bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relative telomere length impact on mortality of COVID‐19: Sex differences
Authors: Virseda‐Berdices Ana , Concostrina‐Martinez Leyre , Martínez‐González Oscar , Blancas Rafael , Resino Salvador , Ryan Pablo , Martin‐Vicente María , Brochado‐Kith Oscar , Blanca‐López Natalia , Mallol Poyato María J. , López Matamala Blanca , Martín Parra Carmen , Jiménez‐Sousa María Á , Fernández‐Rodríguez Amanda
Published: December 2022

Increasing age is associated with severity and higher mortality of COVID‐19. Telomere shortening is associated with higher risk of infections and may be used to identify those patients who are more likely to die. We evaluated the association between relative telomere length (RTL) and COVID‐19 mortality. RTL was measured in patients hospitalized because of COVID‐19. We used Kaplan–Meier method to analyze survival probabilities, and Cox regression to investigate the association between RTL and mortality (30 and 90 days). Six hundred and eight patients were included in the analysis (mean age =72.5 years, 41.1% women, and 53.8% Caucasic). During the study period, 75 people died from COVID‐19 and 533 survived. Lower RTL was associated with a higher risk of death in women either at 30 (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] (aHR) = 3.33; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05–10.00; p = 0.040) and at 90 days (aHR = 3.57; 95%CI = 1.23–11.11; p = 0.019). Lower RTL was associated with a higher risk of dying of COVID‐19 in women. This finding suggests that RTL has an essential role in the prognosis of this subset of the population.
Temperature‐Sensitive Dual Dispersive Wave Generation of Higher‐Order Modes in Liquid‐Core Fibers
Authors: Scheibinger Ramona , Hofmann Johannes , Schaarschmidt Kay , Chemnitz Mario , Schmidt Markus A.
Published: December 2022

The emission of resonant radiation from temporal solitary waves—also known as dispersive wave generation—allows efficient energy transfer to far‐distant spectral domains. This coherent radiation can deliver large spectral densities at selected wavelengths once control over the individual soliton is achieved. Here, the concepts of few‐mode operation and local temperature tuning are combined for precise steering of cascaded dispersive wave generation in liquid‐core optical fibers. By exciting higher‐order TM and TE modes with femtosecond pulses at 1600 nm, the generation of two dispersive waves tunable by up to 33 nm K−1 through adjusting a selected part of the waveguide is observed. Sophisticated soliton‐driven nonlinear dynamics arising from thermally transitioning from anomalous to all‐normal dispersion with temperature changes of only a few Kelvin have been found, including soliton steering, soliton breakdown, and soliton post‐fission tuning. All experimental results are verified by nonlinear simulations and semi‐analytic phase‐matching calculations, overall providing a cost‐effective and practical toolbox for discovering unexplored states of light as well as for developing dynamically tunable broadband light sources.
Device‐System End‐to‐End Design of Photonic Neuromorphic Processor Using Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Tang Yingheng , Zamani Princess Tara , Chen Ruiyang , Ma Jianzhu , Qi Minghao , Yu Cunxi , Gao Weilu
Published: December 2022

The incorporation of high‐performance optoelectronic devices into photonic neuromorphic processors can substantially accelerate computationally intensive matrix multiplication operations in machine learning (ML) algorithms. However, the conventional designs of individual devices and system are largely disconnected, and the system optimization is limited to the manual exploration of a small design space. Here, a device‐system end‐to‐end design methodology is reported to optimize a free‐space optical general matrix multiplication (GEMM) hardware accelerator by engineering a spatially reconfigurable array made from chalcogenide phase change materials. With a highly parallelized integrated hardware emulator with experimental information, the design of unit device to directly optimize GEMM calculation accuracy is achieved by exploring a large parameter space through reinforcement learning algorithms, including deep Q‐learning neural network, Bayesian optimization, and their cascaded approach. The algorithm‐generated physical quantities show a clear correlation between system performance metrics and device specifications. Furthermore, physics‐aware training approaches are employed to deploy optimized hardware to the tasks of image classification, materials discovery, and a closed‐loop design of optical ML accelerators. The demonstrated framework offers insights into the end‐to‐end and co‐design of optoelectronic devices and systems with reduced human supervision and domain knowledge barriers.
A story to sell: The influence of storytelling on consumers' purchasing behavior
Authors: Júnior João Ricardo de Oliveira , Limongi Ricardo , Lim Weng Marc , Eastman Jacqueline K. , Kumar Satish
Published: December 2022

Storytelling can arouse consumers' emotions and affect purchasing behavior through desires and attitudes. While the marketing literature discusses storytelling, there is a lack of consensus because of the diverse conceptual and operational definitions used. To untangle the complexities and consolidate the fragmented knowledge about storytelling in marketing, this research examines how the marketing literature has addressed the influence of storytelling on consumers' purchasing behavior. The findings aid in understanding how the topic has been discussed from a marketing perspective in consumer behavior studies. Through a systematic literature review using a bibliometric analysis, we demonstrate that the marketing literature features four strands about the uses of storytelling to influence consumers' purchasing behavior. First, storytelling stimulates the consumer's identification with the brand. Second, storytelling allows consumers to experience emotional value. Third, storytelling supports engagement behaviors. Finally, storytelling has a downside in that it also propagates harmful speech. This study concludes with a roadmap for future research about how storytelling impacts consumers' purchasing behavior.
Allergenicity and IgE Recognition of New Dau c 1 Allergens from Carrot
Authors: Hendrich Julian M. , Wangorsch Andrea , Rödel Katharina , Jacob Thessa , Mahler Vera , Wöhrl Birgitta M.
Published: December 2022

Scope

Carrot (Daucus carota) allergy is caused by the major carrot allergen Dau c 1, which is a mixture of several isoallergens and variants with sequence identities of >67% or >90%, respectively. However, little is known about the qualitative and quantitative composition of natural Dau c 1.

Methods and results

Mass spectrometry of isolated natural Dau c 1 reveals the existence of several yet unknown Dau c 1‐like proteins. The study expresses four Dau c 1‐like proteins in Escherichia coli. Two of the purified proteins, designated Dau c 1.0501 and 1.0601, exhibit sequence identities to Dau c 1.0101 and 1.0401 between 54% and 87%. They possess allergenic potential and are accepted as new isoallergens. One protein, designated as Dau c 1‐like is >50% identical with the new isoallergens but exhibits no allergenicity. Sequence and structural comparisons of this protein with the known Dau c 1 isoallergens offer relevant clues about putative structural IgE epitopes.

Conclusion

Identification of new isoallergens and the identification of IgE epitopes may contribute to a more refined component resolved diagnosis and may lay ground for further epitope mapping and personalized targeted treatment approaches of carrot allergy in preclinical and clinical studies.
Mild and Rapid Light‐Driven Suzuki‐Miyaura Reactions Catalyzed by AuPd Nanoparticles in Water at Room Temperature
Authors: Nazar de Souza Ana Paula , de Souza Tomaso Luiz Phelipe , S. da Silva Vitor Alexandre , S. da Silva Gabriel Francisco , Santos Evelyn C. S. , de S. Baêta Eustáquio , Brant de Campos José , Carvalho Nakédia M. F. , Malta Luiz Fernando B. , Senra Jaqueline D.
Published: December 2022

Organic reactions carried out in water under mild conditions are state‐of‐the‐art in terms of environmentally benign chemical processes. In this direction, plasmonic catalysis can aid in accomplishing such tasks. In the present work, cyclodextrin‐mediated AuPd bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) were applied in room‐temperature aqueous Suzuki‐Miyaura reactions aiming at preparing biaryl products based on fluorene, isatin, benzimidazole and resorcinol, with yields of 77 % up to 95 %. AuPd NPs were revealed to be a physical mixture of Au and Pd particles circa 20 and 2 nm, respectively, through X‐ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, UV‐Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses.
Craft a job better, recover better? The roles of work–nonwork conflict and work demands
Authors: Shi Yanwei , Su Jingxuan , Zhang Nan , Ma Hongyu
Published: December 2022

Based on the conservation of resources theory, this two‐wave study investigated the mediating role of work–nonwork conflict in the relationship between job crafting and employee recovery experience and examined the moderating role of work demands in this relationship. Participants were 486 employees (39.3% male and 60.7% female) from a medical company in the central region of China who responded to a paper‐and‐pencil survey twice with a 1‐month interval. Regression‐based results indicated that job crafting positively predicted recovery experience after work through lower work–nonwork conflict. Furthermore, the association between job crafting and work–nonwork conflict was moderated by work demands, such that the effect was stronger for employees with higher work demands. The present study explains how job crafting may improve employees' after‐work recovery experience and addresses whether this process could be more significant for employees with higher work demands. The conclusion has practical implications for improving employee recovery experience.
Reduced neural tracking of speech linguistic structures in children
Authors: Kong Lingzhi , Wang Mengying , Wu Danni , Lu Lingxi
Published: December 2022

The adult brain can efficiently track both lower‐level (i.e., syllable) and higher‐level (i.e., phrase) linguistic structures to comprehend speech. When children actively or passively listened to speech, we found robust neural tracking of syllabic structure but marginally significant tracking of phrasal structure.
Response surface optimization and finite element homogenization study of the effective elastic modulus and electrical conductivity of MXene‐polypyrrole hybrid nanocomposite as electrode material for electronic energy storage devices
Authors: Ezika Anthony Chidi , Sadiku Emmanuel Rotimi , Adekoya Gbolahan Joseph , Hamam Yskandar , Sinha Ray Suprakas
Published: December 2022

Electrical energy storage devices are crucial for energy storage and distribution purposes. MXene (MX), a 2D material, and conductive organic polymers, such as polypyrrole (PPy), have been widely used as electrode material in electronic energy storage devices. This work calculated the elastic modulus and the electrical conductivity of a MX/PPy nanocomposite electrode using a finite element model. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the electrical conductivity and elastic modulus response variables based on the finite element (FE) simulation findings. By assigning appropriate weights to these response factors in the optimization technique, the impacts of mass fraction and aspect ratio (AR) of MX inclusion on the electrical conductivity values and elastic modulus of the electrode were analyzed. When compared to the experimental findings, the results demonstrated that the suggested finite element model could provide a satisfactory estimate of the electrical conductivity and elastic modulus of the electrodes made of MX and PPy. However, these response variables might be optimized by using the response surface approach. Therefore, when RSM was employed, both electrical conductivity and Youngs modulus could be adjusted to close to their respective maximum optimal values, with a predicted electrical conductivity of 474.33 S/m and an elastic modulus of 3.24 GPa, at 50% mass fraction of the MX and the AR of 0.2. Based on these results, if a MX/PPy nanocomposite electrode could be built to achieve this modulus and electrical conductivity, such electrode would be a viable material for metal‐ion batteries.
Children in poverty: Time for action to address rising inequalities in the United Kingdom
Authors: Hayre Jatinder , Pollock Allyson M.
Published: December 2022

Children have been disproportionately affected by the response to COVID‐19 despite having a negligible risk of morbidity and mortality. Moreover, the response to COVID‐19 has magnified the inequalities generated by the decade‐long austerity regime imposed by the coalition, and current government. The numbers of children living in poverty are rising: some 30% of children, amounting to over four million children, are living in relative poverty in the United Kingdom. Poverty will deepen due to rising levels of unemployment, and with 25% of private sector workers experiencing a reduction in hours, this will disproportionately affect families with young children. The stage is set for deepening and more entrenched inequalities, superimposed on the pre‐existing inequalities of austerity. A comprehensive and radical set of policies is needed to address this and will require full government commitment at the highest level.
Is affordable housing a pro‐poor policy? Evidence from a prominent housing policy in Iran
Authors: Ghazaie Mohammad , Rafieian Mojtaba
Published: December 2022

This paper examines if affordable housing as a representative of planning serves the pro‐poor policies or is used as a means against the poor. To this aim, Mehr housing, as the most significant and costly affordable housing planning practice in Iran, is studied by conducting a comprehensive review of 65 different related studies and using data‐driven coding, with results compared with other contexts. Findings are classified into four main categories entitled “production and reproduction of poverty,” “money participates rather than individuals,” “the construction of shelters rather than residential environment,” and “unsustainable affordable housing developments.” Considering the relationships between categories and comparing them with experiences in other contexts indicate that affordable housing planning serves as an anti‐pro‐poor policy using the poor as means, not ends, for the salvation of state and/or society. This process ended in sweeping the poor into formal informalities. Reorientation of power and relying on local settings are pathways for planning to serve pro‐poor policies.
Capturing experimental properties in computationally efficient faceted titania nanoparticle models
Authors: Repa Gil M. , Fredin Lisa A.
Published: December 2022

Understanding the surface chemistry of nanostructured has long been a priority to improve photochemical device efficiency. Faceted nanoparticles, characterized by known facets not at thermodynamically ideal ratios, are particularly challenging to model due to the large number of chemical and computational parameters that must be chosen for which there is no experimental guidance. This research supplies a modeling framework for faceted nanoparticles that provides rationale for such decisions. By performing full density‐functional theory optimization and characterization on a series of inter‐related anatase nanoparticles displaying {101}, (001), and {010} facets with sizes up to 202 units, parameter space is mapped with regard to particle size, shape, defects, and optimization protocol. Specifically, it is shown that pre‐optimization is necessary in order to achieve a sufficiently delocalized electronic structure, and the increased reorganization afforded by removing higher coordinated Ti atoms compensates the high formation energy of creating these defects. Furthermore, by characterizing differently shaped nanoparticles with the same number of units, this research provides direct observation of shape effects on nanoparticles.
In situ slip estimation for mobile robots in outdoor environments
Authors: Nourizadeh Payam , Stevens McFadden Fiona J. , Browne Will N.
Published: December 2022

Accounting for wheel–terrain interaction is crucial for navigation and traction control of mobile robots in outdoor environments and rough terrains. Wheel slip is one of the surface hazards that needs to be detected to mitigate against the risk of losing the robot's controllability or mission failure occurring. The open problems in the Terramechanics field addressed are (1) the need for in situ wheel‐slippage estimation in harsh environments using low‐cost/power and easy to integrate sensors, and (2) removing the need for prior information of the soil, which is not always available. This paper presents a novel slip estimation method that utilizes only two proprioceptive sensors (IMU and wheel encoder) to estimate the wheel slip using deep learning methods. It is experimentally shown to be real‐world feasible in outdoor, uneven terrains without prior soil information assumptions. Comparison with previously used machine learning algorithms for continuous and discrete slip estimation problems show more than 9% and 14% improvement in estimation performance, respectively.
Monolith soil core sampling to develop nitrate testing protocol for manure injection
Authors: Meinen Robert J. , Beegle Douglas B. , Vishwanath Siddharth , Kleinman Peter J. A. , Saporito Louis S. , Spargo John , Karsten Heather , Dillon Justin
Published: December 2022

Injecting manure and commercial fertilizer beneath the soil surface is an important nutrient management practice that conserves ammonia‐nitrogen (N) but creates distinct bands of N below the soil surface. To date, no widely accepted soil nitrate sampling protocol has been developed to account for the extreme heterogeneity created by injection. To develop sampling recommendations for Pre‐Sidedress Nitrate Test (PSNT), we quantified patterns of NO3−‐N concentrations in soil of corn (Zea mays L.) plots injected with liquid dairy cattle (Bos taurus L.) manure at 76 cm spacing over 2 years. Soil monoliths were collected to allow precise sampling of 30 cm deep by 2.5 cm soil cores from which a mid‐season PSNT was determined. Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to simulate the effects of alternative soil sampling protocols on bias and error. Results from the simulation support the following equispaced sampling protocol: five, 30‐cm deep soil cores are spaced 15 cm apart and oriented in a line perpendicular to the injected manure bands, collected at four locations in the field, to produce a single composite of 20 samples for NO3− analysis. It is not necessary to know manure band location. As spatially discrete manure application patterns become more prevalent with the expansion of manure injection, we believe this PSNT sampling protocol balances risk of error with practical concerns needed to promote adoption.
Simplicial depth and its median: Selected properties and limitations
Authors: Nagy Stanislav
Published: December 2022

Depth functions are important tools of nonparametric statistics that extend orderings, ranks, and quantiles to the setup of multivariate data. We revisit the classical definition of the simplicial depth and explore its theoretical properties when evaluated with respect to datasets or measures that do not necessarily possess a symmetric density. Recent advances from discrete geometry are used to refine the results about the robustness and continuity of the simplicial depth and its induced multivariate median. Further, we compute the exact simplicial depth in several scenarios and point out some undesirable behavior: (i) the simplicial depth does not have to be maximized at the center of symmetry of the distribution, (ii) it is not necessarily unimodal, and can possess local extremes, and (iii) the sets of the induced multivariate medians or other central regions do not have to be connected.
Fabrication and Characterization of Heterogeneous Sheet‐like Mesoporous Cu3(PO4)2⋅3H2O Catalysts and Selective Catalytic Oxidation of Styrene
Authors: Pan Lingling , Song Chunlei , Wang Jin , Sun Junduo , Zhou Shijian , Kong Yan
Published: December 2022

In this work, without template and additives, sheet‐like mesoporous Cu3(PO4)2 ⋅ 3H2O was successfully used to create by a simple solvothermal method. XRD, FT‐IR, BET and SEM methods were used to characterize the structure and properties of the samples that were produced. The results revealed that the stacked mesoporous structure of the target sheet‐like product was well‐formed, and the pore diameter was centered at 3.17 nm. In addition, the sheet‐like mesoporous Cu3(PO4)2 ⋅ 3H2O shows excellent ability to improve the yield of styrene oxide by the research of solvents, catalyst dosage, molar ratio of styrene/TBHP, the reaction temperature and the reaction time in the reaction system. Thus, when the solvent was acetonitrile, the catalyst dosage was 10 mg, the molar ratio of styrene/TBHP was 1 : 4, the reaction temperature was 80 °C, and the reaction time was 8 h, the yield of styrene was 74.7 % and the conversion of styrene was 96.7 %, demonstrating that styrene oxide and benzaldehyde were the major products of the process. The cyclic stability of the catalyst was further assessed, and implied that the catalytic activity, selectivity, and the catalyst‘s properties fails to change significantly after five cycles, which further indicates the superior stability of the catalyst.
Nickel‐Catalyzed Multicomponent Reactions: An Overview
Authors: Nathaniel Chennattuparambil Roy , Dhanya Raju , Saranya Padinjare Veettil , Anilkumar Gopinathan
Published: December 2022

Multicomponent reactions have received a lot of attention as a potential method for the synthesis of a wide range of complex organic molecules. Rapid development is being made in this field because of its importance in the chemical, pharmaceutical, biological, and industrial areas. Nickel is a versatile catalyst that can be used in a variety of synthetic transformations. In this review, we discuss the advancements in the field of Nickel‐catalyzed multicomponent reactions, covering the literature up to 2021.
Modified basicity from ZnO‐CaO synergy for the synthesis of oxamide
Authors: Shang Baobao , Qiao Luyang , Zhou Zhangfeng , Zong Shanshan , Qin Yeyan , Yao Yuangen
Published: December 2022

Composite ZnO‐CaO catalysts with different Zn/Ca molar ratios were investigated, and the ZnCa‐0.25 (Zn/Ca=0.25) catalyst showed excellent catalytic performance on the aminolysis reaction of dimethyl oxalate for oxamide (OA) synthesis. The physicochemical properties of the catalyst were investigated by XRD, Raman, SEM, STEM, XPS, CO2‐TPD, UV‐vis diffuse reflectance. The results indicated that strong basic sites created by ZnO‐CaO synergy could promote the aminolysis of dimethyl oxalate (DMO). Upper moved valence band top in the ZnCa‐0.25 suggested feasible electron transition in basic sites, which endowed catalyst stronger ability on the electron donor at the active site had a stronger effect on the activation of reactants at the ZnO‐CaO interface, thus led to a remarkable OA yield of 97.6 %.
Alcohol‐based Hand Sanitizers amid COVID‐19: Chemical Formulation, Analysis, Safety
Authors: Islam Monarul , Shahin Ahmed Khondoker , Karim Rezaul , Nath Bikash Dev , Prosad Moulick Shyama , Islam Rashedul , Mahmudul Hassan Sharkar Md. , Hossain Hemayet , Moniruzzaman Mohammad , Jahan M. Sarwar , Ali Shaikh Aftab , Georghiou Paris E.
Published: December 2022

Alcohol‐based hand sanitizers (ABHSs) containing ethanol (EtOH) or isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to inactivate microorganisms help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases. These products have become very popular during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Apart from vaccines or other preventative antiseptic measures, the majority of consumers have relied on different types of ABHSs to disinfect their hands. As a result, there has been a global rush in the demand for these ABHSs and other antiseptic hygiene products. This has resulted in the formation of many new commercial sanitizer producers. There are around fifty companies of varying sizes that have been marketing their ABHSs in Bangladesh, most of which have only been manufacturing their products for the first time since the COVID‐19 pandemic. To monitor the quality and components of these products, the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) analyzed approximately 200 different hand sanitizer samples using GC‐FID method. All samples were alcohol‐based except for 3 which were alcohol‐free aqueous hand sanitizers. Of the supplied formulated ABHSs, 80 samples were found to contain only IPA and 54 contained only EtOH. However, 28 samples were found to be contaminated with methanol (MeOH), 7 samples contained only MeOH and 18 samples contained both EtOH and IPA. This is the first study to explore the analysis of alcohol content in formulated ABHSs and their marketing status in Bangladesh, but the findings could be of use in other jurisdictions as similar issues have been raised in many parts of the world.
TiCl4‐Mediated Dealkylative Cyclization of Arylidene‐azol‐ones
Authors: Zaitseva Elvira R. , Ivanov Dmitrii S. , Sokolov Anatolii I. , Mikhaylov Andrey A. , Baleeva Nadezhda S. , Korlyukov Alexander A. , Myasnyanko Ivan N. , Smirnov Alexander Y. , Baranov Mikhail S.
Published: December 2022

A new general approach for the synthesis of azolo[4,5‐b]quinolines via dealkylative TiCl4‐mediated cyclization of 2‐dialkylamino‐arylidene‐azol‐ones upon heating in dichloroethane is found. The reaction scope and limitations are established, showing that at least two different heterocyclic cores could be obtained. Dozen products were obtained in moderate to good yields (22–64 %).
Synthesis of MCM‐41@SO3H‐Polymixin B Nanocomposite for Extraction and Determination of Lipopolysaccharide from Aqueous Solutions using Taguchi Fractional Factorial Design
Authors: Hedayati Ch Mojtaba , Mehmandoost Du Edris , Golshekan Mostafa , Mojtahedi Ali , Mobayen Mohammadreza
Published: December 2022

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a component of Gram‐negative bacteria‘s outer membrane that, when released into aqueous solutions, can have devastating consequences for human health. In this study, sulfonic acid‐functionalized mesoporous silica nanocomposites bound to polymixin‐B was synthesized and their functionality to absorb the bacterial LPS from human serum was investigated. Briefly, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from burn wounds and its LPS was extracted. Then, Mesoporous MCM‐41 nanocomposites were fabricated and functionalized with the sulfonic acid groups. Finally, nanocomposites were used to extract LPS from human serum and statistical data were analyzed using the Taguchi method. Extraction of bacterial LPS with a modified method, optimization of factors affecting the extraction of endotoxin using Taguchi method, introduction of new nano‐composites with nanometer pores and obtaining results with 96 % effectiveness in removing LPS in LAL and MTT tests were the most important findings. The obtained calibration curve was linear in the ranges of 1–300 μg L‐1 with reasonable linearity (r2>0.998). The limit of detection (LOD) based on S/N=3 was 0.03 μg L‐1 for 10 mL sample volumes.
Mild and Efficient Reductive N,N‐Dimethylation of Amines by Using 1,3‐Dimethylimidazole‐2‐ylidene Borane (diMe‐Imd‐BH3)
Authors: Haque Muhammad Zeeshan Ul , Hashmi Imran Ali , Qureshi Muhammad Taha , Bari Ahmad , Musharraf Syed Ghulam , Ali Firdous Imran
Published: December 2022

Herein, we report a new, simple, one pot and chemoselective method for N‐methylation and N,N‐dimethylation of aliphatic and aromatic amines under ambient conditions using NHC‐borane i.e 1,3‐dimethylimidazole‐2‐ylidene borane (diMe‐Imd‐BH3), as reducing agent. The present strategy has significant advantages like mild reaction conditions, quick and effortless work‐up processes, and the use of non‐toxic inexpensive reagents. The amines with acid‐sensitive moieties are also methylated successfully.
Green Synthesis of Gelatin‐Lipid Nanocarriers Incorporating Berberis aristata Extract for Cancer Therapy; Physical Characterization, Pharmacological and Molecular Modeling Analysis
Authors: Zaib Sumera , Saeed Shah Hamid , Usman Faisal , Shahzadi Kiran , Mazhar Asjad Hafiz , Khan Riffat , Dera Ayed A. , Adel Pashameah Rami , Alzahrani Eman , Farouk Abd‐ElAziem , Khan Imtiaz
Published: December 2022

Cancer remains strongly associated with morbidity and lethality posing a massive challenge to public health from decades. Thus, new interventions, effective and meaningful therapeutic approaches towards the treatment of cancer are urgently required. In this regard, nanotechnology offers an efficacious pharmacological application towards anticancer therapy. Therefore, the current study was aimed to develop Berberis aristata aqueous extract loaded gelatin lipid‐nanocarriers to explore their in vitro and in vivo antitumor properties. The extract loaded gelatin lipid nanoparticles were formulated by using double emulsion solvent evaporation method and physical characterization was performed using various techniques. Hydrodynamic diameter, zeta potential and polydispersity index (PDI) of GLN‐BA were observed as 322±7 nm, −31.49±4.85 mV and 0.397±0.102 mV, respectively. The extract was efficiently entrapped within the GLN (EE=79±11 %) and follow the diffusion type release mechanism. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated the spherical shaped smooth morphology of nanospheres. In vitro anticancer activity of GLN‐BA was performed by SRB assay and shown to demonstrate effective cytotoxicity (IC50=4.73±2.95 μg/mL) against MCF‐7 which was further quantitatively and qualitatively verified by flow cytometry, genotoxicity and DAPI staining. Induction of apoptotic bodies provides the evidence for apoptosis mediated cytotoxicity. Further, in vivo analysis on female mice was carried out to corroborate anticancer activity and was comparable to cisplatin. At 10th day, the GLN‐BA (10 mg/kg) prominently reduced the tumor volume to 35±11 % in consistent with cisplatin (3 mg/kg) which exhibited 41±5 % reduction. Moreover, molecular modeling analysis substantiates the stable nanoformulation encapsulating the BA bioactive constituent. Taken together, current findings supported the therapeutic effectiveness of BA encapsulated gelatin lipid nanoparticles towards breast cancer suggesting the use of medicinal plant as a prototype to treat tumor.
Research Progress on the Synthesis of Different Types of Gemini Surfactants with a Functionalized Hydrophobic Moiety and Spacer
Authors: Gyani Devi Yumnam , Koya Pulikkal Ajmal , Gurung Jackson
Published: December 2022

Gemini surfactants are advantageous over conventional surfactants as they find applications as antimicrobial agents, corrosion inhibitors, enhanced oil recovery, capping agents for nanoparticle synthesis, drug delivery agents, etc. This article provides a detailed overview of synthetic procedures for various types of geminis and the fundamental physicochemical parameters of these systems. This includes a discussion on the cationic geminis based on various groups such as biphenyl, amide (with/without alkane tail), binol, quaternary ammonium (with/without hydroxyl group as a spacer), morpholinium, pyridinium, amide (with/without alkane tail), ester quaternary ammonium, and imidazolium (spacer with/without hydroxyl group and thioether/ester) types. Further, it is focused on anionic geminis with carboxylate, borate, and sulfonate head groups. Zwitterionic geminis such as betaine surfactants, cocogem surfactants based on dodecylisopropylol amine and dicarboxylic acid, diester type, sulphobetaine gemini based on S‐triazine, zwitterionic hetero gemini containing ammonium and carboxylate head groups, zwitterionic gemini containing quaternary ammonium and a sulfate group, gemini containing phosphodiester anion and quaternary ammonium salt are also reviewed. Lastly, synthesis of nonionic geminis from sunflower oil, amide‐based nonionic, sulfonamide nonionic, N,N’‐diethylaminedialkyldiamide nonionic gemini, sugar‐based gemini, and nonionic gemini with sulfonate spacer have been discussed.
One‐Pot Three‐Component Domino Synthesis of Isoxazolo[5,4‐b]pyrano[2,3‐f]quinolines: An Efficient Fluorescent Turn‐off Chemosensor for Picric Acid
Authors: Rubina Stephen Raja , Leka Sivakumar Indhu , Priya Karthikeyan Sathya , Kumar Raju Ranjith , Murugesan Sepperumal
Published: December 2022

The synthesis of novel isoxazolo[5,4‐b]pyrano[2,3‐f]quinoline hybrids has been achieved through a one‐pot three‐component reaction of 3‐methyl‐7,8‐dihydroisoxazolo[5,4‐b]quinolin‐5(6H)‐one, isatins or aromatic aldehydes and malononitrile in the presence of a base at ambient temperature. The reaction occurred through a domino Knoevenagel‐Michael type addition‐O‐cyclization sequence in a single transformation to afford the products in excellent yields. One of the isoxazolo[5,4‐b]pyrano[2,3‐f]quinoline was found to be highly sensitive towards picric acid with a lower limit of detection of 1.2 μM and quenching constant of 2.02×103 M−1
Target Analyte Interaction with a New Julolidine Coupled Benzoxazole‐based Dyad: A combined Photophysical, Theoretical (DFT), and Bioimaging Study
Authors: Mahato Manas , Sarkar Pallobi , Sultana Tuhina , Tohora Najmin , Ghanta Susanta , Das Ankita , Dutta Pallab , Kumar Das Sudhir
Published: December 2022

A julolidine‐coupled benzoxazole‐based fluorescent chemosensor (BPOZ) is designed and developed to investigate the different target analyte interactions spectroscopically. Based on the ′off‐on‐off′ photoluminescence mechanism, the as‐prepared BPOZ is used for sequentially detecting Zn2+ and HSO4− ions, respectively. The UV‐visible absorption and photoluminescence spectral behavior is intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) in nature. When Zn2+ ions bind with BPOZ, its fluorescence is significantly enhanced at 512 nm due to chelation‐enhanced fluorescence. A green color emission is also visible under 365 nm UV light exposure, which is also confirmed by the color chromaticity diagram. Chelation‐enhanced photoluminescence is also manifested in the lifetime decay analysis. Further, it is well supported by different spectroscopic techniques and DFT analysis. In the presence of HSO4− ions, photoluminescence of the Zn2+ chelated BPOZ complex is significantly reduced, rebirthing the free BPOZ. The detection limit of BPOZ for Zn2+ and Zn2+ chelated BPOZ complex towards detecting Zn2+ and HSO4− ions is established to be in the order of nM and μM range, respectively, in the solution phase. Among the various explosive nitroaromatic compounds, picric acid (PA) quenched the emission of the Zn2+ chelated BPOZ complex, and the quenching mechanism is found to be both static and dynamic in nature. Using these chemically prearranged inputs and optical outputs, two inputs, INHIBIT, and three inputs, combinational logic gates have been constructed. The BPOZ chemosensor and Zn2+ chelated BPOZ complex are also employed to map Zn2+ ions and PA in the living cell. The performance of the BPOZ chemosensor and Zn2+ chelated BPOZ complex toward Zn2+ ions and PA proved that it could be exploited as a signal tool for environmental and biological samples.
Tough to digest: first record of Teleosauroidea (Thalattosuchia) in a regurgitalite from the Upper Jurassic of north‐eastern Italy
Authors: Serafini Giovanni , Gordon Caleb M. , Foffa Davide , Cobianchi Miriam , Giusberti Luca
Published: December 2022

Postcranial remains of a small teleosauroid from the Upper Jurassic of north‐eastern Italy are described in detail. The specimen, discovered in 1980 on a slab of Rosso Ammonitico Veronese (RAV Fm.; Bajocian–Tithonian), is represented by partially articulated thoracic, sacral and anterior caudal vertebrae, fractured and displaced osteoderms and pelvic girdle elements. Additional bone elements overlap one another in a densely packed cluster. The peculiar arrangement of this specimen is here interpreted as the result of regurgitation of the animal carcass from a pelagic predator or scavenger. Microstructural and geochemical evidence from bone and surrounding matrix support this hypothesis. A dearth of phosphorus in the matrix near the bone mass corroborates the interpretation of the specimen as a regurgitalite rather than a coprolite. Calcareous nannofossil and stratigraphic data allow us to assign the fossil to the latest Kimmeridgian or earliest Tithonian. The specimen is here tentatively referred to the teleosauroid subfamily Aeolodontinae based on the alternating pattern of the osteoderm ornamentation; this attribution is supported by stratigraphical and palaeoenvironmental evidence. If confirmed, this represents the first occurrence of Aeolodontinae in Italian outcrops of the western Tethys margin and represents the first marine crocodylomorph described as a bromalite.
High‐efficient characterization of complex protein drugs by imaged capillary isoelectric focusing with high‐resolution ampholytes
Authors: Kwok Teresa , Chan She Lin , Zhou Mike , Schaefer Anna , Bo Tao , Huang Tiemin , Li Victor , Chen Tong
Published: December 2022

A carrier ampholyte is a molecule containing both acid and base functionality that is critical for imaged capillary isoelectric focusing. The quality of an imaged capillary isoelectric focusing separation for protein charge variants’ characterization is highly dependent on attributes of the carrier ampholytes used including baseline signal, linearity of the pH gradient, pI discrimination, and consistency between manufactured lots. AESlytes are a high‐resolution carrier ampholyte series that have been developed for the high‐resolution and selective characterization of diverse and complex protein drugs including diverse fusion proteins, antibody‐drug‐conjugate, bi‐specific antibodies, and viral proteins. While routine commercial ampholytes usually cannot solve such challenges, AESlytes demonstrate a reduction in baseline noise and distinguishably increased consistency between lots as compared to other commercial ampholytes. Here we apply AESlytes for the imaged capillary isoelectric focusing separation of several commercial fusion proteins and biosimilars with excellent repeatability. In addition, AESlytes with narrow‐range pH were employed directly coupled to a mass spectrometer for optimizing the separation resolutions allowing more reliable and accurate protein charge variant identification. Our study demonstrates that innovative high‐resolution carrier ampholytes as critical reagents play an essential role in high‐performance imaged capillary isoelectric focussing and tandem mass spectrometry analysis the routinely commercial ampholytes cannot achieve, especially for extremely complex protein drugs.
Building and Using Theoretical Frameworks
Authors: Hiebert James , Cai Jinfa , Hwang Stephen , Morris Anne K , Hohensee Charles
Published: December 2022

Theoretical frameworks can be confounding. They are supposed to be very important, but it is not always clear what they are or why you need them. Using ideas from Chaps. 1 and 2, we describe them as local theories that are custom-designed for your study. Although they might use parts of larger well-known theories, they are created by individual researchers for particular studies. They are developed through the cyclic process of creating more precise and meaningful hypotheses. Building directly on constructs from the previous chapters, you can think of theoretical frameworks as equivalent to the most compelling, complete rationales you can develop for the predictions you make. Theoretical frameworks are important because they do lots of work for you. They incorporate the literature into your rationale, they explain why your study matters, they suggest how you can best test your predictions, and they help you interpret what you find. Your theoretical framework creates an essential coherence for your study and for the paper you are writing to report the study.
Significance of a Study: Revisiting the “So What” Question
Authors: Hiebert James , Cai Jinfa , Hwang Stephen , Morris Anne K , Hohensee Charles
Published: December 2022

Every researcher wants their study to matter—to make a positive difference for their professional communities. To ensure your study matters, you can formulate clear hypotheses and choose methods that will test them well, as described in Chaps. 1, 2, 3 and 4. You can go further, however, by considering some of the terms commonly used to describe the importance of studies, terms like significance, contributions, and implications. As you clarify for yourself the meanings of these terms, you learn that whether your study matters depends on how convincingly you can argue for its importance. Perhaps most surprising is that convincing others of its importance rests with the case you make before the data are ever gathered. The importance of your hypotheses should be apparent before you test them. Are your predictions about things the profession cares about? Can you make them with a striking degree of precision? Are the rationales that support them compelling? You are answering the “So what?” question as you formulate hypotheses and design tests of them. This means you can control the answer. You do not need to cross your fingers and hope as you collect data.
Expertise in the Age of Big Data
Authors: Egher Claudia
Published: December 2022

This chapter highlights that despite expectations that the Internet would lead to patient empowerment, a more complex picture emerged in this book. It was shown that individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder could become influential through their skillful use of the Internet and by cultivating alliances with “traditional” experts. Contrary to expectations of increased individualization under the influence of personalized and precision medicine, online contributors performed solidarity with others with whom they shared numerous similarities. These findings constitute a critical and nuanced intervention into dominant discourses, which approach the Internet either as a quick technological fix or as a postmodern version of Pandora’s box.
Trade-Investment Nexus and Economic Growth in East Asia
Authors: Urata Shujiro
Published: December 2022

SDG 8’s goal is to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth; full and productive employment; and decent work for all. This chapter examines the experiences of East Asian developing countries in achieving rapid and inclusive economic growth by focusing on the role of international tradeand foreign direct investmentnexus created through global value chains (GVCs)by multinational corporations (MNCs). GVCs enabled participating companies and countries to improve productivity, contributing to economic growth. The factors attributable to the participation in GVCs include high competitiveness of local companies and open business environment created by the Asian government. Moreover, construction and maintaining well-functioning soft (e.g., education and legal systems) and hard (e.g., transportation and communication systems) infrastructure by the government and international donors contributed to the creation of business-friendly environment. Faced with growing protectionism and the threats of growing US-China rivalry, infectious diseases, climate change, etc., maintaining an open and transparent rules-based business environment is crucially important to further achieving sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth. In the light of absence of effective global economic order, exemplified by ineffectiveness of the World Trade Organizationin trade liberalization as well as dispute settlement, regional economic frameworks such as the CPTPP and RCEP in the Asia and Pacific region would be proven to be effective to achieve the goal.
Sustainable Development Goals from the Perspective of Photographic Archives: A Case Study on Photographs from Occupied Japan
Authors: Sato Yoichi
Published: December 2022

In this chapter, I present a novel way to examine the historical background of the issues discussed in sustainable development goals (SDGs) using historical photographs. Considering the 17 SDGs, and Japan’s occupation period (1945–52) to construct a case study, I demonstrate how to interpret the gaps and connections between the situations observed during the occupation period and the present. Finally, I refer to SDGs 7 and 11 in detail; however, this is not a summary for a particular SDG, but a way to think about the background of the issue for all SDGs.
Advancing residents’ use of shared spaces in Nordic superblocks with intelligent technologies
Authors: Makkonen Jouko , Latikka Rita , Kaukonen Laura , Laine Markus , Väänänen Kaisa
Published: December 2022

To support the sustainability of future cities, residents’ living spaces need to be built and used efficiently, while supporting residents’ communal wellbeing. Nordic superblock is a new planning, housing, and living concept in which residents of a neighborhood—a combination of city blocks—share yards, common spaces and utilities. Sharing living spaces is an essential element of this approach. In this study, our goal was to study the ways in which intelligent technology solutions—such as proactive, data-driven Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications—could support and even motivate the use of common areas in superblocks. To this end, we conducted a two-phase qualitative study: in the first phase, potential superblock residents (N = 12) shared their perspectives of sharing of living spaces in general, and more specifically of how intelligent technologies could support sharing spaces. In the second phase, two workshops with experts (N = 7) were held to gather understanding of possibilities of intelligent technologies in meeting the residents’ expectations of space sharing. The results illustrate space sharing and communality as supportive factors for one another, enabled but also complicated by social interaction. Major possibilities for intelligent technologies to advance space sharing were seen in organizing the use of spaces and facilitating social interaction in the community. As an outcome, four roles incorporating several use purposes of intelligent technologies were found. The findings can inform the Human-Centered AI (HCAI) research and design improving sustainable living in future urban neighborhoods.