bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emotional and Entrepreneurial Didactics for Sustainable Design Educations
Authors: Abella Garcia Ainoa , Østergaard Thomas , Araya León María José
Published: January 2022

Students at Higher Educations face a world in need of help to create sustainable solutions for complex systems. But still, European design-graduates finish their studies with a narrow concentration in design skills and lack competencies in order to cope with the complex reality, as well as students lack attachment to the teaching in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). In order to change this, educators need to acknowledge the students' personal, motivational and emotional elements before de-signing the courses. This article is based on two new discourses in both entrepreneurial and design didactic research – and how they could be connected. The first is “emotional learning” and “emotional design” – regarding how emotions impact the student’s learning process’ in Educations for Sustainable Development (ESD). Emotions affect the student's learning process and their health and well-being (Pekrun, 2014, p. 28). The other discourse is how the use of value-driven emotional entrepreneurial didactics, based on the connection between emotionally influencing actions/events and the development of entrepreneurial competencies, can present a new emotionally based understanding of the value of altruistic (sustainable) outcomes within entrepreneurial educations (Lackeus, 2020). This paper presents, using one of the experimental methods - comparative - of Research through Design, two emotional tools: “Design for Change - Yggdrasill” from VIA Design, Denmark and “Emotional Analogous Data” from ELISAVA, Barcelona. The first results indicate a need for emotional education, which has an impact on ESD and their development as professionals. For these reasons, both emotional tools presented above can contribute to empowering students and teachers to improve Sustainable Design Educations.
The Bildung Rose
Authors: Andersen Lene Rachel
Published: January 2022

The world is becoming more complex and local decisions may have global impact. To grasp these complexities, education must provide the ability to see the full picture, to approach decision making and professional as well as individual choices from several perspectives, and it must promote the development of the moral courage to think and act according to personal conscience. Bildung can be defined as the combination of knowledge about the world and the emotional and moral to engage and take responsibility. The Bildung Rose is a heuristic model that depicts society as consisting of seven domains: Production, Technology, Aesthetics, Power, Science, Narrative, and Ethics. The purpose of this article is to introduce the Bildung Rose as a tool for addressing, grasping, and taking responsibility for society. Bildung is the combination of education and moral and emotional development; the cultivation and development of personal character, autonomy, and sense of responsibility. In order to thrive in one’s society, to be an active and engaged citizen, and to see society from a system’s perspective, one needs to understand some of all seven domains; deep knowledge in one domain is professionally crucial, but the complexity of the world and of most jobs demands that individuals can contextualize decision making into a wider societal context. This article presents the Bildung Rose, explores the universality of the model, and suggests how it can be practically applied both at the macro-level when designing educational systems and organizations, at the meso level when developing programs, and at the micro-level when educating or making decisions. The model as of yet is a sketch and a heuristic model that requires further examinations and exploration.
La comunicación online del Congreso de los Diputados en tiempos de la COVID-19
Authors: González Jacob , Vázquez Tamara
Published: January 2022

La crisis de la COVID-19 ha tenido repercusiones tanto en la sociedad española como en sus instituciones. Es el caso del Congreso de los Diputados, obligado a adaptar su funcionamiento a la situación de la pandemia, lo cual afecta, en consecuencia, al trabajo de los medios tradicionales, encargados de cubrir la actividad parlamentaria. En este contexto, en el que la información es clave, las redes sociales pasan a adoptar un rol fundamental como canal de comunicación social.

Esta investigación estudia la comunicación online de la Cámara Baja desde el 10 de marzo de 2020, con el anuncio de la suspensión de la actividad parlamentaria, hasta el 30 de abril, cuando se ultima el proceso de desescalada. El objetivo principal consistía en conocer qué utilización ha hecho el Congreso de sus redes sociales: Facebook y Twitter, durante este periodo de crisis, al tiempo que se valora la reacción que dichos contenidos han generado en la comunidad de usuarios. Tal y como se demuestra en este artículo, el Congreso de los Diputados no consigue poner en marcha una comunicación a la altura del estado de crisis que generó la COVID-19.
¿Intersección discursiva?: el consumo kawaii y la representación de las jóvenes japonesas en discursos nacionales de prescripción social y en el tecnorientalismo internacional
Authors: Lozano-Méndez Artur
Published: January 2022

Este artículo analiza y clasifica las críticas que, desde los años noventa, se dirigen hacia productos kawaii («mono», «precioso») y a las jóvenes japonesas que los consumen. Se constata que esas críticas, dentro del país y desde el extranjero, obedecen a motivaciones opuestas. Las «formaciones discursivas» (Foucault, 2006) que han destacado por su causticidad hacia lo kawaii son: a) desde Japón, el discurso social hegemónico que prescribe roles de género y conductas adecuadas; b) internacionalmente, el tecnorientalismo (Morley y Robins, 1995), que, tras el colapso de la burbuja inmobiliaria en Japón (1990) y la equiparación del país con otras economías de capitalismo avanzado de escaso crecimiento anual, deja de presentar a Japón como rival por la modernidad. El tecnorientalismo reciente ridiculiza el modelo de modernidad imperante en Japón, con atención a sus características posmodernas de amnesia y consumismo aparentemente indiscriminado. Así mismo, se identifican solapamientos y divergencias en ambas posiciones reprobatorias, en sus representaciones de las prácticas de las consumidoras, conforme a la «función enunciativa» (Foucault, 2006) que formule la crítica hacia lo kawaii. El archivo discursivo de ambas formaciones es (re)enunciado regularmente y, mientras la estética kawaii permanezca ubicua en Japón, se prevé que esas críticas continúen con transformaciones.
Palabra de guerra. El caso de la narrativa bélica de Pedro Sánchez ante la pandemia COVID-19
Authors: Orbegozo Terradillos Julen , González Abrisketa Marian
Published: January 2022

El impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19 ha alcanzado a la mayoría de los países del mundo. En el ámbito de la comunicación política es un reto sin precedentes para los líderes políticos mundiales. En este trabajo se analiza la retórica bélica de Pedro Sánchez, presidente de España, uno de los países más afectados por la pandemia. Se toman como referencia sus discursos oficiales pronunciados del 10 de marzo al 22 de abril. Se emplea el análisis de contenido con un procedimiento creado para este caso, bajo el enfoque del análisis crítico del discurso y combinando una perspectiva cuantitativa con una cualitativa. Tras realizar una profunda revisión bibliográfica del uso de la retórica bélica en el discurso público se identifica un corpus de unidades léxicas y se interpreta en su contexto, detectándose 101 unidades léxicas y 359 frases o metáforas con reminiscencias bélicas o militares, en los 13 discursos del corpus. El mayor «peso bélico» se concentra en los momentos más graves en cuanto a víctimas y contagios de la crisis. Se concluye que la guerra es el vehículo de transmisión que emplea el presidente del Gobierno de España para explicar de forma sencilla, visual y conmovedora, una situación desconocida para la sociedad española.
Predicting bacterial promoter function and evolution from random sequences
Authors: Lagator Mato , Sarikas Srdjan , Steinrueck Magdalena , Toledo-Aparicio David , Bollback Jonathan P , Guet Calin C , Tkačik Gašper
Published: January 2022

Predicting function from sequence is a central problem of biology. Currently, this is possible only locally in a narrow mutational neighborhood around a wildtype sequence rather than globally from any sequence. Using random mutant libraries, we developed a biophysical model that accounts for multiple features of σ70 binding bacterial promoters to predict constitutive gene expression levels from any sequence. We experimentally and theoretically estimated that 10–20% of random sequences lead to expression and ~80% of non-expressing sequences are one mutation away from a functional promoter. The potential for generating expression from random sequences is so pervasive that selection acts against σ70-RNA polymerase binding sites even within inter-genic, promoter-containing regions. This pervasiveness of σ70-binding sites implies that emergence of promoters is not the limiting step in gene regulatory evolution. Ultimately, the inclusion of novel features of promoter function into a mechanistic model enabled not only more accurate predictions of gene expression levels, but also identified that promoters evolve more rapidly than previously thought.
Juxtacellular opto-tagging of hippocampal CA1 neurons in freely moving mice
Authors: Ding Lingjun , Balsamo Giuseppe , Chen Hongbiao , Blanco-Hernandez Eduardo , Zouridis Ioannis S , Naumann Robert , Preston-Ferrer Patricia , Burgalossi Andrea
Published: January 2022

Neural circuits are made of a vast diversity of neuronal cell types. While immense progress has been made in classifying neurons based on morphological, molecular, and functional properties, understanding how this heterogeneity contributes to brain function during natural behavior has remained largely unresolved. In the present study, we combined the juxtacellular recording and labeling technique with optogenetics in freely moving mice. This allowed us to selectively target molecularly defined cell classes for in vivo single-cell recordings and morphological analysis. We validated this strategy in the CA1 region of the mouse hippocampus by restricting Channelrhodopsin expression to Calbindin-positive neurons. Directly versus indirectly light-activated neurons could be readily distinguished based on the latencies of light-evoked spikes, with juxtacellular labeling and post hoc histological analysis providing ‘ground-truth’ validation. Using these opto-juxtacellular procedures in freely moving mice, we found that Calbindin-positive CA1 pyramidal cells were weakly spatially modulated and conveyed less spatial information than Calbindin-negative neurons – pointing to pyramidal cell identity as a key determinant for neuronal recruitment into the hippocampal spatial map. Thus, our method complements current in vivo techniques by enabling optogenetic-assisted structure–function analysis of single neurons recorded during natural, unrestrained behavior.
Effects of inorganic mercury exposure in the alveolar bone of rats: an approach of qualitative and morphological aspects
Authors: Nunes Paula Beatriz de Oliveira , Ferreira Maria Karolina Martins , Ribeiro Frazão Deborah , Bittencourt Leonardo Oliveira , Chemelo Victória dos Santos , Silva Márcia Cristina Freitas , Pereira-Neto Armando Lopes , Albuquerque Alan Rodrigo Leal , Paz Simone Patricia Aranha , Angélica Rômulo Simões , Pessanha Sofia , Lima Rafael Rodrigues
Published: January 2022

Background

In comparison to organic mercury (MeHg), the environmental inorganic mercury (IHg) can be found in some skin-lightening cosmestics were considered “harmless” for a long time. However, recent studies have shown that long-term exposure to low doses of IHg may affect biological systems. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of IHg long-term exposure to the alveolar bone of adult rats.

Methods

Adult Wistar rats were distributed in control and HgCl2 exposed (0.375 mg/kg/day). After 45 days, the rats were euthanized and both blood and hemimandibles were collected. Total blood Hg levels were measured and both inorganic and organic components of the alveolar bone were determined through XRD and ATR-FTIR. The microstructure of the alveolar bone was assessed by using micro-CT and the morphometric analysis was performed by using stereomicroscopy.

Results

Alterations in the physicochemical components of the alveolar bone of exposed animals were observed. The bone changes represented a tissue reaction at the microstructural level, such as bone volume increase. However, no significant dimensional changes (bone height) were observed.

Conclusion

Exposure to IHg at this dose can promote microstructural changes and alteration in the organic and inorganic components in the alveolar bone.
Fizicheski sostoyatelnie metriki c nezavisimimi parametrami vmesto standartnih metric s nefizicheskimi sledstviyami. 2. Vrashchayushiesya istochniki
Authors:   Centre for Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, Zakir Zahid
Published: January 2022

Метрика Керра, внешняя метрика вращающегося тела, включает гравитационный радиус на экваторе, неявно зависящий от параметра вращения. Игнорирование этой зависимости из-за формально-математического подхода без понимания физических аспектов приводила в теории чёрных дыр к абсурдным нефизическим предсказаниям, в частности, что увеличение энергии вращения (из-за роста параметра вращения) ослабляет гравитацию, уменьшая гравитационный радиус на полюсе и эффекты гравитации (красные смещения, средние радиусы орбит и тени). Этот недостаток метрики Керра исправлен в новой форме этой метрики с независимым параметром - гравитационным радиусом на полюсе, определяемым массой вещества без энергии вращения. В новой метрике вклады энергий вещества и вращения имеют одинаковый знак и рост параметра вращения усиливает гравитацию, увеличивая величину её эффектов (гравитационный радиус на экваторе, красные смещения, средние радиусы орбит и теней). Новая форма метрики Керра описывает метрику вне фрозара с угловым моментом, объекта с застывшей структурой и с поверхностью над локальным гравитационным радиусом (минимальным на полюсе и максимальным на экваторе). Применение этого метода к метрике Керра-Ньюмана, включающей заряд, а также к метрике НУТ, дало новые формы этих метрик с независимыми параметрами. В теории фрозаров энергии частиц положительны везде, и она свободна от нефизических эффектов прежней теории чёрных дыр (горизонта, сингулярностей, эргосферы и извлечения энергии из неё, испарения). Термодинамика фрозаров следует из почти необратимого застывания, в результате которого, при аккреции и других процессах масса нейтрального вещества без энергии вращения растёт практически необратимо.
Physically consistent metrics with independent parameters instead of standard metrics with unphysical consequences. 2. Rotating sources
Authors:   Centre for Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, Zakir Zahid
Published: January 2022

The Kerr metric, the external metric for a rotating body, contains the equatorial gravitational radius implicitly depending on the specific angular momentum (SAM). Ignoring this dependence due to the formal mathematical approach without understanding the physical aspects led to absurd unphysical consequences in the black hole theory, in particular, that an increase in the rotational energy at increasing SAM weakens gravity, decreasing the gravitational radius at the pole and the effects of gravity (redshifts, mean radii of orbits and shadows). This shortcoming of the Kerr metric is improved in a new form of this metric with an independent parameter - the gravitational radius at the pole, determined by the mass of matter without rotational energy. The contributions of the energies of matter and rotation have the same sign and an increase in SAM strengthens gravity, increasing its effects (the equatorial gravitational radius, redshifts, mean radii of orbits and shadows). The modified form of the Kerr metric describes the gravitational field of a frozar having angular momentum, a star with frozen structure and the surface asymptotically tending to the local gravitational radius (minimal at pole and maximal at equator). The application of this method to the Kerr-Newman metric, including the charge, and to the NUT metric, gave modified forms of these metrics with independent parameters. In the frozar theory, particle energies are positive everywhere, and the theory is free from the non-physical effects of the former black hole theory (horizons, singularities, ergosphere and the extraction of energy from it, evaporation). Thermodynamics of frozars follows from the almost irreversible freezing, as the result of which, during accretion and other processes, the mass of neutral matter without rotational energy grows almost irreversibly.
The relationship between closed‐mindedness and militant extremism in a post‐conflict society
Authors: Knežević Goran , Lazarevic Ljiljana B. , Međedović Janko , Petrović Boban , Stankov Lazar
Published: January 2022

This study aimed to examine the role of socio‐political attitudes and motivational tendencies supposed to mark closed‐mindedness, as well as other relevant variables of individual differences (Disintegration, i.e., proneness to psychotic‐like experiences/behaviors and Death Anxiety), in the Militant Extremist Mindset (MEM). A community sample of 600 young respondents (Serbs, Bosniaks, and Albanians, aged 18–30) was recruited within a multiethnic region of Serbia that experienced armed conflict during the break‐up of the former Yugoslavia. The best‐fitted SEM model, incorporating measurement and structural relationships between the variables, showed that the latent factor of Closed‐mindedness predicted all three aspects of MEM as well as Neighborhood Grudge, that is, resentment toward neighboring ethnicities. The effects of Disintegration and Death Anxiety on MEM were entirely mediated by Closed‐mindedness. Compared to previous findings, Closed‐mindedness appears to represent the most important set of cognitive and motivational tendencies that channel protracted intergroup tensions into militant extremism.
Characteristics of systemic inflammation and brain iron deposition in Parkinson's disease patients
Authors: Xu Jinghui , He Xiaofei , Xu Yunqi , Chen Xi , Li Mingyue , Zhang Liying , Fu Xiaodi , Pan Mengqiu , Wang Qun , Hu Xiquan
Published: January 2022

Objective

This study aimed at determining the characteristics of systemic inflammation and brain iron deposition in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.

Methods

Thirty two PD patients and 30 gender‐ as well as age‐matched controls were enrolled. Serum interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐33, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, IL‐6, IL‐10, ferritin, iron, and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) levels were assayed. Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) was used to quantitatively analyze brain iron accumulation in the regions of interest (ROIs). Correlations between concentrations of inflammatory cytokines and biomarkers for peripheral iron metabolism, brain iron deposition were evaluated in the PD group.

Results

Serum concentrations of IL‐1β and IL‐33 were found to be significantly elevated in the PD group compared to the control group, and in early‐stage PD group compared to advanced‐stage PD group. Total QSM value for bilateral ROIs was significantly elevated in the PD group compared to the control group, and in advanced‐stage PD group compared to early‐stage PD group. There was a significant inverse correlation between serum IL‐1β concentration and total QSM value for bilateral ROIs, between serum ferritin, iron, TIBC concentrations, and total QSM value for bilateral ROIs in PD patients. However, there was no significant correlation between serum IL‐1β concentrations and serum ferritin, iron, TIBC concentrations in PD patients.

Interpretation

The inflammatory state and chronic brain iron deposition progression in PD patients might be asynchronous. Alterations in systemic inflammation were not correlated with peripheral iron metabolism and might not contribute to the aggravation of brain iron deposition in PD patients.
Strengthen and Toughen the Low‐Alloyed Steel by Direct Tempforming
Authors: Wang Jun , Liu Zhixue , Luo Tiegang , Yin Fuxing , Liu Baoxi , Luo Zhichao
Published: January 2022

Improving strength without sacrificing toughness is a permanent request for the development of advanced engineering materials. Herein, a novel energy‐saving strategy is developed to obtain strong but tough low‐alloyed steels. A medium‐carbon steel (42CrMo) is used for demonstration. Warm deformation (tempforming) is applied to the hot‐rolled and air‐cooled 42CrMo steel. After tempforming, the microstructure consists of nano‐sized carbides and highly textured ultrafine grains. The tensile strength of the tempformed steels can reach 1.2 GPa, while the impact toughness is higher than 100 J even at temperatures as low as −80 °C, which are one order of magnitude higher than the counterpart steel after tempering. The present work sheds light on the design and fabrication of high‐performance engineering steels with an excellent combination of strength and toughness.
Atomic Structure Modification of Fe‒N‒C Catalysts via Morphology Engineering of Graphene for Enhanced Conversion Kinetics of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Kim Jiheon , Kim Seong‐Jun , Jung Euiyeon , Mok Dong Hyeon , Paidi Vinod K. , Lee Jaewoo , Lee Hyeon Seok , Jeoun Yunseo , Ko Wonjae , Shin Heejong , Lee Byoung‐Hoon , Kim Shin‐Yeong , Kim Hyunjoong , Kim Ji Hwan , Cho Sung‐Pyo , Lee Kug‐Seung , Back Seoin , Yu Seung‐Ho , Sung Yung‐Eun , Hyeon Taeghwan
Published: January 2022

Single‐atom M‒N‒C catalysts have attracted tremendous attention for their application to electrocatalysis. Nitrogen‐coordinated mononuclear metal moieties (MNx moities) are bio‐inspired active sites that are analogous to various metal‐porphyrin cofactors. Given that the functions of metal‐porphyrin cofactors are highly dependent on the local coordination environments around the mononuclear active site, engineering MNx active sites in heterogeneous M‒N‒C catalysts would provide an additional degree of freedom for boosting their electrocatalytic activity. This work presents a local coordination structure modification of FeN4 moieties via morphological engineering of graphene support. Introducing highly wrinkled structure in graphene matrix induces nonplanar distortion of FeN4 moieties, resulting in the modification of electronic structure of mononuclear Fe. Electrochemical analysis combined with first‐principles calculations reveal that enhanced electrocatalytic lithium polysulfide conversion, especially the Li2S redox step, is attributed to the local structure modified FeN4 active sites, while increased specific surface area also contributes to improved performance at low C‐rates. Owing to the synergistic combination of atomic‐level modified FeN4 active sites and morphological advantage of graphene support, Fe‒N‒C catalysts with wrinkled graphene morphology show superior lithium–sulfur battery performance at both low and high C‐rates (particularly 915.9 mAh g−1 at 5 C) with promising cycling stability.
Highly Active and Durable Single‐Atom Tungsten‐Doped NiS0.5Se0.5 Nanosheet @ NiS0.5Se0.5 Nanorod Heterostructures for Water Splitting
Authors: Wang Yang , Li Xiaopeng , Zhang Mengmeng , Zhang Jinfeng , Chen Zelin , Zheng Xuerong , Tian Zhangliu , Zhao Naiqin , Han Xiaopeng , Zaghib Karim , Wang Yuesheng , Deng Yida , Hu Wenbin
Published: January 2022

Developing robust and highly active non‐precious electrocatalysts for the hydrogen/oxygen evolution reaction (HER/OER) is crucial for the industrialization of hydrogen energy. In this study, a highly active and durable single‐atom W‐doped NiS0.5Se0.5 nanosheet @ NiS0.5Se0.5 nanorod heterostructure (W‐NiS0.5Se0.5) electrocatalyst is prepared. W‐NiS0.5Se0.5 exhibits excellent catalytic activity for the HER and OER with ultralow overpotentials (39 and 106 mV for the HER and 171 and 239 mV for the OER at 10 and 100 mA cm−2, respectively) and excellent long‐term durability (500 h), outperforming commercial precious‐metal catalysts and many other previously reported transition‐metal‐based compounds (TMCs). The introduction of single‐atom W delocalizes the spin state of Ni, which results in an increase in the Ni d‐electron density. This causes the optimization of the adsorption/desorption process of H and a significant reduction in the adsorption free energy of the rate‐determining step (O* → OOH*), thus accelerating the thermodynamics and kinetics of the HER and OER. This work provides a rational feasible strategy to design single‐atom catalysts for water splitting and to develop advanced TMC electrocatalysts by regulating delocalized spin states.
Printed Thermoelectrics
Authors: Burton Matthew , Howells Geraint , Atoyo Jonathan , Carnie Matthew
Published: January 2022

The looming impact of climate change and the diminishing supply of fossil fuels both highlight the need for a transition to more sustainable energy sources. While solar and wind can produce much of the energy needed, to meet all our energy demands there is a need for a diverse sustainable energy generation mix. Thermoelectrics can play a vital role in this, by harvesting otherwise wasted heat energy and converting it into useful electrical energy. While efficient thermoelectric materials have been known since the 1950s, thermoelectrics have not been utilized beyond a few niche applications. This can in part be attributed to the high cost of manufacturing and the geometrical restraints of current commercial manufacturing techniques. Printing offers a potential route to manufacture thermoelectric materials at a lower price point and allows for the fabrication of generators that are custom built to meet the waste heat source requirements. This review details the significant progress that has been made in recent years in printing of thermoelectric materials in all thermoelectric material groups and printing methods, and highlights very recent publications that show printing can now offer comparable performance to commercially manufactured thermoelectric materials.
Direct Observation of Strong Anomalous Hall Effect and Proximity‐Induced Ferromagnetic State in SrIrO3
Authors: Jaiswal Arun Kumar , Wang Di , Wollersen Vanessa , Schneider Rudolf , Tacon Matthieu Le , Fuchs Dirk
Published: January 2022

The 5d iridium‐based transition metal oxides have gained broad interest because of their strong spin–orbit coupling, which favors new or exotic quantum electronic states. On the other hand, they rarely exhibit more mainstream orders like ferromagnetism due to generally weak electron–electron correlation strength. Here, a proximity‐induced ferromagnetic (FM) state with TC ≈ 100 K and strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy is shown in a SrIrO3 (SIO) heterostructure via interfacial charge transfer by using a ferromagnetic insulator in contact with SIO. Electrical transport allows to selectively probe the FM state of the SIO layer and the direct observation of a strong, intrinsic, and positive anomalous Hall effect (AHE). For T ≤ 20 K, the AHE displays unusually large coercive and saturation field, a fingerprint of a strong pseudospin–lattice coupling. A Hall angle, σxyAHE/σxx, larger by an order of magnitude than in typical 3d metals and an FM net moment of about 0.1 μB/Ir, is reported. This emphasizes how efficiently the nontrivial topological band properties of SIO can be manipulated by structural modifications and the exchange interaction with 3d TMOs.
Realizing 19.05% Efficiency Polymer Solar Cells by Progressively Improving Charge Extraction and Suppressing Charge Recombination
Authors: Chong Kaien , Xu Xiaopeng , Meng Huifeng , Xue Jingwei , Yu Liyang , Ma Wei , Peng Qiang
Published: January 2022

Improving charge extraction and suppressing charge recombination are critically important to minimize the loss of absorbed photons and improve the device performance of polymer solar cells (PSCs). In this work, highly efficient PSCs are demonstrated by progressively improving the charge extraction and suppressing the charge recombination through the combination of side‐chain engineering of new nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs), adopting ternary blends, and introducing volatilizable solid additives. The 2D side chains on BTP‐Th induce a certain steric hindrance for molecular packing and phase separation, which is mitigated by fluorination of side chains on BTP‐FTh. Moreover, by introducing two highly crystalline molecules as the second acceptor and volatilizable solid additive, respectively, into the BTP‐FTh‐based host blend, the molecular crystallinity is significantly improved and the blend morphology is finely optimized. As expected, enhanced charge extraction and suppressed charge recombination are progressively realized, contributing to the largely improved fill factor (FF) of the resultant devices. Accompanied by the enhanced open‐circuit voltage (Voc) and short‐circuit current density (Jsc), a record high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.05% is realized finally.
Achieving Remarkable Charge Density via Self‐Polarization of Polar High‐k Material in a Charge‐Excitation Triboelectric Nanogenerator
Authors: Wu Huiyuan , He Wencong , Shan Chuncai , Wang Zhao , Fu Shaoke , Tang Qian , Guo Hengyu , Du Yan , Liu Wenlin , Hu Chenguo
Published: January 2022

Boosting output charge density is top priority for achieving high‐performance triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). The charge‐excitation strategy is demonstrated to be a superior approach to acquire high output charge density. Meanwhile, the molecular charge behaviors in the dielectric under a strong electric field from high charge density bring new physics that are worth exploring. Here, a rapid self‐polarization effect of a polar dielectric material by the superhigh electric field in a charge‐excitation TENG is reported, by which the permittivity of the polar dielectric material realizes self‐increase to a saturation, and thus enhances the output charge density. Consequently, an ultrahigh charge density of 3.53 mC m−2 is obtained with 7 µm homemade lead zirconate titanate−poly(vinylidene fluoride) composite film in the atmosphere with 5% relative humidity, which is the highest charge density for TENGs with high durability currently. This work provides new guidance for dielectric material optimization under charge excitation to boost the output performance of TENGs toward practical applications.
Clinical impact of perirenal thickness on short‐ and long‐term outcomes of gastric cancer after curative surgery
Authors: Eto Kojiro , Yoshida Naoya , Iwatsuki Masaaki , Iwagami Shiro , Nakamura Kenichi , Morita Keisuke , Ikeshima Satoshi , Horino Kei , Shimada Shinya , Baba Hideo
Published: January 2022

Background

A variety of factors for short‐ and long‐term outcomes have been reported after radical resection for gastric cancer (GC). Obesity and emaciation had been reported to be a cause of poor short‐ and long‐term outcomes with gastrointestinal cancer. However, the indicators are still controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between perirenal thickness (PT) and short‐ and long‐term outcomes after radical surgery for GC.

Methods

We analyzed the data of 364 patients with GC who underwent radical surgery. We evaluated the distance from the anterior margin of the quadratus lumborum muscle to the dorsal margin of the left renal pole using computed tomography (CT) as an indicator of PT. The association between PT and clinicopathological factors and short‐ and long‐term outcomes was evaluated.

Results

The PT data were divided into low, normal, and high groups by gender using the tertile value. We found that the PT low group was 121 patients, normal group was 121 patients, and high group was 122 patients. Multivariate analyses showed that the high PT group was an independent risk factor for a short‐outcome after curative surgery in GC patients (odds ratio 2.163; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.156–4.046; P = .016). And the low PT group was an independent risk factor for overall survival (hazard ratio 2.488; 95% CI 1.400–4.421; P = .0019) and relapse‐free survival (hazard ratio 2.342; 95% CI 1.349–4.064; P = .0025) after curative surgery in GC patients.

Conclusion

Perirenal thickness is a simple and useful factor for predicting short‐ and long‐term outcomes after radical surgery for GC.
Essential updates 2020/2021: Colorectal diseases (benign)—Current topics in the surgical and medical treatment of benign colorectal diseases
Authors: Sawayama Hiroshi , Miyamoto Yuji , Yoshida Naoya , Baba Hideo
Published: January 2022

The development of new drugs for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is remarkable, and treatment strategies using multiple agents and various techniques are required; however, the treatment strategy is likely to be complex. Therefore, appropriate evaluation of traditional surgical treatment strategies and accurate knowledge of the efficacy and limitations of novel treatments are required. Total infectious complications were found to be associated with the use of corticosteroids and anti‐tumor necrosis factor‐α agents, but not with immunomodulators, anti‐integrin agents, and 5‐aminosalicylic acid. Regarding surgical procedures for IBD, conceived anastomosis methods, including Kono‐S for Crohn's disease stenosis, are associated with better outcomes than conventional techniques. Autologous cell transplantation for Crohn's fistulae has been shown to have a favorable outcome. Diverticulitis is increasing and will be treated more frequently in the future. Risk factors for the incidence of diverticulitis and differences in pathogenesis according to right or left side diverticulitis have been reported. Antibiotic therapy may be omitted for uncomplicated diverticulitis. Moreover, regarding surgical procedures, both bowel resection and anastomosis are associated with favorable short‐term outcomes, higher stoma closure rate, and superior medical economy compared to Hartmann's procedure. Risk factors for recurrence after diverticulitis surgery may provide better postoperative follow‐up. In this review, we explore the current topics of colorectal benign diseases, focusing on IBD and diverticulitis, based on clinical trials and meta‐analyses from 2020‐2021. This review consolidates the available knowledge and improves the quality of surgical procedures and perioperative management for IBD and diverticulitis.
SHORT syndrome in an adult Brazilian patient
Authors: Gonçalves Ana Caroline G. , Moretti Patricia N. , Cordoba Mara S. , Oliveira Renata S. , Lopes Fernanda S. C. , Oliveira Silviene F. , Pic‐Taylor Aline , Castro Luiz Claudio , Mazzeu Juliana F.
Published: January 2022

We report an individual from Brazil with SHORT syndrome. The term SHORT stands for its common characteristics: short stature (S), hyperextensibility of joints, and/or inguinal hernia (H), ocular depression (O), Rieger anomaly (R), and teething delay (T). In addition to most of the clinical signs previously described in SHORT syndrome, the patient presented here also shows microcephaly and intellectual disability. Diagnosis was confirmed by exome sequencing revealing a novel heterozygous variant c.1456G>A (p.Ala486Thr) at PIK3R1. Human recombinant growth hormone (r‐hGH) therapy was administered prior to diagnosis; however, the use of r‐hGH may have had a role in anticipating and worsening the glucose metabolic profile in the patient, as previously described. This article contributes to providing a better understanding of the SHORT syndrome genotype and its correlation with the phenotype, by comparing with it other reported cases.
Whole‐exome sequencing in syndromic craniosynostosis increases diagnostic yield and identifies candidate genes in osteogenic signaling pathways
Authors: Tønne Elin , Due‐Tønnessen Bernt Johan , Vigeland Magnus Dehli , Amundsen Silja Svanstrøm , Ribarska Teodora , Åsten Pamela Marika , Sheng Ying , Helseth Eirik , Gilfillan Gregor Duncan , Mero Inger‐Lise , Heimdal Ketil Riddervold
Published: January 2022

Craniosynostosis (CS) is a common congenital anomaly defined by premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures. Syndromic CS involves additional organ anomalies or neurocognitive deficits and accounts for 25%–30% of the cases. In a recent population‐based study by our group, 84% of the syndromic CS cases had a genetically verified diagnosis after targeted analyses. A number of different genetic causes were detected, confirming that syndromic CS is highly heterogeneous. In this study, we performed whole‐exome sequencing of 10 children and parents from the same cohort where previous genetic results were negative. We detected pathogenic, or likely pathogenic, variants in four additional genes (NFIA, EXTL3, POLR2A, and FOXP2) associated with rare conditions. In two of these (POLR2A and FOXP2), CS has not previously been reported. We further detected a rare predicted damaging variant in SH3BP4, which has not previously been related to human disease. All findings were clustered in genes involved in the pathways of osteogenesis and suture patency. We conclude that whole‐exome sequencing expands the list of genes associated with syndromic CS, and provides new candidate genes in osteogenic signaling pathways.
Switchable Synthesis of Cyclohexanedione‐fused 2,8‐Oxaza/2,8‐Dioxa Bicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes and 4‐Substituted 4H‐Chromenes by Tunability of the Deamination/Dehydration Process
Authors: Li Jingpeng , Wang Shuang , Xu Genrui , Cui Xin , Zi Boqin , Liu Teng , Huang Chao
Published: January 2022

In this study, a concise and efficient protocol for the construction of diverse cyclohexanedione‐fused 2,8‐oxaza/2,8‐dioxa bicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes and 4‐substituted 4H‐chromenes between 2‐hydroxychalcones and 3‐aminocyclohex‐2‐enones has been accomplished. This switchable synthesis concerning the three types of functionalized heterocyclics via tunability of the deamination/dehydration process was controlled by Brønsted acid catalyst or solvent effects in this cascade transformation, which can thus provide the desired products in good to excellent yields.
Hypoxia‐Responsive Platinum Supernanoparticles for Urinary Microfluidic Monitoring of Tumors
Authors: Xu Qin , Pan Yongchun , Liu Xinli , Gao Yanfeng , Luan Xiaowei , Zeng Fei , Zhou Dongtao , Long Wenxiu , Wang Yuzhen , Song Yujun
Published: January 2022

Cancer has become a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and there is an increasing need for versatile tools to enable sensitive, simple and early cancer monitoring. Here, we report platinum supernanoparticles as an exogenous nanosensor which can dissociate into ultrasmall platinum nanoclusters (PtNCs) under tumor‐specific hypoxia conditions. The resulting PtNCs can be filtered through the kidney as urinary reporters to be quantified by a companion volumetric bar‐chart chip (V‐Chip) for point‐of‐care analysis. The V‐Chip signals of triple‐negative breast cancer and its lung metastasis mouse model showed a significant increase compared to healthy mice. Our nanosensor can also noninvasively monitor the course of treatment, which is significant for screening tumor recurrence and individualized evaluation of pharmacological and follow‐up efficacy. Importantly, this strategy could be adapted for various diseases to form a common diagnostic platform by changing responsive linkers.
Divergent Synthesis of Indolenine and Indoline Ring Systems by Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Dearomatization of Indoles**
Authors: Gao Dong , Jiao Lei
Published: January 2022

Dearomatized indole derivatives bearing a C3‐ or C2‐stereocenter exist ubiquitously in natural products and biologically active molecules. Despite remarkable advances in their synthesis, stereoselective and regio‐divergent methods are still in a high demand. Herein, a Pd‐catalyzed intermolecular asymmetric spiroannulation of 2,3‐disubstituted indoles with internal alkynes has been developed for the efficient construction of indoline structures with a C2‐quaternary stereocenter. Stereospecific aza‐semipinacol rearrangement of these indoline derivatives under acidic conditions afforded indolenine products bearing a C3‐quaternary stereocenter, where the migrating group could be controlled by the reaction sequence. The asymmetric spiroannulation together with the subsequent aza‐semipinacol rearrangement enabled a divergent access to dearomatized indole derivatives with either a C3‐ or a C2‐quaternary stereocenter.
Organocatalytic Atroposelective Synthesis of N−N Axially Chiral Indoles and Pyrroles by De Novo Ring Formation
Authors: Chen Ke‐Wei , Chen Zhi‐Han , Yang Shuang , Wu Shu‐Fang , Zhang Yu‐Chen , Shi Feng
Published: January 2022

The first highly atroposelective construction of N−N axially chiral indole scaffolds was established via a new strategy of de novo ring formation. This strategy makes use of the organocatalytic asymmetric Paal–Knorr reaction of well‐designed N‐aminoindoles with 1,4‐diketones, thus affording N‐pyrrolylindoles in high yields and with excellent atroposelectivities (up to 98 % yield, 96 % ee). In addition, this strategy is applicable for the atroposelective synthesis of N−N axially chiral bispyrroles (up to 98 % yield, 97 % ee). More importantly, such N−N axially chiral heterocycles can be converted into chiral organocatalysts with applications in asymmetric catalysis, and some molecules display potent anticancer activity. This work not only provides a new strategy for the atroposelective synthesis of N−N axially chiral molecules but also offers new members of the N−N atropisomer family with promising applications in synthetic and medicinal chemistry.
Reduction system “vitamin C/glycerol” promoted copper(II)‐catalyzed N‐arylation
Authors: Wu Fengtian , Yan Fangming , Wu Ling , Zhang Caihong , Zeng Rong , Sun Yijia , Liu Xiuping , Cui Chunna , Wang Peng
Published: January 2022

The common access to forming CN bond is the copper‐catalyzed Ullmann‐type reaction. The relatively expensive and easily oxidized copper(I) is usually used in the reaction. Our group discovered that the “vitamin C/glycerol” reduction system could convert cheap and stable CuO to active low valence state copper species, as measured via X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), to promote the CN coupling reaction. In particular, 2‐phenylindole, pyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinoxaline, 1,2,4‐triazole and 4‐amino‐7H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidine derivative were obtained in the presence of CuO and reduction system “vitamin C/glycerol.” This method provided a simple and cost‐effective approach to the preparation of N‐arylation products.
Toughening and reinforcing waste polypropylene with POE/nano‐SiO2 under elongational flow
Authors: He Hezhi , Gao Jun , Wang Yi , Zhu Zhiwen , Liu Yufan , Tian Guidong , Xu Li , Huang Zhaoxia
Published: January 2022

Due to the white pollution, the recycling of waste plastics has attracted more and more attention. In this research, waste polypropylene/Ethylene‐octene elastomer/nano‐SiO2 composites (wPP/POE/SiO2) were melt‐blended using an Eccentric Rotor Extruder (ERE) dominated by elongational flow field and a Torque Rheometer (TR) dominated by shear flow field, respectively. The micromorphology, mechanical, crystallization, thermal and rheological properties of wPP/POE/SiO2 blends were studied. Compared to the blends fabricated by TR, the wPP/POE/SiO2 blends with different compositions fabricated by ERE showed higher tensile strength, flexural strength, and modulus. Particularly, without sacrificing the tensile strength, the notched impact strength of the wPP/POE/SiO2 blends fabricated by ERE increased to 13.53 kJ/m2, a factor of 3 times larger than that of neat wPP. The enhancement of impact strength of the wPP/POE/SiO2 blends fabricated by ERE could be ascribed to the good dispersion of POE under elongational flow and the increase of PP crystallinity. The finding from this work provides an efficient way to recycle wPP.
Exploring the impact of interactive movement‐based anatomy learning in real classroom setting among kinesiology students
Authors: Rabattu Pierre‐Yves , Debarnot Ursula , Hoyek Nady
Published: January 2022

Descriptive and functional anatomy is one of the most important sciences for kinesiology students. Anatomy learning requires spatial and motor imagery abilities. Learning anatomy is complex when teaching methods and instructional tools do not appropriately develop spatial and motor imagery abilities. Recent technological developments such as three‐dimensional (3D) digital tools allow to overcome those difficulties, especially when 3D tools require strong interactions with the learners. Besides interactive digital tools, embodied learning or learning in motion is an effective method for a wide variety of sciences including anatomy. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of combining movement execution with 3D animation visualization on anatomy learning in a real classroom teaching context. To do so, the results of two groups of kinesiology students during three official assessments were compared. The experimental group (n = 60) learned functional anatomy by combining movement execution with traditional knowledge acquisition (e.g., 3D animations visualization, problem‐based learning exercises). The control group (n = 61) had the same material but did not execute the movements during problem‐solving exercises. Although no differences were found between both groups on early and mid‐semester examinations, significant difference appeared at the end of the semester with an advantage for the experimental group. This exploratory study suggests that embodied learning is beneficial in improving functional anatomy learning. Therefore, it would be interesting to integrate such type of pedagogical approach within the kinesiology curriculum.
Overcoming STING Agonists Barriers: Peptide, Protein, and Biomembrane‐based Biocompatible Delivery Strategies
Authors: Zheng Yong‐Fang , Wu Jun‐Jun
Published: January 2022

After development for more than ten years, stimulator of interferon genes (STING), a representative of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), is now entering the stage of widespread applications. Along with the evolution of STING agonists of cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) and non‐nucleotide molecules, the stability of agonists has been improved. However, their poor performance in clinical trials triggers urgent demands for highly effective delivery strategies to further improve the cellular permeability, tissue targetability and retention. In this review, we summarized the recent progress of STING agonists applications and delivery strategies with a focus on the biocompatible platforms of peptide, protein and biomembrane, providing a novel vision for the STING field and future direction.