bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Copper‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Diyne Cyclization via [1,2]‐Stevens‐Type Rearrangement for the Synthesis of Chiral Chromeno[3,4‐c]pyrroles
Authors: Hong Feng‐Lin , Shi Chong‐Yang , Hong Pan , Zhai Tong‐Yi , Zhu Xin‐Qi , Lu Xin , Ye Long‐Wu
Published: December 2021

Here, we report a copper‐catalyzed asymmetric cascade cyclization/[1,2]‐Stevens‐type rearrangement via a non‐diazo approach, leading to the practical and atom‐economic assembly of various valuable chiral chromeno[3,4‐c]pyrroles bearing a quaternary carbon stereocenter in generally moderate to good yields with wide substrate scope and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99 % ee). Importantly, this protocol not only represents the first example of catalytic asymmetric [1,2]‐Stevens‐type rearrangement based on alkynes but also constitutes the first asymmetric formal carbene insertion into the Si−O bond.
Expeditious and Efficient ortho‐Selective Trifluoromethane‐sulfonylation of Arylhydroxylamines
Authors: Liu Yue , Bai Songlin , Du Yuanbo , Qi Xiangbing , Gao Hongyin
Published: December 2021

A metal‐ and oxidant‐free, practical and efficient method for the synthesis of highly versatile and synthetically useful ortho‐trifluoromethanesulfonylated anilines from arylhydroxylamines and trifluoromethanesulfinic chloride was developed. This rapid transformation proceeded smoothly with good yields and excellent ortho‐selectivity in the absence of any metals or ligands. Mechanistically, the reaction comprised a noncanonical O‐trifluoromethanesulfinylation of the arylhydroxylamine, and the subsequent [2,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement to afford ortho‐trifluoromethanesulfonylated aniline derivatives. The practical application of this reaction was demonstrated by further conversion into a series of functional molecules under different reaction conditions.
Glycan‐Selective MALDI In‐Source Decay Analysis of Intact Glycoproteins
Authors: Urakami Shogo , Hinou Hiroshi
Published: December 2021

A simple matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) approach has been developed to analyze the structural pattern of glycan on glycoproteins without any digestive or modification pretreatment. For a 7 pmol sample of intact glycoprotein, RNase B, a solid ionic matrix DHB‐aniline‐sodium enabled a regioselective in‐source decay (ISD) and glycan‐selective ionization as a sodium adduct ion, [M+Na]+. This matrix significantly reduced the formation of peptide‐fragment‐derived ions, and a high‐mannose‐type glycan pattern was observed. This ISD product ion was formed by selective cleavage of the reducing end of the glycan by 0,2A or 2,4A type cross‐ring cleavage. Pseudo‐MS3‐type post‐source decay (PSD) analysis of an A type ion indicated the regioselectivity of the ISD fragmentation and the glycan sequence. Combining ISD glycomics with conventional ISD proteomics will accelerate quality control for glycoprotein drugs and biomarker discovery.
Experimental study and modeling of hindered one dimensional settling of spherical trifluroethyl methacrylate based polymer particles
Authors: Reghu Aravind , Butcher Timothy , Lin Jui‐Ming , Russell James , Hammond Jeremy
Published: December 2021

Determining the settling behavior of trifluroethyl methacrylate based spherical polymer particles is important in identifying its efficacy as quality control materials in flow cytometry‐based hematology instruments. Settling properties of these polymer particles like settling rate, critical height of the sediment and resuspension time interval changes with particle size, concentration and sample volume. In this study, one dimensional settling of monodispersed polymer spherical particles in water was performed using a Turbiscan Lab spectrophotometer. An empirical settling model based on Richardson and Zaki's analysis for hindered settling was used to determine the different settling properties associated with these polymer particle suspensions. The different settling properties were also determined in terms of particle size, concentration, and sample volume. In summary, the time interval where an external force is applied to effectively resuspend the particles is shorter for larger particles and longer for larger sample volumes and concentrations.
Development of a L‐cysteine Sensor Based on Thallium Oxide Coupled Multi‐walled Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites with Electrochemical Approach
Authors: Musarraf Hussain Mohammad , Asiri Abdullah M. , Uddin Jamal , Marwani Hadi M. , Rahman Mohammed M.
Published: December 2021

Here, nanocomposites of thallium oxide doped multi‐walled carbon nanotube (Tl2O MWCNT NCs) were prepared by utilizing a wet‐chemical method (WCM) in an alkaline phase at low temperature. Different optical procedures (FTIR: Fourier Transform Infra‐Red Spectroscopy, XRD: Powder X‐ray diffraction, FESEM: Field‐Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, XEDS: X‐ray Electron Dispersive Spectroscopy, TEM: Tunneling Electron Microscopy, and XPS: X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy) were used to fully characterize (optical, structural, crystalline, morphological, and elemental etc.) of the prepared Tl2O MWCNT NCs. Modification of the thin‐layer with NCs onto glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is prepared and applied for the selective and sensitive enzyme‐free detection of L‐cysteine by an electrochemical approach. Using a reliable current‐voltage approach, analytical sensing indexes such as sensitivity, LDR, LOD, LOQ, durability, and interference were assessed by fabricated sensor probe (GCE/Tl2O MWCNT NCs/CPM) in selective detection of L‐cysteine at room temperature, whereas nafion was used as conducting polymer matrix (CPM) during the fabrication of GCE with NCs. L‐cysteine calibration plot was found to be linear over an extensive range of concentration. The calibration curve was used to calculate the sensing parameters such as sensitivity (316.46 pAμM−1cm−2), LOD down to (∼18.90±1.89 pM), and LOQ (63.0 pM) of the prepared sensor. The use of a simple WCM to validate the Tl2O.MWCNT NCs is a good approach for developing a NCs‐based sensor for enzyme‐free biomolecule identification and detection in the biomedical and health care fields in a broad scale. This proposed sensor (GCE/Tl2O MWCNT NCs/CPM) is used to detect selective L‐cysteine in real biological samples such as human, mouse, and rabbit serum and found acceptable and satisfactory results.
All‐Solid‐State Flexible Symmetric Supercapacitor Based on Morphology Oriented Amorphous Cu−Co−B Alloy Nanosheets for Energy Storage
Authors: Muhommad Javed , Kumar Lakshya , Baruah Purna K. , Das Manash R. , Deka Sasanka
Published: December 2021

Metastable amorphous alloys having 2‐dimensional morphology are expected to be an excellent electrode materials for supercapacitors because of their defect rich nature, high degree of compositional as well as topological disorder and internal stresses. Herein, we investigated and demonstrated a new series of Cu−Co−B amorphous alloy nanosheets for energy storage. A clear and significant energy storage improvement by this Cu−Co−B nanosheets over the state‐of‐the‐art materials and flexible devices are manifested. Among the as‐synthesized materials, CuCo2B nanosheets exhibits an excellent specific capacity of 3503.6 F g−1 (389.2 mAh g−1) and a 99 % (at 50 A g−1) retention rate after 3000 cycles. An all‐solid state flexible symmetric Cu−Co−B|[EMIM][BF4] supercapacitor device (0–180° bending, 2.5 V) demonstrates a high energy density of 90.2 Wh kg−1, specific capacity (289.2 mAh g−1), power density (4623.6 W kg−1) and prolonged cycling stability (89 %) and Coulombic efficiency (104 %) over 10000 charge‐discharge cycles.
Real‐world first‐line systemic therapy patterns in metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Anton Angelyn , Pillai Sruti , Semira Marie Christine , Wong Shirley , Shapiro Julia , Weickhardt Andrew , Azad Arun , Kwan Edmond M. , Spain Lavinia , Gunjur Ashray , Torres Javier , Parente Phillip , Parnis Francis , Goh Jeffrey , Baenziger Olivia , Gibbs Peter , Tran Ben
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Several systemic therapies have demonstrated a survival advantage in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Access to these medications varies significantly worldwide. In Australia until recently, patients must have received docetaxel first, unless unsuitable for chemotherapy, despite no evidence suggesting superiority over androgen receptor signalling inhibitors (ARSIs). Our study investigated real‐world systemic treatment patterns in Australian patients with mCRPC.

Methods

The electronic CRPC Australian Database (ePAD) was interrogated to identify mCRPC patients. Clinicopathological features, treatment and outcome data, stratified by first‐line systemic therapies, were extracted. Comparisons between groups utilised Kruskal–Wallis tests and Chi‐Square analyses. Time‐to‐event data were calculated using Kaplan–Meier methods and groups compared using log‐rank tests. Factors influencing overall survival (OS) and time to treatment failure (TTF) were analysed through Cox proportional hazards regression models.

Results

We identified 578 patients who received first‐line systemic therapy for mCRPC. Enzalutamide (ENZ) was most commonly prescribed (n = 240, 41%), followed by docetaxel (DOC, n = 164, 28%) and abiraterone (AA, n = 100, 17%). Patients receiving ENZ or AA were older (79, 78.5 years respectively) compared with DOC (71 years, p = 0.001) and less likely to have ECOG performance status 0 (45%, 44%, 59% in ENZ, AA and DOC groups respectively p < 0.0001). Median TTF was significantly higher in those receiving ENZ (12.4 months) and AA (11.9 months) compared to DOC (8.3 months, p < 0.001). PSA50 response rates and OS were not statistically different. Time to developing CRPC > 12 months was independently associated with longer TTF (HR 0.67, p < 0.001) and OS (HR 0.49, p = 0.002).

Conclusion

In our real‐world population, ENZ and AA were common first‐line systemic therapy choices, particularly among older patients and those with poorer performance status. Patients receiving ENZ and AA demonstrated superior TTF compared to DOC, while OS was not statistically different. Our findings highlight the important role of ARSIs, given the variability of access worldwide.
Toward an Orthogonal Protein Lysine Acylation and Deacylation System
Authors: Xiao Ruotong , Zhao Lei , Ma Hongpeng , Liu Qiaoli , Qin Hongqiang , Luo Xiaozhou , Xuan Weimin
Published: December 2021

Lysine acetylation is one of the most basic molecular mechanisms to mediate protein functions in living organisms, and its abnormal regulation has been linked to many diseases. The drug development associated to this process is of great significance but severely hindered by the complex interplay of lysine acetylation and deacetylation in thousands of proteins, and we reasoned that targeting a specific protein acetylation or deacetylation event instead of the related enzymes should be a feasible solution to this issue. Toward this goal, we devised an orthogonal lysine acylation and deacylation (OKAD) system, which potentially could precisely dissect the biological consequence of an individual acetylation or deacetylation event in living cells. The system includes a genetically encoded acylated lysine (PhOAcK) that is not a substrate of endogenous deacetylases, and an evolved sirtuin (CobB2/CobB3) that displays PhOAcK deacylase activities as well as reduced deacetylase activities. We believe the strategy introduced here holds potential for future in‐depth biological applications.
Extension of the Terpene Chemical Space: the Very First Biosynthetic Steps
Authors: Couillaud Julie , Duquesne Katia , Iacazio Gilles
Published: December 2021

The structural diversity of terpenes is particularly notable and many studies are carried out to increase it further. In the terpene biosynthetic pathway this diversity is accessible from only two common precursors, i. e. isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP). Methods recently developed (e. g. the Terpene Mini Path) have allowed DMAPP and IPP to be obtained from a two‐step enzymatic conversion of industrially available isopentenol (IOH) and dimethylallyl alcohol (DMAOH) into their corresponding diphosphates. Easily available IOH and DMAOH analogues then offer quick access to modified terpenoids thus avoiding the tedious chemical synthesis of unnatural diphosphates. The aim of this minireview is to cover the literature devoted to the use of these analogues for widening the accessible terpene chemical space.
Surface‐Bonding‐Enhanced Self‐Co‐Reactant Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence for Sensitive and Selective Detection of Thioglycolic Acid in Cosmetics
Authors: Kitte Shimeles Addisu , Bushira Fuad Abduro , Li Haijuan , Jin Yongdong
Published: December 2021

Thioglycolic acid (TGA) is an organic compound widely used in cosmetics that cause a variety of health problems when overexposed to it. So far many attempts have been made to develop methods for TGA detection, but most of them need sophisticated instrumentations and are a little bit complicated. Therefore, a simple, cheap and sensitive detection method of TGA is highly desired. Herein, we demonstrated for the first time an Au−S bonding amplified, highly sensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensing method for TGA detection using tris(2,2′‐bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)32+) as a luminophore and TGA as a self‐co‐reactant, via an anodic reaction at the Au electrode surface. Due to different molecular coordination environments of the TGA at the electrode surface, the ECL signal intensity of the developed ECL system gives much higher ECL signal in borate buffer than phosphate buffer of the same pH. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the ECL intensity has a direct relationship with the concentration of TGA in the range of 0.03 μM to 300 μM and a limit of detection of 0.013 μM (3σ/m). The reported ECL system has further been applied for the detection of TGA in cosmetics with acceptable recoveries.
PROTOCOL: Searching and reporting in Campbell Collaboration systematic reviews: An assessment of current methods
Authors: Young Sarah , Bethel Alison , Keenan Ciara , Ghezzi‐Kopel Kate , Moreton Elizabeth , Pickup David , Premji Zahra A. , Rogers Morwenna , Viinholt Bjørn C. A.
Published: December 2021

This is the protocol for a Campbell review. The aim of this study is to comprehensively assess the quality and nature of the search methods and reporting across Campbell systematic reviews. The search methods used in systematic reviews provide the foundation for establishing the body of literature from which conclusions are drawn and recommendations made. Searches should be comprehensive and reporting of search methods should be transparent and reproducible. Campbell Collaboration systematic reviews strive to adhere to the best methodological guidance available for this type of searching. The current work aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the quality of the search methods and reporting in Campbell Collaboration systematic reviews. Our specific objectives include the following: To examine how searches are currently conducted in Campbell systematic reviews. To identify any machine learning or automation methods used, or emerging and less commonly used approaches to web searching. To examine how search strategies, search methods and search reporting adhere to the Methodological Expectations of Campbell Collaboration Intervention Reviews (MECCIR) and PRISMA guidelines. The findings will be used to identify opportunities for advancing current practices in Campbell reviews through updated guidance, peer review processes and author training and support.
Convolutional neural network and its pretrained models for image classification and object detection: A survey
Authors: Jena Biswajit , Nayak Gopal Krishna , Saxena Sanjay
Published: December 2021

At present, in the age of computers and automation of services, deep learning (DL) technology, mainly the subset of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), is expressively used in innumerable domains of computer vision such as data analysis, image recognition, classification, natural language processing, and many more. It has become the foremost choice of researchers as of its effectiveness in producing decent results. This paper presents detailed and analytical literature starting from the very elementary level to the recent trends of this trending technology while focusing on the most used DL model, that is, convolutional neural network and its pretrained models for image classification and object detection. It also reviews diverse existing current literature based on this. Further, a brief introduction of AI, ML, and DL has also been presented, making the foundation for the readers. As pretrained models continuously give an upper edge to DL over ML and other technologies, 23 most popular pretrained models with their architectural diagrams have also been presented. This paper aims to summarize and analyze all the concepts used to formulate DL and its models. Also, we have emphasized more on the GoogleNet models and the entire Inception modules in detail. Finally, the fascinating applications and discussion on integral components of DL have been presented. This paper will definitely draw the attention of the students and researchers working in the area of DL and its models.
Single operator experience of endoscopic submucosal dissection for Barrett's neoplasia in a North American academic center
Authors: Motomura Douglas , Bechara Robert
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is carving out an increasing role in the treatment of Barrett's associated neoplasia. ESD provides the advantage of en‐bloc resections and greater R0 resection rates. We aim to present outcomes from one of the largest single‐center cohorts of esophageal ESD in North America.

Methods

All patients undergoing esophageal ESD for Barrett's neoplasia between Oct 2016 and June 2020 at a Canadian tertiary care center were included. Demographic, procedural data, and lesion characteristics are presented. Subgroup analysis was performed on patients who underwent extensive resection (≥75% of esophageal circumference) and the patients who developed strictures.

Results

Thirty‐four patients were included in the series. The median lesion diameter was 5.7 cm and the median procedure time was 129 min. The en‐bloc resection rate was 97%, and the R0 resection rate was 91%. Curative resection was achieved in 82% of patients. Upstaging in histology occurred in 59% of cases. Two adverse events occurred, and there were no perforations. Procedural outcomes were similar in patients with extensive resections, but those with ≥75% circumferential resection developed more strictures (65% vs. 6.3%, p < 0.01). Stricture formation was associated with extensive resection (odds ratio [OR]: 27.5, p < 0.01) and longer lesion diameter (OR: 1.7, p = 0.02).

Conclusion

Our experience with ESD for Barrett's related neoplasia shows excellent en‐bloc and R0 resection rate, and provides more accurate histological specimens. Curative resection is possible in the majority of cases, including those with extensive resections. Further investigation into stricture prophylaxis will be useful as near circumferential resections are attempted.
Three phylogenetically distinct and culturable diazotrophs are perennial symbionts of leaf‐cutting ants
Authors: Zani Renata de Oliveira Aquino , Ferro Milene , Bacci Maurício
Published: December 2021

The obligate mutualistic basidiomycete fungus, Leucocoprinus gongylophorus, mediates nutrition of leaf‐cutting ants with carbons from vegetal matter. In addition, diazotrophic Enterobacteriales in the fungus garden and intestinal Rhizobiales supposedly mediate assimilation of atmospheric nitrogen, and Entomoplasmatales in the genus Mesoplasma, as well as other yet unidentified strains, supposedly mediate ant assimilation of other compounds from vegetal matter, such as citrate, fructose, and amino acids. Together, these nutritional partners would support the production of high yields of leafcutter biomass. In the present investigation, we propose that three phylogenetically distinct and culturable diazotrophs in the genera Ralstonia, Methylobacterium, and Pseudomonas integrate this symbiotic nutrition network, facilitating ant nutrition on nitrogen. Strains in these genera were often isolated and directly sequenced in 16S rRNA libraries from the ant abdomen, together with the nondiazotrophs Acinetobacter and Brachybacterium. These five isolates were underrepresented in libraries, suggesting that none of them is dominant in vivo. Libraries have been dominated by four uncultured Rhizobiales strains in the genera Liberibacter, Terasakiella, and Bartonella and, only in Acromyrmex ants, by the Entomoplasmatales in the genus Mesoplasma. Acromyrmex also presented small amounts of two other uncultured Entomoplasmatales strains, Entomoplasma and Spiroplasma. The absence of Entomoplasmatales in Atta workers implicates that the association with these bacteria is not mandatory for ant biomass production. Most of the strains that we detected in South American ants were genetically similar with strains previously described in association with leafcutters from Central and North America, indicating wide geographic dispersion, and suggesting fixed ecological services.
Mechanical defensive adaptations of three Mediterranean sea urchin species
Authors: Voulgaris Konstantinos , Varkoulis Anastasios , Zaoutsos Stefanos , Stratakis Antonios , Vafidis Dimitris
Published: December 2021

In the Mediterranean, Paracentrotus lividus and Sphaerechinus granularis are important drivers of benthic ecosystems, often coexisting in sublittoral communities. However, the introduction of the invasive diadematoid Diadema setosum, which utilizes venomous spines, may affect these communities. To describe the mechanical properties of the test and spines of these three species, specimens were collected in winter of 2019 from the sublittoral zone of the Dodecanese island complex, southeastern Aegean Sea. This region serves as a gateway for invasive species to the Mediterranean Sea. Crushing test was conducted on live individuals, while 3‐point bending test was used to estimate spine stiffness. Porosity and mineralogy of the test and spine, thickness of the test, and breaking length of the spine were measured and compared, while the microstructural architecture was also determined. The test of S. granularis was the most robust (194.35 ± 59.59 N), while the spines of D. setosum (4.76 ± 2.13 GPa) exhibited highest flexibility. Increased porosity and thickness of the test were related to increased robustness, whereas increased flexibility of the spine was attributed to high porosity, indicating that porosity in the skeleton plays a key role in preventing fracture. The spines of S. granularis exhibited highest length after fracture % (71.54 ± 5.5%). D. setosum exhibited higher values of Mg concentration in the test (10%) compared with the spines (4%). For the first time, the mineralogy of an invasive species is compared with its native counterpart, while a comparison of the mechanical properties of different species of the same ecosystem also takes place. This study highlights different ways, in which sea urchins utilize their skeleton and showcases the ecological significance of these adaptations, one of which is the different ways of utilization of the skeleton for defensive purposes, while the other is the ability of D. setosum to decrease the Mg % of its skeleton degrading its mechanical properties, without compromising its defense, by depending on venomous bearing spines. This enables this species to occupy not only tropical habitats, where it is indigenous, but also temperate like the eastern Mediterranean, which it has recently invaded.
How urbanization affects sexual communication
Authors: Heinen‐Kay Justa L. , Kay Adam D. , Zuk Marlene
Published: December 2021

Urbanization is rapidly altering landscapes worldwide, changing environmental conditions, and creating novel selection pressures for many organisms. Local environmental conditions affect the expression and evolution of sexual signals and mating behaviors; changes in such traits have important evolutionary consequences because of their effect on reproduction. In this review, we synthesize research investigating how sexual communication is affected by the environmental changes associated with urbanization—including pollution from noise, light, and heavy metals, habitat fragmentation, impervious surfaces, urban heat islands, and changes in resources and predation. Urbanization often has negative effects on sexual communication through signal masking, altering condition‐dependent signal expression, and weakening female preferences. Though there are documented instances of seemingly adaptive shifts in trait expression, the ultimate impact on fitness is rarely tested. The field of urban evolution is still relatively young, and most work has tested whether differences occur in response to various aspects of urbanization. There is limited information available about whether these responses represent phenotypic plasticity or genetic changes, and the extent to which observed shifts in sexual communication affect reproductive fitness. Our understanding of how sexual selection operates in novel, urbanized environments would be bolstered by more studies that perform common garden studies and reciprocal transplants, and that simultaneously evaluate multiple environmental factors to tease out causal drivers of observed phenotypic shifts. Urbanization provides a unique testing ground for evolutionary biologists to study the interplay between ecology and sexual selection, and we suggest that more researchers take advantage of these natural experiments. Furthermore, understanding how sexual communication and mating systems differ between cities and rural areas can offer insights on how to mitigate negative, and accentuate positive, consequences of urban expansion on the biota, and provide new opportunities to underscore the relevance of evolutionary biology in the Anthropocene.
Increasing temperature weakens the positive effect of genetic diversity on population growth
Authors: Singleton Alexandra L. , Liu Megan H. , Votzke Samantha , Yammine Andrea , Gibert Jean P.
Published: December 2021

Genetic diversity and temperature increases associated with global climate change are known to independently influence population growth and extinction risk. Whether increasing temperature may influence the effect of genetic diversity on population growth, however, is not known. We address this issue in the model protist system Tetrahymena thermophila. We test the hypothesis that at temperatures closer to the species’ thermal optimum (i.e., the temperature at which population growth is maximal, or Topt), genetic diversity should have a weaker effect on population growth compared to temperatures away from the thermal optimum. To do so, we grew populations of T. thermophila with varying levels of genetic diversity at increasingly warmer temperatures and quantified their intrinsic population growth rate, r. We found that genetic diversity increases population growth at cooler temperatures, but that as temperature increases, this effect weakens. We also show that a combination of changes in the amount of expressed genetic diversity (G) in r, plastic changes in population growth across temperatures (E), and strong G × E interactions underlie this temperature effect. Our results uncover important but largely overlooked temperature effects that have implications for the management of small populations with depauperate genetic stocks in an increasingly warming world.
Habitat selection by a predator of rodent pests is resilient to wildfire in a vineyard agroecosystem
Authors: Huysman Allison E. , Johnson Matthew D.
Published: December 2021

Conservation of uncultivated habitats can increase the potential for ecosystem services in agroecosystems, but these lands are also susceptible to wildfires in the arid western United States. In Napa Valley, California, abundant rodent pests and an interest in integrated pest management have led wine producers to use nest boxes to attract Barn Owls (Tyto furcata) to winegrape vineyards. The viability of this practice as a method to control rodent pests depends heavily on the amount of hunting effort that Barn Owls expend in vineyards, which is known to be influenced by the amount of uncultivated land cover types surrounding the nest box. Wildfires burned nearly 60,000 ha of mainly urban and uncultivated lands surrounding Napa Valley in 2017, altering Barn Owl habitats. We compared GPS tracking data from 32 Barn Owls nesting in 24 individual nest boxes before and after the fires to analyze their hunting habitat selection. Owls with burned areas available to them after the fires had home ranges that shifted toward the fires, but selection was not strongly associated with burned areas. Though there was some spatial use of burned areas, selection of land cover types was similar for birds before and after the fires and in burned and unburned areas. The strongest selection was for areas closest to the nest box, and most recorded locations were in grassland, though selection indicated that owls used land cover types in proportion to their availability. Overall, habitat selection was resilient to changes caused by wildfires. These results are important for farmers who use nest boxes as a means of rodent control, which may be affected after dramatic disturbance events, especially as wildfires increase in the western United States.
Prognostic significance of insulin resistance in pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Zare Elahe , Kafshbani Parvaneh , Chenaghlou Maryam , Noori Mehdi , Ghaemmaghami Zahra , Amin Ahmad , Taghavi Sepideh , Naderi Nasim
Published: December 2021

Aims

The relationship between insulin resistance (IR) and glucose intolerance with pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been suggested in recent investigations. In the present study, we aimed to show the prevalence of IR and its correlation with haemodynamic variables as well as its prognostic significance in this group of patients.

Methods and results

Among 100 new and returning patients with PH, scheduled for right heart catheterization (RHC), 59 non‐diabetic patients were enrolled. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) was used to assess IR. The study population were followed up for a median (interquartile range) of 48 (23–48) months for all‐cause mortalities. Most of the study population [mean (standard deviation) age of 45.9 (17.3)] were classified as class I of PH classification (47.5%). Overall, 27% of our study population had IR considering the Iranian cut points of HOMA‐IR. The prevalence of IR in non‐diabetic, non‐metabolic syndrome patients with precapillary PH (PAH) was 34.2%, which was higher than the prevalence of IR in non‐diabetic, non‐metabolic syndrome Iranian population (24.1%). There was no difference between IR and insulin sensitive (IS) groups regarding demographic and clinical findings, 6 min walk test, and laboratory and haemodynamic data in univariable and multivariable analyses. The mortality rate in the follow‐up period was 44.1%. The survival of patient with IR was slightly lower than IS patients; however, IR was not an independent predictor of death.

Conclusions

The glucose metabolism is dysregulated in patients with PH, and IR may increase the risk of adverse events among these patients.
N‐tert‐Alkyl‐Substituted N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes with a 1,1’‐Ferrocenediyl Backbone
Authors: Correia Bicho Bruno A. , Guthardt Robin , Bruhn Clemens , Großhennig David , Orth Till , Pfeiffer Florian , Siemeling Ulrich
Published: December 2021

1,1’‐Diaminoferrocene (1) was converted to α‐aminonitriles fc[NHC(CN)MeR’]2 (fc=1,1’‐ferrocenediyl; 2 a: R’=Me, 2 b: R’=Ph, 2 c: R’=tBu) by reaction with ketones MeC(O)R’ in the presence of NaCN/HOAc or to the diimine fc(N=CPh2)2 (3) by condensation with Ph2CO. Treatment of 2 a–c or 3 with MeLi furnished fc(NHR)2 (4 a: R=tBu, 4 b: R=CMe2Ph, 4 c: R=CMe2tBu, 4 d: R=CMePh2) after aqueous work‐up. The formylative cyclisation of 4 a–d to fc[(NR)2CH][BF4] (5H[BF4]) was possible only for R=CMe3 (a) and CMe2Ph (b). The reaction of these formamidinium compounds with NaN(SiMe3)2 afforded the N‐heterocyclic carbenes fc{[N(CMe3)]2C:} (5 a) and fc{[N(CMe2Ph)]2C:} (5 b). 5 a was converted to the thiourea derivative 5 aS with elemental sulfur. 5 a and 5 b slowly decompose in solution by alkene elimination, affording the respective formamidine fc(NRCH=N) (6 a: R=CMe3, 6 b: R=CMe2Ph). 6 a was transformed to fc{[N(CMe3)][N(CPh3)]CH}[BF4] (5eH[BF4]) with Ph3C[BF4].
Refining the prediction of multisite pain in 13‐year‐old boys and girls by using parent‐reported pain experiences in the first decade of life
Authors: Lucas Raquel , Brandão Maria , Gorito Vanessa , Talih Makram
Published: December 2021

Background

We evaluated different pain profiles as prospective predictors of multisite pain in 13‐year‐old adolescents (1300 girls and 1457 boys) enrolled in Generation XXI, a birth cohort study in Portugal.

Methods

Pain history was queried using the Luebeck Pain Questionnaire through parent proxy‐ (ages 7 and 10) and adolescent (age 13) self‐reports. We estimated the risk of multisite pain (2 or more pain sites) at age 13, according to previous pain experiences, including accumulation and timing. We defined five profiles that combined adverse features at ages 7 and 10 (recurrence, multisite, frequency, duration, intensity, triggers, activity restrictions, passive coping, and family history) and estimated their relative risks (RR) and likelihood ratios (LR) for adolescent multisite pain.

Results

At age 13, 39.2% of girls and 27.2% of boys reported multisite pain in the previous three months. The risk was higher among girls with multisite and recurrent pain at ages 7 and 10 than in girls without those adverse features, especially if psychosocial triggers were also present (RR 1.87; 95% confidence interval 1.36, 2.36 and LR 3.49; 1.53, 7.96). Boys with recurrent pain of higher frequency and causing activity restrictions at ages 7 and 10 had a higher risk of multisite pain at 13 (RR 2.05; 1.03, 3.05 and LR 3.06; 1.12, 8.39). Earlier adverse experiences were more predictive of future pain in girls than in boys.

Conclusions

Different profiles were useful to rule in future multisite pain in boys and girls. This provides clues for early stratification of chronic pain risk.

Significance

We identified sex‐specific pain features that can be collected by practitioners in the first decade of life to improve the stratification of children in terms of their future risk of a maladaptive pain experience in adolescence. Using a prospective population‐based cohort design, we show that early multisite pain and psychosocial triggers are relevant predictors of future multisite pain in girls, whereas repeated reports of high‐frequency pain leading to activity restrictions are predictive of adolescent multisite pain in boys.
Experimental and numerical study of shallow‐buried high‐density polyethylene pipeline under collapse touchdown impact
Authors: An Zhaotun , Tang Qiao , Li Hu , Zhang Peng
Published: December 2021

The debris from structures produced during the blasting demolition of engineered buildings (structures) may fall near buried pipelines, which threaten the integrity of the buried gas pipeline. In this paper, the dynamic response of nearby shallow‐buried high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) gas pipelines under collapse impact loads was investigated. The stress‐strain curve and material parameters of the HDPE pipe were obtained through uniaxial tensile tests. The strain distribution of buried pipelines under collapse loading was obtained. Subsequently, a 3D nonlinear finite element (FE) model of a buried HDPE pipeline impacted by a collapsed body was established. Finally, the effects of the impact velocity, touchdown angle, touchdown mode, offset distance, and pavement structure on the mechanical behavior of buried HDPE pipelines were analyzed in detail. The results show that, as the touchdown velocity and angle of the collapsed body increase, the von Mises stress of the pipeline is significantly affected. The pipe section close to the center of the impact zone tends to be damaged due to the von Mises stress reaching the maximum tensile strength. The maximum von Mises stress of the pipeline that is impacted by the edge of the collapsed body is the smallest, but the buried pipeline undergoes the largest displacement. The rigidity of the overlying pavement structure has a significant impact on the reliability of the buried HDPE gas pipeline. The stress concentration areas of buried pipelines mainly appear on the top, bottom, and the arches of the pipeline.
Rate maximization in full‐duplex systems: Gains and complexity of employing adaptive power allocation in downlink and/or uplink
Authors: Braga Iran M. , Lima F. Rafael M. , Maciel Tarcisio F. , Antonioli Roberto P. , Cavalcanti F. Rodrigo P.
Published: December 2021

The next generations of mobile communications should deal with a set of new use cases, leading to a higher demand for spectral efficiency. Full‐duplex (FD) arises as a promising technology since it has the potential to double the system capacity without additional spectrum. However, FD networks are hindered by self‐interference (SI) and co‐channel interference caused by the reuse of frequency resources. Therefore, radio resource allocation (RRA) in FD networks by means of user pairing, frequency assignment, and power allocation are of utmost importance in order to improve spectral/energy efficiency and ensure quality of service (QoS). Although previous works investigated RRA to improve spectral efficiency, the fundamental question of where adaptive power allocation should be employed in the uplink and/or downlink of FD networks in a cost‐effective way remains unanswered. This article addresses this question in the context of total data rate maximization with QoS constraints where we propose four optimization problems using different power allocation strategies. The branch and bound method is employed to optimally solve the four formulated problems, which were used as upper bound solutions for benchmarking purposes. Moreover, we propose a low computational complexity solution able to adaptively switch the power allocation strategy depending on the scenario. Detailed system‐level simulations indicate that the best node to employ adaptive power allocation (mobile terminal or base station) depends on the cell radius and SI level. Also, our results show that, compared to existing solutions, the proposed low‐complexity is a great and intelligent strategy in terms of system performance and computational complexity considering both perfect and imperfect channel state information.
Machine learning for next‐generation intelligent transportation systems: A survey
Authors: Yuan Tingting , Da Rocha Neto Wilson , Rothenberg Christian Esteve , Obraczka Katia , Barakat Chadi , Turletti Thierry
Published: December 2021

Intelligent transportation systems, or ITS for short, includes a variety of services and applications such as road traffic management, traveler information systems, public transit system management, and autonomous vehicles, to name a few. ITS are expected to be an integral part of urban planning and future smart cities, contributing to improved road and traffic safety, transportation and transit efficiency, as well as to increased energy efficiency and reduced environmental pollution. On the other hand, ITS pose a variety of challenges due to its scalability and diverse quality‐of‐service needs, as well as the massive amounts of data it will generate. In this survey, we explore the use of machine learning (ML), which has recently gained significant traction, to enable ITS. We provide a thorough survey of the current state‐of‐the‐art of how ML technology has been applied to a broad range of ITS applications and services, such as cooperative driving and road hazard warning, and identify future directions for how ITS can further use and benefit from ML technology.
Scenarios, strategic conversations, and forecasting: A commentary on Rowland and Spaniol (2021)
Authors: Fildes Robert
Published: December 2021

This commentary revisits an early book review by the author of Kees van der Heijden's influential book, Scenarios: The Art of Strategic Conversation, highlighting the continuing neglect of the role of forecasting in scenario construction. In addition, there still remains considerable ambiguity as to whether scenarios offer more than plausible stories. The review highlights the need to resolve these ambiguities in the scenario research literature through a better understanding of the links between forecasting and scenario construction. The benefit of success would be a greater understanding of long‐term uncertainty.
Social Equality in an Alternate World
Authors: Martschenko Daphne Oluwaseun
Published: December 2021

Genes have long been used to validate social inequality. The Genetic Lottery: Why DNA Matters for Social Equality, by Kathryn Paige Harden, attempts not only to reclaim genetic research on human behavior from its eugenic past but also to argue that genetic research can be used to understand and enhance social equality. This review essay illustrates why embracing a political agenda in which genetics matter for social equality will not in practice advance efforts to reduce social inequality. It argues that the points raised in The Genetic Lottery would be important in an alternate world in which structural inequalities have ceased to exist, but not in the world we live in today.
Living Out a Life's Meaning
Authors: Gallagher Ann
Published: December 2021

The literature on aging has grown exponentially in recent years, accompanied by a slew of reports providing data detailing progress, challenges, and opportunities in caring for the aging. Yet such reports too often omit the lived experience of older persons and in‐depth discussion of the particular challenges and opportunities that arise within what Janelle S. Taylor calls “moral laboratories.” The Evening of Life: The Challenges of Aging and Dying Well, a volume edited by Joseph E. Davis and Paul Scherz and to which Taylor is a contributor, helps fill this gap. With expert analyses from social scientists, philosophers, and health care professionals, the book contains evocative stories that facilitate reflection on the complexity, ambiguity, and diversity of being in later years.
ICU Care in a Pandemic
Authors: Prusak Bernard , Gaurke MaryKatherine , Jeong Kyeong Yun , Scire Emily , Sulmasy Daniel P.
Published: December 2021

This letter to the editor responds to commentaries in the September‐October 2021issue of the Hastings Center Report by Douglas B. White and Bernard Lo, by Govind Persad, and by Virginia A. Brown, which were themselves responding, in part, to the article “Life‐Years and Rationing in the Covid‐19 Pandemic: A Critical Analysis,” by MaryKatherine Gaurke, Bernard Prusak, Kyeong Yun Jeong, Emily Scire, and Daniel P. Sulmasy.
Does Gene Editing in the Wild Require Broad Public Deliberation?
Authors: Kaebnick Gregory E.
Published: December 2021

How strong is the argument for requiring public deliberation by very large publics—at national or even global levels—before moving forward with efforts to use gene editing on wild populations of plants or animals? Should there be a general moratorium on any such efforts until such broad public deliberation has been successfully carried out? This article works toward recommendations about the need for and general framing of broad public deliberation. It finds that broad public deliberation is highly desirable but not flatly necessary before moving forward with any local cases of gene editing in the wild. It also finds that broad public deliberation would be most helpful in generating very general guidance and is unlikely to be appropriate for specific cases. Broad public deliberation is most helpful for cases that involve higher levels of uncertainty and moral ambiguity, but separating out a distinct class of cases for deliberation is not yet possible.
Mitigating site effects in covariance for machine learning in neuroimaging data
Authors: Chen Andrew A. , Beer Joanne C. , Tustison Nicholas J. , Cook Philip A. , Shinohara Russell T. , Shou Haochang ,   The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: December 2021

To acquire larger samples for answering complex questions in neuroscience, researchers have increasingly turned to multi‐site neuroimaging studies. However, these studies are hindered by differences in images acquired across multiple sites. These effects have been shown to bias comparison between sites, mask biologically meaningful associations, and even introduce spurious associations. To address this, the field has focused on harmonizing data by removing site‐related effects in the mean and variance of measurements. Contemporaneously with the increase in popularity of multi‐center imaging, the use of machine learning (ML) in neuroimaging has also become commonplace. These approaches have been shown to provide improved sensitivity, specificity, and power due to their modeling the joint relationship across measurements in the brain. In this work, we demonstrate that methods for removing site effects in mean and variance may not be sufficient for ML. This stems from the fact that such methods fail to address how correlations between measurements can vary across sites. Data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative is used to show that considerable differences in covariance exist across sites and that popular harmonization techniques do not address this issue. We then propose a novel harmonization method called Correcting Covariance Batch Effects (CovBat) that removes site effects in mean, variance, and covariance. We apply CovBat and show that within‐site correlation matrices are successfully harmonized. Furthermore, we find that ML methods are unable to distinguish scanner manufacturer after our proposed harmonization is applied, and that the CovBat‐harmonized data retain accurate prediction of disease group.
Imaging the effective networks associated with cortical function through intracranial high‐frequency stimulation
Authors: Barborica Andrei , Oane Irina , Donos Cristian , Daneasa Andrei , Mihai Felicia , Pistol Constantin , Dabu Aurelia , Roceanu Adina , Mindruta Ioana
Published: December 2021

Direct electrical stimulation (DES) is considered to be the gold standard for mapping cortical function. A careful mapping of the eloquent cortex is key to successful resective or ablative surgeries, with a minimal postoperative deficit, for treatment of drug‐resistant epilepsy. There is accumulating evidence suggesting that not only local, but also remote activations play an equally important role in evoking clinical effects. By introducing a new intracranial stimulation paradigm and signal analysis methodology allowing to disambiguate EEG responses from stimulation artifacts we highlight the spatial extent of the networks associated with clinical effects. Our study includes 26 patients that underwent stereoelectroencephalographic investigations for drug‐resistant epilepsy, having 337 depth electrodes with 4,351 contacts sampling most brain structures. The routine high‐frequency electrical stimulation protocol for eloquent cortex mapping was altered in a subtle way, by alternating the polarity of the biphasic pulses in a train, causing the splitting the spectral lines of the artifactual components, exposing the underlying tissue response. By performing a frequency‐domain analysis of the EEG responses during DES we were able to capture remote activations and highlight the effect's network. By using standard intersubject averaging and a fine granularity HCP‐MMP parcellation, we were able to create local and distant connectivity maps for 614 stimulations evoking specific clinical effects. The clinical value of such maps is not only for a better understanding of the extent of the effects' networks guiding the invasive exploration, but also for understanding the spatial patterns of seizure propagation given the timeline of the seizure semiology.