bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stable Metallicity of Low Dimentional WCrC Derivatives: A First‐Principles Study
Authors: Liu Guogang , Chen Tong , Xu Liang , Dong Xiansheng , Cen Kangwei , Zhu Yuyuan , Xu Zhonghui , Xiao Xianbo
Published: March 2021

The rapid development of 2D material MXenes family brings new opportunities for the application and development of materials science. Here, the structural and electronic properties of WCrC monolayer and its nanoribbons, and the effects of add‐atom adsorption in combination with strain engineering are presented by using first‐principles calculation. The result reveals that pristine WCrC monolayer is always dynamically stable and exhibits metallicity. Within a certain coverage range, the metallic WCrC monolayer can be transformed into semi‐metallic WCrCO2 with dual narrow band gap by adsorbing O atoms, but adsorbed H and Cl atoms cannot change its metal behavior. Moreover, the spin‐splitting of WCrC monolayer is obvious, but when the compressive strain increases to 8%, the energy bands of WCrC monolayer achieve a singular behavior of spin degeneracy. However, neither compressive strain nor tensile strain changes the metallicity of WCrC monolayer. Meanwhile, WCrC nanoribbons with diverse boundaries configurations and edge‐terminated atoms are all metallic, which indicates that boundary configurations and edge‐terminated atoms are not the key factors affecting the metallicity of WCrC nanoribbons. These results suggest that WCrC derivatives are mainly metallic materials, which are expected to be applied in the field of spintronics and may provide new opportunities for the development of metal ion battery electrodes.
Significance of the Glasgow prognostic score for short‐term surgical outcomes: A nationwide survey using the Japanese National Clinical Database
Authors: Hiramatsu Yoshihiro , Kumamaru Hiraku , Kikuchi Hirotoshi , Usune Shiyori , Kamiya Kinji , Miyata Hiroaki , Konno Hiroyuki , Kakeji Yoshihiro , Kitagawa Yuko , Takeuchi Hiroya
Published: March 2021

Aim

Preoperative inflammation‐based Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) is a useful tool for predicting long‐term prognosis in cancer patients. However, its association with postoperative short‐term outcomes remains unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between GPS and postoperative morbidity and mortality among patients undergoing surgery for various gastrointestinal malignancies.

Methods

Using the Japanese National Clinical Database, we analyzed the records of 312 357 patients with gastrointestinal malignancy who underwent six typical elective surgeries, including esophagectomy, distal gastrectomy, total gastrectomy, right hemicolectomy, low anterior resection, and pancreaticoduodenectomy, between January 2015 and December 2018. We assigned GPS of 0, 1, or 2 to patients with no, one, or both decreased albumin and elevated C‐reactive protein levels, respectively. We investigated the relationship of GPS with operative morbidity and mortality for each procedure with adjustments for patients' demographics, preoperative status, comorbidities, and cancer stages.

Results

Crude operative morbidity was significantly higher for GPS 1 and 2 than GPS 0 patients in all procedures except pancreaticoduodenectomy. The postoperative length of hospital stay was significantly longer for GPS 1 and 2 patients in all procedures (P < .001). Operative mortality was also higher for GPS 1 and 2 patients in all procedures. The associations remained significant after adjustments for potential confounders of age, sex, physical status, tumor classification, use of preoperative therapy, and comorbidities.

Conclusion

This nationwide study provides solid evidence on the strong association between GPS and postoperative outcomes.
Evolution and biogeography ofMemecylon
Authors: Amarasinghe Prabha , Joshi Sneha , Page Navendu , Wijedasa Lahiru S. , Merello Mary , Kathriarachchi Hashendra , Stone Robert Douglas , Judd Walter , Kodandaramaiah Ullasa , Cellinese Nico
Published: March 2021

Premise

The woody plant groupMemecylon(Melastomataceae) is a large clade occupying diverse forest habitats in the Old World tropics and exhibiting high regional endemism. Its phylogenetic relationships have been previously studied using ribosomal DNA with extensive sampling from Africa and Madagascar. However, divergence times, biogeography, and character evolution ofMemecylonremain uninvestigated. We present a phylogenomic analysis ofMemecylonto provide a broad evolutionary perspective of this clade.

Methods

One hundred supercontigs of 67Memecylontaxa were harvested from target enrichment. The data were subjected to coalescent and concatenated phylogenetic analyses. A timeline was provided forMemecylonevolution using fossils and secondary calibration. The calibratedMemecylonphylogeny was used to elucidate its biogeography and ancestral character states.

Results

Relationships recovered by the phylogenomic analyses are strongly supported in both maximum likelihood and coalescent‐based species trees.Memecylonis inferred to have originated in Africa in the Eocene and subsequently dispersed predominantly eastward via long‐distance dispersal (LDD), although a reverse dispersal from South Asia westward to the Seychelles was postulated. Morphological data exhibited high levels of homoplasy, but also showed that several vegetative and reproductive characters were phylogenetically informative.

Conclusions

The current distribution ofMemecylonappears to be the result of multiple ancestral LDD events. Our results demonstrate the importance of the combined effect of geographic and paleoclimatic factors in shaping the distribution of this group in the Old World tropics.Memecylonincludes a number of evolutionarily derived morphological features that contribute to diversity within the clade.
How Can an Na+ Channel Inhibitor Ameliorate Seizures in Lennox–Gastaut Syndrome?
Authors: Lin Yun‐Chu , Lai Yi‐Chen , Chou Ping , Hsueh Shu‐Wei , Lin Tien‐Hung , Huang Chen‐Syuan , Wang Ren‐Wei , Yang Ya‐Chin , Kuo Chung‐Chin
Published: March 2021

Objective

Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is an epileptic encephalopathy frequently associated with multiple types of seizures. The classical Na+ channel inhibitors are in general ineffective against the seizures in LGS. Rufinamide is a new Na+ channel inhibitor, but approved for the treatment of LGS. This is not consistent with a choice of antiseizure drugs (ASDs) according to simplistic categorical grouping.

Methods

The effect of rufinamide on the Na+ channel, cellular discharges, and seizure behaviors was quantitatively characterized in native neurons and mammalian models of epilepsy, and compared with the other Na+ channel inhibitors.

Results

With a much faster binding rate to the inactivated Na+ channel than phenytoin, rufinamide is distinctively effective if the seizure discharges chiefly involve short bursts interspersed with hyperpolarized interburst intervals, exemplified by spike and wave discharges (SWDs) on electroencephalograms. Consistently, rufinamide, but not phenytoin, suppresses SWD‐associated seizures in pentylenetetrazol or AY‐9944 models, which recapitulate the major electrophysiological and behavioral manifestations in typical and atypical absence seizures, including LGS.

Interpretation

Na+ channel inhibitors shall have sufficiently fast binding to exert an action during the short bursts and then suppress SWDs, in which cases rufinamide is superior. For the epileptiform discharges where the interburst intervals are not so hyperpolarized, phenytoin could be better because of the higher affinity. Na+ channel inhibitors with different binding kinetics and affinity to the inactivated channels may have different antiseizure scope. A rational choice of ASDs according to in‐depth molecular pharmacology and the attributes of ictal discharges is advisable. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:1099–1113
Toward Zigzag‐edged Helical Nanographene Based on [7]Helicene
Authors: Rong Ming‐Guang , Wang Junting , Liu Junzhi
Published: March 2021

Due to their unique chemical and physical properties, zigzag‐edged nanographenes have attracted increasing interest in recent years. Herein, a novel zigzag‐edged nanographene (6) containing a [7]helicene subunit was designed and synthesized. However, because of the high reactivities of zigzag edges, compound 1 with a diketone structure was obtained owing to the oxidation of 6. The helical carbon skeleton of 1 is unambiguously revealed by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography analysis. The photophysical properties of the precursor and helical diketone 1 are studied by UV‐vis absorption spectroscopy. The electrochemical property of 1 is investigated by cyclic voltammetry, which was further studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculations (ΔEgCal=2.94 eV). The work reported here not only represents the synthesis of an unprecedented [7]helicene‐embedded nanographene, but also provides the possibility for the synthesis of helical nanographenes with rich zigzag edges.
An empirical analysis: Did green supply chain management alleviate the effects of COVID‐19?
Authors: Fasan Marco , Soerger Zaro Elise , Soerger Zaro Claudio , Porco Barbara , Tiscini Riccardo
Published: March 2021

Supply chain management played a central role during the COVID‐19 crisis, as the outbreak of the pandemic disrupted the majority of all global supply chains. This paper tests whether companies that use green supply chain management (GSCM) practices benefited from a buffer effect in the context of COVID‐19. Our empirical analysis, conducted on a sample of U.S. companies, shows that GSCM companies experienced less negative abnormal stock returns during the crisis. This result contributes to the literature on financial impact of GSCM, finding that GSCM is perceived as an effective risk management tool and can serve as an effective drug against COVID‐19 crisis. Our paper also contributes to the business debate on the role of green supply chains in the post‐COVID19 world.
An effective educational tool for straightforward learning of numerical modeling in engineering electromagnetics
Authors: Zhu Gaojia , Li Longnv , Xue Ming , Liu Tao
Published: March 2021

“Engineering Electromagnetics” is the “most familiar stranger” of college students who major in electrical engineering (EE). Through years of physics learning, the students have had a certain understanding of the basic theories of electromagnetic fields. However, during studying the course, especially the numerical modeling chapter, large‐scale mathematical derivations need to be conducted, which significantly enhance the difficulty for students. The cell method (CM) is a newly established numerical method based on the direct derivation of physical laws in cell‐complexes, and the physical meanings of the equations are clear and definite.  By establishing and applying the education platform based on CM, the students' cognition and mastery of electromagnetic theories and numerical techniques can be deepened substantially. In this paper, the electromagnetic field is mathematically modeled based on CM, and the related transformations in the dual cell complexes are illustrated through the Tonti diagram in class. The simulation platform for electromagnetic fields based on CM is established by coding mathematical models. After teaching the methodologies, students are asked to numerically simulate two static field problems with simple geometric structures by using the methodologies, and the results show that they can better understand and perform in numerically related courses based on CM compared with the performances of former students taught with the finite element method. A questionnaire is utilized to survey the teaching effectiveness, and the students' satisfaction is validated by the questionnaire survey. Finally, the methodologies are employed to analyze the electric and magnetic field of two complex engineering cases, and the students can better understand the use of the numerical methods by analysis. Through the numerical simulations based on CM, the students' ability to apply numerical algorithms to solve complex engineering cases is cultivated, and teaching effectiveness of the numerical analysis chapter in Engineering Electromagnetics is enriched.
A Highly Efficient Fe−N−C Electrocatalyst with Atomically Dispersed FeN4 Sites for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Jin Xinxin , Xie Yan , Fu Junhong , Zhao Chaoyue , Xu Yinghao , Lv Yang , Zhang Bingsen , Sun Keju , Si Rui , Huang Jiahui
Published: March 2021

Atomically dispersed Fe−N−C electrocatalysts have displayed excellent catalytic performances towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), while the identification of the genuine active sites remains a challenge. Herein, we report a Fe−N−C electrocatalyst of FeSA/HNPC featuring single‐atomic FeN4 sites on hierarchically N‐doped porous carbon (HNPC), which shows a very competitive ORR activity in alkaline solution even at a low electrocatalyst loading of 0.2 mg cm−2 on the working electrode. A comparison of energy barriers in ORR reveals that the single‐atomic FeN4 active sites in FeSA/HNPC existing in the form of pyrrole‐N4−Fe is more favorable than that of pyridine‐N4−Fe for the enhanced ORR activity. Understanding the nature of FeN4 active sites will greatly benefit the design of Fe−N−C electrocatalysts with highly effective ORR performances.
Synthetic naphtha recovery from water streams: Vapour‐liquid–liquid equilibrium (VLLE) studies in a dynamic VL‐cell unit with high intensity mixing
Authors: Escobedo Salvador , Kong Jeonghoon , Lopez‐Zamora Sandra , de Lasa Hugo
Published: March 2021

This work describes vapour pressure measurements of a water/synthetic naphtha mixture using a dynamic CREC‐VL‐Cell, designed to obtain reliable vapour measurements (). The CREC‐VL‐Cell is used to measure vapour pressures for immiscible or partially miscible liquids, given its high multiphase mixing capability. Runs in the CREC‐VL‐Cell involve a dynamic method, operating with a set heating ramp, with continuous tracking of both saturation vapour pressure and temperature within the cell. This system allows for the establishment equilibrium vapour pressures, in a recommended 50–120°C range, emulating the conditions of the naphtha recovery in oil sand processes. Results obtained in the CREC‐VL‐Cell at 1080 rpm are validated using data from Aspen‐Hysys with a Peng‐Robinson fluid package for pure octane and water. On the other hand, using a 2.5 wt.% and 4 wt.% synthetic naphtha in 97.5 wt.% water blend, experimental data shows partial agreement with the Aspen‐Hysys Peng‐Robinson fluid package predictions, demonstrating the value of the experimental vapour‐liquid–liquid (VLL) data obtained in the CREC‐VL‐Cell.
Understanding the Electronic Structure and Stability of BnXn0/2– (n = 4, 6; X = H, F, Cl, Br, I, At, Ts) Clusters†
Authors: Wang Ruo‐Ya , Zhang Jing‐Xuan , Jiang Xue‐Lian , Ma Nana , Chen Xuenian , Xu Cong‐Qiao , Li Jun
Published: March 2021

Main observation and conclusion

Borane clusters and their derivatives have attracted extensive attention in inorganic chemistry due to their fascinating multi‐center bonding patterns and physicochemical properties. Here we report a systematic theoretical investigation on the geometry, electronic structure and chemical bonding of BnXn0/2‐ (n = 4, 6; X = H, F, Cl, Br, I, At, Ts) clusters, attempting to explore their bonding features, exceptional stability and the ligand effect. We find that the electronic structure and stability of BnXn0/2‐ clusters can be tuned by the size of the boron cage and electronegativity of the ligand. Fragment orbital energy matching and orbital overlap are of great importance to the covalency of the cluster. In addition to the ionic electrostatic interaction that dominates the bonding interaction and decreases as the ligand becomes heavier, multi‐center bonding covalency determined by the orbital interaction increases accordingly, attributing to the reducing electronegativity. The σ‐donations from the ligand to the boron cage as well as multi‐center two‐electron (nc‐2e) bonding contribute to the σ aromaticity and superb stability. This work reveals the foremost factors that determine the structure and stability of boron clusters, and provides insights into the nature of chemical bonding for species with boron cages and even bulk boron.
Still Relevant Today: The Asinger Multicomponent Reaction
Authors: Griboura Nefeli , Gatzonas Konstantinos , Neochoritis Constantinos G.
Published: March 2021

The Asinger multicomponent reaction is a versatile synthetic tool which gives access to multiple drug‐like scaffolds such as 3‐thiazolines. The diversity and easy access of its starting materials, its operational simplicity combined with mild conditions and relatively good yields, renders the Asinger reaction, today more than ever, a cornerstone not only in heterocyclic chemistry and modern synthesis but also in medicinal chemistry. In this review, we perform a thorough analysis of the scope and limitations on the different reaction variants with their starting materials, the three‐dimensional solid‐state conformations of the Asinger derivatives, and we underline and classify all the major post‐modifications that have been described. In addition, we report all the major applications in drug discovery projects.
The mouth matters most: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study of how dogs perceive inanimate objects
Authors: Prichard Ashley , Chhibber Raveena , Athanassiades Kate , Chiu Veronica , Spivak Mark , Berns Gregory S.
Published: March 2021

The perception and representation of objects in the world are foundational to all animals. The relative importance of objects' physical properties versus how the objects are interacted with continues to be debated. Neural evidence in humans and nonhuman primates suggests animate‐inanimate and face‐body dimensions of objects are represented in the temporal cortex. However, because primates have opposable thumbs and interact with objects in similar ways, the question remains as to whether this similarity represents the evolution of a common cognitive process or whether it reflects a similarity of physical interaction. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in dogs to test whether the type of interaction affects object processing in an animal that interacts primarily with its mouth. In Study 1, we identified object‐processing regions of cortex by having dogs passively view movies of faces and objects. In Study 2, dogs were trained to interact with two new objects with either the mouth or the paw. Then, we measured responsivity in the object regions to the presentation of these objects. Mouth‐objects elicited significantly greater activity in object regions than paw‐objects. Mouth‐objects were also associated with activity in somatosensory cortex, suggesting dogs were anticipating mouthing interactions. These findings suggest that object perception in dogs is affected by how dogs expect to interact with familiar objects.
Quantification of Cooperativity between Metal Sites in Dinuclear Transition Metal Complexes Containing the (2‐Dimethylamino)‐4‐(2‐pyrimidinyl)pyrimidine Ligand
Authors: Wall Tatjana , Leist Marko , Dietrich Fabian , Thiel Werner R. , Gerhards Markus
Published: March 2021

A concept for the quantification of cooperative effects in transition‐metal complexes is presented. It is demonstrated for a series of novel N,N‐ (mononuclear) and C,N‐coordinated homo‐ and heterometallic binuclear complexes based on the (2‐dimethylamino)‐4‐(2‐pyrimidinyl)pyrimidine ligand, which are accessible by applying roll‐over cyclometallation. These iridium‐, platinum‐, and palladium‐containing compounds are investigated with respect to their absorption and fluorescence spectra. The cooperative effects in the electronic absorptions, i. e., the energetic shifts between mononuclear and dinuclear complexes, and free ligands are analyzed on the basis of the lowest energy π‐π* transitions and compared to calculated data, obtained from TD‐DFT calculations. Furthermore the corresponding fluorescence spectra are presented and analyzed with respect to the concept of cooperativity.
Sex‐Specific Classification of Drug‐Induced Torsade de Pointes Susceptibility Using Cardiac Simulations and Machine Learning
Authors: Fogli Iseppe Alex , Ni Haibo , Zhu Sicheng , Zhang Xianwei , Coppini Raffaele , Yang Pei‐Chi , Srivatsa Uma , Clancy Colleen E. , Edwards Andrew G. , Morotti Stefano , Grandi Eleonora
Published: March 2021

Torsade de Pointes (TdP), a rare but lethal ventricular arrhythmia, is a toxic side effect of many drugs. To assess TdP risk, safety regulatory guidelines require quantification of hERG channel block in vitro and QT interval prolongation in vivo for all new therapeutic compounds. Unfortunately, these have proven to be poor predictors of torsadogenic risk, and are likely to have prevented safe compounds from reaching clinical phases. Although this has stimulated numerous efforts to define new paradigms for cardiac safety, none of the recently developed strategies accounts for patient conditions. In particular, despite being a well‐established independent risk factor for TdP, female sex is vastly under‐represented in both basic research and clinical studies, and thus current TdP metrics are likely biased toward the male sex. Here, we apply statistical learning to synthetic data, generated by simulating drug effects on cardiac myocyte models capturing male and female electrophysiology, to develop new sex‐specific classification frameworks for TdP risk. We show that (i) TdP classifiers require different features in females vs. males; (ii) male‐based classifiers perform more poorly when applied to female data; and (iii) female‐based classifier performance is largely unaffected by acute effects of hormones (i.e., during various phases of the menstrual cycle). Notably, when predicting TdP risk of intermediate drugs on female simulated data, male‐biased predictive models consistently underestimate TdP risk in women. Therefore, we conclude that pipelines for preclinical cardiotoxicity risk assessment should consider sex as a key variable to avoid potentially life‐threatening consequences for the female population.
Daily light integral requirements for bermudagrass and zoysiagrass cultivars: Effects of season and trinexapac‐ethyl
Authors: Chen Zhaoxin , Wherley Benjamin , Reynolds Casey , Hejl Reagan , Chang Baoxin
Published: March 2021

Shade is a major problem facing turf managers worldwide. Availability of low‐cost devices and methods for quantifying daily light integral (DLI) offer the turf manager the ability to more precisely determine DLI levels in shade, yet minimal DLI requirements for acceptable turf quality (DLIm) for many commonly used warm‐season turf cultivars grown under longer‐term chronic shade stress have not been extensively tested. The objectives of this 2‐yr field shade study were to (a) determine effects of growth regulator trinexapac‐ethyl (TE) and season (summer or fall) on DLIm of nine commercially available bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) and zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) cultivars; (b) determine effects of shade level and TE on summer percent green cover and root growth; and (c) determine effects of shade treatments on soil temperatures across the growing season. Significantly higher DLIm were noted during summer compared to fall for all cultivars in the study. The DLIm were generally higher for bermudagrass than zoysiagrass cultivars. ‘Tifway’ required the highest DLIm (ranging from 23.5 to 27.2 mol m−2 d−1) of the bermudagrasses. ‘TifGrand’, ‘Celebration’, and ‘Latitude 36’ showed comparable DLIm during summer and fall. Fewer consistent differences were detected between zoysiagrasses, with ‘Zorro’ and ‘Zeon’ showing the lowest summer DLIm (18.1 and 19.1 mol m−2 d−1, respectively) and ‘Geo’ showing the lowest fall DLIm (11.7 mol m−2 d−1). Trinexapac‐ethyl reduced DLIm only in Zorro, ‘Palisades’, and ‘JaMur’ zoysiagrass, but had no effect on bermudagrass DLIm. The DLIm for a number of cultivars were higher than those previously reported in the literature, which may be attributed to lower mowing heights and/or use of permanent shade structures that were not removed for the duration of the 27‐mo study. The findings should benefit turf managers by guiding data‐driven, seasonal‐based, warm‐season turfgrass cultivar selection for shaded environments.
Functional Phenylboronate Polymers for the Recovery of Diols, Sugar Alcohols, and Saccharides from Aqueous Solution
Authors: Schroer Guido , Toussaint Valérie , Bachmann Stephanie , Pöppler Ann‐Christin , Gierlich Christian Henning , Delidovich Irina
Published: March 2021

The ongoing transition from fossil to renewable feedstocks demands new efficient processes for an economically viable production of biomass‐derived commodities and fine chemicals. Novel energy‐ and material‐efficient product purification and separation will play a crucial role due to altered product and feed composition. The present study comprises the synthesis and tests of cross‐linked p‐vinylphenylboronate polymers for the separation of 18 diols, sugar alcohols, and saccharides, which can be obtained during biomass processing. The separation was based on molecular recognition, that is, esterification of the phenylboronate with vicinal diols. A correlation of the molecular complexation constant, the polymer swelling, and the maximum adsorption capacity was found. The adsorption curves over time were recorded. Preliminary results on competitive adsorption of binary mixtures showed a high potential for the separation of substrates with significantly different complexation constants. Desorption tests implied easier desorption of substrates that only adsorb on the outer polymer shell.
Envelopment by endothelial cells initiates translocation of avian primordial germ cell into vascular tissue
Authors: Murai Hidetaka , Shibuya Minami , Kishita Ryohei , Sunase Chihiro , Tamura Koji , Saito Daisuke
Published: March 2021

Background

In avian species, primordial germ cells (PGCs) migrate to the gonadal primordium through the vascular system. Because this mode of migration is reminiscent of cancer metastasis, it would be useful to elucidate the mechanisms underlying PGC migration via the bloodstream. Here, we sought to determine when, where, and how PGCs enter the vascular network by double visualization of PGCs and endothelial cells (ECs) in tie1:H2B‐eYFP transgenic quails.

Results

In the left and right lateral germinal crescent regions corresponding to the anterior‐most area vasculosa, more than 60% of PGCs were enveloped by differentiating ECs forming blood islands prior to vascular network formation. Cell morphology analysis suggested that the PGC‐EC interaction was instructed by differentiating ECs. At a later developmental stage, ECs anastomosed to form a vascular network with a lumen that retained PGCs within it. As a consequence, many PGCs localized within the luminal space of the mature vascular network at later stages.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that the major type of avian PGC translocation into vascular tissue is not a typical intravasation, as performed by types of metastatic cancer cells, but rather a passive translocation (envelopment) mediated by differentiating ECs during early vasculogenesis.
Assessing invertebrate herbivory in human‐modified tropical forest canopies
Authors: Barreto Julia Rodrigues , Berenguer Erika , Ferreira Joice , Joly Carlos A. , Malhi Yadvinder , de Seixas Marina Maria Moraes , Barlow Jos
Published: March 2021

Studies on the effects of human‐driven forest disturbance usually focus on either biodiversity or carbon dynamics but much less is known about ecosystem processes that span different trophic levels. Herbivory is a fundamental ecological process for ecosystem functioning, but it remains poorly quantified in human‐modified tropical rainforests.

Here, we present the results of the largest study to date on the impacts of human disturbances on herbivory. We quantified the incidence (percentage of leaves affected) and severity (the percentage of leaf area lost) of canopy insect herbivory caused by chewers, miners, and gall makers in leaves from 1,076 trees distributed across 20 undisturbed and human‐modified forest plots in the Amazon.

We found that chewers dominated herbivory incidence, yet were not a good predictor of the other forms of herbivory at either the stem or plot level. Chewing severity was higher in both logged and logged‐and‐burned primary forests when compared to undisturbed forests. We found no difference in herbivory severity between undisturbed primary forests and secondary forests. Despite evidence at the stem level, neither plot‐level incidence nor severity of the three forms of herbivory responded to disturbance.

Synthesis. Our large‐scale study of canopy herbivory confirms that chewers dominate the herbivory signal in tropical forests, but that their influence on leaf area lost cannot predict the incidence or severity of other forms. We found only limited evidence suggesting that human disturbance affects the severity of leaf herbivory, with higher values in logged and logged‐and‐burned forests than undisturbed and secondary forests. Additionally, we found no effect of human disturbance on the incidence of leaf herbivory.
Bottom‐up effects of fungicides on tadpoles of the European common frog (Rana temporaria)
Authors: Bundschuh Mirco , Zubrod Jochen P. , Wernicke Theo , Konschak Marco , Werner Leon , Brühl Carsten A. , Baudy Patrick , Schulz Ralf
Published: March 2021

Biodiversity is under pressure worldwide, with amphibians being particularly threatened. Stressors related to human activity, such as chemicals, are contributing to this decline. It remains, however, unclear whether chemicals exhibiting a fungicidal activity could indirectly affect tadpoles that depend on microbially conditioned leaf litter as food source. The indirect effect of fungicides (sum concentration of a fungicide mixture composed of azoxystrobin, carbendazim, cyprodinil, quinoxyfen, and tebuconazole: 100 µg/L) on tadpoles was assessed relative to leaf litter colonized by microbes in absence of fungicides (control) and a worst‐case scenario, that is leached leaf litter without microbial colonization. The quality of leaf litter as food for tadpoles of the European common frog (Rana temporaria) was characterized through neutral lipid fatty acid profiles and microbial sum parameters and verified by sublethal responses in tadpoles (i.e., feeding rate, feces production, growth, and fatty acid composition). Fungicides changed the nutritious quality of leaf litter likely through alterations in leaves’ neutral lipid fatty acid profiles (i.e., changes in some physiologically important highly unsaturated fatty acids reached more than 200%) in combination with a potential adsorption onto leaves during conditioning. These changes were reflected by differences in the development of tadpoles ultimately resulting in an earlier start of metamorphosis. Our data provide a first indication that fungicides potentially affect tadpole development indirectly through bottom‐up effects. This pathway is so far not addressed in fungicide environmental risk assessment and merits further attention.
Patterns of testosterone in male white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus): Seasonal and lifetime variation
Authors: Gomes Monet A. , Ditchkoff Stephen S. , Zohdy Sarah , Gulsby William D. , Newbolt Chad H.
Published: March 2021

Testosterone is strongly associated with the annual development of antlers in cervids, but endocrine research on wild, freely breeding ungulates is often done without repeated capture of known‐aged individuals. As a result, our knowledge on how testosterone fluctuates over the course of a lifetime and variation in lifetime patterns among individuals is limited. We investigated patterns of testosterone in a freely breeding population of white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Alabama, USA, that breeds in January. Testosterone peaked during the height of the breeding season, despite this period occurring approximately 2 months later than in most temperate‐region white‐tailed deer populations. Age‐related differences in testosterone were only prevalent during the breeding season, with bucks ≥3.5 years old having greater testosterone (853 ng/dl ± 96 SE; p = 0.012) than bucks 1.5–2.5 years old (364 ng/dl ± 100 SE). Additionally, an individual's testosterone level as a yearling was not positively associated with their lifetime maximum testosterone level (p = 0.583), and an individual's mean testosterone level was positively associated with lifetime testosterone variation (p < 0.001). To our knowledge, our study is one of the first to assess how testosterone early in life might relate to individual testosterone later in life. We believe these data provide insight into lifetime hormonal patterns in cervids, and that these patterns may indicate intraspecific variation of lifetime reproductive strategies.
Effects of salinity and temperature on tuber sprouting and growth of Schoenoplectus nipponicus
Authors: Tang Haoran , Bai Jiangshan , Chen Fangyuan , Liu Ying , Lou Yanjing
Published: March 2021

In a scenario of climate change and intensive land‐use change, the issue of salt marsh degradation caused by global warming and soil salinization is becoming more serious. A climate chamber experiment was conducted to examine the responses of tuber sprouting and seedling growth of Schoenoplectus nipponicus to variations in the temperature regimes (20/10, 25/15, 30/20 and 35/25°C; 12‐h light/dark 12‐h photoperiod) and different salt concentrations (0, 50, 75, and 100 mmol/L salinity). Results showed that the final sprouting percentage decreased with the increase in salinity and increased with the rising temperature. Salinity lower than 50 mmol/L was the most favorable for tuber sprouting. Under high salinity (75 and 100 mmol/L salinity), the inhibition of tuber sprouting at 20/10°C was greater than other temperature regimes. Along the temperature gradients, both plant height and leaf N content increased, and root length decreased under non‐saline‐alkali conditions, while plant height, leaf N content, and root length declined significantly under salt stress (50, 75, and 100 mmol/L salinity). With the increase in temperature, the production of tubers under the control treatments was enhanced significantly, but that under salt stress declined significantly. Under 0 mmol/L salinity, the accumulation of biomass in various organs increased with rising temperature. Biomass accumulation increased first and then declined for plants grown under salt stress, with a peak value of 25/15°C. Root: shoot ratio was reduced significantly under the combination of high salt stress (75 and 100 mmol/L salinity) and high temperatures (30/20°C and 35/25°C). Our study will contribute to a better understanding of the influence of climate warming and increasing serious human disturbances on this important wetland species.
Correctly applying lapse rates in ecological studies: comparing temperature observations and gridded data in Yellowstone
Authors: Tercek Michael T. , Rodman Ann , Woolfolk Shannon , Wilson Zachary , Thoma David , Gross John
Published: March 2021

Researchers often use gridded datasets to develop statistical relationships between climate and natural resources at locations that are distant from weather stations. These gridded datasets may provide inaccurate estimates of temperature at sites with elevations that differ significantly from the elevation assigned to the corresponding grid cell. We assess the accuracy of three gridded climate datasets commonly used in ecological studies (800‐m resolution PRISM, 4‐km GRIDMET, and 1‐km Daymet) compared with a network of 153 temperature dataloggers arranged along elevation transects in Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho). Measured lapse rates for monthly average daytime high temperatures were generally steeper (more cooling per unit of elevation increase) than lapse rates in gridded datasets and steeper than those in similar mountainous regions. Measured lapse rates for monthly average nighttime lows were similar to gridded data lapse rates. Our measured lapse rates are most useful for the adjustment of daytime highs from weather stations or gridded data during warmer months. Temperatures during cooler months sometimes are strongly affected by other factors. Ecologically relevant metrics calculated from temperatures adjusted with constant lapse rates can increase multiplicatively and by varying amounts from year to year. For example, high‐elevation estimates of climatic water deficit (CWD) calculated from gridded data that were not adjusted with our measured lapse rates were 2.5–4 times greater (depending on the year) than calculations from temperatures that were adjusted. Our results emphasize the importance of correcting grid‐based climate estimates for elevation in complex terrain when accurate, site‐specific data are required. When the elevation assigned to grid cells differs significantly from the elevation of points within the cell, the lapse rate obtained for data extracted from grids can be shallower than the true rate. We illustrate the implications of these findings with case studies in Yellowstone.
Seasonal turnover in community composition of stream‐associated macroinvertebrates inferred from freshwater environmental DNA metabarcoding
Authors: Reinholdt Jensen Mads , Egelyng Sigsgaard Eva , Agersnap Sune , Jessen Rasmussen Jes , Baattrup‐Pedersen Annette , Wiberg‐Larsen Peter , Francis Thomsen Philip
Published: March 2021

Macroinvertebrate communities are crucial for biodiversity monitoring and assessment of ecological status in stream ecosystems. However, traditional monitoring approaches require intensive sampling and rely on invasive morphological identifications that are time‐consuming and dependent on taxonomic expertise. Importantly, sampling is often only carried out once in a year, namely during late winter–spring, where most indicator taxa have larval stages in the streams. Hence, species with divergent phenology might not be detected. Here, we use environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding of filtered water samples collected in both spring and autumn from five streams in Denmark to address seasonal turnover in community composition of stream macroinvertebrates. We find that eDNA read data from the same stream sampling site clearly show different communities in spring and autumn, respectively. For three of the five streams, season even appears to be a more important factor than sampling site for explaining the variation in community composition. Finally, we compare eDNA data with a near‐decadal dataset of taxon occurrences in the same five streams based on kick sampling conducted through a national monitoring program. This comparison reveals an overlap in species composition, but also that the two approaches provide complementary rather than identical insights into community composition. Our study demonstrates that aquatic eDNA metabarcoding is useful for species detection across highly diverse taxa and for identifying seasonal patterns in community composition of freshwater macroinvertebrates. Thus, our results have important implications for both fundamental research in aquatic ecology and for applied biomonitoring.
Abnormalities of intrinsic brain activity in essential tremor: A meta‐analysis of resting‐state functional imaging
Authors: Lan Huan , Suo Xueling , Li Wenbin , Li Nannan , Li Junying , Peng Jiaxin , Lei Du , Sweeney John A. , Kemp Graham J. , Peng Rong , Gong Qiyong
Published: March 2021

Neuroimaging studies using a variety of techniques have demonstrated abnormal patterns of spontaneous brain activity in patients with essential tremor (ET). However, the findings are variable and inconsistent, hindering understanding of underlying neuropathology. We conducted a meta‐analysis of whole‐brain resting‐state functional neuroimaging studies in ET compared to healthy controls (HC), using anisotropic effect‐size seed‐based d mapping, to identify the most consistent brain activity alterations and their relation to clinical features. After systematic literature search, we included 13 studies reporting 14 comparisons, describing 286 ET patients and 254 HC. Subgroup analyses were conducted considering medication status, head tremor status, and methodological factors. Brain activity in ET is altered not only in the cerebellum and cerebral motor cortex, but also in nonmotor cortical regions including prefrontal cortex and insula. Most of the results remained unchanged in subgroup analyses of patients with head tremor, medication‐naive patients, studies with statistical threshold correction, and the large subgroup of studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging. These findings not only show consistent and robust abnormalities in specific brain regions but also provide new information on the biology of patient heterogeneity, and thus help to elucidate the pathophysiology of ET.
Colonoscopy and Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Retrospective Territory‐Wide Cohort Study
Authors: Zhang Xinrong , Wong Vincent Wai‐Sun , Yip Terry Cheuk‐Fung , Tse Yee‐Kit , Liang Lilian Yan , Hui Vicki Wing‐Ki , Li Guan‐Lin , Chan Henry Lik‐Yuen , Wong Grace Lai‐Hung
Published: March 2021

The benefit of colonoscopy and/or polypectomy for colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unclear. We aimed to estimate the incidence rate of CRC in patients with NAFLD who had and had not undergone colonoscopy. We conducted a retrospective territory‐wide cohort study for patients aged over 40 years with NAFLD identified with the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2014. Patients were followed until CRC diagnosis, death, or December 31, 2017. We estimated CRC incidence and standardized incidence ratio (SIR) using the general population of Hong Kong as reference. We included 8,351 patients with NAFLD in the final analysis (median age, 56.2 years; interquartile ratio [IQR], 49.2‐65.3 years; 45.4% male; median follow‐up, 7.4 years; IQR, 5.4‐9.6 years). Compared with the general population, patients with NAFLD who had not undergone colonoscopy had a higher incidence of CRC (SIR, 2.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.64‐2.88; P < 0.001). Patients with NAFLD who had undergone colonoscopy had a lower incidence of CRC (SIR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.37‐0.75; P < 0.001), especially among those aged above 50 years or with diabetes mellitus (DM). Patients with NAFLD with a high fibrosis‐4 (FIB‐4) score (>2.67) had a significantly higher risk of CRC after adjusting for demographic and metabolic factors. Conclusion: Patients with NAFLD who had undergone colonoscopy had a lower incidence of CRC than the general population, especially among those aged ≥50 years or with DM. A high FIB‐4 index was associated with a higher risk of CRC.
Cattaneo–Christov double‐diffusion model with Stefan blowing effect on copper–water nanofluid flow over a stretching surface
Authors: Negi Shubham , Rawat Sawan Kumar , Kumar Manoj
Published: March 2021

We often encounter many processes where the cooling rate is a key factor in deciding the features of a desired product. Due to increasing demands of controlled cooling systems, an effort is made to theoretically study the effect of volume fraction on mixed convective Cu–water nanofluid flow over a stretching surface with activation energy and thermal radiation. The nonlinear dynamical system is simplified using apt similarity variables and the obtained ordinary differential equations are dealt numerically using Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg method and shooting scheme. The thermal and solutal equations are modeled considering Cattaneo–Christov double‐diffusion model. The flow problem is studied considering velocity slip and zero mass flux state at the surface. As a novelty, the present case considers the blowing effect at the surface to study massive species transport during nanofluid flow with Cattaneo–Christov double‐diffusion model. The results show that an increase in strength of thermal radiation increases temperature and buoyancy ratio parameter, thereby escalating the skin friction coefficient. When thermal relaxation parameter changes from 0.001 to 0.005, heat transfer coefficient improves by 24.36%. Furthermore, with the change in value of the blowing parameter from 0.1 to 0.1015, the maximum value concentration of nanoparticles that is attained during the flow is increased by 7.15%.
Gene expression differences for drought stress response in three cool‐season turfgrasses
Authors: Bushman B. Shaun , Robbins Matthew D. , Warnke Scott E. , Martin Ruth , Harris‐Shultz Karen , Amundsen Keenan E.
Published: March 2021

Many efforts in the USA have focused on turfgrass tolerances to drought imposition as means to reduce their need for irrigation. As part of this effort, our research groups have subjected multiple species and varieties to drought and collected transcript expression profiles of genes that were differentially expressed under stress and control conditions. We generated lists of transcripts and gene families differentially expressed in Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and creeping bentgrass; and we compared each species’ differentially expressed transcript set across all three species. The gene families with differentially expressed transcript isoforms in each species and across all three species were annotated and characterized. By examining these datasets, we found key genetic mechanisms by which these species respond to drought stress. Specific genes, such as ABA responsive LEA homologs, show their crucial nature upon drought stress in all three species. Other gene families, such as E3 ubiquitin ligases, exhibited different gene family members in each species and highlight the species‐specific responses to drought.
Further results on large sets of partitioned incomplete Latin squares
Authors: Shen Cong , Li Dongliang , Cao Haitao
Published: March 2021

In this article, we continue to study the existence of large sets of partitioned incomplete Latin squares (LSPILS). We complete the determination of the spectrum of an and prove that there exists an if and only if , and . We also start the investigation of LSPILS with two group sizes and prove that there exists an for all and except possibly for and . Furthermore, we obtain a pair of orthogonal s, where is a prime and .
Creating a novel strategy to reduce unnecessary laboratory testing based on healthcare cost analysis in high‐risk pregnancies and delivery ward
Authors: Shirazi Mahboobeh , Masoudian Yusuf , Feizabad Elham , Golshahi Fatemeh , Ghaemi Marjan
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Inappropriate request for laboratory tests is a challenging problem and an important cause for additional healthcare costs. Indeed, it may have further ambiguity for the clinicians. This study aimed to design an education‐based program to reduce unnecessary laboratory testing orders and the associated costs.

Materials and methods

In this interventional prospective study that took place in an educational hospital, the type and frequency of selected laboratory testing requested by gynecology, and obstetrics residents in the patients with gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, preterm labor, and premature preterm rupture of the membrane as well as cesarean section and normal vaginal delivery were analyzed periodically in a 1‐year interval. At the same time, continuous educational supports and monitoring were performed. The results were compared before and after interventions.

Results

The educational intervention regardless of the etiologies of the admission, decreased the requested laboratory testing significantly (p < 0.001), except for CBC. Indeed, no near misses or delays in treatment were observed. Cost analysis showed a 31.3% reduction of expenses per inpatient day due to the decrease in the number of daily laboratory testing ordered.

Conclusions

Appropriate education and continuous monitoring of the residents could reduce the unrequired laboratory testing as well as healthcare costs.