bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prenatal experience and postnatal stress modulate the adult neurosteroid and catecholaminergic stress responses
Authors: Zimmerberg Betty , Brown Rachel C.
Published: July 2002

Allopregnanolone (3α‐hydroxy‐5α‐regnan‐20‐one) is a neuroactive steroid recently shown to be involved in the neurochemical stress response via its positive modulation of the GABAA receptor complex. This experiment investigated the effects of postnatal stress (daily maternal separation during the first week of life) on the subsequent adult response to a stressor (10 min forced swim) in Long–Evans rats from one of three prenatal treatment groups (alcohol, pair‐fed and control). Indices of stress response were allopregnanolone concentrations in plasma, cortex and hippocampus, and dopamine and norepinephrine concentrations in prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens and striatum. Females had higher levels of allopregnanolone than males in both plasma and brain. Prenatal alcohol exposure combined with early maternal separation stress resulted in an increase in the endogenous levels of allopregnanolone in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of adult offspring in response to a stressor compared to subjects without a prior history of postnatal stress ; this effect was greater in females. This increased allopregnanolone was also associated with decreased dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the prefrontal cortex. In the prenatal alcohol‐exposed offspring, postnatal maternal separation blunted the increase in dopamine levels in the striatum seen in both control groups. Postnatal maternal separation increased norepinephrine levels in the nucleus accumbens regardless of prenatal experience, while in the prefrontal cortex only prenatal diet condition (pair‐feeding and alcohol) resulted in lower norepinephrine levels. The results of this experiment suggest that experience, both pre‐ and postnatal, can have long‐term consequences for the developing neurochemical responses to stressors.
Comparing lending decisions of minority‐owned and White‐owned banks
Authors: Black Harold A. , Robinson Breck L. , Schweitzer Robert L.
Published: July 2002

A recent paper by Black, Collins and Cyree [J. Financ. Serv. Res. 11 (1997) 189.] attempted to determine if Black‐owned banks discriminated against Black applicants for mortgage credit. They concluded that Black applicants were more likely to be rejected than White applicants when applying for mortgage credit at a Black‐owned bank. However, the use of the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) as the geographic delineation from which minority‐owned and non‐minority‐owned banks are compared may not provide a narrowly defined market from which an accurate comparison can be made. Here, the zip code cluster technique developed by Clair [Econ. Rev. (1988) 11.] is used to control for differences in applicant base that may result when using a broader geographic definition such as an MSA. The results reported in this study show that contrary to the results of Black, Collins and Cyree, Black‐owned banks are not statistically more likely to reject Black applicants. The study also considers Asian‐owned and Hispanic‐owned banks. The results show that Asian‐owned banks are equally as likely to provide a mortgage to Asian applicants, while Hispanic applicants are more likely to receive a mortgage from a Hispanic‐owned bank.
Formulation of a Composite Nasal Spray Enabling Enhanced Surface Coverage and Prophylaxis of SARS‐COV‐2
Authors: Moakes Richard J. A. , Davies Scott P. , Stamataki Zania , Grover Liam M.
Published: June 2021

Airborne pathogens pose high risks in terms of both contraction and transmission within the respiratory pathways, particularly the nasal region. However, there is little in the way of adequate intervention that can protect an individual or prevent further spread. This study reports on a nasal formulation with the capacity to combat such challenges, focusing on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). Formulation of a polysaccharide‐based spray, known for its mucoadhesive properties, is undertaken and it is characterized for its mechanical, spray distribution, and antiviral properties. The ability to engineer key mechanical characteristics such as dynamic yield stresses and high coverage is shown, through systematic understanding of the composite mixture containing both gellan and λ‐carrageenan. Furthermore, the spray systems demonstrate highly potent capacities to prevent SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in Vero cells, resulting in complete inhibition when either treating, the cells, or the virus, prior to challenging for infection. From this data, a mechanism for both prophylaxis and prevention is proposed; where entrapment within a polymeric coating sterically blocks virus uptake into the cells, inactivating the virus, and allowing clearance within the viscous medium. As such, a fully preventative spray is formulated, targeted at protecting the lining of the upper respiratory pathways against SARS‐CoV‐2.
Do more data equal more truth? Toward a cybernetic approach to data
Authors: Bell Genevieve , Gould Maia , Martin Brenda , McLennan Amy , O’Brien Ellen
Published: June 2021

In Australia, as in other places in the world, we accumulate and curate Big Data – in the public and private spheres; as consumers and citizens; for profit, for proof and for the promises it holds. Yet, data are only ever a partial snapshot of the lives of humans, communities, environments and places. Data has its place, but in order to use data to effect change, we need to understand which questions to ask, which assumptions to suspend, which data to collect and how to interpret them, we need knowledge of the broader context. Taking a systems‐level view of data allows us to ask questions about it as a technical and sense making apparatus, as well as about the consequences of data collection, storage and use. This article advocates for a cybernetic approach to thinking about and using data. Cybernetics can be broadly understood as the study of feedback, communication and control in a system. A cybernetic approach to Big Data means de‐centring data to focus on a broader system of cultural, technological and environmental dimensions. In this approach, the system itself is the core unit of analysis, and also a vantage point or an approach through which to encounter and re/structure such systems. Employing a cybernetic approach allows us to move beyond attempts to order and reorder information, and instead see it as making implicit knowledge explicit, and then knowing that the hard work is what to do with that knowledge. Through this we are able to conceptualise more complex inputs, outputs and interactions, than simply those captured in a dataset. The insights drawn from a particular dataset or datasets, or from a particular model or algorithm (however well parameterised) never represent the whole truth, and a cybernetics framing enables practitioners to say, if that is the case, what now? A cybernetic approach suggests we should preference deeper understanding, not simply more truth.
Four‐Step Domino Reaction Enables Fully Controlled Non‐Statistical Synthesis of Hexaarylbenzene with Six Different Aryl Groups**
Authors: Grau Benedikt W. , Dill Maximilian , Hampel Frank , Kahnt Axel , Jux Norbert , Tsogoeva Svetlana B.
Published: June 2021

Hexaarylbenzene (HAB) derivatives are versatile aromatic systems playing a significant role as chromophores, liquid crystalline materials, molecular receptors, molecular‐scale devices, organic light‐emitting diodes and candidates for organic electronics. Statistical synthesis of simple symmetrical HABs is known via cyclotrimerization or Diels–Alder reactions. By contrast, the synthesis of more complex, asymmetrical systems, and without involvement of statistical steps, remains an unsolved problem. Here we present a generally applicable synthetic strategy to access asymmetrical HAB via an atom‐economical and high‐yielding metal‐free four‐step domino reaction using nitrostyrenes and α,α‐dicyanoolefins as easily available starting materials. Resulting domino product—functionalized triarylbenzene (TAB)—can be used as a key starting compound to furnish asymmetrically substituted hexaarylbenzenes in high overall yield and without involvement of statistical steps. This straightforward domino process represents a distinct approach to create diverse and still unexplored HAB scaffolds, containing six different aromatic rings around central benzene core.
Post‐Synthetic Modification Unlocks a 2D‐to‐3D Switch in MOF Breathing Response: A Single‐Crystal‐Diffraction Mapping Study
Authors: Carrington Elliot J. , Dodsworth Stephen F. , van Meurs Sandra , Warren Mark R. , Brammer Lee
Published: June 2021

Post‐synthetic modification (PSM) of the interpenetrated diamondoid metal–organic framework (Me2NH2)[In(BDC‐NH2)2] (BDC‐NH2=aminobenzenedicarboxylate) SHF‐61 proceeds quantitatively in a single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal manner to yield the acetamide derivative (Me2NH2)[In(BDC‐NHC(O)Me)2] SHF‐62. Continuous breathing behaviour during activation/desolvation is retained upon PSM, but pore closing now leads to ring‐flipping to avert steric clash of amide methyl groups of the modified ligands. This triggers a reduction in the amplitude of the breathing deformation in the two dimensions associated with pore diameter, but a large increase in the third dimension associated with pore length. The MOF is thereby converted from predominantly 2D breathing (in SHF‐61) to a distinctly 3D breathing motion (in SHF‐62) indicating a decoupling of the pore‐width and pore‐length breathing motions. These breathing motions have been mapped by a series of single‐crystal diffraction studies.
Synthesizing Photoluminescent Au28(SCH2Ph‐tBu)22 Nanoclusters with Structural Features by Using a Combined Method
Authors: Dong Jingwu , Gan Zibao , Gu Wanmiao , You Qing , Zhao Yan , Zha Jun , Li Jin , Deng Haiteng , Yan Nan , Wu Zhikun
Published: June 2021

We present a method for atomically precise nanocluster synthesis. As an illustration, we introduced the reducing‐ligand induction combined method and synthesized a novel nanocluster, which was determined to be Au28(SCH2Ph‐tBu)22 with the same number of gold atoms as existing Au28(SR)20 nanoclusters but different ligands (hetero‐composition‐homo‐size). Compared with the latter, the former has distinct properties and structures. In particular, a novel kernel evolution pattern is reported, i.e., the quasi‐linear growth of Au4‐tetrahedron by sharing one vertex and structural features, including a tritetrahedron kernel with two bridging thiolates and two Au6(SCH2Ph‐tBu)6 hexamer chair‐like rings on the kernel surface were also first reported, which endow Au28(SCH2Ph‐tBu)22 with the best photoluminescence quantum yield among hydrophobic thiolated gold nanoclusters so far, probably due to the enhanced charge transfer from the bi‐ring to the kernel via Au−Au bonds.
[o‐C5H4NHOH]2[I7O18(OH)]⋅3 H2O: An Organic–Inorganic Hybrid SHG Material Featuring an [I7O18(OH)] Branched Polyiodate Chain
Authors: Chen Qian‐Qian , Hu Chun‐Li , Chen Jin , Li Yi‐Lin , Li Bing‐Xuan , Mao Jiang‐Gao
Published: June 2021

An organic–inorganic hybrid polyiodate, namely, [o‐C5H4NHOH]2[I7O18(OH)]⋅3 H2O (I), featuring a novel branched polyiodate chain has been obtained by evaporation method. [o‐C5H4NHOH]2[I7O18(OH)]⋅3 H2O (I) crystalizes in the polar space group Ia and features an [I7O18(OH)]
branched polyiodate chain in which [I3O9]3− trimers are grafted on the same side of the one‐dimensional (1D) chain based on [I4O11(OH)]3− tetramers. The asymmetric organic amine groups are beneficial to the polymerization of iodate groups and inducing the formation of the non‐centrosymmetric (NCS) structure. Compound I exhibits a rather large Second‐Harmonic‐ Generation (SHG) signal of 8.5×KH2PO4 (KDP) upon 1064 nm laser radiation, a moderate band gap of 3.90 eV and a high laser‐induced‐damage‐threshold (LIDT) of 182.34 MW cm−2, hence it is a promising new SHG material. The relationship between the structures of the organic amine groups and the overall structures has been also analyzed.
Side‐Chain Engineering for Enhancing the Molecular Rigidity and Photovoltaic Performance of Noncovalently Fused‐Ring Electron Acceptors
Authors: Zhang Xin , Li Congqi , Qin Linqing , Chen Hao , Yu Jianwei , Wei Yanan , Liu Xingzheng , Zhang Jianqi , Wei Zhixiang , Gao Feng , Peng Qian , Huang Hui
Published: June 2021

Side‐chain engineering is an effective strategy to regulate the solubility and packing behavior of organic materials. Recently, a unique strategy, so‐called terminal side‐chain (T‐SC) engineering, has attracted much attention in the field of organic solar cells (OSCs), but there is a lack of deep understanding of the mechanism. Herein, a new noncovalently fused‐ring electron acceptor (NFREA) containing two T‐SCs (NoCA‐5) was designed and synthesized. Introduction of T‐SCs can enhance molecular rigidity and intermolecular π–π stacking, which is confirmed by the smaller Stokes shift value, lower reorganization free energy, and shorter π–π stacking distance in comparison to NoCA‐1. Hence, the NoCA‐5‐based device exhibits a record power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.82 % in labs and a certified PCE of 14.5 %, resulting from a high electron mobility, a short charge‐extraction time, a small Urbach energy (Eu), and a favorable phase separation.
Differentiation of Self and Mental Health Symptoms in Emerging Adulthood in Australia: The Role of Parenting Behaviours
Authors: Elena Marie Piteo Sister , MacKay Linda
Published: June 2021

To date, limited research has been undertaken regarding the interplay between differentiation of self (DoS), parental involvement, and the prevalence of psychological symptoms in emerging adults (EA) aged between 18 and 25 years in Australia. The current study aims to assess whether there is an association between mental health symptoms, perceptions of parental warmth, involvement, and autonomy support and indicators of DoS, including self‐regulation capacity and emotional reactivity. In a study of 129 undergraduate students aged between 18 and 30 years, greater DoS, involving both lower emotional reactivity and the ability to take an ‘I position’ in relation to others, was found to be associated with fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms in EA. In addition, EA who demonstrated lower levels of emotional reactivity (higher DoS) had lower scores in depressive and anxiety symptoms. Parenting variables of caregiver warmth and autonomy granting were also found to be related to lower depressive and anxiety symptoms as well as greater DoS in EA. Regression models show that there were main effects for DoS on depressive symptoms; however, parenting behaviours were not found to moderate this relationship. Overall, this research is important as it supports Bowen’s (1978) theorising in relation to the relationship between DoS and mental health, and consideration of the contribution of parenting variables to indicators of well‐being in EA. In this, family therapy has a role in educating both young adults and their parents in how best to promote independence and autonomy for improved psychological health. Further research should focus on the complexity of parenting controlling behaviours on mental health symptoms in EA.
El Niño–Southern Oscillation impacts on jumbo squid habitat: Implication for fisheries management
Authors: Yu Wei , Wen Jian , Chen Xinjun , Liu Bilin
Published: June 2021

Dosidicus gigas is an ecologically and economically important squid species extensively distributed in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Its habitat is extremely sensitive to climatic and environmental variability.

The relationship between habitat pattern of D. gigas and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO, divided into the El Niño, ENSO‐neutral, and La Niña events) was assessed from 1950 to 2015, using a habitat suitability index (HSI) modelling approach including two crucial environmental variables: sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface height anomaly (SSHA).

On the basis of cross‐correlation analysis, it showed that both SST anomaly and SSHA were significantly positively related to the ENSO index. Moreover, a significantly negative association was found between the HSI values and the ENSO index.

Due to the El Niño events, SST off Peru became higher and sea level rose, resulting in contracted areas of suitable SST and SSHA; consequently, suitable habitats for D. gigas dramatically decreased. In contrast, during the ENSO‐neutral and La Niña years, the extent of suitable SST and SSHA increased due to the colder water and lower sea level, and suitable habitat for D. gigas expanded.

Moreover, the latitudinal gravity centre of HSI was significantly positively associated with the ENSO index. Relative to the ENSO‐neutral and La Niña years, a southward movement of the monthly preferred SST isotherm for D. gigas during the El Niño years could explain the occurrence of more suitable habitats in southern waters off Peru.

These findings suggested that the ENSO event plays an important role in regulating environmental conditions off Peru and further affected the spatio‐temporal distribution of D. gigas habitat.
First evidence of bubble‐net feeding and the formation of ‘super‐groups’ by the east Australian population of humpback whales during their southward migration
Authors: Pirotta Vanessa , Owen Kylie , Donnelly David , Brasier Madeleine J. , Harcourt Robert
Published: June 2021

The recovery of overexploited populations is likely to reveal behaviours that may have been present prior to harvest but are only now reappearing as the population size increases. The east Australian humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) population (group V, stock E1) has recovered well from past exploitation and is now estimated to be close to the pre‐whaling population size.

Humpback whales were thought to follow a ‘feast and famine’ model historically, feeding intensively in high‐latitude feeding grounds and then fasting while migrating and in calving grounds; however, there is growing evidence that animals may feed outside of known foraging grounds.

This short article reports on the first photographically documented evidence of bubble‐net feeding by humpback whales in Australian coastal waters (n = 10 groups observed) and provides the first evidence of a second site in the southern hemisphere for the formation of ‘super‐groups’ (n = 6 super‐groups at discrete locations).

The formation of super‐groups may be linked to changes in the type or density of prey available, either along the migratory route or in the feeding grounds of the previous summer. It is also possible that the increased population size following recovery make large group sizes while feeding more common. These findings strongly support evidence that feeding behaviour is not restricted to high‐latitude foraging grounds in the Southern Ocean, and that prey consumption prior to leaving the coastal waters of Australia may be a significant component of the migratory ecology of this population.

Understanding how environmental variation influences the extent to which humpback whales depend on foraging opportunities along their migratory route, and where feeding occurs, will help to predict how future changes in the ocean will influence whale populations. This will also allow for more effective management measures to reduce the impact of threats during this important period of energy consumption.
Testing for parameter changes in linear state space models
Authors: Golosnoy Vasyl , Köhler Steffen , Schmid Wolfgang , Seifert Miriam Isabel
Published: June 2021

Linear state space models (LSSMs) provide a very general framework for multiple time series analysis. We propose a novel statistical procedure for testing validity of a LSSM which is focused on the detection of changes in parameters of the given LSSM. We derive the moments as well as the asymptotic distribution of the test statistic, and investigate the test size and the test power for changes in means, variances, and autoregressive coefficients. In the empirical application we test the validity of LSSMs applied to daily realized volatility time series.
Chemical Interface Damping of Silver‐coated Gold Nanorods Using Supramolecular Host–Guest Chemistry
Authors: Ryu Kyeong Rim , Ha Ji Won
Published: June 2021

We present the chemical interface damping (CID) of single Ag‐coated Au nanorods (AuNRs@Ag) using cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7])‐based host–guest chemistry. The chemisorption of CB[7]‐NH2 onto an AuNR@Ag surface resulted in a redshift of its localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) scattering peak, with a considerably increased linewidth. This LSPR broadening was ascribed to CID caused by the formation of a strong nitrogen–Ag interaction during the chemisorption of CB[7]‐NH2 onto the AuNR@Ag surface. Furthermore, we observed additional broadening of the LSPR linewidth when the guest molecule (oxaliplatin) was encapsulated into CB[7]‐NH2 chemisorbed onto the AuNR@Ag surface.
Did court dismiss student‐athlete's emotional distress claims?
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: June 2021

A Southeastern Louisiana University volleyball player and her teammates scheduled a meeting with the university's athletics director to discuss their coaches’ “emotionally abusive conduct.”
Iris recognition based on few‐shot learning
Authors: Lei Songze , Dong Baihua , Li Yonggang , Xiao Feng , Tian Feng
Published: June 2021

Iris recognition is a popular research field in the biometrics, and it plays an important role in automatic recognition. Given sufficient training data, some deep learning‐based approaches have achieved good performance on iris recognition. However, when the training data are limited, overfitting may occur. To address this issue, in this paper, we proposed a few‐shot learning approach for iris recognition, based on model‐agnostic meta‐learning (MAML). To our best knowledge, we are the first to apply few‐shot learning for iris recognition. Our experiments on the benchmark datasets have demonstrated that the proposed approach can achieve higher performance than the original MAML, and it is competitive to deep learning‐based approaches.
Highly Ordered Mesoporous Cobalt Oxide as Heterogeneous Catalyst for Aerobic Oxidative Aromatization of N‐Heterocycles
Authors: Cao Yue , Wu Yong , Zhang Yuanteng , Zhou Jing , Xiao Wei , Gu Dong
Published: June 2021

N‐heterocycles are key structures for many pharmaceutical intermediates. The synthesis of such units normally is conducted under homogeneous catalytic conditions. Among all methods, aerobic oxidative aromatization is one of the most effective. However, in homogeneous conditions, catalysts are difficult to be recycled. Herein, we report a heterogeneous catalytic strategy with a mesoporous cobalt oxide as catalyst. The developed protocol shows a broad applicability for the synthesis of N‐heterocycles (32 examples, up to 99 % yield), and the catalyst presents high turnover numbers (7.41) in the absence of any additives. Such a heterogenous approach can be easily scaled up. Furthermore, the catalyst can be recycled by simply filtration and be reused for at least six times without obvious deactivation. Comparative studies reveal that the high surface area of mesoporous cobalt oxide plays an important role on the catalytic reactivity. The outstanding recycling capacity makes the catalyst industrially practical and sustainable for the synthesis of diverse N‐heterocycles.
Facile Chemical Modification of Aquivion® Membranes for Anionic Fuel Cells
Authors: Bonizzoni Simone , Stilli Pietro , Lohmann‐Richters Felix , Oldani Claudio , Ferrara Chiara , Papagni Antonio , Beverina Luca , Mustarelli Piercarlo
Published: June 2021

Anion‐exchange membranes (AEMs) are of growing interest for electrochemical devices such as fuel cells and electrolyzers because the alkaline medium allows avoiding the use of platinum and platinum‐group metals as the electrocatalysts. Perfluorinated polymers are a good starting point to prepare AEMs because of their chemical stability and potential high conductivity resulting from the coexistence of hydrophobic main chains and flexible hydrophilic side chains. Here, we report a facile and simple chemical modification of Aquivion® performed in aqueous environment. We obtained a chemically stable membrane with ionic conductivity exceeding 2.5×10−2 S cm−1 at 80 °C and 100 RH% that was used in a polymer fuel cell.
PorphyStruct: A Digital Tool for the Quantitative Assignment of Non‐Planar Distortion Modes in Four‐Membered Porphyrinoids
Authors: Krumsieck Jens , Bröring Martin
Published: June 2021

PorphyStruct, a new digital tool for the analysis of non‐planar distortion modes of different porphyrinoids, and its application to corrole structures is reported. The program makes use of the normal‐coordinate structure decomposition technique (NSD) and employs sets of normal modes equivalent to those established for porphyrins in order to describe the out‐of‐plane dislocation pattern of perimeter atoms from corroles, norcorroles, porphycenes and other porphyrinoids quantitatively and in analogy to the established terminology. A comparative study of 17 porphyrin structures shows very similar results to the original NSD analysis and no systematic error. Application to corroles is successful and reveals the necessity to implement an extended basis of normal modes for a large share of experimental structures. The results frequently show the concomitant occurence of several modes but remain interpretable. For group XI metal corroles the phenomenon of supersaddling was unravelled, allowing for more in‐depths discussions of structure‐function correlations.
Triangular Rhodamine Triads and Their Intrinsic Photophysics Revealed from Gas‐Phase Ion Fluorescence Experiments
Authors: Zhao Ying , Sørensen Emma Rostal , Lindkvist Thomas Toft , Kjær Christina , Brøndsted Nielsen Mogens , Chen Li , Brøndsted Nielsen Steen
Published: June 2021

When ionic dyes are close together, the internal Coulomb interaction may affect their photophysics and the energy‐transfer efficiency. To explore this, we have prepared triangular architectures of three rhodamines connected to a central triethynylbenzene unit (1,3,5‐tris(buta‐1,3‐diyn‐1‐yl)benzene) based on acetylenic coupling reactions and measured fluorescence spectra of the isolated, triply charged ions in vacuo. We find from comparisons with previously reported monomer and dimer spectra that while polarization of the π‐system causes redshifted emission, the separation between the rhodamines is too large for a Stark shift. This picture is supported by electrostatic calculations on model systems composed of three linear and polarizable ionic dyes in D3h configuration: The electric field that each dye experiences from the other two is too small to induce a dipole moment, both in the ground and the excited state. In the case of heterotrimers that contain either two rhodamine 575 (R575) and one R640 or one R575 and two R640, emission is almost purely from R640 although the polarization of the π‐system expectedly diminishes the dipole‐dipole interaction.
Structure Elucidation and Spectroscopic Analysis of Chromophores Produced by Oxidative Psilocin Dimerization
Authors: Lenz Claudius , Dörner Sebastian , Sherwood Alexander , Hoffmeister Dirk
Published: June 2021

Psilocin (1) is the dephosphorylated and psychotropic metabolite of the mushroom natural product psilocybin. Oxidation of the phenolic hydroxy group at the C‐4 position of 1 results in formation of oligomeric indoloquinoid chromophores responsible for the iconic blueing of bruised psilocybin‐producing mushrooms. Based on previous NMR experiments, the hypothesis included that the 5,5’‐coupled quinone dimer of 1 was the primary product responsible for the blue color. To test this hypothesis, ring‐methylated 1 derivatives were synthesized to provide stable analogs of 1 dimers that could be completely characterized. The chemically oxidized derivatives were spectroscopically analyzed and compared to computationally derived absorbance spectra. Experimental evidence did not support the original hypothesis. Rather, the blue color was shown to stem from the quinoid 7,7’‐coupled dimer of 1.
Synthesis of Three‐Dimensional (Di)Azatricyclododecene Scaffold and Its Application to Peptidomimetics
Authors: Umedera Kohei , Morita Taiki , Yoshimori Atsushi , Yamada Kentaro , Katoh Akira , Kouji Hiroyuki , Nakamura Hiroyuki
Published: June 2021

A novel sp3 carbon‐rich tricyclic 3D scaffold‐based peptide mimetic compound library was constructed to target protein‐protein interactions. Tricyclic framework 7 was synthesized from 9‐azabicyclo[3,3,1]nonan‐3‐one (11) via a gold(I)‐catalyzed Conia‐ene reaction. The electron‐donating group on the pendant alkyne of cyclization precursor 12 b–e was the key to forming 6‐endo‐dig cyclized product 7 with complete regioselectivity. Using the synthetic strategy for regioselective construction of bridged tricyclic framework 7, a diazatricyclododecene 3D‐scaffold 8 a, which enables the introduction of substituents into the scaffold to mimic amino acid side chains, was designed and synthesized. The peptide mimetics 21 a–u were synthesized via step‐by‐step installation of three substituents on diazatricyclododecene scaffold 8 a. Compounds 21 a–h were synthesized as α‐helix peptide mimics of hydrophobic ZZxxZ and ZxxZZ sequences (Z=Leu or Phe) and subjected to cell‐based assays: antiproliferative activity, HIF‐1 transcriptional activity which is considered to affect cancer malignancy, and antiviral activity against rabies virus. Compound 21 a showed the strongest inhibitory activity of HIF‐1 transcriptional activity (IC50=4.1±0.8 μM), whereas compounds 21 a–g showed antiviral activity with IC50 values of 4.2–12.4 μM, suggesting that the 3D‐scaffold 8 a has potential as a versatile peptide mimic skeleton.
BODIPYs with Photoactivatable Fluorescence
Authors: Zhang Yang , Zheng Yeting , Meana Yasniel , Raymo Françisco M.
Published: June 2021

The borondipyrromethene (BODIPY) chromophore is a versatile platform for the construction of photoresponsive dyes with unique properties. Specifically, its covalent connection to a photocleavable group can be exploited to engineer compounds with photoswitchable fluorescence. The resulting photoactivatable fluorophores can increase their emission intensity or shift their emission wavelengths in response to switching. Such changes permit the spatiotemporal control of fluorescence with optical stimulations and the implementation of imaging strategies that would be impossible to replicate with conventional fluorophores. Indeed, BODIPYs with photoactivatable fluorescence enable the selective highlighting of intracellular targets, the nanoscaled visualization of sub‐cellular components, the real‐time monitoring of dynamic events and the photochemical writing of optical barcodes.
Supramolecular Regulation of Catalytic Activity for an Amphiphilic Pyrene‐Ruthenium Complex in Water
Authors: Dai Nan , Qi Ruilian , Zhao Hao , Liu Libing , Lv Fengting , Wang Shu
Published: June 2021

A switchable catalytic system has been designed and constructed with a host−guest interaction between cucurbituril (CB) and an amphiphilic metal complex pyrene−ruthenium (Py−Ru). Py−Ru can self‐assemble into positively charged nanoparticles in water, and exhibits an enhanced catalytic efficiency in the transfer hydrogenation of NAD+ to NADH. After forming an inclusion complex with CB, Py−Ru aggregates are broken, leading to a decrease in catalytic efficiency, which can be recovered by competitive replacement with amantadine. This supramolecular strategy provides an efficient and flexible method for constructing reversible catalytic system, which also extends the application scope of the host−guest interaction.
Druckluft, die sich gewaschen hat
Authors: Jeschabek Ralph
Published: June 2021

Dialysatoren sind Filtereinheiten für die Blutwäsche chronisch nierenkranker Menschen. Zu den weltweit größten Herstellern dieser Medizinprodukte gehört die B. Braun Avitum Saxonia GmbH. Druckluft spielt bei der Montage eine besondere Rolle: Ohne sie läuf
Environmental applications of nanobubble technology: Field testing at industrial scale
Authors: Kalogerakis Nicolas , Kalogerakis Georgina Calypso , Botha Quartus Paulus
Published: June 2021

Nanobubble (NB) technology has advanced significantly over the last two decades. Many theoretical and technological advances have been made, including the development of novel devices for NB generation. Proof of principle has been demonstrated primarily at laboratory scale and very encouraging results have been obtained. Yet reports on applications in the field (for ecosystem restoration) or at industrial or large pilot scale (for wastewater treatment) are lacking. In this paper, five field applications of an industrial strength nanobubble generator are presented and key environmental quality parameters have been measured and are presented here. The results indicate the highly successful application of NB technology; however, in most cases the lack of benchmarking does not allow for a quantitative comparison of the benefits of this technology. However, the presented results provide convincing evidence that NB technology works beyond the bench scale in the field and in industrial testing trials. For example, a 1600 m3 winery wastewater pond was fully restored in 10 weeks and the energy required for COD removal was estimated at 0.515 kWh/kg‐COD. The presented results are a strong indicator of the potential success of the NB technology in environmental applications.
Value‐Added Products from Fruit and Vegetable Wastes: A Review
Authors: Sánchez Marta , Laca Amanda , Laca Adriana , Díaz Mario
Published: June 2021

Fruit and vegetable wastes (FVW) are some of the most abundant agro‐industrial wastes. This residual biomass can be used to obtain biofuels such as bioethanol, biomethane, biohydrogen, and biobutanol. Additionally, FVW can also be employed as a raw material for recovering bioactive compounds (antioxidants, enzymes, or antibiotics) and to produce organic acids of industrial interest (citric acid, lactic acid, acetic acid). However, the use of these wastes as a substrate to obtain the mentioned value‐added products usually requires several steps, including different pre‐treatments, microbial biotransformation, and separation and purification processes. The aim of this work is to provide an overview of the different products that can be obtained from FVW, as well as the technologies that can be employed in the revalorization procedures.
Photocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction: Challenging Materials with Reaction Engineering
Authors: Ziegenbalg Dirk , Zander Judith , Marschall Roland
Published: June 2021

Ammonia is not only the most important chemical for fertilizer production, it has also gained much interest as a future hydrogen storage material. Besides the well‐known Haber–Bosch process to generate ammonia from elemental sources, new ways to convert nitrogen into ammonia have been investigated in the last decade for a decentralized production, including electrocatalytic and photocatalytic approaches. However, photocatalysis in particular suffers from stagnating materials development and unstandardized reaction conditions. In this Review, we shine light on recent materials and reaction engineering results for photocatalytic nitrogen reduction, putting an emphasis on the need to connect the activity of reported materials together with detailed reaction conditions and efficiencies. Photocatalytic nitrogen reduction is an emerging field that will certainly gain significant interest in the future as a sustainable pathway to generate green hydrogen and ammonia. The field will certainly strongly benefit from joint efforts with strong interactions between chemists, physicists and chemical engineers at a fundamental level.
Clinical and radiographic evaluation of triple antibiotic paste pulp therapy compared to Vitapex pulpectomy in non‐vital primary molars
Authors: Sijini Ohoud T. , Sabbagh Heba J. , Baghlaf Khlood K. , Bagher Amina M. , El‐housseiny Azzah A. , Alamoudi Najlaa M. , Bagher Sara M.
Published: June 2021

Objectives

This study compared and evaluated the clinical and radiographic efficacy of non‐instrumentation triple antibiotic paste pulp therapy and Vitapex pulpectomy in non‐vital primary molars.

Material and Methods

Healthy, 5–9 years old children with at least one non‐vital primary molar were included in the study. Molars were divided into two groups based on the subject's cooperation level. In the first group, molars received triple antibiotic paste, and a second group received Vitapex pulpectomy followed by a stainless‐steel crown. Triple antibiotic paste was freshly prepared and proportioned in equal parts by volume (metronidazole, minocycline, and ciprofloxacin = 1:1:1) before the scheduled treatment. A clinical and radiographic examination was performed by two trained and calibrated pediatric dentists at the pre‐operative baseline and the 6‐ and 12‐month follow‐up visits.

Results

A total of 28 molars received triple antibiotic paste pulp therapy and 20 received Vitapex pulpectomy. At the 6‐month follow‐up, the success rate among the molars in the triple antibiotic paste group was clinically (92.85%) and radiographically (85.71%) higher compared to the Vitapex group (91.67%, 62.50% respectively) withp = 0.89 and 0.55 respectively. At the 12‐month follow‐up, the molars in the triple antibiotic paste group showed lower clinical (95.45%) but higher radiographic success rate (72.73%) compared to the Vitapex group (100% and 62.50%) with (p = 0.85 and 0.47) respectively. None of the differences were statistically significant.

Conclusions

Both triple antibiotic paste and Vitapex can be clinically and radiographically effective in treating non‐vital primary molars.
Halal certification impact on firms' corporate social responsibility disclosure: Evidence from the food & beverage sector in Italy
Authors: Secinaro Silvana , Radwan Maha , Calandra Davide , Biancone Paolo
Published: June 2021

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between Halal certification and corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures in Italian food and beverage companies. We employ an explorative method using content analysis, followed by chi‐square test, correlation analysis, and a multivariate regression to address the research objectives. We find a relationship between being a Halal or non‐Halal company and CSR disclosures. Additionally, there is a significant and positive relationship between Halal certified CSR firms' disclosure index and return on investment. The paper reveals that companies with Halal certificates have a greater tendency towards CSR. The results are relevant for academics and practitioners. To the best of our knowledge, our paper strengthens the discussion on halal certification and CSR scientifically. Additionally, our results are useful for practitioners as managers and entrepreneurs, to understand halal certification's value and its link with the environmental, economic and social space.
Corporate social responsibility strategy, sustainable product attributes, and export performance
Authors: Ullah Zeeshan , Arslan Ahmad , Puhakka Vesa
Published: June 2021

The current article is one of the first studies to address the role of corporate social responsibility strategy (CSRS) in the development of performance‐oriented sustainable product attributes (SPA) mix in manufacturing firms. We specifically analyze whether the extent of SPA development by the firm's CSRS matches SPA contribution in export performance or do firms need to adapt CSRS to develop a performance‐oriented SPA mix. The empirical analysis uses a panel dataset of 433 manufacturing firms from the United States during 2002–2017. The findings reveal the difference between SPA's outcome (contribution) and SPA development in firms. Further analysis of disaggregated SPA explains the reasoning behind this difference because the firm's CSRS' emphasis on developing distinct attributes of SPA tends to mismatch the proportionate contribution of distinct attributes of SPA in export performance. Our study contributes to SPA, CSRS, and export performance literature by establishing the differences in performance contribution and development of aggregated and disaggregated SPA in manufacturing firms.
Systematic Study of Aromatic‐Ring‐Targeted Cycloadditions of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural Platform Chemicals
Authors: Averochkin Gleb M. , Gordeev Evgeniy G. , Skorobogatko Matvei K. , Kucherov Fedor A. , Ananikov Valentine P.
Published: June 2021

The reaction space of the furanics‐to‐aromatics (F2A) conversion process for 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)‐based platform chemicals has been explored both experimentally and by quantum chemistry methods. For the first time, a structure‐activity relationship was established in furan‐yne cycloaddition for a number of different HMF derivatives. Correlations between the activation energy of the cycloaddition stage and the structure of the substrates were established by molecular modeling methods. Analysis of the concerted and stepwise mechanisms of cycloaddition in the singlet and triplet electronic states of the molecular system was carried out. A series of biobased 7‐oxanorbornadienes was obtained in the reaction with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate. Various methods of aromatization of the obtained [4+2] adducts have been examined. Rearrangement catalyzed by a Lewis acid leads to the formation of a phenol derivative, whereas reduction by diiron nonacarbonyl leads to the formation of functionalized benzene. Systematic study of the cycloaddition process has revealed a simple way to analyze and predict the relative reactivity of furanic substrates.
Optimal sub‐harmonic injection‐locked MICS band transmitter for wireless CW‐fNIRS systems
Authors: Borjkhani Hadi , Setarehdan Seyed Kamaledin , Sheikhaei Samad
Published: June 2021

Portable and wireless functional near‐infrared spectroscopy is a growing field of research for real‐time monitoring of brain functions. The most critical challenges in this field are the use of low‐power and calibrated circuits. A novel transmitter architecture is proposed to overcome these barriers. This transmitter is low power, capable of being calibrated against process variation, and has a better phase noise and spurious‐free dynamic range (SFDR) at the antenna. Besides that, the transmitter can be calibrated, which is not seen in similar research. In this transmitter, injection locking and frequency calibration lead to having an optimal and low‐power circuit. The circuit is capable of transmitting data with BFSK and OOK modulations in the frequency band of the medical implant communication service (MICS). The transmitter is designed and simulated in a typical CMOS 0.18‐μm technology with a 1‐V power supply. The transmitter's power consumption is around 146 and 123 μW, equal to 5.92 nJ/bit and 246–630 pJ/bit for BFSK and OOK modulations, respectively. The signal's phase noise at the antenna is almost −109 dBc/Hz at 1‐MHz frequency offset.
Enhanced segmentation of label‐free cells for automated migration and interaction tracking
Authors: Belyaev Ivan , Praetorius Jan‐Philipp , Medyukhina Anna , Figge Marc Thilo
Published: June 2021

In biomedical research, the migration behavior of cells and interactions between various cell types are frequently studied subjects. An automated and quantitative analysis of time‐lapse microscopy data is an essential component of these studies, especially when characteristic migration patterns need to be identified. Plenty of software tools have been developed to serve this need. However, the majority of algorithms is designed for fluorescently labeled cells, even though it is well‐known that fluorescent labels can substantially interfere with the physiological behavior of interacting cells. We here present a fully revised version of our algorithm for migration and interaction tracking (AMIT), which includes a novel segmentation approach. This approach allows segmenting label‐free cells with high accuracy and also enables detecting almost all cells within the field of view. With regard to cell tracking, we designed and implemented a new method for cluster detection and splitting. This method does not rely on any geometrical characteristics of individual objects inside a cluster but relies on monitoring the events of cell–cell fusion from and cluster fission into single cells forward and backward in time. We demonstrate that focusing on these events provides accurate splitting of transient clusters. Furthermore, the substantially improved quantitative analysis of cell migration by the revised version of AMIT is more than two orders of magnitude faster than the previous implementation, which makes it feasible to process video data at higher spatial and temporal resolutions.
Proteolytic degradation patterns of the receptor for advanced glycation end products peptide fragments correlate with their neuroprotective activity in Alzheimer's disease models
Authors: Volpina Olga M. , Koroev Dmitriy O. , Serebryakova Marina V. , Volkova Tatyana D. , Kamynina Anna V. , Bobkova Natalia V.
Published: June 2021

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) plays an essential role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We previously demonstrated that a fragment (60–76) of RAGE improved the memory of olfactory bulbectomized (OBX) and Tg 5 × FAD mice – animal models of AD. The peptide analog (60–76) with protected N‐ and C‐terminal groups was more active than the free peptide in Tg 5 × FAD mice. This study investigated proteolytic cleavage of the RAGE fragment (60–76) and its C‐ and N‐terminally modified analog by blood serum using HPLC and mass spectrometry. The modified peptide was proteolyzed slower than the free peptide. Degrading the protected analog resulted in shortened fragments with memory‐enhancing effects, whereas the free peptide yielded inactive fragments. After administering the different peptides to OBX mice, their performance in a spatial memory task revealed that the effective dose of the modified peptide was five times lower than that of the free peptide. HPLC and mass spectrometry analysis of the proteolytic products allowed us to clarify the differences in the neuroprotective activity conferred by administering these two peptides to AD animal models. The current study suggests that the modified RAGE fragment is more promising for the development of anti‐AD therapy than its free analog.