Balanced Scorecards and sustainability Balanced Scorecards for corporate social responsibility strategic alignment: A systematic literature review.

The integration of social and environmental issues into their business model is today a major issue for companies facing the challenge of sustainability. This is leading them to redefine their models of performance measurement. In this perspective, integrated and multi-dimensional frameworks such as Balanced Scorecards (BSCs) and Sustainability Balanced Scorecards (SBSCs) offer attractive opportunities.

Oxidation Performance of Nano-Layered (AlTiZrHfTa)N/SiN Coatings Deposited by Reactive Magnetron Sputtering.

This work uses the direct current magnetron sputtering (DCMS) of equi-atomic (AlTiZrHfTa) and Si targets in dynamic sweep mode to deposit nano-layered (AlTiZrHfTa)N/SiN refractory high-entropy coatings (RHECs). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are used to investigate the effect of Si addition on the oxidation behavior of the nano-layered coatings. The Si-free nitride coating exhibits FCC structure and columnar morphology, while the Si-doped nitride coatings present a FCC (AlTiZrHfTa)N/amorphous-SiN nano-layered architecture.

Nivolumab in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma in France: interim results of the observational, real-world WITNESS study.

Background: Nivolumab is the first immune checkpoint inhibitor approved in Europe for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC) in patients resistant to prior antiangiogenic therapy. WITNESS is an ongoing, prospective, observational study designed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of nivolumab in patients with aRCC treated in real life (or routine practice) in France (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03455452).

A carbon dot-based clay nanocomposite for efficient heavy metal removal.

Carbon dots and their derivatives with fascinating photoluminescence properties have recently attracted tremendous scientific attention. This work describes the preparation of novel fluorescent bentonite clay (B), modified with carbon dot nanomaterials (CDs), and its usage as a lead removal platform. The CDs were prepared using a hydrothermal method from graphitic waste which served as the carbon source material.

Unusual, hierarchically structured composite of sugarcane pulp bagasse biochar loaded with Cu/Ni bimetallic nanoparticles for dye removal.

Biochar-supported nanocatalysts emerged as unique materials for environmental remediation. Herein, sugarcane pulp bagasse (SCPB) was wet-impregnated with Cu(NO)3HO and Ni(NO)6HO, then pyrolyzed at 500 °C, under N, for 1 h. We specifically focused on sugarcane pulp instead of SCB and biochar materials.

Encapsulation of Essential Oil into Mesoporous Silica Particles for the Enhancement of Their Activity against and Its Enniatins Production.

Essential oils (EOs) that have antifungal activity and mycotoxin reduction ability are candidates to develop bioactive alternatives and environmentally friendly treatment against Fusarium species in cereals. However, their practical use is facing limitations such as high volatility, UV sensitivity, and fast oxidation. Encapsulation techniques are supposed to provide protection to the EOs and control their release into the environment.

G-CSF filgrastim biosimilar-Sandoz reduces the incidence of febrile neutropenia in patients receiving chemotherapy regimens with rest periods not exceeding 14 days: A French, multicenter, prospective, non-interventional study.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to describe filgrastim biosimilar-Sandoz modalities of use in patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens with a rest period of ≤14 days and to investigate the incidence of febrile neutropenia (FN) in routine clinical practice.

Methods: This was a French, multicenter, prospective and descriptive, non-interventional study including patients with breast, lung, gastrointestinal cancer or a lymphoma initiating filgrastim biosimilar-Sandoz treatment and in the context of cytotoxic chemotherapy with a rest period not exceeding 14 days. Data were collected during two routine clinical visits on the modalities of use of filgrastim biosimilar-Sandoz, on the incidence of neutropenia events and on adverse events.

High Response Rate to Carboplatin-Paclitaxel-Cetuximab and Pembrolizumab in Patients with Recurrent and/or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

The management of R/M HNSCC is rapidly evolving with new available treatment molecules and combination modalities. Anti-EGFR cetuximab (CTX) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) can be used either alone or in combination with conventional platinum-based doublet chemotherapy (with taxanes or fluorouracil). No data have been reported to date on the association of doublet chemotherapy concomitantly with both CTX and ICI.

Green, zero-waste pathway to fabricate supported nanocatalysts and anti-kinetoplastid agents from sugarcane bagasse.

The conversion processes of sugarcane into direct-consumption sugar and juice are generating a tremendous amount of waste, the so-called sugarcane bagasse (SCB). Biochar preparation is among the practical solutions aiming to manage and valorize SCB into high added-value functional material (FM). Herein, we propose a novel zero-waste pathway to fabricate two FMs from one biomass.

Non-doped and transition metal-doped CuO nano-powders: structure-physical properties and anti-adhesion activity relationship.

Bacterial contamination and biofilm formation generate severe problems in many fields. Among these biofilm-forming bacteria, () has emerged as a major cause of nosocomial infection (NI). However, with the dramatic rise in resistance toward conventional antibiotics, there is a pressing need for developing effective anti-biofilms.

Editorial to the Special Issue SELSA: "Sensors for Environmental and Life Science Applications".

"Warn, inform, and prevent" are three essential elements to remember when designing sensors for real-time and in situ monitoring of organic, inorganic, and macromolecular compounds as well as micro-nanoparticles and microorganisms [...

Conceptual Developments of Aryldiazonium Salts as Modifiers for Gold Colloids and Surfaces.

Modified colloids and flat surfaces occupy an important place in materials science research due to their widespread applications. Interest in the development of modifiers that adhere strongly to surfaces relates to the need for stability under ambient conditions in many applications. Diazonium salts have evolved as the primary choice for the modification of surfaces.

Towards Clean and Safe Water: A Review on the Emerging Role of Imprinted Polymer-Based Electrochemical Sensors.

This review critically summarizes the knowledge of imprinted polymer-based electrochemical sensors for the detection of pesticides, metal ions and waterborne pathogenic bacteria, focusing on the last five years. MIP-based electrochemical sensors exhibit low limits of detection (LOD), high selectivity, high sensitivity and low cost. We put the emphasis on the design of imprinted polymers and their composites and coatings by radical polymerization, oxidative polymerization of conjugated monomers or sol-gel chemistry.

Arylated gold nanoparticles have no effect on the adipogenic differentiation of MG-63 cells nor regulate any key signaling pathway during the differentiation.

Objective: MG-63 cells that have osteoblastic and adipogenic differentiation potential were evaluated for internalization, and adipogenic differentiation in the presence and absence of the covalently functionalized aryl gold nanoparticles (AuNPs-CH-4-COOH).

Results: Inductively coupled plasma, flow cytometry and confocal microscopy analyses confirmed that gold nanoparticles were easily internalized by MG-63 cells. The MG-63 cells were differentiated into adipocytes without gold-aryl nanoparticles and with the gold-aryl nanoparticles at 5 µM concentration in both induction and maintenance media.

Data on the fabrication of hybrid calix [4]arene-modified natural bentonite clay for efficient selective removal of toxic metals from wastewater at room temperature.

Fresh water resources on the earth are less than 0.2%; meanwhile, around 80% of the freshwater is consumed daily in agriculture, industries, and household activities [1], [2]. There is an essential need to develop efficient adsorbents for wastewater treatment [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], in this regards, hereafter we present the rationale synthesis and characterization of hybrid natural bentonite clay modified with Calix [4] arene (denoted as B-S-Calix) as efficient adsorbents for toxic metals from wastewater.

Protein-Coated Aryl Modified Gold Nanoparticles for Cellular Uptake Study by Osteosarcoma Cancer Cells.

Gold nanoparticles coated with proteins have shown extraordinary biocompatibility which advanced to several nanomedicine engineering applications. We synthesized protein-coated gold nanoparticles using green and chemical reduction routes for cellular uptake study. In the current work, we coated gold-aryl nanoparticles of the type AuNPs-CH-4-COOH with bovine serum albumin (BSA), collagen, zein, and lysozyme proteins.

Different Electrochemical Sensor Designs Based on Diazonium Salts and Gold Nanoparticles for Pico Molar Detection of Metals.

We report a comparison of sensors' performance of different hybrid nanomaterial architectures modifying an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode surface. Diazonium salts and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were used as building units to design hybrid thin films of successive layers on the ITO electrode surface. Different architectures of hybrid thin films were prepared and characterized with different techniques, such as TEM, FEG-SEM, XPS, and EIS.

Can Plasmon Change Reaction Path? Decomposition of Unsymmetrical Iodonium Salts as an Organic Probe.

Plasmon-assisted transformations of organic compounds represent a novel opportunity for conversion of light to chemical energy at room temperature. However, the mechanistic insights of interaction between plasmon energy and organic molecules is still under debate. Herein, we proposed a comprehensive study of the plasmon-assisted reaction mechanism using unsymmetric iodonium salts (ISs) as an organic probe.

Polypyrrole-Wrapped Carbon Nanotube Composite Films Coated on Diazonium-Modified Flexible ITO Sheets for the Electroanalysis of Heavy Metal Ions.

Highly sensitive multicomponent materials designed for the recognition of hazardous compounds request control over interfacial chemistry. The latter is a key parameter in the construction of the sensing (macro) molecular architectures. In this work, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were deposited on diazonium-modified, flexible indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes prior to the electropolymerization of pyrrole.

Development of Latent Fingerprints via Aryldiazonium Tetrachloroaurate Salts on Copper Surfaces: An XPS Study.

Surface studies of developed fingerprints have aided in the elimination of criminal cases before moving to the court. The combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) with the aryldiazonium gold(III), 4-ONCHNAuCl, surface modifier has been shown to be a novel approach in latent fingerprint detection and development for the quantification of film elements. The robust gold-aryl film was developed on the reducing chemicals excreted in the sebaceous fingerprints without the need for external stimuli and at a lesser extent after contacting the free metal surface.

IL-17A contributes to propagation of inflammation but does not impair adipogenesis and/or insulin response, in adipose tissue of obese individuals.

Background: Adipose tissue is infiltrated with various immune cells, including Th17 lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages, in obese individuals. We have previously demonstrated the role of obese adipose-derived stem cells (ob-ASC) and adipocytes (AD) in the mediation of inflammation through promotion of Th17 cells and activation of monocytes. Such an inflammation resulted in impaired ob-ASC adipogenesis and AD insulin response.

Novel Enzyme-Free Multifunctional Bentonite/Polypyrrole/Silver Nanocomposite Sensor for Hydrogen Peroxide Detection over a Wide pH Range.

Precise designs of low-cost and efficient catalysts for the detection of hydrogen peroxide (HO) over wide ranges of pH are important in various environmental applications. Herein, a versatile and ecofriendly approach is presented for the rational design of ternary bentonite-silylpropyl-polypyrrole/silver nanoarchitectures (denoted as BP-PS-PPy/Ag) via the in-situ photo polymerization of pyrrole with salinized bentonite (BP-PS) in the presence of silver nitrate. The Pyrrolyl-functionalized silane (PS) is used as a coupling agent for tailoring the formation of highly exfoliated BP-PS-PPy sheet-like nanostructures ornamented with monodispersed Ag nanoparticles (NPs).

Bimetallic Cu-Rh Nanoparticles on Diazonium-Modified Carbon Powders for the Electrocatalytic Reduction of Nitrates.

4-Benzenethiol-functionalized high-surface-area graphite powder was prepared and decorated with bimetallic CuRh nanoparticles (NPs) to serve as electrocatalysts for the reduction of nitrates. In the first step, the HSAG powder was grafted with in-situ-generated diazonium compounds from 4-aminothiophenol (ATP) in an acidic medium using NaNO for the diazotization process. The surface composition was tuned using different initial quantities of ATP.