bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fewer chromosomes, more co‐occurring species within plant lineages: A likely effect of local survival and colonization
Authors: Bartish Igor V. , Bonnefoi Salomé , Aïnouche Abdelkader , Bruelheide Helge , Bartish Mark , Prinzing Andreas
Published: February 2023

Premise

Plant lineages differ markedly in species richness globally, regionally, and locally. Differences in whole‐genome characteristics (WGCs) such as monoploid chromosome number, genome size, and ploidy level may explain differences in global species richness through speciation or global extinction. However, it is unknown whether WGCs drive species richness within lineages also in a recent, postglacial regional flora or in local plant communities through local extinction or colonization and regional species turnover.

Methods

We tested for relationships between WGCs and richness of angiosperm families across the Netherlands/Germany/Czechia as a region, and within 193,449 local vegetation plots.

Results

Families that are species‐rich across the region have lower ploidy levels and small monoploid chromosomes numbers or both (interaction terms), but the relationships disappear after accounting for continental and local richness of families. Families that are species‐rich within occupied localities have small numbers of polyploidy and monoploid chromosome numbers or both, independent of their own regional richness and the local richness of all other locally co‐occurring species in the plots. Relationships between WGCs and family species‐richness persisted after accounting for niche characteristics and life histories.

Conclusions

Families that have few chromosomes, either monoploid or holoploid, succeed in maintaining many species in local communities and across a continent and, as indirect consequence of both, across a region. We suggest evolutionary mechanisms to explain how small chromosome numbers and ploidy levels might decrease rates of local extinction and increase rates of colonization. The genome of a macroevolutionary lineage may ultimately control whether its species can ecologically coexist.
Evaluating niche changes during invasion with seasonal models in Capsella bursa‐pastoris
Authors: Wilson Brown Maya K. , Josephs Emily B.
Published: February 2023

Premise

Researchers often use ecological niche models to predict where species might establish and persist under future or novel climate conditions. However, these predictive methods assume species have stable niches across time and space. Furthermore, ignoring the time of occurrence data can obscure important information about species reproduction and ultimately fitness. Here, we assess compare ecological niche models generated from full‐year averages to seasonal models.

Methods

In this study, we generate full‐year and monthly ecological niche models for Capsella bursa‐pastoris in Europe and North America to see if we can detect changes in the seasonal niche of the species after long‐distance dispersal.

Results

We find full‐year ecological niche models have low transferability across continents and there are continental differences in the climate conditions that influence the distribution of C. bursa‐pastoris. Monthly models have greater predictive accuracy than full‐year models in cooler seasons, but no monthly models can predict North American summer occurrences very well.

Conclusions

The relative predictive ability of European monthly models compared to North American monthly models suggests a change in the seasonal timing between the native range to the non‐native range. These results highlight the utility of ecological niche models at finer temporal scales in predicting species distributions and unmasking subtle patterns of evolution.
Prolidase deficiency: A novel PEPD missense variant in exon 2
Authors: Ido Firas , Tessier Steven , Yoder Nicole , Ramzy Joseph , Longo Santo
Published: February 2023

Prolidase deficiency is an autosomal recessive disease that causes impaired collagen degradation. Altered collagen homeostasis results in the intracellular accumulation of imidodipeptides, which contain proline and hydroxyproline. The many clinical manifestations of prolidase deficiency include dysmorphic facial features, skeletal deformities, hepatosplenomegaly, necrotizing skin ulcers, and recurrent infections. Current clinical knowledge of this genetic disease relies upon few case reports due to its extreme rarity. Diagnosis is dependent on the detection of a pathologic gene variant. Additional diagnostic confirmation may be provided by urine amino acid quantification or reduced in vitro prolidase activity. We present a case of prolidase deficiency caused by a novel variant manifested by skeletal malformations and lifelong multisystemic infections. Genetic testing revealed a homozygous missense variant in the PEPD gene at nucleotide position 200, whereby adenine was replaced by guanine (c.200A > G). The corresponding amino acid change replaced glutamine with arginine at codon 67 (p.Gln67Arg). After boiling the urine sample for hydrolysis, quantitative urine amino acids demonstrated a markedly elevated proline level, confirming the diagnosis. We also provide a discussion of the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic testing, and clinical management of this disease.
4‐Chloro‐2‐azaadamantane N‐Oxyl (4‐Cl‐AZADO): A Readily Preparable Organocatalyst for NOx Co‐catalyzed Aerobic Alcohol Oxidation
Authors: Nagasawa Shota , Sasano Yusuke , Iwabuchi Yoshiharu
Published: February 2023

Concise synthesis and structure‐activity relationships study of 4‐substituted 2‐azaadamantane N‐oxyls reveals that 4‐chloro‐2‐azaadamantane N‐oxyl (4‐Cl‐AZADO) is an efficient organocatalyst toward the aerobic oxidation of alcohols in the presence of NOx as a co‐catalyst. The organocatalyst was easily synthesized from 2‐adamantanone in five steps, and it showed high activity compared with many previously reported nitroxyl radical catalysts.
Biopsychosocial frailty and mild cognitive impairment subtypes: Findings from the Italian project on the epidemiology of Alzheimer's disease (IPREA)
Authors: Solfrizzi Vincenzo , Scafato Emanuele , Custodero Carlo , Piazzolla Giuseppina , Capogna Lavinia , Procaccio Annagrazia , Gandin Claudia , Galluzzo Lucia , Ghirini Silvia , Matone Alice , Dibello Vittorio , Sardone Rodolfo , Daniele Antonio , Lozupone Madia , Panza Francesco ,   IPREA Working Group
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Frailty is a critical intermediate status of the aging process including physical, cognitive, and psychosocial phenotypes. We operationalized a biopsychosocial frailty construct, estimating its association with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and its subtypes.

Methods

In 1980, older individuals from the population‐based Italian PRoject on the Epidemiology of Alzheimer's disease (IPREA), we investigated cross‐sectional associations among biopsychosocial frailty, MCI, and its subtypes.

Results

Participants with biopsychosocial frailty showed an increased odds ratio (OR) of MCI [OR: 4.36; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.60‐7.29; Fisher's exact p < 0.01], particularly for nonamnestic MCI single domain (naMCI‐SD, OR:3.28; 95% CI: 1.35‐7.97; Fisher's exact p = 0.02) and for nonamnestic MCI multiple domain (naMCI‐MD, OR:6.92; 95% CI: 3.37‐14.21; Fisher's exact p < 0.01). No statistically significant associations between amnestic MCI single or multiple domain and biopsychosocial frailty were observed.

Discussion

In a large, older Italian cohort, a biopsychosocial frailty phenotype was associated with MCI, in particular, could be associated with some of its subtypes, that is, naMCI‐SD, and naMCI‐MD.
Directed Evolution of an Iron(II)‐ and α‐Ketoglutarate‐Dependent Dioxygenase for Site‐Selective Azidation of Unactivated Aliphatic C−H Bonds**
Authors: Gomez Christian A. , Mondal Dibyendu , Du Qian , Chan Natalie , Lewis Jared C.
Published: February 2023

FeII‐ and α‐ketoglutarate‐dependent halogenases and oxygenases can catalyze site‐selective functionalization of C−H bonds via a variety of C−X bond forming reactions, but achieving high chemoselectivity for functionalization using non‐native functional groups remains rare. The current study shows that directed evolution can be used to engineer variants of the dioxygenase SadX that address this challenge. Site‐selective azidation of succinylated amino acids and a succinylated amine was achieved as a result of mutations throughout the SadX structure. The installed azide group was reduced to a primary amine, and the succinyl group required for azidation was enzymatically cleaved to provide the corresponding amine. These results provide a promising starting point for evolving additional SadX variants with activity on structurally distinct substrates and for enabling enzymatic C−H functionalization with other non‐native functional groups.
Chemical Validation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Phosphopantetheine Adenylyltransferase Using Fragment Linking and CRISPR Interference**
Authors: El Bakali Jamal , Blaszczyk Michal , Evans Joanna C. , Boland Jennifer A. , McCarthy William J. , Fathoni Imam , Dias Marcio V. B. , Johnson Eachan O. , Coyne Anthony G. , Mizrahi Valerie , Blundell Tom L. , Abell Chris , Spry Christina
Published: February 2023

The coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis pathway has attracted attention as a potential target for much‐needed novel antimicrobial drugs, including for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB), the lethal disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Seeking to identify inhibitors of Mtb phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase (MtbPPAT), the enzyme that catalyses the penultimate step in CoA biosynthesis, we performed a fragment screen. In doing so, we discovered three series of fragments that occupy distinct regions of the MtbPPAT active site, presenting a unique opportunity for fragment linking. Here we show how, guided by X‐ray crystal structures, we could link weakly‐binding fragments to produce an active site binder with a KD <20 μM and on‐target anti‐Mtb activity, as demonstrated using CRISPR interference. This study represents a big step toward validating MtbPPAT as a potential drug target and designing a MtbPPAT‐targeting anti‐TB drug.
Periodic and event‐based impulse control for linear stochastic systems with multiplicative noise
Authors: Wang Bingchang , Wang Chao
Published: February 2023

This paper studies the performance comparison of periodic and event‐based sampling for a class of linear stochastic systems with multiplicative noise, where the impulse control is adopted. By solving boundary value problems, we obtain the analytic expressions of the mean sampling time and the average state variance under the event‐based sampling. It is shown that the event‐based impulse control has substantially smaller average state variance than the periodic control under the same sampling frequency. Particularly, for the integrator case, the performance ratio of the two sampling methods is given explicitly. By simulation, it is demonstrated that the advantage of event‐based sampling over periodic sampling is most obvious for unstable systems, followed by critical stable systems, and least obvious for stable systems.
Anti‐bias training and perceived force climate: Links with prejudiced attitudes in United Kingdom policing
Authors: Legate Nicole , Weinstein Netta , Graham Les , Plater Marisa
Published: February 2023

Anti‐bias training has been viewed as the solution to prejudice in organizations, yet the evidence is mixed in real‐world settings. Some point to the broader organizational climate that training takes place in as critical, and herein we investigate one aspect: communicating about bias in autonomy‐supportive (i.e., non‐shaming) ways. Using the 2019 National Well‐Being and Inclusion Survey of United Kingdom police officers and staff (n = 34,529 in 43 forces), we tested links of participating in anti‐bias training, perceived autonomy‐supportive communication, and their interaction on prejudiced attitudes. Results revealed a negligible effect (R2 = 0.001) of participating in anti‐bias training but a moderate effect (R2 = 0.05) of perceiving autonomy‐supportive communication predicting lower prejudice. Their interaction was significant but negligible (R2 = 0.001): participating in anti‐bias training predicted lower prejudice when perceiving autonomy‐supportive communication; there was no link between training and attitudes without autonomy‐supportive communication. Implications for improving the effectiveness of anti‐bias training in applied settings and research are discussed.
The Opportunities and Challenges in Single‐Atom Catalysis
Authors: Zhou Yang , Jiang Yan , Ji Yuxia , Lang Rui , Fang Yanxiong , Wu Chuan‐De
Published: February 2023

The catalytic approaches fulfilled by the singly dispersed metal atoms anchoring on the solid materials were categorized as single‐atom catalysis. In this perspective, after briefly introducing the history in this research field, we compare the differences between single‐atom catalyst and several terms indicating some heterogeneous highly dispersed metal catalysts. Single‐atom catalysts could provide the simplified models in exploring the catalytically active structures, and a new era of designing catalysts at the atomic scale is thus opened. In this context, single‐atom catalysis may be regarded as a bridge to combine the homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. Moreover, the materials containing isolated metal centers also provide great opportunities in many other applications, such as medicinal treatment, selective separation of gas molecule, and quantum devices. At last, challenges to the single‐atom catalysis are discussed.
MOF‐Derived Materials Enabled Lithiophilic 3D Hosts for Lithium Metal Anode — A Review
Authors: Wei Tao , Lu Jiahao , Wang Mengting , Sun Cheng , Zhang Qi , Wang Sijia , Zhou Yanyan , Chen Daifen , Lan Ya‐Qian
Published: February 2023

Comprehensive Summary

This work systematically reviews recent progresses in the applications of MOF‐derived materials modified 3D porous conductive framework as hosts for uniform lithium deposition in LMBs. A series of commonly used lithiophilic materials and several kinds of representative MOF‐derivation‐modified 3D hosts as lithium metal anode (LMA) are presented. Finally, the challenges and future development of employing MOF‐derived materials to modify the 3D porous conductive framework for LMA are included.
Maximal functional capacity in subjects with isolated left bundle branch block: A pilot study
Authors: Palau Patricia , Mendez Jose , Santas Enrique , Núñez Julio , López Laura , Briatore Antonio , Domínguez Eloy
Published: February 2023

Background

Left bundle branch block (LBBB) has been commonly associated with adverse cardiovascular (CV) events, but the effect of an isolated LBBB on maximal functional capacity is not well characterized.

Objective

To evaluate maximal functional capacity in adults with isolated LBBB and compare it to healthy population‐derived predicted values (adjusted for sex, age, weight, and height).

Methods

This descriptive pilot study included subjects with isolated LBBB derived from outpatient clinics of two academic hospitals. All subjects underwent maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and a Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). The primary outcome was to evaluate maximal functional capacity according to population‐derived predicted values of peak oxygen consumption (peakVO2): pp‐peakVO2. The secondary outcome was to report adverse CV events (CV deaths or hospitalizations) at follow‐up.

Results

A total of 27 (18 women and 9 men) participants were included. The median (interquartile range) age of the sample and time to screening from the first LBBB diagnosis were 62 (51−71) and 3.4 (1.1−8.4) years, respectively. The results of the GPAQ score showed that 19 patients were highly active, and 8 were moderately active. The median of peakVO2 and pp‐peakVO2 were 19.3 (15−22.5) ml/kg/min and 88% (79.3%−104.4%), respectively. There were no adverse CV events at a median follow‐up after CPET of 3.1 (2.7−3.4) years.

Conclusion

In this pilot study, adults with isolated LBBB showed reduced maximal functional capacity, despite the absence of cardiac disease and a baseline moderate to highly active lifestyle.
Discovery of SI 1/20 and SI 1/22 as Mutual Prodrugs of 5‐Fluorouracil and Imidazole‐Based Heme Oxygenase 1 Inhibitor with Improved Cytotoxicity in DU145 Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Salerno Loredana , Sorrenti Valeria , Pittalà Valeria , Consoli Valeria , Modica Maria N. , Romeo Giuseppe , Marrazzo Agostino , Giuliano Michela , Zajdel Paweł , Vanella Luca , Intagliata Sebastiano
Published: February 2023

In this work, we extend the concept of 5‐fluorouracil/heme oxygenase 1 (5‐FU/HO‐1) inhibitor hybrid as an effective strategy for enhancing 5‐FU‐based anticancer therapies. For this purpose, we designed and synthesized new mutual prodrugs, named SI 1/20 and SI 1/22, in which the two active parent drugs (i. e., 5‐FU and an imidazole‐based HO‐1 inhibitor) were connected through an easily cleavable succinic linker. Experimental hydrolysis rate, and in silico ADMET predictions were indicative of good drug‐likeness and pharmacokinetic properties. Novel hybrids significantly reduced the viability of prostate DU145 cancer cells compared to the parent compounds 5‐FU and HO‐1 inhibitor administered alone or in combination. Interestingly, both compounds showed statistically significant lower toxicity, than 5‐FU at the same dose, against non‐tumorigenic human benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH‐1) cell line. Moreover, the newly synthesized mutual prodrugs inhibited the HO‐1 activity both in a cell‐free model and in vitro, as well as downregulated the HO‐1 expression and increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels.
The NIH Intramural Research Program: Opportunities for training and career development in neuroscience and beyond
Authors: Schor Nina F.
Published: February 2023

The National Institutes of Health is renowned for being the largest funder of biomedical research in the world. Although it also houses unique research laboratories and clinics on its campuses around the United States, the National Institutes of Health Intramural Research Program is much less well‐known than its extramural enterprise. The Intramural Research Program provides many outstanding opportunities for research‐intensive careers and training and includes a vibrant and diverse community of developmental neurobiology and child neurology investigators.
Phosphonium Ionic Liquid‐Activated Sulfur Vulcanization: A Way Forward to Reduce Zinc Oxide Levels in Industrial Rubber Formulations
Authors: Sattar Mohammad Abdul , Patnaik Archita
Published: February 2023

Extensive use of zinc oxide and accelerators such as diphenyl guanidine (DPG) in the vulcanization of rubber composites entail potential environmental risks. These are pervasive contaminants of roadway runoff originating from tire wear particles (TWPs). Herein, the effect of phosphonium ionic liquids (PILs) in styrene–butadiene rubber compounds was demonstrated with reduced ZnO loading and no DPG to minimize the environmental footprint of the vulcanization process. The structure and chemistry of PILs were found to be the influencing parameters impelling the cross‐linking kinetics, enabling shorter induction times. The generation of active Zn2+ sites by PILs was examined through FTIR spectroscopy, calorimetry, and molecular dynamics simulations. From a tire application perspective, the PILs not only enhanced the cure kinetics but also improved the dynamic–mechanical behavior of the rubber composites. Consequently, the harm caused by TWPs to the atmosphere, fuel intake, and CO2 emissions was minimal, thereby confirming the potential use of PILs in the tire industry.
The revision process during handwritten text production: The case of French higher education students with dyslexia
Authors: Mazur Audrey , Chenu Florence
Published: February 2023

The goal of this paper is to observe revision during handwritten text production of French students with and without dyslexia. Subjects with typical language development automate spelling during childhood and adolescence, progressively with experience, this enables them—according to capacity theory applied to written text production (McCutchen, Educational Psychology Review, 8, 1996, 299)—to allocate more cognitive resources to higher‐level processes (Bereiter & Scardamalia, The psychology of written composition. Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum, 1987). A lack of automation in spelling could result in poor compositional performance (Fayol & Miret, Psychologie Française, 50, 2005, 391). Moreover, Morken and Helland (Dyslexia, 19, 2013, 131) have shown that young children with dyslexia, engaged in a sentence dictation task, revise their text as much as control children, however their revisions are of lower quality. If students with dyslexia have not totally automated spelling (Mazur‐Palandre, Développements (Revue Interdisciplinaire du développement Cognitif Normal et Pathologique), 18, 2016, 177), what is the impact on higher‐level processes, such as revision? Our goal is to examine if students with dyslexia and control students proofread their texts in the same way. Results show that they display some similarity but students with dyslexia seem to have a deficit in the error detection mechanism (Horowitz & Breznitz, International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 58, 2011, 33) and revisions are less efficient. We discuss these results by considering previous studies we conducted on spelling, speech and neuropsychological assessments of our dyslexic participants.
Efficacy of an integrated program (PIA‐2) to reduce the risk for problems related to eating, weight and body image in female adolescents from Argentina
Authors: Rutsztein Guillermina , Scappatura María Luz , Elizathe Luciana , Leonardelli Eduardo , Murawski Brenda , Lievendag Leonora , Sanday Julieta , Falivelli María Belén Banasco , Bidacovich Germán , Keegan Eduardo
Published: February 2023

Objective

This study aimed to examine the efficacy of an integrated program (PIA‐2) to reduce the risk for problems related to eating, weight and body image in female adolescents from Argentina.

Method

A quasi‐experimental study was conducted by comparing an experimental group versus a control group. The final sample included 509 girls aged 13–18 (M = 15.39 and SD = 1.30) from nine schools located in three geographical regions. They provided data at three assessment time points: baseline, post‐intervention and a 3‐month follow‐up. Dependent variables included skipping breakfast, physical activity, eating disorder risk and thin‐ideal internalization. The program was carried out in three 90‐minute sessions within usual school hours, at 1‐week intervals.

Results

Participants who received the intervention decreased more than the control group in skipping breakfast month by month. However, a significant effect of the intervention was not found on physical activity, eating disorder risk, and thin‐ideal internalization.

Discussion

The presence of mixed findings shows the need to adjust the intervention to enhance the results. The importance of working jointly with other Latin American countries is emphasized, in order to promote the growth of the field of prevention, regarding cultural particularities shared by our societies.

Public Significance

Integrated programs aimed at reducing risk factors for the entire spectrum of problems related to eating, weight and body image could lead to beneficial and more efficient effects. However, their development is still incipient in Latin America. PIA‐2 Program, designed for female adolescents, produced positive results in one of the four variables studied, decreasing the weekly frequency of skipping breakfast among adolescents. This is pioneering research in Argentina and the region since very few studies on integrated prevention have been published in Latin America. It is crucial to continue with efforts aimed at developing programs that are suited to the specific needs of the population of Latin American countries. In this aspect, our study is undoubtedly an important contribution.
Lakescape connectivity: Mobile fish consumers link Lake Michigan coastal wetland and nearshore food webs
Authors: O'Reilly Katherine E. , Berg Martin B. , Cooper Matthew J. , Forsythe Patrick S. , Houghton Christopher J. , Shrovnal Jeremiah S. , Student James J. , Uzarski Donald G. , Lamberti Gary A.
Published: February 2023

In large lake ecosystems, fish movement between coastal littoral habitats such as wetlands and the adjacent open‐water nearshore represents an understudied but potentially important linkage supporting energy flow and fisheries production. We hypothesized that yellow perch (Perca flavescens), an ecologically and economically important sport fish in the Laurentian Great Lakes, transport energy from highly productive wetlands to nearshore food webs, but that their role changes with ontogenetic shifts in diet and habitat use. We also predicted that the relative strength of such fish‐mediated habitat linkages would vary depending on physical connectivity across habitats. We collected perch and potential prey resources from seven paired coastal wetland–nearshore sites across three regions of Lake Michigan and quantified resource and habitat use with Bayesian stable isotope mixing models and otolith microchemistry. We found that juvenile perch collected in nearshore habitats showed high use of wetland resources, and that diets of wetland‐collected juveniles typically contained a smaller proportion of nearshore resources than did more mobile adults from the same wetland. The least hydrologically connected sites had lower cross‐habitat resource use (e.g., wetland‐collected perch consumed fewer nearshore resources and vice versa) compared with sites with greater levels of hydrological connectivity. Otolith microchemistry confirmed the linkages revealed by stable isotopes, suggesting that a dual approach can increase understanding of habitat linkages in large lakes. Quantifying the importance of multiple lentic habitats (i.e., “lakescape connectivity”) for fisheries production is critical for developing comprehensive large lake food web models and providing managers with information to prioritize locations for conservation and restoration.
Assessing impacts of climate change on selected foundation species and ecosystem services in the South‐Central USA
Authors: Ansley R. James , Rivera‐Monroy Victor H. , Griffis‐Kyle Kerry , Hoagland Bruce , Emert Amanda , Fagin Todd , Loss Scott R. , McCarthy Heather R. , Smith Nicholas G. , Waring Elizabeth F.
Published: February 2023

Climate change, interacting with and exacerbating anthropogenic modifications to the landscape, is altering ecosystem structure and function, biodiversity, and species distributions. Among the most visible short‐term impacts are the altered ecological roles of foundation species—those species, native or non‐native—that create locally stable environmental conditions and strongly influence ecosystem services. Understanding the future of these species is crucial for projecting impacts on ecosystem services at both local and regional scales. Here we present foundation species by ecoregion study cases across the US South‐Central Region (Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas), including C4 grasses, mesquite, and northern bobwhite in the Southern Great Plains, mangroves and nutria in coastal Louisiana wetlands, tiger salamanders and sandhill cranes in wetlands of the Southern Great Plains, and post and blackjack oaks and eastern redcedar in the Cross Timbers ecoregion. These case studies explore the impacts of climate change on foundation species and the consequences for ecosystem services, the outlook for climate adaptation efforts, and the sustainability of restoration in these systems. We underscore risks and vulnerabilities that stakeholders should consider when managing or restoring natural resources and conserving ecosystem services in an increasingly extreme and variable climate. We show that past management, through a lack of understanding or implementation of actions, has exacerbated shifts in invasive species, resulting in significant changes in ecosystem structure and function. These changes, interacting with landscape fragmentation and shifting land use and exacerbated by climate change, can result in critical losses of biodiversity. Unfortunately, lack of public understanding may hinder political support for restoration efforts and climate adaptation strategies crucial for the continued supply of traditional ecosystem services. Furthermore, the resulting invaded systems may provide opportunities for income via new ecosystem services valued by society that may reduce support for restoration to historical baselines, thus further shifting management priorities. These priorities should be informed by an understanding of past and ongoing ecological trends in region‐specific situations, such as those we present, to highlight the immediacy of climate change impacts on the environment and society and provide evidence for the critical nature of informed management decisions.
Feeding the fire: Annual grass invasion facilitates modeled fire spread across Inland Northwest forest‐mosaic landscapes
Authors: Tortorelli Claire M. , Kim John B. , Vaillant Nicole M. , Riley Karin , Dye Alex , Nietupski Ty C. , Vogler Kevin C. , Lemons Rebecca , Day Michelle , Krawchuk Meg A. , Kerns Becky K.
Published: February 2023

Invasive annual grasses are a growing global concern because they facilitate larger and more frequent fires in historically fuel‐limited ecosystems. Forests of the western United States have remained relatively resistant to invasion by annual grasses and their subsequent impacts. However, where forests are adjacent to invaded areas, increased fire spread across ecotones could alter fire behavior and ecosystem resilience. In the Inland Northwest, USA, recent invasion by the annual grass ventenata (Ventenata dubia) has increased fine fuel loads and continuity in nonforest patches embedded within the forested landscape. Despite ventenata's rapid spread across the American West and growing management concern, little is known regarding how invasion influences fire within invaded vegetation types or its potential to alter landscape‐scale fire and management practices. Here, we examine how the ventenata invasion alters simulated fire across forest‐mosaic landscapes of the 7 million ha Blue Mountains Ecoregion using the large fire simulator (FSim) with custom fuel landscapes: present‐day invaded versus historic uninvaded. Invasion increased simulated mean fire size, burn probability, and flame lengths throughout the ecoregion, and the strength of these impacts varied by location and scale. Changes at the ecoregion scale were relatively modest given that fine fuels increased in only 2.8% of the ecoregion where ventenata invaded historically fuel‐limited vegetation types. However, strong localized changes were simulated within invaded patches (primarily dwarf‐shrublands) and where invasion facilitated fire spread into nearby forests. Within invaded patches, burn probabilities increased by 45%, and higher flame lengths required fire management strategies to shift from direct to indirect attack, requiring large machinery. Forests with 25% of their neighborhood invaded experienced a 28% increase in burn probability and 16% increase in the probability of experiencing flame lengths likely to produce crown fire (flame lengths >2.4 m). Increased canopy loss could have severe implications for forest resilience given that invasive grasses can heavily invade early seral dry conifer forests and limit postfire forest recovery. Our study demonstrates how annual grass invasion can influence fire behavior and resilience across forest landscapes despite primarily invading nonforested areas, and highlights invasion as an important management issue in an expansive forest‐mosaic ecosystem.
Decoupling of species and plant communities of the U.S. Southwest: A CCSM4 climate scenario example
Authors: Thomas Kathryn A. , Stauffer Brett A. , Jarchow Christopher J.
Published: February 2023

Climate change is predicted to alter the current climate suitability under which plant species and communities occur. Predictions of change have focused on individual species or entire communities, but theory indicates plants will not respond uniformly to climate change within or between communities. We developed models of the current climate suitability (the baseline) of 66 plant species characteristic of 29 plant communities of the arid Southwest, made predictions of climate suitability for the species under two climate change scenarios for the years 2041–2060 (Community Climate System Model version 1.4 [CCSM4] global climate model [GCM], Representative Concentration Pathway [RCP] 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios), and calculated changes in suitability between the future scenarios and baseline for each species. Climate change exposure for the entire community was then evaluated as the composite change of the predicted future climate suitability of the communities' characteristic species. Loss of 25% or more of favorable climate suitability was predicted for 39 (RCP4.5) and 51 (RCP8.5) species within their communities. The proportion of the study area with all species in a community having unfavorable suitability was 17.9% (RCP4.5) and 21.3% (RCP8.5) compared to 6.2% for baseline. We show that suitable climates for species within a plant community are not expected to be a single community‐wide trajectory, but rather changes in climate suitability will be unique to the species and not experienced uniformly across the extant communities. This decoupling of plant species within their traditional plant communities may lead to a cascade of unanticipated ecological responses and unprecedented challenges to resource management. Our study results can inform hypotheses of the future successional track of plant communities, characteristic species, and the decisions resource managers must make for management.
Interleukin‐39 is a novel cytokine associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus and positively correlated with body mass index
Authors: Nussrat Shahad W. , Ad'hiah Ali H.
Published: February 2023

Introduction

It is suggested that cytokines play a key role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, this study explored two recently discovered cytokines, interleukin (IL)‐37 (anti‐inflammatory) and IL‐39 (pro‐inflammatory), in T2DM due to limited data in this context.

Methods

Serum IL‐37 and IL‐39 levels were determined in 106 T2DM patients and 109 controls using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay kits.

Results

Serum levels (median and interquartile range) of IL‐37 (79 [47–102] vs. 60 [46–89] ng/L; probability [p] = .04) and IL‐39 (66 [59–69] vs. 31 [19–42] ng/L; p < .001) were significantly elevated in T2DM patients compared to controls. As indicated by the area under the curve (AUC), IL‐39 (AUC = 0.973; p < .001) was more predictable for T2DM than IL‐37 (AUC = 0.582; p = .039). Elevated levels of IL‐39 were significantly associated with T2DM (odds ratio = 1.30; p < .001), while IL‐37 did not show this association. Classification of IL‐37 and IL‐39 levels by demographic and clinical characteristics of patients revealed some significant differences including gender (IL‐39), body mass index (BMI; IL‐37 and IL‐39) and diabetic neuropathy (IL‐39). BMI was positively correlated with IL‐39 (correlation coefficient [rs] = 0.27; p = .005) and glycosylated haemoglobin (rs = 0.31; p = .001), and negatively correlated with age at onset (rs = −0.24; p = .015).

Conclusions

IL‐37 and IL‐39 levels were elevated in the serum of T2DM patients. Besides, IL‐39 is proposed to be a novel cytokine associated with T2DM and positively correlated with BMI.
Visible Light‐Induced Synthesis of 2‐Oxazolidinones through One‐Pot Coupling of Benzylamines, Epoxides and CO2
Authors: Malik Anil , Kishor Gour Nand , Bhatt Sakshi , Chandra Deka Ramesh , Jain Suman L.
Published: February 2023

The synthesis of 2‐oxazolidinones from a three component coupling reaction of amines, epoxides, and CO2. The reaction proceeds in the presence of 1,1,3,3‐tetramethylguanidine under visible light irradiation at atmospheric pressure. The optimized structures of all species involved in the reaction mechanism along with transition states have been described based on the DFT calculations. The developed methodology represents a promising approach of employing CO2 as a naturally abundant and non‐toxic carbon resource to produce profitable chemicals.
Concise Total Synthesis of rac‐Betuphenone F
Authors: Luan Nguyen Ngoc Thanh , Okada Takuya , Toyooka Naoki
Published: February 2023

Betuphenone F (6) is a natural product isolated from the bark of Betula alnoides Ham. ex D. Don (Betulaceae) and structurally determined by S. Awale et al. in 2021. Betuphenone F (6) has the potential to be a new‐generation anti‐cancer agents based on anti‐austerity, as it showed preferential cytotoxicity against PANC‐1 human pancreatic cancer cells under nutrient‐deprived conditions (PC50 value of 4.9 μM). We succeeded in constructing the 2‐oxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane skeleton, which is a structural feature of betuphenone F (6), by exposing intermediate 9 to acid, and achieved the first total synthesis of rac‐bethuphenone F (6) from phloroglucinol (7) in only three steps.
In vitro genotoxicity potential investigation of 7 oxy‐PAHs
Authors: Clergé Adeline , Le Goff Jérémie , Brotin Emilie , Abeillard Edwige , Vaudorne Isabelle , Denoyelle Christophe , Le Hegarat Ludovic , Delépée Raphaël
Published: February 2023

Air pollutants include many compounds among them oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (oxy‐PAHs). As they are suspected to generate DNA damage and mutagenicity, an understanding of their mode of action could highlight a carcinogenic potential risk in exposed population. In this article, a prospective study on seven oxy‐PAHs selected in terms of occurrence in the environment was conducted on mutagenicity, genotoxicity, and cytotoxicity potentials using in vitro assays including Ames test on five strains, kinetic analysis of cytotoxicity and apoptosis, phosphorylation of histone H2AX, and p53 induction assays on human lung cell line BEAS‐2B. Ames test demonstrated that mutagenicity pattern depended on the oxy‐PAH tested. Except for BAQ, all oxy‐PAHs tested gave mutagenic effect, in the absence and/or in the presence of metabolic activation (S9 fraction). At 24 h of exposure, the majority of oxy‐PAHs induced γ‐H2AX in BEAS‐2B cells and/or phosphorylation of p53 at serine 15 and cell death at highest tested concentrations. Although 9,10‐AQ and B[b]FO were mutagenic in bacteria, they failed to induce any of the other genotoxicity biomarkers. In comparison with the benzo[a]pyrene, all oxy‐PAHs were less potent in terms of genotoxic potential at the same concentration. These results highlighted the genotoxic and mutagenic potential of these oxy‐PAHs and provide preliminary information concerning their possible mechanism of action for toxicity, contributing to a better evaluation of the real associated health risks for human and environment.
Directional antennas modelling and coverage analysis for UAV networks with blockage effects in urban environment
Authors: Zhang Hongtao , Li Xueyuan
Published: February 2023

In recent years, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as flying base stations (BSs) has attracted widespread attention in both academia and industry. Most of the existing research on UAV networks in dense urban environment focus on omnidirectional antenna patterns, which results in severe interference and overlapping between coverage area due to dominant line‐of‐sight (LOS) links. This paper proposed a directional antennas model with tunable beamwidth and blockage effects in urban UAV networks, and derive the coverage probability of UAV networks in dense urban environment by stochastic geometry tools, where UAVs and users are deployed according to independent Poisson point process (PPP). Specifically, a realistic and mathematically tractable directional antenna pattern is adopted and radiation gain is modelled by a continuous function of the elevation angle. In addition, the blockage effects of the buildings are considered by establishing a three‐dimensional blockage model where buildings are distributed according to PPP with heights followed by Rayleigh distribution. Numerical results match well with simulations and provide optimal deployment parameters for UAV deployments.
Keeping track of language: Can monolingual and bilingual infants associate a speaker with the language they speak?
Authors: Schott Esther , Tamayo Maria Paula , Byers‐Heinlein Krista
Published: February 2023

Bilingual infants acquire languages in a variety of language environments. Some caregivers follow a one‐person‐one‐language approach in an attempt to not “confuse” their child. However, the central assumption that infants can keep track of what language a person speaks has not been tested. In two studies, we tested whether bilingual and monolingual 5‐, 12‐ and 18‐month‐olds spontaneously form language‐person associations. In both studies, infants were familiarized with a man and a woman, each speaking a different language, and tested on trials where they either spoke the same language or switched to a different language. In Study 1, infants only heard the speaker, and in Study 2, infants saw and heard the speaker. Bilinguals and monolinguals did not look longer for Switch compared to Same trials; there was no evidence in this task that infants form person‐language associations spontaneously. Thus, our results did not support a central assumption of the one‐person‐one‐language approach, although we cannot rule out that infants do form this association in more naturalistic contexts.

Highlights

This study investigated whether infants keep track of the language a person speaks, a skill that would be especially relevant in bilingual language environments.

In a familiarization‐test paradigm, monolinguals and bilinguals aged 5‐, 12‐, and 18‐months did not notice when a person switched languages.

The results call in question whether person‐language associations help bootstrap early bilingual language acquisition.
Reduced probability of improving viro‐immunological state in subjects with vertical transmission of HIV reaching adult age: A multicenter retrospective cohort study
Authors: Pennati Francesca , Calza Stefano , Di Biagio Antonio , Mussini Cristina , Rusconi Stefano , Bonora Stefano , Borghetti Alberto , Quiros‐Roldan Eugenia  , Sarteschi Giovanni , Menozzi Marianna , Ferrara Micol , Celotti Anna , Ciccullo Arturo , Giacomet Vania , Izzo Ilaria , Dotta Laura , Badolato Raffaele , Castelli Francesco , Focà Emanuele
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Young adults with vertical transmission (VT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) represent a fragile population. This study evaluates factors associated with viro‐immunological outcome of these patients.

Methods

We performed a multicenter study including HIV‐infected subjects with VT ≥ 18 years old from six Italian clinics. Subjects were observed from birth to death, lost to follow‐up, or last visit until December 31, 2019. Condition of “optimal viro‐immunological status” (OS) was defined as the simultaneous presence of HIV ribonucleic acid (RNA) < 50 copies/mL, CD4+ > 500 cells/mm3, and CD4+/CD8+ ratio ≥ 1.

Results

A total of 126 subjects were enrolled. At 18 years of age, 52/126 (44.4%) had HIV‐RNA > 50 copies/mL, 47/126 (38.2%) had CD4+ < 500/mm3, and 78/126 (67.2%) had CD4+/CD8+ < 1; 28 subjects (23.7%) presented in the condition of OS. Having a CD4+/CD8+ ratio ≥ 1 at 18 years of age was related with an increased probability of shift from suboptimal viro‐immunological status (SOS) to OS (HR: 7.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.23–14.04), and a reduced risk of shift from the OS to the SOS (HR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.26–0.92). Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) diagnosis significantly reduced the probability of shift from a viro‐immunological SOS to OS (HR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.03–0.30). Subjects who had not achieved an OS at 18 years of age had an increased risk of discontinuation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART, p = .019).

Conclusions

Only a small proportion of subjects with VT of HIV reached the adult age with “OS”. Transition to the adult care with a compromised viro‐immunological condition represents a negative driver for future optimal infection control, with a higher risk of discontinuation of cART and a reduced probability to improve the immunological status later in the years.
Absence of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase expression in T‐ALL/LBL accumulates chromosomal abnormalities to induce drug resistance
Authors: Xiao Hui , Wang Siqi , Tang Yuejia , Li Shanshan , Jiang Yufeng , Yang Yi , Zhang Yinwen , Han Yali , Wu Xiaoyu , Zheng Liang , Li Yanxin , Gao Yijin
Published: February 2023

T‐acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T‐ALL/LBL) is a malignant neoplasm of immature lymphoblasts. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TDT) is a template‐independent DNA polymerase that plays an essential role in generating diversity for immunoglobulin genes. T‐ALL/LBL patients with TDT− have a worse prognosis. However, how TDT− promotes the disease progression of T‐ALL/LBL remains unknown. Here we analyzed the prognosis of T‐ALL/LBL patients in Shanghai Children's Medical Center (SCMC) and confirmed that TDT− patients had a higher rate of recurrence and remission failure and worse outcomes. Cellular experiments demonstrated that TDT was involved in DNA damage repair. TDT knockout delayed DNA repair, arrested the cell cycle and decreased apoptosis to induce the accumulation of chromosomal abnormalities and tolerance to abnormal karyotypes. Our study demonstrated that the poor outcomes in TDT− T‐ALL/LBL might be due to the drug resistance (VP16 and MTX) induced by chromosomal abnormalities. Our findings revealed novel functions and mechanisms of TDT in T‐ALL/LBL and supported that hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) might be a better choice for these patients.
Associations between genetically predicted levels of blood metabolites and pancreatic cancer risk
Authors: Zhong Hua , Liu Shuai , Zhu Jingjing , Wu Lang
Published: February 2023

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive solid malignancies, which is featured by systematic metabolism. Thus, a better understanding of metabolic dysregulation in PDAC is important to better characterize its etiology. Here, we performed a large metabolome‐wide association study (MWAS) to systematically explore associations between genetically predicted metabolite levels in blood and PDAC risk. Using data from 881 subjects of European descent in the TwinsUK Project, comprehensive genetic models were built to predict serum metabolite levels. These prediction models were applied to the genetic data of 8275 cases and 6723 controls included in the PanScan (I, II and III) and PanC4 consortia. After assessing the metabolite‐PDAC risk associations by a slightly modified TWAS/FUSION framework, we identified five metabolites (including two dipeptides) showing significant associations with PDAC risk at false discovery rate (FDR) <0.05. Integrated with gut microbial information, two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were further performed to investigate the relationship among serum metabolites, gut microbiome features and PDAC. The flavonoid‐degrading bacteria Flavonifractor sp90199495 was found to be associated with metabolite X‐21849 and it was also shown to be associated with PDAC risk. Collectively, our study identified novel candidate metabolites for PDAC risk, which could lead to new insights into the etiology of PDAC and improved treatment options.