bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimated prevalence of nematode parasitism among pet cats in the United States
Authors: De Santis Andrea C. , Raghavan Malathi , Caldanaro Richard J. , Glickman Nita W. , Moore George E. , Lewis Hugh B. , Schantz Peter M. , Glickman Lawrence T.
Published: March 2006

Objective—To estimate prevalences of roundworm, hookworm, and whipworm infections in pet cats in the United States and identify risk factors for parasitism.

Design—Retrospective period prevalence survey.

Study Population—356,086 cats examined at 359 private veterinary hospitals during 2003.

Procedure—Electronic medical records were searched to identify cats for which fecal flotation tests had been performed and to determine proportions of test results positive for roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Potential risk factors for roundworm and hookworm infection were identified by means of multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results—A total of 80,278 tests were performed on fecal samples from 66,819 cats. Calculated prevalences of roundworm, hookworm, and whipworm infection were 2.92%, 0.63%, and 0.031%, respectively. Age, reproductive status, breed, and season were significant risk factors for roundworm infection, with cats < 4 years old; sexually intact cats; mixed-breed cats; and cats examined during the summer, fall, or winter more likely to be infected. Age, reproductive status, and season were significant risk factors for hookworm infection, with cats < 1 year old, sexually intact cats, and cats examined during the summer more likely to be infected. Regional differences in prevalences of roundworm and hookworm infection were found.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that prevalences of nematode infections among pet cats in the United States may be lower than previously suspected on the basis of prevalences reported among cats in humane shelters and those reported in more geographically focused studies.
Evaluation of strontium 90 irradiation in treatment of cutaneous mast cell tumors in cats: 35 cases (1992–2002)
Authors: Turrel Jane M. , Farrelly John , Page Rodney L. , McEntee Margaret C.
Published: March 2006

Objective—To determine the efficacy of strontium 90 β irradiation in the management of cutaneous mast cell tumors (CMCTs) in cats.

Study Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—35 client-owned cats with CMCTs.

Procedure—Medical records of cats with CMCTs in which tumors were radiated by use of a strontium 90 ophthalmic applicator from 1992 to 2002 were reviewed. Cats were included if CMCT was diagnosed, there were no other sites of MCT involvement at the time of treatment, and records contained adequate follow-up information to permit retrospective assessment of local tumor control.

Results—54 tumors in 35 cats were treated with a median dose of 135 Gy of strontium 90 β irradiation, resulting in local tumor control in 53 of 54 (98%) tumors with a median follow-up time of 783 days after treatment. Median survival time was 1,075 days. Adverse effects of treatment appeared to be infrequent and of mild severity.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that strontium 90 β irradiation resulted in long-term tumor control and should be considered an effective alternative to surgical resection in management of CMCTs in cats.
Magnetic resonance imaging findings in dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease: 69 cases (1997–2005)
Authors: Besalti Omer , Pekcan Zeynep , Sirin Y. Sinan , Erbas Gonca
Published: March 2006

Objective—To determine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities in dogs with intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) and develop a classification scheme for IVDD in dogs based on MRI findings.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—69 dogs.

Procedure—Medical records of dogs admitted because of thoracolumbar IVDD in which MRI of T9 through L7 had been performed were reviewed.

Results—A total of 759 intervertebral disk spaces were examined. Of these, 342 (45.1%) were classified as having a normal MRI appearance; the remaining 417 (54.9%) had various types of IVDD. Disk degeneration was identified in 276 disk spaces in 56 dogs, bulging of the intervertebral disk was identified in 37 disk spaces in 24 dogs, disk protrusion was identified in 54 disk spaces in 32 dogs, and disk extrusion was identified in 50 disk spaces in 48 dogs. Cartilage endplate changes were identified in 35 vertebrae in 17 dogs, and increased signal intensity of the spinal cord was identified in 21 dogs.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Four types of IVDD (disk degeneration, bulging of the intervertebral disk, disk protrusion, and disk extrusion) were identified on the basis of MRI findings in dogs with thoracolumbar IVDD. We recommend that a standardized nomenclature be adopted for the various types of thoracolumbar IVDD in dogs.
Changes in Health Care Workers’ Economic Outcomes Following Medicaid Expansion
Authors: Matta Sasmira , Chatterjee Paula , Venkataramani Atheendar S.
Published: February 2024

Importance

The extent to which changes in health sector finances impact economic outcomes among health care workers, especially lower-income workers, is not well known.

Objective

To assess the association between state adoption of the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion—which led to substantial improvements in health care organization finances—and health care workers’ annual incomes and benefits, and whether these associations varied across low- and high-wage occupations.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Difference-in-differences analysis to assess differential changes in health care workers’ economic outcomes before and after Medicaid expansion among workers in 30 states that expanded Medicaid relative to workers in 16 states that did not, by examining US individuals aged 18 through 65 years employed in the health care industry surveyed in the 2010-2019 American Community Surveys.

Exposure

Time-varying state-level adoption of Medicaid expansion.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Primary outcome was annual earned income; secondary outcomes included receipt of employer–sponsored health insurance, Medicaid, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

Results

The sample included 1 322 263 health care workers from 2010-2019. Health care workers in expansion states were similar to those in nonexpansion states in age, sex, and educational attainment, but those in expansion states were less likely to identify as non-Hispanic Black. Medicaid expansion was associated with a 2.16% increase in annual incomes (95% CI, 0.66%-3.65%; P = .005). This effect was driven by significant increases in annual incomes among the top 2 highest-earning quintiles (β coefficient, 2.91%-3.72%), which includes registered nurses, physicians, and executives. Health care workers in lower-earning quintiles did not experience any significant changes. Medicaid expansion was associated with a 3.15 percentage point increase in the likelihood that a health care worker received Medicaid benefits (95% CI, 2.46 to 3.84; P < .001), with the largest increases among the 2 lowest-earning quintiles, which includes health aides, orderlies, and sanitation workers. There were significant decreases in employer–sponsored health insurance and increases in SNAP following Medicaid expansion.

Conclusion and Relevance

Medicaid expansion was associated with increases in compensation for health care workers, but only among the highest earners. These findings suggest that improvements in health care sector finances may increase economic inequality among health care workers, with implications for worker health and well-being.
Nondestructive Electrical Activation Enables Multiple Life Cycles for Degraded Batteries
Authors: Jiao Yiding , Li Fangyan , Mao Wei , Chen Hongli , Li Wei , He Er , Li Dan , Wang Lie , Li Luhe , Yang Shuo , Bai Chenyu , Zhang Zhenjie , Gao Rui , Song Jie , Ye Tingting , Lu Jiang , Chen Hao , Li Qianming , Li Yiran , Wang Jiacheng , Wang Yuanzhen , Ren Junye , He Ping , Deng Yu , Wang Peng , Zhang Ye
Published: February 2024

Appropriate treatment of mass‐produced degraded batteries is desired to alleviate resource waste and environmental pollution caused by direct disposal. However, current technologies, which aim to recycle high‐value components from degraded batteries to refabricate new batteries, suffer from complex destruction‐refabrication processes and massive energy/resource inputs. Here it is found that without disassembling the degraded battery, the lost capacity is rejuvenated to its pristine state by simply applying electrical activation at a controlled voltage. It is shown that repeated application of electrical activation regenerates 22 life cycles for zinc‐ion batteries, increasing the total discharge energy by 78 times. The capacity rejuvenation by electrical activation originates from the transformation of redox‐inert Zn‐Mn‐O by‐products on the degraded cathode to redox‐active Mn‐O nanoribbons, which recovers diffusion kinetics of Zn2+/H+ charge carriers. Simultaneously, the dendrites on the degraded anode are flattened to prevent short circuits while maintaining the electrolyte integrity. The electrical activation strategy is extendable to other batteries, such as lithium batteries, promising tremendous economic and environmental benefits. Besides, electrical activation rejuvenates implanted batteries to avoid the pain and hazards of replacing degraded batteries with conventional surgeries. This work presents a general and commercially viable route to treat degraded batteries.
Resolving the Anisotropic Dynamical Evolution of Wide Bandgap GeSe2 Under Polarized Photoexcitation
Authors: Wang Rui , Wang Chenxu , Zhang Jianing , Zhang Xiaodan , Qin Yulu , Gao Yunan , Peng Liang‐you , Si Jinhai , Yan Lihe , Liu Yunquan
Published: February 2024

Germanium diselenide (GeSe2) has recently emerged as a promising material for high‐performance optoelectronic devices due to its high absorption coefficient, wide direct bandgap, and anisotropic electronic properties. For the future applications, it is necessary to understand the dynamic evolution of carriers with ultrafast response. In this work, the transient absorption spectroscopy measurements are performed to study the anisotropic dynamic evolution of GeSe2 under the polarized photoexcitation. It is find that the dynamics exhibit linear dichroism and show a significant Auger recombination process when the photoexcitation is perpendicular to the b‐axis of GeSe2. Using first‐principle and transition dipole moment calculations, it is confirmed that the more carrier localization at Γ point along the Γ‐X (perpendicular to the b‐axis) and increase the Auger recombination. In addition, the Auger recombination coefficient ≈ 1.1×10−31 cm6 s−1 is determined and demonstrated that the defect‐assisted indirect Auger recombination plays a key role in the carrier relaxation process. Through time‐resolved transient absorption spectra, it is further revealed that the ultrafast dynamical evolution of excited state absorption peaks under polarized photoexcitation. These results have implications for improving the quantum efficiency of high‐field polarization‐sensitive optoelectronics.
Impact of Thermal Annealing on the Dissolution of Semiconducting Polymer Thin Films
Authors: Bai Shaoling , Haase Katherina , Perez Andrade Jonathan , Hambsch Mike , Talnack Felix , Millek Vojtech , Prasoon Anupam , Liu Jinxin , Arnhold Kerstin , Boye Susanne , Feng Xinliang , Mannsfeld Stefan C. B.
Published: February 2024

Here, the effect of thermal annealing (TA) on the stability of solution‐sheared thin films of the semiconducting polymer poly[2,5‐bis(2‐octyldodecyl)pyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐1,4(2H,5H)‐dione‐3,6‐diyl)‐alt‐(2,2′;5′,2′’;5′’,2′’’‐quaterthiophen‐5,5′’’‐diyl)] (PDPP4T) against the original coating solvent is studied, and it is shown that TA significantly improves the solvent resistance of semiconducting polymer films. Specifically, after the thin films are annealed at or above a critical temperature, the thin film thickness is largely retained when exposed to the original solvent, while for lower annealing temperatures material loss occurs, i.e., the thin film thickness is reduced due to rapid dissolution. The results of various techniques including grazing‐incidence wide‐angle x‐ray scattering (GIWAXS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and ultraviolet‐visible‐near infrared (UV–vis‐NIR) absorption spectroscopy suggest physical changes as the cause for the increased solvent resistance. Such annealed films also show stable electrical characteristics in bottom‐gate, top‐contact (BGTC) organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) even after solvent exposure. In initial tests, a multitude of technologically relevant polymers show such behavior, underlining the potential impact of such temperature treatments for the fabrication of multi‐layer polymer devices.
Leveraging Dual‐Atom Catalysts for Electrocatalysis Revitalization: Exploring the Structure‐Performance Correlation
Authors: Wong Man‐Kei , Foo Joel Jie , Loh Jian Yiing , Ong Wee‐Jun
Published: February 2024

In light of the profound shift toward renewable fuels, dual‐atom catalysts (DACs) are impressively prospected as auspicious catalysts for electrocatalysis revitalization, toward accomplishing environmental remediation and sustainable global energy security. Leveraging appealing attributes such as inspiring synergistic effect, additional adjacent adsorption sites, and ultrahigh atom utilization, DACs are endowed with unprecedented stability, activity, and selectivity in multifarious energy‐related applications. By virtue of addressing time and technological prominence to review this ground‐breaking atomic electrocatalyst, this review first encompasses a correlation elucidation between the substrate, dual‐atoms, and facile synthetic approaches with intriguing modification strategies. Furthermore, the state‐of‐the‐art characterization techniques specially employed for DACs are spotlighted, alongside rigorously unveiling the novel mechanistic insights’ milestone gained from both theoretical modeling and experimental research in multitudes of environmentally benign electrocatalytic applications, including O2 reduction, CO2 reduction, H2 evolution, O2 evolution, N2 reduction, and other fundamental reactions. As a final note, this review presents a brief conclusion highlighting current challenges and outlining prospects for this frontier. Importantly, this review deciphers the structure‐performance correlation while excavating the advancement gained in DACs, thus is anticipated to shed light for the catalysis community on bolstering an intense evolution of DACs while triggering sapient inspiration for more robust next‐generation catalysts.
A Sintering‐Free Cathode for Garnet‐Based All‐Solid‐State Li Metal Batteries
Authors: Song Zhenyou , Wang Tengrui , Dai Yiming , Wen Jiayun , Luo Wei
Published: February 2024

Garnet‐based solid electrolytes (SEs), which have both high ionic conductivity and great stability with Li metal anodes, are at the center of an ever‐increasing research effort in all‐solid‐state lithium metal batteries (ASSLMBs) toward high safety and high energy density. However, the performance of garnet‐based ASSLMBs is limited by the poor ionic conduction on the cathode side, mainly attributed to the inherent rigidity of oxide ceramic nature. Here, a sintering‐free strategy to boost the ionic conduction of the composite cathode via the use of a soft halide SE is presented. The inclusion of the cathode‐compatible halide SE facilitates efficient and stable Li+ conduction within the composite cathode and at the cathode/garnet pellet interface. Compared to the conventional co‐sintered method, the issues associated with element diffusion between solid particles during high‐temperature processes are circumvented, a factor responsible for the degradation and irreversible capacity reduction of the cathode active material. When combined with a lithium metal anode, the new cathode configuration exhibits decent discharge capacity, superior Coulombic efficiency, and enhanced cycle stability. The findings demonstrate the promise of this composite cathode design as a viable pathway for achieving high‐performance garnet‐based ASSLMBs.
Adjacent Metal Atomic Pairs Within Atomically Dispersed Catalysts for Reaching a Synergistic Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction: A Review
Authors: Wang Changli , Lv Zunhang , Feng Xiao , Yang Wenxiu , Wang Bo
Published: February 2024

In response to the global climate change and energy crisis, electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (ECR) is regarded as one of the potential ways to simultaneously reach the CO2 conversion and obtain various value‐added products. Currently, several challenges remain for the in‐depth understanding of ECR from fundamentals, including ambiguous structure‐activity relationships, uncontrollable catalytic selectivity, and complex reaction mechanisms. Compared to traditional metal nanoparticle‐based materials, atomically dispersed catalysts (ADCs) have aroused significant interest owing to their maximal atomic utilization and simplified site configuration, offering a superior platform for discussing the structure‐activity relationships during ECR. Especially, adjacent metal atomic pairs (AAPs) within ADCs are gradually emphasized as a novel concept to follow various synergistic reaction mechanisms during ECR. Herein, for the first time a broad concept of AAPs and analyzed how AAPs within ADCs reached the synergistic effect during ECR is summarized. In view of the synergistic reaction mechanisms varying on different supports, three types of supports are illustrated (containing graphene model, functional porous frameworks, and metals and oxides), aiming to help scholars with more insights in broadening the feasible synergistic reaction mechanisms on AAPs within ADCs.
Spontaneous Growth of Perovskite‐Derived Oxide over Double Perovskite Surface for Enhancing Cathodic Performance in Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells
Authors: Li Xinran , Jin Zongzi , Wang Chengwei , Peng Ranran , Zha Yinhui , Cao Jiafeng , Ji Yuexia , Shao Zongping
Published: February 2024

Robust catalytic materials with high activity and stability play important roles in energy conversion and storage devices such as protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs), in which a favourable cathode should possess high oxygen ion, proton and electron triple conductivities, and superior surface oxygen exchange kinetics. Herein, a thermal‐driven self‐construction phenomenon in cation‐nonstoichiometric Ba1+xGd1‐xCo2O6‐δ is reported, accordingly developing a new type of nanocomposite, that is, double perovskite BaGdCo2O6‐δ (DP‐BGCO) anchored by perovskite‐derived BaCoO3‐δ (P‐D‐BCO) nanoparticles, which, used as the cathode of PCFCs, demonstrates low area‐specific resistances of 0.053 and 0.026 ohm cm−2 respectively at 650 and 700 °C over BaZr0.3Ce0.5Y0.1Yb0.1O3‐δ protonic electrolyte and attractive peak power densities of 0.87 (650 °C) and 1.15 W cm−2 (700 °C) with outstanding stability, much superior to the similar cell with single‐phase BCO or BGCO cathodes. The synergy between the two components brings the outstanding performance with the mixed oxygen ion and electronic conducting perovskite‐derived oxide showing superior catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction while the double perovskite provides good bulk protonic conductivity to enlarge reaction sites. Such selective self‐construction, well manipulated through the A‐site cation stoichiometry engineering, provides a facile way for developing new high‐performance electrocatalysts with broad application potential.
Experimental Validation of Optimized Solar Cell Capacitance Simulation for Rheology‐Modulated Carbon‐Based Hole Transport Layer‐Free Perovskite Solar Cell
Authors: Valsalakumar Sreeram , Bhandari Shubhranshu , Mallick Tapas K. , Hinshelwood Justin , Sundaram Senthilarasu
Published: February 2024

The hole transport layer (HTL)‐free carbon‐based perovskite solar cell (C‐PSC) has attracted the attention of researchers due to its ease of fabrication and reduced costs in the manufacturing process. The rheological and physical characteristics of the solutions influence the layer quality of different device fabrication methods. Herein, the HTL‐free structure of C‐PSC through solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS) simulations is analyzed and validated with experimental results using rheology‐varied mesoporous‐TiO2 (m‐TiO2) paste. Regarding the m‐TiO2 rheology, two different samples (Type 1 and Type 2) are used, and six different configurations by thickness variation are analyzed utilizing SCAPS simulations. For Type 1 and Type 2, the best configurations exhibit theoretical efficiencies of 16.40% and 16.81%, respectively, without the influence of the resistance factor. After replicating similar designs in experiments, the efficiencies become 10.12% and 12.20%, respectively. Further, results are investigated by SCAPS simulations incorporating series and shunt resistance values, resulting in efficiencies of 10.56% and 12.59% for Type 1 and Type 2, respectively, which is comparable with actual devices. Finally, the variation of theoretical and experimental results is scrutinized with the help of impedance spectroscopy and external quantum efficiency, demonstrating the significance of this work for commercialization aspects.
Emerging Data Processing Methods for Single‐Entity Electrochemistry
Authors: Li Xinyi , Fu Ying‐Huan , Wei Nannan , Yu Ru‐Jia , Bhatti Huma , Zhang Limin , Yan Feng , Xia Fan , Ewing Andrew G. , Long Yi‐Tao , Ying Yi‐Lun
Published: February 2024

Single‐entity electrochemistry is a powerful tool that enables the study of electrochemical processes at interfaces and provides insights into the intrinsic chemical and structural heterogeneities of individual entities. Signal processing is a critical aspect of single‐entity electrochemical measurements and can be used for data recognition, classification, and interpretation. In this review, we summarize the recent five‐year advances in signal processing techniques for single‐entity electrochemistry and highlight their importance in obtaining high‐quality data and extracting effective features from electrochemical signals, which are generally applicable in single‐entity electrochemistry. Moreover, we shed light on electrochemical noise analysis to obtain single‐molecule frequency fingerprint spectra that can provide rich information about the ion networks at the interface. By incorporating advanced data analysis tools and artificial intelligence algorithms, single‐entity electrochemical measurements would revolutionize the field of single‐entity analysis, leading to new fundamental discoveries.
Reversible Carbon Dioxide/Lithium Oxalate Regulation toward Advanced Aprotic Lithium Carbon Dioxide Battery
Authors: Wang Yi‐Feng , Song Li‐Na , Zheng Li‐Jun , Wang Yue , Wu Jia‐Yi , Xu Ji‐Jing
Published: February 2024

Li−CO2 batteries have received significant attention owing to their advantages of combining greenhouse gas utilization and energy storage. However, the high kinetic barrier between gaseous CO2 and the Li2CO3 product leads to a low operating voltage (<2.5 V) and poor energy efficiency. In addition, the reversibility of Li2CO3 has always been questioned owing to the introduction of more decomposition paths caused by its higher charging plateau. Here, a novel “trinity” Li−CO2 battery system was developed by synergizing CO2, soluble redox mediator (2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidoxyl, as TEM RM), and reduced graphene oxide electrode to enable selective conversion of CO2 to Li2C2O4. The designed Li−CO2 battery exhibited an output plateau reaching up to 2.97 V, higher than the equilibrium potential of 2.80 V for Li2CO3, and an ultrahigh round‐trip efficiency of 97.1 %. The superior performance of Li−CO2 batteries is attributed to the TEM RM‐mediated preferential growth mechanism of Li2C2O4, which enhances the reaction kinetics and rechargeability. Such a unique design enables batteries to cope with sudden CO2‐deficient environments, which provides an avenue for the rationally design of CO2 conversion reactions and a feasible guide for next‐generation Li−CO2 batteries.
Enantioselective Tsuji‐Trost α‐Fluoroallylation of Amino Acid Esters with Gem‐Difluorinated Cyclopropanes
Authors: Su Zheng , Tan Binhong , He Hui , Chen Kaifeng , Chen Shixin , Lei Hongtao , Chen Tie‐Gen , Ni Shao‐Fei , Li Zhaodong
Published: February 2024

A novel enantioselective Tsuji–Trost‐type cross coupling reaction between gem‐difluorinated cyclopropanes and N‐unprotected amino acid esters enabled by synergistic Pd/Ni/chiral aldehyde catalysis is presented herein. This transformation streamlined the diversity‐oriented synthesis (DOS) of optically active α‐quaternary α‐amino acid esters bearing a linear 2‐fluoroallylic motif, which served as an appealing platform for the construction of other valuable enantioenriched compounds. The key intermediates were confirmed by HRMS detection, while DFT calculations revealed that the excellent enantioselectivity was attributed to the stabilizing non‐covalent interactions between the Pd(II)‐π‐fluoroallyl species and the Ni(II)‐Schiff base complex.
Asymmetric Synthesis of Trisubstituted Vicinal Diols through Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Diastereoselective and Enantioselective Allylation of Ketones with Siloxypropadienes
Authors: Jiang Nan , Liu Pei‐Zhi , Pan Zhi‐Zhou , Wang Si‐Qing , Peng Qian , Yin Liang
Published: February 2024

Chiral trisubstituted vicinal diols are a type of important organic compounds, serving as both common structure units in bioactive natural products and chiral auxiliaries in asymmetric synthesis. Herein, by using siloxypropadienes as the precursors of allyl copper(I) species, a copper(I)‐catalyzed diastereoselective and enantioselective reductive allylation of ketones was achieved, providing both syn‐diols and anti‐diols in good to excellent enantioselectivity. DFT calculations show that cis‐γ‐siloxy‐allyl copper species are generated favorably with either 1‐TBSO‐propadiene or 1‐TIPSO‐propadiene. Moreover, the steric difference of TBS group and TIPS group distinguishes the face selectivity of acetophenone, leading to syn‐selectivity for 1‐TBSO‐propadiene and anti‐selectivity for 1‐TIPSO‐propadiene. Easy transformations of the products were performed, demonstrating the synthetic utility of the present method. Moreover, one chiral diol prepared in the above transformations was used as a suitable organocatalyst for the catalytic asymmetric reductive self‐coupling of aldimines generated in situ with B2(neo)2.
Unlocking Amides: A General Method for the Self‐Immolative Release of Amide‐Containing Molecules
Authors: Wharton Thomas , Crawshay‐Williams Felicity , Schober Tim , Floto R. Andres , Spring David R.
Published: February 2024

The controlled liberation of molecules from a constructed framework is a subject of profound interest across various chemical fields. It allows for the masking of a molecule's properties and precise deployment upon a single controllable release event. While numerous methodologies have been developed for amines, alcohols, and thiols, approaches for utilising amides as payload‐release handles are still in their early stages of development, despite the prevalence of amides in therapeutic compounds and materials. Herein, is presented a comprehensive strategy for the controlled and selective release of a diverse range of amides with stable linkers. The versatility of this approach is demonstrated by its successful application in the targeted release of various amide‐containing drugs in their natural form via the use of commonly used trigger motifs, such as dipeptides or glycosides. As a proof of concept, the FDA‐approved antibiotic linezolid has been successfully converted into a prodrug form and released selectively only in the presence of the trigger event. Significantly, in its prodrug state, no activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis was exhibited. Linezolid's full potential was achieved only upon controlled release, where an equipotent efficacy to the free linezolid control was demonstrated, thus emphasising the immense potential of this method.
Alternating ring‐opening copolymerization of cyclic anhydrides and epoxides by zeolitic imidazolate framework‐67: A promising approach
Authors: Xiao Longqiang , Hu Congyi , Su Nan , Cai Jingyu , Hou Linxi
Published: February 2024

The ring opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of epoxides and cyclic anhydrides is one of the most important ways to synthesize polyesters both in industrial and academic fields. Herein, the zeolitic imidazolate framework‐67 (ZIF‐67) was used as a heterogeneous catalyst for the ROCOP of epoxides and cyclic anhydrides without co‐catalyst and initiator. Notably, the obtained polyesters with alternate structures were proved by the 1H NMR spectrum and FTIR spectrum, which indicate the ROCOP is alternatively copolymerized. Kinetic study of the ROCOP of cyclohexene oxide (CHO) and phthalic anhydride (PA) shows that the polymerization reaction is first‐order kinetics. The apparent activation energy (Ea) of the ROCOP of CHO and PA catalyzed by ZIF‐67 was found to be about 104.4 KJ/mol. A possible mechanism of ROCOP of CHO and PA is that the metal Co coordinates with the oxygen atom on the monomer to weaken the C‐O bond thereby opening the ring structure and initiating the copolymerization reaction. In this study, a new system for the copolymerization of epoxide and anhydride catalyzed by heterogeneous catalysts was discovered, which has important guiding significance.
Improved electro‐actuation property of dielectric elastomer composites regulated by one‐dimensional CaCu3Ti4O12@TiO2 core–shell construction
Authors: Gao Yanfei , Zhao Hang , Zhang Na , Zhang Chuying , Wang Huiqin , Zhu Tongguang , Bai Jinbo
Published: February 2024

Dielectric elastomers (DEs) are typical electro‐active polymers that can achieve an electro‐actuated deformation under an applied electric field. However, obtaining a large low‐field‐actuated strain of DEs is still a key challenge, which is critical to their practical application range. Herein, a typical CaCu3Ti4O12@TiO2 (CCTO@TiO2) core–shell‐structured nanowires were synthesized by the micro‐emulsion method. Additionally, a series of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)‐based DE composites combining variable proportions of CCTO@TiO2 were prepared. The CCTO@TiO2 nanowires with the design of both decreasing dielectric constant from core to shell and a high aspect ratio can provide larger heterogeneous interfaces for the DE composites, leading to a promoted interfacial polarization. The maximum electro‐actuated strain of 37.66% is achieved from the DE composite incorporated with 20 wt% CCTO@TiO2 when subjected to a relatively low electric field of 40 V/μm, which is 14 times higher than that of pure PDMS (strain ~2.5%). Moreover, the composite exhibits the largest electro‐actuated strain (45.83%) under the electric field approaching its breakdown strength of 43.57 V/μm. The results demonstrate that the one‐dimensional core–shell nanowires have a positive effect on improving the low‐field‐actuated strain of DE composites. This research reveals an effective and feasible method to prepare the DE composites exhibiting enhanced low‐field electro‐actuated characteristics.
A comparative untargeted metabolomic analysis and assessment of antiplasmodial potential of nine Albizia species
Authors: El Khodary Yosra A. , Ayoub Iriny M. , Pério Pierre , Bourgeade‐Delmas Sandra , Ibrahim Nehal , El‐Ahmady Sherweit H.
Published: February 2024

The genus Albizia is one of the richest genera in phenolics besides other classes of secondary metabolites including saponins, terpenes, and alkaloids with promising medicinal applications. In the current study, UHPLC‐PDA‐ESI‐MS/MS‐based metabolic profiling of leaves of Albizia lebbeck, Albizia julibrissin, Albizia odoratissima, Albizia procera, Albizia anthelmintica, Albizia guachapele, Albizia myriophylla, Albizia richardiana, and Albizia lucidior resulted in the tentative identification of 64 metabolites, mainly flavonoids, phenolic acids, saponins, and alkaloids. Some metabolites were identified in Albizia for the first time and could be used as species‐specific chemotaxonomic markers, including: apigenin 7‐O‐dihydroferuloyl hexoside isomers, apigenin 7‐O‐pentosyl hexoside, quercetin 3‐O‐rutinoside 7‐O‐deoxyhexoside, quercetin 3,7‐di‐O‐hexoside deoxyhexoside, quercetin 7‐O‐feruloyl hexoside, methyl myricetin 7‐O‐deoxyhexoside, kaempferol di‐3‐O‐di‐deoxyhexoside‐7‐O‐hexoside, and kaempferol 3‐O‐neohesperidoside 7‐O‐hexoside. Comparative untargeted metabolomic analysis was undertaken to discriminate between species and provide a chemotaxonomic clue that can be used together with morphological and genetic analyses for more accurate classification within this genus. Moreover, the in vitro antiplasmodial activity was assessed and correlated to the metabolic profile of selected species. This was followed by a molecular docking study and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) prediction of the identified budmunchiamine alkaloids, revealing promising interactions with the active site of lactate dehydrogenase of Plasmodium falciparum and good pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, which could help in designing novel antimalarial drugs.
Lessons from the apparent peculiar nature of the star TYC 6544‐3483‐1
Authors: Martí Josep , Luque‐Escamilla Pedro L. , Marcote Benito , del Ser Daniel , Romero Gustavo E. , Peri Cintia S.
Published: February 2024

We report a radio and optical study of the star TYC 6544‐3483‐1 originally selected as a follow‐up target in the course of our efforts to cross‐identify Galactic high‐energy sources. The star by itself finally turned out to be a very ordinary main‐sequence star despite the initial expectations that apparently pointed to the contrary. We found that its, at first glance, exotic properties arise as a combined consequence of the limited angular resolution of the radio and optical databases being used. Our preliminary astrophysical interpretation was strongly hampered by the presence of unexpected optical variables inside both the photometric and background apertures. While such an ill‐posed situation is not a frequent one, we believe that our experience is worth sharing with the community to raise a word of caution and help to avoid similar misleading results, especially when dealing with modern TESS data.
Skin wound healing in diabetic rat model using low‐dose photodynamic therapy
Authors: Khorsandi Khatereh , Fekrazad Reza
Published: February 2024

Chronic wound is one of the major challenges in medicine and imposes a heavy financial burden on the healthcare of different countries. Diabetic foot ulcers as one of the important examples for chronic wounds can lead to lower limb amputation, disability, and death in diabetics. In this regard, novel technology with low side effects got attention in recent years. Low‐dose photodynamic therapy (LDPDT) is one of the noninvasive techniques that can be considered for wound healing in diabetic wounds. In this experiment, we aim to study the effect of LDPDT on diabetic rats’ wound healing and compare it to healthy rats. In this in vitro experimental study, 32 male rats were used. Rats in both normal and diabetic (streptozotocin injection) groups after being wounded (two wounds [0.8 × 0.8 cm]) on the back of each rat were randomly divided into four groups, including the control group (without treatment), radiation‐only (660 nm−1 J/cm2) group, 5‐ALA‐only (1 µg/mL) group, and LDPDT‐recipient group. The procedure has been done for 2 days, and at the end of Days 3, 7, 14, and 21, the wound sample was sent to the histopathology laboratory, and the wound size and tissue indices in these groups were evaluated by histology and microscopy techniques. The impact of low concentrations of 5‐ALA and low irradiation energy density in both normal and diabetic rats were positive, which accelerated the wound‐healing process as seen in the histology study. In diabetic rats treated with only radiation and LDPDT, the process of epithelial regeneration, collagen production, reduction of mast cells, and production of follicles was more as compared to the normal group. The results suggest that LDPDT can have a positive impact on the diabetic rat model wound healing.
Neuroprotective effects of annexin A1 tripeptide in rats with sepsis‐associated encephalopathy
Authors: Cui Qiao , Qin Nannan , Zhang Yonghan , Miao Yanmei , Xie Leiyu , Ma Xinglong , Zhang Zhiquan , Xie Peng
Published: February 2024

Sepsis‐associated encephalopathy (SAE) is characterized by high incidence and mortality rates, with limited treatment options available. The underlying mechanisms and pathogenesis of SAE remain unclear. Annexin A1 (ANXA1), a membrane‐associated protein, is involved in various in vivo pathophysiological processes. This study aimed to explore the neuroprotective effects and mechanisms of a novel bioactive ANXA1 tripeptide (ANXA1sp) in SAE. Forty Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10 each): control, SAE (intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide), vehicle (SAE + normal saline), and ANXA1sp (SAE + ANXA1sp) groups. Changes in serum inflammatory factors (interleukin‐6 [IL‐6], tumor necrosis factor‐α [TNF‐α]), hippocampal reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were measured. The Morris water maze and Y maze tests were used to assess learning and memory capabilities in the rats. Further, changes in peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor‐gamma (PPAR‐γ) and apoptosis‐related protein expression were detected using western blot. The IL‐6, TNF‐α, and ROS levels were significantly increased in the SAE group compared with the levels in the control group. Intraperitoneal administration of ANXA1sp led to a significant decrease in the IL‐6, TNF‐α, and ROS levels (p < 0.05). Compared with the SAE group, the ANXA1sp group exhibited reduced escape latency on day 5, a significant increase in the number of platform crossings and the percent spontaneous alternation, and significantly higher hippocampal MMP and ATP levels (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the expression level of PPAR‐γ protein in the ANXA1sp group was significantly increased compared with that in the other groups (p < 0.05). The expressions of apoptosis‐related proteins (nuclear factor‐kappa B [NF‐κB], Bax, and Caspase‐3) in the SAE and vehicle groups were significantly increased, with a noticeable decrease in Bcl‐2 expression, compared with that noted in the control group. Moreover, the expressions of NF‐κB, Bax, and Caspase‐3 were significantly decreased in the ANXA1sp group, and the expression of Bcl‐2 was markedly increased (p < 0.05). ANXA1sp can effectively reverse cognitive impairment in rats with SAE. The neuroprotective effect of ANXA1sp may be attributed to the activation of the PPAR‐γ pathway, resulting in reduced neuroinflammatory response and inhibition of apoptosis.
Thinking beyond deficits in Southwest China: Perspectives of ethnic minority teachers on academic achievement disparities among students
Authors: Liu Qian , Colak Fatma Zehra , Agirdag Orhan
Published: February 2024

Global and national education agendas are concerned with improving the quality and equality of learning outcomes. School systems involuntarily continue to produce new and perpetuate existing inequities and injustices, particularly for minority students. While previous research has highlighted the potential causes and effects of educational inequity, little is known about the perspectives of teachers with minoritised backgrounds regarding the persistence of and responses to educational disparities. This research draws on the literature on deficit thinking and culturally responsive teaching to explore the views of ethnic minority teachers on students' academic achievement disparities in an ethnically diverse region of China. Interviews with 12 ethnic minority teachers show ethnic, biological and cultural deficit thinking when discussing students' schooling. Participants attributed their deficient‐oriented thinking to their earlier teacher education experiences, where they acquired the discourse of zhiguo minzu concerning the different sociohistorical developments of minority groups in China. However, teacher participants stated that they also engaged in culturally responsive teaching to support the ethnic identities of their students. These findings draw attention to the multi‐layered perspectives of ethnic minority teachers, which comprise both the reproducing and the challenging of inequities about minorities.
An idea to explore: Cultivating the art of proposal writing among graduate students
Authors: Kar Rajiv K.
Published: February 2024

Proposal writing is an essential requirement for making progress in academics. Learning this skill necessitates support from a mentor to cultivate effective habits. It entails effective strategies from graduate students, such as literature reading and using online tools. Additionally, they must develop an understanding of resource accountability, system thinking, and considering deadlines as a driving force. Good practices for effective proposal writing also involve planning to summarize the work done in the field. Moreover, it requires ideal mentor support by providing timely assistance, helping students overcome impostor syndrome, sharing successful proposals, and creating a cooperative environment.
Analysis of factors influencing women's participation in engineering education: An improved fuzzy DEMATEL approach
Authors: Wang Mei , Lu Jun , Zhang Xinlin , Wang Bo , Cao Le
Published: February 2024

This study focuses on promoting women's participation in engineering education (WPEE), which is crucial for inclusive and innovative development in the engineering fields and key to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Due to the global shortage of women engineers, there is a need. to find effective ways to increase WPEE. This study aims to identify key factors that influence WPEE, which should be prioritized in policymaking. By adopting a three‐round Delphi survey and an improved fuzzy DEMATEL model, the findings reveal that the factors influencing WPEE are complex and multifaceted. Within the Chinese context, six factors, including hobbies and interest, employment expectation, parental occupation, incentive measures, social attitudes, and employment prospects, have been identified as key determinants of WPEE, exhibiting greater centrality and causality than others. This study not only provides empirical evidence from China but also introduces a novel approach to identifying key factors promoting WPEE, offering significant insights into global policy and practice.
Photoisomerization and Light‐Controlled Antibacterial Activity of Fluoroquinolone‐Azoisoxazole Hybrids
Authors: Dolai Anirban , Bhunia Supriya , Jana Santosh Kumar , Bera Satyajit , Mandal Sukhendu , Samanta Subhas
Published: February 2024

Photopharmacology holds a huge untapped potential to locally treat diseases involving photoswitchable drugs via the elimination of drugs’ off‐target effects. The growth of this field has created a pressing demand to develop such light‐active drugs. We explored the potential for creating photoswitchable antibiotic hybrids by attaching pharmacophores norfloxacin/ciprofloxacin and azoisoxazole (photoswitch). All compounds exhibited a moderate to a high degree of bidirectional photoisomerization, long thermal cis half‐lives, and impressive photoresistance. Gram‐negative pathogens were found to be insensitive to these hybrids, while against Gram‐positive pathogens, all hybrids in their trans states exhibited antibacterial activity that is comparable to that of the parent drugs. Notably, the toxicity of the irradiated hybrid 6 was found to be 2‐fold lower than the nonirradiated trans isomer, indicating that the pre‐inactivated cis‐enriched drug can be employed for the site‐specific treatment of bacterial infection using light, which could potentially eliminate the unwanted exposure of toxic antibiotics to both beneficial and untargeted harmful microbes in our body. Molecular docking revealed different binding affinity of the cis and trans isomers with the topoisomerase IV enzyme, due to their different shapes.
Exo‐Selective Diels–Alder Reactions
Authors: Li Yuan‐He , Chen Jia‐Hua , Yang Zhen
Published: February 2024

The Diels–Alder reaction stands as one of the most pivotal transformations in organic chemistry. Its efficiency, marked by the formation of two carbon‐carbon bonds and up to four new stereocenters in a single step, underscores its versatility and indispensability in synthesizing natural products and pharmaceuticals. The most significant stereoselectivity feature is the “endo rule”. While this rule underpins the predictability of the stereochemical outcomes, it also underscores the challenges in achieving the opposite diastereoselectivity, making the exo‐Diels–Alder reactions often considered outliers. This review delves into recent examples of exo‐Diels–Alder reactions, shedding light on the factors inverting the intrinsic tendency. We explore the roles of steric, electrostatic, and orbital interactions, as well as thermodynamic equilibriums in influencing exo/endo selectivity. Furthermore, we illustrate strategies to manipulate these factors, employing approaches such as bulky substituents, s‐cis conformations, transient structural constraints, and innovative control physics. Through these analyses, our aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of how to predict and design exo‐Diels–Alder reactions, paving the way for new diastereoselective catalyst systems and expanding the chemical scope of Diels–Alder reactions.
The Heyns Rearrangement: Synthetic Routes Beyond Carbohydrate Chemistry
Authors: Barranco Stefano , Cuccu Federico , Uras Mauro , Frongia Angelo
Published: February 2024

This concept review describes the recent achievements on the Heyns rearrangement appeared in literature over the last decade and aims to provide the reader with a general overview of the fundamental synthetic advances in this research area.
Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of Cedirogant in Healthy Japanese and Chinese Adults
Authors: Mohamed Mohamed‐Eslam F , Qian Yuli , D'Cunha Ronilda , Hao Shuai , Carcereri De Prati Roberto , Levy Gweneth F , Hew Kinjal , Liu Wei
Published: February 2024

Cedirogant is an inverse agonist of retinoic acid‐related orphan receptor gamma, thymus (RORγt) developed for treatment of psoriasis. This study aimed to characterize pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and tolerability of cedirogant following a single oral dose in Japanese participants and multiple oral doses in Japanese and Chinese participants. The single doses evaluated in healthy Japanese participants were 75, 225, and 395 mg. The multiple doses evaluated in both healthy Japanese and Chinese participants was 375 mg once daily for 14 days. Cedirogant plasma exposure increased dose proportionally with administration of single doses. Maximum cedirogant plasma concentration was reached within a median time of 4‐5 hours after dosing. The harmonic mean elimination half‐life ranged from 19 to 25 hours. Cedirogant pharmacokinetics were similar between Japanese and Chinese participants. Compared with healthy Western participants in a cross‐study analysis, steady‐state cedirogant plasma exposure was 38%‐73% higher in Japanese or Chinese participants. Ex vivo interleukin‐17 inhibition increased in a dose‐dependent manner and was maximized by 375 mg once‐daily doses. The cedirogant regimens tested were generally well tolerated, and no new safety issues were identified. The results supported enrollment of Japanese and Chinese subjects in subsequent clinical trials for cedirogant.