bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Notices of the Funeral of James, Second Earl of Murray
Authors: Laing David
Published: December 2021

David Laing discusses the delayed burial of James, second Earl of Moray after his murder in 1592. Various commands were issued to force the Earl's relatives to allow his body to be buried. Laing quotes some of these original documents directly. He also describes an examination of St. Giles' in 1850 that discovered three bodies in a vault, one of which he argues is likely the Earl of Murray. One of Laing's aims in writing this article is to encourage the restoration of the brass monument commemorating the Earl of Murray, which was damaged in alterations to the building in 1829. At the end of the article he notes that the Provost and Magistrates of Edinburgh have agreed to discuss the restoration of the monument.
Account of the examination of the contents of an ancient hermetically-sealed glass vessel
Authors: Wilson George
Published: December 2021

The Council of the Society asked Dr Wilson to examine the contents of a glass vessel that was gifted to the Society after it was removed from Pompeii. The article begins with a description of the vessel and its construction. He proposes that the glass was fused closed after the liquid contents were introduced and suggests that this vessel may have formed the stem of a larger vessel. The article goes on to describe the liquid itself and the various chemical tests that were preformed to discover its composition. Dr Wilson then covers the possible uses of the vessel and what function the contents might serve, as well as the effects that time might have had on the liquid. In his conclusion he proposes that sealing common water into an enclosed vessel may have been a way to demonstrate the maker's glass working skills.
Notes of the discovery of stone cists at Lesmurdie, Banffshire, containing primitive urns, &c., along with human remains
Authors: Robertson Alexander
Published: December 2021

A description of the excavation of several cists. The construction and contents of each cist is described in great detail. Several urns and human remains in various states of decay were removed from the cists and donated to the Society's collections. The author tentatively proposes that these cists may be dated to the Iron Age, rather than the Stone Age, based on some fragmentary evidence of iron nearby. He concludes by noting examples of similar cists found in other European countries.
A Genealogical Account of the Royal House of Bruce
Authors: Surenne Gabriel
Published: December 2021

Mr Surenne traced the genealogy of Robert Bruce's descendants through twenty generations, identifying notable members of the family from Scotland, England, Norway and Denmark. 

 

Meeting notes for March 27, 1854 are appended.
Notes on St Roque, and the Chapel dedicated to him, near Edinburgh
Authors: Chambers Robert
Published: December 2021

Robert Chambers gives an account of the life of St. Roque and his work to cure plague victims. He goes on to discuss a chapel to this saint that was built in the Burgh Muir area of Edinburgh in the sixteenth century.
Meeting notes
Authors: - -
Published: December 2021

The second conversazione of this session was held in the Society's rooms on 2 May 1854.

 

The meeting notes for 22 May 1854 are appended.
Suggestions for a National Exhibition of Scottish Portraits in Edinburgh, in the year 1855; including a communication on the subject from Thomas Carlyle
Authors: Laing David
Published: December 2021

Secretary David Laing returned to the proposal for a National Portrait Gallery of Scotland. He presented a letter from historian and essayist Thomas Carlyle on the subject. Carlyle highlights the importance of portraiture for encouraging an interest in history, as well as the artistic value of displaying portraits. He makes the point that the selection of whose portraits to include will be key to the success of the gallery. He ends his letter with some recommendations on how the gallery should be created and run. David Laing then requests that this idea be put before the Board of Trustees again and suggests that a committee should be formed to make enquiries about portraits that might be included. His proposals were approved by the members.

 

Meeting notes for 10 July, 1854 are appended.
A Note respecting the Sculptured Cross at St Vigeans, near Arbroath; of which casts by Mr Henry Laing, Seal Engraver, were exhibited
Authors: Laing Henry
Published: December 2021

Descriptions of four crosses found in St. Vigeans. Particular attention is paid to the carvings and condition of the crosses. The author argues that casts should be taken of these stone crosses now so that their design can be preserved in case the originals deteriorate. It was agreed by the members present that the Society should ask Mr. Henry Laing to produce casts from the crosses and also encourage the landowners to conserve the monuments.
Anniversary Meeting
Authors: - -
Published: December 2021

After covering the resignation of the previous year's Secretary and Museum Curator, the Vice-President then commemorated the Fellows who died in the preceding year. It was noted that there were more than twice the number of visitors to the Museum in the past year, after changes were made to the regulations to allow the public to be admitted. 

 

Meeting minutes for the meeting held December 11, 1854 are appended.
Notice of 'The Black Book of Breadalbane,' preserved at Taymouth, containing portraits of several members of the Breadalbane Family, executed in the beginning of the Seventeenth Century
Authors: Innes Cosmo
Published: December 2021

This article discusses the contents of a volume written by Master William Bowie in the seventeenth century. The author highlights the information this record provides us about contemporary portraiture and notes that there are some sketches included at the back of the book that the artist may have sketched from life.
Preliminaries for Part II
Authors: - -
Published: December 2021

Front matter only
Multimicrochannel Microneedle Microporation Platform for Enhanced Intracellular Drug Delivery
Authors: Lin Long , Wang Yuqiong , Cai Minkun , Jiang Xinran , Hu Yongyan , Dong Zaizai , Yin Dedong , Liu Yilin , Yang Shaohua , Liu Zhiguang , Zhuang Jian , Xu Ye , Guo Chuan Fei , Chang Lingqian
Published: December 2021

Common delivery routes for chemotherapeutics are based on circulation, which faces clinical limitations to local delivery efficiency, and the conflict between the dose for anticancer effect and the systemic toxicity. The recent advances in localized delivery strategies aim to improve drug accumulation at the target site or directly transport into cells. However, most are not equipped to provide additional momentum in the process of cargo release, propagation, and intracellular movement, which limit their locomotion that relies on passive diffusion. In this work, a multimicrochannel microneedle microporation (4M) platform that achieves high efficiency, safety, and uniformity for in vivo intracellular delivery is proposed. By high precision 3D printing, internal microchannels are implemented through the microneedle, which offer a concentrated, safe electric field that not only accelerates the movement of cargo into deep tissue under electrophoresis, but also triggers cell electroporation, achieving enhanced transport across cell membrane. The platform proves efficient for the delivery of chemotherapeutics in solid tumors in vitro and in vivo, with significantly enhanced anticancer effect and reduced systemic toxicity. The platform serves as a general‐purpose delivery tool to emerging drugs in vivo.
d‐Amino Acid‐Based Metabolic Labeling Enables a Fast Antibiotic Susceptibility Test of Both Isolated Bacteria and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
Authors: Gao Juan , Guo Junnan , Chen Jianxiao , Ding Chenling , Wang Jiemin , Huang Qian , Jian Ying , Zhao Xianyuan , Li Min , Gao Yuan , Yang Chaoyong , Wang Wei
Published: December 2021

The threat of multidrug‐resistant bacteria has escalated rapidly, increasing the demand for accurate antibiotic susceptibility tests (ASTs). Traditional bacterial growth yield‐based ASTs often take overnight to report, delaying the timely guidance of antibiotic use. Here, a fluorescent d‐amino acid (FDAA) labeling‐based AST (FaAST) is reported, which can quickly provide accurate minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The FDAA‐labeling signals that reflect the bacterial metabolic status underlie the flow cytometry‐based strategy for MIC determination. Resistant bacteria show a reluctant decline in FDAA‐labeling (inhibited metabolism) after treatment with the corresponding antibiotics, whereas susceptible bacteria demonstrate quick responses to low doses of drugs. The MICs are determined based on the changing trends in labeling. After testing 23 clinical isolates and laboratory strains of the most critical drug‐resistant bacteria against a panel of representative antibiotics, FaAST shows a high susceptibility category with an accuracy of 98.13%. Moreover, FaAST can also make quick and accurate diagnosis against bronchoalveolar lavage fluids collected from hospital‐acquired pneumonia patients, saving 2–4 days in guiding antibiotic use for this life‐threatening infection. Thus, the speed, accuracy, and broad applicability of FaAST will be valuable in informing antibiotic decisions when treating critical infections caused by drug‐resistant bacteria.
Fluorinated Ionic Liquid Based Multicolor 19F MRI Nanoprobes for In Vivo Sensing of Multiple Biological Targets
Authors: Zhu Xianglong , Xiong Hehe , Wang Sitian , Li Yanyan , Chi Jingxian , Wang Xuefei , Li Tiantian , Zhou Qiuju , Gao Jinhao , Shi Saige
Published: December 2021

Multicolor imaging, which maps the distribution of different targets, is important for in vivo molecular imaging and clinical diagnosis. Fluorine 19 magnetic resonance imaging (19F MRI) is a promising technique because of unique insights without endogenous background or tissue penetration limit. Thus multicolor 19F MRI probes, which can sense a wide variety of molecular species, are expected to help elucidate the biomolecular networks in complex biological systems. Here, a versatile model of activatable probes based on fluorinated ionic liquids (ILs) for multicolor 19F MRI is reported. Three types of ILs at different chemical shifts are loaded in nanocarriers and sealed by three stimuli‐sensitive copolymers, leading to “off” 19F signals. The coating polymers specifically respond to their environmental stimuli, then degrade to release the loaded ILs, causing 19F signals recovery. The nanoprobes are utilized for non‐invasive detection of tumor hallmarks, which are distinguished by their individual colors in one living mouse, without interference between each other. This multicolor imaging strategy, which adopts modular construction of various ILs and stimuli‐responsive polymers, will allow more comprehensive sensing of multiple biological targets, thus, opening a new realm in mechanistic understanding of complex pathophysiologic processes in vivo.
Indomethacin Polymorph δ Revealed To Be Two Plastically Bendable Crystal Forms by 3D Electron Diffraction: Correcting a 47‐Year‐Old Misunderstanding**
Authors: Lightowler Molly , Li Shuting , Ou Xiao , Zou Xiaodong , Lu Ming , Xu Hongyi
Published: December 2021

Indomethacin is a clinically classical non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug that has been marketed since 1965. The third polymorph, Form δ, was discovered by both melt and solution crystallization in 1974. δ‐indomethacin cannot be cultivated as large single crystals suitable for X‐ray crystallography and, therefore, its crystal structure has not yet been determined. Here, we report the structure elucidation of δ‐indomethacin by 3D electron diffraction and reveal the truth that melt‐crystallized and solution‐crystallized δ‐indomethacin are in fact two polymorphs with different crystal structures. We propose to keep the solution‐crystallized polymorph as Form δ and name the melt‐crystallized polymorph as Form θ. Intriguingly, both structures display plastic flexibility based on a slippage mechanism, making indomethacin the first drug to have two plastic polymorphs. This discovery and correction of a 47‐year‐old misunderstanding signify that 3D electron diffraction has become a powerful tool for polymorphic structural studies.
Highly efficient catalytic transfer hydrogenation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5‐dimethylfuran over CuxZnAl catalysts
Authors: Wang Tong , Li Fang , Xue Wei , Wang Yanji
Published: December 2021

Transformation of biomass‐based feedstocks to fuels or valuable chemicals is of great importance to reduce our reliance on fossil resources. In this work, 2,5‐dimethylfuran (DMF) production through catalytic transfer hydrogenation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (5‐HMF) in liquid phase was investigated over ternary CuxZnAl catalysts using isopropanol as hydrogen donor. The excellent catalytic performance of the CuxZnAl catalysts can be attributed to the well‐dispersed Cu species with optimal proportions of Cu2+, Cu0, and Cu+. The synergistic effect of Cu0 and Cu+ is proposed to be responsible for the high hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis activity of 5‐HMF. Using the Cu2ZnAl‐600‐300 catalyst (calcinated at 600°C and reduced at 300°C), 91.7% DMF yield was achieved under 180°C within 4 h. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, H2 temperature‐programmed reduction, NH3 temperature‐programmed desorption, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy were performed to investigate the structure–performance relationship and the reasons for the high catalytic performance of Cu2ZnAl‐600‐300.
Long‐term efficiency for reducing entanglements of nascent polyethylene by a polystyrene‐modified Ziegler‐Natta catalyst
Authors: Cao Yu , Wu Yanjie , Tang Xin , Zhou Qi , Stapf Siegfried , Mattea Carlos , Li Wei
Published: December 2021

The weakly entangled ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was synthesized by a Ziegler‐Natta catalyst, where the titanium tetrachloride was anchored on the polystyrene (PS)‐modified silica. The PS chains were successfully incorporated into silica hierarchical pores even with the size less than 10 nm through the in situ free‐radical polymerization of styrene. The self‐diffusion coefficient and crystallization of probing molecules inside the pores were investigated by the pulsed field gradient NMR and thermoporosimetry to address the swollen behavior of incorporated PS blocks. This PS blocks compartmentalized the polyethylene chains, where the less entangled UHMWPE was synthesized with an exceptional activity at 70°C. The ubiquitous PS isolators effectively hindered the formation of chains overlaps during the polymerization, showing a long‐term efficiency to reduce the entanglements of nascent UHMWPE even at 4 h of polymerization The toughness/stiffness/strength balance of weakly entangled UHMWPE was significantly improved.
Power considerations for generalized estimating equations analyses of four‐level cluster randomized trials
Authors: Wang Xueqi , Turner Elizabeth L. , Preisser John S. , Li Fan
Published: December 2021

In this article, we develop methods for sample size and power calculations in four‐level intervention studies when intervention assignment is carried out at any level, with a particular focus on cluster randomized trials (CRTs). CRTs involving four levels are becoming popular in healthcare research, where the effects are measured, for example, from evaluations (level 1) within participants (level 2) in divisions (level 3) that are nested in clusters (level 4). In such multilevel CRTs, we consider three types of intraclass correlations between different evaluations to account for such clustering: that of the same participant, that of different participants from the same division, and that of different participants from different divisions in the same cluster. Assuming arbitrary link and variance functions, with the proposed correlation structure as the true correlation structure, closed‐form sample size formulas for randomization carried out at any level (including individually randomized trials within a four‐level clustered structure) are derived based on the generalized estimating equations approach using the model‐based variance and using the sandwich variance with an independence working correlation matrix. We demonstrate that empirical power corresponds well with that predicted by the proposed method for as few as eight clusters, when data are analyzed using the matrix‐adjusted estimating equations for the correlation parameters with a bias‐corrected sandwich variance estimator, under both balanced and unbalanced designs.
Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) improve symptoms of post‐ischemic stroke depression by activating VEGF to mediate the MAPK/ERK pathway
Authors: Feng Yun , Li Xuebin , Wang Jie , Huang Xiaohua , Meng Lanqing , Huang Jianmin
Published: December 2021

Purpose

To evaluate and identify the effects and explore the mechanisms of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) on stroke‐induced post stroke depression (PSD).

Methods

Rats were separated into six different groups, including sham + saline, Stroke + saline, PSD + saline, PSD + recombinant pyruvate kinase M2 (rPKM2) (112 ng/kg), PSD + rPKM2 (224 ng/kg), and PSD + rPKM2 (224 ng/kg) + bevacizumab. Then, the body weight, sucrose preference rate, immobility time, horizontal movement, and vertical movement were determined to evaluate the effect of PKM2 on improving the depressive behavior of PSD rats. Subsequently, the proliferation of oligodendrocytes in subventricular zone (SVZ) of rats in each group was examined by western blot and immunofluorescent staining. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression levels of TNF‐α, IL‐6, and IL‐1β were also detected by qPCR and ELISA to verify the anti‐inflammatory effects of PKM2 on PSD rats. In addition, the protein expression levels of MDA, LDH, and NO were tested to reveal that PKM2 can reduce oxidative stress in PSD rats. The western blot and IHC assays were employed to examine the protein expression levels of VEGF, PKM2, and ERK in PSD rats.

Results

In this study, the results showed that PKM2 can improve the depressive behavior and proliferation of oligodendrocytes in PSD rats. In addition, PKM2 has anti‐inflammatory and anti‐oxidative stress effects on PSD rats. Meanwhile, PKM2 activated the expression level of VEGF/MAPK/ERK pathway.

Conclusion

PKM2 improves symptoms of post‐ischemic stroke depression by activating VEGF‐mediated MAPK/ERK pathway.
Illness perception characteristics and influencing factors in adult patients with myasthenia gravis in China
Authors: Xu Le , Wang Xia , Cui Yafeng , Tian Yanghua , Zhou Nong , Zhang Juanjuan , Ji Hiaxia , Cheng Xiumei , Zhang Qin , Li Qingfeng , Hu Panpan , Zhang Long
Published: December 2021

Objective

We aimed to examine the illness perception characteristics of patients with myasthenia gravis and analyze the associated factors.

Methods

A general information questionnaire, Illness Perception Questionnaire, and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire were used to survey 90 patients with myasthenia gravis. One‐way analysis of variance and multivariate linear regression were used for statistical analysis.

Results

The timeline (acute/chronic), consequence, and emotional representation scores of patients with myasthenia gravis were 18.31 ± 4.47, 18.58 ± 3.57, and 20.80 ± 4.56, respectively. Multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis showed that marital status, disease duration, educational level, disease type, and coping style are factors associated with illness perception in patients with myasthenia gravis.

Conclusion

Patients who have myasthenia gravis have a negative illness perception. Medical professionals should provide targeted intervention measures based on the factors associated with illness perception.
Analysis of CDK12 alterations in a pan‐cancer database
Authors: Pan Elizabeth , Cabal Angelo , Javier‐DesLoges Juan , Patel Devin , Panian Justine , Lee Suzanna , Shaya Justin , Nonato Taylor , Xu Xiaojun , Stewart Tyler , Rose Brent , Shabaik Ahmed , Cohen Ezra , Kurzrock Razelle , Tamayo Pablo , McKay Rana R.
Published: December 2021

Background

CDK12 inactivation leading to increased neoantigen burden has been hypothesized to sensitize tumors to immune checkpoint inhibition. Pan‐cancer data regarding the frequency of CDK12 alterations are limited. We aimed to characterize CDK12 alterations across all cancer types through real‐world clinical‐grade sequencing.

Methods

This was a single‐center retrospective analysis of 4994 cancer patients who underwent tissue or blood genomic profiling, including CDK12 assessment, conducted as part of routine care from December 2012 to January 2020. Prevalence, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes of patients with tumors with pathogenic CDK12 alterations were described.

Results

In all, 39 (0.78%, n = 39/4994) patients had pathogenic CDK12 alterations. Among CDK12‐altered tumors, the most common organ site was prostate (n = 9, 23.1%) followed by colorectal (n = 5, 12.8%). Adenocarcinoma was the most common histology (n = 26, 66.7%). Median follow‐up from time of diagnosis was 4.02 years. Median overall survival from time of metastasis was 4.43 years (95% CI: 3.11–5.74). Ten patients with CDK12‐altered tumors received at least one immune checkpoint inhibitor‐containing regimen. The majority of patients (n = 6/10, 60%) experienced an objective response. Progression‐free survival for patients who had metastatic disease and received a checkpoint inhibitor‐containing regimen was 1.16 years (95% CI: 0.32–2.00).

Conclusion

CDK12 alterations are rare events across hematologic and solid tumor malignancies. They represent a clinically distinct molecular cancer subtype which may have increased responsiveness to checkpoint inhibition. Prospective studies are warranted to investigate checkpoint inhibition in CDK12‐altered tumors.
Monitoring the Response of Multiple Signal Network Components to Acute Chemo‐Optogenetic Perturbations in Living Cells
Authors: Kowalczyk Manuela , Kamps Dominic , Wu Yaowen , Dehmelt Leif , Nalbant Perihan
Published: December 2021

Cells process information via signal networks that typically involve multiple components which are interconnected by feedback loops. The combination of acute optogenetic perturbations and microscopy‐based fluorescent response readouts enables the direct investigation of causal links in such networks. However, due to overlaps in spectra of photosensitive and fluorescent proteins, current approaches that combine these methods are limited. Here, we present an improved chemo‐optogenetic approach that is based on switch‐like perturbations induced by a single, local pulse of UV light. We show that this approach can be combined with parallel monitoring of multiple fluorescent readouts to directly uncover relations between signal network components. We present the application of this technique to directly investigate feedback‐controlled regulation in the cell contraction signal network that includes GEF‐H1, Rho and Myosin, and functional interactions of this network with tumor relevant RhoA G17 mutants.
Atypical presentation of cardiac tamponade in pulmonary hypertension: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Ansari Aval Zahra , Mirhosseini Seyed Mohsen , Jafari Naeini Sepideh
Published: December 2021

A young woman with systemic sclerosis, hypothyroidism, and pulmonary hypertension was admitted to our center with massive pericardial effusion and left ventricular collapse. Despite undergoing successful pericardiocentesis, she passed away a month later. The best therapeutic approach in this situation remains to be determined.
Ovarian dysgerminoma with a metastasis to para‐aortic lymph node
Authors: Kawase Rieko , Suzuki Shunji
Published: December 2021

We present a case of dysgerminoma of the right adnexa with an infiltration to the right wall of the uterus and a metastasis of para‐aortic lymph node.
Hierarchically Nitrogen‐doped Porous Carbon‐Supported Non‐noble Metal Nanoparticles for Promoting the Selective Hydrogenation of Furfural
Authors: Sun Lu , Fan Yafei , Chu Jie , Zhou Xiaojian , Zhuang Changfu , Zou Xiaoqin , Min Chungang , Wang Ying , Zhu Guangshan
Published: December 2021

The hydrogenation of biomass into high added‐value chemicals is an efficient way of utilization. However, supported monometallic catalytic systems still show low performance. In this study, different non‐noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) are supported on hierarchically nitrogen‐doped porous carbon (M/HNPC) with high specific surface area and used in the hydrogenation reaction of furfural (FF). The experiment results exhibited that the performance of Ni/HNPC is more superior than Fe, Co and Cu. The DFT results showed that the catalytic activity of Ni/HNPC was strongly related to the intrinsic catalytic performance of Ni metal itself. The Ni/HNPC obtains the 95.2% FF conversion and 94.8% furfuryl alcohol (FOL) selectivity under mild conditions at 110 °C and 4 h, which is mainly due to the synergistic effect between metallic Ni and HNPC support. In addition, the stability of the Ni/HNPC catalyst also has been improved because of the high specific surface area and N‐doped of HNPC support. This work provides an important reference for biomass conversion with a monometallic catalyst by controlling the metal types and supports.
Towards Adsorptive Enrichment of Flavonoids from Honey Using h‐BN Monolayer
Authors: Yu Beijia , Ren Hong , Piao Xianglan
Published: December 2021

Density functional theory (DFT) was used to explore the possibility of h‐BN monolayer acting as an adsorbent for the flavonoids. Four flavonoids named apigenin, kaempferol, myricetin, and quercetin as well as glucose (Glu) were selected as representatives of honey. DFT and ab initio molecular dynamics simulation results show that the four flavonoids interact with the h‐BN monolayer much stronger than the Glu does in both vacuum and solutions, indicating a good adsorptive selectivity of the flavonoids over Glu. The interaction of the flavonoids and the Glu with water as well as the solvation energy of the flavonoids in water, methanol and ethanol was obtained using both the PBE‐D and B3LYP‐D functionals. It is shown that the h‐BN monolayer can provide high selective adsorption of the flavonoids from bee honey and ethanol can be used as an elution solvent to recover the adsorbed flavonoids.
Adult insect personality in the wild—Calopteryx splendens as a model for field studies
Authors: Golab Maria J. , Sniegula Szymon , Antoł Andrzej , Brodin Tomas
Published: December 2021

Animal personality has received increasing interest and acknowledgment within ecological research over the past two decades. However, some areas are still poorly studied and need to be developed. For instance, field studies focused on invertebrates are currently highly underrepresented in the literature. More studies including a wider variety of traits measured and species tested are needed to improve our understanding of trait‐correlation patterns and generalities. We studied nine behavioral traits, in the damselfly Calopteryx splendens, from an array of three experiments: (i) courtship, (ii) aggressiveness, and (iii) boldness, and calculated their repeatability. The behaviors were measured twice in two different contexts: (i) undisturbed territory and (ii) partially deteriorated territory. Traits related to courtship and boldness were all repeatable across the two contexts. Among aggressive behaviors, only one trait (number of hits) was repeatable. This work demonstrates, for the first time, the presence of within‐population personality differences in an adult damselfly in the wild. We further propose C. splendens as a promising model species for testing personality in the wild under highly controlled environmental conditions.
Population genetic structure of wolves in the northwestern Dinaric‐Balkan region
Authors: Šnjegota Dragana , Stronen Astrid Vik , Boljte Barbara , Ćirović Duško , Djan Mihajla , Huber Djuro , Jelenčič Maja , Konec Marjeta , Kusak Josip , Skrbinšek Tomaž
Published: December 2021

The Balkan Peninsula and the Dinaric Mountains possess extraordinary biodiversity and support one of the largest and most diverse wolf (Canis lupus) populations in Europe. Results obtained with diverse genetic markers show west‐east substructure, also seen in various other species, despite the absence of obvious barriers to movement. However, the spatial extent of the genetic clusters remains unresolved, and our aim was to combine fine‐scale sampling with population and spatial genetic analyses to improve resolution of wolf genetic clusters. We analyzed 16 autosomal microsatellites from 255 wolves sampled in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH), and Serbia and documented three genetic clusters. These comprised (1) Slovenia and the regions of Gorski kotar and Lika in Croatia, (2) the region of Dalmatia in southern Croatia and BIH, and (3) Serbia. When we mapped the clusters geographically, we observed west‐east genetic structure across the study area, together with some specific structure in BIH–Dalmatia. We observed that cluster 1 had a smaller effective population size, consistent with earlier reports of population recovery since the 1980s. Our results provide foundation for future genomic studies that would further resolve the observed west‐east population structure and its evolutionary history in wolves and other taxa in the region and identify focal areas for habitat conservation. They also have immediate importance for conservation planning for the wolves in one of the most important parts of the species’ European range.
Bridging the divide between ecological forecasts and environmental decision making
Authors: Bodner Korryn , Rauen Firkowski Carina , Bennett Joseph R. , Brookson Cole , Dietze Michael , Green Stephanie , Hughes Josie , Kerr Jeremy , Kunegel‐Lion Mélodie , Leroux Shawn J. , McIntire Eliot , Molnár Péter K. , Simpkins Craig , Tekwa Edward , Watts Alexander , Fortin Marie‐Josée
Published: December 2021

The rate of human‐induced environmental change continues to accelerate, stimulating the need for rapid and science‐based decision making. The recent availability of cyberinfrastructure, open‐source data and novel techniques has increased opportunities to use ecological forecasts to predict environmental change. But to effectively inform environmental decision making, forecasts should not only be reliable, but should also be designed to address the needs of decision makers with their assumptions, uncertainties, and results clearly communicated. To help researchers better integrate forecasting into decision making, we outline ten practical guidelines to help navigate the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of forecasting in social–ecological systems. Some guidelines focus on improving forecasting skills, including how to build better models, account for uncertainties and use technologies to improve their utility, while others are developed to facilitate the integration of forecasts with decision making, including how to form effective partnerships and how to design forecasts relevant to the specific decision being addressed. We hope these guidelines help researchers make forecasts more accurate, precise, transparent, and most pressingly, useful for informing environmental decisions.
VTMaxHerp: A data set of voluntary thermal maximum temperatures of amphibians and reptiles from two Brazilian hotspots
Authors: Díaz‐Ricaurte Juan C. , Serrano Filipe C. , Martins Marcio
Published: December 2021

Amphibians and reptiles are ectothermic animals and therefore depend on environmental temperatures to maintain their physiological functions. Despite being poorly documented, data on thermal behavioral thresholds to avoid overheating in their habitats are essential to improve the understanding of their thermal ecology and physiology. Here we provide a data set of 312 individual voluntary thermal maximum (VTMax) values, the maximum temperature tolerated by individuals before actively moving to a colder place, for 53 species of amphibians and reptiles of the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado savannas of southeastern South America. Voluntary thermal maximum values were recorded as the body temperature at which the individuals exited a heating box experimental setup. This data set comprises 25 species of 15 genera and eight families of amphibians and 28 species of 24 genera and 12 families of reptiles. Of the total number of individual records, 67.9% derived from the Cerrado and 32.0% derived from the Atlantic Forest ecoregions. Overall, lizards had higher VTMax than amphibians and snakes, and individuals in the Atlantic Forest had overall higher VTMax values than the ones in Cerrado. This data set is the first to compile VTMax values for South American herpetofauna, along with detailed experimental information such as heating rates and time to reach VTMax. This data set provides a baseline for understanding thermal tolerances and requirements of Neotropical ectothermic vertebrate species, which might be useful for future research on the impact of climate change and to test novel ecological hypotheses. There are no copyright or proprietary restrictions except that this data paper should be cited when data are used for publications. In addition, the authors would appreciated being informed of research projects or teaching purposes when these data are used.
Density‐independent prey choice, taxonomy, life history, and web characteristics determine the diet and biocontrol potential of spiders (Linyphiidae and Lycosidae) in cereal crops
Authors: Cuff Jordan P. , Tercel Maximillian P.T.G. , Drake Lorna E. , Vaughan Ian P. , Bell James R. , Orozco‐terWengel Pablo , Müller Carsten T. , Symondson William O.C.
Published: December 2021

Spiders are among the dominant invertebrate predators in agricultural systems and are significant regulators of insect pests. The precise dynamics of biocontrol of pests in the field are, however, poorly understood. This study investigates how density‐independent prey choice, taxonomy, life stage, sex, and web characteristics affect spider diet and biocontrol. We collected spiders in four genera of Linyphiidae (i.e., Bathyphantes, Erigone, Tenuiphantes, and Microlinyphia), and individuals from the Lycosidae genus Pardosa, and their proximate prey communities from barley fields in Wales, UK between April and September 2018. We analyzed the gut contents of 300 individual spiders using DNA metabarcoding. From the 300 spiders screened, 89 prey taxa were identified from 45 families, including a wide range of pests and predators. Thrips were the dominant prey, present in over a third of the spiders sampled, but a type IV functional response appears to reduce their predation at peak abundances. Spider diets significantly differed based on web characteristics, but this depended on the genus and sex of the spider and it was not the principal separating factor in the trophic niches of linyphiids and lycosids. Diets significantly differed between spider genera and life stages, reflected in different propensities for intraguild predation and pest predation. Adult spiders predated a greater diversity of other predators, and juveniles predated a greater diversity of pests. Overall, Tenuiphantes spp. and Bathyphantes spp. exhibited the greatest individual potential for biocontrol of the greatest diversity of pest genera. The greater trophic niche complementarity of Pardosa spp. and Erigone spp., however, suggests that their complementary predation of different pests might be of greater overall benefit to biocontrol. Sustainable agriculture should aim to optimize conditions throughout the cropping cycle for effective biocontrol, prioritizing provision for a diversity of spiders which predate a complementary diversity of pest species.
Rearrangements and Migrations along the Ferrocene Periphery: On the Way to Planar‐Chiral and (Multi)Substitution Patterns
Authors: Korb Marcus , Lang Heinrich
Published: December 2021

The functionalization of ferrocenes via intramolecular rearrangements is summarized. Focus will be directed on anionic, cationic and thermal/photo‐induced processes that enable the migration of functional groups along the periphery of the ferrocene's cyclopentadienyl rings. Anionic processes include halogen dance reactions and Fries rearrangements. The metalation procedures are discussed, which are essential for a regio‐ and stereoselective proceeding. Computational studies and electrochemical data are included to discuss stereoselective processes and reactivity differences. Positioning of a positive charge in close proximity to the ferrocenyl backbone induces Pinacol, Beckmann, and remote Fries rearrangements. Activation of an alkynyl functionality facilitates alkyne/vinylidene changes. Thermal rearrangements do not require an additional charge and are induced by N2 elimination, followed by nitrene/carbene formation via Curtius and Wolff rearrangements, respectively. The latter was exemplarily used for the ring contraction of [4]‐ into [3]ferrocenophanes.
Role of acid‐base and hydration‐dehydration equilibria on reductions of chloral and chloral hydrate
Authors: Baymak Melek Sirin
Published: December 2021

The electrochemical behavior of chloral hydrate in aqueous solutions at various pH values was investigated by using polarography. Reduction of chloral hydrate takes place in two steps: one appears as a small limiting current value that corresponds to the reduction of the unhydrated form, present in solutions in less than 3%, and another larger limiting current value at more negative potentials corresponding to a reduction of C‐Cl bonds in the hydrated form. Reduction schemes for both the hydrated and unhydrated forms and of an oxidation process for chloral hydrate are proposed. The reduction scheme supports the stepwise removal of chloride ions from the hydrated form of chloral that is electroactive in its protonated form, yielding ethanol as the final product. A rate constant for the protonation of chloral hydrate is calculated from its measured pKa value and electrochemical data. The role of hydration‐dehydration equilibria involving the reduction intermediates, which are reduced at more negative potentials than that of chloral, was concluded based on a comparison of limiting currents of chloral hydrate with those of 2,2,2‐trichloroethanol. The alcohol yields, in medium pH range a diffusion‐limited current, corresponding to cleavage of three C‐Cl bonds. This allowed the calculation of the equilibrium constant of the hydration‐dehydration equilibria.
A review of the rational interfacial designs and characterizations for solid‐state lithium/sulfur cells
Authors: Choo Youngwoo , Hwa Yoon , Cairns Elton J.
Published: December 2021

The high theoretical specific energy of lithium/sulfur (Li/S) cells (2600 Wh/kg) has positioned the Li/S cell as one of the most promising candidates for the beyond lithium‐ion cell. Despite the evident advantages, there are remaining problems mainly associated with the unique solution‐based reaction chemistry involving lithium polysulfide (Li‐PS) that hinder the commercialization of the Li/S cells. Incorporating solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) can avoid the Li‐PS shuttle problem while preserving the benefits of Li/S cells, but it introduces other challenges related to the electrode/electrolyte solid interfaces. This topical review summarizes the current status of solid‐state Li/S cells and their major challenges and discusses the recent efforts to improve cell performance and durability. Various solid‐state electrolytes, including oxides, sulfides, and solid polymer electrolytes, are briefly reviewed. In particular, we focus on the recent progress to improve the interfacial properties by two major approaches, morphological and chemical modifications of the electrode/electrolyte interfaces. The design strategy and implementation to overcome the prominent issues associated with sulfur electrodes are critically discussed. Also, several electrochemical and physicochemical characterization methods to examine the electron/ion transport at the interface are outlined. Given the superior theoretical physicochemical properties of the Li/S cells, we emphasize that the inappropriate interfacial design of the solid‐state Li/S cells is the major challenge to bring solid‐state Li/S cells to a commercially attractive level.
Non‐linear dynamic analysis of buildings founded on piles: Simplified modelling strategies for soil‐foundation‐structure interaction
Authors: Noto Fabrizio , Iovino Maria , Di Laora Raffaele , de Sanctis Luca , Franchin Paolo
Published: December 2021

The paper investigates the problem of Soil‐Foundation‐Structure Interaction (SFSI) for buildings supported on piles through the comparative analysis between the fixed base and the compliant base assumptions. The structure, a nine‐storey residential building (with or without infills), is modelled in non‐linear regime while the piled foundation is idealized by means of independent lumped parameters models, either linear or non‐linear. In this last case, the soil‐foundation system is replaced by an assembly of viscous‐dampers, fictitious masses and non‐linear springs modelled according to the classical Bouc‐Wen formulation, so as to account for the hysteretic behaviour of the foundation. A detailed calibration procedure for both linear and non‐linear foundation models is also presented and discussed. Two different natural soil deposits are considered, a pyroclastic deposit and a deep layer of lacustrine clay. The results undertaken in the context of a probabilistic analysis show that SFSI may lead to a significant reduction of the seismic demand in infilled buildings at low and intermediate earthquake intensity levels. Conversely, at higher intensity earthquakes the seismic demand is not affected by the non‐linear springs. It is shown that a proper modelling of radiation mechanism at foundation level is crucial for a reliable and sustainable prediction of SFSI effects.
Amalgamation of blockchain and sixth‐generation‐envisioned responsive edge orchestration in future cellular vehicle‐to‐anything ecosystems: Opportunities and challenges
Authors: Bhattacharya Pronaya , Bodkhe Umesh , Zuhair Mohd , Rashid Mamoon , Liu Xuan , Verma Ashwin , Kishan Dewangan Ram
Published: December 2021

In modern decentralized cellular‐vehicle‐to‐anything (C‐V2X) infrastructures, connected autonomous smart vehicles (CASVs) exchange vehicular information with peer CASVs. To leverage responsive communication, sensors deployed in CASVs communicate through responsive edge computing (REC) infrastructures to support device‐to‐device‐ (D2D) based communication. To support low‐latency, high‐bandwidth, dense mobility, and high availability, researchers worldwide have proposed efficient 5G REC infrastructures to end vehicular users (VU). However, with the growing number of sensor units, intelligent automation, dense sensor integration at massive ultra‐low latency is required. To address the issue, the focus has shifted toward sixth‐generation (6G)‐based intelligent C‐V2X orchestration. However, the sensor data is exchanged through open channels, and thus trust and privacy among C‐V2X nodes is a prime concern. Thus, blockchain (BC) is a potential solution to allow immutable exchange ledgers among CASV sensor units for secure data exchange. With this motivation, the proposed survey integrates BC and 6G‐leveraged REC in C‐V2X to address the issues of fifth‐generation (5G)‐REC through immutable, verified, and chronological timestamped data exchanged through 6G‐envisioned terahertz (THz) channels, at high mobility, extremely low latency, and high availability. The survey also presents the open issues and research challenges in the 6G‐envisioned BC‐enabled REC C‐V2X ecosystems via a proposed framework. A case study 6Edge is presented for smart 6G intelligent edge integration with BC‐based ledgers. Finally, the concluding remarks and future direction of research are proposed. Thus, the proposed survey forms a guideline for automotive stakeholders, academicians, and researchers to explore the various opportunities of the possible integration in more significant detail.
Volatility forecasting for crude oil based on text information and deep learning PSO‐LSTM model
Authors: Jiao Xingrui , Song Yuping , Kong Yang , Tang Xiaolong
Published: December 2021

In this paper, a method to forecast the volatility of crude oil market based on text mining technology and deep learning model is proposed. First, the text mining technology is used to construct the textual features hidden in the news headlines of crude oil market, including the emotional polarity score, investor sentiment classification, and risk factors. Then the textual features with other features reflecting fluctuations of the crude oil market are combined as inputs of the deep learning long short‐term memory (LSTM) model for better forecasting results. Furthermore, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) is used to optimize the hyper‐parameters of the deep learning LSTM model to further improve the forecasting ability. The results in this study show that the LSTM model optimized by PSO algorithm has reduced 7.66%, 8.15%, 8.2%, 10.93%, and 23.46% on the mean absolute error (MAE) of crude oil volatility forecasting compared with other models. And it is more stable in multiple‐step forecasting results compared with the econometric model. In addition, compared with the PSO‐LSTM model without textual features, the forecasting accuracy of the PSO‐LSTM model with textual features has reduced by 6.77% and 5.12% in the MAE and the mean square error (MSE), respectively.
Effects of gestational age at birth on perinatal structural brain development in healthy term‐born babies
Authors: Gale‐Grant Oliver , Fenn‐Moltu Sunniva , França Lucas G. S. , Dimitrova Ralica , Christiaens Daan , Cordero‐Grande Lucilio , Chew Andrew , Falconer Shona , Harper Nicholas , Price Anthony N. , Hutter Jana , Hughes Emer , O'Muircheartaigh Jonathan , Rutherford Mary , Counsell Serena J. , Rueckert Daniel , Nosarti Chiara , Hajnal Joseph V. , McAlonan Grainne , Arichi Tomoki , Edwards A. David , Batalle Dafnis
Published: December 2021

Infants born in early term (37–38 weeks gestation) experience slower neurodevelopment than those born at full term (40–41 weeks gestation). While this could be due to higher perinatal morbidity, gestational age at birth may also have a direct effect on the brain. Here we characterise brain volume and white matter correlates of gestational age at birth in healthy term‐born neonates and their relationship to later neurodevelopmental outcome using T2 and diffusion weighted MRI acquired in the neonatal period from a cohort (n = 454) of healthy babies born at term age (>37 weeks gestation) and scanned between 1 and 41 days after birth. Images were analysed using tensor‐based morphometry and tract‐based spatial statistics. Neurodevelopment was assessed at age 18 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley‐III). Infants born earlier had higher relative ventricular volume and lower relative brain volume in the deep grey matter, cerebellum and brainstem. Earlier birth was also associated with lower fractional anisotropy, higher mean, axial, and radial diffusivity in major white matter tracts. Gestational age at birth was positively associated with all Bayley‐III subscales at age 18 months. Regression models predicting outcome from gestational age at birth were significantly improved after adding neuroimaging features associated with gestational age at birth. This work adds to the body of evidence of the impact of early term birth and highlights the importance of considering the effect of gestational age at birth in future neuroimaging studies including term‐born babies.