bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tourism Epistemology, Innovation and Brand Knowledge
Authors: Mazurek Marica
Published: May 2021

Purpose. The aim of this paper is to explain changes which have been implemented into research on tourism studies and brand management as one tool of innovation in marketing and branding during a period of time, and especially, to discuss the reason why a more holistic approach to tourism studies is in demand. Method. The methodological approach to this study is based on secondary research of existing literature, dealing with different methodological approaches to tourism studies and destination branding as well as the innovative literature focused on the methodological questions and new trends in research on innovation. Findings. A synergy of different viewpoints regarding economic, social and environmental development, which is embedded also in tourism development, has to be taken into account. Tourism development needs to accept the rules of socially responsible activity, not only considering it a phenomenon of value creation and economic growth. This fact influences studies on tourism and the approach to tourism, competitiveness, management and branding. Research and conclusions limitations. The diffusion of new knowledge, approaches, changes in a society, has impact on the shift of paradigms, methods and methodologies applied for branding in tourism. It significantly influences the paradigmatic and methodological approaches, as well as the applied research methods as a result of blending different disciplines. The limitations might be in an approach from a different cultural point of view and their contribution to this field. Practical implications. A new approach to managerial practices in tourism destinations and to research on tourism managerial practices may be an avenue for improving the competitiveness of tourism destinations. Originality: This paper is based on an attempt to look at tourism development, destination branding and innovations in a more complex and holistic manner, the originality being in this innovative view. Type of paper: Research paper.
Updated Review on Pathology of Endocervical Adenocarcinoma with Emphasis on Clinically Relevant Findings
Authors: Cimic Adela , Liu-Jarin Xiaolin
Published: May 2021

In the present review, we summarize and critically appraise recent advances in the pathology of endocervical adenocarcinoma. In recent years, the diagnosis of endocervical adenocarcinoma has shifted from morphologic criteria classification in 2014 World Health Organization (WHO) to etiology- based classification of International endocervical adenocarcinoma criteria and classification (IECC). IECC recommends classifying endocervical adenocarcinoma into Human Papillomavirus (HPV)- associated and non-HPV-associated. Ultimately, this approach may lead to different treatment options based on molecular pathways rather than purely based on the tumor’s grade and stage. Recently, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) has incorporated stromal invasion patterns as an optional data set in the synoptic report. The pattern of invasion classification is a valuable prognostic tool in excision specimens. Conclusion: IECC is a simple classification system that recognizes and classifies endocervical tumors based on pathogenesis and association to HPV. The pathologists should also be familiar with the pattern-based classification of endocervical adenocarcinoma.
Restrukturierung und Insolvenz von Kommunen
Authors: Wilke Anna Katharina
Published: May 2021

This thesis is becoming more important to public treasurers, local politicians and restructuring representatives by the day as it describes a specialized framework for dealing with distressed municipal budgets without necessarily having to rely on further funding. It develops a restructuring framework that revives the economic performance of municipalities by reducing their debt levels without jeopardizing their overall debt financing. The approach does not built on insolvency law. Instead, the framework draws back to the emancipated principles of restructuring law, which are adapted to the specific rules of municipal law for budget consolidation.
Potassium Dichromate-Induced Hepato- and Hematotoxicity in Rats: Nutritive Composition and Ameliorative Role of Acacia nilotica L. Leaf
Authors: Akpoyowvare Ejoh Samuel , Nonso Iheagwam Franklyn , Olakunle Olusola Afolabi
Published: May 2021

Background: Chromium and its salts, as well as chromium-containing compounds, play a major role in numerous manufacturing processes and have been contraindicated in carcinogenic, toxic, and mutagenic conditions in people involved in these processes. Objectives: This study investigated the ameliorative role of Acacia nilotica aqueous leave extract (ANLA) on potassium dichromate-induced liver and blood toxicity in male and female rats. Phytochemical screening and nutrient composition of ANLA were also evaluated. Methods: Phytochemical and proximate analysis of ANLA were carried out. Twenty adult male and female rats each were divided into four groups (n = 10): (1) control; (2) potassium dichromate (PDC; 0.625 mg/kg body weight); (3) PDC co-treated with ANLA after seven days (650 mg/kg bwt); and (4) PDC co-treated with ANLA (650 mg/kg bwt) simultaneously for 21 days. Biomarkers of liver injury, lipid, and hematological imbalance were assessed. Tissue histology and toxicant retention were done. Results: Various plant secondary metabolites (flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, phenols, saponins, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, and anthraquinones) and nutrients (protein = 67.41 ± 2.44%; carbohydrate = 9.87 ± 1.87%; fiber = 10.01 ± 1.21%; mineral = 6.41 ± 1.08%; fat and oil = 6.63 ± 0.93%) were identified in the leave. Exposure to chromium significantly (P < 0.05) increased plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) with a concomitant decrease in the activity of these enzymes in the liver of both male and female rats. The exposure also altered protein, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels in the plasma and liver as well as hematological indices. Organ chromium retention and pathological changes were also observed. ANLA modulated these chromium-induced alterations in the rats. Conclusions: Based on the results, ANLA possesses ameliorative property against PDC-induced toxicity in rats. Thus it may be used to combat chromium poisoning. The nutritive potential of A. nilotica leaves may also be maximized.
Aktivizujúce metódy a postupy vo vyučovaní obchodnej ruštiny študentov-nefilólogov
Authors: Alieva Lenka
Published: May 2021

Príspevok sa venuje problematike metód a postupov vo vyučovaní obchodnej ruštiny, prostredníctvom ktorých sa zvyšuje efektivita v ovládaní odbornej slovnej zásoby. Aktivizujúce procesy nasmerované na aktívnu prácu študentov na hodinách ruského jazyka vedú k osvojovaniu si slovnej zásoby v predmetovej oblasti a štýlu obchodnej komunikácie. V príspevku prezentujeme varianty cvičení, prácu s textom, videocvičenia, audionahrávky, ktoré sú zamerané na osvojovanie správnych slovných spojení, ich používanie vo vetách a touto cestou na vyjadrovanie ucelených myšlienok. Uvedomujeme si pritom, že slovo, slovné spojenie nie je možné osvojiť si plnohodnotne mimo kontextu. Vo vyučovacom procese preto študenti pracujú s konkrétnymi komunikačnými situáciami, hraním rolí v obchodných situáciách. Prostredníctvom výskumu sa usilujeme o zistenie najefektívnejších spôsobov ako vzbudiť záujem študentov o odborný ruský jazyk, udržať ich pozornosť a produktívnu aktivitu počas vyučovacej jednotky a tým dosiahnuť pozitívne výsledky v podobe dobrého ovládania odborného cudzieho jazyka.
The Algorithmic Disruption of Workplace Solidarity
Authors: Meacham Darian , Tava Francesco ,   DePaul University
Published: May 2021

This paper examines the development and technological mediation of the concept of solidarity. We focus on the workplace as a focal point of solidarity relations, and utilise a phenomenological approach to describe and analyse those relations. Workplace solidarity, which has been historically concretised through social objects such as labor unions, is of particular political relevance since it has played an outsize role in the broader struggle for social, economic, and political rights, recognition, and equality. We argue that the use of automated decision support systems (ADS) in labor process management may negatively affect the formation of these relations. As solidarity motivates collective political action and risk-taking, the mediation and potential obstruction of solidarity relations by ADS is politically significant. We contribute to the growing literature on the “future of work” problem in elucidating the technological mediation of workplace solidarity.
An-arche and Indifference
Authors: Rauch Malte Fabian ,   DePaul University
Published: May 2021

This essay explores Giorgio Agamben’s engagement with Reiner Schürmann, focusing in particular on their ontological understanding of anarchy. Setting out from the lacuna in the literature on this issue, it gives a close reading of the passages where Agamben addresses Schürmann, interrogates the role of of arche in Agamben’s works and links his interest in Schürmann to his long-standing critique of Derrida. Tracing these issues through Agamben’s and Schürmann’s texts, it becomes apparent that both authors operate with a strikingly similar approach, while adumbrating different understandings of the rapport between arche, anarchy and difference. Specifically, the essay argues that Schürmann’s work can be seen as an incisive reference point in Agamben’s recent theory of “destituent potential” by focusing on the epilogue of The Use of Bodies. Here, arche and anarchy are positioned as the basic operative categories of the entire Homo Sacer project, while the concept of “true anarchy,” developed in critical dialogue with Schürmann, turns into its philosophical vanishing point. With and against Schürmann’s attempt to think anarchy as an interruption of identity through difference, Agamben develops his notion of anarchy as as a suspension of difference, that is, as in-difference.
Events and narration in socio-cultural practices
Authors:   Saint Petersburg State University of Economics, Gerasimov S. V.
Published: May 2021

The article deals with the dynamic interaction of events and narratives. As a result of this interaction, stable links ‘events-narratives’ appear; they influence the formation and transformation of social and cultural processes in society. Event-narrative links form the basis of the system of norms and values of society. The corpus of ‘event-narrative’ links creates be­havioural patterns, serves as a motivator for members of society, a cause and reason for ac­tions and an initiator of terraced events that inevitably occur as a response to events in reali­ty. The emerging connections ‘event — narrative — action (special event)’ represent a system with a controlled feedback. Depending on a change in the factors of the occurrence and course of events, such a system can both enhance and reduce the result and consequences of events. In these systems, an event triggers social and cultural processes and creates social reality.
Imposture as a problem of reference: semiotics of the name in Boris Godunov
Authors:   National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Zolyan S. T.
Published: May 2021

In this article, we continue to address the mechanisms of presenting oneself as another and another as oneself. In this regard, non-trivial features of the semantics of a proper name are described. Based on the analysis of contexts of inappropriate use of a name in a situation of imposture, described in Pushkin's tragedy Boris Godunov, the author considers semiotic mechanisms of transformation and assignment of identity. The article shows that Pushkin's intuition allowed him to see the problems that arose in the analytical philosophy of the name of the second half of the 20th century. Pushkin consistently creates contexts in which the con­ditions of acceptability or unacceptability of deviating uses are tested. On the one hand, these features allow the author to offer an additional, logical and semantic dimension for the inter­pretation of the tragedy Boris Godunov. On the other hand, they significantly clarify the ex­isting theories of the proper name, showing their possible non-trivial, and in some cases, prob­lematic consequences. Simultaneously, the logical-semantic analysis makes it possible to iden­tify the mechanisms of imposture and the communicative conditions for its success.
Evaluation of Non-invasive Fibrosis Markers in Predicting Esophageal Variceal Bleeding
Authors: Cifci Sami , Ekmen Nergiz
Published: May 2021

Background/Aims: Esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in liver cirrhosis. In this study, we aimed to predict the possibility of EVB in patients with cirrhosis using a non-invasive score.Methods: A total of 359 patients with cirrhosis were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of EVB. ChildTurcotte-Pugh (CTP) score, a model for end-stage liver disease, aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis-4-index (FIB-4), aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio/platelet ratio index (AARPRI), and S-index were measured for all participants. Receiver operating characteristic curves were obtained for all parameters, and the optimal cut-off value was determined in predicting EVB.Results: In patients with EVB, the number of platelets (PLT) were low (p<0.001) and APRI, AARPRI, FIB-4, and S-index were significantly higher than those in patients without EBV. APRI, AARPRI, FIB-4, PLT, and S-index were statistically significant predictors of EVB (p<0.05).Conclusions: FIB-4 and AARPRI, which are non-invasive markers of fibrosis, can be used to predict EVB. In addition, the 66.5 109/L cut-off value for PLT is important for EVB.
La representación de la muerte en la poesía de Jacobo Regen
Authors: Fittipaldi Martina
Published: May 2021

El estudio desarrollado en estas páginas se propone dos objetivos principales: por un lado, analizar cuáles son las representaciones de la muerte halladas en la poesía del escritor argentino Jacobo Regen y, por otro, reconstruir y caracterizar el sujeto cultural presente en la producción poética de este autor. Para ello, se realiza la selección de un corpus de poemas presentes en sus dos libros más reconocidos, Canción del ángel y otros poemas (1971) y El vendedor de tierra (1984), en los cuales se puede rastrear la idea de la muerte en el nivel fenotextual de los poemas a través de aspectos fónicos, semánticos y también visuográficos. Se parte así de estudios previos en torno al análisis discursivo de textos poéticos (Bossi, 2001; Guzmán, 2013, 1992; García, 2015; Verdugo 1982) y se utiliza como método de investigación la perspectiva sociocrítica (Cros, 1997; 2011). Este tipo de aproximación posibilita el hallazgo de un sujeto cultural heterogéneo, atravesado por diversas ideologías que ponen de manifiesto la presencia de múltiples maneras de representación de la muerte en la poesía del autor estudiado, entre las que destaca la que denominamos «microsemiótica del tránsito» que se va construyendo a lo largo de su producción literaria.
New Materialism, Technophilia and Emancipation
Authors: Jovanović Gordana
Published: May 2021

The aim of this paper is to reflect on psychological, ethical and political implications of new materialisms (Barad, Bennett, Coole, Frost) in the context of expanded and accelerated regimes of measurement as part of a technological governance of the human. As new materialists are committed to both epistemic and political emancipation, I first analyse theoretical, in particular epistemological, foundations of new materialism. The new materialism has achieved liberating epistemic effects in criticizing self-referential discursive and socio-constructionist agendas. It argued instead for a return to material and somatic realities. However, I examine whether its flat ontology, its epistemology of de-differentiation of the human and non-human, even non-living agencies and commitments into a principle of immanence, provide appropriate means to critically assess ethical and political implications of entanglements of humans with the historically- produced technologies and social worlds in general. The next question to be discussed is whether a return (nevertheless a discursive one) to material and somatic realities can in itself protect those very vulnerable realities. As horizontal ontology invokes a horizontal normativity which cannot serve as a foundation for emancipatory projects, it follows that normativity needs other sources beyond the new materialism paradigm. Thus, I argue that such a weak or insecure position of normativity within the new materialisms affects any concept of human subject, regardless of its entanglements, and any project of emancipation. I conclude these critical analyses by claiming that the new materialism’s epistemological and political emancipatory promises cannot be fulfilled by means provided by the new materialism itself.
Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Docking Study of Etodolac-Triazole Conjugate
Authors: Neeraja Papigani , Srinivas Suryapeta , Banothu Venkanna , Mukkanti Khagga , Dubey Pramod Kumar , Pal Sarbani
Published: May 2021

A new set of 15 compounds containing etodolac moiety and triazole ring were prepared by CuAAC reaction in moderate to high yield. All the synthesized compounds were purified by chromatographic techniques and characterized by spectral data IR, 1H and 13C NMR and mass spectrometry. The newly derived compounds were screened for their anti-bacterial activities against one gram-positive (S. aureus) and two gram-negative (E. coli, K. pneumoniae) bacteria using an agar-well diffusion method. Most of the compounds showed good to moderate antibacterial activities. Especially compound 4e having good activities against all the strains. The compound 4e displayed signiﬁcant inhibitory potential with MIC 25 µg/mL against all the strains. The potential DNA gyrase inhibitory activity of this compound was investigated by using molecular docking studies carried out using Autodock Vina software. The compound 4e showed the lowest ΔGbind results (-7.7 Kcal/mol, -7.9Kcal/mol). The cytotoxic activity of the obtained compounds was determined using A549 cancer cell line by a MTT assay. They displayed promising activity against the human lung cancer cell line. Especially 4o, 4b, 4d shown lowest IC50 values.
Growth, Instability and Decomposition Analysis of Coconut in India and Tamil Nadu, Western Tamil Nadu, India: A Time Series Comparative Approach
Authors: Kalidas K. , Mahendran K. , Akila K.
Published: May 2021

The study was undertaken to know the growth rate, instability, and contribution of area and yield on the production of coconut. The study was based on the secondary data for the period of 19 years (2001 – 2019) for India as well as Tamil Nadu. India is the leading producer of coconut globally 21.38 billion nuts and in the country, Tamil Nadu has the major share in area and production with 5.31 billion nuts. The pace of agricultural development of the country can be estimated through compound annual growth rate, instability is measured using Coppocks instability index and contribution of area and yield on production is studied using decomposition analysis. Results revealed that coconut growth is found to be positive in India as well as in Tamil Nadu, the production of coconut in the country is significantly positive (0.74 percent), but in the state, it is in decline trend (2.48 percent). The trend of productivity seems positive and similar at both the country and state level. Instability index is higher in terms of area (12.71 percent) than production (2.86 percent) and productivity (2.89 percent). Area effect was most responsible (138.2 percent  and 98.3 percent) for the production of coconut than yield effect in both the country as well as the state.
Theory of Host–Parasite Coevolution: From Ecology to Genomics
Authors: Tellier Aurélien , Brown James KM , Boots Mike , John Sona
Published: May 2021

Antagonistic coevolution between hosts and parasites is a ubiquitous process in nature. The theory of coevolution describes how reciprocal changes in genotype frequencies occur in the interacting species over time. Host–parasite coevolution is driven by two types of frequency‐dependent selection (FDS): indirect FDS arises from the host–parasite interaction, while direct FDS arises from ecological features which affect coevolution. Depending on the balance between indirect and direct FDS and the strength of stochastic processes in natural populations coevolution, two main outcomes occur: trench warfare dynamics as the long‐term maintenance of genetic and phenotypic diversity and an arms race with ultimate fixation of genotypes in both species. Coevolution is a prime example of eco–evo processes in which there is feedback between short‐term ecological dynamics and the evolutionary dynamics of allele frequencies. With new sequencing technologies, it is possible to reveal how coevolution shapes the genomic diversity and genome evolution of antagonistic species.

Hosts can vary in the specificity of their resistance to parasites, and parasites can vary in the corresponding infectivity.

The specificity of the host–parasite interaction is governed by genes which coevolve.

Hosts can further vary in their quantitative resistance and parasite in their virulence.

These traits and the underlying genotypes change frequency in time due to indirect and direct frequency‐dependent selection (FDS). Indirect FDS arises from the host–parasite interaction, while direct FDS arises from ecological features which affect coevolution.

The balance between these two types of FDS determines the stability of the polymorphism of the coevolving genotypes.

The further role of stochastic processes, such as genetic drift, is to generate either arms race or trench warfare dynamics of gene frequencies.

The costs of resistance and infectivity are necessary to generate coevolutionary cycles in time but not sufficient to promote stable long‐term polymorphism.

Ecological–evolutionary (eco–evo) feedbacks and trade‐offs due to fitness costs can explain the dynamics of coevolution and the stability of coevolutionary outcomes.

The genomes of antagonistic species can be partitioned into major, minor and neutral genes which present different signatures of genetic diversity and can be used to study coevolution based on the theoretical framework described here.
Prokaryotic Systematics: Theoretical Overview in Post‐Genomic Era
Authors: Kurtböke Ipek
Published: May 2021

Systematics describes the ordering of information on organisms and plays an important role in communicating information within biological sciences. Systematics seeks to reveal the phenotypic and genotypic diversity of organisms while relating this information to natural interactions and evolutionary history. Systematics may utilise a wide range of data and is not limited to the experimental methods that it may draw on in order to make sensible comparisons between organisms. Systematics links phylogeny with taxonomy. Taxonomy involves characterisation, naming and classification of organisms according to defined criteria. Systematics requires an underlying order, and both systematics and taxonomy are strongly dependent on theory and philosophy, which are used to create this order. Systematics is a complex area, which has seen much change and progress in the past century as well as in the past few decades as a result of the molecular advances. Developments in molecular biology have been adapted in line with the theory and philosophy and have become established in systematics. In the molecular era, phylogenetic and taxogenomic methods are the driving forces behind the revalidation of currently used theories and hypotheses formulated for systematics.

Systematics is the study of the diversity of organisms and their relationship.

Classification involves ordering of microorganisms into groups/taxa based on their interrelationships.

Taxonomy is the theory and practice of identifying, describing, naming and classifying organisms.

Nomenclature is the science of defining and naming taxonomic categories such as the species, genera, families, orders, classes, phyla and domains.

Nomenclature of prokaryotes is governed by the rules of the Prokaryotic Code (International code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes, as determined by theInternational Committee on Systematics of Prokaryoteshttps://www.the‐icsp.org/.

Species are the fundamental units of biological diversity, and all members of a species should carry distinct traits.

Current systematists make extensive use of molecular biology and bioinformatics to study microorganisms.

The basis of molecular phylogeny refers to evolutive relationship of microorganisms that can be inferred from the relationships of their genes and their genomes.

Genomics explores the biology of organisms through their genetic blueprints.

Metagenomics provides access to genome for prediction of ecological roles of the members of microbial communities, revealing the metabolic and functional diversity of microorganisms in natural environments.
Microsatellite Instability
Authors: Schlötterer Christian
Published: May 2021

Microsatellites, also called short tandem repeats (STR) or simple sequence repeats (SSR), are short tandemly repeated sequence motifs of 1–6 bp. They have a proprietary mutation mechanism, DNA replication slippage, which results in the gain or loss of repeat units. Because microsatellites experience a higher mutation rate than single‐copy DNA and their alleles can be easily scored without DNA sequencing, microsatellites have been a highly popular genetic marker for forensics, behavioural ecology, population and conservation genetics. Many human genetic disorders were identified by genetic mapping with microsatellites. Exceptionally long microsatellites have been found to be associated with certain human genetic disorders, such as Huntington disease, fragile X and spinocerebellar ataxia.

Microsatellites are highly variable DNA stretches which mutate by changing their repeat numbers.

Microsatellite polymorphisms are generated by a specific mutation process called DNA replication slippage.

Microsatellites are distributed throughout the entire genome.

Specific microsatellite loci are conserved across species boundaries, but ultimately they degenerate by the acquisition of base substitutions.

Trinucleotide repeats are often involved in genetic disorders which can be attributed to the expansion of a trinucleotide repeat.

Most simple genetic disorders in humans were mapped using polymorphic microsatellites as genetic markers.

Microsatellites were highly versatile genetic markers, which allowed unprecedented insights into many research areas, such as population genetics, forensics, behavioural ecology and molecular ecology.
Extinction: End‐Permian Mass Extinction
Authors: Clapham Matthew E
Published: May 2021

The end‐Permian mass extinction (251.9 million years ago) was an abrupt and severe loss of diversity on land and in the oceans, the largest extinction of the Phanerozoic. Recent palaeontological, geochemical and modelling studies link the extinction with eruption of the Siberian Traps flood basalts, which would have caused ocean warming and acidification, and shallow‐marine anoxia. On land, global warming, punctuated with episodic cooling from eruption‐related sulfur aerosols, and aridification were mostly responsible for the vertebrate and plant extinction. Although almost no marine group emerged unscathed, selectivity favoured more active animals, while sessile and heavily calcified taxa such as corals and reef‐building sponges suffered heavily. The recovery interval was unusually long, likely because of continuing stress, and the extinction resulted in permanent shifts in marine ecosystem composition and structure, giving rise to the mollusc‐rich communities that still dominate today.

The end‐Permian mass extinction was a severe crisis for nearly every plant and animal group, on land and in the oceans.

The extinction was abrupt, apparently synchronous on land and in the sea in the tropics (but perhaps earlier among high‐latitude plants), with the majority of taxonomic losses occurring over a few tens of thousands of years, approximately 251.9 million years ago.

In the marine realm, more actively motile animal groups fared relatively better during the extinction. Reef ecosystems were particularly hard‐hit.

The primary causes of the marine extinction were ocean warming, acidification and expansion of low‐oxygen water, ultimately triggered by CO
2
released by Siberia Traps flood basalt volcanism.

The terrestrial extinction was also caused by global warming and the resulting dry conditions and perhaps acid rain or ozone destruction and enhanced UV radiation.

It took an unusually long time (5–7 million years) for most marine and terrestrial ecosystems to recover from the extinction, likely because of continuing intermittent stress.

The extinction triggered permanent changes in the composition and structure of marine ecosystems, giving rise to mollusc‐dominated communities that remain dominant today.
Cyanogenic Glycosides and Biogenetically Related Compounds in Higher Plants and Animals
Authors: Lechtenberg Matthias
Published: May 2021

Cyanogenesis describes the ability of living organisms to liberate hydrogen cyanide from stored cyanogenic glycosides upon tissue damage by hydrolysis and/or decomposition. It has been described for more than 3000 species of higher plants. Chemically, cyanogenic glycosides are glycosides of α‐hydroxynitriles (cyanohydrins). Cyanogenic glycosides together with plant glycosidases and hydroxynitrile lyases form a preformed defence system. The structures are biogenetically related to only a few precursor amino acids. In the biosynthetic pathway, two multifunctional P450 enzymes and a glucosyltransferase act in a sequence. Biogenetically, glucosides of β‐ and γ‐hydroxynitriles are closely related.

Cyanogenic glycosides and their related nitriles also may serve as storage forms for reduced nitrogen. A recycling pathway has been proposed to recover reduced nitrogen for primary metabolism. Many food plants are cyanogenic, and great efforts are made to optimise their detoxification. The presence of cyanogenic glycosides in the animal kingdom appears to be restricted to arthropods. Some insects, often aposematically coloured, synthesise cyanogenic glycosidesde novoand/or sequester them from their host plants.

Cyanogenic glycosides are secondary metabolites known from more than 3000 different higher plant species.

Cyanogenic plants are able to liberate hydrogen cyanide from their cyanogenic glycosides upon disruption of plant tissue.

Cyanogenic glycosides and their corresponding degrading enzymes are part of a preformed defence system. Thus, they can be regarded as phytoanticipins.

Cyanogenic glycosides are glycosides of α‐hydroxynitriles, derived from five proteinogenic amino acids (Phe, Tyr, Val, Ile and Leu) and from the nonproteinogenic amino acid cyclopentenyl glycine. Acalyphin is apparently derived from nicotinic acid.

A biogenetically related class consists of β‐ and γ‐hydroxynitrile glucosides, apparently derived from the aliphatic amino acids (Val, Ile and Leu).

Up to now more than 100 different glycosylated α‐, β‐ and γ‐hydroxynitriles are known from higher plants and arthropods.

Additional roles and functions of cyanogenic glycosides include storage of reduced nitrogen, transportation of nitrogen and the turnover of nitrogen into primary metabolism.

The presence of cyanogenic glycosides in animals appears to be restricted to arthropods.

Some insects are strongly associated with their cyanogenic host plants. They sequester the cyanogenic glycosides from these plants and additionally carry outde novobiosynthesis of these compounds.

Convergent evolution in plants and insects has resulted in two identical biosynthesis pathways: two multifunctional P450 enzymes and a glucosyltransferase, acting sequentially.
Osmoregulation by Vertebrates in Terrestrial Environments
Authors: Hillman Stanley S
Published: May 2021

A terrestrial environment for vertebrates leads to both a passive water loss to the air and solute gain through food. Consequently, terrestrial environments would tend to decrease water content and increase the osmotic concentration of vertebrates. Natural selection has led to a variety of behavioural, physiological and anatomical adaptations to both minimise water loss and excrete solutes in order to maintain a constant osmotic concentration in terrestrial environments. Extant amphibians represent the ancestral colonisers of terrestrial environments. Their water‐permeable skin make them most prone to dehydration and have the greatest tolerance to dehydration and the most unique mechanisms to stabilise plasma volume with dehydration. Reptiles exploit very arid terrestrial environments by minimising cutaneous evaporative water loss. Birds and mammals have unique kidney capacities to concentrate solutes and minimise urinary water loss. This in conjunction with elaborate nasal turbinates to minimise respiratory water loss allows them to survive in arid terrestrial environments.

Terrestrial environments favour water loss and challenge maintenance of body water volume and osmotic concentration.

Water budgets and daily rates of water turnover are constructed to quantify avenues of exchange and propensity for water stress.

Extant amphibians represent the ancestral group of vertebrates that colonised terrestrial environments.

Amphibians have the greatest rates of daily water turnover, primarily a consequence of high rates of evaporative water loss resulting from high cutaneous permeability to water.

Reptiles have the lowest rates of daily water turnover, primarily the result of low rates of cutaneous evaporative water loss.

Endothermic classes (birds and mammals) have intermediate daily water turnover rates, the result of metabolic water production with their elevated aerobic metabolic rates.

Endothermic classes can minimise urinary losses and better able stabilise osmotic concentrations the result of kidneys that can produce urine hyperosmotic to their own body fluid concentration.

The threat of dehydration is greatest for amphibians, given the high daily water turnover rates.

Dehydrational stress is handled by amphibians and some reptiles by first reabsorbing stored hypoosmotic urine from their urinary bladders.

When stored bladder fluid is exhausted, the key element to handling dehydration is maintaining plasma volume at the expense of intracellular water and interstitial fluid.

Anuran amphibians have the greatest capacity to maintain cardiac function with dehydration.
Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) Enabled Virtual Shop Applications Using Self‐Powered Sensor Enhanced Soft Robotic Manipulator
Authors: Sun Zhongda , Zhu Minglu , Zhang Zixuan , Chen Zhaocong , Shi Qiongfeng , Shan Xuechuan , Yeow Raye Chen Hua , Lee Chengkuo
Published: May 2021

Rapid advancements of artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) technology pave the way for developing a digital‐twin‐based remote interactive system for advanced robotic‐enabled industrial automation and virtual shopping. The embedded multifunctional perception system is urged for better interaction and user experience. To realize such a system, a smart soft robotic manipulator is presented that consists of a triboelectric nanogenerator tactile (T‐TENG) and length (L‐TENG) sensor, as well as a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) pyroelectric temperature sensor. With the aid of machine learning (ML) for data processing, the fusion of the T‐TENG and L‐TENG sensors can realize the automatic recognition of the grasped objects with the accuracy of 97.143% for 28 different shapes of objects, while the temperature distribution can also be obtained through the pyroelectric sensor. By leveraging the IoT and artificial intelligence (AI) analytics, a digital‐twin‐based virtual shop is successfully implemented to provide the users with real‐time feedback about the details of the product. In general, by offering a more immersive experience in human–machine interactions, the proposed remote interactive system shows the great potential of being the advanced human–machine interface for the applications of the unmanned working space.
Bioinspired Distributed Energy in Robotics and Enabling Technologies
Authors: Mukherjee Rudra , Ganguly Priyanka , Dahiya Ravinder
Published: May 2021

On‐board sources of energy are critically needed for autonomous robots to work in unstructured environments for extended periods. Thus far, the power requirement of robots has been met through lead‐acid and Li‐ion batteries and energy harvesters. However, except for a few advances such as light weight, shape, and size, the batteries used in robotics have remained unchanged for several decades, even if the research advances in energy storage have led to devices with flexible form factors. Besides being slow at adopting new energy technologies, robotics also appears to have settled with the idea of centralized energy, as evident from the battery backpack designs of several humanoids. This is in contrast with the biological world, where energy sources are distributed all over the body. Although several attempts have been made to imitate the distributed tactile skin, the energy distribution has strangely not caught attention. With distributed energy, a robotic platform can benefit in terms of increased energy density, lesser design complexities, improved body dynamics, and operational reliability. By focusing on the distributed energy, this first comprehensive review presents the benefits of bioinspired distributed energy in robotics and various energy‐storage and energy‐harvesting technologies that are available or are tuned to attain the same.
Gold Nanorod Hydrogel Film for Laser‐Induced Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy to Treat Peritoneal Malignancies
Authors: Court Karem A. , Yu Hangjin , Chan Diana , Blanco Elvin , Ziemys Arturas , Holder Ashley M.
Published: May 2021

Treatment of peritoneal surface malignancies with cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC (CRS/HIPEC) has a substantial risk of local recurrence and causes off‐target toxicity. HIPEC is reinvented utilizing a gold nanorod (GNR) platform to provide surgically targeted precision delivery of mild hyperthermia (42 °C) to increase chemotherapeutic efficacy and reduce off‐target toxicity. A biocompatible hydrogel film containing GNRs, mitomycin‐C (MMC), and cisplatin (CisPt) is designed to create controlled, mild hyperthermia generated from NIR laser treatment of GNRs. The concentration of GNRs and duration of hyperthermia is determined using dose‐response curves to titrate goal temperature parameters of mild hyperthermia (42 °C) in a controlled fashion. Loading and release of CisPt and MMC at an inhibitory concentration (IC50) dose is determined to be highly efficient. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate cytotoxicity and reduced tumor growth in murine models of peritoneal malignancy with preferential accumulation of GNRs within peritoneal tumors. Preclinical evidence of efficacy utilizing a biocompatible hydrogel GNR/MMC/CisPt film can lead to clinical trials in patients with peritoneal malignancies. If successful, treatment of other cancers can benefit from this GNR chemotherapy hydrogel film as a method to decrease the incidence of local recurrence in any surgical resection bed.
Neutral Unsymmetrical Coordinated Cyclophane Polymerization Catalysts
Authors: Schiebel Eva , Voccia Maria , Falivene Laura , Göttker‐Schnetmann Inigo , Caporaso Lucia , Mecking Stefan
Published: May 2021

Cyclophane structures can control steric pressure in the otherwise open spaces of square‐planar d8‐metal catalysts. This elegant concept was so far limited to symmetrical coordinated metals. We report how a cyclophane motif can be generated in ligands that chelate via two different donors. An ancillary second imine in the versatile κ2‐N,O‐salicylaldiminato catalyst type enables ring closure via olefin metathesis and selective double bond hydrogenation to yield a 30‐membered ring efficiently. Experimental and theoretical analyses show the ancillary imine is directed away from the active site and inert for catalysis. In ethylene polymerization the cyclophane catalyst is more active and temperature stable vs. an open structure reference, notably also in polar solvents. Increased molecular weights and decreased degrees of branching can be traced to an increased energy of sterically demanding transition states by the encircling cyclophane while chain propagation remains highly efficient.
Hierarchical Superstructures by Combining Crystallization‐Driven and Molecular Self‐Assembly
Authors: Frank Andreas , Hils Christian , Weber Melina , Kreger Klaus , Schmalz Holger , Schmidt Hans‐Werner
Published: May 2021

Combining the unique corona structure of worm‐like patchy micelles immobilized on a polymer fiber with the molecular self‐assembly of 1,3,5‐benzenetricarboxamides (BTAs) leads to hierarchical superstructures with a fir‐tree‐like morphology. For this purpose, worm‐like patchy micelles bearing pendant, functional tertiary amino groups in one of the corona patches were prepared by crystallization‐driven self‐assembly and immobilized on a supporting polystyrene fiber by coaxial electrospinning. The obtained patchy fibers were then immersed in an aqueous solution of a tertiary amino‐functionalized BTA to induce patch‐mediated molecular self‐assembly to well‐defined fir‐tree‐like superstructures upon solvent evaporation. Interestingly, defined superstructures are obtained only if the pendant functional groups in the surface patches match with the peripheral substituents of the BTA, which is attributed to a local increase in BTA concentration at the polymer fibers’ surface.
Platinum‐Templated Coupling of B=N Units: Synthesis of BNBN Analogues of 1,3‐Dienes and a Butatriene
Authors: Brunecker Carina , Arrowsmith Merle , Fantuzzi Felipe , Braunschweig Holger
Published: May 2021

The 1:2 reaction of [μ‐(dmpm)Pt(nbe)]2 (dmpm=bis(dimethylphosphino)methane, nbe=norbornene) with Cl2BNR(SiMe3) (R=tBu, SiMe3) yields unsymmetrical (N‐aminoboryl)aminoboryl PtI2 complexes by B−N coupling via ClSiMe3 elimination. A subsequent intramolecular ClSiMe3 elimination from the tBu‐derivative leads to cyclization of the BNBN unit, forming a unique 1,3,2,4‐diazadiboretidin‐2‐yl ligand. In contrast, the analogous reaction with Br2BN(SiMe3)2 leads, via a twofold BrSiMe3 elimination, to a PtII2 A‐frame complex bridged by a linear BNBN isostere of butatriene. Structural and computational data confirm π electron delocalization over the entire BNBN unit.
Metal complexes of azo mesalamine drug: Synthesis, characterization, and their application as an inhibitor of pathogenic fungi
Authors: El‐Sayed Yusif , Gaber Mohamed , El‐Wakeil Nadia , abdelaziz ahmed , El‐Nagar Asmaa
Published: May 2021

A novel azo dye ligand, formed by the coupling of 5‐aminosalycalic acid (mesalamine drug) with 2‐amino pyrimidine (H2L) and its Co2+, Ni2+, and Cu2+ complexes, was synthesized. The structures of ligand and its complexes have been described by elemental analysis, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), magnetic moment measurements, molar conductance, ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis), X‐ray powder diffraction, infrared (IR), 1H‐nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C NMR, and electron impact (EI) mass spectral studies. The obtained data detected that the H2L ligand acts as monobasic tridentate via C=N, azo nitrogen, and deprotonated OH groups. The data supported the formation of 1:2 (M:L) for Co2+ complex, while Ni2+ and Cu2+ gave 1:1 (M:L) complexes mononuclear formulation. The Co2+ and Ni2+ complexes have octahedral structures, while Cu2+ complex has tetrahedral geometry. The ligand and its Co2+, Ni2+, and Cu2+ complexes were applied as an antifungal against a set of root rot‐associated soil‐born phytopathogenic fungi and compared with the effect of Hatric (recommended fungicide). Our findings revealed that the metal complexes exhibited greater antifungal activity than the parent ligand. The Cu2+ complex was found to be the most effective compound. The effect of Hatric and Cu2+ complex on structural alterations of Fusarium semitectum was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Based on transalkylation reaction the rearrangeable conventional sulfur network facile design for vulcanized diolefin elastomers
Authors: Xu Wen‐Zhe , Yu Wei‐Wei , Chen Xu , Liao Shuangquan , Luo Ming‐Chao
Published: May 2021

Achieving the reversibility of conventional sulfur crosslinking network is beneficial for the sustainability of rubber products. However, sulfur crosslinking network has been considered as an irreversible network. Here, natural rubber (NR) is chosen as an example and trimethylsulfonium iodide (TMSI) can enable the transalkylation reaction between aliphatic sulfonium salts and the alkyl chains of vulcanized NR, which further realizes the rearrangements of sulfur crosslinking network in the elastomers. Such rearrangement reaction enhances the interfacial adhesion and fuse the fractured surface of vulcanized NR. Moreover, the rearrangements of sulfur crosslinking network induced by TMSI conforms to the characteristics of vitrimer network. This work solves the rearrangement problem of conventional sulfur crosslinking network, which is beneficial for the sustainability of rubber products.
A taxonomy, data set, and benchmark for detecting and classifying malevolent dialogue responses
Authors: Zhang Yangjun , Ren Pengjie , de Rijke Maarten
Published: May 2021

Conversational interfaces are increasingly popular as a way of connecting people to information. With the increased generative capacity of corpus‐based conversational agents comes the need to classify and filter out malevolent responses that are inappropriate in terms of content and dialogue acts. Previous studies on the topic of detecting and classifying inappropriate content are mostly focused on a specific category of malevolence or on single sentences instead of an entire dialogue. We make three contributions to advance research on the malevolent dialogue response detection and classification (MDRDC) task. First, we define the task and present a hierarchical malevolent dialogue taxonomy. Second, we create a labeled multiturn dialogue data set and formulate the MDRDC task as a hierarchical classification task. Last, we apply state‐of‐the‐art text classification methods to the MDRDC task, and report on experiments aimed at assessing the performance of these approaches.
Selective Imaging of HClO in the Liver Tissue In Vivo Using a Near‐infrared Hepatocyte‐specific Fluorescent Probe
Authors: Jia Xu , Wei Chao , Li Zimeng , Liu Liyan , Wang Mei , Zhang Pingzhu , Li Xiaoliu
Published: May 2021

Liver injury is typified by an inflammatory response. Hypochlorous acid (HClO), an important endogenous reactive oxygen species, is regarded as a biomarker associated with liver injury. Near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescent probes with the advantage of deep tissue penetrating and low auto‐fluorescence interference are more suitable for bioimaging in vivo. Thus, in this work, we designed and synthesized a novel NIR hepatocyte‐specific fluorescent probe named NHF. The probe NHF showed fast response (<3 s), large spectral variation, and good selectivity to trace HClO in buffer solution. By employing N‐acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) as the targeting ligand, probe NHF can be actively delivered to the liver tissue of zebrafish and mice. It is important that probe NHF is the first NIR hepatocyte‐specific fluorescent probe, which successfully visualized the up‐regulation of endogenous HClO in the oxygen‐glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) model HepG2 cells and dynamically monitored APAP‐induced endogenous HClO in the liver tissue of zebrafish and mice.