bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emerging Medical Treatments of Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy
Authors: Sabahath Sheema , AlDabbous Fatmah , Mohammed Mansour , Alhendi Ali Al , Yaqoot Neda Al , Ali Alya , Alfertaj Nora , Alotaibi Norah , Alalati Areej , Alhajri Haya , Allahdan Taibah
Published: October 2021

Although intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is not a serious one, it can be very distrustful to the affected women. It can also lead to significant complications and adverse events over the fetus as what has been previously reported that it is linked with stillbirth, fetal distress, and premature labor, especially in severely affected cases. Many treatment modalities have been proposed to relieve pruritis and enhance the levels of bile acids within the serum of the affected women. The administration of ursodeoxycholic acid has been studied by various studies in the literature, and evidence is conflicting about its potential efficacy and safety. However, recent evidence for a meta-analysis indicates that the modality can reduce pruritis. Nevertheless, the effect is minimal and not significant when compared to the placebo group. No significant differences were also noticed between the placebo and treatment groups. We also found that other treatment modalities than ursodeoxycholic acid can also be administered. Nonetheless, these were not adequately discussed in the literature, and therefore, should be cautiously administered within the clinical settings. Finally, further trials are needed to validate of the current evidence and enhance the quality of reporting and planning proper management guidelines.
Management of Traumatic Brain Injuries with Brain Concussion – A Review
Authors: Sonbul Hisham Mohammed , Ahmadi Abdulsamad Yahya , Hammad Ahmed Mohammed Al , Alhabeeb Aqeelah Adel , Abualsaoud Mohammed Ahmedabed I. , Adel S. Alotaibi, Hala , Shatwan Almaha Abdullah , Muslim Duaa Abdulkadir Al , Alamoudi Mohmmad Khaled , Almohimeed Ahmed Saleh , Radhwan Ahmed Saleh Al
Published: October 2021

A typical occurrence in emergency rooms is traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting from head trauma which is normally responsible for far more than 1 million visits per year. The magnitude of TBIs varies from mild, intermittent symptoms to longer periods of altered states of consciousness. The precise mechanism of concussion is indefinite. In serious brain trauma, Axon tearing is expected, but there is no evidence for this concussion process. Most concussion patients improve rapidly and entirely. Concussion management is usually supportive and some cases may need hospital admissions and ICU care according to severity of injury and related symptoms.
Prospective Evaluation of Vitamin D Supplementation on Peripheral Neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus -A Review
Authors: Algaows Faisal Suliman , Althkerallah Fatema Abdullah , Alsuwailem Norah Abdulmohsen , Ahmed Amnah Abdulnasser Mawlan , Alwagdani Razan Fahad , Alomran Sarh Abdulhameed , Alwasifir Bayan khalid Y. , Almutairi Ohoud Muqbil , Alfrdan Hawra Abdulmohsen , Aldebas Ziad Saloum , Alqahtani Khuolod Saeed , Alfayez Alaa Abdulrahman , Fahad A. Alfadhli, Rahaf
Published: October 2021

Diabetic neuropathy is a long-term consequence of diabetes that can cause significant morbidity and a decline in quality of life in many individuals. Low vitamin D levels, in addition to causing rickets in infants and chondrosteoma in adults, may have a role in the development of DM and its underlying disorders, according to a growing body of evidence. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to type 1 or type 2 diabetes, as well as the microvascular and macrovascular problems that come with it. Vitamin D insufficiency has been linked to diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) as an independent risk factor. Vitamin D, both topical and oral, has been shown to considerably improve DPN symptoms and pain.
Epigenetic and post‐transcriptional regulation of somatostatin receptor subtype 5 (SST5) in pituitary and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
Authors: Pedraza‐Arevalo Sergio , Ibáñez‐Costa Alejandro , Blázquez‐Encinas Ricardo , Branco Miguel R. , Vázquez‐Borrego Mari C. , Herrera‐Martínez Aura D. , Venegas‐Moreno Eva , Serrano‐Blanch Raquel , Arjona‐Sánchez Álvaro , Gálvez‐Moreno María A. , Korbonits Marta , Soto‐Moreno Alfonso , Gahete Manuel D. , Charalambous Marika , Luque Raúl M. , Castaño Justo P.
Published: October 2021

Somatostatin receptor subtype 5 (SST5) is an emerging biomarker and actionable target in pituitary (PitNETs) and pancreatic (PanNETs) neuroendocrine tumors. Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of SSTR5 gene expression and mRNA biogenesis is poorly understood. Recently, an overlapping natural antisense transcript, SSTR5‐AS1, potentially regulating SSTR5 expression, was identified. We aimed to elucidate whether epigenetic processes contribute to the regulation of SSTR5 expression in PitNETs (somatotropinomas) and PanNETs. We analyzed the SSTR5/SSTR5‐AS1 human locus in silico to identify CpG islands. SSTR5 and SSTR5‐AS1 expression was assessed by quantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR) in 27 somatotropinomas, 11 normal pituitaries (NPs), and 15 PanNETs/paired adjacent (control) samples. We evaluated methylation grade in four CpG islands in the SSTR5/SSTR5‐AS1 genes. Results revealed that SSTR5 and SSTR5‐AS1 were directly correlated in NP, somatotropinoma, and PanNET samples. Interestingly, selected CpG islands were differentially methylated in somatotropinomas compared with NPs. In PanNETs cell lines, SSTR5‐AS1 silencing downregulated SSTR5 expression, altered aggressiveness features, and influenced pasireotide response. These results provide evidence that SSTR5 expression in PitNETs and PanNETs can be epigenetically regulated by the SSTR5‐AS1 antisense transcript and, indirectly, by DNA methylation, which may thereby impact tumor behavior and treatment response.
Self‐Healing of Hyaluronic Acid to Improve In Vivo Retention and Function
Authors: Gilpin Anna , Zeng Yuze , Hoque Jiaul , Ryu Ji Hyun , Yang Yong , Zauscher Stefan , Eward William , Varghese Shyni
Published: October 2021

Convergent advances in the field of soft matter, macromolecular chemistry, and engineering have led to the development of biomaterials that possess autonomous, adaptive, and self‐healing characteristics similar to living systems. These rationally designed biomaterials can surpass the capabilities of their parent material. Herein, the modification of hyaluronic acid (HA) to exhibit self‐healing properties is described, and its physical and biological function both in vitro and in vivo is studied. The in vitro findings showed that self‐healing HA designed to undergo self‐repair improves lubrication, enhances free radical scavenging, and attenuates enzymatic degradation compared to unmodified HA. Longitudinal imaging following intraarticular injection of self‐healing HA shows improved in vivo retention despite its low molecular weight. Concomitant with these functions, intraarticular injection of self‐healing HA mitigates anterior cruciate ligament injury‐mediated cartilage degeneration in rodents. This proof‐of‐concept study shows how incorporation of functional properties such as self‐healing can be used to surpass the existing capabilities of biolubricants.
Broad‐Spectrum Antiviral Peptides and Polymers
Authors: Kuroki Agnès , Tay Joyce , Lee Guan Huei , Yang Yi Yan
Published: October 2021

As the human cost of the pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is still being witnessed worldwide, the development of broad‐spectrum antiviral agents against emerging and re‐emerging viruses is seen as a necessity to hamper the spread of infections. Various targets during the viral life‐cycle can be considered to inhibit viral infection, from viral attachment to viral fusion or replication. Macromolecules represent a particularly attractive class of therapeutics due to their multivalency and versatility. Although several antiviral macromolecules hold great promise in clinical applications, the emergence of resistance after prolonged exposure urges the need for improved solutions. In the present article, the recent advancement in the discovery of antiviral peptides and polymers with diverse structural features and antiviral mechanisms is reviewed. Future perspectives, such as, the development of virucidal peptides/polymers and their coatings against SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, standardization of antiviral testing protocols, and use of artificial intelligence or machine learning as a tool to accelerate the discovery of antiviral macromolecules, are discussed.
Facet‐Dependent Biodegradable Mn3O4 Nanoparticles for Ameliorating Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Xu Zhuojia , Qu Aihua , Wang Weiwei , Lu Meiru , Shi Baimei , Chen Chen , Hao Changlong , Xu Liguang , Sun Maozhong , Xu Chuanlai , Kuang Hua
Published: October 2021

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegeneration disease. Unfortunately, there are no effective measures to prevent or inhibit this disease. In this study, biodegradable Mn3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) in different shapes are prepared and enclosed them by {100}, {200} and {103} facets that exhibit facet‐dependent protection against neurotoxicity induced by oxidative damage in a cell model of PD. Notably, Mn3O4 nanorods enclosed by {103} facets exhibit high levels of enzyme‐like activity to eliminate reactive oxygen specie in vitro. It is also determined that the uptake pathway of Mn3O4 NPs into MN9D cells is mediated by caveolin. The data demonstrate that Mn3O4 nanorods can be taken up by cells effectively and confer excellent levels of neuroprotection while the biodegradation of Mn3O4 NPs in vivo is confirmed by photoacoustic image of Mn3O4 NPs in brain at 60 d. Furthermore, the oxygen scavenging effect created by Mn3O4 nanorods is successfully applied to a mouse model of PD; the amount of α‐synuclein in the cerebrospinal fluid of PD mice is reduced by 61.2% in two weeks, thus demonstrating the potential application of facet‐directed Mn3O4 NPs for the clinical therapy of neurodegenerative disease.
Unraveling an Innate Mechanism of Pathological Mineralization‐Regulated Inflammation by a Nanobiomimetic System
Authors: Wang Dongyang , Wang Xiaomeng , Huang Lei , Pan Ziyi , Liu Kexuan , Du Beibei , Xue Ying , Li Bei , Zhang Yuan , Wang Huan , Li Daowei , Sun Hongchen
Published: October 2021

Pathological mineralization (PTM) often occurs under inflammation and affects the prognosis of diseases, such as atherosclerosis and cancers. However, how the PTM impacts inflammation has not been well explored. Herein, poly lactic‐co‐glycolic acid (PLGA)/gelatin/hydroxyapatite (HA) electrospun nanofibers are rationally designed as an ideal PTM microenvironment biomimetic system for unraveling the role of PTM on inflammation. The results demonstrate that the inflammatory response decreases continuously during the process of mineralization. When mature macromineralization forms, the inflammation almost completely disappears. Mechanistically, the PTM formation is mediated by matrix proteins, local high calcium, and cell debris (nuclei), or actively regulated by the lysosomal/plasma membrane components secreted by macrophages. These inflammatory inducible factors (calcium, cell debris, etc.) can be “buried” through PTM process, resulting in reduced immune responses. Overall, the present study demonstrates that PTM is an innate mechanism of inflammation subsidence, providing valuable insight into understanding the action of mineralization on inflammation.
Controllable Nonclassical Conductance Switching in Nanoscale Phase‐Separated (PbI2)1−x(BiI3)x Layered Crystals
Authors: Alexander Grant C. B. , Krantz Patrick W. , Jung Hee Joon , Davis Samuel Kenneth , Xu Yaobin , Dravid Vinayak P. , Chandrasekhar Venkat , Kanatzidis Mercouri G.
Published: October 2021

Layered 2D (PbI2)1−x(BiI3)x materials exhibit a nonlinear dependence in structural and charge transport properties unanticipated from the combination of PbI2 and BiI3. Within (PbI2)1−x(BiI3)x crystals, phase integration yields deceptive structural features, while phase boundary separation leads to new conductance switching behavior observed as large peaks in current during current–voltage (I–V) measurements (±100 V). Temperature‐ and time‐dependent electrical measurements demonstrate that the behavior is attributed to ionic transport perpendicular to the layers. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy reveals that the structure of (PbI2)1−x(BiI3)x is a “brick wall” consisting of two phases, Pb‐rich and Bi‐rich. These brick‐like features are 10s nm a side and it is posited that iodide ion transport at the interfaces of these regions is responsible for the conductance switching action.
Physical Disruption of Solid Tumors by Immunostimulatory Microrobots Enhances Antitumor Immunity
Authors: Zhou Jiarong , Karshalev Emil , Mundaca‐Uribe Rodolfo , Esteban‐Fernández de Ávila Berta , Krishnan Nishta , Xiao Crystal , Ventura Christian J. , Gong Hua , Zhang Qiangzhe , Gao Weiwei , Fang Ronnie H. , Wang Joseph , Zhang Liangfang
Published: October 2021

The combination of immunotherapy with other forms of treatment is an emerging strategy for boosting antitumor responses. By combining multiple modes of action, these combinatorial therapies can improve clinical outcomes through unique synergisms. Here, a microrobot‐based strategy that integrates tumor tissue disruption with biological stimulation is shown for cancer immunotherapy. The microrobot is fabricated by loading bacterial outer membrane vesicles onto a self‐propelling micromotor, which can react with water to generate a propulsion force. When administered intratumorally to a solid tumor, the disruption of the local tumor tissue coupled with the delivery of an immunostimulatory payload leads to complete tumor regression. Additionally, treatment of the primary tumor results in the simultaneous education of the host immune system, enabling it to control the growth of distant tumors. Overall, this work introduces a distinct application of microrobots in cancer immunotherapy and offers an attractive strategy for amplifying cancer treatment efficacy when combined with conventional therapies.
Strongly Anisotropic Strain‐Tunability of Excitons in Exfoliated ZrSe3
Authors: Li Hao , Sanchez‐Santolino Gabriel , Puebla Sergio , Frisenda Riccardo , Al‐Enizi Abdullah M. , Nafady Ayman , D'Agosta Roberto , Castellanos‐Gomez Andres
Published: October 2021

The effect of uniaxial strain on the band structure of ZrSe3, a semiconducting material with a marked in‐plane structural anisotropy, is studied. By using a modified three‐point bending test apparatus, thin ZrSe3 flakes are subjected to uniaxial strain along different crystalline orientations monitoring the effect of strain on their optical properties through micro‐reflectance spectroscopy. The obtained spectra show excitonic features that blueshift upon uniaxial tension. This shift is strongly dependent on the direction along which the strain is being applied. When the flakes are strained along the b‐axis, the exciton peak shifts at ≈60–95 meV %−1, while along the a‐axis, the shift only reaches ≈0–15 meV %−1. Ab initio calculations are conducted to study the influence of uniaxial strain, applied along different crystal directions, on the band structure and reflectance spectra of ZrSe3, exhibiting a remarkable agreement with the experimental results.
Low‐Bandgap Organic Bulk‐Heterojunction Enabled Efficient and Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Wu Shengfan , Li Zhen , Zhang Jie , Wu Xin , Deng Xiang , Liu Yiming , Zhou Jingkun , Zhi Chunyi , Yu Xinge , Choy Wallace C. H. , Zhu Zonglong , Jen Alex K.‐Y.
Published: October 2021

Lead halide perovskite and organic solar cells (PSCs and OSCs) are considered as the prime candidates currently for clean energy applications due to their solution and low‐temperature processibility. Nevertheless, the substantial photon loss in near‐infrared (NIR) region and relatively large photovoltage deficit need to be improved to enable their uses in high‐performance solar cells. To mitigate these disadvantages, low‐bandgap organic bulk‐heterojunction (BHJ) layer into inverted PSCs to construct facile hybrid solar cells (HSCs) is integrated. By optimizing the BHJ components, an excellent power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.80%, with a decent open‐circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.146 V and extended photoresponse over 950 nm for rigid HSCs is achieved. The resultant devices also exhibit superior long‐term (over 1000 h) ambient‐ and photostability compared to those from single‐component PSCs and OSCs. More importantly, a champion PCE of 21.73% and excellent mechanical durability can also be achieved in flexible HSCs, which is the highest efficiency reported for flexible solar cells to date. Taking advantage of these impressive device performances, flexible HSCs into a power source for wearable sensors to demonstrate real‐time temperature monitoring are successfully integrated.
Ultrafast Digital Fabrication of Designable Architectured Liquid Crystalline Elastomer
Authors: Fang Mengqi , Liu Tao , Xu Yang , Jin Binjie , Zheng Ning , Zhang Yue , Zhao Qian , Jia Zheng , Xie Tao
Published: October 2021

The muscle‐like activities of liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) offer great potential for designing future soft machines. Their motion complexity, however, relies on inflexible and cumbersome mesogen alignment techniques. Here, a digital photocuring method for ultrafast template‐free fabrication of LCE artificial muscles capable of designable complex motions is reported. This method utilizes the intrinsic light attenuation in the through‐plane direction to create mesogen alignment for reversible bending action. To turn this simple actuation into complex motions, the principles of muscles are borrowed which realize diverse motions through the cooperative actions of otherwise simple contraction/expansion of individual muscle bundles. Specifically, the spatiotemporal digital light is utilized to design LCE architectures composed of strategically arranged bending modules. As such, LCE capable of highly designable motions can be fabricated within 25 s light curing without employing any physical alignment templates, which offers an attractive option toward designing functionally diverse soft machines.
Synthesis of Pd3Sn and PdCuSn Nanorods with L12 Phase for Highly Efficient Electrocatalytic Ethanol Oxidation
Authors: Zhou Ming , Liu Jiawei , Ling Chongyi , Ge Yiyao , Chen Bo , Tan Chaoliang , Fan Zhanxi , Huang Jingtao , Chen Junze , Liu Zhengqing , Huang Zhiqi , Ge Jingjie , Cheng Hongfei , Chen Ye , Dai Lei , Yin Pengfei , Zhang Xiao , Yun Qinbai , Wang Jinlan , Zhang Hua
Published: October 2021

The crystal phase of nanomaterials is one of the key parameters determining their physicochemical properties and performance in various applications. However, it still remains a great challenge to synthesize nanomaterials with different crystal phases while maintaining the same composition, size, and morphology. Here, a facile, one‐pot, wet‐chemical method is reported to synthesize Pd3Sn nanorods with comparable size and morphology but different crystal phases, that is, an ordered intermetallic and a disordered alloy with L12 and face‐centered cubic (fcc) phases, respectively. The crystal phase of the as‐synthesized Pd3Sn nanorods is easily tuned by altering the types of tin precursors and solvents. Moreover, the approach can also be used to synthesize ternary PdCuSn nanorods with the L12 crystal phase. When used as electrocatalysts, the L12 Pd3Sn nanorods exhibit superior electrocatalytic performance toward the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) compared to their fcc counterpart. Impressively, compared to the L12 Pd3Sn nanorods, the ternary L12 PdCuSn nanorods exhibit more enhanced electrocatalytic performance toward the EOR, yielding a high mass current density up to 6.22 A mgPd−1, which is superior to the commercial Pd/C catalyst and among the best reported Pd‐based EOR electrocatalysts.
Purification of polyclonal immunoglobulin G from human serum using peptide‐based adsorbents
Authors: Chu Wenning , Sripada Sobhana A. , Reese Hannah R. , Bhandari Dipendra , Adams Augustus , Sly Jae , Crapanzano Michael , Menegatti Stefano
Published: October 2021

This study presents the chromatographic purification of immunoglobulin G (IgG) from human plasma using a two‐column process integrating the peptide‐based adsorbents LigaGuard™, which captures non‐Ig plasma proteins in flow‐through mode, and LigaTrap™, which isolates IgG in bind‐and‐elute. Buffer composition and column loading were optimized for both adsorbents. Two process configurations were evaluated. In the first design, plasma was fed to a LigaGuard™ column to capture plasma proteins, the effluent was loaded on the LigaTrap™ column, and the bound IgG was eluted with 63.8% global recovery and 99.7% purity; in comparison, Protein G agarose afforded approximately 67% recovery and 97.2% purity. In the alternative design, the LigaGuard™ column was utilized to polish the LigaTrap™ elution stream, affording 82.3% global recovery and 98.8% purity. Collectively, these results demonstrate the potential of a fully chromatographic process for purifying polyclonal IgG from plasma feedstocks.
Mitigating the Kinetic Hindrance of Single‐Crystalline Ni‐Rich Cathode via Surface Gradient Penetration of Tantalum
Authors: Zou Yu‐Gang , Mao Huican , Meng Xin‐Hai , Du Ya‐Hao , Sheng Hang , Yu Xiqian , Shi Ji‐Lei , Guo Yu‐Guo
Published: October 2021

Single‐crystalline Ni‐rich cathodes are promising candidates for the next‐generation high‐energy Li‐ion batteries. However, they still suffer from poor rate capability and low specific capacity due to the severe kinetic hindrance at the nondilute state during Li+ intercalation. Herein, combining experiments with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we demonstrate that this obstacle can be tackled by regulating the oxidation state of nickel via injecting high‐valence foreign Ta5+. The as‐obtained single‐crystalline LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 delivers a high specific capacity (211.2 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C), high initial Coulombic efficiency (93.8 %), excellent rate capability (157 mAh g−1 at 4 C), and good durability (90.4 % after 100 cycles under 0.5 C). This work provides a strategy to mitigate the Li+ kinetic hindrance of the appealing single‐crystalline Ni‐rich cathodes and will inspire peers to conduct an intensive study.
Boric acid‐impregnated silk fibroin/gelatin/hyaluronic acid‐based films for improving the wound healing process
Authors: Özen Nurten , Özbaş Zehra , İzbudak Burçin , Emik Serkan , Özkahraman Bengi , Bal‐Öztürk Ayça
Published: October 2021

Recently, with the progression in wound dressings, the importance of the biocompatible material with enhanced features for potential applications in the biomedical field has been more developed. Current strategies focus on the acceleration of the wound healing by systematically designed dressing materials. In this study, biocompatible hydrogel films with the combination of silk fibroin, hyaluronic acid and gelatin biopolymers were fabricated. To gain the enhanced wound healing behavior of wound dressings, boric acid (BA) was formulated in various ratios. The prepared hydrogel films were characterized in terms of FTIR, TGA, DSC, and SEM analysis. Following to the swelling and mechanical tests, in vitro biocompatibility and wound healing tests were performed against L929 fibroblast cell line. Results suggest that the presence of 1% (wt/vol) BA in the formulation of silk fibroin/gelatin/hyaluronic acid based hydrogel films is the key in providing such an enhanced mechanical and wound healing feature and may offer an alternative approach for wound healing treatment.
Strategies toward development of antimicrobial biomaterials for dental healthcare applications
Authors: Parhi Shivangi , Pal Sreyasi , Das Sujoy K. , Ghosh Paulomi
Published: October 2021

Several approaches for elimination of oral pathogens are being explored at the present time since oral diseases remain prevalent affecting approximately 3.5 billion people worldwide. Need for antimicrobial biomaterials in dental healthcare include but is not restricted to designing resin composites and adhesives for prevention of dental caries. Constant efforts are also being made to develop antimicrobial strategies for clearance of endodontic space prior root canal treatment and for treatment of periimplantitis and periodontitis. This article discusses various conventional and nanotechnology‐based strategies to achieve antimicrobial efficacy in dental biomaterials. Recent developments in the design and synthesis of antimicrobial peptides and antifouling zwitterionic polymers to effectively lessen the risks of antimicrobial drug resistance are also outlined in this review. Further, the role of contemporary strategies such as use of smart biomaterials, ionic solvent‐based biomaterials and quorum quenchers incorporated biomaterials in the elimination of dental pathogens are described in detail. Lastly, we mentioned the approach of using polymers to print custom‐made three‐dimensional antibacterial dental products via additive manufacturing technologies. This review provides a critical perspective on the chemical, biomimetic, and engineering strategies intended for developing antimicrobial biomaterials that have the potential to substantially improve the dental health.
If It's Not on the System, Then It Hasn't Been Done: ‘Ofsted Anxiety Disorder’ as a Barrier to Social Worker Discretion
Authors: Murphy Ciarán
Published: October 2021

A main theme within the Munro Review of Child Protection was that social workers should be better able to employ their discretion in the best interests of the individual child. This paper reports on the results of an ethnographic case study of one local authority child protection team. The research sought to explore, with 21 social workers and four team managers, the extent of social worker discretion within the child protection team. Employing a mixed‐methods design – encompassing documentary analysis, observation, focus group, questionnaire, interview and Critical Realist Grounded Theory – the aim was to identify continued barriers to social worker discretion. Main findings highlight how a retained focus on preparation for inspection contributed towards the ‘bureaucratic burden’ – epitomised by conceptions of Ofsted Anxiety Disorder – and served as a barrier to achieving Munro's image for social worker discretion within the child protection team. Ultimately, despite previous efforts to reform external inspection in the wake of the Munro Review, the paper concludes that there may still be more to do if we are to achieve the ‘child‐centred’ and ‘effective’ system that Munro advocated.

Key Practitioner Messages

Child protection social workers continue to be afforded discretionary space.

The discretionary space can be differentiated by ‘type.’

Social workers are more likely to employ discretion in managerially sanctioned discretionary space.

Local approaches to external inspection continue to hinder social worker discretion in the best interests of the child.

‘Reports on the results of an ethnographic case study of one local authority child protection team’
Chemical Modification of Phage‐Displayed Helix‐Loop‐Helix Peptides to Construct Kinase‐Focused Libraries
Authors: Fujiwara Daisuke , Mihara Kousuke , Takayama Ryo , Nakamura Yusuke , Ueda Mitsuhiro , Tsumuraya Takeshi , Fujii Ikuo
Published: October 2021

Conformationally constrained peptides hold promise as molecular tools in chemical biology and as a new modality in drug discovery. The construction and screening of a target‐focused library could be a promising approach for the generation of de novo ligands or inhibitors against target proteins. Here, we have prepared a protein kinase‐focused library by chemically modifying helix‐loop‐helix (HLH) peptides displayed on phage and subsequently tethered to adenosine. The library was screened against aurora kinase A (AurA). The selected HLH peptide Bip‐3 retained the α‐helical structure and bound to AurA with a KD value of 13.7 μM. Bip‐3 and the adenosine‐tethered peptide Bip‐3‐Adc provided IC50 values of 103 μM and 7.7 μM, respectively, suggesting that Bip‐3‐Adc bivalently inhibited AurA. In addition, the selectivity of Bip‐3‐Adc to several protein kinases was tested, and was highest against AurA. These results demonstrate that chemical modification can enable the construction of a kinase‐focused library of phage‐displayed HLH peptides.
Metal‐Organic Frameworks with Novel Catenane‐like Interlocking: Metal‐Determined Photoresponse and Uranyl Sensing
Authors: Guo Meng‐Yue , Li Gen , Yang Shuai‐Liang , Bu Ran , Piao Xian‐Qing , Gao En‐Qing
Published: October 2021

The assembly of two tripyridinium‐tricarboxylate ligands and different metal ions leads to seven isostructural MOFs, which show novel 2D→2D supramolecular entanglement featuring catenane‐like interlocking of tricyclic cages. The MOFs show tripyridinium‐afforded and metal‐modulated photoresponsive properties. The MOFs with d10 metal centers (1‐Cd, 1‐Zn, 2‐Cd, 2‐Zn) show fast and reversible photochromism and concomitant fluorescence quenching, 1‐Ni displays slower photochromism but does not fluoresce, and 1‐Co and 2‐Co are neither photochromic nor fluorescent. It is shown here that the network entanglement dictates donor‐acceptor close contacts, which enable fluorescence originated from interligand charge transfer. The contacts also allow photoinduced electron transfer, which underlies photochromism and concomitant fluorescence response. The metal dependence in fluorescence and photochromism can be related to energy transfer through metal‐centered d‐d transitions. In addition, 1‐Cd is demonstrated to be a potential fluorescence sensor for sensitive and selective detection of UO22+ in water.
Luminescent Chiral Exciplexes with Sky‐Blue and Green Circularly Polarized‐Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence
Authors: Sumsalee Patthira , Abella Laura , Kasemthaveechok Sitthichok , Vanthuyne Nicolas , Cordier Marie , Pieters Grégory , Autschbach Jochen , Crassous Jeanne , Favereau Ludovic
Published: October 2021

Luminescent exciplexes based on a chiral electron donor and achiral acceptors are reported as a new approach to design circularly polarized (CP) and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters. This strategy results in rather high CP luminescence (CPL) values with glum up to 7×10−3, one order of magnitude higher in comparison to the CPL signal recorded for the chiral donor alone (glum ∼7×10−4). This increase occurs concomitantly with a CPL sign inversion, as a result of the strong charge‐transfer emission character, as experimentally and theoretically rationalized by using a covalent chiral donor‐acceptor model. Interestingly, blue, green‐yellow and red chiral luminescent exciplexes can be obtained by modifying with the electron accepting character of the achiral unit while keeping the same chiral donor unit. These results bring new (inter)molecular guidelines to obtain simply and efficiently multi‐color CP‐TADF emitters.
The association of interferon‐alpha with development of collateral circulation after artery occlusion
Authors: Xing Zhenhua , Wang Xiaopu , Pei Junyu , Zhu Zhaowei , Tai Shi , Hu Xinqun
Published: October 2021

Background

Previous studies have demonstrated that interferon (IFN) signaling is enhanced in patients with poor collateral circulation (CC). However, the role and mechanisms of IFN‐alpha in the development of CC remain unknown.

Methods

We studied the serum levels of IFN‐alpha and coronary CC in a case–control study using logistics regression, including 114 coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) patients with good coronary CC and 94 CTO patients with poor coronary CC. Restricted cubic splines was used to flexibly model the association of the levels of IFN‐alpha with the incidence of good CC perfusion restoration after systemic treatment with IFN‐alpha was assessed in a mice hind‐limb ischemia model.

Results

Compared with the first IFN‐alpha tertile, the risk of poor CC was higher in the third IFN‐alpha tertile (OR: 4.79, 95% CI: 2.22–10.4, p < .001). A cubic spline‐smoothing curve showed that the risk of poor CC increased with increasing levels of serum IFN‐alpha. IFN‐alpha inhibited the development of CC in a hindlimb ischemia model. Arterioles of CC in the IFN‐alpha group were smaller in diameter than in the control group.

Conclusion

Patients with CTO and with poor CC have higher serum levels of IFN‐alpha than CTO patients with good CC. IFN‐alpha might impair the development of CC after artery occlusion.
A traffic‐centric fuzzy approach for solving the starvation problem of cooperative awareness messages in vehicular ad hoc networks
Authors: Abdollah Sepideh , Zarei Mani
Published: October 2021

Congestion problem in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) is one of the main factors that negatively affect the inter‐vehicle communication (IVC) efficiency of such emerging networks. Decentralized congestion control (DCC) is an effective method for overcoming the congestion problem. However, lower priority packets such as cooperative awareness messages (CAMs) may be encountered with the starvation problem in the DCC approach. This paper proposes FDCC: a traffic‐centric Fuzzy DCC approach for improving CAMs delivery ratio, especially in congested traffic flows. FDDC architecture consists of four fuzzy inference systems (FISs). The inter‐vehicle distance (IVD) and the speed variation are the spatiotemporal fuzzy inputs, which are customized for both single direction and multi‐direction scenarios. Based on the FIS outputs, the FDCC control system, unlike the DCC, provides a way for processing starved CAMs by ignoring unnecessary even‐driven messages. The obtained simulation results through OMNET++ in both single and multi‐direction scenarios show the efficiency of FDCC in terms of the end‐to‐end delay, network throughput, and packet delivery ratio for event‐driven messages as well as essential CAMs.
G protein‐coupled receptor GPR37‐like 1 regulates adult oligodendrocyte generation
Authors: An Jing , Zhang Yumeng , Fudge Alexander D. , Lu Haixia , Richardson William D. , Li Huiliang
Published: October 2021

Oligodendrocytes (OLs) continue to be generated from OL precursors (OPs) in the adult mammalian brain. Adult‐born OLs are believed to contribute to neural plasticity, learning and memory through a process of “adaptive myelination,” but how adult OL generation and adaptive myelination are regulated remains unclear. Here, we report that the glia‐specific G protein‐coupled receptor 37‐like 1 (GPR37L1) is expressed in subsets of OPs and newly formed immature OLs in adult mouse brain. We found that OP proliferation and differentiation are inhibited in the corpus callosum of adult Gpr37l1 knockout mice, leading to a reduction in the number of adult‐born OLs. Our data raise the possibility that GPR37L1 is mechanistically involved in adult OL generation and adaptive myelination, and suggest that GPR37L1 might be a useful functional marker of OPs that are committed to OL differentiation.
Determinants of psychosocial factors among the oldest old – Evidence from the representative “Survey on quality of life and subjective well‐being of the very old in North Rhine‐Westphalia (NRW80+)”
Authors: Hajek André , König Hans‐Helmut
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Our aim was to examine socioeconomic and health‐related variables associated with psychosocial factors among the oldest old.

Methods

Cross‐sectional data were used from the representative “Survey on quality of life and subjective well‐being of the very old in North Rhine‐Westphalia (NRW80+)” consisting of individuals aged 80 years and over (n = 952, average age was 86 years) living in North Rhine‐Westphalia (most populous state of Germany). Established tools were used to quantify loneliness, life satisfaction and depressive symptoms. Socioeconomic and health‐related determinants were included in regression analysis.

Results

Multiple linear regressions showed that higher life satisfaction was associated with a greater network size, lower functional impairment and better self‐rated health. Moreover, higher loneliness was associated with being unmarried, a smaller network size, worse self‐rated health and higher functional impairment. Additionally, more depressive symptoms were associated with lower age (i.e., 80–84 years compared to 90 years and over), asset poverty, the presence of multimorbidity, higher functional impairment and worse self‐rated health.

Conclusions

Our study identified various socioeconomic and health‐related factors associated with worse psychosocial factors among the oldest old. This knowledge may assist in targeting oldest old individuals at risk for worse psychosocial factors.
Diogenes syndrome in a 10‐year retrospective observational study: An elderly case series in Tokyo
Authors: Ito Kae , Okamura Tsuyoshi , Tsuda Shuji , Awata Shuichi
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Supporting people suffering from Diogenes Syndrome (DS) is a challenge for geriatric psychiatry. However, there is a lack of knowledge about DS in Japan. Therefore, a systematic longitudinal study to clarify the factors associated with DS and its prognosis was conducted.

Methods/Design

A retrospective study using data from case records of a municipal psychogeriatric service was conducted. The study population was socially isolated older adults with complex mental health and social care needs who had been referred to the service over 10 years. The participants were stratified into DS and non‐DS groups, multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with DS, and survival analysis was performed.

Results

Of the 270 participants, 61 with Environmental Cleanliness and Clutter Scale (ECCS) scores >12 were assigned to the DS group, and 209 with ECCS scores ≤12 were assigned to the non‐DS group. On multiple logistic regression analysis, significantly more people in the DS group were living alone, had advanced dementia, and had reduced basic activities of daily living (BADL) compared to the non‐DS group. Furthermore, survival analysis showed that the DS group had a higher risk of early death than the non‐DS group.

Conclusions

In the present study, social isolation, living alone, advanced dementia, and reduced BADL were found to be associated with DS. In addition, DS had a high risk of early death. Support for DS must take into account not only mental and social health, but also physical health from an early stage.
Predicting Wi‐Fi link quality through artificial neural networks
Authors: Scanzio Stefano , Xia Francesco , Cena Gianluca , Valenzano Adriano
Published: October 2021

Artificial intelligence is one of the key technologies behind the Industry 4.0 (r)evolution. It can be profitably employed in a variety of different applications contexts and with different goals, most of which are characterized by the fact that reliable models for some parts of the involved systems either do not exist or are unavailable. In this paper we tried to exploit artificial neural networks to predict the quality of the transmission channel in Wi‐Fi better than what techniques employed in conventional adaptive solutions permit. Applicability of such an approach is quite broad, but we believe that the main intended goal is to improve communication dependability and system resilience. Preliminary results highlighted that artificial neural networks show higher prediction accuracy, and there is still extensive room for improvements.
Successful supportive encounters from the peer supporter's perspective: Do status similarities to support recipients matter?
Authors: Thoits Peggy A.
Published: October 2021

Experientially similar others, or “peer supporters,” are persons who have faced a support recipient's stressor before. Theory suggests that peer supporters' understanding of and empathy for support recipients will be heightened when they match recipients not only in stressor experience but on one or more social statuses (e.g., age, education). Thus, peer‐support volunteers may perceive supportive encounters as more successful when participants' statuses match. To explore this, volunteer Mended Hearts Visitors (former heart patients who visit currently hospitalized cardiac patients and their family members) were interviewed in‐depth (N = 84). Visitors more often perceived same age and gender, but not same race and education, as enhancing rapport and patients' receptivity to their help. The findings suggest statuses which are culturally relevant to a shared stressor (here, cardiac surgery) can boost supporters' effectiveness, with practical implications for peer support‐giving organizations that bring together experiential peers with recipients in pairs or small groups.
Putting psychotherapy in its place: The regionalization of behavior therapy in France, Switzerland, and Belgium, 1960s–1990s
Authors: Amouroux Rémy , Gerber Lucie , Aronov Milana
Published: October 2021

This article traces the history of the behavior therapy movement in French‐speaking Europe between the 1960s and the 1990s, focusing on its geographically located development, whether on a national, sub‐ or supra‐national scale. By examining the trajectories of the three main behavioral therapy associations in France, Switzerland, and Belgium, we show that it is not possible to subsume them under a common intellectual history. Despite the importance of theoretical debates in the emergence of this brand of psychotherapy in English‐speaking countries, adherence to this type of explanation falls short of accounting for the differential reception of behavioral therapies in these countries. We argue that the later development of behavioral therapy in France, Belgium, and Switzerland was shaped more by professional agendas, local definitions, and regulations of psychotherapy than by “pure” theoretical commitments and conflicts between schools of thought. From a historiographical perspective, exploring the regionalization of psychotherapeutic styles thus involves contesting the idea that different therapies are mainly characterized by adherence to psychological theories and embedded ontologies of the self that are radically opposed (i.e., humanism vs. naturalism, psychoanalysis vs. behavior therapy). Localizing psychotherapies and paying attention to the varying circumstances and traditions in which they have evolved allows us to go beyond this dichotomous vision and to access a multiplicity of nondogmatic and intermediate positions that would otherwise be invisible.
Microwave‐assisted diversified synthesis of pyrimidines: An overview
Authors: Kumar Kapil
Published: October 2021

Pyrimidines and their hybrid molecules have continued to be a favorable area for organic chemists owing to their richness in natural and synthetic compounds with multifarious involvement in pharmaceuticals and polymers and act as ligands. Different novel and greener synthetic protocols were developed in the last decades, but microwave‐assisted synthetic protocols played a significant role in constructing pyrimidine and its derivatives. In this article, we summarized the microwave‐supported strategy for the construction of pyrimidine fused or linked/tethered with other heterocycles, polysubstituted pyrimidines, solid‐supported synthesis of pyrimidines, and ionic liquid‐catalyzed strategies for the synthesis of pyrimidine and its derivatives reported in the last decade. Solid‐supported protocols using resins and ionic liquid‐catalyzed strategies afforded the corresponding products with excellent yield by dual activation. In most of the reports, the microwave‐irradiated approach was compared with conventional/traditional heating and found better in terms of reaction time, yield, atom economy, adherence with green chemistry principles, and reduction in purification wastage. Various authors evaluated the in vitro potential of synthesized pyrimidine derivatives for antimicrobial and antimalarial potential, and found moderate to excellent biological activity.
Patents vs patients 1‐0: The case of chenodeoxycholic acid
Authors: Briké Sarah Marie , Meersseman Wouter , Cassiman David
Published: October 2021

Profit‐driven games with the availability and prices of chenodeoxycholic acid led to the discontinuation of proper treatment for this cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis patient with disastrous consequences to his health.
Tropical cyclones over the Arabian Sea during the monsoon onset phase
Authors: Dhavale Shreyas , Mujumdar Milind , Roxy Mathew Koll , Singh Vineet Kumar
Published: October 2021

Generally, monsoon conditions are unfavourable for cyclogenesis in the Arabian Sea due to the strong vertical wind shear present over the basin which prevents the vertical development of cyclones. However, there are instances where tropical cyclones form over the basin during the onset phase of the Indian summer monsoon (ISM). The current study examines the evolution of the synoptic conditions in the years during 1979–2019 in which a cyclone forms during the onset phase of the ISM. The effect of various atmospheric and oceanic factors, the modulation of wind circulation over the Indian subcontinent and the north Indian Ocean region due to the possible influence of tropical and extratropical weather systems has been taken into consideration. Our analysis indicates that a weak mean monsoonal wind circulation caused by the southward intrusion of subtropical westerlies (at 200 hPa) is conducive for cyclogenesis over the Arabian Sea during the monsoon onset phase. Such a weak onset phase of the monsoon, coupled with the seasonal warm SSTs, may lead to cyclone formation in the Arabian Sea.
Low‐cost and fast‐performing indicators of muscle mass loss are good predictors of clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients: A longitudinal observational study
Authors: dos Santos RD Carolina Oliveira , Burgel Camila Ferri , Chites RD Victoria Silva , Lima RD Júlia , Silva PhD Flávia Moraes
Published: October 2021

Background

“Gold standard” methods for muscle mass (MM) assessment are expensive and difficult to use in clinical practice. The present study aimed to evaluate the association between easy‐to‐apply and low‐cost indicators of MM and clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients.

Methods

In this cohort study, calf circumference [CC], adductor pollicis muscle thickness [APMT], midarm muscle circumference [MAMC], and arm muscle area [AMA] were measured within 48 h of admission to detect MM loss, and it was also evaluated by physical examination. Patients were followed up until discharge for collection of in‐hospital death and length of hospital stay (LOS) data, and they were contacted by phone to assess hospital readmission and mortality at 6 months after discharge.

Results

We evaluated 601 patients (55.8 ± 14.8 years). Moderate/severe loss of MM (hazard ratio [HR], 4.12; 95% CI, 1.26–13.49), low CC (HR, 3.67; 95% CI: 1.07–12.55), low MAMC (HR, 5.20; 95% CI, 1.48–18.35), and low AMA (HR, 14.28; 95% CI, 1.80–113.14) were predictors of in‐hospital mortality. Moderate/severe loss of MM was a predictor of prolonged LOS (odds ratio [OR], 2.27; 95% CI, 1.53–3.36), hospital readmission (OR, 4.14; 95% CI, 1.26–13.55), and mortality at 6 months (OR, 3.20; 95% CI, 1.71–6.01). Low CC (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.27–4.85) and low APMT (OR, 3.22; 95% CI, 1.56–6.66) were associated with death 6 months after discharge.

Conclusion

Easy‐to‐apply and low‐cost indicators of MM were associated with negative clinical outcomes and should be part of nutrition assessment in hospitals