bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Palladium catalyst immobilized on functionalized hyper-crosslinked polymers with 8-hydroxyquinoline as monomer for Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions
Authors: Feng Lu , Lu Sihang , Zou Haolei , Chen Gui , Xiang Dexuan 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
An efficient and stable palladium species catalyst immobilized on functionalised hyper-crosslinked polymers (HCPs-Pd) has been successfully developed and applied in the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction of diverse types of aromatic halides with aromatic boric acid in this work. The results demonstrated that HCPs-Pd exhibited high catalytic activity, which benefited from the microporous structure of the catalyst guaranteed high dispersibility of active palladium, and high specific surface area, large pore volume, good chemical stability. Under optimal reaction conditions, 93.0% of biphenyl yield in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction with bromobenzene (C6H5Br) and phenylboric acid (C6H7BO2) as raw material was obtained. The good stability of the HCPs-Pd catalyst was verified by five cycles experiments. Perhaps this work provides new insights into the high-yield preparation of biphenyl aromatic compounds employing HCPs-Pd as an efficient and stable catalyst in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction.
School-level inequality and learning achievement: evidence from PISA
Authors: Sempe Lucas , Esposito Lucio 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
A large body of literature has documented a strong economic gradient of educational outcomes, with pupils from richer households obtaining on average better outcomes than pupils from poorer households. However, there is surprisingly very little evidence on the role of aggregate economic inequality on individual educational attainment, once individual economic status as well as the aggregate economic milieu are controlled for. Using the 2012, 2015 and 2018 waves of multi-country data from the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), we find a negative relationship between school-level wealth inequality and test scores. In addition, we observe that school-level inequality interacts with school-level mean wealth. This suggests that the role of inequality may differ depending on the economic milieu – being stronger for schools attended by pupils from richer families. We go beyond the standard econometric interpretation of this interaction term and provide a reading of it in terms of school-level absolute inequality and aggregate relative deprivation. Results hold for the pooled data as well as for each of the three waves alone and are confirmed by a range of robustness checks.
Development of a new test design to investigate the degradation of pesticides in soil under sunlight conditions
Authors: Hassink Jan , Buda Jochen , Nellen Svenja , Noe Sabine , Schmidt Tanja 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Pesticides applied to soil surface are subject to photodegradation if the parent molecule is sensitive to UV-light absorption. Photodegradation studies are therefore mandatory for the registration of plant protection products to provide data on the degradation rate and on the nature of photo-products formed. In general, sunlight is simulated in these studies with xenon lamps, e.g. a Suntest® device. Surface application on very thin soil layers followed by direct irradiation is common practice, but the control of the boundary conditions, i.e. soil temperature and humidity, to maintain the structure and viability of the soil is challenging. A homogeneous and stable soil microclimate is crucial to compare the degradation data of the test item from the irradiated soil samples to the dark controls as well as to the results from the aerobic soil metabolism study. After trying different scale-up test systems with the herbicide Imazamox as comparative test item, a new soil photolysis test system was developed which is managable in the laboratory and enables a more favourable management of the boundary conditions, especially with regard to the soil water and temperature. For this, the solar simulator SolarConstant® 1200, equipped with metal halide lamps Radium HRI-TS 1000W/D/S/PRO, was installed by Atlas Ametek (Germany) in a temperature controllable walk-in incubation chamber with aluminium racks and reflectors to minimize diffuse light and to maintain a homogenous temperature of 22(± 1)°C within the irradiated soil. Borosilicate glass vessels with an inner diameter of 10 cm and a max. height of 9 cm were used. Each vessel has two adapters flanged in opposite direction for incoming air and as output for trapping volatile degradation products. Soil with a soil humidity corresponding to pF 2.0-2.5 was filled into each vessel to a height of 4 cm and a surface area to 78 cm2. Each vessel was covered by a quartz glass cover. Only negligible adjustments of the soil water content were needed, if any, compared to daily water adjustments for thin soil layers incubated under a Suntest®. Since the horizontal and vertical capillarity of the soil water is more realistic than in the thin soil layers used in the Suntest® and drying-wetting cycles are eliminated, the soil structure and microbial-induced soil processes are maintained.
Selection Strategies in Wheat Populations
Authors: Mezzomo Henrique Caletti , Silva Caique Machado e , Casagrande Cleiton Renato , Lima Gabriel Wolter , Ribeiro João Paulo Oliveira , Eides José Renato , Graças Kaio Olímpio das , Borém Aluízio , Nardino Maicon 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

The selection of segregating populations is a key point in plant breeding programs. These should gather favorable phenotypes for multiple target characters, which makes it difficult to identify populations with high potential. Thus, this research aims to select potential wheat populations with precocity and grain yield by multivariate and multigeneration approaches. To achieve these objectives, 54 wheat populations in generations F2 and F3 were tested in two environments and evaluated for the traits days for heading and grain yield. Four analytic strategies were imposed: Strategy I: univariate model for each generation; Strategy II: univariate model and multigeneration; Strategy III: multivariate model for each generation; Strategy IV: multivariate model and multigeneration. In this scenario, the strategies that involved the multi-generation model (environments) provided greater gains, strategies I and III. Nevertheless, strategy I, involving a univariate model, provided the greatest gain. Within the strategies, the 1D, 1G, 1H, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G and 3H populations were selected by different strategies, being the most promising for derivation of early cycle and with grain productivity.
Barriers, Motivators and Strategies to Increase Participation in Autism-Genetic Research Among Asian and Black Families in the United States
Authors: Tafolla Maira , Amador Raquel , Oyeyemi Motunrayo J. , Algaze Zach , Pandey Juhi , Goin-Kochel Robin P. , Sarver Dustin E. , Gulsrud Amanda 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Genetic research can help advance our knowledge of autism and positively impact the progress of care for autistic individuals.Asian and Black participants remain significantly underrepresented in autism genetic research studies in the United States, including in nationwide, multisite, autism-genetic consortiums like the Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge (SPARK) study. Few studies have explored the unique motivators and barriers that influence participation in autism-genetics research across underrepresented groups and strategies to increase participation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand the perspectives of Asian and Black parents of autistic individuals about participating in autism-genetic research, specifically motivators (e.g., desire to know more about the relationship between autism and genetics) and/or barriers (e.g., mistrust of the research staff) that may impact their decision to participate in genetic research. We also gathered suggestions about how to increase representation in their respective groups. Using a mixed-methods approach, we collected surveys from parents (n = 134) across the United States and conducted three focus groups with parents (n = 16) who identified as Black and Asian from two large metropolitan cities. No significant differences between racial minorities were observed in the survey data but results from the focus groups shed light on the shared motivators for participation (e.g., to help advance the autism field for future generations) and the nuanced differences in barriers that independently influence Black and Asian participants (e.g., the different beliefs about the sources of autism). Practical suggestions to improve outreach and study engagement in autism-genetic research are identified and discussed.
The Diurnal Variation Pattern and Driving Factors of CO2 at the Water-Air Interface in the Open Flow Section of Karst Underground Rivers
Authors: Li Danyang , Li Canfeng , Li Hong , Huang Chao , Peng Xuefeng , Xu Xiongwei , Chen Guiren , Zhang Liankai 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The high-intensity pCO2 in karst underground river water is rapidly released or absorbed by aquatic organisms in open flow sections and is an important factor affecting the karst carbon cycle. This article takes a typical karst underground river basin in southwestern China as the research object. By observing the water carbon and water‒air interface exchange fluxes at the outlet of the underground river (Q1), the river section without submerged plants (H1), and the river section with submerged plants (H2), the diurnal variation pattern and driving factors of CO2 flux at the water‒air interface in the karst area were evaluated, and the transformation process of water carbon and the source sink changes in water carbon in the open-flow section were explored. The results show that CO2 flux and pCO2 in the study area exhibit significant spatial differences, with the outlet of the underground river having the highest values. DO is found to be a key controlling factor affecting changes in CO2 flux. The metabolism of submerged plants has a regulatory role on the change in CO2 flux, forming a carbon sink in the river section with submerged plants. Therefore, this study helps to understand the diurnal variation in carbon exchange fluxes at the water‒air interface in the open flow section of karst underground rivers and emphasizes the variation pattern of CO2 fluxes from source to sink in the open flow section, providing an effective way to promote carbon sequestration and sink enhancement in karst water bodies.
Sensory Modality Influence on Human Reinforcement Learning: Different Response Time but Consistent Performance
Authors: Sun Wenhan , Ripp Isabelle , Borrmann Aylin , Moll Maximilian , Fairhurst Merle 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Previous studies have observed an intriguing overconfidence in the haptic sense. However, the impact of this increased sensory confidence on learning behavior relative to other senses has remained unexplored. This online study sought to investigate human learning behavior across the visual, auditory and haptic sensory modalities in a probabilistic selection task on computers and mobile devices. We examined reaction time, as an indicator for confidence, learning speed, and task accuracy. The haptic based probabilistic selection task showed the fastest reaction time, reinforcing the notion of heightened perceptual confidence in haptics. Conversely, visual stimuli processing exhibited the slowest reaction time and auditory based responses occupied an intermediate position. Despite the differences in reaction time across the senses, all modalities showed a striking consistency in both learning speed and task accuracy. In line with recent theories, the consistent learning outcomes across sensory modalities could be attributed to modality-independent meta-representations, which prioritise relevant information for decision-making. In addition, our data revealed that reaction time on touch-based mobile devices was significantly faster than those on computers. The combination of faster reaction time in the haptic modality without sacrificing accuracy and the enhanced efficiency of touch-based interfaces advocate for the integration of haptics in technological designs to boost efficiency while maintaining a high level of precision.
Chemogenetic activation or inhibition of histaminergic neurons bidirectionally modulates recognition memory formation and retrieval in male and female mice
Authors: Costa Alessia , Ducourneau Eva , Curti Lorenzo , Masi Alessio , Mannaioni Guido , Hardt Lola , Biyong Essi F , Potier Mylène , Blandina Patrizio , Trifilieff Pierre , Provensi Gustavo , Ferreira Guillaume , Passani M Beatrice 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Several lines of evidence demonstrate that the brain histaminergic system is fundamental for cognitive processes and the expression of memories. Here, we investigated the effect of acute silencing or activation of histaminergic neurons in the hypothalamic tuberomamillary nucleus (TMNHA neurons) in vivo in both sexes in an attempt to provide direct and causal evidence of the necessary role of these neurons in recognition memory formation and retrieval. To this end, we compared the performance of mice in two non-aversive and non-rewarded memory tests, the social and object recognition memory tasks, which are known to recruit different brain circuitries. To directly establish the impact of inactivation or activation of TMNHA neurons, we examined the effect of specific chemogenetic manipulations during the formation (acquisition/consolidation) or retrieval of recognition memories. We consistently found that acute chemogenetic silencing of TMNHA neurons disrupts the formation or retrieval of both social and object recognition memory in males and females. Conversely, acute chemogenetic activation of TMNHA neurons during training or retrieval extended social memory in both sexes and object memory in a sex-specific fashion. These results suggest that the formation or retrieval of recognition memory requires the tonic activity of histaminergic neurons and strengthen the concept that boosting the brain histaminergic system can promote the retrieval of apparently lost memories.
Single-cell RNA-sequencing reveals a unique landscape of the tumor microenvironment in obesity-associated breast cancer
Authors: Gao Haidong , Zhao Guanghui , Zhang Xiaodong , Meng Liying , Dong Ke , Shang Shipeng , Jiang Tengfei , Liu Ziqian 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

As two diseases with rapidly increasing incidence, the molecular linkages between obesity
and breast cancer (BC) are intriguing. Overall, obesity may be a negative prognostic factor for BC.
Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed on tumor tissues from 6 obese and
non-obese BC patients. With 48,033 cells analyzed, we found heterogeneous tumor epithelium and microenvironment in these obese and lean BC patients. Interestingly, the obesity-associated
epithelial cells exhibited specific expression signatures which linked tumor growth and hormone
metabolism in BC. Notably, one population of obesity-specific macrophage up-regulated the
nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group H member 3 (NR1H3), which acted a transcription factor and
regulated FABP4 expression through its interaction with the DNA of SREBP1, and further
increased the proliferation of tumor cells in BC. Using single-cell signatures, our study illustrate
cell diversity and transcriptomic differences in tumors from obese and non-obese BC patients, and
sheds light on potential molecular link between lipid metabolism and BC.
Predictive and prognostic value of aurora kinase A combined with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in medullary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Wang Zhongyu , Fu Guiming , Guo Fengli , Hou Xiukun , Zheng Xiangqian 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Purpose
Aurora kinase A (AURKA) plays an essential role in tumorigenesis by regulating the cell cycle. However, the expression and prognostic value of the AURKA in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) have not been thoroughly investigated.
Methods
Surgical specimens and clinical data of 137 patients diagnosed with MTC were collected. AURKA expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) infiltration were estimated by immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Moreover, the prognostic value of AURKA expression and TIL infiltration in MTC was evaluated.
Results
AURKA was highly expressed in patients with multifocal tumor, lymph node metastasis, and advanced TNM stage, indicating a high probability of recurrence. AURKA exhibited a positive correlation with TILs (R = 0.44, P < 0.001). High expression of AURKA combined with low numbers of TILs (AURKAhigh/TILslow) was identified as an independent prognostic factor for biochemistry recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio: 4.57, 95% confidence interval: 1.54–14.66, P < 0.01) and structural recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio: 3.64, 95% confidence interval: 1.52–8.71, P < 0.001). The combination of AURKA and TILs apparently improves the prognostic value for biochemistry recurrence (area under the curve: 0.751) and structural recurrence (area under the curve: 0.836) of MTC. Particularly, AURKAhigh/TILslow demonstrated higher predictive ability for distant or unresectable locoregional recurrence, with an overall accuracy of 86.9%.
Conclusion
AURKAhigh is associated with the malignancy of MTC. The combination of AURKAhigh/TILslow was recognized as a novel independent prognostic marker in MTC, predicting incurable disease recurrence with high accuracy.
The Study of Size and Shape Dependent Thermodynamic Properties of 4d Transition Metal Clusters
Authors: Berry Habte Dulla 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Transition metal clusters exhibit unique size and shape-dependent thermodynamic properties that play a decisive role in their stability, reactivity, and potential applications in various fields of materials science. In this study, we focused on exploring the effects of cluster size and shape on the thermodynamic stability and surface reactivity of 4d transition metal clusters. Utilizing different thermodynamic models, we systematically investigated a series of cluster sizes and shapes composed of ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), and palladium (Pd) elements to unravel the size and shape-dependent trends in their thermodynamic behavior. The investigation encompassed a range of cluster sizes, from nano scale to sub-nanometer dimensions, and varying shapes including spheres and cylinder configurations. We calculated the binding energies, dissociation energies, and chemisorption energies of the clusters to elucidate the size and shape-dependent variations in their stability and reactivity. Additionally, structural optimizations and electronic structure analyses were performed to understand the underlying factors contributing to the observed thermodynamic properties. Our results revealed size and shape-dependent trends in the thermodynamic properties of 4d transition metal clusters. Smaller clusters exhibited enhanced surface reactivity and higher catalytic potential, while larger clusters demonstrated increased thermodynamic stability and cohesive energies. Furthermore, specific shapes such as spherical and cylindrical configurations showed distinct electronic structures and bonding characteristics, influencing their thermodynamic behavior. The observed trends provide valuable insights into the size and shape-dependent reactivity and stability of 4d transition metal clusters, offering opportunities for tailoring their properties for specific applications. The implications of this study extend to the design and synthesis of novel materials with tailored thermodynamic properties for catalysis, chemical sensing, and energy conversion technologies. By understanding the size and shape-dependent thermodynamic behaviors of these clusters, we can advance the development of efficient and selective catalysts, as well as explore their potential in emerging fields such as plasmonics and nano electronics. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the size and shape-dependent thermodynamic properties of 4d transition metal clusters, providing foundational knowledge for the rational design and engineering of nano scale materials with tailored reactivity and stability. The insights gained from this investigation contribute to the broader understanding of nano scale systems and their potential impact on various technological applications.
Life Cycle Inventory Assessment at Instituto Federal Goiano-Campus Rio Verde Inventário do Ciclo de Vida avaliado no Instituto Federal Goiano-Campus Rio Verde
Authors: de Oliveira Marcos Fernandes , Couto Bruno de Oliveira , Junio Edio Damásio 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The life cycle analysis management tool provides important support for the implementation of a circular economy. It is an investigative framework for the entire production process, whether tangible or intangible, listing the environmental impacts directly linked to all inputs and side services in the production chain. In view of the above, the aim of this study is to carry out a life cycle inventory at the IF Goiano-Campus Rio Verde institution, accounting for total carbon equivalent emissions by the various lateral support sectors within the institution. The research methodology is based on NBR 14.040 of 2009 with adaptations, the boundary determined was temporal, the size of the functional unit meant that the study area had to be divided into two smaller ones, the scope of the study and the determination of emissions followed the standards of international organizations, the emission factors for products and inputs were those applied by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and a relevant part of support for this body was the global warming potential index and the greenhouse gas protocol. It was necessary to carry out a brief evaluative and exploratory study, without intending to be a forest inventory, as there was not enough time, resources and personnel to do so, with the aim of estimating CO2 capture by secondary green areas in the area (a) of this study. The results found are significant: 181. 559.72 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions generated at the Rio Verde Campus in 2022, with 38.53% coming from electricity consumption, 32.90% from fuel consumption and 25% from solid waste, with the exploratory analysis of the woodland area added to the existing lawn, 236.33 tons/CO2/year captured by the campus woodland were estimated, added to the 3.06 tons/CO2/year captured by the existing lawn, totaling 239.39 tons/CO2/year, generating a positive balance of 57.83 tons/CO/year. We end by proposing the adoption of control devices for water use and also for external lighting in the institution's buildings, a further study into the implementation of a biodigester system to reuse biomass, education campaigns and incentives for departments to install selective collection, as immediate actions to mitigate emissions.