bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High‐performance liquid chromatography analysis of alkaloids in various parts of lotus extracts with ion mobility spectrometry and mass spectrometry dual detection
Authors: Lu Hongbin , Fang Ziqi , Yang Binwang , Li Yuwei , Duan Lian , Liu Wenjie , Yu Jianna
Published: December 2023

Using high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization‐ion mobility spectrometry and mass spectrometry, we proposed a dual‐detection method for the identification and profiling of alkaloids in various lotus parts including leaf, plumule, stem, seed epicarp, and receptacle. The eluent from high‐performance liquid chromatography was split and conducted to electrospray ionization‐ion mobility spectrometry and time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry separately to facilitate the compound identification. In total, 23 kinds of alkaloids were identified based on m/z, drift time, and retention time, including alkaloid isomers such as lirinidine, N‐nornuciferine, and O‐nornuciferine with identical m/z that are difficult to differentiate using mass spectrometry alone. Using this method, we investigated the changing dynamics of alkaloid accumulation in lotus leaves and lotus stems at different harvesting periods. The total alkaloid content showed an increasing trend with the growth and development of leave and stem. Overall, the developed dual detection method has the advantages of high peak capacity and high sensitivity compared with the conventional detection method and facilitates the identification of detected compounds.
Evaluation of solid‐phase extraction sorbents for purification of oligosaccharides and glycans derivatized by positively charged labels followed by capillary electrophoretic analysis
Authors: Smolkova Denisa , Moravcova Dana , Lavicka Jana
Published: December 2023

The sample preparation including labeling and clean‐up represents a key analytical step in the analysis of oligosaccharides and glycans by either chromatographic or electrophoretic separation methods. Although the majority of labeling has been performed by neutral and/or negatively charged tags, the introduction of a positive charge into the saccharide molecule can significantly improve the analysis, especially with mass spectrometry detection. In this work, we present the evaluation of five solid‐phase extraction sorbents differing in extraction chemistry for the clean‐up and concentration of positively labeled maltooligosaccharides from the reaction mixtures. Maltooligosaccharides containing four to seven glucose units were labeled by cationic tags (2‐aminoethyl)trimethylammonium chloride and (carboxymethyl)trimethylammonium chloride hydrazide and the extraction conditions were optimized followed by electrophoretic analysis with conductivity detection. The effects of the solid‐phase extraction sorbent chemistry, extraction conditions, and sample composition are discussed. All tested sorbents were capable of cleaning up maltooligosaccharides from the reaction mixtures to some extent after optimization of the solid‐phase extraction procedure (51.9%–98.9% recovery). The best‐rated amide‐based sorbent was used to process the sample of N‐linked glycans enzymatically released from ribonuclease B.
Management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal hypertension and variceal bleeding during receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors therapy: Beyond and known frontiers
Authors: Song Zheng , Chang Xiujuan , Yang Yongping
Published: December 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) poses a significant global burden, with most patients being diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to poor prognosis due to the lack of systemic treatment. The approval of oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), immune checkpoint inhibitors, and anti‐angiogenic agents has rapidly expanded the treatment prospects for HCC. However, the use of these drugs has also increased the incidence of portal hypertension (PHT) and upper gastrointestinal variceal bleeding in HCC patients. The diagnosis, screening, emergency treatment, and secondary prevention of upper gastrointestinal variceal rebleeding in advanced HCC patients undergoing oral TKIs therapy have become clinically urgent and critical issues. This review provides an overview of the existing understanding regarding the uses and limitations of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) insertion for managing HCC in cirrhosis patients with PHT and variceal hemorrhage. Additionally, it explores the potential of TIPS in managing acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding and preventing rebleeding in advanced HCC patients undergoing TKIs therapy. The placement of TIPS within the treatment hierarchy is determined by the specific clinical environment and the individual attributes of the patient.
Shedding light on cobalamin photodegradation in the ocean
Authors: Bannon Catherine C. , Mudge Elizabeth M. , Bertrand Erin M.
Published: December 2023

Cobalamin, vitamin B12, is an important micronutrient that has been investigated for decades in the marine context because it is required for phytoplankton growth. The biologically active forms (Me‐B12, Ado‐B12) and the synthetic form (CN‐B12) quickly convert to OH‐B12 after light exposure in various aqueous solutions, but puzzlingly have been frequently reported to dominate dissolved cobalamin pools in the sunlit ocean. Here, we document photodegradation timescales for these cobalamin forms in natural seawater using targeted mass spectrometry, providing quantitative evidence that OH‐B12 is expected to be the dominant dissolved form in irradiated seawater. Then, through high‐resolution mass spectrometry, we identify four photodegradation products of OH‐B12 which represent potential building blocks microbes could salvage and remodel to satisfy cellular cobalamin requirements. Taken together, these results clarify the impact of light on marine cobalamin dynamics, laying a foundation for a more quantitative understanding of the role of cobalamin in microbial communities and biogeochemical cycles.
Analysis of third alternatives' impact on PROMETHEE II ranking
Authors: Coquelet Boris , Dejaegere Gilles , De Smet Yves
Published: December 2023

So far, the rank reversal (RR) phenomenon has been heavily discussed in the multiple criteria analysis literature. In this work, instead of focusing on RR occurrences within PROMETHEE II, an analysis of the third alternative with respect to a given pair of alternatives is conducted. The aim is to provide a way to identify third alternatives able to cause RR between a specific pair. This opens the question of building alternatives causing RR occurrences. Such alternatives can then be used to assess the resistance a given ranking has to RR. In the end, two different approaches are used. The first considers the number of third alternatives to be added to generate RR for a given pair of alternatives. While, the second one, provides a new threshold for RR occurrences in PROMETHEE II.
The tuning of crystallization behavior of ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐trifluoroethylene)
Authors: Bai Xiao , Li Haikuo , Chu Xiao , Liu Mengling , Li Huihui , Wang Haijun , Sun Xiaoli , Yan Shouke
Published: December 2023

Poly (vinylidene fluoride‐co‐trifluoroethylene) [P(VDF‐TrFE)] has three crystal forms, including paraelectric α, ferroelectric β, and γ phases. In previous studies, the properties and performances of P(VDF‐TrFE) have been the focus of research. However, the formation mechanism and regulation mode of various crystal forms remain unclear. Therefore, it is an important topic for further research to elucidate, summarize, and prospect the polymorphism of P(VDF‐TrFE) and regulate the crystal forms. This review systematically summarizes the crystalline structure and phase transition between ferroelectric and paraelectric phase of P(VDF‐TrFE) crystals; discusses the influence of annealing, blending and electric field on the crystallinity, selection of polymorphic crystals, and phase transition behavior between them; reviews the effects of annealing, melt‐recrystallization, substrate and nanoconfinement on the crystal orientation. Finally, the effects of the crystal structure of P(VDF‐TrFE) on its properties are briefly summarized.
Development of biodegradable coatings by the incorporation of essential oils derived from food waste: A new sustainable packaging approach
Authors: Khalid Samran , Naeem Muhammad , Talha Muhammad , Hassan Syed Ali , Ali Aman , Maan Abid Aslam , Bhat Zuhaib F. , Aadil Rana Muhammad
Published: December 2023

Packaging serves as a pivotal component in addressing food losses by extending the shelf life and preserving the quality of both raw and processed food products. Nevertheless, conventional plastic packaging has substantial environmental drawbacks due to its non‐biodegradable nature and the inclusion of potentially harmful chemical components. As a result, there is a global shift toward biodegradable packaging obtained from natural sources as a more environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative. In this regard, biodegradable coatings made up of natural sources are very efficient for food packaging purposes because of various significant properties. Moreover, huge amounts of food waste are produced globally, leading to environmental pollution. Utilization of this waste is crucial, with one significant application being the extraction of essential oils (EOs). These oils are incorporated into different coatings materials to enhance their functional properties for better preservation of food products. So, this review covers the potential of EOs derived from food waste materials as bioactive compounds incorporated in biodegradable coatings for enhancing the storage quality and shelf life of food products. The biodegradable coatings enriched with these EOs thereby reduce microbial spoilage, stop moisture loss and act as a barrier against gases that ultimately enhance the product's shelf life. These coatings with EOs also reduce weight loss and stabilize other parameters such as pH, colour, acidity and firmness of food commodities. Different packaging systems using waste‐derived EOs have been developed to preserve both plant and animal‐origin foods such as fruits, meat, fish, shrimp, mushrooms and cheese. Developing biodegradable packaging from natural polymers along with the incorporation of EOs from food waste is an innovative way of food preservation and waste management.
Temporal variations in soil aggregate re‐formation behaviors after disturbance by tillage
Authors: Ozlu Ekrem , Arriaga Francisco J.
Published: December 2023

Aggregate re‐formation after a disturbance is important for maintaining soil hydraulic status and carbon stabilization. A study investigating the re‐formation of aggregates after disturbance by spring tillage was conducted at a site located on a south‐facing (6%) slope with a silt‐loam soil at Arlington‐Wisconsin in 2018 and 2019. Treatments were conventional tillage (CT) and no‐tillage (NT) with winter application of solid manure (SM) and no manure in a complete randomized design. Soils under NT had a higher proportion of larger aggregates (>1 mm), whereas the proportion of smaller (<1 mm) aggregates was greater under CT. Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, bulk density, soil water retention, and micropores of NT treatments were higher compared to CT systems at 0‐ to 5‐cm depth. However, the impacts of manure application on soil properties were not significant, except for those of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen. Harvesting in 2018 decreased the relative proportion of aggregates smaller than 1 mm and hydraulic conductivity of saturated soil. These results indicate that the immediate effect of tillage is to decrease larger aggregates, SOC, and total porosity, whereas harvesting decreases the proportion of smaller aggregates. Comparatively, aggregates smaller than 1 mm were mainly influenced by the long‐term effects of the management operations. It appears that larger aggregates can recover on an annual basis, but aggregates smaller than 1 mm do not. In long‐term studies, there is a need to monitor aggregates, including their size distribution and pore structures, to identify aggregate turnover time and rate, which will augment our understanding of aggregate formation.
Inverse probability of treatment weighting with generalized linear outcome models for doubly robust estimation
Authors: Gabriel Erin E. , Sachs Michael C. , Martinussen Torben , Waernbaum Ingeborg , Goetghebeur Els , Vansteelandt Stijn , Sjölander Arvid
Published: December 2023

There are now many options for doubly robust estimation; however, there is a concerning trend in the applied literature to believe that the combination of a propensity score and an adjusted outcome model automatically results in a doubly robust estimator and/or to misuse more complex established doubly robust estimators. A simple alternative, canonical link generalized linear models (GLM) fit via inverse probability of treatment (propensity score) weighted maximum likelihood estimation followed by standardization (the ‐formula) for the average causal effect, is a doubly robust estimation method. Our aim is for the reader not just to be able to use this method, which we refer to as IPTW GLM, for doubly robust estimation, but to fully understand why it has the doubly robust property. For this reason, we define clearly, and in multiple ways, all concepts needed to understand the method and why it is doubly robust. In addition, we want to make very clear that the mere combination of propensity score weighting and an adjusted outcome model does not generally result in a doubly robust estimator. Finally, we hope to dispel the misconception that one can adjust for residual confounding remaining after propensity score weighting by adjusting in the outcome model for what remains ‘unbalanced’ even when using doubly robust estimators. We provide R code for our simulations and real open‐source data examples that can be followed step‐by‐step to use and hopefully understand the IPTW GLM method. We also compare to a much better‐known but still simple doubly robust estimator.
Recent Advancements in Strategies for the Synthesis of Imidazoles, Thiazoles, Oxazoles, and Benzimidazoles
Authors: Kant Kamal , Patel Chandresh K. , Banerjee Sourav , Naik Priyadarshini , Atta Ananta K. , Kabi Arup K. , Malakar Chandi C.
Published: December 2023

Nitrogen‐containing heterocycles such as imidazoles, thiazoles, and oxazoles play a significant role in the fields of biological and pharmaceutical chemistry. These compounds were widely used for agrochemical, pesticide, medicinal, and industrial applications. Due to the wide spectrum of structural diversity as well as the biological and pharmaceutical activity of N‐heterocycles, a plethora of reports on their synthesis have appeared in the last few decades. However, developments in various bond‐forming strategies such as C−C, C−N, C−O, C−S, and N−N, as well as C−H activation, have been used as a powerful synthetic tool to derive copious N‐heterocycles. The most prominent and fascinating reports on the synthesis of imidazole, thiazole, oxazoles, and benzimidazole moieties by C−C and C−N coupling reactions, multi‐component and cycloaddition reactions, C−H activation, etc. are discussed in this study. These studies demonstrated the enormous potential of such methods for accelerating modern chemical synthesis and establishing molecular beauty through bonding. The various aspects of the methodologies, like optimized conditions, substrate scope, and mechanistic investigations, are discussed in detail.
Janus Zn‐IV‐VI: Robust Photocatalysts with Enhanced Built‐In Electric Fields and Strain‐Regulation Capability for Water Splitting
Authors: Shen Jiao , Zhang Tao , Jiang Hong , Wang Kai , Chang Haiqing , Zhang Tian C. , Zhao Yan , Fan Yubo , Liang Ying , Tian Xiaobao
Published: December 2023

The use of 2D materials to produce hydrogen (H2) fuel via photocatalytic water splitting has been intensively studied. However, the simultaneous fulfillment of the three essential requirements—high photon utilization, rapid carrier transfer, and low‐barrier redox reactions—for wide‐pH‐range production of H2 still poses a significant challenge with no additional modulation. By employing the first‐principles calculations, it has been observed that the Janus ZnXY2 structures (X = Si/Ge/Sn, Y = S/Se/Te) exhibit significantly enhanced built‐in electric fields (0.20−0.36 eV Å−1), which address the limitations intrinsically. Compared to conventional Janus membranes, the ductile ZnSnSe2 and ZnSnTe2 monolayers have stronger regulation of electric fields, resulting in improved electron mobility and excitonic nature (Ebinding = 0.50/0.35 eV). Both monolayers exhibit lower energy barriers of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER, 0.98/0.86 eV, pH = 7) and resistance to photocorrosion across pH 0‐7. Furthermore, the 1% tensile strain can further boost visible light utilization and intermediate absorption. The optimal AC‐type bilayer stacking configuration is conducive to enhancing electric fields for photocatalysis. Overall, Janus ZnXY2 membranes overcome the major challenges faced by conventional 2D photocatalysts via intrinsic polarization and external amelioration, enabling efficient and controllable photocatalysis without the need for doping or heterojunctions.
Atomic‐Scale Insights into the 2D Materials from Aberration‐Corrected Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy: Progress and Future
Authors: Sohn Woonbae , Kim Miyoung , Jang Ho Won
Published: December 2023

2D crystals are attractive due to their unique atomic, electronic structures, and physiochemical properties, which strongly rely on the synthesis conditions. The atomic structure and presence of defects in the crystal lattice, such as vacancies, dopants, grain boundaries, and edge terminations, significantly influence the properties of 2D materials. Due to its high spatial resolution, aberration‐corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (AC‐STEM) has become a powerful tool to provide atomic‐scale insights into the crystal structure, defects, heterointerfaces, ferroelectricity, and in situ observations of 2D materials. This review will cover the status of atomic‐scale studies on various 2D materials, including graphene, boron nitride, transition metal dichaogenides, MXenes, and phosphorene using AC‐STEM. The future perspective of AC‐STEM for new findings in 2D materials using machine learning is further discussed.
Enhancing Efficiency of Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells by Sputtered Nickel Oxide Hole‐Transport Layers
Authors: Kim Jae Won , Cho Eunmi , Lee Hyun‐Jung , Kwon Sung‐Nam , Park Jin‐Seong , Kim Mac , Kim Do‐Hyung , Na Seok‐In , Lee Sang‐Jin
Published: December 2023

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are now approaching their theoretical limits and the optimization of the auxiliary layers is crucial for fully exploiting the potential of perovskite materials. In this study, NiOx as a hole‐transport layer (HTL) for inverted p–i–n PSCs is focused on. Sputtered NiOx is an attractive p‐type HTL owing to its facile processing, wide energy bandgap that prevents electron transfer, high transparency, stability, and effective hole extraction. Despite substantial research on sputtered NiOx, the relationship between the carrier concentration and work function is still unclear. In this study, the use of sputtered NiOx as a widely compatible HTL and the effect of its thickness on PSC device performance are investigated. Inverted PSCs with the optimal 10 nm thick NiOx achieve a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 20.54%, which is the highest reported to date for sputtered NiOx‐based PSCs. Furthermore, PSCs with various NiOx thicknesses demonstrate similar performances, demonstrating the excellent versatility of NiOx for use with different perovskite absorbers. The devices exhibit excellent thermal and photostability, retaining 97% of their initial power conversion efficiency at 65 °C and 1 sun illumination for 350 h. Sputtered NiOx HTLs have great potential for use with diverse perovskite compositions and PSC structures.
Analytical quality by design‐based thin‐layer chromatography method development and validation for assay and content uniformity testing of the anti‐neoplastic drug Axitinib in tablet formulation
Authors: Koradia ShaileshKumar , Patel Madhavi , Sen Ashim Kumar , Sen Dhanya B. , Pradhan Prasanna
Published: December 2023

The current study aims to develop and validate an analytical quality by design approach‐based high‐performance thin‐layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method for the analysis of Axitinib tablet samples. The chromatographic conditions in the TLC method were optimized using a three‐level full factorial design. The mobile phase composition and chamber saturation time served as the independent variables for optimization. The mobile phase used for TLC separation on pre‐coated aluminum plates with silica gel 60 F254 consisted of a mixture of ethyl acetate and isopropyl alcohol in a ratio of 9:1 (v/v). Axitinib was quantified at 330 nm using the densitometric method. Axitinib peak from tablet formulation was verified against the reference standard by comparing its single band at Rf 0.44 ± 0.02. Linearity was found to exist between 100 and 600 ng/band, with a correlation coefficient (r2) of 0.9978. The percentage recovery was obtained as 98.21%–99.05%. The system was validated by determining the parameters according to the guidelines of the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Conditions for Medical Products for Human Use. The proposed TLC method can be effectively applied to routine quality control of a pharmaceutical product.
Troponin T1 silencing inhibits paclitaxel resistance and the development of breast cancer via suppressing rat sarcoma virus/rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma 1 pathway
Authors: Zhu Tong , Zhou Peng , Yang Lu , Fang Xuan , Zhi Xiangcheng
Published: December 2023

Objective

We aimed to determine the role of Troponin T1 (TNNT1) in paclitaxel (PTX) resistance and tumor progression in breast cancer (BC).

Methods

Differentially expressed genes were obtained from the GSE4298 and GSE90564 datasets. Hub genes were isolated from protein–protein interaction networks and further validated by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The effect of TNNT1 on PTX resistance was determined using cell counting kit‐8, 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine, wound healing, transwell, flow cytometry assays, and subcutaneous xenografted tumor model. Western blotting was used to detect proteins associated with PTX resistance, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and other key pathways. Hematoxylin–eosin and immunohistochemical staining were used to evaluate the role of TNNT1 in tumors.

Results

After comprehensive bioinformatic analysis, we identified CCND1, IGF1, SFN, INHBA, TNNT1, and TNFSF11 as hub genes for PTX resistance in BC. TNNT1 plays a key role in BC and is upregulated in PTX‐resistant BC cells. TNNT1 silencing inhibited PTX resistance, proliferation, migration, and invasion while promoting apoptosis of PTX‐resistant BC cells. Tumor xenograft experiments revealed that TNNT1 silencing suppresses PTX resistance and tumor development in vivo. In addition, TNNT1 silencing inhibited the expression of proteins in the rat sarcoma virus (RAS)/rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma1 (RAF1) pathway in vivo. Treatment with a RAS/RAF1 pathway activator reversed the inhibitory effect of TNNT1 silencing on proliferation, migration, and invasion while promoting apoptosis of PTX resistance BC cells.

Conclusion

Silencing of TNNT1 suppresses PTX resistance and BC progression by inhibiting the RAS/RAF1 pathway, which is a promising biomarker and therapeutic target for drug resistance in BC.
Introduction to History and Speculative Fiction: Essays in Honor of Gunlög Fur
Authors: Hennessey John L.
Published: December 2023

This introductory chapter makes the case that despite different epistemological starting points, history and speculative fiction are both arguably “literatures of cognitive estrangement.” Both can help expose invisible problematic aspects of their authors’ and readers’ societies and suggest possible solutions or futures. Summarizing relevant existing literature and theoretical perspectives, the chapter suggests the usefulness of the postcolonial concept of concurrences for both modes and different possible ways to define the two. It also investigates the relationship that history and speculative fiction have to colonial ideology and ecocriticism, as well as presenting the structure of the book.
The Weirdness of White Strangers: Imaginations of Westerners in Southeast Asian Lore and Tradition
Authors: Hägerdal Hans
Published: December 2023

As is well known, Western writers since the Middle Ages have frequently created mythologizing and exotic imaginations of Asian cultural elements. However, the opposite is true as well. The present study discusses how Europeans could be inserted into Southeast Asian mythologizing and fantastic accounts where elements of the supernatural and essential strangeness are dominant tropes. Examples are taken from a range of legendary and literary texts from pre-colonial and early-colonial Southeast Asia which use the foreignness of the Europeans to emphasize proper values among the creators’ own ethnic group—in other words, employing the Other as a negative mirror, thus enhancing certain narrative and moralistic tropes. All this provides new insights into premodern Southeast Asian perceptions of ethnic and cultural borders.
Ted Chiang’s Counterphysical Stories and History of Science Pedagogy
Authors: Hennessey John L.
Published: December 2023

Counterfactual history constitutes a prominent subgenre of speculative fiction. Nevertheless, though diverging from actual historical events, such works tend to otherwise be highly realistic. Other speculative fiction goes much further, creating not only an alternative timeline but an alternate reality governed by different physical laws. This chapter coins the term “counterphysical” to describe literature that plays with the very laws of physics or nature, but remains within a rules-based, science-inspired paradigm. Examining two counterphysical stories by Ted Chiang, “Seventy-Two Letters” (2000) and “Omphalos” (2019), it argues that such works can serve as a useful tool for teaching the history of science. Counterphysical fiction can help train students to suspend their present-day understanding of science in order to comprehend the worldview and mindset of historical scientists.
The Dark Past of Our Bright Future: Concurrent Histories of Star Trek: Voyager
Authors: Andrén Ella
Published: December 2023

The Star Trek franchise is frequently described as utopian, the bright future of humanity, Earth, and the universe. The time and society of the Starfleet explorers is said to have overcome issues of inequality, racism, sexism, hunger, war, capitalism, greed, and environmental problems. This is at the same time a radical fantasy of the future and an artistic and commercial product of our own time. In their travels across the galaxy, the Starfleet explorers also encounter different civilizations, often depicted or even described as reminiscent of various time periods of Earth’s history. Here, our imagined future can meet a metaphorical past, a piece of well-known history made Other. In this way, past, present, and future exist concurrently, and the past is made both vivid, close and alien.
Language Discourses and Contacts in the Twenty-First-Century Far North—Introduction to the Volume
Authors: Frick Maria , Räisänen Tiina , Ylikoski Jussi
Published: December 2023

With this volume, we invite you on a trip to the Far North of Europe, to Finland and its neighbouring countries Estonia and Sweden, and across the Arctic circle to the Lapland area which stretches from northernmost Scandinavia in the west to northern Finland and North-Western Russia. This is the area in which the Saami and Finnic peoples have lived for centuries, forming language contacts and discourses that are in constant change. On the pages of this book, we will introduce you to some of the inhabitants in this area and familiarise you with their everyday linguistic practices during the first two decades of the twenty-first century. We cover under-studied topics such as the linguistic situation of indigenous Saami people and the language attitudes of twenty-first-century migrants. In the chapters of the book, we will discuss individual language users’ talk about linguistic identities and their use of different languages. We will also explore their linguistic attitudes, ideologies, and ways in which their language use and their talk about language reflect their personal social relations and society at large.
The Effects of the Beginning of University Studies on the Language Revitalisation of Skolt Saami as Seen from the Perspective of Students and the Language Community
Authors: Jomppanen Marjatta
Published: December 2023

This study examines how the beginning of Skolt Saami studies at a university has affected the revitalisation of the language, as seen from the perspective of both students and the Skolt Saami language community. Skolt Saami is one of the three Saami languages spoken in Finland, along with Aanaar (Inari) Saami and North Saami. All Saami languages are endangered languages. Today, the majority of native speakers (ca. 300) live in Finland. I approach the research topic from the perspective of reversing language shift, which refers to a situation in which, due to various active measures, a language shift from a minority language to a majority language is successfully halted or decelerated. My focus is on a situation in which a minority language acquires the status of a university major. The data consists of interviews with Skolt Saami students at the University of Oulu.
Transnationals’ Discourses on the English Language in Finland
Authors: Lehto Liisa-Maria
Published: December 2023

This study concentrates on how transnationals living in Finland talk about English and its use in a Finnish context. It shows how the informants of the study construct discourses of English: the presence of English in Finnish society, proficiency in English, and the current linguistic situation in Finland. The data consist of pair conversations between transnational informants living in Finland, with 20 informants and 10 recorded pair conversations in total. The discourses show the notion of English as a widely known and spoken language in Finnish society. However, informants refined this general discourse by producing exceptions to the English skills of Finns according to speakers’ age, education, and places of residence. Finally, there was a discourse claiming that it is not possible to fully live in Finland using only English as certain areas of life remain inaccessible without knowledge of the local language.
Implementing Genome Editing in Barley Breeding
Authors: Jakobson Liina , Oney Birol Signem , Timofejeva Ljudmilla
Published: December 2023

This chapter summarizes the status of the genome editing efforts in Hordeum vulgare L. and provides an overview of the technical advances and obstacles of applying genome editing in barley. It also highlights the potential of genome editing in barley breeding with the focus on breeding for high yielding, disease resistant and stable varieties. The CRISPR/Cas technology is a breakthrough in genome editing due to its robustness and easy to use programming, especially for generating targeted mutations to switch off genes that have a negative impact on food quality, increase susceptibility to pathogens, or divert metabolic flux away from useful end products. Genome editing studies are expected to advance barley breeding by accelerating the breeding process and enabling easier multiplexing of traits. The chapter offers an outlook on the future of barley genome editing techniques based on CRISPR/Cas system.
Current Status and Future Prospective of Genome Editing Application in Maize
Authors: Varotto Serena
Published: December 2023

Maize (Zea mays ssp. mays) is the most world-widely cultivated agricultural crop and over the past century, its yield per unit land area has increased consistently due to both breeding efforts and improvement in management. Cross breeding, mutation breeding, and transgenic breeding are the main methodologies adopted for maize improvement. The first maize transgenic hybrids were commercialized more than 20 years ago, and till now more than 150 different events of transgenic maize have been approved for commercial cultivation. The sequencing of the maize genome and the development of advanced genomic tools provided the biologists with the theoretical information necessary to attempt the genome modification at the pre-intended genomic loci. The tremendous advances brought about by CRISPR/Cas systems from first applications to nowadays has made genome editing a powerful tool for precise maize improvement. Although many CRISPR-Cas-edited genes have been documented to improve maize traits of agronomic interest, only a few lines have been tested in field trials; additional work for determining potential breeding values of edited maize lines must be done in terms of field tests. The integration of CRISPR-Cas technology in the breeding of new maize varieties also depends on existing and future regulatory policies that will be adopted worldwide.
Application of CRISPR/Cas-Mediated Genome Editing Techniques in Leguminous Crops
Authors: Das Debajit , Acharjee Sumita
Published: December 2023

Grain legumes are prized for their high protein content and abundance of phytochemicals, which are essential in the human diet. Scientists have made significant advancements in discovering novel genetic features in legumes, including, but not limited to, productivity, tolerance/resistance to various environmental stresses, and improved nutritive value. The contemporary surge in genetic resources of grain legumes has facilitated the integration of advanced molecular breeding techniques such as transgenic methodologies, genome modification, and genomic selection, to augment the crop’s overall performance. This chapter discusses the application of CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing tools for the improvement of grain legumes. Furthermore, it elaborates upon the latest developments in plant-specific genetic modification techniques, while also addressing the challenges and prospective benefits that come with enhancing grain legumes with significant agronomical attributes. Genome editing techniques have been proficiently employed in diverse legumes, encompassing model legumes such as Medicago, alfalfa, and lotus, alongside other widely cultivated legumes like soybean, cowpea, and chickpea. The advent of gene-editing methodologies in legume breeding has presented exciting opportunities for enhancing important agronomic characteristics.
Soybean Improvement and the Role of Gene Editing
Authors: Erol Nihal Öztolan
Published: December 2023

Soybean is a major agricultural crop that is used for food, feed, and industrial products. However, soybean production is facing several challenges, including pests, diseases, and environmental factors. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in using gene editing technologies to improve soybean traits. Gene editing technologies offer a promising new approach to improving soybean production and quality.

Gene editing technologies can be used to precisely alter the soybean genome. There are a number of different gene editing technologies that can be used to improve soybeans. One of the most commonly used technologies is CRISPR/Cas9, which uses a protein called Cas9 to cut DNA at a specific location. This can be used to insert, delete, or modify genes. Other gene editing technologies include zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs). Gene editing technologies have the potential to revolutionize soybean breeding. This can be used to introduce new traits, such as resistance to pests and diseases, or to improve existing traits, such as yield and oil content.

The use of gene editing technologies in soybean improvement is still in its early stages, but the potential benefits are significant. Gene editing technologies offer a more precise and efficient way to improve soybean production than traditional breeding methods. They also offer the potential to create new varieties of soybeans that are better able to meet the challenges of a changing world.
CRISPR/Cas-Based Precision Breeding of Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.) – Recent Improvements
Authors: Boniecka Justyna
Published: December 2023

The seeds of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) are used in large-scale production of one of the most health-promoting plant oils in the food industry, as well as for animal feed and biofuel production. Thus, increasing the yield of this crop is of crucial economic and ecological importance. However, conventional breeding programs are slow, laborious and time-consuming. Hence, along with the discovery of the possibility to apply CRISPR/Cas technology to edit plant genomes and to accelerate the breeding process, much effort has been put into applying this technology to study specific genes and biosynthetic pathways, especially in species with many gene copies such as B. napus. Here, recent improvements in generating CRISPR/Cas-induced mutations in the B. napus genome, delivering CRISPR/Cas reagents into oilseed rape plant cells, fast-checking the efficiency of targeted mutagenesis of CRISPR/Cas reagents, and oilseed rape transformation and regeneration procedures are described. Finally, new applications of CRISPR/Cas tools in oilseed rape precision breeding are discussed, focusing mainly on applications verified in field.
Targeted Gene Editing in Pome Fruit Genetics and Breeding: State-of-the-Art, Application Potential and Perspectives
Authors: Claessen Hanne , Aert Pollien , De Storme Nico
Published: December 2023

Even though traditional breeding of perennial fruit trees such as apple and pear has resulted in high performing cultivars in the past, it is a very lengthy and costly process that is unable to keep up with the increasing demands for improved yield, resistance and fruit quality posed by the growing world population and the rapidly changing climate. In the last decade, significant research advances have been made that can revolutionize pome fruit breeding to meet current needs, including the sequencing of apple and pear genomes, the increased understanding of associations between gene(s) and traits of interest, and the advancement in genetic engineering tools. In particular the emergence of genome-editing tools such as the CRISPR/Cas9 technology can significantly improve the speed and accuracy of pome fruit breeding programs. This chapter reviews the progress, opportunities and challenges of genome editing tools in apple and pear, and discusses the genetic basis of several important breeding goals to find possible targets for new gene-editing applications.
Base Editing and Prime Editing
Authors: Kaya Hilal Betul
Published: December 2023

The development of new adaptations of CRISPR-based genome editing platforms, such as base editing and prime editing, made it possible to broaden the scope and applications of genome editing in plants. First base editing and, more recently, prime editing evade the creation of double-stranded breaks in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and the requirement of donor template of DNA for repair while enhancing editing efficiency and product purity over CRISPR/Cas9. As base-pair changes in genomic DNA determine many significant agronomic traits, crop varieties can be developed by precisely converting specific single bases in plant genomes. While base editing can introduce specific nucleotide changes, such as transition and transversion mutations in the targeted region, prime editing can create precise insertions, deletions, and all 12 types of point mutations using the “search-and-replace” method.

This chapter provides the basic principles of base editing and prime editing technologies and their practical applications in plants. The chapter also summarizes the recent breakthroughs in applying base and prime editors in diverse plant species, including their use in improving disease resistance, herbicide resistance, nutritional quality, crop yield, and quality. Finally, this chapter aims to clearly understand base editing and prime editing in plants by outlining potential developments.
Genome Editing for Reduction of Bitterness and for Production of Medicinal Terpenes in Cichorium Species
Authors: Cankar Katarina , Van Laere Katrijn , Bosch Dirk
Published: December 2023

Cichorium varieties are cultivated both as leafy vegetables as well as industrial root crop for extraction of the food fibre inulin. Cichorium is a typical European crop and grown on a relatively small scale. However, due to its distinctive taste and health benefits and its capacity to produce multiple bioactive compounds, Cichorium has great potential if varieties could be optimised for these properties by breeding. In recent years it has been demonstrated in several laboratories that chicory is very amenable to genome editing. Different protocols were developed and implemented to adapt bitterness as well as to accumulate medicinal terpenes, generating potential socio-economic benefits over the entire value chain from farmers to consumers, as well as for the environment. In addition, scientific knowledge on chicory biology, particularly on the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites was significantly increased. This demonstrates how genome editing can contribute to breeding of niche crops such as Cichorium, which have relatively little investment leverage for extensive breeding programs.
Genome Editing-Based Strategies Used to Enhance Crop Resistance to Parasitic Weeds
Authors: Yıldırım Kubilay , Kavas Musa , Akın Melekşen , Küçük İlkay Sevgen
Published: December 2023

In contrast to most autotrophic plants, which produce carbohydrates from carbon dioxide using photosynthesis, parasitic weed plants rely on host plants to form vascular connections through which they withdraw the required nutritive resources and water. Many important crop plants are infested by these heterotrophic plants leading to tremendous yield losses and rendering agricultural lands uncultivable. The parasitic weeds are physically attached to the host plants and therefore their control is challenging due to the lack of selective methods for killing the weeds without damaging the host crop. Fortunately, many host plants have pre-haustorium resistance, host initiation responses and post-attachment tolerance to these parasitic weeds. However, parasitic weeds have high fecundity, dispersal efficiency, and persistent seed storage in the soil all of which enable them to adapt to new hosts and break down the crop resistance. Recent discoveries in genome editing and gene silencing-based technologies open new opportunities to enhance crop resistance to parasitic weeds. Some genome editing-based studies targeting the seed germination of parasitic weeds created almost complete resistance in crop species. In this chapter, we give an overview of the host-parasitic interaction and host defence responses that can be targeted by genome editing or gene silencing technologies.
Genome Editing in Biotech Regulations Worldwide
Authors: Sprink Thorben , Wilhelm Ralf
Published: December 2023

Since the introduction of genome editing techniques in breeding and the first commercial products on the market, various governments or jurisdictions have attempted to clarify the legal classification of genome editing in relation to their genetic engineering regulations. Only a few countries, including Europe, fully apply their strict genetic engineering laws to genome-edited organisms or products derived from them. Most countries with liberal regulations base classification on the absence of foreign DNA in the final product (including the USA and Canada, which de facto have no specific GMO laws). Countries such as Australia and Japan have introduced subcategories when sequence templates have been used in the genome editing process. Several countries, including Europe, are in the process of revising their GMO legislation. The international legislative landscape is thus dynamic. The heterogeneity of regulatory regimes poses a challenge for international trade. This chapter summarises the status as of June 2023 and provides a brief introduction to the main legal concepts.
CRISPR Processes Patents in Green Biotechnology: Collaborative Licensing Models
Authors: Ricroch Agnès
Published: December 2023

A strong patent system is necessary to enable innovation by incentivising investments in research and development (R&D) and promoting the dissemination of knowledge, including through licensing, as this is considered vital for the development and commercialisation of new products. The new genomic techniques (NGTs) defined by the European Union (EU) in 2021 include the CRISPR system which can selectively modify DNA sequences in a genome. More than 11,000 CRISPR-related patent applications have already been filed worldwide mainly in USA and China. The proliferation of patents on CRISPR for green biotechnology applications and the dispute between two of the technology’s inventors (UC Berkeley and the Broad Institute of MIT, USA) could be barriers to innovation. With regard to intellectual property (IP) and the patent protection, the conditions and opportunities of alternative licensing models to overcome the difficulties created by the complex patent landscape of CRISPR technology are examined. Patent pools and clearing houses are the two models attracting most interest that leads to a one-stop licensing point allowing cross-licensing and facilitating freedom to operate. The conditions for success and acceptability of collaborative licensing platforms are discussed.
Improving Science Communication About Genome Editing – Mitigating Strong Moral Convictions Through Shared Moral Goals
Authors: Waldhof Gabi
Published: December 2023

A large share of natural scientists considers the application of genetic engineering (GE) to be necessary for a sustainable transformation of agriculture. However, there is a stark divergence between scientific assessment and public perception of this technology, particularly in Germany. So far, science communication has not been able to reconcile this divergence. The chapter suggests that strong moral convictions hinder effective science communication and provides scientific evidence for this claim. Furthermore, the chapter presents research suggesting that strong moral convictions can be mitigated through shared moral goals. Building on this insight, recommendations for improved science communication about GE are formulated.
What Is the Problem with Europe in a Philosophical Point of View?
Authors: Kuntz Marcel
Published: December 2023

It is well known that developing plant biotechnological products is far more difficult in Europe than in the United States, for example. Of course, the different regulatory rationales impact technological development in both cases. This chapter discusses the reasons for such a difference, in relation with the historical background of Europe vs. USA, and in the philosophical context of ‘postmodernism’. The latter is influent in both the European Union (EU) and the USA, but does not politically express itself in the same way. The central pillar of the doctrine currently dominant in the EU being to prevent repetition of the tragedies of the past, especially wars, which includes avoiding becoming a political power in the old sense. This chapter proposes that this political thought has also influenced the way technological risks are considered (Precautionary Principle) while benefits are sometimes ignored, such as those of plant biotechnology. The April 2021 EU Commission report on gene editing is discussed as an example of postmodern framing.
Digitaler Gebäudepass für den Nachweis der Kreislauffähigkeit
Authors: Gebetsroither Michaela , Honic Meliha , Kovacic Iva , Löffler Christoph , Marx Klemens , Pamminger Rainer , Robbi Steffen , Sustr Christian , Schützenhofer Stefan , Weber Gundula
Published: December 2023

Die Idee eines Gebäudepass wurde zum ersten Mal von Eichstädt im Jahre 1982 für Industriebauten vorgeschlagen. Er beschreibt den Pass als ein Dokument, das Änderungen im Gebäude nachverfolgt und somit eine qualitative Bewertung von Industriegebäuden ermöglicht (Eichstädt, Batiment Int Build Res Pract 10:177–181, 1982, S. 177–181).