bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Massive hemoperitoneum from hemorrhagic corpus luteum in a patient with acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenic purpura
Authors: Obi Esther Ifeoma , Osegi Nkencho , Etu‐Efeotor Theodora Phiemueki , Pughikumo Ogho Crosdale , Toluhi Helen , Makinde Olakunle
Published: March 2020

Doctors should think of a spectrum of differential diagnoses in patients presenting with acute abdominal pain ranging from medical, surgical, and gynecological conditions. Proper laboratory and radiological tests including bone marrow study are advised.
Dyserythropoiesis and myelodysplasia in thiamine‐responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome
Authors: Faraji‐Goodarzi Mojgan , Tarhani Fariba , Taee Nadereh
Published: March 2020

The case of thiamine‐responsive megaloblastic anemia (TRMA) presented here speculates the need early diagnosis, continuous monitoring, follow‐up, and regulated treatment plan for the patients. Complications and systemic manifestations are likely to enhance in otherwise circumstances.
Design and Synthesis of Sm, Y, La and Nd‐doped CeO2 with a broom‐like hierarchical structure: a photocatalyst with enhanced oxidation performance
Authors: Xu Bin , Yang Hui , Zhang Qitao , Yuan Saisai , Xie An , Zhang Ming , Ohno Teruhisa
Published: March 2020

CeO2 doped with various rare earth (RE) ions (Sm, Y, La and Nd) having a broom‐like hierarchical structure was successfully prepared by a template‐free hydrothermal method. The photooxidation performance of RE‐doped products was significantly better than that of pure CeO2, and comparative experiments showed that Sm‐doped CeO2 (SC) has superior photooxidation activity, resulting about 3.0‐times and 8.5‐times higher activities of bisphenol A (BPA) degradation and of acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) decomposition, respectively, than those of pure CeO2. Due to the incorporation of RE ions, the surface exposed cerium ions are partly substituted by those cations, resulting in a higher concentration of oxygen vacancies (Ov) in RE‐doped CeO2. The increased Ov can act as a trapping center for photo‐generated electrons to form a doping transition state between the conduction band (CB) and valence band (VB), which can restrict the recombination rate of electrons and holes effectively and lead to an outstanding enhancement of photooxidation performance. Furthermore, abundant highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (.OH) and superoxide radicals (.O2−), which are efficient intermediates with vivid oxidation ability, can further enhance the photocatalytic activity of RE‐doped CeO2. A cost‐effective strategy for designing CeO2‐based semiconductor photocatalysts doped with multitudinous RE ions that have enhanced photooxidation performance is presented in this paper.
Confinement of Intermediates in Blue TiO2 Nanotube Arrays Boosts Reaction Rate of Nitrogen Electrocatalysis
Authors: Zhang Jianfang , Tian Yujing , Zhang Tianyu , Li Zhengyuan , She Xiaojie , Wu Yucheng , Wang Yan , Wu Jingjie
Published: March 2020

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is a complementary route to the traditional Haber‐Bosch process. Boosting the reaction kinetics of electrocatalytic NRR is key to promote the NH3 yield. Herein, we demonstrate that the confinement of reactive intermediates (e. g., *N2) in highly ordered blue TiO2 nanotubes (b‐TiO2) can significantly enhance the surface reaction rate of electrocatalytic NRR on the encapsulated metal oxide catalysts. The enhancement of the reaction rate of NH3 synthesis is attributed to the increased surface coverage of intermediates inside the b‐TiO2 nanotubes. Benefiting from the confinement effect of intermediates, the b‐TiO2 nanotubes enclosing metal oxide electrodes show both higher production rate and Faradaic efficiency of NH3 than the combined ones of individual metal oxide and b‐TiO2 electrodes.
Accumulation of Active Species in Silica Mesopore: Effect of the Pore Size and Free Base Additives on Pd‐catalyzed Allylation using Allylic Alcohol
Authors: Motokura Ken , Kawashima Sae , Nambo Masayuki , Manaka Yuichi , Chun Wang‐Jae
Published: March 2020

A mesoporous silica‐supported Pd complex was prepared using various types of porous silica supports (pore size: 16–31 Å). The effects of the pore size and base additive properties on the catalytic allylation were investigated. The activity of the Pd‐catalyzed allylation of nucleophiles with specific base additives, such as 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene (DBU), is strongly affected by the mesopore size. The best allylation performance is obtained with a pore size of 23 Å. On the other hand, bases with smaller/larger molecular size and/or high nucleophilicity, such as K2CO3 and 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), do not seem to show clear pore effect on the catalysis. The performance of the catalytic allylation significantly decreases by using such bases. Kinetic, spectroscopic, and control experiments reveal that the effective accumulation of Pd species and DBU in mesopores with appropriate pore sizes enhances their frequency factors.
Exosomes as a Source of Cancer Biomarkers: Advances in Electrochemical Biosensing of Exosomes
Authors: Lorencova Lenka , Bertok Tomas , Bertokova Aniko , Gajdosova Veronika , Hroncekova Stefania , Vikartovska Alica , Kasak Peter , Tkac Jan
Published: March 2020

Exosomes are naturally produced biological nanoparticles secreted by cells into body fluids and responsible for intercellular communication. Exosomes can also carry cargo affecting neighbouring cells and forming pre‐metastatic niches. Hence, exosomes are behind localised tumour development, progression, but also the induction of distant tumours forming metastasis. A substantially higher cellular activity of tumour cells results in the production of a greater number of exosomes than in normal, healthy cells. Therefore, the number of exosomes present in body fluids can serve as a good diagnostic biomarker in itself, besides the presence of other tumour biomarkers, which can be substantially enriched in exosomes compared to parental cells. This review comprehensively summarises the development of electrochemical biosensors for the detection of exosome levels, exosome‐derived cancer biomarkers in cell lines and serum samples for the better diagnosis of various cancer types. The review provides information on the design and analytical parameters of such biosensors. The clinical utility of the level of exosomes or exosome‐derived biomarkers is also provided.
A Highly Efficient Glycosidation of Glycosyl Chlorides by Using Cooperative Silver(I) Oxide–Triflic Acid Catalysis
Authors: Geringer Scott A. , Singh Yashapal , Hoard Daniel J. , Demchenko Alexei V.
Published: March 2020

Following our discovery that silver(I) oxide‐promoted glycosylation with glycosyl bromides can be greatly accelerated in the presence of catalytic TMSOTf or TfOH, we report herein a new discovery that glycosyl chlorides are even more effective glycosyl donors under these reaction conditions. The developed reaction conditions work well with a variety of glycosyl chlorides. Both benzoylated and benzylated chlorides have been successfully glycosidated, and these reaction conditions proved to be effective in coupling substrates containing nitrogen and sulfur atoms. Another convenient feature of this glycosylation is that the progress of the reaction can be monitored visually; its completion can be judged by the disappearance of the characteristic dark color of Ag2O.
Self‐Assembly of Pseudo‐Isocyanine Chloride as a Sensor for Macromolecular Crowding In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Hämisch Benjamin , Pollak Roland , Ebbinghaus Simon , Huber Klaus
Published: March 2020

Pseudo‐isocyanine chloride (PIC) is a cationic dyestuff that exhibits self‐assembly in aqueous solution, promoted either by increasing the PIC concentration or by decreasing the temperature. PIC‐aggregates exhibit a characteristic and sharp absorption band as well as a fluorescence band at a wavelength of 573 nm making PIC an interesting candidate to analyze the self‐assembly process in various environments. The present work developed PIC‐based, synthetic model systems, suitable to investigate how macromolecular crowding influences self‐assembly processes. Four synthetic additives were used as potential crowders: Triethylene glycol (TEG), polyethylene glycol (PEG), Ficoll 400 as a highly branched polysaccharide, and sucrose corresponding to the monomeric unit of Ficoll. Combined UV/Vis spectroscopy and time‐resolved light scattering revealed a strong impact of crowding based on excluded volume effects only for Ficoll 400. Sucrose had hardly any influence on the self‐assembly of PIC and PEG and TEG impeded the PIC self‐assembly. Development of such a PIC based model system led over to in‐cell experiments. HeLa cells were infiltrated with PIC solutions well below the aggregation threshold in the infiltrating solution. In the cellular environment, PIC was exposed to a significant crowding and immediately started to aggregate. As was demonstrated by fluorescence imaging, the extent of aggregation can be modulated by exposing the cells to salt‐induced osmotic stress. The results suggest future use of such a system as a sensor for the analysis of in vitro and in vivo crowding effects on self‐assembly processes.
Nanoporous Metals for Heterogeneous Catalysis: Following the Success of Raney Nickel
Authors: Gao Yanxiu , Ding Yi
Published: March 2020

Nanoporous metals (NPMs) with diversified shapes and compositions can be readily fabricated by dealloying monolithic alloys through chemical or electrochemical processes. Benefited from their high surface area, high density of low‐coordinated sites on the ligament surface, and unsupported character, NPMs have attracted increasing attentions as a new class of heterogeneous catalysts with high activity, selectivity, and long‐term stability, reminiscent of the great success of Raney nickel. In the present minireview, we summarize the recent advances in this exciting field and provide a critical discussion of the nature of their active sites and the structure–property correlation.
Direct Enamido C(sp2)−H Diphosphorylation Enabled by a PCET‐Triggered Double Radical Relay: Access to gem‐Bisphosphonates
Authors: Cao Hao‐Qiang , Liu Hao‐Nan , Liu Zhe‐Yuan , Qiao Bao‐Kun , Zhang Fa‐Guang , Ma Jun‐An
Published: March 2020

Herein we report a novel and straightforward protocol for the construction of valuable gem‐BPs by means of proton‐coupled electron‐transfer (PCET)‐triggered enamido C(sp2)−H diphosphorylation. This reaction represents a rare example of realizing the challenging double C−P bond formation at a single carbon atom, thus providing facile access to a broad variety of structurally diverse bisphosphonates from simple enamides under silver‐mediated conditions. Initial mechanistic studies demonstrated that the diphosphorylation involves two rounds of PCET‐initiated radical relay process.
Better than CD: Eugénie Cotton (1881‐1967)
Authors: Kahr Bart
Published: March 2020

Aimé Cotton is known for his invention of circular dichroism spectroscopy. In 1913, he married Eugénie Feytis, a scientist who studied physics with Marie Curie. Following the Second World War, Eugénie Cotton was determined to advance the rights and standing of women, sure in the belief that doing so was necessary not only because it was just but also because a world with women in the forefront would be more secure and less susceptible to the catastrophe worldwide military conflict. She was a cofounder of the Women's International Democratic Federation and served as its first president. In 1951, she was awarded the Stalin Peace Prize, and in 1961, the gold medal from the World Peace Council. The extraordinary life of Eugénie Cotton is reconstructed in a new biography by Loukia Efthymiou, Eugénie Cotton (1881‐1967) (Éditions Universitaires Européennes, 2019) that is reviewed here. Among the contributions of Eugénie Cotton of particular interest to the Chirality readership is the biography she wrote of her husband, Aimé Cotton, l'optique et magneto‐optique (Éditions Seghers, 1967), the most complete source of information on the founder of the science of circular dichroism. This biography is also discussed here, thereby building two reviews of books, one new and one old, one about Eugénie Cotton and one by her, into a single essay.
A Non‐Fullerene Acceptor with Chlorinated Thienyl Conjugated Side Chains for High‐Performance Polymer Solar Cells via Toluene Processing
Authors: Li Guangwei , Wu Jingnan , Fang Jin , Guo Xia , Zhu Lei , Liu Feng , Zhang Maojie , Li Yongfang
Published: March 2020

Summary of main observation and conclusion

Small molecular acceptors (SMAs) BTC‐2F and BTH‐2F, based on heptacyclic benzodi(cyclopentadithiophene) electron‐donating core (CBT) with chlorinated‐thienyl conjugated and thienyl conjugated side chains, respectively, are designed and synthesized. Compared with non‐chlorine acceptor BTH‐2F, BTC‐2F exhibits slightly blue‐shifted absorption spectra, similar the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) (–3.91 eV), deeper highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level and higher electron mobility than that of BTH‐2F. PM6, a wide bandgap polymer, is selected as the donor material to construct bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells processed with nonhalogenated solvent toluene. The optimized PM6:BTC‐2F‐based device presents a 12.9% power conversion efficiency (PCE), while the PCE of PM6:BTH‐2F‐based device is only 11.3%. The results suggest that it is an effective strategy to optimize the photoelectric properties of SMAs by incorporating chlorine atom into the conjugated side chains.
Prevention of sudden cardiac death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Risk assessment using left atrial diameter predicted from left atrial volume
Authors: Mills Helen , Espersen Kiri , Jurlander Rebecca , Iversen Kasper , Bundgaard Henning , Raja Anna Axelsson
Published: March 2020

Background

Left atrial diameter (LAd) is included in the European Society for Cardiology's (ESC) risk model for assessment of sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), but the recommended measure of LA size is left atrial volume (LAv).

Hypothesis

We hypothesized that LAv could be used instead of LAd in the HCM risk‐SCD model. We aimed to determine the relation between LAd and LAv and to assess the impact of using LAv instead of LAd.

Methods

Echocardiographic measurements of anteroposterior LAd in the parasternal long‐axis window and LAv from Simpson's biplane method of disks were used. The 5‐year risk of SCD by measured LAd and by LAd predicted from LAv were estimated using the ESC risk‐SCD model.

Results

In 205 HCM patients (age 56 ± 14 years, 62% male), the relation between LAd and LAv was linear. Median 5‐year risk of SCD was 2.4% (interquartile range [IQR]: 1.6; 3.8) using measured LAd and 2.4% (IQR: 1.6; 3.7) using predicted LAd. The correlation between the SCD risk assessed by measured vs predicted LAd was excellent (r2 = 0.96). Use of predicted LAd resulted in four patients (2%) being recategorized between the moderate and high‐risk categories.

Conclusions

The relation between LAd and LAv was linear with good agreement. On a population level, the correlation between the risk of SCD using measured LAd or LAd predicted from LAv was excellent. On a patient level, using LAd predicted from LAv resulted in the vast majority remaining in the same risk category; however, for a minority of patients, it changed the recommendation.
Developmental characterization of Zswim5 expression in the progenitor domains and tangential migration pathways of cortical interneurons in the mouse forebrain
Authors: Chang Chuan‐Chie , Kuo Hsiao‐Ying , Chen Shih‐Yun , Lin Wan‐Ting , Lu Kuan‐Ming , Saito Tetsuichiro , Liu Fu‐Chin
Published: March 2020

GABAergic interneurons play an essential role in modulating cortical networks. The progenitor domains of cortical interneurons are localized in developing ventral forebrain, including the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE), caudal ganglionic eminence (CGE), preoptic area (POA), and preoptic hypothalamic border domain (POH). Here, we characterized the expression pattern of Zswim5, an MGE‐enriched gene in the mouse forebrain. At E11.5–E13.5, prominent Zswim5 expression was detected in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of MGE, POA, and POH, but not CGE of ventral telencephalon where progenitors of cortical interneurons resided. At E15.5 and E17.5, Zswim5 expression remained in the MGE/pallidum primordium and ventral germinal zone. Zswim5 mRNA was markedly decreased after birth and was absent in the adult forebrain. Interestingly, the Zswim5 expression pattern resembled the tangential migration pathways of cortical interneurons. Zswim5‐positive cells in the MGE appeared to migrate from the MGE through the SVZ of LGE to overlying neocortex. Indeed, Zswim5 was co‐localized with Nkx2.1 and Lhx6, markers of progenitors and migratory cortical interneurons. Double labeling showed that Ascl1/Mash1‐positive cells co‐expressed Zswim5. Zswim5 expressing cells contained none or at most low levels of Ki67 but co‐expressed Tuj1 in the SVZ of MGE. These results suggest that Zswim5 is immediately upregulated as progenitors exiting cell cycle become postmitotic. Given that recent studies have elucidated that the cell fate of cortical interneurons is determined shortly after becoming postmitotic, the timing of Zswim5 expression in early postmitotic interneurons suggests a potential role of Zswim5 in regulation of neurogenesis and tangential migration of cortical interneurons.
Hybrid Solvation Model with First Solvation Shell for Calculation of Solvation Free Energy
Authors: Xin Xin , Niu Xiao , Liu Wanqi , Wang Dunyou
Published: March 2020

We present a hybrid solvation model with first solvation shell to calculate solvation free energies. This hybrid model combines the quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics methods with the analytical expression based on the Born solvation model to calculate solvation free energies. Based on calculated free energies of solvation and reaction profiles in gas phase, we set up a unified scheme to predict reaction profiles in solution. The predicted solvation free energies and reaction barriers are compared with experimental results for twenty bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reactions. These comparisons show that our hybrid solvation model can predict reliable solvation free energies and reaction barriers for chemical reactions of small molecules in aqueous solution.
Amino Acid Residues Vary the Self‐Assembly and Photophysical Properties of Diphenylamine‐Cyanostilbene‐Capped Amphiphiles
Authors: Yeh Mei‐Yu , Tseng Tzu‐Yu , Hsieh Hui‐Chun , Wu Bao‐Xing , Liao Yi‐Shun , Yeh Yao‐Chun , Liu Jyun‐Cheng
Published: March 2020

Although fluorescent materials based on diphenylamine (DPA) conjugated with cyanostilbene (CS) have been developed for biological applications as aggregation‐induced emission chromophores with long‐wavelength emissions, only DPACS derivatives of very high polarity and low polarity have been investigated previously. Herein, we report three DPACS‐capped amino acid amphiphiles – DPACS‐G, DPACS‐S, and DPACS‐D – of various hydrophobicities. Their self‐assembly and photophysical properties in aqueous media are dependent upon the nature of their amino acid residues. Interestingly, under alkaline conditions, the introduction of a serine (S) residue in the DPACS chromophore (i. e., DPACS‐S) resulted in a self‐assembled hydrogel and the formation of nanorods with aggregation‐induced emission enhancement characteristics. Experimental and theoretical studies of DPACS‐S revealed that π–π stacking, electrostatic interactions, and extended intermolecular hydrogen bonding were the main driving forces behind its self‐assembly.
In situ dry matter and crude protein disappearance dynamics in stockpiled limpograss
Authors: Wallau Marcelo O. , Vendramini João M.B. , Sollenberger Lynn E. , van Santen Edzard , Aguiar Andre D. , Cunha Odislei F. R.
Published: March 2020

Stockpiling warm‐season perennial grasses for winter grazing is an important management practice for beef cattle production systems in tropical and subtropical regions. Limpograss [Hemarthria altissima (Poir.) Stapf et C.E. Hubb.] has greater digestibility at late maturity than other commonly used warm‐season perennial grasses; however, decreased crude protein (CP) concentration may limit livestock performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in situ dry matter (DM) and CP ruminal disappearance kinetics of stockpiled limpograss herbage. Forage for the in situ study derived from a 2‐yr field experiment in which treatments were the factorial combinations of three cultivars (‘Kenhy’, ‘Gibtuck’, or ‘Floralta’) and three stockpiling periods (8, 12, or 16 wk) distributed in three replicates of a randomized complete block design. Effective degradability of DM was greater for Kenhy and Gibtuck compared with Floralta (614 and 611 vs. 575 g kg−1), and it declined linearly as stockpiling period increased from 8 to 16 wk (623 vs. 586 g kg−1). Herbage CP concentration (48–32 g kg−1 DM) also declined linearly from 8 to 16 wk, but rumen‐unavailable CP increased during stockpiling (257–438 g kg−1 CP), causing effective CP degradability to decrease (637–489 g kg−1 CP). Limpograss is a good option for stockpiled forage, and both new releases outperformed Floralta; however, concentration and availability of CP must be considered when defining a supplementation strategy.
Modulation of ion sound excitations in electron–ion plasmas with double spectral index distribution function
Authors: Ullah Shakir , Masood W. , Siddiq M.
Published: March 2020

Theoretical investigation of amplitude modulation of ion sound waves is presented here for an electron–ion plasma where the electrons are dictated by the double spectral index (r, q) distribution function. Using the standard reductive perturbative technique, a non‐linear Schrödinger (NLS) equation is derived that describes the evolution of modulated ion sound envelope excitations. Stability analysis of the NLS equation shows that the ion sound waves remain stable for the flat‐topped and kappa‐like distributions, but they can become unstable for the spiky electron velocity distribution. It is shown that changing the electron population in regions of low and high phase space density regions results in remarkable features that have no equivalent in ion sound waves with Boltzmannian electrons. Different types of localized ion sound excitations are plotted for the different shapes of the distribution functions controlled by the double spectral indices, and the underlying physics is discussed in detail. The present investigation may be beneficial to understand ion sound excitations in space plasmas where the distribution functions of the shapes presented here are frequently encountered by the satellite missions.
A role for metabolomics in the antidoping toolbox?
Authors: Narduzzi Luca , Dervilly Gaud , Audran Michel , Le Bizec Bruno , Buisson Corinne
Published: March 2020

Evidence of the continuous rise of novel doping agents and novel doping strategies calls for the development of more accurate multi‐target screening methods. Direct multi‐target screening approaches are restricted to the targeted substances and their turnover. The development of effective “indirect” screening methods requires a priori a deep understanding of the metabolism of the substance. The biological passport has been demonstrated to be very effective, but it is limited to about 20 indirect parameters. The standard antidoping analytical methods are hence targeted and do not aim directly to identify unknown substances. Also, the detection of doping agents is limited by the excretion of the substance. This study considers metabolomics for the screening of performance enhancing hormone abuse by athletes, based on the following pieces of evidence: (1) hormones have a strong influence on human metabolism, changing several parameters in many tissues, organs, and bio‐fluids; (2) metabolomics has been demonstrated to be a very accurate tool to depict the metabolic status of several organisms, tissues, and for several human diseases, including hormone deficiencies; (3) metabolomics has been demonstrated to be able to distinguish hormone‐treated animals from controls in many species, without the need for a priori knowledge of the metabolism for the specific substance. The literature shows that metabolomics could be an appropriate tool to detect hormone abuse, keeping in mind the strength and the limitation of such an approach.
Three critical factors affecting automated image species recognition performance for camera traps
Authors: Schneider Stefan , Greenberg Saul , Taylor Graham W. , Kremer Stefan C.
Published: March 2020

Ecological camera traps are increasingly used by wildlife biologists to unobtrusively monitor an ecosystems animal population. However, manual inspection of the images produced is expensive, laborious, and time‐consuming. The success of deep learning systems using camera trap images has been previously explored in preliminary stages. These studies, however, are lacking in their practicality. They are primarily focused on extremely large datasets, often millions of images, and there is little to no focus on performance when tasked with species identification in new locations not seen during training. Our goal was to test the capabilities of deep learning systems trained on camera trap images using modestly sized training data, compare performance when considering unseen background locations, and quantify the gradient of lower bound performance to provide a guideline of data requirements in correspondence to performance expectations. We use a dataset provided by Parks Canada containing 47,279 images collected from 36 unique geographic locations across multiple environments. Images represent 55 animal species and human activity with high‐class imbalance. We trained, tested, and compared the capabilities of six deep learning computer vision networks using transfer learning and image augmentation: DenseNet201, Inception‐ResNet‐V3, InceptionV3, NASNetMobile, MobileNetV2, and Xception. We compare overall performance on “trained” locations where DenseNet201 performed best with 95.6% top‐1 accuracy showing promise for deep learning methods for smaller scale research efforts. Using trained locations, classifications with <500 images had low and highly variable recall of 0.750 ± 0.329, while classifications with over 1,000 images had a high and stable recall of 0.971 ± 0.0137. Models tasked with classifying species from untrained locations were less accurate, with DenseNet201 performing best with 68.7% top‐1 accuracy. Finally, we provide an open repository where ecologists can insert their image data to train and test custom species detection models for their desired ecological domain.
Repeated fire shifts carbon and nitrogen cycling by changing plant inputs and soil decomposition across ecosystems
Authors: Pellegrini Adam F. A. , Hobbie Sarah E. , Reich Peter B. , Jumpponen Ari , Brookshire E. N. Jack , Caprio Anthony C. , Coetsee Corli , Jackson Robert B.
Published: March 2020

Fires shape the biogeochemistry and functioning of many ecosystems, and fire frequencies are changing across much of the globe. Frequent fires can change soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage by altering the quantity and chemistry of plant inputs through changes in plant biomass and composition as well as the decomposition of soil organic matter. How decomposition rates change with shifting inputs remains uncertain because most studies focus on the effects of single fires, where transient responses may not reflect responses to decadal changes in burning frequencies. Here, we sampled seven sites exposed to different fire frequencies. In four of the sites, we intensively sampled both soils and plant communities across four ecosystems in North America and Africa spanning tropical savanna, temperate coniferous savanna, temperate broadleaf savanna, and temperate coniferous forest ecosystems. Each site contained multiple plots burned frequently for 33–61 years and nearby plots that had remained unburned over the same period replicated at the landscape scale. Across all sites, repeatedly burned plots had 25–185% lower bulk soil C and N concentrations but also 2–10‐fold lower potential decomposition of organic matter compared to unburned sites. Soil C and N concentrations and extracellular enzyme activities declined with frequent fire because fire reduced both plant biomass inputs into soils and dampened the localized enrichment effect of tree canopies. Examination of soil extracellular enzyme activities revealed that fire decreased the potential turnover of organic matter in the forms of cellulose, starch, and chitin (P < 0.0001) but not polyphenol and lignin (P = 0.09), suggesting a shift in soil C and N cycling. Inclusion of δ13C data from three additional savanna sites (19–60 years of altered fire frequencies) showed that soil C losses were largest in sites where estimated tree inputs into soils declined the most (r2 = 0.91, P < 0.01). In conclusion, repeated burning reduced C and N storage, consistent with previous studies, but fire also reduced potential decomposition, likely contributing to slower C and N cycling. Trees were important in shaping soil C and N responses across sites, but the magnitude of tree effects differed and depended on how tree biomass inputs into soil responded to fire.
The importance of climatic variability and human influence in driving aspects of temporarily open‐closed estuaries
Authors: Brooker Ben , Scharler Ursula M.
Published: March 2020

Freshwater availability is a major topic in scientific literature and the public domain. Estuaries are complex and dynamic ecosystems that depend on freshwater inflow from their catchments and exchange with the marine environment. Catchment forcings are subject to shifts in frequency and intensity due to regional hydrological variability over time. Human manipulation of freshwater regimes may further alter this beyond natural variability through flow abstraction and additional inputs in the form of wastewater. To elucidate the effect of climate variability and human activities, we conducted a time series investigation on hydrological drivers into a small South African estuary (uMdloti), representative of temporarily open‐closed estuaries. Subsequently, we investigated the ability of the hydrological variables to drive physical parameters and microalgae in the estuary. Freshwater abstraction caused a disconnect between rainfall and river flow, and increased lag times during dry spells, peaking at 115 days. Annual seasonal peaks in rainfall were not represented in river flow due to the dam. Wastewater discharges equate to 4% of the mean annual runoff from the catchment, which has reduced from a natural runoff of 85.8 to 71.9 Mm−3year−1. Due to this and damming of catchment flows, wastewater discharging into the estuary was the most important driver of water quality in the system, resulting in increased nutrient and decreased dissolved oxygen concentrations, whereas river flow was an important driver at high flow volumes. An understanding of interaction effects between climatic variability and catchment flow manipulation is vitally important to estuarine management and their ecological viability.
Effects of evolocumab therapy and low LDL‐C levels on vitamin E and steroid hormones in Chinese and global patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Blom Dirk J. , Chen Jiyan , Yuan Zuyi , Borges Joao L. C. , Monsalvo Maria L. , Wang Nan , Hamer Andrew W. , Ge Junbo
Published: March 2020

Aims

We assessed the change from baseline in vitamin E, steroid hormones, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and gonadotropins, overall and by lowest achieved low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (LDL‐C) level, in patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidaemia after 12 weeks of treatment with evolocumab.

Materials and Methods

This was a prespecified analysis of vitamin E, cortisol, ACTH, gonadal hormones and gonadotropins in the 12‐week, placebo‐controlled BERSON trial of evolocumab in patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidaemia. In BERSON, 981 (451 in China) patients on daily atorvastatin 20 mg were randomized to placebo or one of two doses of evolocumab. We measured analyte levels at baseline and week 12 (vitamin E in all patients; steroid/gonadal hormones only in Chinese patients).

Results

In both the global and Chinese populations, absolute vitamin E levels decreased from baseline to week 12 by approximately 6 μmol/L (P < .0001) among evolocumab‐treated patients; however, when normalized for LDL‐C, apoB or non–HDL‐C, we observed no decrease in vitamin E levels. In Chinese patients, levels of cortisol and ACTH as well as the cortisol:ACTH ratio did not change significantly from baseline to week 12. No patient had a cortisol:ACTH ratio <3.0 (nmol/pmol), suggestive of adrenocortical deficiency. We did not observe clinically relevant changes for gonadal hormones and gonadotropins (oestradiol and testosterone in female and male patients, respectively, luteinizing and follicle‐stimulating hormones for both).

Conclusions

In the BERSON study, evolocumab did not adversely affect vitamin E, steroid hormone or gonadotropin levels in the Chinese or global type 2 diabetic populations.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02662569.
SOCS3 is a suppressor of γc cytokine signaling and constrains generation of murine Foxp3+ regulatory T cells
Authors: Luckey Megan A. , Kim Tae‐Hyoun , Prakhar Praveen , Keller Hilary R. , Crossman Assiatu , Choi Seeyoung , Love Paul E. , Walsh Scott T.R. , Park Jung‐Hyun
Published: March 2020

SOCS3 is a cytosolic inhibitor of cytokine signaling that suppresses the activation of cytokine receptor‐associated JAK kinases. Mechanistically, SOCS3 is recruited to a site in the cytokine receptors known as the SOCS3‐interaction motif, and then binds JAK molecules to inhibit their kinase activity. The SOCS3‐interaction motif is found in receptors of the gp130 cytokine family but mostly absent from other cytokine receptors, including γc. Thus, SOCS3 has been considered a selective suppressor of gp130 family cytokines, but not γc cytokines. Considering that γc signaling induces SOCS3 expression in T cells, here we revisited the role of SOCS3 on γc signaling. Using SOCS3 transgenic mice, we found that increased abundance of SOCS3 not only suppressed signaling of the gp130 family cytokine IL‐6, but also signaling of the γc family cytokine IL‐7. Consequently, SOCS3 transgenic mice were impaired in IL‐7‐dependent T cell development in the thymus and the homeostasis of mature T cells in peripheral tissues. Moreover, enforced SOCS3 expression interfered with the generation of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells that requires signaling by the γc family cytokine IL‐2. Collectively, we report an underappreciated role for SOCS3 in suppressing γc cytokine signaling, effectively expanding its scope of target cytokines in T cell immunity.
Synthesis of Polysubstituted 2H‐Pyran‐2‐ones or Phenols via One‐Pot Reaction of (E)‐β‐Chlorovinyl Ketones and Electron‐Withdrawing Group Substituted Acetates or β‐Diketones
Authors: Zhang Youchi , Zhang Jingli , Yuan Ye , Liu Liran , Chen Bifeng , Sun Taolei
Published: March 2020

This paper describes a facile one‐pot synthesis of highly functionalized 2H‐pyran‐2‐ones and phenols through a base‐promoted annulation of readily available β‐chlorovinyl ketones with various active methylene compounds. Conjugate addition of electron‐withdrawing group substituted acetates to allenone intermediates and direct conjugate addition of β‐diketones to β‐chlorovinyl ketones reveal versatile electrophilic pathways of β‐chlorovinyl ketones under different reaction conditions. In particular, cyclocondensation is regiospecific for 3,5‐disubstituted phenols. Moreover, the utility of [3+3] cyclocondensation is further illustrated by the concise synthesis of benzofuran derivative and penta‐ or hexa‐substituted phenol construction.
Long INterspersed element‐1 mobility as a sensor of environmental stresses
Authors: Del Re Brunella , Giorgi Gianfranco
Published: March 2020

Long INterspersed element (LINE‐1, L1) retrotransposons are the most abundant transposable elements in the human genome, constituting approximately 17%. They move by a “copy‐paste” mechanism, involving reverse transcription of an RNA intermediate and insertion of its cDNA copy at a new site in the genome. L1 retrotransposition (L1‐RTP) can cause insertional mutations, alter gene expression, transduce exons, and induce epigenetic dysregulation. L1‐RTP is generally repressed; however, a number of observations collected over about 15 years revealed that it can occur in response to environmental stresses. Moreover, emerging evidence indicates that L1‐RTP can play a role in the onset of several neurological and oncological diseases in humans. In recent years, great attention has been paid to the exposome paradigm, which proposes that health effects of an environmental factor should be evaluated considering both cumulative environmental exposures and the endogenous processes resulting from the biological response. L1‐RTP could be an endogenous process considered for this application. Here, we summarize the current understanding of environmental factors that can affect the retrotransposition of human L1 elements. Evidence indicates that L1‐RTP alteration is triggered by numerous and various environmental stressors, such as chemical agents (heavy metals, carcinogens, oxidants, and drugs), physical agents (ionizing and non‐ionizing radiations), and experiential factors (voluntary exercise, social isolation, maternal care, and environmental light/dark cycles). These data come from in vitro studies on cell lines and in vivo studies on transgenic animals: future investigations should be focused on physiologically relevant models to gain a better understanding of this topic.
A multiple‐input‐multiple‐output on‐chip Quasi‐Yagi‐Uda antenna for multigigabit communications: Preliminary study
Authors: Sultan Kamel S. , Abdallah Esmat A. , El Hennawy Hadia
Published: March 2020

This article presents a solution for the low gain and the poor efficiency of the on‐chip antennas (OCA). The four elements of Quasi‐Yagi‐Uda antennas (QYUA) are introduced based on the diversity technique to reduce the interference between the elements. In addition, these antennas achieve high isolations between them due to the use of reflector for each antenna. The QYUA is selected to improve the radiation properties of the end‐fire radiator in the millimeter‐wave range for on‐chip systems. The proposed MIMO antenna is used for the point to point communications. The complementary metal‐oxide semiconductor with 180 nm standard is used in the antenna design with six metal layers. The QYUA combines three parts (driven element, reflector, and director); the driven consists of two meander lines fed by coplanar‐slot and operates as a dipole, the reflector is an arc likes a semicircle to prevent the back radiation and increase the front to back ratio, and the director is a meander line to directive the radiation into the proposed direction (front end‐fire direction). All MIMO parameters such as envelope correlation coefficient, channel capacity loss, diversity gain, and total active reflection coefficient in addition to the different configurations of the MIMO are presented. All results are verified by computer simulation technology and high‐frequency structure simulator. The contribution of this article is the MIMO antenna design for point to point communications to serve multigiga communications systems with high data rate and high gain. This MIMO system is considered here to solve the problems of OCA designs.
Cluster computing‐aided model updating for a high‐fidelity finite element model of a long‐span cable‐stayed bridge
Authors: Lin Kaiqi , Xu You‐Lin , Lu Xinzheng , Guan Zhongguo , Li Jianzhong
Published: March 2020

Accurate and high‐fidelity finite element (FE) models are in great demand in the design, performance assessment, and life‐cycle maintenance of long‐span cable‐stayed bridges. The structural system of a long‐span cable‐stayed bridge is often huge in size and complex with many components connected and various materials constituted. Therefore, the FE model of a long‐span cable‐stayed bridge involves a large number of elements and nodes with many uncertainties. The model updating of the FE model to best represent a real bridge is necessary but very challenging. One of the challenging issues is that the numerical computation needed for searching the global optimum of a large set of structural parameters is so extensive that the existing FE (not surrogate) model‐based updating methods cannot fulfill this task. In this study, a cluster computing‐aided FE model updating framework is proposed for the high‐performance FE model updating of large and complex structures. In the framework, several computer software packages, including MSC.Marc, Python, and MATLAB, are interconnected for making use of their respective functions of strength. The shake table test of a scaled physical structure of the Sutong cable‐stayed bridge in China is used to validate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed framework. The simulated bridge responses based on the updated FE model are in good agreement with the measured ones from the shake table test. The successful application of the proposed framework provides a reference for the model updating of other types of large and complex structures.
Food addiction in young adult residents of Russia: Associations with emotional and anthropometric characteristics
Authors: Borisenkov Mikhail F. , Popov Sergey V. , Pecherkina Anna A. , Dorogina Olga I. , Martinson Ekaterina A. , Vetosheva Valentina I. , Gubin Denis G. , Solovieva Svetlana V. , Turovinina Elena F. , Symaniuk Elvira E.
Published: March 2020

The incidence of food addiction (FA) and associations between FA and anthropometric and psycho‐emotional characteristics of young Russian adults were studied. In this study, 1,237 students (age, M = 20.6, SD = 4.6 years; 79% females) of universities located in four cities of Russia were attended. They provided demographics and filled in the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire, and the Zung Self‐Rating Depression Scale. Data were analysed via Chi‐squared tests, logistic regression analysis, and an analysis of covariance. 13.2% of participants met diagnostic criteria for FA based on the YFAS. On average, the participants reported 2.6 FA symptoms (SD = 1.5). FA was more commonly detected in females (OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.10, 3.15, p = .021). No relationship was found between age and the incidence of FA. Significant positive associations between FA, the severity of depression (OR = 2.31, 95% CI = 1.91, 2.80, p = .000), and an emotional eating behaviour (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.20, 1.76, p = .000) were found. The waist‐to‐height ratio was found to be the anthropometric indicator most closely associated with FA (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.27, 1.76, p = .000).

Highlights

The prevalence of food addiction in the current sample was 13.2%.

In young Russian adults, emotional eating behaviour and depression are associated with food addiction.

In young Russian adults, the waist‐to‐height ratio is the anthropometric indicator most closely associated with food addiction.
Computational fluid dynamic simulation modeling of carbon capture using polyethylenimine impregnated protonated titanate nanotubes
Authors: Kim Hyoung‐Chul , Du Hongbo , Kommalapati Raghava R. , Huque Ziaul , Shen Xinhua
Published: March 2020

A comprehensive computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model of CEES‐developed polyethylenimine impregnated protonated titanate nanotubes (PEI‐PTNTs) was developed using the Multiphase Flow with Interphase eXchanges (MFiX) package to evaluate the performance of the PEI‐PTNTs in a 1‐MW pilot‐scale carbon capture reactor developed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). In this CFD model, the momentum, continuity, and energy transport equations were integrated with the first‐order chemistry model for chemical kinetics of heterogeneous reactions to predict the adsorption of CO2 onto amine‐based sorbent particles and the reactor temperature. Based on the amount of the CO2 adsorption obtained in the small‐scale experiment, the coefficients for the chemical reaction equations of PEI‐PTNTs are adjusted. The adjusted PEI‐PTNTs model is applied to the simplified numerical model of 1‐MW pilot‐scale carbon capture system, which is calibrated through the comparison between our simulation results and the results provided by NETL. This calibrated CFD model is used for selecting the optimized flow rate of the gas phase. Our study shows that the optimized gas flow rate to absorb 100% CO2 without loss is 1.5 kg/s, but if higher absorption rate is preferable despite some loss of CO2 absorption in the reactor, a higher flow rate than 1.5 kg/s can be selected.
Influence of Soil Phosphate on the Accumulation and Toxicity of Arsenic and Antimony in Choy Sum Cultivated in Individually and Co-contaminated Soils
Authors: Egodawatta Lakmini P. , Holland Aleicia , Koppel Darren , Jolley Dianne F.
Published: March 2020

Fertilizers containing phosphate (PO43−) are commonly used within the agricultural industry and are known to increase the bioavailability and mobility of metalloids like arsenic (As). This may increase plant uptake of As and hence pose a risk to human health. Arsenic and antimony (Sb) often co-occur in contaminated soils; however, little is known about the interactions between As and Sb with PO43− on their bioavailability, accumulation, and toxicity in plants. The present study investigated individual and combined As and Sb–contaminated soils across 2 soil PO43− concentrations using a commonly consumed leafy vegetable, choy sum (Brassica chinensis var. parachinensis). Increased soil PO43− had no clear influence on the bioavailability of As or Sb (derived from a sequential extraction procedure). At high PO43− concentration, B. chinensis accumulated higher amounts of As in the shoots and roots in both individual and co-contaminated soil, whereas Sb accumulation increased only when Sb was the only contaminant. When As was the only contaminant, the translocation of As from roots to shoots decreased as soil PO43− increased. Increased soil PO43− had no influence on Sb translocation from root to shoot. Although As was toxic (impaired growth) at low PO43− soil concentration, no toxicity was observed in the high-PO43− soil. No toxicity was observed for Sb in either low- or high-PO43− soils. Increased soil PO43− concentration ameliorated or masked As toxicity to plant growth and led to higher As concentration in the plant's edible parts. The addition of high soil PO43− concentrations ameliorated or masked As toxicity to plant growth in both individually and As + Sb co-contaminated soil; however, the plant's edible parts accumulated higher As and Sb concentrations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1233–1243. © 2020 SETAC

Abstract
A low‐dissipation third‐order weighted essentially nonoscillatory scheme with a new reference smoothness indicator
Authors: Wang Yahui , Du Yulong , Zhao Kunlei , Yuan Li
Published: March 2020

The classical third‐order weighted essentially nonoscillatory (WENO) scheme is notoriously dissipative as it loses the optimal order of accuracy at critical points and its two‐point finite difference in the smoothness indicators is unable to differentiate the critical point from the discontinuity. In recent years, modifications to the smoothness indicators and weights of the classical third‐order WENO scheme have been reported to reduce numerical dissipation. This article presents a new reference smoothness indicator for constructing a low‐dissipation third‐order WENO scheme. The new reference smoothness indicator is a nonlinear combination of the local and global stencil smoothness indicators. The resulting WENO‐Rp3 scheme with the power parameter p=1.5 achieves third‐order accuracy in smooth regions including critical points and has low dissipation, but numerical results show this scheme cannot keep the ENO property near discontinuities. The recommended WENO‐R3 scheme (p=1) keeps the ENO property and performs better than several recently developed third‐order WENO schemes.