bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
XPS Analysis of FexNiyPS3 vdW Materials Used in the Hydrogen Evolution Processes
Authors: Guo Yefei , Cai Guopu , Zhou Junhao , Yang Jiali , Voloshina Elena , Dedkov Yuriy 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn response to the global demand for sustainable energy solutions, the quest for stable and cost‐effective hydrogen production has garnered significant attention in recent decades. Here, the emergence of layered metal phosphorus trichalcogenides (MPX3, M: transition metal, X: chalcogen) materials and their two‐dimensional counterparts with customizable composition and electronic structure holds great promise for such purposes. In the present study, we successfully synthesized large‐scale and high‐quality FePS3, NiPS3, and an alloyed counterpart, Fe0.5Ni0.5PS3. Subsequent systematic investigations were conducted to probe their respective electronic structures and assess their hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) properties. Remarkably, our results unveiled the successful modulation of the bandgap for FexNiyPS3, ultimately bestowing it with the most favorable HER performance for Fe0.5Ni0.5PS3 when compared to the other two samples. Furthermore, our exploration into the evolution of the X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra demonstrated that the charge conversions of metal cations play a pivotal role in the HER reactions. This critical insight further enriches our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms governing the performance of the prepared layered MPX3‐based electrocatalysts, thus facilitating a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the pre‐ and post‐HER reactions. This work not only sheds light on the intricate interplay between composition, electronic structure, and catalytic performance in the realm of novel electrocatalysts, but also contributes to the broader scientific community's pursuit of sustainable and efficient hydrogen production.
An ultra low‐power double‐node‐upsets hardened latch design
Authors: Chen Zhuo , Xie Yuqiao , Liang Jingfeng , Bi Dawei , Hu Zhiyuan , Zhang Zhengxuan 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn this paper, a novel low‐cost, double‐node upset (DNU) tolerant latch aiming at nourishing the lack of these devices in the state of the art was presented, especially featuring high reliability while maintaining a low‐cost profile. The proposed latch is based on a low‐cost single event double‐node upset tolerant latch and also provides self‐recoverability against double‐node‐upsets. The latch uses clock‐controlled DICE (Dual‐interlocked storage cell) cell and CE(C‐Elements) cell to tolerate double‐node‐upsets fully. The Simulation waveforms and analysis results show that the proposed latch can maintain the correct output in any case of DNU. In addition, under the premise of high radiation tolerance, the minimum improvement of the area‐power‐delay product (APDP) of the proposed low‐power double‐node‐upsets hardened latch (LPDHL) is 16.60%, compared with the latest DNU tolerant latch on the literature.
SGLT2 inhibition and three urological cancers: Up‐to‐date results
Authors: Lin Lede , Ning Kang , Xiang Liyuan , Peng Liao , Li Xiang 
Published: March 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo identify the causal role of sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibition on three urological cancers.MethodsSix single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with the expression level of SLC5A2, a proxy for SGLT2 inhibition, from a recent publication were extracted. Three common urological cancers, including bladder cancer, prostate cancer and kidney cancer, were analysed. The main cohort of bladder cancer was derived from UK Biobank (1279 cases and 372,016 controls). The prostate cancer cohort was from the Prostate Cancer Association Group to Investigate Cancer Associated Alterations in the Genome (PRACTICAL) consortium (79,148 cases and 61,106 controls). The kidney cancer phenotype was from the UK Biobank cohort of 463,010 individuals (1114 cases and 461,896 controls). Primary and sensitivity analysis were performed to validate the results. In vitro analysis was also incorporated to validate the Mendelian randomisation results.ResultsIn primary analysis, SGLT2 inhibition was associated with reduced risk of bladder cancer (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97–0.99) per unit lowering of HbA1c level. A protective association was also observed for prostate cancer with odds ratio = 0.31 (95% CI = 0.21–0.47). However, we did not discover a causal relationship between SGLT2 inhibition and kidney cancer (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.99–1.00). Sensitivity analysis and in vitro validation did not support the causal role of SGLT2 inhibition in increasing cancer risk.ConclusionsWe did not find any evidence that SGLT2 inhibition could increase the risk of the three cancers. Even in some analysis, SGLT2 inhibition tended to show protective effects on the three urological cancers.
Population genomic evidence of structured and connected Plasmodium vivax populations under host selection in Latin America
Authors: Kattenberg Johanna Helena , Monsieurs Pieter , De Meyer Julie , De Meulenaere Katlijn , Sauve Erin , de Oliveira Thaís C. , Ferreira Marcelo U. , Gamboa Dionicia , Rosanas‐Urgell Anna 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPathogen genomic epidemiology has the potential to provide a deep understanding of population dynamics, facilitating strategic planning of interventions, monitoring their impact, and enabling timely responses, and thereby supporting control and elimination efforts of parasitic tropical diseases. Plasmodium vivax, responsible for most malaria cases outside Africa, shows high genetic diversity at the population level, driven by factors like sub‐patent infections, a hidden reservoir of hypnozoites, and early transmission to mosquitoes. While Latin America has made significant progress in controlling Plasmodium falciparum, it faces challenges with residual P. vivax. To characterize genetic diversity and population structure and dynamics, we have analyzed the largest collection of P. vivax genomes to date, including 1474 high‐quality genomes from 31 countries across Asia, Africa, Oceania, and America. While P. vivax shows high genetic diversity globally, Latin American isolates form a distinctive population, which is further divided into sub‐populations and occasional clonal pockets. Genetic diversity within the continent was associated with the intensity of transmission. Population differentiation exists between Central America and the North Coast of South America, vs. the Amazon Basin, with significant gene flow within the Amazon Basin, but limited connectivity between the Northwest Coast and the Amazon Basin. Shared genomic regions in these parasite populations indicate adaptive evolution, particularly in genes related to DNA replication, RNA processing, invasion, and motility – crucial for the parasite's survival in diverse environments. Understanding these population‐level adaptations is crucial for effective control efforts, offering insights into potential mechanisms behind drug resistance, immune evasion, and transmission dynamics.
Bioenergetic modelling of a marine top predator's responses to changes in prey structure
Authors: Silva Mariana P. , Oliveira Cláudia , Prieto Rui , Silva Mónica A. , New Leslie , Pérez‐Jorge Sergi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractDetermining how animals allocate energy, and how external factors influence this allocation, is crucial to understand species' life history requirements and response to disturbance. This response is driven in part by individuals' energy balance, prey characteristics, foraging behaviour and energy required for essential functions. We developed a bioenergetic model to estimate minimum foraging success rate (FSR), that is, the lowest possible prey capture rate for individuals to obtain the minimum energy intake needed to meet daily metabolic requirements, for female sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). The model was based on whales' theoretical energetic requirements using foraging and prey characteristics from animal‐borne tags and stomach contents, respectively. We used this model to simulate two prey structure change scenarios: (1) decrease in mean prey size, thus lower prey energy content and (2) decrease in prey size variability, reducing the variability in prey energy content. We estimate the whales need minimum of ~14% FSR to meet their energetic requirements, and energy intake is more sensitive to energy content changes than a decrease in energy variability. To estimate vulnerability to prey structure changes, we evaluated the compensation level required to meet bioenergetic demands. Considering a minimum 14% FSR, whales would need to increase energy intake by 21% (5–35%) and 49% (27–67%) to compensate for a 15% and 30% decrease in energy content, respectively. For a 30% and 50% decrease in energy variability, whales would need to increase energy intake by 13% (0–23%) and 24% (10–35%) to meet energetic demands, respectively. Our model demonstrates how foraging and prey characteristics can be used to estimate impact of changing prey structure in top predator energetics, which can help inform bottom‐up effects on marine ecosystems. We showed the importance of considering different FSR in bioenergetics models, as it can have decisive implications on estimates of energy acquired and affect the conclusions about top predator's vulnerability to possible environmental fluctuations.
Environmental heterogeneity influences liana community differentiation across a Neotropical rainforest landscape
Authors: Ek‐Rodríguez Iván Leonardo , Meave Jorge A. , Navarrete‐Segueda Armando , González‐Arqueros M. Lourdes , Ibarra‐Manríquez Guillermo 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWe examined the variation in liana community composition and structure across geopedological land units to test the hypothesis that environmental heterogeneity is a driving force in liana community assembly. The study site was the Los Tuxtlas Tropical Biology Station, SE Mexico, a reserve that encompasses 640 ha of tropical rainforest. We sampled all lianas with basal diameter ≥1 cm in three 0.5‐ha plots established in each of five land units (totaling 15 plots and 7.5 ha). We censused 6055 individuals and 110 species. Overall, the most speciose families were also the most abundant ones. Density and basal area of some dominant liana species differed among land units, and a permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) and a non‐metric multidimensional scaling ordination (NMDS) revealed differences in the presence, density, and basal area of liana species across the landscape. Liana composition and structure were highly heterogeneous among land units, suggesting that variations in soil water availability and relief are key drivers of liana community spatial differentiation. By showing that soil and topography play an important role at the landscape scale, we underscore the ecological relevance of environmental heterogeneity for liana community assembly. In the future, as our ability to assess the local environmental complexity increases, we will gain a better understanding of the liana community assembly process and their heterogeneous distribution in tropical forests.
Climate‐driven mitochondrial selection in lacertid lizards
Authors: Zhang Xiang , Chen Jian , Luo Hong‐Yu , Chen Xin , Zhong Jun , Ji Xiang 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe mitochondrion, which is an intracellular organelle responsible for most of the energy‐producing pathways, can have its genome targeted for climate‐driven selection. However, climate‐driven mitochondrial selection remains a sparsely studied area in reptiles. Here, we reported the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of a lacertid lizard (Takydromus intermedius) and used mitogenomes from 54 species of lacertid lizards to study their phylogenetic relationships and to identify the mitochondrial genes under positive selection by climate. The length of the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of T. intermedius was 17,713 bp, which was within the range of lengths (17,224–18,943) ever reported for Takydromus species. The arrangement of mitochondrial genes in T. intermedius was the same as in other congeneric species. The 54 lacertid species could be divided into three geographically and climatically different clades. We identified three mitochondrial genes (ATP6, ATP8, and ND3) under positive selection by climate, and found that isothermality, temperature seasonality, precipitation of wettest month, and precipitation seasonality were the most important climatic variables contributing to the gene selection.
Dispersing across habitat boundaries: Uncovering the demographic fates of populations in unsuitable habitat
Authors: Szojka Megan C. , Germain Rachel M. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPatchy landscapes are characterized by abrupt transitions between habitats, forcing species to cross habitat boundaries in order to spread. Although individuals that disperse into unsuitable habitat are often presumed dead in population models, reality may be more nuanced. If survival within an unsuitable habitat is possible (however transiently), then through time, individuals may be able to reach distant, suitable habitat. In this study, conducted with annual plant species in a fragmented Californian grassland, we examined the fate of habitat specialists moving between serpentine patches and an invaded nonserpentine matrix. First, we tested whether habitat specialists use seed dormancy to transiently survive beyond the habitat boundary. We found that dormancy maintained populations of patch specialists deep into the matrix—these patterns were not observed for matrix specialists in serpentine patches. Seeds of patch specialists that lacked morphologies for assisted dispersal accumulated downslope of patches, suggesting that even the most dispersal‐limited species could eventually reach suitable patches even if they first land in the matrix. Second, because an invasive matrix specialist (Avena fatua) is highly abundant, we were interested in determining whether seeds spilled into serpentine patches were strong enough to maintain sink populations. We found that A. fatua was largely absent deep in patches, where the components of fitness plummeted and there was no evidence of a dormant seedbank (in contrast to a sizable seedbank of patch specialists in the matrix). Our results suggest that the demographic fates of individuals that land in unsuitable habitat depend on the direction by which the boundary is crossed (patch ➝ matrix ≠ matrix ➝ patch), with different ecological consequences for species in each habitat type. Dormancy is often understood as a mechanism for persisting in the face of temporal variability but may serve as a means of traversing unsuitable habitat in patchy systems, warranting its consideration in estimates of habitat connectivity.
Exploring the Reactivity of Melanins as Photocatalysts for Reductive Dehalogenations
Authors: Capucciati Andrea , Foli Valentina , Lioniello Pasquale , Alfieri Maria Laura , Cassera Elena , Merli Daniele , Manini Paola , Ravelli Davide 
Published: March 2024

AbstractFour melanin polymers prepared from different precursors (5,6‐dihydroxyindole, 5,6‐dihydroxyindole 2‐carboxylic acid, 1,8‐dihydroxynaphthalene and dopamine) have been adopted as photocatalysts in the reductive dehalogenation of a series of model α‐halogen carbonyl derivatives. The best performing melanin was that obtained from 5,6‐dihydroxyindole 2‐carboxylic acid, which allowed to dehalogenate efficiently both bromomalonate esters and phenacyl bromide; on the other hand, chloromalonate esters were almost unreactive under the same reaction conditions. Electrochemical and control experiments enabled to elucidate the reaction mechanism, demonstrating the key role of electrons as charge carriers in the observed photocatalytic process.
Building sustainable capacity for better access to diabetes care in low‐resource settings: A critical review of global efforts and integrated strategies
Authors: Lamptey Emmanuel 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe alarming state of global insulin access in low‐resource settings presents a major barrier to diabetes care. A comprehensive review of these challenges is lacking at the global level. To address this weakness, enhance affordability and build capacity for a more sustainable approach to scaling up access. This review analyzes the specific issue of inconsistent access to insulin in low‐ and middle‐income countries. Using this analysis, we mapped the scope and intensity of issues such as the unaffordability and unavailability of insulin. We also identified six innovative and integrative strategies for increasing and securing accessibility in the areas of policy making, marketing, clinical practice, health education, domestication, and multisectoral approaches.
Three‐year survival of breast cancer patients attending a one‐stop breast care clinic nested within a primary care health facility in sub‐Saharan Africa‐Zambia
Authors: Songiso Mutumba , Nuñez Olivier , Cabanes Anna , Mutale Mpimpa , Munalula Jabulani , Pupwe George , Henry‐Tillman Ronda , Parham Groesbeck P. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn Zambia, women with breast symptoms travel through multiple levels of the healthcare system before obtaining a definitive diagnosis. To eradicate this critical barrier to care, we nested a novel breast specialty service platform inside a large public‐sector primary healthcare facility in Lusaka, Zambia to offer clinical breast examination, breast ultrasound, and ultrasound‐guided core needle biopsy in a one‐stop format, tightly linked to referral for treatment. The objective of the study was to determine the life expectancy and survival outcomes of a prospective cohort of women diagnosed with breast cancer who were attended to and followed up at the clinic. The effect of breast cancer stage on prognosis was determined by estimating stage‐specific crude survival using the Kaplan–Meier method. Survival analysis was used to estimate mean lifespan according to age and stage at diagnosis. We enrolled 302 women with histologically confirmed breast cancer. The overall 3‐year survival was 73%. An increase in patients presenting with early breast cancer and improvements in their survival were observed. Women with early‐stage breast cancer had a lifespan similar to the general population, while loss of life expectancy was significant at more advanced stages of disease. Our findings suggest that implementing efficient breast care services at the primary care level can avert a substantial proportion of breast cancer‐related deaths. The mitigating factor appears to be stage of disease at the time of diagnosis, the cause of which is multifactorial, with the most influential being delays in the referral process.
How have US colorectal cancer mortality trends changed in the past 20 years?
Authors: Tan Jia Yi , Yeo Yong‐Hao , Ng Wern Lynn , Fong Zhi Ven , Brady Justin T. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn the last two decades, colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality has been decreasing in the United States. However, the mortality trends for the different subtypes of CRC, including different sides of colon, rectosigmoid, and rectal cancer remain unclear. We analyzed the mortality trends of different subtypes of CRC based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide‐Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research data from 1999 to 2020. We calculated age‐adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 100,000 individuals and examined the trends over time by estimating the average annual percent change (AAPC) using the Joinpoint Regression Program. Our study shows that the overall CRC rates decreased significantly from 26.42 to 15.98 per 100,000 individuals, with an AAPC of −2.41. However, the AAMR of rectosigmoid cancer increased significantly from 0.82 to 1.08 per 100,000 individuals, with the AAPC of +1.10. Men and Black individuals had the highest AAMRs respectively (23.90 vs. 26.93 per 100,000 individuals). The overall AAMR of CRC decreased for those aged ≥50 years but increased significantly from 1.02 to 1.58 per 100,000 individuals for those aged 15–49 years, with an AAPC of +0.75. Rural populations had a higher AAMR than the urban populations (22.40 vs. 19.60 per 100,000 individuals). Although overall CRC mortality declined, rising trends in young‐onset CRC and rectosigmoid cancer warrant attention. Disparities persist in terms of sex, race, and geographic region, and urbanization level, emphasizing the need for targeted public health measures.
Effect of Hepatic Impairment on the Pharmacokinetics of Fenfluramine and Norfenfluramine
Authors: Mittur Aravind , Madanick Ryan , Langlois Melanie , Boyd Brooks 
Published: March 2024

AbstractFenfluramine (Fintepla®) is approved for the treatment of seizures associated with the rare epileptic encephalopathies Dravet syndrome and Lennox–Gastaut syndrome. Fenfluramine is extensively metabolized; thus, patients with hepatic impairment (HI) might experience changes in exposure to fenfluramine or its metabolites. In this phase 1 study, we investigated the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of a single oral dose of 0.35 mg/kg fenfluramine in subjects with mild (n = 8), moderate (n = 8), or severe (n = 7) HI (Child–Pugh A/B/C, respectively) and healthy control subjects (n = 22) matched for sex, age, and BMI. All subjects underwent serial sampling to determine total plasma concentrations of fenfluramine and its active metabolite, norfenfluramine. Hepatic impairment was associated with increases in fenfluramine exposures, mainly area‐under‐the‐curve (AUC). Geometric least squares mean ratios (90% confidence intervals) for fenfluramine AUC0‐∞ in mild, moderate, and severe HI versus healthy controls were 1.98 (1.36–2.90), 2.13 (1.43–3.17), and 2.77 (1.82–4.24), respectively. Changes in exposure to norfenfluramine in mild, moderate, and severe HI were minimal compared with normal hepatic function. Exposures to fenfluramine and norfenfluramine in all HI groups were within the ranges that have been characterized in the overall development program, including ranges examined in exposure–response relationships for efficacy and safety in patients, and determined to have an acceptable safety profile. Mild and moderate HI had a modest effect on fenfluramine exposure that was not clinically meaningful, whereas the higher fenfluramine exposure in severe HI may require dose reduction based on general caution in this population. The modest decrease in norfenfluramine exposure is not considered clinically relevant.