bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scaling of linear anthropometric dimensions in living humans
Authors: Fox Maria C. , Konigsberg Lyle W. , Hsiao‐Wecksler Elizabeth T. , Whitcome Katherine K. , Polk John D.
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Some previous studies suggest that humans do not conform to geometric similarity (isometry) in anthropometric dimensions of the upper and lower limbs. Researchers often rely on a single statistical approach to the study of scaling patterns, and it is unclear whether these methods produce similar results and are equally robust. This study used one bivariate and one multivariate method to examine how linear anthropometric dimensions scale in a sample of adult humans.

Materials and methods

Motion capture marker data from 104 adults of varying height and mass were used to calculate anthropometric dimensions. We analyzed scaling patterns in pooled and separate sexes with two methods: (1) bivariate log–log regression and (2) multivariate principal component analysis (PCA). We calculated 95% highest density/confidence intervals for each method and defined positive/negative allometry as estimates lying outside those intervals.

Results

Results identified isometric scaling of the upper arm, thigh, and shoulder, positive allometry of the forearm and shank, and negative allometry of the pelvis in the pooled sample using both statistical methods. Patterns of allometry in the pooled sample were similar between methods but differed in magnitude. Sex‐specific results differed in both pattern and magnitude between log–log regression and PCA. Only one measurement (shoulder width) departed from isometry in the sex‐specific log–log regressions.

Discussion

Our findings suggest that especially in sex‐specific analyses, the pattern and magnitude of allometry are sensitive to statistical methodology. When body mass was selected as the size variable, most human linear anthropometric dimensions in this sample scaled isometrically and were therefore geometrically similar within sexes.
Operando Cooperated Catalytic Mechanism of Atomically Dispersed Cu−N4 and Zn−N4 for Promoting Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Tong Miaomiao , Sun Fanfei , Xie Ying , Wang Ying , Yang Yuqi , Tian Chungui , Wang Lei , Fu Honggang
Published: March 2021

Dual‐metal single‐atom catalysts exhibit superior performance for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), however, the synergistic catalytic mechanism is not deeply understood. Herein, we report a dual‐metal single‐atom catalyst consisted of Cu−N4 and Zn−N4 on the N‐doped carbon support (Cu/Zn−NC). It exhibits high‐efficiency ORR activity with an Eonset of 0.98 V and an E1/2 of 0.83 V, excellent stability (no degradation after 10 000 cycles), surpassing state‐of‐the‐art Pt/C and great mass of Pt‐free single atom catalysts. Operando XANES demonstrates that the Cu−N4 as active center experiences the change from atomic dispersion to cluster with the cooperation of Zn−N4 during ORR process, and then turns to single atom state again after reaction. DFT calculation further indicates that the adjustment effect of Zn on the d‐orbital electron distribution of Cu could benefit to the stretch and cleavage of O‐O on Cu active center, speeding up the process of rate determining step of OOH*.
The Hydrotropic Effect of Ionic Liquids in Water‐in‐Salt Electrolytes**
Authors: Becker Maximilian , Rentsch Daniel , Reber David , Aribia Abdessalem , Battaglia Corsin , Kühnel Ruben‐Simon
Published: March 2021

Water‐in‐salt electrolytes have successfully expanded the electrochemical stability window of aqueous electrolytes beyond 2 V. Further improvements in stability can be achieved by partially substituting water with either classical organic solvents or ionic liquids. Here, we study ternary electrolytes composed of LiTFSI, water, and imidazolium ionic liquids. We find that the LiTFSI solubility strongly increases from 21 mol kg−1 in water to up to 60 mol kg−1 in the presence of ionic liquid. The solution structure is investigated with Raman and NMR spectroscopy and the enhanced LiTFSI solubility is found to originate from a hydrotropic effect of the ionic liquids. The increased reductive stability of the ternary electrolytes enables stable cycling of an aqueous lithium‐ion battery with an energy density of 150 Wh kg−1 on the active material level based on commercially relevant Li4Ti5O12 and LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 electrode materials.
Porous SiO2 supported CuO as a promising catalyst on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate
Authors: Guo Changping , Lu Yuewen , Tian Yuhao , Guo Hao , Zhang Xingquan
Published: March 2021

Reducing the thermal decomposition temperature of ammonium perchlorate (AP) is of great significance for its application in composite solid propellants. Here, CuO/SiO2 nanocomposites were prepared using wet impregnation method with Cu (CH3COO)2·H2O as copper precursor followed by a calcination process. The structure and morphology of the prepared samples were characterized with the help of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Xray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), respectively. The outcomes revealed the uniform dispersion of CuO were throughout silica aerogels to prevent agglomeration efficiently. Moreover, results from differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) showed that CuO/SiO2 nanocomposites could effectively enhance AP's thermal decomposition since they have large specific surface areas, many active reduction sites, and good adsorption capacity. As expected, the high decomposition temperature of AP was reduced from 418.7°C to 341.8°C when the amount of CuO/SiO2 nanocomposites was 4 wt%. Therefore, silica aerogels were good catalyst supports of CuO for AP's thermal decomposition. It can bring about new potential for application of new materials in high energy as AP‐based catalysts propellants which are solid in nature.
Spectroscopic, density functional theory, nonlinear optical properties and in vitro biological studies of Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) complexes of hydrazide Schiff base derivatives
Authors: Ramadan Ramadan M. , El‐Medani Samir M. , Makhlouf Abdelmoneim , Moustafa Hussein , Afifi Manal A. , Haukka Matti , Abdel Aziz Ayman
Published: March 2021

Complexes of three molecularly designed phenylacetohydrazide Schiff base derivatives—N′‐(2‐hydroxybenzylidene)‐2‐phenylacetohydrazid (HL1), N‐(1‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)ethylidene)‐2‐phenylacetohydrazide (HL2), and N′‐((1‐hydroxynaphthalen‐2‐yl)methylene)‐2‐phenylacetohydrazide (HL3)—with some bivalent metal ions were synthesized and investigated by several spectroscopic and analytical techniques. The crystal structure of HL1 ligand has been solved by conventional X‐ray diffraction technique. Molecular geometries of HL1 and the studied complexes were investigated using the DFT‐B3LYP/GENECP level of theory. Quantum and non‐quantum global reactivity descriptors as well as the nonlinear optical properties were calculated. Biological parameters such as antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, fluorescence quenching studies, and viscosity measurements of the complexes were carried out. Molecular docking studies of HL1 and complexes using Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) software are reported. The different biological studies and the molecular docking were correlated to each other. The biological studies supported that the complexes can bind to DNA via intercalative mode and showed a various DNA binding potency.
Just Culture: The Foundation of Staff Safety in the Perioperative Environment
Authors: Fencl Jennifer L. , Willoughby Carrie , Jackson Katrina
Published: March 2021

In today’s perioperative setting, staff members are potentially exposed to a variety of safety and environmental concerns. As health care organizations implement measures to provide safe environments for perioperative team members, organizational leaders must pivot away from antiquated mindsets and responses and other hierarchical models of leadership. Foundational to creating and fostering safe environments is providing an atmosphere in which staff members, regardless of their role, are empowered to speak up for safety. This article defines a just culture; explores the critical elements of a just culture, including psychological safety, leader and staff member responsibilities, and staff member empowerment; and provides tools and resources that may be beneficial for leaders who are creating a just culture for staff safety in the perioperative setting.
Hydrogen production from herbal wastewater via anaerobic fermentation with diatomite‐immobilized sludge
Authors: Liu Ruina , Lin Youwei , Xu Gongdi , Li Yongfeng
Published: March 2021

The feasibility and performance of continuous hydrogen production from herbal wastewater via anaerobic fermentation was investigated at different organic loading rates (OLRs) (from 12 to 96 kg chemical oxygen demand [COD]·L−1·day−1) in diatomite‐immobilized sludge reactor and suspended sludge reactor. Results indicated that the diatomite‐immobilized sludge reactor presented more efficient and stable performance than suspended sludge reactor in terms of hydrogen production rate. In diatomite‐immobilized sludge reactor, the highest hydrogen production rate of 11.17 ± 0.45 mmol·L−1·h−1 was achieved at the optimum OLR of 72‐kg COD·L−1·day−1. The metabolic route of acetate acid and butyrate acid production at low OLR (from 12‐ to 40‐kg COD·L−1·day−1) was modified to be ethanol production by an increase in OLR to 56 and 72‐kg COD·L−1·day−1, which was reflected by the distribution of bacterial community. The maximum energy recovery efficiency by dual production of hydrogen and ethanol was determined to be 31.2 kJ·L−1·h−1 at OLR of 72‐kg COD·L−1·day−1.
Hidden Markov model‐based robustH∞fault estimation for Markov switching systems with application to a single‐link robot arm
Authors: Che Junxing , Zhu Yanzheng , Zhou Donghua
Published: March 2021

In this paper, the hidden Markov model method is used to represent the asynchronous mode variations between the original systems and the fault estimator. The robustH∞performance index is employed when calculating the fault estimator gain, which effectively suppresses the effect of noise on fault estimation performance. The derived conditions of linear matrix inequalities ensure that the error system is stochastically stable, and a prescribed robustH∞performance index requirement is satisfied. The explicit numerical solutions are obtained on the asynchronous fault estimator gains via resolving the derived conditions of linear matrix inequalities. Finally, the effectiveness and applicability of developed theoretical results are verified through a numerical example and a practical single‐link robot arm application.
Examining the extent of and determinants for sustainability assurance quality: The role of audit committees
Authors: Zaman Rashid , Farooq Muhammad Bilal , Khalid Fahad , Mahmood Zeeshan
Published: March 2021

This study examines the extent of and determinants for sustainability assurance quality. Data comprise sustainability assurance statements published by the top 100 listed companies in Australia and New Zealand from 2017 to 2019. The findings indicate that Australian companies lead their New Zealand counterparts in sustainability assurance. Although sustainability reporting has risen, assurance rates remain significantly low. Accountants dominate the market, and companies prefer to use their own auditors for sustainability assurance work. Sustainability assurance quality is poor and does not vary significantly among Australian and New Zealand companies. Low‐quality sustainability assurance plays a limited role in mitigating potential stakeholder–agency conflicts. The regression analysis indicates that audit committee characteristics such as members' independence, industry/market expertise, and attending meetings enhance sustainability assurance quality, whereas audit committee size has no affect. These findings suggest that audit committee characteristics such as independence, industry expertise, and regular meeting attendance have the potential to reduce stakeholder–agency conflicts by improving the quality of sustainability statement assurance. Our findings build on the sustainability assurance literature by exploring current trends in sustainability assurance practices in Australia and New Zealand where corporate governance codes have been recently revised. Further, these findings are timely given recent changes in standards (International Standard on Assurance Engagements [ISAE] 3000 and Global Reporting Initiative [GRI]). Our study contributes to the audit committee literature and sheds light on the role played by audit committee characteristics on sustainability assurance statement quality. The study findings potentially offer useful insights for practitioners, standard setters, and regulators.
Correlation between the surface characteristics of carbon supports and their electrochemical stability and performance in fuel cell cathodes
Authors: Jiménez‐Morales Ignacio , Reyes‐Carmona Alvaro , Dupont Marc , Cavaliere Sara , Rodlert Marlene , Mornaghini Flavio , Larsen Mikkel J. , Odgaard Madeleine , Zajac Jerzy , Jones Deborah J. , Rozière Jacques
Published: March 2021

In this paper, an extensive characterisation of a range of carbon blacks (CB) with similar surface area but different surface chemistry is carried out by flow calorimetry, Raman spectroscopy, dynamic water vapour sorption, instrumental gas analysis, nitrogen adsorption/desorption and high potential chronoamperometry. Using these carbon materials as supports, Pt/CB electrocatalysts are prepared by microwave‐assisted polyol‐mediated synthesis in gram scale. Structural, morphological and electrochemical properties of the prepared electrocatalysts are evaluated by X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, rotating disc electrode and in situ fuel cell characterisation of the corresponding membrane–electrode assemblies. The obtained results allow to establish a relationship between surface chemistry and electrochemical properties useful for the design of Pt/C catalyst layers with high performance and stability.
Qualification of Image‐Based Measurement Systems for Characterization of Sprays
Authors: Schulz Jonas , Schunk Christoph , Schleicher Eckhard , Bart Hans‐Jörg
Published: March 2021

Image‐based measurement techniques become increasingly popular and expedite digitalization in chemical engineering. This article demonstrates their potential by testing two inline probes, namely modified optical multimode online probe (OMOP) and process microscope. Validations are performed with static monodisperse standards (9.2 µm to 406 µm) and fast‐moving droplets (68.6 µm to 860.7 µm; 24.5 m s−1 to 11 m s−1). Screening of a lithography attests both probes great distortion‐free image quality. A 1951 USAF chart attests a low optical resolution of 8 µm or 7 µm with respect to the OMOP or process microscope, respectively. The modified OMOP and process microscope reaches accuracies of 7.6 % or 5.9 % for particles and 8.2 % or 6.8 % for droplets.
Quality measures for end‐of‐life care for children with cancer: A modified Delphi approach
Authors: Johnston Emily E. , Martinez Isaac , Wolfe Joanne , Asch Steven M.
Published: March 2021

Background

The quality of adult end‐of‐life (EOL) cancer care has benefited from quality measures, but corresponding pediatric measures are lacking. Therefore, the authors used a validated expert panel method to recommend EOL quality measures for pediatric oncology.

Methods

The authors used the modified Delphi method to assess potential quality measures. Panelists were selected on the basis of professional organization nominations and expert qualifications. Pediatric and adult oncology, pediatric palliative care, social work, nursing, and hospice were represented. The authors provided the panel with a literature review on 20 proposed measures derived from adult measures and bereaved family interviews. The panel first scored the importance of each measure on a 9‐point scale and then discussed the measures via a conference call. The panel then rescored the measures. According to a priori standards, measures with median scores ≥ 7 with at least 7 of 9 experts ranking it as ≥4 were endorsed.

Results

The 16 endorsed measures included measures related to avoidance of medically intense care (eg, intensive care unit death and intubation in the last 14 days of life), death location (eg, death in the preferred location), hospital policies/programs (eg, the removal of visitor restrictions at EOL and the presence of a bereavement program), and supportive care services (eg, pediatric palliative care involvement and sibling needs assessment). Unendorsed measures included avoidance of chemotherapy at EOL and home death.

Conclusions

Expert panel–endorsed quality measures have been developed for EOL care in pediatric oncology. The measures need validation with bereaved families and further refinement before they are ready for real‐world application as a tool for standardizing EOL care in pediatric oncology.

Lay Summary

Quality measures for end‐of‐life care for children with cancer lag behind adult quality measures. Therefore, the authors have conducted an expert panel to develop an endorsed list of quality measures for end‐of‐life care for children with cancer.

The 16 endorsed measures include measures related to avoidance of medically intense care (eg, intensive care unit death and intubation in the last 14 days of life), location of death (eg, death in the preferred location), hospital policies/programs (eg, the removal of visitor restrictions at the end of life and the presence of a bereavement program), and supportive care services (eg, pediatric palliative care involvement and sibling needs assessment).
Mixed phenotype acute leukemia in a child associated with a NUP98‐NSD1 fusion and NRAS p.Gly61Arg mutation
Authors: Ganapathi Shireen S. , Raikar Sunil S. , Yatsenko Svetlana A. , Djokic Miroslav , Bukowinski Andrew
Published: March 2021

Background

Mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) is a rare subset of acute leukemia in the pediatric population associated with genetic alterations seen in both acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Case

We describe a patient with MPAL with a NUP98 (nucleoporin 98)‐NSD1 gene fusion (nuclear receptor binding SET domain protein1) and NRAS (neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog mutation) p.Gly61Arg mutation who was treated with upfront AML‐based chemotherapy, received hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), but unfortunately died from relapsed disease.

Conclusion

This case highlights the challenges faced in choosing treatment options in MPAL patients with complex genomics, with predominant myeloid features.
Design cloud‐fog systems based on the energy of Internet of Things devices
Authors: Tung Nguyen Thanh , Thinh Le Duc
Published: March 2021

Along with the development of connected devices and smart environments, the Internet of Things (IoT) has been receiving attention for years because of the growth in the number of devices. It enables a new breed of services and applications expected to analyze and augment captured data from IoT devices in order to create meaningful information for end‐users. Due to the limitations of computing and storage on devices, cloud computing is considered as a promising computing paradigm, which can provide elastic resources to the IoT services and applications. In this paper, we investigate the problem of IoT devices deployment in Cloud‐Fog system to provide the maximum operation time under the battery constraint of IoT devices. We formulate the problem using a Linear Programming (LP) model taking into account the characteristics of energy resources in Cloud‐Fog system as well as the IoT services‐specific requirements under two situations with and without battery constraints of the Fog Node devices. As the solution from the LP model might be too complicated for small devices, we propose a heuristic algorithm for solving the problem. The experimental results show that our proposed heuristic solution is very close to optimum solution in terms of energy efficiency.
A clustering algorithm based on the weighted entropy of conditional attributes for mixed data
Authors: Zhou Jing , Chen Ke , Liu Jinsheng
Published: March 2021

A novel definition for weighted entropy is proposed to improve clustering performance for small and diverse datasets. First, intra‐class and inter‐class weighted entropies for categorical and numeric conditional attributes are respectively developed using the mathematical definition of entropy. Second, the weighted entropy is used to calculate cluster weights for mixed conditional attributes. A unique weighted clustering algorithm that adopts entropy as its primary description term, after integrating the corresponding distance calculation mechanism, is then introduced. Finally, a theoretical analysis and validation experiment were conducted using the UC‐Irvine dataset. Results showed that the proposed algorithm offers high self‐adaptability, as its clustering performance was superior to the existing K‐prototypes, SBAC, and OCIL algorithms.
Methane Over‐Oxidation by Extra‐Framework Copper‐Oxo Active Sites of Copper‐Exchanged Zeolites: Crucial Role of Traps for the Separated Methyl Group
Authors: Adeyiga Olajumoke , Odoh Samuel O.
Published: March 2021

Copper‐exchanged zeolites are useful for stepwise conversion of methane to methanol at moderate temperatures. This process also generates some over‐oxidation products like CO and CO2. However, mechanistic pathways for methane over‐oxidation by copper‐oxo active sites in these zeolites have not been previously described. Adequate understanding of methane over‐oxidation is useful for developing systems with higher methanol yields and selectivities. Here, we use density functional theory (DFT) to examine methane over‐oxidation by [Cu3O3]2+ active sites in zeolite mordenite MOR. The methyl group formed after activation of a methane C−H bond can be stabilized at a μ‐oxo atom of the active site. This μ‐(O−CH3) intermediate can undergo sequential hydrogen atom abstractions till eventual formation of a copper‐monocarbonyl species. Adsorbed formaldehyde, water and formates are also formed during this process. The overall mechanistic path is exothermic, and all intermediate steps are facile at 200 °C. Release of CO from the copper‐monocarbonyl costs only 3.4 kcal/mol. Thus, for high methanol selectivities, the methyl group from the first hydrogen atom abstraction step must be stabilized away from copper‐oxo active sites. Indeed, it must be quickly trapped at an unreactive site (short diffusion lengths) while avoiding copper‐oxo species (large paths between active sites). This stabilization of the methyl group away from the active sites is central to the high methanol selectivities obtained with stepwise methane‐to‐methanol conversion.
Selective hippocampal subfield volume reductions in World Trade Center responders with cognitive impairment
Authors: Deri Yael , Clouston Sean A. P. , DeLorenzo Christine , Gardus John D. , Horton Megan , Tang Cheuk , Pellecchia Alison C. , Santiago‐Michels Stephanie , Carr Melissa A. , Gandy Sam , Sano Mary , Bromet Evelyn J. , Lucchini Roberto G. , Luft Benjamin J.
Published: March 2021

Introduction

The objective of this study was to investigate associations between dementia in World Trade Center (WTC) responders and in vivo volumetric measures of hippocampal subfield volumes in WTC responders at midlife.

Methods

A sample of 99 WTC responders was divided into dementia and unimpaired groups. Participants underwent structural T1‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Volumetric measures included the overall hippocampus and eight subfields. Regression models examined volumetric measure of interest adjusting for confounders including intracranial volume.

Results

Dementia was associated with smaller hippocampal volume and with reductions across hippocampal subfields. Smaller hippocampal subfield volumes were associated with longer cumulative time worked at the WTC. Domain‐specific cognitive performance was associated with lower volumetric measures across hippocampal subregions.

Conclusions

This is the first study to investigate hippocampal subfield volumes in a sample of WTC responders at midlife. Selective hippocampal subfield volume reductions suggested abnormal cognition that were associated with WTC exposure duration.
What shapes the range edge of a dominant African savanna tree, Colophospermum mopane? A demographic approach
Authors: Stevens Nicola
Published: March 2021

Climate is widely assumed to be the primary process that limits the distribution ranges of plants. Yet, savannas have vegetation not at equilibrium with climate, instead its structure and function are shaped by interactions between fire, herbivory, climate, and vegetation. I use the rich literature of a dominant African savanna woody plant, Colophospermum mopane, to demonstrate that climate and disturbance interact with each demographic stage to shape this species range limits. This synthesis highlights that climate‐based predictions for the range of C. mopane inadequately represents the processes that shape its distribution. Instead, seed bank depletion and rainfall limitation create a demographic bottleneck at the early seedling stage. The legacy of top‐kill from disturbance changes tree stand architecture causing a critical limitation in seed supply. Exposure to top‐kill at all demographic stages causes a vigorous resprouting response and shifts tree architecture from that of 1–2 stemmed tall trees to that of a short multi‐stemmed shrub. The shorter, multi‐stemmed shrubs are below the height threshold (4 m) at which they can produce seeds, resulting in shrub‐dominated landscapes that are effectively sterile. This effect is likely most pronounced at the range edge where top‐kill‐inducing disturbances increase in frequency. The proposed mechanistic, demographic‐based understanding of C. mopane's range limits highlights the complexity of processes that interact to shape its range edges. This insight serves as a conceptual model for understanding the determinants of range limits of other dominant woody savannas species living in disturbance limited ecosystems.
Phylogeography of the northernmost distributed Anisocentropus caddisflies and their comparative genetic structures based on habitat preferences
Authors: Takenaka Masaki , Shibata Saki , Ito Tomiko , Shimura Noriyoshi , Tojo Koji
Published: March 2021

Knowledge of the factors that determine the distribution ranges of organisms is necessary to understand their evolutionary and ecological significance and contribution to biodiversity. A very effective mean of studying such factors is to compare the distribution characteristics and genetic structures of closely related species with differing habitat preferences. Freshwater aquatic insects are relatively easy to observe and the basis of their corresponding niche differentiation easier to identify. Freshwater habitats are categorized lotic or lentic water according to flow regime. In Japanese Islands, the genus Anisocentropus of the calamoceratid caddisfly, the target group in this study, was morphologically reconfirmed that three species, that is, Anisocentropus kawamurai, A. pallidus, and A. magnificus. Among these, A. kawamurai prefers lotic environments and A. pallidus is adapted to lentic water habitats. The distribution range of these sister species overlaps within the Japanese Islands. We estimated the phylogeny and the evolutionary history of Anisocentropus caddisflies worldwide. We estimated divergence periods by two methods, a single locus with various specimens and multiple loci with reduced numbers of the specimens. As a result, we elucidated the phylogenetic position of Japanese species within the cosmopolitan genus Anisocentropus, and also revealed their dual origin. In addition, we demonstrated that the contrasting genetic structures between the sister species distributed in widely overlapping areas were due to differentiation in their respective adapted environmental preferences. Although, in general, it is known that species adapted to lentic water have greater dispersal potential and so are associated with wider distribution areas by means of examining their comparative genetic structures, we revealed a new pattern of genetic locality existing in the genetic structures of the species adapted to lentic water. We then present evidence that suggests the ecological preferences of a species are an important factor in understanding the evolutionary history of that species.
High‐throughput sequencing outperforms traditional morphological methods in Blue Catfish diet analysis and reveals novel insights into diet ecology
Authors: Evans Heather K. , Bunch Aaron J. , Schmitt Joseph D. , Hoogakker Frederick J. , Carlson Kara B.
Published: March 2021

Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus are an invasive, yet economically important species in the Chesapeake Bay. However, their impact on the trophic ecology of this system is not well understood. In order to provide in‐depth analysis of predation by Blue Catfish, we identified prey items using high‐throughput DNA sequencing (HTS) of entire gastrointestinal tracts from 134 samples using two genetic markers, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and the nuclear 18S ribosomal RNA gene. We compared our HTS results to a more traditional “hybrid” approach that coupled morphological identification with DNA barcoding. The hybrid study was conducted on additional Blue Catfish samples (n = 617 stomachs) collected from the same location and season in the previous year. Taxonomic representation with HTS vastly surpassed that achieved with the hybrid methodology in Blue Catfish. Significantly, our HTS study identified several instances of at‐risk and invasive species consumption not identified using the hybrid method, supporting the hypothesis that previous studies using morphological methods may greatly underestimate consumption of critical species. Finally, we report the novel finding that Blue Catfish diet diversity inversely correlates to daily flow rates, perhaps due to higher mobility and prey‐seeking behaviors exhibited during lower flow.
Color vision and niche partitioning in a diverse neotropical primate community in lowland Amazonian Ecuador
Authors: Veilleux Carrie C. , Kawamura Shoji , Montague Michael J. , Hiwatashi Tomohide , Matsushita Yuka , Fernandez‐Duque Eduardo , Link Andres , Di Fiore Anthony , Snodderly Donald Max
Published: March 2021

A recent focus in community ecology has been on how within‐species variability shapes interspecific niche partitioning. Primate color vision offers a rich system in which to explore this issue. Most neotropical primates exhibit intraspecific variation in color vision due to allelic variation at the middle‐to‐long‐wavelength opsin gene on the X chromosome. Studies of opsin polymorphisms have typically sampled primates from different sites, limiting the ability to relate this genetic diversity to niche partitioning. We surveyed genetic variation in color vision of five primate species, belonging to all three families of the primate infraorder Platyrrhini, found in the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve in Ecuador. The frugivorous spider monkeys and woolly monkeys (Ateles belzebuthandLagothrix lagotricha poeppigii, family Atelidae) each had two opsin alleles, and more than 75% of individuals carried the longest‐wavelength (553–556 nm) allele. Among the other species,Saimiri sciureus macrodon(family Cebidae) andPithecia aequatorialis(family Pitheciidae) had three alleles, whilePlecturocebus discolor(family Pitheciidae) had four alleles—the largest number yet identified in a wild population of titi monkeys. For all three non‐atelid species, the middle‐wavelength (545 nm) allele was the most common. Overall, we identified genetic evidence of fourteen different visual phenotypes—seven types of dichromats and seven trichromats—among the five sympatric taxa. The differences we found suggest that interspecific competition among primates may influence intraspecific frequencies of opsin alleles. The diversity we describe invites detailed study of foraging behavior of different vision phenotypes to learn how they may contribute to niche partitioning.
Valley‐scale hydrogeomorphology drives river fish assemblage variation in Mongolia
Authors: Maasri Alain , Pyron Mark , Arsenault Emily R. , Thorp James H. , Mendsaikhan Bud , Tromboni Flavia , Minder Mario , Kenner Scott J. , Costello John , Chandra Sudeep , Otgonganbat Amarbat , Boldgiv Bazartseren
Published: March 2021

River hydrogeomorphology is a major driver shaping biodiversity and community composition. Here, we examine how hydrogeomorphic heterogeneity expressed by Functional Process Zones (FPZs) in river networks is associated with fish assemblage variation. We examined this association in two distinct ecoregions in Mongolia expected to display different gradients of river network hydrogeomorphic heterogeneity. We delineated FPZs by extracting valley‐scale hydrogeomorphic variables at 10 km sample intervals in forest steppe (FS) and in grassland (G) river networks. We sampled fish assemblages and examined variation associated with changes in gradients of hydrogeomorphology as expressed by the FPZs. Thus, we examined assemblage variation as patterns of occurrence‐ and abundance‐based beta diversities for the taxonomic composition of assemblages and as functional beta diversity. Overall, we delineated 5 and 6 FPZs in river networks of the FS and G, respectively. Eight fish species were found in the FS river network and seventeen in the G, four of them common to both ecoregions. Functional richness was correspondingly higher in the G river network. Variation in the taxonomic composition of assemblages was driven by species turnover and was only significant in the G river network. Abundance‐based taxonomic variation was significant in river networks of both ecoregions, while the functional beta diversity results were inconclusive. We show that valley‐scale hydrogeomorphology is a significant driver of variation in fish assemblages at a macrosystem scale. Both changes in the composition of fish assemblages and the carrying capacity of the river network were driven by valley‐scale hydrogeomorphic variables. River network hydrogeomorphology as accounted for in the study has, therefore, the potential to inform macrosystem scale community ecology research and conservation efforts.
Graphite Anode for Potassium Ion Batteries: Current Status and Perspective
Authors: Li Xiaodan , Li Jinliang , Ma Liang , Yu Caiyan , Ji Zhong , Pan Likun , Mai Wenjie
Published: March 2021

With the increased demand from the storage of renewable energy sources, some safe and inexpensive energy storage technologies instead of Li‐ion batteries become urgently needed. Therefore, K‐ion batteries (KIBs) have attracted much attention and evolved significant development because of the low price, safety, and similar property compared with Li‐ion batteries. Due to the high reversibility, stability, and low potential plateau, graphite becomes a current research focus and is regarded as one of the most promising KIB's anode materials. In this review, we mainly discuss the electrochemical reaction mechanism of graphite during potassiation‐depotassiation process and analyze the effects of electrode/electrolyte interface on graphite for K‐ion storage. Besides, we summarize several kinds of methods to improve the performance of graphite for KIBs, including the design of graphite structure, selection of appropriate binder, solvent chemistry, and salt chemistry. Meanwhile, a concept of “relative energy density” is raised, which can be more accurate to evaluate the genuine electrochemical performance of graphite anode involving the specific capacity and potential. In addition, we also summarize the considerable challenges to current graphite anode in KIBs and we believe our work will offer alterative solutions to further explore high‐performance graphite anode of K‐ion storage.
Antigen‐dependent multistep differentiation of T follicular helper cells and its role in SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and vaccination
Authors: Baumjohann Dirk , Fazilleau Nicolas
Published: March 2021

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells play an essential role in regulating the GC reaction and, consequently, the generation of high‐affinity antibodies and memory B cells. Therefore, Tfh cells are critical for potent humoral immune responses against various pathogens and their dysregulation has been linked to autoimmunity and cancer. Tfh cell differentiation is a multistep process, in which cognate interactions with different APC types, costimulatory and coinhibitory pathways, as well as cytokines are involved. However, it is still not fully understood how a subset of activated CD4+ T cells begins to express the Tfh cell‐defining chemokine receptor CXCR5 during the early stage of the immune response, how some CXCR5+ pre‐Tfh cells enter the B‐cell follicles and mature further into GC Tfh cells, and how Tfh cells are maintained in the memory compartment. In this review, we discuss recent advances on how antigen and cognate interactions are important for Tfh cell differentiation and long‐term persistence of Tfh cell memory, and how this is relevant to the current understanding of COVID‐19 pathogenesis and the development of potent SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines.
Determination of Paracetamol Based on 3‐Amino‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole Coated Glassy Carbon Surface in Pharmaceutical Sample
Authors: Uzun Demet
Published: March 2021

In this present study, to determine paracetamol, an electroanalytical method is presented using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) at 3‐amino‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole (3AT) coated glassy carbon (GC) electrode. The electrochemical characterization and electron transfer behavior of this prepared electrode in the mixture of K4[Fe(CN)6]/K3[Fe(CN)6] contains 0.1 M KCl was confirmed by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe morphological structures of the bare and modified surfaces. The effect of pH was studied on the redox reaction of paracetamol in phosphate buffer in the range of pH 3.0–9.0. The limit of detection was 0.043 μM (3 s/m) for 3AT‐GC electrode. The developed electrode was successfully utilized in pharmaceutical samples.
Using Transparent Adhesive Tape as New Substrate for Integrated Flexible Enzymatic Sensor: Good Adhesion and Better Printability
Authors: Yang Ke , Zhao Shunan , Xu Jiawei , Zhu Zhuoya , Wang Zhifei
Published: March 2021

Substrate plays an essential role in the construction of flexible electrode and related wearable sensors. Compared with conventional flexible substrates such as Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the common transparent adhesive tape exhibits the unique advantages in the non‐adhesive surface with good printability, allowing the conductive layer to be deposited directly on its surface, and in another adhesive surface with good fastening, thus facilitating the fabrication of as‐prepared electrode in subsequent wearable sensors. Herein, we constructed a new type of flexible sensor to detect ascorbic acid which is closely related to human health in sweat by integrating flexible electrode based on transparent adhesive tape with potentiostat that incorporate the critical signal conditioning, processing, and transmission functions. Experiment results show that resulting electrode still has the good electrochemistry performance even after 1000 bending cycles (20 % bending degrees). By connecting as‐prepared flexible electrode to the potentiostat to carry out real time analysis, the resulting sensor exhibits excellent sensitivity, detection limit and repeatability (0.15 V detection potential vs printed Ag/AgCl reference electrode, 3.8 μM detection limit, 25 μM‐1 mM linearity, and good selectivity).
Comparison of various zero‐dimensional models to analyze the brachial artery blood flow of an arterio‐venous fistula during hemodialysis procedure
Authors: Bastola Sulav , Jones Steven A.
Published: March 2021

One of the most recommended vascular accesses for hemodialysis is an autogenous arterio‐venous fistula (AVF), which is a surgically created conduit between an artery and a vein. AVFs can be compromised by stenosis‐induced arterial or venous thrombosis. An effective and efficient mathematical fluid mechanical model can provide insight into the mechanisms for stenosis and thrombosis. In an earlier paper, a laminar entry flow model (Shah) was applied to a fifth order lumped parameter zero dimensional (0D) model to predict the inlet flow rate in the brachial artery of an AVF. ODE45, a built in MATLAB ordinary differential equation (ODE) solver, was used to produce the solution. The Shah model showed closer correlation with a computational fluid dynamics model, performed in COMSOL, than did the Poiseuille flow model. In this study, an outlet flow rate in the brachial artery of an AVF is generated with third, fourth, and fifth order lumped parameter zero dimensional models with laminar and turbulent flow conditions within different arterial segments. Butcher's sixth order Runge‐Kutta (RK) method was used as an ODE solver and the results were compared with the MATLAB ODE solvers (ODE45 and ODE113). The lumped parameter model solved with Butcher's sixth order RK method generated less oscillation with a more stable and consistent outlet flow rate in comparison to the other solvers. Brachial artery blood flow, modeled with Shah's entry flow equation in the inlet segment and Blasius turbulent equation modeled at the outlet segment prior to the beginning of the anastomosis, generated an average outlet flow rate similar to that of clinical data. The dependence of brachial artery on the flow equations indicates the importance of wisely selecting flow resistance models and the effect of blood pressure and peripheral resistance on fistula maturation. The average and peak flow rate also depended on the ODE solver. Third and fourth order lumped parameter models generated results similar to the fifth order model only at normal peripheral resistance. Therefore, this study can help to understand the AVF performance in vitro and guide the application of an appropriate lumped parameter model for blood flow prediction.
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in the Marine Environment Around False Bay, Cape Town, South Africa: Occurrence and Risk-Assessment Study
Authors: Ojemaye Cecilia Y. , Petrik Leslie
Published: March 2021

Pollution of the marine environment has been increasing as a result of anthropogenic activities. The preservation of marine ecosystems as well as the safety of harvested seafood are nowadays a global concern. In the present study, levels of pharmaceuticals and personal care products were assessed in different environmental compartments in the near-shore marine environment of False Bay, Cape Town, South Africa. The study revealed the presence of these persistent chemical compounds in different environmental samples from this location. Diclofenac was the most dominant compound detected, with higher concentration than the other pharmaceutical compounds, as well as being present in almost all the samples from the different sites (seawater, 3.70–4.18 ng/L; sediment, 92.08–171.89 ng/g dry wt; marine invertebrates, 67.67–780.26 ng/g dry wt; seaweed, 101.50–309.11 ng/g dry wt). The accumulation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the different species of organisms reflects the increasing anthropogenic pressure taking place at the sampling sites along the bay, as a result of population growth, resident lifestyle as well as poorly treated sewage effluent discharge from several associated wastewater-treatment plants. The concentration of these contaminants is in the order marine biota > sediments > seawater. The contaminants pose a low acute and chronic risk to the selected trophic levels. A public awareness campaign is needed to reduce the pollution at the source, as well as wastewater discharge limits need to be more stringent. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:614–634. © 2021 SETAC
Finding a livable feminist academic life through Rasanblaj
Authors: Sargsyan Nelli
Published: March 2021

In this article, I poetically gather the conceptual and methodological approaches of Black and Indigenous women scholars that have kept me, as an anthropologist scholar‐teacher from elsewhere, alive and interdisciplined in the US academy, ethico‐erotically oriented in my research‐creation. The women scholars to whose work I turn breathe life into my feminist intellectual woodland—the anthropological cannon—the scholarly commons. In the bounty of their generous sharing of methodological remix and political commitments, these mentors point to the need for subverting the pain of dismemberment and fragmentation effected by different forms of domination at different scales (Alexander 2005). Drawing on the legacy of these elders and colleagues, I mix genres, languages, and sounds as I evocatively gesture to the ways these women scholars have sustained and mentored me through their collective scholarly care.
Predation services: quantifying societal effects of predators and their prey
Authors: Gilbert Sophie , Carter Neil , Naidoo Robin
Published: March 2021

Conservation of predators – especially large carnivores and those that potentially pose threats to humans – can be controversial among stakeholders who must coexist with them. What is often overlooked, however, are the direct and indirect ecosystem services and disservices predators provide as a result of consumption of herbivores (“predation services”). We used a theoretical predator–prey–economic model to examine when predators are likely to provide a net service to society, by comparing services/disservices to a predator‐free counterfactual scenario. We found that net predator services were strongly dependent on how per‐capita services and disservices of predators and prey changed with abundance (ie assumed marginal value [MV] functions of service/disservice). We suggest that further empirical research is needed into MVs of services/disservices of wildlife, because transferring net services among locations – a common practice – is problematic unless MV functions are known. Rigorously quantifying services/disservices of predators could improve conservation and management outcomes by increasing effective communication to diverse stakeholders.
Two‐stage magmatism and mineralization of Tulaergen nickel‐copper deposit in eastern Tianshan, North‐west China: Evidence from bulk rock geochemistry and in situ mineral chemistry
Authors: Fang Lin‐Ru , Tang Dong‐Mei , Junge Malte , Qin Ke‐Zhang , Mao Ya‐Jing , Evans Noreen J. , Wohlgemuth‐Ueberwasser Cora C. , Niu Yan‐Jie
Published: March 2021

The Tulaergen magmatic Ni–Cu deposit is related to mafic‐ultramafic rocks of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. The ore‐host rocks are lherzolite and websterite and the major ore types are net‐textured and sparsely disseminated ores. The disseminated ores host high‐Fo (82–85) olivine and hornblende with low‐Al contents, high‐rare earth element (REE) abundances and negative Eu anomalies. The net‐textured mineralized lherzolite contains low‐Fo (74–82) olivine and high‐Al hornblende, the latter characterized by low REE concentrations and no Eu anomaly. The contrasting composition of olivine and hornblende suggests two stages of magmatism. In situ analysis of pentlandite, chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite shows that platinum‐group elements contents in sulphides are low. Contrasting Ni, Co, Se, Ag, Cd, and Pb contents in sulphides from net‐textured and in disseminated ores also supports two pulses of magmas, each with a distinct chemical composition. High‐Mg basaltic magma characterized the first stage, followed by a second‐stage less basic magma with a high H2O content. Whole‐rock Sr and Nd isotopic signatures suggest that about 4–6% crustal materials were added to the depleted mantle source. The fractional crystallization of olivine and crustal contamination play important roles in sulphur segregation at Tulaergen based on sulphur content at sulphide saturation modelling. Injection of magma enriched in H2O further enhanced sulphide aggregation and deposit forming. It is proposed that two pulses of magma injections occurred at the Tulaergen deposit, with the products of the first pulse settling at the base, and of the second one with dense mineralization laying at the top of the deposit.