bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accomplishing High‐Performance Organic Solar Sub‐Modules (≈55 cm2) with >16% Efficiency by Controlling the Aggregation of an Engineered Non‐Fullerene Acceptor
Authors: Gokulnath Thavamani , Kim Hyerin , Kranthiraja Kakaraparthi , Cho Bo Hyeon , Park Ho‐Yeol , Jee Jesung , Kim Young Yong , Yoon Jinhwan , Jin Sung‐Ho
Published: June 2024

The fabrication of environmentally benign, solvent‐processed, efficient, organic photovoltaic sub‐modules remains challenging due to the rapid aggregation of the current high performance non‐fullerene acceptors (NFAs). In this regard, design of new NFAs capable of achieving optimal aggregation in large‐area organic photovoltaic modules has not been realized. Here, an NFA named BTA‐HD‐Rh is synthesized with longer (hexyl‐decyl) side chains that exhibit good solubility and optimal aggregation. Interestingly, integrating a minute amount of new NFA (BTA‐HD‐Rh) into the PM6:L8‐BO system enables the improved solubility in halogen‐free solvents (o‐xylene:carbon disulfide (O‐XY:CS2)) with controlled aggregation is found. Then solar sub‐modules are fabricated at ambient condition (temperature at 25 ± 3 °C and humidity: 30–45%). Ultimately, the champion 55 cm2 sub‐modules achieve exciting efficiency of >16% in O‐XY:CS2 solvents, which is the highest PCE reported for sub‐modules. Notably, the highest efficiency of BTA‐HD‐Rh doped PM6:L8‐BO is very well correlated with high miscibility with low Flory‐Huggins parameter (0.372), well‐defined nanoscale morphology, and high charge transport. This study demonstrates that a careful choice of side chain engineering for an NFA offers fascinating features that control the overall aggregation of active layer, which results in superior sub‐module performance with environmental‐friendly solvents.
Carbazole Treated Waterproof Perovskite Films with Improved Solar Cell Performance
Authors: Jeong Jaeki , Chawanpunyawat Thanyarat , Kim Minjin , Sláma Vladislav , Lempesis Nikolaos , Agosta Lorenzo , Carnevali Virginia , Zhang Qihao , Eickemeyer Felix T. , Pfeifer Lukas , Kim YeonJu , Song Ji Won , Lu Haizhou , Almalki Masaud , Mo Sung‐In , Zakeerudin Shaik Mohammed , Rothlisberger Ursula , Kim Dong Suk , Dyson Paul J. , Grätzel Michael
Published: June 2024

Surface passivation has been widely employed to suppress non‐radiative charge recombination and prevent interfacial charge accumulation in perovskite photovoltaics. In this report, carbazole modified with ammonium iodide connected via alkyl chains of different lengths (i.e., ethyl, butyl, and hexyl chains) is used to form passivation layers on formamidinium lead triiodide FAPbI3‐based perovskite films to improve operational stability. Owing to the strong hydrophobicity of the carbazole moiety, it is observed that the perovskite films with a carbazole passivation layer retain their initial properties even after direct contact with a water droplet for 100 s. In addition, carbazole treatment reduces the rate of trap‐assisted recombination at the surface and grain boundaries of the perovskite layer. Furthermore, it accelerates interfacial hole transfer from the perovskite to the charge transport layer. As a result, devices treated with carbazole hexylammonium iodide achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of up to 24.3% during quasi‐steady‐state (QSS) measurements with extraordinary long‐term operational stability under conditions of the ISOS‐L‐1 protocol, maintaining 95% of their initial efficiency after 1000 h.
Modulating ion coordination environment for improved Li+/Mg2+ selectivity in mixed solutions
Authors: Shi Yayun , Zhang Bowen , Qian Tianyue , Zhao Xiaoli , Li Jiang , Li Ruimin , Liu Congcong , Zuo Zhijun , Yang Xiaowei
Published: June 2024

The outstanding ionic sieving capabilities of the nanoporous membranes have been evident; however, the selectivity in mixed solutions is often lower than that in single salt solutions. Given that the inherent properties of nanochannels remain the same, the ionic coordination structure in mixed solution becomes a remarkable factor for the inferior selectivity, and may change due to the interaction between anions and multivalent cations, a phenomenon rarely explored. Herein, molecular simulations demonstrated some free hydrated ions transfer to ionic clusters consisting of multi‐ions in representative LiCl/MgCl2 mixed solutions, and the ionic permeability discrepancy is exponentially associated with ionic cluster change. Ionic clusters are engaged by the enhanced coordination of chloride ions under the interference of divalent cations. Hence, by introducing anions with weak coordination ability, this detrimental effect is mitigated and ion selectivity is improved. This work provides essential theoretical foundations for further ion sieving applications in complex system.
A general strategy for even growth of ultrasmall MoS2 nanosheets on carbon supports to boost hydrogen evolution activity
Authors: Han Shuhuan , Shao Zhengxuan , Li Xiuhui , Fu Jiwen , Zeng Xiaofei
Published: June 2024

MoS2 has been considered as a potential replacement for Pt‐based catalysts in hydrogen evolution reaction. But the lack of sufficient active sites limits the intrinsic activity of MoS2‐based catalysts. Here, we propose a general strategy to synthesize ultra‐small MoS2 nanosheets grown evenly on carbon substrates to maximize the active sites by exposing more edge positions and inducing MoS2 phase transition. It is found that Ru can assist MoS2 to grow vertically and uniformly on the surface of carbon substrates by in situ derivatization to improve the catalytic activity effectively. MoS2 nanosheets on the substrates are much smaller and denser than those prepared without Ru or with other metal elements. Electrocatalysis results revealed that the number of active sites and conductivity of the optimized Ru‐MoS2@CSs increase obviously, and the overpotential at 10 mA cm−2 is much lower than that of MoS2@CSs and metal (Co, Ni)‐MoS2@CSs, respectively, at 1.0 M KOH.
A Direct Route to closo‐SBnCln Thiaboranes from Simple Electron‐Precise Synthons: The Different Role of Chalcogen Bonding in SB5Cl5 and SB11Cl11 Crystals
Authors: Keller Willi , Lissner Falk , Ballmann Joachim , Fanfrlík Jindřich , Hnyk Drahomír , Schleid Thomas
Published: June 2024

Six‐vertex closo‐SB5Cl5 (1) and ten‐vertex closo‐1‐SB9Cl9 (2) thiaboranes have been prepared, besides the already known 12‐vertex closo‐SB11Cl11 (3), from the co‐pyrolysis reaction of B2Cl4 with S2Cl2 at 280 °C in vacuo. The compounds are sublimable, off‐white solids. Their elemental composition has been determined by high‐resolution mass spectrometry. They were further characterized by one‐ and two‐dimensional 11B NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray structure determination for 1 and 3. Ab initio/GIAO/NMR computations support octahedral, bicapped square‐antiprismatic, and icosahedral geometries for 1, 2 and 3, respectively, as expected based on their closo‐electron counts. 1 is the first isolated example of a neutral polyhedral closo‐thiaborane with a cluster size smaller than ten vertices. The solid‐state structure of 3 is one of the rare examples of a single‐crystal X‐ray structure determination of an icosahedral heteroborane reported. The corresponding crystal‐packing forces show the different role of chalcogen bonding in these octahedral and icosahedral crystals. In addition, there is a mass‐spectrometry evidence for the recurrent formation of further thiaborane homologs of closo‐SBnCln with n=4, 6, 10, and supra‐icosahedral 12.
Promotion of CO2 Electroreduction on Bismuth Nanosheets with Cerium Oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Guan Yue , Wu Si‐Qian , Huang Hui‐Zi , Zhu Zhejiaji , Tian Wenjing , Yin An‐Xiang
Published: June 2024

Formic acid (HCOOH) is a highly energy efficient product of the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). Bismuth‐based catalysts have shown promise in the conversion of CO2 to formic acid, but there is still a great need for further improvement in selectivity and activity. Herein, we report the preparation of Bi nanosheets decorated by cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeOx) with high Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio and rich oxygen vacancies. The CeOx nanoparticles affect the electronic structures of bismuth, enhance CO2 adsorption, and thus promote the CO2RR properties of Bi nanosheets. Compared with elemental Bi nanosheets, the hetero‐structured CeOx/Bi nanosheets exhibit much higher activity over a wide potential window, showing a current density of 16.1 mA cm−2 with a Faradaic efficiency of 91.1% at −0.9 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode.
Optimal designs of accelerated degradation tests with random shock failures and measurement errors
Authors: Wu Lin , Zhou Xiao‐Dong , Yue Rong‐Xian
Published: June 2024

Accelerated degradation tests (ADTs) are widely used for assessing the reliability of long‐life products. During an ADT, accelerated stresses not only expedite the degradation of test products but also increase the likelihood of encountering traumatic shocks. Moreover, it is important to acknowledge that measurement errors can be inevitable during the observation process of an ADT. Unfortunately, these errors are often overlooked in the optimal design of the ADT, especially when multiple competing failure modes are present. In this article, we propose a new approach to design ADTs when measurement errors exist and test products suffer from degradation failures and random shock failures. We utilize the Wiener process to model the degradation path, incorporating normally distributed measurement errors, and an exponential distribution to fit the time between random shock failures. Given the number of test products and the termination time, we optimize the ADT plans under three common design criteria. The equivalence theorem is used to verify the optimality of the optimal ADT plans. A real‐life example and sensitivity analysis are provided to illustrate our proposed method. The results demonstrate that when competing failure modes are present, the optimal ADT plans, which account for measurement errors, differ significantly from those that do not consider such errors.
A novel method of flash‐hydrolysis assisted pigment extraction (carotenoids) from microalgae biomass
Authors: Khandual Sanghamitra , Pokharel Ujjwal , Rathore Shradha , Bonilla‐Ahumada Felipe , Kumar Sandeep
Published: June 2024

The human body can easily convert β‐carotene into retinol (a precursor of vitamin A), a significant ingredient in dietary supplements. The need for commercial natural pigment production, including β‐carotene, has led to intensive research in this area. Processing after biosynthesis is a vital stage that involves the use of nontoxic solvents, efficient mechanical disruption of cells, and the isolation of the required compounds. With the growing popularity of green extraction methods and the increasing market demand for carotenoids due to their health benefits, the use of clean, nontoxic, flash‐hydrolyzed biomass for carotenoid production presents a significant advantage. Furthermore, the remaining biomass can serve as a protein source for animal feed, thereby aligning with the principles of the biorefinery concept. In this study, our aim was to optimize the disruption of cells in two microalgal species using flash hydrolysis (FH). We applied two distinct levels of pressure and four separate temperature conditions over a brief residence time. Following this, we employed an ethanol extraction method to assess the efficiency of carotenoid pigment extraction. Flash hydrolysis is a chemical‐free subcritical water‐based continuous‐flow process, injected with wet biomass slurry at a high temperature (150–250 °C) for a very short time (8–12 s) to obtain bioproducts. In this study, we discovered that the pigment β‐carotene constituted 0.04 to 0.3% of the dry biomass in the case of Chlorella vulgaris. Bands of lutein and zeaxanthin were also observed in the thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis of the treated slurry. This was achieved under conditions of an effective temperature of 200 °C and a pressure of 1700 psi. The Arthrospira platensis (1Tex), β‐carotene yield was 0.014 to 0.021% of dry biomass. Some lutein and zeaxanthin bands were also found in the treated slurry with an effective temperature of 150 °C and 1000 psi pressure. This study reports pigment extraction by FH for the first time. It is a viable process to scale up high‐value natural products like carotenoids from microalgae at the industrial level without adverse environmental impacts. Due to low residence time, the temperature does not have a negative effect on pigments; cell rupture was accomplished effectively using water as a solvent. A considerable amount of pigment could be recovered from microalgae at specific combinations of temperature and pressure depending on the type of cell wall that microalgae possess.
Radiation‐Induced Molecular Processes in DNA: A Perspective on Gas‐Phase Interaction Studies
Authors: Schlathölter Thomas , Poully Jean‐Christophe
Published: June 2024

Studying the direct effects of DNA irradiation is essential for understanding the impact of radiation on biological systems. Gas‐phase interactions are especially well suited to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying these direct effects. Only relatively recently, isolated DNA oligonucleotides were irradiated by ionizing particles such as VUV or X‐ray photons or ion beams, and ionic products were analyzed by mass spectrometry. This article provides a comprehensive review of primarily experimental investigations in this field over the past decade, emphasizing the description of processes such as ionization, fragmentation, charge and hydrogen transfer triggered by photoabsorption or ion collision, and the recent progress made thanks to specific atomic photoabsorption. Then, we outline ongoing experimental developments notably involving ion‐mobility spectrometry, crossed beams or time‐resolved measurements. The discussion extends to potential research directions for the future.
Semisynthetic Glycoconjugates as Potential Vaccine Candidates Against Haemophilus influenzae Type a
Authors: Kohout Claudia V. , Del Bino Linda , Petrosilli Laura , D'Orazio Giuseppe , Romano Maria R. , Codée Jeroen D. C. , Adamo Roberto , Lay Luigi
Published: June 2024

Glycoconjugate vaccines are based on chemical conjugation of pathogen‐associated carbohydrates with immunogenic carrier proteins and are considered a very cost‐effective way to prevent infections. Most of the licensed glycoconjugate vaccines are composed of saccharide antigens extracted from bacterial sources. However, synthetic oligosaccharide antigens have become a promising alternative to natural polysaccharides with the advantage of being well‐defined structures providing homogeneous conjugates. Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) is responsible for a number of severe diseases. In recent years, an increasing rate of invasive infections caused by Hi serotype a (Hia) raised some concern, because no vaccine targeting Hia is currently available. The capsular polysaccharide (CPS) of Hia is constituted by phosphodiester‐linked 4‐β‐d‐glucose‐(1→4)‐d‐ribitol‐5‐(PO4→) repeating units and is the antigen for protein‐conjugated polysaccharide vaccines. To investigate the antigenic potential of the CPS from Hia, we synthesized related saccharide fragments containing up to five repeating units. Following the synthetic optimization of the needed disaccharide building blocks, they were assembled using the phosphoramidite approach for the installation of the phosphodiester linkages. The resulting CPS‐based Hia oligomers were conjugated to CRM197 carrier protein and evaluated in vivo for their immunogenic potential, showing that all glycoconjugates were capable of raising antibodies recognizing Hia synthetic fragments.
Towards Sustainable Materials: A Review of Acylhydrazone Chemistry for Reversible Polymers
Authors: Ramimoghadam Donya , Eyckens Daniel J. , Evans Richard A. , Moad Graeme , Holmes Susan , Simons Ranya
Published: June 2024

Transitioning towards a circular economy, extensive research has focused on dynamic covalent bonds (DCBs) to pave the way for more sustainable materials. These bonds enable debonding and rebonding on demand, as well as facilitating end‐of‐life recycling. Acylhydrazone/hydrazone chemistry offers a material with high stability under neutral and basic conditions making it a promising candidate for materials research, though the material is susceptible to acid degradation. However, this degradation under acidic conditions can be exploited, making it widely applicable in self‐healing and biomedical fields, with potential for reprocessing and recycling. This review highlights studies exploring the reversibility of acylhydrazone/hydrazone bonds in various polymers, altering their properties, and utilizing them in applications such as self‐healing, reprocessing, and recycling. The review also focuses on how the mechanical properties are affected by the presence of dynamic linkages, and methods to improve the mechanical performance.
A Simply Synthesized Shaking‐induced Small Molecule System with Repeatable and Instantaneous Discoloration Response
Authors: Yan Yujie , Liu Tiannan , Zhang Jiale , Zhao Hang , Chen Qianming , Wang Jiongke , Liu Jiang
Published: June 2024

Force‐related discoloration materials are highly valuable because of their characteristics of visualization, easy operation, and environment friendliness. Most force‐related discoloration materials focus on polymers and depend on bond scission, which leads to insensitivity and unrecoverable. Small‐molecule systems based on well‐defined molecular structures and simple composition with high sensitivity would exhibit considerable mechanochromic potential. However, to date, researches about force‐related discoloration materials based on small molecule solution remain limited and are rarely reported. In this study, we developed a repeatable and instantaneous discoloration small molecule solution system by simple one‐pot synthesis method. It exhibited an instantaneous chromic change from yellowish to dark green under shaking and reverting back to yellow within 1 minute after removal of the shaking. Experimental results confirmed that the discoloration mechanism is attributed to the oscillation accelerating the production of unstable ortho‐OH phenoxyl radical. The newly developed shaking‐induced discoloration small molecule system (SDSMS) promises in field of mechanical force sensing and optical encryption.
In‐plane ferroelectrics enabling reduced hysteresis in monolayer MoS2 transistors
Authors: Yuan Mingxuan , Zhang Binbin , Cai Jiliang , Zhang Jiaqi , Lu Yue , Qiao Shuo , Cao Kecheng , Deng Hao , Ji Qingqing
Published: June 2024

Two‐dimensional (2D) semiconductors, such as monolayer MoS2, has emerged as a profound material platform in the post‐Moore era due to their versatile applications for high‐performance transistors, memories, photodetectors, neuristors, and so on. Nevertheless, the inherent defects in these atomically thin materials have given rise to significant hysteresis in their field‐effect transistors (FETs), resulting in shifted threshold voltages and elevated power consumptions not only on single‐device levels but also at circuitry scales. We herein report that, by vertically integrating an in‐plane ferroelectric, NbOCl2, with monolayer MoS2 FETs, the hysteresis in both the output and transfer curves of the latter can be greatly suppressed, which we attribute to compensated electromigration currents by the polarization currents of the 2D ferroelectric. This work opens a new avenue to hysteresis‐free 2D transistors without necessitating defect‐free channels, thus allowing for their use in high driving‐voltage scenarios such as power electronics.
Fluorogenic Reaction Probes Defect Sites on Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles
Authors: Zuo Li , Hossain Mohammad Akter , Dubadi Rabindra , Kist Madelyn M. , Farhana Fatiha , Chen Jiao , Jaroniec Mietek , Shen Hao
Published: June 2024

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) have traditionally been utilized as industrial catalysts, finding widespread application in various chemical processes due to their exceptional stability and minimal toxicity. However, quantitatively assessing the reactive sites on TiO2 NPs remains a challenge. In this study, we employed a fluorogenic reaction to probe the apparent reactivity of TiO2 NPs. By manipulating the number of defect sites through control of hydrolysis speed and annealing temperature, we determined that the Ti(III) content is positively correlated with the reactivity of TiO2 NPs. Additionally, these Ti(III) sites could be introduced by reducing commercial TiO2 NPs using NaBH4. Our findings suggest that fluorogenic oxidation of Amplex Red is an effective method for probing defect site densities on TiO2 NPs. Utilizing single‐molecule fluorescence imaging, we demonstrated the ability to map defect site density within TiO2 nanowires. Achieving sub‐nanoparticle spatial resolution, we observed significant intraparticle and interparticle variations in the defect site distribution, leading to substantial reactivity heterogeneity.
Spectral Hole‐Burning Studies of a Mononuclear Eu(III) Complex Reveal Narrow Optical Linewidths of the 5D0→7F0 Transition and Seconds Long Nuclear Spin Lifetimes
Authors: Schlittenhardt Sören , Vasilenko Evgenij , Unni C. Vishnu , Jobbitt Nicholas , Fuhr Olaf , Hunger David , Ruben Mario , Kuppusamy Senthil Kumar
Published: June 2024

Coordination complexes of rare‐earth ions (REI) show optical transitions with narrow linewidths enabling the creation of coherent light‐matter interfaces for quantum information processing (QIP) applications. Among the REI‐based complexes, Eu(III) complexes showing the 5D0→7F0 transition are of interest for QIP applications due to the narrow linewidths associated with the transition. Herein, we report on the synthesis, structure, and optical properties of a novel Eu(III) complex and its Gd(III) analogue composed of 2,9‐bis(pyrazol‐1‐yl)‐1,10‐phenanthroline (dpphen) and three nitrate (NO3) ligands. The Eu(III) complex—[Eu(dpphen)(NO3)3]—showed sensitized metal‐centred emission (5D0→7FJ; J=0,1,2,3, 4, 5, or 6) in the visible region, upon irradiation of the ligand‐centred band at 369 nm, with the 5D0→7F0 transition centred at 580.9 nm. Spectral hole‐burning (SHB) studies of the complex with stoichiometric Eu(III) concentration revealed a narrow homogeneous linewidth (Γh) of 1.55 MHz corresponding to a 0.205 μs long optical coherence lifetime (T2opt). Remarkably, long nuclear spin lifetimes (T1spin) of up to 41 s have been observed for the complex. The narrow optical linewidths and long T1spin lifetimes obtained for the Eu(III) complex showcase the utility of Eu(III) complexes as tuneable, following molecular engineering principles, coherent light‐matter interfaces for QIP applications.
Hemorrhagic varices around the pancreatojejunostomy site due to left‐sided portal hypertension after pancreaticoduodenectomy: A case report
Authors: Abe Yasuaki , Nabeshima Tatsuhide , Sakuta Kazuhiro , Nishise Yuko , Kuroki Michio
Published: June 2024

Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) with combined portal vein resection sometimes causes left‐sided portal hypertension, which can be a problem. An appropriate treatment strategy for hemorrhagic ectopic varices due to left‐sided portal hypertension after PD has not yet been determined. We report a case of repeated variceal rupture around the pancreatojejunostomy site. A 65‐year‐old woman with a history of PD for pancreatic head cancer was admitted with a chief complaint of bloody stools. She was diagnosed with pancreatojejunostomy variceal rupture, and an endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection was performed. As rebleeding occurred 2 weeks after the first treatment, endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection was repeated, and hemostasis was achieved. Additionally, she had esophageal, colonic, and gastrojejunostomy varices, and the future risk of these variceal ruptures was considered very high. Hence, a splenectomy was performed to prevent rebleeding or other variceal ruptures. Endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection is a useful treatment for hemorrhagic varices around the pancreatojejunostomy site. It is also necessary to understand portal vein hemodynamics and provide appropriate additional treatment in cases of recurrent variceal rupture due to left‐sided portal hypertension after PD.
Iron deposition in gastric black spots: Clinicopathological insights and NanoSuit‐correlative light and electron microscopy analysis
Authors: Sugiura Kiichi , Kawasaki Hideya , Egami Takatoshi , Kaneko Masanao , Ishida Natsuki , Tamura Satoshi , Tani Shinya , Yamade Mihoko , Hamaya Yasushi , Osawa Satoshi , Takeuchi Hiroya , Baba Satoshi , Sugimoto Ken , Iwaizumi Moriya
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Black spots (BSs) are lentiginous findings observed in the gastric body and fundus during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and are predominantly seen in patients undergoing Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment. However, the detailed patient background and exact composition are poorly understood. This study aims to clarify the clinicopathological features of BSs, examine patient demographics, and use the NanoSuit‐correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) method combined with scanning electron microscopy‐energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy for elemental analysis.

Methods

Patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between 2017 and 2022 were included. Data on age, medications, blood tests, and H. pylori infection status were retrospectively gathered from medical records. Univariate analysis was conducted to examine BS presence, with results then used in a multivariate model to identify associated risk factors. Additionally, pathological specimens from patients with BSs were analyzed for elemental composition using the NanoSuit‐CLEM method combined with scanning electronmicroscopy‐energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy.

Results

An analysis of 6778 cases identified risk factors for BSs, including older age and using proton pump inhibitors, statins, corticosteroids, and antithrombotic drugs. Endoscopically, BSs correlated with higher gastric atrophy and lower active H. pylori infection. Iron deposition at BS sites was specifically identified using NanoSuit‐CLEM.

Conclusions

BSs on gastrointestinal endoscopy may indicate an absence of active H. pylori inflammation. The discovery of iron deposition within BSs using the NanoSuit‐CLEM method has offered new insights into the possible causative factors and advances our understanding of the etiology of BSs, bringing us closer to unraveling the underlying mechanisms of their formation.
Effects of floral resources on honey bee populations in Mexico: Using dietary metabarcoding to examine landscape quality in agroecosystems
Authors: Balvino‐Olvera Francisco J. , Olivares‐Pinto Ulises , González‐Rodríguez Antonio , Aguilar‐Aguilar María J. , Ruiz‐Guzmán Gloria , Lobo‐Segura Jorge , Cortés‐Flores Jorge , Cristobal‐Perez E. Jacob , Martén‐Rodríguez Silvana , Patiño‐Conde Violeta , Quesada Mauricio
Published: June 2024

The decline of honey bee populations significantly impacts the human food supply due to poor pollination and yield decreases of essential crop species. Given the reduction of pollinators, research into critical landscape components, such as floral resource availability and land use change, might provide valuable information about the nutritional status and health of honey bee colonies. To address this issue, we examine the effects of landscape factors like agricultural area, urban area, and climatic factors, including maximum temperature, minimum temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation, on honey bee hive populations and nutritional health of 326 honey bee colonies across varying landscapes in Mexico. DNA metabarcoding facilitated the precise identification of pollen from 267 plant species, encompassing 243 genera and 80 families, revealing a primary herb‐based diet. Areas characterized by high landscape diversity exhibited greater pollen diversity within the colony. Conversely, colonies situated in regions with higher proportions of agricultural and urban landscapes demonstrated lower bee density. The maximum ambient temperature outside hives positively correlated with pollen diversity, aligning with a simultaneous decrease in bee density. Conversely, higher relative humidity positively influenced both the bee density of the colony and the diversity of foraged pollen. Our national‐level study investigated pollen dietary availability and colony size in different habitat types, latitudes, climatic conditions, and varied levels and types of disturbances. This effort was taken to gain a better insight into the mechanisms driving declines in honey bee populations. This study illustrates the need for more biodiverse agricultural landscapes, the preservation of diverse habitats, and the conservation of natural and semi‐natural spaces. These measures can help to improve the habitat quality of other bee species, as well as restore essential ecosystem processes, such as pollination and pest control.
Potential distribution patterns and species richness of avifauna in rapidly urbanizing East China
Authors: Chen Wan , Wang Xuan , Cai Yuanyuan , Huang Xinglong , Li Peng , Liu Wei , Chang Qing , Hu Chaochao
Published: June 2024

In recent years, increased species extinction and habitat loss have significantly reduced biodiversity, posing a serious threat to both nature and human survival. Environmental factors strongly influence bird distribution and diversity. The potential distribution patterns and species richness offer a conservation modeling framework for policymakers to assess the effectiveness of natural protected areas (PAs) and optimize their existing ones. Very few such studies have been published that cover a large and complete taxonomic group with fine resolution at regional scale. Here, using birds as a study group, the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) was used to analyze the pattern of bird species richness in Jiangsu Province. Using an unparalleled amount of occurrence data, we created species distribution models (SDMs) for 312 bird species to explore emerging diversity patterns at a resolution of 1 km2. The gradient of species richness is steep, decreasing sharply away from water bodies, particularly in the northern part of Jiangsu Province. The migratory status and feeding habits of birds also significantly influence the spatial distribution of avian species richness. This study reveals that the regions with high potential bird species richness are primarily distributed in three areas: the eastern coastal region, the surrounding area of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and the surrounding area of Taihu Lake. Compared with species richness hotspots and existing PAs, we found that the majority of hotspots are well‐protected. However, only a small portion of the regions, such as coastal areas of Sheyang County in Yancheng City, as well as some regions along the Yangtze River in Nanjing and Zhenjiang, currently have relatively weak protection. Using stacked SDMs, our study reveals effective insights into diversity patterns, directly informing conservation policies and contributing to macroecological research advancements.
Life‐history evolution in the orange‐tailed skink populations living in different climates
Authors: Altunışık Abdullah , Yıldız Mehmet Zülfü , Tatlı Hatice Hale , Yalçınkaya Deniz , Akman Bahadır
Published: June 2024

The life‐history traits of ectothermic animals can be influenced by many abiotic factors, including climate. As an ectothermic species, we questioned whether the life‐history characteristics of the orange‐tailed skink (Eumeces schneiderii) populations differ between two different environments/climates. Our findings showed that the average body size of lizards living in the Mediterranean climate zone was higher than those in the continental climate zone. However, although Mediterranean population had higher mean values regarding average age, there was no discernible difference between the two climate zone populations. When considering all populations collectively, it has been discovered that the species' maximum lifespan is 18 years. Body size notably increased with age in both populations. Through the utilization of the von Bertalanffy equation, the anticipated growth parameters portrayed a highly accurate connection between age and snout–vent length. In conclusion, lizards living in habitats characterized by milder Mediterranean climates were found to have larger body sizes than continental populations, but both populations were comparable in terms of mean age. This difference can be explained by several factors, including activation time, temperature, precipitation, food abundance, and the presence of predators.
Intraspecific variation in pollination ecology due to altitudinal environmental heterogeneity
Authors: Rodríguez‐Sánchez Gisela T. , Pelayo Roxibell C. , Soriano Pascual J. , Knight Tiffany M.
Published: June 2024

Plant‐pollinator interactions are constrained by floral traits and available pollinators, both of which can vary across environmental gradients, with consequences for the stability of the interaction. Here, we quantified how the pollination ecology of a high‐mountain hummingbird‐pollinated plant changes across a progressively more stressful environmental gradient of the Venezuelan Andes. We compared pollination ecology between two populations of this plant: Piedras Blancas (PB) and Gavidia (GV), 4450 and 3600 m asl, respectively. We hypothesised that self‐compatibility might be higher at the higher altitude site, however we found that flowers showed similar capacities for self‐compatibility in both localities. Seed production by flowers exposed to natural pollinators was significantly higher in the lower locality, where we also found higher nectar quality, larger flowers and increased frequencies of pollinator visitations. Interestingly, the population energy offered in the nectar was the same for both localities due to the higher density and floral aggregation found in the higher altitude population. Our study demonstrates how two plant populations in different environmental conditions have different pollination ecology strategies. Pollinator visitations or their absence result in trait associations in one population that are independent in the other. These population differences are not explained by differences in pollinator assembly, but by environmental heterogeneity.
Community ecology in a bottle: Leveraging eDNA metabarcoding data to predict occupancy of co‐occurring species
Authors: Tetzlaff Sasha J. , Katz Aron D. , Johnson Mark D. , Sperry Jinelle H.
Published: June 2024

Detecting environmental DNA (eDNA) of numerous organisms from the same samples has been revolutionized by metabarcoding. However, utilizing the vast amounts of data generated from metabarcoding to predict occupancy probabilities for co‐occurring species is currently rare. Here, we demonstrate how metabarcoding data can be used to advance community ecology research through a case study using replicate stream water samples and Bayesian occupancy models to test hypotheses of eDNA occurrence for a native fish (brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis), its major ectoparasite (gill lice, Salmincola edwardsii), and an introduced potential competitor (brown trout, Salmo trutta). Gill lice DNA occupancy was positively associated with brook trout biomass determined via electrofishing conducted near eDNA sampling sites, suggesting gill lice occupancy is dependent on host density. Leveraging site‐specific molecular operational taxonomic units identified from metabarcoding, DNA occupancy of trout and gill lice was often positively predicted by species richness of aquatic insect orders trout commonly feed on, which are also environmental quality indicators. Thus, high‐quality habitats that environmentally sensitive salmonids and their primary prey rely on may promote higher fish occupancy rates, further facilitating the spread of fish parasites. An increasing amount of community‐level data is being generated from global metabarcoding efforts, and we suggest our framework could be broadly implemented to enhance understanding of factors impacting distributions of co‐occurring species, reveal new ecological phenomena, and support management and conservation efforts.
Redefining anthracycline‐related subclinical cardiotoxicity: ‘Absolute’ and ‘relative’ change in longitudinal strain
Authors: Terluk Andrew , Stefani Luke , Boyd Anita , Vo Kim , Byth Karen , Hui Rina , Richards David , Thomas Liza
Published: June 2024

Aims

Anthracycline chemotherapy (AC) for breast cancer can cause cancer therapy‐related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) with resultant heart failure, traditionally defined as a reduction in left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction on echocardiography. In recent years, global longitudinal systolic strain (GLS) has been used to identify subclinical cardiac dysfunction prior to development of overt CTRCD. Recent harmonized guidelines have incorporated GLS into definitions for CTRCD to identify cardiac dysfunction and inform decisions regarding cardioprotective strategies.

Methods and results

We evaluated subclinical dysfunction in breast cancer patients treated with AC and determined the echocardiographic and patient factors associated with significant GLS changes. One hundred fourteen HER2 negative patients treated with AC were prospectively recruited and underwent serial echocardiograms (LVEF and LVGLS) at three time points (prior to AC, 3 months, and 1 year). CTRCD was defined as an asymptomatic reduction in LVEF of 10% or symptomatic drop of 5% to LVEF <53%. Subclinical LV dysfunction was defined as a reduction of ≥10% in GLS compared with baseline, recognizing that this cut off identified an ‘at risk cohort’ rather than patients with established CTRCD. No participant demonstrated CTRCD by reduction in LVEF. Forty‐three patients (38%) demonstrated a ≥10% relative reduction in GLS at 12 months; 20/43 (47%) had a reduced absolute GLS to <16%, and were older, had hypertension, increased LV mass, lower baseline e′ velocity and GLS. GLS ≥20.5% at baseline yielded a sensitivity of 79% and specificity of 87% for a normal GLS (i.e., ≥16%) at 1 year despite a ≥10% reduction from baseline.

Conclusions

We present a stepwise evaluation for subclinical LV dysfunction using both a relative reduction in GLS combined with an absolute reduction in GLS. We believe our findings may re‐stratify patients with a high baseline GLS into a lower risk group despite transient relative GLS decrements ≥10%.
Moderate/severe biatrial dilation predicts adverse events after ablation in atrial fibrillation with heart failure
Authors: Yao Yan , Li Bing , Xue Jia , Chen Zhuo , Cai Xuemin , Han Jiancheng , Zhou Xinyuan , Luo Wenzhi , Lu Zhenhua , Long Deyong , Zhang Zhihui
Published: June 2024

Aims

To retrospectively compare the long‐term outcomes following atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation between heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (EF) (HFpEF) and reduced/mildly reduced EF (HFr‐mrEF) patients, and to identify novel predictors of adverse clinical events.

Methods

In total, 1402 AF patients with HF who underwent successful ablation were consecutively enrolled. Adverse clinical events including all‐cause death, HF hospitalization, and stroke were followed up. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the associations between clinical factors and events. Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to estimate the cumulative incidences of these events. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to test the ability of these predictors.

Results

During a follow‐up period of 42 ± 15 months, 265 (18.9%) patients experienced adverse clinical events after ablation. The cumulative incidence of adverse clinical events was significantly higher in HFr‐mrEF than in HFpEF (25.4% vs. 15.7%, P < 0.001), the similar tendency was observed on all‐cause death (10.5% vs. 6.5%, P = 0.011) and HF hospitalization (17.2% vs. 10.1%, P < 0.001). After multivariate adjustment, non‐paroxysmal AF [hazard ratio (HR) 1.922, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.130–3.268, P = 0.016], LAD ≥ 45 mm (HR 2.197, 95% CI 1.206–4.003, P < 0.001), LVEF (HR 0.959, 95% CI 0.946–0.981, P < 0.001), and RAD ≥ 45 mm (HR 2.044, 95% CI 1.362–3.238, P < 0.001) remained the independent predictors for developing adverse clinical events. A predictive model performed with non‐paroxysmal AF, LAD ≥ 45 mm and RAD ≥ 45 mm yielded an area under curve of 0.728 (95% CI 0.696–0.760, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

AF patients with HFpEF had better long‐term outcomes than those with HFr‐mrEF, and moderate/severe biatrial dilation could predict adverse clinical events following catheter ablation in AF and HF patients.
Investigation on fatigue crack propagation failure mechanism of hydraulic lifting pipe in deep‐ocean natural gas hydrate exploitation
Authors: Liang Hao , Guo Xiaoqiang , Chen Xinghan , Li Xinye
Published: June 2024

In deep‐ocean natural gas hydrate exploitation operation, the fatigue failure mechanism has attracted more and more attention from scholars, but it has not been effectively disclosed. Therefore, in this work, a multifield coupling and multiple‐nonlinear vibration model of lifting pipe is established, which can accurately determine the alternating stress of deep‐ocean lifting pipe. Second, according to Forman theory, the calculation method of crack propagation length and depth on the surface of a deep‐water riser is established, which is verified by the comparison between the experimental and theoretical model calculation results. The results demonstrate that, first, the effect of residual stress in the welded joint of deep‐ocean lifting pipe should be considered in the later parameter influence analysis. Second, the fatigue growth life of deep‐water pipe with small outflow velocity is mainly determined by tensile stress, and that is determined by both tensile stress and bending stress with large outflow velocity. Third, more attention should be paid to the vibration of the lower pipe on‐site to reduce its vibration frequency and vibration stress amplitude, which can effectively reduce the surface crack propagation state of the deep‐ocean pipe and improve the service life of the pipe. Fourth, properly adjusting the tension coefficient of the tensioner during field operation can effectively improve the safety of the pipe, and the optimal tension coefficient is related to the configuration of the deep‐ocean pipe system, which can be analyzed and determined by the model.
The Tissue-Specific Eco-Exposome: Differential Pharmaceutical Bioaccumulation and Disposition in Fish among Trophic Positions
Authors: Sims Jaylen L. , Cole Alexander R. , Moran Zachary S. , Mansfield Charles M. , Possamai Bianca , Rojo Macarena , King Ryan S. , Matson Cole W. , Brooks Bryan W.
Published: June 2024

Though bioaccumulation of pharmaceuticals by aquatic organisms continues to receive scientific attention, the internal disposition of these contaminants among different tissue compartments of fish species has been infrequently investigated, particularly among fish at different trophic positions. We tested a human to fish biological read-across hypothesis for contaminant disposition by examining tissue-specific accumulation in three understudied species, longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus; piscivore), gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum; planktivore/detritivore), and smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus; benthivore), from a river influenced by municipal effluent discharge. In addition to surface water, fish plasma, and brain, gill, gonad, liver, and lateral muscle fillet tissues were analyzed via isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Caffeine and sucralose, two common effluent tracers, were quantitated at low micrograms per liter levels in surface water, while an anticonvulsant, carbamazepine, was observed at levels up to 37 ng/L. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) fluoxetine and sertraline and primary metabolites were detected in at least one tissue of all three species at low micrograms per kilogram concentrations. Within each species, brain and liver of select fish contained the highest levels of SSRIs compared to plasma and other tissues, which is generally consistent with human tissue disposition patterns. However, we observed differential accumulation among specific tissue types and species. For example, mean levels of sertraline in brain and liver tissues were 13.4 µg/kg and 1.5 µg/kg in gizzard shad and 1.3 µg/kg and 7.3 µg/kg in longnose gar, respectively. In contrast, smallmouth buffalo did not consistently accumulate SSRIs to detectable levels. Tissue-specific eco-exposome efforts are necessary to understand mechanisms associated with such marked bioaccumulation and internal dispositional differences among freshwater fish species occupying different trophic positions. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1894–1902. © 2024 The Author(s). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Excessive internet use as a risk factor for suicide ideation among university students in Malawi: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Mzumara Thokozani
Published: June 2024

Background

Covid 19 has fast‐paced the use of technological innovations, mainly the internet. However, Internet use can lead to several behavioral and psychological conditions, such as cyberbullying and distorted relationships, which could lead to suicide ideation. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young adults.

Aim

To assess the association between Internet addiction and suicide ideation among university students in Malawi. Furthermore, to assess the factors associated with suicidal thoughts among Malawian college students who surf the World Wide Web.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study utilized secondary research and used data available from https://data.mendeley.com/drafts/xbfbcy5bhv. Internet addiction was measured using the Internet Addiction Test. The dependent variable includes suicide ideation. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Out of the 620 participants, 514 (82.2%) were aged between 15 and 24. The majority were males 401 (64.7%). The mean IAT score was 46.08 (SD = 14.60). The IAT score was 44.81 (SD = 13.85) among males and 48.40 (SD = 15.65) among females (p = 0.003). About 341 (55%) of students use the internet excessively. Suicide ideation was prevalent among 101 (16.3%) of the students. Suicide ideation was significantly associated with internet addiction. (p < 0.001). The odds of developing suicidal thoughts increased about 3 times among excessive internet users compared to average users (OR = 2.91, 95% CI = 1.213–7.018). However, age, gender, discipline, and year of study were not associated with suicide ideation.

Conclusion

The study suggests that internet addiction affects suicide ideation mainly through distorting social relationships. School settings should increase awareness regarding the safe use of the internet to ensure a balance between online and real‐life interactions and curb suicide.