bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interactive effects of agricultural landscape heterogeneity and weather conditions on breeding density and reproductive success of a diurnal raptor
Authors: Kujala Inga , Pöysä Hannu , Korpimäki Erkki
Published: March 2024

Agricultural intensification and climate change are serious threats toward animal populations worldwide. Agricultural intensification reduces the heterogeneity of agricultural habitats by diminishing crop variation and destroying microhabitats, such as small woody features, whereas the effects of climate change range from the growing frequency of weather extremes to disrupted prey–predator dynamics. We collected long‐term ringing data from a population of Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) located amidst agricultural areas in western Finland during 1985–2021, which we combined with density indices of their main prey species (voles), spatial data consisting of land cover classification of kestrel territories, and weather data, to study the effects of different environmental drivers on breeding density and success. We found that the density of inhabited nests rose with vole abundance and springtime snow depth, with the overall trend of population growth being stronger in areas with more heterogeneous landscapes. Clutch size was influenced negatively by the age of male parent and landscape heterogeneity, and positively by vole abundance, with rainfall having a negative influence conditional to other variables. Likewise, the number of produced fledglings was affected by male age, but it was additionally positively associated with landscape heterogeneity and its interaction with rainfall, with greater fledgling output in heterogeneous landscapes during high precipitation. The discrepancy between factors predicting large clutches and high numbers of fledglings suggests that while kestrels do not prefer heterogeneous landscapes when prospecting for territories, heterogeneous habitats provide better circumstances for foraging during the nestling period, which ensures nestling survival, particularly during adverse environmental conditions. Therefore, breeding in areas under intense agricultural use is more suboptimal to kestrels than their territory preferences would indicate. As changing climate may reduce prey availability and heighten the probability of weather extremities, agricultural intensification may lead to weaker reproductive success in densely populated farmland habitats.
Nonsignificant elevational trends of soil microbial respiration and temperature sensitivity in a subtropical forest
Authors: Zhang Bingwei , Jiang Yun , He Xianjin , Wang Youshi , Li Jiawei , Huang Xueli , Shu Zufei , Li Buhang , Chu Chengjin
Published: March 2024

Soil carbon (C) cycling plays a critical role in regulating global C budget and atmospheric CO2 concentrations. The ongoing global warming potentially accelerates soil C loss induced by microbial respiration (MR) and makes soil a large C source to the atmosphere. Quantifying the drivers of MR and its response to rising temperature (also called temperature sensitivity, Q10) should be a high priority to improve the modeling and prediction of terrestrial C cycle under global warming. In this study, we applied a standardized soil sampling along nine gradients from 410 to 1080 m in a subtropical forest in southern China. All soil samples were incubated at varying temperature gradients (10–15–20–25–20–15°C) to measure MR and Q10 every day for three weeks. Then all the measured MR was adjusted by the field temperature of each elevation gradient. Our objectives were to examine the response of MR and Q10 to the environmental change induced by elevational gradients in the subtropical forest and then quantify their main drivers. We totally collected 54 abiotic and biotic factors relative to the MR and Q10. Our results showed that the incubated MR increased from low to high elevation. However, a significant elevation trend of the adjusted MR was not examined after adjusting the field temperature of sampling sites, due to the trade‐off between increasing soil C concentration and declining temperature as elevation increased. We further found that the elevational gradients did not cause significant change in Q10. The variation in Q10 was negatively dominated by soil C quality, which declined nonlinearly along the elevation gradients. This study highlights the trade‐off between environment and biotic factors in determining soil C decomposition along elevational gradients. The uncertainty of MR measurements caused by unifying incubated temperature should not be ignored in future model development.
Deformation characteristics and reactivated failure modes of the massive Baimu ancient landslide deposit on the northern margin of the East Himalayan syntaxis
Authors: Li Yuchao , Chen Jianping , Zhou Fujun , Bao Yiding , Li Zhihai , Wang Qing
Published: March 2024

In the Eastern Himalayan syntaxis, massive Quaternary loose deposits represent a typical product of abrupt topographic changes. Influenced by the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau uplift and rapid river incision, the partial or complete failure of these deposits is a recurrent phenomenon in alpine‐gorge regions, posing substantial threats to major infrastructure development. Through topographic interpretation and field investigation, this study clarifies the geological features and genetic mechanisms of the Baimu ancient landslide deposit (BALD), located on the northern margin of the East Himalayan syntaxis. The surface deformation time series spanning October 2017 to December 2019 was estimated using employing multitemporal synthetic aperture radar interferometry. Then, the spatiotemporal deformation characteristics of the BALD was analysed by superposing terrain factors, and hazard division was implemented. The results indicate that high‐hazard zones are mainly distributed on high and steep free faces of the BALD. Deformation evolution and rainfall time series showed obvious correlation. Lastly, a generalized failure model is established for the BALD, which will serve as a valuable reference for disaster prevention and is applicable to the study of similar deposits in the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau.
The advantages of lead‐acid battery for off‐grid design
Authors: Nasab Navid Majdi , Yazdanian Shamzin
Published: March 2024

This study assesses the viability of employing a hybrid system that combines wind and tidal turbines, connected to a microgrid, to provide electricity to coastal communities that are geographically isolated from the primary power grid. The specific focus of this research is the case study of Stewart Island, where the cost of electricity from a centralized diesel power station is comparatively higher than that of the main grid in New Zealand. While lithium‐ion batteries are generally regarded as more reliable and efficient than lead‐acid batteries, the analysis conducted indicates that, for the off‐grid storage system in Oban, lead‐acid batteries are the preferable choice. Multiple off‐grid configurations are simulated utilizing the HOMER Pro software. While lithium‐ion batteries demonstrate higher charge power and renewable fraction, it is found that lead‐acid batteries, with their longer battery life, offer advantages such as reduced fuel consumption, lower cost of electricity, discounted payback, and increased power production. The annual fuel consumption for lead‐acid battery is 867 L less compared to the lithium‐ion battery. Power generated in this case is 6780 kWh more and COE with lead‐acid battery is $0.213 in compared with lithium‐ion of $0.217. These findings suggest that for the specific context of the Oban off‐grid system, lead‐acid batteries outperform lithium‐ion batteries.
Sargassum spp. Ethanolic Extract Elicits Toxic Responses and Malformations in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryos
Authors: González-Penagos Carlos E. , Zamora-Briseño Jesús Alejandro , Améndola-Pimenta Mónica , Cruz-Quintana Yanis , Santana-Piñeros Ana M. , Torres-García Jesús R. , Cañizares-Martínez Mayra A. , Pérez-Vega Juan A. , Peñuela-Mendoza Ana C. , Rodríguez-Canul Rossanna
Published: March 2024

The amount of Sargassum spp. arriving in the Caribbean Sea has increased steadily in the last few years, producing a profound environmental impact on the ecological dynamics of the coasts of the Yucatan Peninsula. We characterized the toxicological effects of an ethanolic extract of Sargassum spp. on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos (ZFEs) in a 96-h static bioassay using T1 (0.01 mg/L), T2 (0.1 mg/L), T3 (1 mg/L), T4 (10 mg/L), T5 (25 mg/L), T6 (50 mg/L), T7 (75 mg/L), T8 (100 mg/L), T9 (200 mg/L), and T10 (400 mg/L). In this extract, we detected 74 compounds by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), of which hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, and 2-pentanone 4-hydroxy-4-methyl, were the most abundant. In ZFEs, a median lethal concentration of 251 mg/L was estimated. Exposed embryos exhibited extensive morphological changes, including edema in the yolk sac, scoliosis, and loss of pigmentation, as well as malformations of the head, tail, and eyes. By integrating these abnormalities using the Integrated Biological Response (IBRv2) and General Morphological Score (GMS) indices, we were able to determine that ZFEs exposed to 200 mg/L (T9) exhibited the most pronounced biological response in comparison with the other groups. In the comparative transcriptomic analysis, 66 genes were upregulated, and 246 genes were downregulated in the group exposed to 200 mg/L compared with the control group. In the upregulated genes, we identified several gene ontology-enriched terms, such as response to xenobiotic stimuli, cellular response to chemical stimulus, transcriptional regulation, pigment metabolic process, erythrocyte differentiation and embryonic hemopoiesis, extracellular matrix organization, and chondrocyte differentiation involved in endochondral bone morphogenesis, among others. In the down-regulated genes, we found many genes associated with nervous system processes, sensory and visual perception, response to abiotic stimulus, and the nucleoside phosphate biosynthetic process. The probable connections among the morphological changes observed in the transcriptome are thoroughly discussed. Our findings suggest that Sargassum spp. exposure can induce a wide negative impact on zebrafish embryos. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1075–1089. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Effect of agricultural intensification on the genetic diversity of Helicoverpa armigera
Authors: Cui Hongying , Dong Zhaoke , Song Yingying , Guo Wenxiu , Yu Yi , Li Lili , Lv Suhong , Men Xingyuan
Published: March 2024

Agricultural intensification affects natural and crop ecosystems, and increases the risk of agricultural pests in agroecosystems. Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an important pest that damages a wide range of crops. However, the effect of agricultural intensification on the genetic diversity of this pest is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of the composition and configuration of the landscape on the genetic diversity of the agricultural pest H. armigera based on cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) analyses. In total, 10 haplotypes were found in 2016 and 15 haplotypes in 2021 based on COI genes. The haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity were the highest in the Anqiu (AQ) region during 2016 and in the Bincheng (BC) region during 2021. Haplotype 2 and haplotype 3 (Hap2 and Hap3) were the dominant haplotypes in the H. armigera population. Agricultural intensification had no effect on the genetic diversity of H. armigera between 2016 and 2021. Our study highlights the effect of agricultural intensification on the genetic diversity of H. armigera. Understanding the genetic consequences of agricultural intensification is essential for the green control of agricultural pests and the sustainable development of agriculture.
Fully Automated Identification of Lymph Node Metastases and Lymphovascular Invasion in Endometrial Cancer From Multi‐Parametric MRI by Deep Learning
Authors: Wang Yida , Liu Wei , Lu Yuanyuan , Ling Rennan , Wang Wenjing , Li Shengyong , Zhang Feiran , Ning Yan , Chen Xiaojun , Yang Guang , Zhang He
Published: March 2024

Background

Early and accurate identification of lymphatic node metastasis (LNM) and lymphatic vascular space invasion (LVSI) for endometrial cancer (EC) patients is important for treatment design, but difficult on multi‐parametric MRI (mpMRI) images.

Purpose

To develop a deep learning (DL) model to simultaneously identify of LNM and LVSI of EC from mpMRI images.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

Six hundred twenty‐one patients with histologically proven EC from two institutions, including 111 LNM‐positive and 168 LVSI‐positive, divided into training, internal, and external test cohorts of 398, 169, and 54 patients, respectively.

Field Strength/Sequence

T2‐weighted imaging (T2WI), contrast‐enhanced T1WI (CE‐T1WI), and diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) were scanned with turbo spin‐echo, gradient‐echo, and two‐dimensional echo‐planar sequences, using either a 1.5 T or 3 T system.

Assessment

EC lesions were manually delineated on T2WI by two radiologists and used to train an nnU‐Net model for automatic segmentation. A multi‐task DL model was developed to simultaneously identify LNM and LVSI positive status using the segmented EC lesion regions and T2WI, CE‐T1WI, and DWI images as inputs. The performance of the model for LNM‐positive diagnosis was compared with those of three radiologists in the external test cohort.

Statistical Tests

Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) was used to evaluate segmentation results. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess the performance of LNM and LVSI status identification. P value <0.05 was considered significant.

Results

EC lesion segmentation model achieved mean DSC values of 0.700 ± 0.25 and 0.693 ± 0.21 in the internal and external test cohorts, respectively. For LNM positive/LVSI positive identification, the proposed model achieved AUC values of 0.895/0.848, 0.806/0.795, and 0.804/0.728 in the training, internal, and external test cohorts, respectively, and better than those of three radiologists (AUC = 0.770/0.648/0.674).

Data Conclusion

The proposed model has potential to help clinicians to identify LNM and LVSI status of EC patients and improve treatment planning.

Evidence Level

3

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2
Progression of partial to complete ruptures of the Achilles tendon during rehabilitation: A study using a finite element model
Authors: Diniz Pedro , Quental Carlos , Pereira Hélder , Lopes Rodrigo , Kerkhoffs Gino M. M. J. , Ferreira Frederico C. , Folgado João
Published: March 2024

Substantial research on complete Achilles tendon ruptures is available, but guidance on partial ruptures is comparatively sparse. Conservative management is considered acceptable in partial tendon ruptures affecting less than 50% of the tendon's width, but supporting experimental evidence is currently lacking. Using a previously validated finite element model of the Achilles tendon, this study aimed to assess whether loading conditions simulating an early functional rehabilitation protocol could elicit progression to a complete rupture in partial ruptures of varying severity. In silico tendon rupture simulations were performed to locate the most likely rupture site for least, moderate, and extreme subtendon twist configurations. These three models were split at the corresponding rupture site and two sets of partial ruptures were created for each, starting from the medial and lateral sides, and ranging from 10% to 50% loss of continuity. Simulations were conducted with material parameters from healthy and tendinopathic tendons. Partial ruptures were considered to progress if the volume of elements showing a maximum principal strain above 10% exceeded 3 mm3. To assess whether the tendinopathic tendons typical geometric characteristics could compensate for the inferior material properties found in tendinopathy, an additional model with increased cross‐sectional area in the free tendon region was developed. Progression to complete ruptures occurred even with less than a 50% loss of continuity, regardless of subtendon twisting, and material parameters. The tendinopathic tendon model with increased cross‐sectional area showed similar results. These findings suggest the current criteria for surgical treatment of partial ruptures should be reconsidered. Statement of clinical significance: The clinical significance and most appropriate treatment of partial ruptures of the Achilles tendon is unclear. Despite the widespread use of the “50% rule” in treatment decisions of partial tendon ruptures, experimental evidence supporting it is missing. The present study provides new data, from a validated aponeurotic and free Achilles tendon finite element model, showing that partial ruptures may progress to complete ruptures under loading conditions elicited from functional rehabilitation protocols, even for partial ruptures affecting less than 50% of the tendon's width. Under these novel findings, the current criteria for surgical treatment of partial ruptures should be reconsidered.
Impact of COVID‐19 on paediatric chronic intestinal failure: A tertiary care children's hospital experience
Authors: Hilberath Johannes , Mast Anna‐Sophia , Scherer Simon , Fuchs Jörg , Schulte Johannes , Sturm Ekkehard , Warmann Steven , Slavetinsky Christoph
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Paediatric patients with intestinal failure (IF) are at risk for both gastrointestinal (GI) and systemic complications, thus depending on a functioning network of multidisciplinary care. Data on the clinical impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) or the pandemic‐related restrictions are limited. We aimed to analyse the clinical course of COVID‐19 in children with IF, and to evaluate the perceived impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on IF patients and their caregivers by analysing quality of life (QoL), health‐related QoL (HRQoL) and health care.

Methods

Children with IF presenting at our intestinal rehabilitation centre were enrolled and interviewed about test‐proven COVID‐19 infection. A standardised questionnaire was offered to all caregivers of IF patients and to two control groups (children with inflammatory bowel disease and gastrointestinal healthy children).

Results

Between December 2020 and November 2022, 25 out of 127 patients with IF contracted COVID‐19. Forty‐eight per cent had GI symptoms, 32% required additional intravenous fluids and 20% were hospitalized. Only 25% of vaccinated children showed signs of GI dysfunction, compared to 52% of unvaccinated children. Analysis of 93 questionnaires showed a negative impact on QoL and HRQoL (>66.7% and >27.8%, respectively). IF patients frequently experienced restrictions in health care, including appointments, services and supply of parenteral nutrition or medications. Caregiver burden increased significantly more often in caregivers of children with IF (p = 0.007).

Conclusions

Paediatric patients with IF contracting COVID‐19 have an increased risk for GI dysfunction which may be alleviated by vaccination. Children and their caregivers were highly burdened by pandemic‐related restrictions and reductions in health care provision.
Combination biologic therapy in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease: Safety and efficacy over a minimum 12‐month follow‐up period
Authors: Wlazlo Magdalena , Meglicka Monika , Wiernicka Anna , Osiecki Marcin , Matuszczyk Malgorzata , Kierkus Jaroslaw
Published: March 2024

Objectives

The severe course of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) refractory to advanced therapies in children results in the search for new therapeutic methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dual therapy with biologics in a cohort of children with IBD.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of data from 29 children with a diagnosis of IBD, 19 with ulcerative colitis (66%), 10 with Crohn's disease (CD) (34%) qualified for dual biological therapy (DBT). The median age of patients was five (interquartile range [IQR], 1–15) years at diagnosis of IBD and 14 (IQR, 3–17) years at eligibility for dual therapy. Thirteen (45%) patients were treated with vedolizumab/adalimumab (VDZ + ADA), 13 (45%) with ustekinumab/adalimumab (UST + ADA), three (10%) with infliximab/vedolizumab (IFX + VDZ).

Results

Clinical remission was achieved in 13 (45%; seven UC and six CD) and 12 (41%; seven UC and five CD) Pediatric Weighted Crohn's Disease Activity Index (wPCDAI)/Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (PUCAI) patients after 4 and 12 months at the initiation of dual therapy. Clinical response based on wPCDAI/PUCAI was reported in 16 (55%; nine UC and seven CD) and 12 (41% seven UC and five CD) children after 4 and 12 months of follow‐up, respectively. The median fecal calprotectin decreased significantly from 1240 µg/g (53–10,100) to 160 µg/g (5–2500; p = 0.004) between baseline and Month 4 and from 749 at baseline (57–10,100) to 17 (5–3110; p = 0.12) over 12 months. Moreover, 34% (six UC and four CD) of patients achieved endoscopic remission.

Conclusions

DBT seems to be an effective alternative therapeutic option for patients with moderate and severe IBD.
Wideband Polarization‐Insensitive 1‐Bit Phase Manipulations with Co‐and Cross‐Polarized Conversions for LP and CP Waves
Authors: Liu Wei , Dai Jun Yan , Zhang Yan Ming , Sun Meng Ke , Zhang Lei , Li Ya , He Hong Jun , Cui Tie Jun , Cheng Qiang
Published: March 2024

Polarization and phase manipulations have gained widespread applications across various fields. The emergence of metasurface provides a new platform for the manipulation of electromagnetic waves. However, most metasurfaces are limited to modulating only one single property. Here, a coding metasurface that achieves 1‐bit phase manipulations of both co‐polarized and cross‐polarized reflected waves for linear and circular polarization wave excitations. Notably, the proposed metasurface enables co‐polarized 1‐bit phase responses for incident electric fields with arbitrary orientations and spin directions. The simulated results demonstrate an operating efficiency over −1.7 dB in the frequency range from 7 to 11.1 GHz, with a relative bandwidth of 45.3%. Furthermore, the introduction of space‐polarization coding strategies facilitates the beam and polarization manipulations. To verify the feasibility of the coding metasurface, a sample and conduct experiments are fabricated, revealing good agreement between the simulations and measurements. These findings hold significant promise for the advancement of radar, imaging, and wireless communication systems, with potential applications in various domains.
Rubber Oxygenase Degradation Assay by UV‐Labeling and Gel Permeation Chromatography
Authors: Adjedje Vico K. B. , Wolf Yannick L. , Weissenborn Martin J. , Binder Wolfgang H.
Published: March 2024

A versatile and robust end‐group derivatization approach using oximes has been developed for the detection of oxidative degradation of synthetic polyisoprenes and polybutadiene. This method demonstrates broad applicability, effectively monitoring degradation across a wide molecular weight range through ultraviolet (UV)‐detection coupled to gel permeation chromatography. Importantly, it enables the effective monitoring of degradation via derivatization‐induced UV‐maximum shifts, even in the presence of an excess of undegraded polyene, overcoming limitations previously reported with refractive index detectors. Notably, this oxime‐based derivatization methodology is used in enzymatic degradation experiments of synthetic polyisoprenes characterized by a cis: trans ratio with the rubber oxygenase LcpK30. It reveals substantial UV absorption in derivatized enzymatic degradation products of polyisoprene with molecular weights exceeding 1000 g mol−1 ‐ an unprecedented revelation for this enzyme's activity on such synthetic polyisoprenes. This innovative approach holds promise as a valuable tool for advancing research into the degradation of synthetic polyisoprenes and polybutadiene, particularly under conditions of low organocatalytic or enzymatic degradation activity. With its broad applicability and capacity to reveal previously hidden degradation processes, it represents a noteworthy contribution to sustainable polymer chemistry.
Trans‐Spinal Theta Burst Magnetic Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease and Gait Disorders
Authors: Menezes Janaína Reis , Nunes Glaucia Aline , Carra Rafael Bernhart , da Silva Simões Juliana , Solla Davi Jorge Fontoura , Oliveira Jussan Rodrigues , Teixeira Manoel Jacobsen , Marcolin Marco Antônio , Barbosa Egberto Reis , Tanaka Clarice , de Andrade Daniel Ciampi , Cury Rubens Gisbert
Published: March 2024

Background

Gait disorders in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) can become disabling with disease progression without effective treatment.

Objectives

To investigate the efficacy of intermittent θ burst trans‐spinal magnetic stimulation (TsMS) in PD patients with gait and balance disorders.

Methods

This was a randomized, parallel, double‐blind, controlled trial. Active or sham TsMS was applied at third thoracic vertebra with 100% of the trans‐spinal motor threshold, during 5 consecutive days. Participants were evaluated at baseline, immediately after last session, 1 and 4 weeks after last session. Primary outcome was Total Timed Up and Go (TUG) values comparing active versus sham phases 1 week after intervention. The secondary outcome measurements consisted of motor, gait and balance scales, and questionnaires for quality of life and cognition.

Results

Thirty‐three patients were included, average age 68.5 (6.4) years in active group and 70.3 (6.3) years in sham group. In active group, Total TUG mean baseline was 107.18 (95% CI, 52.1–116.1), and 1 week after stimulation was 93.0 (95% CI, 50.7–135.3); sham group, Total TUG mean baseline was 101.2 (95% CI, 47.1–155.3) and 1 week after stimulation 75.2 (95% CI 34.0–116.4), P = 0.54. Similarly, intervention had no significant effects on secondary outcome measurements. During stimulation period, five patients presented with mild side effects (three in active group and two in sham group).

Discussion

TsMS did not significantly improve gait or balance analysis in patients with PD and gait disorders. The protocol was safe and well tolerated. © 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Discrete‐time linear quadratic gaussian control with input delay and Markovian packet dropouts
Authors: Lu Xiao , Cai Yuanyu , Liang Xiao , Sun Hongyu
Published: March 2024

This article investigates the finite horizon linear quadratic gaussian (LQG) control problem for networked control systems with two‐way Markovian packet dropouts and input delay, where packet dropouts occur from the sensor to the estimator and from the controller to the actuator, and delay occurs from the controller to the actuator. The novelty of this work lies in providing a complete solution for the optimal control problem subject to two‐way Markovian packet dropouts and input delay. The contributions of this article are as follows: first, by applying the maximum principle to the discrete‐time linear systems and the quadratic cost function involving input delay and Markovian packet dropouts, a solution to the forward and backward stochastic difference equations (FBSDEs) is derived. Second, a sufficient and necessary condition for the optimal control problem is obtained by decoupling the coupled Riccati equations. Finally, the explicit solution of the optimal controller is presented based on the complete square method. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the validity of the theoretical results.
Processing–microstructure–fracture toughness relationships in PP/EPDM/SiO2 blend‐nanocomposites: Effect of mixing sequence
Authors: Hajibabazadeh S. , Razavi Aghjeh M. K. , Mazidi M. Mehrabi
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the mechanical properties and fracture behavior of polypropylene (PP)‐based blend‐nanocomposites comprising 30 wt.% ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM) and 5 wt.% SiO2 nanoparticles. Different mixing sequences were employed to prepare the nanocomposites, and the resulting morphology development and dispersion states of modifiers were analyzed. Mechanical performance of the nanocomposites was evaluated through quasi‐static and high‐speed dynamic fracture tests. The dispersion and distribution of SiO2 nanoparticles within the nanocomposites were significantly influenced by the mixing protocol. In impact fracture tests, the presence of nanoparticles exhibited a beneficial efffect on fracture energy, demonstrating a synergistic toughening effect of the soft EPDM and rigid SiO2 particles. Conversely, adverse effects were observed in quasi‐static tests. Essential work of fracture (EWF) parameters indicated an increase in the yielding component and a decrease in the necking‐to‐tearing component with SiO2 incorporation into the PP/EPDM blends. During impact loadings, the highest improvement in crack propagation resistance was observed in nanocomposites with nanoparticles localized around the rubbery domains forming a network‐like structure of EPDM/SiO2‐nanoparticles. Morphologies where rubber domains and nanoparticles were separately distributed in the PP matrix resulted in the lowest fracture parameters. Energy dissipation mechanisms were elucidated, revealing multiple void formation followed by matrix shear yielding as the primary source under both quasi‐static and impact fracture conditions. In the latter case, stress‐concentrating percolated structures in the PP matrix facilitated the nucleation of dilatational bands evolving into highly stretched void‐fibrillar structures upon further loading. These findings contribute valuable insights into tailoring nanocomposite morphologies for enhanced mechanical performance in different loading scenarios.

Highlights

Fracture behavior of PP/EPDM/SiO2 ternary systems was evaluated by EWF methodology and Izod impact test.

Rubber particles surrounded by silica nanoparticles led to a percolated morphology and as a result to superior impact resistance.

EWF parameters were mostly controlled by the tearing‐related parts regardless of phase morphology.

The impact toughness was mainly controlled by the dispersion and distribution characteristics of the SiO2 nanoparticles.
Ternary nanocomposite of RAFT‐polymerized DMAEMA‐functionalized graphene oxide, manganese dioxide and polyaniline as active electrode material for supercapacitor
Authors: Moussaei Majid , Haddadi‐Asl Vahid , Ahmadi Hanie
Published: March 2024

Graphene and its derivatives are promising energy storage devices due to their high specific surface area, chemical and thermal durability and high charge transfer power. Still, their stacking and aggregate behavior can limit their practical application. To address this issue, reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization as controlled radical polymerization was applied to functionalize the surface of graphene oxide with poly(N,N‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) via the ‘grafting from’ method. This strategy enhances the distance between graphene sheets by occupying physical volume while improving effective charge transfer through tertiary amine groups participating in the doping process. X‐ray diffraction was used to determine interlayer spacing after polymer grafting, which increased from 0.28 to 1.71 nm after polymer grafting. The hybridization of materials with diverse properties was used to enhance charge transfer capability for supercapacitor applications. PDMAEMA‐functionalized graphene oxide, nano‐manganese dioxide and polyaniline were combined to create a successful nanocomposite as electrode active material. The morphological structure and chemical composition of the synthesized nanocomposite were analyzed, and its electrochemical performance was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The nanocomposite exhibited a maximum specific capacitance, energy density and power density of 364.72 F g−1 (at a scan rate of 50 mV s−1), 239.08 Wh kg−1 and 678.34 W kg−1, respectively. The final nanocomposite's energy storage capacity significantly increased compared to the individual components due to hybridization's synergistic impact, reducing charge transfer resistance. © 2024 Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Unveiling the molecular complexity of intestinal ischemia–reperfusion injury through omics technologies
Authors: Alicehajic Anja , Duivenvoorden Annet Adriana Maria , Lenaerts Kaatje
Published: March 2024

Intestinal ischemia–reperfusion injury (IR) is implicated in various clinical conditions and causes damage to the intestinal epithelium resulting in intestinal barrier loss. This presents a substantial clinical challenge, emphasizing the importance of gaining a comprehensive understanding of molecular events to aid in the identification of novel therapeutic targets. This review systematically explores the extent to which omics technologies—transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and metagenomics—have already contributed to deciphering the molecular mechanisms contributing to intestinal IR injury, in in vivo and in vitro animal and human models, and in clinical samples. Recent breakthroughs involve applying omics methodologies on exosomes, organoids, and single cells, shedding light on promising avenues and valuable targets to reduce intestinal IR injury. Future directions aimed at expediting clinical translation are discussed as well and include multi‐omics data integration to facilitate the identification of key regulatory nodes driving intestinal IR injury and advancing human organoid models based on the novel insights by single‐cell omics technologies, offering hope for clinical application of therapeutic strategies in the years to come.
A review: From the whole process of making thermal conductive polymer, the effective method of improving thermal conductivity
Authors: Wu Xinheng , Zhang Xiaoyu , Yan Xixian , Zhang Chi , Zhang Yuqing , Li Peiyao , Li Ning , Liu Hailong , Wang Zhongwei
Published: March 2024

With the development of high power‐density electronic devices on smaller scales and emerging new energy vehicles, high thermal conductive materials have attracted more attention for better thermal management to adapt to various applications. By combining both the advantages of polymer materials and thermally conductive fillers, thermal conductive polymer composite materials are widely used in packaging and the protection of electronic devices for their mechanical robustness, high thermal conductivity, excellent insulation properties, heat resistance, and chemical resistance. In this review, first, the basic theory of heat conduction of polymer composites is discussed. Second, according to the classification of the composition of the thermal conductive polymer, the filled thermal conductive material is emphatically introduced. In this paper, the construction process of a thermal conductive network of polymer and composites is discussed from the perspective of processing. The simple construction of a thermal conductive network includes core‐shell structure, external force orientation, electrostatic spinning, electrostatic spraying, induced orientation, and vacuum‐assisted filtration. The three‐dimensional thermal conductivity network can be constructed using self‐assembly and template methods. From the above processing methods, this paper analyzes how to effectively improve thermal conductivity and achieve the goal of high thermal conductivity and excellent mechanical properties under low filling. After that, the contribution of filler and polymer modification to thermal conductivity is explained in detail. Finally, the future research direction of functionalization is prospected.
Expression and functional analysis of a recombinant aquaporin Z from Antarctic Pseudomonas sp. AMS3
Authors: Balakrishnan S. , Rahman R. N. Z. R. A. , Noor N. D. M. , Latip W. , Ali M. S. M.
Published: March 2024

Aquaporin (AQP) is a water channel protein from the family of transmembrane proteins which facilitates the movement of water across the cell membrane. It is ubiquitous in nature, however the understanding of the water transport mechanism, especially for AQPs in microbes adapted to low temperatures, remains limited. AQP also has been recognized for its ability to be used for water filtration, but knowledge of the biochemical features necessary for its potential applications in industrial processes has been lacking. Therefore, this research was conducted to express, extract, solubilize, purify, and study the functional adaptations of the aquaporin Z family from Pseudomonas sp. AMS3 via molecular approaches. In this study, AqpZ1 AMS3 was successfully subcloned and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) as a recombinant protein. The AqpZ1 AMS3 gene was expressed under optimized conditions and the best optimized condition for the AQP was in 0.5 mM IPTG incubated at 25°C for 20 h induction time. A zwitterionic mild detergent [(3‐cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio]‐1‐propanesulfonate was the suitable surfactant for the protein solubilization. The protein was then purified via affinity chromatography. Liposome and proteoliposome was reconstituted to determine the particle size using dynamic light scattering. This information obtained from this psychrophilic AQP identified provides new insights into the structural adaptation of this protein at low temperatures and could be useful for low temperature application and molecular engineering purposes in the future.
Hybrid peptide‐PNA monomers as building blocks for the fabrication of supramolecular aggregates
Authors: Cimmino Luca , Diaferia Carlo , Rosa Mariangela , Morelli Giancarlo , Rosa Elisabetta , Accardo Antonella
Published: March 2024

Advantages like biocompatibility, biodegradability and tunability allowed the exploitation of peptides and peptidomimetics as versatile therapeutic or diagnostic agents. Because of their selectivity towards transmembrane receptors or cell membranes, peptides have also been identified as suitable molecules able to deliver in vivo macromolecules, proteins or nucleic acids. However, after the identification of the homodimer diphenylalanine (FF) as an aggregative motif inside the Aβ1–42 polypeptide, short and ultrashort peptides have been studied as building blocks for the fabrication of supramolecular, ordered nanostructures for applications in biotechnological, biomedical and industrial fields. In this perspective, many hybrid molecules that combine FF with other chemical entities have been synthesized and characterized. Two novel hybrid derivatives (tFaF and cFgF), in which the FF homodimer is alternated with the peptide‐nucleic acid (PNA) heterodimer “g‐c” (guanine‐cytosine) or “a‐t” (adenine‐thymine) and their dimeric forms (tFaF)2 and (cFgF)2 were synthesized. The structural characterization performed by circular dichroism (CD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and fluorescence spectroscopies highlighted the capability of all the FF‐PNA derivatives to self‐assemble into β‐sheet structures. As a consequence of this supramolecular organization, the resulting aggregates also exhibit optoelectronic properties already reported for other similar nanostructures. This photoemissive behavior is promising for their potential applications in bioimaging.
Do machine learning methods lead to similar individualized treatment rules? A comparison study on real data
Authors: Bouvier Florie , Peyrot Etienne , Balendran Alan , Ségalas Corentin , Roberts Ian , Petit François , Porcher Raphaël
Published: March 2024

Identifying patients who benefit from a treatment is a key aspect of personalized medicine, which allows the development of individualized treatment rules (ITRs). Many machine learning methods have been proposed to create such rules. However, to what extent the methods lead to similar ITRs, that is, recommending the same treatment for the same individuals is unclear. In this work, we compared 22 of the most common approaches in two randomized control trials. Two classes of methods can be distinguished. The first class of methods relies on predicting individualized treatment effects from which an ITR is derived by recommending the treatment evaluated to the individuals with a predicted benefit. In the second class, methods directly estimate the ITR without estimating individualized treatment effects. For each trial, the performance of ITRs was assessed by various metrics, and the pairwise agreement between all ITRs was also calculated. Results showed that the ITRs obtained via the different methods generally had considerable disagreements regarding the patients to be treated. A better concordance was found among akin methods. Overall, when evaluating the performance of ITRs in a validation sample, all methods produced ITRs with limited performance, suggesting a high potential for optimism. For non‐parametric methods, this optimism was likely due to overfitting. The different methods do not lead to similar ITRs and are therefore not interchangeable. The choice of the method strongly influences for which patients a certain treatment is recommended, drawing some concerns about their practical use.
Imidazolium based Ionic liquid Anchored over Dendritic Mesoporous Silica Nanospheres possessing a Magnetic Core as an Efficient and Recyclable Base Catalyst
Authors: Agarwal Archana , Surabhi  , Gupta Padmini , Dhama Manjeet , Rani Swati , Mozumdar Subho
Published: March 2024

In this study, Magnetic core‐shell dendritic mesoporous silica nanospheres immobilized with imidazolium‐based di‐cationic ionic liquid (Fe3O4@SiO2@DSiO2‐Im‐IL) possessing a large surface area and numerous active site for adsorption of various molecules to carry out organic transformations have been successfully developed. The synthesized nanocatalyst was found to be easily recyclable by applying external magnetic force. The structure, morphology, thermal stability, and magnetic behavior of the synthesized magnetic nanocatalyst were confirmed by different physiochemical techniques like FT‐IR, P‐XRD, FE‐SEM, TGA, VSM, BET, and TEM analysis. The efficiency of the developed heterogeneous nanocatalyst has been investigated for the green synthesis of numerous benzopyran derivatives by employing different aldehydes and active methylene compounds. The catalyst exhibits marvellous activity and efficiency in terms of high product yield, less catalyst use, and wide substrate scope even at room temperature. Finally, after the successful formation of the product, the catalyst was regenerated by utilizing an external magnetic field. The catalyst has been reused multiple times without any noteworthy loss in its activity which confirms the stability of the developed catalyst. The preparation of the catalyst is cost‐effective, and shows atom economy with the utilization of green solvent and without any waste production, which authenticates that it could be a greener pathway for the synthesis of the benzopyran derivatives.
A Glycerol promoted, regioselective synthesis of 6‐aryl substituted Imidazo[2,1‐b]thiazole and imidazo[2,1‐b]‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole through a one‐step domino process under green conditions
Authors: Baranwal Jyoti , Kushwaha Smriti , Singh Swastika
Published: March 2024

In this study, we present a strategy for synthesizing Imidazo[2,1‐b]thiazole and Imidazo[2,1‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazole in a single step with high efficiency. Glycerol is utilized as a sustainable solvent, offering both economic and non‐toxic properties to facilitate the selective formation of these compounds. The reaction entails a stepwise formation of C−N bonds. Key benefits of this approach include its environmentally conscious reaction conditions, simplicity in execution, cost‐effectiveness, short reaction times, high product yields, solvent reusability, and overall sustainability.
Solvent Free, Selective Oxidation of Styrene Catalyzed by Cobalt Acylpyrazolone Supported onto Neutral Alumina: Synthesis and Spectral Characterization
Authors: Vala Grishma , Puranik Aditya A. , Jadeja Rajendrasinh N. , Choquesillo‐Lazarte Duane
Published: March 2024

The present work describes the synthesis of the Cobalt acylpyrazolone complex supported over neutral alumina and its use as a heterogeneous catalyst for selective oxidation of styrene. The catalyst mentioned here was characterized by various physicochemical techniques such as FT‐IR, TGA, CV, SCXRD, PXRD and BET. This heterogeneous catalyst has successfully been used to oxidize styrene to benzaldehyde in a solvent‐free condition with good conversion (87 %) and high selectivity (90 %) using H2O2 and TBHP as oxidants. The effects of the reaction parameters (catalyst concentration, reaction duration, and temperature) have also been investigated. The existing complex was discovered to be recyclable and sustainable with no change in conversion or selectivity for benzaldehyde. FT‐IR spectra of the regenerated catalyst indicated that the catalyst was undegraded and stable after the reaction. The novel feature of the current work reported in this paper is the selective oxidation of styrene without the need for solvents under mild conditions. Single Crystal Analysis.
N−SO3H Functionalised Brønsted Acidic Ionic Liquid Catalysed Sequential One‐Pot Synthesis of 2‐Amino‐3‐Cyanopyridines via Claisen‐Schmidt Condensation Under Solvent‐free Condition
Authors: Das Sukanya , Paul Subham , Kashyap Niharika , Saikia Pinku , Borah Ruli
Published: March 2024

This work presents a simple approach for the synthesis of 2‐amino‐3‐cyanopyridines via a one pot two‐step sequential route catalysed by direct N‐−SO3H functionalised Brønsted acidic ionic liquids (BAILs). Herein, catalytic activities of four BAILs namely ([TSPi][Cl]2, [DSIM][TFA], [EDSIM][TFA] and [DBDSA][TFA]) were explored and among them [TSPi][Cl]2was found to be the most efficient reusable homogeneous catalyst. This process involves the ionic liquid catalysedin situgeneration of chalcones from Claisen‐Schmidt condensation between aromatic aldehydes and acetophenone/4‐Cl acetophenone, followed by multicomponent reaction (MCR) with malononitrile and ammonium acetate using the same IL catalyst to selectively produce 2‐amino‐3‐cyanopyridine derivatives in a solvent‐free medium at 80 °C within 30–60 minutes in high yields (96–86 %). This amalgamation of MCR with ionic liquids and solvent‐free conditions makes the present work more compliant with the protocols of Green Chemistry.
Saccharomyces cerevisiaeBioactive Metabolites: Characterization and Biological Activities
Authors: Hathout Amal S. , Ghareeb Mosad A. , Abdel‐Nasser Aya , Abu‐Sree Yehia
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to extract bioactive secondary metabolites, determine volatile organic compounds, and polyphenols using GC/MS and LC/MS, and assess their total phenolic content, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties. The chemical analysis ofS. cerevisiaeNRLL Y‐12633 ethyl acetate extract revealed eight volatile organic components, whereas the main component was phenyl ethyl alcohol (77.39 %). On the other hand, nineteen volatile organic compounds were identified in the ethyl acetate extract ofS. cerevisiaeNRRL Y‐1089, whereas the most critical component was 2, 3‐butanediol (60.74 %). The most abundant phenolic acids were syringic acid (25476.46 ng/mL), and cinnamic acid (5163.76 ng/mL) in the ethyl acetate extracts ofS. cerevisiaeNRLL Y‐12633 andS. cerevisiaeNRRL Y‐1089 respectively. Flavonoid, naringenin, was also found in the ethyl acetate extract ofS. cerevisiaeNRLL Y‐12633, whereas daidzein and rutin were detected in the ethyl acetate extract ofS. cerevisiaeNRRL Y‐1089. The total phenolic content ofS. cerevisiaeNRRL Y‐12633 ethyl acetate extract was found to be greater than that ofS. cerevisiaeNRRL Y‐1089 ethyl acetate extract. Data revealed thatS. cerevisiaeethyl acetate extracts displayed antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, whereas only the ethyl acetate extract ofS. cerevisiaeNRRL Y‐1089 showed anticancer activity.