bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing Restoration of Ecosystem Functioning in Brazilian Subtropical and Tropical Streams
Authors: Cunha Davi Gasparini Fernandes , Saltarelli Wesley Aparecido , Bega João Miguel Merces , Finkler Nícolas Reinaldo , de Souza Ferreira Murilo , Furley Tatiana Heid , von Schiller Daniel , Dodds Walter K.
Published: February 2022

Rivers and streams provide many ecosystem services, including provision of food, water purification, and nutrient abatement. Ecosystem functioning, the set of processes that regulate the fluxes of energy and matter, is the backbone of ecosystem services. A myriad of human impacts affects the functioning of running waters. To reduce these impacts, strategies for conservation and recovery of riparian vegetation, as well as direct interventions for stream restoration, have been carried out. However, these actions have been more limited in sub/tropical than in temperate regions. Based on case studies from southeastern Brazil and comparisons with their temperate counterparts, we illustrate and discuss how restoration of riparian canopy cover and stream reconfiguration through the addition of wood can influence two key ecosystem processes: nutrient retention and metabolism. Our findings indicate that the distinctive environmental features of the sub/tropical climate strongly shape the effect of stream restoration on ecosystem functioning. However, as in the temperate climate, effects are rarely monitored for a long time after the restoration, indicating the need for their longer‐term assessment. Understanding how restoration evolves over time to impact the functioning of sub/tropical streams is fundamental for the management and conservation of these strategic water bodies and the relevant ecosystem services they provide.
Ich druck mir die Welt, wie sie mir gefällt
Authors: von Randow Clara Adele , Thiele Günther
Published: February 2022

In den vergangenen Jahrzehnten sind 3‐D‐Drucker nicht nur preiswerter geworden, sondern werden auch verstärkt genutzt: in der Analytik, der Lehre und im Chemielabor. So lassen sich etwa Magnetrührstäbe mit aktiven Materialien erstellen, Gläser oder Elektroden für die Batterieforschung.
Nachruf auf Ernst Schmitz (1928–2021)
Authors: Gründelmann Christel , Sonnenschein Helmut , Jähnisch Klaus
Published: February 2022

Im September 2021 starb Ernst Schmitz, Professor für organische Chemie. Er synthetisierte als Erster cyclisches Diazomethan.
Nachruf auf Werner Tochtermann (1934–2021)
Authors: Herges Rainer , Lüning Ulrich
Published: February 2022

Am 7. August 2021 starb Werner Tochtermann. Er prägte über mehrere Jahrzehnte die organische Chemie an der Universität Kiel.
Galvanostatically Deposited PtNi Thin‐Films as Electrocatalysts for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Medrano‐Banda Alejandra , Crespo‐Yapur Alfonso , Velasco‐Soto Miguel Ángel , Videa Marcelo
Published: February 2022

The synthesis of hybrid platinum materials is fundamental to enable alkaline water electrolysis for cost‐effective H2 generation. In this work, we have used a galvanostatic method to co‐deposit PtNi films onto polycrystalline gold. The surface concentrations of Ni (ΓNi) and Pt (ΓPt) were calculated from electrochemical measurements; the ΓPt/ΓNi ratio and electrocatalytic activity of these materials towards hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in 1 M KOH show a strong dependence on the current density pulse applied during the electrodeposition. Analysis of the Tafel parameters hints that, on these deposits, HER proceeds through a Volmer‐Heyrovsky mechanism. The galvanostatically deposited PtNi layers present a high current output per Pt gram, 3199 A gPt−1, which is significantly larger compared to other PtNi‐based materials obtained by more extended and more complex synthesis methods.
A bonding evolution theory study of the reaction between methylidyne radical, CH(X2Π), and cyclopentadiene, C5H6
Authors: Andrés Juan , Safont Vicent S. , Oliva Mónica , Caster Kacee L. , Goulay Fabien
Published: February 2022

In the present work, bonding evolution theory (BET) is applied to gain insight about the complex reaction between methylidyne radical, CH (X2Π) and cyclopentadiene, C5H6. The novelty of this work is that all reaction pathways take place in the doublet electronic state and an unpaired electron is always present. Therefore, taking the aforementioned reaction as explicative example, we have shown how to apply the BET tool to these kinds of open‐shell systems, by splitting the wavefunctions into the corresponding alpha and beta parts. As an added value, we have included a point‐by‐point description of the algorithm we use to make it available for the readers. Hence, a complete analysis of bond breaking/forming and charge redistribution along the multi‐channels connecting reactants to products via the transition states and intermediates is presented. We show how the BET brings about the representation of the electronic flow in complex molecular rearrangements like the one herein studied, yielding a transparent rationalization based on the electron density redistribution. The present study allows us to conclude that along the different processes giving rise to the benzene product, the breaking of a CC sigma bond initiates the electronic rearrangement in two cases, but not in the third one. The last step in these processes can be described as an initial weakening of the CH bond with a quasi‐hydride formation and a final retro‐transfer of electrons from the quasi‐hydride to the CH bond. On the other hand, in the way to the fulvene product, the breaking of the CC sigma bond takes place after previous electronic redistribution. Neither the last step of the fulvene formation process nor the interesting H transfer described in the second one, can be explained without the wavefunction splitting technique herein detailed and exemplified.
Structural and Electrochemical Investigations on Nanocrystalline High Entropy Spinel Oxides for Battery‐Like Supercapacitor Applications
Authors: Sreenivasulu N. , Kumar U. Naveen , Madhav Kancherla M. V. V. , Thomas Tiju , Bhattacharya S. S.
Published: February 2022

High entropy oxides (HEOs) are a novel class of materials with a stable single‐phase structure that is often entropy stabilized and possess many interesting functional properties. In this work, we report a nanocrystalline spinel‐based high entropy oxide (SP‐HEO) ‐ (Al0.2Co0.2Cr0.2Mn0.2Ni0.2)3O4 and present an assessment of its electrochemical performance. A reverse co‐precipitation (RCP) method was used for synthesis, followed by a suitable heat‐treatment/calcination step that was adjusted to form a single‐phase nanocrystalline powder. Structural characterisation revealed that the single‐phase system was stable upto 850 °C. Nitrogen adsorption studies showed a large specific surface area of 90 m2 g−1 in the case of the SP‐HEO calcined at 550 °C. The SP‐HEO powders were investigated as electrodes for battery‐like supercapacitor behaviour in an aqueous alkaline electrolyte ‐ KOH. The SP‐HEO powder calcined at 550 °C exhibited the highest specific capacity of 318 mAh g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1. The high electrochemical performance of the mesoporous SP‐HEO makes it a promising electrode material for energy storage devices.
The Sensitive Optical pH Sensor Based on the Complex of Nanosheet and Carbon Dots
Authors: Liang Kaixiang , Kong Jian , Xing Xia , Wang Xinrui , Shi Wenying , Lu Chao
Published: February 2022

The requirement to non‐invasively quantify H+ is gradually increasing. In this regards, optical pH sensors based on fluorescent materials have advantages. However, the stability and sensitivity of currently used chromophores still need to be further improved to meet the continuous increase in actual demand for pH measurement. Here, we proposed to employ Montmorillonite (MMT) nanosheets as matrix and carbon dots (CD) as chromophores to fabricate a new complex. The as‐prepared MMT‐CD have the following advantages: 1) the aggregation of CD is effectively reduced, leading to the effectively improved fluorescence performance; 2) MMT‐CD has good light stability and storage stability; 3) as‐prepared the fluorescence pH sensor shows good response to pH, high sensitivity, and wide linear range. Therefore, MMT‐CD materials have great potential in the rapid and sensitive sensing of pH value.
Nanotubular Polyaniline/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite Synthesized from a Natural Halloysite Template for Application as a High Performance Supercapacitor Electrode
Authors: Wang Xiaofei , Fan Peng , Wang Shuonan , Liu Hao , Liao Libing
Published: February 2022

Polyaniline (PANI) is a promising material for developing high‐performance supercapacitors, and adopting some specific templates to design one‐dimensional nanostructured PANI electrode is considered to be a key strategy to enable high performance supercapacitors. Here, the nano‐tubular PANI(HNTs) were successfully achieved by using the natural tubular halloysite as hard template with low cost, and the PANI(HNTs) were further compounded with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to prepare a binder‐free, self‐supporting PANI(HNTs)‐rGO composite electrode. The characterization tests of Infrared, Raman and XRD diffraction proved that PANI (HNTs) and PANI (HNTs)‐rGO composite material were successfully synthesized. SEM and TEM verified the nanotubular structure of PANI(HNTs) and the three‐dimensional network structure of PANI(HNTs)‐rGO. Owing to the rGO’ positive effect on the PANI(HNTs) electrode, the composite electrode exhibited excellent specific capacity performance of 762 F g−1, 660 F g−1, 595 F g−1, 545 F g−1 and 493 F g−1 at current densities of 1 A g−1, 2 A g−1, 5 A g−1, 10 A g−1, and 20 A g−1, respectively. This work prove that natural clay minerals have good application prospects in the design of nanostructured electrodes of conductive polymers (CPs) or other electrode materials for energy storage devices.
Vanadium metal‐organic framework‐derived multifunctional fibers for asymmetric supercapacitor, piezoresistive sensor, and electrochemical water splitting
Authors: Pu Jie , Gao Yong , Cao Qinghe , Fu Gangwen , Chen Xing , Pan Zhenghui , Guan Cao
Published: February 2022

Fiber‐shaped integrated devices are highly desirable for wearable and portable smart electronics, owing to their merits of lightweight, high flexibility, and wearability. However, how to effectively employ multifunctional fibers in one integrated device that can simultaneously achieve energy storage and utilization is a major challenge. Herein, a set of multifunctional fibers all derived from vanadium metal‐organic framework nanowires grown on carbon nanotube fiber (V‐MOF NWs@CNT fiber) is demonstrated, which can be used for various energy storage and utilization applications. First, a fiber‐shaped asymmetric supercapacitor (FASC) is fabricated based on the CoNi‐layered double hydroxide nanosheets@vanadium oxide NWs@CNT fiber (CoNi‐LDH NSs@V2O5 NWs@CNT fiber) as the positive electrode and vanadium nitride (VN) NWs@CNT fiber as the negative electrode. Benefiting from the outstanding compatibility of the functional materials, the FASC with a maximum working voltage of 1.7 V delivers a high‐stack volumetric energy density of 11.27 mW·h/cm3. Then, a fiber‐shaped integrated device is assembled by twisting a fiber‐shaped piezoresistive sensor (FPS; VN NWs@CNT fiber also served as the highly sensitive material) and a FASC together, where the high‐performance FASC can provide a stable and continuous output power for the FPS. Finally, the S‐VOx NWs@CNT fiber (sulfur‐doped vanadium oxide) electrode shows promising electrocatalytic performance for both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which is further constructed into a self‐driven water‐splitting unit with the integration of the FASCs. The present work demonstrates that the V‐MOF NWs@CNT‐derived fibers have great potential for constructing wearable multifunctional integrated devices.
Urea Derivative‐Promoted CsPbI2Br Perovskite Solar Cells with High Open‐Circuit Voltage
Authors: Fu Ping , Liu Zhike , Xu Dongfang , Yang Bowen , Liu Yang , Feng Zhendong , Feng Zhaochi , Guo Xin , Li Can
Published: February 2022

Inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have witnessed extraordinary advances owing to their prominent stability against thermal aging. However, they suffer from a phase transition from black phase to yellow phase under ambient conditions and serious energy losses relative to the optical bandgap. Herein, urea (Ur) and methyl‐substituted urea (Me‐Ur) additives are used to modulate the lattice structure and crystallinity of the CsPbI2Br, facilitating phase stability and high device performance. The Me‐Ur can attenuate the strong hydrogen bonding networks in the Ur, which leads to stronger coordination of the carbonyl group with undercoordinated Pb2+, more efficiently passivating the defect states and suppressing the lattice distortion of the [PbI6]4− octahedra in the CsPbI2Br perovskite. Consequently, a champion power conversion efficiency of 16.5% with an open‐circuit voltage up to 1.33 V is obtained for the CsPbI2Br+Me‐Ur‐based PSCs, accompanied by enhanced stability under continuous illumination at a temperature of 45 ± 5 °C. These results emphasize the importance of regulating the lattice distortion by the urea derivative to implement efficient and stable inorganic CsPbI2Br PSCs.
Probing gut‐brain links in Alzheimer's disease with rifaximin
Authors: Suhocki Paul V. , Ronald James S. , Diehl Anna Mae E. , Murdoch David M. , Doraiswamy P. Murali
Published: February 2022

Gut‐microbiome‐inflammation interactions have been linked to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other disorders. We hypothesized that treatment with rifaximin, a minimally absorbed gut‐specific antibiotic, may modify the neurodegenerative process by changing gut flora and reducing neurotoxic microbial drivers of inflammation. In a pilot, open‐label trial, we treated 10 subjects with mild to moderate probable AD dementia (Mini‐Mental Status Examination (MMSE) = 17 ± 3) with rifaximin for 3 months. Treatment was associated with a significant reduction in serum neurofilament‐light levels (P < .004) and a significant increase in fecal phylum Firmicutes microbiota. Serum phosphorylated tau (pTau)181 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels were reduced (effect sizes of −0.41 and −0.48, respectively) but did not reach statistical significance. In addition, there was a nonsignificant downward trend in serum cytokine interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐13 levels. Cognition was unchanged. Increases in stool Erysipelatoclostridium were correlated significantly with reductions in serum pTau181 and serum GFAP. Insights from this pilot trial are being used to design a larger placebo‐controlled clinical trial to determine if specific microbial flora/products underlie neurodegeneration, and whether rifaximin is clinically efficacious as a therapeutic.
Cognitive practice effects delay diagnosis of MCI: Implications for clinical trials
Authors: Sanderson‐Cimino Mark , Elman Jeremy A. , Tu Xin M. , Gross Alden L. , Panizzon Matthew S. , Gustavson Daniel E. , Bondi Mark W. , Edmonds Emily C. , Eglit Graham M.L. , Eppig Joel S. , Franz Carol E. , Jak Amy J. , Lyons Michael J. , Thomas Kelsey R. , Williams McKenna E. , Kremen William S. ,   Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Practice effects (PEs) on cognitive tests obscure decline, thereby delaying detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Importantly, PEs may be present even when there are performance declines, if scores would have been even lower without prior test exposure. We assessed how accounting for PEs using a replacement‐participants method impacts incident MCI diagnosis.

Methods

Of 889 baseline cognitively normal (CN) Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) participants, 722 returned 1 year later (mean age = 74.9 ± 6.8 at baseline). The scores of test‐naïve demographically matched “replacement” participants who took tests for the first time were compared to returnee scores at follow‐up. PEs—calculated as the difference between returnee follow‐up scores and replacement participants scores—were subtracted from follow‐up scores of returnees. PE‐adjusted cognitive scores were then used to determine if individuals were below the impairment threshold for MCI. Cerebrospinal fluid amyloid beta, phosphorylated tau, and total tau were used for criterion validation. In addition, based on screening and recruitment numbers from a clinical trial of amyloid‐positive individuals, we estimated the effect of earlier detection of MCI by accounting for cognitive PEs on a hypothetical clinical trial in which the key outcome was progression to MCI.

Results

In the ADNI sample, PE‐adjusted scores increased MCI incidence by 19% (P < .001), increased proportion of amyloid‐positive MCI cases (+12%), and reduced proportion of amyloid‐positive CNs (–5%; P’s < .04). Additional calculations showed that the earlier detection and increased MCI incidence would also substantially reduce necessary sample size and study duration for a clinical trial of progression to MCI. Cost savings were estimated at ≈$5.41 million.

Discussion

Detecting MCI as early as possible is of obvious importance. Accounting for cognitive PEs with the replacement‐participants method leads to earlier detection of MCI, improved diagnostic accuracy, and can lead to multi‐million‐dollar cost reductions for clinical trials.
Diet‐induced Alzheimer's‐like syndrome in the rabbit
Authors: Weiss Craig , Bertolino Nicola , Procissi Daniele , Aleppo Grazia , Smith Quinn C. , Viola Kirsten L. , Bartley Samuel C. , Klein William L. , Disterhoft John F.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Although mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have increased our understanding of the molecular basis of the disease, none of those models represent late‐onset Alzheimer's Disease which accounts for >90% of AD cases, and no therapeutics developed in the mouse (with the possible exceptions of aduhelm/aducanumab and gantenerumab) have succeeded in preventing or reversing the disease. This technology has allowed much progress in understanding the molecular basis of AD. To further enhance our understanding, we used wild‐type rabbit (with a nearly identical amino acid sequence for amyloid as in humans) to model LOAD by stressing risk factors including age, hypercholesterolemia, and elevated blood glucose levels (BGLs), upon an ε3‐like isoform of apolipoprotein. We report a combined behavioral, imaging, and metabolic study using rabbit as a non‐transgenic model to examine effects of AD‐related risk factors on cognition, intrinsic functional connectivity, and magnetic resonance‐based biomarkers of neuropathology.

Methods

Aging rabbits were fed a diet enriched with either 2% cholesterol or 10% fat/30% fructose. Monthly tests of novel object recognition (NOR) and object location memory (OLM) were administered to track cognitive impairment. Trace eyeblink conditioning (EBC) was administered as a final test of cognitive impairment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to obtain resting state connectivity and quantitative parametric data (R2*).

Results

Experimental diets induced hypercholesterolemia or elevated BGL. Both experimental diets induced statistically significant impairment of OLM (but not NOR) and altered intrinsic functional connectivity. EBC was more impaired by fat/fructose diet than by cholesterol. Whole brain and regional R2* MRI values were elevated in both experimental diet groups relative to rabbits on the control diet.

Discussion

We propose that mechanisms underlying LOAD can be assessed by stressing risk factors for inducing AD and that dietary manipulations can be used to assess etiological differences in the pathologies and effectiveness of potential therapeutics against LOAD. In addition, non‐invasive MRI in awake, non‐anesthetized rabbits further increases the translational value of this non‐transgenic model to study AD.
Genome-Wide Mapping and Microscopy Visualization of Protein–DNA Interactions by pA-DamID
Authors: van Schaik Tom , Manzo Stefano G. , van Steensel Bas
Published: February 2022

Several methods have been developed to map protein–DNA interactions genome-wide in the last decades. Protein A-DamID (pA-DamID) is a recent addition to this list with distinct advantages. pA-DamID relies on antibody-based targeting of the bacterial Dam enzyme, resulting in adenine methylation of DNA in contact with the protein of interest. This m6A can then be visualized by microscopy, or mapped genome-wide. The main advantages of pA-DamID are an easy and direct visualization of DNA that is in contact with the protein of interest, unbiased mapping of protein–DNA interactions, and the possibility to select specific subpopulations of cells by flow cytometry before further sample processing. pA-DamID is particularly suited to study proteins that form large chromatin domains or that are part of distinct nuclear structures such as the nuclear lamina. This chapter describes the pA-DamID procedure from cell harvesting to the preparation of microscopy slides and high-throughput sequencing libraries.
Renormalization of the axial current operator in dimensional regularization at four-loop in QCD
Authors: Chen Long , Czakon Michał
Published: February 2022

Abstract

We provide the renormalization constants of the axial current operators, both singlet and non-singlet, in dimensional regularization up to four-loop order in (QCD), determined using the off-shell Ward-Takahashi identity for an axial current with a non-anticommuting γ5. A possible application of the result for the singlet axial current operator is the extraction of the non-decoupling mass logarithms in the axial quark form factors.
Uncovering clinical and radiological asymmetry in progressive supranuclear palsy—Richardson’s syndrome
Authors: Picillo Marina , Tepedino Maria Francesca , Abate Filomena , Ponticorvo Sara , Erro Roberto , Cuoco Sofia , Oksuz Nevra , Di Salle Gianfranco , Di Salle Francesco , Esposito Fabrizio , Pellecchia Maria Teresa , Manara Renzo , Barone Paolo
Published: February 2022

Background

Richardson’s syndrome (RS) is considered the most symmetric phenotype of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) as opposed to PSP with predominant corticobasal syndrome (PSP-CBS) or parkinsonism (PSP-P).

Objectives

Evaluate asymmetrical motor and higher cortical features in probable PSP-RS and compare the degree of asymmetry of cortical lobes and hemispheres between PSP-RS, PSP-CBS, PSP-P, and age-matched healthy controls (HC).

Methods

Asymmetry of motor and higher cortical features evaluated with an extensive videotaped neurologic examination was investigated in 28 PSP-RS, 8 PSP-CBS, and 14 PSP-P. Brain MRI to compute the laterality index (LI) was performed in 36 patients as well as in 56 HC.

Results

In PSP-RS, parkinsonism was the most common asymmetric motor feature (53.6%), followed by dystonia and myoclonus (21.4% and 17.9%, respectively). Among higher cortical features, limb apraxia was found asymmetric in about one-third of patients. PSP-RS disclosed higher LI for hemispheres compared to HC, indicating a greater degree of asymmetry (p = 0.003). The degree of asymmetry of clinical features was not different between PSP-RS and those qualifying for PSP-CBS or PSP-P. As for imaging, LI was not different between PSP-RS, PSP-CBS, and PSP-P in any cortical region.

Conclusions

Motor and higher cortical features are asymmetric in up to 50% of PSP-RS who also present a greater degree of asymmetry in hemispheres compared to age-matched HC. Lateralization of clinical features should be annotated in PSP.
A horizontal Chern–Gauss–Bonnet formula on totally geodesic foliations
Authors: Baudoin Fabrice , Grong Erlend , Vega-Molino Gianmarco
Published: February 2022

Under suitable conditions, we show that the Euler characteristic of a foliated Riemannian manifold can be computed only from curvature invariants which are transverse to the leaves. Our proof uses the hypoelliptic sub-Laplacian on forms recently introduced by two of the authors in Baudoin and Grong (Ann Glob Anal Geom 56(2):403–428, 2019).
Bidirectional energy-based pushover procedure as a fast approach to establish approximate IDA curves under biaxial seismic excitations: an evaluation for medium- and high-rise buildings
Authors: Soleimani Sahman , Moghadam Abdolreza S. , Aziminejad Armin
Published: February 2022

This paper evaluates the accuracy of bidirectional energy-based pushover (BEP) procedure in predicting approximate incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) results for medium- and high-rise structures. BEP provides approximate IDA curves under the simultaneous effect of the two horizontal components of ground motions and is applicable to both symmetric- and asymmetric-plan buildings. The method has already proven useful in low-rise buildings, and this study aims to evaluate its suitability for mid- and high-rise structures. Six steel structures were considered in this evaluation in two groups of 9- and 20-story buildings, with each group consisting of a symmetric, a one-way asymmetric, and a two-way asymmetric-plan building. The assessment was performed for 22 pairs of far-field ground motion records. The results revealed that the accuracy of the method was satisfactory to produce approximate IDA curves for all structural models. The method had similar accuracy in the asymmetric models as it did in the symmetric models, although the accuracy showed a tendency to decrease as the height of the building increased. BEP also provided reasonable estimates of the demands in both 'flexible' and 'stiff sides' of the asymmetric buildings as well as the demands over the height of the buildings.
To have or not to have: expression of amino acid transporters during pathogen infection
Authors: Tünnermann Laura , Colou Justine , Näsholm Torgny , Gratz Regina
Published: February 2022

The interaction between plants and plant pathogens can have significant effects on ecosystem performance. For their growth and development, both bionts rely on amino acids. While amino acids are key transport forms of nitrogen and can be directly absorbed from the soil through specific root amino acid transporters, various pathogenic microbes can invade plant tissues to feed on different plant amino acid pools. In parallel, plants may initiate an immune response program to restrict this invasion, employing various amino acid transporters to modify the amino acid pool at the site of pathogen attack. The interaction between pathogens and plants is sophisticated and responses are dynamic. Both avail themselves of multiple tools to increase their chance of survival. In this review, we highlight the role of amino acid transporters during pathogen infection. Having control over the expression of those transporters can be decisive for the fate of both bionts but the underlying mechanism that regulates the expression of amino acid transporters is not understood to date. We provide an overview of the regulation of a variety of amino acid transporters, depending on interaction with biotrophic, hemibiotrophic or necrotrophic pathogens. In addition, we aim to highlight the interplay of different physiological processes on amino acid transporter regulation during pathogen attack and chose the LYSINE HISTIDINE TRANSPORTER1 (LHT1) as an example.
The role of occlusion and micro-incontinence in the pathogenesis of penile lichen sclerosus: an observational study of pro-inflammatory cytokines’ gene expression
Authors: Czajkowski M. , Wierzbicki P. , Kotulak-Chrząszcz A. , Czajkowska K. , Bolcewicz M. , Kłącz J. , Kreft K. , Lewandowska A. , Nedoszytko B. , Sokołowska-Wojdyło M. , Kmieć Z. , Kalinowski L. , Nowicki R. J. , Matuszewski M.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

To assess the expression of selected cytokines in penile lichen sclerosus (PLS) and associate them with the occurrence of micro-incontinence (MI) in different stages of PLS.

Methods

The skin biopsies from 49 PLS affected, and 13 from nonlesional foreskins (healthy control adult males undergoing circumcision due to phimosis caused by short frenulum) were obtained. All specimens were used for RNA extraction and RT-qPCR. Quantitative assessment of the gene expression of interleukin 1-A (IL-1A), interleukin 1-B (IL-1B), interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RN), interleukin 6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and interferon-gamma (INF-γ) was performed. To determinate the presence of MI, the patients were asked about voiding patterns, especially leaking tiny drops of urine from the urethral meatus after urination.

Results

IL-1A, IL-6, and INF-γ mRNA levels were approximately 150, 16, and 59 times higher in PLS than in control samples, respectively. The highest IL-1A mRNA levels were observed in early PLS (n = 13), INF-γ in moderate PLS (n = 32), while IL-6 in severe PLS (n = 4). MI was noted in 45 PLS patients vs. 0 in control (p < 0.0001). IL-1A and IL-6 vs control ratios were concentration (ca.) 400 and 30 times higher, respectively, in MI PLS samples than in PLS without MI.

Conclusion

Occlusion and irritating urine effect are associated with the clinical progression of penile LS with increased mRNA expression of IL-1A, INF-γ, and IL-6 pro-inflammatory cytokines in the foreskin.
Evaluating ecosystem services for agricultural wetlands: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Eric Asare , Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle , Erik Anderson , Kenneth Belcher , Robert Clark
Published: February 2022

Globally, the extent of inland wetlands has declined by approximately 70% since the start of the twentieth century, resulting in the loss of important wetland-associated ecosystem services. We evaluate the drivers of wetland values in agricultural landscapes to increase the effectiveness and reliability of benefit transfer tools to assign values to local wetland services. We reviewed 668 studies that analyzed wetland ecosystem services within agricultural environments and identified 45 studies across 22 countries that provided sufficient economic information to be included in a quantitative meta-analysis. We developed meta-regression models to represent provisioning and regulating wetland ecosystem services and identify the main drivers of these ecosystem service categories. Provisioning wetland ecosystem service values were best explained (direction of effects in parenthesis) by high-income variable (+), peer-reviewed journal publications (+), agricultural total factor productivity index (−) and population density (+), while agricultural total factor productivity index (−), income level ( +) and wetland area (−) had significant effects on regulating wetland ecosystem service values. Our models can help estimate wetland values more reliably across similar regions because they have significantly lower transfer errors (66 and 185% absolute percentage error for the provisioning and regulating models, respectively) than the errors from unit value transfers. Model predicted wetland values ($/Ha/Year) range from $0.62 to $11,216 for regulating services and $0.95 to $2,122 for provisioning services and vary based on the differences in the levels of the variables (in the wetland locations) that best explained the estimated models.
Factor Analysis Procedures Revisited from the Comprehensive Model with Unique Factors Decomposed into Specific Factors and Errors
Authors: Adachi Kohei
Published: February 2022

Factor analysis (FA) procedures can be classified into three types (Adachi in WIREs Comput Stat https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/wics.1458, 2019): latent variable FA (LVFA), matrix decomposition FA (MDFA), and its variant (Stegeman in Comput Stat Data Anal 99: 189–203, 2016) named completely decomposed FA (CDFA) through the theorems proved in this paper. We revisit those procedures from the Comprehensive FA (CompFA) model, in which a multivariate observation is decomposed into common factor, specific factor, and error parts. These three parts are separated in MDFA and CDFA, while the specific factor and error parts are not separated, but their sum, called a unique factor, is considered in LVFA. We show that the assumptions in the CompFA model are satisfied by the CDFA solution, but not completely by the MDFA one. Then, how the CompFA model parameters are estimated in the FA procedures is examined. The study shows that all parameters can be recovered well in CDFA, while the sum of the parameters for the specific factor and error parts is approximated by the LVFA estimate of the unique factor parameter and by the MDFA estimate of the specific factor parameter. More detailed results are given through our subdivision of the CompFA model according to whether the error part is uncorrelated among variables or not.
The Holship ruling of the ECtHR and the protection of fundamental rights in Europe
Authors: Graver Hans Petter
Published: February 2022

The status of trade union rights in the EU has been contentious since the CJEU sent shockwaves through the trade unions of Europe in December 2007 with its rulings in the cases of Viking and Laval. In its recent Holship ruling, the ECtHR has challenged these rulings. Contrary to the assertion of the CJEU in Laval that it is inherent in the very exercise of trade union rights and the right to take collective action that they will be prejudiced to a certain degree, the ECtHR stated that “the degree to which a collective action risks having economic consequences cannot (…) in and of itself be a decisive consideration in the analysis of proportionality under Article 11”. This has potentially wide-reaching implications for the relationship between the human rights recognized in international human rights conventions and EU fundamental rights.
An intriguing find of an early Middle Pleistocene European snow leopard, Panthera uncia pyrenaica ssp. nov. (Mammalia, Carnivora, Felidae), from the Arago cave (Tautavel, Pyrénées-Orientales, France)
Authors: Hemmer Helmut
Published: February 2022

A complete mandible of a leopard-sized cat from the early Middle Pleistocene Arago cave MIS 14 level (Tautavel, France) was at first assigned to the snow leopard, Pantherauncia. A subsequent comprehensive description and analysis found the mandibular corpus snow leopard-like, but interpreted the dentition more like the leopard, Pantherapardus. Thus, this cat was classified as P.pardus. The re-study given in this paper presents the key to its real evolutionary place. The extant snow leopard is characterised by an autapomorphic excessively large dentition, not found in any other Panthera species. The Arago specimen represents the symplesiomorphic small-tooth type. Subtracting this character leaves diagnostic uncertainty, when only looking at the teeth, but provides an unambiguous P. uncia assignment when looking for the unique factor combination of the mandibular corpus. We deal with an ancestral snow leopard who demonstrates that the later large dentition was not yet evolved in the early Middle Pleistocene. An abstract heading in a symposium program book proposed the name Pantherapardustautavelensis nov. ssp., not available by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Therefore, the Arago snow leopard is named Pantheraunciapyrenaica ssp. nov. A single Pantherauncia record in the Eurasian late Middle Pleistocene from Zhoukoudian Locality 3 (China) perfectly bridges the difference between the Arago cat and the extant snow leopard. The early Middle Pleistocene European history of leopard-sized cats was originally understood as a more or less uniform development within the species P.pardus. This turns out to be a repeated replacement of different species and subspecies, involving Pumapardoides, Pantherapardus and Pantherauncia. It cannot even be excluded that snow leopards returned in each intense cold period of the Middle and Late Pleistocene from their Central Asian home to Europe.
Fabrication of Thin Walls with and without Close Loop Control as a Function of Scan Strategy Via Direct Energy Deposition
Authors: Ali Nashit , Tomesani Luca , Ascari Alessandro , Fortunato Alessandro
Published: February 2022

Direct Energy Deposition (DED) is a technique used to fabricate metallic parts and is a subcategory of metal additive manufacturing. Despite of its vast advantages over traditional manufacturing the deployment at industrial level is still limited due to underlaying concerns of process stability and repeatability. In-situ monitoring, therefore, is indispensable while depositing via DED. The present experiment is a step towards enhancing our current understanding of the DED when coupled with a closed loop control system to control melt pool width for deposition of thin-walled structures, and as a function of scan strategy. 316L stainless steel powder was deposited on S235JR substrate. A total of 6 iterations are reported, out of many performed, of which 3 were without the closed loop control. Also, to understand the effect of scan strategy as a function of laser power. Two different scan strategies were employed for understanding of the issue i.e., unidirectional, and bidirectional. Apart from the geometrical consistency of the wall, microhardness, density calculations and microstructure were investigated. The geometric consistency was found to be almost perfect with the bidirectional scan strategy. In case of unidirectional scan strategy, the wall shows a negative slope along the other extreme regardless of the closed loop control system. Dilution zone shows the hardness greater than both the substrate and the wall. The specimens fabricated without the use of closed loop control were found to be denser than their counterparts. This was found to be true also in case of manual reduction of power during each layer.
Improving Reliability for Linguistic Preference Relations Considering New Ordinal and Cardinal Consistency Measures
Authors: Wu Guolin , Wu Zhibin
Published: February 2022

Linguistic preference relations (LPRs) and its variations served for different decision-making situations are significantly important instruments of qualitative decision-making. The consistency analysis of LPRs is a necessary prerequisite for further operations of these original preference relations so as to ensure that the final decision results are convincing. However, the existing consistency improvement methods for LPRs are difficult to guarantee the reliability of the revised LPRs. Because the suggested LPRs from these methods either not eliminate the ordinal inconsistency or not satisfy the expectation of minimum modification. In this paper, a new definition of ordinal consistency of LPRs is first proposed and then an optimization approach is constructed to eliminate ordinal inconsistency for LPRs. Secondly, a new cardinal consistency index for LPRs is proposed and a corresponding optimization model to increase the cardinal consistency level is presented. After that, an optimization model is proposed to simultaneously manage ordinal and cardinal inconsistency for LPRs. Last, the proposed models are applied to a real linguistic decision-making problem involving evaluation and selection of investment projects. The comparative analysis and discussion illustrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed models.
Foundations of Taxation Law 2022
Authors: Barkoczy Stephen
Published: February 2022

Foundations of Taxation Law provides a clear and comprehensive introduction to the policy, principles and practice underpinning the Australian taxation system. Designed as an introductory guide for law and business students as well as tax practitioners, the text focuses on general principles, blending policy issues, taxation theory, technical 'black letter law' and commercial practice into a succinct, principled text. Topics have been developed in a logical, structured order and are cross-referenced to specific provisions in the legislation and relevant cases so that readers can easily find the source of the law. The text includes approximately 400 examples and dozens of diagrams and tables that condense the law and clarify difficult concepts. This fourteenth edition has been substantially revised and restructured to take account of many important legislative reforms, case law developments, administrative changes and policy announcements. It is designed to be used in conjunction with the Core Tax Legislation and Study Guide 2022.
Particle radiotherapy and molecular therapies: mechanisms and strategies towards clinical applications
Authors: Helm Alexander , Fournier Claudia , Durante Marco
Published: February 2022

Immunotherapy and targeted therapy are now commonly used in clinical trials in combination with radiotherapy for several cancers. While results are promising and encouraging, the molecular mechanisms of the interaction between the drugs and radiation remain largely unknown. This is especially important when switching from conventional photon therapy to particle therapy using protons or heavier ions. Different dose deposition patterns and molecular radiobiology can in fact modify the interaction with drugs and their effectiveness. We will show here that whilst the main molecular players are the same after low and high linear energy transfer radiation exposure, significant differences are observed in post-exposure signalling pathways that may lead to different effects of the drugs. We will also emphasise that the problem of the timing between drug administration and radiation and the fractionation regime are critical issues that need to be addressed urgently to achieve optimal results in combined treatments with particle therapy.
Das soziale Atom
Authors: Milark Susanne
Published: February 2022

In der aufsuchenden psychiatrischen Arbeit gibt es immer wieder Begegnungen mit Menschen, die wenig bis gar keinen sozialen Kontakt mehr haben. Sei es, dass sie durch die Symptome der Erkrankung nicht in der Lage sind, soziale Beziehungen aufzubauen oder diese zu erhalten. Psychiatrische Erkrankungen lösen in der Gesellschaft und bei den Betroffenen selbst immer noch Unsicherheiten aus und haben damit direkten Einfluss auf die Beziehungsgestaltung zu anderen Menschen. Die Arbeit mit dem von Jakob Levy Moreno entwickelten Sozialem Atom kann in der ambulanten Psychiatrie ein Weg sein, um das soziale Netzwerk gemeinsam mit den Klienten sichtbar werden zu lassen und aufzubauen. Die Arbeit mit den Methoden des Psychodramas führt heraus aus dem kognitiven Beleuchten von Begegnungen und lädt ein wieder in die Handlungen zu gehen. Sich selbst aus der Perspektive anderer Menschen wahrzunehmen, kann dabei sehr erhellend sein, Ängste nehmen und den Mut für den nächsten Schritt geben.
Skin Temperature Correction for Calculations of Air‐Sea Oxygen Flux and Annual Net Community Production
Authors: Yang Bo , Emerson Steven R. , Cronin Meghan F.
Published: February 2022

We evaluated the influence of skin temperature correction on the calculations of air‐sea O2 flux and annual net community production (ANCP). The skin temperature correction term (ΔT) was derived from the fifth generation European Center for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis, which has large spatial and temporal variations that are consistent with independent measurements on three ocean moorings from areas with very different air‐sea heat flux and ΔT. The result revealed that ΔT is dominated by the cool skin effect (which leads to the increase in air‐to‐sea O2 flux and decrease in ANCP), except for the equatorial region or summertime when the warm layer effect is significant. Using data from three Argo profiling floats in the subarctic, subtropical, and tropical Pacific as examples, the calculations indicated that the correction could lead to −1%–+36% difference in annual air‐to‐sea O2 flux and −33%–+5% difference in ANCP.
Admittance of the Earth Rotational Response to Zonal Tide Potential
Authors: Bizouard C. , Fernández L. I. , Zotov L.
Published: February 2022

This study is devoted to the determination of the admittance parameters describing the Earth rotational response to the components of the zonal tide potential. First, in order to better grasp the physical content of those admittance coefficients, we revisit the theoretical description of the length of day (LOD) changes at sub‐decadal time scale, where forcing is dominated by zonal tides and hydro‐atmospheric mass transports. This theoretical reminder specifies the rheological coefficients permitting to apply the hydro‐atmospheric corrections to isolate the tidal part of the LOD. Then, the admittances are determined from the LOD series corrected from hydro‐atmospheric contributions at the frequencies of the dominant zonal tidal terms between 7 and 365 days. In contrast of the former kindred studies, we both address the discrepancy of the results brought by various EOP series and the hydro‐atmospheric corrections on the LOD. Our study forwards the complementary corrections brought by the ocean, the land water and sea level changes. Below 32 days, removing the atmospheric‐oceanic excitation from LOD allows to much better constraint the admittance complex coefficients κ than applying the atmospheric correction only: the discrepancy with respect to modeled values is reduced up to 70%, and the frequency dependence of the imaginary part brought by the ocean dynamical response is confirmed. A systematic effect with respect to the values modeled by Ray and Erofeeva (2014), https://doi.org/10.1002/2013jb010830 has been detected and hints a defect of this model. Moreover, the role of land water and associated sea level variation is notable at the semi‐annual period.
Rising Seas Boost Tsunami Impacts on Distant Shorelines
Authors: Kornei Katherine
Published: February 2022

Modeling suggests that rising sea levels will render Southern California ports increasingly vulnerable to waves from distant-source tsunamis.
Tracking Heat Gains and Losses in the Nordic Seas
Authors: Smedsrud Lars
Published: February 2022

The Nordic Seas experience influxes of warm water and losses of heat to the atmosphere with knock-on effects on sea ice, glacier retreat, and carbon dioxide uptake.
Near-infrared circular dichroism of the ytterbium DOTMA complex: an ab initio investigation
Authors: Gendron Frédéric , Grasser Maxime , Le Guennic Boris
Published: February 2022

The electronic structure and circular dichroism spectra of the ytterbium(iii) complex [Yb(DOTMA)]− are calculated using multi-configurational wavefunction methods with the spin–orbit coupling treated by the state interaction approach.
Regulating the valence level arrangement of high-Al-content AlGaN quantum wells using additional potentials with Mg doping
Authors: Lu Shiqiang , Zheng Tongchang , Jiang Ke , Sun Xiaojuan , Li Dabing , Chen Hangyang , Li Jinchai , Zhou Yinghui , Cai Duanjun , Li Shuping , Lin Wei , Kang Junyong
Published: February 2022

Additional potentials, including Coulomb interaction as well as orbital state coupling induced by Mg doping, are proposed to regulate the valence level arrangement of AlN/Al0.75Ga0.25N quantum wells.
Origin of the complex main and satellite features in Fe 2p XPS of Fe2O3
Authors: Bagus Paul S. , Nelin Connie J. , Brundle C. R. , Crist B. Vincent , Lahiri N. , Rosso Kevin M.
Published: February 2022

Anab initioapproach describes the main and satellite features of the Fe 2p XPS of Fe2O3and shows their origin in terms of normal and shake configurations.
Enhancement of cancer-cell-selective cytotoxicity by a dicopper complex with a phenanthrene amide-tether ligand conjugate via mitochondrial apoptosis
Authors: Hata Machi , Saito Itsuki , Kadoya Yuki , Tanaka Yoshiki , Hitomi Yutaka , Kodera Masahito
Published: February 2022

Dicopper complexes [Cu2(μ-OH)(Ln)](ClO4)2 [n = 1 (1) and 2 (2)] with a novel phenanthrene amide-tether ligand conjugate (HL1) and the original p-cresol-2,6-bis(amidecyclen) (HL2) were synthesized.
Two Co(ii)/Ni(ii) complexes based on nitrogenous heterocyclic ligands as high-performance electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Li Rong-Fang , Zhang Heng , Hong Man-Zhou , Shi Jing-Ge , Liu Xin-Fang , Feng Xun
Published: February 2022

Co-1 exhibits a three-dimensional pore structure through hydrogen bonding and π-conjugation, providing a platform for efficient charge carrier mobility and the hydrogen evolution reaction.