bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating infant feeding development in wild chimpanzees using stable isotopes of naturally shed hair
Authors: Bădescu Iulia , Curteanu Cassandra , Sellen Daniel W. , Watts David P. , Katzenberg M. Anne
Published: October 2023

Measuring the relative contributions of milk and non‐milk foods in the diets of primate infants is difficult from observations. Stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes in hair can be used to physiologically track infant feeding through development, but few wild studies have done so, likely due to the difficulty in collecting hair non‐invasively. We assessed infant feeding at different ages in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) at Ngogo, Uganda using δ13C and δ15N of keratin in 164 naturally shed hairs from 29 infants (61 hairs), 6 juveniles (7 hairs), 28 mothers (67 hairs) and 14 adult males (29 hairs). Hairs were collected when they stuck to feces during defecation or from the ground after chimpanzees groomed or rested. We could not distinguish between the hairs of infants and mothers using strand length and diameter. Infants 1–2 years old were most enriched in 13C and 15N and showed means of 1.1‰ in δ13C and 2.1‰ in δ15N above their mothers. Infants at 2 years had hair δ13C values like those of their mothers, which suggests infants began relying more heavily on plants around this age. While mother‐infant δ13C and δ15N differences generally decreased with offspring age, as is expected when infants rely increasingly more on independent foraging through development, milk seemed to remain an important dietary component for infants older than 2.5 years, as evidenced by continuing elevated δ15N. We showed that stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in naturally shed hairs can feasibly detect trophic level differences between chimpanzee infants and mothers. Since it can mitigate some of the limitations associated with behavioral and fecal stable isotope data, the use of hair stable isotopes is a useful, non‐invasive tool for assessing infant feeding development in wild primates.
Visualizing the Structure, Composition and Activity of Single Catalyst Particles for Olefin Polymerization and Polyolefin Decomposition
Authors: Werny Maximilian J. , Meirer Florian , Weckhuysen Bert M.
Published: October 2023

The structural and morphological characterization of individual catalyst particles for olefin polymerization, as well as for the reverse process of polyolefin decomposition, can provide an improved understanding for how these catalyst materials operate under relevant reaction conditions. In this review, we discuss an emerging analytical toolbox of 2D and 3D chemical imaging techniques that is suitable for investigating the chemistry and reactivity of related catalyst systems. While synchrotron‐based X‐ray microscopy still provides unparalleled spatial resolutions in 2D and 3D, a number of laboratory‐based techniques, most notably focused ion beam‐scanning electron microscopy, confocal fluorescence microscopy, infrared photoinduced force microscopy and laboratory‐based X‐ray nano‐computed tomography, have helped to significantly expand the arsenal of analytical tools available to scientists in heterogeneous catalysis and polymer science. In terms of future research, the review outlines the role and impact of in situ and operando (spectro−)microscopy experiments, involving sophisticated reactors as well as online reactant and product analysis, to obtain real‐time information on the formation, decomposition, and mobility of polymer phases within single catalyst particles. Furthermore, the potential of fluorescence microscopy, X‐ray microscopy and optical microscopy is highlighted for the high‐throughput characterization of olefin polymerization and polyolefin decomposition catalysts. By combining these chemical imaging techniques with, for example, chemical staining methodologies, selective probe molecules as well as particle sorting approaches, representative structure–activity relationships can be derived at the level of single catalyst particles.
Discovery of a Potent Deubiquitinase (DUB) Small‐Molecule Activity‐Based Probe Enables Broad Spectrum DUB Activity Profiling in Living Cells**
Authors: Conole Daniel , Cao Fangyuan , am Ende Christopher W. , Xue Liang , Kantesaria Sheila , Kang Dahye , Jin Jun , Owen Dafydd , Lohr Linda , Schenone Monica , Majmudar Jaimeen D. , Tate Edward W.
Published: October 2023

Deubiquitinases (DUBs) are a family of >100 proteases that hydrolyze isopeptide bonds linking ubiquitin to protein substrates, often leading to reduced substrate degradation through the ubiquitin proteasome system. Deregulation of DUB activity has been implicated in many diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration and auto‐inflammation, and several have been recognized as attractive targets for therapeutic intervention. Ubiquitin‐derived covalent activity‐based probes (ABPs) provide a powerful tool for DUB activity profiling, but their large recognition element impedes cellular permeability and presents an unmet need for small molecule ABPs which can account for regulation of DUB activity in intact cells or organisms. Here, through comprehensive chemoproteomic warhead profiling, we identify cyanopyrrolidine (CNPy) probe IMP‐2373 (12) as a small molecule pan‐DUB ABP to monitor DUB activity in physiologically relevant live cells. Through proteomics and targeted assays, we demonstrate that IMP‐2373 quantitatively engages more than 35 DUBs across a range of non‐toxic concentrations in diverse cell lines. We further demonstrate its application to quantification of changes in intracellular DUB activity during pharmacological inhibition and during MYC deregulation in a model of B cell lymphoma. IMP‐2373 thus offers a complementary tool to ubiquitin ABPs to monitor dynamic DUB activity in the context of disease‐relevant phenotypes.
An Activatable Near‐Infrared Fluorescent Probe for Precise Detection of the Pulmonary Metastatic Tumors: A Traditional Molecule Having a Stunning Turn
Authors: Jia Qian , Zhang Ruili , Yan Haohao , Feng Yanbin , Sun Fang , Yang Zuo , Qiao Chaoqiang , Mou Xiaocheng , Tian Jie , Wang Zhongliang
Published: October 2023

An accurate detection of lung metastasis is of great significance for making better treatment choices and improving cancer prognosis, but remains a big challenge in clinical practice. In this study, we propose a reinventing strategy to develop a pH‐activatable near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescent nanoprobe, pulmonary metastasis tracer (denoted as PMT), based on assembly of NIR dye IR780 and calcium phosphate (CaP). By delicately tuning the intermolecular interactions during the assembly process and dye doping content, as well as the synthetic condition of probe, the fluorescence of PMT could be finely adjusted via the tumor acidity‐triggered disassembly. Notably, the selected PMT9 could sharply convert subtle pH variations into a distinct fluorescence signal to generate high fluorescence ON/OFF contrast, dramatically reducing the background signals. Benefiting from such preferable features, PMT9 is able to precisely identify not only the tumor sites in orthotopic lung cancer models but also the pulmonary metastases in mice with remarkable signal‐to‐background ratio (SBR). This study provides a unique strategy to turn shortcomings of traditional dye IR780 during in vivo imaging into advantages and further expand the application of fluorescent probe to image lung associated tumor lesions.
Synthesis, DNA Binding Properties, Molecular Docking and ADME Studies of Schiff Base Compound Containing Pyridine‐Propargyl Group
Authors: Güngör Seyit Ali
Published: October 2023

The structure of the pyridine‐based Schiff base compound containing the propargyl group was characterized by NMR spectroscopy. Binding of compound 2 with double‐stranded fish sperm DNA (Fsds‐DNA) was investigated using viscosity measurement studies and UV/VIS and fluorescence spectral techniques. Binding of compound 2 with Fsds‐DNA results in minor hypochromism with no change in absorption maxima and fluorescence quenching with almost no shift in emission maxima, which can be attributed to the groove‐binding mode of the interaction. The binding constant was found to be 4.7×104 M−1. The Fsds‐DNA viscosity measurement, KI quenching and NaCl quenching studies and the competitive interaction between compound 2 and ethidium bromide with DNA confirm the proposed binding mode. In addition, interactions between compound 2 and the DNA double helix were analysed by molecular docking study in order to determine the binding mode and binding affinity. As a result of molecular docking, the binding affinity of the 2‐DNA complex, which has the most stable conformation −8.10 kcal/mol and it is located in its minor groove. In addition, molecular docking and ADME studies for compound 2 were also performed.
Novel Pyrazole‐Based Benzofuran Derivatives as Anticancer Agents: Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Molecular Docking Investigations
Authors: Ameziane El Hassani Issam , Altay Ahmet , Karrouchi Khalid , Yeniçeri Esma , Türkmenoğlu Burçin , Assila Hamza , Boukharssa Youness , Ramli Youssef , Ansar M'hammed
Published: October 2023

In this work, the design, synthesis, and mechanistic studies of novel pyrazole‐based benzofuran derivatives 1–8 as anticancer agents were discussed. Cytotoxic potency of the title compounds was evaluated against the lung carcinoma A‐549, human‐derived colorectal adenocarcinoma HT‐29, breast adenocarcinoma MCF‐7 cells as well as mouse fibroblast 3T3‐L1 cells using XTT assay. Anticancer mechanistic studies were carried out with flow cytometry. XTT results revealed that all compounds exhibited dose‐dependent anti‐proliferative activity against the tested cancer cells, and especially compound 2 showed the strongest anti‐proliferative activity with an IC50 value of 7.31 μM and the highest selectivity (15.74) on MCF‐7 cells. Flow cytometry results confirmed that the cytotoxic power of compound 2 on MCF‐7 cells is closely related to mitochondrial membrane damage, caspase activation, and apoptosis orientation. Finally, molecular docking studies were applied to determine the interactions between compound 2 and caspase‐3 via in‐silico approaches. By molecular docking studies, free binding energy (ΔGBind), docking score, Glide score values as well as amino acid residues in the active binding site were determined. Consequently, these results constitute preliminary data for in vivo anticancer studies and have the potential as a chemotherapeutic agent.
Effect of Hyaluronic Acid on the Self‐Assembly of a Dipeptide‐Based Supramolecular Gel
Authors: Giménez‐Hernández Bárbara , Falomir Eva , Escuder Beatriu
Published: October 2023

The combination of polymers and low molecular weight (LMW) compounds is a powerful approach to prepare new supramolecular materials. Here we prepare two‐component hydrogels made by a well‐known and biologically active polymer, hyaluronic acid (HA), and a dipeptide‐based supramolecular gelator. We undertake a detailed study of materials with different compositions including macroscopic (hydrogel formation, rheology) and micro/nanoscopic characterization (electron microscopy, X‐ray powder diffraction). We observe that the two components mutually benefit in the new materials: a minimum amount of HA helps to reduce the polymorphism of the LMW network leading to reproducible hydrogels with improved mechanical properties; the LMW component network holds HA without the need for an irreversible covalent crosslinking. These materials have a great potential for biomedical application as, for instance, extracellular matrix mimetics for cell growth. As a proof of concept, we have observed that this material is effective for cell growth in suspension and avoids cell sedimentation even in the presence of competing cell‐adhesive surfaces. This may be of interest to advanced cell delivery techniques.
Stereoselective Biocatalytic α‐Deuteration of L‐Amino Acids by a Pyridoxal 5’‐Phosphate‐Dependent Mannich Cyclase
Authors: Gao Jinmin , Zhou Chen , Hai Yang
Published: October 2023

α‐Deuterated amino acids are valuable building blocks for developing deuterated drugs, and are important tools for studying biological systems. Biocatalytic deuteration represents an attractive strategy to directly access enantiopure α‐deuterated amino acids. Here, we show that a PLP‐dependent Mannich cyclase, LolT, involved in the biosynthesis of loline alkaloids, is capable of deuterating a diverse range of L‐amino acids, including basic and acidic, nonpolar and polar, aliphatic and aromatic amino acids. Furthermore, complete deuteration of many amino acids can be achieved within minutes with exquisite control on the site‐ and stereoselectivity. During the course of this investigation, we also unexpectedly discovered that LolT exhibits β‐elimination activity with L‐cystine and O‐acetyl‐L‐serine, confirming our previous hypothesis based on structural and phylogenetic analysis that LolT, a Cα−C bond forming enzyme, is evolved from a primordial Cβ−S lyase family. Overall, our study demonstrates that LolT is an extremely versatile biocatalyst, and can be used for not only heterocyclic quaternary amino acid biosynthesis, but also biocatalytic amino acid deuteration.
Chiral 4‐MeO‐Pyridine (MOPY) Catalyst for Enantioselective Cyclopropanation: Attenuation of Lewis Basicity Leads to Improved Catalytic Efficiency
Authors: Kluga Rihards , Kinens Artis , Suna Edgars
Published: October 2023

The design of pyridine‐derived organocatalysts aims at the increase of their Lewis basicity, however such an approach is not always efficient. For example, strongly Lewis basic DMAP is completely inefficient as catalyst in the cyclopropanation reaction. Herein we disclose an alternative approach that relies on attenuation of DMAP Lewis basicity. Specifically, the replacement of 4‐dimethylamino substituent in DMAP for 4‐MeO group delivered a highly efficient catalyst for cyclopropanation of electron‐deficient olefins with α‐bromoketones. Kinetic studies provide compelling evidence that the superior catalytic efficiency of 4‐MeO pyridine (MOPY) is to be attributed to the favorable balance between Lewis basicity and leaving group ability. The use of chiral, enantiomerically pure MOPY catalyst has helped to achieve high enantioselectivities (up to 91 : 9 er) in the previously unreported pyridine‐catalyzed cyclopropanation reaction.
Solid‐State Generation of Diarylisonaphthofuran and Its Mechanochemical Diels–Alder Reaction with Epoxynaphthalene
Authors: Wada Yoshifumi , Tsuchihashi Keidai , Kanzaki Masayoshi , Hamura Toshiyuki
Published: October 2023

A solid‐state method was developed for generating diarylisonaphthofurans from 1,3‐diaryl‐1,3‐dihydronaphthofuranols. The generated reactive molecules were stable in the solid state and could be stored without any extra precautions. X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed a typical quinoidal structure. Furthermore, the mechanochemical Diels–Alder reaction of 1,3‐diarylisonaphthofurans with epoxynaphthalenes afforded synthetically attractive diepoxypentacenes.
Clinical and economic burden of surgical complications during hospitalization for digestive cancer surgery in France
Authors: Piessen Guillaume , Dive‐Pouletty Catherine , Danel Aurélie , Laborey Magali , Thomé Benoît
Published: October 2023

Background

Surgical complications and particularly infections after digestive cancer surgery remain a major health and economic problem and its burden in France is not well documented.

Aims

The aim of this study was to analyse recent data regarding surgical complications in patients undergoing major digestive cancer surgery, and to estimate its burden for the French society.

Methods and Results

Using the 2018 French hospital discharge database and 2017 National CostStudy we studied hospital stays for surgical resection in patients withdigestive cancer. The population was divided into three groups based onpostoperative outcomes: no complications (NC), related infectious complications (RIC) and other complications. The main analysis compared the length and cost per stay between RIC and NC. Forty‐Four thousand one hundred and twenty‐three stays following a digestive cancer resection were identified. Lower gastro‐intestinal cancers were the most prevalent representing 74.8% of stays, the rate of malnutrition was 32.8% and 15.8% of patients presented RIC. Mean (SD) length of stay varied from 11,7 (9.0) days for NC to 25,5 days (19.5) for RIC (p < 0.01). The mean cost per patients' stay (SD) varied from €10 641 (€ 5897) for the NC to €18 720 (€7905) for RIC (p < .01).

Conclusion

The risk of RIC after digestive cancer resection remains high (>15%) and was associated with significantly longer length of stay and higher cost per stay. Although important prevention plans have been implemented in recent years, care strategies are still needed to alleviate the burden on patients and the healthcare system.
Effects of lip and eye color on the emotion categorization of facial expressions
Authors: Zuo Yan , Kawabata Yasuhiro
Published: October 2023

This study examined whether people's ability to recognize facial expressions is affected by manipulating the color of their lips or eyes. Participants comprised 100 Chinese adolescents (mean age = 13.79 years, SD = 1.06). The stimuli consisted of happy, neutral, and sad facial expressions, which were manipulated to have different lip or eye colors. Participants reacted to the images by indicating their perceived emotion. Performance speed and accuracy were assessed during the experiment. Results indicated that for happy and neutral expressions, the use of color significantly reduced reaction times, while the accuracy remained unchanged. Conversely, for sad expressions, reaction time was not affected by color, but all color categories exhibited reduced accuracy.
Floating parallel lossy inductance, parallel lossy capacitance, parallel C‐D, and lossless capacitance multiplier circuits using current feedback operational amplifiers
Authors: Bhaskar Data Ram , Shrivastava Meghana , Raj Ajishek , Kumar Pragati
Published: October 2023

A new synthetic floating simulator topology is proposed which realizes lossy parallel inductance (R‐L), lossy parallel capacitance (R‐C), lossy parallel C‐D, and lossless floating capacitance multiplier (FCM) circuits using only three current feedback operational amplifiers (CFOA) as active elements and three impedances. In all the presented circuits, the value of L, C, and D is independently controllable through a single resistance without requiring any matching condition for passive elements. A novel feature of the proposed circuit involves a straightforward adjustment in the CFOA connections, allowing the circuit to function as either a floating lossless immittance simulator or a floating series‐type lossy immittance simulator. Various application examples of the presented circuits such as lead compensator, lag compensator, first‐order high‐pass filter, and fourth‐order Butterworth filter are also given to justify the theoretical analysis. To validate the workability of the proposed circuits, several analyses are conducted, including frequency analysis, transient analysis, Monte‐Carlo analysis, and temperature analysis, using the macro‐model of AD844 in the SPICE simulation tool. Experimental results of the parallel R‐L simulator and application examples are also provided using commercially available IC AD844‐type integrated CFOAs.
Impacts of physiological characteristics and human activities on the species distribution models of orchids taking the Hengduan Mountains as a case
Authors: Wang Xue‐Man , Peng Pei‐Hao , Bai Mao‐Yang , Bai Wen‐Qian , Zhang Shi‐Qi , Feng Yu , Wang Juan , Tang Ying
Published: October 2023

The biogeography research of orchids through species distribution models (SDMs), a vital tool in the biogeography field, is critical to understanding the fundamental geographic distribution patterns and identifying conservation priorities. The correspondence between species occurrence and environmental information is crucial to the model's performance. However, ecological preferences unique to different orchid species, such as their life forms, are often overlooked during the modeling process. This oversight can introduce bias and increase model uncertainty. Additionally, human activities, as an important potential predictor, have not been quantified in any orchid SDMs. Taking the Hengduan Mountains as an example, we preprocessed all orchid species' occurrences based on physiological characteristics. Choosing five spatial factors related to human activities to quantify the interference and enter into models as HI factor. Using different modeling methods (GLM, MaxEnt, and RF) and evaluation indices (AUC, TSS, and Kappa), diverse modeling strategies have been constructed in the study. A double‐ranking method has been adopted to select the critical orchid distribution regions. The results showed that classification models based on physiological characteristics significantly improved the model's accuracy while adding the HI factor had the same effect but the absence of enough significance. Suitability maps indicated that highly heterogeneous mountainous areas were vital for the distribution of orchids in the Hengduan Mountains. Different distribution patterns and critical regions existed between various orchid life forms geographically – terrestrial orchids were dominant in the mountain, and mycoherterophical orchids were primarily located in the north, more influenced by vegetation and temperature. Critical regions of epiphytic orchids were in the south due to a greater dependence on precipitation and temperature. These studies are informative for understanding the orchids' geographic distribution patterns in the Hengduan Mountains, promoting conservation and providing references for similar research beyond orchids.
Experimental erosion of microbial diversity decreases soil CH4 consumption rates
Authors: Schnyder Elvira , Bodelier Paul L. E. , Hartmann Martin , Henneberger Ruth , Niklaus Pascal A.
Published: October 2023

Biodiversity‐ecosystem functioning (BEF) experiments have predominantly focused on communities of higher organisms, in particular plants, with comparably little known to date about the relevance of biodiversity for microbially driven biogeochemical processes. Methanotrophic bacteria play a key role in Earth's methane (CH4) cycle by removing atmospheric CH4 and reducing emissions from methanogenesis in wetlands and landfills. Here, we used a dilution‐to‐extinction approach to simulate diversity loss in a methanotrophic landfill cover soil community. Replicate samples were diluted 101–107‐fold, preincubated under a high CH4 atmosphere for microbial communities to recover to comparable size, and then incubated for 86 days at constant or diurnally cycling temperature. We hypothesize that (1) CH4 consumption decreases as methanotrophic diversity is lost, and (2) this effect is more pronounced under variable temperatures. Net CH4 consumption was determined by gas chromatography. Microbial community composition was determined by DNA extraction and sequencing of amplicons specific to methanotrophs and bacteria (pmoA and 16S gene fragments). The richness of operational taxonomic units (OTU) of methanotrophic and nonmethanotrophic bacteria decreased approximately linearly with log‐dilution. CH4 consumption decreased with the number of OTUs lost, independent of community size. These effects were independent of temperature cycling. The diversity effects we found occured in relatively diverse communities, challenging the notion of high functional redundancy mediating high resistance to diversity erosion in natural microbial systems. The effects also resemble the ones for higher organisms, suggesting that BEF relationships are universal across taxa and spatial scales.
One‐Pot Conversion of Benzyl Alcohols to N‐Protected Anilines and Alkyl Alcohols to Carbamoyl Azides
Authors: Kobayashi Shoji , Yamaguchi Ryo , Yamamoto Fumiya , Komori Jun , Sakamoto Hotaka , Kasashima Takahiro , Adriaenssens Louis , Lear Martin J.
Published: October 2023

One‐pot, scalable procedures converting benzylic or aliphatic alcohols to various N‐functionalized amines are reported in 38–83 % overall yields. These multi‐step conversions are relatively economic and involve the oxidative formation of acid chloride intermediates and the Curtius rearrangement of acyl azides. Notable aspects of economy include: (1) the use of a relatively green solvent (chlorobenzene) that tolerates both ionic and radical reactions, without the need for rigorously dry or O2‐free conditions; (2) the use of minimal amounts of trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) as a cheap and green chlorinating agent to oxidize the alcohol starting materials and then transform the aldehyde intermediates to acid chlorides under photoirradiation for azide addition; (3) the efficient capture of isocyanate intermediates by alcohol or azide nucleophiles providing N‐protected anilines or N‐protected alkylamines, respectively, the latter of which was employed in the synthesis of an anti‐dementia drug, memantine hydrochloride, over two purification steps.
Physicochemical properties and radiological hazards evaluations of some inorganic materials used in soilless agriculture
Authors: Eke Canel , Ozaydin Ozkara Reyhan
Published: October 2023

This study aims to examine the physicochemical and radiological properties of some inorganic materials which are perlite, vermiculite, pumice, rock wool, zeolite, expanded clay aggregate, volcanic tuff, and sepiolite used in soilless agriculture. Water saturation, pH, electrical conductivity, calcium carbonate equivalent, available potassium, available phosphorus, and organic matter analyses were implemented for inorganic materials. The elemental contents of the components for studied inorganic materials were obtained using inductively coupled plasma‐optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES). Furthermore, natural and artificial radionuclides of studied inorganic materials were calculated using gamma‐ray spectrometry. The pumice has the highest 226Ra activity concentration, and the zeolite has the highest 232Th and 40K activity concentrations. The 137Cs activity concentration is the maximum for perlite and it is the minimum for expanded clay aggregate. The zeolite has the highest radiological hazard parameters whereas those are the smallest for the rock wool. The Fe, Na, B, Ca, K, Si, P, S, and Mn are the primary components of the inorganic materials used in soilless agriculture. Consequently, this study is contributed to environmental and health problems of livings. In the future, transferred radionuclides from plant to livings assessment can be carried out for these inorganic materials used in soilless agriculture.
Kinetic and thermodynamic study of pyrolysis of the hydrolyzed residue of rice straw and husk by subcritical water process using thermogravimetric analysis
Authors: Ten Caten Leonardo R. , Draszewski Crisleine P. , Brondani Michel , de Castilhos Fernanda , Tres Marcus V. , Zabot Giovani L. , Mayer Flávio D. , Abaide Ederson R.
Published: October 2023

The use of hydrolyzed rice straw (HRS) and hydrolyzed rice husk (HRH) as feedstock for pyrolysis was evaluated through kinetic and thermodynamic studies. HRS and HRH were obtained from subcritical water hydrolysis (SWH) at different temperatures (180, 220, and 260°C). The Coats‐Redfern method was used to analyze the thermal behavior through thermogravimetry (TG) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) curves. TG profiles showed higher decomposition in the range of 250–400°C, especially for rice straw (RS) and HRS (80 wt %). The pyrolysis curves were well predicted by a first‐order reaction model. The kinetic analysis showed a variation in activation energy (EA) between 24.3 to 41.3 kJ mol−1 and 40.4 to 54.7 kJ mol−1 for RS/HRS and rice husk (RH)/HRH, respectively. The enthalpy (ΔH), Gibbs free energy (ΔG), and entropy (ΔS) varied from 25.9 to 39.6 kJ mol−1, 35.4 to 69.6 kJ mol−1, and −64.1 to −6.7 J mol−1 K−1, respectively, for RS/HRS, and 35 to 49.8 kJ mol−1, 43.2 to 79.3 kJ mol−1, and −53.5 to −10.2 J mol−1 K−1, respectively, for RH/HRH. These results showed that the pyrolysis reactivity using HRS is higher than HRH, which indicates the pyrolysis of HRS is more advantageous than HRH.
Impact of malnutrition and sarcopenia on quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A multicentre study
Authors: Zhang Yupeng , Zhang Li , Gao Xuejin , Dai Cong , Huang Yuhong , Wu Yan , Zhou Wei , Cao Qian , Jing Xue , Jiang Haitao , Zhong Yong , Zhu Weiming , Wang Xinying
Published: October 2023

Background

Malnutrition and subsequent alterations in body composition (BC), particularly sarcopenia, are common but not yet elucidated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); we aimed to detail the changes in BC and the characteristics of co‐occurrence of malnutrition and sarcopenia in IBD patients and to investigate its effect on quality of life.

Methods

This study was a multicentre, prospective, observational study involving four tertiary referral hospitals in China. The following data were collected from consecutive IBD inpatients: demographic information, medical history, recent weight change, handgrip strength (HGS) and BC parameters by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Nutritional assessments were performed through stepwise screening (Nutritional Risk Screening 2002) and diagnosis (World Health Organization‐related body mass index [BMI], subjective global assessment, European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism 2015 and Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition [GLIM] criteria). The quality of life was assessed by the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire. IBD patients were compared with 1:1 sex‐, age‐ and BMI‐matched healthy controls (MHC).

Results

A total of 238 IBD patients (177 Crohn's disease [CD] and 61 ulcerative colitis [UC]), 68.5% male, with a mean age of 38.5 ± 14.0 years and a mean BMI of 19.8 ± 3.5 kg/m2, were recruited. Compared with MHC (n = 122), IBD patients showed significant deterioration in BC and physical function, characterized by muscle depletion (appendicular skeletal muscle mass index [ASMI], 8.0 ± 1.3 vs. 6.7 ± 1.2 kg/m2, Δ% −15.0% [−22.0%, −10.0%], P < 0.001) and fat accumulation (visceral fat area, 32.9 ± 22.6 vs. 66.5 ± 35.8, Δ% 110.0% [35.0%, 201.0%], P < 0.001). The prevalence of GLIM‐defined malnutrition and sarcopenia in IBD patients was 60.1% and 25.2%, respectively. The nutritional status of patients with CD was worse than that of patients with UC. The activity phase of IBD significantly and negatively affected BC, while the lesion location did not. The co‐occurrence of sarcopenia and malnutrition was not optimistic; 16.4–21.8% of patients suffer from sarcopenia and malnutrition based on different criteria at the same time, which was accompanied by a reduction in quality of life. HGS was correlated with various BC parameters (body cell mass, r = 0.76; ASMI, r = 0.70; fat‐free mass, r = 0.73, all P < 0.001).

Conclusions

GLIM‐defined malnutrition and sarcopenia were prevalent in IBD patients and kept a high rate of co‐occurrence, which was accompanied with impaired quality of life. The alteration of BC in IBD patients was characterized by muscle depletion and fat accumulation. The strong correlation between HGS and BIA‐derived BC suggested its hopeful evaluation in nutritional status and sarcopenia in IBD patients.
Biofortification with selenium as an alternative to increase the total phenolic compounds in brassicas: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Kamchen Camila Menezes , de Oliveira Fellipe Lopes , de Souza Thamara Rosa , Vieira Bruno Serpa , Telles Bruna , Morzelle Maressa Caldeira
Published: October 2023

The ability of brassicas to accumulate selenium is crucial for their positive effects on health. Selenium improves the immune system and the antioxidant defenses. Selenium biofortification of brassicas has therefore been explored to increase dietary selenium intake in humans. However, the effects of selenium biofortification on bioactive compounds, mainly phenolic compounds, are not clear. So, this systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to answer the question ‘What are effects of the biofortification of brassicas with selenium on total phenolic compounds?’ Ten studies, which assessed the effect of selenium biofortification on total phenolic compounds, were selected for qualitative synthesis and four studies were included in the meta‐analysis after a thorough literature review of the PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Knowledge databases. The quality of the evidence ranged from high to moderate. The meta‐analysis results indicated that the total phenolic compound content was significantly higher (P = 0.002) in the supplemented group but the results showed considerable heterogeneity (P < 0.00001, I2 = 97%) between studies. This systematic review and meta‐analysis summarizes the effect of Se biofortification on the increase in the content of total phenolic compounds and it suggests that several factors can affect this relationship. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Comparing written exposure therapy delivered via telehealth to trauma‐focused expressive writing in undergraduates: A proof‐of‐concept trial
Authors: Ellis Robyn A. , Darnell Benjamin C. , Orcutt Holly K.
Published: October 2023

The literature demonstrates that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rates are estimated to be higher on college campuses compared to lifetime estimates in the general population. Written exposure therapy (WET) is a promising brief intervention for posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) with a growing literature of evidence suggesting efficacy, lower drop‐out rates compared to other evidence‐based protocols, and long‐term treatment gains. This proof‐of‐concept study examined the efficacy of WET delivered via telehealth compared to expressive writing (EW), the protocol from which WET was derived. The sample included non–treatment‐seeking trauma‐exposed undergraduate students (N = 33) with elevated PTSS. The results suggest that both WET, g = 1.26, and EW, g = 0.61, were associated with within‐person decreases in PTSS. However, reliable change indices indicated that a significantly larger proportion of individuals in the WET condition (61.5%) demonstrated reliable symptom improvement compared to those who received EW (20.0%), g = 0.91. Contrary to our hypotheses, the WET and EW groups did not differ on reliable slopes of change; however, between‐group effects were underpowered and should be interpreted with caution. These findings offer preliminary support for WET delivered via telehealth, including for individuals with subthreshold PTSS.
Tumor‐derived Vimentin as a novel biomarker for distinct subtypes predicting adjuvant chemotherapy resistance and T‐cell‐inflamed phenotype in small cell lung cancer
Authors: Deng Chaoqiang , Wang Yue , Fu Fangqiu , Li Di , Zheng Qiang , Jin Yan , Li Yuan , Chen Haiquan , Zhang Yang
Published: October 2023

Despite recent progress in subtype classification for small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), little is known about the biomarker for triple‐negative (ASCL1, NEUROD1, and POU2F3 negative) tumors. The long‐term survival, adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) response, and immune milieu in different SCLC subtypes have also not been well established. Here, we retrospectively collected a large cohort of 192 primary SCLC tumors and reported that ASCL1‐, NEUROD1‐ and POU2F3‐dominant subtypes counted for 61.38%, 19.31%, and 6.21%, respectively. Subtype intra‐tumoral heterogeneity and co‐expression at the single‐cell level existed substantially. The expression of tumor‐derived Vimentin (VIM) was nearly restricted to triple‐negative SCLC tumors (15/19, 78.9%) while YAP1 expression was distributed widely in other subtypes. The SCLC subtyping model was independently prognostic of OS and RFS (p <  0.001 and p = 0.043). In particular, patients with ASCL1‐positive SCLC tumors can benefit more from ACT, and VIM‐positive tumors did the opposite. Compared with other subtypes, the VIM‐dominant SCLC subtype was associated with abundant but functionally impaired CD4+ and CD8+ T‐cells, which highly expressed inhibitory checkpoints and potentially benefit from PD‐L1 blockade therapy. Our study showed that tumor‐derived SCLC‐V subtype could independently predict ACT response. The distinct immune landscape between subtypes may help inform personalized immune therapeutic approaches.
Ultra‐high static magnetic fields cause immunosuppression through disrupting B‐cell peripheral differentiation and negatively regulating BCR signaling
Authors: Gu Heng , Fu Yufan , Yu Biao , Luo Li , Kang Danqing , Xie Miaomiao , Jing Yukai , Chen Qiuyue , Zhang Xin , Lai Juan , Guan Fei , Forsman Huamei , Shi Junming , Yang Lu , Lei Jiahui , Du Xingrong , Zhang Xin , Liu Chaohong
Published: October 2023

To increase the imaging resolution and detection capability, the field strength of static magnetic fields (SMFs) in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has significantly increased in the past few decades. However, research on the side effects of high magnetic field is still very inadequate and the effects of SMF above 1 T (Tesla) on B cells have never been reported. Here, we show that 33.0 T ultra‐high SMF exposure causes immunosuppression and disrupts B cell differentiation and signaling. 33.0 T SMF treatment resulted in disturbance of B cell peripheral differentiation and antibody secretion and reduced the expression of IgM on B cell membrane, and these might be intensity dependent. In addition, mice exposed to 33.0 T SMF showed inhibition on early activation of B cells, including B cell spreading, B cell receptor clustering and signalosome recruitment, and depression of both positive and negative molecules in the proximal BCR signaling, as well as impaired actin reorganization. Sequencing and gene enrichment analysis showed that SMF stimulation also affects splenic B cells' transcriptome and metabolic pathways. Therefore, in the clinical application of MRI, we should consider the influence of SMF on the immune system and choose the optimal intensity for treatment.
Strategic employment of immigrant and native workers: Was the green card lottery a game changer?
Authors: Allen W. David
Published: October 2023

This paper examines how employers strategically use immigrant and native workers, within the empirical setting of the U.S. Diversity Immigrant Visa (DIV) program and the National Football League (NFL). Strategic organizations determine their own optimal immigrant‐native mix and consider similar actions and reactions by rival employers, a noncooperative game. DIVs exogenously increased the labor market presence of immigrants. I exploit this fact to examine how NFL clubs subsequently altered their employment of immigrant players. Panel‐based empirical analysis illustrates the hypothesized prevalence of matching in immigrant use among rival clubs, sensitivity of that equilibrium to immigration era, and heterogeneous occupational and organizational consequences.
Comparison of record linkage software for deduplicating patient identities in California's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
Authors: Stewart Susan L. , Crawford Andrew , Shev Aaron B. , Wintemute Garen , Tseregounis Iraklis Erik , Henry Stephen G.
Published: October 2023

Background

To help prevent overdose deaths involving prescription drugs, accurate linkage of prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) records for individual patients is essential.

Objectives

To compare the accuracy of the linkage program used by California's PDMP against various record linkage programs with respect to accuracy in deduplicating patient identities in the PDMP, with implications for identifying high‐risk opioid use and outlier behaviors.

Research Design

We evaluated California's program, Link Plus, LinkSolv, and The Link King on 557 861 PDMP identity records with addresses in two 3‐digit zip code areas for patients who filled a controlled substance prescription in 2013. Manual review was performed on a stratified sample of 720 paired records identified as matches by at least one program.

Measures

We estimated sensitivity and positive predictive value, and computed PDMP patient alerts for the patient entities identified by each program.

Results

Sensitivity was 95% for LinkSolv and The Link King, 84% for Link Plus, and 73% for California's program; positive predictive value was ≥93% for all programs. The number of patient entities prompting a PDMP alert was similar among the programs for all alerts except multiple provider episodes (obtaining prescriptions from ≥6 prescribers or ≥6 pharmacies in the last 6 months), which were 10.9%, 26.6%, and 16.9% greater using The Link King, Link Plus, and LinkSolv, respectively, compared to California's program.

Conclusions

PDMPs should assess the accuracy of record linkage algorithms and the impacts of these algorithms on patient safety alerts and develop national best practices for PDMP record linkage.
Predicting current and future potential distributions of the greater bandicoot rat (Bandicota indica) under climate change conditions
Authors: Lin Siliang , Yao Dandan , Jiang Hongxue , Qin Jiao , Feng Zhiyong
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND

Rodent infestation is a global problem. Rodents cause huge harm to agriculture, forestry, and animal husbandry around the world and spread various zoonoses. In this study, we simulated the potentially suitable habitats of Bandicota indica and predicted the impact of future climate change on its distribution under different socio‐economic pathway scenarios of CMIP6 using a parameter‐optimized maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model.

RESULTS

The average area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value (0.958 ± 0.006) after ten repetitions proved the high accuracy of the MaxEnt model. Model results show that the annual mean temperature (≥ 15.93 °C), isothermality (28.52–80.49%), annual precipitation (780.13–3863.13 mm), precipitation of the warmest quarter (≥ 204.37 mm), and nighttime light (≥ 3.38) were important limiting environmental variables for the distribution of B. indica. Under current climate conditions, the projected potential suitable habitats for B. indica were mainly in India, China, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, which cover a total area of 301.70 × 104 km2. The potentially suitable areas of B. indica in the world will expand under different future climate change scenarios by 1.61–17.65%.

CONCLUSIONS

These results validate the potential influence of climate change on the distribution of B. indica and aid in understanding the linkages between B. indica niches and the relevant environment, thereby identifying urgent management areas where interventions may be necessary to develop feasible early warning and prevention strategies to protect against this rodent's spread. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Analysis of dynamic models by optimization
Authors: Moxnes Erling , Naumov Sergey
Published: October 2023

Decision‐makers use system dynamics models to understand how model structure causes problematic behaviors, and how the structure should be changed to improve performance. However, understanding problem behavior and designing policies can be complicated without analytical tools. Existing methods focus on feedback loops that drive dynamic behavior. We propose a new method, Analysis of Dynamic Models by Optimization (ADMO), which focuses on understanding the causes of well‐defined problems and on guiding system and policy design. Unlike existing methods, ADMO can evaluate the influence of exogenous variables and nonlinearities, leading to new understandings of endogenous behavior and providing insights for policy design. ADMO can be employed with any model, including differential equation, agent‐based, discrete event, or hybrid, requiring minimal effort. Two cases demonstrate the application of ADMO to analyze problems and improve both system design and policies. © 2023 The Authors. System Dynamics Review published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of System Dynamics Society.
Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance of g‐C3N4@MnFe2O4 Nanocomposite for Crystal Violet Dye Degradation under Solar Light
Authors: Rathore Roshni , Waghmare Aakash , Rai Sarita , Chandra Vimlesh
Published: October 2023

Crystal violet (CV) dye has been used in the textile industry, as printing ink, biological stain, and antimicrobial agent. CV dye persists in water for a long time and poses a serious threat to humans and aquatic life. In this study, g‐C3N4, MnFe2O4 nanoparticles, and g‐C3N4@MnFe2O4 (80 : 20 wt %) nanocomposite were synthesized via thermal decomposition and chemical co‐precipitation routes. The crystallite size was found 36.31 nm and 30 nm for bare MnFe2O4 nanoparticle and g‐C3N4@MnFe2O4 nanocomposite respectively. The optical band gaps of MnFe2O4, g‐C3N4, and g‐C3N4@MnFe2O4 were 1.8 eV, 2.7 eV, and 2.4 eV, respectively. The photoluminescence intensity decreases in the following order: g‐C3N4>g‐C3N4@MnFe2O4 nanocomposite>MnFe2O4. The degradation efficiency of MnFe2O4, g‐C3N4, and g‐C3N4@MnFe2O4 nanocomposite was found to be 25.13 %, 58.11 %, and 98.42 % respectively, and followed first‐order kinetics. The value of the rate constant for g‐C3N4@MnFe2O4 was 0.022 min−1 which was around ten times higher than g‐C3N4 and MnFe2O4. By adding three scavengers, the degradation capacity of nanocomposite was decreased in the order AA (L‐ascorbic acid)>EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)>TBA (t‐butyl alcohol). A slight reduction in degradation efficiency was observed after five consecutive cycles. Thus, this new finding can be applied to the degradation of CV dye‐contaminated industrial wastewater under solar light.
Recycling of Hazelnut Husk; from Bio‐waste to Phyto‐Assisted Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles
Authors: Sivri Damla , Kurel Ali , Baytore Defne Ipek , Akdogan Nilay Gunduz , Akdogan Ozan
Published: October 2023

In the present work, green synthesis is utilized in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles with hazelnut (Corylus Colurna) husk which is the outer leaf part of the hazelnut shell and is considered bio‐waste. According to transmission electron microscopy and x‐ray diffraction analysis, the morphology of the silver nanoparticles synthesized by 0.1 g/mL hazelnut husk extract is found to be spherical with an average diameter of 6.57 nm and possesses ultra‐narrow size distribution. UV‐visible spectrometry reveals the absorbance peak range between 450–475 nm which is in the range of surface plasmon resonance peak of silver nanoparticles with spherical morphology. Antibacterial properties of the synthesized silver nanoparticles were tested on E. coli and significant antimicrobial activity was found with up to 79 % areal inhibition efficiency. The research revealed that the hazelnut husk extract, a reducing agent used in syntheses with different mass concentrations of hazelnut husk extract, also affects the size of the nanoparticles, allowing for the possibility of controlling their size. The antibacterial properties of silver nanoparticles, synthesized in a spherical form of different sizes, correspondingly increased their effect on bacteria which is observed in the inhibition zone. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles, which can be used in many fields for agriculture, cosmetics, and medical purposes, using plant extract and minimal chemicals is crucial because it affects its toxicity. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles with hazelnut husk not only reduces the chemical waste and toxicity, but it is both easily accessible and helps the environment and sustainability by recycling a normally considered bio‐waste by‐product of high‐value‐added crop to a technologically valuable product silver. Moreover, synthesized silver nanoparticles could be an essential part of applications ranging from antibacterial surface treatments to drug delivery systems.