bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring Sociocultural Borderlands: Journeying, Navigating, and Embodying a Queer Identity
Authors: Davidson Samuel Marc
Published: May 2007

This case study explores experiences of a bisexual Latino male (age 18) whose identities cross various boundaries of heteronormativity routinely legitimized through a variety of school practices. Using a queer theoretical lens, the author examines intersections of race, ethnicity, class, spirituality, sexual orientation, and gender performance as reflected in the lived realities of this young man played out in the environment of a large, urban public high school in the southwest United States. Performance of a fluid masculinity provides a central vehicle for negotiations and synthesis of competing identities against conflicting peer and social norms and as a focus of this inquiry. Victor Turner's (1995) concept of liminality provides a staging area for a construct of holistic masculinity in which formation and articulation of identities are actually clarified rather than blurred.
Examining Masculine Gender-Role Conflict and Stress in Relation to Religious Orientation and Spiritual Well-Being in Australian Men
Authors: Jurkovic Dubravko , Walker Gordon A.
Published: May 2007

This study investigated the relationship between masculine gender-role conflict and stress factors, on one hand, and religious orientation and spiritual well-being, on the other, using a sample of Australian men. Participants were separated into two groups based on their self-reported level of religiousness. There were 73 participants in the religious group (who described themselves as “somewhat,” “very,” or “extremely religious”) and 70 participants in the non-religious group (who identified themselves as “not-at-all” or “not very religious”). All participants completed a personal information sheet and four questionnaires: The Gender Role Conflict Scale, The Gender Role Stress Scale, The Intrinsic-Extrinsic Religious Orientation Scale-Revised, and The Spiritual Well-Being Scale. As predicted, the nonreligious men exhibited higher levels of masculine gender-role conflict and stress than religious men. Separate canonical correlation analyses for the two groups revealed significant relationships between the measures assessing masculine gender-role conflict and stress and those assessing religiousness and spiritual well-being. Limitations and directions for additional research on religion and psychological well-being of men as well as implications for practice are discussed.
Western Heterosexual Masculinity, Anxiety, and Web Porn
Authors: Cook Ian
Published: May 2007

This article is an examination of nine pornographic Web sites. Web porn is important because the Internet increases men's access to pornography. The pornography presented on these Web sites is first examined in terms of the way that it manifests important continuities with pornography delivered in other ways. Central to these continuities is the way that pornography manifests the anxiety that is here taken to be fundamental to the acquisition of Western heterosexual masculinity or male identity. An important difference, though, is that this anxiety appears more clearly manifested in these sites than it is elsewhere. In addition, however, these sites appear to intensify this anxiety by making it harder for men to prove that they are truly “man enough.”
Masculinity Ideology in Russian Society: Factor Structure and Validity of the Multicultural Masculinity Ideology Scale
Authors: Janey Natalia V. , Janey Bradley A. , Goncherova Natasha , Savchenko Vladimir
Published: May 2007

This study explores the factor structure and evaluates the validity of the Multicultural Masculinity Ideology Scale (Doss & Hopkins, 1998) using a sample of Russian students ( N = 207) from two large public universities. Oblique rotation revealed four factors: achievement pose, emotional availability/stability, composed sexuality, and dedicated provider. Validity indicators were mixed, with achievement pose and dedicated provider demonstrating the strongest psychometric properties. Implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Learning and Laughing about Gender and Sexuality through Humor: The Woody Allen Case
Authors: Philaretou Andreas G.
Published: May 2007

Humor is a social phenomenon that tends to relieve stress on an individual level and collectively constitutes a powerful mechanism for disseminating both abstract and real-life knowledge about the human condition. Woody Allen attempts to captivate his audience by bringing both intellectual concepts and real-life scenarios into a comedic crucible utilizing the human instinctual drives for lust, love, and happiness as his major catalysts. Allen's films offer a dialectical approach to the study of human sexuality as good and bad, humorous and dramatic, lustful and emotional, fearful and fearless, fulfilling and frustrating. Although often accused of being an essentialist chauvinist male, Allen may be viewed as a moral social constructionist who deconstructs traditional gender arrangements and reconstructs a feminine and masculine sexual ethos utilizing sexual humor. Throughout the deconstruction and reconstruction process the audience is made aware of the historical, social, and cultural forces that influence human affairs as well as the vicissitudes, ambiguity, and melodramatic nature of human sexuality.
“Feminine” Heterosexual Men: Subverting Heteropatriarchal Sexual Scripts?
Authors: Hill Darryl B.
Published: May 2007

Little is known about the sexual lives of “feminine” heterosexual men (i.e., men who eschew traditional rigid “masculine” gender roles in favor of more stereotypically “feminine” gender roles and characteristics). Based on an analysis of gender and sexuality discourse, mostly from social psychology, this paper proposes a model of the sexual subjectivity of the feminine heterosexual man. This model suggests that these men may find it difficult to attract a partner and maintain satisfying sexual relationships, but once established they appear to build strong relationships. This conceptualization proposes that feminine heterosexual men subvert overly restrictive heteropatriarchal sexual scripts, freeing both traditional and nontraditional men to explore ways of being sexual with women outside a dominant-submissive dialectic.
Anxious Representations of Uncertain Masculinity: The Failed Journey to Self-Understanding in Ambrose Bierce's “The Death of Halpin Frayser”
Authors: Talley Sharon
Published: May 2007

In his 1891 tale “The Death of Halpin Frayser,” Ambrose Bierce presents the crisis of masculine identity through familial tropes of gothic otherness that he connects to specific historical and cultural contexts. As a result, he shows that the psychic dimensions of the impasse he depicts are not just individually but also socially constructed. By using the insights of post-Freudian psychoanalytical theories, and especially the perspectives of Lacan (1977) and Kristeva (1982, 1984), this study will show how the story works to expose the instability of masculine identity through its representation of the Oedipal crisis and its gendered repercussions.
Misconceptions of Gender: Sex, Masculinity, and the Measurement of Crime
Authors: Cohen Jeffrey W. , Harvey Patrick J.
Published: May 2007

Gender is a widely used variable within criminological literature. Unfortunately, most researchers attempt to measure gender with a single item on a survey. Most often this item simply asks respondents to indicate his/her biologically determined “sex” (i.e., male or female), which cannot fully address the complex nature of a concept such as gender. This issue has limited criminologists' ability to fully understand the relationship between gender and criminality, with most of the emphasis placed on the fact that males commit more crimes than females. However, this argument does little to explain why some males commit crimes while others do not. Reliance on these externally derived measures may have also led to oversimplified conceptualizations of other important criminological variables such as race and socioeconomic status. A newer, deeper conceptualization of these variables may lead to a better understanding of how they relate to both crime and delinquency. The current paper assesses the current predominant conceptualization of gender within criminological literature and offers a new conceptualization based on Ken Wilber's Integral, All Quadrant, All Level Model, or AQAL.
Brokeback Mountain and the Geography of Desire
Authors: Tuss Alex J.
Published: May 2007

Annie Proulx's “two-faced landscape” constitutes the geography of Brokeback Mountain on both the physical and emotional levels of Jack Twist and Ennis del Mar's relationship. The bifurcated narrative shifts between the hardscrabble towns of the northern plains and the romanticized, elusive Brokeback Mountain. This division marks Jack and Ennis's relationship, from its unexpected, volatile inception to its tragic, inevitable conclusion since, as Ennis states, “if you can't fix it, you gotta stand it.”
Introduction: The Center for Men's Leadership and Service at Saint John's University
Authors: Kellom Gar E. , Raverty Aaron
Published: May 2007

The Center for Men's Leadership and Service, the first men's center on a liberal arts college campus, was inspired by the connection Saint John's University has with men's studies scholars associated with the American Men's Studies Association (AMSA). The center's mission is to create a safe and respectful place for women and men to explore the masculine condition and to foster research, programs, and publications in the field of men's studies. This issue of The Journal of Men's Studies provides an opportunity to share some of the work done in the center by its many contributors and to highlight the emerging phenomenon of men's centers on college campuses.
Are We Monks, or are We Men? The Monastic Masculine Gender Model According to the Rule of Benedict
Authors: Raverty Aaron
Published: May 2007

This paper poses the question: How can a monk be a man? As a corollary, it asks: Does a monk possess a unique gender status? Heuristic rather than empirical, this paper constructs a type of “thought experiment” in gender definition. The quest is to configure a monastic masculine gender model from the Rule of Benedict (RB), the charter document undergirding Benedictine monasticism, dating from sixth-century CE Italy. Despite cultural definition as males, the paper argues that monks abstain from sexual relations within a broader context of non-normative ascetical practices, making them especially susceptible to gender-variant assignment. This paper finds application today in bridging the gap between the values espoused by the Benedictine monks who sponsor Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and the university's Center for Men's Leadership and Service. It suggests alternative ways of “being a man” in today's world.
Exploring the Constructions of Masculine Identities among St. Lucian Men
Authors: Davis Tracy , Thomas Alvin , Sewalish Christopher
Published: May 2007

Twenty St. Lucian men were interviewed using a constructivist approach aimed at better understanding participants' gender-related development. Emerging themes included a masculine identity intertwined with responsibility and independence, aversion to gay men, gender-related role tension, and the powerful influence of parents and teachers on gender role expectations. Implications from this study support the need to promote healthy development by understanding the powerful gender and cultural dimensions relating to identity formation.
The Saint John's Experience Project: Challenging Men's Perceptions of Normative Gender Role Conflict
Authors: Beatty Adam , Syzdek Matthew , Bakkum Alex
Published: May 2007

This study investigated the relationship between college males' self-reported gender role conflict (GRC) and their perceptions of their peers' GRC. A social norms intervention involving GRC was also tested. Ninety-seven college students completed the Gender Role Conflict Scale (GRCS), a self-report measure, and a modified GRCS that assessed perceptions of peer GRC. The men in the sample significantly overestimated normative GRC in three of the four factors and the GRCS as a whole. Additionally, participants in the intervention more accurately estimated peer GRC and reported lower restrictive emotionality at follow-up. These results support social norms theory and replicate earlier findings. Recommendations are offered for further investigation of the social norms method regarding gender roles.
Examining Productive Conceptions of Masculinities: Lessons Learned from Academically Driven African American Male Student-Athletes
Authors: Martin Brandon E. , Harris Frank
Published: May 2007

Conceptions of masculinities among African American male student athletes are considered in this article. Grounded in the social constructivist perspective and guided by the phenomenological qualitative research tradition, individual interviews were conducted with 27 academically driven African American male student-athletes attending four Division I universities. Findings suggest that the participants embrace a wide range of productive gender-related attitudes and behaviors that are uncommon among male college student-athletes. Implications and recommendations are offered for coaches and university administrators charged with working with African American male student-athletes.
The Elimination of Sexism and Stereotyping in Occupational Education
Authors: Sayman Donna M.
Published: May 2007

This paper examines how sexism and stereotyping in vocational education promote and reinforce gendered occupations. Progressive adult education has been the philosophical foundation for vocational education but has not challenged the strong disparity of the sex role division of occupations. A critical theory of education needs to be implemented in order to break through traditional patriarchal hierarchies. Variables that affect educational and career choice in vocational education are examined. Sex role specific occupations are promoted through social venues and reinforced by gender, race, and class status. Teacher education is a focal area where change must occur. Teacher expectations and teaching styles need to recognize the importance of nontraditional career choices for all students. These expectations must challenge traditional notions of masculinity and femininity.
Creating Culture in the Mythopoetic Men's Movement: An Ethnographic Study of Micro-Level Leadership and Socialization
Authors: Magnuson Eric
Published: May 2007

This paper analyzes the complex interactional processes of cultural interpretation and transmission engaged in within the context of the mythopoetic men's movement. Employing a micro-level but also cultural approach, the study examines the nuances of the process of meaning formation in this contemporary social movement. The ethnographic data shows that the men's movement group leader utilizes his authority and interactional power to develop the cultural identity of the group and to act as a socializing agent to its members. The analysis conceptualizes the leader as a kind of grassroots intellectual, the creative connection between the movement high intellectuals and the local members that constitute the mass of the movement. The leader works to develop a cadre of motivated movement participants who will work toward the goal of what they see as the counter-hegemonic achievement of new forms of masculinity. The detailed empirical examination of key interactional practices within the men's group context suggests new ways of understanding the dynamics through which local leaders work to interpret and transmit meaning on the micro level.
Another Level: Friendships Transcending Geography and Race
Authors: Peterson Timothy J.
Published: May 2007

For more than 20 years men of Another Level have transcended socially constructed boundaries of age (college-age to retired), class (working class to professional), geography (urban and suburban), and race (Black and White) to build mutually supportive friendships through a simple and consistent act of hospitality. Human identities (especially racial identities) are constructed by growing up within a society that creates the perception of impermeable social boundaries between groups of people making open trusting inter-group relationships difficult, temporary and rare, especially among men (Omi & Winant, 1994). This research builds on Allport's (1954) four characteristics of “optimal inter-group contact” of equal status among members, common goals, cooperation and authority based on custom by highlighting the importance of “hanging-out” together. These men seem to be doing something social institutions have failed in providing—a place for building healthy social relationships that transcend racism and nurture a healthy male self-consciousness.
Editor's Welcome
Authors: Groth Miles , Janssen Diederik F.
Published: May 2007

With far too many scholarly journals out there now, why launch yet another? Hurried readers may never recognize what THYMOS is about unless they get past the first word to what follows: Journal of Boyhood Studies. That may happen in quite a few cases at first, but we are convinced that once underway, THYMOS will take its place among the best interdisciplinary journals in English. Boys, we believe, have something to teach us about the body, sexuality, spirituality and the imagination and, for that reason, without wishing to be excessive, we want to emphasize our conviction that the subject matter of THYMOS—boys and boyhood—is central to everyone’s self-understanding as a human being in what will very soon be a thoroughgoing global culture.
BOY
Authors: Janssen Diederik F.
Published: May 2007

This article proposes a linguistic anthropological approach to the notion BOY, drawing attention to diverse research methods including etymology, onomasiology, corpus analysis, semantics, discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, and comparative ethnolinguistics. As a popular and flexible lexical device, BOY may function as an operator on the received nature of manhood (by rendering it contingent on the discourse and narrative of development), but also as a possible aid in its ever-imminent bankruptcy by disengaging its stylistics from essentialist understandings of both gender and life phase. BOY, thus, lies at the heart of discussions about masculinity as it relates to performativity, language, and discourse, but, in important ways, it also exceeds and contests the confinements of gender/masculinity research.
“Has Anyone Seen the Boy?”
Authors: Groth Miles
Published: May 2007

The topic of this article is the psychological meaning and consequences of the repression of a male’s experience of being a boy in the course of his socialization to manhood. Although the eradication of the sense of being a boy is a requirement for attaining manhood in nearly all cultures, the boy remains psychologically alive, although hidden, in the older male. The features of boyhood, why boys often frighten us, and why boys nonetheless enchant both males and females are discussed. An explanation of our ambivalence about boys is found in their anatomy, kinetic physicality, distinctive early experiences with their father, and residual characteristics of the boy’s early relationship with his mother and the feminine. The article concludes with some observations about what a genuine harmonization in a male of the boy with the man might mean for a man’s relations with his father, his sons, other males, and females.
The Meaning of Difference
Authors: Drummond Murray
Published: May 2007

This article is based on in-depth interviews with 14 young gay men aged between 18 and 25 years. Using narratives in a life-historical perspective the young men reflect upon their boyhood and adolescent years to highlight the many and varied issues confronting young gay males during this formative period. While a range of themes will be identified through use of inductive thematic analysis, it is the school environment and the process of schooling that highlights the issues associated with difference that young gay males confront while growing up. Life histories provide a unique method of understanding difference in the lives of individuals. Capturing the essence of meaning of a young gay male’s life (under the age of 18) through consensual research data is difficult due to the ethical dilemmas presented in requiring a parent or guardian to provide the right for participation. Therefore, life histories become even more important where young gay males are concerned in an attempt to understand the issues they confront while growing up gay in a heterosexualized culture.
The Ethics of Hope—A Moral Imperative for Oncologists
Authors: Corn Benjamin W. , Feldman David B.
Published: March 2024

This Viewpoint suggests that giving patients with terminal cancer unrealistic hope based only on cure is ethically inferior to redirecting patients toward noncurative goals and noncancer-related hope.
Treatment of Primary Angle-Closure Suspect
Authors: Costa Vital P. , Asrani Sanjay
Published: March 2024

This article discusses treatment options for suspects of primary angle-closure disease.
The Effects of Various Adhesives on Multiple Types of Quasi‐Static Mechanical Properties of Rectangular and Square Aluminum Hollow Sections Filled with Composite Metal Foam Cores
Authors: Kemény Alexandra , Pados Gábor , Károly Dóra , Orbulov Imre Norbert
Published: March 2024

For composite metal foam structures to be used as load‐bearing and energy‐absorbing elements, comprehensive testing should be done. Therefore, an extensive characterization of foam‐filled structures by various load types, such as axial and lateral compression, as well as three‐point bending, is carried out, aiming to differentiate the behavior of various cross‐sectional geometry foam‐filled hollow sections and the application of a tough epoxy adhesive and a ductile polysiloxane adhesive. Applying the epoxy adhesive improves the overall energy absorption by 10% during axial compression compared to the sum of the foam and empty hollow section. The application of the polysiloxane adhesive over the epoxy one increases the deflection at failure during three‐point bending by an average of 58%. The deformation and strength during axial compression and three‐point bending are hollow section dominated, while the foam core dominates the deformation and the strength during lateral compression for both produce composite foam‐filled hollow sections with epoxy and polysiloxane adhesive bonding.
Flexible and Fully Printed Passive RF Resonators for Contact‐Less Solution Sensing
Authors: Bonacchini Giorgio E. , Omenetto Fiorenzo G.
Published: March 2024

In recent years, several efforts have been dedicated to the development of portable and versatile microwave technologies for contact‐less liquid sensing and characterization. With respect to existing electrochemical and optical approaches, microwave liquid sensors enable high‐sensitivity and label‐free sensing with increased operation stability and robustness, and in relatively simple and inexpensive device formats. Nonetheless, current microwave solution sensing systems are still limited by either their reliance on wired connections to external electronics or by their widespread implementation on conventional rigid substrates. These limitations hinder the seamless integration of such sensors within conventional (micro)fluidic systems for real‐time solution monitoring, particularly when near‐field coupling between the sensors and the liquid under test needs to be established for operation. By leveraging the versatile material deposition capabilities granted by solution‐phase processing, a fully printed and mechanically flexible microwave resonator design is introduced that allows untethered solution sensing whether immersed in or in proximity to the liquid under test. The mechanical properties of this device facilitate the noninvasive/nondestructive integration of the device on commercial tubing. These characteristics, along with its cost‐effectiveness and its ease of fabrication, favor the seamless integration of this device into fluidic and microfluidic systems, for real‐life applications.
A Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on Pendulum‐Rotation Transmission Mechanism for Harvesting Continuous Low‐Frequency Mechanical Energy
Authors: Qu Zhigang , Wang Xiaopeng , Gao Yanzhe , An Yang , Fu Yunkun , Yin Wuliang , Liu Ying , Li Xingfei
Published: March 2024

Harvesting the omnipresent mechanical energy emerges as an essential solution in combating environmental pollution and alleviating energy deficits. However, the ultra‐low frequencies and variable amplitudes of most ambient mechanical energy pose significant challenges to effective energy harvesting. To address this issue, this paper reports an innovative triboelectric nanogenerator based on pendulum‐rotation transmission mechanism (PR‐TENG) designed for efficacious harvesting of continuous low‐frequency mechanical energy. It comprises two synergistic units: a transmission unit and a power‐generating unit. The transmission unit is capable of converting external low‐frequency mechanical excitations into unidirectional rotation. Through an internal speed‐increasing mechanism, the rotational speed of the rotor can be further elevated, thereby enabling the power‐generating unit to produce a frequency‐multiplied output and markedly improving the energy transduction efficiency. The mechanism of triboelectrification employed by the power‐generating unit further reduces the total weight of the device, thus advancing its portability. In addition, the coherent coaxial configuration of the device's components significantly enhances compactness and optimizes spatial efficiency. As a practical power source, the PR‐TENG is shown to be capable of directly powering LEDs. Owing to its distinctive operational mechanism and structural innovation, the PR‐TENG is a promising method to efficiently harvest low‐frequency mechanical energy from the ambient environment.
Clinical duties and compensation for U.S. emergency medicine fellows at academic centers: A descriptive, cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Ulintz Alexander J. , Tyransky Alyssa , Archual Gregory M. , Kadish Chelsea B. , Panchal Ashish R.
Published: March 2024

Objective

Fellowship training is increasingly popular among residency graduates and critical to the advancement of academic emergency medicine (EM). Little is known about the clinical hours worked and financial compensation received by fellows during training. We sought to describe the clinical duties and financial compensation of EM fellows at U.S. academic centers.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study surveyed U.S. academic EM department administrators who were members of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine's Academy of Administrators in Academic Emergency Medicine (AAAEM) regarding their fellowship programs and fellows. We electronically distributed the validated survey instrument to 73 member sites between October 2022 and January 2023. Survey domains included fellow and fellowship demographics, base and total annual clinical hours, and base and total annual compensation. We calculated descriptive statistics and compared fellows by accreditation (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education [ACGME] or non‐ACGME) using chi‐square and Wilcoxon rank‐sum testing. We conducted a secondary analysis of base and total salary by gender and accreditation using Wilcoxon rank‐sum testing.

Results

We received 38 institutional responses (response rate 52%), which represented 217 individual fellows. Nearly three‐fourths (n = 158, 72.8%) of fellows enrolled in non‐ACGME fellowships, worked 33% more base hours annually than ACGME fellows (median 571 h vs. 768 h, p < 0.001), and received base compensation 20% higher than ACGME fellows ($88,540 vs. $70,777, p < 0.001). Accounting for additional compensation, the median total annual compensation for non‐ACGME fellows remained 11% higher than ACGME fellows ($105,000 vs. $93,853, p = 0.004). We observed no significant differences salary when stratified by gender.

Conclusions

Most EM fellows at U.S. academic institutions enrolled in non‐ACGME fellowships with significantly higher base hours and financial compensation than ACGME fellowships. These results represent the first description of the clinical hours and financial compensation of academic EM fellows and should be considered in ongoing benchmarking efforts by AAAEM.
What defines the “value” of robotic surgery for patients with gastrointestinal cancers? Perspectives from a U.S. Cancer Center
Authors: Ikoma Naruhiko
Published: March 2024

The use of robotic surgery has experienced rapid growth across diverse medical conditions, with a notable emphasis on gastrointestinal cancers. The advanced technologies incorporated into robotic surgery platforms have played a pivotal role in enabling the safe performance of complex procedures, including gastrectomy and pancreatectomy, through a minimally invasive approach. However, there exists a noteworthy gap in high‐level evidence demonstrating that robotic surgery for gastric and pancreatic cancers has substantial benefits compared to traditional open or laparoscopic methods. The primary impediment hindering the broader implementation of robotic surgery is its cost. The escalating healthcare expenses in the United States have prompted healthcare providers and payors to explore patient‐centered, value‐based healthcare models and reimbursement systems that embrace cost‐effectiveness. Thus, it is important to determine what defines the value of robotic surgery. It must either maintain or enhance oncological quality and improve complication rates compared to open procedures. Moreover, its true value should be apparent in patients' expedited recovery and improved quality of life. Another essential aspect of robotic surgery's value lies in minimizing or even eliminating opioid use, even after major operations, offering considerable benefits to the broader public health landscape. A quicker return to oncological therapy has the potential to improve overall oncological outcomes, while a speedier return to work not only alleviates individual financial distress but also positively impacts societal productivity. In this article, we comprehensively review and summarize the current landscape of health economics and value‐based care, with a focus on robotic surgery for gastrointestinal cancers.
Laccase‐mediated polymerization of tannins from a pine bark extract: Toward an eco‐friendly valorization of forest wastes
Authors: Vera Myleidi , Silva Carla , Li Nan‐nan , García Yadiris , Jiménez Verónica A. , Urbano Bruno F.
Published: March 2024

The valorization of tannins from forest by‐products is a major opportunity for the sustainable development of the forestry industry. Herein we report the laccase‐mediated polymerization of tannins obtained from an aqueous pine bark extract. The reaction was conducted under an oxygen atmosphere at 50°C for 60 min and followed by UV–Vis, fluorescence intensity, phenol content, and viscosity measurements. An insoluble polymer was obtained after 45 min, which was attributed to coupling reactions triggered by phenoxyl radicals within the tannins mixture. The polymer showed a marked increase in thermal stability compared with the precursor pine bark extract, with a total mass loss of less than 12% at temperatures up to 500°C, suggesting potential practical applications in flame retardant materials. Additionally, the polymer showed an 85% DPPH activity and a 60% attenuation of singlet oxygen release upon light irradiation, which supports antioxidant and photoprotective properties for the prepared material. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to describe the formation of an insoluble polymer by direct enzymatic reaction of an aqueous tannin extract. In this case, soluble tannins are the sole reactants used to produce a promising versatile material for forest waste valorization.
Al2O3/graphene/PVDF‐HFP radiative cooling coating reinforced heat dissipation of BIPV modules
Authors: Zheng Yuqin , Fu Ziyan , Sun Xilian , Zhou Lang , Wei Xiuqin , Zhang Jikui , Xia Wei , Liu Yaokai
Published: March 2024

Building integrated photovoltaic modules, applied to industrial and commercial buildings, generally used metal as the backsheet. In summer, the operating temperature of modules is as high as 70°C, resulting in instability of output power and service life. Therefore, it is very important to reduce the operating temperature of photovoltaic modules. In this work, Al2O3/graphene/poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF‐HFP) composite radiative cooling coatings were prepared and utilized for reinforcing heat dissipation of photovoltaic modules. The results indicate that 0.75 wt%Al2O3/1wt%graphene/PVDF‐HFP composite coating exhibited a thermal diffusivity of 3.24 μm2/s and an average emissivity of 0.94. The maximum temperature drop of the coating in the outer door reached 5.8°C. In addition, a mini photovoltaic module coated with the composite coating achieved the cooling effect of 2.4°C, and the output power and conversion efficiency were increased by 5.8% and 7%, respectively. This demonstrates that the heat conduction radiative cooling coating possesses potential applications for improving the reliability of photovoltaic modules.
Influence of the use of 3D printing technology for teaching chemistry in STEM disciplines
Authors: Trujillo‐Cayado Luis Alfonso , Santos Jenifer , Cordobés Felipe , Ramos‐Payán María
Published: March 2024

Teachers can create engaging learning environments in engineering courses through pedagogical innovation using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Introductory chemistry courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines typically include the study of molecular models and periodic properties, which are inherently visual concepts. Unfortunately, these concepts are often taught using two‐dimensional drawings, although three‐dimensional (3D) printing offers an engaging approach to learning chemistry in these disciplines. Undergraduate engineering students are provided with modelling software and a 3D printer, allowing them to construct 3D models of basic Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion theory shapes using polylactic acid. The results of this research showed that the average score of the students in the control group was lower than that of the students in the 3D technology group. This research has found that the learning curve for modelling and the time required for printing are high, limiting the practical application of this exercise in student laboratory classes. However, in an appropriate environment, 3D printing technology has the potential to be a valuable tool for teaching and learning molecular models and periodic properties of chemistry courses in STEM disciplines.
Split Gp41‐1 intein splicing as a model to evaluate the cellular location of the oncosuppressor Maspin in an in vitro model of osteosarcoma
Authors: Mariano Alessia , Di Cristofano Samuele , Raimondo Domenico , Scotto d'Abusco Anna
Published: March 2024

Inteins are proteins involved in the protein splicing mechanism, an autoprocessing event, where sequences (exteins) separated by inteins become ligated each other after recombination. Two kinds of inteins have been described, contiguous inteins and split inteins. The former ones are transcribed and translated as a single peptide along with their exteins, while the latter are fragmented between two different genes and are transcribed and translated separately. The aim of this study is to establish a method to obtain a fluorescent eukaryotic protein to analyze its cellular localization, using the natural split gp41‐1 inteins. We chose natural split inteins due to their distribution in all three domains of life. Two constructs were prepared, one containing the N‐terminal split intein along with the N‐moiety of the Red Fluorescent Protein (RFP) and a second construct containing the C‐terminal of split intein, the C‐moiety of RFP and the gene coding for Maspin, a tumor suppressor protein. The trans‐splicing was verified by transfecting both N‐terminal and C‐terminal constructs into mammalian cells. The success of the recombination event was highlighted through the fluorescence produced by reconstituted RFP after recombination, along with the overlap of the red fluorescence produced by recombined RFP and the green fluorescence produced by the hybridization of the recombinant Maspin with a specific antibody. In conclusion, we opted to use this mechanism of recombination to obtain a fluorescent Maspin instead to express a large fusion protein, considering that it could interfere with Maspin's structure and function.
A Comparative Study on the Influence of N‐Doped Primary and Secondary Hydrochars on the Electrochemical Performance of Biobased Carbon Electrodes for Energy Storage Application
Authors: Straten Jan Willem , Alhnidi Muhammad‐Jamal , Mustaka Erlir , Alchoumari Ghassan , Jung Dennis , Kruse Andrea
Published: March 2024

The hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) technique and subsequent pyrolysis were applied. Herein, two different types of biobased feedstocks, sucrose (Suc) and Miscanthus (Mis), were chosen. Urea served as N precursor for the in situ doping. HTC of Suc and Mis with urea leads to N‐doped hydrochars (N‐HCs). Suc and Mis decompose in different, complex degradation pathways, which leads to the emergence of N‐HCs consisting of distinct ratios of N‐containing primary chars (N‐PCs) and secondary chars (N‐SCs). After pyrolysis, maximum N contents of 5.6 wt % and 4.8 wt % of the N‐doped pyrolyzed hydrochar (N‐PHC) electrodes from Suc and Mis, respectively were reached. The role of PC and SC formation on the impact of N‐doping in the context of physicochemical properties of the N‐PHCs was compared with each other. In this study, they were tested with respect to the influence of N‐PCs and N‐SCs on their electrochemical performance in energy storage application. It turned out that the electrical conductivity (EC) and specific capacitances increased. Highest EC value of 129.1 S ⋅ cm−1 was obtained with N‐PHC based on Suc. Simultaneously, enhanced average specific capacitances of 47.0 F ⋅ g−1 at 5 mV ⋅ s−1 and 3.5 F ⋅ g−1 at 100 mV ⋅ s−1 are ascertained with N‐PHCs from Suc and Mis, respectively.
One‐Pot Synthesis of Rh Nanoparticles in Polycationic‐Shell, Triphenylphosphine Oxide‐Functionalized Core‐Crosslinked Micelles for Aqueous Biphasic Hydrogenation
Authors: Abou‐Fayssal Chantal J. , Schill Leonhard , Poli Rinaldo , Manoury Eric , Philippot Karine , Riisager Anders
Published: March 2024

Cationic‐shell core‐crosslinked micelles (CCM−C) with rhodium nanoparticles (RhNPs) anchored to core‐linked triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO) ligands were synthesized by a facile one‐pot approach by the reduction of [Rh(COD)(μ‐Cl)]2/toluene in the presence of an aqueous TPPO@CCM−C latex. The resulting RhNP‐TPPO@CCM−C latex showed to be performant for the aqueous biphasic hydrogenation of styrene with an average corrected turnover frequency (cTOF) up to 23600 h−1 based on the RhNP surface atoms. The catalyst system also proved reusable in multiple catalytic runs without any visible RhNP loss during the recycling process as well as applicable to the hydrogenation of other selected alkenes, alkynes and carbonyl substrates (average cTOF of 1000–3200 h−1), thus demonstrating a high versatility.
Development of Biocompatible Cu(I)‐Microdevices for Bioorthogonal Uncaging and Click Reactions
Authors: van de L'Isle Melissa , Croke Stephen , Valero Teresa , Unciti‐Broceta Asier
Published: March 2024

Transition‐metal‐catalyzed bioorthogonal reactions emerged a decade ago as a novel strategy to implement spatiotemporal control over enzymatic functions and pharmacological interventions. The use of this methodology in experimental therapy is driven by the ambition of improving the tolerability and PK properties of clinically‐used therapeutic agents. The preclinical potential of bioorthogonal catalysis has been validated in vitro and in vivo with the in situ generation of a broad range of drugs, including cytotoxic agents, anti‐inflammatory drugs and anxiolytics. In this article, we report our investigations towards the preparation of solid‐supported Cu(I)‐microdevices and their application in bioorthogonal uncaging and click reactions. A range of ligand‐functionalized polymeric devices and off‐on Cu(I)‐sensitive sensors were developed and tested under conditions compatible with life. Last, we present a preliminary exploration of their use for the synthesis of PROTACs through CuAAC assembly of two heterofunctional mating units.
An in silico analysis of neuromodulation for pain relief: Determining the role of classical electrodynamics
Authors: Cornish Philip , Humphrey Nabil , Cornish Anne , Emmerson R. Branden
Published: March 2024

There has been ongoing debate about the efficacy and mechanism of action of neuromodulation devices in pain relief applications. It has recently been suggested that both issues may be resolved if electromagnetic theory is incorporated into the understanding and application of this technology, and we therefore undertook an in silico analysis to further explore this idea. We created a CAD replication of a standard neuromodulation electrode array with a generic linear 3/6 mm 8‐contact lead, developed a parameterized algorithmic model for the pulse delivered by the device and assigned material properties to biologic media to accurately reflect their electromagnetic properties. We then created a physical simulation of the device's output both in air and in the biophysical environment. The simulations confirmed the presence of an electromagnetic field (EM field). Variations in programming of the device affected the strength of the EM field by orders of magnitude. The biologic media all absorbed the EM field, an effect which was particularly pronounced in cerebrospinal fluid and muscle. We discuss the implications of all these findings in relation to the literature. We suggest that knowledge of electromagnetic theory and its application within the biophysical space is required for the optimal use of neuromodulation devices in pain relief applications.
Advances in the Dynamics of Adsorbate Diffusion on Metal Surfaces: Focus on Hydrogen and Oxygen
Authors: Gu Kaixuan , Lin Sen
Published: March 2024

Adsorbates on metal surfaces are typically formed from the dissociative chemisorption of molecules occurring at gas‐solid interfaces. These adsorbed species exhibit unique diffusion behaviors on metal surfaces, which are influenced by their translational energy. They play crucial roles in various fields, including heterogeneous catalysis and corrosion. This review examines recent theoretical advancements in understanding the diffusion dynamics of adsorbates on metal surfaces, with a specific emphasis on hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The diffusion processes of adsorbates on metal surfaces involve two energy transfer mechanisms: surface phonons and electron‐hole pair excitations. This review also surveys new theoretical methods, including the characterization of the electron‐hole pair excitation within electronic friction models, the acceleration of quantum chemistry calculations through machine learning, and the treatment of atomic nuclear motion from both quantum mechanical and classical perspectives. Furthermore, this review offers valuable insights into how energy transfer, nuclear quantum effects, supercell sizes, and the topography of potential energy surfaces impact the diffusion behavior of hydrogen and oxygen species on metal surfaces. Lastly, some preliminary research proposals are presented.
A case of acute obstructive suppurative pancreatic ductitis complicated with acute cholangitis diagnosed only after the removal of a pancreatic duct stent
Authors: Oura Hirotaka , Sugiyama Harutoshi , Nishino Takayoshi
Published: March 2024

Acute obstructive suppurative pancreatic ductitis (AOSPD) is a rare complication of chronic pancreatitis that presents with high fever and abdominal pain. A 63‐year‐old man underwent plastic bile duct stent and plastic pancreatic duct stent (PDS) placement for benign stricture in the intrapancreatic bile and pancreatic ducts associated with chronic pancreatitis; the stents were routinely replaced. Seven months after the last replacement, the patient presented to our hospital with dark urine but without fever or abdominal pain. Subsequent blood tests revealed elevated levels of hepatobiliary enzymes, white blood cells, and C‐reactive protein. However, the pancreatic enzyme levels remained unchanged, and abdominal computed tomography showed the absence of inflammation around the pancreas. He was initially diagnosed with acute cholangitis (AC) due to bile duct stent dysfunction and subsequently underwent emergency endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. As obstruction of the PDS was suspected, both bile duct stent and PDS were replaced. Although the collected bile did not exhibit purulence, a white purulent fluid was released after replacing the PDS. Cultures from the bile and pancreatic exudates revealed the presence of Klebsiella oxytoca. Consequently, the patient was diagnosed with AOSPD and AC. In this patient, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was performed after the diagnosis of AC alone; however, relying solely on AC treatment might not have ameliorated the patient's condition. The patient did not complain of any abdominal pain and was diagnosed with AOSPD only after the replacement of his PDS. Our case suggests that AOSPD may be a pitfall in the identification of the source of inflammation in patients with chronic pancreatitis.
Analysis of the serum levels of RIP3 and Drp1 in patients with heart failure
Authors: Jarabicová Izabela , Horváth Csaba , Chudý Martin , Goncalvesová Eva , Adameová Adriana
Published: March 2024

Aims

As necroptosis involving receptor‐interacting protein kinase 3 (RIP3) and dynamin‐related protein 1 (Drp1)‐mediated signalling is a crucial mechanism of cell loss in heart failure (HF), we aimed to determine the potential diagnostic use of these molecules.

Methods and results

The serum samples of the healthy subjects (n = 8) and patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (n = 31), being subdivided according to the aetiology and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, were used to measure RIP3 and Drp1 levels by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Although the serum levels of Drp1 in the patients with HF were comparable with those seen in healthy individuals, we found a trend of increase in the levels of RIP3 (P = 0.0697) in the diseased group. These changes were unlikely dependent on the HF aetiology or NYHA class. The circulating RIP3 correlated with neither the main parameters assessing cardiac function (left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter, and N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide) nor the marker of inflammation (C‐reactive protein).

Conclusions

In this pilot study, findings on serum RIP3 supported the importance of necroptosis in HF pathomechanisms. The potential diagnostic use of circulating RIP3, unlike Drp1, as an additional biomarker of HF has also been indicated; however, further large studies are needed to prove this concept.