Recent developments in asymmetric Heck type cyclization reactions for constructions of complex molecules

This review summarizes the recent developments in the asymmetric intramolecular Heck reaction and carbometallation-initiated cascade transformations including Ni-catalyzed processes with literature coverage mainly extending from 2016 to 2021.

Visible-light-induced silylation: an update

This review summarizes the recent findings and developments in the emerging area of photocatalytic silylation with literature coverage mainly extending from 2014 to February 2021.

Triaging of Culture Conditions for Enhanced Secondary Metabolite Diversity from Different Bacteria

Over the past decade, the One Strain Many Compounds (OSMAC) approach has been established for silent gene cluster activation and elicitation of secondary metabolite production, but so far the full secondary metabolome of a biosynthetically promising bacterium has not been elucidated yet. Here, we investigate the ability of seven categories of OSMAC conditions to enhance the diversity of new mass features from bacterial strains with little literature coverage but high biosynthetic potential. The strains Bacillus. amyloliquefaciens DSM7, Corallococcus. coralloides DSM2259, Pyxidicoccus. fallax HKI727, Rhodococcus. jostii DSM44719, and Streptomyces. griseochromogenes DSM40499 were selected after genome mining with antiSMASH. After cultivation under OSMAC conditions, the generated extracts were subjected to LC-MS and MZmine analysis to determine new mass features and evaluate the tested culture conditions. 4 predicted compounds, bacillibactin, desferrioxamine B, myxochelin A, and surfactin, were identified and up to 147 new mass features were detected in the generated extracts, which greatly surpasses the number of predicted gene clusters. Among the new mass features are bioactive compounds that were so far unreported for the strains such as cyclo-(Tyr-Pro) from DSM7 and nocardamin from DSM2259. Furthermore, the tested culture conditions were evaluated regarding their suitability for the generation of new mass features from the selected strains and promising new starting points for further screenings are postulated. Especially culture conditions with little prior literature coverage are responsible for the activation of predicted gene clusters

Improving Maritime Transport Sustainability Using Blockchain-Based Information Exchange

In this paper, the authors perform a comprehensive literature review of the positive impacts of blockchain-based information exchange in the maritime transport sector, as well as the challenges and barriers for successful blockchain-based information exchange, considering all three aspects of the sustainability (economic, environmental, and social). The papers from relevant databases (Web of Science and Scopus) and selected studies have been used. The literature coverage was expanded by using backward snowball sampling. In total, 20 positive impacts and 20 challenges/barriers were singled out. Despite the identified barriers and challenges (such as the slow acceptance of blockchain technology in the maritime transport sector or the high implementation cost), blockchain technology possesses a definite potential to improve the information exchange between all involved stakeholders (for example, by improving the visibility across transport routes and by reducing the paper-based processes), positively affecting all three aspects of sustainability. The authors contribute to the existing research of the economic aspect of maritime transport sustainability by blockchain-based information exchange by expanding it and by researching the environmental and social aspects of sustainability.

Triaging of Culture Conditions for the Enhanced Discovery of Secondary Metabolites from Different Bacteria

Over the past decade, the One Strain Many Compounds (OSMAC) approach has been established for silent gene cluster activation and elicitation of secondary metabolite production, but so far the full secondary metabolome of a biosynthetically promising bacterium has not been elucidated yet. Here, we investigate the ability of seven categories of OSMAC conditions to elicit new mass features from bacterial strains with little literature coverage but high biosynthetic potential. The strains B. amyloliquefaciens DSM7, C. coralloides DSM2259, P. fallax HKI727, R. jostii DSM44719 and S. griseochromogenes DSM40499 were selected after genome mining with antiSMASH. After cultivation under OSMAC conditions, the generated extracts were subjected to LC/MS and MZmine analysis to determine new mass features, expressed gene clusters and evaluate the tested culture conditions. 4 predicted compounds, bacillibactin, desferrioxamine B, myxochelin A and surfactin, were identified and up to 147 new mass features were detected in the generated extracts, which greatly surpasses the number of predicted gene clusters. Among the new mass features are bioactive compounds which were so far unreported for the strains such as cyclo-(Tyr-Pro) from DSM7 and nocardamin from DSM2259. Furthermore, the tested culture conditions were evaluated regarding their suitability for the generation of new mass features from the selected strains and promising new starting points for further screenings are postulated. Especially culture conditions with little prior literature coverage are responsible for the activation of secondary metabolite production.

Neural Networks in Narrow Stock Markets

Narrow markets are typically considered those that due to limited liquidity or peculiarities in its investor base, such as a particularly high concentration of retail investors, make the stock market less efficient and arguably less predictable. We show in this article that neural networks, applied to narrow markets, can provide relatively accurate forecasts in narrow markets. However, practical considerations such as potentially suboptimal trading infrastructure and stale prices should be taken into considerations. There is ample existing literature describing the use of neural network as a forecasting tool in deep stock markets. The application of neural networks to narrow markets have received much less literature coverage. It is however an important topic as having reliable stock forecasting tools in narrow markets can help with the development of the local stock market, potentially also helping the real economy. Neural networks applied to moderately narrow markets generated forecasts that appear to be comparable, but typically not as accurate, as those obtained in deep markets. These results are consistent across a wide range of learning algorithms and other network features such as the number of neurons. Selecting the appropriate network structure, including deciding what training algorithm to use, is a crucial step in order to obtain accurate forecasts.

Examiners' Comments on Masters' Dissertations at the Islamic University in Uganda

This study aimed at exploring the prevalence and nature of examiners' comments on the appropriateness of draft M. Ed dissertations at Islamic University in Uganda. A total of 530 reports were stratified according to specialisations and examiners from which a sample of 300 reports were randomly selected. Content and thematic analyses were conducted on the reports whose findings were interpreted using Bourke and Holbrook's (2013) indicators for assessment of Masters' thesis quality. Findings reveal that under Contribution, 'originality' attracted few comments which tended to be neutral, while 'substantive' and 'advancement of knowledge' tended to be inappropriately done. The Literature Review 'accuracy' and 'application' categories were among the most highly commented on, with most of them tending to be inappropriately done, while relatively few comments were made on \literature coverage'. Under Approach/Methodology, 'research design' tended to be appropriately done while 'sampling', 'validity', and 'reliability' tended to be inappropriately done. In Analysis/Findings, 'quantitative data presentation' tended to be appropriately done, while 'qualitative data analysis' and 'interpretation' tended to be inappropriately done. Throughout the dissertation components, concerns on Presentation: 'communicative competence' and 'expression' were common. It is recommended that the university should engage Masters' students more in seminars and workshops on research methods and scholarly writing.