bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nb2O5 memristive neurons‐based unsupervised learning network
Authors: Lu Zhenzhou , Zhu Qian , Shi Shuyu , Wang Kangtai , Liang Yan 
Published: April 2024

SummaryMemristors exhibit potential applications in neuromorphic computing, because of their nanoscale and low power. Non‐volatile passive memristors usually behave as electronic synapses, while volatile locally active memristors can be used to construct artificial neurons. In this paper, we apply an Nb2O5 locally active memristor with the parasitic capacitance as a LIF neuron and analyze the possibility of generating spiking oscillations by the neuron through small signal equivalent circuits and the Hopf bifurcation method. By combining Nb2O5 memristive neurons with the voltage‐controlled non‐volatile memristive synapses, we construct an unsupervised learning network and classify 5 × 3 letter images and 5 × 5 number images. In particular, before building the hardware circuit, we predict the training time, recognition time, and recognition accuracy of the pattern recognition network through theoretical analysis, which guides the actual circuit experiment. Specifically, the training time of the network is related to the synaptic memristor resistance change rate, the recognition time of the network is related to the oscillation period of the Nb2O5 memristor, and whether the network can work properly is related to the parameters of Nb2O5 memristor and NMOS. The LTspice simulation results manifest that the proposed circuit can recognize different patterns and can be applied to the neural morphological system of pattern recognition.
Single‐cell transcriptomics reveal metastatic CLDN4+ cancer cells underlying the recurrence of malignant pleural effusion in patients with advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhang Xiaoshen , Wang Xuanhe , Wen Yaokai , Chen Shen , Zhou Caicun , Wu Fengying 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundRecurrent malignant pleural effusion (MPE) resulting from non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is easily refractory to conventional therapeutics and lacks predictive markers. The cellular or genetic signatures of recurrent MPE still remain largely uncertain.Methods16 NSCLC patients with pleural effusions were recruited, followed by corresponding treatments based on primary tumours. Non‐recurrent or recurrent MPE was determined after 3–6 weeks of treatments. The status of MPE was verified by computer tomography (CT) and cytopathology, and the baseline pleural fluids were collected for single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq). Samples were then integrated and profiled. Cellular communications and trajectories were inferred by bioinformatic algorithms. Comparative analysis was conducted and the results were further validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in a larger MPE cohort from the authors' centre (n = 64).ResultsThe scRNA‐seq revealed that 33 590 cells were annotated as 7 major cell types and further characterized into 14 cell clusters precisely. The cell cluster C1, classified as Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM)+ metastatic cancer cell and correlated with activation of tight junction and adherence junction, was significantly enriched in the recurrent MPE group, in which Claudin‐4 (CLDN4) was identified. The subset cell cluster C3 of C1, which was enriched in recurrent MPE and demonstrated a phenotype of ameboidal‐type cell migration, also showed a markedly higher expression of CLDN4. Meanwhile, the expression of CLDN4 was positively correlated with E74 Like ETS Transcription Factor 3 (ELF3), EpCAM and Tumour Associated Calcium Signal Transducer 2 (TACSTD2), independent of driver‐gene status. CLDN4 was also found to be associated with the expression of Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1 Subunit Alpha (HIF1A) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGFA), and the cell cluster C1 was the major mediator in cellular communication of VEGFA signalling. In the extensive MPE cohort, a notably increased expression of CLDN4 in cells from pleural effusion among patients diagnosed with recurrent MPE was observed, compared with the non‐recurrent group, which was also associated with a trend towards worse overall survival (OS).ConclusionsCLDN4 could be considered as a predictive marker of recurrent MPE among patients with advanced NSCLC. Further validation for its clinical value in cohorts with larger sample size and in‐depth mechanism studies on its biological function are warranted.Trial registrationNot applicable.
Translational Research and Health Equity: Gene Therapies for Sickle Cell Disease as a Case Study
Authors: Majumder Mary A. , Fasipe Titilope 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACTIn August of 2023, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine published a timely report titled “Toward Equitable Innovation in Health and Medicine: A Framework.” Here, we review some of the key contributions of the report, focusing on two dimensions of equity: input equity and deployment equity. We then use the example of new gene therapies to treat sickle cell disease (SCD) as a case study of input and deployment equity in translational research. The SCD case study illustrates the need for a kind of translational bioethics with deep understanding of lived experiences and clinical realities as well as a high degree of economic and policy sophistication.
Fitting individual‐based models of spatial population dynamics to long‐term monitoring data
Authors: Malchow Anne‐Kathleen , Fandos Guillermo , Kormann Urs G. , Grüebler Martin U. , Kéry Marc , Hartig Florian , Zurell Damaris 
Published: April 2024

AbstractGenerating spatial predictions of species distribution is a central task for research and policy. Currently, correlative species distribution models (cSDMs) are among the most widely used tools for this purpose. However, a fundamental assumption of cSDMs, that species distributions are in equilibrium with their environment, is rarely fulfilled in real data and limits the applicability of cSDMs for dynamic projections. Process‐based, dynamic SDMs (dSDMs) promise to overcome these limitations as they explicitly represent transient dynamics and enhance spatiotemporal transferability. Software tools for implementing dSDMs are becoming increasingly available, but their parameter estimation can be complex. Here, we test the feasibility of calibrating and validating a dSDM using long‐term monitoring data of Swiss red kites (Milvus milvus). This population has shown strong increases in abundance and a progressive range expansion over the last decades, indicating a nonequilibrium situation. We construct an individual‐based model using the RangeShiftR modeling platform and use Bayesian inference for model calibration. This allows the integration of heterogeneous data sources, such as parameter estimates from published literature and observational data from monitoring schemes, with a coherent assessment of parameter uncertainty. Our monitoring data encompass counts of breeding pairs at 267 sites across Switzerland over 22 years. We validate our model using a spatial‐block cross‐validation scheme and assess predictive performance with a rank‐correlation coefficient. Our model showed very good predictive accuracy of spatial projections and represented well the observed population dynamics over the last two decades. Results suggest that reproductive success was a key factor driving the observed range expansion. According to our model, the Swiss red kite population fills large parts of its current range but has potential for further increases in density. We demonstrate the practicality of data integration and validation for dSDMs using RangeShiftR. This approach can improve predictive performance compared to cSDMs. The workflow presented here can be adopted for any population for which some prior knowledge on demographic and dispersal parameters as well as spatiotemporal observations of abundance or presence/absence are available. The fitted model provides improved quantitative insights into the ecology of a species, which can greatly aid conservation and management efforts.
A case for integrating self‐compassion interventions targeting shame and self‐criticism into eating disorder treatment: Commentary on Paranjothy and Wade
Authors: Burnette C. Blair , Davis Heather A. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractParanjothy and Wade's (2024) meta‐analysis revealed that disordered eating was robustly and consistently associated with greater self‐criticism and lower self‐compassion across samples. It is well known that even evidence‐based treatments for eating disorders (EDs) do not produce long‐lasting effects for many patients. Additionally, it is unclear whether existing “mainstream” evidence‐based ED treatments effectively reduce shame and self‐criticism and increase self‐compassion, even when they intend to do so. In this commentary, we assert that Paranjothy and Wade's (2024) findings should inform the integration of self‐compassion interventions within ED treatment. We argue that shame, a related but distinct construct, should be strongly considered as a primary intervention target in ED interventions that seek to reduce self‐criticism and increase self‐compassion. We hypothesize that directly addressing shame and bolstering self‐compassion at the start of ED treatment may foster higher engagement and more durable effects. We introduce the potential for adjunctive self‐compassion interventions to reduce shame and self‐criticism, and enhance self‐compassion, alongside or within existing ED treatments. Because self‐criticism and shame are shared correlates of EDs and commonly co‐occurring psychopathology, we contend with the possibility that self‐compassion interventions may produce transdiagnostic effects. Shame, self‐criticism, and self‐compassion are important intervention targets to explore in future research.
Large deformation diffeomorphic mapping of 3D shape variation reveals two distinct mandible and head capsule morphs in Atta vollenweideri leaf‐cutter worker ants
Authors: Imirzian Natalie , Püffel Frederik , Roces Flavio , Labonte David 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAnts are crucial ecosystem engineers, and their ecological success is facilitated by a division of labour among sterile “workers”. In some ant lineages, workers have undergone further morphological differentiation, resulting in differences in body size, shape, or both. Distinguishing between changes in size and shape is not trivial. Traditional approaches based on allometry reduce complex 3D shapes into simple linear, areal, or volume metrics; modern approaches using geometric morphometrics typically rely on landmarks, introducing observer bias and a trade‐off between effort and accuracy. Here, we use a landmark‐free method based on large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping (LDDMM) to assess the co‐variation of size and 3D shape in the mandibles and head capsules of Atta vollenweideri leaf‐cutter ants, a species exhibiting extreme worker size‐variation. Body mass varied by more than two orders of magnitude, but a shape atlas created via LDDMM on μ‐CT‐derived 3D mesh files revealed only two distinct head capsule and mandibles shapes—one for the minims (body mass < 1 mg) and one for all other workers. We discuss the functional significance of the identified 3D shape variation, and its implications for the evolution of extreme polymorphism in Atta.
Sea stack plots: Replacing bar charts with histograms
Authors: Stuart Alice Dorothy , Ilić Maja , Simmons Benno I. , Sutherland William J. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractGraphs in research articles can increase the comprehension of statistical data but may mislead readers if poorly designed. We propose a new plot type, the sea stack plot, which combines vertical histograms and summary statistics to represent large univariate datasets accurately, usefully, and efficiently. We compare five commonly used plot types (dot and whisker plots, boxplots, density plots, univariate scatter plots, and dot plots) to assess their relative strengths and weaknesses when representing distributions of data commonly observed in biological studies. We find the assessed plot types are either difficult to read at large sample sizes or have the potential to misrepresent certain distributions of data, showing the need for an improved method of data visualisation. We present an analysis of the plot types used in four ecology and conservation journals covering multiple areas of these research fields, finding widespread use of uninformative bar charts and dot and whisker plots (60% of all panels showing univariate data from multiple groups for the purpose of comparison). Some articles presented more informative figures by combining plot types (16% of panels), generally boxplots and a second layer such as a flat density plot, to better display the data. This shows an appetite for more effective plot types within conservation and ecology, which may further increase if accurate and user‐friendly plot types were made available. Finally, we describe sea stack plots and explain how they overcome the weaknesses associated with other alternatives to uninformative plots when used for large and/or unevenly distributed data. We provide a tool to create sea stack plots with our R package ‘seastackplot’, available through GitHub.
Citizen science mitigates the lack of distributional data on Nigerian birds
Authors: Tende Talatu , Iniunam Iniunam A. , Ivande Samuel T. , Awoyemi Adewale G. , Danmallam Bello A. , Ringim Abubakar S. , Bako Longji A. , Ramzy Fatima J. , Kazeh Nanchin W. , Izang Arin Izang , Kumdet Panshak S. , Ibrahim Joseph I. , Haruna M. Abubakar , Eyos Kevin , Iki Ezekiel D. , Chaskda Adams A. , Ottosson Ulf 
Published: April 2024

AbstractCitizen science projects are expanding globally, with the African continent, particularly Nigeria, registering significant growth. Here, we document and analyse novel operations of the Nigerian Bird Atlas Project (NIBAP), 2015–2022. This project has employed the use of ornithologists, mainly trained at the A. P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute (APLORI) located in Jos, Nigeria, and its 28 bird clubs established across Nigeria to enlist 827 bird enthusiasts that contribute regular and near real‐time data about bird distribution and relative abundance in the country. Interestingly, NiBAP has recorded about 75% of the bird species known from Nigeria in only about 50% of Nigeria's total surface area, including 39 nationally threatened species. The Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus, Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis, and Grey‐backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brevicaudata were the most commonly recorded species, while Amurum Forest Reserve, Rennajj Fish Farm, and Obudu Cattle Ranch were the most surveyed sites during the period. Thus, our approach reveals how to increase involvement of nature enthusiasts, ornithologists, and a regional research institute to build local capacity and contribute rich information necessary to alleviate the lack of distributional data about Afrotropical avifauna. We strongly recommend our approach to boost other citizen science projects across Africa and beyond to address the huge lack of biodiversity data, create public awareness, and foster conservation education.
Synthesis and Application of Well‐Defined Fluoroalkyl Zinc Complexes
Authors: Zhang Cai 
Published: April 2024

AbstractFluoroalkyl groups play an irreplaceable role in the field of pharmaceutical and agrochemical industry due to their unique properties. Based on this, it is crucial to effectively introduce fluoroalkyl groups into target molecules. In this review, we describe the synthesis of well‐defined fluoroalkyl zinc complexes and their applications in the fluoroalkylation of compounds. Different from the reactivities of copper fluoroalkyl complexes, fluoroalkyl zinc complexes often needed to be combined with copper or nickel catalysts when participating in fluoroalkylation reactions. From the perspective of reaction mechanism, the transfer of trifluoromethyl from zinc complexes to copper catalysts formed the highly active trifluoromethyl copper reagents, which can be directly used for the fluoroalkylation. In most cases, the desired target products were provided with excellent yields.
Tailoring Li2CO3 configuration and orbital structure of CoS to improve catalytic activity and stability for Li‐CO2 batteries
Authors: Mao Rui , Liu Yingqi , Shu Pengfei , Lu Bingyi , Chen Biao , Chen Yanli , Song Yanze , Jia Yeyang , Zheng Zhiyang , Peng Qiong , Zhou Guangmin 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe sluggish reaction kinetics has greatly hampered the development of reversible Li‐CO2 batteries. Especially during charge, high charge voltage and possible side reactions during Li2CO3 decomposition require both high activity and strong durability of catalysts. Herein, a strategy of introducing rich sulfur vacancies is proposed, which tailors the configuration of Li2CO3 and the orbital structure of CoS to realize the dual enhancement. The calculation results show that charge redistribution by sulfur vacancies on the catalyst stretches the adsorbed Li2CO3 and consequently facilitates its decomposition. Moreover, the induced vacancies lower the S 2p band center, promoting the electrochemical stability of sulfides. Therefore, Li‐CO2 batteries with sulfur vacancy‐rich CoS exhibit a low overpotential of 1.07 V after 400 h cycling, while batteries with pristine CoS have a short lifespan that the overpotential exceeds 1.75 V after cycling for 200 h. This study not only proposes a strategy to improve both catalytic activity and stability but also paves new avenues for designing advanced catalysts for Li‐CO2 batteries and beyond.image
A rare piedmont glaciation in the Mediterranean: Insights from cosmogenic 36Cl dating of Davraz hummocky moraine field (SW Türkiye)
Authors: Altınay Onur , Sarıkaya Mehmet Akif , Wilcken Klaus M. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractPiedmont glaciers (lobes), typically found in high latitudes and large mountainous regions, extend from ice sheets and ice caps to lower altitudes. However, they can also occur, although less commonly, on mid‐latitude mountains. When these fan‐like glaciers retreat, they leave behind hummocky moraines scattered in a chaotic pattern. In this study, we have mapped one of these mid‐latitude sites and established a Terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide (TCN) glacial chronology on Mount Davraz, namely Davraz hummocky moraine field (37°46′00″N, 30°43′15″E). Our findings indicate that the glaciers in this area started receding from the early local Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) period (21.8 ± 2.4 ka) to the early Late‐glacial period (17.7 ± 2.2 ka), and eventually disappearing. The deglaciation of the Mt. Davraz palaeoglacier matches nearby mountains, supported by southerly winds as significant for regional glaciation. Our discoveries reveal a robust connection between southerly winds and nearby glaciation, contributing to our understanding of how climate influences glaciers. Likewise, the glacial timelines of the neighbouring mountains align with the glacial history of Mt. Davraz.
Riverine aquatic plants trap propagules and fine sediment: Implications for ecosystem engineering and management under contrasting land uses
Authors: McKendrick Scott Alexander , Burns Matthew James , Imberger Moss , Russell Kathryn Lesley , Greet Joe 
Published: April 2024

AbstractPlants in streams act as physical ecosystem engineers, both influencing and responding to hydrogeomorphic processes such as fine sediment retention. Instream vegetation may also influence propagule dispersal and retention, shaping plant community dynamics. These plant‐sediment interactions may result in synergistic feedback promoting hydrogeomorphic complexity and biogeomorphic succession. However, the role of aquatic plants (submerged or mostly submerged) in trapping propagules, fine sediment and organic matter in degraded lowland streams is uncertain. In this study, we sampled sediment (≤5 cm depth) from eight streams ranging in land use from rural to urban, including within patches of aquatic vegetation and unvegetated locations. We conducted a propagule bank trial to identify the abundance and diversity of propagules and analysed the particle size and organic matter composition of the samples. A total of 8,365 seedlings from 113 plant species were recorded with a range of hydrological tolerances. Aquatic plants retained 56% more propagules and 32% more species, and marginal vegetation retained 250% more propagules and 48% more species, than open channel locations (the least retentive location). Similar patterns were found for fine sediment and organic matter retention. Propagule bank communities were different across land‐use types but not sampling locations. The trapping effect of aquatic vegetation diminished as catchments became more urbanised. This study provides evidence that aquatic plants retain more propagules and species, and fine sediment and organic matter than vegetation‐free channel locations. Improving aquatic vegetation in streams may be an important early step in restoring hydrogeomorphic complexity and propagule retention, and the facilitation of biogeomorphic succession in degraded streams. Unfortunately, heavily urbanised streams with flashy flow regimes are unlikely to benefit from this function unless catchment‐scale hydrology is addressed.
Shifts of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal functioning along a simulated nitrogen deposition gradient
Authors: Wang Jian , Yang Chenxi , Zhang Haiou , Chen Tianqing 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe deposition of atmospheric nitrogen can significantly boost the amount of nitrogen available in various ecosystems, potentially altering the mutualistic association between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and their host plants. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms and the degree to which externally induced nitrogen‐related changes in AMF functionality might impact Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, a plant known for its high mycorrhizal colonization, remains unclear. In this study, the mycorrhizal response affected by environmental N enrichment was addressed by conducting a glasshouse experiment, and four fertilization treatments (N1, N2, N3, and N4, 0, 15, 30, and 60 kg N hm−1 a−1, respectively) were used to simulate N deposition differences over the mycorrhizal response. The changes in mycorrhizal colonization and plant variables during different AMF and N fertilizer applications were investigated. When the gradient's nitrogen levels increased, the mycorrhizal growth response and mycorrhizal nitrogen response showed a pattern of first dropping and then increasing. N‐induced changes in the mycorrhizal response were associated with vesicular colonization, arbuscular colonization, and root‐length colonization. The variation in the mycorrhizal response over the N concentration gradient highlights the critical role of AMF in agroecosystems.