bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fire severity drives understory community dynamics and the recovery of culturally significant plants
Authors: Dickson‐Hoyle Sarah ,   St̓uxwtéws (Bonaparte First Nation),   Skeetchestn Natural Resources Corporation, Eatherton Arial , Baron Jennifer N. , Tiribelli Florencia , Daniels Lori D.
Published: March 2024

Anthropogenic influences are altering fire regimes worldwide, resulting in an increase in the size and severity of wildfires. Simultaneously, throughout western North America, there is increasing recognition of the important role of Indigenous fire stewardship in shaping historical fire regimes and fire‐adapted ecosystems. However, there is limited understanding of how ecosystems are affected by or recover from contemporary “megafires,” particularly in terms of understory plant communities that are critical to both biodiversity and Indigenous cultures. To address this gap, our collaborative study, in partnership with Secwépemc First Nations, examined understory community recovery following a large, mixed‐severity wildfire that burned in the dry and mesic conifer forests of British Columbia, Canada, with a focus on plants of high cultural significance to Secwépemc communities. To measure the effect of a continuous gradient of fire severity across forest types, we conducted field assessments of fire severity and sampled understory plants 4 years postfire. We found that native species richness and richness of species of high cultural significance were lowest in areas that burned at high severity, with distinct compositional differences between unburned areas and those that burned at high severity. These findings were consistent across forest types characterized by distinct historical fire regimes. In contrast, richness of exotic species increased with increasing fire severity in the dominant montane interior Douglas‐fir forests, with exotic species closely associated with areas that burned at high severity. Our study indicates that recent megafires may be pushing ecosystems outside their historical range of variability, with negative implications for ecosystem recovery and cultural use across these fire‐affected landscapes. We also found consistently higher plant diversity, and both native and cultural species richness, in subalpine forests. Collectively, our results provide strong evidence of the ecological and cultural significance of low‐ to moderate‐severity fire and subalpine forests, and the longstanding and ongoing role of Indigenous peoples in shaping these landscapes. As wildfires continue to impact ecosystems and human communities, this study offers novel insights into the recovery of important ecological and cultural values, while highlighting the need to support ethical research collaborations with Indigenous communities and Indigenous‐led revitalization of fire and plant stewardship.
Photo/Electrochemical‐Mediated C(sp3)−H Bond Functionalization of (Thio)Ethers
Authors: Sun Lianglong , Zhao Dongyang , Sun Kai , Liu Fei , Yang Shubing , Chen Si , Wang Xin
Published: March 2024

Molecules containing ether skeletons are widely present in drugs, natural products, functional materials, and life science. Direct C(sp3)−H bond ether functionalization is considered a powerful strategy for the construction of novel ether derivatives. Photo‐/electro‐chemical technology is a relatively green and sustainable synthesis method, which opens up a broad application prospect in the field of direct functionalization of C(sp3)−H bonds. In recent years, photo‐/electro‐mediated C(sp3)−H bond alkylation, arylation, alkynylation, esterification, mercaptoylation, sulfidation, and amination of ethers have been extensively studied. In this review, the research progress of photo‐/electro‐mediated C(sp3)−H bond functionalization of ether compounds from 2014 to 2023 is systematically reviewed, and the scope, limitations, and mechanisms for some reactions are discussed.
Preliminary study of novel all‐solid‐state tin‐graphite battery based on composite solid electrolyte
Authors: Huang Po‐Yuan , Hung Fei‐Yi , Huang Bo‐Chin
Published: March 2024

This study primarily focuses on utilizing tin as the primary electrode material. Tin is chosen for its exceptional theoretical capacitance and cost‐effectiveness, attributed to its tetravalent ions carrying a high charge. Tin also exhibits desirable soft material characteristics, ensuring superior stability and adhesion. The experimental methodology involves thermal evaporation and vacuum heat treatment to create Sn, Sn‐9 wt.%Zn, Sn‐40wt.%Zn alloy negative electrodes. For the solid electrolyte, we opt for magnesium silicate processed battery cloth deposition combined with a polymer, offering flexibility. The positive electrode incorporates a graphite film modified with a stable and conductive phosphate, referred to as GFN. This approach enables the development of an all‐solid‐state Sn‐C ion secondary battery while prioritizing safety and environmental friendliness. The experimental findings encompass microscopic structural insights into various electrode materials, elucidation of the metallurgical mechanism of alloy films, exploration of ion transport pathways, and confirmation of the charge and discharge mechanism.
High‐pressure analysis of lithium based material used in lithium‐ion batteries
Authors: Srivastava Shivam , Singh Prachi , Dixit Chandra K. , Pandey Anjani K.
Published: March 2024

The Equation of State (EOS) is highly sought after these days to predict the thermo elastic properties of materials at high and low compression ranges where experimental data is unavailable. In this study, we focus on Lithium‐based materials used as anodes or cathodes in Lithium‐ion batteries. We have used a newly developed EOS formulated empirically to estimate the thermoelastic properties of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2, LiCoO2, and LiFePO4. The results were compared with those obtained using the Vinet–Rydberg and Brennan–Stacey EOSs. Our EOS is the best‐fitted EOS to predict thermo elastic parameters at both high and low compression ranges.
Chrysanthemum as a remarkable edible flower resource with anti‐glycation effects: Representative variety differences, phenolic compositions, and the interaction mechanism
Authors: Wang Zhangtie , Zhu Yuhang , Xu Minjun , Peng Kejie , Shi Binhai , Wang Yixuan , Chen Qi , Huang Weisu , Chen Yidan , Lu Baiyi
Published: March 2024

Various edible chrysanthemum flowers possess different anti‐glycation effects due to various compositions; however, the interaction mechanism is unclear. Our study aimed to compare the anti‐glycation effects of different edible chrysanthemum flowers and investigate the effect of phenolic compounds among them. The bovine serum albumin (BSA)‐glucose model was used for evaluating anti‐glycation effects of various chrysanthemums flowers, and C. HBJ, C. TJ, and C. JSHJ showed better anti‐glycation effects compare to aminoguanidine. Seventeen phenolic compounds were detected, and characteristic compounds were identified via omics analysis. The interactions between BSA and different phenolic acids were analyzed by molecular docking, and the anti‐glycation model was used for further verification. In this way, apigetrin, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, quercetin‐3β‐d‐glucoside, and afzelin were identified. They were proved to affect the secondary structure of proteins due to excellent hydrophobic interactions. Our results identified the chrysanthemum species with the most promising anti‐glycation effect as well as their representative phenolic compounds. The binding of phenolic compounds and BSA due to hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds might contribute to their anti‐glycation activities. Overall, our research is helpful for designing edible flower products with anti‐glycation functions and providing a better understanding of the structure–function relationship.
A model‐free approximation for barrier options in a general stochastic volatility framework
Authors: Rolloos Frido , Shiraya Kenichiro
Published: March 2024

For a general stochastic volatility framework with correlation between the spot price and the instantaneous volatility, an analytical approximation for single barrier options with continuous monitoring is given. The approximation is expressed only in terms of market observable implied volatilities and prices. As such the approximation is independent of the specific form and number of parameters of the skew‐generating stochastic volatility model.
Joint effects of Medicaid eligibility and fees on recession‐linked declines in healthcare access and health status
Authors: Benitez Joseph , Callison Kevin , Adams E. Kathleen
Published: March 2024

Whether Medicaid can function as a safety net to offset health risks created by health insurance coverage losses due to job loss is conditional on (1) the eligibility guidelines shaping the pathway for households to access the program for temporary relief, and (2) Medicaid reimbursement policies affecting the value of the program for both the newly and previously enrolled. We find states with more expansive eligibility guidelines lowered the healthcare access and health risk of coverage loss associated with rising unemployment during the 2007–2009 Great Recession. Rises in cost‐related barriers to care associated with unemployment were smallest in states with expansive eligibility guidelines and higher Medicaid‐to‐Medicare fee ratios. Similarly, states whose Medicaid programs had expansive eligibility guidelines and higher fees saw the smallest recession‐linked declines in self‐reported good health. Medicaid can work to stabilize access to health care during periods of joblessness. Our findings yield important insights into the alignment of at least two Medicaid policies (i.e., eligibility and payment) shaping Medicaid's viability as a safety net.
Anterior endoscopic sublabial transmaxillary access to middle cranial base lesions
Authors: Tabari Azin , Nasirmohtaram Sevil , Mohammadi Hassan Reza , Zeinalizadeh Mehdi , Sadrehosseini Seyed Mousa
Published: March 2024

Background

Anterior endoscopic access to middle cranial base lesions becomes feasible in the presence of infratemporal fossa (ITF) involvement. Various approaches, including endoscopic endonasal, transoral sublabial, and transorbital methods, have been described for accessing the ITF through a transmaxillary corridor. Among these approaches, endonasal access is the most commonly preferred, while the transorbital approach is a novel technique gaining popularity. The transoral sublabial approach is considered suitable for selected lesions.

Methods

Patients who underwent the anterior endoscopic transoral/sublabial transmaxillary approach to middle cranial base lesions at a single institute from 2016 to 2023 were included in this retrospective study. Malignant lesions were excluded from the study. The sublabial approach was exclusively performed in all cases, with the exception of one patient who required a combined approach.

Results

The anterior endoscopic transoral sublabial transmaxillary approach to the infratemporal fossa, upper parapharyngeal space, and middle cranial fossa was performed on 14 patients. The underlying conditions for these patients were as follows: trigeminal schwannomas (n = 8), meningiomas (n = 2), juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, osteochondroma, arachnoid cyst and encephalocele (n = 1 each). Gross total resection was achieved in 11 cases. The most common complication was numbness in the territory of the maxillary and mandibular nerves (n = 4). Two patients needed endoscopic maxillary antrostomy for persistent suppuration. No wound problems or CSF rhinorrhea occurred. The average follow‐up time was 26.6 months.

Conclusion

The endoscopic sublabial transmaxillary approach provides direct access to the infratemporal fossa and middle cranial base, enhancing the surgical range of maneuverability while sparing the sinonasal cavity. This procedure is safe, less invasive, and could be used as an efficient corridor for the resection of selected infratemporal fossa lesions with or without extension to the middle cranial base and parapharyngeal space.
In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the osseointegration capacity of a polycarbonate‐urethane zirconium‐oxide composite material for application in a focal knee resurfacing implant
Authors: van Hugten Pieter P. W. , Jeuken Ralph M. , Asik Erkan E. , Oevering Henk , Welting Tim J. M. , van Donkelaar Corrinus C. , Thies Jens C. , Emans Peter J. , Roth Alex K.
Published: March 2024

Currently available focal knee resurfacing implants (FKRIs) are fully or partially composed of metals, which show a large disparity in elastic modulus relative to bone and cartilage tissue. Although titanium is known for its excellent osseointegration, the application in FKRIs can lead to potential stress‐shielding and metal implants can cause degeneration of the opposing articulating cartilage due to the high resulting contact stresses. Furthermore, metal implants do not allow for follow‐up using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).To overcome the drawbacks of using metal based FKRIs, a biomimetic and MRI compatible bi‐layered non‐resorbable thermoplastic polycarbonate‐urethane (PCU)‐based FKRI was developed. The objective of this preclinical study was to evaluate the mechanical properties, biocompatibility and osteoconduction of a novel Bionate® 75D ‐ zirconium oxide (B75D‐ZrO2) composite material in vitro and the osseointegration of a B75D‐ZrO2 composite stem PCU implant in a caprine animal model. The tensile strength and elastic modulus of the B75D‐ZrO2 composite were characterized through in vitro mechanical tests under ambient and physiological conditions. In vitro biocompatibility and osteoconductivity were evaluated by exposing human mesenchymal stem cells to the B75D‐ZrO2 composite and culturing the cells under osteogenic conditions. Cell activity and mineralization were assessed and compared to Bionate® 75D (B75D) and titanium disks. The in vivo osseointegration of implants containing a B75D‐ZrO2 stem was compared to implants with a B75D stem and titanium stem in a caprine large animal model. After a follow‐up of 6 months, bone histomorphometry was performed to assess the bone‐to‐implant contact area (BIC). Mechanical testing showed that the B75D‐ZrO2 composite material possesses an elastic modulus in the range of the elastic modulus reported for trabecular bone. The B75D‐ZrO2 composite material facilitated cell mediated mineralization to a comparable extent as titanium. A significantly higher bone‐to‐implant contact (BIC) score was observed in the B75D‐ZrO2 implants compared to the B75D implants. The BIC of B75D‐ZrO2 implants was not significantly different compared to titanium implants. A biocompatible B75D‐ZrO2 composite approximating the elastic modulus of trabecular bone was developed by compounding B75D with zirconium oxide. In vivo evaluation showed an significant increase of osseointegration for B75D‐ZrO2 composite stem implants compared to B75D polymer stem PCU implants. The osseointegration of B75D‐ZrO2 composite stem PCU implants was not significantly different in comparison to analogous titanium stem metal implants.
The burden of RSV, hMPV, and PIV amongst hospitalized adults in the United States from 2016 to 2019
Authors: Bhasin Ajay , Nguyen David C. , Briggs Benjamin J. , Nam Hannah H.
Published: March 2024

Background

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), and parainfluenza virus (PIV) hospitalize many people yearly. Though severe lower respiratory tract disease has been described in children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised, there is a gap in our understanding of RSV, hMPV, and PIV in hospitalized adults. We sought to evaluate the association of RSV, hMPV, and PIV with severe respiratory disease requiring noninvasive or mechanical ventilation and death in hospitalized adults in the United States.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective, pooled, cross‐sectional study of general medicine hospitalizations in the United States from 2016 to 2019 using the National Inpatient Sample published by the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research. We used multivariable Poisson regression to estimate the likelihood of severe respiratory disease or death. We used linear regression to estimate the mean difference in length of stay for those hospitalized with and without a respiratory virus.

Results

We found that RSV (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 1.68, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.61–1.74, p < .001), hMPV (IRR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.71–1.93, p < .001), and PIV (IRR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.68–1.94, p < .001) were independently associated with severe respiratory disease, even after adjustment. Additionally, we found the presence of a respiratory virus prolonged hospitalizations by (0.79 ± 0.27 days, p < .003) for RSV, (0.88 ± 0.28 days, p < .002) for hMPV, and (1.43 ± 0.30 days, p < .001) for PIV.

Conclusions

RSV, hMPV, and PIV have a significant burden on hospitalized adults, even without classic risk factors.
Exploring the effect of Wuzhi capsule on the pharmacokinetics of regorafenib and its main metabolites in rat plasma using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhu Junfeng , Zhong Like , Song Yu , Ding Haiying , Xin Wenxiu , Xu Gaoqi , Fang Luo
Published: March 2024

Regorafenib is a small‐molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor with severe hepatotoxicity. It undergoes metabolism mainly by CYP3A4 to generate active metabolites regorafenib‐N‐oxide (M2) and N‐desmethyl‐regorafenib‐N‐oxide (M5). Wuzhi capsule (WZC) is an herbal preparation derived from Schisandra sphenanthera and is potentially used to prevent regorafenib‐induced hepatotoxicity. This study aims to explore the effect of WZC on the pharmacokinetics of regorafenib in rats. An efficient and sensitive liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to quantitatively determine regorafenib and its main metabolites in rat plasma. The proposed method was applied to the pharmacokinetic study of regorafenib in rats, with or without WZC. Coadministration of regorafenib with WZC resulted in a prolonged mean residence time (MRT) of the parent drug but had no statistically significant difference in other pharmacokinetic parameters. While for the main metabolites of regorafenib, WZC decreased the area under the curve and maximum concentration (Cmax), delayed the time to reach Cmax, and prolonged the MRT of M2 and M5. These results indicate that WZC delayed and inhibited the metabolism of regorafenib to M2 and M5 by suppressing CYP3A4. Our study provides implications for the rational use of the WZC‐regorafenib combination in clinical practice.
Examining bias in the award of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits for posttraumatic stress disorder in women veterans: Analysis of evaluation reports and VA decisions
Authors: Gianoli Mayumi O. , Meisler Andrew W. , Gordon Rebecca
Published: March 2024

Studies have raised concerns about possible inequities in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)’s awards of disability for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to women. However, the diagnoses and opinions made by disability examiners have not been studied. A sample of 270 initial PTSD examination reports and corresponding VA decisions were studied. Compared to men, women veterans were as likely to be diagnosed with a service‐related mental disorder, χ2(1, N = 270) = 2.31, p = .129, odds ratio (OR) = 1.79, 95% CI [0.84, 3.80], and be granted service‐connection, χ2(1, N = 270) = 0.49, p = .483, OR = 1.28, 95% CI [0.65, 2.51]. Women veterans were considered to have more psychiatric symptoms, Z = −2.05, p = .041, r = .16, and more psychiatric impairment, Z = −2.48, p = .013, r = .20, but the percentage of disability awarded by the VA did not differ, χ2(1, N = 270) = 0.49, p = .483; OR = 1.28, 95% CI [0.65, 2.51]. Secondary analyses implicate the role of military sexual trauma and premilitary trauma in explaining sex differences in symptoms and impairment. The findings indicate that neither opinions by examiners nor corresponding decisions by the VA regarding service connection reflect a negative bias toward women veterans. Results indicate that unbiased examinations lead to equitable VA claims decisions for women veterans. Future studies of the VA PTSD disability program nationally, including examination procedures and VA policies and implementation, will promote equity for women veterans in the PTSD claims process.
Flap‐based Closure of Acquired Tracheoesophageal Fistulas
Authors: Cohen William G. , Chalian Ara , Brody Robert M.
Published: March 2024

Iatrogenic tracheoesophageal fistulae management and repair are difficult to manage with few resourced describing management and repair. Two cases are presented describing the approach to and repair of a tracheoesophagea fistula; one with a free flap and one with local flap reconstruction. Both cases utilized allograft material to maintain separation between the alimentary and repiratory tracts. Laryngoscope, 134:3761–3764, 2024
Synthesis of Magnetic N‐Vinylformamide Grafted Starch and Its Application in Heavy Metals Adsorption
Authors: Li Haihong , Wang Songlin , Yuan Zhenyu , Wang Xin , Yao Kai , Pang Zhiqiang
Published: March 2024

Using cyclohexanone and sodium bromate as initiators, N‐vinylformamide (NVF) is self‐polymerized and grafted onto the pregelatinized starch (PGS) to form NVF‐starch graft copolymer (SGC). Fe3O4 surface is coated by MnO2 formed by in situ chemical reaction between KMnO4 and MnSO4 to obtain modified nanoparticles (NFs). A novel M‐starch graft copolymer (M‐SGC) is combined from SGC and NFs in aqueous solution by sonication. The structures of SGC, NFs, and M‐SGC are characterized by FTIR, SEM, XRD, BET, and 1H‐NMR. The adsorption mechanism by M‐SGC is investigated by FTIR and XPS. The results show that M‐SGC has the ability to adsorb Cu2+, Ni2+, and Cr2O72− from aqueous solutions with high efficiency. Cu2+ and Ni2+ are removed by amide bond chelation and ion exchange of M‐SGC. The Cr2O72− is separated by chelation through turned to trivalent chromium. M‐SGC adsorbs 274.6 mg g−1 Cu2+ in 3.0 g L−1 copper solution, 8.92 mg g−1 Ni2+ in 0.5 g L−1 nickel solution, and 36.5 mg g−1 Cr2O72− in 1.2 g L−1 potassium dichromate solution. The adsorption experiments of M‐SGC has a good recyclability.
Deep learning for precise diagnosis and subtype triage of drug‐resistant tuberculosis on chest computed tomography
Authors: Liang Shufan , Xu Xiuyuan , Yang Zhe , Du Qiuyu , Zhou Lingyu , Shao Jun , Guo Jixiang , Ying Binwu , Li Weimin , Wang Chengdi
Published: March 2024

Deep learning, transforming input data into target prediction through intricate network structures, has inspired novel exploration in automated diagnosis based on medical images. The distinct morphological characteristics of chest abnormalities between drug‐resistant tuberculosis (DR‐TB) and drug‐sensitive tuberculosis (DS‐TB) on chest computed tomography (CT) are of potential value in differential diagnosis, which is challenging in the clinic. Hence, based on 1176 chest CT volumes from the equal number of patients with tuberculosis (TB), we presented a Deep learning‐based system for TB drug resistance identification and subtype classification (DeepTB), which could automatically diagnose DR‐TB and classify crucial subtypes, including rifampicin‐resistant tuberculosis, multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis, and extensively drug‐resistant tuberculosis. Moreover, chest lesions were manually annotated to endow the model with robust power to assist radiologists in image interpretation and the Circos revealed the relationship between chest abnormalities and specific types of DR‐TB. Finally, DeepTB achieved an area under the curve (AUC) up to 0.930 for thoracic abnormality detection and 0.943 for DR‐TB diagnosis. Notably, the system demonstrated instructive value in DR‐TB subtype classification with AUCs ranging from 0.880 to 0.928. Meanwhile, class activation maps were generated to express a human‐understandable visual concept. Together, showing a prominent performance, DeepTB would be impactful in clinical decision‐making for DR‐TB.
Applications of generative adversarial networks in materials science
Authors: Jiang Yuan , Li Jinshan , Yang Xiang , Yuan Ruihao
Published: March 2024

Generative adversarial networks (GANs), as a powerful tool for inverse materials discovery, are being increasingly applied in various fields of materials science. This review provides systematic investigations on the applications of GANs from a group of different aspects. The basic principles of GANs are first introduced; then a detailed review of GANs‐based studies regarding distinct scenarios across composition design, processing optimization, crystal structure search, microstructure characterization and defect detection is presented. At the end, several challenges and possible solutions are discussed and outlined. This overview highlights the efficacy of GANs in materials science, and may stimulate the further use of GANs for more intriguing achievements.
An improved nonlinear anisotropic model with p(x)‐growth conditions applied to image restoration and enhancement
Authors: Alaa Hamza , Eddine Alaa Nour , Bouchriti Anass , Charkaoui Abderrahim
Published: March 2024

This work proposes a novel nonlinear parabolic equation with
‐growth conditions for image restoration and enhancement. Based on the generalized Lebesgue and Sobolev spaces with variable exponent, we demonstrate the well‐posedness of the proposed model. As a first result, we prove the existence of a weak solution to our model when the reaction term is bounded by a suitable function. Secondly, we use the approximations method to establish the existence of a nonnegative weak SOLA (Solution Obtained as Limit of Approximations) solution to the proposed model. We illustrate our theoretical results in the context of image denoising and enhancement. Specifically, we present various numerical implementations on a set of grayscale images. To further enrich these simulations, we assess the efficiency of the proposed model on several color images. The obtained numerical results strongly suggest that our model outperforms existing state‐of‐the‐art methods in terms of both visual and quantitative comparison, demonstrating superior efficiency and robustness in noise removal and contrast enhancement.
Design of compact balanced filters with wide DM upper stopband and CM rejection band based on semi‐circular patch
Authors: Wang Xuedao , Guo Zai‐Cheng , Huang Feng , Wang Jianpeng , Wang Lingling
Published: March 2024

A new design approach to achieve compact size and high common‐mode (CM) suppression of balanced filters is proposed with two back‐to‐back microstrip semi‐circular patch resonators. In feeding structures, metalized via holes are adopted to vertically feed patches by differential pairs. Then, TM11 mode is excited and TM31 mode can be rejected, resulting in wideband differential‐mode (DM) harmonic rejection. Besides, with a slotline etched in the common ground plane, desired coupling strength can be achieved for a target bandwidth. Meanwhile, by virtue of the stacked structure, source‐load coupling can be easily introduced to generate transmission zeros close to the passband. With theory guidance, two balanced filter prototypes centered at 2.4 GHz are designed. Simulation and measurement results both indicate that proposed balanced filters exhibit high DM and CM performances as well as a compact size about 0.26λg × 0.53λg.
Historical tree phenology data reveal the seasonal rhythms of the Congo Basin rainforest
Authors: Kearsley Elizabeth , Verbeeck Hans , Stoffelen Piet , Janssens Steven B. , Yakusu Emmanuel Kasongo , Kosmala Margaret , De Mil Tom , Bauters Marijn , Kitima Elasi Ramanzani , Ndiapo José Mbifo , Chuda Adelard Lonema , Richardson Andrew D. , Wingate Lisa , Ilondea Bhély Angoboy , Beeckman Hans , van den Bulcke Jan , Boeckx Pascal , Hufkens Koen
Published: March 2024

Tropical forest phenology directly affects regional carbon cycles, but the relation between species‐specific and whole‐canopy phenology remains largely uncharacterized. We present a unique analysis of historical tropical tree phenology collected in the central Congo Basin, before large‐scale impacts of human‐induced climate change. Ground‐based long‐term (1937–1956) phenological observations of 140 tropical tree species are recovered, species‐specific phenological patterns analyzed and related to historical meteorological records, and scaled to characterize stand‐level canopy dynamics. High phenological variability within and across species and in climate–phenology relationships is observed. The onset of leaf phenophases in deciduous species was triggered by drought and light availability for a subset of species and showed a species‐specific decoupling in time along a bi‐modal seasonality. The majority of the species remain evergreen, although central African forests experience relatively low rainfall. Annually a maximum of 1.5% of the canopy is in leaf senescence or leaf turnover, with overall phenological variability dominated by a few deciduous species, while substantial variability is attributed to asynchronous events of large and/or abundant trees. Our results underscore the importance of accounting for constituent signals in canopy‐wide scaling and the interpretation of remotely sensed phenology signals.
Machine Learning Study on the Virtual Screening of Donor–Acceptor Pairs for Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Li Ming , Zhang Cai‐Rong , Zhang Mei‐Ling , Gong Ji‐Jun , Liu Xiao‐Meng , Chen Yu‐Hong , Liu Zi‐Jiang , Wu You‐Zhi , Chen Hong‐Shan
Published: March 2024

The selection of electron donors and nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) in organic solar cells (OSCs) is crucial for improving photovoltaic performance. Machine learning (ML) has brought a breakthrough solution. Herein, 292 donor‐NFA pairs with experimental OSC parameters from the reported articles are collected. The ML descriptors include device processing parameters, molecular properties, and molecular structure. The five ML regression models, random forest (RF), extra tree regression, gradient boosting regression tree, adaptive boosting, and artificial neural network (ANN) are trained. GridSearchCV is used for hyperparameter optimization of ML regression models. The SHapley Additive exPlanation approach is employed to analyze descriptor importance. Among the trained five ML models, the RF model shows superior performance, achieving Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) of 0.81 on the test set. Based on the donors and NFAs in constructed dataset, the 9779 donor–NFA pairs for OSCs are generated by randomly combining donor and acceptor molecules. The trained RF model is utilized to predict the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of new donor–acceptor pairs for OSCs. The results indicate that the OSC composed of PBDB‐TF as donor and L8‐BO as acceptor can achieve the remarkable PCE of 17.9%.
Estimation of the odds ratio from multi‐stage randomized trials
Authors: Cao Shiwei , Jung Sin‐Ho
Published: March 2024

A multi‐stage design for a randomized trial is to allow early termination of the study when the experimental arm is found to have low or high efficacy compared to the control during the study. In such a trial, an early stopping rule results in bias in the maximum likelihood estimator of the treatment effect. We consider multi‐stage randomized trials on a dichotomous outcome, such as treatment response, and investigate the estimation of the odds ratio. Typically, randomized phase II cancer clinical trials have two‐stage designs with small sample sizes, which makes the estimation of odds ratio more challenging. In this paper, we evaluate several existing estimation methods of odds ratio and propose bias‐corrected estimators for randomized multi‐stage trials, including randomized phase II cancer clinical trials. Through numerical studies, the proposed estimators are shown to have a smaller bias and a smaller mean squared error overall.
Biogeomorphological floodplain dynamics along a degradation gradient of an Alpine river
Authors: Wagner Thomas C. , Woellner Romy , Kloska Veronika , Kollmann Johannes
Published: March 2024

Channel migration, furcation, and vegetation succession are characteristic processes of braided gravel rivers in Alpine regions. These are associated with a frequent turnover of large parts of the active floodplain. However, more than one century of river regulation has reduced or destroyed most of these ecosystem dynamics. More recently, there have been attempts to restore at least some sections of degraded rivers, while there is little monitoring of the biogeomorphological dynamics of such rivers. Thus, we did a four‐year analysis of four representative sections of the upper River Isar in Southern Germany differing in their degree of naturalness. Dynamics of channels, gravel bars, and vegetation were recorded by drone images, and braiding and gravel indices were calculated. When comparing the near‐natural, semi‐natural, degraded or restored sections, there was a gradient of decreasing channel migration, gravel bank expansion, and bank erosion due to a reduced turnover frequency. Biogeomorphological variation among years correlated with log peak discharge within the four sections. In addition, the cover and height growth of vegetation increased with river degradation, and channel migration was positively related to the braiding index. The total turnover of the active river corridor and of the vegetation were positively correlated with log peak discharge within the four sections. The floodplain dynamics of the restored section were improved compared to the degraded section but did not reach a near‐natural state. Thus, Alpine river sections with contrasting degrees of naturalness differ in terms of habitat turnover and vegetation succession, and these characteristics can only partially be restored by local measures.
Short‐ and long‐term legacies of carbon sequestration, and nutrient burial in floodplain wetlands of agricultural and forested catchments, Indiana, United States
Authors: Craft Christopher , Li Shanze
Published: March 2024

Soil organic carbon (C) sequestration and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) burial were measured in two floodplain wetlands' soils of the West Fork of the White River watershed (Indiana, United States) whose catchments differed in land use to better understand how land use practices affect wetland C and nutrient retention. The catchment of one floodplain, Upper West Fork, is dominated by row crop agriculture (61%) whereas the second catchment, Beanblossom Creek, is mostly forested (85%). Soils (0–30 cm) of the two floodplain wetlands had similar bulk density (1.23 g/cm3). Soil organic C and N were low in both floodplains but the percent organic C and N was two times greater (3.3% C, 0.22% N) in the agricultural floodplain than in the floodplain in the forested catchment (1.5% C, 0.14% N). Soil P was three times greater in the agricultural (1100 μg/g) than in the forested floodplain (350 μg/g). Recent soil accretion based on 137Cs which provides a historical record since 1964 (60 years), was two times greater in the agricultural floodplain (2.2 mm/year) than in the forested catchment (1.0 mm/year). Sediment deposition (2500 g/m2/year), C sequestration (90 g/m2/year), and N burial (7.5 g/m2/year) were three times greater in the agricultural floodplain and P burial was seven times greater (3.0 vs. 0.41 g/m2/year). Long‐term measurements (100 years) based on 210Pb did not show large differences in C sequestration and N burial between the two floodplains though soil accretion and sediment deposition were greater in the forested floodplain. We attribute these higher rates to greater erosion in the watershed before 1950 when the catchment had more agricultural land and before instruction on best management practices to reduce soil erosion. These findings confirm previously published studies that show that P enrichment and accumulation in floodplain soils represent legacy effects of agricultural land use in the catchment.
Bridging energy transition and income inequality: The moderating effect of institutional transparency
Authors: Wang Qiang , Yang Zhuang , Li Rongrong
Published: March 2024

The emergence of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals has instigated a transformative phase in policy formulation, emphasizing the multifaceted approach required to attain these objectives. Central to this pursuit is the management of diverse goals and their intricate interactions. This paper rigorously examines the pivotal role of institutional transparency in the nexus between energy transition and income inequality across 127 countries from 2012 to 2020, within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals. The estimated results from the non‐balanced panel threshold model suggest the existence of a threshold effect of institutional transparency in the impact of energy transition on income inequality. On the whole, the process of energy transition has had a detrimental effect on income inequality, with institutional transparency serving to moderate it. When institutional transparency falls within the first regime (lnCPI ≤3.3322), the second regime (3.3322 < lnCPI <4.3041), and the third regime (lnCPI >4.3041), a 1% increase in the proportion of renewable energy consumption results in average increases in disposable income inequality of 0.0165%, 0.0143%, and 0.0128%, respectively. This suggests that institutional transparency has a positive moderating effect on the detrimental impact of energy transition on disposable income inequality. However, this result does not hold true for market income inequality. Additionally, there is an “inverted U‐shaped” relationship between economic growth and income inequality, indicating the negative impact of energy transition on income inequality would be offset by its contribution to economic growth.
Universal Strategy for Metal‐Organic Framework Growth: From Cascading‐Functional Films to MOF‐on‐MOFs
Authors: Zheng Juan , Chen Luyi , Kuang Yixin , Ouyang Gangfeng
Published: March 2024

Transformation of metal‐organic framework (MOF) particles into thin films is urgently needed for the persistent development of well‐applicable devices, and recently emerging functional‐integrated hybrid frameworks. Although some flexible polymers and exclusive modification approaches have been proposed, the additive‐free and widely applicable strategy has not been reported, hampering the deep investigation of the structure‐performance relationship. A universal strategy for the in situ growth of large‐area and continuous MOF films with controllable microstructures is introduced, through the modification of multi‐scale and multi‐structure substrates with poly(4‐vinylpyridine) as the anchor to capture metal ions via Coulomb attraction. Based on the clarified structure‐adsorption‐separation mechanisms, the customized devices fabricated by in situ growth can achieve highly selective adsorption and excellently synergetic separation of various industrially relevant isomers. In addition, this strategy is also feasible for the construction of MOF‐on‐MOFs with varied lattice parameters. This strategy is easy to implement and will be widely applicable to the surface growth of diverse MOFs on desired substrates, and provides a new concept for developing hybrid MOFs integrating with customized functionalities.
Boosting Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction of CoFe‐Layered Double Hydroxides Nanosheets via Co‐Coordination Mechanism of W‐Doping and Oxygen Defect Engineering
Authors: Wang Shaohong , Wu Jing , Xu Yin , Liang Dandan , Li Da , Chen Dahong , Liu Guohong , Feng Yujie
Published: March 2024

While surface defects and heteroatom doping exhibit promising potential in augmenting the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), their performance remains unable to rival that of the costly Pt‐based catalysts. Yet, the concurrent modification of catalysts by integrating both approaches stands as a promising strategy to effectively address the aforementioned limitation. In this work, tungsten dopants are introduced into self‐supported CoFe‐layered double hydroxides (LDH) on nickel foam using a hydrothermal method, and oxygen vacancies (Ov) are further introduced through calcination. The analysis results demonstrated that tungsten doping reduces the Ov formation energy of CoFeW‐LDH. The Ov acted as oxophilic sites, facilitating water adsorption and dissociation, and reducing the barrier for cleaving HO─H bonds from 0.64 to 0.14 eV. Additionally, Ov regulated the electronic structure of CoFeW‐LDH to endow optimized hydrogen binding ability on tungsten atoms, thereby accelerating alkaline Volmer and Heyrovsky reaction kinetics. Specifically, the abundance of Ov induced a transition of tungsten from a six‐coordinated to highly active four‐coordinated structure, which becomes the active site for HER. Consequently, an ultra‐low overpotential of 41 mV at 10 mA cm−2, and a low Tafel slope of 35 mV dec−1 are achieved. These findings offer crucial insights for the design of efficient HER electrocatalysts.
Unraveling the Molecular Size Effect on Surface Engineering of Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Wang Jinyao , Wu Yulin , Zhao Jing , Lu Shudi , Lu Jiangying , Sun Jiaqian , Wu Shan , Zheng Xiaopeng , Zheng Xu , Tang Xuan , Ma Mengmeng , Yue Shizhong , Liu Kong , Wang Zhijie , Qu Shengchun
Published: March 2024

Surface engineering in perovskite solar cells, especially for the upper surface of perovskite, is widely studied. However, most of these studies have primarily focused on the interaction between additive functional groups and perovskite point defects, neglecting the influence of other parts of additive molecules. Herein, additives with ‐NH3+ functional group are introduced at the perovskite surface to suppress surface defects. The chain lengths of these additives vary to conduct a detailed investigation into the impact of molecular size. The results indicate that the propane‐1,3‐diamine dihydroiodide (PDAI2), which possesses the most suitable size, exhibited obvious optimization effects. Whereas the molecules, methylenediamine dihydroiodide (MDAI2) and pentane‐1,5‐diamine dihydroiodide (PentDAI2) with unsuitable size, lead to a deterioration in device performance. The PDAI2‐treated devices achieved a certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.81% and the unencapsulated devices retained over 80% of their initial PCE after 600 h AM1.5 illumination.
Bridging the divide between inland water quantity and quality with satellite remote sensing: An interdisciplinary review
Authors: Ellis Emily A. , Allen George H. , Riggs Ryan M. , Gao Huilin , Li Yao , Carey Cayelan C.
Published: March 2024

The quantity and quality of surface water are inherently connected yet are overwhelmingly studied separately in the field of remote sensing. Remotely observable water quantity (e.g., water extent, water elevation, lake/reservoir volume, and river discharge) and water quality (e.g., color, turbidity, total suspended solids, chlorophyll a, colored dissolved organic matter, and temperature) parameters of inland waterbodies interact through a series of hydrological and biogeochemical processes. In this review, we analyzed trends in remote sensing publications to understand the prevalence of studies on the quantity versus quality of open‐surface inland waterbodies (rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs) as well as identified opportunities for integrating both water quality and quantity sensing in future work. Our bibliometric analysis found that despite the increasing number of publications using remote sensing for inland waterbodies, few studies to date have used remote sensing tools or approaches to simultaneously study water quantity and quality. Ultimately, by providing insights into potential integration of the water quality and quantity studies, we aim to identify a pathway to advance the understanding of inland water dynamics and freshwater resources through remote sensing.

This article is categorized under:

Water and Life > Methods

Science of Water > Water Quality

Water and Life > Nature of Freshwater Ecosystems

Science of Water > Methods
Artificial intelligence and identity: the rise of the statistical individual
Authors: Bjerring Jens Christian , Busch Jacob
Published: March 2024

Algorithms are used across a wide range of societal sectors such as banking, administration, and healthcare to make predictions that impact on our lives. While the predictions can be incredibly accurate about our present and future behavior, there is an important question about how these algorithms in fact represent human identity. In this paper, we explore this question and argue that machine learning algorithms represent human identity in terms of what we shall call the statistical individual. This statisticalized representation of individuals, we shall argue, differs significantly from our ordinary conception of human identity, which is tightly intertwined with considerations about biological, psychological, and narrative continuity—as witnessed by our most well-established philosophical views on personal identity. Indeed, algorithmic representations of individuals give no special attention to biological, psychological, and narrative continuity and instead rely on predictive properties that significantly exceed and diverge from those that we would ordinarily take to be relevant for questions about how we are.
Exploring Rhodospirillum rubrum response to high doses of carbon monoxide under light and dark conditions
Authors: Godoy Manuel S. , Verdú Irene , de Miguel Santiago R. , Jiménez José D. , Prieto M. Auxiliadora
Published: March 2024

Environmental concerns about residues and the traditional disposal methods are driving the search for more environmentally conscious processes, such as pyrolysis and gasification. Their main final product is synthesis gas (syngas) composed of CO, CO2, H2, and methane. Syngas can be converted into various products using CO-tolerant microorganisms. Among them, Rhodospirillum rubrum is highlighted for its biotechnological potential. However, the extent to which high doses of CO affect its physiology is still opaque. For this reason, we have studied R. rubrum behavior under high levels of this gas (up to 2.5 bar), revealing a profound dependence on the presence or absence of light. In darkness, the key variable affected was the lag phase, where the highest levels of CO retarded growth to more than 20 days. Under light, R. rubrum ability to convert CO into CO2 and H2 depended on the presence of an additional carbon source, such as acetate. In those conditions where CO was completely exhausted, CO2 fixation was unblocked, leading to a diauxic growth. To enhance R. rubrum tolerance to CO in darkness, a UV-accelerated adaptive laboratory evolution (UVa-ALE) trial was conducted to isolate clones with shorter lag phases, resulting in the isolation of clones 1.4-2B and 1.7-2A. The adaptation of 1.4-2B was mainly based on mutated enzymes with a metabolic function, while 1.7-3A was mostly affected at regulatory genes, including the anti-repressor PpaA/AerR. Despite these mutations having slight effects on biomass and pigment levels, they successfully provoked a significant reduction in the lag phase (−50%).

Keypoints

• CO affects principally R. rubrum lag phase (darkness) and growth rate (light)

• CO is converted to CO2/H2during acetate uptake and inhibits CO2fixation (light)

• UVa-ALE clones showed a 50% reduction in the lag phase (darkness)

Graphical Abstract