bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic covalent polymer network enabled bio‐based vitrimers with excellent substrate bonding
Authors: Parihar Shalini , Gaur Bharti
Published: May 2024

In this article, we report the synthesis of dynamic covalent polymer network (DCPN)‐enabled vitrimers derived from gum rosin—a pine tree extract. The concept of Diels Alder (DA) thermo‐reversibility has been used to introduce self‐healing/dynamic covalent ability into the polymer systems. For this purpose, the diene moieties were incorporated in the gum rosin‐based polymer network, and the bismaleimides served as the dienophiles. The thermo‐reversible crosslinks formed between the diene and dienophile moieties can enhance the service life of the materials by improving the durability, mechanical as well as chemical properties of the materials. Upon damage, the thermo‐reversible DA bonds de‐crosslink resulting in smaller chain segments, enabling the material to flow to the site of damage and seal the fractured edges. The formation of DA crosslinks has been confirmed by using Fourier transform‐infrared spectroscopic technique. Scanning electron microscopy analysis was used to verify the self‐healing ability of the resin matrix. The healing process was studied after manual scratches were made. The polymers' ability to heal multiple times is investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. The adhesion strength of the self‐healing material has been examined on variety of substrates such as glass, steel, and concrete. The materials exhibited superior adhesion strength on glass substrate.
Mechanical and thermal characterization of elastomer modified polypropylene hybrid composites reinforced with hazelnut shell and wollastonite fillers
Authors: Karagöz İdris , Büyükkaya Kenan , Demirer Halil , Mudu Mehmet , Kartal İlyas
Published: May 2024

The demand for sustainable and recyclable materials in industrial applications has led to a surge in interest in green composites, particularly those incorporating natural fillers derived from agro‐food industry waste. This study investigates the mechanical and thermal properties of polypropylene (PP) hybrid composites filled with hazelnut shell and wollastonite, along with the effect of styrene‐ethylene/butylene‐styrene (SEBS) and SEBS‐g‐maleic anhydride (SEBS‐g‐MA) compatibilizers. Various characterization techniques, including tensile, flexural, and impact tests, as well as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses, were employed to evaluate the composites. Results demonstrate that the addition of wollastonite significantly improves mechanical properties, while hazelnut shell filler affects thermal behavior and stability. SEBS and SEBS‐g‐MA compatibilizers enhance impact resistance; however, they lead to a decrease in other mechanical properties. DSC and TGA analyses demonstrate changes in crystallization behavior and thermal stability due to filler and compatibilizer incorporation. SEM microstructure images show the distribution of SEBS and SEBS‐g‐MA within the composite structure, affecting mechanical and thermal properties. Overall, this study highlights the importance of filler selection, compatibilizer addition, and their distribution in attaining desired properties for industrial applications. Future research should focus on optimizing formulations for specific uses and assessing long‐term performance under real‐world conditions.
Effects of molecular interactions on the release of small molecules from silicone rubber
Authors: Du Yongcan , Mefford O. Thompson
Published: May 2024

Silicone rubber is a good candidate as a carrier of small molecules in such applications as drug, fragrance and semiochemical delivery. When one matrix is loaded, the molecular interactions between the molecules and the matrix may affect their release rates. For this reason, it is important to investigate the effects of molecular interactions on release to better develop delivery systems with desirable release rates. In this study, the mass transfer and diffusion coefficients of three model molecules (i.e., octanol, octyl acetate, and octyl butyrate) were determined by monitoring their release from silicone rubber sheets loaded using headspace gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to characterize the plasticizing effects and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to characterize the molecular interactions. It was found that the release of octanol conformed to the Fickian diffusion pattern at 1 wt% initial concentration but deviated as the concentration increased due to hydrogen bonding between octanol and the silanol group of the silica filler. When two small molecules were released simultaneously, the effects of one molecule on the diffusion coefficient of the other differed, a result explained by the competing effects of plasticizing and hydrogen bonding.
Development of High Performance Thermoelectric Polymers via Doping or Dedoping Engineering
Authors: Xu Yichen , Yan Jin , Zhou Wei , Ouyang Jianyong
Published: May 2024

It is of great significance to develop high‐performance thermoelectric (TE) materials, because they can be used to harvest waste heat into electricity and there is abundant waste heat on earth. The conventional TE materials are inorganic semimetals or semiconductors like Bi2Te3 and its derivatives. However, they have problems of high cost, scarce/toxic elements, high thermal conductivity, and poor mechanical flexibility. Organic TE materials emerged as the next‐generation TE materials because of their merits including solution processability, low cost, abundant element, low intrinsic thermal conductivity, and high mechanical flexibility. Organic TE materials are mainly conducting polymers because of their high conductivity. Both the conductivity and Seebeck coefficient depend on the doping level, and they are interdependent. Hence, the TE properties of polymers can be improved through doping/dedoping engineering. There are three types of doping forms, oxidative (or reductive) doping, protonic acid doping, and charge transfer doping. Accordingly, they can be dedoped by different approaches. In this article, we review the methods to dope and dedope p‐type and n‐type TE polymers and the combination of doping and dedoping to optimize their TE properties. Secondary doping is also covered, since it can significantly enhance the conductivity of some TE polymers.
Comparative review of novel model‐assisted designs for phase I/II clinical trials
Authors: Shi Haolun , Lin Ruitao , Lin Xiaolei
Published: May 2024

In recent years, both model‐based and model‐assisted designs have emerged to efficiently determine the optimal biological dose (OBD) in phase I/II trials for immunotherapy and targeted cellular agents. Model‐based designs necessitate repeated model fitting and computationally intensive posterior sampling for each dose‐assignment decision, limiting their practical application in real trials. On the other hand, model‐assisted designs employ simple statistical models and facilitate the precalculation of a decision table for use throughout the trial, eliminating the need for repeated model fitting. Due to their simplicity and transparency, model‐assisted designs are often preferred in phase I/II trials. In this paper, we systematically evaluate and compare the operating characteristics of several recent model‐assisted phase I/II designs, including TEPI, PRINTE, Joint i3+3, BOIN‐ET, STEIN, uTPI, and BOIN12, in addition to the well‐known model‐based EffTox design, using comprehensive numerical simulations. To ensure an unbiased comparison, we generated 10,000 dosing scenarios using a random scenario generation algorithm for each predetermined OBD location. We thoroughly assess various performance metrics, such as the selection percentages, average patient allocation to OBD, and overdose percentages across the eight designs. Based on these assessments, we offer design recommendations tailored to different objectives, sample sizes, and starting dose locations.
Hydrazo Pyrazole‐Pyridone Fluorescent tag for NLO, Live cell imaging, LFPs visualization, Photophysical probing, and Electrochemical sensor for Dopamine detection
Authors: Krishnamurthy Chethan , Jathi Keshavayya , K. M. Pallavi , Yesudhasan Chinnaraj
Published: May 2024

The present communication reports on the synthesis of a novel methyl‐pyridone azo fluorescent tag (MPAFT) were proven through 1H (NMR), FT‐IR, UV–vis, and high‐resolution mass spectrometry. The quantum chemical parameters of MPAFT were evaluated using density functional theory (DFT) analysis. It was further investigated for its latent fingerprint (LFPs) in various surfaces and anticounterfeiting applications. By exposing Level I–Level III, ridge features to UV light with a wavelength of 365 nm, a bioimaging investigation has also demonstrated the potential of MPAFT's emission behaviour. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) at MPAFT/MGCE (modified glassy carbon electrode) were used to explore the electrochemical sensitivity and reliable detection of dopamine (DA) in neutral PBS (pH 7) electrolyte solution, and the results show good sensitivity and detection. The lower detection limit for LSV was 0.81 μM under optimum conditions.
Study on the material basis of Zhujing pill in treating fundus lesions through component analysis and network pharmacology
Authors: Liu Yijie , Wang Jiali , Yu Xiaoxiang , Hu Jing , Sun Xiuyan
Published: May 2024

Zhujing pill (ZP) is a famous Chinese herbal formula that has been widely used to treat diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and other fundus lesions. In this study, the material basis and mechanism of ZP in the treatment of fundus lesions were evaluated via the high‐performance liquid chromatography fingerprint, ultra‐performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, network pharmacology and molecular docking. A total of 32 common components were found and 31 components were identified in 15 batches of ZP samples. Moreover, 134 common key targets and 17 putative active components that are connected to fundus lesions were identified. Molecular docking revealed that quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, 5‐O‐feruloylquinic acid, plantagoside and 2′‐acetylacteoside have the ability to interact with the core targets such as AKT1, TP53, TNF, IL‐6 and Jun. Our findings revealed that the therapeutic effects of ZP on fundus lesions are mediated by multiple components, targets and pathways, including at least six active ingredients and 11 targets. The study provides new ideas for further research on the material basis and mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions.
Unveiling the crucial role of intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 in secondary diabetic complications
Authors: Kaur Prabhnain , Dahiya Ritu , Nandave Mukesh , Sharma Kalicharan , Goyal Ramesh K.
Published: May 2024

Diabetes mellitus is associated with secondary complications such as diabetic retinopathy (DR), nephropathy (DN), and cardiomyopathy (DCM), all of which significantly impact patient health. Intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) has been implicated in inflammatory responses and endothelial dysfunction, both crucial in the pathogenesis of these complications. The goal of this review is to investigate at potential therapy methods that target ICAM‐1 pathways and to better understand the multifaceted role of ICAM‐1 in secondary diabetic problems. A meticulous analysis of scholarly literature published globally was conducted to examine ICAM‐1involvement in inflammatory processes, endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress related to diabetes and its complications. Elevated ICAM‐1 levels are strongly associated with augmented leukocyte adhesion, compromised microvascular function, and heightened oxidative stress in diabetes. These pathways contribute significantly to DR, DN, and DCM pathogenesis, highlighting ICAM‐1 as a key player in their progression. Understanding ICAM‐1 role in secondary diabetic complications offers insights into novel therapeutic strategies. Targeting ICAM‐1 pathways may mitigate inflammation, improve endothelial function, and ultimately attenuate diabetic complications, thereby enhancing patient health outcomes. Continued research in this area is crucial for developing effective targeted therapies.
14‐3‐3 Protein‐Protein Interactions: From Mechanistic Understanding to Their Small‐Molecule Stabilization
Authors: Somsen Bente A. , Cossar Peter J. , Arkin Michelle R. , Brunsveld Luc , Ottmann Christian
Published: May 2024

Protein‐protein interactions (PPIs) are of utmost importance for maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Herein, a central role can be found for 14‐3‐3 proteins. These hub‐proteins are known to bind hundreds of interaction partners, thereby regulating their activity, localization, and/or stabilization. Due to their ability to bind a large variety of client proteins, studies of 14‐3‐3 protein complexes flourished over the last decades, aiming to gain greater molecular understanding of these complexes and their role in health and disease. Because of their crucial role within the cell, 14‐3‐3 protein complexes are recognized as highly interesting therapeutic targets, encouraging the discovery of small molecule modulators of these PPIs. We discuss various examples of 14‐3‐3‐mediated regulation of its binding partners on a mechanistic level, highlighting the versatile and multi‐functional role of 14‐3‐3 within the cell. Furthermore, an overview is given on the development of stabilizers of 14‐3‐3 protein complexes, from initially used natural products to fragment‐based approaches. These studies show the potential of 14‐3‐3 PPI stabilizers as novel agents in drug discovery and as tool compounds to gain greater molecular understanding of the role of 14‐3‐3‐based protein regulation.
Experimental and Numerical Study of Superheated Steam Drying for Sliced Avocado
Authors: Tran Thi Thu Hang , Le Kieu Hiep
Published: May 2024

Superheated steam drying (SSD) of sliced avocado is studied by both experiment and theory. An experimental system is built to evaluate the effects of drying temperature and gas velocity on the evaporation rate and color change of the product. Experiments are conducted for ripened Booth avocado from Daklak province of Vietnam. Experimental results show that evaporation is faster at higher temperatures and velocities, but the effect of temperature decreases at higher velocities. At temperatures below 130 °C, the product is not brown, but at a temperature in the range of 130–150 °C, the dried sample is burned. The experimental model is fitted with high accuracy to predict the moisture rate as a function of time. The evaporation processes of SSD are also compared with hot air drying at the same drying conditions. To extend the application ability of the result, the theoretical model is developed on the basis of Fick's law in which the spatial distributions of temperature and moisture are taken into account. The effective diffusivity is determined by an optimization tool with good agreement. This parameter is constant for all drying conditions, so the model can be applied to a huge range of drying conditions. The numerical results show that the temperature is almost uniform in the sample because of high thermal conductivity, but the moisture gradient is significant.
Unlocking Photocatalytic Activity of Acridinium Salts by Anion‐Binding Co‐Catalysis
Authors: Pérez‐Aguilar María C. , Entgelmeier Lukas‐M. , Herrera‐Luna Jorge C. , Daniliuc Constantin G. , Consuelo Jiménez M. , Pérez‐Ruiz Raúl , García Mancheño Olga
Published: May 2024

The in situ generation of active photoredox organic catalysts upon anion‐binding co‐catalysis by making use of the ionic nature of common photosensitizers is reported. Hence, the merge of anion‐binding and photocatalysis permitted the modulation of the photocatalytic activity of simple acridinium halide salts, building an effective anion‐binding – photoredox ion pair complex able to promote a variety of visible light driven transformations, such as anti‐Markovnikov addition to olefins, Diels‐Alder and the desilylative C−C bond forming reactions. Anion‐binding studies, together with steady‐state and time‐resolved spectroscopy analysis, supported the postulated ion pair formation between the thiourea hydrogen‐bond donor organocatalyst and the acridinium salt, which proved essential for unlocking the photocatalytic activity of the photosensitizer.
Chemo‐, Regio‐ and Stereoselective Preparation of (Z)‐2‐Butene‐1,4‐Diol Monoesters via Pd‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative Acyloxylation
Authors: Cheng Long , Zhao Jia‐Li , Zhang Xiao‐Tian , Jia Qiao‐Sen , Dong Ni , Peng Yu , Kleij Arjan W. , Liu Xiang‐Wei
Published: May 2024

(Z)‐alkenes are useful synthons but thermodynamically less stable than their (E)‐isomers and typically more difficult to prepare. The synthesis of 1,4‐hetero‐bifunctionalized (Z)‐alkenes is particularly challenging due to the inherent regio‐ and stereoselectivity issues. Herein we demonstrate a general, chemoselective and direct synthesis of (Z)‐2‐butene‐1,4‐diol monoesters. The protocol operates within a Pd‐catalyzed decarboxylative acyloxylation regime involving vinyl ethylene carbonates (VECs) and various carboxylic acids as the reaction partners under mild and operationally attractive conditions. The newly developed process allows access to a structurally diverse pool of (Z)‐2‐butene‐1,4‐diol monoesters in good yields and with excellent regio‐ and stereoselectivity. Various synthetic transformations of the obtained (Z)‐2‐butene‐1,4‐diol monoesters demonstrate how these synthons are of great use to rapidly diversify the portfolio of these formal desymmetrized (Z)‐alkenes.
Poly(ferrocenylsilane)‐Based Redox‐Active Artificial Organelles for Biomimetic Cascade Reactions
Authors: You Jiayi , Qian Yonghui , Xiong Shuhan , Zhang Peipei , Mukwaya Vincent , Levi‐Kalisman Yael , Raviv Uri , Dou Hongjing
Published: May 2024

Artificial organelles serve as functional counterparts to natural organelles, which are primarily employed to artificially replicate, restore, or enhance cellular functions. While most artificial organelles exhibit basic functions, we diverge from this norm by utilizing poly(ferrocenylmethylethylthiocarboxypropylsilane) microcapsules (PFC MCs) to construct multifunctional artificial organelles through water/oil interfacial self‐assembly. Within these PFC MCs, enzymatic cascades are induced through active molecular exchange across the membrane to mimic the functions of enzymes in mitochondria. We harness the inherent redox properties of the PFC polymer, which forms the membrane, to facilitate in‐situ redox reactions similar to those supported by the inner membrane of natural mitochondria. Subsequent studies have demonstrated the interaction between PFC MCs and living cell including extended lifespans within various cell types. We anticipate that functional PFC MCs have the potential to serve as innovative platforms for organelle mimics capable of executing specific cellular functions.
Bispidine Based Hg(II) 1D Coordination Polymers of Helical Topology: Stability, Selective Adsorption and 1D to 2D Dimensionality Change Via SC‐to‐SC Transformation
Authors: Sayed Alessandro , Cametti Massimo
Published: May 2024

Bispidine based Hg(II) coordination polymers of helical topology CP‐MeOH and CP‐EtOH are almost isostructural (they mainly differ for the solvent included in their lattice and by a small % in unit cell parameters) but they differ for everything else: i) their intrinsic stability, ii) their ability to adsorb solvents upon prior evacuation, iii) their accessible structural transformations. In particular, one of the two starting materials, once evacuated, is capable to adsorb methanol from atmospheres containing binary and ternary mixtures of volatile organic compounds (MeOH, CHCl3 and EtOH) under ambient conditions (25 °C, 1 atm) and with a marked selectivity. The other one is not, but undergoes a 1D to 2D dimensionality change which can be monitored in situ by SC‐XRD through a SC‐to‐SC process.
Hybrid deep learning assisted multi classification: Grading of malignant thyroid nodules
Authors: Gulame Mayuresh Bhagavat , Dixit Vaibhav V.
Published: May 2024

Thyroid nodules are commonly diagnosed with ultrasonography, which includes internal characteristics, varying looks, and hazy boundaries, making it challenging for a clinician to differentiate between malignant and benign forms based only on visual identification. The advancement of AI, particularly DL, provides significant breakthroughs in the domain of medical image identification. Yet, there are certain obstacles to achieving accuracy as well as efficacy in thyroid nodule detection. The thyroid nodules in this study are detected and classified using an inventive hybrid deep learning‐assisted multi‐classification method. The median blur method is applied in this work to eliminate the salt and pepper noise from the image. Then MPIU‐Net‐based segmentation is utilized to segment the image. The LGBPNP‐based features are retrieved from the segmented image to obtain a single histogram sequence of the LGBP pattern in addition to other features like extraction of multi‐texton and LTP‐based features. After the feature extraction, the data augmentation process is applied and then the features are fed to the hybrid classification‐based nodule classification model that comprises Deep Maxout and CNN, this hybrid classification trains the features and predicts the thyroid nodule. Additionally, the TIRADS score classification is used for the projected malignant thyroid nodule coupled with statistical features collected from the segmented. The DBNAAF with transfer learning model is employed to classify the grading of malignant thyroid nodules, where the weights of the model are learned with transfer learning. The MCC of the Hybrid Model is 0.9445, whereas the DCNN is 0.6858, YOLOV3‐DMRF is 0.7229, CNN is 0.7780, DBN is 0.7601, Bi‐GRU is 0.7038, Deep Maxout is 0.7528, and RNN is 0.8522, respectively.
Towards Superior Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries: The Insights of Artificial Protective Interfaces
Authors: Farooq Asad , Zhao Ran , Han Xiaomin , Yang Jingjing , Hu Zhifan , Wu Chuan , Bai Ying
Published: May 2024

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) with metallic Zn anode have the potential for large‐scale energy storage application due to their cost‐effectiveness, safety, environmental‐friendliness, and ease of preparation. However, the concerns regarding dendrite growth and side reactions on Zn anode surface hamper the commercialization of AZIBs. This review aims to give a comprehensive evaluation of the protective interphase construction and provide guidance to further improve the electrochemical performance of AZIBs. The failure behaviors of the Zn metal anode including dendrite growth, corrosion, and hydrogen evolution are analyzed. Then, the applications and mechanisms of the constructed interphases are introduced, which are classified by the material species. The fabrication methods of the artificial interfaces are summarized and evaluated, including the in‐situ strategy and ex‐situ strategy. Finally, the characterization means are discussed to give a full view for the study of Zn anode protection. Based on the analysis of this review, a stable and high‐performance Zn anode could be designed by carefully choosing applied material, corresponding protective mechanism, and appropriate construction technique. Additionally, this review for Zn anode modification and construction techniques for anode protection in AZIBs may be helpful in other aqueous metal batteries with similar problems.
Optical coherence tomography angiography for detection of microvascular changes in early diabetes: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Yang Fan , Zou Weijie , Li Zhiwei , Du Yuanyuan , Gao Weiyun , Zhang Ji , Ji Xiaoyan , Huang Jiang
Published: May 2024

Aims

To evaluate the effectiveness of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in detecting early intraocular microvascular changes in diabetic patients.

Materials and Methods

A systematic study search was performed on PubMed, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, ranging from January 2012 to March 2023. Controlled studies compared diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with non‐diabetic retinopathy (NDR) or patients with mild non‐proliferative diabetic retinopathy (mild NPDR) to healthy people. These studies included parameters of OCTA such as foveal avascular zone (FAZ), vessel density of superficial capillary plexus (VDscp), vessel density of deep capillary plexus (VDdcp), and peripapillary VD. The relevant effect model was used according to the heterogeneity, and the mean difference and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

Results

A total of 18 studies with 2101 eyes were eventually included in this meta‐analysis. Our results demonstrated that early alterations of VDscp, VDdcp, and peripapillary VD in NDR patients had a significant difference compared with healthy people by OCTA (VDscp: WMD = −1.34, 95% CI: −1.99 to −0.68, P < 0.0001. VDdcp: WMD = −2.00, 95% CI: −2.95 to −1.04, P < 0.0001. Peripapillary VD: WMD = −1.07, 95% CI: −1.70 to −0.43, P = 0.0010). However, there was no statistically significant difference in total FAZ between them (WMD = −0.00, 95% CI: −0.02–0.01, P = 0.84). In addition, for patients with mild NPDR, OCTA could illustrate prominent changes in VDscp, VDdcp, and total FAZ compared with healthy people (VDscp: WMD = −6.11, 95% CI: −9.90 to −2.32, P = 0.002. VDdcp: WMD = −4.26, 95% CI: −5.95 to −2.57, P < 0.00001. FAZ: WMD = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01–0.11, P = 0.03).

Conclusions

In diabetic patients with or without retinopathy, the parameters of OCTA such as VDscp, VDdcp, and peripapillary vessel density were demonstrated as potential biomarkers in monitoring the early alterations of retinal microangiopathy, while total FAZ may have no significant changes in diabetic patients without retinopathy.
Prairie restoration promotes the abundance and diversity of mutualistic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Authors: MacColl Kevin A. , Tosi Micaela , Chagnon Pierre‐Luc , MacDougall Andrew S. , Dunfield Kari E. , Maherali Hafiz
Published: May 2024

Predicting how biological communities assemble in restored ecosystems can assist in conservation efforts, but most research has focused on plants, with relatively little attention paid to soil microbial organisms that plants interact with. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are an ecologically significant functional group of soil microbes that form mutualistic symbioses with plants and could therefore respond positively to plant community restoration. To evaluate the effects of plant community restoration on AM fungi, we compared AM fungal abundance, species richness, and community composition of five annually cultivated, conventionally managed agricultural fields with paired adjacent retired agricultural fields that had undergone prairie restoration 5–9 years prior to sampling. We hypothesized that restoration stimulates AM fungal abundance and species richness, particularly for disturbance‐sensitive taxa, and that gains of new taxa would not displace AM fungal species present prior to restoration due to legacy effects. AM fungal abundance was quantified by measuring soil spore density and root colonization. AM fungal species richness and community composition were determined in soils and plant roots using DNA high‐throughput sequencing. Soil spore density was 2.3 times higher in restored prairies compared to agricultural fields, but AM fungal root colonization did not differ between land use types. AM fungal species richness was 2.7 and 1.4 times higher in restored prairies versus agricultural fields for soil and roots, respectively. The abundance of Glomeraceae, a disturbance‐tolerant family, decreased by 25% from agricultural to restored prairie soils but did not differ in plant roots. The abundance of Claroideoglomeraceae and Diversisporaceae, both disturbance‐sensitive families, was 4.6 and 3.2 times higher in restored prairie versus agricultural soils, respectively. Species turnover was higher than expected relative to a null model, indicating that AM fungal species were gained by replacement. Our findings demonstrate that restoration can promote a relatively rapid increase in the abundance and diversity of soil microbial communities that had been degraded by decades of intensive land use, and community compositional change can be predicted by the disturbance tolerance of soil microbial taxonomic and functional groups.
4‐Methyltetrahydropyran: A Versatile Alternative Solvent for the Preparation of Chiral BINOL Catalysts and the Asymmetric Alkylation of Aldehydes
Authors: Marra Francesco , De Nardi Federica , Rossi Federica , Priola Emanuele , Prandi Cristina , Blangetti Marco
Published: May 2024

We herein report that the highly hydrophobic ether 4‐MeTHP constitutes a promising resource for the development of sustainable synthetic methodologies grounded on the use of organometallic reagents. The beneficial effects of 4‐MeTHP as reaction medium are illustrated in the organolithium‐promoted anionic ortho‐Fries rearrangement of 1,1’‐bi‐2‐naphthol (BINOL)‐based carbamates under bench‐type conditions. The use of 4‐MeTHP induces a remarkable and unexpected stability of the organolithiums species, enabling the efficient preparation of chiral (bis)carboxamide catalysts. Furthermore, superior performances of 4‐MeTHP than other environmentally responsible solvents are observed using the synthesized BINOL catalysts in the asymmetric addition of organozinc reagents to aldehydes. Spectroscopic studies in solution suggest that 4‐MeTHP plays a key role in these reactions by inducing the preferential formation of a reactive monomeric dinuclear complex. This methodology allows for the asymmetric assembly of enantioenriched secondary alcohols in good yields and high stereoselectivity, working at 0 °C and under air.
Electrochemically‐Enabled Construction of N‐Acyl Iminophosphoranes
Authors: Wang Wei , Cao Shujie , Wang Yike , Hu Boxin , Zhu Xuehua , Sun Yanyan , Wang Yang
Published: May 2024

N‐acyl iminophosphoranes have shown significant potentials in various areas. This paper presents two electrochemical strategies for the successful construction of a series of substituted N‐acyl iminophosphoranes using electrochemical activation of hydroxylamines or dioxazolones to generate unprotected amide radicals and radical anions. The simple undivided cell with inexpensive electrode setups (graphite felts, carbon rods, and copper sheets) provides excellent substrates tolerance under mild conditions. This simple electrochemical construction of N‐acyl iminophosphoranes also has good scalability, practicability and extensibility. Furthermore, synthetic transformations of the N‐acyl iminophosphorane products have demonstrated the application potentials of the P=N bond.
Sudden gains in depression and anxiety during an online pain management programme for chronic pain
Authors: Bisby Madelyne A. , Correa Ashleigh B. , Trujillo Rachel , Dudeney Joanne , Dear Blake F.
Published: May 2024

Background

Chronic pain is associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. Pain management programms, delivered face‐to‐face or via the internet, can effectively help adults manage the impacts of chronic pain. Sudden gains are defined as substantial, rapid, and lasting symptom reductions that occur between consecutive treatment sessions and have been associated with better treatment outcomes in non‐pain samples. This study examined whether adults with chronic pain report sudden gains in depression or anxiety symptoms during an 8‐week online pain management programme, and whether sudden gains were associated with better treatment outcomes for depression or anxiety. Dominant theories of sudden gains argue that therapists are required for sudden gains to be maintained and improve treatment outcomes.

Methods

Using data from a published randomized controlled trial (n = 338), sudden gains and treatment outcomes were compared across three levels of therapist guidance provided alongside the programme: weekly, optional, and self‐guided.

Results

Similar rates of sudden gains were observed in depression (22%) and anxiety (24%) across the treatment period, and most sudden gains occurred between Weeks 1 and 2 of treatment. Therapist guidance was not associated with sudden gains; higher baseline symptom severity emerged as the only consistent predictor of sudden gain status. No significant differences in treatment outcomes for depression or anxiety symptoms between sudden gainers and non‐gainers were observed across therapist guidance conditions.

Conclusions

These results do not support an association between sudden gains in depression or anxiety symptoms and better post‐treatment outcomes, at least for adults with chronic pain.

Significance Statement

Sudden gains in depression and anxiety symptoms were not associated with improved treatment outcomes for adults with chronic pain who participated in an online pain management programme, regardless of the level of therapist guidance provided. These findings suggest possible differences in symptom change in chronic pain samples compared to general population samples.
Electrical signature of heterogeneous human mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Tsai Tunglin , Vyas Prema D. , Crowell Lexi L. , Tran Mary , Ward Destiney W. , Qin Yufan , Castro Angie , Adams Tayloria N. G.
Published: May 2024

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have gained traction in transplantation therapy due to their immunomodulatory, paracrine, immune‐evasive, and multipotent differentiation potential. The inherent heterogeneity of hMSCs poses a challenge for therapeutic treatments and necessitates the identification of robust biomarkers to ensure reproducibility in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. In this study, we utilized dielectrophoresis (DEP), a label‐free electrokinetic phenomenon, to investigate the heterogeneity of hMSCs derived from bone marrow (BM) and adipose tissue (AD). The electrical properties of BM‐hMSCs were compared to homogeneous mouse fibroblasts (NIH‐3T3), human fibroblasts (WS1), and human embryonic kidney cells (HEK‐293). The DEP profile of BM‐hMSCs differed most from HEK‐293 cells. We compared the DEP profiles of BM‐hMSCs and AD‐hMSCs and found that they have similar membrane capacitances, differing cytoplasm conductivity, and transient slopes. Inducing both populations to differentiate into adipocyte and osteoblast cells revealed that they behave differently in response to differentiation‐inducing cytokines. Histology and reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) analyses of the differentiation‐related genes revealed differences in heterogeneity between BM‐hMSCs and AD‐hMSCs. The differentiation profiles correlate well with the DEP profiles developed and indicate differences in the heterogeneity of BM‐hMSCs and AD‐hMSCs. Our results demonstrate that using DEP, membrane capacitance, cytoplasm conductivity, and transient slope can uniquely characterize the inherent heterogeneity of hMSCs to guide robust and reproducible stem cell transplantation therapies.
Prevalence and associated factors of psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy in the Casablanca–Settat region of Morocco: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Hajji El Bachir , Traore Boubacar , Hassoune Samira , Khoubila Adil , Bellakhdar Salma , Rafai Mohammed Abdoh , Lakhdar Abdelhakim
Published: May 2024

Objective

To determine the estimated prevalence of anxiety, depression, and anxiety–depression syndrome (ADS) and to identify the associated factors in Moroccan people with epilepsy (PWE).

Method

A cross‐sectional study was conducted among adult PWE (June 2021–December 2022) in the Casablanca–Settat region. PWE were interviewed by completing a questionnaire collecting sociodemographic and clinical data. Anxiety and depression were assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Out of 21 points, a score ≥8 is in favor of considerable anxiety/depression symptoms and a sum of the two scores ≥15 indicates the presence of ADS. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 21.0. p‐values ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant and logistic regression was performed to determine the associated factors.

Results

Among 294 PWE, the median age was 39 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 25.75–54.00). The median anxiety, depression, and ADS scores were 8 (IQR: 5.00–10.00), 7 (IQR: 4.00–10.00), and 15 (IQR: 10.00–20.00), respectively. Anxiety, depression, and ADS were revealed in 51.4%, 44.9%, and 51.0% of PWE, respectively. Depression was the only predictor for anxiety (aOR = 24.20; 95%CI: 12.45–47.01). Antiseizure polytherapy (aOR = 3.35; 95%CI: 1.72–6.54) and anxiety (aOR = 24.04; 95%CI: 12.12–47.67) were the factors associated with depression. The risk of ADS was increased by female gender (aOR = 2.83; 95%CI: 1.68–4.78), antiseizure polytherapy (aOR = 2.75; 95%CI: 1.62–4.65), structural epilepsy (aOR = 1.73; 95%CI: 1.01–2.94), and the presence of concomitant conditions with epilepsy (aOR = 1.96; 95%CI: 1.16–3.31).

Significance

Our study reports high psychiatric comorbidity prevalence in epilepsy, which supports the bidirectional link hypothesis. Associated factors found are important in the prognosis and prevention.

Plain Language Summary

The neural mechanisms underlying epilepsy tend to expose PWE to psychiatric disorders. Our study aims to quantify the rate of psychiatric comorbidities and their predictive factors in Moroccan PWE. The estimated prevalences of significant symptoms of anxiety, depression, and ADS were 51.4%, 44.9%, and 51.0%, respectively. Depression was the predictor of anxiety. Antiseizure polymedication and anxiety were the associated factors with depression. The risk of SAD was increased by female gender, antiseizure polymedication, structural epilepsy, and concomitant diseases with epilepsy. Our results are important for considering the psychiatric aspect of PWE and improving their care and quality of life.
Frugal Education: What, why, and how?
Authors: Masters Alex
Published: May 2024

This paper explores how frugal innovation practices can challenge resource constraints by leveraging available resources in creative and innovative ways towards more affordable, practical, sustainable and resilient education practice. The education sector has faced many challenges when adapting practice to deliver quality education in the wake of a world‐changing pandemic. There is a great deal we can learn from each other with regards to the frugal application of resources, such as time, money, people and space. However, forms of frugality in education design are driven by necessity and are reactive as opposed to proactive measures. We can, however, learn from educators and institutions that have been able to achieve significant educational impact at low cost with far fewer resources, adopting frugal approaches to education design and delivery. This paper proposes a set of frugal education aspects that demonstrate how frugal design practices can be organised and applied within an educational context. The aspects are outlined, and examples are presented to illustrate their effectiveness within existing education practice. This paper seeks to contribute to the existing knowledge base and research into frugal innovation practice as it applies within an education context, reframing the use of the term ‘frugal’ away from affordability and poor quality, towards a more expansive understanding that establishes a foundation on which to build, define, and contextualise frugality within an education context. The paper concludes with recommendations for the development of practical resources, informed by the research, to support educators in the design of frugal education practice.
Sociocultural context of exclusive breastfeeding in Africa: A narrative review
Authors: Amzat Jimoh , Aminu Kafayat , Matankari Brisca , Ismail Abbas , Almu Bello , Kanmodi Kehinde Kazeem
Published: May 2024

Background and Aims

Although exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) has many benefits, it is not commonly practiced in several countries as a result of context‐specific challenges. EBF practice is thus a global health discourse because over 200 million children suffer from malnutrition despite the abundance of human milk. The risk of starvation remains very high among African children with less than 40% of them exclusively breastfed. In Africa, the adoption or nonadherence to EBF is a sociocultural issue. Hence, this narrative review examined the sociocultural context of EBF in the region.

Methods

PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus were searched using keywords related to EBF and Africa. Relevant data from selected studies were synthesized narratively and reported using a structured narrative format.

Results

EBF is strongly rooted in every culture and is a culturally determined behavior. Some believe that colostrum is dirty and harmful to newborns and, thus, needs to be purified. Despite the belief that human milk is the best food for babies, mothers often complement human milk with other foods right from birth because of perceived lactation inadequacy. Most African mothers believe in prelacteal feeding to help cleanse the infant's gastrointestinal tract for digestion, quench thirst, flush the bladder and help the mother to rest after childbirth before breastfeeding (BF) is initiated. The role of significant others was equally found important in the decision and duration of BF. The availability of family support (especially from grandmothers and husbands) reportedly encouraged EBF in Africa. The duration and exclusivity of BF in Africa are negatively associated with demographic variables like young age, low level of education, being unmarried, low income, out of employment, and parity (first‐time mother).

Conclusion

While there have been some efforts and policies to improve EBF, it is important to consider context‐specific challenges and sociocultural factors. There is a need for more deliberate efforts to encourage mothers through the implementation of effective best practices concerning EBF in Africa.
Orthogonal effect of exchange and correlation parameters in density functional theory to compute geometric and spectroscopic quantities
Authors: Moncomble Aurélien , Cornard Jean‐Paul
Published: May 2024

The influence of the composition of the functional used for density functional theory computations on one structural parameter (a dihedral angle) and a spectroscopic parameter (absorption wavelength) is assessed in this study on the basis of two molecules (flavonols). In this kind of molecules, these two parameters should be correlated according to the nature of the electronic transition involved. However, it is shown herein that by varying the proportion of true exchange and correlation while building a functional, it is possible to obtain independently a large range of values for these parameters without any relation with the underlying real values. Therefore, it is concluded that the choice of a functional after a benchmark, especially using user‐defined functionals, should be carried out with great care to avoid such effects.
Concentration of hitting times in Erdős‐Rényi graphs
Authors: Ottolini Andrea , Steinerberger Stefan
Published: May 2024

We consider Erdős‐Rényi graphs for fixed and and study the expected number of steps, , that a random walk started in needs to first arrive in . A natural guess is that an Erdős‐Rényi random graph is so homogeneous that it does not really distinguish between vertices and . Löwe‐Terveer established a CLT for the Mean Starting Hitting Time suggesting . We prove the existence of a strong concentration phenomenon: is given, up to a very small error of size , by an explicit simple formula involving only the total number of edges , the degree and the distance .
Direct sub‐atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry: Evaporation/sublimation‐driven ionization is amazing, fundamentally, and practically
Authors: Trimpin Sarah , Inutan Ellen D. , Pagnotti Vincent S. , Karki Santosh , Marshall Darrell D. , Hoang Khoa , Wang Beixi , Lietz Christopher B. , Richards Alicia L. , Yenchick Frank S. , Lee Chuping , Lu I‐Chung , Fenner Madeleine , Madarshahian Sara , Saylor Sarah , Chubatyi Nicolas D. , Zimmerman Teresa , Moreno‐Pedraza Abigail , Wang Tongwen , Adeniji‐Adele Adetoun , Meher Anil K. , Madagedara Hasini , Owczarzak Zachary , Musavi Ahmed , Hendrickson Tamara L. , Peacock Patricia M. , Tomsho John W. , Larsen Barbara S. , Prokai Laszlo , Shulaev Vladimir , Pophristic Milan , McEwen Charles N.
Published: May 2024

This paper covers direct sub‐atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry (MS). The discovery, applications, and mechanistic aspects of novel ionization processes for use in MS that are not based on the high‐energy input from voltage, laser, and/or high temperature but on sublimation/evaporation within a region linking a higher to lower pressure and modulated by heat and collisions, are discussed, including how this new reality has guided a series of discoveries, instrument developments, and commercialization. A research focus, inter alia, is on how best to understand, improve, and use these novel ionization processes, which convert volatile and nonvolatile compounds from solids (sublimation) or liquids (evaporation) into gas‐phase ions for analysis by MS providing reproducible, accurate, sensitive, and prompt results. Our perception on how these unprecedented versus traditional ionization processes/methods relate to each other, how they can be made to coexist on the same mass spectrometer, and an outlook on new and expanded applications (e.g., clinical, portable, fast, safe, and autonomous) is presented, and is based on ST's Opening lecture presentation at the Nordic Mass spectrometry Conference, Geilo, Norway, January 2023. Focus will be on matrix‐assisted ionization (MAI) and solvent‐assisted ionization (SAI) MS covering the period from 2010 to 2023; a potential paradigm shift in the making.
Noncanonical functions of telomerase and telomeres in viruses‐associated cancer
Authors: Rasouli Sara , Dakic Aleksandra , Wang Qi‐En , Mitchell Darrion , Blakaj Dukagjin M. , Putluri Nagireddy , Li Jenny , Liu Xuefeng
Published: May 2024

The cause of cancer is attributed to the uncontrolled growth and proliferation of cells resulting from genetic changes and alterations in cell behavior, a phenomenon known as epigenetics. Telomeres, protective caps on the ends of chromosomes, regulate both cellular aging and cancer formation. In most cancers, telomerase is upregulated, with the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) enzyme and telomerase RNA component (TERC) RNA element contributing to the maintenance of telomere length. Additionally, it is noteworthy that two viruses, human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), utilize telomerase for their replication or persistence in infected cells. Also, TERT and TERC may play major roles in cancer not related to telomere biology. They are involved in the regulation of gene expression, signal transduction pathways, cellular metabolism, or even immune response modulation. Furthermore, the crosstalk between TERT, TERC, RNA‐binding proteins, and microRNAs contributes to a greater extent to cancer biology. To understand the multifaceted roles played by TERT and TERC in cancer and viral life cycles, and then to develop effective therapeutic strategies against these diseases, are fundamental for this goal. By investigating deeply, the complicated mechanisms and relationships between TERT and TERC, scientists will open the doors to new therapies. In its analysis, the review emphasizes the significance of gaining insight into the multifaceted roles that TERT and TERC play in cancer pathogenesis, as well as their involvement in the viral life cycle for designing effective anticancer therapy approaches.