bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Novel acetic acid derivatives containing quinazolin‐4(3H)‐one ring: Synthesis, in vitro, and in silico evaluation of potent aldose reductase inhibitors
Authors: Tokalı Feyzi Sinan , Demir Yeliz , Türkeş Cüneyt , Dinçer Büşra , Beydemir Şükrü 
Published: January 2023

AbstractAldose reductase (AR) is a crucial enzyme of the polyol pathway through which glucose is metabolized under conditions of hyperglycemia related to diabetes. A series of novel acetic acid derivatives containing quinazolin‐4(3H)‐one ring (1–22) was synthesized and tested for in vitro AR inhibitory effect. All the target compounds exhibited nanomolar activity against the target enzyme, and all compounds displayed higher activity as compared to the reference drug epalrestat. Among them, Compound 19, named 2‐(4‐[(2‐[(4‐methylpiperazin‐1‐yl)methyl]‐4‐oxoquinazolin‐3(4H)‐ylimino)methyl]phenoxy)acetic acid, displayed the strongest inhibitory effect with a KI value of 61.20 ± 10.18 nM. Additionally, these compounds were investigated for activity against L929, nontumoral fibroblast cells, and MCF‐7, breast cancer cells using the MTT assay. Compounds 16 and 19 showed lower toxicity against the normal L929 cells. The synthesized compounds’ (1–22) absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion properties were also evaluated. Molecular docking simulations were used to look into the possible binding mechanisms of these inhibitors against AR.
Can vegetation be discretely classified in species‐poor environments? Testing plant community concepts for vegetation monitoring on sub‐Antarctic Marion Island
Authors: van der Merwe Stephni , Greve Michelle , Skowno Andrew Luke , Hoffman Michael Timm , Cramer Michael Denis 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe updating and rethinking of vegetation classifications is important for ecosystem monitoring in a rapidly changing world, where the distribution of vegetation is changing. The general assumption that discrete and persistent plant communities exist that can be monitored efficiently, is rarely tested before undertaking a classification. Marion Island (MI) is comprised of species‐poor vegetation undergoing rapid environmental change. It presents a unique opportunity to test the ability to discretely classify species‐poor vegetation with recently developed objective classification techniques and relate it to previous classifications. We classified vascular species data of 476 plots sampled across MI, using Ward hierarchical clustering, divisive analysis clustering, non‐hierarchical kmeans and partitioning around medoids. Internal cluster validation was performed using silhouette widths, Dunn index, connectivity of clusters and gap statistic. Indicator species analyses were also conducted on the best performing clustering methods. We evaluated the outputs against previously classified units. Ward clustering performed the best, with the highest average silhouette width and Dunn index, as well as the lowest connectivity. The number of clusters differed amongst the clustering methods, but most validation measures, including for Ward clustering, indicated that two and three clusters are the best fit for the data. However, all classification methods produced weakly separated, highly connected clusters with low compactness and low fidelity and specificity to clusters. There was no particularly robust and effective classification outcome that could group plots into previously suggested vegetation units based on species composition alone. The relatively recent age (c. 450,000 years B.P.), glaciation history (last glacial maximum 34,500 years B.P.) and isolation of the sub‐Antarctic islands may have hindered the development of strong vascular plant species assemblages with discrete boundaries. Discrete classification at the community‐level using species composition may not be suitable in such species‐poor environments. Species‐level, rather than community‐level, monitoring may thus be more appropriate in species‐poor environments, aligning with continuum theory rather than community theory.
Evolution of a hybrid zone of two willow species (SalixL.) in the European Alps analyzed by RAD‐seq and morphometrics
Authors: Marinček Pia , Pittet Loïc , Wagner Natascha D. , Hörandl Elvira 
Published: January 2023

AbstractNatural hybridization of plants can result in many outcomes with several evolutionary consequences, such as hybrid speciation and introgression. Natural hybrid zones can arise in mountain systems as a result of fluctuating climate during the exchange of glacial and interglacial periods, where species retract and expand their territories, resulting in secondary contacts. Willows are a large genus of woody plants with an immense capability of interspecific crossing. In this study, the sympatric area of two diploid sister species,S. foetidaandS. waldsteinianain the eastern European Alps, was investigated to study the genomic structure of populations within and outside their contact zone and to analyze congruence of morphological phenotypes with genetic data. Eleven populations of the two species were sampled across the Alps and examined using phylogenetic network and population genetic structure analyses of RAD Seq data and morphometric analyses of leaves. The results showed that a homoploid hybrid zone between the two species was established within their sympatric area. Patterns of genetic admixture in homoploid hybrids indicated introgression with asymmetric backcrossing to not only one of the parental species but also one hybrid population forming a separate lineage. The lack of F1 hybrids indicated a long‐term persistence of the hybrid populations. Insignificant isolation by distance suggests that gene flow can act over large geographical scales. Morphometric characteristics of hybrids supported the molecular data and clearly separated populations of the parental species, but showed intermediacy in the hybrid zone populations with a bias towardS. waldsteiniana. The homoploid hybrid zone might have been established via secondary contact hybridization, and its establishment was fostered by the low genetic divergence of parental species and a lack of strong intrinsic crossing barriers. Incomplete ecological separation and the ability of long‐distance dispersal of willows could have contributed to the spatial expansion of the hybrid zone.
Individual flowering phenology shapes plant–pollinator interactions across ecological scales affecting plant reproduction
Authors: Labonté Audrey , Monticelli Lucie S. , Turpin Mélinda , Felten Emeline , Laurent Emilien , Matejicek Annick , Biju‐Duval Luc , Ducourtieux Chantal , Vieren Eric , Deytieux Violaine , Cordeau Stéphane , Bohan David , Vanbergen Adam J. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe balance of pollination competition and facilitation among co‐flowering plants and abiotic resource availability can modify plant species and individual reproduction. Floral resource succession and spatial heterogeneity modulate plant–pollinator interactions across ecological scales (individual plant, local assemblage, and interaction network of agroecological infrastructure across the farm). Intraspecific variation in flowering phenology can modulate the precise level of spatio‐temporal heterogeneity in floral resources, pollen donor density, and pollinator interactions that a plant individual is exposed to, thereby affecting reproduction. We tested how abiotic resources and multi‐scale plant–pollinator interactions affected individual plant seed set modulated by intraspecific variation in flowering phenology and spatio‐temporal floral heterogeneity arising from agroecological infrastructure. We transplanted two focal insect‐pollinated plant species (Cyanus segetum and Centaurea jacea, n = 288) into agroecological infrastructure (10 sown wildflower and six legume–grass strips) across a farm‐scale experiment (125 ha). We applied an individual‐based phenologically explicit approach to match precisely the flowering period of plant individuals to the concomitant level of spatio‐temporal heterogeneity in plant–pollinator interactions, potential pollen donors, floral resources, and abiotic conditions (temperature, water, and nitrogen). Individual plant attractiveness, assemblage floral density, and conspecific pollen donor density (C. jacea) improved seed set. Network linkage density increased focal species seed set and modified the effect of local assemblage richness and abundance on C. segetum. Mutual dependence on pollinators in networks increased C. segetum seed set, while C. jacea seed set was greatest where both specialization on pollinators and mutual dependence was high. Abiotic conditions were of little or no importance to seed set. Intra‐ and interspecific plant–pollinator interactions respond to spatio‐temporal heterogeneity arising from agroecological management affecting wild plant species reproduction. The interplay of pollinator interactions within and between ecological scales affecting seed set implies a co‐occurrence of pollinator‐mediated facilitative and competitive interactions among plant species and individuals.
Intraspecific variation in growth response to drought stress across geographic locations and genetic groups in Coffea canephora
Authors: Kiwuka Catherine , Vos Jan , Douma Jacob C. , Musoli Pascal , Mulumba John W. , Poncet Valérie , Anten Niels P. R. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractUganda lies within the drier end of the natural distribution range of Coffea canephora and contains unexplored genetic material that could be drought‐adapted and useful for developing climate‐resilient varieties. Using water treatment: (i) ample and (ii) restricted‐water, the response of 148 genotypes were studied comprising wild, feral and cultivated C. canephora. Biomass allocation, standing leaf area and leaf area growth data were collected. Linear mixed effect models and PCA were used to the analyze effect of water treatment on genotypes from different: (i) cultivation status, (ii) genetic groups and (iii) locations. We also assessed the relationship between drought tolerance for relative growth rate in leaf area (RGRA), total number of leaves (TNL), total leaf area (TLA) and total leaf dry weight (TLDW) of genotypes at final harvest. Restricted‐water reduced RGRA across genetic groups (3.2–32.5%) and locations (7.1–36.7%) but not cultivation status. For TNL, TLA and TLDW, genotypes that performed well in ample‐water performed worse under restricted‐water, indicating growth‐tolerance trade‐off. Drought tolerance in RGRA and TNL were negatively correlated with wetness index suggesting some degree of adaptation to local climate. Findings indicate a growth‐tolerance trade‐off within this tropical tree species and drought tolerance of Uganda's C. canephora is somewhat associated with local climate.
Soil microbial community shifts explain habitat heterogeneity in two Haloxylon species from a nutrient perspective
Authors: Li Chenhua , Li Yan , Tang Lisong , Ikenaga Makoto , Liu Ran , Xu Guiqing 
Published: January 2023

AbstractHaloxylon ammodendron and Haloxylon persicum (as sister taxa) are dominant shrubs in the Gurbantunggut Desert. The former grows in inter‐dune lowlands while the latter in sand dunes. However, little information is available regarding the possible role of soil microorganisms in the habitat heterogeneity in the two Haloxylon species from a nutrient perspective. Rhizosphere is the interface of plant–microbe–soil interactions and fertile islands usually occur around the roots of desert shrubs. Given this, we applied quantitative real‐time PCR combined with MiSeq amplicon sequencing to compare their rhizosphere effects on microbial abundance and community structures at three soil depths (0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm). The rhizosphere effects on microbial activity (respiration) and soil properties had also been estimated. The rhizospheres of both shrubs exerted significant positive effects on microbial activity and abundance (e.g., eukarya, bacteria, and nitrogen‐fixing microbes). The rhizosphere effect of H. ammodendron on microbial activity and abundance of bacteria and nitrogen‐fixing microbes was greater than that of H. persicum. However, the fertile island effect of H. ammodendron was weaker than that of H. persicum. Moreover, there existed distinct differences in microbial community structure between the two rhizosphere soils. Soil available nitrogen, especially nitrate nitrogen, was shown to be a driver of microbial community differentiation among rhizosphere and non‐rhizosphere soils in the desert. In general, the rhizosphere of H. ammodendron recruited more copiotrophs (e.g., Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria), nitrogen‐fixing microbes and ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria, and with stronger microbial activities. This helps it maintain a competitive advantage in relatively nutrient‐rich lowlands. Haloxylon persicum relied more on fungi, actinomycetes, archaea (including ammonia‐oxidizing archaea), and eukarya, with higher nutrient use efficiency, which help it adapt to the harsher dune crests. This study provides insights into the microbial mechanisms of habitat heterogeneity in two Haloxylon species in the poor desert soil.
Examining dyslipidaemia, metabolic syndrome and liver enzyme levels in patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in population from Hoveyzeh cohort study: A case–control study in Iran
Authors: Dinarvand Negar , Cheraghian Bahman , Rahimi Zahra , Salehipour Bavarsad Samaneh , Bavarsad Amirhooshang , Mohammadtaghvaei Narges 
Published: January 2023

AbstractIntroductionType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is among the world's top 10 leading causes of death. Additionally, prediabetes is a major risk factor for diabetes. Identifying diabetes co‐occurring disorders can aid in reducing adverse effects and facilitating early detection. In this study, we evaluated dyslipidaemia, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and liver enzyme levels in pre‐diabetic and T2DM patients in the Persian cohort compared to a control group.Materials and MethodsIn this cross‐sectional study, 2259 pre‐diabetes, 1664 T2DM and 5840 controls (35–70 years) who were selected from the Hoveyzeh cohort centre were examined. Body mass index, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), triglyceride (TG) and liver enzymes: γ‐glutamyltransferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined using the standard protocols. MetS subjects were also identified based on the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines.ResultsPrediabetes and T2MD were closely correlated with the lipid profile, MetS, and liver enzymes (ALT, GGT, ALT/AST). MetS increases the risk of T2DM by 12.45 [95% CI: 10.88–14.24] fold, while an increase in ALT/AST ratio increases the risk of T2DM by 3.68 [95% CI: 3.159–4.154] fold. ROC curve analysis also revealed the diagnostic roles of GGT, ALT, AST and the ALT/AST ratio among pre‐diabetics, diabetics and the control group. The GGT level corresponds to the highest AUCs (0.685) with the highest sensitivity (70.25%).ConclusionsOur results indicated a significant increase in liver enzymes, lipid profile and MetS status in both pre‐diabetic and T2MD subjects, with the differences being more pronounced in diabetic individuals. Consequently, on the one hand, these variables may be considered predictive risk factors for diabetes, and on the other hand, they may be used as diagnostic factors. In order to confirm the clinical applications of these variables, additional research is required.
Guideline for extraction, qualitative, quantitative, and stability analysis of anthocyanins
Authors: Yan Shulei , Li Yue , Liu Jingjing , Si Dun , Zhang Xinfeng 
Published: January 2023

AbstractAnthocyanins, as a kind of natural pigment, have a broad development prospect in the field of human production and life due to its safety, nontoxic, rich resources, and rich pharmacological effects. However, due to the structure instability of anthocyanins, anthocyanins are susceptible to physical and chemical factors during food processing, such as light, temperature, pH, metal ions, food additives, oxidation reductants, and cochromatic factors. This review summarized the experimental methods for these factors affecting anthocyanin content, structural transformation, and degradation dynamics, which lays the foundation for further studies of anthocyanins in plants. Meanwhile, we expounded the methods for obtaining accurate quantitative and qualitative data of anthocyanin by UV‐vis, HPLC, LC‐MS, and NMR, which can provide a basis for further development and utilization of anthocyanin resources.
Experiment and simulation of sliding mode triboelectric energy harvester based on slider‐crank mechanism
Authors: Kumar Satish , Singh Diwakar , Kumar Rajeev , Jain S. C. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractA simple and affordable triboelectric device is fabricated to harvest mechanical energy and convert it to electrical energy. Based on a double‐dielectric‐layered (Nylon and PTFE) structure, a lateral sliding mode triboelectric energy harvester (SM‐TEH) has been fabricated. The fabricated SM‐TEH device is linked to the slider‐crank mechanism for smooth operation. The dimension of the fabricated device has been used as 10.1 cm × 10.1 cm. An experimental study has been conducted for various rotational speeds at different external resistance. Additionally, an electrical model has been developed to validate the experimental results. After that, it has been carefully examined to see how the material, structure, and experimental parameters may affect the output performance of the SM‐TEH. Later, a thorough investigation of the effects of the dual factors, including the effective triboelectric layer thickness, contact area, external resistance, and rotational speed (in rpm), was conducted. The relationship between conversion efficiency and external resistance is investigated to obtain the maximum efficiency at optimum external resistance. Further, the cost analysis of the SM‐TEH device is presented to study the commercialization of the device for practical application. The feasibility of the designed SM‐TEH is demonstrated by lighting on 40 red light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). The AC signals generated are then converted into DC signals using a bridge rectifier. Capacitors of various sizes (1, 2.2, 3.3, 10, 47 μF) store the output voltage without external load resistance.
Osmanthus fragrance polyurethane/silkfibroin‐based double‐shellmicrocapsules for aromatic leather with sustained release fragrance
Authors: Gu Jiaying , Liu Ming , Li Lin , Zhou Lulu , He Lei , Deng Weijun , Hu Jing 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe leather with the long‐lasting fragrance is critical for functional leather commodities but limited by poor temperature durability, low loading capacity and inferior flexural resistance. Herein, we develop a novel double‐shell fragrance release system via both interfacial polymerization and freeze inducement. Osmanthus fragrance (OF) was encapsulated with polyurethane (PU) and silk fibroin (SF), the double‐shell microcapsules with remarkable stability and enhanced sustained release property can be prepared. The OF@PU/SF microcapsules had well‐defined spherical shape with an average diameter of 5.21 μm measured by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), which was larger than the single‐shell microcapsules (OF@SF) with the size of 1.70 μm. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that the OF loading capacity (LC) of OF@PU/SF microcapsules was 51.7%. Furthermore, the sustained release measurements by UV–vis absorption spectra clarified that 22.9% OF released from OF@PU/SF microcapsules during 30 days, lower than 36.7% of OF@SF microcapsules, much less than nearly 100% of free OF. Finally, the OF@PU/SF microcapsules were applied in leather finishing to efficiently improve the odour of the leather. The aromatic leather possessed sustained aroma with great stability enabling high temperature durability and flexural resistance property.
Wisdom of crowds and commodity pricing
Authors: Fan John Hua , Binnewies Sebastian , De Silva Sanuri 
Published: January 2023

AbstractWe extract commodity‐level sentiment from the Twittersphere in 2009–2020. A long–short strategy based on sentiment shifts more than doubles the Sharpe ratio of extant commodity factors. Commodities with lower (higher) sentiment shifts tend to be overvalued (undervalued) when the aggregate market is in backwardation (contango). The sentiment premium is more pronounced during periods of macro contraction and deteriorating funding liquidity. While the premium concentrates in commodities with higher tweet intensity, sentiment extracted from influential tweets (i.e., high number of retweets/likes) does not exhibit stronger predictive ability than low‐attention tweets. Consistent with the overreaction hypothesis, the sentiment premium fully reverses 3 years postformation.
The rise of diarrheal illnesses in the children of Pakistan amidst COVID‐19: A narrative review
Authors: Rahmat Zainab Syyeda , Zubair Amraha , Abdi Ikran , Humayun Narmil , Arshad Fatima , Essar Mohammad Yasir 
Published: January 2023

AbstractBackgroundIn Pakistan, 74 children out of 1000 lose their lives annually due to diarrheal illness. This commentary addresses the contributing factors aggravating this growing dilemma and the effect of a simultaneous rise in COVID‐19 cases in a healthcare system ready to collapse, along with providing recommendations to alleviate the problems causing this spike in diarrheal cases.MethodsThis narrative review has emphasized the causes of the spike in pediatric diarrheal illnesses in Pakistan as well as recommendations offered to lessen the burden by incorporating recent literature (n = 68). Tactics to tackle COVID‐19 alongside diarrheal illnesses were also included. Pakistan was chosen to be assessed due to its high burden of child and infant mortality due to preventable causes.ResultsThe provision of safe drinking water, the proper use of Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI), adequate awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding, the use of correct rehydration techniques such as Oral Rehydration Therapy, and the crucial implementation of the EPI vaccination schedule can curb this increase in diarrheal cases.ConclusionThe increased prevalence of diarrheal diseases amongst the pediatric population of Pakistan can be attributed largely due to unsanitary drinking water. Emphasis must be put in the provision of safe drinking water. During the first years of life, children can be kept safe from deadly pathogens just by adequate breastfeeding. IMNCI and EPI must also be properly implemented.