bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Educator's blueprint: A how‐to guide for survey design
Authors: Hill Jeffery , Ogle Kathleen , Santen Sally A. , Gottlieb Michael , Artino Anthony R.
Published: August 2022

Surveys are ubiquitous in medical education. They can be valuable for assessment across a wide range of applications and are frequently used in medical education research. This Educator's Blueprint paper reviews the best practices in survey design with a focus on survey development. Key components of the survey design process include determining whether a survey is the right tool, using an intentional approach to content development, and following best practices in item writing and formatting. These processes are meant to help educators and researchers design better surveys for making better decisions.
Unravelling the Reactivity of Framework Lewis Acid Sites towards Methanol Activation on H‐ZSM‐5 Zeolite with Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopy
Authors: Hu Min , Wang Chao , Chu Yueying , Wang Qiang , Li Shenhui , Xu Jun , Deng Feng
Published: August 2022

Understanding the acid sites on zeolites is vital for the establishment of catalyst structure–activity relationship and exploration of their potential applications in heterogeneous catalysis. Here, we report the identification of active framework Lewis acid sites on ZSM‐5 zeolites. The structures of framework‐associated tri‐coordinated Al that is bonding with hydroxyl groups are determined by using one‐ dimensional (1D) 31P and two‐dimensional (2D) 31P‐{27Al} NMR spectroscopy of trimethylphosphine oxide probe molecule. 2D 13C‐{27Al} NMR correlation experiments allow the observation of favorable formation of methoxy species on the framework‐associated Al Lewis acid sites in methanol reaction at low temperature, which is corroborated by density functional theory calculations. These methoxy species contribute to the further conversion of methanol to hydrocarbons as active C1 species. The results provide new insights into the Lewis acidity of zeolites.
Isothermal Titration Calorimetry for Characterizing the Zinc(II)‐Binding Properties of Photocaged Complexes with Micromolar Affinity
Authors: Hickey Erin E. , Shigemoto Austin , Gericke Arne , Burdette Shawn C.
Published: August 2022

MorphDeCage (2‐(4‐methoxy‐3‐nitrophenyl)‐2‐morpholinoacetic acid) and PyrDeCage (2‐(4‐methoxy‐3‐nitrophenyl)‐2‐(methyl(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)amino)acetic) are Zn2+ photocages that utilize photodecarboxylation of the methoxy derivative of meta‐nitrophenylacetic acid as the release mechanism. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was used an alternative to usual approaches to measure the Zn2+ binding affinities of these new compounds owing to unsuccessful measurement by competitive titration with 4‐(2‐pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR). MorphDeCage forms a 1 : 1 ligand‐metal complex with a 106 μM Kd value. PyrDeCage forms both a 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 metal: ligand complexes with 3.2 and 21.7 μM Kd values respectively. To further demonstrate the efficacy of the ITC methodology and provide a comparison to direct UV‐vis titrations data, two photocages based on Sanger's reagent (SRPs) were prepared. The Kd values of the SRPs measured by UV‐vis titration and ITC were internally consistent and support the retraction of the original report (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 3806–3813), which was withdrawn due to errors in binding affinity measurements.
Hollow Spherical Fullerene Obtained by Kinetically Controlled Liquid‐Liquid Interfacial Precipitation
Authors: Chen Guoping , Sciortino Flavien , Takeyasu Kotaro , Nakamura Junji , Hill Jonathan P. , Shrestha Lok Kumar , Ariga Katsuhiko
Published: August 2022

Nanomaterials with hollow structures are expected to exhibit new functionalities for materials engineering. Here we report the fabrication of fullerene (C60) spheres having different hollow structures by using a kinetically controlled liquid‐liquid interfacial precipitation (KC‐LLIP) method. For this purpose, 1,2‐ethylenediamine (EDA) was used as a covalent cross‐linker of C60 molecules to form C60‐EDA shells, while in‐situ generated EDA‐sulfur (EDA‐S) droplets were applied as ‘yolks’ being eliminated by washing following formation of the yolk‐shell structure, leading to hollow structures. Porous spheres, string hollow spheres, hollow spheres, and open hollow spheres have been synthesized by controlling the kinetics of nucleation of C60‐EDA and the template EDA‐S growth. Isopropanol was used as an additive to control the discrepancy in growth rates of C60‐EDA and EDA‐S. This simple KC‐LLIP preparation method is expected to facilitate the large‐scale fabrication and application of structured C60 spheres in materials science and technology.
Feedstock planning and optimization of a sustainable distributed configuration biorefinery for biojet fuel production via ATJ process
Authors: Rivas‐Interian Raul Mauricio , Sanchez‐Ramirez Eduardo , Quiroz‐Ramírez Juan José , Segovia‐Hernandez Juan Gabriel
Published: August 2022

In recent years, the production and consumption of fossil jet fuel have increased as a consequence of a rise in the number of passengers and goods transported by air. Despite the low demand caused by the coronavirus 2019 pandemic, an increase in the services offered by the sector is expected again. In an economic context still dependent on scarce oil, this represents a problem. There is also a problem arising from the fuel's environmental impact throughout its life cycle. Given this, a promising solution is the use of biojet fuel as renewable aviation fuel. In a circular economy framework, the use of lignocellulosic biomass in the form of sugar‐rich crop residues allows the production of alcohols necessary to obtain biojet fuel. The tools provided by process intensification also make it possible to design a sustainable process with low environmental impact and capable of achieving energy savings. The goal of this work was to design an intensified process to produce biojet fuel from Mexican lignocellulosic biomass, with alcohols as intermediates. The process was modeled following a sequence of pretreatment/hydrolysis/fermentation/purification for the biomass‐ethanol process, and dehydration/oligomerization/hydrogenation/distillation for ethanol‐biojet process under the concept of distributed configuration. To obtain a cleaner, greener, and cheaper process, the purification zone of ethanol was intensified by employing a vapor side stream distillation column and a dividing wall column. Once designed, the entire process was optimized by employing the stochastic method of differential evolution with a tabu list to minimize the total annual cost and with the Eco‐indicator‐99 to evaluate the sustainability of the process. The results show that savings of 5.56% and a reduction of 1.72% in Eco‐indicator‐99 were achieved with a vapor side stream column in comparison with conventional distillation. On the other hand, with a dividing wall column, savings of 5.02% and reductions of 2.92% in Eco‐indicator‐99 were achieved. This process is capable of meeting a demand greater than 266 million liters of biojet fuel per year. However, the calculated sale price indicates that this biojet fuel still does not compete with conventional jet fuel produced in Mexico. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Brefeldin A from the Deep‐Sea‐Derived Fungus Fusarium sp. Targets on RIPK3 to Inhibit TNFα‐Induced Necroptosis
Authors: Shi Jia‐Yi , Wang Chao‐Feng , Xie Ming‐Min , Hao You‐Jia , Wang Ning , Ma Hua‐Bin , Yang Xian‐Wen
Published: August 2022

From the deep‐sea‐derived Fusarium sp. ZEN‐48, four known compounds were obtained. Their structures were established by extensive analyses of the NMR, HR‐ESI‐MS, and the X‐ray crystallographic data as brefeldin A (BFA, 1), brevianamide F (2), N‐acetyltryptamine (3), and (+)‐diaporthin (4). Although BFA was extensively investigated for its potent bioactivities, its role on TNFα‐induced necroptosis was incompletely understood. In this study, BFA showed significant inhibition on TNFα‐induced necroptosis by disrupting the necrosome formation and suppressing the phosphorylation of RIPK3 and MLKL (IC50=0.5 μM). While, it had no effect on TNFα‐induced NF‐κB/MAPKs activation and apoptosis. The finding raised significant implications of BFA for necroptosis‐related inflammatory disease therapy and new drug development from marine fungi.
Electricity Generation from Atmospheric Moisture Using a CdS/p‐Si Nanowire Hetero‐Junction Device
Authors: Aggarwal Rinki , Kumar Avshish , Dhasmana Hrishikesh , Verma Abhishek , Jain Vinod K. , Sengupta Sucheta
Published: August 2022

One‐dimensional heterojunction devices are gaining attention because of improved carrier collection which results in improving the overall efficiency of a device. Herein, we report the synthesis of a CdS/p‐Si nanowire (NW) hetero‐junction device by wet‐chemical methods and their potential application for electricity generation from atmospheric moisture. A single CdS/p‐Si NWs hetero‐junction based moisture enabled electricity generator (MEG) device exhibits a saturated maximum output voltage in the range of 250–300 mV and a saturation current of ∼0.2 μA in presence of humid conditions. This primitive module acts as a promising candidate for future energy generation devices constituting of individual units connected either through simple series or parallel connection to scale up high electrical power.
Automated gender‐Parkinson's disease detection at the same time via a hybrid deep model using human voice
Authors: Kaya Duygu
Published: August 2022

Gender and Parkinson disease (PD) identifications are critical parts to be noted from a given in human voice. Numerous artificial intelligence based methods have been proposed to detect gender and PD easily in literature. It is purposed to build an effective and a dependable simultaneously gender and PD recognition system based on feature extraction and feature selection methods in this study. First, CNN structure is used for obtaining deeper features from TQWT applied data and acoustic deep parameters are obtained by it. Later, these deep features are subjected to mRMR feature selection algorithm that increase the performance efficiency of the classifiers. As a result, the crucial features obtained by this hybrid structure and significant success rate 98.9% is obtained with the k‐NN classifier. Thus, gender and PD are detected at the same time. Also, this work is multiclass problem so, the other success parameters are calculated separately.
Histone Acid Extraction and High Throughput Mass Spectrometry to Profile Histone Modifications in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Scheid Ray , Dowell James A. , Sanders Dean , Jiang Jianjun , Denu John M. , Zhong Xuehua
Published: August 2022

Histone post‐translational modifications (PTMs) play important roles in many biological processes, including gene regulation and chromatin dynamics, and are thus of high interest across many fields of biological research. Chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with sequencing (ChIP‐seq) is a powerful tool to profile histone PTMs in vivo. This method, however, is largely dependent on the specificity and availability of suitable commercial antibodies. While mass spectrometry (MS)–based proteomic approaches to quantitatively measure histone PTMs have been developed in mammals and several other model organisms, such methods are currently not readily available in plants. One major challenge for the implementation of such methods in plants has been the difficulty in isolating sufficient amounts of pure, high‐quality histones, a step rendered difficult by the presence of the cell wall. Here, we developed a high‐yielding histone extraction and purification method optimized for Arabidopsis thaliana that can be used to obtain high‐quality histones for MS. In contrast to other methods used in plants, this approach is relatively simple, and does not require membranes or additional specialized steps, such as gel excision or chromatography, to extract highly purified histones. We also describe methods for producing MS‐ready histone peptides through chemical labeling and digestion. Finally, we describe an optimized method to quantify and analyze the resulting histone PTM data using a modified version of EpiProfile 2.0 for Arabidopsis. In all, the workflow described here can be used to measure changes to histone PTMs resulting from various treatments, stresses, and time courses, as well as in different mutant lines. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Nuclear isolation and histone acid extraction

Basic Protocol 2: Peptide labeling, digestion, and desalting

Basic Protocol 3: Histone HPLC‐MS/MS and data analysis
Dual Structure‐Material Design of Separators toward Dendrite‐Free Lithium Metal Anodes
Authors: Su Zhengkang , Wang Biao , Li Linyan , Yang Guang , Yu Aishui , Li Guang , Zhang Jingjing
Published: August 2022

The practical applications of lithium metal anodes have been severely hindered by the Li dendrite issue. Herein, a dual structure‐material design strategy was developed to fabricate a new type of separator using interconnected hollow porous polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers (HPPANF), which delivered controllable and dendrite‐free Li depositions. The interconnected mesopores on HPPANF bridged the hollow interiors with the outside voids among the fibers, enabling outstanding electrolyte uptake capabilities for high ion conductivity, and nano‐level wetted electrolyte/anode interface for uniform Li plating/stripping. In parallel, the HPPANF separator enriched with polar groups acted as an exceptional polymer‐based solid‐state electrolyte, providing 3D ion channels for the transport of Li ions. Benefiting from the dual structure‐material design, the HPPANF separator induced uniform Li ion flux for dendrite‐free Li depositions, which caused enhanced cycling stability (1300 h, 3 mA cm−2). This work demonstrates a new method to stabilize Li metal anodes through rational separator design.
Melasma hyperpigmentation: An overview of current topical therapeutics
Authors: AlSalem Sultan , Alexis Andrew
Published: August 2022

Background

Melasma is a common disorder of hyperpigmentation that affects populations globally and can adversely affect quality of life. Topical therapies—including hydroquinone and nonhydroquinone‐containing formulations—play a central role in the management of melasma.

Methods

A literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar. Search keywords included a combination of the following: “melasma,” “chloasma,” and “topical treatment.” We identified and included seminal and high‐quality peer‐reviewed publications, systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, case series, case reports, consensus statements, and expert opinions.

Results

Topical therapies are widely used for the treatment of melasma. Triple combination cream containing hydroquinone, fluocinolone, and tretinoin is the most studied formulation with the strongest evidence among treatment options. Numerous other prescription‐based and nonprescription topical agents, including a growing list of cosmeceuticals, have been used in the treatment of melasma, albeit in smaller studies.

Conclusion

A growing range of topical agents is available for the treatment of melasma. While larger, more robust studies are warranted, nonhydroquinone cosmeceuticals may be useful adjuncts or alternatives to the gold standard of triple‐combination hydroquinone cream.
Low resource availability drives feeding niche partitioning between wild bees and honeybees in a European city
Authors: Casanelles‐Abella Joan , Fontana Simone , Fournier Bertrand , Frey David , Moretti Marco
Published: August 2022

Cities are socioecological systems that filter and select species, therefore establishing unique species assemblages and biotic interactions. Urban ecosystems can host richer wild bee communities than highly intensified agricultural areas, specifically in resource‐rich urban green spaces such as allotments and family gardens. At the same time, urban beekeeping has boomed in many European cities, raising concerns that the fast addition of a large number of managed bees could deplete the existing floral resources, triggering competition between wild bees and honeybees. Here, we studied the interplay between resource availability and the number of honeybees at local and landscape scales and how this relationship influences wild bee diversity. We collected wild bees and honeybees in a pollination experiment using four standardized plant species with distinct floral morphologies. We performed the experiment in 23 urban gardens in the city of Zurich (Switzerland), distributed along gradients of urban and local management intensity, and measured functional traits related to resource use. At each site, we quantified the feeding niche partitioning (calculated as the average distance in the multidimensional trait space) between the wild bee community and the honeybee population. Using multilevel structural equation models (SEM), we tested direct and indirect effects of resource availability, urban beekeeping, and wild bees on the community feeding niche partitioning. We found an increase in feeding niche partitioning with increasing wild bee species richness. Moreover, feeding niche partitioning tended to increase in experimental sites with lower resource availability at the landscape scale, which had lower abundances of honeybees. However, beekeeping intensity at the local and landscape scales did not directly influence community feeding niche partitioning or wild bee species richness. In addition, wild bee species richness was positively influenced by local resource availability, whereas local honeybee abundance was positively affected by landscape resource availability. Overall, these results suggest that direct competition for resources was not a main driver of the wild bee community. Due to the key role of resource availability in maintaining a diverse bee community, our study encourages cities to monitor floral resources to better manage urban beekeeping and help support urban pollinators.
Fine‐tuning the performance of abundance estimation based on environmental DNA (eDNA) focusing on eDNA particle size and marker length
Authors: Jo Toshiaki , Yamanaka Hiroki
Published: August 2022

Reliable abundance estimation is a primary challenge in environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, which has been addressed by considering the effects of eDNA transport and degradation. However, these eDNA spatial dynamics depend on the cellular and molecular structure of eDNA, with its persistence state (particle size and DNA fragment length) being essential for improved abundance estimation. To address the issue, we used datasets obtained from two types of aquarium experiments (targeting zebrafish [Danio rerio] and Japanese jack mackerel [Trachurus japonicus]) and compared the relationships between eDNA concentration and species abundance among different eDNA size fractions and target marker lengths. We reared the fish in experimental tanks with different individual numbers or biomass densities, filtered rearing water using different pore size filters, and quantified eDNA concentrations targeting different fragment lengths or genetic regions. Consequently, both experiments showed that the accuracy and sensitivity in abundance estimation were improved (i.e., R2 values and slopes of linear regressions increased) when targeting eDNA at the 3‐ to 10 μm size fraction. On the contrary, targeting eDNA at the >10 μm size fraction yielded a lower R2 value. This result indicates that the relationship between eDNA concentration and species abundance can be worsened when extremely larger size fractions are targeted. Conversely, the target marker length negatively affected the R2 value. This study proposes that the relationship between eDNA concentration and species abundance relies on the complex interactions between the particle size, persistence, and spatial heterogeneity of eDNA in water.
High Areal Capacity and Long Cycle Life Flexible Mild Quasi‐Solid‐State Ag–Zn Battery with Dendrite‐Free Anode
Authors: Zhu Yanzhe , Zhu Renbo , Chen Fandi , Zhang Shuo , Kuo Yu‐Chieh , Guan Peiyuan , Li Mengyao , Liu Yunjian , Han Zhaojun , Wan Tao , Wang Dawei , Wang Caiyun , Chu Dewei
Published: August 2022

Silver‐zinc (Ag–Zn) batteries are a promising battery system for flexible electronics owing to their high safety, high energy density, and stable output voltage. However, poor cycling performance, low areal capacity, and inferior flexibility limit the practical application of Ag–Zn batteries. Herein, we develop a flexible quasi‐solid‐state Ag–Zn battery system with superior performance by using mild electrolyte and binder‐free electrodes. Copper foam current collector is introduced to impede the growth of Zn dendrite, and the structure of Ag cathode is engineered by electrodeposition and chloridization process to improve the areal capacity. This novel battery demonstrates a remarkable cycle retention of 90% for 200 cycles at 3 mA cm−2. More importantly, this binder‐free battery can afford a high capacity of 3.5 mAh cm−2 at 3 mA cm−2, an outstanding power density of 2.42 mW cm−2, and a maximum energy density of 3.4 mWh cm−2. An energy management circuit is adopted to boost the output voltage of a single battery, which can power electronic ink display and Bluetooth temperature and humidity sensor. The developed battery can even operate under the extreme conditions, such as being bent and sealed in solid ice. This work offers a path for designing electrodes and electrolyte toward high‐performance flexible Ag–Zn batteries.
Evaluation of SDS‐coated iron nanostructure on the gene expression of bio surfactant‐producing genes by Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Ahsani Arani Yaser , Noormohammadi Zahra , Rasekh Behnam , Yazdian Fatemeh , kazemi Hojjat
Published: August 2022

Bio surfactants are natural surfactants that induce emulsification, displacement, increased solubility, and mobility of hydrophobic organic compounds. In this study, the gene expression of biosurfactant production genes by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate coated iron nanostructure (Fe/SDS) were evaluated. Emulsification Index and Surface Tension reduction test to check stability and emulsification the rhamnolipid were done. Purification was evaluated using thin layer chromatography (TLC) and expression of rhlA, mvfR, lasR, rhlR genes was determined using q‐PCR technique. Binding of nanoparticles to bio surfactants was confirmed by TEM. The best emulsification index, was by the sample that exposed to 1 mg/L Fe/SDS nanoparticles for 2 days. Rhamnolipid produced in the presence of nanoparticles had an acceptable ability to reduce surface tension. The Rf (retention factor) value obtained was 0.63 by chromatography. q‐PCR results showed that the expression of rhlA, mvfR, lasR, rhlR genes was significantly increased in Fe/SDS treated cells, which indicates the significant positive effect (P < 0.05) of nanoparticles on biosurfactant production of treated cells. While, SDS and Fe alone were not affected significantly (P > 0.05) on the expression of these genes. Our findings indicated the importance of nanoparticles in increasing the expression of genes involved in the bio surfactant production pathway of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Novel application of anti‐human Fc nanobody for screening high‐producing CHO cells for monoclonal antibody
Authors: Zhu Di , Wang Zheng , Xu Yunxia , Lin Jing , Qiu Mei , Liu Jianghai , Li Xinlei
Published: August 2022

Animal‐derived anti‐IgG secondary antibodies are currently employed to stain and screen of human monoclonal antibody(mAb)‐producing cells, but using animal‐derived antibodies may raise the concerns of high cost, complicated operations and biological safety issues in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Nanobodies(VHHs) are attractive forms of antibodies for their straightforward engineering and expression in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic systems. Using phage‐displayed immune llama VHH library, we identified new anti‐Fc VHHs that could bind to human Fc with high affinity. In GFP fusion format, the anti‐Fc VHH‐GFP generated dramatically stronger FACS signals than AF488 conjugated anti‐IgG antibodies when used for staining mAb‐producing CHO cells. Furthermore, preparative sorting of CHO cells based on anti‐Fc VHH‐GFP staining resulted in the enrichment of cell lines capable of synthesizing mAb at high productivity. This safe and cost‐efficient anti‐Fc VHH‐GFP may optimize the process of generating highly productive cell lines for therapeutic mAb production compared to conventional animal‐derived fluorescent antibodies.
A Robust Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction Assembled with Pt Nanoclusters and a Melem‐Modified Carbon Support
Authors: Cheng Tao , Tan Xin , Chen Lifang , Zhao Xinshu , Kotegawa Fukue , Huang Jin , Liu Yan , Jiang Hong , Harada Masafumi , Wang Yuan
Published: August 2022

Highly active and stable cathode catalysts are crucial functional materials for high‐performance proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Herein, robust cathode catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (Pt/melem‐modified carbon (MMC)) that are assembled with Pt nanoclusters (NCs) and MMC supports are reported. The mass activity (MA) of a Pt/MMC catalyst reaches 907 mA mg−1
Pt, which is 3.9 and 4.2 times over a homemade Pt/C catalyst (Pt/VXC‐72R) and a commercial Pt/C catalyst with similar Pt particle sizes, respectively. After 10 000 voltage cycles from 1.0 to 1.5 V at 60 °C, the MA of Pt/MMC decreases by only 2% from the initial value, vastly superior to that of the Pt/C catalysts. Theoretical calculations and X‐ray absorption fine structure analysis results show that chemical bonds form between Pt nanoclusters and MMC. The adsorption energies of OOH* on the catalytic sites in Pt/MMC obviously increase, while those of OH−* decrease compared with those on Pt/C, which accounts for the measured high catalytic activity, providing a promising manner to overcome the specific scaling relations between the stability of adsorbed OH−* and OOH* on a given Pt surface. The high durability of Pt/MMC derives from strong chemical interactions between Pt NCs and the support MMC.
A state‐of‐the‐art review of the fate of heavy metals and product properties from pyrolysis of heavy‐metal(loid)‐enriched biomass harvested from phytoextraction
Authors: He Jing , Kumar Ravinder , Kan Tao , Strezov Vladimir
Published: August 2022

Vegetation has successfully been used for cleaning up metal(loid) polluted water bodies and lands through extracting and accumulating of contaminants in their aboveground biomass (phytoextraction). As this remediation technique is approaching extensive demonstration scale application and potential commercialisation, research efforts have been investigating new ways to achieve valorization of its by‐products, the heavy‐metal‐enriched biomass (HMEB). Biomass pyrolysis as an energy conversion technique represents a key step to numerous valorization options of HMEB. During the pyrolysis of HMEB, understanding the thermal decomposition pathways, and the migration and transformation of metal(loid)s are critical for the production of clean, safe and value‐added end‐products. This work performs a state‐of‐the‐art review of the studies conducted on phytoextraction and biomass pyrolysis of HMEB with emphasis on the properties of pyrolysis products as well as the behavior of heavy metal(loid)s during pyrolysis in relation to HMEB feedstock properties and the variables of the process.
What does the clean energy transition look like for Russian oil exports?
Authors: Sokhanvar Amin , Sohag Kazi
Published: August 2022

The commitment of governments to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the expected decrease in fossil fuel consumption indicate the importance of studying the risks facing the oil exporters and the range of options and responses. This study adopts the Trade Gravity model to examine the effect of clean energy policies on Russian oil exports during the period 1996–2019. Our results based on Cross‐Sectional Autoregressive Distributed Lags modeling suggest that Russian oil exports are negatively affected by the energy transitions. This indicates that investing in cleaner energy technologies as a channel toward reducing fossil fuel demand can reduce the oil trade globally. Policies and strategies to retain and support the financial stability of the Russian government under the current scenario are suggested.
The CoaST‐Fire: A novel methodology to rapidly expose materials to various fire curves
Authors: Dreyer Jochen A. H. , Laxminarayan Tejasvi , Weinell Claus E. , Dam‐Johansen Kim , Kiil Søren
Published: August 2022

A new method for testing materials under simulated fire conditions is introduced. The fundamentally new approach relies on the movement of the sample through zones with a spatially increasing temperature. Adjusting the velocity profile with which the sample is moved makes it possible to expose it to practically any temperature–time curve defined in fire safety standards, from extremely rapid hydrocarbon to more gradual cellulosic fire conditions. This manuscript presents a prototype named CoaST‐Fire that capitalises on this concept by combining a vertical tube furnace with a vertical motion system. The methodology to calibrate the furnace temperature profile, as well as to calculate the velocity profiles are discussed. The velocity profiles are then used to replicate a range of temperature–time curves with exceptional accuracy and reproducibility. A numerical model is developed in COMSOL Multiphysics to study heat fluxes towards the steel substrate as a function of time and thermal insulation. Finally, proof‐of‐concept experiments with two commercial intumescent coatings are presented. The experiments are shown to be highly repeatable while images of the coatings during the experiments can provide additional insights into the occurring reaction steps. Furthermore, CoaST‐Fire makes it possible to conduct experiments under various O2 concentrations and could later be extended with a gas outlet analysis system. The study is in line with recent efforts to develop cheaper and more rapid testing methods for early research and development of intumescent coatings and the setup could potentially also be used to test other types of materials.
Investigating howCOVID‐19 has challenged the Eurocentric concept of ‘development’: a case for sustainable food systems in theUK
Authors: Shittu Eniola , Kantamaneni Komali , Campos Luiza C.
Published: August 2022

The COVID‐19 health crisis has imposed extensive shocks to many global systems, particularly the UK food production chains, further challenging Eurocentric development discourses and stereotypes. Thus, this paper investigates how the pandemic has challenged the UK's development status by analysing how the pandemic has impacted the country's food industry. A literature review was conducted and used to identify, select and critically appraise publications between 2000 and 2021 discussing the challenges in the UK food system. The findings reveal that the UK's food industry is unsustainable as there are significant flaws in the system, that is food insecurity and food waste that go unaddressed. The impact of the pandemic has exacerbated the social and economic impacts of operating with such a system. Compounded with the geopolitical adjustments caused by Brexit, the UK is faced with the challenge of restructuring and developing new frameworks such as policies, regulations, schemes and partnerships to support the food industry's sustainability. Lastly, the findings reinforce that ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ nations encounter similar food challenges, which manifest differently in various landscapes and contexts. Therefore, the world (not just the UK) needs to shift away from Eurocentrism, moving towards a universal but equally personalised development outlook. This review provides an outline of the major problem areas in the UK food system and presents potential solutions aimed at helping guide the government's decision‐making process.
β‐catenin cancer–enhancing genomic regions axis is involved in the development of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Gulati Ruhi , Johnston Michael , Rivas Maria , Cast Ashley , Kumbaji Meenasri , Hanlon Margaret A. , Lee Sanghoon , Zhou Ping , Lake Charissa , Schepers Emily , Min Kyung‐Won , Yoon Je‐Hyun , Karns Rebekah , Reid Lola M. , Lopez‐Terrada Dolores , Timchenko Lubov , Parameswaran Sreeja , Weirauch Matthew T. , Ranganathan Sarangarajan , Bondoc Alexander , Geller James , Tiao Gregory , Shin Soona , Timchenko Nikolai
Published: August 2022

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLC) is a disease that occurs in children and young adults. The development of FLC is associated with creation of a fusion oncoprotein DNAJB1‐PKAc kinase, which activates multiple cancer‐associated pathways. The aim of this study was to examine the role of human genomic regions, called cancer‐enhancing genomic regions or aggressive liver cancer domains (CEGRs/ALCDs), in the development of FLC. Previous studies revealed that CEGRs/ALCDs are located in multiple oncogenes and cancer‐associated genes, regularly silenced in normal tissues. Using the regulatory element locus intersection (RELI) algorithm, we searched a large compendium of chromatin immunoprecipitation–sequencing (ChIP) data sets and found that CEGRs/ALCDs contain regulatory elements in several human cancers outside of pediatric hepatic neoplasms. The RELI algorithm further identified components of the β‐catenin–TCF7L2/TCF4 pathway, which interacts with CEGRs/ALCDs in several human cancers. Particularly, the RELI algorithm found interactions of transcription factors and chromatin remodelers with many genes that are activated in patients with FLC. We found that these FLC‐specific genes contain CEGRs/ALCDs, and that the driver of FLC, fusion oncoprotein DNAJB1‐PKAc, phosphorylates β‐catenin at Ser675, resulting in an increase of β‐catenin–TCF7L2/TCF4 complexes. These complexes increase a large family of CEGR/ALCD‐dependent collagens and oncogenes. The DNAJB1‐PKAc–β‐catenin–CEGR/ALCD pathway is preserved in lung metastasis. The inhibition of β‐catenin in FLC organoids inhibited the expression of CEGRs/ALCDs‐dependent collagens and oncogenes, preventing the formation of the organoid's structure. Conclusion: This study provides a rationale for the development of β‐catenin‐based therapy for patients with FLC.
Repositioning potentials of smallpox vaccines and antiviral agents in monkeypox outbreak: A rapid review on comparative benefits and risks
Authors: Islam Md. Rabiul , Hossain Md. Jamal , Roy Arpita , Hasan A. H. M. Nazmul , Rahman Md. Ashrafur , Shahriar Mohammad , Bhuiyan Mohiuddin Ahmed
Published: August 2022

Background and aims

There is a sought for vaccines and antiviral agents as countermeasures for the recent monkeypox outbreak. Here, we aimed to review and discuss the repurposing potentials of smallpox vaccines and drugs in monkeypox outbreaks based on their comparative benefits and risks. Therefore, we conducted this rapid review and discussed the repurposing potentials of smallpox vaccines and drugs in monkeypox infection.

Methods

Here, we searched Google Scholar and PubMed for relevant information and data. We found many articles that have suggested the use of smallpox vaccines and antiviral drugs in monkeypox outbreaks according to the study findings. We read the relevant articles to extract information.

Results

According to the available documents, we found two replication‐competent and one replication‐deficient vaccinia vaccines were effective against Orthopoxvirus. However, the healthcare authorities have authorized second‐generation live vaccina virus vaccines against Orthopoxvirus in many countries. Smallpox vaccine is almost 85% effective in preventing monkeypox infection as monkeypox virus, variola virus, and vaccinia virus are similar. The United States and Canada have approved a replication‐deficient third‐generation smallpox vaccine for the prevention of monkeypox infection. However, the widely used second‐generation smallpox vaccines contain a live virus and replicate it into the human cell. Therefore, there is a chance to cause virus‐induced complications among the vaccinated subjects. In those circumstances, the available Orthopoxvirus inhibitors might be a good choice for treating monkeypox infections as they showed similar efficacy in monkeypox infection in different animal model clinical trials. Also, the combined use of antiviral drugs and vaccinia immune globulin can enhance significant effectiveness in immunocompromised subjects.

Conclusion

Repurposing of these smallpox vaccines and antiviral agents might be weapons to fight monkeypox infection. Also, we recommend further investigations of smallpox vaccines and Orthopoxvirus inhibitors in a human model study to explore their exact role in human monkeypox infections.
Catalytic Peptides: the Challenge between Simplicity and Functionality
Authors: Carvalho Sara , Peralta Reis David Q. , Pereira Sara V. , Kalafatovic Daniela , Pina Ana Sofia
Published: August 2022

Enzymes’ machinery has been an inspiration for chemists. Peptides are vital players in the origin of life, being ancestors of complex enzymes. Even short peptides that are simple in terms of the number of residues are reprogrammable and built to encode chemical information for catalysis, substrate recognition, and molecular interactions. The combinatorial search of the sequence space led to identifying peptides with catalytic activities. However, most of these sequences remain unevolved, leading to modest rates in aqueous media. Short peptides present conformational flexibility, which is their primary liability for catalysis. To overcome this, supramolecular motifs and secondary frameworks are used as scaffolds to incorporate catalytic residues and improve their efficiency. This review discusses the strategies used to discover and evolve catalytic function in short peptides beyond the de novo design and the advantages of using these approaches to enhance catalysis.
Laparoscopic port site Richter's hernia after robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy
Authors: Tobe Taisuke , Yuen Keiji , Yasufuku Tomihiko , Uematsu Riku , Miyazaki Akira , Yamashita Masuo
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Postoperative small bowel obstruction is a rare complication. One of its less frequent causes is port site hernia. We report a case of Richter's port site hernia in a patient who underwent robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy.

Case presentation

A 73‐year‐old man who underwent robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy noted acute abdominal pain and nausea on the 11th postoperative day. Computed tomography scans revealed dilated small bowel loops. Adhesive ileus was initially suspected, which was relieved with conservative management, including ileus tube insertion. However, his symptoms worsened. Thus, a laparotomy was performed. The camera port wound was reopened, and the repaired fascia and small intestine were found incarcerated into the peritoneal defects. These findings were consistent with Richter's hernia.

Conclusion

Port site hernia was not detected on computed tomography scans. Patients presenting with small bowel obstruction following laparoscopic surgery should be evaluated for port site hernia, and surgical management should be considered.
Longitudinal paths between parents' use of rewards and young adolescents' moral traits and prosocial behaviors
Authors: Carlo Gustavo , Samper Paula , Malonda Elisabeth , Mestre Anna L. , Tur‐Porcar Ana M. , Mestre Maria V.
Published: August 2022

Background

Although prior research shows supportive evidence that parental practices are associated with adolescents' prosocial behaviors, limited evidence exists on the effects of parents' use of social and material rewards on distinct forms of prosocial behaviors, and the mediating effects of sociocognitive and socioemotive traits in these relations.

Aims

The present study was designed to examine the longitudinal relations among parents' use of social and material rewards, youth prosocial traits, and prosocial behaviors.

Materials & Methods

Participants were 417 adolescents (M age = 14.70 years; 225 girls) from Valencia, Spain who completed surveys on parents' use of social and material reward practices, prosocial moral reasoning, empathic concern, and six types of prosocial behaviors.

Results

Path analyses showed that parents' use of social rewards was indirectly, positively related to emotional, dire, altruistic, public (negatively), and compliant prosocial behaviors via empathic concern. The use of social rewards was also indirectly positively linked to altruistic prosocial behaviors via both empathic concern and prosocial moral reasoning. In contrast, parents' use of material rewards predicted less prosocial moral reasoning, which in turn, was linked to more altruistic, prosocial behaviors.

Discussion and Conclusions

The implications for parental socialization and self‐determination theories of prosocial and moral development are discussed.
Feasibility study of oxidized naringin as a novel crosslinking agent for crosslinking decellularized porcine Achilles tendon and its potential application for anterior cruciate ligament repair
Authors: Cheng Can , Peng Xu , Xi Linjie , Luo Yihao , Wang Yuhang , Zhou Yufan , Yu Xixun
Published: August 2022

Naringin (Nar), a natural flavanone glycoside, has been shown to possess a variety of biological activities, including anti‐inflammatory, anti‐apoptotic, bone formation, and so forth. In this study, Nar was oxidized by sodium periodate and the oxidized naringin (ONar) was used as a novel biological crosslinking agent. In addition, ONar‐fixed porcine decellularized Achilles tendon (DAT) was developed to substitute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) for researching a novel ACL replacement material. The ONar with a 24 h oxidation time had appropriate aldehyde group content, almost no cytotoxicity, and a good crosslinking effect. The critical characteristics and cytocompatibility of ONar‐fixed DAT were also investigated. The results demonstrated that 1% ONar‐fixed DAT exhibited good resistance to enzymatic degradation and thermal stability as well as suitable mechanical strength. Moreover, 1% ONar‐fixed specimens exhibited excellent L929 fibroblasts‐cytocompatibility and MC3T3‐E1‐cytocompatibility. They also promoted the secretion of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) from fibroblasts and bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (BMP‐2) from osteoblasts. And they also showed the good anti‐inflammatory properties in vivo experiments. Our data provided an experimental basis for ONar as a new cross‐linking reagent in chemical modification of DAT and ONar‐fixed DAT for ACL repair.
Predicting positive and negative behaviors at the workplace: Insights from multi‐faceted perceptions and attitudes
Authors: Abdullah Hasan Oudah , AL‐Abrrow Hadi
Published: August 2022

Behavior at the workplace is one of the most important factors that distinguishes one organization from another. The current study attempts to test two pathways through which positive and negative behavior at the workplace can be predicted. The positive path leading to positive behavior (i.e., task performance, organizational citizenship behavior [OCB]) is shaped by positive perceptions (i.e., perceived organizational justice, perceived organizational support, perceived organizational identity) and positive attitudes (i.e., organizational commitment, work engagement), while the negative path leading to negative behavior (i.e., counterproductive work behavior [CWB], turnover intentions) is shaped by negative perceptions (i.e., perceived organizational politics, perceived abusive supervision, perceived overqualification) and negative attitudes (i.e., job stress, job burnout). Data were collected from 1344 individuals working in various companies in the public sector (e.g., industrial, service, health, education) in Iraq. To achieve the purpose of the study, 16 hypotheses were tested. The results of the study supported positive and negative pathways of perceptions, attitudes, and behavior. The results also indicated that positive perceptions and attitudes are good predictors of negative behavior, while negative perceptions and attitudes also predict positive behavior. This indicates that obtaining the best results of behavior in the workplace should be through strengthening the package of positive variables and reducing the package of negative variables. Based on the results, the study discussed a number of theoretical and practical implications and offered a set of recommendations.
Are morphologies of SERS active substrates multifractals? An in‐depth study from multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis
Authors: Saha Somsubhra , Dutta Srimonti , Chowdhury Joydeep
Published: August 2022

This paper reports the first evidence that depicts multifractal nature of two different surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active substrates of classes I and II, so fabricated from Langmuir–Blodgett and self‐assembly techniques. Multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MF‐DFA) has been performed from the field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images of both the as fabricated SERS active substrates. Dependences of
on “q” together with the nonlinear variations of the classical scaling exponent
with “q” primarily reveal the multifractal nature of both the substrates. The singularity spectra for both the substrates of classes I and II exhibit bell‐shaped curves with finite spectral widths (W). Furthermore, the correlation coefficients (γ) and asymmetry indices (B) for the substrates have also been estimated from MF‐DFA. From these studies, we believe that multifractality may be considered as the hallmark of SERS active substrates, which to the best of our knowledge has been distinctively unveiled for the first time.
Nodal downstaging to ypN0 after neoadjuvant chemotherapy positively impacts on survival of cT4N+ GC/GEJ patients
Authors: Wu Liucheng , Xing Zhaoqiong , Huang Mingwei , Yu Hongping , Qin Yuzhou , Jin Qinwen , Zhou Zihan , Chen Jiansi
Published: August 2022

Background

The prognostic value of histomorphologic regression in primary gastric and gastroesophageal cancers (GC/GEJ) has been previously established, however, the impact of lymph node (LN) regression on survival still remains unclear.

Methods

A prospectively maintained database was reviewed to identify cT4N+ gastric and gastroesophageal cancers (GC/GEJ) after NAC (neoadjuvant chemotherapy). Patients were categorized into two groups based on LN status: cN+/ypN0 (downstaged N0) and cN+/ypN+ (persistent N+), long‐term survival were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier survival estimates.

Results

In total, 125 patients with cT4N+ GC/GEJ underwent NAC followed by surgery were enrolled. A total of 39 patients (31.2%) had cN+/ypN0 (ypN0) disease, 86 patients (68.8%) had cN+/ypN+ (ypN+) disease. Prognosis in ypN+ patients was significantly worse than those in ypN0 group for 3‐ and 5‐year overall survival (OS) (p < 0.05). The 3‐year OS was 83%, 44% in ypN0 and ypN+ group, respectively. The 5‐year OS was 75%, 35% in ypN0 and ypN+ group, respectively. Multivariable analysis suggested that multivisceral resection (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.14–0.76, p = 0.009), and ypN+ (HR = 3.42, 95% CI: 1.15–10.13, p =0.027) were independent prognostic factors for OS.

Conclusion

Nodal downstaging is an important hallmark representing the effectiveness of NAC for GC/GEJ, and it positively impacts on survival of these patients.