bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainable Synthesis of α‐Hydroxycarboxylic Acids by Manganese Catalyzed Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Coupling of Ethylene Glycol and Primary Alcohols**
Authors: Waiba Satyadeep , Maji Kakoli , Maiti Mamata , Maji Biplab
Published: January 2023

Herein, we report a straightforward synthesis of valuable α‐hydroxycarboxylic acid molecules via an acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of ethylene glycol and primary alcohols. A bench‐stable manganese complex catalyzed the reaction, which is scalable, with the product being isolated with high yields and selectivities under mild conditions. The protocol is environmentally benign, producing water and hydrogen gas as the only byproducts. Methanol can also be used as a C1 source for producing the platform molecule lactic acid, with a high turnover of >104. The methodology was also used to functionalize alcohols derived from natural products and fatty acids. Furthermore, it was applied for synthesizing α‐amino acid, α‐thiocarboxylic acid, and several drugs and bioactive molecules, including endogenous metabolites, Danshensu, Enalapril, Lisinopril, and Rosmarinic acid. Preliminary mechanistic studies were performed to shed light on the mechanism involved in the reaction.
Enantiodivergent Hydrogenation of Exocyclic α,β‐Unsaturated Lactams Enabled by Switching the N‐Chirality of Iridium Catalyst
Authors: Zhang Ronghua , Xu Shan , Luo Zhou , Liu Yuanyuan , Zhang Junliang
Published: January 2023

Central chirality is an important chiral element used in the design of chiral ligands and catalysts. Mostly, the attention of organic chemists is focused on developing of chiral ligands with stable stereogenic centers. However, the N‐chirality in chiral ligand design has been rarely explored due to its flexibility. Here we demonstrate the design, synthesis, and application of a class of simple P,N‐ligands with flexible N‐chirality and their derived iridium complexes with fixed N‐chiral stereocenters. Both fixed configurations of the N‐stereocenter of the iridium complexes could be selectively formed from the same chiral ligand. This pair of diastereoisomeric iridium complexes showed good performance in the enantiodivergent asymmetric hydrogenation of exocyclic α,β‐unsaturated lactams. The N−H group plays an impressive role in catalytic activity. Computational studies emphasized the importance of N‐chirality and N−H group.
A New Bacterial Adenosine‐Derived Nucleoside as an Example of RNA Modification Damage
Authors: Bessler Larissa , Vogt Lea‐Marie , Lander Marc , Dal Magro Christina , Keller Patrick , Kühlborn Jonas , Kampf Christopher J. , Opatz Till , Helm Mark
Published: January 2023

The fields of RNA modification and RNA damage both exhibit a plethora of non‐canonical nucleoside structures. While RNA modifications have evolved to improve RNA function, the term RNA damage implies detrimental effects. Based on stable isotope labelling and mass spectrometry, we report the identification and characterisation of 2‐methylthio‐1,N6‐ethenoadenosine (ms2ϵA), which is related to 1,N6‐ethenoadenine, a lesion resulting from exposure of nucleic acids to alkylating chemicals in vivo. In contrast, a sophisticated isoprene labelling scheme revealed that ms2ϵA biogenesis involves cleavage of a prenyl moiety in the known transfer RNA (tRNA) modification 2‐methylthio‐N6‐isopentenyladenosine (ms2i6A). The relative abundance of ms2ϵA in tRNAs from translating ribosomes suggests reduced function in comparison to its parent RNA modification, establishing the nature of the new structure in a newly perceived overlap of the two previously separate fields, namely an RNA modification damage.
Density functional study of transition metal (Fe,Co,Ni)‐doped C60 fullerenes as 6‐thioguanine delivery system
Authors: Wu ShiQuan , Li Li , Liang QiQi , Gao HuaXu , Hu DeYuan , Tang TianYu , Tang Yanlin
Published: January 2023

The aim of this work is to investigate the adsorption and release mechanism of 6‐thioguanine (6TG) on transition metal (Fe,Co,Ni)‐doped C60 and C60 fullerene nanomaterials by density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) to better understand the targeted drug delivery performance of fullerene to 6TG anticancer drug. The adsorption energy, solvation energy, and related chemical properties were calculated. According to thermodynamic analysis, the interaction between 6TG drug and fullerene nanocarriers is exothermic and spontaneous. Density of state (DOS) and natural bonding orbital (NBO) analyses showed that during the adsorption process of 6TG drug on the surface of fullerene, 6TG was the charge donor and fullerene was the charge acceptor. Atoms in molecule (AIM) and independent gradient model based on Hirshfeld partition (IGMH) analyses revealed Van der Waals and hydrogen bond interactions between the 6TG drug and fullerenes. In addition, fullerenes doped with transition metals can increase the solvation effect of the 6TG drug and shorten its release time from fullerenes. These results indicate that transition metal (Fe,Co,Ni)‐doped C60 fullerene can be the promising anticancer drug delivery system for 6TG.
Enhanced thermal conductivity of polyarylene ether nitrile composites blending hexagonal boron nitride
Authors: Zhu Ying , Luo Yumeng , Tang Xiran , Tong Lifen , Liu Xiaobo
Published: January 2023

The intrinsic thermal conductivity coefficient of polyarylene ether nitrile (PEN) is low, which brings difficulty in meeting the need of advanced electronic equipment and microelectronic integrated circuit. In this research, h‐BN was mixed into PEN as fillers in view of its remarkable thermal conductivity and electrical insulation, and the influence of filler content on properties in many aspects was studied in depth. The microcosmic arrangement and interfacial compatibility between fillers and matrix were studied by SEM. AR, DSC, TGA and hot‐disk methods were performed to analyze thermal property. The results confirmed that thermal conductivity of composites was increased to 0.5444 Wm−1 K−1 at 30 wt% filler content, having 22.89% increment compared with PEN copolymer without addictive. Moreover, this PEN/h‐BN composite shows excellent thermal properties with Tg of 214.83°C, and T5% of 535.09°C. Furthermore, the dielectric constant and insulation performance of composite with 30 wt% h‐BN are improved, while the dielectric loss is kept low of 0.02 at 1 kHz. The tensile strength is 62.3 MPa and elastic modulus is 3567.5 MPa. In a whole, the 30 wt% h‐BN/PEN composite prepared in this work exhibit great potentiality and promising prospect in the field of electronics.
A long walk in the Italian countryside: Large‐scale geophysical survey within the emptyscapes initiative: Examples from the Grosseto‐Roselle valley, South Tuscany, Italy
Authors: Saito Ken
Published: January 2023

In Italy, the potential of geophysical prospection for the characterization of archaeological landscapes, especially in previously unexplored rural or formerly urban areas, has rarely been acknowledged or seriously tested in the field, leaving the character and density of rural settlement across time virtually unknown outside areas favourable to aerial survey. It is obvious, however, that the open countryside must conceal a wide variety of archaeological information, difficult to detect and analyse within an Italian research framework largely dominated in the past by field‐walking survey and artefact collection. In response, this article presents some initial results and practical lessons from a programme of large‐scale magnetic survey aimed at the initial exploration of the lowland landscape of the Grosseto‐Roselle valley, a few kilometres inland from the Adriatic coast, in south‐western Tuscany. It is hoped that the results briefly illustrated here will encourage others to undertake similar work elsewhere in Italy and around the Mediterranean as part of a move away from an essentially ‘site‐based’ approach towards a truly ‘landscape’ perspective.
A novel fixed‐time sliding mode control for nonlinear manipulator systems based on adaptive disturbance observer
Authors: Shi Ran , Zhang Xin , Zhu Zijun
Published: January 2023

Considering that in the trajectory tracking control of a nonlinear robotic manipulator system, the control effect is easily limited by the initial state of the system, and the system has modeling error, unknown disturbance, and friction in the actual control, to overcome the above problems, a fixed‐time sliding mode control (SMC) strategy based on adaptive disturbance observer (ADO) is developed in this paper. Firstly, feedforward compensation of the system is achieved by developing an ADO to accurately estimate the compound disturbances in the system. Second, a new fixed‐time sliding mode (SM) surface is presented to overcome the singularity issue and accelerate the error convergence. In addition, to enhance the performance of the reaching phase, a variable exponential power reaching law (VEPRL) is developed, which can effectively adjust the convergence rate. Through rigorous theoretical analysis, it is shown that the system state can be stabilized at a fixed time, and an upper bound on the convergence time is also given. Finally, the effectiveness of the control method is verified by comparing it with different control schemes in simulation.
Impact of prebiopsy MRI on prostate cancer staging: Results from the Norwegian Prostate Cancer Registry
Authors: Haug Erik Skaaheim , Myklebust Tor Åge , Juliebø‐Jones Patrick , Reisæter Lars Anders Rokne , Aas Kirsti , Berg Arne Stenrud , Müller Christoph , Hofmann Bjørn , Størkersen Øystein , Nilsen Kim L. , Johannesen Tom Børge , Beisland Christian
Published: January 2023

Objectives

The aim of this study is to evaluate the 2015 introduction of prebiopsy magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate (MRI‐P) as the standard of care for diagnosing prostate cancer (PCa) by the Norwegian public health care authorities. There were three specific objectives of this study: first, to evaluate the consequences of using different TNM manuals for clinical T‐staging (cT‐staging) in a national setting; second, to determine if the data reveals that MRI‐P based cT‐staging is superior to digital rectal examination (DRE)‐based cT‐staging compared with pathological T‐stage (pT‐stage) post radical prostatectomy; and third, to assess whether treatment allocations have changed over time.

Materials and Methods

All patients registered in the Norwegian Prostate Cancer Registry between 2004 and 2021 were retrieved and 5538 were eligible for inclusion. Concordance between clinical T‐stage (cT‐stage) and pT‐stage was assessed by percentage agreement, Cohen's kappa and Gwet's agreement.

Results

MR visualisation of lesions influences reporting of tumour extension beyond DRE findings. Agreement between cT‐stage and pT‐stage declined from 2004 to 2009, which coincided with an increase in the percentage being pT3. From 2010, agreement increased, which aligned with changes in cT‐staging and the introduction of MRI‐P. From 2017, regarding the reporting of cT‐DRE and cT‐Total (overall cT‐stage), agreement diminished for cT‐DRE but remained relatively stable (>60%) for cT‐Total. Regarding treatment allocation, the study suggests that staging with MRI‐P has shifted treatment towards radiotherapy in locally advanced high‐risk disease.

Conclusion

Introduction of MRI‐P has affected cT‐stage reporting. Agreement between cT‐stage and pT‐stage appears to have improved. This study suggests that use of MRI‐P influences treatment decisions in certain patient subgroups.
The effect of vitamin D on morphine preference in rats: Possible biochemical and DRD2–GDNF signaling
Authors: Saeedfar Mahbubeh , Ardjmand Abolfazl , Alani Behrang , Ghaderi Amir , Banafshe Hamid Reza , Shahaboddin Mohammad Esmaeil , Ghavipanjeh Gholamreza
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Despite half a century of research on vitamin D (Vit. D), its link to substance abuse and dependence has only been discussed in recent decades. Evidence also shows the involvement of Vit. D in the evolution of dopaminergic neurons in the nucleus accumbens, an increase in the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase, and the regulation of dopaminergic processes. The novel idea for this work is taken from a hypothesis given about the effectiveness of Vit. D on dopamine signaling pathway. It is therefore presumed that Vit. D can be considered an effective therapeutic approach for narcotic addiction and substance abuse.

Methods

The animals were assigned into six groups (control, vehicle, Morphine [Mor.], and Vit. D [250, 500, and 1000 IU/kg, i.p.]). Following each conditioning session in a conditioned place preference (CPP) model, the animals received Vit. D. Afterward, the locomotor activity of the animals was assessed using open‐field apparatus. Malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), thiol, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured in the brain. The relative DRD2 and GDNF expressions (%) were also measured in the hippocampus.

Results

Vit. D administration after Mor. caused a significant increase in the place preference index in the acquisition phase (p < .05). Vit. D altered the oxidation/antioxidation profiles (CAT, SOD, MDA, NO, TAC, and Thiol). Vit. D was more effective than Mor. in the expression of GDNF (p < .0001); however, in the expression of DRD2, this was only the case for 1000 IU Vit. D (p < .0001).

Conclusions

Considering the increased place preference index induced by Mor., it can be concluded that Vit. D interacts via the oxidative pathway and DRD2–GDNF signaling to potentiate the Mor. effect.
Employees' response to corporate greenwashing
Authors: Robertson Jennifer L. , Montgomery A. Wren , Ozbilir Timur
Published: January 2023

Research on corporate greenwashing has expanded rapidly in recent years. At the same time, emerging studies in related literatures have found that employees are seeking out firms that are social and environmental leaders, and employee activism within firms is growing. However, the effect of firms' exaggeration and misrepresentation of environmental claims, or greenwashing, on their own employees has been overlooked. Accordingly, we investigate greenwashing from an organizational psychology lens, exploring the impact it can have on employees, and whether these effects differ for different types of employees. Using data collected at three separate time points from a sample of employees educated in environmental science/sustainability, our results show that greenwashing was positively related to perceptions of corporate hypocrisy, which in turn, resulted in higher turnover intentions. We also found that these relationships were moderated by employees' level of environmental education. By uncovering the deleterious effects greenwashing can have for employees, and by extension for their employers, these findings generate insights into the extent to which corporate environmental communications can backfire.
Insecticidal and Repellent Effects of the Essential Oils Extract from Zanthoxylum myriacanthum against Three Storage Pests
Authors: Li Bo‐Ya , Zhang Jia‐Wei , Zheng Yu , Wang Dan , Wang Cheng‐Fang , Du Shu‐Shan
Published: January 2023

The co‐storage of two or more Chinese herbal medicines can effectively prevent the herbs from the damage by pests. Thus, it is important to protect herbs and crops to study Chinese herbal medicines and their medicinal components against storage pests. This study aimed to assess the insecticidal activities and repellent effect of essential oils (EOs) extracted from fruits at different periods from Zanthoxylum myriacanthum Wall. ex Hook. f. (1 h, 2 h, 3–5 h and 5–7 h), and their major compounds against three kinds of pests (Tribolium castaneum, Lasioderma serricorne, and Liposcelis bostrychophila). The results of gas chromatography‐mass spectrometer analysis revealed homomyrtenol (22.56 %, 28.01 %, 28.48 % and 28.41 %, respectively) and p‐cymene (30.58 %, 13.95 %, 24.97 % and 6.85 %, respectively) were the common major compounds of the EOs at 1 h, 2 h, 3–5 h, and 5–7 h. m‐Cymene contents in EOs of fruits, 1 h, 2 h and 3–5 h were 3.85 %, 0.95 %, 6.71 %, and 6.15 %, respectively. According to Principal component analysis (PCA), the composition of fruits′ EO was significantly different from other EOs due to the different collection times. The bio‐assays showed that EOs and major compounds were toxic to all three pests, but the fumigation effect on L. bostrychophila was not noticeable. EOs extracted at different times had a repellent effect on the three pests at the highest concentration (78.63 nL/cm2), but the attractive effects of the EOs of 3–5 h, 5–7 h, and p‐cymene were observed at the low concentrations (3.15, 0.63 and 0.13 nL/cm2). Our results suggest that Z. myriacanthum have the potential to be developed as biological insecticides.
Titanium‐Based Static Mixer Electrodes to Improve the Current Density of Slurry Electrodes**
Authors: Percin Korcan , Hereijgers Jonas , Mulandi Nicolas , Breugelmans Tom , Wessling Matthias
Published: January 2023

Complex geometries for electrodes are a great challenge in electrochemical applications. Slurry electrodes have been one example, which use complex flow distributors to improve the charge transfer between the current collector and the slurry particles. Here we use titanium‐based flow distributors produced by indirect 3D‐printing to improve further the electron transfer from highly conductive flow distributors to the slurry particles for a vanadium redox flow application. The titanium static mixers are directly coated with graphite to increase the activity for vanadium redox reactions. Increasing layers of graphite have shown an optimum for the positive and negative electrolytes. The application of heat treatment on the electrodes improves the anodic and cathodic current peaks drastically. Testing the highly conductive static mixers in a self‐made redox flow cell results in 110 mA cm−2 discharge polarization.
Cycloisomerization of Alkyne‐Tethered N‐Acyloxycarbamates to 2‐(3H)Oxazolones through Nitrenoid‐Mediated Carboxyamidation
Authors: Su Siyuan , Wu Tongtong , Xia Yuanzhi , Wink Donald J. , Lee Daesung
Published: January 2023

The cycloisomerization of alkyne‐tethered N‐benzoyloxycarbamates to 2‐(3H)oxazolones is described. Two catalytic systems are tailored for intramolecular 5‐exo‐alkyne carboxyamidation and concomitant alkene isomerization. PtCl2/CO (5 mol%, toluene, 100 °C) promotes both carboxyamidation and alkene isomerization but has a limited substrate scope. On the other hand, FeCl3 (5 mol%, CH3CN, 100 °C) promotes carboxyamidation effectively but a cocatalyst is required for the exocyclic alkene isomerization. Thus, a two‐step one‐pot protocol has been developed for a broader reaction scope, which involves FeCl3‐catalyzed carboxyamidation and base‐induced alkene isomerization. Crossover experiments suggest that these reactions proceed mainly through a mechanism involving acylnitrenoid intermediates rather than carbenoid intermediates.
Co Nanoparticles Confined in Mesoporous Mo/N Co‐Doped Polyhedral Carbon Frameworks towards High‐Efficiency Oxygen Reduction
Authors: Wang Tianwei , Gao Sanshuang , Wei Tianran , Qin Yongji , Zhang Shusheng , Ding Junyang , Liu Qian , Luo Jun , Liu Xijun
Published: January 2023

Exploiting effective non‐noble metal electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial for fuel cells and metal‐air batteries. Herein, we designed and fabricated Co nanoparticles confined in Mo/N co‐doped polyhedral carbon frameworks (Co‐NP/MNCF) derived from polyoxometalate‐encapsuled metal–organic framework, which showed comparable ORR performance with commercial Pt/C and a larger diffusion‐limited current density. Moreover, the Co‐NP/MNCF also exhibited excellent ORR stability and methanol tolerance. These appealing performances can be attributed to the porosity regulation and heteroatom doping of metal–organic framework derived polyhedral carbon frameworks, which could be beneficial for the exposure of more active sites, the optimization of electronic structure and the mass transfer of electrolyte/electron/ion.
Mathematical study and simulation on stenosed carotid arteries with the help of a two‐phase blood flow model
Authors: Maurya Pooja , Upadhyay Virendra , Chaturvedi Surya Kant , Kumar Dinesh
Published: January 2023

The present study is focused on a medical problem called stenosed carotid artery. The problem is formulated with the help of a two‐phase blood flow model. The non‐Newtonian nature of blood is considered that hold power law. Physical quantities were expressed in tensorial form. Analytical and numerical methods are used to solve equations under given boundary conditions. The effects of various parameters on blood flow like stenosis size, flow flux, resistance, haematocrit, pressure drop, etc. were studied and shown through various graphs. Parameter , which ensures that the fluid is Newtonian or non‐Newtonian; its impact on pressure drop; resistance to flow; and flow flux were obtained during the disease and presented through the graph. A relationship between pressure drop and haematocrit was obtained, which was helpful to predict fluctuation in blood flow during stenosis. We have also given a medical use for this model with the help of pathological data. We also analyzed steady and laminar flow in a carotid artery for different heights of stenosis. The study of various physiological parameters has been performed on the basis of blockage percentage and concentration of haematocrit. The nature of the red blood corpuscle (RBC) phase is considered liquid packets in a semi‐permeable membrane, which makes this model close to reality.
Thermoelectric Modules: Key Issues in Architectural Design and Contact Optimization
Authors: Basu Ranita
Published: January 2023

Interplay between the phonons and electrons makes thermoelectric engineering enigmatic.In recent years, substantial improvement in the performance of thermoelectric materials has drawn considerable attention in experimenting their prospective applications in the thermoelectric technology. It serves as a bond between the thermoelectric alloys/materials and the modules/devices and so needs to be meticulously planned, engineered and integrated to gratify the performance of the thermoelectric products either for cooling or power generation. Here, the principle of thermoelectricity has been discussed along with the different feasible architectures and synthesis methodologies. In addition, the review also discusses the role of contact engineering, as the reliability of the thermoelectric devices depends on the overall assemblage. Moreover, thermoelectric applications are limited to niche markets wherever the need of reliability surpasses the requirement of conversion efficiency. Thus, contact issues which includes thermomechanical stresses at the interface, bonding strength and resistance at the interface are also discussed.
Robust biased estimators for Poisson regression model: Simulation and applications
Authors: Lukman Adewale F. , Arashi Mohammad , Prokaj Vilmos
Published: January 2023

The method of maximum likelihood flops when there is linear dependency (multicollinearity) and outlier in the generalized linear models. In this study, we combined the ridge estimator with the transformed M‐estimator (MT) and the conditionally unbiased bounded influence estimator (CE). The two new estimators are called the robust MT estimator and Robust‐CE. A Monte Carlo study revealed that the proposed estimators dominate for the generalized linear models with Poisson response and log link function. The real‐life application results support the simulation outcome.
A hybrid location‐dependent ultra convolutional neural network‐based vehicle number plate recognition approach for intelligent transportation systems
Authors: Ramasamy Sathya , Selvarajan Ananthi , Kaliyaperumal Vaidehi , Aruchamy Prasanth
Published: January 2023

In today's world, identifying the owner and proprietor of a vehicle that violates driving rules or does any unintentional work on the street is a challenging task. Inspection of each driver's license number takes a long time for a highway police officer. To overcome this, many researchers have introduced an automated number plate recognition approach which is usually a computer vision‐based technique to identify the vehicle's registration plate. However, the existing recognition approaches are lagged to extract the influential features which degrade the detection accuracy and increase the misclassification errors. In this article, a novel automated number plate recognition methodology has been proposed to identify the number plates accurately with minimal error rates. Primary, a new pretrained location‐dependent ultra convolutional neural network (LUCNN) is employed to learn the influential features from the input images. These obtained features are then fed into hybrid single‐shot fully convolutional detectors with a support vector machine (SSVM) classifier to separate the vehicle's city, model, and number from the registration location. At varied automobile distances, the proposed LUCNN + SSVM model is able to retrieve the number plate regions in the picture acquired from its back end. The performance results manifest that the proposed LUCNN + SSVM model attains a better accuracy of 98.75% and a lesser error range of 1.25% than the existing recognition models.
Dimensional changes of endodontic sealers—An in vitro model simulating a clinical extrusion scenario during 18 months
Authors: Razdan Ankur , Benetti Ana R. , Bakhshandeh Azam , Darvann Tron A. , Bjørndal Lars
Published: January 2023

Objectives

To examine the dimensional changes of endodontic sealers during 18 months using three‐dimensional (3D) surface scanning and subtraction radiography in a novel in vitro sealer‐extrusion model.

Material and Methods

Fifty endodontically instrumented acrylic teeth were randomly allocated to five groups (n = 10) filled with Apexit Plus, AH Plus, BioRoot RCS, TubliSeal EWT, and gutta‐percha (control). Freshly mixed sealers were intentionally extruded during obturation. All teeth were immersed in a physiologic solution for up to 18 months. Blinded 3D surface scans (resolution: ~10 μm) and digital radiographs of the teeth were obtained at baseline (immediately after obturation); and then after 1 week, and at 1, 3, and 18 months. For blinded assessment of sealer dimensional change, 3D models and radiographs were superimposed using specific software. Volumetric differences, root mean square (RMS), and area change from subtraction radiography measured at each period within each sealer group were thereafter calculated. Repeated measures analyses were done with Bonferroni adjustment for multiple comparisons; standard errors, p values, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported.

Results

Analyses of the volumetric data confirmed significant, progressive material loss for Apexit Plus when compared to the other investigated sealers or the control group (p ≤ 0.02). Immersion period significantly influenced the volumetric dimensional changes of Apexit Plus already after 1 month (p < 0.01). For TubliSeal EW, the effect of the immersion period on the dimensional changes was noted after immersion for 3 months (p ≤ 0.02), while for BioRoot RCS this was evident only at 18 months (p < 0.01). Same trends were noted for the RMS data, whereas progressive dimensional changes using subtraction radiography only revealed significant changes for Apexit Plus (p = 0.01).

Conclusions

The largest dimensional changes were shown by Apexit Plus, followed by Tubliseal EWT and BioRoot RCS. AH Plus remained stable throughout 18 months.
Blue Waters, Green Fields
Authors: Winsor Susan
Published: January 2023

Controlling future phosphorus (P) loss will not be simple. The main nutrient “culprit” in freshwater contamination, P, becomes available only in its dissolved inorganic form in solution; and that solubility is also what can contaminate the environment if the P ends up in the wrong place. This article examines future P loss measures for agricultural systems. Beyond continued vigilance with regards to best management practices (BMPs), future mitigation tools include physical filters of P loss from crop fields, updating P soil‐test calibrations, stream buffers, cover crops, biologic products that may alter P availability, enzyme additives, and potential P recycling and trading markets. Earn 1.5 CEUs in Soil & Water Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.
In‐frame deletion of SMC5 related with the phenotype of primordial dwarfism, chromosomal instability and insulin resistance
Authors: Zhu Wenjiao , Shi Yuanping , Zhang Changrun , Peng Yajie , Wan Yueyue , Xu Yue , Liu Xuemeng , Han Bing , Zhao Shuangxia , Kuang Yanping , Song Huaidong , Qiao Jie
Published: January 2023

Background

SMC5/6 complex plays a vital role in maintaining genome stability, yet the relationship with human diseases has not been described.

Methods

SMC5 variation was identified through whole‐exome sequencing (WES) and verified by Sanger sequencing. Immunoprecipitation, cytogenetic analysis, fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) and electron microscopy were used to elucidate the cellular consequences of patient's cells. smc5 knockout (KO) zebrafish and Smc5K371del knock‐in mouse models were generated by CRISPR‐Cas9. RNA‐seq, quantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR), western blot, microquantitative computed tomography (microCT) and histology were used to explore phenotypic characteristics and potential mechanisms of the animal models. The effects of Smc5 knockdown on mitotic clonal expansion (MCE) during adipogenesis were investigated through Oil Red O staining, proliferation and apoptosis assays in vitro.

Results

We identified a homozygous in‐frame deletion of Arg372 in SMC5, one of the core subunits of the SMC5/6 complex, from an adult patient with microcephalic primordial dwarfism, chromosomal instability and insulin resistance. SMC5 mutation disrupted its interaction with its interacting protein NSMCE2, leading to defects in DNA repair and chromosomal instability in patient fibroblasts. Smc5 KO zebrafish showed microcephaly, short length and disturbed glucose metabolism. Smc5 depletion triggers a p53‐related apoptosis, as concomitant deletion of the p53 rescued growth defects phenotype in zebrafish. An smc5K371del knock‐in mouse model exhibited high mortality, severe growth restriction and fat loss. In 3T3‐L1 cells, the knockdown of smc5 results in impaired MCE, a crucial step in adipogenesis. This finding implies that defective cell survival and differentiation is an important mechanism linking growth disorders and metabolic homeostasis imbalance.
Prognostic and therapeutic potential of microRNAs for fracture healing processes and non‐union fractures: A systematic review
Authors: Breulmann Franziska Lioba , Hatt Luan Phelipe , Schmitz Boris , Wehrle Esther , Richards Robert Geoff , Della Bella Elena , Stoddart Martin James
Published: January 2023

Background

Approximately 10% of all bone fractures result in delayed fracture healing or non‐union; thus, the identification of biomarkers and prognostic factors is of great clinical interest. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to be involved in the regulation of the bone healing process and may serve as functional markers for fracture healing.

Aims and methods

This systematic review aimed to identify common miRNAs involved in fracture healing or non‐union fractures using a qualitative approach. A systematic literature search was performed with the keywords ‘miRNA and fracture healing’ and ‘miRNA and non‐union fracture’. Any original article investigating miRNAs in fracture healing or non‐union fractures was screened. Eventually, 82 studies were included in the qualitative analysis for ‘miRNA and fracture healing’, while 19 were selected for the ‘miRNA and fracture non‐union’ category.

Results and conclusions

Out of 151 miRNAs, miR‐21, miR‐140 and miR‐214 were the most investigated miRNAs in fracture healing in general. miR‐31‐5p, miR‐221 and miR‐451‐5p were identified to be regulated specifically in non‐union fractures. Large heterogeneity was detected between studies investigating the role of miRNAs in fracture healing or non‐union in terms of patient population, sample types and models used. Nonetheless, our approach identified some miRNAs with the potential to serve as biomarkers for non‐union fractures, including miR‐31‐5p, miR‐221 and miR‐451‐5p. We provide a discussion of involved pathways and suggest on alignment of future research in the field.
An application of meta‐heuristic and nature‐inspired algorithms for designing reliable networks based on the Internet of things: A systematic literature review
Authors: Gong Jianhu
Published: January 2023

The widespread use of Internet of Things (IoT) in various wireless sensor networks applications has increased their importance in recent years. IoT is a smart technology that connects anything anywhere at any time. These smart objects, which connect the physical world with the world of computing infrastructure, are expected to permeate all aspects of our daily lives and revolutionize a number of application domains such as healthcare, energy conservation, and transportation. As wireless networking expands, the disadvantage of wireless communication is clearly obvious. People's apprehension over the IoT's dependability has therefore skyrocketed. IoT networks' key requirements are dependability, channel security, fault tolerance, and reliability. Monitoring the IoT networks depends on the availability and correct functioning of all the network nodes. Recent research has proposed promising solutions to address these challenges. This article systematically examines recent articles that use meta‐heuristic and nature‐inspired algorithms to establish reliable IoT networks. Eighteen articles were analyzed in four groups. Results showed that reliable enhancement mechanisms in IoT networks increase fault node detection, network efficiency, and lifetime and attain energy optimization results in the IoT concept. Additionally, it was discovered in the literature that the current studies focus on how to effectively use edge network capabilities for IoT application executions and support, along with the related needs.
Associations between the human immune system and gut microbiome with neurodevelopment in the first 5 years of life: A systematic scoping review
Authors: Mancini Vincent O. , Brook Juliet , Hernandez Christian , Strickland Deborah , Christophersen Claus T. , D'Vaz Nina , Silva Desiree , Prescott Susan , Callaghan Bridget , Downs Jenny , Finlay‐Jones Amy
Published: January 2023

The aim of this review was to map the literature assessing associations between maternal or infant immune or gut microbiome biomarkers and child neurodevelopmental outcomes within the first 5 years of life. We conducted a PRISMA‐ScR compliant review of peer‐reviewed, English‐language journal articles. Studies reporting gut microbiome or immune system biomarkers and child neurodevelopmental outcomes prior to 5 years were eligible. Sixty‐nine of 23,495 retrieved studies were included. Of these, 18 reported on the maternal immune system, 40 on the infant immune system, and 13 on the infant gut microbiome. No studies examined the maternal microbiome, and only one study examined biomarkers from both the immune system and the gut microbiome. Additionally, only one study included both maternal and infant biomarkers. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed from 6 days to 5 years. Associations between biomarkers and neurodevelopmental outcomes were largely nonsignificant and small in effect size. While the immune system and gut microbiome are thought to have interactive impacts on the developing brain, there remains a paucity of published studies that report biomarkers from both systems and associations with child development outcomes. Heterogeneity of research designs and methodologies may also contribute to inconsistent findings. Future studies should integrate data across biological systems to generate novel insights into the biological underpinnings of early development.
Geothermal stickleback populations prefer cool water despite multigenerational exposure to a warm environment
Authors: Pilakouta Natalie , Killen Shaun S. , Kristjánsson Bjarni K. , Skúlason Skúli , Lindström Jan , Metcalfe Neil B. , Parsons Kevin J.
Published: January 2023

Given the threat of climate change to biodiversity, a growing number of studies are investigating the potential for organisms to adapt to rising temperatures. Earlier work has predicted that physiological adaptation to climate change will be accompanied by a shift in temperature preferences, but empirical evidence for this is lacking. Here, we test whether exposure to different thermal environments has led to changes in preferred temperatures in the wild. Our study takes advantage of a “natural experiment” in Iceland, where freshwater populations of threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) are found in waters warmed by geothermal activity year‐round (warm habitats), adjacent to populations in ambient‐temperature lakes (cold habitats). We used a shuttle‐box approach to measure temperature preferences of wild‐caught sticklebacks from three warm–cold population pairs. Our prediction was that fish from warm habitats would prefer higher water temperatures than those from cold habitats. We found no support for this, as fish from both warm and cold habitats had an average preferred temperature of 13°C. Thus, our results challenge the assumption that there will be a shift in ectotherm temperature preferences in response to climate change. In addition, since warm‐habitat fish can persist at relatively high temperatures despite a lower‐temperature preference, we suggest that preferred temperature alone may be a poor indicator of a population's adaptive potential to a novel thermal environment.
Rapid eco‐phenotypic feedback and the temperature response of biomass dynamics
Authors: Gibert Jean P. , Wieczynski Daniel J. , Han Ze‐Yi , Yammine Andrea
Published: January 2023

Biomass dynamics capture information on population dynamics and ecosystem‐level processes (e.g., changes in production over time). Understanding how rising temperatures associated with global climate change influence biomass dynamics is thus a pressing issue in ecology. The total biomass of a species depends on its density and its average mass. Consequently, disentangling how biomass dynamics responds to increasingly warm and variable temperatures ultimately depends on understanding how temperature influences both density and mass dynamics. Here, we address this issue by keeping track of experimental microbial populations growing to carrying capacity for 15 days at two different temperatures, and in the presence and absence of temperature variability. We develop a simple mathematical expression to partition the contribution of changes in density and mass to changes in biomass and assess how temperature responses in either one influence biomass shifts. Moreover, we use time‐series analysis (Convergent Cross Mapping) to address how temperature and temperature variability influence reciprocal effects of density on mass and vice versa. We show that temperature influences biomass through its effects on density and mass dynamics, which have opposite effects on biomass and can offset each other. We also show that temperature variability influences biomass, but that effect is independent of any effects on density or mass dynamics. Last, we show that reciprocal effects of density and mass shift significantly across temperature regimes, suggesting that rapid and environment‐dependent eco‐phenotypic dynamics underlie biomass responses. Overall, our results connect temperature effects on population and phenotypic dynamics to explain how biomass responds to temperature regimes, thus shedding light on processes at play in cosmopolitan and abundant microbes as the world experiences increasingly warm and variable temperatures.
Integrating remote international experience and community engagement into course‐based animal behavior research
Authors: Kay Adam D. , Lager Zach , Bhebheza Litha , Heinen‐Kay Justa L.
Published: January 2023

Human‐centered, active‐learning approaches can help students develop core competencies in biology and other STEM fields, including the ability to conduct research, use quantitative reasoning, communicate across disciplinary boundaries, and connect science education to pressing social and environmental challenges. Promising approaches for incorporating active learning into biology courses include the use of course‐based research, community engagement, and international experiences. Disruption to higher education due to the COVID‐19 pandemic made each of these approaches more challenging or impossible to execute. Here, we describe a scalable course‐based undergraduate research experience (CURE) for an animal behavior course that integrates research and community engagement in a remote international experience. Students in courses at two U.S. universities worked with community partners to analyze the behavior of African goats grazing near informal settlements in Western Cape, South Africa. Partners established a relationship with goat herders, and then created 2‐min videos of individual goats that differed in criteria (goat sex and time of day) specified by students. Students worked in small groups to choose dependent variables, and then compared goat behavior across criteria using a factorial design. In postcourse surveys, students from both universities indicated overall enthusiasm for the experience. In general, students indicated that the laboratory provided them with “somewhat more” of a research‐based experience compared with biology laboratories they had taken of similar length, and “somewhat more” to “much more” of a community‐engagement and international experience. Educational benefits were complemented by the fact that international educational partners facing economic hardship due to the pandemic received payment for services. Future iterations of the CURE can focus on goat behavior differences across ecological conditions to help herders increase production in the face of continued environmental and social challenges. More generally, applying the structure of this CURE could facilitate mutually beneficial collaborations with residents of under‐resourced areas around the world.
Like a rolling stone: Colonization and migration dynamics of the gray reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
Authors: Lesturgie Pierre , Braun Camrin D. , Clua Eric , Mourier Johann , Thorrold Simon R. , Vignaud Thomas , Planes Serge , Mona Stefano
Published: January 2023

Designing appropriate management plans requires knowledge of both the dispersal ability and what has shaped the current distribution of the species under consideration. Here, we investigated the evolutionary history of the endangered gray reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) across its range by sequencing thousands of RADseq loci in 173 individuals in the Indo‐Pacific (IP). We first bring evidence of the occurrence of a range expansion (RE) originating close to the Indo‐Australian Archipelago (IAA) where two stepping‐stone waves (east and westward) colonized almost the entire IP. Coalescent modeling additionally highlighted a homogenous connectivity (Nm ~ 10 per generation) throughout the range, and isolation by distance model suggested the absence of barriers to dispersal despite the affinity ofC. amblyrhynchosto coral reefs. This coincides with long‐distance swims previously recorded, suggesting that the strong genetic structure at the IP scale (FST ~ 0.56 between its ends) is the consequence of its broad current distribution and organization in a large number of demes. Our results strongly suggest that management plans for the gray reef shark should be designed on a range‐wide rather than a local scale due to its continuous genetic structure. We further contrasted these results with those obtained previously for the sympatric but strictly lagoon‐associatedCarcharhinus melanopterus, known for its restricted dispersal ability.Carcharhinus melanopterusexhibits a similar RE dynamic but is characterized by a stronger genetic structure and a nonhomogeneous connectivity largely dependent on local coral reefs availability. This sheds new light on shark evolution, emphasizing the roles of IAA as source of biodiversity and of life‐history traits in shaping the extent of genetic structure and diversity.
Evaluating the spatial and temporal variability of groundwater uptake by riparian vegetation in a humid southeastern US catchment
Authors: Riley Jeffrey W. , Pangle Luke A. , Aulenbach Brent T.
Published: January 2023

In environments with shallow water tables, vegetation may use groundwater to support transpiration (TG). This process has been carefully studied in some arid climates but rarely in humid climates—even those with severe droughts and seasonal water deficits. As such, the role of TG in humid‐catchment hydrology is poorly constrained. We analysed water table fluctuations from nine monitoring wells along three transects in a second‐order forested catchment to estimate TG at plot and whole‐riparian zone scales. Average TG estimated around all well locations ranged from 1.06 to 4.95 mm d−1 and did not change systematically as a function of distance from stream channel or with plot‐scale tree basal area. Counter to some previous studies, we found that TG was greater when the water table depth was deeper. Furthermore, the pattern of TG with water table depth was not monotonic at all locations. The ratio of TG to potential evapotranspiration tended to increase over the growing season, reflecting the progressive decrease in soil moisture storage and a greater reliance by vegetation on groundwater. Due to the lack of consistent spatial patterns in TG, we explored the number of monitoring wells needed to consistently estimate average TG within the 95% confidence bounds of the true mean. Based on this analysis, six or more wells were needed to consistently fall within the 95% confidence interval of the true mean. While this is based on the observed variability at a single site, it provides information for others considering this approach in similar upland forested catchments in humid regions.