bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ontogenetic shift and feeding habits of the European hake (Merluccius merluccius L., 1758) in Central and Southern Tyrrhenian Sea (Western Mediterranean Sea): A comparison between past and present data
Authors: D’Iglio Claudio , Porcino Nunziatina , Savoca Serena , Profeta Adriana , Perdichizzi Anna , Armeli Minicante Enrico , Salvati Davide , Soraci Francesco , Rinelli Paola , Giordano Daniela 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe present paper aims to investigate the ecological role of Merluccius merluccius, Linnaeus, 1758, in southern and central Tyrrhenian Sea (GSA 10, Resolution GFCM/33/2009/2 General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean), analyzing ontogenetic diet shifts, geographical variations on prey composition, and feeding habits. A total of 734 hake specimens ranging in size between 6 cm and 73 cm (Total Length, TL) were collected in 2018. In order to evaluate ontogenetic shifts in prey composition, samples were divided into five size classes and for each class the quantitative feeding indices have been calculated. The statistical analysis, based on index of relative importance percentage (%IRI), resulted in three trophic groups. The most abundant prey found in the immature hake specimens (size class I) were the Euphausiids, Stylocheiron longicorne and Mysidacea, while for samples with a total length over 10.5 cm were crustaceans and fish. Engraulis encrasicolus was the most abundant fish prey identified, followed by Boops boops and Myctophids. The high presence of Euphausiids, Mysids, Myctophidae, and Sternoptychidae in classes I, II, II, and IV (6–23 cm) showed the relevant role of mesopelagic fauna in hake diets, with an essential organic matter and energy flow from the mesopelagic to the epipelagic environment. Additionally, decapod crustaceans were found in the stomach contents of hakes belonging to class V (with size over 36 cm TL), which is notable considering that our study area includes an important decapod crustacean fishing area.
We are what we eat, plus some per mill: Using stable isotopes to estimate diet composition inGypsvultures over space and time
Authors: Baino Allan A. , Hopcraft Grant G. J. C. , Kendall Corinne J. , Newton Jason , Behdenna Abdelkader , Munishi Linus K. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractDietary studies in birds of prey involve direct observation and examination of food remains at resting and nesting sites. Although these methods accurately identify diet in raptors, they are time‐consuming, resource‐intensive, and associated with biases from the feeding ecology of raptors likeGypsvultures. Our study set out to estimate diet composition inGypsvultures informed by stable isotopes that provide a good representation of assimilated diet from local systems.We hypothesized that differences inGypsvulture diet composition is a function of sampling location and that these vultures move between Serengeti National Park and Selous Game Reserve to forage. We also theorized that grazing ungulates are the principal items inGypsvulture diet.Through combined linear and Bayesian modeling, diet derived from δ13C inGypsvultures consisted of grazing herbivores across sites, with those in Serengeti National Park consuming higher proportions of grazing herbivores (>87%). δ13C differences in vulture feather subsets did not indicate shifts in vulture diet and combined with blood δ13C, vultures fed largely on grazers for ~159 days before they were sampled. Similarly, δ15N values indicatedGypsvultures fed largely on herbivores. δ34S ratios separated where vultures fed when the two sites were compared. δ34S variation in vultures across sites resulted from baseline differences in plant δ34S values, though it is not possible to match δ34S to specific locations.Our findings highlight the relevance of repeated sampling that considers tissues with varying isotopic turnover and emerging Bayesian techniques for dietary studies using stable isotopes. Findings also suggested limited vulture movement between the two local systems. However, more sampling coupled with environmental data is required to fully comprehend this observation and its implications toGypsvulture ecology and conservation.
Diet DNA reveals novel African Forest elephant ecology on the grasslands of the Congo Basin
Authors: Meyer Jordana M. , Honig Naftali , Hadly Elizabeth A. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractElephants are essential ecological engineers, creating and maintaining landscape structure and ecosystem function. The recently distinguished and critically endangered forest elephant is currently classified as a selective, non‐destructive frugivorous browser that maintains forest diversity, while the savanna elephant is a mixed feeder, often pushing over trees while maintaining grasslands. The presence and diets of forest elephants on grasslands and the potential maintenance of these systems remain largely unexplored. In the ecotone between the Guinea‐Congolian forest and Sudanian‐Guinean savanna ecosystems in Garamba National Park, DRC, we investigated forest elephant diet selection as a function of sex, age, and habitat using diet DNA (dDNA) metabarcoding of non‐invasively collected dung. GPS collar data were used to determine annual habitat use. Dietary niche partitioning was assessed among megaherbivores in the grasslands. Fecal samples represented the diet of individuals within each habitat, providing valuable insight into the plant biodiversity. Ecological patterns of diet were also revealed using a taxonomically free exact sequence variance approach, highlighting useability in a poorly characterized region. In the early wet season, these typically frugivorous forest elephants were consuming mostly grasses in both the woodland and grassland habitats and showing no sexual dimorphism in diet selection when in the same habitats. However, males were greater risk‐takers, entering the human‐altered landscape to forage on fruit. The forest elephants play a distinctive role within this tropical grassland when compared to other megaherbivores and utilize the unique ecosystem throughout the year. This elephant population is exhibiting behavioral plasticity and shifting their gardening efforts to a novel resource in the grasslands as opposed to their standard role in the forests, which is key to understanding their impact as ecosystem drivers within this landscape. This shift in behavior may result in this recovering elephant population playing a functional role in the restoration and maintenance of these grasslands.
Mechanistic Insights of Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction: Experimental versus Computational Studies
Authors: Masdeu‐Bultó Anna M. , Reguero Mar , Claver Carmen 
Published: March 2022

AbstractTo stop the global warming, a complementary alternative to the decrease of CO2 production is the reduction of its amount in the atmosphere by capture and transformation into consumer products. One of the most interesting primary products is CO, used to synthesise liquid fuels. Perhaps the most attractive way of reducing CO2 to CO is the photocatalytic route. To know the details of the mechanism of this reaction can help in the design of more efficient catalytic systems. In this review, we compile the studies, undertaken from both computational and experimental approaches, of the reaction mechanism of the photoreduction of CO2 to CO by molecular catalytic systems based on transition metal complexes. The combination of experimental and computational studies can be crucial to achieve the goal aimed.
Transition Metal‐Catalyzed Regiodivergent C−H Arylations of Aryl‐Substituted Azoles
Authors: Liu Linhao , Durai Manisha , Doucet Henri 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe metal‐catalyzed direct functionalization of two different C−H bonds of the same organic molecule – also called regiodivergent C−H bond functionalization – is an important research topic in organic chemistry. Over the last decades, the number of tools to control such regiodivergent C−H bond functionalizations has increased significantly. One of the most effective tools consists of employing different metal sources as the catalysts. Palladium and copper catalysts are very effective to promote the direct arylation of 5‐membered ring heteroarenes, whereas the direct arylation using ruthenium and rhodium catalysts generally relies on the coordination of heteroelements to the metal. Therefore, in the presence of several aryl‐substituted azoles, the arylation of both the aryl unit using Ru‐ or Rh‐catalysis and of the azole unit using Pd‐ or Cu‐catalysts is possible. In this review, we will describe the scope and current limits of the use of this tool for the regiodivergent direct arylation of aryl‐substituted azoles.
The Structure of Hemicalide from the Marine Sponge Hemimycale sp
Authors: Marcourt Laurence , Massiot Georges 
Published: March 2022

AbstractHemicalide is a marine natural product isolated from the sponge Hemimycale sp., collected near the Torres Islands of Vanuatu. It is characterized by cytotoxicity in the sub‐nanomolar range, with an original mode of action. This article describes the establishment of the planar structure of hemicalide, based on extensive use of 2D‐NMR experiments. The molecule belongs to the polyketide class with an irregular combination of acetates and propionates and adorned with two unusual hydroxylated six‐membered ring lactones. After publication of the original patent, groups in Paris and Cambridge (UK) launched synthetic programmes with the aim of elucidating the configurations of some of the 21 stereogenic centers. The second part of the article discusses these achievements and presents the best hypothesis, to date, for hemicalide.
Structure‐Activity Studies of Nitroreductase‐Responsive Near‐Infrared Heptamethine Cyanine Fluorescent Probes
Authors: Morsby Janeala J. , Atkinson Kirk M. , Shradha Reddy Kommidi Sai , Freel Tristan , Janeková Hana , Štacko Peter , Smith Bradley D. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractTwo new classes of near‐infrared molecular probes were prepared and shown to exhibit “turn on” fluorescence when cleaved by the nitroreductase enzyme, a well‐known biomarker of cell hypoxia. The fluorescent probes are heptamethine cyanine dyes with a central 4‘‐carboxylic ester group on the heptamethine chain that is converted by a self‐immolative fragmentation mechanism to a 4‘‐caboxylate group that greatly enhances the fluorescence brightness. Each compound was prepared by ring opening of a Zincke salt. The chemical structures have either terminal benzoindolinenes or propargyloxy auxochromes, which provide favorable red‐shifted absorption/emission wavelengths and a hyperchromic effect that enhances the photon output when excited by 808 nm light. A fluorescent probe with terminal propargyloxy‐indolenines exhibited less self‐aggregation and was rapidly activated by nitroreductase with large “turn on“ fluorescence; thus, it is the preferred choice for translation towards in vivo applications.
DC‐electrokinetic motion of colloidal cylinder(s) in the vicinity of a conducting wall
Authors: Atay Atakan , Beşkök Ali , Çetin Barbaros 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe boundary effects on DC‐electrokinetic behavior of colloidal cylinder(s) in the vicinity of a conducting wall is investigated through a computational model. The contribution of the hydrodynamic drag, gravity, electrokinetic (i.e., electrophoretic and dielectrophoretic), and colloidal forces (i.e., forces due to the electrical double layer and van der Waals interactions) are incorporated in the model. The contribution of electrokinetic and colloidal forces are included by introducing the resulting forces as an external force acting on the particle(s). The colloidal forces are implemented with the prescribed expressions from the literature, and the electrokinetic force is obtained by integrating the corresponding Maxwell stress tensor over the particles' surfaces. The electrokinetic slip‐velocity together with the thin electrical double layer assumption is applied on the surfaces. The position and velocity of the particles and the resulting electric and flow fields are obtained and the physical insight for the behavior of the colloidal cylinders are discussed in conjunction with the experimental observations in the literature.
Perceived risk and vaccine hesitancy: Quasi‐experimental evidence from Italy
Authors: Deiana Claudio , Geraci Andrea , Mazzarella Gianluca , Sabatini Fabio 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIn March 2021, Italian health authorities suspended the Vaxzevria vaccine (VA) for 4 days over reports of very rare blood disorders among recipients. We exploit the quasi‐experimental setting arising from this break to study the drivers of vaccine hesitancy. Before the suspension, the VA vaccination trend followed the same pattern as Pfizer‐Biontech (PB). After the suspension, VA and PB injections started to diverge, with VA daily decreasing by almost 60 doses per 100,000 inhabitants for the following 3 weeks. The resulting vaccination rate was 60 percent lower than the value that would have stemmed from the VA pre‐suspension pattern. We show that the slowdown was weaker and less persistent in regions with higher COVID penetration and steadier and more pronounced in regions displaying greater attention to vaccine side effects as detected through Google searches. The public's interest in vaccine adverse events negatively correlates with COVID cases and deaths across regions.
Correspondence in reference to the previously published manuscript: Reduction of cycles of bendamustine plus rituximab therapy in the cases with good response for indolent B‐cell lymphomas
Authors: Autore Francesco , Fresa Alberto , Innocenti Idanna , Principe Maria Ilaria Del , Maglione Raffaele , Stefanizzi Caterina , Pelliccia Sabrina , Romeo Azzurra , Cimino Giuseppe , Papa Elena , Padua Laura De , Andriani Alessandro , Mengarelli Andrea , Tafuri Agostino , Ditto Concetta , Mauro Francesca Romana , Del Poeta Giovanni , Laurenti Luca 
Published: March 2022

AbstractTakezaki et al. analyzed the outcome of 57 patients with indolent lymphomas treated with Bendamustine plus Rituximab (BR) according to the number of cycles received, showing that patients who discontinued BR after four cycles had similar outcomes compared to patients who received five or six cycles. Considering the similarities but also the differences between indolent lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), we enriched the results obtained with a cohort of CLL patients treated with BR starting from the experience of the Lazio region group on CLL. Out of 115 patients, 97 (84%) received 4–6 cycles of BR, while 18 (16%) received 1–3 cycles. The outcome of the group of patients who received at least 4 cycles was superior in terms of response rate (ORR 96% vs. ORR 83%, p = 0.041; CR 58% vs. CR 28%, p = 0.052 respectively) and PFS [median PFS 52.6 (40.3–64.9) versus 26.2 (19.3–33.0) months, p < 0.001]. The number of patients undergoing 4 cycles of BR (4‐cycles group) and 5–6 cycles (over‐4‐cycles group) was 9 and 88, respectively. Compared to analysis conducted by the Japanese group in indolent lymphomas, in CLL we did not observe any difference between the outcome of the 4‐cycles group and the over‐4‐cycles group in terms of ORR (89% vs. 97%, p = 0.268) and in survival [median PFS 40.8 (13.7–67.8) versus 52.6 (38.7–66.5) months, p = 0.117]. Moreover, we observed that patients who achieved a clinical CR showed overlapping outcomes with patients who received more than 4 cycles [CR vs. non‐CR median PFS not reached vs. 11.0 months; over‐4‐cycles group median PFS 52.6 months (40.3–64.9); p < 0.001]. Nowadays chemoimmunotherapy with BR is reserved to fit elderly CLL patients, and there are many chemo‐free treatment options available; therefore, discontinuation after 4 cycles may be permissible in patients who obtained a CR in order to limit toxicity as much as possible.
Size‐dependent osteogenesis of black phosphorus in nanocomposite hydrogel scaffolds
Authors: Xu Haocheng , Liu Xifeng , Park Sungjo , Terzic Andre , Lu Lichun 
Published: March 2022

AbstractA promising new strategy emerged in bone tissue engineering is to incorporate black phosphorus (BP) into polymer scaffolds, fabricating nanocomposite hydrogel platforms with biocompatibility, degradation controllability, and osteogenic capacity. BP quantum dot is a new concept and stands out recently among the BP family due to its tiny structure and a series of excellent characteristics. In this study, BP was processed into nanosheets of three different sizes via different exfoliation strategies and then incorporated into cross‐linkable oligo[poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate] (OPF) to produce nanocomposite hydrogels for bone regeneration. The three different BP nanosheets were designated as BP‐L, BP‐M, and BP‐S, with a corresponding diameter of 242.3 ± 90.0, 107.1 ± 47.9, and 18.8 ± 4.6 nm. The degradation kinetics and osteogenic capacity of MC3T3 pre‐osteoblasts in vitro were both dependent on the BP size. BP exhibited a controllable degradation rate, which increased with the decrease of the size of the nanosheets, coupled with the release of phosphate in vitro. The osteogenic capacity of the hydrogels was promoted with the addition of all BP nanosheets, compared with OPF hydrogel alone. The smallest BP quantum dots was shown to be optimal in enhancing MC3T3 cell behaviors, including spreading, distribution, proliferation, and differentiation on the OPF hydrogels. These results reinforced that the supplementation of BP quantum dots into OPF nanocomposite hydrogel scaffolds could potentially find application in the restoration of bone defects.
Impact of preparation pH and temperature on amino acid stability of highly concentrated cell culture feed media
Authors: Cui Wanyue , Ou Jianfa , Xu Jianlin , Anderson Nadine , Borys Michael , Li Zhengjian , Khetan Anurag , Liu Shijie 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe stability of amino acids (AAs) in a highly concentrated cell culture medium is affected by medium preparation and storage conditions. Variability in the concentration of medium components (including AAs) can influence cell culture performance and product quality attributes.RESULTSIn this report, the impact of preparation pH, preparation temperature, and storage temperature was evaluated on the stability of 16 AAs in a highly concentrated cell culture feed medium. Optimizing the medium pH enabled an increase in the initial feed medium concentration by 30% plus 3.9 g L−1 tyrosine with no observed precipitation after 28 days. Up to 6.0 g L−1 tyrosine can be supplemented in the medium at ~pH 10 without precipitation. Moreover, preparing the medium at 40–50 °C prevented precipitation during storage at 4–8 °C. A slight negative impact on AA stability during this high‐temperature preparation was observed, but this impact was negligible relative to the AA degradation observed during extended storage of media prepared at 37 °C. The optimal preparation pH and temperature allowed the concentrated medium to be stored at 4–8 °C with minimal AA degradation and without precipitation. These discoveries were further supported by principal component analysis of AA profile similarity before and after storage at different pH and temperature conditions.CONCLUSIONThis study describes the medium preparation parameters to improve AA stability and mitigate precipitation issues. The optimization strategy will facilitate the development of robust cell culture production processes. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Glycogen storage disease type IIIa in pregnant women: A guide to management
Authors: Beneru Demi , Tchan Michel C. , Billmore Kate , Nayyar Roshini 
Published: March 2022

AbstractGlycogen storage disease type IIIa (GSD‐IIIa) is an autosomal recessive disorder that impairs glycogenolysis, producing ketotic hypoglycaemia, hepatomegaly, cardiac and skeletal myopathy. During pregnancy, increased metabolic demand requires careful management. There are few case reports about pregnancy in GSD‐IIIa, however none detail management during caesarean section. This case describes a 25‐year‐old women with GSD‐IIIa diagnosed at 5 months of age. She had modest metabolic control with complications including hepatomegaly, mild skeletal myopathy and poor enteral function requiring multiple operative interventions. She had a planned pregnancy managed by a multidisciplinary team, which included a metabolic geneticist, maternal–fetal medicine specialist and metabolic dietitian. Nocturnal cornstarch was provided to meet basal carbohydrate requirements and a high protein diet with regular carbohydrates was consumed throughout the day. The woman remained well during the antenatal period and had an induction of labour at 38 weeks gestation. She had an emergency caesarean section in early labour due to an abnormal cardiotocography (CTG). The intraoperative and postoperative period were uncomplicated. A live baby boy was born in good condition, weighing 2440 g with APGARs of 9 and 9 at 1 and 5 min. She was managed in labour with glucose 10% IV at 3.5 mg/kg/min, hourly blood sugar level (BSL) monitoring and early epidural anaesthetic. The aim of the first 24‐h post‐partum was prevention of hypoglycaemia, which required strict management with dextrose 10% IV at 3.5 mg/kg/min, oral carbohydrate supplementation and BSL monitoring. This case highlights the complexity of GSD‐IIIa as well as provides a proposed plan for management during pregnancy.
Longitudinal Assessment of Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Diffusion‐Weighted MRI Metrics in Cognitive Decline
Authors: Bergamino Maurizio , Burke Anna , Baxter Leslie C. , Caselli Richard J. , Sabbagh Marwan N. , Talboom Joshua S. , Huentelman Matthew J. , Stokes Ashley M. 
Published: March 2022

BackgroundAdvanced diffusion‐based MRI biomarkers may provide insight into microstructural and perfusion changes associated with neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.PurposeTo assess longitudinal microstructural and perfusion changes using apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion‐weighted imaging (IVIM‐DWI) parameters in cognitively impaired (CI) and healthy control (HC) groups.Study TypeProspective/longitudinal.PopulationTwelve CI patients (75% female) and 13 HC subjects (69% female).Field Strength/Sequence3 T; Spin‐Echo‐IVIM‐DWI.AssessmentTwo MRI scans were performed with a 12‐month interval. ADC and IVIM‐DWI metrics (diffusion coefficient [D] and perfusion fraction [f]) were generated from monoexponential and biexponential fits, respectively. Additionally, voxel‐based correlations were evaluated between change in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (ΔMoCA) and baseline imaging parameters.Statistical TestsAnalysis of covariance with sex and age as covariates was performed for main effects of group and time (false discovery rate [FDR] corrected) with post hoc comparisons using Bonferroni correction. Partial‐η2 and Hedges' g were used for effect‐size analysis. Spearman's correlations (FDR corrected) were used for the relationship between ΔMoCA score and imaging. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsSignificant differences were found for the main effects of group (HC vs. CI) and time. For group effects, higher ADC, IVIM‐D, and IVIM‐f were observed in the CI group compared to HC (ADC: 1.23 ± 0.08.10−3 vs. 1.09 ± 0.07.10−3 mm2/sec; IVIM‐D: 0.82 ± 0.01.10−3 vs. 0.73 ± 0.01.10−3 mm2/sec; and IVIM‐f: 0.317 ± 0.008 vs. 0.253 ± 0.009). Significantly higher ADC, IVIM‐D, and IVIM‐f values were observed in the CI group after 12 months (ADC: 1.45 ± 0.05.10−3 vs. 1.50 ± 0.07.10−3 mm2/sec; IVIM‐D: 0.87 ± 0.01.10−3 vs. 0.94 ± 0.02.10−3 mm2/sec; and IVIM‐f: 0.303 ± 0.007 vs. 0.332 ± 0.008), but not in the HC group at large effect size. ADC, IVIM‐D, and IVIM‐f negatively correlated with ΔMoCA score (ρ = −0.49, −0.51, and −0.50, respectively).Data ConclusionThese findings demonstrate that longitudinal differences between CI and HC cohorts can be measured using IVIM‐based metrics.Level of Evidence2Technical Efficacy Stage2