bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enrichment and separation of high‐polar compounds from Saussurea obvallata using solid‐phase extraction combining with offline two‐dimensional liquid chromatography
Authors: Wang Weidong , Zhu Yunhe , Jiang Lei , Mei Lijuan , Tao Yanduo , Liu Zenggen
Published: September 2021

The high‐polar compounds from natural products are often used as medicines due to their good bioactivities. However, owing to the complexity and diversity of their structure, the separation of high‐polar compounds is still a challenging work. For this, an efficient method for enrichment and separation of the high‐polar compounds from Saussurea obvallata was developed. First, the target compounds were enriched from the total extract using a solid‐phase extraction method. An offline two‐dimensional liquid chromatography method was used for the separation of pure compounds from the enriched sample. After optimization of chromatographic conditions, high separation selectivity of target compounds was obtained on a polar‐modified C18 column and a HILIC XAmide column. Hence, a two‐dimensional reversed‐phase × hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography system was constructed and enlarged from the analytical level to the preparative level. In the first dimension, four fractions were obtained on the XCharge C18 column with a recovery rate of 71.2%. In the second‐dimension preparation on the XAmide column, eight high‐polar compounds with more than 96% purity were isolated. All compounds were isolated from Saussurea obvallata for the first time. The results demonstrated that this developed strategy is effective for preparative‐scale isolation of high‐polar compounds from natural products.
Artificial Intelligence in Quantitative Ultrasound Imaging: A Survey
Authors: Zhou Boran , Yang Xiaofeng , Curran Walter J. , Liu Tian
Published: September 2021

Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) imaging is a safe, reliable, inexpensive, and real‐time technique to extract physically descriptive parameters for assessing pathologies. Compared with other major imaging modalities such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, QUS suffers from several major drawbacks: poor image quality and inter‐ and intra‐observer variability. Therefore, there is a great need to develop automated methods to improve the image quality of QUS. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in artificial intelligence (AI) applications in medical imaging, and a large number of research studies in AI in QUS have been conducted. The purpose of this review is to describe and categorize recent research into AI applications in QUS. We first introduce the AI workflow and then discuss the various AI applications in QUS. Finally, challenges and future potential AI applications in QUS are discussed.
Untangling the effects of management measures, climate and land use cover change on grassland dynamics in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China
Authors: Liu Yangyang , Ren Hanyu , Zheng Cheng , Zhou Ronglei , Hu Tianming , Yang Peizhi , Zhang Wei , Wang Zhenqian , Li Yan , Zhang Zhaoying , Wen Zhongming
Published: September 2021

Multiple large‐scale ecological conservation programmes have been launched by the Chinese Government to combat grassland degradation across the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) since 1999. However, the mechanisms by which these ecological initiatives might affect grassland changes remains unknown. Here, we examined the land use cover change (LUCC) and net primary productivity (NPP) of the grassland in the QTP in 2001–2016. The effects of LUCC, management measures, and climate variation on grassland NPP were quantitatively evaluated. The grassland area had a net increase of 96,397 km2, which could be attributed to the conversion of desert and forests. The total NPP of grassland increased by 154,073.7 GgC·yr−1 in 2001–2016, of which the contribution of climate and human factors occupied 35.58% and 64.42%, respectively. Specifically, climate variation caused an overall increase of 54,823.24 GgC·yr−1in grassland total NPP. The climate‐dominated NPP decrease was widely found in the eastern and southern QTP. The contribution of LUCC and management measures to the increase of grassland NPP was 62.78% and 37.22%, respectively. This increase was mostly found in the mid‐east region of the QTP, which could sufficiently counteract the negative effect of climate variation on NPP. Overall, these findings seem to demonstrate that these ecological restoration programs have substantially promote the increase of grassland NPP and contribute to understanding the degree to which the grassland ecosystem may respond to the LUCC and management measures under the ecological restoration projects, which are essential to developing more effective ecological measures for future grassland restoration in the QTP.
Micromeritic, thermal, dielectric, and microstructural properties of legume ingredients: A review
Authors: Ahmed Jasim , Mulla Mehrajfatema Z. , Siddiq Muhammad , Dolan Kirk D.
Published: September 2021

The legume‐based food market has grown consistently in recent years because of the high global demands for plant‐based proteins. Since isolation of proteins produces the same volume of starch and large quantities of fiber‐rich fractions, these ingredients require property measurements for their industrial applications. Size‐reduction operations separate the ingredients from the legume grains by creating a large surface area with a definite size. Knowledge of micromeritic properties of legume‐based flour ingredients is indispensable in the design of process equipment and logistic operations. This review covers the particle‐size distributions of legume flours with a desired particle size that fits the food industry and fulfills the nutritional requirements of consumers. It focuses on the strict particle‐size requirement in the legume industry to obtain consistent ingredients for diverse food applications. Furthermore, engineering properties of legume ingredients, including micromeritic, dielectric, structural (e.g., Fourier transform infrared [FTIR], X‐ray diffraction [XRD], and scanning electron microscopy [SEM]), and thermal (e.g., thermal conductivity, diffusivity, heat capacity, glass transition, and melting temperature) properties and their interrelationships, have been discussed.
Controlling Polymer Morphologies by Intramolecular and Intermolecular Dynamic Covalent Iron(III)/Catechol Complexation—From Polypeptide Single Chain Nanoparticles to Hydrogels
Authors: Hebel Marco , Gačanin Jasmina , Lückerath Thorsten , Ng David Y. W. , Weil Tanja
Published: September 2021

Responsive biomaterials, tunable from the molecular to the macroscopic scale, are attractive for various applications in nanotechnology. Herein, a long polypeptide chain derived from the abundant serum protein human serum albumin is cross‐linked by dynamic‐coordinative iron(III)/catechol bonds. By tuning the binding stoichiometry and the pH, reversible intramolecular folding into polypeptide nanoparticles with controllable sizes is achieved. Moreover, upon varying the stoichiometry, intermolecular cross‐links become predominant yielding smart and tunable macroscopic protein hydrogels. By adjusting the intra‐ and intermolecular interactions, biocompatible and biodegradable materials are formed with varying morphologies and dimensions covering several lengths scales featuring rapid gelation without toxic reagents, fast and autonomous self‐healing, tunable mechanical properties, and high adaptability to local environmental conditions. Such material characteristics can be particularly attractive for tissue engineering approaches to recreate soft tissues matrices with highly customizable features in a fast and simple fashion.
Shape prior generation and geodesic active contour interactive iterating algorithm (SPACIAL): fully automatic segmentation for 3D lumen in intravascular optical coherence tomography images
Authors: Gui Luying , Ma Jun , Yang Xiaoping
Published: September 2021

Purpose: Fully automatic lumen segmentation in intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) images can assist physicians in quickly estimating the health status of vessels. However, OCT images are usually degraded by residual blood, catheter walls, guide wire artifacts, etc., which significantly reduce the quality of segmentation. To achieve accurate lumen segmentation in low‐quality images, we propose a novel segmentation algorithm named SPACIAL: Shape Prior generation and geodesic Active Contour Interactive iterAting aLgorithm, which is guided by an adaptively generated shape prior.

Methods: In this framework, the active contour evolves under the guidance of shape prior, while the shape prior is automatically and adaptively generated based on the active contour. The active contour and the shape prior interactively iterate each other, which can generate the adaptive shape prior and consequently lead to accurate segmentation results. In addition, a fast algorithm is introduced to accelerate the segmentation in 3D images.

Results: The validity of the model is verified in 3240 images from 12 OCT pullbacks. The experimental results show satisfactory segmentation accuracy and time efficiency: the average Dice coefficient of SPACIAL is 93.6(2.4)%, and 5.7 times faster than that of the classical level set method.

Conclusion: The proposed SPACIAL can quickly and efficiently perform accurate lumen segmentation on low quality OCT images, which is of great importance to cardiovascular disease diagnosis . The SPACIAL method shows great potential in clinical applications.
Nachruf: Siegfried Niese (1932‐2021)
Authors: Mailand Irene , Degering Detlev , Köhler Matthias
Published: September 2021

Am 2. April 2021 starb Siegfried Niese, der sich über Jahrzehnte am Forschungsstandort Rossendorf für die radiochemische Analytik eingesetzt hat.
Some trends in sustainable catalysis development
Authors: Galstyan Anzhela
Published: September 2021

Earth‐abundant metal compounds in biological systems provide molecules of high purity and excellent selectivity in quantitative yield, without generating toxic waste. Adopting this to chemists‘ syntheses will save cost and time in industrial chemistry and in the sustainable production of chemicals. A number of examples illustrate this potential.
Protein requirements for critically ill ventilator‐dependent patients with COVID‐19
Authors: Buckley Christopher T. , Prasanna Nivedita , Mays Abby L. , Tinsley Jeanette M. , Dickerson Roland N.
Published: September 2021

Background

Recent studies indicate critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) are hypermetabolic; however, protein requirements in critically ill COVID‐19 patients are unknown. Our intent was to evaluate the nitrogen accretion response to varying protein intakes for critically ill ventilator‐dependent patients with COVID‐19.

Methods

Adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) with COVID‐19, admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and who required mechanical ventilation were retrospectively evaluated. Patients received continuous enteral nutrition (EN), including supplemental protein boluses, and had a 24‐h urine collection for determination of nitrogen balance (NBAL). Data are expressed as mean ± SD with a P‐value < .05 as significant.

Results

Twenty‐two patients provided 29 NBAL determinations. Protein intake from EN and protein supplements was 0.9 ± 0.7 g/kg/day at the time of the NBAL with an NBAL of –12.1 ± 10.9 g/day at 7 ± 4 days in the ICU. Combined caloric intake from EN and propofol at the time of the NBAL was 12 ± 8 kcal/kg/day. Nitrogen equilibrium (NBAL of –4 g/day or better) occurred in five patients. Patients achieving nitrogen equilibrium received more protein than those with a negative NBAL (1.2 ± 0.4 g/kg/day vs 0.8 ± 0.8 g/kg/day, P = .046). The linear regression for NBAL in response to graded increases in protein intake was as follows: NBAL = 8.5 × protein intake (g/kg/day) – 18.8 (r = 0.450, P < .001).

Conclusion

Critically ill ventilator‐dependent patients with COVID‐19 exhibit significant variability in nitrogen accretion response to increases in protein intake and often have a markedly negative NBAL.
Richtig gewichtig
Authors: Thaller Sigrid , Močnik Richard , Mathelitsch Leopold
Published: September 2021

Beim Gewichtheben im Sport ist nicht nur Kraft, sondern auch die richtige Technik essentiell. Das Beispiel des Kreuzhebens (Deadlift) zeigt, dass eine breitere Fußstellung die Hebehöhe und damit die aufzuwendende Energie reduziert. In der vorgebeugten Anfangsphase des Hebens sind die Kräfte am größten, insbesondere auf die Wirbelsäule. Hinzu kommt ein ungünstiges Anwinkeln der Fuß‐,Knie‐ und Hüftgelenke. Insbesondere der Druck auf die Wirbelsäule und Bandscheiben kann bei großen Gewichten stark ansteigen. Ein Gewichthebergürtel erhöht den die Wirbelsäule unterstützenden Druck im Bauchraum.
Solarthermische Kraftwerke
Authors: Pitz‐Paal Robert
Published: September 2021

Solarthermische Kraftwerke können heute kommerziell Solarstrom nach Bedarf produzieren. Zu dieser Technologie formulierten zwei Astronomen von der University of Arizona bereits 1971 eine Vision, die inzwischen recht genau eingetroffen ist. Allerdings waren dafür mehrere Anläufe nötig.
Quäkertum und Atomtheorie
Authors: Loos Andreas
Published: September 2021

Er bestieg Berge, um den Luftdruck zu messen, und sein ganzes Leben war ein Aufstieg. Heute ist er durch ein Gasgesetz und als ein Pionier der Atomtheorie berühmt.
Helmholtz' Zeichentheorie
Authors: Mecke Klaus
Published: September 2021

Um seine sinnesphysiologischen Arbeiten erkenntnistheoretisch zu verstehen, begriff Hermann von Helmholtz Empfindungen als „Zeichen“, die kein Abbild von Objekten sind, sondern wie Wörter einer Sprache gedeutet werden müssen.
Theoretical research on molecular motors based on 4,5‐diazafluorenyl coordination motifs
Authors: Guan Qiuping , Wang Hailong , Wang Xueye
Published: September 2021

The properties of naphthalene‐containing molecular motors (L1), pyrene‐containing molecular motor (L2), and two complexes (Zn (CN)2(L1) and Zn (CN)2(L2)) based on 4,5‐diazafluorenyl coordination motifs are compared and analyzed. The influence of structural modification on the thermal helix inversion step is studied through density functional theory (DFT). The analysis of the rotation energy barrier shows that the expansion of the rotor structure of motor increases the energy barrier of the rotation process, but the motors L1 and L2 act as ligands to coordinate with the metal, which is an effective method to reduce the rotation energy barrier value. Through frontier molecular orbital (FMO), it is found that expanding the π‐conjugation system in the rotor part of the motor can increase the chemical reactivity of the motor. Then the ultraviolet‐visible (UV/Vis) absorption spectra of the motors is calculated, indicating the expansion of the π‐conjugation system in the upper half of the molecular motor is a feasible method to move the excitation wavelength to the visible light region. Finally, hole‐electron analysis is carried out. The expansion of the π‐electron system of the motor rotor and the coordination of the rotor and metal can improve the efficiency of hole‐electron separation and facilitate electron transfer.
The 27th Annual Prostate Cancer Foundation Scientific Retreat Report
Authors: Miyahira Andrea K. , Soule Howard R.
Published: September 2021

Background

The 27th Annual Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) Scientific Retreat was held virtually from October 20 to 23, 2020.

Methods

The Annual PCF Scientific Retreat is a global scientific research conference that highlights the most promising and cutting edge advances in prostate cancer basic, translational and clinical research, as well as research from other fields with a strong potential for advancing prostate cancer research.

Results

Primary areas of research discussed at the 2020 PCF Retreat included: (i) the intersection between prostate cancer and COVID‐19 research; (ii) lessons from the COVID‐19 pandemic that may address prostate cancer disparities; (iv) the role of the microbiome in cancer; (v) current challenges in treatment of patients with metastatic prostate cancer; (viii) prostate cancer germline genetics and evolutionary genomics; (ix) advances in circulating DNA methylation biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment selection; (x) advances in the development of MYC‐targeting therapeutics; (xi) advances in antibody‐drug conjugates for the treatment of cancer; (xii) advances for immunotherapy in prostate cancer; and (xiii) updates from other recent prostate cancer clinical trials.

Conclusions

This article summarizes the research presented at the 2020 PCF Scientific Retreat. We hope that dissemination of this knowledge will help to accelerate and direct the next major advances in prostate cancer research and care.
Thermoelectric Performance Enhanced by Destructive Quantum Interference in Nanoporous Carbon Nanotube Based Junctions
Authors: Wang Jue , Wu Dan , Huang Lin , Cao Xuan-Hao , Ding Zhong-Ke , Zeng Yu-Jia , Luo Nan-Nan , Tang Li-Ming , Chen Ke-Qiu
Published: September 2021

Aided by density functional theory with nonequilibrium Green's functions simulations, the thermoelectric (TE) properties of nanoporous carbon nanotube junctions formed by covalently binding carbon nanotubes via benzene bridges with either meta‐ or para‐connections are investigated. The results show that the TE performances of meta‐connected nanoporous carbon nanotube junctions are significantly improved due to the influence of destructive quantum interference (DQI) effect. Moreover, the TE properties of meta‐connected carbon nanotube junctions can be further improved by substitution of nitrogen atom and gate voltage. The reason is that the quantum interference patterns can be transformed from DQI to constructive quantum interference (or Fano resonance). The theoretical analysis shows that the TE figure of merit (ZT) for meta‐connected carbon nanotube junctions at room temperature is close to 0.5 near the Fermi level, ≈20 times higher than that of the perfect carbon nanotube junction. These results reveal that quantum interference effect can indeed be used to enhance the TE performance of molecular junctions.
The effect of Gymnema sylvestre supplementation on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Devangan Suneel , Varghese Bincy , Johny Ebin , Gurram Surender , Adela Ramu
Published: September 2021

This systematic review and meta‐analysis aims to find the effect of Gymnema sylvestre (GS) supplementation on glycemic control in type‐2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). PubMed, Cochrane library, Google Scholar, and Science Direct were searched from inception to June 2020 to identify the studies that reported GS supplementation on glycemic parameters. Standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated by comparing the post‐intervention data with baseline data. SMDs with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using a random‐effects model. Our meta‐analysis consisting of 10 studies with a total of 419 participants showed that GS supplementation significantly reduces fasting blood glucose (FBG) (SMD 1.57 mg/dl, 95% CI 2.22 to −0.93, p < .0001, I2 90%), postprandial blood glucose (PPBG) (SMD 1.04 mg/dl, 95% CI 1.53 to −0.54, p < .0001, I2 80%), and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) (SMD 3.91, 95% CI 7.35 to −0.16%, p < .0001, I2 99%) compared to baseline. Further, our study also found that GS significantly reduces triglycerides (SMD 1.81 mg/dl, 95% CI 2.95 to −0.66, p < .0001, I2: 96%), and total cholesterol (SMD 4.10 mg/dl, 95% CI 7.21 to −0.99, p < .0001, I2: 98%) compared to baseline. Our study shows that GS supplementation is effective in improving glycemic control and reducing lipid levels in T2DM patients and suggests that such supplementation might be used as an effective therapy for the management of T2DM and its associated complications to an extent.
An easy to use GUI for simulating big data using Tennessee Eastman process
Authors: Andersen Emil B. , Udugama Isuru A. , Gernaey Krist V. , Khan Abdul R. , Bayer Christoph , Kulahci Murat
Published: September 2021

Data‐driven process monitoring and control techniques and their application to industrial chemical processes are gaining popularity due to the current focus on Industry 4.0, digitalization and the Internet of Things. However, for the development of such techniques, there are significant barriers that must be overcome in obtaining sufficiently large and reliable datasets. As a result, the use of real plant and process data in developing and testing data‐driven process monitoring and control tools can be difficult without investing significant efforts in acquiring, treating, and interpreting the data. Therefore, researchers need a tool that effortlessly generates large amounts of realistic and reliable process data without the requirement for additional data treatment or interpretation. In this work, we propose a data generation platform based on the Tennessee Eastman Process simulation benchmark. A graphical user interface (GUI) developed in MATLAB Simulink is presented that enables users to generate massive amounts of data for testing applicability of big data concepts in the realm of process control for continuous time‐dependent processes. An R‐Shiny app that interacts with the data generation tool is also presented for illustration purposes. The app can visualize the results generated by the Tennessee Eastman Process and can carry out a standard fault detection and diagnosis studies based on PCA. The data generator GUI is available free of charge for research purposes at https://github.com/dtuprodana/TEP.
Wildfire governance in a changing world: Insights for policy learning and policy transfer
Authors: Nikolakis William , Roberts Emma
Published: September 2021

Societies must learn to live with, and adapt to wildfire risk. Here we examine wildfire governance and policy in British Columbia (BC), Canada over the last two decades, to examine how policy lessons are drawn from wildfire events. We focus on independent reviews and their recommendations provided, lessons learned from abroad, and whether policy and governance has changed (or not). Jurisdictional and intercultural issues in BC's wildfire response are outlined in this paper, and opportunities for innovative solutions are examined. We then present a case study of the Tsilhqot'in Fire Management program to demonstrate how Indigenous Fire Management is being revitalized as a proactive solution to wildfire. Our intent is to reveal why policy learning and transfer from Indigenous peoples is increasing in this context, and we identify how this is occurring. Barriers to implementation are outlined, and implications for wildfire governance in BC and globally are discussed.
Discrete‐time impulsive and switched systems with delayed impulses: Delay‐based criteria on input‐to‐state stability
Authors: Gao Lijun , Liu Huiying , Park Ju H. , Liu Zihan
Published: September 2021

This article addresses input‐to‐state stability (ISS) for general discrete‐time impulsive and switched delayed systems coupled with delayed impulses. In view of the multiple Lyapunov functionals and the subsequence method, some novel sufficient criteria pledging ISS are established. It is indicated that, the impulsive and switched delayed systems as an integral will be ISS if destabilizing impulses do not happen too frequently when the system flows are ISS with the impulse dynamics governing the delay‐dependent impulses not being ISS. Oppositely, when the impulse dynamics are ISS with the system flows not being ISS, the delayed impulses are demanded to happen intensively enough to eliminate the destabilizing influences of the system dynamics so that the ISS can be realized for the whole system. Especially, the whole system is ISS for arbitrary impulse time series when the system flows and the impulse dynamics are both ISS. The results obtained in this article, when compared with the prior consequences on similar problems, can deal with a large class of discrete delayed systems as the criteria not only apply to the cases of smaller delays than the dwell time bound, but also suitable to larger. Moreover, the acquired dwell time bound is more relaxed than existing ones in the sense that the dwell time constraints are independent of delay bounds and an extra parameter. In order to prove the effectiveness of the theoretical results, two examples are expressed with numerical simulations, in which the Chua's circuit system with delay‐dependent impulses is considered.
Multiple event‐triggered schemes for a class of switched descriptor systems with asynchronous switching
Authors: Shi Jiasheng , Zhao Jun
Published: September 2021

This article studies asynchronous switching for a class of switched descriptor systems (SDSs) under multiple event‐triggered schemes (ETSs). First, by using a mode‐dependent coordinates transformation, a SDS is equivalently transformed into a reduced‐order ordinary switched linear system with state jumps. Then, multiple ETSs are used to transmit the state and switching signal information. The asynchronism between system modes and controller modes inevitably happens in a switching interval. Next, by constructing a controller‐mode‐dependent Lyapunov functional and using the asynchronous switching strategy, an exponential stability criterion is presented for the closed‐loop system with average dwell time switching signals. Meanwhile, the state feedback controller and multiple ETSs are codesigned. Besides, the Zeno behavior is avoided. In the end, the validity of the proposed method is demonstrated by a numerical example.
Can fish lifts aid upstream dispersal of the invasive red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) past high‐head hydropower plants?
Authors: Santos José Maria , Amaral Susana Dias , Pádua João
Published: September 2021

Many types of fish passage facilities have been built worldwide to mitigate river fragmentation by instream barriers and partially restore upstream movements of fish. Among these, fish lifts are a design that enables fish to pass through high‐head obstacles (>15 m height) and can be considered the most cost‐effective fishway. However, fishways may also be used by non‐native invasive species to disperse and impact new areas and organisms upstream. As far as the authors are aware, this short communication is the first record of the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) passing through a fish lift. The lift, built at the Touvedo hydropower plant on the Lima River (northwestern Portugal), was mainly designed for the upstream passage of diadromous fish. Fish‐lift use and upstream passage of two crayfish occurred over 3 years (November 2017–October 2020) during periods of turbine shutdown and high water temperatures (18°C). In the present case, the crayfish passage should not pose a serious threat due to the limiting characteristics of the upstream lotic environment. Nevertheless, despite the small sample size, this study shows the importance of considering the passage of invasive crayfish species while planning future fishways and the need to continuously monitor such facilities to detect the passage of this and other non‐native invasive species.
Robust and flexible inference for the covariate‐specific receiver operating characteristic curve
Authors: Inácio Vanda , M. Lourenço Vanda , de Carvalho Miguel , Parker Richard A. , Gnanapragasam Vincent
Published: September 2021

Diagnostic tests are of critical importance in health care and medical research. Motivated by the impact that atypical and outlying test outcomes might have on the assessment of the discriminatory ability of a diagnostic test, we develop a robust and flexible model for conducting inference about the covariate‐specific receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve that safeguards against outlying test results while also accommodating for possible nonlinear effects of the covariates. Specifically, we postulate a location‐scale regression model for the test outcomes in both the diseased and nondiseased populations, combining additive regression B‐splines and M‐estimation for the regression function, while the distribution of the error term is estimated via a weighted empirical distribution function of the standardized residuals. The results of the simulation study show that our approach successfully recovers the true covariate‐specific area under the ROC curve on a variety of conceivable test outcomes contamination scenarios. Our method is applied to a dataset derived from a prostate cancer study where we seek to assess the ability of the Prostate Health Index to discriminate between men with and without Gleason 7 or above prostate cancer, and if and how such discriminatory capacity changes with age.
A Film‐Forming System Hybridized with a Nanostructured Chloroacetamide Derivative for Dermatophytosis Treatment
Authors: da R. M. Machado Gabriella , Inácio Luiz A. M. , Berlitz Simone J. , Pippi Bruna , Kulkamp‐Guerreiro Irene C. , Lavorato Stefânia N. , Alves Ricardo J. , de Andrade Saulo F. , Fuentefria Alexandre M.
Published: September 2021

Dermatophytosis is the fourth cause of infectious disease in the world, affecting about 40 % of the population. Thus, the prospection for new agents and the new formulations with antifungal potential is necessary. This study evaluated the anti‐dermatophytic activity of a nanostructure (NS) containing a chloroacetamide derivative (4‐BFCA‐NS) as well as its dose‐response kinetics and skin adhesive property when associated to a film‐forming system (4‐BFCA‐NS‐FFS), forming a hybrid. The dose‐response curves of 4‐BFCA‐NS and 4‐BFCA‐NS‐FFS were evaluated by time‐kill assay. A texture analyzer was used for evaluated the skin adhesive property of the formulations. NS presented a nanometric size, monomodal distribution, positive zeta potential, and slightly acidic pH. 4‐BFCA‐NS maintained the anti‐dermatophytic action of 4‐BFCA (MIC range 6.25–25 μg ml−1). 4‐BFCA‐NS‐FFS hybrid presented a fungicidal action and skin adhesive capacity, suggesting its applicability as a new topical formulation for the treatment of superficial and cutaneous dermatophytosis.
In Situ Defect Induction in Close‐Packed Lattice Plane for the Efficient Zinc Ion Storage
Authors: Xie Xuefang , Fang Guozhao , Xu Wenjie , Li Jialin , Long Mengqiu , Liang Shuquan , Cao Guozhong , Pan Anqiang
Published: September 2021

In situ electrochemical activation brings unexpected electrochemical performance improvements to electrode materials, but the mechanism behind it still needs further study. Herein, an electrochemically in situ defect induction in close‐packed lattice plane of vanadium nitride oxide (VNxOy) in aqueous zinc‐ion battery is reported. It is verified by theoretical calculation and experiment that the original compact structure is not suitable for the insert of Zn2+ ion, while a highly active one after the initial electrochemical activization accompanied by the in situ defect induction in close‐packed lattice plane of VNxOy exhibits efficient zinc ion storage. As expected, activated VNxOy can achieve very high reversible capacity of 231.4 mA h g−1 at 1 A g−1 and cycle stability upto 6000 cycles at 10 A g−1 with a capacity retention of 94.3%. This work proposes a new insight for understanding the electrochemically in situ transformation to obtain highly active cathode materials for the aqueous zinc‐ion batteries.
Changes in Optimal Ternary Additive Loading when Processing Large Area Organic Photovoltaics by Spin‐ versus Blade‐Coating Methods
Authors: Sundaresan Chithiravel , Alem Salima , Radford Chase L. , Grant Trevor M. , Kelly Timothy L. , Lu Jianping , Tao Ye , Lessard Benoît H.
Published: September 2021

As we move toward roll‐to‐roll processing of organic photovoltaics (OPVs), it is important to validate the process and the ink formulations. A poly[[9‐(1‐octylnonyl)‐9Hcarbazole‐2,7‐diyl]‐2,5‐thiophenediyl‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole‐4,7 diyl2,5thiophenediyl]:[6,6]‐phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PCDTBT:PC71BM)‐based OPV with an increase in power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 4.6% up to 5.4% by incorporating bis(tri‐hexylsiloxy) silicon phthalocyanine ((3HS)2‐SiPc) NIR absorbing ternary additives on indium tin oxide (ITO)/polyethyleneterapthalate (PET) flexible substrate with active area of 1 cm2 under simulated AM 1.5G one sun irradiation. Maximum PCE of the ternary OPVs was obtained with 5 wt% of (3HS)2‐SiPc added when processing the active layer by spin coating, whereas the addition of 10 wt% of (3HS)2‐SiPc is required for the maximization of PCE when processing the films by blade coating. The importance of processing conditions when optimizing the concentration of ternary additives in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) OPVs is demonstrated.
Optimizing Vertical Crystallization for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells by Buried Composite Layers
Authors: Yang Xiaoyu , Li Lei , Wu Jiang , Hu Qin , Wang Yanju , Russell Thomas P. , Tu Yongguang , Zhu Rui
Published: September 2021

Planar‐heterojunction perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have experienced rapid evolution in recent years because of the low‐temperature processing, suitable alignment, and high mobility of the tin oxide buried contact layer. However, improper SnO2 surface states and poor crystallinity of the top perovskite films are still the main obstacles for the planar PSCs in which performance always lags behind their mesoporous counterparts. Herein, a new buried contact is reported by introducing graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) into the commonly used SnO2 which performs outstanding transmittance, conductivity, and surface states for a high‐quality electron‐transporting layer. Moreover, the vertical composition and crystallinity of the top perovskite film are manipulated by rich amino groups on the edge of the g‐C3N4 nanosheets which induce the prenucleation of the lead‐rich species at the buried interface. Benefiting from the high‐quality buried contacts and the optimized perovskite layers, the resultant PSCs achieve a champion efficiency of 21.5% with all photovoltaic parameters enhanced in comparison with their control counterparts (<20%).
Improved Nanophotonic Front Contact Design for High‐Performance Perovskite Single‐Junction and Perovskite/Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Ismail , Shahiduzzaman Md. , Saleque Ahmed Mortuza , Huqe Md. Rashedul , Qarony Wayesh , Ahmed Safayet , Akhtaruzzaman Md. , Knipp Dietmar , Tsang Yuen Hong , Taima Tetsuya , Zapien Juan Antonio
Published: September 2021

The front contact of solar cells greatly influences the optoelectronic performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by controlling the coherent light propagation as well as charge transport within the device. Herein, the nanophotonic front contact consisting of multilayer nanodomes and nanoholes for high‐efficiency perovskite single‐junction and perovskite/perovskite tandem solar cells (PVK/PVK TSCs) is investigated. The optical and electrical characteristics of solar cells are investigated by conducting an advanced 3D numerical approach with the combination of finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) and finite‐element method (FEM) simulations embedded with the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. The numerical modeling is validated by fabricating a set of efficient PSCs, optimized to a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.9%, VOC of 1.07 V, JSC of 21.8 mA cm−2 and fill factor (FF) of 77%. The nanophotonic device results in improved JSC by 10−15%, resulting from 10−15% enhanced light incoupling compared with the planar device, while also strengthening the omnidirectional capabilities at angles of illumination as high as 40°. The optimized nanophotonic front contact results in PCEs of >23% and >30% (matched JSC ≈18 mA cm−2) for single‐junction PSCs and PVK/PVK TSCs, respectively. Details of the nanophotonic front contact, device, and fabrication process are provided.
Re: Isolated, persisting, large choroid plexus cysts should warrant neurosonographic follow‐up
Authors: Malinger G.
Published: September 2021

Linked article: This Correspondence comments on Paladini et al. Click here to view the article.
Convallatoxin, the primary cardiac glycoside in lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis), induces tissue factor expression in endothelial cells
Authors: Morimoto Mami , Tatsumi Kohei , Yuui Katsuya , Terazawa Ikuko , Kudo Risa , Kasuda Shogo
Published: September 2021

Background

Convallotoxin (CNT), present in lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis), is a toxin that causes food poisoning among humans and companion animals. Although various symptoms of CNT poisoning have been well described, hypercoagulability owing to CNT is only empirically known among some veterinarians, and the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. CNT exerts cytotoxic effects on endothelial cells.

Objectives

This study aimed to determine whether CNT induces the expression of tissue factor (TF), a potent initiator of the extrinsic coagulation cascade, in endothelial cells and leads to a hypercoagulable state.

Methods

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used for in vitro experiments. HUVECs were treated with or without CNT (50 and 100 nM) for 4 h. Phosphate‐buffered saline was used as a control. Cell viability was determined using the WST‐8 assay. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine TF mRNA expression. TF protein expression was observed using a laser scanning confocal microscope.

Results

The viability of HUVECs significantly reduced after CNT treatment compared with that of non‐treated cells (p < 0.05). Moreover, a significant increase in TF mRNA and protein expression was observed after 4 h of CNT treatment. CNT elicited these effects in a dose‐dependent manner.

Conclusions

TF expression induced by CNT in endothelial cells can contribute to the development of a hypercoagulable state. The present study partially revealed the mechanisms underlying the CNT‐induced hypercoagulable state. The findings can contribute to the development of a novel therapy for lily of the valley poisoning.
Metallic, metal oxide, and metalloid nanoparticles toxic effects on freshwater microcrustaceans: An update and basis for the use of new test species
Authors: Gutierrez María Florencia , Ale Analía , Andrade Victoria , Bacchetta Carla , Rossi Andrea , Cazenave Jimena
Published: September 2021

In this article, we performed a literature review on the metallic, metal oxide, and metalloid nanoparticles (NP) effects on freshwater microcrustaceans, specifically focusing on (i) the main factors influencing the NP toxicity and (ii) their main ecotoxicological effects. Also, given that most studies are currently developed on the standard test species Daphnia magna Straus, we analyzed (iii) the potential differences in the biological responses between D. magna and other freshwater microcrustacean, and (iv) the ecological implications of considering only D. magna as surrogate of other microcrustaceans. We found that NP effects on microcrustaceans depended on their intrinsic properties as well as the exposure conditions. Among the general responses to different NP, we identified body burial, feeding inhibition, biochemical effects, metabolic changes, and reproductive and behavioral alterations. The differences in the biological responses between D. magna and other freshwater microcrustacean rely on the morphology (size and shape), ecological traits (feeding mechanisms, life cycles), and intrinsic sensitivities. Thus, we strongly recommend the use of microcrustaceans species with different morphological, physiological, and ecological characteristics in future ecotoxicity tests with NP to provide relevant information with regulation purposes regarding the discharge of NP into aquatic environments.

Practitioner points

Nanoparticles effects depend on intrinsic and external factors.

Nanoparticles affect the morphology, physiology, and behavior.

Effects on Daphnia differ from other microcrustaceans.

The use of more diverse test species is suggested.
Tracing the influence of extra‐framework cations on N2 and O2 adsorption characteristics under plateau environment by GCMC simulations
Authors: Zhang Chenxu , Zhai Mingming , Liu Juan , Li Yuanzhe , Xie Kangning , Guo Wei , Hu Yanfei , Luo Erping , Tang Chi
Published: September 2021

Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) coupling with molecular sieves, especially the Li low silica X (Li‐LSX) zeolite, adsorption technology is widely used in O2 generator instrument under plateau environment. However, the studies of N2 and O2 adsorption and separation properties on zeolite under plateau environment are still obscure to date. In this work, the influence of N2 and O2 adsorptions on the LSX zeolites in harsh plateau environment (3000 ‐ 5000 m) was investigated by Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations. Three kinds of LSX zeolites including Li‐LSX, Ag‐LSX and LiCa‐LSX were taken into consideration. The simulation results indicate that the adsorption amount and affinity of both N2 and O2 elevate with the increasing altitude and following the order of Ag‐LSX > Li‐LSX > LiCa‐LSX. The N2 adsorption was dominated over all three LSX zeolites, leaving O2 much easier to permeate through the LSX zeolites. The isosteric adsorption heat and adsorption density results further proved that N2 and O2 have extremely different adsorption strategies. Moreover, the selectivity and separation coefficients based on ideal adsorption solution theory (IAST) were calculated from GCMC simulations, and the results indicate Ag‐LSX has the highest diffusion selectivity and the steadiest diffusion coefficient among the three LSX zeolites. These findings may contribute to the N2/O2 separation molecular sieves for plateau applications by tailoring the LSX zeolite with different extra‐framework cations.
Getting Unstuck with Internationalization at Home: Seizing the Post-pandemic Moment
Authors: Green Madeleine
Published: September 2021

As I write this essay in late May 2020, the higher education press is blanketed by debate about the enduring changes brought on by COVID-19. Some maintain that the pandemic has already triggered disruptive changes, such as the quick move to online learning and variations in the academic calendar. They speculate that these shifts will endure after the crisis passes. Others predict a shift in the landscape of higher education. In countries with a private higher education sector that is highly dependent on tuition revenue, a substantial number may close, and the resulting landscape will be dominated by stronger, richer institutions. One estimate is that 20% of private institutions in the United States will close (Wescott 2020).
70 Years of Internationalization in Tertiary Education: Changes, Challenges and Perspectives
Authors: de Wit Hans , Altbach Philip
Published: September 2021

Internationalization as a concept and strategic agenda is a relatively new, broad, and varied phenomenon in tertiary education, driven by a dynamic combination of political, economic, sociocultural, and academic rationales and stakeholders. Its impact on regions, countries, and institutions varies according to their particular contexts. Mobility, also known as “internationalization abroad,” is the most referred to activity in internationalization and takes in itself a great variety of forms. Curriculum and global professional and citizenship development, also referred to as “internationalization at home,” is the other key component of internationalization. It receives increased attention, but still less than mobility.
The Evolution of Higher Education Collaboration in the Arctic Through Networking
Authors: Snellman Outi
Published: September 2021

Academic collaboration across the Arctic region—the eight nations bordering the Arctic Circle (United States, Russia, Canada, Denmark/Greenland, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland)—was extremely difficult and restricted during the Cold War years, despite efforts like the establishment of UNESCO and, indeed, the International Association of Universities. Issues and problems, however, do not respect national boundaries: for example, the emergence of massive environmental problems across borders in the region became quite clear during the 1980s. The iron curtain was successful in restricting the movement of people and ideas, but not pollutants.
Higher Education and Public Good in East and West
Authors: Marginson Simon , Yang Lili
Published: September 2021

The 70th year of the IAU has been marked not only by the Covid-19 pandemic but by the geopolitical tension between the United States and China. After almost four decades of cooperation, which began in shared opposition to Soviet Russia and a shared interest in China’s modernisation, the leaders of each country have become strident critics of the other. The escalating war of words has led to disruptions in trade, communications and visas and now threatens the vast and fruitful cooperation between universities and researchers. Much is at stake. Many US universities are in China, such as Stanford with its state-of-the-art centre at Peking University and NYU with a branch campus in Shanghai. Chinese universities benefit from visits in both directions, from bench-marking using American partner templates and from the return of US-trained doctoral graduates. US-China links in science are focused on crucial areas like biomedicine and epidemiology, planetary science and ecology, engineering, materials, energy, cybernetics.
University Leadership: Slippage from Abiding to Peremptory Roles?
Authors: Levy Daniel C.
Published: September 2021

Our university leadership strongly encourages you to attend today’s session on _____. This topic is of the utmost importance to us all.” Such urging populates the Inboxes of faculty, workers, and students at U.S. universities. They come from presidents, vice-presidents, deans, directors of diversity and inclusion offices, coordinators of training and development, and subordinates in the enlarging bureaucracy mobilized to support this leadership. Seminars train employees with “best practices” to improve their “cultural competencies” and correct their deficiencies. Meanwhile, senior administration’s moral purview extends to pronouncements on the political controversies of the day. Taken together, these internal and external roles mark huge scope for university leadership. Since when? Who signed such a contract when hired as faculty or paying tuition?
The Promise of Education: The Future
Authors: Escalante Semerena Roberto
Published: September 2021

Universities and higher education institutions (HEIs) have always been key actors in society. Their capacity for knowledge production, their constant enquiry into new possibilities of approaching reality and its problems, and their critical thinking have always been highly valued by society. Universities have always accompanied society in its development and will continue doing so. They are a public good and a social right. Society requires a safe space where the freedom to think and freedom of speech exist to reflect on and serve society’s needs. This is why society has granted universities the autonomy to organize and govern themselves, with the sole condition being that universities commit to giving back to society the results of the knowledge they generate.
Accelerating the Future into the Present: Re-imagining Higher Education in the Caribbean
Authors: Beckles Hilary , Richards-Kennedy Stacy
Published: September 2021

Progressive societies invest in higher education institutions to help them meet their current and anticipated workforce needs, to find innovative solutions to their most pressing development problems, to think deeply and push the frontiers of knowledge and to help craft a better future.