bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Some conditions implying stability of graphs
Authors: Hujdurović Ademir , Mitrović Ðorđe
Published: August 2023

A graph is said to be unstable if the direct product (also called the canonical double cover of ) has automorphisms that do not come from automorphisms of its factors and . It is nontrivially unstable if it is unstable, connected, nonbipartite, and distinct vertices have distinct sets of neighbours. In this paper, we prove two sufficient conditions for stability of graphs in which every edge lies on a triangle, revising an incorrect claim of Surowski and filling in some gaps in the proof of another one. We also consider triangle‐free graphs, and prove that there are no nontrivially unstable triangle‐free graphs of diameter 2. An interesting construction of nontrivially unstable graphs is given and several open problems are posed.
Subdivisions with congruence constraints in digraphs of large chromatic number
Authors: Steiner Raphael
Published: August 2023

We prove that for every digraph and every assignment of pairs of integers to its arcs there exists an integer such that every digraph with dichromatic number greater than contains a subdivision of in which is subdivided into a directed path of length congruent to modulo , for every . This generalizes to the directed setting the analogous result by Thomassen for undirected graphs, and at the same time yields a novel short proof of his result.
Epidemic history and evolution of an emerging threat of international concern, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Authors: Giovanetti Marta , Branda Francesco , Cella Eleonora , Scarpa Fabio , Bazzani Liliana , Ciccozzi Alessandra , Slavov Svetoslav Nanev , Benvenuto Domenico , Sanna Daria , Casu Marco , Santos Luciane Amorim , Lai Alessia , Zehender Giangluglielmo , Caccuri Francesca , Ianni Andrea , Caruso Arnaldo , Maroutti Antonello , Pascarella Stefano , Borsetti Alessandra , Ciccozzi Massimo
Published: August 2023

This comprehensive review focuses on the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) and its impact as the cause of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Its objective is to provide a cohesive overview of the epidemic history and evolutionary aspects of the virus, with a particular emphasis on its emergence, global spread, and implications for public health. The review delves into the timelines and key milestones of SARS‐CoV‐2's epidemiological progression, shedding light on the challenges encountered during early containment efforts and subsequent waves of transmission. Understanding the evolutionary dynamics of the virus is crucial in monitoring its potential for adaptation and future outbreaks. Genetic characterization of SARS‐CoV‐2 is discussed, with a focus on the emergence of new variants and their implications for transmissibility, severity, and immune evasion. The review highlights the important role of genomic surveillance in tracking viral mutations linked to establishing public health interventions. By analyzing the origins, global spread, and genetic evolution of SARS‐CoV‐2, valuable insights can be gained for the development of effective control measures, improvement of pandemic preparedness, and addressing future emerging infectious diseases of international concern.
Application of synoptic patterns to the definition of seasons in the Republic of Korea
Authors: Kwon Jaeil , Choi Youngeun
Published: August 2023

In this study, we applied the classification of synoptic patterns to define seasons. Principal component analysis (PCA) and k‐means clustering were employed to classify the synoptic patterns. In this analysis, seven synoptic patterns were classified, corresponding to two patterns exhibiting winter, spring, and autumn‐like patterns each and one representing summer‐like patterns. The climate characteristics of each synoptic pattern for summer, spring, and autumn were clearly different from each other. The two winter patterns were considered as one season. Seasons were defined based on the occurrence frequency of each synoptic pattern, using the 11‐day window size. Accordingly, the year was divided into first spring, second spring, summer, first autumn, second autumn, and winter. The onset dates of the corresponding seasons were March 8, April 15, June 6, September 8, October 23, and November 29, respectively. In the changing trend of the seasons calculated by year, the start date of first spring was earlier by approximately 2.0 days per decade, and second autumn was delayed by 1.7 days per decade. In addition, the length of first autumn increased by 2.9 days per decade, whereas the length of winter decreased by 3.3 days per decade. In this study, a new method that had not previously been applied in Korea was used to define seasons by considering various climate variables. Compared to previous studies, the seasonal definition method used in this study is objective and reflects comprehensive climate characteristics by considering diverse variables. Furthermore, the proposed methodology for defining the seasons for each year is applicable to the study of changes in seasonal onsets.
Investigating the effect of red beetroot powder concentration and processing time on the bioactive compounds composition and antioxidant capacity of beetroot dark chocolate
Authors: Kongor John Edem , de Pascual‐Teresa Sonia , Owusu Margaret , Kyei‐Baffour Vincent Owusu , Oduro‐Yeboah Charlotte
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND

The development of functional foods is receiving increased recognition as a result of the general interest in healthy diets as part of a healthier lifestyle. This project sought to incorporate red beetroot in dark chocolate and investigate the effect of beetroot powder concentration and processing time on the chocolates' bioactive compound composition, antioxidant capacity, and sugar content.

RESULTS

The results showed the presence of bioactive compounds such as betalains and vitamin C in the red beetroot with relatively high antioxidant capacity. The addition of beetroot powder to dark chocolate increased the majority of the bioactive compounds (e.g. catechin, epicatechin, betalains, vitamin C) while at the same time increasing the antioxidant capacity. It also resulted in a decrease in sugar content. Except for vitamin C, processing for more than 12 h had an increasing effect on the majority of the bioactive compounds. Beetroot powder incorporation at a maximum of 30% and processing for 24 h was regarded as optimal.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the present study suggests that red beetroot powder could be added to dark chocolates and processed for more than 12 h to increase the bioactive compounds and overall antioxidant capacity. This research would help to diversify beetroot utilization, reduce post‐harvest losses, and improve the overall health‐promoting properties of dark chocolate for improved consumer well‐being. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Isolation and purification of high polar glycosides from aerial parts of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino by linear gradient counter‐current chromatography coupled with inner‐recycling mode
Authors: Sun Xuan , Xu Li , Yan Huijiao , Li Peng , Hussain Hidayat , Liu Jiguo , Zhang Jinjie , Wang Daijie
Published: August 2023

Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino represents the popular health food and supplemental product with broad pharmacological activities. The highly polar glycosides, including flavonoids and saponins, are major effective active components that contain diverse sugar positions and quantities, which result in diverse chemical polarities, making it challenging to separate and isolate these components. The present work described the rapid and efficient linear gradient counter‐current chromatography to preparatively separate glycosides from aboveground parts of G. pentaphyllum. Besides, the ethyl acetate and n‐butanol binary mobile phases were achieved through adjusting associated proportions. Six glycosides, including quercetin‐3‐O‐neohesperidoside (1), kaempferol‐3‐O‐robinobioside (2), kaempferol‐3‐O‐neohesperidoside (3), gypenoside LVI (4), ginsenoside Rb3 (5), and gypenoside XLVI (6), were isolated at the purities greater than 98%. Moreover, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance tandem mass spectrometry were conducted for structural identification. According to our findings, the established linear gradient counter‐current chromatography was an efficient approach to separate the highly polar glycosides from aboveground parts of G. pentaphyllum. Our proposed strategy can be used to separate active compounds from other complex natural products.
Mapping the road to biologics in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: A nationwide drug utilization study
Authors: Thein David , Rosenø Nana A. L. , Nielsen Mia‐Louise , Kristensen Lars Erik , Maul Julia‐Tatjana , Wu Jashin J. , Thomsen Simon Francis , Thyssen Jacob P. , Egeberg Alexander
Published: August 2023

Background

Limited research has been conducted on whether advances in novel biologics and biosimilars have improved the treatment journey preceding biologics.

Objectives

To map the overall treatment journey preceding the initiation of first biologic therapy in patients with psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), as well as the changes over time.

Methods

Using Danish nationwide registries, we included all patients treated with a first‐time biologic (2010–2018) for either PsO or PsA and reported the medical treatment journey. We used Sankey diagrams to illustrate the flow of treatment series.

Results

The study included 2082 patients with PsO (62.5% male) and 1831 patients with PsA (42.3% male). Before biologics, 49.5% treated for PsO and 36.8% treated for PsA received ≥2 type therapies and 59.3% with PsO and 25.5% with PsA received ≥3 treatment series. Median time from first systemic therapy to a biologic was 3.9 years (Q1–Q3, 1.3–4.1) for PsO and 2.1 years (Q1–Q3, 0.6–5.8) for PsA. The majority of patients with PsO (1174 [56.4%]) received multiple treatment series with the same drug, while almost a third of patients with PsA (572 [31.2%]) did the same. Twelve percent of patients with PsO and 6.4% of patients with PsA repeated treatment with a drug they had already stopped for an alternative treatment.

Conclusions

Although most patients are adequately managed, our findings suggest the possibility of a yet too long and complicated treatment journey before starting biologics.
Consumption patterns and usage of selected underutilized legumes in a Ghanaian community
Authors: Agyekum Pearl Boamah , Dombrowski Jannika , Lutterodt Herman E. , Ofosu Isaac W.
Published: August 2023

Underutilized legumes are a good source of plant proteins, but they exhibit a hard‐to‐cook nature and poor digestibility due to the presence of anti‐nutritional factors. This study focused on the factors that drive the utilization of selected underutilized legumes in the Techiman municipality of Ghana. The legumes studied were Vigna subterrenea (Bambara groundnut), Cajanus cajan (Pigeon pea), Phaseolus lunatus (Lima bean), Parkia biglobosa (African Locust bean), and Canavalia gladiata (Sword bean). The survey provided insight into the familiarity, uses, preparation methods, and the extent of knowledge of their nutritional benefits. The demographics of the participants studied were also described, and statistical analysis was done using descriptive statistics. The results showed that the legumes were well recognized despite their underutilized status and they find use primarily in domestic savory food preparation. Consumption was mostly occasional despite the knowledge of its nutritional benefits. Processing mainly referred to boiling with prior removal of foreign materials and soaking in water. Nutrition stood out as the most desired property. Strategies aiming at maximizing the use of these legumes must be considered and developed since these legumes appear to be a formidable resource for combating the prevalent food insecurity in Africa.
Enhanced Charge Carrier Mobility of Evaporated Sb2Se3 via Post‐Treatment for High‐Speed Photodetection
Authors: Xu Yalun , Jia Zhenglin , Li Ruiming , Lin Qianqian
Published: August 2023

Benefiting from excellent optoelectronic properties and facile fabrication, Sb2Se3‐based semiconductor devices have drawn great attention in the last decade; in particular, Sb2Se3‐based solar cells and photodetectors have demonstrated decent performance metrics. However, the current research on Sb2Se3 devices is mainly focused on material and device processing and optimization, and few studies have been conducted on charge transport, which is limiting the further development of Sb2Se3‐based devices. To address this issue, post‐treatment techniques are introduced and their influence on the charge carrier dynamics of Sb2Se3 thin films is fully investigated. The charge carrier mobility of evaporated Sb2Se3 thin films is increased by an order of magnitude from 0.02 to 0.4 cm2 V−1 s−1 after the Se post‐treatment. Based on the optimized Sb2Se3 thin films, ultra‐fast photodiodes are further developed and a record‐fast response of 37 ns is achieved. Prototypical devices also demonstrated great potential for high‐speed photodetection in practical applications.
In‐Plane 1.5 µm Distributed Feedback Lasers Selectively Grown on (001) SOI
Authors: Xue Ying , Li Jie , Wang Yi , Xu Ke , Xing Zengshan , Wong Kam Sing , Tsang Hon Ki , Lau Kei May
Published: August 2023

Hetero‐epitaxy for integration of efficient III‐V lasers on silicon can enable wafer‐scale silicon photonic integrated circuits, which can unleash the full advantages of silicon photonics in production on large silicon wafers with low cost, high throughput, and large bandwidth and large‐scale integration. In this work, efficient III‐V distributed feedback (DFB) lasers selectively grown on (001) silicon‐on‐insulator (SOI) wafers are presented. The selective hetero‐epitaxy of sufficiently large areas of III‐V segments allows the demonstration of DFB lasers on the SOI wafer. The fabricated DFB lasers feature a co‐planar configuration with the Si layer, allowing for efficient coupling between III‐V lasers and Si waveguides. The unique III‐V‐on‐insulator structure also provides strong optical confinement for the lasers. Gratings are designed and fabricated with minimal non‐radiative recombination and a simple process with good tolerance. The optically pumped DFB laser has a low lasing threshold of around 17.5 µJ cm−2, stable single‐mode lasing at 1.5 µm, a side‐mode‐suppression‐ratio of over 35 dB, and a spontaneous emission factor of 0.7. The results here demonstrate a step forward towards wafer‐scale integration with monolithically grown lasers, thus outlining the prospect of fully integrated Si photonics.
Lifetime Prediction and Aging Mechanism of Glass Fiber Reinforced Acrylate‐Styrene‐Acrylonitrile/Polycarbonate Composite under Hygrothermal Conditions
Authors: Liu Peijiang , Jin Zhili , Chen Yihua , Chen Zijun , Li Yinle , Xu Huanxiang , Zhao Zhenbo , Zhu Gang , Liu Zilian , Li Jinlei
Published: August 2023

The development of fifth‐generation technology has resulted in increased demand for materials with low dielectric losses and superior thermal and mechanical properties. However, ensuring the widespread use of such materials by investigating their aging mechanisms and operating lifetimes remains challenging. In this study, a glass‐fiber (GF)‐reinforced acrylate‐styrene‐acrylonitrile/polycarbonate (ASA/GF/PC) composite is designed and comprehensively investigated its aging behavior, mechanism, and service lifetime under long‐term hygrothermal conditions. Based on the general Peck model, the composite maintains a high level of quality for over 10 years, including under harsh conditions of 40 °C and 80% relative humidity. The aging mechanism is primarily ascribed to cracking between the GF fibers and matrix, the breaking of chemical bonds, the generation of new cross‐linked domains, and physical aging. These findings provide valuable insights into the long‐term utilization of ASA/GF/PC composites in harsh environments.
Simultaneous Imaging and Photodynamic‐Enhanced Photothermal Inhibition of Cancer Cells Using a Multifunctional System Combining Indocyanine Green and Polydopamine‐Preloaded Upconversion Luminescent Nanoparticles
Authors: Ye Sihao , Zhang Wenjing , Shen Yao , Han Shuai , Hu Hai , Liang Yuexiang , Lin Zijian , Jin Yuepeng , Lawson Tom , Liu Yong , Cai Zhenzhai
Published: August 2023

This work introduces a novel multifunctional system called UPIPF (upconversion‐polydopamine‐indocyanine‐polyethylene‐folic) for upconversion luminescent (UCL) imaging of cancer cells using near‐infrared (NIR) illumination. The system demonstrates efficient inhibition of human hepatoma (HepG2) cancer cells through a combination of NIR‐triggered photodynamic therapy (PDT) and enhanced photothermal therapy (PTT). Initially, upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) are synthesized using a simple thermal decomposition method. To improve their biocompatibility and aqueous dispersibility, polydopamine (PDA) is introduced to the UCNP via a ligand exchange technique. Indocyanine green (ICG) molecules are electrostatically attached to the surface of the UCNP‐polydopamine (UCNP@PDAs) complex to enhance the PDT and PTT effects. Moreover, polyethylene glycol (PEG)‐modified folic acid (FA) is incorporated into the UCNP‐polydopamine‐indocyanine‐green (UCNP@PDA‐ICGs) nanoparticles to enhance their targeting capability against cancer cells. The excellent UCL properties of these UCNP enable the final UCNP@PDA‐ICG‐PEG‐FA nanoparticles (referred to as UPIPF) to serve as a potential candidate for efficient anticancer drug delivery, real‐time imaging, and early diagnosis of cancer cells. Furthermore, the UPIPF system exhibits PDT‐assisted PTT effects, providing a convenient approach for efficient cancer cell inhibition (more than 99% of cells are killed). The prepared UPIPF system shows promise for early diagnosis and simultaneous treatment of malignant cancers.
Isolation, biochemical characterization, and genome sequencing of two high‐quality genomes of a novel chitinolytic Jeongeupia species
Authors: Arnold Nathanael D. , Garbe Daniel , Brück Thomas B.
Published: August 2023

Chitin is the second most abundant polysaccharide worldwide as part of arthropods' exoskeletons and fungal cell walls. Low concentrations in soils and sediments indicate rapid decomposition through chitinolytic organisms in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The enacting enzymes, so‐called chitinases, and their products, chitooligosaccharides, exhibit promising characteristics with applications ranging from crop protection to cosmetics, medical, textile, and wastewater industries. Exploring novel chitinolytic organisms is crucial to expand the enzymatical toolkit for biotechnological chitin utilization and to deepen our understanding of diverse catalytic mechanisms. In this study, we present two long‐read sequencing‐based genomes of highly similar Jeongeupia species, which have been screened, isolated, and biochemically characterized from chitin‐amended soil samples. Through metabolic characterization, whole‐genome alignments, and phylogenetic analysis, we could demonstrate how the investigated strains differ from the taxonomically closest strain Jeongeupia naejangsanensis BIO‐TAS4‐2T (DSM 24253). In silico analysis and sequence alignment revealed a multitude of highly conserved chitinolytic enzymes in the investigated Jeongeupia genomes. Based on these results, we suggest that the two strains represent a novel species within the genus of Jeongeupia, which may be useful for environmentally friendly N‐acetylglucosamine production from crustacean shell or fungal biomass waste or as a crop protection agent.
CDC data: Gun suicide rates reached all‐time high last year
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: August 2023

In 2022, the gun suicide rate among Black teens surpassed its rate among white teens for first time on record, according to newly released provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, the nation's overall gun suicide rate increased 1.6%, reaching an all‐time high.
When the clinician becomes the client
Authors: Greaney Thomas M.
Published: August 2023

In June 2023, my therapist retired.
Feeding topologies for half‐mode substrate‐integrated waveguide bandpass filter
Authors: Weng Lin‐Yang , Tu Wen‐Hua
Published: August 2023

Two novel feeding structures for half‐mode substrate‐integrated waveguide are proposed in this letter. A bending coupled‐line bandpass filter (BPF) by magnetic coupling and a bending coupled‐line BPF by electric coupling are presented based on the respective coupling structures. By observing the cavity field distributions, magnetic coupling or electric coupling between the feeding line and cavity is investigated. Two BPF prototypes are designed and tested to validate the design concept with good agreement.
Synthesis and Analysis of Well‐Defined Copolymers via by Combination ROP Technique
Authors: Yildiko Umit , Tanriverdi Aslihan Aycan , Ata Ahmet Cagri , Cakmak Ismail , Tekes Ahmet Turan
Published: August 2023

Herein, the poly(ɛ‐caprolactone)‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(ɛ‐caprolactone) (PCL‐PEG‐PCL) macro xanthate reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer agent is obtained on the polyethylene glycol (PEG) (600, 1000, and 1500 g mol−1) block, after the addition of ɛ‐caprolactone via ring‐opening polymerization. Then, poly (styrene‐b‐ɛ‐caprolactone‐b‐PEG‐b‐ɛ‐caprolactone‐b‐styrene) pentablock copolymer is synthesized reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) solution polymerization technique via mediated PCL‐PEG‐PCL xanthate macro‐RAFT agents and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. The products are demonstrated using Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FT‐IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR), carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (13C‐NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analyses. First‐order linear kinetic graphs of the reaction mechanism are observed with an increase in molecular weights (MW) between 16 000 and 36 000 g mol−1. The narrow dispersity (Đ = 1.40–1.48) polymer formation of styrene (St) controlled by RAFT polymerization confirms the increase in molecular weight according to the polymerization time. The reaction kinetics are first order and the rate constants are found to be k1 = 6.16 × 10−4s−1, k2 = 6.91 × 10−4 s−1 and k3 = 7.33 × 10−4 s−1. Thermal and spectroscopic analyses prove that the reactions are carried out successfully.
Implementing a guideline‐based education and exercise program for people with knee and hip osteoarthritis—Practical experiences of providers and clinic leaders: A qualitative study
Authors: Kania‐Richmond Ania , Jones C. Allyson , Martyn Jason , Hastings Staci , Ellis Kira , Jessiman‐Perreault Geneviève , Hart David A. , Robert Jill , Slomp Mel , Beaupre Lauren A.
Published: August 2023

Background

The Good Life with osteoArthritis: Denmark (GLA:DTM) program is an evidence‐based education and exercise program designed for individuals with symptomatic hip and knee osteoarthritis. Launched in Denmark, it has been implemented across Europe, Australia, and North America. The authors assessed the feasibility of GLADTM implementation in Canada (Alberta) by applying the RE‐AIM framework. An evaluation objective was to identify factors impacting the implementation of the program in both publicly funded and private rehabilitation settings, based on the experience of the initial cohort of providers and clinic leaders who set up and delivered the program.

Methods

Semi‐structured telephone interviews were conducted with GLA:DTM‐trained providers, managers, or directors of clinics across Alberta. Braun and Clarke's thematic approach was used to code the data and identify emergent categories and themes. Those relevant to the implementation were identified and by consensus, categorized as facilitators of and challenges to the implementation process.

Results

Eighteen GLA:DTM ‐trained providers and three clinic leaders from a range of clinical settings completed an interview. Seven common themes emerged in relation to implementation across the study settings. Three themes reflect facilitators of implementation (program acceptability by providers, multi‐level support mechanisms, and program flexibility) and four implementation challenges (direct and indirect costs, lack of external referrals, program access issues, and lack of suitable space). The initial implementation of the program was exploratory with limited focus on long‐term sustainability.

Conclusions

The GLA:DTM program is a translatable program that can be implemented with relative ease in both public and private rehabilitation settings; however, costs, space constraints, and having an adequate referral base were noted challenges. Further work is warranted to explore equitable access across public and private settings and program sustainability.
Examination of Muskellunge overwinter survival and growth in an earthen extensive culture pond
Authors: Koupal Keith D. , Miller Marcus , Wuellner Melissa R.
Published: August 2023

Objective

Track cohort survival, individual growth, and PIT tag retention, as well as relative growth rate, from fall to the following spring for age-0 Muskellunge Esox masquinongy held in an extensive culture pond.

Methods

A total of 806 age-0 Muskellunge were provided a 12-mm PIT tag in October 2021 and placed into a 0.1-ha pond. Individual total length (mm) was recorded for each fish. When the pond was drained in March 2022, an assessment of survival and PIT tag retention was calculated for the cohort, as well as assessment of mean individual growth and relative growth rate.

Result

Muskellunge experienced high survival (91.9%) but low individual mean growth (21.7 ± 0.2 mm [mean ± SE]). The mean length of surviving Muskellunge (267.8 ± 0.9 mm) was significantly greater than nonsurviving Muskellunge (251.4 ± 3.1 mm). However, smaller surviving Muskellunge did exhibit slightly improved growth compared to individuals that were initially longer.

Conclusion

The results provide an expectation for overwinter survival and growth in an extensive culture pond. This can assist managers in developing expectations on the numbers and length of Muskellunge that will be available to stock the following spring, which has largely been unreported previously.
Why are larger fish farther upstream? Testing multiple hypotheses using Silver Chub in two Midwestern United States riverscapes
Authors: Perkin Joshuah S. , Kočovský Patrick M. , Steffensmeier Zachary D. , Gido Keith B.
Published: August 2023

Objective

Three competing hypotheses might explain the widely documented intrapopulation larger-fish-upstream phenomenon. The age-phased recruitment hypothesis posits that fish spawn downstream and move upstream as they age and grow, the static population with growth and mortality gradients hypothesis posits that fish spawn throughout a riverscape and growth is greater upstream while recruitment is greater downstream, and the colonization cycle hypothesis posits that fish spawn upstream, larvae drift downstream, and individuals move upstream as they age and grow.

Methods

We tested for the larger-fish-upstream pattern using populations of Silver Chub Macrhybopsis storeriana in the Arkansas and Ohio rivers, as well as investigated longitudinal variation in reproductive investment (Arkansas River), age structure for adult fish (Arkansas River), and number and occurrence of age-0 fish (Ohio River).

Result

The larger-fish-upstream pattern was temporally persistent in both riverscapes. In the Arkansas River, reproductive investment was greatest upstream, where initiation of spawning likely occurred based on gonadosomatic indices. Adult fish were most numerous in the Arkansas River 125–175 km upstream from Kaw Reservoir, with age-2 fish numbers peaking farther upstream compared with age-1 fish. In the Ohio River, age-0 fish counts increased downstream and were rare among the shortest river fragments (<100 km) between lock-and-dam structures. These findings are inconsistent with the age-phased recruitment hypothesis based on upstream spawning in the Arkansas River and inconsistent with the static population with growth and mortality gradients hypothesis based on virtual absence of age-2 fish downstream (Arkansas River) and age-0 fish upstream (Ohio River). The most likely explanation for longitudinal variation in Silver Chub size distribution is downstream drift of ichthyoplankton followed by net upstream movement (i.e., colonization cycle hypothesis), but formal assessments of movement and ova characteristics require more research.

Conclusion

Managing multidimensional riverscapes requires insight into the mechanisms that regulate upstream-to-downstream patterns in fish populations, and our work underscores a potential size-related benefit to maintaining broadscale longitudinal connectivity.
Associations of gene expression in blood with BMI and weight changes among women in the Norwegian Women and Cancer postgenome cohort
Authors: Baiju Nikita , Rylander Charlotta , Sætrom Pål , Sandanger Torkjel M. , Nøst Therese H.
Published: August 2023

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate associations between blood gene expression profiles and (1) current BMI and (2) past weight changes (WCs) among women who had never been diagnosed with cancer in the Norwegian Women and Cancer (NOWAC) postgenome cohort.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study (N = 1694) used gene expression profiles and information from three questionnaires: Q1 (baseline), Q2 (follow‐up), and Q3 (blood collection). The authors performed gene‐wise linear regression models to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and functional enrichment analyses to identify their biological functions.

Results

When assessing BMIQ3, the study observed 2394, 769, and 768 DEGs for the obesity‐versus‐normal weight, obesity‐versus‐overweight, and overweight‐versus‐normal weight comparisons, respectively. Up to 169 DEGs were observed when investigating WCQ3‐Q1 (mean = 7 years, range = 5.5–14 years) and WCQ3‐Q2 (mean = 1 year, range = <1 month–9 years) in interaction models with BMI categories, of which 1 to 169 genes were associated with WCs and 0 to 9 were associated with interaction effects of BMI and WCs. Biological functions of BMI‐associated DEGs were linked to metabolism, erythrocytes, oxidative stress, and immune processes, whereas WC‐associated DEGs were linked to signal transduction.

Conclusions

Many BMI‐associated but few WC‐associated DEGs were identified in the blood of women in Norway. The biological functions of BMI‐associated DEGs likely reflect systemic impacts of obesity, especially blood reticulocyte‐erythrocyte ratio shifts.
Who benefits most from outpatient lifestyle intervention? An IMI‐SOPHIA study on pediatric individuals living with overweight and obesity
Authors: Prinz Nicole , Pomares‐Millan Hugo , Dannemann Almut , Giordano Giuseppe N. , Joisten Christine , Körner Antje , Weghuber Daniel , Weihrauch‐Blüher Susann , Wiegand Susanna , Holl Reinhard W. , Lanzinger Stefanie ,   the APV initiative and the Stratification of Obesity Phenotypes to Optimize Future Therapy (SOPHIA) consortium
Published: August 2023

Objective

The first‐line approach for childhood obesity is lifestyle intervention (LI); however, success varies. This study aimed first to identify distinct subgroups of response in children living with overweight and obesity and second to elucidate predictors for subclusters.

Methods

Based on the obesity patient follow‐up registry the APV (Adipositas‐Patienten‐Verlaufsdokumentation) initiative, a total of 12,453 children and adolescents (median age: 11.5 [IQR: 9.7–13.2] years; BMI z score [BMIz]: 2.06 [IQR: 1.79–2.34]; 52.6% girls) living with overweight/obesity and participating in outpatient LI were studied. Longitudinal k‐means clustering was used to identify individual BMIz response curve for up to 2 years after treatment initiation. Multinomial logistic regression was used to elucidate predictors for cluster membership.

Results

A total of 36.3% of children and adolescents experienced “no BMIz loss.” The largest subcluster (44.8%) achieved “moderate BMIz loss,” with an average delta‐BMIz of −0.23 (IQR: −0.33 to −0.14) at study end. A total of 18.9% had a “pronounced BMIz loss” up to −0.61 (IQR: −0.76 to −0.49). Younger age and lower BMIz at LI initiation, larger initial BMIz loss, and less social deprivation were linked with higher likelihood for moderate or pronounced BMIz loss compared with the no BMIz loss cluster (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

These results support the importance of patient‐tailored intervention and earlier treatment escalation in high‐risk individuals who have little chance of success.
Intermittent dietary carbohydrate restriction versus calorie restriction and cardiometabolic profiles: A randomized trial
Authors: Dou Yalan , Jiang Yuan , Chen Xiaotian , Zhang Yi , Wang Yin , Chen Hongyan , He Wennan , Yan Weili
Published: August 2023

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an intermittent low‐carbohydrate diet (ILCD) versus calorie restriction (ICR) in young populations and potential mechanisms.

Methods

Thirty‐four participants aged 9 to 30 years with cardiometabolic risk were randomized to receive a self‐administered 2‐week ILCD (carbohydrate intake ≤ 50 g/d on seven nonconsecutive days) or ICR (500–600 kcal/d for two consecutive days per week). Differences in changes in obesity measures, glycemic and lipid profiles, gut microbiota composition, and three serum biomarkers were compared.

Results

The ILCD and ICR similarly reduced body weight, waist circumference, fasting glucose, insulin, postprandial glucose variation, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1, free fatty acid, and fibroblast growth factor 21, whereas ILCD produced significantly different alterations in the following outcomes compared with ICR: greater increases in low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol (−0.36 mmol/L, 95% CI: −0.68 to −0.04; −0.40 mmol/L, 95% CI: −0.73 to −0.06) and greater decrease in triglyceride (0.20 mmol/L, 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.37). Actinobacteria and Bifidobacterium reduced after ILCD but not ICR; and the reductions strongly correlated with changes in fasting glucose (both r = 0.84) and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = −0.81 and −0.72).

Conclusions

This study found no evidence of differences in changes from baseline in obesity measures, glucose regulation, and inflammation between ILCD and ICR, despite trends in reduction in those parameters. However, there seemed to be some differences in responses in lipids and gut microbiota.
Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis: Macrolide in the Treatment of Chronic Rhinosinusitis After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Authors: Shu Fu , Li Chan‐Xiu , Zhang Feng , Peng Mingwei , Shi Lei , Li Linglong , Xiong Juan , Mu Zengyi , Wang Yaping , Mao Dehong
Published: August 2023

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of macrolide antibiotics therapy in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) receiving endoscopic sinus surgery.

Data Sources

PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library.

Review Methods

The electronic databases were comprehensively searched on June 2, 2022, for randomized controlled trials on macrolide antibiotics in the treatment of patients undergoing CRS endoscopic surgery. The primary outcome measures were the sinonasal outcome test (SNOT) score and the visual analog scale (VAS) score. The secondary outcome measures were the nasal endoscopy score (NES), the sinus computed tomography score, and adverse events.

Results

A total of 8 studies were included, involving 606 patients who used macrolide for a long time. Meta‐analysis showed that no significant difference was observed in SNOT (standardized mean difference [SMD] = −0.13; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.38 to 0.13,I2 = 0%) and VAS (SMD = −0.10; 95% CI, −0.88 to 0.68,I2 = 81%) between the macrolide and placebo groups. However, macrolide outperformed the placebo in improving NES (SMD = −0.32; 95% CI, −0.62 to −0.03,I2 = 21%). The use of macrolide did not increase the incidence of adverse events.

Conclusion

Long‐term use of macrolide after CRS surgery may not significantly improve the quality of life and disease severity of the patients but may play a role in improving postoperative NES in patients with CRS. There is still no sufficient evidence to determine whether the disease phenotype of CRS or the patient's race will affect the efficacy of long‐term use of macrolide after CRS.
Preparation of high‐density polyethylene/montmorillonite nanocomposites with high gas barrier by micro‐nano torsional laminated extrusion
Authors: Ma Yitao , Yang Jianing , Wang Xiulei , Tian Mingming , Yang Weimin , Xie Pengcheng
Published: August 2023

High‐density polyethylene (HDPE) is a popular material for use in medical, packaging, and construction applications due to its low cost and good processing characteristics. Its chemical stability and resistance make it particularly suitable for use in storage tanks for chemicals and gases. However, its low gas barrier properties and limited strength have hindered its widespread use in such applications. This study puts forward a novel approach, micro‐nano torsional laminated extrusion (MNTLE), for preparing HDPE/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites with improved mechanical and gas barrier properties. The MNTLE method yields a more uniform of fillers in the composites, which leads to greater mechanical strength (a 46.18% increase in tensile strength and a 27.37% rise in elongation break), along with a higher crystallinity (a 16.27% increase) compared to compression molding. Moreover, the improved dispersion and orientation of the Nano‐MMT in composites fabricated by MNTLE lead to a 41.9% reduction in oxygen permeability compared to press‐molded composites. Consequently, this study introduces an innovative processing method that enhances the mechanical and gas barrier characteristics of the material, thus offering potential applications in the manufacturing of lining materials for Type IV hydrogen storage tanks.

Highlights

The MNTLE method is used to process composites.

The MNTLE significantly improves the dispersibility of the filler.

Mechanical properties of composites processed by MNTLE are enhanced.

The crystallinity of the reinforced composite increased by 16.27%.

The oxygen permeability of the composite prepared by MNTLE is reduced.
GeLC‐FAIMS‐MS workflow for in‐depth middle‐down proteomics
Authors: Takemori Ayako , Kaulich Philipp T. , Konno Ryo , Kawashima Yusuke , Hamazaki Yuto , Hoshino Ayuko , Tholey Andreas , Takemori Nobuaki
Published: August 2023

Middle‐down proteomics (MDP) is an analytical approach in which protein samples are digested with proteases such as Glu‐C to generate large peptides (>3 kDa) that are analyzed by mass spectrometry (MS). This method is useful for characterizing high‐molecular‐weight proteins that are difficult to detect by top‐down proteomics (TDP), in which intact proteins are analyzed by MS. In this study, we applied GeLC‐FAIMS‐MS, a multidimensional separation workflow that combines gel‐based prefractionation with LC‐FAIMS MS, for deep MDP. Middle‐down peptides generated by optimized limited Glu‐C digestion conditions were first size‐fractionated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, followed by C4 reversed‐phase liquid chromatography separation and additional ion mobility fractionation, resulting in a significant increase in peptide length detectable by MS. In addition to global analysis, the GeLC‐FAIMS‐MS concept can also be applied to targeted MDP, where only proteins in the desired molecular weight range are gel‐fractionated and their Glu‐C digestion products are analyzed, as demonstrated by targeted analysis of integrins in exosomes. In‐depth MDP achieved by global and targeted GeLC‐FAIMS‐MS supports the exploration of proteoform information not covered by conventional TDP by increasing the number of detectable protein groups or post‐translational modifications (PTMs) and improving the sequence coverage.
IU1 and enzalutamide combination yields synergistic effects on castration‐resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Zhang Yifan , Liao Yuanpeng , Luo Mayao , Ye Yuedian , Xu Zhuofan , Hou Wenli , Liu Ruiyu , Zhai Qiliang , Lv Shidong , Wei Qiang
Published: August 2023

Background

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is one of the main treatment modalities for prostate cancer (PCa); however, almost all patients treated with ADT eventually progress into castration‐resistant PCa (CRPC). Although second‐generation androgen receptor (AR) antagonists, such as enzalutamide, have been approved for CRPC treatment, AR signaling in CRPC cells is reactivated through multiple mechanisms, resulting in resistance to treatment and tumor progression with a very poor prognosis. The present study aimed to explore the anticancer effect of a treatment combining AR antagonist enzalutamide with AR degrader IU1 on PCa cells.

Methods

The joint effects of enzalutamide and IU1 on PCa cell proliferation and apoptosis and associated cell signaling were evaluated in vitro. Mechanistically, the ubiquitination level and half‐life of AR were examined under the combination treatment. The binding of IU1 and enzalutamide to AR was further verified using cellular thermal shift analysis and isothermal dose–response curve fingerprinting.

Results

The combination of IU1 and three AR antagonists showed synergistic effects in different prostate cell lines. IU1 and enzalutamide synergistically promoted the degradation of AR and AR‐V7 proteins, as well as suppressed the expression levels of AR and AR‐V7 downstream target genes at the transcriptional and protein levels. The combination also synergistically blocked the PCa cell cycle and promoted apoptosis in PCa cell lines. Mechanistically, the combination promoted increased levels of AR ubiquitination. In CRPC cell lines and in the presence of increased androgen concentrations, enzalutamide was still able to bind AR competitively with androgens, reducing the stability of AR and thus promoting the degradation effect of IU1 on AR, synergistically producing an inhibitory effect on PCa cells.

Conclusion

Taken together, our findings suggest that the combination of AR degrader and enzalutamide potentially represents a new therapeutic strategy for CRPC.
Improved multimer prediction using massive sampling with AlphaFold in CASP15
Authors: Wallner Björn
Published: August 2023

AlphaFold2 has revolutionized structure prediction by achieving high accuracy comparable to experimentally determined structures. However, there is still room for improvement, especially for challenging cases like multimers. A key to the success of AlphaFold is its ability to assess and rank its own predictions. Our basic idea for the Wallner group in CASP15 was to exploit this excellent scoring function in AlphaFold by massive sampling. To achieve this goal, we conducted AlphaFold runs using six different settings, using templates, without templates, and with an increased number of recycles for both multimer v1 and v2 weights. In all instances, we enabled dropout layers during inference, allowing for sampling of uncertainty and enhancing the diversity of the generated models. In total, 274 289 models were generated for the 38 targets in CASP15, with a median of 4810 models per target. Of these 38 targets, 10 were high quality, 11 were medium quality, 11 were acceptable, and only 6 were incorrect. The improvement over the baseline method, NBIS‐AF2‐multimer, is substantial, with the mean DockQ increasing from 0.43 to 0.56, with several targets showing a DockQ score increase of +0.6 units. Remarkable, considering Wallner and NBIS‐AF2‐multimer were using identical input data. The success can be attributed to the diversified sampling using dropout with different settings and, in particular, the use of multimer v1, which is much more susceptible to sampling compared with v2. The method is available here: http://wallnerlab.org/AFsample/.
Discovery of novel salicylaldehyde derivatives incorporating an α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactone moiety as fungicidal agents
Authors: He Hong‐Wei , Xu Dan , Wu Ke‐Huan , Lu Zheng‐Yi , Liu Xili , Xu Gong
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND

Plant diseases caused by phytopathogenic fungi and oomycetes pose a serious threat to ensuring crop yield and quality. Finding novel fungicidal candidates based on natural products is one of the critical methods for developing effective and environmentally friendly pesticides. In this study, a series of salicylaldehyde derivatives containing an α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactone moiety were designed, synthesized, and their fungicidal activities were evaluated.

RESULTS

The bioassay studies indicated that compound C3 displayed an excellent in vitro activity against Rhizoctonia solani with a half‐maximal effective concentration (EC50) value of 0.65 μg/mL, higher than that of pyraclostrobin (EC50 = 1.44 μg/mL) and comparable to that of carbendazim (EC50 = 0.33 μg/mL). For Valsa mali and Phytophthora capsici, compound C3 also showed good fungicidal activities with EC50 values of 0.91 and 1.33 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, compound C3 exhibited promising protective in vivo activity against R. solani (84.1%) at 100 μg/mL, which was better than that of pyraclostrobin (78.4%). The pot experiment displayed that compound C3 had 74.8% protective efficacy against R. solani at 200 μg/mL, which was comparable to that of validamycin (78.2%). The antifungal mode of action research indicated that compound C3 could change the mycelial morphology and ultrastructure, increase cell membrane permeability, affect respiratory metabolism by binding to complex III, and inhibit the germination and formation of sclerotia, thereby effectively controlling the disease.

CONCLUSION

The present study provides support for the application of these salicylaldehyde derivatives as promising potential pesticides with remarkable and broad‐spectrum fungicidal activities against phytopathogenic fungi and oomycetes in crop protection. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Places and mechanisms of belonging and exclusion: Intra‐EU academic migration in a comparative perspective
Authors: Schäfer Gregor , Schittenhelm Karin , El Dali Yasmin
Published: August 2023

Intra‐EU doctoral migrants are doubly privileged: as EU citizens they enjoy free movement rights and as academics their intra‐EU mobility is promoted by the EU's measures to establish a European Research Area. This paper takes a closer look at these favourable conditions by examining intra‐EU mobile doctoral academics in different places. To understand the experiences of migrating into academic spheres abroad and being on the threshold of entering the academic workforce, our theoretical approach brings together theories of distinctive practices resulting in exclusion and theories of belonging. We consider the knowledge resources, including language abilities, that are required for the doctoral migrants' inclusion in the academic workforce abroad by using a comparative view on places. Our empirical analysis focuses on graduates in the social sciences and humanities who moved from Germany to France or the Netherlands during their educational trajectories. Suggesting a place‐based comparative approach, we contribute to the debates about barriers to intra‐EU academic migration. We explain (i) place‐specific obstacles due to differing understandings of ‘appropriate’ knowledge and language abilities in higher education that affect social and academic life and (ii) how these barriers result in the doctoral migrants being in‐ and excluded in academic environments abroad.