bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Constructing three‐dimensional Mn2O3 catalysts with various morphologies for catalytic oxidation of benzene
Authors: Zhang Jinhui , Zhang Hanyue , Zhu Xinfeng , Liu Hongpan , Hou Guangchao , Kang Haiyan , Liu Biao , Zhu Wenwen , Yin Shiqiang , Song Zongxian
Published: December 2022

Three kinds of three‐dimensional (3D) Mn2O3 catalysts with different morphologies (cube, fan‐like structure, and sphere) and various exposed crystal planes were prepared by a hydrothermal method for benzene oxidation. The activity results suggested that sample Mn2O3‐Cl with hierarchical cube morphology exhibited a better rate of benzene degradation than the other samples. Mn2O3‐Cl exhibited the lowest complete benzene conversion temperature (T90 = 252°C), which was ~48°C lower than that of the Mn2O3‐S sample. Meanwhile, the Rm and Rs values of Mn2O3‐Cl were 2.71 and 3.21 times, respectively, higher than those of Mn2O3‐S. TEM results suggested that morphology has a significant effect on crystal planes. The activity–morphology relationship over the Mn2O3 samples was investigated by multiple analytical techniques. It can be concluded that the low crystallinity, superior redox ability, abundant low‐valence Mn ions, and Olatt species in the Mn2O3‐Cl catalyst were responsible for its superior catalytic activity.
Modeling wide range of viscoelastic–viscoplastic behavior of AralditeLY564 epoxy using cooperative viscoplasticity theory based on overstress model
Authors: Bakbak Okan , Colak Ozgen
Published: December 2022

The rate‐dependent properties of epoxy (Araldite LY 564) were successfully addressed by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), quasi‐static compression tests (strain rates: 1.E‐3, 1.E‐2, and 1.E‐1 /s), Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) testing (strain rates: 875 and 770/s) and stress relaxation experiments (strain levels: 3.16 and 7.15%) are simulated by a micromechanically based constitutive model. The used model is Cooperative‐Viscoplasticity Theory Based on Overstress (VBO) model. The majority of works about modeling polymers are limited to modeling quasi‐static tension‐compression behaviors and predicting elasticity modulus and yield strength. In this work, the effectiveness of the Cooperative‐VBO model is verified and validated by simulating a wide range of material behaviors of Araldite LY 564. Material parameters of the model are determined by using storage modulus obtained from DMA and quasi‐static compression test at a strain rate of 1.E‐1 /s. High strain rate behaviors and stress relaxation behaviors are predicted. The behaviors from quasi‐static to high strain rate, from stress relaxation at different strain levels to storage modulus, respectively, are predicted with a single set of material parameters. Simulation and prediction results revealed the effectiveness of the proposed model.
Population structure and genetic connectivity reveals distinctiveness of Irish harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and implications for conservation management
Authors: Steinmetz Kristina , Murphy Sinéad , Cadhla Oliver Ó. , Carroll Emma L. , Onoufriou Aubrie B. , Russell Debbie J. F. , Cronin Michelle , Mirimin Luca
Published: December 2022

The identification of discrete intraspecific units, such as genetically informed management units (MUs), is important to effectively develop and implement conservation strategies for protected species. Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) occurring in Irish waters are currently viewed as a single nationwide panmictic population (and hence MU), although this assumption is not based on any knowledge of population structure because of the lack of available genetic data.

Thus, the present study used mitochondrial control region sequences and between nine and 11 microsatellite loci from harbour seals from Ireland and Northern Ireland (up to n = 123) and adjacent UK/European waters (up to n = 289) to provide insights into the genetic population structure and diversity of harbour seals in the areas studied.

Within the island of Ireland, genetic analyses revealed the presence of three genetically distinct local populations, characterized by high genetic diversity, hereby defined as: East Ireland (EI), North‐west & Northern Ireland (NWNI), and South‐west Ireland (SWI).

Using previously published and newly generated data, a subsequent wider scale analysis revealed that the EI and SWI local populations were genetically distinct from neighbouring UK/European areas, whereas seals from the NWNI area could not be distinguished from a previously identified Northern UK metapopulation. Migration rate estimates showed that NWNI receives migrants from North‐west Scotland, with NWNI acting as a genetic source for both SWI and EI.

The present study provides the most comprehensive genetic assessment of harbour seals in European waters to date, with findings indicating that conservation strategies for harbour seals in Irish waters should be amended to accommodate at least three genetically distinct local populations/MUs. The use of approaches considering both ecological and genetic parameters is recommended for future assessments and delineation of units of ecological relevance for conservation management purposes.
Sufficiency for diagnosability of stochastic discrete‐event systems and a polynomial‐time verification
Authors: Cao Weihua , Liu Fuchun
Published: December 2022

The notion of diagnosability of stochastic discrete‐event systems (SDESs) was introduced in the literature, but the method for verifying the diagnosability of SDESs was exponential. However, is there a sufficient condition of diagnosability of SDESs that can be tested with polynomial method? In this paper, we present a sufficient condition of diagnosability of SDESs based on a constructive testing automaton, and a polynomial method is proposed to test the condition.
The branch‐cut cosmology: evidences and open questions
Authors: Zen Vasconcellos César A. , Hess Peter O. , de Freitas Pacheco José , Hadjimichef Dimiter , Bodmann Benno
Published: December 2022

In this work, we present a brief review of the branch‐cut cosmology as well as we approach topics not yet investigated. Starting with an already explored topic, the theme of the primordial singularity suppression, we approach essential themes for a better understanding of the scope of branch‐cut cosmology. More precisely, based on recent contributions, we advance a better understanding of the branch‐cut scenarios as well as essential topics for modern cosmology such as the flatness, homogeneity, and horizon problems from the classical point of view of the branch‐cut cosmology.
Fine motor skill and expressive language in minimally verbal and verbal school‐aged autistic children
Authors: Butler Lindsay K. , Tager‐Flusberg Helen
Published: December 2022

Fine motor skill is associated with expressive language outcomes in infants who have an autistic sibling and in young autistic children. Fewer studies have focused on school‐aged children even though around 80% have motor impairments and 30% remain minimally verbal (MV) into their school years. Moreover, expressive language is not a unitary construct, but it is made up of components such as speech production, structural language, and social‐pragmatic language use. We used natural language sampling to investigate the relationship between fine motor and speech intelligibility, mean length of utterance and conversational turns in MV and verbal autistic children between the ages of 4 and 7 while controlling for age and adaptive behavior. Fine motor skill predicted speech production, measured by percent intelligible utterances. Fine motor skill and adaptive behavior predicted structural language, measured by mean length of utterance in morphemes. Adaptive behavior, but not fine motor skill, predicted social‐pragmatic language use measured by number of conversational turns. Simple linear regressions by group corrected for multiple comparisons showed that fine motor skill predicted intelligibility for MV but not verbal children. Fine motor skill and adaptive behavior predicted mean length of utterance for both MV and verbal children. These findings suggest that future studies should explore whether MV children may benefit from interventions targeting fine motor along with speech and language into their school years.
Optimization of feather degradation by a Bacillus thuringiensis isolate using response surface methodology and investigation of the feather protein hydrolysate structure
Authors: Elleboudy Nooran Sherif , Trabik Yossra A. , Aboulwafa Mohammad Mabrouk
Published: December 2022

Valorization of chicken feather is a long‐sought approach for its sustainable disposal. Being protein rich, hydrolyzed chicken feather has a wide range of applications, not limited to formulation of microbiological culture media, animal feed, and biofertilizers, but extends to synthesis of bioplastic films, cosmetics, and biomedicals. In this study, a potent keratinolytic isolate was recovered from soil and identified by 16S rRNA as Bacillus thuringiensis. Feather degradation by the isolate was optimized through response surface methodology. First, one‐variable‐at‐a‐time technique to assign the factors that affect feather degradation, then Box–Behnken central composite design model were employed. The model, involving three independent variables (initial pH, inoculum size, and concentration of supplementary glucose), was significant (R2 = 0.9716). According to the model, complete feather degradation is obtained at an inoculum size of B. thuringiensis B4 equal to 1 × 1010 CFU/ml, when feather meal broth is supplemented with 1.5% (w/v) glucose and pH adjusted to 8.5. Protein content of the lysate was 327.8 ± 25 μg/ml, and no carbohydrates were detected. SEM/EDX analysis has shown that the hydrolysate consisted mainly of O, P, S, and Se in addition to carbon, while FTIR images assured the presence of carboxyl and amino groups characteristic of peptides and amino acids.
Immobilization of the metagenomic lipase, LipG9, on porous pellets of poly‐hydroxybutyrate produced by the double emulsion solvent evaporation technique
Authors: Richter Jeferson Luiz , Zawadzki Sônia Faria , Alves dos Santos Leandro , Alnoch Robson Carlos , Moure Vivian Rotuno , Mitchell David Alexander , Krieger Nadia
Published: December 2022

This work aimed to produce porous poly‐hydroxybutyrate (PHB) pellets in order to evaluate the pellets as a support for immobilization of the metagenomic lipase, LipG9. Four types of pelletized PHB particles with different morphological characteristics were obtained using the double emulsion and solvent evaporation technique (DESE). The micropores of these PHB pellets had similar average diameters (about 3 nm), but the pellets had different specific surface areas: 11.7 m2 g−1 for the PHB powder, 8.4 m2 g−1 for the control pellets (Ø < 0.5 mm, produced without the pore forming agent), 10.0 m2 g−1 for the small pellets (Ø < 0.5 mm), 9.5 m2 g−1 for the medium pellets (0.5 < Ø < 0.8 mm) and 8.4 m2 g−1 for the large pellets (Ø > 1.4 mm). Purified LipG9 was immobilized by adsorption on these pellets, and the results were compared with those obtained with PHB powder. The highest immobilization yield (83%) was obtained for the medium PHB pellets, followed by large (76%) and small (55%) PHB pellets. The activity of LipG9 immobilized on the pellets, for the synthesis of ethyl oleate in n‐hexane, was highest for the medium pellets (22 U g−1). The immobilization yield was high for PHB powder (99%) but the esterification activity was slightly lower (20 U g−1). These results show that pelletized PHB beads can be used for the immobilization of lipases, with the advantage that pelletized PHB will perform better than PHB powder in large‐scale enzyme bioreactors.
Ultrasensitive green spectrofluorimetric approach for quantification of Hg(II) in environmental samples (water and fish samples) using cysteine@MnO2 dots
Authors: Salman Baher I. , Hassan Yasser F. , Ali Marwa F. B. , Batakoushy Hany A.
Published: December 2022

Mercury (Hg2+) is a natural element present in foods such as fish, water and soil. Exposure to mercury leads to severe toxic effects on the nervous, digestive, and immune systems. Here, a novel, green, and environmentally friendly fluorescent probe decorated with cysteine/MnO2 quantum dots (Cys@MnO2 QDs) was synthesized. This synthesis was carried out using a simple ultrasound technique with the aid of cysteine for fabricating Cys@MnO2 QDs to estimate Hg levels in fish and water samples. In this morphological study, Cys@MnO2 QDs were fully characterized using high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, zeta potential analysis, fluorescence, ultraviolet–visible and infrared spectroscopy. The fluorescence of the synthesized Cys@MnO2 QDs was significantly quenched by gradually increasing the Hg(II) concentration. The quenching mechanism based on the Hg–S bonds strengthened the utility of the Cys@MnO2 QDs as a novel luminescent nanoprobe. The estimation of Hg was linear in the concentration range 0.7–100.0 ng mL−1 with a limit of quantitation equal to 0.30 ng mL−1. The Cys@MnO2 QDs are fluorescent probes with various benefits such as speed, ease of use, cost‐ effective, and being environmentally friendly; they are easily applied in food manufacturing and for public health improvement.
Business model innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Rosati Francesco , Rodrigues Vinicius P. , Cosenz Federico , Li‐Ying Jason
Published: December 2022

Business model innovation can be a key driver to realizing the transformation needed to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the same time, the SDGs can support organizations as they identify and tackle opportunities for business model innovation. This study uses a constructive research method to build a managerial approach that supports business model innovation for the SDGs. The approach helps organizations assess their contribution to the SDGs, explore and prioritize SDG‐oriented business opportunities and risks, and formulate business model innovation strategies accordingly. The proposed approach was developed through participatory action research conducted in collaboration with two companies operating in the medical and educational sectors and then applied to Ørsted, a multinational power company, which is strongly committed to a sustainability‐driven business transformation and aspires to contribute strongly to SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy) and SDG 13 (Climate action). The study furthers the academic and practical debate on business model innovation for sustainability by providing new academic and practical knowledge on how organizations can use the SDGs to stimulate business model innovations.
How does climate change affect firms' investment efficiency? Evidence from China's listed renewable energy firms
Authors: Yu Shiwei , Zheng Yali , Hu Xing
Published: December 2022

Improving the investment efficiency of renewable energy (RE) firms is one of the critical measures for energy low‐carbon transformation and mitigating climate change. To investigate the impact of climate change (greenhouse gas emissions, extreme temperatures, and extreme weather events) on the investment efficiency of RE firms, the present study applied a fixed effect regression model by using the panel data of China's 205 listed non‐hydro RE firms during 2008–2019. The influencing mechanism and the heterogeneity among RE firms are also explored. The results show that (1) CO2 emissions and extreme weather events significantly improve the investment efficiency of RE firms, whereas extreme temperatures' effect is significantly negative. (2) CO2 emissions can promote the investment efficiency of wind and solar firms with environmental responsibility through reducing agency problems and information asymmetry. (3) RE policies play an active role between climate change and investment efficiency of wind and solar energy firms, but the promotion effect is not significant for biomass energy firms. (4) The joint effect of climate change and RE policies on investment efficiency are more prominent for wind and solar energy firms in a low‐marketized environment and state‐owned firms. These results suggest that wind and solar firms should seize market investment opportunities when facing climate change. Besides, policymakers should strengthen market‐oriented construction and improve the completeness of RE policies in low‐marketization areas.
Deep learning‐based multimodal fusion network for segmentation and classification of breast cancers using B‐mode and elastography ultrasound images
Authors: Misra Sampa , Yoon Chiho , Kim Kwang‐Ju , Managuli Ravi , Barr Richard G. , Baek Jongduk , Kim Chulhong
Published: December 2022

Ultrasonography is one of the key medical imaging modalities for evaluating breast lesions. For differentiating benign from malignant lesions, computer‐aided diagnosis (CAD) systems have greatly assisted radiologists by automatically segmenting and identifying features of lesions. Here, we present deep learning (DL)‐based methods to segment the lesions and then classify benign from malignant, utilizing both B‐mode and strain elastography (SE‐mode) images. We propose a weighted multimodal U‐Net (W‐MM‐U‐Net) model for segmenting lesions where optimum weight is assigned on different imaging modalities using a weighted‐skip connection method to emphasize its importance. We design a multimodal fusion framework (MFF) on cropped B‐mode and SE‐mode ultrasound (US) lesion images to classify benign and malignant lesions. The MFF consists of an integrated feature network (IFN) and a decision network (DN). Unlike other recent fusion methods, the proposed MFF method can simultaneously learn complementary information from convolutional neural networks (CNNs) trained using B‐mode and SE‐mode US images. The features from the CNNs are ensembled using the multimodal EmbraceNet model and DN classifies the images using those features. The experimental results (sensitivity of 100 ± 0.00% and specificity of 94.28 ± 7.00%) on the real‐world clinical data showed that the proposed method outperforms the existing single‐ and multimodal methods. The proposed method predicts seven benign patients as benign three times out of five trials and six malignant patients as malignant five out of five trials. The proposed method would potentially enhance the classification accuracy of radiologists for breast cancer detection in US images.
Theoretical Aspects and Applications of Aqueous Two‐Phase Systems
Authors: Singla Mohit , Sit Nandan
Published: December 2022

The aqueous two‐phase system (ATPS) is commonly known as a technique that yields high‐purity products in a single step. It is particularly advantageous for purifying biomolecules like proteins, nucleic acids, enzymes, viruses etc. Currently, aqueous two‐phase extraction (ATPE), i.e., liquid‐liquid extraction, involves the transfer of the solute from one aqueous phase to another. In ATPE, for recovery of biomolecules, polymer‐polymer and polymer‐salt type systems are used. The most recent developments with respect to recovery of biomolecules by ATPS are reviewed and discussed, covering the mechanism, which controls the phase formation, the conditions of solute partitioning in ATPS processes, and factors influencing the ATPS including concentration and molecular weight (MW) of polymers, types of salt, pH, and temperature. In addition, also the increasing applications of ATPS for the recovery of high‐value bioproducts, the benefits of the ATPS recovery system, and the recent developments of alternative low‐cost ATPS are highlighted.
Effective N‐formylation of Amines with CO2 in Anaerobic Fermentation Gas Catalyzed by Triply Synergistic Effect of Ionic Porous Organic Polymer
Authors: Tang Xiao‐Yu , Liu Jing , Chen Pei‐Bo , Wu Chan‐Cui , Li Xue‐Jun , Pan Ying‐Ming , Liang Ying
Published: December 2022

The anaerobic fermentation gas (AFG) with CO2 removed is a sustainable energy resource, and converting CO2 in AFG to value‐added chemicals can kill two birds with one stone. Herein, an ionic porous organic polymer (IPOP‐3) catalyst, with triply synergistic effect of its hydroxide anions, nitrogen activation sites and porous structure, is synthesized. IPOP‐3 exhibits an excellent ability to enrich and convert 50 vol.% CO2 by the reactions with various amines into corresponding formamides. The catalyst is also successfully applied to the N‐formylation of CO2 in AFG, and can be easily recovered and reused. The plausible mechanism for the catalytic N‐formylation is proposed. The hydroxide anion in IPOP‐3 activates the Si−H bond of phenyl silane which reacts with the captured CO2 to form formate anion to facilitate the subsequent conversion into formamide. Our work provides a new idea for the purification of AFG and the resource utilization of CO2.
Fast Motions Dominate Dynamics of Intrinsically Disordered Tau Protein at High Temperatures
Authors: Abyzov Anton , Mandelkow Eckhard , Zweckstetter Markus , Rezaei‐Ghaleh Nasrollah
Published: December 2022

Reorientational dynamics of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) contain multiple motions often clustered around three motional modes: ultrafast librational motions of amide groups, fast local backbone conformational fluctuations and slow chain segmental motions. This dynamic picture is mainly based on 15N NMR relaxation studies of IDPs at relatively low temperatures where the amide‐water proton exchange rates are sufficiently small. Less is known, however, about the dynamics of IDPs at more physiological temperatures. Here, we investigate protein dynamics in a 441‐residue long IDP, tau protein, in the temperature range from 0–25 °C, using 15N NMR relaxation rates and spectral density analysis. While at these temperatures relaxation rates are still better described in terms of amide group librational motions, local backbone dynamics and chain segmental motions, the temperature‐dependent trend of spectral densities suggests that the timescales of fast backbone conformational fluctuations and slower chain segmental motions might become inseparable at higher temperatures. Our data demonstrate the remarkable dynamic plasticity of this prototypical IDP and highlight the need for dynamic studies of IDPs at multiple temperatures.
High‐Tc 1D Phase‐Transition Semiconductor Photoluminescent Material with Broadband Emission
Authors: Ying Ting‐Ting , Wan Ming‐Yang , Wang Fang‐Xin , Zhang Yu , Tang Yun‐Zhi , Tan Yu‐Hui , Liao Juan , Wang Li‐Juan
Published: December 2022

One dimensional (1D) organic‐inorganic halide hybrid perovskites have the advantages of excellent organic cation modifiability and diversity of inorganic framework structures, which cannot be ignored in the development of multi‐functional phase‐transition materials in photoelectric and photovoltaic devices. Here, we have successfully modified and synthesized an organic‐inorganic hybrid perovskite photoelectric multifunctional phase‐transition material: [C7H13ONCH2F]⋅PbBr3 (1). The synergistic effect of the order double disorder transition of organic cations and the change of the degree of distortion of the inorganic framework leads to its high temperature reversible phase‐transition point of Tc=374 K/346 K and its ultra‐low loss high‐quality dielectric switch response. Through in‐depth research and calculation, compound 1 also has excellent semiconductor characteristics with a band gap of 3.06 eV and the photoluminescence characteristics of self‐trapped exciton (STE) broadband emission. Undoubtedly, this modification strategy provides a new choice for the research field of organic‐inorganic hybrid perovskite reversible phase‐transition photoelectric multifunctional materials with rich coupling properties.
A Widely Applicable and Versatile Method for the Ring‐Opening 1,3‐Carbocarbonation of Donor‐Acceptor Cyclopropanes
Authors: von Köller Heinrich F. , Jones Peter G. , Werz Daniel B.
Published: December 2022

A 1,3‐carbocarbonation of 2‐substituted cyclopropane 1,1‐dicarboxylates introduces various saturated or unsaturated carbon residues at the 1‐ and 3‐ position of the former three‐membered ring. Under copper catalysis, ring‐opening attack with a Grignard reagent proceeded smoothly; the intermediate was converted to the final product by reaction with appropriate carbon‐based electrophiles under basic conditions. As nucleophiles, Grignard reagents derived from sp3‐, sp2‐, and sp‐hybridized carbon residues were successfully employed, whereas various aliphatic bromides and EBX derivatives (for sp moieties) served as electrophiles.
Two Dimensional Triptycene End‐Capping and Its Influence on the Self‐Assembly of Quinoxalinophenanthrophenazines†
Authors: Roß Lisa , Reitemeier Julius , Ghalami Farhad , Zhang Wen‐Shan , Gross Jürgen H. , Rominger Frank , Elbert Sven M. , Schröder Rasmus , Elstner Marcus , Mastalerz Michael
Published: December 2022

Comprehensive Summary

In this report we investigated two‐dimensionally triptycene end‐capped QPPs in terms of their solution and solid‐state behavior. For this purpose, a triphenylene based ortho‐diamine decorated with two triptycenyl units as well as a phenylene diamine with two non‐annulated triptycene units have been synthesized. Sequences of condensation reactions with a pyrene‐based tetraketone and ortho‐diamines yielded a series of QPPs and UV/Vis investigations of the corresponding compounds led to the conclusion, that the QPPs form dimers in solution, which was further supported by MALDI‐TIMS‐TOF‐MS. Single‐crystal X‐ray analysis of the triply and quadruply triptycene end‐capped QPPs furthermore showed short π‐π‐distances of 3.3—3.4 Å and a perfect shape match during the dimerization of the triply triptycenyl end‐capped QPP making it possible synthon for crystal engineering.
The importance of body composition in patients with prostate cancer receiving radiotherapy
Authors: Fecteau Ryan , Lee W. Robert
Published: December 2022

Patients with nonmetastatic, high‐risk prostate cancer are more likely to die of causes unrelated to their cancer. Identifying patients whose competing risks are a greater threat to their mortality has important implications for treatment decisions.
Diverse boards and firm performance: The role of environmental, social and governance disclosure
Authors: Fayyaz Um‐E‐Roman , Jalal Raja Nabeel‐Ud‐Din , Venditti Michelina , Minguez‐Vera Antonio
Published: December 2022

The present study examines the relationship between the diverse board of directors and firm performance using a panel data sample of the top 73 EU nonfinancial sustainable firms across 13 countries from 2016 to 2020 based on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI). We specifically examine the impact of structural (board independence) and demographical (age, gender, education, tenure and industry experience) board diversity on firm performance. Drawing on the agency and resource base perspective, the results indicate that firms with a diverse board of directors (structural and demographic) perform significantly better with firm performance. Additionally, when viewed through the lens of stakeholder theory, the findings indicate that environmental, social and governance disclosure (ESG) moderates and partially mediates the relationship between the diverse board of directors and firm performance. We also performed robust checks to validate our results. Diversity contributes to a firm's understanding of its market and, as a result, its overall performance. The current study demonstrates a considerable gap between the theoretical and empirical support for various board indicators (structural and demographic), their relationship to performance, and how ESG acts as an intervening element in increasing firm financial performance.
Single cell and immunity: Better understanding immune cell heterogeneities with single cell sequencing
Authors: Chen Dongsheng , Luo Yonglun , Cheng Genhong
Published: December 2022

Single‐cell sequencing has scientific impacts on better understanding the immunity. There is a rapid development in single cell‐based databases and analytic tools to provide the potential of clinical and translational discovery. The understanding of single‐cell based immunity needs a strong program and solid evidence of preclinical and clinical validation and evaluation. The current special topic issue on single cell and immunity aimed to provide a strong communication for the progress of single cell‐based studies on immune cell functional diversity in development and disease. The topic has a clear scope on the application of single cell sequencing to better understand immune cell heterogeneities, functions, cell–cell interactions, responses and regulatory roles in systems immunology and diseases.
‘Different people, different backgrounds, different identities’: Filling the vacuum created by policy views of ‘cultural capital’
Authors: Bates Gareth , Connolly Steve
Published: December 2022

The notion of cultural capital, defined in its Arnoldian sense, of “the best that has been thought and said”, has been at the centre of the Conservative government's education policy for the last few years in England. While it is clear that this version of cultural capital – different from the sense in which it was used by Pierre Bourdieu, who popularised the term – has been deployed to valorise certain types of social, educational and cultural knowledge, it is not clear at all what use teachers make of the term or indeed, how they view it. This article presents data from an evaluation of a programme for disadvantaged students in English primary and secondary schools that sought to make a focus on cultural capital, and tries to assess how teachers perceive and use the term. The article posits that teachers see exhortations to accumulate cultural capital as part of their role, but in much broader terms than the government does, and that they seek to fill the “vacuum” created by the current policy perspective on cultural capital.
Characterization of a novel Hoxa5eGFP mouse line
Authors: Li Mu‐Hang , Kuetemeyer Julia M. , Yallowitz Alisha R. , Wellik Deneen M.
Published: December 2022

Background

Hox genes encode transcription factors that are important for establishing the body plan. Hoxa5 is a member of the mammalian Hox5 paralogous group that regulates the patterning and morphology of the cervical‐thoracic region of the axial skeleton. Hoxa5 also plays crucial functions in lung morphogenesis.

Results

We generated a Hoxa5eGFP reporter mouse line using CRISPR technology, allowing real‐time visualization of Hoxa5 expression. Hoxa5eGFP recapitulates reported embryonic Hoxa5 mRNA expression patterns. Specifically, Hoxa5eGFP can be visualized in the developing mouse neural tube, somites, lung, diaphragm, foregut, and midgut, among other organs. In the stomach, posteriorly biased Hoxa5eGFP expression correlates with a drastic morphological reduction of the corpus in Hox5 paralogous mutants. Expression of Hoxa5eGFP in the lung continues in all lung fibroblast populations through postnatal and adult stages.

Conclusions

We identified cell types that express Hoxa5 in postnatal and adult mouse lungs, including various fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells. This reporter line will be a powerful tool for studies of the function of Hoxa5 during mouse development, homeostasis, and disease processes.
Evaluating the efficacy of a consumer‐centric method for ecological sampling: Using bonobo (Pan paniscus) feeding patterns as an instrument for tropical forest characterization
Authors: Wessling Erin G. , Samuni Liran , Mundry Roger , Pascual Miguel Adan , Lucchesi Stefano , Kambale Bienfait , Surbeck Martin
Published: December 2022

Characteristics of food availability and distribution are key components of a species' ecology. Objective ecological surveying used in animal behavior research does not consider aspects of selection by the consumer and therefore may produce imprecise measures of availability. We propose a method to integrate ecological sampling of an animal's environment into existing behavioral data collection systems by using the consumer as the surveyor. Here, we evaluate the consumer‐centric method (CCM) of assessing resource availability for its ability to measure food resource abundance, distribution, and dispersion. This method catalogs feeding locations observed during behavioral observation and uses aggregated data to characterize these ecological metrics. We evaluated the CCM relative to traditional vegetation plot surveying using accumulated feeding locations across 3 years visited by a tropical frugivore, the bonobo (Pan paniscus), and compared it with data derived from over 200 vegetation plots across their 50 km2+ home ranges. We demonstrate that food species abundance estimates derived from the CCM are comparable to those derived from traditional vegetation plot sampling in less than 2 years of data collection, and agreement improved when accounting for aspects of consumer selectivity in objective vegetation plot sampling (e.g., tree size minima). Density correlated between CCM and plot‐derived estimates and was relatively insensitive to home range inclusion and other species characteristics, however, it was sensitive to sampling frequency. Agreement between the methods in relative distribution of resources performed better across species than expected by chance, although measures of dispersion correlated poorly. Once tested in other systems, the CCM may provide a robust measure of food availability for use in relative food availability indices and can be incorporated into existing observational data collection. The CCM has an advantage over traditional sampling methods as it incorporates sampling biases relevant to the consumer, thereby serving as a promising method for animal behavioral research.
Drivers of species richness and beta diversity of fishes in an Afrotropical intermittent river system
Authors: Schmidt Ray C. , Woods Taylor , Nyingi Wanja D.
Published: December 2022

Tropical freshwater ecosystems are some of the most threatened systems yet remain understudied relative to temperate systems. Here, we look at the drivers of community structure of fishes in a tropical and intermittent system in central Kenya. We conducted monthly samples within the upper Northern Ewaso Ng'iro to assess variation in community composition and abiotic characteristics. We analyzed species richness along the longitudinal gradient, computed beta diversity within the system, relative contributions of each site, and partitioned beta diversity metrics into nestedness and turnover components. We found that, similar to temperate intermittent systems, species richness varied along the longitudinal gradient, nestedness contributions to beta diversity exceeded those of turnover, and environmental and spatial variables determined patterns of beta diversity. Sites at the highest and lowest ends of the species richness gradient showed the highest contributions to beta diversity, suggesting sites important for preservation or restoration initiatives, respectively. With ongoing water extraction and conflict over resources throughout the region, this study highlights the need for further investigations of the effects of multiple stressors on biodiversity patterns and ecosystem functioning in tropical stream communities.
Exploring links between climatic predictability and the evolution of within‐ and transgenerational plasticity
Authors: Halali Sridhar , Saastamoinen Marjo
Published: December 2022

In variable environments, phenotypic plasticity can increase fitness by providing tight environment‐phenotype matching. However, adaptive plasticity is expected to evolve only when the future selective environment can be predicted based on the prevailing conditions. That is, the juvenile environment should be predictive of the adult environment (within‐generation plasticity) or the parental environment should be predictive of the offspring environment (transgenerational plasticity). Moreover, the environmental predictability can also shape transient responses such as stress response in an adaptive direction. Here, we test links between environmental predictability and the evolution of adaptive plasticity by combining time series analyses and a common garden experiment using temperature as a stressor in a temperate butterfly (Melitaea cinxia). Time series analyses revealed that across season fluctuations in temperature over 48 years are overall predictable. However, within the growing season, temperature fluctuations showed high heterogeneity across years with low autocorrelations and the timing of temperature peaks were asynchronous. Most life‐history traits showed strong within‐generation plasticity for temperature and traits such as body size and growth rate broke the temperature‐size rule. Evidence for transgenerational plasticity, however, was weak and detected for only two traits each in an adaptive and non‐adaptive direction. We suggest that the low predictability of temperature fluctuations within the growing season likely disfavors the evolution of adaptive transgenerational plasticity but instead favors strong within‐generation plasticity.
Geranium sylvaticum increases pollination probability by sexually dimorphic flowers
Authors: Soininen Jaakko O. S. , Kytöviita Minna‐Maarit
Published: December 2022

Sexual dimorphism is expressed as different morphologies between the sexes of a species. Dimorphism is pronounced in gynodioecious populations which consist of female and hermaphrodite individuals. The small size of female flowers in gynodioecious species is often explained by resource re‐allocation to seed production instead of large flowers. However, pollinator attraction is critical to female fitness, and factors other than resource savings are needed to explain the small size of female flowers. We hypothesized that the floral size dimorphism in the perennial gynodioecious Geranium sylvaticum (L.) is adaptive in terms of pollination. To test this “pollination hypothesis,” we video recorded the small female and large hermaphrodite G. sylvaticum flowers. We parameterized floral visitor behavior when visiting a flower and calculated pollination probabilities by a floral visitor as the probability of touching anther and stigma with the same body part. Pollination probability differed in terms of flower sex and pollinator species. Bumblebees had the highest pollination probability. The small female flowers were more likely to receive pollen via several pollinator groups than the large hermaphrodite flowers. The pollen display of hermaphrodites matched poorly with the stigma display of hermaphrodites, but well with that of females. Although the small size of female flowers is commonly explained by resource re‐allocation, we show that sexual dimorphism in flower size may increase the main reproductive functions of the females and hermaphrodites. Dimorphism increases pollination probability in females and fathering probability of the hermaphrodites likely driving G. sylvaticum populations towards dioecy.
Drone imagery protocols to map vegetation are transferable between dryland sites across an elevational gradient
Authors: Roser Anna , Enterkine Josh , Requena‐Mullor Juan M. , Glenn Nancy F. , Boehm Alex , de Graaff Marie‐Anne , Clark Patrick E. , Pierson Fred , Caughlin T. Trevor
Published: December 2022

The structure and composition of plant communities in drylands are highly variable across scales, from microsites to landscapes. Fine spatial resolution field surveys of dryland plants are essential to unravel the impact of climate change; however, traditional field data collection is challenging considering sampling efforts and costs. Unoccupied aerial systems (UAS) can alleviate this challenge by providing standardized measurements of plant community attributes with high resolution. However, given widespread heterogeneity in plant communities in drylands, and especially across environmental gradients, the transferability of UAS imagery protocols is unclear. Plant functional types (PFTs) are a classification scheme that aggregates the diversity of plant structure and function. We mapped and modeled PFTs and fractional photosynthetic cover using the same UAS imagery protocol across three dryland communities, differentiated by a landscape‐scale gradient of elevation and precipitation. We compared the accuracy of the UAS products between the three dryland sites. PFT classifications and modeled photosynthetic cover had highest accuracies at higher elevations (2241 m) with denser vegetation. The lowest site (1101 m), with more bare ground, had the least agreement with the field data. Notably, shrub cover was well predicted across the gradient of elevation and precipitation (~230–1100 mm/year). UAS surveys captured the heterogeneity of plant cover across sites and presented options to measure leaf‐level composition and structure at landscape levels. Our results demonstrate that some PFTs (i.e., shrubs) can readily be detected across sites using the same UAS imagery protocols, while others (i.e., grasses) may require site‐specific flight protocols for best accuracy. As UAS are increasingly used to monitor dryland vegetation, developing protocols that maximize information and efficiency is a research and management priority.
Electrochemical Control of the Morphology and Functional Properties of Hierarchically Structured, Dendritic Cu Surfaces
Authors: Mehrabi Hamed , Conlin Samuel K. , Hollis Thomas I. , Gattis Brayley S. , Nelson Weker Johanna , Coridan Robert H.
Published: December 2022

Electrodeposited dendritic copper foams have been extensively studied as an electrocatalyst for CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). Many parameters, such as dendrite size, porosity, pore size, and crystal faceting, define the hierarchical properties of these structures and their subsequent bubble evolution and CO2RR capabilities. Herein, the effects the electrodeposition conditions (potential, pH) have on the resulting crystallinity, microstructure, and macroporosity of the copper foam are studied. These morphological differences and the corresponding effects on electrocatalytic activity are characterized. It is shown that the composition of the electrodeposition bath can have significant effects on the mechanics of bubble formation and detachment at the surface during hydrogen evolution reaction in acidic solutions. Similarly, the electrodeposition conditions for the synthesis of the foam affect the product selectivity during CO2RR electrocatalysis. Foams deposited in alkaline electrodeposition solutions show high faradaic efficiency and specificity toward C2H6, an uncommon product of CO2RR, at modest applied potentials (−0.8 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode.
Accelerated formation of iodine vacancies in CH3NH3PbI3 perovskites: The impact of oxygen and charges
Authors: Li Qihua , Gaastra‐Nedea Silvia , Smeulders David , Tao Shuxia
Published: December 2022

Defects in CH3NH3PbI3 perovskites, oxygen species in the air, and local charges play a significant role in the long‐term stability of perovskites. However, the interplay of these factors are complex and their role in the degradation of perovskites at the atomistic level is not well understood. By using density functional theory calculations and chemical bonding analysis, we study the effect of oxygen and local charges on the degradation of perovskites. We find that the easier formation of I vacancies upon oxygen and the accelerated degradation of CH3NH3PbI3 by excess electrons via the formation of peroxide species. The creation of peroxide disintegrates the lattice of perovskites on the surfaces and possibly induces a cascade of degradation reactions that eventually destruct the perovskite lattices. We further demonstrate that the addition of holes are beneficial to prevent the formation of the peroxide, therefore can potentially improve the stability of the perovskites.

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The depth of semantic processing modulates cross‐language pattern similarity in Chinese–English bilinguals
Authors: Li Huiling , Cao Ying , Chen Chuansheng , Liu Xiaoyu , Zhang Shuo , Mei Leilei
Published: December 2022

Previous studies have investigated factors related to the degree of cross‐language overlap in brain activations in bilinguals/multilinguals. However, it is still unclear whether and how the depth of semantic processing (a critical task‐related factor) affects the neural pattern similarity between native and second languages. To address this question, 26 Chinese–English bilinguals were scanned with fMRI while performing a word naming task (i.e., a task with shallow semantic processing) and a semantic judgment task (i.e., a task with deep semantic processing) in both native and second languages. Based on three sets of representational similarity analysis (whole brain, ROI‐based, and within‐language vs. cross‐language semantic representation), we found that select regions in the reading brain network showed higher cross‐language pattern similarity and higher cross‐language semantic representations during deep semantic processing than during shallow semantic processing. These results suggest that compared to shallow semantic processing, deep semantic processing may lead to greater language‐independent processing (i.e., cross‐language semantic representation) and cross‐language pattern similarity, and provide direct quantitative neuroimaging evidence for cognitive models of bilingual lexical memory.
Appropriate procedures to increase the adherence of children to blood collection: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Yui Hideki , Otawa Sanae , Horiuchi Sayaka , Kushima Megumi , Shinohara Ryoji , Kojima Reiji , Akiyama Yuka , Ooka Tadao , Miyake Kunio , Yokomichi Hiroshi , Yamagata Zentaro ,   The Yamanashi Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study Group
Published: December 2022

Background and Aim

Venipuncture for blood collection elicits fear and pain in children. We investigated factors that affect satisfaction with health checkups that included blood collection in healthy 7–8‐year‐old children who underwent blood collection with topical anesthesia.

Method

Two studies, one questionnaire survey, and the other structured interviews were conducted to gather insights and understand the emotions of 492 and 20 children, respectively.

Results

We found that the following six points can be applied to encourage children to assess their experience of blood collection positively: (1) prior information using a pamphlet; (2) telling the children that the volume of blood drawn will be small; (3) carefully explaining the risk and benefit of topical anesthesia; (4) conducting the blood collection process swiftly; (5) praising and thanking the children's effort and cooperation; and (6) explaining the results of the research to the children if their blood is going to be used for research.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that with appropriate measures to reduce pain and fear, children's initial negative feelings toward blood collection can be replaced by positive feelings after the procedure.