bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using Vesicular Stomatitis Virus as a Platform for Directed Protease Evolution
Authors: Costacurta Francesco , Rauch Stefanie , von Laer Dorothee , Heilmann Emmanuel 
Published: December 2024

AbstractAntiviral drugs are essential medications to save the lives of infected people. However, they are under constant threat to become ineffective as viruses evolve quickly. Studying the development of resistance is therefore paramount to understand the impact of mutations on pharmacological treatment and to make informed decisions. Yet, such studies are open to scrutiny, as they are considered gain‐of‐function research, which is especially problematic with viruses of pandemic potential. In this article, we present a protocol that allows for the selection of antiviral resistance mutations safely, without using the actual virus (e.g., SARS‐CoV‐2, MERS‐CoV). Instead, we use vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) that serves as a surrogate virus; like other RNA viruses, it is prone to mutations due to its polymerase lacking proofreading. By replacing parts of the VSV genome with transgenes from other viruses, VSV becomes dependent on their function. Thus, we can mount a selection pressure with antivirals targeting the transgenes to subsequently sequence selected resistance mutations. This article provides a protocol for this process as well as a sequencing pipeline that we used to collect mutations. © 2024 The Author(s). Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.Basic Protocol: Using VSV as a platform for directed protease evolutionAlternate Protocol: Dose response assay with TCID50 readoutSupport Protocol 1: A pipeline for high‐throughput VSV sequencingSupport Protocol 2: Rescue of VSV
Magnetic Effects in Electrocatalysis Studied with Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy: The Cases of Oxygen Reduction and Evolution Reactions on Cobalt Ferrite Electrodes
Authors: Giner‐Requena Alfredo , Gracia Jose , Lana‐Villarreal Teresa , Gómez Roberto 
Published: December 2024

AbstractRecent years have witnessed an intense effort to unravel magnetic field effects in electrocatalysis, as they can enhance the performance of common electrocatalysts. Both experimental and theoretical studies have shown that magnetic fields may affect, among others, the macroscopic spin‐orbital ordering, charge transport, bubble release, and electron transfer kinetics. This paper highlights Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) as a tool to analyze and separate the effects of magnetic field on both the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions at cobalt iron oxide electrodes. The unequivocal existence of magnetic field effects is demonstrated through EIS, which provides additional information useful to individuate the magnetic field effects. In the almost superparamagnetic nanoparticles studied here, while the magnetic field impact is positive for oxygen reduction, it turns out to be negligible in the case of oxygen evolution. In addition, this study reveals new significant insights, including the exceptionally slow relaxation kinetics of the magnetic effects and the significance of magnetic‐induced surface modifications. The fact that the effects virtually disappear in the presence of electrolyte cesium ions points to the key role of electrode surface states. This study showcases the potential of EIS to probe the effects of permanent magnetic fields in electrocatalysis.
Structural Regulating of Cu‐Based Metallic Electrocatalysts for CO2 to C2+ Products Conversion
Authors: Dai Jiawei , Zhu Jiannan , Xu You , Liu Xiaoling , Zhu Deyu , Xu Guichan , Liu Hongfang , Li Guangfang 
Published: December 2024

AbstractElectrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) to highly value‐added multi‐carbon (C2+) fuels or chemicals is a promising pathway to address environment issues and energy crisis. In the periodic table, Cu as only the candidate can convert CO2 to C2+ products such as C2H4 and C2H5OH due to the suitable absorption energy to reaction intermediate. However, application of Cu is limited for its low activity and poor selectivity. The tandem catalytic strategy can effectively solve the problems caused by single copper catalyst. In tandem catalysis, how to promote the formation, transport, adsorption and coupling of the important intermediate CO is the key issue to improve the selectivity of C2+ products. Regulating the structure of Cu‐based bimetallic can effectively promote these processes to Electrochemical CO2RR on account of its synergistic effect, electronic effect and interfacial interaction. In this review, we systematically summarized the relationship between structure of Cu‐based bimetallic catalysts with performance of electrochemical CO2RR. More importantly, we reveal that different Cu‐based bimetallic structures enhance the activity and selectivity of the catalysts by regulating the processes such as the transport and adsorption of the reaction intermediate CO. Then, we proposed well‐effective strategies to rationally design Cu‐based metallic catalysts. Finally, we put forward some challenges and opportunities that Cu‐based bimetallic catalysts would face in the development of electrochemical CO2RR technology in the future.
Co3O4‐RuO2/Ti3C2Tx MXene Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Acidic and Alkaline Media
Authors: Cam Tran Thi My , Anh Quang The , Gnanasekaran Lalitha , Aminabhavi Tejraj M. , Vasseghian Yasser , Joo Sang‐Woo 
Published: December 2024

AbstractMXene 2D materials and non‐noble transition metal oxide nanoparticles have been proposed as novel pH‐universal platforms for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), owing to the enhancement of active site exposures and conductivity. Herein, Co3O4‐RuO2 /Ti3C2Tx/carbon cloths (CRMC) were assembled in a facile way as an efficient OER platform through a hydrothermal process. The Co3O4‐RuO2/Ti3C2Tx demonstrated prominent OER catalytic performance under acidic and alkaline conditions, which showed overpotential values of 195 and 247 mV at 10 mA cm−2 with Tafel slopes of 93 and 97 mVdec−1, respectively. The experimental results demonstrated that the electron transfer from Co3O4‐RuO2 to Ti3C2Tx/carbon cloth played a remarkable role in promoting OER catalytic activity. Further OER characterization indicated that the enhanced multi‐electron reaction kinetics are attributed to Co and Ru acting as the primary active places for O2 adsorption and activation, which facilitated the generation of *OOH intermediate.
Induction Heating for the Electrification of Catalytic Processes
Authors: Truong‐Phuoc Lai , Duong‐Viet Cuong , Nhut Jean‐Mario , Pappa Anastasia , Zafeiratos Spyridon , Pham‐Huu Cuong 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe increasing availability of electrical energy generated from clean, low‐carbon, renewable sources like solar and wind power is paving the way for a more sustainable future. This has resulted in a growing trend in the chemical industry to increase the share of electricity use in chemical processes, particularly catalytic ones. This shift towards electrifying catalytic processes offers significant environmental benefits. Current practices rely heavily on fossil fuel‐based burners, primarily using natural gas, which contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, replacing fossil fuels with electricity can significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with chemical production. Additionally, the energy‐intensive production of metal catalysts used in these processes further exacerbates the environmental impact. This review focuses on the electrification of chemical processes, particularly using induction heating (IH), as a method to reduce the environmental impact of both catalyst production and operation. IH shows promise compared to conventional heating methods, since it offers a cleaner, more efficient, and precise way to heat catalysts in chemical processes by directly generating heat within the catalyst itself. It can potentially even enhance the reaction performance through its influence on the reaction mechanism. By exploring recent advancements in IH‐driven catalytic processes, the review delves into how this method is revolutionizing catalysis by enhancing performance, selectivity, and sustainability. It highlights recent breakthroughs and discusses perspectives for further exploration in this rapidly developing field.
Trophic Change and Community Decline in Acrobat Ants After Rainforest Conversion to Cash Crops
Authors: Ehlers Jessica , Hartke Tamara R. , Janotta Noah , Mawan Amanda , Nazarreta Rizky , Desriana Rizky , Hidayat Purnama , Buchori Damayanti , Scheu Stefan , Pollierer Melanie M. , Drescher Jochen 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThe conversion of tropical rainforests to agriculture causes population declines and biodiversity loss across taxa. This impacts ants (Formicidae), a crucial tropical group for ecosystem functioning. While biodiversity loss among ants is well documented, the responses of individual ant taxa and their adjustments in trophic strategies to land‐use change are little studied. Here, we investigated a collection of > 12,000 acrobat ants (Crematogaster) from 14 species collected by canopy fogging in four land‐use systems in Jambi Province, Sumatra, including (1) lowland rainforest, (2) jungle rubber (low impact rubber agroforestry), and monocultures of (3) rubber and (4) oil palm. Abundance‐weighted trophic positions as indicated by stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were significantly different between land uses: Lower average, maximum, minimum and range of δ13C values in monocultures than in rainforest and jungle rubber indicate a shift of Crematogaster towards more plant‐based resources, but may be driven substantially by the “canopy effect” of differential carbon assimilation of leaves between lower and higher canopy. Similar Δ15N average, maximum and minimum among the land uses, but a significantly reduced range of Δ15N in monocultures, suggest lowered trophic diversity and increased stochasticity of trophic niches in monocultures. In contrast, community decline in Crematogaster was very pronounced, with density, richness and rarity in monocultures of rubber and oil palm at a fraction of that in rainforest and jungle rubber. Crematogaster communities in oil palm formed a subset of those in rubber, which were a subset of those in jungle rubber, which were a subset of those in rainforest. A notable exception was Crematogaster ferarii, which was exclusively found in oil palm. In conclusion, tropical land‐use change induces slight shifts in the trophic structure of Crematogaster communities, but massive declines in its density and diversity. This likely affects Crematogaster‐driven ecosystem functions in agricultural systems in Southeast Asia.
Modeling‐Facilitated Field Survey Discovers of a New Population of the Annamite Striped Rabbit in Kon Tum Province, Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Anh Tuan , Le Minh 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThe Annamite striped rabbit (Nesolagus timminsi) is an Endangered lagomorph endemic to the Annamite Mountain Range in Vietnam and Laos, with much unknown about its distribution range. In this study, we used previously known records of the Annamite striped rabbit to construct distribution models using Maxent, a modeling approach that has been proven to be robust in identifying potential areas of undiscovered populations of targeted species. Using the optimal model results as a guideline to select the field site, we conducted a systematic camera trap survey in Dak Long Protection Forest, Kon Tum Province, Vietnam. We recorded the species in five events at two locations of the study site, and to the best of our knowledge this finding represents a new population of the rabbit in this region. Our discovery significantly expands the known range of the striped rabbit, and we discuss the implications of this finding for N. timminsi conservation. We also suggest several protected areas in the South of our discovery site that, according to our optimal model results, may harbor unknown populations of the Annamite striped rabbit, and hence they should be prioritized for future field surveys. Our finding also highlights the importance of modeling tools in biodiversity surveys, especially for elusive and poorly studied species.
The Most Attractive Is Not Always the Preferred: Lessons From Necrophagous Dung Beetle Assemblages in a Region of the Central Amazon
Authors: Costa Mirella Lima , Salomão Renato Portela , Rodrigues Alencar Janderson Batista , de Albuquerque Correa César Murilo , Iannuzzi Luciana 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTResource attractiveness and preference is determinant to assess how biodiversity is structured in different ecosystems. Necrophagy is the alternative or complementary dietary habit of dung beetles, but a few studies have focused on evaluating how different carrion types attract different species. The goal of this study was to assess the effect of carrion type on attractiveness and preference of dung beetle taxonomic diversity in a region of Central Amazon. Pitfall traps baited with bovine spleen, chicken liver, and fish (freshwater sardine) were installed. Bait attractiveness was estimated through a sampling design that kept exclusively one food type in the field, while bait preference comprised a sampling design with more than one food type offered simultaneously in a concentrated area. We collected 3151 individuals from 24 dung beetle species. Bovine spleen was the most attractive bait in both food preference and food attractiveness experiments, being the only carrion type in which species demonstrated preference. Each carrion type attracted distinct dung beetle assemblages. This study demonstrates that Amazonian dung beetles prefer specific carrion types, which serves as a basis for future studies related to dung beetle diet.
Metabolomic and morphological trait diversity display contrasting patterns in temperate forest tree communities
Authors: Henn Jonathan J. , Sedio Brian E. , Catano Christopher P. , Dewald‐Wang Emily , Vela Díaz Dilys , Lutz James A. , McMahon Sean M. , Parker Geoffrey , Myers Jonathan A. , Spasojevic Marko J. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractStudies of community assembly often explore the role of niche selection in limiting the diversity of functional traits (underdispersion) or increasing the diversity of functional traits (overdispersion) within local communities. While these patterns have primarily been explored with morphological functional traits related to environmental tolerances and resource acquisition, plant metabolomics may provide an additional functional dimension of community assembly to expand our understanding of how niche selection changes along environmental gradients. Here, we examine how the functional diversity of leaf secondary metabolites and traditional morphological plant traits changes along local environmental gradients in three temperate forest ecosystems across North America. Specifically, we asked whether co‐occurring tree species exhibit local‐scale over‐ or underdispersion of metabolomic and morphological traits, and whether differences in trait dispersion among local communities are associated with environmental gradients of soil resources and topography. Across tree species, we find that most metabolomic traits are not correlated with morphological traits, adding a unique dimension to functional trait space. Within forest plots, metabolomic traits tended to be overdispersed while morphological traits tended to be underdispersed. Additionally, local environmental gradients had site‐specific effects on metabolomic and morphological trait dispersion patterns. Taken together, these results show that different suites of traits can result in contrasting patterns of functional diversity along environmental gradients and suggest that multiple community assembly mechanisms operate simultaneously to structure functional diversity in temperate forest ecosystems.
Ubiquitin‐Conjugating Enzyme Ubc13 in Macrophages Suppresses Lung Tumor Progression Through Inhibiting PD‐L1 Expression
Authors: Sun Siying , Ni Jun , Liu Jiamin , Tan Juofang , Jin Runsen , Li Hecheng , Wu Xuefeng 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTTumor cell‐intrinsic ubiquitin‐conjugating enzyme Ubc13 promotes tumorigenesis, yet how Ubc13 in immune cell compartments regulates tumor progression remains elusive. Here, we show that myeloid‐specific deletion of Ubc13 (Ubc13fl/flLyz2Cre) leads to accelerated transplanted lung tumor growth in mice. Compared with their littermate controls, tumor‐bearing Ubc13fl/flLyz2Cre mice had lower proliferation and effector function of CD8+ T lymphocytes, accompanied by increased infiltration of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells within the tumor microenvironment. Mechanistically, Ubc13 deficiency leads to upregulation of Arg1 and PD‐L1, the latter is modulated by reduced Ubc13‐mediated K63‐linked polyubiquitination and increasing activation of Akt, thereby inducing skewness to protumoral polarization and immunosuppressive manifestation. Taken together, we reveal that macrophage‐intrinsic Ubc13 restrains lung tumor progression, indicating that activating Ubc13 in macrophages could be an effective immunotherapeutic regimen for lung cancer.
Organosilylated Cage Germoxanes Encapsulating Fluoride Ions for Creating Functional Nanomaterials
Authors: Hayashi Taiki , Kuroda Kazuyuki , Shimojima Atsushi 
Published: December 2024

AbstractRecent advances in the design and synthesis of functionalized cage germoxanes that encapsulate fluoride ions to create various nanomaterials are presented. Organosilylation of the Ge−OH groups at the vertices of the cage is a versatile method for conferring solubility in organic solvents and chemical reactivity for grafting and cross‐linking. Organosilylated cage germoxanes can be used to prepare nanoporous solids with tunable pore characteristics, self‐healing silicone‐based elastomers, and a new class of inorganic‐organic hybrid ionic liquids. The unique properties of these nanomaterials arising from the Ge−O−Ge framework, fluoride anions encapsulated within the framework, counter cations outside the framework, and organosilyl groups at the vertices of the cage are described.
Recent Advances in Chalcogenation of α‐Amino Acids/Peptides: Synthetic and Mechanistic Aspects
Authors: Bag Raghunath , Kar Malobika , Sharma Nagendra K. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractNatural α‐amino acids are building blocks of biomacromolecules proteins and peptides, which are essential for living organisms. Recently, structurally modified amino acids and their peptides have received high demand for the development of various types of biomaterials, including therapeutic drug candidates. For example, the chalcogenated amino acids and their peptides serve as privileged structural scaffolds, derived from native amino acids. Given the widespread utility of sulfur/selenium‐containing compounds in biological, pharmaceutical, and medicinal chemistry, efficient chalcogenation protocol has been accomplished through various catalytic methods such as transition‐metal, metal‐free, and photocatalytic strategies. Among them, transition‐metal based strategies through C−H activation have been extensively explored for the chalcogenation of amino acids and peptides. Concurrently, metal‐free and photocatalytic strategies offer sustainable and step‐economically viable pathways for achieving successful chalcogenation. In this review, we have focused on the recent achievements of both C(sp2)−H and C(sp3)−H chalcogenation of α‐amino acids and peptides with chalcogenides along with their substrate scopes, mechanisms, advantages, and limitations.
Trimethylsilyl Polyphosphate Promoted Efficient Synthesis of 4(3H)‐Quinazolinones from Methyl Anthranilate
Authors: Gruber Nadia , Burin Emiliano E. , Kilimciler Natalia B. , Cambiaso Mariana L. , Orelli Liliana R. , Díaz Jimena E. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractA trimethylsilyl polyphosphate (PPSE) promoted synthesis of 4(3H)‐quinazolinones, a heterocycle with wide biological potential, from methyl anthranilate and secondary amides is described. The procedure is general, involves very easily available starting materials, shows functional group tolerance and leads to good to excellent yields. The method proved to be suitable for scaling‐up. A one‐pot approach was also explored. This step‐economic modification reduces the time, waste and environmental impact of the synthesis and leads to satisfactory global yields that include 2 or 3 single steps. Finally, a possible reaction mechanism that involves a nitrilium cation intermediate is proposed.
An Efficient Synthetic Methodology for the Preparation of Glycosyl β‐diketones
Authors: Barri Ivan A. , Le Pors Macarena S. , Colinas Pedro A. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractIn this study, we present a synthetic methodology for preparing glycosyl β‐diketones from the corresponding allyl ethers. The process involves three steps: nitrile oxide cycloadditions, reduction of the glycosyl isoxazolines, and oxidation of β‐hydroxyketones. This route is suitable for acid‐ and base‐sensitive protecting groups, and the reactions were conducted with retention of the anomeric configuration. The resulting glycosyl β‐diketones were then utilized in the synthesis of the corresponding pyrazoles.
Friendship With Immigrants and Inclusive Policies Correspond to More Positive Perceptions of Immigrants: A Longitudinal Multilevel Analysis Across North America and Europe
Authors: Kende Judit , Feher Luca , Tropp Linda R. , Green Eva G. T. , Jacobs Dirk , Klein Olivier 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTRelational and societal exclusion of immigrants in Western countries fuels negative perceptions of immigrants among non‐migrants. We investigated how relational and societal inclusion in the form of friendship and immigrant integration policies jointly relate to perceptions of immigrants. We conducted a longitudinal multilevel analysis drawing on probability samples of non‐migrants from the Transatlantic Trends Survey (N = 27,513) in nine North American and European countries over 5 years. Extending prior scholarship, we provide longitudinal evidence that more inclusive immigrant integration policies correspond to greater numbers of immigrant friends. Greater friendships with immigrants, in turn, corresponded to more positive perceptions of immigrants. Furthermore, we found that exclusive policies predict negative perceptions of immigrants but only among non‐migrants who have few immigrant friends. Instead, when non‐migrants report more immigrant friends, their perceptions of immigrants are positive regardless of policies. Thus, societal inclusion is related to stronger relational inclusion, but once intergroup friendships are established, societal exclusion is less consequential.