bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Solvent‐Dependent Enantiodivergent Friedel‐Crafts Reaction of Arylsulfonyl Indoles with 1‐Naphthols
Authors: Chang Chia‐Hao , Sathishkumar Nadaraj , Liao Yu‐Ting , Chen Hsin‐Tsung , Han Jeng‐Liang
Published: December 2019

We reported a solvent‐controlled enantiodivergent Friedel‐Crafts reaction of 1‐naphthols with vinylogous imine intermediates, which were generated from arylsulfonyl indoles. This reaction was catalyzed by a single cinchona alkaloid bifunctional organocatalyst and could produce both enantiomers by using toluene or 1,2‐DCE as the solvents. Eyring plot analysis revealed that enthalpy‐entropy compensation dominates this enantiodivergent reaction. DFT calculation was used to probe and compare the R‐ and S‐selective pathways.

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Surfactant‐Stripped Cabazitaxel Micelles Stabilized by Clotrimazole or Mifepristone
Authors: Sun Boyang , Chitgupi Upendra , Li Changning , Federizon Jasmin , Zhang Changjie , Ruszaj Donna M. , Razi Aida , Ortega Joaquin , Neelamegham Sriram , Zhang Yumiao , Lovell Jonathan F
Published: December 2019

Taxane chemotherapy formulations are used to treat advanced cancers, but limited solubility and propensity for aggregation in water complicates their development. Many involve drug dissolution in organic solvents and liquid surfactants, or use of lyophilization and reconstitution approaches. “Surfactant‐stripping,” has been previously reported, in which hydrophobic drugs were first dispersed in Pluronic (Poloxamer) surfactant, then subjected to membrane processing below the critical micelle temperature, to remove free and loose surfactant while retaining the active cargo. In the present work, stabilized, surfactant‐stripped (sss) cabazitaxel (CTX) micelles with potential for long‐term aqueous storage are developed. Some 50 hydrophobic co‐loaders cargos are screened for capacity to prevent aggregation of CTX, of which approximately 10 are effective. Further screening identifies the antifungal clotrimazole and the abortificant mifepristone as the most effective stabilizers for sss‐CTX micelles, via interference with the CTX aggregation process. Micelles remain stable for hundreds of days in aqueous storage and suppress the growth of orthotopic 4T1 murine mammary tumors. Pharmacokinetics, tubulin stabilization, and neutropenia induction of sss‐CTX are generally comparable to a TWEEN‐80 CTX formulation. These data reveal sss‐CTX as a taxane delivery vehicle with a high drug‐to‐surfactant ratio and capacity for extended aqueous storage.
Li+ Pre‐Insertion Leads to Formation of Solid Electrolyte Interface on TiO2 Nanotubes That Enables High‐Performance Anodes for Sodium Ion Batteries
Authors: Cha Gihoon , Mohajernia Shiva , Nguyen Nhat Truong , Mazare Anca , Denisov Nikita , Hwang Imgon , Schmuki Patrik
Published: December 2019

Recently, sodium ion batteries (SIBs) have been widely investigated as one of the most promising candidates for replacing lithium ion batteries (LIBs). For SIBs or LIBs, designing a stable and uniform solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) at the electrode–electrolyte interface is the key factor to provide high capacity, long‐term cycling, and high‐rate performance. In this paper, it is described how a remarkably enhanced SEI layer can be obtained on TiO2 nanotube (TiO2 NTs) arrays that allows for a strongly improved performance of sodium battery systems. Key is that a Li+ pre‐insertion in TiO2 NTs can condition the SEI for Na+ replacement. SIBs constructed with Li‐pre‐inserted NTs deliver an exceptional Na+ cycling stability (e.g., 99.9 ± 0.1% capacity retention during 250 cycles at a current rate of 50 mA g−1) and an excellent rate capability (e.g., 132 mA h g−1 at a current rate of 1 A g−1). The key factor in this outstanding performance is that Li‐pre‐insertion into TiO2 NTs leads not only to an enhanced electronic conductivity in the tubes, but also expands the anatase lattice for facilitated subsequent Na+ cycling.
Quality and Composition of Virgin Olive Oils from Indigenous and European Cultivars Grown in China
Authors: Yu Le , Wang Yongjin , Wu Gangcheng , Jin Jun , Jin Qingzhe , Wang Xingguo
Published: December 2019

The characteristics of eight varieties of virgin olive oil (Arbosana, Arbequina, Coratina, Cornicabra, Frantoio, Koroneiki, Picual, and Ezhi 8) obtained in two successive crops in the southwest of China (Xichang, Sichuan Province) were investigated. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in physicochemical properties, fatty acid profile, minor component contents, and oxidative stability between different varieties of olive oils. The physicochemical properties of all samples met IOC standards for extra virgin olive oil, while in Koroneiki, olive oils were present the optimum oxidation stability among studied varieties. The results of hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) showed a good classification between varieties based on their qualitative characteristics. Koroneiki and Ezhi 8 olive oils were significantly different from other varieties mainly due to color, fatty acid profile, and minor components. PCA result also showed that harvest crop influences the characteristics of samples mainly due to the variance of temperature and rainfall.
Cation‐bioimprinted mesoporous polysaccharide/sol–gel composites prepared in media containing choline chloride‐based deep eutectic solvents
Authors: Ferreira V. R. A. , Azenha M. A. , Pereira C. M. , Silva A. F.
Published: December 2019

A study on the Pb(II) imprinting performed within mesoporous sulphated biopolymer/siloxane composites, prepared in media containing deep eutectic solvent (DES), is described. In general, the process of imprinting resulted in greatly increased surface areas relatively to the corresponding nonimprinted composites [up to fivefold (from 76 m2 g−1 to 360 m2 g−1) for fucoidan (Fuc) and up to twofold (from 208 m2 g−1 to 351 m2 g−1) for chondroitin sulfate (CS) composites], the diminishing of mean pore size (from 3.3–4.6 nm to 2.9–3.4), and higher biopolymer contents (from mass fractions of 0.42–0.52 to 0.46–0.68). The sorption features depended a great deal on the biopolymer/DES combination. The best CS composite, allowed for 12% capacity and 20% binding strength, as well as Pb(II)/Cd(II) selectivity enhancements. The largest of the capacities was obtained with the imprinted Fuc/DES‐E composite, 86 mg g−1, a 10% increase. Concerning the selectivity [Pb(II) versus Cd(II)], there was a significant increase for the CS composites (from 1.0–1.1 (αqmax)/1.1–1.2 (αK) to 1.3–1.4 (αqmax)/1.3–1.6 (αK)]. In particular, the DES‐E CIC presented high selectivity factors (αqmax 3.0/αK 3.2) in line with those of the microporous version (αqmax 2.0/αK 3.3) but showing a significant increase in terms of the αqmax selectivity. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48842.
Event‐based neural network predictive controller application for a distillation column
Authors: Hadian Mohsen , Mehrshadian Milad , Karami Mahboobeh , Biglary Makvand Amin
Published: December 2019

In this work, the case study is a distillation column, which is a multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO) nonlinear process. An event‐based neural network predictive controller is utilized for the case study, considering control and energy policies. Computation and communication reduction are the main purposes of the event‐based strategy. The event‐based model predictive controller also copes successfully with the multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO) time‐delayed nonlinear processes. In order to achieve a suitable nonlinear data‐based model of the process, an event‐based neural network predictive controller is proposed. Moreover, new Cuckoo Optimization Algorithm (COA) is employed to improve the efficiency of the neural network. Evaluation of the proposed controller has illustrated a satisfactory performance in both setpoint tracking and disturbance rejection while computational load has been significantly decreased.
Ensure due process in disciplinary actions involving students with disabilities
Authors: Charmatz Marc
Published: December 2019

The legal issues discussed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Endres v. Northeast Ohio Medical University, No. 18‐3825 (6th Cir. 08/30/19) may seem mundane — the statute of limitations and qualified immunity from monetary damages — but the facts as recited by the appeals court offer a wealth of do's and don'ts for colleges and universities.
Was student accused of sexual misconduct entitled to hearing?
Authors: Gelpi Aileen
Published: December 2019

A university promulgated a sexual assault policy in February 2018 that obligated an investigator to: gather evidence, decide whether the accused was guilty, and issue a final report reflecting that decision.
Two‐step Screening for Identification of Drug‐metabolizing Bacterial Cytochromes P450 with Diversified Selectivity
Authors: Hilberath Thomas , Windeln Leonie M. , Decembrino Davide , Le‐Huu Priska , Bilsing Florestan L. , Urlacher Vlada B.
Published: December 2019

The evaluation of drug metabolites is compulsory during drug development. Since recently, bacterial cytochromes P450 and their mutated variants have attracted considerable interest as an alternative to hepatic P450s for the synthesis of human drug metabolites. Thus, straightforward screening approaches are required that enable rapid identification and evaluation of drug‐metabolizing bacterial P450s with different product selectivities. Herein, we report a two‐step screening method for discovery and characterization of new P450s from actinomycetes that enable oxidation of various drugs. In the first step, substrate profiling with three structurally different model drugs, ritonavir, testosterone, amitriptyline, allowed us to select CYP105D and CYP107Z from Streptomyces platensis DSM 40041 that accepted all model substrates and produced human‐like drug metabolites. In the second step, activity tests with an array of 25 structurally‐related molecules and derivatives of the three model compounds revealed a correlation between structural variations in the target drugs and the enzyme chemo‐ and regioselectivity.
New Insights on the Dynamic Role of the Protecting Agent on the Reactivity of Supported Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Grillo Giorgio , Menegazzo Federica , Tabasso Silvia , Signoretto Michela , Manzoli Maela , Cravotto Giancarlo
Published: December 2019

A very efficient catalyst (AuCePVA) was prepared by depositing gold colloids on CeO2 and using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as protective agent. Complete conversion and selectivity in furfural (2‐FA) oxidative esterification to methyl‐2‐furoate (Me‐2‐F) was obtained without base under conventional heating at 120 °C. AuCePVA was compared with Au/CeO2 obtained by deposition‐precipitation method, pointing out that along with the size of the Au nanoparticles and the surface sites of the ceria support, also PVA chains played a role during reaction. In situ FTIR spectroscopy measurements of adsorbed molecules at controlled temperature and pressure demonstrated that PVA acted not merely as gold stabilizer, but also as mediator during the 2‐FA oxidative esterification, leaving both Au and ceria sites available for catalysis at the reaction temperature. In a perspective of process intensification, the microwave‐assisted (MW‐assisted) 2‐FA oxidative esterification was carried out. Depending on the reaction time and temperature, AuCePVA favoured the oxidation of the hemiacetal into the ester rather than the re‐oxidation of the acetal into the ester, due to the formation of Ce3+ sites under MW irradiation.
Enhancing financial performance by pharmacy innovation
Authors: Wilson Grant Alexander , Slobodzian Adam D.
Published: December 2019

Antecedents and consequences of customer orientation have been the subject of significant empirical investigation. Although several studies have explored employee variables as antecedents to customer orientation, work ethic has received little research attention. Additionally, there have been incongruent findings related to the effect of customer orientation on performance, as some have found it to be direct or indirect via innovation. This study explores overall work ethic as an antecedent to customer orientation and innovativeness as the missing link between customer orientation and performance among Canadian retail pharmacies. The results show support for the influence of work ethic on customer orientation, and the role of innovation as a mediating variable. This study advances the understanding of work ethic, customer orientation, innovation, and performance in Canadian retail pharmacy.
Wide‐field amacrine cell inputs to ON parasol ganglion cells in macaque retina
Authors: Patterson Sara S. , Bordt Andrea S. , Girresch Rebecca J. , Linehan Conor M. , Bauss Jacob , Yeo Eunice , Perez Diego , Tseng Luke , Navuluri Sriram , Harris Nicole B. , Matthews Chaiss , Anderson James R. , Kuchenbecker James A. , Manookin Michael B. , Ogilvie Judith M. , Neitz Jay , Marshak David W.
Published: December 2019

Parasol cells are one of the major types of primate retinal ganglion cells. The goal of this study was to describe the synaptic inputs that shape the light responses of the ON type of parasol cells, which are excited by increments in light intensity. A connectome from central macaque retina was generated by serial blockface scanning electron microscopy. Six neighboring ON parasol cells were reconstructed, and their synaptic inputs were analyzed. On average, they received 21% of their input from bipolar cells, excitatory local circuit neurons receiving input from cones. The majority of their input was from amacrine cells, local circuit neurons of the inner retina that are typically inhibitory. Their contributions to the neural circuit providing input to parasol cells are not well‐understood, and the focus of this study was on the presynaptic wide‐field amacrine cells, which provided 17% of the input to ON parasol cells. These are GABAergic amacrine cells with long, relatively straight dendrites, and sometimes also axons, that run in a single, narrow stratum of the inner plexiform layer. The presynaptic wide‐field amacrine cells were reconstructed, and two types were identified based on their characteristic morphology. One presynaptic amacrine cell was identified as semilunar type 2, a polyaxonal cell that is electrically coupled to ON parasol cells. A second amacrine was identified as wiry type 2, a type known to be sensitive to motion. These inputs likely make ON parasol cells more sensitive to stimuli that are rapidly changing outside their classical receptive fields.
Coumarin‐4‐ylmethyl‐ and p‐Hydroxyphenacyl‐Based Photoacid Generators with High Solubility in Aqueous Media: Synthesis, Stability and Photolysis
Authors: Adatia Karishma K. , Halbritter Thomas , Reinfelds Matiss , Michele Andre , Tran Michael , Laschat Sabine , Heckel Alexander , Tovar Günter E. M. , Southan Alexander
Published: December 2019

(Coumarin‐4‐yl)methyl (c4m) and p‐hydroxyphenacyl (pHP)‐based compounds are well known for their highly efficient photoreactions, but often show limited solubility in aqueous media. To circumvent this, we synthesized and characterized the two new c4m and pHP‐based photoacid generators (PAGs), 7‐[bis(carboxymethyl)amino]‐4‐(acetoxymethyl)coumarin (c4m‐ac) and p‐hydroxyphenacyl‐2,5,8,11‐tetraoxatridecan‐13‐oate (pHP‐t), and determined their solubilities, stabilities and photolysis in aqueous media. The two compounds showed high solubilities in water of 2.77 mmol L−1±0.07 mmol L−1 (c4m‐ac) and 124.66 mmol L−1±2.1 mmol L−1 (pHP‐t). In basic conditions at pH 9, solubility increased for c4m‐ac to 646.46 mmol L−1±0.63 mmol L−1, for pHP‐t it decreased to 34.68 mmol L−1±0.62 mmol L−1. Photochemical properties of the two PAGs, such as the absorption maxima, the maximum molar absorption coefficients and the quantum yields, were found to be strongly pH‐dependent. Both PAGs showed high stabilities s24h ≥95 % in water for 24 h, but decreasing stability with increasing pH value due to hydrolysis. The present study contributes to a clearer insight into the synthesis, solubilities, stabilities, and photolysis of c4m and pHP‐based PAGs for further photochemical applications when high PAG concentrations are required, such as in polymeric foaming.
Enhanced Conversion of Xylan into Furfural using Acidic Deep Eutectic Solvents with Dual Solvent and Catalyst Behavior
Authors: Morais Eduarda S. , Freire Mara G. , Freire Carmen S. R. , Coutinho João A. P. , Silvestre Armando J. D.
Published: December 2019

An efficient process for the production of furfural from xylan by using acidic deep eutectic solvents (DESs), which act both as solvents and catalysts, is developed. DESs composed of cholinium chloride ([Ch]Cl) and malic acid or glycolic acid at different molar ratios, and the effects of water and γ‐valerolactone (GVL) contents, solid/liquid (S/L) ratio, and microwave heating are investigated. The best furfural yields are obtained with the DES [Ch]Cl:malic acid (1:3 molar ratio)+5 wt % water, under microwave heating for 2.5 min at 150 °C, a S/L ratio of 0.050, and GVL at a weight ratio of 2:1. Under these conditions, a remarkable furfural yield (75 %) is obtained. Direct distillation of furfural from the DES/GVL solvent and distillation from 2‐methyltetrahydrofuran (2‐MeTHF) after a back‐extraction step enable 89 % furfural recovery from 2‐MeTHF. This strategy allows recycling of the DES/GVL for at least three times with only small losses in furfural yield (>69 %). This is the fastest and highest‐yielding process reported for furfural production using bio‐based DESs as solvents and catalysts, paving the way for scale‐up of the process.
Rational Design of Hierarchical, Porous, Co‐Supported, N‐Doped Carbon Architectures as Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction
Authors: Qiao Mengfei , Wang Ying , Mamat Xamxikamar , Chen Anran , Zou Guoan , Li Lei , Hu Guangzhi , Zhang Shusheng , Hu Xun , Voiry Damien
Published: December 2019

Developing highly active nonprecious‐metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of great significance for reducing the cost of fuel cells. 3D‐ordered porous structures could substantially improve the performance of the catalysts because of their excellent mass‐diffusion properties and high specific surface areas. Herein, ordered porous ZIF‐67 was prepared by forced molding of a polystyrene template, and Co‐supported, N‐doped, 3D‐ordered porous carbon (Co‐NOPC) was obtained after further carbonization. Co‐NOPC exhibited excellent performance for the ORR in an alkaline medium with a half‐wave potential of 0.86 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), which is higher than that of the state‐of‐the‐art Pt/C (0.85 V vs. RHE). Moreover, the substantially improved catalytic performance of Co‐NOPC compared with Co‐supported, N‐doped carbon revealed the key role of its hierarchical porosity in boosting the ORR. Co‐NOPC also exhibited a close‐to‐ideal four‐electron transfer path, long‐term durability, and resistance to methanol penetration, which make it promising for large‐scale application.
A Composite Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalyst for High‐Performance Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries
Authors: Liu Jia‐Ning , Li Bo‐Quan , Zhao Chang‐Xin , Yu Jia , Zhang Qiang
Published: December 2019

Rechargeable zinc–air batteries are considered as next‐generation energy storage devices because of their ultrahigh theoretical energy density of 1086 Wh kg−1 (including oxygen) and inherent safety originating from the use of aqueous electrolyte. However, the cathode processes regarding oxygen reduction and evolution are sluggish in terms of kinetics, which severely limit the practical battery performances. Developing high‐performance bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts is of great significance, yet to achieve better bifunctional electrocatalytic reactivity beyond the state‐of‐the‐art noble‐metal‐based electrocatalysts remains a great challenge. Herein, a composite Co3O4@POF (POF=framework porphyrin) bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst is proposed to construct advanced air cathodes for high‐performance rechargeable zinc–air batteries. The as‐obtained composite Co3O4@POF electrocatalyst exhibits a bifunctional electrocatalytic reactivity of ΔE=0.74 V, which is better than the noble‐metal‐based Pt/C+Ir/C electrocatalyst and most of the reported bifunctional ORR/OER electrocatalysts. When applied in rechargeable zinc–air batteries, the Co3O4@POF cathode exhibits a reduced discharge–charge voltage gap of 1.0 V at 5.0 mA cm−2, high power density of 222.2 mW cm−2, and impressive cycling stability for more than 2000 cycles at 5.0 mA cm−2.
Role of poloidal E × B drift in divertor heat transport in DIII‐D
Authors: Jaervinen A.E. , Allen S.L. , Leonard A.W. , McLean A.G. , Moser A.L. , Rognlien T.D. , Samuell C.M.
Published: December 2019

Simulations for DIII‐D high confinement mode plasmas with the multifluid code UEDGE show a strong role of poloidal E × B drifts on divertor heat transport, challenging the paradigm of conduction‐limited scrape‐off layer (SOL) transport. While simulations with reduced drift magnitude are well aligned with the assumption that electron heat conduction dominates the SOL heat transport, simulations with drifts predict that the poloidal convective E × B heat transport dominates over electron heat conduction in both attached and detached conditions. As poloidal E × B flow propagates across magnetic field lines, poloidal transport with shallow magnetic pitch angles can reach values that are of the same order as would be provided by sonic flows parallel to the field lines. These flows can lead to strong convection‐dominated divertor heat transport, increasing the poloidal volume of radiative power front, consistent with previous measurements at DIII‐D. Due to these convective flows, the Lengyel integral approach, assuming zero convective fraction, is expected to provide a pessimistic estimate for the radiative capability of impurities in the divertor. For the DIII‐D simulations shown here, the Lengyel integral approach underestimates the radiated power by a factor of 6, indicating that, for reliable DIII‐D divertor power exhaust predictions, full two‐dimensional (2D) calculations, including drifts, would be necessary.
Low emotion differentiation: An affective correlate of binge eating?
Authors: Mikhail Megan E. , Keel Pamela K. , Burt S. Alexandra , Neale Michael , Boker Steven , Klump Kelly L.
Published: December 2019

Background

Low emotion differentiation (the tendency to experience vague affective states rather than discrete emotions) is associated with psychopathology marked by emotion regulation deficits and impulsive/maladaptive behavior. However, research examining associations between emotion differentiation and dysregulated eating is nascent and has yet to incorporate measures of clinically significant binge eating. Different measures of emotion differentiation have also been used, impeding cross‐study comparisons. We therefore examined associations between several emotion differentiation measures and binge eating‐related phenotypes across a spectrum of severity.

Methods

Women (N = 482) from the Michigan State University Twin Registry completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) daily for 45 consecutive days. Three measures of negative/positive emotion differentiation (NED/PED) were created using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), average interitem correlation, and average daily variance between negative/positive emotion ratings on the PANAS. Associations between NED/PED measures and emotional eating (EE) and a history of binge eating episodes (BEs) were then examined, controlling for affect intensity and BMI.

Results

Lower PED was associated with greater odds of BEs across the ICC and average interitem correlation measures, and more EE on the daily variance measure. Findings involving NED were less consistent; lower NED was associated with greater EE and greater odds of BEs using the daily variance measure only.

Conclusion

Low PED is associated with clinically significant binge eating, and some aspects of NED may also be relevant for binge eating‐related phenotypes. Further research examining the constructs captured by different emotion differentiation measures and their relevance to binge eating is needed.
Do static and dynamic marine protected areas that restrict pelagic fishing achieve ecological objectives?
Authors: Gilman Eric , Kaiser Michel J. , Chaloupka Milani
Published: December 2019

There has been a recent proliferation of large‐scale marine protected areas (MPAs) containing pelagic habitats. These contribute substantially toward meeting the area‐based goal of Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 and to managing pelagic ecosystem pressures, including fishing. We assessed theoretical and empirical evidence for the achievement of ecological objectives by static and dynamic spatial management of pelagic fisheries. Exceptionally few studies have assessed ecological responses to MPAs that constrain pelagic fisheries, leaving substantial uncertainty over their efficacy. Assessments have provided a limited basis for causal inferences and have not evaluated whether other management tools would be more effective. Pelagic MPAs have relatively high promise to mitigate fisheries bycatch of species of conservation concern with “slow” life history traits and that form temporally and spatially predictable hotspots, and for some species, to protect habitats important for critical life history stages. It would be challenging to design MPAs to maintain absolute biomass levels of target stocks near targets and above limits: MPAs would need to be extensive to account for broad and variable distributions, and account for catch risk outside of the MPA, including from displaced fishing effort and fishing‐the‐line. For non‐overexploited stocks, which is the status of most target pelagic species and their prey, there would likely be little response in absolute stock biomass to an MPA. While pelagic MPAs have a higher promise of increasing target stocks’ local abundance, evidence with a robust basis for inferring causality is needed. Reducing fishing mortality of prey species might not affect the biomass of their pelagic predators because prey species experience light fishing pressure and because there may be a weak correlation between the absolute abundance of forage fish and their predators. There is an especially limited basis for predicting the effects of MPAs on fisheries‐induced evolution (FIE) in pelagic species. We describe how pelagic MPAs could be designed to achieve five ecological objectives without causing cross‐taxa conflicts and exacerbating FIE. To fill substantial gaps in knowledge, we prescribe counterfactual‐based modeling of time series data of standardized catch records to infer causation in assessments of ecological responses to pelagic MPAs.
Massive and effective acorn dispersal into agroforestry systems by an overlooked vector, the Eurasian magpie (Pica pica)
Authors: Martínez‐Baroja Loreto , Pérez‐Camacho Lorenzo , Villar‐Salvador Pedro , Rebollo Salvador , Quiles Pablo , Gómez‐Sánchez Daniel , Molina‐Morales Mercedes , Leverkus Alexandro B. , Castro Jorge , Rey‐Benayas José María
Published: December 2019

Oak regeneration and the expansion of forested sites in Eurasia rely on acorn dispersal by animals, especially the Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius). However, in open agroforestry systems where jays are absent, such as old fields far from acorn sources, oak recruitment still occurs. We hypothesize that the Eurasian magpie (Pica pica), an abundant corvid in this system, substitutes the jay in its seed dispersal function. By ringing 169 magpies, video recording >7500 acorn removal events with trail cameras, and radio‐tagging 337 acorns, we quantified that (1) magpies cached 41–56% of the annual acorn production of Quercus ilex trees in single caches on the ground; (2) breeding pairs, and especially males, were the main acorn dispersers; (3) each breeding magpie cached 169–1372 acorns in 6 weeks; and (4) the effectiveness of dispersal (percentage of cached acorns resulting in seedlings) was 0.6–2.4%, which (5) yielded a high density of emerged seedlings (56–439 seedlings/ha). We evidence that magpie could be a key species in the regeneration of oak agroforestry mosaics because they massively and effectively dispersed acorns. However, in our particular study site, effectiveness was low probably due to herbivory and summer drought stress (i.e., a context limitation rather than an intrinsic limitation of the disperser). As the distributions of magpies and oaks overlap widely in Eurasia, effective acorn dispersal by magpies could have a significant role in large‐scale oak forest recovery in strongly fragmented landscapes.
Compound disease and wildfire disturbances alter opportunities for seedling regeneration in resprouter‐dominated forests
Authors: Simler‐Williamson Allison B. , Metz Margaret R. , Frangioso Kerri M. , Meentemeyer Ross K. , Rizzo David M.
Published: December 2019

Human‐altered disturbance regimes and changing climatic conditions can reduce seed availability and suitable microsites, limiting seedling regeneration in recovering forest systems. Thus, resprouting plants, which can persist in situ, are expected to expand in dominance in many disturbance‐prone forests. However, resprouters may also be challenged by changing regimes, and the mechanisms determining facultative seedling recruitment by resprouting species, which will determine both the future spread and current persistence of these populations, are poorly understood. In the resprouter‐dominated forests of coastal California, interactions between wildfire and an emerging disease, sudden oak death (SOD), alter disturbance severity and tree mortality, which may shift forest regeneration trajectories. We examine this set of compound disturbances to (1) assess the influence of seed limitation, biotic competition, and abiotic conditions on seedling regeneration in resprouting populations; (2) investigate whether disease‐fire interactions alter postfire seedling regeneration, which have implications for future disease dynamics and shifts in forest composition. Following a wildfire that impacted a preexisting plot network in SOD‐affected forests, we monitored seedling abundances and survival over eight years. With pre‐ and postfire data, we assessed relationships between regeneration dynamics and disturbance severity, biotic, and abiotic variables, using Bayesian generalized linear models and mixed models. Our results indicate that postfire seedling regeneration by resprouting species was shaped by contrasting mechanisms reflecting seed limitation and competitive release. Seedling abundances declined with decreasing postfire survival of mature, conspecific stems, while belowground survival of resprouting genets had no effect. However, where seed sources persisted, seedling abundances and survival generally increased with the prefire severity of disease impacts, suggesting that decreased competition with adults may enhance seedling recruitment in this resprouter‐dominated system. Species’ regeneration responses varied with their relative susceptibility to SOD and suggest compositional shifts, which will determine future disease management and forest restoration actions. These results additionally highlight that mechanisms related to biotic competition, seed limitation, and opportunities for seedling recruitment beneath mature canopies may determine possible shifts in the occurrence of resprouting traits. This result has broad applications to other systems impacted by human‐altered regimes where asexual persistence may be predicted to be a beneficial life history strategy.
Body image avoidance affects interpersonal distance perception: A virtual environment experiment
Authors: Welsch Robin , Hecht Heiko , Kolar David R. , Witthöft Michael , Legenbauer Tanja
Published: December 2019

Objective

Eating disorders have a considerable influence on social contacts. The avoidance towards the own body may result in the avoidance of others. Previous research has found a preference for larger interaction distances in individuals with eating disorders (ED) as compared to control participants (CG). We aimed to replicate these findings and to investigate whether the body weight of the interactant moderates the effect.

Method

We recruited a female sample with mixed ED subtypes (n = 21) and a female CG (n = 28). Participants were immersed in a virtual environment and engaged in a number of fictitious social interactions. They approached a virtual person until a comfortable distance for interaction was reached. The approached virtual persons differed with respect to body weight in five levels (underweight to obese).

Results

Our results indicate that interpersonal distance varies as a U‐shaped function of the avatar's body weight, and that higher levels of body avoidance, present in ED individuals, magnify this effect.

Conclusions

We discuss our results with regard to the role of perspective and disgust to provide a useful framework and to motivate future studies in the domain of body avoidance in social interactions.
Comparative Toxicological Evaluation of UV-Degraded versus Parent-Insensitive Munition Compound 1-Methyl-3-Nitroguanidine in Fathead Minnow
Authors: Lotufo Guilherme R. , Gust Kurt A. , Ballentine Mark L. , Moores Lee C. , Kennedy Alan J. , Barker Natalie D. , Ji Qing , Chappell Pornsawan
Published: December 2019

The US Army is replacing traditional munitions with insensitive munitions resistant to accidental detonation. Although the parent insensitive munition compound nitroguanidine (NQ) is generally not acutely toxic at concentrations >1000 mg/L in aquatic exposures, products formed by intensive ultraviolet (UV) degradation resulted in multiple-order of magnitude increases in toxicity. A methylated congener of NQ, 1-methyl-3-nitroguanidine (MeNQ), is also being assessed for potential use in insensitive munition explosive formulations; therefore, the present study investigated the hazard of parent versus UV-degraded MeNQ using fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Although up to 716 mg/L parent MeNQ caused no significant mortality or effects on growth in larval P. promelas fish in 7-d exposures, a similar concentration of MeNQ subjected to UV treatment resulted in 85% mortality. The UV treatment degraded only 3.3% of the MeNQ (5800 mg/L stock, UV-treated for 6 h), indicating that MeNQ degradation products have potentially high toxicity. The parent MeNQ exposure caused significantly decreased transcriptional expression of genes within the significantly enriched insulin metabolic pathway, suggesting antagonism of bioenergetics pathways, which complements observed, although nonsignificant, decreases in body weight. Significant differential transcriptional expression in the UV-degraded MeNQ treatments resulted in significant enrichment of pathways and functions related to the cell cycle, as well as erythrocyte function involved in O2/CO2 exchange. These functions represent potential mechanistic sources of increased toxicity observed in the UV-degraded MeNQ exposures, which are distinct from previously observed mechanisms underlying increased toxicity of UV-degraded NQ in fish. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:612–622. © 2019 SETAC
Gaussian processes for daily demand prediction in tourism planning
Authors: Tsang Wai Kit , Benoit Dries F.
Published: December 2019

This study proposes Gaussian processes to forecast daily hotel occupancy at a city level. Unlike other studies in the tourism demand prediction literature, the hotel occupancy rate is predicted on a daily basis and 45 days ahead of time using online hotel room price data. A predictive framework is introduced that highlights feature extraction and selection of the independent variables. This approach shows that the dependence on internal hotel occupancy data can be removed by making use of a proxy measure for hotel occupancy rate at a city level. Six forecasting methods are investigated, including linear regression, autoregressive integrated moving average and recent machine learning methods. The results indicate that Gaussian processes offer the best tradeoff between accuracy and interpretation by providing prediction intervals in addition to point forecasts. It is shown how the proposed framework improves managerial decision making in tourism planning.
The Rise of Transportation Electrification
Authors: DeCotis Paul A.
Published: December 2019

In the United States, where transportation accounts for 29 percent of total energy use per year, the country is witnessing a slow but steady shift from gasoline and diesel fuel to electricity—with electric vehicles (EVs) now forecast to become 11 percent of all passenger vehicle sales by 2025, and 55 percent by 2040. At this rate, the sector is expected to reach a $567 billion market size by 2026—a
nearly $500 billion increase from 2017. Signs of this growth abound, from the many Teslas, Chevrolet Bolts, and Nissan Leafs on the roads to the charging stations sprouting up in public and commercial parking lots. Most automakers are planning for EVs to eclipse conventional vehicle manufacturing within the decade.
Downregulated microRNA‐150 upregulates IRX1 to depress proliferation, migration, and invasion, but boost apoptosis of gastric cancer cells
Authors: Wu Di , Li Zhiling , Zhao Shangping , Yang Bingchang , Liu Zuoliang
Published: December 2019

Objective

Many studies have reported the correlation of microRNAs (miRNAs) with cancers, yet few have proposed the function of miR‐150 in gastric cancer. This study intends to discuss the role of miR‐150 in gastric cancer development by regulating IRX1.

Methods

Gastric cancer tissues and adjacent tissues were collected. MiR‐150‐3p, IRX1, CXCL14, and NF‐κB (p65) expressions were detected. Gastric cancer cell lines SNU‐1 and MKN‐45 were used for subsequent cellular experiments. Cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion, apoptosis, and cell cycle distribution in SNU‐1 and MKN‐45 cells were determined via gain‐of and loss‐of‐function assays. The tumor growth in nude mice was also detected.

Results

MiR‐150, CXCL14, and NF‐κB (p65) were upregulated and IRX1 was downregulated in gastric cancer tissues and cells. CXCL14 and NF‐κB (p65) expression was positively related to miR‐150 expression and negatively to IRX1 expression. MiR‐150 inhibition and IRX1 overexpression in SNU‐1 cells restricted viability, colony formation, migration, and invasion abilities, but boosted apoptosis of gastric cancer cells in vitro, and also repressed tumor growth in vivo. These results could be reversed by miR‐150 elevation and IRX1 silencing, and the results from in vivo and in vitro experiments were consistent.

Conclusion

Our study reveals that miR‐150 downregulation restrains proliferation, migration, and invasion, while facilitating apoptosis of gastric cancer cells by upregulating IRX1.
Graphene oxide‐based nanomaterial interaction with human breast cancer cells
Authors: Ribeiro Beatriz F.M. , Souza Marcelo M. , Fernandes Daniela S. , do Carmo Devaney R. , Machado‐Santelli Glaucia M.
Published: December 2019

Graphene and graphene‐based nanomaterials have great potential for various biomedical applications due to their unique physicochemical properties. However, how graphene‐based nanomaterials interact with biological systems has not been thoroughly studied. This study shows that 24, 48, and 72 hr exposure of 2.4 μg/cm2 of graphene oxide (GOX) and GOX modified with DAB‐AM‐16 and PAMAM dendrimers (GOXD and GOXP, respectively) did not exhibit toxicity to MCF‐7 cells. However, higher graphene concentrations, such as 24 and 48 μg/cm2, induced low cytotoxic effects. The GOX, GOXD, and GOXP particles have a strong affinity with the cellular membrane. Cells that internalized the nanomaterials presented morphological alterations and modifications in the organization of microfilaments and microtubules compared with control cells. Then, cells were treated with 24 μg/cm2 of GOX, GOXD or GOXP for 24 hr and recovered for an additional period of 24 hr in normal medium. Nanoparticles remained in the cytoplasm of some cells, apparently with no effect on cellular morphology, being consistent with the data found in the cell proliferation experiment, which showed that the cells remained alive up to 72 hr.
Effects of copper‐impregnated collagen implants on local pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory and regenerative tissue reactions following implantation in rats
Authors: Hoene Andreas , Lucke Silke , Walschus Uwe , Hackbarth Christine , Prinz Cornelia , Evert Friedrich‐Karl , Neumann Hans‐Georg , Schlosser Michael
Published: December 2019

Combining collagen, an established regenerative biomaterial, and copper (Cu) with its known antibacterial and angiogenic effects could improve wound healing. However, Cu is also cytotoxic. Thus, this study aimed at examining the tissue reactions after simultaneous intramuscular implantation of collagen discs either without Cu (controls) or impregnated in 2, 20, or 200 mmol/L Cu acetate in 24 rats. After 7, 14, and 56 days, implants with peri‐implant tissue were retrieved from 8 rats/day for immunohistochemical detection of CD68+ monocytes/macrophages and CD163+ macrophages, MHC‐II+ cells, T lymphocytes and nestin as tissue regeneration marker. CD68+ monocytes/macrophages around implants increased with Cu amount but decreased over time except for the highest Cu amount, while CD163+ macrophages increased over time around and within implants. MHC‐II+ cells were similar to CD68+ monocytes/macrophages. T lymphocyte numbers around implants were higher for Cu‐impregnated samples vs. controls on day 7 and highest on day 14, but declined afterwards. Nestin expression around and within implants was largely unaffected by Cu. In conclusion, pro‐inflammatory reactions around implants were dose‐dependently influenced by Cu but mostly decreased over time, while Cu did not negatively affect anti‐inflammatory and regenerative reactions. These results suggest that Cu‐impregnated collagen could be beneficial in wound treatment.
The control response in assessing resurgence: Useful or compromised tool?
Authors: Lattal Kennon A. , Oliver Anthony C.
Published: December 2019

Resurgence experiments sometimes include an operandum on which a history of reinforcement has not been experimentally established. The purpose of this control operandum is to rule out a generalized increase in responding when the alternative response is extinguished as being the cause of the resurgent target response. A review of the results of experiments conducted with both nonhumans and humans in which a control operandum was included shows that control‐ operandum responding is more common in the latter and almost nonexistent in the former. Both the presence and absence of responding on the control operandum, however, are subject to multiple interpretations thereby rendering it a compromised tool. Alternatives to using a control operandum to rule out extinction induction as the basis for resurgence include a preresurgence test control procedure and a differential resurgence procedure.
Slc22a5 haploinsufficiency does not aggravate the phenotype of the long‐chain acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase KO mouse
Authors: Ranea‐Robles Pablo , Yu Chunli , van Vlies Naomi , Vaz Frédéric M. , Houten Sander M.
Published: December 2019

Secondary carnitine deficiency is commonly observed in inherited metabolic diseases characterised by the accumulation of acylcarnitines such as mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO) disorders. It is currently unclear if carnitine deficiency and/or acylcarnitine accumulation play a role in the pathophysiology of FAO disorders. The long‐chain acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD) KO mouse is a model for long‐chain FAO disorders and is characterised by decreased levels of tissue and plasma free carnitine. Tissue levels of carnitine are controlled by SLC22A5, the plasmalemmal carnitine transporter. Here, we have further decreased carnitine availability in the LCAD KO mouse through a genetic intervention by introducing one defective Slc22a5 allele (jvs). Slc22a5 haploinsufficiency decreased free carnitine levels in liver, kidney, and heart of LCAD KO animals. The resulting decrease in the tissue long‐chain acylcarnitines levels had a similar magnitude as the decrease in free carnitine. Levels of cardiac deoxycarnitine, a carnitine biosynthesis intermediate, were elevated due to Slc22a5 haploinsufficiency in LCAD KO mice. A similar increase in heart and muscle deoxycarnitine was observed in an independent experiment using Slc22a5jvs/jvs mice. Cardiac hypertrophy, fasting‐induced hypoglycemia and increased liver weight, the major phenotypes of the LCAD KO mouse, were not affected by Slc22a5 haploinsufficiency. This may suggest that secondary carnitine deficiency does not play a major role in the pathophysiology of these phenotypes. Similarly, our data do not support a major role for toxicity of long‐chain acylcarnitines in the phenotype of the LCAD KO mouse.
A galactose‐1‐phosphate uridylyltransferase‐null rat model of classic galactosemia mimics relevant patient outcomes and reveals tissue‐specific and longitudinal differences in galactose metabolism
Authors: Rasmussen Shauna A. , Daenzer Jennifer M. I. , MacWilliams Jessica A. , Head S. Taylor , Williams Martine B. , Geurts Aron M. , Schroeder Jason P. , Weinshenker David , Fridovich‐Keil Judith L.
Published: December 2019

Classic galactosemia (CG) is a potentially lethal inborn error of metabolism, if untreated, that results from profound deficiency of galactose‐1‐phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT), the middle enzyme of the Leloir pathway of galactose metabolism. While newborn screening and rapid dietary restriction of galactose prevent or resolve the potentially lethal acute symptoms of CG, by mid‐childhood, most treated patients experience significant complications. The mechanisms underlying these long‐term deficits remain unclear. Here we introduce a new GALT‐null rat model of CG and demonstrate that these rats display cataracts, cognitive, motor, and growth phenotypes reminiscent of patients outcomes. We further apply the GALT‐null rats to test how well blood biomarkers, typically followed in patients, reflect metabolic perturbations in other, more relevant tissues. Our results document that the relative levels of galactose metabolites seen in GALT deficiency differ widely by tissue and age, and that red blood cell Gal‐1P, the marker most commonly followed in patients, shows no significant association with Gal‐1P in other tissues. The work reported here establishes our outbred GALT‐null rats as an effective model for at least four complications characteristic of CG, and sets the stage for future studies addressing mechanism and testing the efficacy of novel candidate interventions.
Manual vs automated 68Ga‐radiolabelling—A comparison of optimized processes
Authors: Meisenheimer Michael , Kürpig Stefan , Essler Markus , Eppard Elisabeth
Published: December 2019

A critical factor for clinical practice is the production of 68Ga radiopharmaceuticals manufactured manually or through an automated procedure. 68Ga radiopharmaceuticals are often prepared manually, although this method can lead to an increased operator's radiation dose and potential variability within production. The present work compares 68Ga‐radiolabelling (PSMA‐11; DOTA‐TOC) utilizing a cassette module (GAIA; Elysia‐Raytest; Germany) with a manual setup for routine clinical production with regard to process reliability and reproducibility.