bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evapotranspiration and crop coefficients for coffee production systems in Colombia using the eddy covariance method
Authors: Castaño‐Marín Angela M. , Riaño‐Herrera Néstor M. , Góez‐Vinasco Gerardo A. , García‐López Juan C. , Figueroa‐Casas Apolinar
Published: November 2021

To optimize coffee (Coffea arabica L.) production in Colombia, adaptation strategies that improve water use must be developed. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine evapotranspiration under standard conditions (ETc), reference evapotranspiration (ETo), and the crop coefficient (Kc) of coffee plants interplanted between maize (Zea mays L.) (coffee–maize) for the first 12 mo of growth and coffee grown without maize from 13 to 46 m after transplanting (MAT). In this study, ETc was measured using the eddy covariance method. The ETc of coffee–maize ranged from 4.17 to 4.71 mm d–1, while ETc of coffee–sun averaged 4.32 ± 0.07 mm d–1 between 13 and 24 MAT and 4.09 ± 0.03 mm d–1 between 25 and 43 MAT for coffee trees in the reproductive stage. The Kc was 0.87 for coffee plants between 0 and 12 MAT, 0.98 ± 0.01 between 13 and 24 MAT, and 0.97 ± 0.02 between 25 and 43 MAT. Maize intercropped between coffee trees produced an adapted microclimate for the first 2 mo, allowing energy used for evapotranspiration processes (latent heat flux) to be greater than energy used for air warming (sensible heat flux), although there was low soil water availability. Kc values are a foundation for optimizing coffee crop water use under climate and soil conditions for the intertropical Andean hillside region.
Case report of atypical Leigh syndrome in an adolescent male with novel biallelic variants in NDUFAF5 and review of the natural history of NDUFAF5‐related disorders
Authors: Legro Nicole R. , Kumar Ashutosh , Aliu Ermal
Published: November 2021

NDUFAF5 encodes a Complex I assembly factor which is critical to the modification of a core subunit, NDUFS7, in early Complex I factor assembly. Mutations in NDUFAF5 have been previously shown to cause Complex I deficiency leading to mitochondrial respiratory chain impairment. More than 15 individuals affected by variants in NDUFAF5 have been described; however, there is phenotypic heterogeneity within this cohort. Some individuals display features of classical Leigh syndrome with early onset neurodegeneration whereas others live into early adulthood with progressive neurological deficits. Here, we present a clinical report of a 17‐year‐old African American individual with compound heterozygous mutations in NDUFAF5. The individual presented with childhood onset bilateral optic atrophy and developed progressive neuromuscular decline with relatively preserved cognition over time.
Quantitative analysis of the impact of COVID‐19 on the emergency medical services system in Tokyo
Authors: Igarashi Yutaka , Yabuki Mio , Norii Tatsuya , Yokobori Shoji , Yokota Hiroyuki
Published: November 2021

Aim

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has imposed a heavy burden on emergency medical services (EMS) systems. Therefore, we quantitatively analyzed impacts of COVID‐19 on the EMS system in Tokyo.

Methods

In this retrospective observational study, we used publicly available data, including the daily number of newly diagnosed patients with COVID‐19, the weekly number of transport difficulties, and the field activity time, from March 2, 2020, to January 25, 2021. Data for the same period in the previous year were used as controls.

Results

The total number of EMS calls decreased by 12.7% in 2020 compared with that in 2019. The number of daily transport difficulties significantly increased in 2020 compared with that in 2019 (89 [72–120] vs 57 [49–63]; P < 0.001). Additionally, the field activity time significantly increased in 2020 compared with that in 2019 (22.7 [22.3–23.8] min vs 20.7 [20.6–21.2] min; P < 0.001). Furthermore, the daily number of new patients with COVID‐19 was positively correlated with the number of transport difficulties (R = 0.76) and the field activity time on the scene (R = 0.74). With an increase in the number of people infected with COVID‐19 by 1,000, the number of daily transport difficulties increased by 86.4. Per 1,000 infected patients per day, the field activity time increased by 3.48 min.

Conclusion

This study revealed that the increase in the number of patients with COVID‐19 indirectly affected the EMS system in Tokyo.
Unexpectedly High Capacitance of the Metal Nanoparticle/Water Interface: Molecular‐Level Insights into the Electrical Double Layer
Authors: Azimzadeh Sani Mahnaz , Pavlopoulos Nicholas G. , Pezzotti Simone , Serva Alessandra , Cignoni Paolo , Linnemann Julia , Salanne Mathieu , Gaigeot Marie‐Pierre , Tschulik Kristina
Published: November 2021

The electrical double‐layer plays a key role in important interfacial electrochemical processes from catalysis to energy storage and corrosion. Therefore, understanding its structure is crucial for the progress of sustainable technologies. We extract new physico‐chemical information on the capacitance and structure of the electrical double‐layer of platinum and gold nanoparticles at the molecular level, employing single nanoparticle electrochemistry. The charge storage ability of the solid/liquid interface is larger by one order‐of‐magnitude than predicted by the traditional mean‐field models of the double‐layer such as the Gouy–Chapman–Stern model. Performing molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the possible relationship between the measured high capacitance and adsorption strength of the water adlayer formed at the metal surface. These insights may launch the active tuning of solid–solvent and solvent–solvent interactions as an innovative design strategy to transform energy technologies towards superior performance and sustainability.
Bimetallic Two‐Dimensional Metal–Organic Frameworks for the Chemiresistive Detection of Carbon Monoxide
Authors: Aykanat Aylin , Meng Zheng , Stolz Robert M. , Morrell Colin T. , Mirica Katherine A.
Published: November 2021

This paper describes the demonstration of a series of heterobimetallic, isoreticular 2D conductive metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with metallophthalocyanine (MPc, M=Co and Ni) units interconnected by Cu nodes towards low‐power chemiresistive sensing of ppm levels of carbon monoxide (CO). Devices achieve a sub‐part‐per‐million (ppm) limit of detection (LOD) of 0.53 ppm toward CO at a low driving voltage of 0.1 V. MPc‐based Cu‐linked MOFs can continuously detect CO at 50 ppm, the permissible exposure limit required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), for multiple exposures, and realize CO detection in air and in humid environment. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and comparison experiments suggest the contribution of Cu nodes to CO binding and the essential role of MPc units in tuning and amplifying the sensing response.
Structural Insight into the Catalytic Mechanism of the Endoperoxide Synthase FtmOx1
Authors: Wu Lian , Wang Zhanfeng , Cen Yixin , Wang Binju , Zhou Jiahai
Published: November 2021

The 2‐oxoglutarate (2OG)‐dependent non‐heme enzyme FtmOx1 catalyzes the endoperoxide biosynthesis of verruculogen. Although several mechanistic studies have been carried out, the catalytic mechanism of FtmOx1 is not well determined owing to the lack of a reliable complex structure of FtmOx1 with fumitremorgin B. Herein we provide the X‐ray crystal structure of the ternary complex FtmOx1⋅2OG⋅fumitremorgin B at a resolution of 1.22 Å. Our structures show that the binding of fumitremorgin B induces significant compression of the active pocket and that Y68 is in close proximity to C26 of the substrate. Further MD simulation and QM/MM calculations support a CarC‐like mechanism, in which Y68 acts as the H atom donor for quenching the C26‐centered substrate radical. Our results are consistent with all available experimental data and highlight the importance of accurate complex structures in the mechanistic study of enzymatic catalysis.
Lactone Backbone Density in Rigid Electron‐Deficient Semiconducting Polymers Enabling High n‐type Organic Thermoelectric Performance
Authors: Alsufyani Maryam , Stoeckel Marc‐Antoine , Chen Xingxing , Thorley Karl , Hallani Rawad K. , Puttisong Yuttapoom , Ji Xudong , Meli Dilara , Paulsen Bryan D. , Strzalka Joseph , Regeta Khrystyna , Combe Craig , Chen Hu , Tian Junfu , Rivnay Jonathan , Fabiano Simone , McCulloch Iain
Published: November 2021

Three lactone‐based rigid semiconducting polymers were designed to overcome major limitations in the development of n‐type organic thermoelectrics, namely electrical conductivity and air stability. Experimental and theoretical investigations demonstrated that increasing the lactone group density by increasing the benzene content from 0 % benzene (P‐0), to 50 % (P‐50), and 75 % (P‐75) resulted in progressively larger electron affinities (up to 4.37 eV), suggesting a more favorable doping process, when employing (N‐DMBI) as the dopant. Larger polaron delocalization was also evident, due to the more planarized conformation, which is proposed to lead to a lower hopping energy barrier. As a consequence, the electrical conductivity increased by three orders of magnitude, to achieve values of up to 12 S cm and Power factors of 13.2 μWm−1 K−2were thereby enabled. These findings present new insights into material design guidelines for the future development of air stable n‐type organic thermoelectrics.
Three‐in‐One C2H2‐Selectivity‐Guided Adsorptive Separation across an Isoreticular Family of Cationic Square‐Lattice MOFs
Authors: Dutta Subhajit , Mukherjee Soumya , Qazvini Omid T. , Gupta Arvind K. , Sharma Shivani , Mahato Debanjan , Babarao Ravichandar , Ghosh Sujit K.
Published: November 2021

Energy‐efficient selective physisorption driven C2H2 separation from industrial C2‐C1 impurities such as C2H4, CO2 and CH4 is of great importance in the purification of downstream commodity chemicals. We address this challenge employing a series of isoreticular cationic metal‐organic frameworks, namely iMOF‐nC (n=5, 6, 7). All three square lattice topology MOFs registered higher C2H2 uptakes versus the competing C2‐C1 gases (C2H4, CO2 and CH4). Dynamic column breakthrough experiments on the best‐performing iMOF‐6C revealed the first three‐in‐one C2H2 adsorption selectivity guided separation of C2H2 from 1:1 C2H2/CO2, C2H2/C2H4 and C2H2/CH4 mixtures. Density functional theory calculations critically examined the C2H2 selective interactions in iMOF‐6C. Thanks to the abundance of square lattice topology MOFs, this study introduces a crystal engineering blueprint for designing C2H2‐selective layered metal‐organic physisorbents, previously unreported in cationic frameworks.
Synthesis and Reactivity of a Neutral Homocyclic Silylene
Authors: Keuter Jan , Hepp Alexander , Massolle Anja , Neugebauer Johannes , Mück‐Lichtenfeld Christian , Lips Felicitas
Published: November 2021

Isolation of the neutral homocyclic silylene2is possible via amine ligand abstraction with potassium graphite (KC8) and subsequent reaction with SiMe3Cl from a bicyclic silicon(I) amideJ. This reaction proceeds via an anionic homoaromatic silicon ring compound1as an intermediate. The twofold‐coordinated silicon atom in the homocyclic silylene2is stabilized by an allyl‐type π‐electron delocalization.2reacts in an oxidative addition with two equivalents of MeOH and in cycloadditions with ethene, phenylacetylene, diphenylacetylene and with 2,3‐dimethyl‐1,3‐butadiene to afford novel functionalized ring compounds.
The influence of organic montmorillonite on the breakdown strength and energy density of poly(vinylidene fluoride)‐based nanocomposites
Authors: Xie Junhao , Liu Hongxu , Zhao Xuanchen , Hu Jing , Liu Yan , Wang Yucheng , Sun Shulin , Song Shixin
Published: November 2021

Capacitor films with superior transmittance, flexibility, and high performance have attracted considerable attentions in the field of advanced energy storage devices. Nevertheless, the energy density is always increased at the expense of the dielectric constant or breakdown strength on one side. Therefore, based on the above stated issues, energy storage films with good optical transmission and breakdown resistance were prepared by combining a small amount of lamellar organic montmorillonite (OMMT) with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) substrates by a simple but effective solution blending method. The addition of OMMT effectively converts the crystalline structure of the PVDF matrix, making it more favorable for dielectric energy storage films, and the polymer‐based nano energy storage films exhibit an optical transmission of approximately 90% at 800 nm. More importantly, the presence of OMMT, a unique lamellar structure, effectively hinders the growth of electrical trees within the polymer composite, thereby improving the overall breakdown strength of the composite. Ultimately, at 0.6 wt% filler content, the PVDF/OMMT nanocomposite exhibited a breakdown strength of 460 MV/m and a discharge energy density of 7.26 J/cm3 as well as an energy efficiency of 69%.
The use of umbrella fish species to provide a more comprehensive approach for freshwater conservation management
Authors: Obester Alyssa N. , Lusardi Robert A. , Santos Nicholas R. , Peek Ryan A. , Yarnell Sarah M.
Published: November 2021

Where freshwater species populations are in decline, conservation management requires rapid, cost‐effective approaches to develop recommendations, particularly at broad geographical scales or where species‐specific information is lacking. The umbrella species approach, typically applied to terrestrial taxa, is one potentially useful option to inform large‐scale freshwater management efforts.

A quantitative, integrated approach is proposed for selecting suites of umbrella fish species over diverse spatial scales using a combination of species ranges, life‐history traits, and species vulnerability scores. The approach also uses expert opinion to validate methods and results.

This approach was applied to native fishes in California, and results for two river basins are explored in the context of instream flow management. These examples illustrate how the results could help address two common instream flow management challenges in California: (i) the lack of information related to species‐specific flow requirements in basins with many species; and (ii) the need to move beyond a single species approach to flow management. In addition, the results indicate that the protection of native fishes in California would provide co‐benefits for other aquatic and riparian taxa.

A key benefit of this approach is that the data used to select suites of umbrella species (e.g. species ranges, life‐history traits, climate vulnerabilities) are widely available at varying degrees of specificity for most freshwater fishes. Therefore, this flexible approach could be applied in other regions to aid managers in making freshwater conservation decisions, such as for instream flow strategies, in an efficient and cost‐effective manner.
Distributed resilient filtering for a class of nonlinear dynamical systems subject to hybrid cyber attacks
Authors: Liu Huanyi , Ding Derui , Yi Xiaojian
Published: November 2021

In this paper, the distributed resilient filtering issue is studied for a class of nonlinear dynamical systems subject to hybrid cyber attacks and gain disturbances. The gain perturbation could come from data rounding errors due to the fixed word length and is modeled by multiplicative noises. The addressed hybrid cyber attacks consist of both denial‐of‐service (DoS) attacks and deception attacks, in which the injected signal obeys a Gaussian mixture distribution. With the help of Kalman filtering theory, an optimally distributed filtering scheme is developed and the desired filter gain is derived by minimizing the filtering error covariance at each time instant. Furthermore, when the statistical information on DoS attacks is not available, the states of DoS attacks are identified in real‐time by resorting to a maximum posterior probability estimation approach combined with the classical Bayesian rule. Based on the developed formulas and the identified state, a suboptimal distributed filtering algorithm is established to realize the state estimation. Finally, a simulation example shows the effectiveness of the proposed distributed resilient filtering algorithm.
On efficient relabeling of symmetric discrete‐event systems
Authors: Jiao Ting , Bai Yu
Published: November 2021

Symmetric discrete‐event systems (SDES) are composed of classes of components with identical structures. By utilizing such symmetry, for specifications irrelevant to the detailed component information, the supervisory control of SDES can be achieved in the relabeled level. Namely, for events fulfilling the same task (similar events) in a class of components, they are relabeled to the same symbol. The relabeling mechanism is first implemented by directly renaming similar events to the same symbol. Then by employing the subset construction algorithm (SCA), the resultant nondeterministic automaton is converted to its deterministic counterpart. As the SCA is computationally intensive, the relabeling algorithm is inefficient, especially when the number of components increases. In this paper, inspired by the construction process of quotient automata, we first employ symmetry to generate the state set of the relabeled automaton. Then the relabeled automaton is generated based on the generated state set and transition information among these states. As we avoid using the SCA to eliminate nondeterminism, the relabeling process is more efficient. A running example is given throughout the paper.
Parenting stress in caregiver‐mediated interventions for toddlers with autism: An application of quantile regression mixed models
Authors: Schlink Andrew , Williams Justin , Pizzano Maria , Gulsrud Amanda , Kasari Connie
Published: November 2021

Traditional longitudinal modeling approaches require normally distributed data and do not account for sample heterogeneity. Parenting stress, in particular, can be difficult to model across time without transforming the data as it is usually high for caregivers of children with ASD. This study used novel linear quantile mixed models (LQMMs) to model non‐normal parent stress scores across two caregiver‐mediated interventions involving toddlers with ASD. The sample included 86 caregiver‐child dyads who were randomized to either a parent‐only psychoeducational intervention or hands‐on parent training in a naturalistic developmental intervention. Child and parent‐related domains of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) were the primary outcomes in this study. The PSI was collected at entry, 10‐week exit, 3‐month follow‐up, and 6‐month follow‐up periods. Separate LQMMs were used to model five specific quantiles ( of the two PSI domains across the complete intervention timeline. These five quantiles effectively modeled the entire conditional distribution of parenting stress scores. The LQMMs indicated that child‐related parenting stress decreased across all quantiles within both interventions, with no difference in the rate of parenting stress change between the intervention groups. For parent‐related parenting stress, the effect of intervention depended on the group's stress level; some parents increased their perceived stress within the hands‐on intervention at the 3‐month follow‐up. Overall, this study demonstrated that the use of LQMMs yielded additional information, beyond traditional longitudinal models, regarding the relationship between parenting stress within two caregiver‐mediated intervention protocols. This study also discussed the methodological contributions and potential future applications of LQMMs.

Lay Summary

This study used a newer longitudinal modeling technique to examine how parenting stress changed across two caregiver‐mediated interventions for toddlers with ASD. Results showed that certain parents in the JASPER condition might require additional support as they exit the study and enter into their first follow‐up period. It was also determined that this new modeling technique could be a valuable tool to analyze highly variable data often present in ASD intervention studies.
Regeneration efficiency of strong‐base anion exchange resin for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances
Authors: Dietz Rebecca , Kassar Christian , Boyer Treavor H.
Published: November 2021

The objectives of this research were to evaluate the regeneration efficiency of strong‐base anion exchange resin (AER) considering (i) total perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentration, (ii) AER polymer composition, and (iii) regeneration solution composition. Laboratory column experiments were conducted over multiple treatment and regeneration cycles using groundwater spiked with six perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs): perfluorobutanoic acid, perfluorohexanoic acid perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorobutane sulfonic acid, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid, and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid. Regeneration efficiency was calculated as the mass of PFAAs desorbed from the resin during regeneration divided by the mass of PFAAs adsorbed to the resin during treatment. Higher PFAS concentration in the influent resulted in higher PFAS loading on the resin and higher regeneration efficiency. This was especially true for polystyrene AER, which exhibited greater removals of perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids than perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids, and greater removal of long‐chain PFAAs than short‐chain analogs. The most important result was the higher regeneration efficiency for solution composed of salt + organic cosolvent than the aqueous‐only solution.
Two‐dimensional Janus group‐III ternary chalcogenide monolayer compounds B2XY, Al2XY, and BAlX2 (X, Y = S, Se, Te) with high carrier mobilities
Authors: Kumar Vipin , Jung Jaehoon
Published: November 2021

First‐principles approach based on density functional theory is employed in order to investigate the structural, electronic, and mechanical properties of the two‐dimensional Janus group‐III ternary chalcogenide monolayer (G3TCM) semiconductor series, B2XY, Al2XY, and BAlX2 (X, Y = S, Se, Te; X ≠ Y). The effective masses, band gaps, and carrier mobilities of the entire series of Janus G3TCM compounds are evaluated to comprehensively examine their feasibility as an ingredient in nanoscale electronic device. All the G3TCM compounds proposed in this study are suggested to be realizable based on phonon calculations and estimated mechanical stability. The indirect bandgap of B2XY and Al2XY can be switched to direct bandgap in BAlX2 by constructing Janus‐type structure using group‐III elements. The computationally obtained carrier mobilities according to the deformation potential theory indicated that B2SSe and BAlSe2 have exceptional electron and hole carrier mobility of 2.02 × 104 and 2.58 × 105 cm2 V−1 s−1, respectively, at room temperature.
Assessing the presence of oligoclonal IgM bands as a prognostic biomarker of cognitive decline in the early stages of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Coll‐Martinez Clàudia , Quintana Ester , Salavedra‐Pont Judit , Buxó Maria , González‐del‐Rio Marina , Gómez Immaculada , Muñoz‐San Martín María , Villar Luisa María , Álvarez‐Bravo Gary , Robles‐Cedeño René , Ramió‐Torrentà Lluís , Gich Jordi
Published: November 2021

Background

An association has been found between the presence of lipid‐specific oligoclonal IgM bands (LS‐OCMB) in cerebrospinal fluid and a more severe clinical multiple sclerosis course.

Objective

To investigate lipid‐specific oligoclonal IgM bands as a prognostic biomarker of cognitive impairment in the early stages of multiple sclerosis.

Methods

Forty‐four patients underwent neuropsychological assessment at baseline and 4 years. Cognitive performance at follow‐up was compared adjusting by age, education, anxiety–depression, and baseline performance.

Results

LS‐OCMB+ patients only performed worse for Long‐Term Storage in the Selective Reminding Test (p = .018).

Conclusion

There are no remarkable cognitive differences between LS‐OCMB– and LS‐OCMB+ patients in the early stages of MS.
Value of the log odds of positive lymph nodes for prognostic assessment of colon mucinous adenocarcinoma: Analysis and external validation
Authors: Cai Huajun , Xu Tianbao , Zhuang Zhicheng , Zhang Yiyi , Gao Yuan , Liu Xing , Zhuang Jinfu , Yang Yuanfeng , Guan Guoxian
Published: November 2021

Purpose

To evaluate the impact of the log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS) on cancer‐specific survival (CSS) in colon mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC) patients, compared with pN stage and the lymph nodes ratio (LNR).

Methods

A total of 10,182 colon MAC patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database were divided into the training group. The external validation group included 153 patients from Fujian Medical University Union Hospital. The Cox regression method was used to identify prognostic risk factors. Nomograms were evaluated by Harrell's concordance index (C‐index) and calibration curves. Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) was used to develop a novel staging system.

Results

Time‐dependent receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) to predict CSS showed the areas under the ROC curve of LODDS were always higher than pN stage and LNR. LNR and LODDS classifications can well distinguish the prognosis of patients with the same pN stage. Cox analyses indicated that age, tumor size, pT stage, pN stage, LNR, and LODDS were independent predictors of CSS (p < 0.05). Based on three lymph nodes classifications, we constructed three prognostic nomograms models for CSS. The C‐index of the pN, LNR, and LODDS classification nomograms were 0.746 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.736–0.756), 0.750 (95% CI: 0.740–0.760), and 0.758 (95% CI: 0.748–0.768), respectively. In external validation, we observed the C‐index of LODDS classification nomograms was 0.787 (95% CI: 0.648–0.926). RPA stage, including four stages, was constructed successfully based on pT stage and LNR or LODDS, respectively. The 3‐, 5‐, and 8‐year areas under the ROC curve of LNR‐RPA stage and LODDS‐RPA stage were superior to tumor‐node‐metastasis stage.

Conclusion

LODDS to be a better prognostic factor of CSS for colon MAC patients than pN stage and LNR. A nomogram and RPA stage base on LODDS can provide accurate information for personalized cancer treatment.
Circular RNA: A promising new star for the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer
Authors: Zhang Shunhao , Sun Jing , Gu Minqi , Wang Guihua , Wang Xudong
Published: November 2021

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive tract. According to the research of circular RNAs in the CRC field, compared with linear RNAs, circular RNAs are a special type of noncoding RNA that are covalently closed circular structures, which have no 5' cap structure and 3' polyA tail and are not affected by RNA exonuclease and actinomycin D.

Biological functions

Notably, circular RNAs have a high degree of stability and potential effect on gene regulation. Meanwhile, circular RNAs are involved in the sponge action of microRNAs and mediate protein translation and direct binding, alternative splicing, and histone modification.

Relationships with CRC

Studies have shown that circular RNAs are related to the proliferation, invasion, recurrence, metastasis, ferroptosis, apoptosis, and chemotherapy resistance of CRC.

Conclusions

This article provides a brief review based on the source, structural characteristics, mechanisms, biological functions of circular RNAs, and the relationships between CRC.
Transcatheter tricuspid valve‐in‐valve implantation for degenerative surgical bio‐prosthesis using SAPIEN 3: A case series
Authors: Chandavimol Mann , Ngernsritrakul Tawai , Meemook Krissada , Apinyasawat Sirin , Tangcharoen Tarinee , Pienvichit Pavit , Samankatiwat Piya , Boonbaichaiyapruck Sarana
Published: November 2021

We evaluated early outcomes of transcatheter valve‐in‐valve (ViV) implantation in patients with degenerated bio‐prosthesis in tricuspid position. Total of 5 patients were included in our case series. Baseline native tricuspid valve etiology were highly varied ranging from chest wall trauma, Ebstein anomaly, rheumatic heart disease, infective endocarditis and complex congenital heart disease. These differences also made patient comorbidities highly varied. Procedure details were also varied due to different clinical and technical challenges. All cases underwent successful Tricuspid VIV implantation with satisfactory hemodynamics results. All patients experienced improved clinical symptoms at follow up.
Influence of the PTFE Membrane Thickness on the CO2 Electroreduction Performance of Sputtered Cu‐PTFE Gas Diffusion Electrodes
Authors: Huq Faria , Sanjuán Ignacio , Baha Sabrina , Braun Michael , Kostka Aleksander , Chanda Vimanshu , Junqueira João R. C. , Sikdar Nivedita , Ludwig Alfred , Andronescu Corina
Published: November 2021

Gas diffusion electrodes (GDE) obtained by sputtering metal films on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes are among the most performant electrodes used to electrochemically reduce CO2. The present work reveals several essential aspects for fabricating performant PTFE‐based gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) for CO2 electroreduction (CO2R). We show that adding an additive layer (a mixture of carbon and Nafion™ or Nafion™ only) is required for stabilizing the metal catalyst film (Cu), deposited via sputtering on the PTFE membrane, during the CO2R experiments. We found that the PTFE membrane thickness used in the GDE fabrication plays an essential role in electrode performance. The quantification of the products formed during the CO2R conducted in a flow‐cell electrolyzer revealed that on thinner membranes, CO2R is the dominant process while on thicker ones, the H2 formation is promoted. Thus, the PTFE membrane influences the CO2 transport to the catalyst layer and can be used to promote the CO2R while maintaining a minimum H2 production.
Enzymatic Synthesis of Alkyl Glucosides byβ‐Glucosidases in a 2‐in‐1 Deep Eutectic Solvent System
Authors: Delavault André , Grüninger Jens , Kapp Daniel , Hollenbach Rebecca , Rudat Jens , Ochsenreither Katrin , Syldatk Christoph
Published: November 2021

Alkyl glycosides are biodegradable surfactants with excellent physico‐chemical properties. Although their wide‐range application is considered ecofriendly, their synthesis is not due to the need for toxic organic solvents and corrosive acids as catalysts. Moreover, chemical synthesis results in complex mixtures rather than defined compounds. To overcome both disadvantages as well as the limited solubility of sugars in organic solvents, a highly selective enzymatic synthesis was set up with aβ‐glucosidase condensing D‐glucose and different fatty alcohols in a deep eutectic solvent.
Versuche mit der Mikrowelle
Authors: Linkwitz Michael , Zidny Robby , Nida Safwatun , Seeger Lea , Belova Nadja , Eilks Ingo
Published: November 2021

Die Beschleunigung chemischer Reaktion mit Mikrowellenreaktoren nimmt in der Chemie als Beitrag der grünen Chemie zu mehr Nachhaltigkeit einen immer größeren Raum ein. In der Ausbildung von Lehrkräften und Laboranten und im Schulunterricht spielt dies bislang allerdings kaum eine Rolle. Im Beitrag wird eine Reihe von Versuchen vorgestellt, um im chemischen Praktikum oder Schulunterricht Experimente aus der organischen Chemie mit Labormikrowellen, ähnlich arbeitenden Geräten oder mit der Haushaltsmikrowelle durchzuführen.
An effective resource scheduling model for edge cloud oriented AIoT
Authors: Liang Ying , Cui Tianxu , Cao Yang , Tang Hengliang
Published: November 2021

Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) is a new research area in AI and IoT. For the massive data and connections at the edge of AIoT, how to schedule the resource load is a key problem to be solved. For the multi‐objective resource scheduling problem in a cross‐domain environment, this article proposes a resource scheduling method based on edge computing and multi‐objective algorithms. First, a cloud‐edge hybrid AIoT hierarchical network resource management architecture is constructed. Then, the resource scheduling problem is modeled and a linear weighting strategy is designed for search space “pruning”, which is then optimized by three multi‐objective algorithms. Finally, we conducted a series of experiments based on the iFogSim platform. The simulation results show that the proposed resource scheduling strategy can effectively reduce the processing delay of AIoT and effectively improve the energy utilization efficiency of devices in the network.
Dynamical screening in the description of plasma transport properties with arbitrary degeneracy
Authors: Karakhtanov V.S.
Published: November 2021

For the first time, the contribution of electron–electron scattering to the electrical conductivity of plasma is calculated with simultaneous consideration of degeneracy and dynamic screening. A procedure for calculating electron–electron correlation functions used in the linear response theory in the formulation of Zubarev is developed. The Chebyshev polynomial expansion of the Fermi–Dirac distribution function is applied. Calculations were carried out in the random‐phase approximation for the dielectric function.
A resource for understanding and evaluating outcomes of undergraduate field experiences
Authors: Shortlidge Erin E. , Jolley Alison , Shaulskiy Stephanie , Geraghty Ward Emily , Lorentz Christopher N. , O'Connell Kari
Published: November 2021

Undergraduate field experiences (UFEs) are a prominent element of science education across many disciplines; however, empirical data regarding the outcomes are often limited. UFEs are unique in that they typically take place in a field setting, are often interdisciplinary, and include diverse students. UFEs range from courses, to field trips, to residential research experiences, and thereby have the potential to yield a plethora of outcomes for undergraduate participants. The UFE community has expressed interest in better understanding how to assess the outcomes of UFEs. In response, we developed a guide for practitioners to use when assessing their UFE that promotes an evidence‐based, systematic, iterative approach. This essay guides practitioners through the steps of: identifying intended UFE outcomes, considering contextual factors, determining an assessment approach, and using the information gained to inform next steps. We provide a table of common learning outcomes with aligned assessment tools, and vignettes to illustrate using the assessment guide. We aim to support comprehensive, informed assessment of UFEs, thus leading to more inclusive and reflective UFE design, and ultimately improved student outcomes. We urge practitioners to move toward evidence‐based advocacy for continued support of UFEs.
Predictability of flow metrics calculated using a distributed hydrologic model across ecoregions and stream classes: Implications for developing flow–ecology relationships
Authors: Eddy Michele C. , Lord Benjamin , Perrot Danielle , Bower Luke M. , Peoples Brandon K.
Published: November 2021

Developing environmental flow standards requires an empirical understanding of the relationship between species' ecology and instream flow. However, when congruent biological and hydrologic data are lacking, the accurate simulation of hydrologic metrics (HMs) corresponding to the locations of biological data is needed. Methods to predict HMs vary in formulation (i.e., statistical vs. process‐based hydrologic models), ability to simulate HMs across the full range of the hydrologic regime (i.e., magnitude, duration, frequency, rate of change and timing) and ability to transfer HMs from gaged to ungaged locations. Yet, despite the breadth of modelling approaches, less attention has been paid to the variability in HMs associated with each approach. In this study, we apply a distributed hydrologic model to the diverse watersheds of South Carolina to examine the predictability of HMs from simulated daily time series of streamflow across ecoregions, stream classifications and level of human alteration. In doing so, we contextualize the predictability of HMs, giving managers and researchers in South Carolina the flexibility of choosing HMs that are best suited for quantifying flow–ecology relationships based on the location, flow regime components of interest and uncertainty of HMs. We found that at least one HM within each of the five flow regime components (out of a selected subset of 41 non‐redundant HMs) was consistently and accurately predicted across the diverse streams of the study area. We discuss the patterns of predictability related to site characterizations and individual HMs and their implications for developing environmental flow standards.
Measurement and prediction of water consumption by Douglas‐fir, Northern California, USA
Authors: Stubblefield Andrew P. , Reddy Kirsten
Published: November 2021

Douglas‐fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is an important component of mixed‐conifer forests of the Western United States. Changes in forest composition from Douglas‐fir encroachment in areas of fire‐suppression could have implications for water balance, supply and stream habitats. Increasing episodes of severe drought linked to climate change threaten forest health. Measurements of tree water inform management and biosphere models. Twenty‐six trees were instrumented with thermal dissipation sapflow probes. Sites were in Petrolia, California, and Maple Creek, California. Monitoring took place from Summer 2015 through Summer 2016. Daily water use was found to decline steeply over each summer dry period. This may limit the influence of Douglas‐fir on soil moisture budgets and streamflow during this time period. Tree size, peak and low flow daily water use averages were statistically related. Little difference was found between drier 2015 and wetter 2016 years. However, larger trees showed greater peak water use in 2015, perhaps from sufficient moisture and greater insolation, and at Petrolia, larger trees showed greater dry period water use in 2016, as greater moisture levels persisted into the summer. Linear mixed effects models of daily integral sap velocity (cm/day) were created with the input variables of solar radiation, vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and soil moisture. The best model using Akaike information criterion scores had fixed effects of solar radiation and VPD. This model was trained on one site and then validated at the second site with goodness of fit tests. The model is provided for estimating Douglas‐fir water use.
Non‐additive biotic interactions improve predictions of tropical tree growth and impact community size structure
Authors: Lai Hao Ran , Chong Kwek Yan , Yee Alex Thiam Koon , Mayfield Margaret M. , Stouffer Daniel B.
Published: November 2021

Growth in individual size or biomass is a key demographic component in population models, with wide‐ranging applications from quantifying species performance across abiotic or biotic conditions to assessing landscape‐level dynamics under global change. In forest ecology, the responses of tree growth to biotic interactions are widely held to be crucial for understanding forest diversity, function, and structure. To date, most studies on plant–plant interactions only examine the additive competitive or facilitative interactions between species pairs; however, there is increasing evidence of non‐additive, higher‐order interactions (HOIs) impacting species demographic rates. When HOIs are present, the dynamics of a multispecies community cannot be fully understood or accurately predicted solely from pairwise outcomes because of how additional species “interfere” with the direct, pairwise interactions. Such HOIs should be particularly prevalent when species show non‐linear functional responses to resource availability and resource‐acquisition traits themselves are density dependent. With this in mind, we used data from a tropical secondary forest—a system that fulfills both of these conditions—to build an ontogenetic diameter growth model for individuals across 10 woody‐plant species. We allowed both direct and indirect interactions within communities to influence the species‐specific growth parameters in a generalized Lotka–Volterra model. Specifically, indirect interactions entered the model as higher‐order quadratic terms, i.e., non‐additive effects of conspecific and heterospecific neighbor size on the focal individual's growth. For the whole community and for four out of 10 focal species, the model that included HOIs had more statistical support than the model that included only direct interactions, despite the former containing a far greater number of parameters. HOIs had comparable effect sizes to direct interactions, and tended to further reduce the diameter growth rates of most species beyond what direct interactions had already reduced. In a simulation of successional stand dynamics, the inclusion of HOIs led to rank swaps in species' diameter hierarchies, even when community‐level size distributions remained qualitatively similar. Our study highlights the implications, and discusses possible mechanisms, of non‐additive density dependence in highly diverse and light‐competitive tropical forests.
A Matteson Homologation‐Based Synthesis of Doliculide and Derivatives
Authors: Tost Markus , Andler Oliver , Kazmaier Uli
Published: November 2021

Doliculide belongs to a group of marine cyclodepsipeptides with interesting biological properties. Apart from a halogenated dipeptide, a polyketide fragment containing 5 stereogenic centers is the most eye‐catching element. This building block can be synthesized in a highly stereoselective fashion using only one key reaction: the Matteson homologation. This straightforward protocol allows for the introduction of a wide range of substituents at almost any position of a growing carbon chain and it is therefore perfectly suited for the synthesis of derivatives for structure‐activity relationship studies
The hydro‐geomorphological setting of the Old Kingdom town of al‐Ashmūnayn in the Egyptian Nile Valley
Authors: Toonen Willem H. J. , Cortebeeck Kylie , Hendrickx Stan , Bader Bettina , Peeters Jan , Willems Harco
Published: November 2021

The ancient Egyptian city of al‐Ashmūnayn (Minyā Governorate, Egypt) has been an important regional centre since at least the Old Kingdom (c. 2686–2160 BC). It is assumed to have been founded on the banks of the Nile, although no scientific evidence was hitherto available to support this claim. In this multidisciplinary study, the results of a geoarchaeological survey were combined with the study of pottery fragments. Boreholes placed at al‐Ashmūnayn produced thick layers of late Old Kingdom pottery in association with the local occurrence of river channel deposits, allowing us to conclude that it is very likely that al‐Ashmūnayn originated on the banks of the Nile River. The regional borehole survey demonstrates that major geomorphological reconfigurations of the fluvial landscape occurred throughout the late Holocene, notably by the process of river avulsion. An interconnectedness of changes in the natural Nile Valley landscape and cultural dynamics of the ancient Egyptian riverine society seems possible, based on the coincidence of river reconfigurations with shifts in the preferential locations for high‐status burials in the region.
Altered single‐subject gray matter structural networks in drug‐naïve attention deficit hyperactivity disorder children
Authors: Chen Ying , Lei Du , Cao Hengyi , Niu Running , Chen Fuqin , Chen Lizhou , Zhou Jinbo , Hu Xinyu , Huang Xiaoqi , Guo Lanting , Sweeney John A. , Gong Qiyong
Published: November 2021

Altered topological organization of brain structural covariance networks has been observed in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, results have been inconsistent, potentially related to confounding medication effects. In addition, since structural networks are traditionally constructed at the group level, variabilities in individual structural features remain to be well characterized. Structural brain imaging with MRI was performed on 84 drug‐naïve children with ADHD and 83 age‐matched healthy controls. Single‐subject gray matter (GM) networks were obtained based on areal similarities of GM, and network topological properties were analyzed using graph theory. Group differences in each topological metric were compared using nonparametric permutation testing. Compared with healthy subjects, GM networks in ADHD patients demonstrated significantly altered topological characteristics, including higher global and local efficiency and clustering coefficient, and shorter path length. In addition, ADHD patients exhibited abnormal centrality in corticostriatal circuitry including the superior frontal gyrus, orbitofrontal gyrus, medial superior frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, and pallidum (all p < .05, false discovery rate [FDR] corrected). Altered global and nodal topological efficiencies were associated with the severity of hyperactivity symptoms and the performance on the Stroop and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test tests (all p < .05, FDR corrected). ADHD combined and inattention subtypes were differentiated by nodal attributes of amygdala (p < .05, FDR corrected). Alterations in GM network topologies were observed in drug‐naïve ADHD patients, in particular in frontostriatal loops and amygdala. These alterations may contribute to impaired cognitive functioning and impulsive behavior in ADHD.
Multimarker Panels for Detection of Early Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Prospective, Multicenter, Case‐Control Study
Authors: Piratvisuth Teerha , Tanwandee Tawesak , Thongsawat Satawat , Sukeepaisarnjaroen Wattana , Esteban Juan Ignacio , Bes Marta , Köhler Bruno , He Ying , Swiatek‐de Lange Magdalena , Morgenstern David , Chan Henry Lik‐Yuen
Published: November 2021

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the sixth most common cancer worldwide, has an incidence rate equal to mortality. Over 80% of HCC cases occur within a high‐risk population, mainly patients with both cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis B or C. With a 5‐year survival rate ranging from <16% for advanced HCC to >90% for early stage HCC, there is a high medical need for the early detection of HCC. In this study, we systematically evaluated biomarkers mentioned in international guidelines and peer‐reviewed literature for HCC surveillance and diagnosis with the aim of identifying combinations that display high sensitivity and specificity for early stage HCC. Fifty biomarkers were measured in the first sample panel, panel A (n = 110), and subjected to univariate analysis. Of these, 35 biomarkers (38 assays) from panel A and an additional 13 biomarkers from the literature were prioritized for subsequent multivariate evaluation with lasso regression and exhaustive search of two‐ to four‐biomarker combinations (panel B). Panel B included 1,081 samples from patients with HCC (n = 308) or with chronic liver diseases (n = 740). Among all patients, 61.0% had hepatitis B, 32.9% had hepatitis C, and 60.5% had cirrhosis; 40.6% of patients with HCC had early stage cancer. Protein induced by vitamin K absence‐II (PIVKA‐II; also known as des‐gamma‐carboxy prothrombin [DCP]) and alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) demonstrated the best clinical performance, both individually and in combination, and the addition of a third biomarker (Lens culinaris agglutinin‐reactive fraction of AFP [AFP‐L3], cartilage oligomeric matrix protein [COMP], insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein 3 [IGFBP3], or matrix metalloproteinase 3 [MMP3]) further increased sensitivity for the detection of both early stage and all‐stage HCC. The addition of age and sex to the three‐biomarker panel resulted in an improved diagnostic performance. Conclusion: The combination of AFP and PIVKA‐II, with either IGFBP3, COMP or MMP3, plus age and sex, demonstrated the best performance for the detection of early‐ and all‐stage HCC. These novel panels performed similar to that of the GALAD score (sex [gender], age, plus serum levels of AFP, AFP‐L3 and DCP [PIVKA‐II]), a promising screening tool developed for HCC detection.