bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Resistance to Chloride Corrosion by Controlling the Morphologies of PtNi Electrocatalysts for Alkaline Seawater Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Zhang Xue‐Qi , Xiao Yu‐Xuan , Tian Ge , Yang Xiong , Dong Yuan , Zhang Fan , Yang Xiao‐Yu
Published: November 2022

A solvothermal method to prepare PtNi alloys that have differing morphologies is described. By adjusting the feed ratio of Pt and Ni precursors in this process, PtNi alloys with different compositions (Pt : Ni atomic ratio from 1 : 3 to 3 : 1) and morphologies (evolution from nanobranches to nanoparticles) are generated. The prepared Pt48Ni52 alloy, which has a composite morphology comprised of nanobranches and nanoparticles, exhibits superior activity and durability towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in seawater compared to those of commercial Pt/C catalyst and other PtNi alloys that have different compositions and morphologies. The excellent seawater HER performance of Pt48Ni52 is ascribed to its nanobranch/nanoparticle morphology that optimally facilitates electron accumulation on Pt, which enhances resistance to chloride corrosion in seawater.
In situ Self‐Catalyzed Growth of Manganese‐Embedded 3D Flakes‐Coated Carbon Rod as an Efficient Oxygen‐Reduction Reaction Catalyst of Zinc‐Air Batteries
Authors: Zhang Shuangshuang , Hou Jin‐an , Hu Juan , Zhang Chun‐yang
Published: November 2022

The in situ self‐catalyzed growth of manganese‐embedded 3D flakes‐coated carbon rods (GFC) as an efficient oxygen‐reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst of Zinc‐air batteries is described for the first time. By optimizing the amount of Mn in the precursor, a series of 3D graphene‐like flakes‐coated carbon rods were synthesized. GFC with a doping amount of Mn of 10 % (GFC‐10) exhibits excellent ORR performance with an onset potential of 0.94 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode). The Zinc‐air battery is constructed with GFC‐10 as the cathode catalyst, and it exhibits a peak power density of 128.9 mW cm−2and a cycling stability of 75 h at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, which are superior to the commercial 20 wt% Pt/C‐based Zinc‐air battery. Interestingly, the introduction of Mn facilitates the self‐catalyzed growth of carbon rods, and the change of Mn amount can effectively regulate the morphology of materials. The improved ORR performance of the catalyst is ascribed to the synergistic effect of unique hierarchical porous structure, high‐charge transport capacity, abundant carbon defects/edges and Mn‐Nxsites. This research provides a new avenue to fabricating highly active Mn‐based electrocatalysts for renewable energy systems.
Feature learning based on entropy estimation density peak clustering and stacked autoencoder for industrial process monitoring
Authors: Yu Feng , Liu Jianchang , Liu Dongming , Wang Honghai , Shang Liangliang
Published: November 2022

Recently, stacked autoencoder (SAE)‐based deep learning has been widely employed for industrial process fault detection, which can extract representative low‐dimensional features. However, SAE fails to take the distribution structure of raw data into consideration in the unsupervised self‐reconstruction learning, and this may lead to limited monitoring performance. Focusing on this issue, this paper proposes a new fault detection method based on entropy estimation density peak clustering and stacked autoencoder (EEDPC‐SAE) for industrial process monitoring. First, an improved automatic clustering algorithm, namely, entropy estimation density peak clustering (EEDPC), is presented to analyze the distribution structure of process data. Then, the data distribution information is integrated into the learning procedure of SAE to capture the data intrinsic structure. EEDPC‐SAE can describe the distribution characteristics of process data, and more informative high‐level features can be learned for fault detection. Finally, two statistics, that is, Hotelling'sT‐squared () and squared prediction error (SPE), are established based on the encoder features and residual features generated by EEDPC‐SAE. The effectiveness of the proposed method is evaluated by the Tennessee Eastman (TE) process and fed‐batch fermentation penicillin (FBFP) process.
Effectiveness of triennial screening with clinical breast examination: 14‐years follow‐up outcomes of randomized clinical trial in Trivandrum, India
Authors: Ramadas Kunnambath , Basu Partha , Mathew Beela S. , Muwonge Richard , Venugopal Muraleedharan , Prakasan Aparna M. , Malu Rafi , Lucas Eric , Augustine Paul , Mony Rari P. , Thara Somanathan , Sankaranarayanan Rengaswamy
Published: November 2022

Background

This study presents the preliminary results of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) initiated in January 2006 in India to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical breast examination (CBE) in reducing breast cancer mortality as compared to a no‐screening control group reported significant downstaging in the intervention group. The present manuscript reports long‐term follow‐up outcomes.

Methods

Women 30–69 years old from 133 intervention clusters and 141 control clusters were invited to participate. Women in the intervention arm underwent three rounds of CBE every 3 years. CBE‐positive women were reexamined by a physician, and triple‐assessment was performed on those confirmed to have abnormalities. All participants were followed through home visits and linkage with population‐based cancer registry.

Results

Of the 55,843 eligible women in the intervention arm, 95.7% had CBE at least once and 11.5% were CBE‐positive. Breast cancers were diagnosed in 335 participants in the intervention group and 273 in the control group (N = 59,447). Age‐standardized incidence rate of early cancer was 30.4 of 100,000 in the intervention and 21.9 of 100,000 in the control group, with a rate ratio (RR) of 1.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1–1.8). The age‐standardized breast cancer mortality rates were 11.3 and 11.1 per 100,000 in intervention and control arms, respectively (RR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.8–1.5) after 15 years. Five‐year breast cancer survival rates were 77.0% in the intervention and 71.2% in the control groups (overall p value = .043).

Conclusions

Triennial CBE screening failed to demonstrate any mortality benefit despite achieving a shift toward earlier stage at detection and improved survival in the intervention arm. CBE is a valuable tool for diagnosis of breast cancer in symptomatic women especially in areas where mammography and/or breast cancer screening programs are not widely available.
Modeling the impact of novel systemic treatments on lung cancer screening benefits
Authors: Gogebakan Kemal Caglar , Lange Jane , Slatore Christopher G. , Etzioni Ruth
Published: November 2022

Background

Since low‐dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening was shown to be effective in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), novel targeted therapies and immunotherapies for advanced lung cancer have become available. This study investigated the impact of these treatment advances on the expected benefits of LDCT screening.

Methods

A microsimulation model of LDCT screening for high‐risk individuals under standard systemic treatments (chemotherapy and radiation therapy) and novel treatments (immunotherapy and targeted therapy) was used. The model assumed a reduction in advanced‐stage disease consistent with the NLST, and given the stage at diagnosis, it projected survival. The disease‐specific relative mortality reduction (MR) due to LDCT screening was projected in the trial setting and in a population eligible for LDCT screening under the current US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations.

Results

The availability of novel treatments reduced the MR in the LDCT arm of the NLST from 15% to 13.5% and the number of lung cancer deaths prevented from 310 to 224 per 100,000 persons screened. Over 10 years, population LDCT screening based on USPSTF recommendations prevented 374 lung cancer deaths per 100,000 under standard treatments (13.3% MR) and 236 per 100,000 under fully adopted novel treatments (10.6% MR). The number needed to screen to avert one death over 10 years was 270 under standard treatments and 440 under novel treatments.

Conclusions

The transition from standard systemic treatments to novel treatments is expected to reduce the relative and absolute mortality benefits of LDCT screening. Benefit–harm tradeoffs of LDCT screening are likely to change as novel treatments become widespread.
Pharmacokinetic and Bioequivalent Study of Potassium Chloride Sustained‐Release Tablet Under Different Dietary Conditions in Healthy Chinese Subjects
Authors: Li Qin , Yang Zhuan , Liu Shi‐Jing , Liu Lin , Chen Lu , Zhang Qian , Zhou Yan , Du Peng , Zeng Chen , Li Na , Zeng Yan , Xiong Yun , Liu Di Jia , Chen Jiyu , He Yan
Published: November 2022

Potassium (K+) is an endogenous substance that is an essential dietary component. However, the interaction between dietary arrangements and specific effects of dietary K+ intake in bioequivalence studies remains unclear. To investigate the influence of dietary arrangement on the bioequivalence of potassium chloride (KCl) sustained‐release tablets in healthy Chinese volunteers, the pharmacokinetics of KCl were compared in two open‐label, single‐center, randomized, two‐period crossover studies with different dietary conditions. All volunteers received an oral dose of 6 g of KCl sustained‐release tablets under fasting conditions, with different dietary arrangements. Urine samples were collected on baseline days and 48 hours after tablet consumption. Inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry was used to measure the concentration of K+ in the urine samples. Pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed using Phoenix WinNonlin software in a noncompartmental model. In either clinical trial, no significant differences were observed in the maximal rate of urinary excretion and cumulative urinary excretion from 0 to 24 hours of K+ between the reference and test drugs. The bioequivalence studies of both KCl sustained‐release tablet formulations were successfully conducted under different dietary conditions.
Improving the efficiency of graph algorithm executions on high‐performance computing
Authors: Moori Marcelo K. , de A. Rocha Hiago Mayk G. , Schwarzrock Janaina , Lorenzon Arthur F. , Beck Antonio Carlos S.
Published: November 2022

The growing need for extracting information from large graphs has been pushing the development of parallel graph algorithms. However, the highly irregular structure of the real‐world graphs limits the performance and energy improvements of graph applications. In this paper, we show that, in most cases, using all the available cores of the multiprocessor is not the best option in terms of the aforementioned non‐functional requirements. Based on that, we proposeGraphKat, a framework that enables the simultaneous processing of several algorithms/graphs instead of executing them serially (i.e., one after another), increasing efficiency in terms of performance and energy.GraphKatworks in two steps: (i) it characterizes the graph applications with a specific number of threads based on their efficiency levels; and (ii) it defines the execution order of all graph applications in the target system. Experimental results on three multicore processors (Intel and AMD) show thatGraphKatimproves the overall system's efficiency related to performance (up to ) and energy‐saving (up to 245.21), and reduces the graph applications' execution time (up to ) and energy consumption (up to 6.64) compared to the default execution of parallel applications on HPC systems.
LDP‐Fed+: A robust and privacy‐preserving federated learning based classification framework enabled by local differential privacy
Authors: Wang Yufeng , Zhang Xu , Ma Jianhua , Jin Qun
Published: November 2022

As a distributed learning framework, Federated Learning (FL) allows different local learners/participants to collaboratively train a joint model without exposing their own local data, and offers a feasible solution to legally resolve data islands. However, among them, the data privacy and model security are two challenges. The former means that, if original data are used for trained FL models, various methods can be used to deduce the original data samples, thereby causing the leakage of data. The latter implies that unreliable/malicious participants may affect or destroy the joint FL model, through uploading wrong local model parameters. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel distributed FL training framework, namely LDP‐Fed+, which takes into account differential privacy protection and model security defense. Specifically, firstly, a local perturbation module is added at the local learner side, which perturbs the original data of local learners through feature extraction, binary encoding and decoding, and random response. Then, through using the perturbed data, local neural network model is trained to obtain the network parameters that meet local differential protection, to effectively deal with model inversion attacks. Secondly, a security defense module is added on the server side, which uses the auxiliary model and differential index mechanism to select an appropriate number of local disturbance parameters for aggregation to enhance model security defense and deal with membership inference attacks. The experimental results show that, compared with other federated learning models based on differential privacy, LDP‐Fed+ has stronger robustness for model security and higher accuracy for model training while ensuring strict privacy protection.
A review on optimization techniques for medical image analysis
Authors: Kaur Palwinder , Singh Rajesh Kumar
Published: November 2022

Data mining of medical imaging approaches makes it difficult to determine their value in the disease's insight, analysis, and diagnosis. Image classification presents a significant difficulty in image analysis and plays a vital part in computer‐aided diagnosis. This task concerned the use of optimization techniques for the utilization of image processing, pattern recognition, and classification techniques, as well as the validation of image classification results in medical expert reports. The primary intention of this study is to analyze the performance of optimization techniques explored in the area of medical image analysis. For this motive, the optimization techniques employed in existing literature from 2012 to 2021 are reviewed in this study. The contribution of optimization‐based medical image classification and segmentation utilized image modalities, data sets, and tradeoffs for each technique are also discussed in this review study. Finally, this review study provides the gap analysis of optimization techniques used in medical image analysis with the possible future research direction.
Development of neural‐network‐based stereo bionic compound eyes with fiber bundles
Authors: Chen Juan , Chen Ying , Zhao Han , Ma Tao
Published: November 2022

The compound eye system has many unique advantages, enabling organisms to quickly and accurately obtain the three‐dimensional spatial information of the target. Therefore, its bionic applications have great potential in object localization, dynamic tracking, and 3D reconstruction. However, the current bionic compound eye systems still have great difficulties in target detection. Most of the bionic compound eye systems only verify the possibility of three‐dimensional (3D) detection, and there is no suitable calibration and detection scheme. In this article, a fiber‐optic stereo bionic compound eye is designed, and a simple and rapid calibration method suitable for this system is selected by comparing two effective optical information. Further, the system quantitatively analyzes the detection performance of the target to achieve precise positioning and dynamic trajectory tracking. In the static detection experiment, the average detection errors of the 3D position at the horizontal angle, the elevation angle and the depth are 0.33°, 0.32° and 1.84 mm, respectively. In the dynamic trajectory tracking experiment, the circle radius errors in the X‐Z plane and Y‐Z plane are 0.04 and 2.20 mm, respectively. The proposed system provides a new perspective to understand the nature of the compound eye.
Ionization of Cp2ZrMe2 and Lewis Bases by Methylaluminoxane: Computational Insights
Authors: Collins Scott , Linnolahti Mikko
Published: November 2022

The interactions of the Lewis bases CO, octamethyltrisiloxane (OMTS) and 2,2’‐bipyridine (bipy) with a sheet model for the principal activator (MeAlO)16(Me3Al)6 (16,6) in hydrolytic methylaluminoxane (MAO) were investigated by DFT. These studies reveal that OMTS and bipy form adducts with Me3Al prior to methide abstraction by 16,6 to form the ion‐pairs [Me2Al(κ2‐L)][16,6] (5: L=OMTS, 6: L=bipy, [16,6]−=[(MeAlO)16(Me3Al)6 Me]−) while CO simply binds to a reactive edge site without ionization. The binding and activation of Cp2ZrMe2 with 16,6 to form both neutral adducts 1 Cp2ZrMe2⋅16,6 and contact ion‐pairs 4 and 7, both with formula [Cp2ZrMe][μ‐Me(MeAlO)16(Me3Al)6], featuring terminal and chelated MAO‐anions, respectively was studied by DFT. The displacement of the anion with either excess Cp2ZrMe2 or Me3Al was also studied, forming outer‐sphere ion‐pairs [(Cp2ZrMe)2μ‐Me][16,6] (2) and [Cp2Zr(μ‐Me)2AlMe2][16,6] (3). The theoretical NMR spectra of these species were compared to experimental spectra of MAO and Cp2ZrMe2 and found to be in good agreement with the reported data and assignments. These studies confirm that 16,6 is a very suitable model for the activators present in MAO but highlight the difficulty in accurately calculating thermodynamic quantities for molecules in this size regime.
Synthesis of Phosphonates with Identical and Different Alkyl Groups by the Microwave‐Assisted Alkylation of Phosphonic Ester‐Acid Derivatives
Authors: Keglevich György , Harsági Nikoletta , Drahos László , Zsuzsa Kiss Nóra
Published: November 2022

Monoalkyl phosphonic derivatives obtained by the microwave (MW)‐ and ionic liquid‐promoted direct esterification of alkylphosphonic acids were converted to the corresponding dialkyl alkylphosphonates on reaction with alkyl halides in the presence of triethylamine, under solvent‐free MW‐assisted conditions. Derivatives with different alkoxy groups were also synthesized. A minor “disproportionation” side reaction was identified during the preparation of dialkyl alkylphosphonates with different alkoxy groups. All together 12 alkylphosphonates were prepared by the efficient method developed.
Interheteromolecular Hyperconjugation Boosts (De)hydrogenation for Reversible H2Storage
Authors: Xue Wenjie , Liu Hongxia , Zhao Binbin , Tang Conghui , Xia Bao Yu , You Bo
Published: November 2022

Interheteromolecular hyperconjugation is ubiquitous in organic systems, affecting bond length, dipole moments, conformations and so on, while its effect on (de)hydrogenation reactivity in a heterogeneous thermo‐catalytic system has rarely been explored. Herein, the N‐heterocycles containing a benzene ring and aliphatic chain [N‐ethylcarbazole (NEC) andN‐propylcarbazole (NPC)] were utilized to study the correlation between interheteromolecular hyperconjugation and catalytic (de)hydrogenation. Density functional theory calculations, variable‐temperature1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and catalytic experiments showed that the presented hyperconjugation between NEC and NPC weakened the electron cloud density of aromatic rings and thus facilitated the reactivity with hydrogen featuring unpaired electrons. Therefore, an extremely low temperature of 80 °C was enough for the hydrogenation. Moreover, this interheteromolecular hyperconjugation was general in other N‐heterocycles (e. g.,N‐methyindole and NPC) and was also effective to (de)deuterate as revealed by isotope experiments. This work expands the application of interheteromolecular hyperconjugation to heterogeneous thermocatalysis for reversible H2storage.
Mature B‐ and plasma‐cell flow cytometric analysis: A review of the impact of targeted therapy
Authors: Gao Qi , Chen Xueyan , Cherian Sindhu , Roshal Mikhail
Published: November 2022

Flow cytometry has been indispensable in diagnosing B cell lymphoma and plasma cell neoplasms. The advances in novel multicolor flow cytometry have also made this technology a robust tool for monitoring minimal/measurable residual disease in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma. However, challenges using conventional gating strategies to isolate neoplastic B or plasma cells are emerging due to the rapidly increasing number of antibody therapeutics targeting single or multiple classic B/plasma cell‐lineage markers, such as CD19, CD20, and CD22 in B cells and CD38 in plasma cells. This review is the first of a two‐part series that summarizes the most current targeted therapies used in B and plasma cell neoplasms and proposes detailed alternative approaches to overcome post‐targeted therapy analysis challenges by flow cytometry. The second review in this series (Chen et al.) focuses on challenges encountered in the use of targeted therapy in precursor B cell neoplasms.
A cytotoxic survey on 2‐amino‐1H‐imidazol based synthetic marine sponge alkaloid analogues
Authors: Gémes Nikolett , Makra Zsófia , Neuperger Patrícia , Szabó Enikő , Balog József Á. , Flink Lili Borbála , Kari Beáta , Hackler László , Puskás László. G. , Kanizsai Iván , Szebeni Gábor J.
Published: November 2022

Here, we describe the synthesis and biologic activity evaluation of 20 novel synthetic marine sponge alkaloid analogues with 2‐amino‐1H‐imidazol (2‐AI) core. Cytotoxicity was tested on murine 4T1 breast cancer, A549 human lung cancer, and HL‐60 human myeloid leukemia cells by the resazurin assay. A total of 18 of 20 compounds showed cytotoxic effect on the cancer cell lines with different potential. Viability of healthy human fibroblasts and peripheral blood mononuclear cells upon treatment was less hampered compared to cancer cell lines supporting tumor cell specific cytotoxicity of our compounds. The most cytotoxic compounds resulted the following IC50 values 28: 2.91 µM on HL‐60 cells, and 29: 3.1 µM on 4T1 cells. The A549 cells were less sensitive to the treatments with IC50 15 µM for both 28 and 29. Flow cytometry demonstrated the apoptotic effect of the most active seven compounds inducing phosphatidylserine exposure and sub‐G1 fragmentation of nuclear DNA. Cell cycle arrest was also observed. Four compounds caused depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential as an early event of apoptosis. Two lead compounds inhibited tumor growth in vivo in the 4T1 triple negative breast cancer and A549 human lung adenocarcinoma xenograft models. Novel marine sponge alkaloid analogues are demonstrated as potential anticancer agents for further development.
Analytical profile of the lysergamide 1cP‐AL‐LAD and detection of impurities
Authors: Kavanagh Pierce V. , Westphal Folker , Pulver Benedikt , Schwelm Hannes M. , Stratford Alexander , Auwärter Volker , Chapman Stephen J. , Halberstadt Adam L. , Brandt Simon D.
Published: November 2022

The development of novel lysergamides continues to occur, based on both the needs of psychedelic medicine and commercial interest in new recreational substances. The present study continues the authors' research on novel lysergamides and describes the analytical profile of 1‐cyclopropanoyl‐AL‐LAD (IUPAC name: 1‐(cyclopropanecarbonyl)‐N,N‐diethyl‐6‐(prop‐2‐en‐1‐yl)‐9,10‐didehydroergoline‐8β‐carboxamide; 1cP‐AL‐LAD), using various chromatographic, mass spectrometric, and spectroscopic methods. Analysis of a powdered sample of 1cP‐AL‐LAD, obtained from an online vendor, by high performance liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization‐quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry in full scan/AutoMS/MS mode revealed the detection of 17 impurities based on high‐resolution tandem mass spectral data; tentative determination of their identity was based on mass spectral grounds alone, though detection of AL‐LAD and 1P‐AL‐LAD was confirmed using available reference standards. Other tentative compound identifications included 1‐acetyl‐AL‐LAD and several other substances potentially reflecting oxidation of the N6‐allyl group as well as other positions on the ergoline ring system. These data may assist those interested in the chemistry of lysergamides. Finally, 1cP‐AL‐LAD was also detected in samples of “blotters” sold online for recreational use.
Community‐level phylogenetic diversity does not differ between rare and common lineages across tallgrass prairies in the northern Great Plains
Authors: Herzog Sarah A. , Latvis Maribeth
Published: November 2022

Niche differentiation has served as one explanation for species coexistence, and phylogenetic relatedness provides a means to approximate how ecologically similar species are to each other. To explore the contribution of rare species to community phylogenetic diversity, we sampled 21 plant communities across the Prairie Coteau ecoregion, an area of high conservation concern. We used breakpoint analysis through the iterative addition of less abundant species to the phylogenetic tree for each community to assess the contribution of rare species to community phylogenetic diversity. We also quantify the phylogenetic signal of abundance using Blomberg's K statistic and calculated the phylogenetic similarity between rare and common species using a phylogenetic beta‐diversity metric (Dnn). To estimate the phylogenetic structuring of these prairie communities, we calculated two common metrics that capture evolutionary relatedness at different scales (MPD and MNTD). Additionally, we examine the correlation between Faith's PD, MPD, and MNTD and species richness. We found rare species do not generally contribute higher levels of phylogenetic diversity than common species. Eight communities had significant breakpoints, with only four communities having an increasing trend for the rarest species. The phylogenetic signal for abundance was low but significant in only four communities, and communities had lower phylogenetic diversity than expected from the regional species pool. Finally, the strength of the correlation between species richness and phylogenetic diversity was mixed. Our results indicate niche differentiation does not explain the persistence of rare species in tallgrass prairies, as they were more closely related than expected from random, suggesting high functional redundancy between rare and common species. This is promising for the long‐term resilience of this ecosystem, but only insofar as enough species remain in the system. With ongoing biodiversity loss, it is essential that we understand the role rare species play in their communities.
A regionally coherent ecological fingerprint of climate change, evidenced from natural history collections
Authors: Speed James D. M. , Evankow Ann M. , Petersen Tanja K. , Ranke Peter S. , Nilsen Nellie H. , Turner Grace , Aagaard Kaare , Bakken Torkild , Davidsen Jan G. , Dunshea Glenn , Finstad Anders G. , Hassel Kristian , Husby Magne , Hårsaker Karstein , Koksvik Jan Ivar , Prestø Tommy , Vange Vibekke
Published: November 2022

Climate change has dramatic impacts on ecological systems, affecting a range of ecological factors including phenology, species abundance, diversity, and distribution. The breadth of climate change impacts on ecological systems leads to the occurrence of fingerprints of climate change. However, climate fingerprints are usually identified across broad geographical scales and are potentially influenced by publication biases. In this study, we used natural history collections spanning over 250 years, to quantify a range of ecological responses to climate change, including phenology, abundance, diversity, and distributions, across a range of taxa, including vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, and fungi, within a single region, Central Norway. We tested the hypotheses that ecological responses to climate change are apparent and coherent at a regional scale, that longer time series show stronger trends over time and in relation to temperature, and that ecological responses change in trajectory at the same time as shifts in temperature. We identified a clear regional coherence in climate signal, with decreasing abundances of limnic zooplankton (on average by 7691 individuals m−3 °C−1) and boreal forest breeding birds (on average by 1.94 territories km−2 °C−1), and earlier plant flowering phenology (on average 2 days °C−1) for every degree of temperature increase. In contrast, regional‐scale species distributions and species diversity were largely stable. Surprisingly, the effect size of ecological response did not increase with study duration, and shifts in responses did not occur at the same time as shifts in temperature. This may be as the long‐term studies include both periods of warming and temperature stability, and that ecological responses lag behind warming. Our findings demonstrate a regional climate fingerprint across a long timescale. We contend that natural history collections provide a unique window on a broad spectrum of ecological responses at timescales beyond most ecological monitoring programs. Natural history collections are thus an essential source for long‐term ecological research.
Dye solution experiments for determining solute transport behaviour in degraded wetland soils of the Yellow River Delta
Authors: Zhang Yinghu , Jiang Jiang , Zhang Zhenming , Zhang Mingxiang
Published: November 2022

Solute transport behaviour can indicate the efficiency of eco‐hydrological responses. However, this behaviour has not been consider for use in assessing the health of wetland ecosystems. We assessed solute transport behaviour in degraded wetland soils using 72 undisturbed soil columns located in Robinia pseudoacacia (tree) and Tamarix chinensis (bush) communities. Soil column tracer experiments were conducted under the same initial and boundary conditions using Brilliant Blue FCF as a conservative tracer. Solute transport behaviour at a soil column scale was described by four measures: steady infiltration rate of effluents, concentration of effluents, dye staining patterns and cumulative effluents leaching. Numerical modelling by the dual‐permeability model in HYDRUS‐1D was used to simulate the proportion of cumulative effluents leaching from soil macropores. These data showed that steady infiltration rate of effluents at the tree site decreased with increasing soil depth (5.742, 0.716, 0.657, and 0.458 ml/min) but at the bush site first increased and then subsequently decreased with increasing soil depth (0.336, 0.548, 0.974 and 0.379 ml/min). The concentration of effluents at the tree site (0.583, 0.149, 0.147 and 0.067 g/L) and the bush site (0.281, 0.109, 0.161 and 0.053 g/L) decreased nonlinearly with increasing soil depth. Dye staining patterns were significantly different between different soil locations. The largest dark blue staining domains were from 0 to 10 cm soil depths at the tree site and 20–40 cm depths at the bush site. The proportion of cumulative effluents leaching from soil macropores ranged from 37.6% to 61.1% at the tree site and ranged from 0% to 99.9% at the bush site. Understanding the solute transport behaviour in the Yellow River Delta is the first step towards the restoration of degraded wetlands.
Blanket bog CO2 flux driven by plant functional type during summer drought
Authors: Sterk Henk Pieter , Marshall Chris , Cowie Neil R. , Clutterbuck Ben , McIlvenny Jason , Andersen Roxane
Published: November 2022

Recent climate predictions for the United Kingdom expect a nationwide shift towards drier and warmer summers, increasing the risk of more frequent and severe drought events. Such shifts in weather patterns impede functioning of global peatlands, especially rare intact blanket bogs abundant in Scotland and representing nearly a quarter of the UK's soil carbon. In this in situ study, carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes from dominant peatland plant functional types (PFTs) such as Sphagnum spp., graminoids, ericoids and other key cover types (i.e., pools and bare peat) were measured and compared across upland and low‐lying blanket bog margins and centres, immediately before and during a summer drought in 2018, and over the subsequent year. During that period, most sites acted as net sources of CO2 to the atmosphere. Our results showed that net ecosystem exchange (NEE) was limited by water availability during the drought, with ericoid shrubs showing the highest drought resilience, followed by graminoids (which were still limited in GPP in 2019) and Sphagnum mosses. Diverging NEE estimates were observed across centre and margin areas of the blanket bogs, with highest variability across the upland site where signs of active erosion were visible. Overall, our study suggests that estimating growing season carbon fluxes from in situ peatland PFT and cover types can help us better understand global climate change impacts on the dynamics and trajectories of peatland C cycles.
Functional consequences of brain exposure to saturated fatty acids: From energy metabolism and insulin resistance to neuronal damage
Authors: Sánchez‐Alegría Karina , Arias Clorinda
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Saturated fatty acids (FAs) are the main component of high‐fat diets (HFDs), and high consumption has been associated with the development of insulin resistance, endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in neuronal cells. In particular, the reduction in neuronal insulin signaling seems to underlie the development of cognitive impairments and has been considered a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods

This review summarized and critically analyzed the research that has impacted the field of saturated FA metabolism in neurons.

Results

We reviewed the mechanisms for free FA transport from the systemic circulation to the brain and how they impact neuronal metabolism. Finally, we focused on the molecular and the physiopathological consequences of brain exposure to the most abundant FA in the HFD, palmitic acid (PA).

Conclusion

Understanding the mechanisms that lead to metabolic alterations in neurons induced by saturated FAs could help to develop several strategies for the prevention and treatment of cognitive impairment associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, or type II diabetes.
Oxo‐bridged Tri‐ and Tetra‐nuclear Cobalt Complexes Supported with Amide‐Based Nitrogen Donor Ligands
Authors: Bansal Deepak , Yadav Samanta , Gupta Rajeev
Published: November 2022

This work presents two mixed‐valent μ3‐oxo‐bridged trinuclear [(Co2+)2Co3+] complexes 1 and 2 and a μ4‐oxo‐bridged tetranuclear [Co2+4] complex 3. Crystal structures of 1 and 2 showed the presence of triangular complexes having two Co2+ and one Co3+ centers bridged by a μ3‐oxo group. In contrast, complex 3 exhibited a tetrahedrally arranged μ4‐oxo‐bridged [Co2+4] core. A significant feature is the stabilization of unusual μ‐oxo‐bridged complexes exclusively supported with all nitrogen donor ligands. The X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the multiple oxidation states of cobalt ions in these complexes. Such oxo‐bridged cobalt complexes were investigated for their catalytic activity towards H2O2‐mediated oxidation of assorted benzyl alcohols.
Owning leads to valuing: Meta‐analysis of the mere ownership effect
Authors: Białek Michał , Gao Yajing , Yao Donna , Feldman Gilad
Published: November 2022

Mere ownership effect is the phenomenon that people tend to value what they own more than what they do not own. This classic effect is considered robust, yet effect sizes vary across studies, and the effect is often confused for or confounded with other classic phenomena, such as endowment or mere exposure effects. We conducted a pre‐registered meta‐analysis of 26 samples published before 2019 (N = 3024), which resulted in psychological ownership on valuing effect of g ∼ 0.57 [0.46, 0.69]. Suggestive moderator analyses supported the use of replica as the strongest moderators. Mere ownership effects were different from the null across all moderator categories and in most publication bias adjustments. We consider this as suggestive evidence that psychological owning leads to valuing, yet caution that much more research is needed. All materials, data, and codes are available on https://osf.io/fdyqw/.
Microwave‐assisted exfoliation of graphite using 1‐allyl‐pyridinium‐based ionic liquids and application to solid acid catalysts
Authors: Higai Daisuke , Kim Kihoon , Lee Changmin , Qian Eika W.
Published: November 2022

A novel, eco‐friendly direct graphite exfoliation method was developed using 1‐allyl‐pyridinium‐based ionic liquids (ILs) under microwave irradiation. Exfoliated graphene comprising a few layers was prepared from graphite using 1‐allyl‐pyridinium nitrate under 300 W microwave irradiation for 10 min, which was characterized by X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Density functional theory calculations indicated that the combination of the cations and anions in the ILs led to improved adsorption on the graphite surface. High‐power microwave irradiation can also allow cations to intercalate easily between the graphite layers and increase the efficiency of graphite exfoliation. Solid acid catalysts were prepared from exfoliated graphene via oxidation and sulfonation. The catalytic activity was evaluated for the saccharification of cellulose, where the highest monosaccharide yield of 15.9% was obtained after 24 h at 140°C with a cellulose/solid acid catalyst/water ratio of 0.1/0.05/3 (g/g/g). This performance was superior to that of several commercial catalysts. The magnetic solid acid catalyst which was prepared to facilitate separation from cellulose residue showed constant durability in three activity tests.
Techno‐economic studies on the variable compression ratio dual fuel diesel‐producer gas CI engine utilizing different biomass feedstocks
Authors: Percy A. Jemila , Edwin M.
Published: November 2022

In this study, a techno‐economic analysis for a 3.75 kW biomass gasification power generation system (BMPGS) was conducted by exploiting available biomass resources such as rice husk, coconut shell, and rubber shell as feedstock. Payback time (PBT), net present value (NPV), and life cycle cost are the economic criteria that are delivered by an economic model for a BMPGS. Experimental results obtained on the technical parameters of a BMPGS, show that the rubber shell operated BMPGS has the highest overall efficiency (15.5%), maximum diesel savings (48%), and least biomass consumption (3.3 kg/h). Even though the capital cost of the producer gas driven dual fuel CI engine is higher than the standalone diesel genset power production system, it has the lowest running cost and cost savings per year, making it an excellent choice for power generation in remote locations. The rubber shell operated BMPGS system show a minimum PBT of 2.9 years which is desirable as the cost for installation of the proposed system can be regained within a short period of time. A positive NPV of Rs. 3,90,000 is attained for rubber shell, which clearly indicates in acceptance of rubber shell as biomass feedstock for BMPGS. The sensitivity analysis proves that the uncertainty in input parameters such as the cost of a biomass gasifier, dual fuel VCR engine, labor cost, and the cost of biomass feedstock influence the output parameters of the capital cost, operating cost, and PBT.
Optimal design of a novel hybrid solar tower‐gas turbine combined cycle with proton exchange membrane polygeneration system: Application of machine learning
Authors: Khoshgoftar Manesh Mohammad Hasan , Abbasi Narges , Mehrabian Mohammad Javad
Published: November 2022

An innovative polygeneration system is proposed to generate power, heat, hydrogen, and oxygen simultaneously. The system integrates a solar central tower system and the heliostat field, a gas turbine cycle, a supercritical carbon dioxide cycle, an Organic Rankine Cycle with a cyclopentane working fluid, and a Rankine steam cycle, and a Proton Exchange Membrane electrolyzer. In this study, to reduce the gas cycle fuel consumption, the solar tower system is integrated with the gas cycle. In the studied system, a Supercritical Carbon Dioxide cycle and an Organic Rankine Cycle have been used to heat recovery of the exhaust gases of the gas turbine. In addition, Energy, Exergy, Exergoeconomic, Exergoenvironmental, Emergoeconomic, and Emergoenvironmental analyses have been performed for this system hour by hour. A computer code was developed in MATLAB for these analyses, and the results are validated by simulation in Thermoflex software and primary references with high accuracy. A systematic approach based on thermodynamic analysis and a combination of Genetic Programming and Artificial Neural Networks is proposed for optimal design. Multi‐Objective Genetic Optimization has been employed to find optimum design parameters. Due to the reduction of computation time of optimization, the integration of Genetic Programming and Artificial Neural networks have been employed to generate correlations for objective functions based on the decision variables. By adding the solar system, the mass flow rate of natural gas consumption in the gas cycle decreases by about 9% and reaches 1.53 kg/s. Utilizing solar energy and the Rankine steam cycle, the production capacity of the considered cycle increases from 43 to 66 MW. Also, the performance analysis of the Proton Exchange Membrane electrolyzer and the primary cycle shows that this equipment can produce 0.01 g/s of hydrogen from 5 g/s of water entering the equipment per second by consuming 2.33 kW of power. The results show that when the decision variables are considered at the optimal performance point, the exergy efficiency, the total cost, the rate of destruction related to environmental impacts, cost based on emergy, and the rate of destruction environmental effects based on energy improve. The highest percentage of improvement among the objective functions compared to the initial state is related to the exergy efficiency with 46%, and then the environmental impact rate based on emergy with an improvement of 36%.
Effect of inherent oxygen mass fraction of alcohol blends with diesel on combustion and emission parameters
Authors: Sahu Tomesh Kumar , Shukla Pravesh Chandra
Published: November 2022

Increasing air pollution and implementation of stricter emission regulations led to the research for the clean combustion concept of combustion engines. To resolve this concern, it is important to look for a clean and stable combustion concept that can adapt easily to an old existing engine as well as newer engines. The present study was performed to investigate the combustion stability and emission for blends of methanol (M), ethanol (E), and butanol (B) to evaluate the effect of their inherent oxygen content. Alcohol blends were prepared for two different oxygen mass fractions of 2.5% and 5% oxygen, m/m (defined as M2.5, E2.5, B2.5 and M5, E5, B5). For this, different volume fraction of respective alcohol was required (M2.5 and M5 contained 5.2% and 10.3% methanol respectively, E2.5 and E5 contained 7.4% and 14.8% ethanol respectively, B2.5 and B5 contained 11.7% and 23.3% butanol respectively). Detailed combustion analysis was performed for the alcohol blends (2.5% and 5% oxygen mass fraction) using the parameters like cycle‐to‐cycle analysis, coefficient of variation, combustion phasing etc. M5 showed the better stable combustion considering the lowest coefficient of variation for CA50 and indicated mean effective pressure. Moreover, the performance of E5 showed improved efficiency with brake thermal efficiency (BTE) of 27.94% and reduced brake specific fuel consumption. Significant reductions in hydrocarbon (HC), smoke and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions were recorded for 2.5% and 5% oxygenated condition. M5 showed lowest emission level among tested fuel with 20% lower oxide of nitrogen (NO) and 50% lower HC.
State‐of‐health estimation for lithium‐ion batteries based on partial charging segment and stacking model fusion
Authors: Xu Jinli , Liu Baolei , Zhang Guangya , Zhu Jiwei
Published: November 2022

State‐of‐health (SOH) estimation is essential for evaluating the aging process of lithium‐ion batteries, which can effectively guarantee the steady application of the battery system. Most existing prediction approaches apply a single model or a single feature to achieve SOH estimation based on the entire charging curve. In this paper, a multifeature‐based stacked ensemble learning framework is proposed for SOH prediction using partial charging curves. Firstly, combined with the range of state‐of‐charge (SOC) commonly used in the actual operation of vehicles, the charging segment is effectively intercepted through the mapping correlation between the SOC and the terminal voltage. Then, five relevant features characterizing the battery health status are extracted from multiple data, such as temperature, voltage, and incremental capacity profiles. Finally, a two‐level stacking ensemble framework is developed to fuse several individual estimation methods for higher SOH accuracy. To validate the performance of the proposed method, the Oxford University data set and the NASA data set are deployed for comparison experiments, and the results reveal the superior precision and robustness of the developed model in SOH estimation.
Limited sex differences in plastic responses suggest evolutionary conservatism of thermal reaction norms: A meta-analysis in insects
Authors: Teder Tiit , Taits Kristiina , Kaasik Ants , Tammaru Toomas
Published: November 2022

Temperature has a profound effect on the growth and development of ectothermic animals. However, the extent to which ecologically driven selection pressures can adjust thermal plastic responses in growth schedules is not well understood. Comparing temperature-induced plastic responses between sexes provides a promising but underexploited approach to evaluating the evolvability of thermal reaction norms: males and females share largely the same genes and immature environments but typically experience different ecological selection pressures. We proceed from the idea that substantial sex differences in plastic responses could be interpreted as resulting from sex-specific life-history optimization, whereas similarity among the sexes should rather be seen as evidence of an essential role of physiological constraints. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis of sex-specific thermal responses in insect development times, using data on 161 species with comprehensive phylogenetic and ecological coverage. As a reference for judging the magnitude of sex specificity in thermal plasticity, we compared the magnitude of sex differences in plastic responses to temperature with those in response to diet. We show that sex-specific responses of development times to temperature variation are broadly similar. We also found no strong evidence for sex specificity in thermal responses to depend on the magnitude or direction of sex differences in development time. Sex differences in temperature-induced plastic responses were systematically less pronounced than sex differences in responses induced by variations in larval diet. Our results point to the existence of substantial constraints on the evolvability of thermal reaction norms in insects as the most likely explanation. If confirmed, the low evolvability of thermal response is an essential aspect to consider in predicting evolutionary responses to climate warming.