bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Securing Social Security Solvency
Authors: Brandon William P. , Mohr Zachary
Published: December 2019

Adequate income is a social determinant of health. In the United States, only Social Security beneficiaries receive inflation-protected guaranteed income. Social Security needs another 1983 compromise in which stakeholders accepted “shared pain” to avoid insolvency. We propose indexing the benefit using the chained consumer price index (CPI) for all urban consumers and providing a one-time bonus of 8% to 10% for beneficiaries in their mid-80s, when needs become greater. The chained CPI has little impact when beneficiaries start receiving benefits, but older beneficiaries need protection. The estimated 75-year savings from this restructured benefit amount to 14.2% to 18% of Social Security deficits. Modest increases in payroll taxes and maximum earnings taxed should make up most of the shortfall. Including unearned income with wages and salaries subject to the 6.2% individual tax would produce much more revenue. The discussion explores the proposal’s political feasibility, grounding in current policy and political science literature, and the role of income as a social determinant of health.
Biological approaches to public administration and public policy
Authors: Larimer Christopher W. , Peterson Steven A.
Published: December 2019

This special issue considers the relationship of the life sciences to both public policy and public administration. This makes sense because the bureaucratic process and public administration are deeply involved in the policy process and the development of substantive public policy. The two subjects are intertwined. And a biological perspective can illuminate many aspects of both. That is the focus of this issue.
Association of dietary acid load and plant-based diet index with sleep, stress, anxiety and depression in diabetic women
Authors: Daneshzad Elnaz , Keshavarz Seyed-Ali , Qorbani Mostafa , Larijani Bagher , Bellissimo Nick , Azadbakht Leila
Published: December 2019

Diabetes is a common chronic disease with various complications. The present study was conducted to determine the association of plant-based diet index (PDI) and dietary acid load (DAL) with sleep status as well as mental health in type 2 diabetic women. In this cross-sectional study, a validated FFQ was used to assess dietary intakes of 230 diabetic patients. We created a whole PDI, healthful PDI (hPDI) and unhealthful PDI (uPDI). DAL was calculated based on potential renal acid load and net endogenous acid production method. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and twenty-one-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale were used to assess sleep and mental health disorders, respectively. Participants in the top group of uPDI had greater risk of poor sleep (OR 6·47, 95 % CI 2·75, 15·24). However, patients who were in the top group of hPDI had a lower risk of sleep problems (OR 0·28, 95 % CI 0·13, 0·62). Participants in the top group of uPDI had greater risk of depression, anxiety and stress (OR 9·35, 95 % CI 3·96, 22·07; OR 4·74, 95 % CI 2·28, 9·85; OR 4·24, 95 % CI 2·14, 8·38, respectively). In conclusion, participants with higher DAL scores and patients who adhered to animal-based diets rather than plant-based diets were more likely to be poor sleepers and have mental health disorders.
Has the long-predicted decline in consanguineous marriage in India occurred?
Authors: Kumari Nutan , Bittles Alan H. , Saxena Prem
Published: December 2019

To an extent the question posed in the title of this paper can simply be answered in the affirmative. Based on the extensive data available from the National Family Health Survey-1 (NFHS-1) conducted in 1992–93 and NFHS-4 in 2015–16 there has been a significant overall decline of some 19% in the prevalence of consanguineous marriage in India. However, when examined at state level the picture is more complex, with large reductions in consanguinity in southern states where intra-familial marriage previously has been strongly favoured, whereas in some northern states in which close kin unions traditionally have been proscribed small increases were recorded. In a country such as India, comprising an estimated 18% of the current world population and with multiple ethnic, religious, geographical and social sub-divisions, apparently contrary findings of this nature are not unexpected – especially given the major shifts that are underway in family sizes, in education and employment, and with rapid urbanization. The changing health profile of the population also is an important factor, with non-communicable diseases now responsible for a majority of morbidity and premature mortality in adulthood. The degree to which future alterations in the prevalence and profile of consanguineous marriage occur, and at what rate, is difficult to predict – the more so given the markedly diverse cultural identities that remain extant across the Sub-Continent, and ongoing intra-community endogamy.
A longitudinal study of maternal interaction strategies during joint book-reading in Taiwan
Authors: CHANG Chien-Ju , LUO Ya-Hui
Published: December 2019

This longitudinal study examines change in maternal interaction strategies in Taiwanese mothers across time, and the synchronic and diachronic relationships between maternal interaction strategies and children's language and early literacy skills. Forty-two mother–child dyads participated in this study. Their interactions during joint book-reading were tape-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed when the children were fourteen, twenty-six, and thirty-six months of age. The children received a battery of language and early literacy tests when they were thirty-six months old. Findings showed that Taiwanese mothers adjusted their use of interaction strategies as their children grew. Maternal use of description, performance, prediction inference, and print-related talk were positively correlated with their children's language and literacy skills. Significant negative correlations were found between use of task-behavioral regulation strategy and text reading in mothers and their children's language performance. This study suggests that age-appropriate interaction strategies are important for children's language and early literacy development.
Comparing Resource Management Skills in a High- versus Low-Resource Simulation Scenario: A Pilot Study
Authors: Ripoll Gallardo Alba , Meneghetti Grazia , Franc Jeffrey M. , Costa Alessandro , Ragazzoni Luca , Bodas Moran , Jordan Vaclav , Della Corte Francesco
Published: December 2019

Background:

Low-resource environments, such as those found in humanitarian crises, pose significant challenges to the provision of proper medical treatment. While the lack of training of health providers to such settings has been well-acknowledged in literature, there has yet to be any scientific evidence for this phenomenon.

Methods:

This pilot study utilized a randomized crossover experimental design to examine the effects of high- versus low-resource simulated scenarios of a resuscitation of a critically ill obstetric patient on a medical doctors’ performance and inter-personal skills. Ten senior residents (fifth-year post-graduate) of the Maggiore Hospital School of Medicine (Novara, NO, Italy) were included in the study.

Results:

Overall performance score for the high-resource setting was 5.2, as opposed to only 2.3 for the low-resource setting. The mean effect size for the overall score was 2.9 (95% CI, 1.7–4.0; P <.001). The results suggest a significant decrease in both technical (medical) and non-technical skills, such as leadership, problem solving, situation awareness, resource utilization, and communication in the low-resource environment setting. The latter finding is of special important since it was yet to be reported.

Conclusions:

This pilot study suggests that untrained physicians in low-resource environments may experience a considerable setback not only to their professional performance, but also to their interpersonal skills, when deployed ill-prepared to humanitarian missions. Consequently, this may endanger the health of local populations.
Young adult nutrition and weight correlates of picky eating during childhood
Authors: Pesch Megan H , Bauer Katherine W , Christoph Mary J , Larson Nicole , Neumark-Sztainer Dianne
Published: December 2019

Objective:

To identify whether picky eating during childhood is associated with dietary intake, weight status and disordered eating behaviour during young adulthood.

Design:

A population-based study using data from young adults who responded online or by mail to the third wave of the Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults) study in 2008–2009. Participants retrospectively reported the extent to which they were a picky eater in childhood, sociodemographic characteristics, disordered eating behaviours, usual dietary intake, and weight and height.

Setting:

Participants were initially recruited in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area of Minnesota, USA, in 1998–1999.

Participants:

The analytic sample included 2275 young adults (55 % female, 48 % non-Hispanic White, mean age 25·3 (sd 1·6) years).

Results:

Young adults who reported picky eating in childhood were found to currently have lower intakes of fruit, vegetables and whole grains, and more frequent intakes of snack foods, sugar-sweetened beverages and foods from fast-food restaurants. No associations were observed between picky eating in childhood and young adults’ weight status, use of weight-control strategies or report of binge eating.

Conclusions:

While young adults who report picky eating during childhood are not at higher risk for disordered eating, those who were picky eaters tend to have less healthy dietary intake. Food preferences and dietary habits established by picky eaters during childhood may persist into adulthood.
The politics of implementation of the judicial council model in Europe
Authors: Castillo-Ortiz Pablo
Published: December 2019

Currently, at least three approaches to judicial governance coexist in the European continent: the judicial council model, the courts service model, and the Ministry of Justice model. Although doctrinal and case-specific literatures abound on this topic, examples of cross-country studies explaining choices on these models of judicial governance are rather scarce. More particularly, we lack so far knowledge on how different factors interact in leading to the implementation of the judicial council model. This is striking, given the importance of judicial councils for the operation of the rule of law. Furthermore, explanations on the choices of models of judicial governance are essential to understanding the intricate issue of the political rationalities underlying macrolevel design of judicial institutions. Using qualitative comparative analysis and focusing on European liberal democracies, this article contributes to the literature in the field. It is shown that judicial councils are created when postauthoritarian countries implement new constitutions either in romanistic law countries or in countries subject to Europeanizing pressures.
MGeND: an integrated database for Japanese clinical and genomic information
Authors: Kamada Mayumi , Nakatsui Masahiko , Kojima Ryosuke , Nohara Sachio , Uchino Eiichiro , Tanishima Shigeki , Sugiyama Masaya , Kosaki Kenjiro , Tokunaga Katsushi , Mizokami Masashi , Okuno Yasushi
Published: December 2019

To promote the implementation of genomic medicine, we developed an integrated database, the Medical Genomics Japan Variant Database (MGeND). In its first release, MGeND provides data regarding genomic variations in Japanese individuals, collected by research groups in five disease fields. These variations consist of curated SNV/INDEL variants and susceptibility variants for diseases established by genome-wide association study analysis. Furthermore, we recorded the frequencies of HLA alleles in infectious disease populations.
Exploring multistability in prismatic metamaterials through local actuation
Authors: Iniguez-Rabago Agustin , Li Yun , Overvelde Johannes T. B.
Published: December 2019

Metamaterials are artificial materials that derive their unusual properties from their periodic architecture. Some metamaterials can deform their internal structure to switch between different properties. However, the precise control of these deformations remains a challenge, as these structures often exhibit non-linear mechanical behavior. We introduce a computational and experimental strategy to explore the folding behavior of a range of 3D prismatic building blocks that exhibit controllable multifunctionality. By applying local actuation patterns, we are able to explore and visualize their complex mechanical behavior. We find a vast and discrete set of mechanically stable configurations, that arise from local minima in their elastic energy. Additionally these building blocks can be assembled into metamaterials that exhibit similar behavior. The mechanical principles on which the multistable behavior is based are scale-independent, making our designs candidates for e.g., reconfigurable acoustic wave guides, microelectronic mechanical systems and energy storage systems.
Structural basis of ligand selectivity and disease mutations in cysteinyl leukotriene receptors
Authors: Gusach Anastasiia , Luginina Aleksandra , Marin Egor , Brouillette Rebecca L. , Besserer-Offroy Élie , Longpré Jean-Michel , Ishchenko Andrii , Popov Petr , Patel Nilkanth , Fujimoto Taku , Maruyama Toru , Stauch Benjamin , Ergasheva Margarita , Romanovskaia Daria , Stepko Anastasiia , Kovalev Kirill , Shevtsov Mikhail , Gordeliy Valentin , Han Gye Won , Katritch Vsevolod , Borshchevskiy Valentin , Sarret Philippe , Mishin Alexey , Cherezov Vadim
Published: December 2019

Cysteinyl leukotriene G protein-coupled receptors CysLT1 and CysLT2 regulate pro-inflammatory responses associated with allergic disorders. While selective inhibition of CysLT1R has been used for treating asthma and associated diseases for over two decades, CysLT2R has recently started to emerge as a potential drug target against atopic asthma, brain injury and central nervous system disorders, as well as several types of cancer. Here, we describe four crystal structures of CysLT2R in complex with three dual CysLT1R/CysLT2R antagonists. The reported structures together with the results of comprehensive mutagenesis and computer modeling studies shed light on molecular determinants of CysLTR ligand selectivity and specific effects of disease-related single nucleotide variants.
Muscleblind acts as a modifier of FUS toxicity by modulating stress granule dynamics and SMN localization
Authors: Casci Ian , Krishnamurthy Karthik , Kour Sukhleen , Tripathy Vadreenath , Ramesh Nandini , Anderson Eric N. , Marrone Lara , Grant Rogan A. , Oliver Stacie , Gochenaur Lauren , Patel Krishani , Sterneckert Jared , Gleixner Amanda M. , Donnelly Christopher J. , Ruepp Marc-David , Sini Antonella M. , Zuccaro Emanuela , Pennuto Maria , Pasinelli Piera , Pandey Udai Bhan
Published: December 2019

Mutations in fused in sarcoma (FUS) lead to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with varying ages of onset, progression and severity. This suggests that unknown genetic factors contribute to disease pathogenesis. Here we show the identification of muscleblind as a novel modifier of FUS-mediated neurodegeneration in vivo. Muscleblind regulates cytoplasmic mislocalization of mutant FUS and subsequent accumulation in stress granules, dendritic morphology and toxicity in mammalian neuronal and human iPSC-derived neurons. Interestingly, genetic modulation of endogenous muscleblind was sufficient to restore survival motor neuron (SMN) protein localization in neurons expressing pathogenic mutations in FUS, suggesting a potential mode of suppression of FUS toxicity. Upregulation of SMN suppressed FUS toxicity in Drosophila and primary cortical neurons, indicating a link between FUS and SMN. Our data provide in vivo evidence that muscleblind is a dominant modifier of FUS-mediated neurodegeneration by regulating FUS-mediated ALS pathogenesis.
In silico prediction of high-resolution Hi-C interaction matrices
Authors: Zhang Shilu , Chasman Deborah , Knaack Sara , Roy Sushmita
Published: December 2019

The three-dimensional (3D) organization of the genome plays an important role in gene regulation bringing distal sequence elements in 3D proximity to genes hundreds of kilobases away. Hi-C is a powerful genome-wide technique to study 3D genome organization. Owing to experimental costs, high resolution Hi-C datasets are limited to a few cell lines. Computational prediction of Hi-C counts can offer a scalable and inexpensive approach to examine 3D genome organization across multiple cellular contexts. Here we present HiC-Reg, an approach to predict contact counts from one-dimensional regulatory signals. HiC-Reg predictions identify topologically associating domains and significant interactions that are enriched for CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) bidirectional motifs and interactions identified from complementary sources. CTCF and chromatin marks, especially repressive and elongation marks, are most important for HiC-Reg’s predictive performance. Taken together, HiC-Reg provides a powerful framework to generate high-resolution profiles of contact counts that can be used to study individual locus level interactions and higher-order organizational units of the genome.
3D extruded composite thermoelectric threads for flexible energy harvesting
Authors: Peng J. , Witting I. , Geisendorfer N. , Wang M. , Chang M. , Jakus A. , Kenel C. , Yan X. , Shah R. , Snyder G. J. , Grayson M.
Published: December 2019

Whereas the rigid nature of standard thermoelectrics limits their use, flexible thermoelectric platforms can find much broader applications, for example, in low-power, wearable energy harvesting for internet-of-things applications. Here we realize continuous, flexible thermoelectric threads via a rapid extrusion of 3D-printable composite inks (Bi2Te3n-orp-type micrograins within a non-conducting polymer as a binder) followed by compression through a roller-pair, and we demonstrate their applications in flexible, low-power energy harvesting. The thermoelectric power factors of these threads are enhanced up to 7 orders-of-magnitude after lateral compression, principally due to improved conductivity resulting from reduced void volume fraction and partial alignment of thermoelectric micrograins. This dependence is quantified using a conductivity/Seebeck vise for pressure-controlled studies. The resulting grain-to-grain conductivity is well explained with a modified percolation theory to model a pressure-dependent conductivity. Flexible thermoelectric modules are demonstrated to utilize thermal gradients either parallel or transverse to the thread direction.
The ultrathin limit of improper ferroelectricity
Authors: Nordlander J. , Campanini M. , Rossell M. D. , Erni R. , Meier Q. N. , Cano A. , Spaldin N. A. , Fiebig M. , Trassin M.
Published: December 2019

The secondary nature of polarization in improper ferroelectrics promotes functional properties beyond those of conventional ferroelectrics. In technologically relevant ultrathin films, however, the improper ferroelectric behavior remains largely unexplored. Here, we probe the emergence of the coupled improper polarization and primary distortive order parameter in thin films of hexagonal YMnO3. Combining state-of-the-art in situ characterization techniques separately addressing the improper ferroelectric state and its distortive driving force, we reveal a pronounced thickness dependence of the improper polarization, which we show to originate from the strong modification of the primary order at epitaxial interfaces. Nanoscale confinement effects on the primary order parameter reduce the temperature of the phase transition, which we exploit to visualize its order-disorder character with atomic resolution. Our results advance the understanding of the evolution of improper ferroelectricity within the confinement of ultrathin films, which is essential for their successful implementation in nanoscale applications.
The visual word form area (VWFA) is part of both language and attention circuitry
Authors: Chen Lang , Wassermann Demian , Abrams Daniel A. , Kochalka John , Gallardo-Diez Guillermo , Menon Vinod
Published: December 2019

While predominant models of visual word form area (VWFA) function argue for its specific role in decoding written language, other accounts propose a more general role of VWFA in complex visual processing. However, a comprehensive examination of structural and functional VWFA circuits and their relationship to behavior has been missing. Here, using high-resolution multimodal imaging data from a large Human Connectome Project cohort (N = 313), we demonstrate robust patterns of VWFA connectivity with both canonical language and attentional networks. Brain-behavior relationships revealed a striking pattern of double dissociation: structural connectivity of VWFA with lateral temporal language network predicted language, but not visuo-spatial attention abilities, while VWFA connectivity with dorsal fronto-parietal attention network predicted visuo-spatial attention, but not language abilities. Our findings support a multiplex model of VWFA function characterized by distinct circuits for integrating language and attention, and point to connectivity-constrained cognition as a key principle of human brain organization.
Human kinematic, kinetic and EMG data during different walking and stair ascending and descending tasks
Authors: Lencioni Tiziana , Carpinella Ilaria , Rabuffetti Marco , Marzegan Alberto , Ferrarin Maurizio
Published: December 2019

This paper reports the kinematic, kinetic and electromyographic (EMG) dataset of human locomotion during level walking at different velocities, toe- and heel-walking, stairs ascending and descending. A sample of 50 healthy subjects, with an age between 6 and 72 years, is included. For each task, both raw data and computed variables are reported including: the 3D coordinates of external markers, the joint angles of lower limb in the sagittal, transversal and horizontal anatomical planes, the ground reaction forces and torques, the center of pressure, the lower limb joint mechanical moments and power, the displacement of the whole body center of mass, and the surface EMG signals of the main lower limb muscles. The data reported in the present study, acquired from subjects with different ages, represents a valuable dataset useful for future studies on locomotor function in humans, particularly as normative reference to analyze pathological gait, to test the performance of simulation models of bipedal locomotion, and to develop control algorithms for bipedal robots or active lower limb exoskeletons for rehabilitation.
Author Correction: The prevalence of microsporidia in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Qiu Luyao , Xia Wanyuan , Li Wendao , Ping Jing , Ding Songtao , Liu Handeng
Published: December 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Determination of Heavy Metals in Herbal Food Supplements using Bismuth/Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes/Nafion modified Graphite Electrodes sourced from Waste Batteries
Authors: Palisoc Shirley , Vitto Remuel Isaac M. , Natividad Michelle
Published: December 2019

An electrochemical sensor based on graphite electrode extracted from waste zinc-carbon battery is developed. The graphite electrode was modified with bismuth nanoparticles (BiNP), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and Nafion via the drop coating method. The bare and modified graphite electrodes were used as the working electrode in anodic stripping voltammetry for the determination of trace amounts of cadmium (Cd2+) and lead (Pb2+). The modified electrode exhibited excellent electroanalytical performance for heavy metal detection in comparison with the bare graphite electrode. The linear concentration range from 5 parts per billion (ppb) to 1000 ppb (R2 = 0.996), as well as detection limits of 1.06 ppb for Cd2+and 0.72 ppb for Pb2+were obtained at optimized experimental conditions and parameters. The sensor was successfully utilized for the quantification of Cd2+and Pb2+in herbal food supplement samples with good agreement to the results obtained by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Thus, the BiNP/MWCNT/Nafion modified graphite electrode is a cost-effective and environment-friendly sensor for monitoring heavy metal contamination.
Author Correction: Imaging of hepatic drug transporters with [131I]6-β-iodomethyl-19-norcholesterol
Authors: Kobayashi Masato , Nishi Kodai , Mizutani Asuka , Hokama Tsuzumi , Matsue Miki , Tsujikawa Tetsuya , Nakanishi Takeo , Nishii Ryuichi , Tamai Ikumi , Kawai Keiichi
Published: December 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Subsoil microbial community responses to air exposure and legume growth depend on soil properties across different depths
Authors: Yan Hongmei , Yang Fan , Gao Jiamin , Peng Ziheng , Chen Weimin
Published: December 2019

Anthropogenic disturbance, such as agricultural and architectural activities, can greatly influence belowground soil microbes, and thus soil formation and nutrient cycling. The objective of this study was to investigate microbial community variation in deep soils affected by strong disturbances. In present study, twelve soil samples were collected from different depths (0–300 cm) and placed onto the surface. We investigated the structure variation of the microbial community down through the soil profiles in response to disturbance originated by legume plants (robinia and clover) cultivation vs. plant-free controls. The high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes showed that microbial α-diversity decreased with depth, and that growing both plants significantly impacted the diversity in the topsoil. The soil profile was clustered into three layers: I (0–40 cm), II (40–120 cm), and III (120–300 cm); with significantly different taxa found among them. Soil properties explained a large amount of the variation (23.5%) in the microbial community, and distinct factors affected microbial assembly in the different layers, e.g., available potassium in layer I, pH and total nitrogen in layer II, pH and organic matter in layer III. The prediction of metabolic functions and oxygen requirements indicated that the number of aerobic bacteria increased with more air exposure, which may further accelerate the transformation of nitrogen, sulfur, carbon, and pesticides in the soil. The diversity of soil microorganisms followed a depth-decay pattern, but became higher following legume growth and air exposure, with notable abundance variation of several important bacterial species, mainly belonging to Nitrospira, Verrucomicrobia, and Planctomycetes, and soil properties occurring across the soil profiles.
Author Correction: Non-Markovianity of qubit evolution under the action of spin environment
Authors: Chakraborty Sagnik , Mallick Arindam , Mandal Dipanjan , Goyal Sandeep K. , Ghosh Sibasish
Published: December 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Facile access to versatile aza-macrolides through iridium-catalysed cascade allyl-amination/macrolactonization
Authors: Fu Wei , Wang Lianhui , Yang Zi , Shen Jiang-Shan , Tang Fei , Zhang Jiayi , Cui Xiuling
Published: December 2019

Direct access to benzo-fused aza-macrolides was successfully realised via the first iridium-catalysed intermolecular decarboxylative couplings of vinylethylene carbonates with isatoic anhydrides under relatively mild conditions.
A self-calibrating dual responsive platform for the sensitive detection of sulfite and sulfonic derivatives based on a robust Hf(iv) metal–organic framework
Authors: Xing Kai , Fan Rui-Qing , Liu Xiao-Yuan , Gai Shuang , Chen Wei , Yang Yu-Lin , Li Jing
Published: December 2019

A robust Hf-MOF exhibits highly-sensitive and opposite ratiometric fluorescence response towards sulfite and sulfonic derivatives.
Hard carbon micro-nano tubes derived from kapok fiber as anode materials for sodium-ion batteries and the sodium-ion storage mechanism
Authors: Yu Zhuo-Er , Lyu Yingchun , Wang Yeting , Xu Shuyin , Cheng Hongyu , Mu Xiaoyang , Chu Jiaqi , Chen Riming , Liu Yang , Guo Bingkun
Published: December 2019

Sodium is stored in hard carbon in an ionic state in the slope region and in a quasi-liquid metallic sodium cluster state in the low-voltage plateau.
Electrochemical diselenylation of indolizines via intermolecular C–Se formation with 2-methylpyridines, α-bromoketones and diselenides
Authors: Li Junxuan , Liu Xiang , Deng Jiadi , Huang Yingshan , Pan Zihao , Yu Yue , Cao Hua
Published: December 2019

Diselenylated indolizines were achieved via intermolecular C–Se formation reaction between 2-methylpyridines, α-bromoketones and diselenides under undivided electrolytic conditions.
Elucidating the restructuring-induced highly active bimetallic Pt–Co/KL catalyst for the aromatization of n-heptane
Authors: Wang Shuyuan , Xu Dan , Zhu Di , Zhao Baofeng , Guan Haibin , Qin Yong , Wu Baoshan , Yang Yong , Li Yongwang
Published: December 2019

The restructured bimetallic Pt–Co/KL catalyst promotes the aromatization of n-heptane.
Highly enantioselective electrosynthesis of C2-quaternary indolin-3-ones
Authors: Lu Fo-Yun , Chen Yu-Jue , Chen Yuan , Ding Xuan , Guan Zhi , He Yan-Hong
Published: December 2019

An asymmetric electrosynthesis is developed by combining anodic oxidation and proline-catalysis to realize enantioselective synthesis of C2-quaternary indolin-3-ones from 2-arylindoles.
Quaternary β2,2-amino acid derivatives by asymmetric addition of isoxazolidin-5-ones to para-quinone methides
Authors: Eitzinger Andreas , Winter Michael , Schörgenhumer Johannes , Waser Mario
Published: December 2019

Novel densely functionalized β2,2-amino acids were obtained in almost enantiopure form using down to 20 ppm of a chiral phase-transfer catalyst.
Morphology evolution, energy transfer and multicolor luminescence of lanthanide-doped Ba2LaF7 nanocrystals via a one-step hydrothermal synthesis
Authors: Mao Yini , Jiang Li , Ye Rui , Yang Jun , Hu Shanshan
Published: December 2019

Lanthanide-doped Ba2LaF7 nanocrystals were successfully synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method.
Transition-metal(ii) complexes with a tripodal hexadentate ligand, 1,1,1-tris[2-aza-3-(imidazol-4-yl)prop-2-enyl]ethane, exhibiting incomplete total or absolute spontaneous resolution
Authors: Matsushima Misaki , Wada Koki , Horino Yuki , Takahara Kazuma , Sunatsuki Yukinari , Suzuki Takayoshi
Published: December 2019

Crystal structures and solid-state CD spectra of the compounds, [M(H3L)]Cl(ClO4) (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Zn) were examined.
Is basicity the sole criterion for attaining high carbon dioxide capture in deep-eutectic solvents?
Authors: Shukla Shashi Kant , Nikjoo Dariush , Mikkola Jyri-Pekka
Published: December 2019

Compared to the large |α–β| in DESs, a relatively small |α–β| brings “synergistic interaction“ into play and allows the donor and acceptor components to react efficiently with CO2 molecules in DES.
N-Doped porous tremella-like Fe3C/C electrocatalysts derived from metal–organic frameworks for oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Yang Xinxin , Sun Xiang , Rauf Muhammad , Mi Hongwei , Sun Lingna , Deng Libo , Ren Xiangzhong , Zhang Peixin , Li Yongliang
Published: December 2019

A tremella-like porous Fe3C/C nanocomposite derived from metal–organic frameworks shows improved oxygen reduction reaction performance.
A theoretical indicator of transition-metal nanoclusters applied in the carbon nanotube nucleation process: a DFT study
Authors: Peraça Carina S. T. , Nagurniak Glaucio R. , Orenha Renato P. , Parreira Renato L. T. , Piotrowski Maurício J.
Published: December 2019

The center of gravity of the occupied d-states for nanoclusters is obtained as a good indicator to reveal the best candidates to the interaction with the carbon nanotubes.
Consecutive N2 loss from a uranium diphosphazide complex
Authors: Dickie Tara K. K. , MacNeil Connor S. , Hayes Paul G.
Published: December 2019

A uranium(iv) complex supported by an unusual diphosphazide ligand was prepared. Controlled, consecutive N2 loss was observed, affording well-defined uranium species that were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.
Factors determining the toxicity of engineered nanomaterials to Tetrahymena thermophila in freshwater: the critical role of organic matter
Authors: Liang Dingyuan , Wang Xiangrui , Liu Shu , Zhu Ying , Wang Ying , Fan Wenhong , Dong Zhaomin
Published: December 2019

Organic matter could highly affect the bioavailability of nanomaterials which depends on the composition and conformation of the organic matter.
Editorial Perspectives: what is “safe” drinking water, anyway?
Authors: Khan Stuart J. , Cwiertny David M.
Published: December 2019

Stuart Khan and David Cwiertny provide the latest Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology ‘Editorial Perspective’ on how we define safe drinking water.
Correction: Application of the Cu(i)/TEMPO/O2 catalytic system for aerobic oxidative dehydrogenative aromatization of pyrrolidines
Authors: Luo Zheng , Liu Yan , Wang Chao , Fang Danjun , Zhou Junyu , Hu Huayou
Published: December 2019

Correction for ‘Application of the Cu(i)/TEMPO/O2 catalytic system for aerobic oxidative dehydrogenative aromatization of pyrrolidines’ by Zheng Luo et al., Green Chem., 2019, 21, 4609–4613.
A self-driven microfluidic surface-enhanced Raman scattering device for Hg2+ detection fabricated by femtosecond laser
Authors: Li Xiuyun , Yuan Gan , Yu Weili , Xing Jun , Zou Yuting , Zhao Chen , Kong Wenchi , Yu Zhi , Guo Chunlei
Published: December 2019

A microfluidic SERS chip with a self-driven microchannel was fabricated with a femtosecond laser for the detection of Hg2+.
Polyornithine-based polyplexes to boost effective gene silencing in CNS disorders
Authors: Conejos-Sánchez I. , Gallon E. , Niño-Pariente A. , Smith J. A. , De la Fuente A. G. , Di Canio L. , Pluchino S. , Franklin R. J. M. , Vicent M. J.
Published: December 2019

Novel biodegradable and biocompatible polyornithine derivatives as non-viral vectors for siRNA exhibit effectively silence gene expression in primary neural cells.
Photo-induced thiol–ene reactions for late-stage functionalization of unsaturated polyether macrocycles: regio and diastereoselective access to macrocyclic dithiol derivatives
Authors: Brun Elodie , Zhang Ke-Feng , Guénée Laure , Lacour Jérôme
Published: December 2019

Stereoselective double hydrothiolation of bis enol ether macrocycles was achieved under photo-mediated conditions.
Imidazolium-based ionic polyurethanes with high toughness, tunable healing efficiency and antibacterial activities
Authors: Duan Ning , Sun Zhe , Ren Yongyuan , Liu Ziyang , Liu Lili , Yan Feng
Published: December 2019

Ionic polyurethanes (PUs) with high toughness, fast self-healing ability, antibacterial activity and shape memory behaviors are synthesized.
Continuous manufacturing of silver nanoparticles between 5 and 80 nm with rapid online optical size and shape evaluation
Authors: Pinho Bruno , Torrente-Murciano Laura
Published: December 2019

Flexible manufacturing technology of nanoparticles with sizes between 5 and 80 nm. This unique size flexibility is enabled by coupling rapid online spectroscopy and a mathematical Mie theory-based algorithm for size and shape evaluation.
Controlling the structure and photophysics of fluorophore dimers using multiple cucurbit[8]uril clampings
Authors: Wu Guanglu , Bae Youn Jue , Olesińska Magdalena , Antón-García Daniel , Szabó István , Rosta Edina , Wasielewski Michael R. , Scherman Oren A.
Published: December 2019

Dimerisation of a wide range of fluorophores through multiple CB[8] clampings leads to constrained intracomplex motion and distinct photophysical properties.
Energy transport in glasses
Authors: Flenner Elijah , Wang Lijin , Szamel Grzegorz
Published: December 2019

We examine the transport of energy after an excitation in simulated glasses of different stability over a broad range of frequencies.
Patterning non-equilibrium morphologies in stimuli-responsive gels through topographical confinement
Authors: Zhang Cathy T. , Liu Ya , Wang Xinran , Wang Xiaoguang , Kolle Stefan , Balazs Anna C. , Aizenberg Joanna
Published: December 2019

Patterning temperature-responsive gels on topographically structured substrates enables multiple heating path-dependent transformations between two inverted topographies.
Distinct roles of XRCC1 in genome integrity in Xenopus egg extracts
Authors: Cupello Steven , Lin Yunfeng , Yan Shan
Published: December 2019

Oxidative DNA damage represents one of the most abundant DNA lesions. It remains unclear how DNA repair and DNA damage response (DDR) pathways are co-ordinated and regulated following oxidative stress. While XRCC1 has been implicated in DNA repair, it remains unknown how exactly oxidative DNA damage is repaired and sensed by XRCC1. In this communication, we have demonstrated evidence that XRCC1 is dispensable for ATR-Chk1 DDR pathway following oxidative stress in Xenopus egg extracts. Whereas APE2 is essential for SSB repair, XRCC1 is not required for the repair of defined SSB and gapped plasmids with a 5′-OH or 5′-P terminus, suggesting that XRCC1 and APE2 may contribute to SSB repair via different mechanisms. Neither Polymerase beta nor Polymerase alpha is important for the repair of defined SSB structure. Nonetheless, XRCC1 is important for the repair of DNA damage following oxidative stress. Our observations suggest distinct roles of XRCC1 for genome integrity in oxidative stress in Xenopus egg extracts.
Robust audio retrieval method based on anti‐noise fingerprinting and segmental matching
Authors: Zhang Xueshuai , Zhan Ge , Wang Wenchao , Zhang Pengyuan , Yan Yonghong
Published: December 2019

For classical Philips audio retrieval, the short duration and the long silent period in inserted template audio make a major challenge to the robustness in actual environments. In this study, a novel audio retrieval method is proposed to handle the challenge by modifying both the fingerprinting stage and the matching stage. While extracting audio fingerprints, the silent segments are firstly detected. Then, a specific fingerprint is arranged to the silent segments for distinguishment. In the matching stage, a window‐by‐window search is performed to figure out the inserted audio templates. Moreover, the searching window is divided into several segments for precise comparison between the template audio and the test audio. A testing dataset is made by randomly arranging the duration of the inserted template audio to be from 3 to 5 s. Experiment results show that mean average precision and recall are significantly improved by the proposed method.
Survey on context‐aware tour guide systems
Authors: Vahdat‐Nejad Hamed , Khosravi‐Mahmouei Hossein , Ghanei‐Ostad Mohammad , Ramazani Azam
Published: December 2019

As a result of the pervasiveness of smartphones and improvement of context‐aware systems, developers have designed and implemented a variety of context‐aware tour guide systems. These systems focus on tourist attractions and provide services for tourists in order to support them before, during and after the trip. This survey aims to summarise, classify and investigate these systems from three standpoints of general, design and context‐related issues. To this end, after introducing the related concepts, a framework for investigating context‐aware tour guide systems is proposed. The aim is the theoretic consideration and classification of these projects with regard to distributed and pervasive computing patterns and the identification of the current situation and challenges. The proposed framework includes three axes of general, system design and context‐ awareness, each of which consists of some parameters. Afterwards, the existing projects are categorised according to the proposed framework. Finally, concluding remarks as well as new trends are discussed in order to illuminate future research directions.
Non‐metallic printed circuit board waste derived carbon for the supercapacitor electrode material
Authors: Qin Hengfei , Pan Junli , Zhou Yue , Zhu Binglong , Huang Jizhong , Huang Hongying , Wang Liangbiao , Hou Yanbiao , Zhou Quanfa
Published: December 2019

Highly specific surface area carbon materials derived from the waste printed circuit board (WPCB) for supercapacitor electrode material are feasibly prepared via microwave carbonisation and KOH activation process with controlled activation temperature. The effect of activation temperature on the pore structure and the electrochemical performance of the products are studied. The results demonstrate that the appropriate pore structure plays an important role in the application of supercapacitor. The electrochemical performance tests show that the specific capacitance of WPCB‐800 can reach 134.2 F g−1 at current density of 200 mA g−1, and the capacity retention rate is 96.2% after 2000 cycles.
ALMA and NACO observations towards the young exoring transit system J1407 (V1400 Cen)
Authors: Kenworthy M. A. , Klaassen P. D. , Min M. , van der Marel N. , Bohn A. J. , Kama M. , Triaud A. , Hales A. , Monkiewicz J. , Scott E. , Mamajek E. E.
Published: December 2019

Aims. Our aim was to directly detect the thermal emission of the putative exoring system responsible for the complex deep transits observed in the light curve for the young Sco-Cen star 1SWASP J140747.93-394542.6 (V1400 Cen, hereafter J1407), confirming it as the occulter seen in May 2007, and to determine its orbital parameters with respect to the star.

Methods. We used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to observe the field centred on J1407 in the 340 GHz (Band 7) continuum in order to determine the flux and astrometric location of the ring system relative to the star. We used the VLT/NACO camera to observe the J1407 system in March 2019 and to search for the central planetary mass object at thermal infrared wavelengths.

Results. We detect no point source at the expected location of J1407, and derive an upper limit 3σ level of 57.6 μJy. There is a point source detected at an angular separation consistent with the expected location for a free-floating ring system that occulted J1407 in May 2007, with a flux of 89 μJy consistent with optically thin dust surrounding a massive substellar companion. At 3.8 μm with the NACO camera, we detect the star J1407 but no other additional point sources within 1.3 arcsec of the star, with a lower bound on the sensitivity of 6 MJup at the location of the ALMA source, and down to 4 MJup in the sky background limit.

Conclusions. The ALMA upper limit at the location of J1407 implies that a hypothesised bound ring system is composed of dust smaller than 1 mm in size, implying a young ring structure. The detected ALMA source has multiple interpretations, including: (i) it is an unbound substellar object surrounded by warm dust in Sco-Cen with an upper mass limit of 6 MJup, or (ii) it is a background galaxy.
The importance of special relativistic effects in modelling ultra-fast outflows
Authors: Luminari A. , Tombesi F. , Piconcelli E. , Nicastro F. , Fukumura K. , Kazanas D. , Fiore F. , Zappacosta L.
Published: December 2019

Context. Outflows are observed in a variety of astrophysical sources. Remarkably, ultra-fast (v ≥ 0.1c), highly ionised outflows in the UV and X-ray bands are often seen in active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Depending on their kinetic power and mass outflow rate, Ėout and Ṁout, respectively, these outflows may play a key role in regulating the AGN–host galaxy co-evolution process through cosmic time and metal-feeding the surrounding circum-/inter-galactic medium. It is therefore crucial to provide accurate estimates of the wind properties, including Ṁout and Ėout.

Aims. Here we concentrate on special relativistic effects concerning the interaction of light with matter moving at relativistic speed relatively to the source of radiation. Our aim is to assess the impact of these effects on the observed properties of the outflows and implement a correction for these effects in the existing spectral modelling routines.

Methods. We define a simple procedure to incorporate relativistic effects in radiative transfer codes. Following this procedure, we run a series of simulations to explore the impact of relativistic effects for different outflow velocities and column densities.

Results. The observed optical depth of the wind is usually considered a proxy for its column density NH, independently of the velocity of the outflow. However, our simulations show that the observed optical depth of an outflow with a given NH decreases rapidly as the velocity of the wind approaches relativistic values. This, in turn, implies that when estimating NH from the optical depth, it is necessary to include a velocity-dependent correction, already for moderate velocities (e.g. vout ≳ 0.05c). This correction linearly propagates to the derived quantities Ṁout and Ėout.

Conclusions. We demonstrate that special relativistic effects must be considered in order to obtain correct estimates of Ṁout and Ėout for an outflow moving at a mildly relativistic speed relative to the illuminating source of radiation. As an example, we calculate the relativistically corrected values of Ṁout and Ėout for a sample of ∼30 ultra-fast outflows (UFOs) taken from the literature and find correction factors of 20 − 120% within the observed range of outflowing velocities (vout ≈ 0.1 − 0.3c). This brings the ratio between Ṁout and the disc accretion rate close or even above unity for the vast majority of the sources of the sample, highlighting the importance of the reported relativistic corrections to understand the growth of the most massive black holes. The next generation of high-sensitivity X-ray telescopes such as XRISM and Athena will provide a much more complete census of UFOs, especially in the fastest velocity regime where the relativistic corrections are increasingly important.
Spacer, Aerosoltherapie durch Raum und Zeit
Authors: Voshaar Thomas , Haidl Peter , Clös Rolf Michael
Published: December 2019

Ziel der Literaturübersicht In diesem Review werden die Ergebnisse einer Literaturanalyse zur Anwendung von Spacern mit Dosieraerosolen beschrieben und bewertet.

Methodik Neben einer umfangreichen Aufarbeitung der Spacereffekte werden die Auswirkungen aktueller Leitlinien und Rahmenbedingungen für Produktzulassungen auf die Spaceranwendung beschrieben, die sich aus der Interaktion der Eigenschaften von Dosieraerosolen mit einem Spacer ergeben.

Ergebnisse Zur Vermeidung von Koordinationsproblemen bei der Auslösung eines Dosieraerosols zu Beginn der Einatmung sind Spacer generell sinnvoll. Für alle Dosieraerosol-Spacer-Kombinationen gilt zudem, dass die Mund-Rachen-Deposition im Vergleich zur Dosieraerosolanwendung ohne Spacer reduziert wird. Einige neuere Dosieraerosole setzen allerdings das Aerosol in einer Qualität frei, die einen Spacer zur Vermeidung einer hohen Wirkstoffdeposition im Mund-Rachen-Raum nicht zwingend erforderlich macht, weil die Aerosolqualität über einen Spacer nicht mehr wesentlich verbessert werden kann. Die aus einem Spacer freigesetzte Wirkstoffmasse und die Aerosolqualität variieren aber erheblich bei Verwendung unterschiedlicher Spacer. Ein Spacerwechsel kann bei Verwendung des gleichen Dosieraerosols maximal zu einer Verdopplung oder Halbierung der applizierten Wirkstoffmenge führen. Diese Fakten werden inzwischen von der europäischen Zulassungsbehörde berücksichtigt.

Schlussfolgerung Die Fachinformationen der Dosieraerosole, die nach 2009 entwickelt und zugelassen wurden, sollten, sofern eine Spaceranwendung vorgesehen ist, mindestens eine konkrete Spacerempfehlung aussprechen, die auf entsprechenden In-vitro-Daten bzw. ergänzenden In-vivo-Daten beruht. Wird ein anderer Spacer als der empfohlene mit diesem Dosieraerosol eingesetzt, ist es nicht möglich, die applizierte Dosis vorherzusehen. Dies sollte bei der Spacerauswahl berücksichtigt werden.