bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Four conservation challenges and a synthesis
Authors: Williams Byron K. , Brown Eleanor D. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractConservation and management of biological systems involves decision‐making over time, with a generic goal of sustaining systems and their capacity to function in the future. We address four persistent and difficult conservation challenges: (1) prediction of future consequences of management, (2) uncertainty about the system's structure, (3) inability to observe ecological systems fully, and (4) nonstationary system dynamics. We describe these challenges in terms of dynamic systems subject to different sources of uncertainty, and we present a basic Markovian framework that can encompass approaches to all four challenges. Finding optimal conservation strategies for each challenge requires issue‐specific structural features, including adaptations of state transition models, uncertainty metrics, valuation of accumulated returns, and solution methods. Strategy valuation exhibits not only some remarkable similarities among approaches but also some important operational differences. Technical linkages among the models highlight synergies in solution approaches, as well as possibilities for combining them in particular conservation problems. As methodology and computing software advance, such an integrated conservation framework offers the potential to improve conservation outcomes with strategies to allocate management resources efficiently and avoid negative consequences.
Variance components of sex determination in the copepod Tigriopus californicus estimated from a pedigree analysis
Authors: Richardson Jean M. L. , Alexander Heather J. , Anholt Bradley R. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractExtensive theory exists regarding population sex ratio evolution that predicts equal sex ratio (when parental investment is equal). In most animals, sex chromosomes determine the sex of offspring, and this fixed genotype for sex has made theory difficult to test since genotypic variance for the trait (sex) is lacking. It has long been argued that the genotype has become fixed in most animals due to the strong selection for equal sex ratios. The marine copepod Tigriopus californicus has no sex chromosomes, multiple genes affecting female brood sex ratio, and a brood sex ratio that responds to selection. The species thus provides an opportune system in which to test established sex ratio theory. In this paper, we further our exploration of polygenic sex determination in T. californicus using an incomplete diallel crossing design for analysis of the variance components of sex determination in the species. Our data confirm the presence of extra‐binomial variance for sex, further confirming that sex is not determined through simple Mendelian trait inheritance. In addition, our crosses and backcrosses of isofemale lines selected for biased brood sex ratios show intermediate phenotypic means, as expected if sex is a threshold trait determined by an underlying “liability” trait controlled by many genes of small effects. Furthermore, crosses between families from the same selection line had similar increases in phenotypic variance as crosses between families from different selection lines, suggesting families from artificial selection lines responded to selection pressure through different underlying genetic bases. Finally, we estimate heritability of an individual to be male or female on the observed binary scale as 0.09 (95% CI: 0.034–0.14). This work furthers our accumulating evidence for polygenic sex determination in T. californicus laying the foundation for this as a model species in future studies of sex ratio evolution theory.
T‐bet‐expressing B cells contribute to the autoreactive plasma cell pool in Lyn‐/‐ mice
Authors: Ottens Kristina , Schneider Jalyn , Satterthwaite Anne B. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractSystemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by pathogenic autoantibodies against nucleic acid‐containing antigens. Understanding which B‐cell subsets give rise to these autoantibodies may reveal therapeutic approaches for SLE that spare protective responses. Mice lacking the tyrosine kinase Lyn, which limits B and myeloid cell activation, develop lupus‐like autoimmune diseases characterized by increased autoreactive plasma cells (PCs). We used a fate‐mapping strategy to determine the contribution of T‐bet+ B cells, a subset thought to be pathogenic in lupus, to the accumulation of PCs and autoantibodies in Lyn‐/‐ mice. Approximately, 50% of splenic PCs in Lyn‐/‐ mice originated from T‐bet+ cells, a significant increase compared to WT mice. In vitro, splenic PCs derived from T‐bet+ B cells secreted both IgM and IgG anti‐dsDNA antibodies. To determine the role of these cells in autoantibody production in vivo, we prevented T‐bet+ B cells from differentiating into PCs or class switching in Lyn‐/‐ mice. This resulted in a partial reduction in splenic PCs and anti‐dsDNA IgM and complete abrogation of anti‐dsDNA IgG. Thus, T‐bet+ B cells make an important contribution to the autoreactive PC pool in Lyn‐/‐ mice.
Synthesis of Ir Catalysts Featuring Amide‐functionalized NHC Ligands and Survey of their Activity on Formic Acid Dehydrogenation
Authors: García‐Abellán Susana , Passarelli Vincenzo , Iglesias Manuel 
Published: May 2023

Abstract2 a and 2 b, [Ir(CI)(COD)(NHC)] (COD=1,5‐cyclooctadiene), have been prepared via transmetallation from NHC−Ag complexes. [Rh(CI)(COD)(NHC)] (4) was prepared analogously. [Ir({κ‐C,N‐(NHC‐acetamide−1H)}(COD)] (3 c) has been synthesized via transmetallation from the deprotonated NHC−Ag complex. [IrCp*({κ‐C,N‐(NHC‐acetamide−1H)}] (5) (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl), has been obtained analogously. [Ir(CI)(CO)2(NHC)] (6) and [Ir({κ‐C,N‐(NHC‐acetamide−1H)}(CO)2] (7) have been prepared by carbonylation of 2 b and 3 c, respectively. The catalytic activity of these complexes has been evaluated in the dehydrogenation of formic acid, under solventless conditions, in the presence of water as a cosolvent, and in a 5 : 2 HCOOH/Et3N mixture, with the best TOF values being obtained in the case of the latter. Stoichiometric experiments suggest COD hydrogenation as the preactivation step.
A sensitive DNA biosensor based on the distance dependent quenching of Silica@Ru(bpy)32+‐chitosan‐GO electrochemiluminescence by Ferrocene@Gold nanoparticles
Authors: Ding Qiaoyu , Bai Xi , Ju Jiali , Shi Jiajun , Li Guixin 
Published: May 2023

AbstractA sensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor for the specific DNA sequence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was developed based on the efficient quenching effect of the ferrocene cluster functionalized gold nanoparticles (Fc@AuNPs) on the ECL of electrodeposited silica@Ru(bpy)32+‐chitosan‐graphene oxide nanocomposite (SiO2@Ru−CS−GO). Graphene oxide (GO) can accelerate electron transfer rate, thus improving the ECL of Ru(bpy)32+ on electrode surface. The molecular beacons (MB) was fixed to SiO2@Ru−CS−GO by glutaraldehyde (GA) using the Schiff reaction between amino groups of chitosan (CS) and MB. The ECL of SiO2@Ru−CS−GO was depressed greatly by the Fc@AuNPs labelled at the end of MB, then, a stronger ECL was observed when the distance between Fc@AuNPs and SiO2@Ru−CS−GO increased after the hybridization of target DNA with MB. Under optimum conditions, the restored ECL intensity increased linearly with the target DNA concentration in the range of 1.0×10−16∼1.0×10−10 mol ⋅ L−1, and the limit of detection (LOD) is 1.4×10−17 mol ⋅ L−1. The proposed method exhibits acceptable stability and reproducibility. In general, the constructed HCV biosensor can be used for the sensitive detection of HCV in human serum, suggesting potential application prospects in bioanalysis.
In situ tailoring solid electrolyte interphase of three‐dimensional Li metal electrode for enhanced Coulombic efficiency
Authors: Wang Jiang‐Peng , Lang Feng , Li Quan 
Published: May 2023

AbstractAlthough three‐dimensional (3D) lithium metal electrode is effective in restricting the Li dendrite growth upon cycling, problems associated with the unstable electrode/electrolyte interphase become more severe due to increased interfacial area that is intrinsic of the 3D structures, being a major cause for the low Columbic efficiency. While building a desirable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) serves as an effective solution to improve the electrode/electrolyte interfacial stability, the 3D nature of the electrode makes the task challenging. In the present work, we demonstrated the in‐situ formation of SEI on chemically/structurally modified carbon cloth that is used as the 3D host electrode for Li metal. Here we show that ZnS/ZnO nanotube arrays uniformly grown on the carbon cloth served as precursors for the in‐situ formation of Li2S/Li2O/LiZn containing artificial SEI in the first lithiation process. While Li2S and Li2O are preferred components in SEI, the in situ generated Zn functions as a lithiophilic site that guides the uniform lithium deposition upon repeated charging/discharging process. As a result, symmetric cells adopting the O‐, S‐, and Zn‐ modified 3D anode demonstrate significantly improved Coulombic efficiency (99.2% over 400 cycles at 1 mA cm−2/1 mA h cm−2). Furthermore, the Li/ZSONT/CC//LiFePO4 full cell shows a capacity retention of 71% after 4000 cycles at 2C. The present work sheds light on effective design strategies for SEI formation on a 3D electrode host with controllable SEI composition.image
Salmonid Pituitary Cells as a Test System for Identifying Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds
Authors: Harding Louisa , Schultz Irvin R. , Young Graham , Swanson Penny 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
The pituitary gland is a central regulator of reproduction, producing two gonadotropins, follicle-stimulating hormone (Fsh) and luteinizing hormone (Lh), which regulate gonadal development, sex steroid synthesis, and gamete maturation. The present study sought to optimize an in vitro test system using pituitary cells isolated from previtellogenic female coho salmon and rainbow trout, focusing on fshb and lhb subunit gene expression. Initially, we optimized culture conditions for duration and benefits of culturing with and without addition of endogenous sex steroids (17β-estradiol [E2] or 11-ketotestosterone) or gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). The results suggest that culturing with and without E2 was valuable because it could mimic the (+) feedback effects on Lh that are observed from in vivo studies. After optimizing assay conditions, a suite of 12 contaminants and other hormones was evaluated for their effects on fshb and lhb gene expression. Each chemical was tested at four to five different concentrations up to solubility limitations in cell culture media. The results indicate that more chemicals alter lhb synthesis than fshb. The more potent chemicals were estrogens (E2 and 17α-ethynylestradiol) and the aromatizable androgen testosterone, which induced lhb. The estrogen antagonists 4-OH-tamoxifen and prochloraz decreased the E2-stimulated expression of lhb. Among several selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors tested, the sertraline metabolite norsertraline was notable for both increasing fshb synthesis and decreasing the E2 stimulation of lhb. These results indicate that diverse types of chemicals can alter gonadotropin production in fish. Furthermore, we have shown that pituitary cell culture is useful for screening chemicals with potential endocrine-disrupting activity and can support the development of quantitative adverse outcome pathways in fish. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1730–1742. © 2023 SETAC
Spatial Layouts of Low‐Entropy Hydration Shells Guide Protein Binding
Authors: Yang Lin , Guo Shuai , Liao Chenchen , Hou Chengyu , Jiang Shenda , Li Jiacheng , Ma Xiaoliang , Shi Liping , Ye Lin , He Xiaodong 
Published: May 2023

AbstractProtein–protein binding enables orderly biological self‐organization and is therefore considered a miracle of nature. Protein‒protein binding is driven by electrostatic forces, hydrogen bonding, van der Waals force, and hydrophobic interactions. Among these physical forces, only hydrophobic interactions can be considered long‐range intermolecular attractions between proteins due to the electrostatic shielding of surrounding water molecules. Low‐entropy hydration shells around proteins drive hydrophobic attraction among them that essentially coordinate protein‒protein binding. Here, an innovative method is developed for identifying low‐entropy regions of hydration shells of proteins by screening off pseudohydrophilic groups on protein surfaces and revealing that large low‐entropy regions of the hydration shells typically cover the binding sites of individual proteins. According to an analysis of determined protein complex structures, shape matching between a large low‐entropy hydration shell region of a protein and that of its partner at the binding sites is revealed as a universal law. Protein‒protein binding is thus found to be mainly guided by hydrophobic collapse between the shape‐matched low‐entropy hydration shells that is verified by bioinformatics analyses of hundreds of structures of protein complexes, which cover four test systems. A simple algorithm is proposed to accurately predict protein binding sites.
Acute intermittent hypoxia alters disease course and promotes CNS repair including resolution of inflammation and remyelination in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model of MS
Authors: Tokarska Nataliya , Naniong Justin M. A. , Johnston Jayne M. , Salapa Hannah E. , Muir Gillian D. , Levin Michael C. , Popescu Bogdan F. , Verge Valerie M. K. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractRemyelination and neurodegeneration prevention mitigate disability in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). We have shown acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) is a novel, non‐invasive and effective therapy for peripheral nerve repair, including remyelination. Thus, we posited AIH would improve repair following CNS demyelination and address the paucity of MS repair treatments. AIH's capacity to enhance intrinsic repair, functional recovery and alter disease course in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS was assessed. EAE was induced by MOG35‐55 immunization in C57BL/6 female mice. EAE mice received either AIH (10 cycles—5 min 11% oxygen alternating with 5 min 21% oxygen) or Normoxia (control; 21% oxygen for same duration) once daily for 7d beginning at near peak EAE disease score of 2.5. Mice were followed post‐treatment for an additional 7d before assessing histopathology or 14d to examine maintenance of AIH effects. Alterations in histopathological correlates of multiple repair indices were analyzed quantitatively in focally demyelinated ventral lumbar spinal cord areas to assess AIH impacts. AIH begun at near peak disease significantly improved daily clinical scores/functional recovery and associated histopathology relative to Normoxia controls and the former were maintained for at least 14d post‐treatment. AIH enhanced correlates of myelination, axon protection and oligodendrocyte precursor cell recruitment to demyelinated areas. AIH also effected a dramatic reduction in inflammation, while polarizing remaining macrophages/microglia toward a pro‐repair state. Collectively, this supports a role for AIH as a novel non‐invasive therapy to enhance CNS repair and alter disease course following demyelination and holds promise as a neuroregenerative MS strategy.
Implementing a group‐based multi‐component early child development intervention through the government health system in rural Bangladesh: A feasibility study
Authors: Rahman Mahbubur , Jahir Tania , Akter Fahmida , Yeasmin Farzana , Pitchik Helen O. , Hasan Rezaul , Das Jyoti Bhushan , Grant Hannah X. , Hossain Khobair , Sultana Jesmin , Huda Tarique Md. Nurul , Shoab AKM , Khan Rizwana , Tofail Fahmida , Luby Stephen P. , Fernald Lia C. H. , Rashid Jahangir , Ashrafee Sabina , Leontsini Elli , Winch Peter J. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractChildren in low‐ and middle‐income countries face an increased risk of impaired cognitive development due to contaminated environments, poor nutrition, and inadequate responsive stimulation from caregivers. Implementing multi‐component, community‐level interventions may reduce these risks; however, there is little evidence supporting implementation of these interventions at scale. We assessed the feasibility of implementing a group‐based intervention that included responsive stimulation, maternal and child nutrition, water and sanitation, and childhood lead exposure prevention through the government health system in Chatmohar, Bangladesh. After implementation, we conducted 17 in‐depth interviews with frontline health service providers and 12 key informant interviews with their supervisors and managers to explore the facilitators and difficulties implementing such a complex programme within the health system. Factors facilitating implementation included: high quality training and skill level of providers, support from community members, family, and supervisors, positive relationships between providers and participants, and provision of children's toys and books free of cost. Difficulties included increased workload of the providers, complicated group‐based yet stage‐specific delivery where providers had to manage a large group of mother‐child dyads representing many different child age‐groups at once, and logistics difficulties in providing toys and books through a centralised health system process. Key informants made suggestions to ensure effective government‐level scale‐up including engaging relevant NGOs as partners, identifying feasible ways to make toys available, and offering providers meaningful even if non‐monetary rewards. These findings can be used to shape the design and delivery of multi‐component child development interventions to be delivered through the health system.
A Fracture Risk Assessment Tool for High Resolution Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography
Authors: Whittier Danielle E. , Samelson Elizabeth J. , Hannan Marian T. , Burt Lauren A. , Hanley David A. , Biver Emmanuel , Szulc Pawel , Sornay‐Rendu Elisabeth , Merle Blandine , Chapurlat Roland , Lespessailles Eric , Wong Andy Kin On , Goltzman David , Khosla Sundeep , Ferrari Serge , Bouxsein Mary L. , Kiel Douglas P. , Boyd Steven K. 
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACTMost fracture risk assessment tools use clinical risk factors combined with bone mineral density (BMD) to improve assessment of osteoporosis; however, stratifying fracture risk remains challenging. This study developed a fracture risk assessment tool that uses information about volumetric bone density and three‐dimensional structure, obtained using high‐resolution peripheral quantitative compute tomography (HR‐pQCT), to provide an alternative approach for patient‐specific assessment of fracture risk. Using an international prospective cohort of older adults (n = 6802) we developed a tool to predict osteoporotic fracture risk, called μFRAC. The model was constructed using random survival forests, and input predictors included HR‐pQCT parameters summarizing BMD and microarchitecture alongside clinical risk factors (sex, age, height, weight, and prior adulthood fracture) and femoral neck areal BMD (FN aBMD). The performance of μFRAC was compared to the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) and a reference model built using FN aBMD and clinical covariates. μFRAC was predictive of osteoporotic fracture (c‐index = 0.673,p < 0.001), modestly outperforming FRAX and FN aBMD models (c‐index = 0.617 and 0.636, respectively). Removal of FN aBMD and all clinical risk factors, except age, from μFRAC did not significantly impact its performance when estimating 5‐year and 10‐year fracture risk. The performance of μFRAC improved when only major osteoporotic fractures were considered (c‐index = 0.733,p < 0.001). We developed a personalized fracture risk assessment tool based on HR‐pQCT that may provide an alternative approach to current clinical methods by leveraging direct measures of bone density and structure. © 2023 The Authors.Journal of Bone and Mineral Researchpublished by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
MIAT shuttled by tumor‐secreted exosomes promotes paclitaxel resistance in esophageal cancer cells by activating the TAF1/SREBF1 axis
Authors: Zhang Shuyao , Zhong Junyong , Guo Dainian , Zhang Shengqi , Huang Guifeng , Chen Yun , Xu Chengcheng , Chen Wang , Zhang Qiuzhen , Zhao Chengkuan , Liu Sulin , Luo Zebin , Lin Chaoxian 
Published: May 2023

AbstractChemoresistance remains a major obstacle to the treatment of esophageal cancer (EC). Exosome‐mediated transfer of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) has recently been unveiled to correlate with the regulation of drug resistance in EC. This study aimed to investigate the physiological mechanisms by which exosome‐encapsulated lncRNA myocardial infarction‐associated transcript (MIAT) derived from tumor cells might mediate the paclitaxel (PTX) resistance of EC cells. First, MIAT was experimentally determined to be upregulated in PTX nonresponders and PTX‐resistant EC cells. Silencing of MIAT in PTX‐resistant EC cells decreased cell viability and enhanced apoptosis, corresponding to a reduced half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value. Next, exosomes were isolated from EC109 and EC109/T cells, and EC109 cells were cocultured with EC109/T‐cell‐derived exosomes. Accordingly, MIAT was revealed to be transmitted through exosomes from EC109/T cells to EC109 cells. Tumor‐derived exosomes carrying MIAT increased the IC50 value of PTX and suppressed apoptosis in EC109 cells to promote PTX resistance. Furthermore, MIAT promoted the enrichment of TATA‐box binding protein‐associated Factor 1 (TAF1) in the promoter region of sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (SREBF1), as shown by a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. This might be the mechanism by which MIAT could promote PTX resistance. Finally, in vivo experiments further confirmed that the knockdown of MIAT attenuated the resistance of EC cells to PTX. Collectively, these results indicate that tumor‐derived exosome‐loaded MIAT activates the TAF1/SREBF1 axis to induce PTX resistance in EC cells, providing a potential therapeutic target for overcoming PTX resistance in EC.
Scoring molecular wires subject to an ultrafast laser pulse for molecular electronic devices
Authors: Lu Hui , Azizi Alireza , Mi Xiao Peng , Wenjing Yu , Peng Yuting , Xu Tianlv , Früchtl Herbert , van Mourik Tanja , Kirk Steven R. , Jenkins Samantha 
Published: May 2023

AbstractA nonionizing ultrafast laser pulse of 20‐fs duration with a peak amplitude electric‐field ±E = 200 × 10−4 a.u. was simulated. It was applied to the ethene molecule to consider its effect on the electron dynamics, both during the application of the laser pulse and for up to 100 fs after the pulse was switched off. Four laser pulse frequencies ω = 0.2692, 0.2808, 0.2830, and 0.2900 a.u. were chosen to correspond to excitation energies mid‐way between the (S1,S2), (S2,S3), (S3,S4) and (S4,S5) electronic states, respectively. Scalar quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) was used to quantify the shifts of the C1C2 bond critical points (BCPs). Depending on the frequencies ω selected, the C1C2 BCP shifts were up to 5.8 times higher after the pulse was switched off compared with a static E‐field with the same magnitude. Next generation QTAIM (NG‐QTAIM) was used to visualize and quantify the directional chemical character. In particular, polarization effects and bond strengths, in the form of bond‐rigidity vs. bond‐flexibility, were found, for some laser pulse frequencies, to increase after the laser pulse was switched off. Our analysis demonstrates that NG‐QTAIM, in partnership with ultrafast laser irradiation, is useful as a tool in the emerging field of ultrafast electron dynamics, which will be essential for the design, and control of molecular electronic devices.