bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of co‐agents on adhesion between peroxide cured ethylene–propylene–diene monomer and thermoplastics in two‐component injection molding
Authors: Laing Brittany , De Keyzer Jozefien , Seveno David , Van Bael Albert
Published: August 2019

Two‐component (2K) injection‐molded products combining ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM) with polar or nonpolar thermoplastics require strong interfacial bonding. To optimize the adhesion, co‐agents trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TMPT) and triallyl cyanurate (TAC) are compared and concentrations were varied between 0 and 12 parts per hundred rubber (phr). Changes in material compatibility were characterized by contact angle measurements at high temperature, the adhesion was evaluated by tensile testing, and physicomechanical properties of the EPDM bulk were analyzed. Results show that with polypropylene, the adhesion increases to an optimum (3 phr TAC or 6 phr TMPT) independent of the co‐agent type, while for polyethylene only TAC (1.5 phr) effectively boosts adhesion. It is surmised that these optimal concentrations promote crosslinking reactions at the interface. For polycarbonate and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene, increasing TAC concentration causes higher adhesion due to improved compatibility. Furthermore, physicomechanical bulk properties change significantly with co‐agent concentrations, making the optimal curing composition application dependent. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48414.
Targeting Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 Restricts Proinflammatory T Cell Differentiation and Ameliorates Takayasu Arteritis
Authors: Zhang Jifeng , Zhao Lei , Wang Jing , Cheng Zhihua , Sun Mengyao , Zhao Jiayi , Liu Bin , Liu Xiyu , Wen Zhenke , Li Zhibo
Published: August 2019

Objective

Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a progressive autoimmune large vessel vasculitis with infiltration of proinflammatory T cells, with a largely unknown etiology. This study was undertaken to explore the involvement of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) in proinflammatory T cell differentiation and disease progression in TAK.

Methods

Ninety‐five patients with TAK, 26 patients with small vessel vasculitis, and 40 healthy donors were enrolled. Naive and memory CD4+ T cells were activated with anti‐CD3/CD28 beads and analyzed for lineage differentiation. The mTORC1 activity was determined by quantifying intracellular phospho–S6 kinase 1 and phospho–S6 ribosomal protein. Rapamycin and lentiviral regulatory‐associated protein of mTOR short hairpin RNA were used to block mTORC1 activity. Human artery–NSG mouse chimeras representing human TAK were established for targeting mTORC1 in disease treatment.

Results

TAK CD4+ T cells were selectively prepositioned with hyperactivity of mTORC1 (P < 0.001), resulting in spontaneous maldifferentiation of Th1 and Th17 cells (P < 0.001). Activity of mTORC1high in circulating CD4+ T cells predicted elevated frequencies of proinflammatory T cells and active disease in TAK patients (P < 0.001). Blockade of mTORC1 with rapamycin efficiently abrogated the maldifferentiation of Th1 and Th17 cells (P < 0.01) and ameliorated vasculitis in humanized TAK chimeras (P < 0.001). Inhibition of mTORC1 using RNA interference technology is sufficient to reduce proinflammatory T cell frequencies (P < 0.01) and restrict TAK disease progression in vivo (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that hyperactivity of mTORC1 is a critical cell‐intrinsic mechanism underlying spontaneous maldifferentiation of proinflammatory T cells in TAK patients. Targeting mTORC1 is a promising therapeutic strategy against TAK.
A dual‐readout nanosensor based on biomass‐based C‐dots and chitosan@AuNPs with hyaluronic acid for determination of hyaluronidase
Authors: Liu Wei , Ding Fang , Wang Yanying , Lu Zhiwei , Zou Ping , Wang Xianxiang , Zhao Qingbiao , Rao Hanbing
Published: August 2019

A dual‐signal strategy is proposed based on fluorescent biomass‐based carbon dots (BC‐dots) and chitosan stabilized AuNPs (CS@AuNPs) to determine hyaluronidase (HAase). BC‐dots can induce aggregation of CS@AuNPs nanoparticles with a colour change from red to blue. Positively charged CS@AuNPs interacted with the negatively charged hyaluronic acid (HA) through electrostatic adsorption, and CS@AuNPs maintained stability due to the semirigid coil conformation of HA. However, in the presence of HAase, due to enzymatic hydrolysis of HA by HAase, the CS@AuNPs agglomerated. Based on the change of fluorescence and colour, quantitative analysis of HAase was achieved. Linear ranges for the fluorometric and colorimetric determinations were 2.0–70 U mL−1 and 8–60 U mL−1, respectively, with a detection limit of 0.27 U mL−1. This dual‐signal sensing system possesses high potential for determination of HAase in biological matrices.
Achieving a high‐density oleaginous yeast culture: Comparison of four processing strategies using Metschnikowia pulcherrima
Authors: Abeln Felix , Chuck Christopher J.
Published: August 2019

Microbial lipids have the potential to displace terrestrial oils for fuel, value chemical, and food production, curbing the growth in tropical oil plantations and helping to reduce deforestation. However, commercialization remains elusive partly due to the lack of suitably robust organisms and their low lipid productivity. Extremely high cell densities in oleaginous cultures are needed to increase reaction rates, reduce reactor volume, and facilitate downstream processing. In this investigation, the oleaginous yeast Metschnikowia pulcherrima, a known antimicrobial producer, was cultured using four different processing strategies to achieve high cell densities and gain suitable lipid productivity. In batch mode, the yeast demonstrated lipid contents more than 40% (w/w) under high osmotic pressure. In fed‐batch mode, however, high‐lipid titers were prevented through inhibition above 70.0 g L−1 yeast biomass. Highly promising were a semi‐continuous and continuous mode with cell recycle where cell densities of up to 122.6 g L−1 and maximum lipid production rates of 0.37 g L−1 h−1 (daily average), a nearly two‐fold increase from the batch, were achieved. The findings demonstrate the importance of considering multiple fermentation modes to achieve high‐density oleaginous yeast cultures generally and indicate the limitations of processing these organisms under the extreme conditions necessary for economic lipid production.
Cell free biosynthesis of isoprenoids from isopentenol
Authors: Ward Valerie C.A. , Chatzivasileiou Alkiviadis Orfefs , Stephanopoulos Gregory
Published: August 2019

Cell‐free systems are growing in importance for the biosynthesis of complex molecules. These systems combine the precision of traditional chemistry with the versatility of biology in creating superior overall processes. Recently, a new synthetic pathway for the biosynthesis of isoprenoids using the substrate isopentenol, dubbed the isopentenol utilization pathway (IUP), was demonstrated to be a promising alternative to the native 2C‐methyl‐d‐erythritol‐4‐phosphate (MEP) and mevalonate (MVA) pathways. This simplified pathway, which contains a minimum of four enzymes to produce basic monoterpenes and only depends on ATP and isopentenol as substrates, allows for a highly flexible approach to the commercial synthesis of isoprenoid products. In this work, we use metabolic reconstitution to characterize this new pathway in vitro and demonstrate its use for the cell‐free synthesis of mono‐, sesquit‐, and diterpenoids. Kinetic modeling and sensitivity analysis were also used to identify the most significant parameters for taxadiene productivity, and metabolic control analysis was employed to elucidate protein‐level interactions within this pathway, which demonstrated that the IUP enzymatic system is primarily controlled by the concentration and kinetics of choline kinase (CK) and not regulated by any pathway intermediates. This is a significant advantage over the natural MEP or MVA pathways as it greatly simplifies future metabolic engineering efforts, both in vitro and in vivo, aiming at improving the kinetics of CK. Finally, we used the insights gathered to demonstrate an in vitro IUP system that can produce 220 mg/L of the diterpene taxadiene, in 9 hr, almost 3‐fold faster than any system reported thus far.
Escherichia coli “TatExpress” strains export several g/L human growth hormone to the periplasm by the Tat pathway
Authors: Guerrero Montero Isabel , Richards Kirsty L. , Jawara Chillel , Browning Douglas F. , Peswani Amber R. , Labrit Mickael , Allen Matthew , Aubry Cedric , Davé Emma , Humphreys David P. , Busby Stephen J. W. , Robinson Colin
Published: August 2019

Escherichia coli is a heavily used platform for the production of biotherapeutic and other high‐value proteins, and a favored strategy is to export the protein of interest to the periplasm to simplify downstream processing and facilitate disulfide bond formation. The Sec pathway is the standard means of transporting the target protein but it is unable to transport complex or rapidly folding proteins because the Sec system can only transport proteins in an unfolded state. The Tat system also operates to transport proteins to the periplasm, and it has significant potential as an alternative means of recombinant protein production because it transports fully folded proteins. Here, we have tested the Tat system's full potential for the production of biotherapeutics for the first time using fed‐batch fermentation. We expressed human growth hormone (hGH) with a Tat signal peptide in E. coli W3110 “TatExpress” strains that contain elevated levels of the Tat apparatus. This construct contained four amino acids from TorA at the hGH N‐terminus as well as the initiation methionine from hGH, which is removed in vivo. We show that the protein is efficiently exported to the periplasm during extended fed‐batch fermentation, to the extent that it is by far the most abundant protein in the periplasm. The protein was shown to be homogeneous, disulfide bonded, and active. The bioassay showed that the yields of purified periplasmic hGH are 5.4 g/L culture whereas an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay gave a figure of 2.39 g/L. Separate analysis of a TorA signal peptide linked to hGH construct lacking any additional amino acids likewise showed efficient export to the periplasm, although yields were approximately two‐fold lower.
Screening of oleaginous algal strains from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutant libraries via density gradient centrifugation
Authors: Sung Young Joon , Choi Hong Il , Lee Jeong Seop , Hong Min Eui , Sim Sang Jun
Published: August 2019

Microalgae have a high potential to be utilized as feedstock for biofuels because they have high growth rates and do not compromise food production. Commercialized algae‐based biofuel production relies on the development of strains with high lipid content. Based on the relatively low density of lipids compared to other cellular components, density gradient centrifugation was used to isolate high lipid content algal strains from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutant libraries. The correlation between cell density and lipid content was confirmed by analysis of Nile red fluorescence intensity, total lipids, and total fatty acid methyl ester content. A strain isolated by this screening method had 50% higher lipid content and 7% lower cell density than the parent wild‐type strain. Consequently, we demonstrated that screening of algal strains with low cell density via continuous density gradient centrifugation allows simple, rapid, and inexpensive screening for high lipid content strains.
Development and validation of an ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method to determine the bioavailability of warfarin and its major metabolite 7‐hydroxy warfarin in rats dosed with oral formulations containing different polymorphic forms
Authors: Shakleya Diaa , Rahman Ziyaur , Faustino Patrick J.
Published: August 2019

A simple, sensitive and rapid ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the quantification of warfarin and 7‐hydroxy warfarin in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Animals were administered a single dose of warfarin sodium formulations (crystalline and amorphous) at 12 mg/kg via oral gavage and blood was drawn over a 96‐h time course. Sample process recoveries, matrix effect and analyte stability were determined. The linearity for warfarin and 7‐hydroxy warfarin was from 5 to 2000 ng/mL in blank SD rat plasma. Correlation coefficients (r2) for standard calibration curves were >.98 and analytes quantified within ±15% of target at all calibrator concentrations. The average percent accuracy and precision for intra‐ and inter‐day were 93.7%–113.8% and ≤12.1%, respectively, for warfarin and 7‐hydroxy warfarin, across the quality control standards (5, 10, 500, 1800 and 2000 ng/mL). Acceptable analytical recovery (>55%) was achieved with process efficiencies >41.5% and matrix effects <139.9% over the analytical range. Both analytes were stable in stock solution, autosampler, benchtop and three cycles of freeze–thaw with percent accuracy ≥90.2% and precision (percent relative standard deviation) ≤14%. The validated method was successfully applied to a pre‐clinical bioavailability study of crystalline and amorphous warfarin sodium formulations in SD rats.
Intramuscular innervation of the lateral rectus muscle evaluated using sihler's staining technique: Potential application to strabismus surgery
Authors: Haładaj Robert , Wysiadecki Grzegorz , Tubbs R. Shane
Published: August 2019

The latest research suggests that the abducens nerve may be divided into subbranches that reach functionally distinct zones of the lateral rectus muscle. The goal of the study was to examine this muscle's innervation, including the detailed distribution of the intramuscular subbranches of the abducens nerve. Twenty‐five lateral rectus muscle specimens were harvested (with the orbital segment of the abducens nerve), fixed in 10% formalin solution, and stained with Sihler's whole mount nerve staining technique. Subbranches running to the lateral rectus divided into two main groups: superior and inferior. Both groups of subbranches are distributed in a fan‐shaped manner, show a characteristic “tree‐like” branching pattern and form terminal plexus near the proximal half of the lateral rectus muscle. However, some smaller subbranches run as far as the muscle's insertion, and recurrent subbranches also reach its origin. With respect to their course to the muscle's origin or insertion, the smallest subbranches running within the muscle may be associated with innervation of the tendon. In the majority of cases (88%), superior and inferior subbranches of the abducens nerve overlapped in the central one‐third of the lateral rectus muscle's width so that any clearly distinct anatomical segments of the muscle could be observed based on Sihler's technique. In the remaining 12% of specimens, superior and inferior groups of subbranches innervated two distinct compartments of the lateral rectus muscle with no overlapping. Dense, fan‐shaped distribution of abducens nerve intramuscular subbranches can be observed within the lateral rectus muscle. Clin. Anat. 33:585–591, 2020. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Three‐Step Total Synthesis of Ramelteon via a Catellani Strategy
Authors: Gao Shijun , Qian Guangyin , Tang Hao , Yang Zuo , Zhou Qianghui
Published: August 2019

Ramelteon is the first medicine in human history that treat insomnia as a melatonin receptor agonist. Herein, we report an efficient three‐step synthetic route to access it from commercially available 2,3‐dihydrobenzofuran‐4‐amine, which represents as the shortest racemic synthesis to date with a 26 % overall yield. Key to the success is the application of the intermolecular Catellani‐type alkylation and intramolecular redox‐relay Heck cyclization cascade for preparation of the key indane‐containing aldehyde. The unique primary amide‐involved reductive amination of aldehyde is another feature of this route. New process of ramelteon can be developed based on this chemistry.
Comparison of Exergy Losses for Reformers Involved in Hydrogen and Synthesis Gas Production
Authors: Behroozsarand Alireza , Wood David A.
Published: August 2019

A user‐coded, customized methodology for exergy balance and analysis of chemical and thermal processes is developed with the Aspen HYSYS process simulator, to assess and explain exergy loss in steam methane reforming. Exergy analysis is presented for four configurations of primary and secondary reformers to produce synthesis gas: (1) an autothermal reformer (ATR) alone, (2) a top‐fired reformer (TFR) alone, (3) ATR‐TFR configured in parallel, and (4) ATR‐TFR configured in series. The same states and feed conditions, i.e., mass flow rate, temperature, pressure, and feed gas composition, are applied to the four reformer configurations considered, with the single ATR showing the lowest exergy loss of about 0.43 W kg−1 of dry productivity.
Chemical Engineering and Industrial Biotechnology (ICCEIB 2018)
Authors: Nour Abdurahman Hamid , Abdulmudalip Siti Kholijah
Published: August 2019

No abstract.
Copper‐Metal Organic Frameworks Electrodeposited on Carbon Paper as an Enhanced Cathode for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Li Xiao‐Feng , Lu Miao‐Yu , Yu Hai‐Yang , Zhang Tian‐Heng , Liu Jiao , Tian Jing‐Hua , Yang Ruizhi
Published: August 2019

Metal organic framework (MOF)‐based materials have been widely studied and reported as efficient electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), owing to their high surface areas, controllable structures, and tunable pore sizes. However, the intrinsically poor electrical conductivity of most MOFs hinders their directly applications as electrocatalysts. Herein, copper‐centered MOFs (HKUST‐1) have been electrodeposited directly onto the current collector. These electrochemically prepared HKUST‐1@carbon paper hybrids exhibited significantly enhanced electrocatalytic performances for the HER, including a positively shifted of onset potential, a lower overpotential, and a smaller Tafel slope, as compared to the conventional hydrothermally prepared HKUST‐1. The proposed electrodeposited synthesis strategy for MOF‐based electrocatalysts is fast, efficient, mild, and environmentally friendly. This work may also extend to other MOF materials and any conductive substrate, thus providing a facile strategy for the preparation of MOF‐based catalysts with high efficiency and low cost.
Photo‐Induced Depolymerisation: Recent Advances and Future Challenges
Authors: Chen Tao , Wang Huining , Chu Yingying , Boyer Cyrille , Liu Jingquan , Xu Jiangtao
Published: August 2019

Facing the growing environmental issues provoked by the use of nondegradable polymers in many fields (for example, packing, building, and clothing), tremendous efforts have been made to explore photodegradable materials to alleviate the increase in plastic pollution. Photodegradable materials would exploit significant advantages presented by the use of light, such as abundance, safety and the ability to easily tune intensity and wavelength. In particular, photo‐induced depolymerisation has received increasing attention, which could enable polymers to degrade to their original monomers or small molecules under certain photoirradiation conditions. Most importantly, the obtained molecules or monomers via photo‐induced depolymerisation could be conveniently recycled or further transformed to other high‐value‐added products, which is of great benefit for environmental protection. This Review summarizes recent advances in the growing field of photo‐induced depolymerisation and also considers future challenges that must be addressed. It aims to encourage new researchers to enter this flourishing area and presents a brief guide to the field.
Efficient Cyclization of the Norbornadiene‐Quadricyclane Interconversion Mediated by a Magnetic [Fe3O4−CoSalphen] Nanoparticle Catalyst
Authors: Luchs Tobias , Lorenz Patrick , Hirsch Andreas
Published: August 2019

We report a novel, inexpensive and effective process for the repeatable photoisomerization of norbornadiene (NBD) to its metastable isomer quadricyclane (QC), followed by catalytically induced strain energy release via back‐conversion of QC to NBD. By utilization of a quasi‐homogeneous catalyst based on magnetic core‐shell nanoparticles, tedious purification steps are avoided. The core of this material is comprised of Fe3O4 and a catalytically active cobalt(II) complex is anchored on the particle surface as a self‐assembled monolayer (SAM). These core‐shell nanoparticles [Fe3O4−CoSalphen] combine a high surface area of catalytically active molecules with straightforward separation by the action of an external magnetic field. In combination with the promising interconversion couple NBD1‐QC1, which features outstanding stability (t1/2=450 days at room temperature) and a high energy storage potential (88.34 kJ/mol), the nanoparticle catalyst [Fe3O4−CoSalphen] shows great potential for technical applications in molecular solar thermal (MOST) energy‐storage systems.
Influence of maturity on corporate social responsibility and sustainable innovation in business performance
Authors: Bacinello Edilson , Tontini Gérson , Alberton Anete
Published: August 2019

Models of maturity in corporate social responsibility (CSRM) and in sustainable innovation (SIM) allow us to evaluate how a company is evolved in a given area, so that it can trace a strategic path of improvements in the economic, social, and environmental dimensions. This study developed maturity models seeking to verify the influence of CSRM on the SIM and of these dimensions in the business performance (BP). The analysis, grounded on resource‐based theory, used structural equation modeling with a sample of 154 Brazilian companies. It was found that CSRM exerts influence on the SIM and that both positively influence the BP. The use of these models can assist companies in creating value, generating competitive advantage, and promoting superior performance.
Insight into the Anchoring and Catalytic Effects of VO2 and VS2 Nanosheets as Sulfur Cathode Hosts for Li–S Batteries
Authors: Wang Dashuai , Zhao Shou , Li Fei , He Li , Zhao Yingying , Zhao Hainan , Liu Yanhui , Wei Yingjin , Chen Gang
Published: August 2019

Transition metal oxides and sulfides have been intensively investigated as host materials for the S cathode in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries; however, the distinctions between them in battery operation have remained unclear. In this study, VO2 and VS2 nanosheets were systematically studied as host materials for Li–S batteries through theoretical calculations and experimental testing. First‐principles calculations demonstrated that VS2 showed more favorable properties, including the inherent semi‐metallic conductivity of VS2, moderate adsorption strength for Li2Sn, fast Li+ transport with a low diffusion barrier, and accelerated surface redox reactions with a low Li2S decomposition barrier. In comparison, the low electronic conductivity and strong adsorption strength of VO2 increased Li+ diffusion as well as Li2S decomposition barriers of the electrode, resulting in relatively poor rate capability and cycle stability. In experiments, the VS2@S electrode exhibited superior electrochemical performance compared with VO2@S, giving a large capacity of 713 mAh g−1 at 5 C and a low capacity fading rate of 0.13 % per cycle over 200 cycles at 1 C. The constructed relationships between S cathode and host materials could guide the future design of high‐performance S cathodes for Li–S batteries.
Human–Cougar interactions in the wildland–urban interface of Colorado's front range
Authors: Alldredge Mathew W. , Buderman Frances E. , Blecha Kevin A.
Published: August 2019

As human populations continue to expand across the world, the need to understand and manage wildlife populations within the wildland–urban interface is becoming commonplace. This is especially true for large carnivores as these species are not always tolerated by the public and can pose a risk to human safety. Unfortunately, information on wildlife species within the wildland–urban interface is sparse, and knowledge from wildland ecosystems does not always translate well to human‐dominated systems. Across western North America, cougars (Puma concolor) are routinely utilizing wildland–urban habitats while human use of these areas for homes and recreation is increasing. From 2007 to 2015, we studied cougar resource selection, human–cougar interaction, and cougar conflict management within the wildland–urban landscape of the northern Front Range in Colorado, USA. Resource selection of cougars within this landscape was typical of cougars in more remote settings but cougar interactions with humans tended to occur in locations cougars typically selected against, especially those in proximity to human structures. Within higher housing density areas, 83% of cougar use occurred at night, suggesting cougars generally avoided human activity by partitioning time. Only 24% of monitored cougars were reported for some type of conflict behavior but 39% of cougars sampled during feeding site investigations of GPS collar data were found to consume domestic prey items. Aversive conditioning was difficult to implement and generally ineffective for altering cougar behaviors but was thought to potentially have long‐term benefits of reinforcing fear of humans in cougars within human‐dominated areas experiencing little cougar hunting pressure. Cougars are able to exploit wildland–urban landscapes effectively, and conflict is relatively uncommon compared with the proportion of cougar use. Individual characteristics and behaviors of cougars within these areas are highly varied; therefore, conflict management is unique to each situation and should target individual behaviors. The ability of individual cougars to learn to exploit these environments with minimal human–cougar interactions suggests that maintaining older age structures, especially females, and providing a matrix of habitats, including large connected open‐space areas, would be beneficial to cougars and effectively reduce the potential for conflict.
Carryover effects of larval environment on individual variation in a facultatively diadromous fish
Authors: Saboret Grégoire , Ingram Travis
Published: August 2019

Intraspecific trait variation may result from “carryover effects” of variability of environments experienced at an earlier life stage. This phenomenon is particularly relevant in partially migrating populations composed of individuals with divergent early life histories. While many studies have addressed the causes of partial migration, few have investigated the consequences for between‐individual variability later in life.

We studied carryover effects of larval environment in a facultatively diadromous New Zealand fish, Gobiomorphus cotidianus, along an estuarine salinity gradient. We investigated the implications of varying environmental conditions during this critical stage of ontogeny for adult phenotype.

We inferred past environmental history of wild‐caught adult fish using otolith microchemistry (Sr/Ca) as a proxy for salinity. We tested for main and interactive effects of larval and adult environment on a suite of traits, including growth rates, behavior (exploration and activity), parasite load, and diet (stable isotopes and gut contents).

We found a Sr/Ca consistent with a continuum from freshwater to brackish environments, and with different trajectories from juvenile to adult habitat. Fish with Sr/Ca indicating upstream migration were more vulnerable to trematode infection, suggesting a mismatch to freshwater habitat. Diet analysis suggested an interactive effect of larval and adult environments on trophic position and diet preference, while behavioral traits were unrelated to environment at any life stage. Growth rates did not seem to be affected by past environment.

Overall, we show that early life environment can have multiple effects on adult performance and ecology, with the potential for lifetime fitness trade‐offs associated with life history. Our study highlights that even relatively minor variation in rearing conditions may be enough to generate individual variation in natural populations.
An Insight into Nitromethane as an Organic Nitrile Alternative Source towards the Synthesis of Aryl Nitriles
Authors: Saikia Rakhee , Dey Baruah Satyajit , Deka Ramesh C. , Thakur Ashim J. , Bora Utpal
Published: August 2019

Directed by an unusual in situ reduction of CuII, our protocol is a simple CuI‐mediated synthesis of aryl nitriles, with inexpensive and readily available nitromethane as the cyanating source, in moderate to good yields. Exhibiting a wide substrate scope, the method involves simple reaction conditions, is additive free with low catalyst loading. The plausible mechanism of cyanation of aryl halides is elucidated by a congregation of three cycles, namely the in situ reduction of CuII species by nitromethane, generation of HCN species from nitromethane and a regular organometallic pathway which releases the nitrile derivative. The detail of the mechanism of generation of CN– from nitromethane is computationally validated. Our protocol holds the distinction of involving a rarely encountered CuI catalytic species as well as facile in situ generation of nucleophilic CN– to yield synthetically useful aromatic nitriles.
Acyl and Benzyl‐C‐β‐D‐Glucosides: Synthesis and Biostudies for Glucose‐Uptake‐Promoting Activity in C2C12 Mytotubes
Authors: Reddy Mannem Rajeswara , Hemaiswarya Shanmugam , Kommidi Harikrishna , Aidhen Indrapal Singh , Doble Mukesh
Published: August 2019

A convenient and scalable synthetic approach has been developed for the synthesis of acyl‐C‐β‐d‐glucosides and benzyl‐C‐β‐d‐glucosides. The use of Weinreb‐amide (WA) functionality was crucial for this accomplishment as the other apparently capable alternatives, had severe limitations for the access to acyl‐C‐glucosides. The synthesized compounds, acyl and benzyl‐C‐glucosides promote glucose‐uptake activity in the C2C12 (mouse skeletal muscle) cell lines through PPAR‐γ mediated GLUT4 expression. The developed synthetic scheme for acyl‐and benzyl‐C‐β‐d‐glucosides and biostudies evaluating their activity as glucose‐uptake promoters are disclosed herein.
Catalyst‐ and Additive‐Free Chemoselective Transfer Hydrogenation of α‐Keto Amides to α‐Hydroxy Amides by Sodium Formate
Authors: Hao Feiyue , Gu Zhenyu , Liu Guyue , Yao Wubing , Jiang Huajiang , Wu Jiashou
Published: August 2019

A catalyst‐ and additive‐free chemoselective transfer hydrogenation of α‐keto amides to α‐hydroxy amides is easily achieved by using sodium formate as a hydrogen source. The utility of this method is demonstrated by gram‐scale synthesis and transformation of the resultant α‐hydroxy amides into polysubstituted acetamides and 2‐arylindole derivatives. Control experiments suggest that the NH group of α‐keto amides is crucial for the chemoselective reduction through the formation of hydrogen bonds.
The road warrior in admissions: Keeping staff happy and engaged
Authors: Eckert Erica L. , Taylor David A.
Published: August 2019

The role of an admissions counselor is generally perceived as an entry‐level position in the organization. Data suggests that around half of the traveling staff is in either their first full‐time job in admissions or higher education in general. Even with this reality, it is wise for directors and (assistant) vice presidents to be in tune with their satisfaction in the role. Many of these entry‐level staff will leave their position for another similar one somewhere else, rather than taking a position further up in the hierarchy. These types of personnel moves are less efficient for the candidate, and very inefficient for the institution of initial employment.
Researcher sheds light on combating summer melt
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: August 2019

Lindsay Page's research is helping college administrators realize they can devise more effective strategies to combat summer melt, which affects an estimated 10 to 20% of college‐intending students who veer off course in the summer before matriculating. Summer melt tends to have a disproportionate impact on low‐income and first‐generation students.
Two new classes of compactly supported radial basis functions for approximation of discrete and continuous data
Authors: Menandro Fernando César Meira
Published: August 2019

Radial basis functions (RBFs), first proposed for interpolation of scattered data, have gotten the scientific community interest in the past two decades, with applications ranging from interpolation with the dual reciprocity approach of the boundary element method to mesh‐free finite element applications. The use of compactly supported RBFs (CSRBFs) has spread due to their localization properties. However, the mathematical derivation of continuous polynomial functions for different continuity requirements can be quite cumbersome, and although a few classes of functions have already been proposed, there is still room for nonpolynomial trial functions. In this paper, two new classes of CSRBFs are presented for which the continuity requirements are guaranteed. To justify the novelty claim, a view of RBF literature is conducted. The first function class proposed consists of a combination of different inverse polynomial functions, similar to inverse quadric functions, and is thus called inverse class. The second class is called the rational class, in which the functions are obtained as a ratio of two polynomial functions. The proposed functions are used on an approximation software, which takes advantage of their simplicity. The results demonstrate the accuracy and convergence of the proposed functions when compared to some referenced CSRBFs.
Optoelectronic Properties and the Stability of Mixed MA1 − xIAxPbI3 Perovskites
Authors: Vega Erika , Mollar Miguel , Marí Bernabé
Published: August 2019

The current state‐of‐the‐art perovskite solar cell (PSC) reaches a certified power conversion efficiency of 24.2%. However, one of the main drawbacks of PSCs is their stability. The use of compositional engineering based on the combinations of anions and cations of the perovskite structure gives good results in terms of efficiency and stability. Guanidinium (GA) is successfully investigated as an additive in the MAPbI3 perovskite, improving structure, performance, and midterm stability. Similarly, among the cations that can form a 3D perovskite structure, imidazolium (IA) shows a large and favorable ionic radius (258 pm), in the upper limit of the tolerance factor. Herein, the stability and performance of perovskite‐based solar cells is studied when the methylammonium (MA) cation is gradually replaced with an IA cation in the precursor solution. Mixed MA/IA perovskites (MA1 − xIAxPbI3) are characterized by studying the effects of the IA incorporation on optoelectronic properties, film morphology, and crystal structure. X‐ray diffraction analyses establish the limit of solubility of IA at about 10%, and MA1 − xIAxPbI3 perovskites with an IA content of 6% show an improvement in crystallinity. Also, a study on the midterm stability of the mixed MA/IA perovskite is presented.
Experimental study of shear failure and crack propagation in water‐bearing coal samples
Authors: Tang Chuanjin , Yao Qiangling , Li Zhenyu , Zhang Yun , Ju Minghe
Published: August 2019

The design of dam bodies for underground reservoirs must account for how water affects shear failure and the evolution of fractures in coal pillars. In this work, we detect acoustic emissions in raw coal samples with different water content (0%, 5.35%, 17.88%, and 20.40%) and under uniaxial compression shear and use computed tomography to analyze the failed samples. The results show that the shear strength, shear displacement, cohesion, and internal friction angle all decrease with increasing water content, which is described by the revised Mohr‐Coulomb model for the case of water intrusion. The acoustic emission counts correlate strongly with the change in stress, and the cumulative acoustic emission counts are combined with shear stiffness to separate the fracture evolution process into five stages: crack closure, elastic deformation, stable crack propagation, unstable crack propagation, and failure. The ratios of the crack closure, initiation, and damage stress to the corresponding peak shear stress are essentially unaffected by the water content. Most cracks are tensile cracks, and an increase in the water content promotes the development of parallel fractures. These results are helpful for determining the size of coal pillars in underground reservoirs and for solving other underground engineering problems, such as support for water‐rich coal roadways.
Prediction of energy consumption: Variable regression or time series? A case in China
Authors: Li Yan
Published: August 2019

Energy consumption is closely related to industrial structure, economic prosperity, and population. Because of the Granger causal relationship between GDP and energy consumption, many researchers consider the regression method to predict energy consumption using economic variables. However, some other researchers regard the time series method (forecast) to estimate for energy consumption. To address the advantages and disadvantages of two methods in energy consumption prediction, we performed the deep learning (DL) based on the case of China. The experiment results show that the accuracy of time series forecast is much higher than regression methods. In addition, we also explored the relationship between industry, economy, population, and energy consumption. We found that GDP, population, secondary sector, and tertiary sector were significant to energy consumption. A tertiary sector can help to reduce energy consumption to some extent. This could give suggestions about changing industry structure. More and more attention has been paid to energy intensity. The strategic approach to sustainable development requires reducing energy intensity while developing the economy. Since China is committed to achieving carbon emission peak by 2030, this paper predicts the energy intensity of China in the next decade based on a DL algorithm. The prediction results show that energy intensity would slightly decrease in the next decade. Different types of energy represent the industrial structure behind economic growth. Therefore, this paper was conducted using ridge regression (RR) to explore the relationship between different types of energy and energy intensity. In addition, the effect (positive or negative) of different energy sources in reducing energy intensity has also been explored. We found that the best way of developing the economy and reducing energy consumption is to use natural gas and hydroelectric instead of coal. This can guide policy development about changing energy source structure.
When No One Notices: Disorders of Consciousness and the Chronic Vegetative State
Authors: Fins Joseph J.
Published: August 2019

On January 5, 2019, the Associated Press reported that a woman thought to have been in the vegetative state for over a decade gave birth at a Hacienda HealthCare facility. Until she delivered, the staff at the Phoenix center had not noticed that their patient was pregnant. The patient was also misdiagnosed.

Misdiagnosis of patients with disorders of consciousness in institutional settings is more the norm than the exception. Misdiagnosis is also connected to a broad and extremely significant change in the understanding of the vegetative state—a change that the field of bioethics has not yet fully taken into account. In September 2018, the American Academy of Neurology, the American College of Rehabilitation Medicine, and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research issued a comprehensive evidence‐based review on disorders of consciousness and an associated practice guideline on the care of these patients. These landmark publications update the 1994 Multi‐Society Task Force Report on the Vegetative State, which subcategorized the persistent vegetative state as either persistent (once the vegetative state lasted one month) or permanent (once the vegetative state lasted three months after anoxic injury or twelve months after traumatic injury). Noting that 20 percent of patients thought to be permanently unconscious might regain some level of consciousness, the new guideline has eliminated the permanent vegetative state as a diagnostic category, replacing it with the chronic vegetative state.
Clinical Trial Portfolios: A Critical Oversight in Human Research Ethics, Drug Regulation, and Policy
Authors: London Alex John , Kimmelman Jonathan
Published: August 2019

Regulators rely on clinical trials for drug approval and labeling decisions. Health systems and clinicians rely on the evidence from trials to determine treatment, and patients rely on it to decide which courses of care to undertake. Many of these stakeholders presume that the careful review of individual studies is enough to address the ethical and scientific questions that arise in clinical trials. In what follows, however, we demonstrate that explicit consideration of trial portfolios—series of trials that are interrelated by a common set of objectives—is crucial. the ethical acceptability and evidentiary probity of individual trials can change depending on the characteristics of the portfolios in which they are embedded. Second, how trial portfolios are composed, how well they are coordinated, and how efficiently they use information determines the balance of risks and benefits they present as well as their different prospects for generating socially valuable information; these three factors also raise distinct questions of justice.
Enhancement of Acid‐Catalyzed Esterification by the Addition of Base
Authors: Kihara Nobuhiro , Matsumoto Yasuhiro , Tsukamoto Shunsuke
Published: August 2019

General acid‐catalyzed reaction can be enhanced by the addition of base. Self‐catalyzed esterification of benzoic acid and octan‐1‐ol was enhanced by the addition of certain base such as imidazole. The rate of the esterification was accelerated as the concentration of imidazole increased. Trans‐esterification of 4‐nitrophenyl acetate was promoted in chloroform by the mixture of benzoic acid and imidazole, but not by benzoic acid or imidazole alone.
Time‐dependent flow due to noncoaxial rotation of an infinite vertical surface subjected to an exponential space‐dependent heat source: An exact analysis
Authors: Mahanthesh Basavarajappa , Ashlin Theres Stany , Gireesha Bijjanal Jayanna , Shehzad Sabir A. , Bashir Muhammad Nauman
Published: August 2019

The effect of an exponential space‐dependent heat source on heat and mass transfer flow of a viscous fluid past an infinite vertical plate is examined. The flow is generated due to noncoaxial rotation of the infinite plate. The noncoaxial rotation creates sine or cosine oscillation in its plane and the fluid at infinity. The flow is assumed to be laminar and time‐dependent. The mathematical formulation is developed by considering certain physical initial and boundary conditions. The Laplace transform method is utilized to obtain the exact solutions of the concentration, temperature as well as velocity fields. The Sherwood number, Nusselt number, and skin‐friction coefficient are also calculated and presented in tabular form for various embedded parameters. The velocity distributions are obtained for three different cases. The obtained analytical expressions are found to be identical with published results in the limiting sense.
Performance enhancement of swarm intelligence techniques in dementia classification using dragonfly‐based hybrid algorithms
Authors: Bharanidharan N. , Rajaguru Harikumar
Published: August 2019

Most often clinicians require automated computer‐aided MRI classification techniques to substantiate the status of dementia accurately. In this research paper, dragonfly‐based features are used to improve the accuracy of well‐known swarm intelligence algorithms specifically particle swarm optimization, artificial bee colony, and ant colony optimization in dementia classification. Cross‐sectional MRI of 65 non‐dementia and 52 dementia subjects were collected from the OASIS database and analyzed. The dementia classification performance of above‐mentioned three individual swarm intelligence algorithms is compared with non‐swarm intelligence algorithm—Fuzzy C means. A further comparison was made on the improvisation of above‐mentioned swarm intelligence algorithms while using dragonfly‐based features and Fuzzy C means‐based features. Although many swarm intelligence algorithms are reported in the literature, it is ingenious to use dragonfly‐based features for improving the performance of individual swarm intelligence algorithms in dementia classification. With proper weight parameters, Dragonfly‐particle swarm optimization hybrid classifier yields the highest accuracy of 87.18%, whereas all the above‐mentioned individual classifiers yield accuracy of less than 66%.
Improvement of PDMS surface biocompatibility is limited by the duration of oxygen plasma treatment
Authors: Amerian Mehrnaz , Amerian Mahshid , Sameti Mahyar , Seyedjafari Ehsan
Published: August 2019

The recent study focused on the improvement of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface biocompatibility as the most commonly used biomaterial in maxillofacial prostheses for intraoral defects. Biocompatibility enhances tissue‐prosthesis integration to prevent implant dislocation; to evaluate the parameter the study conducted at different times of oxygen plasma exposure. Scanning electron microscopy, contact angle measurement, atomic force microscopy and above all, cell cultivation—as a crucial factor in biocompatibility—carried out to investigate the samples’ characteristics. An improved PDMS biocompatibility is expected; referring to the fact that an “optimal range”—not necessarily the maximum values—of surface hydrophilicity and roughness could induce an enhanced cell attachment on the PDMS surface, an “optimum time” of O2 plasma exposure is required to meet this goal. Considering the O2 plasma setup items, the ratio of PDMS components and fabrication process in the current survey, 2.5‐min O2 plasma exposure well suited to PDMS surface cell adhesion.
Preparation of CoFe2O4/sawdust and NiFe2O4/sawdust magnetic nanocomposites for removal of oil from the water surface
Authors: Houshangi Azadeh , Jamehbozorgi Saeed , Yousefi Mohammad , Ghiasi Reza
Published: August 2019

In this study, CoFe2O4/Sawdust and NiFe2O4/Sawdust magnetic nanocomposites were synthesized using a hydrothermal method, and then characterized using X‐ray powder diffraction, Infrared, scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller/Barrett–Joyner–Halenda, and vibrating‐sample magnetometer techniques. In this study, unmodified sawdust (US), modified sawdust (MS), unmodified CoFe2O4/sawdust (UCS), modified CoFe2O4/sawdust (MCS), unmodified NiFe2O4/sawdust (UNS), and modified NiFe2O4/Sawdust (MNS) magnetic nanocomposites, which are inexpensive, economical, environmentally friendly absorbents, and have a high selective hydrophobic, were used for the removal of oil from the water surface. The results show that the UCS, MCS, UNS, and MNS magnetic nanocomposites can selectively absorb the oil spreading on the water surface, due to its superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity, and can be easily collected from water under the influence of a magnetic field. In addition, the results showed that the absorbents reach their equilibrium at the 30‐min mark. Among all the absorbents, the MNS magnetic nanocomposite showed the maximum absorption capacity (18.172 g/g) at the 40‐min mark. The results of the kinetic studies showed that the second‐order kinetic equation with the highest correlation coefficient had the best fit with the experimental results.