bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short communication: First data on the prevalence and distribution of pathogens in bumblebees (Bombus terrestris and Bombus pascuorum) from Spain
Authors: Jabal-Uriel Clara , Martín-Hernández Raquel , Ornosa Concepcion , Higes Mariano , Berriatua Eduardo , De la Rua Pilar
Published: April 2017

Bumblebees provide pollination services not only to wildflowers but also to economically important crops. In the context of the global decline of pollinators, there is an increasing interest in determining the pathogen diversity of bumblebee species. In this work, wild bumblebees of the species Bombus terrestris and Bombus pascuorum from northern and southern Spain were molecularly screened to detect and estimate prevalence of pathogens. One third of bumblebees were infected: while viruses only infected B. pascuorum, B. terrestris was infected by Apicystis bombi, Crithidia bombi and Nosema bombi. Ecological differences between host species might affect the success of the pathogens biological cycle and consequently infection prevalence. Furthermore, sex of the bumblebees (workers or males), sampling area (north or south) and altitude were important predictors of pathogen prevalence. Understanding how these factors affect pathogens distribution is essential for future conservation of bumblebee wild populations.
Near-Infrared Spectrum Detection of Wheat Gluten Protein Content Based on a Combined Filtering Method
Authors: Cai Jian-Hua
Published: April 2017

To eliminate the random error of the derivative near-IR (NIR) spectrum and to improve model stabilityand the prediction accuracy of the gluten protein content, a combined method is proposed for pretreatment of the NIR spectrum based on both empirical mode decomposition and the wavelet soft-threshold method. The principle and the steps of the method are introduced and the denoising effect is evaluated. The wheat gluten protein content is calculated based on the denoised spectrum, and the results are compared withthose of the nine-point smoothing method and the wavelet soft-threshold method. Experimental results show that the proposed combined method is effective in completing pretreatment of the NIR spectrum, and theproposed method improves the accuracy of detection of wheat gluten protein content from the NIR spectrum.
Epstein-Barr virus ensures B cell survival by uniquely modulating apoptosis at early and late times after infection
Authors: Price Alexander M , Dai Joanne , Bazot Quentin , Patel Luv , Nikitin Pavel A , Djavadian Reza , Winter Peter S , Salinas Cristina A , Barry Ashley Perkins , Wood Kris C , Johannsen Eric C , Letai Anthony , Allday Martin J , Luftig Micah A
Published: April 2017

Latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is causally linked to several human cancers. EBV expresses viral oncogenes that promote cell growth and inhibit the apoptotic response to uncontrolled proliferation. The EBV oncoprotein LMP1 constitutively activates NFκB and is critical for survival of EBV-immortalized B cells. However, during early infection EBV induces rapid B cell proliferation with low levels of LMP1 and little apoptosis. Therefore, we sought to define the mechanism of survival in the absence of LMP1/NFκB early after infection. We used BH3 profiling to query mitochondrial regulation of apoptosis and defined a transition from uninfected B cells (BCL-2) to early-infected (MCL-1/BCL-2) and immortalized cells (BFL-1). This dynamic change in B cell survival mechanisms is unique to virus-infected cells and relies on regulation of MCL-1 mitochondrial localization and BFL-1 transcription by the viral EBNA3A protein. This study defines a new role for EBNA3A in the suppression of apoptosis with implications for EBV lymphomagenesis.
A link between central kynurenine metabolism and bone strength in rats with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Kalaska Bartlomiej , Pawlak Krystyna , Oksztulska-Kolanek Ewa , Domaniewski Tomasz , Znorko Beata , Karbowska Malgorzata , Citkowska Aleksandra , Rogalska Joanna , Roszczenko Alicja , Brzoska Malgorzata M. , Pawlak Dariusz
Published: April 2017

Background

Disturbances in mineral and bone metabolism represent one of the most complex complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Serotonin, a monoamine synthesized from tryptophan, may play a potential role in bone metabolism. Brain-derived serotonin exerts a positive effect on the bone structure by limiting bone resorption and enhancing bone formation. Tryptophan is the precursor not only to the serotonin but also and primarily to kynurenine metabolites. The ultimate aim of the present study was to determine the association between central kynurenine metabolism and biomechanical as well as geometrical properties of bone in the experimental model of the early stage of CKD.

Methods

Thirty-three Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups (sham-operated and subtotal nephrectomized animals). Three months after surgery, serum samples were obtained for the determination of biochemical parameters, bone turnover biomarkers, and kynurenine pathway metabolites; tibias were collected for bone biomechanical, bone geometrical, and bone mass density analysis; brains were removed and divided into five regions for the determination of kynurenine pathway metabolites.

Results

Subtotal nephrectomized rats presented higher serum concentrations of creatinine, urea nitrogen, and parathyroid hormone, and developed hypocalcemia. Several biomechanical and geometrical parameters were significantly elevated in rats with experimentally induced CKD. Subtotal nephrectomized rats presented significantly higher kynurenine concentrations and kynurenine/tryptophan ratio and significantly lower tryptophan levels in all studied parts of the brain. Kynurenine in the frontal cortex and tryptophan in the hypothalamus and striatum correlated positively with the main parameters of bone biomechanics and bone geometry.

Discussion

In addition to the complex mineral, hormone, and metabolite changes, intensified central kynurenine turnover may play an important role in the development of bone changes in the course of CKD.
New findings of Pleistocene fossil turtles (Geoemydidae, Kinosternidae and Chelydridae) from Santa Elena Province, Ecuador
Authors: Cadena Edwin A. , Abella Juan , Gregori Maria D.
Published: April 2017

New Pleistocene fossilized turtle remains from five localities of western Ecuador (Santa Elena Province) are described here. All these shell (carapace and plastron) fossil remains come from the Tablazo Formation and belong to three different lineages of cryptodires (“hidden-necked” turtles). The most abundant remains belong to geoemydids, attributed here to the genus Rhinoclemmys (indeterminate species). Less abundant in occurrence are the kinosternidids, attributed to Kinosternon (indeterminate species), and the first fossil record of chelydrids, Chelydra(indeterminate species), in the entirety of Central and South America.
Estudio de la intensidad en el marco de la prosodia de Canarias1
Authors:   Universidad de La Laguna (España), Jorge Trujillo Carolina , Dorta Josefa ,   Universidad de La Laguna (España), Betancort Moisés ,   Universidad de La Laguna (España)
Published: April 2017

Este trabajo tiene como objetivo determinar la importancia de la intensidad en el marco de investigación de la prosodia canaria, a partir del estudio acústico y estadístico de un corpus de 648 oraciones emitidas en un estilo formal de habla por informantes canarios procedentes de dos islas diatópicamente opuestas: una pertenece a la zona occidental del archipiélago canario (El Hierro) y la otra a la zona oriental (Fuerteventura). Con los resultados acústicos obtenidos, hemos etiquetado las vocales tónicas por su intensidad, teniendo en cuenta un umbral diferencial de 4 dB, determinado recientemente en un estudio de tipo perceptivo (Dorta, Martín Gómez y Jorge Trujillo, en prensa). El análisis estadístico de los datos se ha realizado con los programas R (R Core Team, 2015) y ULLRToolbox (Hernández-Cabrera, 2012). Según los resultados acústicos, la amplitud de la acentuada se ve favorecida en los contextos siguientes: núcleo entonativo, acento agudo y llano, contraste tónica-postónica, modalidad declarativa y pertenencia a Fuerteventura. Los resultados estadísticos destacan la relevancia del contraste entre tónica y postónica en el SPrep, reflejo del descenso final de intensidad registrado acústicamente.
Lidar observations of stratospheric gravity waves from 2011 to 2015 at McMurdo (77.84°S, 166.69°E), Antarctica: 1. Vertical wavelengths, periods, and frequency and vertical wave number spectra
Authors: Zhao Jian , Chu Xinzhao , Chen Cao , Lu Xian , Fong Weichun , Yu Zhibin , Michael Jones R. , Roberts Brendan R. , Dörnbrack Andreas
Published: April 2017

Five years of atmospheric temperature data, collected with an Fe Boltzmann lidar by the University of Colorado group from 2011 to 2015 at Arrival Heights, are used to characterize the vertical wavelengths, periods, vertical phase speeds, frequency spectra, and vertical wave number spectra of stratospheric gravity waves from 30 to 50 km altitudes. Over 1000 dominant gravity wave events are identified from the data. The seasonal spectral distributions of vertical wavelengths, periods, and vertical phase speeds in summer, winter, and spring/fall are found obeying a lognormal distribution. Both the downward and upward phase progression gravity waves are observed by the lidar, and the fractions of gravity waves with downward phase progression increase from summer ~59% to winter ~70%. The seasonal and monthly mean vertical wavelengths and periods exhibit clear seasonal cycles with vertical wavelength growing from summer ~5.5 km to winter ~8.5 km, and period increasing from summer ~4.5 h to winter ~6 h. Statistically significant linear correlations are found between the monthly mean vertical wavelengths/periods and the mean zonal wind velocities from 30 to 50 km. Assuming horizontal phase speeds independent of month, the monthly mean horizontal wavelengths, intrinsic periods, and group velocities are estimated for stratospheric gravity waves. The slopes of wave frequency spectra change from −1.9 at 30–60 km to −1.45 around 60–65 km. The vertical wave number spectra show the power spectral density at vertical wavelengths of 5–20 km decreasing from winter maximum to summer minimum. Several aforementioned features are observed for the first time in Antarctica.
Why does knowledge of past aerosol forcing matter for future climate change?
Authors: Lohmann Ulrike
Published: April 2017

Aerosol particles scatter and absorb radiation and interact with cloud particles. The net aerosol forcing since preindustrial times is negative and has offset part of the greenhouse gas warming. It dominates the uncertainty of the overall anthropogenic forcing. This large uncertainty results from gaps in our knowledge on the underlying aerosol and cloud microphysical processes and aerosol‐cloud interactions as well as their representation in global coupled aerosol‐climate models. A recent paper by Nazarenko et al. (2017) illustrates how the anthropogenic aerosol forcing, especially the effective radiative forcing that includes aerosol‐cloud and aerosol‐radiation interactions, depends on climate feedbacks and on the employed aerosol model.
The food‐energy‐water nexus: Transforming science for society
Authors: Scanlon Bridget R. , Ruddell Ben L. , Reed Patrick M. , Hook Ruth I. , Zheng Chunmiao , Tidwell Vince C. , Siebert Stefan
Published: April 2017

Emerging interdisciplinary science efforts are providing new understanding of the interdependence of food, energy, and water (FEW) systems. These science advances, in turn, provide critical information for coordinated management to improve the affordability, reliability, and environmental sustainability of FEW systems. Here we describe the current state of the FEW nexus and approaches to managing resource conflicts through reducing demand and increasing supplies, storage, and transport. Despite significant advances within the past decade, there are still many challenges for the scientific community. Key challenges are the need for interdisciplinary science related to the FEW nexus; ground‐based monitoring and modeling at local‐to‐regional scales; incorporating human and institutional behavior in models; partnerships among universities, industry, and government to develop policy relevant data; and systems modeling to evaluate trade‐offs associated with FEW decisions.
Shallow Foundations
Authors: Gourvenec Susan , Amodio Alessandro , O'Neill Michael
Published: April 2017

Shallow foundations are used offshore to support a fixed and floating platforms and a range of subsea facilities. This article outlines the types and applications of shallow foundations used offshore; the basis of design, including installation, capacity, serviceability, and retrieval; design considerations, including various modes and origin of loading, choice of design parameters for capacity and settlement prediction, and scour; design solutions, including skirts, drainage blankets and tolerable foundation mobility; factors of safety; and industry design guidance including current trends in design. The wide range of issues that need to be considered for shallow foundations is discussed in this article; however, no attempt is made to provide detailed solutions for the different aspects that need to be considered, since these are well documented in industry design guidelines.
The Persian Wars, 492–450BC
Authors: Hassan Christopher , Brosius Maria
Published: April 2017

King Darius’ determination to punish supporters of the Ionian Revolt resulted in expeditions to target Eretria and Athens. In 490bcDatis landed a substantial force at Marathon, north of Athens, where Athenian and Plataean hoplites drove the Persians back to their ships. Ten years later King Xerxes led a much larger invasion by land and sea. Heroic Spartan resistance at Thermopylae failed to prevent Xerxes from sacking Athens, but his navy was mauled at Salamis and in 479 Greek hoplites were victorious at Plataea. Thereafter Athens took the fight to the Persians, with considerable success in Asia Minor.
Fourth‐CenturyBCGreek Wars
Authors: Trundle Matthew
Published: April 2017

Following the King's Peace of 386bc, Sparta made efforts to enforce its hegemony over Greece, but, following a raid on the Piraeus while Spartan envoys were actually in Athens, the Athenians began to prepare for war, forming the Second Athenian League. In 376 the Spartans attempted to starve Athens from the sea but were defeated in a naval battle off Naxos; sporadic fighting ensued, including several notable engagements including the “Tearless Battle,” in which Sparta lost no casualties. In 357, provoked by the high‐handed actions of Athens, the Second Athenian League rebelled, leading to the Social War.
The “Samnite Wars,” 343–290
BC
Authors: Cornell Tim
Published: April 2017

The so‐called Samnite Wars were a disconnected series of events lasting from the middle of the fourth century
bc
to the early years of the third, in which Rome wore down and gradually conquered the Italian tribes of central and southern Italy. The Samnites were divided into politically independent city‐states that rarely acted in unison. The “Samnite Wars,” therefore, were not a struggle for dominance by two equally matched power blocks but a one‐sided affair in which Rome attempted to gain supremacy over an ever‐widening geographical area. Hostilities began in 343, warfare being recorded by Livy in most years thereafter. The final defeat of the last Samnite confederation occurred in 293, leaving the eventual Roman conquest of Italy virtually certain. Over the next three years, Samnium was overrun and large territories were annexed.
Campaigns of Alexander the Great, 336–323
BC
Authors: Worthington Ian
Published: April 2017

Before invading Persia, Alexander imposed his authority over his tribal neighbors and across the Greek world. Ruthlessness and speed characterized his actions, and after two years he was advancing across Asia Minor, crushing Persian armies at the Granicus and Issus before overrunning the rest of the Levant and Egypt. Advance into Mesopotamia brought a third great victory, whose humiliation King Darius could not survive. As the new ruler of Persia, Alexander imposed his authority on its eastern provinces as far as the Indus, where mutiny forced his return. He died in 323
bc
, aged 33, planning further grand conquests in the west.
The Battle of Carrhae, 53
BC
Authors: Whitby Michael
Published: April 2017

In 53 
bc
, Publius Crassus crossed the Euphrates in search of the military glory that had so far eluded him in his successful career. His goal was the Parthian capital of Seleucia but, as he advanced, Parthian mounted troops enveloped the large but cumbersome Roman army in the desert, using sustained archery to weaken and wear down their opponents. Crassus dispatched his limited cavalry to repel the Parthians, but they were surrounded and butchered. Some of the Roman army fought their way to safety, but Crassus failed to escape by night and was killed after surrendering. Three legionary standards were captured.
Italy in the Fifth Century
Authors: Humphries Mark
Published: April 2017

Italy in the fifth century remained vulnerable to internal conflicts between Roman generals and external invasion, especially by the Vandals after the latter established themselves in North Africa. For 20 years Aetius dominated the court after eliminating his rival Boniface, but, after his assassination at Emperor Valentinian III's behest, Vandal fleets ravaged Corsica, Sicily, and Campania and even sacked Rome thoroughly. Ricimer's successes against them made him the new military controller of Italy, but he had to devote as much effort to maintaining his dominance as to repulsing attacks from the north by Alans and other tribes.
The Early Sixth‐Century Balkan Wars
Authors: Sarantis Alexander
Published: April 2017

Theoderic the Ostrogoth's move to Italy in 489 permitted Emperor Anastasius to reestablish Roman authority in the region, though Theoderic himself was determined to control parts of the north and west. The main threats came from various Hunnic groups and less organized Slav tribes that had been arriving to the north of the Danube. Intermittently, these tribal raids penetrated deeply and caused substantial destruction, but overall the Roman defenses, which had been strengthened by emperors Anastasius and Justinian, held firm.
Porous Co3V2O8 Nanosheets with Ultrahigh Performance as Anode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Pei Jian , Chen Gang , Bie Changfeng , Sun Jingxue , Liu Jian
Published: April 2017

In order to realize high performance electrode for long‐lived lithium ion batteries (LIBs), engineering microstructures of electrode materials, especially porous, hollow, and hierarchical nanostructures, holds great promise in preventing the capacity fading stem from mechanical stress and volume change. Here, this paper reports a facile strategy to fabricate porous Co3V2O8 nanosheets with large surface‐to‐volume ratio via a dehydration process using Co2V2O7·3.3H2O as precursor. Benefiting from layer‐to‐layer nanosheets with mesoporous structure created form electrochemical reconstruction, the Co3V2O8 electrode exhibits ever‐increasing lithium storage capacity after a period of fading. When cycled at high current density of 1 A g−1, it demonstrates an unprecedented rate capacity with long cycle stability (2190 mAh g−1 after 750 cycles). This paper emphasizes the synergetic effect of in situ electrochemical reconstruction and interfacial lithium storage, which not only offers a new conception for understanding the self‐recover capacity phenomenon, but also opens up possibilities for designing high‐performance electrodes for LIBs.
Pure Blue and Highly Luminescent Quantum‐Dot Light‐Emitting Diodes with Enhanced Electron Injection and Exciton Confinement via Partially Oxidized Aluminum Cathode
Authors: Cheng Tai , Wang Zhibin , Jin Shengli , Wang Fuzhi , Bai Yiming , Feng Haoxian , You Baogui , Li Yang , Hayat Tasawar , Tan Zhan'ao
Published: April 2017

The balance injection of holes and electrons into a thin emissive quantum dot (QD) layer for efficient radiative recombination is critical to the color purity, stability, and efficiency of the QD‐based light‐emitting diodes (QD‐LEDs). Due to the difficulty of charge injection into wide band gap blue QD layer, the performance of blue QD‐LED is obviously inferior to the green and red counterparts. Here, high‐performance ZnCdS/ZnS graded core/shell‐based blue QD‐LEDs with partial oxidized aluminum cathode (Al:Al2O3) via simple autoxidation are demonstrated. There is no any additional electron transport layer/hole transport layer involved in the device, which guarantees the color purity and simplifies the fabrication processes. Furthermore, the Al:Al2O3 cathode greatly enhances the charge injection and exciton recombination, rendering significant improvement in luminance and current efficiency compared with the control devices with Al or Alq3/Al electrodes. A record luminance of over 13 000 cd m−2 has been achieved for blue QD‐LEDs with Al:Al2O3 cathode. The findings of this study indicate that this simply processed and easily controlled autoxidation procedure is a promising strategy to achieve high‐performance blue QD‐LEDs.
Enantioselective Synthesis of 2‐Bromomethyl Indolines via BINAP(S)‐Catalyzed Bromoaminocyclization of Allyl Aniline
Authors: Yu Sheng‐Nan , Li Yin‐Long , Deng Jun
Published: April 2017

An enantioselective bromoamination of allyl aniline with N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS) catalyzed by BINAP(S) (BINAP monosulfide) is described. This protocol could provide a range of chiral 2‐bromomethyl indolines in good to excellent yields with up to 87% ee. Furthermore, the resulting chiral 2‐bromomethyl indolines could be easily converted into synthetically useful chiral building blocks.

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Self‐Organized Fullerene Interfacial Layer for Efficient and Low‐Temperature Processed Planar Perovskite Solar Cells with High UV‐Light Stability
Authors: Xie Jiangsheng , Yu Xuegong , Huang Jiabin , Sun Xuan , Zhang Yunhai , Yang Zhengrui , Lei Ming , Xu Lingbo , Tang Zeguo , Cui Can , Wang Peng , Yang Deren
Published: April 2017

In this Communication, a self‐organization method of [6,6]‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid 2‐((2‐(dimethylamino)‐ethyl) (methyl)amino)ethyl ester (PCBDAN) interlayer in between 6,6‐phenyl C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and indium tin oxide (ITO) has been proposed to improve the performance of N–I–P perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The introduction of self‐organized PCBDAN interlayer can effectively reduce the work function of ITO and therefore eliminate the interface barrier between electron transport layer and electrode. It is beneficial for enhancing the charge extraction and decreasing the recombination loss at the interface. By employing this strategy, a highest power conversion efficiency of 18.1% has been obtained with almost free hysteresis. Furthermore, the N–I–P PSCs have excellent stability under UV‐light soaking, which can maintain 85% of its original highest value after 240 h accelerated UV aging. This self‐organization method for the formation of interlayer can not only simplify the fabrication process of low‐cost PSCs, but also be compatible with the roll‐to‐roll device processing on flexible substrates.
Validation of a CFD model of an orbiting culture dish with PIV and analytical solutions
Authors: Thomas Jonathan Michael D. , Chakraborty Amlan , Berson R. Eric , Shakeri Mostafa , Sharp M. Keith
Published: April 2017

Particle image velocimetry (PIV) and an extended solution of Stokes’ second problem were used to validate a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of flow in an orbiting dish. Velocity vector components throughout one complete orbit differed between CFD and PIV by less than 5%. Computational velocity magnitudes averaged over the interior 20% radius, the region where the analytical solution is most applicable, were 0.3% higher than the analytical values, while the experimental values in the same region were 2.4% higher. Velocity profiles in the center of the dish across normalized heights that most influence wall shear stress varied on average by ∼–0.00046 for the normalized radial component and by ∼0.0038 for the normalized tangential component compared to the analytical solution. These results represent the most comprehensive validation to date for computational models of the orbiting dish system. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 4233–4242, 2017
Recurrence of congenital heart defects among siblings—a nationwide study
Authors: Brodwall Kristoffer , Greve Gottfried , Leirgul Elisabeth , Tell Grethe S. , Vollset Stein E. , Øyen Nina
Published: April 2017

Congenital heart defects (CHD) constitute the largest group of congenital malformations. In most families, only one person has CHD; however, the risk of CHD increases for children born into families already affected. In this study, all births from 1994 through 2009 were identified in the Medical Birth Registry of Norway, including supplemental information on CHD from clinical and administrative registers, as part of the CVDNOR project. By using the unique personal identification number of each parent we were able to link 16,078 pairs of twins, 445,584 pairs of full siblings, and 106,840 pairs of half‐siblings. Sibling recurrence risk ratio (RRR) was calculated using CHD status in the oldest sibling as exposure and CHD status in the younger sibling as outcome, adjusted for year of birth, maternal age, and maternal diabetes. Among full sibling pairs with CHD in the older sibling, the younger sibling had CHD in 4.1% compared to 1.1% of the pairs without CHD in the older sibling (adjusted RRR 3.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.1–4.1). In same‐sex twins the RRR was 14.0 (95% CI 10.6–18.6), and in opposite‐sex twins the RRR was 11.9 (95% CI 7.1–19.9). For half‐siblings the RRR was 1.5 (95% CI 0.8–2.8). When restricting to severe types of CHD, the RRR was 6.9 (95% CI 4.9–9.8) for full siblings. In 50% of the pairs with recurrent CHD, the siblings had similar types of CHD. The high relative risk of recurrence indicates that familial risk factors are important in the etiology of CHD.
Synthesis of gold/polydopamine composite surfaces on glass substrates for localized surface plasmon resonance and catalysis
Authors: Yu Jianying , Lu Shixiang , Xu Wenguo , He Ge , He Dongsheng
Published: April 2017

Composite materials of polydopamine (PDA) and gold nanoparticles on glass substrates (Au/PDA@slide) were obtained via a simple chemical process. First, PDA films (PDA@slide) were formed by immersing slides in 20 mg ml−1 dopamine aqueous solution at pH = 8.5 for 1 h. Then, PDA@slide was dipped in 0.02 M chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) aqueous solution for a certain time, Au/PDA@slide being formed. Gold nanoparticles were obtained by the reductive properties of PDA. The morphology and chemical composition of the composite material were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The catalytic properties of Au/PDA@slide were evaluated using the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) aqueous solution at room temperature. The catalytic activity of the optimal Au/PDA@slide was so satisfactory that the reduction of 4‐NP was completed within 10 min. Moreover, the Au/PDA@slide composite material was stable up to five cycles without significant loss of its catalytic activity. In addition, Au/PDA@slide also exhibited photocatalytic ability, photodegrading 2.5 ml of 17.5 mg l−1 methyl orange in 100 min. By measuring the UV–visible absorption bands of Au/PDA@slide, it was proved that the condition of the strongest surface plasmon resonance of Au/PDA@slide was the optimal condition for catalytic reduction of 4‐NP.
Self‐healing and interfacially toughened carbon fibre‐epoxy composites based on electrospun core–shell nanofibres
Authors: Neisiany Rasoul Esmaeely , Lee Jeremy Kong Yoong , Khorasani Saied Nouri , Ramakrishna Seeram
Published: April 2017

Dual components of a self‐healing epoxy system comprising a low viscosity epoxy resin, along with its amine based curing agent, were separately encapsulated in a polyacrylonitrile shell via coaxial electrospinning. These nanofiber layers were then incorporated between sheets of carbon fiber fabric during the wet layup process followed by vacuum‐assisted resin transfer molding to fabricate self‐healing carbon fiber composites. Mechanical analysis of the nanofiber toughened composites demonstrated an 11% improvement in tensile strength, 19% increase in short beam shear strength, 14% greater flexural strength, and a 4% gain in impact energy absorption compared to the control composite without nanofibers. Three point bending tests affirmed the spontaneous, room temperature healing characteristics of the nanofiber containing composites, with a 96% recovery in flexural strength observed 24 h after the initial bending fracture, and a 102% recovery recorded 24 h after the successive bending fracture. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44956.
Structural, mechanical, and thermal properties of 3D printed L‐CNC/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene nanocomposites
Authors: Feng Xinhao , Yang Zhaozhe , Rostom Sahar S. H. , Dadmun Mark , Xie Yanjun , Wang Siqun
Published: April 2017

3D printing has been extensively applied in human‐related activities, and therefore the 3D printed nanocomposites became more popular and important in end‐use products. In the present study, we use lignin‐coated cellulose nanocrystal (L‐CNC) to reinforce 3D printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and explore the effect of L‐CNC on the structural, mechanical, and thermal properties of 3D printed L‐CNC/ABS nanocomposites. The results indicate that the addition of L‐CNC foams the ABS and decreases the density of 3D printed L‐CNC/ABS nanocomposites. However, the tensile modulus and storage modulus increase by adding 4% L‐CNC. The thermal stability of 3D printed L‐CNC/ABS nanocomposites is also significantly improved as indicated by an increase in the maximum degradation temperature. The morphology of the nanocomposites reveals good dispersion and interfacial adhesion between L‐CNC and ABS. The finding indicates that the 3D printed nanocomposites become lighter and stiffer with addition of L‐CNC, which will have great potential to be applied in end‐use products. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45082.
Nicotine‐prevented learning and memory impairment in REM sleep‐deprived rat is modulated by DREAM protein in the hippocampus
Authors: Abd Rashid Norlinda , Hapidin Hermizi , Abdullah Hasmah , Ismail Zalina , Long Idris
Published: April 2017

Introduction

REM sleep deprivation is associated with impairment in learning and memory, and nicotine treatment has been shown to attenuate this effect. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of DREAM protein in learning and memory processes. This study investigates the association of DREAM protein in REM sleep‐deprived rats hippocampus upon nicotine treatment.

Methods

Male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to normal condition, REM sleep deprivation and control wide platform condition for 72 hr. During this procedure, saline or nicotine (1 mg/kg) was given subcutaneously twice a day. Then, Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to assess learning and memory performance of the rats. The rats were sacrificed and the brain was harvested for immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis.

Results

MWM test found that REM sleep deprivation significantly impaired learning and memory performance without defect in locomotor function associated with a significant increase in hippocampus DREAM protein expression in CA1, CA2, CA3, and DG regions and the mean relative level of DREAM protein compared to other experimental groups. Treatment with acute nicotine significantly prevented these effects and decreased expression of DREAM protein in all the hippocampus regions but only slightly reduce the mean relative level of DREAM protein.

Conclusion

This study suggests that changes in DREAM protein expression in CA1, CA2, CA3, and DG regions of rat's hippocampus and mean relative level of DREAM protein may involve in the mechanism of nicotine treatment‐prevented REM sleep deprivation‐induced learning and memory impairment in rats.
Psychotherapists' ideals in the treatment of panic disorder: An exploratory study
Authors: Kealy David , Goodman Geoff , Ogrodniczuk John S.
Published: April 2017

Background

Considerable empirical research supports psychotherapy as an effective intervention for panic disorder. Less evidence is available regarding clinicians' perspectives on the ideal therapy processes that should be prioritized when treating panic disorder.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to explore psychotherapists' process priorities and points of consensus and disagreement concerning the treatment of panic disorder.

Material & Methods

Thirty‐four psychotherapists reviewed a prototype description of a hypothetical client with panic disorder, and rank‐ordered ideal process features using a forced‐choice, 100‐item measure. The resulting composite therapy process was compared with expert‐rated CBT and psychodynamic process ratings.

Results

Several points of agreement and disagreement emerged regarding ideal therapy process for panic disorder. Overall, therapists' ratings were closely aligned with CBT process, though therapy relationship ideals were prominent.

Discussion

Research can illuminate therapy processes valued by clinicians for the treatment of particular disorders.

Conclusion

While therapists' ratings were overall associated with CBT ideals, common factors concerning the therapy relationship emerged as prominent and agreed‐upon processes in the treatment of panic disorder.
Engineering a Promiscuous Tautomerase into a More Efficient Aldolase for Self‐Condensations of Linear Aliphatic Aldehydes
Authors: Rahimi Mehran , van der Meer Jan‐Ytzen , Geertsema Edzard M. , Poelarends Gerrit J.
Published: April 2017

The enzyme 4‐oxalocrotonate tautomerase (4‐OT) from Pseudomonas putida mt‐2 takes part in a catabolic pathway for aromatic hydrocarbons, where it catalyzes the conversion of 2hydroxyhexa‐2,4‐dienedioate into 2‐oxohexa‐3‐enedioate. This tautomerase can also promiscuously catalyze carbon–carbon bond‐forming reactions, including various types of aldol reactions, by using its amino‐terminal proline as a key catalytic residue. Here, we used systematic mutagenesis to identify two hotspots in 4‐OT (Met45 and Phe50) at which single mutations give marked improvements in aldolase activity for the self‐condensation of propanal. Activity screening of a focused library in which these two hotspots were varied led to the discovery of a 4‐OT variant (M45Y/F50V) with strongly enhanced aldolase activity in the self‐condensation of linear aliphatic aldehydes, such as acetaldehyde, propanal, and butanal, to yield α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes. With both propanal and benzaldehyde, this double mutant, unlike the previously constructed single mutant F50A, mainly catalyzes the self‐condensation of propanal rather than the cross‐condensation of propanal and benzaldehyde, thus indicating that it indeed has altered substrate specificity. This variant could serve as a template to create new biocatalysts that lack dehydration activity and possess further enhanced aldolase activity, thus enabling the efficient enzymatic self‐coupling of aliphatic aldehydes.
Walking a Fine Line with Sucrose Phosphorylase: Efficient Single‐Step Biocatalytic Production of l‐Ascorbic Acid 2‐Glucoside from Sucrose
Authors: Gudiminchi Rama Krishna , Nidetzky Bernd
Published: April 2017

The 2‐O‐α‐d‐glucoside of l‐ascorbic acid (AA‐2G) is a highly stabilized form of vitamin C, with important industrial applications in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals. AA‐2G is currently produced through biocatalytic glucosylation of l‐ascorbic acid from starch‐derived oligosaccharides. Sucrose would be an ideal substrate for AA‐2G synthesis, but it lacks a suitable transglycosidase. We show here that in a narrow pH window (pH 4.8–6.0, with sharp optimum at pH 5.2), sucrose phosphorylases catalyzed the 2‐O‐α‐glucosylation of l‐ascorbic acid from sucrose with high efficiency and perfect site‐selectivity. Optimized synthesis with the enzyme from Bifidobacterium longum at 40 °C gave a concentrated product (155 g L−1; 460 mm), from which pure AA‐2G was readily recovered in ∼50 % overall yield, thus providing the basis for advanced production. The peculiar pH dependence is suggested to arise from a “reverse‐protonation” mechanism in which the catalytic base Glu232 on the glucosyl–enzyme intermediate must be protonated for attack on the anomeric carbon from the 2‐hydroxyl of the ionized l‐ascorbate substrate.
Role of Water on the Activity of Magnesium Silicate for Transesterification Reactions
Authors: Lin Longfei , Cornu Damien , Mounir Daou Maya , Domingos Cyril , Herledan Virginie , Krafft Jean‐Marc , Laugel Guillaume , Millot Yannick , Lauron‐Pernot Hélène
Published: April 2017

This study aims to reveal how water adsorbed on to a solid can influence its catalytic properties for transesterification in liquid phase. A commercial magnesium silicate was subjected to a range of thermal pretreatments and used for the transesterification of ethyl acetate with methanol. Conversion of ethyl acetate decreased with increasing pretreatment temperature, in direct relation to the release of the water content of the magnesium silicate. Thermogravimetric analysis, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT), and 1H NMR spectroscopies revealed that physically adsorbed water had little influence on the reactivity. The water incorporated within the catalysts, however, which desorbs at higher temperatures, played a key role on the conversion. Calorimetry, in situ DRIFT spectroscopy, and 1H NMR characterization indicate that two kinds of active site exist. These are created from the water coordinated to magnesium located on the edge of the clay‐like particles or in the defects present in the silicate layer, respectively. Their role could be to stabilize methanol deprotonated by basic Mg‐OH groups, activate the ester, or help the departure of the alkoxyl moiety.
All‐Solid‐State Double‐Layer Capacitors Using Binderless Reduced Graphene Oxide Thin Films Prepared by Bipolar Electrochemistry
Authors: Allagui Anis , Ashraf Juveiriah Mohammed , Khalil Malathe , Abdelkareem Mohammad Ali , Elwakil Ahmed S. , Alawadhi Hussain
Published: April 2017

Bipolar electrochemistry is used as an economical, single‐step, and scalable process for the oxidation of a wireless graphite substrate, and the subsequent electrophoretic deposition of graphene oxide thin film on a second wireless substrate. An all‐solid‐state symmetric double‐layer capacitor (EDLC) using binderless reduced graphene oxide electrodes exhibited outstanding reversibility and capacitance retention over 18000 cycles, as well as superior capacitive behavior at far‐from‐dc frequencies (for example 45 and 47 
F cm
), effective capacitances at 75 and 189 Hz, respectively (computed using a series resonance network with ideal inductors), compared to 55 
F cm
at close‐to‐dc (computed from cyclic voltammetry at 10 mV s
). This makes the device well‐suited for ac filtering applications. A one‐hour thermal treatment of the electrodes at 900 °C under vacuum increased the capacitance 13‐fold (719 
F cm
) at close‐to‐dc, which decreased to 185 and 150 
F cm
as the frequency was increased to 37 and 106 Hz, respectively These properties make this device suitable for both reasonable dc energy storage and higher frequency applications.
In Situ Gold‐Loaded Fluorinated Titania Inverse Opal Photocatalysts for Enhanced Solar‐Light‐Driven Hydrogen Production
Authors: Rahul Theyyathum Kavil , Sandhyarani Neelakandapillai
Published: April 2017

This work reports the preparation of in situ gold‐loaded fluorinated titania inverse opal (Au/F TiO2 IO) photocatalysts for enhancing solar‐light‐driven hydrogen evolution. The use of trifluoroacetic acid facilitates the surface fluorination as well as the in situ deposition of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) at the defect sites on the TiO2 surface. The thermal treatment partially fuses the gold and titania nanoparticles leading to enhanced hot electron injection when illuminated under solar light. Au/F TiO2 IO‐215 prepared using polystyrene (PS) spheres of 215 nm size are demonstrated to be able to enhance the hydrogen evolution five‐fold relative to nanocrystalline titania photocatalyst (Au/F nc‐TiO2) due to the electronic band gap (EBG) absorption of TiO2 within the photonic band gap (PBG). Au/F TiO2 IO‐460; with the blue edge of the PBG closer to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) region of AuNPs displayed four‐fold enhancement in the hydrogen evolution with respect to Au/F nc‐TiO2. The solar light driven hydrogen evolution rates obtained for Au/F TiO2 IO‐215 and Au/F TiO2 IO‐460 photocatalysts (58.86 and 49.43 mmol h−1 g−1 respectively) are remarkably higher than the rates of inverse‐opal‐assisted hydrogen evolution experiments reported in literature. This work demonstrated a strategy for synergistically enhancing the solar light harvesting by the restructuring of Au/F TiO2 photocatalysts into inverse opals. The extended hydrogen yield by Au/F TiO2 IOs is on the order of millimoles, making them potential photocatalysts for solar hydrogen production.
Pitfall trap sampling bias depends on body mass, temperature, and trap number: insights from an individual‐based model
Authors: Engel Jan , Hertzog Lionel , Tiede Julia , Wagg Cameron , Ebeling Anne , Briesen Heiko , Weisser Wolfgang W.
Published: April 2017

The diversity and community composition of ground arthropods is routinely analyzed by pitfall trap sampling, which is a cost‐ and time‐effective method to gather large numbers of replicates but also known to generate data that are biased by species‐specific differences in locomotory activity. Previous studies have looked at factors that influence the sampling bias. These studies, however, were limited to one or few species and did rarely quantify how the species‐specific sampling bias shapes community‐level diversity metrics. In this study, we systematically quantify the species‐specific and community‐level sampling bias with an allometric individual‐based model that simulates movement and pitfall sampling of 10 generic ground arthropod species differing in body mass. We perform multiple simulation experiments covering different scenarios of pitfall trap number, spatial trap arrangement, temperature, and population density. We show that the sampling bias decreased strongly with increasing body mass, temperature, and pitfall trap number, while population density had no effect and trap arrangement only had little effect. The average movement speed of a species in the field integrates body mass and temperature effects and could be used to derive reliable estimates of absolute species abundance. We demonstrate how unbiased relative species abundance can be derived using correction factors that need only information on species body mass. We find that community‐level diversity metrics are sensitive to the particular community structure, namely the relation between body mass and relative abundance across species. Generally, pitfall trap sampling flattens the rank‐abundance distribution and leads to overestimations of ground arthropod Shannon diversity. We conclude that the correction of the species‐specific pitfall trap sampling bias is necessary for the reliability of conclusions drawn from ground arthropod field studies. We propose bias correction is a manageable task using either body mass to derive unbiased relative abundance or the average speed to derive reliable estimates of absolute abundance from pitfall trap sampling.
Solid‐Solution Coordination Polymers as Precursors for ZnxCd1–xS/C Composite Nanowires
Authors: Tajima Shinya , Kuroshima Yoshiki , Katayama Tetsuro , Tamai Naoto , Sada Kazuki , Hirai Kenji
Published: April 2017

The development of synthetic routes to nanomaterials has been motivated by their potential applications in electronics, optics, and catalytic reactions. Solution‐based synthesis has relied on organic stabilizers to regulate the crystal growth. Despite the beneficial effect on crystal growth, organic stabilizers attached to the resulting particles reduce the accessibility of reactants and inhibit charge transport, resulting in a lower catalytic activity than expected. In this work we have demonstrated that coordination polymers (CPs) can be used as precursors for photocatalysts without stabilizers. The pyrolysis of CP nanowires of [Cd(l‐cysteinate)]n gave CdS/C nanowires (CdS/C‐NWs) that exhibit photocatalytic activity for hydrogen generation superior to CdS nanowires with organic stabilizers (CdS/stb‐NWs). Transient absorption spectroscopy showed that CdS/C‐NWs provide an active surfaces to facilitate catalytic reactions associated with electron migration. Moreover, Zn‐doped CdS nanowires (ZnxCd1‐xS/C‐NWs) obtained by the pyrolysis of CPs exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than nondoped CdS/C‐NWs. The improvement in photocatalytic activity is attributable to the prolonged lifetime of photoexcited electrons. The pyrolysis of CPs provides a facile means to design nanocomposites that realize efficient catalytic reactions associated with facile charge transfer.
Multiplexing N‐glycan analysis by DNA analyzer
Authors: Feng Hua‐tao , Li Pingjing , Rui Guo , Stray James , Khan Shaheer , Chen Shiaw‐Min , Li Sam F. Y.
Published: April 2017

Analysis of N‐glycan structures has been gaining attentions over the years due to their critical importance to biopharma‐based applications and growing roles in biological research. Glycan profiling is also critical to the development of biosimilar drugs. The detailed characterization of N‐glycosylation is mandatory because it is a nontemplate driven process and that significantly influences critical properties such as bio‐safety and bio‐activity. The ability to comprehensively characterize highly complex mixtures of N‐glycans has been analytically challenging and stimulating because of the difficulties in both the structure complexity and time‐consuming sample pretreatment procedures. CE‐LIF is one of the typical techniques for N‐glycan analysis due to its high separation efficiency. In this paper, a 16‐capillary DNA analyzer was coupled with a magnetic bead glycan purification method to accelerate the sample preparation procedure and therefore increase N‐glycan assay throughput. Routinely, the labeling dye used for CE‐LIF is 8‐aminopyrene‐1,3,6‐trisulfonic acid, while the typical identification method involves matching migration times with database entries. Two new fluorescent dyes were used to either cross‐validate and increase the glycan identification precision or simplify sample preparation steps. Exoglycosidase studies were carried out using neuramididase, galactosidase, and fucosidase to confirm the results of three dye cross‐validation. The optimized method combines the parallel separation capacity of multiple‐capillary separation with three labeling dyes, magnetic bead assisted preparation, and exoglycosidase treatment to allow rapid and accurate analysis of N‐glycans. These new methods provided enough useful structural information to permit N‐glycan structure elucidation with only one sample injection.