bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ASCE/SEI 7‐compliant site‐specific evaluation of the seismic demand posed to reinforced concrete buildings with real and simulated ground motions
Authors: Matinrad Pezhman , Petrone Floriana
Published: August 2023

State‐of‐the‐art seismic design and assessment methodologies rely on the utilization of ground‐motion records scaled to site‐specific risk‐targeted spectra to perform nonlinear time‐history analyses and estimate mean structural demands. Motivated by the discrepancies in structural response estimates resulting from different selection and scaling methods, this study assesses the implications of utilizing site‐specific simulated ground motions from 3‐D physics‐based wave‐propagation models as opposed to historical records from worldwide catalogs in ASCE/SEI7‐compliant procedures for seismic performance evaluations. A suite of validated realizations of an M7 Hayward Fault earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area and two modern reinforced concrete moment‐resisting frame buildings are utilized as a case study. The 2014 USGS earthquake hazard and probability maps are employed for the hazard calculations, and the PEER NGA‐West2 database is used for the selection of the real ground motions. The building models are coupled with the simulated and real ground motions to perform a total of 30,552 nonlinear time‐history analyses. Structural demands obtained from real and simulated motions are examined and compared at the regional‐scale in terms of peak interstory drift ratio median and dispersion, and localization along the building height. The correlations between observed structural responses and ground‐motion features are discussed to potentially inform current code‐compliant methodologies for ground‐motion selection. Results show that utilizing site‐specific simulated ground motions that incorporate path, fault geometry, and site‐condition effects as opposed to historical ground‐motion records may lead to differences in the structural demands above 50%. Such differences are highly spatially variable throughout the region and difficult to predict.
Defining the length parameter in river bifurcation models: a theoretical approach
Authors: Redolfi Marco
Published: August 2023

One‐dimensional models for river bifurcations rely on a nodal point relation that determines the distribution of sediments between the downstream branches. The most widely‐adopted nodal point relation describes the two‐dimensional topographic effects exerted by the bifurcation by introducing two computational cells, located just upstream the bifurcation node, that laterally exchange water and sediments. The results of this approach strongly depend on a dimensionless parameter that represents the ratio between the cell length and the main channel width, whose value needs to be empirically estimated. Previous works proposed calibrating this parameter on the basis of more complete two‐dimensional linear models, which directly solve the momentum and mass conservation equations. This study demonstrates that a full consistency between the one‐dimensional approach and the two‐dimensional models can be directly achieved by adopting different scaling for the bifurcation cell length, which results in a theoretically‐defined and constant dimensionless length parameter. Comparison with experimental observations reveals that this physically‐based scaling yields more accurate predictions of bifurcation stability and discharge asymmetry. This indicates that the proposed method may provide a more reliable and precise estimation of the cell length, potentially improving the performance of one‐dimensional models for bifurcation processes in rivers.
Interpretation and Use of a Workplace English Language Proficiency Test Score Report: Perspectives of TOEIC® Test Takers and Score Users in Taiwan
Authors: Hsieh Ching‐Ni
Published: August 2023

Research in validity suggests that stakeholders' interpretation and use of test results should be an aspect of validity. Claims about the meaningfulness of test score interpretations and consequences of test use should be backed by evidence that stakeholders understand the definition of the construct assessed and the score report information. The current study explored stakeholders' uses and interpretations of the score report of a workplace English language proficiency test, the TOEIC® Listening and Reading (TOEIC L&R) test. Online surveys were administered to TOEIC L&R test takers and institutional and corporate score users in Taiwan to collect data about their uses and interpretations of the test score report. Eleven survey respondents participated in follow‐up interviews to further elaborate on their uses of the different score reporting information within the stakeholders' respective contexts. Results indicated that the participants used the TOEIC L&R test scores largely as intended by the test developer although some elements of the score report appeared to be less useful and could be confusing for stakeholders. Findings from this study highlight the importance of providing score reporting information with clarity and ease to enhance appropriate use and interpretation.
An Outlook on Harnessing Technological Innovative Competence in Sustainably Transforming African Agriculture
Authors: Asem ‐ Hiablie Senorpe , Uyeh Daniel Dooyum , Adelaja Adesoji , Gebremedhin Kifle , Srivastava Ajit , Ileleji Klein , Gitau Margaret , Ha Yushin , Park Tusan
Published: August 2023

Agricultural value chains worldwide provide essential support to livelihoods, ecosystem services, and the growing bioeconomy. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic slowed down or reversed decades of agricultural growth and exposed the vulnerabilities of farmers and the food insecure in Africa, thus reiterating the need to build resilience, agility, and adaptability for a sustainable agriculture. Existing social, political, environmental, and economic challenges demonstrate that a path to faster sustainable growth is increased productivity through improved input quality, of which technical inputs are a part. This work presents a perspective calling for African innovative competence in technological and methodological applications and solutions as part of the most critical area of a holistic organization for social progress. It finds that while performances of previous agricultural transformation efforts offer insights for future directions, novel pathways fitting to the diversity of situations and contexts on the continent are needed. These may include vertical agriculture in land‐constrained regions to grow high‐value products, ocean or sea farming in coastal regions, development of multiple‐harvesting crops, and self‐replicating plants. Developing standards that integrate current scientific methodologies and technologies with indigenous knowledge for agricultural growth and disaster management will bring the complementary benefits of both worlds into optimal development.
Envisioning Solidarity
Authors: Pacia Danielle
Published: August 2023

An underdiscussed dilemma in bioethics concerns individuals who are arguably owed health care resources yet actively refuse such essential goods. In twelve states—my home state among them—many people have refused to support the expansion of the Affordable Care Act, negatively affecting health outcomes for millions of people—including those that oppose the ACA. In the midst of strong political polarization, the value of solidarity may help guide America toward finding consensus, teaching us to acknowledge one another's needs so that we can live and build healthier lives together.
Mapping the macrostructure and microstructure of the in vivo human hippocampus using diffusion MRI
Authors: Karat Bradley G. , DeKraker Jordan , Hussain Uzair , Köhler Stefan , Khan Ali R.
Published: August 2023

The hippocampus is classically divided into mesoscopic subfields which contain varying microstructure that contribute to their unique functional roles. It has been challenging to characterize this microstructure with current magnetic resonance based neuroimaging techniques. In this work, we used diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) and a novel surface‐based approach in the hippocampus which revealed distinct microstructural distributions of neurite density and dispersion, T1w/T2w ratio as a proxy for myelin content, fractional anisotropy, and mean diffusivity. We used the neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) model optimized for grey matter diffusivity to characterize neurite density and dispersion. We found that neurite dispersion was highest in the cornu ammonis (CA) 1 and subiculum subfields which likely captures the large heterogeneity of tangential and radial fibres, such as the Schaffer collaterals, perforant path, and pyramidal neurons. Neurite density and T1w/T2w were highest in the subiculum and CA3 and lowest in CA1, which may reflect known myeloarchitectonic differences between these subfields. Using a simple logistic regression model, we showed that neurite density, dispersion, and T1w/T2w measures were separable across the subfields, suggesting that they may be sensitive to the known variability in subfield cyto‐ and myeloarchitecture. We report macrostructural measures of gyrification, thickness, and curvature that were in line with ex vivo descriptions of hippocampal anatomy. We employed a multivariate orthogonal projective non‐negative matrix factorization (OPNNMF) approach to capture co‐varying regions of macro‐ and microstructure across the hippocampus. The clusters were highly variable along the medial–lateral (proximal–distal) direction, likely reflecting known differences in morphology, cytoarchitectonic profiles, and connectivity. Finally, we show that by examining the main direction of diffusion relative to canonical hippocampal axes, we could identify regions with stereotyped microstructural orientations that may map onto specific fibre pathways, such as the Schaffer collaterals, perforant path, fimbria, and alveus. These results highlight the value of combining in vivo dMRI with computational approaches for capturing hippocampal microstructure, which may provide useful features for understanding cognition and for diagnosis of disease states.
Distributed attribute representation in the superior parietal lobe during probabilistic decision‐making
Authors: Wang Pinchun , Chen Shuning , Deng Kun , Zhang Bin , Im Hohjin , Feng Junjiao , Liu Liqing , Yang Qinghao , Zhao Guang , He Qinghua , Chen Chunhui , Wang He , Wang Qiang
Published: August 2023

Several studies have examined the neural substrates of probabilistic decision‐making, but few have systematically investigated the neural representations of the two objective attributes of probabilistic rewards, that is, the reward amount and the probability. Specifically, whether there are common or distinct neural activity patterns to represent the objective attributes and their association with the neural representation of the subjective valuation remains largely underexplored. We conducted two studies (nStudy1 = 34, nStudy2 = 41) to uncover distributed neural representations of the objective attributes and subjective value as well as their association with individual probability discounting rates. The amount and probability were independently manipulated to better capture brain signals sensitive to these two attributes and were presented simultaneously in Study 1 and successively in Study 2. Both univariate and multivariate pattern analyses showed that the brain activities in the superior parietal lobule (SPL), including the postcentral gyrus, were modulated by the amount of rewards and probability in both studies. Further, representational similarity analysis revealed a similar neural representation between these two objective attributes and between the attribute and valuation. Moreover, the SPL tracked the subjective value integrated by the hyperbolic function. Probability‐related brain activations in the inferior parietal lobule were associated with the variability in individual discounting rates. These findings provide novel insights into a similar neural representation of the two attributes during probabilistic decision‐making and perhaps support the common neural coding of stimulus objective properties and subjective value in the field of probabilistic discounting.
Delayed pay and employee turnover: The buffering role of pay‐for‐performance
Authors: Zhou Kong , Xia Ying , Zhang Guanglei , He Wei , Jiang Kaifeng
Published: August 2023

In response to a financial crisis, many organizations adjust their pay systems to reduce labor costs. In this research, we focus on the use of delayed pay (the postponement of employees' contractual compensation) and examine its effect on employee voluntary turnover outcomes. In a field study (Study 1) with data collected from the executive managers of 129 Chinese hotels experiencing a financial crisis caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), we find a positive relationship between delayed pay and the voluntary turnover rate at the organizational level. In addition, this relationship becomes weaker when delayed pay consists of a larger proportion of pay‐for‐performance (PFP). We then conduct an experiment (Study 2) to extend our theoretical framework to the individual level, establish causality, and examine the underlying mechanism. The results show that the perceived negative instrumentality of stay (i.e., expected economic losses associated with staying in an organization) explains why individuals intend to leave organizations adopting delayed base pay but not delayed PFP. We further replicate these findings in a critical incident technique study (Study 3). We also discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.
Prevalence, knowledge, and lifestyle‐associated risk factors of dyslipidemia among Ghanaian type‐2 diabetes mellitus patients in rural and urban areas: A multicenter cross‐sectional study
Authors: Boadu Wina I. O. , Anto Enoch O. , Frimpong Joseph , Ntiful Felix , Korsah Emmanuel E. , Ansah Ezekiel , Tamakloe Valentine C. K. T. , Agyapomaa Afia , Opoku Stephen , Senu Ebenezer , Nyantakyi Michael , Etwi‐Mensah Albright , Acheampong Emmanuel , Boadu Kwame O. , Donkoh Emmanuel Timmy , Obirikorang Christian
Published: August 2023

Background and Aims

Dyslipidemia in diabetes mellitus has been linked to unhealthy lifestyle and bad eating habits. However, this association has not been well studied among rural and urban Ghanaian populations. In this study, we determined the prevalence, knowledge, and lifestyle‐associated risk factors of dyslipidemia among Ghanaian type‐2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in rural and urban areas.

Methods

This comparative multicentre‐cross‐sectional study recruited 228 T2DM outpatients attending the St. Michael Hospital, Pramso (rural) and Kumasi South Regional Hospital (urban), Ghana for routine check‐ups. Self‐structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic, knowledge, and lifestyle characteristics. Fasting blood samples were taken to measure lipid profiles. Dyslipidemia was defined per the American Diabetes Association criteria. All p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia was 79/228 (34.7%). Dyslipidemia was more prevalent among urban participants 43 (18.9%) than rural participants 36 (15.8%). Twenty‐seven (11.7%) had adequate knowledge about the risk factors, complications, and management of diabetes. Eating supper after 7 p.m. [adjusted odds ratio = 3.77, 95% confidence interval (1.70–8.37), p = 0.001] significantly increased one's risk of having dyslipidemia by 3.8‐fold compared to eating supper earlier (before 5 p.m.).

Conclusion

Dyslipidemia is increasing among T2DM patients in both urban and rural areas and it's independently influenced by eating supper after 7 p.m. Most participants were ignorant of the risk factors, complications, and management of diabetes. Adjusting eating habits and increasing diabetes awareness programs to sensitize the general public can mitigate the increasing prevalence of dyslipidemia in both urban and rural areas.
Behavioral preference for microclimate conditions across elevation inPlethodon montanus
Authors: Chapman Trevor L. , Bidwell Joseph R.
Published: August 2023

The ability to behaviorally regulate body conditions is critical for ectotherms, particularly in the face of global climate change when seeking stable refugia in a changing environment could facilitate survival. This is especially important for montane species that are limited to high elevations. In the Northern Gray‐cheeked salamander (Plethodon montanus), studies have demonstrated that population demographics improve at higher elevations and physiological constraints may prevent them from moving into lower‐elevation habitats. However, little is known about the species' ability to utilize microhabitats and behaviorally regulate by selecting preferable microclimates. Here, we used continuous position‐sensing gradient chambers to examine the behavioral preference for temperature and relative humidity (RH) inP. montanusto better understand their microhabitat use and behavioral thermoregulation across an elevation gradient. We investigated the seasonal variation in both thermal and RH preference ofP. montanuscollected from different elevations. Our results suggest that most recently experienced environmental temperatures influence thermal preference in animals at high elevations but not those at lower elevations. Salamanders preferred the highest available RH conditions regardless of environmental conditions or elevation. Data on shuttling behavior (movement across the behavior arena) from the experiments suggest that while salamanders shuttled a similar number of times in both types of trials, they spent significantly less time exploring when exposed to the RH gradient compared to the thermal gradient. Together these results suggest that while thermal preference is influenced by acclimation, preference for moisture conditions is less elastic.
2‐Amino‐4‐arylthiophene‐3‐carbonitrile and formamidine acetate as key building units for the synthesis of 5‐arylthieno[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐amines
Authors: Alizadeh‐Bami Farzaneh , Mehrabi Hossein , Hosseini‐pour Maryam
Published: August 2023

We tried to establish a method for the synthesis of 5‐arylthieno[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐amine analogues via three‐step reactions and examined the changes in the solvent, time, and temperature. A novel condition has been developed for the preparation of substituted 2‐aminothiophenes employing the Knoevenagel condensation followed by the Gewald method and in the last step to form thieno[2,3‐d]pyrimidines by using formamidine acetate. All the synthesized 5‐arylthieno[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐amines are unknown and were characterized by IR, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, and CHN analysis.
SARS‐CoV‐2 seroprevalence and vaccine coverage from August to November 2021: A nationally representative survey in Mexico
Authors: Basto‐Abreu Ana , Carnalla Martha , Torres‐Ibarra Leticia , Sanchez‐Pájaro Andres , Romero‐Martínez Martin , Martínez‐Barnetche Jesus , López‐Martínez Irma , Aparicio‐Antonio Rodrigo , Shamah‐Levy Teresa , Alpuche‐Aranda Celia , Rivera Juan A. , Barrientos‐Gutiérrez Tonatiuh ,   Ensanut‐Covid Collaborators
Published: August 2023

We aimed to estimate self‐reported vaccine coverage and SARS‐CoV‐2 anti‐N and anti‐S seroprevalence in Mexico overall and for five vaccine types. We used a nationally representative survey with 7236 dried blood spot samples for adults 18 years and older collected from August to November 2021. Anti‐N and anti‐S seroprevalence were estimated adjusting for the sensitivity and specificity of the immunoassay test. A multivariate Poisson regression model was used to estimate seroprevalence by vaccine type and by age group adjusting for confounders and test performance. Vaccination coverage was 74%, being higher in women compared to men, high socioeconomic status (SES) compared to low and middle SES, graduates compared to people with high school, and formal workers compared to other employment statuses. Anti‐N seroprevalence was 59.2%, compared to 84.1% anti‐S seroprevalence. Anti‐S seroprevalence was higher for vaccinated than unvaccinated participants. All vaccines were associated with more than 70% anti‐S seroprevalence, with the lowest being observed for CoronaVac and Ad5‐nCoV. Fully vaccinated participants over 60 years presented a lower seroprevalence (77.6%) compared to younger adults (91.1%), with larger differences for ChAdOx1 and CoronaVac vaccines. Between August and November 2021, three out of four Mexican adults had been vaccinated. Vaccination was associated with a higher positivity to anti‐S antibodies. While antibodies do not reflect immunity, our results suggest that booster doses should be offered to people over 60 years of age and to adults who received Ad5‐nCoV or CoronaVac as primary vaccination schemes.
COVID‐19 infection after oocyte retrieval did not have detrimental effects on embryo implantation for frozen embryo transfer
Authors: Guo Haiyan , Yin Mingru , Liu Yali , Wang Bian , Lin Jiaying , Zhu Qianqian
Published: August 2023

Patients preparing for their renewal fertility treatments with embryos frozen before coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infection do not need to be concerned about the potential impact of COVID‐19 infection on oocyte quality and embryonic development. However, many women are still hesitant to undergo frozen embryo transfer (FET) due to fear of the detrimental effect of COVID‐19 infection on endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation. The objective was to explore whether COVID‐19 infection after oocyte retrieval is related to an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in a cohort of Chinese women undergoing FET. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 300 infertile women undergoing FET with embryos frozen before COVID‐19 infection. Women were categorized into noninfection, infection before FET, or infection after FET groups. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the association of COVID‐19 infection with clinical pregnancy outcomes, including biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, and early miscarriage. The implantation rates for patients in the group with infection before FET (29.14%) and the group with infection after FET (30.38%) were not significantly lower than those in the noninfection group (31.03%). The rate of biochemical pregnancy (54.55% vs. 52.27%, p = 0.750; 43.14% vs. 52.27%, p = 0.209) was not significantly different among the three groups. Although the clinical pregnancy rate showed a declining trend from 45.45% in the noninfection group to 38.27% in the group with infection after FET, this result was not statistically significant. The early miscarriage rate was similar in the group with infection before FET and the group with infection after FET compared with that in the noninfection group (3.64% vs. 5.68%, p = 0.496; 6.86% vs. 5.68%, p = 0.739). After adjusting for potential confounders, the biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and early miscarriage rate were not significantly different for patients with infection before or after FET compared with patients without infection. This research indicated that COVID‐19 infection after oocyte retrieval with embryos frozen before infection did not cause any detrimental effect on endometrial receptivity for embryo implantation.
Interaction of saponification products of Robinia pseudoacacia seed oil with cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide
Authors: Hou Lijie , Wu Bowan
Published: August 2023

The interaction between novel saponification products (RCOONa or RCOOK) of Robinia pseudoacacia seed oil and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) in aqueous solution have been investigated by surface tension method at 25°C. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) of RCOONa/CTAB and RCOOK/CTAB mixture were measured. The surface properties of saponification products, CTAB as well as the mixed system were explored and compared. The composition, activity coefficient of mixed micelle, and the interaction parameters (βσ, βM) between surfactants were estimated according to the Regular Solution Theory, the Clint's model and the Rubingh's model in the framework of pseudophase separation model. The experimental results suggested that both RCOONa and RCOOK have synergism with CTAB in mixed micelle formation and surface tension reduction through calculating of βσ and βM in the mixed system. This could be attributed to the strong interaction between the head groups with opposite charges in the surfactant molecules.
Seagrass spatial data synthesis from north‐east Australia, Torres Strait and Gulf of Carpentaria, 1983 to 2022
Authors: Carter A , McKenna S , Rasheed MA , Taylor H , van de Wetering C , Chartrand K , Reason C , Collier C , Shepherd L , Mellors J , McKenzie L , Duke NC , Roelofs A , Smit N , Groom R , Barrett D , Evans S , Pitcher R , Murphy N , Carlisle M , David M , Lui S ,   Torres Strait Indigenous Rangers, Coles RG
Published: August 2023

The Gulf of Carpentaria and Torres Strait in north‐eastern Australia support globally significant seagrass ecosystems that underpin fishing and cultural heritage of the region. Reliable data on seagrass distribution are critical to understanding how these ecosystems are changing, while managing for resilience. Spatial data on seagrass have been collected since the early 1980s, but the early data were poorly curated. Some was not publicly available, and some already lost. We validated and synthesized historical seagrass spatial data to create a publicly available database. We include a site layer of 48,612 geolocated data points including information on seagrass presence/absence, sediment, collection date, and data custodian. We include a polygon layer with 641 individual seagrass meadows. Thirteen seagrass species are identified in depths ranging from intertidal to 38 m below mean sea level. Our synthesis includes scientific survey data from 1983 to 2022 and provides an important evidence base for marine resource management.
Seeded RAFT Polymerization‐Induced Self‐assembly: Recent Advances and Future Opportunities
Authors: Chen Yifei , Tan Jianbo , Shen Liangliang
Published: August 2023

Over the past decade, polymerization‐induced self‐assembly (PISA) has fully proved its versatility for scale‐up production of block copolymer nanoparticles with tunable sizes and morphologies; yet, there are still some limitations. Recently, seeded PISA approaches combing PISA with heterogeneous seeded polymerizations have been greatly explored and are expected to overcome the limitations of traditional PISA. In this review, recent advances in seeded PISA that have expanded new horizons for PISA are highlighted including i) general considerations for seeded PISA (e.g., kinetics, the preparation of seeds, the selection of monomers), ii) morphological evolution induced by seeded PISA (e.g., from corona‐shell‐core nanoparticles to vesicles, vesicles‐to‐toroid, disassembly of vesicles into nanospheres), and iii) various well‐defined nanoparticles with hierarchical and sophisticated morphologies (e.g., multicompartment micelles, porous vesicles, framboidal vesicles, AXn‐type colloidal molecules). Finally, new insights into seeded PISA and future perspectives are proposed.
Exploring the Impact of Blend and Graft of Quinoline Derivative in Low‐Temperature Curable Polyimides
Authors: Huang Shan , Lv Xialei , Zhang Yao , Qiu Siyao , Li Jinhui , Yin Huiming , Zhang Guoping , Sun Rong
Published: August 2023

The utilization of accelerators has been a common approach to prepare low‐temperature curable polyimide (PI). However, the accelerators have gradually fallen out of favor because of their excessive dosages and negative effect on the properties of PI. In this work, a new strategy of introducing accelerators by grafting to eliminate these disadvantages is presented. A novel quinoline derivative named 6‐([1,1′‐biphenyl]−4‐yl)−4‐chloroquinoline (NQL) is designed for this purpose, and an ultralow dosage of only 2.5 mol% is sufficient to prepare low‐temperature curable PI. The favorable low‐temperature curing effect of NQL is attributed to its strong alkalinity (pKa = 18.47) and electron‐donating ability. At a curing temperature of 200 °C, the PI with 2.5 mol% NQL showed outstanding properties (Young's modulus of 5.73 GPa, elongation of 37.3%, tensile strength of 237 MPa, and coefficient of thermal expansion of 16 ppm K−1). In particular, NQL can even lower the curing temperature to 180 °C and the ultralow temperature curable PI film still retains excellent properties. These results demonstrate that introducing low‐temperature curable accelerators by partial grafting instead of blending is a promising way to furnish low‐temperature curable PI, and provide insights into the preparation of polyimide with high performance in advanced packaging.
Identification of the natural chalcone glycoside hydroxysafflor yellow A as a suppressor of P53 overactivation‐associated hematopoietic defects
Authors: Chen Jing , Ren Can , Yao Chong , Baruscotti Mirko , Wang Yi , Zhao Lu
Published: August 2023

Enhanced P53 signaling may lead to hematopoietic disorders, yet an effective therapeutic strategy is still lacking. Our study, along with previous research, suggests that P53 overactivation and hematopoietic defects are major consequences of zinc deficiency. However, the relationship between these two pathological processes remains unclear. In this study, we observed a severe reduction in the number of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and multi‐lineage progenitor cells in zebrafish treated with the zinc chelator N,N,N′,N′‐tetrakis(2‐pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine and showed the indispensable role of P53 signaling in the process. Next, we took advantage of HSCs‐labeled transgenic zebrafish and conducted a highly efficient phenotypic screening for small molecules against P53‐dependent hematopoietic disorders. Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), a natural chalcone glycoside, exhibited potent protection against hematopoietic failure in zinc‐deficient zebrafish and strongly inhibited the P53 pathway. We confirmed the protective effect of HSYA in zinc‐deficient mice bone marrow nucleated cells, which showed a significant suppression of P53 signaling and oxidative stress. Furthermore, the hematopoietic‐protective activity of HSYA was validated using a mice model of myelotoxicity induced by 5‐FU. In summary, our work provides an effective phenotypic screening strategy for identifying hematopoietic‐protective agents and reveals the novel role of HSYA as a promising lead compound in rescuing hematopoietic disorders associated with P53 overactivation.
Approximating fractional calculus operators with general analytic kernel by Stancu variant of modified Bernstein–Kantorovich operators
Authors: Ali Özarslan Mehmet
Published: August 2023

The main aim of this paper is to approximate the fractional calculus (FC) operator with general analytic kernel by using auxiliary newly defined linear positive operators. For this purpose, we introduce the Stancu variant of modified Bernstein–Kantorovich operators and investigate their simultaneous approximation properties. Then we construct new operators by means of these auxiliary operators, and based on the obtained results, we prove the main theorems on the approximation of the general FC operators. We also obtain some quantitative estimates for this approximation in terms of modulus of continuity and Lipschitz class functions. Additionally, we exhibit our approximation results for the well‐known FC operators such as Riemann–Liouville integral, Caputo derivative, Prabhakar integral, and Caputo–Prabhakar derivative.
Visceral adipose microbial and inflammatory signatures in metabolically healthy and unhealthy nonhuman primates
Authors: Ruggiero Alistaire D. , Vemuri Ravichandra , DeStephanis Darla , Brock Ashlynn , Block Masha R. , Chou Jeff , Das Swapan K. , Williams Abigail G. , Kavanagh Kylie
Published: August 2023

Objective

Obesity is a key risk factor for metabolic syndrome (MetS); however, >10% of lean individuals meet MetS criteria. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) disproportionately contributes to inflammation and insulin resistance compared with subcutaneous fat depots. The primary aim of this study was to profile tissue microbiome components in VAT over a wide range of metabolic statuses in a highly clinically relevant model.

Methods

VAT was profiled from nonhuman primates that naturally demonstrate four distinct health phenotypes despite consuming a healthy diet, namely metabolically healthy lean and obese and metabolically unhealthy lean and obese.

Results

VAT biopsied from unhealthy lean and obese nonhuman primates demonstrated upregulation of immune signaling pathways, a tissue microbiome enriched in gram‐negative bacteria including Pseudomonas, and deficiencies in anti‐inflammatory adipose tissue M2 macrophages. VAT microbiomes were distinct from fecal microbiomes, and fecal microbiomes did not differ by metabolic health group, which was in contrast to the VAT bacterial communities.

Conclusions

Immune activation with gram‐negative VAT microbial communities is a consistent feature in elevated MetS risk in both lean and obesity states.

image
Parametric characterization of recycled polymers with nanofillers
Authors: Dib Antoine , Fantuzzi Nicholas , Agnelli Jacopo , Paleari Lorenzo , Bragaglia Mario , Nanni Francesca , Pierattini Aldo
Published: August 2023

The increasing production of plastics and its resulting environmental problems and waste management issues have prompted stakeholders and communities to focus on reducing, recycling, and reusing plastic products at the industrial level. While many important initiatives have been launched with a circular economy perspective, there is still a lack of research on the mechanical properties of various mixtures of recycled plastics. To address this research gap, the primary objective of this study is to present a parametric investigation on the homogenization of four different types of plastics: virgin polypropylene, recycled polypropylene, recycled high‐density polyethylene, and recycled low‐density polyethylene. The study aims to develop a homogenization methodology for multimaterial plastics reinforced with carbon nanotubes, focusing on their mechanical behavior, especially the Young's modulus. The second section of the research focuses on studying the Melt Flow Index (MFI) of various mixtures of recycled plastics. By analyzing the MFI, valuable insights can be gained regarding the flow characteristics and processability of these plastic blends. Finally, the research investigates the incorporation of nanoparticles into these novel polymers to enhance their mechanical properties, with a specific emphasis on addressing the reduction in Young's modulus caused by the utilization of recycled plastics. Overall, this study aims to contribute to the understanding of the mechanical behavior and processing characteristics of recycled plastic mixtures, as well as exploring potential strategies for improving their properties through the incorporation of nanoparticles.

Highlights

Mechanical and processing properties of Plastic blends are not studied yet.

Proposing parametrical homogenization formulas to predict such properties.

Mechanical properties obtained are low and not suitable for structural purposes

Adding to the blend carbon nanotubes to increase their properties.

Properties are increased up to 11 times for recycled plastics blend.
The brassinosteroid‐responsive protein OCTOPUS is a novel regulator of Arabidopsis thaliana immune signaling
Authors: Greenwood Kaitlyn N. , King Courtney L. , Melena Isabella , Stegemann Katherine A. , Donnelly Maura , Childers Anna , Mozal Raegan , Collins Carina A. , Spears Benjamin J.
Published: August 2023

Phloem is a critical tissue for transport of photosynthates and extracellular signals in vascular plants. However, it also represents an ideal environment for pathogens seeking access to valuable host nutrients. Although many vascular pathogens induce economically relevant crop damage, there is still little known about the mechanisms by which immune signaling operates through the phloem. An existing phosphoproteomic dataset was mined to identify proteins that were both phosphorylated in response to the defense‐elicitor flagellin (flg22) and expressed in vascular cells. A single candidate, OCTOPUS (OPS), is polarly associated with the plasma membrane of sieve element cells and has been characterized as an inhibitor of brassinosteroid insensitive‐2 in promotion of brassinosteroid‐related phytohormone signaling. The observation that OPS is differentially phosphorylated in response to flg22 led us to the examine whether OPS may also regulate flg22‐induced immune signaling. Two independent alleles of ops exhibited enhanced immunity outputs across multiple signaling branches of PAMP‐triggered immunity (PTI), constitutively and in response to flg22 treatment. Together with our observation that interactions between OPS and brassinosteroid insensitive‐2 were disrupted by induction of salicylic acid and depletion of brassinosteriod, these data support a model whereby OPS modulates brassinolide and immune signaling to control downstream responses. We present OPS as a novel addition to the list of proteins with documented roles in PAMP‐PTI signaling. These results further indicate that immune signaling in the phloem may be a significant and unique component of the host detection and response to pathogens in vascular plants.
Combinations of essential oils as effective green stabilizers for single base propellants
Authors: Langendorf da Silva José Daniel , Rodrigues Rodrigo Leonard Barboza , Rosato Rogério , Lemos Maurício Ferrapontoff , Filho Letivan Mendonça , França Tanos Celmar Costa , Peixoto Fernando Cunha
Published: August 2023

Nitrocellulose‐based propellants undergo natural (and inevitable) autocatalytic degradation reactions. The presence of a stabilizer is essential to avoid and reduce the degradation reactions by capturing the NOx molecules. Traditional stabilizers, such as diphenylamine, and ethylcentralite, react with NOx through their amine and/or amide groups, leading to n‐nitroso groups, which are known to have carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic properties. Molecules that are not prone to form by‐products containing nitrosamines have been studied as substitutes, such as guaiacol and curcumin. However, the aromatic rings on these molecules have their acidity augmented when capturing the NOx groups and, paradoxically, increasing hydrolysis rates. In order to find a solution for the problem, we evaluated the use of essential oils containing terpenes and/or phenolic compounds to introduce a buffering capacity. Several propellant formulations with those compounds were subjected to traditional stability tests (German, Bergman–Junk and Storage tests), Pressure Vacuum Stability Test and Heat Flow Microcalorimetry. Finally, industrial batches were produced for the evaluation of real (ballistic) performance. Results indicated that the usage of essential oils increases stability properties not only through a sum of effects, but also in a synergistic way. Ballistic results were also adequate.
Combination of DNA methylation biomarkers with multiparametric magnetic resonance and ultrasound imaging fusion biopsy to detect the local spread of prostate cancer
Authors: Matulevičius Augustinas , Žukauskaitė Kristina , Gineikaitė Rugilė , Dasevičius Darius , Trakymas Mantas , Naruševičiūtė Ieva , Ušinskienė Jurgita , Ulys Albertas , Jankevičius Feliksas , Jarmalaitė Sonata
Published: August 2023

Background

This study aimed to investigate the extent of field cancerization adjacent to index lesions in prostate cancer (PCa) by measuring DNA methylation of selected tumor suppressor genes in the perifocal tissue of PCa not visible on multiparametric magnetic resonanse imaging (mpMRI) for the safe zone of focal therapy identification.

Methods

A total of 272 patients were enrolled in this study, 44 patients’ tissue biosamples were included in the field cancerization research, and 272 urine samples were included in the urine‐based test development. Targeted biopsies were performed using the mpMRI/ultrasoundimage fusion system.

Results

Quantitative analysis revealed significantly higher DNA methylation levels of RARB, RASSF1, GSTP1 & APC genes in the index lesion compared with perifocal tissue samples 10 mm away from it (p < 0.0001). Notably, the RARB, GSTP1 & APC and RARB, RASSF1, GSTP1 & APC biomarker combinations exhibited the highest sensitivity and specificity comparing the extent of DNA methylation in index lesions and noncancerous prostate tissues 20 mm away (both area under the curve [AUC] = 0.98; p < 0.0001). The analysis of the potential urinary biomarkers showed that the combination of all four DNA methylation biomarkers with prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) or PSA density (PSAD) in the blood significantly improves the detection of clinically significant PCa (csPCa). The combination of the four‐biomarker test with PSAD allowed the identification of csPCa with ≥90% sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusion

Thus, this study suggests that for focal therapy by region target hemi‐ablation, the safe distance from the index lesion is no less than 10 mm. Noninvasive urine DNA methylation tests in combination with PSAD could be used for further follow‐up of the patients, but larger prospective studies with external validation are needed.
Mechanistic understanding of bacterial FAALs and the role of their homologs in eukaryotes
Authors: Mondal Sudipta , Pal Biswajit , Sankaranarayanan Rajan
Published: August 2023

Fatty acids are used in fundamental cellular processes, such as membrane biogenesis, energy generation, post‐translational modification of proteins, and so forth. These processes require the activation of fatty acids by adenosine triphosphate (ATP), followed by condensation with coenzyme‐A (CoA), catalyzed by the omnipresent enzyme called Fatty acyl‐CoA ligases (FACLs). However, Fatty acyl‐AMP ligases (FAALs), the structural homologs of FACLs, operate in an unprecedented CoA‐independent manner. FAALs transfer fatty acids to the acyl carrier protein (ACP) domain of polyketide synthases (PKS) and non‐ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) for the biosynthesis of various antibiotics, lipopeptides, virulent complex lipids, and so forth in bacteria. Recent structural and biochemical insights from our group provide a detailed understanding of the mode of CoA rejection and ACP acceptance by FAALs. In this review, we have discussed advances in the mechanistic, evolutionary, and functional understanding of FAALs and FAAL‐like domains across life forms. Here, we are proposing a “Five‐tier” mechanistic model to explain the specificity of FAALs. We further demonstrate how FAAL‐like domains have been repurposed into a new family of proteins in eukaryotes with a novel function in lipid metabolism.
Suspected oncologic adverse reactions associated with interleukin‐23 inhibitors in EudraVigilance: Comparative study and gender distribution
Authors: Calapai Fabrizio , Mannucci Carmen , Cardia Luigi , Currò Mariaconcetta , Calapai Gioacchino , Esposito Emanuela , Ammendolia Ilaria
Published: August 2023

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by plaque formation. Interleukin (IL)‐23 is upregulated in psoriatic lesions and is thought to be a major regulator of the Th17 pathway in psoriasis pathogenesis. Three monoclonal antibodies targeting the IL‐23p19 subunit, guselkumab, tildrakizumab, and risankizumab, have been approved for psoriasis therapy. The balance between cytokines IL‐23 and IL‐12 can affect antitumor and pro‐tumor immune activities, and patients with psoriasis may have higher rates of cancer than the general population. Moreover, a chronic inflammatory state typical of psoriasis may induce protumorigenic effects, however, the potential risk of malignancy in patients taking these drugs remains largely unknown. This study investigated the occurrence of malignancies as suspected adverse reactions (SARs) potentially associated with IL‐23 inhibitors by analyzing real‐world data from the European EudraVigilance database. Although indicatory, these real‐world data seem to confirm the potential association between the IL‐23 inhibitors risankizumab and tildrakizumab, and the occurrence of SARs linked to cancer in patients with psoriasis and, according to a gender perspective, they show that this relationship is asymmetrically distributed between women and men, with a clear prevalence of oncologic SARs in men.
Vapor–Liquid–Solid Growth of Nanowires under the Conditions of External Faceting
Authors: Levchenko Elena V. , Nebol'sin Valery A. , Yuryev Vladimir A. , Swaikat Nada
Published: August 2023

In this paper, the authors consider the processes that occur at the interfaces during nanowires (NWs) growth by the vapor→droplet liquid→solid mechanism (VLS), and how that leads to the faceting of the sidewall surface of the NWs. It is shown that faceting is possible only when the wetting scenario of the VLS growth of the NWs is accomplished due to the exit of the oblique closed‐packed faces to the sidewall surface of the NWs. Those oblique closed‐packed faces emerge at the crystallization front near the triple phase line. The faceting of the sidewall surface of the NWs can be controlled (i) by changing the contact angle of the catalyst droplet on the top of the NWs with the appropriate catalysts; (ii) by introducing the impurities into the gas phase, which decreases the free surface energy of the catalyst droplet; or (iii) by changing the temperature.
Adaptive governance by community based organisations: Community resilience initiatives during Covid‐19 in Mathare, Nairobi
Authors: Fransen Jan , Hati Beatrice , Simon Harrison Kioko , van Stapele Naomi
Published: August 2023

Adaptive governance describes the purposeful collective actions to resist, adapt, or transform when faced with shocks. As governments are reluctant to intervene in informal settlements, community based organisations (CBOs) self‐organize and take the lead. This study explores under what conditions CBOs in Mathare informal settlement, Nairobi initiate and sustain resilience activities during Covid‐19. Study findings show that CBOs engage in multiple resilience activities, varying from maladaptive and unsustainable to adaptive, and transformative. Two conditions enable CBOs to initiate resilience activities: bonding within the community and coordination with other actors. To sustain these activities over 2.5 years of Covid‐19, CBOs also require leadership, resources, organisational capacity, and network capacity. The same conditions appear to enable CBOs to engage in transformative activities. However, CBOs cannot transform urban systems on their own. An additional condition, not met in Mathare, is that governments, NGOs, and donor agencies facilitate, support, and build community capacities.