bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fast‐track adaptive laboratory evolution of Cupriavidus necator H16 with divalent metal cations
Authors: Sitompul Sepwin Nosten , Diaz Garcia Laura Andrea , Price Joseph , Tee Kang Lan , Wong Tuck Seng
Published: July 2024

Microbial strain improvement through adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) has been a key strategy in biotechnology for enhancing desired phenotypic traits. In this Biotech Method paper, we present an accelerated ALE (aALE) workflow and its successful implementation in evolving Cupriavidus necator H16 for enhanced tolerance toward elevated glycerol concentrations. The method involves the deliberate induction of genetic diversity through controlled exposure to divalent metal cations, enabling the rapid identification of improved variants. Through this approach, we observed the emergence of robust variants capable of growing in high glycerol concentration environments, demonstrating the efficacy of our aALE workflow. When cultivated in 10% v/v glycerol, the adapted variant Mn‐C2‐B11, selected through aALE, achieved a final OD600 value of 56.0 and a dry cell weight of 15.2 g L−1, compared to the wild type (WT) strain's final OD600 of 39.1 and dry cell weight of 8.4 g L−1. At an even higher glycerol concentration of 15% v/v, Mn‐C2‐B11 reached a final OD600 of 48.9 and a dry cell weight of 12.7 g L−1, in contrast to the WT strain's final OD600 of 9.0 and dry cell weight of 3.1 g L−1. Higher glycerol consumption by Mn‐C2‐B11 was also confirmed by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. This adapted variant consumed 34.5 times more glycerol compared to the WT strain at 10% v/v glycerol. Our method offers several advantages over other reported ALE approaches, including its independence from genetically modified strains, specialized genetic tools, and potentially carcinogenic DNA‐modifying agents. By utilizing divalent metal cations as mutagens, we offer a safer, more efficient, and cost‐effective alternative for expansion of genetic diversity. With its ability to foster rapid microbial evolution, aALE serves as a valuable addition to the ALE toolbox, holding significant promise for the advancement of microbial strain engineering and bioprocess optimization.
Human platelet lysate supports SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cell proliferation and differentiation into a dopaminergic‐like neuronal phenotype under xenogeneic‐free culture conditions
Authors: Ribeiro Miguel , Campos Jonas , Pinho Tiffany S. , Sampaio‐Marques Belém , Barata‐Antunes Sandra , Cibrão Jorge Ribeiro , Araújo Ricardo , Duarte‐Silva Sara , Moreira Elsa , Sousa Rui A. , Costa Pedro M. , Salgado António J.
Published: July 2024

SH‐SY5Y is a human neuroblastoma cell line that can be differentiated into several neuronal phenotypes, depending on culture conditions. For this reason, this cell line has been widely used as an in vitro model of neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). However, most studies published to date used fetal bovine serum (FBS) as culture medium supplement for SH‐SY5Y cell differentiation. We report on the testing of human platelet lysate (hPL) as a culture medium supplement to support SH‐SY5Y cell culture. Both standard hPL and a fibrinogen‐depleted hPL (FD‐hPL) formulation, which does not require the addition of anticoagulants to culture media, promoted an increase in SH‐SY5Y cell proliferation in comparison to FBS, without compromising metabolic activity. SH‐SY5Y cells cultured in hPL or FD‐hPL also displayed a higher number of neurite extensions and stained positive for MAP2 and synaptophysin, in the absence of differentiation stimuli; reducing hPL or FD‐hPL concentration to 1% v/v did not affect cell proliferation or metabolic activity. Furthermore, following treatment with retinoic acid (RA) and further stimulation with brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor beta (NGF‐β), the percentage of SH‐SY5Y cells stained positive for dopaminergic neuronal differentiation markers (tyrosine hydroxylase [TH] and Dopamine Transporter [DAT]) was higher in hPL or FD‐hPL than in FBS, and gene expression of dopaminergic markers TH, DAT, and DR2 was also detected.

Overall, the data herein presented supports the use of hPL to differentiate SH‐SY5Y cells into a neuronal phenotype with dopaminergic features, and the adoption of FD‐hPL as a fully xenogeneic free alternative to FBS to support the use of SH‐SY5Y cells as a neurodegeneration model.
Antibiotic resistance: Assessing knowledge and misconceptions among Portuguese students and science teachers
Authors: Azevedo Maria Manuel , Gonçalves Ana , Osório Nuno S. , Baltazar Fátima
Published: July 2024

Antimicrobial resistance poses one of the most significant medical challenges for humanity. The current burden is overwhelming and is projected to escalate rapidly, with predictions for 2050 indicating 10 million deaths per year due to antibiotic‐resistant microorganisms. Enhancing public awareness and education on this topic is crucial in efforts to mitigate this issue. In our study, we translated an existing questionnaire on antimicrobial resistance into Portuguese, validated it, and applied it between December 2020 and March 2021 to a group of Portuguese students (n = 112) and science teachers (n = 95). A majority of the students surveyed (65.1%) incorrectly believed that antibiotics could treat colds/flus. As anticipated, the teachers outperformed the students in the questionnaire. However, difficulties with this topic were evident in both groups. Most notably, the misconception that the human body becomes resistant to antibiotics was prevalent among most participants (77.0% of students and 68.4% of teachers). Consistent with previous studies in other populations and geographic locations, our research reveals a worrying lack of knowledge about antimicrobial resistance among Portuguese students and science teachers. Consequently, it is deemed urgent to implement effective measures to raise awareness and educate on this topic.
Common patient‐reported sources of cancer‐related distress in adults with cancer: A systematic review
Authors: Stevens Jennifer M. , Montgomery Kathleen , Miller Megan , Saeidzadeh Seyedehtanaz , Kwekkeboom Kristine L.
Published: July 2024

Background

Cancer‐related distress (CRD) is widely experienced by people with cancer and is associated with poor outcomes. CRD screening is a recommended practice; however, CRD remains under‐treated due to limited resources targeting unique sources (problems) contributing to CRD. Understanding which sources of CRD are most commonly reported will allow allocation of resources including equipping healthcare providers for intervention.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review to describe the frequency of patient‐reported sources of CRD and to identify relationships with CRD severity, demographics, and clinical characteristics. We included empirical studies that screened adults with cancer using the NCCN or similar problem list. Most and least common sources of CRD were identified using weighted proportions computed across studies. Relationships between sources of CRD and CRD severity, demographics, and clinical characteristics were summarized narratively.

Results

Forty‐eight studies were included. The most frequent sources of CRD were worry (55%), fatigue (54%), fears (45%), sadness (44%), pain (41%), and sleep disturbance (40%). Having enough food (0%), substance abuse (3%), childbearing ability (5%), fevers (5%), and spiritual concerns (5%) were infrequently reported. Sources of CRD were related to CRD severity, sex, age, race, marital status, income, education, rurality, treatment type, cancer grade, performance status, and timing of screening.

Conclusions

Sources of CRD were most frequently emotional and physical, and resources should be targeted to these sources. Relationships between sources of CRD and demographic and clinical variables may suggest profiles of patient subgroups that share similar sources of CRD. Further investigation is necessary to direct intervention development and testing.
Meaningful nomograms based on systemic immune inflammation index predicted survival in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy
Authors: Sun Yanan , Hu Jiahe , Wang Rongfang , Du Xinlian , Zhang Xiaoling , E Jiaoting , Zheng Shaoyue , Zhou Yuxin , Mou Ruishu , Li Xuedong , Zhang Hanbo , Xu Ying , Liao Yuan , Jiang Wenjie , Liu Lijia , Wang Ruitao , Zhu Jiuxin , Xie Rui
Published: July 2024

Objective

The purpose of the study is to construct meaningful nomogram models according to the independent prognostic factor for metastatic pancreatic cancer receiving chemotherapy.

Methods

This study is retrospective and consecutively included 143 patients from January 2013 to June 2021. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve with the area under the curve (AUC) is utilized to determine the optimal cut‐off value. The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, univariate and multivariable Cox regression analysis are exploited to identify the correlation of inflammatory biomarkers and clinicopathological features with survival. R software are run to construct nomograms based on independent risk factors to visualize survival. Nomogram model is examined using calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

The best cut‐off values of 966.71, 0.257, and 2.54 for the systemic immunological inflammation index (SII), monocyte‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were obtained by ROC analysis. Cox proportional‐hazards model revealed that baseline SII, history of drinking and metastasis sites were independent prognostic indices for survival. We established prognostic nomograms for primary endpoints of this study. The nomograms' predictive potential and clinical efficacy have been evaluated by calibration curves and DCA.

Conclusion

We constructed nomograms based on independent prognostic factors, these models have promising applications in clinical practice to assist clinicians in personalizing the management of patients.
LC–MS and GC‐MS Analyses on Green Algae Penicillus Capitatus: Cytotoxic, Antimicrobial and Anticholinesterase Activity Screening Enhanced by Molecular Docking & Dynamics and ADME Studies
Authors: Toraman Gülbahar Özge Alim , Atasoy Sezen , Şenol Halil , Şükran Okudan Emine , Öykü Dinç Harika , Topçu Gülaçtı
Published: July 2024

In this comprehensive screening study, the chemical composition, and cytotoxic, antimicrobial, and anticholinergic activities of the green algae Penicillus capitatus, collected from Antalya‐Türkiye, were determined as in vitro and in silico. GC‐MS analysis of the hexane extract revealed a high content of fatty acids, with hexadecanoic acid constituting half of the total fatty acid content. LC‐HRMS analysis of the DCM:MeOH extract identified ascorbic acid as the most abundant compound, followed by (−)‐epigallocatechin and salicylic acid. The DCM:MeOH extract exhibited potent cytotoxicity against MDA‐MB‐231 and MCF7 breast cancer cell lines, outperforming doxorubicin with lower IC50 values and a higher selectivity index. Additionally, the extract demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans, along with selective inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) over butyrylcholinesterase (hBChE). Molecular docking and dynamics studies revealed that apigenin‐7‐O‐glucoside and epigallocatechin form stable interactions with estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and hAChE, suggesting their potential as inhibitors. In silico ADME studies indicated favorable pharmacokinetic profiles for the detected compounds, supporting their potential as drug candidates. The promising cytotoxic activity of the P. capitatus extracts, coupled with significant antimicrobial properties and selective hAChE inhibition, highlights their therapeutic potential for breast cancer treatment, infection management, and neurodegenerative disease intervention.
Benzoic Acid Serves as Precursor of Catalytic HAT Reagent in a Two‐Molecule Photoredox System
Authors: Hirose Masami , Sakaguchi Hina , Hashimoto Ryoga , Furutani Toshiki , Yamawaki Mugen , Suzuki Hirotsugu , Yoshimi Yasuharu
Published: July 2024

The photoinduced regioselective HAT reactions of acetals, ethers, and alcohols using benzoic acids in a two‐molecule photoredox system led to the formation of new C−C bonds with alkenes under mild conditions. Aryl carboxy radicals generated from benzoic acids in a two‐molecule photoredox system can function as catalytic HAT reagents, even though an excess amount of a hydrogen donor substrate is required. Various acetals, ethers, alcohols, and alkenes can be employed in the photoreaction to provide both high yields of adducts and high recoveries of benzoic acids.
A non‐ionic green surfactant extracted from the Anabasis setifera plant for improving bulk properties of CO2‐foam in the process of enhanced oil recovery from carbonate reservoirs
Authors: Nowrouzi Iman , Mohammadi Amir H. , Khaksar Manshad Abbas
Published: July 2024

Foam, as a gas‐in‐liquid colloid, has a higher appearance viscosity than the one of both gas and liquid that form it. Adjusting the mobility ratio of the injected fluid–oil system and increasing gas diffusion in the foam injection process increase oil production. With these properties, foam as an injection fluid in fractured reservoirs has a major effect on oil production from the matrixes and prevents premature production of injection fluid. Surfactants are common foaming agents in injection water. Saponins are known as plant‐derived surfactants for forming stable foam. This feature, along with its cheap price and availability, can make them candidates for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) by the foam injection method. However, the utilization of CO2 as the gaseous phase in foam introduces additional machanisms of CO2 injection to the oil recovery operations. In this assessment, a non‐ionic green surfactant derived from the Anabasis setifera plant was used as a foaming agent, while CO2 served as the gas phase. A series of surface tension tests in CO2 environment were performed to determine the optimal concentration of the surfactant. Foaming tests were performed by a designed foam generator. The produced CO2‐foam was then injected into a fractured carbonate plug with six matrixes (with one horizontal and two vertical fractures). Based on the results, the water–CO2 surface tension was reduced to 20.549 mN/m. The optimum salinity based on the foam stability was 10,000 ppm. The half‐life of the foam was determined to be 40 min. Also, the foam characterization showed that the foamability of the surfactant was favourable for increasing oil production so that by secondary flooding, an oil recovery of more than 66% was achieved from the fractured carbonate plug.
Effect of observer age and stimulus size on the color matching performance
Authors: Shen Yuetong , Huang Min , Gao Xinyuan , Wei Minchen , Gong Xuping , Wang Dan
Published: July 2024

The performance of color matching functions (CMFs) is important to color specification and calibration. In comparison to the great number of studies focusing on the effect of primary set, few studies focused on how observer age and field of view (FOV) jointly affected the performance of CMFs. In this study, a color matching experiment with three different primary sets, which were carefully selected based on our previous study, was carried out by two observer age groups under four FOVs (i.e., 2°, 4°, 8°, and 13°). The results suggested that the observer age had a more significant effect than the FOV, and the change of the FOV did not introduce a systematic trend to the color matching results. Neither the CIE 1931 2° nor 1964 10° CMFs were found to accurately characterize the color matches. The CIE 2006 CMFs with the FOV set to the experiment setup also did not have good performance. On average, the CIE 2006 2° CMFs were found to have the best performance, without considering the effects of the observer age and FOV.
Leveraging generative adversarial networks for enhanced cryptographic key generation
Authors: Singh Purushottam , Pranav Prashant , Anwar Shamama , Dutta Sandip
Published: July 2024

In this research, we present an innovative cryptographic key generation method utilizing a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN), enhanced by Merkel tree verification, marking a significant advancement in cryptographic security. Our approach successfully generates a large 6272‐bit key, rigorously tested for randomness and reliability using the Dieharder and NIST test suites. This groundbreaking method harmoniously blends cutting‐edge machine learning techniques with traditional cryptographic verification, setting a new standard in data encryption and security. Our findings not only demonstrate the efficacy of GANs in producing highly secure cryptographic keys but also highlight the effectiveness of Merkel tree verification in ensuring the integrity of these keys. The integration of merkel tree in our method provides a means to efficiently verify the authenticity of the large generated key sets. This research has broad implications for the future of secure communications, providing a robust solution in a world increasingly reliant on digital security. The integration of machine learning and cryptographic principles opens up new avenues for research and development, promising to bolster security measures in an era where digital threats are constantly evolving. This work contributes significantly to the field of cryptography, offering a novel perspective and robust solutions to the challenges of digital data protection.
Being there when a teen uses drugs can reduce overdose deaths
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: July 2024

While it's tempting to let drug users — including young adults and adolescents — use in solitude (out of sight, in other words), bear in mind one thing: as unpleasant as it sounds, having naloxone on hand and knowing your teen is using drugs can save his or her life, if someone is there when the drug is administered.
Sustainability‐Driven Accelerated Shear‐Mediated Immunoassay for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Detection
Authors: Luo Xuan , Heydari Amir , Renfrey Danielle , Gardner Zoe , He Shan , Tang Youhong , Weiss Gregory A. , Rogers Mary‐Louise , Raston Colin L.
Published: July 2024

Healthcare facilities produce millions of tons of waste annually, with a significant portion consisting of diagnostic plasticware. Here, we introduce a new detection platform that completely replaces traditional assay plates with a piece of membrane, offering a much greener and more sustainable alternative. The membrane, integrated within the portable vortex fluidic device (P‐VFD), enables rapid detection of a clinically relevant protein biomarker, urinary p75ECD. This biomarker is utilized to evaluate the prognosis, disease severity, and progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This assay has a limit‐of‐detection (LOD) of 4.03 pg, which is comparable to the plate‐based assay (2.24 pg) and has been optimised through a full factorial design of experiments (DOE) and response surface methodology (RSM). P‐VFD has great potential in quantifying p75ECD in human biofluids and can significantly reduce the assay time to 5 min compared to the current plate‐based p75ECD ELISA assay (3 days), with at least a 4.4‐fold reduction in the usage of the detection antibody.
Inclusion Strategy for Constructing S/N Orbital Hybridization‐Regulated sp3/sp2 Carbon toward Boost Electrocatalysis
Authors: Qi Defeng , Zhang Hao , Su Ke , Li Wenqiang , Yuan Yifei , Xiao Yin , Xu Jie
Published: July 2024

Metal‐free carbon‐based electrocatalysts have gained significant attention in the field of zinc‐air batteries (ZABs) due to their affordability, good conductivity and chemical stability. However, unmodified carbon materials typically fall short in adsorbing and activating the substrates and intermediates involved in oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). Here, a metal‐free carbon‐based electrocatalyst with S atom p orbital hybrid modified N‐sp3/sp2 carbon structure (C/NS) were prepared by cyclodextrins inclusion. The catalyst demonstrates impressive ORR activity (E1/2=0.885 V vs. RHE) and robust ZABs performance with a power density of 171.3 mW cm−2 and a specific capacity of 781.2 mAh g−1. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation reveals that S atom effectively regulates the charge distribution and p‐band center of active site carbon atom in the N‐sp3/sp2 carbon structure. This modification prompts the adsorption and dissociation of O2 and intermediates, resulting in higher reactive activity. This work provides a valuable and practical strategy for preparing cost‐effective metal‐free carbon‐based electrocatalysts for ORR with high performance.
Boosting I–/I3− ${\mathrm{I}}_{3}^{-}$ liquid state thermocells through solubility‐driven biphasic system optimization
Authors: Liu Xiangyu , Wang Taiyu , Ye Haobin , Nan Wenjing , Chen Mingyu , Fang Jiale , Fan Feng Ru
Published: July 2024

Liquid state thermocells (LTCs) offer a promising approach for harvesting low‐grade heat. In exploring the impact of concentration difference (ΔCr) on the Seebeck coefficient (Se) in LTCs, previous studies mainly focused on two strategies: host–guest complexation and thermosensitive crystallization, which involved adding polymers or cation additives for targeted interaction with the redox couple. However, these methods face challenges in scalability and long‐term application due to the selection and costs of additives, along with the stability of recognition. This study pioneers a unique strategy that utilizes solubility differences in an organic‐aqueous biphasic system. We investigated an electrolyte consisting of an I−/ redox couple, an organic‐aqueous solvent, and ammonium sulfate. This biphasic system enables an enriched concentration of in the upper phase, thereby enhancing the reduction reaction on the hot side. Our approach achieves a Se of 1.8 mV K−1 and a maximum output of 120 μW m−2 K−2, representing a substantial improvement, over threefold compared to traditional single‐phase systems. Therefore, this cost‐effective strategy using a biphasic system establishes a novel pathway for advancing performance of LTCs and presents a promising approach toward achieving carbon neutrality.
Advancing electrochemical CO2 reduction with group 11 metal nanoclusters for renewable energy solutions
Authors: Biswas Sourav , Shingyouchi Yamato , Ogami Masaki , Kamiyama Maho , Kawawaki Tokuhisa , Negishi Yuichi
Published: July 2024

Understanding the intricate relationship between structure and properties is paramount in distinguishing nanocluster (NC) materials from their counterparts. Despite the progress in synthesizing new NCs, the sluggish exploration of their potential applications persists due to the difficulty in stabilizing these materials. However, recent investigations have unveiled their remarkable efficacy as catalysts in electrochemical CO2 reduction reactions, surpassing traditional materials. This discovery, addressing urgent global concerns, has quickly drawn significant attention to this field, leading to its rapid expansion. Hence, there is an urgent need to outline this research landscape and pinpoint effective strategies, marking a significant advancement. In this context, our endeavor is dedicated to offering researchers a thorough understanding of recently synthesized NC materials. We aim to elucidate their distinct structural architectures and associated properties essential for catalyst design. We envision that this systematic review will serve as a guiding beacon for future research endeavors in this burgeoning field.
Genetic–environment associations explain genetic differentiation and variation between western and eastern North Pacific rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata) breeding colonies
Authors: Graham Brendan A. , Hipfner J. Mark , Wellband Kyle W. , Ito Motohiro , Burg Theresa M.
Published: July 2024

Animals are strongly connected to the environments they live in and may become adapted to local environments. Examining genetic–environment associations of key indicator species, like seabirds, provides greater insights into the forces that drive evolution in marine systems. Here we examined a RADseq dataset of 19,213 SNPs for 99 rhinoceros auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) from five western Pacific and 10 eastern Pacific breeding colonies. We used partial redundancy analyses to identify candidate adaptive loci and to quantify the effects of environmental variation on population genetic structure. We identified 262 candidate adaptive loci, which accounted for 3.0% of the observed genetic variation among western Pacific and eastern Pacific breeding colonies. Genetic variation was more strongly associated with pH and maximum current velocity, than maximum sea surface temperature. Genetic–environment associations explain genetic differences between western and eastern Pacific populations; however, genetic variation within the western and eastern Pacific Ocean populations appears to follow a pattern of isolation‐by‐distance. This study represents a first to quantify the relationship between environmental and genetic variation for this widely distributed marine species and provides greater insights into the evolutionary forces that act on marine species.
Unraveling the genomic landscape of Campylorhynchus wrens along western Ecuador's precipitation gradient: Insights into hybridization, isolation by distance, and isolation by the environment
Authors: Montalvo Luis Daniel , Kimball Rebecca T. , Austin James D. , Robinson Scott K.
Published: July 2024

Environmental gradients have the potential to influence genetic differentiation among populations ultimately leading to allopatric speciation. However, environmental gradients can also facilitate hybridization between closely related taxa. We investigated a putative hybrid zone in western Ecuador, involving two polytypic wren species (Aves: Troglodytidae), Campylorhynchus zonatus and C. fasciatus. Our study addressed two primary questions: (1) Is there evidence of population structure and genetic admixture between these taxa in western Ecuador? and (2) What are the relative contributions of isolation by distance and isolation by the environment to the observed genetic differentiation along the environmental gradient in this region? We analyzed 4409 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 112 blood samples sequenced using ddRadSeq and a de novo assembly. The optimum number of genetic clusters ranged from 2 to 4, aligning with geographic origins, known phylogenetics, and physical or ecological constraints. We observed notable transitions in admixture proportions along the environmental gradient in western Ecuador between C. z. brevirostris and the northern and southern genetic clusters of C. f. pallescens. Genetic differentiation between the two C. f. pallescens populations could be attributed to an unreported potential physical barrier in central western Ecuador, where the proximity of the Andes to the coastline restricts lowland habitats, limiting dispersal and gene flow, especially among dry‐habitat specialists. The observed admixture in C. f. pallescens suggests that this subspecies may be a hybrid between C. z. brevirostris and C. fasciatus, with varying degrees of admixture in western Ecuador and northwestern Peru. We found evidence of isolation by distance, while isolation by the environment was less pronounced but still significant for annual mean precipitation and precipitation seasonality. This study enhances our understanding of avian population genomics in tropical regions.
Predicting climate change impacts on the distribution of endemic fish Cyprinion muscatense in the Arabian Peninsula
Authors: Gholamhosseini Ali , Yousefi Masoud , Esmaeili Hamid Reza
Published: July 2024

Freshwater fishes are facing considerable threats in the Arabian Peninsula which is considered as a highly stressed region in the Middle East. It is predicted that northern Oman is likely to face decreasing rainfall and increasing temperature in coming decades. In this study, we focused on an endemic cyprinid fish Cyprinion muscatense, as a model to investigate impacts of climate change on the mountain fishes inhibiting in this arid region. This species is expected to be strongly affected by climate change because of its limited distribution range in a montane area surrounded by lowlands and sea, limiting the species in shift to other areas. We used an ensemble approach by considering two regressions‐based species distribution modeling (SDM) algorithms: generalized linear models (GLM), and generalized additive models (GAM) to model the species habitat suitability and predict the impacts of climate change on the species habitat suitability. Based on the distribution models, the montane area located in northeastern Oman was identified as the most suitable habitat for this species. Our results indicate that, even under the minimum greenhouse gas emissions scenario (RCP 2.6), climate change will produce a high reduction in its potential future habitats. According to the results of percent contribution, elevation and annual minimum temperature were the most important variables in predicting the species suitable habitats. Results also showed that only a small percentage of suitable habitats for the species within boundaries of protected areas. Therefore, the impact of climate change on the species appears particularly alarming. Although our study was restricted to a single cyprinid freshwater species, decreases in potential habitats are likely predicted for other cyprinid fish species restricted to the mountains of this region, suggesting severe consideration is needed for aquatic systems in future conservation planning, especially for endemic freshwater fishes.
Characteristics of demersal fish community structure during summer hypoxia in the Pearl River Estuary, China
Authors: Lai Han , Bi Sheng , Yi Huadong , Li Haiyang , Wei Xuchong , Wang Gongpei , Guo Dingli , Liu Xuange , Chen Jiahui , Chen Qiuxian , Zhang Zhilun , Liu Shuang , Huang Chenlei , Lin Li , Li Guifeng
Published: July 2024

In recent decades, hypoxic areas have rapidly expanded worldwide in estuaries and coastal zones. The Pearl River Estuary (PRE), one of China's largest estuaries, experiences frequent seasonal hypoxia due to intense human activities and eutrophication. However, the ecological effects of hypoxia in the PRE, particularly on fish communities, remain unclear. To explore these effects, we collected fish community and environmental data in July 2021 during the summer hypoxia development period. The results revealed that bottom‐layer dissolved oxygen (DO) in the PRE ranged from 0.08 to 5.71 mg/L, with extensive hypoxic zones (DO ≤ 2 mg/L) observed. Hypoxia has varied effects on fish community composition, distribution, species, and functional diversity in the PRE. A total of 104 fish species were collected in this study, with approximately 30 species (28.6%) exclusively found in hypoxic areas. Species responses to hypoxia varied: species such as Sardinella zunasi, Coilia mystus, and Nuchequula nuchalis were sensitive, while Decapterus maruadsi, Siganus fuscescens, and Lagocephalus spadiceus showed higher tolerance. Within the hypoxia area, dissolved oxygen was the main limiting factor for fish community diversity. Functional diversity (FDiv) decreased with higher dissolved oxygen levels, indicating a potential shift in the functional traits and ecological roles of fish species in response to changing oxygen conditions. Further analysis demonstrated that dissolved oxygen had a significantly stronger effect on fish community structure at hypoxic sites than in the whole PRE. Moreover, other environmental variables also had significant effects on the fish community structure and interacted with dissolved oxygen in the hypoxia area. These findings suggest that maintaining sufficient dissolved oxygen levels is essential for sustaining fish communities and ecosystem health in the PRE. This study provides novel insights into the effects of hypoxia on fish communities in estuarine ecosystems and has significant implications for the ecological health and management of the PRE.
The tale of the rattle: Using rattle size to understand growth and sexual dimorphism in an insular population of rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus caliginis)
Authors: Nava Roman A. , Sigala‐Rodríguez José Jesús , Redetzke Nathaniel , Villalobos‐Juarez Ivan , Franco‐Servin‐de‐la‐Mora Cristian , Rosales‐García Ramses , Clark Rulon W.
Published: July 2024

Islands have played a key role in our understanding of rapid evolution. A large body of literature has examined morphological changes in response to insularity and isolation, which has yielded useful generalizations about how animals can adapt to live in very small geographic areas. However, understanding the evolution of morphological variation in insular populations often requires detailed data sets on longitudinal patterns of growth and development, and such studies typically necessitate long‐term mark‐recapture on a large sample of individuals. Rattlesnakes provide a unique opportunity to address some of these difficulties because the addition of rattle segments to the rattle string occurs with regular periodicity and their size directly correlates with the body size of the snake at the time of the ecdysis cycle generating the segment. Here, we used a large database of rattle segment sizes recorded from island (Isla Coronado Sur, Baja California, Mexico) and mainland (Camp Pendleton, California, United States) populations of Western Rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus and C. o. caliginis) that separated approximately 10,000 years ago to compare body sizes at different ecdysis cycles, which allowed us to assess differences in growth rates and patterns of sexual size dimorphism. Our results show that rattlesnakes on Isla Coronado Sur appear to be born smaller and grow more slowly than their mainland counterparts, resulting in a “dwarfed” island population. However, despite significant differences in body size, both populations exhibited the same degree of sexual dimorphism. Our study demonstrates the potential to use rattle characteristics to recover detailed estimates of fundamental demographic parameters.
Accounting for imperfect detection when estimating species‐area relationships and beta‐diversity
Authors: Noble Ciar D. , Peres Carlos A. , Gilroy James J.
Published: July 2024

Ecologists have historically quantified fundamental biodiversity patterns, including species‐area relationships (SARs) and beta diversity, using observed species counts. However, imperfect detection may often bias derived community metrics and subsequent community models. Although several statistical methods claim to correct for imperfect detection, their performance in species‐area and β‐diversity research remains unproven. We examine inaccuracies in the estimation of SARs and β‐diversity parameters that emerge from imperfect detection, and whether such errors can be mitigated using a non‐parametric diversity estimator (iNEXT.3D) and Multi‐Species Occupancy Models (MSOMs). We simulated 28,350 sampling regimes of 2835 fragmented communities, varying the mean and standard deviation of species detection probabilities, and the number of sampling repetitions. We then quantified the bias, accuracy, and precision of derived estimates of model coefficients for SARs and the effects of patch area on β‐diversity (pairwise Sørensen similarity). Imperfect detection biased estimates of all evaluated parameters, particularly when mean detection probabilities were low, and there were few sampling repetitions. Observed counts consistently underestimated species richness and SAR z‐values, and overestimated SAR c‐values; iNEXT.3D and MSOMs only partially resolved these biases. iNEXT.3D provided the best estimates of SAR z‐values, although MSOM estimates were generally comparable. All three methods accurately estimated pairwise Sørensen similarity in most circumstances, but only MSOMs provided unbiased estimates of the coefficients of models examining covariate effects on β‐diversity. Even when using iNEXT.3D or MSOMs, imperfect detection consistently caused biases in SAR coefficient estimates, calling into question the robustness of previous SAR studies. Furthermore, the inability of observed counts and iNEXT.3D to estimate β‐diversity model coefficients resulted from a systematic, area‐related bias in Sørensen similarity estimates. Importantly, MSOMs corrected for these biases in β‐diversity assessments, even in suboptimal scenarios. Nonetheless, as estimator performance consistently improved with increasing sampling repetitions, the importance of appropriate sampling effort cannot be understated.
Eligibility for vericiguat in a real‐world, contemporary heart failure population
Authors: Vergaro Giuseppe , Aimo Alberto , Gentile Francesco , Mandoli Giulia Elena , Focardi Marta , Castiglione Vincenzo , Giannoni Alberto , Panichella Giorgia , Fornaro Alessandra , Carluccio Erberto , Liga Riccardo , Salatin Mattia , Passino Claudio , Piepoli Massimo F. , Cameli Matteo , Cappelli Francesco , Di Mario Carlo , Emdin Michele
Published: July 2024

Aims

Vericiguat is a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator and improves survival in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and an increased risk of decompensation. As real‐world data on how many patients could be eligible for vericiguat therapy derive from outdated registries, we aimed to assess eligibility in a prospective cohort of patients with HF.

Methods and results

Data from consecutive HF patients undergoing an elective ambulatory visit at five university hospitals from 3 July to 28 July 2023 were collected. Independent investigators assessed which patients (i) met the eligibility criteria of the VICTORIA trial, (ii) complied with HF guideline recommendations, (iii) met regulatory agency criteria, or (iv) met criteria for refundability according to the Italian regulatory agency. Patients (n = 346, 72% men, median age 69 years) had HFrEF in 57% of cases, left ventricular ejection fraction < 45% in 68%, and New York Heart Association class II–IV symptoms in 76%. Patients meeting the eligibility criteria of the VICTORIA trial or European and American HF Guideline recommendations were 9% and 13%, respectively. Patients meeting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or European Medicines Agency (EMA) label criteria were 19% and 17%, respectively. Drug costs would be covered by the Italian National Health System in 10% of patients [if a sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) is not mandatory] or in 8% (if an SGLT2i is requested).

Conclusions

In a real‐world study, 9% of patients met the eligibility criteria of the VICTORIA trial, but up to 13% complied with guideline recommendations and up to 19% met FDA or EMA criteria. In Italy, drug costs would be covered by up to 10% of patients.
A sham‐controlled, randomized trial of spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of pain in chronic pancreatitis
Authors: Gulisano Helga Angela , Eriksen Elin , Bjarkam Carsten Reidies , Drewes Asbjørn Mohr , Olesen Søren Schou
Published: July 2024

Background

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has emerged as a treatment option for patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) who experience pain that does not respond to standard interventions. However, there is a lack of sham‐controlled trials to support its efficacy.

Methods

This randomized, double‐blinded, sham‐controlled, cross‐over trial enrolled 16 CP patients with insufficient pain relief from standard therapies. Patients underwent high‐frequency (1000 Hz) paraesthesia‐free SCS or sham for two 10‐day stimulation periods, separated by a 3‐day washout period. The primary outcome was daily pain intensity registered in a pain diary based on a numeric rating scale (NRS). Secondary outcomes included various questionnaires. Quantitative sensory testing was used to probe the pain system before and after interventions.

Results

The average daily pain score on the NRS at baseline was 5.2 ± 1.9. After SCS, the pain score was 4.2 ± 2.1 compared to 4.3 ± 2.1 in the sham group (mean difference −0.1, 95% CI [−1.4 to 1.1]; P = 0.81). Similarly, no differences were observed between groups for the maximal daily pain score, secondary outcomes or quantitative sensory testing parameters. During an open‐label, non‐sham‐controlled and non‐blinded extension of the study, the average daily NRS was 5.2 ± 1.7 at baseline, 3.2 ± 1.8 at 3 months, 2.9 ± 1.9 at 6 months and 3.4 ± 2.2 at 12 months of follow‐up (P = 0.001).

Conclusion

In this first sham‐controlled trial of SCS in painful CP, we did not find evidence of short‐term pain relief with paraesthesia‐free high‐frequency (1000 Hz) stimulation. However, evaluation of the long‐term effect by larger sham‐controlled trials with long‐term follow‐up is warranted.

Significance Statement

In this first sham‐controlled trial to apply high‐frequency (1000 Hz) spinal cord stimulation in patients with visceral pain due to chronic pancreatitis, we did not find evidence for clinically relevant pain relief. Taken together with potential procedure‐related complications, adverse effects and costs associated with spinal cord stimulation, our findings question its use for management of visceral pain.
Who likes meat, fish, and seafood? Influence of sex, age, body mass index, smoking, and olfactory efficiency on meat product preferences
Authors: Hartman‐Petrycka Magdalena , Lebiedowska Agata , Kamińska Magdalena , Krusiec‐Świdergoł Beata , Błońska‐Fajfrowska Barbara , Witkoś Joanna , Wilczyński Sławomir
Published: July 2024

Meat, fish, and seafood are animal products that can be found in various forms in the human diet. In Western culture, there are trends to reduce meat consumption. This work was created to assess how various factors influence the fact that we like to eat meat, fish, and seafood. Exploring these relationships will contribute to our understanding of why dietary interventions for the above foods may be so difficult to implement in some groups of people. Two hundred eighty‐three people living in Poland took part in the study. An interview and olfactory tests were conducted together with assessments of food preferences from 25 types of food products. The extent to which sex, age, body mass index, tobacco addiction, and sense of smell influence ‘meat, fish and seafood’ consumption was assessed. Using the factor analysis, a coherent group of ‘meat, fish and seafood’ products was selected: beef, pork, veal, cured meats, poultry, fish dishes, and seafood. ‘Meat, fish and seafood’ was liked more by men, compared to women (B = .85; CI = .60, 1.10; t = 6.66, η2 = .14; p < .001), whereas other factors did not affect the preference of dishes from this group as a whole. A detailed analysis of each type of food separately showed, however, that not only is gender important, but fish is liked more by older people, and cured meats by people who identify odors more efficiently. When planning a diet change, including the products mentioned above, we should consider the sex and age of the person to whom the diet is addressed, because men declare a higher derived pleasure from eating various types of meat, fish, and seafood than women, while older people like fish more.
Spatial patterns of short‐term extreme precipitation and their causes
Authors: Zuo Daxing , Wu Chunyi , Wu Lichuan , Zheng Yanhui , Chen Xiaohong , Wang Lina , Zang Chuanfu
Published: July 2024

The spatial distribution of extreme precipitation significantly affects flow‐producing processes and flooding. Previous studies on heavy rainfall have mainly emphasized the temporal distribution characteristics, with little emphasis on rainfall spatial patterns. We objectively classified 3‐h scale extreme precipitation spatial patterns (EPSPs) in Guangdong Province, China. We calculated the importance of the influencing factors on EPSPs, analysed weather backgrounds corresponding to various EPSPs, and explained the causes of extreme precipitation. We found that the incidence of most EPSPs increased significantly over this 40‐year period, and this increase has been particularly pronounced since the beginning of the 21st century. The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) was found to be the main factor influencing the extreme precipitation events (EPEs) in western Guangdong, and the weakening of the PDO contributed to the occurrence of EPEs in these areas. Urbanization was the main factor contributing to the increase in EPEs in the southern and coastal areas of Guangdong. The EPSPs in central Guangdong were caused by a southwest jet stream and topographic uplift. Extreme precipitation in southern and coastal Guangdong was mainly triggered by the convergent shear of southwesterly winds. The EPSPs over western Guangdong were caused by the low vortex in western Guangdong and the influx of large amounts of water vapour from the southern ocean. This study has provided new ideas for the study of the formation process and mechanism of localized heavy precipitation as well as an important reference for the simulation of runoff in coastal areas.
Determining peat's vertical hydraulic diffusivity and hydraulic conductivity from naturally occurring hydraulic pressure fluctuations measured at various depths
Authors: Paat Raul , Jõeleht Argo , Sarap Grete Sabine , Kohv Marko
Published: July 2024

This study presents a method that could be used to assess the in‐situ saturated vertical hydraulic conductivity of deeper and more decomposed peat layers. Deeper peat layers may exhibit very low permeability comparable to clayey sediments, where measurements and sediment sample collection are very difficult. More traditional measurement methods, such as slug‐tests and permeameter tests, have proven difficult to carry out in these conditions, necessitating an alternative method. For surpassing these possible constraints, this paper introduces a field method to quantify vertical hydraulic diffusivity, capitalizing on naturally occurring hydraulic pressure fluctuations measured with buried pressure sensors. The determined diffusivity values are used to calculate vertical hydraulic conductivity of peat using separately measured compressibility and specific storage values. Our research demonstrates the feasibility of using this method to evaluate vertical hydraulic diffusivity in lower peat layers. Calculated diffusivity values, combined with peat compressibility measurements, yield reasonable estimates of vertical hydraulic conductivity for dense fen peat comparable with more widely used in‐situ and laboratory methods. It also shows potential for vertical hydraulic characteristics parametrization in the upper less decomposed and compacted peat layers; however, further research is needed to understand the method's limitations in such conditions. Our approach provides a potential method for measuring in‐situ vertical hydraulic properties of less accessible peat layers, often overlooked, while also providing a way to surpass the scale‐dependency constraints inherent in peatlands' heterogeneous structure. Such information is necessary when studying the hydraulic interactions between groundwater aquifers and peatlands.