bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seeds, Science, and Struggle
Authors: Kinchy Abby
Published: August 2019

An examination of how advocates for alternative agriculture confront “science-based” regulation of genetically engineered crops.

Genetic engineering has a wide range of cultural, economic, and ethical implications, yet it has become almost an article of faith that regulatory decisions about biotechnology be based only on evidence of specific quantifiable risks; to consider anything else is said to “politicize” regulation. In this study of social protest against genetically engineered food, Abby Kinchy turns the conventional argument on its head. Rather than consider politicization of the regulatory system, she takes a close look at the scientization of public debate about the “contamination” of crops resulting from pollen drift and seed mixing. Advocates of alternative agriculture confront the scientization of this debate by calling on international experts, carrying out their own research, questioning regulatory science in court, building alternative markets, and demanding that their governments consider the social and economic impacts of the new technologies.

Kinchy focuses on social conflicts over canola in Canada and maize in Mexico, drawing out their linkages to the global food system and international environmental governance. The book ultimately demonstrates the shortcomings of dominant models of scientific risk governance, which marginalize alternative visions of rural livelihoods and sustainable food production.
The Aesthetic of Play
Authors: Upton Brian
Published: August 2019

A game designer considers the experience of play, why games have rules, and the relationship of play and narrative.

The impulse toward play is very ancient, not only pre-cultural but pre-human; zoologists have identified play behaviors in turtles and in chimpanzees. Games have existed since antiquity; 5,000-year-old board games have been recovered from Egyptian tombs. And yet we still lack a critical language for thinking about play. Game designers are better at answering small questions (“Why is this battle boring?”) than big ones (“What does this game mean?”). In this book, the game designer Brian Upton analyzes the experience of play—how playful activities unfold from moment to moment and how the rules we adopt constrain that unfolding. Drawing on games that range from Monopoly to Dungeons & Dragons to Guitar Hero, Upton develops a framework for understanding play, introducing a set of critical tools that can help us analyze games and game designs and identify ways in which they succeed or fail.

Upton also examines the broader epistemological implications of such a framework, exploring the role of play in the construction of meaning and what the existence of play says about the relationship between our thoughts and external reality. He considers the making of meaning in play and in every aspect of human culture, and he draws on findings in pragmatic epistemology, neuroscience, and semiotics to describe how meaning emerges from playful engagement. Upton argues that play can also explain particular aspects of narrative; a play-based interpretive stance, he proposes, can help us understand the structure of books, of music, of theater, of art, and even of the process of critical engagement itself.
California Cuisine and Just Food
Authors: Fairfax Sally K. , Nelson Dyble Louise , Guthey Greig Tor , Gwin Lauren , Moore Monica , Sokolove Jennifer
Published: August 2019

An account of the shift in focus to access and fairness among San Francisco Bay Area alternative food activists and advocates.

Can a celebrity chef find common ground with an urban community organizer? Can a maker of organic cheese and a farm worker share an agenda for improving America's food? In the San Francisco Bay area, unexpected alliances signal the widening concerns of diverse alternative food proponents. What began as niche preoccupations with parks, the environment, food aesthetics, and taste has become a broader and more integrated effort to achieve food democracy: agricultural sustainability, access for all to good food, fairness for workers and producers, and public health. This book maps that evolution in northern California.

The authors show that progress toward food democracy in the Bay area has been significant: innovators have built on familiar yet quite radical understandings of regional cuisine to generate new, broadly shared expectations about food quality, and activists have targeted the problems that the conventional food system creates. But, they caution despite the Bay Area's favorable climate, progressive politics, and food culture many challenges remain.
Gaming the System
Authors: Salen Tekinbaş Katie , Gresalfi Melissa , Peppler Kylie , Santo Rafi
Published: August 2019

Understanding games as systems, with complex interactions of game elements and rules.

Gaming the System demonstrates the nature of games as systems, how game designers need to think in terms of complex interactions of game elements and rules, and how to identify systems concepts in the design process. The activities use Gamestar Mechanic, an online game design environment with a systems thinking focus.
Surface-to-volume scaling and aspect ratio preservation in rod-shaped bacteria
Authors: Ojkic Nikola , Serbanescu Diana , Banerjee Shiladitya
Published: August 2019

Rod-shaped bacterial cells can readily adapt their lengths and widths in response to environmental changes. While many recent studies have focused on the mechanisms underlying bacterial cell size control, it remains largely unknown how the coupling between cell length and width results in robust control of rod-like bacterial shapes. In this study we uncover a conserved surface-to-volume scaling relation in Escherichia coli and other rod-shaped bacteria, resulting from the preservation of cell aspect ratio. To explain the mechanistic origin of aspect-ratio control, we propose a quantitative model for the coupling between bacterial cell elongation and the accumulation of an essential division protein, FtsZ. This model reveals a mechanism for why bacterial aspect ratio is independent of cell size and growth conditions, and predicts cell morphological changes in response to nutrient perturbations, antibiotics, MreB or FtsZ depletion, in quantitative agreement with experimental data.
Identification of hub genes and molecular mechanisms in infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia withMLLgene rearrangement
Authors: Zhang Hao , Cheng Juan , Li Zijian , Xi Yaming
Published: August 2019

Infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene rearrangement (MLL-R) is considered a distinct leukemia from childhood or non-MLL-R infant ALL. To detect key genes and elucidate the molecular mechanisms ofMLL-R infant ALL, microarray expression data were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) betweenMLL-R and non-MLL-R infant ALL were identified. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were carried out. Then, we constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and identified the hub genes. Finally, drug-gene interactions were mined. A total of 139 cases ofMLL-R infant ALL including 77 (55.4%) fusions withAF4, 38 (27.3%) withENL, 14 (10.1%) withAF9, and 10 (7.2%) other gene fusions were characterized. A total of 236 up-regulated and 84 down-regulated DEGs were identified. The up-regulated DEGs were mainly involved in homophilic cell adhesion, negative regulation of apoptotic process and cellular response to drug GO terms, while down-regulated DEGs were mainly enriched in extracellular matrix organization, protein kinase C signaling and neuron projection extension GO terms. The up-regulated DEGs were enriched in seven KEGG pathways, mainly involving transcriptional regulation and signaling pathways, and down-regulated DEGs were involved in three main KEGG pathways including Alzheimer’s disease, TGF-beta signaling pathway, and hematopoietic cell lineage. The PPI network included 297 nodes and 410 edges, withMYC,ALB,CD44,PTPRCandTNFidentified as hub genes. Twenty-three drug-gene interactions including four up-regulated hub genes and 24 drugs were constructed by Drug Gene Interaction database (DGIdb). In conclusion,MYC,ALB,CD44,PTPRCandTNFmay be potential bio-markers for the diagnosis and therapy ofMLL-R infant ALL.
Seasonal Rainfall Prediction in Lagos, Nigeria Using Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Ayodele Adigun Paul , Precious Ebiendele Eromosele
Published: August 2019

Deliberating the importance of rainfall in determining process such as agriculture, flood and water management, these study aim at evaluation of non-linear techniques on seasonal rainfall prediction (SRP). One of the non-linear method widely used is the Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) approach which has the ability of mapping between input and output patterns. The complexity of the atmospheric processes that generate rainfall makes quantitative forecasting of rainfall an extremely, difficult task. The research goal is to train/develop Artificial Neural Network model using backward propagation algorithm to predict seasonal Rainfall. Using some meteorological variables like, sea surface temperature (SST), U-wind at (surface, 700, 850 and 1000), air temperature, specific humidity, ITD and relative humidity. The study adopt  monthly June-October (JJASO) rainfall data and January-May (JFMAM) monthly data of SST, U-wind at (surface, 700, 850 and 1000), air temperature, specific humidity and relative humidity for a period of 31 years (1986-2017) over Ikeja. The proposed ANN model architecture (9-4-1) in training the network using back-propagation algorithm indicated that the statistical performance of the model for predicting 2013 to 2017 (JJASO) rainfall amount indicated as follows; MSE, RMSE, and MAE were 7174, 84.7 and 18.6 respectively with a high statistical coefficient of variation of 94% when the ANN model prediction is validated with the observed rainfall. The result indicated that the propose ANN built network is reliable in prediction of seasonal rainfall amount in Ikeja with a minimal error.
Prevalence of Coexisting Systemic and Ocular Diseases among Cataract Surgery Patients: A Study in a Teaching Hospital in North East Malaysia
Authors: Reddy Sagili Chandrasekhara
Published: August 2019

Aim: To determine the prevalence of coexisting systemic and ocular diseases among the cataract surgery patients in a teaching hospital in north east Malaysia.

Method: in this retrospective study, the medical records of patients who were operated for cataract over a period of three years by a single surgeon in the teaching Hospital University Sains Malaysia were analyzed for the coexisting systemic and ocular diseases. Some patients were operated in both eyes.

Results: Out of 218 patients who underwent cataract surgery, one or more systemic diseases were present in 113 patients (51.8%). The most common associated systemic disease was diabetes mellitus (24.3%), followed by hypertension (22.4%). A total of 324 eyes were operated in these patients. In addition to cataract, one or more ocular diseases were present in 129 eyes (39.8%). The most common ocular disease in cataract eyes was pterygium (9.8%), followed by diabetic retinopathy (9.5%). 

Conclusion:  Ophthalmologist has to identify the coexisting systemic and ocular diseases present among cataract surgery patients. These diseases should be adequately controlled before surgery in order to avoid intraoperative and postoperative complications, and to achieve better quality of life for the patients.
Mamah Muda Morphogenesis in Indonesia
Authors: . Rewindinar , Triputra Pinckey , Dua Mikhael
Published: August 2019

There has been changes in the young housewives’ activities, as currently, they not only carry out domestic activities in the house, but also go outside of the house. Activities, such as taking children to school, become part of domestic roles, then meeting other young modern mothers and forming group. This group then raises the “mahmud (mamah muda)” or young moms term. Changes in traditional reproductive roles in the domestic sector are interesting to be analyzed using the Morphogenesis Theory by Margaret Archer. This theory acknowledges that there is an asymmetrical relationship between external structures that are relatively autonomous with internal cultures, and at the same time, there is a reciprocal relationship between the two. The cultural case of this young mothers groups could be used as an example of this Morphogenesis theory.

Constructivist paradigm study using this kind of phenomenological approach was able to explain how the process of morphogenesis change occurred, by conducting in-depth, open-ended interviews to ten mothers in their 30s whose children are in kindergarten/elementary school. This study was able to answer the research purpose, which was young moms, is the reality of changes in structure-culture and culture-structure, produced through the causality of both groups through communication of symbolic convergence that is the exchange of information (material) into symbols (non-material).
Fixed‐jaw technique to improve IMRT plan quality for the treatment of cervical and upper thoracic esophageal cancer
Authors: Song Wei , Lu Hong , Liu Jie , Zhao Di , Ma Jun , Zhang Biyun , Yu Dahai , Sun Xinchen , Li Jinkai
Published: August 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential advantages of the fixed‐jaw technique (FJT) over the conventional split‐field technique (SFT) for cervical and upper thoracic esophageal cancer (EC) patients treated with intensity‐modulated radiotherapy. The SFT and FJT plans were generated for 15 patients with cervical and upper thoracic EC. Dosimetric parameters and delivery efficiency were compared. An area ratio (AR) of the jaw opening to multileaf collimator (MLC) aperture weighted by the number of monitor units (MUs) was defined to evaluate the impact of the transmission through the MLC on the dose gradient outside the PTV50.4, and the correlation between the gradient index (GI) and AR was analyzed. The FJT plans achieved a better GI and AR (P < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between the GI and AR in the FJT (r = 0.883, P < 0.001) and SFT plans (r = 0.836, P < 0.001), respectively. Moreover, the mean dose (Dmean), V5Gy–V40Gy for the lungs and the Dmean, V5Gy–V50Gy for the body‐PTV50.4 in the FJT plans were lower than those in the SFT plans (P < 0.05). The FJT plans demonstrated a reduction trend in the doses to the spinal cord PRV and heart, but only the difference in the heart Dmean reached statistical significance (P < 0.05). The FJT plans reduced the number of MUs and subfields by 5.5% and 17.9% and slightly shortened the delivery time by 0.23 min (P < 0.05). The gamma‐index passing rates were above 95% for both plans. The FJT combined with target splitting can provide superior organs at risk sparing and similar target coverage without compromising delivery efficiency and should be a preferred intensity‐modulated radiotherapy planning method for cervical and upper thoracic EC patients.
A Highly Conductive Cationic Wood Membrane
Authors: Chen Gegu , Li Tian , Chen Chaoji , Wang Chengwei , Liu Yang , Kong Weiqing , Liu Dapeng , Jiang Bo , He Shuaiming , Kuang Yudi , Hu Liangbing
Published: August 2019

Here, a highly conductive cationic membrane is developed directly from natural wood via a two‐step process, involving etherification and densification. Etherification bonds the cationic functional group ((CH3)3N+Cl−) to the cellulose backbone, converting negatively charged (ξ‐potential of −27.9 mV) wood into positively charged wood (+37.7 mV). Densification eliminates the large pores of the natural wood, leading to a highly laminated structure with the oriented cellulose nanofiber and a high mechanical tensile strength of ≈350 MPa under dry conditions (20 times higher than the untreated counterpart) and ≈98 MPa under wet conditions (×5.5 increase compared to the untreated counterpart). The nanoscale gaps between the cellulose nanofibers act as narrow nanochannels with diameters smaller than the Debye length, which facilitates rapid ion transport that is 25 times higher than the ion conductance of the natural wood at a low KCl concentration of 10 × 10−3 m. The demonstrated cationic wood membrane exhibits enhanced mechanical strength and excellent nanofluidic ion‐transport properties, representing a promising direction for developing high‐performance nanofluidic material from renewable, and abundant nature‐based materials.
Aggregation‐Induced Multilength Scaled Morphology Enabling 11.76% Efficiency in All‐Polymer Solar Cells Using Printing Fabrication
Authors: Zhu Lei , Zhong Wenkai , Qiu Chaoqun , Lyu Bosai , Zhou Zichun , Zhang Ming , Song Jingnan , Xu Jinqiu , Wang Jing , Ali Jazib , Feng Wei , Shi Zhiwen , Gu Xiaodan , Ying Lei , Zhang Yongming , Liu Feng
Published: August 2019

All‐polymer solar cells (all‐PSCs) exhibit excellent stability and readily tunable ink viscosity, and are therefore especially suitable for printing preparation of large‐scale devices. At present, the efficiency of state‐of‐the‐art all‐PSCs fabricated by the spin‐coating method has exceeded 11%, laying the foundation for the preparation and practical utilization of printed devices. A high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 11.76% is achieved based on PTzBI‐Si:N2200 all‐PSCs processing with 2‐methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF, an environmentally friendly solvent) and preparation of active layers by slot die printing, which is the top efficient for all‐PSCs. Conversely, the PCE of devices processed by high‐boiling point chlorobenzene is less than 2%. Through the study of film formation kinetics, volatile solvents can freeze the morphology in a short time, and a more rigid conformation with strong intermolecular interaction combined with the solubility limit of PTzBI‐Si and N2200 in MTHF results in the formation of a fibril network in the bulk heterojunction. The multilength scaled morphology ensures fast transfer of carriers and facilitates exciton separation, which boosts carrier mobility and current density, thus improving the device performance. These results are of great significance for large‐scale printing fabrication of high‐efficiency all‐PSCs in the future.
Local Crack‐Programmed Gold Nanowire Electronic Skin Tattoos for In‐Plane Multisensor Integration
Authors: Gong Shu , Yap Lim Wei , Zhu Bowen , Zhai Qingfeng , Liu Yiyi , Lyu Quanxia , Wang Kaixuan , Yang Mingjie , Ling Yunzhi , Lai Daniel T. H. , Marzbanrad Faezeh , Cheng Wenlong
Published: August 2019

Sensitive, specific, yet multifunctional tattoo‐like electronics are ideal wearable systems for “any time, any where” health monitoring because they can virtually become parts of the human skin, offering a burdenless “unfeelable” wearing experience. A skin‐like, multifunctional electronic tattoo made entirely from gold using a standing enokitake‐mushroom‐like vertically aligned nanowire membrane in conjunction with a programmable local cracking technology is reported. Unlike previous multifunctional systems, only a single material type is needed for the integrated gold circuits involved in interconnects and multiplexed specific sensors, thereby avoiding the use of complex multimaterials interfaces. This is possiblebecause the programmable local cracking technology allows for the arbitrary fine‐tuning of the properties of elastic gold conductors from strain‐insensitive to highly strain‐sensitive simply by adjusting localized crack size, shape, and orientations—a capability impossible to achieve with previous bulk cracking technology. Furthermore, in‐plane integration of strain/pressure sensors, anisotropic orientation‐specific sensors, strain‐insensitive stretchable interconnects, temperature sensors, glucose sensors, and lactate sensors without the need of soldering or gluing are demonstrated. This strategy opens a new general route for the design of next‐generation wearable electronic tattoos.
Pillar[5]arene‐Stabilized Silver Nanoclusters: Extraordinary Stability and Luminescence Enhancement Induced by Host–Guest Interactions
Authors: Muhammed Madathumpady Abubaker Habeeb , Cruz Laila Khalil , Emwas Abdul‐Hamid , El‐Zohry Ahmed M. , Moosa Basem , Mohammed Omar F. , Khashab Niveen M.
Published: August 2019

Herein, we report the synthesis of a new class of functional silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) capped with pillar[5]arene (P5)‐based host ligands. These NCs are readily prepared through direct synthesis or ligand exchange synthesis and are stable at room temperature for over 4 months. The pillar[5]arene‐stabilized NCs (Ag29(LA‐P5)12(TPP)2) endorse reversible host–guest interactions with neutral alkylamines and cationic quaternary ammonium guests. This results in the formation of spherical assemblies with unparalleled changes in their optical properties including an astonishing circa 2000‐fold luminescence enhancement. This is the highest luminescence enhancement ratio reported so far for such atomically precise NCs. Our synthetic protocol paves the way for the preparation of a new generation of metal nanoclusters protected by macrocyclic ligands with molecular recognition and selectivity toward specific guests.
Herstellung von polyfunktionellen Biarylderivaten durch Cyclolanthanierung von 2‐Bromobiarylen und heterocyclischen Analoga unter Verwendung von nBu2LaCl⋅4 LiCl
Authors: Wei Baosheng , Zhang Dongchao , Chen Yi‐Hung , Lei Aiwen , Knochel Paul
Published: August 2019

Verschiedene aryl‐ und heteroarylsubstituierte 2‐Bromobiaryle werden durch nBu2LaCl⋅4 LiCl in cyclometallierte Lanthanzwischenstufen umgewandelt. Die entstandenen Lanthanheterocyclen sind Schlüsselintermediate für die einfache Herstellung von funktionalisierten 2,2′‐Diiodobiarylen, Silafluorenen, Fluoren‐9‐onen, Phenanthrenen und deren verwandten heterocyclischen Analoga. Röntgenabsorptionsspektroskopie (XAFS) wurde verwendet, um die vorgeschlagenen Strukturen der beteiligten Organolanthanspezies zu erklären.
Zweikernige Metall‐ProPhenol‐Katalysatoren: Entwicklung und Anwendungen in der Synthese
Authors: Trost Barry M. , Hung Chao‐I (Joey) , Mata Guillaume
Published: August 2019

ProPhenol‐Moleküle gehören zur Gruppe der chiralen Azakronen‐Verbindungen und bilden bei Umsetzung mit Alkylmetall‐Reagenzien wie Et2Zn und Bu2Mg spontan einen bimetallischen Komplex. Dieser Komplex hat Lewis‐saure und Brønsted‐basische Reaktionszentren, die eine simultane Aktivierung eines Nukleophils und eines Elektrophils in derselben chiralen Umgebung erlauben. Seit dem ersten Bericht im Jahr 2000 haben Metall‐ProPhenol‐Katalysatoren eine große Bandbreite asymmetrischer Umwandlungen wie Aldol‐, Mannich‐ und Henry‐Reaktionen sowie Alkinylierungen und konjugierte Additionen ermöglicht. Aufgrund der vielfältigen Einsatzmöglichkeiten bei unterschiedlichen Reaktionen erlauben diese Komplexe einen schnellen und atomökonomischen Zugang zu wertvollen komplexen Baugruppen. In diesem Aufsatz beschreiben wir detailliert die Entwicklung und synthetischen Anwendungen dieser vielseitigen Katalysatoren, mit besonderem Blick auf kürzliche Bemühungen, Reaktivität und Selektivität durch Ligandendesign und strukturelle Veränderungen zu verbessern.
Cyclic (Aryl)(Amido)Carbenes: NHCs with Triplet‐like Reactivity
Authors: Sultane Prakash R. , Ahumada Guillermo , Janssen‐Müller Daniel , Bielawski Christopher W.
Published: August 2019

The synthesis and study of a library of cyclic (aryl)(amido)carbenes (CArAmCs), which represent a class of electrophilic NHCs that feature low calculated singlet‐triplet gaps (ΔEST=19.9 kcal mol−1; B3LYP/def2‐TZVP) and exhibit reactivity profiles expected from triplet carbenes, are described. The electrophilic properties of the CArAmCs were quantified by analyzing their respective selenium adducts, which exhibited the largest downfield 77Se NMR chemical shifts (up to 1645 ppm) measured for any NHC derivative known to date, as well as their Ir carbonyl complexes, from which large Tolman electronic parameter (TEP) values (up to 2064 cm−1) were ascertained. The CArAmCs were found to engage in reactions that are typically observed with triplet carbenes, including C−H insertions, [2+1] cycloadditions with alkenes as well as alkynes, and spontaneous oxidation upon exposure to oxygen.
A Greener Alternative Titration Method for Measuring Acid Values of Fats, Oils, and Grease
Authors: Zhang Junsong , Lu Mingming , Ren Fumin , Knothe Gerhard , Tu Qingshi
Published: August 2019

A greener alternative method is proposed for measuring acid values (AV) of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) based on visual titration. Compared with Official Method Cd 3d‐63 of the American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS), this greener alternative method can eliminate the use of toluene, which in turn reduces toxicity and cost. A total of 44 samples of yellow and brown grease with AV ranging from 0.13 to 170.37 (mg KOH) g−1 were titrated using both methods. The alternative titration method can provide accurate and reliable results to determine the AV of FOG by various statistical analyses including repeatability, linear regression, f‐test, t‐test, and method accuracy calibration with AOCS Cd 3d‐63. This low‐cost method can be recommended for routine titration in research and development, and in biodiesel plants for most FOG samples.
Evaluation of polymer injection molded parts via density‐based magnetic levitation
Authors: Zhao Peng , Xie Jun , Zhang Jianfeng , Zhang Chengqian , Xia Neng , Fu Jianzhong
Published: August 2019

The quality of polymer injection molded parts is definitely related to the molding process. Polymer injection molded parts with different properties differ in density and internal density distribution. This paper proposes a novel evaluation method for polymer injection molded parts through magnetic levitation (MagLev) to detect the differences among products by means of their densities and density distributions. Three cases of polycarbonate lenses are employed as samples in the experiments: lenses produced at different processing parameters, lenses obtained from different cavities in one mold, and those with different interior defects. The lenses obtained at different processing parameters differ in density, and those with different defects exhibit different behaviors during the levitation. The MagLev testing method shows its capability in distinguishing minute differences among the densities (< 0.0005 g cm−3) that even the subtle distinctions among the lenses formed from different cavities in one mold can be detected. Further analysis demonstrates that minute changes in thickness (2.5 μm) can also be detected. The theoretical analysis and experimental results indicate that the MagLev testing method is applicable to the evaluation of polymer injection molded parts. Moreover, the method affords advantages, such as high accuracy, high sensitivity, and convenience. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48431.
Ferroelectric switching in spin‐coated nylons 11 and 12
Authors: Yanaka Ayumi , Sakai Wataru , Kinashi Kenji , Tsutsumi Naoto
Published: August 2019

Here, we investigate the correlation between the crystal structures and the ferroelectric switching by a sinusoidal alternative electric field for spin‐coated nylon 11 films as an odd nylon and for nylon 12 as an even nylon. These spin‐coated nylons afforded thin films with thicknesses ranging from 101 to 125 nm. The obtained thin films were subjected to melt‐quenching, melt‐cooling down, annealing‐quenching, or annealing‐cooling down. These processes were notably related to the resulting crystal structures. In particular, the crystal structures involving twisted bonds in the molecular chains were significantly related to ferroelectricity in both nylon 11 and nylon 12. Namely, the vector component of the amide dipole moments is transverse to the direction of the molecular chains, which is induced by the presence of more twisted bonds and is significantly related to the remanent polarization Pr for both nylons. In nylon 11, the hydrogen bonding interaction between the intermolecular amide dipole moments in the α and δ crystal forms was weakened by the existence of more twisted bonds. In nylon 12, the nonpolar γ crystal form was transformed to a polarizable γ’ crystal form because of the existence of more twisted bonds. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48438.
Consumers’ pursuit of material and experiential purchases: A review
Authors: Gilovich Thomas , Gallo Iñigo
Published: August 2019

More than 15 years ago, Van Boven and Gilovich (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, 2003, 1193) presented evidence that experiential purchases make people happier than material purchases once consumers have covered their basic needs. This experiential advantage has attracted significant attention from researchers in the fields of social and consumer psychology. In this article, we review the literature on this subject. We first define the constructs of experiential and material purchases, and contrast them with previous, related constructs. We then identify and review the different mechanisms that appear to underlie the experiential advantage. Finally, we examine evidence of systematic differences in how people make decisions about material and experiential purchases, focusing on differences in how consumers process information and evaluate options prior to making a purchase.
Oncogenic enhancer of zeste homolog 2 is an actionable target in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Shi Bin , Behrens Carmen , Vaghani Viralkumar , Riquelme Erick Marcelo , Rodriguez‐Canales Jaime , Kadara Humam , Lin Heather , Lee Jack , Liu Hui , Wistuba Ignacio , Simon George
Published: August 2019

Background

The aims of this study were to investigate the link between enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) in preclinical studies and in human lung cancer tissue microarrays.

Methods

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 and HDAC1 mRNA expression in two lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) datasets (MDACC and TCGA) were correlated with patient outcomes. We evaluated the association of EZH2 and HDAC1 expression with response to the HDAC1 inhibitor, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA). The response to SAHA was assessed at baseline and after alteration of EZH2 or HDAC mRNA expression in LUAD cell lines.

Results

Direct correlation was found between EZH2 and HDAC1 expression (P < 0.0001). When EZH2 expression was knocked down‐ or upregulated, there was a corresponding decrease or increase in expression of HDAC expression, respectively. Cell lines with high EZH2 expression responded to SAHA treatment with a mean inhibition rate of 73.1% compared to 43.2% in cell lines with low EZH2 expression (P < 0.0001). This correlation was confirmed in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) specimens from MDACC (Spearman's correlation r = 0.416; P < 0.0001) and TCGA datasets (r = 0.221; P < 0.0001). Patients with high EZH2 and high HDAC1 expression in stage I NSCLC specimens of both datasets had the lowest survival compared to the patients with low expression of either or both markers.

Conclusion

Our findings show that overexpression of EZH2 is a negative prognostic indicator. Increased EZH2 expression predicts for response to HDAC inhibitors and thus could serve as a biomarker for selecting NSCLC patients for treatment with HDAC inhibitors.
Turncoat Polypeptides: We Adapt to Our Environment
Authors: Zamora‐Carreras Héctor , Maestro Beatriz , Sanz Jesús M. , Jiménez M. Angeles
Published: August 2019

A common interpretation of Anfinsen's hypothesis states that one amino acid sequence should fold into a single, native, ordered state, or a highly similar set thereof, coinciding with the global minimum in the folding‐energy landscape, which, in turn, is responsible for the function of the protein. However, this classical view is challenged by many proteins and peptide sequences, which can adopt exchangeable, significantly dissimilar conformations that even fulfill different biological roles. The similarities and differences of concepts related to these proteins, mainly chameleon sequences, metamorphic proteins, and switch peptides, which are all denoted herein “turncoat” polypeptides, are reviewed. As well as adding a twist to the conventional view of protein folding, the lack of structural definition adds clear versatility to the activity of proteins and can be used as a tool for protein design and further application in biotechnology and biomedicine.
Silver(I)‐Ion‐Mediated Cytosine‐Containing Base Pairs: Metal Ion Specificity for Duplex Stabilization and Susceptibility toward DNA Polymerases
Authors: Funai Tatsuya , Aotani Megumi , Kiriu Risa , Nakamura Junko , Miyazaki Yuki , Nakagawa Osamu , Wada Shun‐ichi , Torigoe Hidetaka , Ono Akira , Urata Hidehito
Published: August 2019

Spectroscopic characterization of AgI‐ion‐mediated C‐AgI‐A and C‐AgI‐T base pairs found in primer extension reactions catalyzed by DNA polymerases was conducted. UV melting experiments revealed that C‐A and C‐T mismatched base pairs in oligodeoxynucleotide duplexes are specifically stabilized by AgI ions in 1:1 stoichiometry in the same manner as a C‐C mismatched base pair. Although the stability of the mismatched base pairs in the absence of AgI ions is in the order C‐A≈C‐T>C‐C, the stabilizing effect of AgI ions follows the order C‐C>C‐A≈C‐T. However, the comparative susceptibility of dNTPs to AgI‐mediated enzymatic incorporation into the site opposite templating C is dATP>dTTP≫dCTP, as reported. The net charge, as well as the size and/or shape complementarity of the metal‐mediated base pairs, or the stabilities of mismatched base pairs in the absence of metal ions, would be more important than the stability of the metallo‐base pairs in the replicating reaction catalyzed by DNA polymerases.
Early crestal bone loss: Is it really loss?
Authors: Puisys Algirdas , Auzbikaviciute Viktorija , Minkauskaite Agne , Simkunaite‐Rizgeliene Renata , Razukevicius Dainius , Linkevicius Rokas , Linkevicius Tomas
Published: August 2019

Bone remineralization around dental implants might be possible after early crestal bone loss.
Cobalt Incorporated Hydroxyapatite Catalyst for Water Oxidation
Authors: Pyo Eunji , Lee Keunyoung , Jang Myeong Je , Ko In‐Hwan , Kim Chung Soo , Choi Sung Mook , Lee Seonhong , Kwon Ki‐Young
Published: August 2019

We report the novel oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst based on cobalt incorporated hydroxyapatite (CoHAP). Our catalyst is prepared on the surface of hydroxyapatite by ion exchange reaction in Co2+ aqueous solution. The cobalt content is approximately 1 wt. % based on ICP‐AES and XPS experiments. XRD, TEM, EDX experiments suggest that individual cobalt ions are adsorbed on the HAP surface in non‐aggregated manner. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) of CoHAP exhibits a weak oxidation peak at 1.10 V which is comparable to CV of in‐situ formed Co−Pi in previous literature. Tafel slope is approximately 80 mV/decade which is independent on the loading amount of CoHAP. The Faradaic efficiency is 94 % measured by quantitative analysis of O2 using gas chromatography. Bulk electrolysis verifies that CoHAP can be utilized OER catalyst at neutral pH with high stability. Our preparation method using hydroxyapatite as a solid phase phosphate source offers a new strategy to fabricate the OER catalysts.
Synthesis of Substituted β‐Functionalised Styrenes by Microwave‐Assisted Olefin Cross‐Metathesis and Scalable Synthesis of Apremilast
Authors: Jana Anupam , Zieliński Grzegorz Krzysztof , Czarnocka‐Śniadała Sylwia , Grudzień Krzysztof , Podwysocka Dominika , Szulc Marcin , Kajetanowicz Anna , Grela Karol
Published: August 2019

Preparation of diversely substituted β‐functionalised styrenes by microwave‐assisted olefin cross‐metathesis (CM) is described. This method can be also employed in the synthesis of β‐deuterated α,β‐unsaturated sulfones from inexpensive allylbenzenes, though unprecedented one‐pot isomerisation/deuteration/cross‐metathesis sequence. One of such obtained CM products has been utilised in a new scalable synthesis of Apremilast (6), a potent and orally active phosphodiesterase 4 and tumour necrosis factor‐α inhibitor. The same strategy was used in synthesis of an optical antipode of 6, ent‐Apremilast.
Towards Identification of Essential Structural Elements of Organoruthenium(II)‐Pyrithionato Complexes for Anticancer Activity
Authors: Kladnik Jerneja , Kljun Jakob , Burmeister Hilke , Ott Ingo , Romero‐Canelón Isolda , Turel Iztok
Published: August 2019

An organoruthenium(II) complex with pyrithione (2‐mercaptopyridine N‐oxide) 1 a has previously been identified by our group as a compound with promising anticancer potential without cytotoxicity towards non‐cancerous cells. To expand the rather limited research on compounds of this type, an array of novel chlorido and 1,3,5‐triaza‐7‐phosphaadamantane (pta) organoruthenium(II) complexes with methyl‐substituted pyrithiones has been prepared. After thorough investigation of the aqueous stability of these complexes, their modes of action have been elucidated at the cellular level. Minor structural alterations in the ruthenium‐pyrithionato compounds resulted in fine‐tuning of their cytotoxicities. The best performing compounds, 1 b and 2 b, with a chlorido or pta ligand bound to ruthenium, respectively, and a methyl group at the 3‐position of the pyrithione scaffold, have been further investigated. Both compounds trigger early apoptosis, induce the generation of reactive oxygen species and G1 arrest in A549 cancer cells, and show no strong interaction with DNA. However, only 1 b also inhibits thioredoxin reductase. Wound healing assays and mitochondrial function evaluation have revealed differences between these two compounds at the cellular level.
Dynamic Interplay between Defective UiO‐66 and Protic Solvents in Activated Processes
Authors: Caratelli Chiara , Hajek Julianna , Meijer Evert Jan , Waroquier Michel , Van Speybroeck Veronique
Published: August 2019

UiO‐66, composed by Zr‐oxide inorganic bricks [Zr6(μ3‐O)4(μ3‐OH)4] and organic terephthalate linkers, is one of the most studied metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) due to its exceptional thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability. Thanks to its high connectivity, the material can withstand structural deformations during activation processes such as linker exchange, dehydration, and defect formation. These processes do alter the zirconium coordination number in a dynamic way, creating open metal sites for catalysis and thus are able to tune the catalytic properties. In this work, it is shown, by means of first‐principle molecular‐dynamics simulations at operating conditions, how protic solvents may facilitate such changes in the metal coordination. Solvent can induce structural rearrangements in the material that can lead to undercoordinated but also overcoordinated metal sites. This is demonstrated by simulating activation processes along well‐chosen collective variables. Such enhanced MD simulations are able to track the intrinsic dynamics of the framework at realistic conditions.
Reversible C=C Bond Activation by an Intramolecularly Coordinated Antimony(I) Compound
Authors: Kořenková Monika , Hejda Martin , Erben Milan , Jirásko Robert , Jambor Roman , Růžička Aleš , Rychagova Elena , Ketkov Sergey , Dostál Libor
Published: August 2019

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Libor Dostál at the University of Pardubice, Czech Republic, and colleagues at the G. A. Razuvaev Institute of Organometallic Chemistry, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. The image depicts an amusement park designed around the antimony compounds reported in this paper. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201902968.
Monomeric β‐Diketiminato Group 13 Metal Dipnictogenide Complexes with Two Terminal EH2 Groups (E=P, As)
Authors: Li Bin , Bauer Susanne , Seidl Michael , Timoshkin Alexey Y. , Scheer Manfred
Published: August 2019

The pnictogenyl Group 13 compounds (Dipp2Nacnac)M[E(SiMe3)2]Cl and (Dipp2Nacnac)M(EH2)2 (Dipp2Nacnac=HC[C(Me)N(Ar)]2, Ar: Dipp=2,6‐iPr2C6H3; M=Al, Ga, In; E=P, As) were successfully synthesized. The salt metathesis between (Dipp2Nacnac)MCl2 and LiE(SiMe3)2 only led to monosubstituted compounds (Dipp2Nacnac)M[E(SiMe3)2]Cl [E=P, M=Ga(1), In (2); E=As, M=Ga (3), In (4)], regardless of the stoichiometric ratios used. In contrast to the steric effect of the SiMe3 groups in 1–4, the reactions of the corresponding halides with LiPH2⋅DME (or KAsH2) facilely yielded the dipnictogenide compounds (Dipp2Nacnac)M(EH2)2 (E=P, M=Al (5), Ga (6), In (7); E=As, M=Al (8), Ga (9)), avoiding the use of flammable and toxic PH3 and AsH3 for their synthesis. The compounds 5–9 are the first examples of monomeric Group 13 diphosphanides and diarsanides in which the metal center is bound to two terminal PH2 and AsH2 groups, respectively. In contrast to the successful synthesis of the indium diphosphanide (Dipp2Nacnac)In(PH2)2, the reaction of (Dipp2Nacnac)InCl2 with KAsH2 led to an indium mirror due to the instability of the target product.
Construction of All‐Carbon Chiral Quaternary Centers through CuI‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Reductive Hydroxymethylation of 1,1‐Disubstituted Allenes with CO2
Authors: Qiu Jia , Gao Shen , Li Chaopeng , Zhang Lei , Wang Zheng , Wang Xiaoming , Ding Kuiling
Published: August 2019

A catalytic enantioselective construction of all‐carbon chiral quaternary centers through reductive hydroxymethylation of 1,1‐disubstituted allenes with CO2 has been developed. In the presence of a copper/Mandyphos catalyst, CO2 is transformed into an alcohol oxidation level by an asymmetric reductive C−C bond formation with allenes by using hydrosilane (HSi(OMe)2Me) as a reductant. The resulting chiral homoallylic alcohols are versatile synthetic intermediates and can be conveniently converted into a variety of useful chiral chemicals.
A Coumarin Triflate Reagent Enables One‐Step Synthesis of Photo‐Caged Lipid Metabolites for Studying Cell Signaling
Authors: Wagner Nicolai , Schuhmacher Milena , Lohmann Annett , Nadler André
Published: August 2019

Photorelease of caged compounds is among the most powerful experimental approaches for studying cellular functions on fast timescales. However, its full potential has yet to be exploited, as the number of caged small molecules available for cell biological studies has been limited by synthetic challenges. Addressing this problem, a straightforward, one‐step procedure for efficiently synthesizing caged compounds was developed. An in situ generated benzylic coumarin triflate reagent was used to specifically functionalize carboxylate and phosphate moieties in the presence of free hydroxy groups, generating various caged lipid metabolites, including a number of GPCR ligands. By combining the photo‐caged ligands with the respective receptors, an easily implementable experimental platform for the optical control and analysis of GPCR‐mediated signal transduction in living cells was developed. Ultimately, the described synthetic strategy allows rapid generation of photo‐caged small molecules and thus greatly facilitates the analysis of their biological roles in live cell microscopy assays.
Self‐Assembled Polyamidoamine Dendrimer on Poly (methyl meth‐ acrylate) for Plasmonic Fiber Optic Sensors
Authors: Divagar M. , Saumey Jain , Satija Jitendra , Sai V. V. R.
Published: August 2019

We report a novel one‐step polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer based polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) surface functionalization strategy for the development of polymeric optical fiber (POF) based plasmonic sensors utilizing gold nanoparticles (AuNP). Simple contact angle measurements over PMMA sheets reveal the ability of the dendrimers to strongly bind to PMMA surface without additional acid/alkali pretreatment, unlike the conventional hexamethylene diamine (HMDA) based surface modification. Subsequently, U‐bent POF probes with high evanescent wave absorbance sensitivity were exploited for relative quantification of the surface amine groups using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) binding and efficient chemisorption of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) in order to identify the optimum conditions viz. dendrimer concentration, incubation time and dendrimer generation. While FITC binding showed a proportional increase in amine functional density with PAMAM concentration and time, interestingly the AuNP (40 nm) binding studies revealed the formation of loose PAMAM multilayers and their desorption. PAMAM (G4) concentration as low as 5 mM and incubation time of 24 h provide faster binding rate with densely packed AuNP and the RI sensitivity of ∼15 (A546 nm/RIU). This simpler and inexpensive strategy could also be exploited for the development of functional PMMA substrates for various applications including nanotechnology, bio‐imaging, drug delivery and analytical separations.
Efficacy of S‐1 in second‐line chemotherapy after nab‐paclitaxel plus gemcitabine for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer
Authors: Iede Kiyotsugu , Yamada Terumasa , Kato Ryo , Ueda Masami , Tsuda Yujiro , Nakashima Shinsuke , Ohta Katsuya , Matsuyama Jin , Ikenaga Masakazu , Tominaga Shusei
Published: August 2019

Background

Second‐line (2 L) chemotherapy is important for improved survival. However, the efficacy of S‐1 after nab‐paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (AG) for advanced pancreatic cancer (APC) remains unclear.

Aim

We retrospectively investigated the clinical impact of S‐1 after AG.

Methods and results

From January 2015 to July 2018, 37 patients with APC underwent AG as first‐line chemotherapy at our institute. Of these patients, 14 (38%) underwent S‐1 as 2 L chemotherapy after AG (S‐1 group), five (14%) received another agent after AG, and 18 (49%) underwent no 2 L chemotherapy (best supportive care [BSC] group). The clinical features were retrospectively compared between the S‐1 and BSC groups. Prognostic factors for residual survival (RS) were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model. The induction rate of 2 L chemotherapy was 51%, and most patients received S‐1 monotherapy (74%). The disease control rate and progression‐free survival duration were 57.1% and 2.8 months, respectively. The median RS duration in the S‐1 and BSC groups was 5.2 and 2.4 months, respectively; this difference was statistically significant (hazard ratio, 0.33; P = .005). The median overall survival duration in the S‐1 and BSC groups was 12.3 and 5.0 months, respectively; this difference was also statistically significant (hazard ratio, 0.26; P = .001). The efficacy of S‐1 in 2L chemotherapy for RS was identified in the multivariate analysis, as was age (<65 vs ≥65 y) and the presence of liver metastasis.

Conclusion

The antitumor activity of S‐1 was retained after AG, and the induction of S‐1 after AG might improve the prognosis of patients with APC.
Impressive Enrichment of Semiempirical Quantum Mechanics‐Based Scoring Function: HSP90 Protein with 4541 Inhibitors and Decoys
Authors: Eyrilmez Saltuk M. , Köprülüoğlu Cemal , Řezáč Jan , Hobza Pavel
Published: August 2019

This paper describes the excellent performance of a newly developed scoring function (SF), based on the semiempirical QM (SQM) PM6‐D3H4X method combined with the conductor‐like screening implicit solvent model (COSMO). The SQM/COSMO, Amber/GB and nine widely used SFs have been evaluated in terms of ranking power on the HSP90 protein with 72 biologically active compounds and 4469 structurally similar decoys. Among conventional SFs, the highest early and overall enrichment measured by EF1and AUC% obtained using single‐scoring‐function ranking has been found for Glide SP and Gold‐ASP SFs, respectively (7, 75 % and 3, 76 %). The performance of other standard SFs has not been satisfactory, mostly even decreasing below random values. The SQM/COSMO SF, where P−L structures were optimised at the advanced Amber level, has resulted in a dramatic enrichment increase (47, 98 %), almost reaching the best possible receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. The best SQM frame thus inserts about seven times more active compounds into the selected dataset than the best standard SF.