bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanoarchitectonics on Electrosynthesis and Assembly of Conjugated Metallopolymers
Authors: Li Yongfang , Shan Xuanyu , Li Shumu , Wang Jinxin , Li Zhikai , Wang Zhongqiang , Li Xiaopeng , Hong Wenjing , Li Mao , Ma Yuguang
Published: November 2023

In contrast to edge‐on and face‐on orientations, end‐on uniaxial conjugated polymers have the theoretical possibility of providing a macroscopic crystalline film. However, their fabrication is insurmountable due to sluggishly thermodynamic equilibrium states. Herein, we report the programmatic pathway to fabricate nanoarchitectonics on end‐on uniaxial conjugated metallopolymers by surface‐initiated simultaneous electrosynthesis and assembly. Self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) with bottom‐up oriented electroactive molecules as a temple allows orientation, stacking, and reactive addition of monomers triggered by switching alternative redox reactions as well as crystallization of small molecules. Repeating the same reaction can repair the unreactive site on the SAM and dynamically and statistically ensure maximum iterative coverage with ideal linear coefficients between optical or electrical responses and iterative times. The resulting nanoarchitectonics on uniaxially assembled end‐on polymers over centimeter‐sized areas have a subnanometer‐uniform morphology and exhibit ultrahigh modulus as well as an inorganic indium tin oxides and the highest conductance among conjugated molecular monolayers. Their memristive devices provide quantitative electrical and optical responses as a function of molecular length, bias, and iterative junctions. Precise processing of nanoarchitectonics as an electrically assisted assembly or printing technique can present sophisticated optoelectric functions and dimensional batch‐to‐batch consistency for micro‐sized organic materials and electronics.
Crystal Engineering of BiVO4 for Photochemical Sensing of H2S Gas at Ultra‐low Concentration
Authors: Zhao Fei , Wang Chuanzhe , Xiong Rui , Dai Yanfeng , Sa Baisheng , Yang Can , Xu Gang , Wang Xinchen
Published: November 2023

We report a photochemical bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) sensing material, which possesses a large proportion of (110) and (011) facets combined with the additional (111) facets, for the selective detection of ultra‐low concentration hydrogen sulfide (H2S) driven by visible light. Specifically, the obtained octadecahedron BiVO4 (Octa‐BiVO4) performs a high response value (67) and short response time (47.4 s) to 100 ppm H2S with good stability for nearly 100 days, as well as undisturbedness by moist air. With the combination of experimental and theoretical calculation results, the adsorption and carrier transfer behaviors of H2S molecules on the Octa‐BiVO4 crystal surface are investigated. By adjusting the ratio of different crystal facets and controlling the facets with characteristic adsorption, we achieve improved anisotropic photoinduced carrier separation and high selectivity for a specific gas. Furthermore, this facial facet engineering can be extended to the synthesis of other sensing materials, offering huge opportunities for fundamental research and technological applications.
Length‐Dependent Magnetic Evolution of Anthenes on Au(111)
Authors: Zhang Hui , Lu Jianchen , Zhao Xin‐Jing , Li Baijin , Zhou Hangjing , Zhang Yong , Niu Gefei , Fu Boyu , Gao Lei , Tan Yuan‐Zhi , Cai Jinming
Published: November 2023

Nanographenes with zigzag edges, for example, anthenes, exhibit a unique nonbonding π‐electron state, which can be described as a spin‐polarized edge state that yields specific magnetic ground state. However, prior researches on the magnetism of anthenes with varying lengths on a surface is lacking. This study systematically fabricated anthenes with inherent zigzag carbon atoms of different lengths ranging from bisanthene to hexanthene. Their magnetic evolution on the Au(111) surface was analyzed through bond‐resolved scanning probe techniques and density functional theory calculations. The analyses revealed a transition in magnetic properties associated with the length of the anthenes, arising from the imbalance between hybridization energy and the Coulomb repulsion between valence electrons. With the increasing length of the anthenes, the ground state transforms gradually from a closed‐shell to an antiferromagnetic open‐shell singlet, exhibiting a weak exchange coupling of 4 meV and a charge transfer‐induced doublet. Therefore, this study formulated a chemically tunable platform to explore size‐dependent π magnetism at the atomic scale, providing a framework for research in organic spintronics.
Localized Anion‐Cation Aggregated Aqueous Electrolytes with Accelerated Kinetics for Low‐Temperature Zinc Metal Batteries
Authors: Wang Dongdong , Peng Huili , Zhang Shaojie , Liu Hongxia , Wang Nana , Yang Jian
Published: November 2023

Aqueous zinc metal batteries hold great promise for large‐scale energy storage because of their high safety, rich material resources and low cost. However, the freeze of aqueous electrolytes hinders low‐temperature operation of the batteries. Here, aqueous localized anion‐cation aggregated electrolytes composed of Zn(BF4)2 as the salt and tetrahydrofuran (THF) as the diluent, are developed to improve the low‐temperature performance of the Zn anode. THF promotes the inclusion of BF4− in the solvation sheath of Zn2+, facilitating the formation of ZnF2‐rich solid‐electrolyte‐interphase. THF also affects the hydrogen bonding between neighboring H2O molecules, effectively lowering the freezing point. Therefore, the full cells of Zn||polyaniline (PANI) exhibit an ultralong cycle life of 8000 cycles with an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.99 % at −40 °C. Impressively, the pouch cells display a high capacity retention of 86.2 % after 500 cycles at −40 °C, which demonstrates the great prospect of such electrolytes in cold regions. This work provides new insights for the design of low‐temperature aqueous electrolytes.
Innovative covalently modified Al‐MOF as a highly selective fluorescent sensor for Al (III) detection in tap water, human serum, and tea samples
Authors: Basha Maram T. , Shahat Ahmed , Yakout Amr A.
Published: November 2023

Generally, aluminum exposure is not a risk; however, long‐term and high‐intensity exposure can have a negative impact on health. The ligand‐embedded MOF was developed for high sensitivity in the detection and removal of Al (III) ions in aqueous solutions. Novel selective metal–organic framework was synthesized via strong covalent attachment of NH2‐MIL‐53(Al) and 2‐hydroxy naphthaldehyde (2‐HNA) for selective and efficient fluorometric sensing of Al (III) ions. The elemental structure and morphology of the fabricated sensor (2‐HNA = N‐MIL‐53[Al]) were thoroughly evaluated to understand the high selectivity and considerable fluorescence stability in the water. The intensity of the sensor fluorescence increased linearly as the concentration of Al (III) increased from 0.19 to 2.0 ppm with a detection limit of 33.1 ppb (1.23 × 10−6 M) and 5 s of response time at pH 7. The potential mechanism is discussed. The high selectivity of the developed chemosensor was achieved against various competing environmentally relevant metal ions. Furthermore, Al (III) ions were successfully quantified in tap water, wastewater, human serum, and tea samples. The high precision (RSD percent, 0.009–1.76) and excellent accuracy (recovery percent, 99.96–101.56) of the 2‐HNA = N‐MIL‐53 (Al) sensor indicated that it holds great promise for the ultrafast and highly selective determination of Al (III) ions in wastewaters, with high reproducibility and reversibility.
Flipped classroom assisted by Rain Classroom for anatomy practical classes: Challenges and opportunities of anatomy education
Authors: Wang Lulu , Du Baopu , Fang Dongliang , Gao Yan , Liu Li
Published: November 2023

Anatomy practical classes are an essential part of learning human anatomy. The flipped classroom teaching model has been used in medical education in recent years. However, its precise impacts on anatomical knowledge acquisition and learning outcomes remain controversial. With the development of information technology, new educational tools, such as Rain Classroom, have recently attracted much interest. The Rain Classroom is an application that can easily connect students and teachers through smartphones or computers. However, whether and how to apply it to the flipped classroom in anatomy practical classes needs to be evaluated. In this study, we designed a teaching model of flipped classroom assisted by Rain Classroom and carried it out in anatomy practical classes at our university. Results showed that the final exam scores of the experimental group were significantly improved, compared with the control group (p < 0.01); the final exam score was significantly correlated with both the pre‐class quiz score (p < 0.05) and the in‐class quiz score (p < 0.001). Student satisfaction was measured by a questionnaire on a Likert scale of 1–5. All the mean scores were greater than 4.5, indicating that most students had positive attitudes toward this teaching model. The present study suggests that the Rain Classroom helps support students throughout the learning processes of the flipped classroom, and the model of flipped classroom assisted by Rain Classroom could improve students' learning efficiency and ultimately increase their exam performance in anatomy practical classes.
Specializing Carbon Nanozyme Active Sites for Sensitive Alkaline Phosphatase Activity Metal‐Free Detection
Authors: Hsieh Ping‐Hsuan , Yeh Cheng‐Yan , Wang Chang‐Ming , Liao Wei‐Ssu , Chen Chong‐You
Published: November 2023

As biological enzymes regulate metabolic processes, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a critical diagnostic indicator associated with many diseases. To accurately measure the enzyme activity, nanozymactic materials can offer sensitive strategies for ALP detection. However, nanozymes often lack specific target binding sites, and the presence of common co‐components, e. g., metal ions, may cause false‐positive or false‐negative results in enzyme activity determination. Herein, we developed a colorimetric assay for ALP detection using metal‐free nanozymatic carbon dots (CDs). The ALP hydrolysis of pyrophosphate ions (PPi) to phosphate ions (Pi) induces a “turn‐on” response based on the nanozyme activity. This PPi‐induced inhibition mechanism is extensively studied via the Michaelis‐Menten model, revealing that PPi acts as a noncompetitive inhibitor for CDs at a binding site distinct from the common nanozyme active site. With superior responses to ALP substrates, a highly sensitive and selective method is established for sensing ALP activity with a linear range of 0.010–0.200 U/L and a detection limit of 0.009 U/L. This finding explores the recognition and binding behavior of nanozymes, allowing for precise and reliable measurements even in complex samples, and represents a significant breakthrough for nanozyme‐based assays in biological analysis.
Validation of ICD‐9‐CM codes for major genitourinary birth defects in Military Health System administrative data, 2006–2014
Authors: Romano Celeste J. , Magallon Sandra M. , Hall Clinton , Bukowinski Anna T. , Gumbs Gia R. , Conlin Ava Marie S.
Published: November 2023

Background

The Department of Defense Birth and Infant Health Research program is dedicated to birth defects research and surveillance among military families. Here, we assess and refine the validity of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD‐9‐CM) codes for selected genitourinary birth defects in the Military Health System (MHS). We additionally outline methods for the calculation of positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV), sensitivity, and specificity using a stratified sampling design.

Methods

Among military infants born from 2006 through 2014, a random sample of ICD‐9‐CM screen‐positive cases (for six genitourinary birth defects) and screen‐negative cases were selected for chart review. PPV, NPV, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated for individual defects and any included defect (i.e., overall); measures were weighted by the inverse probability of being sampled.

Results

Of 461,557 infants, 686 were sampled for chart review. Bladder exstrophy was accurately reported (PPV: >90%), while the accuracy of renal dysplasia, renal agenesis/hypoplasia, and hypospadias was moderate (PPVs: 66%–68%) and congenital hydronephrosis was low (PPV: 20%). Specificity and NPVs always exceeded 98%. The overall PPV was 50%; however, excluding congenital hydronephrosis screen‐positive cases and requiring at least two inpatient or outpatient diagnostic codes resulted in a PPV of 85%.

Conclusions

The validity of major genitourinary birth defect codes varied in MHS administrative data. The accuracy of an overall defect measure improved by omitting congenital hydronephrosis and requiring at least two diagnostic codes. Although PPV is generally useful for research, additional calculation of NPV, sensitivity, and specificity better informs the identification of appropriate selection criteria across surveillance and research settings.
Ischemic stroke prediction using machine learning in elderly Chinese population: The Rugao Longitudinal Ageing Study
Authors: Chang Huai‐Wen , Zhang Hui , Shi Guo‐Ping , Guo Jiang‐Hong , Chu Xue‐Feng , Wang Zheng‐Dong , Yao Yin , Wang Xiao‐Feng
Published: November 2023

Objective

Compared logistic regression (LR) with machine learning (ML) models, to predict the risk of ischemic stroke in an elderly population in China.

Methods

We applied 2208 records from the Rugao Longitudinal Ageing Study (RLAS) for ischemic stroke risk prediction assessment. Input variables included 103 phenotypes. For 3‐year ischemic stroke risk prediction, we compared the discrimination and calibration of LR model and ML methods, where ML methods include Random Forest (RF), Gaussian kernel Support Vector Machines (SVM), Multilayer perceptron (MLP), K‐Nearest Neighbors Algorithm (KNN), and Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT) to develop an ischemic stroke risk prediction model.

Results

Age, pulse, waist circumference, education level, β2‐microglobulin, homocysteine, cystatin C, folate, free triiodothyronine, platelet distribution width, QT interval, and QTc interval were significant induced predictors of ischemic stroke. For ischemic stroke prediction, the ML approach was able to tap more biochemical and ECG‐related multidimensional phenotypic indicators compared to the LR model, which placed more importance on general demographic indicators. Compared to the LR model, SVM provided the best discrimination and calibration (C‐index: 0.79 vs. 0.71, 11.27% improvement in model utility), with the best performance in both validation and test data.

Conclusion

In a comparison of LR with five ML models, the accuracy of ischemic stroke prediction was higher by combining ML with multiple phenotypes. Combined with other studies based on elderly populations in China, ML techniques, especially SVM, have shown good long‐term predictive performance, inspiring the potential value of ML use in clinical practice.
Feasibility of applying a noninvasive method for sleep monitoring based on mouse behaviors
Authors: Wang Ya‐Tao , Zhang Yue‐Ming , Wu Xu , Ren Chong‐Yang , Zhang Zhe‐Zhe , Yang Qi‐Gang , Li Xue‐Yan , Chen Gui‐Hai
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Currently, electroencephalogram (EEG)/electromyogram (EMG) system is widely regarded as the “golden standard” for sleep monitoring. Imperfectly, its invasive monitoring may somehow interfere with the natural state of sleep. Up to now, noninvasive methods for sleep monitoring have developed, which could preserve the undisturbed and naïve sleep state of mice to the greatest extent, but the feasibility of their application under different conditions should be extensive validated.

Methods

Based on existing research, we verified the feasibility of a sleep monitoring system based on mouse behaviors under different conditions. The experimental mice were exposed to various stresses and placed into a combined device comprising noninvasive sleep monitoring equipment and an EEG/EMG system, and the sleep status was recorded under different physiological, pharmacological, and pathophysiological conditions. The consistency of the parameters obtained from the different systems was calculated using the Bland–Altman statistical method.

Results

The results demonstrated that the physiological sleep times determined by noninvasive sleep monitoring system were highly consistent with those obtained from the EEG/EMG system, and the coefficients were 94.4% and 95.1% in C57BL/6J and CD‐1 mice, respectively. The noninvasive sleep monitoring system exhibited high sensitivity under the sleep‐promoting effect of diazepam and caffeine‐induced wakefulness, which was indicated by its ability to detect the effect of dosage on sleep times, and accurate determination of the sleep/wakeful status of mice under different pathophysiological conditions. After combining the data obtained from all the mice, the coefficient between the sleep times detected by behavior‐based sleep monitoring system and those obtained from the EEG/EMG equipment was determined to .94.

Conclusion

The results suggested that behavior‐based sleep monitoring system could accurately evaluate the sleep/wakeful states of mice under different conditions.
Narratives of personal and professional experiences of psychotherapists working with cases of child and adolescent sexual abuse: A qualitative longitudinal study
Authors: Azócar Estrella , Gómez Camila , Capella Claudia , Águila Daniela , Espeleta Macarena
Published: November 2023

Background

Studies delving into the personal and professional experiences of psychotherapists working with children and adolescents who have been sexually abused are scarce and mostly cross‐sectional.

Aim

The present qualitative longitudinal study aimed to describe the narratives that therapists construct about their personal and professional experiences of working with children and/or adolescents who have been victims of sexual aggression during different moments of the psychotherapeutic process.

Method

Eight psychologists were interviewed and asked about the psychotherapy of 12 cases they were developing. These cases were of children and adolescents who had been sexually abused. Each participant was interviewed at different moments of the cases' psychotherapy (6 months into the process, 12 months into the process and once more at the end of therapy for those who received therapy for longer than 12 months). A total of 34 interviews were conducted and studied through narrative analysis.

Results

Three major themes involving the personal and professional experiences of psychotherapists emerged: regarding the patient and their family; regarding the institutional context; and regarding the personal/professional experience. Also, identified and analysed convergences and divergences that appear within these themes at different points in the participants' interviews are highlighted.

Discussion

The findings suggest that therapists manage to navigate the most complex and distressing aspects of each intervention case in the earlier moments of the psychotherapeutic process and later are likely to have an emotional connection with pleasant or satisfactory elements in their work and are likely to end treatment with an appreciation for the learning experiences they have had working with challenging cases and a sense of amazement at the resources and resilience of the children and adolescents they work with.
The role of religiosity on seeking help
Authors: Liu Xuefeng
Published: November 2023

Previous research shows that religiosity increases prosocial tendencies such as donating and volunteering. Less is known on whether and how religiosity influences individuals' decision to seek help when needed. The current research tackles this question and shows that religiosity, whether manipulated (Study 2) and measured (Study 1 and Study 3), decreases individuals' tendency to seek help from other people or entities. We further propose that religiosity enhances individuals' sense of control, which makes them rely more on themselves and less likely to seek help when encountering difficulties. Three studies across different contexts (i.e., applying government aid, asking for help from other people, and requesting donations from a crowdfunding platform) support our thesis. Utilizing data from the General Social Survey (Study 1), we first demonstrate that individual‐level religiosity is negatively correlated with the behavior of getting help (i.e., receiving government aid such as welfare and unemployment insurance). Next, we prime religion (vs. control) in Study 2 and show that religious prime decreases people's willingness to seek help. Finally, Study 3 shows that chronic religiosity discourages people from seeking financial assistance on crowdfunding platforms such as Indiegogo. Furthermore, this negative effect is mediated by sense of control. We conclude with a discussion of the theoretical and practical contributions of this research as well as its limitations and future research directions.
Cytotoxic, antioxidant, and cytoprotective properties of polyphenol‐enriched extracts from pecan nutshells in MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells
Authors: Ribas Lucas E. , Gasser Fátima B. , Baravalle María E. , Renna Maria S. , Perello Adriana , Savino Graciela H. , Ortega Hugo H. , Van de Velde Franco , Hein Gustavo J.
Published: November 2023

Phenolic compounds present in plants have demonstrated several biological properties such as antioxidant, antitumor, cardioprotective, and antiproliferative. On the other hand, doxorubicin, a chemotherapeutic widely used to treat breast cancer, usually exhibits chronic cardiotoxicity associated with oxidative stress. Therefore, we aimed to study the effects of phenolic compound‐enriched extract (PCEE) with doxorubicin in breast cancer. To achieve this, after an SPE‐C18‐column purification process of crude extracts obtained from pecan nutshells (Carya illinoinensis), the resulting PCEE was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity and antioxidant properties against the human breast cancer cell line MDA‐MB‐231 and the normal‐hamster ovary cell line CHO‐K1. PCEE was selectively cytotoxic against both cell lines, with an IC50 value (≈26.34 mg/L) for MDA‐MB‐231 lower than that obtained for CHO‐K1 (≈55.63 mg/L). As a cytotoxic mechanism, PCEE inhibited cell growth by G2/M cell cycle arrest in MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Simultaneously, the study of the antioxidant activity showed that PCEE had a cytoprotective effect, evidenced by reduced ROS production in cells with oxidative stress caused by doxorubicin. The results highlight PCEE as a potential antitumor agent, thus revaluing it as an agro‐industrial residue.
Nutritional and physical properties of cookies enriched with whole wheat flour of ancient wheats
Authors: Arslan Unal Nurel , Ozkaya Berrin
Published: November 2023

Background

The aim of the present study was to determine the increase in the nutrient and bioactive compounds of cookies obtained by using seven different ancient whole wheat flours (einkorn, emmer, spelt, old, and landrace) at the ratios of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. Although ancient grains are notorious for their poor technological properties, improvements in rheological performance using refined flour might contribute to the production of new functional foods.

Findings

Cookies evaluated physical, functional, and nutritional properties were dramatically improved by increasing the whole wheat flour ratio. The cookies with %100 Köse (old wheat) had a higher breaking strength while those from %100 Kavlıca (Emmer Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccum) had the lowest one. The cookies with %100 Kavlıca had the highest insoluble and total dietary fiber, total phenolics, antioxidant activities, Ca, K, and Zn, while the phytic acid content was the lowest among all genotypes.

Conclusions

Landrace and old cultivars are valuable raw materials that are gaining popularity due to their distinctive qualities and products.

Significance and Novelty

The use of ancient whole wheat flour‐enriched cookies may present a novel cereal‐based product with health benefits, in addition to being fit for production of foods made from whole grains.
Transformation of pancreatic nonfunctioning neuroendocrine tumor into metastatic insulinoma: A rare case report
Authors: Buddhavarapu Venkata S. , Dhillon Gagandeep , Grewal Harpreet Singh , Soles Brian , Halbur Luke , Surani Salim , Kashyap Rahul
Published: November 2023

Key Clinical Message

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors can be classified as functional or nonfunctional based on hormone secretion. Management of each entity is different, with nonfunctional tumors being treated with traditional chemotherapy while functional tumors respond well to antihormonal therapy and immunologic agents. The conversion of one nonfunctional tumor into a functional tumor is an exceedingly rare event that complicates the overall management of these patients. In this report, we present the case of a 73‐year‐old woman who developed the conversion from a nonfunctional into a functional tumor and discuss the management options considered.
Spermatogenesis recovery treatment in less than four months from zero to almost 16 million sperms per milliliter after several cycles of steroids in 44‐year‐old healthy man
Authors: Injac Rade
Published: November 2023

Key Clinical Message

The most common external factors that men can have influence on, and improve its own spermatogenesis, are related to lifestyle, habits, stress level, sport activities, nutrition quality, and medications. Steroids became one of the key issues in young men during reproductive stage of life. More and more teenagers who are not even developed yet naturally start using supplements very early to build up body and strengths of muscles in the shortest possible time. In this report is presented the case of 44‐year‐old (November 2022), healthy, and sporty man, who is 1–2 times per year on steroid cycles since he turned 40th. He had intention to become a father; however after 6 months of the last steroid cycle, sperm count was zero. This case will show what was needed and successfully done within less than 4 months after last steroids administration and the moment when sperm count reached almost 16 million sperms per milliliter. However, it has to be clear that this is unique case and additional tests would be needed on bigger population to confirm fast post steroid sperm count recovery in healthy subjects, using approach from this manuscript.
Massive cardiac vegetation and cardiomyopathy in a 23‐year‐old rancher with brucellosis
Authors: Mirhosseini Seyed Mohsen , Bagheri Abdolhamid , Lak Mehran , Aval Zahra Ansari , Rezaei Mahdi
Published: November 2023

Key clinical massage

A 23‐year‐old rancher was admitted with the diagnosis of brucellosis. In evaluations, a massive vegetation in the aortic valve was seen. A combination of antibiotic therapy and cardiac surgery were performed, it seems this approach reduces mortality and complications.

Brucellosis (also known as “undulant fever,” “Mediterranean fever,” or “Malta fever”) is a zoonotic infection transmitted to humans from infected animals (cattle, sheep, goats, camels, pigs, or other animals) by ingestion of food products (such as unpasteurized dairy products) or by contact with tissue or fluids. It is the most frequent zoonosis globally and a major public health issue in many resource‐poor nations. Endocarditis is one of the rarest and most dangerous consequences of brucellosis. Additionally, the combination of endocarditis with cardiomyopathy increases its rarity. This condition is usually treated with a high level of suspicion Serological, clinical, and epidemiological data can all be used to make a diagnosis. The use of echocardiography aids in the early diagnosis. Due to the high risk of recurrence and the extent of tissue destruction brought on by Brucella, the majority of experts advise an early surgical intervention; nevertheless, other writers assert that low‐risk patients also require cautious therapy. In this article, we discuss the situation of a patient who underwent surgery and had Brucella endocarditis and heart failure. In conclusion, a combination of antibiotic therapy and cardiac surgery, reduces mortality and complications associated with Brucella endocarditis and improves patient quality of life.
Numerical Simulation Study on Heat Transfer Characteristics of Particle‐Loaded Flow in Microchannels
Authors: Song Kaixin , Guo Yifeng , Wang Zhibin , Jia A. P. Lisi , Chen Gang , Mo Songping , Chen Ying
Published: November 2023

Particle suspension is considered powerful and perspective in enhancing heat transfer, but the unclear nature of particle‐loaded flow limits further understanding of particle suspension. Therefore, in this paper, orthogonal experiments and the arbitrary Lagrangian‐Eulerian method were used to investigate the heat transfer characteristics of particle‐loaded flow. Results indicate that when the particle is at the inlet of the microchannel, the factors arranged in important order are the Reynolds number, blockage ratio, particle initial position, specific heat capacity, and thermal conductivity. When the particle is far from the microchannel inlet, the factors arranged in important order are the Reynolds number, blockage ratio, particle initial position, thermal conductivity, and specific heat capacity.
Optimization Design and Evaluation of the Industrial Distillation‐Membrane Separation Process
Authors: Zhao Jia , Wang Xiaohong , Tian Zenghu , Deng Hao , Jiang Zenglin , Li Yugang
Published: November 2023

A comprehensive solution strategy based on genetic programming (GP) was introduced into an industrial methyl methacrylate refining plant, and the downstream separation process of acetone/butanol/ethanol fermentation in the “twin tower + horizontal bottle” cycle was optimized. The effects of different membranes and operating temperatures on the process were studied. The mixed‐membrane and modified‐membrane process parameters were shown to improve the economy and environmental protection. The total annual cost was reduced by 9 % and 22.5 %, and CO2, SO2, and NOx emissions by 37.7 % and 78.7 %, respectively. The energy‐saving distillation‐membrane separation process has significant benefits in industrial production.
HER2‐low heterogeneity between primary and paired recurrent/metastatic breast cancer: Implications in treatment and prognosis
Authors: Lin Mingxi , Luo Ting , Jin Yizi , Zhong Xiaorong , Zheng Dan , Zeng Cheng , Guo Qing , Wu Jiong , Shao Zhi‐Ming , Hu Xichun , Yang Wentao , Zhang Jian
Published: November 2023

Background

With the largest sample size to date, the authors’ objective was to investigate the incidence of primary‐to‐metastatic human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) conversion and the predictors for such conversion. Moreover, no previous studies have evaluated the prognosis of patients who have negative HER2 expression (HER2‐0) versus low HER2 expression (HER2‐low) when HER2 status was assessed based on all recurrent/metastatic lesions.

Methods

The authors included 1299 patients who had available HER2 status of primary breast tumors and paired recurrent/metastatic lesions at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and West China Hospital.

Results

In total, 370 patients (28.5%) experienced primary‐to‐metastatic HER2 conversion. Intrapatient intermetastasis spatial heterogeneity and temporal heterogeneity of HER2 were detected. When assessing HER2 based on recurrent/metastatic tumors, patients who had HER2‐0 tumors had significantly shorter overall survival than those who had HER2‐low tumors in the overall population and in the estrogen receptor (ER)‐negative subgroup. However, when assessing HER2 based on primary tumors, there was no difference in overall survival between patients who had HER2‐0 versus HER2‐low tumors. Moreover, patients who had tumors that converted from HER2‐0 to HER2‐low had longer overall survival than those who had consistent HER2‐0 status in the ER‐negative subgroup. By combining four predictors (ER status, Ki67 index, biopsy site, and disease‐free interval), the authors established the first prediction tool to estimate the probability of HER2‐0 tumors converting to HER2‐low/positive tumors.

Conclusions

Intrapatient primary‐to‐metastatic and intermetastatic HER2 heterogeneity were observed in this large‐scale cohort study. When evaluating HER2 based on recurrent/metastatic tumors, an overall survival difference was observed between patients who had HER2‐0 versus HER2‐low, recurrent/metastatic breast tumors. The developed prediction tool might help clinicians screen out patients with primary HER2‐0 tumors that have a high probability of HER2 status conversion and recommend them for re‐biopsy, thus helping to screen out candidate patients for trastuzumab deruxtecan treatment.
Prebiotic Synthesis of Glycolaldehyde and Glyceraldehyde from Formaldehyde: A Computational Study on the Initial Steps of the Formose Reaction
Authors: Venturini Alessandro , González Javier
Published: November 2023

In this work, the initial steps of the mechanism of the Formose reaction (FR) is computationally studied using DFT methods. The FR has been considered to be a relevant process in the prebiotic evolution leading to several types of sugars or carbohydrates. These molecules are some of the basic building blocks of the life. The dimerization of formaldehyde was found to take place via an intramolecular deprotonation reaction, leading to the formation of an intermediate which, after an isomerization, forms a Ca‐complex of the cis‐enediol tautomer of glycolaldehyde. The aldol reaction of this complex with additional formaldehyde gave glyceraldehyde, the simplest aldotriose. The catalyst Ca(OH)2 plays a dual role in the reaction, acting as a base (in the intramolecular deprotonation) and as Lewis acid (activating the carbonyl group) in the aldol addition.
MHC II–EGFP Knock‐in Mouse Model
Authors: Pačes Jan , Grobárová Valéria , Zadražil Zdeněk , Knížková Karolina , Malinská Nikola , Tušková Liliana , Boes Marianne , Černý Jan
Published: November 2023

The MHC II–EGFP knock‐in mouse model enables us to visualize and track MHC‐II‐expressing cells in vivo by expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fused to the MHC class II molecule under the MHC II beta chain promoter. Using this model, we can easily identify MHC‐II‐expressing cells, including dendritic cells, B cells, macrophages, and ILC3s, which play a key role as antigen‐presenting cells (APCs) for CD4+ T cells. In addition, we can also precisely identify and analyze APC‐containing tissues and organs. Even after fixation, EGFP retains its fluorescence, so this model is suitable for immunofluorescence studies, facilitating an unbiased characterization of the histological context, especially with techniques such as light‐sheet fluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, the MHC II–EGFP knock‐in mouse model is valuable for studying the molecular mechanisms of MHC II gene regulation and expression by making it possible to correlate MHC II expression (MHC II–EGFP) with surface fraction through antibody detection, thereby shedding light on the intricate regulation of MHC II expression. Overall, this model is an essential asset for quantitative and systems immunological research, providing insights into immune cell dynamics and localization, with a tool for precise cell identification and with the ability to study MHC II gene regulation, thus furthering the understanding of immune responses and underlying mechanisms © 2023 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

This article was corrected on 14 April 2024. See the end of the full text for details.

Basic Protocol 1: Characterization of antigen‐specific MHC II loading compartment tubulation toward the immunological synapse

Basic Protocol 2: Characterization of overall versus surface MHC II expression

Basic Protocol 3: Identification and preparation of the lymphoid organs

Basic Protocol 4: Quantification of APC content in lymphoid organs by fluorescence stereomicroscopy

Basic Protocol 5: Quantification and measurement of intestinal lymphoid tissue by light‐sheet fluorescence stereomicroscopy

Basic Protocol 6: Visualization of corneal APCs

Basic Protocol 7: Quantification of MHC II+ cells in maternal milk by flow cytometry

Support Protocol 1: Cell surface staining and flow cytometry analysis of spleen mononuclear cells
Cloning and Overexpressing Membrane Proteins Using Pichia pastoris (Komagataella phaffii)
Authors: Schwob Magali , Kugler Valérie , Wagner Renaud
Published: November 2023

Understanding the structure and function of key proteins located within biological membranes is essential for fundamental knowledge and therapeutic applications. Robust cell systems allowing their actual overexpression are required, among which stands the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. This system proves highly efficient in producing many eukaryotic membrane proteins of various functions and structures at levels and quality compatible with their subsequent isolation and molecular investigation. This article describes a set of basic guidelines and directions to clone and select recombinant P. pastoris clones overexpressing eukaryotic membrane proteins. Illustrative results obtained for a panel of mammalian membrane proteins are presented, and hints are given on a series of experimental parameters that may substantially improve the amount and/or the functionality of the expressed proteins. © 2023 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Designing and cloning a P. pastoris expression vector

Basic Protocol 2: Integrative transformation of P. pastoris and selection of recombinant clones

Basic Protocol 3: Culturing transformed P. pastoris for membrane protein expression

Basic Protocol 4: Yeast cell lysis and membrane preparation

Basic Protocol 5: Immunodetection of expressed membrane proteins: western blot

Alternate Protocol 1: Immunodetection of expressed membrane proteins: dot blot

Alternate Protocol 2: Immunodetection of expressed membrane proteins: yeastern blot

Basic Protocol 6: Activity assay: ligand‐binding analysis of an expressed GPCR
Impacts of digital transformation on corporate green technology innovation: Do board characteristics play a role?
Authors: Lin Boqiang , Xie Yongjing
Published: November 2023

Digital transformation (DT), board characteristics, and green technology innovation (GI) have a substantial impact on corporate sustainability. However, there are seemingly conflicting conclusions about how DT affects an enterprise's GI performance, and few studies have considered the moderating effect of board characteristics. We aim to explore the impact of board characteristics on the correlation between DT and GI, using a sample of 1470 listed companies in China and employing a fixed‐effects model. Our results suggest that DT significantly enhances enterprises' GI performance; DT indirectly promotes the GI performance of enterprises by increasing their R&D investments, optimizing human capital structure, and enhancing management efficiency. Additionally, board gender diversity, board size, and board educational level positively moderate the relationship between DT on GI, whereas the impact will be blunted by board age diversity. Our conclusions are of great value to promote enterprises' GI performance and realize enterprises' sustainable development.
Sustainable environmental performance: The mediating role of green reputation in the choice of green marketing or green demarketing
Authors: Wang Chao‐Hung , Juo Wei‐Jr
Published: November 2023

Growing concern for sustainability of the natural environment is rapidly transforming the competitive landscape and forcing firms to implement traditional green marketing, along with less conventional green demarketing. As green marketing strategies become increasingly important, firms need to adhere to environmental performance evaluation. In contrast, rather than encouraging greener consumption, green demarketing calls for decreased consumption overall. Despite its potential impact, comparative research on these two marketing strategies is limited. Moreover, green reputation is a decisive resource that is related to marketing strategy and environmental performance. Previous empirical research, however, has largely neglected the role of green reputation on marketing strategy for environmental performance relationships. A theoretical framework is used to identify a gap in the environmental management literature and future research directions, based on the respective effects of green marketing and green demarketing of a firm's environmental performance, and the mediating effect of green reputation to explain these relationships. Data was collected through a questionnaire‐based survey including 217 companies from manufacturing and service industry sectors in Taiwan. Structural equation model to examine hypotheses reveals that green marketing, green demarketing, and green reputation directly affect environmental performance. Further analysis finds that green reputation fully mediates the green marketing–environmental performance link and partially mediates the green demarketing–environmental performance link. This work is the first to empirically compare the effects of green marketing and green demarketing on environmental performance through green reputation.
Earnings management and sustainability assurance: The moderating role of CSR committee
Authors: Meqbel Rasmi , Alta'any Mohammad , Kayed Salah , Al‐Omush Ahmed
Published: November 2023

This study examines the effect of earnings management on the decision to acquire sustainability assurance (SA) reports. It also offers insight into the moderating impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) committee over the earnings management‐SA nexus. To test the hypotheses, a logit regression for panel data is employed for a sample of 2972 firm‐year observations of non‐financial firms listed on the STOXX Europe 600 during the period 2012–2018. The findings reveal that firms that involve in earnings management, either accrual earnings management or real activities manipulation, tend to obtain SA reports to gain, repair, or maintain their legitimacy. Furthermore, the outcomes show that the existence of CSR committee alleviates the symbolic use of SA. Overall, this study highlights that the sustainability reporting assurance process can be used as a tool to deviate or shift stakeholders' attention from the earnings management techniques used in their reporting. The results, therefore, will benefit standard‐setters, policymakers, and stakeholders to be more cautious in differentiating between the substantial and symbolic SA reports.
Investigations into the AuI and PtII Coordination Chemistry of Bidentate “cis‐Spanning” Ligands
Authors: Kaufmann Luisa , Föhrenbacher Steffen A. , Krummer Michael C. , Butschke Burkhard
Published: November 2023

The novel bidentate PP and PN ligands o‐(Ph2P)−C6H4−C≡C−PPh2 (LPP) and o‐(Ph2P)−C6H4−4−(C5H9N−Me) (LPN), respectively, have been designed as long‐range “cis‐spanning“ ligands for the stabilization of heterodinuclear complexes containing two metal atoms in close proximity. The synthesis of heterodinuclear, formal AuIPtII complexes with the ligand LPP is straightforward. In the course of a one‐pot reaction, a surprisingly high selectivity for the coordination of AuCl and Pt(CNC) (CNC=2,6‐diphenylpyridine‐o,o’‐diate) to the phenyl‐bound and the alkyne‐bound PPh2 sites of LPP is observed, respectively. Chloride abstraction from the resulting heterodinuclear complex [(ClAu)(o‐Ph2P)−C6H4−C≡C−PPh2(Pt{CNC})] with Ag[SbF6] causes metal–metal bond formation and the generation of the cationic complex [LPPAuPt(CNC)][SbF6]. The high site selectivity for the coordination of the two metals to LPP was investigated by stoichiometric reactions of the ligand with one equivalent of the corresponding precursors. While analogous complexation experiments with LPN have not been successful, the synthesis of the heterodinuclear complex [(ClAu)(o‐Ph2P)−C6H4−4‐(C5H9N−Me)(PtCl2{dmso})] and of [LPN(AuCl)2] confirm the ability of LPN to serve as a ditopic ligand. In this context, it is noteworthy that [LPN(AuCl)2] constitutes the first amine–AuCl complex featuring a tertiary amine.
Waterborne Toxicity to Neotropical Invertebrates and Hazard of Cigarette Butt Leachates in Marine Environments
Authors: Mandelli Wanessa G. , Pestana Beatriz M. , Choueri Rodrigo B. , Abessa Denis M. S. , Braga Castro Ítalo , Buruaem Moreira Lucas
Published: November 2023

Cigarette butts (CBs) are the most common type of beach litter worldwide and contain a complex mixture of chemicals. Given the recent interest in this emerging problem, it is important to assess the toxicity of CB leachates to a range of species from different regions, sensitivities, and ecological traits. We evaluated the waterborne toxicity of smoked CB to tropical invertebrates. Leachates were prepared in the laboratory and characterized for trace elements (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb), ammonia nitrogen, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Then a set of toxicity tests with marine invertebrates was performed as follows: the brine shrimp Artemia sp. (nontoxic); the amphipod Tiburonella viscana (median lethal concentration [LC50] of 0.038 CB/L); the tanaid Monokalliapseudes schubarti (LC50 of 0.126 CB/L); the copepods Tisbe biminiensis (median effect concentration [EC50] of 0.038 CB/L) and Nitokra sp. (EC50 of 0.009 CB/L); pluteus stage larvae of the sea urchin Echinometra lucunter (EC50 of 0.152 CB/L); the sand dollar Mellita quinquiesperforata (EC50 of 0.054 CB/L); and D-stage larvae of the mussel Perna perna (EC50 of 0.005 CB/L). The predicted no-effect concentration was estimated using species sensitivity distribution, producing a 5th percentile hazard concentration of 0.015 CB/L. This preliminary threshold allowed us to estimate the potential impact of a single CB to 67 L of seawater via leaching, contributing to the advancement of knowledge regarding the contamination, toxicity, and ecological risks of cigarette waste. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:374–384. © 2023 SETAC

Abstract

Hazard of cigarette butt leachates in the marine environment.
A phase II study of gemcitabine, carboplatin, dexamethasone, and rituximab in patients with relapsed or refractory non‐Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Ikoma Yoshikazu , Nakamura Nobuhiko , Kitagawa Junichi , Miwa Takao , Takada Eri , Matsumoto Takuro , Shibata Yuhei , Nakamura Hiroshi , Kanemura Nobuhiro , Kasahara Senji , Hara Takeshi , Sawada Michio , Tsurumi Hisashi , Shimizu Masahito
Published: November 2023

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of salvage chemotherapy with gemcitabine, carboplatin, dexamethasone, and rituximab (GCD ± R) for Japanese patients with relapsed or refractory non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). A multicenter, phase II trial of GCD ± R administered every 3 weeks for up to 6 cycles was conducted. Rituximab was administered as a therapeutic strategy for CD20‐positive lymphoma. The primary endpoint was the complete response (CR) rate. Secondary endpoints included the overall response (OR) rate, overall survival (OS), progression‐free survival (PFS), toxicity, and success rate of peripheral blood stem cell collection for eligible transplant patients. A total of 25 patients (median age 66 years) were evaluated, with a median follow‐up period of 66.7 months. CR and OR rates were 28% and 52%, respectively. Median PFS and OS were 8.7 and 32.2 months, respectively. The major toxicity was myelosuppression, but the regimen was generally well‐tolerated, with a low incidence of febrile neutropenia (20%) and no treatment‐related deaths. Of the 6 patients who were eligible for autologous stem cell transplantation and underwent peripheral blood stem cell mobilization, the required number of CD34‐positive cells was collected in 5 (83%). All 6 proceeded to transplantation and achieved successful engraftment without recurrence. The present results suggest that GCD ± R may be effective and well‐tolerated in Japanese patients with relapsed or refractory NHL. However, further investigation is needed to confirm these results.