bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cyr61 from adipose‐derived stem cells promotes colorectal cancer metastasis and vasculogenic mimicry formation via integrin αVβ5
Authors: Liang Zhenxing , Liu Huashan , Zhang Yunfeng , Xiong Li , Zeng Ziwei , He Xiaowen , Wang Fengwei , Wu Xianrui , Lan Ping
Published: May 2021

Adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) play a vital role in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, but the mechanism remains largely unknown. Herein, we found that ADSCs isolated from CRC patients produced more cysteine‐rich 61 (Cyr61) than those from healthy donors, and the elevated serum Cyr61 levels were associated with advanced TNM stages. Moreover, serum Cyr61 displayed a better diagnostic value for CRC compared to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA19‐9). Mechanistically, integrin αVβ5 was identified as the functional receptor by which Cyr61 promotes CRC cell metastasis in vitro and in vivo by activating the αVβ5/FAK/NF‐κB signaling pathway. In addition, Cyr61 promotes vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation, thereby promoting tumor growth and metastasis through a αVβ5/FAK/HIF‐1α/STAT3/MMP2 signaling cascade. Histologically, xenografts and clinical samples of CRC both exhibited VM, which was correlated with HIF‐1α and MMP2 activation. Notably, we demonstrated the synergistic effect of combined anti‐VM therapy (integrin αVβ5 inhibitor) and anti‐VEGF therapy (bevacizumab) in patient‐derived xenograft models. Further investigation showed that CRC cell‐derived exosomal STAT3 promoted Cyr61 transcription in ADSCs. These findings indicate that Cyr61 derived from ADSCs plays a critical role in promoting CRC progression via integrin αVβ5 and provides a novel antitumor strategy by targeting Cyr61/αVβ5.
High‐Performance Ammonium Cobalt Phosphate Nanosheet Electrocatalyst for Alkaline Saline Water Oxidation
Authors: Song Zhongxin , Wang Kaixi (Cathy) , Sun Qian , Zhang Lei , Li Junjie , Li Dingjiu , Sze Pok‐Wai , Liang Yue , Sun Xueliang , Fu Xian‐Zhu , Luo Jing‐Li
Published: May 2021

The development of highly efficient electrocatalysts toward the oxygen evolution reaction is imperative for advancing water splitting technology to generate clean hydrogen energy. Herein, a two dimensional (2D) nanosheet ammonium cobalt phosphate hydrate (NH4CoPO4·H2O) catalyst based on the earth‐abundant non‐noble metal is reported. When used for the challenging alkaline saline water electrolysis, the NH4CoPO4·H2O catalyst with the optimal thickness of 30 nm achieves current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm−2 at the record low overpotentials of 252 and 268 mV, respectively, while maintaining remarkable stability during the alkaline saline water oxidation at room temperature. X‐ray absorption fine spectra reveal that the activation of Co (II) ions (in NH4CoPO4·H2O) to Co (III) species constructs the electrocatalytic active sites. The 2D nanosheet morphology of NH4CoPO4·H2O provides a larger active surface area and more surface‐exposed active sites, which enable the nanosheet catalyst to facilitate the alkaline freshwater and simulated seawater oxidation with excellent activity. The facile and environmentally‐benign H2O‐mediated synthesis route under mild condition makes NH4CoPO4·H2O catalyst highly feasible for practical manufacturing. In comparison with noble metals, this novel electrocatalyst offers a cost‐effective alternative for economic saline water oxidation to advance water electrolysis technology.
Polyoxometalate‐Single Atom Catalysts (POM‐SACs) in Energy Research and Catalysis
Authors: Liu Rongji , Streb Carsten
Published: May 2021

Single atom catalysts—SACs—have received intense interest in sustainable energy research due to their enormous application potential and broad catalytic scope. In particular, SACs anchored on molecular metal oxides—polyoxometalates (POMs)—offer unrivalled possibilities as models to understand the function of these complex systems on the atomic level. Research questions which are difficult to address for classical heterogeneous SACs can be addressed by experiment and theory using POM‐SACs as prototype catalysts. This review reviews the emerging field of POM‐SAC research with a focus on fundamental properties and their application in energy conversion and storage technologies including water splitting, CO/CO2‐ as well as N2‐activation. Current limitations of the field are identified and possible routes to overcome these are described. Future areas of development, including polyoxometalate‐single‐site catalysts, are highlighted, and critically assessed to enable the community to develop this fast‐moving field further.
The influence of Russia's 2010/2011 wheat export ban on spatial market integration and transaction costs of grain markets
Authors: Svanidze Miranda , Götz Linde , Serebrennikov Dmytro
Published: May 2021

Strong harvest shortfall and high world market prices prompted the Russian government to implement a wheat export ban in 2010 aiming to dampen domestic wheat prices. Building on regional price and trade data of Russia's wheat producing regions, we find strengthened domestic wheat market integration during the export ban period. Market integration decreased to its pre‐ban level in the post‐ban period; however, higher transaction costs resulting from increased risk of domestic grain trade during the export ban continued to prevail. Although market integration was temporarily strengthened, the export ban generally hampers market development in the long run.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Nanodisc Formation of Non‐ionic Polymers**
Authors: Ravula Thirupathi , Ramamoorthy Ayyalusamy
Published: May 2021

Although lipid nanodiscs are increasingly used in the structural studies of membrane proteins, drug delivery and other applications, the interaction between the nanodisc belt and the protein to be reconstituted is a major limitation. To overcome this limitation and to further broaden the scope of nanodiscs, a family of non‐ionic amphiphilic polymers synthesized by hydrophobic functionalization of fructo‐oligosaccharides/inulin is reported. We show the stability of lipid nanodiscs formed by these polymers against pH and divalent metal ions, and their magnetic‐alignment properties. The reported results also demonstrate that the non‐ionic polymers extract membrane proteins with unprecedented efficiency.
Isomeric Dibenzoheptazethrenes for Air‐Stable Organic Field‐Effect Transistors
Authors: Zong Chaoyang , Zhu Xiaoting , Xu Zhanqiang , Zhang Lifeng , Xu Jun , Guo Jing , Xiang Qin , Zeng Zebing , Hu Wenping , Wu Jishan , Li Rongjin , Sun Zhe
Published: May 2021

Singlet diradicaloids hold great potential as semiconductors for organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs). However, their relative low material and device stabilities impede the practical applications. Here, to achieve balanced stability and performance, two isomeric dibenzoheptazethrene derivatives with singlet diradical character were synthesized in a concise manner. Benefitting from the aromatic stabilization, both compounds display a small diradical character and large singlet–triplet gap, as corroborated by variable‐temperature electron paramagnetic resonance spectra, single‐crystal analysis, and theoretical calculations. OFET devices based on single crystals showed a high hole mobility of 0.15 cm2 V−1 s−1, which is the highest for zethrene‐based semiconductors. Both isomers exhibited remarkable material stability in air‐saturated solutions as well as excellent bias‐stress and storage stability in device under ambient air.
Enhanced interfacial adhesion of aramid fiber reinforced rubber composites through bio‐inspired surface modification and aramid nanofiber coating
Authors: Zhang Bo , Shao Xiaoming , Liang Tianze , Wang Wencai , Tian Ming , Ning Nanying , Zhang Liqun
Published: May 2021

In order to improve the interfacial adhesion between aramid fiber (AF) and rubber matrix, a simple and facile method of aramid nanofiber (ANF) coating is demonstrated in this article. Tannic acid (TA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) are polymerized in an alkaline solution to form a thin TA/PEI (TP) layer that is deposited on the surface of AF to introduce functional groups such as hydroxyl and amino groups. Then, the ANF coating is utilized to construct nanostructures on the surface of AF to improve the interfacial adhesion between the fiber and the rubber. Through hydrogen bonding and/or π‐π stacking between the TP layer and the ANF, the ANF coating is firmly attached to the surface of AF. Compared with the untreated fiber, the interfacial adhesion of AF coated with ANF after 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 deposition cycles is increased by 27.8%, 29.1%, 31.5%, 43.1%, and 30.3%, and the mechanical properties of the fibers remain almost unchanged. This method shows its advantages of simple, facile, and time‐effective, which is of great significance for industrial applications.
Exposure of South Korean Population to 5G Mobile Phone Networks (3.4–3.8 GHz)
Authors: Selmaoui Brahim , Mazet Paul , Petit Pierre‐Baptiste , Kim Kihwea , Choi Donggeun , de Seze René
Published: May 2021

As industrialized countries race to install and deploy 5G networks, some countries have taken the lead and already have operational 5G networks in place. South Korea is among these. In this study, we measured exposure to electromagnetic fields in South Korea to evaluate the relative contribution of 5G as compared with other frequencies such as 2G, 3G, and 4G. Results show that the emission of 5G contributes about 15% to total telecommunications emissions. The highest levels were observed in the vicinity of 5G antennas and remain below the limits set by the International Commission on Non‐Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). © 2021 Bioelectromagnetics Society
The promises of lysine polyphosphorylation as a regulatory modification in mammals are tempered by conceptual and technical challenges
Authors: Baijal Kanchi , Downey Michael
Published: May 2021

Polyphosphate (polyP) is a ubiquitous biomolecule thought to be present in all cells on Earth. PolyP is deceivingly simple, consisting of repeated units of inorganic phosphates polymerized in long energy‐rich chains. PolyP is involved in diverse functions in mammalian systems—from cell signaling to blood clotting. One exciting avenue of research is a new nonenzymatic post‐translational modification, termed lysine polyphosphorylation, wherein polyP chains are covalently attached to lysine residues of target proteins. While the modification was first characterized in budding yeast, recent work has now identified the first human targets. There is significant promise in this area of biomedical research, but a number of technical issues and knowledge gaps present challenges to rapid progress. In this review, the current state of the field is summarized and existing roadblocks related to the study of lysine polyphosphorylation in higher eukaryotes are introduced. It is discussed how limited methods to identify targets of polyphosphorylation are further impacted by low concentration, unknown regulatory enzymes, and sequestration of polyP into compartments in mammalian systems. Furthermore, suggestions on how these obstacles could be addressed or what their physiological relevance may be within mammalian cells are presented.
The associations of increased cerebral small vessel disease with cognitive impairment in neurosyphilis presenting with ischemic stroke
Authors: Xiang Lei , Zhang Tao , Zhang Biao , Zhang Chao , Hou Shuping , Yue Wei
Published: May 2021

Background and Purpose

Ischemic stroke is a common clinical feature of neurosyphilis, but its accompanying cognitive decline is often overlooked. The mechanisms of cognitive impairment in neurosyphilis presenting with ischemic stroke are not fully understood. Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) was recently shown to predict post‐stroke cognitive decline. Therefore, this study aims to validate the correlation between CSVD and cognitive impairment in neurosyphilis presenting with ischemic stroke.

Methods

We enrolled 179 neurosyphilis patients diagnosed as acute ischemic stroke and performed a 12‐month cognitive assessment follow‐up. CSVD burden was evaluated by neuroimaging markers, including white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), lacunes, cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), and perivascular spaces (PVS). We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine the association between cognitive decline and total CSVD burden score in neurosyphilis patients.

Results

The neurosyphilis participants had a significantly higher total CSVD score and lower cognitive function score compared with the syphilis‐uninfected patients. Acute cognitive impairment was associated with total CSVD score, extensive microbleeds, and Grade 3 WMHs. After 12‐month follow‐up, the poor prognosis of post‐stroke cognitive impairment was associated with a higher burden of CSVD and extensive microbleeds.

Conclusions

Cerebral small vessel disease loads in neurosyphilis patients presenting with ischemic stroke are independently associated with acute cognitive impairment and have a prospective value for post‐stroke cognitive outcomes.
Did appeals court allow student‐athlete's retaliation case to go forward?
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: May 2021

A student was recruited to play on scholarship for Kent State University's Division I softball team. During her freshman year, the student became friends with her coach's son, who was also a student at KSU.
The Natural Products and Extracts: Anti‐Triple‐Negative Breast Cancer in Vitro
Authors: Chen Han , Yang Jiaping , Yang Yanlong , Zhang Jianpeng , Xu Yao , Lu Xiaoling
Published: May 2021

Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) makes up 15 % to 20 % of all breast cancer (BC) cases, and represents one of the most challenging malignancies to treat. For many years, chemotherapy has been the main treatment option for TNBC. Natural products isolated from marine organisms and terrestrial organisms with great structural diversity and high biochemical specificity form a compound library for the assessment and discovery of new drugs. In this review, we mainly focused on natural compounds and extracts (from marine and terrestrial environments) with strong anti‐TNBC activities (IC50<100 μM) and their possible mechanisms reported in the past six years (2015–2021).
Ruthenium on Alkali‐Exfoliated Ti3(Al0.8Sn0.2)C2 MAX Phase Catalyses Reduction of 4‐Nitroaniline with Ammonia Borane
Authors: Slot Thierry K. , Oulego Paula , Sofer Zdeněk , Bai Yuelei , Rothenberg Gadi , Raveendran Shiju N.
Published: May 2021

MAX phases are gaining increased interest in catalysis, typically for high‐temperature applications. They can also be delaminated into 2D‐structures, so‐called MXenes, enabling better accessibility and the tuning of active site surroundings. Here we present an analogous yet different approach, using an alkaline treatment to prepare a Ti3(Al0.8Sn0.2)C2 MAX phase derivative, with an open, disordered structure. This new material, which is missing most of the larger interlayer spacing, is a good support for ruthenium particles (1.6 nm diameter). Ru on disordered MAX phase catalyses both ammonia borane hydrolysis (TOF=582 min−1, 30 °C) and the reduction of 4‐nitroaniline (TOF=13 min−1, 45 °C). Using the former as a benchmark reaction, we show that the open disordered structure of the support promotes catalytic activity. The boost in reactivity is related to a metal‐support interaction, improving the activity of metallic ruthenium. We also show here, for the first time, that supported Ru is a good catalyst for reducing nitroaniline with ammonia borane. Overall, our results reveal that disordered MAX‐derivatives are promising as catalyst supports, owing to their potential for tuning the electronic properties at the metal active sites.
The Role of Nitrogen‐doping in the Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Phenol to Cyclohexanone with Formic Acid over Pd supported on Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Hu Bin , Li Xiaoyu , Busser Wilma , Schmidt Stefan , Xia Wei , Li Guangci , Li Xuebing , Peng Baoxiang
Published: May 2021

Highly selective one‐step hydrogenation of phenol to cyclohexanone, an important intermediate in the production of nylon 6 and nylon 66, is desirable but remains a challenge. Pd nanoparticles supported on nitrogen‐ and oxygen‐functionalized carbon nanotubes (NCNTs, OCNTs) were prepared, characterized, and applied in the hydrogenation of phenol to cyclohexanone to study the effect of N‐doping. Almost full conversion of phenol with high selectivity to cyclohexanone was achieved over Pd/NCNT under mild reaction conditions using either H2 or formic acid (FA) as a hydrogen source. The effects of reaction temperature and FA/phenol ratio and the reusability were investigated. Separate FA decomposition experiments without and with the addition of phenol were performed to investigate the reaction mechanism, especially the deactivation behavior. Deactivation was observed for both catalysts during the FA decomposition, while only Pd/OCNT rather than Pd/NCNT was deactivated in the transfer hydrogenation with FA and the FA decomposition in the presence of phenol, indicating the unique role of N‐doping. Therefore, we assume that deactivation is caused by the strongly bound formates on the active Pd sites, suppressing further FA decomposition and/or transfer hydrogenation on Pd. The nonplanar adsorption of phenol on NCNTs via weak O−H⋅⋅⋅N interactions enables the occurrence of the subsequent hydrogenation by adsorbed formate on Pd.
Biomechanical analysis of lumbar fusion with proximal interspinous process device implantation
Authors: Shen Hangkai , Fogel Guy R. , Zhu Jia , Liao Zhenhua , Liu Weiqiang
Published: May 2021

Lumbar spinal fusion may cause adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) in the long term. Recently, inserting an interspinous process device (IPD) proximal to the fusion has been proposed to prevent ASD. The aim of this study was to investigate the biomechanics of lumbar fusion with proximal IPD implantation (LFPI) under both static loads and whole body vibration (WBV). A previously validated finite element (FE) model of the L1‐5 lumbar spine was modified to simulate L4‐5 fusion. Three different IPDs (Coflex‐F, Wallis and DIAM) were inserted at the L3‐4 segment of the fusion model to construct the LFPI models. The intact and surgical FE models were analyzed under static loads and WBV, respectively. Under static loading conditions, LFPI decreased range of motion (ROM) and intradiscal pressure (IDP) at the transition segment L3‐4 compared with the fusion case. At the segment (L2‐3) adjacent to the transition level, LFPI induced higher motion and IDP than rigid fusion. Under WBV, vibration amplitudes of the L3‐4 IDP and L4‐5 facet joint force (FJF) decreased by more than 54.3% after surgery. The LFPI model with the DIAM system offered the most comparable biomechanics to the intact model under static loads, and decreased the dynamic responses of the L4‐5 FJF under WBV. The LFPI model with the Wallis and Coflex‐F systems could stabilize the transition segment, and decrease dynamic responses of the L3‐4 IDP. The DIAM system may be more suitable in LFPI.
Influence of balloon design, plaque material composition, and balloon sizing on acute post angioplasty outcomes: An implicit finite element analysis
Authors: Helou Bernard , Bel‐Brunon Aline , Dupont Claire , Ye Wenfeng , Silvestro Claudio , Rochette Michel , Lucas Antoine , Kaladji Adrien , Haigron Pascal
Published: May 2021

In this work we propose a generic modeling approach for simulating percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) endovascular treatment, and evaluating the influence of balloon design, plaque composition, and balloon sizing on acute post‐procedural outcomes right after PTA, without stent implantation. Clinically‐used PTA balloons were classified into two categories according to their compliance characteristics, and were modeled correspondingly. Self‐defined elastoplastic constitutive laws were implemented within the plaque and artery models, after calibration based on experimental and clinical data. Finite element method (FEM) implicit solver was used to simulate balloon inflation and deflation. Besides balloon profile at max inflation, results are mainly assessed in terms of the elastic recoil ratio (ERR) and lumen gain ratio (LGR) obtained immediately after PTA. No variations in ERR nor LGR values were detected when the balloon design changed, despite the differences observed in their profile at max inflation. Moreover, LGR and ERR inversely varied with the augmentation of calcification level within the plaque (−11% vs. +4% respectively, from fully lipidic to fully calcified plaque). Furthermore, results showed a direct correlation between balloon sizing and LGR and ERR, with noticeably higher rates of change for LGR (+18% and +2% for LGR and ERR respectively for a calcified plaque and a balloon pressure increasing from 10 to 14 atm). However a larger LGR comes with a higher risk of arterial rupture. This proposed methodology opens the way for evaluation of angioplasty balloon selections towards clinical procedure optimization.
Customer‐oriented sales modeling strategy in a big data environment
Authors: Chen Weijun , Ogiela Urszula , Zhang Jindan
Published: May 2021

In order to provide personally oriented solutions in sales strategies for different retailers in the fierce market competition,data mining is being increasingly used in retail industry. We use customer‐oriented data mining technology to extract valuable information from a great amount of historical commercial data, so that we can provide different sales promotions for merchants to extend the business. "Small profits and quick returns" is a popular sales strategy to increase sales volume by many shopping malls. By using statistical modeling, we establish a mathematical model to analysis the relationships among the discount rate,the turnover and the profit margin according to the historical sales data of a shopping mall in recent two years. Base on this,the paper conducts the empirical research on small profits and quick returns and make sales recommendations on promotions. Our analysis indicates that the effect of discount rate on turnover is greater than the effect of profit rate on turnover in the retail industry. It is also necessary to consider the different nature of goods. The final computing results are also influenced by different types of goods. Furthermore, we consider the classification of goods into three types: the sell‐well goods, the common goods, and the unsalable goods and analyze them in the similar framework. The paper shows that there are different characteristics for the different types.
Computational Tools to Assess the Functional Consequences of Rare and Noncoding Pharmacogenetic Variability
Authors: Zhou Yitian , Lauschke Volker M.
Published: May 2021

Interindividual differences in drug response are a common concern in both drug development and across layers of care. While genetics clearly influences drug response and toxicity of many drugs, a substantial fraction of the heritable pharmacological and toxicological variability remains unexplained by known genetic polymorphisms. In recent years, population‐scale sequencing projects have unveiled tens of thousands of coding and noncoding pharmacogenetic variants with unclear functional effects that might explain at least part of this missing heritability. However, translating these personalized variant signatures into drug response predictions and actionable advice remains challenging and constitutes one of the most important frontiers of contemporary pharmacogenomics. Conventional prediction methods are primarily based on evolutionary conservation, which drastically reduces their predictive accuracy when applied to poorly conserved pharmacogenes. Here, we review the current state‐of‐the‐art of computational variant effect predictors across variant classes and critically discuss their utility for pharmacogenomics. Besides missense variants, we discuss recent progress in the evaluation of synonymous, splice, and noncoding variations. Furthermore, we discuss emerging possibilities to assess haplotypes and structural variations. We advocate for the development of algorithms trained on pharmacogenomic instead of pathogenic data sets to improve the predictive accuracy in order to facilitate the utilization of next‐generation sequencing data for personalized clinical decision support and precision pharmacogenomics.
Exposure‐Response Relationships in Patients With HER2‐Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer and Other Solid Tumors Treated With Trastuzumab Deruxtecan
Authors: Yin Ophelia , Iwata Hiroji , Lin Chia‐Chi , Tamura Kenji , Watanabe Junichiro , Wada Russ , Kastrissios Helen , AbuTarif Malaz , Garimella Tushar , Lee Caleb , Zhang Lin , Shahidi Javad , LaCreta Frank
Published: May 2021

Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T‐DXd) is a HER2‐targeting antibody‐drug conjugate composed of a novel enzyme‐cleavable linker and membrane‐permeable topoisomerase I inhibitor payload. T‐DXd has been approved for HER2‐positive metastatic breast cancer and for HER2‐positive metastatic gastric cancer. The approval in breast cancer was based on results from the DESTINY‐Breast01 (U201; NCT03248492) and J101 (NCT02564900) trials. Here, we present dose justification for the approved 5.4 mg/kg every‐3‐weeks (Q3W) dose based on exposure‐efficacy evaluated in patients with HER2‐positive breast cancer (N = 337) from these 2 trials. Exposure‐safety was assessed in patients with all tumor types (N = 639, n = 512 with breast cancer) across 5 trials, including J101 and DESTINY‐Breast01. T‐DXd doses ranged from 0.8–8.0 mg/kg Q3W; most patients received 5.4 (n = 312) or 6.4 mg/kg (n = 291). For each end point, multivariate logistic or Cox regression analysis was performed using various exposure metrics of T‐DXd and released drug. A statistically significant association was observed between intact T‐DXd area under the concentration‐time curve (AUC) and confirmed objective response rate (ORR; P = 0.028). No significant exposure‐response relationships were observed between intact T‐DXd or released drug and duration of response or progression‐free survival; however, follow‐up was limited. All evaluated safety end points demonstrated a significant (P < 0.05) relationship with either intact T‐DXd or released drug, with higher adverse event (AE) rates projected at higher exposures. Dose‐response projections suggested an increase in ORR (67.5% vs. 62.9%) and toxicity (e.g., grade ≥ 3 all‐cause treatment‐emergent AEs: 61% vs. 54%) with T‐DXd 6.4 vs. 5.4 mg/kg. Results demonstrate the benefit‐risk profile at different doses and guide clinicians in the use of the 5.4‐mg/kg Q3W dose in patients with HER2‐positive metastatic breast cancer.
Methanol Synthesis by Hydrogenation of Hybrid CO2−CO Feeds
Authors: Araújo Thaylan Pinheiro , Hergesell Adrian H. , Faust‐Akl Dario , Büchele Simon , Stewart Joseph A. , Mondelli Cecilia , Pérez‐Ramírez Javier
Published: May 2021

The impact of carbon monoxide on CO2‐to‐methanol catalysts has been scarcely investigated, although CO will comprise up to half of the carbon feedstock, depending on the origin of CO2 and process configuration. In this study, copper‐based systems and ZnO−ZrO2 are assessed in cycling experiments with hybrid CO2−CO feeds and their CO sensitivity is compared to In2O3‐based materials. All catalysts are found to be promoted upon CO addition. Copper‐based systems are intrinsically more active in CO hydrogenation and profit from exploiting this carbon source for methanol production, whereas CO induces surplus formation of oxygen vacancies (i. e., the catalytic sites) on ZnO−ZrO2, as in In2O3‐based systems. Mild‐to‐moderate deactivation occurs upon re‐exposure to CO2‐rich streams, owing to water‐induced sintering for all catalysts except ZnO−ZrO2, which responds reversibly to feed variations, likely owing to its more hydrophobic nature and the atomic mixing of its metal components. Catalytic systems are categorized for operation in hybrid CO2−CO feeds, emphasizing the significance of catalyst and process design to foster advances in CO2 utilization technologies.
The Winn‐Dixie web access decision creates confusion
Authors: Masinter Michael R.
Published: May 2021

Juan Carlos Gil, a vision‐impaired longtime Winn‐Dixie customer, sued Winn‐Dixie because he could not access with his screen reader its website through which customers could order prescription refills for in‐store pickup and payment and because he could not link grocery coupons to its customer reward card for use with in‐store purchases. Gil made two claims under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. First, he contended that the website itself was a public accommodation. Second, even if a website were not itself a public accommodation, its integration with and control by a public accommodation triggered the accessibility requirements of Title III. After trial, the district court ruled for Gil based on his second argument, reasoning that because Winn‐Dixie's grocery store and pharmacy unquestionably were public accommodations, the ADA required their associated website to be accessible.
Disciplinary Process
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: May 2021

An overview of the key topics faced by disability services providers with citations to noteworthy cases, statutes, regulations, and additional sources.
Support students in medical professions as they fight ableism
Authors: Kaundinya Trisha
Published: May 2021

Ableism is common in the medical profession. A 2021 Health Affairs study found that a significant majority of physicians believed that people with disabilities have a lower quality of life.
Anatomists: New members of the disability advocacy team
Authors: Hoffmann Darren , Robertson Ellen
Published: May 2021

What would you say if we told you that there is a group of faculty at virtually every health professions school who (1) are knowledgeable in the wide variation of body shapes, sizes, and ability level; (2) are skilled in teaching concepts of form, function, and altered function; and (3) work with students at the very beginning of their training, often with nearly 100 hours of face time? Perhaps you'd say, “Please introduce me to these magical people!” Well, we would like to introduce you to anatomists, occupants of a role in medical education as old as medicine itself. Anatomists are experts in how the body works and sometimes works differently. Anatomists are the keepers of the language of the body. And as the two of us have recently learned, we are scientists and educators who are well positioned to support a positive disability culture in health science education.
Time lags: insights from the U.S. Long Term Ecological Research Network
Authors: Rastetter Edward B. , Ohman Mark D. , Elliott Katherine J. , Rehage J. S. , Rivera‐Monroy Victor H. , Boucek R. E. , Castañeda‐Moya Edward , Danielson Tess M. , Gough Laura , Groffman Peter M. , Jackson C. Rhett , Miniat Chelcy Ford , Shaver Gaius R.
Published: May 2021

Ecosystems across the United States are changing in complex ways that are difficult to predict. Coordinated long‐term research and analysis are required to assess how these changes will affect a diverse array of ecosystem services. This paper is part of a series that is a product of a synthesis effort of the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) network. This effort revealed that each LTER site had at least one compelling scientific case study about “what their site would look like” in 50 or 100 yr. As the site results were prepared, themes emerged, and the case studies were grouped into separate papers along five themes: state change, connectivity, resilience, time lags, and cascading effects and compiled into this special issue. This paper addresses the time lags theme with five examples from diverse biomes including tundra (Arctic), coastal upwelling (California Current Ecosystem), montane forests (Coweeta), and Everglades freshwater and coastal wetlands (Florida Coastal Everglades) LTER sites. Its objective is to demonstrate the importance of different types of time lags, in different kinds of ecosystems, as drivers of ecosystem structure and function and how these can effectively be addressed with long‐term studies. The concept that slow, interactive, compounded changes can have dramatic effects on ecosystem structure, function, services, and future scenarios is apparent in many systems, but they are difficult to quantify and predict. The case studies presented here illustrate the expanding scope of thinking about time lags within the LTER network and beyond. Specifically, they examine what variables are best indicators of lagged changes in arctic tundra, how progressive ocean warming can have profound effects on zooplankton and phytoplankton in waters off the California coast, how a series of species changes over many decades can affect Eastern deciduous forests, and how infrequent, extreme cold spells and storms can have enduring effects on fish populations and wetland vegetation along the Southeast coast and the Gulf of Mexico. The case studies highlight the need for a diverse set of LTER (and other research networks) sites to sort out the multiple components of time lag effects in ecosystems.
Old‐growth forest structure in a low‐productivity hypermaritime rainforest in coastal British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Hoffman Kira M. , Starzomski Brian M. , Lertzman Ken P. , Giesbrecht Ian J. W. , Trant Andrew J.
Published: May 2021

Dendrochronological analyses were conducted across a gradient of productivity and soil drainage quality characterizing four vegetation types in a low‐productivity hypermaritime (perhumid) temperate rainforest on the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada. We examined the structure, composition, and stand dynamics of trees growing in 400 m2 plots located in blanket bog, bog woodland, bog forest, and zonal forest vegetation types. We sampled over 2500 trees and 1500 seedlings and saplings and our dendrochronological reconstruction of six tree species revealed establishment ages extending to 660 A.D. (1350 yr). All forest plots contained numerous old trees (>250 yr) and the zonal forest and bog forest vegetation types contained significantly taller trees and also had the greatest amount of suppressed, shade‐tolerant tree species. The bog woodland vegetation type contained more seedlings and saplings than the other three vegetation types combined. The bog forest vegetation type had the highest density of dead standing trees (~530 per hectare). Blanket bogs contained an open structure with very few old trees (>250 yr). Significant differences in the ages of trees existed between forested vegetation types and the more open blanket bog vegetation type. Several trees exceeded 1000 yr in age and were situated in lower‐productivity bog forest and bog woodland sites. We found no evidence of widespread tree cohort establishment, indicating that small‐scale disturbances such as individual tree mortality and gap‐forming dynamics are likely the most frequent disturbance in the study area.
Effective sampling area is a major driver of power to detect long‐term trends in multispecies occupancy monitoring
Authors: Tucker Jody M. , Moriarty Katie M. , Ellis Martha M. , Golding Jessie D.
Published: May 2021

Occupancy‐based monitoring has become an important tool in wildlife conservation and management. Nonetheless, meeting occupancy modeling assumptions and providing biologically accurate information are difficult tasks over long time periods, large areas, or when monitoring multiple species. In occupancy modeling frameworks, derived grids are commonly used to divide landscapes into discrete units. Grid sizes that match the home range size of the species of interest are considered optimal, but this practice is complicated as home range size may vary by sex, habitat quality, or among species. Additionally, studies often assume their survey methods sample an entire grid cell when the actual effective sampling area may be much smaller. The effect of reduced effective sampling area on occupancy estimation has received little attention to date, despite being flagged as a critical issue. In this study, we assessed (1) how the relationship between effective area, home range size, and grid size affects power to detect trends in occupancy; (2) how varying the sampling design factors of effective area, duration, detection probability, and resurvey interval influence monitoring efficiency; and (3) determine whether a single sampling design can simultaneously detect declines in two species with different home range sizes. We used a spatially explicit simulation framework to create biologically realistic declining populations over 10 yr and assessed statistical power to detect known declines using occupancy modeling. We found that effective area and detection probability had the greatest influence on statistical power. We could not reliably detect declines when detection probability was low or when effective sampling area was <1/4 cell. We conclude that failing to account for effective area less than the cell size will result in overestimation of statistical power. Our simulations suggest occupancy models can detect declines for two species with different home range sizes using the same grid cell size under certain conditions, for instance, surveying >25% of the landscape, ≥25% effective area, and fixed sampling locations. Further, increasing resampling interval greatly increased monitoring efficiency. Our results show monitoring planning requires explicit consideration of effective sampling area and methods with sufficient detectability to detect population declines.
Multi‐scale demographic analysis reveals range contraction via pseudo‐source and sink population structure
Authors: Robinson O. J. , Ruiz‐Gutierrez V. , Meese R. J. , Graves E. E. , Holyoak M. , Wilson C. R. , Wyckoff A. C. , Merriell B. D. , Snyder C. , Cooch E. G.
Published: May 2021

Naturally occurring populations of most species are distributed non‐uniformly across their ranges. Observed changes in range‐wide population size are attributed to local‐scale processes such as fecundity and survival and to regional scale demographic processes such as immigration. It is often infeasible to study a species across its entire range, and we frequently make inferences on populations as a whole based on the demographic rates of a more restricted area. Extrapolating inferences about demographic processes from study areas to the entire species' range can lead to erroneous estimations, particularly when permanent emigrants contribute significantly to individual population processes. In this paper, we evaluated demographic processes and population trends at multiple scales for tricolored blackbirds (Agelaiustricolor) in California using site‐specific banding data and range‐wide citizen‐science data. First, we found that a previous estimate of statewide decline of 34% is largely driven by an estimated decline of 51.7% for the southern population. Second, we found evidence of a pseudo‐source and sink system, with the northern region acting as a sink for individuals moving from the declining southern region. The southern region is a “pseudo‐source” since it has lower rates of adult survival and an annual growth rate ofr = −0.099, while still acting as a source of immigrants for the northern region. In turn, the north fits the traditional definition of a sink by an annual growth rate near zero, in addition to declining at a rate of 2.5% even though it is estimated to receive immigrants from the south at rates ranging from 8.3% to 13.2% per year. Our results suggest that the loss of wetland habitats in Southern California, coupled with increasing severity of droughts driven by changing climatic conditions, has created this pseudo‐source and sink system. Long term, tricolored blackbirds are likely to experience range contraction in the south, and the northern region is likely to undergo declines due to a loss of immigrants from the south.
Modeling riparian species occurrence from historical surveys to guide restoration planning in northwestern USA
Authors: Beechie Timothy J. , Stefankiv Oleksandr , Bond Morgan , Pollock Michael
Published: May 2021

Successful restoration of riparian habitats and functions depends in part on selection of plant species that are suited to local geomorphic and climatic conditions, which often relies on contemporary reference sites to characterize target riparian vegetation communities. In heavily modified landscapes, a lack of undisturbed sites hinders the description of reference conditions to help guide planning efforts. In lieu of contemporary reference sites, we used historical Public Land Survey data from the late 1800s and early 1900s to document historical streamside vegetation at 1685 sites distributed throughout the Columbia River basin. We used those data to construct a random forest classification model using climatic and geomorphic variables to predict the probability of occurrence of riparian vegetation groups (conifer, deciduous, shrub, and willow) and individual taxa (fir, pine, cedar, cottonwood, alder, sagebrush) for all stream reaches with bankfull width >6 m in the interior Columbia River basin. The most common predictor variables included in the best models for vegetation groups or individual taxa were mean annual precipitation, minimum temperature, elevation, and bankfull width. For some taxa, temperature range and floodplain width were also important predictors. The probability maps indicate that riparian zones were likely dominated by willow species in semi‐desert regions and by conifer species in the humid mountain regions. Deciduous species dominated riparian areas in transition zones between conifer forests and semi‐deserts. Species distributions suggest that streams in the semi‐deserts were likely characterized by little shade and low wood abundance, whereas streams in the humid mountains would have been more heavily shaded with high wood abundance. The transitional deciduous areas were likely shaded with moderate wood abundance. Historical trends in air temperature and precipitation suggest relatively small changes in climate since the time of the surveys, indicating that current species ranges are likely similar to historical species ranges. Hence, these maps can be used to help identify suitable taxonomic groups and expected riparian functions for riparian restoration in the Columbia River basin, with appropriate adjustments made to site‐specific restoration designs to account for model uncertainty, future climate change, or land use constraints.
The importance of determining species sensitivity to environmental change: a tree frog example
Authors: McCoy Earl D. , Delis Pablo R. , Mushinsky Henry R.
Published: May 2021

Conservation schemes typically place species into categories, ranging roughly from rare to common or from vulnerable to least concern. Although a species may not be categorized as rare or vulnerable, it still may be sensitive to environmental change and, therefore, at risk of decline. To illustrate the importance of determining species sensitivity, we documented the relative sensitivities of four species of tree frogs, none of which have been designated particularly rare or vulnerable, to environmental change. Our research was conducted in central Florida, where prior research had suggested that Dryophytes femoralis and Dryophytes gratiosus were more sensitive to environmental change than Dryophytes cinereus and Dryophytes squirellus. A comparison of species characteristics and a field study of local abundances supported the dichotomy. Particularly, important environmental factors affecting the two more‐sensitive species adversely appear to be habitat selectivity, at a smaller scale, and nearness to the species’ southern range limits, at a larger scale. We suspected that one of the more‐sensitive species, D. gratiosus, is particularly sensitive to environmental change and that the cause is related to reproduction and/or growth. A series of laboratory analyses suggested strongly that the realized production of adults was less for D. gratiosus than for D. femoralis. Despite their identical placement in categorization schemes, the four species exhibited substantial differences in sensitivity to environmental change. A strong case can be made that the degree of sensitivity of D. gratiosus warrants increased conservation attention for the species. Our results indicate the potential value of field work and the generation of species‐specific information in improving categorization schemes, of broadening the categorization criteria typically employed, to accommodate sensitivity to environmental change, and of considering geographical scale in categorization schemes more than is done at present.
Distinctive prognostic factor of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction stratified with admission blood pressure
Authors: Nakagawa Akito , Yasumura Yoshio , Yoshida Chikako , Okumura Takahiro , Tateishi Jun , Yoshida Junichi , Tamaki Shunsuke , Yano Masamichi , Hayashi Takaharu , Nakagawa Yusuke , Yamada Takahisa , Nakatani Daisaku , Hikoso Shungo , Sakata Yasushi ,   Osaka CardioVascular Conference (OCVC)‐Heart Failure investigators
Published: May 2021

Aims

The prognostic importance of admission systolic blood pressure (SBP) in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is elusive. We aimed to clarify the pathophysiological differences between patients categorized with admission SBP among HFpEF patients.

Methods and results

We studied 1008 inpatients from PURSUIT‐HFpEF, a multicentre prospective observational registry. We classified patients as having elevated (>140 mmHg), preserved (90–140 mmHg), or low (<90 mmHg) admission SBP. Most cases had elevated (n = 584) or preserved (n = 420) SBP; the four cases with low SBP were excluded. Univariable Cox regression testing revealed that preserved SBP patients had a higher risk of a composite of cardiac death and heart failure re‐hospitalization [hazard ratio (HR) 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14–1.92, P = 0.0035] than elevated SBP patients. In multivariable Cox regression models, while prior heart failure hospitalization (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.01–2.84, P = 0.0453), atrial fibrillation (HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.10–2.99, P = 0.0209), and N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.10–3.43, P = 0.0229) at discharge were significantly associated with adverse outcomes in elevated SBP patients, N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (HR 2.06, 95% CI 1.04–4.07, P = 0.0373) and right ventricular‐pulmonary artery uncoupling reflected by the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/pulmonary artery systolic pressure ratio (HR 0.19, 95% CI 0.05–0.65, P = 0.0075) at discharge were significant prognostic factors in preserved SBP patients.

Conclusions

Patients with preserved admission SBP had significant higher risks for adverse outcomes than those with elevated SBP in HFpEF. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/pulmonary artery systolic pressure was the distinctive prognostic factor between the two groups.