bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phosphorescent cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes with mono‐, di‐, and tetranuclear as two channel probes to light up the nuclei of living cells
Authors: Yang Jing , Wang Wen Ting , Shi Zheng Dou , Yang Rui , Liao Xia Li , Yang Bo , Gao Chuan Zhu
Published: November 2022

By altering the reaction ratio of precursor Ir2(ppy)4Cl2 and bridging ligand of 4,4‐bipyridine (bpy), a series of phosphorescent cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes of mono‐, di‐, and tetranuclear have been successfully obtained and characterized for the first time. The dissociation of bpy ligand can be accelerated by light irradiation or placing these complexes in glutathione (GSH) abundant aqueous solution, bpy releasing rate follows the order Ir1 > Ir2 > Ir3 > Ir4, and with an addition of histidine, a significant blue shift from orange to green phosphorescence was observed. Herein, the cellular dissociation of bpy can be monitored by an orange‐to‐green phosphorescent blue shift, and nuclei of living cells can be lighted up by a set of probes with two phosphorescent channels, and subsequent cellular uptake translocation from cytoplasm to nucleus of Ir complexes could be observed by confocal imaging within 4 h. Besides, the changes of cellular phosphorescence intensity in two fluorescent channels recorded by flow cytometry could reflect different speed of bpy release in human normal and cancer cells. Besides, Ir1–4 exert significant anticancer effect in the dark with low photocytotoxicity, by effectively inducing reactive oxygen species generation, mitochondrial membrane potential depletion, and interacting with biomolecules, and they eventually induce late apoptosis of Hela cell.
On the lithium abundance of the visual binary components ξ Boo A (G8V) and ξ Boo B (K5V)
Authors: Strassmeier Klaus G. , Steffen Matthias
Published: November 2022

A spectroscopic investigation of the lithium resonance doublet in ξ Boo A and ξ Boo B in terms of both abundance and isotopic ratio is presented. We obtained new R = 130,000 spectra with a signal‐to‐noise ratio (S/N) per pixel of up to 3200 using the 11.8 m LBT and PEPSI. From fits with synthetic line profiles based on 1D‐LTE MARCS model atmospheres and 3D‐NLTE corrections, we determine the abundances of both isotopes. For ξ Boo A, we find A(Li) = 2.40 ± 0.03 dex and 6Li/7Li <1.5 ± 1.0% in 1D‐LTE, which increases to ≈2.45 for the 3D‐NLTE case. For ξ Boo B we obtain A(Li) = 0.37 ± 0.09 dex in 1D‐LTE with an unspecified 6Li/7Li level. Therefore, no 6Li is seen on any of the two stars. We consider a spot model for the Li fit for ξ Boo B and find A(Li) = 0.45 ± 0.09 dex. The 7Li abundance is 23 times higher for ξ Boo A than the Sun's, but three times lower than the Sun's for ξ Boo B while both fit the trend of single stars in the similar‐aged M35 open cluster. Effective temperatures are redetermined from the TiO band head strength. We note that the best‐fit global metallicities are −0.13 ± 0.01 dex for ξ Boo A but +0.13 ± 0.02 dex for ξ Boo B. Lithium abundance for the K5V benchmark star 61 Cyg A was obtained to A(Li) ≈ 0.53 dex when including a spot model but to ≈0.15 dex without a spot model.
Studies of FCAPTUVBY photometry for the mCP stars HD 32966, HD 35298, HD 68292, HD 93226, HD 171247, HD 217833, HD 220147, and HD 223358
Authors: Wittman Todd , Dukes Robert J. , Adelman Saul J.
Published: November 2022

We present differential Strömgren uvby observations from the Four College Automated Photometric Telescope (FCAPT) in Washington Camp, AZ of eight magnetic Chemically Peculiar (mCP) stars: HD 32966, HD 35298, HD 68292, HD 93226, HD 171247, HD 217833, HD 220147, and HD 223358. We use multiple period‐finding algorithms and incorporate data from the ESA Hipparcos catalogue to study the amplitudes, periods, and asymmetries in the light curves. No previous FCAPT data have been published for HD 68292. For the seven other stars, these studies substantially extend the analyses of published FCAPT datasets.
Guiding Principles for the Design of Artificial Interface Layer for Zinc Metal Anode
Authors: Guo Zhikun , Fan Lishuang , Wu Lijun , Li Bingjiang , Zhang Naiqing
Published: November 2022

Zinc‐ion battery has become a research hotspot in the energy storage field due to its low cost, high safety, and environmental friendliness. However, zinc as an anode has some problems such as dendrites and hydrogen evolution on the surface, which hinder the practical application of zinc. These problems are closely related to the platting and stripping behavior of zinc at the electrode interface. The construction of an artificial interface layer is one of the most direct and effective methods to protect the zinc anode, which is helpful to improve the cycle life and utilization of the zinc anode. Here, we systematically review the progress and practical significance of artificial interfacial layers in terms of uniform ion transport, inhibition of side reactions and mechanical stability. Three design principles of the artificial interface layer are summarized to guide the further research, and to bring enlightenment for the construction of practical and efficient metal zinc anode.
Ameliorative Effects of Propolis and Royal Jelly against CCl4‐Induced Hepatotoxicity and Nephrotoxicity in Wistar Rats
Authors: Focak Muhamed , Suljevic Damir
Published: November 2022

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is known to have hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects. During the two‐month CCl4 exposure of Wistar rats, propolis extract (PE) and royal jelly (RJ) were added in order to test the potential protective effect against hepato‐renal injury. Ketonuria, proteinuria, high creatinine and urea levels are the result of CCl4‐induced nephrotoxicity. Severe disorders of hematological indicators indicate anemia; high values of leukocytes indicate inflammatory condition. Cytogenetic impairments in hepatocytes, aggregation of platelets, and hypoproteinemia indicate severe liver impairment. Results suggest a more significant protective role of RJ compared to PE. Both extracts regulated proteinuria, ketonuria, hypoproteinemia and reduced platelet aggregation in the hepatic circulation. The increase in the number of erythrocytes (RBC) suggest protective effects against anemia; the decrease in the number of leukocytes can be linked to anti‐inflammatory effects. PE and RJ have a beneficial effect against hepato‐renal injury, anemia and anti‐inflammatory conditions caused by CCl4.
Missense alleles of the HMW glutenin subunits Dx5 and Dy10 have small changes in function relative to missense changes in Puroindoline a and b
Authors: Martin John M. , Zhang Jinrui , Hogg Andrew C. , Giroux Michael J.
Published: November 2022

Background and Objectives

The high molecular weight glutenin subunit genes (HMW‐GS) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) play a key role in determining dough functionality. More specifically allelic variation for the Glu‐D1 subunit loci is consistently associated with bread making quality. Since much of the hard wheat germplasm is fixed for the more favorable 1Dx5 + 1Dy10 haplotype, our goal was to identify allelic variation in 1Dx5 and 1Dy10 HMW‐GS genes using an ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenized population in the soft white spring wheat cultivar “Alpowa.” The same source population was previously used in screening for creating novel alleles in Puroindoline a (Pina) and Puroindoline b (Pinb) which are responsible for grain hardness variation. Direct sequencing of 384 M3 families identified 135 point mutations equally dispersed across 1Dx5 and 1Dy10. The mutation discovery rate was 1/12.7 kb of DNA, equal to that found in the Pin loci. Mutation carrying plants were crossed to the nonmutagenized Alpowa parent to create F2 populations segregating for the induced EMS HMW Glutenin mutations. Swelling index of gluten (SIG) was measured from seed from field grown plants to assess the impact of each EMS mutation upon Glutenin function.

Findings

Nonsense mutations in both 1Dx5 and 1Dy10 reduced SIG values, indicating both 1Dx5 and 1Dy10 are needed for gluten functionality. Missense mutations did not alter SIG values compared to their wild type counterparts. In contrast missense mutations within the tryptophan‐rich region of both PINS increased grain hardness pointing to the importance of this protein region. No such region in 1Dx5 or 1Dy10 was found indicating these proteins are structurally stable and tolerant of amino acid substitution.

Conclusions

Results from the Glu‐D1 subunit and Pin loci show that useful phenotypic variation can be created using EMS mutagenesis for genes where naturally occurring mutations occur from amino substitutions as is the case for the Pin loci.

Significance and Novelty

EMS induced mutations are useful for creating new alleles in storage proteins with much greater impacts in genes that have a defined active site as for the Pin loci than in genes such as the HMW Glu‐1 genes which have a long repetitive region.
Investigating the Diversity of Coordination Environments around Pt Atoms
Authors: Liu Qin , Xi Shibo , Peng Xinnan , Feng Lei , Xu Guangyuan , Liu Zhendong , Kong Yuan , Zhao Xiaoxu , Yan Huan
Published: November 2022

Modulating the local coordination environment of catalysts is of overriding importance to control reactivity, but systematic investigation of catalytic active sites with different coordination environments remains elusive. Here, a new strategy is provided to investigate the coordination environment of the catalytic center. Pt atoms, a known catalytic center, were selected to examine the effect of the coordination environment on the electro‐catalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), a well‐studied system. Rather than alter the catalytic metal center as reported in previous work, “surrounding atoms” were tuned to modify the coordination environment around the Pt active center. A clear trend between HER activity and coordination environments with different neighboring atoms, was observed in this work. Based on experimental results, DFT calculations analyzed all coordinated patterns with respect to electronic structures and geometric transformations, giving a full “map” of the relationship between the coordination environments around Pt atoms and their catalytic performances. Such coordination environment engineering could be widely used to screen new catalysts for other conversions, and also provide a novel method for investigating the fundamental chemistry of active sites in catalysis.
Synthesis and Single‐Electron Oxidation of Bulky Bis(m‐terphenyl)chalcogenides: The Quest for Kinetically Stabilized Radical Cations
Authors: Duvinage Daniel , Mostaghimi Farzin , Damrath Mattis , Spils Julian , Komorr Pascal , Odintsov Danila S. , Fedin Matvey , Shundrin Leonid A. , Mebs Stefan , Beckmann Jens
Published: November 2022

Sterically encumbered bis(m‐terphenyl)chalcogenides, (2,6‐Mes2C6H3)2E (E=S, Se, Te) were obtained by the reaction of the chalcogen tetrafluorides, EF4, with three equivalents of m‐terphenyl lithium, 2,6‐Mes2C6H3Li. The single‐electron oxidation of (2,6‐Mes2C6H3)2Te using XeF2/K[B(C6F5)4] afforded the radical cation [(2,6‐Mes2C6H3)2Te][B(C6F5)4] that was isolated and fully characterized. The electrochemical oxidation of the lighter homologs (2,6‐Mes2C6H3)2E (E=S, Se) was irreversible and impaired by rapid decomposition.
PETpyrolysis and hydrolysis mechanism in the fixed pyrolyzer
Authors: Song Kuntong , Li Yi , Huo Feng , Liu Junhong , Hou Wenxia , Wang Nan , Zhou Qing , Xu Junli , Lu Xingmei
Published: November 2022

In the conventional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) pyrolysis process, the formation of char by excessive pyrolysis is mainly due to the dehydration mechanism, so water is considered an auxiliary agent that can effectively inhibit excessive pyrolysis. The preparation of terephthalic acid (TPA) by steam‐assisted pyrolysis of PET is an effective method to achieve closed‐loop recycling of waste PET. To ensure that the reaction is mild enough to reduce excessive cracking products such as char and benzoic acid and thus increase the yield of TPA, it is critical to reduce the reaction rate while maintaining a sufficient excess steam coefficient. Under the optimal operating conditions, when the temperature rise rate was 0.5 °C min−1and the excess steam coefficient was 150, the yield of TPA was 72.5 wt.%, and the purity was 85.5%. Noticeably, the steam‐assisted pyrolysis system is a heterogeneous reaction system whose reaction mechanism is different from the conventional hydrolysis and pyrolysis reactions and has a unique reaction path. The mechanistic study indicates that, in addition to the thermal cracking of PET molecules occurring in conventional pyrolysis, hydroxyl attack and transfer, and supplementation of benzene ring hydrogen also occur between water and intermediate molecules. Meanwhile, it has also been proven that the intermolecular hydrogen transfer between intermediate molecules and water molecules is the key to reduce the intensity of the reaction and inhibit the formation of char. This discovery illustrates the mechanism of the reaction between water and PET in the steam‐assisted pyrolysis process in the fixed pyrolyzer and justifies the distinction between it and the pyrolysis and hydrolysis processes of PET. It provides a theoretical basis for optimizing the pyrolysis process of PET, which is essential for the industrialization of TPA preparation from PET steam‐assisted pyrolysis.
Nanobiofunctionalized chitosan nanocomposite hydrogel as a highly biocompatible cancer drug carrier
Authors: George Dhanya , Palanisamy Uma Maheswari , Begum K. M. Meera Sheriffa
Published: November 2022

A bio‐inspired drug carrier was developed by dual functionalization of chitosan using L‐glutamic acid (GA) and phyto‐synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs). A highly porous, three‐dimensional network of nanocomposite hydrogel (GA‐CHGZ) was obtained upon cross‐linking chitosan using biomass‐derived dialdehyde cellulose. The hydrogel was optimally loaded with naringenin (NRG) and further characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and swelling studies. An enhanced NRG loading efficiency of 85.23% was obtained using functionalized hydrogel compared to 52.54% using non‐functionalized hydrogel. Delivery studies displayed a maximum release of 69.63% for 1.0 mg/ml of initial NRG concentration at pH 5, which is a highly preferred condition for cancer therapeutics. While ZNPs’ embedment was instrumental in improving the NRG loading and delivery rates, the GA conjugation increased the stability of NRG in the GA‐CHGZ, aiding sustained NRG release, which followed a non‐Fickian diffusion mechanism with polymer swelling. Antimicrobial potential was explored against Staphylococcus aureus and Trichophyton rubrum strains. The biocompatibility assay using L929 normal cells showed enhanced cell proliferation characteristics for the materials, revealing significant cell viability. The anticancer activity of NRG tested against A431 human skin carcinoma cells increased up to nine‐fold with a reduced IC50 value when a functionalized hydrogel was used instead of pure NRG without the nanocomposite carrier. Thus, the bio‐functionalized drug–carrier system has a promising application for wound healing and topical skin cancer therapies.
Adaptive autism behavior prediction using improved binary whale optimization technique
Authors: Ramachandran Arun Kumar , John Bosco Martin Vijay Franklin
Published: November 2022

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neuro developmental disorder is a bottleneck to several clinical researchers owing to the data modularization, subjective analysis and shifts in the accurate prediction of the disorder among the sample population. Subjective clinical analysis suffers from lengthy procedure which is a time‐consuming process. The present research focuses on the prediction of ASD disorder using improved binary whale optimization that provides accuracy in the feature selection for the contribution towards the disorder and improves the accuracy in decision making of predicting the presence of disorder. The proposed technique is carried out in two steps: the acute features contributing to the disorder is selected using the binary whale optimization method and the optimal feature is subjected to that render decision of predicting the presence of ASD. The state‐of‐the‐art disorder dataset is tested with conventional techniques like particle swarm optimization (PSO), genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization with genetic algorithm (PSO‐GA), whale optimization method and binary whale optimization method. Based on the results, the improved binary whale optimization method is proposed and validates the effectiveness of the deciding the autism spectrum disorder.
The impact of board gender diversity on banks' environmental policy: The moderating role of gender inequality in national culture
Authors: Gangi Francesco , Daniele Lucia Michela , D'Angelo Eugenio , Varrone Nicola , Coscia Maria
Published: November 2022

This study responds to the need for deeper empirical investigations into the relationship between board gender diversity (BGD) and corporate environmental responsibility (CER) within the banking industry. Specifically, it investigates whether and how BGD in banks causes higher engagement in CER. To address this research question, we analyzed a sample of 132 global banks over the 2009–2019 period. The results from fixed effect panel regressions indicated that national gender inequality negatively moderates the positive influence of BGD on the CER engagement of banks. Disentangling CER into its sub‐pillars, we found that BGD affects these subdimensions differently. A higher proportion of female directors on the bank's board mainly affects CER in terms of eco‐innovation and emission management. These findings are relevant for the efficiency of new banking business models, for policymakers and for the broader spillover benefits to the worldwide community.
Multicenter prospective evaluation of diagnostic potential of flow cytometric aberrancies in myelodysplastic syndromes by theELN iMDSflow working group
Authors: Kern Wolfgang , Westers Theresia M. , Bellos Frauke , Bene Marie Christine , Bettelheim Peter , Brodersen Lisa Eidenschink , Burbury Kate , Chu Sung‐Chao , Cullen Matthew , Porta Matteo Della , Dunlop Alan Stewart , Johansson Ulrika , Matarraz Sergio , Oelschlaegel Uta , Ogata Kiyoyuki , Porwit Anna , Preijers Frank , Psarra Katherina , Saft Leonie , Subirá Dolores , Weiß Elisabeth , van der Velden Vincent H. J. , van de Loosdrecht Arjan
Published: November 2022

Background

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represent a diagnostic challenge. This prospective multicenter study was conducted to evaluate pre‐defined flow cytometric markers in the diagnostic work‐up of MDS and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML).

Methods

Thousand six hundred and eighty‐two patients with suspected MDS/CMML were analyzed by both cytomorphology according to WHO 2016 criteria and flow cytometry according to ELN recommendations. Flow cytometric readout was categorized ‘non‐MDS’ (i.e. no signs of MDS/CMML and limited signs of MDS/CMML) and ‘in agreement with MDS’ (i.e., in agreement with MDS/CMML).

Results

Flow cytometric readout categorized 60% of patients in agreement with MDS, 28% showed limited signs of MDS and 12% had no signs of MDS. In 81% of cases flow cytometric readouts and cytomorphologic diagnosis correlated. For high‐risk MDS, the level of concordance was 92%.

A total of 17 immunophenotypic aberrancies were found independently related to MDS/CMML in ≥1 of the subgroups of low‐risk MDS, high‐risk MDS, CMML. A cut‐off of ≥3 of these aberrancies resulted in 80% agreement with cytomorphology (20% cases concordantly negative, 60% positive). Moreover, >3% myeloid progenitor cells were significantly associated with MDS (286/293 such cases, 98%).

Conclusion

Data from this prospective multicenter study led to recognition of 17 immunophenotypic markers allowing to identify cases ‘in agreement with MDS’. Moreover, data emphasizes the clinical utility of immunophenotyping in MDS diagnostics, given the high concordance between cytomorphology and the flow cytometric readout. Results from the current study challenge the application of the cytomorphologically defined cut‐off of 5% blasts for flow cytometry and rather suggest a 3% cut‐off for the latter.
Mutual coupling compensation of linear antenna array using evolutionary optimization technique
Authors: Dhali Madhab , Chakraborty Avishek , Ram Gopi , Mandal Durbadal
Published: November 2022

This paper presents an optimization‐based approach to compensate for the mutual coupling effect and to reduce the sidelobe level (SLL) of the normalized radiation pattern by optimizing the current excitation amplitude of the antenna array elements. Due to the mutual coupling effect, the SLL of the radiation pattern is increased, and thereby, the field pattern of the antenna array is severely degraded. This causes interference with other communication systems working at the same frequency. Toward the compensation of the mutual coupling effect and reduction of SLL, the Cat swarm optimization (CSO) algorithm is employed, and the excitation amplitudes of the antenna elements are optimized. In this regard, optimizing the cost function is defined by introducing the impedance factor (IF), calculated by using the self‐impedance and mutual impedance of the antenna elements. The proposed method for the synthesis of a mutually coupled linear antenna array is less expensive, simpler to use, and more effective. Array sets of 4, 6, 8, and 10 elements are considered for optimization.
‘Flying high?’—Jump from a height in a ‘Spice’ high?: A case report on the synthetic cannabinoid 5F‐MDMB‐P7AICA
Authors: Walle Nadja , Doerr Adrian A. , Schmidt Peter H. , Schaefer Nadine
Published: November 2022

Regarding the high potency of synthetic cannabinoids (SC), many intoxications and fatal cases are reported in literature. Here, we report on a fatality with 5F‐MDMB‐P7AICA contributing to the occurrence of death. A 31‐year‐old man died 10 h after he fell from the rooftop of a house. Police investigations revealed that he had consumed a ‘legal high’ herbal blend some hours earlier. An initial toxicological screening for new psychoactive substances (NPS) was negative. One year after, the analysis of confiscated drug samples revealed the SC 5F‐MDMB‐P7AICA being unknown at the time of the first investigations. Hence, post‐mortem specimens were retrospectively analysed for 5F‐MDMB‐P7AICA and its dimethylbutanoic acid (DBA) metabolite. Lung, liver, kidney and bile fluid (BF) of the decedent were analysed following solid‐phase extraction and standard addition, heart blood (HB) and peripheral blood (PB) by fully validated liquid–liquid extraction and protein precipitation methods. Additionally, hair specimens were analysed to examine a possible chronic consumption of the SC. All specimens were analysed by liquid–chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. 5F‐MDMB‐P7AICA was detected in HB (0.69 ng/ml), PB (1.2 ng/ml) and hair. DBA was found in HB (46 ng/ml) and PB (5.7 ng/ml) and could additionally be identified in liver and kidney (approximately 4–5 ng/g), lung (approximately 12 ng/g) and BF (approximately 60 ng/g). Compared with the parent compound, much higher concentrations of DBA were quantified. This case shows that drugs found at the scene can provide helpful initial information for further toxicological screenings in biological samples, especially when there is evidence of NPS consumption.
Doping control analysis of trimetazidine in dried blood spot
Authors: Okano Masato , Miyamoto Asami , Ota Masanori , Kageyama Shinji , Sato Mitsuhiko
Published: November 2022

Dried blood spot (DBS) analysis has been an inherent part of sports drug testing through the technological advancements of the past decade. Trimetazidine, a non‐threshold banned substance, is excreted into urine after a dose of the permitted drug lomerizine. Therefore, a lomerizine‐specific metabolite (M6) is analyzed to confirm the origin of trimetazidine in traditional urine analysis. Application studies were conducted to develop an analytical method for trimetazidine applicable to DBS. These studies comprise (1) the effect of different sampling sites on the detection of trimetazidine, (2) the determination of the appropriate trimetazidine level required for DBS analysis, and (3) differentiating between trimetazidine and lomerizine use. A high‐resolution mass spectrometric method for detecting trimetazidine in DBS was validated. After oral administration of trimetazidine (n = 7), venous and capillary blood (fingertip and upper arm) were spotted on cellulose paper. Trimetazidine could be identified in DBS in all subjects up to 60 h after administration. The limit of detection was 0.05 ng/ml, and the limit of identification was 0.06 ng/ml, suggesting the minimum required performance level of 0.2 ng/ml. In the fingertip capillary blood, biases of 9.7% (vs. upper arm) and 13.0% (vs. vein) were observed in the trimetazidine intensity; however, there were no concerns in the qualitative analysis. After administering lomerizine (n = 10), the intact lomerizine has a strong peak intensity in blood compared to trimetazidine. Contrary to urine analysis, the M6 was less detectable in blood. Laboratories should confirm intact lomerizine whenever trimetazidine is identified in DBS.
Dietary and temporal partitioning facilitates coexistence of sympatric carnivores in the Everest region
Authors: Zhong Hua , Li Fengjiao , Díaz‐Sacco Juan José , Shi Kun
Published: November 2022

Carnivores, especially top predators, are important because they maintain the structure and function of ecosystems by top‐down control. Exploring the coexistence between carnivores belonging to different ecological guilds can provide the data needed for the development of effective conservation strategies of endangered species. We used scats and camera traps to molecularly analyze the dietary composition of four predators that inhabit the Everest region and assess their activity patterns. Dietary analysis revealed 22 food Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) of 7 orders and 2 classes. Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and wolf (Canis lupus) had high dietary overlap (Pianka's index = 0.95), as they both mainly preyed on ungulates (%PR = 61%, 50%), while lynx (Lynx lynx) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) mainly consumed small mammals (%PR = 62%, 76%). We observed lower dietary overlaps (Pianka's index = 0.53–0.70) between predators with large body size difference (snow leopard versus lynx, snow leopard versus red fox, wolf versus lynx, wolf versus fox), and dietary difference was significant (p < .01), proving dietary partitioning. In activity pattern analysis, predators exhibited higher temporal overlaps with the more frequently consumed prey species, showing that predator activity can be regulated by prey availability. We observed no obvious temporal avoidance between snow leopard and wolf because they had high activity overlap (Δ = 0.87). Red fox had the lowest coefficients of activity overlap with snow leopard and wolf (Δ = 0.60, 0.59), suggesting that fox tends to avoid snow leopard and wolf temporally. In this study, we revealed how dietary and temporal partitioning facilitates the coexistence of carnivores in Everest. These results will help to increase the understanding of coexistence mechanism of carnivore communities, and provide the scientific foundation for the conservation of wildlife living in the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau.
Diet quality impairs male and female reproductive performance and affects the opportunity for selection in an insect model
Authors: Winkler Lennart , Janicke Tim
Published: November 2022

Environmental factors can have profound effects on the strength and direction of selection and recent studies suggest that such environment‐dependent selection can be sex‐specific. Sexual selection theory predicts that male fitness is more condition dependent compared to female fitness, suggesting that male fitness is more sensitive to environmental stress. However, our knowledge about the effect of environmental factors on sex‐specific reproductive performance and on sex differences in the opportunity for selection is still very limited. In the present study, we investigated the sex‐specific effects of diet quality (yeast deprivation and flour type) in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. Specifically, we manipulated yeast supplementation in wheat and whole‐wheat flour in competition assays allowing us to test for sex‐specific effects of food quality (i) on reproductive success and (ii) on the opportunity for selection. Our data show that yeast deprivation in wheat flour had significantly negative effects on body mass and reproductive success of both sexes, while high‐quality flour (whole‐wheat flour) was able to buffer the negative impact to a large extent. Importantly, our data suggest no sex‐specific effect of dietary stress on reproductive success because the magnitude of the negative effect of yeast deprivation was similar for males and females. Moreover, our study demonstrates that low food quality inflated the opportunity for selection and did not differ between sexes neither under benign nor stressful dietary conditions. We discuss the implications of our findings for the adaptation to stressful environments.
Mutual mother‐pup acoustic identification in Asian particolored bats
Authors: Tan Xiao , Li Yu , Sun Keping , Jin Longru , Feng Jiang
Published: November 2022

In many vertebrates, vocal communication is crucial in parent–offspring interactions, and parents are often able to discriminate between the calls of their own and others' offspring. There are many reports on the unidirectional recognition of isolation calls of pups by maternal bats, but few studies on the ability of bat pups to recognize maternal acoustic signals. In this study, we investigated whether the echolocation pulses of female Asian particolored bats (Vespertilio sinensis) and isolation calls of pups differ statistically among individuals. We used two‐choice playback experiments to test whether the mothers and pups of V. sinensis can recognize each other by acoustic signals. Both the echolocation pulses of mother bats and the isolation calls of pups contained sufficient individual characteristics. Playback experiments showed that mothers were able to recognize isolation calls of pups, and most pups greater than 12 days old were able to distinguish echolocation pulses of their own mother from those of other mothers. This is the first use of two‐choice acoustic signal playback experiments to confirm that pups can recognize their mothers by echolocation calls. The results provide behavioral evidence for bidirectional recognition of acoustic signals between mothers and infants in frequency‐modulated type bats.
Seedbed not rescue effect buffer the role of extreme precipitation on temperate forest regeneration
Authors: Clark Peter W. , D'Amato Anthony W.
Published: November 2022

Alterations in global climate via extreme precipitation will have broadscale implications on ecosystem functioning. The increased frequency of drought, coupled with heavy, episodic rainfall are likely to generate impacts on biotic and abiotic processes across aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Despite the demonstrated shifts in global precipitation, less is known how extreme precipitation interacts with biophysical factors to control future demographic processes, especially those sensitive to climate extremes such as organismal recruitment and survival. We utilized a field‐based precipitation manipulation experiment in 0.1 ha forest canopy openings to test future climate scenarios characterized by extreme precipitation on temperate tree seedling survival. The effects of planting seedbeds (undisturbed leaf litter/organic material vs. scarified, exposed mineral soils), seedling ontogeny, species, and functional traits were examined against four statistically defined precipitation scenarios. Results indicated that seedlings grown within precipitation treatments characterized by heavy, episodic rainfall preceded by prolonged drying responded similarly to drought treatments lacking episodic inputs. Moreover, among all treatment conditions tested, scarified seedbeds most strongly affected seedling survivorship (odds ratio 6.9). Compared with any precipitation treatment, the effect size (predicted probabilities) of the seedbed was more than twice as important in controlling seedling survivorship. However, the interaction between precipitation and seedbed resulted in a 27.9% improvement in survivorship for moisture‐sensitive species. Seedling sensitivity to moisture was variable among species, and most closely linked with functional traits such as seed mass. For instance, under dry moisture regimes, survivorship increased linearly with seed mass (log transformed; adjusted R2 = 0.72, p < 0.001), yet no relationship was apparent under wet moisture regimes. Although precipitation influenced survival, extreme rainfall events were not enough to offset moisture deficits nor provide a rescue effect under drought conditions. The relationships reported here highlight the importance of plant seedbeds and species (e.g., functional traits) as edaphic and biotic controls that modify the influence of extreme future precipitation on seedling survival in temperate forests. Finally, we demonstrated the biophysical factors that were most influential to early forest development and that may override the negative effects of increasingly variable precipitation. This work contributes to refinements of species distribution models and can inform reforestation strategies intended to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem function under increasing climate extremes.
Branched‐chain α‐keto acids and glutamate/glutamine: Biomarkers of insulin resistance in childhood obesity
Authors: Gumus Balikcioglu Pinar , Jachthuber Trub Catherine , Balikcioglu Metin , Ilkayeva Olga , White Phillip J. , Muehlbauer Michael , Bain James R. , Armstrong Sarah , Freemark Michael
Published: November 2022

Objectives

Insulin resistance (IR) in adolescents with obesity is associated with a sex‐dependent metabolic ‘signature’ comprising the branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs), glutamate/glutamine, C3/C5 acylcarnitines and uric acid. Here, we compared the levels of branched‐chain α‐keto acids (BCKAs) and glutamate/glutamine, which are the byproducts of BCAA catabolism and uric acid among adolescents with obesity prior to and following a 6‐month lifestyle‐intervention program.

Methods

Fasting plasma samples from 33 adolescents with obesity (16 males, 17 females, aged 12–18 year) were analysed by flow‐injection tandem MS and LC–MS/MS. Multiple linear regression models were used to correlate changes in BCKAs, glutamate/glutamine and uric acid with changes in weight and insulin sensitivity as assessed by HOMA‐IR, adiponectin and the ratio of triglyceride (TG) to HDL. In predictive models, BCKAs, glutamate/glutamine and uric acid at baseline were used as explanatory variables.

Results

Baseline BCKAs, glutamate/glutamine and uric acid were higher in males than females despite comparable BMI‐metrics. Following lifestyle‐intervention, α‐keto‐β‐methylvalerate (α‐KMV, a metabolic by product of isoleucine) decreased in males but not in females. The ratio of BCKA/BCAA trended lower in males. In the cohort as a whole, BCKAs correlated positively with the ratio of TG to HDL at baseline and HOMA‐IR at 6‐month‐follow‐up. Glutamate/glutamine was positively associated with HOMA‐IR at baseline and 6‐month‐follow‐up. A reduction in BCKAs was associated with an increase in adiponectin, and those with higher BCKAs at baseline had higher adiponectin levels at 6‐month‐follow‐up. Interestingly those adolescents with higher uric acid levels at baseline had greater reduction in weight.

Conclusions

BCKAs and glutamate/glutamine may serve as biomarkers of IR in adolescents with obesity, and uric acid might serve as a predictor of weight loss in response to lifestyle‐intervention. Differential regulation of BCAA catabolism in adolescent males and females implicates critical roles for sex steroids in metabolic homeostasis.
Organocatalytic Approach for the Synthesis and Biological Studies of Naphthalene Fluorescent Probe through Hydrogen Transfer Reaction
Authors: Sau Madan , Dubey Sapana , Sahoo Jigyansa , Sahoo Gokarneswar , Trivedi Pragya , Jana Avijit , Samanta Subhankar , Das Tapas
Published: November 2022

Herein we report an organocatalytic synthesis of highly fluorescent naphthalene derivatives through hydrogen atom transfer featuring neat and mild reaction conditions under air with high substrate tolerance along with atom economy by the unprecedented use of DBU, where oxidation and reduction occurred in one‐pot. Synthesized compounds are utilized in photophysical studies, cytotoxic studies and cell imaging studies of colon cancer cell line CT26.
Ganglioside analysis in body fluids by liquid‐phase separation techniques hyphenated to mass spectrometry
Authors: Suteanu‐Simulescu Anca , Sarbu Mirela , Ica Raluca , Petrica Ligia , Zamfir Alina Diana
Published: November 2022

The expression of gangliosides in central nervous system is a few times higher than in the extraneural tissue, a characteristic highlighting their major role at this level. Although in very low amounts, gangliosides are ubiquitously distributed in body fluids too, where, depending on many factors, including pathological states, their composition fluctuates, thus having diagnostic value. Ganglioside investigation in biological fluids, which, except for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), may be sampled noninvasively, was for years impeded by the limited sensitivity of the analytical instrumentation available in glycomics. However, because the last decade has witnessed significant developments in biological mass spectrometry (MS) and the hyphenated separation techniques, marked by a major increase in sensitivity, reproducibility, and data reliability, ganglioside research started to be focused on biofluid analysis by separation techniques coupled to MS. In this context, our review presents the achievements in this emerging field of gangliosidomics, with a particular emphasis on modern liquid chromatography (LC), thin‐layer chromatography, hydrophilic interaction LC, and ion mobility separation coupled to high‐performance MS, as well as the results generated by these systems and allied experimental procedures in profiling and structural analysis of gangliosides in healthy or diseased body fluids, such as CSF, plasma/serum, and milk.
A boosting ensemble learning based hybrid light gradient boosting machine and extreme gradient boosting model for predicting house prices
Authors: Sibindi Racheal , Mwangi Ronald Waweru , Waititu Anthony Gichuhi
Published: November 2022

The implementation of tree‐ensemble models has become increasingly essential in solving classification and prediction problems. Boosting ensemble techniques have been widely used as individual machine learning algorithms in predicting house prices. One of the techniques is LGBM algorithm that employs leaf wise growth strategy, reduces loss and improves accuracy during training which results in overfitting. However, XGBoost algorithm uses level wise growth strategy which takes time to compute resulting in higher computation time. Nevertheless, XGBoost has a regularization parameter, implements column sampling and weight reduction on new trees which combats overfitting. This study focuses on developing a hybrid LGBM and XGBoost model in order to prevent overfitting through minimizing variance whilst improving accuracy. Bayesian hyperparameter optimization technique is implemented on the base learners in order to find the best combination of hyperparameters. This resulted in reduced variance (overfitting) in the hybrid model since the regularization parameter values were optimized. The hybrid model is compared to LGBM, XGBoost, Adaboost and GBM algorithms to evaluate its performance in giving accurate house price predictions using MSE, MAE and MAPE evaluation metrics. The hybrid LGBM and XGBoost model outperformed the other models with MSE, MAE and MAPE of 0.193, 0.285, and 0.156 respectively.
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor in children: A clinicopathologic and molecular study with parallels to the adult counterpart
Authors: Agaram Narasimhan P. , Wexler Leonard H. , Chi Ping , Antonescu Cristina R.
Published: November 2022

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are aggressive neoplasms, arising either sporadically, in the setting of neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) or post radiation. Most MPNST occur in adults and their pathogenesis is driven by the loss of function mutations in the PRC2 complex, regardless of their clinical presentation. In contrast, pediatric MPNST are rare and their pathogenesis has not been elucidated. In this study, we investigate a large cohort of 64 MPNSTs arising in children and young adults (younger than the age of 20 years) to better define their clinicopathologic and molecular features. Sixteen (25%) cases were investigated by MSK‐IMPACT, a targeted NGS panel of 505 cancer genes. Most patients (80%) were aged 11–20 years. A history of NF1 was established in half of the cases. Mean tumor size was 8.5 cm. The most common locations included the extremities (34%) and abdomen/pelvis (27%). Histologically, 89% of high‐grade MPNST showed conventional features, while the remaining three cases showed a predominant epithelioid phenotype. Heterologous differentiation occurred in 25% of high grade cases, with half showing rhabdomyoblastic differentiation. Tumors arose in a background of a plexiform neurofibroma (16%), neurofibroma (13%), and schwannoma in two cases (3%). Immunohistochemically, H3K27me3 expression was lost in 82% of conventional high‐grade MPNST analyzed, while loss of SMARCB1 expression was seen in one epithelioid MPNST. Genomically, all cases showed more than one genetic abnormality, with 53% showing mutations in EED / SUZ12 genes, and 47% of cases harboring alterations in NF1 and CDKN2A/CDKN2B genes. At the last follow‐up, 30% patients died of disease, 28% were alive with disease and 42% had no evidence of disease. NF1 status did not correlate with overall survival. In conclusion, half of pediatric and young adult MPNST were NF1‐related and showed loss of function alterations in PRC2 complex, NF1, and CDKN2A, similar to the adult counterpart. Thus, H3K27me3 loss of expression may be used in the diagnosis of high grade MPNSTs in children. Moreover, a small subset of pediatric MPNST have an epithelioid morphology with different pathogenesis.
LPAR1 and aberrantly expressed LPAR3 differentially promote the migration and proliferation of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor cells
Authors: Doutt Shannon Weber , Longo Jody Fromm , Carroll Steven L.
Published: November 2022

Schwann cell‐derived neoplasms known as malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are the most common malignancy and the leading cause of death in individuals with neurofibromatosis Type 1. Using genome‐scale shRNA screens, we have previously found evidence suggesting that lysophosphatidic acid receptors (LPARs) are essential for MPNST proliferation and/or survival. Here, we examine the expression and mutational status of all six LPA receptors in MPNSTs, assess the role that individual LPA receptors play in MPNST physiology and examine their ability to activate key neurofibromin‐regulated signaling cascades. We found that human Schwann cells express LPAR1 and LPAR6, while MPNST cells express predominantly LPAR1 and LPAR3. Whole exome sequencing of 16 MPNST cell lines showed no evidence of mutations in any LPAR genes or ENPP2, a gene encoding a major LPA biosynthetic enzyme. Oleoyl‐LPA, an LPA variant with an unsaturated side chain, promoted MPNST cell proliferation and migration. LPAR1 knockdown ablated the promigratory effect of LPA, while LPAR3 knockdown decreased proliferation. Inhibition of R‐Ras signaling with a doxycycline‐inducible dominant negative (DN) R‐Ras mutant, which inhibits both R‐Ras and R‐Ras2, blocked LPA's promigratory effect. In contrast, DN R‐Ras did not affect migration induced by neuregulin‐1β (NRG1β), suggesting that LPA and NRG1β promote MPNST migration via distinct pathways. LPA‐induced migration was also inhibited by Y27632, an inhibitor of the ROCK1/2 kinases that mediate R‐Ras effects in MPNSTs. Thus, LPAR1 and aberrantly expressed LPAR3 mediate distinct effects in MPNSTs. These receptors and the signaling pathways that they regulate are potentially useful therapeutic targets in MPNSTs.
Predictive effect of pretreatment nutritional risk and GLIM‐defined malnutrition on the nutrition impact symptom clusters in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy
Authors: Wang Yujie , Zhang Lichuan , Zhang Tong , Jin Sanli , Huang Zhou , Zhao Dan , Zheng Baomin , Xiao Shaowen , Gong Liqing , Sun Yan , Lu Qian
Published: November 2022

Background

Evidence supporting predictive effects of pretreatment nutritional risk and nutritional status on nutrition impact symptom (NIS) clusters during radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) is insufficient.

Methods

At baseline (T1), we collected severity and interference of NIS (Head and Neck Patient Symptom Checklist), nutritional risk, and nutritional status. During (T2) and at the end of radiotherapy (T3), we re‐evaluated NIS. Symptom clusters were identified by exploratory factor analysis using mean scores of NIS severity at T2 and T3. Predictive effects were explored by generalized estimating equations.

Results

Five hundred thirty‐seven patients were recruited and 334 of them completed. Four clusters were identified; the oropharyngeal symptom cluster was the most severe and had the greatest interference with diet. Patients with pretreatment nutritional risk or malnutrition experienced more severe oropharyngeal symptom cluster.

Conclusions

Pretreatment nutritional risk or malnutrition could predict the oropharyngeal symptom cluster in patients with HNC undergoing radiotherapy.
Magnetohydrodynamic flow of a micropolar nanofluid in association with Brownian motion and thermophoresis: Irreversibility analysis
Authors: Almeida Felicita , Gireesha Bijjanal Jayanna , Venkatesh Puttaswamy
Published: November 2022

This investigation was carried out with the purpose of presenting the flow of micropolar fluid flowing in the microchannel placed parallel to the ground. The prime aim of the work was to study the behavior of micropolar fluid and the response of the microrotation component when the two significant mechanisms namely Brownian movement and thermophoresis are accounted for, as these effects are mainly concerned with the motion of the particles of nano‐dimensions. For the flow of micropolar, we account for the extra kinematics variables combined with the classical continuum mechanics namely microinertia moment tensor and gyration tensor. Magnetic effect and suction/injection of the fluid through the channel walls are also facilitated. The influence on the fluid concentration due to the presence of activation energy was accounted in the present examination. On considering all of these effects, equations are carefully modeled and the solution was attained with the aid of Runge–Kutta Fehlberg 4–5th order method using a shooting scheme. The results have deciphered that the presence of material parameter elevates the microrotation component on the upper half of the channel and depletes it at the lower half. The microinertia parameter shows the opposite behavior of the material parameter. Brownian motion parameter is found to enhance the thermal profile and concentration profile. Lesser entropy was generated when the material parameter was high.