bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between Social Networking Platforms and Performance of Virtual Teams in Nigeria Telecomunnication Industry
Authors: Samuel Sunday Fasanmi, , A.O. Ogunyemi,
Published: January 2018

The study examined a relationship between social networking platforms and performance of virtual teams in Nigeria telecommunication industries. Opinions of one hundred and eleven virtual team members from three giant telecommunication firms in Enugu and Lagos, Nigeria participated in the study.MTN Nigeria, Globacom Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria were sampled using self-designed questionnaire. Two research hypotheses were tested. It was found out that that there was a significant relationship between types of social networking platforms used (Facebook, Skype, MySpace, Instagram. and Linked) in the workplace on performance of virtual teams {X2 (2) =211.108; p<.05}. Regression results indicated that the overall model fit five predictors (types of organization, team membership, job position, social networking platforms, and sex) was questionable (-2 Log Likelihood = 92.683) but was statistically reliable in distinguishing between virtual team performances X2 (5) = 54.352, p < .05). Useful recommendations that would enhance a synergy between virtual team members and healthy social network platforms were suggested.
Assessment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Post-Assessment Meeting with Parents: Some Issues of Planning and Professional Attitude
Authors: Terziev D. , Manolova H. , Staykova S. , Hristova M.
Published: January 2018

The authors, child psychiatrists and clinical psychologists, conducting team assessment of children with developmental disabilities (including autism spectrum disorder) for more than two decades, present some important in their view issues and recommendations concerning planning and proceeding of assessment and post-assessment meetings with parents. It is essential to ensure not only an accurate assessment protocol and diagnosis, but also to “attune” to parents in order to facilitate their understanding and more positive use of assessment outcome results. Parents need further support to “survive” psychically the post - assessment period and to provide for adequate interventions for their child.
« Plus de livre, plus jamais de livre »
Authors: Hamel Jean-François
Published: January 2018

Dans la perspective d’une histoire culturelle des formes et des théories de l’engagement, cet article reconstitue la politique de la littérature défendue par le Comité d’action étudiants-écrivains, de sa fondation en mai 1968 à sa dissolution moins d’un an plus tard, en regard du répertoire des discours et des pratiques de l’agitation culturelle à la disposition des contestataires. Le thème de « l’absence de livre », présent dans l’oeuvre critique de Maurice Blanchot, trouve là une extension politique, voire insurrectionnelle. D’une part, le Comité se porte à la défense d’un espace public oppositionnel, alimenté par la production militante des tracts, des affiches et des bulletins, au sein duquel le livre, emblématique de la culture bourgeoise, apparaît comme un instrument de répression au service du pouvoir. D’autre part, au nom d’une exigence radicale de pluralité, et conformément à l’esprit antiautoritaire des événements, le Comité conteste la littérature comme discours d’exception et refuse le prestige symbolique rattaché au statut d’écrivain, rejetant ainsi l’idée même d’une oeuvre d’art révolutionnaire. D’où le paradoxe d’un Comité d’action constitué d’écrivains qui, pendant plusieurs mois, par fidélité au soulèvement, prend la décision de littéralement faire grève de la littérature.
El romance andalusí y los trasvases demográficos y culturales en la Iberia medieval
Authors: Cenname Anne
Published: January 2018

Lapesa (1981: 189) propone que los dialectos “mozárabes” desaparecieron conforme los reinos cristianos fueron “reconquistando” las regiones del sur de la península ibérica. Según este autor, la desaparición de las hablas mozárabes cierra un capítulo de la historia lingüística española (Lapesa, 1981: 192). Así, el dialecto que se habla actualmente en Andalucía es percibido como una variante del castellano hablado por los recién llegados que se trasladaron a la zona desde el norte durante la llamada “reconquista” y repoblación de al-Ándalus (cfr. Mondéjar, 2007: 12, Llorente, 1962: 229, Pharies, 2007: 192-194). Sin embargo, lo que se ha ido llamando “reconquista” es solo uno de muchos factores que hay que considerar, si queremos estudiar cómo las migraciones han podido contribuir a los cambios lingüísticos en la península ibérica en la Edad Media.
Atenuação em entrevistas do projeto NURC
Authors: Da Silva Luiz Antônio
Published: January 2018

Quando interagimos, há uma série de elementos que são importantes para o sucesso ou fracasso da interação, pois, em geral, locutor e interlocutor procuram salvaguardar a imagem que cada um deseja que o outro considere. Mais ainda, quando interagimos, negociamos e, dependendo do que dizemos, teremos ou não sucesso no que pretendemos. Para minimizar possíveis efeitos negativos de atos que possam causar prejuízos à interação, fazemos uso de determinadas estratégias conversacionais que têm a função de regular a relação interpessoal e social dos interactantes (Briz, 1995). São elementos que suavizam, mitigam, reparam, escondem a verdadeira intenção do locutor (Briz, 2007). Dessa forma, nosso objetivo é fazer algumas considerações a respeito das estratégias de atenuação na interação entre entrevistador e entrevistado, em um inquérito do projeto NURC, seguindo a metodologia da Ficha Técnica, elaborada pelos pesquisadores do Projeto ES.POR. Atenuación.
¿Qué creen? No soy chismoso pero…. Mexican gossip: Affiliation or self-interest?
Authors: Mugford Gerrard
Published: January 2018

Whilst being taken more seriously, especially in anthropological and sociological studies, gossip is still often regarded trivial and of little academic research interest. Given that it is unstoppable, persistent and often enjoyable (Epstein, 2011), gossip has been examined in terms of function (e.g. talk about intimate matters to express shared values) and as a form of communication *for example, to express resistance (Goodman & Ben-Ze’ev, 1994). In this chapter, I examine the importance of gossip in the Mexican context. In Mexico, gossip has been examined in terms of function e.g. (Hagene, 2010), situation (Vázquez Garcia y Chávez Arellano, 2008) and resistance (Vázquez García 2007). I, however, study gossip from sociological-anthropological, social psychological and individual perspectives and evaluate how it is used to achieve affiliation and autonomy.
Aproximación al uso del halago en el español de Monterrey
Authors: Jiménez Martin Elena , Mendieta Garrote Eva
Published: January 2018

Este trabajo pretende ser una contribución al conocimiento del uso del halago en la comunidad mexicana de Monterrey. Para ello, se ha llevado a cabo el análisis pragmático de dos corpus lingüísticos distintos y complementarios, compuestos de entrevistas semiformales y de muestras de habla coloquial espontánea. El estudio de la tipología funcional de los halagos recogidos, junto a los tipos de respuesta que suscitan, arroja luz sobre el valor sociocultural de estos actos de habla. En el sistema de cortesía mexicano, los cumplidos se erigen como actos valorizantes que realzan la imagen del otro y tienen al mismo tiempo una repercusión positiva en la imagen propia, con lo que sirven para reforzar la imagen de filiación y acercamiento que caracteriza a la cultura mexicana.  Se conforman, pues, como un elemento importante de interacción social, que tiene su base en la cortesía, apego al grupo, a la  comunidad y a la comunión con el otro.
La lematización de variantes gráficas en el "Diccionario del español dominicano"
Authors: Rincón González María José
Published: January 2018

El objeto del presente artículo es analizar el tratamiento que el Diccionario del español dominicano da a las variantes gráficas, tanto debidas a fenómenos dialectales como producidas por préstamos de otras lenguas. La existencia y frecuencia de estas variantes obligan al diccionario a establecer con claridad los criterios de lematización aplicados para su selección y representación gráfica. El estudio detallado de este proceso muestra las consecuencias significativas que la lematización produce en la micro y macroestructura de la obra lexicográfica y contribuye a definir los criterios aplicables para mejorar las nuevas ediciones del diccionario.
Autoridad epistémica y
atenuación en Tena Kichwa: Análisis de enclítico =cha basado en el
corpus
Authors: Grzech Karolina
Published: January 2018

Este
artículo se enfoca en la relación entre atenuación y falta de
autoridad epistémica. Los datos analizados en el artículo provienen de
tena kichwa, una lengua quechua en peligro de extinción, hablada en la
Amazonia Ecuatoriana. La lengua posee un paradigma de marcadores que
son cognados de los marcadores evidenciales en otras lenguas quechuas,
pero que en tena kichwa se relacionan con la autoridad epistémica: 
‘el derecho del hablante a saber o sostener algo’ (Stivers et
al. 2011).El artículo describe la semántica de los dos marcadores de
autoridad epistémica en tena kichwa: =mi y =cha. Se concentra sobre
todo en los efectos de atenuación que se pueden lograr a través del
uso de =cha. Propone que el marcador, que codifica ‘la falta de
autoridad epistémica del hablante’, puede tener un sutil efecto
atenuativo, ya que ‘distancia al hablante de la elocución’ y ‘reduce
la fuerza comunicativa de la oración (Briz y Albelda 2013). Destaca
que este efecto atenuador no consiste en reducir el compromiso del
hablante con la veracidad de la aseveración. Por lo mismo, el análisis
atenuativo de =cha en tena kichwa abre preguntas teóricas interesantes
en cuanto a lo que se puede considerar una estrategia de atenuación en
el discurso.
El evidencial con humor entra. Acerca de su uso en los monólogos humorísticos
Authors: Ruiz Gurillo Leonor
Published: January 2018

Este artículo analiza la función  de los evidenciales en los monólogos humorísticos y, más concretamente, en los de Andreu Buenafuente producidos entre 2007 y 2011 (203 monólogos). Partiendo de una concepción funcional y semántica de la evidencialidad, se proponen las siguientes hipótesis: el género determina las funciones pragmáticas de la evidencialidad; los evidenciales se integran en la estructura expositiva-argumentativa del monólogo; teniendo en cuenta su papel estructural, se pueden distinguir diversas estrategias de evidencialidad: y los evidenciales actúan como marcas humorísticas. Se presenta un análisis tanto cuantitativo como cualitativo de los elementos según, según dicen, dicen que, se ve que y claro. Asimismo, se propone un marco semántico-pragmático de los evidenciales y la evidencialidad en los monólogos humorísticos de  Buenafuente.
Una aproximación a la atenuación y sus recursos en el discurso de políticos mexicanos Those who say that yes without saying yes. An approach to the mitigation and its resources in the discourse of Mexican politicians
Authors: Infante Bonfiglio Jose María , Flores Treviño Maria Eugenia
Published: January 2018

Resumen:
Las leyes y reglamentos electorales mexicanos contienen una extraña y curiosa disposición: nadie puede proclamarse o presentarse como candidato antes de los plazos especificados, que tienen como fecha de inicio los que las instituciones encargadas de organizar las elecciones establecen como comienzo de las campañas electorales. El proceso  incluye la selección de los candidatos por los partidos reconocidos legalmente (o los procesos de selección de candidatos independientes).
Antes de esa fecha, quien diga que será candidato, está expuesto a que se le niegue el registro y con ello la posibilidad de presentarse a elección. En este trabajo analizamos el discurso en las diversas respuestas dadas por los virtuales candidatos a las demandas expresas de personas, medios de comunicación u otras instituciones sobre si serán candidatos. El periodo revisado  corresponde a las elecciones efectuadas en el estado de Nuevo León, México, en junio de 2015.
Coincidimos con Albelda (2005), en que es necesario distinguir atenuación de cortesía, pero proponemos que  también hay que deslindar atenuación de negación, ambigüedad o vaguedad. En el análisis de los ejemplos para los casos mencionados creemos que debemos proporcionar una aproximación pertinente para referirnos a este tipo de actos ilocutivos (Van Eemeren y Grootendorst, 2013) que aparecen matizados por estos fenómenos.
Palabras clave: atenuación, negación, ambigüedad, vaguedad.
 
Abstract
Mexican electoral laws and regulations contain a strange and curious disposition: no one can be proclaimed or presented as a candidate before the specified deadlines, whose date are those that the institutions in charge of organizing the elections established at the beginning of the electoral campaigns. The process includes the selection of candidates by legally recognized parties (or processes for selecting independent candidates).
Before the stipulated date, whoever says that will be a candidate, is exposed to the denial of registration and thus the possibility of appearing in the election. In this paper we analyze the discourse in a variety of answers given by the virtual candidates to the expressed demands of people, the media or other institutions on whether they will be candidates. The period studied corresponds to the elections held in the State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, in June 2015.
We agree with Albelda (2005) in which it is necessary to distinguish atenuation from courtesy, but we propose that also have to delimit the attenuation of denial, ambiguity or vagueness. In the analysis of the examples for the cases mentioned, we believe that we must provide an appropiate approach to refer to this type of illocutionary acts (van Eemeren & Grootendorst, 2013) that are delimited by these phenomena.
Keywords: attenuation, negation, ambiguity, vagueness.
Effective Target Concentration of Sufentanil Combined With Sevoflurane Anesthesia for Abdominal Surgery: A Dose-Response Study
Authors: Wang Junhui , Wang Hongzhu , Li Shanggeng , Yang Lingjun
Published: January 2018

This study was designed to investigate the effects of target-controlled infusion (TCI) of sufentanil with sevoflurane anesthesia on hemodynamics and postoperative recovery of abdominal surgery. Target-controlled infusion of opioid analgesics provides efficient drug use, allowing an accurate achievement of the desired analgesia level and fewer overdose-induced adverse effects. A total of 80 patients receiving abdominal surgery (surgery for gastric cancer or colorectal cancer) were divided into 4 groups to receive anesthesia with sevoflurane accompanied with different doses of sufentanil (0.4, 0.6, 0.8, or 1.0 ng/mL). Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, times to recovery of spontaneous respiration, eye opening, extubation, and orientation were recorded. Hemodynamic measurements were compared among groups. Comparison between the 2 groups of subjects was made with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), LSD-t test, or χ2 test. Although sufentanil at 0.8 and 1.0 ng/mL maintained stable perioperative hemodynamics, the higher dose was associated with increased incidence of bradycardia following intubation (10/19 cases, 52.6%; P < 0.05). Additionally, no differences were observed in the incidence of hypotension, hypertension, or tachycardia between groups (P > 0.05). Increased dose of sufentanil was associated with delayed postoperative recovery. These results demonstrate that TCI at 0.8 ng/mL sufentanil accompanied with sevoflurane anesthesia is a suitable anesthetic regimen for abdominal surgery.
Basal Cell Carcinoma Involving a Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Sparks David S. , Adams Brandon M. , Wagels Michael
Published: January 2018

Ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPSs) are commonly used for the management of raised intraventricular pressure, especially in the context of hydrocephalus. Malignant invasion involving a VPS is an exceedingly rare association, only reported three times in the literature to date. We present the involvement of a VPS with a recurrent basal cell carcinoma (BCC), which has not been described previously. It was theorized that previously breached tissue planes associated with the VPS tract might facilitate local spread of the BCC. As such, this case represented an exceedingly rare association that has important conceptual implications for definitive surgical management. A 51-year-old paraplegic man with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, who had been immunosuppressed for 7 years following a renal transplantation, presented to our clinic with a recurrent BCC involving an inactive VPS in the right neck. Surgical management involved an excision of the scar with a peripheral margin of 1 cm, along with removal of the involved shunt tract and intraoperative pathologic assessment. Definitive histopathology revealed a focus of infiltrating sclerosing BCC involving the subcutaneous tissue and abutting the VPS. As the scope for synthetic materials in surgery continues to expand, so does the multitude of interesting complications that appear to arise from interactions between host tissue and foreign bodies. This case report describes a fascinating relationship between a recurrent BCC and a VPS, providing a guide for future management to ensure adequate surgical clearance. The case would be of interest to head/neck surgeons, neurosurgeons, and plastic surgeons.
Crystal structures of Aspergillus oryzae exo‐β‐(1,3)‐glucanase reveal insights into oligosaccharide binding, recognition, and hydrolysis
Authors: Banerjee Barnava , Kamale Chinmay K. , Suryawanshi Abhishek B. , Dasgupta Subrata , Noronha Santosh , Bhaumik Prasenjit
Published: October 2024

Exo‐β‐(1,3)‐glucanases are promising enzymes for use in the biofuel industry as they hydrolyse sugars such as laminarin, a major constituent of the algal cell wall. This study reports structural and biochemical characterizations of Aspergillus oryzae exo‐β‐(1,3)‐glucanase (AoBgl) belonging to the GH5 family. Purified AoBgl hydrolyses β‐(1,3)‐glycosidic linkages of the oligosaccharide laminaritriose and the polysaccharide laminarin effectively. We have determined three high‐resolution structures of AoBgl: (a) the apo form at 1.75 Å, (b) the complexed form with bound cellobiose at 1.73 Å and (c) the glucose‐bound form at 1.20 Å. The crystal structures, molecular dynamics simulation studies and site‐directed mutagenesis reveal the mode of substrate binding and interactions at the active site. The results also indicate that AoBgl effectively hydrolyses trisaccharides and higher oligosaccharides. The findings from our structural and biochemical studies would aid in rational engineering efforts to generate superior AoBgl variants and similar GH5 enzymes for their industrial use.
Smart Rubber Extrusion Line Combining Multiple Sensor Techniques for AI‐Based Process Control
Authors: Aschemann Alexander , Hagen Paul‐Felix , Albers Simon , Rofallski Robin , Schwabe Sven , Dagher Mohammed , Lukas Marco , Leineweber Sebastian , Klie Benjamin , Schneider Patrick , Bossemeyer Hagen , Hinz Lennart , Kästner Markus , Reitz Birger , Reithmeier Eduard , Luhmann Thomas , Wackerbarth Hainer , Overmeyer Ludger , Giese Ulrich
Published: October 2024

The extrusion process is one of the most important methods for continuous processing of rubber compounds. An extruder is used to give the rubber compound a geometrically defined shape as an extrudate. To ensure that product‐specific requirements are fulfilled, the extrusion process and the resulting extrudate are currently monitored using various sensor technologies. Nevertheless, a certain amount of scrap material is produced during the extrusion process, often as a result of unstable process conditions. In this context, one solution for enhancing resource efficiency is the digitalization of the production chain. The aim of this work is to demonstrate an approach for the digitalization of an extrusion line that combines the use of innovative measuring methods for process monitoring and algorithms from the field of artificial intelligence (AI) for process control. For the validation of the individual measuring systems and the process control, various production scenarios in the extrudate production are considered. The results show that the measurement systems for process and extrudate monitoring can directly detect changes in the extrusion process and extrudate quality. Furthermore, the generated data can be used to automatically adjust the extrusion process by the developed AI‐based control system.
4D Printing of Ultra‐High Performance Shape Memory Polymer for Space Applications
Authors: M. G. Vijay Kashimatt , Kumar Sumodh , Doddamani Mrityunjay
Published: October 2024

Developing thermoplastic polyimide (TPI), capable of handling space conditions, through 4D printing is challenging due to its high melting temperature and inherent viscosity. This study presents 4D printing of TPI for shape memory investigation under repetitive cycles for the first time, exploring its potential for self‐deployable hinges in space devices. 4D‐printed TPI exhibits outstanding shape memory effect (SME) with shape fixity (Rf) up to 100% and shape recovery (Rr) of 100% in first cycle. Rf is noted to be increasing up to third cycle and then fixed to 100% up to tenth cycle, while Rr shows a decreasing trend in subsequent cycle with a drop of 37% in tenth cycle. Moreover, it exhibits extremely high glass‐transition temperature, Tg = 263.10 °C, degradation temperature, Td = 520 °C, and storage modulus of 1600 MPa. Among existing high‐performance (HP) and conventional shape memory polymers (SMPs), 3D‐printed TPI exhibits superior performance. Tg of the TPI is found to be 66.52%, 107.16%, and 62.41%, higher than existing HP‐SMPs, polyether ether ketone (Tg = 158 °C), polyamide (Tg = 127 °C), and polyether ketone ketone (Tg = 162 °C), respectively. This investigation reveals a novel characteristic, the SME, of 4D‐printed TPI with ultra‐high Tg and Td, demonstrating suitability for self‐deployable hinges, contributing to materials engineering and 4D printing.
3DDA: A Novel Python Toolkit to Analyze 3D‐Dynamic Contact Angles from Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Maslov Andrea , Tiwari Manish K. , Seveno David
Published: October 2024

Obtaining fast and reliable contact angles in molecular dynamics simulations is crucial for screening surface wettability. Traditional methods rely on bidimensional density profile analysis to localize the liquid/vapor interface, which may not be optimal at the nanoscale, especially for nonsymmetrical droplets. Herein, 3DDA, a Python‐based code that uses the 3D droplet geometry to determine contact angles and analyze dynamic changes during spreading processes at the nanoscale, is presented. The 3D density profile of liquid molecules is enveloped using the Euclidean 3D convex hull algorithm to locate the contact line at the solid‐, liquid‐, and vapor‐phase boundaries. By fitting a general ellipsoidal function and optimizing it with the limited‐memory Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno method, the best candidate function is analytically obtained, describing the interface. The angle derived from the ellipsoidal function and the solid boundary is used to gather a collection of contant angles, which are then fed into a kernel density estimator to determine the most probable angle along the contact line during the spreading process. This methodology is tested on systems such as liquid water and metals, demonstrating its efficacy and reliability. Herein, valuable insights are provided into the behavior of liquids, considering droplet asphericity induced by liquid/solid interactions.
A Polymer Film with Very High Seebeck Coefficient and Overall Thermoelectric Properties by Secondary Doping, Dedoping Engineering and Ionic Energy Filtering
Authors: Du Minzhi , Wen Yue , Chen Zhijun , Xu Yichen , Qin Jie , Cheng Hanlin , Du Yong , Zhang Kun , Shin Sunmi , Ouyang Jianyong
Published: October 2024

Thermoelectric (TE) materials are significant for sustainable development because they can be used to harvest waste heat into electricity. Organic TE materials have unique merits including high mechanical flexibility, low cost, and low intrinsic thermal conductivity. But their TE properties particularly the Seebeck coefficient are notably lower than the inorganic counterparts. Here, a poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) film is reported with a very high Seebeck coefficient and figure of merit (zT) at room temperature through secondary doping, dedoping engineering, and ionic energy filtering. The PEDOT:PSS films are successively treated with acid, base, and vitamin C that is a reductant, and then coated with 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium dicyanamide (EMIM:DCA) that is an ionic liquid. This can exhibit a record‐high Seebeck coefficient and power factor of 111 µV K−1 and 1285 µW m−1 K−2, respectively, and the corresponding zT value is 1.05. This is the highest zT value for polymers and polymer composites, and it is comparable to that of the best inorganic TE materials.
Fiber‐Dependent 3D Anisotropic Stiffness‐Tunable Biomimetic Intervertebral Disc via Multi‐Material Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Fan Weiguo , Qian Zhihui , Song Guangsheng , Wang Kunyang , Galbusera Fabio , Ren Lei , Wilke Hans‐Joachim , Ren Luquan
Published: October 2024

Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration is a global musculoskeletal disorder. Total disc replacement is an effective treatment for symptomatic degeneration unresponsive to conservative care. However, current artificial discs, with their joint‐like structural design and homogeneous materials, fail to replicate the 3D anisotropic stiffness of natural discs. Inspired by the intricate structure and material gradient of the natural disc, a biomimetic intervertebral disc is designed and fabricated using multi‐material additive manufacturing. The biomimetic disc exhibits 3D anisotropic stiffness similar to natural discs. By adjusting the hardness, diameter, and arrangement of fibers in annulus fibrosus, the biomimetic disc closely matches the 3D anisotropic stiffness of the natural lumbar disc, exceeding 90% similarity and outperforming existing artificial discs. This highlights the crucial role of fiber properties in disc stiffness regulation and enhances the understanding of biomechanical functions of structures and materials in the annulus fibrosus of human discs. These insights may inspire high‐performance artificial disc designs.
Biofilm Microenvironment‐Sensitive Anti‐Virulent and Immunomodulatory Nano‐on‐Nanodroplets to Combat Refractory Biofilm Infection Through Toxin Neutralization and Phagocytosis
Authors: Bose Somashree , Das Sujoy K
Published: October 2024

Biofilm‐associated wound infection is principally perceived as the bacterial defense mechanism that hinders antibiotic penetration, causes toxin impairment, and suppresses the immunological responses of the host immune system. Several antibiofilm agents have been developed, but the least of these agents can simultaneously cornerstone on the biofilm‐associated immunosuppression and bacterial toxin‐induced cellular dysfunction. Inspired by the fusogenic property of nanodroplets and immunomodulatory functions of metal nanoparticles, biofilm targeted anti‐virulent immunomodulatory cationic nanoparticle shelled nanodroplets (C‐AgND) is fabricated to completely disintegrate and eradicate the Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) biofilm. The specific binding of C‐AgND neutralizes the negatively charged EPS layer, causing their destabilization followed by penetration of the nanoformulation into the biofilm matrix, killing the persister cells. Consequently, C‐AgND eliminates the virulence property of the S. aureus biofilm through α‐hemolysin neutralization. C‐AgND promotes a strong immunomodulatory effect by polarizing macrophages into their M1 phenotype to induce phagocytosis of the disintegrated biofilm‐released residual cells, rejuvenating the host's innate immune responses for the complete eradication of the biofilm. Moreover, the ex vivo skin wound infection model illustrates an excellent biofilm eradication efficacy of C‐AgND in comparison to the commercial ones, rendering them to be a promising replacement of existing antibiofilm agents in clinical application.
3D Micropatterning With Thermochromic Polymer Microfiber
Authors: Lee Jaeyu , Lee Kyung Jin
Published: October 2024

Although 3D micropattern has received considerable attention due to their remarkable usability, the introduction of specific functions, such as “chromism”, is still a challenge mainly due to the lack of adequate functional materials that can be introduced into 3D printing system. In this study, 3D micropatterns with temperature‐responsive properties are created by elaborately aligned thermochromic polymer microfibers using charge reversal electro‐jet writing (CREW) method with a 3D printer. A reversible color change in response to the temperature change is exhibited in the micropattern, displaying various chromic colors, such as red, blue, and black, at their own thermochromic temperatures. Multiple‐color phases can be sequentially expressed in a single structure by incorporating pigments of different colors with distinguishable color shift ranges. Various patterning methods are proposed for manufacturing diverse patterns and demonstrating applications using combinations of color. In addition to directly increasing temperature, the thermochromic process of micropatterns can be induced by heat generated from external factors using electrical energy. These 3D thermochromic micropatterns using the CREW method can be extended to various fields, including sensors, clothing, and anti‐counterfeiting.
Heteroatom‐Embedded Spiro[Fluorene‐9,9′‐Xanthene]‐Based Electron Transport Materials for Improved Driving Voltage and Efficiency in Phosphorescent Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Kim Byeonghun , Han SeungWon , Lee Jun Yeob
Published: October 2024

The organic material 9,9‐spirobifluorene (SBF) is a useful building block for the construction of organic light‐emitting diodes owing to its rigid molecular structure, good charge transport properties, and high triplet energy. However, the electron transport properties of the SBF‐derived electron transport materials (ETMs) are currently not good enough and should be improved. In this work, two ETMs derived from spiro[fluorene‐9,9′‐xanthene] (SFX) and spiro[cyclopenta[1,2‐b:5,4‐b′] dipyridine‐5,9′‐xanthene] (SPX) is developed to enhance the electron transport properties and triplet energy of the SBF‐derived ETMs. The SFX core can increase the triplet energy by disconnecting the conjugation on the xanthene part and SPX can improve the electron transport properties through the incorporation of two nitrogen atoms in the fluorene part of the SFX core. The SFX and SPX cores are substituted with diphenyltriazine to produce high mobility and high triplet energy ETMs. As a result, the SFX and SPX‐based ETMs showed high triplet energy of over 2.95 eV compared with 2.53 eV of the SBF‐derived ETM; in addition, the SPX‐derived ETM demonstrated higher mobility than the SBF‐derived ETM. As a result, the SPX‐derived ETM achieved lowered driving voltage and increased external quantum efficiency compared to other ETMs derived from SBF and SFX.
Digital image analysis of gas bypassing and mixing in gas‐fluidized bed: Effect of particle shape
Authors: Chouhan Shreya , Neogi Ajita , Mohanta Hare K. , Sharma Arvind Kumar , Goyal Navneet , Sande Priya C.
Published: October 2024

The study investigates effect of particle shape on gas bypassing and mixing of gas‐fluidized Geldart A particles. A shallow fluidized bed (FB), configured at benchscale, was used with digital image analysis (DIA) for the investigation. The extent of scatter of tracer particles throughout the bed was assessed from DIA images of defluidized powder. A novel method employing Jupyter notebook software, was used to directly determine Mixing Index from digital images. Remarkably, platelet‐shaped China clay powder displayed the best mixing characteristics (Mixing Index: 0.79) with no significant bypassing. Angular shaped Quartz displayed moderate mixing (Mixing Index: 0.67), but high bypassing (Bypassing Index: 0.75). Contrary to conventional assumptions, spherical‐shaped diatomite exhibited poor mixing (Mixing Index: 0.61) with the highest bypassing (Bypassing Index: 0.82). Platelet particles performed well even with fines removal. Most likely, particle shape significantly influenced the number of available particle contact points, tracer migration, and traceronparticle binding.
Thermally Assisted Microfluidics to Produce Chemically Equivalent Microgels with Tunable Network Morphologies
Authors: Rommel Dirk , Häßel Bernhard , Pietryszek Philip , Mork Matthias , Jung Oliver , Emondts Meike , Norkin Nikita , Doolaar Iris Christine , Kittel Yonca , Yazdani Ghazaleh , Omidinia‐Anarkoli Abdolrahman , Schweizerhof Sjören , Kim Kyoohyun , Mourran Ahmed , Möller Martin , Guck Jochen , De Laporte Laura
Published: October 2024

Although micron‐sized microgels have become important building blocks in regenerative materials, offering decisive interactions with living matter, their chemical composition mostly significantly varies when their network morphology is tuned. Since cell behavior is simultaneously affected by the physical, chemical, and structural properties of the gel network, microgels with variable morphology but chemical equivalence are of interest. This work describes a new method to produce thermoresponsive microgels with defined mechanical properties, surface morphologies, and volume phase transition temperatures. A wide variety of microgels is synthesized by crosslinking monomers or star polymers at different temperatures using thermally assisted microfluidics. The diversification of microgels with different network structures and morphologies but of chemical equivalence offers a new platform of microgel building blocks with the ability to undergo phase transition at physiological temperatures. The method holds high potential to create soft and dynamic materials while maintaining the chemical composition for a wide variety of applications in biomedicine.
Programmable C−N Bond Formation through Radical‐Mediated Chemistry in Plasma‐Microdroplet Fusion
Authors: Grooms Alexander J. , Huttner Robert T. , Stockwell Mackenzie , Tadese Leah , Marcelo Isabella M. , Kass Anthony , Badu‐Tawiah Abraham K.
Published: October 2024

Non‐thermal plasma discharge produced in the wake of charged microdroplets is found to facilitate catalyst‐free radical mediated hydrazine cross‐coupling reactions without the use of external light source, heat, precious metal complex, or trapping agents. A plasma‐microdroplet fusion platform is utilized for introduction of hydrazine reagent that undergoes homolytic cleavage forming radical intermediate species. The non‐thermal plasma discharge that causes the cleavage originates from a chemically etched silica capillary. The coupling of the radical intermediates gives various products. Plasma‐microdroplet fusion occurs online in a programmable reaction platform allowing direct process optimization and product validation via mass spectrometry. The platform is applied herein with a variety of hydrazine substrates, enabling i) self‐coupling to form secondary amines with identical N‐substitutions, ii) cross‐coupling to afford secondary amine with different N‐substituents, iii) cross‐coupling followed by in situ dehydrogenation to give the corresponding aryl‐aldimines with two unique N‐substitutions, and iv) cascade heterocyclic carbazole derivatives formation. These unique reactions were made possible in the charged microdroplet environment through our ability to program conditions such as reagent concentration (i. e., flow rate), microdroplet reactivity (i. e., presence or absence of plasma), and reaction timescale (i. e., operational mode of the source). The selected program is implemented in a co‐axial spray format, which is found to be advantageous over the conventional one‐pot single emitter electrospray‐based microdroplet reactions.
The Photodynamic Agent Designed by Involvement of Hydrogen Atom Transfer for Enhancing Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Fan Zhuo , Teng Kun‐Xu , Xu Yuan‐Yuan , Niu Li‐Ya , Yang Qing‐Zheng
Published: October 2024

Although Type‐I photodynamic therapy has attracted increasingly growing interest due to its reduced dependence on oxygen, the design of effective Type‐I photosensitizers remains a challenge. In this work, we report a design strategy for Type‐I photosensitizers by the involvement of hydrogen atom transfer (HAT). As a proof of concept, a HAT‐involved Type‐I PS, which simultaneously generates superoxide and carbon‐centered radicals under light‐irradiation, was synthesized. This photosensitizer is comprised of a fluorene‐substituted BODIPY unit as an electron acceptor covalently linked with a triphenylamine moiety as an electron donor. Under light‐irradiation, photo‐induced intramolecular electron transfer occurs to generate the BODIPY anion radical and triphenylamine cation radical. The former transfers electrons to oxygen to generate O2−⋅, while the latter loses a proton to produce a benzyl carbon‐centered radical which is well characterized. The resulting carbon‐centered radicals efficiently oxidize NADH by HAT reaction. This photosensitizer demonstrates remarkable photocytotoxicity even under hypoxic conditions, along with outstanding in vivo antitumor efficacy in mouse models bearing HeLa tumors. This work offers a novel strategy for the design of Type‐I photosensitizers by involvement of HAT.
Live‐Cell Identification of Inhibitors of the Lipid Transfer Protein CERT Using Nanoluciferase Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (NanoBRET)
Authors: Kirmpaki Maria‐Anna , Saied Essa M. , Schumacher Fabian , Prause Kevin , Kleuser Burkhard , Arenz Christoph
Published: October 2024

A BRET system is described, in which Nanoluciferase was fused to the lipid transfer protein CERT for efficient energy transfer to a Nile red‐labeled ceramide, which is either directly bound to CERT or transported to the adjacent Golgi membrane. Bulk formation of sphingomyelin, a major plasma membrane component in mammals, is dependent on CERT‐mediated transfer of its predecessor ceramide. CERT is considered a promising drug target but no direct cell‐based methods exist to efficiently identify inhibitors. The utility of the method was demonstrated by a library of 140 derivatives of the CERT inhibitor HPA‐12. These were obtained in a combinatorial synthesis using solid‐phase transacylation. Screening of the library led to six compounds that were picked and confirmed to be superior to HPA‐12 in a subsequent dose‐response study and also in an orthogonal lipidomics analysis.
Hydroxyl‐Binding Induced Hydrogen Bond Network Connectivity on Ru‐based Catalysts for Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Oxidation Electrocatalysis
Authors: Yue Jianchao , Li Yunbo , Yang Chaoyi , Luo Wei
Published: October 2024

Understanding the role of adsorbed intermediates at the polarized catalyst‐electrolyte interface on the structure of electrical double layer (EDL) is essential for developing highly efficient electrocatalysts. Here, we prepared a series of unconventional face‐centered‐cubic (fcc) phase Ru‐based catalysts (i.e. fcc‐Ru, fcc‐RuCr, and fcc‐RuCrW) by rational tuning the binding energetics of hydroxyl intermediate to engineer the electrochemical interface and boost the performance of alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). The introduction of oxyphilic metals Cr and W can regulate the orbital occupation of Ru, promote the adsorption of hydroxyl species, resulting in an anomalous behavior that HOR performance under alkaline media exceeds acidic media. Experimental results and theoretical calculations unravel that the modulated adsorption of hydroxyl species on the electrode surface are responsible for the reconstruction of interfacial water structure and dynamic evolution of free water molecules from nearest to the electrode surface to above the gap region in the EDL, thereby leading to significantly increased water connectivity and hydrogen bond network. Our work reveals a new understanding of the surface intermediates in controlling the dynamic process of interfacial water and hydrogen bonding network in HOR electrocatalysis, and will guide rational design of advanced electrocatalysts through electrochemical interfacial engineering.
Evolution of Frustrated Coordination in Eutectic Electrolyte Driven by Ligand Asymmetry toward High‐Performance Zinc Batteries
Authors: Deng Wenjing , Deng Zhiping , Zhang Xuzi , Chen Yimei , Feng Renfei , Li Ge , Wang Xiaolei
Published: October 2024

Eutectic electrolytes hold promise for aqueous zinc metal batteries in sustainable energy storage chemistries, yet improvement from perspective of molecule configurational engineering are ambiguous. Herein, we propose design strategy of increasing asymmetric molecular geometry in organic ligands to regulate frustrated coordination and disordered structure for eutectic electrolytes toward enhanced zinc metal batteries. The introduced asymmetry in eutectic component gives rise to relatively weak coordination strength and configurational disorder interaction among cation‐anion‐ligand, leading to suppressed local aggregation, steady eutectic phase and improved Zn2+ diffusion kinetics. Such highly frustrated coordination state also enables disruption of hydrogen bonding network and reinforcement of anion participation, which results in confined side reactions, decreased water activity and the formation of inorganic‐enriched solid electrolyte interphase. In comparison to highly symmetric ligands, asymmetric ligand‐involved eutectic electrolytes with configurational disorder deliver high Coulombic efficiency of 99.4 %, stabilized Zn plating/stripping of 5000 h and impressive rate capability even under harsh conditions such as small N/P, low temperature. The rationale in this work advances the deep understanding of asymmetric molecular engineering in eutectic electrolytes and showcases suitability of frustrated coordination to achieve high‐performance zinc metal batteries.
Pyrolytic Carbon: An Inexpensive, Robust, and Versatile Electrode for Synthetic Organic Electrochemistry
Authors: Ewing Tamara El‐Hayek , Kurig Nils , Yamaki Yoshio Robert , Sun Jiawei , Knowles Timothy R. , Gollapudi Asha , Kawamata Yu , Baran Phil S.
Published: October 2024

Synthetic organic electrochemistry is recognized as one of the most sustainable forms of redox chemistry that can enable a wide variety of useful transformations. In this study, readily prepared pyrolytic carbon electrodes are explored in several powerful rAP transformations as well as C−C and C−N bond forming reactions. Pyrolytic carbon provides an alternative to classic amorphous carbon‐based materials that are either expensive or ill‐suited to large‐scale flow reactions.
Highly Strained, Fully π‐Conjugated Porphyrin Cyclophanes: Template‐free Synthesis and Global Aromaticity
Authors: Ren Longbin , Han Yi , Jiao Liuying , Zou Ya , Wu Jishan
Published: October 2024

Porphyrin‐based nanohoops, nanorings, and cages with fully π‐conjugated structures are highly sought after, but their synthesis remains challenging. Herein, we report the template‐free synthesis of a highly strained, bithiophene‐bridged porphyrin cyclophane (1) from a porphyrin quinone via a stereoselective nucleophilic addition followed by intermolecular Yamamoto coupling strategy. X‐ray crystallographic analyses of 1 and its dication 12+ reveal significantly distorted cyclophane‐like geometries, with calculated strain energies of 51.2 and 80.7 kcal/mol, respectively. While the neutral compound 1 exhibits localized aromaticity, the dication 12+ is globally aromatic, with the porphyrin unit displaying weak antiaromaticity. Additionally, the dication 12+ undergoes nucleophilic addition with chloride, relieving strain. This work presents a novel synthetic strategy for highly strained, fully π‐conjugated systems with intriguing electronic properties and chemical reactivity.
Functional Nucleic Acids as Bacterial Biosensors: A Focus on Clostridioides difficile Infection
Authors: Chow Kristie , Li Yingfu
Published: October 2024

Clostridioides difficile (CD) is a Gram‐positive, anaerobic, and spore‐forming bacillus that colonizes the human gut and causes a range of diseases, such as pseudomembranous colitis and antibiotic‐associated diarrhea, that are generally known as CD infection (CDI). Rapid and accurate detection of CDI with high sensitivity and specificity is crucial for patient treatment, infection control, and epidemiological monitoring. Current diagnostic methods for CDI have several limitations, such as high cost, long turnaround time, suboptimal sensitivity, and the need for specialized equipment. Hence, novel detection methods that can overcome these limitations are needed. Functional nucleic acids (FNAs) are a promising class of molecular recognition element (MRE) that can be incorporated into biosensors for detecting infectious pathogens. Several FNAs have been developed for detecting CD. In this review, an overview of CD, CDI, and current diagnostic methods for CDI and their drawbacks are provided. Furthermore, the design principles and working mechanisms of FNAs as well as their applications for the detection of pathogenic bacteria, including CD, are discussed. The potential for developing point‐of‐care paper sensors using currently available CD‐selective FNAs is also highlighted.
Electrocatalytic Applications in Hydrogen Evolution of Two Nitrogen Heterocyclic Cu(I) Coordination Polymer Modified Electrodes
Authors: Wu Huilu , Ma Yuanyue , Teng Junjie , Cai Quanlong , Gao Rongrong , Xie Yueyue
Published: October 2024

The development of low‐cost, high‐efficiency, stable, and structurally adjustable electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is of great significance for energy conversion. In this study, two new Cu(I) coordination polymers (CPs), formulated as {[Cu(L1)](PF6)·CH2Cl2}n (1) and {[Cu2(L2)1.5(PPh3)](PF6)2}n (2) (L1 = 1,3‐bis[1‐(pyridin‐3‐ylmethyl) ‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl]propane, L2 = 1,4‐bis[1‐(3‐pyridylmethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl]butane), were synthesized by interfacial diffusion method and characterized by single‐crystal x‐ray diffraction and IR and UV–Vis spectra. Structural analysis shows that the CP‐1 is a one‐dimensional chain structure, whereas the CP‐2 is a two‐dimensional layered structure, which is due to the different coordination modes of ligands L1 (bridging chelation) and L2 (bridging). The electrocatalytic activity for HER of Cu(I) CPs was studied by preparing modified glassy carbon electrodes (CP‐1/GCE and CP‐2/GCE). Electrochemical HER studies manifest that in 0.5 M H2SO4, the overpotential (η10298K) and Tafel slope (b 298K) are −769 mV and 173 mV dec−1 for CP‐1/GCE, −933 mV and 301 mV dec−1 for CP‐2/GCE, and −930 mV and 298 mV dec−1 for bare/GCE, respectively. The η10298K and b298K of CP‐1/GCE were significantly positive shifted and decreased compared with the bare/GCE, indicating that CP‐1/GCE has significant electrocatalytic activity and electrocatalytic HER activity order is CP‐1/GCE > CP‐2/GCE ≈ bare/GCE. This work provides an important reference for the application of non‐noble metal CPs in the field of electrocatalysis.