bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elastic Multifunctional Liquid–Metal Fibers for Harvesting Mechanical and Electromagnetic Energy and as Self‐Powered Sensors
Authors: Lai Ying‐Chih , Lu Hong‐Wei , Wu Hsing‐Mei , Zhang Dongguang , Yang Jiayi , Ma Jinwoo , Shamsi Mohammad , Vallem Veena , Dickey Michael D.
Published: March 2021

Future wearable technologies and personal electronics may benefit from e‐textiles that simultaneously possess high elasticity and multiple capabilities such as energy harvesting and sensing. Here, the first elastic multifunctional fiber that can scavenge mechanical energy from body motion and electromagnetic energy from surrounding electrical appliances is presented. In addition to converting multiple sources of waste energy into electricity, the fibers can also serve as self‐powered tactile and biomechanical sensors. The fibers consist of hollow elastomeric fibers filled with liquid metal. The fibers harvest energy by the combination of triboelectricity (160 V m−1, 5 µA m−1, and ≈360 µW m−1) and induced electrification of the liquid metal (±8 V m−1 (60 Hz), ±1.4 µA m−1, and ≈8 µW m−1). The fibers are characterized and their utility for powering electronics and sensing biomechanical information is demonstrated. These fibers are further demonstrated as completely soft and stretchable components for human–machine interfaces, including keypads and wireless music controllers.
Enzymatic Biofuel Cell: Opportunities and Intrinsic Challenges in Futuristic Applications
Authors: Wang Linlin , Wu Xiaoge , Su B. S. Qi‐wen , Song Rongbin , Zhang Jian-Rong , Zhu Jun-Jie
Published: March 2021

Enzymatic biofuel cells (EBFCs) are known as sustainable energy sources due to the utilization of renewable enzyme biocatalysts and fuels, together with mild working conditions. Remarkably, their novel and interesting applications in the fields of implantable energy supply devices and self‐powered biosensor are born and attract extensive attention worldwide. But the transition from fundamental research to practical application is problematic due to low efficiency, poor durability, tricky miniaturization, and so on. So, in addition to a detailed review, whether the full potential of these novel EBFCs‐based applications can be implemented will be clearly stated herein as well. More importantly, the emergences of EBFCs‐based self‐powered therapy systems and EBFCs‐based artificial organ open up more possibilities for the future EBFCs. Such remarkable directions and opportunities of EBFCs will also be prospected in detail.
Low prevalence of anemia among Shuar communities of Amazonian Ecuador
Authors: DeLouize Alicia M. , Liebert Melissa A. , Madimenos Felicia C. , Urlacher Samuel S. , Schrock Joshua M. , Cepon‐Robins Tara J. , Gildner Theresa E. , Blackwell Aaron D. , Harrington Christopher J. , Amir Dorsa , Bribiescas Richard G. , Snodgrass James Josh , Sugiyama Lawrence S.
Published: March 2021

Objective

Anemia is an important global health challenge. We investigate anemia prevalence among Indigenous Shuar of Ecuador to expand our understanding of population‐level variation, and to test hypotheses about how anemia variation is related to age, sex, and market integration.

Methods

Hemoglobin levels were measured in a total sample of 1650 Shuar participants (ages 6 months to 86 years) from 46 communities between 2008 and 2017 to compare anemia prevalence across regions characterized by different levels of market integration.

Results

Shuar anemia rates among children under 15 years (12.2%), adult women (10.5%), and adult men (5.3%) were less than half of those previously documented in other neo‐tropical Indigenous populations. Anemia prevalence did not vary between more traditional and market integrated communities (OR = 0.47,p = .52). However, anemia was negatively associated with body mass index (OR = 0.47,p = .002).

Conclusions

Compared to other South American Indigenous populations, anemia prevalence is relatively low among Shuar of Ecuador and invariant with market integration. Understanding this pattern can provide valuable insights into anemia prevention among at‐risk populations.
B–B vs. B–H Bond Activation in a (μ‐Hydrido)diborane(4) Anion upon Cycloaddition with CO2, Isocyanates, or Carbodiimides
Authors: Trageser Timo , Bebej Dariusz , Bolte Michael , Lerner Hans‐Wolfram , Wagner Matthias
Published: March 2021

The intriguing (μ‐hydrido)diboranes(4) with their prominent pristine representative [B2H5]− have mainly been studied theoretically. We now describe the behavior of the planarized tetraaryl (μ‐hydrido)diborane(4) anion [1H]− in cycloaddition reactions with the homologous series of heterocumulenes CO2, iPrNCO, and iPrNCNiPr. We show that a C=O bond of CO2 selectively activates the B−B bond of [1H]−, while the μ‐H ligand is left untouched ([2H]−). The carbodiimide iPrNCNiPr, in contrast, neglects the B−B bond and rather adds the B‐bonded H− ion to its central C atom to generate a formamidinate bridge across the B2 pair ([3]−). As a hybrid, the isocyanate iPrNCO combines the reactivity patterns of both its congeners and gives two products: one of them ([4H]−) is related to [2H]−, the other ([5]−) is an analog of [3]−. We finally propose a mechanistic scenario that rationalizes the individual reaction outcomes and combines them to a coherent picture of B–B vs. B–H bond activation.
Charge‐Reversible Surfactant‐Induced Transformation Between Oil‐in‐Dispersion Emulsions and Pickering Emulsions
Authors: Jiang Jianzhong , Yu Shijie , Zhang Wanqing , Zhang Haojie , Cui Zhenggang , Xia Wenshui , Binks Bernard P.
Published: March 2021

A novel charge‐reversible surfactant, (CH3)2N‐(CH2)10COONa, was designed and synthesized, which together with silica nanoparticles can stabilize a smart n‐octane‐in‐water emulsion responsive to pH. At high pH (9.3) the surfactant is anionic carboxylate, which together with the negatively charged silica nanoparticles co‐stabilize flowable oil‐in‐dispersion emulsions, whereas at low pH (4.1) it is turned to cationic form by forming amine salt which can hydrophobize in situ the negatively charged silica nanoparticles to stabilize viscous oil‐in‐water (O/W) Pickering emulsions. At neutral pH (7.5), however, this surfactant is converted to zwitterionic form, which only weakly hydrophobises the silica particles to stabilize O/W Pickering emulsions of large droplet size. Moreover, demulsification can be achieved rapidly triggered by pH. With this strategy particles can be controlled either dispersed in water or adsorbed at the oil‐water interface endowing emulsions with the capacity for intelligent and precise control of stability as well as viscosity and droplet size.
Crystal structure of uniaxially stretched bio‐based polyamide 510 films
Authors: Cui Lingna , Dong Yu , Liu Yuejun , Fan Shuhong , Wang Xionggang , Li Xianggang
Published: March 2021

The crystal structure changes of PA510 films during uniaxially stretching at 80°C, 110°C, 140°C and 170°C had been investigated as a function of stretching ratio and stretching rate. The stress–strain relationship curves showed that the stress of the PA510 films gradually increased when the stretching ratio increased. The wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction results verified that only one distinct equator reflection of stretched films was clearly identified at 80°C, 110°C and 140°C, namely γ(100) at 2θ = 20.6°. However, when the stretching temperature reached 170°C, the γ(004), γ(006) and γ(008) crystal form appeared in the meridional direction at λ = 12. Combined with differential scanning calorimeter analysis, it was found that the Xc increased from 7% to 40% as a result of the strain induced crystallization phenomenon and the stretching promoted the appearance of γ crystal form. In addition, the increase in the crystallinity and the molecular chain orientation increased the strength of the PA510 films in the tensile direction. And it also found that the microcracks occurred in the stretched films at high stretching ratio (λ = 12).
Verbascoside‐enriched fraction from Buddleja cordata Kunth ameliorates the effects of diabetic embryopathy in an animal model
Authors: Chirino‐Galindo Gladys , López‐Quintero Ilse‐Valeria , Ramírez‐Domínguez Liliana‐Berenice , Cabrera‐Nájera Leonardo‐Elías , Estrella‐Parra Edgar‐Antonio , García‐Bores Ana‐María , Palomar‐Morales Martín
Published: March 2021

Background

The deleterious effects of diabetes mellitus (DM) over development are apparently due to an increase in oxidative stress. Some antioxidants could prevent developmental alterations produced by diabetic state. Extracts of plants of the genus Buddleja are used traditionally for Mexican indigens to ameliorate some diseases. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of the extract of Buddleja cordata over diabetic embryopathy.

Methods

Two experimental approaches were used: an in vivo study and an in vitro model. In the first, rats were treated with streptozotocin, streptozotocin plus methanolic extract of B. cordata, or none. Females were sacrificed at gestational day (GD) 19, and biochemical clinical parameters were measured; also, the fetuses were obtained and morphologically analyzed. In the in vitro model, a verbascoside‐enriched fraction (VEF) of the extract was used in whole embryo culture in order to search for the mechanisms for embryoprotection effect over hyperglycemia‐induced malformations.

Results

In the in vivo experiments, B. cordata extract reduces the frequency and severity of fetal malformations produced by chemically induced diabetes, and additionally partially ameliorates the diabetic condition; in the in vitro model, both severity and frequency of embryo dysmorphogenesis were reduced by the VEF; also, this fraction reduces lipoperoxidation without affecting the activity of the antioxidant enzymes.

Conclusion

The results suggest that verbascoside of methanolic extract and enriched fraction can directly affect the redox state, and thus, prevents the embryotoxicity mediated by oxidative stress, in embryos of diabetic pregnancy.
pH‐responsive zwitterionic carbon dots for detection of rituximab antibody
Authors: Emami Elham , Mousazadeh Mohammad H.
Published: March 2021

Zwitterionic carbon dots (CDs) have received much attention as a result of good photostability, high biocompatibility, and high quantum yield. In this study, novel zwitterionic CDs were synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method of citric acid (CA) and l‐histidine as carbon and nitrogen precursors, respectively. Prepared zwitterionic CDs have an average particle size of 4 nm diameter and showed green fluorescence with a peak at 530 nm when excited at 470 nm; quantum efficiency was 39.34% using rhodamine 6G as a baseline. The fluorescence intensity of zwitterionic CDs was quenched by rituximab in the range 0–400 μmol L−1, with a limit of detection of 27 μmol L−1. In addition, the synthesized zwitterionic CDs had low toxicity, good stability, and high selectivity and sensitivity sensing for rituximab, therefore zwitterionic CDs are a promising candidate for practical applications.
LncRNA SNHG1 regulates immune escape of renal cell carcinoma by targeting miR‐129‐3p to activate STAT3 and PD‐L1
Authors: Tian Pei , Wei Jin‐Xing , Li Jing , Ren Jun‐Kai , Yang Jin‐Jian
Published: March 2021

Immune escape of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) impacts patient survival. However, the molecular mechanism of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1) in RCC immune escape remains unclear. Quantitative real‐time PCR and western blotting results revealed that the expression of lncRNA SNHG1 and STAT3 were upregulated in RCC tissues and cells and that the expression of miR‐129‐3p was downregulated. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay results revealed the increased levels of immune‐related factors (interferon‐γ, tumour necrosis factor α, and interleukin‐2) in RCC tissues. SNHG1 knockdown or miR‐129‐3p overexpression inhibited the proliferation and invasion of A498 and 786‐O cells, while the proliferation and cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells increased, which promoted the secretion of immune‐related factors. STAT3 overexpression decreased the protective effect of miR‐129‐3p overexpression on RCC cell immune escape. In addition, miR‐129‐3p knockdown and STAT3 overexpression decreased the protective effect of lncRNA SNHG1 knockdown on RCC cell immune escape. In addition, PD‐L1 expression was downregulated after lncRNA SNHG1 knockdown but upregulated after miR‐129‐3p knockdown and STAT3 overexpression. Dual‐luciferase assays showed that lncRNA SNHG1 targets miR‐129‐3p, and miR‐129‐3p targets STAT3. RNA pull‐down and RNA immunoprecipitation assays verified the regulatory relationship between SNHG1 and STAT3. In vivo, shSNHG1 prolonged the overall survival of RCC tumour model mice and inhibited RCC tumour growth and immune escape but increased CD8+ T cell infiltration in mice. Our findings provide an experimental basis for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of immune escape by RCC and reveal a novel target to treat this disease.
Risky business: How strategy relates to survival
Authors: Thornhill Stewart , White Roderick E. , Raynor Michael E.
Published: March 2021

This research explores the relationship between business strategy and survival. Seven annual panels of longitudinal data enable us to study riskiness (likelihood of failure) as a function of business strategy. We find failure rates are higher for those businesses with purer strategy positions. Two mechanisms are offered as potential explanations for this result: robustness and adaptability. While prior research has found pure strategies have higher returns, our findings suggest that pursuing a hybrid strategy may be an entirely reasonable choice, balancing risk and return.
The global, regional, and national burden of gallbladder and biliary tract cancer and its attributable risk factors in 195 countries and territories, 1990 to 2017: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Authors: Ouyang Guoqing , Liu Qiang , Wu Yongrong , Liu Zhen , Lu Wuchang , Li Shuai , Pan Guangdong , Chen Xiang
Published: March 2021

Background

The global burden of gallbladder and biliary tract cancer (GBTC) is increasing. A comprehensive evaluation of the burden is crucial to improve strategies for GBTC prevention and treatment.

Methods

The incidence rates, mortality, and disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) of GBTC from 1990 to 2017 were extracted from the Global Burden of Diseases Study (GBD) 2017. Estimated annual percent changes (EAPCs) were calculated to quantify GBTC trends during the study period.

Results

Globally, there were 210,878 new cases, 173,974 deaths, and 3,483,046 DALYs because of GBTC in 2017. GBTC incidence increased by 76%, mortality increased by 65%, and DALYs increased by 52% from 1990 to 2017. In addition, relatively higher Socio‐Demographic Index regions had greater incidence and death rates but greatly decreased age‐standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age‐standardized death rate (ASDR). At the national level, Chile had the highest ASIR (10.38 per 100,000 population) and the highest ASDR (10.43 per 100,000 population) in 2017. The largest increases in ASIR (EAPC, 3.38) and ASDR (EAPC, 3.39) were observed in Georgia. Nonlinear associations were observed between the ASDR, the Socio‐Demographic Index, and DALYs at the 21 GBD regional levels and at the national level. The proportions of GBTC age‐standardized deaths and DALYs attributable to high body mass index were 15.4% and 16%, respectively.

Conclusions

GBTC remains a major health burden worldwide. These findings are expected to prompt policymakers to establish a cost‐effective method for the early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of GBTC, reducing its modifiable risk factors and reversing its increasing trends.

Lay Summary

Although the rates of age‐standardized incidence, death, and disability‐adjusted life‐years for gallbladder and biliary tract cancer decreased from 1990 to 2017, the numbers of these measures increased.

Nonlinear associations existed between the age‐standardized death rate, the Socio‐Demographic Index, and disability‐adjusted life‐years at the 21 regional and national levels in the Global Burden of Disease Study.
The influence of colour mixtures on the textural perception of surface design: Deciphering textile methodology in the field of bioplastic design
Authors: Kooroshnia Marjan , Dumitrescu Delia , Rijkers Jessica
Published: March 2021

In textile design, the characteristics of a textured surface are the result of the properties of the materials, the textile techniques used, and the colour mixtures associated with each technique. The perception of colour on textured textiles is dependent on the angles of viewing and incidence of light on the surface. Accordingly, when analyzing the perception of the colour of pile textiles such as velvet, we observe that the orientation of the piles on the surface affects the perception of colour. The perception of colour and its transformation depends on whether the light is reflected off the side or the end of the yarn. By bringing do it yourself (DIY) materials into the textile design field, this research questions how biomaterials such as bioplastic can be further developed using textile surface design methods, and how the relationship between texture and colours can be advanced in the design of complex textured surfaces. The method develops a hybrid strategy for designing a new material category combining DIY and digital tools, which offers a more sustainable alternative to conventional textile materials. Moreover, the method proposed builds on two major aspects: explorations of bioplastic materials and their impacts on colour design and selection, and an analysis of changes in the visual perception of coloured surfaces with regard to differences in texture, the positioning of a light source, and angle of viewing. The results are methods of creating complex colour combinations and textural surfaces using near‐adjacent and complementary colours and the intrinsic transparency property of bioplastics.
Provably secure signature‐based anonymous user authentication protocol in an Internet of Things‐enabled intelligent precision agricultural environment
Authors: Vangala Anusha , Das Ashok Kumar , Lee Jong‐Hyouk
Published: March 2021

User authentication is a promising security solution in which an external user having his/her mobile device can securely access the real‐time information directly from the deployed smart devices in an Internet of Things‐enabled intelligent precision agricultural environment. To achieve this goal, we present a new signature‐based three factor user authentication scheme. The established session key between a user and the accessed smart device is then used to make secure communication among them to fetch the real‐time data of the device. A detailed security analysis including the random‐oracle based formal security, formal security verification using the broadly recognized automated validation of internet security protocols and applications tool and nonmathematical informal security analysis show the robustness of the proposed scheme against a number of potential attacks. In addition, testbed experiments are performed for measuring computational time of various cryptographic primitives that are used for comparative study among the proposed scheme and other related existing competing schemes. The detailed comparative analysis shows that the proposed scheme has a better trade‐off among its offered security and functionality features, and communication and computational overheads as compared with those for other competing schemes.
Photocatalytic Deacon Reaction over SrTiO3
Authors: Rath Tobias , Deitermann Michel , Zhao Guixia , Wilma Busser G. , Jansen Henning , Schwiderowski Philipp , Xia Wei , Muhler Martin
Published: March 2021

SrTiO3 was prepared by a polymeric precursor method and applied in the photocatalytic aerobic oxidation of HCl in a flat‐plate reactor equipped with a UV LED array (368 nm). Reaction rates up to 240 mmol h−1 m−2 and apparent quantum yields up to 33 % using an illuminated area of 60 cm−2 were achieved with highly crystalline SrTiO3 calcined at 750 °C, outperforming commercially available SrTiO3 by a factor of almost 2. A gradual catalyst deactivation was observed, which was due to the formation of crystalline SrCl2×2 H2O on the surface confirmed by X‐ray diffraction, electron microscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Increasing the HCl partial pressure accelerated both Cl2 formation and catalyst deactivation. XP spectra revealed an intrinsic surface segregation of Sr and the presence of several Sr‐ or O‐containing surface species. High Cl2 yields up to 42 % obtained with an illuminated area of 120 cm−2 encourage further research on a photocatalytic Deacon process for improved HCl recycling.
Isolating and Analyzing Protein Containing Granules from Cells
Authors: Victor Rachel A. , Thompson Valery F. , Schwartz Jacob C.
Published: March 2021

Recent advancements in detection methods have made protein condensates, also called granules, a major area of study, but tools to characterize these assemblies need continued development to keep up with evolving paradigms. We have optimized a protocol to separate condensates from cells using chemical cross‐linking followed by size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC). After SEC fractionation, the samples can be characterized by a variety of approaches including enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, dynamic light scattering, electron microscopy, and mass spectrometry. The protocol described here has been optimized for cultured mammalian cells and E. coli expressing recombinant proteins. Since the lysates are fractionated by size, this protocol can be modified to study other large protein assemblies, including the nuclear pore complex, and for other tissues or organisms. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

This article was corrected on 20 July 2022. See the end of the full text for details.

Basic Protocol 1: SEC separation of cross‐linked mammalian cell lysates

Alternate Protocol: Preparation of non‐crosslinked mammalian cells

Basic Protocol 2: SEC separation of E. coli lysate

Support Protocol 1: Detecting protein of interest by ELISA

Support Protocol 2: TCA precipitation of SEC fractions
Behavioral patterns of bats at a wind turbine confirm seasonality of fatality risk
Authors: Goldenberg Shifra Z. , Cryan Paul M. , Gorresen Paulo Marcos , Fingersh Lee Jay
Published: March 2021

Bat fatalities at wind energy facilities in North America are predominantly comprised of migratory, tree‐dependent species, but it is unclear why these bats are at higher risk. Factors influencing bat susceptibility to wind turbines might be revealed by temporal patterns in their behaviors around these dynamic landscape structures. In northern temperate zones, fatalities occur mostly from July through October, but whether this reflects seasonally variable behaviors, passage of migrants, or some combination of factors remains unknown. In this study, we examined video imagery spanning one year in the state of Colorado in the United States, to characterize patterns of seasonal and nightly variability in bat behavior at a wind turbine. We detected bats on 177 of 306 nights representing approximately 3,800 hr of video and > 2,000 discrete bat events. We observed bats approaching the turbine throughout the night across all months during which bats were observed. Two distinct seasonal peaks of bat activity occurred in July and September, representing 30% and 42% increases in discrete bat events from the preceding months June and August, respectively. Bats exhibited behaviors around the turbine that increased in both diversity and duration in July and September. The peaks in bat events were reflected in chasing and turbine approach behaviors. Many of the bat events involved multiple approaches to the turbine, including when bats were displaced through the air by moving blades. The seasonal and nightly patterns we observed were consistent with the possibility that wind turbines invoke investigative behaviors in bats in late summer and autumn coincident with migration and that bats may return and fly close to wind turbines even after experiencing potentially disruptive stimuli like moving blades. Our results point to the need for a deeper understanding of the seasonality, drivers, and characteristics of bat movement across spatial scales.
The Vanishing Square: Civic Learning in the Internet Age
Authors: Jasanoff Sheila
Published: March 2021

Nation states in the twenty‐first century confront new challenges to their political legitimacy. Borders are more porous and less secure. Infectious disease epidemics, climate change, financial fraud, terrorism, and cybersecurity all involve cross‐border flows of material, human bodies, and information that threaten to overwhelm state power and expert knowledge. Concurrently, doubts have multiplied about whether citizens, subject to manipulation through the internet, have lost the critical capacity to hold rulers accountable for their expert decisions. I argue that the primary threat to democracy is not the public's epistemic incompetence but a slow dissolution of the deliberative practices that are essential for self‐rule. We need a radical reimagining of the sites, forms, and performances of democratic deliberation. For this purpose, the American state needs to reconstitute a public square open to citizens who are deemed to be epistemically competent and capable of informed judgment.
Can Our Schools Help Us Preserve Democracy? Special Challenges at a Time of Shifting Norms
Authors: Levinson Meira , Solomon Mildred Z.
Published: March 2021

Civic education that prepares students for principled civic participation is vital to democracy. Schools face significant challenges, however, as they attempt to educate for democracy in a democracy in crisis. Parents, educators, and policy‐makers disagree about what America's civic future should look like, and hence about what schools should teach. Likewise, hyperpartisanship, mutual mistrust, and the breakdown of democratic norms are perverting the kinds of civic relationships and values that schools want to model and achieve. Nonetheless, there is strong evidence that young people want to be civically engaged and are hungry for more and better civic learning opportunities. Reviving the civic mission of schools is thus a win‐win‐win. Adults want it, youth want it, and democracy needs it. We propose three means by which educators and the public can reconstruct our common purpose and achieve civic innovation to help democracy in crisis: support action civics, strengthen youth leadership outside the classroom, and engage both students and adults with “hard history” and contemporary controversies.
Residential Segregation and Publicly Spirited Democracy
Authors: Gusmano Michael K.
Published: March 2021

Successful deliberations over contentious issues require a publicly spirited citizenry that will encourage elected officials to promote what James Madison called the “permanent and aggregate interests” of the country. Unfortunately, atomizing forces have pulled American society apart, undermining trust and making collective action difficult. Residential segregation is one of those atomizing forces. Residential segregation undermines a commitment to civic virtue because it encourages people to think about fellow citizens as “others” with whom they have little in common. To address this situation, we must start by fixing our neighborhoods and creating local institutions that enhance trust and foster a public‐spirited democratic citizenry. For example, our existing educational policies reinforce the disparities associated with residential segregation and have created massive resource inequalities among school districts across the country. A useful first step would be to equalize school district funding to promote a more genuine equality of opportunity.
Redoing the Demos
Authors: Jennings Bruce
Published: March 2021

Forces including extreme economic inequality, cultural polarization, and the monetizing and privatizing of persons as commodities are undermining the forms of moral recognition and mutuality upon which democratic practices and institutions depend. These underlying factors, together with more direct modes of political corruption, manipulation, and authoritarian nationalism, are undoing Western democracies. This essay identifies and explores some vital underpinnings of democratic citizenship and civic learning that remain open to revitalization and repair. Building care structures and practices from the ground up and developing inclusive and egalitarian modes of solidarity in a pluralistic society are the focus of discussion. The essay argues that solidarity and care are essential relationships and practices of moral recognition upon which democratic political agency and freedom rest. The social‐relational lifeworld and the democratic lifeworld are interdependent. Democratic citizenship is itself a relational practice that supports other practices. Democratic governance properly carried out fosters an underlying social solidarity and care and in turn draws moral and political legitimacy upward from them.
Diagnosis of Hypophosphatasia in Adults Presenting With Metatarsal Stress Fracture: Proof‐of‐Concept for a Case‐Finding Strategy
Authors: Koehler Kenna , Atway Said , Pipes James , Ing Steven
Published: March 2021

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is caused by loss‐of‐function mutations in ALPL resulting in decreased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Metatarsal stress fracture (MSF) is a common clinical feature of hypophosphatasia in adults. In this study, the primary objectives were to determine whether new cases of ALPL variants could be identified in patients with MSF and who also had serum ALP concentration below the reference range and to phenotype their clinical course. Electronic health records were queried for adult patients with MSF using International Classification of Disease codes (ICD‐9, ICD‐10CM) and ALP measurements. Patients with ALP levels below the normal limit were invited to receive mutational analysis of ALPL and to complete the following surveys: the Short Form 36 version 2 (SF36v2), the Brief Pain Inventory‐Short Form (BPI), and the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ‐DI). Cases with and controls without ALPL pathogenic variants were compared by survey scores and clinical variables relevant to fracture. In 1611 patients with MSF presenting to a podiatry clinic (10/1/2011–10/1/2017), 937 had ALP measurement, of whom 13 (1.4%) had ALP levels below the lower normal limit. In eight patients consenting to participate, two had heterozygous pathogenic ALPL variants. ALPL variants were found in 2 of 1611 patients (0.12%) with MSF, 2 patients of 937 (0.21%) in those with MSF and any ALP measurement, and 2 of 13 patients (15%) in MSF and decreased ALP level. Cases versus controls rated lower scores on eight of eight SF36v2 scales (range, 0–100); higher scores for worst pain (8.0 vs. 0.8) and average pain (6.0 vs. 0.7) on the BPI (range, 0–10); and higher standard disability score (1.4 vs. 0) on the HAQ‐DI (range, 0–3). These data provide proof‐of‐concept for HPP case identification in patients presenting to a podiatry clinic with MSF, suggesting a search for historically low ALP levels may be a useful step for consideration of HPP diagnosis, and supports a prospective study to determine an optimal case‐finding strategy. © 2021 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Physiological and pathophysiological concentrations of fatty acids induce lipid droplet accumulation and impair functional performance of tissue engineered skeletal muscle
Authors: Turner Mark C. , Rimington Rowan P. , Martin Neil R.W. , Fleming Jacob W. , Capel Andrew J. , Hodson Leanne , Lewis Mark P.
Published: March 2021

Fatty acids (FA) exert physiological and pathophysiological effects leading to changes in skeletal muscle metabolism and function, however, in vitro models to investigate these changes are limited. These experiments sought to establish the effects of physiological and pathophysiological concentrations of exogenous FA upon the function of tissue engineered skeletal muscle (TESkM). Cultured initially for 14 days, C2C12 TESkM was exposed to FA‐free bovine serum albumin alone or conjugated to a FA mixture (oleic, palmitic, linoleic, and α‐linoleic acids [OPLA] [ratio 45:30:24:1%]) at different concentrations (200 or 800 µM) for an additional 4 days. Subsequently, TESkM morphology, functional capacity, gene expression and insulin signaling were analyzed. There was a dose response increase in the number and size of lipid droplets within the TESkM (p < .05). Exposure to exogenous FA increased the messenger RNA expression of genes involved in lipid storage (perilipin 2 [p < .05]) and metabolism (pyruvate dehydrogenase lipoamide kinase isozyme 4 [p < .01]) in a dose dependent manner. TESkM force production was reduced (tetanic and single twitch) (p < .05) and increases in transcription of type I slow twitch fiber isoform, myosin heavy chain 7, were observed when cultured with 200 µM OPLA compared to control (p < .01). Four days of OPLA exposure results in lipid accumulation in TESkM which in turn results in changes in muscle function and metabolism; thus, providing insight ito the functional and mechanistic changes of TESkM in response to exogenous FA.
Current strategies of virotherapy in clinical trials for cancer treatment
Authors: Lin Weijian , Zhao Yongxiang , Zhong Liping
Published: March 2021

As a novel immune‐active agent for cancer treatment, viruses have the ability of infecting and replicating in tumor cells. The safety and efficacy of viruses has been tested and confirmed in preclinical and clinical trials. In the last decade, virotherapy has been adopted as a monotherapy or combined therapy with immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy, showing promising outcomes against cancer. In this review, the current strategies of viruses used in clinical trials are classified and described. Besides this, the challenge and future prospects of virotherapy in the management for cancer patients are discussed in this review.
Late Pleistocene biota from Pubenza, Colombia; turtles, mammals, birds, invertebrates and plant remains
Authors: Alfonso‐Rojas AndrÉs , Herrera‐Gutierrez Laura M. , SuÁRez Catalina , Ciancio MartÍN R. , Pelegrin Jonathan S. , Cadena Edwin‐Alberto
Published: March 2021

Pubenza is a remarkable palaeontological site of Colombia, and a place that could hold some of the potentially oldest evidence of humans in northern South America. Previous palaeontological research at this site has mainly focused on the megafauna. Here we describe and establish the systematic palaeontology for the small fauna that inhabited this ancient lacustrine ecosystem, including the first report of birds, tortoises and vipers for the Late Pleistocene in Colombia. Furthermore, exceptionally well preserved fossilised wasp nests are morphologically and elementally characterised, which is the first report of an ichnofossil of this kind in northern South America. In addition, new material of kinosternid turtles, armadillos and rodents is also described. Our results reveal that the Bogotá River Basin, where Pubenza is located, was a rich ecosystem during the Late Pleistocene and a region of great interest for future articulated palaeontological and archaeological studies.
Temperature Comparative Studies onSelf‐Assemblyof Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate and Didodecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Bromide in Aqueous, Brine, and Trifluoroethanol Media
Authors: Dey Apensu , Banik Rajesh , Ghosh Soumen
Published: March 2021

An approach based on experimental and theoretical methods was used to compare the self‐assembly [i.e., determination of the critical micelle concentration (CMC), degree of ionization (α) and counterion binding (β)] of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and didodecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide (DDAB) in deionized water and 10 mM NaCl and 10 (vol) % trifluoroethanol solutions. Experimental methods consisted of electrical conductometry, tensiometry, fluorimetry, and determination of Krafft temperature. A critical analysis of the thermodynamics of self‐assembly by the Gibbs–Helmholtz equation and the van't‐Hoff rationale provided values of several parameters, such as the change of Gibbs free energy and enthalpy change of micellization (and, respectively) and the Gibbs free energy of surfactant tail groups (∆G0trans). Interfacial properties, aggregation number (Nagg), micropolarity (I1/I3), microviscosity (η), packing parameter (P), dielectric constant (D), anisotropy (r), and Stern–Volmer binding constant (KSV) for SDS and DDAB in different temperatures and different systems were determined.
Effect of different reinforcement methods on anastomotic leakage prevention after laparoscopic double anastomosis
Authors: Jiang Tian‐Yu , Zang Lu , Dong Feng , Feng Bo , Zong Ya‐Ping , Sun Jing , Liu Hai‐Shan , Zheng Min‐Hua , Ma Jun‐Jun
Published: March 2021

Background and Objectives

To investigate the effects of different suture reinforcement methods for anastomotic leakage and other postoperative complications after the use of a laparoscopic double stapling technique (DST).

Methods

We collected the data of 124 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer from July 2017 to September 2018 at our institution. Patients were divided into three groups according to the suture reinforcement methods: intermittent, continuous suture reinforcement, and non‐reinforcement (n = 41, 41, and 42, respectively). One‐way analysis of variance, χ2, Fisher's exact, and nonparametric tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Among the 124 patients, there were no statistically significant differences in operation times, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stays and recovery of bowel movement. Nine patients were diagnosed with anastomotic leakage (AL). The incidences of serious AL in the intermittent and continuous suture reinforcement groups were lower than that in the control group, with lower reoperation rate, shorter average lengths of stay and lower treatment costs of two experimental groups.

Conclusion

Intermittent and continuous sutures after laparoscopic DST is effective, safe, and feasible on anastomotic leakage prevention. These procedures could be popularized in rectal surgery on patients with high risk of AL.
Multiaxial validation of a finite element model of the intervertebral disc with multigenerational fibers to establish residual strain
Authors: Newman Harrah R. , DeLucca John F. , Peloquin John M. , Vresilovic Edward J. , Elliott Dawn M.
Published: March 2021

Finite element models of the intervertebral disc are used to address research questions that cannot be tested through typical experimentation. A disc model requires complex geometry and tissue properties to be accurately defined to mimic the physiological disc. The physiological disc possesses residual strain in the annulus fibrosus (AF) due to osmotic swelling and due to inherently pre‐strained fibers. We developed a disc model with residual contributions due to swelling‐only, and a multigeneration model with residual contributions due to both swelling and AF fiber pre‐strain and validated it against organ‐scale uniaxial, quasi‐static and multiaxial, dynamic mechanical tests. In addition, we demonstrated the models' ability to mimic the opening angle observed following radial incision of bovine discs. Both models were validated against organ‐scale experimental data. While the swelling only model responses were within the experimental 95% confidence interval, the multigeneration model offered outcomes closer to the experimental mean and had a bovine model opening angle within one SD of the experimental mean. The better outcomes for the multigeneration model, which allowed for the inclusion of inherently pre‐strained fibers in AF, is likely due to its uniform fiber contribution throughout the AF. We conclude that the residual contribution of pre‐strained fibers in the AF should be included to best simulate the physiological disc and its behaviors.
The conductor‐like polarizable continuum model study of indenyl effect on the ligand substitution reaction in the (η5‐C9H7)Co(CO)2 complex
Authors: Kamrava Sahar , Ghiasi Reza , Marjani Azam
Published: March 2021

In the present article, utilizing the mPW1PW91 functional, quantum chemical computations were applied to find the impact of indenyl on the ligand substitution reaction in the (η5‐C9H7)Co(CO)2 complex. The solvent impacts were surveyed utilizing the self‐consistent reaction field theory based on the conductor‐like polarizable continuum model. Six aprotic and protic solvents were selected. Co–C and Co–P bond distances changes in the reactant and product complexes were illustrated. The thermodynamic parameters of carbonyl ligand substitution reactions in the (η5‐C5H5)Co(CO)2 and (η5‐C9H7)Co(CO)2 complexes were calculated in the gas and solution phases. Also, rate constant values of these reactions were calculated within 300−1200 K utilizing transition state theory based on the statistical thermodynamics in the gas phase. The computed relative rate constant values (kr) indicated good compatibility with the experimental value in a similar reaction.
Newly Synthesized Chromophore‐linked Iodonium Salts as Photoinitiators of Free Radical Photopolymerization
Authors: Peng X. , Yao M. , Xiao P.
Published: March 2021

Iodonium salts are the topic of interest in the field of photopolymerization as they act as effective photoinitiators and generators of photoacid. Yet, the current commercially available iodonium salts have low absorption above 300 nm whereby limiting the use of the long‐wavelength of light irradiations to trigger polymerization. Iodonium salts are thus generally used in couples with photosensitizers (e.g., dyes) to extend the usage under irradiation of red‐shifted light wavelength. In this research, the synthesis of chromophore‐linked (anthraquinone‐based and flavone‐based chromophores) iodonium salts is present. They can initiate free radical polymerization with 320–480 nm irradiation and show much better photoinitiation ability as compared to commercial iodonium salts, especially when they act as mono‐component photoinitiators. Steady‐state photolysis and electron spin resonance spin trapping experiments are also carried out to evaluate the relevant photochemical mechanism.
Recent Advances in Stimuli‐Responsive Commodity Polymers
Authors: Wang Siyang , Liu Qianhui , Li Lei , Urban Marek W.
Published: March 2021

Known for their adaptability to surroundings, capability of transport control of molecules, or the ability of converting one type of energy to another as a result of external or internal stimuli, responsive polymers play a significant role in advancing scientific discoveries that may lead to an array of diverge applications. This review outlines recent advances in the developments of selected commodity polymers equipped with stimuli‐responsiveness to temperature, pH, ionic strength, enzyme or glucose levels, carbon dioxide, water, redox agents, electromagnetic radiation, or electric and magnetic fields. Utilized diverse applications ranging from drug delivery to biosensing, dynamic structural components to color‐changing coatings, this review focuses on commodity acrylics, epoxies, esters, carbonates, urethanes, and siloxane‐based polymers containing responsive elements built into their architecture. In the context of stimuli‐responsive chemistries, current technological advances as well as a critical outline of future opportunities and applications are also tackled.
Drivers of income diversification in credit unions: Do size, resource, liquidity, and environment matter?
Authors: Amoah Benjamin , Bokpin Godfred A. , Ohene‐Asare Kwaku , Aboagye A. Q. Q.
Published: March 2021

This paper investigates income diversification in credit unions in Ghana. We make use of the random effect, Hausman–Taylor, and fractional regression to assess income diversification. We find empirical support that there exist differences between workplace credit union income diversification and other types of credit union. We also find that within nonfinancial income, size, liquidity, loan portfolio, net worth, and economic growth are important. For within liquid financial investment diversification, size, liquidity, resource usage, age, net interest margin, bank concentration, inflation, and economic growth matter. We recommend that with excess reserves, credit unions should pursue liquid financial investment.
Reliability of ultrasound imaging of pelvic floor morphology and function among females who have undergone pelvic radiotherapy
Authors: Bernard Stéphanie , Frenette Anne‐Gabrielle , McLean Linda , Noël Patricia , Froment Marie‐Anne , Hébert Luc J. , Moffet Hélène
Published: March 2021

Aims

To investigate the intra‐ and inter‐rater reliability of two‐dimensional (2D) transperineal ultrasound imaging (USI) measures of bladder wall thickness (BWT), urethral length (UL), and parameters related to levator plate length (LP) and transient changes in LP during pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction, and on Valsalva in women who received radiation therapy (RT) for treatment of pelvic cancer.

Methods

Twenty women with a history of RT for the treatment of pelvic cancer were assessed independently by two raters on the same day. Five outcomes were assessed for reliability: BWT, UL, and LP at rest (LP‐R), during a maximal voluntary contraction of the PFMs (LP‐MVC), and during a maximal‐effort Valsalva maneuver (LP‐MVM). Reliability was determined using intra‐class correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland–Altman analyses. Measurement error was determined using standard error of the measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable difference.

Results

Intra‐rater reliability was very good for LP‐R, LP‐MVC, LP‐MVM, and UL (ICC: 0.97 [0.93–0.99], 0.95 [0.88–0.98], 0.84 [0.59–0.94], and 0.96 [0.89–0.98], respectively). Inter‐rater reliability was very good for LP‐R (ICC: 0.82 [0.55–0.93]), and good for LP‐MVC, LP‐MVM, and UL (ICC: 0.79 [0.46–0.92], 0.79 [0.49–0.92], and 0.75 [0.36–0.90], respectively). BWT had poor intra‐ and inter‐rater reliability. The variability between measurements was the smallest for LP‐R, LP‐MVC, and UL for intra‐rater assessments, and for LP‐R and UL for inter‐rater assessments. SEM values for intra‐rater assessments were LP‐R: 1.5 mm, LP‐MVC: 1.84 mm, LP‐MVM: 4.33 mm, and UL: 1.16 mm.

Conclusions

Although these results support the reliability of 2D‐transperineal USI for the evaluation of UL and PFM parameters, they do not support its use for the assessment of BWT.