bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel axial substituted subphthalocyanine sensitized titanium dioxide H12SubPcB‐OPh2OH/TiO2 photocatalyst: Synthesis, density functional theory calculation, and photocatalytic properties
Authors: Yang Lin , Zhang Bingbing , Li Zhuo , Wang Chen , Jiao Linyu , Wang Bing , Wang Yafei , Ma Haixia , Ma Xiaoxun
Published: April 2021

Utilizing subphthalocyanine (SubPc) and 4,4′‐dihydroxybiphenyl (C12H10O2) as the raw materials, an innovative axial substituted SubPc H12SubPcB‐OPh2OH was synthesized by solvothermal method. The density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) calculations were employed to further study the properties and structures of H12SubPcB‐OPh2OH. To expand photocatalytic activities for organic dyes degradation, H12SubPcB‐OPh2OH was decorated onto surface of TiO2 nanoparticles to fabricate high‐efficiency H12SubPcB‐OPh2OH/TiO2 photosensitive catalysts. The degradation experiments indicated that the H12SubPcB‐OPh2OH/TiO2 catalyst with the mass ratio of 1:25 had the greatest performance in the elimination of methyl orange (MO), bromophenol blue (BB), methylene blue (MB), and acid fuchsin (AF). The 29.4%, 72.5%, 27.6%, and 64.8% of MO, BB, MB, and AF was removed by pure TiO2 in 180‐min, respectively. Under the same conditions, the photocatalytic rate of H12SubPcB‐OPh2OH/TiO2 can reach 96.3%, 99.5%, 97.5%, and 99.5%, separately. The efficiency of the as‐synthesized composite was 3.3, 1.4, 3.5, and 1.5 times higher than that over bare TiO2 for MO, BB, MB, and AF degradation under visible‐light irradiation, respectively. Besides, after five cycles of experiments, the degradation rate of H12SubPcB‐OPh2OH/TiO2 photocatalyst to BB can still reach 90.2%, which demonstrated that the obtained photocatalysts possessed remarkable stability and is much higher than 15.6% of pure TiO2. This study provides a new idea to the construction of photosensitive catalysts based on TiO2 for water purification.
A multi‐objective optimal insulin bolus advisor for type 1 diabetes based on personalized model and daily diet
Authors: Fakhroleslam Mohammad , Bozorgmehry Boozarjomehry Ramin
Published: April 2021

We proposed a personalized bolus advisor for patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). A bolus advisor is a decision support system that recommends insulin doses based on an open‐loop model‐based optimization. To construct the bolus advisor, the optimal open‐loop control of blood glucose (BG) concentration in T1D patients was represented as a multi‐objective optimization problem. The insulin types, doses, and times for each injection were provided by the bolus advisor based on a personalized model and an average daily diet, which should be re‐tuned frequently in specific time intervals. The constructed personalized model for T1D patients incorporates effects of the patient's age and body weight. Two treatment schemes using three types of insulin (regular, lispro, and NPH) were investigated. The proposed bolus advisor was tested in silico on three virtual patients with different ages (from 9 to 50 years old) and body weights (from 28 to 100 kg) considering ±40% under‐ and over‐eating scenarios. The fluctuations in blood glucose and insulin levels are obviously wider in younger virtual subjects, which is showing the difficulties of the BG control problem in younger patients.
Influence of elastin on the properties of hybrid PCL/elastin scaffolds for tissue engineering
Authors: Sánchez‐Cid Pablo , Perez‐Puyana Victor , Jiménez‐Rosado Mercedes , Guerrero Antonio , Romero Alberto
Published: April 2021

Developing scaffolds by combining different polymers in order to improve the properties of the bare polymers has become an extensively applied practice. Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a synthetic polyester with outstanding properties for tissue engineering (TE), although it does have certain drawbacks that can be counteracted by combining it with other biopolymers. The biopolymer elastin is an essential functional component of the dermal extracellular matrix. Therefore, the aim of this work was to produce binary systems comprising a combination of PCL (16 wt/vol%) and different concentrations of elastin (2 and 4 wt/vol%) to evaluate how the protein affects the matrix. To this end, the morphological, physicochemical, mechanical and biological properties of the aforementioned scaffolds were further characterized, observing that PCL/elastin is a suitable mixture as it improves the wettability of PCL when combined with elastin (the contact angles were reduced from 102 to ca. 70°). In addition, mixing PCL with a small quantity of elastin (2%) improved the mechanical properties of PCL‐based scaffolds (Young's modulus increased from 36 to 69 MPa and the maximum stress increased from 11 to 34 MPa).
The relationships between spawning horseshoe crabs and egg densities: Recommendations for the assessment of populations and habitat suitability
Authors: Botton Mark L. , Colon Christina P. , Sclafani Matthew , Loveland Robert E. , Elbin Susan , Parkins Kaitlyn
Published: April 2021

Horseshoe crab population sizes and trends have been previously studied using surveys of spawning adults and counts of eggs from surface (top 5 cm) and deep (20 cm) sediment samples. The correlations between surface and deep eggs were studied at two locations, Delaware Bay and Jamaica Bay, USA, and the correlations between egg densities and spawning counts were examined in Jamaica Bay.

There were significantly higher densities of eggs in deep sediments than in surface sediments. Only about 10% of the variability in surface egg density was explained by deep egg density. The numerical patterns between surface and deep eggs were similar between Delaware Bay and Jamaica Bay and across sampling dates.

Nearly 20% of the deep samples in the combined data from Delaware Bay and Jamaica Bay with an egg density of ≥100,000 m−2 had zero surface eggs. Therefore, the use of surface eggs as an indicator of habitat suitability and spawning intensity may seriously underestimate the importance of a beach for spawning horseshoe crabs.

When paired with nearest survey date, Jamaica Bay spawning indices did not predict deep or surface egg densities. This may be related to a temporal mismatch between survey methods, the extreme overdispersion (patchiness) of the eggs, and/or the dynamics of egg distribution after exhumation.

Both egg density and spawning surveys can provide useful data on habitat suitability for horseshoe crabs and can offer excellent opportunities for student and citizen scientist engagement. More labour is required for egg surveys than spawning surveys because of the time required to sample, sort, and enumerate the eggs.
Forensically reconstructing biomedical maintenance labor: PDF metadata under the epistemic conditions of COVID‐19
Authors: Hodges James A.
Published: April 2021

This study examines the documents circulated among biomedical equipment repair technicians in order to build a conceptual model that accounts for multilayered temporality in technical healthcare professional communities. A metadata analysis informed by digital forensics and trace ethnography is employed to model the overlapping temporal, format‐related, and annotation characteristics present in a corpus of repair manual files crowdsourced during collaborations between volunteer archivists and professional technicians. The corpus originates within iFixit.com's Medical Device Repair collection, a trove of more than 10,000 manuals contributed by working technicians in response to the strain placed on their colleagues and institutions due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. The study focuses in particular on the Respiratory Analyzer subcategory of documents, which aid in the maintenance of equipment central to the care of COVID‐19 patients experiencing respiratory symptoms. The 40 Respiratory Analyzer manuals in iFixit's collection are examined in terms of their original publication date, the apparent status of their original paper copies, the version of PDF used to encode them, and any additional metadata that is present. Based on these characteristics, the study advances a conceptual model accounting for circulation among multiple technicians, as well as alteration of documents during the course of their lifespans.
Plantation Botany: Slavery and the Infrastructure of Government Science in the St. Vincent Botanic Garden, 1765–1820 s**
Authors: Williams J'Nese
Published: April 2021

This essay examines the aims, labor regime, and workers of the St. Vincent botanic garden to highlight differences in the infrastructure of government‐funded botany across the British empire. It argues that slavery was a foundational element of society and natural history in the Anglo‐Caribbean, and the St. Vincent botanic garden was both put into the service of slavery and transformed by it. When viewed from the Caribbean context and the perspective of enslaved workers, the St. Vincent garden's affiliation with imperial improvement becomes less salient than its support of the status quo of slavery as a system and labor regime. The garden was dependent on enslaved laborers, yet the conditions of work and contemporary prejudices led superintendents to see them as undifferentiated labor. The politics of the archive make it impossible for historians to reconstruct the experiences of the garden's enslaved workers as individuals, including the specific labor that they performed or skills that they possessed. Plantation slavery's appropriation of and influence on the infrastructure of colonial botany through the St. Vincent botanic garden suggests that historians should center the local logics of the societies where scientific knowledge making took place to reveal the many meanings of science.
Citizenship under COVID‐19: An analysis ofUKpolitical rhetoric during the first wave of the 2020 pandemic
Authors: Andreouli Eleni , Brice Emma
Published: April 2021

The paper presents an analysis of the UK government discourse on citizenship during the first 9 months of the COVID‐19 pandemic (March–November 2020). We adopted a socio‐cultural approach to citizenship drawing on the scholarly tradition of ideological dilemmas and rhetorical psychology as well as interdisciplinary work on neoliberalism. In our analysis of over one hundred briefings and other material by the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet, we identified five interrelated constructions of the ‘good citizen’: the confined, the heroic, the sacrificial, the unfree and the responsible citizen. The paper maps these constructions onto the ideological dilemmas of freedom/control, passive/active citizenship and individualism/collectivism. We show that, through the rhetorical use of notions of gratefulness for citizens' sacrifice and shared responsibility, the UK government's discourse appears to challenge the dominant model of the neoliberal citizen. However, it solidifies this very same model by responsibilizing individual citizens whilst abdicating itself from responsibility. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article'sCommunity and Social Impact Statement.
Recent Advances on the Selection Methods of DNA‐Encoded Libraries
Authors: Huang Yiran , Li Xiaoyu
Published: April 2021

DNA‐encoded libraries (DEL) have come of age and become a major technology platform for ligand discovery in both academia and the pharmaceutical industry. Technological maturation in the past two decades and the recent explosive developments of DEL‐compatible chemistries have greatly improved the chemical diversity of DELs and fueled its applications in drug discovery. A relatively less‐covered aspect of DELs is the selection method. Typically, DEL selection is considered as a binding assay and the selection is conducted with purified protein targets immobilized on a matrix, and the binders are separated from the non‐binding background via physical washes. However, the recent innovations in DEL selection methods have not only expanded the target scope of DELs, but also revealed the potential of the DEL technology as a powerful tool in exploring fundamental biology. In this Review, we first cover the “classic” DEL selection methods with purified proteins on solid phase, and then we discuss the strategies to realize DEL selections in solution phase. Finally, we focus on the emerging approaches for DELs to interrogate complex biological targets.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation for degenerated aortic valves: Experience with a new supra‐annular device. The Spanish Allegra valve‐in‐valve (SAVIV) registry
Authors: Moreno Raúl , Baz José‐Antonio , Moreu José , Berenguer Alberto , Gonzálvez‐García Ariana , Galeote Guillermo , Hernández Ubaldo , Cantón Tomás , Jiménez‐Valero Santiago , Jurado‐Román Alfonso , Moya Halley , Lázaro Esther
Published: April 2021

Objectives

The objective was to evaluate the results of valve‐in‐valve procedures performed with the Allegra device.

Background

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation to treat degenerated biological aortic valves (valve‐in‐valve) is an established procedure in most catheterization laboratories, but the results are poorer than procedures done in native aortic stenosis. The Allegra device (Biosensors, Morges, Switzerland) has an excellent design to treat these patients.

Methods

All patients with severely degenerated biological aortic valve treated with the Allegra device in centers from Spain until December 2020 were included (n = 29). Hemodynamic results and 30‐day clinical outcomes were evaluated. The predominant hemodynamic failure was stenosis in 15, regurgitation in 11, and a combination of both in 3 cases. Time from aortic valve replacement to valve‐in‐valve procedure was 8.4 ± 3.9 years (range 3.3–22.1).

Results

After the procedure, maximum and mean trans‐valvular gradients were 17.4 ± 12.3 and 8.4 ± 6.1 mmHg, respectively. Device success was obtained in 28 patients (96.6%). In one patient with a degenerated 19 mm prosthetic valve, mean gradient after the procedure was 22 mmHg. No patients had a para‐valvular leak grade >1. There were no deaths during the hospitalization or at 30 days and one patient suffered a stroke.

Conclusions

The Allegra trans‐catheter aortic valve offers optimal hemodynamic results in patients with severely degenerated biological aortic valve.
Amorphous Calcium Phosphates: Solvent‐Controlled Growth and Stabilization through the Epoxide Route
Authors: Borovik Paula , Oestreicher Víctor , Huck‐Iriart Cristián , Jobbágy Matías
Published: April 2021

Calcium phosphates stand among the most promising nanobiomaterials in key biomedical applications, such as bone repairment, signalling or drug/gene delivery. Their intrinsic properties as crystalline structure, composition, particle shape and size define their successful use. Among these compounds, metastable amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) is currently gaining particular attention due to its inherently high reactivity in solution, which is crucial in bone development mechanisms. However, the preparation of this highly desired (bio)material with control over its shape, size and phase purity remains as a synthetic challenge. In this work, the epoxide route was adapted for the synthesis of pure and stable ACP colloids. By using biocompatible solvents, such as ethylene glycol and/or glycerine, it was possible to avoid the natural tendency of ACP to maturate into more stable and crystalline apatites. Moreover, this procedure offers size control, ranging from small nanoparticles (60 nm) to micrometric spheroids (>500 nm). The eventual fractalization of the internal mesostructured can be tuned, by simply adjusting the composition of the ethylene glycol:glycerine solvent mixture. These findings introduce the use of green solvents as a new tool to control crystallinity and/or particle size in the synthesis of nanomaterials, avoiding the use of capping agents and preserving the natural chemical reactivity of the pristine surface.
One‐Step Template/Solvent‐Free Pyrolysis for In Situ Immobilization of CoP Nanoparticles onto N and P Co‐Doped Carbon Porous Nanosheets towards High‐efficiency Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Feng Xiaoxuan , Zhou Guangyao , Fang Linya , Pang Huan , Yang Jun , Xu Lin , Sun Dongmei , Tang Yawen
Published: April 2021

The search for economical, active and stable electrocatalysts towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is highly imperative for the progression of water electrolysis technology and related sustainable energy conversion technologies. The delicate optimization of chemical composition and architectural configuration is paramount to design high‐efficiency non‐precious metal HER electrocatalysts. Herein, we report a one‐step scalable template/solvent‐free pyrolysis approach for in situ immobilizing uniform CoP nanoparticles onto N and P co‐doped carbon porous nanosheets (denoted as CoP@N,P‐CNSs hereafter). The simultaneous consideration of architectural design and nanocarbon hybridization renders the formed CoP@N,P‐CNSs with plentiful well‐dispersed anchored active sites, shortened pathway for mass diffusion, enhanced electric conductivity, and reinforced mechanical stability. As a consequence, the optimized CoP@N,P‐CNSs exhibit an overpotential of 115 mV to afford a current density of 10 mA cm−2, small Tafel slope of 74.2 mV dec−1, high Faradaic efficiency of nearly 100 %, and superb long‐term durability in an alkaline medium. Given the fabrication feasibility, mass production potential and outstanding HER performance, the CoP@N,P‐CNSs may hold great promise for large‐scale electrochemical water splitting. More importantly, the explored one‐step template/solvent‐free pyrolysis methodology offers a feasible and versatile route to fabricate carbon nanosheet‐based nanocomposites for diverse energy conversation‐related applications.
Quantile function regression and variable selection for sparse models
Authors: Yoshida Takuma
Published: April 2021

This article considers linear quantile regression and variable selection for high‐dimensional data. In general, an ordinary quantile regression estimator is obtained for a single, fixed quantile level. Therefore, the estimated coefficient does not have continuity with respect to the quantile level, and hence, the behaviour of the estimator and estimated active variable set could change rapidly for different but sufficiently close quantile levels. To obtain a stable estimator for a given quantile level, this study proposes a new quantile regression method to estimate the coefficient as a function of the quantile level of interest in a given region , which is denoted quantile function regression. In quantile function regression, we approximate the coefficient function of the quantile level using aB‐spline model, and hence, the estimated conditional quantile is continuous as it is aB‐spline curve. To employ variable selection, a group lasso‐type sparse penalty is used to estimate a non‐zero coefficient function of the quantile level, which indicates the estimated active set that remains unchanged in . Therefore, quantile function regression can achieve global variable selection. The proposed estimator exhibits an asymptotic rate of convergence and consistency in variable selection. Simulation studies and applications to real data further reveal that the proposed method yields good performance.
UAV‐based framework for effective data analysis of forest fire detection using 5G networks: An effective approach towards smart cities solutions
Authors: Sharma Amit , Singh Pradeep Kumar
Published: April 2021

The wireless communication among the unmanned aerial vehicles is one of the most promising technologies for many of the future systems. The requirement of high performance especially with 5G networks, coverage and efficient area mapping is critical issues that requires installation of more stations by service providers. This work emphasizes the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for the application of fire detection. The trajectory of UAV for the efficient communication of multiple UAVs to the ground station is analysed. The objective behind this study is to present a system that considers two parameters: the network delay with maximum coverage through UAVs and communication throughput. Therefore, we first introduce the mathematical model for the network delay through the speed, acceleration and direction of the moving UAV. For the trajectory optimization, the speed and radius of the UAV flight are optimized for increasing the energy efficiency in communication. Additionally, an efficient architecture is proposed for the energy efficient UAV communications with general constraints such as begin/end locations and their velocities along with the acceleration and top speed. The experimental result presents that the proposed scheme attains better energy efficiency among UAV communication with considering other proposed schemes. This may be found useful for detecting forest fires and reporting the event at early stage to control room setup in smart cities using UAV and 5G assisted technologies.
Shifts in mosquito diversity and abundance along a gradient from oil palm plantations to conterminous forests in Borneo
Authors: Young Katherine I. , Buenemann Michaela , Vasilakis Nikos , Perera David , Hanley Kathryn A.
Published: April 2021

Deforestation precipitates spillover of enzootic, vector‐borne viruses into humans, but specific mechanisms for this effect have rarely been investigated. Expansion of oil palm cultivation is a major driver of deforestation. Here, we demonstrate that mosquito abundance decreased over ten stepwise distances from interior forest into conterminous palm plantations in Borneo. Diversity in interior plantation narrowed to one species, Aedes albopictus, a potential bridge vector for spillover of multiple viruses. A. albopictus was equally abundant across all distances in forests, forest‐plantation edge, and plantations, while A. niveus, a known vector of sylvatic dengue virus, was found only in forests. A. albopictus collections were significantly female‐biased in plantation but not in edge or forest. Our data reveal that the likelihood of encountering any mosquito is greater in interior forest and edge than plantation, while the likelihood of encountering A. albopictus is equivalent across the gradient sampled from interior plantation to interior forest.
Mercury and water level management in lakes of northern Minnesota
Authors: Larson James H. , Maki Ryan P. , Christensen Victoria G. , Hlavacek Enrika J. , Sandheinrich Mark B. , LeDuc Jaime F. , Kissane Claire , Knights Brent C.
Published: April 2021

Water level (WL) fluctuations substantially alter the fauna, flora, and microbial community of nearshore aquatic ecosystems. Water level management therefore has the potential to strongly influence a wide variety of ecosystem processes. Many northern temperate lake food webs experience substantial methylmercury contamination, which is partially mediated by the action of sulfate‐reducing bacteria occurring in sediments that are periodically inundated. For lakes with elevated methylmercury, WL management could be designed to reduce methylmercury contamination. At the lake scale, this concept is supported by studies that identified statistical associations between fish mercury content and water level (WL) fluctuations. Here, we compiled a long‐term dataset (1997–2015) of mercury content in young‐of‐year Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) from six lakes on the border of the United States and Canada and examined whether mercury content was associated with WL fluctuation. Many WL metrics covary and appear to have strong associations with Yellow Perch mercury. However, these associations appear to vary by lake, and lake‐specific models are needed to identify relationships between WL fluctuation and Yellow Perch mercury content. We used partial least‐squares regression (PLSR) to identify the associations between Yellow Perch mercury content and WL metrics, temperature, and annual deposition data for lakes in northern Minnesota. These PLSR models not only showed some variation among lakes, but also supported strong associations between WL fluctuations and annual variation in Yellow Perch mercury content. The study lakes underwent a change in WL management in 2000, when winter WL minimums were increased by about 1 m in five of the six study lakes, which reduced annual WL fluctuation on those lakes. Using the PLSR models, we estimated how this change in WL management would have affected Yellow Perch mercury content. In four of the five study lakes in which annual WL fluctuation was reduced in 2000, the change in WL management likely reduced Yellow Perch mercury content, relative to the previous WL management regime.
Dynamic multistate occupancy modeling to evaluate population dynamics under a scenario of preferential sampling
Authors: Fandos Guillermo , Kéry Marc , Cano‐Alonso Luis Santiago , Carbonell Isidoro , Luis Tellería José
Published: April 2021

Effective conservation of animal populations depends on the availability of reliable data derived from rigorous monitoring protocols, which allows us to assess trends and understand the processes they are governed by. Nevertheless, population monitoring schemes are hampered by multiple sources of errors resulting from specific logistical and survey constraints. Two common complications are the non‐visitation of some sites in certain years and preferential sampling (PS), that is, the tendency to survey “better” sites disproportionately more often. Both factors can lead to serious biases unless accommodated into models. We used 22 yr of nest‐monitoring data to develop a dynamic multistate occupancy model, including a PS component to investigate occupancy and reproduction dynamics in a peripheral Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) population in Spain. We analyzed the effects of climate and nesting substrate (tree vs. cliff) on population dynamics and accounted for PS and non‐visitation biases using a model that distinguished three territorial states: unoccupied, occupied without, or occupied with successful reproduction. We found strong evidence for positive PS, and when accounting for this bias, lower population size estimates were generated. Black stork nests had a high probability of remaining in the same state from one year to the next, with successful nests more likely to be occupied again and to be successful the following year than occupied but unsuccessful or unoccupied nests. Nesting substrate and spring precipitation did not influence state transition probabilities or the probability of reproductive success; nevertheless, cliff nest occupancy was overall higher than tree nest occupancy. Our results highlight the importance of correcting for non‐visitation and PS in habitat occupancy models. If these potential biasing effects are not accounted for, inferences of population size may be overestimate. Multistate occupancy models with correction for PS offer a powerful analytical framework for data collected as part of population studies of unmarked animals. These models compensate for common methodological biases in biological surveys and can help implement efficient conservation strategies based on robust population dynamics estimates.
Abundance of spring‐ and winter‐active arthropods declines with warming
Authors: Fitzgerald Jacquelyn L. , Stuble Katharine L. , Nichols Lauren M. , Diamond Sarah E. , Wentworth Thomas R. , Pelini Shannon L. , Gotelli Nicholas J. , Sanders Nathan J. , Dunn Robert R. , Penick Clint A.
Published: April 2021

Because ectotherm activity and metabolism are sensitive to temperature, terrestrial arthropods may be especially responsive to ongoing climatic warming. Here, we quantified responses of arthropod abundance to two years of warming in an outdoor temperature manipulation experiment at Duke Forest, North Carolina, USA. Nine open‐top chambers were individually heated year‐round from 1.5° to 5.5°C above ambient temperature. From two years of monthly pitfall trapping, we collected and identified 4,468 arthropods representing 24 orders. We initially predicted that arthropods would experience the greatest negative effects of experimental warming during the summer months, when temperatures reach their yearly maximum and arthropods may be close to their maximum thermal tolerance limits. Instead, we found that the strongest negative effects on arthropod abundance occurred during the winter and spring, when ambient temperatures are relatively cooler, whereas the effects of experimental warming on abundance were not significant during the summer or fall. During the spring of 2012, the warmest spring on record for the southeastern USA, total arthropod abundance declined 20% per °C of experimental warming. Abundance declines were driven largely by flies (Diptera), which were the most abundant insect order, representing approximately a third of all arthropods collected. The most abundant arthropod family, Mycetophilidae (fungus gnats), declined 64% per °C of warming during the spring of 2012. Although previous research on climatic warming has focused on the impact of maximum yearly temperatures on organismal performance, our results are more consistent with the cool‐season sensitivity hypothesis, which posits that arthropods adapted for cooler conditions are likely to face the strongest negative effects of warming during the cooler seasons.
Expansion of elevational range in a forest pest: Can parasitoids track their hosts?
Authors: Hódar José A. , Cayuela Luis , Heras Daniel , Pérez‐Luque Antonio J. , Torres‐Muros Lucía
Published: April 2021

Gradients in elevation impose changes in environmental conditions, which in turn modulate species distribution and abundance as well as the interactions they maintain. Along the gradient, interacting species (e.g., predators, parasitoids) can respond to changes in different ways. This study aims to investigate how egg parasitism of a forest pest, the pine processionary moth (PPM), Thaumetopoea pityocampa, vary along an elevational gradient (190–2000 m.a.s.l.) in a mountain range of SE Spain, including areas of recent elevational expansion, for a seven years period (2008–2014). We used generalized linear mixed models to ascertain the effect of both elevation and the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index (a proxy of interannual climatic conditions) on the rate of parasitism, and the occurrence probabilities of two parasitoid species: a PPM specialist and a generalist species. Since four pine species are stratified along the elevational gradient, we repeated all the analyses separately for lowlands (190–1300 m. a.s.l.) and uplands (1350–2000 m. a.s.l.). Results showed a decrease in both parasitism rate and probability of occurrence of the two main parasitoid species with elevation, although decline was more severe for the specialist species. The effect of elevation was more conspicuous and intense in uplands than in lowlands. Positive NAO winter values, associated with cold and dry winters, reduced the rate of parasitism and the probability of occurrence of the two main parasitoid species—but particularly for the generalist species—as elevation increases. In a context of climate warming, it is crucial to mitigate PPM elevational and latitudinal expansion. Increasing tree diversity at the PPM expansion areas may favor the establishment of parasitoids, which could contribute to synchronizing host– parasitoid interactions and minimize the risk of PPM outbreaks.
C‐type lectin receptors MR and DC‐SIGN are involved in recognition of hemocyanins, shaping their immunostimulatory effects on human dendritic cells
Authors: Villar Javiera , Salazar Michelle L. , Jiménez José M. , Campo Miguel Del , Manubens Augusto , Gleisner María Alejandra , Ávalos Ignacio , Salazar‐Onfray Flavio , Salazar Fabián , Mitchell Daniel A , Alshahrani Mohammad Y , Martínez‐Pomares Luisa , Becker María Inés
Published: April 2021

Hemocyanins are used as immunomodulators in clinical applications because they induce a strong Th1‐biased cell‐mediated immunity, which has beneficial effects. They are multiligand glycosylated molecules with abundant and complex mannose‐rich structures. It remains unclear whether these structures influence hemocyanin‐induced immunostimulatory processes in human APCs. We have previously shown that hemocyanin glycans from Concholepas concholepas (CCH), Fissurella latimarginata (FLH), and Megathura crenulata (KLH), participate in their immune recognition and immunogenicity in mice, interacting with murine C‐type lectin receptors (CLRs). Here, we studied the interactions of these hemocyanins with two major mannose‐binding CLRs on monocyte‐derived human DCs: MR (mannose receptor) and DC‐SIGN (DC‐specific ICAM‐3–grabbing nonintegrin). Diverse analyses showed that hemocyanins are internalized by a mannose‐sensitive mechanism. This process was calcium dependent. Moreover, hemocyanins colocalized with MR and DC‐SIGN, and were partly internalized through clathrin‐mediated endocytosis. The hemocyanin‐mediated proinflammatory cytokine response was impaired when using deglycosylated FLH and KLH compared to CCH. We further showed that hemocyanins bind to human MR and DC‐SIGN in a carbohydrate‐dependent manner with affinity constants in the physiological concentration range. Overall, we showed that these three clinically valuable hemocyanins interact with human mannose‐sensitive CLRs, initiating an immune response and promoting a Th1 cell‐driving potential.
Buckyball as an Electron Donor in a Dyad of C60 and Xanthene Dye
Authors: Kano Haruka , Matsuo Kyohei , Hayashi Hironobu , Kato Kosaku , Yamakata Akira , Yamada Hiroko , Aratani Naoki
Published: April 2021

We successfully achieved the synthesis of C60‐xanthlium, X60_NTf2, where fullerene is an electron donor and xanthlium is an electron acceptor. When the precursor compound X60‐OH was excited at 550 nm, the C60 emission was observed at 715 nm. On the other hand, the fluorescence of X60_NTf2 was completely quenched under the same conditions, suggesting that photo‐induced intramolecular electron transfer (ET) occurred from the singlet excited state of C60. The electrochemical measurement proved that the X60_NTf2 is exothermically possible of ET reaction from 1C60* to xanthylium to form C60.+. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations support the acceptor ability of the xanthylium by showing that the coefficients of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) were on xanthene moiety. This is a well‐arranged model compound to investigate the properties of transiently generated fullerene radical cations.
Serum levels of soluble B and T lymphocyte attenuator predict overall survival in patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for solid malignancies
Authors: Gorgulho Joao , Roderburg Christoph , Heymann Felix , Schulze‐Hagen Maximilian , Beier Fabian , Vucur Mihael , Kather Jakob N. , Laleh Narmin Ghaffari , Tacke Frank , Brümmendorf Tim H. , Luedde Tom , Loosen Sven H.
Published: April 2021

Therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can lead to durable tumor control in patients with various advanced stage malignancies. However, this is not the case for all patients, leading to an ongoing search for biomarkers predicting response and outcome to ICI. The B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) is an immune checkpoint expressed on immune cells that was shown to modulate therapeutic responses. Here, we evaluate circulating levels of its soluble form, soluble B and T lymphocyte attenuator (sBTLA), as a biomarker for the prediction of treatment response and outcome to ICI therapy. Serum levels of sBTLA were analyzed by multiplex immunoassay in n = 84 patients receiving ICI therapy for solid malignancies and 32 healthy controls. BTLA expression was evaluated on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in a subset of patients (n = 6) using multicolor flow cytometry. Baseline sBTLA serum levels were significantly higher in cancer patients compared to healthy controls. Importantly, circulating sBTLA levels were an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS). As such, patients with initial sBTLA levels above the calculated prognostic cutoff value (311.64 pg/mL) had a median OS of only 138 days compared to 526 for patients with sBTLA levels below this value (P = .001). Uni‐ and multivariate Cox regression analyses confirmed the prognostic role of sBTLA in the context of ICI therapy. Finally, we observed a significant correlation between sBTLA levels and the frequency of CD3 + CD8 + BTLA+ T cells in peripheral blood. Thus, our data suggest that circulating sBTLA could represent a noninvasive biomarker to predict outcome to ICI therapy, helping to select eligible therapy candidates.
Safer outcomes for placenta accreta spectrum disorders: A decade of quality improvement
Authors: Hobson Sebastian R. , Kingdom John C. P. , Windrim Rory C. , Murji Ally , Milligan Natasha , Pacheco Jessica F. , Lu Catherine , Steckham Katherine E. , Kajal Dilkash , Pantazi Sophia , Carvalho Jose C. A. , Parks W. Tony , Allen Lisa M.
Published: April 2021

Objective

To describe the evolution and evaluation of protocol‐based multidisciplinary quality improvement (QI) in women undergoing cesarean hysterectomy for radiologically suspected and pathologically confirmed placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders.

Methods

A single‐center, retrospective cohort study was conducted of all patients undergoing cesarean hysterectomy for PAS disorders between March 2009 and June 2018. Two distinct periods were defined to compare outcomes: 2009–2011 (initial period) and 2017–2018 (current period). Primary outcomes included blood loss and administration of blood products. Secondary outcomes included perioperative levels of hemoglobin, adverse events and complications, time to mobilization, and length of hospitalization.

Results

Among the 105 consecutive patients identified, there were 26 in the initial period and 32 in the current period. With the implementation of all QI care bundles, median estimated surgical blood loss halved from 2000 ml in the initial period to 1000 ml in the current period, and fewer patients required allogenic blood transfusion (61.5% vs 25%). Patients in the current period demonstrated improved postoperative levels of hemoglobin compared to those in the initial period (101 g/L vs 89 g/L) and had a shorter median postoperative hospital stay (3 days vs 5 days).

Conclusion

These results support the implementation of a multifaceted QI and patient care initiative for women with PAS disorders.
Support for availability attributes in network slices in GANSO
Authors: Guimarães Carlos , de la Oliva Antonio , Contreras Murillo Luis M.
Published: April 2021

Network slicing provides a way to define logically isolated networks over the same and shared physical infrastructure. This paper departs from previous work defining GST And Network Slice Operator (GANSO), a framework for automating the creation of network slices over SDN architectures, and proposes extensions to support the availability attribute as defined by the GSMA Generic Network Slice Template (GST). This new attribute is integrated and implemented within the GANSO framework, being validated through a set of experimental results.
A nontoxic dose of chrysotile can malignantly transform Met‐5A cells, in which microRNA‐28 has inhibitory effects
Authors: Zhang Fangfang , Yuan Xiuyuan , Sun Hongjing , Yin Xianhong , Gao Yanan , Zhang Min , Jia Zhenyu , Yu Min , Ying Shibo , Xia Hailing , Ju Li , Xiao Yun , Tao He , Lou Jianlin , Zhu Lijin
Published: April 2021

Chrysotile, which is classified as a class I carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), has extensive application in the industry and can lead to lung or other cancers. However, whether chrysotile causes malignant mesothelioma and its molecular mechanism remain debatable. Thus, this study aimed to demonstrate the mesothelioma‐inducing potential of chrysotile at the mesothelial cellular level and the function of microRNA‐28 in malignantly transformed mesothelial MeT‐5A cells. MeT‐5A cells malignantly transformed by a nontoxic dose of chrysotile were named Asb‐T, and miR‐28 expression was downregulated in Asb‐T cells. Restoration of miR‐28 expression inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of Asb‐T cells. We verified that IMPDH is a putative target of miR‐28. The expression of IMPDH was significantly higher in Asb‐T MeT‐5A cells than in control cells, whereas the opposite trend was observed with miR‐28 overexpression. Additionally, inhibition of IMPDH had similar effects as miR‐28 overexpression. After miR‐28 was elevated or IMPDH was inhibited, Ras activation was reduced, and its downstream pathways (the Erk and Akt signalling pathways) were inhibited. Surprisingly, the content of miR‐28 in the blood of mesothelioma patients was higher than that in control subjects. Overall, nontoxic doses of chrysotile can cause malignant transformation of MeT‐5A cells. Moreover, miR‐28 inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of Asb‐T MeT‐5A cells, negatively regulates the expression of IMPDH through the Ras signalling pathway and may be an important therapeutic target.
Image Quality Assessment of Fetal Brain MRI Using Multi‐Instance Deep Learning Methods
Authors: Largent Axel , Kapse Kushal , Barnett Scott D. , De Asis‐Cruz Josepheen , Whitehead Matthew , Murnick Jonathan , Zhao Li , Andersen Nicole , Quistorff Jessica , Lopez Catherine , Limperopoulos Catherine
Published: April 2021

Background

Due to random motion of fetuses and maternal respirations, image quality of fetal brain MRIs varies considerably. To address this issue, visual inspection of the images is performed during acquisition phase and after 3D‐reconstruction, and the images are re‐acquired if they are deemed to be of insufficient quality. However, this process is time‐consuming and subjective. Multi‐instance (MI) deep learning methods (DLMs) may perform this task automatically.

Purpose

To propose an MI count‐based DLM (MI‐CB‐DLM), an MI vote‐based DLM (MI‐VB‐DLM), and an MI feature‐embedding DLM (MI‐FE‐DLM) for automatic assessment of 3D fetal‐brain MR image quality. To quantify influence of fetal gestational age (GA) on DLM performance.

Study type

Retrospective.

Subjects

Two hundred and seventy‐one MR exams from 211 fetuses (mean GA ± SD = 30.9 ± 5.5 weeks).

Field Strength/Sequence

T2‐weighted single‐shot fast spin‐echo acquired at 1.5 T.

Assessment

The T2‐weighted images were reconstructed in 3D. Then, two fetal neuroradiologists, a clinical neuroscientist, and a fetal MRI technician independently labeled the reconstructed images as 1 or 0 based on image quality (1 = high; 0 = low). These labels were fused and served as ground truth. The proposed DLMs were trained and evaluated using three repeated 10‐fold cross‐validations (training and validation sets of 244 and 27 scans). To quantify GA influence, this variable was included as an input of the DLMs.

Statistical Tests

DLM performance was evaluated using precision, recall, F‐score, accuracy, and AUC values.

Results

Precision, recall, F‐score, accuracy, and AUC averaged over the three cross validations were 0.85 ± 0.01, 0.85 ± 0.01, 0.85 ± 0.01, 0.85 ± 0.01, 0.93 ± 0.01, for MI‐CB‐DLM (without GA); 0.75 ± 0.03, 0.75 ± 0.03, 0.75 ± 0.03, 0.75 ± 0.03, 0.81 ± 0.03, for MI‐VB‐DLM (without GA); 0.81 ± 0.01, 0.81 ± 0.01, 0.81 ± 0.01, 0.81 ± 0.01, 0.89 ± 0.01, for MI‐FE‐DLM (without GA); and 0.86 ± 0.01, 0.86 ± 0.01, 0.86 ± 0.01, 0.86 ± 0.01, 0.93 ± 0.01, for MI‐CB‐DLM with GA.

Data Conclusion

MI‐CB‐DLM performed better than other DLMs. Including GA as an input of MI‐CB‐DLM improved its performance. MI‐CB‐DLM may potentially be used to objectively and rapidly assess fetal MR image quality.

Evidence Level

4

Technical Efficacy

Stage 3
Development of reverse dispersion liquid crystal film to improve “halo” of high‐dynamic‐range LCDs
Authors: Iwasaki Tatsuya , Nakamura Yuki , Sumi Toshikazu , Ohmuro Katsufumi , Suzuki Masaaki , Ito Yoji
Published: April 2021

We have developed a new reverse dispersion retardation film with a thickness of 4 μm for IPS panels, which achieves excellent viewing angle performance, notably for oblique contrast ratio and color. HDR‐IPS panels applied this reverse retardation film could achieve a significant improvement of the halo viewing from oblique angle.
Decoding relationships in organizational learning process: Perspectives from an emerging economy
Authors: Thomas Nobin
Published: April 2021

Despite its direct impact on corporate longevity, there is no established theory of organizational learning yet. Coupled with the lack of empirical studies that use novel approaches for studying organizational learning, led us to propose a relationship‐based perspective rooted in social network analysis for better understanding the underlying social processes in learning. We chose the context of family firms for studying organizational learning because family firms provide an appropriate context to investigate the relationships between people in the learning process. A richly detailed single‐case methodology, which is often utilized for social network analysis, was deemed appropriate for our study. We collected data from the members of the management team of a second‐generation family business. The socio‐centric (whole‐network) approach in social network analysis was used for collecting participant responses. The data were entered into a social network analysis program called UCINET to calculate the network measures for learning subprocesses. The author complemented the analysis using UCINET with interviews to develop a detailed description of the case. The assessment of the relational characteristics via social network analysis helped to clarify sources of path dependence in family businesses. Mapping information flow made it possible to predict whose knowledge will account for a substantial amount of an organization's learning accounted for by various subprocesses. Based on works that have already been done on organizational learning and social network analysis, our findings cast new light on research that has examined the effects of relational properties on the extent of organizational learning in family firms.
Plant litter crust role in nutrients cycling potentials by bacterial communities in a sandy land ecosystem
Authors: Liu Xiaozhen , Huang Ze , Havrilla Caroline A. , Liu Yu , Wu Gao‐Lin
Published: April 2021

Plant litter is most important in mediating soil functioning during ecosystem recovery. In sandy ecosystems, the formation of a plant litter crust plays a crucial role in the process of restoration. This research explored the influence of the plant litter crust on sandy soil properties and the bacterial community, and the effect of the bacterial taxa on soil functions through driving sandy soil nutrients cycling and multienzyme activities. Our study focused on a range of litter crust ages and depths and used high‐throughput sequencing of the V4‐V5rRNA gene region. Our results show that the composition and diversity of bacterial communities in the plant litter crust relate to litter crust depth especially in the top sandy soil layer. We found strong correlations between soil bacterial community composition and most soil properties. Further analysis showed that Chloroflexi was important in the nutrients cycling and enzyme activities; Proteobacteria contribute to the cycling of most nutrients; Firmicutes contribute to most enzyme activities during the formation of plant litter crust in sandy ecosystems. In summary, our findings provide evidence that plant litter has significant positive impacts on soil functioning within dryland ecosystems through the contribution of bacterial taxa to soil nutrients cycling and multiple enzyme activities. The study further underlines the roles of plant litter in sandy ecosystems and the importance of sandy soil properties and microbial communities in sandy plant litter crust formation and function.