bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Palladium‐N‐heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Application of C−H Activation for Carboxaldehyde Derivatives
Authors: Şahin Neslihan 
Published: October 2024

AbstractA series of palladium‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes (2 a‐e) were synthesized from corresponding N‐heterocyclic carbene precursors (1 a‐e) in good yields. The structural analysis of all novel compounds was done by spectroscopic methods and elemental analysis was also performed to evaluate the purity of the complexes. Further confirmations of complexes 2 a‐d were provided by X‐ray crystallography technique. Under optimized reaction conditions, the catalytic activity of the palladium‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes was reviewed by direct arylation of furan‐2‐carboxaldehyde and 1‐methylpyrrole‐2‐carboxaldehyde with varied aryl halides. This arylation showed productive and selective reaction at the C5‐position of heteroaryl derivatives.
Does the Mesolytic C−C Bond Cleavage Occur in the Radical Anions of Diarylethanes?
Authors: Yamaji Minoru , Tojo Sachiko , Majima Tetsuro , Fujitsuka Mamoru 
Published: October 2024

AbstractWe have been studying mesolytic cleavage of X−Y σ‐bond (X−Y=CH2−O, CH2−S, S−S and Se−Se) tethering aryl (Ar) moieties such as phenyl, biphenyl, α‐ and β‐naphthyl groups. In the present study, possibility of mesolytic cleavage of carbon‐carbon bonds in radical anions of diarylethanes (Ar1CCAr2) was investigated by pulsed electron radiolysis in N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) and 2‐methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF). No mesolytic C−C bond cleavage in the radical anions occurred in both solvents whereas in MTHF, formation of H‐adducts of the diarylethanes was seen in the transient absorption spectral changes. Based on the DFT calculations for the bond dissociation energy of the C−C bond and the singly occupied molecular orbital distributions on Ar1CCAr2 radical anions, we rationalize the absence of the mesolysis in comparison with experimental facts previously reported for Ar1X‐YAr2 radical anions having X−Y σ‐bond.
Screening of Novel Hydroxamic Acid Derivatives as ASM Inhibitors for the Treatment of Depression
Authors: Gupta Shankar , Asati Vivek , Ali Amena , Chtita Samir , Kaya Savas , Ali Abuzer 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIn the present work, we performed a computational study on hydroxamic acid containing compounds as acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) inhibitors. The study starts from the development of 3D‐QSAR and pharmacophore models, which were further taken as a source for the enumeration and virtual screening study. The 3D‐QSAR results showed the best statistical model with Q2, R2, and R2 scrambling values of 0.7175, 0.9019, and 0.7128, respectively. The pharmacophore hypothesis generated one of the best hypotheses including five features such as 2 aromatic rings, 2 hydrogen bond donors, and 1 hydrogen bond acceptor. The enumeration study paved the path in the discovery of novel compounds where pharmacophore hypothesis and 3D QSAR study data was used for the identification of novel compounds. Compound 9f_20 showed good docking score −11.399 and binding interactions with amino acids HIP317, ASN316, GLH386, Zn701, Zn702, HIP317, and HIP280 required for ASM inhibitory activity. The virtual screening study was performed on the basis of developed pharmacophore ADDRR_1 where ZINC000013941849 showed good binding interactions with receptor including amino acids Zn701, Zn702, HIP280, LYS103, HIP317, ASN316, and ILE487. ZINC000013941849 with docking score −13.101. The screened compounds may be taken for the further development of novel antidepressant agents.
Optimal Preservation of PFFs in Glycerol Enhances Suitability for Modeling Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Mao Hengxu , Kuang Yaoyun , Huang Weiqing , Gan Tingting , Dai Wei , Guo Wenyuan , Chen Minshan , Su Zhongqiang , Shu Hui , Wu Tengteng , Wang Xiaobei , Wu Zhuohua , Li Hongyan , Liu Qin , Li Hong , Huang Xiaoyun , Yang Xinling , Xu Ping‐Yi 
Published: October 2024

AbstractInjecting α‐synuclein pre‐formed fibrils (αSyn PFFs) into various tissues and organs involves converting monomeric αSyn into a fibrillar form, inducing extensive αSyn pathology that effectively models Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the distinct physicochemical properties of αSyn amyloid fibrils can potentially reduce their seeding activity, especially during storage. In this study, it is demonstrated that αSyn PFFs exhibit significant sensitivity to low temperatures, with notable denaturation occurring between −20 and 4 °C, and gradual disassembly persisted even under storage conditions at −80 °C. To mitigate this issue, a commonly used protein stabilizer, glycerol is introduced, which significantly reverses the cold‐induced disassembly of PFFs. Remarkably, storing PFFs with 20% glycerol at −80 °C for a month preserved their morphology and seeding activity as freshly prepared PFFs. Glycerol‐stabilized αSyn PFFs resulted in compromised neuronal survival, with the extent of these impairments correlating with the formation of αSyn pathology both in vivo and in vitro, indistinguishable from freshly prepared PFFs. Storing sonicated PFFs with 20% glycerol at −80 °C provides an optimal storage method, as sonication is necessary for activating their seeding potential. This approach reduces the frequency of sonication, simplifies handling, and ultimately lowers the overall workload, enhancing the practicality of using PFFs.
Capture and Protection of Environmental DNA in a Metal‐Organic Framework
Authors: FitzGerald Laura I. , Hahn Erin E. , Wallace Mark , Stephenson Sarah A. , Berry Oliver F. , Doherty Cara M. 
Published: October 2024

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is released by organisms into their surroundings, enabling non‐invasive species detection and biodiversity assessments without the need for direct observation. However, collection poses challenges due to the generally low abundance of eDNA and the presence of degradation agents, including enzymes, UV radiation, and microorganisms, rendering samples unstable. Active filtration, which is frequently used to capture eDNA in water, can be time‐consuming and cumbersome in field conditions. Herein, a filter‐free one‐pot procedure for capturing eDNA with the metal‐organic framework (MOF), zeolitic imidazolate framework 8 (ZIF‐8), is examined. The method is evaluated on 15 mL water samples from diverse sources (aquarium, river, and sea). ZIF‐8 forms in all with high capture efficiency (>98%) using spiked salmon DNA to represent eDNA. The DNA is resistant to degradation by endonucleases and UV light. In addition, it remains stable over time as a species‐specific salmon quantitative polymerase chain reaction detected genomic DNA in all samples captured with the MOF to a maximum of 28 days at 37 °C while the untreated control samples were below the assay detection limit by day 6. These results highlight the efficacy of ZIF‐8 capture in overcoming challenges associated with the preservation of eDNA obtained from aquatic environments.
Facile Tailor on the Surface of Mo Foil Toward High‐Efficient Flexible CZTSSe Solar Cells
Authors: Xu Han , Meng Rutao , Xu Xuejun , Wu Li , Sun Yali , Liu Yue , Wang Zuoyun , Wang Nan , Li Ming , Zhang Yi 
Published: October 2024

AbstractFlexible Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) solar cells is attracting much attention because of their enormous application prospects. However, current flexible CZTSSe solar cells with Mo foil as substrate still suffer from severe back interface problems due to the complexity of substrate surfaces. Herein, a facile approach to tailor the surface of the flexible substrate and modify the back interface between CZTSSe and Mo foil is proposed. The study discloses that a simple polishing can not only improve the wettability of the precursor solution on the substrate unexpectedly and thus improve the quality of the CZTSSe film, but also increase the mechanical stability of the absorber layer grown on Mo foil. The subsequent UV‐ozone treatment helps to form a favorite MoO3 layer for efficient CZTSSe devices. Surprisingly, the quasi‐ohmic contact is formed between CZTSSe/Mo foil by such combined treatments and thus promoting the carrier collection. Consequently, the efficiency of the flexible CZTSSe solar cell is significantly improved from 4.94% to 10.32% without anti‐reflection layer. The bending durability of the cell fabricated on the treated Mo foil is increased greatly. This work discloses that back contact interface is very important for the carrier collection and thus the highly efficient flexible thin film solar cells.
Numerical investigation on the behavior of thin concrete shells subjected to nonuniform and asymmetrical loads
Authors: Cardoso Bárbara , Cavaco Eduardo , Júlio Eduardo , Tavares Maria Elizabeth 
Published: October 2024

AbstractConcrete shells, designed with near optimal shapes for uniform gravity loads, can be subjected to nonmembrane effects caused by nonuniform and asymmetrical loads. In this paper, a numerical study on the effect of normative loads on a thin triangular concrete shell with three supports is presented. Two actions were considered, wind and snow, which present high spatial variability in both intensity and direction, assuming the values established in Eurocode 1 for the worst possible location, in Portugal. Linear, nonlinear and stability analyses were performed using the ABAQUS software. Results suggest that the wind action, but especially the exceptional snow load in drifted arrangement, produce significant bending moments, leading to decompression, and eventually to the development of stresses above the tensile strength of current concrete classes. Therefore, the production of these shells by assembling prefabricated un‐reinforced modules, requires the use of ultrahigh‐performance fiber reinforced concrete, combined with prestressing.
Biliary obstruction as a consequence of gastric dilatation volvulus in a German shepherd dog
Authors: Liu Paydor , Cronin Anna Maria 
Published: October 2024

AbstractA 5‐year‐old, female, neutered German shepherd dog was presented with a suspicion of extrahepatic biliary obstruction following emergency surgery and gastropexy for gastric dilatation and volvulus 4 days prior at the referring practice. Three days postoperatively, biochemical changes were consistent with a cholestatic pattern. Following referral, abdominal ultrasound was performed, which showed a dilated common bile duct and cystic duct, distended gall bladder without organised echogenic material, and an increased amount of gas in the stomach. Exploratory laparotomy identified an incomplete de‐rotation of the stomach. Subsequently, the mesoduodenum and hepatoduodenal ligament, wherein the common bile duct lies, were torsed; the gall bladder was distended as a result. The gastropexy was released and stomach fully de‐rotated, which resulted in the resolution of the common bile duct obstruction.
Segmental retention models for representing the hydraulic properties of evolving structured soils
Authors: Kiałka Filip , Flores Omar , Naudts Kim , Luyssaert Sebastiaan , Guenet Bertrand 
Published: October 2024

AbstractCommon parametrizations of soil hydraulic properties rely on unimodal curves, which cannot accurately represent the properties of many macroporous, aggregated, mixed, or compacted soils. Multimodal hydraulic curves are increasingly used to represent these structured soils in eco‐hydrological models, but the dynamics of the processes that shape soil structure—and the resulting dynamics of soil hydraulic properties—are often neglected. In cases such as compaction recovery, where the structure‐shaping process can be modeled, coupling the evolving pore volumes to soil hydraulic properties in a physically based way remains challenging. Here, we show how modeled or estimated soil structure evolution, when expressed as a time series of porosities in a few pore size classes, can be assimilated into established models of soil hydraulic properties. Our method relies on the division of retention models into smooth segments, whose water contents can be independently adjusted. We apply the approach to examples of modeled soil structure evolution from the published literature: one describing soil structure recovery after compaction and one describing structure formation as a result of organic amendment. In the cases considered, the estimated soil hydraulic conductivity varies more strongly than the modeled porosity which drives it. This shows that transport‐related soil functions can be impacted longer (after compaction) or sooner (after amendment) than suggested by the evolution of structural metrics such as porosity. In general, modeling the evolution of soil hydraulic properties in cases such as these paves the way for holistic, process‐based modeling of land management practices and their impact on soil functioning.
China's “new era” in foreign policy: Explaining change under Xi Jinping
Authors: Horowitz Shale , Liu Jingnan 
Published: October 2024

AbstractChina's supreme leader, Xi Jinping, has made fundamental changes to China's foreign policy, which have important implications for international security. What are the sources of Xi's foreign policy changes? Rather than assume that particular theoretical schools of international relations may provide the best explanations of foreign policy, we begin by observing that specific leaders' foreign policy preferences vary significantly. We infer characteristics of Xi's foreign policy preferences and methods based on his ideological statements, along with evidence from his domestic policies and habitually preferred methods of domestic rule. We find that these predicted characteristics imply policies that closely align with the revealed pattern of foreign policy change but also point out that foreign policy outcomes provide additional evidence about preferences that cannot be derived from ideological statements and domestic policy evidence.
Post-truth Politics and Epistemic Populism: About (Dis-)Trusted Presentation and Communication of Facts, Not False Information
Authors: Harsin Jayson 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThis chapter is a theoretical and conceptual contribution to the research on post-truth politics and populism studies, with an emphasis on epistemic questions (especially those focused on ‘disinformation’/‘misinformation’). It proceeds in two parts. The first part critically analyzes the much-cited Oxford Dictionaries’ definition of post-truth, which authorizes a study of ‘post-truth politics.’ The definition is dismissed as unusable, and a different definition and theory of post-truth is proposed, which sees it as only secondarily epistemic. Arendt’s concept of public truth is proposed as a better starting point, with the caveat that current treatments of post-truth misunderstand how public truth can be known (since it is not ‘scientific’ truth), which requires acknowledging its crucial technologically and socially mediated status depending on performative trust. Thus, post-truth is an affective state, an anxious and future-looking public mood about the difficulty of trust-making for securing publicly accepted facts. The ‘post’ refers to an anxiety about what might be on the horizon. Part II, exploring a potential theoretical overlap between post-truth and populism studies, reverses the epistemic focus of populism studies from populists’ ‘counter-knowledge’ problems taken as self-evident by researchers. Instead, it explores epistemic problems in populism studieson the researcher side: the epistemic risks built into the ‘ideational’ definition of populism; and in the tacit understandings of political rhetoric reduced to ‘information’ (transmission and reception) at the expense of more complex notions of mediated communication as performance or ritual, speech acts, and, especially, political rhetoric. The latter is unrigorously reduced to ‘false information,’ and it requires a very different interpretive analytical approach for comprehending the empirical phenomena being called ‘populist’ and ‘post-truth’—disinformation, misinformation, lying, rumor, and conspiracy theory.
The Epistemic Dimension of Populist Communication: Can Exposure to Populist Communication Spark Factual Relativism?
Authors: Hameleers Michael 
Published: October 2024

AbstractPopulist communication has taken on a central epistemic dimension in recent years. This means that populist blame attributions are often targeting established institutions of knowledge, such as scientists and mainstream media. It also implies that the objective status of conventional knowledge is subject to delegitimization discourses. Despite the potential consequences of epistemic populism on people’s trust in established information, we know little about how it is constructed online, and how it may impact citizens’ perceptions of facts and knowledge. Therefore, for this Chapter, I conducted a qualitative content analysis of truth claims on the hyper-partisan media platform Breitbart in the US. In a subsequent experiment, I explored the effects of exposure to epistemic populism on perceptions of factual relativism. The main findings of the content analysis indicate that truth claims on Breitbart follow a populist logic, given that people-centric knowledge claims were emphasized whilst established claims on truth and expert knowledge were delegitimized and flagged as ‘fake news.’ The experiment revealed that exposure to such populist claims on truth and knowledge did not result in a more relative understanding of objectivity and truth. Thus, even though populist communication undermines the ideas of objective expert knowledge by fuelling distrust in established truth claims, this attack on knowledge does not promote a more relative understanding of truth and knowledge among participants. In the chapter, different explanations and implications are presented. Among other things, the relatively high levels of perceived relativism toward facts in the studied population indicate that there is little room for populist communication to influence perceptions on truth. In addition, ideas about truth and knowledge can be regarded as stable traits, and populist communication may be more likely to strengthen and reinforce people-centric truth claims than to fuel general levels of relativism and skepticism toward the objective and fixed status of truth.
Subtractive manufacturing of composite materials with robotic manipulators: a comprehensive review
Authors: Le Van , Tran Minh , Ding Songlin 
Published: October 2024

AbstractRobotic manipulators play an innovative role as a new method for high-precision, large-scale manufacturing of composite components. However, machining composite materials with these systems presents unique challenges. Unlike traditional monolithic materials, composites exhibit complex behaviour and inconsistent results during machining. Additionally, robotic manipulator as a machine tool often associates with stiffness and vibration issues which adds another layer of complexity to this approach. By employing a comprehensive analysis and a combination of quantitative and qualitative review methodology, this review paper aims to survey diverse properties of composite materials by different categories and their interaction with machining processes. Subsequently, a survey of manufacturing techniques for composite machining following with a review in various modeling practices to capture material machining behaviour under a systematic framework is presented. Thereafter, the reviewed literature examines the errors inherent in robotic systems, alongside ongoing research efforts in modeling to characterise robot behaviour and enhance its performance. Afterward, the paper explores the application of data-driven modelling methods, with a primary focus on digital twins, in enabling real-time monitoring and process optimisation. Finally, this paper aims to identify the gap in this field and suggests the potential routes for future research and application as well as their challenges.
Babcock versus Scissor Tensioning for Retropubic Mid-Urethral Slings: Comparing Two Intra-Operative Techniques Through 5 Years of Follow-Up
Authors: Brennand Erin A. , Chai Julia , Cummings Shannon , Huang Beili , Hughes Taylor , Edwards Allison , Ramirez Alison Carter ,   for the Calgary Women’s Pelvic Health Research Group
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Introduction and Hypothesis
The objective was to determine if mid-urethral sling (MUS) tensioning with a Mayo Scissor as a sub-urethral spacer compared with a Babcock clamp holding a loop of tape under the urethra results in differences in patient-reported outcomes and rates of repeat surgery over a 5-year follow-up.

Methods
Follow-up 5 years after a randomized clinical trial, utilizing primary data collection linked to administrative health data, was carried out to create a longitudinal cohort. The primary outcome was participant-reported bothersome SUI symptoms, as defined by the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included participant-reported bothersome overactive bladder (OAB) scores, median scores of three validated urinary symptom questionnaires, and rates of subsequent surgery determined through patient report and administrative data.

Results
Two hundred and sixty (81.8%) of the original study participants provided participant-reported data at 5 years. Administrative data linkage was completed for all of the original participants (n = 318). Demographic characteristics remained similar in the two groups at the 5-year follow-up mark. No differences existed in the primary outcome of reported bothersome SUI symptoms (30.8% Scissors vs 26.8% Babcock, p = 0.559), proportion of participants with bothersome OAB, the median scores of three validated bladder questionnaires, or in rates and cumulative incidence of recurrent MUS surgery or surgical revision of mesh-related complications.

Conclusion
Both the Scissor and Babcock tensioning techniques provided comparable outcomes at 5 years post-MUS surgery. The information from this study allows surgeons to better decide which technique to adopt in their practice, providing confidence in longer-term cure and safety.
Analysis of tetrahydroisoquinolines formed after simultaneous consumption of ethanol and amphetamine or its derivatives by LC–MS/MS in human blood, brain, and liver tissue
Authors: Sonnenberg Marianne , Czekelius Constantin , Temme Oliver , Pawlik Evelyn , Daldrup Thomas 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe effects of the simultaneous consumption of amphetamine or amphetamine derivatives and alcohol have not yet been adequately clarified, particularly concerning potential condensation products resulting from the endogenous reaction between these substances and their metabolites (e.g., acetaldehyde, a metabolite of ethanol). In this study, we developed an LC–MS/MS method employing liquid–liquid extraction for the qualitative detection of some relevant condensation products belonging to the class of tetrahydroisoquinolines and their derivatives in human blood, brain, and liver samples. This includes the analysis of the substrates amphetamine, methamphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, methylenedioxyamphetamine, as well as the condensation products 1,3-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, N-methyl-1,3-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, 1,3-dimethyl-7,8-methylenedioxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, and N-methyl-1,3-dimethyl-7,8-methylenedioxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline. Therefore, the reference standards of the mentioned tetrahydroisoquinolines were synthesized in advance and the method was validated with regard to the question of the qualitative detection of these compounds. The validation parameters included selectivity, specificity, limit of detection, lower limit of quantification, recovery, matrix effects, and stability for blood, brain, and liver samples. Following the analysis of human blood and post-mortem tissue samples, evidence of the condensation product 1,3-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline originating from the interaction between amphetamine and acetaldehyde was identified in two liver samples. On the contrary, no evidence of this or other tetrahydroisoquinolines was found in the remaining tissue and serum samples.
Graphical abstract