bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trust your guts? The effect of gut section on diet composition and impact of Mus musculus on islands using metabarcoding
Authors: Pinho Catarina J. , Lopes Evandro P. , Paupério Joana , Gomes Isildo , Romeiras Maria M. , Vasconcelos Raquel
Published: March 2022

DNA metabarcoding is widely used to characterize the diet of species, and it becomes very relevant for biodiversity conservation, allowing the understanding of trophic chains and the impact of invasive species. The need for cost‐effective biodiversity monitoring methods fostered advances in this technique. One question that arises is which sample type provides a better diet representation.

Therefore, with this study, we intended to evaluate if there were differences in diet estimates according to the section of the gastrointestinal tract analysed and which section(s) provided the best diet representation. Additionally, we intended to infer the ecological/economic impacts of an invader as a model of the potential effects in an originally mammal‐free ecosystem.

We examined the gut contents of the house mouse Mus musculus introduced to Cabo Verde, considering three sections: stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. We applied a DNA‐metabarcoding approach using two genetic markers, one specific for plants and another for invertebrates.

We showed that this invader consumed 131 taxa (73 plants and 58 invertebrates). We obtained significant differences in the composition of two of the three sections, with a higher incidence of invertebrates in the stomach and plants in the intestines. This may be due to stomach inhibitors acting on plants and/or to faster absorption of soft‐body invertebrates compared to the plant fibers in the intestines. We verified that the impact of this invader in the ecosystem is predominantly negative, as at least 50% of the ingested items were native, endemic, or economically important taxa, and only 19% of the diet items were exotics.

Overall, results showed the need to analyse only two gastrointestinal tract sections to obtain robust diet data, increasing the cost‐effectiveness of the method. Furthermore, by uncovering the native taxa most frequently preyed on by mice, this DNA‐metabarcoding approach allowed us to evaluate efficiently which are at the highest risk.
Effects of disturbances on aboveground biomass of alpine meadow in the Yellow River Source Zone, Western China
Authors: Shi Yan , Gao Jay , Li Xilai , Li Jiexia , Brierley Gary
Published: March 2022

A field experiment quantifies the impacts of two external disturbances (mowing‐simulated grazing and number of pika) on aboveground biomass (AGB) in the Yellow River Source Zone from 2018 to 2020. AGB was estimated from drone images for 27 plots subject to three levels of each disturbance (none, moderate, and severe). The three mowing severities bear a close relationship with AGB and its annual change. The effects of pika disturbance on AGB change were overwhelmed by the significantly different AGB at different mowing severities (−.471 < r < −.368), but can still be identified by inspecting each mowing intensity (−.884 < r < −.626). The impact of severe mowing on AGB loss was more profound than that of severe pika disturbance in heavily disturbed plots, and the joint effects of both severe disturbances had the most impacts on AGB loss. However, pika disturbance made little difference to AGB change in the moderate and non‐mowed plots. Mowing intensity weakens the relationship between pika population and AGB change, but pika disturbance hardly affects the relationship between mowing severity and AGB change. The effects of both disturbances on AGB were further complexified by the change in monthly mean temperature. Results indicate that reducing mowing intensity is more effective than controlling pika population in efforts to achieve sustainable grazing of heavily disturbed grassland.
Untangling the oxidative cost of reproduction: An analysis in wild banded mongooses
Authors: Meniri Magali , Evans Elsa , Thompson Faye J. , Marshall Harry H. , Nichols Hazel J. , Lewis Gina , Holt Lauren , Davey Emma , Mitchell Christopher , Johnstone Rufus A. , Cant Michael A. , Blount Jonathan D.
Published: March 2022

The cost of reproduction plays a central role in evolutionary theory, but the identity of the underlying mechanisms remains a puzzle. Oxidative stress has been hypothesized to be a proximate mechanism that may explain the cost of reproduction. We examine three pathways by which oxidative stress could shape reproduction. The “oxidative cost” hypothesis proposes that reproductive effort generates oxidative stress, while the “oxidative constraint” and “oxidative shielding” hypotheses suggest that mothers mitigate such costs through reducing reproductive effort or by pre‐emptively decreasing damage levels, respectively. We tested these three mechanisms using data from a long‐term food provisioning experiment on wild female banded mongooses (Mungos mungo). Our results show that maternal supplementation did not influence oxidative stress levels, or the production and survival of offspring. However, we found that two of the oxidative mechanisms co‐occur during reproduction. There was evidence of an oxidative challenge associated with reproduction that mothers attempted to mitigate by reducing damage levels during breeding. This mitigation is likely to be of crucial importance, as long‐term offspring survival was impacted by maternal oxidative stress. This study demonstrates the value of longitudinal studies of wild animals in order to highlight the interconnected oxidative mechanisms that shape the cost of reproduction.
Does the effect of flowering time on biomass allocation across latitudes differ between invasive and native salt marsh grass Spartina alterniflora?
Authors: Liu Wenwen , Chen Xincong , Wang Jiayu , Zhang Yihui
Published: March 2022

Parallel latitudinal clines in flowering time have been documented in both the invasive and native ranges of plants. Furthermore, flowering time has been found to affect biomass at maturity. Therefore, understanding how these flowering times affect biomass accumulation across latitudes is essential to understanding plant adaptations and distributions.

We investigated and compared trends in first flowering day (FFD), aboveground biomass (AGB), belowground biomass (BGB), and BGB:AGB ratio of the salt marsh grass Spartina alterniflora along latitudinal gradients from the invasive (China, 19–40°N) and native range (United States, 27–43°N) in a greenhouse common garden experiment, and tested whether FFD would drive these divergences between invasive and native ranges.

The invasive populations produced more (~20%, ~19%) AGB and BGB than native populations, but there were no significant differences in the FFD and BGB:AGB ratio. We found significant parallel latitudinal clines in FFD in both invasive and native ranges. In addition, the BGB:AGB ratio was negatively correlated with the FFD in both the invasive and native ranges but nonsignificant in invasive populations. In contrast, AGB and BGB increased with latitude in the invasive range, but declined with latitude in the native range. Most interestingly, we found AGB and BGB positively correlated with the FFD in the native range, but no significant relationships in the invasive range.

Our results indirectly support the evolution of increased competitive ability hypothesis (EICA) that S. alterniflora has evolved to produce greater AGB and BGB in China, but the flowering and allocation pattern of native populations is maintained in the invasive range. Our results also suggest that invasive S. alterniflora in China is not constrained by the trade‐off of earlier flowering with smaller size, and that flowering time has played an important role in biomass allocation across latitudes.
Poor nutritional quality of primary producers and zooplankton driven by eutrophication is mitigated at upper trophic levels
Authors: Taipale Sami Johan , Ventelä Anne‐Mari , Litmanen Jaakko , Anttila Lauri
Published: March 2022

Eutrophication and rising water temperature in freshwaters may increase the total production of a lake while simultaneously reducing the nutritional quality of food web components. We evaluated how cyanobacteria blooms, driven by agricultural eutrophication (in eutrophic Lake Köyliöjärvi) or global warming (in mesotrophic Lake Pyhäjärvi), influence the biomass and structure of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fish communities. In terms of the nutritional value of food web components, we evaluated changes in the ω‐3 and ω‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of phytoplankton and consumers at different trophic levels. Meanwhile, the lakes did not differ in their biomasses of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fish communities, lake trophic status greatly influenced the community structures. The eutrophic lake, with agricultural eutrophication, had cyanobacteria bloom throughout the summer months whereas cyanobacteria were abundant only occasionally in the mesotrophic lake, mainly in early summer. Phytoplankton community differences at genus level resulted in higher arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content of seston in the mesotrophic than in the eutrophic lake. This was also reflected in the EPA and DHA content of herbivorous zooplankton (Daphnia and Bosmina) despite more efficient trophic retention of these biomolecules in a eutrophic lake than in the mesotrophic lake zooplankton. Planktivorous juvenile fish (perch and roach) in a eutrophic lake overcame the lower availability of DHA in their prey by more efficient trophic retention and biosynthesis from the precursors. However, the most efficient trophic retention of DHA was found with benthivorous perch which prey contained only a low amount of DHA. Long‐term cyanobacterial blooming decreased the nutritional quality of piscivorous perch; however, the difference was much less than previously anticipated. Our result shows that long‐term cyanobacteria blooming impacts the structure of plankton and fish communities and lowers the nutritional quality of seston and zooplankton, which, however, is mitigated at upper trophic levels.
Multi‐scale patterns in the occurrence of an ephemeral pool‐breeding amphibian
Authors: Halstead Brian J. , Rose Jonathan P. , Clark Denise , Kleeman Patrick M. , Fisher Robert N.
Published: March 2022

Species distributions are governed by processes occurring at multiple spatial scales. For species with complex life cycles, the needs of all life stages must be met within the dispersal limitations of the species. Multi‐scale processes can be particularly important for these species, where small‐scale patterns in specific habitat components can affect the distribution of one life stage, whereas large‐scale patterns in land cover might better explain the distribution of other life stages. Using a conditional multi‐scale model, we evaluated which aspects of the landscape and local environment are most strongly related to occupancy patterns of western spadefoots (Spea hammondii). In northern and central California, the proportion of grassland land cover within 2 km of a site was positively related to the occurrence of the northern clade of the western spadefoot. At the pond scale, we found that western spadefoots were more likely to breed in pools with lower pH. Our results indicate that protecting remaining grasslands for adult spadefoots and ensuring multiple pools with diverse characteristics and hydroperiods so at least some pools result in successful breeding will likely be necessary to conserve western spadefoots, especially with a changing climate. Considering the processes that affect species distributions at multiple life stages and spatial scales is an essential component of effective conservation.
Simulated distribution of Eragrostis lehmanniana (Lehmann lovegrass): Soil–climate interactions complicate predictions
Authors: Burruss N. Dylan , Peters Debra P. C. , Huang Haitao , Yao Jin
Published: March 2022

The invasive perennial grass Eragrostis lehmanniana has expanded rapidly throughout the Sonoran Desert (SD) while remaining sparse and patchily distributed in the neighboring Chihuahuan Desert (CD). As temperatures and patterns in precipitation change, identifying the drivers limiting spread in the CD is needed. Our objectives were (1) to identify the climatic and edaphic factors limiting recruitment of E. lehmanniana throughout the CD and (2) to predict the edaphic and climatic locations in the CD where this species is expected to have higher probabilities of recruitment under future climatic conditions. Recruitment was simulated at 57 locations throughout the CD with a daily, multilayer soil water model (SOILWAT) that was parameterized and tested to develop recruitment parameters for E. lehmanniana using long‐term data from research stations in the SD and CD. Logistic regression was used to predict recruitment across the CD using climate and soil factors to create a map of simulated recruitment under current and alternative climate scenarios. Simulated recruitment under current climate was low for most of the CD. However, localized areas with high probabilities (>0.8) occurred along the western transition between the CD and the SD, and in the southern extent of the CD. In general, the CD climate is too cool and dry for rapid and widespread invasion. However, increases to temperature and precipitation are likely to increase recruitment success. Interactions among soil, temperature, and precipitation were important to increases in recruitment of E. lehmanniana and are expected to lead to heterogeneous increases in abundance as climate continues to change. This patchy increase in abundance will result in changes in its geographic distribution that will make predictions in the future challenging.
Advances in micro‐supercapacitors (MSCs) with high energy density and fast charge‐discharge capabilities for flexible bioelectronic devices—A review
Authors: Hepel Maria
Published: March 2022

Supercapacitors are a new brand of high‐performance nanoengineered devices that match the high capacity of batteries for electric energy storage with the ability of dry capacitors for ultra‐fast charging or discharging rates. Thus, supercapacitors are capable of simultaneously providing the high energy‐density and high power‐density, demanded in a plethora of biosensors and portable electronic devices. In this review, a variety of nanomaterials investigated for possible applications in novel supercapacitors have been evaluated including different carbon nanoforms, metal oxides or hydroxides, chalcogenides, carbides and phosphates, as well as organic redox species, conductive polymers, metal‐organic frameworks, MXenes and others. Different strategies for boosting volumetric capacitance, power density and charge or discharge cycling stability of micro‐supercapacitors (MSCs) designed from these materials have been reviewed and their application potential assessed. Special attention has been given to micro‐supercapacitor's designs that are suitable for miniaturization and integration with flexible microcircuits for wearable and implantable biomedical devices, remotely rechargeable sensors, microprocessor‐controlled data processing chips, biomorphic computing, smart phone communication, military, automotive applications and emerging technologies. The different strategies applied for MSCs design and fabrication, including femto‐laser writing, photolithography, screen printing, stamping, inkjet printing, mask patterning and others, have been assessed. The exciting future perspectives of MSCs have been discussed.
Plasma modified and tailored defective electrocatalysts for water electrolysis and hydrogen fuel cells
Authors: Luo Yang , Wu Yinghong , Huang Chao , Menon Carlo , Feng Shien‐Ping , Chu Paul K.
Published: March 2022

Carbon dioxide generated by the combustion of fossil fuels exacerbates global environmental problems and hydrogen produced by renewable energy is a viable alternative in the continuous transition to sustainable and eco‐conscience development. Electrocatalysts are vital to electrocatalytic reactions and plasma surface modification is one of the promising techniques to modify nanoscale electrocatalysts for water splitting. Up to now, a comprehensive review on the latest developments, challenges, and opportunities of plasma‐tailored defective electrocatalysts for water electrolysis and hydrogen fuel cells is lacking. This paper systematically summarizes the current status of hydrogen production and fuel cell technologies, plasma principles and advantages, plasma‐tailored defective electrocatalysts from the perspective of water splitting and fuel cell applications, advanced characterization of defects, relationship between materials structure and catalytic activity of electrocatalysts, and finally challenges, opportunities, and future roadmap of plasma technologies. This review serves as a reference for future development of hydrogen technologies and offers insights into the structural tailoring of catalytic materials.

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Continuous lightweight authentication according group priority and key agreement for Internet of Things
Authors: Sarabi Miyanaji Reza , Jabbehdari Sam , Modiri Nasser
Published: March 2022

In the IoT, authentication is challenged by the limited resources of devices. Most existing continuous authentications require plenty of memory and computing. Also, the time interval between static authentications is fixed, and no attention is paid to the importance of their traffic. Therefore, in this article, we propose a lightweight protocol for mutual authentication between nodes and servers in IoT. To this aim, the nodes have been divided into three priority groups, and for the high priority group, a longer time interval is considered. Each group node at the beginning of the time interval performs static authentication and generates tokens. Continuous authentication is performed until the end of the time interval using this token. High‐priority nodes also perform more continuous authentication instead of static authentication. The proposed method provides privacy‐preserving through node anonymity, forward secrecy without using asynchronous encryption, key agreement. It is resistant to eavesdropping, replay, server spoofing, and impersonation attacks. Also, the proposed method has been verified using BAN logic and AVISPA tools. The computation time of the node and server in authentication has been decreased by 16.8% and 8.7%, respectively, compared with reviewing protocols, and the communication cost is 1902 bits.
Preparation, characterization, and performance of activated carbon for CO2 adsorption from CI engine exhaust
Authors: Maniarasu Ravi , Rathore Sushil Kumar , Murugan Sivalingam
Published: March 2022

Mitigation of carbon dioxide (CO2) from various sources is a major challenge in the world today. Apart from attempts to control CO2 emissions from large CO2 emitting sources such as coal‐fired power plants and significant fossil fuel‐consuming industries, there have also been attempts made to control CO2 in internal combustion (IC) engines. Compression ignition (CI) engines find their applications mainly in automotive vehicles, decentralized power generation units, standby power requirements in hospitals and educational institutions. In recent years, there has been a great interest in developing eco‐friendly and low‐cost adsorbents for CO2 capture via the adsorption method. This investigation explores the possibility of using activated carbon obtained from coconut shell for capturing CO2 in a CI engine exhaust. Surface texture characteristics and physicochemical properties of the coconut shell‐based activated carbon are determined for their suitability as a potential adsorbent for CO2 adsorption. Furthermore, an attempt is made to combine a postcombustion carbon capture device in a CI engine. For this purpose, an in‐house fabricated adsorption chamber is packed with activated carbon and attached to a single‐cylinder, four‐stroke, naturally aspirated, direct injection (DI) diesel engine exhaust. The test engine is operated on two different fuels; (i) diesel (D100) and (ii) biodiesel‐diesel blend comprising 20% of Jatropha methyl ester (JME) and 80% of diesel (JME20). The engine performance and CO2 emission without and with the adsorption chamber are evaluated for D100 and JME20 operations. Further, the performance parameters of the adsorption chamber packed with activated carbon are also evaluated in both fuel operations. The results are analyzed, discussed, and presented in this paper. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimation of source parameters and scaling relations for local earthquakes of Lohit Valley in Arunachal Himalaya, Northeast India
Authors: Kundu Abhishek , Hazarika Devajit
Published: March 2022

We estimate the source parameters (stress drop, corner frequency, source radius and scalar seismic moment) for local earthquakes that occurred during 2007–2008 in the Lohit Valley, Arunachal Himalaya in northeast India. The source parameters of 33 selected earthquakes (2.0 ≤ ML ≤ 4.4) are estimated by spectral analysis of P‐waves of the vertical component. The results are authenticated further by spectral analysis of S‐waves of horizontal component seismograms. Both P‐ and S‐wave spectral analyses show comparable results. The earthquakes' seismic moment varies from 2.66 × 1012 to 1.16 × 1015 N.m. The estimates of stress drop and source radius range from ~0.145 to 31.85 bar and ~242 to 647 m, respectively. The majority of the earthquakes show a low‐stress drop (≤10 bar). We interpret that the low‐stress drop is plausibly due to the presence of creeping patches in the thrust sheets in the study area within the upper ~10 km depth, which is not able to withstand much stress and release it in the forms of micro‐earthquakes. The scaling relations have been developed between important source parameters (ML, Mw, M0, ∆σ, and fc), which can serve as useful inputs for the assessment of earthquake hazards in the region.
Pore structure and reservoir physical properties for effective development of tight sandstone gas: A case study from the Central Sichuan Basin, China
Authors: Dong Li , Bian Congsheng , Guo Bincheng , Zeng Xu , Liang Shuang
Published: March 2022

Several large gas fields have been found in the Central Sichuan Basin in recent years, with proven reserves of more than 100 × 10 9 m3. Among these, the tight sandstone gas in the Late Triassic Xujiahe Formation is a key target in the Sichuan Basin. The key to the discovery of high‐yield areas rich in tight sandstone gas is to determine the pore structures and the lower limits of effective physical properties of reservoirs that control natural gas accumulation. In this study, we investigate the Late Triassic second Member of the Xujiahe Formation (hereinafter referred to as the Xu2 Member) in the Central Sichuan Basin as an example. We analyse the distribution characteristics of pores and throats in the reservoirs and identify that the reservoir in the study area is mainly characterized by small pores and narrow throats. The physical properties of reservoirs in the area are mainly controlled by pore‐throat radius and the permeability–porosity ratio. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis indicates that the irreducible water saturation is mostly more than 50% and is inversely correlated with the physical properties of reservoirs in the study area. Meanwhile, with an increase in the physical properties of reservoirs, the proportion of large pores increases and the irreducible water saturation rapidly decreases. According to the gas–water two‐phase seepage experiment, for reservoirs with good physical properties, the gas relative permeability significantly increases with an increase in gas saturation and the reservoir permeability has more significant effects. Where the reservoir permeability is less than 0.4 mD, the permeability of both gas phase and water phases is only less than 0.1, and the mobility of both gas and water is poor. Only when the reservoir permeability is more than 0.4 mD, can the gas relative permeability reach more than 0.3, and the water mobility is significantly inhibited. In this case, favourable results can be achieved from the natural gas development. As verified by the development of the tight sandstone reservoirs in the Xu2 Member in Central Sichuan Basin, the lower limits of physical properties allowing for effective natural gas development include the reservoir permeability of more than 0.1 mD (preferably more than 0.2 mD) and the reservoir porosity of greater than 6%–7%.
Evincing the presence of a trans‐Gondwanian mobile belt in the interior of the Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica: insights from offshore detrital sediments, rock fragments, and monazite geochronology
Authors: Gupta Rashmi , Pandey Mayuri , Arora Devsamridhi , Pant Naresh Chandra , Rao N. V. Chalapathi
Published: March 2022

East Gondwana was assembled through the stitching of the Indo‐Antarctica and Australo‐Antarctica domains which also represents the key Gondwana‐forming regions in present‐day East Antarctica. However, the Indo‐Antarctica and Australo‐Antarctica boundaries remain speculative and contentious, as the thick Antarctic Ice sheet precludes direct geological characterization of these terranes. In addition, the exact role of the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains, present in the interior of Princess Elizabeth Land (PEL), during the amalgamation of Gondwana, has not been well understood. We present new mineralogical data of offshore sediments from Prydz Bay to infer the geology of the interior of the PEL terrain, East Antarctica. Coast marginal outcrops dominantly expose igneous and granulite facies metamorphic rocks. Heavy minerals characterization of the rock fragments followed by consideration of the outcrop geology indicate a possible contribution of sediments from the far interior of PEL terrain. Total U–Pb chemical geochronology of detrital monazites dominantly shows a bimodal age distribution ascribable to Stenian to Tonian (~1,100 Ma, 900 Ma) event ages and a younger Pan‐African event (~500 Ma). Besides these, Tonian‐Cryogenian (~700 Ma) ages from texturally constrained monazites of a low‐grade schist rock fragment is reported for the first time from this sector. Consideration of glacial flow directions and the nature of rock fragments indicate their sourcing from the distal hinterland. The possible provenance is inferred to be from the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains.
Antecedents of positive and negative intergroup contact: Evidence from a diary study
Authors: Prati Francesca , Schaefer Sarina J. , Hewstone Miles , Christ Oliver
Published: March 2022

In our current globalised, multicultural world, understanding antecedents of reciprocal interactions between native people and people of immigrant background is a major issue, because intergroup contact plays a crucial role in building inclusive societies. In this vein, using daily diary data, we examined the relation between the number of daily positive and negative interactions of White British majority (N = 744) and Asian British minority people (N = 582) with members of the respective outgroup, with RWA, SDO, perceived ingroup norms, neighbourhood diversity and contextual deprivation. Results showed that for the majority group, ingroup norms in favour of intergroup contact were positively associated with positive intergroup encounters, whereas Right Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) was positively associated with negative intergroup contact. Neighbourhood diversity was positively associated with positive and negative intergroup encounters. Moreover, RWA moderated the relationship between neighbourhood diversity and both positive and negative contact of White British people. For the minority group, ingroup norms were positively associated with positive intergroup contact, and the relationship between ingroup norms and negative contact was moderated by SDO. Overall, different factors affect positive and negative intergroup contact of majority and minority groups. We discuss the implications of the findings for future research and interventions.
The efficacy of an online anger management program for justice‐involved youth
Authors: Braeuer Katie , Noble Nicole , Yi Soohyun
Published: March 2022

The authors examined the efficacy of online anger management psychoeducation for justice‐involved youth. Results indicated a statistically significant decrease in the adolescent anger rating scale for juveniles who completed the mandated program, prompting consideration of online modalities in postpandemic services.
Photocurable antimicrobial silk‐based hydrogels for corneal repair
Authors: Barroso Inês A. , Man Kenny , Hall Thomas J. , Robinson Thomas E. , Louth Sophie E. T. , Cox Sophie C. , Ghag Anita K.
Published: March 2022

Corneal transplantation is the current gold standard treatment to restore visual acuity to patients with severe corneal diseases and injuries. Due to severe donor tissue shortage, efforts to develop a corneal equivalent have been made but the challenge remains unmet. Another issue of concern in ocular surgery is the difficult instillation and fast drainage of antibiotic ocular eye drops as bacterial infections can jeopardize implant success by delaying or impairing tissue healing. In this study, we developed antimicrobial silk‐based hydrogels that have the potential to be photoactivated in situ, fully adapting to the corneal injury shape. Gentamicin‐loaded methacrylated‐silk (SilkMA) hydrogels were prepared within minutes using low UV intensity (3 mW/cm2). SilkMA gels provided a Young's modulus between 21 and 79 kPa together with a light transmittance spectrum and water content (83%–90%) similar to the human cornea. Polymer concentration (15%–25%) was found to offer a tool for tailoring the physical properties of the hydrogels. We confirmed that the methacrylation did not affect the material's in vitro degradation and biocompatibility by observing fibroblast adhesion and proliferation. Importantly, agar diffusion tests showed that the synthesized hydrogels were able to inhibitStaphylococcus aureusandPseudomonas aeruginosagrowth for 72 h. These characteristics along with their injectability and viscoelasticity demonstrate the potential of SilkMA hydrogels to be applied in several soft tissue engineering fields. As such, for the first time we demonstrate the potential of photocurable antimicrobial SilkMA hydrogels as a novel biomaterial to facilitate corneal regeneration.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Bisphosphonates for the Prevention of Fragility Fractures: An Updated Systematic Review and Network Meta‐Analyses
Authors: Bastounis Anastasios , Langley Tessa , Davis Sarah , Paskins Zoe , Gittoes Neil , Leonardi‐Bee Jo , Sahota Opinder
Published: March 2022

Bisphosphonates have been found to be effective in preventing fragility fractures. However, their comparative effectiveness in populations at risk has yet to be defined. In light of recent clinical trials, we aimed to compare four bisphosphonates (alendronate, ibandronate, risedronate, and zoledronate) and to identify which are the most effective for the prevention of fragility fractures. This is an update of a systematic review previously published as part of a NICE HTA report. We conducted a systematic review and network meta‐analysis, updating the estimates regarding the comparative effectiveness of the aforementioned bisphosphonates. Studies identified from published and unpublished sources between 2014 and 2021 were added to the studies identified in the previous review. Screening, data extraction and risk of bias assessment were independently undertaken by two reviewers. Outcomes were fractures, femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD), mortality, and adverse events. We identified 25 additional trials, resulting in a total population of 47,007 participants. All treatments had beneficial effects on fractures versus placebo with zoledronate being the most effective treatment in preventing vertebral fractures (hazard ratio [HR] 0.38; 95% credibility interval [CrI], 0.28–0.49). Zoledronate (HR 0.71; 95% CrI, 0.61–0.81) and risedronate (HR 0.70; 95% CrI, 0.53–0.84) were found to be the most effective treatments in preventing nonvertebral fractures. All treatments were associated with increases in femoral neck BMD versus placebo with zoledronate being the most effective treatment mean difference (MD 4.02; 95% CrI, 3.2–4.84). There was a paucity of data regarding hip and wrist fractures. Depending on its cost‐effectiveness, zoledronate could be considered a first‐line option for people at increased risk of fragility fractures. © 2022 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
A study of the relationships between rumination, anger rumination, aggressive script rehearsal, and aggressive behavior in a sample of incarcerated adult males
Authors: Hosie Julia , Simpson Katrina , Dunne Ashley , Daffern Michael
Published: March 2022

Objective

This study explored relationships between aggressive script rehearsal, rumination, and anger rumination with aggressive behavior.

Method

One hundred and twenty‐nine incarcerated males (M = 33.54, SD = 8.67) completed the Schedule of Imagined Violence, Preservative Thinking Questionnaire, Anger Rumination Scale, and the Life History of Aggression‐Aggression subscale. Correlations were run to examine associations between the variables and a four‐step sequential multiple regression was performed to assess for the unique contribution of rumination, anger rumination, and aggressive script rehearsal to aggressive behavior.

Results

Results revealed moderate‐strong positive associations between aggressive script rehearsal, rumination, and anger rumination. Moderate‐weak associations were found between these three constructs and aggressive behavior. Regression analyses revealed aggressive script rehearsal was uniquely related with aggressive behavior and path analysis demonstrated aggressive script rehearsal mediated the relationship between rumination/anger rumination and aggression.

Conclusion

These results clarify the nature of the relationships between these conceptually connected constructs and suggest that the frequency with which someone rehearses aggressive scripts impacts on the likelihood of aggression more than anger rumination and general ruminative processes. The frequency with which a person rehearses aggressive scripts should be a critical consideration in violence risk assessment and treatment programs for people deemed to be at risk for violent behavior.
Clinical frailty, and not features of acute infection, is associated with late mortality in COVID‐19: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Vlachogiannis Nikolaos I. , Baker Kenneth F. , Georgiopoulos Georgios , Lazaridis Charalampos , Schim van der Loeff Ina , Hanrath Aidan T. , Sopova Kateryna , Tual‐Chalot Simon , Gatsiou Aikaterini , Spyridopoulos Ioakim , Stamatelopoulos Kimon , Duncan Christopher J.A. , Stellos Konstantinos
Published: March 2022

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is associated with excess mortality after hospital discharge. Identification of patients at increased risk of death following hospital discharge is needed to guide clinical monitoring and early intervention. Herein, we aimed to identify predictors of early vs. late mortality in COVID‐19 patients.

Methods

A total of 471 patients with polymerase chain reaction‐confirmed COVID‐19 were followed up for 9 months [median (inter‐quartile range) of follow‐up time: 271 (14) days] after hospital admission. COVID‐19‐related signs and symptoms, laboratory features, co‐morbidities, Coronavirus Clinical Characterisation Consortium (4C) mortality and Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) scores were analysed by logistic regression for association with early (28 day) vs. late mortality. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the discriminative value of 4C and CFS scores for early vs. late mortality.

Results

A total of 120 patients died within 28 days from hospital admission. Of the remaining 351 patients, 41 died within the next 8 months. Respiratory failure, systemic inflammation, and renal impairment were associated with early mortality, while active cancer and dementia were associated with late mortality, after adjustment for age and sex. 4C mortality score and CFS were associated with both early [odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval—CI): 4C: 1.34 (1.25–1.45); CFS: 1.49 (1.33–1.66)] and late [OR (95% CI): 4C: 1.23 (1.12–1.36); CFS: 2.04 (1.62–2.56)] mortality. After adjustment for CFS, the association between 4C and late mortality was lost. By ROC analysis, 4C mortality score was superior to CFS for 28 day mortality [area under the curve (AUC) (95% CI): 0.779 (0.732–0.825) vs. 0.723 (0.673–0.773), respectively; P = 0.039]. In contrast, CFS had higher predictive value for late mortality compared with 4C mortality score [AUC (95% CI): 0.830 (0.776–0.883) vs. 0.724 (0.650–0.798), respectively; P = 0.007].

Conclusions

In our cohort, late mortality in COVID‐19 patients is more strongly associated with premorbid clinical frailty than with severity of the acute infection phase.
A new library of 1,2,3‐triazole based benzofuran scaffolds: Synthesis and biological evaluation as potential antimicrobial agents
Authors: Ashok Dongamanti , Reddy Makthal Ram , Thara Gugulothu , Dharavath Ravinder , Ramakrishna Katta , Nagaraju Nalaparaju , Gundu Srinivas , Sarasija Madderla
Published: March 2022

A library of new 1,2,3‐triazole based benzofuran derivatives was constructed via synthesizing them through the Rap‐Stoermer reaction in moderate to good yields. Various reaction conditions were examined to develop an optimized synthetic route for affording the desired products in good yields. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, FT‐IR, and mass spectral data. The title compounds were screened in vitro for their potential antimicrobial properties and most of the compounds exhibited promising antimicrobial activities.
Human Papillomavirus E6/E7 oncogene transcripts as biomarkers for the early detection of cervical cancer
Authors: Gupta Sadhana M , Warke Himangi , Chaudhari Hemangi , Mavani Padmaja , Katke Rajshree D. , Kerkar Shilpa C. , Mania‐Pramanik Jayanti
Published: March 2022

Cancer of the cervix uteri is the fourth most common cancer worldwide with a high mortality rate. Due to limitations of the existing methods, alternative methods for triage are needed for early detection of cervical cancer precursors before progression to high‐grade disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate human papillomavirus (HPV) E6/E7 oncogene expression as markers for early identification of cervical cancer risk in women with minor cytological abnormalities and in those with negative cytology. The detection of HPV was done using PCR and confirmed by southern hybridization. The high‐risk (HR) and low‐risk HPV types were identified by HPV typing. HPV DNA‐positive patients were further tested for markers of oncogene expression by real‐time PCR. Out of the women screened, 54/512 (10.54%) women tested positive for HPV infection. HR HPV DNA was found in 32/485 (6.60%) women with normal cytology (Pap negative) and 22/27 (81.5%) atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance/low‐grade intraepithelial lesion cases. HR HPV E6/E7 oncogene transcripts were detected in 36/512 (7.03%) patients. The positivity rate of E6/E7 messenger RNA (mRNA) was 2.48% (12/485) in normal cervical cytology group and 88.9% (24/27) in abnormal cervical cytology group. The HPV E6/E7 mRNA test sensitivity was found to be 88.89% and specificity was 97.53%. In comparison, the sensitivity of the HPV DNA test was found to be 81.48% and specificity was 93.40%. In conclusion, E6 and E7 transcripts could provide a sensitive, early predictor of cervical cancer risk in women with normal cytology and minor cytological alterations.
Hot or cold? Feasibility, safety, and outcome after radiofrequency‐guided versus cryoballoon‐guided left atrial appendage isolation
Authors: Tohoku Shota , Chen Shaojie , Bordignon Stefano , Chun Julian Kyoung‐Ryul , Schmidt Boris
Published: March 2022

Background

Left atrial appendage (LAA) isolation (LAAI) has been described as an adjunctive ablation strategy for patients with recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATa).

Objectives

We compared the clinical impact of persistent durable LAAI between radiofrequency (RF)‐guided wide‐area LAAI and cryoballoon (CB)‐guided ostial LAAI.

Methods

Consecutive patients who underwent RF‐ or CB‐guided LAAI were retrospectively analyzed. RF‐guided LAAI was performed by combining linear ablation. CB‐guided LAAI was performed by LAA ostial ablation. Following LAAI, the patients underwent an invasive remapping study. LAA closure was conducted if persistent durability was confirmed. The procedural data, LAAI durability, and ATa recurrence were assessed.

Results

A total of 260 patients (RF: n = 201; CB: n = 59) undergoing LAAI were identified. The acute rate of procedural LAAI was higher in the CB group (CB:94.9% vs. RF:82.6%, p = .02) with a lower pericardial effusion incidence (CB:0% vs. RF:7.5%, p = .03). The 6‐week durable LAAI was similar between the two groups (RF:78.3% vs. CB:66.0%, p = .103). During follow‐up, one gastrointestinal bleeding and four stroke events including one subsequent intracranial bleeding leading to death occurred in the RF group, while one gastrointestinal bleeding occurred in the CB group.

The 1‐year ATa recurrence‐free rate was higher in patients with durable LAAI following RF‐guided LAAI (RF:76.3% vs. CB:56.7%, p = .0017). Multivariate analysis revealed RF‐guided LAAI as a predictor of freedom from ATa recurrence (HR: 0.478, 95%CI: 0.336–0.823, p = .017).

Conclusions

LAAI can be more readily and safely achieved by CB‐guided ostial ablation. In patients with confirmed LAAI, however, the freedom from ATa recurrence was higher after RF‐guided wide‐area isolation.
Drivers of 20th century sea‐level change in southern New Zealand determined from proxy and instrumental records
Authors: Garrett Ed , Gehrels W. Roland , Hayward Bruce W. , Newnham Rewi , Gehrels Maria J. , Morey Craig J. , Dangendorf Sönke
Published: March 2022

In this paper we present new proxy‐based sea‐level reconstructions for southern New Zealand spanning the last millennium. These palaeo sea‐level records usefully complement sparse Southern Hemisphere proxy and tide‐gauge sea‐level datasets and, in combination with instrumental observations, can test hypotheses about the drivers of 20th century global sea‐level change, including land‐based ice melt and regional sterodynamics. We develop sea‐level transfer functions from regional datasets of salt‐marsh foraminifera to establish a new proxy‐based sea‐level record at Mokomoko Inlet, at the southern tip of the South Island, and to improve the previously published sea‐level reconstruction at Pounawea, located about 110 km to the east. Chronologies are based on radiocarbon, radiocaesium, stable lead isotope and pollen analyses. Both records are in good agreement and show a rapid sea‐level rise in the first half of the 20th century that peaked in the 1940s. Previously reported discrepancies between proxy‐based sea‐level records and tide‐gauge records are partially reconciled by accounting for barystatic and sterodynamic components of regional sea‐level rise. We conclude that the rapid sea‐level rise during the mid‐20th century along the coast of southern New Zealand was primarily driven by regional thermal expansion and ocean dynamics.
Patterning of quantum dot light‐emitting diodes based on IGZO films
Authors: Ma Jingrui , Jia Siqi , Qu Xiangwei , Tang Haodong , Xu Bing , Wu Zhenghui , Liu Pai , Wang Kai , Yang Xiaochuan , Xu Wenwei , Sun Xiao Wei
Published: March 2022

The patterning of quantum dot light‐emitting diodes (QLED) is essential for QLED in the display application. In the work, we studied patterning thin film to form IGZO electron transport layers for QLED. Making use of a staggered IGZO film as the electron transport layer, we studied QLED degradation and observed luminance inversion, which is due to the non‐uniform current spreading effect caused by the staggered IGZO film. The current crowding at the thinner film area (with lower electric resistance) leads to a patterned emission of the device but also a faster device degradation at the same time.
A noninvasive and integrative approach for improving density and abundance estimates of moose
Authors: Koitzsch Ky B. , Anton Colby B. , Koitzsch Lisa O. , Tjepkes Tessa L. , Schumann Abby C. , Strasburg Jared L.
Published: March 2022

Acquiring demographic data for moose (Alces alces) can be difficult because they are solitary in nature, they prefer densely vegetated and mountainous habitats, and they often occur at low density. Such data, however, are essential for long‐term population monitoring, evaluating management practices, and effective conservation. Winter aerial surveys are the standard method for estimating moose population parameters, but they can be logistically challenging, expensive, and subject to sightability correction, which necessitates the capture of study animals for initial model development. Herein, we demonstrate a noninvasive alternative approach for estimating population parameters of moose in northern Yellowstone National Park, where aerial surveys were attempted but proved ineffective. We determined individual moose genotype and sex using microsatellite polymerase chain reaction amplification of DNA extracted from fecal pellets, integrated ancillary pellet sample data (i.e., metadata) in genotype analysis to aid in the identification of matching genotypes, and used spatially explicit capture‐recapture (SECR) modeling to estimate sex‐specific density and abundance. We collected 616 samples over 3 consecutive winters (Dec 2013–Apr 2016) and within 2 sampling occasions each winter. We recorded 514 captures of 142 individual moose (69 males, 73 females). Overall density ranged between 0.062 moose/km2 and 0.076 moose/km2 and averaged 0.034/km2 for females and 0.033/km2 for males. Abundance estimates were 150 moose in 2013 (female = 76, 95% CI = 55–105; male = 74, 95% CI = 54–103), 186 in 2014 (female = 95, 95% CI = 63–142; male = 91, 95% CI = 60–138), and 160 in 2015 (female = 79, 95% CI = 58–108; male = 81, 95% CI = 59–110). Average population sex ratio was 0.99 males/female. We demonstrate that SECR analysis of fecal DNA genotypes, using metadata in genotype analysis to help identify matching moose genotypes, is a promising alternative method for estimating sex‐specific density and abundance of a low‐density moose population in a mountainous and forested landscape.