bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Who’s the Nigger Now?”: Rhetoric and Identity in James Baldwin’s Revolution from Within
Authors: Houck Davis W.
Published: October 2017

Despite the proliferation of interest in James Baldwin across popular culture and the
academy, few, if any, critical studies of his public oratory have been conducted. This is
unfortunate and ironic—unfortunate because Baldwin was a marvelous orator, and ironic in
that his preferred solution to what ailed whites and blacks as the Civil Rights movement
unfolded was thoroughly rhetorical. That is, Baldwin’s racial rhetorical revolution
involved a re-valuing of the historical evidence used to keep blacks enslaved both
mentally and physically across countless generations. Moreover, for Baldwin the act of
naming functions to chain both whites and blacks to a version of American history
psychologically damaging to both. Three speeches that Baldwin delivered in 1963 amid the
crucible of civil rights protest illustrate these claims.
Effects of water, sanitation, handwashing, and nutritional interventions on telomere length among children in a cluster-randomized controlled trial in rural Bangladesh
Authors: Lin Audrie , Arnold Benjamin F , Mertens Andrew N , Lin Jue , Benjamin-Chung Jade , Ali Shahjahan , Hubbard Alan E , Stewart Christine P , Shoab Abul K , Rahman Md Ziaur , Hossen Md Saheen , Mutsuddi Palash , Famida Syeda L , Akther Salma , Rahman Mahbubur , Unicomb Leanne , Dhabhar Firdaus S , Fernald Lia C H , Colford John M , Luby Stephen P
Published: October 2017

Background:

Shorter childhood telomere length (TL) and more rapid TL attrition are widely regarded as manifestations of stress. However, the potential effects of health interventions on child TL are unknown. We hypothesized that a water, sanitation, handwashing (WSH), and nutritional intervention would slow TL attrition during the first two years of life.

Methods:

In a trial in rural Bangladesh, we randomized geographical clusters of pregnant women into individual water treatment, sanitation, handwashing, nutrition, combined WSH, combined nutrition plus WSH (N + WSH), or control arms. We conducted a substudy enrolling children from the control arm and the N + WSH intervention arm. Participants and outcome assessors were not masked; analyses were masked. Relative TL was measured at 1 and 2 years after intervention, and the change in relative TL was reported. Analysis was intention-to-treat.

Results:

Between May 2012 and July 2013, in the overall trial, we randomized 720 geographical clusters of 5551 pregnant women to a control or an intervention arm. In this substudy, after 1 year of intervention, we assessed a total of 662 children (341 intervention and 321 control) and 713 children after 2 years of intervention (383 intervention and 330 control). Children in the intervention arm had significantly shorter relative TL compared with controls after 1 year of intervention (difference −163 base pairs (bp), p=0.001). Between years 1 and 2, TL increased in the intervention arm (+76 bp) and decreased in the controls (−23 bp) (p=0.050). After 2 years, there was no difference between the arms (p=0.305).

Conclusions:

Our unexpected finding of increased telomere attrition during the first year of life in the intervention group suggests that rapid telomere attrition during this critical period could reflect the improved growth in the intervention group, rather than accumulated stress.

Funding:

Funded by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Clinical trial number:

NCT01590095.
Chemical content of unrecorded distilled alcohol (bai jiu) from rural central China: Analysis and public health risk
Authors: Newman Ian M. , Qian Ling , Tamrakar Niran , Feng Yonghua , Xu Ganrong
Published: October 2017

Newman, I., Qian, L., Tamrakar, N., Feng, Y., & Xu, G. (2017). Chemical content of unrecorded distilled alcohol (bai jiu) from rural central China: Analysis and public health risk. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 6(1), 59-67. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v6i1.236Aims: To test 47 samples of locally distilled unrecorded beverage alcohol (bai jiu) obtained in rural central China.Methods: Alcohol samples purchased from home-based makers or from small village shops were analyzed for ethanol, methanol, acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, six higher alcohols, arsenic, cadmium, and lead. Results were judged against the standards for these compounds set by the AMPHORA Project.Findings: Ethanol concentrations ranged from 38.7% to 63.7% (mean 50.4%). Methanol and methyl acetate detected in all samples did not exceed the Alcohol Measures for Public Health Research Alliance (AMPHORA) limits. Acetaldehyde was present in all samples, with three samples exceeding the AMPHORA limit by a small amount. Lead was found in 57.4% of the samples with one sample exceeding the AMPHORA limit; cadmium was found in 89.4% of the samples with two exceeding the AMPHORA limit. Arsenic was found in 46.8% of the samples with none exceeding the AMPHORA limit.Conclusions: The three samples that exceeded AMPHORA limits for cadmium or lead are of concern in terms of the potential of long-term exposure for local people who regularly consume locally made bai jiu. The main health concern from bai jiu appears to be the risk associated with high ethanol concentration—the same health concern as for recorded, commercially produced spirits.
Contextual predictors of AUDIT scores among adult men living in India
Authors: Madden Danielle R , Rathi Lata , Stewart Ashley , Clapp John D
Published: October 2017

Madden, D., Rathi, L., Stewart, A., & Clapp, J. (2017). Contextual predictors of AUDIT scores among adult men living in India. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 6(1), 53-58. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v6i1.241Introduction: Currently, little is known about the prevalence of alcohol use in India. In order to begin to address this knowledge gap, this exploratory study examined contextual aspects of drinking events and the relationship between these factors and high-risk drinking.Methods: A convenience sample of 198 adult men was recruited from rural areas adjacent to the city of Nagpur. Participants were sampled in two waves. Respondents in both waves completed a nine-item survey that addressed alcohol use, including motivation to drink, where one drinks, and with whom one drinks. Demographic characteristics (e.g., income) were also recorded. Respondents recruited in the second wave (n = 98) completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). The data were analyzed using Poisson regression models.Results: Of those who completed the AUDIT, 37% were at high risk for developing an alcohol-use disorder (i.e., received a score of 20 or greater). Participants had higher AUDIT scores (i.e., alcohol-use problems) when they reported typically buying alcohol in a shop. Furthermore, respondents with greater weekly incomes and those who drink with the motivation to get very drunk have higher AUDIT scores.Conclusions: This study found an alarmingly high rate of alcohol use and alcohol-related issues among respondents. A better understanding of drinking patterns and contextual aspects of drinking events is warranted.
Prevalence and correlates of substance use by Egyptian school youth
Authors: Loffredo Christopher A. , Shaker Yousri Edward , Jillson Irene A. , Boulos Dina N.K. , Saleh Doa'a A. , Garas Magdy , Ostrowski Mar-Jan , Sun Xiaoyang , Chen Xiaofei , Shander Benjamin , Amr Sania
Published: October 2017

Loffredo, C., Shaker, Y., Jillson, I., Boulos, D., Saleh, D., Garas, M., Ostrowski, M., Sun, X., Chen, X., Shander, B., & Amr, S. (2017). Prevalence and correlates of substance use by Egyptian school youth. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 6(1), 37-51. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v6i1.242Aims: Substance use among Egyptian youth is an emerging public health problem, yet there is a paucity of information on the prevalence and correlates of these behaviors. To address this gap, we conducted surveys at 25 schools in Egypt in 2013 and 2014.Design: We calculated associations between substance use prevalence and age, gender, residence area, living arrangement, and employment status, along with adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).Setting: Cairo region and southern Egypt.Participants: School youth ages 12-18 (N=1,415).Measures: Self-administered survey on the use of cigarettes, waterpipes, alcohol, hashish, bango, heroin, Tramadol, other oral medications, injected substances, and glue/petrol sniffing; together with the amount and frequency of each substance used and age at initiation, in addition to demographic characteristics.Findings: Seventy-two percent of participants were male. Tobacco and cannabinoids were the most commonly used substances by both genders. Males reported smoking cigarettes (25%), waterpipes (15%), and hashish (6%), drinking alcohol (16%), and taking Tramadol (3%). Younger age (12–14 years) and residence outside of Cairo were somewhat protective. Among males, but not females, having a job increased the odds of smoking cigarettes (OR = 1.8, 95% CI [1.3, 2.6]), waterpipes (OR = 1.9, 95% CI [1.2, 2.9]), or hashish (OR = 2.0, 95% CI [1.1, 3.7]).Conclusions: These findings, consistent with reports from other countries, can inform the design and direct the resources of future public health programs targeting adolescents to prevent the onset of substance use and ultimately addiction in Egypt and elsewhere.
The CDK inhibitor p21 is a novel target gene of ATF4 and contributes to cell survival under ER stress
Authors: Inoue Yasumichi , Kawachi Shiori , Ohkubo Tsubasa , Nagasaka Mai , Ito Shogo , Fukuura Keishi , Itoh Yuka , Ohoka Nobumichi , Morishita Daisuke , Hayashi Hidetoshi
Published: October 2017

Activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) is well known for its role in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. ATF4 also transcriptionally induces multiple effectors that determine cell fate depending on cellular context. In addition, ATF4 can communicate both pro‐apoptotic and pro‐survival signals. How ATF4 mediates its prosurvival roles, however, requires further investigation. Here, we report that the CDK inhibitor p21 is a novel target gene of ATF4. We identified two ATF4‐responsive elements, one of which directly binds ATF4, within the first intron of the p21 gene. Importantly, overexpression of p21 enhances cell survival following ER stress induction, while p21 knockdown increases cell death. These results suggest that p21 induction plays a vital role in the cellular response to ER stress and indicate that p21 is a prosurvival effector of ATF4.
Diffusion Creep of Enstatite at High Pressures Under Hydrous Conditions
Authors: Zhang Guinan , Mei Shenghua , Song Maoshuang , Kohlstedt David L.
Published: October 2017

Mantle convection and large‐scale plate motion depend critically on the nature of the lithosphere‐asthenosphere boundary and thus on the viscosity structure of Earth's upper mantle, which is determined by the rheological properties of its constituent minerals. To constrain the flow behavior of orthopyroxene, the second most abundant constituent of the upper mantle, deformation experiments were carried out in triaxial compressive creep on fine‐grained (~6 μm) samples of enstatite at high pressures (3.8–6.3 GPa) and high temperatures (1323–1573 K) using a deformation‐DIA apparatus. Based on results from this study, the deformation behavior of enstatite is quantitatively presented in the form of a flow law that describes the dependence of deformation rate on differential stress, water fugacity, temperature, and pressure. Specifically, the creep rate depends approximately linearly on stress, indicating deformation in the diffusion creep regime. A least squares regression fit to our data yielded a flow law for diffusion creep with an activation energy of ~200 kJ/mol and an activation volume of ~14 × 10−6 m3/mol. The magnitude of the water‐weakening effect is similar to that for olivine with a water fugacity exponent of r ≈ 0.7. This strong dependence of viscosity on water fugacity (concentration) indicates that the viscosity of an orthopyroxene‐bearing mantle varies from one geological setting to another, depending on the large‐scale water distribution. Based on the rheology contrast between olivine and enstatite, we conclude that olivine is weaker than enstatite throughout most of the upper mantle except in some shallow regions in the diffusion creep regime.
Hot Versus Cold Orogenic Behavior: Comparing the Araçuaí‐West Congo and the Caledonian Orogens
Authors: Fossen Haakon , Cavalcante G. Carolina , de Almeida Renato Paes
Published: October 2017

Observations and modeling show that temperature controls crustal rheology and therefore also the orogenic evolution of continent‐continent collision zones and the associated tectonic style. In order to explore the effect of temperature in a natural environment, we compare eroded sections through the unusually cold lower Paleozoic North Atlantic Caledonian (Scandian) collision zone and the very hot Brasiliano/Pan‐African Araçuaí‐West Congo orogen. A cold and stiff subducting Caledonian continental margin was able to subduct as a rather coherent unit to ultrahigh‐pressure conditions, twice as deep as the Pan‐African/Brasiliano crust that was quickly heated and softened and got involved in partial melting. Furthermore, the Caledonian collision developed large coherent thrust sheets that were transported hundreds of kilometers toward the foreland. This was never achieved in the hot Araçuaí‐West Congo orogen, where much of the tectonic stress was absorbed by the partially molten central part of the orogen through magmatic state deformation. Major mylonite zones (thrusts) such as those seen in the Caledonides are therefore less common in the Araçuaí‐West Congo orogen. Further, the deep continental subduction in the Caledonides developed a strongly asymmetric collision zone, with rapid variations in pressure and temperature. In contrast, the Araçuaí‐West Congo orogen soon developed into a more symmetric geometry due to its easily flowing hot crust, with a relatively flat base and a corresponding plateau in its upper part. Deformation of the cold Caledonian crust was controlled by plate‐tectonic stress, while gravitational forces more strongly influenced the hot Brasiliano/Pan‐African example.
High‐Efficiency and Stable Quantum Dot Light‐Emitting Diodes Enabled by a Solution‐Processed Metal‐Doped Nickel Oxide Hole Injection Interfacial Layer
Authors: Cao Fan , Wang Haoran , Shen Piaoyang , Li Xiaomin , Zheng Yanqiong , Shang Yuequn , Zhang Jianhua , Ning Zhijun , Yang Xuyong
Published: October 2017

Stabilization is one critical issue that needs to be improved for future application of colloidal quantum dot (QD)‐based light‐emitting diodes (QLEDs). This study reports highly efficient and stable QLEDs based on solution‐processsed, metal‐doped nickel oxide films as hole injection layer (HIL). Several kinds of metal dopants (Li, Mg, and Cu) are introduced to improve the hole injection capability of NiO films. The resulting device with Cu:NiO HIL exhibits superior performance compared to the state‐of‐the‐art poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene‐sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)‐based QLEDs, with a maximum current efficiency and external quantum efficiency of 45.7 cd A−1 and 10.5%, respectively. These are the highest values reported so far for QLEDs with PEDOT:PSS‐free normal structure. Meanwhile, the resulting QLED shows a half‐life time of 87 h at an initial luminance of 5000 cd m−2, almost fourfold longer than that of the PEDOT:PSS‐based device.
Dual‐Color‐Emitting Carbon Nanodots for Multicolor Bioimaging and Optogenetic Control of Ion Channels
Authors: Kim Hyemin , Park Yoonsang , Beack Songeun , Han Seulgi , Jung Dooyup , Cha Hyung Joon , Kwon Woosung , Hahn Sei Kwang
Published: October 2017

The development of intrinsically multicolor‐emitting carbon nanodots (CNDs) has been one of the great challenges for their various fields of applications. Here, the controlled electronic structure engineering of CNDs is performed to emit two distinct colors via the facile surface modification with 4‐octyloxyaniline. The so‐called dual‐color‐emitting CNDs (DC‐CNDs) can be stably encapsulated within poly(styrene‐co‐maleic anhydride) (PSMA). The prepared water‐soluble DC‐CNDs@PSMA can be successfully applied to in vitro and in vivo dual‐color bioimaging and optogenetics. In vivo optical imaging can visualize the biodistribution of intravenously injected DC‐CNDs@PSMA. In addition, the light‐triggered activation of ion channel, channelrhodopsin‐2, for optogenetic applications is demonstrated. As a new type of fluorophore, DC‐CNDs offer a big insight into the design of charge‐transfer complexes for various optical and biomedical applications.
Toward a Four‐Electron Redox Quinone Polymer for High Capacity Lithium Ion Storage
Authors: Petronico Aaron , Bassett Kimberly L. , Nicolau Bruno G. , Gewirth Andrew A. , Nuzzo Ralph G.
Published: October 2017

Despite recent advances, current polymeric organic cathode materials have failed to incorporate a high degree of lithium storage in a small molecular framework, resulting in low capacities relative to monomers. This report discloses the development of a lithium salt polymer of dihydroxyanthraquinone (LiDHAQS) capable of storing four Li+ per monomer. The combination of storing four Li+ per monomer and a low molecular weight monomer results in a capacity of 330 mA h g−1, a record for this class of material. The additional redox events responsible for added Li+ storage occur between 3.0 and 3.6 V versus Li/Li+ resulting in an average discharge potential of 2.5 V versus Li/Li+. These metrics combined yield a high energy density of 825 W h kg−1 which is a 55% improvement over commercial lithium cobalt oxide. The high performance of LiDHAQS makes it a promising material for next generation Li+ cathodes.
Influence of Donor Polymer on the Molecular Ordering of Small Molecular Acceptors in Nonfullerene Polymer Solar Cells
Authors: Hu Huawei , Jiang Kui , Chow Philip C. Y. , Ye Long , Zhang Guangye , Li Zhengke , Carpenter Joshua H. , Ade Harald , Yan He
Published: October 2017

Nonfullerene polymer solar cells (PSCs) based on polymer donors and nonfullerene small molecular acceptors (SMAs) have recently attracted considerable attention. Although much of the progress is driven by the development of novel SMAs, the donor polymer also plays an important role in achieving efficient nonfullerene PSCs. However, it is far from clear how the polymer donor choice influences the morphology and performance of the SMAs and the nonfullerene blends. In addition, it is challenging to carry out quantitative analysis of the morphology of polymer:SMA blends, due to the low material contrast and overlapping scattering features of the π–π stacking between the two organic components. Here, a series of nonfullerene blends is studied based on ITIC‐Th blended with five different donor polymers. Through quantitative morphology analysis, the (010) coherence length of the SMA is characterized and a positive correlation between the coherence length of the SMA and the device fill factor (FF) is established. The study reveals that the donor polymer can significantly change the molecular ordering of the SMA and thus improve the electron mobility and domain purity of the blend, which has an overall positive effect that leads to the enhanced device FF for nonfullerene PSCs.
Complex Interplay between Absorber Composition and Alkali Doping in High‐Efficiency Kesterite Solar Cells
Authors: Haass Stefan G. , Andres Christian , Figi Renato , Schreiner Claudia , Bürki Melanie , Romanyuk Yaroslav E. , Tiwari Ayodhya N.
Published: October 2017

Sodium treatment of kesterite layers is a widely used and efficient method to boost solar cell efficiency. However, first experiments employing other alkali elements cause confusion as reported results contradict each other. In this comprehensive investigation, the effects of absorber composition, alkali element, and concentration on optoelectronic properties and device performance are investigated. Experimental results show that in the row Li–Na–K–Rb–Cs the nominal Sn content should be reduced by more than 20% (relative) to achieve the highest conversion efficiency. The alkali concentration resulting in highest device efficiencies is lower by an order of magnitude for the heavy alkali elements (Rb, Cs) compared to the lighter ones (Li, Na, K). Utilization of a wide range of characterization techniques helps to unveil the complex interplay between absorber composition and alkali doping. A ranking of alkali for best device performances, when employing alkali treatment, resulted in the order of Li > Na > K > Rb > Cs based on the statistics of more than 700 individual cells. Finally, a champion device with 11.5% efficiency (12.3% active area) is achieved using a high Li concentration with an optimized Sn content.
Universal Soldering of Lithium and Sodium Alloys on Various Substrates for Batteries
Authors: Wang Chengwei , Xie Hua , Zhang Lei , Gong Yunhui , Pastel Glenn , Dai Jiaqi , Liu Boyang , Wachsman Eric D. , Hu Liangbing
Published: October 2017

The high theoretical specific capacity of lithium (Li) metal and the nonflammability of solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) make the solid‐state Li metal battery a promising option to develop safe batteries with high energy density. To make the switch from liquid to solid‐state electrolyte, the high interfacial resistance resulting from the poor solid–solid contacts between Li metal and SSEs needs to be addressed. Herein, a one‐step soldering technique to quickly coat molten Li onto different substrates including metals, ceramics, and polymers is presented. It is deduced that the surface energy and viscosity of the molten Li can be tuned by adding alloy elements, which improves the wettability against various substrates. When soldered onto the surface of garnet‐based SSEs, the Li alloys exhibit significantly improved contact, which leads to an interface resistance as low as ≈7 Ω cm2. While cycling under high loads, the newly plated Li still maintains tight contact with the garnet surface and demonstrates excellent electrochemical stability. Several Li binary alloys as well as sodium (Na) binary alloys are successfully tested on various substrates to demonstrate the versatility of this soldering technique for potential battery applications.
Packaging of yield stress fluids: Flow patterns
Authors: Rasschaert Fanny , Talansier Emeline , Blésès Didier , Magnin Albert , Lambert Maud
Published: October 2017

The packaging or filling of a container with a non‐Newtonian fluid without quality failures is a current issue encountered at the final step of industrial product processes. In this work, the container filling of viscoplastic fluids is studied using an experimental laboratory plant able to reproduce the industrial transitory packaging conditions. First, a Newtonian validation was conducted to compare and to confirm our setup results with available literature data. Second five flow patterns including dripping, jet buckling, mounding, planar filling, and air entrainment were observed and characterized for the viscoplastic container filling. Most of them present different types of instabilities during the filling, except the planar filling, which seems to be ideal according to industrial specifications. A flow pattern distribution depending on relevant dimensionless numbers was developed. Finally, flow pattern transition criteria are determined highlighting the influence of rheological and process parameters on container filling. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 64: 1117–1126, 2018
Elemental‐Sulfur‐Promoted C(sp3)−H Activation of Methyl Heteroarenes Leading to Thioamides
Authors: Liu Jianming , Zhao Shanshan , Yan Xuyang , Zhang Yanyan , Zhao Shufang , Zhuo Kelei , Yue Yuanyuan
Published: October 2017

An approach to access bioactive thioamides was developed based on elemental‐sulfur‐promoted C(sp3)−H activation of methyl heteroarenes. This transformation could successfully furnish a series of heterocyclic thioamides with excellent yields and it could be conducted on gram scale with good reaction efficiency. Mechanistic studies showed that methyl heteroarenes reacted with dimethylamine released from DMF to form the desired thioamide through elemental‐sulfur‐promoted C−H activation.
Kolloidale Quantennanostrukturen: neue Materialien für Displayanwendungen
Authors: Panfil Yossef E. , Oded Meirav , Banin Uri
Published: October 2017

Kolloidale Halbleiternanokristalle (“semiconductor nanocrystals”, SCNC), oder weiter gefasst kolloidale Quantennanostrukturen, stellen außergewöhnliche Modellsysteme zur Untersuchung von Größen‐ und Dimensionalitätseffekten dar. Aufgrund ihrer nanoskaligen Abmessungen kommt es zu Quantelungseffekten, die eine Abstimmung optischer und elektronischer Eigenschaften ermöglichen. Die Steuerung der Emissionsfarbe bei engen Photolumineszenzspektren, breite Absorptionsspektren sowie eine außergewöhnliche Photostabilität und eine gute chemische Verarbeitbarkeit durch Steuerung der Oberflächenchemie machen SCNS zu herausragenden Materialien für Displays der aktuellen und der nächsten Generation. In diesem Aufsatz beschreiben wir die chemischen und physikalischen Eigenschaften der SCNC und stellen die Vorteile verschiedener kolloidaler Quantennanostrukturen für Displayanwendungen vor, und wir betrachten mögliche Photolumineszenz‐ und Elektrolumineszenzdisplays unter Verwendung von SCNC.
Synthesis, characterization and application of 3‐methyl‐1‐sulfonic acid imidazolium tetrachloroferrate as nanostructured catalyst for the tandem reaction of β‐naphthol with aromatic aldehydes and amide derivatives
Authors: Khazaei Ardeshir , Moosavi‐Zare Ahmad Reza , Firoozmand Saeed , Khodadadian Mohammad Reza
Published: October 2017

3‐methyl‐1‐sulfonic acid imidazolium tetrachloroferrate {[Msim]FeCl4} was prepared and fully characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal gravimetric (DTG), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDX) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and used, as an efficient catalyst, for the tandem reaction of β‐naphthol with aromatic aldehydes and benzamide at 110 °C under solvent‐free conditions to give 1‐amidoalkyl‐2‐naphthols in high yields and very short reaction times.
Oxygen bridged Homobinuclear Mn(II) compounds with Anthranilic acid: Theoretical calculations, oxidation and catalase activity
Authors: Su Esra , Guven Alaettin , Kani Ibrahim
Published: October 2017

Two new homobinuclear manganese compounds with mixed ligands, [Mn2(μ1,1–2‐NH2C6H4COO)2(phen)4](ClO4)2(CH3OH) (1), and [Mn2(μ1,3–2‐NH2C6H4COO)2(bipy)4](ClO4)2 (2) (NH2C6H4COOH = anthranilic acid, bipy = 2,2′‐bipyridine, phen = 1,10‐ phenanthroline) were synthesized and thoroughly characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV and single crystal X‐ray crystallography. X‐ray structure analysis shows that in the mono‐ and bidentate carboxylate bridged compounds, Mn–Mn distances of 1 and 2 are 3,461 Å, and 4,639 Å, respectively. The energy of the compounds was determined with a DFT (Density Functional Theory) calculation on B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) optimized geometry by using the B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) basis set. These compounds acts as biomimetic catalyst and show catalase‐like activity for the hydrogen peroxide dismutation at room temperature in different solvents with remarkable activity (TOF, Turnover frequency = mol of subst./(mol of cat. × time)) up to 12640 h−1 with 1, and 17910 h−1 with 2 in Tris–HCl buffer). Moreover, the catalytic activity of 1 and 2 has been studied for oxidation of alcohols (cinnamyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, cyclohexanol, 1‐octanol and 1‐heptanol) and alkenes (cyclohexene, styrene, ethyl benzene, 1‐octene and 1‐hexene) in a homogeneous catalytic system consisting t‐butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant in acetonitrile. Both compounds exhibited very high activity in the oxidation of cyclohexene to cyclohexanone (~80% selectivity, ~99% conversion in 1 h, TOF = 243 h−1 and 226 h−1) and cinnamyl alcohol to cinnamaldehyde (~64% selectivity) as the main product with very high TOF value (9180 h−1 and 13040 h−1 in the first minute of reaction) (~100% conversion in 0.5 h) with TBHP at 70 °C in acetonitrile, for 1 and 2, respectively.
A method for controlling the surface morphology of centrifugally spun starch‐based fibers
Authors: Li Xianglong , Hou Teng , Lu Yishen , Yang Bin
Published: October 2017

In the present study, we provide a method for controlling the surface morphology of centrifugally spun starch‐based fibers by adjusting the ratio of amylopectin/amylose in starches and combining with a hot blast temperature. The effects of hot blast temperature, amylopectin, and amylose on fiber surface morphologies are investigated. Scanning electron microscopy is used to characterize the morphology of the prepared fibers. The results show that fibers with burr‐shaped nanostructures on the surface can be fabricated by adding amylopectin to starches and are promoted by increasing the hot blast temperature. However, amylose in starches plays the role of smoothing the fiber surfaces. X‐ray diffraction reveals that the fibers are amorphous. Through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, it was found that some physicochemical changes occur during centrifugal spinning. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45810.
Ask an anatomist: Identifying global trends, topics and themes of academic anatomists using twitter
Authors: Marsland Madeleine J. , Lazarus Michelle D.
Published: October 2017

Social media (SoMe) is increasingly used in higher education (HE) to access knowledge and enable global communication. The SoMe platform Twitter® is particularly beneficial in these contexts because it is readily accessible, easily searchable (via hashtags) and global. Given these advantages, the twitter platform @AskAnatomist was created to foster a global weekly tweet chat, where students and academics can ask and address anatomy‐related questions. The aim of this study was to identify themes arising in the early stages of the @AskAnatomy Twitter community to gain insights into current needs/key areas for academic anatomists, students, and other followers. A qualitative analysis of tweets including the hashtag #AnatQ, (the associated @AskAnatomist hashtag), was undertaken to achieve this aim. Thematic analysis revealed three core themes arising in the formative stages of the @AskAnatomist Twitter site: (1) anatomical education modalities, (2) specific anatomy content, and (3) research motivations. These themes reveal controversies within the field of anatomical sciences, areas for potential education resource improvement and research, as well as the humor of anatomists. Though the original intent of the @AskAnatomist site was to engage the general public in anatomy content and knowledge, tweet analysis suggests that academic anatomists were the primary active “tweeters”. Interestingly, this analysis reveals that the @AskAnatomist site progressed into a web‐based community of practice (CoP), suggesting an additional benefit of SoMe communities in the field of anatomy. Anat Sci Educ 11: 270–281. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.
Nanog Expression in Embryonic Stem Cells – An Ideal Model System to Dissect Enhancer Function
Authors: Blinka Steven , Rao Sridhar
Published: October 2017

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are derived from the preimplantation embryo and can differentiate into virtually any other cell type (termed pluripotency), which is governed by lineage specific transcriptions factors (TFs) binding to cis regulatory elements (CREs) to mediate changes in gene expression. The reliance on transcriptional regulation to maintain pluripotency makes ESCs a valuable model to study the role of distal CREs such as enhancers in modulating gene expression to affect cell fate decisions. This review will highlight recent advance on transcriptional enhancers, focusing on studies performed in ESCs. In addition, we argue that the Nanog locus, which encodes for an ESC‐critical TF, is particularly informative because it contains multiple co‐regulated genes and enhancers in close proximity to one another. The unique landscape at Nanog permits the study of ongoing questions including whether multiple enhancers function additively versus synergistically, determinants of gene specificity, and cell‐to‐cell variability in gene expression.
Probing the interaction of cephalosporin with bovine serum albumin: A structural and comparative perspective
Authors: Cheng Li‐Yang , Yang Cheng‐Zhang , Li Hui‐Zi , Li Min , Bai Ai‐Min , Ouyang Yu , Hu Yan‐Jun
Published: October 2017

Cephalosporins belong the largest class of antibiotics used in the treatment of a wide range of infectious diseases caused by susceptible organisms. In the present study, we chose two typical antibiotics cefalexin/cefixime based on their structure, and investigated the interaction of cephalexin/cefixime with bovine serum albumin (BSA) using UV–vis absorption spectra, fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and molecular modeling approaches. Spectroscopic experiments revealed the formation of a BSA − cefalexin/cefixime complex. The binding parameters calculated using a modified Stern − Volmer method and the Scatchard method reached 103–104 L·mol−1. Thermodynamic parameter studies revealed that binding characteristics by negative enthalpy and positive entropy changes, and electrostatic interactions play a major role. Site marker competitive displacement experiments and molecular modeling approaches demonstrated that cefalexin and cefixime bind with appropriate affinity to site I (subdomain IIA) of BSA. Furthermore, synchronous fluorescence spectra, CD spectra and molecular modeling results indicated that the secondary structure of BSA was changed in the presence of cefalexin and cefixime. Additionally, the effects of metal ions on the BSA − cefalexin/cefixime system were also assessed.
A novel, smaller scaffold for Affitins: Showcase with binders specific for EpCAM
Authors: Kalichuk Valentina , Renodon‐Cornière Axelle , Béhar Ghislaine , Carrión Federico , Obal Gonzalo , Maillasson Mike , Mouratou Barbara , Préat Véronique , Pecorari Frédéric
Published: October 2017

Affitins are highly stable engineered affinity proteins, originally derived from Sac7d and Sso7d, two 7 kDa DNA‐binding polypeptides from Sulfolobus genera. Their efficiency as reagents for intracellular targeting, enzyme inhibition, affinity purification, immunolocalization, and various other applications has been demonstrated. Recently, we have characterized the 7 kDa DNA‐binding family, and Aho7c originating from Acidianus hospitalis was shown to be its smallest member with thermostability comparable to those of Sac7d and Sso7d. Here, after four rounds of selection by ribosome display against the human recombinant Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (hrEpCAM), we obtained novel Aho7c‐based Affitins. The binders were expressed in soluble form in Escherichia coli, displayed high stability (up to 74°C; pH 0–12) and were shown to be specific for the hrEpCAM extracellular domain with picomolar affinities (KD = 110 pM). Thus, we propose Aho7c as a good candidate for the creation of Affitins with a 10% smaller size than the Sac7d‐based ones (60 vs. 66 amino acids).
Effect of NADPH availability on free fatty acid production in Escherichia coli
Authors: Li Wei , Wu Hui , Li Mai , San Ka‐Yiu
Published: October 2017

Microbial conversion of renewable carbon sources to free fatty acids has attracted significant attention in recent years. Accumulation of free fatty acids in Escherichia coli by overexpression of an acyl‐ACP thioesterase which can break the fatty acid elongation has been well established. Various efforts have been made to increase fatty acid production in E. coli by enhancing the enzymes involved in the fatty acid synthesis cycle or host strain manipulations. The current study focused on the effect of NADPH availability on free fatty acids (FFAs) productivity. There are two reduction steps in the fatty acid elongation cycle which are catalyzed by beta keto‐ACP reductase (FabG) and enoyl‐ACP reductase (FabI), respectively. It is reported that FabI can use either NADH or NADPH as cofactor, while FabG only uses NADPH in E. coli. Fatty acid production dropped dramatically in the glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (encoded by the zwf gene) deficient strain. Similarly, the pntB (which encodes one of the subunit of proton‐translocating membrane bounded transhydrogenase PntAB) and udhA (which encodes the energy dependent cytoplasmic transhydrogenase UdhA) double mutant strain also showed an 88.8% decrease in free fatty acid production. Overexpression of PntAB and NadK restored the fatty acid production capability of these two mutant strains. These results indicated that the availability of NADPH played a very important role in fatty acid production.
Ketamine and norketamine stability in whole blood at ambient and 4°C conditions
Authors: Tran Benjamin Duy , Moorthy Ganesh S. , Zuppa Athena F.
Published: October 2017

A study was implemented to describe the pharmacokinetics (PK) of ketamine (K) and its metabolite norketamine (NK) in critically ill adults. Conducting studies in these subjects is hindered by the immediate need to process and freeze samples obtained in a busy intensive care setting. The ability to store unprocessed samples at room temperature for an extended time period would overcome this barrier. Stability and blood to plasma partitioning of K and NK were investigated in whole blood for up to 120 h at room temperature and 4°C. Whole blood was spiked with K and NK (1000 ng/mL each). Blood samples were aliquoted at different time points (0–120 h), extracted and analyzed using a validated high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry assay. The study demonstrated the stability of both K and NK in whole blood up to 120 h. These in vitro studies suggest that the concentrations of K and NK measured in the PK samples are reliable. The established stability results were successfully employed to investigate K and NK pharmacology studies in critically ill adults.
A Fusion of Biomimetic Fuel and Solar Cells Based on Hydrogenase, Photosystem II, and Cytochrome c Oxidase
Authors: Kikkawa Mitsuhiro , Yatabe Takeshi , Matsumoto Takahiro , Yoon Ki‐Seok , Suzuki Kazuharu , Enomoto Takao , Kaneko Kenji , Ogo Seiji
Published: October 2017

We report an Ir complex as an anode catalyst capable of switching between a hydrogenase‐type fuel‐cell mode and a photosystem II‐type solar‐cell mode. This catalyst is connected to carbon‐black‐supported platinum as a cathode catalyst, which reduces dioxygen in a manner analogous to cytochrome c oxidase. Together, they make a system capable of switching between the two modes.
Chemical Absorption of Carbon Dioxide Using Aqueous Piperidine Derivatives
Authors: Park Dong Jun , Choi Jeong Ho , Kim Young Eun , Nam Sung Chan , Lee Ki Bong , Yoon Yeo Il
Published: October 2017

The heat of CO2 absorption is one of the important factors determining the operating cost of the CO2 absorption process when using aqueous amine solutions. Aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) solution is a commercial absorbent, but has several drawbacks. Although piperidine (PIPD) has a high heat of absorption, it shows good CO2 absorption performance, including a high rate of CO2 absorption and a high CO2 loading capacity in comparison to MEA. PIPD derivatives were selected to identify the effect of functional groups of PIPD on the CO2 loading and heat of absorption. Introduction of a methyl group to the PIPD molecule increased the heat of absorption, whereas a hydroxyl group reduced it. The results indicate that the introduction of functional groups in particular positions could provide advantages in CO2 absorption and stripping performance.
The Intermetalloid Cluster Cation (CuBi8)3+
Authors: Knies Maximilian , Kaiser Martin , Isaeva Anna , Müller Ulrike , Doert Thomas , Ruck Michael
Published: October 2017

The reaction of Bi, BiCl3, and CuCl in the ionic liquid [BMIm]Cl⋅4 AlCl3(BMIm=1‐n‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium) at 180 °C yielded air‐sensitive shiny black crystals of (CuBi8)[AlCl4]2[Al2Cl7] and (CuBi8)[AlCl4]3. For both compounds X‐ray diffraction on single crystals revealed monoclinic structures that contain the intermetalloid cluster (CuBi8)3+. It is the first pure bismuth cluster with a 3d metal and the first with a metal that does not form binary intermetallics with bismuth under ambient pressure. The cluster can be interpreted either as a copper(I) cation,η4‐coordinated by a square‐antiprismatic Bi82+polycation (Bi−Cu 267 pm), or as a nine‐atomic intermetalloid nido‐cluster with 22 skeletal electrons and theC4vsymmetry. One of the chloride ions of a tetrahedral [AlCl4]−group coordinates the copper atom (Cu−Cl 228 pm) and thereby completes its 18 electron count. DFT‐based calculations, followed by real‐space bonding analysis, revealed a multicenter bonding situation between copper and bismuth atoms with about seven shared electrons.
Controlled release of an optically active compound by hydrogels of acrylic acid and its online detection
Authors: Aguiar Leandro G. , Iwakura Daniel C. , Semeano Ana T. S. , Li Rosamaria W. C. , Souza Esmar F. , Gruber Jonas , Giudici Reinaldo
Published: October 2017

Hydrogels of acrylic acid were produced through solution free radical polymerization at 70 °C. The materials obtained were put in contact with D‐fructose solution and the swelling behaviour was registered. The swollen hydrogels were immersed in distilled water and the D‐fructose released was quantified in real time by a low‐cost polarized light optoelectronic detection system. A simplified mathematical model was developed in order to represent the system under study. This model was tested against experimental data, showing good agreement. Additionally, the effect of the model parameters on the prediction profiles was evaluated.
Zinc oxide/graphene‐like tungsten disulphide nanosheet photocatalysts: Synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible‐light irradiation
Authors: Zhang Xiaoying , Qiu Fengxian , Rong Xinshan , Xu Jicheng , Rong Jian , Zhang Tao
Published: October 2017

A highly efficient zinc oxide/graphene‐like tungsten disulphide nanosheet (ZnO/WS2) was synthesized by a facile two‐step method and characterized via XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, BET, UV‐Vis DRS, PL, etc. The photocatalytic activity of the ZnO/WS2 photocatalyst was estimated via the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye under 500 W tungsten lamp radiation. Compared with ZnO, ZnO/WS2 photocatalyst presented a high degradation efficiency (95.71 %) within 120 min under visible‐light irradiation, indicating that ZnO/WS2 photocatalyst had excellent photocatalytic activity. Photocatalytic reaction followed the first‐order model kinetics, and ZnO/WS2 photocatalyst remained a relatively higher photocatalytic activity after four successive recycles, which verified that the structure of ZnO/WS2 photocatalyst was stable and had potential applications in the removal of dye wastewater. At last, the possible mechanism for the photocatalytic degradation of dyes over ZnO/WS2 photocatalysts was also discussed.
Computational Macrocyclization: From de novo Macrocycle Generation to Binding Affinity Estimation
Authors: Wagner Vincent , Jantz Linda , Briem Hans , Sommer Kai , Rarey Matthias , Christ Clara D.
Published: October 2017

Macrocycles play an increasing role in drug discovery, but their synthesis is often demanding. Computational tools that suggest macrocyclization based on a known binding mode and that estimate the binding affinity of these macrocycles could have a substantial impact on the medicinal chemistry design process. For both tasks, we established a workflow with high practical value. For five diverse pharmaceutical targets we show that the effect of macrocyclization on binding can be calculated robustly and accurately. Applying this method to macrocycles designed by LigMac, a search tool for de novo macrocyclization, our results suggest that we have a robust protocol in hand to design macrocycles and prioritize them prior to synthesis.
Structure–Activity Studies of N‐Butyl‐1‐deoxynojirimycin (NB‐DNJ) Analogues: Discovery of Potent and Selective Aminocyclopentitol Inhibitors of GBA1 and GBA2
Authors: Gu Xingxian , Gupta Vijayalaxmi , Yang Yan , Zhu Jin‐Yi , Carlson Erick J. , Kingsley Carolyn , Tash Joseph S. , Schönbrunn Ernst , Hawkinson Jon , Georg Gunda I.
Published: October 2017

Analogues of N‐butyl‐1‐deoxynojirimycin (NB‐DNJ) were prepared and assayed for inhibition of ceramide‐specific glucosyltransferase (CGT), non‐lysosomal β‐glucosidase 2 (GBA2) and the lysosomal β‐glucosidase 1 (GBA1). Compounds 5 a–6 f, which carry sterically demanding nitrogen substituents, and compound 13, devoid of the C3 and C5 hydroxy groups present in DNJ/NB‐DGJ (N‐butyldeoxygalactojirimycin) showed no inhibitory activity for CGT or GBA2. Inversion of stereochemistry at C4 of N‐(n‐butyl)‐ and N‐(n‐nonyl)‐DGJ (compounds 24) also led to a loss of activity in these assays. The aminocyclopentitols N‐(n‐butyl)‐ (35 a), N‐(n‐nonyl)‐4‐amino‐5‐(hydroxymethyl)cyclopentane‐ (35 b), and N‐(1‐(pentyloxy)methyl)adamantan‐1‐yl)‐1,2,3‐triol (35 f), were found to be selective inhibitors of GBA1 and GBA2 that did not inhibit CGT (>1 mm), with the exception of 35 f, which inhibited CGT with an IC50 value of 1 mm. The N‐butyl analogue 35 a was 100‐fold selective for inhibiting GBA1 over GBA2 (Ki values of 32 nm and 3.3 μm for GBA1 and GBA2, respectively). The N‐nonyl analogue 35 b displayed a Ki value of ≪14 nm for GBA1 inhibition and a Ki of 43 nm for GBA2. The N‐(1‐(pentyloxy)methyl)adamantan‐1‐yl) derivative 35 f had Ki values of ≈16 and 14 nm for GBA1 and GBA2, respectively. The related N‐bis‐substituted aminocyclopentitols were found to be significantly less potent inhibitors than their mono‐substituted analogues. The aminocyclopentitol scaffold should hold promise for further inhibitor development.
California dreaming
Authors: Khuri Fadlo R.
Published: October 2017

The more the world changes, the more complex the knowledge necessary to care for cancer patients becomes. To maintain hope and to take full advantage of all that technology and science can offer, taking time with patients to understand and aid them has become ever more vital.
Improving I/O bandwidth with Cray DVS Client‐side Caching
Authors: Hicks Bryce
Published: October 2017

Cray's Data Virtualization Service, DVS, is an I/O forwarder providing access to native parallel filesystems and to Cray DataWarp application I/O accelerator at the largest system scales while still maximizing data throughput. This paper introduces DVS Client‐side Caching, a new option for DVS to improve I/O bandwidth, reduce network latency costs, and decrease the load on both DVS servers and backing parallel filesystems. Client‐side caching allows application writes to target local in‐memory cache on compute nodes. This provides low latency and high throughput for write operations. It also allows aggregation of data to be written back to the filesystem so fewer network and parallel filesystem operations are required. Caching also enables applications to reuse data previously read or written without further network overhead. This paper will discuss motivations for this work, detailed design and architecture, acceptable use cases, benchmark testing results, and possibilities for future improvement.