bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Controlling Thickness of ZnSe Intermediate Shell Narrows FWHM of Green‐Emitting Spectra of InP/ZnSe/ZnS Multi‐Shell Quantum Dots
Authors: Okamoto Akihito , Bai Haruki , Toda Shintaro , Huang Maowei , Kajii Hirotake , Kawai Kentaro , Murakami Hirohiko 
Published: February 2023

AbstractMulti‐shell InP/ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) are expected to be applied to next‐generation displays. While the effect of the thickness of the ZnSe intermediate shell on the properties of InP/ZnSe/ZnS QDs has been reported for red‐emission, there are few reports on green‐emitting ones. Here we show the effects of ZnSe thickness on full width at half maximum (FWHM) and photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of the emission spectra of green‐emitting InP/ZnSe/ZnS QDs. The results revealed that the ZnSe intermediate shell of green‐emitting InP/ZnSe/ZnS QDs has an optimum thickness (1.2 nm in this study). Excessive or insufficient ZnSe intermediate shell broadened FWHM and decreased PLQY. This means that difference in the thickness of the ZnSe intermediate shell changes the band structure and the electron behavior. The ZnSe thickness is one of the dominant factors that determine the optical properties in green‐emitting InP/ZnSe/ZnS QDs.
Phosphoproteomic analysis of metformin signaling in colorectal cancer cells elucidates mechanism of action and potential therapeutic opportunities
Authors: Salovska Barbora , Gao Erli , Müller‐Dott Sophia , Li Wenxue , Cordon Carlos Chacon , Wang Shisheng , Dugourd Aurelien , Rosenberger George , Saez‐Rodriguez Julio , Liu Yansheng 
Published: February 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe biguanide drug metformin is a safe and widely prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes. Interestingly, hundreds of clinical trials have been set to evaluate the potential role of metformin in the prevention and treatment of cancer including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the “metformin signaling” remains controversial.Aims and MethodsTo interrogate cell signaling induced by metformin in CRC and explore the druggability of the metformin‐rewired phosphorylation network, we performed integrative analysis of phosphoproteomics, bioinformatics, and cell proliferation assays on a panel of 12 molecularly heterogeneous CRC cell lines. Using the high‐resolute data‐independent analysis mass spectrometry (DIA‐MS), we monitored a total of 10,142 proteins and 56,080 phosphosites (P‐sites) in CRC cells upon a short‐ and a long‐term metformin treatment.Results and ConclusionsWe found that metformin tended to primarily remodel cell signaling in the long‐term and only minimally regulated the total proteome expression levels. Strikingly, the phosphorylation signaling response to metformin was highly heterogeneous in the CRC panel, based on a network analysis inferring kinase/phosphatase activities and cell signaling reconstruction. A “MetScore” was determined to assign the metformin relevance of each P‐site, revealing new and robust phosphorylation nodes and pathways in metformin signaling. Finally, we leveraged the metformin P‐site signature to identify pharmacodynamic interactions and confirmed a number of candidate metformin‐interacting drugs, including navitoclax, a BCL‐2/BCL‐xL inhibitor. Together, we provide a comprehensive phosphoproteomic resource to explore the metformin‐induced cell signaling for potential cancer therapeutics. This resource can be accessed at https://yslproteomics.shinyapps.io/Metformin/.
Ecological impacts of the industrial revolution in a lowland raised peat bog near Manchester, NW England
Authors: Garcés‐Pastor Sandra , Fletcher William J. , Ryan Peter A. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract(1) Ombrotrophic peat bogs provide valuable records of environmental change on long timescales but are rarely preserved near the major centers of industrial activity. Holcroft Moss is a rare example of a stratigraphically intact lowland peat bog in NW England, which provides a valuable opportunity to trace industrial impacts on vegetation in a sensitive environmental archive close to the early industrializing cities of Manchester and Liverpool. (2) We reconstructed environmental changes at Holcroft Moss before and after the Industrial Revolution using a decadal‐scale record of pollen, non‐pollen palynomorphs, microcharcoal, peat composition (organic content and ash‐free bulk density) and heavy metal content, constrained by a radiocarbon and SCP (spheroidal carbonaceous particle) chronology. We examine the relationship between abiotic and biotic environmental tracers using principal component analysis and evaluate the role of local and regional climatic and anthropogenic drivers using canonical redundancy analysis and partitioning of variation. (3) Results show significant changes in bog vegetation composition during the last 700 years. Prior to 1750 CE, climate and agro‐pastoral activity (grazing and fires) were the main drivers of vegetation change. Subsequently, regional coal‐fired industry contributed to major increases in atmospheric pollutants (dust, heavy metals, and acid deposition) that severely impacted vegetation, driving the decline of Sphagnum. Grasses rose to dominance in the 20th century associated especially with bog conversion and cumulative nitrogen deposition. Although atmospheric pollution significantly decreased in the post‐industrial era, vegetation has not returned to pre‐industrial conditions, reflecting the ongoing impact of global change drivers which pose challenges for conservation and restoration. (4) Synthesis. Paleoecological studies are needed to reveal the long‐term history of vegetation degradation and to offer guidelines for restoration and conservation practices. This study reconstructs the last 700 years of a peat bog located between Manchester and Liverpool, revealing the timing and nature of vegetation changes across the trajectory of early industrialization and eventual post‐industrial decline. Our study reveals the progressive dominance of regional anthropogenic forcing and highlights that the present‐day vegetation does not have past analogs within the last 700 years. Conservation measures favoring the reintroduction of Sphagnum are justified in redressing the major biological legacy of the Industrial Revolution, while steps to increase Calluna should also be considered in light of its resilience to dry and fire‐prone conditions.
Plant–moth community relationships at the degraded urban peat‐bog in Central Europe
Authors: Płóciennik Mateusz , Pabis Krzysztof , Zima Angelika , Kucharski Leszek , Sobczyk Robert 
Published: February 2023

AbstractPeatlands have their own, specific insect fauna. They are a habitat not only for ubiquistic but also stenotopic moths that feed on plants limited to wet, acid and oligotrophic habitats. In the past, raised bogs and fens were widely distributed in Europe. This has changed since 20th c. Due to irrigation, modern forestry, and increasing human settlement, peatlands have become isolated islands in an agricultural and urban landscape. Here, we analyze the flora in a degraded bog situated in a large Lodz city agglomeration in Poland in relation to the diversity and composition of moth fauna. Over the last 40 years since the bog has become protected as a nature reserve, birch, willow, and alder shrubs replaced the typical raised bog plant communities due to the decreased water level. The analysis of moth communities sampled in 2012 and 2013 indicates dominance of ubiquistic taxa associated with deciduous wetland forests and rushes. Tyrphobiotic and tyrphophile moth taxa were not recorded. We conclude that the absence of moths typical of bog habitats and the dominance of common, woodland species are associated with hydrological changes, the expansion of trees and brushes over typical bog plant communities, and light pollution.
Monitoring of long‐term vegetation dynamics and responses to droughts of various timescales in Inner Mongolia
Authors: Tong Siqin , Bao Gang , Bao Yuhai , Huang Xiaojun 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThe characteristics of vegetation and drought for different seasons between 1982 and 2015 in Inner Mongolia were studied based on the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI). The response of vegetation to drought over various timescales for different seasons and vegetation types was investigated using the maximum Pearson correlation, allowing a discussion about the possible causes of any changes. The results indicate that the vegetation NDVI in Inner Mongolia showed an increasing trend in different seasons, with spring vegetation NDVI (April–May) having the largest significant increasing rate, followed by the growing season (April–October), autumn (September–October), and summer (June–August). Accordingly, the proportion of stations with decreasing SPEI was, in descending order, summer, growing season, autumn, and spring. Additionally, the magnitude of the SPEI decrease was greater in eastern Inner Mongolia. NDVI and SPEI were positively correlated in most regions of Inner Mongolia, indicating that changes in vegetation in most parts of this region were affected by the spatial and temporal characteristics of drought, the correlation being them being strongest in the growing season, followed by summer, then spring and autumn. Considering the different types of vegetation, forests were less affected by drought, with broadleaf forests more affected than coniferous forests. The meadow steppes and typical steppes were more affected by 12‐month droughts in the growing season and summer, 6‐month droughts in spring, and 3‐month droughts in autumn, with desert steppes mainly affected by 3‐month droughts. The shrubs, sandy vegetation, and cropland were mostly affected by droughts in summer, and show a greater response to 3‐month droughts in autumn. Finally, the water balance was found to be the most important factor affecting the response of vegetation to drought in Inner Mongolia.
Holocene fire regimes, fire‐related plant functional types, and climate in south‐coastal British Columbia forests
Authors: Giuliano Camille , Lacourse Terri 
Published: February 2023

AbstractPaleoecological records of past fire events and forest composition provide long‐term ecological context for modern changes in fire regimes and forest dynamics. Here, we use pollen and contiguous macroscopic charcoal analyses of lake sediments from Pender Island, British Columbia, Canada to reconstruct changes in fire regimes over the last 10,000 years and investigate how these interact with changes in climate and forest composition with a focus on fire‐related plant functional types. The relatively warm and dry early Holocene was characterized by high charcoal accumulation rates, fire episodes of moderate severity, and a mean fire return interval of 100 ± 27 years. Forests at the time were open‐canopy Pseudotsuga menziesii forests with abundant fire endurer taxa (e.g., Pteridium aquilinum) that have a competitive advantage in regimes of frequent fire. Fire continued to occur every ~100 years, on average, during the establishment of Quercus garryana savanna communities; however, a decrease in charcoal peak magnitudes suggests the fire regime shifted to one characterized by smaller and/or lower intensity surface fires. As temperature and moisture deficits decreased in the mid‐ and late Holocene (i.e., after ~6000 calendar years before present), mean fire return intervals lengthened to 176 ± 54 years and increased variability in charcoal peak magnitudes suggests a mixed fire regime of low‐moderate‐intensity fires combined with infrequent crown or stand‐replacing fires. Relatively stable and moderate climate, longer fire return intervals, and mixed‐severity fires allowed P. menziesii (a fire resister) to dominate closed‐canopy forests and for fire avoiders to gradually become more common forest constituents. Millennial‐scale climate change has acted as the dominant driver of changes in both fire regimes and forest composition over the last 10,000 years; however, changes in fire‐related plant functional types highlight the important role that interactions between vegetation and fire play in long‐term fire regimes and forest dynamics.
Diagnostic accuracy of natriuretic peptide screening for left ventricular systolic dysfunction in the community: systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Goyder Clare R. , Roalfe Andrea K. , Jones Nicholas R. , Taylor Kathy S. , Plumptre Charles D. , James Olivia , Fanshawe Thomas R. , Hobbs F D Richard , Taylor Clare J. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractAimsHeart failure (HF) is a global health burden and new strategies to achieve timely diagnosis and early intervention are urgently needed. Natriuretic peptide (NP) testing can be used to screen for left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), but evidence on test performance is mixed, and international HF guidelines differ in their recommendations. Our aim was to summarize the evidence on diagnostic accuracy of NP screening for LVSD in general and high‐risk community populations and estimate optimal screening thresholds.MethodsWe searched relevant databases up to August 2020 for studies with a screened community population of over 100 adults reporting NP performance to diagnose LVSD. Study inclusion, quality assessment, and data extraction were conducted independently and in duplicate. Diagnostic test meta‐analysis used hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curves to obtain estimates of pooled accuracy to detect LVSD, with optimal thresholds obtained to maximize the sum of sensitivity and specificity.ResultsTwenty‐four studies were identified, involving 26 565 participants: eight studies in high‐risk populations (at least one cardiovascular risk factor), 12 studies in general populations, and four in both high‐risk and general populations combined. For detecting LVSD in screened high‐risk populations with N‐terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP), the pooled sensitivity was 0.87 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.73–0.94] and specificity 0.84 (95% CI 0.55–0.96); for BNP, sensitivity was 0.75 (95% CI 0.65–0.83) and specificity 0.78 (95% CI 0.72–0.84). Heterogeneity between studies was high with variations in positivity threshold. Due to a paucity of high‐risk studies that assessed NP performance at multiple thresholds, it was not possible to calculate optimal thresholds for LVSD screening in high‐risk populations alone. To provide an indication of where the positivity threshold might lie, the pooled accuracy for LVSD screening in high‐risk and general community populations were combined and gave an optimal cut‐off of 311 pg/mL [sensitivity 0.74 (95% CI 0.53–0.88), specificity 0.85 (95% CI 0.68–0.93)] for NT‐proBNP and 49 pg/mL [sensitivity 0.68 (95% CI 0.45–0.85), specificity 0.81 (0.67–0.90)] for BNP.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that in high‐risk community populations NP screening may accurately detect LVSD, potentially providing an important opportunity for diagnosis and early intervention. Our study highlights an urgent need for further prospective studies, as well as an individual participant data meta‐analysis, to more precisely evaluate diagnostic accuracy and identify optimal screening thresholds in specifically defined community‐based populations to inform future guideline recommendations.
Late gadolinium enhancement and the risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death in NYHA class I patients with non‐ischaemic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Di Marco Andrea , Brown Pamela , Mateus Gemma , Faga Valentina , Nucifora Gaetano , Claver Eduard , Viedma Jisela , Galvan Francisco , Bradley Joshua , Dallaglio Paolo D. , de Frutos Fernando , Miller Christopher A. , Comín‐Colet Josep , Anguera Ignasi , Schmitt Matthias 
Published: February 2023

AimTo compare the risk of ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and sudden death (SD) between New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I and NYHA class II–III patients with non‐ischaemic cardiomyopathy (NICM).Methods and resultsObservational retrospective cohort study including patients with NICM who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance at two hospitals. The primary endpoint included appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapies, sustained ventricular tachycardia, resuscitated cardiac arrest and SD. The secondary endpoint included heart failure (HF) hospitalizations, heart transplant, left ventricular assist device implant or HF death. Overall, 698 patients were included, 33% in NYHA class I. During a median follow‐up of 31 months, the primary endpoint occurred in 57 patients (8%), with no differences between NYHA class I and NYHA class II–III cases (7% vs. 9%, p = 0.62). Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was the only independent predictor of the primary outcome both in NYHA class I and NYHA class II–III patients. LGE+ NYHA class I patients had a similar cumulative incidence of the primary endpoint as compared to LGE+ NYHA class II–III (p = 0.92) and a significantly higher risk as compared to LGE– NYHA class II–III cases (p < 0.001). The risk of the secondary endpoint was significantly higher in patients in NYHA class II–III as compared to those in NYHA class I (hazard ratio 3.2, p = 0.001).ConclusionsPatients with NICM in NYHA class I are not necessarily at low risk of VA and SD. Actually, LGE+ NYHA class I patients have a high risk. NYHA class I patients with high‐risk factors, such as LGE, could benefit from primary prevention ICD at least as much as those in NYHA class II–III with the same risk factors.
Bone status in men with heart failure: results from the Studies Investigating Co‐morbidities Aggravating Heart Failure
Authors: Loncar Goran , Garfias‐Veitl Tania , Valentova Miroslava , Vatic Mirela , Lainscak Mitja , Obradović Danilo , Dschietzig Thomas Bernd , Doehner Wolfram , Jankowska Ewa A. , Anker Stefan D. , von Haehling Stephan 
Published: February 2023

AimTo assess bone status expressed as hip bone mineral density (BMD) in men with heart failure (HF).Methods and resultsA total of 141 male patients with HF underwent dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry to assess their BMD. We analysed markers of bone metabolism. Patients were classified as lower versus higher BMD according to the median hip BMD (median = 1.162 g/cm2). Survival was assessed over 8 years of follow‐up. Patients with lower BMD were older (71 ± 10 vs. 66 ± 9 years, p = 0.004), more likely to be sarcopenic (37% vs. 7%, p < 0.001) and to have lower peak oxygen consumption (absolute peak VO2 1373 ± 480 vs. 1676 ± 447 ml/min, p < 0.001), had higher osteoprotegerin and osteocalcin levels (both p < 0.05) compared to patients with higher BMD. Among 47 patients with repeated BMD assessments, a significant reduction in BMD was noted over 30 months of follow‐up. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, serum osteocalcin remained independently related with lower BMD (odds ratio [OR] 1.738, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.136–2.660, p = 0.011). Hip BMD and serum osteoprotegerin were independent predictors of impaired survival on Cox proportional hazard analysis (hazard ratio [HR] 0.069, 95% CI 0.011–0.444, p = 0.005, and HR 0.638, 95% CI 0.472–0.864, p = 0.004, respectively).ConclusionsPatients with HF lose BMD over time. Markers of bone turnover can help in identifying patients at risk with osteocalcin being an independent marker of lower hip BMD and osteoprotegerin an independent predictor of death. HF patients with increased osteocalcin and osteoprotegerin may benefit from BMD assessment as manifest osteoporosis seems to be too late for clinically meaningful intervention in HF.
Forecasting the 2020 and 2024 U.S. presidential elections
Authors: Walker David A. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractAmerican popular and Electoral College presidential elections are forecast for 2020 and 2024, employing auto‐regressive time series and cross‐section probit models. Predictions are between the Republican and Democratic parties, not named persons. Year 2020: In July 2020, the Democrats' two party popular vote was predicted to be 52.7%. They received 52.2%. The cross‐section Electoral College model showed Democrats could not win the White House without winning all of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nevada, which they did with 306 Electoral Votes. Year 2024: Democrats are predicted to win the 2024 presidency with 272 electoral votes, including Nevada's six votes and most of the large states they won in 2020. Democrats are predicted to win 53.7% of the popular vote. Fed's policies are expected to reduce inflation to 5.5%. Trump announced his candidacy in November 2022; however, other candidates are announcing for 2024. Trump's extreme positions in office and erratic behavior after losing in 2020 and then encouraging the January 6 insurrection are experiences Democrats can exploit. Events occurring after December 31, 2022, do not influence the predictions presented here.
Serine Hydrolase Activity‐Based Probes for Use in Chemical Proteomics
Authors: Racioppo Brittney , Qiu Nan , Adibekian Alexander 
Published: February 2023

AbstractSerine hydrolases (SHs) comprise a large superfamily of enzymes that play critical roles in many biological processes. Despite their importance, many SHs remain uncharacterized and the vast majority of SHs lack selective inhibitors. In response, activity‐based protein profiling (ABPP) and activity‐based probes (ABPs) have been leveraged to construct a more comprehensive picture of the SH proteome. Since the utility of ABPP is largely dictated by the reactivity profile of the ABPs deployed, novel scaffolds and chemotypes are needed to expand the breadth and selectivity of SH‐targeting ABPs. In this review, we highlight recent innovations in SH probe development, covering both established and emerging electrophilic warheads. We then discuss how strategic implementation of SH‐targeting ABPs has yielded selective, potent inhibitors and imaging agents with broad use. Finally, we present methods for ABP diversification and explore cutting‐edge applications in therapeutics development and discovery biology.
The effect of alginate scaffolds on bone healing in defects formed with drilling model in rat femur diaphysis
Authors: Arslan Arslan Kagan , Aydoğdu Ali , Tolunay Tolga , Basat Çağdaş , Bircan Resul , Demirbilek Murat 
Published: February 2023

AbstractAlginate (ALG) is a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer. Mechanical weakness is one of the main problems for the alginate‐based scaffolds. Various plasticizer additives or modifications tested to improve the mechanical properties. In the presented study, ALG plasticized with triacetin (TA), and tributyl citrate (TBC) than tested on bone healing. In the presented study, the alginate modified with triacetin or tributyl citrate. In‐vitro, and in‐vivo efficiency of the scaffolds tested on bone tissue regeneration. Scaffolds fabricated by solvent casting, and physicochemical characterizations performed. Monocytes (THP‐1) cultured with scaffolds, and macrophage‐released cytokines was determined. In‐vivo efficacy of the scaffolds was tested in the rat drill hole model. Alginate and tributyl citrate‐modified scaffolds have no cytotoxic effect on osteoblastic cells (MC‐3T3). Tributyl citrate modification increased tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐alpha) level but did not increase interleukin ‐1 beta (IL‐1 beta) level. In vivo studies showed that osteoblastic growth was significant in alginate and triacetin‐modified scaffolds. However, the best values for osteoclastic activity and osteoid tissue formation seen in the triacetin modification. The results demonstrated that the modified alginate scaffolds were more successful than non‐modified alginate scaffolds and can used as long‐term bone repairing treatments.