bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiscale Porous Carbon Nanomaterials for Applications in Advanced Rechargeable Batteries
Authors: Li Wei , Fang Ruyi , Xia Yang , Zhang Wenkui , Wang Xiuli , Xia Xinhui , Tu Jiangping
Published: August 2018

The Construction of advanced electrode materials can push the boundaries of electrochemical performance of energy storage devices and accordingly open up a booming energy storage market. Typically, porous carbon is one of the most widely used materials in the field of batteries due to its attractive properties including large porosity, high electronic mobility, good mechanical strength and chemical stability, and ultrahigh specific surface area. This review focuses on diverse synthetic methods of multiscale porous carbon nanomaterials including direct carbonization, electrospinning, puffing, hydrothermal methods, and chemical vapor deposition, with and without templates, as well as their applications in different rechargeable secondary batteries. We summarize different dimensional porous carbon (1D, 2D and 3D) with controlled pore sizes and analyze their formation mechanisms. Additionally, the structure‐activity relationship of multiscale porous carbon nanomaterials is reviewed in detail. Meanwhile, we propose general guidelines to fabricate multiscale porous carbon nanomaterials with large surface area and high conductivity. Finally, future prospects and development trends on the advanced multiscale porous carbon nanomaterials toward construction of next‐generation batteries are presented.
Effect of γ‐irradiation on optical properties of Eu2O3‐doped polystyrene polymer films
Authors: Bhavsar Shilpa , Patel Gnansagar B. , Singh N. L.
Published: August 2018

In the present study, europium (III) oxide (Eu2O3)‐doped polystyrene (PS) polymer films were synthesized using a solution‐casting technique for different filler levels. These films were irradiated with 5, 25 and 50 kGy γ doses and characterized using various techniques, viz. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and UV–visible and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies as a function of composition level and radiation dose. The UV–visible spectra indicated a decrease in the optical direct band gap of composite films with increasing concentrations of dopant and radiation dose. The band gaps of composites obtained using Tauc's equation were found to be 4.38, 4.37, 4.36 and 4.34 eV for 0, 1, 3 and 5% Eu2O3‐doped PS respectively, while the band gaps of 5% Eu2O3‐doped PS polymer films irradiated with 5, 25 and 50 kGy were found to be 4.30, 4.26 and 4.21 eV, respectively. Photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra showed the characteristic peaks of Eu3+ at 595 nm, 612 nm and 617 nm with an excitation wavelength of 247 nm. The intensity of characteristic peaks of Eu3+ was observed to increase with increasing filler concentration, while it was found to decrease with increasing radiation dose. The polymer under study may be useful in accidental dosimetry. As photoluminescence studies are carried out after a gap of 200 h from irradiation and PL emission of γ‐irradiated polymer yielded 10 times emission when compared with non‐irradiated polymer.
Circulating endothelial progenitor cells and endothelial cells in moyamoya disease
Authors: Bao Xiang‐Yang , Fan Yan‐Na , Liu Yi , Wang Qian‐Nan , Zhang Yong , Zhu Bing , Liu Bing , Duan Lian
Published: August 2018

Introduction

There is no well‐recognized biomarker for accurately predicting outcome in the presence of moyamoya disease (MMD), a progressive occlusive cerebrovascular disease of the internal carotid arteries or their branches. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and circulating endothelial cells (CECs) in MMD and correlate the findings with clinical features.

Methods

Patients with MMD (n = 66) were compared with healthy controls (n = 81). Blood samples were obtained from an antecubital vein and analyzed using flow cytometry. EPCs were defined as CD31+CD45dimCD34brCD133+ and CECs as CD31brCD45−CD34dimCD133−. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were carried out.

Results

The CEC counts were significantly higher in the patients than in the controls (p = 0.008). In multivariate analysis, EPC counts were independently associated with age of patients with MMD (p = 0.049) and CEC counts were independently negatively associated with concomitant disease such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and coronary heart disease (p = 0.034).

Conclusions

This is the first study to investigate the presence of CECs in the plasma of patients with MMD, and the amount of CECs was negatively correlated with concomitant disease in these patients.
Near‐Infrared Image Analysis as Tool for Monitoring Process Activities
Authors: Kübel‐Heising Felix , Kunkel Sven , Medina Isabel , Hien Andreas , Schmitt Lukas , Scholl Stephan , Repke Jens‐Uwe , Rädle Matthias
Published: August 2018

In process engineering, there are often states in which the local distribution of fluids and solids and their temporal and spatial concentration represent dominant process‐relevant parameters. This article is dedicated to the monitoring of such processes, e.g., drying, moistening, and crystal structure formation, which requires the use of both space‐resolved and molecule‐specific measurement methods. A non‐contact measuring procedure is the near‐infrared (NIR) image analysis with an indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) sensor. The application possibilities and the potential of this inline measurement method are presented and explained.
Color, antioxidation, and texture of dough and Chinese steamed bread enriched with pitaya peel powder
Authors: Hsu Chia‐Tai , Chang Yung‐Ho , Shiau Sy‐Yu
Published: August 2018

Background and objectives

Intake of phytochemicals such as betalains, polyphenols, and dietary fiber is health beneficial. Pitaya peel, a by‐product during fruit processing, is usually discarded. In this study, pitaya peel powder (PPP) was added to the dough of Chinese steamed bread (CSB) as a bioactive ingredient.

Findings

Total betacyanins, free phenolics, and DPPH radical scavenging capacity of the dough and CSB increased with increasing the PPP level from 0% to 9%. Color properties of the dough and CSB were significantly affected by the PPP level. Moreover, steaming led to significant decreases in the betacyanin content, redness, and free phenolic content of CSB. The addition of PPP led to a stiffer and less extensible dough. With increasing the level of PPP, the hardness of CSB was increased, but its specific volume, cohesiveness, springiness, and elasticity were reduced. With 3% PPP, the CSB had similar sensory scores to the control.

Conclusions

Healthy and colorful CSB with high phytochemicals and antioxidant capacity as well as acceptable texture can be produced by the addition of 3% PPP.

Significance and novelty

PPP can be used as a bioactive ingredient, and its level significantly affects the color, antioxidative, rheological, and sensory properties of dough and CSB.
Highly Efficient Removal of CO in Effluent Streams from Real‐Life Propane Oxidation Process over CuO−CeO2−Based Catalysts
Authors: Chu Wenling , Liu Yanchun , Wang Hongkui , Cai Rui , Yang Weishen
Published: August 2018

Selective removal of CO from the effluent streams in real‐life chemical processes is of great importance in many different fields of industry. Until now it remains challenging to use non‐precious metal oxides to selectively remove CO at low temperatures from real‐life chemical effluent with complex compositions. Herein, a series of binary and ternary transition metal oxide catalysts were prepared by co‐precipitation method and employed for the preferential removal of CO in the effluent stream (off‐gas) of propane selective oxidation. It was found that the CuO−CeO2−based mixed oxide catalyst exhibited the best CO removal performance, wider operating temperature window and higher resistance to the inhibition of hydrocarbons, H2O and CO2. The presented catalyst showed high potential for selective removal of CO in the off‐gas stream containing CO2, H2O and various hydrocarbons.
Dehydration of Castor Oil over a NaHSO4/MCM‐41 Catalyst Prepared by Supercritical Impregnation
Authors: Ding Jian-Fei , Ma Tian-Lin , Yan Cui-Xia , Shao Rong , Xu Wei , Guan Rong-Feng , Song Xiao-Yong , Wang Peng-Fei
Published: August 2018

The NaHSO4/MCM‐41 catalyst was synthesized by supercritical impregnation and investigated in dehydration of castor oil. The NaHSO4/MCM‐41 prepared by wet impregnation was also tested. The supercritical condition was favorable to improve NaHSO4 dispersion. The amount of interaction sites between NaHSO4 and MCM‐41 was enhanced and NaHSO4 leaching was retarded. Surface area, pore volume and size, total amount of acid sites, and the ratio of Brønsted to total acidity were increased. The Brønsted acid sites and the weaker acid strength were beneficial to produce dehydrated castor oil (DCO). Therefore, coke formation was retarded and castor oil conversion, DCO selectivity, and stability of the catalyst were obviously improved.
1‐AminoTriazole Transition‐Metal Complexes as Laser‐Ignitable and Lead‐Free Primary Explosives
Authors: Szimhardt Norbert , Wurzenberger Maximilian H. H. , Zeisel Lukas , Gruhne Michael S. , Lommel Marcus , Klapötke Thomas M. , Stierstorfer Jörg
Published: August 2018

This unique complex study describes two isomeric aminotriazoles as auspicious nitrogen‐rich ligands for energetic coordination compounds (ECCs) to replace the commonly used highly poisonous and environmentally harmful lead‐based primary explosives. The triazoles were obtained by easily scalable and convenient synthetic routes starting solely from commercially available starting materials. 1‐Amino‐1,2,3‐triazole (1, 1‐ATRI) and, for the first time, 1‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole (2, 1A‐1,2,4‐TRI) were employed as ligands to form highly energetic transition‐metal(II) complexes. The desired characteristics could be altered successively by using various nonpoisonous metal(II) centers (Cu2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, and Zn2+) and anions (Cl−, NO3−, ClO3−, ClO4−, picrate, styphnate, 2,4,6‐trinitro‐3‐hydroxyphenolate, and 2,4,6‐trinitro‐3,5‐dihydroxyphenolate). The 14 synthesized coordination compounds were characterized comprehensively by XRD, IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyses. Ball‐drop impact, electrostatic discharge (ESD), and mechanical (impact and friction) sensitivities were determined according to BAM standard methods. In addition to laser ignition experiments, selected ECCs were evaluated in classical secondary explosive initiation tests (detonators filled with pentaerythritol tetranitrate (nitropenta)), which revealed their enormous potential and proved them to be very attractive for future applications in explosives.
Regulation of microtubule plus end dynamics by septin 9
Authors: Nakos Konstantinos , Rosenberg Marshall , Spiliotis Elias T.
Published: August 2018

Septins are GTP‐binding proteins that associate with the microtubule (MT) and actin cytoskeleton. Septins affect MT organization and posttranslational modifications, but their role in MT dynamics is less understood. Here, we reconstituted MT dynamics in the presence of the MT‐binding septin (SEPT9) using an in vitro cell‐free assay, which images the polymerization of tubulin from guanosine‐5′‐[(α,β)‐methyleno]triphosphate (GMPCPP)‐stabilized MT seeds. We found that submicromolar concentrations of SEPT9 suppress MT catastrophe and enhance the growth of MT plus ends to great lengths, while low micromolar concentrations of SEPT9 stabilize MTs by inhibiting dynamic instability. We show that SEPT9 associates preferentially with the lattice of GMPCPP‐stabilized MT seeds and surprisingly recruits soluble tubulin to the MT lattice. Notably, the effects of SEPT9 on MT dynamics are dependent on its G‐G dimerization interface, which is formed by the pockets of the GTP‐binding domains. A mutation (H530D) that disrupts G‐G dimerization abrogates the effects of SEPT9 on MT dynamics and diminishes its ability to recruit tubulin to the MT lattice. Taken together, these results suggest that SEPT9 promotes the formation and maintenance of long stable MTs through a mechanism that may involve recruitment of unpolymerized tubulin to the MT lattice.
Protein Corona Formation on Magnetic Nanoparticles Conjugated with Luminescent Europium Complexes
Authors: Khan Latif U. , Petry Romana , Paula Amauri J. , Knobel Marcelo , Martinez Diego Stéfani T.
Published: August 2018

The evaluation of the nanoparticles interactions with blood plasma enables a first and important insight on the organization of the adsorbed protein layer. In this context, we studied the formation of protein corona on magneto‐luminescent Fe3O4@calix‐Eu(TTA) nanoparticles in human plasma. The difference in the surface chemistry of F3O4 functionalized with calixarene (+30 mV ζ‐potential) and europium (III) thenoyltrifluoroacetonate (Eu3+‐TTA) complex (+7.4 mV ζ‐potential) affected the colloidal stability and hard corona composition of the nanoparticles, which were monitored by SDS‐PAGE gel electrophoresis, differential centrifugal sedimentation analyses and luminescence spectroscopy. Strikingly, after conjugation with Eu3+ TTA complex, the magnetic nanoparticles show lower adsorption affinity to proteins at higher blood plasma concentration. Moreover, the Eu3+ compound is featured with the narrow emission lines of 5D0→7FJ (J=0–4) transitions, imparting additional characteristics to bifunctional nanoparticles that were used as probes to evaluate the protein corona formation.
Assessment of the Effects of Age and Renal Function on Pharmacokinetics of Bazedoxifene in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: McKeand William , Ermer James , Korth‐Bradley Joan
Published: August 2018

Bazedoxifene (BZA), a chemically distinct selective estrogen receptor modulator, has demonstrated efficacy and long‐term safety in phase 3 placebo‐controlled studies for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Here, we assessed the potential effects of age and renal function on BZA pharmacokinetics in healthy postmenopausal women (aged 55–84 years; CLcr, 32‐109 mL/min). This was an open‐label, single‐dose, parallel, nonrandomized inpatient study conducted in healthy postmenopausal women and postmenopausal women with impaired renal function. Each subject received a single oral dose of BZA in a 20‐mg tablet. Twenty‐six subjects were enrolled: 8 in each of 3 age groups (55–64 years, 65–74 years, ≥75 years) and 2 (aged 71 and 75 years) with mild renal impairment; all subjects received treatment and completed the study. Age‐related changes in pharmacokinetics were apparent. Although the correlation was modest (R2 = 0.28), BZA CL/F decreased steadily with age, such that the oldest group (>75 years) had a mean CL/F 60% less than the youngest group (55–64 years). Over the observed range of CLcr, there was a weak positive correlation (R2 = 0.19) between BZA CL/F and CLcr.
Performance evaluation of heterogeneous cloud functions
Authors: Figiela Kamil , Gajek Adam , Zima Adam , Obrok Beata , Malawski Maciej
Published: August 2018

Cloud Functions, often called Function‐as‐a‐Service (FaaS), pioneered by AWS Lambda, are an increasingly popular method of running distributed applications. As in other cloud offerings, cloud functions are heterogeneous due to variations in underlying hardware, runtime systems, as well as resource management and billing models. In this paper, we focus on performance evaluation of cloud functions, taking into account heterogeneity aspects. We developed a cloud function benchmarking framework, consisting of one suite based on Serverless Framework and one based on HyperFlow. We deployed the CPU‐intensive benchmarks: Mersenne Twister and Linpack. We measured the data transfer times between cloud functions and storage, and we measured the lifetime of the runtime environment. We evaluated all the major cloud function providers: AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, Google Cloud Functions, and IBM Cloud Functions. We made our results available online and continuously updated. We report on the results of the performance evaluation, and we discuss the discovered insights into resource allocation policies.
Coprevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and tuberculosis in low‐income and middle‐income countries: A systematic review
Authors: McMurry Hannah Stowe , Mendenhall Emily , Rajendrakumar Aravind , Nambiar Lavanya , Satyanarayana Srinath , Shivashankar Roopa
Published: August 2018

Increasing coprevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and tuberculosis (TB) in low‐income and middle‐income countries (LMICs) indicates a rising threat to the decades of progress made against TB and requires global attention. This systematic review provides a summary of type 2 diabetes and tuberculosis coprevalence in various LMICs. We searched PubMed, Ovid Medline, Embase, and PsychINFO databases for studies that provided estimates of TB‐DM coprevalence in LMICs published between 1990 and 2016. Studies that were non‐English and exclusively conducted in multidrug resistant‐tuberculosis or type 1 diabetes and inpatient settings were excluded. We reviewed 84 studies from 31 countries. There were huge diversity of study designs and diagnostic methods used to estimate coprevalence, and this precluded pooling of the results. Most studies (n = 78) were from small, localized settings. The DM prevalence among TB patients in various LMICs varied from 1.8% to 45%, with the majority (n = 44) between 10% and 30%. The TB prevalence among people with DM ranged from 0.1% to 6.0% with most studies (n = 9) reporting prevalences less than 2%. Coprevalence of TB‐DM was higher than general population prevalence of either diseases in these countries. This study underscores the need for intervention and more focused research on TB DM bidirectional screening programs in low‐income and middle‐income countries as well as integrated chronic disease management.
Simultaneous quantification of THC‐COOH, OH‐THC, and further cannabinoids in human hair by gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry with electron ionization applying automated sample preparation
Authors: Kieliba Tobias , Lerch Oliver , Andresen‐Streichert Hilke , Rothschild Markus A. , Beike Justus
Published: August 2018

The detection of Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) in hair, for the purpose of identifying cannabis consumption, is conducted in many forensic laboratories. Since external contamination of hair with these cannabis components cannot be excluded, even after hair decontamination, only the detection of THC metabolites such as 11‐nor‐9‐carboxy‐Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC‐COOH) or 11‐hydroxy‐Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (OH‐THC), is considered to prove cannabis consumption. At present, testing for THC metabolites is not standard practice due to its analytical complexity. For these reasons, we developed a novel method for the detection of THC‐COOH and OH‐THC as well as THC, CBD, and CBN in one single analytical run using gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) with electron ionization. After manual hair washing and grinding, sample preparation was fully automated, by means of a robotic autosampler. The hair extraction took place by digestion with sodium hydroxide. A solid‐phase extraction (SPE) was chosen for sample clean‐up, using a mixed‐mode anion exchange sorbent. Derivatization of all analytes was by silylation. The method has been fully validated according to guidelines of the Society of Toxicological and Forensic Chemistry (GTFCh), with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.2 pg/mg for THC‐COOH and OH‐THC and 2 pg/mg for THC, CBD and CBN, respectively, thus fulfilling the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) recommendations. The validated method has been successfully applied to our routine forensic case work and a summary of data from authentic hair samples is given, as well as data from proficiency tests.
Quantifying dispersal between marine protected areas by a highly mobile species, the bottlenose dolphin,Tursiops truncatus
Authors: Nykänen Milaja , Dillane Eileen , Englund Anneli , Foote Andrew D. , Ingram Simon N. , Louis Marie , Mirimin Luca , Oudejans Machiel , Rogan Emer
Published: August 2018

The functioning of marine protected areas (MPAs) designated for marine megafauna has been criticized due to the high mobility and dispersal potential of these taxa. However, dispersal within a network of smallMPAs can be beneficial as connectivity can result in increased effective population size, maintain genetic diversity, and increase robustness to ecological and environmental changes making populations less susceptible to stochastic genetic and demographic effects (i.e., Allee effect). Here, we use both genetic and photo‐identification methods to quantify gene flow and demographic dispersal betweenMPAs of a highly mobile marine mammal, the bottlenose dolphinTursiops truncatus. We identify three populations in the waters of western Ireland, two of which have largely nonoverlapping core coastal home ranges and are each strongly spatially associated with specificMPAs. We find high site fidelity of individuals within each of these two coastal populations to their respectiveMPA. We also find low levels of demographic dispersal between the populations, but it remains unclear whether any new gametes are exchanged between populations through these migrants (genetic dispersal). The population sampled in the Shannon Estuary has a low estimated effective population size and appears to be genetically isolated. The second coastal population, sampled outside of the Shannon, may be demographically and genetically connected to other coastal subpopulations around the coastal waters of theUK. We therefore recommend that the methods applied here should be used on a broader geographically sampled dataset to better assess this connectivity.
The importance of size, location, and vegetation composition of perennial fallows for farmland birds
Authors: Meichtry‐Stier Kim S. , Duplain Jérôme , Lanz Michael , Lugrin Bernard , Birrer Simon
Published: August 2018

Across Europe, patches of un‐cropped land (field margins, fallows, etc.) have been established and managed as part of agri‐environment schemes (AES) to counteract the decrease in farmland biodiversity. Various studies demonstrate a positive impact of such un‐cropped land on different taxa. However, there is potential to further improve the efficiency of fallow options for farmland birds. In a long‐term monitoring, 12 breeding farmland bird species and sizes of perennial fallows were recorded from 1992 to 2015 in a 6.1 km2area in Switzerland. Furthermore, habitat composition and fallow characteristics were mapped in 2012. We calculated population trends, analyzed habitat associations and revealed the impact of fallow habitat characteristics on territory density. The proportion of fallows in the study site increased from 1.4% (1992) to 8.5% (2012). Population trends of six of 12 censused species increased significantly over the same time, four species showed no trend and trends of two species decreased. Seven species were analyzed in more detail, for five of them fallows were overrepresented around their territory center points compared to arable fields and grassland. The overall territory density of these five species was higher in small fallows which were not placed next to a wood and which held bramblerubusspp., shrubs and the tall‐growing forb goldenrod (Solidago canadensisandS. gigantea). Our study confirms that perennial fallows are a highly suitable option to support different farmland birds in arable landscapes. Yet, we recommend optimizing fallows through careful site selection and management, such that they are not established on shady locations and are structurally diverse by allowing brambles, shrubs, and tall‐growing forbs to occur. We suggest adapting the Swiss AES in this regard. Biodiversity‐related advisory services available for farmers could increase the probability that fallow options are implemented and managed properly for targeted species.
Hybridization and postzygotic isolation promote reinforcement of male mating preferences in a diverse group of fishes with traditional sex roles
Authors: Moran Rachel L. , Zhou Muchu , Catchen Julian M. , Fuller Rebecca C.
Published: August 2018

Behavioral isolation is thought to arise early in speciation due to differential sexual and/or natural selection favoring different preferences and traits in different lineages. Instead, behavioral isolation can arise due to reinforcement favoring traits and preferences that prevent maladaptive hybridization. In darters, female preference for male coloration has been hypothesized to drive speciation, because behavioral isolation evolves before F1 inviability. However, as with many long‐lived organisms, the fitness of second‐generation hybrids has not been assessed because raising animals to adulthood in the laboratory is challenging. Of late, reinforcement of male preferences has been implicated in darters because male preference for conspecific females is high in sympatry but absent in allopatry in multiple species pairs. The hypothesis that reinforcement accounts for behavioral isolation in sympatry assumes that hybridization and postzygotic isolation are present. Here, we used genomic and morphological data to demonstrate that hybridization is ongoing between orangethroat and rainbow darters and used hybrids collected from nature to measure postzygotic barriers across two hybrid generations. We observed sex ratio distortion in adult F1s and a dramatic reduction in backcross survival. Our findings indicate that selection to avoid hybridization promotes the evolution of male‐driven behavioral isolation via reinforcement in this system.
Improving conservation effectiveness of nature reserve for golden snub‐nosed monkey, a niche‐based approach
Authors: Yan Zhaogui , Teng Mingjun , He Wei , Wang Yuan , Yang Jingyuan , Wang Pengcheng
Published: August 2018

Reserve selections are often opportunistic rather than strategic and coordinated, and consequently, many reserves are ineffective to achieve their intended goals of conservation. Here, we assessed the conservation effectiveness of a reserve for the golden snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) with a niche‐based approach. We assessed habitat usage of the monkeys in Shennongjia Nature Reserve (SNR) and attributes of 14 environmental variables that could potentially affect the monkeys’ habitat use. Spatial distribution of potentially suitable habitat for the monkeys was then modeled with Maxent, a niche‐based model, and conservation effectiveness of SNR was assessed by comparing the current boundary of the reserve with the spatial distribution of the modeled potential habitat and the current habitat area of the monkeys. Only 59% of the habitat area and 61% of the predicted potential habitat area were under the protection of SNR. To improve conservation effectiveness of SNR, we proposed that the current SNR be enlarged by 270 km2. The enlarged reserve would encompass 100% of the existing habitat area plus 89% of the predicted potential habitat area. Using the niche‐based approach, we were able to integrate habitat usage data of the target species with that of remote sensing to identify areas potentially suitable as habitat for the species. This information can be used not only for improving conservation effectiveness of existing reserves but also for the effective planning and designing of new reserves.
Examining the interglacial high‐elevation refugia scenario in East Asian subtropical mountain systems with the frog species Leptobrachium liui
Authors: Zheng Yuchi , Hu Junhua , Zeng Xiaomao
Published: August 2018

The effects of Quaternary climatic oscillations on the distributions of organisms in different parts of the world are not equally well understood, limiting the ability to understand the determinants of biodiversity. Compared with the mountain regions in southern Europe and southwestern North America, such effects on high‐elevation species in the East Asian subtropical mountain systems located in southern and southeastern China have seldom been addressed. In this study, using Leptobrachium liui (Megophryidae), we made one of the earliest attempts to examine the interglacial high‐elevation refugia scenario in these Asian mountains. Based on our current understanding of the study system, we formulated a hypothesis that these frogs of western origin were distributed more widely and continuously during glacial phases, allowing eastward dispersal, and that they are currently isolated in interglacial refugia at higher elevations. Microsatellite data and mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data were obtained with extensive sampling followed by the synthesis of phylogeographic and population genetic analyses and modeling of the species distribution. The analyses revealed a sequential eastward divergence of microsatellite clusters and gene lineages accompanied by a decline in genetic diversity. Molecular dating estimates revealed divergence events in the Pleistocene, and a reduction in local populations was inferred to have occurred at a time comparable to the end of the last glacial. Strong genetic isolation by distance reflecting a more continuous historical distribution was detected. Furthermore, environmental niche models inferred a wide planar distribution during the last glacial maximum, providing further support for the hypothesis.
The effects of a bacterial challenge on reproductive success of fruit flies evolved under low or high sexual selection
Authors: Nystrand Magdalena , Cassidy Elizabeth J. , Dowling Damian K.
Published: August 2018

The capacity of individuals to cope with stress, for example, from pathogen exposure, might decrease with increasing levels of sexual selection, although it remains unclear which sex should be more sensitive. Here, we measured the ability of each sex to maintain high reproductive success following challenges with either heat‐killed bacteria or procedural control, across replicate populations of Drosophila melanogaster evolved under either high or low levels of sexual selection. Our experiment was run across four separate sampling blocks. We found an interaction between bacterial treatment, sexual selection treatment, and sampling block on female reproductive success. Specifically, and only in the fourth block, we observed that bacterial‐challenged females that had evolved under high sexual selection, exhibited lower reproductive success than bacterial‐challenged females that had evolved under low sexual selection. Furthermore, we could trace this block‐specific effect to a reduction in viscosity of the ovipositioning substrate in the fourth block, in which females laid around 50% more eggs than in previous blocks. In contrast, patterns of male reproductive success were consistent across blocks. Males that evolved under high sexual selection exhibited higher reproductive success than their low‐selection counterparts, regardless of whether they were subjected to a bacterial challenge or not. Our results are consistent with the prediction that heightened sexual selection will invoke male‐specific evolutionary increases in reproductive fitness. Furthermore, our findings suggest that females might pay fitness costs when exposed to high levels of sexual selection, but that these costs may lie cryptic, and only be revealed under certain environmental contexts.
Connectivity and habitat typology drive CO2 and CH4 fluxes across land–water interfaces in lowland rivers
Authors: Bolpagni Rossano , Laini Alex , Mutti Tiziana , Viaroli Pierluigi , Bartoli Marco
Published: August 2018

Lowland rivers are assumed to be a net source of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). However, little is known about the contribution of marginal permanent and temporary riverine aquatic systems to river carbon metabolism. Elevation, in relation to flooding, hydro‐morphological, and ecological features of such habitats, can affect the gas fluxes across the water–atmosphere interfaces and the periodically air‐exposed riverbeds. This hypothesis was investigated in the lowland sector of the Po River (Northern Italy) from May to September 2008. Five different aquatic habitats were considered: the main river course; a backwater habitat; and three lateral lentic waterbodies—an oxbow and two quarry lakes of different age. The water mass was always CO2 and CH4 supersaturated, and gas fluxes were from the water to the atmosphere. In the highly dynamic river course and backwaters, CO2 emission rates were nearly one order of magnitude greater than in the lentic and hypoxic oxbow and quarry lakes. By contrast, CH4 fluxes peaked in the lentic, deeper, and permanent water bodies. At sediment–atmosphere interfaces, the CO2 emissions increased along an organic matter, a water saturation, and a chlorophyll a gradient, attaining the maximum rates in the periodically air‐exposed riverbed and marginal sandy sediments. These differences in gas fluxes resulted from either the submersion persistence or the alternation of submersion and emersion phases, which were ultimately due to the gap between elevation and river water variations. All this stresses the critical role of marginal aquatic habitats for river C budget.
Floating seed dispersal in open channel flow with emergent vegetation
Authors: Liu Xiaoguang , Zeng Yuhong , Huai Wenxin
Published: August 2018

In this paper, we investigate the effects of stem density and flow velocity on interaction processes between two types of floating particles and rigid emergent vegetation in open channel flow. A new definition of the probability that a floating particle interacts with a stem is proposed and validated, and particle–stem interaction processes (including collision and capture mechanisms) are further explored, including a collision model proposed and validated to predict the probability of collision with a correction parameter. We also establish an appropriate length scale to analyse the particle–stem mechanism (for the vegetation characteristics and arrangement used in this study). A more accurate statistical model based on Gamma function is proposed to describe floating particle dispersal from unvegetated section to vegetated section, which is verified compared with exponential model, and two empirical formulas are proposed to apply the Gamma distribution to the particle dispersal in natural systems. We also propose a dimensionless parameter to evaluate the attraction capacity of the floating particle attached to the stem based on analysing forces acting on the particle. Phenomena observed in these experiments are presented for future analysis and research.
Subcarriers assignment scheme for multiple secondary users in OFDMA‐based IEEE 802.22 WRAN: A game theoretic approach
Authors: Gupta Nitin , Dhurandher Sanjay Kumar , Woungang Isaac
Published: August 2018

In this work, cognitive radio and orthogonal frequency division multiple access–based IEEE 802.22 wireless regional area networks is considered. Generally, subchannel is assigned to the user having the best channel gain to that subchannel and problem is known to be NP‐hard. This assignment sometimes results in the unfair allocation where user with best channel gain is allocated more carriers as compared with the user with worst channel condition. In this work, a suboptimal algorithm is developed in which initially optimal number of subcarriers are found considering the equal power distribution. The problem is formulated as an oligopoly market competition and a noncooperative Cournot game is used in which different unlicensed secondary users (SUs) compete for the number of subcarriers based upon the data rate they are getting from current channel condition. The fair distribution of subcarriers is ensured by finding the Nash equilibrium. After subchannels are assigned to the SUs, power allocation is performed for each user with the water‐filling algorithm. Simulation results show that the proposed approach can attain superior performance over considered benchmark scheme in the literature in terms of minimum data rate and fairness achieved by the SU. Results validating fair allocation of subcarriers is also shown.
Task‐evoked functional connectivity does not explain functional connectivity differences between rest and task conditions
Authors: Lynch Lauren K. , Lu Kun‐Han , Wen Haiguang , Zhang Yizhen , Saykin Andrew J. , Liu Zhongming
Published: August 2018

During complex tasks, patterns of functional connectivity differ from those in the resting state. However, what accounts for such differences remains unclear. Brain activity during a task reflects an unknown mixture of spontaneous and task‐evoked activities. The difference in functional connectivity between a task state and the resting state may reflect not only task‐evoked functional connectivity, but also changes in spontaneously emerging networks. Here, we characterized the differences in apparent functional connectivity between the resting state and when human subjects were watching a naturalistic movie. Such differences were marginally explained by the task‐evoked functional connectivity involved in processing the movie content. Instead, they were mostly attributable to changes in spontaneous networks driven by ongoing activity during the task. The execution of the task reduced the correlations in ongoing activity among different cortical networks, especially between the visual and non‐visual sensory or motor cortices. Our results suggest that task‐evoked activity is not independent from spontaneous activity, and that engaging in a task may suppress spontaneous activity and its inter‐regional correlation.
Serum Angiopoietin‐2 Predicts Mortality and Kidney Outcomes in Decompensated Cirrhosis
Authors: Allegretti Andrew S. , Vela Parada Xavier , Ortiz Guillermo A. , Long Joshua , Krinsky Scott , Zhao Sophia , Fuchs Bryan C. , Sojoodi Mozhdeh , Zhang Dongsheng , Karumanchi S. Ananth , Kalim Sahir , Nigwekar Sagar U. , Thadhani Ravi I. , Parikh Samir M. , Chung Raymond T.
Published: August 2018

Acute kidney injury in decompensated cirrhosis has limited therapeutic options, and novel mechanistic targets are urgently needed. Angiopoietin‐2 is a context‐specific antagonist of Tie2, a receptor that signals vascular quiescence. Considering the prominence of vascular destabilization in decompensated cirrhosis, we evaluated Angiopoietin‐2 to predict clinical outcomes. Serum Angiopoietin‐2 was measured serially in a prospective cohort of hospitalized patients with decompensated cirrhosis and acute kidney injury. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were examined over a 90‐day period and analyzed according to Angiopoietin‐2 levels. Primary outcome was 90‐day mortality. Our study included 191 inpatients (median Angiopoietin‐2 level 18.2 [interquartile range 11.8, 26.5] ng/mL). Median Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was 23 [17, 30] and 90‐day mortality was 41%. Increased Angiopoietin‐2 levels were associated with increased mortality (died 21.9 [13.9, 30.3] ng/mL vs. alive 15.2 [9.8, 23.0] ng/mL; P < 0.001), higher Acute Kidney Injury Network stage (stage I 13.4 [9.8, 20.1] ng/mL vs. stage II 20.0 [14.1, 26.2] ng/mL vs. stage III 21.9 [13.0, 29.5] ng/mL; P = 0.002), and need for renal replacement therapy (16.5 [11.3, 23.6] ng/mL vs. 25.1 [13.3, 30.3] ng/mL; P = 0.005). The association between Angiopoietin‐2 and mortality was significant in unadjusted and adjusted Cox regression models (P ≤ 0.001 for all models), and improved discrimination for mortality when added to MELD score (integrated discrimination increment 0.067; P = 0.001). Conclusion: Angiopoietin‐2 was associated with mortality and other clinically relevant outcomes in a cohort of patients with decompensated cirrhosis with acute kidney injury. Further experimental study of Angiopoietin/Tie2 signaling is warranted to explore its potential mechanistic and therapeutic role in this population.
BRAFV600E mutation: A promising target in colorectal neuroendocrine carcinoma
Authors: Dizdar Levent , Werner Thomas A. , Drusenheimer Jasmin C. , Möhlendick Birte , Raba Katharina , Boeck Inga , Anlauf Martin , Schott Matthias , Göring Wolfgang , Esposito Irene , Stoecklein Nikolas H. , Knoefel Wolfram T. , Krieg Andreas
Published: August 2018

To determine the role of BRAFV600E mutation and MAPK signaling as well as the effects of BRAF and MEK directed therapy in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasia (GEP‐NEN), with a focus on highly aggressive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma (GEP‐NEC). Using Sanger sequencing of BRAF exon 15 we determined the frequency of BRAFV600E mutations in 71 primary GEP‐NENs. MEK phosphorylation was examined by immunohistochemistry in corresponding tissue samples. To evaluate the biological relevance of BRAFV600E mutation and MAPK signaling in GEP‐NECs, effects of a pharmacological BRAF and MEK inhibition were analyzed in NEC cell lines both in vitro and in vivo. BRAFV600E mutation was detected in 9.9% of all GEP‐NENs. Interestingly, only NECs of the colon harbored BRAFV600E mutations, leading to a mutation frequency of 46.7% in this subgroup of patients. In addition, a BRAFV600E mutation was significantly associated with high levels of MEK phosphorylation (pMEK) and advanced tumor stages. Pharmacological inhibition of BRAF and MEK abrogated NEC cell growth, inducing G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis only in BRAFV600E mutated cells. BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib and MEK inhibitor trametinib prevented growth of BRAFV600E positive NEC xenografts. High frequencies of BRAFV600E mutation and elevated expression levels of pMEK were detected in biologically aggressive and highly proliferative colorectal NECs. We provide evidence that targeting BRAF oncogene may represent a therapeutic strategy for patients with BRAF mutant colorectal NECs.
Stepwise Self‐Assembly and Dynamic Exchange of Supramolecular Snowflakes
Authors: Zhang Zhe , Wang Heng , Shi Junjuan , Wang Pingshan , Liu Changlin , Wang Ming , Li Xiaopeng
Published: August 2018

Snowflake, a highly symmetrical hexagram figure, is challenging to be expressed by chemistry/supramolecular chemistry due to the complex structure. Herein, we have constructed super snowflake supramolecules using terpyridine (tpy)‐based metal‐organic building blocks with
tpy‐Ru(II)‐tpy
and
tpy‐Zn(II)‐tpy
connectivities through stepwise strategies in high yield. The structures were characterized by multi‐dimensional mass spectrometry and multi‐dimensional NMR spectrometry. In order to address the stability/tolerance of our designed super snowflake structures, ligand exchange behaviors between different supramolecules with various arm length were fully investigated by mass spectrometry. The study revealed that three modes could exist in such binary systems, including full exchange, partial exchange and self‐sorting (no exchange) depending on the length difference of ligands.
Renaissance of the Methane Adsorbents
Authors: Shi Zhao‐Lin , Zhang Yue‐Biao
Published: August 2018

Clean vehicles empowered by natural gas is an immediate solution to meet the demands of the cut off of CO2 emission, energy crisis, and air‐pollution control. To boost the on‐board storage capacity, safety and efficiency, great efforts have been made in developing advanced porous materials as methane adsorbents to store more gas under lower pressure or in a more compact space so‐called adsorbed natural gas (ANG) technique. A blooming of methane adsorbents and the competition of methane storage records have been therefore awakened by the reticular chemistry of metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), through which the adsorption sites, functionalities, and nano‐confinement space can be then controlled and manipulated. In this personal account, we walk through the research paradigm shifts in MOFs for on board methane storage. Furthermore, inspiration and considerations are also discussed, which can be further transferred into the discovery of other methane adsorbents.
Hyperlipidemic mice as a model for a real‐time in vivo detection of atherosclerosis by gold nanorods‐based diffusion reflection technique
Authors: Chakraborty Ruchira , Ankri Rinat , Leshem‐Lev Dorit , Hochhauser Edith , Kornowski Ran , Motiei Menachem , Lev Eli I. , Fixler Dror
Published: August 2018

Atherosclerosis (AS), the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular disease, needs an early detection for treatment and prevention of fatal events. Here, for the first time, we applied gold nanorods (GNRs)‐assisted diffusion reflection (DR), a noninvasive technique for in vivo detection of AS in a high‐fat‐diet‐induced c57bl mouse model, which resembles the manifestation of AS in humans. DR simply detects the change in light reflection profile of tissue due to the accumulation of GNRs in the AS plaques and enables clear detection of AS lesions in carotid and femoral arteries of these hyperlipidemic mice. After 24 hours post‐GNRs injection, DR showed the highest efficiency of AS detection. Moreover, the sensitivity of the DR method is much higher than computed tomography (CT) and is comparable to ex vivo high‐resolution CT. Our results strongly suggest that the DR method can detect early atherosclerotic lesions in a sensitive and specific manner.
ExcelAutomat 1.3: Fragment analysis based on the distortion/interaction‐activation strain model
Authors: Laloo Jalal Z. A. , Savoo Nandini , Laloo Nassirah , Rhyman Lydia , Ramasami Ponnadurai
Published: August 2018

The distortion/interaction‐activation strain model (D/I‐ASM), a fragment analysis method, is applied to study the structure–reactivity relationship in reactions. The application of D/I‐ASM involves the generation of input files for points along a reaction profile, submission of input files to a quantum software package, processing of parameters from the resulting output files and generation of graphical plots. The ExcelAutomat tool (Laloo et al., J. Comput. Aided Mol. Des. 2017, 31, 667) provides a framework and library in Visual Basic for Application programming language to process such files. New routines were written in ExcelAutomat 1.3 to facilitate processing of files for D/I‐ASM. The worksheet “ASM” was included where initial parameters needed can be defined. The routines for D/I‐ASM were tested successfully on bimolecular nucleophilic substitution, cycloaddition, and barrierless reactions. The automation of fragment analysis by ExcelAutomat 1.3 is compatible with Microsoft Excel and LibreOffice Calc. The extensible tool processes files from Gaussian and GAMESS‐US packages. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A comparison of energetic criteria to probe the stabilizing interaction resulting from a bond path between congested atoms
Authors: Myburgh Dirkie , von Berg Stuart , Dillen Jan
Published: August 2018

Four energetic criteria, all rooted in the partitioning of a molecule into atomic basins based on the properties of the electron density, are compared and correlated with the presence of a bond path between two nonbonded atoms in a series of sterically crowded derivatives of the same tetracyclododecane molecule. It was found that there is no correlation between the selected energetic criteria and the existence of a bond path between the congested atoms, nor with the existence of Ehrenfest force, virial, or Coulomb potential paths between those atoms.