bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diel and infradian (7‐day) activity rhythms in Mexican spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) kept with and without visitor contact
Authors: Muñoz‐Delgado Jairo , Pérez‐Galicia Sergio , Sánchez‐Ferrer José Carlos , Canales Espinosa Domingo , Erkert Hans G.
Published: December 2018

Diel activity rhythms in mammals are regulated by an endogenous (circadian) timing system which is synchronized by environmental 24‐hr periodicities called zeitgebers. Additional direct responses to stochastic environmental factors ensure the fine‐tuning to the actual situation and may mask the circadian time course. Following an observational study on behavioral effects of visitor activities in a group of spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) kept free‐ranging on a small island of Lake Catemaco, Veracruz, Mexico, we analyzed the effect of weekly varying numbers of visiting tourist boats on the monkeys’ diel activity rhythm. With small accelerometer‐data logger devices we recorded the monkeys’ locomotor activity continuously for several months each. Then we compared the data with those from spider monkeys living without tourist contact. Neither the duration of the monkeys’ activity time (α) nor its phase relationship to the 24‐hr solar day did change on different weekdays in either site. However, their activity level showed a clear 7‐day rhythm. The monkeys of the tourist site showed highest activity on Saturday and Sunday, when the frequency of visiting tourist boats was highest, whereas those of the non‐tourist site were least active on Sunday and Monday, when human activities were lowest there. While the monkeys of the non‐tourist site usually displayed a distinct bimodal activity pattern peaking in the morning and late afternoon, the pattern in those of the tourist site mostly lacked a morning peak and varied more over time. Based on our results, we suggest that circadian entrainment is not involved in the differences between the diel activity rhythms of the spider monkeys from the two keeping sites and the differing 7‐day variation in their activity level. Rather, these differences seemingly reflect direct responses to the differing human activities and thus may correspond to circadian masking effects.
Treating Tumors at Low Drug Doses Using an Aptamer–Peptide Synergistic Drug Conjugate
Authors: Pusuluri Anusha , Krishnan Vinu , Lensch Valerie , Sarode Apoorva , Bunyan Elaine , Vogus Douglas R. , Menegatti Stefano , Soh H. Tom , Mitragotri Samir
Published: December 2018

Combination chemotherapy must strike a difficult balance between safety and efficacy. Current regimens suffer from poor therapeutic impact because drugs are given at their maximum tolerated dose (MTD), which compounds the toxicity risk and exposes tumors to non‐optimal drug ratios. A modular framework has been developed that selectively delivers drug combinations at synergistic ratios via tumor‐targeting aptamers for effective low‐dose treatment. A nucleolin‐recognizing aptamer was coupled to peptide scaffolds laden with precise ratios of doxorubicin (DOX) and camptothecin (CPT). This construct had an extremely low IC50 (31.9 nm) against MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells in vitro, and exhibited in vivo efficacy at micro‐dose injections (500 and 350 μg kg−1 dose−1 of DOX and CPT, respectively) that are 20–30‐fold lower than their previously‐reported MTDs. This approach represents a generalizable strategy for the safe and consistent delivery of combination drugs in oncology.
Constructing SrTiO3–TiO2 Heterogeneous Hollow Multi‐shelled Structures for Enhanced Solar Water Splitting
Authors: Wei Yanze , Wang Jiangyan , Yu Ranbo , Wan Jiawei , Wang Dan
Published: December 2018

Constructing hollow multi‐shelled structures (HoMSs) has a significant effect on promoting light absorption property of catalysts and enhancing their performance in solar energy conversion applications. A facile hydrothermal method is used to design the SrTiO3−TiO2 heterogeneous HoMSs by hydrothermal crystallization of SrTiO3 on the surface of the TiO2 HoMSs, which will realize a full coverage of SrTiO3 on the TiO2 surface and construct the SrTiO3/TiO2 junctions. The broccoli‐like SrTiO3−TiO2 heterogeneous HoMSs exhibited a fourfold higher overall water splitting performance of 10.6 μmol h−1 for H2 production and 5.1 μmol h−1 for O2 evolution than that of SrTiO3 nanoparticles and the apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of 8.6 % at 365 nm, which can be mainly attributed to 1) HoMS increased the light absorption ability of the constructed photocatalysts and 2) the SrTiO3−TiO2 junctions boosted the separation efficiency of the photogenerated charge carriers.
A Convenient and Versatile Amino‐Acid‐Boosted Biomimetic Strategy for the Nondestructive Encapsulation of Biomacromolecules within Metal–Organic Frameworks
Authors: Chen Guosheng , Huang Siming , Kou Xiaoxue , Wei Songbo , Huang Shuyao , Jiang Shuqi , Shen Jun , Zhu Fang , Ouyang Gangfeng
Published: December 2018

Herein, an amino‐acid‐boosted biomimetic strategy is reported that enabled the rapid encapsulation, or co‐encapsulation, of a broad range of proteins into microporous metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), with an ultrahigh loading efficiency. It relies on the accelerated formation of prenucleation clusters around proteins via a metallothionein‐like self‐assembly. The encapsulated proteins maintained their native conformations, and the structural confinement within porous MOFs endowed enzymes with excellent bioactivity, even in harsh conditions (e.g. in the presence of proteolytic or chemical agents or at high temperature). Furthermore, owing to the merits of nondestructive and protein surface charge‐independent encapsulation, the feasibility of this biomimetic strategy for biostorage, enzyme cascades, and biosensing was also verified. It is believed that this convenient and versatile encapsulation strategy has great promise in the important fields of biomedicine, catalysis, and biosensing.
Yolk–shell microspheres assembled from Preyssler‐type NaP5W30O11014− polyoxometalate and MIL‐101(Cr) metal–organic framework: A new inorganic–organic nanohybrid for fast and selective removal of cationic organic dyes from aqueous media
Authors: Hoseini Akram‐Alsadat , Farhadi Saeed , Zabardasti Abedin
Published: December 2018

Novel inorganic–organic yolk–shell microspheres based on Preyssler‐type NaP5W30O11014− polyoxometalate and MIL‐101(Cr) metal–organic framework (P5W30/MIL‐101(Cr)) were synthesized by reaction of K12.5Na1.5[NaP5W30O110], Cr(NO3)3·9H2O and terephthalic acid under hydrothermal conditions at 200°C for 24 h. The as‐prepared yolk–shell microspheres were fully characterized using various techniques. All analyses confirmed the incorporation of the Preyssler‐type NaP5W30O11014− polyoxometalate into the three‐dimensional porous MIL‐101(Cr) metal–organic framework. The results revealed that P5W30/MIL‐101(Cr) demonstrated rapid adsorption of cationic methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RhB) with ultrahigh efficiency and capacity, as well as achieving rapid and highly selective adsorption of MB from MB/MO (MO = methyl orange), MB/RhB and MB/RhB/MO mixtures. The P5W30/MIL‐101(Cr) adsorbent not only exhibited a high adsorption capacity of 212 mg g−1, but also could quickly remove 100% of MB from a dye solution of 50 mg l−1 within 8 min. The effects of some key parameters such as adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration and initial pH on dye adsorption were investigated in detail. The equilibrium adsorption data were better fitted by the Langmuir isotherm. The adsorption kinetics was well modelled using a pseudo‐second‐order model. Also, the inorganic–organic hybrid yolk–shell microspheres could be easily separated from the reaction system and reused up to four times without any change in structure or adsorption ability. The stability and robustness of the adsorbent were confirmed using various techniques.
Preventive maintenance for homogeneous and heterogeneous systems
Authors: Finkelstein Maxim , Levitin Gregory
Published: December 2018

We consider optimal preventive maintenance for homogeneous and heterogeneous systems with major (critical) and minor (noncritical) failures. A major failure results in a replacement of a failed system, whereas minor failures can be minimally instantaneously repaired. Distinct from the homogeneous case, where the process of minimal repairs is the Poisson process, the process of minimal repairs in the heterogeneous case is the mixed Poisson process that does not possess the memoryless property. This enables considering the number of minimal repairs as the decision parameter for the corresponding optimal preventive maintenance policy. The proposed approach is theoretically justified, and the detailed illustrative numerical examples are presented.
Das Museum ist nicht das Ende
Authors: Kayser Christian , Böttges Mark
Published: December 2018

Im Kontext denkmalpflegerischen Umgangs mit historischen Bauwerken stellen Freilichtmuseen einen Sonderfall dar. Die Umsetzung eines Baudenkmals in das Museum ist dabei in mehrfacher Hinsicht ein gravierender Eingriff. Der Transfer kann bspw. mit deutlich veränderten äußeren Beanspruchungen des Bauwerks einhergehen, etwa veränderten Schneelasten in dem Fall einer Umsetzung von einem Originalstandort im Flachland in ein höher gelegenes Museum. Wird beim Wiederaufbau die Ausrichtung des Bauwerks verändert, können bisher geschützte Fassadenabschnitte verstärkt der Witterung ausgesetzt sein. Ebenso bedingt die Museumsnutzung üblicherweise erheblich veränderte Ansätze für die auf das Binnengefüge anzusetzenden Verkehrslasten.

Diese Aspekte wurden in der Gründungsphase zahlreicher Museen fallweise nicht berücksichtigt. Die inzwischen erforderliche Baupflege und Instandsetzung an den musealisierten Gebäuden erfordert daher für diese Objekte eine statisch‐konstruktive Neubewertung bis hin zur Revision einzelner, beim Wiederaufbau getroffener Entscheidungen. Notwendige Ertüchtigungsmaßnahmen unterliegen im Kontext eines Freilichtmuseums besonderen Anforderungen und müssen sich in bestehende Ausstellungskonzepte einfügen.

Die besonderen Herausforderungen bei der Instandsetzung musealisierter Baudenkmäler werden anhand von zwei Fallbeispielen dargestellt.
Measuring decision‐making competence in Chinese adults
Authors: Peng Jiaxi , Feng Tian , Zhang Jiaxi , Zhao Luming , Zhang Yanjun , Chang Yi , Zhang Yu , Xiao Wei
Published: December 2018

In this study, we translated and localized the Adult Decision‐making Competence scale (A‐DMC) and tested its reliability and validity with large samples. Results show the Chinese A‐DMC has relatively good reliability (Cronbach's alpha above 0.6 and test–retest reliability coefficients ranging from 0.44 to 0.78 on all subscales), comparable with the original version. Regarding validity, results of exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis support the one‐factor model, indicating the A‐DMC has good internal consistency and construct validity. A‐DMC scores correlated positively with cognitive ability, constructive decision‐making styles, and good decision outcomes. Additionally, individuals with higher A‐DMC scores were found to perform better on the Cambridge gambling task and Iowa gambling task. These results confirm the validity of the Chinese version of the A‐DMC, which is suitable for measuring decision‐making competence in Chinese adults.
The convenient use of fluorescamine for spectrofluorimetric determination of midodrine hydrochloride in pure form and its tablets formulation: Application to content uniformity testing
Authors: Omar Mahmoud A. , Nagy Dalia M. , Halim Monica E.
Published: December 2018

A novel sensitive and simple spectrofluorimetric method was developed then validated for determination of midodrine in both its authentic pure form and its tablets. This method is based on the reaction between midodrine's aliphatic primary amine moiety with fluorescamine reagent, using borate buffer at pH 7.8 and yielding a highly fluorescent product whose fluorescence intensity was measured at 462 nm after excitation at 388 nm. This method represents the first attempt for determination of midodrine spectrofluorimetrically. A calibration curve was constructed showing that the linear range was 0.2–3.0 μg/ml. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation values were 0.06 and 0.19 μg/ml respectively. The correlation coefficient (r) and the determination coefficient (r2) values were 0.9992 and 0.9984 respectively. The proposed method was validated according to ICH guidelines and successfully applied for determination of midodrine in its tablets with an overall % recovery of 99.56 ± 0.95. Finally, the presented method was adapted to study the content uniformity test according to United States Pharmacopeia guidelines.
Reflections on the contribution of petroleum revenues to the implementation of Ghana's national medium‐term development strategy
Authors: Ackah Ishmael , Salifu Nashiru
Published: December 2018

Since independence, the political and planning processes in Ghana have evolved to reflect modern development dynamics. The discovery of oil in commercial quantities was yet another opportunity to transform the country through consolidated development plans and fast track the rate of inclusive development. The recent development framework, Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA I AND II) coincided with the initial stages of oil production.

This paper seeks to: (i) ascertain the extent to which the revenue accruing from oil production has been used to boost human and infrastructural development; (ii) the contribution of oil revenue in closing funding gap present in the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA I and II), and (iii) the extent to which expenditure from oil revenues were in line with the GGSGDA (I and II) 2010–2017. Regarding the first objective, the paper finds that oil investment was significant in the rail (72%) and housing (75%) sectors; medium in the road sector (17.6%) but poor in water (3%), ports development (0%) and educational (2%) sectors. Overall, the average contribution to core infrastructural development is found to be around 8%. Regarding the second objective, the paper finds that the contribution of oil revenue to bridging the funding gap in critical infrastructure is only 6.7%. Concerning the third objective, the research finds some mismatch between the use of oil revenue and the objectives of the GSGDA (I and II).

The study therefore, recommends fiscal discipline, investment guidelines, proper budget execution, and prudent spending of oil revenues.
Exploratory study of international Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives of Indian firms
Authors: Bhattacharyya Som Sekhar
Published: December 2018

Internationalization of business has become an emergent reality of emerging economy firms like from China and India. Through internationalization initiatives, firms expand its product market scope beyond domestic boundaries. Sociological theory of the firm posits that firms are embedded in society. Given the tenets of stakeholder theory, a firm has to address stakeholder issues even in the context of foreign countries post international expansion. In this research, the author conducted in‐depth interviews of 34 Indian CSR managers who have been involved in international CSR operations. The data were thematic, intensity, and relational content analyzed for insights. Findings related to both international CSR planning and implementation. The key findings indicated that Indian firms were more inclined to replicate in foreign contexts their CSR activities, which were being carried out domestically. Most international CSR decisions were planned and administered from Indian home CSR office. The nature of resources and capabilities that Indian firms deployed in foreign countries were mostly of Indian origin. Further, the defining processes involved in the management of international CSR were majorly designed by Indian home CSR office.
Payments for ecosystem services and corporate social responsibility: Perspectives on sustainable production, stakeholder relations, and philanthropy in Thailand
Authors: Thompson Benjamin S.
Published: December 2018

Payments for ecosystem services (PES) are environmental management tools that enable corporations to simultaneously enhance their environmental performance and fund sustainable development in rural areas. PES is primarily promoted as part of a sustainable production strategy for conserving natural resources, offsetting carbon emissions, and green supply chain management. Nevertheless, PES uptake by the private sector remains low, and few studies have analysed whether corporate‐financed PES schemes conform to this rationale. This study evaluates three of the first PES schemes in Thailand, financed by large corporations in the water utilities, aquaculture, and beverage sectors. Interviews with 39 business managers and project stakeholders suggest that PES may be viewed as a tool for philanthropy, public relations, and gaining license to operate—akin to many corporate social responsibility initiatives. Explanations and ramifications are discussed in the context of ecological uncertainty, risk management, financial performance, organisational learning, and the corporate‐engagement strategies of non‐governmental organisations.
The complex collision of care, informed consent, and double effect: Considerations and guidelines
Authors: Goldman Victoria , Kole Jonathan , Hunt Jeffrey
Published: December 2018

“I know it's ‘hurting’ my kidney, but I've never felt anything … so it'll be fine.” This patient with bipolar I and autism spectrum disorder nonchalantly deflects attempts to describe risks of her low‐dose lithium. Her psychiatric history details multiple admissions and failed trials of non‐lithium mood stabilizers, atypical antipsychotics, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). How does one proceed when a young adult with diminished capacity and bipolar refractory to non‐lithium treatments develops kidney injury?
Increases in ED admissions for suicide issues among children and adolescents much greater than for adults
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: December 2018

Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts for youth present very differently than for adults, and clinicians should be vigilant in looking for risk factors, researchers have found. For the study, published in the Journal of Pediatrics, researchers examined the trends associated with child and adolescent suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, and compared them with adults. They found that risk is particularly great during the school year.
AAP reaffirms: Spanking doesn't work and is harmful to mental health
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: December 2018

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reiterated the harmful and ineffective nature of spanking, noting that new evidence suggests that spanking may cause harm by affecting normal brain development. The policy statement, “Effective Discipline to Raise Healthy Children,” was published in the December 2018 issue of Pediatrics. It also addresses the harm associated with verbal punishment, such as shaming or humiliation.
Influence of Carbon and Oxygen Chemical Potentials on the Hydrogen Donor Identity During Methanation on Ni, Co, and Ni‐Co Clusters
Authors: Lachkov Petar T. , Chin Ya‐Huei (Cathy)
Published: December 2018

Rate measurements in the kinetically controlled regime and equilibrium carbon and oxygen chemical titrations show two distinct mechanistic paths during COx methanation reactions on first‐row transition metal clusters. On Ni and, for a limiting set of conditions, Ni−Co clusters, the reaction occurs via the addition of a hydrogen adatom into CH3* intermediates on clusters partially covered with carbon. On Co and, in a subset of conditions, Ni−Co clusters, it occurs via the donation of hydrogen from OH* to CH3* on clusters partially covered with reactive oxygen adatoms (O*). The [CO]2‐to‐[CO2] and [CO2]‐to‐[CO] operating ratios are the surrogates of carbon and oxygen chemical potentials, respectively, as a consequence of water‐gas shift equilibration. These ratios, together with the carbon and oxygen binding energies, determine the relative surface coverages of carbon and oxygen, the involvement of H* vs. OH* in the kinetically‐relevant step, and in turn, the rate dependencies. Stronger carbon and oxygen binding energies lead to more stabilized transition states of the kinetically relevant steps and larger methanation rates.
Carbon Catalyzed Hydroxylation of Benzene with Dioxygen to Phenol over Surface Carbonyl Groups
Authors: Shan Wanjian , Li Shuai , Cai Xiaochun , Zhu Jie , Zhou Yu , Wang Jun
Published: December 2018

Carbon materials are promising environmentally‐benign heterogeneous catalysts but design of effective carbon catalysts with comparable or even superior performance to metal‐based ones is highly challengeable. Herein, N‐doped mesoporous carbons with the surface enriched with abundant oxygen species were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal doping strategy in the self‐assembly of phenolic resin, followed with a carbonization process. Direct hydroxylation of benzene to phenol with O2 as the sole oxidant was effectively catalyzed by these carbons, affording a yield superior or comparable to previous efficient transition metal and even noble metal‐based catalysts. The catalyst is facilely recovered and stably reused. The surface carbonyl groups are the active sites for O2 activation (rate determining step) to generate hydroxyl radicals, which are the reactive oxygen species to oxidize the benzene. This methodology is readily extendable to the oxidation of various other benzene derivatives.
Borylated N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes: Rearrangement and Chemical Trapping
Authors: Kristinsdóttir Lilja , Vasko Petra , Niu Haoyu , Kolychev Eugene L. , Campos Jesús , Fuentes M. Ángeles , Hicks Jamie , Thompson Amber L. , Aldridge Simon
Published: December 2018

This study details attempts to access N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) featuring the diazaborolyl group, {(HCNDipp)2B}, as one or both of the N‐bound substituents, to generate strongly electron‐donating and sterically imposing new carbene ligands. Attempts to isolate N‐heterocyclic carbenes based around imidazolylidene or related heterocycles, are characterized by facile N‐to‐C migration of the boryl substituent. In the cases of imidazolium precursors bearing one N‐bound diazaborolyl group and one methyl substituent, deprotonation leads to the generation of the target carbenes, which can be characterized in situ by NMR measurements, and trapped by reactions with metal fragments and elemental selenium. The half‐lives of the free carbenes at room temperature range from 4–50 h (depending on the pattern of ancillary substituents) with N‐to‐C2 migration of the boryl function being shown to be the predominant rearrangement pathway. Kinetic studies show this to be a first‐order process that occurs with an entropy of activation close to zero. DFT calculations imply that an intramolecular 1,2‐shift is mechanistically feasible, with calculated activation energies of the order of 90–100 kJ mol−1, reflecting the retention of significant aromatic character in the imidazole ring in the transition state. Trapping of the carbene allows for evaluation of steric and electronic properties through systems of the type LAuCl, LRh(CO)2Cl, and LSe. A highly unsymmetrical (but nonetheless bulky) steric profile and moderately enhanced σ‐donor capabilities (compared with IMes) are revealed.
Cobalt‐Catalyzed Hiyama‐Type C−H Activation with Arylsiloxanes: Versatile Access to Highly ortho‐Decorated Biaryls
Authors: Bu Qingqing , Gońka Elżbieta , Kuciński Krzysztof , Ackermann Lutz
Published: December 2018

Versatile direct Hiyama‐type C−H arylations of benzamides were accomplished with organosiloxanes by chelation‐assisted cobalt catalysis. The C−H arylation featured broad substrate scope, including challenging C(sp3)−H activation, the use of γ‐valerolactone as biomass‐derived solvent, and selectively provided the desired biaryls, even when being highly sterically hindered.
The energy carriers hydrogen, natural gas and liquefied gas in comparism
Authors: Grofe Theodor , Rubner Isabel
Published: December 2018

Die Energieversorgung ist gesellschaftlich und auch schulisch ein spannendes und relevantes Themenfeld. In diesem Artikel wird eine vergleichende Untersuchung der drei Energieträger Wasserstoff, Erdgas und Autogas hinsichtlich ihrer Verbrennungsenthalpien mit einfachen Schulexperimenten vorgestellt. Dabei werden die massenbezogene und die volumenbezogene bzw. stoffmengenbezogene Energiedichte in den Blick genommen, die sich jeweils unterscheiden. Die Experimente sind mit sehr einfachen Mitteln durchführbar und eignen sich als Schülerübungen sowie als Demonstrationsversuche.
“Colourful energy“ from the Caribbean – a hybrid redox flow battery with Blue Curaçao
Authors: Novotny Jana , Quarthal Dominik , Solovev Andreas , Oetken Marco
Published: December 2018

Der folgende Beitrag zeigt, wie mit einem einfachen Aufbau eine für die Schule sehr effiziente Hybrid‐Redox‐Flow‐Batterie realisiert werden kann. Die Implementierung des so zukunftweisenden Themenfeldes der modernen Speichermedien ist ein Paradebeispiel für eine curriculare Innovation und sollte bereits in die Lehrpläne der Schulen erfolgen, da hier häufig entscheidende Weichen hinsichtlich der Berufswahl gestellt werden und der Fortbestand unserer auf Naturwissenschaft und Technik beruhenden Industriegesellschaft und das Wohl ihrer Menschen in höchstem Maße von der Qualifizierung der jungen Menschen abhängig sind. Zur höheren Motivation der Schülerinnen und Schüler wurde ein auf Blue Curaçao basierter Katholyt eingesetzt. Durch die Verwendung dieser „Alltagschemikalie“ und des am „state of the art“ anknüpfenden Themenfeldes „Redox‐Flow‐Batterien“ kann ein Lebensweltbezug der Lernenden im Unterricht erzeugt werden, welcher den Beliebtheitsgrad des Chemieunterrichts steigern soll.
Synthesis, Electrochemical and Photochemical Studies on π‐Extended Mono‐β‐Functionalized Porphyrin Dyads
Authors: Prakash Kamal , Sankar Muniappan , Seetharaman Sairaman , D'Souza Francis
Published: December 2018

A series of π‐conjugated mono‐β‐functionalized donor−acceptor porphyrin dyads (1–4) with various donor groups (phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl and pyrenyl) and their metal complexes (M=Zn(1 a–4 a), Cu(1 b–4 b), Co(1 c–4 c) and Ni(1 d–4 d)) were synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. A modified one‐step Horner‐Wadsworth‐Emmons reaction was performed on monoformyl porphyrin to get ethenyl‐linked mono‐β‐porphyrin dyads in good to excellent yields (70–90 %). Red‐shifted absorption and emission spectra were observed as compared to unsubstituted pristine tetraphenylporphyrins due to π‐extended donors. Time‐resolved fluorescence studies confirmed the effective intramolecular Förster energy transfer from the donor moiety to the porphyrin core in anthracene‐ and pyrene‐appended porphyrin dyads. DFT and TD‐DFT optimization signified that the orientation of the donor and acceptor plays a vital role in energy transfer as co‐planarity of the donor with the porphyrin core increases the energy transfer efficiency. The distribution of electron density on HOMOs and LUMOs indicated an excitation energy transfer (EET) mechanism from the donor moiety to the porphyrin acceptor core. All porphyrin dyads exhibited a cathodic shift in their oxidation potential suggesting facile oxidation of the porphyrin core due to π‐extension and the presence of electron‐donating moieties. Finally, femtosecond transient absorption spectral studies were performed to secure evidence of excitation transfer and kinetic information of the energy transfer event in the dyads.
Rapid Assessment of Mitochondrial Complex I Activity and Metabolic Phenotyping of Breast Cancer Cells by NAD(p)H Cytometry
Authors: Ramanujan V Krishnan
Published: December 2018

Cancer cells are known to display a variety of metabolic reprogramming strategies to fulfill their own growth and proliferative agenda. With the advent of high resolution imaging strategies, metabolomics techniques, and so forth, there is an increasing appreciation of critical role that tumor cell metabolism plays in the overall breast cancer (BC) growth. In this report, we demonstrate a sensitive, flow‐cytometry‐based assay for rapidly assessing the metabolic phenotypes in isolated suspensions of breast cancer cells. By measuring the temporal variation of NAD(p)H signals in unlabeled, living cancer cells, and by measuring mitochondrial membrane potential {Δψm} in fluorescently labeled cells, we demonstrate that these signals can reliably distinguish the metabolic phenotype of human breast cancer cells and can track the cellular sensitivity to drug candidates. We further show the utility of this metabolic ratio {Δψm/NAD(p)H} in monitoring mitochondrial functional improvement as well as metabolic heterogeneity in primary murine tumor cells isolated from tumor biopsies. Together, these results demonstrate a novel possibility for rapid metabolic functional screening applications as well as a metabolic phenotyping tool for determining drug sensitivity in living cancer cells. © 2018 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Combining active restoration and targeted grazing to establish native plants and reduce fuel loads in invaded ecosystems
Authors: Porensky Lauren M. , Perryman Barry L. , Williamson Matthew A. , Madsen Matthew D. , Leger Elizabeth A.
Published: December 2018

Many drylands have been converted from perennial‐dominated ecosystems to invaded, annual‐dominated, fire‐prone systems. Innovative approaches are needed to disrupt fire‐invasion feedbacks. Targeted grazing can reduce invasive plant abundance and associated flammable fuels, and fuelbreaks can limit fire spread. Restored strips of native plants (native greenstrips) can function as fuelbreaks while also providing forage and habitat benefits. However, methods for establishing native greenstrips in invaded drylands are poorly developed. Moreover, if fuels reduction and greenstrip establishment are to proceed simultaneously, it is critical to understand how targeted grazing interacts with plant establishment. We determined how targeted grazing treatments interacted with seed rate, spatial planting arrangement (mixtures vs. monoculture strips), seed coating technology, and species identity (five native grasses) to affect standing biomass and seeded plant density in experimental greenstrips. We monitored for two growing seasons to document effects during the seedling establishment phase. Across planting treatments, ungrazed paddocks had the highest second‐year seeded plant densities and the highest standing biomass. Paddocks grazed in fall of the second growing season had fewer seedlings than paddocks grazed in spring, five months later. High seed rates minimized negative effects of grazing on plant establishment. Among seeded species, Elymus trachycaulus and Poa secunda had the highest second‐year densities, but achieved this via different pathways. Elymus trachycaulus produced the most first‐year seedlings, but declined in response to grazing, whereas P. secunda had moderate first‐year establishment but high survival across grazing treatments. We identified clear tradeoffs between reducing fuel loads and establishing native plants in invaded sagebrush steppe; similar tradeoffs may exist in other invaded drylands. In our system, tradeoffs were minimized by boosting seed rates, using grazing‐tolerant species, and delaying grazing. In invaded ecosystems, combining targeted grazing with high‐input restoration may create opportunities to limit wildfire risk while also shifting vegetation toward more desirable species.
Eusociality outcompetes egalitarian and solitary strategies when resources are limited and reproduction is costly
Authors: Fronhofer Emanuel A. , Liebig Jürgen , Mitesser Oliver , Poethke Hans Joachim
Published: December 2018

Explaining the evolution and maintenance of animal groups remains a challenge. Surprisingly, fundamental ecological factors, such as resource variance and competition for limited resources, tend to be ignored in models of cooperation. We use a mathematical model previously developed to quantify the influence of different group sizes on resource use efficiency in egalitarian groups and extend its scope to groups with severe reproductive skew (eusocial groups). Accounting for resource limitation, the model allows calculation of optimal group sizes (highest resource use efficiency) and equilibrium population sizes in egalitarian as well as eusocial groups for a broad spectrum of environmental conditions (variance of resource supply). We show that, in contrast to egalitarian groups, eusocial groups may not only reduce variance in resource supply for survival, thus reducing the risk of starvation, they may also increase variance in resource supply for reproduction. The latter effect allows reproduction even in situations when resources are scarce. These two facets of eusocial groups, resource sharing for survival and resource pooling for reproduction, constitute two beneficial mechanisms of group formation. In a majority of environmental situations, these two benefits of eusociality increase resource use efficiency and lead to supersaturation—a strong increase in carrying capacity. The increase in resource use efficiency provides indirect benefits to group members even for low intra‐group relatedness and may represent one potential explanation for the evolution and especially the maintenance of eusociality and cooperative breeding.
A practical introduction to microbial molecular ecology through the use of isolation chips
Authors: Alessi Anna M. , Redeker Kelly R. , Chong James P. J.
Published: December 2018

In the context of antimicrobial resistance as one of the most serious issues faced globally by health providers, we explored a practical introduction to molecular microbial ecology. We designed field work and practical experiments for third year members of a 4 year undergraduate Masters Program, in which the students employed traditional and novel isolation techniques to identify antimicrobial activities from soil dwelling microorganisms. Students gained experience in isolating DNA from complex microbial communities, amplifying 16S rRNA genes and applied richness/diversity indices as well as principal coordinate analyses to the interpretation of the data they obtained from high throughput sequencing. Our results confirmed that isolation chips facilitate the growth of a greater diversity and different species subset from the complex soil microorganism community than traditional plate spreading techniques. However, rarefaction of 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing data showed that the majority of observed species in soil remain unculturable by current methods. Based on the written reports produced by the students carrying out the work, we concluded that the described protocols are robust and informative, that these activities provide a good practical introduction to the theories and practice of molecular ecology and can be easily deployed to groups of six or more students in a cost‐effective manner.
Effects of a presumably protective endosymbiont on life‐history characters and their plasticity for its host aphid on three plants
Authors: Li Shirong , Liu Deguang , Zhang Rongfang , Zhai Yingting , Huang Xianliang , Wang Da , Shi Xiaoqin
Published: December 2018

Hamiltonella defensa is well known for its protective roles against parasitoids for its aphid hosts, but its functional roles in insect‐plant interactions are less understood. Thus, the impact of H. defensa infections on life‐history characters and the underlying genetic variation for the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (Fabricius), was explored on three plants (i.e., wheat, oat, and rye). Compared to cured lines, H. defensa infected lines of S. avenae had lower fecundity on wheat and oat, but not on rye, suggesting an infection cost for the aphid on susceptible host plants. However, when tested on rye, the infected lines showed a shorter developmental time for the nymphal stage than corresponding cured lines, showing some benefit for S. avenae carrying the endosymbiont on resistant host plants. The infection of H. defensa altered genetic variation underlying its host S. avenea’s life‐history characters, which was shown by differences in heritabilities and genetic correlations of life‐history characters between S. avenae lines infected and cured of the endosymbiont. This was further substantiated by disparity in G‐matrices of their life‐history characters for the two types of aphid lines. The G‐matrices for life‐history characters of aphid lines infected with and cured of H. defensa were significantly different from each other on rye, but not on oat, suggesting strong plant‐dependent effects. The developmental durations of infected S. avenae lines showed a lower plasticity compared with those of corresponding cured lines, and this could mean higher adaptability for the infected lines.Overall, our results showed novel functional roles of a common secondary endosymbiont (i.e., H. defensa) in plant‐insect interactions, and its infections could have significant consequences for the evolutionary ecology of its host insect populations in nature.
Near‐complete genome assembly and annotation of the yellow drum (Nibea albiflora) provide insights into population and evolutionary characteristics of this species
Authors: Han Zhaofang , Li Wanbo , Zhu Wen , Sun Sha , Ye Kun , Xie Yangjie , Wang Zhiyong
Published: December 2018

Yellow drum (Nibea albiflora) is an important fish species in capture fishery and aquaculture in East Asia. We herein report the first and near‐complete genome assembly of an ultra‐homologous gynogenic female yellow drum using Illumina short sequencing reads. In summary, a total of 154.2 Gb of raw reads were generated via whole‐genome sequencing and were assembled to 565.3 Mb genome with a contig N50 size of 50.3 kb and scaffold N50 size of 2.2 Mb (BUSCO completeness of 97.7%), accounting for 97.3%–98.6% of the estimated genome size of this fish. We further identified 22,448 genes using combined methods of ab initio prediction, RNAseq annotation, and protein homology searching, of which 21,614 (96.3%) were functionally annotated in NCBI nr, trEMBL, SwissProt, and KOG databases. We also investigated the nucleotide diversity (around 1/390) of aquacultured individuals and found the genetic diversity of the aquacultured population decreased due to inbreeding. Evolutionary analyses illustrated significantly expanded and extracted gene families, such as myosin and sodium: neurotransmitter symporter (SNF), could help explain swimming motility of yellow drum. The presented genome will be an important resource for future studies on population genetics, conservation, understanding of evolutionary history and genetic breeding of the yellow drum and other Nibea species.
Sustainability governance in public administration: Interpreting practical governance arrangements in Swiss cantons
Authors: Bornemann Basil , Christen Marius
Published: December 2018

In order to play a key role in the governance of societal change towards sustainability, public administrations need to transform their own ways of working, that is, their internal governance. This paper complements existing research on sustainability governance in public administration that focuses on formal institutions and instruments with a practice‐oriented interpretive perspective. Drawing on an open analytical framework and using qualitative document and interview analyses, the paper reconstructs sustainability governance in public administrations from the perspective of the actors responsible for the task, that is, sustainability officers. Based on detailed case studies on sustainability governance in six Swiss cantons, four ideal types of sustainability governance are derived, which help to better structure the empirical variety of practical sustainability governance arrangements. The results show that sustain‐ability governance is designed and implemented “on the ground” in a variety of ways, with overall diversity being confined. Both research and practice can benefit from such a conceptually and empirically enriched image of sustainability governance in public administrations.
Batch‐injection Amperometric Analysis on Screen‐printed Electrodes: Analytical System for High‐throughput Determination of Pharmaceutical Molecules
Authors: Stefano Jéssica S. , Dias Aline C. , Arantes Iana V. S. , Costa Brenda M. C. , Silva Luiz A. J. , Richter Eduardo M. , Banks Craig E. , Munoz Rodrigo A. A.
Published: December 2018

This work presents a single analytical system able to perform high‐throughput determinations of different pharmaceutical molecules on screen‐printed electrodes (SPEs) assembled on a batch‐injection analysis (BIA) cell. Two types of SPEs, both containing a carbon conductive ink as working electrode, were selected for the determination of levamisole (LVM) in aqueous and sodium levothyroxine (NaLVT) in hydroethanolic media. The main analytical characteristics of the proposed system for both examples are high precision (RSD <3.8 %, n=10), low detection limits (submicromolar range), and high sample‐throughput (>150 h−1) using a single SPE, demonstrating the extended lifetime of such sensors, which are adequate for routine pharmaceutical analysis. The proposed analytical system requires battery‐powered portable devices, including potentiostat and reader, electronic micropipette, BIA cell and SPEs, and can be applied for a wide range of pharmaceutical molecules. In case of analyte adsorption on electrode surface, fast electrode cleaning can be supplied by external stirring easily adapted to the cell, which is demonstrated in this work for NaLVT determination.
Theoretical Contribution towards Understanding Specific Behaviour of “Simple” Protein‐film Reactions in Square‐wave Voltammetry
Authors: Gulaboski Rubin
Published: December 2018

Surface reactions of uniformly adsorbed redox molecules at working electrode surface are seen as adequate models to studying chemical reactivity of many lipophilic enzymes. When considered under pulse voltammetric techniques, these systems show several uncommon features, whose origin is still not completely clear. The phenomena of “quasireverible maximum”, “splitting” of the net peak in square‐wave voltammetry, and the very steep descent of Faradaic currents of simple surface redox reactions exhibiting fast electron transfer are just some of the features that make these systems quite interesting for further elaborations. In this work, we present a set of theoretical calculations under conditions of square‐wave voltammetry in order try to explain some of aforementioned phenomena. The major goal of our work is to get insight to some voltammetric and chrono‐amperometric features of two considered surface reactions, i. e. (1) the “simple” surface redox reaction, and (2) surface redox reaction coupled to follow‐up irreversible chemical reaction of electrochemically generated redox species (or surface ECirr). We focus on the role of created Red(ads) (here in the reduction pulses only) to the current components of calculated square‐wave voltammograms exhibiting fast electrode reaction. We show that the irreversible chemical removal of electrochemically generated Red(ads) species, created in the potential pulses where half‐reaction of reduction Ox(ads)+ne‐−→Red(ads) is “defined” to take place, causes significant increase of all square‐wave current components. The results presented in this work show how complex the chrono‐amperometric features of surface redox reactions under pulse voltammetric conditions might be. In addition, we point out that both half reactions of a given simple surface redox process can occur, at both, “only reduction” and “only oxidation” potential pulses in square‐wave voltammetry. This, in turn, contributes to the occurrence of many phenomena observed in simple protein‐film voltammetry reactions. The effects of chemical reaction rate to the features of calculated square‐wave voltammograms of surface ECirr systems with fast electrode reaction are reported for the first time in this work.
Spatiotemporal expression and inhibition of prolyl oligopeptidase contradict its involvement in key pathologic mechanisms of kainic acid–induced temporal lobe epilepsy in rats
Authors: Ali Idrish , Van Eetveldt Annemie , Van Elzen Roos , Kalathil Raju Tom , Van Der Veken Pieter , Lambeir Anne‐Marie , Dedeurwaerdere Stefanie
Published: December 2018

Objective

Prolyl oligopeptidase (PREP) has been implicated in neuroinflammatory processes and neuroplasticity and has been suggested as a target for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease. The aim of this investigation was to explore the involvement of PREP in the neuropathologic mechanisms relevant to temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) using a PREP inhibitor in a well‐established rat model.

Methods

PREP activity and expression was studied in Sprague‐Dawley rats 2 and 12 weeks following kainic acid–induced status epilepticus (KASE). Continuous video‐electroencephalography monitoring was performed for 2 weeks in the 12‐week cohort to identify a relationship of PREP expression/activity with epileptic seizures. In addition, the animals included in the 2‐week time point were treated with a specific inhibitor of PREP, KYP‐2047, or saline continuously, starting immediately after SE. PREP activity and its expression were analyzed in rat brain by using enzyme kinetics and western blot. In addition, markers for microglial activation, astrogliosis, cell loss, and cell proliferation were evaluated.

Results

Enzymatic activity of PREP was unchanged following induction of SE after 2 and 12 weeks in rats. PREP activity in epileptic rats did not relate to the number of seizures/day at the 12‐week time point. Moreover, continuous inhibition of PREP for 2 weeks after KASE did not alter the SE‐mediated neuroinflammatory response, cell loss, or cell proliferation in the hippocampal subgranule zone measured at the 2‐week time point.

Significance

PREP inhibition does not affect key pathologic mechanisms, including activation of glial cells, cell loss, and neural progenitor cell proliferation, in this KASE model of TLE. The results do not support a direct role of PREP in seizure burden during the chronic epilepsy period in this model.