bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of nanomicelle curcumin, Nigella sativa oil, and their combination on bone turnover markers and their safety in postmenopausal women with primary osteoporosis and osteopenia: A triple‐blind randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kheiridoost Hanie , Shakouri Seyed Kazem , Shojaei‐Zarghani Sara , Dolatkhah Neda , Farshbaf‐Khalili Azizeh
Published: December 2021

Literature supports the potential effects of nanomicelle curcumin and Nigella sativa on the amelioration of osteoporosis, a health concern of postmenopausal women. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of nanomicelle curcumin (CUR), Nigella sativa oil (NS), and their combination on bone turnover biomarkers and assess their safety. This triple‐blind randomized controlled trial was performed on 120 postmenopausal women aged 50–65 with primary osteoporosis or osteopenia. The subjects were randomly allocated to receive microcrystalline cellulose (placebo), 80 mg of CUR, 1000 mg of NS, or their combination (CUR‐NS) for 6 months. All patients were also treated with alendronate (70 mg) and calcium (500 mg), vitamin D (400 IU) supplements. The serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OC), and osteopontin (OP) were measured at the baseline and after the intervention. For safety assessment, the hepatic enzyme levels of aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase as well as serum urea and creatinine were evaluated. ALP levels were significantly reduced in the NS (p = .029) and CUR‐NS (p = .015) groups compared with those in the placebo. After adjustment for the covariates, this effect was still significant in the CUR‐NS group (p = .004). The OC levels were decreased in the placebo, CUR, and NS groups, and the OP concentration also was attenuated in all groups through the trial. However, the intergroup differences were not significant for both biomarkers. Evaluating the key renal metabolites and hepatic enzyme levels indicated no toxicity of the administered doses. This study reveals the beneficial effects of CUR‐NS on the improvement of some bone turnover biomarkers. These compounds seem to be safe at the current dosage for supplementation in postmenopausal women.
The omission of intentional primary site radiation following transoral robotic surgery in 59 patients: No local‐regional failures
Authors: Dhere Vishal R. , Escott Chase E. , Tian Sibo , Switchenko Jeffrey M. , Bell James P. , Stokes William A. , McDonald Mark W. , Magliocca Kelly R. , Boyce Brian J. , Kaka Azeem S. , Steuer Conor E. , Saba Nabil F. , Shin Dong M. , Xiao Canhua , Patel Mihir R. , Beitler Jonathan J.
Published: December 2021

Background

We assessed locoregional control with omission of intentional primary site radiation after transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and quantified nontargeted primary site dose.

Methods

Following Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, patients treated with primary TORS resection for squamous cell carcinomas of the oropharynx were reviewed. Patients with cT1‐2 tumors, >2 mm margins, in whom the surgeon resected the primary without revising specimen‐driven margins, qualified for omission of primary site radiation.

Results

From 2014 to 2019, 112 patients met criteria. Fifty‐nine (52%) patients did not receive radiation targeting the primary site; of whom, 22 received no radiation. In this group, there were no local failures; mean age was 58 years and median follow‐up was 25 months. Thirty‐seven patients received adjuvant radiation targeting the neck, mean bystander dose to the primary site was 28.8 Gy (range, 13.3–50.6 Gy).

Conclusion

In a 59 patient population, omission of radiation to the primary site after TORS resulted in no locoregional failures.
Review of An Introduction to Behavior Analysis by Gregory Madden, Derek Reed, and Florence DiGennaro Reed
Authors: Raiff Bethany R.
Published: December 2021

The following is a review of the new textbook, An Introduction to Behavior Analysis, written by Madden, Reed, and DiGennaro Reed. The general content of each chapter is discussed and specific strengths and areas for improvement are highlighted. The textbook uses a scaffolding approach to teach increasingly complex content and repetition to promote retention of major concepts. The textbook also provides students with ample opportunities to practice the skills being taught, and engages the reader with relatable examples. Overall, this textbook is a great new option for instructors teaching the “Foundational Knowledge” requirements for undergraduate or early‐stage graduate students in behavior analysis.
Chitosan utilized for bacterial preparation for scanning electron microscopy
Authors: Su Bo , Zhang Li , Li Yang , Zhou Li , Yang Zhen , Wang Zhenling , Zhang Jie
Published: December 2021

Bacterial sample preparation is crucial for its observation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). However, the current polylysine (PLL) method leads to bacterial morphological changes. To overcome this problem, we employed chitosan (CS) to coat coverslips to prepare bacteria for SEM and compared it with the PLL method. Coverslips coated with 0.025% (w/v) CS showed satisfactory bacterial binding ability. Within 30 min of binding time, the number of bacteria on CS‐coated and PLL‐coated coverslips exhibited no differences. Four bacteria strains were employed to compare the differences in SEM images between the two methods. Most of the bacteria showed irregular surface or sticky substances after settling on PLL‐coated coverslips, while bacteria with clear surface texture were observed on CS‐coated coverslips. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed deformed bacterial envelope on PLL‐coated coverslips; meanwhile, similar intact envelope was observed from the bacteria on CS‐coated coverslips and the bacteria without any treatment. The TEM results verified the morphological differences of SEM between the two methods. Except for morphology, the length of the rod‐shaped bacteria was longer on CS‐coated coverslips than that on PLL‐coated coverslips, less shrinkage of the sample was observed, and CS could preserve the length of the rod‐shaped bacteria better than PLL in its preparation for SEM. It is demonstrated that the low‐cost CS could be utilized in bacterial preparation for SEM to acquire preferable images. Bacterial suspension with optical density at 600 nm of about 0.5, deposited on 0.025% CS‐coated coverslips for 30 min, and followed by routine fixation, dehydration, and drying are optimal parameters.
Pollen morphology and its taxonomic potential in some selected taxa of Caesalpiniaceae observed under light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy
Authors: Ullah Farhat , Ahmad Mushtaq , Zafar Muhammad , Parveen Bushra , Ashfaq Shomaila , Bahadur Saraj , Safdar Qura‐tul‐ain , Safdar Luqman Bin , Alam Fakhre , Luqman Muhammad
Published: December 2021

Pollen micromorphology is not only used to check the functional and structural evolution in plants but also to solve the taxonomic problem related to the classification of plants. Therefore, keeping in view the significance of pollen traits, selected taxa of the subfamily Caesalpiniaceae was collected from different geographical regions of Pakistan. The species were then analyzed under both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques to investigate the importance of micromorphological characters of pollen in the identification and classification of species. Great variation was recorded in equatorial shape, surface ornamentation, tectum, polar diameter, equatorial diameter, and exine thickness. However, little variation was observed in pollen type, polar shape, and fertility of pollen. The equatorial shape of five types was observed: prolate, prolate‐spheroidal, spheroidal‐subprolate, subspheroidal‐prolate, and subspheroidal. Four types of surface ornamentation, psilate, granulate, clavate, and perforate, were recorded. Tectum of five types, intactate, reticulate regulate, medium reticulate, tactate, and striate, was observed. Sexine was thicker than nexine in all studied species. The largest polar diameter was observed in Caesalpinia pulcherrima 64.1 μm while the smallest in Parkinsonia aculeata 26.1 μm. The largest equatorial diameter was found in C. pulcherrima of 70.25 μm whereas the smallest in P. aculeata 27.57 μm. All the pollens analyzed were tricolporate. All studied species have a fertility ratio of more than 90%. A taxonomic key was developed to show the variation in pollen features and delimit species for the correct identification. In conclusion, the pollen traits were found useful to define species boundaries at various taxonomic ranks and will strengthen the taxonomy of this subfamily. Besides, this study also explored the palynological traits and their implication in the taxonomy of the subfamily Caesalpiniaceae.
An easy brain thick‐section‐clearing protocol to observe antigens in the brains of neurological disease mouse models by conventional epifluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy
Authors: Nguyen Phuong , Kim A‐Young , Koh Young Ho
Published: December 2021

We developed a brain thick‐section‐clearing (BTS‐C) procedure to observe coronal sections of the entire mouse brain with conventional epifluorescence microscopy (EFM). After clearing with the BTS procedure, the white light transmittance of the 1‐mm‐thick mouse brain sections was more than 96%. The distribution patterns of amyloid plaques or α‐synuclein in 1‐mm‐thick brain sections of five different mouse strains cleared with this procedure were easily observed by EFM. In addition, the detailed distribution of antigens at higher magnifications was revealed by observing the same slides with a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). In conclusion, we have shown that the BTS protocol can replace laborious and time‐consuming semi‐thin‐sectioning procedures, and the cleared 1‐mm‐thick sections can be examined by EFM and CLSM to elucidate the distribution patterns of antigens.
Bioaccumulation of arsenic(V) from wastewater by live and dead Spirogyra sp.
Authors: Shah Neha , Dubey Vimal K. , Thakkar Sampark , Doshi Hiren , Mahawar Preeti
Published: December 2021

Contaminated water with arsenic causes a negative impact on socioeconomic status in the concerned area. Existing methods are not much adequate, efficient, and appropriate. Bioremediation of heavy metals with microalgae seems to be a promising and holistic approach to counter the pre‐existing associated with heavy metal toxicity. A pure culture of live and dead Spirogyra sp. was tested for its ability to adsorb arsenic(V) and modeling of experimental data was used to interpret the mechanism of bioaccumulation. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were used to explain the sorption of arsenic. The maximum sorption capacity of live Spirogyra sp. was 315 mg/g and dead Spirogyra sp. was 207 mg/g. Mechanism of bioaccumulation for As(V) ions by live and dead Spirogyra sp. were studied using several advanced techniques including Fourier‐transform infrared, fluorescence microscopy, and scanning electron microscope. The study summarizes, bioaccumulation of AsO4−3 by live and dead cells of Spirogyra sp. seems to be promising. The pseudo‐second‐order rate equation described better the kinetics of As(V) adsorption with good correlation coefficients. The results suggested that live Spirogyra sp. was more suitable to remove As(V) as compared to dead Spirogyra sp.
Upgrade of an old drug: Auranofin in innovative cancer therapies to overcome drug resistance and to increase drug effectiveness
Authors: Gamberi Tania , Chiappetta Giovanni , Fiaschi Tania , Modesti Alessandra , Sorbi Flavia , Magherini Francesca
Published: December 2021

Auranofin is an oral gold(I) compound, initially developed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Currently, Auranofin is under investigation for oncological application within a drug repurposing plan due to the relevant antineoplastic activity observed both in vitro and in vivo tumor models. In this review, we analysed studies in which Auranofin was used as a single drug or in combination with other molecules to enhance their anticancer activity or to overcome chemoresistance. The analysis of different targets/pathways affected by this drug in different cancer types has allowed us to highlight several interesting targets and effects of Auranofin besides the already well‐known inhibition of thioredoxin reductase. Among these targets, inhibitory‐κB kinase, deubiquitinates, protein kinase C iota have been frequently suggested. To rationalize the effects of Auranofin by a system biology‐like approach, we exploited transcriptomic data obtained from a wide range of cell models, extrapolating the data deposited in the Connectivity Maps website and we attempted to provide a general conclusion and discussed the major points that need further investigation.
Neutron‐gamma dosimetry for BNCT using field oxide transistors with gadolinium oxide as neutron converter layer
Authors: Gimenez Melisa Lucía , Lipovetzky José , Alcalde Bessia Fabricio , Longhino Juan Manuel , Tartaglione Aureliano , Garcia‐Inza Mariano Andrés , Blostein Juan Jerónimo , Carbonetto Sebastián , Gómez Berisso Mariano , Pérez Martín , Sidelnik Iván , Redin Eduardo Gabriel , Faigón Adrián
Published: December 2021

Purpose

A new type of electronic dosimeter is presented, capable of discerning between the doses of gamma photons and neutrons in a mixed beam as found in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). We introduce a real‐time dosimeter based on a thick gate field oxide field effect transistor (FOXFET) covered with a neutron converter layer containing gadolinium.

Methods

To sensitize the FOXFET dosimeter to neutron fluxes, a converter layer containing gadolinium oxide particles embedded in photoresines was deposited over the sensor surface. Mixed neutron‐gamma field configurations with different neutron energy spectra were used to assess the FOXFET response, considering different thicknesses of the neutron converter layer.

Results

The total gamma sensitivity of the devices resulted to be 43 mV/Gy. The responses of sensors with different converter layer thicknesses irradiated with different neutron spectra are simulated using GEANT4 code. The response to photons is not significantly modified with thin conversion layers when used in water medium.

Conclusions

A real‐time dosimeter comprising a pair of FOXFET sensors—only one of them with a gadolinium neutron converter layer—allows the simultaneous measurement of gamma dose and neutron flux during BNCT irradiations.
Quantitative susceptibility mapping of the head‐and‐neck using SMURF fat‐water imaging with chemical shift and relaxation rate corrections
Authors: Bachrata Beata , Trattnig Siegfried , Robinson Simon Daniel
Published: December 2021

Purpose

To address the challenges posed by fat‐water chemical shift artifacts and relaxation rate discrepancies to quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) outside the brain, and to generate accurate susceptibility maps of the head‐and‐neck at 3 and 7 Tesla.

Methods

Simultaneous Multiple Resonance Frequency (SMURF) imaging was extended to 7 Tesla and used to acquire head‐and‐neck gradient echo images at both 3 and 7 Tesla. Separated fat and water images were corrected for Type 1 (displacement) and Type 2 (phase discrepancy) chemical shift artefacts, and for the bias resulting from differences in T1 and relaxation rates, recombined and used as the basis for QSM. A novel phase signal‐based masking approach was used to generate head‐and‐neck masks.

Results

SMURF generated well‐separated fat and water images of the head‐and‐neck. Corrections for chemical shift artefacts and relaxation rate differences removed overestimation of the susceptibility values, blurring in the susceptibility maps, and the disproportionate influence of fat in mixed voxels. The resulting susceptibility maps showed high correspondence between the paramagnetic areas and the locations of fatty tissues and the susceptibility estimates were similar to literature values. The proposed masking approach was shown to provide a simple means of generating head‐and‐neck masks.

Conclusion

Corrections for Type 1 and Type 2 chemical shift artefacts and for fat‐water relaxation rate differences, mainly in T1, were shown to be required for accurate susceptibility mapping of fatty‐body regions. SMURF made it possible to apply these corrections and generate high‐quality susceptibility maps of the entire head‐and‐neck at both 3 and 7 Tesla.
Wendejahre eines Akademieinstituts
Authors: Paul Dieter
Published: December 2021

Seit 100 Jahren wird in Teltow am Südrand Berlins Polymerforschung betrieben. Die Eingliederung des Instituts für Polymerenchemie (IPOC), eines Akademie‐Instituts der DDR, in die gesamtdeutsche Forschungslandschaft steht exemplarisch für die wissenschaftspolitischen Umbrüche im Zuge der Wende 1989/90.
Ungewöhnliches für gewöhnliche p‐Block‐Elemente
Authors: Greb Lutz
Published: December 2021

Aus der homogenen Katalyse kennen wir, wie Liganden die Eigenschaften eines d‐Block‐Metalls beeinflussen. Lutz Greb untersucht, wie Liganden auf p‐Block‐Elemente wirken.
A review on high thermally conductive polymeric composites
Authors: Ghaffari‐Mosanenzadeh Shahriar , Aghababaei Tafreshi Omid , Dammen‐Brower Erik , Rad Elmira , Meysami Mohammad , Naguib Hani E.
Published: December 2021

Polymers are known as thermally insulated materials with reported effective thermal conductivity (Keff) in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 Wm−1 K−1. However, increasing demand for smaller and more powerful electronics has created the need for thermally conductive polymers for use in heat exchangers and electronic packaging applications. Given this background, much research has been done over the past two decades to increase the Keff of polymers. Based on the strategy involved, those works can be divided into two main categories: (i) increasing the Keff of the neat polymer by aligning its chains orientation; and (ii) increasing polymer Keff by fabrication of polymeric composites with thermally conductive filler networks. Among these two strategies, the former is limited to nanoscale laboratory research and is difficult to scale up for mass production. Therefore, this work is mainly focused on the latter category, thermally conductive polymeric composites, which has a higher potential for large‐scale production. This work aims to summarize, evaluate, and highlight the successful strategies of the recent efforts in enhancing the thermal conductivity of polymer composites. The major achievements, future challenges, and the outlooks of high thermally conductive polymeric composites are presented by analyzing the results of about 300 works.
Workaholism across European and Asian cultures during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Krumov Krum D. , Larsen Knud S. , Liu Jin , Schneider Johann F. , Kemmelmeier Markus , Krumova Albena K. , Widodo Eko , Gungov Alexander L. , Juhasz Marta , Garvanova Magdalena Z. , Kumar Sanjay , Repaczki Rita , Paul Markus
Published: December 2021

The current cross‐cultural study examined the construct of workaholism across European and Asian cultures during the pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). A total of 2,617 recipients, aged 18–80 years from three Asian countries (China, India, and Indonesia) with higher levels of collectivistic values, and three European countries (Bulgaria, Germany, and Hungary) supposing to have higher individualistic values. The participants completed the online version of the two‐dimensional measure, dubbed the Dutch Workaholism Scale (DUWAS). The goal of the study was to demonstrate that during the COVID‐19 pandemic, it is the cultural context that mediates and influences the way of change in workaholics' attitudes. The results led to the conclusion that the way in which the COVID‐19 crisis affects workaholism and workaholics' behavior depends on cultural and sex differences, and stages of the human life cycle. The data analysis revealed that cultural differences and sex affect the configuration of workaholism (excessive/compulsive): in the Asian sample, unlike the European, there was a significant increase in the level of workaholism compulsive; European female participants reported higher levels of workaholism compulsive and workaholism excessive, but the sex difference was not found in Asian sample. Along with cultural context, and sex differences, age also influences the configuration of workaholism. In this case, the separate stages of the human life cycle contribute in different ways to changes in levels of workaholism excessive and workaholism compulsive.
Impact of the anion on electrochemically doped regioregular and regiorandom poly(3‐hexylthiophene)
Authors: Baustert Kyle N. , Abtahi Ashkan , Ayyash Ahmed N. , Graham Kenneth R.
Published: December 2021

Chemical and electrochemical doping of π‐conjugated polymers is an important aspect in determining the performance and enabling the operation of many organic electronic devices, from organic light emitting diodes and thermoelectrics to organic electrochemical transistors. In both chemical doping and electrochemical doping an ionized dopant or counterion is present along with the doped π‐conjugated polymer. This dopant or counterion is not a benign spectator, rather, its presence can significantly impact the optical, electronic, and thermoelectric properties of the resulting material. Here, we investigate how counterion structure impacts the electrochemical doping ability, oxidation potential, ionization energy, and polaron absorbance of regioregular (rr) and regiorandom (rra) P3HT. We find that in most cases the anion has a small effect on the polymer oxidation potential, except for in the case of rr‐P3HT with the large tetrakis[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate anion. We propose that this large anion is excluded from the crystalline regions and thus the oxidation potential is similar to that of rra‐P3HT. The anions also result in significant differences in polaron absorbance and ionization energies, thereby emphasizing the important role of the counterion in determining the optical and electronic properties of doped π‐conjugated polymers.
The use of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor in patients with cystic fibrosis postliver transplant: A case series
Authors: Ragan Hunter , Autry Elizabeth , Bomersback Taryn , Hewlett Jennifer , Kormelink Lauren , Safirstein Julie , Shanley Laura , Lubsch Lisa
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Cystic fibrosis (CF)‐related liver disease (CFLD) manifests as a wide spectrum of hepatobiliary disease and can progress to need liver transplantation. Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (elx/tez/iva) is a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulator that has superior efficacy compared to previously approved modulators. Use of elx/tez/iva, should be approached with caution in individuals with CFLD or following liver transplantation due to possible increases in liver function tests (LFTs) and drug–drug interactions with several immunosuppressant medications.

Objective

The purpose of this case series is to explore if the use of elx/tez/iva is safe and tolerable in patients with CF postliver transplantation.

Methods

A retrospective case series including patients prescribed elx/tez/iva following liver transplantation and an immunosuppressive regimen consisting of drug therapy metabolized by P‐glycoprotein was completed.

Results

Ten patients at six CF centers with a median age of 22.1 years (range 14–43.4 years) and the median time from the transplant of 6.9 years (range 0.6–22 years) were included. Most patients (8, 80%) received a reduced or full dose of elx/tez/iva for a mean duration of 10.4 months (range 7–12 months). Fluctuations in LFTs occurred in all patients (10, 100%) and led to therapy discontinuation in two patients (20%). Elx/tez/iva initiation resulted in elevations in tacrolimus trough concentration in seven patients (70%). Most patients who tolerated elx/tez/iva had symptomatic and quality of life improvement, increased body mass index, and maintained or improved lung function.

Conclusion

Initiation of elx/tez/iva in patients with CF who received liver transplantation may be safe with clinical benefits.
Quantitative systems pharmacology model‐based investigation of adverse gastrointestinal events associated with prolonged treatment with PI3‐kinase inhibitors
Authors: Gadkar Kapil , Friedrich Christina , Hurez Vincent , Ruiz Maria‐Luisa , Dickmann Leslie , Kumar Jolly Mohit , Schutt Leah , Jin Jin , Ware Joseph A. , Ramanujan Saroja
Published: December 2021

Several PI3K inhibitors are in clinical development for the treatment of various forms of cancers, including pan‐PI3K inhibitors targeting all four PI3K isoforms (α, β, γ, and δ), and isoform‐selective inhibitors. Diarrhea and immune‐mediated colitis are among the adverse events observed with PI3K inhibition which limits the maximal tolerated dose. A quantitative systems pharmacology model was developed to investigate PI3K‐inhibitor‐induced colitis. The effects of individual PI3K isoforms on relevant cellular pathways were incorporated into a mechanistic representation of mucosal inflammation. A virtual clinical population captures the observed clinical variability in the onset timing and rates of diarrhea and colitis for seven clinically tested PI3K inhibitors. Model‐based analysis suggests that colitis development is governed by both the inhibition of PI3Kδ, which drives T cell differentiation and proliferation, and PI3Kα, which regulates epithelial barrier integrity. Specifically, when PI3Kα is inhibited below a given threshold, epithelial barrier dysfunction precipitates an exaggerated T effector response due to PI3Kδ‐inhibition, leading to risk of diarrhea and colitis. This synergy explains why the lowest diarrhea and colitis rates are seen with the weakest PI3Kδ inhibition (alpelisib), and higher rates are seen with strong PI3Kδ inhibition if PI3Kα is even mildly inhibited (e.g., idelalisib), whereas strong PI3Kδ inhibition in the absence of PI3Kα inhibition does not result in high colitis rates (umbralisib). Thus, the model‐based analysis suggests that PI3Kα and δ inhibition play unique but synergistic roles in driving colitis. Finally, we explore if and how dose‐regimen might influence colitis rates for molecules that inhibit both PI3Kα and PI3Kδ.
Formation and Diffusion of Intrinsic Point Defects in Bulk and Monolayer MoS2: First‐Principles Study
Authors: Gusakov Vasilii , Gusakova Julia , Tay Beng Kang
Published: December 2021

The formation and diffusion of intrinsic defects in bulk and monolayer MoS2 are studied. For the first time, the formation energy of a split sulfur and molybdenum Frenkel pair in bulk (6.56 and 12.6 eV) and monolayer (3.95 and 12.1 eV) MoS2 is determined without using chemical potential. For the intrinsic defects, a complete calculation of the diffusion coefficient (pre‐exponential factor and activation barrier) is performed and the effect of the defect charge state on the diffusion coefficient is studied.
Total Syntheses of Centrolobines: A Two‐Decade Journey
Authors: Tadiparthi Krishnaji
Published: December 2021

In this review we discuss the synthetic approaches of chiral and racemic forms of centrolobines from 2002 to date. The presence of unique molecular architecture of tetrahydropyran unit in centrolobine enhances its high biological activity which has created the space to the synthetic community for the last two decades to develop various routes. This review mainly emphasizes on the construction of tetrahydropyran unit and generation of chirality as a key step during the synthesis of centrolobine. Moreover, all the synthetic methods were well demonstrated and presented systematically in the chronological order. Overall this review highlights the contribution from different research groups in the total syntheses of centrolobines.
Synthesis of Polyacrylamide‐Based Redox Active Cryogel Using Click Chemistry and Investigation of Its Electrochemical Properties
Authors: Tonta Magdalena M. , Sahin Zeynep M. , Cihaner Atilla , Yilmaz Faruk , Gurek Aysegul
Published: December 2021

Ferrocene (Fc) functionalization of macroporous polyacrylamide‐based cryogel (PAAm‐Epx) is achieved by click chemistry. For this purpose, firstly, PAAm‐Epx cryogel with azide functionality (PAAm‐N3) is prepared by using acryalmide (AAm) as the monomer and allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) as the co‐monomer followed by subsequent ring opening reaction of epoxide ring of AGE in acidic medium. Azide groups of PAAm‐N3 is then modified with ethynyl ferrocene, leading to the redox active cryogel (PAAm−Fc) together with preserving the unique characteristic properties of the virgin PAAm‐Epx cryogel. Swelling, mechanical and morphological behaviours of PAAm‐Epx, PAAm‐N3 and PAAm−Fc are investigated. Detailed characterization of the PAAm−Fc is carried out by several techniques such as FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (SEM‐EDX), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emmision Spectrometry (ICP‐OES, Cyclic (CV), and Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV). Electrochemical analysis confirms the electroactivity and the presence of chemically linked ferrocene unit to the cryogel.
Prediction of the seismic behavior of concrete beams strengthened with aluminum alloy bars and/or basalt fiber‐reinforced polymer bars
Authors: Xing Guohua , Wang Haonan , Chang Zhaoqun , Ma Kaize
Published: December 2021

This paper investigated the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with aluminum alloy (AA) rods and/or basalt fiber‐reinforced polymer (BFRP) rods using the near‐surface mounted (NSM) technique under a low‐cycle reversed loading test. A numerical calculation procedure was presented based on the strain compatibility and static equilibrium principles for estimating the moment–curvature response of these strengthened beams. The bending deflection and shear deflection were determined by the curvature distribution and shear strain distribution along the beam length, respectively. The results showed that the strengthened beams experienced three failure modes: intermediate crack‐induced debonding (ICD), critical diagonal crack (CDC) debonding, and concrete cover separation (CCS). Increasing the number of strengthening bars on each side significantly enhances the load‐carrying capacity of the beams strengthened with either AA or BFRP bars. The predictive accuracy of the proposed methodology was evaluated by comparing the predicted load‐carrying capacities and deflections to the test characteristic points. The proposed theoretical model provided good verification of the load‐carrying capacities and deflections with high accuracy.
Surfactin induces ER stress‐mediated apoptosis via IRE1‐ASK1‐JNK signaling in human osteosarcoma
Authors: Wang Guo‐Shou , Chen Ji‐Ying , Chen Wei‐Cheng , Wei I‐Chin , Lin Szu‐Wei , Liao Kuang‐Wen , Yang Tzu‐Sen , Liu Ju‐Fang
Published: December 2021

Osteosarcoma, one of primary bone tumor in children and young adults, has poor prognosis and drug resistances to chemotherapy. In order to reinforce the conventional therapies and antagonize the osteosarcoma in patients, a novel strategy is required for developing a new treatment. In this study, surfactin, a natural product from Bacillus subtilis, showed the efficiency of cell death in osteosarcoma, but not in normal cells. Surfactin triggers ER stress mechanism by promoting the aberrant Ca2+ release from ER lumen and ER‐signaling to mitochondrial dysfunction following caspases activation mediating cell apoptosis. Surfactin‐induced ER stress not only upregulated of glucose‐regulated protein 78/94 and IRE1‐ASK1‐JNK pathway but also leading to calpains and Bcl‐2 proteins family involving the release of cytochrome c. The releases into cytosol trigger the cleavage of caspase‐9 and caspase‐3 to induce cell apoptosis. In this study, surfactin demonstrated the potential functions to trigger the ER stress, ER stress‐associated IRE1‐ASK1‐JNK signaling pathway, mitochondrial dysfunction, and caspase activations leading to programmed cell apoptosis. Importantly, implicating the signaling pathway that regulates the connection between ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction causing apoptosis associated with surfactin. These results indicated a potential application of surfactin strengthen current conventional therapies.
Development of a passive‐adaptive slat for a wind turbine airfoil
Authors: Schmidt Florian N. , Wild Jochen
Published: December 2021

A passive‐adaptive slat concept was designed to avoid separation in the root region of a horizontal‐axis wind turbine blade. This concept incorporates an autonomously moveable slat device only driven by the aerodynamic forces acting on it without the need for mechanical or electrical actuation. It opens at high local angles of attack to delay the stall angle and closes for small angles of attack to increase the lift to drag ratio of the blade segment. This article describes the development of a passive‐adaptive slat for a DU‐91‐W2‐250 airfoil, which is a segment of the reference rotor blade in the project SmartBlades 2.0. In the course of the passive‐adaptive slat design, the optimization of the slat and its extended position is presented. This is followed by the development of two passive‐adaptive slat kinematics, which are opening and closing the slat passively at different angles of attack. With the designed passive‐adaptive slat the stall of the airfoil is delayed by 20° in incidence and the maximum lift of the airfoil is increased by about 130% at the same time in comparison to the original airfoil. Furthermore, the DU‐91‐W2‐250 airfoil with moveable passive‐adaptive slat has in most conditions a higher climb index and therefore a better aerodynamic performance than the same airfoil with a fixed integrated slat.
Educational Inequality and Urban Development: Education as a Field for Urban Planning, Architecture and Urban Design
Authors: Heinrich Anna Juliane , Million Angela
Published: December 2021

Educational inequalities and spatial disparities can be intertwined; consequently, education has become a field of action for urban planners, architects, and urban designers. To establish this key argument of our contribution, we start by explaining the background of education as a field of policy and action in urban development and planning in Germany. We establish how strategies for the development of deprived neighborhoods are focused on a growing variety of education-related topics and measures. Subsequently, we discuss so-called sociospatial educational landscapes as projects in which educational policy, urban planning, architecture, and urban design are particularly closely interwoven. We introduce two examples: “Morgenland Neighborhood Education Center” (Bremen) and “Campus Rütli” (Berlin). Drawing on an in-depth analysis of eight socio-spatial educational landscapes we reconstruct seven motives, describing the deeper meanings stakeholders attribute to the projects. We conclude with a critical reflection on the pedagogization of spaces of childhood and youth inherent in the policies discussed throughout the contribution.
Territorial and Digital Borders and Migrant Vulnerability Under a Pandemic Crisis
Authors: Molnar Petra
Published: December 2021

People on the move are often left out of conversations around technological development and become guinea pigs for testing new surveillance tools before bringing them to the wider population. These experiments range from big data predictions about population movements in humanitarian crises to automated decision-making in immigration and refugee applications to AI lie detectors at European airports. The Covid-19 pandemic has seen an increase of technological solutions presented as viable ways to stop its spread. Governments’ move toward biosurveillance has increased tracking, automated drones, and other technologies that purport to manage migration. However, refugees and people crossing borders are disproportionately targeted, with far-reaching impacts on various human rights. Drawing on interviews with affected communities in Belgium and Greece in 2020, this chapter explores how technological experiments on refugees are often discriminatory, breach privacy, and endanger lives. Lack of regulation of such technological experimentation and a pre-existing opaque decision-making ecosystem creates a governance gap that leaves room for far-reaching human rights impacts in this time of exception, with private sector interest setting the agenda. Blanket technological solutions do not address the root causes of displacement, forced migration, and economic inequality – all factors exacerbating the vulnerabilities communities on the move face in these pandemic times.
Nuptials: Women Do Have the Right to Choose Their Own Spouse, and How the Qur’anic Nuptial Agreement Advocates for the Bride
Authors: El-Ali Leena
Published: December 2021

Having established that women have a right to their own property, the Qur’an also abolishes the earlier custom of men inheriting the wives of their deceased relatives as spouses, thereby taking over the deceased husband’s property, and of forcing them to or preventing them from marrying as they may choose in order to retain control of the same. This combination of Qur’anic actions established women as the subjects as opposed to objects of inheritance. And there would now be a bridal gift from the groom, too, before a marriage can be effected, providing women with yet another source of income and independence. Yet the insistence by some that men are women’s “guardians” has sapped many women of the ability to choose their own spouse, while taking the bridal gift too seriously is labelled “greedy” or potentially off-putting to a would-be groom and his family.
Virgins: There Are No 72 Virgins Waiting for Anyone in Paradise
Authors: El-Ali Leena
Published: December 2021

Verses referring to people having a “purified spouse” in heaven are usually assumed to be addressing men only because of a fundamentally incorrect association of purity with virginity, thereby attaching it to women. Yet the ubiquitous concept of “purity” in the Qur’an is the far broader one of righteousness and is never used to refer to virginity. Men and women are both promised “purified spouses/mates”, whether one’s righteous spouse from one’s time on earth or a spouse from among heavenly beings referred to as hoor or hooris. Virginity as relating to being born again and made equally and eternally young in Paradise applies to both women and men, who are said to be matching qualitatively as couples. Moreover, the myth of “72 virgins in Paradise” for a (presumably male) martyr is just that, appearing nowhere in the Qur’an.
Women and the Development of hadith Literature
Authors: El-Ali Leena
Published: December 2021

Women were an important source of hadith, most notably Aisha, the Prophet’s wife. Female scholars of hadith and other Islamic “sciences” were aplenty and were well-respected for at least nine centuries. They travelled widely and held public lectures to students of mixed gender who would also travel far to hear them. But references to women scholars gradually began to disappear from the literature from the sixteenth century on.
Imaginative Leadership: A Conceptual Frame for the Design and Facilitation of Creative Methods and Generative Engagement
Authors: Pearson Kelli R.
Published: December 2021

In the field of sustainability science, many scholars and practitioners are embracing a ‘humanistic turn’ that draws from psychology and cognitive sciences and from the arts and humanities. Contributing to a spirit of ‘exuberant experimentation’ in the field, this chapter asks: How can creative methods of engagement be operationalized to support the imaginative capacity of researchers and practitioners in the arena of sustainability? In order to address this question, I (a) propose the concept of imaginative leadership to describe the ability to understand and consciously influence the symbolic/metaphorical dimensions of self and others, and (b) explore the process of designing workshops that employ creative methods rooted in ‘transformative mindsets.’ Transformative mindsets refer to specific conceptual frames identified for their potential to disrupt default unsustainable and anthropocentric worldviews and open new spaces of possibility for action and perception. The broad goal of these workshops was to support imaginative leadership towards regenerative sustainability through collaborative experimentation with unconventional methods. Informed by research on metaphorical thinking, somatics, neurocognitive linguistics, and arts-based environmental education, the methods were designed to activate a set of specific transformative mindsets, which were subsequently refined through the process of experimentation and co-reflection during and after the workshops.
Insights and Inspiration from Explorative Research into the Impacts of a Community Arts Project
Authors: Van der Vaart Gwenda
Published: December 2021

In today’s society, the resilience of communities is in the spotlight. How can communities shape and respond to the challenges they face in order to achieve a better future? For researchers focusing on this question, researching artistic practices can provide valuable insights and inspiration. From a resilience perspective that seeks to incorporate people’s everyday lifeworld and local knowledge, community arts in particular hold much potential, being an art form that actively engages people in the creative process. Evidencing the impact of community arts projects has become more important over the years. However, as this chapter discusses, there are several tensions and concerns around evaluating the impact of the arts. The chapter takes as its empirical focus one such project in particular: the multi-year theatre-trilogy Grutte Pier, which took place in the Dutch village Kimswerd between 2014 and 2018. In this village, the site-specific theatre company PeerGrouP worked together with the inhabitants to create a trilogy around the village’s historical figure Grutte Pier. The chapter reflects on an explorative research project into the impact of this community arts project on the village. Hereby, it contributes to the understanding of how meaningful change can be achieved in communities, preparing them for a more sustainable future. The reflections on the explorative research support the need to adopt a critical perspective with regard to assessing the value of artistic practices. The experiences in Kimswerd show that community arts projects can be an evocative way of engaging a community and can result in a variety of effects. The chapter discusses both personal effects, relating to personal growth, people’s social life and feelings of pride, as well as effects at the village level, such as the creation and strengthening of bonds between the inhabitants. Effects are expected to go a long way and be a great boost for a community’s organizational capacity and future activities. In light of these findings, it appears to be a successful formula to have artists coming to a community as ‘outsiders’, actively engaging inhabitants in a large community arts project that is both locally grounded and offers the inhabitants various ways of participating themselves.
Transjugular Portosystemic Stent Shunt: Impact of Right Atrial Pressure on Portal Venous Hemodynamics Within the First Week
Authors: Pitton Michael Bernhard , Weinmann Arndt , Kloeckner Roman , Mittler Jens , Ruckes Christian , Düber Christoph , Otto Gerd
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Porto-systemic pressure gradient is used to prognosticate rebleeding and resolution of ascites after TIPS. This study investigates the reliability of portal pressure characteristics as quantified immediately after TIPS placement and at short-term control.

Patients and Methods

Portal venous pressure (PVP) and right atrial pressure (RAP) were prospectively obtained before and after TIPS as well as ≥ 48 h after TIPS procedure. Porto-systemic pressure gradients (PSG) and pressure changes were calculated. A multivariate regression analysis was performed to predict portal hemodynamics at short-term control.

Results

The study included 124 consecutive patients. Indications for TIPS were refractory ascites, variceal bleeding or combinations of both. Pre- and post-interventional PSG yielded 16.4 ± 5.3 mmHg and 5.9 ± 2.7 mmHg, respectively. At that time, 105/124 patients (84.7%) met the target (PSG ≤ 8 mmHg). After 4 days (median), PSG was 8.5 ± 3.5 mmHg and only 66 patients (53%) met that target. In patients exceeding the target PSG at follow-up, PVP was significantly higher and RAP was lower resulting in the increased PSG. The highly variable changes of RAP were the main contributor to different pressure gradients. In the multivariate regression analysis, PVP and RAP immediately after TIPS were predictors for PSG at short-term control with moderately predictive capacity (AUC = 0.75).

Conclusion

Besides the reduction of portal vein pressure, the highly variable right atrial pressure was the main contributor to different pressure gradients. Thus, immediate post-TIPS measurements do not reliably predict portal hemodynamics during follow-up. These findings need to be further investigated with respect to the corresponding clinical course of the patients.
A thermo-viscoplasticity model for metals over wide temperature ranges- application to case hardening steel
Authors: Oppermann Philip , Denzer Ralf , Menzel Andreas
Published: December 2021

In this contribution, a model for the thermomechanically coupled behaviour of case hardening steel is introduced with application to 16MnCr5 (1.7131). The model is based on a decomposition of the free energy into a thermo-elastic and a plastic part. Associated viscoplasticity, in terms of a temperature-depenent Perzyna-type power law, in combination with an isotropic von Mises yield function takes respect for strain-rate dependency of the yield stress. The model covers additional temperature-related effects, like temperature-dependent elastic moduli, coefficient of thermal expansion, heat capacity, heat conductivity, yield stress and cold work hardening. The formulation fulfils the second law of thermodynamics in the form of the Clausius–Duhem inequality by exploiting the Coleman–Noll procedure. The introduced model parameters are fitted against experimental data. An implementation into a fully coupled finite element model is provided and representative numerical examples are presented showing aspects of the localisation and regularisation behaviour of the proposed model.
Experimental philosophy of medicine and the concepts of health and disease
Authors: Veit Walter
Published: December 2021

If one had to identify the biggest change within the philosophical tradition in the twenty-first century, it would certainly be the rapid rise of experimental philosophy to address differences in intuitions about concepts. It is, therefore, surprising that the philosophy of medicine has so far not drawn on the tools of experimental philosophy in the context of a particular conceptual debate that has overshadowed all others in the field: the long-standing dispute between so-called naturalists and normativists about the concepts of health and disease. In this paper, I defend and advocate the use of empirical methods to inform and advance this and other debates within the philosophy of medicine.
A Rare Case of Cysticercosis Involving the Whole Spinal Canal
Authors: Zheng Xiaoyan , Wang Fei , Wang Lei , Li Xiaoli , Li Jingjing , Huang Minjun , Zou Yang
Published: December 2021

Background

Cysticercosis is the commonest parasitic disease to affect the central nervous system (CNS). However, cysticercosis affecting the spine is extremely rare. We reported a rare case of cysticercosis involving the whole spinal canal in China.

Case Presentation

A rare case of cysticercosis involving the entire spinal cord, in a 52-year-old Chinese man, was detected in 2021. Epidemiological investigation, clinical and etiological examination was performed.

Conclusion

Since spinal cysticercosis is a rare but potentially life-threatening disease, clinicians should always consider the differential diagnosis of space-occupying lesions.