bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Valores y socialización educativa a través de la música reggaetonera
Authors:   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Gutiérrez Enrique-Javier Díez
Published: August 2021

La música reggaetón influye en la visión y valores del alumnado adolescente en edad escolar. Este trabajo de investigación se ha centrado en analizar los textos y, por lo tanto, los valores y la ideología que transmiten las canciones de reggaetón. Mediante la metodología de ACD (Análisis Crítico del Discurso) y el software MAXQDA se han estudiado los ejes ideológicos del discurso de las 64 canciones más escuchadas compuestas y cantadas por hombres, para saber si contribuyen a potenciar la igualdad de género o, por el contrario, refuerzan los estereotipos sexistas. Aunque en la discusión se contrastan los resultados del análisis con otros enfoques y posturas que defienden un reggaetón liberador y rebelde, incluso feminista y empoderante, se concluye que el reggaetón más comercial, que más se reproduce en las redes sociales y medios de comunicación y que llega principalmente a los adolescentes, recupera y reproduce los estereotipos más tradicionales del machismo. Se considera necesario, por ello, que el espacio educativo formal incorpore una mirada crítica de estos productos de la industria cultural que influyen poderosamente en la juventud y establecen una parte de sus referentes y valores.
T2 Weighted Hypointense Subcortical White Matter- A Rare Imaging Feature in Ketotic Hyperglycaemia
Authors: Hiremath Rudresh , Nagesh Vinyasa , Kini Divya Vishwanatha
Published: August 2021

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a hyperglycaemic state in which serum glucose level is more than 250 mg/dL, a pH less than 7.3, a serum bicarbonate level less than 18 mEq/L, and serum ketone level is raised and dehydration is present. Insulin deficiency is the main precipitating factor. Rarely, they present with neurological complications such as focal/generalised motor seizures, hemiparesis and sensory deficits which may be associated with various imaging features. With increasing prevalence of diabetes in the last decade, it is vital to familiarise with various hyperglycaemia induced imaging abnormalities in brain in order to provide accurate diagnosis for providing prompt treatment and preventing complications. T2W/FLAIR (Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) subcortical hypointensity in ketotic patients presenting with focal seizures had been reported rarely. Here, presented are imaging findings of a 27-year-old female patient with newly diagnosed type II diabetes mellitus and diabetic ketoacidosis with new onset seizures. T2 subcortical white matter hypointensity was noted in the right post-central gyrus. Though non specific, this imaging finding was of importance in such cases of hyperglycaemia in order to formulate further patient care.
PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION, SPECTRUM ANALYSIS OF SALVADORA PERSICA AND CRESCENTIA CUJETE
Authors: Dhanasekaran M. , Udhayaeswaran M. , Rahul Dravid C.
Published: August 2021

Salvadora persica is a well-known medicinal plant which belongs to the family Salvadoraceae. It is commonly known as the Meswak tree. Calabash tree or Crescentia cujete tree belongs to the family of Bignoniaceae. It is also known as the gourd tree. These two plants have been studied by preliminary phytochemical and FTIR analysis. Data gathered on solvent extraction and preliminary phytochemical method suggested that the presence of primary and secondary metabolites in leaf tissue. Two solvents such as ethanol and aqueous are used here to reveal the phytocompounds and extend our work to find out the various functional groups present in these two plants through FTIR analysis was done. Spectrum of Salvadora persica showed 5 peaks that are 599.89, 654.86, 1409.06, 1431.24, 2930.96 and spectrum of Crescentia cujete showed that 13 peaks that are 470.65, 520.80, 630.75, 652.93, 776.38, 1060.89, 1155.41, 1248, 1321.30, 1431.24, 1527.69, 2860.56, 2924.21. The present study revealed that the functional groups of both plants, such as alcohols or phenols, alkanes, amines, esters or carboxylic acid or lactones, aldehyde or ketones, acetates and ethylene.
PHARMACOINFORMATICS APPROACH OF IDENTIFIED BIOLOGICAL COMPOUNDS FROM SELECTED PLECTRANTHUS (L.) SPECIES IN TAMIL NADU, INDIA: AN IN-SILICO APPROACH
Authors: Manikandan Selvarasuvasuki , Ansarali Sabeerali , Priyadharshini Manikandan , Lakshmanan Ganapathy Murugan Alagu
Published: August 2021

Aim: Plectranthus (Linn) is a typical genus of the Indian flora. It had been used in the folk medicines for its several medicinal properties. In this study, there are twenty-five major biological compounds were selected from Plectranthus forskohlii, Plectranthus coleoides, Plectranthus rotundifolius and Plectranthus vettiveroides for molecular docking analysis and find out the active compounds against Diabetic, Cancer and Tuberculosis diseases. Materials and methods: Biological compounds of Plectranthus Species were identifying and investigated by GC-MS and the biological activities of these compounds were studied with virtual screening, ADMET analysis, Protein ligand interaction through molecular docking analysis. Results: Twenty-five major biological compounds were selected for virtual screening analysis to find out the drug likeness activity. Out of these twenty-five compounds nine compounds are drug likeness in nature. Based on the ADMET analysis, Thymol beta D-Glucoside showed the low toxicity level and it represent Lipinski rule of five. The molecular docking results of Thymol beta D-Glucoside interact with different target proteins used in the study showed the maximum docking energy was obtained against tuberculosis protein -10.1846kcal/mol followed by diabetic protein -10.8736kcal/mol and cancer protein -11.4109kcal/mol. Conclusion: Plectranthus amboinicus leaves showed significant anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-tuberculosis activity when compared to other studied species such as Plectranthus forskohlii, Plectranthus coleoides, Plectranthus rotundifolius and Plectranthus vettiveroides.
Ethnobotanical Survey and In vitro Antisickling Effect of Some Selected Medicinal Plants
Authors: Sani Ibrahim , Ukwuani-Kwaja Angela Nnenna , Haruna Maimuna
Published: August 2021

Background: Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder in which an individual inherits the sickle cell allele from both parents. The modern disease modifying therapies are quite expensive and often come with side effects, hence, there is need to search for natural alternatives from medicinal plants. This research was aimed at evaluating the antisickling effects of some selected medicinal plants.

Materials and Methods: Ethnobotanical survey was conducted on the medicinal plants used in Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Nigeria for the treatment/management of sickle cell disease.  Five (5) most cited plants; Carica papaya leaf, Prosopis africana stem-bark, Guiera senegalensis leaf, Syzygium aromaticum seed and Boswellia dalzielli stem bark were selected and their methanol extracts were subjected to in vitro antisickling activity using sodium metabisulphite. Phytochemical screening on the most active plant extracts was conducted using standard methods.

Results: The plant extracts and their combinations exhibited antisickling activities with varying degrees of efficacy. C. papaya leaf extract, P. africana stem bark extract and G. senegalensis leaf extract were the most potent that caused reduction in the percentage sickling to 3.87±2.73, 8.38±1.06 and 28.35±2.07% respectively. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids and Tannins in all the three (3) plant extracts. Anthraquinones and glycosides were present only C. papaya and G. senegalensis leaf extracts, while Flavonoids and Saponins were only present in G. senegalensis leaf extract and P. africana stem bark extracts. Phenols were present in C. papaya leaf extract and P. africana stem bark extracts, while phlobatannins was only in C. papaya leaf extract.

Conclusion: The medicinal plant extracts were able to reduce the percentage of sickled cells. This may be due to the presence of some of the phytochemicals. Hence, these medicinal plants may be used as alternative to hydroxyurea in ameliorating the sickling in human HbS containing RBCs.
Application of Artificial Neural Network in Distillation System: A Critical Review of Recent Progress
Authors: Li Chunli , Wang Chunyu
Published: August 2021

Distillation is a unit operation with multiple input parameters and multiple output parameters. It is characterized by multiple variables, coupling between input parameters, and non-linear relationship with output parameters. Therefore, it is very difficult to use traditional methods to control and optimize the distillation column. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) uses the interconnection between a large number of neurons to establish the functional relationship between input and output, thereby achieving the approximation of any non-linear mapping. ANN is used for the control and optimization of distillation tower, with short response time, good dynamic performance, strong robustness, and strong ability to adapt to changes in the control environment. This article will mainly introduce the research progress of ANN and its application in the modeling, control and optimization of distillation towers.
Fingerprint Intramodal Biometric System Based on ABC Feature Fusion
Authors: Jooda J. O. , Oke A. O. , Omidiora E. O. , Adedeji O. T.
Published: August 2021

Unimodal biometrics system (UBS) drawbacks include noisy data, intra-class variance, inter-class similarities, non-universality, which all affect the system's classification performance. Intramodal fingerprint fusion can overcome the limitations imposed by UBS when features are fused at the feature level as it is a good approach to boost the performance of the biometric system. However, feature level fusion leads to high dimensionality of feature space which can be overcame by Feature Selection (FS). FS improves the performance of classification by selecting only relevant and useful information from extracted feature sets being an optimization problem. Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) is an optimizing algorithm that has been frequently used in solving FS problems because of its simple concept, use of few control parameters, easy implementation and good exploration characteristics. ABC was proposed for optimized feature selection prior to the classification of Fingerprint Intramodal Biometric System (FIBS). Performance evaluation of ABC-based FIBS showed the system had a Sensitivity of 97.69% and RA of 96.76%. The developed ABC optimized feature selection reduced the high dimensionality of features space prior to classification tasks thereby increasing sensitivity and recognition accuracy of FIBS.
Multivariate Analysis of Blood Pressure and Body Mass Index (BMI) for the Aged in Calabar South: The Counselors Intervention Strategy on Awareness Creation on Stress Related Disorder
Authors: Undiyaundeye Florence A. , Ekeng Effiom B. , Ubi Godwin M.
Published: August 2021

Multivariate analytical study was carried out for the blood pressure (BP) indicators and body mass indices (BMI) for the aged in Calabar South Local Government area of Cross River State, Nigeria using the systolic, diastolic and pulse rate and for weight over the square of heights as indices for stress related disorders. The research focuses on multivariate analysis using principal component analysis, factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha statistics, biplot analysis, matrix plot, linear trend model and Turkey’s multiple comparative statistics between age, blood pressure and body mass index among the aged of 60 – 90 years. The study evaluated one hundred and twenty aged people separated into six groups based on age. Appropriate equipment and tools were used to measure the systolic and diastolic blood pressures and pulse rates. The body mass index was determined using weight over square of height (kg/m2). The data generated was analyzed using multivariate statistical analysis of Minitab v17 statistical software. The results revealed that all six age brackets evaluated for the aged showed 66- 70 and 81 -85 yrs showed pre –obese conditions while the other four age brackets showed obese class 1 hypertension respectively. The results further showed that five principal components accounted for 100 percent of total variations in BMI and BP for the aged in the study area with principal component one (PC1) with eigen value of 0.398 contributing 56.90% to the observed total variation. The principal loading variable for this component was obtained from pulse rate (0.470). A trend linear model of Yt = 23.94 + 1.233 x t was obtained for the trend analysis indicating the high dependence of the BMI and BP (Y) on age (t). The results of Cronbach’s alpha statistics revealed a high level of low precision and high standard errors among all variables evaluated showing less than 70 percent. The Turkey’s multiple comparative analysis revealed high level of inconsistency among the variables as we compared one variable to another. The counselor’s intervention strategy focuses on the creation of awareness on the need for a regular and routine blood pressure check - up for the aged, the need to create awareness on the potential risk factors that predisposes aged to increased blood pressure and pulse rates, the need for urgent guidance and counseling program for the aged on the dangers of drug abuse, smoking and poor dieting and the need for government safety nets intervention program for the aged to reduce increasing stress related disorders which is highly prevalence among the aged in the area.
Histological Evaluation of Brain Tissue in Dyslipidemic Rats Treated with Dietary Supplements Based on Amazonian Fruits
Authors: Carneiro Matheus Vinícius de Souza , Freitas Ricardo de Queiroz , Rodrigues Lucas Baltar , Figueiredo Wenberger Lanza Daniel de , Lourenço Geane Antiques , Barcellos José Fernando Marques , Salomão-Oliveira Adele , Carvalho Rosany Piccolotto
Published: August 2021

Aims: By using histological analysis, the study aims to evaluate the effect of a nutraceutical based on the Amazonian fruits of camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) Mc Vaugh), acai (Euterpe precatoria Mart.) and guarana (Paullinia cupana) on the brain tissue (hippocampus) of dyslipidemic rats.

Methodology: Preclinical trials were conducted using male and female rats (n=30) of the Wistar strain (Rattus norvegicus) that were randomly divided into five groups (G) (n=6). G1 was control, G2 was induced to obesity with consumption of experimental feed (hypercaloric and hyperlipidic), G3 was induced to obesity with consumption of experimental feed and treated with simvastatin (50 mg/kg/day), and G4 and G5, which were induced to obesity with the consumption of experimental feed and supplemented with 100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day of the formulation, respectively. The study period was 72 days, and, for 37 days, induction to obesity was performed with the experimental feed (hypercaloric and hyperlipidic). During the following weeks, for 35 days, after division of the groups, certain groups received, in parallel, treatment with simvastatin (G3) or supplementation with the nutraceutical (G4 and G5). Subsequently, histological slides of the brain tissue stained with violet cresyl were elaborated, photographed and analyzed.

Results: No significant differences were observed between the mean of intact neurons among the experimental groups induced to obesity. The neurotoxic effect, evidenced by the significant difference between the mean of intact neurons between the control group and obesity-induced groups, corroborates the findings of neuronal damage and degenerative processes reported in the literature.

Conclusion: The nutraceutical based on Amazonian fruits was not able to prevent the neurotoxic effect arising from the hyperlipidic and hypercaloric diet, and therefore did not present a neuroprotective effect in Wistar rats under the conditions established in the experiment.
Carriage Rate of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Workers in Critical Care Units of a Tertiary Hospital in Southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Oyekale Oluwalana T. , Olajide Adewale T. , Ojo Bola O. , Babalola Tosin O. , Oyekale Oluwatoyin I.
Published: August 2021

Background: Carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among Healthcare workers (HCWs) who serves as agent of pathogen transmission in hospital settings portends danger to critical care patients.

Aim: To determine the carriage rate of MRSA among HCWs in the critical care units of the hospital, to identify the factors associated with carriage, and to determine the antibiotic resistance pattern of isolates.

Study Design: A cross sectional descriptive study.

Materials and Methods: A total of 135 randomly selected consenting HCWs from critical care units were studied. Data on demographic characteristics and infection control practices were obtained from participants with the aid of questionnaire. Swabs of the anterior nares and hands of participants were cultured on oxacillin-containing mannitol salt agar (MSA), S. aureus was identified using convectional criteria and MRSA was identified by cefoxitin disc diffusion technique. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out on all isolated MRSA.

Results: Carriage rate of MRSA was high (26.7%). Poor handwashing practices (P=.008) and presence of wound or skin infection (P=.003) were associated with higher isolation rate. None of the age, gender, profession and duration of unit stay of workers was associated with carriage rate of MRSA. Isolation rate was higher from the nose (18.5%) than the hands (8.1%). Isolates demonstrated high resistance to antibiotics: penicillin (100%), amoxicillin/clavulanate (66.7%), cefuroxime (61.1%), ceftriaxone (63.9%), erythromycin (55.6%). All isolates were sensitive to vancomycin.

Conclusion: Carriage rate of MRSA among critical care unit staff was high in this study. There is urgent need for formulation of infection control policies and enforcement, to prevent MRSA spread among critical care patients.
Role of Haridradi Avaleha in the Management of Tamaka Shwasa (Childhood Bronchial Asthma) – A Single Case Study
Authors: Majumder Rimpi , Patil Aboli , Swapnil C. R.
Published: August 2021

The word Shwasa is derived from the root ‘Shwasa Prinane’– which actually means  difficulty in the entry of prana in the pranavaha srotas. Shwasa word  indicates  both  physiological  and  pathological state of  respiration. Tamaka Shwasa is one of the five types of disease shwasa. It is a disease of mainly pranavaha srotas. The sign and Symptoms and etiopathogenesis of Tamaka Shwasa explained in Ayurvedic  literature  have lot of similarities with the disease entity Bronchial Asthma. The goal of this study is to determine the efficacy of the formulation, Haridradi Avaleha in reducing the sign and symptoms of Childhood asthma. A 13 years old boy male Hindu patient from Limda village, Vadodara presented in the OPD of Kaumarbhritya department, Parul Ayurved Hospital, Parul University who presented clinical features of Tamaka Shwasa  was treated by internal Ayurvedic formulation, Haridradi Avaleha showed marked improvement in  the subjective parameters like breathlessness, cough, corzya, awakening in night etc and in objective parameters like ACT(Asthma Control Test), PEFR(Peak Expiratory Flow Rate) some hematological parameters viz. AEC (Absolute Eosinophil Count), ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate), WBC Lymphocyte, Neutrophil, discussed here. All subjective and objective parameters were examined during 60 days of follow up-visits, and no instances of the above complaints were reported.
Kosmologiya s zamedlyayushimsya vremenem s nachalnim fioletovim smeshcheniem i tremya vidami krasnogo smecshcheniya
Authors:   Centre for Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, Zakir Zahid
Published: August 2021

В общей теории относительности растяжение длин волн фотонов в расширяющейся вселенной происходит вдоль пути и не зависит от скорости источника. Поэтому у фотонов от покоящихся относительно нас источников не было, а от сопутствующих расширению источников было начальное доплеровское красное смещения, а затем в пути оба потока фотонов приобрели красное смещение из-за растяжения длин волн. В результате красное смещение сопутствующих расширению источников должно было быть по меньшей мере удвоенным. Но наблюдения показывают однократное красное смещение уже в линейной части и поэтому в космологических моделях только с красными смещениями (фридмановских и др.) имело место проблема двойного красного смещения со стопроцентным расхождением теории с наблюдениями. Наблюдательный факт однократных красных смещений означает, что фотоны должны были иметь начальное фиолетовое смещение, которое компенсировалось в пути одним из двух видов красного смещения. В модели космологии с замедляющимся временем (КЗВ), сформулированной в 2020 г., темп собственных времён ранее был выше, что и вело к фиолетовому смещению, компенсируемому в пути красным смещением из-за растяжения. В итоге в КЗВ наблюдаемое смещение сводится к доплеровскому красному смешению вначале пути, к которому для далёких объектов добавляется гравитационное красное смещение. Релятивистская аберрация затем ведёт к потускнению видимых светимостей. Приведены основные соотношения КЗВ, включая «модуль расстояния-красное смещение», которые согласуется с наблюдениями при новых значениях космологических параметров. Обсуждены эволюция в ранние эпохи и её влияние на свойства реликтового фона. В частности, в КЗВ скорость света в прошлом была больше и в ней нет проблем прежних моделей.
Slowing time cosmology with initial violetshift and three types of redshift
Authors:   Centre for Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, Zakir Zahid
Published: August 2021

In general relativity, the stretching of the wavelengths of photons in the expanding universe occurs along the path and does not depend on the velocity of the source. Therefore, the photons from the sources at rest relative to us did not have, and from the sources comoving the expansion there was an initial Doppler redshift, and then on the way both photon fluxes acquired a stretching redshift. As the result, the redshift of the comoving the expansion sources should be at least doubled. But observations show a single redshift already in the linear part, and therefore in cosmological models only with redshifts (Friedmann's and others) there was the double redshift problem with one hundred percent discrepancy between theory and observations. The observational fact of single redshifts means that the photons should have an initial violetshift, which was compensated for along the way by one of two types of redshift. In the model of slowing time cosmology (STC) proposed in 2020, the rate of proper times was higher in earlier epochs, which led to the violetshift, compensated along the way by the stretching redshift. As a result, in STC the observed shift is reduced to the initial Doppler redshift, to which the gravitational redshift is added for distant objects. The relativistic aberration then leads to dimming of the apparent luminosities. The basic relations of STC are presented, including the “distance modulus – redshift”, which are consistent with observations at new values of cosmological parameters. Evolution in early epochs and its influence on the properties of CMB are also discussed. In STC the light velocity was higher in the past and for this reason it has no previously known cosmological problems.
Vaping: What's wrong with this picture?
Authors: de Miranda John
Published: August 2021

A recent report, Peers Speak Out: Priority Outcomes for Substance Use Treatment and Services (https://www.communitycatalyst.org/resources/tools/peers‐speak‐out/pdf/Peers‐Speak‐Out.pdf), sets out an ambitious goal. The report “aims to identify what outcomes matter most to people with substance use disorders to ensure their voices guide future research and action to improve the system. The ultimate goal of the project is to improve treatment outcomes by focusing research, policymaking and service delivery on what people with substance use disorders want and need.”
Hierarchical Oriented Metal–Organic Frameworks Assemblies for Water‐Evaporation Induced Electricity Generation
Authors: Wang Zhengyun , Wu Yule , Xu Kunqi , Jiang Lipei , Sun Jiankang , Cai Guangyi , Li Guangfang , Xia Bao Yu , Liu Hongfang
Published: August 2021

Advances in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are stimulating interest in water‐evaporation induced electricity generation. Establishing design principles for desirable MOFs and revealing the structure‐activity relationship is essential to development of this field. Around this key issue, herein the concept of “hierarchical oriented MOFs” is proposed and the Cu(BDC‐OH) MOFs are organized into hierarchical oriented assemblies by successively using methods of hydrolysis, anion exchange reaction, and heteroepitaxy growth. It is discovered that this hierarchical oriented Cu(BDC‐OH) assemblies‐based generator containing long‐ranged ordered microporous channels exhibits a voltage of 0.6 V and electricity output of 1.56 nW cm–2 in the natural state of water evaporation. Finite element analysis and density functional calculation elucidate that hierarchical oriented structure of Cu(BDC‐OH) MOFs with certain surface charge density have an “aggregation effect,” dominating the final output voltages. This work not only offers valuable theoretical guidance for exploring self‐assembly of MOFs superstructures and water‐evaporation induced electricity generation, but also may open interesting perspectives for understanding some fundamental questions about structure‐activity relationship in MOFs materials science.
Graphene‐Based Nanomaterials for Neuroengineering: Recent Advances and Future Prospective
Authors: Kumar Raj , Rauti Rossana , Scaini Denis , Antman‐Passig Merav , Meshulam Ohad , Naveh Doron , Ballerini Laura , Shefi Orit
Published: August 2021

Graphene unique physicochemical properties made it prominent among other allotropic forms of carbon, in many areas of research and technological applications. Interestingly, in recent years, many studies exploited the use of graphene family nanomaterials (GNMs) for biomedical applications such as drug delivery, diagnostics, bioimaging, and tissue engineering research. GNMs are successfully used for the design of scaffolds for controlled induction of cell differentiation and tissue regeneration. Critically, it is important to identify the more appropriate nano/bio material interface sustaining cells differentiation and tissue regeneration enhancement. Specifically, this review is focussed on graphene‐based scaffolds that endow physiochemical and biological properties suitable for a specific tissue, the nervous system, that links tightly morphological and electrical properties. Different strategies are reviewed to exploit GNMs for neuronal engineering and regeneration, material toxicity, and biocompatibility. Specifically, the potentiality for neuronal stem cells differentiation and subsequent neuronal network growth as well as the impact of electrical stimulation through GNM on cells is presented. The use of field effect transistor (FET) based on graphene for neuronal regeneration is described. This review concludes the important aspects to be controlled to make graphene a promising candidate for further advanced application in neuronal tissue engineering and biomedical use.
Ten Years of Progress in the Synthesis and Development of MXenes
Authors: Naguib Michael , Barsoum Michel W. , Gogotsi Yury
Published: August 2021

Since their discovery in 2011, the number of 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) has steadily increased. Currently more than 40 MXene compositions exist. The ultimate number is far greater and in time they may develop into the largest family of 2D materials known. MXenes’ unique properties, such as their metal‐like electrical conductivity reaching ≈20 000 S cm−1, render them quite useful in a large number of applications, including energy storage, optoelectronic, biomedical, communications, and environmental. The number of MXene papers and patents published has been growing quickly. The first MXene generation is synthesized using selective etching of metal layers from the MAX phases, layered transition metal carbides and carbonitrides using hydrofluoric acid. Since then, multiple synthesis approaches have been developed, including selective etching in a mixture of fluoride salts and various acids, non‐aqueous etchants, halogens, and molten salts, allowing for the synthesis of new MXenes with better control over their surface chemistries. Herein, a brief historical overview of the first 10 years of MXene research and a perspective on their synthesis and future development are provided. The fact that their production is readily scalable in aqueous environments, with high yields bodes well for their commercialization.
Engineering Endogenous Tumor‐Associated Macrophage‐Targeted Biomimetic Nano‐RBC to Reprogram Tumor Immunosuppressive Microenvironment for Enhanced Chemo‐Immunotherapy
Authors: Wang Yupeng , Yu Jie , Luo Zhijian , Shi Qiankun , Liu Guanglong , Wu Fan , Wang Zhizhang , Huang Yubin , Zhou Dongfang
Published: August 2021

Immunotherapy has shown encouraging results in various cancers, but the response rates are relatively low due to the complex tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment (TIME). The presence of tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) and tumor hypoxia correlates significantly with potent immunosuppressive activity. Here, a hemoglobin–poly(ε‐caprolactone) (Hb–PCL) conjugate self‐assembled biomimetic nano red blood cell (nano‐RBC) system (V(Hb)) is engineered to deliver chemotherapeutic doxorubicin (DOX) and oxygen for reprogramming TIME. The Hb moiety of V(Hb)@DOX can bind to endogenous plasma haptoglobin (Hp) and specifically target the M2‐type TAMs via the CD163 surface receptor, and effectively kill the cells. In addition, the O2 released by the Hb alleviates tumor hypoxia, which further augments the antitumor immune response by recruiting fewer M2‐type macrophages. TAM‐targeting depletion and hypoxia alleviation synergistically reprogram the TIME, which concurrently downregulate PD‐L1 expression of tumor cells, decrease the levels of immunosuppressive cytokines such as IL‐10 and TGF‐β, elevate the immunostimulatory IFN‐γ, enhance cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response, and boost a strong memory response. The ensuing TAM‐targeted chemo‐immunotherapeutic effects markedly inhibit tumor metastasis and recurrence. Taken together, the engineered endogenous TAM‐targeted biomimetic nano‐RBC system is a highly promising tool to reprogram TIME for cancer chemo‐immunotherapy.
Evaporation‐Induced rGO Coatings for Highly Sensitive and Non‐Invasive Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer in the PSA Gray Zone
Authors: Wang Binshuai , Zhang Shudong , Meng Jingxin , Min Li , Luo Jing , Zhu Zhongpeng , Bao Han , Zang Ruhua , Deng Shaohui , Zhang Fan , Ma Lulin , Wang Shutao
Published: August 2021

The prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) has been widely used for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer during routine check‐ups. However, the low sensitivity of regular PSA tests in the PSA gray zone often means that patients are required to undergo further invasive needle biopsy for the diagnosis of prostate cancer, which may lead to potential overdiagnosis and overtreatment. In this study, a circulating tumor cell (CTC)‐chip based on an evaporation‐induced reduced graphene oxide (rGO) coating is presented, which enables a highly specific and non‐invasive diagnosis of prostate cancer in the PSA gray zone. During the evaporation process of the rGO dispersion, the Marangoni effect induces the self‐assembly of a hierarchical micro/nanowrinkled rGO coating, which can capture CTCs after subsequent surface modification of capture agents. Compared to the low diagnostic sensitivity (58.3%) of regular PSA tests, a combination of CTC detection and PSA‐based hematological tests via machine‐learning analysis can greatly upgrade the diagnostic sensitivity of this disease to 91.7% in clinical trial. Therefore, this study provides a non‐invasive alternative with high sensitivity for the diagnosis of prostate cancer in the PSA gray zone.
Detection of Off‐Resonance Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Enormous Surface‐Enhanced Raman Scattering
Authors: Zhang Daqi , Xia Chenmaya , Li Sheng , Liu Haoming , Ding Li , Liu Xiyan , Lyu Min , Li Ruoming , Ju Jing , Yang Juan , Li Yan
Published: August 2021

The resonant Raman spectroscopy can only detect on‐resonance single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) within the laser resonance window. In principle, surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy can expand the resonance window. However, detection of off‐resonance SWNTs by SERS remains challenging due to the difficulties in locating the SWNTs exactly at the hot spots with enormous SERS enhancements. Here, polyhedral gold nanocrystals (AuNCs) are in situ prepared on SWNTs for SERS detection via a facile ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method. The fact that the edges of the AuNCs attach to the SWNTs ensures the location of SWNTs perfectly at the SERS hot spots. Consequently, the enormous SERS enhancement enables a maximum enhancement factor of (3.4 ± 0.6) × 104 for an individual SWNT, which is about two orders of magnitude higher than the maximum reported in literatures. The detection ratio of SWNTs is also dramatically increased from 33% without SERS to 76% with SERS. The existence of the polyhedral AuNCs suppresses the antenna effects of the SWNTs and allows effective enhancements of the SWNTs under various polarization conditions. The enormous enhancements also enable the detection of several new Raman bands of the SWNTs.
Large‐Area Tellurium/Germanium Heterojunction Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy for High‐Performance Self‐Powered Photodetector
Authors: Zheng Beining , Wu Zehan , Guo Feng , Ding Ran , Mao Jianfeng , Xie Maohai , Lau Shu Ping , Hao Jianhua
Published: August 2021

As an attractive elemental semiconductor material, p‐type tellurium (Te) with a narrow bandgap provides high carrier mobility, strong light–matter interactions in a wide spectral range, and good chemical stability, which enlightens the potential in optoelectronic devices. However, the applications are impeded by weak carrier separation and vague potential in scaling‐up. In this work, the integration of Te and conventional semiconductor germanium (Ge) is designed. Through molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) method, large‐area and uniform Te films with high crystallinity are directly deposited on the Ge substrates. The difference in work function between Te and Ge layer leads to a built‐in electric field, which can effectively enhance the carrier separation. As a result, a self‐powered splendid photovoltaic performance is observed in the MBE grown Te/Ge vertical heterojunction with current on/off ratio over 103, responsivity (R) 523 mA W−1, and specific detectivity (D*) 9.50 × 1010 cm Hz1/2 W−1 when illuminated by near‐infrared light (980 nm, 2.15 µW cm−2). Furthermore, excellent stability and high response speed of the ultrathin heterostructure offer a significant application value for multipurpose photoelectric devices.
Two‐Step Continuous‐Flow Synthesis of Fungicide Metalaxyl through Catalytic C−N Bond‐Formation Processes
Authors: Ishitani Haruro , Yu Zhibo , Ichitsuka Tomohiro , Koumura Nagatoshi , Onozawa Shun‐ya , Sato Kazuhiko , Kobayashi Shū
Published: August 2021

Metalaxyl, an acylalanine fungicide, was synthesized through catalytic continuous sequential‐flow reactions. Commonly used syntheses of this compound use batch systems and suffer from problems such as coproduction of halogen‐containing by‐products derived from acyl and alkyl halides in the substitution reactions of 2,6‐dimethylaniline. To minimize waste and enhance efficiency, a halide‐free approach including two continuous‐flow catalytic processes, heterogeneous Pt‐catalyzed reductive alkylation and homogeneous acid‐catalyzed amidation with an acid anhydride, was developed. Systematic examination of the two reactions in flow mode enabled a high‐yielding, two‐step sequential continuous‐flow process to be achieved.

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Novel Cu and Leaf Nanostructure‐Based Photothermal Biomaterial for Efficient Solar Steam Generation
Authors: Pham Tien Thanh , Dao Trung Duc , Nguyen Thi An Hang , Pham Dinh Dat , Kajikawa Kotaro , Nguyen Duc Cuong , Do Danh Bich , Nguyen Hoai Viet
Published: August 2021

Solar steam generation (SSG) is promising for clean water production owing to low cost, simple operation, and green technology. This work investigates the fabrication of bioinspired photothermal (BIPT) material by sputtering a copper layer on Phanera purpurea (PP) leaf for application in SSG systems. It is observed that the light absorbance of the BIPT material exceeds 92% in the wavelength region of 300–2500 nm. This is due to the light trapping effect caused by multi‐internal reflection inside the Cu‐coated leaf nanostructure. The BIPT material exhibits a low thermal conductivity and easy cleaning properties as a result of PP leaf surface features. A novel strategy in this work is the design of the BIPT material‐based SSG system to recycle the radiative heat loss for evaporation. The developed SSG system results in a solar steam efficiency of 83.7% and a water evaporation rate of 1.45 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 sun. It is also applied in seawater desalination and the produced water satisfies the WHO standards for ion concentrations in clean water. Because of the simple procedure and low cost, the sputtering Cu on the PP leaf can be potentially used in the mass production of BIPT material for seawater desalination.
Destruction of DNA‐Binding Proteins by Programmable Oligonucleotide PROTAC (O'PROTAC): Effective Targeting of LEF1 and ERG
Authors: Shao Jingwei , Yan Yuqian , Ding Donglin , Wang Dejie , He Yundong , Pan Yunqian , Yan Wei , Kharbanda Anupreet , Li Hong‐yu , Huang Haojie
Published: August 2021

DNA‐binding proteins, including transcription factors (TFs), play essential roles in various cellular processes and pathogenesis of diseases, deeming to be potential therapeutic targets. However, these proteins are generally considered undruggable as they lack an enzymatic catalytic site or a ligand‐binding pocket. Proteolysis‐targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology has been developed by engineering a bifunctional molecule chimera to bring a protein of interest (POI) to the proximity of an E3 ubiquitin ligase, thus inducing the ubiquitination of POI and further degradation through the proteasome pathway. Here, the development of oligonucleotide‐based PROTAC (O'PROTACs), a class of noncanonical PROTACs in which a TF‐recognizing double‐stranded oligonucleotide is incorporated as a binding moiety of POI is reported. It is demonstrated that O'PROTACs of lymphoid enhancer‐binding factor 1 (LEF1) and ETS‐related gene (ERG), two highly cancer‐related transcription factors, successfully promote degradation of these proteins, impede their transcriptional activity, and inhibit cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. The programmable nature of O'PROTACs indicates that this approach is also applicable to destruct other TFs. O'PROTACs not only can serve as a research tool but also can be harnessed as a therapeutic arsenal to target DNA binding proteins for effective treatment of diseases such as cancer.
3D High‐Content Culturing and Drug Screening Platform to Study Vascularized Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Hypoxic Condition
Authors: Lim Jungeun , Choi Hyeri , Ahn Jungho , Jeon Noo Li
Published: August 2021

Hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is the leading cause of metastasis and chemoresistance in cancer cells. Numerous 3D in vitro models have been proposed to study hypoxic stress, but none have enabled sufficient analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, a 3D in vitro tumor vasculature model for HCC is introduced to investigate cellular responses and drug resistance under hypoxic conditions through high‐content screening. The hypoxic TME of vascularized HCC can be established by maintaining the platform in a hypoxia chamber and is used to analyze the diverse physiological responses of the TME to normoxia, hypoxia, and drug treatment. The proposed platform also demonstrates the hypoxic status naturally induced by 3D HCC spheroids for comparison with single HCC cells cultured in the hypoxia chamber. The results show that hypoxic stress in the HCC vasculature promotes angiogenesis, hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 (HIF‐1) expression, and proliferation; it also enhances drug resistance. The hypoxic tumor vasculature of the model generates cellular responses that are also expressed in the physiological hypoxic microenvironment of HCC. These findings suggest that our high‐content microfluidic platform can be applied as a powerful tool to develop anticancer therapeutics, which have remained elusive because of hypoxia in the TME.
Azide⋅⋅⋅Oxygen Interaction: A Crystal Engineering Tool for Conformational Locking
Authors: Madhusudhanan Mithun C. , Balan Haripriya , Werz Daniel B. , Sureshan Kana M.
Published: August 2021

We have designed, synthesized, and crystallized 36 compounds, each containing an azide group and an oxygen atom separated by three bonds. Crystal structure analysis revealed that each of these molecules adopts a conformation in which the azide and oxygen groups orient syn to each other with a short O⋅⋅⋅Nβcontact. Geometry‐optimized structures [using M06‐2X/6–311G(d,p) level of theory] also showed the syn conformation in all 36 of these cases, suggesting that this is not merely a crystal packing effect. Quantum topological analysis using Bader's Atoms in Molecules (AIM) theory revealed bond paths and bond critical points (BCP) in these structures suggesting its nature and energetics to be similar to weak hydrogen bonding. The NCI‐RDG plot clearly revealed the attractive interaction consisting of electrostatic or dispersive components in all the 36 systems. NBO analysis suggested a weak orbital‐relaxation (charge‐transfer) contribution of energy for a few(sp2)O‐donor systems. Natural population analysis (NPA) and molecular electrostatic potential mapping (MESP) of these crystal structures further revealed the existence of favorable azide‐oxygen interaction. A CSD search indicated the frequent and consistent occurrence of this interaction and its role dictating the syn conformation of azide and oxygen in molecules where these groups are separated by 2–4 bonds.
Probing the Extremes of Covalency in M−Al bonds: Lithium and Zinc Aluminyl Compounds
Authors: Roy Matthew M. D. , Hicks Jamie , Vasko Petra , Heilmann Andreas , Baston Anne‐Marie , Goicoechea Jose M. , Aldridge Simon
Published: August 2021

Synthetic routes to lithium, magnesium, and zinc aluminyl complexes are reported, allowing for the first structural characterization of an unsupported lithium–aluminium bond. Crystallographic and quantum‐chemical studies are consistent with the presence of a highly polar Li−Al interaction, characterized by a low bond order and relatively little charge transfer from Al to Li. Comparison with magnesium and zinc aluminyl systems reveals changes to both the M−Al bond and the (NON)Al fragment (where NON=4,5‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylanilido)‐2,7‐di‐tert‐butyl‐9,9‐dimethylxanthene), consistent with a more covalent character, with the latter complex being shown to react with CO2via a pathway that implies that the zinc centre acts as the nucleophilic partner.
Reversed‐phase‐HPLC enantioseparation and control of enantiomeric purity of duloxetine using a new chiral reagent and recovery of enantiomers
Authors: Vyas Renu , Bhushan Ravi , Nagar Hariom , Sharma Aishwarya
Published: August 2021

This study reports a rapid and low‐cost LC method for control of enantiomeric purity of duloxetine. Though duloxetine, as marketed and administered, is expected to be a single (S)‐enantiomer, the analysis of a few commercial branded samples by the method developed and presented here showed that they contain a relatively high percentage of (R)‐enantiomer (e.g., 2.71–5.42%, which is undesirable in drug formulations). A new chiral derivatizing reagent [isatinyl‐(S)‐naproxen amide] was synthesized on (S)‐naproxen platform. Diastereomeric derivatives were synthesized under microwave irradiation and were separated using reversed‐phase‐HPLC on a C18 column. A combination of acetonitrile and triethylammonium phosphate buffer (9 mM, pH 4) as the mobile phase and detection at 273 nm were found successful. The diastereomeric derivatives at preparative scale were separated using open column chromatography, and the native enantiomers were obtained and characterized. The HPLC separation method was validated for detection limit, linearity, accuracy, and precision. The limits of detection of (S,R)‐diastereomer and (S,S)‐diastereomer were found to be 12 and 16 pg/mL, respectively, for the 20‐μL injected volume. The method so developed has a practical significance and greater societal impact in establishing the control of enantiomeric purity and in ensuring the enantiomeric purity of the drug meant for human consumption.
Community dimensions and emotions in the era of COVID‐19
Authors: Marzana Daniela , Novara Cinzia , De Piccoli Norma , Cardinali Paola , Migliorini Laura , Di Napoli Immacolata , Guidi Elisa , Fedi Angela , Rollero Chiara , Agueli Barbara , Esposito Ciro , Marta Elena , González Leone Florencia , Guazzini Andrea , Meringolo Patrizia , Arcidiacono Caterina , Procentese Fortuna
Published: August 2021

Following an ecological perspective, reactions to a disaster—such as the COVID‐19 pandemic—should be analysed in the interdependence between individual and community dimensions. The present study aims to analyse individual emotional dimensions (anxiety, joy, fear or depressive feelings) and their community dimensions (connectedness, emotional sharing and solidarity) with a longitudinal approach among university students from Italian universities. Participants were 746 university students at t1 (during the lockdown) and 361 at t2 (after the lockdown) recruited in six Italian universities from different areas of Italy. Comparing emotional dimensions in the two times, t2 is characterized by a generalized ambiguity: both happiness or joy because of the end of limitations and a kind of ‘post‐lockdown anxiety’ because of a sense of individual inadequacy in facing the return to normality, conducting daily activities and attending community spaces. Data confirms that after the so‐called ‘honeymoon phase’ in community dimensions (first phase of t1 time), a sort of ‘depressive reaction’ arises at t2: Italian university students seem more aware of the need for individual and social responsibility and that many events are not under their personal control. The reconstruction phase and exit from the emergency are perceived as necessary but also as a difficult and risky period. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.