bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
β‐Alkylation through Dehydrogenative Coupling of Primary Alcohols and Secondary Alcohols Catalyzed by Thioether‐Functionalized N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ruthenium Complexes
Authors: Mechrouk Victoria , Maisse‐François Aline , Bellemin‐Laponnaz Stéphane , Achard Thierry
Published: May 2023

A catalytic system for the direct β‐alkylation of secondary alcohol with primary alcohol has been investigated. In this work, a series of cationic Ru(II)(η6‐p‐cymene) complexes with thioether‐functionalized N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands (imidazole‐based 1 a–l and benzimidazole‐based 2 a–e) have been successfully synthesized and evaluated as catalysts. This investigation shows that modifications in the ligand moiety (thioether group and/or NHC core) have a strong effect on both selectivity and reactivity. Imidazole‐based complex 1 c, with only 1 mol % of catalyst loading, displayed the best catalytic activity as well as the highest selectivity for the β‐alcohol up to 98 : 2 for this tandem borrowing hydrogen/aldol methodology. Applied to a wide range of substrates, β‐alkylated secondary alcohols have been obtained in moderate yields, but generally with complete conversion and very high selectivity.
Autocatalytic Green Synthesis of Imines in Traceless Medium
Authors: Ivanov Roman , Ivanova Elizaveta , Merkulov Vladislav , Zharkov Mikhail , Kuchurov Ilya , Zlotin Sergei
Published: May 2023

For the first time, condensations of amines with carbonyl compounds have been performed in supercritical carbon dioxide (sc‐CO2). The reactions with aldehydes or active ketones proceed at moderate temperatures (35–55 °C) without use of external catalysts. The process is autocatalytic: it is accelerated by the carbonic acid generated in situ by interaction between the released water and the CO2 medium. The imine products were obtained in high yields in a crystalline form and did not require further purification. The one‐pot transfer hydrogenation and [4+2] cycloaddition reactions performed in the CO2 medium have uncovered attractive prospects for facile green synthesis of more complex and valuable compounds from the generated in situ imine products.
Artificial intelligence techniques in advanced concrete technology: A comprehensive survey on 10 years research trend
Authors: Kazemi Ramin
Published: May 2023

Advanced concrete technology is the science of efficient, cost‐effective, and safe design in civil engineering projects. Engineers and concrete designers are generally faced with the slightest change in the conditions or objectives of the project, which makes it challenging to choose the optimal design among several ones. Besides, the experimental examination of all of them requires time and high costs. Hence, an efficient approach is to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to predict and optimize real‐world problems in concrete technology. Despite the large body of publications in this field, there are few comprehensive surveys that conduct scientometric analysis. This paper provides a state‐of‐the‐art review that lists, summarizes, and categorizes the most widely used machine learning methods, meta‐heuristic algorithms, and hybrid approaches to concrete issues. To this end, 457 publications are considered during the recent decade with a scientometric approach to highlight the annual trend/active journals/top researchers/co‐occurrence of key title words/countries' participation/research hotspots. In addition, AI techniques are classified into distinct clusters using VOSviewer clustering visualization to identify the application scope and their relationship through the link strength. The findings can be a beacon to help researchers utilize AI techniques in future research on advanced concrete technology.
Energy and exergy investigation of industrial coal debris effect on solar still
Authors: Smakdji Nafila , Khechekhouche Abderrahmane , Abdelgaied Mohamed , Kabeel Abd Elnaby , Sadoun Ali , Ward Sayed A.
Published: May 2023

Renewable energy‐based desalination systems are one of the main sources of human sustenance to address the climate damage of their fossil fuel‐based counterparts. Drinking water is not available in some remote areas and this causes a problem so there is a real need to develop simple and handy methods to solve this problem. Solar distillation is a simple, cost‐effective, and environmentally friendly process. It entails evaporating dirty water with free solar energy to obtain pure water. This study aims to achieve the highest performance of solar stills by using industrial coal debris as low‐cost and locally available energy storage materials. These coals help to increase the rates of absorption of solar radiation and improve the rates of heat transfer to the basin water. In addition, aluminum waste represents thermal storage materials. Two identical solar stills were exposed to the sun for 10 h, resulting in identical meteorological conditions. The first solar still was taken as the reference (RSS), and the second solar still which contains the carbon debris as low‐cost and locally available energy storage materials, it is the modified solar still (MSS). The results showed that carbon debris improved the accumulative productivity from 3.233 to 4.066 kg/m2, with an improvement rate of 25.76%. Also, the average thermal efficiency of RSS and MSS reached 27.98% and 34.79%, respectively. According to the economic analysis, the sum invested in the building of the two solar stills is recovered in 45 days for RSS and 35 days for MSS.
Forecasting nonstationary time series
Authors: Gatarek Lukasz T. , Welfe Aleksander
Published: May 2023

Many variables show a tendency to increase over time in line with their nonstationary nature. It is notable, however, that the original time series can be transformed into a sequence of jumps measured by time distances between the successive maxima and present the resulting series as the compound Poisson process, which has powerful consequences discussed in the paper. Firstly, the jump‐generating process is stationary, unlike the one generating the original data. Secondly, the dynamics of a variable can be determined using solely the properties of the derived stationary counterpart. Thirdly, using this framework for prediction offers substantial advantages. The proposed methodology allows forecasting the number of periods necessary for a process to achieve the desired level and decomposing the path leading to that level into jumps of different size. It also gives a unique insight into the shape of the trajectory over the prediction horizon, which the traditional approach to the forecasting of nonstationary time series is incapable of providing.
Tiller demography of tall fescue and tall wheatgrass cut at different times during the reproductive phase
Authors: Scheneiter Jorge O. , Sacoccia Matias , Beribe María J. , Barletta Pablo
Published: May 2023

Background

Tall fescue (TF) and tall wheatgrass (TW) are the main temperate perennial grasses used for livestock grazing in the Pampas region of Argentina. In this region, pastures based on these grasses show low tiller density and the presence of bare soil in winter.

Methods

An experiment was performed in pots kept outdoors. Plants of TF and TW were cut every 550°C day and 700°C day, respectively. In each species, reproductive tillers were removed at different times: (i) at each cut, (ii) when they reached the flag leaf stage, or (iii) when they reached full bloom. Tiller appearance, tiller death, and type of bud (basal or axillary) of the tillers present were determined.

Results

Tiller appearance decreased from July to April. Minimum values were 0.2 and 1.1 tillers 100 tillers−1 day−1 in TF and TW, respectively. In TF, tiller death began in September–October and increased from 0.2 to 0.8 tillers 100 tillers−1 day−1 in March–April. In TW, tiller death began in October–November and increased from 0.6 to 0.8–1.0 tillers 100 tillers−1 day−1 from February to April.

Conclusions

Defoliation of reproductive tillers affected the tiller density of TF plants in spring and in the following fall. In TW, the treatments did not modify the tiller density of the plants.
Summertime and the drivin’ is easy? Daylight saving time and vehicle accidents
Authors: Laliotis Ioannis , Moscelli Giuseppe , Monastiriotis Vassilis
Published: May 2023

We investigate how exogenous variation in daylight caused by Daylight Saving Time affects road safety as measured by the count of vehicle crashes. We use administrative daily data from Greece covering the universe of all types of recorded vehicle accidents during the 2006–2016 period. Our regression discontinuity estimates support an ambient light mechanism that reduces the counts of serious vehicle accidents during the Spring transition and increases the count of minor ones during the Fall transition. The effects are driven from the hour intervals that are mostly affected from seasonal clock changes. We then discuss the potential cost implications of those seasonal transitions. In light of the talks about abolishing seasonal clock changes in the European Union (EU), our findings are policy relevant and can inform the public debate as empirical evidence for the block is scarce.
Developmental rate displays effects of inheritance but not of sex in interpopulation hybrids of Tigriopus californicus
Authors: Healy Timothy M. , Hargadon Alexis Cody , Burton Ronald S.
Published: May 2023

Coevolved genetic interactions within populations can be disrupted by hybridization resulting in loss of fitness in hybrid individuals (i.e., hybrid breakdown). However, the extent to which variation in fitness‐related traits among hybrids is inherited across generations remains unclear, and variation in these traits may be sex‐specific in hybrids due to differential effects of genetic incompatibilities in females and males. Here we present two experiments investigating variation in developmental rate among reciprocal interpopulation hybrids of the intertidal copepod Tigriopus californicus. Developmental rate is a fitness‐related trait in this species that is affected by interactions between mitochondrial‐encoded and nuclear‐encoded genes in hybrids that result in variation in mitochondrial ATP synthesis capacities. First, we show that F2‐hybrid developmental rate is equivalent in two reciprocal crosses and is unaffected by sex, suggesting that breakdown of developmental rate is likely experienced equally by females and males. Second, we demonstrate that variation in developmental rate among F3 hybrids is heritable; times to copepodid metamorphosis of F4 offspring of fast‐developing F3 parents (12.25 ± 0.05 days, μ ± SEM) were significantly faster than those of F4 offspring of slow‐developing parents (14.58 ± 0.05 days). Third, we find that ATP synthesis rates in these F4 hybrids are unaffected by the developmental rates of their parents, but that mitochondria from females synthesize ATP at faster rates than mitochondria from males. Taken together, these results suggest that sex‐specific effects vary among fitness‐related traits in these hybrids, and that effects likely associated with hybrid breakdown display substantial inheritance across hybrid generations.
Large Yk,b ${Y}_{k,b}$‐tilings and Hamilton ℓ $\ell $‐cycles in k $k$‐uniform hypergraphs
Authors: Gan Luyining , Han Jie , Sun Lin , Wang Guanghui
Published: May 2023

For , let be the ‐uniform hypergraph with two edges intersecting in vertices. Our main result is that any ‐vertex 3‐uniform hypergraph with at least edges contains a collection of vertex‐disjoint copies of , for . The bound on the number of edges is asymptotically best possible. This problem generalizes the Matching Conjecture of Erdős. We then use this result combined with the absorbing method to determine the asymptotically best possible minimum ‐degree threshold for ‐Hamiltonicity in ‐graphs, where is odd and . Moreover, we give related results on ‐tilings and Hamilton ‐cycles with ‐degree for some other values of .
Using maltodextrin and state diagrams to improve thermal transitions in tilapia fillet (Oreochromis spp.)
Authors: Coronado‐Vázquez Francisco J. , Grajales‐Lagunes Alicia , Rosales‐Mendoza Sergio , Abud‐Archila Miguel , Ruiz‐Cabrera Miguel Angel
Published: May 2023

Background

Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) in the form of frozen fillets is one of the fishes with the highest commercial production levels worldwide. However, protein denaturation, membrane rupture, and lipid oxidation are commonly observed in fillets when stored at standard commercial freezing temperatures for long periods. This study proposes, for the first time, the use of maltodextrin and state diagrams to define processing strategies and suitable storage temperatures for fresh and dehydrated tilapia fillets. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to study the effect of maltodextrin weight fractions () of 0, 0.4, and 0.8 on the thermal transitions of tilapia fillets as a function of solid mass fractions ().

Results

The glass transition temperature curve () and characteristic parameters of maximal freeze concentration (, , ) of tilapia increased significantly with the addition of maltodextrin. Using developed state diagrams, freezing and storage temperatures of −22 °C, −15 °C, and −10 °C (P < 0.05) for long‐term preservation were defined for tilapia fillets produced with of 0, 0.4, and 0.8.

Conclusion

Maltodextrin is an excellent alternative as a cryoprotectant and drying aid to increase the thermal parameters of tilapia fillets by achieving frozen storage temperatures above the standard commercial freezing temperature of −18 °C. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Appendiceal neoplasms—A practical guide
Authors: Rossi Alexander , Maloney Patel Nell
Published: May 2023

Appendiceal neoplasms (ANs) are a diverse group of pathologies that range from benign to malignant with widely varying prognoses. This article serves as an overview of the practical approach to evaluating and managing a patient with AN by reviewing the current literature and guidelines to provide a framework for the management of these nuanced pathologies.
Contemporary surgical management of colorectal cancer in Lynch syndrome
Authors: Abbass Mohammad Ali , Church James
Published: May 2023

Lynch syndrome is the most common hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome. Although the current literature has been supportive of extended resections in certain Lynch syndrome patients with colon cancer. This article reviews the recent data on the topic and raises questions about the importance of homogenous high‐quality prospective data to establish the accurate risk of cancer and future risk of metachronous cancer in the setting of all these risk reduction interventions.
Recalcitrant prurigo nodularis after COVID‐19 vaccination and successfully treated by dupilumab
Authors: Wang Shang‐shang , Chen Qin‐yi , Xiang Lei‐hong
Published: May 2023

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition characterized by the presence of pruritic nodules. We report a 57‐year‐old woman in whom PN might have been induced by COVID‐19 vaccination. PN lesions started 2 days after she received the second dose of COVID‐19 vaccine. She had a poor response to a variety of treatments but achieved satisfactory efficacy after Dupilumab therapy, an interleukin‐4 receptor inhibitor.
Impact of state legislation and institutional protocols on opioid prescribing practices following pediatric tonsillectomy
Authors: Einhorn Lisa M. , Zhao Congwen , Goldstein Benjamin A. , Raman Sudha R. , Cheng Jeffrey
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Tonsillectomy is a common pediatric surgery, and pain is an important consideration in recovery. Due to the opioid epidemic, individual states, medical societies, and institutions have all taken steps to limit postoperative opioids, yet few studies have examined the effect of these interventions on pediatric otolaryngology practices. The primary aim of this study was to characterize opioid prescribing practices following North Carolina state opioid legislation and targeted institutional changes.

Methods

This single center retrospective cohort study included 1552 pediatric tonsillectomy patient records from 2014 to 2021. The primary outcome was number of oxycodone doses per prescription. This outcome was assessed over three time periods: (1) Before 2018 North Carolina opioid legislation. (2) Following legislation, before institutional changes. (3) After institutional opioid‐specific protocols.

Results

The mean (± standard deviation) number of doses per prescription in Periods 1, 2, and 3 was: 58 ± 53, range 4–493; 28 ± 36, range 3–488; and 23 ± 17, range 1–139, respectively. In the adjusted model, Periods 2 and 3 had lower doses by −41% (95% CI −49%, −32%) and −40% (95% CI −55%, −19%) compared to Period 1. After 2018 North Carolina legislation, dosage decreased by −9% (95% CI −13%, −5%) per year. Despite interventions, ongoing variability in prescription regimens remained in all periods.

Conclusion

Legislative and institution specific opioid interventions was associated with a 40% decrease in oxycodone doses per prescription following pediatric tonsillectomy. While variability in opioid practices decreased post‐interventions, it was not eliminated.

Level of evidence

3
Effect of the Functional Groups of Polymers on Their Adsorption Behavior on Graphene Oxide Nanosheets
Authors: Al‐Bermany Ehssan , Chen Biqiong
Published: May 2023

Graphene‐based polymer nanocomposites are emerging materials for both fundamental research and industrial applications. The influence of polymer functional groups on their adsorption behavior onto graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets is investigated, with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid) (PMMA‐co‐MAA), and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) having the same backbone but different functional side groups selected as the model polymers. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction results confirm the interfacial interaction between the polymer and GO. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals notable enhancements in the amount of the adsorbed polymer up to 30.6 wt.% for PMMA‐co‐MAA/GO and 49.7 wt.% PMAA/GO compared with 18.7 wt.% for PMMA/GO. The water contact angle decreases from 71.3o for PMMA/GO to 69.1° for PMMA‐co‐MAA/GO and to 61.2° for PMAA/GO. The further washing process reduces the adsorption amount for the polymer/GO hybrid. Overall, the polar functional groups of the polymer directly influence the polymer adsorption behavior onto GO.
A note on fsg$\text{fsg}$ groups in p‐adically closed fields
Authors: Johnson Will
Published: May 2023

Let G be a definable group in a p‐adically closed field M. We show that G has finitely satisfiable generics () if and only if G is definably compact. The case was previously proved by Onshuus and Pillay.
Local potential operator and uniform resolvent estimate for generalized Schrödinger operator in Orlicz spaces
Authors: Cao Jun , Dou Xiaoshen , Gao Mengyao , Jin Yongyang
Published: May 2023

The local potential operator with integral kernel restricted in a ball of radius less than some fixed number has appeared frequently in the spectral estimates of the Schrödinger operator. In this paper, we establish a good‐λ inequality for this operator and characterize its uniform boundedness on the weighted Orlicz space in both strong and weak senses. The uniformity in r of this boundedness enables us to recover the classical boundedness of “global” potential operator, by letting . As an application, we establish uniform estimate for the resolvent of some generalized Schrödinger operator on the Orlicz space. An explicit representation in its operator norm on the dependence of is also given.
Nonlinear finite volume discretization of geomechanical problem
Authors: Tripuraneni S. R. T. , Novikov Aleksei , Voskov Denis
Published: May 2023

Elliptic differential operators describe a wide range of processes in mechanics relevant to geo‐energy applications. Extensively used in reservoir modeling, the Finite Volume Method with TPFA can be consistently applied to discretize only a specific type of application under severe assumptions. In this paper, we introduce a positivity preserving Nonlinear Two Point Stress Approximation (NTPSA) based on the recently developed collocated Finite Volume scheme for linear elastic mechanics. The gradient reconstruction is different from the one used in Nonlinear TPFA, but a similar form of weighting scheme is employed to reconstruct the traction vector at each interface. The convergence of the scheme is tested with a homogeneous anisotropic stiffness tensor. The motivation behind the implementation of a new discretization framework in mechanics is to develop a uniform discretization technique preserving monotonicity for generic poromechanics applications.
A new family of high‐order triangular weight functions for mass lumping in vibration analysis
Authors: Fan Huo , Huang Duruo , Wang Gang
Published: May 2023

In the conventional finite element method, only a few types of elements can directly use the weight functions to generate a proper, diagonally lumped mass matrix (LMM), which satisfies mass conservation and positive definiteness. This study proposes a new set of weight functions that can be efficiently constructed and used for generating a proper LMM based on classical 6‐, 9‐, and 10‐node triangular elements. Furthermore, we prove that these new elements are all complete and consistent, which ensures the convergence of the numerical solution. Finally, some modal and forced/free vibration analyses are conducted to demonstrate the computational accuracy and validation of the proposed LMM.
Using machine‐learning methods to predict in‐hospital mortality through the Elixhauser index: A Medicare data analysis
Authors: Liu Jianfang , Glied Sherry , Yakusheva Olga , Bevin Cohen , Schlak Amelia E. , Yoon Sunmoo , Kulage Kristine M. , Poghosyan Lusine
Published: May 2023

Accurate in‐hospital mortality prediction can reflect the prognosis of patients, help guide allocation of clinical resources, and help clinicians make the right care decisions. There are limitations to using traditional logistic regression models when assessing the model performance of comorbidity measures to predict in‐hospital mortality. Meanwhile, the use of novel machine‐learning methods is growing rapidly. In 2021, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality published new guidelines for using the Present‐on‐Admission (POA) indicator from the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, for coding comorbidities to predict in‐hospital mortality from the Elixhauser's comorbidity measurement method. We compared the model performance of logistic regression, elastic net model, and artificial neural network (ANN) to predict in‐hospital mortality from Elixhauser's measures under the updated POA guidelines. In this retrospective analysis, 1,810,106 adult Medicare inpatient admissions from six US states admitted after September 23, 2017, and discharged before April 11, 2019 were extracted from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data warehouse. The POA indicator was used to distinguish pre‐existing comorbidities from complications that occurred during hospitalization. All models performed well (C‐statistics >0.77). Elastic net method generated a parsimonious model, in which there were five fewer comorbidities selected to predict in‐hospital mortality with similar predictive power compared to the logistic regression model. ANN had the highest C‐statistics compared to the other two models (0.800 vs. 0.791 and 0.791). Elastic net model and AAN can be applied successfully to predict in‐hospital mortality.
Interleukin‐1α promotes matrix metalloproteinase‐9 expression, cellular motility, and local invasiveness of ameloblastoma cells
Authors: Ono Yusuke , Fuchigami Takao , Kishida Michiko , Koyama Hirofumi , Iijima Mikio , Oishi Kazuki , Kibe Toshiro , Ishihata Kiyohide , Nishizawa Yoshiaki , Kiyono Tohru , Nakamura Norifumi , Kishida Shosei
Published: May 2023

Aim

Although ameloblastoma is a benign tumor, its local invasiveness and recurrence rate are both high. Thus, the regulation of the invasiveness of ameloblastoma cells into the surrounding tissue is required to understand its pathogenesis. Ameloblastoma cells secrete several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs); however, the factors inducing their secretion remain unclear. We previously suggested that interleukin (IL)‐1α derived from ameloblastoma cells triggers the production of inflammatory cytokines by stromal fibroblasts. In this study, we estimated whether IL‐1α affects the behavior of ameloblastoma cells.

Methods

The gene expression of MMP‐9 was assessed by real‐time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). The secretion of MMP‐9 was assessed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The motility of AM‐3 ameloblastoma and Raw264.7 （macrophage derived cells） cells and the invasiveness of AM‐3 cells were calculated using the Boyden chamber. The invasiveness of AM‐3 cells toward human foreskin fibroblast (HFF)‐2 fibroblasts were assessed using modified double‐layered collagen gel hemisphere (DL‐CGH).

Results

The mRNA expression and secretion of MMP‐9 by AM‐3 ameloblastoma cells were significantly increased by IL‐1α stimulation. The motilities of AM‐3 and RAW264.7 macrophage derived cells and the invasiveness of AM‐3 cells were significantly enhanced by IL‐1α and suppressed by an IL‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1Ra). The invasiveness of AM‐3 cells towards HFF‐2 fibroblasts in a DL‐CGH model was suppressed by a treatment with IL‐1Ra or an anti‐IL‐1α neutralizing antibody.

Conclusion

IL‐1α itself or the IL‐1α‐dependent production of unidentified chemo attractants by stromal cells may be important for the local invasiveness of ameloblastoma cells, and IL‐1α might be a therapeutic target of the ameloblastoma.
Preparation of AKD‐coupled mica and research on the modification to poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate)/poly(propylene carbonate) composite films
Authors: Zhao Yang , Li Yuan , Chen Yongjun , Lai Jinqing , Jiang Hong , Li Fayong , Xie Dong
Published: May 2023

Mica is a variety of filler material with excellent barrier properties. In the present study, mica‐AKD was successfully prepared by treating sericite mica surface with alkyl ketene dimer (AKD). The distribution and content of AKD in mica, the mode of its binding with mica and its surface properties were characterized by thermogravimetry, Soxhlet extraction, Fourier infrared analysis, the scanning electron microscope with energy spectrum and contact angle analysis. The results show that AKD was combined with mica through physical adsorption and chemical grafting, with the content of AKD in mica‐AKD exceeding 5 wt%. Due to AKD‐coated mica surface, mica‐AKD showed hydrophobicity. PCM and PCMa films were prepared by blending PBAT and PPC with mica and mica‐AKD, respectively. Given the same content, mica‐AKD has better compatibility with PBAT/PPC matrix, and PCMa films show better mechanical properties, lower water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability, and higher CDTR/OTR ratio, which has a good application prospect in fruit and vegetable preservation materials.
A comparative static and dynamic behavior of thermoplastic composite joints produced using different joining techniques
Authors: Iqbal Zohaib , Siddique Amna , Nawab Yasir , Shaker Khubab
Published: May 2023

Thermoplastic composites are preferred over their thermosetting counterparts due to their high toughness, fast manufacturing cycle, and ease of recycling. Another advantage is the variety of techniques available to join these thermoplastic composites. This paper analyzes the static and dynamic behavior of glass fiber‐reinforced thermoplastic composite joints produced using different joining techniques. The composite materials were fabricated by compression molding of glass fabric and polypropylene (PP) matrix. These composites were joined using approaches like riveting, adhesive bonding, resistance welding, and hybrid joining techniques. The performance of these joints was analyzed under static and dynamic tensile loads. During the static test, the resistance welded joints showed superior performance as compared to the other joining techniques. The highest load of 2183 N was taken by the resistance welded sample, while the least (358 N) was taken by the mechanical joint. In dynamic testing, the resistance welded joints showed the least variation in the modulus during the dynamic test, showing a higher modulus as compared to the other joining techniques. The highest number of cycles to fail the joint was obtained for the mechanical joint, that is, 40,100, while a similar value was exhibited by the resistance welded joint (39,674). The static and dynamic test results showed resistance welding to be a promising approach for joining thermoplastic composites.
A wide range of poly(glycolic acid)‐based di‐ and tri‐block polyesters by a single organocatalyst: Synthesis and characterization
Authors: Dong Huan , Feng Zhiheng , Sun Maolin , Zhu Shihao , Zhou Jinghong , Li Wei , Ye Jinxing , Cheng Ruihua
Published: May 2023

The ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of glycolide (GA), the copolymerization of GA with ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL), and the terpolymerization of GA with ε‐CL and lactide (LA) were studied over the cheap non‐toxic metal‐free organocatalyst tetrabutylammonium 2‐(carbamyl)benzoate (TBACB). The catalyst with comparable catalytic activity to the comonomers afforded a series of well‐defined PGA‐based block polymers with ε‐CL, LA monomers at high yields by varying feeding methods under bulk and solution conditions. The poly(ɛ‐caprolactone‐b‐glycolic acid)s (PCGAs) and poly(ε‐caprolactone‐b‐lactide‐b‐glycolide) (PCLGAs) with controllable chain segment composition were obtained by “one‐pot” solution copolymerization in mixtures, or semi‐batch copolymerization. Due to the high thermal stability of TBACB, the PCGA and PCLGA with high molecular weight (Mn = 6.9 and 10.0 kg mol−1) could also be obtained by bulk polymerization at 120 °C by sequential addition of ε‐CL, (LA), and GA in a short time (<2.5 h). Compared to the polymers with similar compositions by different methods, the bulk polymerization showed more effective and higher molecular weight. The microstructure characterized by NMR showed highly ordered block polymers with defined chain segments. Two melting transitions (Tm) of PCGA suggested exclusively associated with PCL and PGA segmental chain in the product.
Editor's note
Authors: Mick Connie Snyder
Published: May 2023

本篇编者按简要概述了本期收录的文章并邀请读者予以响应和提交稿件。
Impact of Elexacaftor–Tezacaftor–Ivacaftor on lung disease in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Gushue Courtney , Eisner Mariah , Bai Shasha , Johnson Terri , Holtzlander Melissa , McCoy Karen , Sheikh Shahid
Published: May 2023

Background

In people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF), the impact of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator therapies, such as Elexacaftor–Tezacaftor–Ivacaftor (ETI), on structural changes in the lungs is unclear.

Objective

To determine the impact of ETI on clinical parameters and on structural lung disease as measured by the changes in the chest computed tomography (CT) scans in pwCF.

Methods

Percent predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (ppFEV1), body mass index (BMI), and microbiologic data were collected at initiation and 3‐month intervals for 1 year. Chest CT scans before starting ETI therapy (baseline) and at 1‐year on ETI therapy were compared by two pulmonologists independently.

Results

The sample size was 67 pwCF, 30 (44.8%) males, median age of 25 (16, 33.5) years. Significant increases in ppFEV1 and BMI observed by 3 months of ETI therapy persisted throughout 1 year of ETI therapy (p < 0.001 at all‐time points for both). After 1 year on ETI, pwCF had significant reductions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (−42%) and MRSA (−42%) positivity. None of the pwCF had worsening of chest CT parameters during 1 year of ETI therapy. Comparing chest CT findings at baseline and at 1‐year follow‐up, bronchiectasis was present in 65 (97%) pwCF and at 1‐year follow‐up decreased in 7 (11%). Bronchial wall thickening 64 (97%), decreased in 53 (79%). Mucous plugging in 63 (96%), absent in 11 (17%), and decreased in 50 (77%). Hyperinflation/air trapping in 44 (67%), decreased in 11 (18%), absent in 27 (44%)

Conclusions

ETI significantly improved clinical outcomes and lung disease as documented by improvement in chest CT scans.
The mechanisms of metabolic resistance to pyrethroids and neonicotinoids fade away without selection pressure in the tarnished plant bug Lygus lineolaris
Authors: Du Yuzhe , Zhu Yu‐Cheng , Portilla Maribel , Zhang Minling , Reddy Gadi V.P.
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND

Heavy selection pressure prompted the development of resistance in a serious cotton pest tarnished plant bug (TPB), Lygus Lineolaris in the mid‐southern United States. Conversely, a laboratory resistant TPB strain lost its resistance to five pyrethroids and two neonicotinoids after 36 generations without exposure to any insecticide. It is worthwhile to examine why the resistance diminished in this population and determine whether the resistance fade away has practical value for insecticide resistance management in TPB populations.

RESULTS

A field‐collected resistant TPB population in July (Field‐R1) exhibited 3.90–14.37‐fold resistance to five pyrethroids and two neonicotinoids, while another field‐collected TPB population in April (Field‐R2) showed much lower levels of resistance (0.84–3.78‐fold) due to the absence of selection pressure. Interestingly, after 36 generations without exposure to insecticide, the resistance levels in the same population [laboratory resistant strain (Lab‐R)] significantly decreased to 0.80–2.09‐fold. The use of detoxification enzyme inhibitors had synergistic effects on permethrin, bifenthrin and imidacloprid in resistant populations of Lygus lineolaris. The synergism was more pronounced in Field‐R2 than laboratory susceptible (Lab‐S) and Lab‐R TPB population. Moreover, esterase, glutathione S‐transferase (GST), and cytochrome P450‐monooxygenases (P450) enzyme activities increased significantly by approximately 1.92‐, 1.43‐, and 1.44‐fold in Field‐R1, respectively, and 1.38‐fold increased P450 enzyme activities in Field‐R2 TPB population, compared to the Lab‐S TPB. In contrast, the three enzyme activities in the Lab‐R strain were not significantly elevated anymore relative to the Lab‐S population. Additionally, Field‐R1 TPB showed elevated expression levels of certain esterase, GST and P450 genes, respectively, while Field‐R2 TPB overexpressed only P450 genes. The elevation of these gene expression levels in Lab‐R expectedly diminished to levels close to those of the Lab‐S TPB populations.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicated that the major mechanism of resistance in TPB populations was metabolic detoxification, and the resistance development was likely conferred by increased gene expressions of esterase, GST, and P450 genes, the fadeaway of the resistance may be caused by reversing the overexpression of esterase, GST and P450. Without pesticide selection, resistant gene (esterase, GST, P450s) frequencies declined, and detoxification enzyme activities returned to Lab‐S level, which resulted in the recovery of the susceptibility in the resistant TPB populations. Therefore, pest's self‐purging of insecticide resistance becomes strategically desirable for managing resistance in pest populations. Published 2023. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Fabrication of Ultrasmall Si Encapsulated in Silicon Dioxide and Silicon Nitride as Alternative to Impurity Doping
Authors: Frentzen Michael , Michailow Michail , Ran Ke , Wilck Noël , Mayer Joachim , Smith Sean C. , König Dirk , Knoch Joachim
Published: May 2023

Further miniaturization of complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices based on impurity‐doped semiconductors is limited due to statistical fluctuation of the impurity concentration in very small volumes and dopant deactivation, increasing the resistance and power consumption. Based on density functional theory calculations and backed by experimental data, the nanoscale electronic structure shift induced by anions at surfaces (NESSIAS) has been described recently. It explains the structure shift of low‐doped single‐crystalline Si nanowells (Si‐NWs) with thicknesses ≤3 nm embedded in SiO2 (Si3N4) toward n‐type (p‐type) behavior. The influence of the anions is on the scale of a few nanometers, allowing for very steep p–n junctions without the drawbacks of impurity doping. The process to fabricate crystalline silicon (c‐Si) NWs embedded in SiO2 and Si3N4, starting with silicon on insulator (SOI) across 15 × 15 mm2 samples, is described. Four possible methods to fabricate Si‐NWs by thinning down single‐crystalline top‐Si of an SOI substrate are evaluated in terms of reproducibility and surface roughness.
Adaptively leveraging external data with robust meta‐analytical‐predictive prior using empirical Bayes
Authors: Zhang Hongtao , Shen Yueqi , Li Judy , Ye Han , Chiang Alan Y.
Published: May 2023

The robust meta‐analytical‐predictive (rMAP) prior is a popular method to robustly leverage external data. However, a mixture coefficient would need to be pre‐specified based on the anticipated level of prior‐data conflict. This can be very challenging at the study design stage. We propose a novel empirical Bayes robust MAP (EB‐rMAP) prior to address this practical need and adaptively leverage external/historical data. Built on Box's prior predictivep‐value, the EB‐rMAP prior framework balances between model parsimony and flexibility through a tuning parameter. The proposed framework can be applied to binomial, normal, and time‐to‐event endpoints. Implementation of the EB‐rMAP prior is also computationally efficient. Simulation results demonstrate that the EB‐rMAP prior is robust in the presence of prior‐data conflict while preserving statistical power. The proposed EB‐rMAP prior is then applied to a clinical dataset that comprises 10 oncology clinical trials, including the prospective study.
Analysis of the institutional development of drinking water supply systems in XYZ City, Indonesia coastal area
Authors: Ali Firdaus , Lestari Dwi L. , Putri Marsya D. , Azmi Khalidah N.
Published: May 2023

Based on the Regulation of the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Number 4 of 2020, drinking water supply management can stand alone or work together with other institutions. The local government establishes a Regional Drinking Water Company which has responsibility for supplying drinking water at the regency/city level. The coastal city as the object of study manages clean water then transfers under a private company. Due to government restrictions regarding the authority to provide clean water, a technical implementation unit was formed for better solution in clean water services. The new form of institution will be able to make decisions and carry out execution at any time because it is directly under the authority of the government, it can also apply the concept of good governance to support more transparent management. In accordance with the policy, the new institutional form will be able to finance itself, develop the level of service and contribute to regional development as a source of local revenue. However, the institutional transition requires adaptation both from a functional and operational perspective. Through this study, an analysis of the readiness for the transition of institutional forms is carried out to minimize conflicts such the lack of improvement in the quality of drinking water services due to limited government authority, insufficient qualified human resources in water management, and the difficulty of developing drinking water service infrastructure because it still depends on the private sector. The analysis of the structure and human resources associated with clean water service targets also conducted. Institutional strengthening, both regulatory and institutional, is necessary to maximize the roles and functions of the relevant institutions. With a more comprehensive understanding in the preparation of contracts and division of authority, no parties will be aggrieved in the long term.
Effective Removal of Congo Red from Water using Chitosan@UiO‐67 Hydrogel Spheres: Synthesis, Characterization and Adsorption Mechanisms
Authors: Jing Zhenyu , Li Yanhui , Zhang Yang , Wang Mingzhen , Chen Bing , Sun Yaohui , Chen Kewei , Du Qiuju , Pi Xinxin , Wang Yuqi , Zhao Shiyong , Jin Yonghui
Published: May 2023

A hydrogel (Chitosan@UiO‐67) adsorbent was prepared by a green and simple method for the adsorption of Congo red. SEM, FT‐IR, TGA, BET, and XRD were used to characterize CS@UiO‐67 hydrogel. The effects of temperature, initial CR concentration, contact time, pH, and adsorbent dose on the adsorption properties of CS@UiO‐67 hydrogel were studied in batch adsorption experiments. FT‐IR analysis showed that the hydroxyl group of chitosan had covalent coordination with Zr, which enhanced the stability of chitosan after complexation with UiO‐67. As for the adsorption experiment, the maximum adsorption capacity of the adsorbent calculated by the Langmuir model was 1001.2 mg ⋅ g−1 at room temperature (301 K). Kinetic analysis showed that the adsorption of congo red on CS@UiO‐67 hydrogel conformed to the pseudo‐second‐order model. The adsorption process accorded with the Langmuir model by isotherm analysis. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic. The adsorption of CR on CS@UiO‐67 hydrogel spheres was mainly attributed to electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonds, and π‐π bonds. After four cycles of regeneration, the material removal rate can still reach about 65 %. The new adsorbent has good application prospects.
Carbon Dots as Solubilizing Agent for Insoluble Phosphates in Enhancing Soil Fertility
Authors: Gogoi Jahnabi , Sarma Tridib K. , Chowdhury Devasish
Published: May 2023

Phosphorous (P) is one of the most essential macronutrients plants need for their growth. One of the ways of increasing the availability of P in the soil is by devising methods of solubilizing insoluble phosphates. Glucose is an important carbohydrate component of fulvic acids which has demonstrated its utility in solubilizing insoluble phosphates. In this work, we explored the applicability of carbon dots from glucose (GL‐CD) and N‐doped GL‐CD in solubilizing water‐insoluble inorganic phosphates viz. tricalcium phosphate and copper phosphate. The carbon dots were directly applied to the soil, and the concentration of phosphates available in the soil was estimated by a UV‐visible spectrophotometer. It was observed that tricalcium phosphate, on treatment with GL CD after 30 days, the available phosphate in soil increased by 106.5 %, and mixture of GL CD and N‐GL CD resulted in an increase of 88.7 %. Similarly, for copper phosphate, the available phosphate in soil increased by 186.5 %, 189.1 %, and 164 % after 30 days of treatment with N‐GL CD, GL CD, and mixture of N‐GL CD and GL CD, respectively. Herein, carbon dots derived from glucose has been demonstrated as agents for solubilizing insoluble phosphates, which might be insightful for the application of nanomaterials in agriculture.
Accessing 7‐Azaaurones of Controllable E and Z Configurations from 8‐Azaflavones via a Rearrangement‐Acylation‐Photoisomerization Sequence
Authors: Saulnier Steve , Mehiaoui Nawel , Leleu Stéphane , Jean Ludovic
Published: May 2023

The amine‐promoted rearrangement of 3‐halogenated and 3‐tosylated flavones into amino‐substituted aurones is a reliable but little‐explored method in aurone synthesis. We extend it to 8‐azaflavones, readily prepared from 3‐cyano‐2‐pyridones by the Baker‐Venkataraman methodology. They rearrange into 7‐azaaurones under mild conditions in the presence of a broad range of aliphatic primary and secondary amines, including bulky amines for which steric hindrance issues are overcome by Lewis base organocatalysis. Primary amines selectively give the E configuration through an intramolecular stabilising hydrogen bond between the amino substituent and the carbonyl oxygen. Suppressing such hydrogen bonds by N‐acylation allows accessing the Z configuration by simple photoisomerization. Thus, we propose a methodology that allows access to the 7‐azaaurone scaffold and allows controlling the E/Z configuration by switching from an amino to an amido substituent at the double bond. Finally, the rearrangement‐acylation‐photoisomerization sequence is successfully extended to 2‐ethylidenefuropyridin‐3‐ones.
Mitigating Ion Migration with an Ultrathin Self‐Assembled Ionic Insulating Layer Affords Efficient and Stable Wide‐Bandgap Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Guo Haodan , Fang Yanyan , Lei Yan , Wu Jinpeng , Li Minghua , Li Xiangrong , Cheng Hong Bo , Lin Yuan , Dyson Paul J.
Published: May 2023

Wide‐bandgap perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are attracting increasing attention because they play an irreplaceable role in tandem solar cells. Nevertheless, wide‐bandgap PSCs suffer large open‐circuit voltage (VOC) loss and instability due to photoinduced halide segregation, significantly limiting their application. Herein, a bile salt (sodium glycochenodeoxycholate, GCDC, a natural product), is used to construct an ultrathin self‐assembled ionic insulating layer firmly coating the perovskite film, which suppresses halide phase separation, reduces VOC loss, and improves device stability. As a result, 1.68 eV wide‐bandgap devices with an inverted structure deliver a VOC of 1.20 V with an efficiency of 20.38%. The unencapsulated GCDC‐treated devices are considerably more stable than the control devices, retaining 92% of their initial efficiency after 1392 h storage under ambient conditions and retaining 93% after heating at 65 °C for 1128 h in an N2 atmosphere. This strategy of mitigating ion migration via anchoring a nonconductive layer provides a simple approach to achieving efficient and stable wide‐bandgap PSCs.
Spontaneous Formation of Uniform Cell‐Sized Microgels through Water/Water Phase Separation
Authors: Shono Mayu , Honda Gen , Yanagisawa Miho , Yoshikawa Kenichi , Shioi Akihisa
Published: May 2023

In this study, a one‐step method is discussed for producing uniform cell‐sized microgels using glass capillaries filled with a binary polymer blend of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and gelatin. Upon decreasing temperature, phase separation of the PEG/gelatin blends and gelation of gelatin occur, and then the polymer blend forms linearly aligned, uniformly sized gelatin microgels in the glass capillary. When DNA is added to the polymer solution, gelatin microgels entrapping DNA are spontaneously formed, and the DNA prevents the coalescence of the microdroplets even at temperatures above the melting point. This novel method to form uniform cell‐sized microgels may be applicable to other biopolymers. This method is expected to contribute to diverse materials science via biopolymer microgels and biophysics and synthetic biology through cellular models containing biopolymer gels.
Three‐in‐One Strategy Constructing the First High‐Performance Nonlinear Optical Sulfide Crystallizing with the P43 Space Group
Authors: Li Jun , Li Xiao‐Hui , Yao Wen‐Dong , Liu Wenlong , Guo Sheng‐Ping
Published: May 2023

The balance between large nonlinear optical (NLO) effect and wide bandgap is the key scientific issue for the exploration of infrared NLO materials. Targeting this issue, two new pentanary chalcogenides KGaGe1.37Sn0.63S6 (1) and KGaGe1.37Sn0.63Se6 (2) are obtained by the three‐in‐one strategy, viz. three types of fourfold‐coordinated metal elements co‐occupying the same site. They crystallize in the tetragonal P43 (1) and monoclinic Cc (2) space group. Their structures can be evolved from benchmark AgGaS2 (AGS) by suitable substitution. Remarkably, 1 is the first NLO sulfide crystallizing with the P43 space group, representing a new structure‐type NLO material. The structural relationship between 1 and 2 and the evolution from 1, 2 to AGS are also analyzed. Both 1 and 2 show balanced NLO properties. Specifically, 1 exhibits phase‐matchable SHG response of 0.6 × AGS, a wide bandgap of 3.50 eV, and a high laser damage threshold of 6.24 × AGS. Theoretical calculation results suggest that the Ga/Ge/Sn element ratios of the co‐occupied sites of 1 and 2 are the most appropriate for stabilizing the structures. The strategy adopted here will provide some inspiration for exploring new high‐performance NLO materials.