bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ultra‐low Friction and High Load‐Bearing Hydrogel with Tubular Structure Based on Controllable Light‐Induced Dissociation†
Authors: Yang Song , Yu Jianqing , Zhang Zhizhi , Yang Hao , Wan Yaling , Yu Bo , Ma Shuanhong , Ma Yanfei , Zhou Feng , Liu Weimin 
Published: June 2023

Comprehensive SummaryWith high water content, excellent biocompatibility and lubricating properties, and a microstructure similar to that of the extracellular matrix, hydrogel is becoming one of the most promising materials as a substitute for articular cartilage. However, it is a challenge for hydrogel materials to simultaneously satisfy high loading and low friction. Most hydrogels are brittle, with fracture energies of around 10 J·m−2, as compared with ∼1000 J·m−2 for cartilage. A great deal of effort has been devoted to the synthesis of hydrogels with improved mechanical properties, such as increasing the compactness of the polymer network, introducing dynamic non‐covalent bonds, and increasing the hydrophobicity of the polymer, all at the expense of the lubricating properties of the hydrogel. Herein, we develop a hydrogel material with anisotropic tubular structures where the compactness gradually decreases and eventually disappears from the surface to the subsurface, achieving a balance between lubrication and load‐bearing. The porous layer with hydrophilic carboxyl groups on the surface exhibits extremely low friction (coefficient of friction (COF) ∼0.003, 1 N; COF ∼0.08, 20 N) against the hard steel ball, while the bottom layer acts as an excellent load‐bearing function. What is more, the gradual transition of the tubular structures between the surface and the subsurface ensures the uniform distribution of friction stress between a lubricating and bearing layers, which endows the material with long‐lasting and smooth friction properties. The extraordinary lubricious performance of the hydrogels with anisotropic tubular structure has potential applications in tissue engineering and medical devices.
Optimizing the efficiency of a three‐step fed anoxic/aerobic sequencing batch reactor using response surface methodology
Authors: Gürtekin Engin 
Published: June 2023

AbstractIn this study, the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonium nitrogen (NH4+‐N) and total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) in a three‐step fed anoxic/aerobic sequencing batch reactor was investigated. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine and optimize the effect of operating parameters such as the ratio of aerobic/anoxic (Ae/Ax) phase durations, percentage of feeding to the first anoxic phase (R1) and ratio of feeding percentages to the third and second anoxic phases (R3:R2). The results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the three independent variables were statistically highly significant (p < 0.0001). The values of the determination coefficient (R2) for the removal efficiency of COD, NH4+‐N and TIN was 0.9558, 0.9334 and 0.9963, respectively, indicating a good agreement between the experimental results and the predicted values. The quadratic model was valid in predicting experimental results. The optimum conditions obtained using the desirability function were found to be 2.05 for the ratio of Ae/Ax phase durations, 43.09% for R1 and 0.86 for R3:R2, where the COD, NH4+‐N and TIN removal efficiency was 94.29, 97.83 and 86.86%, respectively. As a result of the evaluation of the interactive effect of the independent variables, it was determined that R1 was the most effective factor. The results showed that RSM could be used for optimization of operating parameters and improvement of efficiency in a three‐step fed anoxic/aerobic sequencing batch reactor.
Artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) data acquisition based on graph neural networks: A systematical review
Authors: Wang Yufeng , Zhang Bo , Ma Jianhua , Jin Qun 
Published: June 2023

SummaryThe power of artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) stems from adapting machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) models into abundant intelligent IoT fields, based on a large data stream with different formats, sizes, and timestamps generated by massive numbers of heterogeneous sensors. On the one hand, data acquisition is the fundamental basis for any AIoT systems, but data sensed by massive IoT devices may be noisy and even contain adversarial samples. On the other hand, ensuring the efficiency and robustness in data acquisition is vitally important for data‐driven ML and AI. Recently, besides perceiving ability, the literature has witnessed great development of empowering things with learning and reasoning ability through deep learning models, including recurrent neural networks (RNNs) and/or convolutional neural network (CNNs). However, the existing works have one significant weakness: fail to explicitly leverage the geospatial implications and latent connections among sensors for high‐quality data acquisition and quality control. Graphs are intrinsically suitable for representing the dependencies and inter‐relationships between AIoT data sensing devices. Due to the ability of capturing the complex interactive relationships between nodes and producing high‐level representations of the graph input, graph neural networks (GNNs) have exploded onto various ML and AI fields, to learn from graph‐structured data. Our review covers the latest progresses in GNN for the fundamental atomic task of data acquisition in AIoT. Instead of surveying the abundant GNN schemes in vertically various IoT sensing applications, this paper systematically reviews the horizontal infrastructure that all AIoT fields should have, that is, AIoT data acquisition, based on GNN and other related emerging AI factors. Our contributions include the following aspects: Provide the latest progresses in GNN for the horizontal task of data acquisition in AIoT, propose the unified GNN pipeline based on encoder–decoder paradigm, and systematically categorize and summarize the emerging technologies helpful to address the issues in AIoT data acquisition, especially the noisy and adversarial data, and point out some future directions about GNN‐based AIoT data acquisition.
Visualizing G Protein‐Coupled Receptor‐Receptor Interactions in Brain Using Proximity Ligation In Situ Assay
Authors: Taura Jaume , López‐Cano Marc , Fernández‐Dueñas Víctor , Ciruela Francisco 
Published: June 2023

AbstractG protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute the largest family of plasma membrane receptors and the main drug targets in therapeutics. GPCRs can establish direct receptor‐receptor interactions (oligomerization), which can also be considered as targets for drug development (GPCR oligomer‐based drugs). However, prior to designing any novel GPCR oligomer‐based drug development program, demonstrating the existence of a named GPCR oligomer in native tissues is needed as part of its target engagement definition. Here, we discuss the proximity ligation in situ assay (P‐LISA), an experimental approach that reveals GPCR oligomerization in native tissues. We provide a detailed step‐by‐step protocol to perform P‐LISA experiments and visualize GPCR oligomers in brain slices. We also provide instructions for slide observation, data acquisition, and quantification. Finally, we discuss the critical aspects determining the success of the technique, namely the fixation process and the validation of the primary antibodies used. Overall, this protocol may be used to straightforwardly visualize GPCR oligomers in the brain. © 2023 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.Basic Protocol: Visualization of GPCR oligomers by proximity ligation in situ assay (P‐LISA)Support Protocol: Slide observation, image acquisition, and quantification
Selective Transfer Hydrogenation of C=O and Conjugated C=C Bonds Using An NHC‐Based Pincer (CNC)MnI Complex in Methanol**
Authors: Mandal Adarsha , Ganguli Kasturi , Pradhan Manoj , Gorai Akhanda , Kundu Sabuj 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBase metal catalyzed transfer hydrogenation reactions using methanol is highly challenging. Employing a single N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐based pincer (CNC)MnI complex, chemoselective single and double transfer hydrogenation of α, β‐unsaturated ketones to saturated ketones or alcohols by utilizing methanol as the hydrogen source is disclosed. The protocol was tolerant towards the selective transfer hydrogenation of C=C or C=O bonds in the presence of several other reducible functional groups and led to the synthesis of several biologically relevant molecules and natural products. Notably, this is the first report of a Mn‐catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of carbonyl groups with methanol. Several control experiments, kinetic studies, Hammett studies, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to understand the mechanistic details of this catalytic process.
Selective interference alignment and neutralization in coordinated multipoint using multiuser MIMO
Authors: Baskar Nivetha , Selvaprabhu Poongundran 
Published: June 2023

SummaryIn wireless communication, the concept of coordinated multipoint (CoMP) transmission is more attractive, and it transpired the notion based on interference management techniques. Interference alignment (IA) and interference neutralization (IN) methods can substantially align and neutralize the interference signals. The existing work in the CoMP transmission using multiuser multi‐input and multi‐output (MU‐MIMO) had long‐held problems such as specific limit of intercell (ICI) and cochannel interference (CCI) cancelation that contain low performance in cell‐edge users. The proposed framework of the transmission signal in selective interference alignment and neutralization (SIAN) CoMP MU‐MIMO system transmits multiple data streams in multipath by using downlink coordination between base stations and receiver side. This work contributes the individual perspectives to implement the IA and IN to align and cancel the interfered signals at the receiver side. Once the perspectives mentioned above are executed, zero‐forcing (ZF) and rechanneling filter are applied on the receiver side to eliminate residual ICI. In addition, spectral efficiency significantly improves the achievable data rate and enhances the performance of cell‐edge users and reduces the CCI at the receiver side. Furthermore, the antenna configuration signals are decoded to get the exact version of interference‐free signals with null path loss of signal transmission. The effectiveness of the proposed framework analyzes and verifies the numerical evaluation of the achievable degree of freedom. Finally, the simulation demonstrates the comparison of the proposed CoMP scheme with MIMO ZF and non‐CoMP schemes, which significantly improve the performance of spectral efficiency for cell‐edge users.
Intraspecific variation in a predator changes intertidal community through effects on a foundation species
Authors: Contolini Gina M. , Palkovacs Eric P. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractIntraspecific variation is an important form of biodiversity that can alter community and ecosystem properties. Recent work demonstrates the community effects of intraspecific variation in predators via altering prey communities and in foundation species via shaping habitat attributes. However, tests of the community effects of intraspecific trait variation in predators acting on foundation species are lacking despite the fact that consumption of foundation species can have strong community effects by shaping habitat structure. Here, we tested the hypothesis that intraspecific foraging differences among populations of mussel‐drilling dogwhelk predators (Nucella) differentially alter intertidal communities through effects on foundational mussels. We conducted a 9‐month field experiment where we exposed intertidal mussel bed communities to predation from three Nucella populations that exhibit differences in size‐selectivity and consumption time for mussel prey. At the end of the experiment, we measured mussel bed structure, species diversity, and community composition. While exposure to Nucella originating from different populations did not significantly alter overall community diversity, we found that differences in Nucella mussel selectivity significantly altered foundational mussel bed structure, which in turn altered the biomass of shore crabs and periwinkle snails. Our study extends the emerging paradigm of the ecological importance of intraspecific variation to include the effects of intraspecific variation on predators of foundation species.
Ontogenetic color change in the tail of blue‐tailed skinks (Plestodion elegans)
Authors: Yang Chen , Chen Siheng , Wang Jie 
Published: June 2023

AbstractOntogenetic color change in animals is an interesting evolution‐related phenomenon that has been studied by evolutionary biologists for decades. However, obtaining quantitative and continuous color measurements throughout the life cycle of animals is a challenge. To understand the rhythm of change in tail color and sexual dichromatism, we used a spectrometer to measure the tail color of blue‐tailed skink (Plestiodon elegans) from birth to sexual maturity. Lab color space was selected due to its simplicity, fastness, and accuracy and depends on the visual sense of the observer for measuring the tail color of skinks. A strong relationship was observed between color indexes (values of L*, a*, b*) and growth time of skink. The luminance of tail color decreased from juveniles to adults in both sexes. Moreover, we observed differences in color rhythms between the sexes, which may be influenced by different behavioral strategies used by them. This study provides continuous measurements of change in tail color in skinks from juveniles to adults and offers insights into their sex‐based differences. While this study does not provide direct evidence to explain the potential factors that drive dichromatism between the sexes of lizards, our finding could serve as a reference for future studies exploring possible mechanisms of ontogenetic color change in reptiles.
Novel environments induce variability in fitness‐related traits
Authors: Balph Arielle W. , Krist Amy C. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractEnvironmental change from anthropogenic activities threatens individual organisms, the persistence of populations, and entire species. Rapid environmental change puts organisms in a double bind, they are forced to contend with novel environmental conditions but with little time to respond. Phenotypic plasticity can act quickly to promote establishment and persistence of individuals and populations in novel or altered environments. In typical environmental conditions, fitness‐related traits can be buffered, reducing phenotypic variation in expression of traits, and allowing underlying genetic variation to accumulate without selection. In stressful conditions, buffering mechanisms can break down, exposing underlying phenotypic variation, and permitting the expression of phenotypes that may allow populations to persist in the face of altered or otherwise novel environments. Using reciprocal transplant experiments of freshwater snails, we demonstrate that novel conditions induce higher variability in growth rates and, to a lesser degree, morphology (area of the shell opening) relative to natal conditions. Our findings suggest a potentially important role of phenotypic plasticity in population persistence as organisms face a rapidly changing, human‐altered world.
Brood size, food availability, and body size affects male care decisions and offspring performance
Authors: Sahm Jacqueline , Conrad Taina , Scheu Larissa , Steiger Sandra 
Published: June 2023

AbstractParental care strategies do not only vary greatly across species, but also within species there can be substantial between‐ and within‐individual variation in parental care behavior. To better understand the evolution of care strategies, it is crucial to determine how and when parents modify their behavior in response to internal as well as environmental factors. Here, we investigated the effect of brood size, resource size and an individual's quality on care strategies of uniparental males and examined the downstream consequences on offspring performance in the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides. Burying beetles breed on small vertebrate cadavers and, on average, males invest much less in care than females. Nevertheless, we found that uniparentally caring males were responsive to their social and non‐social environment and adjusted the amount as well as the type of care to the size of the brood, the size of the cadaver and their own body size. Additionally, we show that the care strategies affected offspring performance. Specifically, males that cared longer had larger and more surviving larvae. Our results add to our understanding of plastic parenting strategies by showing that even the sex that provides less care can evolve a very flexible care behavior.
Community context mediates effects of pollinator loss on seed production
Authors: Arrowsmith K. C. , Reynolds Victoria A. , Briggs Heather M. , Brosi Berry J. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractA critical goal for ecologists is understanding how ongoing local and global species losses will affect ecosystem functions and services. Diversity–functioning relationships, which are well‐characterized in primary producer communities, are much less consistently predictable for ecosystem functions involving two or more trophic levels, particularly in situations where multiple species in one trophic level impact functional outcomes at another trophic level. This is particularly relevant to pollination functioning, given ongoing pollinator declines and the value of understanding pollination functioning for single plant species like crops or threatened plants. We used spatially replicated, controlled single‐pollinator‐species removal experiments to assess how changes in bumble bee species richness impacted the production of fertilized seeds in a perennial herb—Delphinium barbeyi—in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA. To improve predictability, we also assessed how traits and abundances in the plant and bumble bee communities were related to D. barbeyi reproductive success. We hypothesized that trait‐matching between pollinator proboscis length and D. barbeyi's nectar spurs would produce a greater number of fertilized seeds, while morphological similarity within the floral community would dilute pollination services. We found that the effects of pollinator removal differed depending on the behavioral patterns of pollinators and compositional features of the plant and pollinator communities. While pollinator floral fidelity generally increased D. barbeyi seed production, that positive effect was primarily evident when more than half of the Bombus community was experimentally removed. Similarly, communities comprising primarily long‐tongued bees were most beneficial to D. barbeyi seed production in tandem with a strong removal. Finally, we observed contrasting effects of morphological similarity in the plant community, with evidence of both competition and facilitation among plants. These results offer an example of the complex dynamics underlying ecosystem function in multitrophic systems and demonstrate that community context can impact diversity–functioning relationships between trophic levels.
Increasing wildfire smoke has limited impacts on national park visitation in the American West
Authors: Clark Matthew , Killion Alexander , Williamson Matthew A. , Hillis Vicken 
Published: June 2023

AbstractAmbient wildfire smoke in the American West has worsened considerably in recent decades, while the number of individuals recreating outdoors has simultaneously surged. Wildfire smoke poses a serious risk to human health, especially during long periods of exposure and during exercise. As such, evaluating whether people modify recreation in response to smoke is important to understanding the public health implications of these trends. Here we aggregate data on black carbon, a major component of wildfire smoke, and recreational visitation in 32 US national parks from 1980 to 2019 to examine how visitors respond to wildfire smoke. We hypothesize that visitor response may exhibit a threshold effect where ambient smoke reduces visitation after a critical level, but not before. We develop a series of breakpoint models to test this hypothesis. The results of these models are mixed, but overall show little to no effect of ambient smoke on visitation to the 32 parks tested, even when allowing for critical thresholds at the extreme upper ranges of smoke exposure. This indicates that wildfire smoke does not greatly alter park attendance. This finding suggests that management actions to protect visitor health during smoke events may be warranted.
Seismic performance of a full‐scale five‐story masonry‐infilled RC building subjected to substructured pseudodynamic tests
Authors: Kallioras Stylianos , Pohoryles Daniel A. , Bournas Dionysios , Molina Francisco Javier , Pegon Pierre 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThis paper discusses the results of a series of hybrid earthquake tests on a full‐scale reinforced concrete (RC) building with masonry infills. The prototype was a five‐story structure representing the vulnerable part of a typical RC building in Southern Europe, with beams stronger than the columns and masonry infill walls weaker than the surrounding frame elements. The specimen was subjected to a sequence of unidirectional earthquake simulations of increasing intensity up to conditions of significant damage to the infills, using the pseudodynamic (PsD) testing method with substructuring. The input ground motion was a real earthquake recording, slightly modified in amplitude and frequency to match the elastic design code spectrum. The physical substructure of the hybrid model consisted of the first story of a two‐story mock‐up structure built in the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment (ELSA); the second story ensured realistic boundary conditions at the top of the first one. The characteristics of stories two to five were simulated by a numerical finite‐element model developed in OpenSEES and updated throughout the test sequence using data obtained from preceding tests. The experiments were terminated with the onset of a soft‐story mechanism at the first story of the physical substructure for an earthquake with a peak ground acceleration of 0.3 g. The paper summarizes the key characteristics of the specimen and the major observations from the hybrid tests, illustrating the evolution of structural/nonstructural damage and the cyclic hysteretic building response. The attainment of significant damage limit states is correlated with experimentally defined engineering demand parameters and ground‐motion intensity measures for the performance‐based seismic assessment of buildings. Data and observations from these experiments add substantially to our understanding of the effects of masonry infills on the seismic behavior of RC‐framed structures.