bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge, attitude, and practice of cervical cancer screening among women living with HIV in the Kilimanjaro region, northern Tanzania
Authors: Kimondo Faustini C. , Kajoka Happiness D. , Mwantake Meshack R. , Amour Caroline , Mboya Innocent B.
Published: March 2021

Background

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer globally among women in incidence and mortality. Women living with HIV (WLHIV) are disproportionately at a higher risk of developing the disease.

Aim

To determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of cervical cancer screening among WLHIV in the Kilimanjaro region, northern Tanzania, following the integration of these services in routine HIV care in the country.

Methods and results

A cross‐sectional study was conducted in the Kilimanjaro region among 297 WLHIV attending care and treatment centers (CTC) in Hai district and Mawenzi regional hospitals in northern Tanzania between 21 August and 3 September 2020. A questionnaire was used for data collection using face‐to‐face interviews. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Frequencies and percentages summarized categorical variables and numerical variables summarized using median and interquartile range (IQR). About half (50.2%) of 297 WLHIV in this study had ever screened for cervical cancer, and 64% screened within the past 12 months preceding the survey. Although 90% ever heard of cervical cancer screening, only 20.5% knew when WLHIV should start screening. Over half (52.5%) had adequate knowledge of prevention, 38.4% on risk factors, and 27.9% of cervical cancer signs and symptoms. Two‐thirds (66.7%) had positive attitudes toward cervical cancer screening. A major source of cervical cancer screening information was the health care providers (80.1%) and the mass media (66%), particularly radio.

Conclusions

The WLHIV in this study had inadequate knowledge but favorable attitudes toward cervical cancer screening, while half had screened for cervical cancer. Efforts should be directed to capacity building of health care providers at CTC and scaling up the mass media campaigns as relevant interventions to promote the uptake of cervical cancer screening programs among WLHIV in Tanzania.
Highly variable chloroplast genome from two endangered Papaveraceae lithophytes Corydalis tomentella and Corydalis saxicola
Authors: Ren Fengming , Wang Liqiang , Li Ying , Zhuo Wei , Xu Zhichao , Guo Haojie , Liu Yan , Gao Ranran , Song Jingyuan
Published: March 2021

The increasingly wide application of chloroplast (cp) genome super‐barcode in taxonomy and the recent breakthrough in cp genetic engineering make the development of new cp gene resources urgent and significant. Corydalis is recognized as the most genotypes complicated and taxonomically challenging plant taxa in Papaveraceae. However, there currently are few reports about cp genomes of the genus Corydalis. In this study, we sequenced four complete cp genomes of two endangered lithophytes Corydalis saxicola and Corydalis tomentella in Corydalis, conducted a comparison of these cp genomes among each other as well as with others of Papaveraceae. The cp genomes have a large genome size of 189,029–190,247 bp, possessing a quadripartite structure and with two highly expanded inverted repeat (IR) regions (length: 41,955–42,350 bp). Comparison between the cp genomes of C. tomentella, C. saxicola, and Papaveraceae species, five NADH dehydrogenase‐like genes (ndhF, ndhD, ndhL, ndhG, and ndhE) with psaC, rpl32, ccsA, and trnL‐UAG normally located in the SSC region have migrated to IRs, resulting in IR expansion and gene duplication. An up to 9 kb inversion involving five genes (rpl23, ycf2, ycf15, trnI‐CAU, and trnL‐CAA) was found within IR regions. The accD gene was found to be absent and the ycf1 gene has shifted from the IR/SSC border to the SSC region as a single copy. Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of common CDS showed that the genus Corydalis is quite distantly related to the other genera of Papaveraceae, it provided a new clue for recent advocacy to establish a separate Fumariaceae family. Our results revealed one special cp genome structure in Papaveraceae, provided a useful resources for classification of the genus Corydalis, and will be valuable for understanding Papaveraceae evolutionary relationships.
Women’s perspectives on motivational factors for lifestyle changes after gestational diabetes and implications for diabetes prevention interventions
Authors: Ørtenblad Lisbeth , Høtoft Diana , Krogh Rubab H. , Lynggaard Vibeke , Juel Christiansen Jens , Vinther Nielsen Claus , Hedeager Momsen Anne‐Mette
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication in pregnancy and constitutes a public health problem due to the risk of developing diabetes and other diseases. Most women face barriers in complying with preventive programs. This study aimed to explore motivational factors for lifestyle changes among women with a history of GDM and their suggestions for preventive programs.

Methods

This study used a qualitative approach in six focus group interviews with a total of 32 women. The selection criteria were time since onset of GDM, including women diagnosed with GDM, six months and five years after GDM, diagnosed and not diagnosed with diabetes. Inductive analysis was performed.

Results

The women reacted with anxiety about their GDM diagnosis and experienced persistent concerns about the consequences of GDM. They were highly motivated to take preventive initiatives, but faced major adherence challenges. The demotivating factors were lack of time and resources, too little family involvement, lack of knowledge and social norms that may obstruct healthy eating. A powerful motivational factor for complying with preventive strategies was the well‐being of their children and partners.

Conclusions

Preventive initiatives should be rooted in the women's perception of GDM/diabetes and based on their experiences with barriers and motivational factors. The well‐being and the quality of life within the family are dominant motivational factors which offer powerful potentials for supporting the women's coping capability. Further, there is a need to be responsiveness to the women and their families even a long time after the onset of GDM.
Complement cascade in severe forms of COVID‐19: Recent advances in therapy
Authors: Chouaki Benmansour Nassima , Carvelli Julien , Vivier Eric
Published: March 2021

The complement system is an essential component of the innate immune system. The three complement pathways (classical, lectin, alternative) are directly or indirectly activated by the SARS‐CoV‐2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). In the most severe forms of COVID‐19, overactivation of the complement system may contribute to the cytokine storm, endothelial inflammation (endotheliitis) and thrombosis. No antiviral drug has yet been shown to be effective in COVID‐19. Therefore, immunotherapies represent a promising therapeutic in the immunopathological phase (following the viral phase) of the disease. Complement blockade, mostly C5a‐C5aR axis blockade, may prevent acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from worsening or progression to death. Clinical trials are underway.
Effects of fracture parameters and roughness on heat‐flow coupling in rock masses with two‐dimensional fracture networks
Authors: Huang Fan , Yao Chi , Zhang Xiaobo , Wu Ligong , Shao Yulong , Zhou Chuangbing
Published: March 2021

Discrete fracture network (DFN) is an effective means of describing the coupling of heat flow in an underground fractured rock mass. In this paper, an improved DFN is proposed by introducing the correlation function of fracture trace length and aperture, which is more consistent with the real fracture data. Next, based on the improved model, the influence of fracture roughness on the fluid flow and heat transmission was evaluated, and the relationship between the fracture aperture and the joint roughness coefficient (JRC) is established. Finally, based on the exponential function between confining pressure and aperture, the influence of confining pressure on the heat‐flow coupling process is considered in the improved model. Besides, the reliability of the model was verified by comparing with the analytical solution of the two‐dimensional single‐fracture heat‐flow coupling problem. The results show that under the same conditions, considering the correlation between the geometric parameters of the fracture, the seepage and heat transfer rates of the model increased, the outlet boundary flow reached the maximum value, and the average outlet temperature dropped rapidly. However, the fracture roughness reduces the outlet flow rate and the decline rate of average temperature. The confining pressure will lead to a decrease of about 3.5% in the outlet flow of the model, which is consistent with the seepage law in practical engineering. The model presented in this paper is an effective supplement to the two‐dimensional fracture network heat‐flow coupling model and can provide a theoretical basis and a numerical calculation tool for related underground rock mass engineering.
Outcomes on anti‐VEGFR‐2/paclitaxel treatment after progression on immune checkpoint inhibition in patients with metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Kankeu Fonkoua Lionel A. , Chakrabarti Sakti , Sonbol Mohamad B. , Kasi Pashtoon M. , Starr Jason S. , Liu Alex J. , Nevala Wendy K. , Maus Rachel L. , Bois Melanie C. , Pitot Henry C. , Chandrasekharan Chandrikha , Ross Helen J. , Wu Tsung‐Teh , Graham Rondell P. , Villasboas Jose C. , Weiss Matthias , Foster Nathan R. , Markovic Svetomir N. , Dong Haidong , Yoon Harry H.
Published: March 2021

Through our involvement in KEYNOTE‐059, we unexpectedly observed durable responses in two patients with metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (mGEA) who received ramucirumab (anti‐VEGFR‐2)/paclitaxel after immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI). To assess the reproducibility of this observation, we piloted an approach to administer ramucirumab/paclitaxel after ICI in more patients, and explored changes in the immune microenvironment. Nineteen consecutive patients with mGEA received ICI followed by ramucirumab/paclitaxel. Most (95%) did not respond to ICI, yet after irRECIST‐defined progression on ICI, all patients experienced tumor size reduction on ramucirumab/paclitaxel. The objective response rate (ORR) and progression‐free survival (PFS) on ramucirumab/paclitaxel after ICI were higher than on the last chemotherapy before ICI in the same group of patients (ORR, 58.8% vs 11.8%; PFS 12.2 vs 3.0 months; respectively). Paired tumor biopsies examined by imaging mass cytometry showed a median 5.5‐fold (range 4‐121) lower frequency of immunosuppressive forkhead box P3+ regulatory T cells with relatively preserved CD8+ T cells, post‐treatment versus pre‐treatment (n = 5 pairs). We then compared the outcomes of these 19 patients with a separate group who received ramucirumab/paclitaxel without preceding ICI (n = 68). Median overall survival on ramucirumab/paclitaxel was longer with (vs without) immediately preceding ICI (14.8 vs 7.4 months) including after multivariate analysis, as was PFS. In our small clinical series, outcomes appeared improved on anti‐VEGFR‐2/paclitaxel treatment when preceded by ICI, in association with alterations in the immune microenvironment. However, further investigation is needed to determine the generalizability of these data. Prospective clinical trials to evaluate sequential treatment with ICI followed by anti‐VEGF(R)/taxane are underway.
Compressive Strength of Iliac Bone ECM Is Not Reduced in Osteogenesis Imperfecta and Increases With Mineralization
Authors: Indermaur Michael , Casari Daniele , Kochetkova Tatiana , Peruzzi Cinzia , Zimmermann Elizabeth , Rauch Frank , Willie Bettina , Michler Johann , Schwiedrzik Jakob , Zysset Philippe
Published: March 2021

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is an inheritable, genetic, and collagen-related disorder leading to an increase in bone fragility, but the origin of its “brittle behavior” is unclear. Because of its complex hierarchical structure, bone behaves differently at various length scales. This study aims to compare mechanical properties of human OI bone with healthy control bone at the extracellular matrix (ECM) level and to quantify the influence of the degree of mineralization. Degree of mineralization and mechanical properties were analyzed under dry conditions in 12 fixed and embedded transiliac crest biopsies (control n = 6, OI type I n = 3, OI type IV n = 2, and OI type III n = 1). Mean degree of mineralization was measured by microcomputed tomography at the biopsy level and the mineral-to-matrix ratio was assessed by Raman spectroscopy at the ECM level. Both methods revealed that the degree of mineralization is higher for OI bone compared with healthy control. Micropillar compression is a novel technique for quantifying post-yield properties of bone at the ECM level. Micropillars (d = 5 μm, h = 10 μm) were fabricated using focused ion beam milling and quasi-statically compressed to capture key post-yield properties such as ultimate strength. The qualitative inspection of the stress–strain curves showed that both OI and healthy control bone have a ductile response at the ECM level. The quantitative results showed that compressive strength is not reduced in OI bone and is increasing with OI severity. Nanoindentation measurements revealed that OI bone tends to have a higher Young's modulus, hardness, and dissipated energy compared with healthy bone. Micropillar strength and indentation modulus increased linearly and significantly (p < .0001) with mineral-to-matrix ratio. In conclusion, this study indicates that compressive mechanical properties of dry OI bone at the iliac crest are not inferior to healthy control at the ECM level and increase with mineralization. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Saikosaponin‐d improved the stemness of mouse neural stem cells and increased their thermotolerance potential
Authors: Xu Panpan , Ma Xiaofang , Xiao Xiaolin , Shi Wanchao , Xue Na , Liu Xiaozhi , Zuo Guoxing , Hu Sheng , Du Xinping , Zheng Jun
Published: March 2021

Purpose

To investigate the effect of saikosaponin‐d (Ssd) on proliferation, differentiation, and stemness of neural stem cells (NSCs), and to observe whether Ssd has a protective effect on NSCs at medium‐high and high temperature.

Materials and methods

NSCs were extracted from 15‐day fetal mice. After subculture, Ssd treatment was performed. Cell cycle and apoptosis rate were detected by flow cytometry. Western Blot and immunofluorescence assay were used to detect the expression and spatial distribution of Nestin, NSE, GFAP, Oct4, and SOX2. Cell growth morphology was observed under a microscope; the concentration of extracellular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was determined by ELISA.

Results

Compared with the control group, the proportion of NSCs in the G0/G1 phase increased in the Ssd treatment group; on the contrary, the proportion in the G2/M phase significantly decreased. Microscopically, our results also suggested the sphere‐formation rate increased significantly. Besides, the percentage of dead cells in the Ssd group at 38.5, 40°C were reduced, and the level of LDH release was dropped.

Conclusion

Ssd improved the stemness of NSCs, inhibited their differentiation into neural cells, and reduced cell damage under high temperature. Therefore, we speculate that Ssd can improve the thermotolerance of NSCs and protect the nervous system of children with fever.
Enhanced synaptic properties of the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus after learning a spatial working memory task in adult male mice
Authors: Stavroulaki Vasiliki , Ioakeimidis Vasileios , Konstantoudaki Xanthippi , Sidiropoulou Kyriaki
Published: March 2021

Working memory (WM) is the ability to hold on‐line and manipulate information. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a key brain region involved in WM, while the hippocampus is also involved, particularly, in spatial WM. Although several studies have investigated the neuronal substrates of WM in trained animals, the effects and the mechanisms underlying learning WM tasks have not been explored. In our study, we investigated the effects of learning WM tasks in mice on the function of PFC and hippocampus, by training mice in the delayed alternation task for 9 days (adaptive group). This group was compared to naïve mice (which stayed in their homecage) and mice trained in the alternation procedure only (non‐adaptive). Following training, a cohort of mice (Experiment A) was tested in the left–right discrimination task and the reversal learning task, while another cohort (Experiment B) was tested in the attention set‐shifting task (AST). The adaptive group performed significantly better in the reversal learning task (Experiment A) and AST (Experiment B), compared to non‐adaptive and naïve groups. At the end of the behavioral experiments in Experiment A, field excitatory post‐synaptic potential (fEPSP) recordings were performed in PFC and hippocampal brain slices. The adaptive group had enhanced the long‐term potentiation (LTP) in the PFC, compared to the other groups. In the hippocampus, both the adaptive and the non‐adaptive groups exhibited increased fEPSP compared to the naïve group, but no differences in LTP. In Experiment B, the dendritic spine density was measured, which, in the PFC, was found increased in the adaptive group, compared to the non‐adaptive and naïve groups. In the hippocampus, there was an increase in mature dendritic spine density in the adaptive group, compared to the other two groups. Our results indicate a role for LTP and dendritic spine density in learning WM tasks.
Controlled Cell Alignment Using Two‐Photon Direct Laser Writing‐Patterned Hydrogels in 2D and 3D
Authors: Song Jiaxi , Michas Christos , Chen Christopher S. , White Alice E. , Grinstaff Mark W.
Published: March 2021

Direct laser writing (DLW) via two‐photon polymerization is an emerging highly precise technique for the fabrication of intricate cellular scaffolds. Despite recent progress in using two‐photon‐polymerized scaffolds to probe fundamental cell behaviors, new methods to direct and modulate microscale cell alignment and selective cell adhesion using two‐photon‐polymerized microstructures are of keen interest. Here, a DLW‐fabricated 2D and 3D hydrogel microstructures, with alternating soft and stiff regions, for precisely controlled cell alignment are reported. The use of both cell‐adhesive and cell‐repellent hydrogels allows selective adhesion and alignment of human mesenchymal stem cells within the printed structure. Importantly, DLW patterning enables cell alignment on flat surfaces as well as irregular and curved 3D microstructures, which are otherwise challenging to pattern with cells.
The Phenomenon of Exquisite Motor Control in Tic Disorders and its Pathophysiological Implications
Authors: Ganos Christos , Neumann Wolf‐Julian , Müller‐Vahl Kirsten R. , Bhatia Kailash P. , Hallett Mark , Haggard Patrick , Rothwell John
Published: March 2021

The unifying characteristic of movement disorders is the phenotypic presentation of abnormal motor outputs, either as isolated phenomena or in association with further clinical, often neuropsychiatric, features. However, the possibility of a movement disorder also characterized by supranormal or enhanced volitional motor control has not received attention. Based on clinical observations and cases collected over a number of years, we here describe the intriguing clinical phenomenon that people with tic disorders are often able to control specific muscle contractions as part of their tic behaviors to a degree that most humans typically cannot. Examples are given in accompanying video documentation. We explore medical literature on this topic and draw analogies with early research of fine motor control physiology in healthy humans. By systematically analyzing the probable sources of this unusual capacity, and focusing on neuroscientific accounts of voluntary motor control, sensory feedback, and the role of motor learning in tic disorders, we provide a novel pathophysiological account explaining both the presence of exquisite control over motor output and that of overall tic behaviors. We finally comment on key questions for future research on the topic and provide concluding remarks on the complex movement disorder of tic behaviors. © 2021 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Climate‐adaptive design approach for embedded footing under extreme climate event
Authors: Mahmoudabadi Vahidreza , Ravichandran Nadarajah
Published: March 2021

Recent records indicate that extreme climate events adversely affect the performance of earthen structures and superstructures supported on them by varying the strength and deformation properties of subsurface soil. To better design such structures, the effects of climate events must be well understood, and the conventional design procedures must be improved by incorporating the knowledge of climatology in geotechnical engineering. In this study, a new climate‐adaptive design method is developed to investigate the impact of extreme climate events on the safety and serviceability performances of embedded footing through incorporating the site‐specific hydrological loads such as precipitation, evapotranspiration, and water table depth to geotechnical parameters. The proposed method was applied to two arid climate sites in the United States, Austin, TX, and Albuquerque, NM. The site‐specific extreme hydrological cycle was determined based on historical records. The mathematical model was solved for temporal and spatial variations of the degree of saturation and matric suction considering the hydrological loads as the upper and lower boundary conditions, respectively. The results showed that the worst performance (higher elastic settlement and lower ultimate bearing capacity) was observed during the period when the degree of saturation in the influence zone was the highest. The critical design parameters including ultimate bearing capacity and settlement obtained from the proposed method increased by 28% and 35%, respectively, in Austin, compared to those calculated from conventional approaches where the soil is assumed to be fully saturated. In Albuquerque, the increase in ultimate bearing capacity and settlement were 61% and 45%, respectively.
An efficient positive‐definite block‐preconditioned finite volume solver for two‐sided fractional diffusion equations on composite mesh
Authors: Dai Pingfei , Jia Jinhong , Wang Hong , Wu Qingbiao , Zheng Xiangcheng
Published: March 2021

It is known that the solutions to space‐fractional diffusion equations exhibit singularities near the boundary. Therefore, numerical methods discretized on the composite mesh, in which the mesh size is refined near the boundary, provide more precise approximations to the solutions. However, the coefficient matrices of the corresponding linear systems usually lose the diagonal dominance and are ill‐conditioned, which in turn affect the convergence behavior of the iteration methods.In this work we study a finite volume method for two‐sided fractional diffusion equations, in which a locally refined composite mesh is applied to capture the boundary singularities of the solutions. The diagonal blocks of the resulting three‐by‐three block linear system are proved to be positive‐definite, based on which we propose an efficient block Gauss–Seidel method by decomposing the whole system into three subsystems with those diagonal blocks as the coefficient matrices. To further accelerate the convergence speed of the iteration, we use T. Chan's circulant preconditioner31 as the corresponding preconditioners and analyze the preconditioned matrices' spectra. Numerical experiments are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and the efficiency of the proposed method and its strong potential in dealing with ill‐conditioned problems. While we have not proved the convergence of the method in theory, the numerical experiments show that the proposed method is convergent.
Effects of modified carbon nanotubes with different sizes on properties of epoxy shape memory polymers
Authors: Tang Longhao , Wang Yanling , Li Yongfei , Li Qiang
Published: March 2021

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) have occupied an important role in material application, in which the contribution of various fillers on the enhancement of their low mechanical and thermal properties is indispensable. Lots of excellent researches on carbon nanotubes improving comprehensive performance have been accomplished, while few comparative studies about carbon nanotubes with different sizes. In the present study, epoxy shape memory composites of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes/epoxy matrix (MWCNTs/epoxy) were prepared, in which MWCNTs with different sizes modified through epoxidation act as enhancement filler. The results indicated that MWCNTs with smaller size possess an efficient effect on improving mechanical properties, and MWCNTs with larger size achieve higher enhancement on increasing heat resistance as the filler content is low (0.1%, 0.2%). Furthermore, the effect of MWCNTs on shape recovery ratio and shape recovery speed of composites has also been systematically investigated.
Modeling the temperature‐dependent viscoelastic behavior of glass fabric with binder in the compaction process
Authors: Mei Ming , He Yujia , Wei Kai , Duan Shuyong , Li Maojun , Yang Xujing
Published: March 2021

The strain response and influence of elevated temperature on the viscoelastic behavior of fabric in the compaction process cannot be described and predicted by current viscoelastic models. Here, a viscoelastic model, verified by compaction experiments, is originally proposed to depict the stress and strain responses in different stages of the compaction, especially considering the effects of added binder and elevated temperature. The model effectively captures that with the rising temperature, the interaction among fibers is enhanced due to the fiber volume expansion. Accordingly, the elastic modulus is enlarged in the compression stage. In the relaxation stage, the interaction suppresses the fiber realignment, leading to the reduction of stress relaxation. In the creep stage, the elevated temperature increases the deformation stiffness, indicating the strain is declined. In the relaxation stage, the adhesive effect of added binder facilitates the stress relaxation, and then the increasing stress relaxation promotes the increment of strain in the creep stage.
Dereplication of phenolic derivatives of three Erythroxylum species using liquid chromatography coupled with ESI‐MSn and HRESIMS
Authors: Dantas César Augusto Gonçalves , Abreu Lucas Silva , da Cunha Hidna Nascimento , Veloso Carlos Arthur Gouveia , Souto Augusto Lopes , de Fátima Agra Maria , de Oliveira Costa Vicente Carlos , da Silva Marcelo Sobral , Tavares Josean Fechine
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Given the diversity of secondary metabolites produced by species of the genus Erythroxylum, in addition to the many methods that have already been described in the literature, modern screening and identification methodologies, such as dereplication, represent an efficient and quick strategy compared to the classic techniques linked to natural product research.

Objective

The objective of the present study was to determine the phenolic profiles obtained from three species of Erythroxylum (Erythroxylum pauferrense Plowman, Erythroxylum pulchrum A.St.‐Hil. and Erythroxylum simonis Plowman) by dereplication using liquid chromatography coupled with ESI‐MSn and HRESIMS.

Material and Methods

Ethyl acetate and n‐butanolic fractions from crude ethanolic extract of Erythroxylum species were analyzed by HPLC‐ESI‐MSn and HPLC‐HRESIMS, in order to identify its corresponding compounds. Experiments were performed in negative ionization mode, and the metabolites were provisionally identified based on deprotonated molecules, molecular formulas, fragmentation patterns and literature data. The corresponding isolated compounds were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy.

Results

According to the dereplication method, it was possible to establish and compare the phenolic profile of the corresponding species by the assignment of 55 compounds, most of which were first described in these species and among which some were also new to the Erytroxylum genus. Additionally, nine compounds were isolated, including biphenyl‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetraol, where the mass spectral data were not sufficient for their identification, and reported for the first time in the Erythroxylaceae family.

Conclusion

This research contributes to the phytochemical knowledge of the Erythroxylum genus and demonstrates the importance of the dereplication method regarding the investigation of natural products, enabling accurate identification of the metabolites while avoiding the efforts and material expenses involved in the isolation of known compounds.
Ultrasmall Red Fluorescent Gold Nanoclusters for Highly Biocompatible and Long‐Time Nerve Imaging
Authors: Yang Zhe , Zhao Yueqi , Hao Yulei , Li Xingchen , Zvyagin Andrei V. , Whittaker Andrew K. , Cui Yong , Yang Bai , Lin Quan , Li Yang
Published: March 2021

A rapidly growing area of neuroscience demands next‐generation neurofluorescent probes are fulfilling several stringent criteria, including water solubility, distinct signal‐to‐background ratio, anti‐photobleaching, and low toxicity. Herein, a novel neurofluorescent probe based on gold nanoclusters capped with glutathione (Au‐GSH) is introduced and characterized by advanced fluorescence photophysical properties composed of comparative high quantum yield (8.9%), negligible blinking, and bright fluorescence in the red spectral range (Em = 650 nm) with sub‐millisecond‐scale lifetime (0.62 ms). Fluorescent performance is tested and demonstrated negligible photobleaching under exposure to ultraviolet light (365 nm, 30 W) over 4 h, immunity to variation of the microenvironment characterized by pH range of 4–10, and colloidal stability in serum over 24 h during the blood circulation. Coupled with 2.4 ± 0.9 nm ultrasmall size and good water solubility, they are superior to fluorescent proteins, quantum dots, and organic fluorescent dyes. Au‐GSH are further confirmed that they can be used as a fluorescent label for in vivo nerve and brain imaging, and even after injecting Au‐GSH into the rat sciatic nerve for 21 d, the red fluorescence is still preserved. This combination of favorable properties makes Au‐GSH a promising candidate for neurofluorescent probes.
Coding Artificial Magnetic Conductor Ground and Their Application to High‐Gain, Wideband Radar Cross‐Section Reduction of a 2×2 Antenna Array
Authors: Saleem Muhammad , Saifullah Yasir
Published: March 2021

A new technique is proposed for designing a low‐scattering 2 × 2 antenna array using strategic coding metasurface ground for wideband bistatic and monostatic backscattered energy level reduction. Two various artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) units cells are organized like a chessboard to obtain an effective 180° ± 37° reflection phase difference over a broadband frequency range. The low‐backscattering microstrip antenna array is achieved based on the destructive interference theory and diffusion property of AMC unit cells. Simulations show that the proposed antenna array has a considerable backscattering field level reduction of 4.7–18 GHz for both the x‐ and y‐polarization incident waves. It should also be noted that the maximum reduction of backscattered energy at a frequency of 7.2 GHz is −18 dB. The bistatic backscattering performance of the antenna is also given at different frequencies. Both a reference and a proposed prototype are fabricated, and the results are analyzed. Measurements of the fabricated prototype coincide well with simulations.
A Highly Directive Ultraviolet Plasmonic “Antenna‐on‐Reflector” for Single‐Molecule Detection
Authors: Roy Prithu , Bolshakov Alexey D.
Published: March 2021

Single‐molecule detection (SMD) has been a hot topic for decades due to its extensive implementation in biomedical, chemical, physical, and material sciences. The methods used for single‐molecule detection are generally variants of fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy, which employs plasmonic particles for hot‐spot generation upon illumination. The signal generated by molecules in the hot spot is strong but not directive, so, <in most contemporary works, a nanomolar concentration is required to suppress noise from background molecules. However, at extremely low concentrations, biological samples vary with regard to conformation and interaction dynamics, so the most suitable dilution is micromolar. Thus an optical antenna that can both focus incident light at tight spots and be highly directive for the efficient collection of fluorescence is demanded. Herein, a nanoantenna in the shape of an aluminium hemisphere on a parabolic reflector providing both incident wave enhancement and efficient directive signal outcoupling is proposed and simulated. To achieve this feat, the focus of the parabolic reflector coincides spatially with the hot spot created by the plasmonic gap antenna. The structure shows broadband () escalation in directivity, 24–28 dB. The calculated incident field enhancement in the detection volume of the plasmonic gap is up to .
A Theranostic Cellulose Nanocrystal‐Based Drug Delivery System with Enhanced Retention in Pulmonary Metastasis of Melanoma
Authors: Imlimthan Surachet , Khng You Cheng , Keinänen Outi , Zhang Wenzhong , Airaksinen Anu J. , Kostiainen Mauri A. , Zeglis Brian M. , Santos Hélder A. , Sarparanta Mirkka
Published: March 2021

Metastatic melanoma can be difficult to detect until at the advanced state that decreases the survival rate of patients. Several FDA‐approved BRAF inhibitors have been used for treatment of metastatic melanoma, but overall therapeutic efficacy has been limited. Lutetium‐177 (177Lu) enables simultaneous tracking of tracer accumulation with single‐photon emission computed tomography and radiotherapy. Therefore, the codelivery of 177Lu alongside chemotherapeutic agents using nanoparticles (NPs) might improve the therapeutic outcome in metastatic melanoma. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC NPs) can particularly deliver payloads to lung capillaries in vivo. Herein, 177Lu‐labeled CNC NPs loaded with vemurafenib ([177Lu]Lu‐CNC‐V NPs) is developed and the therapeutic effect in BRAF V600E mutation‐harboring YUMM1.G1 murine model of lung metastatic melanoma is investigated. The [177Lu]Lu‐CNC‐V NPs demonstrate favorable radiolabel stability, drug release profile, cellular uptake, and cell growth inhibition in vitro. In vivo biodistribution reveals significant retention of the [177Lu]Lu‐CNC‐V NPs in the lung, liver, and spleen. Ultimately, the median survival time of animals is doubly increased after treatment with [177Lu]Lu‐CNC‐V NPs compared to control groups. The enhanced therapeutic efficacy of [177Lu]Lu‐CNC‐V NPs in the lung metastatic melanoma animal model provides convincing evidence for the potential of clinical translation for theranostic CNC NP‐based drug delivery systems after intravenous administration.
It's good to talk, but it matters how we do it'
Authors: Allister Rosie
Published: March 2021

Rosie Allister explains that although talking about suicide can be a good thing and can create opportunities to help, it must be done in a responsible way so that it doesn't cause further harm.
The Economy, Nature, and the Meaning of Life After the Coronavirus Crisis
Authors: van Geest Paul , de Bourbon de Parme Carlos J. B. , Eijffinger Sylvester
Published: March 2021

“Christians still regularly tell you that nature is so beautiful and testifies of God’s greatness and goodness. Oh, dear people, nature is downright terrible, nature is one great suffering... What is ‘very good’ about a creation in which the most terrible parasites live in humans and animals...? What is ‘very good’ about a creation in which all organisms are terrorized by parasites, including parasites themselves?” (‘t Hart, Wie God verlaat heeft niets te vrezen. De Schrift betwist, pp. 7–8; 1997). The words by Maarten ‘t Hart seem irrefutable. Now that the coronavirus causes a disease that makes us realize that life is not as malleable in everything as we wish, they would have been almost prophetic if he had added the word “viruses” after “the most terrible parasites.”

Long before Maarten ‘t Hart, ancient philosophers refused to accept the idea that creation is only cruel and chaotic.

In this chapter, we will discuss how every crisis is an opportunity to continue to grow, either personally or collectively, or to come to a deeper understanding. Bearing this in mind, the question arises as to how we can learn from the present coronavirus crisis. How should society be rearranged? How should we deal with nature of which humankind is a part?
Rethinking Education in a Crisis: How New Is a New Common Really?
Authors: Louwerse Max , Postma Marie , Horden Maarten , Sluijtman Anton
Published: March 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the status quo in many areas of society, including education. At all educational levels, on-site lecturing had to switch instantaneously to an online mode of instruction. This transition was so straightforward, that the argument could be made for online education to become a permanent fixture, particularly if it is more efficient, cheaper, and more effective than traditional education. Extensive meta-analyses, however, show that most online teaching practices do not lead to better educational outcomes than the on-site alternatives. Worse yet, the traditional face-to-face mode of lecturing is ineffective in the absence of personalized interactions. The proposed solutions are offered by artificial intelligence research, including virtual reality, intelligent tutoring systems, and serious games—solutions that have so far not been extensively implemented in practice. The current health crisis provides our educational professionals with an opportunity to rethink their teaching practices and focus on applying these promising new alternatives.
Involve Residents to Ensure Person-Centered Nursing Home Care During Crises Like the COVID-19 Outbreak
Authors: Luijkx Katrien , Janssen Meriam , Stoop Annerieke , van Boekel Leonieke , Verbiest Marjolein
Published: March 2021

Nursing homes aim to provide person-centered care and recognize residents as unique individuals with their own histories, life goals, and preferences. The life expectancy of nursing home residents is rather limited. Nursing homes have been hit hard by COVID-19 because of an increased risk of death and a total nursing home lockdown from March 19 until the end of May 2020. Although social relationships are a basic human need and the fulfillment of social needs is essential for both physical and mental health, nursing home residents were no longer allowed to meet their loved ones. This decision was taken without involving residents and their loved ones and without considering the psychosocial impact of such measures for residents and their loved ones. When visitors were again allowed in the nursing homes, this was valued highly. To enable decent decision-making, we call both the government and nursing homes to involve residents and their families in decision-making. It is essential to know how residents weigh the risk of a COVID-19 infection and the possible implication of them opposing social isolation. We have to adapt to a new common and need to stop talking about residents and their loved ones and start talking with them.
Fast Forward Science: Risks and Benefits in the Rapid Science of COVID-19
Authors: Wicherts Jelte
Published: March 2021

Since the onset of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic in late 2019, the scientific literature on the SARS-COV-2 virus and the disease COVID-19 has a growth rate that resembles the growth in confirmed COVID-19 cases that continue to make media headlines all across the globe. Biomedical coronavirus research started slowly but increased to hundreds of articles per week—not unlike the spread of the virus itself. At the time of writing in mid-2020, around 2500 publications per week appear in PubMed on COVID-19 or SARS-COV-2. This new biomedical literature has emerged at an unprecedented but will the scientific community be able to end the suffering caused by the pandemic? Can we trust the insights from the rapidly emerging scientific literature on the coronavirus to implement wide-ranging social, economic, and health policies and vaccination programs? To answer these questions, I here relate the rapid science on the coronavirus pandemic to regular biomedical science and the meta-scientific insights on it. I focus my attention on peer reviews, open access, retractions, open data, and registration of studies.
The Paradox of Democracy in Popular Music Education: Intersectionalizing “Youth” Through Curriculum Analysis
Authors: Koskela Minja , Kuoppamäki Anna , Karlsen Sidsel , Westerlund Heidi
Published: March 2021

In this chapter, we unpack the complex politics of popular music education (PME) in schools through an examination of the ways in which youth and youth culture are represented in the Finnish National Core Curricula (2004 and 2014). Interrogating commonly held conceptualizations of diversity in music education, we identify a paradox in school-based PME which, on the one hand, aims toward democratic classroom practice yet, on the other, neglects diversity by approaching youth as a homogenous group. Challenging common analytical points of departure in PME research, we argue that scholars and educators need to recognize the multiple and intersecting identities of students if PME is to afford them equal opportunities for participation. Overall, we suggest that through the analytical lens of intersectionality, PME may be better positioned to take into account students’ own experiences of inequalities, providing new perspectives on diversity at the policy level. Thus, intersectionality could provide a useful analytical frame in the process of furthering further democratic practice in the classroom.
Educative Power and the Respectful Curricular Inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music
Authors: Webb Michael , Bracknell Clint
Published: March 2021

This chapter argues for the full, respectful curricular inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music in order to promote a more balanced and equitable social and cultural vision of the nation-state in Australian schools. It challenges views that claim Indigenous cultures have been irretrievably lost or are doomed to extinction, as well as the fixation on musical authenticity. We propose that the gradual broadening of Indigenous musical expressions over time and the musical renaissance of the new millennium have created an unprecedented opportunity for current music educators to experience the educative power of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music. This means that culturally nonexposed music teachers can employ familiar musical-technical approaches to the music even as they begin to more fully investigate the music’s cultural-contextual meanings. The chapter considers issues that impinge on the music’s educative power, especially those relating to its definition, its intended audiences, and pedagogies. It aims to help clear the way for the classroom to become an environment in which students can sense the depth and vitality of contemporary Australian Indigenous music.
To “Move, Surprise, and Thrill”: Thirty Years of Promoting Cultural Diversity in Norwegian School Concerts
Authors: Knudsen Jan Sverre
Published: March 2021

This chapter examines how a politics of cultural diversity was implemented over a 30-year period in a Norwegian school concert program run by Concerts Norway. Departing from a historical overview, the chapter outlines the shifting agendas, values, and visions of diversity that governed this ambitious cultural effort. A central aim is to examine the ideological positions that influenced the program and the political and educational debates surrounding it. The concert program is discussed with respect to cultural diversity and anti-racism, democracy, tradition, hybridity, and the tensions between educational and artwork-based paradigms. Based on theorizations of cultural difference, the chapter shows how promoting music to children has been understood as an important part of shaping societal attitudes and laying the grounds for an anti-oppressive education. Critical issues regarding representation, influence, and power in the staging of music involving immigrant performers are raised. The chapter relates the concert programs to the political frames and ideals of the nation-state by illustrating how international cooperation effectively made the concert programs a part of Norwegian foreign policy. It points out how changing government policies had a profound impact on programs promoting cultural diversity, eventually leading to their termination as a national cultural strategy.
The Challenges of Implementing Diverse Political Directives in Contemporary China: Between Creativity and Confucianism
Authors: Ho Wai-Chung
Published: March 2021

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) was founded as a communist state in 1949 within the framework of the collective leadership model under the Communist Party of China (the single-party system in China). After experiencing sociopolitical and economic changes, the PRC has moved to the free market economy of globalisation in the global age. The evolution of Chinese politics and the economic system has resulted in more diversity and changes in school education, along with struggles to adjust to these changes. Along this line, this chapter will examine the complex relationship between the politics of diversity, Confucianism, and creativity education, particularly in response to the views of Chinese teachers from Beijing via in-depth, semi-structured individual interviews on the implementation of a creativity policy in school music education. Based on current education policies and the interview data collected for this study on the examination of the nature of creativity, this chapter will conclude with a discussion of how school music education may help initiate a dialogue on the politics and nature of creativity and cultural identity in response to the challenges of contemporary political and cultural values between creativity and Confucianism that prevail in the global age of China.
A Gay Neighborhood or Merely a Temporary Cluster of “Strange” Bars? Gay Bar Culture in Antwerp
Authors: Eeckhout Bart , Herreman Rob , Dhoest Alexander
Published: March 2021

This chapter investigates the historical permutations of those areas that come closest to qualifying as lesbian and gay neighborhoods in Antwerp, the largest city in Flanders (the northern, Dutch-speaking part of Belgium). Although Antwerp has come to be represented as the “gay capital” of Flanders, it never developed a full-fledged gay neighborhood in the Anglo-American tradition of the concept. The clustering of sexual minorities in the city has been limited largely to the economic, social, and cultural business of (nightlife) entertainment, with lesbian and gay meeting places historically concentrating in particular neighborhoods that, moreover, have shifted over time and dissipated again. The chapter’s fine-grained analysis intends to reveal geographic, social, and cultural specificities for which a more detailed understanding of both the Antwerp and the Belgian contexts is necessary. Its tripartite structure is shaped by the specific heuristic conditions set by it. Because the larger historical context for the investigated subject remains to be written, the chapter first undertakes a substantial and panoramic survey of the emergence of gay nightlife in Antwerp during the early half of the twentieth century. This provides the framework needed for a more detailed analysis in the second part, which zooms in on an area in the immediate vicinity of the Central Station and takes as its emblematic focus one sufficiently long-term and iconic gay bar, called Café Strange. Finally, the chapter zooms out again to sketch how even such a limited gay nightlife cluster in Antwerp has evaporated again in the course of the twenty-first century, leaving a landscape that is hard to map and largely virtual.