bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Semantics of the Color Experiment in Boris Poplavsky's Artistic Discourse
Authors: Bezrukov Andrey Nikolaevich
Published: November 2024

The purpose of this work is to define the semantics of coloratives in the artistic discourse of one of the brightest representatives of the first wave of Russian emigration, Boris Poplavsky. His work is a kind of aesthetic experiment, which is carried out at the level of form, content, and naturally poetic language. The subject area of the study is the lyrical texts of B.Y. Poplavsky, they are concentrated in comparison with the author's prose and have proper color nominations that expand the semantic halo of the author's artistic world. The analysis of the semantics of coloratives makes it possible to identify the stylistic dominants of Boris Poplavsky, to compare his writing style with a number of experimental artistic trends of the early twentieth century. The discursive nature of B.Y. Poplavsky's writing is deliberately associated with the expansion of the semantic boundaries of a literary work. The continuous sampling method is not the main one in the work, because the purpose of the article is not to concretize the statistics of the use of a particular color, but to identify the functional limits of the color palette of B. Poplavsky. This does not contradict scientific research, the content layer is the main one within the framework of cognitive linguistics, sociolinguistics, semiotics. The results of the work can be used in university practice, when studying the poetics of B.Y. Poplavsky's texts, determining the specifics of his artistic orientations. In our opinion, Boris Poplavsky's poetry is the most advantageous for illustrating the color significance, since his texts are focused on visual arts – surrealism, avant-garde, and modernism in general. The novelty of work in building a systematic and holistic hierarchy of color in Poplavsky. At the same time, it can be noted that the functional load of the coloratives is not uniform. We have identified such options as emotional-evaluative, nominative, axiological, receptive, and, of course, visual (figurative). Boris Poplavsky's poetic cosmos is verified due to color combinations, it is important that semantic expansion is not excluded.
Long-term transformation of fiscal instruments under sanctions pressure: Iran's experience and its relevance to Russia
Authors: Volkov Denis Maksimovich , Polezharova Lyudmila Vladimirovna
Published: November 2024

The subject of this study is the Iranian tax system and its changes in the context of international sanctions that have been in effect against the country for several decades. Given that Iran's fiscal system has undergone a number of significant changes during the period of sanctions pressure, the experience of this country is relevant for Russia both in terms of possible tools aimed at stabilizing the economy and in terms of forecasting trends in the transformation of the tax system. The analysis and characteristics of Iranian tax system is carried out through the prism of its adjustment and changes necessary to ensure the country's fiscal stability in the face of sanctions pressure. Data published by the World Bank and the Central Bank of Iran are used as sources. The purpose of the study is to characterize and identify Iranian positive experience in changing the tax system under the conditions of sanctions pressure and to develop recommendations for its application in Russia. The research methods used are analysis, synthesis, induction, and classification. The following indicators are used: the tax burden, the share of taxes in the total amount of state budget revenues, the share of individual tax payments in the total amount of tax payments. The data are analyzed in dynamics for the period 1972 – 2020. A graphical way of presenting data is used to visualize the results of the analysis. As a result of the analysis, it is concluded that taxes under the conditions of sanctions become an alternative source of income for the state budget of Iran. Meanwhile the structure of the country tax payments has undergone significant changes, as a result of which the role of insurance premiums and indirect taxes (primarily VAT) has significantly increased. Iranian experience is relevant for Russia. Thus, the result of the analysis demonstrates that due to the fact that sanctions are a significant barrier to foreign trade, taxation becomes, in fact, the only source of government revenue, and the fiscal function of taxes becomes dominant. In this regard, an increase in the nominal corporate profits tax rate by 5 percentage points while maintaining the existing preferential mechanisms, as well as progressive five-stage taxation of personal income, becomes a logical and justified tool for replenishing the state budget, which allows achieving the task.
The Armed Forces and Establishment of Secondary Social Institutes
Authors: Ivanov Andrei Alexandrovich
Published: November 2024

In this article, the author examines in detail various aspects of transforming the armed forces into an instrument of socio-economic modernization. The object of research in this case is the army as a social institute, and the subject of the study is historical examples of hybrid institutional agreements with the participation of the army for the design of new institutional formations. Particular attention is paid to positive examples of the participation of armed forces in hybridization processes in the past, namely, knightly orders, martial arts, medieval military mercenaries, etc. At the same time, examples of unsuccessful hybrid agreements such as military settlements are also given. The aim of this study is the search for alternative methods of capitalizing the military potential of modern states in the changing conditions of a multipolar world based on historical experience. The research methodology is based on the achievements of the “new institutional economy” and involves identifying the place and role of the armed forces in the social mechanism through structural-functional and procedural-dynamic analysis. As a result of the study, it can be concluded that the task of capitalization of the country’s military potential and turning it into an instrument of socio-economic modernization can be solved if society is considered not only in the context of the diversity of content but in terms of the relationships between its constituent universal concepts. Cooperation and hybridization of institutes within the institutional matrix in this vein open up opportunities to overcome the factors hindering socio-economic development. The author's contribution to the solution of the research goal is the establishment of a connection between the “valence” of social institutions associated with the use of violence and the ability of society to find a balance between security and progress.
A SMARTR workflow for multi-ensemble atlas mapping and brain-wide network analysis
Authors: Jin Michelle , Ogundare Simon O , Lanio Marcos , Sorid Sophia , Whye Alicia R , Leal Santos Sofia , Franceschini Alessandra , Denny Christine A
Published: November 2024

In the last decade, activity-dependent strategies for labelling multiple immediate early gene (IEG) ensembles in mice have generated unprecedented insight into the mechanisms of memory encoding, storage, and retrieval. However, few strategies exist for brain-wide mapping of multiple ensembles, including their overlapping population, and none incorporate capabilities for downstream network analysis. Here, we introduce a scalable workflow to analyze traditionally coronally-sectioned datasets produced by activity-dependent tagging systems. Intrinsic to this pipeline is
s
imple
m
ulti-ensemble
a
tlas
r
egistration and statistical
t
esting in
R
(
SMARTR
), an R package which wraps mapping capabilities with functions for statistical analysis and network visualization. We demonstrate the versatility of SMARTR by mapping the ensembles underlying the acquisition and expression of learned helplessness (LH), a robust stress model. Applying network analysis, we find that exposure to inescapable shock (IS), compared to context training (CT), results in decreased centrality of regions engaged in spatial and contextual processing and higher influence of regions involved in somatosensory and affective processing. During LH expression, the substantia nigra emerges as a highly influential region which shows a functional reversal following IS, indicating a possible regulatory function of motor activity during helplessness. We also report that IS results in a robust decrease in reactivation activity across a number of cortical, hippocampal, and amygdalar regions, indicating suppression of ensemble reactivation may be a neurobiological signature of LH. These results highlight the emergent insights uniquely garnered by applying our analysis approach to multiple ensemble datasets and demonstrate the strength of our workflow as a hypothesis-generating toolkit.
Cortical neuroprosthesis-mediated functional ipsilateral control of locomotion in rats with spinal cord hemisection
Authors: Massai Elena , Bonizzato Marco , de Jesus Isley , Drainville Roxanne , Martinez Marina
Published: November 2024

Control of voluntary limb movement is predominantly attributed to the contralateral motor cortex. However, increasing evidence suggests the involvement of ipsilateral cortical networks in this process, especially in motor tasks requiring bilateral coordination, such as locomotion. In this study, we combined a unilateral thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI) with a cortical neuroprosthetic approach to investigate the functional role of the ipsilateral motor cortex in rat movement through spared contralesional pathways. Our findings reveal that in all SCI rats, stimulation of the ipsilesional motor cortex promoted a bilateral synergy. This synergy involved the elevation of the contralateral foot along with ipsilateral hindlimb extension. Additionally, in two out of seven animals, stimulation of a sub-region of the hindlimb motor cortex modulated ipsilateral hindlimb flexion. Importantly, ipsilateral cortical stimulation delivered after SCI immediately alleviated multiple locomotor and postural deficits, and this effect persisted after ablation of the homologous motor cortex. These results provide strong evidence of a causal link between cortical activation and precise ipsilateral control of hindlimb movement. This study has significant implications for the development of future neuroprosthetic technology and our understanding of motor control in the context of spinal cord injury.
Ligand-Coupled Conformational Changes in a Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Ion Channel Revealed by Time-Resolved Transition Metal Ion FRET
Authors: Eggan Pierce , Gordon Sharona E , Zagotta William N
Published: November 2024

Cyclic nucleotide-binding domain (CNBD) ion channels play crucial roles in cellular-signaling and excitability and are regulated by the direct binding of cyclic adenosine- or guanosine-monophosphate (cAMP, cGMP). However, the precise allosteric mechanism governing channel activation upon ligand binding, particularly the energetic changes within domains, remains poorly understood. The prokaryotic CNBD channel SthK offers a valuable model for investigating this allosteric mechanism. In this study, we investigated the conformational dynamics and energetics of the SthK C-terminal region using a combination of steady-state and time-resolved transition metal ion Förster resonance energy transfer (tmFRET) experiments. We engineered donor-acceptor pairs at specific sites within a SthK C-terminal fragment by incorporating a fluorescent noncanonical amino acid donor and metal ion acceptors. Measuring tmFRET with fluorescence lifetimes, we determined intramolecular distance distributions in the absence and presence of cAMP or cGMP. The probability distributions between conformational states without and with ligand were used to calculate the changes in free energy (ΔG) and differences in free energy change (ΔΔG) in the context of a simple four-state model. Our findings reveal that cAMP binding produces large structural changes, with a very favorable ΔΔG. In contrast to cAMP, cGMP behaved as a partial agonist and only weakly promoted the active state. Furthermore, we assessed the impact of protein oligomerization and ionic strength on the structure and energetics of the conformational states. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of time-resolved tmFRET in determining the conformational states and the ligand-dependent energetics of the SthK C-terminal region.
Performance analysis of patch-type UHF-RFID tag antennas in the presence of mutual coupling
Authors: Gbamélé K. F.
Published: November 2024

In a context of high-density deployment of UHF RFID patch-type tag antennas, mutual coupling can have an impact on the detection rate due to the degradation of the link budget between certain tags and the reader. The aim of this paper is to analyze the performance of a system that takes account of electromagnetic mutual coupling as a function of the random positions of UHF RFID patch-type tag antennas in complex environments. The design of the patch-types tags, including the extraction of the Y admittance parameters, was studied using the HFSS electromagnetic simulation software. To validate the study approach, the results obtained were compared using MATLAB software. The results obtained provide additional information needed to gain an in-depth understanding of UHF RFID patch-type tag antenna systems to make them reliable and practical in a dense environment. Future research and development work may be inspired in the design of UHF RFID patch-types tag antennas for miniaturized applications.
Enhancing Language Learning: Exploring TELL Implementation in Integrated Intensive Course through the SAMR Model
Authors: Uke Waode Ade Sarasmita , Noni Nurdin , Basri Muhammad , Muhammad Anugrah Puspita Ayu
Published: November 2024

This research aimed to investigate the implementation of technology-enhanced language learning (TELL) in teaching integrated intensive courses (IIC) using the SAMR model. A qualitative case study approach was employed, and a purposive sampling procedure was used to select participants who were lecturers experienced in TELL implementation. The total number of IIC lecturers was four females. Data collection involved observation, interviews with the lecturers, and the collection of relevant documents. Thematic analysis was applied to analyze the collected data. The findings showed that the implementation of TELL facilitated lecturers in enhancing students' English language skills within the IIC class. The application of TELL through the SAMR model supported lecturers in effectively preparing teaching materials and utilizing various platforms during instruction. The level of implementation differs based on their educational environments and objectives. Most of the lecturers operated until the Modification level. Besides, the type of TELL that all four lecturers most often used was multimedia learning. The limitation of this research is that the researcher only focuses on the implementation of TELL. Further researchers can investigate lecturers' and students' perceptions of TELL
Promoting 4R Nutrient Stewardship through Behavioral Change: A Case Study of Smallholder Farmers in Telangana, India
Authors: Waris Amtul , Parmar Brajendra , Surekha K , Azam M M , Kumar S Arun , Prasanna P A Lakshmi , Sundaram R M
Published: November 2024

Background: Smallholder farmers play a vital role in global food security and soil degradation is one of the most significant challenges, leading to the loss of livelihoods and substantial economic losses among smallholder farmers. The efficient use of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizers for food security while preserving the environment is highly essential. The dissemination of the 4R principles (right nutrient source at the right rate, right time, and right place) among the farmers would promote the judicious use of nutrient resources and optimize productivity. The Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) provides a framework for intervention development. This article describes the development of interventions, which aim to educate the farmers about the 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles.
Methods: We followed the Behavior Change Wheel guide and used the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation Behaviour (COM-B) model to educate the farmers about the 4R nutrient management. The COM-B interventions were used to educate the farmers (120) about the components of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship. Whereas, to demonstrate the first R (right source) of nutrients we undertook interventions on fields of 30 farmers by suggesting soil test based nutrient application and compared the yield with control plots.
Results: Using the COM-B model we used the behavior change interventions to educate, persuade, incentivize and enable the farmers for adopting the principles of 4R nutrient stewardship. The demonstrations on soil test based use of right source of nutrients showed an average yield advantage of 30.6% which was statistically significant in comparison to control plots.
Conclusion: The COM B model can be successfully used to disseminate information on optimum use of nutrients based on the nutrient stewardship principles. Interventions based on Behavior Change Wheel were undertaken on farmers’ fields and the yield advantage of using principles of 4R nutrient management practices were successfully demonstrated on farmers’ fields.
Knowledge and Practice of Community Pharmacists on Amlodipine Use in Karary Locality: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Adam Abdallah A. , Matar Mazin Sayed Mohamed , Ahmed Kannan O. , Yousef Bashir A.
Published: November 2024

Background: Amlodipine is one of the most commonly prescribed medications for treating hypertension. Community pharmacists play a crucial role in ensuring patients adhere to their treatment regimens and in counseling them regarding the appropriate dosage and expected side effects of Amlodipine. This study investigated the knowledge and practices of community pharmacists concerning Amlodipine's indications, dosage, side effects, combinations, and drug interactions in the Karary locality.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected through a questionnaire from a convenient sample of 163 pharmacists working in community pharmacies in the Karary locality. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics were represented using frequencies and percentages, and Fisher's Exact Test was applied to determine the association between independent and dependent variables.
Results: The study involved 163 community pharmacists, of whom 72.4% were female. The age distribution showed that 47.9% were between 20-25 years, and 38.7% were 26-30 years. The vast majority (85.3%) held a bachelor's degree. Most (79.8%) had 1-5 years of practice experience, and more than half (58.9%) worked 7-10 hours per day. The study found that 55.2% had good knowledge of Amlodipine, while 44.8% had poor knowledge. Statistically, there was no significant association between knowledge and demographic data. In terms of practice, 54% exhibited good practices, while 46% were poor. The only significant association identified was between the use of handbooks or software programs and practice. Approximately 42.3% of participants used leaflets as a source of information to check Amlodipine side effects, compared to 28.8% who used books and 27.6% who referred to formularies and guidelines.
Conclusion: The study revealed that over half of community pharmacists demonstrated good knowledge and practice scores concerning Amlodipine’s indications, dosage, side effects, combinations, and drug interactions. Despite this, notable gaps in practice were identified, indicating a potential need for targeted training programs, and highlight the importance of enhancing educational efforts to improve pharmacists' competence in managing Amlodipine therapy effectively.
Factors Influencing Job Satisfaction in Public Relations: A Case Study from the South Sulawesi Governor’s Office
Authors: Natsir Uhud Darmawan
Published: November 2024

Aims: This study aims to determine the factors that influence job satisfaction of Public Relations Section employees at the South Sulawesi Governor's Office. The variables in this study are Work Motivation (WM), Career Development (CD) and Employee Job Satisfaction (EJS).
Study Design:  This study is quantitative research.
Place and Duration of Study: Public Relations Section at the South Sulawesi Governor's Office, between January to September 2024.
Methodology: The sample in this study were all employees of the Public Relations Section at the South Sulawesi Governor's Office, which totaled 77 people. Data collection was carried out by distributing google forms which were then processed using the SEM PLS application. This tool can determine how well the built model matches the data and can produce complex and structured models.
Results: The results of bootstrapping testing on the variables of motivation and career development on employee job satisfaction respectively show a statistical t value of 4.155 and 3.618 which is greater than 1.96. Furthermore, the p value of motivation and career development is 0.000 < 0.05. This means that both variables have a significant influence on employee job satisfaction.
Conclusion: Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that Work Motivation and Career Development have a positive and significant effect on Employee Job Satisfaction in the Public Relations section of the South Sulawesi Governor's Office.
Random Alloyed versus Intermetallic Nanoparticles: A Comparison of Electrocatalytic Performance
Authors: Gamler Jocelyn T. L. , Ashberry Hannah M. , Skrabalak Sara E. , Koczkur Kallum M.
Published: July 2018

As synthetic methods advance for metal nanoparticles, more rigorous studies of structure–function relationships can be made. Many electrocatalytic processes depend on the size, shape, and composition of the nanocatalysts. Here, the properties and electrocatalytic behavior of random alloyed and intermetallic nanoparticles are compared. Beginning with an introduction of metallic nanoparticles for catalysis and the unique features of bimetallic compositions, the discussion transitions to case studies of nanoscale electrocatalysts where direct comparisons of alloy and intermetallic compositions are undertaken for methanol electrooxidation, formic acid electrooxidation, the oxygen reduction reaction, and the electroreduction of carbon dioxide (CO2). Design and synthesis strategies for random alloyed and intermetallic nanoparticles are discussed, with an emphasis on Pt–M and Cu–M compositions as model systems. The differences in catalytic performance between alloys and intermetallic nanoparticles are highlighted in order to provide an outlook for future electrocatalyst design.
Moving Droplets in 3D Using Light
Authors: Xiao Yang , Zarghami Sara , Wagner Klaudia , Wagner Pawel , Gordon Keith C. , Florea Larisa , Diamond Dermot , Officer David L.
Published: July 2018

The emulation of the complex cellular and bacterial vesicles used to transport materials through fluids has the potential to add revolutionary capabilities to fluidic platforms. Although a number of artificial motile vesicles or microdroplets have been demonstrated previously, control over their movement in liquid in 3D has not been achieved. Here it is shown that by adding a chemical “fuel,” a photoactive material, to the droplet, it can be moved in any direction (3D) in water using simple light sources without the need for additives in the water. The droplets can be made up of a range of solvents and move with speeds as high as 10.4 mm s−1 toward or away from the irradiation source as a result of a light‐induced isothermal change in interfacial tension (Marangoni flow). It is further demonstrated that more complex functions can be accomplished by merging a photoactive droplet with a droplet carrying a “cargo” and moving the new larger droplet to a “reactor” droplet where the cargo undergoes a chemical reaction. The control and versatility of this light‐activated, motile droplet system will open up new possibilities for fluidic chemical transport and applications.
Chromiteen: A New 2D Oxide Magnetic Material from Natural Ore
Authors: Yadav Thakur Prasad , Shirodkar Sharmila N. , Lertcumfu Narumon , Radhakrishnan Sruthi , Sayed Farheen N. , Malviya Kirtiman Deo , Costin Gelu , Vajtai Robert , Yakobson Boris I. , Tiwary Chandra Sekhar , Ajayan Pulickel M.
Published: July 2018

The absence of inherent magnetism in the family of 2D materials limits its application in magnetoelectric and magnetic storage media. Here, a simple scalable route for the synthesis of magnetic 2D material chromite (chromiteen) via sonication‐assisted liquid‐phase exfoliation is demonstrated. The (111) plane of the exfoliated chromite is found to be the most stable which is confirmed by its common occurrence in exfoliation. Further, the stability and dispersion are verified by ab initio density functional theoretical simulations. Magnetic measurements over a large temperature range of 4 K  ≤  T  ≤  300 K confirm ferromagnetic/superparamagnetic order with nearly 40 times higher magnetic moment saturation in chromiteen compared to chromite. The results reveal that 2D chromiteen causes a change in the magnetic behavior with respect to chromite which could be ascribed to the increase in the lattice strain as well as a magnetic strain due to high ferromagnetic fraction in 2D plane.
Wearable Lithium Ion Batteries Based on Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene
Authors: Chen Xuli , Ma Yingying
Published: July 2018

With the rapid development of wearable electronics, it is highly required to develop corresponding wearable power sources, especially a wearable lithium ion battery which possesses wide voltage window, high energy density, and excellent cyclic stability. Carbon nanotubes and graphene possess outstanding properties including both high electrical conductivity and excellent mechanical performance which make them suitable to realize wearable lithium ion batteries. Here, the latest research on wearable lithium ion batteries based on carbon nanotubes and graphene is reviewed. Two approaches to realize a wearable lithium ion battery are summarized. First, a variety of fiber electrodes, including carbon nanotubes and graphene fibers, can be used to fabricate fiber‐shaped lithium ion batteries which can be further woven into a wearable battery. Moreover, it is also effective to explore cloth‐like electrodes, such as carbon textiles and daily clothes modified with conducting carbon nanotubes or graphene sheets, for wearable lithium ion batteries at a large scale. Finally, the remaining challenges and possible research directions in this booming area are discussed.
Hollow Polypyrrole Sleeve Based Coaxial Fiber Supercapacitors for Wearable Integrated Photosensing System
Authors: Li La , Lou Zheng , Chen Di , Han Wei , Shen Guozhen
Published: July 2018

Fiber supercapacitors (SCs) are robust power supply for wearable electronics due to their feasibility of weaving into textiles that breathe freely or integration into different functional materials that fit the curved surface of the human body. However, traditional twisted fiber SCs suffer from the low‐energy density while coaxial fiber SCs undergo the complicated fabrication process of shell‐like electrode. Here, a facile electrodeposition and etch approach to prepare shell‐like micrometer hollow polypyrrole sleeve electrode is proposed and then a new type of coaxial fiber SC is assembled. The designed device using solid electrolytes shows a large volume capacitance of 2.44 F cm−3, which is 5.95 times higher than that of twisted fiber SCs (0.41 F cm−3), fitting well with the theoretical results simulated by ANSYS Maxwell software. An integrated system consisting of the fabricated SCs as power source and CuInS2 film photodetector as functional units is then presented and weave into a form of smart ring. As‐designed self‐driven smart ring exhibits stable photocurrent response to white light and excellent flexibility, demonstrating the feasibility of the 1D wearable integrated system.
A One‐Way Mirror: High‐Performance Terahertz Optical Isolator Based on Magnetoplasmonics
Authors: Lin Shuai , Silva Sinhara , Zhou Jiangfeng , Talbayev Diyar
Published: July 2018

The magneto‐optical properties of conduction electrons in InSb in Voigt geometry at oblique incidence angles are explored. In parallel magnetic field, the oblique incidence reflectance exhibits high nonreciprocity, while the transmittance remains reciprocal. This phenomenology, combined with the unique magnetoplasmonic properties of InSb (high electron mobility, low effective mass, and temperature‐tunable bulk plasma frequency), allows the design of a simple and high‐performance THz optical isolator that works directly with linearly polarized light. It is demonstrated that the isolation power of the device exceeds 35 dB with the insertion loss of only −6.2 dB. The simplicity of the isolator design is unmatched among the proposed THz isolator concepts to date.
Recent Progress in the Design of Hypoxia‐Specific Nano Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Sahu Abhishek , Choi Won Il , Tae Giyoong
Published: July 2018

Hypoxia is a salient feature in many solid tumors and an important player in tumor growth and progression. Increasing evidence suggests hypoxia plays major roles in the angiogenesis, metastasis, and resistance toward conventional cancer therapy treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and photodynamic therapy. However, the exact reason that makes hypoxia a problem is also an opportunity for the development of new therapeutic modalities. The low oxygen level and highly reductive environment provide great options for stimuli‐sensitive drug release in a highly target‐specific manner. The use of nanoparticle‐based systems for hypoxia‐selective drug delivery is a relatively new but rapidly progressing research area. This report summarizes the recent trends and advances in the development of new hypoxia‐specific nanomedicines. The background, the current progress, and what could be done in the future to achieve greater success in cancer therapy are discussed.
Tuning the Intrinsic Nanotoxicity in Advanced Therapeutics
Authors: Wang Shuying , Li Fangyuan , Hu Xi , Lv Min , Fan Chunhai , Ling Daishun
Published: July 2018

The biological functions and toxic effects of nanomaterials are generally entangled. Various properties of nanomaterials that are beneficial for biomedical applications are also potentially toxic. Diverse nanosystems have been designed by systematically altering physicochemical properties to reverse the toxic effects of nanomaterials. In fact, the toxicity of nanomaterials can be regulated in advanced therapeutics via designed nanoscale engineering, which may open up a new direction of treatment with enhanced specificity and simplicity. In this progress report, the authors first discuss how the physicochemical properties of nanomaterials affect their toxic potential. The strategies for manipulating key factors underlying the toxicity at the nanolevel are then discussed. Finally, recent studies on transforming the inherent toxicity of nanomaterials into advanced therapeutic tools are highlighted.
Metal–Organic Framework Derived Honeycomb Co9S8@C Composites for High‐Performance Supercapacitors
Authors: Sun Shixiong , Luo Jiahuan , Qian Yong , Jin Yu , Liu Yi , Qiu Yuegang , Li Xiang , Fang Chun , Han Jiantao , Huang Yunhui
Published: July 2018

Unique nanostructures always lead to extraordinary electrochemical energy storage performance. Here, the authors report a new strategy for using Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) derived cobalt sulfide in a carbon matrix with a 3D honeycombed porous structure, resulting in a high‐performance supercapacitor with unrivalled capacity of ≈1887 F g‐1 at the current density of 1 A g‐1. The honeycomb‐like structure of Co9S8@C composite is loosely adsorbed, with plentiful surface area and high conductivity, leading to improved Faradaic processes across the interface and enhanced redox reactions at active Co9S8 sites. Therefore, the heterostructure‐fabricated hybrid supercapacitor, using activated carbon as the counter electrode, demonstrates a high energy density of 58 Wh kg‐1 at the power density of 1000 W kg‐1. Even under an ultrahigh power density of 17 200 W kg‐1, its energy density maintains ≈38 Wh kg‐1. The hybrid supercapacitor also exhibits suitable cycling stability, with ≈90% capacity retention after 10 000 continuous cycles at the current density of 5 A g‐1. This work presents a practical method for using MOFs as sacrificial templates to synthesize metal‐sulfides for highly efficient electrochemical energy storage.
A High‐Crystalline NaV1.25Ti0.75O4 Anode for Wide‐Temperature Sodium‐Ion Battery
Authors: Li Qi , Jiang Kezhu , Li Xiang , Qiao Yu , Zhang Xiaoyu , He Ping , Guo Shaohua , Zhou Haoshen
Published: July 2018

Sodium‐ion batteries with abundant and low‐cost sodium resources is a promising alternative to Li‐ion batteries in large‐scale energy applications. While the anode materials, due to their insufficient cycling life and insecure voltage, could not still satisfy the market demands, especially in the wide‐temperature fields, here, a high‐crystallinity anode material with post‐spinel structure, namely NaV1.25Ti0.75O4, which always maintains excellent electrochemical performance at the widely variable temperatures, is reported. The results indicate that this anode delivers a high‐safety and ultrastable room‐temperature performance (i.e., an average output voltage of 0.7 V vs Na+/Na and the ultralong cycling life over 10 000 cycles) and good wide‐temperature performance (below 9% capacity variation at 60 and −20 °C compared to that at 25 °C). These excellent achievements could benefit from the long durability and stability of 1D channels and superfast ion diffusion in a temperature‐dependent range. This finding provides a promising strategy to construct the safe and stable full‐cell prototypes and promotes the wide‐temperature application of sodium‐ion batteries.
Spores potentially dispersed to longer distances are more tolerant to ultraviolet radiation: A case study in the moss genus Orthotrichum
Authors: Estébanez Belén , Medina Nagore G. , Caparrós Rut , Monforte Laura , Del‐Castillo‐Alonso María‐Ángeles , Martínez‐Abaigar Javier , Núñez‐Olivera Encarnación
Published: July 2018

Premise of the Study

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation influences the viability of algal spores and seed‐plant pollen depending on the species, the dose, and the wavelength. In bryophytes, one of the dominant groups of plants in many habitats, UV radiation could determine their spore dispersal strategy, and such data are critical for reconstructing the ancestral state in plants and for determining the distribution range and persistence of bryophyte species.

Methods

Spores of four bryophyte species of the moss genus Orthotrichum that were either hygrochastic or xerochastic (spores dispersed under wet or dry conditions, respectively) were exposed to realistic doses of UV radiation under laboratory conditions. Spore viability was evaluated through germination experiments and, for the first time in bryophytes, ultrastructural observations. Given that the UV‐B doses used were relatively higher than the UV‐A doses, the UV effect was probably due more to UV‐B than UV‐A wavelengths.

Key Results

All four species reduced their spore germination capacity in a UV dose‐dependent manner, concomitantly increasing spore ultrastructural damage (cytoplasmic and plastid alterations). Most spores eventually died when exposed to the highest UV dose. Interestingly, spores of hygrochastic species were much more UV‐sensitive than those of xerochastic species.

Conclusions

UV tolerance determines moss spore viability, as indicated by germination capacity and ultrastructural damage, and differs between spores of species with different dispersal strategies. Specifically, the higher UV tolerance of xerochastic spores may enable them to be dispersed to longer distances than hygrochastic spores, thus extending more efficiently the distribution range of the corresponding species.
Enantiokonvergente biokatalytische Redoxisomerisierung
Authors: Liu Yu‐Chang , Merten Christian , Deska Jan
Published: July 2018

Alkoholdehydrogenasen dienen als effektive Katalysatoren in der Herstellung optisch aktiver γ‐Hydroxy‐δ‐lactone auf Grundlage einer enantiokonvergenten dynamischen Redoxisomerisierung von einfach zugänglichen, racemischen Achmatowicz‐Pyranonen. Durch die Nachahmung der übergangsmetallvermittelten “Borrowing‐hydrogen”‐Methodik zur Überführung von Hydridspezies innerhalb heterocyclischer Gerüste erlaubt diese chemoinspirierte, jedoch vollständig biokatalysierte Interpretation das bestehende Syntheserepertoire von Enzymen effektiv zu erweitern und bietet hierdurch neue Möglichkeiten in der Konstruktion von Multienzymkaskaden sowie im Design maßgeschneiderter Zellfabriken.
Synthesis of Triply Fused Porphyrin‐Nanographene Conjugates
Authors: Chen Qiang , Brambilla Luigi , Daukiya Lakshya , Mali Kunal S. , De Feyter Steven , Tommasini Matteo , Müllen Klaus , Narita Akimitsu
Published: July 2018

Two unprecedented porphyrin fused nanographene molecules, 1 and 2, have been synthesized by the Scholl reaction from tailor‐made precursors based on benzo[m]tetraphene‐substituted porphyrins. The chemical structures were validated by a combination of high‐resolution matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (HR MALDI‐TOF MS), IR and Raman spectroscopy, and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). The UV‐vis‐near infrared absorption spectroscopy of 1 and 2 demonstrated broad and largely red‐shifted absorption spectra extending up to 1000 and 1400 nm, respectively, marking the significant extension of the π‐conjugated systems.
Visible‐Light‐Mediated Metal‐Free Synthesis of Trifluoromethylselenolated Arenes
Authors: Ghiazza Clément , Debrauwer Vincent , Monnereau Cyrille , Khrouz Lhoussain , Médebielle Maurice , Billard Thierry , Tlili Anis
Published: July 2018

The first visible‐light‐mediated synthesis of trifluoromethylselenolated arenes under metal‐free conditions is reported. The use of an organic photocatalyst enables the trifluoromethylselenolation of arene diazonium salts using the shelf‐stable reagent trifluoromethyl tolueneselenosulfonate at room temperature. The reaction does not require the presence of any additives and shows high functional‐group tolerance, covering a very broad range of starting materials. Mechanistic investigations, including EPR spectroscopy, luminescence investigations, and cyclic voltammetry allow rationalization of the reaction mechanism.
Photokatalyse der C(sp3)‐H‐Fluorierung durch Uranyl mit sichtbarem Licht: Einblicke in den Mechanismus
Authors: Wu Liangliang , Cao Xiaoyan , Chen Xuebo , Fang Weihai , Dolg Michael
Published: July 2018

Das Uranyl‐Dikation zeigt photokatalytische Aktivität gegenüber C(sp3)‐H‐Bindungen von aliphatischen Verbindungen, nicht aber von Alkylbenzolen oder cyclischen Ketonen. Nach wie vor sind die entsprechenden Mechanismen aus theoretischer Sicht unklar. Multikonfigurationale Ab‐initio‐Rechnungen mit Berücksichtigung relativistischer Effekte können den zugrundeliegenden Elektronentransfermechanismus für die Uranyl‐katalysierte C‐H‐Fluorierung in blauem Licht aufklären. Es wurde festgestellt, dass entlang dem Reaktionspfad des Triplett‐Zustands die vom elektronenreichen Sauerstoff des Uranyls ausgelöste Wasserstoffabstraktion der geschwindigkeitsbestimmende Schritt ist. Die Folgeschritte, d. h. die Brüche der N‐F‐ und der O‐H‐Bindungen in konzertierter Asynchronie, die Bildung des fluorierten Zielprodukts und die Wiederherstellung des Photokatalysators, sind nahezu barrierelos. Darüber hinaus spielt die Übertragung einzelner Elektronen zwischen den reaktiven Substraten während des ganzen Photokatalysezyklus eine wichtige Rolle.
Visible‐Light Photocatalysis of C(sp3)‐H Fluorination by the Uranyl Ion: Mechanistic Insights
Authors: Wu Liangliang , Cao Xiaoyan , Chen Xuebo , Fang Weihai , Dolg Michael
Published: July 2018

The uranyl dication shows photocatalytic activity towards C(sp3)−H bonds of aliphatic compounds, but not towards those of alkylbenzenes or cyclic ketones. Theoretical insights into the corresponding mechanisms are still limited. Multi‐configurational ab initio calculations including relativistic effects reveal the inherent electron‐transfer mechanism for the uranyl catalyzed C−H fluorination under blue light. Along the reaction path of the triplet state it was found that the hydrogen atom abstraction triggered by the electron‐rich oxygen of the uranyl moiety is the rate‐limiting step. The subsequent steps, that is, N−F and O−H bond breakage in a manner of concerted asynchronicity, generation of the targeted fluorinated product, and recovery of the photocatalyst are nearly barrierless. Moreover the single electron transfer between the reactive substrates plays a fundamental role during the whole photocatalytic cycle.
Einfluss der Zusammensetzung von Zementstein auf das Abplatzverhalten von Beton im Brandfall
Authors: Reiners Jochen , Müller Christoph
Published: July 2018

Laut Eurocode 2, Teil 1‐2 sind explosive Betonabplatzungen im Brandfall unwahrscheinlich, wenn der Feuchtegehalt des Betons weniger als k Gew.‐% beträgt. Bei über k Gew.‐% des Betons sollte eine genauere Beurteilung der Art der Gesteinskörnung, der Durchlässigkeit und der Erwärmungsgeschwindigkeit in Betracht gezogen werden. In einem Forschungsvorhaben am VDZ wurde untersucht, welche Feuchtegehalte und ‐verteilungen bei Betonen verschiedener Zusammensetzungen bei üblichen Umweltbedingungen typischerweise vorliegen, um so eine Abschätzung zur Frage zu ermöglichen, in welchen Fällen gemäß Eurocode 2, Teil 1‐2 explosive Betonabplatzungen unwahrscheinlich sind.

Gleichzeitig wurden eigene experimentelle Untersuchungen zum Einfluss der Betonzusammensetzung und des Feuchtegehalts auf das Auftreten von Abplatzen beim Erhitzen von Beton durchgeführt. Hierzu wurde ein Versuchsaufbau („PTM‐Versuch“), der zum ersten Mal von Kalifa beschrieben wurde, durch das Aufbringen einer seitlichen Druckspannung abgewandelt. Beim PTM‐Versuch wird die Oberfläche eines Betonkörpers mit elektrischen Heizstrahlern erhitzt und dabei die Änderung von Porendruck, Temperatur und Masse erfasst. Bei den Versuchen im VDZ zeigte sich, dass die Druckspannungen, die aufgebracht wurden, entscheidend für das Auftreten von explosivem Abplatzen waren. Des Weiteren lassen die Versuchsergebnisse den Schluss zu, dass hohe Porendrücke nicht die Hauptursache des Auftretens von Abplatzen von Beton sind.
Theorising the value of collage in exploring educational leadership
Authors: Roberts Amanda , Woods Philip A.
Published: July 2018

This article contributes to theorising the value of collage as a methodological approach. It begins with a discussion of the methodological difficulties of exploring hidden meanings and individual experience through the research process. The illuminative potential of arts‐based methodologies in qualitative research is then investigated. The article makes the case for the specific advantages of using collage to explore the experience of leadership, through a discussion of two collage‐based studies. It proposes a variant of the ‘think aloud’ process, used in conjunction with collage, as a route to producing deep understandings of the multiple ways in which leadership is experienced and understood as a social process. The argument is made that collage enables the accessing and sharing of profound levels of experience not accessible through words alone, and considers the impact of the physicality of collage on its potential to release these profound insights. A five‐stage process for the analysis of collage is then set out. The article concludes by offering a theory of the value of collage as a methodological approach to exploring experiences of leadership, through use of the concepts of physicality, wholeness and participant agency.
Structures and luminescent sensors of mixed‐counterions based salen‐type lanthanide coordination polymers
Authors: Du Jin‐Long , Wang Xin‐Yu , Zou Xiao‐Yan , Li Yu‐Xin , Li Wei‐Zuo , Yao Xu , Li Guang‐Ming
Published: July 2018

Reactions of N,N′‐bis (salicylidene)‐1,2‐cyclohexanediamine (H2L) with mixed lanthanide counterions of LnCl3·6H2O and Ln (NO3)3·6H2O afford six H2L lanthanide coordination polymers, e.g. {[Pr(H2L)2(NO3)2Cl]·2CH2Cl2}n (1); {[Ln(H2L)1.5(NO3)3]2·5CHCl3·mCH3OH}n [Ln = Sm (2), Eu (3), Gd (4), Tb (5) and Yb (6); m = 1 (2–5); m = 0 (6)]. X‐ray crystallographic analysis reveals that complex 1 exhibits three‐dimensional diamondoid topologic structure and complexes 2–6 are of two‐dimensional structure. Luminescent spectra show that complexes 1 and 6 have characteristic near‐infrared (NIR) emission of praseodymium (III) and ytterbium (III) ions and complexes 2–5 emit luminescence in the visible region. Complexes 3 and 6 reveal sensitive luminescence responses to formaldehyde.
Developing a conversation: A strategy to engage faculty in pedagogical change
Authors: Mercer Allison M. , Lewis Jennifer E. , Sutheimer Susan , Wolfson Adele J.
Published: July 2018

Personal interviews were conducted with biochemistry faculty during which they were presented with student performances on a content survey. From these interviews, four themes that reflect faculty responses to the surveys emerged: awareness of student understanding, self‐reflection on teaching practice, planned collaboration with colleagues, and emotional reactions. Here, we discuss these themes and their implications for creating conversation designed to promote reflection on biochemistry teaching. © 2018 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 46:382–389, 2018.
Alkenyl Magnesium Compounds: Generation and Synthetic Application
Authors: Zhu Miaomiao , Liu Liang , Yu Hai‐Tao , Zhang Wen‐Xiong , Xi Zhenfeng
Published: July 2018

Alkenyl magnesium compounds have received much attention in synthetic organic chemistry because of their high reactivity. This review summarizes three types of alkenyl magnesium compounds which contain at least one [Mg−C=C] fragment, for example, (1) alkenyl Grignard reagents prepared by halogen–magnesium exchange reaction; (2) alkenyl magnesium carbenoids prepared by halogen–magnesium exchange reaction or sulfoxide–magnesium exchange reaction; (3) magnesacarbocycles containing at least one alkenyl magnesium bond prepared from Zr‐ or Ti‐catalyzed cyclomagnesation or transmetalation, as well as their further reactions and applications.
Modeling of Anaerobic Digestion Considering Biowaste by Syntrophic Propionate‐Oxidizing Bacteria
Authors: Uhlenhut Frank , Schlüter Kathrin , Gallert Claudia
Published: July 2018

Die anaerobe Vergärung von Bioabfällen erzeugt nachhaltig Bioenergie und verringert Umweltbelastungen. Die acetogene Gärphase wurde mit dem Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1 (ADM1) modelliert, das um drei Gattungen Propionat‐oxidierender Bakterien und zwei Varianten des Propionatabbaus, den Methyl‐Malonyl‐CoA‐ und C6‐Dismutase‐Weg, erweitert wurde. Die kinetischen Parameter für die anaerobe Propionat‐Oxidation wurden mit definierten Trikulturen aus den drei Propionat‐oxidierenden Gattungen mit hydrogenotrophen und acetotrophen methanogenen Archaea bestimmt und in das ADM1 implementiert, woraus das verbesserte Modell ADM1xpro resultierte.
Imaging Protein‐Protein Interactions by Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) Microscopy in Live Cells
Authors: Manzella‐Lapeira Javier , Brzostowski Joseph A.
Published: July 2018

This updated unit compares three methods to acquire Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) data in living cells using a confocal microscope: Acceptor photobleaching, Acceptor‐sensitized emission FRET, and Donor fluorescence lifetime imaging. Detailed protocols for live cell husbandry, image acquisition, and data analysis are provided. In addition to providing instructions for manufacturer's analysis tool sets, we provide an easy‐to‐use, MATLAB‐based code to calculate FRET efficiency from data obtained using the Acceptor photobleaching or Acceptor‐sensitized emission method, which can be freely downloaded. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.