bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Active Anchoring Polysulfides of ZnS‐Decorated Porous Carbon Aerogel for a High‐Performance Lithium‐Sulfur Battery
Authors: Hua Yang , Li Xueliang , Zhang Xingchi , Zhang Luyao , Shu Yizhen , Sheng Huijuan , Fang Huagao , Wei Haibing , Ding Yunsheng
Published: April 2019

A carbon aerogel composite modified with ZnS (ZnS‐CA) was successfully prepared through a simple in situ synthesis and used as a cathode for lithium‐sulfur batteries. The nanopore ZnS‐CA composites with a high specific surface area and rich mesoporous structure exhibit stronger adsorption and immobilization ability for polysulfides. The ZnS‐CA/S cathode materials offer excellent electrochemical performances with lasting cycling stability and high specific capacity. In particular, the 6ZnS‐CA/S sample achieves an initial capacity of 1352 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C and maintains a high capacity of 1119 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles. Furthermore, after 300 long cycles, it still maintains a high capacity of 730 mAh g−1 at 1 C. These excellent performance features are attributed to the strong affinity of ZnS for Li2Sn species, thus polysulfide shuttling can be effectively inhibited from the cathode source. Furthermore, the strong adsorption energy between ZnS and polysulfides was validated by using first‐principles theory calculations, which reveals the anchoring and catalytic mechanism.
Metallbäumchen im Mikromaßstab
Authors: Kranz Dorothee , Brunßen Kathrin , Kirch Sandra , Babicz Heiko , Merz Rolf , Schmitt Oliver , Noll Angelika , Schygulla Jennifer , Stieger Eduard , Sitzmann Helmut
Published: April 2019

Bei der reduktiven Abscheidung von 18 Metallen und einem Halbleiter an weniger edlen Metallen oder an einer Kathode durch Elektrolyse wurden charakteristische, eigentümliche und bisweilen bizarre Formen beobachtet. Besonders nachdenklich machten wirbelnde Salzkriställchen, Kupferstreifen auf Silberbäumen und Umwandlungen von goldhaltigen Niederschlägen. Besonders empfehlenswerte Metallbäumchen‐Versuche für den Schulunterricht sind außer den etablierten Favoriten Kupfer und Silber noch Zinn und Bismut wegen der Form und Dynamik ihres Wachstums, der Unbedenklichkeit, des günstigen Preises und deren Lage zwischen Kupfer und Zink in der Spannungsreihe der Metalle. Besonders genossen haben wir die Experimente mit jedem Tropfen Tetrachloridogold(III)säure, die sehr ergiebig ist und nicht so teuer wie der Ruf des Goldes.
Neurotrition – wie Lebensmittel auf die Gehirnfunktion wirken
Authors: Sahin Sümeyye , Büttner Andrea , Pischetsrieder Monika
Published: April 2019

Im Bereich der molekularen Ernährungsphysiologie beschäftigen sich Lebensmittelchemiker mit der Frage, welche Wirkungen Lebensmittelinhaltsstoffe auf spezifische Körperfunktionen ausüben. Ziel ist es dabei vor allem, die physiologische Aktivität einer molekular definierten Verbindung zuzuordnen. Einen wichtigen Teilbereich der molekularen Ernährungsphysiologie stellt die Sensorik dar, bei der Lebensmittelinhaltsstoffe näher untersucht werden, die Aroma, Geschmack, Textur, und andere chemosensorische Reize von Lebensmitteln bestimmen. In dem Artikel werden die molekulare Ernährungslehre und Sensorik an verschiedenen Beispielen aus der aktuellen Forschung dargestellt. So wird beschrieben, dass Eugenol und Acetyleugenol aus Nelkenextrakt über den GABAA‐Rezeptor eine sedierende Wirkung ausüben können. In diesem Zusammenhang ist es nicht nur wichtig, die Wirkung der in Lebensmitteln enthaltenen Verbindungen zu untersuchen, sondern auch deren Resorption und Biotransformation nach der Aufnahme zu berücksichtigen. Weiterhin wird dargestellt, dass bestimmte Lebensmittel, wie zum Beispiel Kartoffelchips oder Schokolade auch bei gesunden Konsumenten einen Kontrollverlust beim Essen verursachen können. Dies ist vermutlich darauf zurückzuführen, dass deren Inhaltsstoffe, vor allem ein bestimmtes Verhältnis von Kohlenhydraten und Fett, das Gehirnaktivitätsmuster deutlich verändern. Aber auch ein ausgewogenes Verhältnis der sensorisch aktiven Komponenten aus Geruch und Geschmack und anderen sensorischen Reizen steuert unsere Lebensmittelauswahl und unser Verzehrverhalten. Diese sensorischen Eindrücke werden im Lauf des Lebens für bestimmte Lebensmittel gelernt und positiv oder negativ assoziiert. Dieser Feedback‐Mechanismus kann das Verhalten des Konsumenten steuern und somit seine Lebensmittelwahl beeinflussen.
Mechanisms of action of metformin with special reference to cardiovascular protection
Authors: Zilov Alexey V. , Abdelaziz Sulaf Ibrahim , AlShammary Afaf , Al Zahrani Ali , Amir Ashraf , Assaad Khalil Samir Helmy , Brand Kerstin , Elkafrawy Nabil , Hassoun Ahmed A.K. , Jahed Adel , Jarrah Nadim , Mrabeti Sanaa , Paruk Imran
Published: April 2019

Management guidelines continue to identify metformin as initial pharmacologic antidiabetic therapy of choice for people with type 2 diabetes without contraindications, despite recent randomized trials that have demonstrated significant improvements in cardiovascular outcomes with newer classes of antidiabetic therapies. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge of metformin's therapeutic actions on blood glucose and cardiovascular clinical evidence and to consider the mechanisms that underlie them. The effects of metformin on glycaemia occur mainly in the liver, but metformin‐stimulated glucose disposal by the gut has emerged as an increasingly import site of action of metformin. Additionally, metformin induces increased secretion of GLP‐1 from intestinal L‐cells. Clinical cardiovascular protection with metformin is supported by three randomized outcomes trials (in newly diagnosed and late stage insulin‐treated type 2 diabetes patients) and a wealth of observational data. Initial evidence suggests that cotreatment with metformin may enhance the impact of newer incretin‐based therapies on cardiovascular outcomes, an important observation as metformin can be combined with any other antidiabetic agent. Multiple potential mechanisms support the concept of cardiovascular protection with metformin beyond those provided by reduced blood glucose, including weight loss, improvements in haemostatic function, reduced inflammation, and oxidative stress, and inhibition of key steps in the process of atherosclerosis. Accordingly, metformin remains well placed to support improvements in cardiovascular outcomes, from diagnosis and throughout the course of type 2 diabetes, even in this new age of improved outcomes in type 2 diabetes.
Indirect legacy effects of an extreme climatic event on a marine megafaunal community
Authors: Nowicki Robert , Heithaus Michael , Thomson Jordan , Burkholder Derek , Gastrich Kirk , Wirsing Aaron
Published: April 2019

While extreme climatic events (ECEs) are predicted to become more frequent, reliably predicting their impacts on consumers remains challenging, particularly for large consumers in marine environments. Many studies that do evaluateECEeffects focus primarily on direct effects, though indirect effects can be equally or more important. Here, we investigate the indirect impacts of the 2011 “Ningaloo Niño” marine heatwaveECEon a diverse megafaunal community in Shark Bay, Western Australia. We use an 18‐year community‐level data set before (1998–2010) and after (2012–2015) the heatwave to assess the effects of seagrass loss on the abundance of seven consumer groups: sharks, sea snakes (multiple species), Indo‐pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus), dugongs (Dugong dugon), green turtles (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), and Pied Cormorants (Phalacrocoraxspp.). We then assess whether seagrass loss influences patterns of habitat use by the latter five groups, which are under risk of shark predation. Sharks catch rates were dominated by the generalist tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) and changed little, resulting in constant apex predator density despite heavy seagrass degradation. Abundances of most other consumers declined markedly as food and refuge resources vanished, with the exception of generalist loggerhead turtles. Several consumer groups significantly modified their habitat use patterns in response to the die‐off, but only bottlenose dolphins did so in a manner suggestive of a change in risk‐taking behavior. We show thatECEs can have strong indirect effects on megafauna populations and habitat use patterns in the marine environment, even when direct effects are minimal. Our results also show that indirect impacts are not uniform across taxa or trophic levels and suggest that generalist marine consumers are less susceptible to indirect effects ofECEs than specialists. Such non‐uniform changes in populations and habitat use patterns have implications for community dynamics, such as the relative strength of direct predation and predation risk. Attempts to predict ecological impacts ofECEs should recognize that direct and indirect effects often operate through different pathways and that taxa can be strongly impacted by one even if resilient to the other.
Improving the sensitivity of traditional Western blotting via Streptavidin containing Poly‐horseradish peroxidase (PolyHRP)
Authors: Mishra Manish , Tiwari Shuchita , Gunaseelan Anita , Li Dongyang , Hammock Bruce D. , Gomes Aldrin V.
Published: April 2019

Immunoassays such as ELISAs and Western blotting have been the common choice for protein validation studies for the past several decades. Technical advancements and modifications are continuously being developed to enhance the detection sensitivity of these procedures. Among them, Streptavidin‐containing poly‐horseradish peroxidase (PolyHRP) based detection strategies have been shown to improve signals in ELISA. The use of commercially available Streptavidin and antibodies conjugated with many HRPs (PolyHRPs) to potentially enhance the detection sensitivity in Western blotting has not been previously investigated in a comprehensive manner. The use of PolyHRP‐secondary antibody instead of HRP‐secondary antibody increased the Western blotting sensitivity up to 85% depending on the primary antibody used. The use of a biotinylated secondary antibody and commercially available Streptavidin‐conjugated with HRP or PolyHRP all resulted in increased sensitivity with respect to antigen detection. Utilizing a biotinylated secondary antibody and Streptavidin‐conjugated PolyHRP resulted in as much as a 110‐fold increase in Western blotting sensitivity over traditional Western blotting methods. Quantification of troponin I in rat heart lysates showed that the traditional Western blotting method only detected troponin I in ≥2 μg of lysate while Streptavidin‐conjugated PolyHRP20 detected troponin I in ≥50 ng of lysate. A modified blocking procedure is also described that eliminated the interference caused by the endogenous biotinylated proteins. These results suggest that Streptavidin‐conjugated PolyHRP and PolyHRP secondary antibodies are likely to be commonly utilized for Western blots in the future.
Experimental and numerical investigations of a novel chimney system for power generation using the combination of fossil fuel power plant exhaust gases and ambient air
Authors: Mokhtari Shahdost Bagher , Razi Astaraei Fatemeh , Ebrahimi‐Moghadam Amir , Ahmadi Mohammad Hossein
Published: April 2019

Fossil fuel power plants, one of the main sources of power generation, are the major emitters of exhaust gases into the environment at relatively high temperature and significant energy. One way to utilize these hot gases is to use wind turbines in the path of fluid flow that created by buoyancy (like a solar chimney). In this paper, the power generation from the gas of the power plant's chimney based on the buoyancy phenomenon using the combination of the power plant's hot output with ambient air is modeled and investigated at different discharge rates and temperatures of the power plant's hot output on a pilot scale. An experimental model, at the same scale of modeling, is constructed and used to validate the modeling results. The obtained results showed that due to the buoyancy phenomenon the combination of the power plant's exhaust gases with the ambient air creates a higher volume of the fluid with a good velocity inside the chimney compared with the exhaust gases of the power plant only. At the temperature of 350 K and velocity of 1 m/s for the hot inlet, the velocity of the fluid resulting from the buoyancy would be greater than 1 m/s for the air which enters the chimney's foot and its gas.
Individuals’ expected genetic contributions to future generations, reproductive value, and short-term metrics of fitness in free-living song sparrows (Melospiza melodia)
Authors: Reid Jane M. , Nietlisbach Pirmin , Wolak Matthew E. , Keller Lukas F. , Arcese Peter
Published: April 2019

Appropriately defining and enumerating “fitness” is fundamental to explaining and predicting evolutionary dynamics. Yet, general theoretical concepts of fitness are often hard to translate into quantities that can be measured in wild populations experiencing complex environmental, demographic, genetic, and selective variation. Although the “fittest” entities might be widely understood to be those that ultimately leave most descendants at some future time, such long-term legacies can rarely be measured, impeding evaluation of the degree to which tractable short-term metrics of individual fitness could potentially serve as useful direct proxies. One opportunity for conceptual and empirical convergence stems from the principle of individual reproductive value (Vi), here defined as the number of copies of each of an individual's alleles that is expected to be present in future generations given the individual's realized pedigree of descendants. As Vi tightly predicts an individual's longer term genetic contribution, quantifying Vi provides a tractable route to quantifying what, to date, has been an abstract theoretical fitness concept. We used complete pedigree data from free-living song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) to demonstrate that individuals’ expected genetic contributions stabilize within an observed 20-year (i.e. approximately eight generation) time period, allowing estimation of individual Vi. Considerable among-individual variation in Vi was evident in both sexes. Standard metrics of individual lifetime fitness, comprising lifespan, lifetime reproductive success, and projected growth rate, typically explained less than half the variation. We thereby elucidate the degree to which fitness metrics observed on individuals concur with measures of longer term genetic contributions and consider the degree to which analyses of pedigree structure could provide useful complementary insights into evolutionary outcomes.
Baicalin attenuates gentamicin‐induced cochlear hair cell ototoxicity
Authors: Zhang Xianfen , Yu Jun
Published: April 2019

Gentamicin can lead to cochlear hair cells associated ototoxicity by inducing apoptosis and oxidative stress, which can be alleviated by baicalin, one flavonoid extracted from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis. The role of baicalin in protecting gentamicin‐induced hearing loss is unclear. Interference with oxidative stress was investigated in this study using House Ear Institute‐Organ of Corti1 (HEI‐OC1) cells, which were simultaneously treated with baicalin (0‐400 μm) and gentamicin (0.2 or 1 mm). MTT was used to assay cell viability and apoptosis was detected with Annexin V‐fluorescein isothiocyanate staining. The production of reactive oxygen species was indicated by 2,7‐dichlorofluorescein diacetate fluorescence intensity and mitochondrial depolarization was assayed by JC1‐mitochondrial membrane potential assay. Poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP), cleaved‐caspase 3 and cleaved‐PARP expression were analyzed with western blot. Baicalin improved the viability of HEI‐OC1 cells and significantly reduced the oxidative stress and mitochondrial depolarization compared with the gentamicin treatment group. Gentamicin treatment increased the activation of PARP and caspase‐3, while such an increase could be downregulated by baicalin. Baicalin attenuates gentamicin‐induced cochlear hair cells ototoxicity, and such inhibition may be mediated by the regulation of reactive oxygen species production, mitochondrial depolarization, and caspase‐3 and PARP activation.
Ex vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy: An innovative method for direct immunofluorescence of cutaneous vasculitis
Authors: Bağcı Işın S. , Aoki Rui , Krammer Sebastian , Ruzicka Thomas , Sárdy Miklós , Hartmann Daniela
Published: April 2019

Ex vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy (ex vivo CLSM) offers an innovative diagnostic approach through vertical scanning of skin samples with a resolution close to conventional histology. In addition, it enables fluorescence detection in tissues. We aimed to assess the applicability of ex vivo CLSM in the detection of vascular immune complexes in cutaneous vasculitis and to compare its diagnostic accuracy with direct immunofluorescence (DIF) microscopy. Eighty‐two sections of 49 vasculitis patients with relevant DIF microscopy findings were examined using ex vivo CLSM following staining with fluorescent‐labeled IgG, IgM, IgA, C3 and fibrinogen antibodies. DIF microscopy showed immunoreactivity of vessels with IgG, IgM, IgA, C3 and Fibrinogen in 2.0%, 49.9%, 12.2%, 59.2% and 44.9% of the patients, respectively. Ex vivo CLSM detected positive vessels with the same antibodies in 2.0%, 38.8%, 8.2%, 42.9% and 36.7% of the patients, respectively. The detection rate of positive superficial dermal vessels was significantly higher in DIF microscopy as compared to ex vivo CLSM (P < .05). Whereas, ex vivo CLSM identified positive deep dermal vessels more frequently compared to DIF microscopy. In conclusion, ex vivo CLSM could identify specific binding of the antibodies in vessels and showed a comparable performance to conventional DIF microscopy in diagnosing vasculitis.
microRNA‐23a contributes to asthma by targeting BCL2 in airway epithelial cells and CXCL12 in fibroblasts
Authors: Jin Ai , Bao Rujuan , Roth Michael , Liu Li , Yang Xudong , Tang Xuemei , Yang Xiaojun , Sun Qingzhu , Lu Shemin
Published: April 2019

The deregulated cross‐talk between airway epithelial cells with subepithelial fibroblasts during inflammation drives the pathogenesis of asthma. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase activity assay suggested that B cell lymphoma‐2 (BCL2) and CXC ligand 12 (CXCL12) are potential targets of miR‐23a. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of microRNA‐23a (miR‐23a) on BCL2, and CXCL12 in asthma. In E3 rats, miR‐23a was upregulated in lung tissues after antigen‐induced pulmonary inflammation during acute and chronic inflammation. Immunohistochemistry showed downregulation of BCL2 in the epithelium and of CXCL12 in subepithelial fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells. Treatment of isolated cells with miR‐23a mimic or inhibitor modified the expression of BCL2 and of CXCL12 in the expected cell type‐specific manner. Moreover, in epithelial cells, interleukin‐4 upregulated miR‐23a expression and thereby decreased the expression of BCL2, while increasing the caspase‐3 expression, which was followed by apoptosis. In fibroblasts, the expression of miR‐23a was increased by thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). Consequently, the CXCL12 expression was abrogated. The phosphorylation of CREB was also downregulated by TSLP through the action of miR‐23a. This study describes a novel mechanism, where miR‐23a is an important cell type‐specific regulator for asthma‐associated airway wall remodeling parameter. Thus, miR‐23a may present a potential new target for the therapy of asthma.
Variation of macro‐circulation forms over the Atlantic‐Eurasian temperate zone according to the Vangengeim‐Girs classification
Authors: Degirmendžić Jan , Kożuchowski Krzysztof
Published: April 2019

This paper presents the results of an investigation of the variability in macro‐circulation forms at the mid‐tropospheric level distinguished in the Vangengeim‐Girs (V‐G) classification. The number of days and of uninterrupted periods of at least 2 days (so‐called episodes) with V‐G forms were analysed based on the daily atmospheric circulation catalogue for the period 1949–2010. The average number of circulation episodes per year (~51) and their average persistence (6–9 days) were determined. When analysing the short‐term variability, the frequency of transitions between macroforms: W ↔ E, E ↔ C and W ↔ C was calculated. It was found that these sequences were random in character. Changes in average frequencies of V‐G macroforms in an annual cycle were evaluated and the seasons of dominant zonal (W) and meridional (E, C) circulation patterns distinguished. In the years 1949–2010, four circulation epochs were separated, differing in the macroform frequency quotients—fW/fE, fW/fC and fE/fC. Three epochs were meridional (until 1988) and the last one is zonal. A growing trend was observed in the number of circulation episodes, indicating an increase in the frequency of changes of circulation forms. This rise was attributed to the growing frequency of the W episodes and the decreasing number and persistence of E episodes in the last two decades of the analysed period.
Knowledge sharing in a coopetition project team: An institutional logics perspective
Authors: d'Armagnac Sophie , Geraudel Mickaël , Salvetat David
Published: April 2019

Cooperation between firms is often addressed from the perspective of relationship organizing; however, we know little about people's working‐level engagement in collective action during interfirm projects. Focusing on cooperation between rival firms (coopetition), we explore how knowledge can be shared among participants. We offer insight into the management of interorganizational projects that are viewed as temporary organizations.
Identification of essential biofilm proteins in middle ear fluids of otitis media with effusion patients
Authors: Barron Christine L. , Kamel‐Abusalha Louie B. , Sethia Rishabh , Goodman Steven D. , Elmaraghy Charles A. , Bakaletz Lauren O.
Published: April 2019

Objectives

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common disease of childhood that is largely asymptomatic. However, middle ear fluid can persist for months and negatively impact a child's quality of life. Many cases of OME remain chronic and require surgical intervention. Because biofilms are known to contribute to the persistence of many diseases, this study examined effusions collected from children with chronic OME for the presence of essential biofilm structural components, members of the DNABII family of bacterial DNA‐binding proteins.

Methods

Middle ear effusions were recovered from 38 children with chronic OME at the time of tympanostomy tube insertion. A portion of each specimen was submitted for microbiology culture. The remaining material was assessed by immunoblot to quantitate individual DNABII proteins, integration host factor (IHF), and histone‐like protein (HU).

Results

Sixty‐five percent of effusions (24 of 37) were culture‐positive for bacterial species or yeast, whereas 35% (13 of 37) were culture‐negative. IHF was detected in 95% (36 of 38) at concentrations from 2 to 481 ng/μL effusion. HU was detected in 95% (36 of 38) and quantitated from 13 to 5,264 ng/μL effusion (P ≤ 0.05 compared to IHF).

Conclusion

Because DNABII proteins are essential structural components of bacterial biofilms, these data lend further support to our understanding that biofilms are present in the vast majority of chronic middle ear effusions, despite negative culture results. The presence and ubiquity of DNABII proteins in OME specimens indicated that these proteins can serve as an important clinical target for our novel DNABII‐directed strategy to treat biofilm diseases such as chronic OME.

Level of Evidence

NA

Laryngoscope, 130:806–811, 2020
Flexible Sandwich Structural Strain Sensor Based on Silver Nanowires Decorated with Self‐Healing Substrate
Authors: Jiang Dawei , Wang Ying , Li Bin , Sun Caiying , Wu Zijian , Yan Hui , Xing Lixin , Qi Shuolin , Li Yingchun , Liu Hu , Xie Wei , Wang Xiaojing , Ding Tao , Guo Zhanhu
Published: April 2019

Flexible and stretchable conducting composites that can sense stress or strain are needed for several emerging fields including human motion detection and personalized health monitoring. Silver nanowires (AgNWs) have already been used as conductive networks. However, once a traditional polymer is broken, the conductive network is subsequently destroyed. Integrating high pressure sensitivity and repeatable self‐healing capability into flexible strain sensors represents new advances for high performance strain sensing. Herein, superflexible 3D architectures are fabricated by sandwiching a layer of AgNWs decorated self‐healing polymer between two layers of polydimethylsiloxane, which exhibit good stability, self‐healability, and stretchability. For better mechanical properties, the self‐healing polymer is reinforced with carbon fibers (CFs). The sensors based on self‐healing polymer and AgNWs conductive network show high conductivity and excellent ability to repair both mechanical and electrical damage. They can detect different human motions accurately such as bending and recovering of the forearm and shank, the changes of palm, fist, and fingers. The fracture tensile stress of the reinforced self‐healing polymer (9 wt% CFs) is increased to 10.3 MPa with the elongation at break of 8%. The stretch/release responses under static and dynamic loads of the sensor have a high sensitivity, large sensing range, excellent reliability, and remarkable stability.
Donor–Acceptor Core–Shell Nanoparticles and Their Application in Non‐Volatile Transistor Memory Devices
Authors: Lo Chen‐Tsyr , Watanabe Yu , Murakami Daiki , Shih Chien‐Chung , Nakabayashi Kazuhiro , Mori Hideharu , Chen Wen‐Chang
Published: April 2019

Donor–acceptor crosslinked poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether‐methacrylate]‐block‐poly[1,1′‐bis(2‐ethylpentyl)‐6‐methyl‐6′‐(5‐methyl‐3‐vinylthiophen‐2‐yl)‐[3,3′‐biindoline]‐2,2′‐dione] (poly(PEGMA)m‐b‐poly(VTIID)n) nanoparticles with various vinylthiophene donor/isoindigo acceptor ratios are synthesized successfully. The prepared nanoparticles have uniform sizes and well‐defined core–shell nanostructures. The intramolecular charge transfer is effectively enhanced due to the incorporation of acceptor groups after the crosslinking reaction. A transistor memory device is assembled using the synthesized polymer and has nonvolatile flash‐type memory and amphiphilic trapping behavior. The optimized devices exhibit a significant memory window of approximately 38 V, a retention ability of over 104 s, and an endurance of at least 100 cycles. This study examines multiple applications of crosslinked core–shell nanoparticles, which demonstrates their promise as charge‐storage dielectric materials for use in organic memory devices.
Gas‐phase conformations of intrinsically disordered proteins and their complexes with ligands: Kinetically trapped states during transfer from solution to the gas phase
Authors: Han Jong Yoon , Choi Tae Su , Heo Chae Eun , Son Myung Kook , Kim Hugh I.
Published: April 2019

Flexible structures of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are crucial for versatile functions in living organisms, which involve interaction with diverse partners. Electrospray ionization ion mobility mass spectrometry (ESI‐IM‐MS) has been widely applied for structural characterization of apo‐state and ligand‐associated IDPs via two‐dimensional separation in the gas phase. Gas‐phase IDP structures have been regarded as kinetically trapped states originated from conformational features in solution. However, an implication of the states remains elusive in the structural characterization of IDPs, because it is unclear what structural property of IDPs is preserved. Recent studies have indicated that the conformational features of IDPs in solution are not fully reproduced in the gas phase. Nevertheless, the molecular interactions captured in the gas phase amplify the structural differences between IDP conformers. Therefore, an IDP conformational change that is not observed in solution is observable in the gas‐phase structures obtained by ESI‐IM‐MS. Herein, we have presented up‐to‐date researches on the key implications of kinetically trapped states in the gas phase with a brief summary of the structural dynamics of IDPs in ESI‐IM‐MS.
Server scheduling on parallel dedicated machines with fixed job sequences
Authors: Cheng T.C.E. , Kravchenko Svetlana A. , Lin Bertrand M. T.
Published: April 2019

We consider server scheduling on parallel dedicated machines to minimize the makespan. Each job has a loading operation and a processing operation. The loading operation requires a server that serves all the jobs. Each machine has a given set of jobs to process, and the processing sequence is known and fixed. We design a polynomial‐time algorithm to solve the two‐machine case of the problem. When the number of machines is arbitrary, the problem becomes strongly NP‐hard even if all the jobs have the same processing length or all the loading operations require a unit time. We design two heuristic algorithms to treat the case where all the loading times are unit and analyze their performance.
Adipose Tissue Distribution and Survival Among Women with Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Bradshaw Patrick T. , Cespedes Feliciano Elizabeth M. , Prado Carla M. , Alexeeff Stacey , Albers Kathleen B. , Chen Wendy Y. , Caan Bette J.
Published: April 2019

Objective

Previous studies of breast cancer survival have not considered specific depots of adipose tissue such as subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT).

Methods

This study assessed these relationships among 3,235 women with stage II and III breast cancer diagnosed between 2005 and 2013 at Kaiser Permanente Northern California and between 2000 and 2012 at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. SAT and VAT areas (in centimeters squared) were calculated from routine computed tomography scans within 6 (median: 1.2) months of diagnosis, covariates were collected from electronic health records, and vital status was assessed by death records. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were estimated using Cox regression.

Results

SAT and VAT ranged from 19.0 to 891 cm2 and from 0.484 to 454 cm2, respectively. SAT was related to increased risk of death (127‐cm2 increase; HR [95% CI]: 1.13 [1.02‐1.26]), but no relationship was found with VAT (78.18‐cm2 increase; HR [95% CI]: 1.02 [0.91‐1.14]). An association with VAT was noted among women with stage II cancer (stage II: HR: 1.17 [95% CI: 0.99‐1.39]; stage III: HR: 0.90 [95% CI: 0.76‐1.07]; P interaction < 0.01). Joint increases in SAT and VAT were associated with mortality above either alone (simultaneous 1‐SD increase: HR 1.19 [95% CI: 1.05‐1.34]).

Conclusions

SAT may be an underappreciated risk factor for breast cancer‐related death.
A Cyanide‐Free Synthesis of Acylcyanides through Ru‐Catalyzed C(sp3)‐H‐Oxidation of Benzylic Nitriles
Authors: Eisele Pascal , Bauder Michael , Hsu Shih‐Fan , Plietker Bernd
Published: April 2019

A practical method for generation of acylcyanides devoid of any external cyanide sources is presented that relies on a mild Ru‐catalyzed selective C−H‐oxidation of benzylic nitriles. The starting materials are smoothly generated through condensation of the corresponding carboxylic acid amides using silanes. The obtained acylcyanides can be employed in a plethora of transformation as exemplified to some larger extend in the sequence of C−H‐oxidation‐Tischenko‐rearrangement for the generation of structurally diverse benzoyloxycyanohydrines.
Effects of reaction parameters on the preparation of P4VP/SiO2 composite aerogel via supercritical CO2 drying
Authors: Yang Xule , Wang Wei , Cao Liqin , Wang Jide
Published: April 2019

Herein, crosslinked poly (4‐vinylpyridine)/SiO2 (P4VP/SiO2) composite aerogel, an organic‐inorganic interpenetrating network, was successfully prepared by means of the sol‐gel process, acid‐base interaction method, and supercritical CO2 drying process. In this novel composite aerogel, SiO2 was used as an inorganic material, and nitrogen‐containing heterocyclic polymer was used as the active component. The effects of aging time, monomer ratios, solvent usage, and cross‐linker ratios were analyzed to obtain the optimal conditions for the P4VP/SiO2 aerogel formation. The as‐prepared aerogel was characterized by using FT‐IR, XRD, Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) analysis, and SEM analysis. Results showed that the aging time of 48 h, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS)/4‐vinylpyridine (4‐VP) mass ratio of 2:1, and diethylene glycol dimethacrylate (DEGDMA) content lower than 20 wt% were required to ensure the best porous amorphous structure of the product. These optimal conditions endowed the product with a relative high BET specific area (314 m2/g) and a low density (0.12 g/cm3). The adsorption performance of P4VP/SiO2 was investigated via its capacity to remove Cu(II) from wastewater. Results showed that the adsorption capacity of up to 85 mg/g was attained under neutral conditions and the adsorption process highly follows the pseudo‐second‐order kinetics model.
The influence of steric configuration of phenazine‐1‐carboxylic acid‐amino acid conjugates on fungicidal activity and systemicity
Authors: Zhu Xiang , Yu Linhua , Hsiang Tom , Huang Di , Xu Zhihong , Wu Qinglai , Du Xiaoying , Li Junkai
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUND

Conjugating an amino acid onto existing fungicidal parent structures has been demonstrated to be an effective way to endow non‐phloem mobile fungicides with phloem mobility. To alter the systemicity of the fungicide PCA (phenazine‐1‐carboxylic acid), 10 amino acids derivatives of this fungicide were designed and synthesized, and their synthesis, characterization, phloem and xylem mobility in Ricinus communis L, and their fungicidal activity in vitro are described.

RESULTS

The systemicity experiments in Ricinus communis system demonstrated that all conjugates exhibited obvious phloem mobility compared with non‐phloem‐mobile PCA, and the introduction of an L‐amino acid to PCA more greatly enhanced the phloem mobility. The five D‐amino acid conjugates exhibited higher xylem mobility than that of PCA and of each corresponding L‐amino acid conjugate. Most conjugates were found to exhibit moderate in vitro fungicidal activities against six pathogenic fungi, which were lower than that of PCA. The results of the bioassay showed fungicidal activities of PCA‐amino acid conjugates associated not only with different amino acids, but also with their conformation. Conjugation with D‐amino acid contributed to the in vitro fungicidal activities of PCA‐amino acid conjugates.

CONCLUSIONS

The current research offers a new strategy for enhancing the systemicity of non‐phloem‐mobile fungicides and presents some useful information on the effects of introducing amino acids of different steric configurations on the fungicidal activity, phloem and xylem mobility of the parent fungicide. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Iron‐Catalyzed Regioselective C5‐H Benzylation of 8‐Aminoquinolines with Benzylic Acetates
Authors: Niu Tian‐Jing , Xu Jin‐Di , Ren Bao‐Zeng , Liu Jing‐Hui , Hu Guo‐Qin
Published: April 2019

A Fe‐catalyzed C5‐H benzylation reaction of 8‐amidoquinoline amides has been developed by employing cheap, abundant benzylic acetates as benzyl sources. This method showcases excellent functional group compatibility and is applicable for gram‐scale synthesis or late‐stage diversification. Thus it provides an easy access to the corresponding C5‐benzylated quinoline derivatives.
Enhanced Charge Transfer Process of Bismuth Vanadate Interleaved Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanohybrids in Mediator‐Free Direct Z Scheme Photoelectrocatalytic Water Splitting
Authors: Murugan Chinnan , Abinav Nataraj Ramakrishnan , Praveen Kumar Murugesan , Ravichandran Subbiah , Pandikumar Alagarsamy
Published: April 2019

In the present work, graphitic carbon nitride‐bismuth vanadate (g‐C3N4‐BiVO4) nanohybrid materials with different wt. % of g‐C3N4 were successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method and characterized by UV‐Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PLS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), energy dispersive X‐ray (EDAX) absorption spectroscopy, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‐TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) analysis. The photoelectrocatalytic performance of g‐C3N4‐BiVO4 nanohybrid materials were investigated by water splitting under AM 1.5G (100 mWcm−2) illumination. The g‐C3N4‐BiVO4 photoanode with 10 wt. % of g‐C3N4 exhibited higher photoelectrocatalytic activity towards water splitting, which was 1.6 and 2.8‐folds higher than that of the pure BiVO4 and g‐C3N4, respectively. The remarkably enhanced photoelectrocatalytic activity of the nanohybrid is due to the efficient photogenerated electron‐hole separation through Z‐scheme mechanism, enhanced interfacial charge transfer process and suppression in the charge recombination rate. Hence, the g‐C3N4‐BiVO4 nanohybrid materials can be potential candidates for light harvesting applications.
Synthesis, Experimental and Theoretical Characterization of Novel Pyrimidine‐5‐Carboxamides
Authors: Gümüş Mehmet , Sert Yusuf , Yalkın Ahmet , Gökce Halil , Koca İrfan
Published: April 2019

Eight series of pyrimidine‐5‐carboxamides were synthesized and characterized by FT‐IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR spectroscopies, HR‐MS and elemental analysis. To encourage experimental confirmations, molecular electronic structure calculations and harmonic vibrational frequencies of compounds (theoretical computations) were carried out with the DFT/B3LYP method at the 6–311G++(d,p) basis set. The selected important assignments‐computed harmonic vibrational wavenumbers of compounds were defined by using potential energy distribution (PED) analysis. The molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surface analysis was examined to bring into the open nucleophilic and electrophilic reactive areas of the compounds. The highest occupied molecular orbitals and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs and LUMOs) analyses were theoretically used for definition of electronic transitions corresponding to UV‐Vis. electronic absorption wavelengths. Additionally, for these series non‐linear optical properties (NLO) were investigated based on urea. Finally, in this manuscript molecular docking studies between macromolecule (receptor) and ligand interactions were carried out by using AutoDock Vina program. Obtained all outputs of new compounds were explained in different sections in‐depth.
Base‐Mediated Transition‐Metal‐Free Dehydrative C−C and C−N Bond‐Forming Reactions from Alcohols
Authors: Porcheddu Andrea , Chelucci Giorgio
Published: April 2019

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in using alcohols as alkylating agents for C−C and C−N bond‐forming processes employing mainly TM‐catalysts. Although BH‐catalysis looks like a green atom economy process since water is the only by‐product, it often suffers from one or more drawbacks, such as the use of expensive noble metal complexes, capricious ligands, and toxic organic solvents. Therefore, straightforward, efficient, atom economy and environmentally benign alternative protocols are desirable. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge within the published literature about dehydrative processes developed without TM‐catalysts. The most recent contributions to this topic have been reviewed keeping into account the new findings reported in this area. The features, strengths, and limitations of these alcohol‐based C−C and C−N bond‐forming processes has also been taken into account.
Challenges to the sustainability of climate services in Europe
Authors: Bruno Soares Marta , Buontempo Carlo
Published: April 2019

Climate services have emerged as a research and operational field in recent years. This development has been underpinned and supported by significant research, funding and agenda‐setting efforts such as the Global Framework for Climate Services internationally and the Roadmap for Climate Services and the Copernicus Climate Change Service in Europe. The fast pace at which this field is developing raises a number of key challenges that need to be critically examined and addressed to ensure the future development and sustainability of climate services in Europe. This opinion piece highlights a number of challenges currently threatening the viability of climate services including the complexity of the concept of climate services; the complex landscape of complementary research and development areas relevant to climate services; existing rights to freely access and use climate services; current limitations to funding structures and mechanisms and how that impacts on the development of climate services; the emphasis on co‐production as a precondition to climate services development; and the limited role of the social sciences in the research and operational field of climate services. Effectively addressing these challenges will require a commitment from the scientific and practitioner communities to engage in critical and reflective debates around the future conceptualization and operationalization of climate services in Europe. This paper aims to provide critical input to stimulate a necessary and overdue debate around the sustainability and future of climate services in Europe.

This article is categorized under:

Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Knowledge and Practice
Synthesis and X‐ray Crystal Structures of Ru3(CO)9(μ‐arphos)(L) [L = AsPh3, As(m‐C6H4Me)3, As(p‐C6H4Me)3]
Authors: Syaida Sirat Siti , Shawkataly Omar Bin
Published: April 2019

Three new triruthenium clusters, Ru3(CO)9(μ‐arphos)AsPh3 (1), Ru3(CO)9(μ‐arphos)As(m‐C6H4Me)3 (2), and Ru3(CO)9(μ‐arphos)As(p‐C6H4Me)3 (3) were synthesized via thermal reactions of Ru3(CO)10(μ‐arphos) with different tertiary arsine ligands [AsPh3, As(m‐C6H4Me)3, As(p‐C6H4Me)3]. All these complexes were fully characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR, NMR spectroscopy, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.
Surface effect on a nano‐elliptical hole or nano‐crack in magnetoelectroelastic materials under antiplane shear
Authors: Liu YunZheng , Guo JunHong , Zhang XiaoYan
Published: April 2019

Based on the Gurtin‐Murdoch surface/interface model, an antiplane shear problem of a magnetically and electrically impermeable nano‐elliptical hole in magnetoelectroelastic (MEE) materials with surface effect is presented subjected to far‐field anti‐plane mechanical and in‐plane electrical and magnetic loadings. By using the complex function method and conformal mapping technique, exact closed‐form solutions of the stress, electric displacement and magnetic induction intensity factors near the crack tip are obtained when the nano‐elliptical hole is reduced to a nano‐crack. Numerical examples are provided to show the effects of size of nano‐crack on the field intensity factors near the crack tip induced by mechanical, electrical and magnetic loadings for the piezoelectric (PE), piezomagnetic (PM) and MEE materials with surface effect. The interaction between the stress field, electric field and magnetic field around the nano‐hole is analyzed. The results show that the obtained solution is close to the classical elasticity solution with increasing size of the nano‐crack.
Constraining A4 leptonic flavour model parameters at colliders and beyond
Authors: Heinrich Lukas , Schulz Holger , Turner Jessica , Zhou Ye-Ling
Published: April 2019

Abstract

The observed pattern of mixing in the neutrino sector may be explained by the presence of a non-Abelian, discrete flavour symmetry broken into residual subgroups at low energies. Many flavour models require the presence of Standard Model singlet scalars which can promptly decay to charged leptons in a flavour-violating manner. We constrain the model parameters of a generic A
4 leptonic flavour model using a synergy of experimental data including limits from charged lepton flavour conversion, an 8 TeV collider analysis and constraints from the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. The most powerful constraints derive from the MEG collaborations’ limit on Br(μ → eγ) and the reinterpretation of an 8 TeV ATLAS search for anomalous productions of multi-leptonic final states. We quantify the exclusionary power of each of these experiments and identify regions where the constraints from collider and MEG experimental data are complementary.
Populist constitutionalism and constituent power
Authors: Doyle Oran
Published: April 2019

Constituent power is a helpful component of constitutional theory because it provides a conceptual and potentially normative explanation of how a new constitution can be made without any existing legal authority to do so. Contemporary theories of constituent power, however, unhelpfully treat constituent power as a fictive entity, typically the people, that subsists through time. This predominant account of constituent power fails adequately to explain examples of constitution-making and also lends support to the populist claim that a unitary and unchanging people has an immanent but continuing role as a constitutional actor superior to the constitution itself. This enables populist leaders to rely on prevalent understandings of constitutionalism to support the sidestepping and/or removal of constraints on their power. In this Article, I trace the connections between mainstream theories of constituent power and the academically peripheral claims of populist constitutionalism. I argue for a different understanding of constituent power as a capacity that, in principle, may momentarily be exercised by any entity. This explains how a new constitution can unlawfully replace a pre-existing constitution yet come to have lawful authority itself, without implying the diachronic existence of the constituent power as an entity. I illustrate this understanding of constituent power with reference to the constitutional development of Taiwan and Ireland. These examples show—contrary to the predominant account of constituent power—that constitutional systems may be created without the exercise of constituent power and that constitutional law can play an important role in constructing an entity capable of exercising constituent power. Seen in this way, popular references in preambles are important not for their account of how a constitution was made but rather for their account of whom a constitution is for. This account of constituent power undermines core claims of populist constitutionalism. But it also provides a salutary lesson for liberal constitutionalists: a constitution adopted for a people must broadly serve the interests of that people.
Populism, authoritarianism and constitutionalism
Authors: Halmai Gábor
Published: April 2019

The paper deals with the relationship of different types of populism with authoritarianism and constitutionalism. In the first part, I try to define various approaches—Left and Right-Wing, “good” or “bad”—to populism, especially from the point of view of whether they aim at changing the liberal democratic constitutional system to an authoritarian one. The following part discusses the rhetoric of authoritarian populists, which makes this type of populism distinct from non-populist authoritarians. The paper also explores the question of whom to blame for the success of authoritarian populisms, and the final part investigates, whether the use of legal tools by an authoritarian populist to dismantle liberal constitutional democracies means that we can speak about a special populist constitutionalism. While the paper tries to find out the joint characteristics of authoritarian populism, it heavily relies on the Hungarian experiences as a kind of model approach in East-Central Europe and maybe even beyond.