bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Genuine Trivalent Bis‐Acylphosphide (BAP) Complex of Uranium
Authors: Hochholzer Jakob , Waldschmidt Pablo , Heinemann Frank W. , Grützmacher Hansjörg , Meyer Karsten
Published: December 2023

The genuine trivalent uranium complex, K[UIII(mesBAP)4], employing four bidentate bis(2,4,6‐trimethylbenzoyl)phosphide (mesBAP) chelating ligands, is reported and obtained by the reduction of the literature‐known tetravalent analog [UIV(mesBAP)4]. Hence, the bis(acyl)phosphide mesBAP ligand allowed to establish a fully reversible redox couple with uranium in the oxidation states +III and +IV. In both complexes [U(mesBAP)4]0/−, the uranium ions are coordinated to four mesBAP ligands in a square antiprismatic geometry. All new compounds have been characterized by single‐crystal XRD analysis, 1H and 31P NMR, and UV/Vis/NIR electronic absorption spectroscopy, as well as SQUID magnetization and electrochemical measurements, and CW X‐band EPR in the case of the trivalent complex.
Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Steroidal Products: Recent Advances
Authors: Zheng Mengmeng , Lin Zhi , Lin Shuangjun , Qu Xudong
Published: December 2023

The synthesis of steroidal products has garnered sustained interest due to their versatile bioactivities and physicochemical properties in pharmaceutics. However, the complicated structure of steroids, especially their highly oxygenated skeleton, has presented significant challenges. Benefitted from recent advancements in bioinformatics, genetics, and enzyme engineering, chemoenzymatic strategy combines the flexibility of chemical synthesis with the high regio‐ and stereo‐selectivity of biocatalysis, being an effective approach for the concise synthesis of natural products. In this concept, we review and discuss the recent advances in chemoenzymatic approaches for efficient synthesis of steroids and their analogs, as well as future research opportunities and challenges.
Simultaneous determination of cystine and other free aminothiols in blood plasma using capillary electrophoresis with pH‐mediated stacking
Authors: Ivanov Alexander Vladimirovich , Popov Mikhail Aleksandrovich , Aleksandrin ValeryVasil'evich , Pudova Polina Alexandrovna , Galdobina Maria Pavlovna , Metelkin Arkady Andreevich , Kruglova Maria Petrovna , Maslennikov Ruslan Andreevich , Silina Ekaterina Vladimirovna , Stupin Victor Aleksandrovich , Kubatiev Aslan Amirkhanovich
Published: December 2023

We developed a method of sensitive capillary electrophoresis using UV detection for the determination of certain free aminothiols (reduced cysteinylglycine (rCysGly), cysteine (rCys), glutathione (rGln), and cystine (CysS) in human blood plasma. The reduced thiols were derivatized with N‐ethylmaleimide. The plasma was purified from proteins via ultrafiltration. Electrophoretic separation was performed using 115 mM Na phosphate with 7.5% (v/v) polyethylene glycol 600, pH 2.3. The in‐capillary concentration of the analytes was achieved with a pH gradient created via the preinjection of triethanolamine and postinjection of phosphoric acid. The separation was carried out using a silica capillary (50 µm i.d.; total/effective separation length 42/35 cm) at a 25 kV voltage. The total analysis/regeneration time was 18 min. The quantification limits varied from 1.3 µM (rCysGly) to 5.4 µM (CysS). The accuracy was 95%–99%, and the repeatability and reproducibility were approximately 1.8%–3.8% and 1.9%–5.0%, respectively. An analysis of plasma samples from healthy volunteers (N = 41) showed that the mean levels of rCysGly, rCys, rGln, and CysS were 1.64, 10.6, 2.58, and 46.2 µM, respectively.
Experimental study on the quantitative evaluation of the thermal stability performance and heat insulation characteristics of fire‐fighting foam
Authors: Wang Zhengyang , Jiang Xuepeng , Yang Chaojun , Wang Dezheng , Zhou Biao , Wang Wei
Published: December 2023

Foam extinguishing agents are crucial for the suppression of flammable liquid fires. Their thermal stability performance and heat insulation characteristics are critical indicators to evaluate the efficiency of the fire‐fighting foam. There have been some studies focused on exploring the behavior of fire‐fighting foams exposed to radiant heating. However, the decay mechanisms and heat transfer behaviors of the foam at the micro‐scale are still unclear and require further clarification. Therefore, in this study, the volume reduction coefficient, falling time of foam column height, and the temperature profiles of the foam layer under the thermal radiation environment of different conditions are discussed. The results indicate that the high temperature generated by the radiative heat flux will accelerate the collapse rate of the foam layer. The stability of the foam structure will be seriously damaged. There is a relationship between heat radiation intensity and foam attenuation coefficient. The empirical model for reflecting the fire‐fighting foam collapse process under the fire environment with high heat radiation flux is modified. Moreover, the average collapse rate and temperature difference gradient are used to characterize the thermal stability performance and heat insulation characteristics of the foam. Analysis of the micro‐scale foam structure parameters from the foam scans has revealed that the thermal stability performance and heat insulation characteristics of the foam are stronger when the surface tension of the foam is within the range of 17.4–20.4 mN/m.
Analysis of immune‐related adverse events in gastrointestinal malignancy patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Niu Chengu , Zhu Kaiwen , Zhang Jing , Joshi Utsav , Liu Hongli , Zahid Salman , Jadhav Nagesh , Okolo Patrick I.
Published: December 2023

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are becoming an increasingly common treatment for advanced gastrointestinal cancer, but the possibility of immune‐related adverse events has raised concerns. This study aimed to evaluate the risks of immune‐related adverse events between patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors and those who received chemotherapy among different types of gastrointestinal cancer. The study utilized data from the multicenter TriNetX database in the United States covering the period between 2015 and 2022. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were used to describe the relative hazard of immune‐related adverse events based on comparing time‐to‐event rates. Our study revealed that the incidence of immune‐related adverse events was significantly higher in patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy compared to those who received chemotherapy only in treating gastrointestinal cancer. CTLA‐4 inhibitors tended to have a higher rate of immune‐related adverse events compared to PD‐1/PD‐L1 inhibitors. Our study found a lower mortality rate among patients who developed immune‐related adverse events compared to those who did not after propensity score matching (HR, 0.661; 95% CI 0.620–0.704; p < .01). We provide important real‐world data on the incidence and impact of immune‐related adverse events in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Our study's results support clinicians in making informed decisions about the potential benefits and risks of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for patients with gastrointestinal cancer.
Novel mutation in EFEMP1 identified from two Chinese POAG families differentially activated endoplasmic reticulum stress markers and induced glaucoma in mouse
Authors: Xiao Xiaoqiang , Chen Chong‐Bo , Wu Zhenggen , Ye Yuhang , Deng Fang , Cao Yingjie , Liu Pingting , Zhang Mingzhi
Published: December 2023

Primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common type of glaucoma. Using whole‐exome sequencing, we identified two independent families diagnosed as POAG from the China with a novel EFEMP1 variant (Exon3, c.175A>C p.Met59Leu); Three previously reported variants c.1160G>A p.R387Q, c.1189T>C p.Y397H, and c.1429C>T p.R477C in EFEPM1 from 55 sporadic POAG individuals were also identified. The variant c.175A>C p.Met59Leu co‐segregated with the disease phenotype within the families. Immunoprecipitation and western blot assays showed that all three EFEMP1 mutants (p.Met59Leu, pArg140Trp, pArg345Trp) increased intracellular protein aggregations, and pMet59Leu and pArg140Arg also enhanced their extracellular proteins secretion, compared to WT in HEK293T. The differential regulations to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers ATF4, GPR78/94, and CHOP, and differential phosphorylation activations to CREB at Ser133, AKT at Ser473, p44/42 at Thr202/Tyr204, and STAT3 at Tyr705, were also detected among the mutants and WT. Finally, we revealed a significant increment of intraocular pressure and obvious reduction of RGC cells at the sixth week following intravitreal injection of adenovirus 5 (Ad5) expressing in pMet59Leu compared to WT and GFP controls. Together, variant c.175A>C p.Met59Leu in EFEMP1 is pathogenic and different mutants in EFEMP1 triggered distinct signaling pathways, explaining the reason of mutation‐dependent disease phenotypes of EFEMP1.
The utility of mechanical objects: Aiding students' learning of abstract and difficult engineering concepts
Authors: Mitropoulos Tanya , Bairaktarova Diana , Huxtable Scott
Published: December 2023

Background

Undergraduate students consistently struggle with mastering concepts related to thermodynamics. Prior work has shown that haptic technology and intensive hands‐on workshops help improve learning outcomes relative to traditional lecture‐based thermodynamics instruction. The current study takes a more feasible approach to improving thermal understanding by incorporating simple mechanical objects into individual problem‐solving exercises.

Purpose/Hypotheses

This study tests the impact of simple mechanical objects on learning outcomes (specifically, problem‐solving performance and conceptual understanding) for third‐year undergraduate engineering students in a thermodynamics course across a semester.

Design/Method

During the semester, 119 engineering students in two sections of an undergraduate thermodynamics course completed three 15‐min, self‐guided problem‐solving tasks, one section without and the other with a simple and relevant physical object. Performance on the tasks and improvements in thermodynamics comprehension (measured via Thermal and Transport Concept Inventory scores) were compared between the two sections.

Results

Students who had a simple, relevant object available to solve three thermodynamics problems consistently outperformed their counterparts without objects, although only to statistical significance when examining the simple effects for the third problem. At the end of the semester, students who had completed the tasks with the objects displayed significantly greater improvements in thermodynamics comprehension than their peers without the relevant object. Higher mechanical aptitude facilitated the beneficial effect of object availability on comprehension improvements.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that the incorporation of simple mechanical objects into active learning exercises in thermodynamics curricula could facilitate student learning in thermodynamics and potentially other abstract domains.
Is preoperative pancreatic juice cytology useful for determining therapeutic strategies for patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas?
Authors: Nagayama Rintaro , Ueki Toshiharu , Shimizu Yasuhiro , Hijioka Susumu , Nakamura Masafumi , Kitano Masayuki , Hara Kazuo , Masamune Atsushi , Kin Toshifumi , Hanada Keiji , Koshita Shinsuke , Yamada Reiko , Takenaka Mamoru , Itoi Takao , Yanagisawa Akio , Otuka Takao , Hirono Seiko , Kanno Atsushi , Ideno Noboru , Kuwahara Takamichi , Shimizu Akinori , Kamata Ken , Asai Yasutsugu , Takeyama Yoshifumi
Published: December 2023

Background

We compared the results of preoperative pancreatic juice cytology (PJC) and final pathological diagnosis after resection in patients who underwent resection of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas to determine whether preoperative PJC can help determine therapeutic strategies.

Methods

Of 1130 patients who underwent surgical resection IPMN at 11 Japanese tertiary institutions, the study included 852 patients who underwent preoperative PJC guided by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

Results

The accuracy of preoperative PJC for differentiation between cancerous and noncancerous lesions were 55% for IPMN overall; 59% for the branch duct type; 49% for the main pancreatic duct type; 53% for the mixed type, respectively. On classifying IPMN according to the diameters of the mural nodule (MN) and main pancreatic duct (MPD), the corresponding values for diagnostic performance were 40% for type 1 (MN ≥5 mm and MPD ≥ 10 mm); 46% for type 2 (MN ≥5 mm and MPD < 10 mm); 61% for type 3 (MN < 5 mm and MPD ≥ 10 mm); 72% for type 4 (MN < 5 mm and MPD < 10 mm), respectively.

Conclusions

PJC in IPMN is not a recommended examination because of its low overall sensitivity and no significant difference in diagnostic performance by type, location, or subclassification. Although the sensitivity is low, the positive predictive value is high, so we suggest that pancreatic juice cytology be performed only in cases where the patient is not sure about surgery.
Oxidation of the 1‐naphthyl radical C10H7• with oxygen: Thermochemistry, kinetics, and possible reaction pathways
Authors: Sebbar Nadia , Bockhorn Henning , Trimis Dimosthenis
Published: December 2023

The reaction of the 1‐naphthyl radical C10H7• (A2•) with molecular (3O2) and atomic oxygen, as part of the oxidation reactions of naphthalene, is examined using ab‐initio and DFT quantum chemistry calculations. The study focuses on pathways that produce the intermediate final products CO, phenyl and C2H2, which may constitute a repetitive reaction sequence for the successive diminution of six‐membered rings also in larger polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The primary attack of 3O2 on the 1‐naphthyl radical leads to a peroxy radical C10H7OO• (A2OO•), which undergoes further propagation and/or chain branching reactions. The thermochemistry of intermediates and transition state structures is investigated as well as the identification of all plausible reaction pathways for the A2• + O2 / A2• + O systems. Structures and enthalpies of formation for the involved species are reported along with transition state barriers and reaction pathways. Standard enthalpies of formation are calculated using ab initio (CBS‐QB3) and DFT calculations (B3LYP, M06, APFD). The reaction of A2• with 3O2 opens six main consecutive reaction channels with new ones not currently considered in oxidation mechanisms. The reaction paths comprise important exothermic chain branching reactions and the formation of unsaturated oxygenated hydrocarbon intermediates. The primary attack of 3O2 at the A2• radical has a well depth of some 50 kcal mol−1 while the six consecutive channels exhibit energy barriers below the energy of the A2• radical. The kinetic parameters of each path are determined using chemical activation analysis based on the canonical transition state theory calculations. The investigated reactions could serve as part of a comprehensive mechanism for the oxidation of naphthalene. The principal result from this study is that the consecutive reactions of the A2• radical, viz. the channels conducting to a phenyl radical C6H5•, CO2, CO (which oxidized to CO2) and C2H2 are by orders of magnitude faster than the activation of naphthalene by oxygen (A2 + O2 → A2• + HO2).
Rainfall–runoff process and sediment yield in response to different types of terraces and their characteristics: A case study of runoff plots in Zhangjiachong watershed, China
Authors: Meng Xianmeng , Zhu Yan , Shi Ruohui , Yin Maosheng , Liu Dengfeng
Published: December 2023

A field experiment was conducted in the Zhangjiachong watershed to analyze the characteristics of rainfall–runoff process and sediment yield under different types of terraces. Various runoff plots were utilized, and a two serial tank model was employed to simulate runoff generation and concentration processes, taking into account vegetation interception. A soil erosion model incorporating raindrop erosion and sheet erosion was established to replicate sediment yield and concentration process. The parameters of the rainfall–runoff model and soil erosion model were calibrated and validated using observed runoff and sediment yield data. The controlling factors on runoff and sediment yield were explored and compared. The results indicate that both calibration and validation outcomes were acceptable. The earth‐banked terraces–citrus demonstrated the largest coefficients of upper and lower surface runoff, while its upper runoff threshold of the upper tank and the runoff threshold of the lower tank were the lowest, suggesting that it was more likely to produce surface and subsurface runoff. On the other hand, the stone dike terraces–crops exhibited the smallest coefficients of upper and lower surface runoff, while its upper runoff threshold of the upper tank was the highest. The lower runoff threshold of the upper tank was the same across different types of terraces. Compared to the earth‐banked terraces, the stone dike terraces have a larger infiltration coefficient in the upper tank and a smaller infiltration coefficient in the lower tank. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the most sensitive factors affecting runoff simulation results are the runoff threshold and the infiltration coefficient of the lower tank. Terraces, whether constructed with earth banks or stone dikes, are effective in reducing soil erosion. However, during storm rainfall events, these terraces may be partially destroyed, resulting in a higher sediment yield than that of the same vegetation cover on slope land. Terraces with hedgerows have a more significant effect on reducing runoff and sediment than those without hedgerows.
Rill investigation on landslide scar highlights the shortcomings of current knowledge on erosion of shallow landslides
Authors: Tang Bingzhe , Jiao Juying , Chen Yixian , Liang Yue
Published: December 2023

Widespread shallow landslides typically result in the loss of productive soils and grasslands. Deposits of landslide tails have received much attention, while the severity of rill erosion on the landslide scar is generally neglected or underestimated. Thirty‐five rainfall‐induced shallow landslides were selected on Lishi (finer texture) and Malan loess (coarser texture) on the hilly and gully Loess Plateau, China. The rill erosion intensity and rill morphological parameters of these landslide scars were measured by on‐site investigation 3 years after the landslides. Landslide characteristics were investigated by unmanned aerial vehicle photogrammetry, and soil properties were also evaluated. We found that landslide scars suffered rill erosion for more than 8 years after landslides. Rill erosion intensities of the Lishi (22.91 × 103 t km−2) and Malan landslides (16.90 × 103 t km−2) in 3 years occupied 11.43% of the landslide deposit amounts. The structural equation model demonstrated that catchment area, soil bulk density, soil organic matter, water stable aggregate content (WSA), and sand content explained 87% of the variance in rill intensity through paths of rill depth, width, and distribution. Additionally, the negative effect of rill distribution on rill depth led to the unusual result that coarse soils with low WSA had low rill erosion intensities. In summary, the rill erosion of shallow landslide scars reached a non‐negligible value. The effect of initial rill distribution masked the effect of soil properties on rill intensity. Therefore, this study casts fresh insight into the sediment source of landslides, increasing theoretical support for landslide control strategies.
Building a regional pediatric asthma learning health system in support of optimal, equitable outcomes
Authors: Beck Andrew F. , Seid Michael , McDowell Karen M. , Udoko Mfonobong , Cronin Susan C. , Makrozahopoulos Dimitrios , Powers Tricia , Fairbanks Sonja , Prideaux Jonelle , Vaughn Lisa M. , Hente Elizabeth , Thurmond Sophia , Unaka Ndidi I.
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Asthma is characterized by preventable morbidity, cost, and inequity. We sought to build an Asthma Learning Health System (ALHS) to coordinate regional pediatric asthma improvement activities.

Methods

We generated quantitative and qualitative insights pertinent to a better, more equitable care delivery system. We used electronic health record data to calculate asthma hospitalization rates for youth in our region. We completed an “environmental scan” to catalog the breadth of asthma‐related efforts occurring in our children's hospital and across the region. We supplemented the scan with group‐level assessments and focus groups with parents, clinicians, and community partners. We used insights from this descriptive epidemiology to inform the definition of shared aims, drivers, measures, and prototype interventions.

Results

Greater Cincinnati's youth are hospitalized for asthma at a rate three times greater than the U.S. average. Black youth are hospitalized at a rate five times greater than non‐Black youth. Certain neighborhoods bear the disproportionate burden of asthma morbidity. Across Cincinnati, there are many asthma‐relevant activities that seek to confront this morbidity; however, efforts are largely disconnected. Qualitative insights highlighted the importance of cross‐sector coordination, evidence‐based acute and preventive care, healthy homes and neighborhoods, and accountability. These insights also led to a shared, regional aim: to equitably reduce asthma‐related hospitalizations. Early interventions have included population‐level pattern recognition, multidisciplinary asthma action huddles, and enhanced social needs screening and response.

Conclusion

Learning health system methods are uniquely suited to asthma's complexity. Our nascent ALHS provides a scaffold atop which we can pursue better, more equitable regional asthma outcomes.
Hear all parties: Peer effect of digital transformation on long‐term firm investment in China
Authors: Chang Kai , Li Jing , Xiao Lianjie
Published: December 2023

This study explores the increasing significance of digital transformation and its peer effects as key factors influencing the efficiency of long‐term firm investment. A complete digital transformation dictionary is established in this study containing 179 keywords; the frequency of digital‐transformation‐related words is determined using textual mining technology and a reverse maximum matching algorithm. The effects of digital transformation, including peer effect, on long‐term firm investment are investigated using firm‐level panel data analysis. Our empirical findings demonstrate an increase in firms' digital transformation from 2011 to 2020. Digital transformation appears to significantly reduce long‐term firm investment. Industrial peers' digital transformation prohibits a focal firm's long‐term investment, marking a noteworthy divergence from the financial heterogeneous features of focal and peer firms. The digital transformation of industrial peers positively affects the long‐term investment of focal firms by promoting an equity investment structure and an asset‐light operation strategy.
Natural compounds as obesity pharmacotherapies
Authors: Zhao Xin‐Yuan , Wang Ji‐Qiu , Neely G. Gregory , Shi Yan‐Chuan , Wang Qiao‐Ping
Published: December 2023

Obesity has become a serious global public health problem, affecting over 988 million people worldwide. Nevertheless, current pharmacotherapies have proven inadequate. Natural compounds have garnered significant attention due to their potential antiobesity effects. Over the past three decades, ca. 50 natural compounds have been evaluated for the preventive and/or therapeutic effects on obesity in animals and humans. However, variations in the antiobesity efficacies among these natural compounds have been substantial, owing to differences in experimental designs, including variations in animal models, dosages, treatment durations, and administration methods. The feasibility of employing these natural compounds as pharmacotherapies for obesity remained uncertain. In this review, we systematically summarized the antiobesity efficacy and mechanisms of action of each natural compound in animal models. This comprehensive review furnishes valuable insights for the development of antiobesity medications based on natural compounds.
Flexible evaluation of surrogate markers with Bayesian model averaging
Authors: Duan Yunshan , Parast Layla
Published: December 2023

When long‐term follow up is required for a primary endpoint in a randomized clinical trial, a valid surrogate marker can help to estimate the treatment effect and accelerate the decision process. Several model‐based methods have been developed to evaluate the proportion of the treatment effect that is explained by the treatment effect on the surrogate marker. More recently, a nonparametric approach has been proposed allowing for more flexibility by avoiding the restrictive parametric model assumptions required in the model‐based methods. While the model‐based approaches suffer from potential mis‐specification of the models, the nonparametric method fails to give desirable estimates when the sample size is small, or when the range of the data does not follow certain conditions. In this paper, we propose a Bayesian model averaging approach to estimate the proportion of treatment effect explained by the surrogate marker. Our procedure offers a compromise between the model‐based approach and the nonparametric approach by introducing model flexibility via averaging over several candidate models and maintains the strength of parametric models with respect to inference. We compare our approach with previous model‐based methods and the nonparametric method. Simulation studies demonstrate the advantage of our method when surrogate supports are inconsistent and sample sizes are small. We illustrate our method using data from the Diabetes Prevention Program study to examine hemoglobin A1c as a surrogate marker for fasting glucose.
Lysine‐Based Two‐Component Organogelator: Naproxen Carrier Soft Material
Authors: Çolak Mehmet , Kaya Gülşen , Adnan Hayaloğlu Ali , Demirel Nadir , Hoşgören Halil
Published: December 2023

We demonstrated that Nϵ ‐alkanoyl‐L‐lysine ethyl ester/N‐alkanoyl‐L‐phenylalaninate gelling agents were constructed as a two‐component gelling strategy and applied as drug carriers in friendly solvents commonly used. Our designs are expected to have an edge in contrast to the other lipid‐based systems due to cheap raw materials, reducing the required amount of carrier, low molecular weight, ease of loading, simple dose adjustability, skin spreadability, and improved drug retention times. It could be loaded with Naproxen (Npx) with a high loading efficiency (up to 100 % as a percentage of gelator) without gel disruption. A complementary in vitro drug release study under specific pH was conducted and performed at different drug and gelator concentrations. These results reveal that the release of Npx from the supramolecular organogels was significantly retarded with increasing organogelator engagement from 0.46 % to 0.92 %, the initial release rate considerably reduced, from 18.75 % to 7.21 %, respectively; that is release rate shows a 2.6‐fold decrease; this result showed that the gelator concentration could control drug release. whereas the increasing Npx concentration enhanced it. Altogether, this work produces valuable outcomes, which may be relevant to the pharmaceutical industry, suggesting that new platforms may deliver NSAID ( non‐steroidal anti‐inflammotory drug) molecules.
Controlled Release Study of Metformin Using Trithiocyanuric Acid Functionalized MCM‐41 as a Nanocarrier
Authors: Hajiaghababaei Leila , Gholinejad Keshteli Pooneh , Badiei Alireza , Hemmati Tirabadi Fatemeh , Ganjali Mohammad Reza , Mohammadi Ziarani Ghodsi
Published: December 2023

Ordered nanoporous silica such as MCM‐41 has silanol groups that can be chemically modified to effectively control the release of molecules. In this regard, MCM‐41 was functionalized with trithiocyanuric acid groups (TTCA‐MCM‐41) and offered as a novel carrier to the controlled release of metformin. TTCA‐MCM‐41 was synthesized and characterized. Thereafter, for 3 hours, saturated metformin solution was contacted with TTCA‐MCM‐41 to loading of drug. Finally, drug release profile was investigated in simulated body fluid (SBF) and phosphate buffers. The hexagonal symmetry of the TTCA‐MCM‐41 was confirmed by XRD patterns. The BET surface area, centred on N2 adsorption‐desorption, dropped from 846.5 m2/g for the MCM‐41 to 295.2 m2/g for the TTCA‐MCM‐41. With the use of FT‐IR spectra, the presence of TTCA groups in the silica system was established. The rope‐shaped morphology and the existence of S and N atoms on the MCM‐41 are visible in the SEM and EDX. The metformin release from TTCA‐MCM‐41 exhibits a pH‐based behaviour, and release rate was faster at higher pH compared to lower pH in phosphate buffers. In SBF, metformin displayed a steady release rate of around 0.2 mg min−1. The findings demonstrated that TTCA‐MCM‐41 is a promising candidate as a novel metformin carrier.
High‐performance thin layer chromatographic method development and validation for simultaneous estimation of solifenacin succinate and silodosin using quality by design approach and greenness assessment
Authors: Lodha Sandesh , Pillai Arya , Kalyankar Gajanan , Dedhiya Praful , Joshi Shrikant , Shah Shailesh , Shah Dinesh
Published: December 2023

The current research developed a high‐performance thin layer chromatographic method based on green analytical chemistry and integrated experimental approaches of analytical quality by design for simultaneous estimation of solifenacin succinate and silodosin. The integration was planned to reduce energy and solvent usage, maximize efficacy, and minimize any negative environmental effects. Taguchi design for screening and optimization a Box–Behnken design was used. The n‐butanol:ethanol:triethylamine (6:4:0.1, v/v/v) mobile phase and ultraviolet detection at 221 nm were used to develop the method. As per International Council for Harmonization Q2(R1) specifications, the method was validated. Rf value for solifenacin succinate and silodosin was found to be 0.29 ± 0.02 and 0.58 ± 0.02 respectively. For solifenacin succinate and silodosin, the linearity was found over the concentration ranges of 500–2500 ng/band and 800–4000 ng/band. For solifenacin succinate, the limits of detection and quantification were found to be 13.00 and 39.34 ng/band, respectively, while for silodosin, they were 33.29 and 100.86 ng/band, respectively. For solifenacin succinate, the method revealed a percent recovery ranging from 98.49% to 99.50%, while for silodosin, it exhibited a range from 98.86% to 99.79%. The tools predicted greenness score to be 63 and 0.78, respectively, indicating the proposed method to be green.
Splitting interfaces in 4d $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 SYM
Authors: Uhlemann Christoph F. , Wang Mianqi
Published: December 2023

Abstract

We discuss entanglement entropies in 4d interface CFTs based on 4d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 SYM coupled to 3d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 degrees of freedom localized on an interface. Focusing on the entanglement between the two half spaces to either side of the interface, we show that applying the Ryu-Takayanagi prescription in general leads to multiple natural entangle- ment entropies. We interpret the different entropies as corresponding to different ways of assigning the 3d degrees of freedom localized on the interface to the two half spaces. We contrast these findings with recent discussions of universal relations for entanglement entropies in 2d interface CFTs and formulate generalized relations for 4d interface CFTs which incorporate our results.
Advancing public interests through state ownership; the case of Port of Rotterdam
Authors: de Langen Peter W.
Published: December 2023

This paper addresses the effects of state ownership on decisions of port development companies, through a case study of Port of Rotterdam (PoR). This issue is relevant, given the economic impact of port development and the important role of ports in the transition towards a more sustainable economy. The insights from this case study thus can be useful for shaping port (governance) reform. The paper reviews the rationale for state ownership of the port development company, and describes the case of PoR, focused on the public interests that the public shareholders aim to promote through ownership, and mechanisms through which the consideration of the public interests is incorporated in PoR’s decisions. The following conclusions are drawn. First, the two public shareholders of PoR (the city of Rotterdam and the Dutch state) have made an explicit choice to ‘permanently’ use state ownership to achieve public interests. Second, PoR’s shareholders have identified specific public interests and have developed specific mechanisms to secure that PoR takes these public interests into account in decision-making. Third, there are clear indications that PoR’s decisions indeed have advanced the public interests as identified by the shareholders.
Towards accurate knowledge transfer via target-awareness representation disentanglement
Authors: Li Xingjian , Hu Di , Li Xuhong , Xiong Haoyi , Xu Chengzhong , Dou Dejing
Published: December 2023

Fine-tuning deep neural networks pre-trained on large scale datasets is one of the most practical transfer learning paradigm given limited quantity of training samples. To obtain better generalization, using the starting point as the reference (SPAR), either through weights or features, has been successfully applied to transfer learning as a regularizer. However, due to the domain discrepancy between the source and target task, there exists obvious risk of negative transfer in a straightforward manner of knowledge preserving. In this paper, we propose a novel transfer learning algorithm, introducing the idea of Target-awareness REpresentation Disentanglement ($$\textrm{TRED}$$
TRED
), where the relevant knowledge with respect to the target task is disentangled from the original source model and used as a regularizer during fine-tuning the target model. Two alternative approaches, maximizing Maximum Mean Discrepancy (Max-MMD) and minimizing mutual information (Min-MI) are introduced to achieve the desired disentanglement. Experiments on various real world datasets show that our method stably improves the standard fine-tuning by more than 2% in average. $$\textrm{TRED}$$
TRED
also outperforms related state-of-the-art transfer learning regularizers such as $$\mathrm {L^2\text {-}SP}$$

L
2

-
SP

, $$\textrm{AT}$$
AT
, $$\textrm{DELTA}$$
DELTA
, and $$\textrm{BSS}$$
BSS
. Moreover, our solution is compatible with different choices of disentangling strategies. While the combination of Max-MMD and Min-MI typically achieves higher accuracy, only using Max-MMD can be a preferred choice in applications with low resource budgets.
Understanding transfer learning and gradient-based meta-learning techniques
Authors: Huisman Mike , Plaat Aske , van Rijn Jan N.
Published: December 2023

Deep neural networks can yield good performance on various tasks but often require large amounts of data to train them. Meta-learning received considerable attention as one approach to improve the generalization of these networks from a limited amount of data. Whilst meta-learning techniques have been observed to be successful at this in various scenarios, recent results suggest that when evaluated on tasks from a different data distribution than the one used for training, a baseline that simply finetunes a pre-trained network may be more effective than more complicated meta-learning techniques such as MAML, which is one of the most popular meta-learning techniques. This is surprising as the learning behaviour of MAML mimics that of finetuning: both rely on re-using learned features. We investigate the observed performance differences between finetuning, MAML, and another meta-learning technique called Reptile, and show that MAML and Reptile specialize for fast adaptation in low-data regimes of similar data distribution as the one used for training. Our findings show that both the output layer and the noisy training conditions induced by data scarcity play important roles in facilitating this specialization for MAML. Lastly, we show that the pre-trained features as obtained by the finetuning baseline are more diverse and discriminative than those learned by MAML and Reptile. Due to this lack of diversity and distribution specialization, MAML and Reptile may fail to generalize to out-of-distribution tasks whereas finetuning can fall back on the diversity of the learned features.
Lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine triggers immunity against necrotrophs by promoting JA-signaling and ROS-homeostasis
Authors: Vӧlz Ronny , Kim Ki-Tae , Alazem Mazen , Harris William , Hwang Sungkee , Lee Yong-Hwan
Published: December 2023

Modulation of the plant defense response by bioactive molecules is of increasing interest. However, despite plant cell lipids being one of the major cellular components, their role in plant immunity remains elusive. We found that the exogenous application of the cell-membrane localized phospholipid lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) reprograms the plant transcript profile in favor of defense-associated genes thereby priming the plant immune system. Exogenous LPE application to different Arabidopsis accessions increases resistance against the necrotrophic pathogens, Botrytis cinerea and Cochliobolus heterostrophus. We found that the immunity-promoting effect of LPE is repealed in the jasmonic acid (JA) receptor mutant coi1, but multiplied in the JA-hypersensitive mutant feronia (fer-4). The JA-signaling repressor JAZ1 is degraded following LPE administration, suggesting that JA-signaling is promoted by LPE. Following LPE-treatment, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation is affected in coi1 and fer-4. Moreover, FER signaling inhibitors of the RALF family are strongly expressed after LPE application, and RALF23 is internalized in stress granules, suggesting the LPE-mediated repression of FER-signaling by promoting RALF function. The in-situ increase of LPE-abundance in the LPE-catabolic mutants lpeat1 and lpeat2 elevates plant resistance to B. cinerea, in contrast to the endogenous LPE-deficient mutant pla2-alpha. We show that LPE increases plant resistance against necrotrophs by promoting JA-signaling and ROS-homeostasis, thereby paving the way for the LPE-targeted genomic engineering of crops to raise their ability to resist biotic threats.
Rheological Characterization and Tribological Evaluation of Water-Based Lubricants in AISI 52100 Bearing Steel
Authors: Bosch J. , DellaCorte Christopher
Published: December 2023

This study explores the rheological and tribological behavior of water-based lubricants (WBLs) as potential alternatives for electric vehicle (EV) applications. As the transportation sector increasingly shifts towards EVs to reduce carbon emissions, the demand for efficient lubricants becomes critical. WBLs here are defined as fluids containing a minimum of 50 wt% water mixed with glycerol, ethylene glycol (MEG), polyethylene glycol (PEG), or one of two polyalkylene glycols (PAGs). Rheological properties were investigated and compared with traditional lubricating oils. Results demonstrate distinctive rheological characteristics in WBLs, with viscosity–temperature responses resembling traditional oils with lowered pressure–viscosity coefficients. Nevertheless, WBLs exhibit promising film-forming capabilities in highly loaded contacts. Additionally, in sliding contacts, WBLs generally display lower friction coefficients compared to traditional oils, with PEG exhibiting the lowest value near 0.1. These findings suggest that WBLs may offer advantages in reducing friction and energy loss in EV applications. Furthermore, sliding wear tests indicate low wear rates in WBLs such as PEG, PAG, and glycerol, supporting their potential as viable lubrication options. The study highlights the importance of high-pressure rheology and tribochemistry in wear mechanisms among the different lubricants.
Psychische Erschöpfung in den Pflegeberufen: eine quantitative Querschnittstudie zu Belastungs- und Resilienzfaktoren
Authors: Wesselborg Bärbel , Bauknecht Jürgen
Published: December 2023

Hintergrund

Untersuchungen weisen auf hohe Belastungen bei Pflegefachpersonen einhergehend mit einer hohen psychischen Erschöpfung hin. Zur Entlastung und Gesundheitsförderung wurden in den letzten Jahren verschiedene Programme initiiert. Wenig erforscht sind bei Pflegefachpersonen bisher Resilienzfaktoren, die die psychische Erschöpfung mindern können. Dabei fehlen auch berufsvergleichende Analysen zur Einordnung der Ergebnisse.

Fragestellung/Ziel

Ziel der Studie ist die Gewinnung von Erkenntnissen zur psychischen Erschöpfung bei Pflegefachpersonen im Berufsvergleich, sowie Belastungs- und Resilienzfaktoren, welche in den gesundheitsfördernden Programmen adressiert werden sollten.

Methoden

Die Studie reanalysiert die Daten der vom Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB) und der Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin (BAuA) durchgeführten „BIBB/BAuA-Erwerbstätigenbefragung – Arbeit und Beruf im Wandel, Erwerb und Verwertung beruflicher Qualifikationen 2018“ (n = 20.012). Analysiert werden die psychische Erschöpfung, Belastungs- und Resilienzfaktoren von Pflegefachpersonen im Vergleich mit Erziehern, Sozialarbeitern und sonstigen Erwerbstätigen.

Ergebnisse

Die psychische Erschöpfung ist bei Pflegefachpersonen im Berufsvergleich am höchsten. Der häufigste Belastungsfaktor ist der Zeitmangel. Der häufigste Resilienzfaktor ist die Zusammenarbeit im Team. Der Resilienzfaktor des unterstützenden Verhaltens durch Vorgesetzte wird von Pflegefachpersonen vergleichsweise seltener genannt.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Programme zur Entlastung und Gesundheitsförderung sollten noch stärker als bisher organisationsbezogene Ansätze berücksichtigen und eine gesundheitsgerechte Führungskultur einbeziehen.
How individuals make sense of their climate impacts in the capitalocene: mixed methods insights from calculating carbon footprints
Authors: Jack Tullia , Bååth Jonas , Heinonen Jukka Taneli , Gram-Hanssen Kirsten
Published: December 2023

Many people want to play their part to tackle climate change, but often do not know where to start. Carbon Footprint (CF) Calculators pose potential for helping individuals situate themselves in climate impacting systems of which they are a part. However, little is currently known about whether and how individuals who complete CF calculators understand their CF in the context of climate change. This article explores how people make sense of their CFs and locate themselves in the capitalocene. It draws on theories of social practices, environmental ethics, valuation, and knowledge-use to analyse data from 500+ Danes who completed a CF calculator (https://carbonfootprint.hi.is) and interviews with 30 Danes who were asked to complete the CF calculator. In this article, we describe how Danes’ CFs are impacted, looking at how survey respondents rate importance of mitigating climate change, importance of personal actions, and importance of public steering, as well as disposable income, living space, and family type. We also show how interviewees reflect over their consumption activities and possibilities. Those with high income nearly always had high CF but felt like they had little agency to change the system and rather justified their high-emitting practices such as flying, while those with low CF felt they had more agency in the system. The results show that high-CF individuals resist voluntary reduction of their emissions despite the presence of environmental ethics. Thus, we conclude that systemic solutions have the foremost capacity to reduce carbon emissions.
Archaeological Heritage for All: A Heritage Site Accessibility Tool (HSAT) for Open-Air Archaeological Sites
Authors: Salvà Cantarellas Miquel Àngel
Published: December 2023

Accessibility to archaeological sites has become a growing concern among heritage managers, being one of the crucial aspects of cultural tourism in the contemporary world. I compiled a set of criteria creating a Heritage Site Accessibility Tool (HSAT), to assess accessibility for archaeological sites illustrating the possibilities of inclusion, with special regard towards people with disabilities. To demonstrate the validity of HSAT, several sites from the Mediterranean are examined and compared. Eight case studies were selected based on their cultural relevance and representation of different contexts on the islands of Sicily, Minorca, Ibiza, Malta, and Gozo. Results show the main problems found in the multiple dimensions of accessibility, as well as the strengths, and most importantly the possibilities for improvement.
The Textile Hypothesis
Authors: Gilligan Ian
Published: December 2023

Beginning in the Levant at the end of the Pleistocene era 11,700 years ago and emerging subsequently in other regions, the advent of farming and food production sustained a massive expansion of human populations, facilitated a host of socioeconomic and technological developments, and transformed much of the world’s land surface. The capacity of farming to support a rapidly growing population may appear to explain why farming first began. However, fundamental questions remain, including whether farming was ever a preferred subsistence option for mobile foragers—and for early farmers. In addition to the failure of farming to appear anywhere in the world prior to the early Holocene, the security and flexibility of hunting and gathering contrasts with the disadvantages associated with relying on farming for food. In querying the prevailing food paradigm, it is argued that fibre production for woven cloth in response to warmer, moister climate regimes in the early Holocene tipped the balance in favour of farming. Contingent on complex clothing acquiring social functions of dress and modesty during the late Pleistocene, and considered in conjunction with the early farming dispersal hypothesis, the textile hypothesis circumvents unfounded presumptions and offers a parsimonious explanatory paradigm for the origins of farming.
A brief history of physical oceanography with Mediterranean examples
Authors: Malanotte-Rizzoli Paola
Published: December 2023

Oceanography, or Oceanology, is a very broad name covering all the traditional sciences (physics, chemistry, biology etc.) which can be studied in the ocean context. Hence the distinction must be made using the specific names of Physical, Chemical or Biological Oceanography. This particular review is devoted to the history of Physical Oceanography, a discipline which remained at the empirical stage until roughly the middle of last century, with a slow development of the rigorous, mathematical approach and analysis required to fully understand the processes and dynamics at all space/time scales. This review wants to introduce the uninformed reader to this relatively new science, providing a concise but hopefully comprehensive outline of the milestones of its history, from the adventurous beginnings of the past centuries, to the successive, very recent theoretical and observational advances. In this progress, the scientific “giants” who made possible these advances are also presented. Their choice constitutes not only the author’s personal opinion but that of the oceanographic community at large which recognizes their crucial impact in making physical oceanography the quantitative, exact science of today. It is the author’s privilege to have personally known most of them, not only as teachers but as mentors and friends.