bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oxidative stress in gills of limpets from the Beagle Channel: comparison with limpets from the Antarctic
Authors: Malanga Gabriela , Estevez Maria Susana , Calvo Jorge , Abele Doris , Puntarulo Susana
Published: October 2008

The aim of this work was to study the oxidative profile of gills of two limpet species (Nacella (Patinigera) magellanica and Nacella (Patinigera) deaurata) (Gmelin, 1971) exposed to different environmental conditions. Due to the tidal characteristics of the Beagle Channel, N. magellanica are exposed to air twice daily for 3 to 5 hours each time, whereas N. deaurata are exposed to air for 3 hours only during spring tides. The different regime of exposure includes extreme temperatures under 0ºC during winter and more than 20°C in summer for N. magellanica, whereas N. deaurata are usually covered by more than 0.3 m of water at 4°C in winter and 11°C in summer. No significant differences were found between the two molluscs regarding the oxygen uptake, the content of ?-tocopherol and ?-carotene and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase. Lipid peroxidation in gills was estimated as the content of lipid radicals, assessed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Lipid radical content and total iron content were respectively 80.6 and 62% lower in N. magellanica than in N. deaurata. A typical EPR spectrum of ascorbyl radical in gills from both limpets was observed. Both the ascorbyl radical content and the ascorbyl radical content/ascorbate content ratio were significantly lower in N. magellanica than in N. deaurata. In the Antarctic Nacella concinna inhabits all levels of the littoral zone. Limpets at the highest level in the intertidal showed significantly increased activities of both catalase and superoxide dismutase as compared to their intertidal and subtidal relatives. Thus, it seems that Antarctic high intertidal conditions, involving regular exposure to air and presumably also thermal stress on sunny days during the Antarctic summer, cause a necessity for N. concinna to ward off higher oxygen radical species production by increasing its antioxidant defence. Taken as a whole, the data presented here indicate that coping with environmentally demanding conditions requires a complex adjustment of the physiological metabolic pathways to ensure survival by minimising intracellular damage.
Quaternary molluscan faunas from the island of Tierra del Fuego after the Last Glacial Maximum
Authors: Gordillo Sandra , Coronato Andrea Maria Josefa , Rabassa Jorge Oscar
Published: October 2008

Palaeontological studies on postglacial molluscan faunas from marine deposits located along the northern coast of the Beagle Channel (lat. 54°55’S, long. 68°34’-67°11’W) showed differences of various molluscan assemblages during a period of climatic stability after deglaciation. Oceanographic changes, different local environmental conditions and/or episodes of minor climatic fluctuations are pointed out as causes for the variations in faunal composition. Comparison with Quaternary molluscs from Antarctica showed that these palaeofaunas overlap slightly at the species level, but have a considerable number of genera (23%) and families (50%) in common. These affinities and relationships are better explained on the basis of more recent migrating taxa than by ancient connections when the two regions formed part of the Weddellian Province.
Marsh development and sea level changes in the Gernika Estuary (southern Bay of Biscay): foraminifers as tidal indicators
Authors: Pascual Ana , Rodriguez-Lazaro Julio
Published: October 2008

The ecological distribution of some species of Foraminifera living in estuaries can be used in the interpretation of former coastal lines. There is a close relationship between tide level and the distribution of particular benthic foraminifer species. A characterisation of tide levels based on the benthic foraminifers in four cores from this estuary allowed us to interpret the changes over time in transitional environments during the modern Holocene. The estuary was filled during the last 6500 years following a general accretional model. Marshes have existed in this area for about 4600 years. This model is described for the first time in the area, based on benthic foraminiferal zones. These zones define a general emergence sequence, interrupted by a transgressive marine pulsation. We describe the evolution of marsh sub-environments in relation to the sea-level changes, materialised by a transgressive pulsation which shows an interruption in the accretional process dated 1910 ± 50 BP.
Lagrangian circulation of the North Atlantic Central Water over the abyssal plain and continental slopes of the Bay of Biscay: description of selected mesoscale features
Authors: Serpette Alain , Le Cann Bernard , Colas François
Published: October 2008

Between 1994 and 2001, several experiments (ARCANE, SEFOS, INTERAFOS) were conducted to directly measure the general and mesoscale Lagrangian circulations over the Bay of Biscay abyssal plain and slopes. Two levels (~100 m and ~450 m) were selected to cover the North Atlantic Central Water range. Two types of Lagrangian instruments, drogued surface drifters tracked by satellite (Surdrift) and acoustically tracked subsurface floats (Rafos and Marvor), were used. Overall, more than 36 instrument-years were collected in the Bay of Biscay region (43-49°N, 01-12°W). The weak general circulation in the Bay of Biscay is seen to be highly influenced by the occurrence of several mesoscale coherent features, notably slope currents and eddies, and these affect the exchanges between the abyssal plain and the slopes. The objective of this paper is to depict some specific examples of the observed mesoscale field. Selected float trajectories are shown and used to discuss observations of slope currents and of both anticyclonic and cyclonic eddies. Slope currents exhibit alternation of poleward and equatorward directions, depending on both the period and the geographic area considered. Although the generation process of mesoscale eddies is difficult to observe unambiguously from Lagrangian instruments, eddies are nevertheless ubiquitous over the abyssal plain. Some characteristics of the observed cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies are presented. Smaller anticyclones, localised over the outer shelf and interpreted in terms of ajustment of slope water intrusions, are also depicted.
Instability and deformation in the sedimentary cover on the upper slope of the southern Aquitaine continental margin, north of the Capbreton canyon (Bay of Biscay)
Authors: Gonthier Eliane , Cirac Pierre , Faugeres Jean-Claude , Cremer Michel , Bourillet Jean-François , Gaudina Mathieu
Published: October 2008

Acoustic and core data have recently been collected on the shelf break and the upper part of the slope of the south Aquitaine continental margin. They reveal the major role played by mass-flow gravity processes in deposit erosion and redistribution, modelling of the sea-bed, and transfer of sediment toward the deep-sea. The study region is bounded in the south by the Capbreton canyon. The northern area, which shows a smooth morphology, is characterised by small-scale deformations due to sediment creep or low-amplitude slide processes. The deformations are associated with mini listric-like faults that bound packets of sediments in which the deposit geometry is typical of constructional sediment waves. These sediment waves result from the interaction of depositional and gravity deformation processes. In the southern area, closer to the canyon, wave-like structures are still present but mostly of smaller size. They only result from gravity deformation processes without any evidence of constructional processes. In the vicinity of the Capbreton canyon, the shelf break and upper slope have a much more uneven morphology with sedimentary reliefs, escarpments and depressions directed toward the canyon thalweg. The depressions look like slide scars, and could be the result of regressive slides initiated at the top of the canyon flank. The age of the sliding event responsible for the formation of the depression observed today could be middle to upper Quaternary. Since their formation, these depressions act as conduits that channel the transfer of shelf sediment into the canyon, as demonstrated by the occurrence of a meandering channel on the sea-floor of one depression.
First data on growth and nucleic acid and protein content of field-captured Mediterranean bluefin (Thunnus thynnus) and albacore (Thunnus alalunga) tuna larvae: a comparative study
Authors: García Alberto , Cortés Dolores , Ramírez Teodoro , Fehri-Bedoui Rafika , Alemany Francisco , Rodríguez José M. , Carpena Ángel , Álvarez Juan P.
Published: October 2008

The waters surrounding the Balearic archipelago are considered to be prime spawning habitats of the bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) and other tuna species such as albacore (T. alalunga) in the Mediterranean. During the 2003 bluefin and albacore spawning season, a tuna larval survey (TUNIBAL 0703) was carried out to assess the distribution of bluefin larvae in relation to hydrographic mesoscale features. Tuna larvae were collected by means of surface plankton tows with a bongo gear with a quadrangular mouth measuring 1 m diagonally. The otolith microstructure of 157 and 71 field-captured larvae of Mediterranean bluefin and albacore, respectively, were analyzed to estimate the daily growth pattern. Furthermore, biochemical analysis to estimate DNA, RNA and protein content was done on another batch of 114 bluefin and 132 albacore larvae. The size range included pre-flexion to post-flexion larvae, from 2.8 to 8.6 mm in body length. bluefin and albacore larvae grew linearly in standard length (0.35 and 0.33 mm/day, respectively) and potentially with respect to dry weight. No significant differences between species were observed in the size-weight relationship, or in the allometric relationship of body size and weight to otolith radius. However, the relationship of DNA and RNA to body size and weight showed a significant difference between species. Bluefin tuna larvae showed a greater nucleic acid content than albacore larvae. Protein content showed no significant differences with respect to body length.
MtDNA barcode identification of fish larvae in the southern Great Barrier Reef – Australia
Authors: Pegg Graham G. , Sinclair Billy , Briskey Leica , Aspden William J.
Published: October 2008

Planktonic larvae were captured above a shallow coral reef study site on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) around spring-summer new moon periods (October-February) using light trap or net capture devices. Larvae were identified to the genus or species level by comparison with a phylogenetic tree of tropical marine fish species using mtDNA HVR1 sequence data. Further analysis showed that within-species HVR1 sequence variation was typically 1-3%, whereas between-species variation for the same genus ranged up to 50%, supporting the suitability of HVR1 for species identification. Given the current worldwide interest in DNA barcoding and species identification using an alternative mtDNA gene marker (cox1), we also explored the efficacy of different primer sets for amplification of cox1 in reef fish, and its suitability for species identification. Of those tested, the Fish-F1 and -R1 primer set recently reported by Ward et al. (2005) gave the best results.
Field comparison of sardine post-flexion larval growth and biochemical composition from three sites in the W Mediterranean (Ebro river coast, bays of Almería and Málaga)
Authors: Garcia Alberto , Cortes Dolores , Ramírez Teodoro , Guisande Castor , Quintanilla Jose , Alemany Francisco , Rodriguez José María , Alvarez Juan P. , Carpena Angel
Published: October 2008

Late larval stages of sardine (16-23 mm) were sampled during the 2003 spawning season in their nursery grounds located off the Ebro river mouth, on the Catalan coast, and in two bays of the Alborán Sea coasts, the Bay of Almería and the Bay of Málaga. The daily growth analysis of each sampled population revealed faster growth in the Ebro sardine larvae than in both of the Alboran Sea larval populations. This fact is supported by their greater content with age of DNA, RNA and protein. However, the significantly higher carbohydrate content of the Bay of Almería sardine larvae and a higher Fulton’s index, indicative of energy storage of individuals, in both of the sardine populations sampled in the Bays of Almería and Málaga show evident differences in the daily growth of the Alborán Sea larvae from those originating in the Ebro region. Late larval growth in the Alborán Sea sardine tends to favour an increase in body mass rather than in body length. This study hypothesises that the productivity pulses off the Alboran Sea coasts induced by the north and northwestern wind regimes may be responsible for the growth pulses observed in the otolith microstructure.
The Magelonidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the Seychelles 2: description of four additional species, three new to science
Authors: Mortimer Kate , Mackie Andrew S. Y.
Published: October 2008

P align=justify>In 2000, the National Museum of Wales mounted a marine biological expedition to the Seychelles as part of the Shoals of Capricorn programme. Following this, three new species of Magelona (M. conversa, M. falcifera and M. gemmata) were described, and published in the Proceedings of the 7th International Polychaete Conference. In this second paper, the authors describe a further three new species (M. symmetrica, M. mahensis and M. cepiceps) and present a new record of M. pygmaea Nateewathana and Hylleberg, 1991 – previously known only from Thailand. The taxonomic affinities of the four species are discussed and a key is provided to all seven recorded from the Seychelles.
Seasonal dynamics of soft-bottom polychaetes in Izmir Bay (Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean)
Authors: Ergen Zeki , Ertan Çinar Melih , Dagli Ertan , Kurt Güley
Published: October 2008

Seasonal dynamics of soft-bottom polychaetes were investigated at 29 stations (depths: 8-77 m) in Izmir Bay (Aegean Sea, eastern Mediterranean) between 1997 and 2002. A total of 396 species belonging to 44 families were encountered, of which 32 species were new records for the Turkish fauna. Diversity and evenness index values were high at stations located in the outer part of the bay, whereas azoic conditions occurred in the polluted inner part of the bay, particularly in summer and autumn (fall). The highest population density was recorded at station 29 (inner part), with 11620 ind. m-2, where Capitella capitata capitata was the most dominant species (6820 ind. m-2). Stations located in the semi-polluted zone of the bay were generally characterized by high biomass values (max. 33.6 g m-2). The cluster and nMDS analysis showed that the soft-bottom of the bay has four major polychaete communities, mainly structured by prevailing environmental conditions and types of substratum.
Patterns of polychaete diversity in selected tropical intertidal habitats
Authors: Barrio Froján Christopher R.S. , Kendall M. A. , Paterson G.L.J. , Hawkins L. E. , Nimsantijaroen S. , Aryuthaka C.
Published: October 2008

Few studies have quantitatively compared benthic macrofaunal assemblages between different tropical intertidal habitats over differing spatial scales. The present study uses spatially nested material from vegetated (seagrass) and non-vegetated (mudflat) habitats in SW Thailand to address this issue. Polychaetes were the numerically dominant component of benthic assemblages throughout the region, comprising over 74% of the total macrofauna. Despite great within-site and sample variation, based on species diversity, polychaete assemblages were mostly site-specific. Not so visibly obvious were the evident differences in polychaete assemblages between habitats. The spatial pattern of polychaete diversity is explored.
Biodiversity and biogeographic relationships of the polychaete fauna in French Atlantic and Mediterranean waters
Authors: Dauvin Jean-Claude , Bachelet Guy , Bellan Gerard
Published: October 2008

A survey of the literature, including the recent systematic reviews, reveals that 934 polychaete species have been recorded in French Atlantic (including the English Channel) and Mediterranean marine waters, including 818 species living on the continental shelf and 116 species that are strictly bathyal. These 934 species belong to 71 families, among which the Syllidae is the most diverse (97 species), followed by the Serpulidae (69 species), Spionidae and Phyllodocidae, each with more than 40 species. Forty-four families have fewer than 10 species recorded in each. The total number of species is spread over 11 continental shelf areas as well as the Atlantic and Mediterranean bathyal depths. In terms of species diversity, the richest areas are the Mediterranean coasts of Provence-Côte d’Azur (507 species) and Languedoc-Roussillon (483 species), the western part of the English Channel (402 species), and the southern part of the Bay of Biscay (343 species). The lowest numbers of species were recorded in the eastern English Channel, due to an impoverishment of all the fauna in this part of the Channel. Other areas—for example, the Iroise Sea, the coast of Corsica and Mediterranean bathyal depths—also show low numbers, but this may only reflect the fact that insufficient information about these areas is available. A similarity analysis of 13 areas distinguishes four distinct faunal groups, each specific to one of four general locations: (1) the bathyal Atlantic and Mediterranean zones, including the coast of Corsica, (2) the two Mediterranean coastal areas (Provence-Côte d’Azur and Languedoc-Roussillon), (3) the four zones of the Atlantic continental shelf, and (4) the English Channel. The combined species can be separated into 17 different biogeographic groups.
Larval development of Sabellastarte spectabilis (Grube, 1878) (Polychaeta: Sabellidae) in Hawaiian waters
Authors: Bybee David R. , Bailey-Brock Julie H. , Tamaru Clyde S.
Published: October 2008

The sabellid polychaete Sabellastarte spectabilis is common in bays and harbours throughout Hawaii. It has become one of the most harvested marine ornamental species in the State. Collection can be difficult and potentially damaging to the reef community. Understanding the reproduction and life history of this polychaete will benefit the marine ornamental trade by facilitating aquaculture of the species and coral reef conservation by decreasing destructive collecting practices. There is very little known about the biology of this species. Experiments were conducted at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology to induce and document spawning and larval development. Oocytes range between 150-200 µm in diameter and sperm have spherical heads. Cell division in fertilized eggs begins approximately twenty minutes after spawning. Developmental stages were documented using light and scanning electron microscopy. Swimming larvae are first seen 7-8 h after spawning. Larvae have a well-developed prototroch and a less conspicuous neurotroch and metatroch. Two chaetigers develop sequentially on days 4 and 5 and settlement occurs 6-7 days after spawning. Metamorphosis occurs gradually from days 6-8. This is the first reported induction of spawning and description of larval development from fertilized egg to settlement and metamorphosis for this species.
New species and records of deep-water Cirratulidae (Polychaeta) from off Northern California
Authors: Blake James A.
Published: October 2008

Polychaetes of the family Cirratulidae are among the most important macrofaunal invertebrates in deep-sea benthic communities off northern California. The genus Chaetozone includes several species that are among the dominant species in depths of 2400-3200 m. Four of the most common species of Chaetozone are described in this paper. Of these four species, only C. spinosa Moore, 1903 has been previously described. Three other species are new to science. C. brunnea, n. sp. has a short, triangular-shaped prostomium, brown body colour, and an enlarged “stomach” which distends the body in a characteristic pattern. C. allanotai, n. sp. has a unique methyl green staining pattern that provides a means to readily identify juveniles and fragmented adults. A third new species, C. palaea, n. sp has posterior spines that are unusually broad, providing a spectacular armature. These species are compared with the type species, C. setosa from the Arctic. New details concerning segmentation of the anterior end, morphology of the nuchal organs, and posterior spines, represent a suite of characters that, in combination, will be used in a phylogenetic analysis of cirratulid polychaetes.
New species of Cirratulidae (Polychaeta) from the northeastern United States
Authors: Doner Stacy A. , Blake James A.
Published: October 2008

Polychaetes of the family Cirratulidae are common components of the benthic fauna of the northeastern United States. Although several species have been treated by Blake (1991), the true diversity of northeastern Atlantic cirratulids is underestimated since species remain largely undescribed or are erroneously assigned european names. The present paper provides descriptions of three new species of Chaetozone and one new species of Caulleriella. All four of these taxa were collected as part of environmental monitoring programmes in Long Island Sound, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, and/or Georges Bank from depths ranging from 10 to 200 m. In addition to traditional observations, details provided by the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and staining patterns revealed by Methyl Green are used to further define these taxa and to distinguish them from congeners. Formal descriptions of these new taxa will contribute to a larger understanding of the systematics and interrelationships of the bitentaculate Cirratulidae.
Flat Head Syndrome in Infants
Authors: Collazo Geisel R. , Angulo Maria Isabel
Published: April 2024

This JAMA Patient Page describes the types of flat head syndrome and its prevention and treatment.
Physician Empathy and Chronic Pain Outcomes
Authors: Licciardone John C. , Tran Yen , Ngo Khang , Toledo David , Peddireddy Navya , Aryal Subhash
Published: April 2024

Importance

Empathy is an aspect of the patient-physician relationship that may be particularly important in patients with chronic pain.

Objective

To measure the association of physician empathy with pain, function, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among patients with chronic low back pain.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study included adult enrollees from the Pain Registry for Epidemiological, Clinical, and Interventional Studies and Innovation national pain research registry. Study dates were from April 1, 2016, to July 25, 2023, with up to 12 months of follow-up.

Exposure

Physician empathy was assessed with the Consultation and Relational Empathy measure and dichotomized to yield very empathic physician and slightly empathic physician groups.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Main outcomes were patient-reported pain, function, and HRQOL measured with a numerical rating scale for low back pain intensity, the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire for back-related disability, and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System for HRQOL deficits pertaining to anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and pain interference. Data were collected at 5 quarterly encounters from registry enrollment through 12 months and analyzed with generalized estimating equations, including multivariable models to measure temporal trends and to adjust for baseline and longitudinal covariates.

Results

Among the 1470 patients, the mean (SD) age was 53.1 (13.2) years, and 1093 (74.4%) were female. Patients completed 5943 encounters in which multivariable analyses demonstrated that greater physician empathy was inversely associated with pain intensity (β = −0.014; 95% CI, −0.022 to −0.006; P < .001), back-related disability (β = −0.062; 95% CI, −0.085 to −0.040; P < .001), and HRQOL deficits on each measure (eg, pain interference: β = −0.080; 95% CI, −0.111 to −0.049; P < .001). Correspondingly, compared with the slightly empathic physician group, the very empathic physician group reported lower mean pain intensity (6.3; 95% CI, 6.1-6.5 vs 6.7; 95% CI, 6.5-6.9; P < .001), less mean back-related disability (14.9; 95% CI, 14.2-15.6 vs 16.8; 95% CI, 16.0-17.6; P < .001), and fewer HRQOL deficits on each measure (eg, fatigue: 57.3; 95% CI, 56.1-58.5 vs 60.4; 95% CI, 59.0-61.7; P < .001). All physician empathy group differences were clinically relevant, with Cohen d statistics ranging from 0.21 for pain intensity to 0.30 for back-related disability, fatigue, and pain interference. Physician empathy was associated with more favorable outcomes than non-pharmacological treatments, opioid therapy, and lumbar spine surgery.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of adult patients with chronic pain, physician empathy was associated with better outcomes over 12 months. Greater efforts to cultivate and improve physician empathy appear warranted.
Appendicitis Hospitalization Care Costs Among Patients With Delayed Diagnosis of Appendicitis
Authors: Kulasekere Dinushi A. , Royan Regina , Shan Ying , Reyes Ana M. , Thomas Arielle C. , Lundberg Alexander L. , Feinglass Joe M. , Stey Anne M.
Published: April 2024

Importance

Delayed appendicitis diagnosis is associated with worse outcomes. Appendicitis hospital care costs associated with delayed diagnosis are unknown.

Objective

To determine whether delayed appendicitis diagnosis was associated with increased appendicitis hospital care costs.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used data from patients receiving an appendectomy aged 18 to 64 years in 5 states (Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin) that were captured in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient and Emergency Department databases for the years 2016 and 2017 with no additional follow-up. Data were analyzed January through April 2023.

Exposures

Delayed diagnosis was defined as a previous emergency department or inpatient hospital encounter with an abdominal diagnosis other than appendicitis, and no intervention 7 days prior to appendectomy encounter.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcome was appendicitis hospital care costs. This was calculated from aggregated charges of encounters 7 days prior to appendectomy, the appendectomy encounter, and 30 days postoperatively. Cost-to-charge ratios were applied to charges to obtain costs, which were then adjusted for wage index, inflation to 2022 US dollar, and with extreme outliers winsorized. A multivariable Poisson regression estimated appendicitis hospital care costs associated with a delayed diagnosis while controlling for age, sex, race and ethnicity, insurance status, care discontinuity, income quartile, hospital size, teaching status, medical school affiliation, percentage of Black and Hispanic patient discharges, core-based statistical area, and state.

Results

There were 76 183 patients (38 939 female [51.1%]; 2192 Asian or Pacific Islander [2.9%], 14 132 Hispanic [18.5%], 8195 non-Hispanic Black [10.8%], 46 949 non-Hispanic White [61.6%]) underwent appendectomy, and 2045 (2.7%) had a delayed diagnosis. Delayed diagnosis patients had median (IQR) unadjusted cost of $11 099 ($6752-$17 740) compared with $9177 ($5575-$14 481) for nondelayed (P < .001). Patients with delayed diagnosis had 1.23 times (95% CI, 1.16-1.28 times) adjusted increased appendicitis hospital care costs. The mean marginal cost of delayed diagnosis was $2712 (95% CI, $2083-$3342). Even controlling for delayed diagnosis, non-Hispanic Black patients had 1.22 times (95% CI, 1.17-1.28 times) the adjusted increased appendicitis hospital care costs compared with non-Hispanic White patients.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study, delayed diagnosis of appendicitis was associated with increased hospital care costs.
A novel fault diagnosis method for imbalanced datasets based on MCNN‐Transformer model in industrial processes
Authors: Lu Rongyang
Published: April 2024

Fault diagnosis methods based on deep learning have been extensively applied to the fault classification of rolling bearings, yielding favorable results. However, many of these methods still have substantial room for improvement in practical industrial scenarios. This article addresses the issue of imbalanced fault data categories commonly encountered in real‐world contexts and discusses the characteristics of long time series data in fault signals. To tackle these challenges, a model based on multi‐scale convolutional neural networks and transformer (MCNNT) is proposed. First, in the data processing stage, a diffusion model is introduced to handle the problem of data imbalance. This model learns the distribution of minority samples and generates new samples. Second, the proposed model incorporates an attention mechanism, enabling it to capture the global information of the data during the feature learning stage and effectively utilize the relationships between preceding and subsequent elements in long sequential data. This allows the model to accurately focus on key features. Experimental results demonstrate the exceptional performance of the proposed method, which is capable of generating high‐quality samples and providing a solution to address challenges in practical industrial scenarios. Consequently, the proposed method exhibits significant potential for further development.
Tracking of Nascent Matrix Deposition during Muscle Stem Cell Activation across Lifespan Using Engineered Hydrogels
Authors: Duran Pamela , Yang Benjamin A. , Plaster Eleanor , Eiken Madeline , Loebel Claudia , Aguilar Carlos A.
Published: April 2024

Adult stem cells occupy a niche that contributes to their function, but how stem cells rebuild their microenvironment after injury remains an open‐ended question. Herein, biomaterial‐based systems and metabolic labeling are utilized to evaluate how skeletal muscle stem cells deposit extracellular matrix. Muscle stem cells and committed myoblasts are observed to generate less nascent matrix than muscle resident fibro‐adipogenic progenitors. When cultured on substrates that matched the stiffness of physiological uninjured and injured muscles, muscle stem cells increased nascent matrix deposition with activation kinetics. Reducing the ability to deposit nascent matrix by an inhibitor of vesicle trafficking (Exo‐1) attenuated muscle stem cell function and mimicked impairments observed from muscle stem cells isolated from old muscles. Old muscle stem cells are observed to deposit less nascent matrix than young muscle stem cells, which is rescued with therapeutic supplementation of insulin‐like growth factors. These results highlight the role of nascent matrix production with muscle stem cell activation.
Complexes of Borane and 1,3,5‐Triazinane‐Derived Carbenes
Authors: Smirnov Vladimir O. , Levin Vitalij V. , Dilman Alexander D.
Published: April 2024

Complexes of borane with six‐membered N‐heterocyclic carbenes derived from readily accessible 1,3,5‐triazinium salts are described. Similar to the widely used imidazolium‐type borane complex, the obtained complexes behave as agents for the hydrogen atom transfer in the Giese reaction and as sources of the boryl radicals in addition to imines. The amine nitrogen of these complexes does not undergo alkylation, but it can bind with another borane molecule.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Atroposelective Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling to Construct Axially Chiral Tetra‐Substituted α‐Boryl Styrenes
Authors: Li Xiaorui , Kong Lingyu , Yin Shuxin , Zhou Hengrui , Lin Aijun , Yao Hequan , Gao Shang
Published: April 2024

Palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura (SM) coupling is a valuable method for forming C─C bonds, including those between aryl moieties. However, achieving atroposelective synthesis of axially chiral styrenes via SM coupling remains challenging. In this study, a palladium‐catalyzed atroposelective Suzuki–Miyaura coupling between gem‐diborylalkenes and aryl halides is presented. Using the monophosphine ligand Me‐BI‐DIME (L2), a range of axially chiral tetra‐substituted acyclic styrenes with high yields and excellent enantioselectivities are successfully synthesized. Control experiments reveal that the gem‐diboryl group significantly influences the product enantioselectivities and the coupling prefers to occur at sites with lower steric hindrance. Additionally, the alkenyl boronate group in the products proves versatile, allowing for various transformations while maintaining high optical purities.
Teff grass increases summer forage availability in the Rolling Plains of Texas
Authors: Kimura Emi , Ramirez Jonathan
Published: April 2024

Teff [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] grass has gained popularity in the United States as an emergency summer forage for livestock due to its drought tolerance and rapid growth habit. An alternative forage would benefit Texas Rolling Plains growers due to the summer forage shortage caused by drought conditions. However, among the teff research conducted in the United States, there is great variability in the forage yields and nutritive values depending on the amount of nitrogen and available water. The objective of the study was to evaluate forage productivity and nutritive value of teff in the Texas Rolling Plains under irrigated and dryland conditions with two nitrogen rates and application timings. Nitrogen fertilizer treatments included single applications of either 50 or 100 lb a−1 applied at planting and a split application of either 50 or 100 lb a−1 applied both at planting and after the first harvest. No differences were observed among nitrogen rates and application methods in the irrigated trial (5286 lb a−1). The split application of 100 lb a−1 produced the greatest total yield in the dryland trial (3096 lb a−1) with no yield advantage of 100 lb N a−1 over 50 lb N a−1 at the first cutting. Forage nutritive values were similar to the warm‐season forage species utilized in the region. This study showed that teff can be an alternative forage species in the region. Future research will include planting dates, nitrogen application timing, cutting height, and the interaction of these factors on yield and nutritive values of teff.
An investigation of the price discovery role of futures markets: A dynamic time warping analysis of the United States corn markets
Authors: Miljkovic Dragan , Vatsa Puneet , Olson Frayne
Published: April 2024

Futures markets are critical to price discovery and often dominate spot markets. We analyze the linkages between daily corn futures and spot prices in the United States using dynamic time warping. This nonparametric pattern recognition technique has several advantages over traditional time series methods. First, it can detect multiple changes in the lead‐lag associations between the two prices within short intervals; the duration with which one series leads or lags another is not assumed to be fixed. Second, the method can be applied to time series without regard to their stationarity properties. This greatly expands the scope of this method to accommodate a wide range of time series. Third, it lends itself well to studying small samples, which econometricians encounter routinely. Fourth, the results are presented intelligibly using intuitive visualizations. Our results show that futures markets are critical to price discovery; nevertheless, spot markets dominate futures markets intermittently. We discuss the results in detail, setting them in the proper context. [EconLit Citations: C14, C32, Q02, Q11].
Together but not scrambled: A perspective on chaotic printing/bioprinting
Authors: Trujillo‐de Santiago Grissel , Alvarez Mario Moisés
Published: April 2024

Structures in nature are often multi‐material, and their structures have a fine balance between segregation and aggregation (mixed, but not scrambled) that provides functionality. Chaotic fabrication, a technology that exploits the ability of chaotic advection to create predictable and reproducible multilayered structures, excels at producing materials where this balance can be achieved and finely tuned. This method is based on the use of chaotic mixing systems, which can produce constructs with highly organized internal micro‐architecture in a simple and cost‐effective way. This manuscript provides a perspective on how chaotic printing can be a great enabler in the manufacture of advanced materials, including living tissues. Chaotic printing may overcome many of the critical hurdles that are currently faced in manufacturing and biofabrication (e.g., creating a wide array of interfaces, reaching high resolutions rapidly and at low cost, and producing densely vascularized tissues). The manuscript introduces the technology, explains how the idea originated, presents a timeline that provides a recapitulation of the milestones achieved so far, describes the main characteristics, advantages, limitations, and challenges of the technology, and concludes with future perspectives on the evolution and use of this versatile method.
In situ/Operando Synchrotron Radiation Analytical Techniques for CO2/CO Reduction Reaction: From Atomic Scales to Mesoscales
Authors: Xu Yi Ning , Mei Bingbao , Xu Qiucheng , Fu Huai Qin , Zhang Xin Yu , Liu Peng Fei , Jiang Zheng , Yang Hua Gui
Published: April 2024

Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide/carbon monoxide reduction reaction (CO(2)RR) has emerged as a prospective and appealing strategy to realize carbon neutrality for manufacturing sustainable chemical products. Developing highly active electrocatalysts and stable devices has been demonstrated as effective approach to enhance the conversion efficiency of CO(2)RR. In order to rationally design electrocatalysts and devices, a comprehensive understanding of the intrinsic structure evolution within catalysts and micro‐environment change around electrode interface, particularly under operation conditions, is indispensable. Synchrotron radiation has been recognized as a versatile characterization platform, garnering widespread attention owing to its high brightness, elevated flux, excellent directivity, strong polarization and exceptional stability. This review systematically introduces the applications of synchrotron radiation technologies classified by radiation sources with varying wavelengths in CO(2)RR. By virtue of in situ/operando synchrotron radiationanalytical techniques, we also summarize relevant dynamic evolution processes from electronic structure, atomic configuration, molecular adsorption, crystal lattice and devices, spanning scales from the angstrom to the micrometer. The merits and limitations of diverse synchrotron characterization techniques are summarized, and their applicable scenarios in CO(2)RR are further presented. On the basis of the state‐of‐the‐art fourth‐generation synchrotron facilities, a perspective for further deeper understanding of the CO(2)RR process using synchrotron radiation analytical techniques is proposed.
A novel hybrid forecasting approach for NOx emission of coal‐fired boiler combined with CEEMDAN and self‐attention improved by LSTM
Authors: Yan Hua , Chen Yunchi , Yang Bin , Yang Yang , Ni Hu , Wang Ying
Published: April 2024

The precise prediction of NOx generation concentration in coal‐fired boilers serves as the foundational cornerstone for the judicious optimization and control of selective catalytic reduction denitrification (SCR) systems. Owing to the intricate nature of the denitrification process within SCR, there exists a temporal delay in regulating the ammonia injection rate based on the monitored data of NOx concentration at the SCR inlet. Such delays can give rise to ammonia leakage and subsequent obstruction of the air preheater. In light of this, a predictive model, CEEMDAN‐LSTM‐SA, is proposed as an amalgamation of data decomposition and the LSTM (long short‐term memory) fusion self‐attention mechanism within a deep learning network, which is introduced to forecast the NOx emission concentration at the SCR inlet of coal‐fired units. To mitigate the impact of data outliers on the training effectiveness of the model, a clustering method coupled with a statistical testing strategy is initially applied to refine the dataset first. CEEMDAN data decomposition technology is leveraged to facilitate the breakdown of data, alleviating its non‐stationary and intricate characteristics. Subsequently, through spectral analysis, the decomposed components are grouped and aggregated to form novel data elements, which are then subjected to prediction by the constructed LSTM‐SA deep learning network. The ultimate NOx emission concentration prediction value is derived through a process of fusion. Upon scrutinizing and comparing the predictions derived from various models using coal‐fired power plant data, it is evident that the performance metrics of CEEMDAN‐LSTM‐SA predictions exhibit a mean absolute error of 7.425, mean absolute percentage error of 2.415%, root mean square error of 9.715, R‐squared (R2) value of .789, mean absolute relative error of 2.109%, and a Theil's information criterion of .016. In contrast to other models, including traditional self‐attention networks, LSTM, and LSTM‐SA combination networks, CEEMDAN‐LSTM‐SA proposed in this study demonstrates superior prediction accuracy and enhanced generalization capabilities. Consequently, this predictive model stands poised to furnish an efficacious framework for the SCR ammonia injection strategy within thermal power units.
Curating the Chinese ancient book catalogs: Leveraging the dual roles of humanities scholars as experts and users in collaborative practice
Authors: Li Wenqi , Wang Jun , Wang Fengxiang
Published: April 2024

Chinese ancient book catalogs are important cultural heritage and academic resources for the study of ancient Chinese history and culture. These catalogs need to be curated so that their value can be fully exploited in today's digital environment. This study is based on a collaborative curation project where eight representative ancient catalogs were curated into a diachronic dataset and tools to discover and analyze the data were developed. We reviewed literature and consulted humanities scholars to derive the characteristics and curation requirements of the ancient catalogs. A collaborative model was proposed based on the requirements to guide the curation process. This model reveals the duality of humanities scholars' role in collaborative curation and depicts main curation activities including metadata and description, appraisal and selection, data processing, developing tools, access and use, and evolution. Lessons learned from the curation practice include two main issues—project personnel and humanities scholars' acceptance of visualization. The study also yields a dataset and a set of tools that can be directly used by scholars interested in knowledge organization and ancient catalog related topics.
New Pyridine Dicarbene Pincer Ligands with Ring Expanded NHCs and their Nickel and Chromium Complexes
Authors: Papangelis Evangelos , Pelzer Katrin , Gourlaouen Christophe , Armspach Dominique , Braunstein Pierre , Danopoulos Andreas A. , Bailly Corinne , Tsoureas Nikolaos , Gerokonstantis Dimitrios Triantafyllos
Published: April 2024

The pincer complexes [NiIIBr(CNC)]Br (4), [CrIIIBr3(CNC)] (5 a) and [CrIIIBr2.3Cl0.7(CNC)] (5 b), where CNC=3,3′‐(pyridine‐2,6‐diyl)bis(1‐mesityl‐3,4,5,6‐tetrahydropyrimidin‐2‐ylidene), were obtained from the novel ligand CNC, generated in situ from the precursor (CHNCH)Br2 and [NiIIBr2(PPh3)2] or from [CrII{N(SiMe3)2}2(THF)2] and (CHNCH)Br2 by aminolysis, respectively. The tetrahedrally distorted square planar (τ4≅0.30) geometry and the singlet ground state of Ni in 4 were attributed to steric constraints of the CNC backbone. Computational methods highlighted the dependence of the coordination geometry and the singlet‐triplet energy difference on the size of the N‐substituent of the tetrahydropyrimidine wingtips and contrasted it to the situation in 5‐membered imidazolin‐2‐ylidene pincer analogues. The octahedral CrIII metal center in 5 a and 5 b is presumably formed after one electron oxidation from CH2Cl2. 4/MAO and 5 a/MAO were catalysts of moderate activity for the oligomerization and polymerization of ethylene, respectively. The analogous (CH^N^CH)Br2 precursor, where (CH^N^CH)=3,3′‐(pyridine‐2,6‐diylbis(methylene))bis(1‐mesityl‐3,4,5,6‐tetrahydropyrimidin‐1‐ium), was also prepared, however its coordination chemistry was not studied due to the inherent instability of the resulting free C^N^C ligand.
Tuning Green Explosives through SNAr Chemistry
Authors: Nikitin Sergei , Diness Frederik
Published: April 2024

Reactivity and regioselectivity of SNAr‐type fluorine substitution with azide in polyfluorosubstituted nitrobenzenes was studied both theoretically and experimentally. The obtained polyazido‐substituted nitrobenzene derivatives were extensively characterized by NMR, IR, HPLC, X‐ray, and DFT methods. It was found that the substitution with the azide nucleophile occurs first at the para‐ and the ortho‐positions to the NO2‐group and that transazidation reactions also occur here. Thermal decomposition of prepared azidonitrobenzenes was studied both in controlled (kinetic decay) and uncontrolled (explosion) modes. In case of the controlled thermal decomposition of ortho‐azidonitrobenzenes, benzofuroxans were found as major products of the reaction unless another azido group was adjacent to the furoxan moiety. The bursting power of azidonitrobenzenes was found to rise gradually with the number of the azide substituents in the aromatic ring.
A fast and efficient liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for measuring l‐ and d‐amino acids in the urine of patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy
Authors: Zha Zhijian , Wang Ruihua , Wang Qian , Chen Fahui , Ye Ziyang , Li Yafeng
Published: April 2024

Immunoglobulin nephropathy (IgAN) stands as the most prevalent primary glomerular nephropathy globally, typically diagnosed through an invasive renal biopsy. Emerging research suggests the significant involvement of chiral amino acids in kidney disease progression. This study introduces a nonderivative LC–tandem mass spectrometry approach, offering efficient separation outcomes within 15 min for identifying chiral amino acids in human urine samples. Subsequently, using this method, the analysis of l‐ and d‐amino acids in the urine of both patients with IgAN and healthy individuals was conducted. Fourteen d‐amino acids and 20 l‐amino acids were identified in the urine samples obtained from 17 patients with IgAN and 21 healthy individuals. The results indicated notable variances in the concentrations of both l‐ and d‐amino acids between the IgAN and healthy control groups. In contrast to the healthy group, the IgAN group exhibited higher mean urine concentrations of most l‐amino acids and lower concentrations of d‐amino acids. Furthermore, correlations between amino acids and clinical markers were investigated. These results propose a novel method for monitoring trace amino acids in urine samples and introduce a new concept for potential markers of IgAN.
Developing tomorrow's leaders: Self‐esteem and teamwork go hand in hand
Authors: May Rachel
Published: April 2024

A new study published in a special issue of Education Sciences by Elena De Prada, Mercedes Mareque, and Margarita Pino‐Juste finds that there is a “relationship between teamwork skills and the successful development of self‐esteem.” Researchers determined that leadership skills aren’t necessarily innate and can be taught, especially when group work is closely managed. The study's subjects were social science students.
Did court dismiss emotional‐distress claim?
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: April 2024

Upon joining the Northwestern University cheerleading team, a female student‐athlete signed an agreement stating she would be present when coaching staff required her to attend an event. The cheerleader claimed the head coach ordered all female cheerleaders to attend fundraisers and alumni events in cheer uniforms that left most of their bodies exposed. The coach allegedly told cheerleaders they should prioritize (1) keeping fans and alumni happy and (2) appearing as fun girls even if they were touched inappropriately.