bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Recent Advances in Functional 2D MXene‐Based Nanostructures for Next‐Generation Devices
Authors: Huang Weichun , Hu Lanping , Tang Yanfeng , Xie Zhongjian , Zhang Han 
Published: September 2020

AbstractSimilar to graphene and black phosphorus (BP), 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) are of great interest in a variety of fields, such as energy storage and conversion, sensors, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and photothermal therapy due to their excellent conductivity and hydrophilicity, large specific capacitance, high photothermal effect, and superior electrochemical performance. To further broaden applicable ranges beyond their existing boundaries and fully exploit these potentials, functional 2D MXene nanostructures in recent years have been rationally designed and developed by various approaches, such as doping strategies, surface functionalization, and hybridization, for next‐generation devices with the merits of low power consumption, intelligence, and high‐integration chips. This review provides an overview of the synthetic routes and fundamental properties of functional 2D MXene nanostructures, including surface‐modified 2D MXenes and mixed‐dimensional MXene‐based heterostructures, highlights the state‐of‐the‐art progress in the applications of functional 2D MXene nanostructures with regard to energy storage and conversion, catalysis, sensors, photodetectors, EMI shielding, degradation, and biomedical applications, and presents the challenges and perspectives in these burgeoning fields. It is hoped that this review will inspire more efforts toward fundamental research on new functional 2D MXene‐based devices to satisfy the growing requirements for next‐generation systems.
Connecting Surface‐Forces‐Based Energy Barriers to Nonhomogeneous Colloidal Structures to Appear from Volatile Binary Mixtures of Same Size Nanoparticle Species
Authors: Homede Ekhlas , Abo Jabal Mohammad , Manor Ofer 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe capacity of nanoparticles to self‐arrange to various structures and their unique physical properties has made these building blocks essential in a broad range of applications and scientific disciplines. In this work, the manipulation of particulate structures that appear from binary dispersions is demonstrated, comprising same size particles of two different chemistries, following the evaporation of an electrolyte solution carrier. By varying the ionic strength and pH in the solutions, the balance between attractive and repulsive surface forces is tuned, that is, electrical double layer, Van der Waals, hydrophobic, and hydrophilic forces, in the binary particle mixtures. Hence, the corresponding potential energy barriers are tuned to particle attachments to each other and to the underlying substrate and alter the nanoscopic arrangement of the different types of particles in the microscopic particulate structures, which appear by convective pattern formation. Hence, by realizing the physical mechanisms which govern the potential energy contributions to the pattern formation of particulate structures at the nanometer scale, the 3D morphology of binary mixtures of same size particles is rendered homogeneous, layered, or phases separated. This is a useful approach toward the top‐down fabrication of nonhomogeneous colloidal structures.
Bioinspired Dopamine/Mucin Coatings Provide Lubricity, Wear Protection, and Cell‐Repellent Properties for Medical Applications
Authors: Song Jian , Lutz Theresa M. , Lang Nora , Lieleg Oliver 
Published: September 2020

AbstractEven though medical devices have improved a lot over the past decades, there are still issues regarding their anti‐biofouling properties and tribological performance, and both aspects contribute to the short‐ and long‐term failure of these devices. Coating these devices with a biocompatible layer that reduces friction, wear, and biofouling at the same time would be a promising strategy to address these issues. Inspired by the adhesion mechanism employed by mussels, here, dopamine is made use of to immobilize lubricious mucin macromolecules onto both manufactured commercial materials and real medical devices. It is shown that purified mucins successfully adsorb onto a dopamine pre‐coated substrate, and that this double‐layer is stable toward mechanical challenges and storage in aqueous solutions. Moreover, the results indicate that the dopamine/mucin double‐layer decreases friction (especially in the boundary lubrication regime), reduces wear damage, and provides anti‐biofouling properties. The results obtained in this study show that such dopamine/mucin double‐layer coatings can be powerful candidates for improving the surface properties of medical devices such as catheters, stents, and blood vessel substitutes.
Mineralized Hydrogels Induce Bone Regeneration in Critical Size Cranial Defects
Authors: Wu Xinchen , Zhang Tengfei , Hoff Brianna , Suvarnapathaki Sanika , Lantigua Darlin , McCarthy Colleen , Wu Bin , Camci‐Unal Gulden 
Published: September 2020

AbstractSequential mineralization enables the integration of minerals within the 3D structure of hydrogels. Hydrolyzed collagen‐based hydrogels are sequentially mineralized over 10 cycles. One cycle is defined as an incubation period in calcium chloride dihydrate followed by incubation in sodium phosphate dibasic dihydrate. Separate cycles are completed at 30‐minute and 24‐hour intervals. For the gels mineralized for 30 min and 24 h, the compressive moduli increases from 4.25 to 87.57 kPa and from 4.25 to 125.47 kPa, respectively, as the cycle number increases from 0 to 10. As indicated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared analysis (FTIR) analyses, the minerals in the scaffolds are mainly hydroxyapatite. In vitro experiments, which measure mechanical properties, porous structure, mineral content, and gene expression are performed to evaluate the physical properties and osteoinductivity of the scaffolds. Real time‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) demonstrates 4–10 fold increase in the expression of BMP‐7 and osteocalcin. The in vivo subcutaneous implantation demonstrates that the scaffolds are biocompatible and 90% biodegradable. The critical size cranial defects in vivo exhibit nearly complete bone regeneration. Cycle 10 hydrogels mineralized for 24 h have a volume of 59.86 mm3 and a density of 1946.45 HU. These results demonstrate the suitability of sequentially mineralized hydrogel scaffolds for bone repair and regeneration.
How does tillage intensity affect chemical soil health indicators? A United States meta‐analysis
Authors: Nunes Marcio R. , Karlen Douglas L. , Moorman Thomas B. , Cambardella Cynthia A. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractTillage intensity can affect chemical soil health indicators either positively or negatively depending on inherent soil properties and management practices. Soil chemical data (total N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and pH) from four depth increments within 196 published studies were compiled and subjected to a meta‐analysis comparing chisel plow (CP), no‐till (NT), and perennial systems (PER) with moldboard plowing (MP). Overall, CP did not affect soil chemical indicators when compared to MP, but converting from MP to NT increased total N, P, and K concentrations within the top 15 cm. Below that depth, Ca and Mg concentrations were lower under NT than MP but total N, P, and K were not significantly different. Topsoil total N response to NT was moderated by soil order and cropping system, with the largest increase in total N found in Ultisols, Inceptisols, Alfisols, and Mollisols under more diversified cropping systems including those with cover crops. The greatest topsoil P increase in response to NT was found under long‐term experiments (>5‐yr) and on fine‐textured soils. Phosphorus changes in studies on coarse‐textured soils, with short‐term duration, and manure applications were generally neutral. Perennial systems had lower soil P and K but higher total N content in the surface layer as compared to MP. The positive response to PER systems was most notable in Alfisols, Mollisols, and Ultisols and under long‐term PER management. Finally, we demonstrate that these chemical indicators respond to tillage and cropping systems over a wide range of conditions, showing utility for soil health assessment.
Iodine Redox Chemistry in Rechargeable Batteries
Authors: Ma Jizhen , Liu Miaomiao , He Yulong , Zhang Jintao 
Published: September 2020

AbstractHalogens have been coupled with metal anodes in a single cell to develop novel rechargeable batteries based on extrinsic redox reactions. Since the commercial introduction of lithium‐iodine batteries in 1972, they have shown great potential to match the high‐rate performance, large energy density, and good safety of advanced batteries. With the development of metal anodes (e.g. Li, Zn), one of the actual challenges lies in the preparation of electrochemically active and reliable iodine‐based cathodes to prevent self‐discharge and capacity decay of the rechargeable batteries. Understanding the fundamental reactions of iodine/polyiodide and their underlying mechanisms is still highly desirable to promote the rational design of advanced cathodes for high‐performance rechargeable batteries. In this Minireview, recent advances in the development of iodine‐based cathodes to fabricate rechargeable batteries are summarized, with a special focus on the basic principles of iodine redox chemistry to correlate with structure‐function relationships.
Rhodium‐Catalyzed Cyclization of Terminal and Internal Allenols: An Atom Economic and Highly Stereoselective Access Towards Tetrahydropyrans
Authors: Schmidt Johannes P. , Breit Bernhard 
Published: September 2020

AbstractA comprehensive study of a diastereoselective Rh‐catalyzed cyclization of terminal and internal allenols is reported. The methodology allows the atom economic and highly syn‐selective access to synthetically important 2,4‐disubstituted and 2,4,6‐trisubstituted tetrahydropyrans (THP). Furthermore, its utility and versatility are demonstrated by a great functional‐group compatibility and the enantioselective total synthesis of (−)‐centrolobine.
CO Binding to the FeV Cofactor of CO‐Reducing Vanadium Nitrogenase at Atomic Resolution
Authors: Rohde Michael , Grunau Katharina , Einsle Oliver 
Published: September 2020

AbstractNitrogenases reduce N2, the most abundant element in Earth's atmosphere that is otherwise resistant to chemical conversions due to its stable triple bond. Vanadium nitrogenase stands out in that it additionally processes carbon monoxide, a known inhibitor of the reduction of all substrates other than H+. The reduction of CO leads to the formation of hydrocarbon products, holding the potential for biotechnological applications in analogy to the industrial Fischer–Tropsch process. Here we report the most highly resolved structure of vanadium nitrogenase to date at 1.0 Å resolution, with CO bound to the active site cofactor after catalytic turnover. CO bridges iron ions Fe2 and Fe6, replacing sulfide S2B, in a binding mode that is in line with previous reports on the CO complex of molybdenum nitrogenase. We discuss the structural consequences of continued turnover when CO is removed, which involve the replacement of CO possibly by OH−, the movement of Q176D and K361D, the return of sulfide and the emergence of two additional water molecules that are absent in the CO‐bound state.
Rheological properties of teak wood flour reinforced HDPE and maize starch composites
Authors: Biswas Kishor , Khandelwal Vinay , Nath Maiti Sourindra 
Published: September 2020

AbstractTeak wood flour reinforced high density polyethylene and maize starch composites were prepared by using maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene as a compatibilizer. The mechanical properties (tensile and flexural) of all the composites increased after addition of 10%–40% teak wood flour into HDPE matrix. The complex viscosity (η*) was higher for all the composites at the low frequency, but decreased with increasing frequencies indicating a shear thinning behavior of the composites. The storage modulus and loss modulus increased for the composites compared to the HDPE at low frequencies. Damping factor peak of HDPE and composites showed high below 1 Hz, but the peak start decreasing with increasing above 1 Hz. The relaxation behavior of HDPE and the composites after incorporating teak wood flour, maize starch, and compatibilizer was obtained by Han plot. Biodegradability was enhanced with the incorporation of teak wood flour, maize starch into the composites. Appreciable water uptake and the thickness swelling for the composites indicating it's potential for interior, automobile and packaging applications.
Mechanically stable membranes of polyacrylic acid‐grafted chitosan‐functionalized carbon nanotubes with remarkable water storage capacity in sandy soils
Authors: Alsohaimi Ibrahim , Hafez Inas H. , Berber Mohamed R. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractPolyacrylic acid (PAA) is one of the most exciting hydrophilic polymers for water control and conservation; however, it suffers from poor mechanical properties during the agricultural applications. For that purpose a series of PAA‐based multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) membranes have synthesized via a grafting process of MWCNTs using chitosan (CS) polymer as a binder. The fabricated membranes have spectroscopically characterized by different techniques to confirm the composite structure. The MWCNTs content into the PAA membranes has played a pronounced effect on water absorptivity, swelling behavior, and mechanical properties. PAA membrane has showed a fourfold increase in yield‐stress by the addition of 3 wt% PAA/CS/MWCNTs, while preserving a 91% of water absorptivity of PAA membrane. The soil applications of the PAA/CS/MWCNTs membranes have showed remarkable improvements in soil moisture content compared to the PAA membrane. This study provides a promising pathway for future field applications, especially in arid lands.
Study on performance characteristics of fused deposition modeling 3D‐printed composites by blending and lamination
Authors: Shi Xinjian , Chen Bicheng , Tuo Xiaohang , Gong Yumei , Guo Jing 
Published: September 2020

AbstractComponent contacting degree in a composite material is an important reference for evaluation the performance characteristics. In this article, two composite material systems involving polylactic acid (PLA) with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and PLA with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) were prepared by blending and laminating through fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing technology. The mechanical and thermal properties of the as‐prepared composite materials were examined. The results indicated that PLA and TPU played a dominant role in tensile strength and breaking elongation, respectively, in individual composite material. ABS and TPU changed the glass transition peek, crystallinity, and modulus of PLA. The results also suggested that although the processing design of the blending method was more suitable for the contact between two components, but the mechanical properties of laminated composites were closer to theoretical predictions. The structural design and processing technology provide a comparative method and reference basis for studying the performance characteristics of composite materials.
Preparation and Photoluminescent Properties of Three 5‐Amino Benzothiadiazoles (5‐amBTDs)
Authors: Wang Zaibin , Wang Zhichao , Lu Ping , Wang Yanguang 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThree D−A compounds were designed and synthesized based on a benzothiadiazole acceptor. Azepane (AP), iminodubenzyl (IDB) and iminostilbene (ISB) were used, respectively, as donors and installed on the 5‐position of BTD to afford 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Their photophysical properties in different states (solution, film, crystal, and powder) are systematically investigated. Among them, AIE‐active compounds 2 and 3 were found to have good sensitivity toward viscosity and display quite good linear relationship with an increase in viscosity. Compound 2 displayed dual emission in solutions which largely depended on the polarity of the solvent. Meanwhile, compound 2 exhibits a mechanochromic character with disappearance and reappearance of a dual‐emissive peak induced by mechanical grinding and solvent fuming. Furthermore, these three compounds can be used in the fabrication of blue OLED devices.
Assessment of contaminants in California drinking water by region and system size
Authors: Bangia Komal , August Laura , Slocombe Andrew , Faust John 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIn this California‐wide spatial analysis, a cumulative ranking method and a trend test were used to estimate and compare concentrations of 12 contaminants and two drinking water standard violations by system size and region. The San Joaquin Valley, areas not served by water systems, and small water systems (less than 200 connections) had the highest cumulative rank with many high levels of contaminants. Large systems and the South Coast had the highest levels of disinfection byproducts and industrial contaminants. Based on a trend analysis, violations and concentrations of arsenic and cadmium decreased as system size increased, while industrial contaminant concentrations and disinfection byproducts increased as system size increased (p < .05). Although not indicative of violating drinking water standards, this study's results demonstrate where efforts to address specific contaminants can be targeted by region or system type. The results can help elucidate where contaminants may be elevated, from both an individual and multiple‐contaminant perspective.
Designing High‐Performant Lithium Battery Electrolytes by Utilizing Two Natures of Li+ Coordination: LiTDI/LiTFSI in Tetraglyme
Authors: Jankowski Piotr , Andersson Rasmus , Johansson Patrik 
Published: September 2020

AbstractHighly concentrated electrolytes (HCEs) based on glymes, such as tetraglyme (G4), are currently the focus of much battery research, primarily due to their unique properties – especially with respect to ion transport and electrochemical stability. While the LiTFSI‐G4 and LiTDI‐G4 systems both have been studied extensively, we here design their hybrid electrolytes to answer; will the resulting properties be averages/superpositions or will there be synergies created? We find the latter to be true and demonstrate that the most performant electrolytes are obtained by introducing a minor amount of LiTDI to an LiTFSI based electrolyte, which promotes the disproportionation and formation of “free” cations and at the same to avoid large aggregates – shown comprehensively both experimentally and by different modelling approaches and analyses combined. This electrolyte composition strategy can be generalized to other salts and solvents and thus a route towards a flora of novel battery electrolytes is here suggested.
Latest Advances for the Sleeping Beauty Transposon System: 23 Years of Insomnia but Prettier than Ever
Authors: Amberger Maximilian , Ivics Zoltán 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe Sleeping Beauty transposon system is a nonviral DNA transfer tool capable of efficiently mediating transposition‐based, stable integration of DNA sequences of choice into eukaryotic genomes. Continuous refinements of the system, including the emergence of hyperactive transposase mutants and novel approaches in vectorology, greatly improve upon transposition efficiency rivaling viral‐vector‐based methods for stable gene insertion. Current developments, such as reversible transgenesis and proof‐of‐concept RNA‐guided transposition, further expand on possible applications in the future. In addition, innate advantages such as lack of preferential integration into genes reduce insertional mutagenesis‐related safety concerns while comparably low manufacturing costs enable widespread implementation. Accordingly, the system is recognized as a powerful and versatile tool for genetic engineering and is playing a central role in an ever‐expanding number of gene and cell therapy clinical trials with the potential to become a key technology to meet the growing demand for advanced therapy medicinal products.
Data‐driven in silico prediction of regulation heterogeneity and ATP demands of Escherichia coli in large‐scale bioreactors
Authors: Zieringer Julia , Wild Moritz , Takors Ralf 
Published: September 2020

AbstractEscherichia coli exposed to industrial‐scale heterogeneous mixing conditions respond to external stress by initiating short‐term metabolic and long‐term strategic transcriptional programs. In native habitats, long‐term strategies allow survival in severe stress but are of limited use in large bioreactors, where microenvironmental conditions may change right after said programs are started. Related on/off switching of genes causes additional ATP burden that may reduce the cellular capacity for producing the desired product. Here, we present an agent‐based data‐driven model linked to computational fluid dynamics, finally allowing to predict additional ATP needs of Escherichia coli K12 W3110 exposed to realistic large‐scale bioreactor conditions. The complex model describes transcriptional up‐ and downregulation dynamics of about 600 genes starting from subminute range covering 28 h. The data‐based approach was extracted from comprehensive scale‐down experiments. Simulating mixing and mass transfer conditions in a 54 m3 stirred bioreactor, 120,000 E. coli cells were tracked while fluctuating between different zones of glucose availability. It was found that cellular ATP demands rise between 30% and 45% of growth decoupled maintenance needs, which may limit the production of ATP‐intensive product formation accordingly. Furthermore, spatial analysis of individual cell transcriptional patterns reveal very heterogeneous gene amplifications with hot spots of 50%–80% messenger RNA upregulation in the upper region of the bioreactor. The phenomenon reflects the time‐delayed regulatory response of the cells that propagate through the stirred tank. After 4.2 h, cells adapt to environmental changes but still have to bear an additional 6% ATP demand.
Modulation of behavioral responses and CA1 neuronal death by nitric oxide in the neonatal rat's hypoxia model
Authors: Ghotbeddin Zohreh , Basir Zahra , Jamshidian Javad , Delfi Farideh 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIntroductionNeonatal hypoxia leads to cognitive and movement impairments that might persist throughout life. Hypoxia impairs hippocampal blood circulation and metabolism. The exact mechanisms underlying hypoxia‐induced memory impairment are not fully understood. Nitric oxide (NO) is a key neuromodulator that regulates cerebral blood flow. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the possible role of NO on behavioral and histomorphometric changes in the hippocampus following hypoxia in neonate rats.Material and methodsNeonate male rats (n = 28) were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, hypoxia, hypoxia plus L‐NAME (20 mg/kg), and hypoxia plus L‐arginine (200 mg/kg). Drugs were injected intraperitoneally for seven consecutive days. Hypoxia was induced by keeping rats in a hypoxic chamber (7% oxygen and 93% nitrogen intensity). Ten to 14 days after hypoxia, behavioral changes were measured using a shuttle box, a rotarod, and an open field test. The histological changes in the hippocampus were measured using H&E and Nissl staining methods.ResultsFindings showed that hypoxia caused significant atrophy in the hippocampus. Furthermore, the administration of L‐NAME decreased the atrophy of the hippocampus in comparison with the hypoxic group. Behavioral results showed that hypoxia impaired memory performance and motor activity responses. Additionally, the administration of L‐NAME improved behavioral performance in a significant manner compared with the hypoxic group.ConclusionsHypoxia damaged the neurons of hippocampal CA1 region and induced memory impairment. The NOS inhibitor, L‐NAME, significantly attenuated the negative effects of hypoxia on behavior and observed changes in the hippocampus.