bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multilayer Dielectric Elastomer with Reconfigurable Electrodes for Artificial Muscle
Authors: Fu Hongbo , Jiang Yong , Lv Jian , Huang Yao , Gai Zipeng , Liu Ying , Lee Pooi See , Xu Hong , Wu Daming
Published: January 2023

High‐performance multilayer dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) are well‐positioned to overcome the insufficient output force and energy density as artificial muscles. However, due to the fabrication process, the multilayer DEAs with nonmodifiable structures often suffer from the limitation of short lifespans and scalable preparation. Herein, reusable multilayer DEAs with the detachable and reconfigurable structure are fabricated. This is achieved by realizing scalable compliant electrodes using the continuous spatial confining forced network assembly (CSNA) method and combining the vacuum lamination (VL) approach to have good attachability and detachability with the VHB dielectric elastomer. The flexible roller‐based CSNA method is used to prepare the large area compliant electrodes composed ofα,ω‐dihydroxy polydimethylsiloxane and electrically conductive nanoparticles. The fabricated electrodes can continuously work over 10 000 cycles at 40% strained stretching and maintain smooth surfaces to construct multilayer DEAs. Moreover, owing to the detachable configuration of the DEAs, the electrodes can also be recovered and reused for building new actuators. The lower limb assistive device is demonstrated by detachable multilayer spring roll DEAs, achieving approximately 3.1 degrees of flexion and extension movement of knee models under a voltage of 7 kV. The detachable and reconfigurable multilayer DEAs shed new light on the applications of wearable assistive devices.
Mechanically Strong, Freeze‐Resistant, and Ionically Conductive Organohydrogels for Flexible Strain Sensors and Batteries
Authors: Lyu Jiayu , Zhou Qingya , Wang Haifeng , Xiao Qi , Qiang Zhe , Li Xiaopeng , Wen Jin , Ye Changhuai , Zhu Meifang
Published: January 2023

Conductive hydrogels as promising material candidates for soft electronics have been rapidly developed in recent years. However, the low ionic conductivity, limited mechanical properties, and insufficient freeze‐resistance greatly limit their applications for flexible and wearable electronics. Herein, aramid nanofiber (ANF)‐reinforced poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) organohydrogels containing dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/H2O mixed solvents with outstanding freeze‐resistance are fabricated through solution casting and 3D printing methods. The organohydrogels show both high tensile strength and toughness due to the synergistic effect of ANFs and DMSO in the system, which promotes PVA crystallization and intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions between PVA molecules as well as ANFs and PVA, confirmed by a suite of characterization and molecular dynamics simulations. The organohydrogels also exhibit ultrahigh ionic conductivity, ranging from 1.1 to 34.3 S m−1 at −50 to 60 °C. Building on these excellent material properties, the organohydrogel‐based strain sensors and solid‐state zinc–air batteries (ZABs) are fabricated, which have a broad working temperature range. Particularly, the ZABs not only exhibit high specific capacity (262 mAh g−1) with ultra‐long cycling life (355 cycles, 118 h) even at −30 °C, but also can work properly under various deformation states, manifesting their great potential applications in soft robotics and wearable electronics.
Mouse Tissue‐Resident Peritoneal Macrophages in Homeostasis, Repair, Infection, and Tumor Metastasis
Authors: Ardavín Carlos , Alvarez‐Ladrón Natalia , Ferriz Margarita , Gutiérrez‐González Alejandra , Vega‐Pérez Adrián
Published: January 2023

Large peritoneal macrophages (LPMs) are long‐lived, tissue‐resident macrophages, formed during embryonic life, developmentally and functionally confined to the peritoneal cavity. LPMs provide the first line of defense against life‐threatening pathologies of the peritoneal cavity, such as abdominal sepsis, peritoneal metastatic tumor growth, or peritoneal injuries caused by trauma, or abdominal surgery. Apart from their primary phagocytic function, reminiscent of primitive defense mechanisms sustained by coelomocytes in the coelomic cavity of invertebrates, LPMs fulfill an essential homeostatic function by achieving an efficient clearance of apoptotic, that is crucial for the maintenance of self‐tolerance. Research performed over the last few years, in mice, has unveiled the mechanisms by which LPMs fulfill a crucial role in repairing peritoneal injuries and controlling microbial and parasitic infections, reflecting that the GATA6‐driven LPM transcriptional program can be modulated by extracellular signals associated with pathological conditions. In contrast, recent experimental evidence supports that peritoneal tumors can subvert LPM metabolism and function, leading to the acquisition of a tumor‐promoting potential. The remarkable functional plasticity of LPMs can be nevertheless exploited to revert tumor‐induced LPM protumor potential, providing the basis for the development of novel immunotherapeutic approaches against peritoneal tumor metastasis based on macrophage reprogramming.
Extremely Sensitive Wearable Strain Sensor with Wide Range Based on a Simple Parallel Connection Architecture
Authors: Teng Fu‐Rui , Zi Tao‐Qing , Fang Jia‐Bin , Liu Chang , Wu Di , Li Ai‐Dong
Published: January 2023

Strain sensors have attracted tremendous attention in healthcare monitoring and human–computer interaction due to their great potential in intelligent equipment. However, conventional strain sensors cannot possess high sensitivity, wide stretchable range, and low limit of detection (LoD) at the same time. Here, an ultrasensitive wearable strain sensor over a broad range based on the simple parallel connection architecture of Ir‐nanoparticles‐modified carbon nanotubes (Ir NPs@CNTs) and two Pt layers using a reticular patterned polymer substrate (Dragon Skin 30, (DS)) is reported. It exhibits an extremely high gauge factor of 13 590, broader strain range up to 98%, lower LoD of 0.02% strain, faster response time of 134 ms, and long‐term durability above 18 000 cycles. The mechanisms of performance improvement are proposed based on the synergistic and hierarchical effects of the combined sandwich structures by parallel connection on patterned DS, including geometric effect, crack formation/propagation in parallel grooves, and tunneling‐based charge carriers between IrNPs and IrNPs/CNTs. By introducing a metal nanolayer, the sensor also shows heat sensitivity at various environmental temperatures. The wearable sensors have been utilized for human‐motion detection with improved comprehensive performance, indicating their promising applications in flexible electronics and artificial intelligent fields.
Critical Assessment of the High Carrier Mobility of Bilayer In2O3/IGZO Transistors and the Underlying Mechanisms
Authors: Guo Min , Ou Hai , Xie Dongyu , Zhu Qiaoji , Wang Mengye , Liang Lingyan , Liu Fengjuan , Ning Ce , Cao Hongtao , Yuan Guangcai , Lu Xubing , Liu Chuan
Published: January 2023

High‐performance bilayer In2O3/IGZO thin‐film transistors (TFTs) fabricated by pulsed laser deposition are reported. The TFTs exhibit an on/off current ratio of 109, a reversed subthreshold slope (ss) of 0.08 V dec−1, and a high saturation mobility of 47.9 cm2 V−1 s−1. The reliability of the mobility values is critically validated and assessed by four‐probe measurements, the transfer‐length method, and the temperature‐dependence. X‐ray photoelectron spectra are combined with C–V measurements to characterize the interface, and the results show that a two‐dimensional electron gas (2DEG)‐like state accumulates at the In2O3/IGZO interface. However, this state only forms in the subthreshold region and does not cause the high carrier mobility in the region above the threshold. Instead, the enhanced carrier mobility results from the intrinsic high mobility of the In2O3, the smooth surface, and the low‐defect states in the In2O3/IGZO bilayer with a good percolation transport path.
Optimizing selection of wheat genotypes through simulated individual BLUP and modified simulated individual BLUP
Authors: Machado e Silva Caique , Mezzomo Henrique Caletti , Alves Rodrigo Silva , de Resende Marcos Deon Vilela , Nardino Maicon
Published: January 2023

The early stages of wheat breeding programs often contain large number of plants in segregating populations that must be selected. Selecting the best populations and plants in those stages is not an easy task, making it necessary to use robust methodologies that facilitate the selection process. The goals of this work were to evaluate different methods for the selection of individual plants in early wheat breeding stages, compare the efficiency of each method, and suggest the most suitable one for implementation in wheat breeding programs. An experiment with 56 F2 segregant populations derived from a complete diallel, together with eight parents, was conducted and evaluated for grain yield (g pL−1). Analysis of variance and mixed model analysis were applied to obtain the genetic parameters and predict genotypic values. Four selection strategies were designed: mass selection and other three mixed model‐based methods (individual best linear unbiased prediction [BLUPI]; simulated individual best linear unbiased prediction [BLUPIS]; and modified simulated individual best linear unbiased [BLPISM]). The genotypic variability among and within populations allowed the selection of superior genotypes. Simple linear regression analysis and Spearman correlation analysis allowed to conclude that BLUPIS and BLUPISM are equivalent to BLUPI. The BLUPIS and BLUPISM should be used because they easily indicate for the selection of plants in populations with positive genetic effects, dismissing the evaluation of individual plants.
A New Type of Classical Logic Circuit with Exponential Speedup
Authors: Zhang Yingji , Chen Tian , Tong Xiaoxue , Pan Naiqiao , Zhang Xiangdong
Published: January 2023

Compared with classical algorithms, quantum algorithms can show the advantage of exponential speedup in solving some problems. Solving the NAND‐Tree problem is a typical example, which can be speed up exponentially by quantum walk. This scheme is groundbreaking due to the universality of the negative‐AND (NAND) gate. In fact, the NAND gate is also universal for classical computation, making it an important target for development. Herein, the quantum NAND‐Tree onto the classical circuit network is mapped and a new type of classical logic circuit with the NAND gate that can perform the quantum algorithms is designed. These classical logic gates that are designed have exponential speedup functions compared with conventional ones. Because classical circuit networks possess good scalability and stability, the present scheme is expected to have potential applications for information processing in the era of big data.
In‐Memory Search for Highly Efficient Image Retrieval
Authors: Yu Yingjie , Yang Ling , Zhou Houji , Zhao Ruizhe , Li Yi , Tong Hao , Miao Xiangshui
Published: January 2023

Finding similar images in real time plays a key role in information retrieval and serves as an indispensable function of the search engine. However, image retrieval involves massive distance computation. With the increase in image data volume and dimension, distance computation is suffering from huge power consumption and high computational complexity. Despite the remarkable advantages in energy efficiency shown by nonvolatile content addressable memory (nvCAM)‐based in‐memory search, achieving software‐comparable search accuracy remains a critical challenge under the impact of device variations and other nonideal factors. Here, a heterogeneous image retrieval system combining highly parallel in‐memory search with a high‐precision digital system is reported. Hamming distance (HD) can be calculated in situ with a few memory read operations on the memristor‐based CAM, and several similar images are fetched for further high‐precision rerank in the digital system. This heterogeneous computing system shows high energy efficiency (50×) compared to the CPU and higher search accuracy than the fully in‐memory computing method, thus alleviating the efficiency bottleneck of CPU‐based image retrieval.
Memristor Crossbar Circuit for Ternary Content‐Addressable Memory with Fine‐Tuning Operation
Authors: Youn Sangwook , Kim Sungjoon , Kim Tae-Hyeon , Park Jinwoo , Kim Hyungjin
Published: January 2023

Memristor‐based ternary content‐addressable memory (TCAM) has emerged as an alternative to conventional static random‐access memory (SRAM)‐based TCAM because of its high‐density integration and zero‐static energy consumption. Herein, 0T2R TCAM operation on a 32 × 32 passive memristor crossbar circuit is experimentally verified. The effective margin, which is the difference between the match case and 1‐bit mismatch case, is improved through precise tuning operations. Moreover, the number of mismatch bits and match cases can be accurately detected thanks to the linear relationship between the number of mismatch bits and match‐line current. In addition, the nonideal effects in the passive crossbar array including dynamic voltage drop and sneak current are analyzed through SPICE studies. These results indicate that the proposed TCAM operating conditions can ensure stable TCAM operation in larger arrays.
Youth engagement to achieve health equity: Are healthcare organizations and leaders prepared?
Authors: Augsberger Astraea , Young Adrienne , Toraif Noor , Morris Melanie , Barnett Katherine Gergen
Published: January 2023

Youth engagement in institutional decision‐making is necessary to ensure policy and practice is responsive and relevant to youth and community needs. In particular, it is critical to engage the voices and experiences of youth of Color who have historically been marginalized by healthcare organizations. The present study used multiple methods to examine youth and adult perspectives on the facilitators and barriers to implementing a citywide youth advisory board of youths of Color for a safety net hospital. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings illustrate the need to employ an antiracist framework to ensure organizational and adult readiness to engage youth of Color in an advisory board. Organizational readiness included assessing organizational culture, clear expectation setting, and creating safe spaces for youth. Adult readiness included adult facilitators who are trained in antiracist and equity‐focused practice and the youth–adult partnership model, and a recognition of the bidirectional benefits of youth engagement in decision‐making. The implications and recommendations of this study are timely given the historical mistrust between healthcare organizations and communities of Color, as well as the racial health inequities that have been further exposed during the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Substantial Improvement of an Epimerase for the Synthesis of D‐Allulose by Biosensor‐Based High‐Throughput Microdroplet Screening
Authors: Li Chao , Gao Xin , Qi Hongbin , Zhang Wei , Li Lei , Wei Cancan , Wei Meijing , Sun Xiaoxuan , Wang Shusen , Wang Liyan , Ji Yingbin , Mao Shuhong , Zhu Zhangliang , Tanokura Masaru , Lu Fuping , Qin Hui‐Min
Published: January 2023

Biosynthesis of D‐allulose has been achieved using ketose 3‐epimerases (KEases), but its application is limited by poor catalytic performance. In this study, we redesigned a genetically encoded biosensor based on a D‐allulose‐responsive transcriptional regulator for real‐time monitoring of D‐allulose. An ultrahigh‐throughput droplet‐based microfluidic screening platform was further constructed by coupling with this D‐allulose‐detecting biosensor for the directed evolution of the KEases. Structural analysis ofSinorhizobium frediiD‐allulose 3‐epimerase (SfDAE) revealed that a highly flexible helix/loop region exposes or occludes the catalytic center as an essential lid conformation regulating substrate recognition. We reprogrammed SfDAE using structure‐guided rational design and directed evolution, in which a mutant M3‐2 was identified with 17‐fold enhanced catalytic efficiency. Our research offers a paradigm for the design and optimization of a biosensor‐based microdroplet screening platform.
Synthesis, antimicrobial, antitumor activity, docking simulation, theoretical studies, and electrochemical analysis of novel Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), and Fe(III) complexes containing barbituric moiety
Authors: Fahim Asmaa M. , Magar Hend S. , Mahmoud Nelly H.
Published: January 2023

The combining of two ligands, barbituric acid (HL1) and thiobarbituric acid (HL2), to produce novel metal complexes with different metal chlorides (Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), and Fe(III) chlorides) in a ratio of 1:1:1 was studied. Furthermore, the obtained mixed complexes were confirmed through different analyses, such as elemental analysis and spectral analysis investigations. Moreover, TGA analysis was utilized to study the thermal stability, whereas all kinetic parameters were derived using the Coats–Redfern approach. Additionally, the crystallinity of these metals was analyzed through an XRD pattern with different potentials. The investigated complexes demonstrated excellent antimicrobial and antitumor activity against the A549 and Caco2 cell lines, with Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes demonstrating superior activity over other complexes, as confirmed by docking analysis with various proteins such as PDBID:3t88, PDBID:2wje, PDBID:4ynt, PDBID:1tgh, PDBID:2ito, and PDBID:1nun. In addition, the optimization of ligands and complexes on a DFT/B3LYP/LANL2DZ basis is used to assess their stability and determine physical descriptors, frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), electrostatic potentials (ESPs), and molecular electostatic potentials (MEPs). Furthermore, the electrochemical characterization and electrocatalytic properties of metal complexes have been evaluated by using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy electrochemical analyses.
Magnetically modified Schiff base‐Pd complex: An efficient heterogeneous catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling and dyes degradation reaction
Authors: Yadav Vikas , Chavan Vijaykumar
Published: January 2023

This study depicts the novel synthesis of sustainable, cost‐effective, and environmentally friendly Schiff base‐Pd nanomagnetic heterogeneous catalyst (MNP‐AF‐Pd) decorated on superparamagnetic Fe3O4@SiO2 core‐shell magnetic nanoparticles. The synthesized MNP‐AF‐Pd catalyst were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively coupled plasma‐optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES) analysis, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), energy dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDX), vibrating‐sample magnetometer (VSM), field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‐TEM). The synthesized MNP‐AF‐Pd catalyst was shown to be an effective catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction of several aryl boronic acid and degradation of hazardous organic dyes, particularly rhodamine B and methylene blue under mild reaction conditions. The catalyst is simply retrieved, recovered, and repeatedly utilized for several cycles without appreciably diminishing catalytic activity.
The double‐edged sword of the amoxicillin antibiotic against prostate cancer in nano palladium form and its electrochemical detection of dopamine
Authors: Hassan Safaa S. , Hanna Demiana H. , Medany Shymaa S.
Published: January 2023

Pd (II) complex was prepared from the interaction with Schiff base based on the condensation amoxicillin trihydrate drug and 4‐N,N‐dimethylaminobenzaldehyde. The complex was prepared on the nanoscale that was investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The chemical structure of the synthesized Schiff base and its Pd (II) chelate was proved through several techniques. Assays using MTT and lactate dehydrogenase verified the Pd (II) complex ability to inhibit human prostate cancer cells (PC3). According to the findings, the inhibition of PC3 cell growth was directly proportional to the dose of Pd (II) complex. Its highest IC50 value was attained after 48 h of incubation reached to 22.6 μg/mL. As a measure of DNA damage in PC3 cells, this IC50 value demonstrated a significant increase in early and late apoptotic cells with an intense comet nucleus. Given that the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in treated PC3 cells was much higher than in control ones. These results contributed to the notion that ROS‐mediated cell death, which may have taken place via the mitochondrial pathway, was the mechanism by which the Pd (II) complex inhibited the proliferation of PC3 cancer cells. The prepared Pd (II) complex was fabricated and casted onto GC electrode for investigate the dopamine concentration in human serum. The limit of detection and limit of quantization were found to be 0.0127 and 0.0424 μM, respectively, which were in a good agreement with literature and were found to be an improvement to that present in the literature.
Greening of supply chain to drive performance through logical integration of supply chain resources
Authors: Sharma Mahak , Dhir Amandeep , AlKatheeri Haseena , Khan Mehmood , Ajmal Mian M.
Published: January 2023

Sustainability has always been a concern of humankind in one form or the other. Still, it has come into sharper focus after the promulgation of the sustainable development goals in 2015 and the disruptive forces unleashed by the COVID‐19 pandemic. Supply chain management is an aspect of business operations wherein the need for sustainability has been felt more keenly. The academic and business understanding of various nuances of incorporating sustainability, particularly environmental concerns in the supply chain, is still evolving. Our study seeks to enrich the growing literature in the area by proposing to uncover a novel, logical sequence of intangible supply chain resources that can amplify the impact of green supply chain management practices (GSCMPs) on business performance. We use the dual‐theoretical lens of a resource‐based view and stakeholder theories to conceptualize the sequential mediational role of supply chain visibility, resilience, and robustness between GSCMP and performance. Analyzing data collected from 318 individuals working in the manufacturing sector in the United Kingdom, we found a positive direct association of GSCMP with performance and the serial mediational role of visibility and robustness between the two. The findings of our study are pertinent for theorists as well as managers.
Qilong Capsule Alleviated MPTP‐Induced Neuronal Defects by Inhibiting Apoptosis, Regulating Autophagy in Zebrafish Embryo Model
Authors: Mo Cailian , Lin Shenghua , Li Zhen , Liu Xin , Ye Suyan , Liang Huiliang , Ma Honglin , Shen Chuanlin , Fan Wei , Wang Yuying , Liu Kechun , He Qiuxia
Published: January 2023

Qilong capsule (QLC) originates from the famous “Buyang Huanwu decoction” prescription. It is representative of drugs used in China during recovery from stroke, but its neuroprotective mechanism of action remains obscure. HPLC was used to evaluate the similarity of 10 batches of QLC samples. Then we used a zebrafish model to study the neuroprotective effect of QLC. At 24 hpf, embryos were treated with QLC and 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), and zebrafish were observed the neuronal length and the number of apoptotic cells in the brain at 72 hpf. At 120 hpf, we conduct zebrafish behavioural tests. We then also used qPCR to detect the expression of genes related to autophagy and apoptosis. The results showed that QLC significantly reduced the damage of dopaminergic neurons, the number of apoptotic cells in the brain, and alleviated motor disturbances induced by MPTP. We found that the mechanism of QLC activity involved decreased neuron cell death by inhibiting mitochondrial apoptosis and autophagy, promoting autophagy, degradation of alpha‐synuclein, and neuron cell growth, and rescuing the function of neurons damaged by MPTP. The results indicated that QLC protected against MPTP‐induced neuron injury and provided pharmacological evidence for clinical use of QLC.
Homogeneous Catalysis at its Edge: High‐Temperature Ru‐Catalysed Amination of Alcohols under Continuous Flow Conditions
Authors: Heider Christian , Winter Alina , Voß Viktoria , Vogt Dieter , Seidensticker Thomas
Published: January 2023

Combining a tubular flow reactor with a robust homogeneous catalyst enabled running the alcohol amination at unique conditions, i. e., very high temperatures at low residence times. Catalytic activities were thus increased to unprecedented values of >900 h−1 in the synthesis of tertiary dimethylalkylamines directly from alcohols with excellent selectivities exceeding 99 %. Furthermore, several alcohols could be converted to the desired tertiary amines.
Widening the Landscape of Small Molecule Activation with Gold‐Aluminyl Complexes: A Systematic Study of E−H (E=O, N) Bonds, SO2 and N2O Activation
Authors: Sorbelli Diego , Belpassi Leonardo , Belanzoni Paola
Published: January 2023

The electronic features of gold‐aluminyl complexes have been thoroughly explored. Their similarity with Group 14 dimetallenes and other metal‐aluminyl complexes suggests that their reactivity with small molecules beyond carbon dioxide could be accessed. In this work, the reactivity of the [tBu3PAuAl(NON)] (NON=4,5‐bis(2,6 diisopropylanilido)‐2,7‐ditert‐butyl‐9,9‐dimethylxanthene) complex towards water, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide is computationally explored. The reaction mechanisms computed for each substrate strongly suggest that all activation processes are in principle experimentally feasible. Electronic structure analysis highlights that, in all cases, the reactivity is driven by the presence of the poorly polarized electron‐sharing gold‐aluminyl bond, which induces a radical‐like reactivity of the complex towards all the substrates. A flat topology of the potential energy surface (PES) has been found for the reaction with N2O, where two almost isoenergetic transition states can be located along the same reaction coordinate with different geometries, suggesting that the N2O binding mode may not be a good indicator of the nature of N2O activation in a cooperative bimetallic reactivity. In addition, the catalytic potentialities of these complexes have been explored in the framework of nitrous oxide reduction. The study reveals that the [tBu3PAuAl(NON)] complex might be an efficient catalyst towards oxidation of phosphines (and boranes) via N2O reduction. These findings underline recurring trends in the novel chemistry of gold‐aluminyl complexes and call for experimental feedbacks.
Two new alkaloids from Dendrobium nobile Lindl. exhibited neuroprotective activity, and dendrobine alleviated Aβ1−42‐induced apoptosis by inhibiting CDK5 activation in PC12 cells
Authors: Zhang Cheng‐Chen , Kong Yan‐Li , Zhang Mao‐Sheng , Wu Qin , Shi Jing‐Shan
Published: January 2023

Dendrobium nobile Lindl. is registered in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia as a traditional medicine. Phytochemical investigation of the ethanol extract of D. nobile Lindl. stems yielded three alkaloid compounds, including two new compounds dendroxine B (2) and denrine B (3) as well as one known compound dendrobine (1). Here, we identified the structure of these compounds using spectroscopic analyses and compared them with those described in previous studies. Compounds 1–3 were found to show protective effect against amyloid‐β 1−42 (Aβ1−42)‐induced neurotoxicity in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, among which dendrobine exhibited the most significant neuroprotective effect. Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide staining indicated that dendrobine ameliorated Aβ1−42‐induced apoptosis. Moreover, quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis analysis demonstrated that dendrobine suppressed the activation of cyclin‐dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), upregulated Bcl‐2 expression, and downregulated Bax, cyto‐c, and caspase‐3 expression. Molecular docking analysis and surface plasmon resonance assay suggested that dendrobine directly bound to CDK5 protein with a KD value of 2.05 × 10−4 M. In summary, alkaloids are the neuroprotective constituents of D. nobile Lindl., and dendrobine protected PC12 cells against Aβ1−42‐induced apoptosis by inhibiting CDK5 activation.
In the wind: Invasive species travel along predictable atmospheric pathways
Authors: Pretorius Ilze , Schou Wayne C. , Richardson Brian , Ross Shane D. , Withers Toni M. , Schmale David G. , Strand Tara M.
Published: January 2023

Invasive species such as insects, pathogens, and weeds reaching new environments by traveling with the wind, represent unquantified and difficult‐to‐manage biosecurity threats to human, animal, and plant health in managed and natural ecosystems. Despite the importance of these invasion events, their complexity is reflected by the lack of tools to predict them. Here, we provide the first known evidence showing that the long‐distance aerial dispersal of invasive insects and wildfire smoke, a potential carrier of invasive species, is driven by atmospheric pathways known as Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS). An aerobiological modeling system combining LCS modeling with species biology and atmospheric survival has the potential to transform the understanding and prediction of atmospheric invasions. The proposed modeling system run in forecast or hindcast modes can inform high‐risk invasion events and invasion source locations, making it possible to locate them early, improving the chances of eradication success.
Effects of warming seasonal rotational grazing on plant communities' structure and diversity in desert steppe
Authors: Li Wen , Su Tingting , Shen Yan , Ma Hongbin , Zhou Yao , Lu Qi , Wang Guohui , Liu Zhuo , Li Jianping
Published: January 2023

Grazing is the basic way of grassland utilization, and reasonable grazing is an important way to maintain the health of the grassland ecosystem. However, the traditional grazing time in warming seasons is negative for sustainable desert steppe ecosystem. Determining reasonable grassland grazing methods is to remain a critical issue for the ecological conservation and rational utilization of desert steppe. Therefore, our objectives were to explore the effects of warming seasonal rotation grazing on the species diversity and functional diversity of grassland plants and to reveal controlling factors of plant community diversity. The warm‐season rotational grazing modes included traditional time of grazing (FG), delayed start of grazing (YG), early end of grazing (TG), delayed start early end of grazing (YT), and enclosed steppe (CK). The results showed that the important value of Agropyron mongolicum of the gramineae and Lespedeza potaninii of the leguminosae in YG increased by 12.10%–120.66% and 23.57%–34.25% than other treatments (CK, FG, TG, and YT), respectively. Therefore, the YG treatment has more advantages on the IV of A. mongolicum of the gramineae and L. potaninii of the leguminosae. Warming seasonal rotational grazing (FG, YG, TG, and YT) significantly increased the important value of Leymus secalinus by 51.43%–79.64% compared with CK (p < .05). Compared with CK, FG and YG promoted the growth of gramineae and appropriately reduced the proportion of forbs. There was no significant difference in the Shannon–Wiener index between grazing treatments and CK, while the Shannon–Wiener index in YT increased by 21.43% and 15.71% compared with FG and YG (p < .05). The functional richness index in FG and YG significantly decreased by 19.05%–23.81% compared with CK and TG (p < .05). The results of the redundancy analysis showed that the diversity of plant communities was mainly affected by soil‐available nitrogen. These observations indicated that delayed start of grazing can improve the diversity of plant communities by increasing the important value of dominant plants in the community and promoting the growth of gramineous and leguminous plants, thereby optimizing the composition of community structure. Our findings can provide a theoretical basis for formulating a reasonable and scientific grazing period in desert steppe.
Coprophagy in moose: A first observation
Authors: Spitzer Robert , Åström Cecilia , Felton Annika , Eriksson Monica , Meisingset Erling L. , Solberg Erling J. , Rolandsen Christer M.
Published: January 2023

Coprophagy, the eating of feces, has been documented in a wide range of species but appears to be rare or difficult to detect in deer (Cervidae). Here, we report the first observation of coprophagy in moose Alces alces, which was recorded using camera collars on free‐ranging moose in Norway. The footage shows an instance of allocoprophagy by an adult female moose in spring (May). We summarize the current knowledge about coprophagy in deer and briefly discuss potential drivers and possible implications for disease transmission. Further research is needed to determine whether coprophagy occurs frequently in moose and whether this behavior is positive (e.g., increased intake of nutrients) or negative (increased infection by parasites or pathogens).
Answers blowing in the wind: Detection of birds, mammals, and amphibians with airborne environmental DNA in a natural environment over a yearlong survey
Authors: Johnson Mark D. , Barnes Matthew A. , Garrett Nina R. , Clare Elizabeth L.
Published: January 2023

Analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) from passively collected airborne dust has demonstrated broad success for sensitive and robust detection of plants. Recent experiments at small spatial scales have suggested that animals can also be detected using airborne eDNA. However, airborne eDNA analysis has never been used for a long‐term whole‐community assessment of a natural terrestrial community or with passive dust collectors. We conducted a metabarcoding survey targeting vertebrate eDNA from dust carried in the air on an approximately 130‐acre shortgrass prairie passively collected over the course of a year. Our survey detected a wide variety of animal forms including an amphibian species, several bird species, and both small and large mammals. We found that airborne eDNA signals changed with known patterns of animal activity, wind speed, and rainfall. Overall, we demonstrate that passively collected airborne dust carries eDNA from terrestrial animals and could be used to detect a wide variety of terrestrial vertebrate species in a natural environment with minimal effort. To develop this as a valuable monitoring tool, research needs to focus on the ecology of eDNA carried in the air, which includes the origin, state, transport, dispersal, and fate of eDNA in the environment.
Optimized DNA isolation from marine sponges for natural sampler DNA metabarcoding
Authors: Harper Lynsey R. , Neave Erika F. , Sellers Graham S. , Cunnington Alice V. , Arias María Belén , Craggs Jamie , MacDonald Barry , Riesgo Ana , Mariani Stefano
Published: January 2023

Marine sponges have recently been recognized as natural samplers of environmental DNA (eDNA) due to their effective water filtration and their ubiquitous, sessile, and regenerative nature. However, laboratory workflows for metabarcoding of sponge tissue have not been optimized to ensure that these natural samplers achieve their full potential for community survey. We used a phased approach to investigate the influence of DNA isolation procedures on the biodiversity information recovered from sponges. In Phase 1, we compared three treatments of residual ethanol preservative in sponge tissue alongside five DNA extraction protocols. The results of Phase 1 informed which ethanol treatment and DNA extraction protocol should be used in Phase 2, where we assessed the effect of starting tissue mass on extraction success and whether homogenization of sponge tissue is required. Phase 1 results indicated that ethanol preservative may contain unique and/or additional biodiversity information to that present in sponge tissue, but blotting tissue dry generally recovered more taxa and generated more sequence reads from the wild sponge species. Tissue extraction protocols performed best in terms of DNA concentration, taxon richness, and proportional read counts, but the non‐commercial tissue protocol was selected for Phase 2 due to cost‐efficiency and greater recovery of target taxa. In Phase 2 overall, we found that homogenization may not be required for sponge tissue and more starting material does not necessarily improve taxon detection. These results combined provide an optimized DNA isolation procedure for sponges to enhance marine biodiversity assessment using natural sampler DNA metabarcoding.
Enantioselective Catalytic Addition of N‐Acyl Radicals: In Batch and In Flow Organophotoredox α‐Amination of Aldehydes
Authors: Boselli Monica Fiorenza , Intini Niccolò , Puglisi Alessandra , Raimondi Laura , Rossi Sergio , Benaglia Maurizio
Published: January 2023

The organophotoredox catalytic enantioselective addition of N‐acyl radicals to aldehydes, to afford enantioenriched N‐acyl 1,2 aminoalcohols was studied. Under the best conditions, in batch, the product was isolated in up to 52 % yield and 85 % e.e., using a low cost and commercially available chiral imidazolidinone as organocatalyst. The reaction was then studied in flow, exploring different experimental setups and photoreactors. Although modest yields were obtained, the in‐flow process afforded the product in higher productivities (up to 60 times higher) and improved space time yields (increased up to 113 times) compared to the batch reaction, with no loss of stereoselectivity.
The diagnostic value of ictal SPECT—A retrospective, semiquantitative monocenter study
Authors: Schulte Freya , Bitzer Felix , Gärtner Florian Christoph , Bauer Tobias , von Wrede Randi , Baumgartner Tobias , Rácz Attila , Borger Valeri , von Oertzen Tim , Vatter Hartmut , Essler Markus , Surges Rainer , Rüber Theodor
Published: January 2023

Objective

Ictal single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can be used as an advanced diagnostic modality to detect the seizure onset zone in the presurgical evaluation of people with epilepsy. In addition to visual assessment (VSA) of ictal and interictal SPECT images, postprocessing methods such as ictal‐interictal SPECT analysis using SPM (ISAS) can visualize regional ictal blood flow differences. We aimed to evaluate and differentiate the diagnostic value of VSA and ISAS in the Bonn cohort.

Methods

We included 161 people with epilepsy who underwent presurgical evaluation at the University Hospital Bonn between 2008 and 2020 and received ictal and interictal SPECT and ISAS. We retrospectively assigned SPECT findings to one of five categories according to their degree of concordance with the clinical focus hypothesis.

Results

Seizure onset zones could be identified more likely on a sublobar concordance level by ISAS than by VSA (31% vs. 19% of cases; OR = 1.88; 95% Cl [1.04, 3.42]; P = 0.03). Both VSA and ISAS more often localized a temporal seizure onset zone than an extratemporal one. Neither VSA nor ISAS findings were predicted by the latency between seizure onset and tracer injection (P = 0.75). In people who underwent successful epilepsy surgery, VSA and ISAS indicated the correct resection site in 54% of individuals, while MRI and EEG showed the correct resection localization in 96% and 33% of individuals, respectively. It was more likely to become seizure‐free after epilepsy surgery if ISAS or VSA had been successful. There was no MR‐negative case with successful surgery, indicating that ictal SPECT is more useful for confirmation than for localization.

Significance

The results of the most extensive clinical study of ictal SPECT to date allow an assessment of the diagnostic value of this elaborate examination and emphasize the importance of postprocessing routines.
Recurrent debris flows and their downstream fate: Geomorphic drivers of an anomalous sediment load, Suiattle River, Washington State, USA
Authors: Fordham Edward M. , Pfeiffer Allison M. , Bunn Andrew G. , Novak Stephen J.
Published: January 2023

Alpine mass wasting events have impacts that extend past their headwater origins, sometimes reaching populated lowlands. Understanding the processes driving these sediment pulses, and how they contribute to basin‐scale sediment fluxes, is important for hazard assessment and aquatic habitat management. The Suiattle River, which drains Glacier Peak stratovolcano in Washington State, is a dominant contributor of suspended sediment in the region. Normalized for drainage area, it supplies more suspended sediment than nearly any other river in the area and more than twice as much as the White Chuck River, which drains the opposite flank of the volcano. Despite its importance to the regional sediment budget, geomorphic processes in the basin have received relatively little attention in the literature. In this study, we build on previous work to explore the magnitude, timing and triggering mechanisms of sediment loading events in the basin. We find that outburst flood‐triggered debris flows from Chocolate Glacier are of widely varying magnitude and coincide with high temperatures in the late summer. Major debris flow activity initiated in the late 1930s, with at least eight valley‐filling debris flows since then. Smaller, more recent debris flows, likely also driven by outburst floods, occur in five of seven years of complete data. In total, the small debris flows and the subsequent autumn flushing events explain ~21% of the ‘anomalous’ sediment load in the basin, while reworking and abrasion of the historic events may explain another ~26%. We speculate that some of the remaining unexplained ‘anomalous’ load could be the result of a feedback between channel lateral instability (originally triggered by the valley‐spanning debris flows) and bluff erosion.
Functional connectome automatically differentiates multiple system atrophy (parkinsonian type) from idiopathic Parkinson's disease at early stages
Authors: Chen Boyu , Cui Wenzhuo , Wang Shanshan , Sun Anlan , Yu Hongmei , Liu Yu , He Jiachuan , Fan Guoguang
Published: January 2023

Differentiating the parkinsonian variant of multiple system atrophy (MSA‐P) from idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) is challenging, especially in the early stages. This study aimed to investigate differences and similarities in the brain functional connectomes of IPD and MSA‐P patients and use machine learning methods to explore the diagnostic utility of these features. Resting‐state fMRI data were acquired from 88 healthy controls, 76 MSA‐P patients, and 53 IPD patients using a 3.0 T scanner. The whole‐brain functional connectome was constructed by thresholding the Pearson correlation matrices of 116 regions, and topological properties were evaluated through graph theory approaches. Connectome measurements were used as features in machine learning models (random forest [RF]/logistic regression [LR]/support vector machine) to distinguish IPD and MSA‐P patients. Regarding graph metrics, early IPD and MSA‐P patients shared network topological properties. Both patient groups showed functional connectivity disruptions within the cerebellum‐basal ganglia‐cortical network, but these disconnections were mainly in the cortico‐thalamo‐cerebellar circuits in MSA‐P patients and the basal ganglia‐thalamo‐cortical circuits in IPD patients. Among the connectome parameters, t tests combined with the RF method identified 15 features, from which the LR classifier achieved the best diagnostic performance on the validation set (accuracy = 92.31%, sensitivity = 90.91%, specificity = 93.33%, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.89). MSA‐P and IPD patients show similar whole‐brain network topological alterations. MSA‐P primarily affects cerebellar nodes, and IPD primarily affects basal ganglia nodes; both conditions disrupt the cerebellum‐basal ganglia‐cortical network. Moreover, functional connectome parameters showed outstanding value in the differential diagnosis of early MSA‐P and IPD.
Effect of regional intrinsic activity following two kinds of theta burst stimulation on precuneus
Authors: Xu Xin , Li Xue , Qi Xu , Jiang Xi , Xing Haoyang , Huang Xiaoqi , Gong Qiyong
Published: January 2023

Theta burst stimulation (TBS) has been widely used in the treatment of mental disorders, but the cerebral functional difference between intermittent TBS (iTBS) and continuous TBS (cTBS) after one single session of stimulation is not clear. Here we applied resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS‐FMRI) to evaluate the alterations in intrinsic brain activity after iTBS and cTBS in the precuneus. We recruited 32 healthy young adults and performed a single session each of iTBS and cTBS at a 1‐week interval. RS‐fMRI was collected at baseline before and immediately after the stimulation. Parameters for regional brain activity (ALFF/fALFF/ReHo) and functional connectivity (FC) with the stimulated site of the precuneus after iTBS and cTBS were calculated and compared between each stimulation using a paired t‐test. Correlation analysis among those parameters was calculated to explore whether changes in functional connectivity were associated with local spontaneous activity. After iTBS stimulation, fALFF increased in the bilateral precuneus, while fALFF decreased in the bilateral middle temporal gyrus. Reductions in precuneus FC were found in the bilateral cuneus, superior occipital gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, precentral gyrus, and postcentral gyrus, which correlated with regional activity. After cTBS, fALFF decreased in the bilateral insula, and precuneus FC was decreased in the bilateral inferior occipital gyrus and increased in the thalamus. In the current study, we observed that one session of iTBS or cTBS could cause inhibitory effects in remote brain regions, but only iTBS caused significant local activation in the target region.
Spatial and temporal variation in forest transpiration across a forested boreal peatland complex
Authors: Perron Nia , Baltzer Jennifer L. , Sonnentag Oliver
Published: January 2023

Transpiration is a globally important component of evapotranspiration. Careful upscaling of transpiration from point measurements is thus crucial for quantifying water and energy fluxes. In spatially heterogeneous landscapes common across the boreal biome, upscaled transpiration estimates are difficult to determine due to variation in local environmental conditions (e.g., basal area, soil moisture, permafrost). Here, we sought to determine stand‐level attributes that influence transpiration scalars for a forested boreal peatland complex consisting of sparsely treed wetlands and densely treed permafrost plateaus as land cover types. The objectives were to quantify spatial and temporal variability in stand‐level transpiration, and to identify sources of uncertainty when scaling point measurements to the stand‐level. Using heat ratio method sap flow sensors, we determined sap velocity for black spruce and tamarack for 2‐week periods during peak growing season in 2013, 2017 and 2018. We found greater basal area, drier soils, and the presence of permafrost increased daily sap velocity in individual trees, suggesting that local environmental conditions are important in dictating sap velocity. When sap velocity was scaled to stand‐level transpiration using gridded 20 × 20 m resolution data across the ~10 ha Scotty Creek ForestGEO plot, we observed significant differences in daily plot transpiration among years (0.17–0.30 mm), and across land cover types. Daily transpiration was lowest in grid‐cells with sparsely treed wetlands compared to grid‐cells with well‐drained and densely treed permafrost plateaus, where daily transpiration reached 0.80 mm, or 30% of the daily evapotranspiration. When transpiration scalars (i.e., sap velocity) were not specific to the different land cover types (i.e., permafrost plateaus and wetlands), scaled stand‐level transpiration was overestimated by 42%. To quantify the relative contribution of tree transpiration to ecosystem evapotranspiration, we recommend that sampling designs stratify across local environmental conditions to accurately represent variation associated with land cover types, especially with different hydrological functioning as encountered in rapidly thawing boreal peatland complexes.