bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Suppression of the Time‐Domain Sputtering Effect Using Low‐Scattering Metasurfaces
Authors: Yang Rui , Ke Jun Chen , Yang Jin , Chen Ming Zheng , Cheng Qiang , Cui Tie Jun
Published: February 2022

Recently, the time‐domain sputtering effect has been discovered when the low‐scattering objects (LSOs) are illuminated by radar pulse signals. It results in large and sharp peaks at the beginning and end of the reflected waveforms, and presents a great challenge for them in stealth applications. To tackle that problem, herein, the sputtering effect of LSOs is explained using the Fourier transform, and the main factors influencing the effect are analyzed. A method is proposed based on the analysis to suppress the sputtering effect of LSOs by increasing their low‐scattering bandwidths (LSBs) and reducing their out‐of‐band reflectance (OOBR). Two absorbing metasurfaces with different LSBs and OOBR as samples to verify the effectiveness of this method are fabricated. The time‐domain reflected waveforms of the two samples are simulated and measured, and the corresponding sputtering effects are compared. Both simulation and measurement results reveal that the sputtering effect can be significantly suppressed by increasing the LSB and reducing the OOBR of the LSOs.
3D Spatial Combination of CN Vacancy‐Mediated NiFe‐PBA with N‐Doped Carbon Nanofibers Network Toward Free‐Standing Bifunctional Electrode for Zn–Air Batteries
Authors: Lai Chenglong , Li Haomiao , Sheng Yi , Zhou Min , Wang Wei , Gong Mingxing , Wang Kangli , Jiang Kai
Published: February 2022

Constructing flexible free‐standing electrodes with efficient bifunctional performance is significant for improving the performance of flexible Zinc–air batteries. Herein, a flexible free‐standing bifunctional electrode (N2‐NiFe‐PBA/NCF/CC‐60) is constructed by the 3D spatial combination of CN vacancy‐mediated NiFe Prussian Blue Analogue (NiFe‐PBA) and N‐doped carbon nanofibers (NCF) rooted on carbon cloth (CC). The in situ formed CN vacancies by N2‐plasma activation tune the local coordination environment and electronic structure of Ni‐Fe active sites in NiFe‐PBA, thus improving the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalytic intrinsic activity, and restraining the loss of Fe element during OER process. The combination of NiFe‐PBA and NCF presents a 3D interworking network structure, which exhibits a large specific surface and excellent electrical conductivity, thus guaranteeing sufficient, stable, and efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)/OER active sites. Therefore, the N2‐NiFe‐PBA/NCF/CC‐60 electrode delivers high‐efficiency OER activity with a low overpotential (270 mV at 50 mA cm−2) and excellent ORR performance with a positive potential of 0.89 V at 5 mA cm−2. The N2‐NiFe‐PBA/NCF/CC‐60 based Zn–air batteries display outstanding discharge/charge stability for 2000 cycles. Meanwhile, the corresponding flexible Zn–air batteries with satisfactory mechanical properties exhibit a low voltage gap of 0.52 V at 1.0 mA cm−2.
Mechanochemical Access to a Short‐Lived Cyclic Dimer Pd2L2: An Elusive Kinetic Species En Route to Molecular Triangle Pd3L3and Molecular Square Pd4L4
Authors: Liu Yan , Liu Fang‐Zi , Yan KaKing
Published: February 2022

Pd‐based molecular squarePd4L4and trianglePd3L3represent the molecular ancestors of metal‐coordination polyhedra that have been an integral part of the field for the last 30 years. Conventional solution‐based reactions betweencis‐protected Pd ions and 2,2′‐bipyridine exclusively givePd4L4and/orPd3L3as the sole products. We herein show that, under solvent‐free mechanochemical conditions, the self‐assembly energy landscape can be thermodynamically manipulated to form an elusive cyclic dimerPd2L2for the first time. In the absence of solvent,Pd2L2is indefinitely stable in the solid‐state, but converts rapidly to its thermodynamic productsPd3L3andPd4L4in solution, confirmingPd2L2as a short‐lived kinetic species in the solution‐based self‐assembly process. Our results highlight how mechanochemistry grants access to a vastly different chemical space than available under conventional solution conditions. This provides a unique opportunity to isolate elusive species in self‐assembly processes that are too reactive to both “see” and “capture”.
Anaesthesia management of a child with aromatic L‐amino acid decarboxylase deficiency
Authors: McCarthy A. , Black C.
Published: February 2022

Aromatic L‐amino acid decarboxylase deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder that results in a lack of neurotransmitters including serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline. It is characterised by developmental delay, severe hypotonia and autonomic disturbance. In patients with this condition, catecholamine deficiency and autonomic dysfunction, resulting in haemodynamic instability under anaesthesia is a primary concern. There is increased sensitivity to exogenous catecholamines and indirect acting agents, such as ephedrine, are ineffective. Hypoglycaemia, difficult airway status and drug interactions such as with monoamine oxidase inhibitors are also of concern, and these patients are at risk of dystonic crises peri‐operatively. A 6‐year‐old boy with aromatic L‐amino acid decarboxylase deficiency presented for gastrointestinal endoscopy. Following multidisciplinary discussion, we elected to provide general anaesthesia with a propofol target‐controlled infusion, which proceeded without incident. In this report, we describe the precautions taken in this case, and discuss the provision of general anaesthesia for children with rare neurometabolic disorders.
Are social sciences becoming more interdisciplinary? Evidence from publications 1960–2014
Authors: Zhou Hongyu , Guns Raf , Engels Tim C. E.
Published: February 2022

Interdisciplinary research is widely recognized as necessary to tackle some of the grand challenges facing humanity. It is generally believed that interdisciplinarity is becoming increasingly prevalent among Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. However, little is known about the evolution of interdisciplinarity in the Social Sciences. Also, how interdisciplinarity and its various aspects evolve over time has seldom been closely quantified and delineated. This paper answers these questions by capturing the disciplinary diversity of the knowledge base of scientific publications in nine broad Social Sciences fields over 55 years. The analysis considers diversity as a whole and its three distinct aspects, namely variety, balance, and disparity. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions are also conducted to investigate whether such change, if any, can be found among research with similar characteristics. We find that learning widely and digging deeply have become one of the norms among researchers in Social Sciences. Fields acting as knowledge exporters or independent domains maintain a relatively stable homogeneity in their knowledge base while the knowledge base of importer disciplines evolves towards greater heterogeneity. However, the increase of interdisciplinarity is substantially smaller when controlling for several author and publication related variables.
The study of expression levels of DNA methylation regulators in patients affected with congenital heart defects (CHDs)
Authors: Joshi Radha O. , Kukshal Prachi , Chellappan Subramanian , Guhathakurta Soma
Published: February 2022

Background

Congenial heart defects (CHDs) have multifactorial etiology with complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Environmental impact can have epigenetic mechanism of CHD development. Many studies have reported the causal association between CHD and distinct DNA methylation profile which is one of the key epigenetic events, which has vital role in normal embryonic development. The products of DNMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3B, and MBD2 are important regulators of DNA methylation process. Changes in the expression of these genes are implicated in congenital structural cardiac defects. Hence, in this proof‐of‐concept study, we have compared the expression levels of these genes in the blood samples of healthy controls and CHD cases while investigating the etiology of CHD.

Methods

In this study with 48 CHD cases and 47 healthy controls, total RNA was isolated from the whole blood samples using TRI reagent. Quantitative RT PCR (qRT‐PCR) was used to analyze the mRNA levels of DNMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3B, and MBD2. The expression levels have been analyzed by relative quantification.

Results

We observed that DNMT3B (fold change = −2.563; p = .0018) and DNMT3A (fold change = −2.169; p = .05) were significantly downregulated in CHD patients, whereas the expression of DNMT1 and MBD2 was not significantly different between cases and controls.

Conclusions

Lower expression of de novo methyltransferases, namely, DNMT3B and DNMT3A in CHD cases, may be an important contributor to the mechanism of CHD pathogenesis. Further studies with age‐matched controls and analysis of global DNA methylation profile are required to investigate the proposed causal association.
Computational investigation of dynamical heterogeneity in ionic liquids based on the restricted primitive model
Authors: Lim Hyuntae , Jung YounJoon
Published: February 2022

The locally heterogeneous dynamics of the glass‐forming liquids is an unusual and distinct phenomenon that is not observed in a typical liquid system above the melting temperature. Room‐temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are usually good glass formers, exhibiting various interesting features of glassy materials such as nonexponential and non‐Arrenhius relaxations and transport decoupling behaviors. In this study, we propose a minimal model that represents the general structural features of RTILs to study their dynamics by extending the restricted primitive model. We mainly focus on the heterogeneous dynamics of the RTIL as a glass former and investigate how the charge symmetry of each ion affects the structural relaxation, diffusive behavior, and the dynamic heterogeneity lifetime of the system.
Experimental early‐life febrile seizures cause a sustained increase in excitatory neurotransmission in newborn dentate granule cells
Authors: Hoogland Govert , Raijmakers Marjolein , Clynen Elke , Brône Bert , Rigo Jean‐Michel , Swijsen Ann
Published: February 2022

Prolonged febrile seizures (FS) are a risk factor for the development of hippocampal‐associated temporal lobe epilepsy. The dentate gyrus is the major gateway to the hippocampal network and one of the sites in the brain where neurogenesis continues postnatally. Previously, we found that experimental FS increase the survival rate and structural integration of newborn dentate granule cells (DGCs). In addition, mature post‐FS born DGCs express an altered receptor panel. Here, we aimed to study if these molecular and structural changes are accompanied by an altered cellular functioning. Experimental FS were induced by hyperthermia in 10‐days‐old Sprague‐Dawley rats. Proliferating progenitor cells were labeled the next day by injecting green fluorescent protein expressing retroviral particles bilaterally in the dentate gyri. Eight weeks later, spontaneous excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic events (sEPSCs and sIPSCs, respectively) were recorded from labeled DGCs using the whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique. Experimental FS resulted in a robust decrease of the inter event interval (p < .0001) and a small decrease of the amplitude of sEPSCs (p < .001). Collectively the spontaneous excitatory charge transfer increased (p < .01). Experimental FS also slightly increased the frequency of sIPSCs (p < .05), while the amplitude of these events decreased strongly (p < .0001). The net inhibitory charge transfer remained unchanged. Experimental, early‐life FS have a long‐term effect on post‐FS born DGCs, as they display an increased spontaneous excitatory input when matured. It remains to be established if this presents a mechanism for FS‐induced epileptogenesis.
Building a data‐driven circular supply chain hierarchical structure: Resource recovery implementation drives circular business strategy
Authors: Tseng Ming‐Lang , Ha Hien Minh , Tran Thi Phuong Thuy , Bui Tat‐Dat , Chen Chih‐Cheng , Lin Chun‐Wei
Published: February 2022

The circular supply chain has recently received more attention as a relevant solution to effectively tackle environmental issues while simultaneously achieving resource recovery and circular business strategy benefits. This study builds a hierarchical circular supply chain structure from big data including qualitative and quantitative information. This study uses data‐driven analysis to clarify circular supply chain trends and opportunities in practice. A valid hierarchical circular supply chain structure is composed of a big dataset. However, the attributes of the hierarchical circular supply chain structure must be explored to identify the opportunities and challenges of the circular supply chain. A combination of data‐driven content and cluster analysis, including the fuzzy Delphi method, fuzzy decision‐making trials, evaluation laboratories, and the entropy weight method, is utilized to address this gap. The study analyzes a set of five attributes from the literature, and 23 criteria are validated. The results show that resource recovery implementation, Industry 4.0 and digitalization, and reverse supply chain practice pertain to the causal group, while circular business strategy and life cycle sustainability assessment are included in the effect group. The conclusive criteria comprise material efficiency, waste‐to‐energy, machine learning, e‐waste, plastic recycling, and artificial intelligence.
Phosphatidylserine released from apoptotic cells in tumor induces M2‐like macrophage polarization through the PSR‐STAT3‐JMJD3 axis
Authors: Liang Xiao , Luo Min , Shao Bin , Yang Jing‐Yun , Tong An , Wang Rui‐Bo , Liu Yan‐Tong , Jun Ren , Liu Ting , Yi Tao , Zhao Xia , Wei Yu‐Quan , Wei Xia‐Wei
Published: February 2022

Background

Understanding how the tumor microenvironment is shaped by various factors is important for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Tumor cells often undergo spontaneous apoptotic cell death in tumor microenvironment, these apoptotic cells are histologically co‐localized with immunosuppressive macrophages. However, the mechanism by which tumor cell apoptosis modulates macrophage polarization is not fully understood. In this study, we aimed to explore the tumor promoting effects of apoptotic tumor cells and the signal pathways involved.

Methods

Apoptotic cells and macrophages in tumors were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Morphological analysis was performed with Giemsa staining. Lipids generated from apoptotic cells were detected by liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Phosphatidylserine‐containing liposomes were prepared to mimic apoptotic cells. The expression of protein was determined by real‐time PCR, immunohistochemistry enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting. Mouse malignant ascites and subcutaneous tumor models were designed for in vivo analysis. Transgenic mice with specific genes knocked out and inhibitors specific to certain proteins were used for the mechanistic studies.

Results

The location and the number of apoptotic cells were correlated with that of macrophages in several types of carcinomas. Phosphatidylserine, a lipid molecule generated in apoptotic cells, induced polarization and accumulation of M2‐like macrophages in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, sustained administration of phosphoserine promoted tumor growth in the malignant ascites and subcutaneous tumor models. Further analyses suggested that phosphoserine induced a M2‐like phenotype in macrophages, which was related to the activation of phosphoserine receptors including T‐cell immunoglobin mucin 4 (TIM4) and the FAK‐SRC‐STAT3 signaling pathway as well as elevated the expression of the histone demethylase Jumonji domain‐containing protein 3 (JMJD3). Administration of specific inhibitors of these pathways could reduce tumor progression.

Conclusions

This study suggest that apoptotic cell‐generated phosphoserine might be a notable signal for immunosuppressive macrophages in tumors, and the related pathways might be potential therapeutic targets for cancer therapy.
Glucosamine suppresses oxidative stress and induces protective autophagy in osteoblasts by blocking the ROS/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway
Authors: Huang Lintuo , Su Wei , Wu Ziqian , Zheng Lidan , Lv Chen
Published: February 2022

Oxidative stress is the crucial pathogenic factor in osteoporosis. Cell autophagy, a major form of self‐digestion, plays critical functions in different forms of stress by devouring harmful cytosolic proteins or organelles for the renewal of organelles and to maintain cellular homeostasis. Glucosamine (GlcN) has been widely utilized in treatments for patients with osteoarthritis‐related joint pain. It has potential antioxidant effects and its pharmacological effect in osteoblasts remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate whether autophagy participates in the protective effects of GlcN in osteoblasts under oxidative stress and the possible mechanism. First of all, MC3T3‐E1 cells were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to induce oxidative stress, as assessed by viability assays, apoptosis, the intracellular reactive oxygen species production. GlcN was capable of inducing autophagy and protected osteoblasts from those cytotoxic effects. Moreover, it significantly attenuated H2O2‐induced oxidative stress as measured by malondialdehyde, glutathione, nitrite, and superoxide dismutase levels. Importantly, the autophagy level increased in osteoblasts treated with GlcN as represented by an increase in both Beclin1 expression and the LC3 II/I ratio. Immunofluorescence analysis of autophagosomes also confirmed the above results. In addition, GlcN decreased the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and protein kinase B (Akt). However, the Akt activator (SC79) suppressed the autophagy level induced by GlcN in osteoblasts. Consequently, the antioxidant effects of GlcN were mediated, at least in part, by enhancing autophagy through the Akt/mTOR pathway. These results suggested that GlcN might be a promising candidate for osteoporosis treatment.
A Self‐Assembled Fmoc‐Diphenylalanine Hydrogel‐Encapsulated Pt Nanozyme as Oxidase‐ and Peroxidase‐Like Breaking pH Limitation for Potential Antimicrobial Application
Authors: Chen Jun , Zhang Shuo , Chen Xu , Wang Lianying , Yang Wensheng
Published: February 2022

Nanomaterials with oxidase‐ and peroxidase‐like activities have potential in antibacterial therapy. The optimal activity of most nanozymes occurred in acidic pH (3.0–5.0), while the pH in biological systems is mostly near neutral. Herein, a general system using 9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl‐modified diphenylalanine (Fmoc‐FF) hydrogel for enhancing oxidase‐ and peroxidase‐like activities of Pt NPs and other typical enzyme‐like nanomaterials at neutral or even alkaline pH is proposed. In this system, Fmoc‐FF hydrogel provides an acidic microenvironment for Pt NPs due to hydrogen protons (H+) produced by the dissociation of F at neutral pH. As a result, Pt NPs exhibits 6‐fold enhanced oxidase‐like and 26‐fold peroxidase‐like activity after being encapsulated into Fmoc‐FF hydrogel at pH 7.0. Based on outstanding enzymatic activities and the antibacterial activity of Fmoc‐FF hydrogel itself, Pt‐Fmoc‐FF hydrogel realizes excellent antibacterial effect. This design provides a universal strategy to break pH limitation of nanozymes and promotes the biological applications of nanozymes.
Multi‐party smart contract for an AI services ecosystem: An application to smart construction
Authors: Gec Sandi , Kochovski Petar , Lavbič Dejan , Stankovski Vlado
Published: February 2022

Various smart applications, such as in the domain of smart construction, require the use of artificial intelligence (AI) based services. In order to support such environments, various AI/knowledge service provider and consumer ecosystems have started to emerge. Within such ecosystems, the goals are to improve the quality, reliability, dependability in terms of governance and trust in the data which is exchanged among the various actors, which must be supported by specific business models. This work introduces a novel multi‐party smart contract (SC) that is designed to address the above mentioned goals. Specific service level agreements that illustrate the interactions among the AI service providers and consumers are also presented. The developed multi‐party SC supports different pricing schemes, which are analyzed in detail against the goals of the study.
Radical‐Enhanced Intersystem Crossing in Perylene‐Oxoverdazyl Radical Dyads
Authors: Imran Muhammad , Taddei Maria , Sukhanov Andrey A. , Bussotti Laura , Ni Wenjun , Foggi Paolo , Gurzadyan Gagik G. , Zhao Jianzhang , Di Donato Mariangela , Voronkova Violeta K.
Published: February 2022

Attaching stable radicals to organic chromophores is an effective method to enhance the intersystem crossing (ISC) of the chromophores. Herein we prepared perylene‐oxoverdazyl dyads either by directly connecting the two units or using an intervening phenyl spacer. We investigated the effect of the radical on the photophysical properties of perylene and observed strong fluorescence quenching due to radical enhanced ISC (REISC). Compared with a previously reported perylene‐fused nitroxide radical compound (triplet lifetime, τT=0.1 μs), these new adducts show a longer‐lived triplet excited state (τT=9.5 μs). Based on the singlet oxygen quantum yield (ΦΔ=7 %) and study of the triplet state, we propose that the radical enhanced internal conversion also plays a role in the relaxation of the excited state. Femtosecond fluorescence up‐conversion indicates a fast decay of the excited state (<1.0 ps), suggesting a strong spin‐spin exchange interaction between the two units. Femtosecond transient absorption (fs‐TA) spectra confirmed direct triplet state population (within 0.5 ps). Interestingly, by fs‐TA spectra, we observed the interconversion of the two states (D1↔Q1) at ∼80 ps time scale. Time‐resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR) spectral study confirmed the formation of the quartet sate. We observed triplet and quartet states simultaneously with weights of 0.7 and 0.3, respectively. This is attributed to two different conformations of the molecule at excited state. DFT computations showed that the interaction between the radical and the chromophore is ferromagnetic (J>0, 0.05∼0.10 eV).
The planned curriculum—Not just a matter of teachers
Authors: Grundén Helena
Published: February 2022

Teachers are responsible for teaching, and when they plan, they are part of a complex non‐linear social practice of curriculum making. When planning, teachers draw on curriculum materials, which are often designed to promote reform; however, previous studies show that this is not always the case. A study on planning for mathematics teaching in Sweden showed that teachers are influenced by those who have formal and informal power when they plan. This article focuses on structural influence on teachers' planning as curriculum work and the possible consequences for teacher agency. The data comes from a focus group discussion about planning with mathematics teachers in primary school. Tools for the analysis were inspired by actor analysis and “three pillars of institutions”. Results show that the structural influence on teachers is at the regulative, the normative, and the cultural‐cognitive levels. Regulative influence seems to be short‐term, while cultural‐cognitive influence seems to last over the long‐term. The most prominent influence was normative and related to the textbook. Results shed light on teachers' curriculum work in the micro site of activity when they are planning for mathematics teaching. Based on the results, the article suggests that teachers—as key actors when it comes to teaching—must have the opportunity to discuss and problematize assumptions, ideas that are taken‐for‐granted, and power relations in curriculum making to achieve agency and be the professional agents of change they are expected to be.
FIRST: Fuzzy based intelligent relay selection and transition technique for delay tolerant networks
Authors: Sonkar Nidhi , Pandey Sudhakar , Kumar Sanjay
Published: February 2022

Delay tolerant network (DTN) has attracted significant attention of the researchers due to its capability of delivering the message even in the situation where network connectivity is irregular. Irregular networks result in non‐delivery of data to user at right time, and the same is not possible with traditional algorithms due to requirement of end‐to‐end connectivity between nodes. DTN uses story–carry–forward technique to deliver a message in the environment of disconnection. Hence, for message transmission from source node to destination node, a relay node or forwarder node is required. The efficiency of the network is mainly dependent on the selection of forwarder node. Hence, forwarder node selection is very crucial in DTNs. The objective of this paper is to propose an efficient relay node selection technique integrated with fuzzy logic, based on four properties of node, namely, number of encounters, residual energy, buffer capacity, and speed so that performance metrics of the network can be improve. Proposed method uses fuzzy logic to decide which node should be selected as relay node in multi hop strategy. The study of simulation results indicate that proposed algorithm improves performance of the network with regards to delivery ratio, delay, hop count, and throughput.
“Does your baby watch TV?”: The associations between at‐home TV watching and laboratory challenge cortisol are different for young infants and their mothers
Authors: Thompson Laura A. , Liberty Rebecca , Corr Alora
Published: February 2022

This longitudinal study examined associations between at‐home TV watching and the biological stress response (cortisol) during a laboratory infant cognitive challenge task in 240 3‐ and 5‐month infants and their mothers. Cortisol levels were lower in mothers of 5‐month‐old infants whose infants were exposed to TV at home, compared to mothers of infants that were not TV‐exposed. Cortisol patterns were different across three laboratory sampling intervals for 3‐month‐old infants as a function of TV watching, revealing a sharp increase in laboratory cortisol only for infants who were exposed to TV at home. In contrast, there was no effect of TV exposure in 5‐month‐old infants’ cortisol. Infant temperament and demographic measures were included as control variables in regression models to predict maternal and infant cortisol. At 3 months, for the T3 cortisol sampling interval, and at 5 months across all three sampling intervals, maternal cortisol levels were significantly predicted by infant TV exposure after accounting for variance due to these control variables. Our findings show the strong influence of the infant TV‐exposure factor in the biological stress response of mothers of young infants, and suggest that infant TV exposure may influence self‐regulation in 3‐month‐old infants.
A mother's touch: Preschool‐aged children are regulated by positive maternal touch
Authors: Scott Mirenna G. , Smiley Patricia A. , Ahn Ashley , Lazarus Molly F. , Borelli Jessica L. , Doan Stacey N.
Published: February 2022

Positive maternal touch plays an important role in the development of children's physiological regulation and cognitive development in infancy, as well as the development of sociality in early childhood. However, few studies have looked beyond infancy to consider the possible continuing impact of positive maternal touch on child stress reactivity during early childhood. A diverse community sample of mothers (N = 114, Mage = 33.52 years, SD = 5.33) and their preschool‐aged children (Mage = 41.68 months, SD = 4.67; 49.1% female) participated in the study. Basic demographics were reported by mothers. We coded maternal touch behaviors during an emotionally charged laboratory conversation task and assessed children's physiological reactivity to stressful laboratory tasks with salivary cortisol. Results reveal a significant negative association between positive maternal touch and child salivary cortisol reactivity. In addition, family income, adjusted for family size, and child sex were significantly associated with child cortisol stress reactivity. Findings are discussed in terms of persistent downregulating effects of positive maternal touch on child stress reactivity, as well as possible links of stress reactivity with family income, a proxy for economic stress, and child sex.
Annual transcriptome of a key zooplankton species, the copepod Calanus finmarchicus
Authors: Payton Laura , Noirot Céline , Last Kim S. , Grigor Jordan , Hüppe Lukas , Conway David V. P. , Dannemeyer Mona , Suin Amandine , Meyer Bettina
Published: February 2022

The copepod Calanus finmarchicus (Crustacea, Copepoda) is a key zooplanktonic species with a crucial position in the North Atlantic food web and significant contributor to ocean carbon flux. Like many other high latitude animals, it has evolved a programmed arrested development called diapause to cope with long periods of limited food supply, while growth and reproduction are timed to take advantage of seasonal peaks in primary production. However, anthropogenic warming is inducing changes in the expected timing of phytoplankton blooms, suggesting phenological mismatches with negative consequences for the N. Atlantic ecosystem. While diapause mechanisms are mainly studied in terrestrial arthropods, specifically on laboratory model species, such as the fruit fly Drosophila, the molecular investigations of annual rhythms in wild marine species remain fragmentary. Here we performed a rigorous year‐long monthly sampling campaign of C. finmarchicus in a Scottish Loch (UK; 56.45°N, 5.18°W) to generate an annual transcriptome. The mRNA of 36 samples (monthly triplicate of 25 individuals) have been deeply sequenced with an average depth of 137 ± 4 million reads (mean ± SE) per sample, aligned to the reference transcriptome, and filtered. We detail the quality assessment of the datasets and provide a high‐quality resource for the investigation of wild annual transcriptomic rhythms (35,357 components) in a key diapausing zooplanktonic species.
Contributions of mean temperature and temperature variation to population stability and community diversity
Authors: Hammill Edd , Dart Riley
Published: February 2022

Future climate changes are predicted to not only increase global temperatures but also alter temporal variation in temperature. As thermal tolerances form an important component of a species’ niche, changes to the temperature regime have the capacity to negatively impact species, and therefore, the diversity of the communities they inhabit. In this study, we used protist microcosms to assess how mean temperature, as well as temporal variation in temperature, affected diversity. Communities consisted of seven species in a multitrophic food web. Each ecosystem was inoculated with the same abundances of each species at the start of the experiment, and species densities, Hill's numbers (based on Shannon diversity), the number of extinctions, and the probability the microcosm contained predators were all calculated at the end of the experiment. To assess how mean temperature and temperature fluctuations affect stability, we also measured population densities through time. We found that increased temporal variation in temperature increased final densities, increased Hill's numbers (at low mean temperatures), decreased rates of extinctions, and increased the probability that predators survived till the end of the experiment. Mean temperatures did not significantly affect either the number of extinctions or the probability of predators, but did reduce the positive effect of increased temporal variation in temperature on overall diversity. Our results indicate that climatic changes have the potential to impact the composition of ecological communities by altering multiple components of temperature regimes. However, given that some climate forecasts are predicting increased mean temperatures and reduced variability, our finding that increased mean temperature and reduced temporal variation are both generally associated with negative consequences is somewhat concerning.
Detection of raised cloths characteristics by heat flow using a miniaturized warmth and force sensor
Authors: Mori Ryoga , Murase Yuya , Ito Shota , Nonomura Yutaka , Hata Yoshiyuki
Published: February 2022

This paper reports on detection of raised cloths characteristics by a miniaturized warmth and force sensor. In our previous study, it was demonstrated that a warmth and force sensor discriminates block materials by a heat‐flow peak in a heat‐flow transitional phenomenon. In this study, heat‐flow‐peak characteristics of the raised cloths with different raising‐part lengths were measured, and capability of discrimination of raised cloths was investigated. The experimental results showed that the heat‐flow‐peak value decreases with increase of the raising‐part length when the raising‐part length is under 12 to 15 mm. The raising‐part lengths of the raised clothes were discriminated by the warmth and force sensor.
Climate change influences foliar nutrition and metabolism of red maple (Acer rubrum) trees in a northern hardwood forest
Authors: Blagden Megan , Harrison Jamie L. , Minocha Rakesh , Sanders‐DeMott Rebecca , Long Stephanie , Templer Pamela H.
Published: February 2022

Mean annual air temperatures are projected to increase, while the winter snowpack is expected to shrink in depth and duration for many mid‐ and high‐latitude temperate forest ecosystems over the next several decades. Together, these changes will lead to warmer growing season soil temperatures and an increased frequency of soil freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs) in winter. We took advantage of the Climate Change Across Seasons Experiment (CCASE) at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, USA, to determine how these changes in soil temperature affect foliar nitrogen (N) and carbon metabolism of red maple (Acer rubrum) trees in 2015 and 2017. Earlier work from this study revealed a similar increase in foliar N concentrations with growing season soil warming, with or without the occurrence of soil FTCs in winter. However, these changes in soil warming could differentially affect the availability of cellular nutrients, concentrations of primary and secondary metabolites, and the rates of photosynthesis that are all responsive to climate change. We found that foliar concentrations of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), N, spermine (a polyamine), amino acids (alanine, histidine, and phenylalanine), chlorophyll, carotenoids, sucrose, and rates of photosynthesis increased with growing season soil warming. Despite similar concentrations of foliar N with soil warming with and without soil FTCs in winter, winter soil FTCs affected other foliar metabolic responses. The combination of growing season soil warming and winter soil FTCs led to increased concentrations of two polyamines (putrescine and spermine) and amino acids (alanine, proline, aspartic acid, γ‐aminobutyric acid, valine, leucine, and isoleucine). Treatment‐specific metabolic changes indicated that while responses to growing season warming were more connected to their role as growth modulators, soil warming + FTC treatment‐related effects revealed their dual role in growth and stress tolerance. Together, the results of this study demonstrate that growing season soil warming has multiple positive effects on foliar N and cellular metabolism in trees and that some of these foliar responses are further modified by the addition of stress from winter soil FTCs.
High long‐term survival and asymmetric movements in a reintroduced metapopulation of Cinereous vultures
Authors: Rousteau Typhaine , Duriez Olivier , Pradel Roger , Sarrazin François , David Thierry , Henriquet Sylvain , Tessier Christian , Mihoub Jean‐Baptiste
Published: February 2022

Post‐release mortality and movements are critical factors of translocation failure. Yet, survival and movement reflect different demographic and behavioral processes and may therefore have contrasted responses to management, although they are often very difficult to disentangle in animal populations. To provide guidance in animal translocations, we discriminated the respective roles of survival and movement in the long‐term dynamic of a translocated metapopulation of Cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) in France using multievent capture–recapture analyses of reintroduced (n = 119) and wild‐born individual (n = 163) observations. Annual apparent survival rates were high and structured in age (>0.8 for young and >0.9 for adults) and did not differ between individual origin (wild‐born or released), release methods (aviary or hacking) nor between regions (Alps and Causses), except for those released in the Alps experiencing a reduced survival for one year after release. In contrast, age structure movements differed between populations and origin status. Wild‐born young from the Causses were more erratic than those from the Alps and older individuals, whereas vultures reintroduced in the Causses demonstrated restricted movements during their first year after release. Despite such asymmetric movements, we overall highlight a strong tropism of individuals whatever the region and their origin. Since movement and survival were respectively higher and lower in young compared with adults, we recommend to first release adults in the primary stage of metapopulation translocations for increasing the establishment success at the release site. Further releasing young and securing successful breeding into the wild would increase demographic growth and between‐population connections.
Metabarcoding of soil environmental DNA replicates plant community variation but not specificity
Authors: Barnes Christopher James , Nielsen Ida Broman , Aagaard Anne , Ejrnæs Rasmus , Hansen Anders Johannes , Frøslev Tobias Guldberg
Published: February 2022

While metabarcoding of plant DNA from their environment is an exciting method that can supplement inventorying of live plant species, the accuracy and specificity has yet to be fully assessed over complex continuous landscapes. In this work, we evaluate plant community profiles produced via metabarcoding of soil by comparing them to a morphological survey. We assessed plant communities by metabarcoding of soil DNA in 130 sites along ecological gradients (nutrients, succession, moisture) in Denmark using chloroplast trnL region (10–143 bp) primer set and compared the resulting communities to communities produced with a longer nuclear ITS2 region (~216 bp) and a morphological survey. We found that the community variation observed within the morphological survey was well represented by molecular surveys, with significant correlation with both community composition and richness using both primer sets. While the majority of the ITS2 sequences could be assigned to species (over 80%), we had less success with the trnL sequences (70%), which was only possible after restricting the reference database to local species. We conclude that the community profiles produced by metabarcoding can be highly effective in performing large‐scale macroecological studies. However, the discovery rates and taxonomic assignments produced via metabarcoding remained inferior to morphological surveys, but manual curation of databases improves the specificity of assignments made by the trnL primers, and improves the accuracy of the assignments made with the ITS2 primers. Finally, we suggest that a greater percentage of named diversity would be recovered by increasing soil sampling with the use of additional universal primer sets.
Improvement of low‐speed sensorless control with multi‐layer neural network
Authors: Maekawa Sari , Tanaka Ami
Published: February 2022

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for position sensorless control in Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) drives, and various methods have been studied. Switching noise is a problem in the low‐speed sensorless control method that uses the current slope during PWM. Furthermore, another problem is that the inductance does not appear in a sinusoidal distribution owing to magnetic saturation. In this paper, we improve the sensorless control method that estimates the position from the current slope during PWM, which is greatly affected by switching. Additionally, we build a multi‐layer neural network (NN) that directly estimates the position signals by learning a large amount of current data, and verify the driving results in the low‐speed range when the learned NN is incorporated into real‐time control.
Fabrication of heater‐integrated MEMS tactile sensor for evaluation of warm and cold sensation by touching glass
Authors: Onda Naotaka , Kozuka Takaaki , Abe Takashi , Isshiki Masanobu , Tomeno Satoru , Sohgawa Masayuki
Published: February 2022

The paper addresses fabrication and characterization of a MEMS tactile sensor sensitive to force and temperature with an on‐chip heater and a contact part of thermally conductive elastomer. The temperature response of this sensor due to heat transfer when it was in contact with the glass plate was measured. As a result, it is demonstrated that fabricated sensor can detect thermally difference due to differences in the surface treatment of the glass.
A Pore‐Forming Strategy Toward Porous Carbon‐Based Substrates for High Performance Flexible Lithium Metal Full Batteries
Authors: Li Yanfei , Ye Shuyang , Lin Jian , Song Yihan , Wu Xinglong , Zhang Jingping , Shao Changlu , Su Zhongmin , Sun Haizhu , Seferos Dwight S.
Published: February 2022

Self‐standing carbon‐based substrates with satisfied structural stability and property adjustability have promising applications in flexible lithium (Li) metal batteries (FLMBs). Current strategies for modifying carbon materials are normally carried out on powder carbon, and very few of them are suitable for self‐standing carbon substrates. Herein, a pore‐forming strategy based on the redox chemistry of metallic oxide nanodots is developed to prepare two porous carbon substrates for anode and cathode. Starting with cotton cloth, the resulting hollow carbon fibers substrate with nanopores effectively prevents from Li dendrites formation and large volume change in lithium metal anode (LMA). Simulations indicate that the porous structure leads to homogeneous ion flux, Li‐ion concentration, and electric field during Li deposition. Li symmetrical cell based on this substrate remains stable for 8300 h with an ultralow voltage hysteresis of 9 mV. Via a similar route, porous carbon cloth substrate is obtained for subsequently seeding V2O5 nanowires to prepare the cathode. The assembled FLMBs pouch cell delivers a capacity of 8.2 mAh with a high capacity retention of ~100% even under dramatic deformation. The demonstrated strategy has far‐reaching potential in preparing free‐standing porous carbon‐based materials for flexible energy storage devices.
Cyclazines‐Structure and Aromaticity or Antiaromaticity on the Magnetic Criterion
Authors: Kleinpeter Erich , Koch Andreas
Published: February 2022

Structure and spatial magnetic properties, through‐space NMR shieldings (TSNMRSs), of all ten cycl[2.2.2]azine to cycl[4.4.4]azine, hetero‐analogues and the corresponding hydrocarbons have been calculated at the B3LYP/6‐311G(d,p) theory level using the GIAO perturbation method and employing the nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS) concept. The TSNMRS values (actually, the ring current effect as measurable in1H NMR spectroscopy) are visualized as iso‐chemical‐shielding surfaces (ICSS) of various size and direction, and employed to readily qualify and quantify the degree of (anti)aromaticity. Results are confirmed by NMR [δ(1H)/ppm, δ(15N)/ppm] and geometry (planar, twisted, bow‐shaped) data. The cyclazinesN[2.2.2]−up toN[2.4.4]−are planar or at most slightly bowl‐shaped and, due to coherent peripheral ring currents (except inN[2.3.3]−,N[2.3.4],N[3.3.4]+andN[2.4.4]+), develop aromaticity or anti‐aromaticity of the whole molecules dependent on the number of peripheral conjugated π electrons. The cyclazinesN[2.3.3]−,N[2.3.4],N[3.3.4]+andN[2.4.4]+develop two ring currents of different direction within the same molecule, in which the dominating ring current proves to be paratropic (inN[3.3.4]+diatropic) including the nodalNpzlone pair into the conjugation. The residual cyclazinesN[3.4.4],N[4.4.4]−andN[4.4.4]+are heavily twisted and, therefore, are not developing peripheral or diverse ring currents. The TSNMRS information about cyclazines and the parent tricyclic annulene analogues is congruent subject to structure and number of peripheral or internal conjugated π electrons, the corresponding (anti)aromaticity is in unequivocal accordance with Hückel's rule.
An Iridium Complex with a Phosphine‐Pendant Silyl Ligand as an Efficient Catalyst for the (E)‐Selective Semihydrogenation of Alkynes
Authors: Shen Jingfeng , Usui Ryosuke , Sunada Yusuke
Published: February 2022

Two iridium disilyl complexes that contain phosphine‐pendant silyl groups have been obtained from the reaction of [(cod)IrCl]2 with a disilane with phosphine pendants, (Ph2PCH2)R2Si−SiR2(CH2PPh) (R=Me or Ph). The iridium complex with methyl‐substituted silyl moieties showed good catalytic performance in the (E)‐selective semihydrogenation of various alkynes at room temperature under 1 atm of H2 without over‐reduction to the corresponding alkanes.
C−I Selective Sonogashira and Heck Coupling Reactions Catalyzed by Aromatic Triangular Tri‐palladium
Authors: Wang Xiaoshuang , Sun Lei , Wang Miaomiao , Maestri Giovanni , Malacria Max , Liu Xiang , Wang Yanlan , Wu Lingang
Published: February 2022

Aromatic triangular tri‐palladium cations 1–3, abbreviated as [Pd3]+, have shown interesting photoelectric properties, Lewis basic character, and excellent activities in catalytic hydrogenation. Herein, we report the highly efficient and C−I selective Sonogashira and Heck coupling reactions catalyzed by these tri‐palladium complexes. Benefiting from the moderate C−I bond association energy, these tri‐palladiums presented exclusive reactivities to aryl iodides over the brominated aromatics in coupling reactions. In the Sonogashira pathway, good to excellent isolated yields (71–95 %) were achieved. Gram‐scale reaction reached 93 % of yield with palladium loading as few as 0.06 mol %. We also explored the electronic and steric effects for phenyl alkynes and aryl iodides including heteroaromatics like thiophene, pyridine, pyrazole, and pyrazine. Similarly, yields of 71–96 % were obtained for palladium loading of 1.5 mol% through catalyzed Heck coupling of aryl iodides and alkenes. The HRMS monitoring revealed that [Pd3]+ maintained as whole entity during the catalytic process due to its robusness.
Highly efficient tin oxide‐based colloidal lead sulfide quantum dot solar cell
Authors: Kumar Ajay , Gahlaut Pushkar , Gupta Neha
Published: February 2022

This work presents the assessment of tin oxide (SnO2) electron transport layer (ETL)‐based quantum dot solar cell for improved efficiency (>20%). The proposed solar cell consists of a solid layer of lead sulfide (PbS) treated with PbS‐TBAI (tetrabutylammonium iodide) as absorber layer and PbS CQD treated with 1,2‐ethanedithiol (PbS‐EDT) as hole transport layer (HTL). The high level of efficiencies is achieved by varying the doping concentration of ETL and HTL, which affect the mobility of carriers (both electrons and holes). The optimization is carried out with a doping concentration (for ETL and HTL) of 1 × 1019 cm−3. The said doping reflected >20% conversion efficiency. PCE, fill‐factor (FF), Voc, and Jsc were analyzed for all the performed variations.