bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ZDHHC9 X‐linked intellectual disability: Clinical and molecular characterization
Authors: Ramos Anna Karolina Silva , Caldas‐Rosa Erica Carine Campos , Ferreira Bárbara Merfort , Versiani Beatriz Ribeiro , Moretti Patrícia Natalia , de Oliveira Silviene Fabiana , Pic‐Taylor Aline , Mazzeu Juliana F.
Published: November 2022

The ZDHHC9 gene encodes the Zinc Finger DHHC‐Type Containing 9 protein that functions as a palmitoyltransferase. Variants in this gene have been reported as the cause of Raymond‐type X‐linked intellectual disability with only 16 families described in the literature. This study reviews molecular and clinical data from previously reported patients and reports the case of a 13‐year‐old patient with a splicing variant in ZDHHC9 presenting intellectual disability, developmental delay, facial dysmorphisms, and skeletal defects. Although intellectual disability and developmental delay with severe speech delay have been reported in all cases with available clinical data, the remaining clinical signs differ significantly between patients. Missense, nonsense, frameshift, and splicing variants, in addition to large exonic deletions, have been described suggesting a loss of function mechanism. Though variants are distributed in almost all exons, most missense and nonsense variants affect arginine residues located in the cytoplasmic domains of this transmembrane protein, suggesting possible mutational hotspots.
Guaiacolate derivatives‐containing sodium complexes as catalysts for l‐lactide polymerization
Authors: Wu Tzu‐Yi , Lai Feng‐Jie , Lee Wei , Chang Chun‐Juei , Chang Yu‐Lun , Ding Shangwu , Chen Hsuan‐Ying , Chang Yung‐Chi
Published: November 2022

In this study, guaiacolate derivatives‐containing tetranuclear sodium catalysts were synthesized, and their catalytic activity in l‐lactide (LA) polymerization was evaluated. Using LBF‐Na (sodium complex bearing 2,3‐dihydro‐2,2‐dimethyl‐7‐benzofuranolate) as a catalyst, the polymerization of LA was studied in various solvents. LBF‐Na polymerized LA in dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, and toluene, and the catalytic activity of LBF‐Na was similar in these solvents. Among the sodium complexes, LOH‐Na (sodium complex bearing guaiacolate) exhibited higher catalytic activity (5 min, conversion = 93%; MnGPC = 7200) than the other tetranuclear sodium complexes. Furthermore, LOH‐Na exhibited an “immortal” property after 20 equivalents of benzyl alcohol loading during LA polymerization and good controllability in polylactide production. Thus, guaiacolate ligands increase the catalytic activity of sodium catalysts in LA polymerization in both coordinating and halogen‐containing solvents and under the condition of extra alcohol loading.
Whole‐genomic DNA amplifications from individually isolated sweet sorghum microspores
Authors: Felts Aron M. , Pokharel Bharat , Yahya Dilovan , Aziz Ahmad N.
Published: November 2022

Premise

Sorghum is a multi‐use crop, the efficient breeding of which requires the development of new genetic tools. One such tool could be the genetic assessment of free microspores, which are released just after the tetrad stage of pollen development. Microspores are ideal for DNA isolation as they have underdeveloped cell walls and can be readily lysed as natural protoplasts.

Methods

Four cultivars of Sorghum bicolor (ʻAchi Turi’, ʻDale’, ʻLocal’, and ʻTopper 76‐6’) were grown in a greenhouse until flowering (7.7–11.5 cm flag leaf internode length), after which 30 immature microspores were isolated from each line. Plant height, time to flowering, boot radius, and spikelet maturation were recorded for each cultivar. The exine development of the microspores was observed under an inverted Nikon microscope, and those with underdeveloped exine were subjected to whole‐genome amplification and sequencing.

Results

Microspores in the early uninucleate to early binucleate stages had underdeveloped exine, and were therefore ideal for DNA extraction. High‐quality DNA was obtained from these single‐cell gametophytes. The average DNA concentration was 2902 ng/µL, with fragment sizes comparable to those obtained from leaf tissue extractions.

Discussion

Harvesting panicles with immature microspores means the entire gametic population is accessible for DNA analyses. This is the first amplification of whole‐genome DNA fragments from sorghum single‐cell microspores isolated during gametogenesis.
Altered Risk of Incident Gout According to Changes in Metabolic Syndrome Status: A Nationwide, Population‐Based Cohort Study of 1.29 Million Young Men
Authors: Eun Yeonghee , Han Kyungdo , Lee Seung Woo , Kim Kyunga , Kang Seonyoung , Lee Seulkee , Cha Hoon‐Suk , Koh Eun‐Mi , Kim Hyungjin , Lee Jaejoon
Published: November 2022

Objective

Few data are available on whether changes in metabolic syndrome affect incident gout. This study was undertaken to assess associations between metabolic syndrome status and incident gout, as well as changes in the clinical characteristics of metabolic syndrome and incident gout, in a cohort of young men.

Methods

This nationwide, population‐based cohort study included 20–39‐year‐old men who participated in serial health check‐ups. The outcome, incident gout, was defined according to the claims database diagnostic code for gout. Associations among changes in metabolic syndrome status and incident gout were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

Among 1,293,166 individuals, 18,473 were diagnosed as having gout (incidence rate 3.36 per 1,000 person‐years). Subjects who had chronic metabolic syndrome (defined as metabolic syndrome at all 3 health check‐ups) had a nearly 4‐fold higher risk of incident gout compared to subjects who did not have metabolic syndrome at any of the 3 health check‐ups (adjusted hazard ratio [HRadj] 3.82 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 3.67–3.98]). Development of metabolic syndrome more than doubled the risk of incident gout (HRadj 2.31 [95% CI 2.20–2.43]). Conversely, recovery from metabolic syndrome reduced the risk of incident gout by nearly half (HRadj 0.52 [95% CI 0.49–0.56]). Among metabolic syndrome components, changes in elevated triglycerides (development of elevated triglycerides, HRadj 1.74 [95% CI 1.66–1.81]; recovery from elevated triglycerides, HRadj 0.56 [95% CI 0.54–0.59]) and abdominal obesity (development of abdominal obesity, HRadj 1.94 [95% CI 1.85–2.03]; recovery from abdominal obesity, HRadj 0.69 [95% CI 0.64–0.74]) showed the greatest association with altered risk of incident gout. Associations between changes in the status and clinical characteristics of metabolic syndrome and incident gout were more pronounced in subjects ages 20–29 years compared to those ages 30–39 years, and in subjects who were underweight or who had a normal weight.

Conclusion

Changes in the status and clinical characteristics of metabolic syndrome were associated with altered risk of incident gout. These results suggest that metabolic syndrome is a modifiable risk factor for gout.
Exploring the potential of dried plasma collection cards for liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry quantitation of giredestrant in human plasma
Authors: Tang Yang , Chen Liuxi , Liang Xiaorong , Dean Brian , Wang Jianshuang
Published: November 2022

Microsampling technology for dried blood–derived samples provides an advantageous alternative to conventional venous blood for drug quantitation. Unlike conventional whole blood microsampling techniques, Noviplex is a novel, card‐based technology for rapid dried plasma spot collection that retains the benefits of microsampling during collection and transportation, while avoiding the disadvantages of using whole blood samples. Giredestrant is a promising small‐molecule therapeutic agent under development by Genentech to treat patients with estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of using Noviplex cards for pharmacokinetic analysis of giredestrant levels in human plasma, including optimizing extraction recovery, evaluating in‐card stability, and assessing batch precision and accuracy. We found that while the Noviplex card demonstrated levels of sensitivity, extraction recovery, and stability at ambient temperature that meet the requirements of pharmacokinetic analysis for clinical studies, further optimization of the filtration layers within the Noviplex card is necessary to improve filtration efficiency and consistency. This study reveals the possibilities as well as the limitations of the Noviplex card and provides a better understanding of the capabilities and risks of using the Noviplex card for drug quantitation in plasma.
Recent advances in the detection of drugs of abuse by dried blood spots
Authors: Ververi Christina , Vincenti Marco , Salomone Alberto
Published: November 2022

The purpose of this review study was to sum up the main recent advances reported in the scientific literature about the detection of common drugs of abuse in biological samples upon their collection by dried blood spot devices. The most recent, innovative and fully validated methods for the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of common drugs of abuse are reported, including alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine, 3,4‐methylenedioxyamphetamine, 3,4‐methyl‐enedioxyethylamphetamine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol, 6‐monoacetylmorphine, morphine, codeine, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, oxycodone, noroxycodone, tramadol, methadone, buprenorphine, fentanyl, ketamine and their respective metabolites and γ‐hydroxybutyric acid. Dried blood spot proved to be extremely promising for routine analysis of forensic cases, although large‐scale experiments on real samples need to be performed to confirm the emerging advantages of the technique and remove the potential limitations still affecting its widespread application.
Simulation‐based team‐training in acute stroke: Is it safe to speed up?
Authors: Høllesli Liv Jorunn , Ajmi Soffien Chadli , Kurz Martin W. , Tysland Thomas Bailey , Hagir Morten , Dalen Ingvild , Qvindesland Sigrun Anna , Ersdal Hege , Kurz Kathinka D.
Published: November 2022

Background

In acute ischemic stroke (AIS), rapid treatment with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is crucial for good clinical outcome. Weekly simulation‐based team‐training of the stroke treatment team was implemented, resulting in faster treatment times. The aim of this study was to assess whether this time reduction led to a higher proportion of stroke mimics (SMs) among patients who received IVT for presumed AIS, and whether these SM patients were harmed by intracranial hemorrhage (ICH).

Methods

All suspected AIS patients treated with IVT between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2020 were prospectively registered. In 2017, weekly in situ simulation‐based team‐training involving the whole stroke treatment team was introduced. To analyze possible unintended effects of simulation training, the proportion of SMs among patients who received IVT for presumed AIS were identified by clinical and radiological evaluation. Additionally, we identified the extent of symptomatic ICH (sICH) in IVT‐treated SM patients.

Results

From 2015 to 2020, 959 patients were treated with IVT for symptoms of AIS. After introduction of simulation training, the proportion of patients treated with IVT who were later diagnosed as SMs increased significantly (15.9% vs. 24.4%, p = .003). There were no ICH complications in the SM patients treated before, whereas two SM patients suffered from asymptomatic ICH after introduction of simulation training (p = 1.0). When subgrouping SMs into prespecified categories, only the group diagnosed with peripheral vertigo increased significantly (2.5% vs. 8.6%, p < .001).

Conclusions

Simulation training of the acute stroke treatment team was associated with an increase in the proportion of patients treated with IVT for a suspected AIS who were later diagnosed with peripheral vertigo. The proportion of other SM groups among IVT‐treated patients did not change significantly. No sICH was detected in IVT‐treated SM patients.
Patients with stage IA ovarian clear cell carcinoma do not require chemotherapy following surgery
Authors: Shuqing Li , Zhiling Zhu
Published: November 2022

Background

Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is an infrequent histological subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). The present study aimed to investigate whether chemotherapy is indispensable for patients with stage IA OCCC.

Methods

Data were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database between 2004 and 2015. All subjects were diagnosed with stage IA OCCC, according to their postoperative pathological reports. In the present study, 1038 patients were retrospectively investigated, among whom 692 patients received chemotherapy. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to prevent selection bias. The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the correlation between variables and 5‐year overall survival.

Results

An equal number of patients (n = 346) who did or did not undergo chemotherapy after PSM were further enrolled in the study. The results showed that the mortality of OCCC increased for the patients aged ≥50 years. In addition, older age was associated with lower 5‐year overall survival (p < 0.05). However, chemotherapy did not extend the 5‐year overall survival (p = 0.524) of patients with stage IA OCCC, according to the multivariate Cox regression analysis.

Conclusions

Chemotherapy did not affect the overall survival of patients with stage IA OCCC following surgery.
ABOblood groups and expression of blood group antigens of epithelial ovarian cancer in Chinese women
Authors: Wang Chao , Zhou Jingjing , Wang Lili , Xing Tongyu , Dai Hongji , Zhou Yao , Qi Lisha , Zhao Yanrui , Huang Caiyun , Li Ding , Li Haixin , Li Mulin Jun , Liu Ben , Zheng Hong , Chen Kexin , Li Lian
Published: November 2022

Background

ABO blood groups has been associated with risk of several cancers; however, the results for an association with ovarian cancer are inconsistent and little is known about the expression of histo‐blood group (ABH) antigens andABOgene in ovarian tumor tissues.

Methods

To assess the impact of genotype‐derived ABO blood types on the risk of EOC, we conducted a case–control study in 1,870 EOC and 4,829 controls. Expression of A and B antigen in 70 pairs of ovarian tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Gene expression and DNA methylation profiling was conducted in ovarian tumor tissues.

Results

We identified that blood group A was associated with increased risk for EOC compared to blood group O (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.03–1.36,p = 0.019). Increased frequency of aberrant expression of histo‐blood group antigens was observed in patients with blood group A (76.5%) compared to patients with blood group O (21.1%) and B (5.0%) by immunohistochemistry (p < 0.001).ABOgene expression was down‐regulated in ovarian tumor tissues compared with paired adjacent normal tissues (p = 0.027). In addition,ABOgene expression was positively correlated withNFYB(r = 0.38,p < 0.001) and inversely correlated with DNA methylation level of four CpG sites on ABO gene (cg11879188,r = − 0.3,p = 0.002; cg22535403,r = − 0.30,p = 0.002; cg13506600,r = − 0.22,p = 0.025; cg07241568,r = − 0.21,p = 0.049) in ovarian tumor tissues.

Conclusion

We identified blood group A was associated with increased EOC risk in Chinese women and provided the clues of the possible molecular mechanisms of blood group A related to ovarian cancer risk.
A robust Kibria–Lukman estimator for linear regression model to combat multicollinearity and outliers
Authors: Majid Abdul , Ahmad Shakeel , Aslam Muhammad , Kashif Muhammad
Published: November 2022

To circumvent the problem of multicollinearity in regression models, a ridge‐type estimator is recently proposed in the literature, which is named as the Kibria–Lukman estimator (KLE). The KLE has better properties than the conventional ridge regression estimator. However, the presence of outliers in the data set may have some adverse effects on the KLE. To address this issue, the present article proposes a robust version of the KLE based on the M‐estimator. This article also proposes some robust methods to estimate the shrinkage parameter k. The Monte Carlo simulation study and a real‐life data is used to gauge the performance of the proposed methods where the mean squared error is used as the evaluation criterion. The numerical results witness the supremacy of the proposed estimator in the presence of outliers.
Decolonisation and anti‐racism: Challenges and opportunities for (teacher) education
Authors: Le Grange Lesley
Published: November 2022

In the past two decades, we have seen a renewed interest in decolonisation. A proliferation of literature produced on the topic, the establishment of journals on decolonisation, student protests such as the #RhodesMustFall campaign at universities in South Africa and Oxford University in Britain, French President Emmanuel Macron's call for the repatriation of African heritage from European museums, the appointment of a Deputy Minister of Decolonisation in Bolivia, bear testimony to a heightened consciousness on the topic. Moreover, we are witnessing the internationalisation of Indigenous knowledge as colonised peoples across the globe use the spaces that globalisation affords to build solidarities in order to resist the homogenising and normalising effects of globalisation and to decentre western epistemologies. In this article, which contributes to the Special Issue onDecolonial and Anti‐racist Perceptions in Teacher Training and Education Curricula, I do three things: discuss the concept of decolonisation including its meanings produced in different geographies, discuss the connection between decolonisation and anti‐racism, present challenges and opportunities for decolonising (teacher) education programmes through the concepts ofcurrere, complicated conversation and land education. I conclude that decolonisation is not an easy task in the neoliberal university and other institutions offering initial teacher training/education. However, there always exists opportunities for invigorating decolonial desires in such teaching/learning spaces.
Quantitative flow cytometry leveraging droplet‐based constriction microchannels with high reliability and high sensitivity
Authors: Yang Guang , Yang Hongyu , Zhang Ting , Gao Chiyuan , Chen Deyong , Wang Junbo , Chen Jian
Published: November 2022

This study presented a quantitative flow cytometry leveraging droplet‐based constriction microchannels with high reliability and high sensitivity. Droplets encapsulating single cells and even distribution of fluorescein labeled antibodies removed from targeted cells deformed through the constriction microchannel where the excited fluorescent signals were sampled and interpreted into numbers of proteins based on volume equivalence in measurement of droplets and calibration of fluorescence. To improve the detection reliability, a comprehensive analysis and comparison of multiple stripping agents such as proteinase K, guanidine hydrochloride, and urea was conducted. To improve the detection sensitivity, light modulation was used to address electrical noises and quartz microchannels were fabricated to address optical noises. As a demonstration, based on this quantitative flow cytometry of droplet microfluidics, (1) mutant p53 expressions of single cells were quantified as 1.95 ± 0.60 × 105 (ncell = 2918 of A431) and 1.30 ± 0.70 × 105 (ncell = 3954 of T47D); (2) single‐cell expressions of Ras, c‐Myc, and β‐tubulin were quantified as 1.90 ± 0.59 × 105, 4.39 ± 1.44 × 105, and 2.97 ± 0.81 × 105 (ncell = 3298 of CAL 27), 1.83 ± 0.58 × 105, 2.08 ± 0.13 × 106, and 1.96 ± 0.74 × 105 (ncell = 5459 of WSU‐HN6). As a microfluidic tool capable of quantitatively estimating single‐cell protein expressions, this methodology may provide a new quantitative perspective for the field of flow cytometry.
Early temperamental and biological predictors of dimensions of social withdrawal in childhood
Authors: Morneau‐Vaillancourt Geneviève , Ouellet‐Morin Isabelle , Pouliot Sandra , Poliakova Natalia , Feng Bei , Provost Lysandre , Forget‐Dubois Nadine , Matte‐Gagné Célia , Petitclerc Amélie , Brendgen Mara R. , Vitaro Frank , Tremblay Richard E. , Dionne Ginette , Boivin Michel
Published: November 2022

Social wariness and preference for solitude, two dimensions of social withdrawal, show unique associations with various socioemotional difficulties in childhood, including internalizing and peer problems. However, their early childhood predictors remain vastly undocumented. The present study aimed to examine whether early indicators of reactivity in situations of unfamiliarity such as behavioral inhibition, affect, and cortisol independently, or in interaction with emotion regulation as indexed by vagal tone, predict later social wariness and preference for solitude. Participants were 1209 children from the Quebec Newborn Twin Study. Vagal tone was assessed at 5 months, and behavioral inhibition, affect, and cortisol were assessed at 19 months in situations of unfamiliarity. Mothers, teachers, and peers evaluated social wariness and preference for solitude repeatedly from 4 to 10 years old. Findings show that three temperamental dimensions, social inhibition, nonsocial inhibition, and affect accounted for the variability in reactions to unfamiliarity. Behavioral inhibition to social unfamiliarity at 19 months predicted social wariness during the preschool years. Poor vagal regulation at 5 months exacerbated the risk associated with negative affect at 19 months to predict preference for solitude during the preschool years. Overall, results show that social wariness and preference for solitude may follow different developmental pathways.
Factor structure and psychometric properties of a multicultural Spanish‐language version of the Eating Disorder‐15 in a nonclinical sample of Chilean women
Authors: Compte Emilio J. , Cruzat‐Mandich Claudia , Pérez Ríos Leonardo , Vásquez Sofía , Gómez Nathalie , Trujillo‐ChiVacuan Eva
Published: November 2022

Objective

The Eating Disorder‐15 (ED‐15) is a brief measure developed for the routine assessment of eating disorder (EDs), despite its use in research settings having increased over the last few years. To assess the psychometric properties of the ED‐15 in a nonclinical sample of Chilean women.

Method

A multicultural Spanish‐language version was developed through combined translation techniques. University female students (N = 380) (Mage 22.32, SD = 2.48) were recruited through social media. After providing their informed consent, participants completed a battery of questionnaires online.

Results

A bi‐factor model replicating the bi‐factor structure and providing support for the general factor showed the best fit to the data. Moderate‐to‐strong correlations with measures of EDs, physical comparison, body appreciation, social physique anxiety, and depressive symptoms are presented as evidence of concurrent and convergent validity. Items analyses revealed strong correlations between manifest variables, their correspondent latent variable and the general factor (rs = .60 to .89, ps < .001). Additionally, current findings provide support for the internal consistency of the scale (Cronbach's alpha and Omega values were ≥ .80) and test–retest reliability (ICCs = .84 to .89, ps < .001).

Discussion

Like previous findings, the current study provides validity to the original bi‐factor structure of the ED‐15 and additional validity to a general factor. The availability of this multicultural Spanish‐language version would provide session‐by‐session assessment, providing crucial information throughout treatment. Also, the availability of the current measure would contribute to further research efforts in a yet understudied population such as Hispanic women.

Public Significance

The Eating Disorder‐15 (ED‐15) is a promising measure meant to assess session‐by‐session change for clinical and research purposes. The availability of a Multicultural Spanish language version of the ED‐15 allows for routine clinical assessment and represents a contribution for research efforts in a yet understudied populations such as Hispanic women.
Economic pressures of Covid‐19 lockdowns result in increased timber extraction within a critically endangered region: A case study from the Pacific Forest of Ecuador
Authors: Tleimat Jacquelyn M. , Fritts Sarah R. , Brunner Rebecca M. , Rodriguez David , Lynch Ryan L. , McCracken Shawn F.
Published: November 2022

Although the COVID‐19 lockdowns in 2020 had some environmental benefits, the pandemic's impact on the global economy has also had conservation repercussions, especially in biodiverse nations. Ecuador, which is heavily reliant on petroleum, agricultural exports, and ecotourism, experienced a rise in poverty in response to pandemic shutdowns. In this study, we sought to quantify levels of illegal timber extraction and poaching before and after the start of COVID‐19 lockdowns throughout two protected areas (Reserva Jama Coaque [JCR] and Bosque Seco Lalo Loor [BSLL]) in the endangered Pacific Forest of Ecuador. We analyzed chainsaw and gunshot acoustic data recorded from devices installed in the forest canopy from December 2019 to March 2020 and October 2020 to March 2021. Results from generalized linear mixed effects models indicated less chainsaw activity before lockdowns (βpost.lockdown = 0.568 ± 0.266 SE, p‐value = .030), although increased average rainfall also seemed to negatively affect chainsaw activity (βavg.rainfall = −0.002 ± 0.0006 SE, p‐value = .003). Gunshots were too infrequent to conduct statistical models; however, 87% of gunshots were detected during the ‘lockdown’ period. Observational data collected by rangers from these protected areas also noted an increase in poaching activities beginning mid to late 2020 and persisting into 2021. These results add to the steadily growing literature indicating an increase in environmental crime, particularly in biodiverse nations, catalyzed by COVID‐19‐related economic hardships. Identifying areas where environmental crime increased during pandemic lockdowns is vital to address both socioeconomic drivers and enforcement deficiencies to prevent further biodiversity loss and disease outbreaks and to promote ecosystem resilience. Our study also demonstrates the utility of passive acoustic monitoring to detect illegal resource extraction patterns, which can inform strategies such as game theory modeling for ranger patrol circuits and placement of real‐time acoustic detection technologies to monitor and mitigate environmental crimes.
Effects of a nuclear power plant warmwater outflow on environmental conditions and fish assemblages in a very large river (the Danube, Hungary)
Authors: Füstös Vivien , Sály Péter , Szalóky Zoltán , Tóth Balázs , Vitál Zoltán , Specziár András , Fleit Gábor , Baranya Sándor , Józsa János , Erős Tibor
Published: November 2022

Direct or indirect effects of nuclear power plants' (NPPs) warmwater effluents on the structure of biotic assemblages are poorly known in very large rivers. We examined changes in physical habitat structure, temperature condition and their possible effects on the structure of Danubian fish assemblages due to the outflow of the Paks NPP's warmwater channel, in Hungary. Seasonal surveys conducted both upstream and downstream from the outfall showed that its hydromorphological effects were generally local and comparable to natural or other anthropogenic hydromorphological changes. The effect of the returned cooling water was more apparent in the seasonally recorded surface water temperatures and depended highly on the spatial positioning of the sampling sites. However, environmental and spatial variables accounted only for a low amount of variance in case of both shoreline and offshore fish assemblage data. Overall, we found that the outflow exerted only a local scale effect on the structure of Danubian fish assemblages. Rather, fish assemblages varied largely both inshore and offshore, which dynamics overruled any effects of the artificially elevated temperature. Our study highlights the importance of the assessment of hydrogeomorphological variability of rivers and their influence on fish assemblage variability when examining spatial effects of thermal pollution.
Sampling bias and the robustness of ecological metrics for plant–damage‐type association networks
Authors: Swain Anshuman , Azevedo‐Schmidt Lauren E. , Maccracken S. Augusta , Currano Ellen D. , Dunne Jennifer A. , Labandeira Conrad C. , Fagan William F.
Published: November 2022

Plants and their insect herbivores have been a dominant component of the terrestrial ecological landscape for the past 410 million years and feature intricate evolutionary patterns and co‐dependencies. A complex systems perspective allows for both detailed resolution of these evolutionary relationships as well as comparison and synthesis across systems. Using proxy data of insect herbivore damage (denoted by the damage type or DT) preserved on fossil leaves, functional bipartite network representations provide insights into how plant–insect associations depend on geological time, paleogeographical space, and environmental variables such as temperature and precipitation. However, the metrics measured from such networks are prone to sampling bias. Such sensitivity is of special concern for plant–DT association networks in paleontological settings where sampling effort is often severely limited. Here, we explore the sensitivity of functional bipartite network metrics to sampling intensity and identify sampling thresholds above which metrics appear robust to sampling effort. Across a broad range of sampling efforts, we find network metrics to be less affected by sampling bias and/or sample size than richness metrics, which are routinely used in studies of fossil plant–DT interactions. These results provide reassurance that cross‐comparisons of plant–DT networks offer insights into network structure and function and support their widespread use in paleoecology. Moreover, these findings suggest novel opportunities for using plant–DT networks in neontological terrestrial ecology to understand functional aspects of insect herbivory across geological time, environmental perturbations, and geographic space.
A multispecies, intraspecific functional traits data set on fish species from the Bay of Biscay, France
Authors: Rozanski Romane , Eme David , Boiron Leroy Anne , Rufino Marta M. , Albouy Camille
Published: November 2022

The global biodiversity crisis due to anthropogenic pressures jeopardizes marine ecosystem functioning and services. Community responses to these environmental changes can be assessed through functional diversity, a biodiversity component related to organism–environment interactions, and estimated through biological traits related to organism functions (locomotion, feeding mode, and reproduction). Fish play a key role in marine systems functioning and supply proteins for billions of humans worldwide, yet most of the knowledge is limited to several commercial species and little is known about the intraspecific variability of their functional traits. The data provided here consist of 867 records of individuals from 85 species of ray‐finned (Actinopterygii) and cartilaginous (Chondrichthyes) fish sampled in the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic, France) between autumn 2017 and 2019. We provided for each individual the taxonomic classification, 16 ecomorphological measures (5 directly made on fresh individuals and 11 realized using individual pictures) that were converted into nine ecomorphological traits classically documented in the literature (biomass, protrusion, oral gape shape, surface and position, eye size and position, body transversal shape and surface, pectoral fin position and caudal peduncle throttling) and eight life history traits obtained from FishBase (maximum length, average depth, depth range, trophic level, reproduction mode, fertilization mode, parental care, vertical position in the water column). These traits document several functions such as dispersion, feeding mode, habitat use, position in the food web, and reproduction. To improve the development of new traits, we provided a picture of each individual with an ROI file containing the different morpho‐anatomical measures made using “ImageJ” software and an R function to extract them. In addition, we provided the metadata from each sampling site (years, dates, stations, sampling hours, strata, gears, latitudes, longitudes, and depths) and environmental variables measured in situ (conductivity, salinity, water temperature, water density, and air temperature). This data set accounting for the intraspecific variability among 85 fish species is of interest to better understand the effects of environmental forcing in a global change context as in the Bay of Biscay, a highly fished transition zone harboring mixed assemblages of boreal, temperate, and subtropical fish species that are susceptible to display variability in functional trait to adapt to changing conditions. The data set is freely available without copyright restrictions; users should cite this paper in research products (publications, presentations, reports, etc.) derived from the data set.
Optimal prey switching: Predator foraging costs provide a mechanism for functional responses in multi‐prey systems
Authors: Prokopenko Christina M. , Avgar Tal , Ford Adam , Vander Wal Eric
Published: November 2022

Foragers must balance the costs and gains inherent in the pursuit of their next meal. Classical functional response formulations describe consumption rates driven by prey density and are naive to predator foraging costs. Here, we integrated foraging costs into functional responses to add mechanism and precision to foundational ideas. Specifically, using a model system with a single predator and two prey, we express a functional response emerging from variable energy and time costs of each predation phase: searching, attacking, or consuming prey. The utility of our model is explored through a focused example where prey can exert variable influence on predator foraging costs through antipredator traits. Dissimilarity between prey in their foraging costs influence the energy gain rate of the predator through optimal prey switching. We found that a small subset of prey antipredator traits and density conditions generated a stabilizing Type III (sigmoidal) functional response—the pattern often thought to typify a generalist predator switching between prey species. The sigmoid functional response occurred for highly profitable prey only when the costly prey (1) were at a high density and (2) their antipredator traits increased energy or time costs following an encounter. We outline testable predictions regarding foraging costs from our model. We provide guidance on how to apply optimal foraging theory to empirical scenarios where predator foraging costs vary due to prey type, predator type, or environmental conditions. Our framework represents a synergy of foundational and contemporary theory across disciplines, facilitating the discovery of shared principles and context‐dependent variation across varied predator–prey systems.
Novel sediment sampling method provides new insights into vertical grain size variability due to marine and aeolian beach processes
Authors: van IJzendoorn Christa O. , Hallin Caroline , Cohn Nicholas , Reniers Ad J. H. M. , De Vries Sierd
Published: November 2022

In sandy beach systems, the aeolian sediment transport can be governed by the vertical structure of the sediment layers at the bed surface. Here, data collected with a newly developed sand scraper is presented to determine high‐resolution vertical grain size variability and how it is affected by marine and aeolian processes. Sediment samples at up to 2 mm vertical resolution down to 50 mm depth were collected at three beaches: Waldport (Oregon, USA), Noordwijk (the Netherlands) and Duck (North Carolina, USA). The results revealed that the grain size in individual layers can differ considerably from the median grain size of the total sample. The most distinct temporal variability occurred due to marine processes that resulted in significant morphological changes in the intertidal zone. The marine processes during high water resulted both in fining and coarsening of the surface sediment. Especially near the upper limit of wave runup, the formation of a veneer of coarse sediment was observed. Although the expected coarsening of the near‐surface grain size during aeolian transport events was observed at times, the opposite trend also occurred. The latter could be explained by the formation and propagation of aeolian bedforms within the intertidal zone locally resulting in sediment fining at the bed surface. The presented data lays the basis for future sediment sampling strategies and sediment transport models that investigate the feedbacks between marine and aeolian transport, and the vertical variability of the grain size distribution.
Experimental investigation on RP‐3 aviation kerosene large‐scale pool fires at high altitude
Authors: Wang Jian , Yang Rui , Tao Zhenxiang , Yang Wenjie , Li Cong
Published: November 2022

RP‐3 aviation kerosene is a standard fuel that is used in civil aircraft and is a substitute for Jet‐A fuel. This paper investigates the combustion behaviour of RP‐3 aviation kerosene in an open space in the low‐pressure environment of a plateau. A series of large‐scale pools with diameters ranging from 0.4 m to 2.82 m combustion experiments are performed. Typical combustion characteristic parameters, including combustion rate, flame height and axial plume temperature distribution is measured. Results show that a low‐pressure environment significantly affects pool fires. With combustion rate, there is a linear variation law between oil pool size and combustion rate. The experimental data are fitted as a means of obtaining the large‐scale combustion rate relationship equation at low pressure. Experimental flame height data is compared using classical prediction models. Prediction model coefficients at low pressure are determined. The axial plume temperature distribution is greater than in the literature findings due to flames becoming longer in a low‐pressure environment. The three regimes in McCaffery's model are redefined and correlate well with the vertical temperature profile of the pool centreline. The results of the experimental investigation will help research fire hazards in low‐pressure environments while also contributing to the provision of basic data for the development of firefighting operation strategies.
Prophylactic and therapeutic potential of active phytoconstituents from Amomum subulatum Roxb
Authors: Dhakal Richa , Dihingia Anjum , Ahmed Ruksana Sultana , Gupta Dipanneeta Das , Sahu Ravi Kumar , Dutta Prachurjya , Bharali Pankaj , Manna Prasenjit , Sastry G. Narahari , Kalita Jatin
Published: November 2022

Amomum subulatum is a popular aromatic and medicinal spice crop being used for centuries to treat a variety of health ailments. The ethnopharmacological use of Amomum subulatum has been described in various medicinal systems including Ayurveda, Unani, and Chinese for its therapeutic properties in mitigating gastrointestinal disorders, lung congestions, respiratory ailments, jaundice, tuberculosis, hyperlipidemia, inflammation, ischemic heart diseases, etc. Literature search using Google Scholar, PubMed, NCBI, Elsevier, Wiley online Library, Springer, Taylor and Francis, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus databases was restricted to English‐language articles. Significant information on pharmacological properties of Amomum subulatum, including antioxidant (ROS/RNS pathways), anti‐inflammatory (TNF‐α, IL‐1, IL‐6, COX‐2, NF‐кB, HO‐1, arachidonic acid pathways), antinephrotoxic (urea, creatinine, Cystatin‐C), antihepatotoxic (SGOT, SGPT, and ALP), antidiabetic, etc., was collected for the review. The pharmacological properties of this traditional herb may be attributed to the plethora of secondary metabolites present in it. Preliminary phytochemical screening reported the abundance of flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, vitamins, minerals, fatty acid esters, etc. 1,8‐cineole (60%–80% of total volatile oil), α‐terpineol, limonene, α‐terpinyl acetate, etc., are the notable phytochemicals reported from Amomum subulatum. However, detailed insights into the molecular mechanistic pathways mediating the beneficial role of this traditional herb on cell/animal models and large‐scale clinical trials are lacking. In the present review, we provide a comprehensive description of the current knowledge on Amomum subulatum, including its phytoconstituents, pharmacological uses, and toxicities, its implication in host health effects, including in vitro/in vivo efficacy, and the potential of these emerging species to suggest areas for future research.
Petrogenesis and tectonic implications of the Early Carboniferous high‐K granites with enriched isotope signatures in the northern North China Craton
Authors: Zhang Lu , Jiang Shao‐Yong
Published: November 2022

Although an extensive continental arc magmatism was recorded in the northern North China Craton (NCC) during the Carboniferous, a general geodynamic model has not been constructed, and associated crust–mantle processes are not fully understood. Here, we carried out systematic geochronological and geochemical investigations on the alkali‐feldspar granite pluton in the Zhaojinggou area, northern NCC. U–Pb dating of high‐U–Th zircons failed to obtain concordant ages due to severe metamictization, while apatite U–Pb dating yielded a perfect age of 327.6 ± 4.1 Ma, indicating the emplacement of granites in the Early Carboniferous. The granites have high SiO2 (74.99–76.88 wt%) and K2O (5.73–6.43 wt%) contents and exhibit enriched LREEs, K, Rb, Th, U, and Pb, and depleted Nb, Ta, P, and Ti contents, which are typical of highly fractionated, I‐type high‐K granites formed under a continental arc setting. Moreover, the high‐K granites show highly enriched Nd isotopic compositions (with whole‐rock and apatite εNd(t) of −33.6 to −16.3) that are distinctly lower than other Carboniferous continental arc rocks in the northern NCC (εNd(t) from −18.5 to −9.9). These geochemical characteristics indicate that the high‐K granites possibly originated by partial melting of the Archean TTG gneisses and mafic rocks in the lower crust. Involvement of mantle‐derived fluids is crucial to induce the low‐temperature melting, and sufficient fractional crystallization was reached during subsequent magmatic evolution. Previous studies suggest that the Carboniferous continental arc rocks in the northern NCC have mantle‐derived or crust–mantle mixed sources. Our study, however, indicates that there also exist coeval crust‐derived magmatic rocks in this area. In combination with previous work and this study, we support the hypothesis that the widespread Carboniferous continental arc magmatism in the northern NCC is related to the southward subduction of the Palaeo‐Asian Ocean (PAO), and the different magma sources and extensive crust–mantle interactions are responsible for the formation of diverse types of magmatic rocks with contrasting isotopic compositions. We also draw attention to the fact that phosphate minerals such as apatite may be a preferable chronometer relative to high‐U–Th zircon in a highly fractionated igneous system.
EphA4/ephrinA3 reverse signaling mediated downregulation of glutamate transporter GLAST in Müller cells in an experimental glaucoma model
Authors: Zhou Zhi‐Xin , Xu Lin‐Jie , Wang Hong‐Ning , Cheng Shuo , Li Fang , Miao Yanying , Lei Bo , Gao Feng , Wang Zhongfeng
Published: November 2022

Deficiency of glutamate transporter GLAST in Müller cells may be culpable for excessive extracellular glutamate, which involves in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) damage in glaucoma. We elucidated how GLAST was regulated in rat chronic ocular hypertension (COH) model. Western blot and whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings showed that GLAST proteins and GLAST‐mediated current densities in Müller cells were downregulated at the early stages of COH. In normal rats, intravitreal injection of the ephrinA3 activator EphA4‐Fc mimicked the changes of GLAST in COH retinas. In purified cultured Müller cells, EphA4‐Fc treatment reduced GLAST expression at mRNA and protein levels, which was reversed by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor PP2 or transfection with ephrinA3‐siRNA (Si‐EFNA3), suggesting that EphA4/ephrinA3 reverse signaling mediated GLAST downregulation. EphA4/ephrinA3 reverse signaling‐induced GLAST downregulation was mediated by inhibiting PI3K/Akt/NF‐κB pathways since EphA4‐Fc treatment of cultured Müller cells reduced the levels of p‐Akt/Akt and NF‐κB p65, which were reversed by transfecting Si‐EFNA3. In Müller cells with ephrinA3 knockdown, the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 still decreased the protein levels of NF‐κB p65 in the presence of EphA4‐Fc, and the mRNA levels of GLAST were reduced by LY294002 and the NF‐κB inhibitor SN50, respectively. Pre‐injection of the PI3K/Akt pathway activator 740 Y‐P reversed the GLAST downregulation in COH retinas. Western blot and TUNEL staining showed that transfecting of Si‐EFNA3 reduced Müller cell gliosis and RGC apoptosis in COH retinas. Our results suggest that activated EphA4/ephrinA3 reverse signaling induces GLAST downregulation in Müller cells via inhibiting PI3K/Akt/NF‐κB pathways, thus contributing to RGC damage in glaucoma.
Malnutrition diagnosed by GLIM criteria better predicts long‐term outcomes for patients with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma: A prospective multicenter cohort study
Authors: Zou Yuanlin , Xu Hongxia , Lyu Quanjun , Weng Min , Cui Jiuwei , Shi Hanping , Song Chunhua
Published: November 2022

Since Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) method was proposed, few studies have applied these new criteria to hematological tumors. In this study, we explored the prevalence of malnutrition according to the GLIM criteria and scored Patient‐Generated Subjective Global Assessment (sPG‐SGA) and their association with 1‐year, 3‐year and 5‐year mortality among patients with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Malnutrition of all patients were assessed by GLIM criteria and sPG‐SGA. Relationship between the malnutrition based on GLIM criteria or sPG‐SGA and mortality was investigated by Cox regression analyses. The performance of GLIM criteria was evaluated by assessing the sensitivity, specificity, k‐value, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and time‐dependent ROC. Of 963 patients with NHL, the prevalence of malnutrition was 38.8% with GLIM criteria, 65.3% with GLIM‐omitted NRS‐2002 and 53.2% with sPG‐SGA. In comparison with sPG‐SGA, the sensitivity of GLIM criteria was 61.7%, the specificity was 84.8%, and the agreement was moderate (k = 0.48, p < 0.001). Malnutrition based on GLIM criteria could also predict 3‐year and 5‐year mortality after adjusting for confounders, except for sPG‐SGA (HR = 1.816, 95%CI = 1.274–2.589, p = 0.001 for 3‐year mortality; HR = 1.707, 95%CI = 1.223–2.382, p = 0.002 for 5‐year mortality). For patients with NHL, GLIM criteria could be applied as an effective replacement to sPG‐SGA for nutrition assessment and mortality prediction, especially for predicting long‐term prognostic outcomes.