bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exosome‐Inhibiting Polymeric Sonosensitizer for Tumor‐Specific Sonodynamic Immunotherapy
Authors: Wu Jiayan , Huang Jingsheng , Yu Jie , Xu Mengke , Liu Jing , Pu Kanyi
Published: March 2024

Combination cancer immunotherapy based on electromagnetic energy and immunotherapy shows potent anti‐cancer efficacy. However, as a factor that mediates tumor metastasis and immune suppression, the impact of tumor exosomes on therapy under electromagnetic energy stimulation remains unclear. Herein, findings indicate that sonodynamic therapy (SDT) increases serum exosome levels by inducing apoptotic exosomes and loosening the tumor extracellular matrix, promoting lung metastasis. To address this problem, an exosome‐inhibiting polymeric sonosensitizer (EIPS) selectively inhibiting tumor exosome generation in response to the tumor biomarker is synthesized. EIPS consists of a semiconducting polymer backbone capable of inducing SDT and a poly(ethylene glycol) layer conjugated with a tumor‐specific enzyme‐responsive exosome inhibitor prodrug. After being cleaved by tumor Cathepsin B, EIPS releases active exosome inhibitors, preventing tumor exosome‐mediated immune suppression and lung metastasis. As a result, EIPS elicits robust antitumor effects through the synergistic effect of SDT and tumor exosome inhibition, completely preventing lung metastasis and establishing a long‐term immune memory effect. This is the first example showing that combining SDT with tumor‐specific exosome inhibition can elicit a potent immune response without the help of typical immune agonists.
On‐Chip Integrated Metasurface Empowered Multi‐Channel Multiplexed Three‐Dimensional Hologram
Authors: Zhao Kaiyue , Ha Yingli , Guo Yinghui , Pu Mingbo , Fan Yulong , Li Xiong , Zou Fang , Wang Lijun , She Senwei , Luo Xiangang
Published: March 2024

On‐chip metasurfaces integrated atop optical waveguides have demonstrated the capability of efficiently radiating guided‐waves into arbitrarily prescribed spatial modes by properly tailoring the phase distribution in the metasurface interface. To date, most on‐chip holographic metasurfaces, typically relying on path multiplexing or wavelength multiplexing to multiply the produced images, encounter certain limitations in further enhancing the image storage capacity due to the limited degrees of freedom available for on‐chip devices. This work introduces an on‐chip metasurface composed of polarization‐sensitive cross meta‐atoms allowing independent control of the propagation phase of diffracted waves from waveguided TE and TM modes. Meanwhile, incorporating the guided‐wave generated in‐plane detour phases into the metasurface yields another two degrees of freedom. Thus, four independent holographic images can be readily switched by simply selecting the excitation modes and waveguide ports. As a proof‐of‐concept, a dual‐port four‐channel multiplexed metasurface, whose optical functionalities are validated by performing full‐wave simulations, is successfully realized. Moreover, the application to the creation of 3D holograms is also extended. Thus, the presented method provides a new approach for multifunctional multiplexing of on‐chip metasurfaces, which could hold great potential for applications in next‐generation wearable AR devices, 3D vision, multifunctional micro‐photonic integrated circuits, etc.
Intrinsically Multistable Soft Actuator Driven by Mixed‐Mode Snap‐Through Instabilities
Authors: Luo Yichi , Patel Dinesh K. , Li Zefang , Hu Yafeng , Luo Hao , Yao Lining , Majidi Carmel
Published: March 2024

Actuators utilizing snap‐through instabilities are widely investigated for high‐performance fast actuators and shape reconfigurable structures owing to their rapid response and limited reliance on continuous energy input. However, prevailing approaches typically involve a combination of multiple bistable actuator units and achieving multistability within a single actuator unit still remains an open challenge. Here, a soft actuator is presented that uses shape memory alloy (SMA) and mixed‐mode elastic instabilities to achieve intrinsically multistable shape reconfiguration. The multistable actuator unit consists of six stable states, including two pure bending states and four bend‐twist states. The actuator is composed of a pre‐stretched elastic membrane placed between two elastomeric frames embedded with SMA coils. By controlling the sequence and duration of SMA activation, the actuator is capable of rapid transition between all six stable states within hundreds of milliseconds. Principles of energy minimization are used to identify actuation sequences for various types of stable state transitions. Bending and twisting angles corresponding to various prestretch ratios are recorded based on parameterizations of the actuator's geometry. To demonstrate its application in practical conditions, the multistable actuator is used to perform visual inspection in a confined space, light source tracking during photovoltaic energy harvesting, and agile crawling.
Enzyme‐Empowered “Two Birds with One Stone” Strategy for Amplifying Tumor Apoptosis and Metabolic Clearance
Authors: Li Hanyue , Li Yihui , Su Lina , Zheng Ke , Zhang Yue , Li Jing , Lv Feng , Huang Mengjie , Chen Ting , Zhang Hanjie , Shi Zhaoqing , Zhu Dunwan , Dong Xia , Zeng Weiwei , Mei Lin
Published: March 2024

Nanomedicine has reshaped the landscape of cancer treatment. However, its efficacy is still hampered by innate tumor defense systems that rely on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for fuel, including damage repair, apoptosis resistance, and immune evasion. Inspired by the naturally enzymatic reaction of glucose oxidase (GOx) with glucose, here a novel “two birds with one stone” technique for amplifying enzyme‐mediated tumor apoptosis and enzyme‐promoted metabolic clearance is proposed and achieved using GOx‐functionalized rhenium nanoclusters‐doped polypyrrole (Re@ReP‐G). Re@ReP‐G reduces ATP production while increasing H2O2 concentrations in the tumor microenvironment through GOx‐induced enzymatic oxidation, which in turn results in the downregulation of defense (HSP70 and HSP90) and anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2 proteins, the upregulation of pro‐apoptotic Bax, and the release of cytochrome c. These processes are further facilitated by laser‐induced hyperthermia effect, ultimately leading to severe tumor apoptosis. As an enzymatic byproduct, H2O2 catalyzes the conversion of rhenium nanoclusters in Re@ReP‐G nanostructures into rhenate from the outside in, which accelerates their metabolic clearance in vivo. This Re@ReP‐G‐based “two birds with one stone” therapeutic strategy provides an effective tool for amplifying tumor apoptosis and safe metabolic mechanisms.
Diffusion‐Controlled Morphology Modification via Employing Host/Guest Acceptors to Improve the Stability of Organic Photovoltaics
Authors: Wang Yiwen , Gao Huanhuan , Sun Min , Lin Chieh‐Ting , Li Hongxiang , Lin Francis R. , Fan Baobing , Li Zhe , Zapien Juan Antonio , Jen Alex K.‐Y.
Published: March 2024

Typical bulk‐heterojunction organic photovoltaics (OPV) suffer from instability due to the slowly diffusing small‐molecule acceptors (SMAs) under operational conditions. The originally well‐phase‐separated morphology will undergo SMA self‐aggregation to form over‐purified domains that will deteriorate the OPV performance. This issue can be partially alleviated in sequentially processed OPV cells with a planar‐mixed heterojunction absorber, which is intrinsically more robust due to larger domain sizes and a lower degree of mixing. To further enhance the morphological stability, a strategy is developed to inhibit the disordered molecular diffusion that leads to the loss of crystallinity of SMA domains. Two SMAs, C9‐4F and Y6‐OBO, are incorporated as guest acceptors to form an alloy‐like acceptor with the host acceptor BTP‐eC9. These alloy‐like acceptors improved the crystallinity of the acceptor phase by promoting more ordered molecular packing, effectively restraining the diffusion‐caused loss of SMA crystallinity upon illumination. This approach helps maintain favorable gradients and ultimately ensures OPV morphological stability. Consequently, the derived devices exhibited considerably enhanced stability, with the T80 lifetime of C9‐4F‐based devices reaching ≈790 h and a remarkable ≈1010 h for Y6‐OBO‐based devices, significantly surpassing the ≈450 h observed from binary devices.
Rural tourism promotion policy and rural hospitality enterprises performance: Empirical evidence from Japan
Authors: Chung Yessica C. Y. , Kusadokoro Motoi , Chang Hung‐Hao , Kitamura Yukinobu
Published: March 2024

Increased tourism demand provides an opportunity to boost rural development. This paper examines the impact of rural tourism policy reform on hospitality and restaurant enterprises in rural areas in Japan. In early 2016, the Japanese government introduced a policy to encourage the participation of nonfarm enterprises in the rural hospitality industry. Using a nationally representative dataset of rural hospitality enterprises in Japan, we employ the difference‐in‐differences method to assess the causal effects of the policy on the sales value, number of business days, and labor productivity of hospitality enterprises and restaurants in rural areas. We find that this reform resulted in a 15.6% increase and a 5.1% decrease in the sales value of nonfarm‐owned and farm‐owned homestay enterprises, respectively. Moreover, changes in the number of business days and labor productivity can be associated with the policy effect. We also find a significant policy effect on nonfarm‐owned restaurants. [EconLit Citations: Q12, Q13].
Mechanical and morphometric approaches to body mass estimation in rhesus macaques: A test of skeletal variables
Authors: Turcotte Cassandra M. , Choi Audrey M. , Spear Jeffrey K. , Hernandez‐Janer Eva M , Dickinson Edwin , Taboada Hannah G. , Stock Michala K. , Villamil Catalina I. , Bauman Samuel E. ,   Cayo Biobank Research Unit, Martinez Melween I. , Brent Lauren J. N. , Snyder‐Mackler Noah , Montague Michael J. , Platt Michael L. , Williams Scott A. , Antón Susan C. , Higham James P.
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Estimation of body mass from skeletal metrics can reveal important insights into the paleobiology of archeological or fossil remains. The standard approach constructs predictive equations from postcrania, but studies have questioned the reliability of traditional measures. Here, we examine several skeletal features to assess their accuracy in predicting body mass.

Materials and Methods

Antemortem mass measurements were compared with common skeletal dimensions from the same animals postmortem, using 115 rhesus macaques (male: n = 43; female: n = 72). Individuals were divided into training (n = 58) and test samples (n = 57) to build and assess Ordinary Least Squares or multivariate regressions by residual sum of squares (RSS) and AIC weights. A leave‐one‐out approach was implemented to formulate the best fit multivariate models, which were compared against a univariate and a previously published catarrhine body‐mass estimation model.

Results

Femur circumference represented the best univariate model. The best model overall was composed of four variables (femur, tibia and fibula circumference and humerus length). By RSS and AICw, models built from rhesus macaque data (RSS = 26.91, AIC = −20.66) better predicted body mass than did the catarrhine model (RSS = 65.47, AIC = 20.24).

Conclusion

Body mass in rhesus macaques is best predicted by a 4‐variable equation composed of humerus length and hind limb midshaft circumferences. Comparison of models built from the macaque versus the catarrhine data highlight the importance of taxonomic specificity in predicting body mass. This paper provides a valuable dataset of combined somatic and skeletal data in a primate, which can be used to build body mass equations for fragmentary fossil evidence.
Stereo‐Structural Fine Tuning of Chromaticity
Authors: Pauls Alana M. , Jamadgni Dhanush U. , George Gary , Gitua John N. , Thuo Martin M.
Published: March 2024

Lanthanoid carboxylates were synthesized and in situ self‐assembled to illustrate temperature‐driven evolution in chromaticity. Evolution in structure (crystallinity), composition, luminosity, and chromaticity were investigated revealing the coupled role of divergence in order/structure (spatial organization), and composition in tuning observed color. Loss of crystallinity or increase in residual carbon leads to decrease in luminosity even with increase in hue. Comparing Ho and Er congeners shows that the density of accessible transition states relates to shifts in low and high wavelength components of color. This work demonstrates that, just as interface dipoles can lead to change in semiconductor band gap, structure and composition can analogously alter observed color.
Pd(II) and Pt(II) saccharinate complexes with two phosphine derivatives: Synthesis, anticancer and antiangiogenic activities
Authors: Icsel Ceyda , Yilmaz Veysel T. , Aygun Muhittin , Erkisa Merve , Ulukaya Engin , Akar R. Okan
Published: March 2024

As clinically used anticancer Pt(II) drugs have severe side effects, there is a growing interest for new metal complexes with great potential for cancer therapy. The current work aimed to prepare and characterize new Pd(II) and Pt(II) saccharinate (sac) complexes bearing pyridyl‐ and benzyldiphenylphosphines (PPh2Py and PPh2Bz, respectively), cis‐[Pd(sac)2(PPh2Py)2] (1), cis‐[PtCl(sac)(PPh2Py)2]·0.5DMF (2), cis‐[Pd(sac)2(PPh2Bz)2]·DMF (3) and trans‐[PtCl(sac)(PPh2Bz)2] (4) as promising anticancer and antiangiogenic drugs. The anticancer activity of the complexes was screened against seven cancer cell lines including HCT116 (colon), HepG2 (liver), MDA‐MB‐231 (breast), PANC‐1 (pancreatic), A549 (lung), C6 (glioma), DU145 (prostate) and normal human lung epithelial cells (BEAS‐2B). 1 and 2 did not show biological activity below 20 μM at 48 h, whereas 3 and 4 displayed significant cytotoxic effect on the cancer cells. 4 was the most potent complex (IC50 = 2.2–12.1 μM) and displayed much greater cytotoxicity than cisplatin in all the cancer cell lines. 4 caused apoptosis in HCT116 cells as evidenced by annexin V positivity and caspase 3/7 activity assays. Furthermore, the inhibition of antiapoptotic Bcl‐2 proteins by the complex suggested the intrinsic apoptosis. In addition, 4 greatly enhanced generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and consequently caused remarkable DNA double‐strand breaks in HCT116 cells. Moreover, the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay was used to evaluate antiangiogenic potential of 4. The complex effectively inhibited angiogenesis at a dose of 50 ng, suggesting it as a promising multi‐targeted agent for antiangiogenic cancer treatment.
The expansion of the Atlantic–Mediterranean ghost crab Ocypode cursor (Linnaeus, 1758): Distribution, environmental niches and future perspectives
Authors: Marchessaux Guillaume , Gjoni Vojsava , Tantillo Mario Francesco , Bejean Théo , Sarà Gianluca
Published: March 2024

The tufted ghost crab Ocypode cursor (Linnaeus, 1758) found in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean is currently a great example that elucidates concerns within scientific and conservation communities. This species, native to the subtropical Atlantic Ocean and the warmest southeastern Mediterranean Sea (Egypt), has been extending its distribution in both regions since the 1980s, likely due to the warming sea temperatures. These small nocturn crabs are typically found inhabiting sandy beaches and dune environments. This species is an opportunistic predator eating terrestrial and marine prey, especially on sea turtle eggs. Despite its status as a threatened species by two European conventions, there is a lack of knowledge of its ecology and biology. Sometimes considered as an indicator of good ecological status of beaches where it lives, this ghost crab could nevertheless benefit from climate change to extend its distribution range. This review aims to create a baseline on the current knowledge and gaps in the published scientific literature on the ghost crab. Additionally, through an analysis of the existing literature, we also offer insights into the potential risk of beach erosion associated with the expansion of this species.
Au nanoparticle‐catalyzed electron transfer from ammonia‐borane to Ru(NH3)63+ for sensitive biosensing
Authors: Park Seonhwa , Bhatia Aman , Nandhakumar Ponnusamy , Kim Jihyeon , Yang Haesik
Published: March 2024

Metal nanoparticle (NP)‐catalyzed electron transfer (ET) from a reducing agent to a metal complex is useful for signal amplification in biosensors. For efficient ET, the metal complex must undergo rapid outer‐sphere reactions, be highly water‐soluble, and effectively penetrate bio/organic layers on metal NPs. Our study identifies Ru(NH3)63+ as well‐suited for this purpose. Among reducing agents, ammonia‐borane (AB) enables rapid metal NP‐catalyzed ET, with Au, Pt, and Pd NPs displaying similar catalytic activities. The pseudo second‐order rate constant for 20‐nm Au NP‐catalyzed ET from AB to Ru(NH3)63+ (1.4 × 108 M−1 s−1) approaches the diffusion‐controlled rate constant. Despite immunoglobulin G and bovine serum albumin passively adsorbed on Au NPs, catalytic activity remains largely unaffected. Applying Au NP‐catalyzed ET to prostate‐specific antigen detection in human serum achieves a low detection limit of 10 pg/mL. These findings highlight the potential of Ru(NH3)63+ and AB in designing biosensors based on rapid catalytic reaction.
Dulaglutide treatment reverses depression‐like behavior and hippocampal metabolomic homeostasis in mice exposed to chronic mild stress
Authors: Jin Man , Zhang Shipan , Huang Boya , Li Litao , Liang Hao , Ni Aihua , Han Lina , Liang Peng , Liu Jing , Shi Haishui , Lv Peiyuan
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Treatment strategies for depression based on interventions for glucose and lipid metabolism disorders are receiving increasing attention. Investigating the mechanism of their antidepressant effect and exploring new diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers have attracted increasing attention. Dulaglutide, a long‐acting GLP‐1 receptor agonist, has been reported to alleviate cognitive deficits and neuronal damage. However, the antidepressant effect of dulaglutide and, especially, the underlying mechanism are still poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to explore the underlying biomarkers of depression and potential modulatory targets of dulaglutide in chronic mild stress (CMS) mice.

Methods

Sixty mice were randomly divided into a control group (CON group), a CMS+Vehicle group (CMS+Veh group), a CMS+0.3 mg/kg dulaglutide group (Low Dula group), and a CMS+0.6 mg/kg dulaglutide group (High Dula group). Numerous behavioral tests, mainly the open field test, forced swimming test, and tail suspension test, were applied to evaluate the potential effect of dulaglutide treatment on anxiety‐ and depression‐like behaviors in mice exposed to chronic stress. Furthermore, a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry‐based metabolomics approach was utilized to investigate the associated mechanisms of dulaglutide treatment.

Results

Three weeks of dulaglutide treatment significantly reversed depressive‐like but not anxiety‐like behaviors in mice exposed to chronic stress for 4 weeks. The results from the metabolomics analysis showed that a total of 20 differentially expressed metabolites were identified between the CON and CMS+Veh groups, and 46 metabolites were selected between the CMS+Veh and High Dula groups in the hippocampus of the mice. Comprehensive analysis indicated that lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, and tryptophan metabolism were disrupted in model mice that experienced depression and underwent dulaglutide therapy.

Conclusion

The antidepressant effects of dulaglutide in a CMS depression model were confirmed. We identified 64 different metabolites and four major pathways associated with metabolic pathophysiological processes. These primary data provide a new perspective for understanding the antidepressant‐like effects of dulaglutide and may facilitate the use of dulaglutide as a potential therapeutic strategy for depression.
Tailoring ammonia capture in MOFs and COFs: A multi‐scale and machine learning comprehensive investigation of functional group modification
Authors: Stavroglou Georgios K. , Tylianakis Emmanuel , Froudakis George E.
Published: March 2024

Our study aims to examine the impact of ligand functionalization on the ammonia adsorption properties of MOFs and COFs, by combining multi‐scale calculations with machine learning techniques. Density Functional Theory calculations were performed to investigate the interactions between ammonia (NH3) and a comprehensive set of 48 strategically chosen functional groups. In all of the cases, it is observed that functionalized rings exhibit a stronger interaction with ammonia molecule compared to unfunctionalized benzene, while −O2Mg demonstrates the highest interaction energy with ammonia (15 times stronger than the bare benzene). The trend obtained from the thorough DFT screening is verified via Grand Canonical Monte‐Carlo calculations by employing interatomic potentials derived from quantum chemical calculations. Isosteric heat of adsorption plots provide a comprehensive elucidation of the adsorption process, and important insights can be taken for studies in fine‐tuning materials for ammonia adsorption. Furthermore, a proof of concept machine learning (ML) analysis is conducted, which demonstrates that ML can accurately predict NH3 binding energies despite the limited amount of data. The findings derived from our multi‐scale methodology indicate that the functionalization strategy can be utilized to guide synthesis towards MOFs, COFs, or other porous materials for enhanced NH3 adsorption capacity.
Nanopore sequencing with T2T‐CHM13 for accurate detection and preventing the transmission of structural rearrangements in highly repetitive heterochromatin regions in human embryos
Authors: Xia Qiuping , Ding Taoli , Chang Tianli , Ruan Jiangxing , Yang Ji , Ma Menglin , Liu Jiaqi , Liu Zhen , Jiao Shujing , Wu Jian , Ren Jun , Lu Sijia , Li Yanping , Yao Zhongyuan
Published: March 2024

Background

Structural rearrangements in highly repetitive heterochromatin regions can result in miscarriage or foetal malformations; however, detecting and preventing the transmission of these rearrangements has been challenging. Recently, the completion of sequencing of the complete human genome (T2T‐CHM13) has made it possible to accurately characterise structural rearrangements in these regions. We developed a method based on T2T‐CHM13 and nanopore sequencing to detect and block structural rearrangements in highly repetitive heterochromatin sequences.

Methods

T2T‐CHM13‐based “Mapping Allele with Resolved Carrier Status” was performed for couples who carry structural rearrangements in heterochromatin regions. Using nanopore sequencing and the T2T‐CHM13 reference genome, the precise breakpoints of inversions and translocations close to the centromere were detected and haplotypes were constructed using flanking single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Haplotype linkage analysis was then performed by comparing consistent parental SNPs with embryonic SNPs to determine whether the embryos carried hereditary inversions or balanced translocations. Based on copy number variation and haplotype linkage analysis, we transplanted normal embryos, which were further verified by an amniotic fluid test.

Results

To validate this approach, we used nanopore sequencing of families with inversions and reciprocal translocations close to the centromere. Using the T2T‐CHM13 reference genome, we accurately detected inversions and translocations in centromeres, constructed haplotypes and prevented the transmission of structural rearrangements in the offspring.

Conclusions

This study represents the first successful application of T2T‐CHM13 in human reproduction and provides a feasible protocol for detecting and preventing the transmission of structural rearrangements of heterochromatin in embryos.
Design, synthesis, in silico, and in vitro evaluation of novel benzyloxybenzene substituted (S)‐α‐amino amide derivatives as cholinesterases and monoaminoxidases inhibitor
Authors: Akıncıoğlu Akın
Published: March 2024

In this study, a series of novel benzyloxybenzene substituted (S)‐α‐amino acid methyl esters and their amide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory actions against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), monoamine oxidase A (MAO‐A), and monoamine oxidase B (MAO‐B). The synthetic strategy was based on starting from benzyl bromide (5) and 4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde (6). The reaction of 5 and 6 in the presence of K2CO3 gave benzyloxybenzaldehyde 7. Benzyloxybenzene substituted (S)‐α‐amino acid methyl esters 11, 12, 13, (±)‐19, and (±)‐20 were obtained from the reaction of 
L‐amino acid methyl esters with benzyloxybenzaldehyde (7) followed by in situ reduction with NaBH4. The reaction of (S)‐11, (S)‐12, 13, (±)‐19, and (±)‐20 with excess ammonia gave amides (S)‐14, (S)‐15, 16, (±)‐21, and (±)‐22. The in vitro inhibitory activities of compounds against MAO‐A, MAO‐B, AChE, and BChE were investigated. Within the α‐amino acid methyl ester series, 13 (21.32 ± 0.338 µM) showed selectivity by inhibiting the MAO‐B better than MAO‐A. 13 emerged as the most active member of this series, exhibiting a 12‐fold selectivity for MAO‐B. 14 (4.501 ± 0.295 µM) demonstrated a pronounced selectivity for MAO‐A over MAO‐B, with a selectivity ratio of 110‐fold. In addition, it was determined that compound 15 (95.65 ± 3.09 µM) had high selectivity for BChE inhibition. 21 was demonstrated the most potent inhibition (18.36 ± 1.36 µM) against AChE.
The role of biogeographical barriers on the historical dynamics of passerine birds with a circum‐Amazonian distribution
Authors: Bolívar‐Leguizamón Sergio D. , Bocalini Fernanda , Silveira Luís F. , Bravo Gustavo A.
Published: March 2024

Common distributional patterns have provided the foundations of our knowledge of Neotropical biogeography. A distinctive pattern is the “circum‐Amazonian distribution”, which surrounds Amazonia across the forested lowlands south and east of the basin, the Andean foothills, the Venezuelan Coastal Range, and the Tepuis. The underlying evolutionary and biogeographical mechanisms responsible for this widespread pattern of avian distribution have yet to be elucidated. Here, we test the effects of biogeographical barriers in four species in the passerine family Thamnophilidae by performing comparative demographic analyses of genome‐scale data. Specifically, we used flanking regions of ultraconserved regions to estimate population historical parameters and genealogical trees and tested demographic models reflecting contrasting biogeographical scenarios explaining the circum‐Amazonian distribution. We found that taxa with circum‐Amazonian distribution have at least two main phylogeographical clusters: (1) Andes, often extending into Central America and the Tepuis; and (2) the remaining of their distribution. These clusters are connected through corridors along the Chaco–Cerrado and southeastern Amazonia, allowing gene flow between Andean and eastern South American populations. Demographic histories are consistent with Pleistocene climatic fluctuations having a strong influence on the diversification history of circum‐Amazonian taxa, Refugia played a crucial role, enabling both phenotypic and genetic differentiation, yet maintaining substantial interconnectedness to keep considerable levels of gene flow during different dry/cool and warm/humid periods. Additionally, steep environmental gradients appear to play a critical role in maintaining both genetic and phenotypic structure.
Invasion genomics of lionfish in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Bernardi Giacomo , Azzurro Ernesto , Bariche Michel , Jimenez Carlos , Kalogirou Stefanos , Kleitou Periklis
Published: March 2024

The rate of biological invasions is steadily increasing, with major ecological and economic impacts accounting for billions of dollars in damage as a result. One spectacular example is the western Atlantic invasion by lionfishes. In the Mediterranean Sea, invasions from the Red Sea via the Suez Canal (termed Lessepsian invasions) comprise more than 100 fish species, including a recent invasion by lionfish. In light of the devastating effects of lionfish in the Caribbean Sea, understanding the dynamics of Mediterranean lionfish invasion is crucial. The Lessepsian lionfish invasion started in 2012, and rapidly spread to the central Mediterranean. Here, we used thousands of RAD seq genomic markers to study the population dynamics of this invasion. While we did not find a reduction in genetic diversity between source (Red Sea) and invasive (Mediterranean) populations (i.e., bottleneck effects), we found evidence of population structure within the invasive range in the Mediterranean Sea. We found that loci that are potentially under selection may play an important role in invasion success (in particular, genes involved in osmoregulation and fin spine sizes). Genomic approaches proved powerful in examining the ecological and evolutionary patterns of successful invaders and may be used as tools to understand and potentially mitigate future invasions.
Gypsum lichens: A global data set of lichen species from gypsum ecosystems
Authors: Muriel Sergio , Aragón Gregorio , Martínez Isabel , Prieto María
Published: March 2024

Lichens are significant components of the biological soil crust communities in gypsum ecosystems and are involved in several processes related to ecosystem functioning, such as water and nutrient cycles or protection against soil erosion. Although numerous studies centered on lichen taxonomy and ecology have been performed in these habitats, global information about lichen species from gypsum substrates or their distributional ranges at a global scale is lacking. Thus, we compiled a global data set of recorded lichen species growing on gypsum. This review is based on systematic searches in two bibliographic databases (Web of Science and the more specialized database Mattick's Literature Index) using various keywords related to the substrate or ecology (i.e., gypsum, gypsiferous, semiarid, saxicolous, terricolous). In addition, we revised lichen literature from countries with gypsum soils using Mattick's, Hamburg University's Worldwide checklist, and different national lichen checklists. Ultimately the review includes a total of 321 studies. This data set included 6114 specimen records belonging to 336 recorded lichen species from 26 countries throughout the world. The results showed large differences in the number of species recorded among countries, reflecting differences in the sampling effort. We provide a table with the number of studies and species in relation to gypsum surface in order to account for the bias produced by sampling effort. The number of studies carried out per country was not related to the gypsum surface but probably to other factors, such as accessibility to field sampling, economic or political factors, or the presence of a wider community of lichenologists. Thus, Spain and Germany hosted the highest number of recorded species (160 and 114 species, respectively). Outside the European continent, only a few countries had a large number of species: Morocco (46), United States (42), and Iran (37). Remarkably, countries from the southern hemisphere (i.e., Australia, Chile, Namibia, and South Africa) showed a low number of studies from gypsum lands, supporting the stated biases observed in sampling efforts among countries. Considering the most studied countries, the results show that Teloschistaceae was the most represented family in gypsum ecosystems followed by Verrucariaceae and Cladoniaceae. Regarding particular species, Psora decipiens and Squamarina lentigera were some of the most widespread and abundant species in these habitats. This data set constitutes a basic and first step toward a much more comprehensive database, to be periodically updated in future releases, which also serves to identify countries or territories where future studies should be accomplished. There are no copyright restrictions on the data; please cite this data paper if the data are used in publications and teaching events.
Rapid exometabolome footprinting combined with multivariate statistics: A powerful tool for bioprocess optimization
Authors: Reiter Alexander , Wesseling Lars , Wiechert Wolfgang , Oldiges Marco
Published: March 2024

Corynebacterium glutamicum is used as an industrial platform organism for amino acid production. Previously, the organism was utilized to produce l‐histidine with research focusing on metabolic engineering approaches to increase titer and yield. Only a few studies have been published that provide information on bioprocess development, with media optimization and fed‐batch cultivation procedure being particularly promising areas. In this work, we show how experimental setups such as miniature cultivation technology, dynamic and time‐optimized LC‐MS/MS metabolic footprinting tools, and automated workflows for the detection of local and global metabolic patterns can significantly accelerate bioprocess development. Potential media bottlenecks in form of phosphate and magnesium availability were identified by sensitivity analysis in parallelized microscale cultivation assisted by lab automation. A rapid dilute‐and‐shoot flow‐injection‐analysis tandem mass spectrometry approach was used to cope with the resulting cultivation throughput and allowed to quantify amino acids with 1 min per sample. We were able to increase the l‐histidine titer of a C. glutamicum random mutagenesis mutant by a factor of 5.8 through process optimization while also identifying both known and previously unknown targets for additional strain improvements. The presented methodology can be seen as a supplement to traditional approaches in the field of bioprocess development.
Surveying neurologist perspectives and knowledge of epilepsy surgery to identify barriers to surgery referral
Authors: Seneviratne Namal U. , Ho Sophey Y. , Correa Daniel J.
Published: March 2024

Objective

Epilepsy surgery is an effective means of treating medically refractory epilepsy (MRE), but it remains underused. We aimed to analyze the perspectives and knowledge of referring neurologists in the New York metropolitan area, who serve a large epilepsy population.

Methods

We adapted a previous Canadian survey by Roberts et al. (2015), adding questions regarding demographic descriptors, insurance coverage, training and practice details, and perceived social barriers for patients. We surveyed neurologists directly affiliated with Montefiore Medical Center and those referring to Montefiore's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. Participants had 10 weeks to fill out an online Qualtrics survey with weekly reminders.

Results

Of 117 neurologists contacted, 51 eligible neurologists completed the survey (63.8% Montefiore, 35.0% referring group). A high proportion of the results were from epilepsy‐trained individuals (41.2%) and neurologists who graduated residency ≤19 years ago (80.4%). 80.4% of respondents felt that epilepsy surgery is safe, but only 56.9% would refer a patient for surgical workup after two failed trials of anti‐seizure medications. Epileptologists and providers with a larger volume of epilepsy patients and electroencephalogram readings had better knowledge of the epilepsy surgery workup guidelines. When asked to rank social barriers to patients receiving surgery, participants were most concerned about lack of social support, financial insecurity, and a patient's dual role as a caregiver.

Significance

Our study suggests continued reluctance of neurologists regarding epilepsy surgery, and deficiencies in the knowledge and adherence to the recommended guidelines. In the context of prior studies, these results showed improved understanding of the definition of MRE (80.4%) and an increased likelihood to refer eligible patients as early as possible (78.4%) in line with current consensus recommendations. The finding that epilepsy‐trained and more epilepsy/electroencephalogram‐facing neurologists showed better understanding of the guidelines suggests that increased education efforts should be targeted at non‐epileptologists.

Plain Language Summary

Our study asked New York City doctors about their approach to epilepsy surgery. Many do not consider it as early as they could in treatment plans. The doctors with extra epilepsy training were better at knowing when to consider surgery.
Research on the deformation mechanism and ACC control technology of gob‐side roadway in an extra‐thick coal seam with varying thickness
Authors: Shan Renliang , Liu Shuai , Wang Hailong , Li Zhaolong , Huang Pengcheng , Dou Haoyu
Published: March 2024

To improve the extraction of coal resources, gob‐side entry driving is gradually being promoted and applied. However, as the thickness of the coal seam increases, the deformation control of the roadway becomes more difficult. Aiming at this problem, a combination of theoretical calculation, numerical simulation, and field test was used to analyze the aspects of the stress environment, surrounding rock properties, and support forms. The phenomenon and mechanization of intensified deformation and failure of roadway with increasing coal seam thickness were revealed. The specific results include: (1) The ratio of principal stress at the excavation position controls the maximum failure depth of roadway, and the direction of principal stress determines the location of the maximum failure depth; (2) As the thickness of the coal seam increases, the properties of the surrounding rock at the excavation position decrease, the principal stress ratio increases, and the deflection angle of the principal stress increases, which lead to an intensification of the deformation and failure of the roadway. Based on the deformation and failure characteristics of the roadway and the shortcomings of the original support form, a control strategy and support scheme based on a new support structure called “Anchor Cable with C‐shaped Tube” is proposed, which has achieved better deformation control effect in on‐site application.
Anodes for Li‐ion batteries based on titanium fluorides
Authors: Astrova Ekaterina V. , Parfeneva Alesya V. , Li Galina V. , Ulin Vladimir P. , Yagovkina Maria A. , Nashchekin Alexey V. , Beregulin Eugene V. , Rumyantsev Aleksander M.
Published: March 2024

The work is devoted to a comparative study of the electrochemical behavior and molecular level transformations in TiF3 and TiOF2 electrodes of Li‐ion batteries at charge‐discharge processes. Based on analysis of the electrode voltage profiles, we propose possible redox reactions which occur with the change of Ti oxidizing state. According to these models, titanium trifluoride has a reversible capacity of 600 mAh/g, TiOF2 of 395 mAh/g. It has been shown that titanium oxyfluoride is characterized by a long cycle life while specific capacity of the titanium trifluoride rapidly degrades. The degradation of TiF3 is associated with a temporal molecular ordering and decrease in the chemical activity of titanium and lithium fluoride formed during the reversible introduction of lithium. The related effect lies under the superreversibility phenomenon in TiOF2 electrodes (Coulomb efficiency more than 100%). The dependences of the equilibrium voltage and chemical diffusion coefficient of Li on the concentration of Li were determined from GITT analysis.
Building forests for the future
Authors: MacKenzie A. Robert , Ullah Sami , Foyer Christine H.
Published: March 2024

Many governments have set ambitious targets for tree planting and increased woodland cover as a key part of actions to reach net‐zero carbon emissions by 2050. However, many uncertainties remain concerning how and where to expand tree cover, what species to plant, and how best to manage new plantations. Much contemporary forestry has been based on even‐aged monocultures, largely because of perceived advantages for timber production. However, in order to play a key role in climate change mitigation future forests will have to achieve timber production (and wider ecosystem service provision) alongside resilience to biotic and abiotic challenge. It is therefore crucial that appropriate informed decisions are made with regard to the structure, composition, and planning of future forests, in order to provide sustainable solutions that provide environmental, economic, and health benefits to society. Genetically diverse, mixed, and irregular forests, with their higher biodiversity and niche complementarity, are promising new forest configurations for regulating the water cycle, storing carbon, and delivering other goods and services. In the following discussion, we have used UK information to illustrate the benefits of mixed woodland versus monocultures and highlighted current issues related to government initiatives and policies for current and future forests. However, similar issues and problems are encountered globally.
Data‐driven MEG analysis to extract fMRI resting‐state networks
Authors: Pelzer Esther A. , Sharma Abhinav , Florin Esther
Published: March 2024

The electrophysiological basis of resting‐state networks (RSN) is still under debate. In particular, no principled mechanism has been determined that is capable of explaining all RSN equally well. While magnetoencephalography (MEG) and electroencephalography are the methods of choice to determine the electrophysiological basis of RSN, no standard analysis pipeline of RSN yet exists. In this article, we compare the two main existing data‐driven analysis strategies for extracting RSNs from MEG data and introduce a third approach. The first approach uses phase–amplitude coupling to determine the RSN. The second approach extracts RSN through an independent component analysis of the Hilbert envelope in different frequency bands, while the third new approach uses a singular value decomposition instead. To evaluate these approaches, we compare the MEG‐RSN to the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)‐RSN from the same subjects. Overall, it was possible to extract RSN with MEG using all three techniques, which matched the group‐specific fMRI‐RSN. Interestingly the new approach based on SVD yielded significantly higher correspondence to five out of seven fMRI‐RSN than the two existing approaches. Importantly, with this approach, all networks—except for the visual network—had the highest correspondence to the fMRI networks within one frequency band. Thereby we provide further insights into the electrophysiological underpinnings of the fMRI‐RSNs. This knowledge will be important for the analysis of the electrophysiological connectome.
Dynamic threat–reward neural processing under semi‐naturalistic ecologically relevant scenarios
Authors: Levitas Daniel J. , James Thomas W.
Published: March 2024

Studies of affective neuroscience have typically employed highly controlled, static experimental paradigms to investigate the neural underpinnings of threat and reward processing in the brain. Yet our knowledge of affective processing in more naturalistic settings remains limited. Specifically, affective studies generally examine threat and reward features separately and under brief time periods, despite the fact that in nature organisms are often exposed to the simultaneous presence of threat and reward features for extended periods. To study the neural mechanisms of threat and reward processing under distinct temporal profiles, we created a modified version of the PACMAN game that included these environmental features. We also conducted two automated meta‐analyses to compare the findings from our semi‐naturalistic paradigm to those from more constrained experiments. Overall, our results revealed a distributed system of regions sensitive to threat imminence and a less distributed system related to reward imminence, both of which exhibited overlap yet neither of which involved the amygdala. Additionally, these systems broadly overlapped with corresponding meta‐analyses, with the notable absence of the amygdala in our findings. Together, these findings suggest a shared system for salience processing that reveals a heightened sensitivity toward environmental threats compared to rewards when both are simultaneously present in an environment. The broad correspondence of our findings to meta‐analyses, consisting of more tightly controlled paradigms, illustrates how semi‐naturalistic studies can corroborate previous findings in the literature while also potentially uncovering novel mechanisms resulting from the nuances and contexts that manifest in such dynamic environments.
Efficacy of ramucirumab combination chemotherapy as second‐line treatment in patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction after exposure to checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy as first‐line therapy
Authors: Masetti Michael , Al‐Batran Salah‐Eddin , Goetze Thorsten O. , Thuss‐Patience Peter , Knorrenschild Jorge Riera , Goekkurt Eray , Folprecht Gunnar , Ettrich Thomas Jens , Lindig Udo , Luley Kim Barbara , Pink Daniel , Dechow Tobias , Sookthai Disorn , Junge Sabine , Loose Maria , Pauligk Claudia , Lorenzen Sylvie
Published: March 2024

FOLFOX plus nivolumab represents a standard of care for first‐line therapy of advanced gastroesophageal cancer (aGEC) with positive PD‐L1 expression. The efficacy of second‐line VEGFR‐2 inhibition with ramucirumab (RAM) plus chemotherapy after progression to immunochemotherapy remains unclear. Medical records of patients with aGEC enrolled in the randomized phase II AIO‐STO‐0417 trial after treatment failure to first‐line FOLFOX plus nivolumab and ipilimumab were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups based on second‐line therapy: RAM plus chemotherapy (RAM group) or treatment without RAM (control group). Eighty three patients were included. In the overall population, progression‐free survival (PFS) in the RAM group was superior to the control (4.5 vs 2.9 months). Responders (CR/PR) to first‐line immunochemotherapy receiving RAM containing second‐line therapy had prolonged OS from start of first‐line therapy (28.9 vs 16.5 months), as well as second‐line OS (9.6 vs 7.5 months), PFS (5.6 vs 2.9 months) and DCR (53% vs 29%) compared to the control. PD‐L1 CPS ≥1 was 42% and 44% for the RAM and the control, respectively. Patients with CPS ≥1 in the RAM group showed better tumor control (ORR 25% vs 10%) and improved survival (total OS 11.5 vs 8.0 months; second‐line OS 6.5 vs 3.9 months; PFS 4.5 vs 1.6 months) compared to the control. Prior exposure to first‐line FOLFOX plus dual checkpoint inhibition followed by RAM plus chemotherapy shows favorable response and survival rates especially in patients with initial response and positive PD‐L1 expression and has the potential to advance the treatment paradigm in aGEC.