bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Melatonin‐Supplemented Obese Female Mice Show Less Inflammation in Ovarian Adipocytes and Browning in Subcutaneous Adipocytes
Authors: Nagagata Brenda A. , Mandarim‐de‐Lacerda Carlos A. , Aguila Marcia Barbosa
Published: December 2024

We hypothesized that melatonin (Mel) supplementation may offer therapeutic benefits for obesity, particularly in women. Therefore, the study evaluated Mel's effects on white adipose tissue (WAT) in diet‐induced obese female mice. Four‐week‐old C57BL/6 females were assigned to either a control diet (C group) or a high‐fat diet (HF group) for 6 weeks (n = 20/group). Following this, Mel was administered (10 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks (n = 10/group), resulting in four groups: C, CMel, HF, and HFMel. The HF group developed obesity. HFMel displayed reduced fat pad size, lower plasma insulin, and improved glucose tolerance and insulin resistance compared to HF. In ovarian WAT (oWAT), HFMel versus HF showed reduced pro‐inflammatory markers, less endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and smaller adipocyte size. In subcutaneous WAT (sWAT), HFMel versus HF demonstrated increased adipocyte multiloculation, higher uncoupling protein‐1 expression, and elevated thermogenic gene expression. Principal component analysis of gene expressions in oWAT and sWAT revealed significant differences: in oWAT, ER stress and inflammation markers were linked to the HF group, while HFMel and CMel clustered together, indicating a beneficial Mel effect. In sWAT, HFMel and CMel clustered on the opposite side of HF, which is associated with thermogenic gene expressions. In conclusion, the findings demonstrate that Mel supplementation in obese female mice, even when maintained on an HF diet, effectively modulated weight gain and reduced ovarian and subcutaneous fat accumulation. Mel supplementation positively influenced insulin resistance, inflammation, and ER stress while promoting thermogenesis in WAT in obese female mice.
Epigenetic Regulation by Histone Methylation and Demethylation in Freeze‐Tolerant Frog Kidney
Authors: Taiwo Olawale O. , Breedon Sarah A. , Storey Kenneth B.
Published: December 2024

The wood frog (Rana sylvatica) endures whole‐body freezing over the winter, with extensive extracellular ice formation and halted physiological activities. Epigenetic mechanisms, including reversible histone lysine methylation, enable quick alterations in gene expression, helping to maintain viability during freeze‐thaw cycles. The present study evaluated eight histone lysine methyltransferases (KMTs), 10 histone lysine demethylases (KDMs), and 11 histone marks in wood frog kidneys. Using immunoblotting, significant changes in relative protein levels of multiple KMTs and KDMs were observed in response to freezing, with variable alterations during thawing. Specifically, the repressive methyl marks H3K27me1 and H4K20me3 significantly decreased during freezing, whereas H3K9me3, H3K27me3, and H3K36me2 decreased during thawing. These results demonstrate that the regulation of histone methylation and demethylation play crucial roles in controlling gene expression over the freeze‐thaw cycle and the maintenance of normal renal physiology.
20 Jahre nach der Entdeckung von Graphen: Zweidimensionale Materialien
Authors: Schubert Ulrich
Published: December 2024

Feststoffe mit zweidimensionaler Ausdehnung aber nur wenigen Nanometern Dicke sind seit der Entdeckung von Graphen in den Fokus wissenschaftlichen Interesses gerückt. Es gelang nicht nur, Einzelschichten von anderen schichtartig aufgebauten Feststoffen zu exfolieren, sondern auch, neue Methoden zur Erzeugung und Stabilisierung von 2D‐Nanostrukturen zu entwickeln. Am Beispiel von Metalldichalkogeniden, hexagonalem Bornitrid, Silicen und Übergangsmetallcarbid/nitrid‐Phasen (MXene) werden in diesem Artikel exemplarisch Synthesemethoden und Eigenschaften von 2D‐Materialien vorgestellt.
Doping Control Analysis of Methylsulfonylmethane in Horses
Authors: Wong Jenny K. Y. , Choi Timmy L. S. , Wong Celia O. L. , Curl Peter , Wan Terence S. M. , Ho Emmie N. M.
Published: December 2024

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), also known as dimethyl sulfone, is a naturally occurring sulphur‐containing compound that can be found in plants, animals and humans. MSM can also be a metabolite of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Due to their anti‐inflammatory and analgesic effects, both MSM and DMSO are prohibited substances in horseracing. As both substances are naturally occurring, their misuse in horses is controlled by International Residue Limits (IRL) of 1200 and 15 μg/mL, respectively, in horse urine as established by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. The elimination of DMSO in horses has been reported; however, there has been no report on the elimination of MSM in horses. This paper describes a pilot study of an administration study of MSM in two geldings following one scoop (~15 g) of Pure MSM twice daily for six consecutive days. MSM in post‐administration urine and blood samples was quantified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry after sample dilution, with additional protein precipitation for the blood samples. The elimination profiles of MSM in urine and blood are described. The maximum detection time in urine at the IRL of 1200 μg/mL was around 4.5 days after the last dose. Plasma MSM in both horses was around 120 μg/mL at 4.4 days after the last dose, which was the last blood sample collected. As such, 120 μg/mL may indicate a possible IRL for controlling MSM in horse blood. The analysis of DMSO in post‐MSM‐administration samples showed that DMSO is not a significant metabolite of MSM in horses.
B Cell Receptor Repertoire Analysis of the CD21lo B Cell Compartment in Healthy Individuals, Patients With Sjögren's Disease, and Patients With Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis
Authors: Wilbrink Rick , van der Weele Linda , Spoorenberg Anneke J. P. L. , de Vries Niek , Niewold Ilse T. G. , Verstappen Gwenny M. , Kroese Frans G. M.
Published: December 2024

B cells with low or absent expression of CD21 (CD21lo B cells) gained attention due to their expansion in the peripheral blood of patients with immune‐mediated, rheumatic diseases. This is not only observed in typical autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's disease (SjD) but also in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r‐axSpA), which is considered an autoinflammatory disease. To gain more insight into the origins of the heterogeneous CD21lo B‐cell population, and its relation to the plasmablast (PB) compartment, we profiled the B‐cell‐receptor (BCR) repertoire in CD27− and CD27+ fractions of CD21lo B cells and early PBs using next‐generation sequencing. Populations were sorted from peripheral blood of healthy individuals, SjD patients, and r‐axSpA patients (n = 10 for each group). In healthy individuals and both patient groups, our findings indicate that CD27−CD21lo B cells, which exhibit few mutations in their BCR, may develop into CD27+CD21lo B cells and PBs, both marked by considerably more mutations. Given the known expansion of circulating CD27−CD21lo B cells in SjD and r‐axSpA patients and clonal relationships with both CD27+CD21lo B cells and early PBs, these cells might actively contribute to (pathological) immune responses in rheumatic diseases with autoimmune and/or autoinflammatory characteristics.
Enhancing Equity in Genomics: Incorporating Measures of Structural Racism, Discrimination, and Social Determinants of Health
Authors: Rajagopalan Ramya M. , D'Antonio Matteo , Fujimura Joan H.
Published: December 2024

The everyday harms of structural racism and discrimination, perpetuated through institutions, laws, policies, and practices, constitute social determinants of health, but measures that account for their debilitating effects are largely missing in genetic studies of complex diseases. Drawing on insights from the social sciences and public health, we propose critical methodologies for incorporating tools that measure structural racism and discrimination within genetic analyses. We illustrate how including these measures may strengthen the accuracy and utility of findings for diverse communities, clarify elusive relationships between genetics and environment in a racialized society, and support greater equity within genomics and precision health research. This approach may also support efforts to build and sustain vital partnerships with communities and with other fields of research inquiry, centering community expertise and lived experiences and drawing on valuable knowledge from practitioners in the social sciences and public health to innovate biomedical and genomic study designs aimed at community health priorities.
The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Genomics: Ethical Complementarity for Just Research
Authors: Garba Ibrahim , Carroll Stephanie Russo
Published: December 2024

Governance of biomedical research in the United States has been characterized by ethical individualism, a mode of reasoning that treats the individual person as the center of moral concern and analysis. However, genomics research raises ethics issues that uniquely affect certain genetically related communities as collectives, not merely as aggregates of individuals. This is especially true of identifiable populations—including Indigenous Peoples—that are often minoritized, socially marginalized, or geographically isolated. We propose an alternative, complementary framework based on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) (2007), which explicitly recognizes both individual and collective rights. We use the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance as a case study to show how this UNDRIP‐based framework can complement the individual‐focused national standard for research oversight represented by the Belmont principles, thereby better protecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights and interests in genomic data.
Numerical Simulations of Heat and Mass Transfer Enhancement Over a Rotating Cone
Authors: Zaman Saquib Ul , Ahmad Sameed
Published: December 2024

In this work, we investigate the combined effects of heat and mass exchange on the time‐dependent convectional flow of a rheological nanofluid across a rotating cone. A numerical arrangement of nonlinear differential equations is obtained for spinning cones with separator temperature boundary conditions by similarity transformation. The effect of different parameters on the velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles are discussed. Tangential velocity is observed to decrease with an increase in the Deborah number, whereas it increases with increasing values of the angular velocity ratio, relaxation to the retardation time ratio, and buoyancy parameter. Expansion in the Prandtl number is noted to decrease the boundary‐layer temperature and thickness. Nusselt number and skin disunion observations are also considered. It is discovered that the Nusselt number expands by expanding the lightness parameter and Prandtl number, whereas it increases by decreasing the Deborah number. We also noticed that the Sherwood number falls incrementally in Deborah and Prandtl numbers, but it upsurges with an increase in the buoyancy parameter. The effect of parameters on temperature is graphically displayed, and the face shear stress tabulated values and heat shift rate are included in tables.
Head‐to‐head comparison of palbociclib and ribociclib in first‐line treatment of HR‐positive/HER2‐negative metastatic breast cancer with real‐world data from the OPAL registry
Authors: Thill Marc , Zahn Mark‐Oliver , Welt Anja , Nusch Arnd , Zaiss Matthias , Engelken Kathrin , Kaltenecker Gabriele , Ringwald Kai , Gratzke Katja , Dille Stephanie , Kruggel Lisa , Jänicke Martina , Schulz Holger , Hagen Volker , Fricker Roland , Stickeler Elmar , Harbeck Nadia , Wöckel Achim , Decker Thomas
Published: December 2024

Cyclin‐dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDKIs) in combination with endocrine therapy (ET) are the standard‐of‐care in the first‐line treatment of HR‐positive, HER2‐negative metastatic breast cancer. In the absence of direct head‐to‐head trials comparing the efficacy and safety of the different CDKIs, the individual choice of treatment in everyday practice is complex. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to emulate a head‐to‐head comparison of palbociclib +ET (PALBO) and ribociclib +ET (RIBO) in patients recruited into the prospective, observational, multicenter registry platform OPAL (NCT03417115). Progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and quality of life surveys were analyzed, also for subgroups stratified by treatment‐free interval (TFI). A total of 623 patients with HR‐positive, HER2‐negative metastatic breast cancer received PALBO (n = 388) or RIBO (n = 235) in their first line of treatment. No difference between PALBO and RIBO was found for PFS (median 26.7 months [23.6, 30.7] vs. 27.0 months [21.1, 30.4], HR 1.01 [0.80, 1.27]) and OS (median 42.4 months [38.8, 50.3] vs. 49.3 months [36.9, NA], HR 0.96 [0.71, 1.28]). There was a trend for longer PFS and OS in patients with TFI <12 months receiving RIBO. Patients reported comparable side effects for both CDKIs. This head‐to‐head comparison revealed no difference in PFS and OS between PALBO and RIBO, however, a trend to longer PFS and OS with RIBO was observed in the subgroup of patients with TFI <12 months. Side effects experienced with PALBO and RIBO highlight the important toxicities to be addressed during treatment decision.
Genetic variants of FER and SULF1 in the fibroblast‐related genes are associated with non–small‐cell lung cancer survival
Authors: Lu Guojun , Liu Hongliang , Wang Huilin , Luo Sheng , Du Mulong , Christiani David C. , Wei Qingyi
Published: December 2024

Fibroblasts are important components in the tumor microenvironment and can affect tumor progression and metastasis. However, the roles of genetic variants of the fibroblast‐related genes (FRGs) in the prognosis of non–small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients have not been reported. Therefore, we investigated the associations between 26,544 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 291 FRGs and survival of NSCLC patients from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. In Cox regression multivariable analysis, we found that 661 SNPs were associated with NSCLC overall survival (OS). Then we validated these SNPs in another independent replication dataset of 984 patients from the Harvard Lung Cancer Susceptibility (HLCS) Study. Finally, we identified two independent SNPs (i.e., FER rs7716388 A>G and SULF1 rs11785839 G>C) that remained significantly associated with NSCLC survival with hazards ratios (HRs) of 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.77–0.98, p = 0.018) and 0.88 (95% CI = 0.79–0.99, p = 0.033), respectively. Combined analysis for these two SNPs showed that the number of protective alleles was associated with better OS and disease‐specific survival. Expression quantitative trait loci analysis indicated that the FER rs7716388 G allele was associated with the up‐regulation of FER mRNA expression levels in lung tissue. Our results indicated that these two functional SNPs in the FRGs may be prognostic biomarkers for the prognosis of NSCLC patients, and the possible mechanism may be through modulating the expression of their corresponding genes.
Exploiting NRF2‐ARE pathway activation in papillary renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Angori Silvia , Lakshminarayanan Harini , Banaei‐Esfahani Amir , Mühlbauer Katharina , Bolck Hella Anna , Kallioniemi Olli , Pietiäinen Vilja , Schraml Peter , Moch Holger
Published: December 2024

Papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) is the second most frequent renal cancer subtype but has no indicated targeted treatments. MET inhibition may be a treatment for MET‐driven pRCC, but there is a large group of non‐MET‐driven pRCC without targeted therapy. Activation of NRF2‐ARE pathway has been suggested to be involved in pRCC. To study the relevance of the NRF2‐ARE pathway, we characterized 60 pRCCs by copy number analysis and Whole Exome Sequencing. Because stabilisation of NRF2 results in enhanced expression of NQO1, a reductase that prevents production of reactive oxygen species, protein expression of NQO1 was analysed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) from tissue microarrays (TMAs) and by enzymatic activity assay. Finally, patient‐derived pRCC cells (PDCs) were applied for drug profiling with 18 NRF2‐ARE pathway inhibitors. We identified MET mutations in 5%, and mutations in four genes of NRF2‐ARE pathway (NFE2L2, KEAP1, CUL3 and BACH1) in 10% of 60 pRCC samples. IHC analysis of TMAs of 638 renal cancers showed the correlation of the expression of NQO1 with poor survival outcome (p < .001) and high tumour grade (p < .001) and stage (p < .001) in pRCC. NQO1 mRNA, protein levels and enzymatic activity were increased in 56% of matched pRCC tissue samples and patient‐derived cells (PDCs, n = 9). Drug screening revealed that Brusatol and Convallatoxin are potential novel drugs for pRCC. Inhibition of NRF2 represents a novel therapeutic approach for MET‐independent pRCC patients.
Diagnostic challenges and management of complete interstitial ectopic pregnancy: A case report in a rural setting
Authors: Guo Qingyu , Ali Rashad N.
Published: December 2024

Synopsis

Early detection and robotic surgery successfully managed a complete interstitial ectopic pregnancy in a rural setting, highlighting the critical role of timely intervention.
Measuring the Uncertainty Impacts During the Systems Engineering Lifecycle
Authors: Flanigan David , Dixon Jeffery
Published: December 2024

Uncertainty is a large part of the systems engineering development process. Particularly absent is the quantification of uncertainty of the threat, operating environment, and friendly force factors at each step of this lifecycle. This paper will explore a methodology to quantify the amount of uncertainty and the interdependencies of the uncertainty factors during the development. Included for consideration are internal and external factors and their contribution to the overall system uncertainty. An illustrative example is provided to exercise this methodology.
Informing the Delineation of Input Uncertainty Space in Exploratory Modelling Using a Heuristic Approach
Authors: Moallemi Enayat A. , Elsawah Sondoss , Ryan Michael J.
Published: December 2024

Exploratory modelling is an emerging approach which can address the challenge of model‐based decision making in dealing with input model uncertainties. Exploratory modelling samples from an input uncertainty space and generates extensive computational experiments to analyse possible model behaviours in an output solution space. The way that the input uncertainty space is delineated influences the results of exploratory modelling and its computational cost. In this article, we show the statistical significance of the implication of the size of an input uncertainty space on the resulted output solution space. We also propose a heuristic approach which informs the delineation of input uncertainties by screening the relevant model behaviour in the solution space. An illustrative example of an aircraft fleet management system is used to demonstrate the implementation of our approach in practice. We conclude that the delineation of input uncertainty space can be a way to control simulations in exploratory modelling and to enhance the efficiency of the exploration process and the confidence of the final results.
Comparison of diagnoses made by dentistry students and by artificial intelligence dentists
Authors: Bahadir Hasibe Sevilay , Keskin Neslihan Büşra , Çakmak Emine Şebnem Kurşun , Güneç Gürkan , Cesur Aydin Kader , Sari Saliha Kübra
Published: December 2024

Objectives

The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) about great changes in the field of dentistry, but it has not yet been fully determined in which areas it will make a positive contribution to dentistry students. The objective of our study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of undergraduate students (fourth‐year dentistry students [4DS] and final‐year dentistry students [5DS]) and AI when examining panoramic radiographs.

Methods

Fifty panoramic radiographs and 1602 teeth were examined by 50 4DS who had not received a clinical practice internship, 50 5DS, and an AI application. The participants and the AI application evaluated the teeth seen in each radiograph one by one in terms of caries, fillings, teeth with root canal treatment, periodontal loss, extractions, crowns, teeth with apical lesions, and impacted and extracted teeth. Findings were recorded in an Excel chart. Chi‐square analysis was used to compare diagnostic success between the groups.

Results

The results indicate that there was a statistically significant difference in the identified accuracy of caries, fillings, and extractions between the AI application and undergraduate students (p < 0.05). Although AI showed more identified accuracy in teeth with apical lesions, impacted teeth, and teeth with root canal treatment than in undergraduate students, there was no significant difference between them (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

AI exhibited better results than undergraduate students especially in the detection of caries and fillings. AI could improve undergraduates’ accuracy in detecting caries, fillings, and extractions and help them make accurate treatment decisions. In cases where dentistry students are examining patients using panoramic radiographs, employing AI programs during their clinical training to confirm and strengthen the student's diagnosis may be a promising new development.
Glucose‐induced self‐assembly in structurally diverse polyoxyethylene based nonionic surfactants for enhanced anticancer drug solubilization
Authors: Kuperkar Ketan , Prajapati Virendra , Marangoni Gerrard , Bahadur Pratap
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the influence of glucose in inducing the micellar growth/transition in several structurally diverse, longer, and shorter chain polyoxyethylene (POE)‐based nonionic surfactants, commercially known as Kolliphor® HS15 (Solutol), Kolliphor EL®, Akypo®, Brij®‐78, Pluronic® (P103 and F77), Tetronic® (T1304), and Tyloxapol® in aqueous solution environment. It was observed that the addition of glucose induces dehydration of the POE moieties or chains in the tested systems, thereby enhancing the inter‐micellar interactions via hydrogen bonding in the hydrophilic part of the selected surfactants. This dehydration leads to an interesting clouding behavior across all the studied surfactant systems. Also, the dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique accounted for the probable self‐assembly and micellar growth in water and 1 M glucose (fix) across various temperatures. Being pharmaceutical excipients, these micellar entities were successfully employed to assay the hydrophobic anticancer drug curcumin (Cur) solubilized, as confirmed by the peak intensity variation from UV–visible spectroscopy. Cur solubilization into glucose‐containing micelles revealed enhanced solubility expressed in terms of drug loading efficiency (DL%), encapsulation efficiency (EE%), partition coefficient (log P), and standard free energy of solubilization (ΔG°), which is due to the glucose‐induced hydrophobicity in the examined nonionic micellar systems.
Spatial Heterogeneity Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Abandoned Farmland in Different Scales and Regions in China
Authors: Li Guangyong , Jiang Cuihong , Gao Yu , Du Juan
Published: December 2024

Abandonment of farmland has become a widespread land use phenomenon worldwide. However, the spatial pattern and driving factors of abandoned farmland in different scales and regions in China are still unclear, which limits the government in formulating relevant policies. This study is based on the statistical data of abandoned farmland in county level in 2020, and examines the spatial patterns and driving mechanisms of the abandoned farmland over national level and geographical divisions in China. The results show that the abandoned rate of farmland (ARF) in China is 6.4%, but the total area reaches 8.56 million hectares in 2020. Northern region (NR) has the largest abandoned farmland area (AFA) among the various geographical divisions. High ARFs concentrate over hilly, mountainous and plateau regions with complex terrain conditions at the national scale, while plains and basins represent the opposite. The driving mechanisms of abandoned farmland vary widely at national scale and each geographical division. Agricultural added value (AAV) and surface roughness index (SRI) are two key factors that make opposite contributions to the spatial pattern of AFA and ARF across the country. Temperature, population ageing index (PAI), and AAV are the primary factors determining the AFA in NR, Northwest region (NWR) and Qinghai‐Tibet region (QTR) respectively, whereas PAI and per capita disposable income (PCDI) are the main negative factors that determine the AFA in Southern region (SR). SRI and AAV are both the most critical factors determining ARF in the country, NR, and QTR, but presenting opposite contributions. Temperature and precipitation have a significant correlation with the ARF in the SR. Economic factors play important roles in controlling the ARF in the NWR. The results can assist the government to formulate scientific policies on farmland utilization at multiple scales over different regions.
Revealing the Coupling Coordination of Social–Ecological System Resilience: Insights From the Southwest Karst Rural Area, China
Authors: Qu Shaodong , Jiang Yuan , Gao Jiangbo , Wang Lunche , Chen Qiong , Zhang Yibo , Huang Fengxian
Published: December 2024

Natural social systems provide opportunities for human survival, living, and development, but such development may be of less benefit to farmers in low‐income and remote rural settlements because they lack money and complete infrastructure. Introducing the concept of resilience can help explore the development potential of rural areas and add vitality to the realization of high‐quality rural development. Currently, theoretical analyses and systematic evaluations of rural resilience in China's karst mountain area are still insufficient. In this study, based on ecosystem services (ESs) and ecological thresholds, we calculated ecological resilience (ER). For the social systems dimension, we measured social resilience (SR) using a resilience assessment methodology developed by the FAO. Afterward, this study constructed a framework, integrating SR and ER, to assess interactions between rural socioeconomic systems and ecosystems. The study shows that SR is better in rural settlements closer to cities, while remote rural settlements have better ER. Rural settlements close to cities tend to have higher incomes and better educational opportunities than remote rural settlements. In contrast, remote rural settlements perform well in terms of forest area and natural ecology. Based on these findings, we propose specific policy measures to meet these challenges. The operational framework of this study can provide new insights and meaningful theoretical references for the study of rural resilience.
Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation and Stability Under Rice Straw, Ash, and Biochar Amendment in Saline‐Alkali Soil
Authors: Jiang Ya , Zhu Wenhao , Han Yuhang , Li Cuilan , Zhang Jinjing
Published: December 2024

Salinization and alkalization contribute significantly to soil degradation. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation is an effective approach to remediate saline‐alkali soil. However, how rice straw (RS), rice straw biochar (RSB), and rice straw ash (RSA) impact soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation and stability in saline‐alkali soil remains unknown. Herein, SOC and SOC fractions contents in bulk soil and its particle‐ and aggregate‐size classes under RS, RSB, and RSA amendments and control with amendments (CK) were investigated by field experiment. Carbon‐13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to evaluate bulk SOC chemical composition. The SOC and SOC fractions contents ranked as CK<RSA<RS<RSB. Aromatic C was higher whereas O‐alkyl C was lower in RSB relative to other treatments. The contents of SOC and SOC fractions in bulk soil were generally positively correlated with those in particle‐ and aggregate‐size classes as well as with aromatic C. Redundancy analysis showed that exchangeable sodium and electrical conductivity were the most significant factors in shaping SOC contents and chemical composition. The results indicated that RSB is more beneficial for SOC accumulation and stabilization as compared to RS and RSA. The primary mechanisms of SOC accumulation in RSB‐amended soil included physical protection afforded by aggregate classes, chemical protection mediated by silt and clay fractions, and biochemical protection with recalcitrant aromatic C. Our findings suggest that converting RS into RSB and the subsequent application of this biochar have the potential for improving soil quality in saline‐alkali paddy field.
Distinct phytoplankton assemblages underlie hotspots of primary production in the eastern North Pacific Ocean
Authors: Jimenez Valeria , Sudek Sebastian , Eckmann Charlotte , Bachy Charles , Poirier Camille , Wittmers Fabian , Santoro Alyson E. , Follows Michael J. , Chavez Francisco P. , Shilova Irina , Worden Alexandra Z.
Published: December 2024

Marine eastern boundary current ecosystems, such as the California Current System (CCS), involve productive, mesotrophic transition zones. The CCS exhibits highly variable primary production (PP), yet factors driving the variability and underlying phytoplankton communities remain poorly understood. We integrated physicochemical and biological data from surface waters sampled during 10 CCS expeditions, spanning 13 yr, and resolved regimes with distinct phytoplankton communities. Additional to an oligotrophic regime (OR), mesotrophic waters beyond the coastal area partitioned into Meso‐High and Meso‐Low regimes, differing in nitrate concentrations and PP. The OR was dominated by Prochlorococcus High‐Light I (HLI), and eukaryotic phytoplankton were largely predatory mixotrophs. Eukaryotes dominated Meso‐Low and Meso‐High phytoplankton biomass. Within the Meso‐Low, Pelagomonas calceolata was important, and Prochlorococcus Low‐Light I (LLI) rose in prominence. In the Meso‐High, the picoprasinophyte Ostreococcus lucimarinus was abundant, and Synechococcus Clade IV was notable. The Meso‐High exhibited the highest PP (38 ± 16 mg C m−3 d−1; p < 0.01) and higher growth rates for photosynthetic eukaryotes (0.84 ± 0.02 d−1) than for Prochlorococcus (0.61 ± 0.01 d−1) and Synechococcus (0.31 ± 0.05 d−1). An experiment simulating seasonal oligotrophic seawater intrusion into the Meso‐High resulted in growth rates reaching 1.18 ± 0.10 d−1 (O. lucimarinus), 0.75 ± 0.21 d−1 (Prochlorococcus LLI), and 0.50 ± 0.04 d−1 (Synechococcus EPC2). Thus, variable PP is underpinned by distinct phytoplankton communities across CCS mesotrophic regimes, and their dynamic nature is influenced by the rapidity with which specific taxa respond to changing environmental conditions or possibly transient nutrient release from viral encounters. Future work should assess whether these dynamics are consistent across eastern boundary current ecosystems and over temporal variations.
The Gift of Choice? How Offering Options Can Undermine Recipient Appreciation
Authors: Park Jihye , Yi Youjae
Published: December 2024

This research examines the differing evaluations of “gifts with choices”—gifts allowing recipients to select specific attributes—by givers and recipients. Through multiple studies, we find that recipients view such gifts as less thoughtful, resulting in reduced appreciation. Conversely, givers underestimate the negative impact of offering choices on recipients' perceptions. This giver–recipient asymmetry stems from recipients associating these gifts with less effort from the giver. Importantly, the discrepancy diminishes in socially distant relationships or when givers provide information about their preselected gift attributes. This study expands gift‐giving literature by being the first to investigate gifts with choices, unveiling a unique giver–recipient disagreement, and exploring its underlying causes and boundary conditions.
Spectrum‐Related Theories in the Framework of Quadratic Phase Fourier Transform
Authors: Varghese Sarga , Kundu Manab
Published: December 2024

In this article, new type of convolution and correlation theorems associated with quadratic phase Fourier transform (QPFT) are studied. Applications of that in multiplicative filter design, which may be useful in optics and signal processing to recover the signals, are also discussed. Besides that, the real Paley–Wiener (PW) and Boas theorem for QPFT are proved, which analyses the characteristics of the signals associated with QPFT in the domain.
Possible Involvement of Hippocampal miR‐539‐3p/Lrp6/Igf1r Axis for Diminished Working Memory in Mice Fed a Low‐Carbohydrate and High‐Protein Diet
Authors: Shima Takeru , Onishi Hayate , Terashima Chiho
Published: December 2024

A low‐carbohydrate and high‐protein (LC‐HP) diet demonstrates favorable impacts on metabolic parameters, albeit it leads to a decline in hippocampal function with the decreased expression of hippocampal insulin‐like growth factor‐1 receptor (IGF‐1R) among healthy mice. However, the precise mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unexplored. Eight‐week‐old male C57BL/6 mice were divided into the LC‐HP diet‐fed group (25.1% carbohydrate, 57.2% protein, and 17.7% fat as percentages of calories; n = 10) and the control diet‐fed group (58.9% carbohydrate, 24.0% protein, and 17.1% fat; n = 10). After 4 weeks, all mice underwent the Y‐maze test, followed by analyses of hippocampal mRNA and miRNA expressions. We revealed that feeding the LC‐HP diet suppressed working memory function and hippocampal Igf1r mRNA levels in mice. Sequencing of hippocampal miRNA demonstrated 17 upregulated and 27 downregulated miRNAs in the LC‐HP diet‐fed mice. Notably, we found decreased hippocampal mRNA levels of low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 6 (Lrp6), a gene modulated by miR‐539‐3p, in mice fed the LC‐HP diet. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed between Lrp6 and Igf1r mRNA levels in the hippocampus. These findings suggest that LC‐HP diets may suppress hippocampal function via the miR‐539‐3p/Lrp6/Igf1r axis.
Cross‐Correlation Between 11B Quadrupole and 11B‐19F Dipole–Dipole Coupling in BF2 Groups
Authors: Rüttger Franziska , Franke Dominik , Probst Jannik , Wang Xiaobai , Stalke Dietmar , John Michael
Published: December 2024

We investigate cross‐correlation between 11B quadrupole and 11B‐19F dipole–dipole coupling in two BODIPY compounds and one bis(benzoxazol)methanide in partially oriented polystyrene (PS) samples. Especially for the bis(benzoxazol)methanide, the transitions for which the two interactions interfere con‐ or destructively clearly show distinct linewidths.
Post‐curing effect on the mode I fracture toughness of the glass/epoxy laminates
Authors: Esmaili Ali , Taheri‐Behrooz Fathollah
Published: December 2024

The mechanical properties of polymer matrix composites are a function of their curing and post‐curing temperatures. This research has experimentally investigated the effect of post‐curing temperature on the mode I fracture toughness of glass/epoxy composites. For this purpose, double cantilever beam (DCB) specimens are fabricated using the wet lay‐up assisted with vacuum bagging technique and post‐cured under three different curing processes. The mode I fracture tests are carried out in two categories. The post‐curing temperature remains constant for the first group of specimens while tests are conducted at three different elevated temperatures. In the second group of specimens, tests are performed at a constant temperature to evaluate the influence of three post‐curing processes on the outcomes. The test results showed that increasing the post‐curing temperature led to an upward trend in initiation and propagation fracture toughness. Additionally, the results indicated that as the test temperature increased, regardless of the curing process, both initiation and propagation fracture toughness also increased. Room temperature test results show that the post‐curing process at 80°C increased initiation and propagation fracture toughness by 20% and 15%, respectively, while the post‐curing process at 100°C improved these by 40% and 22%.
Green friction: Exploring the evolution and potential of natural fibers and other brake pad ingredients in sustainable automotive engineering—A review
Authors: Muthu Samy M. , Lenin Singaravelu D.
Published: December 2024

With the growing environmental concerns and strict regulations, the shift from traditional brake pad materials such as copper, asbestos to eco‐friendly materials has become necessary. This review paper presents an in‐depth analysis of natural fibers (fibers obtained from plants) brake pads, an emerging sustainable alternative in automotive technology. Natural fibers such as jute, kenaf, flax etc. offers a good solution due to their renewable nature, low cost and reduced environmental impact. This paper explores the properties of natural fibers that make them suitable for use in brake pads including their thermal stability, wear resistance and ability to withstand high‐friction environments. It highlights the advantages and challenges of natural fiber composites particularly in terms of performance, durability, and noise reduction. The environmental benefits including biodegradability and reduced carbon footprint are discussed underscoring the role of natural fiber brake pads in promoting sustainable automotive practices. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current and future potential of natural fiber brake pads offering valuable insights for researchers and industries in the field of sustainable automotive engineering.

Highlights

Shift to natural fibers from asbestos and copper for eco‐friendly alternatives.

Natural fibers offer biodegradability, low cost, and good mechanical properties.

Fiber variability and moisture absorption pose challenges, needing treatments.

Natural fibers reduce environmental impact, supporting sustainable practices.

More research is needed on fiber treatment and standardized testing protocols.
Impact of layer orientation and interlayer inhomogeneity on the bending properties of plain weave CFRP laminates
Authors: Wu Wanxia , Zhan Zhangjie , Li Xiaoyong , Zhao Jian , Xu Guodong , Ge Yuzhou , Su Dongxiao , Wu Lihao , Qiao Zhanfeng
Published: December 2024

Plain weave carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates have garnered widespread attention in the aerospace and automotive industries due to their exceptional mechanical properties and lightweight structure. During the production of laminates, the thickness of each layer is often nonuniform. In traditional finite element analysis (FEA), the laminates are usually assumed to be uniformly layered, which can introduce some errors. Thus, there is room for improvement in prediction accuracy. This study explores the bending performance of plain weave CFRP laminates at different orientation angles of the layers, employing both experimental and FEA. In contrast to traditional methods, using images of weave structures captured by metallographic microscopy to create the representative volume element (RVE) model can improve the precision of FEA. Bending tests are conducted on specimens with orientation angles at 0° and 45°, while the bending modulus for orientation angles at 15° and 30° are predicted through FEA methods. This research enhances the accuracy of the mechanical performance analysis of plain weave CFRP laminates and also uncovers the relationship between the bending modulus changes and the orientation angles. It provides a theoretical foundation and guidance for optimizing the structural design and improving the mechanical properties of woven laminates.

Highlights

Investigated plain weave CFRP laminate mechanics via homogenization.

Microscopy‐based RVE model improves FEM bending modulus prediction.

Effects of orientation angles on plain weave CFRP laminate bending performance.
Exploratory analysis of the key role of immune function changes in BPD
Authors: Wu Tianyi , Fu Xingmeng , Gong Xiaoxia , You Jingyi , Fu Zhou , Shu Chang
Published: December 2024

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is one of the most prevalent and severe chronic lung diseases in premature infants. The objective of the current study was to screen for key BPD‐associated genes and pathways by transcriptomic analysis from clinical patients and animal models. In our study, the differentially expressed genes were screened from 58 children with 14‐day BPD and 40 normal children in the GSE32472 dataset of the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Then, we identified four hub genes (Cd3e, Cd3g, Cd247, and Itk) and a signaling pathway (T cell receptor signaling pathway) by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis and protein‐protein interaction analysis. The differential expression of the relevant pathways and gene sets among the groups was verified via GSEA analysis. Subsequently, a rat model of BPD with hyperoxia‐induced lung injury was established, and the transcriptome sequencing of the whole lung tissue was performed. A similar analysis was done on the sequencing data of the hub genes and associated pathway screening to verify the accuracy. Ultimately, quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to validate the transcriptomics data of core gene expression in the rat model. Our study revealed that the downregulation of the expression of the above four key genes in the course of BPD leads to a decrease in the function of T cell receptor signaling pathways, it causes immune dysfunction and increases the severity of lung inflammation as well as susceptibility to other respiratory infectious diseases.
Resilience in Turkish Adolescents From Low Socioeconomic Backgrounds: The Role of Courage, Self‐Compassion, and Prosocial Behavior Tendencies
Authors: Altıntaş‐Atay Öykü , Çok Figen
Published: December 2024

This study examined the direct and indirect relationships among resilience, its individual‐level protective factors (i.e., courage and self‐compassion), and its positive outcomes (i.e., prosocial behavior tendencies) in a sample of adolescents from low socioeconomic backgrounds in Türkiye (Turkey). Quantitative data were collected through surveys from 1030 adolescents across seven Anatolian High Schools, which were selected using cluster sampling. A path analysis, which is a specific form of structural equation modeling, was used to test the proposed model and investigate the direct and indirect relationships. Results revealed positive associations between courage, self‐compassion, and resilience. Resilience was positively linked with all subscales of prosocial behavior tendencies. Moreover, courage demonstrated both direct associations with self‐compassion and indirect associations with prosocial behavior tendencies through self‐compassion and resilience. Unexpectedly, self‐compassion was negatively linked to all subscales of prosocial behavior tendencies. These findings demonstrated that the interplay among resilience, its predictors, and outcomes is complex and not always straightforward.
How Does Teacher Academic Optimism Affect Teacher Self‐Efficacy: Mediating Role of Teacher Professional Development and Teacher Subjective Well‐Being?
Authors: Mavi Duran , Tuti Gamze , Ozdemir Murat
Published: December 2024

Teacher self‐efficacy is a critical component of school life quality, leading scholars to explore the mechanisms behind it. Most studies have focused on this factor's mediation and moderation functions, with some indicating a strong link between teachers' academic optimism and self‐efficacy. However, the roles of teachers' professional development and subjective well‐being in this connection require further investigation. Our study takes an exclusive approach by positioning teacher self‐efficacy as the outcome variable and examining how teacher academic optimism is predicted through teacher professional development and subjective well‐being. Data were collected from 405 teachers working in K‐12 schools in Türkiye and analyzed using a cross‐sectional design. Using the bootstrapping technique, structural equation modeling results confirm the relationship between teacher academic optimism and self‐efficacy. The findings reveal that teachers' professional development and subjective well‐being mediate the relationship between teacher academic optimism and self‐efficacy. In this regard, our paper makes original contributions to the education literature by highlighting the importance of teachers' self‐efficacy. Importantly, our findings carry practical implications for practitioners and policymakers, and we offer specific suggestions based on the results to help them make informed decisions.
The Worries About Recurrence or Progression Scale in Cancer (WARPS‐C): A Valid and Reliable Measure to Screen for Fear of Cancer Recurrence
Authors: Smith Maddison , Sharpe Louise , Winiarski Natalie , Shaw Joanne
Published: December 2024

Objective

The Worries About Recurrence or Progression Scale (WARPS) was recently validated in four common chronic illnesses other than cancer, after a rigorous development process based on the COSMIN criteria. Available measures of fear of progression or fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) have been criticised for not meeting all COSMIN criteria. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the psychometric properties of the WARPS in a cancer sample to assess its applicability to measure FCR.

Methods

We recruited 346 participants living with or beyond cancer for an online survey. The psychometric properties of the WARPS were examined using a confirmatory factor analysis. Convergent validity was assessed against the current gold standard questionnaires and constructs related to FCR. Some participants completed a follow‐up survey 2 weeks later, to assess the test‐retest reliability. Finally, a Receiver Operating Characteristics analysis was conducted to determine clinical cut‐offs for the WARPS.

Results

Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the WARPS has one underlying factor, fear of recurrence or progression (FRP), with adequate model fit. The WARPS demonstrated excellent internal consistency, test‐retest reliability and showed convergent validity. ROC analysis revealed a cut‐off of 54 for moderate, and 65 for severe FCR on the WARPS.

Conclusions

The WARPS demonstrated good psychometric properties in a cancer sample. It has the capacity to be used as a screening tool to identify clinical levels of FCR. The WARPS was developed consistent with the COSMIN criteria and overcomes some of the limitations of existing measures.