Search

The ramp-up of production lines as a result of changing product variants or production processes puts battery cell manufacturers under enormous quality and cost pressure due to high reject rates. A control system based on artificial intelligence methods can help to speed up the start-up processes. The InTeAn research project developed a procedure for developing a process control system to reduce ramp-up times and costs in battery cell production.

DNA damage is a critical factor in the onset and progression of cancer. When DNA is damaged, the number of genetic mutations increases, making it necessary to activate DNA repair mechanisms. A crucial factor in the base excision repair process, which helps maintain the stability of the genome, is an enzyme called DNA polymerase $\boldsymbol{\beta}$β (Pol$\boldsymbol{\beta}$β) encoded by the POLB gene. It plays a vital role in the repair of damaged DNA. Additionally, variations known as Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the POLB gene can potentially affect the ability to repair DNA. This study uses bioinformatics tools that extract important features from SNPs to construct a feature matrix, which is then used in combination with machine learning algorithms to predict the likelihood of developing cancer associated with a specific mutation. Eight different machine learning algorithms were used to investigate the relationship between POLB gene variations and their potential role in cancer onset. This study not only highlights the complex link between POLB gene SNPs and cancer, but also underscores the effectiveness of machine learning approaches in genomic studies, paving the way for advanced predictive models in genetic and cancer research.

The tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicumL.) demands more water than other vegetables. However, water availability has become a limiting factor worldwide due to climate change. Thus, it is essential to explore the genetic variability of species to develop genotypes with satisfactory yields under low water availability. In this context, the objective of this study was to identify water-deficit-tolerant plants within the genetic variability of tomatoes and to select drought-tolerant genotypes from the second generation of the first backcross (F2BC1). For this, seven wild accessions, three S. lycopersicumvar. cerasiformeaccessions, and six commercial cultivars were tested. Moreover, intra- and interspecific crosses were performed and from the crosses S. lycopersicum× S. pennellii, two F2BC1populations were obtained. Three experiments were conducted where the genotypes were subjected to water deficit and physiological and growth parameters. The commercial tomatoes were the most susceptible to water deficit. Among the tested cerasiformvarieties, the RVC 66 accession was the least affected by the reduced water supply. The LA 716 accession (S. pennellii) had the highest tolerance to water deficit, followed by ‘LA 1401’ (S. galapagense) and ‘LA 1967’ (S. chilense). The LA 716 accession was the most promising to introgress drought tolerance-related genes in the commercial tomatoes compared to the intraspecific crosses. In addition, crossing between ‘LA 716’ and the commercial tomatoes ‘Clara’ and ‘Redenção’ allowed the development and selection of drought-tolerant F2BC1genotypes.

Salinity is one of the most severe abiotic stresses in agriculture. Red beet is moderately salt-resistant, with its growth, yield, and quality being strongly impaired by high salinity. Humic acid (HA) helps counter salt stress in various plants, showing promise for boosting crop yield. This study assesses the impact of humic acid on red beet growth, physiology, and quality under salt stress. Red beet plants were grown in a completely randomized design, arranged in a 3 × 2 factorial scheme (three HA concentrations × two salt stress levels). HA treatments corresponded to 0, 38, or 76 mg of humic acid pot− 1, and salinity corresponded to either saline (80 mM NaCl) or non-saline irrigation water. HA boosted water use efficiency but did not counteract salt stress effects on red beet gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence. Despite salt stress increased electrolyte leakage and impacted photosynthesis, root growth was not hindered, and shoot growth even increased, showing its considerable salt tolerance of red beet. Salt stress resulted in a more saturated peel color of root and increased total sugars, soluble solids, and betacyanins, while decreasing root firmness. HA, however, reduced total sugars, betacyanins, phenolics, and betaxanthins in beet roots. In sum, the soil application of humic acids had no positive effects on the growth, physiological and quality attributes of red beet evaluated under moderate salinity stress. Therefore, the HA doses studied here are not recommended for red beet production.

Abstract.The study introduces a math anxiety scale that systematically addresses psychological components, including cognitive (worry) and affective (nervousness) math anxiety when dealing with mathematical problems in mathematics-related settings (concerning tests, teachers, learning in class, working with mathematics textbooks, mathematics homework, and applying mathematics in everyday life). Our results indicate a hierarchical structure of math anxiety. Specifically, cognitive and affective math anxiety at the second-order level each determined three setting factors at the first-order level concerning evaluation(tests, teachers), learning(in class, with mathematics books, and during homework), and application(applying mathematics in everyday life). Furthermore, girls reported higher math anxiety than boys, which was particularly pronounced in the affective scale and in high-stakes academic settings, such as those involving evaluation and learning. After controlling for mathematics performance, gender effects decreased in all sub-dimensions but remained significant in affective math evaluation anxiety. Practical implications and directions for further research on cognitive and affective math anxiety are discussed.

Caloric restriction (CR) results in reduced energy and protein intake, raising questions about protein restriction’s contribution to CR longevity benefits. We kept ad libitum(AL)–fed male C57BL/6J mice at 27°C (AL27) and pair-fed (PF) mice at 22°C (22(PF27)). The 22(PF27) group was fed to match AL27 while restricted for calories due to cold-induced metabolism. The 22(PF27) mice had significantly lower body weight, lean mass, fat mass, leptin, IGF-1, and TNF-α levels than AL27 mice (p<0.001 for all). Manipulations over ~11 weeks resulted in significant differences in body temperature, physical activity, and expression of key genes linked to hunger in the hypothalamus. Survival was significantly greater in 22(PF27) compared to AL27 overall (p<0.001). CR in the context of equivalent energy and protein intake resulted in hormonal, metabolic, and physiological benefits and extended longevity. Hence, energy imbalance, rather than low energy or protein intake per se, mediates the benefits of CR.

Aktuelle Studien weisen darauf hin, dass Schüler*innen mit sonderpädagogischem Förderbedarf, die an allgemeinen Schulen unterrichtet werden, weniger sozial eingebunden sind als diejenigen ohne sonderpädagogischen Förderbedarf. Theoretisch wird dieser Befund unter anderem auf soziale Vergleichsprozesse und Kontaktmöglichkeiten der Schüler*innen sowie auf den Einfluss der Lehrkräfte durch ihren persönlichen Umgang mit den Schüler*innen zurückgeführt. Eine Schlüsselfunktion wird hierbei dem Unterricht zugesprochen: Dieser kann als soziale Situation betrachtet werden, in der sich die Zusammensetzung und konkrete Unterrichtsgestaltung auch auf die Entstehung sozialer Kontakte und damit die soziale Integration der Schüler*innen auswirken. Mit Daten des IQB-Bildungstrends 2016 (N= 9417) wurde untersucht, ob verschiedene Merkmale der Klassenzusammensetzung und der Unterrichtsgestaltung mit der sozialen Integration der Schüler*innen zusammenhängen und inwiefern sich diese für Schüler*innen mit (n= 899) und ohne (n= 8488) sonderpädagogischen Förderbedarf der Schwerpunkte Lernen, Sprache und emotionale-soziale Entwicklung unterscheiden. Unter Verwendung von Mehrebenenstrukturgleichungsmodellen konnte gezeigt werden, dass sowohl die Klassenführung als auch die konstruktive Unterstützung positiv mit der sozialen Integration von Viertklässler*innen zusammenhängen und sich dies für die konstruktive Unterstützung zwischen Schüler*innen mit und ohne sonderpädagogischen Förderbedarf unterscheidet. Die Studie liefert Hinweise darauf, inwieweit Lehrkräfte durch die Gestaltung ihres Unterrichts neben Lernprozessen auch das soziale Miteinander unterstützen.

Neuroscience is advancing standardization and tool development to support rigor and transparency. Consequently, data pipeline complexity has increased, hindering FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable) access. brainlife.io was developed to democratize neuroimaging research. The platform provides data standardization, management, visualization and processing and automatically tracks the provenance history of thousands of data objects. Here, brainlife.io is described and evaluated for validity, reliability, reproducibility, replicability and scientific utility using four data modalities and 3,200 participants.

Die enge Verknüpfung sprachlicher und fachlicher Lernprozesse erfordert in allen Unterrichtsfächern ein sprachsensibles Unterrichten, das durch sprachliches Scaffolding erreicht werden kann. Studien zeigen, dass Lehrkräfteprofessionalisierungen zur fachintegrierten Sprachbildung zu einem sprachförderlichen Handeln beitragen können, zu dem unter anderem ein sprachanregendes Frageverhalten zählt. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird untersucht, welches Frageverhalten entsprechend professionalisierte Grundschullehrkräfte in einem handlungsorientierten naturwissenschaftlichen Sachunterricht im Vergleich zu einer Kontrollgruppe ohne diese Professionalisierung umsetzen, inwieweit es mit dem Partizipationsverhalten der Schüler:innen verknüpft ist und zur Vorhersage ihrer fachsprachlichen und fachlichen Kompetenzen am Ende einer Unterrichtseinheit zum Thema „Schwimmen und Sinken“ beiträgt. Die Video- und Transkriptanalysen zu Unterrichtsgesprächen zeigen, dass die zusätzlich professionalisierten Lehrkräfte der Experimentalgruppe (EG, N= 8) insgesamt mehr Fragen stellen als die Lehrkräfte der Kontrollgruppe (KG, N= 17). Sie verwenden insbesondere mehr offene Fragen, die explizit fach- und bildungssprachliche Antworten einfordern, sowie solche, die längere und kognitiv herausfordernde Äußerungen anregen. Zwar werden die Unterschiede im Frageverhalten unterschiedlich professionalisierter Lehrkräfte nicht in der unmittelbar beobachteten Unterrichtspartizipation der Schüler:innen sichtbar, zusätzlich durchgeführte Mehrebenenanalysen deuten aber darauf hin, dass Schüler:innen der EG am Ende der Unterrichtseinheit bessere Leistungen im Fachwortschatz und Fachwissen aufweisen, wenn deren Lehrkräfte häufiger sprachförderliche Fragen in ihrem Unterricht einsetzen. Somit stützen die Ergebnisse die Wirksamkeit der Professionalisierung bezogen auf das Frageverhalten der Lehrkräfte und geben Hinweise auf dessen positiven Einfluss auf die fachsprachliche und fachliche Leistungsentwicklung der Schüler:innen. Anhand der in dieser Arbeit vorgeschlagenen Fragenkategorisierung kann die Lehrkräfteprofessionalisierung gezielter auf dieses sprachförderliche Frageverhalten ausgerichtet werden.

Sodium–glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce progression of chronic kidney disease and the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in a wide range of patients. However, their effects on kidney disease progression in some patients with chronic kidney disease are unclear because few clinical kidney outcomes occurred among such patients in the completed trials. In particular, some guidelines stratify their level of recommendation about who should be treated with SGLT2 inhibitors based on diabetes status and albuminuria. We aimed to assess the effects of empagliflozin on progression of chronic kidney disease both overall and among specific types of participants in the EMPA-KIDNEY trial.

The EMPA-KIDNEY trial showed that empagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary composite outcome of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death in patients with chronic kidney disease mainly through slowing progression. We aimed to assess how effects of empagliflozin might differ by primary kidney disease across its broad population.

In aqueous solution, diblock copolymers PMMA-b-PNIPAM having a short PMMA block and a long PNIPAM block form micelles with a PMMA core and a PNIPAM-rich shell. The same holds true for solutions in water containing small amounts of methanol. Here, we address the micellar structures for 10 g L–1solutions of PMMA21-b-PNIPAM283in 90:10 and 80:20 v/v water/methanol in wide temperature ranges across the respective cloud point temperature. Dynamic light scattering and synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering reveal that the content of methanol strongly influences the temperature behavior of the overall micellar size upon heating to the cloud point temperature, the aggregation number of the micelles, their shell thickness, and their interactions. While the behavior in the 90:10 mixture is similar to that in neat water, in the 80:20 mixture, the micelles are significantly smaller and form clusters already below the cloud point temperature in water. Thus, by variation of the methanol content, the structure and interactions of the micelles can be controlled.

Global restoration is a priority given the onset of the United Nations’ decade for restoration. It is challenging to restore arid lands from mining impacts, especially where topsoil deficits exist. Successful rehabilitation is essential for alternative land use after mining. This bioassay aimed to establish whether and why some combinations of iron ore mine-affected soils and ameliorants are more effective in promoting plant growth than others. We examined the responses of one thousand radishes (Raphanus sativus) to five mine-affected soils and four soil ameliorations (soil improvement using fertiliser and organic matter) over two different seasons (early and late rainy seasons). We found that soil characteristics affected plant production regardless of amelioration and that some soil/amelioration combinations were significantly better than others. Topsoil ameliorated by moderate fertiliser application produced the best results. Waste rock could support germination and plant production when ameliorated with certain organic compost and fertiliser combinations. Untreated mine-affected soils had low to no plant production. Plant responses to the different soil/amelioration combinations were affected by season. Our findings suggest that area-specific bioassay investigations and their results could improve management decisions to achieve rehabilitation targets for mine-affected soils.

Halting the loss of jobs and knowledge from small-scale producers requires investing in rural sustainability, addressing poverty and inequity and ensuring the economic gains stay local. The benefits would be shared globally.

Häusliche Gewalt, die in Deutschland als Gewaltstraftat zwischen erwachsenen Personen in einer partnerschaftlichen Beziehung definiert wird und von der vor allem Frauen durch männliche Partner betroffen sind, hat auch Einfluss auf das Aufwachsen und die Entwicklung von Kindern. Seit 1976 versuchen Frauenhäuser in Deutschland den von Misshandlung betroffenen Frauen und ihren Kindern Schutz, Beratung und Unterstützung zuteilwerden zu lassen, um der Gewalt durch den eigenen Ehemann oder Partner zu begegnen. Kinder, die in diesen gewaltgeprägten Familien aufwachsen, tragen erhöhte Entwicklungsrisiken, denen durch äußere Schutzfaktoren im Sinne von Resilienzstärkung in Frauenhäusern begegnet werden kann, wenn hierfür geeignete Ressourcen zur Verfügung gestellt werden. Dieser Artikel stellt die zentralen Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Studie dar, um zu verdeutlichen, welchen Einfluss die vorübergehende Sozialisationsinstanz Frauenhaus für die Unterstützung der von häuslicher Gewalt betroffenen Kinder haben kann. Nachdem die Studie an verschiedenen australischen Universitäten vorgestellt wurde, weckte sie dort großes Interesse, sodass versucht werden soll, sie für Australien zu replizieren, um die von häuslicher Gewalt betroffenen Kinder und Jugendlichen auch dort zukünftig besser durch geeignete Maßnahmen adressieren und unterstützen zu können sowie die Politik aufzufordern, für die Bereitstellung entsprechender Ressourcen zu sorgen. Darüber hinaus wird verdeutlicht, dass Kooperationsbeziehungen zwischen Frauenhäusern und Institutionen der Jugendhilfe und des Kinderschutzes unter Berücksichtigung der Gewalterfahrungen der Mütter auf- bzw. ausgebaut werden sollten, um Entwicklungsrisiken von Kindern, die häusliche Gewalt innerhalb ihrer Familien erleben, im Sinne des Kindeswohls durch verbesserte Schutzkonzepte zukünftig besser begegnen zu können und zugleich die legitimen Schutzbedürfnisse und Rechte der Mütter zu erfüllen.

Background:Patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are at an increased risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome and mortality. This is due to the increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines that amplify downstream pathways that are controlled by immune regulators. Objective:This study aimed to investigate the association between cytokine genetic variants, cytokine serum levels/profiles, and disease severity in critically and noncritically ill COVID-19 patients. Methods:This cross-sectional study recruited 646 participants who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 from six collection sites across the United Arab Emirates. Medical files were accessed to retrieve clinical data. Blood samples were collected from all participants. Patients were divided into two clinical groups, noncritical (n = 453) and critical (n = 193), according to World Health Organization classification guidelines for COVID-19 patients. Cytokine analyses were conducted on serum of a subset of the cohort, specifically on 426 participants (noncritical, 264; critical, 162). Candidate gene analyses of 33 cytokine-related genes (2,836 variants) were extracted from a genome-wide association study to identify genetic variants with pleiotropic effects on a specific cytokine and the severity of COVID-19 disease. Results:Age, body mass index (BMI), and pre-existing medical conditions were found to be significant risk factors that contribute to COVID-19 disease severity. After correcting for age, sex, and BMI, IP-10 (P< 0.001), IFN (P= 0.001), IL-6 (P< 0.001), and CXCL-16 (P< 0.001) serum levels were significantly higher among critical COVID-19 cases, when compared with noncritically ill patients. To investigate if the genetic variants involved in the serum cytokine levels are associated with COVID-19 severity, we studied several genes. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in IL6(rs1554606; odd ratio (OR)G= 0.67 [0.66, 0.68]; P= 0.017), IFNG(rs2069718; ORG= 0.63 [0.62, 0.64]; P= 0.001), MIP(rs799187; ORA= 1.69 [1.66, 1.72]; P= 0.034), and CXCL16(rs8071286; ORA= 1.42 [1.41, 1.44]; P= 0.018) were found to be associated with critically ill patients. Polymorphisms in the CXCL10, CCL2, IL1, CCL7, and TNFgenes were not associated with the COVID-19 critical phenotype. The genotypes of IL-6 (gene, IL6[7p15.3]) and CXCL-16 (gene, CXCL16[17p13.2]) were significantly associated with the serum levels of the respective cytokine in critical cases of COVID-19. Conclusion:Data obtained from measuring cytokine levels and genetic variant analyses suggest that IL-6 and CXCL-16 could potentially be used as potential biomarkers for monitoring disease progression of COVID-19 patients. The findings in this study suggest that specific cytokine gene variants correlate with serum levels of the specific cytokine. These genetic variants could be of assistance in the early identification of high-risk patients on admission to the clinic to improve the management of COVID-19 patients and other infectious diseases.

Purpose: Salinity affects crop yield, photosynthesis, and metabolism. However, adequate nutritional supplementation, mainly with organic sources, may mitigate the salinity effects. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate doses of castor bean cake in the mitigation of different levels of salinity in basil plants. Methods: Plants were irrigated with five water electrical conductivities (0.5, 1.2, 3.0, 4.7, and 5.5 dS m−1) and five castor bean cake doses (0.0, 1.4, 5.0, 8.5, and 10 t ha−1). The dry mass accumulation, gas exchanges, relative water content, oxidative stress, proteins, and antioxidant enzyme activity were evaluated. Results: All salinity levels reduced dry mass accumulation of basil plants, being that gas exchanges, relative water content, and activity of ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, and catalase were increased under mild salinity (up to 3 dS m−1) but reduced under the higher salinity level (5.5 dS m−1). The use of castor bean cake up to 5 t ha−1stimulated photosynthesis, dry mass accumulation, relative water content, protein synthesis, and antioxidant enzyme activity, while most of these parameters were reduced under higher castor bean cake doses (10 t ha−1), combined or not with high salinity. Conclusions: The use of castor bean cake up to 5 t ha−1mitigated the deleterious effect of mild salinity (3 dS m−1) on biomass accumulation of basil plants by increasing antioxidant defense, but the combination of saline water with high doses of castor bean cake (10 t ha−1) caused oxidative damages, reducing dry mass accumulation and gas exchanges.

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of enterprise risk management on the financial performance of small-to-medium enterprises and to empirically validate the intervening role of corporate social responsibility. Based on a cross-country survey among 536 SMEs, we apply an SEM model. Our results show that ERM is an important driver of corporate social responsibility. The proposed Enterprise Risk Management and CSR framework can also be used by consultants and supporting agencies to evaluate the risk management activities in SMEs and to help them better to tailor their training to the needs of SMEs. For other researchers, this research model might be a good starting point for developing more comprehensive frameworks for the evaluation of ERM and CSR systems in SMEs.

The synthesis and characterization of an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-stabilized silyliumylidene borane adduct [mTer(IMe4)2Si→BH3][OTf] ([2][OTf]) (mTer = 2,6-(2,4,6-Me3C6H2)2C6H3; IMe4= 1,3,4,5-tetramethyl-imidazol-2-ylidene; OTf = CF3SO3–) as well as the highly unusual hydride dication [mTer(IMe4)2SiH][OTf]2([3][OTf]2) are reported. While [2][OTf] is obtained by the direct reaction of silyliumylidene [mTerSi(IMe4)2][OTf] ([1][OTf]) with either Me2S·BH3or tetrahydrofuran (THF)·BH3, usage of the amine borane Me2NH·BH3gives protonation at silicon instead to yield the dication complex [3][OTf]2. Alternately, [3][OTf]2can be prepared by the addition of triflic acid to [1][OTf]. The reaction outcome strongly depends on the borane source and is evidence of the unprecedented nucleophilic character of [1][OTf] as elucidated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. [3][OTf]2can irreversibly react with one molecule of CO2, forming the insertion product [6][OTf]2. Subsequent introduction of a second equivalent CO2leads to a 1:1 equilibrium of single- ([6][OTf]2) and double-CO2-insertion ([7][OTf]2) products, as determined by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) analysis, and supported by theoretical calculations.

The water swelling and subsequent solvent exchange including co-nonsolvency behavior of thin films of a doubly thermo-responsive diblock copolymer (DBC) are studied via spectral reflectance, time-of-flight neutron reflectometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The DBC consists of a thermo-responsive zwitterionic (poly(4-((3-methacrylamidopropyl) dimethylammonio) butane-1-sulfonate)) (PSBP) block, featuring an upper critical solution temperature transition in aqueous media but being insoluble in acetone, and a nonionic poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) (PNIPMAM) block, featuring a lower critical solution temperature transition in water, while being soluble in acetone. Homogeneous DBC films of 50–100 nm thickness are first swollen in saturated water vapor (H2O or D2O), before they are subjected to a contraction process by exposure to mixed saturated water/acetone vapor (H2O or D2O/acetone-d6 = 9:1 v/v). The affinity of the DBC film toward H2O is stronger than for D2O, as inferred from the higher film thickness in the swollen state and the higher absorbed water content, thus revealing a pronounced isotope sensitivity. During the co-solvent-induced switching by mixed water/acetone vapor, a two-step film contraction is observed, which is attributed to the delayed expulsion of water molecules and uptake of acetone molecules. The swelling kinetics are compared for both mixed vapors (H2O/acetone-d6 and D2O/acetone-d6) and with those of the related homopolymer films. Moreover, the concomitant variations of the local environment around the hydrophilic groups located in the PSBP and PNIPMAM blocks are followed. The first contraction step turns out to be dominated by the behavior of the PSBP block, whereas the second one is dominated by the PNIPMAM block. The unusual swelling and contraction behavior of the latter block is attributed to its co-nonsolvency behavior. Furthermore, we observe cooperative hydration effects in the DBC films, that is, both polymer blocks influence each other’s solvation behavior.

As the size of magnetic devices continuously decreases, the creation of three-dimensional nanomagnets and the understanding of their magnetic configurations become increasingly important for modern applications. Here, by progressive nucleation during epitaxial nanoelectrodeposition, we synthesize single-crystal iron nanocuboids with sizes ranging 10 to 200 nm on one sample. The size-dependent magnetic configurations of these nanocuboids are studied by quantitative magnetic force microscopy and electron holography. In conjunction, a “magnetic configuration versus size” phase diagram is established via micromagnetic simulations. Both experiment and theory reveal a sequential transition from Landau pattern to vortex and finally single domain when decreasing the sizes of the nanocuboids. The combinatorial-like approach leads to a quantitative understanding of the magnetic configurations of the nanomagnets in a broad size range. It can be transferred to other materials and shapes and thereby presents an advanced route to enrich the material library for future nanodevice design.

Combining high catalytic activity with broad monomer scope is an appealing yet challenging task in polymerization catalysis. Examples of such all-rounder catalysts in the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactones are rare. Herein we report an indium alkoxide complex supported by a salan-type framework that shows very high rates, excellent control and high tolerance against chain transfer agents in the ROP of several cyclic esters yielding high molecular weight (bio)degradable polymers. Additionally, by using propylene oxide as solvent, poorly active but air-stable indium chloro pre-catalyst can be converted in situinto a catalytically active species with drastically enhanced polymerization rates. In contrast to the salan-type initiator, a related indium alkoxide catam-type complex shows reduced activity in ROP of β-butyrolactone, -caprolactone, -decalactone and lactide, highlighting the importance of framework flexibility in catalyst design.

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) is an annual herbaceous plant that is widely consumed due to its high nutraceutical potential. To improve crop development, it is necessary to determine an adequate supply of nutrients, both in terms of quantity and balance. Additionally, the use of phytohormone-based biostimulants is proving promising for increasing plant growth. Here, we aimed to determine the ideal ratio of nitrogen (N) to potassium (K) and the effect of biostimulants on broccoli plants. Broccoli plants were cultivated by fertilization with four N:K ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 3:1) and five doses of a plant phytohormone-based biostimulant (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2 mL L−1). At 90 days of culture, plant height; stem diameter; leaf number; leaf area; fresh and dry mass of stems, leaves, and inflorescences; organ mass fraction; chlorophyll content; and gas exchange were assessed. The experiment was completely randomized in a factorial scheme of 4 × 5 (N:K × doses of biostimulant) with eight replications, each composed of a pot with one plant. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means were compared using Tukey’s test (P≤ 0.05). Fertilization with 1:1, 1:2, and 3:1 N:K resulted in higher inflorescence fresh masses, indicating that these ratios are appropriate for broccoli production, regardless of the biostimulant dose. The 1:2 N:K ratio was optimal for broccoli inflorescence production and plant architecture, independently of the biostimulant. These findings support fertilization programs aimed at increasing broccoli production.

In this paper, the effect of microstructure of a thick-walled rotor shaft for wind turbines on fracture toughness properties has been investigated. The relevant nodular cast iron grade EN-GJS-600-3 was processed using chill casting technology. Due to different solidification conditions over the wall thickness, heterogeneous microstructures were formed. To illustrate the influence of the microstructure gradient caused by chill casting technology, specimens were taken from different sample positions in the cross section of the casting component. A detailed metallographic analysis revealed essential differences in microstructure. The crack growth resistance under quasi-static loading conditions and the fatigue crack propagation under cyclic loading conditions were measured. The results of the static fracture mechanics investigations revealed that fracture toughness is strongly influenced by the microstructure of this pearlitic ductile iron grade. On the other hand, cyclic fracture mechanics analysis showed that the complex formation of the microstructure has only a minor effect on the fatigue threshold value, but microstructure has a significant effect on the stable crack growth. For the assumed load cases, it was shown that microstructure can be a dominant factor on the mechanical and fracture toughness properties.

Fluorenyl cyclopentadienyl Cs-symmetric ansa-metallocene (M = Zr, Hf) complexes I–IVfeaturing different bridging motifs (C and Si) were synthesized and subsequently examined in the syndiospecific coordinative polymerization of propylene. All complexes were activated in situwith triisobutylaluminum (TIBA) and [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] (TrBCF) in order to highlight the benefits of this in situactivation, resulting in a significantly higher molecular weight and a significantly increased productivity in comparison to methylaluminoxane (MAO). The isopropylidene-bridged zirconocene Ia(ZrCl2[Me2C(η5-Flu)(η5-Cp)]) exhibited a high productivity (80000 kgPP(molcath)−1) and stereoregularity ([rrrr] up to 93%) with a moderate molecular weight of polypropylene (PP), whereas the polymerization with the corresponding hafnocene Ib(HfCl2[Me2C(η5-Flu)(η5-Cp)]) resulted in a lower productivity and stereoregularity but yielded ultrahigh molecular weight polypropylene (Mw= 1100 kg mol–1). The backbone in II(HfCl2[Ph2C(η5-Flu)(η5-Cp)]) was associated with a higher productivity and molecular weight, while the syndiotacticity was not affected. In contrast, SC-XRD revealed a reduced dihedral angle and Dvalue for Si-bridged hafnocenes III(HfCl2[Me2Si(η5-Flu)(η5-Cp)]) and IV(HfCl2[Ph2Si(η5-Flu)(η5-Cp)]), resulting in a more constrained geometry of the catalyst. This led to an increased molecular weight, while the productivity as well as the syndiotacticity decreased due to these structural parameters. Activation of Iband II–IVwith n-octyl-modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) resulted in a lower molecular weight of the polymer, because the transfer of the growing polymer chain onto the Al center was enhanced. Nevertheless, the stereoregularity of MMAO-activated catalysts was slightly increased, probably due to a coordination of the ill-defined MMAO anion during the polymerization. DSC analysis exposed for syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP) produced by the highly active zirconocene Iaa defined melting transition (Tmup to 145.2 °C), whereas TIBA/TrBCF-activated hafnocenes Iband II–IVgave polymers with no observable Tmvalue.

AbstractA method to estimate nearshore bathymetry using SAR imagery is presented in this paper. A Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT) and Wavelet hybrid method is proposed to analyze the wave spectra and calculate the wavelength of the long swell waves from SAR acquisitions. The water depth can be retrieved using the linear dispersion relation for shallow water, which requires wavelength and wave period as input parameters. The retrieved bathymetric method are validated with the SAR image over Western Africa and Haida Gwaii. The retrieved results are compared with the ground truth data and have an over 0.9 correlation coefficient. It is found that this method is more feasible to the swell waves with larger significant wave height.

The self-assembly of the thermoresponsive amphiphilic diblock copolymer PMMA21-b-PNIPAM283is studied in different water/methanol mixtures. It consists of a short hydrophobic poly(methyl methacrylate) block and a long thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) block. Adding methanol as a cosolvent causes the PNIPAM block, which is soluble in both pure water and pure methanol, to collapse due to the so-called co-nonsolvency effect. Meanwhile, the addition of methanol reduces the incompatibility of the PMMA block with water. By means of turbidimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, the solvent-composition-dependent phase diagram is constructed. Dynamic light scattering and synchrotron radiation-based small-angle X-ray scattering provide structural information at 20 °C in dependence on the solvent composition. In water-rich solvent mixtures, self-assembled spherical core–shell micelles are formed. The internal structure of the micelles is adjusted by the solvent compositions in two ways: methanol softens the PMMA micellar core, while it causes the shrinkage of the PNIPAM micellar shell. In methanol-rich solvent mixtures beyond the miscibility gap, the copolymers are molecularly dissolved chains. They are collapsed near the coexistence line, while they become random coils as the methanol content increases. We propose that the internal morphology of the micelles and the conformation of the dissolved chains depend strongly on the solvent composition, as a consequence of the superposed co-nonsolvency effect of PNIPAM and the overall enhanced solvation of PMMA when adding methanol.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused tremendous disruption to the U.S. healthcare system and nearly crippled some hospitals during large patient surges. Limited ICU beds across the country further exacerbated these challenges. Telemedicine, specifically tele-critical care (TCC), can expand a hospital’s clinical capabilities through remote expertise and increase capacity by offloading some monitoring to remote teams. Unfortunately, the rapid deployment of telemedicine, especially TCC, is constrained by multiple barriers. In the summer of 2020, to support the National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network (NETCCN) deployment, more than 50 national leaders in applying telemedicine technologies to critical care assembled to provide their opinions about barriers to NETCCN implementation and strategies to overcome them. Through consensus, these experts developed white papers that formed the basis of this article. Herein, the authors share their experience and propose multiple solutions to barriers presented by laws, local policies and cultures, and individual perspectives according to a minimum, better, best paradigm for TCC delivery in the setting of a national disaster. Cross-state licensure and local privileging of virtual experts were identified as the most significant barriers to rapid deployment of services, whereas refining the model of TCC to achieve the best outcomes and defining the best financial model is the most significant for long-term success. Ultimately, we conclude that a rapidly deployable national telemedicine response system is achievable.

The temperature-dependent phase behavior and self-assembly behavior in aqueous solution of the thermoresponsive amphiphilic diblock copolymer PMMA21-b-PNIPAM283made of a short permanently hydrophobic poly(methyl methacrylate) block and a long thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) are studied. Turbidimetry, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) provide temperature-dependent structure information. A lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior with a cloud point TCP= 31.1 °C in dilute solution is observed. Below TCP, spherical core–shell micelles are present, having a small PMMA core and a hydrated PNIPAM shell with a radial gradient of water content. Below TCP, the micelles are interpenetrated and show a weak correlation with each other. As the temperature approaches TCP, the micellar core shrinks and thus, the aggregation number decreases, revealing that the PMMA blocks are still mobile. Moreover, the micellar shell dehydrates above TCPand the micelles notably contract. They form clusters, which grow and transform into large compact aggregates as temperature is raised far above TCP.

The purpose of this paper is to highlight critical success factors for establishing sound and effective risk management in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In particular, our research tests the effect of personal risk propensity and financial planning sophistication. Based on a survey among 270 SMEs, we apply a structural equation model (SEM). Our results show that personal risk propensity and sophistication of financial planning have a significant effect on the quality of risk management. SME managers with a higher risk propensity show better risk management sophistication in risk management organisation and in the risk management process. Additionally, the formalisation of the financial planning in SMEs is positively associated with risk management sophistication. Furthermore, the study explores the link of risk management sophistication and business performance. In that way, we propose a new theoretical research framework which can be used to study risk management sophistication in a comprehensive manner.

ABSTRACTCOVID-19 has hit us all unexpectedly. Nevertheless, this pandemic requires decisive actions. Taking this as a starting point, this empirical study investigates how small companies from Estonia have been coping with COVID-19 so far. The article contributes to the study of crisis management in general and crisis management in small firms by providing the Quick, Adapt, and Mobilized framework, which shows how small firms within a short period of time adapt to the new situation and initiate both reactive and proactive responses to mobilize old and new capacities to increase the chance of emerging successfully and strengthened from this sudden and external crisis.

Peritraumatic distress and anxiety sensitivity are associated with complications in bereavement, including posttraumatic stress and prolonged grief reactions. The extent to which these factors interact to contribute to bereavement-related distress, however, remains unclear. This study investigates whether anxiety sensitivity moderates the association between peritraumatic reactions and posttraumatic stress and prolonged grief symptoms in a sample of young adults with a history of bereavement due to sudden, unexpected deaths. Participants were 606 undergraduate students recruited from two US universities. Results suggest that peritraumatic emotional and physical distress and anxiety sensitivity are all independently associated with both posttraumatic stress and prolonged grief reactions. Furthermore, the association between peritraumatic distress and prolonged grief, but not posttraumatic stress, is moderated by anxiety sensitivity. These findings point to several potentially important, clinically modifiable factors associated with a variety of bereavement-related mental health problems among a vulnerable group of grievers.

Infrared spectroscopy can provide significant insight into the structures and dynamics of molecules of all sizes. The information that is contained in the spectrum is, however, often not easily extracted without the aid of theoretical calculations or simulations. We present here the calculation of the infrared spectra of a database of 703 gas phase compounds with four different force fields (CGenFF, GAFF-BCC, GAFF-ESP, and OPLS) using normal-mode analysis. Modern force fields increasingly use virtual sites to describe, e.g., lone-pair electrons or the σ-holes on halogen atoms. This requires some adaptation of code to perform normal-mode analysis of such compounds, the implementation of which into the GROMACS software is briefly described as well. For the quantitative comparison of the obtained spectra with experimental reference data, we discuss the application of two different statistical correlation coefficients, Pearson and Spearman. The advantages and drawbacks of the different methods of comparison are discussed, and we find that both methods of comparison give the same overall picture, showing that present force field methods cannot match the performance of quantum chemical methods for the calculation of infrared spectra.

Evaluation of nutritional status and consumption frequency of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory food by patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.

This paper aims to provide a systematic review on the topic of unlearning (and the related concept of forgetting) to establish the current body of knowledge. Despite the growing popularity of the topic, little research so far has aimed to contribute to the extant literature by providing a detailed examination that includes all aspects of unlearning. Thus, to reach our aim 72 refereed articles were analysed. The findings are synthesised not only in regard to the broad concepts of unlearning and forgetting but also regarding general issues such as operationalisation, research methodology and level of analysis. Based on this a number of research questions are proposed that aim at guiding and informing future research activities. The findings contribute to a more holistic understanding of the topic and complement extant literature on unlearning.

Electrolyte decomposition of lithium-ion battery as a consequence of thermal stress was investigated in Part 1 of this two-part study. The focus of Part 2 is on the influence of the battery cell operation conditions on the electrolyte during cell formation and long-term cycling. Especially, the reactivity of the negative electrode surface and the varied properties of the formed solid electrolyte interphase via vinylene carbonate addition, changing the picture of decomposition products, were addressed. With the help of liquid chromatography hyphenated to high-resolution mass spectrometryand fragmentation capabilities, structure elucidation was performed with optimal certainty. This Part 2 confirmed, summarized, and extended previous findings to 140 different carbonate, oligo phosphate, and mixed phosphate–carbonate species in the state-of-the-art electrolytes after moderate cycling conditions and contributes to a targeted investigation of LIB electrolyte aging processes. Furthermore, thermal and electrochemical aging phenomena were discussed and thermal stress-marker molecules that eased reversed-engineering were postulated.

The identification of decomposition products in lithium-ion battery (LIB) electrolytes enables a better understanding of interphase layer compositions at the electrode||electrolyte interfaces and of the effects impairing LIB cell performance. Besides electrochemical cell operation, thermal strain can affect the electrolyte in particular. The distinction between electrochemical and thermal degradation can lead to the identification of “marker molecules” of thermal strain and enhance reverse-engineering capabilities of LIB post-mortem analysis. Structure elucidation, applying the scope of chromatography hyphenated to high-resolution mass spectrometry for optimal certainty, has been neglected in LIB electrolyte investigations in the past. Therefore, this study focused on the structure elucidation of electrolyte decomposition products after thermal treatment (Part 1) and electrochemical operation (Part 2). Furthermore, possible marker molecules, the status quos after cell formation and long-term cycling, as well as the influence of the electrolyte additive vinylene carbonate were addressed. Isolated thermal aging resulted in 206 solvent-based suspected targets. Oligomeric carbonates, ethylene glycols, carbonate–ethylene glycol mixtures, and possible structural isomers were identified and classified via a copolymer scheme. No mixed compounds of electrolyte solvents and conducting salts were identified.

The phase behavior as well as the pressure- and temperature-dependence of the micellar structure of the thermoresponsive amphiphilic diblock copolymer PMMA21-b-PNIPAM283in D2O are investigated. The coexistence line of PMMA21-b-PNIPAM283in D2O in the temperature–pressure frame is shifted to lower in temperature and pressure compared to PNIPAM homopolymers in D2O. High-pressure small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) provides insights into the structure and aggregation behavior of the micelles both in the one-phase and the two-phase regions. In the one-phase region, pressure does not noticeably alter the core–shell structure of the micelles. Upon heating the solution at atmospheric pressure into the two-phase region, the micellar shell strongly dehydrates and shrinks. Conversely, the micellar shell remains hydrated when the coexistence line is crossed either by heating at 35 and 75 MPa, or by increasing the pressure at 31.8 °C. Moreover, along both pathways, the aggregates in the two-phase region are significantly larger than at atmospheric pressure.

We have identified the most likely reaction mechanism for oxidizing heptafulvenes to the corresponding tropones by experimental and theoretical investigations. The experimental studies were done by coupling a three-dimensional printed miniaturized reactor with an integrated electrospray ionization needle to a mass spectrometer. Using the experimentally observed ions as a basis, nine alternative reaction pathways were investigated with density functional theory calculations. The lowest energy reaction pathway starts with the formation of an epoxide that is opened upon the addition of a second equivalent of the oxidizing species meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid. The adduct formed then undergoes a Criegee-like rearrangement to yield a positively charged hemiketal, which on deprotonation dissociates into acetone and tropone. Overall, the reaction mechanism resembles a Hock-like rearrangement.

This study illustrates the high complexity of phosphorus-based decomposition products in thermally treated state-of-the-art lithium ion battery (LIB) electrolytes. Liquid chromatographic techniques hyphenated to ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry reveal 122 different organophosphate (OP) and organofluorophosphate (OFP) species, the majority of which are not reported in the literature so far. The application of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and reversed-phase chromatography enables the investigation of the acidic as well as nonacidic spectrum of aging products. Furthermore, the generation of high structure certainty by consideration of (i) mass accuracy of the precursor ions and subsequent MS2/3fragments, (ii) fragment intensity distribution in the mass spectra, and (iii) retention times in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) and reversed-phase (RP) separation allows a target analysis of further work in the LIB electrolyte context. In an ethyl methyl carbonate-based battery electrolyte, 82 OP compounds, 27 OFPs, and 13 cyclic O(F)Ps are identified. Additionally, the formation of 8-membered organo(fluoro)phosphate rings in lithium ion battery electrolytes is reported for the first time. Since the high toxic potential of organo(fluoro)phosphates has emerged interest in safety assessments of electrolytes, the knowledge of possibly formed substances supports further quantification approaches and toxicological assessments compared to nontarget investigations.

In order to further increase the energy density of lithium ion batteries (LIBs), it is of utmost importance to develop advanced electrode materials in combination with suitable electrolytes, which deliver either higher capacities and/or can be operated at high cell voltage with sufficient cycling stability. Here, we introduce (1H-imidazol-1-yl)(morpholino)methanone (MUI) as a cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) forming electrolyte additive for LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 (NMC111) || graphite cells operated at high cell voltage of up to 4.6 V. The addition of MUI to the carbonate-based reference electrolyte leads to a superior cycling stability in comparison to those with the pure reference electrolyte. The working mechanism of MUI is comprehensively elucidated with various ex situ analytical techniques. A reduction of MUI at the graphite anode is observed starting at a potential of [?]0.9 V vs. Li/Li+, resulting in a slightly higher kinetic impairment of lithium ion intercalation/deintercalation into/from graphite. To prevent the unfavorable reduction of MUI at the graphite anode, Li4Ti5O12 (LTO)-based composite anodes are also used to analyze the function of the additive at the cathode surface. We can clearly confirm that a protective film at the cathode surface is formed, helping to suppress parasitic side reactions at the cathode/electrolyte interface during long-term cycling.

Water stress influences plant growth and metabolism. Carnitine, an amino acid involved in lipid metabolism, has been related to responses of plants to abiotic stresses, also modulating their metabolites. Culantro (Eryngium foetidumL.) is a perennial herb, rich in essential oils, native to Latin America, commonly used due to its culinary and medicinal properties. Here, we investigated the effect of exogenous carnitine on morphophysiology and the essential oil profile of culantro plants under water stress. For this, plants were grown under three water conditions: well-watered, drought stress, and re-watered; and sprayed with exogenous carnitine (100 µM) or water (control). Culantro growth was impaired by drought and enhanced by re-watering. Carnitine, in turn, did not reverse drought effects on growth, and impaired the growth of re-watered plants, also improving photosynthetic pigment content. Water conditions and carnitine application changed the essential oil profile of the plants. Drought and re-watering improved the production of eryngial, which was even increased with exogenous carnitine in re-watered plants. In addition, hydroquinone was only produced with the combination of re-watering and carnitine application. The application of exogenous carnitine can be a strategy to induce the production of essential oil compounds with cosmetic and pharmaceutical importance in culantro.

Furan and thiophene diarylmethenes are potential redox-active ligands for metal centers that could be exploited in the development of nontraditional, stoichiometric, and catalytic redox reactions. As such, we describe here the selective meso-deprotonations of dithiophene, difuran, and diimine–difuran diarylmethanes to form the π-conjugated anions, for which only the diimino–difuryl anion is truly isolable and studied by X-ray crystallography. In all cases, facile one-electron oxidation of these anions occurs, which allows the isolation of the neutral dithienyl and diimino–difuryl radicals. UV–Visible and time-dependent density functional theory studies reveal that the oxidation of the dithienyl anion to its radical is associated with an increase in the highest (singly) occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gap, evident through a hypsochromic shift of the main absorption band in the electronic spectrum, whereas oxidation of the diimino–difuryl anion causes only minor spectroscopic changes. Electrochemical studies support the stability of the radicals with respect to the anion, showing strongly negative oxidation potentials. The control of the redox activity of these diarylmethene carbanions through variation of the nature of the substituents, donor-atom, and the conjugated π-system and their potential as ligands for redox-inert metal centers makes them intriguing candidates as noninnocent partners for redox reactions.

To evaluate the serum concentrations of vitamin D and their relation with inflammatory bowel diseases.

We have developed new parameterizations of electrically neutral homogeneous and ion‐induced sulfuric acid‐water particle formation for large ranges of environmental conditions, based on an improved model that has been validated against a particle formation rate data set produced by Cosmics Leaving OUtdoor Droplets (CLOUD) experiments at European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The model uses a thermodynamically consistent version of the Classical Nucleation Theory normalized using quantum chemical data. Unlike the earlier parameterizations for H2SO4‐H2O nucleation, the model is applicable to extreme dry conditions where the one‐component sulfuric acid limit is approached. Parameterizations are presented for the critical cluster sulfuric acid mole fraction, the critical cluster radius, the total number of molecules in the critical cluster, and the particle formation rate. If the critical cluster contains only one sulfuric acid molecule, a simple formula for kinetic particle formation can be used: this threshold has also been parameterized. The parameterization for electrically neutral particle formation is valid for the following ranges: temperatures 165–400 K, sulfuric acid concentrations 104–1013cm−3, and relative humidities 0.001–100%. The ion‐induced particle formation parameterization is valid for temperatures 195–400 K, sulfuric acid concentrations 104–1016cm−3, and relative humidities 10−5–100%. The new parameterizations are thus applicable for the full range of conditions in the Earth's atmosphere relevant for binary sulfuric acid‐water particle formation, including both tropospheric and stratospheric conditions. They are also suitable for describing particle formation in the atmosphere of Venus. Our H2SO4‐H2O parameterizations reproduce state‐of‐the‐art experimental and theoretical results for large ranges of environmental conditionsWe recommend replacing Vehkamäki et al. (2002, 2003) neutral particle formation parameterizations with ours and adding the ion‐induced pathwayCombination of neutral and ion‐induced pathways and the kinetic regime is required to describe H2SO4particle formation on Earth and Venus