bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Corporate Income Tax on Capital Structure: Evidence from Serbian Food Industry
Authors: Tica Teodora
Published: December 2021

Research Question: The aim of this paper is to present the effect of corporate income tax on capital structure in the food industry of the Republic of Serbia. Motivation: Based on the empirical results of Moradi & Paulet (2018) and Kuc & Kalicanin (2021), the author's aim of the research conducted in this paper is to analyse the impact of corporate income tax on the capital structure in the Republic of Serbia as a developing country with an underdeveloped capital market and to support the results of this sporadically researched area of corporate finance in the Republic of Serbia. Idea: The author believes that by determining the optimal capital structure, it could be possible to reduce the burden of corporate income tax. Given that the food industry is one of the most significant and profitable industries in the Republic of Serbia, the results of this theoretical and empirical research would be of a great benefit to the local Tax Authority and to large taxpayers. Data: The research was conducted on a sample of 250 most active companies that operated within the food industry of the Republic of Serbia in the period from 2017 to 2019. The source of data for the purposes of this research are the official financial reports of companies registered with the Serbian Business Registers Agency. Tools: Elemental descriptive statistics techniques and panel regression analysis were applied throughout the data analysis. For the purpose of data processing the author used STATA statistical software. Findings: The results confirmed the existence of a negative and statistically significant relationship between tax savings based on depreciation costs and profitability on the one hand, and capital structure, on the other. Thus, the results indicate the need of profitable companies to use high depreciation costs to provide a reduced burden of corporate income tax with a capital structure shifted to accumulated own financial resources. In addition, the results of the regression model showed the absence of a statistically significant effect of tax savings based on interest costs on capital structure. Contribution: The contribution of this paper is reflected in additional support to existing discussions on impact of corporate income taxes on capital structure. Further, the paper contributes to business practice by determining how corporate income tax burden could be reduced by choosing optimal financial mix.
The Relationship between ESG and Financial Performance Indicators in the Public Sector: Empirical Evidence from the Republic of Serbia
Authors: Domanović Violeta
Published: December 2021

Research Question: This paper investigated whether a relationship exists between environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) performance indicators and financial performance measures in the public sector. Motivation: Performance measurement plays a significant role in public management and public policy and could be considered to be a segment of the whole performance management process. Growing awareness of climate change, human capital and corporate governance issues have imposed the necessity of introducing environmental, social and corporate governance performance indicators (ESG) in public enterprises’ annual reports. ESG performance indicators encourage investors to make socially responsible investment decisions (De Lucia, Pazienza & Bartlett, 2020). Hence, the paper is focused on the specifics of measuring performance in the public sector. Besides, it is very interesting to acquire knowledge about the correlation between ESG indicators and financial performance measures (Kalaitzoglou, Pan & Niklewski, 2020; Landau, Rochell, Klein & Zwergel, 2020). Idea: The purpose of the research is to highlight relevant performance measures in the public enterprises in the energy sector in the Republic of Serbia and to examine whether the application of the ESG indicators implies better financial performance. Data: Four large Serbian companies in the energy sector were analysed. Data were collected on the web site of the Agency for Business Registers of the Republic of Serbia. The observation period is from 2017 to 2019. The financial performance indicators are ROA, ROE and the economy ratio. Tools: Based on annual financial statements, non-financial reporting of public companies is monitored, whether companies invest in environmental and social protection, as well as whether they implement activities directed to more consistent implementation of corporate governance. The dynamics of selected financial indicators is analysed according to base and chain indices. Findings: The results show that the public enterprises in the energy sector of the Republic of Serbia mainly report on traditional financial measures in their annual financial statements. One of them applies all ESG indicators and the others do it partially. However, no direct and positive correlation between ESG indicators and financial performance measures could be found. Conversely, there is the case that ESG indicators have no linkage with the financial performance measures. Contribution: This paper contributes to the existing literature in the field of public enterprises’ sustainability.
Innovating (a Lot) With a Little: High-Tech Innovation in Southeast Europe
Authors: Radojević Nebojša
Published: December 2021

Motivation: According to the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS, 2020), Southeast-European countries are either modest or moderate innovators because they consistently innovate below the EU average. Given that innovation is a key driver of economic growth (Hasan & Tucci, 2010), this implies that Southeast Europe has been economically falling back while simultaneously politically integrating with the EU. However, the EIS categorizes countries according to the inconclusive arithmetic mean of indicators for firm-level innovation (bottom-up) and indicators for inputs and enablers of innovation at the national level (top-down). Besides, it does not separately assess innovation performance of high-technology industries although these are crucial for international competitiveness (Schwab, 2019). Consequently, this paper answers the following research question: What is innovation performance of high and medium-high technology industries in Southeast Europe in comparison to the EU average? Idea: In contrast to the EIS which merges top-down with bottom-up innovation indicators, the core idea of this paper has been to analyse only bottom-up data on comparative innovation performance of high and medium-high technology industries in Southeast Europe. Method and data: The paper methodologically draws on guidelines for collecting, reporting, and using data on innovation by Oslo Manual (OECD & Eurostat, 2018), and uses secondary data from 2010-2016 Community Innovation Surveys of enterprises to compile an own set of 140 data points. Innovation activity within an industry is defined as the ratio of innovative enterprises to the total population of enterprises while innovation performance is the ratio of innovation activity in the respective country to innovation activity of this industry in the whole EU. Tools: All data points have been arranged country-wise as unbalanced contingency panels and plotted to draw conclusions on innovation performance of high and medium-high technology industries in Southeast Europe. Findings: Although all top-down innovation inputs and enablers at the national level are far below the EU average throughout Southeast Europe, several industries in the region reach or surpass the average EU innovation performance: the pharmaceutical industry in Croatia, all medium-high technology industries in Turkey, manufacture of machinery in North Macedonia and Serbia, as well as manufacture of motor vehicles in all countries except for Romania. Contributions and limitations: This is the first known paper to benchmark innovation performance of high and medium-high technology industries throughout Southeast Europe. In addition, the paper reveals the shortcomings of the whole-country method employed by the EIS since it clearly points out that innovation performance of national industries should be assessed instead. Limitations of the paper are the exclusive focus on innovation as a process and partly restricted data availability.
How Does Organisational ICT Implementation Affect E-Commerce Potential? Empirical Evidence from Serbia
Authors: Petković Goran , Dokić Aleksa , Vasić Vladimir
Published: December 2021

Research Question: This study investigates both direct and indirect effects of employee ICT skills on business e-commerce potential, evaluated through e-commerce website functionality. Motivation: The study aims at expanding the existing knowledge regarding organisational ICT implementation by investigating the relation with e-commerce potential. Idea: The main idea of the paper is to understand how e-commerce potential can be improved by developing the digital skills of employees, mainly in the context of the implementation of cloud computing, portable technologies and e-commerce outsourcing. Data: A sample of 238 businesses from Serbia was considered. Responses were gathered by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, using EUROSTAT-based questionnaire. Tools: Confirmatory factor analysis and covariance-based structural equation modelling were employed for data analysis. Baron-Kenny approach was used for assessing the mediation effects in the model. Findings: Employee ICT skills showed no direct influence, but were found to have an indirect effect on e-commerce website functionality, which is manifested through organisational implementation of cloud computing and portable technologies. Findings to a certain extent suggest that certain differences between companies from transition and developing economies exist, especially regarding cloud technology adoption. Outsourcing of certain e-commerce activities showed no link with employee ICT skills, but was identified as the most influential factor in website e-commerce facilitation. Contribution: This study contributes to ICT use and e-commerce development literature, as it is the first one to investigate the direct and indirect relation between organisational ICT implementation and website e-commerce potential.
Entrepreneurial Organizational Culture During a Pandemic in a Labour-Intensive Industry: The Mediating Role of Fear of COVID-19, Psychological Distress, and Job Satisfaction in Turnover Intention
Authors: Mileva Ivona , Bojadjiev Marjan , Stefanovska Petkovska Miodraga
Published: December 2021

Motivation and idea: Entrepreneurial culture has been considered to have a significant positive relation with the organizational growth and self-efficacy. However, the success of entrepreneurial culture has been challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic and its influence on the well-being of employees who work in labour-intensive industries. More specifically, the level of stress among these workers is increased and that can result in physical and mental health issues, resulting in low mood and motivation, anxiety, depression, burnout, suicidal thoughts, etc. This may ultimately influence the turnover intention in these industries. Research goal: This paper investigates whether a relationship exists between entrepreneurial organizational culture and turnover intention. The goal of this study is to explore the relationship between entrepreneurial organizational culture and turnover intention in labour-intensive industries with a focus on the mediating role of fear of COVID-19, psychological distress and job satisfaction in turnover intention. Data: Quantitative research on 408 respondents has been conducted, whose results can serve as a reference for designing adequate human resource policies in labour-intensive industries. Findings: This study shows that Covid-19 challenged not only economic and financial sustainability, but also the physical and mental well-being of the people. It shows that the organizations that foster an entrepreneurial culture assist people in reducing stress, resulting in members of those organizations experiencing less tension and fear, which is an important part of one's health at such a chaotic time. Contribution: The paper is the first of its kind study and it expands existing research related to organizational culture during the pandemic, thus formulating practical suggestions to future leaders. This study has important implications for practitioners. Although no similar studies exist within the labour-intensive businesses, the analysis of these aspects will enable the leaders to assess and strengthen their connections to the company and to determine which segments of their organizational culture need to be improved so that  employees should be happier and more satisfied.
Impact of Digital Technologies on Business Performance in Serbia
Authors: Kahrović Ernad , Avdović Atif
Published: December 2021

Research Question: The main goal of the study was to investigate the degree to which Serbian businesses accept and use digital technologies as part of the digital business transformation process. Motivation: The main aim was to research the specific determinants of the digital economy, digital technology and digital business transformation. Through an empirical analysis, digital technologies were classified as primary and secondary and the motive was to examine whether digital technologies affect revenue growth, productivity improvement, increase in market share, customer satisfaction and employee satisfaction, reduction in operating costs, development and use of digital products, digital market expansion and digital platform development. Idea: The main idea behind the study was to determine to what extent the said technologies are employed in Serbian businesses, as well as to develop a model of the impact of digital technologies on business performance, which may serve as a basis for further research. Data: The research was conducted from October 2020 to March 2021. A questionnaire was sent to over 500 email addresses of Serbian companies, and 98 questionnaires were filled in and duly returned. We displayed the most important characteristics of our sample and that way pointed out its randomness and representativeness and explained the choice of data analytics methods we use. Tools: The research instrument was a questionnaire including the general information (Part I). Part II included the question regarding the primary and secondary digital technologies used in their daily business activities. In Part III, the participants were required to state the specific outcomes their company expects to obtain as a result of digital business transformation. Findings: Mobile technologies, social networks and cloud computing were found to be dominantly employed technologies by the Serbian businesses from the sample. In percentage terms, the second class of disruptive technologies was shown to be insignificantly present in the Serbian companies. Finally, it appears that the role and importance of robotics and artificial intelligence have started to be recognised on the business scene. There is a significant impact of digital technologies on business performances, and we also give correlations between specific digital technologies and business performances, and intensity and statistical significance of impact in each case. We have also determined that some significant technologies make a latent, indirect impact on performances and shown the way that occurs. The analysis is performed after standardizing the ordinal scale values of variables making the results more accurate. Contribution: The paper provides the state of affairs regarding digital technologies use by Serbian businesses, as well as that of digital business transformation.
Core Competencies and Resource Allocation in the Performance of Bottled Water Industry
Authors: Ichoroh James , Kiambati Kellen , Mbugua Levi N.
Published: December 2021

Research question: This paper examines the influence of core competencies, resource allocation and water sector standards on the performance of firms in the bottled water industry. Motivation: For firms in the bottled water industry to remain afloat, their performance against their targets needs to be assessed (Murugesan et al., 2016). Examining trends over time is essential since stakeholders and investors are concerned with enhanced performance. This study conceptualizes that the performance of firms dealing with bottled water are influenced by core competencies (Hirindu, 2017), resource allocation (Catherine & Lee, 2017) and that there is an intervening effect of water sector standards. Idea: The idea behind this study is to model the relationship among core competencies, resource allocation and firm performance in the bottled water industry and also to examine the moderating effect of water sector standards in explaining firm performance (Ichoroh, 2021).  Data: The study used quantitative cross-sectional survey design of which the population of interest comprised of 80 licensed bottled water manufacturing firms in Kenya. Open and closed ended questionnaires were administered to managers of bottled water firms. Data on demographic characteristics, firms core competencies, resource allocation and sector standards were collected. Tools: Factor Analysis was used to scale, classify, delineate patterns and enhance hypothesis testing, while structural equation modelling was applied to infer whether the survey items matched the measured constructs. Findings: The indicators of core competences had 57% variation on firm performance and increase in core competences by a factor of 0.804% led to improvement of firm performance by 1%.  The indicators for resource allocation had 17% variation on firm performance and the marginal effect was 1.738%.  The water sector standards intervening effect in the relationship between core competence and firm performance was found not to be significant but the intervening effect of water sector standards on resource allocation and firm performance was significant. Contribution: The study gives indicators of repositioning strategies in the bottled water industry and provides insights to the government on policy regulations and standards.
БАРЬЕРНЫЕ СВОЙСТВА ОСТАТОЧНОГО ОКСИДА КРЕМНИЯ ПРИ ФОРМИРОВАНИИ НИЗКОВОЛЬТНЫХ p-n-ПЕРЕХОДОВ ДИФФУЗИЕЙ МЫШЬЯКА В СИЛЬНОЛЕГИРОВАННЫЙ КРЕМНИЙ, "Электронная техника. Серия 3. Микроэлектроника"
Authors: Скорняков С.П.
Published: December 2021

Исследовано негативное влияние толщины остаточного/естественного оксида кремния (SiO) в «окнах» защитного оксида кремния на результаты формирования низковольтных планарных p-n-структур высококонцентрационной диффузией As в в сильнолегированный кремний в условиях эвакуированной кварцевой ампулы: на величину и воспроизводимость величины напряжения пробоя (U) НВ p-n-переходов от процесса к процессу. Показано, что SiO толщиной свыше ~50 – практически непреодолимый барьер для достижения атомами мышьяка поверхности кремния, диффузии As в кремний. Для получения удовлетворительных результатов по величине и воспроизводимости величины электрических параметров низковольтных планарных p-n-структур, получаемых диффузией As из неограниченного источника в условиях эвакуированной ампулы, толщина SiO не должна превышать ~25 . Предложены технологические решения по ограничению толщины SiO.
АТОМНО-СЛОЕВОЕ ОСАЖДЕНИЕ ТОНКИХ ПЛЕНОК ДИОКСИДА КРЕМНИЯ ДЛЯ МИКРО- И НАНОЭЛЕКТРОНИКИ Часть 5. Особенности роста пленок в соответствии с моделями гидроксила на кремнеземе, "Электронная техника. Серия 3. Микроэлектроника"
Authors: Васильев В.Ю.
Published: December 2021

В пятой части обзора проанализированы модели поверхностного гидроксила на кремнеземе с целью оценки их применимости для качественного объяснения выделенных температурных зависимостей роста и плотности ТПДК при их получении методами АСО.
Evaluation, Effect of Whitening Agents on Physico-Chemical and Functional Properties of Sardine Surimi (Sardina pilchardus)
Authors: Zaghbib Imen , Arafa Soumaya , Mnasser Hassouna
Published: December 2021

The effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) treatments on the colour and textural properties of sardine surimi (Sardina pilchardus) were studied. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied in order to investigate their effects and to determine the optimum whitening agents used. Addition of CaCO3 and H2O2 significantly improved whiteness of surimi in comparison to NaHCO3 treatments (p < 0.05). Some textural damage and a reduction in WHC values were observed for surimi treated withH2O2 and NaHCO3 (p < 0.05). PCA biplot showed that 1.5% CaCO3 tended to result in improved whiteness, WHC and textural properties since 1.5% CaCO3 sample sits closer to these functional properties vector lines than the other treatments. Whereas, 2.5% H2O2 had positively affected only the whiteness parameter. Results indicated that treating mince with the appropriate type and concentration of whitening agent can improve the functional properties of surimi, particularly from fish species with darker meat such as sardine.

Aims: In order to improve whiteness and functional properties of sardine surimi (Sardina pilchardus), the effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) treatments were studied. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied in order to investigate their effects and to determine the optimum whitening agents used.

Study Design: Experimental Research Design

Place and Duration of Study: Research Unit “Biopreservation and Valorisation of Agro-Food Products” of the Higher Graduate School of Food Industry of Tunisia. The study was conducted in 3 months.

Methodology: Sardine surimi samples were prepared with different treatments at different concentrations: calcium carbonate (CaCO3), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). Proximate composition, total pigment, whiteness, water holding capacity and textural properties were investigated. Optimal levels of each whitening agent were determined using PCA.

Results: Addition of CaCO3 and H2O2 significantly improved whiteness of surimi in comparison to NaHCO3 treatments (p < 0.05). Some textural damage and a reduction in WHC values were observed for surimi treated withH2O2 and NaHCO3 (p < 0.05). PCA biplot showed that 1.5% CaCO3 tended to result in improved whiteness, WHC and textural properties since 1.5% CaCO3 sample sits closer to these functional properties vector lines than the other treatments. Whereas, 2.5% H2O2 had positively affected only the whiteness parameter.

Conclusion: Results indicated that treating mince with the appropriate type and concentration of whitening agent can improve the functional properties of surimi, particularly from fish species with darker meat such as sardine.
On Exports and Capital Formation in Nigeria
Authors: Nnamaka Uzoma Chidoka , Joyce Chukwuma-Ogbonna
Published: December 2021

One remarkable importance of exports is that it enables countries generate the required foreign capital needed to drive sustainable growth and development. This is to say that export earnings are capable of increasing capital formation through real investment. This study therefore focused on the impact of exports to capital formation in Nigeria for a 40-year time period spanning from 1981 to 2020. Related works on the subject matter were reviewed. The unit root test showed that all the variables attained stationarity after first difference. The Johansen cointegration test result showed that there exists a stable long run relationship between gross fixed capital formation, oil export, non-oil export and exchange rate in the model. Using the ordinary least square (OLS) estimation technique in analyzing the data sourced, the results showed that oil export had a negative and insignificant impact on capital formation in Nigeria. Similarly, non-oil export and exchange rate exerted insignificant negative influences on capital formation in Nigeria for the period covered by the study. Based on the findings from the study, the following recommendations were made. First is that the proceeds from crude oil export should be used to acquire capital assets for investment which will in turn drive growth in the economy. Also the government through the central bank of Nigeria (CBN) and relevant agencies should pay more attention to the non-oil sector in terms of the implementation of favourable policies, grants and loans, tax incentives, research and development, etc. to improve the export of the sector, making it compete favourably in the international market. This is because crude oil is an exhaustible asset that is liable to depletion. Finally, efficient exchange rate policies should be implemented by government through the relevant authorities to protect the value of the naira while ensuring that the products are not too dare in the international market.
Experimental Study of the Effects of Convective Drying on Some Selected Vegetables
Authors: A. Adeleye Samson , Oluwaleye Iyiola O. , Oni Taiwo O.
Published: December 2021

Aim: This work gives the reports on experimental study of the effects of drying on some selected vegetables, namely fluted pumpkin (specimen I), spinach (specimen II), lettuce (specimen III), and waterleaf (specimen IV).

Methodology: The vegetable specimens were dried at regulated drying temperatures of 323K, 333K, and 343K, and the percentage amount of water, fat, crude fibre, ash, protein, and carbohydrate, as well as the fungi and bacteria counts in the vegetable specimens was determined at these temperatures.

Results: The results revealed that the amount of water in the vegetable specimens reached 0% earlier at the regulated drying temperature of 343K than at the other regulated drying temperatures. The results also indicated that the dried vegetable specimen II has highest fat content of 8.2%, the dried vegetable specimen III has highest crude fibre content of 14.5%, the dried vegetable specimen IV has highest ash content of 18.6%, the dried vegetable specimen I has highest protein content of 30.3%, and the dried vegetable s specimen III has highest carbohydrate content of 42.2% at the regulated drying temperature of 323K. The same trend of results was obtained for the regulated drying temperatures of 333K and 343K. Furthermore, the results showed that at the regulated drying temperature of 323K, the dried vegetable specimen III has the lowest bacteria counts of 4.3 x 107 CFU/g. The trend of result obtained for the regulated drying temperatures of 333K and 343K is similar to that of the 323K. At the regulated drying temperature of 323K, the dried vegetable specimen II has the lowest bacteria counts of 1.7 x 107 CFU/g. The same trend of results was obtained for the regulated drying temperatures of 333K and 343K.

Conclusions: Drying has effects on the percentage amount of fat, crude fibre, ash, protein, and carbohydrate in the vegetable specimens. The microbial counts and the fungi counts decrease when the temperature increases. The present work can be applied in food engineering industries, and engineering in agriculture.
Identification of Medicinal Plants Using DNA Barcoding Technique
Authors: Pang Xiaohui , Chen Shilin
Published: December 2021

Medicinal plants have been used in the health care system in China for thousands of years. The correct identification of these plants is a prerequisite for their safe application. At present, the traditional methods are insufficient to meet the demands of identification, and a rapid and accurate method for authentication of medicinal plants is needed. DNA barcoding, a technique aiming at detecting species‐specific differences in a short region of DNA, provides a new powerful tool toward addressing this problem. Recently, ITS2 (second internal transcribed spacer) barcode has been broadly recognized and widely applied in the discrimination of herbs, and a publically available DNA barcoding system for identifying herbs has been established. Principles for identification of herbs using DNA barcoding have been embodied into the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. In this article, we introduce the DNA barcoding technique and determine its usage in discriminating medicinal plants, as well as its advances in herb identification.
Satraps
Authors: Jacobs Bruno
Published: December 2021

In the Achaemenid Empire, the satrap was the highest authority within a given administrative unit. Satraps acted at different levels of the administrative hierarchy and were responsible for political stability and the tasks of regional administration. The structures created in the Achaemenid period were largely adopted by Alexander III and still shaped essential features of the administrative organization of the Seleucid and Arsacid Empires.
Treaties, Ancient Near East
Authors: Devecchi Elena
Published: December 2021

Ancient Near Eastern treaties were contractual agreements between two political entities, in most cases between two kings. Numerous treaties survive in written form, and others are known indirectly from other types of source, such as royal inscriptions, historiographic compositions, and letters. They date from the twenty‐fourth until the seventh centurybce, but the best‐preserved and largest group dates to the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1550–1200bce) and was recovered in the archives of Hattusa, the capital of the Hittite kingdom.
Basileus/autokrator
, Byzantine
Authors: Pazdernik Charles F.
Published: December 2021

From the fourth through the seventh centuries
ce
, it became customary to refer to the Roman emperor unofficially as
basileus
, which from 629 was adopted as an official title. As an official title,
autokrator
was the Greek equivalent of the Latin
imperator
.
Gaugamela
Authors: Poddighe Elisabetta , Richardson William P.
Published: December 2021

Gaugamela was the site of the decisive battle in Alexander the Great's war against Darius III, the last Achaemenid king. With superior numbers and resources, Darius attempted to use the geography of the plain to his advantage and to outflank Alexander's wings. After repelling several attacks and stretching Darius’ front line, Alexander led a charge of the Companion cavalry through a gap in the ranks and put Darius to flight. The Achaemenid capitals were abandoned to Alexander and Darius was in the end arrested and executed by his satraps.
Kolophon
Authors: Hülden Oliver
Published: December 2021

Kolophon was one of the most prominent early Greek settlements in Ionia (western Asia Minor). The
synoikismos
of the inhabitants of Kolophon and Lebedos in connection with the refoundation of Ephesos (Asinoeia) by king Lysimachos in the early Hellenistic period is well known. Little is known about the archaeology of Kolophon. Several tumuli of the Geometric period have been excavated as well as a sanctuary of Meter. Recent survey activities provide information about the extent of the settlement.
Microstructural Transformation and Corrosion Property Improvement of CoCrFeNiTi‐Based Multi‐Principal Element Alloys Fabricated via Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Kuwabara Kosuke , Kimura Tatsuya , Chen Meichuan , Shiratori Hiroshi , Shinagawa Kazuya , Daigo Yuzo
Published: December 2021

Herein, CoCrFeNiTi‐based multiprincipal element alloys (MPEAs) are proposed to meet the demands of high mechanical strength and corrosion resistance in additively manufactured products. Two types of MPEAs with different chemical compositions are obtained by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) using gas‐atomized prealloyed powders. Both MPEAs as‐built products have columnar crystal structures with face‐centered cubic (FCC) phase matrices. In the solution and aging heat treatment, columnar crystal grains transform into equiaxial recrystallized grains with precipitates dispersed in the FCC matrix. The alloys exhibit ultimate tensile strength over 1500 MPa and corrosion rates of less than 1 mm year−1 in boiling 10% H2SO4. The microcellular structures formed in the LPBF process, and the precipitates formed after heat treatments can affect the mechanical properties and corrosion behavior. The higher cobalt and chromium content of the proposed CoCrFeNiTi‐based MPEA and the microstructure control in heat treatments demonstrate their effectiveness in retarding acid corrosion.
Water‐Dispersing Perovskite Probes for the Rapid Imaging of Glioma Cells
Authors: Wu Dongdong , Chi Jimei , Zhang Meng , Cheng Lijun , Wang Xuning , Fan Junzhen , Huang Zengqi , Wang Huadong , Xie Hongfei , Pan Qi , Zhang Zeying , Chen Bingda , Su Meng , Xu Bainan , Song Yanlin
Published: December 2021

Real‐time in vitro detection of glioma cells facilitates precise tumor removal. However, the fluorescent labeling of tumor cells in clinical practice is limited by many factors, including the time consumed, low recognition efficiency, and fluorescence quenching. Here, a general strategy for building perovskite quantum dot (PQD)‐based biological probes utilizing the attraction between positive and negative electric charges is reported. Poly (lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) is chosen for encapsulating PQDs to completely prevent their aggregation, decomposition, or release in water or oxygen. The carboxyl group of PLGA has anchoring coordination with the PQDs, which reduces the surface defects. Moreover, it causes PQD‐based nanocrystals (P‐PNCs) to be surrounded by a positively charged layer in water. Given the specific recognition of chlorotoxin for the channels, rapid imaging of glioma cells is successfully performed in 15 min using P‐PNCs modified with chlorotoxin via charge attraction. The photoluminescence quantum yield of P‐PNC probes reached 87% and remained at 93% after 30 days of dispersion in water, while maintaining a much longer fluorescence lifetime of 15 µs. Therefore, this promising biological probe will be a general nanoplatform for identifying distinct cellular compartments using different biomarker imaging methods.
High‐Speed One‐Photon 3D Nanolithography Using Controlled Initiator Depletion and Inhibitor Transport
Authors: Hsu Shih‐Hsin , Chi Teng , Kim Jinwoo , Somers Paul , Boudouris Bryan W. , Xu Xianfan , Pan Liang
Published: December 2021

Additive manufacturing of sophisticated 3D nanoscale objects commonly uses femtosecond lasers to photopolymerize a light‐sensitive resin using multi‐photon absorption. This nonlinear process provides high accuracy and flexibility in advanced 3D fabrication; however, it typically has limited throughput and high cost. This work makes use of a one‐photon‐based dosage‐nonlinearity to fabricate 3D nanostructures, demonstrating a cost‐effective method for 3D nanolithography using a low‐cost 405 nm continuous‐wave diode laser. This dosage‐nonlinearity is achieved by using controlled depletion of photo‐initiation species in an environment containing inhibiting species. By controlling multiple competing processes, the undesired dose accumulation outside the writing voxel is stopped, and thereby this method creates a confined writing voxel in space. A multiphysics model is developed to numerically study the one‐photon nonlinear photopolymerization process, which is compared with experimental results.
Isolation and Properties of the Long Elusive Deep Blue Soluble [K3{(NtBu)3S}2]. Cage Radical
Authors: Legendre Christina M. , Stückl A. Claudia , Sindlinger Christian P. , Herbst‐Irmer Regine , Stalke Dietmar
Published: December 2021

The reaction of potassium metal with sulfurtriimide S(NtBu)3 (II) gives the long elusive deep blue cage radical [K3{(NtBu)3S}2]. (1_K) that crystallizes at −35 °C from toluene solution. The subsequent physical characterization via X‐ray structure analysis, UV/Vis‐, and EPR spectroscopy from solution reveals the existence of one unpaired electron delocalized within the whole cage, i.e. coupling with the six nitrogen atoms, as well as the three potassium atoms caped by the two SN3 ligands. The present X‐ray structure analysis further supports previous assumptions made on the parent compound 1_Li obtained from [Li4{(NtBu)3S}2] (I) and finally elucidates the structural arrangement of the SN3 caps and alkali metals in such radical cage species.
Novel metal complexes with pyrano[3,2‐c]quinoline‐3‐carboxaldehyde: Synthesis, spectroscopic, molecular modeling, QSAR, antimicrobial, and antitumor studies
Authors: Ibrahim Magdy A. , Emara Adel A. A. , Taha Ali , Adly Omima M. I. , Nabeel Asmaa I. , Salah Nesma
Published: December 2021

Reaction of 6‐ethyl‐4‐hydroxy‐2,5‐dioxo‐5,6‐dihydro‐2H‐pyrano[3,2‐c]quinoline‐3‐carboxaldehyde (HL) with some metal ions, namely, manganese (II), cobalt (II), nickel (II), zinc (II), cadmium (II), chromium (III), iron (III), cerium (III), oxovanadium (IV), and dioxouranium (VI), yielded a new series of metal complexes; with the general formula, [MHnLAm(H2O)x]Xy·zH2O, n = 0–1, A = NO3− or OAc−, m = 0–2, X = NO3− or SO42−, y = 0–1, and z = 0–3. The metal complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic moment, thermal analysis, and spectroscopic studies. The HL ligand coordinated with metal ions as monobasic or neutral bidentate via OO donor sites of aldehyde –O and phenolic –OH producing metal complexes with tetrahedral, octahedral, and pentagonal bipyramidal geometries. On the bases of PM3 level, molecular orbital calculations were performed for metal complexes using HyperChem 7.52 program, and the results were correlated with the experimental data. The biological activity of chelating agent and its metal complexes was screened towards Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis as Gram‐positive bacteria; Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli as Gram‐negative bacteria, as well as Candida albicans (yeast) and Aspergillus fumigatus (fungus). The antitumor activity of the HL ligand and its metal complexes was tested against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma cell line (EAC), which revealed promising IC50 values, comparable with that of cisplatin. Additional QSAR models were developed to predict the biodistribution of a smaller set of metal complexes and the calculated data correlated with antitumor results.
Ressourcenschonung im Bauwesen – Aspekte aus der Planungspraxis
Authors: Schadow Thomas
Published: December 2021

Die Errichtung von Gebäuden und Bauwerken ist immer mit dem Einsatz von natürlichen Ressourcen und mit Emissionen verbunden. Als Planer im Hoch‐, Industrie‐, Ingenieur‐ und Wasserbau berichtet der Verfasser beispielhaft aus den unterschiedlichen Bereichen der Praxis und beschreibt aktuelle und zukünftige Beiträge und Handlungsfelder zur Ressourcenschonung im Bauwesen. Schwerpunkte sind dabei statisch‐konstruktive Aspekte aus dem Hoch‐ und Ingenieurbau, ohne die ganzheitliche Betrachtung aller Dimensionen der Nachhaltigkeit über den gesamten Lebenszyklus eines Gebäudes oder Bauwerks zu vernachlässigen.
Ressourcenschonendes Bauen – Wege und Strategien der Tragwerksplanung
Authors: Elbers Ulrike
Published: December 2021

Der Klimawandel ist eine der größten Herausforderungen, denen wir uns in den nächsten Jahrzehnten stellen müssen. Mit einem Anteil von knapp 40 % trägt die Bauwirtschaft einen maßgeblichen Anteil an den anthropogenen Treibhausgasemissionen. Die immer intensivere Nutzung unserer Lebensräume und der Verbrauch natürlicher Ressourcen sind weitere gesamtgesellschaftliche Aufgaben für den zukünftigen Erhalt unseres Planeten. Die Dekarbonisierung der Bauindustrie ist hierbei ein wesentlicher Faktor. Doch auch mit klugen Konzepten können Architekten und Fachplaner wichtige Beiträge für einen nachhaltigen Bausektor leisten. Die Reduzierung energieintensiver Baustoffe, die Vereinfachung von Gebäuden in Richtung Lowtech‐Architektur und die Wertschätzung von Bestandsbauten als Materialbanken sind dabei wesentliche Grundprinzipien einer neuen und zwingend erforderlichen Planungskultur. Die Überführung von der linearen in die zirkuläre Kreislaufwirtschaft wird sich auch im Bauwesen durchsetzen müssen, das reine Downcyclen von Materialien wird nicht ausreichen, um den Ressourcenverbrauch und die Treibhausgasemissionen zu eliminieren. Architekten und Fachplaner können in einer Vorreiterrolle mit Kreativität und Haltung maßgebende Impulse setzen und durch ihre Profession Bauherrn in ihrem Mut und ihrer Bereitschaft überzeugen, eine nachhaltige Planung umzusetzen. Die Politik ist aufgefordert, durch wirtschaftliche Anreize und Förderprogramme nachhaltige Planung zu belohnen. Normen und Bauordnungen müssen vereinfacht werden, um Wege für mehr Nachhaltigkeit zu ebnen und die Umsetzung von überzeugenden Lösungen nicht zu blockieren. Die großen klimapolitischen Ziele und Errungenschaften sind ebenso wichtig wie das Aufzeigen von Erfolgen auf Projektebene. Dazu brauchen wir einen uneigennützigen Wissensaustausch und eine kulturelle Debatte zwischen allen am Bau Beteiligten, um neue Maßstäbe im Bausektor zu setzen und Erfolge wie Misserfolge transparent zu machen.
Psychological predictors of delayed active treatment following active surveillance for low‐risk prostate cancer: The Patient REported outcomes for Prostate cARE prospective cohort study
Authors: Taylor Kathryn L. , Luta George , Zotou Vasiliki , Lobo Tania , Hoffman Richard M. , Davis Kimberly M. , Potosky Arnold L. , Li Tengfei , Aaronson David , Van Den Eeden Stephen K.
Published: December 2021

Objectives

In a prospective, comparative effectiveness study, we assessed clinical and psychological factors associated with switching from active surveillance (AS) to active treatment (AT) among low‐risk prostate cancer (PCa) patients.

Methods

Using ultra‐rapid case identification, we conducted pretreatment telephone interviews (N = 1139) with low‐risk patients (PSA ≤ 10, Gleason≤6) and follow‐up interviews 6–10 months post‐diagnosis (N = 1057). Among men remaining on AS for at least 12 months (N = 601), we compared those who continued on AS (N = 515) versus men who underwent delayed AT (N = 86) between 13 and 24 months, using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

Delayed AT was predicted by time dependent PSA levels (≥10 vs. <10; HR = 5.6, 95% CI 2.4–13.1) and Gleason scores (≥7 vs. ≤6; adjusted HR = 20.2, 95% CI 12.2–33.4). Further, delayed AT was more likely among men whose urologist initially recommended AT (HR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.07–4.22), for whom tumour removal was very important (HR = 2.18, 95% CI 1.35–3.52), and who reported greater worry about not detecting disease progression early (HR = 1.67, 1.05–2.65). In exploratory analyses, 31% (27/86) switched to AT without evidence of progression, while 4.7% (24/515) remained on AS with evidence of progression.

Conclusions

After adjusting for clinical evidence of disease progression over the first year post‐diagnosis, we found that urologists' initial treatment recommendation and patients' early treatment preferences and concerns about AS each independently predicted undergoing delayed AT during the second year post‐diagnosis. These findings, along with almost one‐half undergoing delayed AT without evidence of progression, suggest the need for greater decision support to remain on AS when it is clinically indicated.
The One‐pot Encapsulation of Palladium Complexes into Covalent Organic Frameworks Enables the Alkoxycarbonylation of Olefins
Authors: Yang Xin , Du Yi‐Ran , Guan Peng‐Xin , Liu Hong‐Ying , Wang Yao‐Feng , Xu Bao‐Hua
Published: December 2021

In this study, palladium‐based heterogeneous catalysts were successfully prepared by encapsulating the palladium diphosphine complexes into an imine‐linked 2D‐COF (TPB‐DMTP‐COF) through a one pot self‐assembly approach. It not only prevents the oxidation of phosphine‐based ligand during the stepwise impregnation but also suppresses the coordination of imine linkers at the COF host to the palladium guest, thus enabling highly efficient encapsulation of the active bidentate phosphine chelated palladium complex by the widely explored imine‐linked COF. Besides, the dosage of diphosphine ligand (Xantphos‐SO3H, L) and the ratio of palladium to L in the preparation of [Pd]@COF hybrids can be readily adjusted under such one pot procedure to satisfy the requirement of crystallinity, porosity, active sites, and CO adsorption capacity for the catalytic performance in the methoxycarbonylation of olefins. The resultant [Pd]@COF‐A‐0.25‐0.5 provides satisfied catalytic performance for both aliphatic and aromatic olefins with total esters up to 92.1 % under optimized conditions. These findings provide the basis for a novel design concept to design heterogeneous catalysts with high efficiency for reaction processes comprising the alkoxycarbonylation of olefins.
Enantioselective synthesis of coumarins catalyzed by an isosteviol‐derived tertiary amine‐squaramide catalyst
Authors: Ma Zhiwei , Wang Chuanchuan , Liu Xiaofeng , Chen Xiaopei , Tao Jingchao , Lv Quanjian
Published: December 2021

A newly tertiary amine‐squaramide organocatalyst has been successfully developed and applied into the asymmetric Michael addition of 4‐hydroxycoumarin to β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters. The catalyst system performed well with a low catalyst loading of 1 mol% under mild reaction conditions. A series of coumarin derivatives were obtained in good to high yields (up to 97%) with high enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee).
An effective data transmission scheme based on IoT system in opportunistic social networks
Authors: Huang Zhuoqi , Li Xiaoli , Wu Jia
Published: December 2021

With the advent of the era of Big Data, users are increasingly demanding network bandwidth and data storage in the Internet of Things (IoT) system. While current research on the opportunistic social network does not take the redundant influence of high‐speed data transmission into account, which leads to problems such as lower delivery ratio, we present an effective data transmission scheme based on IoT system (EDTS). To divide the community, which consists of devices with relatively close connections, we measure the social relationship of nodes by quantifying the remaining cache, social relation, and interest similarity in opportunistic social networks. An efficient strategy is designed in this paper to update the community by analyzing the change of edge weights between two nodes in the community, deciding whether the community should be further divided, and whether the nodes should join the larger community. The proposed scheme also involves data transmission methods based on community, which involve inter‐community forwarding and intra‐community forwarding. Simulation results show that EDTS outperforms other comparative algorithms with regard to average delivery ratio, end‐to‐end delay, and routing overhead.