bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ruthenium(II)‐katalysierter Late‐Stage Einbau von N‐Aryltriazolen und ‐tetrazolen mit Sulfoniumsalzen per C−H‐Aktivierung
Authors: Simon Hendrik , Zangarelli Agnese , Bauch Tristan , Ackermann Lutz
Published: April 2024

Die Late‐Stage‐Funktionalisierung von pharmazeutischen Wirkstoffen ist eine zentrale Herausforderung in der medizinischen Chemie. Darüber hinaus sind N‐Aryltriazole und Tetrazole wichtige strukturelle Motive, die das Potenzial haben, die Aktivität verschiedener Arzneimittelmoleküle zu steigern. Unter Verwendung leicht zugänglicher Dibenzothiopheniumsalze für die Ruthenium‐katalysierte C−H‐Arylierung wurden diese Gerüste in einer Vielzahl bioaktiver Verbindungen eingeführt. Unsere Methodik verwendet kostengünstiges Ruthenium, KOAc als milde Base und ermöglicht den Zugang zu einer Vielzahl von hochdekorierten Triazol‐ und Tetrazol‐haltigen Arzneimittelderivaten.
Polyurethane‐based cross‐linked nano spheres and their application in toughening epoxy resin
Authors: Shi Wei , Li Jian , Song Ming , Han Yi , Wang Chenyi , Ren Qiang
Published: April 2024

Toughening thermo‐setting resins with both high impact strength and tensile strength is a challenging issue. In this study, a novel cross‐linked polyurethane nano spheres for toughening epoxy resin were prepared by self‐emulsification method with hexamethylene diisocyanate trimer (HDI trimer) and diethylene triamine (DETA) as the crosslinkers. The structure, morphology and particle size of cross‐linked polyurethane nano spheres were investigated by infrared spectroscopy, laser particle size analyzer and scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that the prepared cross‐linked polyurethane nano spheres showed spherical shape and had the size in the range from 40 to 258 nm. The application of cross‐linked polyurethane nano spheres in toughing epoxy resin was investigated. The results showed that cross‐linked polyurethane nano spheres can be uniformly dispersed in epoxy resin and no obvious aggregation phenomenon was observed. And the tensile strength and impact strength of epoxy resin can be increased simultaneously when the cross‐linked polyurethane nano spheres were used in toughening epoxy resin. With the increase of the amount of polyurethane nano spheres in epoxy resin, both the tensile strength and impact strength of epoxy resin had the trend of first increase and then decrease. The amount of HDI trimer in the microspheres had a great impact on their toughening effect on epoxy resin. When the cross‐linked polyurethane nano spheres contained HDI trimer content of 12 wt% and the amount of the nano spheres in epoxy resin was 8 wt%, the impact strength of the epoxy resin can reach as high as 23 kJ/m2, which was 4.33 times that of pristine epoxy resin. And the tensile strength of toughened epoxy resin was 50.7 MPa, which was at same level of that of pristine epoxy resin. The results of this study indicate that the cross‐linked polyurethane nano spheres have a great potential in toughening thermo setting resins, such as epoxy resin.
Virtual reality testing of emergency scenarios could improve student reactions in the future
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: April 2024

Artificial intelligence is infiltrating every sector of college life, from admissions papers to now, research on how virtual reality simulations can improve campus safety. Emergency Management Science and Technology has published a paper entitled “Experimental Research on College Students’ Emergency Ability and Its Influencing Factors in Virtual Emergency Situations” that examines how AI technology, such as virtual reality simulations, can improve understanding of students’ ability to respond to emergency situations.
Porphysome Engineered With Specific Protein Binding Sites as a Multimodal Theranostic Nanocarrier for Targeted Protein Delivery
Authors: Ayyari Niloofar , Vaezi Zahra , Ashin Zeinab Fotouhi , Karimi Elham , Mohsenzadeh haji Fatemeh , Nikkhah Maryam , Naderi‐Manesh Hossein
Published: April 2024

The immobilization of proteins on the surface of carriers is challenging due to the loss of protein structure and function in this process. Here, we report the development of the protein immobilization on the surface of the metallated‐porphyrin complex in the porphysome nanocarrier. The conjugated Ni‐porphyrin to fatty acid (as a tail) has been synthesized and independently placed at the depth of the bilayer center of Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) in which the Ni‐porphyrin was at the polar region of the membrane and is thus superficial. This porphysome (DPPC: Ni‐porphyrin, 4 : 1 mole ratio) was formed by supramolecular self‐assembly with a diameter of 173±7 nm and zeta potential −8.5±3.4 mv, which exhibited no significant toxicity at the experimental concentrations and acceptable cellular uptake on MCF‐7 cells. The physicochemical properties and specific protein binding sites of the firefly luciferase as a model protein into the porphysome (1 : 2 mole ratio) show the conjugation efficiency about 80 % and the conformation of protein was completely maintained. Furthermore, bioluminescence assay and SDS‐PAGE confirmed the preservation of protein function. The stabilized platform of porphyrin‐lipid structure can potentially improve the efficacy of protein functionality for a particular display, shifting porphysomes from a simple carrier to a therapeutic agent.
Systematic Evaluation of Benchmark G4 Probes and G4 Clinical Drugs using three Biophysical Methods: A Guideline to Evaluate Rapidly G4‐Binding Affinity
Authors: Laigre E. , Bonnet H. , Beauvineau C. , Lavergne T. , Verga D. , Defrancq E. , Dejeu J. , Teulade‐Fichou M.‐P.
Published: April 2024

G‐quadruplex DNA structures (G4) are proven to interfere with most genetic and epigenetic processes. Small molecules binding these structures (G4 ligands) are invaluable tools to probe G4‐biology and address G4‐druggability in various diseases (cancer, viral infections). However, the large number of reported G4 ligands (>1000) could lead to confusion while selecting one for a given application. Herein we conducted a systematic affinity ranking of 11 popular G4 ligands vs 5 classical G4 sequences using FRET‐melting, G4‐FID assays and SPR. Interestingly SPR data globally align with the rankings obtained from the two semi‐quantitative assays despite discrepancies due to limits and characteristics of each assay. In the whole, PhenDC3 emerges as the most potent binder irrespective of the G4 sequence. Immediately below PDS, PDC‐360A, BRACO19, TMPyP4 and RHPS4 feature strong to medium binding again with poor G4 topology discrimination. More strikingly, the G4 drugs Quarfloxin, CX5461 and c‐PDS exhibit weak affinity with all G4s studied. Finally, NMM and Cu‐ttpy showed heterogeneous behaviors due, in part, to their physicochemical particularities poorly compatible with screening conditions. The remarkable properties of PhenDC3 led us to propose its use for benchmarking FRET‐melting and G4‐FID assays for rapid G4‐affinity evaluation of newly developed ligands.
NIDA: More than 11% of high school seniors use delta‐8, the unregulated THC
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: April 2024

About 11% of 12th graders have used delta‐8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the past year, according to an analysis of last year's Monitoring the Future Study which is conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Accommodations
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: April 2024

An overview of the key topics faced by disability services providers with citations to noteworthy cases, statutes, regulations, and additional sources.
Decoupling of nitrogen allocation and energy partitioning in rice after flowering
Authors: Zhong Duwei , Chi Yonggang , Ding Jianxi , Zhao Ning , Zeng Linhui , Liu Pai , Huang Zhi , Zhou Lei
Published: April 2024

Estimation of energy partitioning at leaf scale, such as fluorescence yield (ΦF) and photochemical yield (ΦP), is crucial to tracking vegetation gross primary productivity (GPP) at global scale. Nitrogen is an important participant in the process of light capture, electron transfer, and carboxylation in vegetation photosynthesis. However, the quantitative relationship between leaf nitrogen allocation and leaf energy partitioning remains unexplored. Here, a field experiment was established to explore growth stage variations in energy partitioning and nitrogen allocation at leaf scale using active fluorescence detection and photosynthetic gas exchange method in rice in the subtropical region of China. We observed a strongly positive correlation between the investment proportion of leaf nitrogen in photosynthetic system and ΦF during the vegetative growth stage. There were significant differences in leaf energy partitioning, leaf nitrogen allocation, and the relationship between ΦF and ΦP before and after flowering. Furthermore, flowering weakened the correlation between the investment proportion of leaf nitrogen in photosynthetic system and ΦF. These findings highlight the crucial role of phenological factors in exploring seasonal photosynthetic dynamics and carbon fixation of ecosystems.
Ag@Co/Zn N‐Doped Carbon as Antibacterial Oxygen Reduction Catalysts for Microbial Fuel Cells
Authors: Jiang Demin , Chen Huina , Zhu Liangjuan , Wang Wei , Wang Yuqiao
Published: April 2024

Biofouling of air cathode surface decreases the electricity generation performance of membrane‐free microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Ag@Co/Zn N‐doped carbon (Ag@Co/Zn‐NC) is designed as an antibacterial oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst to inhibit biofouling on the cathode surface. The Co/Zn‐NC active component promotes ORR catalytic activity through the advantages of well‐distributed Co nanoparticles and numerous active sites. Superficial Ag nanoparticles act as antibacterial active species to inhibit bacterial proliferation and suppress biofilm growth. Ag@Co/Zn‐NC catalyst prevents bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, effectively preventing excessive biofouling on the cathode surface. The antibacterial catalyst maintains a high catalytic activity and good ion diffusion properties without the adverse effects of biofouling, resulting in enhanced ORR durability of the air cathode. The assembled MFCs achieve high electricity generation during long‐term cyclic operation. The maximum power density retention percentage (82.6%) is higher than that of Co/Zn‐NC MFC (65.3%) and Pt/C MFC (52.4%) after continuous operation for 1200 h. Excellent operational durability is revealed for the air‐cathode MFCs assembled with the antibacterial ORR catalyst during the cyclic process. The novelty of this study is that the design of antibacterial catalysts inhibits the excessive growth of the cathode biofilm to improve the cyclic electricity generation performance of MFCs.
Evolving Thermal Energy Storage Using Hybrid Nanoparticle: An Experimental Investigation on Salt Hydrate Phase Change Materials for Greener Future
Authors: Balasubramanian Kalidasan , Pandey Adarsh Kumar , Bhutto Yasir Ali , Islam Anas , Kareri Tareq , Rahman Saidur , Buddhi Dharam , Tyagi Vineet Veer
Published: April 2024

Thermal energy storage (TES) assisted with phase change materials (PCM)s seeks greater attention to bridge the gap between energy demand and supply. PCM has its footprint toward efficient storage of solar energy. Inorganic salt hydrate PCMs are propitious over organic PCMs in terms of energy storage ability, thermal conductivity, and fireproof, however the major issue of supercooling and poor optical absorbance remains. This research investigates commercialized inorganic salt hydrate PCM with phase transition temperature of 50 °C, thermal conductivity of 0.593 Wm−1 K−1 which is favoured with melting enthalpy of 190 J g−1, and 2–3 °C of supercooling. Mixture of graphene: silver at a proportion of (1:1) is used as the hybrid nanomaterial to further enhance the thermal conductivity, optical absorbance, and thermal stability. Hybrid nanocomposites are developed via two‐step process involving direct mixing and ultrasonication. Morphological behaviour, chemical stability, optical property, thermal property, thermal reliability, and stability of the developed nanocomposite samples are experimentally analysed. As a result, sustainable TES materials with thermal conductivity of 0.937 Wm−1 K−1, optical absorbance of 0.8, increased energy storage potential is formulated. Subsequently a numerical simulation is conducted to illustrate the potential of the developed nanocomposite in transfer of heat energy.
Restoring democratic stability: A backcasting wheel approach
Authors: Szostak Rick
Published: April 2024

This paper performs a backcasting wheel analysis of the issue of democratic backsliding. It identifies an interacting set of proximate causes of democratic backsliding, and then a set of complementary strategies for addressing the root causes of each of these. It takes an interdisciplinary systems‐based approach throughout. The paper is grounded in an extensive survey of several literatures in multiple disciplines. It shows how the backcasting wheel complements other methods employed in anticipation and future studies more generally.
Fast detection of moisture content and freshness for loquats using optical fiber spectroscopy
Authors: Meng Qinglong , Feng Shunan , Tan Tao , Wen Qingchun , Shang Jing
Published: April 2024

Detection of the moisture content (MC) and freshness for loquats is crucial for achieving optimal taste and economic efficiency. Traditional methods for evaluating the MC and freshness of loquats have disadvantages such as destructive sampling and time‐consuming. To investigate the feasibility of rapid and non‐destructive detection of the MC and freshness for loquats, optical fiber spectroscopy in the range of 200–1000 nm was used in this study. The full spectra were pre‐processed using standard normal variate method, and then, the effective wavelengths were selected using competitive adaptive weighting sampling (CARS) and random frog algorithms. Based on the selected effective wavelengths, prediction models for MC were developed using partial least squares regression (PLSR), multiple linear regression, extreme learning machine, and back‐propagation neural network. Furthermore, freshness level discrimination models were established using simplified k nearest neighbor, support vector machine (SVM), and partial least squares discriminant analysis. Regarding the prediction models, the CARS‐PLSR model performed relatively better than the other models for predicting the MC, with R2P and RPD values of 0.84 and 2.51, respectively. Additionally, the CARS‐SVM model obtained superior discrimination performance, with 100% accuracy for both calibration and prediction sets. The results demonstrated that optical fiber spectroscopy technology is an effective tool to fast detect the MC and freshness for loquats.
Longitudinal associations between Latine parents' support and their adolescents' science motivation and STEM career expectations
Authors: Puente Kayla , Simpkins Sandra D. , Eccles Jacquelynne Sue
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Parents' science support and adolescents' motivational beliefs are associated with adolescents' expectations for their future occupations; however, these associations have been mostly investigated among White, middle‐class samples. Framed by situated expectancy‐value theory, the current study investigated: (1) the associations between parents' science support in 9th grade and Latine adolescents' science intrinsic value, utility value, and STEM career expectations in 11th grade, and (2) whether these indicators and the relations among them differed by adolescents' gender and parents' education.

Methods

Study participants included Latine adolescents (n = 3060; Mage = 14.4 years old; 49% female) in the United States from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009.

Results

Analyses revealed a significant, positive association between parents' science support and Latine adolescents' science utility value. Additionally, there was a significant, positive association between parents' science support and Latinas' science intrinsic value, but not for Latinos' science intrinsic value. Latine adolescents' science utility value, but not their science intrinsic value, predicted their concurrent STEM career expectations. Though there were no significant mean level differences in adolescents' science utility value or parents' science support based on adolescents' gender, the measure of adolescents' science intrinsic value varied across girls and boys. Finally, adolescents whose parents had a college degree received greater science support from parents compared to adolescents whose parents had less education than a college degree.

Conclusion

Findings suggest parents' science support and adolescents' intrinsic and utility values have potential associations with Latine adolescents' STEM career expectations near the end of high school.
A comparative study of analytical models of diffuse reflectance in homogeneous biological tissues: Gelatin‐based phantoms and Monte Carlo experiments
Authors: Bahl Anisha , Segaud Silvere , Xie Yijing , Shapey Jonathan , Bergholt Mads S. , Vercauteren Tom
Published: April 2024

Information about tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) and other related important physiological parameters can be extracted from diffuse reflectance spectra measured through non‐contact imaging. Three analytical optical reflectance models for homogeneous, semi‐infinite, tissue have been proposed (Modified Beer–Lambert, Jacques 1999, Yudovsky 2009) but these have not been directly compared for tissue parameter extraction purposes. We compare these analytical models using Monte Carlo (MC) simulated diffuse reflectance spectra and controlled gelatin‐based phantoms with measured diffuse reflectance spectra and known ground truth composition parameters. The Yudovsky model performed best against MC simulations and measured spectra of tissue phantoms in terms of goodness of fit and parameter extraction accuracy followed closely by Jacques' model. In this study, Yudovsky's model appeared most robust; however, our results demonstrated that both Yudovsky and Jacques models are suitable for modeling tissue that can be approximated as a single, homogeneous, semi‐infinite slab.
The social side of color: How social exclusion influences preferences for color combination
Authors: Kwon Mijin , Jeon Eunmi , Han Youngjee
Published: April 2024

This study investigates the impact of social exclusion on consumer preferences for color combinations. Drawing on findings from five experimental studies, we demonstrate that individuals who have experienced social exclusion display a heightened preference for analogous color combinations, as opposed to complementary ones, compared to those who have not experienced social exclusion. Our research posits that this preference arises from the feeling of conflict induced by social exclusion, leading individuals to choose products and environments with analogous colors as a coping mechanism to alleviate this feeling of conflict. By establishing a connection between social exclusion and color combination preferences, our study contributes to a deeper comprehension of the factors influencing consumer choices in the realm of color. Furthermore, we demonstrate the broader consequences of social exclusion on consumer behavior. Our research also indicates that utilizing analogous color combinations in both product and interior design can substantially enhance the appeal for socially excluded individuals.
Motor behavior induced by bergamot essential oil in experimental tasks is differentially modulated by pretreatment with metabotropic glutamate receptor 2/3 or 5 antagonists
Authors: Rombolà Laura , De Rasis Enrica , Sakurada Shinobu , Sakurada Tsukasa , Corasaniti Maria Tiziana , Bagetta Giacinto , Scuteri Damiana , Morrone Luigi Antonio
Published: April 2024

Bergamot essential oil shows anxiolytic‐relaxant effects devoid of sedative action and motor impairment typical of benzodiazepines. Considering the potential for clinical of these effects, it is important to understand the underlying mechanisms of the phytocomplex. Modulation of glutamate group I and II metabotropic receptors is involved in stress and anxiety disorders, in cognition and emotions and increases locomotor activity and wakefulness. Interestingly, early data indicate that bergamot essential oil modulates glutamatergic transmission in specific manifestations of the central nervous system. The aim of this work is to investigate if selective antagonists of metabotropic glutamate 2/3 and 5 receptors affect behavioral parameters modulated by the phytocomplex. Male Wistar rats were used to measure behavioral parameters to correlate anxiety and motor activity using elevated plus maze (EPM), open field (OF), and rotarod tasks. Bergamot essential oil increases in EPM the time spent in open/closed arms and reduces total number of entries. The essential oil also increases immobility in EPM and OF and not affect motor coordination in rotarod. Pretreatment with the metabotropic glutamate antagonists does not affect the time spent in open/close arms, however, differently affects motor behavior measured after administration of phytocomplex. Particularly, glutamate 2/3 antagonist reverts immobility and glutamate 5 antagonist potentiates this parameter induced by the phytocomplex. Our data show that modulation of both metabotropic glutamate receptors is likely involved in some of behavioral effects of bergamot essential oil.
Surface science insight note: Charge compensation and charge correction in X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Authors: Mendoza‐Sánchez Beatriz , Fernandez Vincent , Bargiela Pascal , Fairley Neal , Baltrusaitis Jonas
Published: April 2024

Strategies to deal with sample charging effects on X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra are presented. These strategies combine charge compensation (or lack of) via a flow of electrons and an electrical connection (or lack of) of samples to the ground. Practical examples involving samples with a range of different electrical properties, sample structure/composition and sensitivity to X‐rays, illustrate the correlation between sample properties, measurement strategies, and the resulting XPS data. The most appropriate measurement strategy for a particular sample is also recommended. We highlight the crucial importance of appropriate XPS data acquisition to obtain a correct data interpretation.
Comprehensive analysis of lung adenocarcinoma: Unveiling differential gene expression, survival‐linked genes, subtype stratification, and immune landscape implications
Authors: Xi Yong , Xi Liu , Tan Jian , Yu Chaoqun , Shen Weiyu , Yu Bentong
Published: April 2024

This study offers a detailed exploration of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), addressing its heterogeneity and treatment challenges through a multi‐faceted analysis that includes gene expression, genetic subtyping, pathway analysis, immune assessment, and drug sensitivity. It identifies 165 genes with significant expression differences and 46 genes associated with survival, revealing insights into oxidative stress and autophagy. LUAD samples were divided into three subtypes using consensus clustering on these 46 genes, with distinct survival outcomes. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) on HALLMARK gene sets indicated pathway variations with survival implications. The immune landscape, analyzed using the CIBERSORT algorithm, showed different immune cell distributions across subtypes, with the first subtype exhibiting a better immune environment and survival prospects. Advanced machine learning techniques developed a risk model from a set of four genes, effectively categorizing patients into high and low‐risk groups, validated through external datasets and analyses. This model linked lower risk scores to better clinical stages, with a higher mutation rate and potential immunotherapy benefits observed in the high‐risk group. Drug sensitivity assessments highlighted varied treatment responses between risk groups, suggesting avenues for personalized therapy. This comprehensive analysis enhances the understanding of LUAD's molecular and clinical nuances, offering valuable insights for tailored treatment approaches.
The rise and fall of water policy entrepreneurs in an unequal world
Authors: Muller Mike
Published: April 2024

Highlights

Policy entrepreneurs from the ‘North’ had undue influence over water policy in the ‘South’ in previous decades.

Policy entrepreneurship in water must be centered in, rather than targeted at, the societies concerned.

‘Southern’ countries have gained greater autonomy over their water policies in a multi‐polar world and continue to offer opportunities for the international water industry.

Political leaders, administrators, and civil society in the South must now take responsibility and accountability for the outcomes.

It is now widely recognized that new infrastructure is essential to help mitigate and adapt to climate change and that hydropower is an energy transition ally not a climate change enemy.
The outcomes of laparoscopic omentum-preserving gastrectomy compared to open surgery with omentectomy in gastric cancer patients: a propensity score matched study of 249 UICC stage 0–IV gastric cancer patients
Authors: Jagric T. , Hladnik G. , Kolaric R. , Arpad I. , Horvat M. , Potrc S.
Published: April 2024

Background

We performed a propensity score matched study comparing patients’ short- and long-term results after laparoscopic omentum-preserving gastrectomy and open surgery with omentectomy with UICC stages 0–IV.

Methods

Between 2015 and 2022, 311 patients with gastric cancer underwent surgery at the University Clinical Centre Maribor. Of these, 249 met the inclusion criteria and 198 were included in the study group after PSM.

Results

Patients in both groups were well-balanced in demographic and pathological characteristics after PSM. There was no significant difference in the 5-year survival between groups (LAP: 62.2% vs. OPN: 54.4%; p = 0.950). The Cox regression model identified UICC stage and age as significant predictors for survival. In both groups, peritoneal dissemination was the most common site of recurrence. The multivariate analysis identified the UICC stage as a significant predictor for peritoneal recurrence, while omental preservation was not associated with a higher risk of peritoneal dissemination. Omentum preservation was not associated with more intestinal obstruction. Patients in the LAP group had significantly shorter hospital stays (LAP: 9(6) vs. OPN: 10(5); p = 0.009), less postoperative morbidity (LAP: 17% vs. OPN: 23.4%; p = 0.009), and significantly more extracted LNs per operation compared to open surgery (LAP: 31 ± 11 LNs vs. OPN: 25 ± 12 LNs; p = 0.002).

Conclusion

Based on our results, we recommend the use of laparoscopic omentum-preserving gastrectomy in patients with early and advanced gastric cancer.

Graphical abstract
Ecology and management of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei): the potential of biological control
Authors: Moreno-Ramirez Natalia , Bianchi Felix J. J. A. , Manzano Maria R. , Dicke Marcel
Published: April 2024

Coffee is an important commodity in Latin America that is grown by smallholder farmers and large-scale coffee producers. The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is a major pest of coffee that originates from West Africa and has invaded all coffee-producing regions. With climate change, the problems that this beetle poses to coffee production are expected to increase. Controlling this pest is a true challenge and chemical insecticides still are one of the main tools used, despite the environmental and human-health issues associated with this approach. To find sustainable alternatives for chemical control of the coffee berry borer, classical biological control, augmentative biological control, and integrated pest management have received extensive attention. Parasitoids, predators, entomopathogenic fungi, and nematodes have been identified and studied for their potential to manage the infestations of this major coffee pest. Conservation biological control has recently gained more attention, but its development is still in its infancy. In this review, we examine strategies for the control of the coffee berry borer in Latin America. We identify knowledge gaps for developing sustainable biological control programs, including conservation biological control within the context of farming systems, land use in the surrounding landscape, as well as the vision of coffee growers.
What Do Teachers Do When Preschoolers “Misbehave”? Family Matters
Authors: Zulauf-McCurdy Courtney A. , Woodward Diana , Nazaire Olivia R. , Meltzoff Andrew N.
Published: April 2024

There are documented disparities in how preschool teachers perceive and respond to challenging behavior in the classroom. Teachers’ decision-making processes when handling challenging behavior and how they include families in the process is an area that is notably under-researched. Using an experimental design, preschool teachers (N = 131; 93% Female; 27.5% Black) read a standardized vignette describing a child’s challenging behavior. Teachers were randomly assigned to receive a vignette with the name and picture of a Black or White boy. Teachers listed the actions they would take in addressing the behavior and whether they would include families. Qualitative answers were coded using the validated Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool for Preschool Classrooms. Although the child’s behavior was identical, teachers’ responses greatly varied—some appropriate and others maladaptive according to published multi-tiered systems of support. Involving families in the process was often referenced as a separate step with teachers frequently placing the blame on families for the child’s behavior. Variations in results by child race are also reported and discussed. Findings indicate that supporting preschool teachers in successfully implementing full tiered systems of support and finding meaningful ways to engage families in the process is critical.
Ethics of the future of chemical sciences
Authors: Chamizo José Antonio , Ortiz-Millán Gustavo
Published: April 2024

The 2016 Royal Society of Chemistry’s report Future of the Chemical Sciences presents four different scenarios for the future of chemistry: chemistry saves the world; push-button chemistry; a world without chemists; and free market chemistry. In this paper we ethically assess them. If chemistry is to solve many of the greatest challenges facing the contemporary world, prioritization of research topics will need to be done explicitly on the basis of moral values, ​​such as solidarity and equity, but also environmental justice, which will have to be central in determining a research agenda for chemistry. The decentralization of chemistry will also present ethical challenges to the research standards established by the scientific community. Ethical education in chemistry may help counteract these risks. We also argue that if chemistry and its subdisciplines are to fulfil their goal of generating knowledge and helping us solve the great challenges of the contemporary world, then it is ethically imperative that scientists from different disciplines be more open to interdisciplinary work. Finally, if the future of chemistry is in free market forms, then it is necessary that we pay more attention to the possible risks that this model has. We call attention to two: first, it is likely that problems that affect the lowest income countries or the most disadvantaged sectors of society, who do not have the means to pay for some of the goods and services, will not be addressed; second, the free market tends to foster unsustainable forms of development.
Deforestation narrows pollen diet diversity of generalist orchid bees
Authors: Boff Samuel , da Luz Cynthia Fernandes Pinto , Raizer Josué , Pinto Gercy S. , Santos Larysson F. , Freitas Breno M. , da Silva Claudia Inês , Quezada-Euàn J. Javier G. , Soro Antonella , Alves-dos-Santos Isabel
Published: April 2024

Orchid bee species are important pollinators in the Neotropics. While male orchid bees are known to have a close interaction with odor-rewarding flowers, orchid bee females are often pollen generalists. In the current study, we investigated differences in the pollen diet diversity of orchid bees in various vegetation types and across sites with varying levels of forest cover by means of an analysis of the frass pellets of the orchid bee, Euglossa cordata (Linnaeus, 1758), and multiple species based on a literature review. The pollen grains found in the inner part of brood cells were used to assess the plant composition making up the diet of E. cordata in various areas of the state of São Paulo in Brazil. We found that this plant composition differed among vegetation types, and that diet specialization was lower in forested areas. Forest cover appeared to be the factor mostly associated with pollen richness in nests of E. cordata. Number of brood cells per nest were also associated with forest cover. The model used to assess the effect of forest cover on plant richness as part of brood diet of E. cordata was tested with the inclusion of published data and a newly generated data for E. annectans. This new data set allowed to understand the influence of forest in the pollen diet of multiple species in a more extensive geographic scale. Forest cover appeared to be important for a diversified pollen diet in several orchid bee species.

Implications for insect conservation

Since a diversified pollen diet offered to larva bees is associated with bee survival and health, our results indicate that orchid bees relying on areas with higher forest cover have a more resilient population. Such findings emphasize the importance of conservation of forests, especially in the Neotropical region where many pollinator species are adapted to continuous forest environments.
Acceleration waves in thermoelastic complex media with temperature-dependent phase fields
Authors: Giovine Pasquale , Mariano Paolo Maria , Mugnaioni Federica
Published: April 2024

We analyze homothermal acceleration waves in complex materials (those with active microstructure) in the presence of an internal constraint that links the temperature to a manifold-valued phase-field describing a generic material microstructure at a certain spatial scale. Such a constraint leads to hyperbolic heat conduction even in the absence of macroscopic strain; we show how it influences the way acceleration waves propagate. The scheme describes a thermoelastic behavior that is compatible with dependence of the free energy on temperature gradient (a dependence otherwise forbidden by the second law of thermodynamics in the traditional non-isothermal description of simple bodies). We eventually provide examples in which the general treatment that we develop applies.
Exploring the connections: Dividend announcements, stock market returns, and major sporting events
Authors: Hasan Fakhrul , Al-Najjar Basil
Published: April 2024

This study conducts a detailed investigation into the interplay between major sporting events, specifically the ICC Cricket World Cups and FIFA Football World Cups, and their potential impact on the relationship between dividend announcements and stock market returns. Beyond the customary exploration of investor sentiment and its connection to stock market returns, our research thoroughly examines the effects of these significant sports events on the stock market's reaction to dividend announcements. Drawing on extensive FTSE 350 index data spanning January 1990 to December 2021, we employ event study methodology as the primary analytical framework. To bolster the reliability of our findings, we apply the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation method, addressing potential endogeneity concerns. Our results uncover a distinct pattern—the stock market exhibits a less favourable response to dividend increases announced following England's victories in major sporting events, such as the FIFA Football World Cup and ICC Cricket World Cup, compared to instances where they faced defeat. Additionally, we observe a more negative market response to dividend decreases announced following England's losses in these pivotal sporting events, as opposed to England emerging victorious in these key contests. This research contributes valuable insights into the intricate relationship between sports passion and market dynamics, offering implications for both scholarly discourse and investment strategy formulation.
Enhancing the Biosorption Potential of Pichia kluyveri FM012 for 4-Bromophenols
Authors: Isia Ismallianto , Sukmono Yudi , Hadibarata Tony , Yılmaz Murat
Published: April 2024

The use of toxic and persistent pesticides in agriculture results in serious and lasting environmental impacts. Although traditional methods, such as physical and chemical reclamation, yield the best results, treating these contaminants requires a high cost and expertise. Therefore, this study focuses on bioremediation recovery, which is more efficient, economical, and safer for removal. In this case, the newly isolated potential of Pichia kluyveri FM012 in degrading 4-bromophenol was investigated. The impact of optimized parameters such as agitation, pH, nitrogen, and carbon source were also studied. After extensive testing, the best optimal degradation occurred at pH 5 with a stirrer speed of 150 rpm. Glucose and yeast performed the best compared to other carbon and nitrogen sources. The Langmuir model predicted the maximum biosorption capacity (qm = 38.46 mg/g biomass), but the Freundlich model provided a better value of R2 = 0.999. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model was fitting for the study of biosorption kinetics. The FTIR spectrum revealed the presence of asymmetric and symmetric vibrations of the aromatic ring and was assigned to C = C or C = O. Fungi showed biosorption ability across broad functional groups. These results provide interesting information about the ability of Pichia kluyveri FM012 and its potential applications for remediating resistant pesticides.
Das Orexinsystem als neuer Ansatz zur Besserung von Schlaf und Tagesaktivität – eine innovative Therapieoption zur Behandlung der chronischen Insomnie
Authors: Fietze Ingo , Hajak Göran , Beneš Heike , Young Peter
Published: April 2024

Die chronische Insomnie ist eine der häufigsten Störungen des Schlafes. Ihre pharmakologische Therapie ist auf einige wenige zugelassene Hypnotika beschränkt.

Der duale Orexin-Rezeptorblocker Daridorexant ist ein vom Wirkmechanismus und den Wirkeffekten her neuartiges schlafförderndes Medikament, welches in Studien mit Betroffenen mit einer moderaten bis schweren Insomnie seine Effektivität nachweisen konnte. Sowohl in der Gesamtpopulation und auch bei den über 65-Jährigen verkürzte Daridorexant objektiv die Einschlaflatenz und die Wachzeit im Schlaf und verlängerte die subjektive Schlafdauer. Letzteres ist insbesondere bei älteren Insomniepatienten besonders ausgeprägt. Für Schlafgestörte zusätzlich relevant ist die positive Wirkung von Daridorexant auf die Tagesbefindlichkeit, die anhand eines Fragebogens zu Schläfrigkeit, Wachheit, Kognition und Stimmung nachgewiesen werden konnte. Besserungen zeigten sich auch in verschiedenen Analogskalen zum Schlaf. Die Verträglichkeit war im Untersuchungszeitraum von 3 Monaten sehr gut, Zeichen einer Toleranz- oder Abhängigkeitsentwicklung fanden sich nicht.

Aufgrund der Besserung von Schlaf und Tagesbefindlichkeit sowie des günstigen Nebenwirkungsprofils empfiehlt sich Daridorexant als ein innovatives Hypnotikum, welches die Differentialtherapie der chronischen Insomnie bereichert.
Osteoimmunology of Fracture Healing
Authors: Molitoris Kristin Happ , Huang Mingjian , Baht Gurpreet Singh
Published: April 2024

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to summarize what is known in the literature about the role inflammation plays during bone fracture healing. Bone fracture healing progresses through four distinct yet overlapping phases: formation of the hematoma, development of the cartilaginous callus, development of the bony callus, and finally remodeling of the fracture callus. Throughout this process, inflammation plays a critical role in robust bone fracture healing.

Recent Findings

At the onset of injury, vessel and matrix disruption lead to the generation of an inflammatory response: inflammatory cells are recruited to the injury site where they differentiate, activate, and/or polarize to secrete cytokines for the purposes of cell signaling and cell recruitment. This process is altered by age and by sex.

Bone fracture healing is heavily influenced by the presence of inflammatory cells and cytokines within the healing tissue.

Graphical Abstract
Keyframe recommendation based on feature intercross and fusion
Authors: Yang Guanci , He Zonglin , Su Zhidong , Li Yang , Hu Bingqi
Published: April 2024

Keyframe extraction can effectively help users quickly understand video content. Generally, keyframes should be representative of the video content and simultaneously be diverse to reduce redundancy. Aiming to find the features of frames and filter out representative frames of the video, we propose a method of keyframe recommendation based on feature intercross and fusion (KFRFIF). The method is inspired by the implied relations between keyframe-extraction problem and recommendation problem. First, we investigate the application of a recommendation framework to the keyframe extraction problem. Second, the architecture of the proposed KFRFIF is put forward. Then, an algorithm for extracting intra-frame image features based on the combination of multiple image descriptors is proposed. An algorithm for extracting inter-frame distance features based on the combination of multiple distance calculation methods is designed. Moreover, A recommendation model based on feature intercross and fusion is put forward. An ablation study is further performed to verify the effectiveness of the submodule. Ultimately, the experimental results on four datasets with five outstanding approaches indicate the superior performance of our approach.
A novel Voronoi-based convolutional neural network framework for pushing person detection in crowd videos
Authors: Alia Ahmed , Maree Mohammed , Chraibi Mohcine , Seyfried Armin
Published: April 2024

Analyzing the microscopic dynamics of pushing behavior within crowds can offer valuable insights into crowd patterns and interactions. By identifying instances of pushing in crowd videos, a deeper understanding of when, where, and why such behavior occurs can be achieved. This knowledge is crucial to creating more effective crowd management strategies, optimizing crowd flow, and enhancing overall crowd experiences. However, manually identifying pushing behavior at the microscopic level is challenging, and the existing automatic approaches cannot detect such microscopic behavior. Thus, this article introduces a novel automatic framework for identifying pushing in videos of crowds on a microscopic level. The framework comprises two main components: (i) feature extraction and (ii) video detection. In the feature extraction component, a new Voronoi-based method is developed for determining the local regions associated with each person in the input video. Subsequently, these regions are fed into EfficientNetV1B0 Convolutional Neural Network to extract the deep features of each person over time. In the second component, a combination of a fully connected layer with a Sigmoid activation function is employed to analyze these deep features and annotate the individuals involved in pushing within the video. The framework is trained and evaluated on a new dataset created using six real-world experiments, including their corresponding ground truths. The experimental findings demonstrate that the proposed framework outperforms state-of-the-art approaches, as well as seven baseline methods used for comparative analysis.
When rare diseases crisscross within the same patient: von Hippel-Lindau and type 1 gastric neuroendocrine tumor
Authors: Alexandraki Krystallenia I. , Spyroglou Ariadni , Xekouki Paraskevi , Bramis Konstantinos I. , Kyriakopoulos Georgios , Barkas Konstantinos , Papanikolaou Ioannis S. , Mastorakos George , Konstadoulakis Manousos
Published: April 2024

Von-Hippel-Lindau (VHL) is a genetic multisystem disorder characterized by visceral cysts and benign and malignant tumors in various organs. Herein, we present the case of a 23-year-old woman with VHL presenting with multiple gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms (gNENs) type 1 in the context of chronic autoimmune gastritis (CAG). Although gNENs are not acknowledged as a typical entity in VHL patients, in the present case, gNENs were composed of neoplastic cells with clear cytoplasm usually seen in tumors related to VHL disease. We additionally performed a literature review on the presence of neuroendocrine clear cell tumors and report on further cases of clear cell NENs. The present case illustrates that clear-cell transformation in gNENs may be due to the dual genetic background of the patient; the real oncogenic stimulus may be more closely related to CAG than to VHL disease accompanied by an interplay between neoplastic and autoimmune processes. Therefore, close monitoring of patients with clear cell NENs appears to be important before excluding VHL disease, even in the context of phenotypically unrelated diseases.
Antineoplastic Activity of Selected Cytotoxic Plants from the Kalahari
Authors: Vogel Divan , Gouws Chrisna , van der Kooy Frank
Published: April 2024

Plants are known to produce cytotoxic compounds, some of which are currently being used as chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer. With southern Africa’s rich biodiversity, it could be worthwhile to study indigenous herbal medicine to discover more effective and safe cancer treatments as complementary and alternative therapies. From Africa, several plant species have been used by traditional therapists for the treatment of cancer with well-known examples including Lessertia frutescens (L.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning (syn. Sutherlandia frutescence (L.) W:T.Aiton), Fabaceae, Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don, Apocynaceae, and Tulbaghia violacea Harv., Amaryllidaceae. Recently, Artemisia afra Jacq., Asteraceae, has also been shown to exhibit strong in vitro antineoplastic activity. This review focuses on A. afra and some lesser studied southern African plants from the Kalahari region. This selection was made based on field observations, traditional use, and literature summarizing recent developments and their potential as anticancer agents. Ammocharis coranica Herb., Amaryllidaceae, A. afra, Dipcadi glaucum (Burch. ex Ker Gawl.) Baker, Asparagaceae, Elephantorrhiza elephantina (Burch.) Skeels, Fabaceae, Geigeria ornativa O.Hoffm., Asteraceae, Neltuma juliflora (Sw.) Raf. (syn. Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC.), Fabaceae, and Senna italica Mill., Fabaceae, can be found in the Kalahari region stretching across three countries. Databases were consulted (Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar) and textbooks to collate scientific literature on the selected species. Lycorine seems to be the most promising bioactive compound isolated from A. coranica with in vitro cytotoxicity of 0.21 µg/ml (IC50). Methanol extracts of N. juliflora appear to be highly active, while butanolic extracts are cytotoxic at a low concentration of 5.17 µg/ml against MCF-7. Isoalantolactone identified in A. afra also expressed good activity, being cytotoxic at a low concentration of 1.89 µg/ml. Tea infusions of A. afra were found to be cytotoxic at 6.0 µg/ml with a selectivity index of 10. Identification of active constituents, more in-depth ex vivo/in situ experiments, and eventually clinical trials should be conducted on the most promising plant extracts and/or compounds identified therein.

Graphical Abstract