bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health behaviours in young people of
secondary schools in Dąbrowa Tarnowska
Authors: Sikora Joanna , Ryba Justyna , Zoldi Dominika
Published: April 2018

Introduction: The period of adolescence
is extremely difficult due to the fact of
developmental health issues. The lifestyle
of the youth will have an impact on
their future life. Among health behaviors
the attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle
and an unhealthy lifestyle can be distinguished.
Healthy lifestyle attitudes concern: proper nutrition, physical activity,
coping with stress, appropriate social relationships,
taking care of personal hygiene
and visiting a GP for preventive examinations.
Unhealthy lifestyle attitudes
concern: alcohol abuse, smoking cigarettes
and psychogenic drug abuse.
Objective: To assess the health behaviors
in young people of secondary schools in
Dąbrowa Tarnowska.
Materials and methods: The study included
402 secondary school students
in Dabrowa Tarnowska, in the Malopolska
province. The study was conducted
in November 2015. 135 students attended
technical schools, 133 secondary schools
and 134 basic vocational schools. Our
original survey and the standard questionnaire
– the Behavioral Health Inventory
by Zygfryd Juczyński, were used in
this study.
Results: The average number of points
obtained by the respondents in the Behavioral
Health Inventory questionnaire
was 73.06 (SD=11.22) and ranged from
32 to 105 points, so a typical outcome
in the study group was between 66 and
80, 75 points. 221 survey participants received
a low score in the BHI, 154 average,
and 27 high. More than 45% of the
respondents assessed their fitness as below
average, only 12% of the respondents
claimed that they are definitely physically
active. 45% of the respondents cared for their proper nutrition from time to time.
Conclusions: W omen d efinitely h ad
much better eating habits, preventive
health care activities and health care services
in comparison to men. Students
attending secondary schools had better
eating habits than students from basic
vocational schools. People with an excessive
body weight presented significantly
worse eating habits, worse preventive
health behaviuors and health care services
than those with the weight within normal
limits.
The analysis of hospital-acquired
urinary tract infections.
A 10 year longitudinal study in
Małopolska (the Lesser Poland province)
Authors: Wałaszek Marta , Kołpa Małgorzata , Wolak Zdzisław
Published: April 2018

Introduction: Hospital-acquired infections
are one of the most serious health
threats during a patient’s stay in hospital,
including healthcare associated infections
(HAI). The most typical form
of hospital-acquired infections is urinary
tract infection (UTI).
Objective: To examine the frequency of
appearing UTIs, the structure of UTIs in in-patients in the department of internal
medicine and nephrology at Saint Lucas’s
general hospital in Tarnów was analysed.
Materials and methods: Data analysis
of 13 965 in-patients staying in the department
of internal medicine and nephrology
from 2006 to 2015 was carried out.
To investigate these data epidemiological
methods and standard definitions of hospital-
acquired infections issued by European
Center for Disease Prevention as
well as Control and Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention were used.
Results: 237 hospital-acquired UTIs
were revealed, which is 33% of all UTIs
revealed in the investigated ward. The
UTI incidence rate was 1.7% including
1.5% for microbiologically confirmed
symptomatic UTIs and 0.2% not microbiologically
confirmed symptomatic
UTIs. The incidence density rate per 1
000 person-days was 0.2 over 1 000. The
number of revealed catheter-related cases
was 168, and not catheter-related cases
– 69. The incidence density rate of UTIs
associated with urinary catheters was 3.3
per 1 000 person-days. The dominant etiological
factors, which were taken to be
detected from the infected patients’ specimens,
were: Escherichia coli 63 (29%),
Enterococcus spp. 37(16%), Klebsiella
spp. 23 (11%).
Conclusions: A 10 year observation of UTIs, which have appeared in the department
of internal medicine and nephrology,
allowed to conduct the accurate
analysis of these infections. The comparison
of urinary tract infection rates done
in the investigated ward, and recorded in
the Research Participation Programs at
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), allows to draw the conclusion
that the presented epidemiological
situation does not differ significantly
from other countries.
Panem et circenses / Bread and circuses –
nowadays
Authors: Węglarz Józef
Published: April 2018

Human needs have their own hierarchy
and are significantly dependent on
the lifestyle of the individual. They are
also culturally conditioned. The satisfaction
of one’s needs determines the level
of human existence and location of a
person in social structures as well as individual
preferences. Taking care of the
body, in our world, can be understood in
two ways. On the one hand it is a socially
postulated custom encouraging to participate
in a physical culture and on the other
hand it is an act of individual choice.
The latter marks the attitude towards
physical affection as a need. Body kindness
must be taught by showing its value. This is to be done, among others, by
physical education as an organised pedagogical
process.
The effect of statin treatment on survival and on the use of healthcare resources among patients with acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Nguyen Lien , Häkkinen Unto , Jurvanen Henna
Published: April 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the cost-effectiveness of statin use by newly hospitalised patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Finland. The data were from the PERFECT database of patients hospitalised for AMI and discharged in 1998–2012 in Finland. Selected patients had first-time AMI and had not used statins earlier (N=60 404). We generated a matched data set from statin non-users for statin users based on propensity matching analysis (N=28 412), which was also used. Statin use was defined as statins purchased within the first week after hospital discharge. Healthcare costs included costs of inpatient and outpatient hospital care, costs of nursing homes and costs of prescribed medicines (at 2011 prices). The follow-up time was one year. Logit and generalised linear models were used. We measured the effects of statin use as life years (LYs) gained and computed costs per LY gained. Both data were analysed for the entire period and for subperiods 1998–2001, 2002–2007 and 2008–2011, without discount rates and with a 3% discount rate. An average patient would gain 0.26–0.51 more years. The estimated costs per LY gained ranged between EUR 800 and 15 000. They were highest (EUR 12 000–15 000) in 1998–2001 by the matched data, but were actually savings in 2008–2011. The estimated costs indicate that statin use in treating AMI was very cost-effective. However, our rather long study period may suggest that the cost estimates per LY gained could be overestimated, as the life expectancy of AMI patients is likely shorter than that of the general population.Published: Online April 2018.
The European Grammar of Inclusion
Authors: Ivanovic Mladjo ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: April 2018

This paper tackles an old, yet persisting philosophical and cultural imaginary that justifies the political subjugation, marginalization and exclusion of distant others through claims that such people are less advanced and cognitively inferior, and therefore remain at the periphery of moral and political considerations of Western political culture. My premise here is that all knowledge is historically conditioned, and as such serves as a discursive formation that mirrors and sustains specific historical forms of social organization and practices. Thus, by considering the interrelated themes of epistemic and social inclusion (and exclusion) of refugees and migrants from a range of critical philosophical perspectives, I argue that successfully managing the dire humanitarian circumstances involved in admitting and receiving displaced and migrant people requires the inclusion of both the bodies of knowledge and discursive interactions (i.e., epistemic inclusion) and also diverse social and cultural perspectives (i.e., social inclusion).
Shipbuilding Innovation: Enabling Technologies and Economic Imperatives
Authors: Stott Paul W.
Published: April 2018

Commercial shipbuilding in the 21st century is dominated by large suppliers, constructing series' of ships in highly efficient shipyards. The industry would be unrecognizable to shipbuilders from a century ago and this raises the question as to when the modern form developed. Much development has been incremental but there have also been seminal triggers, both technical and economic, that have led to major shifts in the nature of the industry. This paper traces these shifts from the building of SS Great Britain to the current day. The modern industry saw its beginnings in the United States in World War II (wwii), follows a build strategy that was developed in Japan (under U.S. guidance) and a pattern of shipyard design that originated in Europe in the early 1960s. The most significant influences have included developments in iron and steel manufacturing processes, the expansion of the British Empire in the second half of the 19th century, the Liberty Ship program in WWII, Japan's "great reverse" post-WWII, and the "Bretton Woods" conference that initiated the process of globalization in the second half of the 20th century. The greatest steps forward have arisen out of economic imperatives and been assisted by influence from other industry sectors. The most important influences were those from government contractors in the introduction of welding into shipbuilding in WWII and in the influence of the aircraft manufacturing industry in Japanese shipbuilding post-WWII. The greatest barriers to innovation have arisen from conservatism.

1. Introduction

In an article in the New York Times of October 28,1921, Henry Ford coined his famous phrase: "History is bunk." He was paraphrasing an earlier article in the Crawfordsville Review of June 6, 1916, where he had said: "History is more or less bunk" and the three additional words make all the difference in understanding this famous quotation. What Henry Ford did not mean was that we cannot learn the lessons of history. What he did mean was that we cannot reliably predict the future by extrapolating the past and this leads to a very optimistic view of the power of innovation in industry. What innovations might be around the corner that will change everything? Henry Ford is also often quoted in support of this view as saying, relating to the period before his innovations that made the motor car an affordable mode of transport for the masses in the United States: "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses." In reality, Henry Ford is nowhere recorded as actually having said this, but it is a popular misquotation because it illustrates the principle perfectly (Vlaskovits 2011).
Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells in Oral Cancer: An Emerging Concept
Authors: T.G. Shrihari
Published: April 2018

Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are specialized immunoregulatorycells and major cause of immunosuppression in oral cancer tumor microenvironment. Which are generated by various mediators of chronic inflammation. MDSC exerts its effects by two mechanisms, first is enzymatic mechanism by two enzymes which are elevated in MDSC are arginaseand iNOS2, second is non-enzymatic mechanism by ROS, peroxynitrate ,L-selectin and interaction with other immune cells. It also has a role in progression of oral cancer by secreting inflammatory mediators. This article brief about the MDSC in immune regulation and tumor progression in oral cancer tumor microenvironment.
The dependence of summer barley growing and development on the concentration of naphthalene in soil
Authors: Barčauskaitė Karolina , Mažeika Romas
Published: April 2018

Naphthalene is polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) containing only carbon and hydrogen that are composed of multiple aromatic rings. The simplest PAH, naphthalene, consists of two condensed benzene rings and shows the highest solubility in water. Due to this naphthalene could have a negative effect on plant germination and development. The aim of this thesis is to determine the effect of naphthalene on spring barley germination and the amount of green mass in early stages of growing. Moreover, to evaluate the effect of naphthalene on the spring barley amount and yield when growing for the full vegetation period. Persistent organic pollutants are absorbed from atmosphere or soil by plants. Compost was chosen for this research with a different amount of naphthalene inserted in it.
During the research, there were two experiments done: one phytotoxicity experiment with a duration of 28 days and another vegetation experiment for the full vegetation period until the whole yield growing. During the phytotoxicity experiment, 5 days after sowing, decreasing of the germination of spring barley was determined. The germination decreased from 13 to 72% in comparison to the control variant. On the 10th day after sowing, the germination of spring barley was 12% lower in the variant of the experiment where the concentration of naphthalene was highest. When spring barley was growing for the full vegetation period, a significant decreasing amount of straw and an average mass of 1 000 grains were determined in both years.
Computer-guided design of optimal microbial consortia for immune system modulation
Authors: Stein Richard R , Tanoue Takeshi , Szabady Rose L , Bhattarai Shakti K , Olle Bernat , Norman Jason M , Suda Wataru , Oshima Kenshiro , Hattori Masahira , Gerber Georg K , Sander Chris , Honda Kenya , Bucci Vanni
Published: April 2018

Manipulation of the gut microbiota holds great promise for the treatment of diseases. However, a major challenge is the identification of therapeutically potent microbial consortia that colonize the host effectively while maximizing immunologic outcome. Here, we propose a novel workflow to select optimal immune-inducing consortia from microbiome compositicon and immune effectors measurements. Using published and newly generated microbial and regulatory T-cell (Treg) data from germ-free mice, we estimate the contributions of twelve Clostridia strains with known immune-modulating effect to Treg induction. Combining this with a longitudinal data-constrained ecological model, we predict the ability of every attainable and ecologically stable subconsortium in promoting Treg activation and rank them by the Treg Induction Score (TrIS). Experimental validation of selected consortia indicates a strong and statistically significant correlation between predicted TrIS and measured Treg. We argue that computational indexes, such as the TrIS, are valuable tools for the systematic selection of immune-modulating bacteriotherapeutics.
A genetic program mediates cold-warming response and promotes stress-induced phenoptosis in C. elegans
Authors: Jiang Wei , Wei Yuehua , Long Yong , Owen Arthur , Wang Bingying , Wu Xuebing , Luo Shuo , Dang Yongjun , Ma Dengke K
Published: April 2018

How multicellular organisms respond to and are impacted by severe hypothermic stress is largely unknown. From C. elegans screens for mutants abnormally responding to cold-warming stimuli, we identify a molecular genetic pathway comprising ISY-1, a conserved uncharacterized protein, and ZIP-10, a bZIP-type transcription factor. ISY-1 gatekeeps the ZIP-10 transcriptional program by regulating the microRNA mir-60. Downstream of ISY-1 and mir-60, zip-10 levels rapidly and specifically increase upon transient cold-warming exposure. Prolonged zip-10 up-regulation induces several protease-encoding genes and promotes stress-induced organismic death, or phenoptosis, of C. elegans. zip-10 deficiency confers enhanced resistance to prolonged cold-warming stress, more prominently in adults than larvae. We conclude that the ZIP-10 genetic program mediates cold-warming response and may have evolved to promote wild-population kin selection under resource-limiting and thermal stress conditions.
Kill two birds with one stone: making multi-transgenic pre-diabetes mouse models through insulin resistance and pancreatic apoptosis pathogenesis
Authors: Kong Siyuan , Ruan Jinxue , Zhang Kaiyi , Hu Bingjun , Cheng Yuzhu , Zhang Yubo , Yang Shulin , Li Kui
Published: April 2018

Background

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance accompanied by defective insulin secretion. Transgenic mouse models play an important role in medical research. However, single transgenic mouse models may not mimic the complex phenotypes of most cases of type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Focusing on genes related to pancreatic islet damage, peripheral insulin resistance and related environmental inducing factors, we generated single-transgenic (C/EBP homology protein, CHOP) mice (CHOP mice), dual-transgenic (human islet amyloid polypeptide, hIAPP; CHOP) mice (hIAPP-CHOP mice) and triple-transgenic (11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, 11β-HSD1; hIAPP; CHOP) mice (11β-HSD1-hIAPP- CHOP mice). The latter two types of transgenic (Tg) animals were induced with high-fat high-sucrose diets (HFHSD). We analyzed the diabetes-related symptoms and histology features of the transgenic animals.

Results

Comparing symptoms on the spot-checked points, we determined that the triple-transgene mice were more suitable for systematic study. The results of intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests (IPGTT) of triple-transgene animals began to change 60 days after induction (p < 0.001). After 190 days of induction, the body weights (p < 0.01) and plasma glucose of the animals in Tg were higher than those of the animals in Negative Control (Nc). After sacrificed, large amounts of lipid were found deposited in adipose (p < 0.01) and ectopically deposited in the non-adipose tissues (p < 0.05 or 0.01) of the animals in the Tg HFHSD group. The weights of kidneys and hearts of Tg animals were significantly increased (p < 0.01). Serum C peptide (C-P) was decreased due to Tg effects, and insulin levels were increased due to the effects of the HFHSD in the Tg HFHSD group, indicating that damaged insulin secretion and insulin resistance hyperinsulinemia existed simultaneously in these animals. The serum corticosterone of Tg was slightly higher than those of Nc due to the effects of the 11βHSD-1 transgene and obesity. In Tg HFHSD, hepatic adipose deposition was more severe and the pancreatic islet area was enlarged under compensation, accompanying apoptosis. In the transgenic control diet (Tg ControlD) group, hepatic adipose deposition was also severe, pancreatic islets were damaged, and their areas were decreased (p < 0.05), and apoptosis of pancreatic cells occurred. Taken together, these data show the transgenes led to early-stage pathological changes characteristic of type 2 diabetes in the triple-transgene HFHSD group. The disease of triple-transgenic mice was more severe than that of dual or single-transgenic mice.

Conclusion

The use of multi-transgenes involved in insulin resistance and pancreatic apoptosis is a better way to generate polygene-related early-stage diabetes models.
Challenges of transferring models of fish abundance between coral reefs
Authors: Sequeira Ana M.M. , Mellin Camille , Lozano-Montes Hector M. , Meeuwig Jessica J. , Vanderklift Mathew A. , Haywood Michael D.E. , Babcock Russell C. , Caley M. Julian
Published: April 2018

Reliable abundance estimates for species are fundamental in ecology, fisheries, and conservation. Consequently, predictive models able to provide reliable estimates for un- or poorly-surveyed locations would prove a valuable tool for management. Based on commonly used environmental and physical predictors, we developed predictive models of total fish abundance and of abundance by fish family for ten representative taxonomic families for the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) using multiple temporal scenarios. We then tested if models developed for the GBR (reference system) could predict fish abundances at Ningaloo Reef (NR; target system), i.e., if these GBR models could be successfully transferred to NR. Models of abundance by fish family resulted in improved performance (e.g., 44.1% <R2 < 50.6% for Acanthuridae) compared to total fish abundance (9% <R2 < 18.6%). However, in contrast with previous transferability obtained for similar models for fish species richness from the GBR to NR, transferability for these fish abundance models was poor. When compared with observations of fish abundance collected in NR, our transferability results had low validation scores (R2 < 6%,p > 0.05). High spatio-temporal variability of patterns in fish abundance at the family and population levels in both reef systems likely affected the transferability of these models. Inclusion of additional predictors with potential direct effects on abundance, such as local fishing effort or topographic complexity, may improve transferability of fish abundance models. However, observations of these local-scale predictors are often not available, and might thereby hinder studies on model transferability and its usefulness for conservation planning and management.
Inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) knockout mice as a model of trichotillomania
Authors: Casarotto Plinio C. , Biojone Caroline , Montezuma Karina , Cunha Fernando Q. , Joca Samia R.L. , Castren Eero , Guimaraes Francisco S.
Published: April 2018

Background

Trichotillomania (TTM) is an impulse control disorder characterized by repetitive hair pulling/trimming. Barbering behavior (BB) observed in laboratory animals is proposed as a model of TTM. The neurobiological basis of TTM is unclear, but involves striatal hyperactivity and hypoactivation of the prefrontal cortex.

Methods

In this study, we evaluated the BB in knockout mice for the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (NOS2KO) and the consequences of silencing this enzyme in PC12 cell differentiation.

Results

NOS2KO exhibit exacerbated BB, starting four weeks of age, and increased repetitive movements compared to wild-type mice (WT). The expression of BB was attenuated by repeated treatment with clomipramine, a clinically approved drug to treat TTM in humans, or memantine, an antagonist of NMDA receptors, as well as partial rescue of NOS2 expression in haploinsufficient animals. The silencing of NOS2 expression reduced the MAP2 (microtubule-associated protein 2) levels in activity-induced differentiated PC12 cells.

Discussion

Our data led us to propose that NOS2 is putatively involved in the neuronal maturation of the inhibitory afferent pathways during neurodevelopment, and such inadequate inhibition of motor programs might be associated to the observed phenotype.
Collaborative Approaches to Advance Chemical Safety
Authors: Judson Philip
Published: April 2018

The sections in this article are

Introduction

Incentives for Collaboration and Constraints

Options for Sharing

Sharing Research

Sharing Knowledge

Sharing Data

Sharing Software Development

The Implementation of Collaborative Organizations

Collaborative Projects

British Industrial Biological Research Association (BIBRA)

The Chemical Bioactivity Information Centre (CBIC)

The Distributed Structure‐Searchable Toxicity Database Network –DSSTox

ICH

Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI)

CHEM21

Electronic Health Record for Clinical Research (EHR4CR)

eTOX

GETREAL

iPiE

MARCAR

MIP‐DILI

International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) andILSIHealth and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI)

Lhasa Limited

OECD(Q)SARToolbox

OpenTox

PhUSE

The Pistoia Alliance

REACHSubstance Information Exchange Forums (SIEF)

SEURAT‐1 (Safety Evaluation Ultimately Replacing Animal Testing)

COSMOS

DETECTIVE

HeMiBio

NOTOX

SCR&Tox

ToxBank

ToxML

The Traditional Chinese Medicine Database

United Nations – the European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) and the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)

USGovernment–Industry Collaborations

VEGA

Yale University Open Data Access (YODA)

Conclusions
Introduction to Green Analytical Chemistry
Authors: Tobiszewski Marek
Published: April 2018

Green analytical chemistry is well known concept that has its own place in analytical chemistry. Its main goal is to minimize the negative environmental impact of chemical laboratories that perform medical, environmental, food, and industrial analyses. There are numerous strategies that are incorporated under the banner of green analytical chemistry. The most important are miniaturization of equipment, especially in the field of sample preparation, avoiding of certain analytical activities, replacement of toxic reagents and even more importantly solvents, or selection appropriate analytical procedure from those characterized by minimized environmental impact. The chapter also presents brief history of achievements that resulted in the state of the art in this.
Green Chemistry Molecular Recognition Processes Applied to Metal Separations in Ore Beneficiation, Element Recycling, Metal Remediation, and Elemental Analysis
Authors: Izatt Reed M. , Izatt Steven R. , Izatt Neil E. , Bruening Ronald L. , Krakowiak Krzysztof E.
Published: April 2018

Application of green chemistry principles to metal separations offers the possibility of markedly reducing generation of waste, process time, operating expenses, and capital expenses associated with these separations. Molecular Recognition Technology (MRT) is a highly metal‐selective green chemistry process that is used in a variety of metal separations with marked success. Commercial applications of MRT in the metals industry cover a wide variety of areas, including processing and beneficiation of mined ore, metal recovery from acid mine drainage streams, metal recycling, toxic metal recovery from environmental streams, recovery of radionuclides from nuclear wastes, and preparation of solutions for metal analyses. Examples are provided for the use ofMRTin each of these fields. Major aims are to demonstrate that green chemistry processes, such asMRT, are simple in design and are capable of clean chemistry separations in a competitive market. Further development and greater use of green chemistry separations in commercial processes can lead to increased global metal sustainability and improvement in worldwide metal stewardship.
The
IFF
Green Chemistry Assessment Tool
Authors: Tampy Geatesh
Published: April 2018

Flavors and fragrances are important because they are known to drive consumer choice and satisfaction, and help improve human health. In conjunction with a dramatic company‐wide acceleration in a commitment to sustainability, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., now has a very strong focus on green chemistry. As a part of this effort,
IFF
has developed and implemented a unique and customized
IFF
Green Chemistry Assessment Tool tailored to meet the needs of
IFF
's flavor, fragrance, and encapsulated products. Based on the ubiquitous and well‐known Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry, the tool involves the application of
IFF
's own standardized scoring system for each of the 12 principles. All scientific personnel globally have been trained to ensure that the scoring methodology is uniformly applied. Annual refresher training with various example applications and success stories further promotes the use of the tool. An example application to improve a fragrance product is provided as an illustration on how the tool is employed to drive the principles of green chemistry such as novel catalyst versus stoichiometric raw material, significant reduction of waste, more efficient use of resources, use of a renewable resource, greater energy efficiency and improved worker safety, along with the associated economic benefits. The assessment tool thus helps to improve the culture of “green thinking,” while at the same time allowing for a systematic and structured approach toward more sustainable products and processes at
IFF
.
Green Chemistry Metrics
Authors: Constable David J.C.
Published: April 2018

The sections in this article are

Introduction and General Considerations

Feedstocks

Chemicals

Hazard and Risk

General Chemistry Considerations and Chemistry Metrics

Evolution of Green Chemistry Metrics

Andraos: Tree Analysis

Process Metrics

Product Metrics

Sustainability and Green Chemistry

Making Decisions
Key Metrics to Inform Chemical Synthesis Route Design
Authors: Andraos John , Hent Andrei
Published: April 2018

The sections in this article are

Introduction

Material Efficiency Analysis for Synthesis Plans

Case StudyI: Bortezomib

Millennium Pharmaceuticals' Process

Pharma‐Sintez Process

Material Efficiency – Local and Express

Synthesis Strategy for Future Optimization

Case StudyII: Aspirin

Reaction Network

Material Efficiency

Environmental and Safety–Hazard Impact

Input Energy

CaseI

CaseII

CaseIII

CaseIV

CaseV

CaseVI

Concluding Remarks and Outlook for Improvements
Benchmarking the Sustainability of Biocatalytic Processes
Authors: Woodley John M.
Published: April 2018

In recent years, biocatalytic methods for the synthesis of complex molecules (in the pharmaceutical as well as other industrial sectors) have developed beyond being merely effective single‐enzyme reaction steps into multienzyme cascades with ever greater sophistication and complexity. This has been matched by an increasing variety and range of products synthesized using biocatalysis. Today, industrial examples include not only high‐value pharmaceutical products, but also intermediate‐value products. Driven by these developments, it is increasingly necessary to benchmark new biocatalytic processes, either against acceptable levels of sustainability or where available against alternative catalytic processes. Benchmarking the environmental “green chemistry” profile of such syntheses is particularly important given the claims made for biocatalysis as a “green” process technology in the laboratory. A number of methods have been proposed in the scientific literature to evaluate the sustainability of syntheses and in this chapter it is proposed to use (1) standardization of the methodology and (2) benchmarking processes at similar stages of development to avoid the comparison of unoptimized processes with processes that are fully developed and mature. This is particularly important for biocatalysis, given the significant process improvements reported between laboratory reactions and final implemented process. Benchmarking in this way can not only provide guidance for improvements to be made to the green chemistry profile of a given synthesis but also improve the economic potential of the process. Ultimately, integrating green chemistry metrics together with costing metrics will enable the rapid and rational development of new bioprocesses on a systematic basis.
Calming an aggressor through spontaneous post‐conflict triadic contacts: Appeasement in Macaca tonkeana
Authors: Pallante Virginia , Stanyon Roscoe , Palagi Elisabetta
Published: April 2018

Peaceful third‐party interventions usually occur after an aggressive encounter and can be directed toward the victim or the aggressor. Macaca tonkeana, a cercopithecine species characterized by high levels of tolerance, frequently engage in consolatory contacts, which both calm the victim and reduce the probability of further attacks against him/her. Other post‐conflict affiliative interventions such as reconciliation and quadratic affiliation are also common in this species. However, little attention has been given to contacts directed toward the aggressor. Here, we explore the role of bystander affiliative interventions toward the aggressor in influencing the affective state of the aggressor and the consequences of triadic interventions at group level. We found that triadic post‐conflict affiliation occurred independently from the intensity of the conflict and that it was more frequent in absence of the conciliatory contact between the opponents (reconciliation). Bystanders showed a higher amount of post‐conflict affiliation toward low ranking aggressors. Post‐conflict triadic affiliation functioned as a tension reduction mechanism by lowering the arousal of the aggressor, which less frequently engaged in renewed aggression. All these findings suggest that post‐conflict triadic contacts in Tonkean macaques can be considered as a strategic mechanism to calm the aggressor and reduce the risk of retaliatory aggression.
Improvement of dose calculation in radiation therapy due to metal artifact correction using the augmented likelihood image reconstruction
Authors: Ziemann Christian , Stille Maik , Cremers Florian , Buzug Thorsten M. , Rades Dirk
Published: April 2018

Background

Metal artifacts caused by high‐density implants lead to incorrectly reconstructed Hounsfield units in computed tomography images. This can result in a loss of accuracy in dose calculation in radiation therapy. This study investigates the potential of the metal artifact reduction algorithms, Augmented Likelihood Image Reconstruction and linear interpolation, in improving dose calculation in the presence of metal artifacts.

Materials and Methods

In order to simulate a pelvis with a double‐sided total endoprosthesis, a polymethylmethacrylate phantom was equipped with two steel bars. Artifacts were reduced by applying the Augmented Likelihood Image Reconstruction, a linear interpolation, and a manual correction approach. Using the treatment planning system Eclipse™, identical planning target volumes for an idealized prostate as well as structures for bladder and rectum were defined in corrected and noncorrected images. Volumetric modulated arc therapy plans have been created with double arc rotations with and without avoidance sectors that mask out the prosthesis. The irradiation plans were analyzed for variations in the dose distribution and their homogeneity. Dosimetric measurements were performed using isocentric positioned ionization chambers.

Results

Irradiation plans based on images containing artifacts lead to a dose error in the isocenter of up to 8.4%. Corrections with the Augmented Likelihood Image Reconstruction reduce this dose error to 2.7%, corrections with linear interpolation to 3.2%, and manual artifact correction to 4.1%. When applying artifact correction, the dose homogeneity was slightly improved for all investigated methods. Furthermore, the calculated mean doses are higher for rectum and bladder if avoidance sectors are applied.

Conclusion

Streaking artifacts cause an imprecise dose calculation within irradiation plans. Using a metal artifact correction algorithm, the planning accuracy can be significantly improved. Best results were accomplished using the Augmented Likelihood Image Reconstruction algorithm.
Adaptive predictive control of a differential drive robot tuned with reinforcement learning
Authors: Jardine P. Travis , Kogan Michael , Givigi Sidney N. , Yousefi Shahram
Published: April 2018

One of the most important steps in designing a model predictive control strategy is selecting appropriate parameters for the relative weights of the objective function. Typically, these are selected through trial and error to meet the desired performance. In this paper, a reinforcement learning technique called learning automata is used to select appropriate parameters for the controller of a differential drive robot through a simulation process. Results of the simulation show that the parameters always converge, although to different values. A controller chosen by the learning process is then ported to a real platform. The selected controller is shown to control the robot better than a standard model predictive control.
A Dendritic Nickel Cobalt Sulfide Nanostructure for Alkaline Battery Electrodes
Authors: Li Wenyao , Zhang Bingjie , Lin Runjia , Ho‐Kimura SocMan , He Guanjie , Zhou Xiying , Hu Junqing , Parkin Ivan P.
Published: April 2018

A uniform dendritic NiCo2S4@NiCo2S4 hierarchical nanostructure of width ≈100 nm is successfully designed and synthesized. From kinetic analysis of the electrochemical reactions, those electrodes function in rechargeable alkaline batteries (RABs). The dendritic structure exhibited by the electrodes has a high discharge‐specific capacity of 4.43 mAh cm−2 at a high current density of 240 mA cm−2 with a good rate capability of 70.1% after increasing the current densities from 40 to 240 mA cm−2. At low scan rate of 0.5 mV s−1 in cyclic voltammetry test, the semidiffusion controlled electrochemical reaction contributes ≈92% of the total capacity, this value decreases to ≈43% at a high scan rate of 20 mV s−1. These results enable a detailed analysis of the reaction mechanism for RABs and suggest design concepts for new electrode materials.
Emerging Thermal‐Responsive Materials and Integrated Techniques Targeting the Energy‐Efficient Smart Window Application
Authors: Ke Yujie , Zhou Chengzhi , Zhou Yang , Wang Shancheng , Chan Siew Hwa , Long Yi
Published: April 2018

Architectural windows that smartly regulate indoor solar radiation by changing their optical transmittance in response to thermostimuli are developed as a promising solution toward reducing the energy consumption of buildings. Recently, energy‐efficient smart window technology has attracted increasing scientific interest, with the exploration of energy‐efficient novel materials as well as integration with practical techniques to generate various desired multifunctionalities. This review systematically summarizes emerging thermoresponsive materials for smart window applications, including hydrogels, ionic liquids, perovskites, metamaterials, and liquid crystals. These are compared with vanadium dioxide (VO2), a conventional and extensively studied material for thermochromic smart window applications. In addition, recent progress on cutting‐edge integrated techniques for smart windows is covered, including electrothermal techniques, self‐cleaning, wettability, and also integration with solar cells for bifunctional energy conservation and generation. Finally, opportunities and challenges relating to thermochromic smart windows and prospects for future development are discussed.
A Magnetically Responsive Biomaterial System for Flexibly Regulating the Duration between Pro‐ and Anti‐Inflammatory Cytokine Deliveries
Authors: Tolouei Anita E. , Dülger Nihan , Ghatee Rosa , Kennedy Stephen
Published: April 2018

While inflammation can be problematic, it is nonetheless necessary for proper tissue regeneration. However, it remains unclear how the magnitude and duration of the inflammatory response impacts regenerative outcome. This is partially due to the difficulty in temporally regulating macrophage phenotype at wound sites. Here, a magnetically responsive biomaterial system potentially capable of temporally regulating macrophage phenotypes through sequential, on‐demand cytokine deliveries is presented. This material system is designed to (i) rapidly recruit proinflammatory macrophages (M1) through initial cytokine deliveries and (ii) subsequently transition macrophages toward anti‐inflammatory phenotypes (M2s) through delayed, magnetically triggered cytokine release. Here, the ability of this system to initially deliver proinflammatory cytokines (i.e., monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 and interferon gamma), recruit, and harbor an expanding macrophage population, and delay deliveries of anti‐inflammatory cytokines (i.e., IL‐4 and IL‐10) until the application of magnetic fields from simple hand‐held magnets is demonstrated. Critically, the timing and rate of these delayed deliveries can be remotely/magnetically controlled. This biomaterial system can provide a powerful tool in (i) understanding the relationship between inflammation and regenerative outcome, (ii) developing optimized cytokine delivery strategies, and (iii) clinically implementing those optimized delivery strategies with the on‐demand versatility needed to alter the course of therapies in real time.
In Situ Self‐Assembling Micellar Depots that Can Actively Trap and Passively Release NO with Long‐Lasting Activity to Reverse Osteoporosis
Authors: Lin Yu‐Jung , Chen Chun‐Chieh , Chi Nai‐Wen , Nguyen Trang , Lu Hung‐Yun , Nguyen Dang , Lai Po‐Liang , Sung Hsing‐Wen
Published: April 2018

Treatment with exogenous nitric oxide (NO) donors is regarded as being effective against osteoporosis. However, NO has a short half‐life, limiting its clinical usefulness. To overcome this limitation, an injectable microparticle (MP) system is developed that consists of phase‐change materials capric acid (CA) and octadecane, and encapsulates a NO donor. The therapeutic efficacy of the MPs is evaluated in ovariectomized (OVX) rats with osteoporosis. Upon subcutaneous administration, the MPs undergo a phase transition, leaching out the NO donor and generating NO bubbles that are instantly covered by a layer of tightly packed CA surfactant molecules, forming micellar depots. The in situ self‐assembling micellar depots can actively protect the NO bubbles, prolonging their half‐life, while the entrapped NO may passively diffuse through the micellar depots over time, performing a long‐lasting therapeutic function, reversing the OVX‐induced osteoporosis. It is possible to use the concept of in situ self‐assembling micellar depots developed herein to expand the therapeutic effect of NO in its diverse range of clinical applications.
Anisotropic Broadband Photoresponse of Layered Type‐II Weyl Semimetal MoTe2
Authors: Lai Jiawei , Liu Xin , Ma Junchao , Wang Qinsheng , Zhang Kenan , Ren Xiao , Liu Yinan , Gu Qiangqiang , Zhuo Xiao , Lu Wei , Wu Yang , Li Yuan , Feng Ji , Zhou Shuyun , Chen Jian‐Hao , Sun Dong
Published: April 2018

Photodetectors based on Weyl semimetal promise extreme performance in terms of highly sensitive, broadband and self‐powered operation owing to its extraordinary material properties. Layered Type‐II Weyl semimetal that break Lorentz invariance can be further integrated with other two‐dimensional materials to form van der Waals heterostructures and realize multiple functionalities inheriting the advantages of other two‐dimensional materials. Herein, we report the realization of a broadband self‐powered photodetector based on Type‐II Weyl semimetal Td‐MoTe2. The prototype metal–MoTe2–metal photodetector exhibits a responsivity of 0.40 mA W−1 and specific directivity of 1.07 × 108 Jones with 43 μs response time at 532 nm. Broadband responses from 532 nm to 10.6 μm are experimentally tested with a potential detection range extendable to far‐infrared and terahertz. Furthermore, we identify the response of the detector is polarization angle sensitive due to the anisotropic response of MoTe2. The anisotropy is found to be wavelength dependent, and the degree of anisotropy increases as the excitation wavelength gets closer to the Weyl nodes. In addition, with power and temperature dependent photoresponse measurements, the photocurrent generation mechanisms are investigated. Our results suggest this emerging class of materials can be harnessed for broadband angle sensitive, self‐powered photodetection with decent responsivities.
Illusion Thermotics
Authors: Hu Run , Zhou Shuling , Li Ying , Lei Dang‐Yuan , Luo Xiaobing , Qiu Cheng‐Wei
Published: April 2018

“Fata Morgana” or “Mirage” phenomena have long been captivated as optical illusions, which actually relies on gradient‐density air or vapor. Man‐made optical illusions have witnessed significant progress by resorting to artificially structured metamaterials. Nevertheless, two long‐standing challenges remain formidable: first, exotic parameters (negative or less than unity) become inevitable; second, the signature of original object is altered to that of a virtual counterpart. It is thus not able to address the holy grail of illusion per se, since a single virtual object still exposes the location. In this study, those problems are successfully addressed in a particular setup—illusion thermotics, which identically mimics the exterior thermal behavior of an equivalent reference and splits the interior original heat source into many virtual signatures. A general paradigm to design thermal illusion metadevices is proposed to manipulate thermal conduction, and empower robust simultaneous functions of moving, shaping, rotating, and splitting heat sources of arbitrary cross sections. The temperature profile inside the thermal metadevice can mislead the awareness of the real location, shape, size, and number of the actual heat sources. The present concept may trigger unprecedented development in other physical fields to realize multiple functionalized illusions in optics, electromagnetics, etc.
Ion Gated Synaptic Transistors Based on 2D van der Waals Crystals with Tunable Diffusive Dynamics
Authors: Zhu Jiadi , Yang Yuchao , Jia Rundong , Liang Zhongxin , Zhu Wen , Rehman Zia Ur , Bao Lin , Zhang Xiaoxian , Cai Yimao , Song Li , Huang Ru
Published: April 2018

Neuromorphic computing represents an innovative technology that can perform intelligent and energy‐efficient computation, whereas construction of neuromorphic systems requires biorealistic synaptic elements with rich dynamics that can be tuned based on a robust mechanism. Here, an ionic‐gating‐modulated synaptic transistor based on layered crystals of transitional metal dichalcogenides and phosphorus trichalcogenides is demonstrated, which produce a diversity of short‐term and long‐term plasticity including excitatory postsynaptic current, paired pulse facilitation, spiking‐rate‐dependent plasticity, dynamic filtering, etc., with remarkable linearity and ultralow energy consumption of ≈30 fJ per spike. Detailed transmission electron microscopy characterization and ab initio calculation reveal two‐stage ionic gating effects, namely, surface adsorption and internal intercalation in the channel medium, causing different poststimulation diffusive dynamics and thus accounting for the observed short‐term and long‐term plasticity, respectively. The synaptic activity can therefore be effectively manipulated by tailoring the ionic gating and consequent diffusion dynamics with varied thickness and structure of the van der Waals material as well as the number, duration, rate, and polarity of gate stimulations, making the present synaptic transistors intriguing candidates for low‐power neuromorphic systems.
Optically Unraveling the Edge Chirality‐Dependent Band Structure and Plasmon Damping in Graphene Edges
Authors: Duan Jiahua , Chen Runkun , Cheng Yuan , Yang Tianzhong , Zhai Feng , Dai Qing , Chen Jianing
Published: April 2018

The nontrivial topological origin and pseudospinorial character of electron wavefunctions make edge states possess unusual electronic properties. Twenty years ago, the tight‐binding model calculation predicted that zigzag termination of 2D sheets of carbon atoms have peculiar edge states, which show potential application in spintronics and modern information technologies. Although scanning probe microscopy is employed to capture this phenomenon, the experimental demonstration of its optical response remains challenging. Here, the propagating graphene plasmon provides an edge‐selective polaritonic probe to directly detect and control the electronic edge state at ambient condition. Compared with armchair, the edge‐band structure in the bandgap gives rise to additional optical absorption and strongly absorbed rim at zigzag edge. Furthermore, the optical conductivity is reconstructed and the anisotropic plasmon damping in graphene systems is revealed. The reported approach paves the way for detecting edge‐specific phenomena in other van der Waals materials and topological insulators.