
Machine learning based on automated breast volume scanner (ABVS) radiomics for differential diagnosis of benign and malignant BI‐RADS 4 lesions
Authors: Wang Shi‐jie , Liu Hua‐qing , Yang Tao , Huang Ming‐quan , Zheng Bo‐wen , Wu Tao , Han Lan‐qing , Zhang Yong , Ren Jie
Published: March 2022

BI‐RADS category 4 represents possibly malignant lesions and biopsy is recommended to distinguish benign and malignant. However, studies revealed that up to 67%–78% of BI‐RADS 4 lesions proved to be benign, but received unnecessary biopsies, which may cause unnecessary anxiety and discomfort to patients and increase the burden on the healthcare system. In this prospective study, machine learning (ML) based on the emerging breast ultrasound technology‐automated breast volume scanner (ABVS) was constructed to distinguish benign and malignant BI‐RADS 4 lesions and compared with different experienced radiologists. A total of 223 pathologically confirmed BI‐RADS 4 lesions were recruited and divided into training and testing cohorts. Radiomics features were extracted from axial, sagittal, and coronal ABVS images for each lesion. Seven feature selection methods and 13 ML algorithms were used to construct different ML pipelines, of which the DNN‐RFE (combination of recursive feature elimination and deep neural networks) had the best performance in both training and testing cohorts. The AUC value of the DNN‐RFE was significantly higher than less experienced radiologist at Delong's test (0.954 vs. 0.776, p = 0.004). Additionally, the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the DNN‐RFE were 88.9%, 83.3%, 95.2%, 83.3%, and 95.2%, which also significantly better than less experienced radiologist at McNemar's test (p = 0.043). Therefore, ML based on ABVS radiomics may be a potential method to non‐invasively distinguish benign and malignant BI‐RADS 4 lesions.
Processes of frugal social innovation: Creative approaches in underserved South African communities
Authors: Lorini Maria Rosa , Ngwenyama Ojelanki , Chigona Wallace
Published: March 2022

The article presents three case studies of frugal social innovation developed by groups of citizens from underserved communities of Cape Town, South Africa. The processes are analyzed to highlight how innovation emerged. Three factors were crucial: lack of resources, social transformation goals, and flexibility of the approach to technologies. Their combination allowed for creativity and inclusivity to become the drivers of the processes. The information and communication technology outcomes are innovative in the context and for the participants. More innovative are the processes, which maintained a high level of participation, a collective collaboration and a focus on the social transformative impact of the digital solutions. Furthermore, while much of the literature on frugal and social innovation has a business perspective whereby users are referred to as customers, the cases present community groups as innovators. This approach contributes to the development of a theory, which expands existing ones on frugal and social innovation. The principles derived from the analysis represent the contribution to practice in the ICT4D domain. They show how in a space with limited technical and procedural knowledge, it is possible to reduce the blinders toward innovation and operate in an ecosystem where participation, inclusion, and growth develop.
Antagonism Between PEDF and TGF-β Contributes to Type VI Osteogenesis Imperfecta Bone and Vascular Pathogenesis
Authors: Kang Heeseog , Aryal AC Smriti , Barnes Aileen M , Martin Aline , David Valentin , Crawford Susan E , Marini Joan C
Published: March 2022

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heterogeneous genetic disorder of bone and connective tissue, also known as brittle bone disease. Null mutations in SERPINF1, which encodes pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), cause severe type VI OI, characterized by accumulation of unmineralized osteoid and a fish-scale pattern of bone lamellae. Although the potent anti-angiogenic activity of PEDF has been extensively studied, the disease mechanism of type VI OI is not well understood. Using Serpinf1(−/−) mice and primary osteoblasts, we demonstrate that loss of PEDF delays osteoblast maturation as well as extracellular matrix (ECM) mineralization. Barium sulfate perfusion reveals significantly increased vessel density in the tibial periosteum of Serpinf1(−/−) mouse compared with wild-type littermates. The increased bone vascularization in Serpinf1(−/−) mice correlated with increased number of CD31(+)/Endomucin(+) endothelial cells, which are involved in the coupling angiogenesis and osteogenesis. Global transcriptome analysis by RNA-Seq of Serpinf1(−/−) mouse osteoblasts reveals osteogenesis and angiogenesis as the biological processes most impacted by loss of PEDF. Intriguingly, TGF-β signaling is activated in type VI OI cells, and Serpinf1(−/−) osteoblasts are more sensitive to TGF-β stimulation than wild-type osteoblasts. TGF-β stimulation and PEDF deficiency showed additive effects on transcription suppression of osteogenic markers and stimulation of pro-angiogenic factors. Furthermore, PEDF attenuated TGF-β-induced expression of pro-angiogenic factors. These data suggest that functional antagonism between PEDF and TGF-β pathways controls osteogenesis and bone vascularization and is implicated in type VI OI pathogenesis. This antagonism may be exploited in developing therapeutics for type VI OI utilizing PEDF and TGF-β antibody. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR). This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
3D Image Registration Marginally Improves the Precision of HR-pQCT Measurements Compared to Cross-Sectional-Area Registration in Adults With Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Authors: Hosseinitabatabaei Seyedmahdi , Mikolajewicz Nicholas , Zimmermann Elizabeth A , Rummler Maximilian , Steyn Beatrice , Julien Catherine , Rauch Frank , Willie Bettina M
Published: March 2022

Repositioning error in longitudinal high-resolution peripheral-quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) imaging can lead to different bone volumes being assessed over time. To identify the same bone volumes at each time point, image registration is used. While cross-sectional area image registration corrects axial misalignment, 3D registration additionally corrects rotations. Other registration methods involving matched angle analysis (MA) or boundary transformations (3D-TB) can be used to limit interpolation error in 3D-registering micro-finite-element data. We investigated the effect of different image registration methods on short-term in vivo precision in adults with osteogenesis imperfecta, a collagen-related genetic disorder resulting in low bone mass, impaired quality, and increased fragility. The radii and tibiae of 29 participants were imaged twice on the same day with full repositioning. We compared the precision error of different image registration methods for density, microstructural, and micro-finite-element outcomes with data stratified based on anatomical site, motion status, and scanner generation. Regardless of the stratification, we found that image registration improved precision for total and trabecular bone mineral densities, trabecular and cortical bone mineral contents, area measurements, trabecular bone volume fraction, separation, and heterogeneity, as well as cortical thickness and perimeter. 3D registration marginally outperformed cross-sectional area registration for some outcomes, such as trabecular bone volume fraction and separation. Similarly, precision of micro-finite-element outcomes was improved after image registration, with 3D-TB and MA methods providing greatest improvements. Our regression model confirmed the beneficial effect of image registration on HR-pQCT precision errors, whereas motion had a detrimental effect on precision even after image registration. Collectively, our results indicate that 3D registration is recommended for longitudinal HR-pQCT imaging in adults with osteogenesis imperfecta. Since our precision errors are similar to those of healthy adults, these results can likely be extended to other populations, although future studies are needed to confirm this. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Structure, charge density, and Hirshfeld surface analysis of proton transfer complex 2‐amino‐4‐methylpyridinium 2‐(3‐methylphenyl)‐acetate
Authors: Anzline Chellam , Israel Samuel , Sujatha Kanagasabapathi , Sheeba Rajan Arul Jebamani Raja
Published: March 2022

The compounds m‐Tolylacetic acid and 2‐amino‐4‐Picoline were used as a precursor to synthesize the molecular complex 2‐amino‐4‐methylpyridinium 2‐(3‐methylphenyl)‐acetate by means of proton transfer. High‐resolution X‐ray diffraction data were collected for the crystallized complex at 100 K. The structure was solved spherically and further an aspherical model refinement was performed using Hansen and Coppens multipole formalism. Topological properties using AIM analysis were carried out for the title compound to understand the atom–atom interactions and the strength of the bond. The structure exhibits interesting patterns of N–H…O and C–H…O hydrogen bonds. A pair of N–H…O hydrogen bonds links the anion and cation of the molecular complex generating an R22(8) ring motif. These ring motifs are linked to adjacent anions and cations through another intermolecular N–H…O hydrogen bond generating a bifurcated R22(8)ring motif. Hirshfeld surface analysis was carried out to understand the types of inter‐molecular interactions and their strengths.