bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Colonial Bargaining as Tactics: The Ghana Experience, 1954–1957
Authors: Rothchild Donald
Published: August 2005

In the pre-independence conflict between the Nkrumah regime and the Ashanti-led opposition in the Gold Coast, the departing colonial power found itself caught up in an internal confrontation. The NLM and its allies, fearing the shadow of the future, sought to establish credible guarantees against majoritarian rule after independence. The Nkrumah government insisted upon the centralization of political power and majoritarian principles. The effect was to increase minority insecurity and raise inter-group suspicions and tensions. In this situation, the colonial mediator, determined to advance the negotiation process, secured concessions from the Nkrumah regime on the devolution of limited functions and powers to the sub-regions. However, the preconditions for successful official mediation were not present. The CPP offered concessions that disappeared with the advent of independence, and the opposition refused to participate in an implementation process that appeared to offer them uncertain guarantees. Colonial bargaining therefore represented a lost opportunity, one that failed to resolve the commitment problem.
Quicksand in the Western Sahara? From Referendum Stalemate to Negotiated Solution
Authors: Roussellier Jacques Eric
Published: August 2005

The thirty-year old proxy conflict that has pitted Morocco against Algeria over the status of the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara, together with indigenous independence aspirations, continues to challenge conventional wisdom in conflict resolution. Largely ignored by the international community, the question of Western Sahara's future continues to have increased strategic relevance in geopolitical and economic terms. Not merely a standard post-colonial conflict among territorial integration, independent statehood, and partition, the Western Sahara issue elicits a deeper resonance of clashing national and ideological identities. No lasting settlement of the Western Sahara question seems imminent unless the current negotiation process factors in post-independence nation-building dynamics that underpin the conflict, feeds its resilience, and informs its complexity.
The Heart of Darkness: Advice on Navigating Cross-Cultural Research
Authors: Tinsley Catherine
Published: August 2005

When navigating through cross cultural research designs, one can get lost in the jungle of several methodological dichotomies: positivist versus interpretive epistemologies, etic versus emic perspectives, and inductive versus deductive processes. To move towards either end of these dichotomies risks compromising the rigor and validity of one's study. Thus, cross-cultural research is an endeavor devoted to managing the tensions created by these dichotomies; they represent competing interests or paradigms, which are valid concerns, but need to be addressed with perspective. When embarking on a cross-cultural research project, one is always striking a balance between competing interests, and continuously trying to find the middle road. This article discusses this middle road strategy.
Legal Research on Negotiation
Authors: Hollander-Blumoff Rebecca
Published: August 2005

This article addresses the study of negotiation in the legal context, discussing the methodology used by legal academics studying negotiation. It describes in brief the nature of current legal scholarship concerning negotiation and discusses potential obstacles to studying negotiations between lawyers. The article identifies two challenges for the study of negotiation in the legal setting: the institutional problems stemming from the current nature of legal scholarship and the methodological problems inherent in empirical study of the practice of law. The article offers ways in which empirical work on negotiation can contribute to legal academia, highlighting several areas in which further empirical research would be useful.
Field Experiments on Social Conflict
Authors: Pruitt Dean
Published: August 2005

Field experiments, in which the researcher manipulates one or more variables in a naturally occurring setting, have sometimes been used in studies of social conflict and should probably be used more often. They are more useful than observational studies for assessing the impact of novel conditions, establishing cause and effect, and reducing confounding. And they are more useful than laboratory experiments for examining long-term effects and those that involve strong passions, and for establishing external validity. However field experiments also have their limitations. Some variables cannot be practically or ethically manipulated and require the use of observational methods, which are also more useful for looking at the relationships among a large number of variables and for estimating the strength of association between variables. Furthermore, laboratory experiments allow more control of conditions and greater flexibility in designing manipulations. What this suggests is that all three methods have their value.
Adsorption kinetics of benzyl triphenyl phosphonium chloride on mild steel in 1N sulphuric acid
Authors: Bhrara Kalpana , Singh Gurmeet
Published: August 2005

The inhibitive effect of benzyl triphenyl phosphonium chloride (BTPPC) on the corrosion of mild steel in aerated 1N sulphuric acid at different temperatures was investigated using galvanostatic polarisation, potentiostatic polarisation, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and quantum chemical studies. Corrosion potential, corrosion currents, cathodic and anodic Tafel slopes, heat of adsorption and effective activation energies were calculated in the presence and absence of the BTPPC. Inhibition efficiencies of BTPPC at different concentrations and temperatures were studied. The nature of the adsorption of BTPPC on metal surface was also examined. It is concluded that the passivation parameters depend on the presence of the already adsorbed anions. BTPPC is one of the rare inhibitors that only passivate the metal at lower concentrations while passivation at higher concentrations is not observed. The electrochemical data fit Temkin's isotherm. The results of surface morphology and quantum chemical analysis are in agreement with the electrochemical results.
Pulsed laser deposition of novel oxide materials
Authors: Kuppusami P. , Padhi S. N. , Muthukkumaran K. , Mohandas E. , Raghunathan V. S.
Published: August 2005

Pulsed laser deposition is a technique that is capable of producing high quality multicomponent films under a broad range of ambient conditions. This technique has been widely used to grow thin films of numerous compounds. In particular, it enables the growth of films in reactive environments such as oxygen and nitrogen. Pulsed laser deposition of novel oxides such as cerium oxide (CeO2), Gd doped cerium oxide (GDC) and La–Sr–Ga–Mg–O (LSGM) on (111) Si, (100) MgO, (100) YSZ and (012) sapphire substrates is demonstrated. A systematic study on the influence of the substrate temperature and substrate orientation on the growth characteristics of these oxides is reported.
An interesting and efficient organic corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in acidic medium
Authors: Kanojia Rajni , Singh Gurmeet
Published: August 2005

The effect of nicotinic acid (pyridine 3-carboxylic acid) on mild steel dissolution in H2SO4 is investigated by electrochemical methods: steady state galvanostatic and potentiostatic polarisation measurements. The dissolution parameters, such as corrosion currents, passive current, flade potential, open circuit potential, cathodic and anodic Tafel slopes and inhibition efficiencies, are determined. The adsorption and corrosion rates based on heat of adsorption and activation energies are calculated from Langmuir's adsorption isotherm. The inhibition efficiency range of 94–99% is obtained for a concentration range of 10−1 to 10−7 mol L−1. Passivating parameters revealed that these are strongly passivating additives. Synergistic effects of I— have a strong impact on the performance of these additives. These results are verified by the weight loss method. The surface analysis studies carried out by SEM supplement the galvanostatic results.
Vitamins: Potential inhibitors for nickel in acidic media
Authors: Malhotra S. , Singh G.
Published: August 2005

Corrosion of Ni in 1N HNO3 has been investigated in the presence of Vitamins B1, B6 and C. Galvanostatic study carried out at a temperature range of 308 K to 328 K revealed a very high inhibition efficiency of these additives. The I% varied in the range of 99·1–99·7% for 10−2M concentration of Vitamin B1, 43·7–99·2% for 10−2M concentration of Vitamin C and 88–96% for 10−2M concentration of Vitamin B6. The ba and bc slopes indicate that at higher concentrations, these additives act purely by the adsorption on the active sites, therefore inhibiting the corrosion processes. Adsorption of these inhibitors depends on the already adsorbed anions. A study of Ecorr reveals that Vitamin C is a mixed inhibitor, inhibiting both cathodic and anodic processes to an equal extent whereas Vitamin B1 and B6 are predominantly cathodic inhibitors at 10−2M concentration. Passivation parameters suggest that these are non-passivating type of inhibitors. These results are supplemented by some surface analytical studies like SEM. The study at higher temperatures indicates that these are better inhibitors at higher temperatures as I% improves with the increase in temperature.
Electroless deposition of ternary Ni–W–P alloys from sulphate and chloride based baths
Authors: Balaraju J. N. , Anandan C. , Rajam K. S.
Published: August 2005

The present investigation focuses on the preparation of ternary electroless Ni–W–P alloy deposits using sulphate (B1) and chloride (B2) based baths. The characteristics of the deposits were studied using XRD, SEM, XPS and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. XRD patterns showed that the tungsten influences the structure and grain size of the deposits produced using B1 and B2 based baths. EDX analysis showed that a drastic reduction of phosphorus content owing to the addition of tungsten in both types of deposits. XPS studies showed that W content was approximately 2 at.-% and in the coatings deposited using B1 baths the elemental form of tungsten is twice that in the coatings deposited using B2 baths. From SEM analysis coarse nodular structure was found for the deposits obtained using B1 baths. It was also found from AFM images that the roughness values of ternary deposits using B2 baths were lower than those using B1 baths. Heat treatment at different temperatures on the deposits showed a higher increase in hardness in the coatings from B2 baths.
Development and characterisation of electroless Cr–P alloy as a decorative coating for automobiles
Authors: Shashikala A. R. , Tharamani C. N. , Uma Rani R. , Sharma A. K. , Mayanna S. M.
Published: August 2005

Electroless plating of Cr–P alloy as a decorative coating from acidic solution (pH 3·0) containing Cr2(SO4)3.6H2O, KSCN, glycine and NaH2PO2 was studied at 303 K to evaluate it as a novel technique for finishing of components. Spectral studies of the plating bath solution indicated the complexation of Cr3+ with KSCN and glycine. The action of these complexing agents was synergistic in nature, giving good quality coating with a high deposition rate. X-ray and SEM studies revealed that Cr–P was partially crystalline and uniformly distributed on the substrate. The percentage of crystallinity and type of crystal planes appeared to vary with the nature of the complexing agent used. The resistance of the coating towards corrosive media was related to the microstructure and the composition of the alloy. The developed procedure is simple, ecofriendly and economically viable.
Electrochemical and electrophoretic deposition of hydroxyapatite for orthopaedic applications
Authors: Eliaz N. , Sridhar T. M. , Kamachi Mudali U. , Raj Baldev
Published: August 2005

The basic calcium phosphate mineral, hydroxyapatite (HAP) (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2), is the prototype of one of the major constituents of bone and teeth. Thin layers of HAP were coated on the surface of type 316L stainless steel by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) from a 2·5% suspension in isopropyl alcohol, and this was followed by vacuum sintering at 800°C for 1 h. The development of HAP coatings was affected by the applied potential and time. In addition, HAP coatings were synthesised on pure Ti by electrochemical deposition and fully characterised to validate their use in orthopaedic implants. Electrodeposition was carried out from a bath containing low concentrations of Ca(NO3)2 and NH4H2PO4 at pH 6·0 by cathodic polarisation. Both types of HAP coating were fully characterised, including with respect to corrosion resistance. The advantages of these techniques include: (i) control over the composition and structure of the coating; and (ii) the ability to coat irregular surfaces easily.
An analysis of the nanotribological behaviour of Ti-containing hard carbon film
Authors: Roy M. , Kvasnica S. , Eisenmenger-Stittner C. , Vorlaufer G. , Pauschitz A.
Published: August 2005

Diamondlike carbon (DLC) coatings are well known for their self-lubricating properties. Metal-containing DLC films exhibit reduced internal stress, improved adhesion and reduced sensitivity to humidity. Furthermore, Ti-containing DLC coatings are compatible with biological environments. In view of this, the primary aim of the present work was to evaluate and analyse the friction force behaviour of Ti-containing hard carbon films. This work is primarily intended for application to microelectromechanical systems. In order to achieve the above mentioned objective, a hard carbon layer containing 6 at.-%Ti was deposited using an unbalanced magnetron sputter system on a silicon substrate. The deposition rate of the film was monitored by a quartz microbalance. Using a stylus profilometer, the thickness of the film was found to be 1·67 μm. The hardness and the elastic modulus of the film were determined using a nanoindenter. The hardness and the elastic modulus were determined to be 1·7 GPa and 17·7 GPa, respectively. The pull-off force, topography and friction force surface of the film were characterised with the use of an atomic force microscope. The pull-off force and the friction force were found to be 165·9 nN and 1·7 nN, respectively. The surface roughness Ra was found to be 2·65 nm. The friction coefficient was evaluated as a ratio of the friction force and the summation of the pull-off force and the normal force. Using the topography, and lateral force image, the topography induced friction force surface and the adhesion induced friction force surface were evaluated. The influences of applied loads and scan speeds on friction coefficient and various friction force surfaces are described in detail.
Spectral effects in escape route lighting
Authors: Mulder M , Boyce PR
Published: August 2005

This experiment investigates how the ability to move over an obstructed escape route is affected by the spectral power distribution of the lighting. Measurements were made of the speed of movement, the number of collisions, and the perceived difficulty of moving over the escape route, immediately after the ambient lighting of the space was extinguished, for 15 different combinations of light level and spectral power distribution. The results show that all three types of measurement are much more closely related to scotopic illuminance than photopic illuminance.
Global Flows: Terror, Oil, and Strategic Philanthropy
Authors: Barnes Sandra T.
Published: August 2005

U.S. involvement in Africa is growing following threats of terrorism and interruptions in oil production and because of desires by foreign corporations to expand their activities on the continent. The response of American policymakers has been to establish a stronger military presence that will engage in counterterrorism initiatives and police oil installations. The goals and extent of this buildup, and the ideology legitimating it, are new. They are departures from Cold War policies. Similarly, the response of American business leaders to weaknesses in the infrastructure and political order of African states leads them to establish their own forms of community development, known as strategic philanthropy, so as to protect and expand local markets. Despite these major developments, the media are not informing the public. This article examines the implications of these military and business initiatives for African nations and the reasons for lack of information about them.
Cuban Abakuá Chants: Examining New Linguistic and Historical Evidence for the African Diaspora
Authors: Miller Ivor
Published: August 2005

The Cuban Abakuá society—derived from the Èfik Ékpè and Ejagham Úgbè societies of southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon—was founded in Havana in the 1830s by captured leaders of Cross River villages. This paper examines the process by which West African Ékpè members were able to understand contemporary Cuban Abakuá chants, and indicates how these texts may be used as historical documents. This methodology involves first recording and interpreting Abakuá chants with Cuban elders, and then interpreting these same chants with the aid of West African Èfik speakers. The correlation of data in these chants with those in documents created by Europeans and Africans from the eighteenth to twentieth centuries indicates a vocabulary that includes many geographic and ethnic names and an occasional historical figure. These examples may lead to a reevaluation of the extent to which African identity and culture were transmitted during the transAtlantic diaspora. Abakuá intellectuals have used commercial recordings to extol their history and ritual lineages. Evidence indicates that Cuban Abakuá identity is based on detailed knowledge of ritual lineages stemming from specific locations in their homelands, and not upon a vague notion of an African “national” or “ethnic” identity. The persistence of the Abakuá society contradicts the official construction of a Cuban national identity.
History, the Nation-State, and Alternative Narratives: An Example from Colonial Douala
Authors: Schler Lynn
Published: August 2005

This article examines processes of community-building in the immigrant quarter of New Bell, Douala, during the interwar years. Historians of Douala have overlooked the history of New Bell, focusing instead on the political and economic activity of Duala's Westernized elite during this period. This historiographic oversight reflects a preoccupation with elite politics identified as the seeds of nationalism in Cameroon. An examination of the community of immigrants provides us with an alternative conceptualization of a multiethnic collective. By tracing the construction and evolution of public space in interwar New Bell, we can uncover elements of group solidarity binding together this highly diverse population.
Coherent mortality forecasts for a group of populations: An extension of the lee-carter method
Authors: Li Nan , Lee Ronald
Published: August 2005

Mortality patterns and trajectories in closely related populations are likely to be similar in some respects, and differences are unlikely to increase in the long run. It should therefore be possible to improve the mortality forecasts for individual countries by taking into account the patterns in a larger group. Using the Human Mortality Database, we apply the Lee-Carter model to a group of populations, allowing each its own age pattern and level of mortality but imposing shared rates of change by age. Our forecasts also allow divergent patterns to continue for a while before tapering off. We forecast greater longevity gains for the United States and lesser ones for Japan relative to separate forecasts.
The impact of family structure transitions on youth achievement: Evidence from the children of the NlSY79
Authors: Aughinbaugh Alison , Pierret Charles R. , Rothstein Donna S.
Published: August 2005

We investigated the sensitivity of measures of cognitive ability and socioemotional development to changes in parents’ marital status using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979. We used several scores for each assessment, taken at different times relative to parents’ marital transitions, which allowed us to trace the effects starting up to five years before a parent’s change in marital status and continuing for up to six years afterward. It also allowed us to correct for the unobserved heterogeneity of the transition and nontransition samples by controlling for the child’s fixed effect in estimating the time path of his or her response to the transition. We found that children from families with both biological parents scored significantly better on the BPI and the PIAT-math and PIAT-reading assessments than did children from nonintact families. However, much of the difference disappeared when we controlled for background variables. Furthermore, when we controlled for child fixed effects, we did not find significant longitudinal variation in these scores over long periods that encompass the marital transition. This finding suggests that most of the variation is due to cross-sectional differences and is not a result of marital transitions per se.
Migration and spatial assimilation among u.s. latinos: Classical versus segmented trajectories
Authors: South Scott J. , Crowder Kyle , Chavez Erick
Published: August 2005

We used merged data from the Latino National Political Survey, the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, and the U.S. census to examine patterns and determinants of interneighborhood residential mobility between 1990 and 1995 for 2,074 U.S. residents of Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban ethnicity. In several respects, our findings confirm the central tenets of spatial assimilation theory: Latino residential mobility into neighborhoods that are inhabited by greater percentages of non-Hispanic whites (i.e., Anglos) increases with human and financial capital and English-language use. However, these results also point to variations in the residential mobility process among Latinos that are broadly consistent with the segmented assimilation perspective on ethnic and immigrant incorporation. Net of controls, Puerto Ricans are less likely than Mexicans to move to neighborhoods with relatively large Anglo populations, and the generational and socioeconomic differences that are anticipated by the classical assimilation model emerge more strongly for Mexicans than for Puerto Ricans or Cubans. Among Puerto Ricans and Cubans, darker skin color inhibits mobility into Anglo neighborhoods.
Aggregate age-at-marriage patterns from individual mate-search heuristics
Authors: Todd Peter M. , Billari Francesco C. , Simão Jorge
Published: August 2005

The distribution of age at first marriage shows well-known strong regularities across many countries and recent historical periods. We accounted for these patterns by developing agent-based models that simulate the aggregate behavior of individuals who are searching for marriage partners. Past models assumed fully rational agents with complete knowledge of the marriage market; our simulated agents used psychologically plausible simple heuristic mate search rules that adjust aspiration levels on the basis of a sequence of encounters with potential partners. Substantial individual variation must be included in the models to account for the demographically observed ageat-marriage patterns.
The Problem of Housing Affordability, and its Economic and Social Effect on the City of Gweru, Zimbabwe
Authors: Mhlahlo Samson Rwadzi
Published: August 2005

The paper examines Gweru City Council's efforts to provide housing, and analyses the housing affordability problem along with its economic and social impact on Gweru in Zimbabwe. It investigates how far lodgers have enabled both the landlord and the lodger to access shelter in Gweru, and observes overcrowding and the factors constraining progress in the provision of housing in Gweru. The study reviews responses to the affordability crisis by Gweru City Council, and adaptation mechanisms by the low-and middle-income home seekers. It summarises by suggesting solutions to the housing affordability problem.
The Impact of External Debts on Economic Growth: An Empirical Assessment of the Sudan: 1978-2001
Authors: Mohamed Mutasim Ahmed Abdelmawla
Published: August 2005

This paper investigates, from an empirical point of view, the impact of Sudan's external indebtedness on economic growth over the period (1978-2001). In addition to that, the growth rate of real export earnings is included in the empirical model to capture the impact of export promotion strategy in inducing economic growth, while inflation rate is incorporated as a macroeconomic policy variable. The results of the study reveal the existence of debt overhang problem in Sudan, i.e. external debts exceed the country's repayment ability. The study concluded that external debt and inflation deter economic growth, while export earnings have positive impacts. Thus, the findings of this study support the need of Sudan to be considered for comprehensive debt relief measures. The study recommends the adoption of export- led growth strategy besides improving infrastructure. Furthermore, encouraging domestic saving and realizing peace in a united Sudan will help restore debt sustainability.
Child Mortality in Developing Countries: Challenges and Policy Options
Authors: Oloo James Alan
Published: August 2005

The objective of this study is to understand determinants of mortality rates of children under the age of five years in developing countries. The study uses secondary data to investigate the relationship between underfive mortality rates and such socioeconomic variables as fertility, literacy, immunization, access to clean drinking water, HIV/AIDS prevalence, and human and material resources using linear regression analysis. Results show that while most of these variables have a significant relationship with under-five mortality rate, the proportion of doctors for every 100,000 population, and health expenditure per capita have an insignificant predictive value. Conclusion: Reducing child mortality rates requires multiple intervention strategies, such as access to safe drinking water, improvement in education opportunities, family planning, and tackling HIV/AIDS.
Where Tradition Meets Change: Japan's Agricultural Politics in Transition
Authors: Mulgan Aurelia George
Published: August 2005

Japanese agricultural politics is transiting from an old to a new model, one that reflects broader changes in Japan's political economy. Those changes include a rebalancing of electoral power away from rural interests, the emergence of forces working for political and economic reform, the buttressing of executive power at the expense of the customary policymaking apparatus, and the ascendancy of a prime minister whose policy agenda is antithetical to the very foundations on which traditional power structures have rested. So far, however, the impact on farm policy has been modest. Vestiges of the old system continue to complicate the outlook for agricultural reform.
The Bloodstained Doll: Violence and the Gift in Wartime Japan
Authors: Schattschneider Ellen
Published: August 2005

During 1936–45, women throughout the Japanese Empire made countless female figures and sent them in imonbukuro (comfort bags) to military personnel. Incorporating elements of amulets, Bodhisattva images, hitogata (ancient protective figures), and Western-style dolls, these masukotto (mascots) or imon ningyō (comfort dolls) took on shifting ideological and ritual functions. Initially, they helped domesticate colonial landscapes and bind conventional soldiers to the female-coded mythic Japanese homeland. Late in the war, when taken by tokkōtai (Special Attack Corps, or "kamikaze") pilots on fatal missions, the dolls had increasingly conjugal and sacrificial associations, foreshadowing their ambiguous deployments in postwar memorial, display, and political projects.
ITIH5 as a multifaceted player in pancreatic cancer suppression, impairing tyrosine kinase signaling, cell adhesion and migration
Authors: Kosinski Jennifer , Sechi Antonio , Hain Johanna , Villwock Sophia , Ha Stefanie Anh , Hauschulz Maximilian , Rose Michael , Steib Florian , Ortiz‐Brüchle Nadina , Heij Lara , Maas Sanne L. , van der Vorst Emiel P. C. , Knoesel Thomas , Altendorf‐Hofmann Annelore , Simon Ronald , Sauter Guido , Bednarsch Jan , Jonigk Danny , Dahl Edgar
Published: February 2024

Inter‐alpha‐trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 5 (ITIH5) has been identified as a metastasis suppressor gene in pancreatic cancer. Here, we analyzed ITIH5 promoter methylation and protein expression in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset and three tissue microarray cohorts (n = 618), respectively. Cellular effects, including cell migration, focal adhesion formation and protein tyrosine kinase activity, induced by forced ITIH5 expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines were studied in stable transfectants. ITIH5 promoter hypermethylation was associated with unfavorable prognosis, while immunohistochemistry demonstrated loss of ITIH5 in the metastatic setting and worsened overall survival. Gain‐of‐function models showed a significant reduction in migration capacity, but no alteration in proliferation. Focal adhesions in cells re‐expressing ITIH5 exhibited a smaller and more rounded phenotype, typical for slow‐moving cells. An impressive increase of acetylated alpha‐tubulin was observed in ITIH5‐positive cells, indicating more stable microtubules. In addition, we found significantly decreased activities of kinases related to focal adhesion. Our results indicate that loss of ITIH5 in pancreatic cancer profoundly affects its molecular profile: ITIH5 potentially interferes with a variety of oncogenic signaling pathways, including the PI3K/AKT pathway. This may lead to altered cell migration and focal adhesion formation. These cellular alterations may contribute to the metastasis‐inhibiting properties of ITIH5 in pancreatic cancer.
Cutaneous Response to Injury and Wound Healing
Authors: O'Toole Edel A.
Published: February 2024

Wound healing is a complex and dynamic response to injury which can be divided into three phases: inflammation, re‐epithelialization and matrix remodelling. Interactions are required between keratinocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and inflammatory cells, growth factors, extracellular matrix and enzymes called proteases. Foetal wounds can heal without scarring. However, wounds in children and adults heal with a remodelling phase resulting in a scar. Non‐healing or chronic wounds occur because of infection or pressure as well as systemic factors such as ischaemia or diabetes mellitus. Abnormal scarring results in hypertrophic or keloid scars. Recent advances in stem cell biology and tissue engineering will provide new wound healing therapies.
Clinical Pharmacology
Authors: Woolf Richard T. , Smith Catherine H.
Published: February 2024

Drug therapy offers a real opportunity to dramatically improve the lives of people suffering from skin disease. In dermatology, there has been a transformative change over the last 20 years in terms of treatment options available. An abiding principle in medicine is ‘to help, or at least to do no harm’ (Hippocrates) and it is a sobering fact that an estimated 3–6% of hospital admissions are due to adverse drug reactions and, of these, over half could have potentially been avoided. Clinical pharmacology deals with the actions, mechanisms of action, uses, adverse effects and fate of drugs in humans, and underpins all aspects of drug therapy from novel drug development through to safe, effective prescribing.
Principles of Cutaneous Laser Therapy
Authors: Madan Vishal , Waibel Jill S.
Published: February 2024

The use of laser technology in medicine was pioneered in the 20th century. Since the first application in the treatment of pigmented lesions in 1960, lasers have evolved to become a mainstay of treatment in medicine and surgery alike. Lasers are routinely used to treat a wide variety of skin disorders. Given the vast array of laser devices currently available, the laser dermatologist must understand the capabilities and limitations of each device and the applications, including target structure and the appropriate parameters for the desired target, and the possible complications.
Genetic Disorders of Collagen, Elastin and Dermal Matrix
Authors: Burrows Nigel
Published: February 2024

The inherited disorders of connective tissue are a heterogeneous group of conditions characterised by defects involving primarily one element of the connective tissue: collagen, elastic fibre or other extracellular matrix proteins. Multisystem involvement is common and can be fatal. There is variable skin involvement but recognition of characteristic skin findings may provide an early diagnosis and identify those at risk of internal complications. This chapter covers the inherited disorders of collagen and elastic fibres, infantile stiff skin and premature ageing syndromes, disorders of ectopic elastic calcification, ossification, as well as syndromes related to abnormal connective tissue.
Congenital Naevi and Selected Naevoid Conditions
Authors: Kinsler Veronica A. , Sebire Neil J.
Published: February 2024

The understanding of congenital naevi has evolved rapidly in the last few years, with the discovery of many of the causative genes, and an increasing understanding of the phenotypic correlates of genotypic mosaicism in the skin. The classification of all congenital naevi is reviewed, based on phenotype, histology and genetics. This allows for the addition of new conditions as they are discovered, and for the regrouping of previously distinct disorders. The clinical features and extracutaneous associations of different congenital naevi are reviewed, as well as those of non‐naevus‐like developmental abnormalities of the skin.
The functions of remembering the past and imagining the future during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Adıgüzel Zeynep , Ay Demet , Bilgin Ezgi , Coşkuner Selin Buse , Ergen İrem , Gülgöz Sami
Published: February 2024

In this study, we explored how the COVID‐19 pandemic affected the functions of autobiographical memory and future projection over time. Between May and June 2020, we asked people (N = 286) to recall or imagine personal events from four time periods: past before the pandemic, past during the pandemic, future during the pandemic, and future after the pandemic ends. Participants rated self, social, directive, predictive, and emotion regulation functions, and the phenomenological characteristics of these events. We found that ratings for all functions decreased for the pandemic and increased for the future. Overall, this study revealed that the COVID‐19 pandemic created a breaking point, with memories being less functional at the beginning of the pandemic compared to the pre‐pandemic times and the future. However, imagined events that would occur after the pandemic ended were rated most functional, suggesting that people were still optimistic about a pandemic‐free future.
Multiscale Structural Triboelectric Aerogels Enabled by Self‐Assembly Driven Supramolecular Winding
Authors: Zhao Jiamin , Zhang Wanglin , Liu Tao , Luo Bin , Qin Ying , Gao Cong , Yuan Jinxia , Wang Shuangfei , Nie Shuangxi
Published: February 2024

The rapid development of wearable electronics has placed higher demands on the design strategies of triboelectric materials. Aerogels have the potential to become advanced triboelectric materials, however, traditional design strategies often require complex processes and additional chemical cross‐linking agents to improve the stability of the gel structure, which limits its practical application. In this work, a scalable and sustainable self‐assembly drive strategy is proposed for the design of bio‐based triboelectric aerogels with multi‐scale winding structures. Interestingly, the autoacceleration effect, which is regarded as “unfavorable” during the autocatalytic polymerization of supramolecules, is rationally exploited to provide the supramolecules within the matrix with an abundance of multiple hydrogen bonds at the same time as their rapid gelation occurs. Thanks to this, the aerogel film exhibits ultra‐high tensile strength (104 MPa) and remains undeformed after resisting an impact of 8000 times its own weight. Highly robust triboelectric aerogel films are used to build wearable self‐powered sensors with ultra‐fast response in complex environments (48 ms), while enabling real‐time interaction between the wearer and the information network. The design idea of “ turning a detriment into an asset ” in this work provides a new idea for the material construction of highly robust wearable sensors.
Hierarchical Composite Scaffold with Deferoxamine Delivery System to Promote Bone Regeneration via Optimizing Angiogenesis
Authors: Wang Raokaijuan , Zha Xiangjun , Chen Jouchen , Fu Ruijie , Fu Yajun , Xiang Jie , Yang Wei , Zhao Lixing
Published: February 2024

A bone defect refers to the loss of bone tissue caused by trauma or lesion. Bone defects result in high morbidity and deformity rates worldwide. Autologous bone grafting has been widely applied in clinics as the gold standard of treatment; however, it has limitations. Hence, bone tissue engineering has been proposed and developed as a novel therapeutic strategy for treating bone defects. Rapid and effective vascularization is essential for bone regeneration. In this study, a hierarchical composite scaffold with deferoxamine (DFO) delivery system, DFO@GMs‐pDA/PCL‐HNTs (DGPN), is developed, focusing on vascularized bone regeneration. The hierarchical structure of DGPN imitates the microstructure of natural bone and interacts with the local extracellular matrix, facilitating cell adhesion and proliferation. The addition of 1 wt% of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) improves the material properties. Hydrophilic and functional groups conferred by polydopamine (pDA) modifications strengthen the scaffold bioactivity. Gelatin microspheres (GMs) protect the pharmacological activity of DFO, achieving local application and sustained release for 7 days. DFO effectively promotes angiogenesis by activating the signaling pathway of hypoxia inducible factor‐1 α. In addition, DFO synergizes with HNTs to promote osteogenic differentiation and matrix mineralization. These results indicate that DGPN promotes bone regeneration and accelerates cranial defect healing.
Recent Advances in Reversible Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier Systems: From Hydrogen Carriers to Catalysts
Authors: Zhou Min‐Jie , Miao Yulong , Gu Yanwei , Xie Yinjun
Published: February 2024

Liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) have gained significant attention for large‐scale hydrogen storage due to their remarkable gravimetric hydrogen storage capacity (HSC) and compatibility with existing oil and gas transportation networks for long‐distance transport. However, the practical application of reversible LOHC systems has been constrained by the intrinsic thermodynamic properties of hydrogen carriers and the performances of associated catalysts in the (de)hydrogenation cycles. To overcome these challenges, thermodynamically favored carriers, high‐performance catalysts, and catalytic procedures need to be developed. Here, significant advances in recent years have been summarized, primarily centered on regular LOHC systems catalyzed by homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, including dehydrogenative aromatization of cycloalkanes to arenes and N‐heterocyclics to N‐heteroarenes, as well as reverse hydrogenation processes. Furthermore, with the development of metal complexes for dehydrogenative coupling, a new family of reversible LOHC systems based on alcohols is described that can release H2 under relatively mild conditions. Finally, views on the next steps and challenges in the field of LOHC technology are provided, emphasizing new resources for low‐cost hydrogen carriers, high‐performance catalysts, catalytic technologies, and application scenarios.
Liquid Metal Loaded Molecular Sieve: Specialized Lithium Dendrite Blocking Filler for Polymeric Solid‐State Electrolyte
Authors: Qian Shangshu , Zhu Haojie , Sun Chuang , Li Meng , Zheng Mengting , Wu Zhenzhen , Liang Yuhao , Yang Cheng , Zhang Shanqing , Lu Jun
Published: February 2024

All‐solid–state lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are currently one of the best candidates for realizing the yearning high‐energy–density batteries with high safety. However, even polyethylene oxide (PEO), the most popular polymeric solid‐state electrolyte (SSE) with the largest ionic conductivity in the category so far, has significant challenges due to the safety issues of lithium dendrites, and the insufficient ionic conductivity. Herein, molecular sieve (MS) is integrated into the PEO as an inert filler with the liquid metal (LM) as a functional module, forming an “LM‐MS‐PEO” composite as both SSE with enhanced ionic conductivity, and protection layer against lithium dendrites. As demonstrated by theoretical and experimental investigations, LM released from MS can be uniformly and efficiently distributed in PEO, which could avoid agglomeration, enable the effective blocking of lithium dendrites, and regulate the mass transport of Li ions, thus achieving even deposition of lithium during charge/discharge. Moreover, MS could reduce the crystallinity of PEO, improve lithium‐ion conductivity, and reduce operating temperature. Benefiting from the introduction of the functional MS/LM, the LM‐MS‐PEO electrolyte exhibits fourfold higher lithium ionic conductivity than the pristine PEO at 40 °C, while the as‐assembled all‐solid–state LMBs have four to five times longer stable cycle life.
Juice Vesicles Bioreactors Technology for Constructing Advanced Carbon‐Based Energy Storage
Authors: Shen Shenghui , Chen Yanbin , Gu Xinyi , Chen Ketong , Qiu Zhong , Liu Ping , Zhang Yongqi , Xiang Jiayuan , Yang Yefeng , Cao Feng , Wang Chen , Wan Wangjun , He Xinping , Liang Xinqi , Bao Ningzhong , Chen Minghua , Xia Yang , Xia Xinhui , Zhang Wenkui
Published: February 2024

The construction of high‐quality carbon‐based energy materials through biotechnology has always been an eager goal of the scientific community. Herein, juice vesicles bioreactors (JVBs) bio‐technology based on hesperidium (e.g., pomelo, waxberry, oranges) is first reported for preparation of carbon‐based composites with controllable components, adjustable morphologies, and sizes. JVBs serve as miniature reaction vessels that enable sophisticated confined chemical reactions to take place, ultimately resulting in the formations of complex carbon composites. The newly developed approach is highly versatile and can be compatible with a wide range of materials including metals, alloys, and metal compounds. The growth and self‐assembly mechanisms of carbon composites via JVBs are explained. For illustration, NiCo alloy nanoparticles are successfully in situ implanted into pomelo vesicles crosslinked carbon (PCC) by JVBs, and their applications as sulfur/carbon cathodes for lithium–sulfur batteries are explored. The well‐designed PCC/NiCo‐S electrode exhibits superior high‐rate properties and enhanced long‐term stability. Synergistic reinforcement mechanisms on transportation of ions/electrons of interface reactions and catalytic conversion of lithium polysulfides arising from metal alloy and carbon architecture are proposed with the aid of DFT calculations. The research provides a novel biosynthetic route to rational design and fabrication of carbon composites for advanced energy storage.
Membrane Technology for Energy Saving: Principles, Techniques, Applications, Challenges, and Prospects
Authors: Osman Ahmed I. , Chen Zhonghao , Elgarahy Ahmed M. , Farghali Mohamed , Mohamed Israa M. A. , Priya A.K. , Hawash Hamada B. , Yap Pow‐Seng
Published: February 2024

Membrane technology emerges as a transformative solution for global challenges, excelling in water treatment, gas purification, and waste recycling. This comprehensive review navigates the principles, advantages, challenges, and prospects of membrane technology, emphasizing its pivotal role in addressing contemporary environmental and sustainability issues. The goal is to contribute to environmental objectives by exploring the principles, mechanisms, advantages, and limitations of membrane technology. Noteworthy features include energy efficiency, selectivity, and minimal environmental footprint, distinguishing it from conventional methods. Advances in nanomembranes, organic porous membranes, and metal‐organic frameworks‐based membranes highlight their potential for energy‐efficient contaminant removal. The review underscores the integration of renewable energy sources for eco‐friendly desalination and separation processes. The future trajectory unfolds with next‐gen nanocomposite membranes, sustainable polymers, and optimized energy consumption through electrochemical and hybrid approaches. In healthcare, membrane technology reshapes gas exchange, hemodialysis, biosensors, wound healing, and drug delivery, while in chemical industries, it streamlines organic solvent separation. Challenges like fouling, material stability, and energy efficiency are acknowledged, with the integration of artificial intelligence recognized as a progressing frontier. Despite limitations, membrane technology holds promise for sustainability and revolutionizing diverse industries.
Comparing fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography in staging for nodal and distant metastasis in urothelial/bladder cancer
Authors: Al‐Zubaidi Mohammed , Ong Katherine , Viswambaram Pravin , Bangash Haider , Boardman Glenn , McCombie Steve P. , Oey Oliver , Swarbrick Nicole , Redfern Andrew , Ong Jeremy , Gauci Richard , Low Ronny , Hayne Dickon
Published: February 2024

Objectives

We aim to assess the clinical value of 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron (18F‐FDG‐PET) scan in detecting nodal and distant metastasis compared with computed tomography (CT) scan in patients with urothelial carcinoma or bladder cancer, aiming to improve staging accuracy and thereby better prognosticate and determine therapy.

Methods

A retrospective review of 75 patients with invasive bladder cancer (≥T1) who were staged with both CT and 18F‐FDG‐PET within an 8‐week interval was performed for the period between 2015 and 2020. Seventy‐two per cent (54/75) had formal pelvic lymph node (LN) dissection or biopsy of lesions suspicious for metastases. FDG‐PET definitions for positive sites were assessed depending on SUV Max (nodes with SUVmax >4 at any size, SUV > 2 for lymph nodes >8 mm, or any SUV if the lymph node was >10 mm on axial images). For CT scanning, enlarged LN by RECIST 1.1 criteria (>10 mm) as well as qualitative findings suggesting metastasis were considered positive. The analysis was based on the comparison of CT and 18F‐FDG‐PET findings to histopathology results from LN dissection or biopsies.

Results

Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of CT versus FDG‐PET for detecting metastasis, in patients who underwent pelvic LN dissection or biopsy of lesions suspicious of metastases, were 46.6% (95% CI: 21%–70%) versus 60% (95% CI: 32%–84%), 100% (95% CI: 91%–100%) versus 83.78% (95% CI: 69%–94%), 100% (95% CI: 63%–100%) versus 60% (95% CI: 32%–84%), and 82.2% (95% CI: 68%–92%) versus 83.78% (95% CI: 69%–94%), respectively. 7/75 (9.3%) patients avoided cystectomy due to 18F‐FDG‐PET features of metastases that were not detected by CT.

Conclusion

FDG‐PET may be more sensitive than CT for metastases in the staging of bladder cancer, which resulted in significant avoidance of aggressive local management in cases with occult metastasis.