bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Características de las Empresas Sociales Periodísticas
Authors: Caro González Francisco Javier , Pérez Suárez Macarena , Sánchez Torné Isadora
Published: July 2019

El sector de las empresas de comunicación está experimentando importantes cambios motivados por la irrupción de la tecnología digital y la pérdida de credibilidad de los medios informativos tradicionales. En esta situación están emergiendo nuevos modelos de negocios sostenibles, entre ellos las Empresas Sociales. En la literatura no se ha abordado con detalle la definición del concepto de Empresa Social Periodística (ESP), ni de las características que las determinan. El marco teórico de esta investigación ha sido la conceptualización dada por EMES (European Research Network), que identifica 11 criterios para reconocer a las Empresas Sociales, unos principios que se agrupan en tres dimensiones: económica y emprendedora, social y gobernanza participativa. El objetivo general es identificar las características de las ESP, determinar las variables asociadas al «no lucro» y examinar el encaje con el enfoque de la Empresa Social propuesto por EMES. Para conocer las diferencias entre las empresas periodísticas emergentes que se autodenominan «con ánimo de lucro» y «sin ánimo de lucro», se realizó un análisis exploratorio e inferencial de los emprendimientos periodísticos recogidos en el directorio de empresas SembraMedia (509 medios). Se tuvieron en cuenta variables clave como: fundadores, misión, género periodístico, propietarios, fuentes de ingresos y fuentes informativas. Las aportaciones principales de este trabajo son dos. En primer lugar, abordar un sector que no es contemplado habitualmente en los estudios de la Empresa Social, enriqueciendo el campo de estudio. En segundo lugar, contribuir a la conceptualización de la Empresa Social Periodística en el marco del enfoque EMES.
La Economía Social en el emprendimiento de base tecnológica en España. Un análisis cualitativo
Authors: Martínez Martín Mª Isabel , Guilló Rodríguez Nuria , Santero Sánchez Rosa
Published: July 2019

Hay plena coincidencia sobre la importancia de las transformaciones sociales y económicas que las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación han originado en las últimas décadas. Las empresas de base tecnológica (EBT) muestran una capacidad extraordinaria para ofrecer nuevas soluciones, tanto a las necesidades emergentes como a otras que han estado insatisfechas por largos períodos de tiempo, y su impacto económico y social es indudable por su aportación al crecimiento económico y por ser elementos indispensables en la transferencia de tecnología desde los sistemas de innovación a los mercados y la sociedad.En este contexto cabe entender el interés de la Economía Social por tener una participación creciente en las actividades de base tecnológica o basadas en el conocimiento. Dicha participación fortalecería el sector, elevando sus tasas de crecimiento a medio y largo plazo; mejorando su contribución relativa a las macromagnitudes autonómicas y estatales; incorporando nuevos perfiles de trabajadores/as y de empresas, y elevando las condiciones laborales medias del sector. Este artículo profundiza en la relación entre las empresas de Economía Social y el emprendimiento de base tecnológica a través de un análisis cualitativo que incorpora la visión de los principales actores. A partir de ese análisis se identifican las principales líneas de avance del sector agrupadas en cuatro ejes: mejora de la visibilidad de la Economía social, acercamiento de la Economía social a los nuevos perfiles de emprendedores de base tecnológica, asesoramiento y acompañamiento en las etapas iniciales, y apoyo en las fases de crecimiento y consolidación.
La transparencia presupuestaria en las comunidades autónomas españolas
Authors: Ríos Ana María , Redondo López Ana Belén , Benito Bernardino
Published: July 2019

La ciudadanía ha mostrado en los últimos años un interés creciente por conocer que está haciendo el sector público con los recursos que recibe, por lo que las entidades públicas se han visto obligadas a facilitar y poner a su disposición información actualizada sobre la utilización de estos recursos. En este sentido, el propósito del presente trabajo es analizar qué factores socioeconómicos y políticos afectan a los niveles de transparencia, y de forma más concreta la relacionada con los presupuestos de los gobiernos de las diecisiete Comunidades Autónomas españolas para los años 2010, 2012, 2014 y 2016. La elección de los mismos se debe a que son los años para los que Trasparencia Internacional España ha publicado los datos sobre el índice de transparencia económico-financiera de las Comunidades Autónomas.Los resultados muestran que aquellas Comunidades Autónomas que presentan una mayor población, unas menores tasas de desempleo, un mayor acceso a internet de su población, un saldo presupuestario positivo y que son gobernadas por hombres, tienen unos niveles de transparencia superiores. Sin embargo, los resultados revelan que variables socioeconómicas como el nivel educativo de la población y la deuda de las autonomías no resultan significativas para determinar los niveles de transparencia presupuestaria. De igual manera, variables políticas como la ideología, el grado de participación electoral y la forma de gobierno (mayorías o coaliciones) no son relevantes en el estudio.
After the Press Release on Mathematics Achievement: The Alignment of Formative Assessments and Summative Standardized Tests for Students from Minoritized Language Backgroundsdized tests for students from minoritized language backgrounds
Authors: Maldonado Saúl Isaac , Andrade Rebeca
Published: July 2019

Media coverage often reports standardized test scores as indicative of global competitiveness and journalists frequently frame the mathematics achievement of U.S. students using a discourse of failure, particularly for students from minoritized backgrounds. Informed by research literature on: (a) formative and summative assessment, (b) the interdependence of language and mathematics, and (c) a sociopolitical stance for researching students from minoritized language backgrounds, this study analyzed the linguistic alignment of mathematics assessments. Results from this study show how alignment between formative assessment processes and summative standardized tests influences performance on high-stakes exams. Findings call into question the incomplete media coverage of students’ achievement trends that perpetuate stereotypes of failure and advocate for a national formative assessment program in the United States.
El cine en la formación inicial del docente
Authors: Giró Miranda Joaquín
Published: July 2019

Este artículo se centra en el cine como herramienta de análisis práctico en la formación inicial del docente. El cine se sirve de la imaginación, las emociones y la cultura proponiendo otros modos de entender la vida social. Este texto, a través de la reflexión y el análisis de dos películas, intenta mostrar las posibilidades de un aprendizaje comprensivo del hecho de ser un buen docente, máxime cuando las prácticas del máster de secundaria o de los grados de maestro, apenas permiten acercarse a la realidad de lo que significa ser un buen docente.
Presentación
Authors: Andrés Cabello Sergio , Machado-Casas Margarita
Published: July 2019

El presente número monográfico de la Revista de Sociología de la Educación (RASE) aborda la relación entre la educación y diferentes cuestiones sociales, especialmente el papel de los medios de comunicación en la transmisión y reproducción de una imagen determinada del sistema educativo.
Las 'fake news' al sol: colaboración para vencer la desinformación
Authors: Sanz Martos Sandra
Published: July 2019

El sol lucía con fuerza la mañana del 21 de junio en Jávea. Como aquel haz de luz que hace evidente el polvo acumulado en un mueble o la suciedad de los cristales, el sol javiense amaneció dispuesto a señalar la información falsa como venía haciendo desde el miércoles, día en que dio comienzo el curso de verano: Deconstruyendo la realidad. Impacto de las fake news y de la posverdad.
Por qué utilizo 'storytelling', aunque no me haga más listo
Authors: Roig Antoni
Published: July 2019

En un artículo publicado el pasado mayo en Retina, suplemento de economía de El País, Guillermo Vega efectuaba una encendida defensa del uso de la lengua propia (en su caso el castellano) contra el abuso de anglicismos innecesarios que se instalan en nuestro bagaje comunicativo cotidiano, cuando ya disponemos de las palabras adecuadas. ¿Pero qué sucede cuando no es el caso? Sobre esto quiero reflexionar en este artículo.
A derived mechanism of nervous system functions shows features capable to have evolved and provides a testable explanation for age-related neurodegeneration
Authors: Vadakkan Kunjumon I
Published: July 2019

By viewing memories as first-person internal sensations, it was possible to derive a potential mechanism of nervous system functions. Accordingly, a spectrum inter-postsynaptic (inter-dendritic spine) functional LINKs (IPLs) are the key structural changes responsible for encoding learning-changes in physiological time-scales of milliseconds that can be retained for different lengths of time and can be used for inducing first-person inner sensation of memory. The objective of this study was to examine a) where preconditions existed for an accident to trigger sparking of internal sensations, b) what conditions might have promoted the formation and selection of IPLs, and c) how the synaptically-connected neuronal circuitry accommodated the formation of IPLs through the simple steps of variations and selection. Sequence of events during the development of the nervous system was examined for the feasible sequence of steps that led to the formation of IPLs and optimization of the system. A stage of significant spine loss and neuronal death during the early stages of development indicate about a corresponding stage of inter-spine fusion that led to neuronal loss during evolution. When the generation of internal sensations by the IPLs started to become advantageous to the system, it started preserving the circuitry by developing an adaptation to prevent inter-spine fusion. This can be achieved only if a stage of transient inter-neuronal inter-spine fusion "turn on" certain mechanism to prevent the intermediate stage of inter-spine hemifusion from progressing to fusion. In summary, the derived IPL mechanism is capable to have evolved. An adaptation to prevent IPL hemifusion from progressing to fusion is a likely evolutionary adaptation. Since the IPL mechanism is utilized during every event of learning, any age-related factors that weaken the maintenance of this adaptation to prevent IPL fusion can lead to neurodegeneration.
Attentional amplification of neural codes for number independent of other quantities along the dorsal visual stream
Authors: Castaldi Elisa , Piazza Manuela , Dehaene Stanislas , Vignaud Alexandre , Eger Evelyn
Published: July 2019

Humans and other animals base important decisions on estimates of number, and intraparietal cortex is thought to provide a crucial substrate of this ability. However, it remains debated whether an independent neuronal processing mechanism underlies this ‘number sense’, or whether number is instead judged indirectly on the basis of other quantitative features. We performed high-resolution 7 Tesla fMRI while adult human volunteers attended either to the numerosity or an orthogonal dimension (average item size) of visual dot arrays. Along the dorsal visual stream, numerosity explained a significant amount of variance in activation patterns, above and beyond non-numerical dimensions. Its representation was selectively amplified and progressively enhanced across the hierarchy when task relevant. Our results reveal a sensory extraction mechanism yielding information on numerosity separable from other dimensions already at early visual stages and suggest that later regions along the dorsal stream are most important for explicit manipulation of numerical quantity.
Measures of de facto employment protection legislation
Authors: Jandric Maja
Published: July 2019

Research Question: The aim of this paper is to construct a numerical measure of EPL which takes into consideration the implementation of legislation and employment structure. Motivation: It is recognized in the literature that in countries with a significant share of the shadow economy the labour market flexibility is de facto higher than the original EPL index based on de iure conditions implies. Since the sub-index which refers to the workers with permanent contracts has the largest weight in the EPL index calculation, taking into consideration the share of workers with regular contracts in total employment would give a clearer picture about the real influence of individual sub-indices. Idea: For international comparisons of de iure strictness of the employment protection legislation, we use the latest official OECD data on EPL index and its sub-indices. The OECD data for Serbia shows only the values for EPR, EPC and EPRC sub-indices. After calculation of EPT sub-index and EPL index for Serbia, three adjusted indices are developed in order to capture the effective (i.e., de facto) strictness of the employment protection legislation in different countries. Data: The analysis was based on the latest available official OECD data on the EPL indices (2012 to 2015, depending on a country). For the calculation of missing sub-indices for Serbia, the main source of information was the Labour Law. Data on shadow economy are based on Krstic et al. (2013) and Schneider (2016), while the data regarding employment structure stem from Labour Force Surveys. Tools: Calculation of EPT and EPL indices was conducted in accordance with the official OECD methodology for calculating summary indicators of EPL strictness. The methodology for calculation of adjusted indices is developed on the initial basis of the previous research from Berger et al. (2016), Eamets & Paas (2007a), Boeri & van Ours (2008), Rutkowski & Scarpetta (2005) and Jandric (2014). Findings: The analysis was performed for 26 European countries. Rankings of European countries according to de facto strictness of the employment protection legislation differ significantly from the rankings made upon de iure strictness of the EPL. De facto external numerical flexibility of the labour market in Serbia is higher than when measured by the original unadjusted indices. Contribution: The main contribution of the paper is the development of the method for international comparisons of EPL, which provides a way to distinguish between de facto and de iure rigidity of employment protection legislation.
Development of a short questionnaire based on the Practice Environment Scale-Nursing Work Index in primary health care
Authors: Gea-Caballero Vicente , Juárez-Vela Raúl , Díaz-Herrera Miguel-Ángel , Mármol-López María-Isabel , Alfaro Blazquez Ruben , Martínez-Riera José Ramón
Published: July 2019

Background

Professional nursing environments determine the quality of care and patient outcomes. Assessing the quality of environments is essential to improve and obtain better health outcomes. Simplifying and shortening the way to evaluate environments reliably is also important to help nurses better understand the strengths and weaknesses of their environments. In that sense, identifying essential elements of nursing environments would allow the construction of short assessment tools to improve such environments.

Objective

To construct a short tool to assess primary health care (PHC) nursing environments based on the Practice Environment Scale-Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI) questionnaire.

Methods

Observational, cross-sectional, analytical study (data collection February–April 2015). Tool: PES-NWI (31 items). Population: PHC nurses (three health districts in Valencia, Spain) with more than 3 months in the organization. The nurses were asked to select the 10 elements of the questionnaire (items) that they considered key to facilitate and improve professional care, establishing as a final selection criterion that they obtain a global election >40%. Variables: sociodemographic and 31 questionnaire items. Analysis: descriptive statistics, reliability, multidimensional scaling (ALSCAL), factor analysis, multiple linear regression. Finally, we have analyzed the concordance between both measurements (TOP10 score on the full scale score) using the Bland–Altman method.

Results

Study sample = 269 (Response rate = 80.29%). A total of 10 elements were identified based on selection frequency of the questionnaire PES-NWI. A factorial analysis explained 62.1% of variance, internal structure of three dimensions: (1) Participation in leadership and management, (2) Nursing foundations for quality of care, (3) Adequacy of resources, with Accumulate Variance explained: Component (1): 24%; Component (2): 43.1%; Component (3): 62.1%. Reliability (Cronbach’s Alpha) was 0.816 for short questionnaire, and >0.8 for all measurements. Stress = 0.184 and RSQ = 0.793. Bland–Altman method: the scaling tends to be 1.92 points higher (equivalent to a maximum deviation of 1.54%) than the full-scale PES-NWI score (max score on PES-NWI = 124 points).

Conclusions

It is possible to identify essential elements of environments to construct a short tool that simplifies the study of PHC environments. Conducting rapid studies of environments will provide managers with information about specific elements that require prioritization to enhance quality of care and safety.
Adverse Events Encountered in Platelet Aphaeresis Procedure and Their Management: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Gupta Prakriti , Sharma Dharmesh Chandra , Yadav Umesh Chandra , Bindal Jyoti
Published: July 2019

Background: Platelet aphaeresis is an essential procedure, which meets the demand of single donor platelets (SDP) effectively. The procedure is well tolerated by donors with fewer side effects. Adverse events in Platelet aphaeresis have been reported from as low as 0.32 to 6.81%.

Aims and Objectives:  The aim of present study is to ascertain adverse events observed in a large cohort of platelet aphaeresis procedures and determining management strategies to resolve them.

Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study, from January 2012 to May 2019 in Blood Bank, Department of Pathology, in a tertiary care centre in Central India. Donors for Platelet aphaeresis were selected based on the standard criteria of National Aids Control Organization (NACO) guidelines 2017 and Platelet aphaeresis protocol. Leukoreduced SDP were collected by Haemonetics® MCS +, having Leukoreduction bag system. Adverse events encountered were noted and categorized.

Results: A total number of 1600 Plateletpheresis procedures were conducted to prepare SDP and transfused to 1054 patients. A total of 24 out of 1600 plateletaphaeresis procedures reported adverse events (1.5%). Donor related adverse events were 16 (66.6%), Kit related 4 (16.66%) procedure related were 4 (16.66%). Three out of 24 procedures were terminated prematurely, 1 due to severe hypocalcaemia (ACD effect) in donor and 2 due to bowl leakage.

Conclusion: Platelet aphaeresis is a safe procedure for donors if done expertly while exercising caution. Adverse events reported are minimal and manageable.
3D Microenvironment Stiffness Regulates Tumor Spheroid Growth and Mechanics via p21 and ROCK
Authors: Taubenberger Anna V. , Girardo Salvatore , Träber Nicole , Fischer‐Friedrich Elisabeth , Kräter Martin , Wagner Katrin , Kurth Thomas , Richter Isabel , Haller Barbara , Binner Marcus , Hahn Dominik , Freudenberg Uwe , Werner Carsten , Guck Jochen
Published: July 2019

The mechanical properties of cancer cells and their microenvironment contribute to breast cancer progression. While mechanosensing has been extensively studied using 2D substrates, much less is known about it in a physiologically more relevant 3D context. Here it is demonstrated that breast cancer tumor spheroids, growing in 3D polyethylene glycol‐heparin hydrogels, are sensitive to their environment stiffness. During tumor spheroid growth, compressive stresses of up to 2 kPa build up, as quantitated using elastic polymer beads as stress sensors. Atomic force microscopy reveals that tumor spheroid stiffness increases with hydrogel stiffness. Also, constituent cell stiffness increases in a Rho associated kinase (ROCK)‐ and F‐actin‐dependent manner. Increased hydrogel stiffness correlated with attenuated tumor spheroid growth, a higher proportion of cells in G0/G1 phase, and elevated levels of the cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor p21. Drug‐mediated ROCK inhibition not only reverses cell stiffening upon culture in stiff hydrogels but also increases tumor spheroid growth. Taken together, a mechanism by which the growth of a tumor spheroid can be regulated via cytoskeleton rearrangements in response to its mechanoenvironment is revealed here. Thus, the findings contribute to a better understanding of how cancer cells react to compressive stress when growing under confinement in stiff environments.
Charge Transport in Highly Heterogeneous Natural Carbonaceous Materials
Authors: Li Huashan , Zhu Taishan , Ferralis Nicola , Grossman Jeffrey C.
Published: July 2019

Natural carbonaceous materials (NCMs) have recently emerged as promising organic semiconducting materials for electronics and catalysis, although the fundamental picture of charge transport within NCM systems is still incomplete. Morphologically, NCMs exhibit reminiscence of disordered organic solids, yet the experimental measurements demonstrate a transport regime that surprisingly follows Mott's formula derived for variable‐range hopping in inorganic noncrystalline materials. With ab initio and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, a temperature scaling is revealed between the Gaussian‐defect model log(σ) ∼ T−2 typical for organic matter and the Mott‐like log(σ) ∼ T−1/4 for a wide spectrum of intermolecular connectivity. As dominant transport descriptors, energy levels and coupling strengths are screened among 30 small molecules with varying sizes, shapes, sp2/sp3 ratios, side chains, and functional groups. These analyses provide insight for the design of NCM electronics, and should also be applicable to disordered molecular materials in general.
The contribution of acute infarcts to cerebral small vessel disease progression
Authors: ter Telgte Annemieke , Wiegertjes Kim , Gesierich Benno , Marques José P. , Huebner Mathias , de Klerk Jabke J. , Schreuder Floris H. B. M. , Araque Caballero Miguel A. , Kuijf Hugo J. , Norris David G. , Klijn Catharina J. M. , Dichgans Martin , Tuladhar Anil M. , Duering Marco , de Leeuw Frank‐Erik
Published: July 2019

Objective

To determine the contribution of acute infarcts, evidenced by diffusion‐weighted imaging positive (DWI+) lesions, to progression of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and other cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) markers.

Methods

We performed monthly 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for 10 consecutive months in 54 elderly individuals with SVD. MRI included high‐resolution multishell DWI, and 3‐dimensional fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery, T1, and susceptibility‐weighted imaging. We determined DWI+ lesion evolution, WMH progression rate (ml/mo), and number of incident lacunes and microbleeds, and calculated for each marker the proportion of progression explained by DWI+ lesions.

Results

We identified 39 DWI+ lesions on 21 of 472 DWI scans in 9 of 54 subjects. Of the 36 DWI+ lesions with follow‐up MRI, 2 evolved into WMH, 4 evolved into a lacune (3 with cavity <3mm), 3 evolved into a microbleed, and 27 were not detectable on follow‐up. WMH volume increased at a median rate of 0.027 ml/mo (interquartile range = 0.005–0.073), but was not significantly higher in subjects with DWI+ lesions compared to those without (p = 0.195). Of the 2 DWI+ lesions evolving into WMH on follow‐up, one explained 23% of the total WMH volume increase in one subject, whereas the WMH regressed in the other subject. DWI+ lesions preceded 4 of 5 incident lacunes and 3 of 10 incident microbleeds.

Interpretation

DWI+ lesions explain only a small proportion of the total WMH progression. Hence, WMH progression seems to be mostly driven by factors other than acute infarcts. DWI+ lesions explain the majority of incident lacunes and small cavities, and almost one‐third of incident microbleeds, confirming that WMH, lacunes, and microbleeds, although heterogeneous on MRI, can have a common initial appearance on MRI. ANN NEUROL 2019;86:582–592
Glycidyltosylat: Die Polymerisation eines “nicht polymerisierbaren” Monomers ermöglicht eine universelle, polymeranaloge Funktionalisierung von Polyethern
Authors: Jung Philipp , Ziegler Arthur D. , Blankenburg Jan , Frey Holger
Published: July 2019

Glycidyltosylat scheint aufgrund der Tosylat‐Abgangsgruppe ein durch nukleophile Initiatoren nicht polymerisierbares Epoxid zu sein. Mit dem monomeraktivierten Mechanismus kann dieses ungewöhnliche Monomer jedoch mit Ethylenoxid (EO) bzw. Propylenoxid (PO) copolymerisiert werden, wobei Copolymere mit 7 bis 25 % eingebauten Tosylat‐Gruppen erhalten werden. Die Mikrostruktur der Copolymere wurde mittels 1H‐NMR‐Spektroskopie in situ untersucht und auch die Copolymerisationsparameter bestimmt. Die quantitative nukleophile Substitution der Tosylatfunktionalität wird an mehreren Beispielen gezeigt. Diese neue Struktur ermöglicht den Zugang zu einer Vielfalt funktionalisierter Polyether, die durch herkömmliche oxyanionische Polymerisation nicht synthetisiert werden können.
Design, Synthesis, and Phenotypic Profiling of Pyrano‐Furo‐Pyridone Pseudo Natural Products
Authors: Christoforow Andreas , Wilke Julian , Binici Aylin , Pahl Axel , Ostermann Claude , Sievers Sonja , Waldmann Herbert
Published: July 2019

Natural products (NPs) inspire the design and synthesis of novel biologically relevant chemical matter, for instance through biology‐oriented synthesis (BIOS). However, BIOS is limited by the partial coverage of NP‐like chemical space by the guiding NPs. The design and synthesis of “pseudo NPs” overcomes these limitations by combining NP‐inspired strategies with fragment‐based compound design through de novo combination of NP‐derived fragments to unprecedented compound classes not accessible through biosynthesis. We describe the development and biological evaluation of pyrano‐furo‐pyridone (PFP) pseudo NPs, which combine pyridone‐ and dihydropyran NP fragments in three isomeric arrangements. Cheminformatic analysis indicates that the PFPs reside in an area of NP‐like chemical space not covered by existing NPs but rather by drugs and related compounds. Phenotypic profiling in a target‐agnostic “cell painting” assay revealed that PFPs induce formation of reactive oxygen species and are structurally novel inhibitors of mitochondrial complex I.
Enantioselective Synthesis of Arene cis‐Dihydrodiols from 2‐Pyrones
Authors: Liang Xiao‐Wei , Zhao Yunlong , Si Xu‐Ge , Xu Meng‐Meng , Tan Jia‐Hao , Zhang Zhi‐Mao , Zheng Cheng‐Gong , Zheng Chao , Cai Quan
Published: July 2019

An enantioselective chemical synthesis of arene cis‐dihydrodiols has been realized from 2‐pyrones through sequential ytterbium‐catalyzed asymmetric inverse‐electron‐demand Diels–Alder (IEDDA) reaction of 2‐pyrones and retro‐Diels–Alder extrusion of CO2. By using this strategy, a series of substituted arene cis‐dihydrodiols can be obtained efficiently with high enantioselectivity (>99 % ee in many cases). Based on this strategy, efficient and concise asymmetric total syntheses of (+)‐MK7607 and 1‐epi‐(+)‐MK7607 were accomplished.
Flame retardancy of ceramic‐based rigid polyurethane foam composites
Authors: Agrawal Anuja , Kaur Raminder , Singh Walia Ravinderjit
Published: July 2019

In this work, ceramic fillers zirconia and alumina powder were incorporated in the rigid polyurethane foams derived from modified castor oil and their impact on the mechanical, thermal, and fire performances of composite foams have been analyzed. It was observed that the addition of ceramic filler showed improved mechanical and thermal properties and best properties were shown by 6% zirconia with compressive strength of 6.61 MPa and flexural strength of 5.72 MPa. Zirconia also demonstrated an increase in T5% up to 260 °C. Cone calorimetry shows a decrease in peak of heat release from 118 to 84 kW m−2 and 94 kW m−2 by the incorporation of alumina and zirconia powder, respectively. Furthermore, total heat release (THR), smoke production rate (SPR), and total smoke release (TSR) were also found to decrease remarkably on the incorporation of ceramic fillers. So, these fillers have a great potential as an additive to incorporate good mechanical, thermal, and fire properties in bio‐based rigid PU foams. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 48250.
3D‐printable thermochromic acrylic resin with excellent mechanical performance
Authors: Duan A. , Li Y. , Li B. , Zhu P.
Published: July 2019

This study demonstrated the feasibility of printing three‐dimensional (3D) hybrid objects based on acrylic photocurable formulations, with an additional function of thermochromic (TC) performance. In fact, directly mixing TC pigments into an acrylic resin (AR), led to a decrease of the mechanical properties like tensile strength and elongation. In order to address this problem, TC was modified by γ‐methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane before added into an AR (modified thermochromic [mTC] pigment). Compared with pure AR and TC/resin composite structures (TC/AR), the final mTC/acrylic resin (mTC/AR) exhibited a better performance of tensile strength and Young's modulus. Besides, they could be successfully fabricated into 3D structures by stereolithography method. More interestingly, mTC/AR 3D composite structures demonstrated a unique tunable TC property, which could be responsive to external temperature fields reversely. Thus, their TC property could find novel applications in smart temperature sensor technology, and other related technological applications. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48277.
Sulfonylpiperazines based on a flavone as antioxidant and cytotoxic agents
Authors: Patel Rahul V. , Mistry Bhupendra M. , Syed Riyaz , Parekh Nikhil M. , Shin Han‐Seung
Published: July 2019

Chrysin‐based sulfonylpiperazines 7a‐k were synthesized and investigated for their in vitro free radical scavenging potential as well as cytotoxic efficacies against selected cancer cell lines. Cytotoxicity of the new compounds toward noncancer cells was confirmed using the SRB assay against Madin–Darby Canine Kidney cells. Reaction of piperazine with different substituted benzenesulfonyl chlorides in triethylamine furnished sulfonylpiperazines (3a‐k), which were then allowed to react with 7‐(4‐bromobutoxy)‐5‐hydroxy‐2‐phenyl‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one (6) prepared reacting chrysin with 1,4‐dibromobutane to give the final derivatives 7a‐k. The results concluded that chrysin‐sulfonylpiperazines exerted better antioxidant and anticancer efficacies than previously studied chrysin‐piperazine precursors. For example, compounds 7h, 7j, and 7k with 4‐OCF3, 4‐OCH3, and 2,4‐diOCH3 groups exhibited the best antioxidant potential against 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′‐azino‐bis‐3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid (ABTS) radicals. Moreover, halogenated analogues (7b, 7c, 7g, and 7h) demonstrated promising anticancer potential against SK‐OV3, HeLa, and HT‐29 cell lines, whereas those bearing a methoxy functional group (7j and 7k) had beneficial effects against the cell lines A‐549 and HT‐29. Thus, it can be confirmed from the bioassay results that the overall structural design as well as proper substitution is crucial to deliver the anticipated biological effects. Spectroscopic techniques such as FT‐IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, mass and elemental analysis (CHN) were carried out to confirm the final structures.
Synthesis and mycobacterial evaluation of 5‐substituted‐6‐acetyl‐2‐amino‐7‐methyl‐5,8‐dihydropyrido‐[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4(3H)‐one derivatives
Authors: Agre Neha , Degani Mariam , Gupta Antima , Bhakta Sanjib , Ray Mukti Kanta
Published: July 2019

5‐Substituted‐6‐acetyl‐2‐amino‐7‐methyl‐5,8‐dihydropyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4(3H)‐one derivatives were synthesized and evaluated against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, Mycobacterium aurum, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus as well as a human monocyte‐derived macrophage (THP‐1), and murine macrophage (RAW 264.7) cell lines to assess their antibacterial and cytotoxic potential, respectively. The compounds showed activity in the range of 1.95–125 µg/ml against M. tuberculosis but showed no activity against M. aurum, E. coli, and S. aureus, indicating selectivity towards slow‐growing mycobacterial pathogens. The compounds exhibited very low to no cytotoxicity up to 500 µg/ml concentration against eukaryotic cell lines. The most potent molecule, 2l, showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.95 µg/ml against M. tuberculosis H37Rv and a selectivity index of >250 against both the eukaryotic cell lines. Furthermore, 2l showed moderate inhibition of whole‐cell mycobacterial drug‐efflux pumps when compared to verapamil, a known potent inhibitor of efflux pumps. Thus, derivative 2l was identified as an antituberculosis hit molecule, which could be used to yield more potent lead molecules.
Activated M2 Macrophages Contribute to the Pathogenesis of IgG4‐Related Disease via Toll‐like Receptor 7/Interleukin‐33 Signaling
Authors: Ishiguro Noriko , Moriyama Masafumi , Furusho Katsuhiro , Furukawa Sachiko , Shibata Takuma , Murakami Yusuke , Chinju Akira , Haque A. S. M. Rafiul , Gion Yuka , Ohta Miho , Maehara Takashi , Tanaka Akihiko , Yamauchi Masaki , Sakamoto Mizuki , Mochizuki Keita , Ono Yuko , Hayashida Jun‐Nosuke , Sato Yasuharu , Kiyoshima Tamotsu , Yamamoto Hidetaka , Miyake Kensuke , Nakamura Seiji
Published: July 2019

Objective

IgG4‐related disease (IgG4‐RD) is a unique inflammatory disorder in which Th2 cytokines promote IgG4 production. In addition, recent studies have implicated the Toll‐like receptor (TLR) pathway. This study was undertaken to examine the expression of TLRs in salivary glands (SGs) from patients with IgG4‐RD.

Methods

SGs from 15 patients with IgG4‐RD, 15 patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS), 10 patients with chronic sialadenitis, and 10 healthy controls were examined histologically. TLR family gene expression (TLR‐1 through TLR‐10) was analyzed by DNA microarray in the submandibular glands (SMGs). Up‐regulation of TLRs was confirmed in SGs from patients with IgG4‐RD. Finally, the phenotype of human TLR‐7 (huTLR‐7)–transgenic C57BL/6 mice was assessed before and after stimulation with TLR agonist.

Results

In patients with IgG4‐RD, TLR‐4, TLR‐7, TLR‐8, and TLR‐9 were overexpressed. Polymerase chain reaction validated the up‐regulation of TLR‐7 in IgG4‐RD compared with the other groups. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed strong infiltration of TLR‐7–positive cells in the SGs of patients with IgG4‐RD. Double immunohistochemical staining showed that TLR‐7 expression colocalized with CD163+ M2 macrophages. After in vitro stimulation with a TLR‐7 agonist, CD163+ M2 macrophages produced higher levels of interleukin‐33 (IL‐33), which is a Th2‐activating cytokine. In huTLR‐7–transgenic mice, the focus and fibrosis scores in SMGs, pancreas, and lungs were significantly higher than those in wild‐type mice (P < 0.05). Moreover, the concentration of serum IgG, IgG1, and IL‐33 in huTLR‐7–transgenic mice was distinctly increased upon stimulation with a TLR‐7 agonist (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

TLR‐7–expressing M2 macrophages may promote the activation of Th2 immune responses via IL‐33 secretion in IgG4‐RD.
A new HPLC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of SGLT2 inhibitors and metformin in plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study in healthy volunteers
Authors: Dias Bruna Carolina Lui , Fachi Mariana Millan , de Campos Michel Leandro , Degaut Flávia Lada Degaut , Peccinini Rosângela Gonçalves , Pontarolo Roberto
Published: July 2019

Monitoring the plasma concentrations of metformin and sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors (canagliflozin, dapagliflozin and empagliflozin) is essential for pharmacokinetic and bioequivalence studies and therapeutic monitoring. The present work therefore aimed to develop and validate a high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) method for the simultaneous quantification of these drugs in human plasma. The analyses were performed using an Agilent 1200 HPLC system coupled to an Applied Biosystems API 3200 triple quadrupole MS/MS with electrospray ionization in positive ion mode. After one‐step protein precipitation of plasma with acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid, chromatographic separation was achieved on an Xbridge C18 column, with a mobile phase consisting of a gradient of water and acetonitrile, both containing 1 mm ammonium formate and 0.1% formic acid. Quantification was performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode using m/z 130.1 → 71.1 for metformin, m/z 462.0 → 191.2 for canagliflozin, m/z 426.1 → 167.1 for dapagliflozin and m/z 468.0 → 354.9 for empagliflozin. The proposed method was validated and demonstrated to be adequate for the quantification of metformin, canagliflozin, dapagliflozin and empagliflozin for clinical monitoring, pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence studies.
Integrating multiple state‐of‐the‐art computer‐aided design tools in microelectronics circuit design classes
Authors: Abugharbieh Khaldoon , Marar Hazem W.
Published: July 2019

Demand for microelectronics products has seen a recent explosion due to their increased adaption in high‐performance data storage, networking, and Internet of Things applications. Not only such products need to provide high performance, they are often integrated in mixed signal environments that include both analog and digital circuits. This has posed a challenge to faculty who teach microelectronics design in senior undergraduate and graduate electrical engineering courses. It is becoming increasingly difficult to upgrade microelectronics curricula, so students are enabled with the proper skills to utilize design tools presently common in the industry. This study provides a mechanism to integrate five state of the art design tools in one single design project. The tools are Custom Compiler, Hewlett Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit, verilog compiler simulator, IC Validator, and Design Complier. Students, through a design project, conduct the design, layout, and simulations of an static random‐access memory array. The project utilizes both the full‐custom and the semi‐custom flows. One full design is created and integrated where students do the design and layout of transistors in specific circuits and generate synthesized circuits automatically from a high‐level description language. This study can serve as a resource for senior undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and practicing engineers. Finally, it can help electrical engineering programs meet Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology students’ outcome (k) which is an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.
Effects of temperature, water activity, and fungal isolate on ochratoxin A accumulation in oat grain inoculated with Penicillium verrucosum and development of a methodology to screen oat cultivars for ochratoxin A accumulation
Authors: Dhungana Bandana , Ali Shaukat , Byamukama Emmanuel , Krishnan Padmanaban , Wu Jixiang , Caffe‐Treml Melanie
Published: July 2019

Background and objectives

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of the most prevalent mycotoxins in cereal grains. In temperate climates, Penicillium verrucosum is the primary OTA producer. Our objectives were (a) to determine the effects of various factors on OTA accumulation in oat grain inoculated with P. verrucosum and (b) to develop a method to screen oat cultivars for OTA accumulation.

Findings

Grain samples from three oat cultivars were inoculated with three different isolates of P. verrucosum, incubated at two water activity levels (0.85 and 0.90 aw) and two temperatures (22.5 and 27.5°C) for 4, 7, and 10 weeks. A water activity of 0.90 and a temperature of 22.5°C provided the highest level of OTA accumulation. Isolate C1136‐1 was the highest OTA producer among the isolates of P. verrucosum studied. The longer the incubation period, the higher the OTA accumulation in oat grain samples was.

Conclusions

The P. verrucosum isolate, the water activity and temperature during incubation, and the incubation period, all had an effect on the level of OTA accumulation. Inoculating grains with isolate C84‐2 and incubating at 22.5°C and 0.90 aw for 7 weeks provided adequate conditions to screen oat cultivars for OTA accumulation.

Significance and novelty

A new protocol was developed that can be used for discriminating among oat cultivars for level of OTA accumulation. It would ultimately help breeders and pathologists in selecting genotypes with reduced OTA accumulation.
Scapula alata as presenting symptom of Fanconi anemia: A case for serendipity
Authors: van Adrichem Renee , de Weger Vincent , Broere Daniel , van Herrewegen Femke , Amaya Jeremy , ten Tusscher Gavin William
Published: July 2019

Fanconi anemia is a recessive genetic disorder with a wide range of presenting symptoms, from multiple congenital defects to exclusively (pan) cytopenia. Scapula alata may be a rare symptom of FA.
Direct Synthesis of Hierarchical FeCu‐ZSM‐5 Zeolite with Wide Temperature Window in Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO by NH3
Authors: Yue Yuanyuan , Liu Ben , Lv Nangui , Wang Tinghai , Bi Xiaotao , Zhu Haibo , Yuan Pei , Bai Zhengshuai , Cui Qingyan , Bao Xiaojun
Published: July 2019

In this article, we report a one‐pot synthesis strategy to directly synthesize the hierarchical FeCu‐ZSM‐5 zeolite. Its physicochemical properties were studied by various characterization techniques and catalytic performance was tested in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with NH3 as reductant. The characterization results show that: compared with three reference zeolites Fe/ZSM‐5, Cu/ZSM‐5, and Fe/Cu/ZSM‐5 prepared through an incipient wetness impregnation method, the synthesized FeCu‐ZSM‐5 zeolite exhibits hierarchical micro‐mesoporous structures, more Fe3+ in zeolite framework, and larger isolated Cu2+ species. Therefore, when used as a catalyst in NH3‐SCR, the resulting hierarchical FeCu‐ZSM‐5 catalyst shows better catalytic performance (high NO conversion and N2 selectivity) in a wide temperature window and higher hydrothermal stability than the three reference catalysts. Our work provides a simple and facile route to prepare the promising NH3‐SCR catalyst for practical applications in controlling NOx emissions.
A Porous POSiSil Suited for Pressure‐Driven Reversible Confinement of Solutions: PSS‐2
Authors: Smet Sam , Verlooy Pieter , Pulinthanathu Sreeprasanth , Kirschhock Christine E. A. , Taulelle Francis , Breynaert Eric , Martens Johan A.
Published: July 2019

Polyoligosiloxysilicone (POSiSil; designated PSS‐2) is a copolymer of double four‐ring (D4R) cyclosilicate and dimethylsiloxane. It is synthesized by linking D4R units in tetrabutylammonium cyclosilicate crystals with dimethyldichlorosilane. The structure of PSS‐2 was revealed using solid state NMR spectroscopy. In this 3D copolymer D4R units are connected systematically by short siloxane chains most likely composed of 2 to 3 dimethylsiloxane monomers. Controlling the conversion of the parent material allows for tuning the porosity of PSS‐2. Residual parent material is embedded inside PSS‐2 polymer and can be eliminated by calcination. This leaves nanovoids inside PSS‐2, which is moderately hydrophobic. Pressure‐driven intrusion–extrusion cycles of aqueous solution exhibit hysteresis, thus, PSS‐2 can be used as reversible confinement for liquids with a capacity of around 1000 mm3 g−1 in porosity.
Modified Isoindolediones as Bright Fluorescent Probes for Cell and Tissue Imaging
Authors: Vakuliuk Olena , Jun Yong Woong , Vygranenko Kateryna , Clermont Guillaume , Reo Ye Jin , Blanchard‐Desce Mireille , Ahn Kyo Han , Gryko Daniel T.
Published: July 2019

New L‐shaped fluorophores possessing five conjugated rings have been synthesized through a four‐step procedure involving diketopyrrolopyrrole synthesis and its double N‐alkylation, followed by trimethylsilyl bromide‐mediated rearrangement to thieno[2,3‐f]isoindole‐5,8‐dione and an intramolecular Friedel–Crafts reaction. In comparison with the parent isoindolediones and π‐expanded diketopyrrolopyrroles, these new dyes show red‐shifted absorption and emission (up to ≈630 nm). Their structural rigidity is responsible for both the observed small Stokes shifts and large fluorescence quantum yields. Tissue imaging studies revealed that these new dyes show advantageous features including minimal autofluorescence interference and pronounced solvent‐sensitive emission. Interestingly, there is a fundamental difference between a dye possessing an amino group and its analog bearing an N‐alkyl substituent. The former dye under two‐photon excitation at 900 nm gives bright images whereas its N‐alkylated counterpart does not. A new type of membrane localization has been discovered by an N‐alkylated isoindoledione possessing a benzofuryl substituent. In spite of the fact that the fluorescence quantum yield of this dye in a range of solvents is rather low, it does stain cell membranes exclusively. This new mode of cellular staining opens the door towards further development of membrane staining dyes.
15N Hyperpolarization of Dalfampridine at Natural Abundance for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Skovpin Ivan V. , Svyatova Alexandra , Chukanov Nikita , Chekmenev Eduard Y. , Kovtunov Kirill V. , Koptyug Igor V.
Published: July 2019

Signal Amplification by Reversible Exchange (SABRE) is a promising method for NMR signal enhancement and production of hyperpolarized molecules. As nuclear spin relaxation times of heteronuclei are usually much longer than those of protons, SABRE‐based hyperpolarization of heteronuclei in molecules is highly important in the context of biomedical applications. In this work, we demonstrate that the SLIC‐SABRE technique can be successfully used to hyperpolarize 15N nuclei in dalfampridine. The high polarization level of ca. 8 % achieved in this work made it possible to acquire 15N MR images at natural abundance of the 15N nuclei for the first time.
Amino Acid‐Derived Sensors for Specific Zn2+ Detection Using Hyperpolarized 13C Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Authors: Wang Sinan , Korenchan David E. , Perez Paola M. , Taglang Céline , Hayes Thomas R. , Sriram Renuka , Bok Robert , Hong Andrew S. , Wu Yunkou , Li Henry , Wang Zhen , Kurhanewicz John , Wilson David M. , Flavell Robert R.
Published: July 2019

Alterations in Zn2+ concentration are seen in normal tissues and in disease states, and for this reason imaging of Zn2+ is an area of active investigation. Herein, enriched [1‐13C]cysteine and [1‐13C2]iminodiacetic acid were developed as Zn2+‐specific imaging probes using hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy. [1‐13C]cysteine was used to accurately quantify Zn2+ in complex biological mixtures. These sensors can be employed to detect Zn2+ via imaging mechanisms including changes in 13C chemical shift, resonance linewidth, or T1.
Potassium Salts of 2,5‐Bis(trimethylsilyl)‐Germolide: Switching between Aromatic and Non‐Aromatic States
Authors: Dong Zhaowen , Schmidtmann Marc , Müller Thomas
Published: July 2019

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Thomas Müller at the University of Oldenburg. The image depicts the switch between aromatic and non‐aromatic states of a potassium germacyclopentadienide triggered by complexation of the potassium cation. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201902238.