bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Doing Business in Serbia: Key Corporate Stakeholders
Authors: Milic Tanja
Published: April 2021

Research Question: The aim of this empirical research paper is to determine key corporate stakeholders in the Republic of Serbia. Motivation: Serbia belongs to the group of emerging economies striving to adopt market economy management practices. Stakeholders occupy an important position in the strategic business planning process. So far, research on corporate stakeholders in Serbia is scarce, and does not provide enough data on this, for strategic business planning and strategic management, important topic. Hence, the motivation for such a study determining the significance and role of certain corporate stakeholder groups for companies operating in Serbia has arisen. Investigating this issue can show, and thus help Serbian managers, how to improve and/or redirect their strategic business decisions, and subjects they are aimed at, thus increasing the potential for making better strategic business plans, developing better business strategies, which will secure better business performance results. Idea: The idea of the research is to examine the perceptions and attitudes of managers of business organizations operating in the Republic of Serbia in relation to selected relevant corporate stakeholder groups, and using investigated perceptions and attitudes of managers to evaluate the degree of significance and impact of selected relevant corporate stakeholders in the business life of the Republic of Serbia. Data: Empirical research was conducted on a sample of 107 respondents, managers of business organizations operating in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, randomly selected from publicly available databases of business organizations, public associations and media in Serbia, using Computer Assisted Web Interview - CAWI technique. Tools: Analysis of the data was conducted in SPSS v20.0 statistical tool. Data analysis in this study consisted of descriptive statistics. Univariate analysis was used through the analysis of frequency tables and individual ranking statistics. Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis and post hoc Mann Whitney U test were used to test the significance of differences. Findings: Findings of the research have shown that, respectively, customers and owners hold leading positions among surveyed corporate stakeholders in Serbia, successively followed by suppliers, managers, government institutions, employees, investors, distributors, competitors, community as a whole, media, local community, vulnerable groups, and, lastly, with the lowest significance, NGOs. Service organizations proved to be the most sensitive to corporate stakeholders issue, and commercial organizations the least. Contribution: The main contribution of this paper is a systematic analysis of the stakeholder issue, and quantitative key corporate stakeholder identification in the Republic of Serbia.
Experimental and numerical studies on punching shear strength of concrete slabs containing sintered fly ash aggregates
Authors:   ANNA University, Chennai (India), Babu B. Ranjith , R Thenmozhi ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Government College of Technology
Published: April 2021

This paper presents experimental and numerical investigations on M30 Grade of concrete containing 40% of sintered fly ash aggregates (SFAs) on the punching behaviour of reinforced concrete (RC) slabs. Two 1000 x 1000 x 100 mm reinforced concrete slabs were cast and subjected to punching tests. The experimental results were compared with creating a nonlinear finite element programme using ABAQUS. This 3D Finite element analyses were performed with the appropriate modelling of element size and the constitutive modelling of concrete. The material parameters of the damaged plasticity model in ABAQUS were calibrated based on the test results of slab – plate connection. The comparison between experimental and numerical results indicates that the calibrated model correctly predicts the punching shear response of the slabs. A modification of 0.4 is introduced in MC2010 code.
Assessing the performance of the BIM implementation process: a case study
Authors:   Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Lithuania), Vilutiene Tatjana , Kiaulakis Arvydas ,   Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Lithuania), Migilinskas Darius ,   Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Lithuania)
Published: April 2021

The article proposes a system of indicators to measure the performance of BIM (Building Information Modelling) projects. Proposed indicators divided into two groups: quantitative (cost and time related numerical values) and qualitative (verbally expressed measures recalculated to scores according to proposed four-point rating scale). The metrics include the calculation of time and cost variations, the assessment of the organizational scale of BIM deployment, BIM competency granularity level, BIM capability level, BIM maturity level. In the case study, the proposed indicators applied for the evaluation of the results of the real construction project. The limitations and difficulties faced up during the project implementation discussed, and the benefits of the application of the BIM methodology revealed. The application of the proposed methodology is useful in assessing, at which level the BIM applied in construction projects and measuring the progress towards achieving project goals. The proposed methodology may also be useful for constant monitoring of the BIM implementation in construction projects.
Entrepreneurship Factors Contributing to Youth Employment in the EAC Countries Data and Policy Analysis
Authors: Hatibu Semboja Haji , Hafidh Hafidh Ali
Published: April 2021

This policy research paper analyses entrepreneurship factors contributing to youth unemployment and also provides working recommendations for engagement on youth employment through entrepreneurship in the EAC Countries. The data and policy analysis are based on the theory of 4Es as propounded by ILO and Youth Employment Network literature. The literature reviews, field research survey, focus group discussion, combined observational and consultations with key informants were research methods used in collecting secondary and primary data.  Data analysis used non-parametric methods, mainly frequency and cross tabulations.

The paper finds that entrepreneurship factors such as inadequate innovative skills; limited entrepreneurship knowledge, education and training skills; communication skills barriers; limited entrepreneurship experience; and existence of informal sector and entrepreneurship barriers contribute highly to youth unemployment in most of the EAC countries.

The paper recommends for improved entrepreneurship conditions and relevant implementation strategies include need to ensure adequate innovative skills; enhance entrepreneurship knowledge, education and training; informal employment in both formal and informal sectors improved; remove communication skill barriers; instil positive opportunity perception and ensure adequate access of entrepreneurship experience for optimal youth employment.
Vibrio fluvialis – Unusual Case of Cellulitis Leading to Sepsis
Authors: Shravan Y. , Gill Roop , Vaswani Vivek , Lakhani Sucheta , Lakhani Jitendra
Published: April 2021

Vibrio fluvialis, an enteric, Gram negative bacterium commonly isolated from sewage/ sea water contaminated with human and animal’s faeces. Infections with this unusual organism can cause cholera like bloody diarrhoea and also wound infection. Vibrio fluvialis causing skin infection and sepsis is uncommon with very few cases reported worldwide. It is an emerging pathogen with distinct features as compares to the other species of Vibrio group of bacteria in terms of high virulence and adaptability in hostile environments. Here is a case report of skin and soft tissue infection by Vibrio fluvialis, in a patient suffering from severe pedal oedema due to nephrotic syndrome and right lower limb deep vein thrombosis .

Case Report: A young male, farmer, presented with ascites, pedal oedema, puffy face due to nephrotic syndrome.He developed skin and soft tissue infection resulted from skin atrophy and ulcer due to pedal oedema as well as right limb deep vein thrombosis . He had high grade fever, leucocytosis, anaemia, hypoproteinaemia, right leg cellulites and features of sepsis requiring wound debridement. Immunodeficiency and corticosteroids associated immunosuppression were absent in this patient. He was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome due to minimal change disease.

Conclusion: Vibrio fluvialis infection can occur due to wound contaminated with sewage water leading to skin and soft tissue infection and life threatening sepsis.
Orodispersible Films as a Solution to Drug Acceptability Issues: A Short Review
Authors: Yafout Mohamed , Elhorr Hicham , Ousaid Amine , Otmani Ibrahim Sbai El , Khayati Youssef
Published: April 2021

Despite the fact that the tablets are the most widely used dosage form, they are not suitable for young children and patients with swallowing difficulties, especially the elderly. Orodispersible films (ODFs) dissolve rapidly in the mouth and deliver an accurate amount of the active ingredient, which makes them an easy-to-use dosage form that can improve drug acceptability and, therefore, treatment adherence. The findings of the 4 studies that we discussed in this review prove that ODFs have experimentally-proven good acceptability in all age groups and that they are clinically superior to tablets and syrups in terms of acceptability. Therefore, despite some limitations, ODFs are still an innovative and patient-centered dosage form that can contribute to improving drug acceptability and treatment adherence particularly in children and elderly patients. Pharmaceutical companies should focus on developing more ODF-based drugs and also other innovative dosage forms that can make the drug-taking experience even-easier.
Preparation and Characterization of Biacetyl Monoxime Hydrazone Salicylidene Complexes of Lanthanoid (III) Ions
Authors: Sankhe Sharad , Bhavsar Sainath
Published: April 2021

The 1:3 complexes of lanthanoid (III) ions as Nd(III), Sm(III), Tb(III) and La(III) with biacetyl monoxime hydrazone salicyalidene have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, PMR, electronic spectra, molar conductance and magnetic properties. All these complexes  of  Ln(III)  complexes  are  found  to  be  unique  in  infrared  and  solubility  to  the methanol, chloroform, DMF, DMSO solvents. The results show that the biacetyl monoxime hydrazone salicyalidene ligand acts as a  bidentate monobasic donor, coordinating through the azomethine nitrogen and deprotonated oximino proton.
A Review of Diabetic Foot Ulcer Infections and Lyophilized Wafer Formulation
Authors: Jani Rupalben Kaushalkumar , Puri Goswami Kaushal , Ubana Shrestha
Published: April 2021

Diabetic foot difficulties are the most usually occurring problems globally, resulting in economic disasters for the patients, families, and society. In patients with diabetes, the risk of emerging foot ulcers is 25% high. It has also been in the record that one lower limb amputation occurs every 30 seconds in patients with diabetes worldwide. Novel methods of drug delivery and wound dressing have to develop to solve the lower limb amputation crisis. One such novel method is "Lyophilized wafer formulation." It is an upcoming medicated dressing material that can enhance wound healing and the potential to ingest vast quantities of exudates from Chronic wounds. That can have been formulating by lyophilizing hydrogel of absorbent polymers such as Calcium Alginate, Carrageenan, Thiolated Chitosan, and plasticizer to enhance flexibility withstand the day to day mechanical stress, covered with some adhesive and protective backing layer. Unless it passes evaluation tests such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Exudate handling property, Folding endurance, In-vitro, In-vivo drug release profile, and Gamma-irradiation sterilizes wafer formulation, and it should not administrate directly. Lyophilized wafer formulation will be the most acceptable medicated dressing material in the future that will be useful to treat the normal wound. The wound formation because of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) infections as there will be site-specific delivery of the drug, packed with an advantage to self administer and easy termination of the drug that can achieve just by removing the wafer case of drug toxicity.
Revolutionary Approach towards Transdermal Drug Delivery: Ethosomal Gels
Authors: Kehinde Ezekiel O. , Akrutiben Shah , Patel Janki
Published: April 2021

The human body is up of the skin which is the largest organ in the body and hence acts as a biological barrier that obstructs drug movement across the stratum corneum into the systemic circulation. The topical drug delivery system serves as a delivery system in which drugs are delivered for systemic circulation through the skin. Low diffusion rate across the stratum corneum is the main disadvantage of this system and for this limitation to be overcome, an Ethosomal formulation can be formulated which acts as a delivery system for the drug to be delivered across the biological barrier of the skin into the body. In ethosomal gel formulation, The prepared Ethosome is converted into a gel that can be applied to the skin what makes ethosomal gel formulation unique which enables drugs to reach the deep skin layers and/or the systemic circulation and enhance the delivery of active agents. In addition to this, it is also a malleable vesicular delivery carrier, soft and non-invasive. There is also a higher influx of drugs transdermally into the skin as ethosomal gel formulation allows drug to penetrate deep into the skin and enters systemic circulation. There is the development of new and novel therapies for the treatment of disease through the ethosomal drug delivery system as it is safe and effective and also easy to prepare. Topics ranging from preparation of ethosomes, Ethosomal gel, advantages and disadvantages, and characterization techniques are focused on in this review article.
Management of Termite Pests in Three Public Services of Korhogo (North of Côte d’Ivoire)
Authors: Coulibaly Tenon , Diabaté Dohouonan , Akpesse Akpa Alexandre Moïse , Kouassi Kouassi Philippe
Published: April 2021

Termites are becoming economic pests because of their appetite for wood and wood products in human dwellings and building materials. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of these insects on the activities of public services in the city of Korhogo, located in the north of Côte d'Ivoire. Termite attacks was investigated in 3 public services of the city. A survey was conducted to identify the control methods used against these pests. The results showed that termite pests represent a real problem. A total of 7 species of termites responsible for attacks were collected. These species belong to the wood-feeders, fungus-growers and grass-feeders group. The fungus-growers are the most involved in the observed attacks. Pseudacanthotermes militaris, which was involved in 54% of the attacks, was the most dangerous species. Termite attacks and damages were observed on doors, wooden shelves, ceilings, birth and marriage records. Surveys reveal that only chemical control is used in these services to control termites. A total of four pesticides were used to control termites in the three services visited. These were Cypercal 50 EC, K-Othrine® SC25, Actellic® 50 EC and Furadan 3G. Unfortunately, these products appear to be ineffective in some services. It is therefore important to take more effective and environmentally friendly measures to limit the impact of these insects on the activities of the public administrations of the town of Korhogo.
Principles of Drug Metabolism
Authors: Dalvie Deepak K. , Testa Bernard
Published: April 2021

Metabolism is a complex process that involves enzymatic modification of drugs and xenobiotics and is one of the most important determinants of their fate in the body. Although the drug metabolism is considered a process of detoxification, the products of metabolism can play an important role in the pharmacology and toxicology of the parent drug. Studying the metabolism of newly synthesized molecules is a valuable strategy that allows one to identify the underlying problems, such as “soft spots,” or metabolic activation, that affect the systemic exposure of a molecule and safety and efficacy. Early investigative metabolism of new compounds has helped in assessing the bioactivation potential of these candidates and thus, avoid reactive metabolites or put mitigation strategies in place. Metabolism can also lead to pharmacologically active metabolites. These metabolites can have superior pharmacological, pharmacokinetic, and safety profiles compared to their parent drug and can therefore be developed as drugs. This chapter provides an overview of the enzymes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics and the different metabolic pathways. An attempt has been made to illustrate these principles with pertinent example with a brief review of topics of potential interests to aspiring medicinal chemists namely, the factors that may influence biotransformation or applications to predict the sites of metabolism. While the medicinal chemists are not expected to possess a deep knowledge of the mechanistic aspects, the hope is that the principles outlined in this chapter will assist them in designing a better drug.
Intellectual Property for Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Products
Authors: J. Kelley James , Stemerick Dave , Norton Vicki , Welch Lawrence , Gregory Jennifer , Cox Gregory , Rudolph John , Castetter Andrea , R. Myers Michael
Published: April 2021

This article is intended to provide people in Life Sciences basic understanding of intellectual property (IP) pertinent to biotechnology and drug development. This article is
not
intended to provide legal advice or substitute for counsel from an attorney. It will help the reader take a first step toward becoming minimally conversant in IP. The article addresses information security and trade secrets, patents, regulatory exclusivity, and trademarks, largely under US law but with some international flavor. Because of patent law's complexity and its importance in protecting investments in new drug development, the patent section constitutes the lion's share of the article. Information security and trade secrets are presented mainly in terms of their importance in preserving competitive advantages and the ability to patent innovations arising from R&D. Regulatory exclusivity is included because it provides nonpatent incentives for developing new products and because it regulates the onset of generic and biosimilar competition. Trademarks are adjuncts to patents in that they provide barriers to counterfeiting and to generic competition, and they can support continued brand loyalty after patent expiry for potentially long periods. The large number of case studies and examples help illustrate principles in interesting and realistic ways.
Fundamentals of Steroid Chemistry and Biochemistry
Authors: Brueggemeier Robert W. , Li Pui‐Kai
Published: April 2021

Steroids are a unique class of chemical compounds found throughout the animal and plant kingdom. This class includes sterols such as cholesterol and ergosterol, bile acids, and steroid hormones. Chemical research on steroids began with isolation and structure determination, and major research efforts focused on total synthesis and on the development of numerous reactions for modifying the steroid scaffold. Methods in microbial transformations of steroids were developed in order to produce large quantities of steroid starting materials at reduced costs. Research in steroid biochemistry first began with studies on the biosynthesis and metabolism of steroids, followed soon thereafter by investigations on the biochemical mechanism of action of steroids. Over the past several decades, steroid biochemistry and molecular biology have focused on steroidogenic enzymes, nuclear steroid receptors, and gene expression. The discovery of the anti‐inflammatory effects of cortisone in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and the report of the contraceptive effects of estrogen and progestin preparations illustrated for the first time that steroids could be considered as medicinal agents. As a result, extensive research on the medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, and clinical studies of steroid agonists and antagonists has evolved and continues to provide new insights and new medicinal agents for therapies in many different diseases and chemoprevention strategies.
Gene Therapy with Plasmid DNA
Authors: Liu Yun , Musetti Sara , Huang Leaf
Published: April 2021

Recent advances in the study of human genomics have revealed the relationship between somatic aberrations and cancer. Therapeutic genetic manipulation for cancer therapy can be achieved through treatment regimens that include gene therapy. Messenger RNA and plasmid DNA are widely applied in gene therapy. Messenger RNA therapy has received much attention in the past 10 years. In this article, we first compare messenger RNA therapeutics with plasmid DNA therapeutics and go on to list the limitations of messenger RNA therapy and advantages of plasmid DNA therapeutics. To address the unresolved challenges for plasmid DNA for further translational application, this article describes the present clinical usage of plasmid DNA, reviews the current physical and chemical delivery system proposed for nonviral plasmid DNA therapy, discusses targeted delivery strategies and specific formulation designs with promising outcomes in preclinical studies, and provides future perspectives for plasmid DNA therapy development.
Synthetic DNA‐Targeted Chemotherapeutic Agents And Related Tumor‐Activated Prodrugs
Authors: Denny William A.
Published: April 2021

Synthetic drugs have always played an important role in cancer therapy. The first systemic anticancer drugs were synthetic DNA alkylating agents and DNA antimetabolites. The original antimetabolites such as cytosine arabinoside and 5‐fluorouracil have been augmented by more recent compounds such as gemcitabine, fludarabine, cladribine, and pentostatin, which inhibit DNA polymerase action during DNA synthesis. A new development is the related compounds deazacytidine and decitabine, which inhibit reactivate silenced genes by inhibition of cytosine methylation. Nitrogen mustards, platinum complexes, nitrosoureas, and triazene‐based DNA‐methylating agents are direct DNA‐modifying agents that still play an important role in clinical treatment. Methotrexate and more recent lipophilic analogs, together with older drugs such as 5‐fluorouracil, are used as inhibitors of different enzymes in the folate pathway necessary for the synthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides. The potent activity of natural products such as doxorubicin also led to the development of the synthetic topoisomerase inhibitors that are now another important group of drugs whose therapeutic effects are due to enzyme‐mediated DNA modification. Finally, an increasing understanding of tumor physiology and genetics has allowed the development of tumor‐activated prodrugs of DNA‐active agents. Using hypoxia, gene therapy or antibody targeting to activate such prodrugs specifically in tumor tissue has the potential to increase the therapeutic index of these agents by limiting the exposure of sensitive nontumor cell populations.
Antidepressants
Authors: Glennon Richard A. , Iversen Leslie
Published: April 2021

This article reviews the antidepressant drugs currently available in Europe and/or the United States from the perspectives of their clinical efficacy, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, structure–activity relationships, metabolism, and mechanisms of action. The older nonselective monoamine oxidase inhibitors (e.g. phenelzine, tranylcypromine) have largely been replaced by agents that selectively inhibit monoamine oxidase A (e.g. moclobemide) or by inhibitors of serotonin/norepinephrine monoamine transporter reuptake mechanisms. The first generation of such drugs, the tricyclic antidepressants, suffered from a number of dangerous and unpleasant adverse side effects caused by their many other pharmacological actions on the heart and on cholinergic and other monoamine receptors in the brain. Most of the current antidepressants are serotonin‐selective reuptake inhibitors or mixed norepinephrine/serotonin reuptake inhibitors that possess a safer side‐effect profile. These drugs have gained widespread use in the treatment of depression and a number of related psychiatric conditions, including phobias and the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Some agents that act as norepinephrine‐selective reuptake inhibitors (e.g. reboxetine) are also clinically effective and there is considerable overlap between noradrenergic and serotonergic mechanisms in the CNS. Monoamine selectivity can also be altered by the formation of active metabolitesin vivo. All approved antidepressants require several weeks of treatment before the maximum clinical benefit is seen. This, although perhaps somewhat agent‐specific, might be attributable to drug‐induced alterations in the expression of receptors in brain and/or alterations in the expression of neurotrophic factors (e.g. brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor) associated with changes in neurogenesis in certain brain regions. New approaches to future antidepressant drug discovery include triple reuptake inhibitors, antagonists for glutamate NMDA receptors, corticotrophin‐releasing factor receptors, or agonists/antagonists for galanin receptors. There is particular interest in ketamine analogs and certain other agents (considered as drugs of abuse) because of their rapid and persistent antidepressant effects, especially in treatment‐resistant depression. Agents with mixed mechanisms also are being pursued.
Polymorphic Crystal Forms and Cocrystals in Drug Delivery (Crystal Engineering)
Authors: Shan Ning , Zaworotko Michael J.
Published: April 2021

Active pharmaceutical ingredients, APIs, are most conveniently developed and delivered orally as solid dosage forms that contain a defined crystalline form of an API. This means that the pharmacokinetic profile of a dosage form is at the very least linked to the physicochemical properties of the crystal form that is selected for development. Furthermore, that crystal forms of new chemical entities are novel, lack obviousness, and have utility makes them patentable. Therefore, selection of a specific crystal form for a given API is a profoundly important step in drug development from clinical, legal, and regulatory perspectives. In this context, scientific developments that afford greater understanding of and diversity in the number of crystalline forms available for a given API, which have traditionally been limited to salts, polymorphs, and hydrates/solvates [(a) Byrn SR, Pfeiffer RR, Stowell JG. Solid State Chemistry of Drugs. 2nd ed. West Lafayette, IN: SSCI, Inc.; 1999. (b) Haleblian JK. J. Pharm. Sci. 1975;64:1269–1288.], are obviously of relevance to the pharmaceutical industry. The science of crystal engineering [(a) Etter MC. J Phys Chem 1991;95:4601–4610. (b) Zerkowski JA, MacDonald JC, Seto CT, Wierda DA, Whitesides GM. J Am Chem Soc 1994;116:2382–2391. (c) Pepinsky R. Phys Rev 1955;100:971. (d) Schmidt GMJ. Pure Appl Chem 1971;27:647–678. (e) Desiraju GR. Crystal Engineering: The Design of Organic Solids. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 1989. (f) Moulton B, Zaworotko MJ. Chem Rev 2001;101: 1629–1658. (g) Braga D. Chem Commun 2003;22:2751–2754. (h) Hosseini MW. Coord Chem Rev 2003;240:157–166. (i) Desiraju GR. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 1995;34: 2311–2327.] focuses upon self‐assembly of existing molecules or ions and it has evolved in such a manner that a wide range of new crystal forms can be generated without the need to invoke covalent‐bond breakage or formation. This contribution will address the impact of crystal engineering upon our fundamental understanding of crystal form diversity and how physical properties of crystals can be customized via the emerging class of crystal forms that have been termed pharmaceutical cocrystals [(a) Almarsson Ö, Zaworotko MJ. Chem Commun 2004; 1889–1896. (b) Vishweshwar P, McMahon JA, Bis JA, Zaworotko MJ. J Pharm Sci 2006;95:499–516. (c) Peterson ML, Hickey MB, Zaworotko MJ, Almarsson O. J Pharm Pharm Sci 2006;9:317–326. (d) Zaworotko M. Am Pharm Outsourc 2004;5: 16–23. (e) Shan N, Zaworotko MJ. Drug Discov Today 2008;13:440–446. (f) Blagden N, de Matas M, Gavan PT, Yoark P, Crystal engineering of active pharmaceutical ingredients to improve solubility and dissolution rates Adv Drug Del Rev 2007;59:617–630. (g) Nangia A. Cryst Growth Des 2008;8:1079–1081].
Poor Stability of Li2CO3 in the Solid Electrolyte Interphase of a Lithium‐Metal Anode Revealed by Cryo‐Electron Microscopy
Authors: Han Bing , Zhang Zhen , Zou Yucheng , Xu Kang , Xu Guiyin , Wang Hong , Meng Hong , Deng Yonghong , Li Ju , Gu Meng
Published: April 2021

The solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) dictates the cycling stability of lithium‐metal batteries. Here, direct atomic imaging of the SEI's phase components and their spatial arrangement is achieved, using ultralow‐dosage cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. The results show that, surprisingly, a lot of the deposited Li metal has amorphous atomic structure, likely due to carbon and oxygen impurities, and that crystalline lithium carbonate is not stable and readily decomposes when contacting the lithium metal. Lithium carbonate distributed in the outer SEI also continuously reacts with the electrolyte to produce gas, resulting in a dynamically evolving and porous SEI. Sulfur‐containing additives cause the SEI to preferentially generate Li2SO4 and overlithiated lithium sulfate and lithium oxide, which encapsulate lithium carbonate in the middle, limiting SEI thickening and enhancing battery life by a factor of ten. The spatial mapping of the SEI gradient amorphous (polymeric → inorganic → metallic) and crystalline phase components provides guidance for designing electrolyte additives.
Single‐Cell Immunoblotting based on a Photoclick Hydrogel Enables High‐Throughput Screening and Accurate Profiling of Exogenous Gene Expression
Authors: Li Shanhe , Wen Ze , Ghalandari Behafarid , Zhou Tianhao , Warden Antony R. , Zhang Ting , Dai Peng , Yu Youyi , Guo Wenke , Liu Mofang , Xie Haiyang , Ding Xianting
Published: April 2021

Fast and accurate profiling of exogenous gene expression in host cells is crucial for studying gene function in cellular and molecular biology, but still faces the challenge of incomplete co‐expression of reporter genes and target genes. Here, a single‐cell transfection analysis chip (scTAC) is presented, which is based on the in situ microchip immunoblotting method, for rapid and accurate analysis of exogenous gene expression in thousands of individual host cells. scTAC not only can assign information of exogenous gene activity to specific transfected cells, but enables the acquisition of continuous protein expression even in low co‐expression scenarios. It is demonstrated that scTAC can reveal the relationship of expression level between reporter genes and target genes, which is helpful for evaluating transient transfection strategy efficiency. The advantages of this method for the study of fusion protein expression and downstream protein expression in signaling pathway in rare cells are shown. Empirically, an EGFP‐TSPAN8 fusion plasmid is transfected into MCF‐7 breast cancer cells and the expressions of two cancer stemness biomarkers (ALDHA1 and SOX2) are analyzed. The scTAC method clearly reveals an interesting phenomenon that transfected adherent MCF‐7 cells exhibit some stem cell characteristics, but they do not have stem cell appearance.
Polarization Multiplexing Hologram Realized by Anisotropic Digital Metasurface
Authors: Yan Tao , Ma Qian , Sun Shi , Xiao Qiang , Shahid Iqbal , Gao Xinxin , Cui Tie Jun
Published: April 2021

Metasurface holograms have the potential to be applied in a variety of practical fields. Here an anisotropic digital metasurface is proposed that can project polarization multiplexing patterns at the microwave frequency, in which a modified Gerchberg–Saxton algorithm is presented to calculate the phase masks. A 3‐bit coding metamaterial unit is also proposed, which is capable of independently manipulating the transmission phases of orthogonal linearly polarized electromagnetic waves. The influence of wave‐front has been analyzed by comparing two holographic results with distinct source optimization methods. A prototype of the anisotropic digital coding metasurface optimized with horn wave‐front is designed, manufactured, and tested. The experimental measurements present the expected holographic fields and have a good match with the simulation results.
Preliminary screening of domestic barley and wild barley genotypes for salt tolerance
Authors: Mohammed Abdullah H. , Morrison Jesse I. , Baldwin Brian S.
Published: April 2021

Salinity is a critical challenge facing productivity of barley around the world, necessitating the development of salinity tolerant varieties. Screening genotypes of two barley species during germination and seedling growth stages was conducted to identify genotypes with superior performance under saline stress conditions. Five genotypes of domestic barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and six of wild barley (H. bulbosum) were used in this study. Genotypes were germinated in solutions of 0, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0% NaCl (0, 171, 257, and 342 mM NaCl). Shoot and root length were recorded 10 d after germination. Upon reaching the three‐leaf stage, seedlings were irrigated with 500 mM NaCl solution for 3 wk to evaluate salt tolerance using the growth index. The analysis of variance showed there was a high genetic variation among genotypes. Only genotypes PI220054, PI227242, and PI420909 of wild barley species germinated at the 2% NaCl salinity level. All domestic barley genotypes failed to germinate at 2% NaCl salinity and showed reduction of root and shoot length greater than wild barley genotypes under saline conditions. Mean root and shoot lengths decreased as the level of NaCl increased for all genotypes. This condition was more intense in domestic than wild barley genotypes. Seedling screening showed PI268243 had the greatest growth index compared with the other genotypes. The PI227242 genotype had the greatest growth index among wild barley genotypes. Regression analysis indicated that there was no relationship between salt tolerance at germination and seedling growth stages.
Lewis Acid/Oxidant as Rapid Regioselective Halogenating Reagent System for Direct Halogenation of Fused Bi‐/Tri‐cyclic Hetero‐Aromatic Congeners via−H bond Functionalization
Authors: Yadav Ravi Kant , Sharma Richa , Gautam Deepak , Joshi Jyoti , Chaudhary Sandeep
Published: April 2021

Herein, we report the identification of new and fast halogenating reagent system consisting of Lewis acid AlX3 [X=Cl, Br, I] as a halogen source in the presence of tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) which has been utilized for the direct regioselective halogenation on various fused bi‐/tri‐cyclic hetero‐aromatic congeners 3 a–q, 7 a–d, 8 and 9 via
−H bond functionalization. The operationally simple protocol is quite fast and does not require the external halogenation source at 110 °C in 20–60 minutes and furnished halogenated fused heterocycles 4 a–p, 5 a–k, 6 a–l, 10 a–i, 11 a, 12 a–b in up to 96% yields. The gram‐scale synthesis, wide substrate scope, functional group tolerance, control experiments and application to further derivatization/functionalization for C−C bond formation further highlights the versatility of the developed methodology as well as the compatibility of the new catalyst. The combination of Lewis acid (AlX3) as a halogen source and TBHP (oxidant) as a halogenating reagent system is the first account for the direct regioselective halogenation of several fused bi‐/tri‐cyclic hetero‐aromatic congeners via
−H bond functionalization.
Rotaxane CoII Complexes as Field‐Induced Single‐Ion Magnets
Authors: Cirulli Martina , Salvadori Enrico , Zhang Zhi‐Hui , Dommett Michael , Tuna Floriana , Bamberger Heiko , Lewis James E. M. , Kaur Amanpreet , Tizzard Graham J. , van Slageren Joris , Crespo‐Otero Rachel , Goldup Stephen M. , Roessler Maxie M.
Published: April 2021

Mechanically chelating ligands have untapped potential for the engineering of metal ion properties. Here we demonstrate this principle in the context of CoII‐based single‐ion magnets. Using multi‐frequency EPR, susceptibility and magnetization measurements we found that these complexes show some of the highest zero field splittings reported for five‐coordinate CoII complexes to date. The predictable coordination behaviour of the interlocked ligands allowed the magnetic properties of their CoII complexes to be evaluated computationally a priori and our combined experimental and theoretical approach enabled us to rationalize the observed trends. The predictable magnetic behaviour of the rotaxane CoII complexes demonstrates that interlocked ligands offer a new strategy to design metal complexes with interesting functionality.
Transition Metal Catalyst‐Free, Base‐Promoted 1,2‐Additions of Polyfluorophenylboronates to Aldehydes and Ketones
Authors: Liu Zhiqiang , Kole Goutam Kumar , Budiman Yudha P. , Tian Ya‐Ming , Friedrich Alexandra , Luo Xiaoling , Westcott Stephen A. , Radius Udo , Marder Todd B.
Published: April 2021

A novel protocol for the transition metal‐free 1,2‐addition of polyfluoroaryl boronate esters to aldehydes and ketones is reported, which provides secondary alcohols, tertiary alcohols, and ketones. Control experiments and DFT calculations indicate that both the ortho‐F substituents on the polyfluorophenyl boronates and the counterion K+ in the carbonate base are critical. The distinguishing features of this procedure include the employment of commercially available starting materials and the broad scope of the reaction with a wide variety of carbonyl compounds giving moderate to excellent yields. Intriguing structural features involving O−H⋅⋅⋅O and O−H⋅⋅⋅N hydrogen bonding, as well as arene‐perfluoroarene interactions, in this series of racemic polyfluoroaryl carbinols have also been addressed.
Asymmetric Total Syntheses of 8,9‐Seco‐ent‐kaurane Diterpenoids Enabled by an Electrochemical ODI‐[5+2] Cascade
Authors: Wang Bingnan , Liu Zhaobo , Tong Zhenzhong , Gao Beiling , Ding Hanfeng
Published: April 2021

An electrochemical ODI‐[5+2] cascade reaction was developed which enables the rapid assembly of diversely functionalized bicyclo[3.2.1]octadienones from sensitive ethynylphenols. By combining a directed retro‐aldol/aldol process, a [2,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement, and an Al(O‐iPr)3‐promoted reductive 1,3‐transposition, the asymmetric total syntheses of five 8,9‐seco‐ent‐kauranoids—(−)‐shikoccin, (−)‐O‐methylshikoccin, (−)‐epoxyshikoccin, (+)‐O‐methylepoxyshikoccin, and (+)‐rabdo‐hakusin—have been achieved in a concise and efficient manner.
Progress and Prospects on the Fabrication of Graphene‐Based Nanostructures for Energy Storage, Energy Conversion and Biomedical Applications
Authors: Immanuel Susan , Ahmad Dar Mushtaq , Sivasubramanian R. , Rezaul Karim Mohammad , Kim Dong‐Wan , Gul Rukshana
Published: April 2021

Graphene, a two‐dimensional (2D) layered material has attracted much attention from the scientific community due to its exceptional electrical, thermal, mechanical, biological and optical properties. Hence, numerous applications utilizing graphene‐based materials could be conceived in next‐generation electronics, chemical and biological sensing, energy conversion and storage, and beyond. The interaction between graphene surfaces with other materials plays a vital role in influencing its properties than other bulk materials. In this review, we outline the recent progress in the production of graphene and related 2D materials, and their uses in energy conversion (solar cells, fuel cells), energy storage (batteries, supercapacitors) and biomedical applications.
One‐Step Fabricated and Solution‐Processed Hybrid Gate Dielectrics for Low‐Voltage Organic Thin‐Film Transistors
Authors: Song Youngmin , Ha Young‐Geun
Published: April 2021

Here, we report the facile one‐step fabrication of rationally designed hybrid gate dielectric films for low‐voltage organic thin‐film transistors. To generate facile one‐step fabricated and solution‐processed organic–inorganic hybrid dielectric films with high dielectric properties, we designed the multicomponent precursor solution by employing high‐k oxide materials to attain a large capacitance and cross‐linkable agents to allow for processability and reducing the surface energy of dielectric films. After spin‐coating with the precursor solution and the subsequent thermal annealing process, we obtained cross‐linked organic–inorganic hybrid dielectric films, exhibiting excellent dielectric properties with a low leakage current density (~10−5 A/cm2) and high capacitance (295 nF/cm2). The effectiveness of the hybrid dielectrics was demonstrated by realizing high‐performance organic thin‐film transistors at low operating voltages, mobility up to 0.31 cm2/V/s, high on/off current ratio (~105), and low threshold voltage (−0.8 V).
Integrated Co‐Electrolysis and Syngas Methanation for the Direct Production of Synthetic Natural Gas from CO2 and H2O
Authors: Mebrahtu Chalachew , Nohl Markus , Dittrich Lucy , Foit Severin R. , de Haart L. G. J. (Bert) , Eichel Rüdiger‐A. , Palkovits Regina
Published: April 2021

The concept of an integrated power‐to‐gas (P2G) process was demonstrated for renewable energy storage by converting renewable electrical energy to synthetic fuels. Such a dynamically integrated process enables direct production of synthetic natural gas (SNG) from CO2 and H2O. The produced SNG can be stored or directly injected into the existing natural gas network. To study process integration, operating parameters of the high‐temperature solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) producing syngas (H2+CO) mixtures through co‐electrolysis and a fixed bed reactor for syngas methanation of such gas mixtures were first optimized individually. Reactor design, operating conditions, and enhanced SNG selectivity were the main targets of the study. SOEC experiments were performed on state‐of‐the‐art button cells. Varying operating conditions (temperature, flow rate, gas mixture and current density) emphasized the capability of the system to produce tailor‐made syngas mixtures for downstream methanation. Catalytic syngas methanation was performed using hydrotalcite‐derived 20 %Ni‐2 %Fe/(Mg,Al)Ox catalyst and commercial methanation catalyst (Ni/Al2O3) as reference. Despite water in the feed mixture, SNG with high selectivity (≥90 %) was produced at 300 °C and atmospheric pressure. An adequate rate of syngas conversion was obtained with H2O contents up to 30 %, decreasing significantly for 50 % H2O in the feed. Compared to the commercial catalyst, 20 %Ni‐2 %Fe/(Mg,Al)Ox enabled a higher rate of COx conversion.
Mustard Carbonate Analogues as Sustainable Reagents for the Aminoalkylation of Phenols
Authors: Annatelli Mattia , Trapasso Giacomo , Salaris Claudio , Salata Cristiano , Castellano Sabrina , Aricò Fabio
Published: April 2021

N,N‐dialkyl ethylamine moiety can be found in numerous scaffolds of macromolecules, catalysts, and especially pharmaceuticals. Common synthetic procedures for its incorporation in a substrate relies on the use of a nitrogen mustard gas or on multistep syntheses featuring chlorine hazardous/toxic chemistry. Reported herein is a one‐pot synthetic approach for the easy introduction of aminoalkyl chain into different phenolic substrates through dialkyl carbonate (β‐aminocarbonate) chemistry. This new direct alcohol substitution avoids the use of chlorine chemistry, and it is efficient on numerous pharmacophore scaffolds with good to quantitative yield. The cytotoxicity via MTT of the β‐aminocarbonate, key intermediate of this synthetic approach, was also evaluated and compared with its alcohol precursor.
Early Permian back‐arc extension in the southeastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt: Evidence from the gabbro–granite complex, Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Zhang Xiaofei , Pang Zhenshan , Liu Junlai , Wei Xizhu , Li Shucai , Teng Chao , Huang Fuyong , Wang Biren
Published: April 2021

Gabbro–granite complexes provide vital constraints on magmatism mechanisms, crust–mantle interaction processes, and regional tectonics. The petrogenesis and tectonic setting of Early Permian igneous rocks in the southeastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt have long been controversial. In this study, the Early Permian Wulajitu gabbro–granite complex in Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia was selected as a research object and an integrated study was conducted using field occurrence, petrology, zircon U–Pb ages, whole‐rock geochemistry, and in situ zircon Hf isotopes. The Wulajitu gabbro–granite complex consists of gabbro and syenogranite with crystallization ages of 277 ± 1 Ma and 274 ± 2 Ma, respectively, belonging to the Early Permian. Their SiO2 contents vary in the range from 43.07–51.60 wt% and 70.30–75.52 wt%, respectively, and exhibit a gap of 51.60–70.30 wt%, displaying a typical bimodal geochemical distribution. The gabbros are low‐K tholeiitic–calc‐alkaline series rocks that are enriched in large‐ion lithophile elements (e.g., Ba, K, and Sr), depleted in high‐field‐strength elements (e.g., Nb and Ta), and have positive εHf (t) values from +9.3 to +13.2, indicating that they likely originated from partial melting of depleted mantle modified by subduction slab fluids. The syenogranites are aluminous A‐type granites characterized by high SiO2 and K2O + Na2O; low Al2O3, CaO, and MgO; depletion in Ba, Nb, Ta, Sr, P, and Ti; enrichment in Rb, Th, U, K, Zr, and Hf; as well as a seagull‐type rare‐earth element distribution pattern with strongly negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.30–0.52). They show homogeneous zircon Hf isotopic compositions (positive εHf (t) values from +11.4 to +13.7). All these geochemical signatures suggest that the syenogranites were generated from partial melting of juvenile crust under high temperature and low pressure. The Wulajitu gabbro–granite complex most likely formed in a back‐arc spreading basin. Such an extensional regime was closely related to asthenospheric mantle upwelling caused by the rollback of the subducted Palaeo‐Asian Ocean slab in the Early Permian.
Brixenbach research catchment: Quantification of runoff process proportions in a small Alpine catchment depending on soil moisture states and precipitation characteristics
Authors: Meißl Gertraud , Geitner Clemens , Batliner Andreas , Klebinder Klaus , Kohl Bernhard , Markart Gerhard
Published: April 2021

The Brixenbach valley is a small Alpine torrent catchment (9.2 km2, 820–1950 m a.s.l., 47.45°, 12.26°) in Tyrol, Austria. Intensive hydrological research in the catchment since more than 12 years, including a hydrogeological survey, pedological and land use mapping, measurements of precipitation, runoff, soil moisture and infiltration as well as the conduction of rainfall simulations, has contributed to understand the hydrological response of the catchment, its subcatchments and specific sites. The paper presents a synthesis of the research in form of runoff process maps for different soil moisture states and precipitation characteristics, derived with the aid of a newly developed Soil‐hydrological model. These maps clearly visualize the differing runoff reaction of different subcatchments. The pasture dominated areas produce high surface flow rates during short precipitation events (1 h, 86 mm) with high rainfall intensity, whilst the forested areas often develop shallow subsurface flow. Dry preconditions lead to a slight reduction of surface flow, long rainfall events (24 h, 170 mm) to a dominance of deep subsurface flow and percolation.