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In 2006, Feridun Zaimoglu and Gunter Senkel’s Black Virgins (Schwarze Jungfrauen), a controversial semi-documentary play about Muslim women, became the first play by a Turkish-German playwright to be featured on the front cover of Germany’s influential theatre magazine Theater heute (Theatre Today). This success marked the arrival of a new movement in German theatre: “postmigrant theatre”, a movement which aims to redress the lack of postmigrant representation on German stages. Where initially the “authenticity” of the representation of the postmigrant subject appeared in need of legitimisation, this chapter shows that by 2010 the inclusion of Black Virgins and other “postmigrant” plays in state-funded repertoires had arguably become a source of justification for the continued relevance of German theatre.

In article number 2100083, Arthur Leis, Bert Voigtländer and co-workers demonstrate nanoscale four-probe measurements on atomically thin topological insulator films. For this purpose, four individual scanning tunneling microscope tips are directly contacting individual terraces on the sample surface to quantify the thickness-dependent film conductivity. This enables the authors to detect a breakdown of spin-momentum locking in the topological surface state as a function of the film thickness. In the few-layer limit, this effect can realize helical edge modes along step edges with potential applications in spintronics and quantum computing.

This chapter examines a single copy of Essay on Sepulchres (1809) which has been illustrated with beguiling pencil drawings post-publication, including a quotation from Percy Bysshe Shelley’s sonnet ‘Ozymandias’ (1818). While the inside front cover has been signed by the landscape artist, John Linnell (1792–1882), when the essay was sold at auction in 1992, the drawings were attributed to the collector William Young Ottley (1771–1836). This chapter examines the dialogue between the drawings and the text, using the drawings to suggest new understandings of Sepulchres. It contextualises this copy of the essay, plotting its history, and explores Godwin’s relationships with artists, demonstrating that these drawings speak to a much longer legacy for Godwin’s essay than is usually acknowledged.

Due to the high rate of optical losses and the extensive usage of noble metals, alternative plasmonic materials with maximum tunability and low loss are desired for future plasmonic and metamaterial devices and applications. Herein, the potential of aluminum‐doped zinc oxide (AZO), one of the most prominent members of the transparent conducting oxide family, is demonstrated, for its applicability in plasmonic metamaterials. Using first‐principles density functional theory, combined with optical calculations, AZO‐based, plasmonic split‐ring resonators (SRRs) as model examples are showcased. The results match with experimental reports for the optical dielectric functions of pure and 2.08% Al‐doped zinc oxide (ZnO), if the Hubbard model to the local density approximation is applied. The broadband optical dispersion data for varying dopant concentrations (0%, 2.08%, and 6.25%) are extracted and provided. The subsequent optical response analyses show the existence of pronounced plasmons and inductor–capacitor modes in Al‐doped ZnO SRRs and an enhancement in metallic characteristics and plasmonic performance of AZO upon increasing Al concentration. The findings predict AZO as a low‐loss plasmonic material with promising capability for enhancing future optoelectronics applications. The method introduces a new, versatile approach to design future optical materials of arbitrary geometry.

The present chapter deals with the evolution of the journal L’Enseignement Mathematique up to the end of the 1920s. Created in 1899 with the sponsorship of leading figures in mathematics from all countries, the journal aimed to be a “universal and fraternal” instrument in the service of all those interested in the teaching of mathematics throughout the world. In 1908, it became, at the fourth ICM in Rome, the official organ of the CIEM (Commission internationale pour l’enseignement mathematique or ICMI—International Commission on Mathematical Instruction). Until 1914, the front cover of each volume of this journal proudly displayed a list of the sponsorship committee members, which included illustrious mathematicians from fifteen countries; but this list was replaced in 1915 with the simple mention of the role of the journal as the official organ of the ICMI, and this statement in turn disappeared in 1924, after which only the description “international journal” appeared. The examination of two specific sections of this journal, the bibliography devoted to publications and the section detailing ICMI activities, enables comparison of the changes that occurred before the war and in the 1920s, and provides a look at the new post-war mathematical landscape, including the destiny of its old and new institutions and its old and new periodicals.

Let me tell you about David. For a long time, he had been on quite a high. Everything in his behavior indicated that he liked the smell of success, and in particular, he liked to be the center of attention. I remember him telling me how pleased he was to be named businessman of the year. But what had really put him in the public eye was when his picture appeared on the front cover of the country’s major business magazine. His reputation was also boosted by his role as a regular commentator on a general interest TV program. David liked the admiration; he liked to be recognized. Recognition had always been a major theme in his inner theater. Everyone knew he was no stranger to narcissism. And the press intensified his feeling of being special. Many articles portrayed him as the person who had “reframed the industry.” His numerous successes encouraged him to make his boldest move: the takeover of his largest competitor.

The Irish Buddhist invites the attention of Irish Studies scholars with its intriguing title and its striking historical photo of the “Irish Buddhist” monk featured on the front cover. Authors Alic...

The Front Cover shows the general structure of chemical recycling processes. In more detail, the chemical recycling of end‐of‐life polymers (plastics) is subdivided into two linked processes. The depolymerization allows the conversion of the end‐of‐life polymer to monomers, which can be reused in the polymerization step for the synthesis of the polymer. By doing so advantages with respect to resource‐efficiency and sustainability can be created. In our manuscript we applied the chemical recycling concept via depolymerization‐polymerization for Poly(lactide). More information can be found in the Communication by Even Cheung et al.[Image: see text]

Invited for this month's cover are the groups of Rongjian Sa and Ruihu Wang at Minjiang University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The image shows how host-guest composite catalysts with task-specific components for the cycloaddition of CO2 with epoxides have been developed through integrating nitrogen-rich covalent organic framework and imidazolium-based ionic polymer. The Full Paper itself is available at 10.1002/cssc.202006158.

The Front Cover shows the transformation of a Bi‐Ni core‐shell particle into a homogenous intermetallic BiNi particle. To understand the mechanism for the BiNi formation in the polyol process, various methods such as X‐ray and electron diffraction, HR‐TEM, mass spectrometry and FT‐IR spectroscopy were employed. In a microwave‐assisted one‐pot synthesis at first Bi‐particles emerge by reduction of a Bi‐salt. The reduction of the Ni‐salt most likely occurs on the surface of these particles, followed by a complete encasement of the Bi‐core (blue) with a shell of Ni‐particles (green). As the reaction continues, the Ni‐atoms diffuse into the Bi‐core until the homogeneous BiNi particle is attained. More information can be found in the Full Paper by Matthias Smuda et al.[Image: see text]

The Front Cover shows L‐lysine amino acid adsorption on zeolite L. The role of the zeolite channels in the stabilization of the lysine absorbed and the effect of water on protein structure are elucidated at atomistic level. The stabilization of the L α‐helical conformation is related to strong H‐bonds between the tail aminogroups of lysine molecules and the Brønsted acid site as well as to complex intermolecular H‐bond system between water molecules, zeolite and amino acid. More information can be found in the Full Paper by Giada Beltrami et al.[Image: see text]

With Continuous increase in demand to reduce weight is forcing Automotive Designers towards finding ways to explore new materials for the Engine components. Currently, Aluminum, Thermoplastics and Composites are widely used in Engine application. This paper examines the potential of a Magnesium alloy Front Cover designed to replace the Cast iron Front Cover in a Light duty Diesel engine. In presented study, a Cast iron Engine front cover is re-designed for Magnesium alloy and components developed. Further Magnesium alloy component tested at vehicle level and it has been demonstrated that a magnesium alloy Front cover can achieve key functional requirements such as Structural durability, Sealing, NVH, while providing substantial Weight saving.

The Front Cover shows the reaction of CO(2) with a silyl derivative of the biogenic amine ethanolamine. The role of CO(2) as a contributor to climate change makes “carbon capture” a desirable goal. However, in addition to simply capture CO(2), aminosilanes form silylcarbamates, which represent starting materials for a variety of crucial chemicals. Thus, the entrapped CO(2) represents a useful C(1) building block. The ESF‐funded Junior Research Group CO(2)‐Sil at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg (represented by their Logo and location) pursues that kind of goals. More information can be found in the Full Paper by Marcus Herbig et al.[Image: see text]

The Front Cover shows the stabilization of thiols by aromatic rings, as a result of energetically favorable SH‐π interactions in a designed small molecule and in proteins (artwort provided by Marijn Maas from the group of Prof. Jasmin Mecinović). More information can be found in the Article by F. M. Bickelhaupt.

Sami Ludwig, Professor of American Studies at the Universite de Haute Alsace (Mulhouse, France), successfully takes up any author’s challenge to pique his potential readers’ curiosity from the front cover. His enigmatic title Resurrecting the First Great American Play. Imperial Politics and Colonial Ambitions in Frontier Detroit acts as an incentive for any inquiring minds who would immerse themselves in the book to unravel the mystery about the forgotten original American dramatic piece. We ...

Material development requires in many cases information about the necessary stability of the materials against oxidation, which is encoded in the chemical activity of the constituting elements. Determination of the chemical activity is tedious, especially for metallic materials at or close to ambient temperature. To determine the chemical activity of Zn at ambient temperature, electromotive force (EMF) measurements on the intermetallic compounds ZnPd, ZnPt and Cu5Zn8 within their respective homogeneity range were conducted. The single‐phase nature of the samples was confirmed by powder X‐ray diffraction, light microscopy as well as SEM/EDX analysis. To exclude oxidation, and therefore faulty determination of the electrochemical potentials, a method was developed to conduct the electrochemical measurements under non‐corrosive conditions in inert atmosphere. Corrosion by the electrolyte was avoided using anhydrous dimethylformamide as aprotic solvent. From the EMF the respective intrinsic activities of zinc in the corresponding intermetallic compounds was determined. Measurements on Cu5Zn8 and comparison to available data in literature verified the developed method allowing to retrieve thermodynamic data of ZnPd and ZnPt for the first time at ambient temperature. The herein developed and easy‐to‐use methodology is applicable to a wide range of metallic material by choosing appropriate compositions of the electrolyte and has the potential to boost material development., Activity from EMF: The chemical activity of elements in intermetallic compounds can be determined at room temperature by corrosion‐free measurements of the electromotive force. The methodology is based on DMF as water‐free solvent and use of inert atmosphere to prevent oxidation. Results on Zn‐containing intermetallic compounds have been verified by comparison to literature data. Overcoming corrosion issues makes the approach applicable to a wide range of materials.

Cycling between molybdenum(I)-dinitrogen and molybdenum(IV)-nitride complexes was investigated under ambient reaction conditions. A kinetic study of the second-order reaction rate for the conversion of the molybdenum-dinitrogen complex into the molybdenum-nitride complex indicates that the formation of the dinitrogen-bridged dimolybdenum complex is involved in the rate-determining step. DFT calculations indicate that the molybdenum-dinitrogen complex transforms into the molybdenum-nitride complex via direct cleavage of the nitrogen-nitrogen triple bond of the bridging dinitrogen ligand of the dinitrogen-bridged dimolybdenum complex. The corresponding reaction of the molybdenum-nitride complex transforming into the molybdenum-dinitrogen complex proceeds via the ligand exchange of ammonia for dinitrogen at the dinitrogen-bridged dimolybdenum complexes. A new modified reaction pathway has been proposed based on the findings of our experimental and theoretical results.