bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation of treatment time to target volume for GammaPod treatments: A simple second calculation
Authors: Chen Leah , Becker Stewart J. , McAvoy Sarah Anne , Nichols Elizabeth M. , Guerrero Mariana
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The GammaPod is a novel device for stereotactic breast treatments that employs 25 rotating Co‐60 sources while the patient is continuously translated in three axes to deliver a highly conformal dose to the target. There is no commercial software available for independent second calculations. The purpose of this study is to determine an efficient way to estimate GammaPod treatment times based on target volume and use it as a second calculation for patient‐specific quality assurance.

Methods

Fifty‐nine GammaPod (Xcision Medical Systems, LLC.) breast cancer patient treatments were used as the fitting dataset for this study. Similar to the Curie‐seconds concept in brachytherapy, we considered dose‐rate × time/(prescribed dose) as a function of target volumes. Using a MATLAB (Mathworks, Natick, MA, USA) script, we generated linear (with 95% confidence interval (CI)) and quadratic fits and tested the resulting equations on an additional set of 30 patients.

Results

We found a strong correlation between the dose‐rate × time/(prescribed dose) and patients’ target volumes for both the linear and quadratic models. The linear fit was selected for use and using the polyval function in MATLAB, a 95% CI graph was created to depict the accuracy of the prediction for treatment times. Testing the model on 30 additional patients with target volumes ranging from 20 to 188 cc yielded treatment times from 10 to 25 min that in all cases were within the predicted CI. The average absolute difference between the predicted and actual treatment times was 1.0 min (range 0–3.3 min). The average percent difference was 5.8% (range 0%–18.4%).

Conclusion

This work has resulted in a viable independent calculation for GammaPod treatment times. This method has been implemented as a spreadsheet that is ready for clinical use to predict and verify the accuracy of breast cancer treatment times.
Folding and Fracture of Single‐Crystal Graphene Grown on a Cu(111) Foil
Authors: Luo Da , Choe Myeonggi , Bizao Rafael A. , Wang Meihui , Su Haisheng , Huang Ming , Jin Sunghwan , Li Yunqing , Kim Minhyeok , Pugno Nicola M. , Ren Bin , Lee Zonghoon , Ruoff Rodney S.
Published: February 2022

A single‐crystal graphene film grown on a Cu(111) foil by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has ribbon‐like fold structures. These graphene folds are highly oriented and essentially parallel to each other. Cu surface steps underneath the graphene are along the <110> and <211> directions, leading to the formation of the arrays of folds. The folds in the single‐layer graphene (SLG) are not continuous but break up into alternating patterns. A “joint” (an AB‐stacked bilayer graphene) region connects two neighboring alternating regions, and the breaks are always along zigzag or armchair directions. Folds formed in bilayer or few‐layer graphene are continuous with no breaks. Molecular dynamics simulations show that SLG suffers a significantly higher compressive stress compared to bilayer graphene when both are under the same compression, thus leading to the rupture of SLG in these fold regions. The fracture strength of a CVD‐grown single‐crystal SLG film is simulated to be about 70 GPa. This study greatly deepens the understanding of the mechanics of CVD‐grown single‐crystal graphene and such folds, and sheds light on the fabrication of various graphene origami/kirigami structures by substrate engineering. Such oriented folds can be used in a variety of further studies.
Highly Stretchable and Sensitive Strain Sensor based on Ionogel/Ag Synergistic Conductive Network
Authors: Sun Jingxian , Yuan Yixin , Lu Guoqiang , Xue Tanlong , Nie Jun , Lu Yan
Published: February 2022

Recently, flexible strain sensors have been intensively studied in order to meet the growing demands of detecting multiscale mechanical deformations. However, it remains a big challenge to integrate high stretchability and high sensitivity in a strain sensor simultaneously. In this study, a highly stretchable and sensitive strain sensor is successfully fabricated by constructing ionogel/silver synergistic conductive network. The transmetalation reaction is utilized to transform the copper atoms in the copper/ionogel nanocomposite into more silver atoms with larger radius, which eliminates the interspace among the nanoparticles, and therefore a silver/ionogel nanocomposite with high conductivity is obtained. Owing to the fragility of the conductive network, the obtained nanocomposite possesses high sensitivity. In addition, as the polymer substrate, the conductive ionogel can connect the crack of the silver conductive network during stretching, endowing the nanocomposite with high stretchability. Hence, the obtained strain sensor exhibits a high sensitivity in a wide sensing range and can detect various human activities. Therefore, this strategy can be envisioned as promising strategy for fabricating high‐performance strain sensors and other flexible electronics.
Polyethylene Glycol‐Like Brush Polymer Conjugate of a Protein Drug Does Not Induce an Antipolymer Immune Response and Has Enhanced Pharmacokinetics than Its Polyethylene Glycol Counterpart
Authors: Ozer Imran , Kelly Garrett , Gu Renpeng , Li Xinghai , Zakharov Nikita , Sirohi Parul , Nair Smita K. , Collier Joel H. , Hershfield Michael S. , Hucknall Angus M. , Chilkoti Ashutosh
Published: February 2022

Protein therapeutics, except for antibodies, have a short plasma half‐life and poor stability in circulation. Covalent coupling of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to protein drugs addresses this limitation. However, unlike previously thought, PEG is immunogenic. In addition to induced PEG antibodies, ≈70% of the US population has pre‐existing anti‐PEG antibodies. Both induced and preexisting anti‐PEG antibodies result in accelerated drug clearance, reduced clinical efficacy, and severe hypersensitivity reactions that have limited the clinical utility of uricase, an enzyme drug for treatment for refractory gout that is decorated with a PEG corona. Here, the authors synthesize a poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (POEGMA) conjugate of uricase that decorates the protein with multiple polymer chains to create a corona to solve these problems. The resulting uricase‐POEGMA is well‐defined, has high bioactivity, and outperforms its PEG counterparts in its pharmacokinetics (PK). Furthermore, the conjugate does not induce anti‐POEGMA antibodies and is not recognized by anti‐PEG antibodies. These findings suggest that POEGMA conjugation may provide a solution to the immunogenicity and antigenicity limitations of PEG while improving upon its PK benefits. These results transcend uricase and can be applied to other PEGylated therapeutics and the broader class of biologics with suboptimal PK.
One‐Pot Synthesis of Customized Metal–Phenolic‐Network‐Coated AIE Dots for In Vivo Bioimaging
Authors: Xu Changhuo , Peng Chen , Yang Xueqin , Zhang Ruoyao , Zhao Zheng , Yan Bo , Zhang Jun , Gong Junyi , He Xuewen , Kwok Ryan T. K. , Lam Jacky W. Y. , Tang Ben Zhong
Published: February 2022

The integration of aggregation‐induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) and inorganic constituents to generate multifunctional nanocomposites has attracted much attention because it couples the bright aggregate‐state fluorescence of AIEgens with the diverse imaging modalities of inorganic constituents. Herein, a facile and universal strategy to prepare metal–phenolic‐network (MPN)‐coated AIE dots in a high encapsulation efficiency is reported. Through precise control on the nucleation of AIEgens and deposition of MPNs in tetrahydrofuran/water mixtures, termed as coacervation, core–shell MPN‐coated AIE dots with bright emission are assembled in a one‐pot fashion. The optical properties of MPN‐coated AIE dots can be readily tuned by varying the incorporated AIEgens. Different metal ions, such as Fe3+, Ti4+, Cu2+, Ni2+, can be introduced to the nanoparticles. The MPN‐coated AIE dots with a red‐emissive AIEgen core are successfully used to perform magnetic resonance/fluorescence dual‐modality imaging in a tumor‐bearing mouse model and blood flow visualization in a zebrafish larva. It is believed that the present study provides a tailor‐made nanoplatform to meet the individual needs of in vivo bioimaging.
Biofloc system improves protein utilization efficiency and growth performance of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus fry: Experimental evidence
Authors: Zablon Wilfred O. , Ogello Erick O. , Getabu Albert , Omondi Reuben
Published: February 2022

This study evaluated the effect of biofloc technology (BFT) on protein utilization and growth performance of Oreochromis niloticus fry under green house for 14 weeks under a 3 × 2 factorial design involving three crude protein (CP) levels (22, 27 and 35%) and two different carbon sources. Molasses and glucose were independently used as carbon sources in the BFT tanks with aeration using air stones. Mono‐sex fish fry of mean weight 0.07 ± 0.01 g and total length 13.1 ± 0.01 mm were stocked at density of 1 fish per litre. The fishes were fed on the three commercial diets that were randomly assigned in triplicates, with the control treatment being 35% CP. Feeding was done twice daily at 5% body weight, while sludge was siphoned weekly. Calculations of specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), food conversion ratio (FCR), survival and measurement of water quality parameters were also performed. Protein levels and carbon sources had significant effects (p < 0.05) on dissolved oxygen (DO) and NH3 protein levels and carbon sources had significant interaction (p < 0.05) on pH. There was a significantly higher FCR in the control treatment (0.89) than in glucose (0.56–0.57) and molasses (0.59–0.63) bioflocs; furthermore, it was significantly different between the carbon sources. The PER was significantly higher in the control (8.42) than in glucose (5.03–7.99) and molasses (4.81–7.23) bioflocs. No significant interactions (p > 0.05) of protein levels and carbon sources were recorded on PER. However, it was significantly affected (p < 0.05) by protein levels and carbon sources. No significant effects (p > 0.05) of dietary protein level, carbon source, or their interaction were observed on SGR and condition factor. The SGR was significantly lower in the control (2.91) than glucose (3.52–3.59) and molasses (3.49‐3.56) bioflocs. The condition factor was significantly lower in the control (0.81) than glucose (1.72–1.83) and molasses (1.82–1.84) bioflocs. Survival rates were significantly higher in glucose (>97%) and molasses (>94%) than the control with a lower value of 74.7%. The biofloc increased protein utilization efficiency, which improved FCR and enhanced fish growth rate even with a lower dietary protein level. Further studies should evaluate the applicability of BFT in outdoor cultures.
Ploidy and local environment drive intraspecific variation in endoreduplication in Arabidopsis arenosa
Authors: Wos Guillaume , Macková Lenka , Kubíková Kateřina , Kolář Filip
Published: February 2022

Premise

Endoreduplication, nonheritable duplication of a nuclear genome, is widespread in plants and plays a role in developmental processes related to cell differentiation. However, neither ecological nor cytological factors influencing intraspecific variation in endoreduplication are fully understood.

Methods

We cultivated plants covering the range‐wide natural diversity of diploid and tetraploid populations of Arabidopsis arenosa in common conditions to investigate the effect of original ploidy level on endoreduplication. We also raised plants from several foothill and alpine populations from different lineages and of both ploidies to test for the effect of elevation. We determined the endoreduplication level in leaves of young plants by flow cytometry. Using RNA‐seq data available for our populations, we analyzed gene expression analysis in individuals that differed in endoreduplication level.

Results

We found intraspecific variation in endoreduplication that was mainly driven by the original ploidy level of populations, with significantly higher endoreduplication in diploids. An effect of elevation was also found within each ploidy, yet its direction exhibited rather regional‐specific patterns. Transcriptomic analysis comparing individuals with high vs. low endopolyploidy revealed a majority of differentially expressed genes related to the stress and hormone response and to modifications especially in the cell wall and in chloroplasts.

Conclusions

Our results support the general assumption of higher potential of low‐ploidy organisms to undergo endoreduplication and suggest that endoreduplication is further integrated within the stress response pathways for a fine‐tune adjustment of the endoreduplication process to their local environment.
Amazonian run‐of‐river dam reservoir impacts underestimated: Evidence from a before–after control–impact study of freshwater turtle nesting areas
Authors: Bárcenas‐García Andrea , Michalski Fernanda , Gibbs James P. , Norris Darren
Published: February 2022

Hydropower dams are associated with adverse impacts on biodiversity, yet there remains a lack of robust scientific evidence documenting the magnitude of these impacts, particularly across highly biodiverse tropical waterways. Aquatic and semi‐aquatic vertebrates are disproportionately affected by human changes to aquatic environments and hydropower expansion is an increasing threat to the Endangered yellow‐spotted river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) across its tropical South American range.

Yellow‐spotted river turtle nesting areas were monitored as an indicator of dry season river level changes following run‐of‐river dam reservoir filling. A before–after control–impact (BACI) study design was used with multi‐year field campaigns monitoring turtle nesting areas upstream of the dam.

The cause and extent of changes in nesting areas were established using generalized additive models. Nesting area density was evaluated in relation to time (before vs. after), treatment (control vs. impact), time–treatment interaction (BACI), distance to the dam and precipitation. The extent of changes was examined by comparing the remaining proportion of nesting areas after reservoir filling.

Dam construction generated an immediate and apparently permanent dry season river‐level rise that extended more than 20 km beyond impact assessment limits. On average the density of nesting areas declined by 69% (from 0.48 to 0.15 per km) across 33 km of river directly affected by the dam. This loss was reflected in a significant BACI interaction. Nesting area density was not explained by seasonal precipitation.

Monitoring of freshwater turtle nesting areas provided an effective means to quantify hydropower dam impacts across biodiverse yet rapidly changing waterways. The adverse impacts documented in this study should be preventable by mitigation actions including habitat creation and dry season flow regulation. Such measures are also likely to benefit multiple sandbar‐nesting species (including turtles, crocodiles and birds) in tropical rivers increasingly influenced by run‐of‐river dams.
Associations of Body Mass Index With Pain and the Mediating Role of Inflammatory Biomarkers in People With Hand Osteoarthritis
Authors: Gløersen Marthe , Steen Pettersen Pernille , Neogi Tuhina , Jafarzadeh S. Reza , Vistnes Maria , Thudium Christian S. , Bay‐Jensen Anne‐Christine , Sexton Joe , Kvien Tore K. , Hammer Hilde B. , Haugen Ida K.
Published: February 2022

Objective

To examine the association of body mass index (BMI) with pain in people with hand osteoarthritis (OA), and explore whether this association, if causal, is mediated by systemic inflammatory biomarkers.

Methods

In 281 Nor‐Hand study participants, we estimated associations between BMI and hand pain, as measured by the Australian/Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN; range 0–20) and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS; range 0–10); foot pain, as measured by NRS (range 0–10); knee/hip pain, as measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC; range 0–20); painful total body joint count; and pain sensitization. We fit natural‐effects models to estimate natural direct and natural indirect effects of BMI on pain through inflammatory biomarkers.

Results

Each 5‐unit increase in BMI was associated with more severe hand pain (on average increased AUSCAN by 0.64 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.23, 1.08]), foot pain (on average increased NRS by 0.65 [95% CI 0.36, 0.92]), knee/hip pain (on average increased WOMAC by 1.31 [95% CI 0.87, 1.73]), generalized pain, and pain sensitization. Mediation analyses suggested that the effects of BMI on hand pain and painful total body joint count were partially mediated by leptin and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), respectively. Effect sizes for mediation by leptin were larger for the hands than for the lower extremities, and were statistically significant for the hands only.

Conclusion

In people with hand OA, higher BMI is associated with greater pain severity in the hands, feet, and knees/hips. Systemic effects of obesity, measured by leptin, may play a larger mediating role for pain in the hands than in the lower extremities. Low‐grade inflammation, measured by hsCRP, may contribute to generalized pain in overweight/obese individuals.
Wealth and depression: A scoping review
Authors: Ettman Catherine K. , Adam Gaelen P. , Clark Melissa A. , Wilson Ira B. , Vivier Patrick M. , Galea Sandro
Published: February 2022

Introduction

The inverse relation between income and depression is well established. Less is understood about the relation between wealth and depression. We therefore conducted a scoping review to answer the question: What is known from the existing literature about the relation between wealth and depression?

Methods

We searched for studies and articles in Medline (via PubMed), Embase, PsycINFO, PsycArticles, EconLit, and SocINDEX from inception through July 19, 2020. Ninety‐six articles were included in our review. Key article characteristics were year of publication, sample size, country, study design, definition of depression, definition of wealth, and association between wealth and depression. Thirty‐two longitudinal articles were included in a detailed charted review.

Results

Depression was defined in a relatively standard manner across articles. In contrast, definitions and measurements of wealth varied greatly. The majority of studies in the full review (n = 56, 58%) and half of the studies in the longitudinal charted review (n = 16, 50%) reported an inverse relation between wealth and depression. The longitudinal charted review showed that (1) macro‐economic events influenced depression, (2) wealth status influenced depression across the lifecourse, (3) wealth protected against depression in the face of stressors such as job loss, (4) subjective or psychosocial factors such as perception of wealth, relative comparison, and social status modified the relation between wealth and depression, and (5) savings interventions were successful in reducing depression and varied by context.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that wealth should be included in our consideration of the forces that shape mental health.
Factors hinder the foreign entities business operation in Visegrad countries
Authors: Singh Devesh
Published: February 2022

Why do foreign firms and domestic firms face different hindering factors in a group of the same structural economies and business environment created by the same macroeconomic variables? This study addresses the essential question of the impact of a sound business environment in attracting or deterring foreign direct investment (FDI). This research utilizes the firm‐level World Enterprises Survey (WES) data and employed the parametric and non‐parametric methodology. The binary logistic regression and decision tree have been used to analyze the business environment. The author examines how macroeconomic factors influence the FDI investment decision. It was found that the two models perform very similarly in terms of predicting the business obstacle. Results of this study show that the trade regulation is the area of concern for a sound business environment that is identified by both methods in this study. Countries with stronger contract enforcement and more efficient international trade regulations create a pleasant business environment to attract more FDI.
A Treatise on Furan Cored Schiff Base Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(III) Complexes Accentuating Their Biological Efficacy: Synthesis, Thermal and Spectroscopic Characterization, DNA Interactions, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity Studies
Authors: Venkateswarlu Kadtala , Rambabu Aveli , Shankar Dasari Shiva , Lakshmi P. V. Anantha , Shivaraj
Published: February 2022

Three metal complexes [Cu(FMIMDIP)2] (1), [Ni(FMIMDIP)2] (2) and [Co(FMIMDIP)3] (3) where, FMIMDIP=(((furan‐2‐yl)methylimino)methyl)‐4,6‐diiodophenol, were synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopy. The analytical data revealed a square planar geometry for 1 and 2 and an octahedral geometry for 3. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the thermal decomposition steps were calculated from the thermograms. The quantum chemical parameters have been calculated using HOMO‐LUMO energies and reveal the stability of the complexes. The DNA interaction of 1–3 towards calf‐thymus DNA was investigated by absorption titration, fluorescence spectroscopy and gel electrophoresis. All the complexes bind to DNA via intercalation mode with binding constant (Kb) values of 4.17×103 M−1 to 5.9×104 M−1 and also effectively cleave pBR322 DNA by oxidative and photolytic techniques. The synergistic action of metal chelates with ascorbic acid induced the generation of free radicals. The antibacterial activity of 1–3 was tested against B. thuringiensis, S. pneumoniae, E. coli, and P. putida. Complex 3 has the best activity among all the complexes.
New insight of itch mediators and proinflammatory cytokines in epidermolysis bullosa
Authors: Nguyen Hong Ha , Shinkuma Satoru , Hayashi Ryota , Katsumi Tatsuya , Nishiguchi Tomoki , Natsuga Ken , Fujita Yasuyuki , Abe Riichiro
Published: February 2022

Objectives

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a hereditary disorder characterized by mechanical stress‐induced blistering. The presence of extracutaneous complications such as cardiomyopathy and renal disease observed in severe EB subtypes and the fact that pruritus is a common symptom across all EB subtypes indicate that EB is not only a skin fragility disease but also a systemic inflammatory disorder. Our study aims to elucidate the basis of the systemic inflammation seen in EB patients.

Methods

We analyzed serum samples of 20 EB patients by Luminex bead‐based cytokine assays and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays.

Results

The serum levels of sIL‐2R, IL‐6, HGF, M‐CSF, SCGF‐β, IL‐8, IL‐16, IFN‐γ, MIF, MIP‐1α, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) (p < .01, p < .01, p < .01, p < .01, p < .01, p < .05, p < .05, p < .05, p < .05, p < .05, and p = .01, respectively) were found to be significantly elevated in EB patients, whereas TNF‐β (p < .01) was decreased. Th2 cytokines including IL‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13 were not elevated in EB patients. In contrast, TSLP was significantly increased, and IL‐31 and oncostatin M were not statistically significant but tended to be higher in the patients than in healthy controls. Among proinflammatory cytokines such as IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α, IL‐6 was elevated in EB patients.

Conclusions

The imbalance of several itch mediators and proinflammatory cytokines was identified. Biologics targeting the cytokines found to be elevated in the sera of patients is considered as a beneficial treatment option for EB.
Multicancer early detection: International summit to Clarify the Roadmap
Authors: Limburg Paul J. , Ahlquist David A. , Johnson Sonali , Jayasekar Zurn Shalini , Kisiel John B. , Smith Robert A.
Published: February 2022

To expedite the development and application of potentially transformative multicancer early detection assays, an international summit was hosted by the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, the American Cancer Society, and the Union for International Cancer Control on World Cancer Day 2020 at the historic Mayowood Mansion in Rochester, Minnesota. Insights shared during this unique summit have been formulated into a series of expert‐authored commentaries, which accompany this introductory article.
Patient engagement and advocacy considerations in development and implementation of a multicancer early detection program
Authors: Schear Rebekkah M. , Hoyos Jody M. , Davis Anjee Q. , Woods Phylicia L. , Poblete Sung , Richardson Robin N. , Finney Rutten Lila J.
Published: February 2022

Advocacy organizations are poised to ensure that patients' needs and preferences inform the development, planning, and implementation of multicancer early detection technologies. Engaging patients and cancer advocacy organizations throughout the research, development, and implementation of multicancer early detection technologies is critical to optimize public health impact and health equity.
Identifying different sustainable practices to help companies to contribute to the sustainable development: Holistic sustainability, sustainable business and operations models
Authors: Sanchez‐Planelles Joaquin , Segarra‐Oña Marival , Peiro‐Signes Angel
Published: February 2022

Companies are facing pressure in order to reduce their environmental impact. However, the managerial tools and frameworks to bring sustainability into practice are in their infancy. This paper is encompassed on the development of the Theory of Corporate Sustainability, and this work offers the practical implication of the theory to provide researchers and managers with a tool to analyse how companies integrate sustainability among their strategies and operations. The methodology has been based on the use of the case‐study protocol. Four interviews have been carried out and data obtained has been analysed using content analysis methodology. Results show that companies that have a formal structure to deal with sustainability are able to integrate sustainable practices in a higher degree than companies that adopt sustainability in a siloed way. Moreover, this paper shows how the process of sustainability integration differs between existing companies and new companies.
Inflammatory marker trajectories associated with frailty and ageing in a 20‐year longitudinal study
Authors: Samson Leonard Daniël , Buisman Anne‐Marie , Ferreira José A , Picavet H Susan J , Verschuren W M Monique , Boots Annemieke MH , Engelfriet Peter
Published: February 2022

Objective

The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate the development of low‐grade inflammation during ageing and its relationship with frailty.

Methods

The trajectories of 18 inflammatory markers measured in blood samples, collected at 5‐year intervals over a period of 20 years from 144 individuals aged 65–75 years at the study endpoint, were related to the degree of frailty later in life.

Results

IFN‐γ‐related markers and platelet activation markers were found to change in synchrony. Chronically elevated levels of IL‐6 pathway markers, such as CRP and sIL‐6R, were associated with more frailty, poorer lung function and reduced physical strength. Being overweight was a possible driver of these associations. More and stronger associations were detected in women, such as a relation between increasing sCD14 levels and frailty, indicating a possible role for monocyte overactivation. Multivariate prediction of frailty confirmed the main results, but predictive accuracy was low.

Conclusion

In summary, we documented temporal changes in and between inflammatory markers in an ageing population over a period of 20 years, and related these to clinically relevant health outcomes.
Daphnetin inhibits the survival of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through regulating Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Liu Chaohui , Pan Jiansheng , Liu Hongyu , Lin Rongkai , Chen Yijie , Zhang Chenghua
Published: February 2022

Evidence has demonstrated that Daphnetin has antiangiogenesis activity, indicating it might be a new multi‐targeted medication for cancer therapy. Here, we aimed to reveal Daphnetin role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and the underlying mechanism. Huh7 and SK‐HEP‐1, two human HCC cell lines were used in this study. MTT （3‐(4,5‐Dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide）, colony formation, flow cytometry, and tumor‐bearing experiments were applied to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of Daphnetin on cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle, and in vivo tumor formation, respectively. Real‐time PCR （Polymerase Chain Reaction）and western blotting were applied to measure the mRNA and protein levels of β‐catenin. We observed that Daphnetin inhibited cell viability and tumorigenesis, promoted cell apoptosis, and induced a G1 phase arrest in a dose‐dependent manner in both Huh7 and SK‐HEP‐1 cells, which were rescued by SKL2001, an activator of the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling. Taken together, this study reveals that Daphnetin exerts an antitumor role in HCC through the inactivation of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling.
Demographic partitioning of dynamic energy subsidies revealed with anOrnstein–Uhlenbeckspace use model
Authors: Eisaguirre Joseph M. , Booms Travis L. , Barger Christopher P. , Lewis Stephen B. , Breed Greg A.
Published: February 2022

In populations across many taxa, a large fraction of sexually mature individuals do not breed but are attempting to enter the breeding population. Such individuals, often referred to as “floaters,” can play critical roles in the dynamics and stability of these populations and buffer them through periods of high adult mortality. Floaters are difficult to study, however, so we lack data needed to understand their roles in the population ecology and conservation status of many species. Here, we analyzed satellite telemetry data with a newly developed mechanistic space use model based on an Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process to help overcome the paucity of data in studying the differential habitat selection and space use of floater and territorial golden eaglesAquila chrysaetos. Our sample consisted of 49 individuals tracked over complete breeding seasons across 4 years, totaling 104 eagle breeding seasons. Modeling these data mechanistically was required to disentangle key differences in movement and particularly to separate aspects of movement driven by resource selection from those driven by use of a central place. We found that floaters generally had more expansive space use patterns and larger home ranges, as well as evidence that they partition space with territorial individuals seemingly on fine scales through differential habitat and resource selection. Floater and territorial eagle home ranges overlapped markedly, suggesting that floaters use the interstices between territories. Furthermore, floater and territorial eagles differed in how they selected for uplift variables, key components of soaring birds’ energy landscape, with territorial eagles apparently better able to find and use thermal uplift. We also found relatively low individual heterogeneity in resource selection, especially among territorial individuals, suggesting a narrow realized niche for breeding individuals, which varied from the level of among‐individual variation present during migration. This work furthers our understanding of floaters’ potential roles in the population ecology of territorial species and suggests that conserving landscapes occupied by territorial eagles also protects floaters.
Accounting for animal movement improves vaccination strategies against wildlife disease in heterogeneous landscapes
Authors: McClure Katherine M. , Bastille‐Rousseau Guillaume , Davis Amy J. , Stengel Carolyn A. , Nelson Kathleen M. , Chipman Richard B. , Wittemyer George , Abdo Zaid , Gilbert Amy T. , Pepin Kim M.
Published: February 2022

Oral baiting is used to deliver vaccines to wildlife to prevent, control, and eliminate infectious diseases. A central challenge is how to spatially distribute baits to maximize encounters by target animal populations, particularly in urban and suburban areas where wildlife such as raccoons (Procyon lotor) are abundant and baits are delivered along roads. Methods from movement ecology that quantify movement and habitat selection could help to optimize baiting strategies by more effectively targeting wildlife populations across space. We developed a spatially explicit, individual‐based model of raccoon movement and oral rabies vaccine seroconversion to examine whether and when baiting strategies that match raccoon movement patterns perform better than currently used baiting strategies in an oral rabies vaccination zone in greater Burlington, Vermont, USA. Habitat selection patterns estimated from locally radio‐collared raccoons were used to parameterize movement simulations. We then used our simulations to estimate raccoon population rabies seroprevalence under currently used baiting strategies (actual baiting) relative to habitat selection‐based baiting strategies (habitat baiting). We conducted simulations on the Burlington landscape and artificial landscapes that varied in heterogeneity relative to Burlington in the proportion and patch size of preferred habitats. We found that the benefits of habitat baiting strongly depended on the magnitude and variability of raccoon habitat selection and the degree of landscape heterogeneity within the baiting area. Habitat baiting improved seroprevalence over actual baiting for raccoons characterized as habitat specialists but not for raccoons that displayed weak habitat selection similar to radiocollared individuals, except when baits were delivered off roads where preferred habitat coverage and complexity was more pronounced. In contrast, in artificial landscapes with either more strongly juxtaposed favored habitats and/or higher proportions of favored habitats, habitat baiting performed better than actual baiting, even when raccoons displayed weak habitat preferences and where baiting was constrained to roads. Our results suggest that habitat selection‐based baiting could increase raccoon population seroprevalence in urban–suburban areas, where practical, given the heterogeneity and availability of preferred habitat types in those areas. Our novel simulation approach provides a flexible framework to test alternative baiting strategies in multiclass landscapes to optimize bait‐distribution strategies.
Higher metabolic plasticity in temperate compared to tropical lizards suggests increased resilience to climate change
Authors: Sun Baojun , Williams Caroline M. , Li Teng , Speakman John R. , Jin Zengguang , Lu Hongliang , Luo Laigao , Du Weiguo
Published: February 2022

Patterns in functional diversity of organisms at large spatial scales can provide insight into possible responses to future climate change, but it remains a challenge to link large‐scale patterns at the population or species level to their underlying physiological mechanisms at the individual level. The climate variability hypothesis predicts that temperate ectotherms will be less vulnerable to climate warming compared with tropical ectotherms, due to their superior acclimatization capacity. However, metabolic acclimatization occurs over multiple levels, from the enzyme and cellular level, through organ systems, to whole‐organism metabolic rate (from this point forwards biological hierarchy). Previous studies have focused on one or a few levels of the biological hierarchy, leaving us without a general understanding of how metabolic acclimatization might differ between tropical and temperate species. Here, we investigated thermal acclimation of three species ofTakydromuslizards distributed along a broad latitudinal gradient in China, by studying metabolic modifications at the level of the whole organism, organ, mitochondria, metabolome, and proteome. As predicted by the climate variability hypothesis, the two temperate speciesT. septentrionalisandT. wolterihad an enhanced acclimation response at the whole organism level compared with the tropical speciesT. sexlineatus, as measured by respiratory gas exchange rates. However, the mechanisms by which whole organism performance was modified was strikingly different in the two temperate species: widespreadT. septentrionalismodified organ sizes, whereas the narrowly distributedT. wolterirelied on mitochondrial, proteomic and metabolomic regulation. We suggest that these two mechanisms of thermal acclimatization may represent general strategies used by ectotherms, with distinct ecological costs and benefits. Lacking either of these mechanisms of thermal acclimatization capacity, the tropical species is likely to have increased vulnerability to climate change.
Harnessing the Four‐Dimensional Ecology Education Framework to redesign an introductory ecology course in a changing higher education landscape
Authors: Ruhl N. , Crumrine P. , Oberle J. , Richmond C. , Thomas S. , Wright S.
Published: February 2022

As higher education undergoes rapid and fundamental change, eco‐educators need to be prepared to promote the inclusion of the ecological sciences in the biological sciences curriculum of the future. Here, we present an instructional alignment for an introductory ecology course, which is informed by and integrated with the Four‐Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) Framework. Our instructional alignment was created collaboratively among faculty involved in teaching the course and emphasizes the relevance and utility of the ecological sciences. We believe that this approach positions the ecological sciences for continued success and inclusion in the biological sciences curriculum of tomorrow.
Behavioral responses to spatial variation in perceived predation risk and resource availability in an arboreal primate
Authors: Parker Edwin J. , Hill Russell A. , Koyama Nicola F.
Published: February 2022

Prey species must often face a trade‐off between acquiring resources and minimizing predation risk. The spatial variation in predation risk across a landscape, as perceived by prey across their foraging or home range, creates a “landscape of fear” by which individuals modify their behavior in response to the level of perceived risk. Here, we explored the influence of perceived predation risk, habitat features associated with risk, and fruit availability, on the spatial variation in behavior of the endangered forest‐dwelling samango monkey (Cercopithecus albogularis schwarzi). We collected behavioral and location data on two habituated samango monkey groups in the Soutpansberg Mountains, South Africa, between 2012 and 2016. We further collected location data of the samango monkey's acoustically distinct alarm call, which has an unambiguous association with aerial predators, to spatially map perceived risk across the landscape. Using generalized linear mixed models, we found that perceived risk from eagles significantly influenced the spatial distribution of critical life‐functioning behaviors, with samango monkeys increasing feeding and foraging in high‐risk areas. To mitigate this risk, samangos increased cohesion between group members, which subsequently reduced vigilance levels. Group cohesion further increased in high‐risk areas with abundant fruit, relative to high‐risk, fruit‐poor areas, demonstrating the monkey's foraging/risk trade‐off. Feeding was also reduced in areas of low canopy height, while vigilance decreased with increasing understory visibility and distance from sleep site, showing the influence of landscape features on risk perception from other predator guilds. Thus, for arboreal species foraging in a 3‐D landscape, risk perception may occur at multiple scales and in response to multiple predator guilds. Only moving was influenced by fruit availability, either due to moving between localized food patches or from escaping high‐risk areas following feeding bouts. These findings highlight that risk‐taking in samango monkeys is only associated with behaviors fundamental to survival at a given location and that increased cohesion between neighbors is the main antipredator response in this species.
Experimental and numerical investigations on seismic behavior of circular tubed reinforced concrete column to RC beam frames
Authors: Li Xiang , Liu Jiepeng , Zhou Xuhong , Wang Xuanding , Chen Yohchia Frank
Published: February 2022

The tubed reinforced concrete (TRC) column is a special kind of concrete‐filled tube (CFT) column where the steel tube is disconnected at the beam–column connection, thereby not directly carrying the axial load while maximizing the confinement effect. Extensive research has been conducted to study the static and seismic performances of TRC columns and their mechanical properties. However, little attention has been paid to study the whole structural system containing TRC columns. To fill this lacking information, an experimental program on the seismic behavior of circular tubed reinforced concrete (CTRC) column to reinforced concrete (RC) beam frames (CTRC frames) was presented in this study for the first time. Two half‐scale two‐story CTRC frames, with two bays in each frame, were designed and tested under quasi‐static loads. The first frame has strong columns and weak beams; while the second frame has rather weak columns and strong beams, implying that plastic hinges may form in the columns under seismic action. The test results indicate that both frames are sufficiently ductile to effectively dissipate energy. However, for the second frame, more severe damages of beams and columns in the first floor were observed, resulting in the instability of the overall frame. A fiber‐based finite‐element model is established using OpenSees; and the numerical results are generally in good agreement with the test results. Utilizing the numerical model, a parametric study is conducted and the preliminary design suggestions on TRC frames are proposed.
Time‐lapse photogrammetry reveals hydrological controls of fine‐scale High‐Arctic glacier surface roughness evolution
Authors: Irvine‐Fynn Tristram D. L. , Holt Tom O. , James Timothy D. , Smith Mark W. , Rutter Nick , Porter Philip R. , Hodson Andrew J.
Published: February 2022

In a warming Arctic, as glacier snowlines rise, short‐ to medium‐term increases in seasonal bare‐ice extent are forecast for the next few decades. These changes will enhance the importance of turbulent energy fluxes for surface ablation and glacier mass balance. Turbulent energy exchanges at the ice surface are conditioned by its topography, or roughness, which has been hypothesized to be controlled by supraglacial hydrology at the glacier scale. However, current understanding of the dynamics in surface topography, and the role of drainage development, remains incomplete, particularly for the transition between seasonal snow cover and well‐developed, weathered bare‐ice. Using time‐lapse photogrammetry, we report a daily timeseries of fine (millimetre)‐scale supraglacial topography at a 2 m2 plot on the Lower Foxfonna glacier, Svalbard, over two 9‐day periods in 2011. We show traditional kernel‐based morphometric descriptions of roughness were ineffective in describing temporal change, but indicated fine‐scale albedo feedbacks at depths of ~60 mm contributed to conditioning surface topography. We found profile‐based and two‐dimensional estimates of roughness revealed temporal change, and the aerodynamic roughness parameter, z0, showed a 22–32% decrease from ~1 mm following the exposure of bare‐ice, and a subsequent 72–77% increase. Using geostatistical techniques, we identified ‘hole effect’ properties in the surface elevation semivariograms, and demonstrated that hydrological drivers control the plot‐scale topography: degradation of superimposed ice reduces roughness while the inception of braided rills initiates a subsequent development and amplification of topography. Our study presents an analytical framework for future studies that interrogate the coupling between ice surface roughness and hydro‐meteorological variables and seek to improve parameterizations of topographically evolving bare‐ice areas.
How to deal with persistently low/high spenders in health plan payment systems?
Authors: van Kleef Richard C. , van Vliet René C. J. A.
Published: February 2022

Health insurance markets with community‐rated premiums typically include risk adjustment (RA) to mitigate selection problems. Over the past decades, RA systems have evolved from simple demographic models to sophisticated morbidity‐based models. Even the most sophisticated models, however, tend to overcompensate people with persistently low spending and undercompensate those with persistently high spending. This paper compares three methods that exploit spending‐level persistence for improving health plan payment systems: (1) implementation of spending‐based risk adjustors, (2) implementation of high‐risk pooling for people with multiple‐year high spending, and (3) indirect use of spending persistence via constrained regression. Based on incentive measures for risk selection and cost control, we conclude that a combination of the last two options can substantially outperform the first, which is currently used in the health plan payment system in the Netherlands.
Learning to listen: Downstream effects of listening training on employees' relatedness, burnout, and turnover intentions
Authors: Itzchakov Guy , Weinstein Netta , Cheshin Arik
Published: February 2022

The present work focuses on listening training as an example of a relational human resource practice that can improve human resource outcomes: Relatedness to colleagues, burnout, and turnover intentions. In two quasi‐field experiments, employees were assigned to either a group listening training or a control condition. Both immediately after training and after 3 weeks later, receiving listening training was shown to be linked to higher feelings of relatedness with colleagues, lower burnout, and lower turnover intentions. These findings suggest that listening training can be harnessed as a powerful human resource management tool to cultivate stronger relationships at work. The implications for Relational Coordination Theory, High‐Quality Connections Theory, and Self‐Determination Theory are discussed.
Trends in lung cancer incidence by gender, histological type and stage at diagnosis in Japan, 1993 to 2015: A multiple imputation approach
Authors: Nguyen Phuong The , Katanoda Kota , Saito Eiko , Hori Megumi , Nakayama Tomio , Matsuda Tomohiro
Published: February 2022

Continued decrease in smoking prevalence and increasing use of sensitive diagnostic procedures necessitate updated monitoring of trends in lung cancer incidence in Japan. We analyzed histology‐ and stage‐specific trends in 1993 to 2015 using data from 62 870 diagnosed cases from the Monitoring of Cancer Incidence in Japan project. After applying a multiple imputation approach to impute missing/unknown values of stage and histology, we estimated age‐standardized incidence rates and applied joinpoint regression analyses. We observed long‐term growth trends in adenocarcinoma (ADC) and localized cancer among both genders, long‐term declining trends among men and leveling‐off trends among women in small‐cell carcinoma (SMC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SQC). Stratifying by gender, we observed an increase in localized ADC with average annual percentage changes (AAPC) of 4.5 (95% confidence interval: 3.9 to 5.0) and 5.7 (5.0 to 6.4), a decrease in regional ADC with AAPC of −1.5 (−2.5 to −0.6) and −2.3 (−4.6 to 0.0), but an increase in distant ADC with AAPC of 1.5 (1.1 to 1.9) and 1.6 (0.9 to 2.3) among males and females, respectively. Additionally, increasing trends in female‐to‐male incidence rate ratios were observed in localized ADC with significantly above one in the most recent diagnosis period. Our results revealed evidence for a partial shift from advanced to early cancer stage, which may suggest the modest effectiveness of nationwide organized screening programs. The observed increasing localized and distant ADC may be linked to improved diagnostic procedures, especially for metastasis detection. Further investigation is needed for more accurate quantification of these factors.