bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of popular financial reporting: Evidence from Swedish municipalities
Authors: Donatella Pierre , Bisogno Marco
Published: February 2024

This paper investigates popular financial reporting, to determine how contextual factors can favour or hinder its development. A balanced panel dataset from 289 Swedish municipalities spanning the period 2015–2021 is utilised for the empirical analysis, which is based on bivariate correlations and logistic regression models. The results are interpreted through the lens of legitimacy theory, integrated with innovation and diffusion models. The findings suggest that, while political factors play a certain role, it is primarily the local accounting networks, which enable the exchange of experiences among neighbouring municipalities within the same regional area, that are the most influential factor. These results may prove to be helpful in various contexts, contributing to the academic debate on the relevance of institutional and contextual factors in explaining the voluntary decision to prepare popular financial reports.
What monarch butterfly waystation names and characteristics can reveal about program participants
Authors: Geest Emily A. , Taylor Orley R. , Baum Kristen A.
Published: February 2024

Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) have undergone large scale population declines leading to multiple conservation organizations encouraging the creation of monarch butterfly habitat. Monarch Watch encourages volunteers to create and register monarch habitat as Monarch Waystations.

During registration waystations can be named. Names reflect personal meanings, community attachments, and cultural insights and waystation names in particular can provide insights into what ideas and concepts volunteers associate with a habitat creation program.

A total of 37,916 registered waystation names were examined to determine most commonly used names, words and word themes. The most common types of waystations were medium‐sized suburban gardens in the United States.

The most common waystation names referenced yard placement withMy Backyardthe most frequently used. Place‐themed words were the most used followed by animal‐themed words. Within animal‐themed words, insect words were the most used followed by mammals and birds.

Theological/mortality themed words were present with memorial the most common word, implying a permanence of waystations.

The most common familial terms includedmomandgrandmasuggesting inter‐generational gardening is occurring, which is known to strengthen communities and build well‐being.

The frequency of positive emotion/feeling words implies that participating in habitat creation programs is a positive experience and participation may reduce conservation apathy.

Further research into habitat creation programs and the longevity of habitat created as well as the motivations and demographics of participants can help tailor habitat volunteer programs to desired audiences and increase overall participation.

Read the freePlain Language Summaryfor this article on the Journal blog.
Enhanced dielectric properties and energy storage performances by selectively distributed BaTiO3 in polyvinylidene fluoride/low‐density polyethylene blends
Authors: Bo Ruitian , Han Zhidong , Wang Yongliang , He Peigang , Wang Chunfeng
Published: February 2024

The distribution structure of dielectric fillers is attracting more attention in designing composites with excellent dielectric properties and energy storage performances. Barium titanate (BT) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) were introduced to low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) to build the dielectric structure by modulating the phase structure of PVDF/LDPE and the distribution behavior of BT. The results showed that BT particles can be selectively distributed in the phase structure of PVDF/LDPE by controlling the surface modification of BT, which contributed much to the enhancement of dielectric properties and energy storage performances. The dielectric constant and discharge energy density of the composites with the selective distribution of core‐shell structured BT@PE in the LDPE phase of PVDF/LDPE blend were increased by 51% and 95% in comparison with PVDF/LDPE blend, respectively. By simulating with finite element analysis (FEA), the increased internal polarization and the decreased electric field distortion of PVDF/LDPE/BT@PE due to BT@PE distributed in the LDPE phase and the small dielectric constant difference between the LDPE/BT@PE phase and PVDF phase were the factors to enhance the dielectric constant and breakdown strength, which consequently enhance the energy storage performances of the composites.

Highlights

Phase structure constructed with BT and BT@PE selectively distributed in PVDF/LDPE.

Co‐enhanced dielectric constant and breakdown strength of PVDF/LDPE/BT@PE.

Modulated polarization and electric field due to BT@PE in the LDPE phase of composites.
Optimisation of enzyme‐assisted extraction of camptothecin from Nothapodytes nimmoniana and its characterisation
Authors: Patil Dhiraj M. , Hunasagi Basavaraj S. , Raghu Anjanapura V. , Kulkarni Raghavendra V. , Akamanchi Krishnacharya G.
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Efficient extraction of camptothecin (CPT), an anticancer agent from the commercial source Nothapodytes nimmoniana (J. Graham) Mabb in India, is of paramount importance. CPT is present in the highest concentration in the stem portion, and the stem can be readily harvested without uprooting the plant. The fluorescence microscopy mapping of the bark matrix for CPT revealed its presence in a free form within both the outer (epidermal and cortical tissues) and inner (xylem and phloem tissues) sections. The bark matrix primarily consists of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, rendering it woody, rigid, and resistant to efficient solvent penetration for CPT extraction. We proposed a hypothesis that subjecting it to disruption through treatment with hydrolytic enzymes like cellulase and xylanase could enhance solvent diffusion, thereby enabling a swift and effective extraction of CPT.

Objective

The present study was aimed at enzyme‐assisted extraction, using cellulase and xylanase for hydrolytic disruption of the cells to readily access CPT from the stem of the plant N. nimmoniana (J. Graham) Mabb.

Methodology

The hydrolytic cell disruption of ground powder from the stem bark was studied using cellulase and xylanase enzymes. The enzymatically pretreated stem bark powder was subsequently recovered by filtration, dried, and subjected to extraction with methanol to isolate CPT. This process was optimised through a Box–Behnken design, employing a one‐factor‐at‐a‐time approach to assess parameters such as enzyme concentration (2–10% w/w), pH (3–7), incubation time (6–24 h), and solid‐to‐solvent ratio (1:30–1:70 g/mL). CPT was characterised using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, and a high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for quantification.

Results

The cellulase and xylanase treatment resulted in the highest yields of 0.285% w/w and 0.343% w/w, with efficiencies of 67% and 81%, respectively, achieved in a significantly shorter time compared to the untreated material, which yielded 0.18% with an efficiency of only 42%. Extraction by utilising the predicted optimised process parameters, a nearly two‐fold increase in the yield, was observed for xylanase, with incubation and solvent extraction times set at 16 and 2 h, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the spent material indicated perforations attributed to enzymatic action, suggesting that this could be a primary factor contributing to the enhanced extraction.

Conclusion

Enzyme‐mediated hydrolytic cell disruption could be a potential approach for efficient and rapid isolation of CPT from the bark of N. nimmoniana.
Impact of filler and gelling catalyst/agent on properties of flexible polyurethane foam
Authors: Jaiswal Harshi , Narayanangopalasamudram Mahesh , Maitra Jaya
Published: February 2024

In this study, the physiomechanical properties of carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt (Na‐CMC salt) filler‐loaded foam and its impact on the wicking capacity of the foam were investigated in juxtaposition with the increasing tin concentration. According to the study's findings, standard unfilled foam demonstrated no wicking at all, while flexible PU foam filled with Na‐CMC salt, even with low porosity and subpar mechanical traits, displayed wicking heights of 4 mm, 3.4 mm, and 2.8 mm in test specimens of thicknesses of 6 mm, 8 mm, and 10 mm. Moreover, filled foam with a higher porosity level exhibited significantly better wicking heights of 11.4 mm, 10.8 mm, and 8.2 mm. The inclusion of CMC filler in the PU foam matrix is the reason for enhanced wicking property in foam. The sample thickness and wicking height trends are consistent among all foams; as foam sample thickness increases, wicking height progressively falls. The correlation between the foam's porosity value and the number of closed cell windows is confirmed by stereomicroscopy and the porosity values. According to this study, the infused filler's characteristics have a greater influence on the foam's wicking capacity than the foam's porosity. This study contributes significant insights into ongoing initiatives to enhance user experience, well‐being, and hygiene through innovative and meticulously designed new developed mattress foam using Na‐CMC as a filler.

Highlights

Co‐relation between concentration of tin and infused filler on wicking property.

Standard unfilled foam demonstrated no wicking at all.

Na‐CMC salt filled foam displayed wicking heights.

After 15% increase in tin level, mechanical properties of foam degrade.

Wicking depends on nature of infused filler and the foam's porosity.
Towards a recyclability index for photovoltaic modules: Methodology, challenges and policy implications
Authors: Polverini Davide , Alfieri Felice , Spiliotopoulos Christoforos , Arcipowska Aleksandra
Published: February 2024

Policies related to the circular economy are currently being implemented intensively within the European Union, with a central role attributed to the Ecodesign Directive. Within this framework, this paper devises a general methodology to be applied for the formulation of recyclability indexes for products, with particular regard to the specific case of PV modules. Recyclability indexes can be intended as an aggregated manner to assess and present information about the product aspects related to recyclability, with the view to convey this multi‐layered information to various audiences. The key elements, as well as the related design features, for the definition of such type of index have been identified. An assessment on the environmental benefits stemming from the availability of a recyclability index is also presented. Finally, the policy approaches for the application of a recyclability index in regulatory terms are discussed, by means, in particular, of requirements in the legal framework of the EU Ecodesign Directive.
Acute exposure to pollen and airway inflammation in adolescents
Authors: Nassikas Nicholas J. , Luttmann‐Gibson Heike , Rifas‐Shiman Sheryl L. , Oken Emily , Gold Diane R. , Rice Mary B.
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Pollen exposure is known to exacerbate allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis symptoms, yet few studies have investigated if exposure to pollen affects lung function or airway inflammation in healthy children.

Methods

We evaluated the extent to which higher pollen exposure was associated with differences in airway inflammation and lung function among 490 early adolescent participants (mean age of 12.9 years) in Project Viva, a prebirth cohort based in Massachusetts. We obtained regional daily total pollen counts, including tree, grass, and weed pollen, from a Rotorod pollen counter. We evaluated associations of 3‐ and 7‐day moving averages of pollen with fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and lung function using linear regression models and evaluated the linearity of associations with penalized splines. We tested if associations of pollen with FeNO and lung function were modified by current asthma diagnosis, history of allergic rhinitis, aeroallergen sensitivity, temperature, precipitation, and air pollution.

Results

Three‐ and 7‐day median pollen concentrations were 19.0 grains/m3 (IQR: 73.4) and 20.9 grains/m3 (IQR: 89.7). In main models, higher concentrations of total pollen over the preceding 3 and 7 days were associated with a 4.6% (95% CI: 0.1,9.2) and 7.4% (95% CI: 0.9,14.3) higher FeNO per IQR of pollen, respectively. We did not find associations of pollen with lung function in main models. Asthma, allergic rhinitis, precipitation, and air pollution (nitrogen dioxide and ozone) modified associations of pollen with lung function (Pinteraction < 0.1), while temperature, sex, and aeroallergen sensitization did not.

Conclusion

Short‐term exposure to pollen was associated with higher FeNO in early adolescents, even in the absence of allergic sensitization and asthma.
Incidence and risk factors for long COVID in children with COVID‐19 pneumonia
Authors: Wongwathanavikrom Na‐bhadhra , Tovichien Prakarn , Udomittipong Kanokporn , Palamit Apinya , Tiamduangtawan Pinyapach , Mahoran Khunphon , Charoensittisup Pawinee
Published: February 2024

Background and Objective

There are only a few reports of long COVID including pulmonary function in children after COVID‐19 pneumonia. We determined the incidence of long COVID and abnormal pulmonary function in those children and identify risk factors.

Methods

This cohort study enrolled children admitted with COVID‐19 pneumonia during 2021–2022. We gathered clinical characteristics during admission and at follow‐up 3 months after.

Results

We determined the incidence of long COVID at 39.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 30.7%–49.1%). All severe pneumonia cases consistently reported persistent symptoms. Exercise intolerance, cough, and fatigue were the three most common persistent symptoms in 26 (22.4%), 21 (18.1%), and 18 (15.5%) of the patients, respectively. At the follow‐up, 21 cases (18.1%) demonstrated persistent abnormal chest radiographs. Three cases (6.9%) demonstrated restrictive ventilatory defects. Among those, one case (2.3%) demonstrated concomitant diffusion defect. Three cases (6.0%) demonstrated exercise‐induced hypoxemia after the 6‐minute walk test. Comparing spirometry variables between children with long COVID and without revealed significant difference of FEF25‐75 (z score) between two groups. Age [adjusted OR (95% CI): 1.13 (1.05–1.22), p value 0.002], allergic diseases [adjusted OR (95% CI): 4.05 (1.36–12.06), p value 0.012], and living in polluted areas [adjusted OR (95% CI): 2.73 (1.18–6.33), p value 0.019] were significantly associated with long COVID.

Conclusion

A significant percentage of children developed long COVID after COVID‐19 pneumonia. We should give additional attention to those who have exercise intolerance, chronic cough, or fatigue, especially older children, severe cases, children with allergic diseases, and those living in polluted areas.
Flame propagation and explosion characteristics of food‐based dust as a function of dust concentration
Authors: Sulaiman Siti Zubaidah , Mohd Mokhtar Khairiah , Wan Sulaiman Wan Zaiton , Semawi Nur Hikmah
Published: February 2024

A comprehensive grasp of the mechanisms and characteristics of dust explosions holds significant importance in guiding safe operations and risk mitigation measures. This research examined the impact of dust concentration on the flame propagation and explosion characteristics of rice flour and tea dust. The explosion test was carried out in a 20‐L spherical chamber and demonstrated that elevating the dust concentration led to increased explosion pressure and flame velocity. Simultaneously, it decreased both the rise initiation time and the peak time. This observation can be attributed to more particles ignited by heat radiation per unit volume and a greater frequency of effective collisions between reactant molecules. These factors enhance mass and heat transfer in preheating and reaction zones, producing more violent pyrolysis. However, tea dust exhibited a slower flame propagation with weaker turbulent flame intensity due to its higher moisture content and larger particle size than rice flour.
Introduction to qualification and validation of an immunoassay
Authors: Janssen Sarah
Published: February 2024

Immunoassays play an important role in drug development of products targeting the immune system. Consistent quality of the results from an immunoassay is essential to make unbiased and accurate claims about the drug product during preclinical and clinical development stages. Assay qualification and validation shed light on the performance of the assay. It is the first evaluation and the verification, respectively, of the assay's performance. This tutorial explains and illustrates the calculation methodology for important assay qualification parameters including precision, relative accuracy, linearity, the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ), the upper limit of quantification (ULOQ), the assay range and dilutability. This tutorial focuses on assays used for (pre‐) clinical purposes, characterized by a lognormal distribution of the measurements on its original untransformed scale and by the lack of well characterized reference material. Statistical calculations are illustrated with qualification data from an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) vaccine immunoassay.
Affordable event and monthly rain samplers: Improving isotopic datasets to understand meteorological processes
Authors: Carton Cécile , Barbecot Florent , Hélie Jean‐François , Horoi Viorel , Birks Jean , Picard Antoine , Mona Jorge
Published: February 2024

Rationale

Water‐stable isotopes in rainfall are powerful tracers of atmospheric processes at different spatial and temporal scales. However, commercially available rain samplers for isotopic analysis are prohibitively expensive, especially for high spatial resolution networks and studies conducted in developing countries. A low‐cost, simple, and robust sampler was designed for event and monthly rainfall samplings.

Methods

Rainfall collectors were built based on existing designs provided in the literature and using easily accessible materials. Event samplers were filled with different volumes of reference water and left for 72 h in laboratory conditions to determine the minimum amount of rainfall to be collected to minimize isotopic fractionation, from both postsampling evaporation and equilibration. Samples were analyzed using dual‐inlet isotope ratio mass spectrometry and cavity ring‐down spectroscopy.

Results

For samples larger than 4% of the bottle's capacity, the evaporative enrichment due to Rayleigh distillation is negligible compared to the overall analytical uncertainty. Using a tube connecting the funnel to the water sample has proved to reduce postsampling evaporation by at least five times. To limit water self‐diffusion, we recommend collecting the largest rainfall amount possible. Under these conditions, these collectors are suitable for rainfall sampling for isotopic analysis.

Conclusions

This low‐cost methodology will enable isotopic sampling of precipitation at high spatial resolutions and democratize the use of isotopes for hydrological studies in developing countries. All instructions for building and using these samplers are made openly accessible to the scientific community so they can be repeated and adapted to the needs of each project.
Detailed profiling of polysorbate 80 oxidative degradation products and hydrolysates using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis
Authors: Konya Yutaka , Ochiai Ryosuke , Fujiwara Satoshi , Tsujino Kazushige , Okumura Takeshi
Published: February 2024

Rationale

Polysorbate 80 (PS80) is an amphipathic, nonionic surfactant that is commonly used to stabilize proteins in biopharmaceutical formulations. PS80 undergoes oxidative and/or enzymatic degradation. However, because PS80 is a complex mixture consisting of many constituents, comprehensive evaluations of its oxidative degradation products are difficult and insufficient.

Methods

Our previously reported comprehensive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)‐based method for PS80 effectively provides an overall profile of PS80 components under simple LC conditions. In this study, we attempted to shorten the analysis time. Furthermore, PS80 was oxidatively degraded in a solution containing histidine and iron, and the oxidative degradation products were evaluated using a modified LC/MS/MS method. In addition, enzymatically hydrolyzed PS80 samples were analyzed.

Results

We succeeded in shortening the analysis time from 70 to 20 min while maintaining the resolution of the PS80 components of the same selected reaction monitoring transition. Both the previously reported oxidative degradation products and the newly discovered products were successfully detected, and their composition ratios and changes over time were observed. Changes in the hydrolysates over time are shown in the analysis of the hydrolyzed PS80 samples.

Conclusions

This study clearly showed the presence of changes in PS80 oxidative and/or enzymatic degradation products, including those previously unreported. These results demonstrate that a detailed profiling of PS80 degradation products can be performed using LC/MS/MS, which is less expensive and more generally adopted than high‐resolution MS.
A case of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis: 3D‐CT Findings led to successful multidisciplinary treatment with dupilumab and cryoprobe
Authors: Hamakawa Masamitsu , Yamano Takafumi , Arita Machiko , Niwa Takashi , Ishida Tadashi
Published: February 2024

The present case involved a 78‐year‐old woman with repeated recurrences of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) who presented to our outpatient clinic with a chief complaint of dyspnoea with respiratory failure. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest showed atelectasis of the lower lobes due to mucus plugs. Blood and biochemical tests showed a high peripheral blood eosinophil count (1330/μL) and elevated immunoglobulin E (15,041 IU/mL; normal, < 361 IU/mL). Recurrent ABPM was diagnosed. The patient also showed chronic lower respiratory tract infection associated with Mycobacterium avium complex and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. First, we removed the mucus plug with a cryoprobe to avoid administering corticosteroids. However, subsequent 3‐dimensional CT showed residual mucus plugs, so we administered dupilumab as an additional treatment. After initiating dupilumab, mucus plugs disappeared and respiratory failure resolved. We were able to implement multidisciplinary treatment that did not rely on corticosteroids.
Tillage practices affect soil fertility of a long‐term winter wheat–fallow rotation
Authors: Aula Lawrence , Easterly Amanda C. , Mikha Maysoon M. , Creech Cody F.
Published: February 2024

The contribution of tillage practices to enhancing soil fertility levels is a major subject of research among agricultural scholars. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of several decades of tillage under winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.)–fallow on soil fertility. The experiment was established in 1970 as a randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included moldboard plow (MP), stubble mulch (SM), no‐till (NT), and native sod. Soil samples were collected from 0–10 and 10–20 cm in 2010 and 2011 and analyzed for several variables including soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), and soil pH. Benchmarks for these variables used to evaluate temporal changes for each treatment were obtained from previous documents containing data that were sampled in 1982 and 1984 from the same site. In 2010–2011, SOM, TN, and pH were all influenced by the tillage practices at 0–10 cm (p≤ 0.05). For SOM, the magnitude of the difference between native sod and NT in 1986 was 28% (10.1 g·kg−1) and this increased to 30.6% (18.5 g·kg−1) in 2010–2011 with native sod storing more SOM. Over time, NT sustained a high level of SOM with 7.7 g·kg−1more SOM than the initial 38.3 g·kg−1reported in 1986. TN with NT was greater than SM and MP by 56%, but 53% lower than TN with native sods. In general, soil fertility and nutrient availability at this site supported crop production for over 50 years without fertilizer application.
Antibacterial Peptides derived from Capra hircus Goat Milk Casein
Authors: Ningsih Dian Riana , Habibie Ahmad , Haryadi Winarto , Wikandari Rachma , Raharjo Tri Joko
Published: February 2024

Milk is a popular source of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate antibacterial activity of fractions and peptides derived from casein hydrolysate. Casein protein was hydrolyzed using the trypsin enzyme and the hydrolyzate was fractionated with a strong cationic exchange (scx) cartridge at a pH 3–9 buffer. The results showed that the pH 5–8 fraction demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The pH 6 fraction had the greatest activity against S. aureus and E. coli, with inhibition zone of 8.00 and 2.00 mm, respectively. Peptides in the pH 6 fraction, namely YNVPQLEIVPK (P1), KENINELSK (P2), GLSPEVPNENLLR (P3), and YLGYLEQLLK (P4) were tested for the activity against S. aureus and E. coli. Based on the results, synthetic peptide P1, P2, P3, and P4 have activity against S. aureus and E. coli. Peptide P3 showed higher activity than others with an inhibition zone of 4.55 and 6.60 mm in S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. Peptide P4 showed an amphipathic structure and good physicochemical properties as a cell‐penetrating peptide. A strong interaction was also observed between peptide P4 and enzyme MurC with a binding affinity of −6.6 kcal/mol.
Biochemical, Molecular Characterization, Antioxidant, And Cytotoxicity Of Dicliptera Bupleuroides With Potential Drug Discovery: In Vitro And In Silico Analysis
Authors: tul Muntaha Sidra , Shahzadi Irum , Khan Ibrar , Maroof Shah Muhammad , Shah Tawaf Ali , Siddique Farhan , Nadeem Sumaira , Bin Jardan Yousef A. , Bourhia Mohammed
Published: February 2024

Dicliptera is a genus belonging to family Acanthaceae. Dicliptera bupleuroides is a small perennial herb commonly known as roxburg's foldwing. It is locally used in folkloric medicines for the treatment of different diseases and as a general tonic for wound healing. The current investigational study was to optimize solvent extraction protocol, to identify quantitative and qualitative biochemical composition, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of D. bupleuroides and to characterize the gene associated with biosynthesis of flavonol. The plant of D. bupleuroides was collected from district Abbottabad and separated into its four parts including leaf, stem, flower, and root. To extract the biochemical compounds, five different solvents were used such as methanol, acidified methanol, 80 % methanol, ethyl acetate, and n‐butanol. Total phenolic, flavonoids, flavonol, flavanol (catechin), and anthocyanin contents were determined and antioxidant potential of the extracts was evaluated using various antioxidant assays. The methanolic extracts of D. bupleuroides showed promising antioxidant potential towards DPPH, ABTS, H2O2, ferric, phosphomolybdate and hydroxyl radical scavenging capabilities.The extracts obtained from the solvents mentioned above were tested for cytotoxicity using the 3T3 cell line by using mouse fibroblast cells. The results indicated that none of the extracts demonstrated any toxic effects on the cells, suggesting that they are non‐toxic. The RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized using reverse transcriptase enzyme. Degenerate primers for dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR) gene were synthesized to amplify the desired product. The high quality of cDNA amplification showed the presence of the DFR gene in the Dicliptera bupleuroides leaf for the first time with a product size of 419 bp respectively. The DFR gene isolated from Dicliptera bupleuroides is involved in flavonol biosynthesis regulation. In addition, Glide molecular docking results proposed that the constituents within the n‐hexanic extract of Dicliptera bupleuroides not only furnish an updated approach to better understand the antioxidant potential of its various constituents to interact with an antioxidant target protein (PDB ID:3MNG) but also ensure promise in addressing these potential therapeutic modalities. The active compounds of D. bupleuroides could be suitable for pharmaceutical industries to develop stress related drugs.
IMPLICATIONS OF STORAGE CONDITIONS ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ALGINATE DIALDEHYDE AND ITS HYDROGELS
Authors: Resmi Rajalekshmi , Parvathy Jayasree , Anjali Sudha , Joseph Roy
Published: February 2024

A review of recent literature reveals a spurt in the publications using alginate dialdehyde (ADA)‐based hydrogels. This study evaluates the stability and characteristics of ADA solutions stored at different temperatures (4 & −20 °C; designated as ADA4°C & ADA−20°C) and durations (1, 3, and 6 months), and gives valuable insights into the shelf life, a parameter important in a clinical setting. ADA solutions were characterized for their viscosity, aldehyde content, molecular weight, and chemical structure before and after storage. The solution viscosities of ADA4°C showed a decreasing trend over 6 months while that of ADA‐20°C showed an increase. Compared to freshly prepared ADA, a significant reduction in aldehyde content, from 40.1±1.4 % to 37.1±1.01 %, was observed for ADA4°C stored for 6 months, but the aldehyde content was stable for ADA−20°C stored for the same period. Molecular weight remained stable (~6800 g/mol) irrespective of the storage temperatures. Injectable hydrogels were prepared by reacting the stored ADA solutions with 20 % aqueous solutions of gelatin. Hydrogels prepared with ADA stored at 4 °C for 6 months showed a significant increase in gelation time from 4.3±1.5 to 8.79±0.1 min and a decrease in degree of crosslinking from 54.3±1.4 % to 29.2±2.3 %. A decreasing trend was observed for properties such as water uptake (from 470 to 961 %) and tensile strength (from 348 to 282 kPa). Hydrogels made with ADA−20°C demonstrated better retention of physicochemical properties over time. In vitro studies revealed that the hydrogels showed a non‐cytotoxic response towards L929 cells irrespective of the storage conditions. LIVE/DEAD assay and F‐Actin staining revealed good cell proliferation on the hydrogels. In conclusion, retention of the properties of ADA in its aqueous solution requires careful control of storage temperatures.
2D Ruthenium–Chromium Oxide with Rich Grain Boundaries Boosts Acidic Oxygen Evolution Reaction Kinetics
Authors: Zhao Xuhao , Li Zijian , Jang Haeseong , Wei Xiaoqian , Wang Liu , Kim Min Gyu , Cho Jaephil , Liu Xien , Qin Qing
Published: February 2024

Ruthenium oxide is currently considered as the promising alternative to Ir‐based catalysts employed for proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers but still faces the bottlenecks of limited durability and slow kinetics. Herein, a 2D amorphous/crystalline heterophase ac‐Cr0.53Ru0.47O2‐δ substitutional solid solution with pervasive grain boundaries (GBs) is developed to accelerate the kinetics of acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and extend the long‐term stability simultaneously. The ac‐Cr0.53Ru0.47O2‐δ shows a super stability with a slow degradation rate and a remarkable mass activity of 455 A gRu−1 at 1.6 V vs RHE, which is ≈3.6‐ and 5.9‐fold higher than those of synthesized RuO2 and commercial RuO2, respectively. The strong interaction of Cr–O–Ru local units in synergy with the specific 2D structural characteristics of ac‐Cr0.53Ru0.47O2‐δ dominates its enhanced stability. Meanwhile, high‐density GBs and the shortened Ru‐O bonds tailored by amorphous/crystalline structure and Cr–O–Ru interaction regulate the adsorption and desorption rates of oxygen intermediates, thus accelerating the overall acidic OER kinetics.
Electrolyte Solvation Chemistry for Stabilizing the Zn Anode via Functionalized Organic Agents
Authors: Zhang Yan , Fu Xianwei , Ding Yueling , Liu Ye , Zhao Yong , Jiao Shilong
Published: February 2024

As a potential candidate for grid‐scale energy storage technology, aqueous Zn‐ion batteries (ZIBs) have attracted considerable attention due to their intrinsic safety, environmental friendliness, and ease of fabrication. Nevertheless, the road to industry for this technique is hindered by serious issues, including undesired side reactions, random growth of the Zn dendrites, electrode passivation, and anode corrosion, which are associated with the high reactivity of water molecules during the electrochemical reactions. These challenges are strongly dependent on electrolyte solvation chemistry (ESC), which subsequently determines the electrochemical behavior of the metal ions and water molecules on the electrode surface. In this work, a comprehensive understanding of optimized ESC with specified functional groups on the mixing agents to stabilize the Zn anode is provided. First, the challenges facing the ZIBs and their chemical principles are outlined. Specific attention is paid to the working principles of the mixing agents with different functional groups. Then the recent progress is summarized and compared. Finally, perspectives on future research for the aqueous Zn batteries are presented from the point of view.
Island‐Like Heterogeneous Interface Generating Tandem Toroidal Built‐In Electric Field for Efficient Potassium Ions Diffusion
Authors: Liu Jingyi , Zhang Luwei , Wang Kaihang , Jiang Chao , Zhang Chunfang , Wang Ning
Published: February 2024

For large‐size potassium accommodation, heterostructure usually suffers severe delamination and exfoliation at the interfaces due to different volume expansion of two‐phase during charge/discharge process, resulting in the deconstruction of heterostructures and shortened lifespan of batteries. Here, an innovative strategy is proposed through constructing a microscopic heterostructure system containing copper quantum dots (Cu QDs) highly dispersed in the triphenyl‐substituted triazine graphdiyne (TPTG) substrates (TPTG@CuQDs) to solve this problem. The copper quantum dots are uniformly anchored on TPTG substrates, generating a myriad of island‐like heterogeneous structures, together with tandem toroidal built‐in electric field (BIEF) between every micro heterointerface. The island‐like heterostructure endows both benefits of exposed contact interface and robust architecture. Generated tandem toroidal BIEF provides efficient transport pathways with lower energy barriers, reducing the diffusion resistance and facilitating the reaction kinetics of potassium ions. When used as anode, the TPTG@CuQDs exhibit highly reversible capacity and low‐capacity degradation (≈0.01% over 5560 cycles at 1 A g−1). Moreover, the TPTG@CuQDs‐based full cell delivers an outstanding reversible capacity of ≈110 mAh g−1 over 800 cycles at 1 A g−1. This quantum‐scale heterointerface construction strategy offers a new approach toward stable heterostructure design for the application of metal ion batteries.
Numerical Simulation Study on the Influence of Tundish Filter on Molten Steel Flow and Inclusions Removal
Authors: Ding Guoqiang , Feng Dong , Luo Xudong , Hou Qingdong , Lv Aiwei , Qi Xin , Qi Dabin
Published: February 2024

To study the influence of filter devices on the cleanliness and flow velocity of molten steel in the tundish, the Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equations, the species transport, and the discrete phase model are chosen to analyze and optimize the evolution of molten steel flow field and inclusions removal. The results demonstrate that the filter significantly affects molten steel flow and the removal of inclusions. More filter holes mean more inclusions can contact the filter, and the filter can absorb more inclusions. By changing the number and distribution of filter holes in the filter, the uniform flow of molten steel in the filter section is obtained. The total removal rate of inclusions increases from 64% of the original tundish case to 80% of the optimized case. With the increase in the number of filter holes, the Residence Time Distribution (RTD) curve shape of molten steel changes from narrow and high to wide and short, the tracer's appearance time and peak time at the tundish outlet are prolonged, the average residence time grows from 445 to 738 s, and the dead zone volume is reduced from 39.9% to a mere 0.5%.
Nelumbo nucifera leaves extract ameliorated scopolamine‐induced cognition impairment via enhanced adult hippocampus neurogenesis
Authors: Lee Yi‐Ju , Lin Chang‐Mao , Chang Yun‐Ching , Yang Mon‐Yuan , Wang Chau‐Jong , Hsu Li‐Sung
Published: February 2024

In this presentation, we explored the molecular mechanisms of N. nucifera leaf water extracts (NLWEs) and polyphenol extract (NLPE) on scopolamine‐induced cell apoptosis and cognition defects. The administration of NLWE and NLPE did not alter the body weight and serum biomarker rs and significantly ameliorated scopolamine‐induced cognition impairment according to Y‐maze test analysis. In mice, treatment with scopolamine disrupted normal histoarchitecture in the hippocampus, whereas the administration of NLWE and NLPE reversed the phenomenon. Western blot analysis revealed that scopolamine mitigated the expression of doublecortin (DCX), nestin, and NeuN, and cotreatment with NLWE or NLPE significantly recovered the expression of these proteins. NLWE and NLPE upregulated DCX and NeuN expression in the hippocampus region, as evidenced by immunohistochemical staining analysis of scopolamine‐treated mice. NLWE and NLPE obviously elevated brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and enhanced its downstream proteins activity. NLWE and NLPE attenuated scopolamine‐induced apoptosis by reducing Bax and increased Bcl‐2 expression. In addition, scopolamine also triggered apoptosis in human neuroblastoma SH‐SY5Y cells whereas co‐treatment with NLWE or quercetin‐3‐glucuronide (Q3G) reversed the phenomenon. NLWE or Q3G enhanced Bcl‐2 and reduced Bax expression in the presence of scopolamine in SH‐SY5Y cells. NLWE or Q3G recovered the inhibitory effects of scopolamine on neurogenesis and BDNF signals in SH‐SY5Y cells. Overall, our results revealed that N. nucifera leaf extracts and Q3G promoted adult hippocampus neurogenesis and prevented apoptosis to mitigate scopolamine‐induced cognition dysfunction through the regulation of BDNF signaling pathway.
Iatrogenic colonic entrapment in a cat after elective ovariohysterectomy
Authors: Rea Perri , Chong Wye Li , Hughes Tracy , Jermyn Kieri , Davey Jack S.
Published: February 2024

A 5‐month‐old, spayed female domestic shorthair cat presented to the emergency department with rectal bleeding and lethargy subsequent to intended ovariohysterectomy earlier that day. An exploratory celiotomy revealed a loop of the distal descending colon and the colorectal junction encircled and entrapped by uterine horn remnants, which were ligated together around the intestine. This case represents a novel complication of ovariohysterectomy and illustrates the importance of adequate anatomic visualisation and appropriate surgical technique.
Producing Compliance: The Work of Interpreting, Adapting, and Narrating
Authors: Huising Ruthanne
Published: February 2024

Organizations, to comply with regulations and growing prosocial demands, develop robust accountability infrastructures: offices, techno-legal experts, programs, operating procedures, technologies, and tools dedicated to keeping the organization’s operations in line with regulations and external standards. Although an organization has a single, unified accountability infrastructure—one program, one set of policies and procedures, and so on for environmental management, or health and safety, or risk management—this infrastructure must produce compliance across a dynamic, complex organization. This happens when and because compliance managers and officers make a single, unified accountability infrastructure multiple and diverse in its day-to-day implementation. This approach to compliance work is pragmatic in the sense that rules and requirements are altered based on a deep understanding of regulatory expectations, local operations, and local work cultures. It depends on the skilled interpretation and adaptation of regulation and narration of compliance.
Untangling Safety Management: From Reasonable Regulation to Bullshit Tasks
Authors: Størkersen Kristine Vedal , Fyhn Håkon
Published: February 2024

In this chapter, we argue that the management of values like safety and quality often leads to the creation of unnecessary tasks that interfere with the actual work being done. These tasks, referred to as “bullshit tasks”, are experienced as meaningless and time-consuming. We draw on two decades of empirical research in safety management and work practices in various industries and organizations. We highlight examples where regulations and management systems result in paperwork overload and hinder the efficiency of workers. We discuss how the sociotechnical system, including government regulations, management practices, and worker perspectives, contributes to the proliferation of bullshit tasks. We emphasize the need for a fundamental change in how regulations are made, enforced, and audited to address this issue, and suggest that organizations and managers can take steps to reduce bullshit tasks and improve the overall efficiency of work processes.
Interlocking Surprises: Their Nature, Implications, and Potential Responses
Authors: Farjoun Moshe
Published: February 2024

Safety organizations need to manage their working conditions continuously and effectively while dealing with constant surprises [1]. This chapter calls attention to an increasingly prevalent phenomenon, which I term interlocking surprises. While not completely new, this phenomenon is not fully understood and carries significant implications for research and practice. In conceptualizing interlocking surprises—their nature, implications, and potential responses—my aim is rather simple. It is, to paraphrase social theorist Norbert Elias, to take some steps toward developing the conceptual models and overall vision by which we—academics and practitioners—can make comprehensible in thought what we experience in our everyday realities [2].
Resolving the Command–Adapt Paradox: Guided Adaptability to Cope with Complexity
Authors: Woods David D.
Published: February 2024

The Command–Adapt Paradox arises from the long-standing tension between two perspectives. The central theme of the centralized control perspective is “plan and conform”. The central theme of the guided adaptability perspective is “plan and revise”—being poised to adapt. In the former perspective, operations are pressured to follow rules, procedures and automation with the expectation that success will follow as long as the sharp end personnel work-to-rule, work-to-role, and work-to-plan. The latter perspective recognizes that disrupting events will challenge plans-in-progress, requiring adaptations, reprioritization, and reconfiguration in order to meet key goals given the effects of disturbances and changes. The two perspectives appear to conflict; therefore, organizations must choose one or the other in safety management. Empirical studies, experience, and science all reveal that the paradox is only apparent: “good” systems embedded in the complexities of this universe need to plan and revise—to do both. The paradox dissolves, in part, when one realizes guided adaptability is a capability that builds on plans. The difficulty arises when organizations over-rely on plans. Over-reliance undermines adaptive capacity when beyond-plan challenges arise. Beyond-plan challenges occur regularly for complex systems. The catch is: pressure to comply focuses only on the first and degrades the second. The result is systems with excess brittleness that is evident in the recurring stream of economic and safety failures of complex systems embedded in turbulent worlds.
One-loop partition function of gravity with leaky boundary conditions
Authors: Grumiller Daniel , Ruzziconi Romain , Zwikel Céline
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Leaky boundary conditions in asymptotically AdS spacetimes are relevant to discuss black hole evaporation and the evolution of the Page curve via the island formula. We explore the consequences of leaky boundary conditions on the one-loop partition function of gravity. We focus on JT gravity minimally coupled to a scalar field whose normalizable and non-normalizable modes are both turned on, allowing for leakiness through the AdS boundary. Classically, this yields a flux-balance law relating the scalar news to the time derivative of the mass. Semi-classically, we argue that the usual diffeomorphism-invariant measure is ill-defined, suggesting that the area-non-preserving diffeomorphisms are broken at one loop. We calculate the associated anomaly and its implication on the gravitational Gauss law. Finally, we generalize our arguments to higher dimensions and dS.
Role of Sam68 as an adaptor protein in inflammatory signaling
Authors: Gowd Vemana , Kass Joseph D’Amato , Sarkar Nandini , Ramakrishnan Parameswaran
Published: February 2024

Sam68 is a ubiquitously expressed KH-domain containing RNA-binding protein highly studied for its involvement in regulating multiple steps of RNA metabolism. Sam68 also contains multiple protein–protein interaction regions such as proline-rich regions, tyrosine phosphorylation sites, and arginine methylation sites, all of which facilitate its participation as an adaptor protein in multiple signaling pathways, likely independent of its RNA-binding role. This review focuses on providing a comprehensive report on the adaptor roles of Sam68 in inflammatory signaling and inflammatory diseases. The insights presented here have the potential to open new avenues in inflammation research and justify targeting Sam68 to control aberrant inflammatory responses.
Weakly Bounded Cohomology Classes and a Counterexample to a Conjecture of Gromov
Authors: Ascari Dario , Milizia Francesco
Published: February 2024

We exhibit a group of type F whose second cohomology contains a weakly bounded, but not bounded, class. As an application, we disprove a long-standing conjecture of Gromov about bounded primitives of differential forms on universal covers of closed manifolds.
Selectivity of N(2)-substituted oxotriazinoindole aldose reductase inhibitors is determined by the interaction pattern with Pro301-Arg312 loop of aldehyde reductase
Authors: Kováčiková Lucia , Gaikwad Sunil , Almášiová Kristína , Almássy Ambroz , Addová Gabriela , Májeková Magdaléna , Hanquet Gilles , Dobričić Vladimir , Boháč Andrej , Štefek Milan
Published: February 2024

Novel oxotriazinoindoles (OTIs) were recently reported as highly efficient and selective aldose reductase inhibitors. Here, a series of novel N(2)-substituted oxotriazinoindoles was developed with the aim to investigate molecular interactions within the aldose reductase (ALR2) inhibitor binding site. About twice increased inhibition efficacy of the most efficient derivative 14 (N(2)-CH2CH2COOH) compared to the unsubstituted lead OTI was obtained, yet at the expense of selectivity relative to anti-target aldehyde reductase (ALR1). To explain the major drop in selectivity, observed also in other N(2)-substituted derivatives, in silico molecular modeling approach revealed the role of extra interactions with the residues of Arg309, Arg312 and Met302 located in the additional C-terminal loop of ALR1 missing in ALR2, which can prevent or enhance binding in ALR1. These key findings will be used for development of the next generation of selective OTI inhibitors.