bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High‐Throughput Screening of Anti‐cancer Drugs Using a Microfluidic Spheroid Culture Device with a Concentration Gradient Generator
Authors: Lee Yugyeong , Chen Zhenzhong , Lim Wanyoung , Cho Hansang , Park Sungsu
Published: September 2022

Tumor spheroid models are widely used for drug screening as in vitro models of the tumor microenvironment. There are various ways in which tumor spheroid models can be prepared, including the self‐assembly of cells using low‐adherent plates, micro‐patterned plates, or hanging‐drop plates. Recently, drug high‐throughput screening (HTS) approaches have incorporated the use of these culture systems. These HTS culture systems, however, require complicated equipment, such as robot arms, detectors, and software for handling solutions and data processing. Here, we describe protocols that allow tumor spheroids to be tested with different concentrations of a drug in a parallel fashion using a microfluidic device that generates a gradient of anti‐cancer drugs. This microfluidic spheroid culture device with a concentration gradient generator (μFSCD‐CGG) enables the formation of 50 tumor spheroids and the testing of drugs at five different concentrations. First, we provide a protocol for the fabrication of the μFSCD‐CGG, which has both a culture array in which tumor cells are injected and aggregate to form spheroids and a concentration gradient generator for drug testing. Second, we provide a protocol for tumor spheroid formation and HTS of anti‐cancer drugs using the device. Finally, we provide a protocol for assessing the response of tumor spheroids at different drug concentrations. To address the needs of the pharmaceutical industry, this protocol can be used for various cell types, including stem cells, and the number of tumor spheroids and drug concentration ranges that can be tested in the μFSCD‐CGG can be increased. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Fabrication of a microfluidic spheroid culture device with a concentration gradient generator (μFSCD‐CGG)

Basic Protocol 2: Seeding cells and formation of spheroids in the μFSCD‐CGG

Basic Protocol 3: Drug treatment and assessment of cell viability in the μFSCD‐CGG
Do‐it‐Yourself Mock Community Standard for Multi‐Step Assessment of Microbiome Protocols
Authors: Colovas Joanna , Bintarti Ari Fina , Mechan Llontop Marco E. , Grady Keara L. , Shade Ashley
Published: September 2022

Microbiomes provide critical functions that support animals, plants, and ecosystems. High‐throughput sequencing (HTS) has become an essential tool for the cultivation‐independent study of microbiomes found in diverse environments, but requires effective and meaningful controls. One such critical control is a mock microbial community, which is used as a positive control for nucleic acid extraction, marker gene amplification, and sequencing. While mock community standards can be purchased, they can be costly and often include only medically relevant microbial strains that are not expected to be major players in non‐human microbiomes. As an alternative, it is possible to design and construct a do‐it‐yourself (DIY) mock community, which can then be used as a positive control that is specifically customized to the protocol needs of a particular study system. In this article, we describe protocols to select appropriate microbial strains for the construction of a mock community. We first describe the steps to verify the identity of community members via Sanger sequencing. Then, we provide guidance on assembling and storing the DIY mock community as viable whole cells. This includes steps to create standard growth curves referenced to plate counts for each member, so that the community members can be quantified and later compared in terms of their “expected versus returned” relative contributions after sequencing. We also describe appropriate methods for the cryostorage of the fully assembled mock community as viable whole cells, so that they can be used as a unit in a microbiome analysis, from the lysis and nucleic acid extraction steps onwards. Finally, we provide an example of returned data and interpretation of DIY mock community sequences, discussing how to assess possible contamination and identify protocol biases for particular members. Overall, DIY mock communities serve to determine success and possible bias in a cultivation‐independent microbiome analysis. © 2022 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Strain identification and verification using Sanger sequencing

Basic Protocol 2: Creation of glycerol stocks of each mock community strain for long‐term cryostorage

Basic Protocol 3: Assessment of strain freezer viability without cryoprotectant

Basic Protocol 4: Creation of standard curve to determine CFU/ml of a liquid culture as a function of optical density

Basic Protocol 5: Full mock community assembly using community concentration calculations and standard curves
Efficient Isolation and Purification of High‐Quality Arabidopsis thaliana Trichomes
Authors: Huebbers Jan W. , Büttgen Kim , Panstruga Ralph
Published: September 2022

Trichomes are fine outgrowths on the surface of aerial plant organs which play a role in protecting plants against water loss, UV radiation, and herbivore feeding. Throughout the years, trichomes have become a popular paradigm in biological research. For example, trichomes on rosette leaves of the reference plant Arabidopsis thaliana have been used as a model to investigate cell development, cell differentiation, and, more recently, cell wall biogenesis. State of the art ‐omics studies on specific cell types or tissues often require physical separation, enrichment, and purification. This, of course, also applies to leaf trichomes, and various methods have thus been proposed to separate trichomes and leaf tissue. Though most of these methods are indeed suitable for trichome isolation, they suffer in part from tedious operating procedures, low yield, poor sample purity, and reduced trichome integrity. We have thus revised a previously reported method for trichome isolation, and report here an efficient and scalable procedure for the isolation and gradient centrifugation–based purification of high‐quality A. thaliana trichomes. We describe the preparation of plant material and trichome release, which is based on prolonged gentle agitation of plant seedlings in the presence of a cation‐chelating agent that weakens trichome‐leaf interactions. We also outline the steps for the subsequent recovery and purification of the isolated crude trichome fraction, which is based on the use of discontinuous sucrose gradient centrifugation. In addition to A. thaliana, we have found that this procedure can be applied to release and enrich glandular and non‐glandular trichomes from various species, including Solanum lycopersicum and Nicotiana benthamiana. The resulting purified leaf trichomes can be subjected to different types of bioassays, including histochemistry, biochemical quantification of cell wall monosaccharides, and transcriptomics, as well as proteomic profiling. © 2022 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Preparation of plant material for release and enrichment of A. thaliana trichomes

Basic Protocol 2: Purification of A. thaliana trichomes by density gradient centrifugation
Associations between parental involvement at bedtime and young children's evening cortisol and nighttime sleep
Authors: Philbrook Lauren E.
Published: September 2022

Parents are theorized to play an important role in helping young children to downregulate arousal to achieve sufficient and good‐quality sleep. To my knowledge, however, the links between parenting and children's physiological arousal at bedtime and subsequent nighttime sleep have not been empirically tested. The present study examined 3‐ to 6‐year‐old children's evening cortisol levels as a pathway linking parental involvement at bedtime to children's nighttime sleep duration and quality. Fifty‐one children (53% male, 47% female; 80% White, 18% Biracial, 2% Black) and their families participated. Parental involvement (presence, contact, quiet activities) was assessed by raters from video recordings of one night of bedtime. Children's evening cortisol levels were measured from saliva samples taken at bedtime by parents across three nights. Children's nighttime sleep (minutes, efficiency) was determined from an actigraph worn the same three nights. Path analyses controlling for child and family demographics provided support for three significant indirect effects: lower child evening cortisol acted as a pathway linking greater parental presence at bedtime to more child nighttime sleep minutes and higher sleep efficiency, and lower child evening cortisol also linked greater parental contact at bedtime to higher sleep efficiency. Among this low‐risk sample, the findings suggest that encouraging parental involvement in young children's bedtime routine may promote healthy sleep by way of reduced child physiological arousal.
Transcriptome analysis of the response to thyroid hormone in Xenopus neural stem and progenitor cells
Authors: Cordero‐Véliz Camila , Larraín Juan , Faunes Fernando
Published: September 2022

Background

The thyroid hormones—thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3′triiodothyronine (T3)—regulate the development of the central nervous system (CNS) in vertebrates by acting in different cell types. Although several T3 target genes have been identified in the brain, the changes in the transcriptome in response to T3 specifically in neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) during the early steps of NSPCs activation and neurogenesis have not been studied in vivo. Here, we characterized the transcriptome of FACS‐sorted NSPCs in response to T3 during Xenopus laevis metamorphosis.

Results

We identified 1252 upregulated and 726 downregulated genes after 16 hours of T3 exposure. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that T3‐upregulated genes were significantly enriched in rRNA processing and maturation, protein folding, ribosome biogenesis, translation, mitochondrial function, and proteasome. These results suggest that NSPCs activation induced by T3 is characterized by an early proteome remodeling through the synthesis of the translation machinery and the degradation of proteins by the proteasome.

Conclusion

This work provides new insights into the dynamics of activation of NPSCs in vivo in response to T3 during a critical period of neurogenesis in the metamorphosis.
A Single‐Layer Piezoelectric Composite Separator for Durable Operation of Li Metal Anode at High Rates
Authors: Ji Yuanpeng , Yuan Botao , Zhang Jiawei , Liu Zhezhi , Zhong Shijie , Liu Jipeng , Liu Yuanpeng , Yang Mengqiu , Wang Changguo , Yang Chunhui , Han Jiecai , He Weidong
Published: September 2022

Piezoelectric ceramic and polymeric separators have been proposed to effectively regulate Li deposition and suppress dendrite growth, but such separators still fail to satisfactorily support durable operation of lithium metal batteries owing to the fragile ceramic layer or low‐piezoelectricity polymer as employed. Herein, by combining PVDF‐HFP and ferroelectric BaTiO3, we develop a homogeneous, single‐layer composite separator with strong piezoelectric effects to inhibit dendrite growth while maintaining high mechanical strength. As squeezed by local protrusion, the polarized PVDF‐HFP/BaTiO3 composite separator generates a local voltage to suppress the local‐intensified electric field and further deconcentrate regional lithium‐ion flux to retard lithium deposition on the protrusion, hence enabling a smoother and more compact lithium deposition morphology than the unpoled composite separator and the pure PVDF‐HFP separator, especially at high rates. Remarkably, the homogeneous incorporation of BaTiO3 highly improves the piezoelectric performances of the separator with residual polarization of 0.086 μC cm−2 after polarization treatment, four times that of the pure PVDF‐HFP separator, and simultaneously increases the transference number of lithium‐ion from 0.45 to 0.57. Beneficial from the prominent piezoelectric mechanism, the polarized PVDF‐HFP/BaTiO3 composite separator enables stable cyclic performances of Li||LiFePO4 cells for 400 cycles at 2 C (1 C = 170 mA g−1) with a capacity retention above 99%, and for 600 cycles at 5 C with a capacity retention over 85%.
Assessment of body perception disturbances in complex regional pain syndrome: A systematic review using the COSMIN guideline
Authors: Acapo Sessi , Osinski Thomas , Rulleau Thomas , Dupeyron Arnaud , Nizard Julien
Published: September 2022

Objective

To conduct a systematic review to identify which tools are being used to assess body perception disturbances in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and to provide an evidence‐based recommendation in the selection of an assessment tool, based on measurement properties.

Databases and data treatment

Five electronic databases (EMBASE, Pubmed, PsycInfo, Science Direct and Web of Science) were searched for English or French written articles, with no time restrictions. All original articles using a body perception assessment tool with adult patients with CRPS were selected, regardless of their design (controlled trials, single case, qualitative study). Two investigators screened abstracts, selected full articles and extracted data independently.

Results

Thirty‐eight full‐text papers were obtained and three main methods to evaluate body perception disturbances were identified: The Bath Body Perception Disturbance Scale, the Neglect‐like Symptoms questionnaire adapted from Galer and the patient's body perception description. No full psychometric assessments were found. The Limb Laterality Recognition Task was also used in conjunction with another method.

Conclusions

Three main assessment methods for CRPS body perception disturbances are currently used. Full psychometric evaluation has not been completed for any of the assessment methods. As a consequence, we could not fully apply the COSMIN guideline. To date, there is no agreement concerning the use of a specific questionnaire or scale. The results indicate a need for further research such as psychometric properties of these questionnaires.

Significance

This systematic review identified body perception disturbances assessment methods and their the psychometric properties in order to provide help and guidance to researchers and clinicians to investigate those clinical features.
Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous magmatism along the northeastern margin of the Inner Mongolia Plateau and its tectonic significance
Authors: Shi Xiaoming , Wang Guosheng , Shao Henan , Liu Changfeng , Zhou Zhiguang , Gao Shen , Zhang Chi , Dai Taojie , Zhang Shouhua , Zhang Qipeng , Wang Yanyong
Published: September 2022

The Inner Mongolia Plateau is located in the north of the Late Palaeozoic Hegenshan ophiolitic mélange belt, and its Mesozoic magmatism impacts our understanding of the tectonic evolution affected by the closing of the Mongol‐Okhotsk Ocean and Palaeo‐Pacific Ocean. Here, we present new U–Pb ages, whole‐rock geochemistry and Hf isotopes from the Late Mesozoic magmatic rocks in the Dalai area along the northeastern margin of the Inner Mongolia Plateau. The Late Jurassic rock types include medium‐fine‐grained phenocryst‐bearing and porphyritic monzogranites as well as medium‐fine‐grained monzogranites with the precise age range of 167.7–159.8 Ma. The Early Cretaceous rock types consist of fine‐grained biotite monzogranite and medium‐fine‐grained biotite monzogranite with the precise age range of 140.9–130.7 Ma. The geochemistry data show that the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous rocks are peraluminous granites and high‐K calc‐alkaline series and can be classified as A‐type granite. These granites are enriched in large‐ionlithophile elements such as Rb, Th and U, depleted in the high‐field‐strength elements such as Nb, Sr, P, and Ti. Rare earth elements have high total concentrations and present the light rare earth elements enriched with the heavy rare earth elements depleted. Zircon Hf isotopes show that εHf(t) ranges from +8.0 to +15.9 from the Late Jurassic rocks and +6.9 to +13.5 from the Early Cretaceous rocks. Our new results reveal that the Late Jurassic and the Early Cretaceous magmas were derived from partial melting of the younger lower crust, and the Early Cretaceous rocks are more strongly contaminated than the Jurassic intrusions. The Late Jurassic rocks in the Dalai area were formed from a post‐collisional setting related to the closure of the Mongol‐Okhotsk Ocean in the Early‐Middle Jurassic. The Early Cretaceous intrusions were formed from a transition setting from post‐collision to syn‐collision associated with the superposition of the Mongol‐Okhotsk Ocean and the Palaeo‐Pacific Ocean tectonic domain.
Suspended sediment concentration estimation in the Sacramento‐San Joaquin Delta of California using long short‐term memory networks
Authors: Kim Han Sang , He Minxue , Sandhu Prabhjot
Published: September 2022

Sedimentation is an important aspect of water resources management with many implications. Often, process‐based methods are employed to predict and assess the amount of sediment in water, but there are still challenges because the mechanisms that govern sediment transport are not yet fully understood. Furthermore, complex domains make model calibration difficult. Thus, as a complementary tool, a machine‐learning model was developed in the present study to emulate an existing process‐based model in simulating suspended sediment concentration (SSC). It employs the long short‐term memory (LSTM) networks, which are a type of artificial neural networks (ANNs) designed for supervised learning of a sequence of data (e.g., time series). The model was applied to the Sacramento‐San Joaquin Delta (the Delta) of California, USA, which is characterized by an interconnected system of sloughs, waterways, and a tidal outlet. The model training was performed with historical records of flow, stage and SSC at various locations within the Delta. The study period was 2010 through 2016, but the training period (i.e., range of observed data used to train the model) was varied to assess the model's sensitivity to the inputs and to determine the optimum model setup. Comparison between the model‐estimated SSC and the observation at 12 key locations within the Delta showed that the estimation accuracy of the LSTM model during the study period is comparable or superior to that of the Delta Simulation Model II‐General Transport Model (DSM2‐GTM), a process‐based operational hydrodynamics and water quality model for the Delta. In terms of the ratio of the root‐mean‐square error to the standard deviation (RSR), LSTM models generally showed higher predictability than DSM2‐GTM in all test cases investigated, with the lowest (most desirable) and highest (least desirable) LSTM‐based RSR being 0.21 and 1.14, respectively. In comparison, the lowest and highest RSR values with DSM2‐GTM were 0.26 and 3.70, respectively. The median LSTM‐based RSR of all study locations is around 0.7 while its DSM2‐GTM counterpart is about 1.0. LSTM models also yielded remarkably higher (more desirable) Nash‐Sutcliffe Efficiency values. Moreover, visual inspection found that LSTM models better captured the timing and magnitude of peaks as well as the temporal variations in the SSC time series. The LSTM model's performance was further analysed with hydro‐meteorological data (precipitation and wind speed) incorporated in training. While precipitation led to some improvement, the wind speed was found to have a negligible effect overall. All in all, the study findings suggest that the LSTM model has the potential to supplement the operational process‐based model in guiding water resources planning and management practices.
Progressive metastatic pheochromocytoma induced by multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A with a lethal outcome
Authors: Nishimoto Koshiro , Santo Noriaki Lukas , Yonamine Masato , Takekoshi Kazuhiro , Kaneko Go , Shirotake Suguru , Fukushima Hisayo , Okada Yoshitaka , Yasuda Masanori , Sakurai Akihiro , Oyama Masafumi , Kanao Kento
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) harboring a pathological variant in the RET gene are characterized by medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), pheochromocytoma, and hyperparathyroidism. Although pheochromocytoma is currently defined as a malignant tumor, MEN2A‐associated pheochromocytoma is known to have a small risk of metastasis.

Case presentation

The case was a 62‐year‐old Japanese male with bilateral pheochromocytoma, multiple metastases in the liver and bones, and a cardiac thrombus. Genetic testing revealed a pathological variant at codon 634 of the RET gene, thereby leading a diagnosis of MTC. We considered that the multiple metastases were due to MTC; however, a liver biopsy revealed metastasis of pheochromocytoma.

Conclusion

When pheochromocytoma precedes MTC, the diagnosis of MEN2A may be difficult.
Effect of temperature, pH, and soil texture on pirlimycin fate in dairy manure–amended soils
Authors: Kulesza Stephanie B. , Maguire Rory , Xia Kang , Ray Partha , Knowlton Katharine
Published: September 2022

Antibiotics applied to soil through application of manure are of increasing concern due to their adverse environmental impacts, including their potential contribution to the development of antibiotic resistance in the environment. Two 90‐d laboratory incubation studies were conducted to determine the effects of temperature (10 or 21 °C), pH (5, 7, 9), and soil texture (sandy loam, loam) on the persistence of two antibiotics (pirlimycin and cephapirin) applied to soils with dairy manure amendment. Dairy manure from treated and untreated cows was used as the source for this study. However, cephapirin was not detected in manure used for the study. Initial manure pH affected pirlimycin concentration of the manure, and there were differences in initial soil concentration between soil types. In the temperature experiment, pirlimycin concentration was significantly affected by temperature and soil type. In the 10 °C treatments, pirlimycin concentration initially decreased at 7 d but increased to levels similar to 0 d concentrations at 14 d, indicating possible deconjugation of pirlimycin ribonucleotide adducts in the manure applied. Although the loam soil type had a higher pirlimycin concentration in the temperature experiment at 0 d and 14 d, concentrations decreased below the sandy loam soil at 56 d and continued in the 90‐d sampling period. Pirlimycin dissipation from dairy manure–amended soils was enhanced by higher temperature and finer soil texture, both of which could affect development of resistance genes if soil microbes are exposed to pirlimycin for longer periods of time.
Comparison of features of extreme precipitation between stations in inland and coastal Antarctica
Authors: Yang Ran , Yu Lejiang , Jagovkina Svetlana , Liang Kaixin , Yang Qinghua
Published: September 2022

This study presents different characteristics of precipitation and synoptic‐scale circulation associated with extreme precipitation events in inland and coastal Antarctica. The focus is on two stations, inland Vostok and coastal Casey. We use observed daily precipitation data from years 2004–2017 to investigate and compare the statistics on precipitation at both stations. The key areas for synoptic features favouring extreme precipitation are identified on the basis of air‐mass backward trajectories, computed applying the Lagrangian HYSPLIT model. The air moisture accounting for high‐precipitation events originates from the ocean but in many (some) cases the trajectories cover long distances over the ice sheet before reaching Vostok (Casey). Multiple statistical methods including composite analysis, empirical orthogonal functions (EOF), and self‐organizing maps (SOMs) are used to examine the full view of synoptic patterns. At Vostok in the inland high plateau, ERA‐Interim reanalysis shows that the synoptic patterns governing the extreme precipitation events are relatively complicated. Amplified planetary waves allow water vapour to reach the Vostok Station from different source regions, including the Weddell Sea, Ross Sea, and the Indian Ocean off the Amery Ice Shelf. A dipole structure of negative height anomalies to the west and positive ones to the east of the station is identified as the cause of southward water vapour transport and resulting precipitation at Casey in coastal Antarctica.
The mental health impact of COVID‐19–related stressors among treatment‐seeking trauma‐exposed veterans
Authors: McLean Carmen P. , Wachsman Tamara , Morland Leslie , Norman Sonya B. , Hooper Vaughan , Cloitre Marylene
Published: September 2022

Trauma‐exposed veterans receiving mental health care may have an elevated risk of experiencing COVID‐19–related difficulties. Using data from several ongoing clinical trials (N = 458), this study examined exposure to COVID‐19–related stressors and their associations with key sociodemographic factors and mental health outcomes. The results showed that exposure to COVID‐19–related stressors was common, higher among veterans who were racial/ethnic minorities d = 0.32, and associated with elevated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), r = .288, and depressive symptom severity, r = .246. Women veterans experienced more difficulty accessing social support, d = 0.31, and higher levels of COVID‐19–related distress, d = 0.31, than men. Qualitative data were consistent with survey findings and highlighted the broader societal context in veterans’ experience of COVID‐19–related distress. These findings may inform future research on the impact of the pandemic on veterans, particularly those who are women and members of minoritized racial/ethnic groups, as well as mental health treatment planning for this population.
Plant biomass allocation is mediated by precipitation use efficiency in arid and semiarid ecosystems
Authors: Feng Siyuan , Ding Jingyi , Zhan Tianyu , Zhao Wenwu , Pereira Paulo
Published: September 2022

The arid and semiarid grassland ecosystems are characterized by limited water resources and are generally vulnerable to climate change. Understanding how plants in arid and semiarid ecosystems respond to global climatic variation is crucial for ecological restoration under a changing climate. Although the effects of climate on aboveground biomass (AGB) and belowground biomass (BGB) have been widely explored, how AGB and BGB respond to climatic variation is seldom disentangled. There is still a need to understand how plant communities respond to global climate change. In this study, we conducted a transect survey across grasslands in Inner Mongolia to capture changes in AGB and BGB in plant communities. Then, we used structural equation modelling (SEM) to explore the relationship between environmental factors and the root:shoot ratio to understand how plant communities respond to ecological drought under global climate change. Our results showed that low precipitation use efficiency (LPUE) results in a high root:shoot (HRS) ratio, and BGB was more sensitive to environmental changes. By contrast, high precipitation use efficiency (HPUE) led to a low root:shoot (LRS) ratio, and environmental factors had a greater impact on AGB. For the LPUE pattern, soil water content (SWC), pH, and soil total nitrogen (STN) mainly affected the HRS ratio. Soil water content and STN influenced the HRS ratio through a positive effect on BGB . For the HPUE pattern, SWC, STN, and plant abundance (PA) predominantly regulate the LRS ratio, while biodiversity (plant abundance) affects the LRS ratio by positively affecting AGB. Our results highlight the differential impact of precipitation use efficiency on aboveground and belowground biomass allocation. This is important for monitoring the impact of drought events on plant biomass, improving productivity assessment models in arid and semi‐arid regions, and assessing local carbon storage accurately.
Reactive Oxygen Species Suppressive Kraft Lignin‐Gelatin Antioxidant Hydrogels for Chronic Wound Repair
Authors: Kim Byulhana , Kim Young , Lee Yoonho , Oh Joomin , Jung Youngmee , Koh Won‐Gun , Chung Justin J.
Published: September 2022

Chronic wound is difficult to repair because the normal wound healing mechanism is inhibited by the continuous inflammatory response. The delayed inflammatory responses generate high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the wound sites, which leads to a longer inflammatory phase and induces a vicious cycle that interferes with the normal wound healing process. Therefore, ROS scavenging is an important factor for chronic wound healing. In this study, antioxidant hydrogel is developed by cross‐linking kraft lignin, an antioxidant agent, and gelatin (Klig‐Gel). Klig‐Gel hydrogel is fabricated via ring opening reaction with epichlorohydrin as a cross‐linker. High ROS scavenging activities are confirmed by various antioxidant evaluations, and in vitro natural antioxidant expression tests show reduction of oxidative stress. Mechanical properties of Klig‐Gel hydrogel are tailorable by introducing different amount of kraft lignin to the hydrogel system. Biocompatibility is confirmed regardless of the kraft lignin content. Klig‐Gel hydrogel is a promising ROS scavenging material that can be applied in various chronic wound healing applications.
A new generalized constrained modified KP hierarchy
Authors: Wu Yanqiang , Cheng Jipeng
Published: September 2022

A new generalization of the constrained modified KP hierarchy is presented in this paper, that is,
. Then two equivalent formulations of this new generalization are given. One is the bilinear equations in terms of the wave functions and tau functions, where the corresponding Hirota bilinear forms are discussed. Another is expressed by the constraints on the tau functions.
The Effect of Changes in Trip Costs and Gag Regulations on Recreational Fishing Demand in the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Carter David W. , Lovell Sabrina , Records David , Liese Christopher
Published: September 2022

The Gag Mycteroperca microlepis is one of the most popular reef fish targeted by anglers fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. Around 7% of all trips by private boat anglers fishing from the west coast of Florida in 2019 targeted Gag during the open season. We conducted a survey of private boat anglers in Florida and estimated a statistical model to predict changes in the number of fishing trips anticipated with changes in trip costs and Gag bag limits. We found that for the average angler, the economic value of each private boat trip is around US$200 and that a $10 increase in trip costs would decrease private boat fishing trips by 5%. We also found that, on average, private boat anglers targeting Gag would take 12% more trips if the bag limit was increased by one fish from the current bag limit of two fish. The results of our study will help to anticipate the extent to which recreational fishing effort and value could change when trip costs and Gag regulations change.
Towards hybrid two‐phase modelling using linear domain decomposition
Authors: Seus David , Radu Florin A. , Rohde Christian
Published: September 2022

The viscous flow of two immiscible fluids in a porous medium on the Darcy scale is governed by a system of nonlinear parabolic equations. If infinite mobility of one phase can be assumed (e.g., in soil layers in contact with the atmosphere) the system can be substituted by the scalar Richards model. Thus, the porous medium domain may be partitioned into disjoint subdomains where either the full two‐phase or the simplified Richards model dynamics are valid. Extending the previously considered one‐model situations we suggest coupling conditions for this hybrid model approach. Based on an Euler implicit discretization, a linear iterative (L‐type) domain decomposition scheme is proposed, and proved to be convergent. The theoretical findings are verified by a comparative numerical study that in particular confirms the efficiency of the hybrid ansatz as compared to full two‐phase model computations.
Concurrent herbivory and metal accumulation: The outcome for plants and herbivores
Authors: Godinho Diogo P. , Serrano Helena C. , Magalhães Sara , Branquinho Cristina
Published: September 2022

The effects of metals on plants and herbivores, as well as the interaction among the latter, are well documented. However, the effects of simultaneous herbivory and metal accumulation remain poorly studied. Here, we shed light on this topic by infesting cadmium‐accumulating tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum), either exposed to cadmium or not, with herbivorous spider mites, Tetranychus urticae or T. evansi during 14 days. Whereas on plants without cadmium T. evansi had higher growth rate than T. urticae, on plants with cadmium both mite species had similar growth rates, which were lower than on plants without metal. Plants were affected by both cadmium toxicity and by herbivory, as shown by leaf reflectance, but not on the same wavelengths. Moreover, changes in leaf reflectance on the wavelength affected by herbivores were similar on plants with and without cadmium, and vice versa. Long‐term effects of cadmium and herbivory did not affect H2O2 concentrations in the plant. Finally, plants infested with spider mites did not accumulate more cadmium, suggesting that metal accumulation is not induced by herbivory. We thus conclude that cadmium accumulation affects two congeneric herbivore species differently and that the effects of herbivory and cadmium toxicity on plants may be disentangled, via leaf reflectance, even during simultaneous exposure.
Correlation of functional and radioligand binding characteristics of GPER ligands confirming aldosterone as a GPER agonist
Authors: Ding Qingming , Chorazyczewski Jozef , Gros Robert , Motulsky Harvey J. , Limbird Lee E. , Feldman Ross D.
Published: September 2022

Aldosterone exerts some of its effects not by binding to mineralocorticoid receptors, but rather by acting via G protein‐coupled estrogen receptors (GPER). To determine if aldosterone binds directly to GPER, we studied the ability of aldosterone to compete for the binding of [3H] 2‐methoxyestradiol ([3H] 2‐ME), a high potency GPER‐selective agonist. We used GPER gene transfer to engineer Sf9‐cultured insect cells to express GPER. We chose insect cells to avoid interactions with any intrinsic mammalian receptors for aldosterone. [3H] 2‐ME binding was saturable and reversible to a high‐affinity population of receptors with Kd = 3.7 nM and Bmax = 2.2 pmol/mg. Consistent with agonist binding to G Protein‐coupled receptors, [3H] 2‐ME high‐affinity state binding was reduced in the presence of the hydrolysis‐resistant GTP analog, GppNHp. [3H] 2‐ME binding was competed for by the GPER agonist G1, the GPER antagonist G15, estradiol (E2), as well as aldosterone (Aldo). The order of potency for competing for [3H] 2‐ME binding, namely 2ME > Aldo > E2 ≥ G1, paralleled the orders of potency for inhibition of cell proliferation and inhibition of ERK phosphorylation by ligands acting at GPER. These data confirm the ability of aldosterone to interact with the GPER, consistent with the interpretation that aldosterone likely mediates its GPER‐dependent effects by direct binding to the GPER.

Significance statement

Despite the growing evidence for aldosterone's actions via G protein‐coupled estrogen receptors (GPER), there remains significant skepticism that aldosterone can directly interact with GPER. The current studies are the first to demonstrate directly that aldosterone indeed is capable of binding to the GPER and thus likely mediates its GPER‐dependent effects by direct binding to the receptor.
An insecticide phenotypic resistance diagnostic kit for cotton aphid Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera Aphididae)
Authors: Huang Weiling , Yang Qingjie , Ji Xuejiao , Wang Li , Wang Qinqin , Rui Changhui , Cui Li
Published: September 2022

Background

Aphis gossypii is a notorious pest worldwide, and evidence of resistance of A. gossypii to various insecticides has been documented. Diagnostic tools for the rapid and accurate assessment of insecticide resistance are urgently needed to implement effective pest control and insecticide resistance management strategies.

Results

Using this diagnostic kit based on the glass vial bioassay, detection results can be obtained in 3 h and the values of 897.86, 133.57, 12 037.45, 2849.26, 19 457.33 and 215.60 ng/cm2 were finally identified as the actual diagnostic doses of imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, nitenpyram, dinotefuran and sulfoxaflor, respectively. The regression equation between mortalities under diagnostic doses and actual resistance ratios tested by the leaf‐dipping method were conducted in different strains of A. gossypii, and the diagnostic mortality of A. gossypii was negatively correlated with the resistance ratio to imidacloprid (r = −0.986, P = 0.002), acetamiprid (r = −0.964, P = 0.008), thiamethoxam (r = −0.930, P = 0.022), nitenpyram (r = −0.950, P = 0.013), dinotefuran (r = −0.976, P = 0.004) and sulfoxaflor (r = −0.937, P = 0.019). Moreover, four A. gossypii field populations were selected to apply the diagnostic kit in the field.

Conclusions

A diagnostic kit based on the glass vial bioassay for the rapid detection of resistance to imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, nitenpyram, dinotefuran and sulfoxaflor in A. gossypii was developed. The insecticide diagnostic kit for A. gossypii can be a useful screening tool to determine effective insecticides quickly and accurately. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Distribution and genetic characterization of bird rape mustard (Brassica rapa) populations and analysis of glyphosate resistance introgression
Authors: Laforest Martin , Martin Sara , Soufiane Brahim , Bisaillon Katherine , Maheux Lydia , Fortin Sylvain , James Tracey , Miville David , Marcoux Annie , Simard Marie‐Josée
Published: September 2022

Background

The introgression of a transgene conferring glyphosate resistance from Brassica napus (rapeseed, canola) to Brassica rapa weeds (bird rape) was documented at a single location in 2007. In 2015, several cases of glyphosate resistant mustard were reported by growers in areas where rapeseed was seldom grown.

Results

Survey result indicated glyphosate resistant bird rape mustard is present in areas where glyphosate tolerant corn and soybean are often grown in rotation. Genetic analyses reveal that hybridization followed by introgression and progressive loss of chromosome is the likely mechanism for the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of glyphosate resistance.

Conclusion

Introgression of the glyphosate‐resistance conferring transgene in the populations studied appears to have occurred several times, consistent with the ease for B. rapa to form hybrids with B. napus. The introduction of a transgene into a crop should therefore take into account the weediness of the species that share a common genome and their ability to form hybrids. We provide here such an example between B. napus and B. rapa, and potentially between B. napus and Raphanistrum raphanistrum. © 2022 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. Pest Management Science © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada.
Are principal components with estimated parameters feasible in multivariate process control?
Authors: Shepherd Deborah K. , Rigdon Steven E.
Published: September 2022

Principal components have been used in conjunction with Hotelling's T2 chart to monitor multivariate processes. It is known that prohibitively large sample sizes are needed to estimate the process parameters with enough precision to deploy the chart. We investigate whether principal components can be used to reduce the dimensionality of a process so that multivariate process control can be performed using estimated parameters. The chart based on the first k principal components, which we will refer to as the chart, is investigated. Specifically, we explore three research questions in this paper: (1) can the chart with estimated parameters be applied with moderate preliminary sample sizes?, (2) are there situations where the charts are able to detect a shift in the mean vector quicker than the T2 charts?, and (3) is it possible to exploit assumptions about the covariance matrix, such as equal covariances, to improve the performance of the chart. Using simulation, we find that for high dimensions, the chart with estimated parameters can be used to detect shifts in the direction of the first principal component. Otherwise, the chart requires very large preliminary sample sizes. When it is reasonable to assume equal covariances, the number of parameters to be estimated is substantially reduced and the performance of the chart is improved.
Interactions among sustainable development goal 15 (life on land) and other sustainable development goals: Knowledge for identifying global conservation actions
Authors: Huan Yizhong , Zhu Xufeng
Published: September 2022

Sustainable development goals (SDGs) and their targets were designed to be interlinked. Understanding the interactions among SDGs is crucial to prioritize and implement actions that maximize synergies between SDGs while minimizing trade‐offs, which can accelerate the overall progress toward all SDGs. Since the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference reaffirmed the importance of SDG 15 (life on land), defining conservation actions for implementing SDG 15 in the context of considering the interactions between SDGs is urgently required. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has analyzed specifically the interactions between all targets of SDG 15 and other SDG targets. Through in‐depth review of relevant literature from the past 6 years, we collected and synthesized data about the interactions between SDG 15 and other SDGs at the target level. On the basis of the targets' interactions network composed by this dataset, we further identified the centralities, similarities, and systemic roles of each target of SDG 15 in the network; and their prospective roles in actions toward SDG progress. Then, we assessed quantitatively the interactions on the basis of global time‐series data. After cross‐checking all results, we identified prioritizations of the SDG 15 targets, and global priority conservation actions needed for the policy making and research community.
Standard versus uniform binary search and their variants in learned static indexing: The case of the searching on sorted data benchmarking software platform
Authors: Amato Domenico , Lo Bosco Giosué , Giancarlo Raffaele
Published: September 2022

Learned Indexes use a model to restrict the search of a sorted table to a smaller interval. Typically, a final binary search is done using the lower_bound routine of the Standard C++ library. Recent studies have shown that on current processors other search approaches (such as k‐ary search) can be more efficient in some applications. Using the SOSD learned indexing benchmarking software, we extend these results to show that k‐ary search is indeed a better choice when using learned indexes. We highlight how such a choice may be dependent on the computer architecture used, for example, Intel I7 or Apple M1, and provide guidelines for the selection of the Search routine within the learned indexing framework.
How local stakeholder stereotypes impact liability of foreignness and asset of foreignness
Authors: (Abi) Ige Abiodun , Washington Marvin
Published: September 2022

While it is well known that there are liabilities of foreignness (LOFs) that impact firms as they enter foreign markets, it is less well known how stereotypes held by local stakeholders impact LOFs of foreign firms. Recent research has demonstrated that foreignness can offer benefits, or assets of foreignness (AOFs), for firms as they enter foreign markets. While research is growing in this area, there remains a gap in our understanding of how local stakeholders evaluate foreign firms. We leverage the stereotype content model, which measures dimensions of warmth and competence, to demonstrate that a foreign firm can enjoy an AOF, suffer from a LOF, or contend with both, depending on stereotypes held by local stakeholders. We associate four different combinations of warmth and competence stereotypes with AOFs and LOFs to reveal that the strategies of foreign firms for managing foreignness should attend to stereotypes held by local stakeholders. Finally, we propose several strategies that foreign firms can employ as they manage unfavorable stereotypes.
Diversity and determinants of bitterness, astringency, and fat content in cultivated Nacional and native Amazonian cocoa accessions from Ecuador
Authors: Colonges Kelly , Seguine Edward , Saltos Alejandra , Davrieux Fabrice , Minier Jérôme , Jimenez Juan‐Carlos , Lahon Marie‐Christine , Calderon Darío , Subia Cristian , Sotomayor Ignacio , Fernández Fabián , Fouet Olivier , Rhoné Bénédicte , Argout Xavier , Lebrun Marc , Costet Pierre , Lanaud Claire , Boulanger Renaud , Loor Solorzano Rey Gastón
Published: September 2022

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is the only tree that can produce cocoa. Cocoa beans are highly sought after by chocolate makers to produce chocolate. Cocoa can be fine aromatic, characterized by floral and fruity notes, or it can be described as standard cocoa with a more pronounced cocoa aroma and bitterness. In this study, the genetic and biochemical determinants of sensorial notes and nonvolatile compounds related to bitterness, astringency, fat content, and protein content will be investigated in two populations: a cultivated modern Nacional population and a population of cocoa accessions collected recently in the Ecuadorian South Amazonia area of origin of the Nacional ancestral variety. For this purpose, a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) was carried out on both populations, with results of biochemical compounds evaluated by near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) assays and with sensory evaluations. Twenty areas of associations were detected for sensorial data especially bitterness and astringency. Fifty‐three areas of associations were detected linked to nonvolatile compounds. A total of 81 candidate genes could be identified in the areas of the association.