bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biogenesis of Quantum Dots: An Update
Authors: Vyas Yogeshwari , Gupta Sharoni , Punjabi Pinki B. , Ameta Chetna
Published: July 2022

Quantum dots (QDs) or nanocrystals are luminous semiconductors with dimension in the range from 2 to 20 nm. Owing to the unmatched electronic and optical properties, quantum dots notice applications in various domains such as optoelectronics, sensors, photodetection, transistors, LEDs (light‐emitting devices), quantum computing, solar cells, catalysis, medicine, etc. to name a few. The unique quantum effects of nanocrystals can be attuned by modifying their sizes and morphology through various top‐down and bottom‐up strategies. Biosynthesis or biogenesis is one such newly developed approach for nanomaterial synthesis which relies on the principles of green chemistry and employs living organisms to develop quantum dots with amiable physicochemical properties, low cytotoxicity, and biocompatibility. Biogenic methods make use of biomolecules and enzymatic processes to detoxify, mineralize and induce nucleation of metals and non‐metals to fabricate quantum dots. This review covers recent progress in the biological synthesis of quantum dots have been highlighted. Diverse extracellular and intracellular biogenic methods based on different organisms including algae, bacteria, fungi, plants, protozoa, earthworms, and mammalian blood vessels have been discussed. Moreover, the probable mechanistic pathways of biosyntheses, scope, and applications of bioengineered quantum dots have also been elaborated. This review examines the recent advances made in the field of biogenic quantum dots and also analyzes the upcoming challenges and viewpoints in this promising area of study.
Derivatization of Marine‐Derived Fascaplysin via Highly Regioselective Suzuki‐Miyaura Coupling Contributing to the Enhanced Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Jiang Yinli , Qiu Hongda , Liang Weida , Lin Junhao , Lin Jiayu , Liu Wan , Wang Xiao , Cui Wei , Chen Xiaowei , Wang Huifei , Zhao Lingling , Liang Hongze
Published: July 2022

A new methodology for the synthesis of fascaplysin derivatives has been established. A library of diversified fascaplysins can be efficiently and quickly prepared by regioselective Suzuki‐Miyaura coupling and subsequent quaternization for the first time. The minimum inhibitory concentration assessment showed that the unique 5‐ring coplanar aromatic system plays a key role in the resulting bioactivity, and functional groups at different substitution position exert differentiable impact on the bactericidal activity. some synthesized fascaplysin derivatives exhibited higher antibacterial activities than the pristine fascaplysin and the positive controls, especially against Gram‐negative bacteria Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). These novel fascaplysin derivatives may have promising application potentials as bactericidal drugs.
Optimization of Process Variables for the Catalytic Reduction of U(VI) over Pt/SiO2 using Hydrazine as Reducing Agent – Design of Experiments Approach
Authors: Sareddy Ramakrishna Reddy , Desigan Narasimhan , Venkatesan Konda Athmaram , Sivaraman Nagarajan , Ananthasivan Krishnamoorthy
Published: July 2022

In PUREX process, uranous nitrate has been employed for the reduction of Pu(IV)to Pu(III).Fast generation of U(IV) with high yield is very much crucial for reprocessing of plutonium‐rich fuels.In the present work, a catalytic method for the preparation of U(IV) from U(VI) using hydrazine as a reducing agent over Pt/SiO2 catalyst surface was studied.The effect of various process variables on the efficiency of catalysis was studied and the process variables were optimized by design of experiments approach. Initial screening was carried out by Definitive Screening Design (DSD) to identify the variables that influence the reaction significantly, and later, these significant variables were optimized by Central Composite Design (CCD). A second‐order mathematical model was derived from response surface methodology (RSM) that relates the response (% reduction of U(VI)) as a function of significant variables. The model was validated experimentally to achieve 95 % U(IV) yield within 60 minutes.
Deep‐blue Fluorophores Based on Phenanthroimidazole Integrated with Benzo[d]thiazole: Experimental and Theoretical Investigation
Authors: Girase Jaipal D. , Shahnawaz  , Jou Jwo‐Huei , Vaidyanathan Sivakumar
Published: July 2022

Three deep‐blue emissive donor‐acceptor (D−A) fluorophores, 2‐(4′‐(1‐(4‐(tert‐butyl)phenyl)‐1H‐phenanthro[9,10‐d]imidazol‐2‐yl)‐[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4‐yl)benzo[d]thiazole (PTPISN), 2‐(4′‐(1‐(3‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)‐1H‐phenanthro[9,10‐d]imidazol‐2‐yl)‐[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4‐yl)benzo[d]thiazole (m‐CFPISN) and 3‐(2‐(4′‐(benzo[d]thiazol‐2‐yl)‐[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4‐yl)‐1H‐phenanthro[9,10‐d]imidazol‐1‐yl)benzonitrile (m‐CNPISN) based on benzothiazole with varying substituents at N1‐position to tune the properties of the materials were designed and synthesized. The synthesized fluorophores were structurally confirmed by spectroscopic techniques. All the fluorophores exhibited good thermal properties with high thermal degradation temperatures. An optical study reveals that the fluorophores are capable of emitting in the blue spectral region in solution and solid. The quantum chemical investigations were also performed with the aim to understand the electronic structures of the fluorophores. Further, solution‐processed OLED device was fabricated by using PTPISN as an emissive dopant and found that bright deep‐blue electroluminescence with CIEy of (∼0.08). These results suggest that the introduction of benzothiazole moiety is a promising design strategy for obtaining new deep‐blue emitters.
Dual Role of Au nanoparticles in the Catalytic Formation of an Amorphous Polynuclear Peroxo Complex and Surface Enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering
Authors: Pal Srimanta , Paul Sujay , Chattopadhyay Arun
Published: July 2022

We report the catalytic formation of bridged polynuclear peroxo complex of Co(II) and 2‐picolylamine (2‐PA) in aqueous alkaline medium on the surface of Au nanoparticle. The reaction followed sigmoidal kinetics both in absence and presence of the Au nanoparticle with an order of magnitude higher rate constant in the presence of nanoparticle. Importantly, using UV‐Vis spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and surface enhance resonance Raman scattering (SERRS), we conclude the formation of peroxo complex with 2‐PA acting as a monodentate ligand. The absorbance of the polynuclear complex at 595 nm and the extinction maximum of (agglomerated) the Au nanoparticles at 750 nm provided the right opportunity to pursue SERRS using 632.8 nm laser excitation. Density functional theoretical calculation indicated that the lowering of HOMO‐LUMO energy gap of 2‐PA bonded to the nanoparticle surface helped catalyze the reaction.
Synthesis and Cyclooxygenase Enzyme Inhibitory Activity of Flurbiprofen Analogues: Simple Methodology of Their Nanoemulsion Systems
Authors: Taşkor Önel Gülce , Saygılı Nezire
Published: July 2022

Most over‐the‐counter (OTC) and prescription NSAIDs have common side effects, especially gastrointestinal problems. Flurbiprofen, is an analogue of ibuprofen, that causes side effects and discomfort. This study was to synthesize flurbiprofen analogues, determine their NSAID activity using in vitro cyclooxygenase enzyme inhibitory assays and prepare their nanoemulsions. Six new flurbiprofen derivatives were synthesized via the reaction of acyl chloride (of flurbiprofen) and β‐amino alcohol, amino acid ester (or amino dicarboxylic acid ester). The masking of the free carboxylic acid functional group of flurbiprofen lowered the acidity by nearly two‐fold. The compounds, tested for their cyclooxygenase (COX‐1 and −2) enzyme inhibitory activity, showed analogues 3 d and 3 f could be of interest due to relatively higher COX‐2 enzyme inhibition. Nanoemulsions (NEs) of flurbiprofen analogues (3 d and 3 f) were developed using high energy emulsification technique and the results showed that the optimized nanoemulsions of 3 d presented a droplet size of 225 nm, polydispersity index of 0.568, and zeta potential of +29.60 mV.
Confined Mesospace Synthesis of Sulfur‐Doped Graphene Quantum Dots for Direct H2O2 Detection
Authors: Xu Hongbo , Zhou Shenghai , Fang Wenbo , Liu Jinyu , Lu Mingliang
Published: July 2022

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have attracted significant interest for the design of fluorescence sensors. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) participates in human metabolism and is widely used in chemical and food industries. Therefore, the effective detection of H2O2 is highly desirable. Herein, an effective sensing platform is proposed for the direct detection of H2O2 using sulfur‐doped GQDs (S‐GQDs) as novel fluorescent probes. The S‐GQDs were prepared using a nanospace‐confined strategy, in which sulfur‐doped carbon nanolayers were cut into S‐GQDs using sulfuric and acetic acids in the mesoporous space of silica SBA‐15. Based on the excellent dispersibility, high photostability, and abundant oxygen/sulfur functional groups of S‐GQDs, an effective fluorescence sensor was developed for the direct detection of H2O2 without the aid of a third party. The developed sensor could be used with real samples for H2O2 detection. This paper proposes a novel method of exploiting GQDs for the direct detection of molecules.
Chiral‐Molecule‐Based Spintronic Devices
Authors: Shang Zixuan , Liu Tianhan , Yang Qianqian , Cui Shuainan , Xu Kailin , Zhang Yu , Deng Jinxiang , Zhai Tianrui , Wang Xiaolei
Published: July 2022

Spintronics and molecular chemistry have achieved remarkable achievements separately. Their combination can apply the superiority of molecular diversity to intervene or manipulate the spin‐related properties. It inevitably brings in a new type of functional devices with a molecular interface, which has become an emerging field in information storage and processing. Normally, spin polarization has to be realized by magnetic materials as manipulated by magnetic fields. Recently, chiral‐induced spin selectivity (CISS) was discovered surprisingly that non‐magnetic chiral molecules can generate spin polarization through their structural chirality. Here, the recent progress of integrating the strengths of molecular chemistry and spintronics is reviewed by introducing the experimental results, theoretical models, and device performances of the CISS effect. Compared to normal ferromagnetic metals, CISS originating from a chiral structure has great advantages of high spin polarization, excellent interface, simple preparation process, and low cost. It has the potential to obtain high efficiency of spin injection into metals and semiconductors, getting rid of magnetic fields and ferromagnetic electrodes. The physical mechanisms, unique advantages, and device performances of CISS are sequentially clarified, revealing important issues to current scientific research and industrial applications. This mini‐review points out a key technology of information storage for future spintronic devices without magnetic components.
Enhance Photothermal Stability of Hybrid Perovskite Materials by Inhibiting Intrinsic Ion Migration
Authors: Liu Dachang , Zhao Qiangqiang , Li Zhipeng , Sun Xiuhong , Zhang Bingqian , Shao Zhipeng , Chen Chen , Hao Lianzheng , Wang Xianzhao , Gao Caiyun , Li Yimeng , Wang Xiao , Cui Guanglei , Pang Shuping
Published: July 2022

The degradation of the perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is closely related to phase decomposition, phase separation, and structural collapse, which mainly originates from the intrinsic ion migration under light soaking and thermal stress. Herein, the composition of perovskite materials is regulated based on its ion migration characteristics. By systematically studying the effect of A‐site cations on the ion migration and photothermal stability of organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite materials, it is found that the codoping of appropriate methylammonium (MA) and Cs cation in the formamidinium (FA)‐rich perovskite is favorable for the highly efficient and stable PSCs. The optimized triple‐cation FA0.90Cs0.04MA0.06PbI3 exhibits significantly improved photothermal stability in comparison with the double‐cation and Br‐containing perovskite materials. Moreover, the optimized triple‐cation device demonstrates excellent operation stability at maximum power tracking, and maintains 87% of initial efficiency after 1800 h.
Customizing a Coordinative Crab Molecule BCP‐3N with Multifunctionality for High‐Performance Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Wang Gaopeng , Xu Rongguo , Zhu Hong , Li Yu , Liu Tongfa , Lin Zedong , Hu Mingyu , Xing Zhou , Gao Jiali , Yang Shihe
Published: July 2022

Defects at the perovskite grain boundaries and the interfaces between perovskite and charge transport layers in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are a curse of nonradiative recombination losses and device degradation channels. Herein, the custom design and synthesis of a multifunctional small molecule (N
2,N
9‐bis(3‐(dimethylamino)propyl)‐4,7‐diphenyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline‐2,9‐dicarboxamide (BCP‐3N) featured by the π‐conjugated phenanthroline and an array of lone‐pair electron donor atoms from the carbonyl and amine groups are reported. The BCP‐3N is used as a Lewis base to multidentate passivate the undercoordinated Pb2+ ions forming an ultrathin tunnel layer, in synergy with ethanol as a green antisolvent to simultaneously orient the growth of perovskite, resulting in a significantly reduced defect density in perovskite films. With BCP‐3N, a significant increase in open‐circuit voltage (V
oc = 1.12 V) is achieved of inverted (p–i–n structure) PSCs, along with a record power conversion efficiency of ≈21% among alcohol antisolvent processed cells. Also, attested are a much higher illumination and humidity stability of the BCP‐3N‐based device. Combined experimental and theoretical studies have uncovered the multifunctional roles of BCP‐3N in stabilizing high‐quality Cs–FA–MA triple‐cation mixed perovskites under light, bias, and humidity stresses, enlightening the molecular design for PSCs.
Volatile organic compounds in beef and pork by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry: A review
Authors: Vilar Elena Garicano , O'Sullivan Maurice G. , Kerry Joseph P. , Kilcawley Kieran N.
Published: July 2022

The aroma of meat is an integral part of flavor and therefore an essential element for consumer acceptance. Aroma compounds are challenging to extract, concentrate, separate, identify, and quantify due to the complexity of meat. A wide range of volatile compounds of different properties (molecular weight, polarity, vapor pressure) are present in raw meat at varying concentrations, and further exacerbated post cooking due to the creation of additional volatiles through mainly Maillard reactions and lipid oxidation reactions. The volatiles identified in cooked meats include hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, lactones, ethers, heterocyclic constituents, and sulfur‐/halogen‐containing components. From published research, some of the key volatiles influencing cooked beef/pork flavor include hexanal, octanal, nonanal, 1‐nonanal, (E,E)‐2,4‐decadienal, methional, 3‐methyl‐1‐butanol, methanethiol, 2‐furfurylthiol, 2‐metyl‐3‐furanthiol, 3‐mercapto‐2‐pentanone, 4‐hydroxy‐2,5‐dimethyl‐3‐(2H)‐furanone, 1‐penten‐3‐one, 2‐pentyl‐furan, N‐morpholinomethyl‐isopropyl=sulfide, and methyl butyrate. GC‐MS is the method of choice for their separation and identification. The technical options available have never been greater to elucidate these key volatiles impacting sensory perception. This review presents a summary of the main extraction/concentration techniques, highlighting their potential pros and cons, how advances in two‐dimensional gas chromatography may help elucidate more key aroma compounds, and outlines the benefits of olfactometry to determine the main odor‐active volatiles in beef and pork.
Effects of Round Goby on the Benthic Invertebrate Community and on Diets and Growth of Yellow Perch and White Perch in Oneida Lake, New York
Authors: Brooking Thomas E. , Rudstam Lars G. , Jackson James R. , VanDeValk Anthony J. , Holeck Kristen T. , Hotaling Christopher W. , Cooper John E.
Published: July 2022

Food web changes from the introduction of nonnative species can be complex, with sometimes unexpected effects or little effect due to food web interactions. Invasive Round Goby Neogobius melanostomus became common in samples in Oneida Lake, New York, by 2014. Data from a long‐term monitoring program allowed us to document the Round Goby expansion through time. Using shoreline seine, fyke net, bottom trawl, and video surveys, we estimated that Round Goby density reached over 25,000 fish/ha 6 years after detection and subsequently varied between 4,110 and 26,565 fish/ha. Concurrent benthic invertebrate sampling and long‐term fish diet sampling allowed us to assess the impacts of Round Goby on densities of several benthic invertebrate taxa and on invertebrate consumption by fish. Significant decreases in density after Round Goby arrival were found for amphipods (Amphipoda), caddisflies (Trichoptera), snails (Gastropoda), and dreissenid mussels Dreissena spp. Invertebrate densities after Round Goby arrival ranged from 19% to 48% of densities in the pre‐Round Goby period. For amphipods, snails, and, in some cases, caddisflies and chironomids (Chironomidae), frequency of occurrence in the diets of Yellow Perch Perca flavescens and White Perch Morone americana was lower after Round Goby became established. The decreased consumption of these invertebrates did not lead to decreases in fish growth; growth increased for some age‐classes of Yellow Perch and all age‐classes of White Perch. Despite potential Round Goby predation, densities of burrowing mayflies Hexagenia spp. expanded during this time and likely helped to offset reductions in consumption of other invertebrates by Yellow Perch and White Perch, as did consumption of Round Goby. Long‐term monitoring shows that Round Goby decreased the density of several benthic invertebrate species and decreased the consumption of these invertebrates by fish, but the effect on growth of Yellow Perch and White Perch was offset by consumption of Round Goby and burrowing mayflies.
Anti‐inflammatory effect of mesenchymal stem cells on hepatocellular carcinoma in the xenograft mice model
Authors: Hajighasemlou Saieh , Nikbakht Mohsen , Pakzad Saeedreza , Azadbakht Abdolnaser , Muhammadnejad Samad , Mirmoghtadaei Milad , Gharibzadeh Safoora , Seyhoun Iman , Verdi Javad
Published: July 2022

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. Sorafenib is the standard treatment used in the advanced stages of HCC. Cell therapy with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)‐based cell therapy has proven effective in immune regulation and tumour growth inhibition.

Objectives

In this study, we investigated the anti‐inflammatory effect of MSCs on HCC xenografts.

Methods

Human HepG2 cell lines were subcutaneously implanted into the flank of 12 nude mice, divided into three groups: the control group, the IV group (intravenous MSCs injection) and the local group (local MSCs injection). Mice were sacrificed 6 weeks after tumour implantation, and tumours were resected entirety. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) measured the gene expression of inflammatory markers, including tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin (IL)‐1α and IL‐10. Aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and urea levels were measured using spectrophotometry to ensure the safety of MSC therapy.

Results

Gene expressions for all three inflammatory markers were reduced in both MSCs groups compared to the control group. AST, ALT and urea levels remained in normal ranges.

Conclusions

MSC therapy can reduce inflammation in HCC xenograft mouse models.
What Is Promising About a Radical Kantian Animal Ethic
Authors: Müller Nico Dario
Published: July 2022

This chapter introduces the idea of ‘Kantianism for Animals’: An amended version of Kant’s moral philosophy which recognises duties towards animals. If Kantianism includes animals as moral patients, animal ethicists can put Kantian philosophical resources—notions, distinctions, arguments—to more helpful, creative, and interesting use. Furthermore, including duties to animals in a Kantian framework shows that tying morality to autonomy is not sufficient to deny moral status to animals. The chapter also makes explicit the book’s agenda: Kant’s philosophy is to be used constructively, it is to be revised, and duties to animals are to be set on equal philosophical footing with duties to other human beings.
Animals and the ‘Directionality’ of Duties
Authors: Müller Nico Dario
Published: July 2022

This chapter proposes a revision to Kant’s conception of interpersonal obligation so that it allows for duties to obtain towards animals. Kant endorses the view that the directionality of duties hinges on the sharing of the moral law. The chapter first discusses how difficult it is to account for a moral law that is simultaneously supposed to be autonomously imposed and interpersonally shared. It then proposes a revision to Kant’s view: We can account for the directionality of duties in terms of their content rather than their form. Duties to others are simply duties that concern others in a particular way. This view eliminates all second-personal authority from Kant’s ethics. The chapter discusses the implications of this purely ‘first-personal’ view of interpersonal obligation.
Extend the Levin-Wen model to two-dimensional topological orders with gapped boundary junctions
Authors: Wang Hongyu , Hu Yuting , Wan Yidun
Published: July 2022

Abstract

A realistic material may possess defects, which often bring the material new properties that have practical applications. The boundary defects of a two-dimensional topologically ordered system are thought of as an alternative way of realizing topological quantum computation. To facilitate the study of such boundary defects, in this paper, we construct an exactly solvable Hamiltonian model of topological orders with gapped boundary junctions, where the boundary defects reside, by placing the Levin-Wen model on a disk, whose gapped boundary is separated into multiple segments by junctions. We derive a formula of the ground state degeneracy and an explicit ground-state basis of our model. We propose the notion of mobile and immobile charges on the boundary and find that they are quantum observables and label the ground-state basis. Our model is computation friendly.
Entanglement renormalization of a $$ \mathrm{T}\overline{\mathrm{T}} $$-deformed CFT
Authors: Cardona B. , Molina-Vilaplana J.
Published: July 2022

Abstract

In this work we use cMERA, a continuous tensor network, to find a Gaussian approximation to the ground state of a T$$ \overline{T} $$

T
¯

-deformed scalar CFT on the line, to first order in the deformation parameter. The result is used to find the correction to the correlators of scaling operators of the theory and to the entanglement entropy of a half-line. From the latter, we discuss the non-localities induced by the T$$ \overline{T} $$

T
¯

deformation at short length scales. We find that the kind of non-locality generated by those terms can be considered as a mild-one, in the sense that it does not violate the area law of entanglement. In the context of the conjectured connection between cMERA and holography, we find that at first insight a finite bulk radius can be defined in the putative geometric dual description of cMERA. However, the entropy analysis contradicts the proposal that no geometry can be ascribed to the region outside this radial cutoff.
Sweet-Syndrom des Kindesalters mit erworbener Cutis laxa (Marshall-Syndrom) als Erstmanifestation einer Takayasu-Arteriitis
Authors: Michl Christiane , Hühn Regina , Sunderkötter Cord
Published: July 2022

Eine Besonderheit des seltenen Sweet-Syndroms des Kindesalters ist die fakultative Abheilung in Form einer postinflammatorischen Elastolyse mit erworbener Cutis laxa, die nach dem Erstbeschreiber als Marshall-Syndrom benannt wird. Wir berichten von einem 3‑jährigen Kind, bei dem ein derartiges Sweet-Syndrom zur Erstdiagnose einer Takayasu-Arteriitis führte. Die postinflammatorische Elastolyse mit erworbener Cutis laxa stellt beim kindlichen Sweet-Syndrom einen klinisch relevanten kutanen Indikator für lebensbedrohliche kardiale Gefäßkomplikationen wie Aortitis, Aortenaneurysma, Koronararterienstenose und Herzversagen dar. Da das Cutis-laxa-artig abheilende Sweet-Syndrom den kardialen Komplikationen zumeist zeitlich vorausgeht oder wie in unserem Fall simultan auftritt, sollten die betroffenen Patienten umgehend kardiologisch und rheumatologisch untersucht werden, um bei vaskulärer Beteiligung einen komplikativen Verlauf durch frühe antiinflammatorische und immunmodulierende Systemtherapie zu verhindern.
Quantum invariants of hyperbolic knots and extreme values of trigonometric products
Authors: Aistleitner Christoph , Borda Bence
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we study the relation between the function $$J_{4_1,0}$$

J

4
1

,
0

, which arises from a quantum invariant of the figure-eight knot, and Sudler’s trigonometric product. We find $$J_{4_1,0}$$

J

4
1

,
0

up to a constant factor along continued fraction convergents to a quadratic irrational, and we show that its asymptotics deviates from the universal limiting behavior that has been found by Bettin and Drappeau in the case of large partial quotients. We relate the value of $$J_{4_1,0}$$

J

4
1

,
0

to that of Sudler’s trigonometric product, and establish asymptotic upper and lower bounds for such Sudler products in response to a question of Lubinsky.
Distinct tau neuropathology and cellular profiles of an APOE3 Christchurch homozygote protected against autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s dementia
Authors: Sepulveda-Falla Diego , Sanchez Justin S. , Almeida Maria Camila , Boassa Daniela , Acosta-Uribe Juliana , Vila-Castelar Clara , Ramirez-Gomez Liliana , Baena Ana , Aguillon David , Villalba-Moreno Nelson David , Littau Jessica Lisa , Villegas Andres , Beach Thomas G. , White Charles L. , Ellisman Mark , Krasemann Susanne , Glatzel Markus , Johnson Keith A. , Sperling Reisa A. , Reiman Eric M. , Arboleda-Velasquez Joseph F. , Kosik Kenneth S. , Lopera Francisco , Quiroz Yakeel T.
Published: July 2022

We describe in vivo follow-up PET imaging and postmortem findings from an autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease (ADAD) PSEN1 E280A carrier who was also homozygous for the APOE3 Christchurch (APOE3ch) variant and was protected against Alzheimer’s symptoms for almost three decades beyond the expected age of onset. We identified a distinct anatomical pattern of tau pathology with atypical accumulation in vivo and unusual postmortem regional distribution characterized by sparing in the frontal cortex and severe pathology in the occipital cortex. The frontal cortex and the hippocampus, less affected than the occipital cortex by tau pathology, contained Related Orphan Receptor B (RORB) positive neurons, homeostatic astrocytes and higher APOE expression. The occipital cortex, the only cortical region showing cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), exhibited a distinctive chronic inflammatory microglial profile and lower APOE expression. Thus, the Christchurch variant may impact the distribution of tau pathology, modulate age at onset, severity, progression, and clinical presentation of ADAD, suggesting possible therapeutic strategies.
Evaluating the rare cases of cortical vertigo using disconnectome mapping
Authors: Conrad Julian , Boegle Rainer , Ruehl Ria Maxine , Dieterich Marianne
Published: July 2022

In rare cases, cortical infarcts lead to vertigo. We evaluated structural and functional disconnection in patients with acute vertigo due to unilateral ischemic cortical infarcts compared to infarcts without vertigo in a similar location with a focus on the connectivity of the vestibular cortex, i.e., the parieto-opercular (retro-)insular cortex (PIVC). Using lesion maps from the ten published case reports, we computed lesion–functional connectivity networks in a set of healthy individuals from the human connectome project. The probability of lesion disconnection was evaluated by white matter disconnectome mapping. In all ten cases with rotational vertigo, disconnections of interhemispheric connections via the corpus callosum were present but were spared in lesions of the PIVC without vertigo. Further, the arcuate fascicle was affected in 90% of the lesions that led to vertigo and spared in lesions that did not lead to vertigo. The lesion–functional connectivity network included vestibulo-cerebellar hubs, the vestibular nuclei, the PIVC, the retro-insular and posterior insular cortex, the multisensory vestibular ventral intraparietal area, motion-sensitive areas (temporal area MT+ and cingulate visual sulcus) as well as hubs for ocular motor control (lateral intraparietal area, cingulate and frontal eye fields). However, this was not sufficient to differentiate between lesions with and without vertigo. Disruption of interhemispheric connections of both PIVC via the corpus callosum and intra-hemispheric disconnection via the arcuate fascicle might be the distinguishing factor between vestibular cortical network lesions that manifest with vertigo compared to those without vertigo.
Awareness, Willingness and Use of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Female Sex Workers Living in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
Authors: Faini Diana , Munseri Patricia , Sandstrom Eric , Hanson Claudia , Bakari Muhammad
Published: July 2022

Tanzania is in the final stages to roll out pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to Female Sex Workers (FSWs) so as to reduce new infections. PrEP demonstration projects support programming through gaining first experiences.

We analyzed data from a cohort of 700 HIV negative FSWs in Dar-es-Salaam to determine proportions of FSWs who were aware, willing and used PrEP. We compared proportions at cohort enrolment and after 12 months. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with PrEP use. PrEP awareness increased from 67% to 97% after 12 months. Willingness was high at both time points (98% versus 96%). Only 8% (57/700) had used PrEP. Being married/cohabiting or separated/divorced/widowed and having sex with a HIV infected partner were independently associated with PrEP use. The PrEP program should focus on scaling up access as willingness to use PrEP is high.
The Hmong Medical Corpus: a biomedical corpus for a minority language
Authors: White Nathan M.
Published: July 2022

Biomedical communication is an area that increasingly benefits from natural language processing (NLP) work. Biomedical named entity recognition (NER) in particular provides a foundation for advanced NLP applications, such as automated medical question-answering and translation services. However, while a large body of biomedical documents are available in an array of languages, most work in biomedical NER remains in English, with the remainder in official national or regional languages. Minority languages so far remain an underexplored area. The Hmong language, a minority language with sizable populations in several countries and without official status anywhere, represents an exceptional challenge for effective communication in medical contexts. Taking advantage of the large number of government-produced medical information documents in Hmong, we have developed the first named entity-annotated biomedical corpus for a resource-poor minority language. The Hmong Medical Corpus contains 100,535 tokens with 4554 named entities (NEs) of three UMLS semantic types: diseases/syndromes, signs/symptoms, and body parts/organs/organ components. Furthermore, a subset of the corpus is annotated for word position and parts of speech, representing the first such gold-standard dataset publicly available for Hmong. The methodology presented provides a readily reproducible approach for the creation of biomedical NE-annotated corpora for other resource-poor languages.
Cytogenetic and developmental toxicity of bisphenol A and bisphenol S in Arbacia lixula sea urchin embryos
Authors: Rezg Raja , Oral Rahime , Tez Serkan , Mornagui Bessem , Pagano Giovanni , Trifuoggi Marco
Published: July 2022

Bisphenol S (BP-S) is one of the most important substitutes of bisphenol A (BP-A), and its environmental occurrence is predicted to intensify in the future. Both BP-A and BP-S were tested for adverse effects on early life stages of Arbacia lixula sea urchins at 0.1 up to 100 µM test concentrations, by evaluating cytogenetic and developmental toxicity endpoints. Embryonic malformations and/or mortality were scored to determine embryotoxicity (72 h post-fertilization). It has been reported in academic dataset that bisphenols concentration reached μg/L in aquatic environment of heavily polluted areas. We have chosen concentrations ranging from 0.1–100 μM in order to highlight, in particular, BP-S effects. Attention should be paid to this range of concentrations in the context of the evaluation of the toxicity and the ecological risk of BP-S as emerging pollutant. Cytogenetic toxicity was measured, using mitotic activity and chromosome aberrations score in embryos (6 h post-fertilization). Both BP-A and BP-S exposures induced embryotoxic effects from 2.5 to 100 µM test concentrations as compared to controls. Malformed embryo percentages following BP-A exposure were significantly higher than in BP-S-exposed embryos from 0.25 to 100 µM (with a ~5-fold difference). BP-A, not BP-S exhibited cytogenetic toxicity at 25 and 100 µM. Our results indicate an embryotoxic potential of bisphenols during critical periods of development with a potent rank order to BP-A vs. BP-S. Thus, we show that BP-A alternative induce similar toxic effects to BP-A with lower severity.
Transgender EU Citizens and the Limited Form of Union Citizenship available to them
Authors: Lashyn Serhii
Published: July 2022

This article argues that only a limited form of EU citizenship is available to transgender people. As the paper demonstrates, transgender Union citizens face numerous difficulties when they exercise their right to free movement, despite such movement being the core of Union citizenship. Rather, transgender individuals only have access to a considerably restricted form of EU citizenship which is guaranteed as part of their fundamental status conferred by EU Treaties. The article points out that the current approach of including transgender discrimination in the purview of discrimination on the grounds of sex fails to tackle the issue because it is conceptually problematic and largely ineffective. As a solution to remedy the issue, the paper suggests overhauling the existent approach to trans discrimination in a way that makes it capable of ensuring that transgender persons enjoy their Union citizenship to its fullest extent.
Biological evaluation of acellular bovine bone matrix treated with NaOH
Authors: Li Pengfei , Feng Mengchun , Hu Xiantong , Zhang Chunli , Zhu Jialiang , Xu Gang , Li Li , Zhao Yantao
Published: July 2022

We mainly proceed from the view of biological effect to study the acellular bovine bone matrix (ABBM) by the low concentration of hydrogen oxidation. After cleaning the bovine bone routinely, it was cleaned with different concentrations of NaOH and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) to observe the effect of decellulization. The effect of bovine bone matrix treated with NaOH were observed by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and compared by DNA residue detection. Cell toxicity was also evaluated in MC3T3-E1 cells by CCK-8. For the in vitro osteogenesis detection, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and alizarin red (AR) staining were performed in MC3T3-E1 cells. And the in vivo experiment, Micro CT, HE and Masson staining were used to observe whether the osteogenic effect of the materials treated with 1% NaOH solution was affected at 6 and 12 weeks. After the bovine bone was decellularized with different concentrations of NaOH solution, HE staining showed that ultrasonic cleaning with 1% NaOH solution for 30 min had the best effect of decellularization. The SEM showed that ABBM treated with 1% NaOH solution had few residual cells on the surface of the three-dimensional porous compared to ABBM treated with conventional chemical reagents. DNA residues and cytotoxicity of ABBM treated with 1% NaOH were both reduced. The results of ALP staining and AR staining showed that ABBM treated with 1% NaOH solution had no effect on the osteogenesis effect. The results of micro-CT, HE staining and Masson staining in animal experiments also showed that ABBM treated with 1% NaOH solution had no effect on the osteogenesis ability. The decellularization treatment of ABBM with the low concentration of NaOH can be more cost-effective, effectively remove the residual cellular components, without affecting the osteogenic ability. Our work may provide a novelty thought and a modified method to applicate the acellular bovine bone matrix clinically better.
Social Innovation: A Retrospective Perspective
Authors: Satalkina Liliya , Steiner Gerald
Published: July 2022

During the last several decades, the concept of social innovation has been a subject of scientific and practical discourse. As an important paradigm for innovation policies, social innovation is also an object of criticism and debate. Despite a significant proliferation of literature, the rate at which social innovation is a catalyst for coping with challenges of modern societies remains unclear. The goal of the paper is to gain a better understanding of social innovation by integrating past and present views on the concept. Applying a historical overview covering the period from the 19th to the 21st century, we outline the milestones in the evolution of social innovation and distinguish seven trajectories that illustrate the commonalities in its interpretation. We consolidate the findings into a three-dimensional model that defines social innovation as an intervention that is targeted toward structural changes within a social dimension that, in terms of different functional settings (e.g., technological, business, organizational), are oriented on systemic improvements of societies. Reflecting on future avenues, we consider social innovation as an integrative part of a holistic intervention that acts across single societal dimensions and provides systemic impact for the sustainable development of societies.
Guiding Science and Mathematics Learning when Students Construct Representations
Authors: Prain Vaughan , Xu Lihua , Speldewinde Christopher
Published: July 2022

There is a long tradition of teaching science through inquiry, with broad agreement about the form it should take. Students should investigate researchable questions; gather and analyse data; and develop and represent evidence-based claims. Authoritative teacher or textbook representations are generally used to guide this learning (Buckley & Boulter, 2000; Bybee, 1997; Furtak et al., 2012; Sell et al., 2006). Parallel to this approach, teachers have also guided students to construct, review and refine their own representations, leading to learning gains. However, this student representation construction approach poses new challenges for teachers. The teacher is expected to elicit and guide students’ reasoning about their own represented claims as an orientation to understanding and learning scientific forms of reasoning and their representation. In this paper, drawing on our initial account of this pedagogy, we aim to clarify further this approach’s rationale and teacher strategies and underlying purposes in key early stages of exploration in the topics of chemistry and mathematics with a Grade 5 class. An interdisciplinary focus was used to guide students’ learning about the science concepts of states of matter, evaporation and the mathematical concepts of formal and informal measurement and data representation. Analysed data included video capture of the teacher’s guidance of tasks and classroom discussion, student artefacts and teacher and student interviews. We identify how the teacher framed the task, oriented student inquiry and guided evaluation of students’ representations through implicit and explicit instruction.
Language, Communication and the Gift Economy: A Semioethic Approach
Authors: Petrilli Susan
Published: July 2022

Maternal gift-giving sustains life and creates positive human relations. Addressing important issues in the theory of language and communication, Genevieve Vaughan associates language and mothering to the free gift economy. A fundamental hypothesis is that maternal gift-giving, mothering/being-mothered forms a non-essentialist, but fundamental core process of material and verbal communication that has been neglected by the Western view of the world. The mothering/being-mothered paradigm is thematized in the framework of gift logic, which is otherness logic. Restoring such a paradigm offers a new light on language, communication and human relations, contributing to recovery of the “properly human” in terms of gift economy values, ultimately to the end of affecting social praxis for radical social change and creating better worlds. The second part of this text is titled “For the Sake of the Other” and presents an exchange of ideas with Vaughan in the form of a written conversation.

This text is structured around the following titles: 1. Otherness and Gifting as the Basis of Communication: 1.1. Semiosis, Language, and the Gift Economy; 1.2. The Gift of Speaking and the “Mother Work Schema”; 1.3. Material gifting, Verbal Nurturing, Imagination; 1.4. New Perspectives for Studies in Language and Communication; 2. For the Sake of the Other, with Genevieve Vaughan.
Galactic Cosmic Rays Throughout the Heliosphere and in the Very Local Interstellar Medium
Authors: Rankin Jamie S. , Bindi Veronica , Bykov Andrei M. , Cummings Alan C. , Della Torre Stefano , Florinski Vladimir , Heber Bernd , Potgieter Marius S. , Stone Edward C. , Zhang Ming
Published: July 2022

We review recent observations and modeling developments on the subject of galactic cosmic rays through the heliosphere and in the Very Local Interstellar Medium, emphasizing knowledge that has accumulated over the past decade. We begin by highlighting key measurements of cosmic-ray spectra by Voyager, PAMELA, and AMS and discuss advances in global models of solar modulation. Next, we survey recent works related to large-scale, long-term spatial and temporal variations of cosmic rays in different regimes of the solar wind. Then we highlight new discoveries from beyond the heliopause and link these to the short-term evolution of transients caused by solar activity. Lastly, we visit new results that yield interesting insights from a broader astrophysical perspective.
Analysis of red blood cells from peripheral blood smear images for anemia detection: a methodological review
Authors: K.T. Navya , Prasad Keerthana , Singh Brij Mohan Kumar
Published: July 2022

Anemia is a blood disorder which is caused due to inadequate red blood cells and hemoglobin concentration. It occurs in all phases of life cycle but is more dominant in pregnant women and infants. According to the survey conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) (McLean et al.,Public Health Nutr12(4):444–454, 2009), anemia affects 1.62 billion people constituting 24.8% of the population and is considered the world’s second leading cause of illness. The Peripheral Blood Smear (PBS) examination plays an important role in evaluating hematological disorders. Anemia is diagnosed using PBS. Being the most powerful analytical tool, manual analysis approach is still in use even though it is tedious, prone to errors, time-consuming and requires qualified laboratorians. It is evident that there is a need for an inexpensive, automatic and robust technique to detect RBC disorders from PBS. Automation of PBS analysis is very active field of research that motivated many research groups to develop methods using image processing. In this paper, we present a review of the methods used to analyze the characteristics of RBC from PBS images using image processing techniques. We have categorized these methods into three groups based on approaches such as RBC segmentation, RBC classification and detection of anemia, and classification of anemia. The outcome of this review has been presented as a list of observations.

Graphical abstract
Remaking time: Cultural semiotic transformations of temporality during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown
Authors: Ruse Jesse N , Rhodes Paul , Tateo Luca , Luca Picione Raffaele De
Published: July 2022

This paper investigates one aspect of meaning making that occurs in the wake of systemic change. It addresses the question of how time is re-configured by socio-material changes resultant from the COVID-19 pandemic. Employing a semiotic perspective, we aim to describe a process of disruption and distress, which leads to a recognition of the oddness of ‘covid-time.’ This is characterised by distressing ‘suspended waiting’, a despairing frozen temporality. After this, this odd covid-time is semiotically assimilated into the old and familiar. Distressing ‘suspended time’ is transformed into ‘productive time’, ‘normal time’, and ‘transformational time’ as an attempt to regulate affect. By highlighting this semiotic shift, the theory of the Cultural Psychology of Semiotic Dynamics (Valsiner, 2014) is used to highlight how meaning is constructed using cultural resources.
Analysis of ESAFORM 2021 cup drawing benchmark of an Al alloy, critical factors for accuracy and efficiency of FE simulations
Authors: Habraken Anne Marie , Aksen Toros Arda , Alves José L. , Amaral Rui L. , Betaieb Ehssen , Chandola Nitin , Corallo Luca , Cruz Daniel J. , Duchêne Laurent , Engel Bernd , Esener Emre , Firat Mehmet , Frohn-Sörensen Peter , Galán-López Jesús , Ghiabakloo Hadi , Kestens Leo A. I. , Lian Junhe , Lingam Rakesh , Liu Wencheng , Ma Jun , Menezes Luís F. , Nguyen-Minh Tuan , Miranda Sara S. , Neto Diogo M. , Pereira André F. G. , Prates Pedro A. , Reuter Jonas , Revil-Baudard Benoit , Rojas-Ulloa Carlos , Sener Bora , Shen Fuhui , Van Bael Albert , Verleysen Patricia , Barlat Frederic , Cazacu Oana , Kuwabara Toshihiko , Lopes Augusto , Oliveira Marta C. , Santos Abel D. , Vincze Gabriela
Published: July 2022

This article details the ESAFORM Benchmark 2021. The deep drawing cup of a 1 mm thick, AA 6016-T4 sheet with a strong cube texture was simulated by 11 teams relying on phenomenological or crystal plasticity approaches, using commercial or self-developed Finite Element (FE) codes, with solid, continuum or classical shell elements and different contact models. The material characterization (tensile tests, biaxial tensile tests, monotonic and reverse shear tests, EBSD measurements) and the cup forming steps were performed with care (redundancy of measurements). The Benchmark organizers identified some constitutive laws but each team could perform its own identification. The methodology to reach material data is systematically described as well as the final data set. The ability of the constitutive law and of the FE model to predict Lankford and yield stress in different directions is verified. Then, the simulation results such as the earing (number and average height and amplitude), the punch force evolution and thickness in the cup wall are evaluated and analysed. The CPU time, the manpower for each step as well as the required tests versus the final prediction accuracy of more than 20 FE simulations are commented. The article aims to guide students and engineers in their choice of a constitutive law (yield locus, hardening law or plasticity approach) and data set used in the identification, without neglecting the other FE features, such as software, explicit or implicit strategy, element type and contact model.