bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cooking‐Inspired Versatile Design of an Ultrastrong and Tough Polysaccharide Hydrogel through Programmed Supramolecular Interactions
Authors: Wang Lili , Zhang Xiansheng , Xia Yanzhi , Zhao Xianwei , Xue Zhixin , Sui Kunyan , Dong Xia , Wang Dujin
Published: August 2019

Simultaneously achieving strength and toughness in soft materials remains a challenge, especially for physically crosslinked hydrogels with many inactive interaction sites. In this work, inspired by the cooking of thick soup in China, a facile method that includes free water evaporation of the diluted pregel solution followed by crosslinking (WEC) is proposed to fabricate polysaccharide hydrogels. Herein, without the constraints of viscosity and crosslinking, polymer chains can homogenously approach as much as possible, thereby enabling the transformation of inactive supramolecular interaction (H‐bonding and ionic coordination) sites into active sites until reaching the maximum level. Through facilely tuning the concentrating degree, programmed supramolecular interactions, serving as energy‐dissipating sacrificial bonds, impart the hydrogels with strength and toughness over a very wide range, where a “ductile‐to‐tough” transition is discovered to occur first. Using WEC in alginate, the concentration can be as high as 25 wt% without sacrificing processing ability, a result that is significantly beyond common value (3–7 wt%), and the extremely stiff and tough hydrogels are obtained, superior to isotropic alginate hydrogels ever reported. This research offers a facile and versatile strategy to fabricate isotropic polysaccharide hydrogels, which become ideal matrix materials for further fabrication of hybrid or anisotropic hydrogels.
A Long‐Cycle‐Life Lithium–CO2 Battery with Carbon Neutrality
Authors: Ahmadiparidari Alireza , Warburton Robert E. , Majidi Leily , Asadi Mohammad , Chamaani Amir , Jokisaari Jacob R. , Rastegar Sina , Hemmat Zahra , Sayahpour Baharak , Assary Rajeev S. , Narayanan Badri , Abbasi Pedram , Redfern Paul C. , Ngo Anh , Vörös Márton , Greeley Jeffrey , Klie Robert , Curtiss Larry A. , Salehi‐Khojin Amin
Published: August 2019

Lithium–CO2 batteries are attractive energy‐storage systems for fulfilling the demand of future large‐scale applications such as electric vehicles due to their high specific energy density. However, a major challenge with Li–CO2 batteries is to attain reversible formation and decomposition of the Li2CO3 and carbon discharge products. A fully reversible Li–CO2 battery is developed with overall carbon neutrality using MoS2 nanoflakes as a cathode catalyst combined with an ionic liquid/dimethyl sulfoxide electrolyte. This combination of materials produces a multicomponent composite (Li2CO3/C) product. The battery shows a superior long cycle life of 500 for a fixed 500 mAh g−1 capacity per cycle, far exceeding the best cycling stability reported in Li–CO2 batteries. The long cycle life demonstrates that chemical transformations, making and breaking covalent CO bonds can be used in energy‐storage systems. Theoretical calculations are used to deduce a mechanism for the reversible discharge/charge processes and explain how the carbon interface with Li2CO3 provides the electronic conduction needed for the oxidation of Li2CO3 and carbon to generate the CO2 on charge. This achievement paves the way for the use of CO2 in advanced energy‐storage systems.
High SERS Sensitivity Enabled by Synergistically Enhanced Photoinduced Charge Transfer in Amorphous Nonstoichiometric Semiconducting Films
Authors: Fan Xingce , Li Mingze , Hao Qi , Zhu Minshen , Hou Xiangyu , Huang Hao , Ma Libo , Schmidt Oliver G. , Qiu Teng
Published: August 2019

Semiconducting surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) materials have attracted tremendous attention for their good signal uniformity, chemical stability, and biocompatibility. Here, a new concept to design high sensitivity semiconducting SERS substrates through integration of both amorphous and nonstoichiometric features of WO3−x thin films is presented. The integration of these two features provides narrower bandgap, additional defect levels within the bandgap, stronger exciton resonance, and higher electronic density of states near the Fermi level. These characteristics lead to a synergy to promote the photoinduced charge transfer resonance between analytes and substrate by offering efficient routes of charge escaping and transferring as well as strong vibronic coupling, thus realizing high SERS activity on amorphous nonstoichiometric WO3−x films.
Integrated Plasmonic Infrared Photodetector Based on Colloidal HgTe Quantum Dots
Authors: Zhu Bingqing , Chen Mengyu , Zhu Qiang , Zhou Guodong , Abdelazim Nema M. , Zhou Wen , Kershaw Stephen V. , Rogach Andrey L. , Zhao Ni , Tsang Hon Ki
Published: August 2019

This paper presents a 2300 nm wavelength photodetector which comprises a spin‐deposited colloidal HgTe quantum dot (QD) film on a metal‐insulator‐metal (MIM) plasmonic waveguide. This photodetector is an integrated device based on the complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor compatible silicon‐on‐insulator platform. The device employs input and output silicon waveguide grating couplers, and HgTe QDs are used as the infrared photosensing material. Infrared light is coupled to the strongly confined MIM waveguide mode, which shrinks the device footprint and improves the light detection efficiency simultaneously. A room temperature responsivity of 23 mA W−1 and a noise‐equivalent power of 8.7 × 10−11 W Hz−1/2 at 2300 nm wavelength are achieved by the photodetector at 2.14 W mm−2 (measured at the input to the plasmonic waveguide) with a device footprint of 15 µm × 0.35 µm. The light intensity–dependent photocurrent, the current noise spectral density, and the 3 dB operation bandwidth are all characterized. The charge transfer properties of the organic HgTe QD films are further analyzed based on field effect transistor measurements.
Highly Efficient and Spectrally Narrow Near‐Infrared Fluorescent OLEDs Using a TADF‐Sensitized Cyanine Dye
Authors: Brodeur Julien , Hu Lei , Malinge Alexandre , Eizner Elad , Skene William G. , Kéna‐Cohen Stéphane
Published: August 2019

Through various triplet‐harvesting approaches, fluorescent organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) that emit in the visible spectrum can now be fabricated with efficiencies rivaling those of their phosphorescent counterparts. However, achieving high efficiencies in the near‐infrared (NIR) is considerably more challenging. This is in part due to the low quantum yield of most fluorescent NIR emitters and inefficient triplet exciton harvesting in such devices. Here, fluorescent NIR OLEDs with an external quantum efficiency of 5.4% and a peak emission wavelength of 790 nm are demonstrated. The OLEDs are fabricated by combining a deep‐red host that undergoes thermally assisted delayed fluorescence with a near‐infrared cyanine dye that emits with high efficiency. The devices show nearly pure NIR emission with a NIR cut‐on wavelength of 749 nm and >90% emitted power at wavelengths above 750 nm. It is also shown that the host polarity strongly affects the device performance.
Near‐Field Orbital Angular Momentum Generation and Detection Based on Spin‐Orbit Interaction in Gold Metasurfaces
Authors: Yang Hui , Chen Zhiquan , Liu Qing , Hu Yueqiang , Duan Huigao
Published: August 2019

Light carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) is widely accepted as a promising carrier for high‐speed information communications, in which the generation and detection of OAM is a vital issue. Although the generation and detection of OAM in free space is well investigated, further extensions to near‐filed surface plasmon polariton (SPP) would be crucial for miniaturing and integrating platforms. Here, based on spin‐orbit interaction, a general scheme for near‐filed generating and detecting OAM modes is numerically and theoretically demonstrated. Utilizing the proposed design scheme, SPP OAM modes with optional topological charges can be achieved, which offers a new approach to generate near‐field OAM modes. To characterize the physical mechanism of spin‐orbit interaction, an improved dipole model is established for the first time, from what is known, with which the numerical results are well reproduced. Moreover, with elaborately design, the OAM generators can be developed into a compact OAM detector. Such a device owns the capacity of simultaneously discriminating the sign, the topological charge and the helicity of the incident OAM beam via a single measurement. These results provide a general method for near‐field OAM generation and detection, indicating promising applications in optical communication, particle trapping, and integrated photonic circuits.
Graphene‐Coupled Terahertz Semiconductor Lasers for Enhanced Passive Frequency Comb Operation
Authors: Li Hua , Yan Ming , Wan Wenjian , Zhou Tao , Zhou Kang , Li Ziping , Cao Juncheng , Yu Qiang , Zhang Kai , Li Min , Nan Junyi , He Boqu , Zeng Heping
Published: August 2019

Optical frequency combs, consisting of well‐controlled equidistant frequency lines, have been widely used in precision spectroscopy and metrology. Terahertz combs have been realized in quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) by employing either an active mode‐locking or phase seeding technique, or a dispersion compensator mirror. However, it remains a challenge to achieve the passive comb formation in terahertz semiconductor lasers due to the insufficient nonlinearities of conventional saturable absorbers. Here, a passive terahertz frequency comb is demonstrated by coupling a multilayer graphene sample into a QCL compound cavity. The terahertz modes are self‐stabilized with intermode beat note linewidths down to a record of 700 Hz and the comb operation of graphene‐coupled QCLs is validated by on‐chip dual‐comb measurements. Furthermore, the optical pulse emitted from the graphene‐coupled QCL is directly measured employing a terahertz pump–probe technique. The enhanced passive frequency comb operation is attributed to the saturable absorption behavior of the graphene‐integrated saturable absorber mirror, as well as the dispersion compensation introduced by the graphene sample. The results provide a conceptually different graphene‐based approach for passive comb formation in terahertz QCLs, opening up intriguing opportunities for fast and high‐precision terahertz spectroscopy and nonlinear photonics.
Resistive Switching Effect with ON/OFF Current Relation up to 109 in 2D Printed Composite Films of Fluorinated Graphene with V2O5 Nanoparticles
Authors: Ivanov Artem I. , Gutakovskii Anton K. , Kotin Igor A. , Soots Regina A. , Antonova Irina V.
Published: August 2019

Composite films consisting of fluorinated graphene flakes with vanadium oxide (V2O5) nanoparticles exhibit a stable bipolar resistive switching effect that depends on the size of the composite particles, on the proportion between the film components, on the heat‐treatment conditions of the films (or on the hydration degree of V2O5 nanoparticles), and on the area of the structures. The ON/OFF current ratio of printed crossbar structures reaches 106–109 for films 20–50 nm thick, with the switching voltage varying in the range from 1.5 to 3.7 V, 30 ns time for structure switching, and endurance characteristics up to 1.3 × 103 switching cycles without any changes in ON/OFF current ratio. A mechanism to describe the resistive switching effect implying the formation of sign‐alternating electric fields in a multibarrier structure is proposed. The investigated structures are of interest for the fabrication of nonvolatile memory cells, including memory cells for flexible and printed electronics.
Tribo‐Tunneling DC Generator with Carbon Aerogel/Silicon Multi‐Nanocontacts
Authors: Liu Jun , Cheikh Mohamad Ibrahim , Bao Rima , Peng Huihui , Liu Feifei , Li Zhi , Jiang Keren , Chen James , Thundat Thomas
Published: August 2019

Although tip‐enhanced tribo‐tunneling in metal/semiconductor point nanocontact is capable of producing DC with high current density, scaling up the process for power harvesting for practical applications is challenging due to the complexity of tip array fabrication and insufficient voltage output. Here, it is demonstrated that mechanical contact between a carbon aerogel and silicon (SiO2/Si) interface naturally forms multiple nanocontacts for tribo‐tunneling current generation with an open‐circuit voltage output (VOC) reaching 2 V, and short‐circuit DC current output (ISC) of ≈15 µA. It has a theoretical current density ( J*) on the order of 100 A m−2. Molecular dynamics simulation and atomistic field theory show that a strong localized electronic excitation can be induced at a dynamic carbon/SiO2 sliding interface, which is in good agreement with the experimental results. The DC power output is enhanced by the intense local pressure at the presence of nanocontacts, as well as the increased sliding velocity v. To demonstrate the method for practical applications, light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) with different colors are successfully lighted by a single‐carbon aerogel monolith/SiO2 sliding unit, and the DC electricity is stored in a capacitor without an additional rectification circuit.
Pollen performance decreases with plant age for outcrosser but not selfer: evidence for cost of male performance
Authors: Malagon Daniel A. , Roche Morgan D. , McElderry Robert M. , Kalisz Susan
Published: August 2019

Premise

Declines in reproductive capabilities with increasing age are common across the tree of life. However, in plants, mating system traits have rarely been tested for signs of senescence. Since reproduction is often resource limited, we might expect outcrossing and selfing taxa to allocate these resources differently, especially as a plant ages. Compared with selfers, outcrossers are expected to produce showy, rewarding flowers that attract pollinators and high‐quality pollen that can successfully compete for ovules. Yet, this resource‐intensive strategy of outcrossers may result in declines in floral allocation and pollen performance metrics, relative to selfers.

Methods

To explore age‐related changes in reproduction, we measured flower size and pollen germinability over the flowering period for multiple populations of an annual sister species pair, Collinsia linearis (outcrosser) and C. rattanii (selfer), in a growth chamber experiment.

Results

We found that flower size decreased significantly with age in both species. The outcrosser expressed a significant and dramatic (88%) decline in pollen germinability with age, while the selfer's pollen germinability decline was non‐significant and low (17%).

Conclusions

Our results support the idea that the higher total cost of reproduction in outcrossers can deplete available resources more rapidly than in selfers, manifesting as a decline in male performance with plant age.
Triangular excision and submucosal rejoining to correct horizontally folded caudal nasal septum
Authors: Jeon Yung Jin , Seo Jin Hyun , Joo Yeon‐Hee , Cho Hyun‐Jin , Jeon Sea‐Yuong , Kim Sang‐Wook
Published: August 2019

Background

Surgical correction of severe caudal deviation of nasal septum using an endonasal approach is challenging for surgeons. Among cases of severe caudal septal deflection, fracture lines along the horizontal direction are occasionally encountered during the surgery. We devised a simple and efficient technique called “triangular excision and submucosal rejoining” to address this kind of deformity.

Methods

A total of 9 patients with severe caudal septal deflection underwent “triangular excision and submucosal rejoining.” After the removal of the deformed posteroinferior portion of the quadrangular cartilage, 2 incision lines were made on the remaining caudal septum, starting from a point at the most anterior portion of the fracture line and diverging posteriorly above and below the fracture line. After removing a triangular cartilaginous piece, the upper and lower remaining cartilage segments were approximated using a single or 2 simple interrupted sutures. Sutures exiting the mucosa were re‐entered from the exit point so that all the sutures were buried underneath the mucosa while the mucosal flap was elevated only unilaterally.

Results

This technique was effective in all cases. Septal batten grafts were applied in 3 patients, in whom the remaining quadrangular cartilage was weak and thin. One patient showed a mildly recurred septal deviation, but the nasal cavities remained patent with no symptoms. Serious complications such as dorsal saddling or tip ptosis did not occur in any cases.

Conclusion

“Triangular excision and submucosal rejoining” may be a safe and efficient septoplasty technique to correct a horizontally folded caudal septum.
Transnasal endoscopic resection of orbital cavernous hemangiomas: our experience with 23 cases
Authors: Ma Jingying , Zhou Bing , Qian Huang , Huang Zhenxiao , Jitong Shi
Published: August 2019

Background

The aim of this work was to present our single‐center experience on orbital cavernous hemangiomas managed using an endonasal endoscopic approach.

Methods

The study design used was one‐institutional retrospective review. Twenty‐three cases of orbital cavernous hemangioma were analyzed and followed up.

Results

There were 10 males and 13 females, with an average age of 46.1 years, included in our study. Seven cases were extraconal, 16 cases were intraconal, and in 10 of the patients the optic nerve was involved and compressed. Total resection of the tumor was achieved in 16 cases; of the remaining 7 cases, partial tumor resection and orbital decompression were conducted, orbital decompression was conducted in 2 cases, and orbital decompression and optic nerve decompression were conducted in 3 cases. Visual acuity in 9 patients improved significantly, as 16 of the 20 patients with a preoperative visual field defect had a smaller defect after surgery.

Conclusion

This study adds to the literature showing that endoscopic transnasal surgery is likely a reasonable option for patients with the orbital cavernous hemangiomas medial of the optic nerve. With greater experience, skilled surgical technique, and careful operation, better clinical efficacy can be achieved.
A Butterfly‐Inspired Hierarchical Light‐Trapping Structure towards a High‐Performance Polarization‐Sensitive Perovskite Photodetector
Authors: Zhan Yan , Wang Yang , Cheng Qunfeng , Li Chang , Li Kaixuan , Li Huizeng , Peng Jingsong , Lu Bo , Wang Yu , Song Yanlin , Jiang Lei , Li Mingzhu
Published: August 2019

Extensive applications for photodetectors have led to demand for high‐responsivity polarization‐sensitive light detection. Inspired by the elaborate architecture of butterfly Papilio paris, a 1D nanograting bonded porous 2D photonic crystal perovskite photodetector (G‐PC‐PD) using a commercial DVD master and 2D crystalline colloidal arrays template was fabricated. The coupling effect from grating diffraction and reflection of the PC stopband renders the enhanced light harvesting of G‐PC‐PD. The porous scaffold and nanoimprinting process afford a highly crystalline perovskite film. White light responsivity and detectivity of G‐PC‐PD are up to 12.67 A W−1 and 3.22×1013 Jones (6∼7 times that of a pristine perovskite photodetector). The highly ordered nanograting arrays of G‐PC‐PD enable polarization‐sensitive light detection with a rate of −0.72 nA deg−1. This hierarchical perovskite integrated nanograting and 2D PC architecture opens a new avenue to high‐performance optoelectronic devices.
A born‐digital field‐to‐database solution for collections‐based research using collNotes and collBook
Authors: Powell Caleb , Motley Jacob , Qin Hong , Shaw Joey
Published: August 2019

Premise

The digitization of natural history collections includes transcribing specimen label data into standardized formats. Born‐digital specimen data initially gathered in digital formats do not need to be transcribed, enabling their efficient integration into digitized collections. Modernizing field collection methods for born‐digital workflows requires the development of new tools and processes.

Methods and Results

collNotes, a mobile application, was developed for Android and iOS to supplement traditional field journals. Designed for efficiency in the field, collNotes avoids redundant data entries and does not require cellular service. collBook, a companion desktop application, refines field notes into database‐ready formats and produces specimen labels.

Conclusions

collNotes and collBook can be used in combination as a field‐to‐database solution for gathering born‐digital voucher specimen data for plants and fungi. Both programs are open source and use common file types simplifying either program's integration into existing workflows.
The E3 Ubiquitin Ligase MARCH8 Regulates TNF‐α‐Induced Apoptosis in Hippocampal Neurons by Targeting Myosin Light Chain 2 for Degradation
Authors: Guo Shanglin , Zhang Yongqing , Wei Chaoping , Shi Lu , Feng Yugong
Published: August 2019

Tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) is an important inflammatory cytokine that plays a key role in neuronal damage. Elevated expression of TNF‐α is associated with numerous neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease. However, the specific mechanism of the signaling events that trigger TNF‐α‐mediated neurotoxicity remain unknown. In this study, we report that intracerebroventricular injection of TNF‐α in rat hippocampal neurons down‐regulates MLC2 and up‐regulates MARCH8, an essential light chain and regulatory myosin light chain of NM Myosin II, respectively. MARCH8 overexpression attenuates the degradation of MLC2 by promoting its ubiquitination and degradation. Inhibition of MARCH8 by siRNA blocks caspase‐3 activation and apoptosis signaling, suggesting that TNF‐α‐induced apoptosis of neurons is partially dependent on the accumulation of MARCH8 and the ubiquitination of MLC2. Taken together, our data not only clarify the function of MARCH8 in TNF‐α‐induced neurotoxicity, but also demonstrates that TNF‐α promotes the MARCH8‐MLC2 mediated apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. Anat Rec, 302:2271–2278, 2019. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy
Adaptive gains to super‐twisting technique for sliding mode design
Authors: Xiong Xiaogang , Kamal Shyam , Jin Shanhai
Published: August 2019

This paper studies the super‐twisting algorithm (STA) for adaptive sliding mode design. The proposed method tunes the two gains of STA on line simultaneously such that a second order sliding mode can take place with small rectifying gains. The perturbation magnitude is obtained exactly by employing a third‐order sliding mode observer in opposition to the conventional approximations by using a first order low pass filter. While driving the sliding variable to the sliding mode surface, one gain of the STA automatically converges to an adjacent area of the perturbation magnitude in finite time. The other gain is adjusted by the above gain to guarantee the robustness of the STA. This method requires only one parameter to be adjusted. The adjustment is straightforward because it just keeps increasing until it fulfills the convergence constraints. For large values of the parameter, chattering in the update law of the two gains is avoided by employing a geometry based backward Euler integration method. The usefulness is illustrated by an example of designing an equivalent control based sliding mode control (ECBC‐SMC) with the proposed adaptive STA for a perturbed LTI system.
Genetic Suppression of mTOR Rescues Synaptic and Social Behavioral Abnormalities in a Mouse Model of Pten Haploinsufficiency
Authors: Huang Wen‐Chin , Chen Youjun , Page Damon T.
Published: August 2019

Heterozygous mutations in PTEN, which encodes a negative regulator of the mTOR and β‐catenin signaling pathways, cause macrocephaly/autism syndrome. However, the neurobiological substrates of the core symptoms of this syndrome are poorly understood. Here, we investigate the relationship between cerebral cortical overgrowth and social behavior deficits in conditional Pten heterozygous female mice (Pten cHet) using Emx1‐Cre, which is expressed in cortical pyramidal neurons and a subset of glia. We found that conditional heterozygous mutation of Ctnnb1 (encoding β‐catenin) suppresses Pten cHet cortical overgrowth, but not social behavioral deficits, whereas conditional heterozygous mutation of Mtor suppresses social behavioral deficits, but not cortical overgrowth. Neuronal activity in response to social cues and excitatory synapse markers are elevated in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of Pten cHet mice, and heterozygous mutation in Mtor, but not Ctnnb1, rescues these phenotypes. These findings indicate that macroscale cerebral cortical overgrowth and social behavioral phenotypes caused by Pten haploinsufficiency can be dissociated based on responsiveness to genetic suppression of Ctnnb1 or Mtor. Furthermore, neuronal connectivity appears to be one potential substrate for mTOR‐mediated suppression of social behavioral deficits in Pten haploinsufficient mice. Autism Res 2019, 12: 1463–1471. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Lay Summary

A subgroup of individuals with autism display overgrowth of the head and the brain during development. Using a mouse model of an autism risk gene, Pten, that displays both brain overgrowth and social behavioral deficits, we show here that that these two symptoms can be dissociated. Reversal of social behavioral deficits in this model is associated with rescue of abnormal synaptic markers and neuronal activity.
Early reflections on becoming a therapist: Development of reflective practice in clinical training programmes in an Australian context
Authors: Robinson Nicole L. , Schweitzer Robert D. , O'Connor Erin L.
Published: August 2019

The development of competent counsellors, psychotherapists and psychologists depends upon not only the clinical competencies, but also the development of the person as the psychotherapist. This qualitative study investigated the experiences of twenty provisional psychologists enrolled in a university‐based clinical psychology training programme. Participants were requested to write reflective essays describing their experiences in relation to their first year of training. Utilising an interpretative phenomenological approach methodology, three superordinate themes were identified: beginning awareness and internalisation of the role of the therapist, therapy as an inter‐subjective experience, and personal transformation. Themes encompassed a range of key areas identified by trainee therapists as central to their development as reflective practitioners. Findings from this study may contribute to the small but growing literature base explicating the early lived experience of being a therapist working from an integrative framework. The findings contribute to our knowledge of the critical elements involved in fostering the theoretical, practical and reflective processes involved in becoming a competent therapist.
Controlling Metallic Nanoparticle Redox Properties for Improved Methanol Oxidation Reaction Electrocatalysis
Authors: Kelly Cameron H. W. , Benedetti Tania M. , Alinezhad Ali , Gooding J. Justin , Tilley Richard D.
Published: August 2019

The electrochemical formation of oxide on metallic surfaces often changes their electrocatalytic performance. In this work, we have studied this effect on the methanol oxidation reaction by systematically controlling the PdO formation/reduction potential using Au−Pd core‐shell nanocrystals with different Pd shell thicknesses. AuPd0.4 core‐shell nanocrystals have a 150 mV positive shift in the PdO reduction potential with respect to Pd nanocrystals and 2.9 and 8.8 times higher charge density in the anodic and cathodic scan of cyclic voltammetry respectively. The origin of the higher activity comes predominantly from electronic effects caused by the Au core that results in higher availability of Pd sites at more positive potentials.
Aufbau eines Bioraffineriekonzeptes für Biertreber mit vorgelagertem Pressschritt
Authors: Akermann Alexander , Weiermüller Jens , Ulber Roland
Published: August 2019

Ein Bioraffineriekonzept für (Bier‐)Treber wird vorgeschlagen, bei dem im Gegensatz zu bestehenden Konzepten wasserlösliche Komponenten durch Pressen abgetrennt und als Grundlage für eine Milchsäurefermentation mit Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis verwendet werden. Die verbleibenden strukturellen Kohlenhydrate des Treberrückstandes werden durch hydrothermale und enzymatische Vorbehandlung in fermentierbare Zucker überführt. Es entstehen deutlich weniger Nebenprodukte, die das Wachstum von Mikroorganismen inhibieren können, als bei der Nutzung von nicht abgepresstem Treber.
Cannabinoid‐Synthese durch Mikroorganismen
Authors: Hille‐Rehfeld Annette
Published: August 2019

Gesetzlich reglementierter Anbau einer Drogenpflanze, Sicherheitsmaßnahmen gegen deren Missbrauch, Extraktion aus Tonnen von Pflanzenmaterial, Auftrennung komplexer Stoffgemische oder vielstufige Synthesen mit mäßigen Ausbeuten – diesen mit der Gewinnung von pharmazeutisch interessanten Cannabinoiden verbundenen Arbeitsalltag soll die rekombinante Expression des Biosynthesewegs in Mikroorganismen erleichtern.
Implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator in Brugada syndrome: Long‐term follow‐up
Authors: El‐Battrawy Ibrahim , Roterberg Gretje , Liebe Volker , Ansari Uzair , Lang Siegfried , Zhou Xiaobo , Borggrefe Martin , Akin Ibrahim
Published: August 2019

Background

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD). Although implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) implantation is recommended, the long‐term outcomes and follow‐up data with regard to ICD complications have led to controversy.

Hypothesis

In the present study, we described the data assimilated in a total of 11 studies, analyzing the outcome in 747 BrS patients receiving ICD.

Methods

Data were performed and analyzed after a systematic review of literature compiled from a thorough database search (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Cinahl).

Results

The mean age of patients receiving ICD was (43.1 ± 13.4, 82.5% males, 46.6% spontaneous BrS type I). Around 15.3% of the patients were admitted due to SCD and 10.4% suffered from atrial arrhythmia. Appropriate shocks were documented in 18.1% of the patients over a mean follow‐up period of 82.3 months (47.5‐110.4). The following complications were recorded: lead failure and fracture (5.4%), lead perforation (0.7%), lead dislodgement (1.7%), infection (3.9%), pain (0.4%), subclavian vein thrombosis (0.3%), pericardial effusion (0.1%), endocarditis (0.1%), psychiatric problems (1.5%), pneumothorax (0.7%). Inappropriate shocks were documented in 18.1% of the patients. The management of inappropriate shocks was achieved by pulmonary vein isolation (0.5%), drug treatment with sotalol (1.3%) or sotalol with beta‐blocker (0.3%) and hydroquinidine (0.1%).

Conclusions

ICD therapy in BrS is associated with relevant ICD‐related complications including a substantial risk of inappropriate shocks more frequently in symptomatic BrS patients.
Side Chain Orientation of Tryptophan Analogues Determines Agonism and Inverse Agonism in Short Ghrelin Peptides
Authors: Nicke Lennart , Müller Ronny , Geyer Armin , Els‐Heindl Sylvia
Published: August 2019

We describe two synthetic amino acids with inverted side chain stereochemistry, which induce opposite biological activity. Phe4 is an important part of the activation motif of ghrelin, and in short peptide inverse agonists such as KwFwLL‐NH2, the aromatic core is necessary for inactivation of the receptor. To restrict indole/phenyl mobility and simultaneously strengthen the interaction between peptide and receptor, we exchanged the natural monoaryl amino acids for diaryl amino acids derived from tryptophan. By standard solid‐phase peptide synthesis, each of them was inserted into ghrelin or in the aromatic core of the inverse agonist. Both ghrelin analogues showed nanomolar activity, indicating sufficient space to accommodate the additional side chain. In contrast, diaryl amino acids in the inverse agonist had considerable influence on receptor signaling. Whereas the introduction of Wsf maintains inverse agonism of the peptide, Wrf shifts the receptor more to active states and can induce agonism depending on its introduction site.
An approach for vascular tumor growth based on a hybrid embedded/homogenized treatment of the vasculature within a multiphase porous medium model
Authors: Kremheller Johannes , Vuong Anh‐Tu , Schrefler Bernhard A. , Wall Wolfgang A.
Published: August 2019

The aim of this work is to develop a novel computational approach to facilitate the modeling of angiogenesis during tumor growth. The preexisting vasculature is modeled as a 1D inclusion and embedded into the 3D tissue through a suitable coupling method, which allows for nonmatching meshes in 1D and 3D domain. The neovasculature, which is formed during angiogenesis, is represented in a homogenized way as a phase in our multiphase porous medium system. This splitting of models is motivated by the highly complex morphology, physiology, and flow patterns in the neovasculature, which are challenging and computationally expensive to resolve with a discrete, 1D angiogenesis and blood flow model. Moreover, it is questionable if a discrete representation generates any useful additional insight. By contrast, our model may be classified as a hybrid vascular multiphase tumor growth model in the sense that a discrete, 1D representation of the preexisting vasculature is coupled with a continuum model describing angiogenesis. It is based on an originally avascular model which has been derived via the thermodynamically constrained averaging theory. The new model enables us to study mass transport from the preexisting vasculature into the neovasculature and tumor tissue. We show by means of several illustrative examples that it is indeed capable of reproducing important aspects of vascular tumor growth phenomenologically.
Activity‐Based Kinome Profiling Using Chemical Proteomics and ATP Acyl Phosphates
Authors: Franks Caroline E. , Hsu Ku‐Lung
Published: August 2019

Human kinases are a large family of proteins (500+) that catalyze ATP‐dependent phosphorylation of protein and metabolite substrates to regulate diverse facets of cell biology. Dysregulation and mutations of protein kinases are linked to human disease, providing opportunities for developing pharmacological agents as potential therapy. Assessing the selectivity of pharmacological compounds targeting this enzyme class is critical given that off‐target activity of kinase inhibitor drugs may result in toxicity. This set of protocols outlines use of ATP acyl phosphate activity–based probes to evaluate the potency and selectivity of kinase inhibitors via fluorescent gel– and mass spectrometry–based detection methods. These competitive chemical proteomic assays can evaluate engagement of >200 native kinase targets directly in complex proteomes. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Site‐ and Structure‐Specific Quantitative N‐Glycoproteomics Using RPLC‐pentaHILIC Separation and the Intact N‐Glycopeptide Search Engine GPSeeker
Authors: Xiao Kaijie , Tian Zhixin
Published: August 2019

Site‐ and structure‐specific quantitative N‐glycoproteomics characterization of differentially expressed N‐glycosylation at the intact N‐glycopeptide level with distinct chromatographic separation and structure‐specific fragment ions has become possible with the recent development of RPLC‐pentaHILIC 2DLC separation and use of the intact N‐glycopeptide search engine GPSeeker. Here we provide a detailed protocol for this GPSeeker‐centered structure‐specific isotopic‐labeling quantitative N‐glycoproteomics pipeline. The protocols include sample preparation of a 1:1 mixture of light (‐CH3)2 and heavy (‐13CD2H)2 dimethylated intact N‐glycopeptides from LO2 and HepG2 cells, RPLC‐pentaHILIC 2DLC separation of the mixture, intact N‐glycopeptide database search and identification using GPSeeker, and quantitation of differentially expressed intact N‐glycopeptides using the quantitation module GPSeekerQuan. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Detection of Δ9 THC in oral fluid following vaporized cannabis with varied cannabidiol (CBD) content: An evaluation of two point‐of‐collection testing devices
Authors: Arkell Thomas R. , Kevin Richard C. , Stuart Jordyn , Lintzeris Nicholas , Haber Paul S. , Ramaekers Johannes G. , McGregor Iain S.
Published: August 2019

Point‐of‐collection testing (POCT) for Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in oral fluid is increasingly used to detect driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC). However, previous studies have questioned the reliability and accuracy of two commonly used POCT devices, the Securetec DrugWipe® 5 s (DW5s) and Dräger DrugTest® 5000 (DT5000). In the current placebo controlled, double‐blind, crossover study we used liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to accurately quantify cannabinoid concentrations in the oral fluid of 14 participants at various timepoints (10, 60, 120, and 180 minutes) following vaporization of 125 mg of THC‐dominant (11% THC; <1% CBD), THC/CBD equivalent (11% THC; 11% CBD) and placebo (<1% THC; <1% CBD) cannabis. At each timepoint, oral fluid was also screened using the DW5s (10 ng/mL THC cut‐off) and DT5000 (10 ng/mL THC cut‐off). LC–MS/MS analysis showed peak oral fluid THC concentrations at the 10 minute timepoint with a rapid decline thereafter. This trajectory did not differ with THC dominant and THC/CBD equivalent cannabis. With a 10 ng/mL confirmatory cut‐off, 5% of DW5s test results were false positives and 16% false negatives. For the DT5000, 10% of test results were false positives and 9% false negatives. Neither the DW5s nor the DT5000 demonstrated the recommended >80% sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. Accuracy was lowest at 60 minutes, when THC concentrations were often close to the screening cut‐off (10 ng/mL). POCT devices can be useful tools in detecting recent cannabis use; however, limitations should be noted, and confirmatory LC–MS/MS quantification of results is strongly advisable.
Phosphido‐Bridged Di‐ and Trinuclear Palladium Complexes from Electron‐Poor Phosphanes R2PH (R = C2F5, C6F5, (CF3)2C6H3)
Authors: Bader Julia , Neumann Beate , Stammler Hans‐Georg , Hoge Berthold
Published: August 2019

Electron‐withdrawing substituents R in complexes [Ln M(PR2)] influence the P–M bond length due to a decreased σ‐donation and enhanced π‐back‐bonding, leading to an increased Lewis acidity of the metal ion and therefore strengthening the M–L bond to electron‐rich ligands L. This influences the Lewis acidity and the redox behavior of corresponding transition‐metal complexes, which is important for the design of optimized catalytic systems. To investigate this effect, the electron‐poor phosphanes R2PH with R = C2F5, C6F5, 2,4‐(CF3)2C6H3 were treated with Pd(F6acac)2 (F6acac = hexafluoroacetylacetonato) and Pd(acac)2 (acac = acetylacetonato). While the reaction of the phosphanes with Pd(F6acac)2 in all cases yielded the corresponding phosphido‐bridged dinuclear palladium complexes [{(F6acac)Pd[µ‐(PR2)]}2], the compounds obtained in the reaction with Pd(acac)2 were structurally more diverse. For R = C2F5, the dinuclear palladium complex [{(acac)Pd{µ‐[P(C2F5)2]}}2] was obtained, while the reaction with (C6F5)2PH yielded a trinuclear palladium complex bridged by four phosphido units. All complexes were fully characterized, including X‐ray crystallography.
Religiosity and the value of being moral: Understanding the meaning of morality through a personal values perspective
Authors: Sverdlik Noga , Rechter Eyal
Published: August 2019

We demonstrate how religiosity predicts relationships between personal values and perceptions of morality in four studies across two cultures (Jews in Israel and mainly Christians in the US). In Studies 1A (N = 337) and 1B (N = 200), we explored the commonalities and differences between religious and non‐religious participants in the association between values and the importance of being moral. In Studies 2A (N = 131) and 2B (N = 250), we tested the role of religiosity in the association between values and evaluations of others’ morality. Power (negatively) and Benevolence (positively) were associated with morality across levels of religiosity. The associations with Conservation were more positive for more religious participants; the associations with Universalism were more positive for less religious participants. Finally, the associations with at least one of the Openness‐to‐change values were more negative if a person was more religious. Studies 2A and 2B showed these associations existed over and above differences in personal values.
Determination of Imidacloprid Based on the Development of a Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Reduced Graphene Oxide and Manganese (II) Phthalocyanine
Authors: Paula Santos Anna , Ferreira Oliveira Ana Elisa , César Pereira Arnaldo
Published: August 2019

An electrochemical sensor of glassy carbon electrode modified with reduced graphene oxide and manganese (II) phthalocyanine (GCE/rGO/MnPc) was developed as an effective alternative in the determination of imidacloprid in honey samples. The peak current variation obtained with the proposed sensor, in the presence of imidacloprid, was higher compared to the bare GCE. The followed experimental conditions were optimized: reduced graphene oxide concentration (2.0 mg mL−1), manganese (II) phthalocyanine concentration (1.5 mg mL−1), electrolyte pH (6.5) and electrolyte concentration (1,50 mol L−1). The study also showed that the process of reduction of imidacloprid is irreversible and diffusion‐controlled, with a single reduction peak of approximately −0.9 V corresponding to the reduction of the nitro group (−NO2) present in the structure, generating a derived from hydroxylamine, in a process involving about four electrons. The determination of imidacloprid in honey samples exhibited recovery values within the EPA range (between 90.5 and 101.9 %). The proposed sensor GCE/rGO/MnPc can be used as an effective alternative in the determination of imidacloprid in honey samples.
Slippage mutation rates in 15 autosomal short tandem repeat loci for forensic purposes in a Southeastern Brazilian population
Authors: Hamester Fernanda Irma Remus , da Silva Débora Santos , Leboute Ana Paula Magalhães , Motta Carlos Henrique Ares , Alho Clarice Sampaio
Published: August 2019

Well‐defined estimates of mutation rates in highly polymorphic tetranucleotide STR loci are a prerequisite for human identification in genetics laboratory routines useful for civil and criminal investigations. Studying 15 autosomal STR loci of forensic interest (CSF1PO, D2S1338, D3S1358, D5S818, D7S820, D8S1179, D13S317, D16S539, D18S51, D19S433, D21S11, FGA, TH01, TPOX, and vWA), we detected 193 slippage mutations (189 one‐step and four two‐step mutations) in 148 875 parent‐child allelic transfers from 5171 paternity cases with true biological relationship (15 096 individuals; 4754 trios and 417 duos; 9925 meiosis) from the state of São Paulo, a very representative population of Brazil. The overall mutation rate was 1.3 × 10−3 and the highest rates were observed at loci vWA (2.8 × 10−3), FGA and D18S51 (2.7 × 10−3 for both), while loci TH01 and TPOX did not present any mutations. The mean slippage mutation rate of paternal origin (1.8 × 10−3) was six times higher than that observed for maternal origin (0.3 × 10−3).
Acetate formation during recombinant protein production in Escherichia coli K‐12 with an elevated NAD(H) pool
Authors: Han Qi , Eiteman Mark A.
Published: August 2019

Acetate formation is a disadvantage in the use of Escherichia coli for recombinant protein production, and many studies have focused on optimizing fermentation processes or altering metabolism to eliminate acetate accumulation. In this study, E. coli MEC697 (MG1655 nadR nudC mazG) maintained a larger pool of NAD(H) compared to the wild‐type control, and also accumulated lower concentrations of acetate when grown in batch culture on glucose. In steady‐state cultures, the elevated total NAD(H) found in MEC697 delayed the threshold dilution rate for acetate formation to a growth rate of 0.27 h−1. Batch and fed‐batch processes using MEC697 were examined for the production of β‐galactosidase as a model recombinant protein. Fed‐batch culture of MEC697/pTrc99A‐lacZ compared to MG1655/pTrc99A‐lacZ at a growth rate of 0.22 h−1 showed only a modest increase of protein formation. However, 1 L batch growth of MEC697/pTrc99A‐lacZ resulted in 50% lower acetate formation compared to MG1655/pTrc99A‐lacZ and a two‐fold increase in recombinant protein production.
Seismic performance and design of bridge column‐to‐pile shaft pipe‐pin connections in precast and cast‐in‐place bridges
Authors: Mehraein Mehrdad , Saiidi Saiid
Published: August 2019

Hinge or “pin” connections may be used in integral bridges to connect columns to pile shafts to reduce the foundation force demand. Used in combination with prefabricated columns, pins facilitate accelerated bridge construction (ABC). These innovative methods could improve the quality and economy of project compared with conventional construction in seismic regions. This study developed pipe pins that reduce moment transfer between the column and pile shaft under seismic excitations. The pipe pins consist of two steel pipes and a rod that transfer shear and tension while allowing rotation between the column and shaft. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the seismic performance and develop design guidelines of column‐to‐pile shaft pipe pins for cast‐in‐place and precast constructions. This research was composed of experimental and analytical studies. The experimental portion of the study consisted of testing of a large‐scale bent model subjected to seismic loadings. The test results confirmed that the proposed design method meets the safety and performance requirements of the codes under seismic loadings. The pins maintained structural integrity with minimal damage, while the columns reached the full plastic hinge capacity. The analytical studies consisted of (a) a simple stick model to be used as a design tool, (b) a finite element model (FEM) for global analysis of bridges, and (c) an elaborate FEM to investigate the microscopic performance and interaction of the components. The analytical models were subsequently used in parametric studies.
Mechanical behavior of lead rubber bearings under and after nonproportional plane loading
Authors: Wang Shiang‐Jung , Lin Wang‐Chuen , Chiang Yu‐Sheng , Hwang Jenn‐Shin
Published: August 2019

Lead rubber bearings, which have been extensively applied in many seismic isolation designs for buildings, infrastructures, and facilities worldwide, were tested under unilateral reversal loading as well as nonproportional plane loading including circular, figure‐eight, and square orbits in this study. The test results indicate that unlike the unilateral hysteretic behavior, the bilateral one of lead rubber bearings is too complicated to be characterized adequately by a simplified bilinear hysteretic model. It is mainly attributed to the bilateral coupling effect, which can be clearly observed from the abnormal deformation of the mesh pattern drawn on the rubber cover during the tests. In addition, after being subjected to nonproportional plane loading, the tested bearings reveal visible permanent twisting deformation. The profiles of the cut bearings present the fracture of the inside lead plugs. Even so, the further unilateral reversal loading test results prove that the fracture might not affect the whole hysteretic behavior and mechanical properties very much. The applicability, robustness, and generalization of adopting three previously developed analytical models for describing the coupled bilateral hysteretic behavior of lead rubber bearings are further demonstrated by comparing their predictions with the nonproportional plane loading test results. Although the coefficients are identified from unilateral reversal loading tests, the three analytical models can still have an acceptable prediction capability.