bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Giant Mid‐Infrared Second‐Harmonic Generation Response in a Densely‐Stacked Van Der Waals Transition‐Metal Oxychloride
Authors: Jin Congcong , Jiang Xingxing , Wu Chao , Duanmu Kaining , Lin Zheshuai , Huang Zhipeng , Humphrey Mark G. , Zhang Chi
Published: August 2023

Second‐harmonic generation (SHG) is a fundamental optical property of nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals. Thus far, it has proved difficult to engineer large SHG responses, particularly in the mid‐infrared region, owing to the difficulty in simultaneously controlling the arrangement and density of functional NLO‐active units. Herein, a new assembly strategy employing functional modules only, and aimed at maximizing the density and optimizing the spatial arrangement of highly efficient functional modules, has been applied to the preparation of NLO crystals, affording the van der Waals crystal MoO2Cl2. This exhibits the strongest powder SHG response (2.1×KTiOPO4 (KTP) @ 2100 nm) for a transition‐metal oxyhalide, a wide optical transparency window, and a sufficient birefringence. MoO2Cl2 is the first SHG‐active transition‐metal oxyhalide effective in the infrared region. Theoretical studies and crystal structure analysis suggest that the densely packed, optimally‐aligned [MoO4Cl2] modules within the two‐dimensional van der Waals layers are responsible for the giant SHG response.
Synthesis of C60/[10]CPP‐Catenanes by Regioselective, Nanocapsule‐Templated Bingel Bis‐Addition
Authors: Steudel Fabian M. , Ubasart Ernest , Leanza Luigi , Pujals Míriam , Parella Teodor , Pavan Giovanni M. , Ribas Xavi , von Delius Max
Published: August 2023

The addition of two unsymmetric malonate esters to the Buckminster fullerene C60 can lead to 22 spectroscopically distinguishable isomeric products and therefore represents a formidable synthesis challenge. In this work, we achieve 87 % selectivity for the formation of a single (in,out‐trans‐3) isomer by combining three approaches: (i) we use a starting material, in which the two malonates are covalently connected (tether approach); (ii) we form the strong supramolecular complex of C60 with the shape‐persistent [10]CPP macrocycle (template approach) and (iii) we embed this complex further within a self‐assembled nanocapsule (shadow mask approach). Variation of the spacer chain shed light on the limitations of the approach and the ring dynamics in the unusual [2]catenanes were studied in silico with atomistic resolution. This work significantly widens the scope of mechanically interlocked architectures comprising cycloparaphenylenes (CPP).
Application of Metal‐Organic Frameworks in Imaging‐Guided Therapy
Authors: Zhu Man , Ke Ming , Zhao Wenjing , Wu Qingqing , Li Shaoguang , Li Hui , Xia Fan
Published: August 2023

Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) are formed by the self‐assembly of metal centres/clusters and organic ligands. A diverse range of organic ligands can be employed, including nucleobases, amino acids, peptides, proteins, and saccharides et al. Due to the characteristics of large surface area, high porosity, easy surface functionalization and adjustable internal pore size, et al. MOFs have been used as a significant emerging class of biological imaging agents and have attracted great research interest in optical imaging (OI), photoacoustic imaging (PAI), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) in recent years. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse range of organic ligands utilized in Metal‐organic frameworks, while also delving into the recent advancements, opportunities, and challenges encountered in the realm of bioimaging in recent years.
Effect of different processing practices on physicochemical parameters, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant properties of chia seed oils
Authors: Chen Chuang , Wang Yongjin , Cui Ru , Zhu Ling , Han Jing , Sun Jiping , Xu Qi , Karrar Emad , Zhang Hui , Jin Qingzhe , Wu Gangcheng , Wang Xingguo
Published: August 2023

Alpha‐linolenic acid and antioxidant substances (such as tocopherols and polyphenols) are abundant in chia seed oil, which may prevent certain chronic diseases. This study compared the physicochemical parameters, chemical composition and antioxidant properties of black and white chia seed oil extracted by solvent extraction, pressing and supercritical CO2 extraction. Chia seed oil contained higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, including linoleic acid (18.68%–20.15%) and α‐linolenic acid (60.47%–63.68%). Black and white chia seeds and processing methods had significant effects on minor components (tocopherols, total phenols, phytosterols and squalene), oxidative stability and free radical scavenging ability. Compared with other methods, the contents of tocopherols (512.72–603.04 mg/kg), total phenols (35.21–57.75 mgGAE/kg) and phytosterols (5536.69–5956.65 mg/kg) were higher in the pressing method. In addition, 17 individual polyphenols were identified and quantified, among which genistein and gallic acid had higher contents, which were significantly affected by varieties and processing methods. In general, the pressing process may be the best processing method to improve minor components and antioxidant capacity. This study can provide a valuable reference for producing functional foods supplemented with α‐linolenic acid.
Photobase generators with AIE property used for visual observations of thiol–epoxy near‐UV/visible photopolymerization
Authors: Xie Gang , Huang Yugang , Hu Huawen , Yang Jianwen
Published: August 2023

Photopolymerization of thiol–epoxy resins initiated by photobase generators (PBGs) is a very good way to prepare specific polymeric products. However, the lack of near‐UV or visible light emitting diode (LED) light‐sensitive PBGs that can release strong bases to effectively catalyze this reaction and synchronously monitor the polymerization progress still is a problem. In this work, a series of such PBGs are successfully synthesized by modifying common aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) molecules, including triphenylamine and tetraphenylethylene and then neutralizing them with strong bases like 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene, 1,5‐diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non‐5‐ene, and 1,5,7‐triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec‐5‐ene (TBD). The obtained PBGs show very good light absorption ability from 365 to 405 nm. They can generate free strong bases under near‐UV/visible LED light radiations as a result of photodecarboxylation reaction to catalyze the rapid thiol–epoxy photopolymerization. The TBD‐based PBGs have the best final monomer conversion above 60% due to their strongest alkalinity. Increasing viscosity during the polymerization process can trigger an AIE phenomenon of the PBGs. A linear correlation equation of the AIE intensity with the monomer conversion can be found, which is helpful for quantitatively monitoring the photopolymerization progress. More importantly, qualitative observations of the brightness changes of the resulting AIE lights are very useful to visualize the photopolymerization progress, which may find some applied potential in industry.
New insights into immune genes and other expanded gene families of the house fly, Musca domestica, from an improved whole genome sequence
Authors: Meisel Richard P. , Freeman Jamie C. , Asgari Danial , Llaca Victor , Fengler Kevin A. , Mann David , Rastogi Achal , Loso Mike , Geng Chaoxian , Scott Jeffrey G.
Published: August 2023

The house fly, Musca domestica, is a pest of livestock, transmits pathogens of human diseases, and is a model organism in multiple biological research areas. The first house fly genome assembly was published in 2014 and has been of tremendous use to the community of house fly biologists, but that genome is discontiguous and incomplete by contemporary standards. To improve the house fly reference genome, we sequenced, assembled, and annotated the house fly genome using improved techniques and technologies that were not available at the time of the original genome sequencing project. The new genome assembly is substantially more contiguous and complete than the previous genome. The new genome assembly has a scaffold N50 of 12.46 Mb, which is a 50‐fold improvement over the previous assembly. In addition, the new genome assembly is within 1% of the estimated genome size based on flow cytometry, whereas the previous assembly was missing nearly one‐third of the predicted genome sequence. The improved genome assembly has much more contiguous scaffolds containing large gene families. To provide an example of the benefit of the new genome, we used it to investigate tandemly arrayed immune gene families. The new contiguous assembly of these loci provides a clearer picture of the regulation of the expression of immune genes, and it leads to new insights into the selection pressures that shape their evolution.
An in silico analysis on the photoproteins Mnemiopsin 1 and Mnemiopsin 2 to explain the experimental results
Authors: Asadi Sofilar Ashraf , Shirdel Akram , Jafarian Vahab , Khalifeh Khosrow
Published: August 2023

Mnemiopsin 1 (Mn1) and Mnemiopsin 2 (Mn2) are photoproteins found in Mnemiopsis leidyi. We have tried to answer the question of whether the structural features of photoproteins can explain the observed activity data. According to the activity measurements data, they have the same characteristic wavelength. However, the initial intensity of Mn2 is significantly higher than that of Mn1, and decay time of Mn1 (0.92 s−1) is lower than that of Mn2 (1.46 s−1). The phylogenetic analysis demonstrates that, compared with Obelin and Aequorin from Obelia longissima and Aequorea victoria, respectively, a gene modification event may have caused the expansion of the N‐terminal side of all photoproteins from M. leidyi. An in silico study has shown that the stability of the photoprotein–substrate complex of Mn2 is higher than that of Mn1, indicating a higher affinity of the substrate for Mn2 compared with Mn1. It was revealed that the active EF‐hand loops 1 and III in Mn2 is locally more rigid compared with those in Mn1. We concluded that different stability of the photoprotein complexes leads to different initial intensity. While different patterns of the local dynamics of loops I and III may influence the decay rate.
Comprehensive Phytochemical Content by LC/MS/MS and Anticholinergic, Antiglaucoma, Antiepilepsy, and Antioxidant Activity of Apilarnil (Drone Larvae)
Authors: Inci Hakan , Izol Ebubekir , Yilmaz Mustafa Abdullah , Ilkaya Mehmet , Bingöl Zeynebe , Gülçin Ilhami
Published: August 2023

Apilarnil is 3–7 days old drone larvae. It is an organic bee product known to be rich in protein. In this study, the biological activities of Apilarnil were determined by its antioxidant and enzyme inhibition effects. Antioxidant activities were determined by Fe3+, Cu2+, Fe3+‐TPTZ ((2,4,6‐tris(2‐pyridyl)‐s‐triazine), reducing ability and 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH⋅) scavenging assays. Also, its enzyme inhibition effects were tested against carbonic anhydrase I and II isoenzymes (hCA I, hCA II), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes. Antioxidant activity of Apilarnil was generally lower than the standard molecules in the applied methods. In DPPH⋅ radical scavenging assay, Apilarnil exhibited higher radical scavenging than some standards. Enzyme inhibition results towards hCA I (IC50: 14.2 μg/mL), hCA II: (IC50: 11.5 μg/mL), AChE (IC50: 22.1 μg/mL), BChE (IC50: 16.1 μg/mL) were calculated. In addition, the quantity of 53 different phytochemical compounds of Apilarnil was determined by a validated method by LC/MS/MS. Compounds with the highest concentrations (mg analyte/g dry extract) were determined as quinic acid (1091.045), fumaric acid (48.714), aconitic acid (47.218), kaempferol (39.946), and quercetin (27.508). As a result, it was determined that Apilarnil had effective antioxidant profile when compared to standard antioxidants.
Pseudohyperkalemia in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and diabetic ketoacidosis
Authors: Haque Mahfujul Z. , Nasir Aishah , Judge Ramzan
Published: August 2023

Key Clinical Message

Pseudohyperkalemia can lead to inaccurate hyperkalemia diagnosis, inappropriate initiation of potassium‐lowering therapies, and overall unnecessary treatment possibly inducing iatrogenic hypokalemia. Patients with leukocytosis and thrombocytosis should raise clinical suspicion that hyperkalemic laboratory results in the absence of other traditional signs of hyperkalemia may be indicative of pseudohyperkalemia. Here we present a case of severe leukocytosis with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) found to have critically elevated potassium levels on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). The patient was also diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at admission, requiring an increased frequency of electrolyte monitoring. The events leading to the prompt recognition of pseudohyperkalemia in this patient will be delineated alongside our recommendations for revising the institutional protocol to avoid false hyperkalemia diagnoses in patients with CLL.
Spontaneous rupture of a gastroduodenal artery side branch immediately following endovascular treatment of gastroepiploic artery aneurysm or pseudoaneurysm
Authors: Salehi Mohammad Gharib , Golezar Mohammad Hossein , Goudarzi Mahmoud
Published: August 2023

Key clinical massage

Pseudoaneurysms and aneurysms of the visceral arteries are rare entities. To the best of our knowledge, rupture of a proximal parental artery during endovascular treatment of a visceral aneurism/pseudoaneurysm has not been reported and should be kept in mind as a tragic possibility immediately following an apparently successful management of them.

A 55‐year‐old woman with a history of coronary artery disease was referred to our hospital with abdominal pain as her primary complaint. Early works revealed anemia, a small amount of free peritoneal fluid, and a possible large aneurysm or pseudoaneurysm by the greater curvature of the stomach. She underwent emergency angiography that showed a large aneurism/pseudoaneurysm of the gastroepiploic artery. Successful embolization of the lesion was performed using the isolation technique. Perforation of a side branch of the gastroduodenal artery was observed on the immediate postembolization control angiography. Therefore, parent artery coiling was done immediately with good results. She was symptom‐free and stable hemodynamically after the procedure, during the hospital course, and in the follow‐ups.
A Freestanding 3D Skeleton with Gradationally Distributed Lithiophilic Sites for Realizing Stable Lithium Anodes
Authors: Li Tianhui , Zhou Hanxiao , Liu Wenjing , Gao Jingjing , Guo Zhihao , Su Zihao , Yan Yuanting , Su Shaoxiang , Xie Haoyu , Peng Gongchang , Qu Meizhen
Published: August 2023

Lithium (Li) metal anodes are drawing considerable attention owing to their ultrahigh theoretical capacities and low electrochemical reduction potentials. However, their commercialization has been hampered by safety hazards induced by continuous dendrite growth. These issues can be alleviated using the ZnO‐modified 3D carbon‐based host containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon felt (CF) fabricated by electroplating in the present study (denoted as ZnO/CNT@CF). The constructed skeleton has lithiophilic ZnO that is gradationally distributed along its thickness. The utilization of an inverted ZnO/CNT@CF−Li anode obtained by flipping over the carbon skeleton after Li electrodeposition is also reported herein. The synergistic effect of the Li metal and lithiophilic sites reduces the nucleation overpotential, thus inducing Li+ to preferentially deposit inside the porous carbon‐based scaffold. The composite electrode compels Li to grow away from the separator, thereby significantly improving battery safety. A symmetric cell with the inverted ZnO/CNT@CF−Li electrode operates steadily for 700 cycles at 1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2. Moreover, the ZnO/CNT@CF−Li|S cell exhibits an initial areal capacity of 10.9 mAh cm−2 at a S loading of 10.4 mg cm−2 and maintains a capacity of 3.0 mAh cm−2 after 320 cycles.
Bioactive Hydrogels with Pro‐coagulation Effect for Hemostasis†
Authors: Guo Quanshi , Ding Yihang , Yu Lisha , Tong Zongrui , Mao Zhengwei
Published: August 2023

Comprehensive Summary

Hemostatic hydrogels are widely applied for wound management of damaged tissues, traumatic wounds, and surgical incisions. Some hydrogels composed of bioactive components, including fibrin and thrombin, showed great promise in the clinic due to their good pro‐coagulation effect. With the expanding knowledge of cascade reaction of blood coagulation and emerging bioactive substances, massive bioactive hydrogels consisting of peptides, hemocoagulase, polyphosphate (polyP), etc., have been developed as effective hemostatic materials. Based on the coagulation process and mechanism, we summarize the role of reported bioactive hydrogels in hemostasis in this review. We conclude the key points in the coagulation process, including activation of coagulation factors, fibrinogen polymerization, etc., then discuss how to design bioactive hydrogels to accelerate coagulation targeted to these points. Finally, we conclude the progress and propose a perspective of bioactive hydrogels with a pro‐coagulation effect for hemostasis.
Synthetic Control of Thorium Metal‐Organic Frameworks for Sequencing and Sensing of Radioiodine Species
Authors: Ju Yu , Li Zi‐Jian , Wang Xue , Qiu Jie , Chan Yiuhon , Zhang Zhi‐Hui , He Mingyang , Lin Jian
Published: August 2023

Comprehensive Summary

Exploring the physiochemical properties and expanding the applications of actinide‐containing materials is paramount to address the escalating challenge of radioactive waste accumulation. However, unlocking the full potential of these materials is largely crippled by the radiotoxicity of the actinides. We report here two porous and luminescent thorium‐based metal‐organic frameworks (Th‐BITD‐1 and Th‐BITD‐2) that serve as a bifunctional platform for sequencing and sensing of radioiodine, a much more radioactive fission product discharged during the nuclear fuel reprocessing. In particular, Th‐BITD‐1 displays better iodine uptake performance than Th‐BITD‐2 via the solution‐based process and vapor diffusion with the maximum adsorption capacities of 831 and 1099 mg/g, respectively. Furthermore, Th‐BITD‐1 can function as a highly sensitive luminescence sensor for iodate with a quenching constant (KSV) of 6.6(5) × 103 M−1 and a detection limit of 2.02 μM, respectively, outperforming 2.96(6) × 103 M−1 and 10.5 μM of Th‐BITD‐2. Moreover, a positive correlation between the sensing efficacy and the iodate adsorption capacity has been revealed. This work highlights the opportunity in designing novel actinide‐based MOFs for their potential applications in radiological fields, e.g., radionuclide separation and detection.
X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy and gamma‐ray spectroscopy: experimental accesses to atomic models?
Authors: Hofmann Jonas , Emmert Marcel , Schwab Martin , Geidel Ekkehard
Published: August 2023

Röntgenfluoreszenzanalysen und Gammaspektroskopie sind analytische Techniken, die sowohl in der Forschung als auch in der Routineanalytik zur qualitativen und quantitativen Elementbestimmung eingesetzt werden. Über den praktischen Einsatz im Chemieunterricht und in der universitären Lehre wurde dagegen selten berichtet. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden deshalb Experimente zu beiden Techniken vorgestellt, die für Chemieunterricht und Lehramtsausbildung gleichermaßen geeignet sind. Sie umfassen einerseits Untersuchungen zum experimentellen Zugang zu Atommodellen. Andererseits dienen sie der Charakterisierung von Alltagsgegenständen aus der Lebenswelt der Lernenden.
Pasta, catalysis and rocket science – a different kind of glowing splint test
Authors: Zell Lukas , Lüke Dennis , Oetken Marco
Published: August 2023

In diesem Versuch wird der Sauerstoff, welcher durch den katalytischen Zerfall von Wasserstoffperoxid gewonnen wird, für eine vollständige Verbrennung genutzt. Ob als motivierender Einstieg oder Schülerexperiment, die Nudelrakete bietet im Unterricht viele Anknüpfpunkte: im breiten Themenbereich rund um Sauerstoff, beim Brandschutz, in der Energetik und auch in Schülerprojekten, die einen Blick über den Tellerrand der Schulchemie werfen.
Trihydrogen Cation Helium Clusters: A New Potential Energy Surface
Authors: Bretón José , Hernández‐Rojas Javier , Hernández Marta I. , Campos‐Martínez José , González‐Lezana Tomás
Published: August 2023

We present a new analytical potential energy surface (PES) for the interaction between the trihydrogen cation and a He atom,
, in its electronic ground state. The proposed PES has been built as a sum of two contributions: a polarization energy term due to the electric field generated by the molecular cation at the position of the polarizable He atom, and an exchange‐repulsion and dispersion interactions represented by a sum of “atom‐bond” potentials between the three bonds of
and the He atom. All parameters of this new PES have been chosen and fitted from data obtained from high‐level ab‐initio calculations. Using this new PES plus the Aziz‐Slaman potential for the interaction between Helium atoms and assuming pair‐wise interactions, we carry out classical Basin‐Hopping (BH) global optimization, semiclassical BH with Zero Point Energy corrections, and quantum Diffusion Monte Carlo simulations. We have found the minimum energy configurations of small He clusters doped with
,
, with N=1–16. The study of the energies of these clusters allows us to find a pronounced anomaly for N=12, in perfect agreement with previous experimental findings, which we relate to a greater relative stability of this aggregate.
Human Dendritic Cell Enrichment and Their Activation of T Cells
Authors: Lubin Ruth , Gvili Rotem , Hazan Idit , Yona Simon
Published: August 2023

Dendritic cells (DCs) enable the immune system to mount and modulate precisely targeted responses to various threats across the organism by bridging innate and adaptive immunity. Historically, DCs have been classified as conventional (cDC) and plasmacytoid (pDC). More recently, cDCs were acknowledged as a heterogenous population composed of several subsets. Examining the functional diversity of cDCs in healthy homeostasis and pathology requires a robust experimental pipeline, beginning with an efficient enrichment protocol in preparation for cell sorting. Unfortunately, several commercial DC enrichment kits were developed before the discovery of the more recently described DC populations. Here, we detail two approaches to enrich human blood DCs or certain DC subsets and an in vitro protocol to examine DC stimulation of naïve T cells. The methods employed here overcome many hurdles encountered while enriching human DC subsets. Basic Protocol 1 describes a method that will enrich pDC, Axl Siglec6‐DC (AS‐DC), cDC1, DC2, DC3, monocytes, and human HLA+ cells by crosslinking unwanted cells to erythrocytes. Basic Protocol 2 describes the enrichment of pDC, AS‐DC, cDC1, and DC2 but not DC3 via a highly efficient negative magnetic selection that is valuable in circumstances where DC3 is not required. Finally, Basic Protocol 3 describes a conventional protocol to perform a Mixed leucocyte Reaction (MLR) following the isolation of these DC subsets. These methods detail the advantages and pitfalls when isolating a heterogeneous population of cells. © 2023 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Human peripheral mononuclear phagocyte enrichment

Basic Protocol 2: DC enrichment of pDC, cDC1, AS‐DC, and DC2 but not DC3

Basic Protocol 3: Basic mixed lymphocyte reaction protocol with sorted human DC subsets
Understanding Biostimulants and Their Tie to Soil Fertility
Authors: Nigon Leanna Leverich , Bruulsema Tom
Published: August 2023

In recent years, biostimulants and biologicals have gained substantial traction in the marketplace with dozens of products available for growers and consultants to choose from. However, biostimulants vary widely in type and mode of action in the plant. To best understand how some of these products may be tied to soil fertility, a deeper understanding of biostimulants and biologicals is worth acquiring. Earn 1 CEU in Nutrient Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.
Cultural Management Strategies to Reduce the Risk of Onion Bacterial Diseases
Authors: LaHue Gabriel , Belo Tessa , Toit Lindsey du
Published: August 2023

Onion production in the United States is massive in scale: 3.5 million tons of onions were produced on 130,000 acres and valued at approximately $1 billion, on average, each year from 2018 to 2022. Unfortunately, this highly valuable crop can be threatened by plant pathogenic bacteria that cause a variety of bacterial leaf blights and bulb rots, diseases for which there is no cure. An integrated approach is needed that emphasizes multiple preventative cultural management strategies to reduce the risk posed by onion bacterial diseases. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Integrated Pest Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.
Citrus, Too, Benefits From Cover Crops
Authors: Sever Megan
Published: August 2023

Cover crops can provide numerous benefits such as protection from the vagaries of extreme weather, improved water filtration, improved soil organic matter and nutrient retention, and reduction of weeds. They’re common in row crops but not as much in citrus. Some researchers think they should be. This article will highlight some of the benefits and challenges of cover crops in citrus and how to use them. Earn 1 CEU in Crop Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.
Quantitative Low‐Field 19F Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Analysis of Carbonyl Groups in Pyrolysis Oils
Authors: Tang Bridget , Chong Katie , Ragauskas Arthur J. , Evans Robert
Published: August 2023

Invited for this month′s cover is the collaboration between Dr Rob Evans at Aston University, Birmingham, UK and Prof. Art Ragauskas at University of Tennessee, Knoxville and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, USA. The image illustrates that low‐field, or benchtop, NMR spectrometers can be as effective as their higher‐field counterparts in the accurate, quantitative analysis of bio‐oils. The Research Article itself is available at 10.1002/cssc.202300625.
Heterocypris incongruens maintains an egg bank in stormwater habitats and influences the development of larval mosquito, Culex restuans
Authors: Trujillo Jacqueline , Schwing Cameron D. , Muturi Ephantus J. , Cáceres Carla E.
Published: August 2023

Dormant propagules can provide a rapid colonization source for temporary aquatic habitats and set the trajectory for community dynamics, yet the egg banks of stormwater management systems have received little attention. We asked which species hatched from the sediment of drainage ditches in Champaign County, IL, and found bdelloid rotifers and ostracods (Heterocypris incongruens) to be the most common taxa. These sites also are colonized by mosquitoes, and we established laboratory experiments to examine interspecific interactions between common co‐occurring taxa. Culex restuans larvae were reared in the presence or absence of H. incongruens at two intra‐ and interspecific densities (20 or 40 total individuals) and their survivorship to adulthood, development time to adulthood, adult body size, and sex ratio were determined. Survival for Cx. restuans was significantly lower at high larval density than at low larval density in both treatments. Culex restuans larvae reared in the presence of H. incongruens had a shorter development time to adulthood and emerged as larger adults compared to those reared in the absence of H. incongruens. The sex ratios in the H. incongruens treatments were female‐biased whereas those in the Culex‐only treatments were male‐biased. These differences may have epidemiological implications, as only female mosquitoes serve as disease vectors. Our results emphasize the importance of understanding interspecific interactions in influencing larval mosquito development traits.
The heterogeneous herd: Drivers of close‐contact variation in African buffalo and implications for pathogen invasion
Authors: Rushmore Julie , Beechler Brianna R. , Tavalire Hannah , Gorsich Erin E. , Charleston Bryan , Devan‐Song Anne , Glidden Caroline K. , Jolles Anna E.
Published: August 2023

Many infectious pathogens are shared through social interactions, and examining host connectivity has offered valuable insights for understanding patterns of pathogen transmission across wildlife species. African buffalo are social ungulates and important reservoirs of directly‐transmitted pathogens that impact numerous wildlife and livestock species. Here, we analyzed African buffalo social networks to quantify variation in close contacts, examined drivers of contact heterogeneity, and investigated how the observed contact patterns affect pathogen invasion likelihoods for a wild social ungulate. We collected continuous association data using proximity collars and sampled host traits approximately every 2 months during a 15‐month study period in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Although the observed herd was well connected, with most individuals contacting each other during each bimonthly interval, our analyses revealed striking heterogeneity in close‐contact associations among herd members. Network analysis showed that individual connectivity was stable over time and that individual age, sex, reproductive status, and pairwise genetic relatedness were important predictors of buffalo connectivity. Calves were the most connected members of the herd, and adult males were the least connected. These findings highlight the role susceptible calves may play in the transmission of pathogens within the herd. We also demonstrate that, at time scales relevant to infectious pathogens found in nature, the observed level of connectivity affects pathogen invasion likelihoods for a wide range of infectious periods and transmissibilities. Ultimately, our study identifies key predictors of social connectivity in a social ungulate and illustrates how contact heterogeneity, even within a highly connected herd, can shape pathogen invasion likelihoods.
Soil microbes mediate the effects of resource variability on plant invasion
Authors: Zhang Xue , van Kleunen Mark , Chang Chunling , Liu Yanjie
Published: August 2023

A fundamental question in ecology is which species will prevail over others amid changes in both environmental mean conditions and their variability. Although the widely accepted fluctuating resource hypothesis predicts that increases in mean resource availability and variability therein will promote nonnative plant invasion, it remains unclear to what extent these effects might be mediated by soil microbes. We grew eight invasive nonnative plant species as target plants in pot‐mesocosms planted with five different synthetic native communities as competitors, and assigned them to eight combinations of two nutrient‐fluctuation (constant vs. pulsed), two nutrient‐availability (low vs. high) and two soil‐microbe (living vs. sterilized) treatments. We found that when plants grew in sterilized soil, nutrient fluctuation promoted the dominance of nonnative plants under overall low nutrient availability, whereas the nutrient fluctuation had minimal effect under high nutrient availability. In contrast, when plants grew in living soil, nutrient fluctuation promoted the dominance of nonnative plants under high nutrient availability rather than under low nutrient availability. Analysis of the soil microbial community suggests that this might reflect that nutrient fluctuation strongly increased the relative abundance of the most dominant pathogenic fungal family or genus under high nutrient availability, while decreasing it under low nutrient availability. Our findings are the first to indicate that besides its direct effect, environmental variability could also indirectly affect plant invasion via changes in soil microbial communities.
Shifting taxonomic and functional community composition of rivers under land use change
Authors: Chen Kai , Midway Stephen R. , Peoples Brandon K. , Wang Beixin , Olden Julian D.
Published: August 2023

Land use intensification has led to conspicuous changes in plant and animal communities across the world. Shifts in trait‐based functional composition have recently been hypothesized to manifest at lower levels of environmental change when compared to species‐based taxonomic composition; however, little is known about the commonalities in these responses across taxonomic groups and geographic regions. We investigated this hypothesis by testing for taxonomic and geographic similarities in the composition of riverine fish and insect communities across gradients of land use in major hydrological regions of the conterminous United States. We analyzed an extensive data set representing 556 species and 33 functional trait modalities from 8023 fish communities and 1434 taxa and 50 trait modalities from 5197 aquatic insect communities. Our results demonstrate abrupt threshold changes in both taxonomic and functional community composition due to land use conversion. Functional composition consistently demonstrated lower land use threshold responses compared to taxonomic composition for both fish (urban p = 0.069; agriculture p = 0.029) and insect (urban p = 0.095; agriculture p = 0.043) communities according to gradient forest models. We found significantly lower thresholds for urban versus agricultural land use for fishes (taxonomic and functional p < 0.001) and insects (taxonomic p = 0.001; functional p = 0.033). We further revealed that threshold responses in functional composition were more geographically consistent than for taxonomic composition to both urban and agricultural land use change. Traits contributing the most to overall functional composition change differed along urban and agricultural land gradients and conformed to predicted ecological mechanisms underpinning community change. This study points to reliable early‐warning thresholds that accurately forecast compositional shifts in riverine communities to land use conversion, and highlight the importance of considering trait‐based indicators of community change to inform large‐scale land use management strategies and policies.
Circulating neutrophil‐related proteins associate with incident heart failure and cardiac dysfunction: The ARIC study
Authors: Buckley Leo F. , Dorbala Pranav , Claggett Brian L. , Libby Peter , Tang Weihong , Coresh Josef , Ballantyne Christie M. , Hoogeveen Ron C. , Yu Bing , Shah Amil M.
Published: August 2023

Aims

Neutrophil activity contributes to adverse cardiac remodelling in experimental acute cardiac injury and is modifiable with pharmacologic agents like colchicine.

Methods and results

Neutrophil activity‐related plasma proteins known to be affected by colchicine treatment were measured at Visit 3 (1993–1995) and Visit 5 (2011–2013) of the ARIC cohort study. A protein‐based neutrophil activity score was derived from 10 candidate proteins using LASSO Cox regression. Associations with incident heart failure (HF) and with cardiac function using Cox proportional hazards regression and linear regression models, respectively. The mean ages at Visits 3 and 5 were 60 ± 6 and 75 ± 5 years, respectively, and 54% and 57% were women, respectively. Each 1‐standard deviation increase in the neutrophil activity score was associated with a higher risk of incident HF in mid‐life (hazard ratio [HR] 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25–1.37) and late‐life (HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.14–1.34), with a higher HR for HF with preserved than reduced ejection fraction (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.16–1.47 vs. HR 1.13, 95% CI 0.98–1.30). Higher neutrophil activity was associated with greater left ventricular end‐diastolic volume index, mass index and diastolic and systolic dysfunction.

Conclusions

Plasma proteins related to neutrophil function associate with incident HF in mid‐ and late‐life and with adverse cardiac remodelling. Therapies that modify these proteins, such as colchicine, may represent promising targets for the prevention or treatment of HF.
One‐Pot Catalytic Synthesis of Optically Active Drug (S)‐Clopidogrel
Authors: Battaglia Vincenzo , Meninno Sara , Lattanzi Alessandra
Published: August 2023

A first catalytic preparation of the popular antiplatelet drug (S)‐clopidogrel, known with the tradename of Plavix, has been developed in a one‐pot and innovative approach. The synthesis can be performed using commercially available ortho‐chlorobenzaldehyde, 1‐naphthylsulfonyl acetonitrile, tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP), 4,5,6,7‐tetrahydrothieno[3,2‐c]pyridine and 20 mol % of a quinidine derived organocatalyst in a single solvent. A Knoevenagel/asymmetric epoxidation/domino ring‐opening esterification (DROE) sequence enabled to obtain (S)‐clopidogrel in 61 % overall yield and 62 % ee. Fine optimization of the reaction conditions proved to be crucial to set up a selective and efficient process.
Unconventional strategies to break through the efficiency of light‐driven water splitting: A review
Authors: Wang Kang , Huang Dingwang , Li Xiaowei , Feng Kuang , Shao Ming , Yi Jiabao , He Weidong , Qiao Liang
Published: August 2023

Semiconductor‐based solar‐driven water splitting technology is an environmentally friendly and cost‐effective approach for the production of clean fuels. The overall solar‐to‐hydrogen efficiency of semiconductor‐based photo(electro)catalysts is jointly determined by factors, such as light absorption efficiency of the photo(electro)catalysts, internal separation efficiency of charge carriers, and injection efficiency of surface charges. However, the traditional improvement strategies, such as morphology control, functional layer modification, and band alignment engineering, still have certain limitations in enhancing the conversion efficiency of the photo(electro)catalytic water splitting. Recently, unconventional enhancement strategies based on surface plasmonic effects, piezoelectric effects, thermoelectric effects, and magnetic effects have provided unique pathways for improving the solar‐to‐hydrogen efficiency of photo(electro)catalysts. Therefore, this review outlines the fundamental concepts of these physical effects and elucidates their intrinsic mechanisms in enhancing the efficiency of photo(electro)catalysts for water splitting process through practical application examples. Ultimately, the future development of unconventional strategies for enhancing photo(electro)catalytic water splitting is envisioned.
Drift‐based risk‐oriented method for the explicit consideration of ground motion duration in seismic design
Authors: Bhanu Vishvendra , Chandramohan Reagan , Sullivan Timothy
Published: August 2023

This study proposes a method to explicitly account for ground motion duration in seismic design by modifying structural deformation capacity. An equation is presented to adjust the design drift limit prescribed in the New Zealand standard NZS 1170.5, based on the anticipated reduction in structural deformation capacity for ground motion durations longer than a critical value. The proposed relationship is used to derive designs corresponding to three duration targets each for two case‐study steel moment frame buildings ‐ a 4‐storey and a 12‐storey, located on a site in Nelson, New Zealand. Hazard‐consistent collapse risk assessment of the design versions is conducted using a structural reliability framework employing incremental dynamic analysis. Results indicate that buildings designed for lower drift limits have a lower mean annual frequency of collapse. The application of the proposed method is found to reduce the variation in the collapse risk of steel frame buildings designed for different duration targets, compared to the existing approach. The method proposed in this study is simple and easy for practical applications and can be modified for other design codes and a range of structural typologies.
Fiber intake and risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and dose response meta‐analysis
Authors: Valisoltani Neda , Ghoreishy Seyed Mojtaba , Imani Hossein , Rajabi Harsini Asma , Jowshan Mohammadreza , Travica Nikolaj , Mohammadi Hamed
Published: August 2023

This systematic review and dose–response meta‐analysis examined the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) following dietary fiber intake. Relevant articles were retrieved from a variety of databases, including Scopus, Embase, and Medline, until March 2023. Spirometry was the most frequently used method for determining the presence of COPD. Based on the search, there were a total of 213,912 participants across five separate studies. Random effects model was used to combine the data and a dose–response analysis was further conducted. Five distinct cohort studies were identified. Based on highest versus lowest analysis, there was an inverse correlation between the intake of total fiber (RR, 0.72; 95%, CI: 0.64–0.80), cereal fiber (RR: 0.76, 95% CI 0.68, 0.86), and fruit fiber (RR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.68, 0.83). Although this result was not significant for vegetable fiber (RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.84–1.07). Dose–response analysis revealed that daily increase of 10 g of total dietary fiber, cereal fiber, or fruit fiber reduced the risk of COPD by 26%, 21%, and 37%, respectively. The ROBINS‐E tool classified all cohort studies as having a moderate risk of bias. Total fiber, cereal fiber, and fruit fiber intake were found to have low credibility using the NutriGrade tool. Additionally, there is a lack of scientific evidence supporting the use of vegetable fiber. Larger, more comprehensive studies are required to confirm these findings.
Social perception in deaf individuals: A meta‐analysis of neuroimaging studies
Authors: Arioli Maria , Segatta Cecilia , Papagno Costanza , Tettamanti Marco , Cattaneo Zaira
Published: August 2023

Deaf individuals may report difficulties in social interactions. However, whether these difficulties depend on deafness affecting social brain circuits is controversial. Here, we report the first meta‐analysis comparing brain activations of hearing and (prelingually) deaf individuals during social perception. Our findings showed that deafness does not impact on the functional mechanisms supporting social perception. Indeed, both deaf and hearing control participants recruited regions of the action observation network during performance of different social tasks employing visual stimuli, and including biological motion perception, face identification, action observation, viewing, identification and memory for signs and lip reading. Moreover, we found increased recruitment of the superior‐middle temporal cortex in deaf individuals compared with hearing participants, suggesting a preserved and augmented function during social communication based on signs and lip movements. Overall, our meta‐analysis suggests that social difficulties experienced by deaf individuals are unlikely to be associated with brain alterations but may rather depend on non‐supportive environments.
A selection and targeting framework of cortical locations for line‐scanning fMRI
Authors: Heij Jurjen , Raimondo Luisa , Siero Jeroen C. W. , Dumoulin Serge O. , van der Zwaag Wietske , Knapen Tomas
Published: August 2023

Depth‐resolved functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is an emerging field growing in popularity given the potential of separating signals from different computational processes in cerebral cortex. Conventional acquisition schemes suffer from low spatial and temporal resolutions. Line‐scanning methods allow depth‐resolved fMRI by sacrificing spatial coverage to sample blood oxygenated level‐dependent (BOLD) responses at ultra‐high temporal and spatial resolution. For neuroscience applications, it is critical to be able to place the line accurately to (1) sample the right neural population and (2) target that neural population with tailored stimuli or tasks. To this end, we devised a multi‐session framework where a target cortical location is selected based on anatomical and functional properties. The line is then positioned according to this information in a separate second session, and we tailor the experiment to focus on the target location. Anatomically, the precision of the line placement was confirmed by projecting a nominal representation of the acquired line back onto the surface. Functional estimates of neural selectivities in the line, as quantified by a visual population‐receptive field model, resembled the target selectivities well for most subjects. This functional precision was quantified in detail by estimating the distance between the visual field location of the targeted vertex and the location in visual cortex (V1) that most closely resembled the line‐scanning estimates; this distance was on average ~5.5 mm. Given the dimensions of the line, differences in acquisition, session, and stimulus design, this validates that line‐scanning can be used to probe local neural sensitivities across sessions. In summary, we present an accurate framework for line‐scanning MRI; we believe such a framework is required to harness the full potential of line‐scanning and maximize its utility. Furthermore, this approach bridges canonical fMRI experiments with electrophysiological experiments, which in turn allows novel avenues for studying human physiology non‐invasively.
Risk factors associated with higher scores in internalizing and externalizing behaviors in Chilean preschoolers
Authors: Bedregal Paula , Lermanda Victoria , Sierra Rodrigo , Viviani Paola
Published: August 2023

Early detection of behavioral disorders in children is necessary for intervention. Available data show a high prevalence of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders in Chile (22.5%), but behavioral problems in younger children have not been evaluated. This work assesses behavioral disorders in preschoolers and their association with sociodemographic variables of the family and the child. The data was collected during the impact assessment of the Biopsychosocial Development Support Program “Chile Crece Contigo”, using a multistage and representative random sample of 1377 preschoolers, aged between 30 and 48 months, who attended public health services. Homes were visited to apply a questionnaire and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL, 1.5–5 years). Results: Multivariable regression model for total raw scores shows that child's age, the number of chronic diseases in the child, and history of exposure to mother's alcohol consumption in pregnancy, remain significant when adjusted for all variables included (R2 of 17.8% and η2 of .19 (95% CI: .14–.22)). In externalizing and internalizing explanatory models, child's chronic diseases and a higher score of authoritarian beliefs about parenting show the two largest effect sizes. These results add to the evidence of urgent problems in preschool mental health.
Evaluations of heart rate during functional analyses of destructive behavior
Authors: McCabe Liam H. , Greer Brian D.
Published: August 2023

Previous research has examined the predictive validity of heart rate on destructive behavior; however, such research has yet to improve clinical practice or enhance our understanding of the relation between physiology and destructive behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive validity of heart rate on varying topographies and functions of destructive behavior while controlling antecedent and consequent events through functional analysis. We first demonstrated the reliability of the Polar H10 heart rate monitor and assessed the feasibility of its use in simulated functional analysis sessions. However, across four consecutively enrolled patients, heart rate was not found to be a reliable predictor of destructive behavior, regardless of its topography or function. Instead, functional reinforcer presence and absence was sufficient to predict socially reinforced destructive behavior. This study may provide a framework for the future assessment of other biological measures in relation to destructive behavior occurrence and nonoccurrence.