bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Melt extruded polylactic acid (PLA)/algae bio‐composites: Effect of grafting level and filler loading on thermal and mechanical properties
Authors: Letwaba John , Makwakwa Dimakatso , Muniyasamy Sudhakar , Motloung Mpho , Moropeng Lucey 
Published: September 2023

AbstractIn this study, the combined effect of algae loading and in‐house produced coupling agent on thermal and mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA) prepared by melt compounding were investigated. The PLA‐grafted with maleic anhydride (MA) (PLA‐g‐MA) was used as a coupling agent to improve the interfacial adhesion between PLA and algae. The extent of grafting level was confirmed with FTIR and direct titration method. The results demonstrated the dependence of thermal stability and tensile properties on the grafting level of MA, and also on the concentrations of algae. Thus, it could be deduced that combination of algae at low concentrations (5 and 10 wt%) and PLA‐g‐MA with high grafting level can significantly improve the thermal stability of PLA. High grafting level of MA, showed increase in thermal stability of PLA. On the other hand, at high grafting level, there was an improvement in tensile modulus of PLA. The morphological analysis indicated better adhesion between algae and PLA, in composites containing PLA‐g‐MA with high grafting level. Overall, PLA/algae composites with improved interfacial adhesion and thermal stability were successfully prepared, in the presence of PLA‐g‐MA with high grafting level.
Water‐soluble hyperbranched polymer with high curcumin content
Authors: Nakayama Yusuke , Ito Yutaro , Fukaminato Tsuyoshi , Xu Wei , Niidome Takuro , Kurihara Seiji , Kim Sunnam 
Published: September 2023

AbstractCurcumin is one of the promising anticancer drugs but has the problems of poor water solubility and rapid degradation in aqueous solution. In this study, a hyperbranched curcumin polymer having many carboxylic end groups is synthesized. The polymer is highly water‐soluble and contains a high amount of curcumins. Remarkable improvement of stability toward degradation and aggregation in aqueous solution is achieved. Its cellular uptake and cytotoxicity are also confirmed.
Reproduction of the endangered fan mussel Pinna nobilis under natural and captivity conditions
Authors: Hernandis Sebastián , Prado Patricia , García‐March Jose Rafael , Gairin Ignasi , Vázquez‐Luis Maite , Tena‐Medialdea José 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

A mass mortality event that started in 2016 has put the fan mussel Pinna nobilis close to the brink of extinction, leading to the species being classified as Critically Endangered in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Under current circumstances, with the persistence of the disease caused by Haplosporidium pinnae in the open sea, isolated populations in coastal lagoons and estuarine bays appear to be the main chance for the survival of the species.
The low resilience of those populations highlights the importance of implementing additional measures to avoid the extinction of the fan mussel. One of these measures relies on completing its reproductive cycle in captivity. The reproductive window of the remaining fan mussel population in Alfacs Bay was explored to obtain gametes and to understand possible limitations in the reproductive activity in wild populations. For this purpose, during the reproductive season, several groups of individuals were relocated for short periods (~2 weeks) into the vivarium to obtain gametes under controlled conditions. Simultaneously, controlled temperature treatments and adapted food dosage for conditioning adult fan mussels out of their reproductive season in the wild were conducted in a recirculating aquaculture system.
The reproduction of natural populations was mostly restricted to May, featuring temperatures around 20°C. A low success of spawning was obtained in the vivarium, with a 0% success in 11 out of 20 of the trials (six to nine individuals each) and an overall success of 16% (25 out of 156 individuals). A 100% success (14 out of 14) was obtained with individuals conditioned for ~2 months in the recirculating aquaculture system. A second conditioning of six of those individuals was attempted after a ~3‐month period, with a 33.3% success of spawning.
Constructing and enacting language teacher identities: Distinctive pathways and divergent practices
Authors: Taşdemir Hanife , Seferoğlu Gölge 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThe aim of this study was to explore how English language teachers construct and enact their teacher identities. The data was collected through semi‐structured interviews with four in‐service English language teachers at Turkish public schools. The findings revealed certain identity stabilizers: the fascination with subject and the job, caring for students and the relationships with students and former teachers. Although the teachers took two distinctive pathways—the meant to be route and the higher education route—the job experiences of those taking the same route to teaching were quite different. Varying levels of exersion of teacher agency to attain alignment between imagined and actual identities and rare opportunities for legitimate participation and job socialization were effective in the actualization of personal and professional values distinctively. The findings enhance our understanding of how teacher identity is contextually and relationally constructed and offer implications for teacher education and sustainable identity‐oriented professional learning.
Estimating causal effects in observational studies for survival data with a cure fraction using propensity score adjustment
Authors: Wang Ziwen , Wang Chenguang , Wang Xiaoguang 
Published: September 2023

AbstractIn observational studies, covariates are often confounding factors for treatment assignment. Such covariates need to be adjusted to estimate the causal treatment effect. For observational studies with survival outcomes, it is usually more challenging to adjust for the confounding covariates for causal effect estimation because of censoring. The challenge becomes even thornier when there exists a nonignorable cure fraction in the population. In this paper, we propose a causal effect estimation approach in observational studies for survival data with a cure fraction. We extend the absolute treatment effects on survival outcomes—including the restricted average causal effect and SPCE—to survival outcomes with cure fractions, and construct the corresponding causal effect estimators based on propensity score stratification. We prove the asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators and conduct simulation studies to evaluate their performances. As an illustration, the method is applied to a stomach cancer study.
Blockchain technology enabled critical success factors for supply chain resilience and sustainability
Authors: Pandey Ajay Kumar , Daultani Yash , Pratap Saurabh 
Published: September 2023

AbstractIncreasing complexity and the involvement of additional stakeholders make it impossible to predict the impact of each decision, which puts supply chain managers in uncertain situations. However, a supply chain that can adapt and react to the current scenario gives them some control over these ambiguous circumstances. These characteristics of sensing disturbances or threats and giving appropriate responses can be improved with the implementation of blockchain‐enabled technologies and can prove critical to the success of supply chain resilience and sustainability. This study has identified 21 blockchain technology‐enabled critical success factors for supply chain resilience and sustainability and grey theory is used to address the limitation of data availability. This study incorporates the combination of the Grey‐DEMATEL (Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) method to investigate the impact of critical success factors and to obtain the cause/effect relationship. Sensitivity analysis is performed to assess the robustness of obtained results. The findings indicate that internal integration is the most crucial causal factor, as it initiates the effects of many other critical success factors. Whereas Standardized Data Management, followed by Smart Ordering tops the effect group. As blockchain technology is still in its early stages of development, this study will encourage researchers and industry practitioners to strive for greater efficiency and effectiveness in their supply chain practices and to enhance the resilience and sustainability of their supply chains.
Psychological ownership rather than material consumption: Can fashion firms' new subscription services become an environmentally sustainable business strategy?
Authors: Kang Jiyun , Bissenbina Assemgul , Faria Amy A. , Jang Jisu 
Published: September 2023

AbstractFashion, acknowledged as among the most polluting industries, is responsible for excessive production and consumption, necessitating a reevaluation and transformation of current strategies by adopting more sustainable ones. The emergence of fashion subscription services (FSSs) has the potential to mitigate the industry's unsustainability. However, it is empirically unknown whether FSSs contribute to sustainable consumption and, if so, how their slow adoption can be addressed. This research: (a) examined whether consumers who already use FSSs are more engaged in pro‐environmental behaviors (Study 1), and (b) developed and tested an adoption model with a strong underscore on the mediating role of psychological ownership (Study 2). The results revealed that those who subscribe to such services display sustainable consumption behaviors, and psychological ownership acted as a critical mediator facilitating service adoption intentions. This research offers empirical evidence to support the theoretical premise of the service's positive impact on environmental sustainability and a strategic direction to accelerate its market penetration.
Transcription factor ETV4 promotes the development of hepatocellular carcinoma by driving hepatic TNF‐α signaling
Authors: Qi Dandan , Lu Min , Xu Pengfei , Yao Xinli , Chen Yongchen , Gan Lipeng , Li Yong , Cui Yahua , Tong Xiaomei , Liu Shuhong , Zhao Jingmin , Liu Ningning , Ye Xin 
Published: September 2023

AbstractBackgroundHepatic inflammation is the major risk factor of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the underlying mechanism by which hepatic inflammation progresses to HCC is poorly understood. This study was designed to investigate the role of ETS translocation variant 4 (ETV4) in linking hepatic inflammation to HCC.MethodsQuantitative real‐time PCR and immunoblotting were used to detect the expression of ETV4 in HCC tissues and cell lines. RNA sequencing and luciferase reporter assays were performed to identify the target genes of ETV4. Hepatocyte‐specific ETV4‐knockout (ETV4fl/fl, alb‐cre) and transgenic (ETV4Hep‐TG) mice and diethylnitrosamine‐carbon tetrachloride (DEN‐CCL4) treatment experiments were applied to investigate the function of ETV4 in vivo. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database mining and pathological analysis were carried out to determine the correlation of ETV4 with tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) and mitogen‐activated protein kinase 11 (MAPK11).ResultsWe revealed that ETV4 was highly expressed in HCC. High levels of ETV4 predicted a poor survival rate of HCC patients. Then we identified ETV4 as a transcription activator of TNF‐α and MAPK11. ETV4 was positively correlated with TNF‐α and MAPK11 in HCC patients. As expected, an increase in hepatic TNF‐α secretion and macrophage accumulation were observed in the livers of ETV4Hep‐TG mice. The protein levels of TNF‐α, MAPK11, and CD68 were significantly higher in the livers of ETV4Hep‐TG mice compared with wild type mice but lower in ETV4fl/fl, alb‐cre mice compared with ETV4fl/fl mice as treated with DEN‐CCL4, indicating that ETV4 functioned as a driver of TNF‐α/MAPK11 expression and macrophage accumulation during hepatic inflammation. Hepatocyte‐specific knockout of ETV4 significantly prevented development of DEN‐CCL4‐induced HCC, while transgenic expression of ETV4 promoted growth of HCC.ConclusionsETV4 promoted hepatic inflammation and HCC by activating transcription of TNF‐α and MAPK11. Both the ETV4/TNF‐α and ETV4/MAPK11 axes represented two potential therapeutic targets for highly associated hepatic inflammation and HCC. ETV4+TNF‐α were potential prognostic markers for HCC patients.
Disproportionation of H2O2 to Dioxygen on a Nonheme Iron Center. A Computational Study
Authors: Wong Henrik P. H. , Banse Frédéric , de Visser Sam P. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractHydrogen peroxide is a versatile reductant that under the right conditions can react to form dioxygen in an electrochemical reaction. This reaction has a low carbon footprint and applications are being sought for batteries. In this work a computational study is presented on a recently reported nonheme iron(II) complex where we study mechanistic pathways leading to dioxygen formation from H2O2. The work shows that upon reduction of the iron(III)‐hydroperoxo species it rapidly leads through heterolytic cleavage of the dioxygen bond to form iron(IV)‐oxo(hydroxo). The dimerization reaction of two iron(IV)‐oxo(hydroxo) complexes then leads to formation of the dioxygen bond rapidly with small barriers. Dissociation of the dimer expels dioxygen in an exothermic reaction. An alternative mechanism through the formation of a μ‐1,2‐peroxo‐μ‐1,1‐hydroperoxodiiron(II) intermediate was also tested but found to be highly endergonic. These studies highlight the electrochemical feasibilities of nonheme iron(III)‐hydroperoxo complexes.
Electrochemical Exfoliation of Graphene Oxide: Unveiling Structural Properties and Electrochemical Performance
Authors: Gutiérrez‐Pineda Eduart , Subrati Ahmed , Rodríguez‐Presa María José , Gervasi Claudio A. , Moya Sergio E. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractAn electrochemical exfoliation method for the production of graphene oxide and its characterization by electrochemical techniques are presented here. Graphite rods are used as working electrode in a three‐electrode electrochemical cell, and electro‐exfoliation is achieved by applying anodic polarization in a sulfuric acid solution. The electrochemical process involved two steps characterized by an intercalation at lower potential and an exfoliation at higher potential. The electrochemical behavior of the produced GO is studied through cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). X ray Photoelectronic Spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) are employed to characterize the structural and chemical properties of the exfoliated GO. The results demonstrate that the electrochemical exfoliation method yields GO materials with varying degrees of oxidation, defect density, and crystallite size, depending on the applied potential and acid concentration. The graphene oxide samples exhibited distinct electrochemical properties, including charge transfer resistance, interfacial capacitance, and relaxation times for the charge transfer, as revealed by CV and EIS measurements with a specifically selected redox probe. The comprehensive characterization performed provides valuable insights into the structure‐property relationships of the GO materials synthesized through electrochemical exfoliation of graphite.
Biasing the Formation of Solution‐Unstable Intermediates in Coordination Self‐Assembly by Mechanochemistry
Authors: Liu Yan , Liu Fang‐Zi , Li Shi , Liu Hua , Yan KaKing 
Published: September 2023

AbstractDue to the reversible nature of coordination bonds and solvation effect, coordination self‐assembly pathways are often difficult to elucidate experimentally in solution, as intermediates and products are in constant equilibration. The present study shows that some of these transient and high‐energy self‐assembly intermediates can be accessed by means of ball‐milling approaches. Among them, highly aqueous‐unstable Pd3L11 and Pd6L14 open‐cage intermediates of the framed Fujita Pd6L14 cage and Pd2L22, Pd3L21 and Pd4L22 intermediates of Mukherjee Pd6L24 capsule are successfully trapped in solid‐state, where Pd=tmedaPd2+, L1=2,4,6‐tris(4‐pyridyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine and L2=1,3,5‐tris(1‐imidazolyl)benzene). Their structures are assigned by a combination of solution‐based characterization tools such as standard NMR spectroscopy, DOSY NMR, ESI‐MS and X‐ray diffraction. Collectively, these results highlight the opportunity of using mechanochemistry to access unique chemical space with vastly different reactivity compared to conventional solution‐based supramolecular self‐assembly reactions.
Supporting Management Decisions in Forage Production with Soil Health Measurements and Assessment
Authors: Cloutier Mara , Liptzin Daniel 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThis is the second article in our series on soil health and greenhouse gas emissions on U.S. dairies associated with crop production. This article will focus on the first objective of the Dairy Soil and Water Regeneration (DSWR) project, which is to benchmark soil health and soil carbon stocks in dairy forage production systems. Earn 1 CEU in Sustainability by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.
Interfacial Electron Regulation and Composition Evolution of NiFe/MoC Heteronanowire Arrays for Highly Stable Alkaline Seawater Oxidation
Authors: Fan Xiaocheng , Zhu Chunling , He Yuqian , Yan Feng , Chou Shu‐Lei , Liu Minjie , Zhang Xiaoli , Chen Yujin 
Published: September 2023

AbstractIn alkaline seawater electrolysis, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is greatly suppressed by the occurrence of electrode corrosion due to the formation of hypochlorite. Herein, a catalyst consisting of MoC nanowires modified with NiFe alloy nanoparticles (NiFe/MoC) on nickel foam (NF) is prepared. The optimized catalyst can deliver a large current density of 500 mA cm−2 at a very low overpotential of 366 mV in alkaline seawater, respectively, outperforming commercial IrO2. Remarkably, an electrolyzer assembled with NiFe/MoC/NF as the anode and NiMoN/NF as the cathode only requires 1.77 V to drive a current density of 500 mA cm−2 for alkaline seawater electrolysis, as well as excellent stability. Theory calculation indicates that the initial activity of NiFe/MoC is attributed to increased electrical conductivity and decreased energy barrier for OER due to the introduction of Fe. We find that the change of the catalyst in the composition occurred after the stability test; however, the reconstructed catalyst has an energy barrier close to that of the pristine one, which is responsible for its excellent long‐term stability. Our findings provide an efficient way to construct high‐performance OER catalysts for alkaline seawater splitting.
Translational implications of targeting annexin A2: From membrane repair to muscular dystrophy, cardiovascular disease and cancer
Authors: Kayejo Victor G. , Fellner Hannah , Thapa Roshan , Keyel Peter A. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractBackgroundAnnexin A2 contributes to several key cellular functions and processes, including membrane repair. Effective repair prevents cell death and degeneration, especially in skeletal or cardiac muscle, epithelia, and endothelial cells. To maintain cell integrity after damage, mammalian cells activate multiple membrane repair mechanisms. One protein family that facilitates membrane repair processes are the Ca2+‐regulated phospholipid‐binding annexins.BodyAnnexin A2 facilitates repair in association with S100A10 and related S100 proteins by forming a plug and linking repair to other physiologic functions. Deficiency of annexin A2 enhances cellular degeneration, exacerbating muscular dystrophy and degeneration. Downstream of repair, annexin A2 links the membrane with the cytoskeleton, calcium‐dependent endocytosis, exocytosis, cell proliferation, transcription, and apoptosis to extracellular roles, including vascular fibrinolysis, and angiogenesis. These roles regulate cardiovascular disease progression. Finally, annexin A2 protects cancer cells from membrane damage due to immune cells or chemotherapy. Since these functions are regulated by post‐translational modifications, they represent a therapeutic target for reducing the negative consequences of annexin A2 expression.ConclusionThus, connecting the roles of annexin A2 in repair to its other physiologic functions represents a new translational approach to treating muscular dystrophy and cardiovascular diseases without enhancing its pro‐tumorigenic activities.
Are rare plant species less resistant than common ones to herbivores? A multi‐plant species study using above‐ and below‐ground generalist herbivores
Authors: Bürli Sarah , Ensslin Andreas , Kempel Anne , Fischer Markus 
Published: September 2023

AbstractRare plant species are suggested to be less resistant to herbivores than common species. Their lower apparency and the fact that they often live in isolated populations, resulting in fewer herbivore encounters, might have led to the evolution of reduced defences. Moreover, their frequent lower levels of genetic diversity compared with common species could negatively affect their resistance against enemies. However, the hypothesis that plant resistance depends on plant regional and local rarity, independently of habitat and competitive and growth strategy, lacks evidence. To test this hypothesis, we assessed the performance and preference of one belowground and three aboveground generalist invertebrate herbivores from different taxonomic groups as indicators of plant resistance. Herbivores were fed a total of 62 regionally and locally rare and common plant species from Switzerland. We accounted for differences in a plant's growth and competitive strategy and habitat resource availability. We found that regionally and locally rare and common plant species did not generally differ in their resistance to most generalist herbivores. However, one herbivore species even performed better and preferred locally and regionally common plant species over rarer ones, indicating that common species are not more resistant, but tend to be less resistant. We also found that all herbivore species consistently performed better on competitive and large plant species, although different herbivore species generally preferred and performed better on different plant species. The latter indicates that the use of generalist herbivores as indicators of plant‐resistance levels can be misleading. Synthesis: Our results show that rare plant species are not inherently less resistant than common ones to herbivores. Instead, our results suggest that the ability of plants to allocate resources away from defence towards enhancing their competitive ability might have allowed plants to tolerate herbivory, and to become locally and regionally common.