bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Consumer Preferences in Selecting Processed Fish Products (Case Study in Cicadas Market, Bandung City, Indonesia)
Authors: Ilyas Fajar , Suryana Asep. A. H. , Dewanti Lantun Paradhita , Gumilar Iwang
Published: March 2021

This study aims to analyze processed fish products which are preferred by the consumers in the Cicadas Market in Bandung City, (Country?) and to analyze the attributes that consumers consider the most in choosing processed fish products in the Cicadas Market in Bandung City. The method used in this research is a case study method using descriptive statistics. Data were collected by direct interviewi of the respondents who were in Cicadas Market using a questionnaire. The attributes observed were packaging color, type of packaging, product color, taste, and price. The questionnaire used has been tested using validity and reliability tests. Respondent characteristics and consumer behavior were analyzed descriptively, while preferences for processed fish products, such as Tuna fish, fish balls, and pempek, as well as the attributes in processed fish products that consumers consider in choosing processed fish products, were analyzed using Chi-Square. The results showed that the processed fish product which is the consumer preference in Cicadas Market is tuna fish mackarel. The most important aspects to consider in choosing Tuna fish mackarel product include the green packaging color, the type of packaging is the leaf, the natural product color, the spicy taste, and the tuna mackarel price of Rp. 15,000 - Rp. 20,000. The things that are most considered in choosing a fish meatball product are the color of the clear packaging, the type of packaging is plastic, the color of the natural product, the original taste, and the price of the processed fish meatball product <Rp. 10,000. The most important consideration in choosing a pempek product is the color of the clear packaging, the type of packaging is plastic, the color of the natural product, the spicy taste, and the price of the pempek product is Rp. 15,000 - Rp. 20,000.
Mustard Yield Prediction using State Space Models
Authors: Hooda Ekta , Hooda B. K.
Published: March 2021

Forecasting of agricultural outputs well in advance has always been the focus of numerous researchers due to its direct implications on various areas of the society. This study aims to develop State Space Models (SSMs) with weather as an exogenous input over the commonly used ARIMA and regression analysis for yield prediction for mustard crop in eight districts of Haryana state in India. These models are time-varying parameter models and take into account for changes that are known over time in structure of the framework. SSMs with various kinds of growth trends were tried and model performances were compared using AIC and BIC criteria but the growth trend represented by polynomial splines of order-2 with the weather as an exogenous input was chosen as the most appropriate model for mustard yield prediction in all the eight districts under study. Based on the developed models, post-sample yield predictions for the next three years, i.e. 2016-17 to 2018-19 have been obtained and the deviations from actual values are also calculated which came out to be acceptable in an agricultural setup.
Optimization of Operational Parameters for Tractor Operated Swinging Lance Sprayer by Using ASPEE-SPGF Spray Guns
Authors: Srinivasarao Arudra , Khura Tapan Kumar , Parray Roaf Ahmad , Mani Indra , Kushwaha H. L. , Sarkar Susheel Kumar
Published: March 2021

Spraying is one of the critical operations in agriculture. The importance of the use of chemical pesticides was well recognized in agriculture.  Consumption of pesticides was increasing year by year, on the other hand, wastage of chemical pesticides also alarming due to excess application of pesticides. The quality spraying affects several operational factors.  Tractor operated swinging lance sprayer developed for obtaining uniformity in spraying.  Four operational factors such as spacing between spray guns, spray gun height, swing angle and pressure were considered to evaluate and optimize the operational factors for effective swath width. Full factorial design considered using Minitab software tool, 243 experiments (34*3) conducted for the study. The main effects of each factor, 2-way interaction effects and 3-way interaction effects are significant at 5% level of significance. The swath width is significantly influenced by swing angle followed by spacing between spray guns for both the spray guns. The percentage contribution of swing angle, spacing between spray guns, height of spray gun and operating pressure on swath width was 44.37%, 37.62%, 2.51% and 2.02% respectively. The optimum combination of operational parameters for effective swath width was s3 - h2 – a3 – p2. The obtained optimum operation combination for swath width significantly improved the performance of spraying activity.
Rank correlation of seed and Fibre Yield Characters in Jute (Corchorus olitorius)
Authors: De Anirneeta , Hansda Anita , Roy Anita
Published: March 2021

The present study aimed to explore the Rank correlation of seed and fibre yield characters in Jute (Corchorus olitorius). Jute cultivation availability of quality seed remains a potential factor as it deals with the fibre. Studying the correlation between both seed and fibre characters at the same time in jute is a complex matter since the sowing season, agricultural practices vary in both the cases. Varieties producing high fibre and seed yield are necessary to meet the deficit in seed supply for the jute producing farmers of West Bengal, India. In this study, the experimental material consisted of thirty six jute (Corchorus olitorius L) crosses along with two check varieties. Fibres were harvested at 120 days and the seeds at maturity. The variability in most of the yield (fibre and seed) contributing characters was mainly due to genotype with some extent of environmental influence. To obtain a clear understanding of the inter-relationship between seed and fibre characters a rank correlation was performed instead of simple correlation.  A strong positive correlation was found which helped us in finding lines with both high seed and fibre yield. Furthermore, a fibre quality test was also conducted for estimating the fineness and strength of the fibre.
Interrelationship and Cause - Effect Analysis for Yield and Yield Attributing Traits in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes
Authors: Soundharya B. , Rathod Ramya , Shahana Firdoz , Swathi Y. , Naik P. Jalender , Venkataiah M.
Published: March 2021

The basic aim of plant breeders is to improve the yielding potential of existing varieties along with creation of new high yielding varieties. This experiment was carried out to study the association of yield and yield attributing traits along with path coefficient analysis among twenty rice genotypes. Analysis of variance revealed the existence of significant differences in genotypes for all the characters studied. Grain yield had positive significant association with ear bearing tillers/m2 (0.5395**/0.6264**), number of filled grains per panicle (0.5236**/0.5774**) and test weight (0.2575*/0.2560*) and days to 50 percent flowering (0.3294**/0.3648**), It indicates that these characters are important for yield improvement. Path coefficient analysis revealed maximum positive direct effect of number of filled grains per panicle (1.4128/1.8979), test weight(1.1812/1.5927), days to fifty percent flowering (0.2404/0.1669), ear bearing tillers (0.0159/0.1224) and panicle length(0.0710/0.0813). Selection for the traits with positive association and direct effects will be useful for the improvement in yield of rice through breeding programme.
Impact of COVID-19 on Indian Seafood Industry and Potential Measures for Recovery: A Mini-review
Authors: Mukherjee Susmita , Ikbal Asik , Ngasotter Soibam , Bharti Deeksha , Jana Susmita , Mondal Anakhy , Pahari Triparna
Published: March 2021

Global seafood sector is going through a massive shock during a global-scale disturbance named “COVID-19 Pandemic”. Restricting national and international trade and traffic was the most needed step to contain the spread of virus; meanwhile it has wreaked havoc on all import-export businesses. Seafood sector, is one of the major pillar behind agricultural export (fisheries sector contributing 1.07% to the Indian agricultural GDP) and blue revolution. But due to uncertainty of the lockdown periods, the Indian seafood sector has crashed, affecting livelihoods of all fishing and related communities, export and supply chain (both domestic and international), demand and consumption etc. The sudden crisis has exposed various shortcomings of the sector and expanded our vision to look ahead of temporary solutions and find long-term sustainability. Unavailability of real-time data from planned surveys are one of the major reasons behind this failure. This article aims to highlight the present scenario of the Indian seafood sector during the pandemic through assessing various news articles, national reports and publications. Further it suggests some recovery steps like building up alternative seafood networks, promoting domestic demand and markets, forming fishing community friendly schemes (medical and insurance), adopting new technologies to prevent and handle any future crisis.
Production of Complementary Food for Infants Made from Sweet Potatoes, Soybeans, Maize and Guinea Corn
Authors: Abiodun Adeoso , Olayinka Adetona , Omotola Awe
Published: March 2021

The transition from breastfeeding to family or complementary food is challenging for most mothers. This is a critical period of growth during which nutrient deficiencies and illnesses contribute globally to higher rates of under-nutrition among children less than five years of age. This study was carried-out to compound an indigenous complementary food that is nutritious, cheap, and with considerable shelf life. Blends of soya beans, sweet potato, yellow maize and guinea corn flours were mixed in proportions and proximate analysis was carried out to determine the nutritive and preservative quality. Carbohydrate (80.33-84.72 g) was 123% more and protein (3.43-4.26 g) was 26.6% less than commercially available complimentary food. More research is needed in this area to achieve our goal.
Serum YKL-40 Levels are Increased in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Coronary Artery Diseases: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Papabathini Shireen Salome , Obore Nathan , Kawuki Joseph , Ghimire Upama , Lina Wang
Published: March 2021

Background: YKL-40 also named as chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) is a novel inflammatory biomarker found to be elevated in inflammatory and chronic diseases. This meta-analysis was done to estimate the pooled SMD of serum YKL-40 and evaluate its use as a diagnostic biomarker for Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and Coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Through searching the following electronic databases: Google scholar, PubMed, Scopus among others, related articles were extracted in English language. Stata (Version 12.0) was used for statistical analysis. Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was used for quality assessment. Standard mean difference (SMD) and its corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated. Heterogeneity was assessed by I2 statistic.

Results: Fourteen CAD studies with 1400 patients, 1685 controls and Thirteen DM studies with 1103 patients, 982 controls were selected for statistical analysis. The results showed that serum YKL-40 level in both CAD and DM patients was significantly higher than that in control subjects (SMD = 1.76 (95% CI 0.96-2.57) and (SMD=1.89 (95% CI 0.79-3.00) respectively. In both studies, stratified analysis showed that, studies which did not control for smoking had higher SMD compared to those controlled. Besides, CAD patients from developed countries had higher serum YKL-40 levels compared to those from developing countries.

Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that an elevated serum YKL-40 level may be used as a promising diagnostic tool for early identification of CAD and DM. However patients’ age, history of smoking, and comorbidities should be put into consideration.
Inflammatory Myopathy with Cardiac Involvement Associated with Anti-Mitochondrial Antibodies
Authors: Wafa Baya , Imen Ben Hassine , Fatma Ben Fredj , Jihed Anoun , Anis Mzabi , Monia Karmani , Amel Rezgui , Nihed Abdessayed , Badreddine Sriha , Chedia Laouani Kechrid
Published: March 2021

Aim: Anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA) positive myositis is an atypical and rare form with various characteristics. We aim to highlight these specificities through this case report.

Presentation of the Case: We present the case of a young woman diagnosed with frequent polymorphic ventricular extrasystoles and left ventricular dysfunction. Two years after, she developed asthenia and muscle weakness. Clinical and biological tests confirmed the diagnosis of myositis complicated by focal myocarditis. The immunological screening revealed negative antinuclear antibodies and positive AMA type anti-AMA-M2 and anti-M2-3E. A good clinical evolution was noted under corticosteroids and methotrexate.

Discussion: Cases of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) or positive AMA associated with other autoimmune diseases such as systemic scleroderma, Sjögren syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and myositis have been reported. AMA’s pathogenic role on the musculoskeletal and cardiac systems remains to be clarified.

Conclusion: Inflammatory myopathy associated with AMA is a rare and serious entity, characterized by a delayed diagnosis and frequent cardiac involvement, often indicating a heavy treatment.
Factors Influencing Awareness of Drug Store Personnel about Pharmacovigilance
Authors: Soomro Hirra , Baig Mirza Tasawer , Ibrahim Sadaf , Shah Syed Nudrat Nawaid , Sheikh Samina , Shah Syed Wajid , Huma Ambreen , Jabeen Aisha , Kashif Muhammad , Shahid Uzma , Soomro Sohera , Soomro Muhammad Umer
Published: March 2021

Pharmacovigilance is an essential process when dealing with the medicines. It is one of the basic roles of community pharmacist. This role is not found in practice. Due to lacking this role, monitoring of adverse drug reactions and awareness to report them is missed in the society. However, no significant data has been published to exhibit the role of community pharmacists in Pharmacovigilance. This study was aimed to help in stowing the pharmacist role, in community Pharmacovigilance of Pakistan, to give awareness not only to community pharmacists but to regulatory authorities to establish policies regarding ADRs. A cross-sectional study was conducted through a pre-validated questionnaire. This study was conducted in 16 Districts of Sindh Province of Pakistan. 368 pharmacies/ medical stores responded to the self administered questionnaire. The results showed dependence of Awareness to the Pharmacovigilance upon Professional Status, Education of Participants and Experience of study population in pharmacies/ medical stores.
Mitochondrial dynamics in health and disease
Authors: Yapa Nethmi M.B. , Lisnyak Valerie , Reljic Boris , Ryan Michael T.
Published: March 2021

In animals, mitochondria are mainly organised into an interconnected tubular network extending across the cell along a cytoskeletal scaffold. Mitochondrial fission and fusion, as well as distribution along cytoskeletal tracks, are counterbalancing mechanisms acting in concert to maintain a mitochondrial network tuned to cellular function. Balanced mitochondrial dynamics permits quality control of the network including biogenesis and turnover, and distribution of mitochondrial DNA, and is linked to metabolic status. Cellular and organismal health relies on a delicate balance between fission and fusion, and large rearrangements in the mitochondrial network can be seen in response to cellular insults and disease. Indeed, dysfunction in the major components of the fission and fusion machineries including dynamin‐related protein 1 (DRP1), mitofusins 1 and 2 (MFN1, MFN2) and optic atrophy protein 1 (OPA1) and ensuing imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics can lead to neurodegenerative disease. Altered mitochondrial dynamics is also seen in more common diseases. In this review, the machinery involved in mitochondrial dynamics and their dysfunction in disease will be discussed.
Phenformin and ataxia‐telangiectasia mutated inhibitors synergistically co‐suppress liver cancer cell growth by damaging mitochondria
Authors: Wu Tianyu , Zhou Sichun , Qin Mei , Tang Jing , Yan Xinjian , Huang Lingli , Huang Meiyuan , Deng Jun , Xiao Di , Hu Xin , Wu Jingtao , Yang Xiaoping , Li Gaofeng
Published: March 2021

Inhibitors of ataxia–telangiectasia mutated (ATM), such as KU‐55933 (Ku), represent a promising class of novel anticancer drugs. In addition, the biguanide derivative phenformin exhibits antitumor activity superior to that of the AMPK activator metformin. Herein, we assessed the potential combinatorial therapeutic efficacy of phenformin and Ku when used to inhibit the growth of liver cancer cells, and we assessed the mechanisms underlying such efficacy. The Hep‐G2 and SMMC‐7721 liver cancer cell lines were treated with phenformin and Ku either alone or in combination, after which the impact of these drugs on cellular proliferation was assessed via 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol) 2, 5‐diphenyltetrazolium and colony formation assays, whereas Transwell assays were used to gauge cell migratory activity. The potential synergy between these two drugs was assessed using the CompuSyn software, while flow cytometry was employed to evaluate cellular apoptosis. In addition, western blotting was utilized to measure p‐ATM, p‐AMPK, p‐mTOR, and p‐p70s6k expression, while mitochondrial functionality was monitored via morphological analyses, JC‐1 staining, and measurements of ATP levels. Phenformin and Ku synergistically impacted the proliferation, migration, and apoptotic death of liver cancer cells. Together, these compounds were able to enhance AMPK phosphorylation while inhibiting the phosphorylation of mTOR and p70s6k. These data also revealed that phenformin and Ku induced mitochondrial dysfunction as evidenced by impaired ATP synthesis, mitochondrial membrane potential, and abnormal mitochondrial morphology. These findings suggest that combination treatment with phenformin and Ku may be an effective approach to treating liver cancer via damaging mitochondria within these tumor cells.
American Rescue Plan includes additional $1.5 billion for SAPT BG
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: March 2021

On top of the $1.65 billion for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment block grant (SAPT BG) from the December 2020 COVID‐19 relief package (see ADAW, Jan. 11), state drug and alcohol directors now have an additional $1.5 billion from the American Rescue Plan, signed by President Biden March 11 The American Rescue Plan would allow directors until September 2025 to spend the $1.5 billion. They have until sometime in 2022 to spend the $1.65 billion. This is on top of total SAPT BG funds, which have been under $2 billion for decades, not including STR [State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis] and in subsequent years SOR (State Opioid Response) grants, which are about an additional $1 billion. SOR was expanded last year to allow for spending on stimulant use disorders as well as opioid use disorders. SOR is still in addition to the $1.65 billion to be spent this year.
THC persists in breast milk if marijuana is used in pregnancy
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: March 2021

9‐Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is present in the breast milk of women who used marijuana while pregnant, researchers have found. It's no secret that THC crosses the placenta and can be detected in breast milk; national guidelines recommend abstinence from the drug during pregnancy and lactation. But data is limited on the presence of THC in breast milk. The researchers estimated the amount and duration of THC in breast milk of women who had used marijuana while pregnant.
Pro‐Peptide‐Reinforced, Mucus‐Penetrating Pulmonary siRNA Delivery Mitigates Cytokine Storm in Pneumonia
Authors: Yang Jiandong , Duan Shanzhou , Ye Huan , Ge Chenglong , Piao Chunxian , Chen Yongbing , Lee Minhyung , Yin Lichen
Published: March 2021

Pulmonary delivery of anti‐inflammatory siRNA holds great potential in mitigating the cytokine storm during severe pneumonia. However, commonly utilized polycationic siRNA delivery vehicles can hardly penetrate the mucus barrier, thus greatly hurdling their therapeutic efficacy. Herein, TNF‐α siRNA (siTNF‐α) delivery nanocomplexes (NCs) are engineered with mucus/cytomembrane dual‐penetration capabilities, realized via surface‐coating of NCs with RC, an inflammation‐sheddable, charge‐reversal pro‐peptide of RAGE‐binding peptide (RBP). RC‐coated dendritic poly‐L‐lysine/siTNF‐α (DsT) NCs possess negative surface charges, and can thus efficiently penetrate the mucus layer after intratracheal administration. In the inflamed alveolar space with mild acidity, RC recovers to the cationic RBP and shed off, re‐exposing the DsT NCs that efficiently transfect the alveolar macrophages and provokes TNF‐α silencing. Thus, siTNF‐α and RBP cooperatively alleviate the uncontrolled inflammation during acute lung injury. This study renders a unique approach for mediating trans‐mucus nucleic acid delivery, and will find promising utilities for the treatment of severe pneumonia.
Enhanced Liquid Transport on a Highly Scalable, Cost‐Effective, and Flexible 3D Topological Liquid Capillary Diode
Authors: Lee Minki , Oh Junho , Lim Hyuneui , Lee Jinkee
Published: March 2021

Directional liquid‐transport surfaces have various applications, such as, open microfluidic devices, fog collection, oil–water separation, and surface lubrication. However, current liquid‐transport surfaces are expensive, complicated to manufacture, and lack scalability. Moreover, they exhibit low transport speeds and distances. In this study, a laser cutter is used to fabricate scalable, low‐cost unidirectional liquid‐transporting surfaces with enhanced transport speed and distance using polymeric materials. Cutting and engraving methods are used to create a liquid capillary diode comprising 3D wedge shapes, thereby obtaining an appropriate pressure gradient and liquid pinning. The developed liquid capillary diode exhibits the fastest transport speed (3–17.7 mm s−1) reported so far, and a large normalized distance (L/R: transport distance/radius of dispensed droplet). The transport distance increases with the square root of time under various contact angles and liquid viscosities, which agree well with the theoretical scaling results obtained using the modified Washburn model. Additionally, the flexible liquid capillary diode operates adequately even when bent with the maximum curvature of 0.1 mm−1. The results provide better design guidelines for 3D topological liquid‐transport surfaces for various applications.
High‐Efficiency Organic Photovoltaics using Eutectic Acceptor Fibrils to Achieve Current Amplification
Authors: Zhang Ming , Zhu Lei , Hao Tianyu , Zhou Guanqing , Qiu Chaoqun , Zhao Zhe , Hartmann Nicolai , Xiao Biao , Zou Yecheng , Feng Wei , Zhu Haiming , Zhang Maojie , Zhang Yongming , Li Yongfang , Russell Thomas P. , Liu Feng
Published: March 2021

The intrinsic electronic properties of donor (D) and acceptor (A) materials in coupling with morphological features dictate the output in organic solar cells (OSCs). New physical properties of intimate eutectic mixing are used in nonfullerene‐acceptor‐based D–A1–A2 ternary blends to fine‐tune the bulk heterojunction thin film morphology as well as their electronic properties. With enhanced thin film crystallinity and improved carrier transport, a significant JSC amplification is achieved due to the formation of eutectic fibrillar lamellae and reduced defects state density. Material wise, aligned cascading energy levels with much larger driving force, and suppressed recombination channels confirm efficient charge transfer and transport, enabling an improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.84%. These results reveal the importance of utilizing specific material interactions to control the crystalline habit in blended films to form a well‐suited morphology in guiding superior performances, which is of high demand in the next episode of OSC fabrication toward 20% PCE.
Biologically Excretable Aggregation‐Induced Emission Dots for Visualizing Through the Marmosets Intravitally: Horizons in Future Clinical Nanomedicine
Authors: Feng Zhe , Bai Siyi , Qi Ji , Sun Chaowei , Zhang Yuhuang , Yu Xiaoming , Ni Huwei , Wu Di , Fan Xiaoxiao , Xue Dingwei , Liu Shunjie , Chen Ming , Gong Junyi , Wei Peifa , He Mubin , Lam Jacky W. Y. , Li Xinjian , Tang Ben Zhong , Gao Lixia , Qian Jun
Published: March 2021

Superb reliability and biocompatibility equip aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) dots with tremendous potential for fluorescence bioimaging. However, there is still a chronic lack of design instructions of excretable and bright AIE emitters. Here, a kind of PEGylated AIE (OTPA‐BBT) dots with strong absorption and extremely high second near‐infrared region (NIR‐II) PLQY of 13.6% is designed, and a long‐aliphatic‐chain design blueprint contributing to their excretion from an animal's body is proposed. Assisted by the OTPA‐BBT dots with bright fluorescence beyond 1100 nm and even 1500 nm (NIR‐IIb), large‐depth cerebral vasculature (beyond 600 µm) as well as real‐time blood flow are monitored through a thinned skull, and noninvasive NIR‐IIb imaging with rich high‐spatial‐frequency information gives a precise presentation of gastrointestinal tract in marmosets. Importantly, after intravenous or oral administration, the definite excretion of OTPA‐BBT dots from the body is demonstrated, which provides influential evidence of biosafety.
Mode Engineering in Large Arrays of Coupled Plasmonic–Dielectric Nanoantennas
Authors: Nasir Mazhar E. , Krasavin Alexey V. , Córdova‐Castro R. Margoth , McPolin Cillian P. T. , Bouillard Jean‐Sebastien G. , Wang Pan , Zayats Anatoly V.
Published: March 2021

Strong electromagnetic field confinement and enhancement can be readily achieved in plasmonic nanoantennas, however, this is considerably more difficult to realize over large areas, which is essential for many applications. Here, dispersion engineering in plasmonic metamaterials is applied to successfully develop and demonstrate a coupled array of plasmonic–dielectric nanoantennas offering an ultrahigh density of electromagnetic hot spots (1011 cm−2) over macroscopic, centimeter scale areas. The hetero‐metamaterial is formed by a highly ordered array of vertically standing plasmonic dipolar antennas with a ZnO gap and fabricated using a scalable electrodeposition technique. It supports a complex modal structure, including guided, surface and gap modes, which offers rich opportunities, frequently beyond the local effective medium theory, with optical properties that can be easily controlled and defined at the fabrication stage. This metamaterial platform can be used in a wide variety of applications, including hot‐electron generation, nanoscale light sources, sensors, as well as nonlinear and memristive devices.
peri‐Xanthenoxanthene (PXX): a Versatile Organic Photocatalyst in Organic Synthesis
Authors: Pezzetta Cristofer , Folli Andrea , Matuszewska Oliwia , Murphy Damien , Davidson Robert W. M. , Bonifazi Davide
Published: March 2021

Recent years have witnessed a continuous development of photocatalysts to satisfy the growing demand of photophysical and redox properties in photoredox catalysis, with complex structures or alternative strategies devised to access highly reducing or oxidising systems. We report herein the use of peri‐xanthenoxanthene (PXX), a simple and inexpensive dye, as an efficient photocatalyst. Its highly reducing excited state allows activation of a wide range of substrates, thus triggering useful radical reactions. Benchmark transformations such as the addition of organic radicals, generated by photoreduction of organic halides, to radical traps are initially demonstrated. More complex dual catalytic manifolds are also shown to be accessible: the β‐arylation of cyclic ketones is successful when using a secondary amine as organocatalyst, while cross‐coupling reactions of aryl halides with amines and thiols are obtained when using a Ni co‐catalyst. Application to the efficient two‐step synthesis of the expensive fluoro‐tetrahydro‐1H‐pyrido[4,3‐b]indole, a crucial synthetic intermediate for the investigational drug setipiprant, has been also demonstrated.

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A Polymer‐Assisted Spinodal Decomposition Strategy toward Interconnected Porous Sodium Super Ionic Conductor‐Structured Polyanion‐Type Materials and Their Application as a High‐Power Sodium‐Ion Battery Cathode
Authors: Xiong Hailong , Qian Ruicheng , Liu Zhilin , Zhang Rui , Sun Ge , Guo Bingkun , Du Fei , Song Shuyan , Qiao Zhen‐An , Dai Sheng
Published: March 2021

A general polymer‐assisted spinodal decomposition strategy is used to prepare hierarchically porous sodium super ionic conductor (NASICON)‐structured polyanion‐type materials (e.g., Na3V2(PO4)3, Li3V2(PO4)3, K3V2(PO4)3, Na4MnV(PO4)3, and Na2TiV(PO4)3) in a tetrahydrofuran/ethanol/H2O synthesis system. Depending on the boiling point of solvents, the selective evaporation of the solvents induces both macrophase separation via spinodal decomposition and mesophase separation via self‐assembly of inorganic precursors and amphiphilic block copolymers, leading to the formation of hierarchically porous structures. The resulting hierarchically porous Na3V2(PO4)3 possessing large specific surface area (≈77 m2 g−1) and pore volume (≈0.272 cm3 g−1) shows a high specific capacity of 117.6 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C achieving the theoretical value and a long cycling life with 77% capacity retention over 1000 cycles at 5 C. This method presented here can open a facile avenue to synthesize other hierarchically porous polyanion‐type materials.
Dynamic process intensification: Fundamentals and implementation to ternary distillation
Authors: Yan Lingqing , Edgar Thomas F. , Baldea Michael
Published: March 2021

Distillation remains a key technology for separating liquid mixtures. Its versatility comes with the disadvantage of high energy consumption. We previously used empirical arguments to introduce dynamic process intensification (DPI) as a strategy for improving the energy efficiency of binary distillation. In this article, we focus on ternary distillation; we begin by providing a rigorous basis for DPI, then formulate the problem of identifying the operating states for DPI as a nonlinear optimization problem. Via an extensive case study considering a hydrocarbon mixture, we demonstrate that reboiler energy use can be reduced by more than 2.3% relative to an equivalent column operating at steady state. We prove that this result is due to the fact that DPI aims to satisfy product flow and quality constraints on average in time, affording broader opportunities for optimizing column economics than steady‐state operation, where constraints are met strictly at all times.
Prediction of spin–spin coupling constants with machine learning in NMR
Authors: Shibata Kaina , Kaneko Hiromasa
Published: March 2021

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one of the most important methods for analyzing the molecular structures of compounds. The objective in this study is to predict indirect spin–spin coupling constants in NMR based on machine learning. We propose important descriptors for predicting indirect spin–spin coupling constants from target pairs of atoms in molecules, and combine the proposed descriptors with molecular descriptors to predict indirect spin–spin coupling constants with LightGBM as a regression analysis method. We construct regression models using a dataset and verify their predictive accuracy, and then confirm that the proposed descriptors can predict indirect spin–spin coupling constants more accurately than the traditional descriptors used to predict chemical shifts.
Synergistic effect of graphene with graphene oxide, nanoclay, and nanosilica in enhancing the mechanical and barrier properties of bromobutyl rubber/epoxidized natural rubber composites
Authors: Aswathy T. R. , Dash Biswaranjan , Dey Pranab , Nair Sujith , Naskar Kinsuk
Published: March 2021

The present work aims to investigate the effect of hybrid nanofillers in bromobutyl rubber/epoxidized natural rubber (ENR 50) composites for developing highly air‐impermeable nanocomposites. The nanocomposites with hybrid nanofillers were prepared by a simple melt mixing method, and the morphology of the developed nanocomposites was studied using X‐Ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Improvement in the mechanical, barrier and dynamic properties can be observed for hybrid nanocomposites compared to the composites filled with individual graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). The strong interfacial attraction between GNP monolayers enhance its aggregation in nanocomposites. While, in the current study the results are showing that the addition of graphene oxide, nanoclay, and nanosilica enhances the dispersion of GNP in the composites. The homogeneous dispersion of GNP nanofillers will develop a tortuous pathway in the composites, which are responsible for their air barrier properties. Bound rubber content and dynamic strain measurements (Payne effect) show a maximum value for binary nanocomposites.
Green bonds as a tool against climate change?
Authors: Fatica Serena , Panzica Roberto
Published: March 2021

Although green bonds are becoming increasingly popular in the corporate finance practice, little is known about their implications and effectiveness in terms of issuers' environmental engagement. With the use of matched bond‐issuer data, we test whether green bond issues are associated to a reduction in total and direct (Scope 1) emissions of nonfinancial companies. We find that, compared with conventional bond issuers with similar financial characteristics and environmental ratings, green issuers display a decrease in the carbon intensity of their assets after borrowing on the green segment. The decrease in emissions is more pronounced, significant and long‐lasting when we exclude green bonds with refinancing purposes, which is consistent with an increase in the volume of climate‐friendly activities due to new projects. We also find a larger reduction in emissions in case of green bonds that have external review, as well as those issued after the Paris Agreement.
Protein disulphide isomerase inhibition as a potential cancer therapeutic strategy
Authors: Powell Lauren E. , Foster Paul A.
Published: March 2021

The protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) gene family is a large, diverse group of enzymes recognised for their roles in disulphide bond formation within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). PDI therefore plays an important role in ER proteostasis, however, it also shows involvement in ER stress, a characteristic recognised in multiple disease states, including cancer. While the exact mechanisms by which PDI contributes to tumorigenesis are still not fully understood, PDI exhibits clear involvement in the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway. The UPR acts to alleviate ER stress through the activation of ER chaperones, such as PDI, which act to refold misfolded proteins, promoting cell survival. PDI also acts as an upstream regulator of the UPR pathway, through redox regulation of UPR stress receptors. This demonstrates the pro‐protective roles of PDI and highlights PDI as a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Recent research has explored the use of PDI inhibitors with PACMA 31 in particular, demonstrating promising anti‐cancer effects in ovarian cancer. This review discusses the properties and functions of PDI family members and focuses on their potential as a therapeutic target for cancer treatment.
Transition to lanadelumab‐flyo from three medications for a hereditary angioedema patient with a variant in the SYTL2 gene: A case report
Authors: Burns Stephanie , Lewis Elena
Published: March 2021

Non‐SERPING1 gene variant hereditary angioedema patients often need to take progesterone, attenuated androgens, and antifibrinolytics to control symptoms. These drugs may need to be tapered to extinction or reduced as lanadelumab‐flyo reaches maximum concentration.
Saved by anticoagulants: Incidental discovery of a misplaced defibrillator lead 6 years after implantation. Inadvertent lead placement inside the left ventricular cavity
Authors: Osman Abdelrahman , Ahmad Ali
Published: March 2021

Device insertion is a common cardiovascular procedure. Devices are implanted into the right heart, acting as a safeguard against systemic thromboembolism. Lead insertion into the left ventricle is rare, but carries dangerous consequences of thromboembolic events. Diagnosis and intervention of an inadvertently placed lead is essential. This is a case of a defibrillator lead inadvertently inserted into the left cavity, discovered 6 years after implantation.
Low‐dose aspirin‐induced gastric mucosal injury after Fontan surgery in an adolescent
Authors: Kakiuchi Toshihiko , Kumamoto Takashi , Koji Azusa , Matsuo Muneaki
Published: March 2021

Low‐dose aspirin (LDA)–induced gastric mucosal injury always requires rigorous follow‐up while taking LDA, even in adolescents, and after a long time from the start of LDA.
One Stone Two Birds—Enantioselective Bimetallic Catalysis for α‐Amino Acid Derivatives with an Allene Unit
Authors: Xiao Junzhe , Xu Haibo , Huo Xiaohong , Zhang Wanbin , Ma Shengming
Published: March 2021

Main observation and conclusion

A highly enantioselective 2,3‐allenylation of acyclic and cyclic α‐imino carboxylates via a synergistic bimetallic Pd/Cu catalysis with the same commercially available (R,Rp)‐iPr‐FOXAP (also as Phosferrox, (R,R)‐[2‐(4’‐i‐propyloxazolin‐2’‐yl)ferrocenyl]diphenyl phosphine) ligand for both metals affording optically active 2,3‐butadienyl α‐amino acid derivatives in high to excellent yields with excellent enantioselectivities has been developed. The synthetic versatility of this reaction has been demonstrated by gram‐scale synthesis, a catalytic enantioselective synthesis of naturally occurring (S)‐2‐amino‐4,5‐hexadienoic acid A, and conversions to several useful chemicals, such as optically active α‐amino acids, β‐amino alcohols, potential chiral oxazoline ligands bearing an allenic moiety, and bicyclic ketone compounds. A mechanism involving the roles of two metals and the single chiral ligand has been extensively studied based on the isolation of key palladium pre‐catalyst and control experiments.
Mechanistic Study of Oxidoreductase AprQ Involved in Biosynthesis of Aminoglycoside Antibiotic Apramycin
Authors: Wang Jinxiu , Ma Suze , Ding Wei , Chen Tuo , Zhang Qi
Published: March 2021

Main observation and conclusion

The aminoglycoside antibiotic apramycin contains a unique bicyclic octose moiety, and biosynthesis of this moiety involves an oxidoreductase AprQ. Unlike other known “Q” series proteins involved in aminoglycosides biosynthesis, AprQ does not work with an aminotransferase partner, and performs a four‐electron oxidation that converts a CH2OH moiety to a carboxylate group. In this study, we report mechanistic investigation of AprQ. We showed AprQ contains a flavin mononucleotide (FMN) cofactor, which is different from other known Q series enzymes that contain a flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor. A series of biochemical assays showed that AprQ is not a monooxygenase but a flavoprotein oxidase. Although molecular O2 is strictly required for reaction turnover, four‐electron oxidation can be achieved in the absence of O2 in single turnover condition. These findings establish the detailed catalytic mechanism of AprQ and expand the growing family of flavoprotein oxidases, an increasingly important class of biocatalysts.
A review of research on co‐training
Authors: Ning Xin , Wang Xinran , Xu Shaohui , Cai Weiwei , Zhang Liping , Yu Lina , Li Wenfa
Published: March 2021

Co‐training algorithm is one of the main methods of semi‐supervised learning in machine learning, which explores the effective information in unlabeled data by multi‐learner collaboration. Based on the development of co‐training algorithm, the research work in recent years was further summarized in this article. In particular, three main steps of relevant co‐training algorithms are introduced: view acquisition, learners' differentiation, and label confidence estimation. Finally, we summarized the problems existing in the current co‐training methods, gave some suggestions for improvement, and looked forward to the future development direction of the co‐training algorithm.
Morpho‐physiological changes induced by soil environment modulate the compatibility of perennial ryegrass and white clover cultivars
Authors: Acuña Hernán , Sánchez Ma Paulina , Inostroza Luis
Published: March 2021

The effect of soil environment on cultivars compatibility was evaluated in a cutting field experiment during two growing seasons. A factorial combination of four perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.; PR) and three white clover (Trifolium repens L.; WC) cultivars were grown on deep (DSS) and shallow (SSS) soils under irrigated conditions. Measurements included herbage accumulation (HA), root attributes, leaf chlorophyll content, and interception of photosynthetic radiation. The PR–WC compatibility was affected by soil environment. In both soil sites and growing seasons, the WC + PR herbage accumulations were similar but with different PR and WC partial accumulation. In DSS, the partial PR HA was 22% less than that observed in SSS; the partial WC HA was almost twice in DSS relative to SSS. In SSS, the WC stolon growing point numbers, stolon length, and stolon biomass increased 60, 88, and 94% relative to DSS, respectively. In the same way, the mixed sward increased root biomass and root length density, which was considered as a mechanism for improving plant resources capture from the soil. At cultivar level, the PR–WC compatibility was affected mainly by WC cultivar, and the effect of PR cultivar was fairly weak. The medium‐leaved WC cultivar ‘Will’ showed the greatest compatibility with PR, particularly with cultivar ‘Bealey’. These results are valuable when designing new management strategies for mixed sward production in marginal environments. Modern cultivars of PR have capacity for adapting to marginal environments; however, it is necessary to improve the competitive ability of WC to capture soil resources under marginal soil conditions.
Tenofovir and emtricitabine concentrations in hair are comparable between individuals on tenofovir disoproxil fumarate versus tenofovir alafenamide‐based ART
Authors: Okochi Hideaki , Louie Alexander , Phung Nhi , Zhang Kevin , Tallerico Regina M. , Kuncze Karen , Spinelli Matthew A. , Koss Catherine A. , Benet Leslie Z. , Gandhi Monica
Published: March 2021

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in combination with emtricitabine (FTC) is the backbone for both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment and pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) worldwide. Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) with FTC is increasingly used in HIV treatment and was recently approved for PrEP among men‐who‐have‐sex‐with‐men. TDF and TAF are both metabolized into tenofovir (TFV). Antiretrovirals in plasma are taken up into hair over time, with hair levels providing a long‐term measure of adherence. Here, we report a simple, robust, highly sensitive, and validated high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)‐based analytical method for analyzing TFV and FTC from individuals on either TDF/FTC or TAF/FTC in small hair samples. TFV/FTC are extracted from ~5 mg hair and separated on a column using a gradient elution. The lower quantification limits are 0.00200 (TFV) and 0.0200 (FTC) ng/mg hair; the assay is linear up to 0.400 (TFV) and 4.00 (FTC) ng/mg hair. The intra‐day and inter‐day coefficients of variance (CVs) are 5.39–12.6% and 6.40–13.5% for TFV and 0.571–2.45% and 2.45–5.16% for FTC. TFV concentrations from participants on TDF/FTC‐based regimens with undetectable plasma HIV RNA were 0.0525 ± 0.0295 ng/mg, whereas those from individuals on TAF/FTC‐based regimens were 0.0426 ± 0.0246 ng/mg. Despite the dose of TFV in TDF being 10 times that of TAF, hair concentrations of TFV were not significantly different for those on TDF versus TAF regimens. Pharmacological enhancers (ritonavir and cobicistat) did not boost TFV concentrations in hair. In summary, we developed and validated a sensitive analytical method to analyze TFV and FTC in hair and found that hair concentrations of TFV were essentially equivalent among those on TDF and TAF.
Opportunities for forest sector emissions reductions: a state‐level analysis
Authors: Dugan Alexa J. , Lichstein Jeremy W. , Steele Al , Metsaranta Juha M. , Bick Steven , Hollinger David Y.
Published: March 2021

The forest sector can play a significant role in climate change mitigation. We evaluated forest sector carbon trends and potential mitigation scenarios in Vermont using a systems‐based modeling framework that accounts for net emissions from all forest sector components. These components comprise (1) the forest ecosystem, including land‐use change, (2) harvested wood products (HWP), and (3) substitution effects associated with using renewable wood‐based products and fuels in place of more emission‐intensive materials and fossil fuel‐based energy. We assessed baseline carbon trends from 1995 through 2050 using a business as usual (BAU) scenario. Emission reductions associated with different forest management and HWP scenarios were evaluated relative to the BAU scenario from 2020 to 2050. We estimated uncertainty for each forest sector component and used a Monte Carlo approach to estimate the distribution of cumulative total mitigation for each scenario relative to baseline. Our analysis indicates that the strength of the forest sector carbon sink in Vermont has been declining and will continue to decline over coming decades under the BAU scenario. However, several scenarios evaluated here could be effective in reducing emissions and enhancing carbon uptake. Shifting HWP to longer‐lived commodities resulted in a 14% reduction in net cumulative emissions by 2050, the largest reduction of all scenarios. A scenario that combined extending harvest rotations, utilizing additional harvest residues for bioenergy, and increasing forest productivity resulted in a 12% reduction in net cumulative emissions. Shifting commodities from pulp and paper to bioenergy showed a 7.3% reduction in emissions. In contrast, shortening rotations to increase harvests for bioenergy use resulted in a 5.5% increase in emissions. In summary, model simulations suggest that net emissions could be reduced by up to 14% relative to BAU, depending on the management and HWP‐use scenario. Combining multiple scenarios could further enhance reductions. However, realizing the full climate mitigation potential of these forests may be challenging due to socioeconomic barriers to implementation, as well as alternative management objectives that must be considered along with carbon sequestration.