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The development of microalgae‐based biofuels has emerged as a promising solution to address the pressing global challenges of climate change, resource scarcity, and the need for renewable energy sources. Microalgae possess unique capabilities that make them an attractive feedstock for biofuel production, including their ability to capture and sequester carbon dioxide, their efficient use of water and land resources, and the potential for them to utilize waste streams as nutrient sources. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the environmental and economic implications of microalgae‐derived fuels, highlighting the key benefits and remaining challenges. The integration of synthetic biology to enhance microalgae strains, optimize cultivation and processing, and diversify revenue streams is explored as a means to address the economic barriers to large‐scale commercialization. As research and development in this field continue to progress, the future prospects of microalgae‐based biofuels are discussed, underscoring their potential to reshape the global energy landscape towards a more sustainable and economically viable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes is associated with cognitive impairment, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Methylglyoxal (MGO), a precursor to advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), is elevated in diabetes and linked to microvascular dysfunction. In this study, overexpression of the MGO‐detoxifying enzyme glyoxalase 1 (Glo1) was used in a mouse model of diabetes to explore whether MGO accumulation in diabetes causes cognitive impairment. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin. Fasting blood glucose, cognitive function, cerebral blood flow, neurovascular coupling (NVC), Glo1 activity, MGO and AGEs were assessed. In diabetes, MGO‐derived hydroimidazolone‐1 increased in the cortex, and was decreased in Glo1‐overexpressing mice compared to controls. Visuospatial memory was decreased in diabetes, but not in Glo1/diabetes. NVC response time was slightly increased in diabetes, and normalised in the Glo1‐overexpressing group. No impact of diabetes or Glo1 overexpression on blood–brain barrier integrity or vascular density was observed. Diabetes induced a mild visuospatial memory impairment and slightly reduced NVC response speed and these effects were mitigated by Glo1. This study shows a link between MGO‐related AGE accumulation and cerebrovascular/cognitive functions in diabetes. Modulation of the MGO–Glo1 pathway may be a novel intervention strategy in patients with diabetes who have cerebrovascular complications. Key points: Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of stroke, cognitive decline, depression and Alzheimer's disease, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear.Methylglyoxal (MGO), a highly reactive by‐product of glycolysis, plays an important role in the development of diabetes‐associated microvascular dysfunction in the periphery and is detoxified by the enzyme glyoxalase 1.Diabetes reduced visuospatial memory in mice and slowed the neurovascular coupling response speed, which was improved by overexpression of glyoxalase 1.MGO formation and MGO‐derived advanced glycation endproduct (AGE) accumulation in the brain of diabetic mice are associated with a slight reduction in neurovascular coupling and mild cognitive impairment.The endogenous formation of MGO, and the accumulation of MGO‐derived AGEs, might be a potential target in reducing the risk of vascular cognitive impairment in people with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extremely rich palaeontological record of the horse family, also known as equids, has provided many examples of macroevolutionary change over the last ~55 Mya. This family is also one of the most documented at the palaeogenomic level, with hundreds of ancient genomes sequenced. While these data have advanced understanding of the domestication history of horses and donkeys, the palaeogenomic record of other equids remains limited. In this study, we have generated genome‐wide data for 25 ancient equid specimens spanning over 44 Ky and spread across Anatolia, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Mongolia. Our dataset includes the genomes from two extinct species, the European wild ass, Equus hydruntinus, and the sussemione Equus ovodovi. We document, for the first time, the presence of sussemiones in Mongolia and their survival around ~3.9 Kya, a finding that should be considered when discussing the timing of the first arrival of the domestic horse in the region. We also identify strong spatial differentiation within the historical ecological range of Asian wild asses, Equus hemionus, and incomplete reproductive isolation in several groups yet considered as different species. Finally, we find common selection signatures at ANTXR2 gene in European, Asian and African wild asses. This locus, which encodes a receptor for bacterial toxins, shows no selection signal in E. ovodovi, but a 5.4‐kb deletion within intron 7. Whether such genetic modifications played any role in the sussemione extinction remains unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT High‐dose chemotherapy (HDCT) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is widely used in patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma. HDCT/ASCT is associated with increased morbidity in elderly/unfit patients. We retrospectively evaluated the use of reduced intensity conditioning in DLBCL patients. Our study included 146 patients aged 60 years and older treated at our institution between 2005 and 2019; 86 patients received standard intensity conditioning (SI group) with BEAM or TEAM (BCNU or thiotepa, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan). Sixty patients received reduced intensity high‐dose conditioning (RI group) with BM (BCNU, melphalan, 43.3%), TM (thiotepa, melphalan, 16.7%), BCNU or busulfan thiotepa (38.4%), or bendamustine melphalan (1.7%). Median follow‐up was 62.4 months. We observed comparable toxicities in the SI and RI groups. The cumulative incidence of relapse at 3 years was higher in the RI group (30.8% vs. 23.4%, p = 0.034). There was no difference in nonrelapse mortality (NRM). In univariate analyses, SI vs. RI conditioning resulted in superior progression‐free survival (PFS) (HR 1.80 CI 1.11–2.92, p = 0.017) but not in superior overall survival (OS) (HR 1.48 CI 0.86–2.56, p = 0.152). On multivariate analysis, we observed no difference in PFS (HR 0.74 CI 0.40–1.38, p = 0.345) and a trend toward better OS with RI conditioning (HR 0.45 CI 0.22–0.94, p = 0.032). Age 60–69 versus ≥ 70 years and remission prior to ASCT were the only factors predicting better PFS. Factors associated with better OS were RI conditioning, age 60–69 versus ≥ 70 years, ECOG 0 versus ≥ 1 performance status, bulky disease, and prior lines 1 versus ≥ 2. In conclusion, RI conditioning prior to ASCT may be feasible in elderly patients and led to a comparable outcome when corrected for several significant confounders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Methods Results Conclusion The storage temperature of immunohaematological reagents generally ranges from 2 to 8°C, and they should be utilised at room temperature. This study aimed to analyse the stability of immunohaematological reagents used in ABO and RhD typing.The evaluation encompassed the potency, specificity, and integrity of anti‐A, anti‐B, anti‐D, RhD control sera, and A1 and B red blood cells (RBC) reagents after long (8 h) and short (4 h) daily periods of exposure to room temperature (20–24°C), 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Additionally, the A1 and B RBC reagents were exposed daily for 11 h and 30 min at room temperature, including 30 more minutes at room temperature with simultaneous homogenisation through equipment. For the control, an aliquot of each reagent was constantly stored at refrigeration temperature, while another was exposed to room temperature for 12 h daily. Tests conducted included reaction intensity, titration, and avidity for antisera, reaction intensity, free haemoglobin determination, and electrical conductivity for the RBC reagents.The antisera maintained the reaction intensity. The titre and avidity of the antisera satisfied the minimum Brazilian requirements after different exposure periods. A higher free haemoglobin concentration was noted in the RBC reagents subjected to room temperature and simultaneous homogenisation, although this did not affect the potency and specificity. The electrical conductivity average of the RBC reagent remained consistent.The findings indicate that the immunohaematological reagents from a specific manufacturer are stable under the tested temperature, ensuring the quality of the results under these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic‐hybrid particle‐based materials are increasingly important in (opto)electronics, sensing, and catalysis due to their printability and stretchability as well as their potential for unique synergistic functional effects. However, these functional properties are often limited due to poor electronic coupling between the organic shell and the nanoparticle. N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) belong to the most promising anchors to achieve electronic delocalization across the interface, as they form robust and highly conductive bonds with metals and offer a plethora of functionalization possibilities. Despite the outstanding potential of the conductive NHC‐metal bond, synthetic challenges have so far limited its application to the improvement of colloidal stabilities, disregarding the potential of the conductive anchor. Here, NHC anchors are used to modify redox‐active gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with conjugated triphenylamines (TPA). The resulting AuNPs exhibit excellent thermal and redox stability benefiting from the robust NHC‐gold bond. As electrochromic materials, the hybrid materials show pronounced color changes from red to dark green, a highly stable cycling stability (1000 cycles), and a fast response speed (5.6 s/2.1 s). Furthermore, TPA‐NHC@AuNP exhibits an ionization potential of 5.3 eV and a distinct out‐of‐plane conductivity, making them a promising candidate for application as hole transport layers in optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given an operator system S$\mathcal {S}$, we define the parameters rk(S)$r_k(\mathcal {S})$ (resp. dk(S)$d_k(\mathcal {S})$) defined as the maximal value of the completely bounded norm of a unital k$k$‐positive map from an arbitrary operator system into S$\mathcal {S}$ (resp. from S$\mathcal {S}$ into an arbitrary operator system). In the case of the matrix algebras Mn$\mathsf {M}_n$, for 1⩽k⩽n$1 \leqslant k \leqslant n$, we compute the exact value rk(Mn)=2n−kk$r_k(\mathsf {M}_n) = \frac{2n-k}{k}$ and show upper and lower bounds on the parameters dk(Mn)$d_k(\mathsf {M}_n)$. Moreover, when S$\mathcal {S}$ is a finite‐dimensional operator system, adapting results of Passer and the fourth author [J. Operator Theory 85 (2021), no. 2, 547–568], we show that the sequence (rk(S))$(r_k(\mathcal {S}))$ tends to 1 if and only if S$\mathcal {S}$ is exact and that the sequence (dk(S))$(d_k(\mathcal {S}))$ tends to 1 if and only if S$\mathcal {S}$ has the lifting property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Factors predicting clinical outcomes after MR‐guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS)‐thalamotomy in patients with essential tremor (ET) are not well known. Objective: To examine the clinical outcomes and their relationship with patients' baseline demographic and clinical features and lesion characteristics at 6‐month follow‐up in ET patients. Methods: A total of 127 patients were prospectively evaluated at 1 (n = 122), 3 (n = 102), and 6 months (n = 78) after MRgFUS‐thalamotomy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was obtained at 6 months (n = 60). Primary outcomes included: (1) change in the Clinical Rating Scale of Tremor (CRST)‐A+B score in the treated hand and (2) frequency and severity of adverse events (AEs) at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included changes in all subitems of the CRST scale in the treated hand, CRST‐C, axial tremor (face, head, voice, tongue), AEs, and correlation of primary outcomes at 6 months with lesion characteristics. Statistical analysis included linear mixed, standard, and logistic regression models. Results: Scores for CRST‐A+B, CRST‐A, CRST‐B in the treated hand, CRST‐C, and axial tremor were improved at each evaluation (P < 0.001). Five patients had severe AEs at 1 month that became mild throughout the follow‐up. Mild AEs occurred in 71%, 45%, and 34% of patients at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively. Lesion volume was associated with the reduction in the CRST‐A (P = 0.003) and its overlapping with the ventralis intermedius nucleus (Vim) nucleus with the reduction in CRST‐A+B (P = 0.02) and CRST‐B (P = 0.008) at 6 months. Conclusions: MRgFUS‐thalamotomy improves hand and axial tremor in ET patients. Transient and mild AEs are frequent. Lesion volume and location are associated with tremor reduction. © 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) occurs due to genetic mutations that lead to a deficiency in dystrophin production and consequent progressive degeneration of skeletal muscle fibres, through oxidative stress and an exacerbated inflammatory process. The flavonoid trilobatin (TLB) demonstrates antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory potential. Its high safety profile and effective action make it a potent therapy for the process of dystrophic muscle myonecrosis. Thus, we sought to investigate the action of TLB on damage in a DMD model, the mdx mouse. Eight‐week‐old male animals were treated with 160 mg/kg/day of trilobatin for 8 weeks. Control animals were treated with saline. Following treatment, muscle strength, serum creatine kinase (CK) levels, histopathology (necrotic myofibres, regenerated fibres/central nuclei, Feret's diameter and inflammatory area) and the levels of catalase and NF‐κB (western blotting) of the quadriceps (QUA), diaphragm (DIA) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles were measured. TLB was able to significantly increase muscle strength and reduce serum CK levels in dystrophic animals. The QUA of mdx mice showed a reduction in catalase and the number of fibres with a centralized nucleus after treatment with TLB. In the DIA of dystrophic animals, TLB reduced the necrotic myofibres, inflammatory area and NF‐κB and increased the number of regenerated fibres and the total fibre diameter. In TA, TLB increased the number of regenerated fibres and reduced catalase levels in these animals. It is concluded that in the mdx experimental model, treatment with TLB was beneficial in the treatment of DMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineral dust, the most abundant atmospheric aerosol by mass, interacts with radiation directly and alters cloud properties indirectly. Many operational numerical weather prediction models account for aerosol direct effects by using climatological mean concentrations and neglect indirect effects. This simplification may lead to shortcomings in model forecasts during outbreaks of Saharan dust towards Europe, when climatological mean dust concentrations deviate strongly from actual concentrations. This study investigates errors in model analyses and short‐range forecasts during such events. We investigate a pronounced dust event in March 2021 using the pre‐operational ICOsahedral Nonhydrostatic weather and climate model with Aerosols and Reactive Trace gases (ICON‐ART) with prognostic calculation of dust and the operational European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Integrated Forecasting System (IFS) model, which deploys a dust climatology. We compare model analysis and forecast with measurements from satellite and in situ instruments. We find that inclusion of prognostic aerosol and direct radiative effects from dust improves forecasts of surface radiation during clear‐sky conditions. However, dust‐induced cirrus clouds are strongly underestimated, highlighting the importance of representing indirect effects adequately. These findings are corroborated by systematic quantification of forecast errors against satellite measurements. For this we construct an event catalogue with 49 dust days over Central Europe between January 2018 and March 2022. We classify model cells by simulated and observed cloudiness and simulated dustiness in the total atmospheric column. We find significant overestimations of brightness temperature for cases with dust compared with cases without dust. For surface shortwave radiation, we find median overestimations of 6.2% during cloudy conditions with dust optical depth greater than 0.1, however these are not significant compared with cloudy conditions without dust. Our findings show that the pre‐operational ICON‐ART and the operational IFS model still do not reproduce cloudiness adequately during events with Saharan dust over Central Europe. Missing implementations of prognostic dust, particularly of indirect effects on cloud formation, lead to significant underestimations of cloudiness and potentially overestimations of surface radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Fruit seeds often have interesting nutritional characteristics as well as antinutrients, which may be inactivated by thermal processes. The aim of this work was to study the characteristics of flours obtained from raw, roasted or autoclaved (121 °C, 10 min) seeds of Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita ficifolia, Passiflora ligularis, Annona cherimola and Annona muricata by analysing their chemical composition, protein in vitro digestibility, content of antinutrients (tannins, phytates and oxalates) and functional properties. All the flours presented high protein (15.3–36.7 g/100 g) and fat (22.7–41.8 g/100 g) contents. Roasting and autoclaving increased in vitro protein digestibility (from 45.6% to 57.8% and 72.1%, respectively) and decreased antinutrient content (from 100.3 to 75.6 and 82.0 mg tannins/100 g; from 158.1 to 137.8 and 104.0 mg phytates/100 g; from 19.6 to 12.8 and 13.3 mg oxalates/100 g, respectively). Water and oil absorption capacities increased, while emulsion and foaming capacities as well as bulk density decreased during thermal processing. The flours from autoclaved seeds showed improved nutritional and functional characteristics and could be considered as functional food ingredients for direct human consumption and/or in food mixtures. Future studies should be performed to evaluate the presence of allergens and other possible risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with significant liver pathology marked by elevated liver enzymes. Prazosin, an alpha1‐noradrenergic antagonist significantly improves alcohol drinking outcomes in individuals with alcohol withdrawal symptoms (AW), but effects on liver enzymes are unknown. We assessed the effects of prazosin treatment on the liver enzymes alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and gamma‐glutamyltransferase (GGT) in individuals with AUD. Methods: Participants (N=100) with AUD were enrolled in a 12‐week randomized controlled trial and received either placebo or 16 mg/day of prazosin. Whole blood was drawn from 92 participants to measure liver enzyme levels every 4 weeks, and severity of AW was assessed weekly. Analysis predicting liver function outcomes used linear mixed effects models. Results: Controlling for alcohol consumption, a significant AW × treatment effect was seen for ALT (p < 0.05), AST (p < 0.05) and GGT (p < 0.01). Additionally, AST (b = 0.2, p < 0.01), ALT (b = 0.2, p < 0.05), and GGT (b = 0.3, p < 0.01) were elevated in individuals with higher AW in the placebo but not in the prazosin group (AST: p > 0.66; ALT: p > 0.65). Only in the prazosin group were lower GGT levels associated with higher withdrawal severity (b = −0.16, p < 0.05). Conclusions: We found an interaction of alcohol withdrawal symptoms and prazosin treatment on liver enzyme levels, which were not influenced by week in the trial or the amount of alcohol consumed. Together, these findings suggest that prazosin treatment reduces liver enzymes over the course of AUD treatment among individuals with significant AW, though replication to establish clinical utility is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: This work aimed to study different methodologies for extracting enzymes produced by the endophytic fungi isolated from mangrove Neofusicoccum parvum, Penicillium glabra series and Bjerkandera sp. grown on organic rice. The enzymatic activities of amylase, cellulase, laccase, lipase, peroxidase, protease and keratinase were evaluated for future applications in biotechnology and enzymology. The evaluation of the extraction was carried out using the design of experiments methodology, where variations were made in pH (4–8), temperature (20–36 °C) and agitation (150–200 rpm), in times of 1, 6 and 12 h. RESULTS: Among the enzymes analyzed, promising activities were found for amylase, cellulase, lipase, protease, peroxidase and especially keratinase, presenting activities of up to 7049.47 U g−1 in the fermentation carried out with the fungus Neofusicoccum parvum, 3538.52 U g−1 with the fungus Penicillium glabra series and 5068.20 U g−1 with the fungus Bjerkandera sp. This indicates that the fungi are promising for the production of multienzyme cocktails. CONCLUSION: It should be emphasized that the microorganisms and extraction conditions evaluated resulted in a series of promising results, that is, in the case of aiming to obtain different enzymes by other extraction conditions, after fermentation of various microorganisms on rice, several options of situations are presented and validated in this work, which allows the choice of the same, depending on the future application potential of these biocatalysts. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constitute a complex network of 10–100 amino acid sequence molecules widely distributed in nature. While over 300 AMPs have been described in mammals, cathelicidins and defensins remain the most extensively studied. Some publications have explored the role of AMPs in COVID‐19, but these findings are preliminary, and in vivo studies are still lacking. In this study, we report the plasma levels of five AMPs (LL‐37, α‐defensin 1, α‐defensin 3, β‐defensin 1, and β‐defensin 3), using the ELISA technique (MyBioSource, San Diego, CA, United States, kits MBS2601339 (beta‐defensin 1), MBS2602513 (beta‐defensin 3), MBS703879 (alpha‐defensin 1), MBS706289 (alpha‐defensin 3), MBS7234921 (LL37)), and the measurement of six cytokines (tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β, interleukin‐6, interleukin‐10, interferon‐γ, and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1), through the magnetic bead immunoassay Milliplex® and the MAGPIX® System (MilliporeSigma, Darmstadt, Germany, kit HCYTOMAG‐60 K (cytokines)), in 15 healthy volunteers, 36 COVID‐19 patients without Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and 17 COVID‐19 patients with AKI. We found increased levels of α‐defensin 1, α‐defensin 3 and β‐defensin 3, in our COVID‐19 population, when compared to healthy controls, along with higher levels of interleukin‐6, interleukin‐10, interferon‐γ, and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1. These findings suggest that these AMPs and cytokines may play a crucial role in the systemic inflammatory response and tissue damage characterizing severe COVID‐19. The levels of α‐defensin 1 and α‐defensin 3 were significantly higher in COVID‐19 AKI group in comparison to the non‐AKI group. Furthermore, IL‐10 and the product IL‐10 × IL‐1B showed excellent performance in discriminating AKI, with AUCs of 0.86 and 0.88, respectively. Among patients with COVID‐19, AMPs may play a key role in the inflammation process and disease progression. Additionally, α‐defensin 1 and α‐defensin 3 may mediate the AKI process in these patients, representing an opportunity for further research and potential therapeutic alternatives in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial (mtDNA) genes have served as widely utilised genetic loci for phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies of animals. However, the phylogenetic performance of many mtDNA genes has not been empirically evaluated across lineages within hymenopteran wasps. To address this question, we assembled and analysed mitogenomic data from social wasps, representing the four recognised tribes of Polistinae and all Epiponini genera. Additionally, we evaluated whether mtDNA gene order in Polistinae is congruent with its tribal classification. Using concatenation phylogenetic methods, we show phylogenetic congruence between mitogenomic and nuclear data. Statistically comparing the phylogenetic performance of individual mtDNA genes, we demonstrate that for social wasps the molecular markers COI, 16S, NAD5, and NAD2 perform best, while ATP6, COII, and 12S show the worst results. Finally, we verified that the tRNA cluster close to the noncoding region is a hotspot of genetic rearrangements in Vespidae and can be used as additional information for the systematics of this group. Together, these results indicate that mitogenomes contain robust phylogenetic signal to elucidate the evolutionary history of Vespidae. Moreover, our study identifies the best choice of mtDNA markers for systematic investigations of social wasps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Schizophrenia is a disabling mental disorder associated with severe social dysfunction. Individuals with long‐term mental conditions have poorer Oral Health‐Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) compared to the general population, but little is known about the measurement properties of OHRQoL instruments in this group of patients. This study aimed to examine the replicability of OHRQoL networks across samples of the general community (GC) and patients with schizophrenia (PWS). Methods: Data were obtained from 603 community‐dwelling participants and 627 patients with schizophrenia. OHRQoL was measured using the short form of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP‐14) questionnaire. A regularized partial correlation network was estimated for each sample. The number of dimensions and structural stability were assessed using Exploratory Graph Analysis. Global strength, edge weights and centrality estimates were compared. Network replicability was examined fitting the PWS data to the GC network structure. Results: A single OHIP‐14 dimension was identified in the GC sample, whereas three dimensions were detected in the PWS sample. Structural consistency was perfect in the network of GC participants (1), and considerably low in at least two dimensions of the PWS network (0.28; 0.65; 0.16). A moderate correlation for node strength estimates was observed (τ: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.72), although edge weights were not correlated (τ: 0.025; 95% CI: −0.11, 0.16). The fit of the PWS data to the GC network structure was deemed unacceptable. Conclusion: Network models of OHRQoL did not replicate across samples of the general community and outpatients with schizophrenia. Prudent use of OHIP‐14 to compare measures of OHRQoL between groups with significant cognitive impartment and the general population is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested the idea that functional trade‐offs that underlie species tolerance to drought‐driven shifts in community composition via their effects on demographic processes and subsequently on shifts in species' abundance. Using data from 298 tree species from tropical dry forests during the extreme ENSO‐2015, we scaled‐up the effects of trait trade‐offs from individuals to communities. Conservative wood and leaf traits favoured slow tree growth, increased tree survival and positively impacted species abundance and dominance at the community‐level. Safe hydraulic traits, on the other hand, were related to demography but did not affect species abundance and communities. The persistent effects of the conservative–acquisitive trade‐off across organizational levels is promising for generalization and predictability of tree communities. However, the safety–efficient trade‐off showed more intricate effects on performance. Our results demonstrated the complex pathways in which traits scale up to communities, highlighting the importance of considering a wide range of traits and performance processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate whether the quality of financial markets matters for the relationship between net external financing, voluntary carbon disclosure and firms' cost of capital. External financing needs may create incentives for firms to engage in environmental strategies, such as disclosing their carbon emissions in response to demands from stakeholders. In countries with low financial market quality, firms may build a reputation when complying with stakeholders' demands. In these countries, firms disclosing carbon emissions and with high external financing needs may be rewarded with a lower cost of capital. Using an international sample of 24,253 firm‐year observations from 35 countries, we show that the higher firms' net external financing in the previous year, the more likely they are to disclose their carbon emissions in the current year. Moreover, the positive association between the likelihood of carbon disclosure and net external financing needs is stronger in countries with low financial market quality. We further show that disclosing firms with high external financing needs have a lower cost of capital as compared to disclosing firms with low external financing needs. This evidence also differs between countries with high versus low financial market quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients who undergo hematopoietic stem‐cell transplantation (HSCT) are more susceptible to developing severe forms of COVID‐19 with an increased risk of mortality. The aim of this study was to analyze, by performing a systematic review and meta‐analysis, all studies that evaluated COVID‐19 in HSCT adult recipients and present clinical characteristics and outcomes. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they: (I) described the clinical characteristics of COVID‐19 in adult (aged 18 years old or above) HSCT recipients; (II) described outcomes of COVID‐19 in this population, mainly lethality; (III) were full‐text articles. We searched MedLine, Embase, SCOPUS, LILACS and Web of Science for full‐text studies that evaluated COVID‐19 in adult HSCT patients until 26 Apr 2023. Two independent reviewers screened the articles and extracted the data. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data was used to assess quality of the included studies. Meta‐analysis was performed and the pooled prevalence of severe/critical disease and of death with a 95% CI was calculated with the random‐effects model. Sixteen studies were included; seven (43.7%) were multicenter. Most of the studies were from Europe (37.5%). All of them had a low risk of bias using the JBI Checklist. A total of 1186 patients were included. Allogeneic HSCT patients were the majority in most studies, with a total of 861 patients (72.5%). The symptomatic rate was 79.4%. The pooled prevalence of severe/critical COVID‐19 was 24.0% (95% CI 0.13–0.36; I2 = 94%; n = 334/990). The pooled prevalence of death for the entire population was 17% (95% CI 0.13–0.22; I2 = 76%; n = 221/1117), 17% (95% CI 0.12–0.23; I2 = 67%; n = 152/822) for allogeneic‐HSCT and 14% (95% CI 0.08–0.22; I4 = 65%; n = 48/293) for autologous‐HSCT. In conclusion, frequently the infection of SARS‐CoV‐2 in HSCT was symptomatic and lethality is higher than in general population. Thus, it is essential to focus on the implementation of measures to mitigate the risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in this population, as well as to carefully assess HSCT recipients who develop COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Septic shock is a life‐threatening clinical condition characterized by a robust immune inflammatory response to disseminated infection. Little is known about its impact on the transcriptome of distinct human tissues. To address this, we performed RNA sequencing of samples from the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, heart, lung, kidney and colon of seven individuals who succumbed to sepsis and seven uninfected controls. We identified that the lungs and colon were the most affected organs. While gene activation dominated, strong inhibitory signals were also detected, particularly in the lungs. We found that septic shock is an extremely heterogeneous disease, not only when different individuals are investigated, but also when comparing different tissues of the same patient. However, several pathways, such as respiratory electron transport and other metabolic functions, revealed distinctive alterations, providing evidence that tissue specificity is a hallmark of sepsis. Strikingly, we found evident signals of accelerated ageing in our sepsis population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The steel bridge popularly known as "Ponte da Usina", is 54 meters long and is composed of 18 modules of 3 meters. Heavy rains that occurred on the night of 5 February 2013 at the top of the Serra do Cipó, caused an increase of the river level "Parauninha" of approximately 15 meters, causing destruction along its banks and the structural collapse of the bridge "Ponte da Usina". This work describes the general bridge history and damages that have affected the structure in the past, the circumstances and the impacts of the collapse as well as the proposed alternatives for reconstruction of the collapsed bridge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to assess the people‐structure dynamic interaction effect on the steel‐concrete composite floor's structural behaviour, based on of experimental tests and numerical modelling. The investigated structure is associated to a steel‐concrete composite floor building with total area of 1300 m2. In this investigation, biodynamic systems like "spring‐mass‐damper" models with one degree of freedom (SDOF) were used to simulate the people's walking on the floor. The numerical model, developed for the floor building dynamic analysis, adopted the usual mesh refinement techniques present in finite element method (FEM) simulations implemented in the ANSYS software. Based on the experimental results calibration, the floor dynamic response was analysed to study the influence of the people's step frequencies, number of people walking and stationary on the floor, structural damping, and different trajectories of people walking. The floor dynamic response was determined based on the displacement and acceleration values, and compared with those calculated utilising traditional dynamic loading mathematical models. After that, the structural system dynamic response maximum values were compared with the recommended limits proposed in design codes for excessive vibration's assessments to study the human comfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hot‐rolled steel angles are utilized in various construction systems. This work presents an extensive numerical study on the behavior of hot‐rolled steel angles under concentric and eccentric compression. The numerical results were used for the evaluation of existing design procedures commonly applied in practice. In general, the analytical rules were on safe‐side in most analyzed cases. But in case of angle members in eccentric compression by two bolts, the codes presented very high values for ultimate compressive load capacity. Finally, the study extended the numerical data on the resistance available in the literature and promoted a critical discussion about the ongoing revision of design rules for angles concentrically and eccentrically loaded in compression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the main purpose of the codes is to provide satisfactory safety levels, the reassessment of the reliability of the current design rules considering the new structural steels, as high strength steels (HSS), is necessary. As the reliability directly depends on several variables, their influence should also be considered. This paper aims to evaluate the influence of the randomness of the geometry, material, initial geometrical imperfections and residual stresses on the minor‐axis flexural buckling resistance of S690 HSS welded I‐section columns and the reliability of the Eurocode 3 [1,2] stability design rules. Monte Carlo simulations were executed to obtain the ultimate resistance of simply‐supported compressive members with slenderness varying from 0.3 to 2.2. The basic variables were stochastically modeled using existing statistical distributions from the literature and each generated element was numerically analyzed by a general‐purpose finite element software. Finally, the influence of the randomness of the basic variables and the safety provided by FprEN1993‐1‐1 [2] is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the properties of biodegradable gelatin‐based films were modified by UV treatment and the incorporation of 1% (w/w) of bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibers. UVC light was applied at different exposure times (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 h) into the film‐forming solutions. In order to evaluate the synergistic effects of these two treatments, the optimal UV condition was also applied to BC‐reinforced solutions. Films were characterized by their physicochemical, mechanical, barrier, optical, thermal, and morphological properties. Results showed that the UV treatment applied for 2 h significantly reduced the water solubility (WS) but did not affect the water vapor permeability (WVP). On the other hand, the incorporation of BC reduced WS and WVP values by 15% and 43%, respectively. Regarding mechanical properties, both treatments significantly reduced film elongation at break. However, the tensile strength (TS) and Young's modulus (YM) were only affected by UV treatment. For the film exposed to the longest treatment time, TS increased from 1.56 MPa (control) to 2.85 MPa, and YM increased from 4.36 MPa (control) to 9.23 MPa. Overall, SEM results showed that all samples had a uniform surface and a cohesive matrix. However, BC‐reinforced films showed some additional clusters, which significantly increased opacity values. Regardless of their composition, all gelatin‐based films lost their integrity after a 12‐day soil burial experiment. Film thickness, moisture content, and color parameters were not affected by any treatment. Furthermore, no synergistic effects were detected. Practical applications: Biopolymer films and coatings are promising systems to ensure shelf life, quality, and food safety, representing a sustainable alternative to replace traditional petroleum‐based materials. Although these films have advantages, mainly due to their biodegradability, their properties are not competitive at an industrial level and need to be improved. Therefore, several studies have investigated the application of physical treatments and new process methodologies to overcome these limitations. The present study evaluated the potential use of UV radiation and bacterial cellulose nanofibers in the development of gelatin‐based films. Overall, the results showed that these methods are capable of modifying the properties and structure of films, thus offering an alternative to conventional methods of film production. Mastering the use of advanced technologies for film development could be the key to tailoring biopolymer films and coatings for specific industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polybutylene succinate (PBS) and other succinic (co)polyesters are biodegradable polymers with favorable mechanical and thermal properties that find use in many applications. Due to environmental concerns, polymers based on succinic acid (SA) have been gaining attention, as SA can be produced through biotechnological processes. Thus, this review aims to highlight the synthesis and characteristics of PBS and other succinic copolyesters, with emphasis in the works employing metallic catalysts and enzymes. In addition, the modification of the macromolecular structure by copolymerization or postpolymerization is also discussed. Currently, metallic catalysts are normally used in the synthesis of these materials, under conditions of high temperatures, which can favor the occurrence of thermal degradation, increasing the dispersion of chain length distributions. Moreover, the incrustation of metallic catalysts in polymeric materials makes their application in biomedical products difficult, due to toxicity requirements. In this context, enzymatic catalysis is gaining ground, offering milder synthesis temperatures, high selectivity, and uniformity of synthesized products. This biotechnological route can substitute oligomerization processes with metallic catalysis in future industrial processes, producing materials free from metallic contamination. In addition to production by catalytic routes, trends for future applications of succinic (co)polyesters are presented, with emphasis on the value‐added materials sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study explored the association of BMI and insulin sensitivity with cognitive performance in type 2 diabetes. Methods: A cross‐sectional analysis of data from the baseline assessment of the Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: a Comparative Effectiveness Study (GRADE) was conducted. BMI was used as a surrogate of adiposity and the Matsuda index as the measure of insulin sensitivity. Cognitive tests included the Spanish English Verbal Learning Test, the Digit Symbol Substitution Test, and the letter and animal fluency tests. Results: Cognitive assessments were completed by 5018 (99.4%) of 5047 participants aged 56.7 ± 10.0 years, of whom 36.4% were female. Higher BMI and lower insulin sensitivity were related to better performance on memory and verbal fluency tests. In models including BMI and insulin sensitivity simultaneously, only higher BMI was related to better cognitive performance. Conclusions: In this study, higher BMI and lower insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes were cross‐sectionally associated with better cognitive performance. However, only higher BMI was related to cognitive performance when both BMI and insulin sensitivity were considered simultaneously. The causality and mechanisms for this association need to be determined in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of facial measurements on three‐dimensional images obtained using a new photogrammetric scanner. Material and Methods: A total of 11 participants were included in the study. Nine customized adhesive labels were used to identify the facial landmarks: Trichion (Tri), Glabella (G), Right (Exr) and Left (Exl), Pronasal (Pn), Subnasal (Sn), Chelion right (Chr) and left (Chl) and Mentonian (Me). Two trained and calibrated examiners were responsible for performing seven linear measurements for each participant (Tri‐G, Sn‐Me, Exr‐Exl, Chr‐Chl, Exr‐Chr, Exl‐Chl, Pn‐Sn) first with a digital caliper and later with a three‐dimensional model obtained after digitalization with photogrammetric technology. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), mean difference, SD, and Bland–Altman correlation were used to compare the measurements performed. Results: Intra and inter‐examiner reliability were excellent (ICC >0.9). In general, the measurements presented a variation of a minor 2.0 mm. However, only three measures (Sn‐Me, Exr‐Exl, and Exr‐Chr) were outside the clinical acceptability range. Conclusions: The 3D Cloner scanner showed clinically acceptable accuracy comparable to the digital caliper with a variation of −0.8 ± 1.2 mm. Inter‐ and intra‐examiner agreement on digital measurements was also observed. Clinical Significance: Scanners with accurate 3D model reproductions associated with reliable digital measurements provide a more precise diagnosis and better planning in orofacial treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents a new hybrid energy dissipation device and investigates experimentally its capability to improve the seismic response of an inherently very flexible structural system: a reinforced concrete waffle‐flat plate structure. The new device combines in parallel within a single device a low‐cost viscoelastic (VE) component and a metallic yielding (MY) component. The device has a gap that prevents deformations on the MY component in the range of displacements caused by wind or low intensity earthquakes, to avoid high‐cycle fatigue damage. The MY component is expected to activate under the design or the maximum credible earthquake, providing the main structure with lateral stiffness, and a reliable and large source of energy dissipation capacity. Six new hybrid energy dissipation devices (energy dissipation system) were installed in a scaled two‐story portion of a prototype RC waffle‐flat plate structure (main structure) designed only for gravity loads, without considering special ductility detailing or capacity design rules for the columns. The VE component of the hybrid energy dissipation devices reduced the translational periods with largest effective modal mass along the horizontal directions X and Y to 60%, and increased the fraction of damping to about 12%. The main structure with the energy dissipation system was subjected to bidirectional shake table tests that represented frequent, design and maximum credible earthquakes. In the tests, the main structure remained basically undamaged under the frequent and the design earthquakes, whereas it suffered minor (reparable) damage under the maximum credible earthquake. The MY component remained undeformed under low intensity earthquakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most severe and frequent form of muscular dystrophy. The mdx mouse is one of the most widely used experimental models to understand aspects of the biology of dystrophic skeletal muscles and the mechanisms of DMD. Oxidative stress and apoptosis are present in early stages of the disease in mdx mice. The high production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes activation of apoptotic death regulatory proteins due to DNA damage and breakdown of nuclear and mitochondrial membranes. The quadriceps (QUA) muscle of the mdx mouse is a good tool to study oxidative events. Previous studies have demonstrated that cilostazol exerts an anti‐oxidant effect by decreasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The present study aimed to evaluate the ability of cilostazol to modulate oxidative stress and apoptosis in the QUA muscle of mdx mice. Fourteen‐day‐old mdx mice received cilostazol or saline for 14 days. C57BL/10 mice were used as a control. In the QUA muscle of mdx mice, cilostazol treatment decreased ROS production (−74%), the number of lipofuscin granules (−47%), lipid peroxidation (−11%), and the number of apoptotic cells (−66%). Thus cilostazol showed anti‐oxidant and anti‐apoptotic action in the QUA muscle of mdx mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is strong cross‐talk between abnormal intracellular calcium concentration, high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an exacerbated inflammatory process in the dystrophic muscles of mdx mice, the experimental model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). In this study, we investigated effects of Idebenone, a potent anti‐oxidant, on oxidative stress markers, the anti‐oxidant defence system, intracellular calcium concentrations and the inflammatory process in primary dystrophic muscle cells from mdx mice. Dystrophic muscle cells were treated with Idebenone (0.05 μM) for 24 h. The untreated mdx muscle cells were used as controls. The MTT assay showed that Idebenone did not have a cytotoxic effect on the dystrophic muscle cells. The Idebenone treatment was able to reduce the levels of oxidative stress markers, such as H2O2 and 4‐HNE, as well as decreasing intracellular calcium influx in the dystrophic muscle cells. Regarding Idebenone effects on the anti‐oxidant defence system, an up‐regulation of catalase levels, glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was observed in the dystrophic muscle cells. In addition, the Idebenone treatment was also associated with reduction in inflammatory molecules, such as nuclear factor kappa‐B (NF‐κB) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) in mdx muscle cells. These outcomes supported the use of Idebenone as a protective agent against oxidative stress and related signalling mechanisms involved in dystrophinopathies, such as DMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulse and flow throughout the brain, driven by the cardiac cycle. These fluid dynamics, which are essential to healthy brain function, are characterized by several noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods. Recent developments in fast MRI, specifically simultaneous multislice acquisition methods, provide a new opportunity to rapidly and broadly assess cardiac‐driven flow, including CSF spaces, surface vessels and parenchymal vessels. We use these techniques to assess blood and CSF flow dynamics in brief (3.5 min) scans on a conventional 3 T MRI scanner in five subjects. Cardiac pulses are measured with a photoplethysmography (PPG) on the index finger, along with functional MRI (fMRI) signals in the brain. We, retrospectively, align the fMRI signals to the heartbeat. Highly reliable cardiac‐gated fMRI temporal signals are observed in CSF and blood on the timescale of one heartbeat (test–retest reliability within subjects R2 > 50%). In blood vessels, a local minimum is observed following systole. In CSF spaces, the ventricles and subarachnoid spaces have a local maximum following systole instead. Slower resting‐state scans with slice timing, retrospectively, aligned to the cardiac pulse, reveal similar cardiac‐gated responses. The cardiac‐gated measurements estimate the amplitude and phase of fMRI pulsations in the CSF relative to those in the arteries, an estimate of the local intracranial impedance. Cardiac aligned fMRI signals can provide new insights about fluid dynamics or diagnostics for diseases where these dynamics are important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential benefits and mechanistic effects of working memory training (WMT) in children are the subject of much research and debate. We show that after five weeks of school‐based, adaptive WMT 6–9 year‐old primary school children had greater activity in prefrontal and striatal brain regions, higher task accuracy, and reduced intra‐individual variability in response times compared to controls. Using a sequential sampling decision model, we demonstrate that this reduction in intra‐individual variability can be explained by changes to the evidence accumulation rates and thresholds. Critically, intra‐individual variability is useful in quantifying the immediate impact of cognitive training interventions, being a better predictor of academic skills and well‐being 6–12 months after the end of training than task accuracy. Taken together, our results suggest that attention control is the initial mechanism that leads to the long‐run benefits from adaptive WMT. Selective and sustained attention abilities may serve as a scaffold for subsequent changes in higher cognitive processes, academic skills, and general well‐being. Furthermore, these results highlight that the selection of outcome measures and the timing of the assessments play a crucial role in detecting training efficacy. Thus, evaluating intra‐individual variability, during or directly after training could allow for the early tailoring of training interventions in terms of duration or content to maximise their impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Question/Issue: The purpose of this special issue (SI) is to encourage research examining the effect of different ownership types in and from different countries on corporate governance and objectives. Research Findings/Insights: The articles included in this SI provide novel insights as to the influence of different types of owners, including states and sovereign wealth funds, families, and different types of institutional investors, as well as of other features of ownership structures, on various aspects of corporate governance, in a variety of institutional contexts. Theoretical/Academic Implications: As companies face different institutional contexts when they operate internationally, and shareholders have become increasingly global, the resulting heterogeneity of shareholder types poses new challenges in our understanding of their behavior. This SI is a step in the direction of disentangling the complex implications of ownership for corporate governance across institutional contexts. Practitioner/Policy Implications: Together with other owner types, the ever‐increasing $100 trillion global asset management industry representing 40% of global market capitalization (PwC, 2020) fuels corporate governance and performance pressures on portfolio companies. The articles included in the SI provide useful insights as to the new ownership landscape and its consequences for operating firms in different countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a new chemical method for controlling the strain in methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) perovskite crystals by varying the ratio of Pb(Ac)2 and PbCl2 in the precursor solution. To observe the effect on crystal strain, a combination of piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) is used. The PFM images show an increase in the average size of ferroelastic twin domains upon increasing the PbCl2 content, indicating an increase in crystal strain. The XRD spectra support this observation with strong crystal twinning features that appear in the spectra. This behavior is caused by a strain gradient during the crystallization due to different evaporation rates of methylammonium acetate and methylammonium chloride as revealed by time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy and grazing incidince X‐ray diffraction measurements. Additional time‐resolved photoluminescence shows an increased carrier lifetime in the MAPbI3 films prepared with higher PbCl2 content, suggesting a decreased trap density in films with larger twin domain structures. The results demonstrate the potential of chemical strain engineering as a simple method for controlling strain‐related effects in lead halide perovskites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNA (miRNA) loaded Argonaute (AGO) complexes regulate gene expression via direct base pairing with their mRNA targets. Previous works suggest that up to 60% of mammalian transcripts might be subject to miRNA‐mediated regulation, but it remains largely unknown which fraction of these interactions are functional in a specific cellular context. Here, we integrate transcriptome data from a set of miRNA‐depleted mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) lines with published miRNA interaction predictions and AGO‐binding profiles. Using this integrative approach, combined with molecular validation data, we present evidence that < 10% of expressed genes are functionally and directly regulated by miRNAs in mESCs. In addition, analyses of the stem cell‐specific miR‐290‐295 cluster target genes identify TFAP4 as an important transcription factor for early development. The extensive datasets developed in this study will support the development of improved predictive models for miRNA‐mRNA functional interactions. Synopsis: Integrative analysis of transcriptome data from miRNA‐depleted mESC lines, miRNA interaction predictions and AGO‐binding profiles allows for the identification of direct and functional miRNA targets. These data support the development of algorithms to predict functional miRNA‐mRNA interactions. Less than 10% of transcribed genes in mESCs show evidence for direct and functional regulation by miRNAs.TFAP4 is regulated by miRNAs in mESCs and plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression.Depletion of Tfap4 in Drosha_KO mESCs is not sufficient to rescue global miRNA phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising interest in the use of high strength steel (HSS) materials is justified by several advantages that they provide. In the field of construction, their benefits range from streamlined and elegant structures to lower CO2 emissions and energy consumption. High‐rise buildings and large span bridges can be designed with smaller foundations and less structural weight, since the application of HSS makes the design with slender steel sections possible. However, special attention should be given to the stability of the compressive members since the buckling resistance generally governs their design. The existing codes to evaluate the capacity of HSS columns and beam‐columns are based on rules from experimental tests related to normal strength steel (NSS) materials, which is responsible for inconsistencies. Therefore, this current work aims to present a numerical model created and validated to evaluate the major‐ and minor‐axis flexural buckling of HSS welded I‐section columns and the combined flexural and lateral‐torsional buckling of HSS welded I‐section beam‐columns. In the following, a parametric study is also conducted, in which different cross‐sections, normalized slenderness, steel grades (from S460 up), bending moment distributions and application of restraints are considered. Finally, a comparison between the European design rules and the resistances from the Finite Element model is led, evidencing the underrating expressed by the code with a level of safety even higher when superior steel grades are evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seasonal variability of Agulhas Current properties is not well understood because there have been few data collected during austral winter. Here we analyze 8 repeat hydrographic sections that have been collected across the Agulhas Current at 34°S over the past decade, including the first full‐depth winter surveys of the Agulhas Current, collected in 2016 and 2018. Several differences between the summer and winter occupations of the current are observed which can be attributed to seasonal variability. The most significant difference is the upward shoaling of central waters onto the continental shelf in the summer. These waters flood the shelf with nutrients and oxygen during the summer months, when the Agulhas Current is strongest, but not during winter. Over the top 100 m of the water column seasonality is dominated by surface fluxes, with warmer waters in summer. Immediately below the surface, however, waters are warmer during winter because of the mixing down of Tropical Surface Waters into the deepening mixed layer. Throughout the Agulhas Current at central and intermediate depths waters are cooler in summer and this is due to the upward tilt of the isopycnals, consistent with stronger geostrophic transport. Seasonality is also evident at depth, where North Atlantic Deep Water has a stronger equatorward flow during winter when the Agulhas Current is weaker and shallower. Plain Language Summary: Seasonal changes in temperature and salinity across the Agulhas Current are not well understood because there have been limited hydrographic data collected in this region during winter. In this study, we use a decade worth of observations over the same transect of the Agulhas Current at 34°S, including the first two full‐depth winter surveys of the Agulhas Current, to investigate any changes in the water masses properties from one season to another. In summer, when the Agulhas Current is stronger, nutrient‐rich water masses located offshore and at depth are observed to migrate upward onto the continental shelf, a phenomenon that is not apparent during winter. The upper part of the Agulhas Current is influenced by surface fluxes, with warmer temperatures occurring during summer. Below the surface layer, Agulhas Current temperatures are cooler during summer as a result of the upward tilt of the density surfaces in association with the stronger current. In winter, when the Agulhas Current is relatively weaker and shallower than in summer, we observe more equatorward flow of the deepest water mass, that is North Atlantic Deep Water. Key Points: Nutrient‐rich central waters upwell onto the continental shelf during summer, when the Agulhas Current is stronger, and not during winterBelow the seasonal surface layer, waters in the Agulhas Current are cooler during summer due to the upward tilt of isopycnalsMore equatorward flow of North Atlantic Deep Water is observed in winter, when the Agulhas Current is comparatively shallow and weak [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of African Journal of Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: Network analysis is an innovative, analytic approach that enables visual representation of variables as nodes and their corresponding statistical associations as edges. It also provides a new way of framing oral health‐related questions as complex systems of variables. We aimed to generate networks of oral health variables using epidemiological data of Indigenous children, and to compare network structures of oral health variables among participants who received immediate or delayed delivery of an oral health intervention. Methods: Epidemiological data from 448 mother‐child dyads enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of dental caries prevention in South Australia, Australia, were obtained. Networks were estimated with nodes representing study variables and edges representing partial correlation coefficients between variables. Data included dental caries, impact on quality of life, self‐rated general health, self‐rated oral health, dental service utilization, knowledge of oral health, fatalism and self‐efficacy in three time points. Communities of nodes, centrality, clustering coefficient and network stability were estimated. Results: The oral health intervention interacted with the network through self‐rated general health and knowledge of oral health. Networks depicting groups shortly after receiving the intervention presented higher clustering coefficients and a similar arrangement of nodes. Networks tended to return to a preintervention state. Conclusion: The intervention resulted in increased connectivity and changes in the structure of communities of variables in both intervention groups. Our findings contribute to elucidating dynamics between variables depicting oral health networks over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1,3‐Dioxolan‐4‐ones (DOX) chemistry is exploited for the synthesis of UV‐curable, polylactic acid (PLA)‐based copolymers. DOX monomer functionalized with 4‐fluoro‐4′‐hydroxybenzophenone is synthesized and employed as comonomer with l‐lactide. Copolymerization reactions are performed with different DOX loadings through a solvent‐free, metal‐catalyzed protocol. Products are characterized through NMR analysis in order to demonstrate the random insertion of the modified monomer within the polymeric chain. Copolymers are subjected to UV irradiation and compared to a control PLA synthesized and processed in the same conditions. The evolution of the molecular weight during prolonged UV exposure is evaluated through SEC analysis, showing the effect of the benzophenone side groups, which promote crosslinking reactions. A crosslinking mechanism is proposed and demonstrated by means of 1H NMR and FT‐IR analyses. The gel content of the samples is measured after the UV exposure, demonstrating a correlation with the concentration of DOX‐derived units. Finally, water contact angle analyses are performed to investigate the effects of the fluorination degree on the wettability properties and thermal characterization is carried out. Moreover, rheological analyses show a shear thickening behavior for the copolymers with the highest concentration of DOX‐derived units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mountains of Central Asia during the Bronze and Iron Ages are increasingly being reconceived as an important zone for intensive crop cultivation in combination with pastoralist herding. However, very little information is known about how farming practices intersected with livestock husbandry, especially at high‐elevation sites. This paper presents the first insights to ancient animal management strategies in the Tian Shan through incremental carbon and oxygen stable isotope analysis of domesticated caprine teeth recovered from the Chap‐1 farmstead located at 2000 m.a.s.l. in Kyrgyzstan (1065 to 825 cal BCE). We implemented a fully reproducible analysis of time‐series isotope data in the R programming language. Results show subtle but variable manipulation of domesticated caprine diets at subannual scales, suggesting mixed strategies of providing access to a small amount of C4 plant biomass, in addition to summer movements to high pastures where the overall carbon isotopic composition of graze was depleted in 13C compared with that of the environs of the site or lowland pastures. Nevertheless, caprine dietary intake was overwhelmingly dominated by C3 plants. Analysis of domesticated caprine birth seasonality reveals off‐season fall and winter births, which represent a common strategy employed by ancient producers in Central Asia to improve herd security and extend meat and milk availability. This study illustrates a well‐integrated system of agro‐pastoralist production that can help clarify the social dynamics underlying food systems in the mountain regions of Central and Inner Asia in the Final Bronze Age. It further reveals the capability for more sedentary agro‐pastoralist communities to facilitate wider interregional cultural connections, through limited seasonal herding mobility and investment in highland settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marsupials and rodents are two of the most specious mammalian group, displaying a variety of diet and feeding habits. However, the knowledge about diet for several small mammal species is scant in the scientific literature, and most species are classified as insectivore–omnivore (marsupials), or frugivore–graminivore (rodents). In this study, we described diet composition based on digestive tract contents of 12 species of small mammals (7‐rodents and 5‐marsupials), in semi‐deciduous forest fragments of Central Brazil. We analysed 47 digestive tract contents belong to Calomys tener (10), Oecomys bicolor (10), Gracilinanus agilis (6), Marmosa murina (5), Rhipidomys macrurus (5), Calomys expulsus (2), Cryptonanus chacoensis (2), Monodelphis kunsi (2), Oecomys catherinae (2), Caluromys philander (1), Oligoryzomys mattogrossae (1) and Necromys lasiurus (1). We found parts of arthropods and fruits in the digestive tract of all species, with the exception of N. lasiurus, which contained only arthropods. The most representative arthropod taxa were Hymenoptera (present in 11 species), Coleoptera (9 spp.), Arachnida (7 spp.) and Isoptera (6 spp.). The seeds of Piperaceae (present in 3 small mammal species), Myrtaceae (2 spp.) and Poaceae (1 sp.) were also identified. This study reports the first records of diet composition for the marsupials C. chacoensis and M. murina, and rodents C. expulsus, C. tener, O. bicolor, O. catherinae and R. macrurus. Our findings contribute to understanding the diet composition and natural history of the Brazilian Savanna small mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the replicability of oral health literacy (OHL) network models across the general community and a sample of older adults from Brazil.Methods: Data were obtained from two oral health surveys conducted with a total of 1138 participants. OHL was measured using the short form Health Literacy in Dentistry scale (HeLD-14). A regularized partial correlation network was estimated for each sample. Dimensionality and structural stability were examined via exploratory graph analysis. Network properties compared included global strength, edge weights, and centrality estimates. Model replicability was examined fitting the general community model to the older participants' data.Results: Six dimensions with the exact same item composition were detected in both network models. Only the Receptivity domain in the older adults sample yielded low structural stability. Strong correlations were observed between edge weights (τ: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.62-0.74) and between node strength estimates (τ: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.36-0.89). No statistically significant differences were found for global strength. The fit of the older adults sample to the HeLD-14 network structure of the general community sample was satisfactory.Conclusion: Network models OHL replicated across the general community and a sample of older adults. The psychometric network approach is a useful tool to evaluate the measurement equivalence of OHL instruments across populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ohmic heating (OH) and ultrasound (US) on the functional properties of biodegradable gelatin‐based films. For OH, electric field strength (30–120 V) and exposure time (5–20 min) were evaluated; for US, intensity (50%–100%) and the exposure time (5–20 min) were investigated. Regarding OH, higher mechanical properties (tensile strength and Young's modulus) values were obtained at the lowest electric field strength applied, regardless of the exposure time. For US, tensile strength and Young's modulus values significantly increased with increasing the US intensity and exposure time. Films produced with OH and US with optimized properties were compared to a control film (produced by conventional heating). X‐ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis indicated that films produced by US and OH showed a more ordered structure, with a higher crystallinity index, and were more thermally stable. The most pronounced effects on mechanical properties were obtained using OH: tensile strength increased from 1.53 MPa (control) to 3.86 MPa. US application reduced film opacity, resulting in a more transparent film with a smoother surface. Both treatments also significantly decreased the water vapor permeability but did not affect film thickness, moisture content, water solubility, and biodegradability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Most surgical and anaesthetic mortality and morbidity occurs postoperatively, disproportionately affecting low‐ and middle‐income countries. Various short courses have been developed to improve patient outcomes in low‐ and middle‐income countries, but none specifically to address postoperative care and complications. We aimed to identify key features of a proposed short‐course addressing this topic using a Delphi process with low‐ and middle‐income country anaesthesia providers trained as short‐course facilitators. An initial questionnaire was co‐developed from literature review and exploratory workshops to include 108 potential course features. Features included content; teaching method; appropriate participants; and appropriate faculty. Over three Delphi rounds (panellists numbered 86, 64 and 35 in successive cycles), panellists indicated which features they considered most important. Responses were analysed by geographical regions: Africa, the Americas, south‐east Asia and Western Pacific. Ultimately, panellists identified 60, 40 and 54 core features for the proposed course in each region, respectively. There were high levels of consensus within regions on what constituted core course content, but not between regions. All panellists preferred the small group workshop teaching method irrespective of region. All regions considered anaesthetists to be key facilitators, while all agreed that both anaesthetists and operating theatre nurses were key participants. The African and Americas regional panels recommended more multidisciplinary healthcare professionals for participant roles. Faculty from high‐income countries were not considered high priority. Our study highlights variability between geographical regions as to which course features were perceived as most locally relevant, supporting regional adaptation of short‐course design rather than a one‐size‐fits‐all model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(thioether‐ester) (PTEe) nanoparticles obtained by thiol‐ene polymerization have received attention of many researchers due to several advantages, including, biocompatibility and biodegradability. The search for new nanomaterials requires toxicity studies to assess potential toxic effects of their administration. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo acute toxicity of PTEe and poly(thioether‐ester)‐coated magnetic nanoparticles prepared by thiol‐ene polymerization in miniemulsion. These nanoparticles presented a mean size of approximately 120 nm, spherical morphology, and negative surface charge. Doses of 40 mg/kg were administered intraperitoneally to Swiss mice and nociceptive, behavioral and biochemical parameters were investigated in five different organs. None of the nanoparticles led to any alterations in the nociceptive and behavioral responses. Biochemical alterations were observed in liver, decreasing the sulfhydryl and glutathione (GSH) levels, suggesting the dependence of the GSH metabolism in the elimination of the nanoparticles. In general, both nanoparticle types did not cause disturbances in biochemical parameters analyzed in others organs. These results suggest that both nanoparticle types did not induce acute toxicity to the different organs evaluated, reinforcing the biocompatibility of PTEe nanoparticles synthetized by thiol‐ene polymerization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic alcohol use increases risk of alcohol withdrawal symptoms (AW) and disrupts stress biology and resilient coping, thereby promoting excessive alcohol intake. Chronic alcohol intake and multiple alcohol detoxifications are known to impair brain medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and striatal functioning, regions involved in regulating stress, craving and alcohol intake. In two related studies, we examined whether AW predicts this functional brain pathology and whether Prazosin versus Placebo treatment may reverse these effects. In Study 1, patients with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) (N = 45) with varying AW levels at treatment entry were assessed to examine AW effects on corticostriatal responses to stress, alcohol cue and neutral visual images with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In Study 2, 23 AUD patients entering a 12‐week randomised controlled trial (RCT) of Prazosin, an alpha1 adrenergic antagonist that decreased withdrawal‐related alcohol intake in laboratory animals, participated in two fMRI sessions at pretreatment and also at week 9–10 of chronic treatment (Placebo: N = 13; Prazosin: N = 10) to assess Prazosin treatment effects on alcohol‐related cortico‐striatal dysfunction. Study 1 results indicated that higher AW predicted greater disruption in brain mPFC and striatal response to stress and alcohol cues (p < 0.001, family‐wise error [FWE] correction) and also subsequently greater heavy drinking days (HDD) in early treatment (p < 0.01). In Study 2, Prazosin versus Placebo treatment reversed mPFC‐striatal dysfunction (p < 0.001, FWE), which in turn predicted fewer drinking days (p < 0.01) during the 12‐week treatment period. These results indicate that AW is a significant predictor of alcohol‐related prefrontal‐striatal dysfunction, and Prazosin treatment reversed these effects that in turn contributed to improved alcohol treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]