bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Results from a Joined Prospective Study to Evaluate the Sensitivity of the In Vivo Dog QT Assay in Line with the ICH E14/S7B Q&A Best Practices
Authors: Bétat Anne‐Marie , Delaunois Annie , Delpy Eric , Loiseau Mathilde , Maurin Anne , Poizat Gwendoline , Possémé Celine , Weinelt Ferdinand , Drieu la Rochelle Christophe , Martel Eric , Valentin Jean‐Pierre
Published: May 2024

The ICH E14/S7B Q&As highlighted the need for best practices concerning the design, execution, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of the in vivo non‐rodent QT assay as a component of the integrated risk assessment to potentially support a TQT waiver or substitute. We conducted a dog telemetry study to assess the effects on QTc of six reference compounds (five positive and one negative) previously evaluated by Darpo et al. (2015) in humans. The sensitivity of the assay to detect QTc increases was determined, and exposure–response analysis was performed, as done in clinical practice. By‐timepoint analysis showed QTc prolongation induced by moxifloxacin, dofetilide, dolasetron, ondansetron, and quinine within human relevant plasma exposures ranges. Moreover, a hysteresis was observed for quinine. As expected, levocetirizine showed no statistically significant effect on QTc across a range of exposure, well exceeding the therapeutic Cmax. Power analyses confirmed the study ability to detect statistically significant QTc changes of less than 10 milliseconds with 80% probability, even with a sample size as low as n = 4 animals. Finally, concentration‐QTc modeling enabled to predict the minimal plasma concentration needed to detect a 10 milliseconds QTc prolongation, including for quinine. The comparison with clinical available data supported the relevance of dogs under these experimental conditions as a robust translational predictor of drug‐induced QTc prolongation in humans as a key pillar of the integrated risk assessment.
Emission Color Tuning of Inverse Type Diarylethene Crystals
Authors: Kitagawa Daichi , Seto Yuya , Suganuma Misato , Nakahama Tatsumoto , Sotome Hikaru , Ito Syoji , Miyasaka Hiroshi , Kobatake Seiya
Published: May 2024

Organic luminescent solid materials have attracted much attention due to practical applications such as sensor materials and optical waveguides. We have previously reported that inverse type diarylethenes exhibit strong emission in crystal without causing aggregation‐caused quenching. However, the emission color was limited to mainly green. To tune the emission color, in this work, we newly synthesized inverse type diarylethenes having a shortened π‐conjugation length or a polar substituent and investigated their fluorescence properties in solutions and crystals. The crystals exhibited various emission colors from blue, green, yellow to red depending on the molecular structure. The emission color changes of the crystals were induced by the intermolecular interactions such as CH‐π interactions in addition to the shortened π‐conjugation length and the intramolecular charge transfer character.
Complex Droplet Microreactor for Highly Efficient and Controllable Esterification and Cascade Reactions
Authors: Wei Duo , Yin Nuoqing , Xu Dehua , Ge Lingling , Gao Zihan , Zhang Yanyan , Guo Rong
Published: May 2024

A highly efficient complex emulsion microreactor has been successfully developed for multiphasic water‐labile reactions, providing a powerful platform for atom economy and spatiotemporal control of reaction kinetics. Complex emulsions, composing a hydrocarbon phase (H) and a fluorocarbon phase (F) dispersed in an aqueous phase (W), are fabricated in batch scale with precisely controlled droplet morphologies. A biphasic esterification reaction between 2‐bromo‐1,2‐diphenylethane‐1‐ol (BPO) and perfluoro‐heptanoic acid (PFHA) is chosen as a reversible and water‐labile reaction model. The conversion reaches up to 100 % under mild temperature without agitation, even with nearly equivalent amounts of reactants. This efficiency surpasses all reported single emulsion microreactors, i. e., 84~95 %, stabilized by various emulsifiers with different catalysts, which typically necessitate continuous stirring, a high excess of one reactant, and/or extended reaction time. Furthermore, over 3 times regulation threshold in conversion rate is attained by manipulating the droplet morphologies, including size and topology, e. g., transition from completely engulfed F/H/W double to partially engulfed (F+H)/W Janus. Addition‐esterification, serving as a model for triple phasic cascade reaction, is also successfully implemented under agitating‐free and mild temperature with controlled reaction kinetics, demonstrating the versatility and effectiveness of the complex emulsion microreactor.
Advances in SARMs anti‐doping analysis
Authors: Slíž Kristián , Mikuš Peter
Published: May 2024

Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) are performance‐enhancing drugs (PEDs) that stimulate anabolism, increase muscle mass and strength and promote recovery from exercise. The use of SARMs in sports is considered doping and is strictly prohibited by the World Anti‐Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). To monitor the abuse of SARMs in sports, it is essential to develop advanced, selective and sensitive analytical methods that provide reliable results. This review evaluates the advances in this area, with a focus on the identification of target analytes related to SARMs, such as SARMs, their metabolites or markers. The aim is to identify targets that could extend the detection windows of SARMs, provide scientific support for results management and/or offer an indirect biomarker‐based approach to doping control. This review also aims to evaluate the current liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) methods developed for the monitoring of SARMs in different biological matrices, including traditional matrices such as urine and serum/plasma samples, as well as alternative matrices such as dried blood spots, hair and nail samples.
Global patterns of nuclear and mitochondrial genetic diversity in marine fishes
Authors: Clark René D. , Pinsky Malin L.
Published: May 2024

Genetic diversity is a fundamental component of biodiversity. Examination of global patterns of genetic diversity can help highlight mechanisms underlying species diversity, though a recurring challenge has been that patterns may vary by molecular marker. Here, we compiled 6862 observations of genetic diversity from 492 species of marine fish and tested among hypotheses for diversity gradients: the founder effect hypothesis, the kinetic energy hypothesis, and the productivity‐diversity hypothesis. We fit generalized linear mixed effect models (GLMMs) and explored the extent to which various macroecological drivers (latitude, longitude, temperature (SST), and chlorophyll‐a concentration) explained variation in genetic diversity. We found that mitochondrial genetic diversity followed geographic gradients similar to those of species diversity, being highest near the Equator, particularly in the Coral Triangle, while nuclear genetic diversity did not follow clear geographic patterns. Despite these differences, all genetic diversity metrics were correlated with chlorophyll‐a concentration, while mitochondrial diversity was also positively associated with SST. Our results provide support for the kinetic energy hypothesis, which predicts that elevated mutation rates at higher temperatures increase mitochondrial but not necessarily nuclear diversity, and the productivity‐diversity hypothesis, which posits that resource‐rich regions support larger populations with greater genetic diversity. Overall, these findings reveal how environmental variables can influence mutation rates and genetic drift in the ocean, caution against using mitochondrial macrogenetic patterns as proxies for whole‐genome diversity, and aid in defining global gradients of genetic diversity.
Brute force prey metabarcoding to explore the diets of small invertebrates
Authors: Flo Snorre , Vader Anna , Præbel Kim
Published: May 2024

Prey metabarcoding has become a popular tool in molecular ecology for resolving trophic interactions at high resolution, from various sample types and animals. To date, most predator–prey studies of small‐sized animals (<1 mm) have met the problem of overabundant predator DNA in dietary samples by adding blocking primers/peptide nucleic acids. These primers aim to limit the PCR amplification and detection of the predator DNA but may introduce bias to the prey composition identified by interacting with sequences that are similar to those of the predator. Here we demonstrate the use of an alternative method to explore the prey of small marine copepods using whole‐body DNA extracts and deep, brute force metabarcoding of an 18S rDNA fragment. After processing and curating raw data from two sequencing runs of varying depths (0.4 and 5.4 billion raw reads), we isolated 1.3 and 52.2 million prey reads, with average depths of ~15,900 and ~120,000 prey reads per copepod individual, respectively. While data from both sequencing runs were sufficient to distinguish dietary compositions from disparate seasons, locations, and copepod species, greater sequencing depth led to better separation of clusters. As computation and sequencing are becoming ever more powerful and affordable, we expect the brute force approach to become a general standard for prey metabarcoding, as it offers a simple and affordable solution to consumers that is impractical to dissect or unknown to science.
Associations between in‐hospital daily protein intake and adverse clinical outcomes in older patients with heart failure
Authors: Katano Satoshi , Yano Toshiyuki , Yamano Kotaro , Numazawa Ryo , Nagaoka Ryohei , Honma Suguru , Fujisawa Yusuke , Ohori Katsuhiko , Kouzu Hidemichi , Kunihara Hayato , Fujisaki Hiroya , Katayose Masaki , Hashimoto Akiyoshi , Furuhashi Masato
Published: May 2024

Aims

The adverse effects of low daily protein intake (DPI) on clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) are known; however, an optimal DPI to predict event adverse outcomes remains undetermined. Moreover, whether protein restriction therapy for chronic kidney disease is applicable in patients with HF and renal dysfunction remains unclear.

Methods and results

In this single‐centre, ambispective cohort study, we included 405 patients with HF aged ≥65 years (mean age, 78.6 ± 7.5 years; 50% women). DPI was estimated from consumption over three consecutive days before discharge and normalized relative to the ideal body weight [IBW, 22 kg/m2 × height (m)2]. The primary outcome was a composite of all‐cause mortality and HF‐related readmission within the 2 year post‐discharge period.

Results

During an average follow‐up period of 1.49 ± 0.74 years, 100 patients experienced composite events. Kaplan–Meier survival curves revealed a significantly lower composite event‐free rate in patients within the lowest quartile of DPI than in the upper quartiles (log‐rank test, P = 0.02). A multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis after adjusting for established prognostic markers and non‐proteogenic energy intake revealed that patients in the lowest DPI quartile faced a two‐fold higher risk of composite events than those in the highest quartile [hazard ratio (HR), 2.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.08–3.82; P = 0.03]. The composite event risk linearly increased as DPI decreased (P for nonlinearity = 0.90), with each standard deviation (0.26 g/kg IBW/day) decrease in DPI associated with a 32% increase in composite event risk (HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.10–1.71; P = 0.04). There was significant heterogeneity in the effect of DPI, with the possible disadvantage of lower DPI in patients with HF with cystatin C‐based estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73 m2. The cutoff value of DPI for predicting the occurrence of composite events calculated from the Youden index was 1.12 g/kg IBW/day. Incorporating a DPI < 1.12 g/kg IBW/day into the baseline model significantly improved the prediction of post‐discharge composite events (continuous net reclassification improvement, 0.294; 95% CI, 0.072–0.516; P = 0.01).

Conclusions

Lower DPI during hospitalization is associated with an increased risk of mortality and HF readmission independent of non‐proteogenic energy intake, and the possible optimal DPI for predicting adverse clinical outcomes is >1.12 g/kg IBW/day in older patients with HF. Caution is warranted when protein restriction therapy is administered to older patients with HF and renal dysfunction.
Numerical and experimental analysis of edge wave defect control during TA2 circular tube cold roll forming
Authors: Yue Mingze , Zhang Jing , Xiao Bing , Chen Gang , Fang Qiang , Tang Xinxin , Peng Biyou
Published: May 2024

The increasing application of TA2 titanium profiles in marine and petrochemical industries has spurred in a growing demand for diverse forms, including U‐shaped, rectangular, and tubular thin‐walled profiles. Traditional methods like mechanical subtractive processing and extrusion, despite their prevalence, suffer from high production costs and low efficiency. As a metal sheet forming technology, roll forming stands out for its efficiency, accuracy, and capability of producing complex shapes continuously. Nevertheless, the application of cold rolling to TA2 profiles is challenging primarily due to its low elastic modulus and high yield strength. In view of this, this study employed finite element simulation to analyze the stress and strain distribution during the TA2 roll forming process, aiming to have a better understanding of edge wave defect formation mechanism. Orthogonal experiments were performed to assess the influence of frame spacing, forming speed, roll gap, and downhill amount, on edge wave defects. The findings revealed a predominant influence of the downhill amount. Maintaining the downhill volume at 0.6 times the tube diameter kept the longitudinal strain below 0.9%, effectively mitigating edge wave defects. Implementation of these optimized parameters in an actual TA2 roll forming process confirmed the reliability of the simulations. This study establishes a solid foundation for advancing the TA2 tube cold roll forming process, enhancing the production efficiency of titanium profiles, and shedding some light on current energy conservation and emission reduction.
Fermenting kale (Brassica oleracea L.) enhances its functional food properties by increasing accessibility of key phytochemicals and reducing antinutritional factors
Authors: Subedi Ujjwol , Raychaudhuri Samnhita , Fan Si , Ogedengbe Opeyemi , Obanda Diana N.
Published: May 2024

The properties of kale as a functional food are well established. We sought to determine how fermentation further enhances these properties. We tested different fermentation conditions: (i) spontaneous fermentation with naturally occurring bacteria, (ii) spontaneous fermentation with 2% salt, (iii) Lactococcus lactis, (iv) Lactobacillus acidophilus, (v) mixture of L. lactis and L. acidophilus, (vi) mixture of L. lactis, L. acidophilus, and Clostridium butyricum. We quantified selected bioactive components using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and antinutritional factors using a gravimetric method and spectrophotometry. We then determined (i) the antioxidant capacity of the vegetable, (ii) anti‐inflammation capacity, and (iii) the surface microbiota composition by 16S sequencing. All fermentation methods imparted some benefits. However, fermentation with mixed culture of L. lactis and L. acidophilus was most effective in increasing polyphenols and sulforaphane accessibility, increasing antioxidant activity, and reducing antinutritional factors. Specifically, fermentation with L. lactis and L. acidophilus increased total polyphenols from 8.5 to 10.7 mgGAE/g (milligrams of gallium acid equivalent per gram) and sulforaphane from 960.8 to 1777 μg/g (microgram per gram) but decreased the antinutritional factors oxalate and tannin. Total oxalate was reduced by 49%, while tannin was reduced by 55%–65%. The antioxidant capacity was enhanced but not the anti‐inflammation potential. Both unfermented and fermented kale protected equally against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophages and prevented increases in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin‐1 beta (IL‐1β), and interleukin‐6 messenger RNA (IL‐6 mRNA) expression by 84.3%, 62%, 68%, and 85.5%, respectively. Unfermented and naturally fermented kale had high proportions of sulfur reducing Desulfubrio and Proteobacteria usually associated with inflammation. Fermenting with L. lactis and/or L. acidophilus changed the bacterial proportions, reducing the Proteobacteria while increasing the genera Lactobacilli and Lactococcus. In summary, fermentation enhances the well‐known beneficial impacts of kale. Fermentation with mixed cultures of L. lactis and L. acidophilus imparts higher benefits compared to the single cultures or fermentation with native bacteria present in the vegetable.
Mixed convection characteristics in a long horizontal lid‐driven channel with periodically distributed local flow modulators
Authors: Nahin Mohtasim Saib , Qaum Md Sameem Ul , Chowdhury Asif Shorforaj , Siam Tasnimul Islam , Mahmood Fahim Tanfeez , Hasan Mohammad Nasim
Published: May 2024

This study explores the effectiveness of periodically placed rotating blades in enhancing heat transfer in a channel. The channel consists of a cold top plate moving at a constant speed and a fixed hot plate at the bottom. Thin rotating blades are placed periodically along the channel's centerline, with the spacing between their axes equal to the channel's height. This paper analyzes a transient, two‐dimensional, laminar flow problem using energy, momentum, and continuity equations. To address the challenges posed by moving blades, the Galerkin finite element method is implemented within an arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian framework, employing a triangular mesh discretization scheme. This study comprehensively explores thermal and hydrodynamic characteristics, including overall heat transfer, thermal frequency, and power consumption of the rotating blade for heat transfer in mixed convection scenarios with Richardson numbers (Ri) ranging from 0.1 to 10 at varying rotational frequency of the blade. Outcomes demonstrate that the inclusion of a rotating blade increases heat transfer up to 50% at lower Ri, after which the impact of the rotating blade diminishes and heat transfer reduces up to 20% at higher Ri. In addition, heat transfer enhances with increasing blade frequency up to Ri = 6.5, beyond which the effect of the frequency overturns. Examining thermal and hydrodynamic characteristics reveals that the blade achieves optimal performance when operating at f = 1 and Ri = 3. The study's insights into mixed convection heat transfer offer versatile applications, benefiting industries and equipment such as electronic cooling, chemical reactors, food processing, material fabrication, solar collectors, and nuclear reactor systems. Moreover, the findings are instrumental in the thermal ventilation of buildings and the development of micro‐electromechanical systems.
Improving evapotranspiration estimation models through quantitative watershed parameter analysis and remote sensing applications
Authors: Xue Meimei , Pan Yixuan , Zhang Yundi , Wu Jianping , Yan Wenting , Liu Xiaodong , Chen Yuchan , Zhou Guoyi , Chen Xiuzhi
Published: May 2024

Numerous models had been developed to predict the annual evapotranspiration (ET) in vegetated lands across various spatial scales. Fu's (Scientia Atmospherica Sinica, 5, 23–31) and Zhang's (Water Resources Research, 37, 701–708) ET simulation models have emerged as highly effective and have been widely used. However, both formulas have the non‐quantitative parameters (m in Fu's model and w in Zhang's model). Based on the collected 1789 samples from global long‐term hydrological studies, this study discovered significant relations between m (or w) and vegetation coverage or greenness in collected catchments. Then, we used these relations to qualify the parameters in both Zhang's and Fu's models. Results show that the ET estimation accuracies of Fu's (or Zhang's) model are significantly improved by about 13.49 mm (or 6.74 mm) for grassland and cropland, 38.52 mm (or 29.84 mm) for forest and shrub land (coverage<40%), 19.74 mm (or 16.17 mm) for mixed land (coverage<40%), respectively. However, Zhang's model shows higher errors compared with Fu's model, especially in regions with high m (or w) values, such as those with dense vegetations or P/E0 (annual precipitation to annual potential ET) smaller than 1.0. Additionally, this study also reveals that for regions with vegetation cover less than 40%, the annual ET is not only determined by vegetation types, but also relates to the sizes of vegetation‐covered areas. Conversely, for regions with vegetation cover more than 40%, the annual ET is mainly determined by the vegetation density rather than vegetation types or vegetation coverage. Thus, linking m (or w) parameters with vegetation greenness allows leveraging remote sensing for forest management in data‐scarce areas, safeguarding regional water resources. This study pioneers integrating vegetation‐related indices with basin parameters, advocating for their crucial role in more effective hydrological modelling.
Performance evaluation of a new Kalman filter based peer‐to‐peer tracking scheme for indoor environment
Authors: Chattaraj Suvendu , Chakraborty Amartya , Das Biplab
Published: May 2024

Peer‐to‐peer tracking through smartphone sensor data is in demand due to its usefulness in location‐based services. A person carrying a smartphone device could be tracked by another smartphone through real time signal processing. Due to the distortion of GPS signals in indoor environment, Kalman filter based data fusion techniques are popularly applied to integrate various sensor data. Such an approach suffers failure in the absence of external aiding and thus entails peer tracking only through the smartphone's navigation sensor data. In this context, accurate estimation of heading error between the leaders and followers' trajectory is very much crucial. The present work demonstrates one novel Kalman filter‐based measurement matching approach for accurate estimation of the aforesaid heading error. Less than 1 meter of accuracy in the final position estimation has been achieved through this method which is comparable with other state of the art techniques as reported in literatures. Moreover, the system does not depend on any external aiding which makes it adaptable to any unknown indoor location.
“Gender is like an ocean”: Exploring the intersections of queer literacy research and teaching through filmmaking
Authors: Simon Rob , Baer Pamela , Walkland Ty
Published: May 2024

In this article, we revisit the co‐creation of a 45‐min film, Gender is Like an Ocean, produced with middle school students in response to Kirstin Cronn‐Mills's young adult novel Beautiful Music for Ugly Children. The making of this film brought together collaborative inquiry and arts creation. Drawing on the work of critical literacy educators as well as scholars in queer and trans studies, we trace students' participation in the process of co‐creating this film through three critical moments, which map their inquiries into gender identity and representation and our own attempts to learn alongside them.
Range‐separated density functional theory using multiresolution analysis and quantum computing
Authors: Poirier Nicolas , Kottmann Jakob S. , Aspuru‐Guzik Alán , Mongeau Luc , Najafi‐Yazdi Alireza
Published: May 2024

Quantum computers are expected to outperform classical computers for specific problems in quantum chemistry. Such calculations remain expensive, but costs can be lowered through the partition of the molecular system. In the present study, partition was achieved with range‐separated density functional theory (RS‐DFT). The use of RS‐DFT reduces both the basis set size and the active space size dependence of the ground state energy in comparison with the use of wave function theory (WFT) alone. The utilization of pair natural orbitals (PNOs) in place of canonical molecular orbitals (MOs) results in more compact qubit Hamiltonians. To test this strategy, a basis‐set independent framework, known as multiresolution analysis (MRA), was employed to generate PNOs. Tests were conducted with the variational quantum eigensolver for a number of molecules. The results show that the proposed approach reduces the number of qubits needed to reach a target energy accuracy.
A Simulation‐Based Assessment of Levetiracetam Concentrations Following Fixed and Weight‐Based Loading Doses: A Meta‐Regression and Pharmacokinetic Modeling Analysis
Authors: Lau Anthony , Haag Hans , Maharaj Anil
Published: May 2024

Current recommendations for refractory status epilepticus (SE) unresponsive to benzodiazepines suggest a loading dose of levetiracetam (LEV) of 60 mg/kg to a maximum of 4500 mg. LEV therapeutic drug monitoring can help guide therapy and is garnering increasing attention. The objective of this study is to simulate the probability of target attainment (PTA) of fixed dose and weight‐based loading doses of LEV with respect to established therapeutic target concentrations. Meta‐regression of the current literature was performed to evaluate the relationship between intravenous LEV loading dose and seizure cessation in refractory SE patients. A previously published pharmacokinetic model was used to simulate the PTA capacity of competing single intravenous dosing schemes (fixed vs weight‐based dosing) to achieve maximum (Cpeak) and 12‐h (C12h) plasma concentrations that exceed 12 mg/L. The meta‐regression indicated that dosage was not a statistically significant modulator of seizure control at dosages between 20 and 60 mg/kg. Stochastic simulations showed all dosing schemes achieved plasma Cpeak >12 mg/L, but C12h levels were <12 mg/L in subjects over 60 kg with a fixed dose ≤2000 mg or in subjects <60 kg with a weight‐based dose <30 mg/kg. Dosages of 40 and 60 mg/kg provided ≥90% PTAs across all weights. Using a weight‐based loading dose of 40 mg/kg, up to a suggested maximum of 4500 mg, improves the likelihood of achieving a sustained therapeutic drug concentration after the initial LEV dose, whereas fixed <3000 mg may not achieve the desired concentration before maintenance dosing.
In‐Depth Analysis of the Selection of PBPK Modeling Tools: Bibliometric and Social Network Analysis of the Open Systems Pharmacology Community
Authors: Dallmann André , Teutonico Donato , Schaller Stephan , Burghaus Rolf , Frechen Sebastian
Published: May 2024

Since the Open Source Initiative laid the foundation for the open source software environment in 1998, the popularity of free and open source software has been steadily increasing. Model‐informed drug discovery and development (MID3), a key component of pharmaceutical research and development, heavily makes use of computational models which can be developed using various software including the Open Systems Pharmacology (OSP) software (PK‐Sim/MoBi), a free and open source software tool for physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact, application areas, and reach of the OSP software as well as the relationships and collaboration patterns between organizations having published OSP‐related articles between 2017 and 2023. Therefore, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of OSP‐related publications and a social network analysis of the organizations with which authors of OSP‐related publications were affiliated. On several levels, we found evidence for a significant growth in the size of the OSP community as well as its visibility in the MID3 community since OSP's establishment in 2017. Specifically, the annual publication rate of PubMed‐indexed PBPK‐related articles using the OSP software outpaced that of PBPK‐related articles using any software. Our bibliometric analysis and network analysis demonstrated that the expansion of the OSP community was predominantly driven by new authors and organizations without prior connections to the community involving the generation of research clusters de novo and an overall diversification of the network. These findings suggest an ongoing evolution of the OSP community toward a more segmented, diverse, and inclusive network.
Histochemical and ultrastructural localization of triterpene saponins in Medicago truncatula
Authors: Zannino Lorena , Carelli Maria , Milanesi Gloria , Croce Anna Cleta , Biggiogera Marco , Confalonieri Massimo
Published: May 2024

In the Medicago genus, saponins are complex mixtures of triterpene pentacyclic glycosides extensively studied for their different and economically relevant biological and pharmaceutical properties. This research is aimed at determining for the first time the tissue and cellular localization of triterpene saponins in vegetative organs of Medicago truncatula, a model plant species for legumes, by histochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that saponins are present mainly in the palisade mesophyll layer of leaves, whereas in stems they are mostly located in the primary phloem and the subepidermal cells of cortical parenchyma. In root tissue, saponins occur in the secondary phloem region. Transmission electron microscopy revealed prominent saponin accumulation within the leaf and stem chloroplasts, while in the roots the saponins are found in the vesicular structures. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of using histochemistry and transmission electron microscopy to localize M. truncatula saponins at tissue and cellular levels and provide important information for further studies on biosynthesis and regulation of valuable bioactive saponins on agronomic relevant Medicago spp., such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.).

Research Highlights

The Medicago genus represents a valuable rich source of saponins, one of the most interesting groups of secondary plant metabolites, which possess relevant biological and pharmacological properties.

Plant tissue and cellular localization of saponins is of great importance to better understand their biological functions, biosynthetic pathway, and regulatory mechanisms.

We elucidate the localization of saponins in Medicago truncatula with histochemical and transmission electron microscopy studies.
Impact of earthworms on antibiotic resistance genes removal in ampicillin‐contaminated soil through bacterial community alteration
Authors: Gao Xuan , Zhang Hong , Xu Longhui , Wang Lida , Li Xiqing , Jiang Yongbin , Yu Hongmei , Zhu Guoping
Published: May 2024

The emergence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) as contaminants in soil poses a significant threat to public health. Earthworms (Eisenia foetida), which are common inhabitants of soil, have been extensively studied for their influence on ARGs. However, the specific impact of earthworms on penicillin‐related ARGs remains unclear. In this study, we investigate the role of earthworms in mitigating ARGs, specifically penicillin‐related ARGs, in ampicillin‐contaminated soil. Utilizing high‐throughput quantitative PCR (HT‐qPCR), we quantified a significant reduction in the relative abundance of penicillin‐related ARGs in soil treated with earthworms, showing a decrease with a p‐value of <0.01. Furthermore, high‐throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that earthworm intervention markedly alters the microbial community structure, notably enhancing the prevalence of specific bacterial phyla such as Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, and Tenericutes. Our findings not only demonstrate the effectiveness of earthworms in reducing the environmental load of penicillin‐related ARGs but also provide insight into the alteration of microbial communities as a potential mechanism. This research contributes to our understanding of the role of earthworms in mitigating the spread of antibiotic resistance and provides valuable insights for the development of strategies to combat this global health issue.
Elevated ammonia cues hatching in red‐eyed treefrogs: A mechanism for escape from drying eggs
Authors: Lisondro‐Arosemena Astrid K. , Salazar‐Nicholls María José , Warkentin Karen M.
Published: May 2024

Egg dehydration can kill terrestrial frog embryos, and this threat is increasing with climate change and deforestation. In several lineages that independently evolved terrestrial eggs, and retained aquatic tadpoles, embryos accelerate hatching to escape from drying eggs, entering the water earlier and less developed. However, the cues that stimulate drying‐induced early hatching are unknown. Ammonia is a toxic, water‐soluble metabolic waste that accumulates within eggs as embryos develop and concentrates as eggs dehydrate. Thus, increasing ammonia concentration may be a direct threat to embryos in drying eggs. We hypothesized that it could serve as a cue, stimulating embryos to hatch and escape. The embryos of red‐eyed treefrogs, Agalychnis callidryas, hatch early to escape from many threats, including dehydration, and are known to use mechanosensory, hypoxia, and light cues. To test if they also use high ammonia as a cue to hatch, we exposed stage‐matched pairs of hatching‐competent, well‐hydrated sibling embryos to ammonia and control solutions in shallow water baths and recorded their behavior. Control embryos remained unhatched while ammonia‐exposed embryos showed a rapid, strong hatching response; 95% hatched, on average in under 15 min. This demonstrates that elevated ammonia can serve as a hatching cue for A. callidryas embryos. This finding is a key step in understanding the mechanisms that enable terrestrial frog embryos to escape from egg drying, opening new possibilities for integrative and comparative studies on this growing threat.
Performance and Perception of Creativity and Academic Achievement in Elementary School Students: A Normal Mixture Modeling Study
Authors: Scherbakova Alisa , Dumas Denis , Acar Selcuk , Berthiaume Kelly , Organisciak Peter
Published: May 2024

Creativity can be assessed using various methods, including divergent thinking performance, self‐ratings, and teacher ratings. However, these measures may not always align, as they may not consistently identify creative potential in the same manner. The present study aimed to identify latent subgroups of students based on their observed originality, creative self‐efficacy, teacher‐rated originality, academic achievement in reading and mathematics, and demographic background characteristics. Data were collected from 243 elementary school students. We applied the normal mixture technique to classify participants into latent subgroups. Five latent subgroups of students were identified: Overconfident Low Performers, Creative High Achievers, Under‐Confident Below‐Average Achievers, Mathematically Oriented Students, and Calibrated Above‐Average Achievers. Female students tended to fall disproportionately into the subgroup of Creative High Achievers. Students receiving free/reduced lunch had a lower probability of being Creative High Achievers. Special education students had a higher probability of falling into the subgroup Overconfident Low Performers. Teacher ratings of students' originality were more in line with student academic performance rather than with their performance‐based originality scores. Students' self‐ratings of creativity bifurcated across subgroups, with Creative High Achievers and Overconfident Low Performers reporting the highest self‐ratings of originality, despite displaying very different levels of performance on the divergent thinking assessment.
New aspects on the determination of soil‐specific respiration quotients of arable soils for the application in the barometric process separation technique
Authors: Munz Hannah , Ingwersen Joachim , Ju Xiaotang , Streck Thilo
Published: May 2024

Background

The respiratory quotient, that is, the CO2–O2‐exchange ratio during aerobic heterotrophic soil respiration, (RQAHR) is one of the key variables of the barometric process separation (BaPS) technique. For reliable application, the BaPS method requires the adjustment of RQAHR to soil‐specific substrate conditions.

Aim

The objective of the present study was to determine RQAHR in five arable soils varying between pH 4 and 8 and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratios between 8.4 and 11.9 using the BaPS–15N method. Further, we aimed to elucidate whether RQAHR can be estimated from basic soil properties.

Results

Determined RQAHRs were soil specific and ranged between 0.74 and 1.53. RQAHR particularly affected the calculation of gross nitrification rates but not soil respiration rates. Based on a multiple linear regression analysis, soil pH and the C/N ratio of the soil organic matter pool were identified to explain well (R2 = 0.984) the measured RQAHRs. Applying the thus derived RQMLR to the calculation procedure led to good agreement between gross nitrification rates derived by the 15N pool dilution technique.

Conclusions

Future studies are needed to test whether this empirical relationship between RQAHR, pH, and C/N ratio is generalizable. If this would be the case, the BaPS method could be applied without the use of a stable isotope and thus, being less resource demanding than the 15N pool dilution technique.
Revisiting the Implications of a Wide or Narrow Fetal Cavum Septi Pellucidi
Authors: Sichitiu Joanna , Ghannad‐Zadeh Kimia , Van Mieghem Tim , Toi Ants , Greenfeld Elena , Chitayat David , Shinar Shiri
Published: May 2024

Objectives

To investigate short‐term neonatal developmental outcomes in fetuses with an isolated wide or narrow cavum septi pellucidi (CSP) using new reference ranges.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study on fetuses at 16 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks of gestation between December 2020 and January 2022. CSP width reference ranges were constructed from low‐risk pregnancies. Wide and narrow CSPs were defined as measurements above the 95th percentile and below the 5th percentile, respectively. For the primary outcome fetuses with normal neurosonograms were included. Neonatal developmental outcomes were assessed using the Survey of Well‐being of Young Children (SWYC).

Results

A total of 352 fetuses were included in this study, of whom 138 were healthy and had uncomplicated neonatal outcomes. These fetuses constituted the control group and were used to construct the CSP width reference ranges. Of 185 fetuses in the neurosonography group, 9.7% had wide and 7.6% had narrow CSPs, of whom 33.3% and 22.2%, respectively, scored below the SWYC threshold for expected developmental milestones, a rate similar to that reported in the general population.

Conclusions

The presence of a prenatally isolated wide or narrow CSP does not appear to increase the risk of neonatal neurodevelopmental delay.
High‐Resolution Ultrasound of Odontogenic Cutaneous Sinus Tract
Authors: Corvino Antonio , Catalano Orlando , Wortsman Ximena , Roldán Fernando Alfageme , Cavallieri Fernanda , Gonzalez Claudia , Tafuri Domenico , Corvino Fabio , Cocco Giulio , Caruso Martina
Published: May 2024

Objectives

To investigate the role of high‐resolution ultrasound (HR‐US) in the initial and differential diagnosis of the Odontogenic Cutaneous Sinus Tract (OCST) in a multicentric setting.

Methods

Skin HR‐US examinations of OCSTs performed between January 2019 and June 2023 at different Institutions were retrospectively reviewed. Epidemiological and clinical data (age, gender, location of the skin lesion, causative tooth, and the clinical suspicion) as well as HR‐US imaging findings (morphology and length of the sinus tract, Doppler signal, and cortical bone interruption of maxilla or mandible) were collected. US examinations were performed by expert radiologists using a high‐performance US scanner, employing a high‐frequency linear probe (15 MHz or higher frequencies). In only one patient the HR‐US exam was integrated with strain elastography (SE).

Results

Sixteen patients were enrolled with a median age of 37.6 years (range 16–70 years). The most frequent clinical suspicion was epidermal cyst, while OCST was suspected in only two cases. In all cases, HR‐US depicted the sinus tract as a nodular, triangular or “champignon‐shaped” lesion in the subcutaneous layer, which continued with a slightly tortuous band structure, up to the focally interrupted cortical bone plate. Furthermore, color Doppler evaluation showed color signals around and/or within the lesion, expression of inflammation. On SE, the sinus tract showed a hard pattern, due to fibrous and granulomatous tissue.

Conclusions

HR‐US, thanks to its high spatial resolution, allows the evaluation of OCST, and play a crucial diagnostic role, mainly when the clinical suspicious is different.
Transition from Quasi‐Unidirectional to Unidirectional Guided Resonances in Leaky‐Mode Photonic Lattices
Authors: Lee Sun‐Goo , Kim Seong‐Han , Lee Wook‐Jae
Published: May 2024

Unidirectional light emission from planar photonic structures is highly advantageous for a wide range of optoelectronic applications. Recently, it has been demonstrated that unidirectional guided resonances (UGRs) can be realized by utilizing topological polarization singularities in momentum space. However, the practical application of these topological unidirectional emitters has been limited due to their intricate geometric configurations, requiring special efforts with high‐cost fabrication processes. In this study, it is demonstrated that unidirectional light emission can be achieved in conventional 1D zero‐contrast gratings (ZCGs), which can be easily fabricated using current nanofabrication technologies. In ZCGs, the interband coupling between even‐like and odd‐like waveguide modes leads to the formation of quasi‐UGRs, characterized by significantly higher decay rates in either the upward or downward direction compared to the opposite direction. It is demonstrated that these quasi‐UGRs evolve into genuine UGRs with an gradual increase in grating thickness. Moreover, the emission direction of UGRs can be selectively steered either upward or downward by adjusting the lattice parameters. In addition to quasi‐UGRs and UGRs, the study also reveals additional topological phenomena in ZCGs, including exceptional points and quasi‐BICs.
Emerging Application of High‐Entropy MXene in Efficient Photoelectrochemical‐Type Photodetectors and Wideband Mode Lockers
Authors: Gao Xiaomeng , Zhang Shoukai , Zhang Jian , Wei Songrui , Chen Yimiao , Zhang Yule , Zheng Wenchen , Huang Ziheng , Du Bowen , Xie Zhongjian , Wang Bing , Lin Jahon , Liu Jun , Ge Yanqi
Published: May 2024

High‐entropy (HE) MXenes represent a novel class of 2D materials within the MXene family, which are drawing widespread attention because of their diverse compositions and robust physicochemical properties. However, the exploration of HE‐MXenes in optoelectronic domains is relatively limited. This study unveils the rapid photoresponse and superior nonlinear optical (NLO) characteristics of HE‐MXene TiVCrMoC3Tx nanosheets (NSs) through comparison with ordinary MXene Ti3C2Tx NSs. Transient absorption spectroscopy reveals that the few‐layer TiVCrMoC3Tx NSs excel in photoelectrochemical‐type photodetectors with swift response properties. Additionally, the advantage of HE structures is further validated by NLO measurement system, which show that few‐layer TiVCrMoC3Tx NSs exhibit stronger saturable absorption than Ti3C2Tx NSs. First‐principles calculations based on the special quasi‐random structure method reveal that the transition behavior of HE‐MXene is similar to that of a semiconductor with direct bandgap, and this is ascribed to the main reason of strong photoelectric response. Taking advantage of the NLO properties of the TiVCrMoC3Tx NSs, all‐optical devices based on these NSs are applied to mode‐locked fiber lasers at 1, 1.5, and 2 µm wavebands, respectively. This investigation provides meaningful guidance for the future design and application of HE‐MXenes in high‐performance optoelectronic devices.
Creating Multispectral Grafted Perfect Vector Vortex Beams in a Queue
Authors: Wang Guanchao , Ahmed Hammad , Ansari Muhammad Afnan , Li Yan , Zhang Chunmei , Tian Hao , Li Li , Chen Xianzhong
Published: May 2024

Perfect vector vortex beams play a very important role in understanding complex structured beams due to their vortex nature and nonuniform polarization profiles. However, the generation of these beams suffers from a limited number of topological charges, bulky optical setup, lack of color information, and limited control along the light propagation direction. To tackle these fundamental and technical challenges, a metasurface approach to generating multiple grafted perfect vector vortex beams (GPVVBs) along the light propagation direction. GPVVBs with different colors are observed by changing the observation plane is proposed. Their polarization profiles are indirectly confirmed through the unique features in the modulated intensity profiles with an analyzer. Furthermore, the dynamic control of these beams is realized by continuously changing the incident polarization. Simultaneous control of color and topological charges in GPVVBs along the longitudinal direction provides more degrees of freedom for carrying information and has the potential to impact quantum science, singular optics, and optical communications.
SUCCESS DEPENDS ON WELCOMING—NOT SHOOTING—THE MESSENGER
Authors: Barnard‐Bahn Amii
Published: May 2024

The author, a longtime executive in Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits, and now a C‐suite coach and business ethics attorney, examines how to deliver bad news within organizations. She presents six steps, each illustrated with a real‐life example. The steps are, in her words, 1. Psychologically Prepare Your Audience 2. Rehearse Confident Delivery. 3. Be fully present and fully focused. 4. Convey benevolent, proactive intent. 5. Explain without justifying. 6. Add a sense of urgency. She poses three questions in Step 1: “What is the impact? How can the damage be contained? What needs to change?” Within Step 2, “practicing has been shown to 1) bolster your credibility with influential people and 2) alleviate the substantial emotional distress often associated with leadership roles.” Within Step 3, “When delivering bad news, pay attention to the method of delivery. Face‐to‐face in‐person is best, followed by videoconference, and third, by telephone.” In Step 4, “Counter negative assumptions by outlining next steps and proactive measures, while genuine empathy underscores your role as a trusted advisor.” In Step 5, “Present the facts to ensure they have a comprehensive understanding of the situation.” And in Step 6, “Sustaining urgency involves diligent follow‐up, reinforcing the successful measures taken earlier.”
HOW EFFECTIVE THINKING HABITS HELP LEADERS TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE
Authors: Seeber‐Quayle Sandy
Published: May 2024

Seeber‐Quayle, who has a wide‐ranging background as an organizational coach and an insurance professional, writes that to achieve behavior change, we need “a way that helps us interrupt our automatic thinking and form effective thinking habits.” All of this is happening in our VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) world, which has already become more of what futurist Jamais Cascio describes as a BANI world—brittle, anxious, non‐linear, and incomprehensible. One strategy to cultivate such effective thinking habits is the KUBA Pilot Strategy. It is a “systematic approach to directing our thinking through four key checkpoints: Know Yourself, Understand Others, Build Connections, and Align Decisions.” The figure describes these four as in her words: (1) My why. My what. My Needs. (2) Their why. Their what. Their needs. (3) Connecting people. Connecting details. Common denominators. (4) Big picture. Consequences. Long‐term strategy. Seeber‐Quayle says that “by regularly using the checkpoints of the KUBA Pilot Strategy when solving problems or working towards objectives, the brain eventually forms new pathways.” She concludes that “the development of effective thinking habits strengthens self‐confidence, helps grow emotional intelligence, and cultivates critical thinking.”