bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trophic state (TSISD) and mixing type significantly influence pelagic zooplankton biodiversity in temperate lakes (NW Poland)
Authors: Sługocki Łukasz , Czerniawski Robert
Published: October 2018

Background

Lake depth and the consequent mixing regime and thermal structure have profound effects on ecosystem functioning, because depth strongly affects the availability of nutrients, light, and oxygen. All these conditions influence patterns of zooplankton diversity. Zooplankton are a key component of the aquatic environment and are essential to maintaining natural processes in freshwater ecosystems. However, zooplankton biodiversity can be different regard to depth, mixing type and trophic state. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine how depth and mixing regime affect zooplankton diversity in lakes. We also investigated the vertical distribution of diversity across a trophic gradient of lakes.

Methods

A total of 329 zooplankton samples from 79 temperate lakes (36 polymictic and 43 dimictic) were collected. The biodiversity of zooplankton was calculated using species richness (SR) and the Shannon index (SI). An index based on Secchi disc visibility was used to determine the trophic state index (TSISD) of lakes. The one-way ANOVA with Duncan’s post hoc test were used to determine differences in zooplankton biodiversity between mictic lake types and thermal layers. To find the best predictors for zooplankton biodiversity a multiple stepwise regression was used. The rarefaction method was used to evaluate the impact of mixing types, thermal layers, and the TSISDon zooplankton biodiversity indices. A Sørensen similarity analysis and nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) were performed to describe the similarity patterns in species composition among lakes.

Results

We identified a total of 151 taxa from 36 polymictic and 43 dimictic lakes. Lake depth and the TSISDwere significantly correlated with the biodiversity of lake zooplankton. The results of ANOVA and Duncan tests show that mictic type and thermal zones had a significant effect on zooplankton biodiversity. The rarefaction curve showed significant differences in zooplankton biodiversity, which was greater in lakes with lower trophic state. Ordination by NMDS showed clustering of different mictic types, thermal layers, and composition changes throughout the TSISDprofile. Moreover, we determined that polymictic lakes are more heterogeneous than dimictic lakes in regard to zooplankton similarities.

Discussion

Both mictic lake types were characterized by varying levels of zooplankton biodiversity, which is shaped by the communities’ response to lake depth, thermal layers and TSISDvalues. The zooplankton SR and SI (during daylight hours) depends greatly on the mixing type. Lake type also indicates the importance of the metalimnion in shaping zooplankton biodiversity in dimictic lakes. In addition, data from NW Polish lakes indicated that the increase of the TSISDleads to taxonomic shifts and has a negative effect on the diversity of all groups of zooplankton.
О ПУТЯХ УНИФИКАЦИИ ПОДХОДОВ К СОСТАВЛЕНИЮ КАРТ ИНТЕГРАЛЬНОЙ ЭКОЛОГО-ГЕОМОРФОЛОГИЧЕСКОЙ ОЦЕНКИ ТЕРРИТОРИИ, "Геоморфология"
Authors: Петрова И.Ф.
Published: October 2018

Рассмотрены особенности применения в практике эколого-геоморфологического картографирования терминов, использующихся при комплексной оценке территории с экологических позиций. Анализ подходов к составлению карт интегральной эколого-геоморфологической оценки показал, что существующие на сегодняшний день карты эколого-геоморфологического состояния, ситуаций, обстановок и т.п. трудно сопоставимы или несопоставимы вовсе. В качестве решения проблемы автором предложено использование ГИС-технологий, позволяющих многократно дорабатывать уже составленные карты в связи с развитием понятийно-терминологического аппарата, получением новых и уточнением старых данных, изменением нормативной базы. Карты эколого-геоморфологического состояния территорий должны представлять собой открытые для дополнения и изменения системы, работа с которыми будет вестись постоянно (или через определенные промежутки времени). В этом плане существующий на сегодняшний день алгоритм публикации карт будет представлять собой определенный временной срез работы над ГИС. Подобная преемственность расширит возможности изучения динамики эколого-геоморфологического состояния территорий.
РАЗМЫВ МОРСКИХ БЕРЕГОВ СЕВЕРО-ВОСТОЧНОГО САХАЛИНА, "Геоморфология"
Authors: Афанасьев В.В. , УБА А.В.
Published: October 2018

На основе обработки аэрофото- (залеты 1952, 1974 гг.) и космофотоинформации (2014 и 2015 гг.) с использованием ГИС с последующим анализом графиков спектральной плотности интенсивности размыва определены параметры и охарактеризована пространственная структура размыва берегов СВ Сахалина. Основные закономерности пространственной структуры разрушения берегов данной территории определяются явлениями ритмичности в проявлении процессов размыва. Установлены ритмы размыва с длиной волны 1.3, 2.0, 4.0, 5.6, 8.5, 11.6, 25.6, 64 км. Среднемноголетние скорости размыва нигде не превышают 2 м/год. Максимальные скорости размыва отмечены на участках, которые представляют собой высокие (14-28 м) плейстоценовые террасовые уровни. Для этих же участков характерны максимальные объемы наносов, поступающих ежегодно в береговую зону при размыве берегового уступа протяженностью один метр (5.6-7.7 м3). Высокопорядковая ритмичность процессов размыва (в нашем случае 30-60 км) на выровненных берегах СВ Сахалина связана с устойчивыми зонами дивергенции потоков наносов, характеризующимися пониженным объемом пляжевых отложений. Ритмичность размыва 1.3 км соответствует размерности крупных мегафестонных структур пляжа. Многолетние исследования строения и морфометрии пляжа для целей практического проектирования на берегах о-ва Сахалин позволили сделать вывод о формировании полностью волногасящего профиля на песчано-гравийных пляжах при объеме отложений 70-90 м3 на 1 м протяженности берега. На большей части аккумулятивных берегов о. Сахалин нет дефицита наносов, тем не менее, размыв наблюдается даже при средних значениях объема пляжевых наносов в пределах литодинамических ячеек в 140-150 м3/м. Как показано на примере трех участков со значительными запасами наносов на верхних элементах берегового профиля, размыв таких берегов обусловлен неравномерным распределением пляжевого материала вдоль берега в результате формирования мегафестонов и их систем.
МОРФОСТРУКТУРА ЗОНЫ СОЧЛЕНЕНИЯ СЕВЕРО-ЗАПАДНОГО КАВКАЗА И КЕРЧЕНСКО-ТАМАНСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ, "Геоморфология"
Authors: Трихунков Я.И. , ГАЙДАЛЕНОК О.В. , Бачманов Д. М. , Маринин А.В.
Published: October 2018

Морфоструктурный анализ, основанный на интерпретации цифровых моделей рельефа и полевых исследованиях, а также новейшие геолого-геофизические данные подтвердили, что складчато-разрывные морфоструктуры Северо-Западного Кавказа продолжаются структурами Керченско-Таманской области и развиваются в единой обстановке сжатия. Направление сжатия при этом меняет вектор с северо-восточного на меридиональное, что выражается в переориентировке осей складчатых морфоструктур и геофизических аномалий с северо-западного на широтное. Уточнены положение и кинематические характеристики разрывных структур, играющих роль западного ограничения орогена Северо-Западного Кавказа. Широко описанная в литературе поперечная Анапско-Джигинская зона сбросового типа имеет диффузный характер и слабо выражена в рельефе. В свете новых данных роль границы горного сооружения приобретает расположенная к востоку от нее Абрауская поперечная зона сбросо-раздвиговой кинематики с вертикальной амплитудой деформаций минимум в 600 м за четвертичный этап. Она выделяется нами в качестве разрывного нарушения регионального значения с функцией ограничения орогена.
ВЫДАЮЩИЙСЯ РУССКИЙ УЧЕНЫЙ НИКОЛАЙ ИВАНОВИЧ АНДРУСОВ (1861-1924) И ЕГО ГЕОМОРФОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ РАБОТЫ, "Геоморфология"
Authors: Чичагов В.П.
Published: October 2018

Н.И. Андрусов получил образование в России и Австрии, работал в Венском университете, совершил ряд маршрутов с Э. Зюссом, общался с Г.В. Абихом и Циттелем; работал в Загребе, Италии - Венеции, Болоньи, Пизе, Милане, Карсте; в Париже и Румынии. В России работал в университетах Юрьева (Тарту), Петербурга, Одессы, Киева и Симферополя. Проводил полевые исследования в Крыму - долине р. Судак, Керченском полуострове, Тамани; Закаспийских пустынях - Кара-Богаз-Голе, Мангышлаке, Устюрте. В 1890 и 1891 гг. участвовал в двух черноморских, морских экспедициях. Последние - 1913-1918 - годы Н.И. Андрусов работал в Геологическом Комитете в Петербурге и в 1918-1920 гг. в Симферополе, в только что открытом Таврическом университете. Здесь собралась когорта славных, крупных отечественных ученых, таких как В.И. Вернадский - его имя носит ныне Крымский университет в Симферополе, В.А. Обручев, П.П. Сушкин, А.А. Байков, В.И. Палладин, Б.Д. Греков, Г.Н. Высоцкий, В.Л. Рыжков, И.Е. Тамм. А.Ф. Иоффе, Я.И. Френкель, Р.И. Гельвит, Е.В. Вульф, С.П. Попов, В.И. Лучицкий, Н.И. Кузнецов, Д.И. Щербаков и др. Н.И. Андрусов оставил обстоятельные геоморфологические описания районов Крымского полуострова и запада Средней Азии.
LncRNA UCA1 is necessary for TGF‐β‐induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition and stemness via acting as a ceRNA for Slug in glioma cells
Authors: Li Zongping , Liu Hongyuan , Zhong Qi , Wu Jian , Tang Zhi
Published: October 2018

The 5‐year survival rate of patients with glioma is < 5%, and therefore there is an urgent need to find novel potential targets for facilitating its diagnosis and treatment. The long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) UCA1 has been shown to promote the proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer cells through regulating miR‐206 expression, but the involvement of UCA1 in regulating the stemness and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of glioma cells is unknown. Here, we report that the expression of UCA1 is significantly increased by transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) treatment in glioma cells and is greater in glioma tissues than in normal adjacent tissues. Additionally, TGF‐β induced EMT and the stemness of glioma cells, whereas knockdown of lncRNA UCA1 attenuated these two processes and their enhancement by TGF‐β. Mechanistically, knockdown of UCA1 decreased Slug expression by acting as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) through competitive binding with miR‐1 and miR‐203a; this effect was further evidenced by the fact that transfection with miR‐1 or miR‐203a inhibitors abrogated the effects of UCA1 knockdown on Slug expression, and UCA1 colocalized with miR‐1 and miR‐203a in glioma tissues. Notably, ectopic expression of Slug rescued the attenuation of UCA1 knockdown on EMT and the stemness of glioma cells. These results indicate that UCA1 may act as a ceRNA to promote Slug expression, which underlies TGF‐β‐induced EMT and stemness of glioma cells.
Spatial Theories/Social Construction of Spaces
Authors: Schroer Markus
Published: October 2018

In tracing the sociological understanding of space over time, this entry gives an overview of the most important sociological space theories. Key turning points like postmodern and poststructuralist approaches to space are highlighted and put into context. Particular attention is paid to the theories of Georg Simmel, Émile Durkheim, Niklas Luhmann, Manuel Castells, Karl Marx, Henri Lefebvre, Michael Foucault, Gilles Deleuze, Félix Guattari, and Anthony Giddens and their individual contributions to the sociological space debate. The entry concludes by looking at current deliberations in space sociology and by making recommendations for further theoretical development and empirical application.
Cloning
Authors: Raff Jennifer
Published: October 2018

In its modern usage, the word “clone” is an expansion of the wordclon(pl.clons, from the Greekklon), which was coined by Herbert Webber to refer to “groups of plants that are propagated by the use of any form of vegetative parts such as bulbs, tubers, cuttings, grafts, buds, etc. and which are simply parts of the same individual seedling.” Today, cloning refers to the process of creating one or more identical copies of a biological entity, ranging in scale from a DNA molecule to an entire organism. This process can occur naturally, as happens during asexual reproduction and twinning, or it can be artificially carried out in a laboratory. While molecular cloning is relatively noncontroversial and occurs very frequently in many biological laboratories, cloning entire organisms is still very rare, technically difficult, and (particularly in the case of humans) ethically controversial.
Exome
Authors: Malhi Ripan S. , Lindo John
Published: October 2018

Research using exome analysis to address questions of interest to biological anthropologists is just beginning. These early studies use exomes to address demographic and evolutionary questions in humans. As biotechnological advances continue to lower the costs of DNA sequencing, the use of exomes is likely to increase for biological anthropologists wishing to work with population level data.
Great apes as models for human evolution
Authors: Tuttle Russell H.
Published: October 2018

As the genomically closest living beings to contemporary humans (Homo sapiens), bonobos (Pan paniscus), chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), gibbons (Hylobatidae), gorillas (Gorillaspp.), and orangutans (Pongospp.) are obvious first choices for modeling what ancestral Hominidae looked like, how they behaved, and the extent to which they retain humanoid characteristics. Although Pliocene fossil hominoids are useful for testing ideas about which extant apes are reliable regarding some physical features of emergent hominids, one is reduced to writing scenarios regarding most behavioral traits that apes and hominids had or have in common or are evolutionarily divergent.
Stunting
Authors: Holdsworth Elizabeth A. , Schell Lawrence M.
Published: October 2018

Stunting is a diagnostic category in the assessment of child nutritional status introduced in 1973 by J. C. Waterlow. It is perhaps the most used classification of child nutritional status. It refers to the presence of normal weight but substantially reduced height or length‐for‐the‐age of a child. Stunting usually arises early and in life, represents long‐term linear growth inhibition usually due to sustained poor nutrition, and is difficult to recover from through later catch‐up growth. Although devised to improve the assessment of children's nutritional status, stunting occurs under other circumstances and should be considered multi‐causal. Stunting is more common among very poor children, among children experiencing severe psychosocial stress and among children living at very high altitude (4,000 meters and above). The consequences of stunting for later health are diverse and significant.
Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium
Authors: O'Rourke Dennis H.
Published: October 2018

Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium is a fundamental model of population genetics. For a genetic locus at equilibrium, it describes the relationship between the frequencies of alleles at the locus and the genotypes composed of those alleles. For a simple locus with two alleles,pandq, the Hardy–Weinberg expectations of genotype frequencies arep2andq2for the two homozygote classes and 2pqfor the heterozygote frequency. In this simple system, the genotype frequencies obtain by squaring the sum of the locus allele frequencies (i.e., [p+q]2), which equals 1.
Leakey,Mary
Authors: Rosenberg Karen R. , Caspari Rachel
Published: October 2018

Mary Leakey (1913–1996) was a paleoanthropologist who spent her career working in East Africa, especially in Tanzania and Kenya, most famously at Olduvai Gorge and Laetoli. She is well known for both her discovery and excavation of important Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene fossils and fossilized footprints, and for her meticulous excavation and description of early stone tools and hominin living floors. Her work produced data that led to significant insights into early hominin lifeways and evolution.
Male bonding
Authors: Schülke Oliver , Ostner Julia
Published: October 2018

Male bonding is the phenomenon that among co‐residing adult males certain dyads develop affiliate relationships that are stronger, more equitable, and longer lasting than others. Male bonding occurs both in male philopatric and in male dispersal primate species. The evolution of male bonding can be linked to the evolution of rank‐changing within‐group coalitions, because males preferentially form coalitions with partners they are closely bonded with and they can rely on. The social support provided by male bonding can convey a buffer against social and environmental stress and can increase male reproductive success by promoting the attainment and the maintenance of high social status.
M
orton,
D
udley
J
.
Authors: Cartmill Matt
Published: October 2018

Dudley J. Morton (1884–1960) was a US orthopedic surgeon and anatomist known for his influential writings on the evolution, anatomy, biomechanics, and musculoskeletal pathologies of the human foot. In his work as an evolutionary morphologist, Morton argued that the descent from the trees to the ground in the human evolutionary lineage had taken place in an orthograde, suspensory Miocene ape, and that gorilla feet show convergent similarities to human feet as an adaptation to independently derived terrestrial habits. As a doctor, Morton traced many foot problems to “atavistic” skeletal variants, which he saw as reversions toward ancestral, ape‐like morphologies ill‐suited to the demands of bipedal locomotion on the ground. He promoted these ideas widely and successfully through both technical and popular books and articles in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. Although many of his clinical contentions are rejected today, most of his ideas about the evolution and functional and comparative anatomy of the foot remain generally accepted.
N
eel,
J
ames
Authors: Weiss Kenneth M.
Published: October 2018

James V. Neel (1915–2000) was a leading twentieth‐century human geneticist whose work included intensive biomedical and population genetics studies of native populations of South America. His biomedical focus was embedded in evolutionary thinking about human evolution and aboriginal demographic structures, the fate and load of new genetic mutations, and their impact on disease risks. His integrative thinking influenced anthropologists as well as the biomedical and public health communities. He was active in founding academic human genetics interests in the United States.
Paleolithic
Authors: Stutz Aaron Jonas
Published: October 2018

The Paleolithic era encompasses the bulk of the human archaeological record. Its onset is defined by the oldest known stone tools, now dated to 3.3 Ma, found at the Lomekwi site in Kenya. The period ended as microlithic technologies became widespread, often in association with relatively more densely packed human populations, whose constituent societies adopted diverse foraging, settlement, and food management technologies. These developments were likely related to economic intensification toward the end of the last Ice Age (final Pleistocene), ca. 20–12 kya. These so‐called Epipaleolithic or Mesolithic technological systems emerged patchily in space and time. Thus the Paleolithic era also has regionally variable end dates. The “Palaeolithic” has undergone substantial revision since Lubbock ([1865] 1872) defined it in his bipartite Old–New Stone Age (Paleolithic–Neolithic) division of human prehistory. The Old Stone Age remains a useful concept, insofar as it can concisely refer to humanity's Late Pliocene (ca. 3.5–2.6 Ma) biocultural evolution, which involves the adoption and transmission of chipped‐stone technologies and continues through the adaptation and diversification of manual technologies, technological products, and the built environment across the entirety of the Ice Age or Pleistocene epoch (2.6 Ma–12 kya).
Pleiotropy
Authors: Figueiro Gonzalo , Calleros Lucía
Published: October 2018

Pleiotropy is defined as one locus exerting an influence on more than one phenotype. Initial studies into pleiotropy sought to distinguish “genuine” pleiotropy (one gene with multiple products) from “spurious” pleiotropy (one unique gene product with different effects on the organism). Pleiotropy can be defined on many scales and levels whether the unit defined is at a cellular, tissue, individual, or population scale. Much of the work currently being carried out on the measurement and analysis of pleiotropy is based on large genomic datasets, and initial results suggest that when a gene is pleiotropic it is highly modular, affecting a small set of traits. Current challenges are mainly linked to the problem of detectability and statistical power.
Ramapithecus
Authors: Greenfield Leonard O.
Published: October 2018

No longer considered a valid genus,
Ramapithecus
, including
R. wickeri
in Africa (12–14 Ma) and
R. punjabicus
(10–12 Ma) in India, was once widely regarded as distinct adaptively from apes and having human dental and facial features. As a consequence, it was viewed as the earliest genus in the human lineage after it branched around 15 Ma from the lineages leading to the great apes. However, a reassessment of the fossils showed that the adaptive pattern of
Ramapithecus
, although it differed from those of modern apes, was not demonstrably different from contemporary Miocene apes with thick enamel and powerful chewing adaptations. Thus, the specimens were placed into
Sivapithecus
(India), now generally accepted as the ancestor of the orang, and
Kenyapithecus
(Africa) which could be a common ancestor of all of the great apes and humans. The reassessment, combined with comparative genetic data, supported the late divergence hypothesis, which continues to be a viable phylogenetic scenario of great ape and human origins.
Selective sweep
Authors: Huff Chad D.
Published: October 2018

A selective sweep is a rapid increase in the population frequency of an allele favored by natural selection. When an allele sweeps through a population, nearby neutral alleles sharing a chromosome with the favorable allele will increase in frequency due to genetic hitchhiking. In a classic selective sweep, a new advantageous mutation arises in the population and rapidly reaches fixation, resulting in an allele substitution. Classic sweeps have been rare in human evolution over the past 250,000 years, and there are only a few examples of classic sweeps after the divergence of continental human populations. Examples of classic sweeps in humans include a missense variant in the
SLC24A5
gene resulting in lighter skin pigmentation in European populations, and a Duffy blood group variant that confers resistance to malaria in African populations.
Sexual dimorphism (humans)
Authors: Nikitovic Dejana
Published: October 2018

Sexual dimorphism refers to differences in size and shape between females and males of the same species. The term sexual dimorphism is usually used only for the secondary sexual characteristics, which are unrelated to reproduction. Some examples of sexual dimorphism include differences in stature, weight, morphology of the face, cognitive development, mortality, and disease prevalence. Although humans exhibit low levels of sexual dimorphism compared to other animals, differences between females and males are numerous. Evolutionary, sexually dimorphic traits develop through the process of sexual selection. Furthermore, mating system, body size, gender roles, and quality of environment also play an important role in determining the levels of sexual dimorphism. Sexual dimorphism has an important place in biological anthropology. In bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology, morphological and metric traits are used to estimate sex of the skeletal remains, while in studies of human evolution the level of sexual dimorphism is used to reconstruct social behavior. Generally, the majority of studies tend to focus on adults, because sexual dimorphism is not well pronounced before puberty.
Harpending,Henry
Authors: Wooding Stephen P.
Published: October 2018

Henry Cosad Harpending (1944–2016) was a pioneering US researcher in the fields of human demography and population genetics. Harpending's early work explored population structure in the !Kung bushmen and included extensive field time in Botswana and Namibia. He went on to investigate the !Kung and other southern African groups in some of the earliest studies using genetic markers to infer demographic history, and made significant contributions to theoretical and empirical population genetics throughout his career. In addition to genetics, Harpending's research included sociobiological components examining reproductive strategies and parental investment. His later work integrated these emphases, exploring the hypothesis that recent technological and cultural innovations, such as agriculture, played important roles in the evolution of modern physiology and behavior. Harpending's achievements uncovering ancient human history and evolution were honored with election to the United States National Academy of Sciences (1996) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2002).
Evaluation of offline adaptive planning techniques in image‐guided brachytherapy of cervical cancer
Authors: Liu Han , Kinard James , Maurer Jacqueline , Shang Qingyang , Vanderstraeten Caroline , Hayes Lane , Sintay Benjamin , Wiant David
Published: October 2018

Modern three‐dimensional image‐guided intracavitary high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy is often used in combination with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) to manage cervical cancer. Intrafraction motion of critical organs relative to the HDR applicator in the time between the planning CT and treatment delivery can cause marked deviations between the planned and delivered doses. This study examines offline adaptive planning techniques that may reduce intrafraction uncertainties by shortening the time between the planning CT and treatment delivery. Eight patients who received EBRT followed by HDR boosts were retrospectively reviewed. A CT scan was obtained for each insertion. Four strategies were simulated: (A) plans based on the current treatment day CT; (B) plans based on the first fraction CT; (C) plans based on the CT from the immediately preceding fraction; (D) plans based on the closest anatomically matched previous CT, using all prior plans as a library. Strategies B, C, and D allow plans to be created prior to the treatment day insertion, and then rapidly compared with the new CT. Equivalent doses in 2 Gy for combined EBRT and HDR were compared with online adaptive plans (strategy A) at D90 and D98 for the high‐risk CTV (HR‐CTV), and D2 cc for the bladder, rectum, sigmoid, and bowel. Compared to strategy A, D90 deviations for the HR‐CTV were −0.5 ± 2.8 Gy, −0.9 ± 1.0 Gy, and −0.7 ± 1.0 Gy for Strategies B, C, and D, respectively. D2 cc changes for rectum were 2.7 ± 5.6 Gy, 0.6 ± 1.7 Gy, and 1.1 ± 2.4 Gy for Strategies B, C, and D. With the exception of one patient using strategy B, no notable variations for bladder, sigmoid, and bowel were found. Offline adaptive planning techniques can shorten time between CT and treatment delivery from hours to minutes, with minimal loss of dosimetric accuracy, greatly reducing the chance of intrafraction motion.
A Scalable, High‐Throughput, and Environmentally Benign Approach to Polymer Dielectrics Exhibiting Significantly Improved Capacitive Performance at High Temperatures
Authors: Zhou Yao , Li Qi , Dang Bin , Yang Yang , Shao Tao , Li He , Hu Jun , Zeng Rong , He Jinliang , Wang Qing
Published: October 2018

High‐temperature capability is critical for polymer dielectrics in the next‐generation capacitors demanded in harsh‐environment electronics and electrical‐power applications. It is well recognized that the energy‐storage capabilities of dielectrics are degraded drastically with increasing temperature due to the exponential increase of conduction loss. Here, a general and scalable method to enable significant improvement of the high‐temperature capacitive performance of the current polymer dielectrics is reported. The high‐temperature capacitive properties in terms of discharged energy density and the charge–discharge efficiency of the polymer films coated with SiO2 via plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition significantly outperform the neat polymers and rival or surpass the state‐of‐the‐art high‐temperature polymer nanocomposites that are prepared by tedious and low‐throughput methods. Moreover, the surface modification of the dielectric films is carried out in conjunction with fast‐throughput roll‐to‐roll processing under ambient conditions. The entire fabrication process neither involves any toxic chemicals nor generates any hazardous by‐products. The integration of excellent performance, versatility, high productivity, low cost, and environmental friendliness in the present method offers an unprecedented opportunity for the development of scalable high‐temperature polymer dielectrics.
Space‐Confined Synthesis of 2D All‐Inorganic CsPbI3 Perovskite Nanosheets for Multiphoton‐Pumped Lasing
Authors: Zheng Zhi , Wang Xiaoxia , Shen Yanwei , Luo Ziyu , Li Leigang , Gan Lin , Ma Ying , Li Huiqiao , Pan Anlian , Zhai Tianyou
Published: October 2018

With multiphoton‐pumped lasing, 2D all‐inorganic CsPbI3 perovskite nanoplates demonstrate a wide range of applications which results from its high crystalline quality and a nearly perfect naturally formed whispering gallery mode cavity. However, there still remains a difficulty in controllable synthesizing 2D CsPbI3 nanosheets with high crystalline quality. In this work, high‐quality 2D CsPbI3 perovskite nanosheets have been synthesized successfully with controllable morphology through space‐confined vapor‐phase epitaxial growth. More importantly, the morphology and crystalline quality of CsPbI3 perovskite nanosheets could be easily tuned by adjusting the diffusion and growth process achieved by adjusting the space‐confined distance and growth temperature. The typical square‐like CsPbI3 perovskite nanosheets can be as thin as 6.0 nm with a lateral size of 10.0 µm. The photoluminescence emission properties show a distinct dependence on thickness of these as‐grown CsPbI3 perovskite nanosheets. In addition, the as‐fabricated CsPbI3 perovskite nanosheets demonstrate one‐photon and two‐photon excitation‐pumped lasing with low‐threshold and high‐quality factor. The excellent multiphoton‐pumped lasing properties of the CsPbI3 perovskite nanosheets are attributed to their high crystalline quality, implying great promise for future applications in high‐performance optoelectronics.
Burgeoning Prospects of Spent Lithium‐Ion Batteries in Multifarious Applications
Authors: Natarajan Subramanian , Aravindan Vanchiappan
Published: October 2018

Where sustainability is concerned, recycling of reutilizable wastes will always occupy the apex of the green chemistry research. Handling electronic wastes in a green manner without affecting the ecology and human health is one of the main challenges for material chemists and gains top priority among other fields of research. At present, handling and recycling of spent lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) is a key priority. Due to these environmental concerns, massive interest has been triggered in various crystal structures of metal oxides, and different kinds of carbon materials that provide the opportunities to replace the commercial LIBs for energy storage and conversion applications in a cost‐effective manner. Reports are available on the recycling of spent LIBs, but these reports mainly focus on the metal recovery process rather than finding suitable applications for the recovered material. This present work exclusively summarizes the global demand for LIB raw materials, tactics in the resynthesis process along with the wide range of growing applications of spent LIB materials. Finally, the future prospects of applications that utilize spent LIB materials are addressed.
Management and outcome of epistaxis under direct oral anticoagulants: a comparison with warfarin
Authors: Send Thorsten , Bertlich Mattis , Horlbeck Fritz , Schafigh Darius , Freytag Saskia , Eichhorn Klaus W. , Gräff Ingo , Bootz Friedrich , Jakob Mark
Published: October 2018

Background

Epistaxis is one of the more common reasons for emergency room visits. The main risk factor for epistaxis is anticoagulant therapy. Until recently, the main culprit was oral intake of a vitamin K antagonist, such as warfarin, which has a number of side effects. Even more recently, several direct oral anticoagulants, rivaroxaban and dabigatran, have been approved for use. We investigated the possible differences between treatment of epistaxis with direct oral anticoagulants and vitamin K antagonists.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary referral center in Germany. All patients who were admitted within a 1‐year period were included. Patient files were used to obtain the information.

Results

Overall, 677 patients were included in our study. Of these, 159 had been treated with vitamin K antagonists and 49 with direct oral anticoagulants. There were no significant differences in terms of age (p = 0.592), sex (p = 0.372), vital signs, bloodwork, or location of bleeding (p = 0.372). Management of epistaxis between the groups was also comparable (p = 0.399), with similar hospital admission rates (37.1% vs 24.5%; p = 0.145) and duration of stay (3.5 ± 2.1 days vs 3.8 ± 3.3 days; p = 0.650).

Conclusion

We found no evidence to suggest epistaxis is more severe or requires more invasive therapy in patients given direct oral anticoagulants. A significant proportion of patients on vitamin K antagonists were not within the target range for international normalized ratio, highlighting one of the main issues with oral anticoagulation by vitamin K antagonists.
Deficiency in interleukin‐10 production by M2 macrophages in eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
Authors: Wang Zhi‐Chao , Yao Yin , Wang Nan , Liu Jin‐Xin , Ma Jin , Chen Cai‐Ling , Deng Yi‐Ke , Wang Meng‐Chen , Liu Yang , Zhang Xin‐Hao , Liu Zheng
Published: October 2018

Background

M2 macrophages are characterized by high interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) expression and are critical for resolving inflammation. Although increased accumulation of M2 macrophages has been demonstrated in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), particularly the eosinophilic type, their functional relevance in CRSwNP remains poorly understood.

Methods

M1 and M2 macrophages and IL‐10 expression in sinonasal tissues were detected by double‐immunofluorescence staining. THP‐1 cells, a human monocytic leukemia cell line, were stimulated with various cytokines to study macrophage polarization and IL‐10 expression. Polyp size, computed tomography (CT) scans, and symptom severity were scored.

Results

Compared with numbers in control tissues, the numbers of total CD68+ macrophages, interferon regulatory factor 5–positive and CD68+ M1 macrophages, and CD163+CD68+ and CD206+CD68+ M2 macrophages were increased in both eosinophilic and non‐eosinophilic polyps. However, compared with non‐eosinophilic polyps, eosinophilic polyps contained fewer M1 macrophages and more M2 macrophages. Consistent with this, the M1/M2 macrophage ratio was increased in non‐eosinophilic polyps, whereas it decreased in eosinophilic polyps. Strikingly, the numbers of IL‐10+CD68+ macrophages and the percentage of IL‐10+CD68+ macrophages relative to the total number of macrophages were decreased in eosinophilic polyps, despite the upregulation of M2 macrophages in this type of polyp. The number of IL‐10+CD68+ M2 macrophages correlated negatively with total symptoms scores, polyp sizes, total CT scores, and the total number of inflammatory cells in patients with eosinophilic CRSwNP. Poly I:C downregulated IL‐10 expression in M2 macrophages differentiated from THP‐1 cells in vitro.

Conclusion

Impaired IL‐10 production by M2 macrophages may contribute to sustained inflammation in eosinophilic CRSwNP.vv
Deletion of Nrf2 enhances susceptibility to eosinophilic sinonasal inflammation in a murine model of rhinosinusitis
Authors: London Nyall R. , Tharakan Anuj , Mendiola Michelle , Sussan Thomas E. , Chen Mengfei , Dobzanski Alex , Lane Andrew P. , Sidhaye Venkataramana , Biswal Shyam , Ramanathan Murugappan
Published: October 2018

Background

Oxidative stress exacerbates lower airway diseases including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, its role in upper airway (sinonasal) chronic inflammatory disorders is less clear. Nuclear erythroid 2 p45‐related factor (Nrf2) is an endogenous mechanism that upon activation invokes an antioxidant response pathway via nuclear translocation and upregulation of cytoprotective genes. We sought to determine whether deletion of Nrf2 enhances susceptibility to allergic sinonasal inflammation in vivo.

Methods

Nrf2−/− mice were subjected to the ovalbumin (Ova)‐induced murine model of rhinosinusitis and indices of sinonasal inflammation and epithelial barrier dysfunction were assessed.

Results

We show that deletion of Nrf2 results in enhances indices of allergen‐induced sinonasal inflammation including aggravated eosinophil accumulation and goblet cell hyperplasia. An exaggerated increase in epithelial derived inflammatory cytokines including interleukin 33 (IL‐33) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) was observed in the nasal lavage fluid and sinonasal mucosal tissue of Nrf2−/− mice. Furthermore, Nrf2−/− mice showed heightened Ova‐induced barrier dysfunction as measured by serum albumin accumulation in nasal lavage fluid of mice.

Conclusion

These data show that the endogenous Nrf2 pathway limits Ova‐induced sinonasal inflammation, epithelial derived inflammatory cytokine production, and epithelial barrier dysfunction in vivo and identify a potential therapeutic target in the management of allergic sinonasal inflammatory disorders. This is the first study to our knowledge which shows that Nrf2 regulates allergic inflammation in the sinonasal cavity in vivo.
Probing the adsorption behavior of oxazole and isoxazole heterocyclic compounds onto B12N12 nanocluster surface in gas and aqueous mediums through DFT calculations
Authors: Hamooleh Zeinab , Salimi Beni Alireza , Shakerzadeh Ehsan
Published: October 2018

The adsorption of oxazole and isoxazole molecules over the pristine B12N12 nanocluster is investigated in terms of its geometric, the adsorption energies and the electronic properties using density functional theory calculations. The results indicate that the pristine cluster effectively chemisorbs with the oxazole and isoxazole molecules through their nitrogen atoms; whereas the interaction through the oxygen atoms is not considerable. The HOMO‐LUMO gap of the cluster decrease by the adsorption of heterocycle rings. The role of solvent in improving the adsorption properties over the B12N12 surface is also considered. The obtained adsorption energies in aqueous medium are more negative than gas phase implied to the stability of the B12N12/ heterocycles complexes in the aqueous medium. Indeed, the interactions of some oxazole and isoxazole derivatives with this cluster are also investigated. The current study provides the knowledge about the performance of the B12N12 cluster in adsorbing oxazole and isoxazole moleculest.
Copper‐vitamin B6 coated on maghemite nanoparticles: A new convenient dual catalysis system to synthesize α‐aminonitriles from benzyl alcohols
Authors: Esfandiary Naghmeh , Nakisa Athar , Radfar Iman , Azizi Kobra , Mehraban Jamshid Azarnia , Heydari Akbar
Published: October 2018

A novel and effective dual catalysis system, copper combined with pyridoxal phosphate, which is anchored in maghemite nanoparticles were designed and applied to synthesize α‐aminonitriles from benzyl alcohols. This catalytic system has the potential ability to perform oxidation reactions and subsequently synthesize alpha‐amino nitrile in a reaction environment. Thus, the purpose of this paper is introducing a heterogeneous, sustainable and recyclable catalytic system to perform reactions that require a transition metal catalyst and organocatalyst continuously to achieve a target molecule.

The catalysis system is examined and investigated with seven useful analyses such as FT‐IR, TGA, VSM, SEM, TEM, XRD, and ICP.
Growth Inhibition of Microcystis aeruginosa by Copper‐based MOFs: Performance and Physiological Effect on Algal Cells
Authors: Fan Gongduan , Zhou Jinjin , Zheng Xiaomei , Chen Wei
Published: October 2018

The problem of cyanobacteria bloom occurring in the eutrophic water increases more serious and urgent needs to be solved. Based on the advantages of Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), some reported studies have evaluated the inhibition effect of MOFs on algae. However, the influence of that on the physiological characteristics of algal cells has not been investigated thoroughly. In this study, Cu‐MOF‐74 was successfully synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method and was characterized by XRD and SEM. The growth inhibition of Microcystis aeruginosa were conducted to explore the effects of Cu‐MOF‐74 based on the physiology of algal cells to reveal algae inhibition mechanism. The results showed that the synthesized Cu‐MOF‐74 was a large needle‐shaped crystal, and the size of the grain was 3–4.5 μm. 1 mg/L of Cu‐MOF‐74 has relatively excellent inhibitory effect on algae, which can achieve the removal efficiency of 75.5% within 120 hr. Besides, the content of chlorophyll a decreased by about 56%, the diminishing of chlorophyll a and phycobiliprotein concentration resulted in photosystem damage. In this process, ROS accumulated continually in algal cells with the slow release of metal ions Cu2+ of Cu‐MOF‐74 which acts as a ‘reservoir’, then causing the oxidation loss, the reduction of SOD activity and the increase of CAT activity. The hydroxyl radical generated by Cu‐MOF‐74 caused lipid peroxidation. Thereby the situation above eventually resulted in the death of Microcystis aeruginosa and the concentration of extracellular organic matter increased. All the above, we think Cu‐MOF‐74 can inhibit the growth of algal cells through effecting on physiology and can be applied to control the cyanobacteria blooms.
Fabrication of mixed phase calcium ferrite and zirconia nanocomposite for abatement of methyl orange dye from aqua matrix: Optimization of process parameters
Authors: Bhowmik Mahashweta , Debnath Animesh , Saha Biswajit
Published: October 2018

In this study, mixed phase of CaFe2O4 and ZrO2 magnetic nanocomposite (CaF‐ZO‐MNC) was fabricated through facile co‐precipitation method and was explored for abatement of methyl orange (MO) dye from aqua matrix. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the synthesized CaF‐ZO‐MNC depicted significant diffraction peaks of ZrO2 and CaFe2O4 nanoparticles ensured the crystalline nature of the material. The coexistence of ZrO2 and CaFe2O4 nanoparticles in the composite increased the BET surface area (95.32m2/g) and improves its physicochemical properties as an adsorbent. Enhanced adsorption capacity towards MO dye was found to be 370.37 mg/g from Langmuir model, which is higher than standalone nanoscale Fe, Ca, and Zr metal oxide nanoparticles. The equilibrium adsorption data were found to follow Langmuir isotherm and the adsorption process followed second order kinetic model strictly. Response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized for optimizing the experimental conditions for maximizing the MO dye removal (%) with desirability function approach. Four factors five levels central composite design was implemented for RSM study and the simultaneous interaction of process variables on dye removal efficiency was studied by 3D response surface plots. Maximum MO dye removal of 98.92% was determined with MO dye concentration of 22 mg/L, adsorbent dose of 0.54 g/L, contact time of 25 min at recation temperature of 30 °C.
Development of highly conductive graphite‐/graphene‐filled polybenzoxazine composites for bipolar plates in fuel cells
Authors: Phuangngamphan M. , Okhawilai M. , Hiziroglu S. , Rimdusit S.
Published: October 2018

Superior conductive fillers reinforced polymer composites are ideal alternatives to graphitic and metallic materials in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) for high thermal and electrical conductive bipolar plates. Polymer composites are known to be adversely influenced from high contact resistance thus to minimize such resistance, highly graphite‐/graphene‐filled polybenzoxazine (PBA) composites are developed in this work. A very low melt viscosity of benzoxazine resin with graphite loading as high as 83 wt % is used for the samples. With an addition of graphene platelet, thermal and electrical conductivities of the specimens having 75.5 wt % of graphite in a combination of 7.5 wt % of graphene are significantly enhanced to 14.5 W mK−1 and 323 S cm−1, respectively. Properties of highly graphite‐/graphene‐filled PBA composites exhibit most values exceed those requirements by the U.S. Department of Energy for PEMFCs applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47183.
Controlled Formation of a Main Chain Supramolecular Polymer Based on Metal–Ligand Interactions and a Thiol‐Ene Click Reaction
Authors: Chen Feiyi , Tian Yu‐Kui , Chen Yulan
Published: October 2018

Supramolecular polymers with multiple functionalities and hierarchical structures have received considerable attention and become a hot research topic over the past years. Herein, a main‐chain supramolecular polymer has been successfully fabricated by using metal–ligand interactions and a thiol‐ene click reaction. 1H NMR, UV/Vis, DOSY, and viscosity measurements were carried out to investigate the molecular recognition and the process of supramolecular polymerization. From the study, the orthogonality between thiol‐ene click reactions and the terpyridine–metal ions complexation behavior was testified, and supramolecular polymeric assemblies could be constructed by a one pot method. In the meantime, due to the incorporation of metal‐ligand interactions, the supramolecular polymer shows stimuli‐responsive properties toward chemical stimuli. Hence, this work could provide a methodology for developing supramolecular polymers as smart materials.
Dinuclear Lanthanide Complexes Based on a Schiff‐base Ligand: Free Lattice Solvent Inducing the Single Molecule Magnet Behavior of Dy2 Compound
Authors: Ge Yu , Qin Yaru , Cui Yanfeng , Pan Yangdan , Huang Yuan , Li Yahong , Liu Wei , Zhang Yi‐Quan
Published: October 2018

Syntheses, crystal structures and magnetic properties are described for a series of seven‐coordinate dinuclear lanthanide complexes of compositions Dy2L2 (1) (H3L=2‐{[bis(2‐hydroxy‐3‐ethoxybenzyl)(aminoethyl)amino]methyl}phenol) and Ln2L2⋅MeCN (Ln=Dy (2), Sm (3), Eu (4), Gd (5), Tb (6), Ho (7)). The reaction of Dy(NO3)3⋅6 H2O with one equivalent of H3L at 70 °C in DMF/EtOH under autogenous pressure gave compound 1. Complexes 2–7 were prepared by means of the same method as that used for 1, except DMF was replaced by MeCN as the reaction solvent and Dy(NO3)3⋅6 H2O was changed to the corresponding lanthanide salts. Complexes 1–7 possess the similar Ln2 cores bridged by μ2‐phenoxyl oxygen atoms. The slight difference between 1 and 2–7 arises from the existence of free MeCN molecule in 2–7. The purposeful introduction of solvent MeCN molecule changes the crystal system from triclinic for 1 to monoclinic for 2 and alters the Dy—O–Dy angles and Dy⋅⋅⋅Dy distances, consequentially resulting into dramatic influences on the magnetic properties of 1 and 2. Complex 1 shows no SMM character, while compound 2 with free MeCN molecule exhibits a field‐induced slow magnetization relaxation behavior. Complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) calculations were performed on two Dy2 compounds to rationalize the observed difference in the magnetic behavior. Theoretical calculations reveal that the energy gap between the lowest two Kramers doublets of individual DyIII fragment for 2 is higher than those of 1 (1_a and 1_b). This conlusion is consistant with the experimental result that complex 2 exhibits better magnetic properties. This work proposes an ingenious strategy for inducing the SMM behavior in the Dy2 compounds.