bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Silk Nanofiber Carriers for Both Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Drugs to Achieve Improved Combination Chemotherapy
Authors: Xiao Liying , Yang Huaxiang , Lu Qiang , Kaplan David L. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractCombination chemotherapy is considered an effective strategy to inhibit tumor growth. Here, beta‐sheet‐rich silk nanofibers are co‐loaded with hydrophilic doxorubicin (DOX) and hydrophobic paclitaxel (PTX) through a sequential physical blending‐centrifugation‐blending process. The ratio and amount of DOX and PTX on the nanofibers are regulated independently to optimize cooperative interaction. Both PTX and DOX are immobilized on the same nanofibers to avoid burst release problems. Besides the water‐insoluble PTX, more than half of the DOX remained fixed on the nanofibers for more than 28 days, which facilitated the co‐internalization of both DOX and PTX by tumor cells in vitro. Changing the ratio of co‐loaded DOX and PTX achieved optimal combination therapy in vitro. The DOX‐PTX co‐loaded nanofibers are assembled into injectable hydrogels to facilitate in situ injection around tumor tissues in vivo. Long‐term inhibition is achieved for tumors treated with DOX‐PTX co‐loaded hydrogels, superior to those treated with free DOX and PTX, and hydrogels loaded with only DOX or PTX. Considering the mild and controllable physical loading process and superior loading capacity for both hydrophilic and hydrophobic ingredients, these injectable silk nanofiber hydrogels are promising carriers to deliver multiple drug types simultaneously in situ, enhancing combination chemotherapies towards clinical applications.
Effect of the structure of macromonomer in polycarboxylate superplasticizer on viscosity and workability of concrete
Authors: Pang Jianjun , Guo Jintang , Li Wenke , Chang Qinglu 
Published: January 2024

AbstractReducing the water‐to‐cement (w/c) ratio was the most direct way to decrease the dosage of cement while ensuring compressive strength of concrete. However, the concrete system tend to be more stickiness at low w/c ratio. Four types of polycarboxylate superplasticizers (PCEs) were synthesized using HPEG, IPEG, EPEG, or VPEG as macromonomers. The impact of PCEs on the viscosity and workability of cement and concrete was investigated. The mechanism behind the macroscopic properties exhibited by these four PCEs was explored through surface tension analysis, GPC analysis, NMR analysis, and adsorption capacity evaluation. The results indicated that, at high w/c ratio (≥0.35), concrete mixed with four types of PCEs demonstrated almost the same flow velocity and viscosity, at low w/c ratio (≤0.3), the V‐funnel time of concrete which mixed with 67EPC3.5 reached 8.5 s, showed the fastest flow velocity and lowest viscosity, due to the structure of 67EPC3.5 containing the highest content of combined units of AAA which resulted in rapid adsorption rate and maximum adsorption quantity, and the viscosity effect was independent of surface tension. Concrete mixed with 67IPC3.5 displayed the superior workability at any w/c ratio primarily because the structure of 67IPC3.5 contained the highest content of polyoxyethylene ether which effectively reduced surface tension.
Biosourced spherical microbeads from brewer's spent grain for sustainable personal hygiene products
Authors: McMackin Amy , Banville Vincent , Cardinal Sébastien 
Published: January 2024

AbstractMany countries have recently banned the production and importation of petrochemical plastic microbeads for use as exfoliating agents in personal care products. Plastic particles in products of this nature are too small to be retrieved during wastewater treatment and they accumulate in the environment, negatively impacting living organisms and ecosystems. Sustainable alternatives that offer comparable mechanical properties to synthetic plastic microbeads could be developed using biowaste material. Brewer's spent grain (BSG), the primary residue of the brewery industry, is shown herein to be a promising starting material in the development of biodegradable, nontoxic microbeads. After dilute acid hydrolysis, pretreated lignocellulosic pulp from BSG is solubilized using an aqueous system of NaOH and ZnO. Solid microbeads may then be formed by dropping the resulting solution into an acid bath, filtering, and drying. The conditions of each step required optimization to successfully produce spherical microbeads with a mean diameter as small as 1.25 mm, a homogeneous size distribution, and an average hardness of 199 MPa. The beads also demonstrated superior cleansing abilities to commercially available natural exfoliating particles. BSG microbeads are therefore a promising option for use as a physical exfoliating agent in various personal hygiene products.
Current, former Kappa members share perspectives on males joining sororities
Authors: McCarthy Claudine 
Published: January 2024

You’ve likely heard about the lawsuit filed by several members of the University of Wyoming chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma who claimed that welcoming men into their all‐women's sorority violated its bylaws. (Read more about that lawsuit on page 5.) Now, you can hear directly from Patsy Levang, a former KKG National Foundation President, and Allie Coghan, a KKG member and plaintiff in the Westenbroek v. Kappa Kappa Gamma lawsuit, who recently graduated from UW and became an Independent Women's Forum Ambassador.
Decorated Magnetic Nanocatalyst with Trinitriloacetic Acid as a Heterogeneous Catalyst used in the Synthesis of Pyrimido[4,5]quinoline‐2,4‐diones
Authors: Rahmatzadeh Setareh , Sardarian Ali Reza , Nikmanesh Soudabeh 
Published: January 2024

AbstractTo answer the challenges of using nitrilotriacetic acid (NTAA) as an efficient, recyclable, and durable acidic nanocatalyst, a novel, versatile, engineerable, affordable, eco‐friendly acidic heterogeneous magnetic nanocatalyst has been synthesized with high thermal stability and excellent catalytic efficiency through immobilization of NTTA on the surface of the functionalized magnetite core‐shell. Fe3O4@SiO2‐NH‐NTAA, has been synthesized and presented here. This nanomagnetic catalyst, Fe3O4@SiO2‐NH‐NTAA, was fully identified and characterized through analytical techniques such as FTIR, FESEM, TEM, EDX, elemental mapping, TGA‐DSC, DLS, VSM, and XRD, in addition to theoretical calculations based on DFT/B3LYP/6‐311++G(d, p). Its catalytic capability as well as easy separation, recoverability, and reuseability were examined in the one‐pot preparation of pyrimido[4,5]quinolone‐2,4‐diones under mild conditions, where the high performance of the Fe3O4@SiO2‐NH‐NTAA magnetic nano‐catalyst was proved by excellent reaction yield (>98 %) and the catalyst's recovery efficiency (>98 %). Due to the presence of NTAA's zwitterionic forms in the outermost layer of Fe3O4@SiO2‐NH‐NTAA, this acidic catalyst causes the progress and control of the three‐component reaction in this article well and in the desired direction.
A Novel Multifunctional Photonic Film for Colored Passive Daytime Radiative Cooling and Energy Harvesting
Authors: Wu Yingjie , Wang Si , Zhang Renyan , Yu Tao , Xu Mingfeng , Li Xiong , Pu Mingbo , Ma Xiaoliang , Guo Yongcai , Su Yuanjie , Tai Huiling , Luo Xiangang 
Published: January 2024

AbstractPassive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) materials with sustainable energy harvesting capability is critical to concurrently reduce traditional cooling energy utilized for thermal comfort and transfer natural clean energies into electricity. Herein, a versatile photonic film (Ecoflex@BTO@UAFL) based on a novel fluorescent luminescence color passive radiative cooling with triboelectric and piezoelectric effect is developed by filling the dielectric BaTiO3 (BTO) nanoparticles and ultraviolet absorption fluorescent luminescence (UAFL) powder into the elastic Ecoflex matrix. Test results demonstrate that the Ecoflex@BTO@UAFL photonic film exhibits a maximum passive radiative cooling effect of ∽10.1 °C in the daytime. Meanwhile, its average temperature drop in the daytime is ~4.48 °C, which is 0.91 °C higher than that of the Ecoflex@BTO photonic film (3.56 °C) due to the addition of UAFL material. Owing to the high dielectric constant and piezoelectric effect of BTO nanoparticles, the maximum power density (0.53 W m−2, 1 Hz @ 10 N) of the Ecoflex@BTO photonic film‐based hybrid nanogenerator is promoted by 70.9% compared to the Ecoflex film‐based TENG. This work provides an ingenious strategy for combining PDRC effects with triboelectric and piezoelectric properties, which can spontaneously achieve thermal comfort and energy conservation, offering a new insight into multifunctional energy saving.
Obtaining Ligand‐Free Aqueous Au‐Nanoparticles Using Reversible CsPbBr3 ↔ Au@CsPbBr3 Nanocrystal Transformation
Authors: Samanta Subarna , Paul Sujay , Debnath Tushar 
Published: January 2024

AbstractWater‐hexane interfacial preparation of photostable Au@CsPbBr3 (Au@CPB) hybrid nanocrystals (NCs) from pure CsPbBr3 (CPB) NCs is reported, with the coexistence of exciton and localized surface plasmon resonance with equal dominance. This enables strong exciton‐plasmon coupling in these plasmonic perovskite NCs where not only the photoluminescence is quenched intrinsically due to ultrafast charge separation, but also the light absorption property increases significantly, covering the entire visible region. Using a controlled interfacial strategy, a reversible chemical transformation between CPB and Au@CPB NCs is shown, with the simultaneous eruption of larger‐size ligand‐free aqueous Au nanoparticles (NPs). An adsorption‐desorption mechanism is proposed for the reversible transformation, while the overgrowth reaction of the Au NPs passes through the Au aggregation intermediate. This study further shows that the plasmonic Au@CPB hybrid NCs as well as ligand‐free Au NPs exhibit clear surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect of a commercially available probe molecule. Overall, the beautiful interfacial chemistry delivers two independent plasmonic materials, i.e., Au@CPB NCs and ligand‐free aqueous Au NPs, which may find important implications in photocatalytic and biomedical applications.
Co‐culturing microalgae with endophytic bacteria from bamboo for efficient nutrient and heavy metal removal coupling with biogas upgrading
Authors: Cheng Pu , Wang Zhengfang , Lu Bei , Zhao Yongjun , Zhang Hui 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe construction of dominant algal species and bacterial strains in algal treatment technology was crucial for pollutant removal. In order to enhance the purification capability of microalgae toward heavy metals in water as well as biogas slurry and biogas, symbiotic systems were respectively constructed using Chlorella vulgaris and two different endogenous bacteria (microalgal endophytic bacteria S395–2 and plant endophytic bacteria BEB7). The results demonstrated that the endogenous bacteria (S395–2 and BEB7) effectively promote the growth, biomass yield, photosynthetic activity, and carbonic anhydrase activity of microalgae. Additionally, BEB7 exhibited superior promotion effects on microalgae compared to S395–2. Moreover, the BEB7‐microalgae co‐cultivation system not only efficiently removed heavy metals from water but also effectively purified the nutrients and CO2 in biogas slurry. The optimal effect was observed when the ratio of BEB7 to microalgae was 10:1. This study has established a solid theoretical foundation for the application of microalgae in pollutant purification.Practitioner Points
Endogenous bacteria effectively promoted microalgal performance.
The optimal ratio of BEB7 to microalgae was 10:1.
Chlorella vulgaris‐BEB7 showed the best removal performance.
The intersection of virus infection and liver disease: A comprehensive review of pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment
Authors: Ren Meng , Lu Chenxia , Zhou Mingwei , Jiang Xiaobing , Li Xiaodong , Liu Ningning 
Published: January 2024

AbstractLiver disease represents a significant global burden, placing individuals at a heightened risk of developing cirrhosis and liver cancer. Viral infections act as a primary cause of liver diseases on a worldwide scale. Infections involving hepatitis viruses, notably hepatitis B, C, and E viruses, stand out as the most prevalent contributors to acute and chronic intrahepatic adverse outcome, although the hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be effectively cured with antiviral drugs, but no preventative vaccination developed. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV can lead to both acute and chronic liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which are principal causes of worldwide morbidity and mortality. Other viruses, such as Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV), are capable of causing liver damage. Therefore, it is essential to recognize that virus infections and liver diseases are intricate and interconnected processes. A profound understanding of the underlying relationship between virus infections and liver diseases proves pivotal in the effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions. In this review, we delve into the mechanisms by which virus infections induce liver diseases, as well as explore the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of liver diseases.This article is categorized under:
Infectious Diseases > Biomedical Engineering
Isolation of an Osmium(III) Hydrido Complex
Authors: Alizadeh Niyaz , Abbenseth Josh , Bete Sarah , Finger Markus , Otte Matthias , Würtele Christian , Schneider Sven 
Published: January 2024

AbstractSynthesis and characterization of [OsH(PNP)(bipy)]+ (PNP=N(CHCHPtBu2)2) are reported, as the second osmium(III) hydrido complex next to [OsH(en)2(py)]2+. While the osmium(II) precursor, [OsH(PNP)(bipy)], exhibits two reversible oxidations in the cyclic voltammogram, the product from 2‐electron oxidation could not be isolated due to rapid decay. Thermochemical examinations attribute the stability of the osmium(III) hydride to both thermodynamic and kinetic reasons. In contrast, the high estimated acidity of [OsH(PNP)(bipy)]2+ presumably leads to rapid decay.
Genetic diversity and inbreeding in an endangered island-dwelling parrot population following repeated population bottlenecks
Authors: Gautschi Daniel , Heinsohn Robert , Ortiz-Catedral Luis , Stojanovic Dejan , Wilson Melinda , Crates Ross , Macgregor Nicholas A. , Olsen Penny , Neaves Linda 
Published: January 2024

AbstractGenetic diversity and population structure can have important implications for the management of threatened species. This is particularly true for small, isolated populations that have experienced significant declines or population bottlenecks. The Norfolk Island green parrot Cyanoramphus cookii is an endangered species at risk of inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity due to its restricted range and the population bottlenecks experienced in recent decades. To assess the severity of inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity in the population we analyzed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for 157 unique genetic samples collected from nestlings and randomly captured adult birds between 2015 and 2022. We also assessed the population for genetic structure, calculated sex ratios, and looked for evidence of past population bottlenecks. Our analysis revealed that 17.83% of individuals sampled were highly inbred (F > 0.125), although expected heterozygosity (HE) did not significantly differ from observed heterozygosity (HO) and the average inbreeding coefficient was low. The estimated effective population size (Ne) was 43.8 and we found no evidence of genetic structure. Demographic simulations provided support for scenarios including multiple population bottlenecks, when compared to those with a single population bottleneck or no past bottlenecks. We discuss the implications of our findings for the future management of the species including any potential attempt to establish an insurance population via translocation. Our study highlights the importance of considering population genetics when determining appropriate management actions for threatened species and the need to assess non-model species on an individual basis.
Failure analysis and continual improvement in the engineering design process: Teacher roles in children’s problem-solving processes
Authors: Erol Ahmet 
Published: January 2024

AbstractSTEM education, which means integrated thinking, attracts the attention of early childhood educators and researchers. Engineering education, which naturally serves STEM integration, contributes to children’s problem-solving skills with failure analysis and continual improvement habits of mind. Children need adult support in this process due to their developmental characteristics. This study focuses on the roles of teachers in situations where children fail to solve the problems they encounter in the engineering design process. In this direction, the research was carried out with a case study. The participants were 17 preschool teachers working in southwestern Turkey and 255 children in their classes. The data for the study were collected through observation and a semi-structured interview protocol. The data were analyzed by content analysis. According to the results, teachers facilitated failure analysis and continual improvement processes in the problems faced by children by encouraging them to rethink the problem, encouraging them to persist, and inviting communication and cooperation with friends. The findings highlight teacher encouragement as important in children’s failure analysis and continual improvement processes.
Facets of Constructive Voice Behavior: Construct Clarification, Theoretical Refinement, and Measurement
Authors: Krefft Anja , Marcus Bernd , Weigelt Oliver 
Published: January 2024

AbstractConstructive voice encompasses a multitude of voice message content. However, existing measures of voice do not capture these differences in a precise way and contribute to inconclusive evidence. Based on existing conceptualizations of constructive voice, we suggest that employee voice messages differ along three main dimensions: (1) suggesting innovative opportunities versus highlighting harm (functional orientation), (2) offering specific suggestions versus pointing out problems (substantive orientation), and (3) addressing existing versus potential future issues (temporal orientation). Using this three-dimensional approach, we define five distinct prototypical facets of voice with well-defined conceptual boundaries. Through two expert studies (N = 12 and N = 10), we identify uncertainties in the content of current voice measures. We then introduce a newly developed measure that addresses these shortcomings. In two consecutive survey studies (N = 132 and N = 553), we present initial evidence supporting the reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity of this measure. The correlations among the five facets of voice were high. However, we also found evidence for differential associations with some antecedents.
Phase I study targeting newly diagnosed grade 4 astrocytoma with bispecific antibody armed T cells (EGFR BATs) in combination with radiation and temozolomide
Authors: Fadul Camilo E. , Thakur Archana , Kim Jungeun , Kassay-McAllister Jessica , Schalk Dana , Lopes M. Beatriz , Donahue Joseph , Purow Benjamin , Dillon Patrick , Le Tri , Schiff David , Liu Qin , Lum Lawrence G. 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine the safety, feasibility, and immunologic responses of treating grade 4 astrocytomas with multiple infusions of anti-CD3 x anti-EGFR bispecific antibody (EGFRBi) armed T cells (EGFR BATs) in combination with radiation and chemotherapy.

Methods
This phase I study used a 3 + 3 dose escalation design to test the safety and feasibility of intravenously infused EGFR BATs in combination with radiation and temozolomide (TMZ) in patients with newly diagnosed grade 4 astrocytomas (AG4). After finding the feasible dose, an expansion cohort with unmethylated O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) tumors received weekly EGFR BATs without TMZ.

Results
The highest feasible dose was 80 × 109 EGFR BATs without dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) in seven patients. We could not escalate the dose because of the limited T-cell expansion. There were no DLTs in the additional cohort of three patients with unmethylated MGMT tumors who received eight weekly infusions of EGFR BATs without TMZ. EGFR BATs infusions induced increases in glioma specific anti-tumor cytotoxicity by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (p < 0.03) and NK cell activity (p < 0.002) ex vivo, and increased serum concentrations of IFN-γ (p < 0.03), IL-2 (p < 0.007), and GM-CSF (p < 0.009).

Conclusion
Targeting AG4 with EGFR BATs at the maximum feasible dose of 80 × 109, with or without TMZ was safe and induced significant anti-tumor-specific immune responses. These results support further clinical trials to examine the efficacy of this adoptive cell therapy in patients with MGMT-unmethylated GBM.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03344250
Not seeing the forest for the trees? A systems approach to the entrepreneurial university
Authors: Wurth Bernd , MacKenzie Niall G. , Howick Susan 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe idea and practice of the entrepreneurial university has emerged in response to growing expectations of universities contributing to economic development and has, in turn, been subject to a growing body of research. However, much of the work is focused on individual activities or institutions, typically overemphasising commercialisation activities and certain types of universities. Furthermore, much of this research is de-contextualised and does not consider the systems in which universities operate. As a result, we have a variety of unit theories of constituent parts of the entrepreneurial university without considering the wider (feedback) effects and implications — in other words: we are, in effect, not seeing the forest for the trees. Drawing on in-depth quantitative and qualitative field work and the literature, we develop a programmatic theory of the entrepreneurial university and the institutionalised entrepreneurial activities. Using causal loop diagrams, we capture the systemness and the interdependencies between universities’ entrepreneurial activities and their dynamic capabilities. The model highlights how universities are part of a larger system and how this influences their external engagement activities. The result is a more holistic understanding of entrepreneurial universities that reconciles existing work and guides future research. We discuss practical implications and policy levers derived from this systemic perspective.
Sunspots Identification Through Mathematical Morphology
Authors: Bourgeois Slava , Barata Teresa , Erdélyi Robertus , Gafeira Ricardo , Oliveira Orlando 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe implementation of automated methods for sunspot detection is essential to obtain better objectivity, efficiency, and accuracy in identifying sunspots and analysing their morphological properties. A desired application is the contouring of sunspots. In this work, we construct sunspot contours from Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)/ Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager intensity images by means of an automated method based on development and application of mathematical morphology. The method is validated qualitatively – the resulting contours accurately delimit sunspots. Here, it is applied to high-resolution data (SDO intensitygrams) and validated quantitatively by illustrating a good agreement between the measured sunspot areas and the ones provided by two standard reference catalogues. The method appears to be robust for sunspot identification, and our analysis suggests its application to more complex and irregular-shaped solar structures, such as polarity inversion lines inside delta-sunspots.