bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Creativity of physical education teachers
from schools in Wroclaw
Authors: Guła-Kubiszewska Halina , Starościak Wojciech
Published: April 2018

Introduction: It is possible to treat the
competences of creative teachers of physical
education as original activities or innovative
activities – pedagogical innovation
and creation. Researchers of
creative personalities indicate a rich mosaic
of features which have an effect on
the creative attitude of a person. Such is
represented by an individual with nonconformity
and heuristic behaviour. The
attitude towards nonproductive activity
is characterized by algorithmic behaviour
and conformist attitude.
Objective: The aim of this study was to
recognize the general creative potential
among teachers of physical education
working in secondary schools.
Materials and methods: A survey was
carried out in the school year 2013 / 2014
among teachers of physical education.
89 teachers including 52 woman and 37
men participated in the survey. Data collection
was performed on the basis of diagnostic
survey using questionnaires. A
research tool used in the survey was the
normative Creative Questionnaire Subscales
for the KAHN-II behaviour, version
for teachers ‘My ideal pupil – student’.
Results and conclusions: Taking into
consideration the unsatisfactory research
results, it should be essential to make
physical education teachers aware of
their creative potential as well as the creative
conditions which enable them to use their potential personally and efficiently.
Restriction on human exposure
to xenobiotics: theory and practice
Authors: Krzystyniak Krzysztof L. , Obiedziński M. , Kalota H. , Marszałek A.
Published: April 2018

Exposure to environmental xenobiotics,
which influence the everyday life of all
humans in our times, has become a subject
of intensive analysis by scientists, authorities
of environmental hazards, state
authorities and authors of legislation. Toxicological
risk assessment of chemicals in
contaminated food and water as well as
polluted air is expressed in basic ‘toxic
units’. A broad-scale human biomonitoring
(HBM) for environmental toxicants
is the strategy of a cause-effect analysis
of chemical exposure to environmental
xenobiotics. HBM demonstrates the relationships
between exposure to xenobiotics
and the following health disorders:
obesity, impaired reproduction, type 1 diabetes (T1D), autism, cancers and other
diseases in the society. Developing effective
toxicological tools and legislative
standards is expected to help in eliminating
endocrine disruptor chemicals
(EDCs), which cause infertility. The exceptional
category of xenobiotics, which
highly influences human health, and is
treated as a priority problem to be controlled
in the European Union, form genotoxic
carcinogens. According to a current
assessment, hundreds of chemical xenobiotics
and their metabolites, in the minimum
detectable quantity, mostly all of anthropogenic
origin, can be found in the
organisms of inhabitants in western countries.
Despite the permanent presence of
xenobiotics in human environment, it is
worth taking into consideration practical
methods to limit and avoid contacts with
environmental chemicals. It concerns the
provision of water and air filters, the thermal
processing of food, the selection of
food products, and other aspects of everyday
life.
Numerical and Experimental Research on Distribution and Evolution of Coupling Residual Stresses Induced by Cutting-Welding Continuous Process
Authors: Wei Zhi-yuan , Liu Yu-jun , Li Rui , Wang Ji
Published: April 2018

Thermal cutting and welding are usually applied on component sequentially in shipbuilding, and the coupling residual stresses will be induced during this continuous process, which make the residual stress distribution different to that induced by single process. This research took a typical continuous process as the object: first, the mild steel plate was cut in half by oxygen flame, and then welded together. Based on the regression equations of initial residual stress distribution induced by cutting, a simplified numerical model was presented to investigate the distribution and evolution of coupling residual stresses with stress measurement validation based on X-ray diffraction. The research concluded that the distribution of coupling residual stresses, induced by cutting-welding continuous process, is mainly affected by the process, which can generate a wider distribution of high stresses. The evolution of coupling stresses is determined by the distance to seam (Γ1~Γ3)and the period undergoing (T1~T3), and the influence of initial residual stresses on coupling stresses was also investigated.

1. Introduction

Shipbuilding consists of a series of processes applied sequentially, and the components of hull have to experience more than one process during shipbuilding, so the residual stresses in hull should be considered as the result of coupling effects between different processes, and it was named as coupling residual stress in this research.

A typical kind of coupling residual stress in shipbuilding is induced by thermal cutting-welding continuous process, for example: first, the steel plates are cut into designed shapes, and then welded together to form the subassembly. During this continuous process, the coupling effects will be generated between the stress field of thermal cutting and the temperature field of welding, and superimposed with welding stresses. As a result, the cutting-welding coupling residual stresses will be presented. compared to the residual stresses induced by single process, coupling residual stresses need experience the evolution effected by much more factors, and finally have a more complex distribution. However, the residual stresses due to single process have gained most of the attention of researchers so far, and there is a lack of the studies on coupling residual stresses during continuous process (McPherson 2007).
Inflammation and Cancer: Critical View
Authors: T.G. Shrihari
Published: April 2018

Inflammation is the physiological response to an injury, it could be chemical, thermal, physical and infectious for reparative activity to injury. Recent data suggest that chronic inflammation leads to cancer development. Inflammatory mediators released to surrounding environment due to inflammation by inflammatory cells acts as a defensive or offensive depends on secretion of chemical mediators of inflammation such as growth factors, cytokines activating various transcriptional pathways bring about cell proliferation, angiogenesis further leads to tumor growth. This article describe the role of inflammatory cells and its mediators to development of cancer, various underlying unanswered future challenge questions in association with inflammation and cancer.
Fungal disease resistance of perspective sugar beet varieties and their yield potential
Authors: Sadauskienė Agnė , Brazienė Zita , Dabkevičius Zenonas
Published: April 2018

The research was conducted on 11 sugar beet varieties, grown at the Rumokai Experimental Station of the Lithuanian Research Center for Agriculture and Forestry, in 2016 and 2017. The experiments were carried out on two backgrounds: the crops were not sprayed and sprayed with fungicide epoxiconazole 125 g l–1. During the study years, rust (causative agent Uromyces beticola), powdery mildew (causative agent Erysiphe betae Vaňha Weltzien) and leaf spot disease (causative agent Cercospora beticola Sacc.) were the most prevalent in sugar beet. Rust, the intensity of which was 9.66–61.79%, caused most damage to sugar beet. The intensity of powdery mildew was 12.71–55.98% and that of leaf spot disease was 7.47–54.23%. Of the investigated varieties of sugar beet, the most sensitive to leaf spot disease were ‘Merens’, ‘Balear’, ‘Davinci’, ‘Kashmir’ and ‘Pottok’, the most resistant were ‘Berton’, ‘Selma KWS’ and ‘Wellington’. ‘Merens’ and ‘Texel’ were the most sensitive to rust. This disease was least damaging to the ‘Minta’, ‘Berton’ and ‘Strauss’ varieties. Powdery mildew was most harmful to leaves of the ‘Merens’, ‘Balear’ and ‘Minta’ varieties of sugar beet. The most resistant to powdery mildew was ‘Texel’. According to the average two-year data, the most productive was the ‘Pottok’ variety, whose root yield was 90.46– 93.85 t ha–1. The ‘Straus’ variety had the highest sugar content. Epoxiconazole increased the sugar beet yield from 0.44 to 6.53 t ha–1 in 2016 and from 0.07 to 11.63 t ha–1 in 2017.
Developing a valid and reliable assessment on knowledge translation in the continuing professional development (CPD) of health professionals
Authors: Ong Irvin L , Diño Michael Joseph S , Calimag Maria Minerva P , Hidalgo Fe A
Published: April 2018

Introduction

Knowledge Translation (KT) is expected to be a critical learning outcome of a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program. It continues to serve as an area of interest among educators and healthcare providers due to its importance to evidence-based practice. This study endeavored to develop a KT learning assessment tool in CPD.

Methods

The Inventory of Reflective Vignettes (IRV), an innovative approach of integrating research vignettes was utilized in crafting the 20-item IRV-KT tool. This instrument identified knowledge creation and action as essential KT constructs. Using a one-group post-posttest pre-experimental design, the KT competency was assessed in 3 moments (i.e. before and after CPD event and if in a lecture). Health professionals who successfully completed a CPD program using alternative teaching approaches were asked to complete the IRV-KT during the pilot study (n = 10) and actual implementation (n = 45). Responses were subjected to Cronbach’s reliability and criterion-validity testing.

Results

The initial test of the IRV-KT tool revealed a high internal reliability (α = 0.97) and most items yielded acceptable validity scores. During the actual implementation, a higher reliability score of 0.98 was generated with significant correlations between the before-after segments for both KT constructs of creation (r = 0.33, p < 0.05) and action (r = 0.49, p < 0.05). All items have significant positive large validity coefficients (r > 0.35, p < 0.05) in all segments.

Discussion

The study practically produced reflective assessment tool to assess validly and reliability KT learning in a CPD. IRV-KT is seen to guide curriculum process of CPD programs to bridge learning and healthcare outcomes.
Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) feeding behavior on static fishing gear, effect of SMART (Selective Magnetic and Repellent-Treated) hook deterrent technology, and factors influencing entanglement in bottom longlines
Authors: Grant Scott M , Sullivan Rennie , Hedges Kevin J
Published: April 2018

The Greenland Shark (Somniosus microcephalus) is the most common bycatch in the Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) bottom longline fishery in Cumberland Sound, Canada. Historically, this inshore fishery has been prosecuted through the ice during winter but winter storms and unpredictable landfast ice conditions since the mid-1990s have led to interest in developing a summer fishery during the ice-free season. However, bycatch of Greenland shark was found to increase substantially with 570 sharks captured during an experimental Greenland halibut summer fishery (i.e., mean of 6.3 sharks per 1,000 hooks set) and mortality was reported to be about 50% due to in part to fishers killing sharks that were severely entangled in longline gear. This study investigated whether the SMART (Selective Magnetic and Repellent-Treated) hook technology is a practical deterrent to Greenland shark predation and subsequent bycatch on bottom longlines. Greenland shark feeding behavior, feeding kinematics, and variables affecting entanglement/disentanglement and release are also described. The SMART hook failed to deter Greenland shark predation i.e., all sharks were captured on SMART hooks, some with more than one SMART hook in their jaw. Moreover, recently captured Greenland sharks did not exhibit a behavioral response to SMART hooks. In situ observations of Greenland shark feeding show that this species uses a powerful inertial suction mode of feeding and was able to draw bait into the mouth from a distance of 25-35 cm. This method of feeding is suggested to negate the potential deterrent effects of electropositive metal and magnetic alloy substitutions to the SMART hook technology. The number of hooks entangled by a Greenland shark and time to disentangle and live-release a shark was found to increase with body length.
Klinisk fagring som ein kompetanseutviklande metode i kommunehelsetenesta - sjukepleiarar og leiarar sine erfaringar
Authors: Hynne Astrid Bjørnerheim , Torjuul Kirsti , Paulsen Bente
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of nurses and managers of a clinical circle as a method of competence development, and the way working conditions and contextual factors in the municipality affected the process of learning and cooperation between nurses and managers.Focus group interviews were conducted with five nurses and five managers. The interviews that were analyzed using qualitative content analysis resulted in three maincategories: cooperation across different units, shared clinical theme, and contextual factors. The findings indicate that participating in a clinical circle provide nurses with opportunities to develop their clinical competence through sharing knowledge and experiences, and by searching, assessing and implementing research findings into practice. In order to establish and sustain a clinical circle, the findings indicate that it may be useful to prearrange contextual factors, such as leadership expectancy, and timereserved for clinical circle work.
Interaction between Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterial peroxidase and its electron donor, the lipid‐modified azurin
Authors: Nóbrega Cláudia S. , Pauleta Sofia R.
Published: April 2018

The Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterial cytochrome c peroxidase plays a key role in detoxifying the cells from H2O2 by reducing it to water using the lipid‐modified azurin, LAz, a small type 1 copper protein, as electron donor. Here, the interaction between these two proteins was characterized by steady‐state kinetics, two‐dimensional NMR and molecular docking simulations. LAz is an efficient electron donor capable of activating this enzyme. This electron transfer complex is weak with a hydrophobic character, with LAz binding close to the electron transferring heme of the enzyme. The high catalytic rate (39 ± 0.03 s−1) is explained by the LAz pre‐orientation, due to a positive dipole moment, and by the fast‐dynamic ensemble of orientations, suggested by the small chemical shifts.
Optimizing fluorescent protein expression for quantitative fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy using herpes simplex thymidine kinase promoter sequences
Authors: Ali Rizwan , Ramadurai Sivaramakrishnan , Barry Frank , Nasheuer Heinz Peter
Published: April 2018

The modulation of expression levels of fluorescent fusion proteins (FFPs) is central for recombinant DNA technologies in modern biology as overexpression of proteins contributes to artifacts in biological experiments. In addition, some microscopy techniques such as fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and single‐molecule‐based techniques are very sensitive to high expression levels of FFPs. To reduce the levels of recombinant protein expression in comparison with the commonly used, very strong CMV promoter, the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK) gene promoter, and mutants thereof were analyzed. Deletion mutants of the TK promoter were constructed and introduced into the Gateway® system for ectopic expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP), monomeric cherry (mCherry), and FFPs containing these FPs. Two promoter constructs, TK2ST and TKTSC, were established, which have optimal low expression levels suitable for FCS studies in U2OS, HeLa CCL2, NIH 3T3, and BALB/c cells. Interestingly, when tested in these four cell lines, promoter constructs having a deletion within TK gene 5′‐UTR showed significantly higher protein expression levels than the equivalent constructs lacking this deletion. This suggests that a negative regulatory element is localized within the TK gene 5′‐UTR.
Sustainable Design of Batch Processes
Authors: Pinto‐Varela Tânia , Carvalho Ana Isabel
Published: April 2018

The batch process industry is intimately related to the production of high‐value products. The global market for these types of products is strongly competitive, imposing severe burdens to succeed in this industry. It is critical to adopt an innovative culture, which keeps pace with the shifting requirements of customers. Sustainability is becoming a priority in customers' choice and therefore promotes making batch processes more efficient and competitive in the marketplace. This chapter outlines a proposed framework that may be used to design and retrofit sustainable batch processes. The framework provides a new methodology for sustainable batch design, called Sustainable Batch Design – Framework (SBD‐FRAME).SBD‐FRAMEguides a user toward a more sustainable batch process. The framework incorporates sustainability aspects (economic, environmental, and social) that should be considered in order to assess sustainability across different levels of sustainable batch design. Use of the framework is highlighted through two case studies.
Receptor‐Targeted Drug Delivery and the (Many) Problems We Know of: The Case of CD44 and Hyaluronic Acid
Authors: Rios de la Rosa Julio M. , Tirella Annalisa , Tirelli Nicola
Published: April 2018

CD44 is best known for being the most common receptor of hyaluronic acid (HA). It is also a heterogeneous molecule: while its standard isoform (CD44s) is ubiquitously expressed, there are also a range of variants (CD44v), and both CD44s and CD44v undergo a variety of post‐translational modifications. The signaling roles and frequent overexpression of both CD44s and CD44v in cancer (e.g., in cancer initiating cells/cancer stem cells) has raised interest in them for diagnostic applications, but also—and most importantly for this review—as possible molecular targets in tumor therapy, with their endocytic character being a clear advantage for the intracellular release of payloads. In this area, the most popular approach employs HA‐based carriers. However, their rational design and therefore the success of HA‐based therapies are hampered by the rather limited understanding of not only the identity, but also the dynamic properties of CD44. In this review, the reader is exposed to the full breadth of the challenges that HA carriers currently face, which start at the CD44 post‐transcriptional and post‐translational heterogeneity, and also include the understanding of receptor clustering phenomena (influencing also HA avidity), as well as the evaluation of off‐target effects.
Thioethyl‐Porphyrazine/Nanocarbon Hybrids for Photoinduced Electron Transfer
Authors: Belviso Sandra , Capasso Andrea , Santoro Ernesto , Najafi Leyla , Lelj Francesco , Superchi Stefano , Casarini Daniele , Villani Claudio , Spirito Davide , Bellani Sebastiano , Del Rio‐Castillo Antonio Esau , Bonaccorso Francesco
Published: April 2018

A novel pyrene‐substituted thioethyl‐porphyrazine (PzPy) and the formation of supramolecular assembly with nanocarbons demonstrating photoinduced electron transfer ability are designed. As revealed by spectroscopic and electrochemical studies, PzPy displays wide spectral absorption in the visible range, charge separation upon photoexcitation, as well as bandgap and highest occupied/lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO/LUMO) energy values, matching the key requirements of organic optoelectronic. Moreover, the presence of a pyrene moiety promotes attractive interactions with π‐conjugated systems. In particular, theoretical calculations show that in the PzPy the HOMO and LUMO are localized on different positions of the molecule, i.e., the HOMO on the pyrene moiety and the LUMO on the macrocycle. Therefore, HOMO–LUMO excitation gives rise to a charge separation, preventing excitons recombination. Two kinds of noncovalent hybrid composites are prepared by mixing the PzPy with single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and graphene nanoflakes (GNFs), respectively, and used for photocurrent generation through charge transfer processes between PzPy and nanocarbons. Photoconduction experiments show photocurrent generation upon visible light irradiation of both PzPy/SWNT and PzPy/GNF composites (0.78 and 0.71 mA W−1 at 500 nm, respectively), demonstrating their suitability for optoelectronic applications and light harvesting systems.
Ultrasensitive Photoresponsive Devices Based on Graphene/BiI3 van der Waals Epitaxial Heterostructures
Authors: Chang Po‐Han , Li Chia‐Shuo , Fu Fang‐Yu , Huang Kuo‐You , Chou Ang‐Sheng , Wu Chih‐I
Published: April 2018

In recent years, bismuth iodide (BiI3), a layered metal halide semiconducting light absorber with a wide bandgap of ≈1.8 eV and strong optical absorption in the visible region, has received greater attention for photovoltaic applications. In this study, ultrasensitive visible‐light photodetectors with graphene/BiI3 vertical heterostructures are achieved by van der Waals epitaxies. The BiI3 films deposited on graphene show flatter morphologies and significantly better crystallinities than that of BiI3 films on SiO2 substrates, mainly due to weak van der Waals interactions at the graphene/BiI3 interface. Hybrid photodetectors with highly crystalline graphene/BiI3 heterostructures demonstrate an ultrahigh responsivity of 6 × 106 A W−1, shot‐noise‐limited detectivity of 7 × 1014 Jones, and a relatively short response time of ≈8 ms. Compared to most previously reported graphene‐based hybrid photodetectors, these devices have comparable photosensitivities but a faster response speed and lower operation voltage, which is quite promising for ultralow intensity visible‐light sensors. Moreover, the electronic structure and interfacial chemistry at the graphene/BiI3 heterojunctions are investigated using photoemission spectroscopy. The results give clear evidence that no chemical interactions occur between graphene and BiI3, resulting in the van der Waals epitaxial growth, and the measured band bending consistently illustrates that a photoinduced charge transfer occurs at the graphene/BiI3 interface.
Anodized Aluminum Oxide/Polydimethylsiloxane Hybrid Mold for Roll‐to‐Roll Nanoimprinting
Authors: Kim Sanghoon , Hyun Seung , Lee Jaeyong , Lee Kyu Seong , Lee Woo , Kim Jin Kon
Published: April 2018

Two types (hard and soft) of the molds are widely used in nanoimprint lithography for a high throughput over a large area, and high‐resolution parallel patterning. Although hard molds have proven excellent resolutions and can be used at high temperatures, cracks often occur in the mold in addition to the requirement of high imprinting pressure. On the other hand, though soft molds can operate at lower pressures, they give poor pattern resolution. Here, a novel hybrid mold of anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) template attached to a flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) plate is introduced. Due to the flexible nature of PDMS, various polymer nanostructures are obtained on flat and curved substrates without crack formation on the AAO mold surface. Furthermore, the hybrid mold is successfully used for roll‐to‐roll imprinting for the fabrication of high density array of various shaped polymeric nanostructures over a large area.
Multilayer‐Folded Graphene Ribbon Film with Ultrahigh Areal Capacitance and High Rate Performance for Compressible Supercapacitors
Authors: Sheng Lizhi , Chang Jin , Jiang Lili , Jiang Zimu , Liu Zheng , Wei Tong , Fan Zhuangjun
Published: April 2018

Limited by 2D geometric morphology and low bulk packing density, developing graphene‐based flexible/compressible supercapacitors with high specific capacitances (gravimetric/volumetric/areal), especially at high rates, is an outstanding challenge. Here, a strategy for the synthesis of free‐standing graphene ribbon films (GRFs) for high‐performance flexible and compressible supercapacitors through blade‐coating of interconnected graphene oxide ribbons and a subsequent thermal treatment process is reported. With an ultrahigh mass loading of 21 mg cm−2, large ion‐accessible surface area, efficient electron and ion transport pathways as well as high packing density, the compressed multilayer‐folded GRF films (F‐GRF) exhibit ultrahigh areal capacitance of 6.7 F cm−2 at 5 mA cm−2, high gravimetric/volumetric capacitances (318 F g−1, 293 F cm−3), and high rate performance (3.9 F cm−2 at 105 mA cm−2), as well as excellent cycling stability (109% of capacitance retention after 40 000 cycles). Furthermore, the assembled F‐GRF symmetric supercapacitor with compressible and flexible characteristics, can deliver an ultrahigh areal energy density of 0.52 mWh cm−2 in aqueous electrolyte, almost two times higher than the values obtained from symmetric supercapacitors with comparable dimensions.
g‐C3N4 Loading Black Phosphorus Quantum Dot for Efficient and Stable Photocatalytic H2 Generation under Visible Light
Authors: Kong Lingqiao , Ji Yujin , Dang Zhenzhen , Yan Junqing , Li Ping , Li Youyong , Liu Shengzhong (Frank)
Published: April 2018

Black phosphorus (BP) is an interesting two‐dimensional material with low‐cost and abundant metal‐free properties and is used as one cocatalyst for photocatalytic H2 production. However, the BP quantum dot (BPQD) is not studied. Herein, for the first time, BPQD is introduced as a hole‐migration cocatalyst of layered g‐C3N4 for visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic hydrogen generation. A high‐vacuum stirring method is developed for BPQD loading without the dissociation of BP. The layered BPQD is coupled on the layered g‐C3N4 surface to form a heterojunction structure. The 7% BPQD–C3N4 samples show similar time‐resolved photoluminescence curves as 0.5% Pt–C3N4. The optimum hydrogen rates of the modified sample (7% BPQD–C3N4) are 190, 133, 90, and 10.4 µmol h−1 under simulated sunlight, LED‐405, LED‐420, and LED‐550 nm irradiation, respectively, which are 3.5, 3.6, and 3 times larger than that of the pristine g‐C3N4. Such low‐cost layered system not only optimizes the optical, electrical, and texture properties of the hybrid materials for photocatalytic water splitting to generate hydrogen but also provides ideas for designing novel or easily oxidized candidates by incorporating different available materials with given carriers.
Engineering Pro‐Regenerative Hydrogels for Scarless Wound Healing
Authors: Sun Guoming , Shen Yu‐I , Harmon John W.
Published: April 2018

Skin and skin appendages protect the body from harmful environment and prevent internal organs from dehydration. Superficial epidermal wounds usually heal without scarring, however, deep dermal wound healing commonly ends up with nonfunctioning scar formation with substantial loss of skin appendage. Wound healing is one of the most complex dynamic biological processes, during which a cascade of biomolecules combine with stem cell influx and matrix synthesis and synergistically contribute to wound healing at all levels. Although many approaches have been investigated to restore complete skin, the clinically effective therapy is still unavailable and the regeneration of perfect skin still remains a significant challenge. The complete mechanism behind scarless skin regeneration still requires further investigation. Fortunately, recent advancement in regenerative medicine empowers us more than ever to restore tissue in a regenerative manner. Many studies have elucidated and reviewed the contribution of stem cells and growth factors to scarless wound healing. This article focuses on recent advances in scarless wound healing, especially strategies to engineer pro‐regenerative scaffolds to restore damaged skin in a regenerative manner.
Surface Nanopore Engineering of 2D MXenes for Targeted and Synergistic Multitherapies of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Li Zhenli , Zhang Han , Han Jun , Chen Yu , Lin Han , Yang Tian
Published: April 2018

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and deadly gastrointestinal malignancies. Given its insensitivity to traditional systematic chemotherapy, new therapeutic strategies for efficient HCCs treatment are urgently needed. Here, the development of a novel 2D MXene‐based composite nanoplatform for highly efficient and synergistic chemotherapy and photothermal hyperthermia against HCC is reported. A surface‐nanopore engineering strategy is developed for the MXenes’ surface functionalization, which achieves the uniform coating of a thin mesoporous‐silica layer onto the surface of 2D Ti3C2 MXene (Ti3C2@mMSNs). This strategy endows MXenes with well‐defined mesopores for on‐demand drug release/delivery, enhanced hydrophilicity/dispersity, and abundant surface chemistry for targeting engineering. Systematic in vitro and in vivo evaluations have demonstrated the high active‐targeting capability of arginine‐glycine‐aspartic acid (RGD)‐targeting Ti3C2@mMSNs into tumor, and the synergistic chemotherapy (contributed by the mesoporous shell) and photothermal hyperthermia (contributed by the Ti3C2 MXene core) completely eradicate the tumor without obvious reoccurrence. This work not only provides a novel strategy for efficiently combating HCC by developing MXene‐based composite nanoplatforms, but also paves a new way for extending the biomedical applications of MXenes by surface‐nanopore engineering.
Methylxanthine Drug Monitoring with Wearable Sweat Sensors
Authors: Tai Li‐Chia , Gao Wei , Chao Minghan , Bariya Mallika , Ngo Quynh P. , Shahpar Ziba , Nyein Hnin Y. Y. , Park Hyejin , Sun Junfeng , Jung Younsu , Wu Eric , Fahad Hossain M. , Lien Der‐Hsien , Ota Hiroki , Cho Gyoujin , Javey Ali
Published: April 2018

Drug monitoring plays crucial roles in doping control and precision medicine. It helps physicians tailor drug dosage for optimal benefits, track patients' compliance to prescriptions, and understand the complex pharmacokinetics of drugs. Conventional drug tests rely on invasive blood draws. While urine and sweat are attractive alternative biofluids, the state‐of‐the‐art methods require separate sample collection and processing steps and fail to provide real‐time information. Here, a wearable platform equipped with an electrochemical differential pulse voltammetry sensing module for drug monitoring is presented. A methylxanthine drug, caffeine, is selected to demonstrate the platform's functionalities. Sweat caffeine levels are monitored under various conditions, such as drug doses and measurement time after drug intake. Elevated sweat caffeine levels upon increasing dosage and confirmable caffeine physiological trends are observed. This work leverages a wearable sweat sensing platform toward noninvasive and continuous point‐of‐care drug monitoring and management.
The Disappearing Director: The Case of Directed N‐Arylation via a Removable Hydroxyl Group
Authors: Andrzejewska Magdalena R. , Vuram Prasanna K. , Pottabathini Narender , Gurram Venkateshwarlu , Relangi Siva Subrahmanyam , Korvinson Kirill A. , Doddipalla Raju , Stahl Lothar , Neary Michelle C. , Pradhan Padmanava , Sharma Somesh , Lakshman Mahesh K.
Published: April 2018

A facile and broadly applicable method for the regiospecific N‐arylation of benzotriazoles is reported. Copper‐mediated reactions of diverse 1‐hydroxy‐1H‐benzotriazoles with aryl boronic acids lead to 1‐aryl‐1H‐benzotriazole 3‐oxides. A N1‐OH→N3 prototropy in the 1‐hydroxy‐1H‐benzotriazoles is plausibly the underlying basis, where the tautomer is captured by the boronic acid, leading to C−N (not C−O) bond formation. Because the N−O bond in amine N‐oxides and 1‐hydroxy‐1H‐benzotriazoles can be easily reduced by diboron reagents such as (pinB)2 and B2(OH)4, exposure of the 1‐aryl‐1H‐benzotriazole 3‐oxides to B2(OH)4 then leads to facile reduction of the N−O bond resulting in diverse, regiospecifically‐arylated benzotriazoles. Thus, the N‐hydroxyl group in 1‐hydroxy‐1H‐benzotriazoles acts as a disposable arylation director.

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Phosphine‐Initiated Cascade Annulation of β′‐Acetoxy Allenoate and p‐Quinols: Access to Ring Fused Hexahydroindeno Furan Derivatives
Authors: Xing Jiao‐Jiao , Gao Yu‐Ning , Shi Min
Published: April 2018

A highly diastereoselective cascade annulation process of p‐quinols with β′‐acetoxy allenoate catalyzed by phosphine has been developed, which comes up with highly functionalized multiple ring‐fused hexahydroindeno furan derivatives in synthetically useful yields and creates three consecutive stereogenic carbon centers only in a one‐step manner. The salient features of this phosphine‐catalyzed cyclization include the use of p‐quinol's three active sites in this cascade reaction, wide substrate scope, excellent functional group tolerance, mild reaction conditions, asymmetric version, good yields, ease of scale‐up to gram scale, and further transformations.

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Mixed 3D–2D Passivation Treatment for Mixed‐Cation Lead Mixed‐Halide Perovskite Solar Cells for Higher Efficiency and Better Stability
Authors: Cho Yongyoon , Soufiani Arman Mahboubi , Yun Jae Sung , Kim Jincheol , Lee Da Seul , Seidel Jan , Deng Xiaofan , Green Martin A. , Huang Shujuan , Ho‐Baillie Anita W. Y.
Published: April 2018

Layered low‐dimensional perovskite structures employing bulky organic ammonium cations have shown significant improvement on stability but poorer performance generally compared to their 3D counterparts. Here, a mixed passivation (MP) treatment is reported that uses a mixture of bulky organic ammonium iodide (iso‐butylammonium iodide, iBAI) and formammidinium iodide (FAI), enhancing both power conversion efficiency and stability. Through a combination of inactivation of the interfacial trap sites, characterized by photoluminescence measurement, and formation of an interfacial energetic barrier by which ionic transport is reduced, demonstrated by Kelvin probe force microscopy, MP treatment of the perovskite/hole transport layer interface significantly suppresses photocurrent hysteresis. Using this MP treatment, the champion mixed‐halide perovskite cell achieves a reverse scan and stabilized power conversion efficiency of 21.7%. Without encapsulation, the devices show excellent moisture stability, sustaining over 87% of the original performance after 38 d storage in ambient environment under 75 ± 20% relative humidity. This work shows that FAI/iBAI, is a new and promising material combination for passivating perovskite/selective‐contact interfaces.
Challenges of comprehensive taxon sampling in comparative biology: Wrestling with rosids
Authors: Folk Ryan A. , Sun Miao , Soltis Pamela S. , Smith Stephen A. , Soltis Douglas E. , Guralnick Robert P.
Published: April 2018

Using phylogenetic approaches to test hypotheses on a large scale, in terms of both species sampling and associated species traits and occurrence data—and doing this with rigor despite all the attendant challenges—is critical for addressing many broad questions in evolution and ecology. However, application of such approaches to empirical systems is hampered by a lingering series of theoretical and practical bottlenecks. The community is still wrestling with the challenges of how to develop species‐level, comprehensively sampled phylogenies and associated geographic and phenotypic resources that enable global‐scale analyses. We illustrate difficulties and opportunities using the rosids as a case study, arguing that assembly of biodiversity data that is scale‐appropriate—and therefore comprehensive and global in scope—is required to test global‐scale hypotheses. Synthesizing comprehensive biodiversity data sets in clades such as the rosids will be key to understanding the origin and present‐day evolutionary and ecological dynamics of the angiosperms.
Three patients with DeSanto‐Shinawi syndrome: Further phenotypic delineation
Authors: Uehara Tomoko , Ishige Takashi , Hattori Shigeto , Yoshihashi Hiroshi , Funato Michinori , Yamaguchi Yu , Takenouchi Toshiki , Kosaki Kenjiro
Published: April 2018

Somatic truncating variants of the WAC gene have been observed in patients with hematologic malignancies. Furthermore, de novo heterozygous constitutional pathogenic variants of WAC have recently been shown to cause a syndromic form of intellectual disability, DeSanto‐Shinawi syndrome. It is unknown whether the constitutional pathogenic variants observed in the intellectual disability syndrome overlap with the somatic pathogenic variants observed in hematologic abnormalities. Herein, we report three patients with constitutional truncating variants of WAC in an attempt to address the above questions. All three of the patients had mild to moderate intellectual disability and dysmorphic features. We then reviewed the phenotypic features of 19 patients with DeSanto‐Shinawi syndrome, including the three currently reported ones: eight and seven patients showed a bulbous nasal tip and short fingers, respectively. As for the pathogenetic mechanism, we demonstrated that the expression level of the mRNA derived from the wildtype allele was higher than that derived from the mutated allele, demonstrating nonsense‐mediated mRNA decay. This observation makes a haploinsufficiency mechanism likely. Reviews of the constitutional and somatic pathogenic variants observed in patients with hematologic malignancies showed a significant overlap of the two. To date, no patients with DeSanto‐Shinawi syndrome have been reported to have developed hematologic abnormalities, except for one of the three patients reported herein who developed leukopenia and thrombocytopenia at the age of 19 years. Larger data sets are required to determine hematologic prognosis of patients with constitutional WAC variants.
Analyzing the sclerocarpy adaptations of the Pitheciidae mandible
Authors: Püschel Thomas A. , Marcé‐Nogué Jordi , Kaiser Thomas M. , Brocklehurst Robert J. , Sellers William I.
Published: April 2018

Primates are interpreted to be ancestrally adapted to frugivory, although some modern groups show clear adaptations to other diets. Among them, pitheciids stand out for specifically predating seeds. This dietary specialization is known as sclerocarpy and refers to the extraction of seeds from surrounding hard tissues using the anterior dentition followed by the mastication of seeds by the molars. It has been proposed thatCallicebus‐Pithecia‐Chiropotes‐Cacajaorepresent a morphocline of increasingly specialized anatomical traits for sclerocarpic foraging. This study addresses whether there is a sclerocarpic specialization gradient in the mandibular morphology of pitheciids. Finite element analysis (FEA) was used to simulate two biting scenarios and the obtained stress values were compared between different pitheciids. Geometric morphometrics (GM) were used to display the morphological variation of this group. No support was found for the morphocline hypothesis from a biomechanical viewpoint since all pitheciins showed similar stress values and on averageChiropotesrather thanCacajaoexhibited the strongest mandible. From a morphological perspective, it was found that there is indeed relative “robusticity” continuum in the pitheciid mandible for some aspects of shape as expected for the morphocline hypothesis, but this gradient could be related to other factors rather than sclerocarpic specialization. The present results are expected to contribute to a better insight regarding the ecomorphological relationship between mandibular morphology and mechanical performance among pitheciids.
The marketisation of education in Australia: Does investment in private schooling improve post‐school outcomes?
Authors: Chesters Jenny
Published: April 2018

The distribution of school funding has been a controversial topic for decades particularly since the Australian Government introduced a new funding model for private schools in the late 1990s. Recent research shows that changes in the funding of private schools have encouraged growth in the number of private schools allowing parents with the financial means to select from an increasing range of options for their children. For this article, I conduct analyses of data from the 2003 cohort of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth project to examine differences in the outcomes of students according to the type of school attended. The results presented in this article show that students with highly educated parents were more likely than other students to attend independent schools. After controlling for the level of economic, social and cultural status of the school population, type of school attended was not associated with academic achievement, as measured by the Programme for International Student Assessment tests. Furthermore, there was no statistically significant association between type of school attended and employment status, occupation or earnings at age 24, net of level of educational attainment.
Defining mechanisms of neural plasticity after brainstem ischemia in rats
Authors: Minnerup Jens , Strecker Jan‐Kolja , Wachsmuth Lydia , Hoppen Maike , Schmidt Antje , Hermann Dirk M. , Wiendl Heinz , Meuth Sven , Faber Cornelius , Diederich Kai , Schäbitz Wolf‐Rüdiger
Published: April 2018

Objective

Neurological recovery after stroke mainly depends on the location of the lesion. A substantial portion of strokes affects the brainstem. However, patterns of neural plasticity following brainstem ischemia are almost unknown.

Methods

Here, we established a rat brainstem ischemia model that resembles key features of the human disease and investigated mechanisms of neural plasticity, including neurogenesis and axonal sprouting as well as secondary neurodegeneration.

Results

Spontaneous functional recovery was accompanied by a distinct pattern of axonal sprouting, for example, an increased bilateral fiber outgrowth from the corticorubral tract to the respective contralesional red nucleus suggesting a compensatory role of extrapyramidal pathways after damage to pyramid tracts within the brainstem. Using different markers for DNA replication, we showed that the brainstem displays a remarkable ability to undergo specific plastic cellular changes after injury, highlighting a yet unknown pattern of neurogenesis. Neural progenitor cells proliferated within the dorsal brainstem and migrated toward the lesion, whereas neurogenesis in classic neurogenic niches, the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle and the hippocampus, remained, in contrast to what is known from hemispheric stroke, unaffected. These beneficial changes were paralleled by long‐term degenerative processes, that is, corticospinal fiber loss superior to the lesion, degeneration of spinal tracts, and a decreased neuron density within the ipsilesional substantia nigra and the contralesional red nucleus that might have limited further functional recovery.

Interpretation

Our findings provide knowledge of elementary plastic adaptions after brainstem stroke, which is fundamental for understanding the human disease and for the development of new treatments. Ann Neurol 2018;83:1003–1015
Affinity‐Driven Covalent Modulator of the Glyceraldehyde‐3‐Phosphate Dehydrogenase (GAPDH) Cascade
Authors: Chern Jeffy , Lu Chun‐Ping , Fang Zhanxiong , Chang Ching‐Ming , Hua Kuo‐Feng , Chen Yi‐Ting , Ng Cheng Yang , Chen Yi‐Lin Sophia , Lam Yulin , Wu Shih‐Hsiung
Published: April 2018

Traditional medicines provide a fertile ground to explore potent lead compounds, yet their transformation into modern drugs is fraught with challenges in deciphering the target that is mechanistically valid for its biological activity. Herein we reveal that (Z)‐(+)‐isochaihulactone (1) exhibited significant inhibition against multiple‐drug‐resistant (MDR) cancer cell lines and mice xenografts. NMR spectroscopy showed that 1 resisted an off‐target thiolate, thus indicating that 1 was a target covalent inhibitor (TCI). By identifying the pharmacophore of 1 (α,β‐unsaturated moiety), a probe derived from 1 was designed and synthesized for TCI‐oriented activity‐based proteome profiling. By MS/MS and computer‐guided molecular biology approaches, an affinity‐driven Michael addition of the noncatalytic C247 residue of GAPDH was found to control the “ON/OFF” switch of apoptosis through non‐canonically nuclear GAPDH translocation, which bypasses the common apoptosis‐resistant route of MDR cancers.
Thermal‐Responsive Phosphorescent Nanoamplifiers Assembled from Two Metallophosphors
Authors: Sun Meng‐Jia , Zhong Yu‐Wu , Yao Jiannian
Published: April 2018

Thermal‐responsive phosphorescent nanotubes have been fabricated from the co‐assembly of two neutral iridium complexes, which behave as the antenna chromophores and energy acceptors, respectively, in these highly ordered crystalline superstructures. By tuning the acceptor doping ratio in a range of 0 to 0.5 %, these tubes display color‐tunable phosphorescence from green to red at room temperature, and it is attributed to the highly efficient light‐harvesting and energy transfer within these materials. For the same reason, the acceptor emission in the nanotubes is amplified more than 800 times with respect to its pure non‐emissive solid sample. The doped tubes show reversible thermal‐responsiveness, in which the energy transfer was completely suppressed at 77 K and reactivated at room temperature. These processes were characterized by the in situ emission color (green, orange, and red) and spectral changes and lifetime measurements of isolated nanotubes. The temperature‐controlled exciton dynamics are responsible for the luminescent thermochromism in these crystalline materials.
Long‐Lasting Efficacy of Coatings for Bronze Artwork Conservation: The Key Role of Layered Double Hydroxide Nanocarriers in Protecting Corrosion Inhibitors from Photodegradation
Authors: Salzano de Luna Martina , Buonocore Giovanna G. , Giuliani Chiara , Messina Elena , Di Carlo Gabriella , Lavorgna Marino , Ambrosio Luigi , Ingo Gabriel M.
Published: April 2018

The photodegradation kinetics of 2‐mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), a corrosion inhibitor for copper‐based alloys, is studied in high amorphous polyvinyl alcohol coatings subjected to either UV irradiation or indoor light exposure. The photodegradation process proceeds rapidly, thus compromising the anticorrosion ability of the coating. The encapsulation of MBT into layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocarriers slows down its decomposition kinetics by a factor of three. Besides preserving the corrosion inhibitor, such a strategy allows a controlled release of MBT triggered by corrosion‐related stimuli, for example, presence of chloride species and acid pH. The developed coating guarantees long‐lasting corrosion protection even at low amounts of inhibitor‐loaded LDH nanocarriers (ca. 5 wt %). This also reflects in a high transparency, which makes the protective coating suitable for demanding applications, such as the conservation of high‐value metal works of art.
An O3‐type Oxide with Low Sodium Content as the Phase‐Transition‐Free Anode for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhao Chenglong , Avdeev Maxim , Chen Liquan , Hu Yong‐Sheng
Published: April 2018

Layered transition metal oxides NaxMO2 (M=transition metal) with P2 or O3 structure have attracted attention in sodium‐ion batteries (NIBs). A universal law is found to distinguish structural competition between P2 and O3 types based on the ratio of interlayer distances of the alkali metal layer d(O‐Na‐O) and transition‐metal layer d(O‐M‐O). The ratio of about 1.62 can be used as an indicator. O3‐type Na0.66Mg0.34Ti0.66O2 oxide is prepared as a stable anode for NIBs, in which the low Na‐content (ca. 0.66) usually undergoes a P2‐type structure with respect to NaxMO2. This material delivers an available capacity of about 98 mAh g−1 within a voltage range of 0.4–2.0 V and exhibits a better cycling stability (ca. 94.2 % of capacity retention after 128 cycles). In situ X‐ray diffraction reveals a single‐phase reaction in the discharge–charge process, which is different from the common phase transitions reported in O3‐type electrodes, ensuring long‐term cycling stability.