bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reconstructing the Coordination Environment of Fe/Co Dual‐atom Sites towards Efficient Oxygen Electrocatalysis for Zn–Air Batteries
Authors: Liu Hengqi , Huang Jinzhen , Feng Kun , Xiong Rui , Ma Shengyu , Wang Ran , Fu Qiang , Rafique Moniba , Liu Zhiguo , Han Jiecai , Hua Daxing , Li Jiajie , Zhong Jun , Wang Xianjie , Zhao Zhonglong , Yao Tai , Jiang Sida , Xu Ping , Zhang Zhihua , Song Bo
Published: November 2024

Dual‐atom catalysts with nitrogen‐coordinated metal sites embedded in carbon can drive the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR/OER) in rechargeable zinc–air batteries (ZABs), and the further improvement is limited by the linear scaling relationship of intermediate binding energies in the absorbate evolution mechanism (AEM). Triggering the lattice oxygen mechanism (LOM) is promising to overcome this challenge, but has yet been verified since the lacking of bridge oxygen (O) in the rigid coordination environment of the metal centers. Here, we demonstrate that suitably tailored dual‐atom catalysts of FeCo−N−C can undergo out‐plane and in‐plane reconstruction to form the both axial O and bridge O at the metal centers, and thus activate the LOM pathway. The tailored FeCo−N−C with shortened Fe−N bonds also favors the ORR process, therefore is a promising dual‐atom oxygen catalyst. The assembled rechargeable ZABs demonstrate a peak power density of 332 mW cm−2, and exhibit no notable decline after ~720 h of continuous cycling.
Stereoselective Radical Acylfluoroalkylation of Bicyclobutanes via N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysis
Authors: Xiao Chuyu , Shan Jing‐Ran , Liu Wen‐Deng , Gao Xingyuan , Dai Jingwei , Wang Zuwei , Wang Wentao , Houk K. N. , Zhao Jiannan
Published: November 2024

Cyclobutanes are prominent structural components in natural products and drug molecules. With the advent of strain‐release‐driven synthesis, ring‐opening reactions of bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes (BCBs) provide an attractive pathway to construct these three‐dimensional structures. However, the stereoselective difunctionalization of the central C−C σ‐bonds remains challenging. Reported herein is a covalent‐based organocatalytic strategy that exploits radical NHC catalysis to achieve diastereoselective acylfluoroalkylation of BCBs under mild conditions. The Breslow enolate acts as a single electron donor and provides an NHC‐bound ketyl radical with appropriate steric hindrance, which effectively distinguishes between the two faces of transient cyclobutyl radicals. This operationally simple method tolerates various fluoroalkyl reagents and common functional groups, providing a straightforward access to polysubstituted cyclobutanes (75 examples, up to >19 : 1 d.r.). The combined experimental and theoretical investigations of this organocatalytic system confirm the formation of the NHC‐derived radical and provide an understanding of how stereoselective radical‐radical coupling occurs.
Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Inherently Chiral Eight‐Membered O‐Heterocycles through Cross‐[4+4] Cycloaddition of Quinone Methides
Authors: Xu Da , Zhou Guojie , Liu Bangli , Jia Shiqi , Liu Yidong , Yan Hailong
Published: November 2024

Inherently chiral eight‐membered rings embedded in tetraphenylene derivatives and hetero‐analogues exhibit unique properties and allow diverse applications. A conceptually viable and straightforward approach to these frameworks is [4+4] cycloaddition, which still remains elusive. Herein, we describe the stereoselective cross‐[4+4] cycloaddition of quinone methides (QMs), leading to the formation of oxa‐analogues of tetraphenylene with exceptional chemo‐, diastereo‐, and enantioselectivity. The structures of these novel rigid eight‐membered O‐heterocycles were explored by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, and their stereochemical stability was elaborated through both density functional theory (DFT) calculations and thermal racemization experiments. The developed methodology exhibited broad substrate scope and the resulting cross‐[4+4] cycloadducts could be readily transformed into valuable chiral building blocks. Our findings expand the library of inherently chiral medium‐sized rings and also contribute to the advancement of asymmetric cross‐[4+4] cycloadditions of quinone methides.
Optimizing Propylene/Propane Sieving Separation through Gate‐Pressure Control within a Flexible Organic Framework
Authors: Li Lu , Xiang Fahui , Li Yunbin , Yang Yisi , Yuan Zhen , Chen Yanting , Yuan Furong , He Lei , Xiang Shengchang , Chen Banglin , Zhang Zhangjing
Published: November 2024

The separation of propylene (C3H6) and propane (C3H8) is of great significance in the chemical industry, which poses a challenge due to their almost identical kinetic diameters and similar physical properties. In this work, we synthesized an ultramicroporous flexible hydrogen‐bonded organic framework (named HOF‐FJU‐106) by using molecule 2,3,6,7‐tetra (4‐cyanophenyl) tetrathiafulvalene (TTF‐4CN). The formation of the dimer causes the TTF‐4CN molecular to bend and weaken π‐stacked interactions, coupled with the flexibility of C≡N
H−C hydrogen bonds, which leads to reversible conversion between open and closed frameworks through the mutual slip of adjacent layers/columns under activation and stimulation of gas molecules. Through gas adsorption isotherms and adsorption enthalpy, HOF‐FJU‐106a exhibited adaptive adsorption and stronger binding affinity for C3H6, and presented a recorded gas uptake ratio of C3H6/C3H8 (23.77) among presentative HOF materials at room temperature to date. Importantly, the flexible HOF‐FJU‐106a shows an interesting phenomenon about the reversible gate pressure control under variable temperature, which realized the gas adsorption and separation performance enhancement for the binary C3H6/C3H8 mixtures. This strategy through designing HOFs with thermoregulatory gating effect is a powerful way to maximize the performance of materials.
Synthesis of 4‐Cyclobutene‐Isoquinolines From Aryl Imidates by Ru(II)‐Catalyzed Domino C–H Activation/Cyclization
Authors: Wang Min , Gao Lei , Miao Maozhong , Zong Qianshou , Ling Fei , Yao Jinzhong , Zhou Hongwei
Published: November 2024

A highly regioselective approach for constructing 4‐cyclobutene‐isoquinoline derivatives through ruthenium‐catalyzed domino C–H activation/cyclization of aryl imidates has been demonstrated. This new transformation tolerates various substituted functional groups on imidates and propargylic monofluoroalkynes, resulting in the corresponding products being delivered in moderate yields.
Inner experiences, mental health, and well‐being in autistic and non‐autistic adults
Authors: Mazurek Micah O. , Pappagianopoulos Jessica , Brunt Sophie , Nevill Rose , Menezes Michelle , Burroughs Christina , Sadikova Eleonora , Smith Jessica V. , Howard Mya
Published: November 2024

The nature of autistic adults' everyday inner experiences has been largely unstudied. The purpose of this study was to examine patterns of inner experiences and how they relate to mental health and wellness among autistic and non‐autistic adults. Autistic (n = 303) and non‐autistic (n = 289) adults (ages 21–82) completed online surveys assessing their anxiety, depression, happiness, life satisfaction, and inner thinking patterns, (inner speaking [i.e., verbal thinking], inner seeing [i.e., visual thinking], unsymbolized thinking, feelings, sensory awareness, self‐talk). Group differences in inner thinking were examined using Mann–Whitney U and chi‐square tests. Correlations and multiple linear regressions examined associations between inner experiences, mental health, and well‐being. Autistic adults had greater use of inner speaking and sensory awareness, compared to non‐autistic adults. The most common primary mode of inner experience for both groups was inner speaking, while fewer autistic adults reported that experiencing thoughts as feelings was their primary modality. Autistic adults reported greater use of self‐talk for social assessment, self‐criticism, and self‐management purposes, compared to non‐autistic adults. Experiencing thoughts as inner speech and as feelings were associated with anxiety in both groups. Using self‐talk for social assessment and self‐criticism purposes was correlated with anxiety and depression in both groups, while using self‐talk for self‐management was associated with depression and anxiety only among autistic adults. The results suggest that autistic and non‐autistic adults have similarities in overall patterns of inner thinking, yet autistic adults may be more likely to engage in self‐talk as a strategy to manage challenging day‐to‐day experiences.
Mitigating ibrutinib‐induced ventricular arrhythmia and cardiac dysfunction with metformin
Authors: Li Pengsha , Liu Daiqi , Gao Pan , Yuan Ming , Zhao Zhiqiang , Zhang Yue , Zhou Zandong , Zhang Qingling , Yuan Meng , Liu Xing , Tse Gary , Li Guangping , Bao Qiankun , Liu Tong
Published: November 2024

Background

Ibrutinib is a first‐line drug that targets Bruton's tyrosine kinase for the treatment of B cell cancer. However, cardiotoxicity induced by ibrutinib is a major side effect that limits its clinical use. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of ibrutinib‐induced cardiotoxicity and evaluate the protective role of metformin.

Methods

The study utilized male C57BL/6 J mice, which were administered ibrutinib at a dosage of 30 mg/kg/day via oral gavage for 4 weeks to induce cardiotoxicity. Metformin was administered orally at 200 mg/kg/day for 5 weeks, starting 1 week before ibrutinib treatment. Cardiac function was assessed using echocardiography and electrophysiological studies, including surface electrocardiography and epicardial electrical mapping. Blood pressure was measured using a tail‐cuff system. Western blot analysis was conducted to evaluate the activity of the PI3K‐AKT and AMPK pathways, along with apoptosis markers.

Results

C57BL/6 J mice were treated with ibrutinib for 4 weeks to assess its effect on cardiac function. We observed that ibrutinib induced ventricular arrhythmia and abnormal conduction while reducing the left ventricular ejection fraction. Furthermore, pretreatment with metformin reversed ibrutinib‐induced cardiotoxicity. Mechanistically, ibrutinib decreased PI3K‐AKT activity, resulting in apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. Administration of metformin upregulated AMPK and PI3K‐AKT activity, which contributed to the improvement of cardiac function.

Conclusion

The study concludes that metformin effectively mitigates ibrutinib‐induced cardiotoxicity, including ventricular arrhythmia and cardiac dysfunction, by enhancing AMPK and PI3K‐AKT pathway activity. These findings suggest that metformin holds potential as a therapeutic strategy to protect against the adverse cardiac effects associated with ibrutinib treatment, offering a promising approach for improving the cardiovascular safety of patients undergoing therapy for B cell cancers.
A Novel Prognostic Nomogram Based on TIGIT and NKG2A Can Predict Relapse‐Free Survival of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Hepatectomy
Authors: Wang Junqi , Cao Yuqing , Tian Yu , Dai Chaoliu , Jin Tianqiang , Xu Feng
Published: November 2024

Background and Objectives

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global health concern, and emerging evidence suggests that TIGIT and NKG2A are potential immune checkpoints with implications for HCC progression. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of TIGIT and NKG2A expression in HCC patients who underwent radical liver resection.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 144 HCC patients who underwent radical liver resection. TIGIT and NKG2A expression levels were assessed using the immunoreactive score. Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to analyze the association between TIGIT/NKG2A expression and clinical characteristics, relapse‐free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS). Prognostic models for OS and RFS was developed and validated using concordance index and calibration curves. Additionally, the random forest algorithm was employed to identify independent risk factors for OS and RFS and their correlation with predicted survival.

Results

TIGIT and NKG2A expression were identified as independent risk factors for RFS, while TIGIT expression alone significantly impacted OS. The prognostic models showed good discriminative ability, with concordance indices exceeding 0.7 for predicting 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year OS or RFS. Calibration curves confirmed the reliability of the nomograms for OS and RFS prediction. The areas under the ROC curve consistently exceeded 0.7 for predicting OS and RFS. Elevated levels of TIGIT and NKG2A expression were associated with diminished RFS, highlighting their importance as prognostic factors.

Conclusions

Our study establishes the prognostic significance of TIGIT and NKG2A expression in predicting OS and RFS following radical liver resection for HCC patients. The developed prognostic models incorporating TIGIT and NKG2A expression hold promise for improving risk stratification and clinical management of HCC patients.
Periodontal phenotype modification in surgically facilitated orthodontics: A case report
Authors: Tironi Francesco , Sofos Stavros , Wong Jason , Leyva Megan , Contasti Gisella , Nevins Myron , Vardar‐Sengul Saynur
Published: November 2024

Background

Orthodontic treatment in adults with thin periodontal phenotype presents challenges such as lengthy treatment time and increased risk for gingival recessions. In this case, surgically facilitated orthodontic treatment (SFOT) was proposed to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement while modifying the periodontal phenotype.

Methods

An orthodontic patient was referred for periodontal evaluation of lower anterior teeth, which presented a thin gingival phenotype and bone dehiscence. SFOT was performed on the mandible using particulate allograft combined with platelet rich fibrin (PRF) and collagen membrane to augment soft and hard tissue, thereby preventing future recessions, while accelerating the treatment times.

Results

Six‐month and 3‐year follow‐ups confirmed radiographic bone fill, absence of gingival recession and thick band of keratinized gingiva. SFOT also resulted in a shorter treatment time where desired tooth movements were achieved within 6 months with periodontal stability.

Conclusions

SFOT provided clinical benefits by accelerating orthodontic movement, improving periodontal phenotype, preventing the displacement of teeth beyond the alveolar housing and minimizing the risk for development of dehiscences and gingival recessions.

Key points

Orthodontic movements can create recessions and dehiscence in thin periodontal phenotypes.

SFOT can help prevent bone dehiscence and creates a thicker gingival phenotype while accelerating treatment time.

Plain Language Summary

Adults who face lengthy orthodontic treatments and have thin gums have risks of gum problems. Surgically facilitated orthodontic treatment (SFOT) can help by speeding up tooth movements and improving gum health and thickness.

A patient with thin gums and lack of bone in the lower front teeth was evaluated. The SFOT procedure involved using a bone graft, healing factors, and a collagen membrane to strengthen the gums and bones. This approach aimed to prevent future gum problems and speed up orthodontic treatment.

Follow‐ups at 6 months and 3 years after treatment showed good healing of the gums and bones, with no signs of gum recession and healthier, thicker gums. The desired tooth movements were achieved within 6 months, resulting in a shorter treatment time. The patient's gums remained stable throughout this period.

SFOT offered significant clinical benefits, including faster tooth movement and improved gum health. It also helped prevent teeth from moving out of place and minimized the risk of gum recession and bone issues. This approach can be a valuable option for adults with thin gums undergoing orthodontic treatment.
Proactive and reactive sibling aggression and their mediating effects on the relationship between exposure to parental violence and adulthood intimate partner violence perpetration
Authors: Flores Ayleen , Charak Ruby
Published: November 2024

It is generally understood that individuals who experience exposure to parental violence (EPV) during childhood may come to perpetrate violence, but not all will. Research has shown that individuals who experience EPV can model maladaptive modes of problem‐solving that can later be seen in sibling relationships as aggression. This can lead to a heightened risk of adulthood intimate partner violence perpetration (IPV). This study aimed to examine the mediating role of proactive and reactive sibling aggression in the associations of three forms of childhood EPV—violence directed from mother‐to‐father, father‐to‐mother, bidirectional—and perpetration of sexual and physical IPV types during adulthood. Participants were 322 emerging adults in the age range 18–29 years (M = 24.69, SD = 2.91; 182 female) recruited online via Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Findings indicated that our sample endorsed bidirectional EPV (41.3%), proactive sibling aggression (87.2%) and reactive sibling aggression (94.7%) in childhood. In adulthood, they endorsed physical IPV (20.8%) and sexual IPV (22.7%). The mediation model indicated that those who had bidirectional EPV were more likely to engage in proactive aggression, which was associated with engagement in physical perpetration of IPV, and sexual perpetration of IPV. Findings suggest the need for intervention programs during childhood in those with exposure to parental violence and sibling proactive aggression.
Electrocatalytic Urea Synthesis via C─N Coupling Over Fe‐Based Catalyst
Authors: Waghela Santosh R , Adalder Ashadul , Mitra Koushik , Ghorai Uttam Kumar
Published: November 2024

Electrochemical urea synthesis under ambient conditions offers a promising alternative to traditional methods, yet suffers from inefficient production due to poor binding of reactants to the catalyst surface, leading to competitive pathways. In this study, we report an electrochemical route for urea synthesis by dual reduction of CO2 and N2 gases using iron phthalocyanine (FePc) catalyst. The FePc electrocatalyst showed a urea yield rate of 357 µmol h−1 gcat−1 with a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 14.36% at −0.4 V versus RHE. This work offers an awareness into the development of an electrochemical route for the efficient electrosynthesis of urea via C─N coupling.
Forensic Comparison of Amphetamine Chemical Profiles by Bayesian Predictive Modelling
Authors: Korpinsalo Tuomas , Rautavirta Juhana , Huhtala Sami , Reinikainen Tapani , Corander Jukka
Published: November 2024

Forensic chemists frequently employ statistical profiling approaches to assess the degree of similarity between samples of illicit drugs. Such profiling information can help reveal connections between nodes in distribution networks and manufacturing laboratories. For amphetamine, the routine method of comparing a pair of samples includes the use of a dissimilarity measure based on the Pearson correlation coefficient calculated between their chemical profiles obtained through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. This simple measure of (dis)similarity has been shown distinguish pairs sharing a common origin (e.g., same production batch) to a reasonable level of accuracy. However, Pearson correlation fails to capture all the relevant notions of similarity between chemical profiles of amphetamine. We present a new statistical method for forensic drug comparison that uses a more sophisticated statistical modelling approach to determine similarity between samples. We show that this leads to improved performance over the correlation‐based approach. The proposed method is easily extendable and has an intuitive interpretation both from chemistry and forensic perspectives, which supports wide applicability to illicit drug profiling in practice.
Competitive Heavy‐Atom Tunneling Reactions Controlled Through Electronic Effects
Authors: Roque José P. L. , Nunes Cláudio M. , Saito Fumito , Bernhardt Bastian , Fausto Rui , Schreiner Peter R.
Published: November 2024

Controlling QMT reactivity remains exceptionally challenging and largely unexplored, as it requires rationales distinctly different from those used for classical chemical reactivity. Herein, we investigated how QMT reactivity can be controlled using electronic substituent effects. Benzazirines, which have the exceptional feature to react via two competitive QMT pathways, were used as model compounds. Three novel derivatives with increasingly stronger electron‐donating substituents at C4 [R = OH, N(CH3)2, and N(CH2)4] were generated in argon matrices at 3 K. Remarkably, different QMT selectivities were observed in all benzazirines. As the electron‐donating strength of the substituent increases, the QMT ring‐opening to nitrene starts to compete with the QMT ring‐expansion to ketenimine, becoming the dominant process for the strongest electron‐donating substituent [N(CH2)4]. A theoretical analysis of the substituent effects on the QMT reactivity of benzazirines was performed and compared with the experimental data for these and other C4 derivatives. Overall, the results compellingly demonstrate how subtle changes in electronic effects can be used to fine‐tune QMT selectivity.
Substitution of the Axial Type 1 Cu Ligand Affords Binding of a Water Molecule in Axial Position Affecting Kinetics, Spectral, and Structural Properties of the Small Laccase Ssl1
Authors: Olbrich Anna C. , Mielenbrink Steffen , Willers Vivian P. , Koschorreck Katja , Birrell James A. , Span Ingrid , Urlacher Vlada B.
Published: November 2024

Multicopper oxidases use Cu ions as cofactors to oxidize various substrates. High reduction potential at Type 1 Cu is considered as crucial for effective catalysis. Previous studies have shown that replacing the axial methionine ligand of the Type 1 Cu with leucine or phenylalanine leads to an increased reduction potential, but not always to higher enzyme activity. Here we present a study on six variants of the small laccase Ssl1 from Streptomyces sviceus, where the axial methionine ligand was substituted, and the effect of the axial ligand on reduction potential, activity, spectral properties and structure was investigated. Absorption, electronic circular dichroism and EPR spectra revealed the presence of a stronger coordinating axial ligand like oxygen, which influences the electronic and catalytic properties more than the nature of the amino acid side chain. The crystal structures of the Ssl1 variants were solved, which show that none of the amino acid side chains coordinate to the Cu. Instead, a water molecule is found in the axial coordination site, which support the spectroscopic data. Our findings highlight the importance of combining structural and spectroscopic methods to investigate the effect of amino acid exchange on multicopper oxidases.
Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of 4’‐5’ Disubstituted CinNapht Dyes Accessible through Double SNAr Late‐Stage Functionalization
Authors: Tacke Eléonore , Estaque Lilian , Hoang Minh‐Duc , Durand Philippe , Clavier Gilles , Pieters Grégory , Chevalier Arnaud
Published: November 2024

This article describes the synthesis of a difluorinated CinNapht derivative in the 4′ and 5′ positions allowing the easy access to two new families of fluorophores by late‐stage functionalization using SNAr. The first one comprises derivatives incorporating hindered aromatic amines in the 4′ and 5′ positions, which show red‐emission in apolar solvents. The second one is obtained through the use of dinucleophiles. Among them, Tetrahydroquinoxaline (THQ) and tetrahydrobenzodiazepine (THB) compounds show strongly redshifted emission. The photophysical properties of all the fluorophores in these two families are studied and rationalized by DFT and TDDFT calculations. The most promising compounds have been used to image living cells by confocal microscopy.
A Red‐Zone‐Based Randomized Angular Routing Protocol for Multisource Location Privacy in IoT Applications
Authors: Nisha  , Suresh S.
Published: November 2024

The constant demand to secure the location of an asset in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) has led to the need for the development of location privacy preservation mechanisms. Source location privacy preservation, particularly for a single source has received tantamount attention in the last few years, whereas very few schemes have been discussed for securing the location privacy of multiple sources. To address this issue, in this paper, we have proposed a red‐zone‐based angular routing technique to provide location privacy for multiple sources against local adversaries who continuously eavesdrop and backtrack the packets in the network. The proposed technique termed as red‐zone‐based randomized angular routing (Red‐RAR) establishes a red zone around all the source nodes exists in the network to divert the routing path of a source node away from other source nodes. The Red‐RAR algorithm consists of four different phases that contributes in moving the packets far away from the source and maximizes the path diversity to mislead the adversary. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated through extensive experiments. The experimental results reveal that Red‐RAR outperforms the current state of the art methods in terms of efficiency measured in safety period, capture percentage, and network lifetime for four source nodes.
Gene Flow Between Populations With Highly Divergent Mitogenomes in the Australian Stingless Bee, Tetragonula hockingsi
Authors: Law Genevieve , da Silva Carmen R. B. , Vlasich‐Brennan Inez , Taylor Benjamin A. , Harpur Brock A. , Heard Tim , Nacko Scott , Riegler Markus , Dorey James B. , Stevens Mark I. , Lo Nathan , Gloag Rosalyn
Published: November 2024

Coadaptation of mitochondrial and nuclear genes is essential for proper cellular function. When populations become isolated, theory predicts that they should maintain mito‐nuclear coadaptation in each population, even as they diverge in genotype. Mito‐nuclear incompatibilities may therefore arise when individuals from populations with divergent co‐evolved mito‐nuclear gene sets are re‐united and hybridise, contributing to selection against inter‐population hybrids and, potentially, to speciation. Here, we explored genetic divergence and gene flow between populations of a stingless bee (Tetragonula hockingsi) that have highly divergent mitogenomes. We identified three distinct populations across the species' 2500 km range on the east coast of Queensland (Australia): ‘Cape York’, ‘Northern’, and ‘Southern’. The mitogenomes of each population showed > 12% pairwise nucleotide divergence from each other, and > 7% pairwise amino acid divergence. Based on nuclear SNPs from reduced representation sequencing, we identified at least two zones of gene flow between populations: a narrow natural zone between Northern and Southern populations (coinciding with a biogeographic barrier, the Burdekin Gap), and an artificial zone at the southern edge of the species' distribution, where Cape York, Northern, and Southern mito‐lineages have been brought together in recent decades due to beekeeping. In the artificial hybrid zone, we also confirmed that males of all three mito‐lineages were attracted to the mating aggregations of Southern queens, consistent with inter‐population hybridisation. Populations of T. hockingsi thus appear to be in the ‘grey zone’ of the speciation continuum, having strong genetic differentiation but incomplete reproductive isolation. Among the nuclear SNPs most differentiated between Northern and Southern populations, several were associated with genes involved in mitochondrial function, consistent with populations having co‐diverged mito‐nuclear gene sets. Our observations suggest that coadapted sets of mitochondrial and nuclear genes unique to each population of T. hockingsi may play a role in maintaining population boundaries, though more study is needed to confirm the fitness costs of mito‐nuclear incompatibilities in hybrid individuals.
Spatial Distribution Pattern of Aromia bungii Within China and Its Potential Distribution Under Climate Change and Human Activity
Authors: Zhang Liang , Wang Ping , Xie Guanglin , Wang Wenkai
Published: November 2024

Aromia bungii is a pest that interferes with the health of forests and hinders the development of the fruit tree industry, and its spread is influenced by changes in abiotic factors and human activities. Therefore, exploring their spatial distribution patterns and potential distribution areas under such conditions is crucial for maintaining forest ecosystem security. This study analyzed the spatial differentiation characteristics of the geographic distribution pattern of A. bungii in China using Moran's I and the Getis‐Ord General G index. Hot spot distribution areas were identified using Getis‐Ord Gi*. An optimized MaxEnt model was used to predict the potential distribution areas of A. bungii within China under four shared economic pathways by combining multivariate environmental data: (1) prediction of natural environmental variables predicted under current climate models; (2) prediction of natural environmental variables + human activities under current climate models; and (3) prediction of natural environmental variables under the future climate models (2050s and 2070s). Meanwhile, MigClim was used to simulate the unoccupied suitable area in the presence of obstacles under future climate change. The results showed that human activities, minimum temperature of the coldest month, and precipitation of the wettest month had positive effects on the distribution of A. bungii. However, in the current period, human activities drastically reduced the survival area of A. bungii, and its suitable distribution area was mainly concentrated in the eastern and central regions of China. Under the influence of climate change in the future, the habitat of A. bungii will gradually increase. Additionally, the MigClim model indicates that the area unoccupied by A. bungii has been on a continuous increasing trend. This study provides a positive reference for the prevention and control of A. bungii and the maintenance of forest health and ecosystem security, and provides important theoretical guidance for researchers, policymakers, and governments.
Evaluation of the Relationship Between Salivary Adipokine Levels With Appetite and Anthropometric Indices in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Akbarzadeh Amir Reza , Borzouei Shiva , Khazaei Salman , Jazaeri Mina
Published: November 2024

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the association between salivary adipokine levels, including leptin, chemerin, resistin and interleukin‐6, with body mass index (BMI), waist and wrist circumference and appetite in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

In this cross‐sectional study, 104 participants were divided into three groups: 35 diabetic patients, 35 pre‐diabetic individuals and 34 healthy controls. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected using the spitting method, and salivary levels of leptin, chemerin, resistin and interleukin‐6 were measured via ELISA. Appetite was assessed using a standard questionnaire, and BMI, waist and wrist circumferences were measured with a tape measure. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26, with a significance threshold set at 0.01.

Results

Significant differences were found in the salivary levels of leptin, chemerin, and resistin among the three groups (p < 0.01), but no significant difference was observed in the salivary levels of interleukin‐6 (p > 0.01). Analysis also revealed significant differences in appetite traits among the groups, with the highest appetite trait observed in pre‐diabetic subjects (p = 0.0002). The salivary level of chemerin was significantly associated with appetite traits regardless of diabetic status (p = 0.009). Appetite was also significantly related to BMI (p = 0.002) and waist circumference (p = 0.001) in all subjects. However, no significant relationship was observed between appetite and fasting plasma glucose or HbA1c levels (p > 0.01).

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that salivary levels of certain adipokines, such as leptin, chemerin and resistin, may be significantly higher in diabetic patients, although this is not true for all adipokines. While pre‐diabetic patients exhibited a higher level of appetite, no positive correlation was found between salivary adipokine levels (except chemerin) and appetite or anthropometric characteristics, irrespective of diabetic status.
Macro‐Acyclic Pyrrophen Ligands for Hexadentate Coordination of Uranyl (UO22+)
Authors: Ducilon John , Hawkins Braxton , Vasylevskyi Serhii , Gorden John D. , Gorden Anne E. V.
Published: November 2024

Pyrrophen ligands are acyclic hexadentate ligands containing salen‐type N donors: two phenolic O donors, two pyrrolic N‐type donors, and two oxo‐carbonyl coordinating units. Uranyl complex derivatives of pyrrophen UO2L1–2a‐c (L1=H); (L2=CH3); (L=2‐pyridinemethanol (a), N‐(2‐pyridinylmethyl) (b), N‐benzyl (c), were synthesized and characterized by x‐ray diffraction (XRD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and UV‐vis. Each uranyl‐containing structure was found to crystalize in a hexagonal bipyramidal coordination environment. We observed solid‐state coordination deviations caused by the amide/ester substituent. The inductive effects and structural features were examined, and the effects on the bond lengths of the uranyl coordination and deviations in the ‐yl oxygen bond lengths and angles were studied.
In‐situ photo‐polymerized elastomeric composite electrolytes containing Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 particles for stable operation in lithium metal batteries
Authors: Kwon Seung Ho , Kim Seongmin , Park Jinseok , Lee Michael J. , Byun Youyoung , Kim Hyun Jung , Baek Young Min , Kim Jaegyeom , Lee Eunji , Lee Seung Woo , Kim Bumjoon J.
Published: November 2024

Composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs), produced by incorporating inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) into polymer matrices, have gained significant attention as promising candidates for solid‐state lithium metal batteries (LMBs). However, the aggregation of dense inorganic fillers results in nonuniform CPEs, thereby impeding LMB performance. Here, we fabricated in‐situ photo‐polymerized CPEs by incorporating different weight ratios (0–20 wt%) of Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (LLZTO) into a polymer electrolyte system composed of poly(butyl acrylate)‐based elastomer and succinonitrile‐based plastic crystal phases. The rapid photo‐polymerization process (~5 min) enabled homogeneous dispersion of LLZTO within the CPE matrix at 10 wt% LLZTO (L10), resulting in the high ionic conductivity (1.02 mS cm−1 at 25°C) and mechanical elasticity (elongation at break ≈ 1250%) compared to those of CPE without LLZTO (L0). As a result, the L10‐based LMB with a LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathode exhibited a high capacity of 166.7 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.5C, significantly higher than those of L0 (74.0 mAh g−1) and L20 (104.8 mAh g−1). In comparison, in‐situ thermal polymerized CPE with 10 wt% LLZTO NPs showed aggregation of NPs due to slow polymerization kinetics (~2 h), resulting in inferior LMB cycling performance compared to the L10. This work highlights the importance of in‐situ photo‐polymerized CPEs with homogenous dispersion of inorganic NPs to achieve high ionic conductivity and mechanical robustness suitable for the stable operation of LMBs.

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A multicenter, cross‐sectional analysis to assess the safety and usage pattern of brivaracetam in the management of partial‐onset seizure with BAEs—BREEZE study: A post‐hoc analysis
Authors: Sharma Arvind , Korukonda Krishnaprasad , Haldar Amit , Misra Usha Kant , Anand R. V. , Dave Yakshdeep , Kulkarni Girish
Published: November 2024

Objective

Brivaracetam (BRV), a third‐generation anti‐seizure medication (ASM) offers strong conformational receptor domain binding, faster blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability and better tolerability making it potential therapeutic option as an initial line or initial line add‐on strategy for focal onset seizure (FoS). The following study was planned to further understand the role and relevance of BRV in the real world settings of India.

Method

This was a multicentric, cross‐sectional, and non‐interventional study conducted in patients with FoS across India. The study was approved by central independent ethics committee. Descriptive and analytical statistics employed using SPSS version 29.0.1.0.

Results

Per protocol (PP) analysis included 8479 eligible patients from 1069 sites, gender; 5771 (68.06%) male and 2708 (31.94%) female with mean age 41.21 ± 12.74 years. Total 8019 (94.57%) patients had FoS and 460 (5.43%) patients had focal to bilateral tonic–clonic seizures (FBTCs). In FoS, 4105 (51.19%) patients switched from LEV to BRV whereas 3914 (48.81%) switched from other ASMs to BRV. BAEs accounted for 2059 (50.16%) patients in LEV to BRV switch versus 133 (3.39%) in other ASM to BRV switch. Post switch, LEV‐associated BAEs reduced irrespective of being used as monotherapy 85.65% (p < 0.001) or as an adjuvant therapy 83.71% (p < 0.001) at BRV dosage of 50 to 100 mg BID. This RWE showed the utility of BRV as mono component as an initial add‐on strategy in FoS cases.

Significance

BRV remains a pertinent therapeutic choice for FoS for the treatment naïve and/or BAE cases. Exposure of LEV leads to considerable BAEs compared to patients without LEV exposure. Patients who switched to BRV due to LEV‐induced BAEs significantly improved tolerability with BRV irrespective being used as monotherapy or as adjuvant therapy.

Plain Language Summary

Current study was planned to understand the clinical role and relevance of third‐generation anti‐seizure medication (ASM), brivaracetam (BRV) in the real world settings of India. Outcome of the study highlighted that BRV is an emerging, potential and safe ASM treatment option for epilepsy in Indian context. Many patients with epilepsy who are not able to tolerate the other ASM including levetiracetam (LEV) primarily due to behavioral side effects improves tolerability post switch to BRV, additionally results are consistent either BRV being used as an adjuvant therapy or as monotherapy therapy.
Anthropogenic effects on flood hazards in a hyper‐arid watershed: The 2015 Atacama floods
Authors: Contreras María Teresa , Nash Sebastián , Escauriaza Cristián
Published: November 2024

An unprecedented precipitation event in the hyper‐arid Atacama Desert of Northern Chile occurred in March 2015. Geomorphic alterations to the river channel and the coastal zone, coupled with the exceptional magnitude of the rainfall, caused catastrophic damage and loss of life. On the coast of the El Salado watershed, legacy mine tailings infilled the watershed‐ocean connection, while the river channel was altered both by tailings and urbanization. The consequences of this event resulted from the coupling of anthropogenic geomorphic changes with an unusual climate event. Lack of field data, complex geomorphology and sediment loads influenced by human activity make analysing floods in these regions especially challenging. The objective of this work is to improve our understanding of the factors that control flood hazards by using numerical simulations to reconstruct the 2015 flood in El Salado. We carry out unsteady two‐dimensional simulations fully coupled with the sediment concentration to identify the influence of tailing deposits, considering high‐resolution data of the pre‐ and post‐2015 flood topography. The results highlight the importance of specific event‐based studies, using models that can help designing better strategies for climate change adaptation and risk mitigation, while providing information for risk reduction and channel restoration.
Morphological and fish mesohabitat dynamics following an experimental flood under different sediment availability
Authors: Soto Parra Tulio , Politti Emilio , Zolezzi Guido
Published: November 2024

Experimental floods have been increasingly used as a promising practice to rehabilitate river ecosystems downstream of dams; however, the morphological and habitat dynamics they determine under different sediment supply conditions still poses relevant research and management questions. This study investigates the morphological and fish mesohabitat dynamics following an experimental flood, in two river reaches subject to different sediment supply regimes. We chose the lower Spöl River (Switzerland) as a relevant case study, subject to an experimental flood program for several years. Downstream of the dam, a tributary supplies large amounts of sediment to the Spöl dividing the study area into two homogeneous reaches with different sediment availability but similar flow conditions during the experimental flood. We analyzed and quantified the changes in morphology and fish habitat suitability for the Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) at the mesoscale in these two reaches caused by the 2021 experimental flood, which lasted 11 h and had a peak magnitude corresponding to a 1‐year return interval in the pre‐dam flow regime. We found almost no correlation between changes in the channel morphology and in habitat suitability for this event. In the upstream reach, located immediately downstream of the dam, we observed a narrower channel with a regular longitudinal sequence featuring nearly immobile coarse rapids, interspersed with more dynamic, finer riffles. Here, reach‐scale morphodynamics and the shifts of the mesohabitat mosaic and the suitable habitats were below 10%. Conversely, the downstream reach, characterised by a wider channel and much higher sediment supply of well‐sorted, finer bed material, was dominated by alternate bar instability and migration at the reach scale, which caused a 45% shift in its pre‐flood habitat mosaic. Nevertheless, in the same reach, the overall suitability of habitats remained relatively unchanged. We attributed these different dynamics to two main factors: (i) more prolonged bedload mobility conditions and (ii) the occurrence of bar migration in the downstream reach compared to the upstream one. This study (i) underscores the critical importance of considering sediment supply from downstream tributaries when designing and monitoring the effects of experimental floods, (ii) supports the use of morphodynamic models in the related planning and monitoring phases and (iii) shows the relevance of integrating morphodynamics and eco‐hydraulic analysis to support the implementation of such flow restoration programs.
Comparative effects of intermittent and continuous simulated rainstorms on rill erosion based on photogrammetry
Authors: Jiang Yanmin , Shi Haijing , Wen Zhongming , Yang Xihua , Guo Minghang , Shui Junfeng , Wu You Fu , Paull David
Published: November 2024

Despite artificial rainfall simulation proves invaluable for the study of soil erosion processes and model construction, it still fails to fully replicate the characteristics of natural rainfall. Currently, most artificial rainfall experiments have carried out a large number of continuous high‐intensity rainfall due to the focus on the characteristics of short duration and high intensity of natural rainstorm but have ignored the erosion effects caused by intermittent rainstorm with low intensity and long duration. In this study, two sets of artificial rainfall simulation experiments of intermittent low‐intensity rainstorm (RR1) and continuous high‐intensity rainstorm (RR2) were conducted to evaluate the effects of rainfall characteristics on erosion morphology, runoff generation and soil loss. The evolution morphology monitored by a digital close‐range photogrammetry technology demonstrated the difference between the two rainstorm regimes. The soil surface was damaged more seriously under rainfall of RR2, and the rill morphological indicators of RR1 were all less than that of RR2. As rainfall proceeded, morphological indicators except for rill width‐depth ratio gradually increased. As a result, the runoff rate and sediment yield between two regimes were distinct. The segmented and total soil loss, average runoff rate and sediment concentration of RR1 were all less than that of RR2, with the total soil loss of the two rainstorm regimes being 275 and 683 kg, respectively. Water infiltration, rainfall intensity, duration and frequency may be the main factors leading to the difference in soil loss and erosion morphology between two rainstorm regimes. The inconsistency of these factors can easily cause the deviation of understanding of soil erosion mechanism. Therefore, the comparison of erosion effects under different rainstorm regimes has important implications for the improvement of natural rainstorm simulation and the comprehensive understanding of erosion mechanism.
Review of the NRC Canada studies on fire resistance of floor assemblies: Results, design guidelines and research gaps
Authors: Zhang Linbo , Sultan Mohamed A.
Published: November 2024

The National Research Council Canada conducted two major fire resistance studies on floor assemblies over the past two decades. Despite the publication of the experimental results, there is a lack of suggested guidelines for design practitioners and gaps for future research. Thus, this paper comprehensively reviews the fire resistance results of 85 full‐scale floor tests, suggests design guidelines, and identifies research gaps. These efforts aim to enhance the understanding and support the potential improvement of the fire performance of floor assemblies. The review of the results covers the impact of various design parameters on the fire resistance of floor assemblies, such as framing type and spacing, insulation type, subfloor configuration, resilient channel spacing, number of gypsum board layers, and screw spacing from the board edge. Although the interaction of these factors is complex, some of them play significant roles in determining the overall fire resistance of floor assemblies. For instance, rock and cellulose insulation outperformed glass fibre, a wider resilient channel spacing lowered fire resistance, whilst an increased distance of screws from the board edge improved the fire resistance. More importantly, detailed explanations are provided for the influences these parameters exert on fire resistance. Following this detailed examination of the results, design guidelines are provided for practitioners' consideration. A comparison is made between the experimental results and predictions from the component additive methods in the Canadian and Euro Codes, demonstrating that both methods yield conservative results. Finally, this paper concludes by identifying research gaps and providing recommendations for future investigations, including the necessity of experimental studies on floor assemblies with new design configurations and the promising role of machine learning in fire resistance evaluation.