bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maternal substance use, unpredictability of sensory signals and child cognitive development: An exploratory study
Authors: Hyysalo Noora , Sorsa Minna , Holmberg Eeva , Korja Riikka , Davis Elysia Poggi , Mykkänen Eveliina , Flykt Marjo
Published: July 2024

Maternal substance use and unpredictable maternal sensory signals may affect child development, but no studies have examined them together. We explored the unpredictability, frequency and duration of maternal sensory signals in 52 Caucasian mother–child dyads, 27 with and 25 without maternal substance use. We also examined the association between unpredictable maternal signals and children's cognitive development. Maternal sensory signals were evaluated with video‐recorded dyadic free‐play interactions at child age of 24 months. Children's cognitive development was evaluated with Bayley‐III at 24 months and with WPPSI‐III at 48 months. We found similar unpredictability, frequency and duration of sensory signals between substance‐using and non‐using mothers. Higher unpredictability of maternal sensory signals was robustly linked with poorer child cognitive development at 24 months. The link persisted, although weakened to 48 months. Unpredictability of maternal sensory signals may be a vital parenting aspect shaping children's development, but more research is needed in high‐risk groups.

Highlights

We examined unpredictability, frequency and duration of maternal sensory signals among substance‐using and non‐using mothers, and the associations between unpredictability and children's cognitive development.

We assessed sensory signals with dyadic free‐play interaction and children's cognitive development with standardized tests. Groups showed similar sensory signal unpredictability, frequency and duration. Unpredictable sensory signals were linked with poorer child cognitive development at 24 and 48 months.

Unpredictability of maternal sensory signals is a potentially vital aspect of parental care in shaping children's development. More research is needed especially including high‐risk mothers.
Is inflation targeting effective? Lessons from global financial crisis and COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Sethi Chandan , Mishra Bibhuti Ranjan
Published: July 2024

This paper explores the influence of inflation targeting (IT) policy on macroeconomic performance in 24 Asian economies by taking a wide range of macroeconomic variables from 2001 to 2022. Specifically, the study seeks to evaluate the influence of IT on macroeconomic performance during the global financial crisis (GFC) and the COVID‐19 pandemic periods separately. The empirical analysis comprises three approaches: propensity score matching, difference‐in‐differences, and panel‐corrected standard error methods. The empirical investigation reveals that IT significantly impacts inflation and its volatility during the GFC. In contrast, the effect on the unemployment rate is not statistically significant. Further, IT statistically influences the inflation and unemployment rates throughout the COVID‐19 pandemic. In contrast, its impact on inflation volatility during the COVID‐19 pandemic is not evident. Our results have significant policy implications for the Asian economies. It may be suggested that low‐income countries could benefit from implementing IT policy as a tool to ensure stable inflation. However, there is a need for continuous policy adaptation and targeted interventions to address evolving economic challenges, especially in situations like crises.
Clinical outcomes in people with diabetes‐related foot infections: Analysis from a limb preservation service infection database
Authors: Malone Matthew , Bergamin Emma , Hayashi Kenshin , Schwarzer Saskia , Dickson Hugh G. , Lau Namson , Lavery Lawrence A. , Commons Robert J.
Published: July 2024

Background

Diabetes‐related foot infections are common and represent a significant clinical challenge. There are scant data about outcomes from large cohorts. The purpose of this study was to report clinical outcomes from a large cohort of people with diabetes‐related foot infections.

Methods

A tertiary referral hospital limb preservation service database was established in 2018, and all new episodes of foot infections were captured prospectively using an electronic database (REDCap). People with foot infections between January 2018 and May 2023, for whom complete data were available on infection episodes, were included. Infection outcomes were compared between skin and soft tissue infections (SST‐DFI) and osteomyelitis (OM) using chi‐square tests.

Results

Data extraction identified 647 complete DFI episodes in 397 patients. The data set was divided into two cohorts identifying each infection episode and its severity as either SST‐DFI (N = 326, 50%) or OM (N = 321, 50%). Most infection presentations were classified as being moderate (PEDIS 3 = 327, 51%), with 36% mild (PEDIS 2 = 239) and 13% severe (PEDIS 4 = 81). Infection resolution occurred in 69% (n = 449) of episodes with failure in 31% (n = 198). Infection failures were more common with OM than SST‐DFI (OM = 140, 71% vs. SST‐DFI = 58, 29%, p < 0.00001). In patients with SST‐DFI a greater number of infection failures were observed in the presence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) compared to the patients without PAD (failure occurred in 30% (31/103) of episodes with PAD and 12% (27/223) of episodes without PAD; p < 0.001). In contrast, the number of observed infection failures in OM episodes were similar in patients with and without PAD (failure occurred in 45% (57/128) of episodes with PAD and 55% (83/193) of episodes without PAD; p = 0.78).

Conclusions

This study provides important epidemiological data on the risk of poor outcomes for DFI and factors associated with poor outcomes in an Australian setting. It highlights the association of PAD and treatment failure, reinforcing the need for early intervention to improve PAD in patients with DFI. Future randomised trials should assess the benefits of revascularisation and surgery in people with DFI and particularly those with OM where outcomes are worse.
Growth rates of the bipartite Erdős–Gyárfás function
Authors: Li Xihe , Broersma Hajo , Wang Ligong
Published: July 2024

Given two graphs and a positive integer , an ‐coloring of is an edge‐coloring of such that every copy of in receives at least distinct colors. The bipartite Erdős–Gyárfás function is defined to be the minimum number of colors needed for to have a ‐coloring. For balanced complete bipartite graphs , the function was studied systematically in Axenovich et al. In this paper, we study the asymptotic behavior of this function for complete bipartite graphs that are not necessarily balanced. Our main results deal with thresholds and lower and upper bounds for the growth rate of this function, in particular for (sub)linear and (sub)quadratic growth. We also obtain new lower bounds for the balanced bipartite case, and improve several results given by Axenovich, Füredi and Mubayi. Our proof techniques are based on an extension to bipartite graphs of the recently developed Color Energy Method by Pohoata and Sheffer and its refinements, and a generalization of an old result due to Corrádi.
Demonstrating the use of population level data to investigate trends in the rate, radiation dose and cost of Computed Tomography across clinical groups: Are there any areas of concern?
Authors: Kamarova Sviatlana , Youens David , Ha Ninh T. , Bulsara Max , Doust Jenny , Fox Richard , Kritz Marlene , McRobbie Donald , O'Leary Peter , Parizel Paul M. , Slavotinek John , Wright Cameron , Moorin Rachael
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Increases in computed tomography (CT) use may not always reflect clinical need or improve outcomes. This study aimed to demonstrate how population level data can be used to identify variations in care between patient groups, by analysing system‐level changes in CT use around the diagnosis of new conditions.

Methods

Retrospective repeated cross‐sectional observational study using West Australian linked administrative records, including 504,723 adults diagnosed with different conditions in 2006, 2012 and 2015. For 90 days pre/post diagnosis, CT use (any and 2+ scans), effective dose (mSv), lifetime attributable risk (LAR) of cancer incidence and mortality from CT, and costs were assessed.

Results

CT use increased from 209.4 per 1000 new diagnoses in 2006 to 258.0 in 2015; increases were observed for all conditions except neoplasms. Healthcare system costs increased for all conditions but neoplasms and mental disorders. Effective dose increased substantially for respiratory (+2.5 mSv, +23.1%, P < 0.001) and circulatory conditions (+2.1 mSv, +15.4%, P < 0.001). The LAR of cancer incidence and mortality from CT increased for endocrine (incidence +23.4%, mortality +18.0%) and respiratory disorders (+21.7%, +23.3%). Mortality LAR increased for circulatory (+12.1%) and nervous system (+11.0%) disorders. The LAR of cancer incidence and mortality reduced for musculoskeletal system disorders, despite an increase in repeated CT in this group.

Conclusions

Use and costs increased for most conditions except neoplasms and mental and behavioural disorders. More strategic CT use may have occurred in musculoskeletal conditions, while use and radiation burden increased for respiratory, circulatory and nervous system conditions. Using this high‐level approach we flag areas requiring deeper investigation into appropriateness and value of care.
Novel quantum‐dot cellular automata BCD to excess‐3 code converter
Authors: Akbari‐Hasanjani Reza , Kianpour Moein , Dehbozorgi Leila , Sabbaghi‐Nadooshan Reza , Haghparast Majid
Published: July 2024

Binary‐code decimal (BCD) to Excess‐3 converters (BCD‐XS3) can be used as an interface between two systems with different codes, and they can be used to synchronize those systems. Two novel approaches for quantum dot cellular automata BCD‐XS3 are suggested, and the design parameters and the amount of energy dissipation are examined. The results have shown that design parameters in two designs of BCD‐XS3 have been optimized. The new designs of the BCD‐XS3 circuits are simulated, and the proposed design is examined in terms of complexity, latency, and total area. Design parameters have been optimized, showing the reduction in design parameters in the two proposed approaches, which are single layers. The first proposed design uses 119 cells with a delay of 1.5 clock cycles whose number of cells, complexity, and total area are improved by 16.78%, 25%, and 18.18%, respectively, compared with the best previous work. The second proposed design uses 81 cells with a delay of 1 clock. The number of cells, complexity, and total area are improved by 43.35%, 50%, and 50%, respectively, comparing the best previous work. Also, this study investigates the energy consumption in BCD‐XS3 for 0.5Ek, 1Ek, and 1.5Ek tunneling energy, which is improved by 31.00%, 33.01%, and 34.68%, respectively, for the first design and 42.59%, 48.74%, and 52.46% for the second design.
Living in Mediterranean cities in the context of climate change: A review
Authors: Nastos Panagiotis , Saaroni Hadas
Published: July 2024

The Mediterranean region contains some of the areas with the highest urban density in the world, and these areas keep expanding, making this region a “hotspot” of climate change. Life in the Mediterranean unfolds predominantly outdoors throughout the year, exposing its inhabitants to an evolving climate that is progressively harsher and punctuated by increasingly frequent extreme weather events. More and more people are going to be exposed to severe heat waves, droughts, water shortage, dust storms, forest fires and poor air quality on the one hand, and torrential rains and floods on the other hand. The urban heat island further increases thermal stress of city dwellers and plays a key role in citizens' health and well‐being. In this exhaustive review, based on state‐of‐the‐art studies we delve into the realm of climate change and extreme weather phenomena as they intersect with urban populations in Mediterranean cities, both in the present and in the foreseeable future. Our focus lies on identifying knowledge gaps, inconsistencies in observed climatic hazards and shortcomings in assessing the associated risks and their societal and environmental ramifications. Moreover, we undertake a comprehensive survey of future predictions exploring the variables thermal stress, air pollution, air quality and characteristics of the hydro‐climatic systems, that is, droughts, fires and floods. Yet, critical knowledge gaps persist in understanding the science, the coping mechanisms, the strategies for preparedness and adaptation and the intricate interplay between these facets and societal dynamics. The developing countries in the Mediterranean region stand exceptionally vulnerable. It is imperative for more affluent nations to share their expertise and extend assistance to less developed counterparts, aiding them in navigating climate‐related challenges, devising adaptive strategies and facilitating their implementation.
Sales promotion and supply chain finance for shopping days: Strategies of e‐commerce platform and seller
Authors: Zhang Yujie , Cai Jianhu , Shan Xueshu , Li Siqing , Shou Yongyi
Published: July 2024

In shopping days, e‐commerce platforms (ECPs) and their sellers cooperate to promote sales through price discount and marketing effort. Supply chain finance (SCF) has been offered by ECPs to fuel sellers' preparations for shopping days. An ECP‐seller supply chain (PSSC) model is constructed to study the strategic interaction between the ECP and the seller. Given a price discount rate, we derive the ECP's optimal marketing effort level and feasible SCF service rule, as well as the seller's optimal supply quantity and financing decisions. Furthermore, we identify a price‐discount‐rate interval, in which the Pareto improvement of the PSSC can be achieved.
Anthropometry for predicting cardiometabolic disease risk factors in adolescents
Authors: Xie Luyu , Kim Joohan , Almandoz Jaime P. , Clark John , Mathew M. Sunil , Cartwright Bethany R. , Barlow Sarah E. , Lipshultz Steven E. , Messiah Sarah E.
Published: July 2024

Objective

Early screening prevents chronic diseases by identifying at‐risk adolescents through anthropometric measurements, but predictive value in diverse groups is uncertain.

Methods

A cross‐sectional analysis of 12‐ to 19‐year‐old individuals from the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) assessed the predictive ability of BMI percentile, total body fat percentage, waist circumference (WC), and waist‐hip ratio (WHR) for four cardiometabolic risk factors across race and ethnicity groups using receiver operating characteristic curves.

Results

The unweighted sample (N = 1194; 51.2% male individuals; 23.7% Hispanic, 13.2% non‐Hispanic Black [NHB], 51.1% non‐Hispanic White [NHW], 12.0% other/multirace) had a weighted prevalence of elevated blood pressure of 2.7%, hyperglycemia of 36.8%, hypertriglyceridemia of 4.8%, and low high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol of 15%. WHR (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.77), WC (AUC = 0.77), and BMI percentile (AUC = 0.73) outperformed total body fat percentage (AUC = 0.56) in predicting elevated blood pressure (p < 0.001 for all). BMI percentile was more accurate than total body fat percentage in predicting hypertriglyceridemia (AUC = 0.70 vs. 0.59; p = 0.02) and low HDL cholesterol (AUC = 0.69 vs. 0.59; p < 0.001). Race and ethnicity‐based predictions varied: NHW adolescents had the highest AUC (0.89; p < 0.01) for elevated blood pressure prediction compared with Hispanic and NHB adolescents (AUC = 0.77 for both). Total body fat percentage was more accurate in predicting low HDL cholesterol among Hispanic versus NHW adolescents (AUC = 0.73 vs. 0.58; p = 0.04).

Conclusions

WHR, WC, and BMI percentile are better predictors of cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents than total body fat percentage. Predictive abilities differed by race and ethnicity, highlighting the importance of tailored risk assessment strategies.
Constructing inkjet printed dielectric elastomers with modified silicon carbide nanowire surfaces to enhance electromechanical performance
Authors: Wang Zhihui , Zhao Xuan , Zhang Meng , Zhou Yanfen , Zhou Bangze , Liu Zhanxu , Zhang Xiaofeng , Jiang Zhiqing , Sun Yaning , Jerrams Stephen , Jiang Liang
Published: July 2024

Dielectric elastomers (DEs), have attracted interest because they can replicate the behavior of muscles. They can change shape when subjected to an electric field. A novel DE is proposed in this study that incorporates silicon carbide (SiC) nanowires into silicone rubber (SR). The nanowires were propagated using polycarbosilane via a chemical vapor reaction (CVR). A boronate polymer was employed to promote compatibility between SR and SiC nanowires which modified the nanowire surfaces, leveraging a strong adhesive quality of the catechol moiety. Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) inkjet printing was then used to form the DEs into various shapes. These DEs had substantial dielectric constants of the order of 4.46. Significantly, one of the DEs achieved the highest actuated area strain of 20.36% in an electric field of 16.5 V/μm, demonstrating excellent driving performance. Furthermore, when used the fabricated DEs showed pronounced long‐term stability, meaning they are capable of finding applications in artificial intelligence, biomimetics, aerospace, and other disciplines.

Highlights

The SiC nanowires were obtained through a chemical vapor reaction.

A boronate polymer with catechol moiety was used to modify the SiC nanowires.

DEs were formed various shapes by inkjet printing.

DEs achieved very large actuated strains of up to 20.36% at 16.5 V/μm.
Establishment of regression‐based isometric strength reference values for the upper limb in persons with multiple sclerosis
Authors: DelMastro Heather M. , Robson Abigail , Gromisch Elizabeth S. , Campo Marc , Simaitis Laura B. , Lo Albert C. , Dhari Zaenab , Ruiz Jennifer A.
Published: July 2024

Background

Muscle weakness is common and significantly affects persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), with dysfunction in upper limb (UL) muscle groups occurring in approximately 60% of PwMS.

Objective

To develop gender‐specific regression‐based prediction equations, with 95% confidence intervals for maximal bilateral UL isometric strength (shoulder abduction and adduction, wrist flexion and extension) and hand grip strength in PwMS.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Comprehensive MS center.

Participants

256 PwMS.

Interventions

Not Applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Shoulder abduction and adduction and wrist flexion and extension isometric strength (Biodex System 4 Pro Dynamometer) and hand grip strength (Jamar handheld dynamometer) were measured. Disease characteristics (disability and disease duration) and demographics (age, height, and weight) were collected. Regression‐based predictive equations were generated for the UL muscle groups for each gender and limb, using age, height, weight, disability, and disease duration as covariates. Variables were compared between genders using the Mann–Whitney U test. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) reference values (mean ± SD) were reported based on age (<30, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69 years) and disability (mild, moderate, severe ambulant, and severe nonambulant) for each gender and limb.

Results

Regression‐based equations were developed for both genders' strongest and weakest limb, accounting for age, height, weight, disability, and disease duration. MVC was higher in men than women (p < .001) in all muscle groups. Overall, MVC was significantly related to age in 14, height in 5, weight in 6, disability in 14, and disease duration in none of the 20 models.

Conclusion

This is the first study to provide regression‐based prediction equations for strongest and weakest MVC of UL muscle groups and demonstrated an inverse relationship between MVC with disability and age. Regression‐based reference strength values can help clinicians understand muscular strength along a spectrum of PwMS and can aid in goal setting and education for realistic outcomes.
Bridging pharmacology and neural networks: A deep dive into neural ordinary differential equations
Authors: Losada Idris Bachali , Terranova Nadia
Published: July 2024

The advent of machine learning has led to innovative approaches in dealing with clinical data. Among these, Neural Ordinary Differential Equations (Neural ODEs), hybrid models merging mechanistic with deep learning models have shown promise in accurately modeling continuous dynamical systems. Although initial applications of Neural ODEs in the field of model‐informed drug development and clinical pharmacology are becoming evident, applying these models to actual clinical trial datasets—characterized by sparse and irregularly timed measurements—poses several challenges. Traditional models often have limitations with sparse data, highlighting the urgent need to address this issue, potentially through the use of assumptions. This review examines the fundamentals of Neural ODEs, their ability to handle sparse and irregular data, and their applications in model‐informed drug development.
Berberine and berberine nanoformulations in cancer therapy: Focusing on lung cancer
Authors: Hsu Chou‐Yi , Pallathadka Harikumar , Gupta Jitendra , Ma Haowei , Al‐Shukri Hamzah H. K. , Kareem A. K. , Zwamel Ahmed Hussein , Mustafa Yasser Fakri
Published: July 2024

Lung cancer is the second most prevalent cancer and ranks first in cancer‐related death worldwide. Due to the resistance development to conventional cancer therapy strategies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, various natural products and their extracts have been revealed as alternatives. Berberine (BBR), which is present in the stem, root, and bark of various trees, could exert anticancer activities by regulating tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, metastasis, angiogenesis, and immune responses via modulating several signaling pathways within the tumor microenvironment. Due to its poor water solubility, poor pharmacokinetics/bioavailability profile, and extensive p‐glycoprotein‐dependent efflux, BBR application in (pre) clinical studies is restricted. To overcome these limitations, BBR can be encapsulated in nanoparticle (NP)‐based drug delivery systems, as monotherapy or combinational therapy, and improve BBR therapeutic efficacy. Nanoformulations also facilitate the selective delivery of BBR into lung cancer cells. In addition to the anticancer activities of BBR, especially in lung cancer, here we reviewed the BBR nanoformulations, including polymeric NPs, metal‐based NPs, carbon nanostructures, and others, in the treatment of lung cancer.
Preparation and Characterization of Biowaste Derived Zn, Sr Co‐substituted HAP/Lignin Biocomposite for Potential Biomedical Applications
Authors: Sridevi S. , Sutha S. , Kavitha L. , Gopi D.
Published: July 2024

This present study deals with the facile synthesis of Zinc (Zn), Strontium (Sr) Co‐substituted hydroxyapatite (M‐HAP)/lignin composite for biomedical applications. For composite formation, HAP was isolated from egg shell through wet precipitation method, biopolymer of lignin was extracted from neem wood through organosolve technique then HAP composites (HAP, HAP/lignin, Zn‐HAP/lignin, Sr‐HAP/lignin, Zn, Sr‐HAP/lignin) were obtained using freeze drying performance. The synthesized HAP composites were characterized using X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDAX). The antibacterial behavior of the HAP composites was investigated against E. Coli, B. Subtilies, P. Aeruginosa and S. Aureus pathogens. Then the mechanical property of the HAP composites was carried out using Vicker's microhardness test which reveals a better improvement in mechanical hardness. The antibacterial activity confirms that the HAP composite exhibits enhanced antibacterial activity. Further, the cell viability analysis shows that the co‐substitution of Zn and Sr in HAP lattice improved cell viability analysis, which indicates that the obtained Zn, Sr co‐substituted HAP/lignin biocomposite acts as a potential biomaterial for better biomedical application.
Synthesis and Characterization of Metal Complexes [M(L)(Im)]NO3, In Vitro DNA/BSA Binding Behavior and Cytotoxicity on HepG2 Cancer Cells
Authors: Alroba Almuhrah A. N. , Aazam Elham Shafik , Zaki Mehvash
Published: July 2024

A new ligand (HL) was prepared from heterocyclic 8‐Hydroxy‐2‐quinolinecarboxaldehyde and 2‐Aminobenzophenone in one pot synthesis. The metal complexes of the types [Zn(L)(Im)]NO3 (1), [Cu(L)(Im)]NO3 (2) and [Co(L)(Im)]NO3 (3) were prepared by adopting HL and Imidazole under refluxing conditions. The HL and complexes 1–3, were characterized by CHN elemental analysis and spectroscopic methods 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT‐IR, ToF Mass. The spectroscopic studies suggest square pyramidal geometry in all complexes. The interaction of ligand and complexes with DNA and BSA was conducted by UV‐vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The Kb value of 2.17×104 M−1 for complex 2 is the highest depicting its greater binding propensity with DNA. Similarly, in BSA binding studies, complex 2 shows greater binding potential in the hydrophobic core probably near the Trp 212 in the subdomain IIA. Furthermore, the complex 2 shows excellent cytotoxicity on HepG2 cancer cells with IC50=74.05±0.69 μM. In the cell cycle analysis of HepG2 cells, it has been observed that complex 2 arrests the cell proliferation in the G1/S phase. Annexin V‐based flow cytometry analysis further indicated 6‐fold apoptotic cell death by complex 2 in the experiment along with non‐specific necrosis cell death.
Novel Synthesis of Functionalized Bis(Benzo‐Heterocyclic Amine) Derivatives via Copper‐Catalyzed One‐Pot Multicomponent Reactions
Authors: Nematpour Manijeh
Published: July 2024

A copper‐catalyzed one‐pot synthesis of substituted bis(benzoxazole)amine, N‐benzoxazole(benzoimidazole)amine, and N‐benzoxazole(benzothiazole)amine is described via intramolecular cyclization of iodophenol and 2‐amino benzimidazoles(thiazoles)(oxazoles)‐trichloroacetonitrile adduct under ultrasound irradiation in MeCN with good yields. The use of simple and readily available starting materials, no column chromatography, mild copper‐catalytic reaction conditions, good yields (74–84 %), applying the sonochemical methodology and short reaction times are remarkable specifications of this protocol. All the compounds synthesized in this design are new and their identities have been confirmed using IR, NMR, CHN and mass spectrometry techniques.
Transition‐Metal‐Free (Hetero)arylsulfonylation of 1‐Iodopyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinoxalines
Authors: Ca Thuy T. , Le Khanh T. M. , Nguyen Tung T. , Chau Ngoc D. Q.
Published: July 2024

We describe herein a method for transition‐metal‐free (hetero)arylsulfonylation of 1‐iodopyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinoxalines with sodium arylsulfinates. The corresponding aryl iodides were in situ prepared from eletrophilic iodination of C1−H bonds in pyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinoxalines with N‐iodosuccinimide. The ensuing sulfonylation only required DMSO as solvent and completed after 15 min. Many arylsulfinates bearing chloro, bromo, methylsufonyl, acetamide, and nitro groups were competent substrates. Heteroarylsulfonylation of pyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinoxalines were also feasible.
Cu Based Dilute Alloys for Tuning the C2+ Selectivity of Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Authors: Crandall Bradie S. , Qi Zhen , Foucher Alexandre C. , Weitzner Stephen E. , Akhade Sneha A. , Liu Xin , Kashi Ajay R. , Buckley Aya K. , Ma Sichao , Stach Eric A. , Varley Joel B. , Jiao Feng , Biener Juergen
Published: July 2024

Electrochemical CO2 reduction is a promising technology for replacing fossil fuel feedstocks in the chemical industry but further improvements in catalyst selectivity need to be made. So far, only copper‐based catalysts have shown efficient conversion of CO2 into the desired multi‐carbon (C2+) products. This work explores Cu‐based dilute alloys to systematically tune the energy landscape of CO2 electrolysis toward C2+ products. Selection of the dilute alloy components is guided by grand canonical density functional theory simulations using the calculated binding energies of the reaction intermediates CO*, CHO*, and OCCO* dimer as descriptors for the selectivity toward C2+ products. A physical vapor deposition catalyst testing platform is employed to isolate the effect of alloy composition on the C2+/C1 product branching ratio without interference from catalyst morphology or catalyst integration. Six dilute alloy catalysts are prepared and tested with respect to their C2+/C1 product ratio using different electrolyzer environments including selected tests in a 100‐cm2 electrolyzer. Consistent with theory, CuAl, CuB, CuGa and especially CuSc show increased selectivity toward C2+ products by making CO dimerization energetically more favorable on the dominant Cu facets, demonstrating the power of using the dilute alloy approach to tune the selectivity of CO2 electrolysis.
Engineering Lewis‐Acid Defects on ZnO Quantum Dots by Trace Transition‐Metal Single Atoms for High Glycerol‐to‐Glycerol Carbonate Conversion
Authors: Butburee Teera , Prasert Ampawan , Rungtaweevoranit Bunyarat , Khemthong Pongtanawat , Mano Poobodin , Youngjan Saran , Phanthasri Jakkapop , Namuangruk Supawadee , Faungnawakij Kajornsak , Zhang Lijuan , Jin Ping , Liu Huifang , Wang Feng
Published: July 2024

Efficient conversion of biomass wastes into valuable chemicals has been regarded as a sustainable approach for green and circular economy. Herein, a highly efficient catalytic conversion of glycerol (Gly) into glycerol carbonate (GlyC) by carbonylation with the commercially available urea is presented using low‐cost transition metal single atoms supported on zinc oxide quantum dots (M1‐ZnO QDs) as a catalyst without using any solvent. A facile one‐step wet chemical synthesis allows various types of metal single atoms to simultaneously dope and introduce Lewis‐acid defects in the ZnO QD structure. It is found that doping with a trace amount of isolated metal atoms greatly boosts the catalytic activity with Gly conversion of 90.7%, GlyC selectivity of 100.0%, and GlyC yield of 90.6%. Congruential results from both Density Functional Theory (DFT) and in situ Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (in situ DRIFTS) studies reveal that the superior catalytic performance can be attributed to the enriched Lewis acid sites that endow optimal adsorption, formation of the intermediate for coupling between urea and Gly, and desorption of GlyC. Moreover, the tiny size of ZnO QDs efficiently promotes the accessibility of these active sites to the reactants.
WS2 Nanotube Transistor for Photodetection and Optoelectronic Memory Applications
Authors: Pelella Aniello , Kumar Arun , Intonti Kimberly , Durante Ofelia , De Stefano Sebastiano , Han Xinyi , Li Zhonggui , Guo Yao , Giubileo Filippo , Camilli Luca , Passacantando Maurizio , Zak Alla , Di Bartolomeo Antonio
Published: July 2024

Nanotube and nanowire transistors hold great promises for future electronic and optoelectronic devices owing to their downscaling possibilities. In this work, a single multi‐walled tungsten disulfide (WS2) nanotube is utilized as the channel of a back‐gated field‐effect transistor. The device exhibits a p‐type behavior in ambient conditions, with a hole mobility µp ≈  1.4 cm2V−1s−1 and a subthreshold swing SS ≈ 10 V dec−1. Current–voltage characterization at different temperatures reveals that the device presents two slightly different asymmetric Schottky barriers at drain and source contacts. Self‐powered photoconduction driven by the photovoltaic effect is demonstrated, and a photoresponsivity R ≈ 10 mAW−1 at 2 V drain bias and room temperature. Moreover, the transistor is tested for data storage applications. A two‐state memory is reported, where positive and negative gate pulses drive the switching between two different current states, separated by a window of 130%. Finally, gate and light pulses are combined to demonstrate an optoelectronic memory with four well‐separated states. The results herein presented are promising for data storage, Boolean logic, and neural network applications.
Isolation and Characterization of Non‐Conventional and Underutilized Starch from Water Lily (Nymphaea lotus): Functional, Rheological, and Thermal Properties
Authors: Abelti Alemu Lema , Teka Tilahun A. , Bultosa Geremew
Published: July 2024

In this study, starch is isolated from Nymphaea lotus and its functional, rheological, and thermal properties are compared with potatoes, rice, and maize starches. The swelling power and solubility of all starches increased as the temperature increased. After 5 days of storage at +4 °C, syneresis increased, but paste clarity is decreased. The Herschel–Bulkley model well described the flow behavior, as evidenced by the upward and downward curves’ R2 values are higher than 0.95. Storage modulus and loss modulus increased as frequency increased, and the loss factors is less than unity for all starches. Differentially scanning calorimeter thermograms show the onset, peak, and conclusion temperature ranged from 58.5 to 68.01 °C, 68.94–73.97 °C, and 79.6–88.77 °C, respectively. The gelatinization temperature range and enthalpy of gelatinization ranged from 14.0 to 21.1 °C and 9.40–13.35 J g−1, respectively. Starch from N. lotus rhizome and seed exhibited a higher gelatinization temperature than potato starch, whereas their enthalpy of gelatinization is lower. Overall, the present finding will promote the utilization of starches isolated from the rhizome and seed of N. lotus for food and non‐food industries.
Ferrocenyl Azoles: Versatile N‐Containing Heterocycles and their Anticancer Activities
Authors: Sadanala Bhavya Deepthi , Trivedi Rajiv
Published: July 2024

The medicinal chemistry of ferrocene has gained its momentum after the discovery of biological activities of ferrocifen and ferroquine. These ferrocenyl drugs have been designed by replacing the aromatic moiety of the organic drugs, tamoxifen and chloroquine respectively, with a ferrocenyl unit. The promising biological activities of these ferrocenyl drugs have paved a path to explore the medicinal applications of several ferrocenyl conjugates. In these conjugates, the ferrocenyl moiety has played a vital role in enhancing or imparting the anticancer activity to the molecule. The ferrocenyl conjugates induce the cytotoxicity by generating reactive oxygen species and thereby damaging the DNA. In medicinal chemistry, the five membered nitrogen heterocycles (azoles) play a significant role due to their rigid ring structure and hydrogen bonding ability with the biomolecules. Several potent drug candidates with azole groups have been in use as chemotherapeutics. Considering the importance of ferrocenyl moiety and azole groups, several ferrocenyl azole conjugates have been synthesized and screened for their biological activities. Hence, in the view of a wide scope in the development of potent drugs based on ferrocenyl azole conjugates, herein we present the details of synthesis and the anticancer activities of ferrocenyl compounds bearing azole groups such as imidazole, triazoles, thiazole and isoxazoles.
Reproductive ecology of the critically endangered pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) in the wild
Authors: Mueti Ngwava Jacob , Xiao Fanrong , Malonza Patrick K. , Bwong Beryl A. , Shi Hai‐Tao
Published: July 2024

Reproduction of the pancake tortoise in the wild has remained poorly known over the decades. This study fills the knowledge gap by investigating the reproductive ecology of the species in its natural habitats in Kenya. Data were collected using the time‐constrained search‐and‐seize method, group‐level scan sampling, radio tracking, and camera‐trapping. Our observations revealed a total of 19 mating events that occurred between December and April, predominantly during the rainy seasons. Mating duration averaged 15.2 ± 2.4 min. Male–male aggression was observed during the mating season, with the dominant male keeping off all other males and mating with the resident females. Nest preparation events occurred between April and June. Nine nesting events were recorded, but in only five of them was an egg deposited. The nests were dug in loose soil, appeared almost circular, and measured 8.4 ± 0.9 cm wide and 7.0 ± 0.1 cm deep (n = 7). The average clutch size was one egg. The eggs were white, hard‐shelled, oval, and elongated measuring 4.4 ± 0.4 cm long, 2.7 ± 0.04 cm wide and weighed 17 ± 0.6 g (n = 3). Incubation period lasted 177 ± 5.7 days (n = 2), and hatching coincided with the onset of the short rainy season in November, aligned with the availability of abundant food for the tortoises. The hatchlings were minimally wider than long, having an average straight carapace length of 4.5 ± 0.6 cm, an average width of 4.5 ± 0.4 cm, and on average weighed 14.7 ± 3.7g, (n = 9). They remained near the nest site for 4–5 days before relocating to tiny rock crevices away from the adult tortoise crevices. Egg and hatchling predation was high, with four of the total of six eggs, observed after they were laid, being destroyed. Three juveniles, out of nine, were also eaten by predators. These findings contribute useful information for the formulation of effective conservation and management strategies for this critically endangered species.
EPOS-GNSS Data Quality Monitoring Web Portal
Authors: Bamahry Fikri , Legrand Juliette , Bruyninx Carine , Fabian Andras
Published: July 2024

The European Plate Observing System (EPOS) is a large and complex European e-infrastructure that facilitates the integrated use of multi-disciplinary datasets and services for Solid Earth research. EPOS’ GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) component provides access to GNSS data and products. This paper introduces a new EPOS web portal (https://gnssquality-epos.oma.be) that has been developed with the aim to provide the necessary information to monitor the availability and quality of daily GNSS data that are discoverable through EPOS. Currently, the web portal includes the tracking performances of more than 1600 GNSS stations. Several GNSS data quality indicators (DQIs), such as the number of observed versus expected observations, the number of missing epochs, the number of observed satellites, the maximum number of observations, the number of cycle slips, the Standard Point Positioning results, and the multipath values on code observation are monitored and their plots are available online. These DQIs provide helpful information that can be used to detect a potential degradation of the quality of the GNSS observations. Here, we will present the status of the web portal, the considered data quality indicators, and their benefits for GNSS data users.
Unpacking Digital Educational Experiment in the Home Setting: Crisis, Relational Proximity and Distal Participation in the Times of COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Rai Prabhat , Fleer Marilyn , Fragkiadaki Glykeria , Ødegaard Elin Eriksen , Sadownik Alicja R.
Published: July 2024

There are methodological challenges of studying children’s development in-motion, these challenges were further accentuated in the times of COVID-19 pandemic. The challenge demanded novel thinking from researchers in responding to the crisis and also preparing for new realities post-pandemic. This section has chapters that extends this discourse and further theorises the role of digital tools in capturing children’s development as a dynamic and dialectical process. The methodological argument presented here shows how educational experiment were conducted via digital tools to create motivating condition for children’s STEM concept formation in the home setting in Australia. This chapter especially reports on the methodological aspects of developing digital educational experiments and the changing ‘role of researcher’ as a distal participant. During the pandemic our object of inquiry, children’s home practices underwent a transformative change. In these changing material conditions digital educational experiments were developed as a methodology to work in collaboration with families so that we can continue to offer children in early years a new motivating condition for learning. While working with families a number of digital tools were used to build common knowledge that was used to develop a responsive and relational pedagogy for children in early years.
Digital Educational Experiments: Re-conceptualising Families’ Roles as Competent Educators and Co-researchers for STEM Conceptual Development
Authors: Yu Suxiang , Rai Prabhat , Fleer Marilyn
Published: July 2024

Over the past few years, the COVID-19 Pandemic has posed new challenges, such as unexpected lockdowns and restricted research site visits to our educational experiments with families. These challenges demand that we develop innovative ways of working remotely with families using digital tools, leading to our development of digital educational experiments in family settings. In digital educational experiments, researchers no longer visit children’s home settings, whereas families take up a more expansive role: they not only take up a pedagogic position for skilfully implementing the Conceptual PlayWorld [CPW] with infant-toddlers but also a co-researcher role for collecting meaningful digital data of CPW sessions for answering relevant research questions. It is not only essential to understand families’ changing roles in digital educational experiments under the new research conditions but also necessary to understand how researchers can come up with a new study design that motivates and empowers families to take up the new educator and co-researcher roles successfully and thus generating high-quality research data for better understanding effective family STEM pedagogy and young children’s STEM conceptual development. This chapter reports a CPW storytelling and mini-workshop study design for a digital educational experiment. It is argued that this new digital educational experiment design opens new possibilities for high-quality remote research with families.
Researcher’s Positioning in a Digital Educational Experiment: Conceptual PlayWorlds in the Home Setting
Authors: Nedovic Sonya , Rai Prabhat , Fleer Marilyn
Published: July 2024

In an overarching capacity, our research sought to investigate how families create conditions for children’s STEM learning in home settings. However, a methodological crisis formed when COVID-19 social distancing protocols contradicted our use of an educational experiment. Traditionally, an intervention into everyday practice such as this requires the researcher to enter the family home and participate in the child’s experience before interpreting how the child is developing through their relational interactions with others. This chapter reports on how the researcher positioned themselves in response to these methodological demands and created a new kind of activity setting fruitful for conceptual development through the use of digital tools. Our methodological approach can be adapted by future researchers to guide interactions and collaborations with families in the digital space.
Resilience in Partnership Research—The Role of Digital Platforms in the Co-creation of Knowledge in Pandemic Times
Authors: Ødegaard Elin Eriksen , Birkeland Johanna , Oen Marion
Published: July 2024

The purpose of this chapter is to narrate and conceptualise the changing processes that occurred when an interdisciplinary team transitioned from face-to-face workshops to a shared digital platform space in a historical time of crisis. The chapter describes how an interdisciplinary partnership project overcame obstacles, such as the respective institutions using different communication systems, to explore possibilities for partnership research through using a common digital platform as a tool for collective writing and for experimenting with writing genres. Inspired by cultural-historical theorisations of collective resilience, we describe how team members reinforced each other to strengthen risk situations, overcome them and use them as sources to support joint development of practices and co-research. We call this collective resilient digital agility. According to a cultural-historical perspective, resilience can be understood as a higher psychological function resulting from collaborative processes (Wertsch JV. Vygotsky and the social formation of mind. Harvard University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv26071b0, 1988). The results show that the pandemic and the shift to using a new artefact, a digital platform, changed what it was possible to do, strengthening resilience and ways of working together and opening up a co-creative writing genre.
Beyond Physical Space: Using Digital Technology to Support a Collaborative Cultural-Historical Educational Experiment
Authors: Wang Yuejiu , Ma Yuwen
Published: July 2024

Through cooperation between researchers and teachers, the educational experiment creates optimal conditions for the development of the participating children, as well as the professional development of teachers. However, how researchers can virtually collaborate in conducting an educational experiment while maintaining their dual roles as participants and researchers is less understood. In order to address this problem, this chapter provides an effective methodological approach by showcasing how two researchers in two countries used digital technology as a relational tool to conduct educational experiments. A dialectical relationship between the research fairy who joined via Zoom and the imaginary situation is established, helping maintain the researcher’s participating role. Additionally, digital technology helped two researchers develop dialectical relationships through mutual conversation, which enhanced theoretical problem-solving through the knowing and re-knowing process in the educational experiment. This multi-layered dialectical relationship was synthesised as a unity and created a new way of collaboration between researchers and participants in the cultural-historical educational experiment.
Constraints on the topology of Type IIB string theory
Authors: Yonekura Kazuya
Published: July 2024

Abstract

We discuss some topological constraints on Type IIB string theory that cannot be described by elementary characteristic classes. Anomaly cancellation of the worldvolume theory of a D3-brane requires a shifted Dirac quantization condition of the Ramond-Ramond 5-form flux. However, the required shift is sometimes inconsistent depending on the topology of spacetime backgrounds. The obstruction to the existence of a shifted quantization is described by a degree-6 cohomology class whose definition involves spin structure of spacetime manifolds. The cohomology class is interpreted as a background D3-charge, and the Gauss law constraint requires inclusion of additional D3-branes to cancel it.
Distributional celestial amplitudes
Authors: Borji Majdouline , Pano Yorgo
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Scattering amplitudes are tempered distributions, which are defined through their action on functions in the Schwartz space $$ \mathcal{S}\left(\mathbb{R}\right) $$
S

ℝ

by duality. For massless particles, their conformal properties become manifest when considering their Mellin transform. Therefore we need to mathematically well-define the Mellin transform of distributions in the dual space $$ {\mathcal{S}}^{\prime}\left({\mathbb{R}}^{+}\right) $$

S
′

ℝ
+

. In this paper, we investigate this problem by characterizing the Mellin transform of the Schwartz space $$ \mathcal{S}\left({\mathbb{R}}^{+}\right) $$
S

ℝ
+

. This allows us to rigorously define the Mellin transform of tempered distributions through a Parseval-type relation. Massless celestial amplitudes are then properly defined by taking the Mellin transform of elements in the topological dual of the Schwartz space $$ \mathcal{S}\left({\mathbb{R}}^{+}\right) $$
S

ℝ
+

. We conclude the paper with applications to tree-level graviton celestial amplitudes.