bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eight urgent, fundamental and simultaneous steps needed to restore ocean health, and the consequences for humanity and the planet of inaction or delay
Authors: Laffoley Dan , Baxter John M. , Amon Diva J. , Currie Duncan E.J. , Downs Craig A. , Hall‐Spencer Jason M. , Harden‐Davies Harriet , Page Richard , Reid Chris P. , Roberts Callum M. , Rogers Alex , Thiele Thorsten , Sheppard Charles R.C. , Sumaila Rashid U. , Woodall Lucy C.
Published: July 2019

The ocean crisis is urgent and central to human wellbeing and life on Earth; past and current activities are damaging the planet's main life support system for future generations. We are witnessing an increase in ocean heat, disturbance, acidification, bio‐invasions and nutrients, and reducing oxygen levels. Several of these act like ratchets: once detrimental or negative changes have occurred, they may lock in place and may not be reversible, especially at gross ecological and ocean process scales.

Each change may represent a loss to humanity of resources, ecosystem function, oxygen production and species. The longer we pursue unsuitable actions, the more we close the path to recovery and better ocean health and greater benefits for humanity in the future.

We stand at a critical juncture and have identified eight priority issues that need to be addressed in unison to help avert a potential ecological disaster in the global ocean. They form a purposely ambitious agenda for global governance and are aimed at informing decision‐makers at a high level. They should also be of interest to the general public.

Of all the themes, the highest priority is to rigorously address global warming and limit surface temperature rise to 1.5°C by 2100, as warming is the pre‐eminent factor driving change in the ocean. The other themes are establishing a robust and comprehensive High Seas Treaty, enforcing existing standards for Marine Protected Areas and expanding their coverage, especially in terms of high levels of protection, adopting a precautionary pause on deep‐sea mining, ending overfishing and destructive fishing practices, radically reducing marine pollution, putting in place a financing mechanism for ocean management and protection, and lastly, scaling up science/data gathering and facilitating data sharing.

By implementing all eight measures in unison, as a coordinated strategy, we can build resilience to climate change, help sustain fisheries productivity, particularly for low‐income countries dependent on fisheries, protect coasts (e.g. via soft‐engineering/habitat‐based approaches), promote mitigation (e.g. carbon storage) and enable improved adaptation to rapid global change.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder prevention program: SBIRT's role in averting fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Authors: Manriquez Maria , Starer Jacqueline , Parisi Vanessa , Tracy Erin , McFadden Tonya , Penney Lily
Published: July 2019

Empowering obstetricians to assess and improve their own practices of screening brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) in treating alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and preventing fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is the goal of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOG) FASD Prevention Program. The FASD Prevention Program is a CDC funded initiative of the ACOG which is the largest specialty professional membership organization in the United States. Obstetrics and gynecology as a specialty is dedicated to the broad, integrated medical and surgical care of women's health throughout their lifespan. Understanding of reproductive physiology, including the physiologic, social, cultural, environmental, and genetic factors that influence disease in women, is a major priority for ACOG. Preventive counseling and health education are essential and integral parts of the practice of obstetricians and gynecologists as they advance the individual and community‐based health of women of all ages. The FASD Prevention Program aims to provide obstetrician‐gynecologists with the resources and tools needed to communicate with patients and the communities they serve about alcohol use during pregnancy. This review describes activities to empower and educate providers to address alcohol use disorder in pregnancy and the effect of FASD.
Green synthesis of strontium nanoparticles self‐assembled in the presence of carboxymethyl cellulose: an in vivo imaging study
Authors: Fekri Hojjat Samareh , Ranjbar Mehdi , Noudeh Gholamreza Dehghan , Ziasistani Nazanin
Published: July 2019

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is one of the main derivatives of cellulose and is used as a drug carrier for hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs, imaging in vivo, and biological applications. Encapsulation is a technology in which target compounds are coated with wall compounds to form microcapsules. This study reports a new chemical processing wet method for precipitation and encapsulation of strontium nanoparticles (Sr NPs) within CMC structures using a sonochemical method. Preparation parameters such as microwave power and irradiation time as well as morphology and particle size of Sr NPs were also investigated. Products were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and atomic force microscopy. In this study, CMC was used as a biological stabilizer in a retentive phase to encapsulate Sr NPs. For the first time, Sr NPs were synthesized using CMC in a cost‐effective, simple, fast, micellation‐assisted, ultrasound method. Sr NPs were encapsulated in green capping agent structures of either 1%, 2% or 3% weight to provide an efficient optical nanostructure with a high yield at wavelengths 200–700 nm for use in in vivo imaging studies.
Osteochondral tissue coculture: An in vitro and in silico approach
Authors: Xue Ruikang , Chung Benedict , Tamaddon Maryam , Carr James , Liu Chaozong , Cartmell Sarah Harriet
Published: July 2019

Osteochondral tissue engineering aims to regenerate functional tissue‐mimicking physiological properties of injured cartilage and its subchondral bone. Given the distinct structural and biochemical difference between bone and cartilage, bilayered scaffolds, and bioreactors are commonly employed. We present an osteochondral culture system which cocultured ATDC5 and MC3T3‐E1 cells on an additive manufactured bilayered scaffold in a dual‐chamber perfusion bioreactor. Also, finite element models (FEM) based on the microcomputed tomography image of the manufactured scaffold as well as on the computer‐aided design (CAD) were constructed; the microenvironment inside the two FEM was studied and compared. In vitro results showed that the coculture system supported osteochondral tissue growth in terms of cell viability, proliferation, distribution, and attachment. In silico results showed that the CAD and the actual manufactured scaffold had significant differences in the flow velocity, differentiation media mixing in the bioreactor and fluid‐induced shear stress experienced by the cells. This system was shown to have the desired microenvironment for osteochondral tissue engineering and it can potentially be used as an inexpensive tool for testing newly developed pharmaceutical products for osteochondral defects.
Neuroimaging consequences of cerebral small vessel disease in patients with obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome
Authors: Huang Shujian , Wang Dan , Zhou Huiqun , Chen Zhengnong , Wang Hui , Li Yuehua , Yin Shankai
Published: July 2019

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the association between severity of obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and the neuroimaging consequences of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD).

Methods

Patients with OSAHS and age‐ and gender‐matched healthy control subjects completed the mini‐mental state examination and underwent an evoked‐related potential study and overnight polysomnographic monitoring. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to detect markers of silent cerebral SVD, including Virchow–Robin spaces (VRS) rated on a five‐point scale, white matter lesions, lacunar infarcts, and deep microbleeds. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine the associations of the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) and arousal index (AI) values, mean oxyhemoglobin saturation, the duration of snoring history, and MRI markers of small vessel disease with the incidence of enlarged VRS.

Results

The study included 72 patients with severe OSAHS and 53 volunteers without OSAHS. The duration of snoring history ranged from 5 to 22 years in the OSAHS group. Smaller P3 amplitudes at Cz were found in OSAHS patients than control subjects (p < .05), which is associated with neurocognitive impairment. Enlarged VRS were more prevalent in the basal ganglia and centrum semiovale of patients with OSAHS than in the control group. No significant between‐group differences were observed in the number of white matter lesions, lacunar infarcts, and deep microbleeds. Enlarged VRS were positively correlated with AHI and AI values in the OSAHS group (r = .63, p < .001; r = .55, p < .001, respectively).

Conclusions

Silent cerebral SVD was more prevalent in patients with OSAHS than in the controls. Enlarged VRS observed in the basal ganglia and centrum semiovale were positively correlated with severity of OSAHS, which may contribute to cognitive impairment.
Renal denervation in patients with heart failure secondary to Chagas' disease: A pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Spadaro André G. , Bocchi Edimar A. , Souza Germano E. , Filho Antonio E. , Mariani José , Campos Carlos M. , Lemos Pedro A.
Published: July 2019

Introduction

Chagas disease is one of the most relevant endemic parasitic diseases in Latin America, affecting approximately 6 million people. Overt Chagas heart disease is an ominous condition, occurring in 20–30% of infected individuals, which has besides the persistent myocarditis a peculiar intracardiac ganglionic neuronal depletion and dysautonomy. This study aims to evaluate the safety and feasibility of renal denervation for patients with advanced symptomatic Chagas cardiomyopathy.

Methods

Open‐label prospective pilot study that randomized patients with Chagas heart disease to either renal denervation or conservative treatment (2:1 ratio). The primary endpoint was the incidence of major adverse events at 9 months, defined as a composite of all‐cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke, need for renal artery invasive treatment, or worsening renal function.

Results

A total of 17 patients were allocated for renal denervation (n = 11) or conservative treatment (n = 6). Included patients had severe symptomatic heart disease, with markedly depressed left ventricular function (average ejection fraction 26.7 ± 4.9%). For patients randomized to renal denervation, the procedure was performed successfully and uneventfully. After 9 months, the primary endpoint occurred in 36.4% of patients in the renal denervation group and 50.0% in the control arm (p = .6). After 9 months, clinical, laboratory, functional, echocardiographic, and quality of life parameters were similar between groups.

Conclusions

This pilot study suggests that renal denervation is safe and feasible in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy, warranting future studies to better evaluate the clinical efficacy of the interventional strategy in improving the prognosis of this high‐risk population.
On the Accuracy of Density Functional Theory in Zeolite Catalysis
Authors: Goncalves Tiago J. , Plessow Philipp N. , Studt Felix
Published: July 2019

Zeolites are porous materials that are typically studied using periodic density functional theory (DFT). In this work we benchmark commonly used density functionals using cluster models for Brønsted acidic as well as copper substituted SSZ‐13 (H‐SSZ‐13 and Cu‐SSZ‐13). We find that for acid‐catalyzed reactions with relevance for the methanol‐to‐olefins process, barriers are the main challenge as they are commonly underestimated by DFT. For reactions involving Cu‐SSZ‐13 (commonly used for the selective catalytic reduction of NOx, SCR), reaction energies are already a challenge for most density functionals. Our results show that the widely used PBE‐D3 functional leads to mean absolute errors larger than 40 kJ/mol for barrier heights. Hybrid functionals show significant improvements with the best tested functional herein M06 having an error of only 7 kJ/mol.
Numerical Simulation of Acetone Stripping from Water in a Microchannel Device
Authors: Ghadiri Mehdi , Rezakazemi Mashallah , Shirazian Saeed
Published: July 2019

A 2D mathematical model was developed in this study to simulate acetone separation from water by using a microstripper device. Model validation was implemented through a comparison of simulation results of acetone removal from water and experimental data for dry nitrogen over a wide range of carrier gas and liquid velocities. A comparison of experimental data and simulation results illustrated reasonable agreement. The results indicate that increasing the liquid velocity reduces the acetone removal rate because increasing liquid velocity results in a decrease in the residence time of liquid in the liquid channel, whereas there is an enhancement in acetone removal with increasing carrier gas velocity. A sharp decrease in acetone concentration in the liquid channel was observed.
Engineering electrochemical CO2 reduction to formate under bioprocess‐compatible conditions to bioreactor scale
Authors: Hegner Richard , Neubert Katharina , Rosa Luis F. M. , Harnisch Falk
Published: July 2019

The coupling of electrochemical CO2 reduction to formate with the microbial biosynthesis of valuable products is promising for exploiting CO2 as well as to store excess renewable electricity. Here, electrochemical CO2 reduction to formate at bioprocess‐compatible conditions was transferred from the scale of 50 mL electrochemical cells to 1 L electrobioreactors. In the 1 L electrobioreactor, a reproducible coulombic efficiency of 74.9±5.5 % and formate production rate of 0.038±0.005 mmol h−1 cm−2 could be achieved. Autoclaving by standard steam sterilization was shown to negatively affect the reliability of the process performance and, therefore, needs further investigation. However, mass transfer is not limiting for the process performance. Thus, the coupling of electrochemical CO2 reduction to formate with microbial biosynthesis in sterile conditions at technical scale can be targeted in the future.
Enhanced Solution and Solid‐State Emission and Tunable White‐Light Emission Harvested by Supramolecular Approaches
Authors: Lou Xin‐Yue , Song Nan , Yang Ying‐Wei
Published: July 2019

Organic luminescent materials with high quantum yields and/or white‐light‐emitting properties in particular play a crucial role in labeling and optoelectronic devices. In this work we have synthesized a new 2,3,6,7‐tetramethoxy‐9,10‐di‐p‐tolylanthracene‐bridged pillar[5]arene dimer with persistent mazarine blue fluorescent emission and much higher quantum yields in both solution and the solid state in comparison with its corresponding emissive linker without pillarene units, which exhibits typical aggregation‐caused quenching. According to the fluorescence data and single‐crystal analyses, their contrasting fluorescent performances can be rationally ascribed to their different stacking structures and intermolecular interactions. Three fluorescent guests containing different chromophores and/or terminal binding sites have also been synthesized to interact with the pillar[5]arene dimer to construct supramolecular ensembles with highly controllable luminescence, taking advantage of the stimuli‐responsive properties of the supramolecular host–guest interactions. Intriguingly, multicolor fluorescence, including white‐light emission (0.31, 0.35), which is in high demand, has been achieved by tuning the molar ratio of the host and guest and/or by changing the solvent system. This strategy holds great potential for the design and development of fluorescent materials with high quantum yields, controllable emission wavelength, and good stimuli‐responsiveness.
Synthesis of Distorted 1,8,13‐Trisilyl‐9‐hydroxytriptycenes by Triple Cycloaddition of Ynolates to 3‐Silylbenzynes
Authors: Yoshinaga Tatsuro , Fujiwara Takumi , Iwata Takayuki , Shindo Mitsuru
Published: July 2019

1,8,13‐Trialkyl(aryl)silyl‐9‐hydroxytriptycenes (trisilyltriptycenes) were synthesized by the triple addition of ynolates and 3‐silylbenzynes with high regioselectivity. Benzene rings in the resulting triptycenes were highly distorted where the dihedral angles between the substituents were as high as 35°. The distortion energy induced step‐by‐step halogenation reactions to yield halogenated triptycenes, including chiral triptycenes. The 1,8,13‐trihalogenated triptycenes were then converted to 1,8,13‐functionalized triptycenes.
Spatiotemporally Coupled Photoactivity of Phthalocyanine–Peptide Conjugate Self‐Assemblies for Adaptive Tumor Theranostics
Authors: Li Shukun , Zhao Luyang , Chang Rui , Xing Ruirui , Yan Xuehai
Published: July 2019

Spatiotemporally coupled tumor phototheranostic platforms offer a flexible and precise system that takes the biological interaction between tumors and photoactive agents into consideration for optimizing treatment, which is highly consistent with precision medicine. However, the fabrication of monocomponent‐based photoactive agents applicable to multifold imaging techniques and multiple therapies in a facile way remains challenging. In this study, we developed simple phthalocyanine–peptide (PF) conjugate‐based monocomponent nanoparticles with spatiotemporally coupled photoactivity for adaptive tumor theranostics. The self‐assembled PF nanoparticles possess well‐defined spherical nanostructures and excellent colloidal stability along with supramolecular photothermal effects. Importantly, the PF nanoparticles showed switchable photoactivity triggered by their interactions with the cell membrane, which enables an adaptive transformation from photothermal therapy (PTT) and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) to photodynamic therapy (PDT) and corresponding fluorescence imaging (FI). Theranostic modalities are integrated in a spatiotemporally coupled manner, providing a facile, biocompatible and effective route for localized tumor phototherapy. This study offers a flexible and versatile strategy to integrate multiple theranostic modalities into a single component so that it can realize its full potential and thereby amplify its therapeutic efficacy, creating promising opportunities for the design of theranostics and further highlighting their clinical prospects to the diagnosis and treatment of cancers.
Stable Borepinium and Borafluorenium Heterocycles: A Reversible Thermochromic “Switch” Based on Boron–Oxygen Interactions
Authors: Yang Wenlong , Krantz Kelsie E. , Freeman Lucas A. , Dickie Diane A. , Molino Andrew , Kaur Aishvaryadeep , Wilson David J. D. , Gilliard Robert J.
Published: July 2019

The first examples of N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and cyclic(alkyl)(amino) carbene (CAAC) stabilized borepinium and borafluorenium heterocycles are reported herein. The optical properties of the heterocyclic borenium cations were tuned by varying the Lewis base and by changing the number of atoms in the ring. More importantly, functionalizing the cationic boron ring system in the NHC‐borafluorenium cation affords a temperature‐sensitive molecule with reversible colorimetric “turn off/turn on” properties in solution. Notably, this is the first report of thermochromism in these cationic species. This property, which is mediated by an intermolecular boron–oxygen bond equilibrium, was examined in detail by X‐ray crystallography, variable temperature‐UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy (VT‐UV/Vis), and density functional theory (DFT).
Selective distortion of the planar group CαC'(O)O to a chiral flat tetrahedron in the amino acid alanine
Authors: Brunner Henri , Tsuno Takashi
Published: July 2019

Based on a Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) search, a meta‐analysis of 116 structures of alanine H3NCαH(CH3)C′(O)O and its derivatives H3NCαH(CH3)C′(O)O(H/R/M), protonated, esterified, or coordinated at the carboxylic group, shows that in the first step of a chirality chain, the L configuration at Cα induces (M) and (P) conformations with respect to rotation around the central C′─Cα bond. In the second step, the (M) and (P) conformations selectively distort the planar carboxylic group CαC'(Ocis)Otrans to asymmetric flat (R) and (S) tetrahedra. High diastereoselectivities are caused by the two players attraction N…Ocis and repulsion Otrans…CMe, which work together in (L,M,R) configurations but against each other in (L,P,S) configurations.
Systemverfahrenstechnik – Eine philosophische Begriffsanalyse
Authors: Kuhn Michael , Briesen Heiko
Published: July 2019

„Systemverfahrenstechnik” scheint sprachlich und inhaltlich häufig unklar. Basierend auf einer philosophischen Analyse, welche die Begriffe „System”, „Technik” und „Verfahren” erschließt, wird daher eine möglichst tragfähige Definition von Systemverfahrenstechnik erarbeitet und zur Diskussion gestellt. Dabei wird betont, dass vor allem die systembasierte Arbeitsweise die betrachtete Disziplin von anderen verfahrenstechnischen Subdisziplinen abgrenzt.
Investigation and development of gravity separators with a standardized experimental setup
Authors: Steinhoff Jan , Charlafti Evgenia , Reinecke Laura , Kraume Matthias , Bart Hans‐Jörg
Published: July 2019

This contribution presents a standardized experimental setup for the development of gravity separators. Two different optical measurement techniques for the characterization of the inlet and outlet dispersion with a droplet spectrum of 20‐2000 μm are used. The settling behaviour in a standardized batch settling test (ERICAA cell) serves as a basis for predicting the drop diameter resolved separation efficiency of a horizontal continuous separator. The latter (DN150, length 0.65 m) was operated and monitored with a phase fraction of up to 15% and a load of up to 17.0 m3 m−2 h−1. A paraffin oil with a viscosity of 10 mPa s was the dispersed and water the continuous phase. Sauter mean diameters of dispersions measured inline show a good agreement with those calculated from batch settling tests. Additionally, the modelled separation efficiencies are compared to the experimental results produced with the continuous separator.
Computational modeling of the fluid flow and the flexible intimal flap in type B aortic dissection via a monolithic arbitrary Lagrangian/Eulerian fluid‐structure interaction model
Authors: Ryzhakov Pavel , Soudah Eduardo , Dialami Narges
Published: July 2019

In the present work, we perform numerical simulations of the fluid flow in type B aortic dissection (AD), accounting for the flexibility of the intimal flap. The interaction of the flow with the intimal flap is modeled using a monolithic arbitrary Lagrangian/Eulerian fluid‐structure interaction model. The model relies on choosing velocity as the kinematic variable in both domains (fluid and solid) facilitating the coupling. The fluid flow velocity and pressure evolution at different locations is studied and compared against the experimental evidence and the formerly published numerical simulation results. Several tear configurations are analyzed. Details of the fluid flow in the vicinity of the tears are highlighted. Influence of the tear size upon the fluid flow and the flap deformation is discussed.
Minimal Surfaces in the Round Three‐Sphere by Doubling the Equatorial Two‐Sphere, II
Authors: Kapouleas Nikolaos , McGrath Peter
Published: July 2019

In a previous paper, new closed embedded smooth minimal surfaces in the round three‐sphere were constructed, each resembling two parallel copies of the equatorial two‐sphere joined by small catenoidal bridges, with the catenoidal bridges concentrating along two parallel circles, or the equatorial circle and the poles. In this sequel, we generalize those constructions so that the catenoidal bridges can concentrate along an arbitrary number of parallel circles, with the further option to include bridges at the poles. The current constructions follow the linearized doubling (LD) methodology developed in the previous paper. The LD solutions constructed here can be modified readily for use to doubling constructions of rotationally symmetric minimal surfaces with asymmetric sides [15]. In particular, they allow us to develop doubling constructions for the catenoid in Euclidean three‐space, the critical catenoid in the unit ball, and the spherical shrinker of the mean curvature flow.

Unlike in the previous paper, our constructions here allow for sequences of minimal surfaces where the catenoidal bridges tend to be “densely distributed,” that is, they do not miss any open set of in the limit. This in particular leads to interesting observations that seem to suggest that it may be impossible to construct embedded minimal surfaces with isolated singularities by concentrating infinitely many catenoidal necks at a point. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quantization in Geometric Pluripotential Theory
Authors: Darvas Tamás , Lu Chinh H. , Rubinstein Yanir A.
Published: July 2019

The space of Kähler metrics, on the one hand, can be approximated by subspaces of algebraic metrics, while, on the other hand, it can also be enlarged to finite‐energy spaces arising in pluripotential theory. The latter spaces are realized as metric completions of Finsler structures on the space of Kähler metrics. The former spaces are the finite‐dimensional spaces of Fubini‐Study metrics of Kähler quantization. The goal of this article is to draw a connection between the two.

We show that the Finsler structures on the space of Kähler potentials can be quantized. More precisely, given a Kähler manifold polarized by an ample line bundle we endow the space of Hermitian metrics on powers of that line bundle with Finsler structures and show that the resulting path length metric spaces recover the corresponding metric completions of the Finsler structures on the space of Kähler potentials. This has a number of applications, among them a new Lidskii‐type inequality on the space of Kähler metrics, a new approach to the rooftop envelopes and Pythagorean formulas of Kähler geometry, and approximation of finite‐energy potentials, as well as geodesic segments by the corresponding smooth algebraic objects. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Non‐Fluorinated Polymer Composite Proton Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications – A Review
Authors: Esmaeili Nazila , Gray Evan MacA. , Webb Colin J.
Published: July 2019

The critical component of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system is the proton exchange membrane (PEM). Perfluorosulfonic acid membranes such as Nafion are currently used for PEMFCs in industry, despite suffering from reduced proton conductivity due to dehydration at higher temperatures. However, operating at temperatures below 100 °C leads to cathode flooding, catalyst poisoning by CO, and complex system design with higher cost. Research has concentrated on the membrane material and on preparation methods to achieve high proton conductivity, thermal, mechanical and chemical stability, low fuel crossover and lower cost at high temperatures. Non‐fluorinated polymers are a promising alternative. However, improving the efficiency at higher temperatures has necessitated modifications and the inclusion of inorganic materials in a polymer matrix to form a composite membrane can be an approach to reach the target performance, while still reducing costs. This review focuses on recent research in composite PEMs based on non‐fluorinated polymers. Various inorganic fillers incorporated in the PEM structure are reviewed in terms of their properties and the effect on PEM fuel cell performance. The most reliable polymers and fillers with potential for high temperature proton exchange membranes (HTPEMs) are also discussed.
Electrochemical Thermoelectric Conversion with Polysulfide as Redox Species
Authors: Liang Yimin , Hui Joseph K.‐H. , Yamada Teppei , Kimizuka Nobuo
Published: July 2019

Thermocells convert waste heat to electricity without any pollution; however, the high cost and corrosivity of redox species hinder their commercialization. In this work, a thermocell that utilizes abundant polysulfide as redox species was demonstrated for the first time. 1‐Butyl‐1‐methylpyrrolidinium polysulfide [(P14)2S3] was synthesized, and the redox species were prepared by the addition of sulfur to the (P14)2S3 solution in DMSO. In thermoelectric measurements, the Seebeck coefficient changed from −0.68 to +0.5 mV K−1 through addition of sulfur to the cell. Operando UV/Vis spectroscopy and open‐circuit voltage analysis revealed that this effect was attributed to the change in the dominating redox reactions by the addition of sulfur. This result also provides a thermodynamic view on polysulfides electrochemistry, which is of high importance for lithium–sulfur batteries.
Structure‐Tunable Copper–Indium Catalysts for Highly Selective CO2 Electroreduction to CO or HCOOH
Authors: Zhu Minghui , Tian Pengfei , Li Jiayu , Chen Jiacheng , Xu Jing , Han Yi‐Fan
Published: July 2019

Selectively approaching chemicals with one composition‐tunable catalyst is attractive for practical manufacturing. Bimetallic copper–indium (Cu–In) catalysts have been synthesized by using a coprecipitation method and found to be among the best reported In‐based catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction to CO or HCOOH. By varying the metal ratio, the catalyst can be tuned from a core–shell structure that selectively produces CO to a well‐mixed structure that prefers HCOOH production. The distinct selectivities depend on the structure‐sensitive binding strength of key reactive intermediates. These findings can benefit the development of a broader range of selectivity‐tunable catalysts.
Cross‐layer 1 and 5 user grouping/power allocation/subcarrier allocations for downlink OFDMA/NOMA video communications
Authors: Tseng Shu‐Ming , Tsai Wen‐Da , Suo Hao‐Sheng
Published: July 2019

Wang et al proposed cross‐layer resource allocation for orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) video transmission systems. Unlike Wang et al, we add non‐orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) to the downlink OFDMA video transmission system and propose power allocation for users on each subcarrier (cluster) to minimize sum of video mean square error (MSE) to increase the peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR), the video quality. For OFDMA/NOMA video communication systems, we propose cross‐layer user clustering to reassign the subcarriers based on sum video distortion minimization and derive the optimal power allocation among NOMA users on the same subcarrier to minimize the sum video distortion. Numerical results show that the proposed scheme outperforms the previous OFDMA cross‐layer scheme by Wang et al by 2.2 to 4.5 dB in PSNR and previous OFDMA NOMA physical layer scheme by Ali et al by 2 to 4.4 dB in PSNR, when SNR = 15 dB, and the number of users is 6 to 12.
Banking the Future: Adolescent Capacity to Consent to Biobank Research
Authors: McGregor Kyle A. , Ott Mary A.
Published: July 2019

Adolescents are an important population to represent in biobanks. Inclusion of biospecimens from adolescents advances our understanding of the long‐term consequences of pediatric disease and allows the discovery of methods to prevent adult diseases during childhood. Consent for biobanking is complex, especially when considering adolescent participation, as it brings up issues that are not present with general clinical research. The development and successful implementation of an adolescent capacity assessment tool applied specifically to biobanking can potentially provide researchers and clinicians with contextualized information on participants’ understanding, appreciation, reasoning, and voluntary choice for biobanks. This tool would enhance current studies looking at the role of shared decision‐making in biobanking, as well as provide a formal measurement when considering decisions around pediatric and adolescent biobanking participation. This study adapted the MacCAT‐CR for use with a hypothetical adolescent biobank study and examines predictors of MacCAT‐CR scores on healthy and chronically ill adolescents.
Large‐scale forest restoration stabilizes carbon under climate change in Southwest United States
Authors: McCauley Lisa A. , Robles Marcos D. , Woolley Travis , Marshall Robert M. , Kretchun Alec , Gori David F.
Published: July 2019

Higher tree density, more fuels, and a warmer, drier climate have caused an increase in the frequency, size, and severity of wildfires in western U.S. forests. There is an urgent need to restore forests across the western United States. To address this need, the U.S. Forest Service began the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) to restore four national forests in Arizona. The objective of this study was to evaluate how restoration of ~400,000 ha under the 4FRIprogram and projected climate change would influence carbon dynamics and wildfire severity from 2010 to 2099. Specifically, we estimated forest carbon fluxes, carbon pools and wildfire severity under a moderate and fast 4FRIimplementation schedule and compared those to status quo and no‐harvest scenarios using theLANDIS‐IIsimulation model and climate change projections. We found that the fast‐4FRIscenario showed early decreases in ecosystem carbon due to initial thinning/prescribed fire treatments, but total ecosystem carbon increased by 9–18% over no harvest by the end of the simulation. This increased carbon storage by 6.3–12.7 million metric tons, depending on the climate model, equating to removal of carbon emissions from 55,000 to 110,000 passenger vehicles per year until the end of the century. Nearly half of the additional carbon was stored in more stable soil pools. However, climate models with the largest predicted temperature increases showed declines by late century in ecosystem carbon despite restoration. Our study uses data from a real‐world, large‐scale restoration project and indicates that restoration is likely to stabilize carbon and the benefits are greater when the pace of restoration is faster.
Yellow perch genetic structure and habitat use among connected habitats in eastern Lake Michigan
Authors: Chorak Gregory M. , Ruetz Carl R. , Thum Ryan A. , Partridge Charlyn G. , Janetski David J. , Höök Tomas O. , Clapp David F.
Published: July 2019

Maintenance of genetic and phenotypic diversity is widely recognized as an important conservation priority, yet managers often lack basic information about spatial patterns of population structure and its relationship with habitat heterogeneity and species movement within it. To address this knowledge gap, we focused on the economically and ecologically prominent yellow perch (Perca flavescens). In the Lake Michigan basin, yellow perch reside in nearshore Lake Michigan, including drowned river mouths (DRMs)—protected, lake‐like habitats that link tributaries to Lake Michigan. The goal of this study was to examine the extent that population structure is associated with Great Lakes connected habitats (i.e., DRMs) in a mobile fish species using yellow perch as a model. Specifically, we tested whether DRMs and eastern Lake Michigan constitute distinct genetic stocks of yellow perch, and if so, whether those stocks migrate between the two connected habitats throughout the year. To do so, we genotyped yellow perch at 14 microsatellite loci collected from 10 DRMs in both deep and littoral habitats during spring, summer, and autumn and two nearshore sites in Lake Michigan (spring and autumn) during 2015–2016 and supplemented our sampling with fish collected in 2013. We found that yellow perch from littoral‐DRM habitats were genetically distinct from fish captured in nearshore Lake Michigan. Our data also suggested that Lake Michigan yellow perch likely use deep‐DRM habitats during autumn. Further, we found genetic structuring among DRMs. These patterns support hypotheses of fishery managers that yellow perch seasonally migrate to and from Lake Michigan, yet, interestingly, these fish do not appear to interbreed with littoral fish despite occupying the same DRM. We recommend that fisheries managers account for this complex population structure and movement when setting fishing regulations and assessing the effects of harvest in Lake Michigan.
Population genetic structure and connectivity of the seagrass Thalassia hemprichii in the Western Indian Ocean is influenced by predominant ocean currents
Authors: Jahnke Marlene , Gullström Martin , Larsson Josefine , Asplund Maria E. , Mgeleka Said , Silas Mathew Ogalo , Hoamby Arielle , Mahafina Jamal , Nordlund Lina Mtwana
Published: July 2019

This study is the first large‐scale genetic population study of a widespread climax species of seagrass, Thalassia hemprichii, in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). The aim was to understand genetic population structure and connectivity of T. hemprichii in relation to hydrodynamic features. We genotyped 205 individual seagrass shoots from 11 sites across the WIO, spanning over a distance of ~2,700 km, with twelve microsatellite markers. Seagrass shoots were sampled in Kenya, Tanzania (mainland and Zanzibar), Mozambique, and Madagascar: 4–26°S and 33–48°E. We assessed clonality and visualized genetic diversity and genetic population differentiation. We used Bayesian clustering approaches (TESS) to trace spatial ancestry of populations and used directional migration rates (DivMigrate) to identify sources of gene flow. We identified four genetically differentiated groups: (a) samples from the Zanzibar channel; (b) Mozambique; (c) Madagascar; and (d) the east coast of Zanzibar and Kenya. Significant pairwise population genetic differentiation was found among many sites. Isolation by distance was detected for the estimated magnitude of divergence (DEST), but the three predominant ocean current systems (i.e., East African Coastal Current, North East Madagascar Current, and the South Equatorial Current) also determine genetic connectivity and genetic structure. Directional migration rates indicate that Madagascar acts as an important source population. Overall, clonality was moderate to high with large differences among sampling sites, indicating relatively low, but spatially variable sexual reproduction rates. The strongest genetic break was identified for three sites in the Zanzibar channel. Although isolation by distance is present, this study suggests that the three regionally predominant ocean current systems (i.e., East African Coastal Current, North East Madagascar Current, and the South Equatorial Current) rather than distance determine genetic connectivity and structure of T. hemprichii in the WIO. If the goal is to maintain genetic connectivity of T. hemprichii within the WIO, conservation planning and implementation of marine protection should be considered at the regional scale—across national borders.
Feather steroid hormone concentrations in relation to age, sex, and molting time in a long‐distance migratory passerine
Authors: Adámková Marie , Bílková Zuzana , Tomášek Oldřich , Šimek Zdeněk , Albrecht Tomáš
Published: July 2019

In birds, concentrations of testosterone (T) and corticosterone (Cort) are closely connected with many morphological, behavioral, and other physiological traits, including reproduction, metabolism, immunity, and fitness. The direction of the effect of these hormones on above‐mentioned traits, and the potential feedback between hormones are in general unclear; in addition, knowledge on how age and sex can affect T and Cort concentrations is still inconsistent. Our study used a novel method to analyze testosterone and corticosterone in feathers (Tf, Cortf) based on the precolumn chemical derivatization of hormones before liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) analysis. Unlike previously used methods (RIA, EIA), our analytical procedure allows simultaneous analysis of both hormones from small amounts of feathers (4–25 mg) and, thus, overcomes the problem of insufficient detection limits. We applied this method to reveal associations between Tf and Cortf hormone concentrations and feather growth, age, and sex in feathers grown during the postbreeding (flanks) and prebreeding (tails) periods in barn swallows (Hirundo rustica). There was neither a correlation between prebreeding and postbreeding Tf, nor between prebreeding and postbreeding Cortf. Tail Cortf concentrations were negatively associated with tail feather growth rates. Feather hormone concentrations were correlated in the prebreeding period, negatively in males but positively in females. Both Cortf and Tf were higher in young birds compared to older ones, indicating either an age‐related decrease in hormone concentrations within individuals, or the selective disappearance of individuals with high steroid concentrations. Males and females did not differ in Cortf, but Tf concentrations were higher in males than females, particularly during the prebreeding period. In this study, we provide an effective method for analyzing hormones in feathers in an ecological context, especially in situations when the total amount of feathers available for the analysis is limited.
Fences reduce habitat for a partially migratory ungulate in the Northern Sagebrush Steppe
Authors: Jones Paul F. , Jakes Andrew F. , Telander Andrew C. , Sawyer Hall , Martin Brian H. , Hebblewhite Mark
Published: July 2019

Few studies have examined differential responses of partially migratory ungulates to human development or activity, where some individuals in a population migrate and others do not. Yet understanding how animals with different movement tactics respond to anthropogenic disturbance is key to sustaining global ungulate migrations. We examined seasonal resource selection of a partially migratory population of pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) in the Northern Sagebrush Steppe of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Montana from 2003 to 2011. We developed step‐selection functions (SSF) for migrant and resident pronghorn during the summer and winter at two spatial scales (second order and third order) and then integrated SSFs across scales to estimate pronghorn responses to fences and subsequent habitat loss from these features while accounting for responses to other resource use. Both migrant and resident pronghorn showed the strongest responses to natural and anthropogenic features at the second order and weaker responses at the third order. Selection responses of migrant and residents differed the most in response to normalized difference vegetation index, topography, and anthropogenic features. Seasonally, selection for intermediate greenness was strongest in summer, whereas avoidance of roads strongly influenced winter resource selection of both tactics. Both migrant and resident pronghorn showed strong avoidance of fencing at both spatial scales during summer and winter. Model predictions with complete removal of fences from the landscape (i.e., natural conditions) predicted an increase in the area of high‐quality habitat of 16–38%. In contrast, doubling fence density on the landscape decreased the amount of high‐quality habitat by 1–11% and increased low‐quality habitat by 13–21%. Our results suggest that pronghorn winter and summer ranges can be improved by reducing the density of fences on the landscape, or mitigation measures to enhance fence crossings, to alleviate the indirect loss of habitat for this important endemic prairie species.
Transfer Hydrogenation of Azo Compounds with Ammonia Borane Using a Simple Acyclic Phosphite Precatalyst
Authors: Chacón‐Terán Miguel A. , Rodríguez‐Lugo Rafael E. , Wolf Robert , Landaeta Vanessa R.
Published: July 2019

Tris(quinolin‐8‐yl)phosphite, P(Oquin)3, promotes the dehydrogenation of H3N·BH3 (AB) and the transfer hydrogenation of azoarenes using ammonia borane (AB) as H2 source. The metal‐free reduction of azoarenes proceeds under mild reaction conditions upon which several diphenylhydrazine derivatives are obtained in high yields. The reactivity of P(Oquin)3 toward AB was evaluated through NMR in situ tests. The rate of the reaction, activation parameters, deuterium kinetic isotope effect (DKIE) and linear‐free energy relationship were investigated. Such mechanistic and kinetic studies suggest that P(Oquin)3 is a precatalyst and that AB is likely involved in more than one stage of the reaction pathway. Furthermore, the kinetic data indicate that the reaction proceeds through an ordered transition state, possibly associative.
Influence of the Ionic Liquid on the Activity of a Supported Ionic Liquid Phase FeII Pincer Catalyst for the Hydrogenation of Aldehydes
Authors: Csendes Zita , Brünig Julian , Yigit Nevzat , Rupprechter Günther , Bica‐Schröder Katharina , Hoffmann Helmuth , Kirchner Karl
Published: July 2019

The catalytic hydrogenation of different aldehydes to the corresponding alcohols was investigated using an FeII hydride pincer complex as catalyst in the supported ionic liquid phase (SILP) reaction mode. Two different ionic liquids of the type [X4441][NTf2] with X=N or P were applied with mesoporous silica gel as support, which was coated first with a chemisorbed monolayer of the corresponding modified IL to remove acidic surface OH‐groups and to prevent IL leaching. Quantitative conversion with turn‐over frequencies in the order of 1000 h–1 were obtained for various aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes and highly selective aldehyde reduction was observed also for substrates containing reducible C=C bonds. Aldehydes with longer aliphatic chains or cycloalkyl substituents, however, showed no conversion here, in contrast to a previous study with an imidazolium‐based ionic liquid. These differences were ascribed primarily to differences in substrate/ionic liquid interactions. Whereas [N4441][NTf2] and [P4441][NTf2] gave essentially identical results for different substrates in single‐batch reactions, prolonged use of the catalyst in repeated reaction cycles lead to a quick drop‐off in catalyst activity in [P4441][NTf2], but a continuous, quantitative conversion in [N4441][NTf2].
Efficient Electrocatalytic Synthesis of Ammonia from Water and Air in a Membrane‐Free Cell: Confining the Iron Oxide Catalyst to the Cathode
Authors: Liu Xinye , Li Fang‐Fang , Peng Ping , Licht Gad , Licht Stuart
Published: July 2019

Ammonia is critical for food and chemical production; however, NH3 synthesis is one of the largest industrial greenhouse gas producers. We report a path to an exceptionally high rate (2.3 × 10–9 mol of NH3 s–1 cm–2), CO2 free NH3 electrosynthesis from H2O and air under ambient electrolysis conditions (60 °C, 1 atm). Iron oxide (dispersed in hydroxide electrolyte) catalyzed NH3 synthesis is probed at intermediate temperature (20–200 °C) and pressure (1–10 atm) with Monel mesh electrodes. Iron calcination preparation of the iron oxide catalyst is optimized by size, and then physically constrained to the reactive domain of the electrolysis cell cathode through use of mesh electrodes at even lower temperatures, allowing for an ambient, preferred electrosynthesis. These novel constraints enhance NH3 catalyst utilization at low temperature and open future pathways to the addition of ion‐specific membranes to the high rate NH3 synthesis cell.