bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Collaboration with Nlaka'pamux communities to examine metal deposition on soapberry in interior British Columbia
Authors: Berg Kevan , Berryman Shanti , Garibaldi Ann , Straker Justin , Melaschenko Natalie , Ver Hoef Jay M. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThis paper presents a collaboration with Indigenous Nlaka'pamux communities to develop a study to address the effects of mining dust on soapberry (Shepherdia canadensis), which is an important medicinal and food resource for local Nlaka'pamux people. The objectives were to compare element concentrations in samples of washed and unwashed leaves and berries relative to soil samples collected around the mine and in a reference area. Samples were analyzed for metal concentrations using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). Spatial models showed that six metals (Al, Ba, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Sr) had significant elevated concentrations near the mine compared to farther away, though concentrations were generally within ranges reported for human consumption. There was no correspondence with soil metal concentrations, suggesting that elevated metal concentrations in leaves and berries near the mine were due to dust rather than uptake from local soils. Washing of leaves and berries reduced concentrations by between 13 and 48%, depending on the metal. The study illustrates a model with global relevance for how mines can work with communities to address complex social–ecological problems.
Can prescribed fires restore C4grasslands invaded by a C3woody species and a co‐dominant C3grass species?
Authors: Ansley R. James , Boutton Thomas W. , Hollister Emily B. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractPrescribed fire is used to reduce woody plant invasion and restore herbaceous production and diversity in grasslands and savannas worldwide. Here, we determined whether a concentrated series of repeated‐winter, repeated‐summer, or alternate‐season (winter and summer) fires in a short timeframe (“transition fires”) could catalyze the restoration of C4perennial grasses in Southern Great Plains, USA grasslands that had become dominated by a fire‐tolerant C3woody N2‐fixer (honey mesquite,Prosopis glandulosa) and a C3perennial bunchgrass (Texas wintergrass,Nassella leucotricha). We applied transition fires over a 5‐yr span and maintenance fires on a portion of each plot 7 or 8 yr later. We measured herbaceous standing biomass and cover and soil variables (soil organic C, N, δ13C, and δ15N) in unburned, transition‐burned, and maintenance‐burned treatments. Greater δ13C at 10–20 (−17‰) than 0–10 (−20‰) cm depth increment confirmed that vegetation was historically mostly C4grassland that shifted toward C3dominance. Transition treatments with summer fire were most effective at top‐killing mesquite, but no treatments root‐killed >3%. Regrowth of top‐killed mesquite was similar in all treatments and reached pre‐fire height by 9–10 yr post‐fire. Herbaceous production and cover responses showed that: (1) Alternate‐season transition fires increased C4mid‐grass, but did not change Texas wintergrass; (2) repeated‐summer fires reduced Texas wintergrass, but did not change C4mid‐grass; and (3) repeated‐winter fires did not change C4mid‐grass or Texas wintergrass compared with the unburned control. All maintenance fires stimulated Texas wintergrass biomass and cover, thus eliminating the reduction of Texas wintergrass caused by repeated‐summer transition fires. There were no long‐term effects of transition fires on soil C, N, δ13C, or δ15N. Results advance our understanding of the expectations and limitations of prescribed fire in shifting a woodland alternate state toward what was historically a fire supported C4grassland/savanna.
Comparing edge and fragmentation effects within seagrass communities: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Yarnall Amy H. , Byers James E. , Yeager Lauren A. , Fodrie F. Joel 
Published: December 2021

AbstractExamining community responses to habitat configuration across scales informs basic and applied models of ecosystem function. Responses to patch‐scale edge effects (i.e., ecological differences between patch edges and interiors) are hypothesized to underpin the effects of landscape‐scale fragmentation (i.e., mosaics of multipatch habitat and matrix). Conceptually, this appears justifiable because fragmented habitats typically have a greater proportion of edge than continuous habitats. To critically inspect whether patch‐scale edge effects translate consistently (i.e., scale up) into patterns observed in fragmented landscapes, we conducted a meta‐analysis on community relationships in seagrass ecosystems to synthesize evidence of edge and fragmentation effects on shoot density, faunal densities, and predation rates. We determined effect sizes by calculating log response ratios for responses within patch edges versus interiors to quantify edge effects, and fragmented versus continuous landscapes to quantify fragmentation effects. We found that both edge and fragmentation effects reduced seagrass shoot densities, although the effect of edge was statistically stronger. By contrast, fauna often exhibited higher densities in patch edges, while fragmentation responses varied directionally across taxa. Fish densities trended higher in patch edges and fragmented landscapes. Benthic fishes responded more positively than benthopelagic fishes to edge effects, although neither guild strongly responded to fragmentation. Invertebrate densities increased in patch edges and trended lower in fragmented landscapes; however, these were small effect sizes due to the offsetting responses of two dominant epifaunal guilds: decapods and smaller crustaceans. Edge and fragmentation affected predation similarly, with prey survival trending lower in patch edges and fragmented landscapes. Overall, several similarities suggested that edge effects conform with patterns of community dynamics in fragmented seagrass. However, across all metrics except fish densities, variability in fragmentation effects was twice that of edge effects. Variance patterns combined with generally stronger responses to edge than fragmentation, warrant caution in unilaterally “scaling‐up” edge effects to describe fragmentation effects. Alternatively, fragmentation includes additional factors (e.g., matrix effects, patch number, mean patch size, isolation) that may enhance or offset edge effects. Fragmentation and increased edge are syndromes of habitat degradation, therefore this analysis informs mechanistic models of community change in altered terrestrial and marine systems.
Mono‐ and Bis‐Alkynyl Iron Complexes Supported by a “Softened” Tetraaza Macrocycle
Authors: Clendening Reese A. , Ren Tong 
Published: December 2021

AbstractA pair of novel Fe‐alkynyl complexes, [FeIII(HMTI)(C2SiEt3)2]ClO4(2) and [FeII(HMTI)(C2SiEt3)(NCCH3)]ClO4(3), is described herein. Reaction of Fe(meso‐HMC)Cl(ClO4)]ClO4(1) with lithiated triethylsilylacetylene and subsequent exposure to oxygen yielded the bis‐alkynyl2containing the dehydrogenated tetraimine macrocycle (HMTI). Reduction of2by mossy zinc in acetonitrile yielded the mono‐alkynyl3. The structures of2and3were determined using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Analysis of visible absorption and electrochemical data establishes the redox‐active nature of the HMTI macrocycle, and indicates significant interactions between the Fedπ and tetraimine π* orbitals. These deductions are further supported by density functional theory calculations.
Convergent and Practical Synthesis of Fluorescent Triphenylamine Derivatives and Their Localization in Living Cells
Authors: Mougeot Romain , Oger Samuel , Auvray Marie , Gallavardin Thibault , Leleu Stéphane , Mahuteau‐Betzer Florence , Franck Xavier 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIn the search for new fluorescent triphenylamine (TP) derivatives, we studied the influence of the position and substitution of diverse heterocyclic substituents. A library of 10 fluorescent triphenylamines bearing either oxazoles or thiazoles and pyridiniums, substituted at different positions has been developed. The approach is based on a convergent C−H activation reaction between pyridine‐oxazoles or pyridine‐thiazoles and di‐iodo triphenylamine. We showed that the nature and substitution pattern of the 5‐membered‐ (oxazole, thiazole) or 6‐membered heterocycle (pyridine) has a strong influence on their fluorescence properties and on their localization in living cells as they stain either the nucleus or mitochondria.
Acceleration of antibacterial activity of curcumin loaded biopolymers against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Synthesis, optimization, and evaluation
Authors: Anbari Hamoun , Maghsoudi Amir , Hosseinpour Mohammadreza , Yazdian Fatemeh 
Published: December 2021

AbstractCurcumin is a polyphenolic molecule with antibacterial, antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to prepare nanocurcumin by encapsulating in biopolymers to improve its stability, bioavailability, water‐solubility, antibacterial efficiency against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Three effective variables of curcumin concentration, polymer concentration, and water volume on curcumin‐loaded polymer nanoparticles, were optimized. The average size of polyacrylic acid (PAA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and polyethyleneimine (PEI) nanoparticles were obtained 75.2, 77.1, 86.4 nm, respectively. The nanoparticles had a spherical shape, a smooth and uniform surface morphology. The MIC of PAA, PVA, and PEI nanoparticles was 0.480, 0.390, and 0.340 mg/mL, respectively and the MIC of PAA, PVA, and PEI combined with methicillin was 0.330, 0.260, and 0.200 mg/mL, respectively. According to the results, curcumin‐loaded PEI nanoparticles had the highest inhibitory effect against methicillin‐resistant S. aureus among the synthesized nanoparticles. The results showed that solvent volume, polymer concentration and curcumin concentration had a significant effect on particle size. The inhibitory properties of curcumin nanoparticles significantly increased due to the smaller particle size and increased penetration into the bacterium. Curcumin‐loaded nanoparticles can be promising drug carriers for the treatment of infections, cancer, and other diseases.
Modelling alpine glacier geometry and subglacial erosion patterns in response to contrasting climatic forcing
Authors: Magrani Fabio , Valla Pierre G. , Egholm David 
Published: December 2021

AbstractClimate exerts a primary control on glacier mass balance, driving changes in ice flux, which affects basal sliding and subglacial erosion. Although past glacier reconstructions have been widely used as paleo‐climate proxies, extracting quantitative temperature/precipitation data from paleo‐glaciers is still challenging. The iSOSIA ice model was used over a synthetic landscape to quantitatively investigate the non‐linear dependence of glacier geometry and ice dynamics on climate forcing, as well as to analyse how spatial patterns of subglacial erosion and erosion rates vary between the accumulation and ablation zones for different climatic settings. We performed 10 calibrated climatic scenarios with different combinations of temperature and precipitation rate in two separate sets of simulations [maintaining either same equilibrium line altitude (ELA) or same ice extent; SA and ST, respectively]. Our results reinforce the role of climate and the importance of ice flux in conditioning glacier geometry. In SA simulations, contrasting climatic scenarios showed a major influence on glacier length and thickness. In ST simulations, calibrated ELAs presented a variability of over 300 m in order to maintain similar ice extent, but showed reduced changes in glacier thickness. These results highlight the importance of ice flux to predict glacier geometry, when compared to the overall mass balance from an ELA estimate. Subglacial abrasion and quarrying showed notable differences between the accumulation and ablation zones for varying climatic forcing, with multimodal erosion distributions for increased precipitation/temperature, shifting erosion towards higher‐elevation tributaries and connecting erosion patches in the ablation zone. Such trends highlight the role of subglacial hydrology and ice‐bed contact (cavitation) in dictating patterns of subglacial erosion, while the depth of erosion relates closely to ice flux and climate inputs. Our results have potential implications for paleo‐climate reconstructions based on glacier geometry and provide insights on how subglacial erosion can help estimate paleo‐climatic conditions from paleo‐glacial records.
Detection of multimycotoxins in camel feed and milk samples and their comparison with the levels in cow milk
Authors: Zeidan Randa , Ul Hassan Zahoor , Al‐Naimi Noor , Al‐Thani Roda , Jaoua Samir 
Published: December 2021

AbstractCamel milk has been considered as an important source of nutrients and is commercialized in many countries of the world including the Middle East. This study aimed to investigate the presence of mycotoxins in camel feed and milk samples in comparison with the cow milk. Fumonisins (FUM), ochratoxin A (OTA), and zearalenone (ZEN) were detected in 14%, 39%, and 39% of the tested camel feed samples, respectively. Among the tested camel feed samples, 8.3% and 5.6% were co‐contaminated with OTA+FUM and FUM+ZEN, respectively. In the case of milk samples, 46.15% of camel and 63.63% of cow were found contaminated with aflatoxin M1 (AFM1). In total, 16.2% and 8.1% of the milk samples were simultaneously contaminated with two and three mycotoxins, respectively. Although the levels of individual mycotoxins in the camel feed and milk samples were within the European Union (EU) permissible limits, their co‐occurrence may pose severe risk to human and animal health due to possible additive and/or synergistic toxicities.
A numerical study to investigate the effect of turbulators on thermal flow and heat performance of a 3D pipe
Authors: Alhamid Jassim , Al‐Obaidi Ahmed Ramadhan , Towsyfyan H. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractTo reduce the heat exchanger's costs in a highly competitive industry, thermal performance enhancement of the heat exchangers has successfully gained attention in the last few decades. Among different engineering approaches, the application of the enhanced pipes provides a key solution to improve heat performance. In this paper, the investigation develops a numerical study based on the commercially available computational fluid dynamics codes on the turbulent flow in three‐dimensional tubular pipes. Various concavity (dimple) diameters with corrugation and twisted tape configurations are investigated. The study has shown that perforated geometrical parameters lead to a high fluid mixing and flow perturbation between the pipe core region and the walls, hence better thermal efficiency. Moreover, a model of concavity (dimple) with a 4 mm diameter allows the highest heat transfer enhancement among other designs. In addition, the study shows that due to the disturbance between the pipe core region and the pipe wall, the transverse vortices and swirl flow generated are forceful, which leads to better heat transfer enhancement compared with the conventional (smooth) pipes. As the Reynolds number (Re) rises, the mixing flow, secondary, and separation flow extend to become higher than the values in a smooth pipe, allowing a higher value of performance evaluation factor to be achieved for a dimple diameter of 1mm at the low Re values. This study, therefore, shows the promising potential of the enhanced pipes in the heat transfer enhancement of heat exchangers that is crucial in industrial applications to save more energy.
Toward the thermohydrodynamic behavior of a nanofluid containing C‐MWCNTs flowing through a 3D annulus channel under constant imposed heat flux
Authors: Benkhedda Mohammed , Tayebi Tahar , Chamkha Ali J. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe heat transport and friction factor in a three‐dimensional horizontal concentric annular duct filled with nanofluids comprising clove‐treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes are investigated numerically in this paper. The cylinder's outer surface is thermally insulated, while uniform heat flux is imposed on the cylinder's inner surface. The problem is formulated in dimensionless cylindrical coordinates. The numerical solutions were obtained based on the finite volume technique with second‐order precision, and cover a range of the Reynolds number 1000 ≤ Re ≤ 2000 and nanoparticle weight fractions 0.075, 0.125, and 0.175 wt%. To describe the results for both heat exchange and fluid flow performance, the temperature profile, Nusselt number, heat transfer coefficient, and friction factor are represented. The findings state that heat transport increases as Reynolds is increased and nanoparticles are introduced. The friction factor was also observed to improve as the concentration of nanoparticles increased. In addition, two new Nusselt number and friction factor correlations were established.
Novel Pathogenetic Variants in PTHLH and TRPS1 Genes Causing Syndromic Brachydactyly
Authors: Elli Francesca Marta , Mattinzoli Deborah , Lucca Camilla , Piu Matteo , Maffini Maria A. , Costanza Jole , Fontana Laura , Santaniello Carlo , Forino Concetta , Milani Donatella , Bonati Maria Teresa , Secco Andrea , Gastaldi Roberto , Alfieri Carlo , Messa Piergiorgio , Miozzo Monica , Arosio Maura , Mantovani Giovanna 
Published: December 2021

ABSTRACT
Skeletal disorders, including both isolated and syndromic brachydactyly type E, derive from genetic defects affecting the fine tuning of the network of pathways involved in skeletogenesis and growth-plate development. Alterations of different genes of this network may result in overlapping phenotypes, as exemplified by disorders due to the impairment of the parathyroid hormone/parathyroid hormone-related protein pathway, and obtaining a correct diagnosis is sometimes challenging without a genetic confirmation. Five patients with Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO)-like skeletal malformations without a clear clinical diagnosis were analyzed by whole-exome sequencing (WES) and novel potentially pathogenic variants in parathyroid hormone like hormone (PTHLH) (BDE with short stature [BDE2]) and TRPS1 (tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome [TRPS]) were discovered. The pathogenic impact of these variants was confirmed by in vitro functional studies. This study expands the spectrum of genetic defects associated with BDE2 and TRPS and demonstrates the pathogenicity of TRPS1 missense variants located outside both the nuclear localization signal and the GATA ((A/T)GATA(A/G)-binding zinc-containing domain) and Ikaros-like binding domains. Unfortunately, we could not find distinctive phenotypic features that might have led to an earlier clinical diagnosis, further highlighting the high degree of overlap among skeletal syndromes associated with brachydactyly and AHO-like features, and the need for a close interdisciplinary workout in these rare patients. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
The prominence of potential biomarkers in the diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma: Current scenario and future anticipation
Authors: Mir Ishfaq Hassan , Jyothi K. C. , Thirunavukkarasu Chinnasamy 
Published: December 2021

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most aggressive and truculent types of cancer. Early detection of HCC is a massive concern that can boost the overall survival rates of HCC patients. As a result, there is a continual quest for advancements in screening, diagnosis, and treatment strategies to enhance the prognosis at its early stages. However, the confluence of inflammation and cirrhosis hampers the early detection of HCC. The analysis of different types of biomarkers such as tissue biomarkers, serum biomarkers, protein biomarkers, autoantibody markers, and improved imaging techniques has played a vital role in ameliorating HCC monitoring responses. Therefore biomarkers that can identify HCC early with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity might be prodigiously serviceable in the diagnosis and treatment of this notorious disorder. This study offers an overview of the contemporary understanding of several types of biomarkers implicated in hepatocarcinogenesis and their applications in monitoring, diagnosis, and prognosis presage. In additament, we address the role of image techniques associated with HCC diagnosis.
Novel involvement of PLD–PKCδ–CREB axis in regulating FGF‐2‐mediated pentraxin 3 production in human nasal fibroblast cells
Authors: Tsai Yih‐Jeng , Ma Ming‐Chieh , Wu Pi‐Hui , Wu Wen‐Bin 
Published: December 2021

AbstractA higher expression level of mitogenic fibroblast growth factor‐2 (FGF‐2) has been reported in human nasal mucus of both chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP). Meanwhile, we have shown that long pentraxin 3 (PTX3), an essential component of humoral innate immunity that is produced at sites of infection and inflammation, was overproduced in human nasal mucosae and secretions of CRSsNP. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate how FGF‐2 regulates PTX3 expression in human CRSsNP nasal mucosa‐derived fibroblast cells (hNMDFs). The FGF‐2 treatment caused ptx3 mRNA expression and PTX3 protein induction and secretion. In parallel, a differential expression of FGF receptor (FGFR)−1 to FGFR‐4 was observed in hNMDFs and human nasal tissues. While conventionally known PI3K/Akt/mTOR and AP‐1 pathways following FGFR activation were shown to be involved, the protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ) and cAMP response element‐binding protein (CREB) were also found to be as critical signaling molecules in FGF‐2‐induced PTX3 induction. The PKCδ and CREB activation could be detected in total cells and in the cell nucleus. Accordingly, a novel CREB binding sequence was detected in the human ptx3 promoter region and could interact with activated CREB in cells challenged with FGF‐2. Surprisingly, the phospholipase D (PLD), but not phosphoinositide‐ and phosphatidylcholine‐phospholipase C, was necessarily required for PKCδ and CREB activation. Therefore, we demonstrated here for the first time that FGF‐2 mediates PTX3 production not only through PI‐3K/Akt/mTOR and AP‐1 activation, but also through a novel FGFR–PLD–PKCδ–CREB cellular signaling pathway.