bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ethene‐1,1‐disulfonyl Difluoride (EDSF) for SuFEx Click Chemistry: Synthesis of SuFExable 1,1‐Bissulfonylfluoride Substituted Cyclobutene Hubs
Authors: Smedley Christopher J. , Giel Marie‐Claire , Fallon Thomas , Moses John E.
Published: May 2023

We present the synthesis of 1,1‐bis(fluorosulfonyl)‐2‐(pyridin‐1‐ium‐1‐yl)ethan‐1‐ide, a bench‐stable precursor to ethene‐1,1‐disulfonyl difluoride (EDSF). The novel SuFEx reagent, EDSF, is demonstrated in the preparation of 26 unique 1,1‐bissulfonylfluoride substituted cyclobutenes via a cycloaddition reaction. The regioselective click cycloaddition reaction is rapid, straightforward, and highly efficient, enabling the generation of highly functionalized 4‐membered ring (4MR) carbocycles. These carbocycles are valuable structural motifs found in numerous bioactive natural products and pharmaceutically relevant small molecules. Additionally, we showcase diversification of the novel cyclobutene cores through selective Cs2CO3‐activated SuFEx click chemistry between a single S−F group and an aryl alcohol, yielding the corresponding sulfonate ester products with high efficiency. Finally, density functional theory calculations offer mechanistic insights about the reaction pathway.
Effects of self‐assembled nucleating agent on the crystallization behavior, thermal properties, and mechanical properties of polylactic acid
Authors: Guo Xinyi , Luo Chunyan , Fang Minggang , Sun Jianxin , Chen Mingyuan
Published: May 2023

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable polyester, but its low crystallization rate and excessive embrittlement limit its application. Decanedioic acid 1,10‐bis (2‐benzoylhydrazide) (TMC‐300) as an effective nucleating agent of PLA will induce PLA epitaxial crystallization and improve the crystallization rate of PLA. This article studied the promoting behavior of TMC‐300 with different contents in composite systems on PLA crystallization. The results showed that with the increase of TMC‐300 content, the crystallinity can be significantly increased, up to 22 times, and t1/2 significantly decreases. Meanwhile, with the addition of TMC‐300, the typical spherical crystal morphology of PLA gradually became attached to TMC‐300 fibrous crystal morphology. In terms of mechanical properties, the tensile strength reached its maximum at 0.5 wt% of TMC‐300 content, increasing from 60.60 MPa (PLA) to 74.59 MPa (0.5‐TMC‐300), an increase of 23.09%. At this time, due to the reduction in spherical crystal size, the elongation at break also increased significantly. However, the thermal stability of PLA composites deteriorated with the increase of nucleating agent content due to the low thermal decomposition temperature of TMC‐300 itself, and the Tmax decreased from 372°C (PLA) to 353°C (5‐TMC‐300), a decrease of 19°C.
Accelerated Workflow for Antiperovskite‐based Solid State Electrolytes
Authors: Sjølin Benjamin H. , Jørgensen Peter B. , Fedrigucci Andrea , Vegge Tejs , Bhowmik Arghya , Castelli Ivano E.
Published: May 2023

Invited for this month's cover picture is the group of Prof. Ivano E. Castelli. The cover picture shows a battery unfolding in its main components and the charge density, which is used to accelerate the estimation of the ionic mobility of the solid‐state electrolyte. Read the full text of the Research Article at 10.1002/batt.202300041.
A 3D paper microfluidic device for enzyme‐linked assays: Application to DNA analysis
Authors: Toldrà Anna , Chondrogiannis Georgios , Hamedi Mahiar M.
Published: May 2023

A paper microfluidic device capable of conducting enzyme‐linked assays is presented: a microfluidic enzyme‐linked paper analytical device (μEL‐PAD). The system exploits a wash‐free sandwich coupling to form beads/analyte/enzyme complexes, which are subsequently added to the vertical flow device composed of wax‐printed paper, waxed nitrocellulose membrane and absorbent/barrier layers. The nitrocellulose retains the bead complexes without disrupting the flow, enabling for an efficient washing step. The entrapped complexes then interact with the chromogenic substrate stored on the detection paper, generating a color change on it, quantified with an open‐source smartphone software. This is a universal paper‐based technology suitable for high‐sensitivity quantification of many analytes, such as proteins or nucleic acids, with different enzyme‐linked formats. Here, the potential of the μEL‐PAD is demonstrated to detect DNA from Staphylococcus epidermidis. After generation of isothermally amplified genomic DNA from bacteria, Biotin/FITC‐labeled products were analyzed with the μEL‐PAD, exploiting streptavidin‐coated beads and antiFITC‐horseradish peroxidase. The μEL‐PAD achieved a limit of detection (LOD) and quantification <10 genome copies/μL, these being at least 70‐ and 1000‐fold lower, respectively, than a traditional lateral flow assay (LFA) exploiting immobilized streptavidin and antiFITC‐gold nanoparticles. It is envisaged that the device will be a good option for low‐cost, simple, quantitative, and sensitive paper‐based point‐of‐care testing.
KHC2O4·B(OH)3: A nonlinear optical crystal with large birefringence in the short‐wavelength ultraviolet region
Authors: Li Yang , Lee Jihyun , Ok Kang Min
Published: May 2023

Exploring nonlinear optical crystals with large birefringence in the short‐wavelength ultraviolet (SWUV) regions (≤300 nm) is a valuable pursuit. Herein, KHC2O4·B(OH)3, which is composed of infinite [HC2O4]− and [B(OH)3] chains, was successfully grown via the slow evaporation method. The [HC2O4]− and [B(OH)3] chains endow KHC2O4·B(OH)3 with the largest birefringence (0.164@1064 nm) of all B(OH)3‐containing compounds that have been reported in the SWUV regions. Moreover, it possesses a moderate second‐harmonic generation response (0.3 × KH2PO4) and a short UV cutoff edge of 254 nm. The electron localization function diagram indicates the large birefringence originates from the HC2O4 and B(OH)3 groups. This work provides a new method to investigate crystals with large birefringence in the B(OH)3‐based oxalate system.
Association of C‐reactive protein gene polymorphisms with the risk of ischemic stroke: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Chen Wei , Zhu Xiaomin , Hu Yueqiang , Hong Huangzhong , Kuang Longjiao , Liang Ni , Zhu Jianmin , Jiang Lingfei , Wu Lin
Published: May 2023

Background and purpose

The heterogeneous, complex condition known as ischemic stroke (IS) is brought on by the interaction of a number of risk factors and genetic variables. The association between C‐reactive protein (CRP) gene polymorphisms and IS has, however, been the subject of inconsistent findings. Therefore, we conducted a meta‐analysis to comprehensively address possible associations of CRP genes with the risk of IS.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search for all the published articles was performed in electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar from January 1, 1950 to June 30, 2022. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% Confidence interval (CIs) along with fixed/random effect models were used to calculate summary estimates.

Results

Twelve case‐control studies totalling 3880 IS cases and 5233 controls were included for the association of CRP gene polymorphisms (rs1800947, rs1130864, rs3093059, rs2794521, and rs1205). Across all genotyping models, we discovered that rs1130864, rs3093059, rs2794521, and rs1205SNPs were not substantially related to IS risk. A trend for significant association for rs1800947 under dominant (OR = 1.19; 95% CI = 0.97 to 1.48), recessive (OR = 1.49; 95% CI = 0.71 to 3.14) and allelic model (OR = 1.21; 95% CI = 0.99 to 1.48) was observed. However, protective association for rs1130864 under dominant (OR = 0.80; 95% CI = 0.70 to 0.91) and rs3093059 under allelic model (OR = 0.18; 95% CI = 0.14 to 0.22) was found.

Conclusion

Our thorough study revealed that the CRP gene variants rs1800947, rs1130864, rs3093059, rs2794521, and rs1205 could not be related to the risk of ischemic stroke. However, additional research must focus on the rs1800947 polymorphisms in a particular group.
Does resource bricolage foster SMEs' competitive advantage and financial performance? A resource‐based perspective
Authors: Abid Nabila , Dowling Michael , Ceci Federica , Aftab Junaid
Published: May 2023

Small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies strive to achieve and sustain their financial and competitive positions in a dynamic resource‐constrained environment. The concept of resource bricolage has received little attention in the literature on emerging economies. To fill this gap, we draw perspectives from the resource‐based view to examine the impact of resource bricolage on the competitive advantage and financial performance of SMEs in Pakistan. We argue that organizational innovativeness functions as a mediator in the relationship between resource bricolage, financial performance, and competitive advantage, while entrepreneurial orientation simultaneously moderates the relationship between resource bricolage and organizational innovativeness. We collected data from 398 SMEs in Pakistan and analyzed these relationships using the partial least squares method. Our results suggest that resource bricolage effectively promotes the financial performance of SMEs and helps them gain a competitive advantage. The relationship is mediated by organizational innovativeness, which accelerates financial performance and competitive advantage. Entrepreneurial orientation moderates the resource bricolage–organizational innovativeness relationship, but it is only effective when a high level of resource bricolage is in place. Our study suggests that SMEs operating under similar socioeconomic environments must efficiently focus on resources embedded in the firm and utilize them to achieve competitive advantage and enhance financial performance. Our study highlights the critical need for research on organizational innovativeness in emerging contexts and proposes significant theoretical and managerial implications.
Genetically engineered neural stem cells (NSCs) therapy for neurological diseases; state‐of‐the‐art
Authors: Lutfi Ismaeel Ghufran , Makki AlHassani Olfet Jabbar , S. Alazragi Reem , Hussein Ahmed Ammar , H. Mohamed Asma'a , Yasir Jasim Nisreen , Hassan Shari Falah , Almashhadani Haider Abdulkareem
Published: May 2023

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are multipotent stem cells with remarkable self‐renewal potential and also unique competencies to differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes (ODCs) and improve the cellular microenvironment. In addition, NSCs secret diversity of mediators, including neurotrophic factors (e.g., BDNF, NGF, GDNF, CNTF, and NT‐3), pro‐angiogenic mediators (e.g., FGF‐2 and VEGF), and anti‐inflammatory biomolecules. Thereby, NSCs transplantation has become a reasonable and effective treatment for various neurodegenerative disorders by their capacity to induce neurogenesis and vasculogenesis and dampen neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Nonetheless, various drawbacks such as lower migration and survival and less differential capacity to a particular cell lineage concerning the disease pathogenesis hinder their application. Thus, genetic engineering of NSCs before transplantation is recently regarded as an innovative strategy to bypass these hurdles. Indeed, genetically modified NSCs could bring about more favored therapeutic influences post‐transplantation in vivo, making them an excellent option for neurological disease therapy. This review for the first time offers a comprehensive review of the therapeutic capability of genetically modified NSCs rather than naïve NSCs in neurological disease beyond brain tumors and sheds light on the recent progress and prospect in this context.
Overexpression of RAB31 in gastric cancer is associated with released exosomes and increased tumor cell invasion and metastasis
Authors: Wu Shan , Tang Chaotao , Zhang Qing‐wei , Zhuang Qian , Ye Xin , Xia Jie , Shi Yan , Ning Min , Dong Zhi‐xia , Wan Xin‐jian
Published: May 2023

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of most common cancers worldwide. Several studies have suggested that Rab31 functions as a membrane vesicle transport regulator; however, the mechanism by which RAB31 regulates exosome secretion and promotes metastasis remains to be clarified.

Methods

We examined the expression of RAB31 protein and mRNA in GC tissue samples via immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction assays, respectively. We elucidated the function of RAB31 in GC cells by constructing a cell model and a pulmonary metastatic model of GC with overexpression of RAB31. Protein mass spectrometry was used to identify the exosomal protein.

Results

RAB31 expression increased at both the protein and mRNA levels with the development of GC. Cells overexpressing RAB31 showed an enhanced ability to migrate in both the in vitro cell model and the pulmonary metastatic model of GC. Exosome nanoparticle tracking analysis and electron microscopy revealed that the both the number and size of the exosomes secreted by GC cells were reduced when RAB31 expression was depleted. Injection of exosomes derived from RAB31 overexpressing cells promoted pulmonary metastasis in vivo. Analysis of the exosomal proteins revealed that PSMA1 was overexpressed in GC tissue in accordance with RAB31 expression. PSMA1 overexpression was highly associated with poor prognosis of GC patients.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed a key role for RAB31 in GC metastasis through regulation of exosome secretion.
Constraint‐based multi‐agent reinforcement learning for collaborative tasks
Authors: Shang Xiumin , Xu Tengyu , Karamouzas Ioannis , Kallmann Marcelo
Published: May 2023

In order to be successfully executed, collaborative tasks performed by two agents often require a cooperative strategy to be learned. In this work, we propose a constraint‐based multi‐agent reinforcement learning approach called constrained multi‐agent soft actor critic (C‐MSAC) to train control policies for simulated agents performing collaborative multi‐phase tasks. Given a task with phases, the first phases are treated as constraints for the final task phase objective, which is addressed with a centralized training and decentralized execution approach. We highlight our framework on a tray balancing task including two phases: tray lifting and cooperative tray control for target following. We evaluate our proposed approach and compare it against its unconstrained variant (MSAC). The performed comparisons show that C‐MSAC leads to higher success rates, more robust control policies, and better generalization performance.
Lipase‐Mediated Conversion of Protecting Group Silyl Ethers: An Unspecific Side Reaction
Authors: Pick Lisa M. , Wenzlaff Jessica , Yousefi Mohammad , Davari Mehdi D. , Ansorge‐Schumacher Marion B.
Published: May 2023

Silyl ether protecting groups are important tools in organic synthesis, ensuring selective reactions of hydroxyl functional groups. Enantiospecific formation or cleavage could simultaneously enable the resolution of racemic mixtures and thus significantly increase the efficiency of complex synthetic pathways. Based on reports that lipases, which today are already particularly important tools in chemical synthesis, can catalyze the enantiospecific turnover of trimethylsilanol (TMS)‐protected alcohols, the goal of this study was to determine the conditions under which such a catalysis occurs. Through detailed experimental and mechanistic investigation, we demonstrated that although lipases mediate the turnover of TMS‐protected alcohols, this occurs independently of the known catalytic triad, as this is unable to stabilize a tetrahedral intermediate. The reaction is essentially non‐specific and therefore most likely completely independent of the active site. This rules out lipases as catalysts for the resolution of racemic mixtures of alcohols through protection or deprotection with silyl groups.
Anatomical predictors for suture‐based closure of the patent foramen ovale: A multicenter experience
Authors: Witte Lars S. , Renkens Mick P. L. , Gąsecka Aleksandra , el Bouziani Abdelhak , de Winter Robbert J. , Tijssen Jan G. P. , Stella Pieter R. , Leibundgut Gregor , Voskuil Michiel
Published: May 2023

Background

NobleStitch EL is a novel suture‐based technique used for patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure and an alternative to traditional double‐disc devices without the need for antithrombotic therapy. However, successful closure rates are still unknown, and certain anatomies may be unfavorable for successful closure.

Aims

We assessed the efficacy of the NobleStitch EL and sought to identify patient‐related anatomical features associated with successful suture‐based closure.

Methods

We included 55 patients who underwent PFO closure with the NobleStitch EL in The Netherlands and Switzerland. Successful closure was defined as residual right‐to‐left shunt grade ≤1 with Valsalva maneuver at a cardiac ultrasound. Predefined possible anatomical determinants for effective closure included PFO length, atrial septal aneurysm, PFO entry‐ and exit diameter.

Results

Successful closure was achieved in 33 patients (60%). The PFO length was shorter in patients with successful closure compared to unsuccessful closure with a median length of 9.6 mm (IQR 8.0–15.0) versus 13.3 mm (IQR 11.4–18.6) on preprocedural ultrasound (p = 0.041) and 9.9 mm (IQR 8.0–13.1) versus 12.5 mm (IQR 9.7–15.4) on angiography (p = 0.049). Additionally, the PFO exit diameter and PFO volume were smaller in patients with successful closure than unsuccessful closure, with a mean diameter of 7.0 ± 3.1 mm versus 9.5 ± 3.8 mm (p = 0.015) and a median volume of 381 mm3 (IQR 286–894) versus 985 mm3 (IQR 572–1550) (p = 0.016).

Conclusion

In our study cohort, the successful PFO closure rate using NobleStitch EL was relatively low (60%). With this alternative procedure, patients with a small PFO driven by a short PFO tunnel length and small exit diameter seem to be eligible for successful suture‐based closure.
Hydrophobicity Boosts Catalytic Activity: The Tailoring of Aluminosilicates with Trimethylsilyl Groups**
Authors: Leonova Lucie , Moravec Zdenek , Sazama Petr , Pastvova Jana , Kobera Libor , Brus Jiri , Styskalik Ales
Published: May 2023

Introducing organic groups into metal silicate catalysts and thus supposedly changing the surface hydrophobicity has been shown to enhance the catalyst performance in various reactions. However, the organic groups introduction does not unambiguously guarantee hydrophobicity control. Therefore, a thorough characterization is necessary to provide a complete view of the interaction between the catalyst surface, reactants, and products. Herein, an aluminosilicate catalyst with well‐dispersed Al atoms was prepared via the non‐hydrolytic sol‐gel method. This material was post‐synthetically modified with trimethylsilyl groups; their number on the catalyst surface was controlled via a temperature‐vacuum pretreatment. In such a way, aluminosilicate materials with similar porosity, structure, and acid site strength and quality were obtained. Notably, the water sorption measurements showed that trimethylsilylated aluminosilicates adsorb 2.5–3 times less water than the parent material (p/p0=0.3). The turn‐over‐frequency in epoxide ring opening and ethanol dehydration scaled up with the number of trimethylsilyl groups grafted on the catalyst surface. Particularly, the heavily trimethylsilylated sample achieved three to five times higher turnover‐frequency in styrene oxide aminolysis than the parent aluminosilicate material. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it exhibited the most active Al sites for epoxide aminolysis in the present literature.
CO2 Hydrate Formation Kinetics in the Presence of a Layered Double Hydroxide Nanofluid
Authors: Ansari Ayaj Ahamad , Ravesh Randeep , Chakraborty Samarshi , Panigrahi Pradipta Kumar , Das Malay Kumar
Published: May 2023

The effects of a hybrid nanofluid (Cu‐Al layered double hydroxide (LDH)) on the CO2 hydrate formation kinetics was investigated at three different nanofluid concentrations (0.25–1.0 wt %). The Cu‐Al LDH nanofluid was prepared using a one‐step co‐precipitation technique. The addition of the LDH nanofluid reduces the induction time and enhances the hydrate formation kinetics. The maximum reduction in the induction time (by 91.08 %) was observed at the optimal nanofluid concentration of 0.5 wt %, compared to water. A chemical affinity model was implemented to predict the experimental data for CO2 hydrate formation in the presence of the different LDH nanofluid concentrations. An artificial neural network‐based Levenberg‐Marquardt model predicts the experimental data with higher accuracy than the scaled conjugate gradient model. The results indicate a strong dependency of the hydrate formation kinetics on the LDH nanofluid concentrations.
Model reduction of fractional impedance spectra for time–frequency analysis of batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors
Authors: Li Weiheng , Huang Qiu‐An , Bai Yuxuan , Wang Jia , Wang Linlin , Liu Yuyu , Zhao Yufeng , Li Xifei , Zhang Jiujun
Published: May 2023

Joint time–frequency analysis is an emerging method for interpreting the underlying physics in fuel cells, batteries, and supercapacitors. To increase the reliability of time–frequency analysis, a theoretical correlation between frequency‐domain stationary analysis and time‐domain transient analysis is urgently required. The present work formularizes a thorough model reduction of fractional impedance spectra for electrochemical energy devices involving not only the model reduction from fractional‐order models to integer‐order models and from high‐ to low‐order RC circuits but also insight into the evolution of the characteristic time constants during the whole reduction process. The following work has been carried out: (i) the model‐reduction theory is addressed for typical Warburg elements and RC circuits based on the continued fraction expansion theory and the response error minimization technique, respectively; (ii) the order effect on the model reduction of typical Warburg elements is quantitatively evaluated by time–frequency analysis; (iii) the results of time–frequency analysis are confirmed to be useful to determine the reduction order in terms of the kinetic information needed to be captured; and (iv) the results of time–frequency analysis are validated for the model reduction of fractional impedance spectra for lithium‐ion batteries, supercapacitors, and solid oxide fuel cells. In turn, the numerical validation has demonstrated the powerful function of the joint time–frequency analysis. The thorough model reduction of fractional impedance spectra addressed in the present work not only clarifies the relationship between time‐domain transient analysis and frequency‐domain stationary analysis but also enhances the reliability of the joint time–frequency analysis for electrochemical energy devices.
Metal‐Organic Framework Sub‐Nanochannels Formed inside Solid‐State Nanopore with Proton Ultra‐High Selectivity
Authors: Qiu Xia , Cao Mengya , Li Yongxin
Published: May 2023

Metal‐Organic frameworks (MOFs) have the advantages of high porosity, angstrom‐scale pore size, and unique structure. In this work, a kind of MOFs, UiO‐66 and its derivatives (including aminated UiO‐66‐(NH2)2 and sulfonated UiO‐66‐(NH‐SAG)2), were constructed on the inner surface of solid‐state nanopores for ultra‐selective proton transport. UiO‐66 and UiO‐66‐(NH2)2 nanocrystal particles were in‐situ grown at the orifice of glass nanopores firstly, which were used to investigate the ionic current responses in LiCl and HCl solutions when the monovalent anions (Cl−) were unchanged. Compared with UiO‐66‐modifed nanopores, the aminated MOFs modification (UiO‐66‐(NH2)2) can improve the proton selectivity obviously. However, when the UiO‐66‐(NH‐SAG)2 nanopore is prepared by further post‐modification with sulfo‐acetic acid, lithium ions can hardly pass through the channel, and the interaction between protons and sulfonic acid groups can promote the transport of protons, thus achieving ultra‐high selectivity to protons. This work provides a new way to achieve sub‐nanochannels with high selectivity, which can widely be used in ion separation, sensing and energy conversion.
Patient‐centered outcomes of telehealth for the care of rural‐residing patients with urologic cancer
Authors: Dwyer Erin R. , Holt Sarah K. , Wolff Erika M. , Stewart Blair , Katz Ronit , Reynolds Jason , Gadzinski Adam J. , Gore John L.
Published: May 2023

Background

Patients residing in rural areas with urologic cancers confront significant obstacles in obtaining oncologic care. In the Pacific Northwest, a sizeable portion of the population lives in a rural county. Telehealth offers a potential access solution.

Methods

Patients receiving urologic care through telehealth or an in‐person appointment at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington, were surveyed to assess appointment‐related satisfaction and travel costs. Patients' residences were classified as rural or urban based on their self‐reported ZIP code. Median patient satisfaction scores and appointment‐related travel costs were compared by rural versus urban residence within telehealth and in‐person appointment groups using Wilcoxon signed‐rank or χ2 testing.

Results

A total of 1091 patients seen for urologic cancer care between June 2019 and April 2022 were included, 28.7% of which resided in a rural county. Patients were mostly non‐Hispanic White (75%) and covered by Medicare (58%). Among rural‐residing patients, telehealth and in‐person appointment groups had the same median satisfaction score (61; interquartile ratio, 58, 63). More rural‐residing than urban‐residing patients in the telehealth appointment groups strongly agreed that “Considering the cost and time commitment of my appointment, I would choose to meet with my provider in this setting in the future” (67% vs. 58%, p = .03). Rural‐residing patients with in‐person appointments carried a higher financial burden than those with telehealth appointments (medians, $80 vs. $0; p <.001).

Conclusions

Appointment‐related costs are high among rural‐residing patients traveling for urologic oncologic care. Telehealth provides an affordable solution that does not compromise patient satisfaction.
CRISPR/Cas9‐Mediated Gene Knockout in Cells and Tissues Using Lentivirus
Authors: Lu Jiaoyang , Wang Shaohe
Published: May 2023

CRISPR‐Cas9 has become a powerful and popular gene editing tool. However, successful application of this tool in the lab can still be quite daunting to many newcomers to molecular biology, mostly because it is a relatively lengthy process involving multiple steps with variations of each step. Here, we provide a reliable, stepwise, and newcomer‐friendly protocol to knock out a target gene in wild‐type human fibroblasts. This protocol involves sgRNA design using CRISPOR, construction of an “all‐in‐one” vector expressing both sgRNA and Cas9 using Golden Gate cloning, streamlined production of high‐titer lentiviruses in 1 week after molecular cloning, and transduction of cells to generate a knockout cell pool. We further introduce a protocol for lentiviral transduction of ex vivo mouse embryonic salivary epithelial explants. In summary, our protocol is useful for new researchers to apply CRISPR‐Cas9 to generate stable gene knockout cells and tissue explants using lentivirus. Published 2023. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Basic Protocol 1: sgRNA design

Basic Protocol 2: Cloning sgRNA in plasmid vector containing Cas9 encoding sequence using golden gate cloning

Basic Protocol 3: Lentivirus packaging

Basic Protocol 4: Lentivirus transduction of cells

Basic Protocol 5: Lentivirus transduction of salivary gland epithelial buds
Repeated Measurement of Microglia‐Dendritic Spine Interactions Using Multi‐Photon Imaging
Authors: Langley Ross C. , Canty Alison J. , Ziebell Jenna M.
Published: May 2023

In recent decades, mounting evidence has shown that microglia play a vital role in maintaining synapses throughout life. This maintenance is done via numerous microglial processes, which are long, thin, and highly motile protrusions from the cell body that monitor their environment. However, due to the brevity of the contacts and the potentially transient nature of synaptic structures, establishing the underlying dynamics of this relationship has proven difficult. This article describes a method of using rapidly acquired multiphoton microscopy images to track microglial dynamics and microglia:synapse interactions and the fate of the synaptic structures following those interactions. First, we detail a method for capturing multiphoton images at 1‐min intervals for approximately 1 hr and how that process can be done at multiple time points. We then discuss how best to prevent and account for any drifting of the region of interest that can occur during the imaging session and how to remove excessive background noise from those images. Finally, we detail the annotation process for dendritic spines and microglial processes using plugins in MATLAB and Fiji, respectively. These semi‐automated plugins allow tracking of individual cell structures, even if both microglia and neurons are imaged in the same fluorescent channel. This protocol presents a method of tracking both microglial dynamics and synaptic structures, in the same animal, at multiple time points, giving the user information on process speed, branching, tip size, location, and dwell time, as well as any dendritic spine gains, losses, and size changes. © 2023 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Rapid multiphoton image capture

Basic Protocol 2: Image preparation using MATLAB and Fiji

Basic Protocol 3: Dendritic spine and microglial processes annotation using ScanImage and TrackMate
Seed health trade‐offs in adopting quality declared seed in potato farming systems
Authors: Tessema Lemma , Negash Wubante , Kakuhenzire Rogers , Belay Gashaw , Seid Ebrahim , Enyew Melkamu
Published: May 2023

The availability of quality seed to smallholder farmers for most crops in sub‐Saharan Africa is a problem due to low production and availability of certified seed. Ethiopia has adopted quality declared seed (QDS) certification protocols for arable crops including potato. However, the procedure sets that only 10% of seed fields submitted to certification as QDS are inspected by external inspection. Consequently, a survey was conducted in Amhara, Oromia, and Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples’ (SNNP) regions in Ethiopia to determine the reliability of quality control in potato QDS done through only visual assessment by determining the incidence of latent Ralstonia solanacerum (Rs) infection among farmer seed group cooperatives (FSGCs) and individual decentralized seed multipliers (IDSM). Tuber samples were collected from 446 potato fields in selected districts for both seed and ware potato producers. Data revealed that all the varieties collected in the study were equally prone to latent Rs infection. The proportion of latent Rs infected fields was highest in SNNP (39.6%) and least in Amhara (10.8%) region. Latent Rs infection was as high in samples collected from fields of FSGCs as in home‐saved or local seed (20.5%) and lowest among IDSM (8.7%). These data reveal that certifying potato QDS visually as the current practice in Ethiopia is inadequate for seed health assurance and a recipe for disseminating Rs. To contain further spread of the disease, therefore, all seed classes including QDS in Ethiopia should be tested for latent Rs infection if they are to be formally distributed.
Organization capital and green innovation: Evidence from China
Authors: Qu Yuxiao , Cheung Adrian (Wai Kong)
Published: May 2023

We investigate the impact of organization capital on green innovation. Using the sample of Chinese A‐share listed firms from 2008 to 2020, we find evidence that the organization capital significantly improves green innovation. And this effect is more pronounced in firms with greater environmental regulatory pressure, more media attention, less financing constraints and in non‐state‐owned firms. Through simultaneous equation model and mediation analysis, we find that organization capital improves corporate social responsibility via green innovation. Our results are robust to endogeneity issues, alternative variables measurement, model specifications, and estimation methods. This paper contributes to the understanding of the role of organizational resources in influencing green innovation and corporate social responsibility, and helps promote corporate green transformation and environmental practices.
Effects of population density and environmental conditions on life‐history prevalence in a migratory fish
Authors: Sorel Mark H. , Murdoch Andrew R. , Zabel Richard W. , Kamphaus Cory M. , Buhle Eric R. , Scheuerell Mark D. , Converse Sarah J.
Published: May 2023

Individual variation in life‐history traits can have important implications for the ability of populations to respond to environmental variability and change. In migratory animals, flexibility in the timing of life‐history events, such as juvenile emigration from natal areas, can influence the effects of population density and environmental conditions on habitat use and population dynamics. We evaluated the functional relationships between population density and environmental covariates and the abundance of juveniles expressing different life‐history pathways in a migratory fish, Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), in the Wenatchee River basin in Washington State, USA. We found that the abundance of younger emigrants from natal streams was best described by an accelerating or near‐linear function of spawners, whereas the abundance of older emigrants was best described by a decelerating function of spawners. This supports the hypothesis that emigration timing varies in response to density in natal areas, with younger‐emigrating life‐history pathways comprising a larger proportion of emigrants when densities of conspecifics are high. We also observed positive relationships between winter stream discharge and abundance of younger emigrants, supporting the hypothesis that habitat conditions can also influence the prevalence of different life‐history pathways. Our results suggest that early emigration, and a resultant increase in the use of downstream rearing habitats, may increase at higher population densities and with greater winter precipitation. Winter precipitation is projected to increase in this system due to climate warming. Characterizing relationships between life‐history prevalence and environmental conditions may improve our understanding of species habitat requirements and is a first step in understanding the dynamics of species with diverse life‐history strategies. As environmental conditions change—due to climate change, management, or other factors—resultant life‐history changes are likely to have important demographic implications that will be challenging to predict when life‐history diversity is not accounted for in population models.
New hybrid method for vulnerability assessment in floodplain areas exposed to dam break
Authors: Nekooie Mohammad Ali , Gholizadeh Saeed
Published: May 2023

Natural and man‐made factors can cause dam failure, which constantly threatens downstream assets. Flood risk assessment is typically developed according to the hydraulic and geographic characteristics of floodplain regions. However, previous approaches have not considered asset values and the impacts of flooding on them, including threat probability and consequences. This report presents a new integrated hybrid model based on security vulnerability assessment and hydraulic analysis of floods and uses the source‐pathway‐receptor‐consequences (SPRC) approach to comprehensively examine all factors. A questionnaire survey was used for performing threat analysis and attractiveness analysis and determining the asset values and consequences. A geographical information system was applied to superimpose layers based on the SPRC approach in five different scenarios based on piping discharge and downstream flow in the case of a dam break. These scenarios were developed considering the basin water level. The results illustrate that residential areas have the highest vulnerability, and farmlands exhibit the lowest exposure to flooding caused by dam failure. Based on the attraction to terrorism, criticality due to consequences, and flooding characteristics, high‐risk zones were identified for implementing mitigation or protection countermeasures.
Composite materials based on covalent organic frameworks for multiple advanced applications
Authors: Chen Jia , Wang Yuting , Yu Yongliang , Wang Jianhua , Liu Juewen , Ihara Hirotaka , Qiu Hongdeng
Published: May 2023

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) stand for a class of emerging crystalline porous organic materials, which are ingeniously constructed with organic units through strong covalent bonds. Their excellent design capabilities, and uniform and tunable pore structure make them potential materials for various applications. With the continuous development of synthesis technique and nanoscience, COFs have been successfully combined with a variety of functional materials to form COFs‐based composites with superior performance than individual components. This paper offers an overview of the development of different types of COFs‐based composites reported so far, with particular focus on the applications of COFs‐based composites. Moreover, the challenges and future development prospects of COFs‐based composites are presented. We anticipate that the review will provide some inspiration for the further development of COFs‐based composites.
Neural network combining with clinical ultrasonography: A new approach for classification of salivary gland tumors
Authors: Tu Cheng‐Hung , Wang Rui‐Teng , Wang Bo‐Sen , Kuo Chih‐En , Wang En‐Ying , Tu Ching‐Ting , Yu Wan‐Nien
Published: May 2023

Objective

Little information is available about deep learning methods used in ultrasound images of salivary gland tumors. We aimed to compare the accuracy of the ultrasound‐trained model to computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging trained model.

Materials and methods

Six hundred and thirty‐eight patients were included in this retrospective study. There were 558 benign and 80 malignant salivary gland tumors. A total of 500 images (250 benign and 250 malignant) were acquired in the training and validation set, then 62 images (31 benign and 31 malignant) in the test set. Both machine learning and deep learning were used in our model.

Results

The test accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of our final model were 93.5%, 100%, and 87%, respectively. There were no over fitting in our model as the validation accuracy was similar with the test accuracy.

Conclusions

The sensitivity and specificity were comparable with current MRI and CT images using artificial intelligence.
Getting from valid to useful: End user modifiability and human capital analytics implementation in selection
Authors: Downes Patrick E. , Harris T. Brad , Allen David G.
Published: May 2023

A major problem in employee selection coalesces around convincing decision‐makers (e.g., hiring managers) to use analytically derived models. Existing recommendations in the literature largely focus on convincing executives to adopt analytical models and then exert their top‐down influence on lower‐level hiring decisions. In contrast to these solutions, we explore end user modifiability (i.e., allowing decision‐makers to modify a statistical model before use) as a bottom‐up approach for increasing hiring managers' implementation of analytical recommendations. From a utility standpoint, we consider how incorporating end user modifiability into hiring decisions will result in a less statistically valid, but potentially more valuable, organizational selection process. We explore these ideas in two studies. In Study 1, we experimentally test whether model modification increases decision‐maker reliance on a statistical model, as well as how much decision‐makers need to modify a model in order to use it. In Study 2, we examine the extent that modifiability introduces implicit biases that might adversely affect marginalized groups. Results suggest that modifiability can increase decision‐makers' perceived usefulness of a model and, importantly, that only a small amount of modifiability is needed to elicit this effect. Further, end user modifications were statistically insignificant predictors of hiring rates across race‐based subgroups, though supplementary analyses suggest important cautionary nuance. Given that analytical models are rarely perfectly or wholly implemented, end user modifiability may offer a viable solution for organizations seeking to increase the implementation of algorithmic guidance in selection decisions, even if it deviates modestly from a statistical optimality.
Multi‐year high‐frequency sampling provides new runoff and biogeochemical insights in a discontinuous permafrost watershed
Authors: Shatilla Nadine J. , Tang Weigang , Carey Sean K.
Published: May 2023

Permafrost‐underlain watersheds in the subarctic are sensitive to warming as small changes in ground thermal status will alter all components of the hydrological cycle. Globally, observed increases in winter flows and shifting water chemistry have most often been ascribed to permafrost thaw and deepening runoff pathways. However, there remain few studies in headwater catchments that examine coupled flow‐chemistry relations at high frequency over multiple years and seasons to evaluate the implications of environmental change. In this study, we use multi‐year high‐frequency measurement of discharge, specific conductance (SpC) and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) along with traditional grab sampling of major ions to understand the sources and pathways of water and evaluate how distinct solutes are mobilized in a well‐studied subarctic basin in Yukon, Canada. Seasonally, the catchment exhibited considerable hysteresis in flow‐solute relations and had both chemostatic and dilution SpC–Q patterns with respect to major ions depending upon season and mobilization CDOM–Q signals. Storm events were extracted from high‐frequency data and normalized C–Q indices were determined and related to flow, catchment and meteorological variables. CDOM–Q events predominantly had an anti‐clockwise hysteresis and increases in DOC concentrations during storms, with some exception in the spring and fall. Conversely, SpC–Q events exhibited clockwise hysteresis and a dilution behaviour during events with less seasonal or inter‐annual variability. Information from this study supports previous conceptual models of thermally regulated runoff generation in a layered soil profile, yet also points to the importance of lateral connectivity and distal sources of solutes.
Decline of pesticide residue on treated crop seeds: An analysis of comprehensive industry data and implications of the current risk assessment scheme for plant protection products
Authors: Hahne Jörg , Foudoulakis Manousos , Kragten Steven , Patterson David , Sprenger Dennis , Ristau Kai , Guckland Anja , Wang Magnus
Published: May 2023

For plant protection products applied as seed treatments, the risk to birds and mammals possibly feeding on treated seeds must be addressed in the EU to register products for commercial use. One assumption of the Tier 1 long-term risk assessment of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is that residues of pesticides on treated seeds do not decline over time after seeding. Consequently, a time-weighted average factor (fTWA) of 1 (i.e., no dissipation) is used to calculate residue concentrations on seeds. In contrast, for spray applications, a default dissipation half-life (DT50) of 10 days is considered corresponding to an fTWA of 0.53. The aim of this study was to establish a default fTWA for treated seeds based on 29 industry-conducted seed dissipation studies, providing 240 datasets covering different active substances, crops, and regions. For fTWA calculation, two approaches were used: (i) kinetic fitting and (ii) using measured data without kinetic fitting. From kinetic fitting, 145 reliable DT50 values were obtained. Because there were no significant differences in DT50 values between crops and between the central and southern EU, the DT50 data from all studies were pooled. The geometric mean DT50 was 3.8 days and the 90th percentile was 13.0 days, corresponding to 21-day fTWA values of 0.27 and 0.59, respectively. Twenty-one-day fTWA values could be calculated directly from measured residues for 204 datasets. The resulting 21-day fTWA values were comparable with those from kinetic fitting (geometric mean: 0.29, 90th percentile: 0.59). The results demonstrate that residue decline on seeds is comparable with foliar dissipation after spray applications. Therefore, the risk assessment scheme by EFSA should implement a default fTWA < 1.0 in the Tier 1 risk assessment for treated seeds (e.g., either 0.53 as for foliage or 0.59, the 90th percentile fTWA in seeds reported in this study). Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:239–247. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
Germ‐Free C57BL/6 Mice Have Increased Bone Mass and Altered Matrix Properties but Not Decreased Bone Fracture Resistance
Authors: Vahidi Ghazal , Moody Maya , Welhaven Hope D. , Davidson Leah , Rezaee Taraneh , Behzad Ramina , Karim Lamya , Roggenbeck Barbara A. , Walk Seth T. , Martin Stephen A. , June Ronald K. , Heveran Chelsea M.
Published: May 2023

The gut microbiome impacts bone mass, which implies a disruption to bone homeostasis. However, it is not yet clear how the gut microbiome affects the regulation of bone mass and bone quality. We hypothesized that germ‐free (GF) mice have increased bone mass and decreased bone toughness compared with conventionally housed mice. We tested this hypothesis using adult (20‐ to 21‐week‐old) C57BL/6J GF and conventionally raised female and male mice (n = 6–10/group). Trabecular microarchitecture and cortical geometry were measured from micro–CT of the femur distal metaphysis and cortical midshaft. Whole‐femur strength and estimated material properties were measured using three‐point bending and notched fracture toughness. Bone matrix properties were measured for the cortical femur by quantitative back‐scattered electron imaging and nanoindentation, and, for the humerus, by Raman spectroscopy and fluorescent advanced glycation end product (fAGE) assay. Shifts in cortical tissue metabolism were measured from the contralateral humerus. GF mice had reduced bone resorption, increased trabecular bone microarchitecture, increased tissue strength and decreased whole‐bone strength that was not explained by differences in bone size, increased tissue mineralization and fAGEs, and altered collagen structure that did not decrease fracture toughness. We observed several sex differences in GF mice, most notably for bone tissue metabolism. Male GF mice had a greater signature of amino acid metabolism, and female GF mice had a greater signature of lipid metabolism, exceeding the metabolic sex differences of the conventional mice. Together, these data demonstrate that the GF state in C57BL/6J mice alters bone mass and matrix properties but does not decrease bone fracture resistance. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).