bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Embedding Silicon in Pinecone‐Derived Porous Carbon as a High‐Performance Anode for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Xu Changhaoyue , Wang Boya , Luo Hang , Jing Peng , Zhang Xuemei , Wang Qian , Zhang Yun , Wu Hao 
Published: June 2020

AbstractSilicon with the advantages of ultra‐high theoretical specific capacity (4200 mAh g−1) and low potential is regarded as a promising anode material. However, its commercial application is still impeded by the poor rate capability and bad cycling durability caused by its low electrical/ionic conductivities and exaggerated volume change. Herein, an eco‐friendly pinecone‐derived porous carbon (PPC) is rationally prepared as a promising host material for Si/carbon composite anodes. Benefiting from the natural porous structure of pinecones, Si nanoparticles are successfully enclosed in the PPC substrate, forming the final PPC/Si composite. In this composite, the electroconductive PPC network combined with ultrafine Si nanoparticles enhances both rapid electron transfer and ion transport, and the porous structures not only ensure the effective infiltration of electrolyte but also accommodate the volume expansion of Si during cycling. As a result, the optimized PPC/Si composite exhibits remarkable rate performance (478.4 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1) as well as prolonged cyclic stability (720.6 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 after 300 cycles). With a view to the eco‐friendly method and desirable lithium storage ability, our strategy may offer a new sight for the facile synthesis of Si‐based anode materials with great electrochemical performance.
Fracture behavior of metakaolin‐based geopolymer reinforced with carbon nanofibers
Authors: Akono Ange‐Therese 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWe investigate the fracture response of metakaolin‐based geopolymer reinforced with 0.1 wt%, 0.2 wt%, and 0.5 wt% carbon nanofibers. We measure the elastoplastic response using microindentation tests. We note an increase in indentation modulus of 5%, 13%, and 21%, and an increase in indentation hardness of 9%, 18%, and 25%, respectively. We measure the fracture energy using cutting‐edge microscopic fracture tests. In our tests, a sphero‐conical diamond indenter pushes across the specimen's surface under a prescribed vertical force. We analyze the recorded penetration depth and horizontal force using nonlinear fracture mechanics and extract the fracture parameters. We find that carbon nanofibers enhance fracture resistance. The fracture toughness increases by, respectively, 38%, 40%, and 45%; meanwhile, the fracture energy increases by, respectively, 83%, 72%, and 74%. We find that carbon nanofibers lead to a densification of the microstructure. Moreover, we observe crack‐bridging mechanisms in geopolymer nanocomposites. This study is important to pave the way for novel enhanced‐performance and multifunctional structural materials.
A Colorimetric Assay to Enable High‐Throughput Identification of Biofilm Exopolysaccharide‐Hydrolyzing Enzymes
Authors: Wang Shaochi , Breslawec Alexandra P. , Li Crystal , Poulin Myles B. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractGlycosidase enzymes that hydrolyze the biofilm exopolysaccharide poly‐β‐(1→6)‐N‐acetylglucosamine (PNAG) are critical tools to study biofilm and potential therapeutic biofilm dispersal agents. Function‐driven metagenomic screening is a powerful approach for the discovery of new glycosidase but requires sensitive assays capable of distinguishing between the desired enzyme and functionally related enzymes. Herein, we report the synthesis of a colorimetric PNAG disaccharide analogue whose hydrolysis by PNAG glycosidases results in production of para‐nitroaniline that can be continuously monitored at 410 nm. The assay is specific for enzymes capable of hydrolyzing PNAG and not related β‐hexosaminidase enzymes with alternative glycosidic linkage specificities. This analogue enabled development of a continuous colorimetric assay for detection of PNAG hydrolyzing enzyme activity in crude E. coli cell lysates and suggests that this disaccharide probe will be critical for establishing the functional screening of metagenomic DNA libraries.
Concise Approach to T‐Shaped NBN‐Phenalene Cored Luminogens as Intensive Blue Light Emitters
Authors: Wang Xiaofeng , Sun Zuobang , Ding Kuangyu , Qiang Peirong , Zhu Wenqing , Han Sheng , Zhang Fan 
Published: June 2020

AbstractSmall organic molecules with finely tunable physical properties are highly desired for the fabrication of low‐cost and high‐performance organic electronic devices. In this work, the syntheses of a series of T‐shaped NBN‐embedded dibenzophenalene derivatives through the formation of a key brominated intermediate in a stoichiometrically controlled reaction are presented. The geometric and electronic structures of these T‐shaped molecules can be simply tailored by attaching substituents along the direction perpendicular to the molecular main backbones, resulting in desirable physical properties, such as high thermal stability with a decomposition temperature of more than 350 °C, and intensive blue luminescence with a quantum yield up to 0.62. Organic light‐emitting diode devices fabricated with such molecules as the emitting layer release pure blue light with CIE (0.16, 0.12).
Fluorine‐InducedPseudo‐Anomeric Effects in Methoxycyclohexanes through Electrostatic 1,3‐Diaxial Interactions
Authors: Piscelli Bruno A. , Sanders William , Yu Cihang , Al Maharik Nawaf , Lebl Thomas , Cormanich Rodrigo A. , O'Hagan David 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWe report counter‐intuitive axial preferences in non‐stereochemically biased, selectively fluorinated methoxycyclohexanes. These pseudo‐anomeric effects are apparent when electronegative CF2groups are placed at the C‐2, C‐4 and C‐6 positions of the cyclohexane ring to render the C‐3/5 axial hydrogen atoms electropositive. The electrostatic interaction between these axial hydrogen atoms and the ‐OMe oxygen is stabilising. The effect is explored using high‐level ab initio and DFT calculations in the framework of NBO, QTAIM and NCI analysis across a range of derivatives, and experimentally (19F{1H}‐NMR at −80 °C) for some illustrative examples. The effect is significant in energy terms for a weak interaction, and illustrates a new stereoelectronic aspect attributed to selective fluorine substitution in organic chemistry.
Light adaptation mechanisms in the eye of the fiddler crab Afruca tangeri
Authors: Brodrick Emelie A. , Roberts Nicholas W. , Sumner‐Rooney Lauren , Schlepütz Christian M. , How Martin J. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractA great diversity of adaptations is found among animals with compound eyes and even closely related taxa can show variation in their light‐adaptation strategies. A prime example of a visual system evolved to function in specific light environments is the fiddler crab, used widely as a model to research aspects of crustacean vision and neural pathways. However, questions remain regarding how their eyes respond to the changes in brightness spanning many orders of magnitude, associated with their habitat and ecology. The fiddler crab Afruca tangeri forages at low tide on tropical and semi‐tropical mudflats, under bright sunlight and on moonless nights, suggesting that their eyes undergo effective light adaptation. Using synchrotron X‐ray tomography, light and transmission electron microscopy and in vivo ophthalmoscopy, we describe the ultrastructural changes in the eye between day and night. Dark adaptation at dusk triggered extensive widening of the rhabdoms and crystalline cone tips. This doubled the ommatidial acceptance angles and increased microvillar surface area for light capture in the rhabdom, theoretically boosting optical sensitivity 7.4 times. During daytime, only partial dark‐adaptation was achieved and rhabdoms remained narrow, indicating strong circadian control on the process. Bright light did not evoke changes in screening pigment distributions, suggesting a structural inability to adapt rapidly to the light level fluctuations frequently experienced when entering their burrow to escape predators. This should enable fiddler crabs to shelter for several minutes without undergoing significant dark‐adaptation, their vision remaining effectively adapted for predator detection when surfacing again in bright light.
Elucidating the Relationship between Multiradical Character and Predicted Singlet Fission Activity
Authors: Omar Ömer H. , Padula Daniele , Troisi Alessandro 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe diradical and multiradical characters of a large and diverse set of 241 predicted singlet fission candidates are determined by multiconfigurational wavefunction methods, specifically natural orbital occupation number (NOON) analysis using the CASSCF method. The ascertained multiradical character strongly supports the current prediction that a good singlet fission candidate, independent of its structure, will tend to be of the weak biradicaloid class as well as having very little tetraradical character. Although the rule remains robust, it is not absolute as a small portion of our potential candidates are predicted to be closed shell. Additionally, a smaller handful of outliers with apparent tetraradical characters are identified, suggesting there may be the possibility, albeit rare, of singlet fission amongst weak tetraradicaloids.
Interfirm collaboration and corporate social responsibility expenditure in turbulent environments: The moderating role of entrepreneurial orientation
Authors: Adomako Samuel , Nguyen Nguyen Phong 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThis paper draws on the resource dependency theory to examine the impact of interfirm collaboration on corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure. In addition, we examine entrepreneurial orientation as a moderator of the relationship between interfirm collaboration and CSR expenditure. We test our research model using survey data from 230 small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana. Results from our empirical analyses reveal that interfirm collaboration positively impacts CSR expenditure and this relationship is strengthened when entrepreneurial orientation is greater in turbulent environments. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
MODY patients exhibit shorter telomere length than non‐diabetic subjects
Authors: Millan Andrea L. , Trobo Sofía I. , de Dios Alejandro , Cerrato García Martina , Pérez María S. , Cerrone Gloria E. , Frechtel Gustavo D. , López Ariel P. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundGiven the increasing evidence supporting the association between telomere shortening and diabetes, the aim of the present work was to establish whether MODY patients suffer a reduction in telomere lenght (TL) due to oxidative stress produced by chronic hyperglycemia, despite not presenting insulin resistance or inflammation.MethodsWe analysed clinical and biochemical parameters in 35 MODY2 and 12 MODY3 patients compared with 48 control subjects. The absolute telomere length (aTL) of peripheral blood leukocytes was measured using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).ResultsA significant negative correlation was observed between aTL and age in the whole population, among MODY patients and in each subtype studied, MODY2 and MODY3, which allowed us to validate the method. We found, for the first time, that MODY patients have shorter aTL with respect to non‐diabetic controls (6.49 ± 3.31 kbp vs 11.13 ± 7.82 kbp, p = .006). However, no differences were found between MODY2 and MODY3. In addition, aTL showed a negative correlation with duration of the disease and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels in MODY patients in general and also with HbA1c in MODY2 patients in particular.ConclusionsBoth MODY2 and MODY3 types present telomere shortening, which, at least partly, responds to HbA1c and FPG levels. These findings suggest comparable mechanisms underlying the attrition of TL. Taken together, our results on aTL in MODY patients may provide a parameter relatively easy and inexpensive to quantify in order to measure the impact of high glucose levels and potentially carry out antidiabetic treatment with stricter targets.
The body size and temperature dependence of organismal locomotion
Authors: Cloyed Carl S. , Dell Anthony I. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe speed and maneuverability of organisms are central to their fitness, determining the strength and outcome of many species interactions that drive population and community‐level processes. While locomotion is influenced by many internal and external factors, body size and temperature are two key factors governing organismal locomotion. Biologists have been measuring locomotor performance, particularly maximum speed, for over a century. Studies have tended to focus on single species or groups of species that are either phylogenetically related, functionally similar, or use the same habitat. Few studies compare locomotor performance across a diverse range of taxa or locomotor modes, very few have incorporated locomotor traits other than maximum speed, and the data are not accessible in a single database with standardized units. Here, we present a data set we compiled from the literature that contains 2,951 measurements of locomotor performance for five traits (exploratory speed, maximum speed, maximum acceleration, minimum powered turn radius, and maximum angular speed) that are important in the daily lives of many organisms. This represents the most diverse and comprehensive database on animal locomotion yet published and includes 884 species spanning 23 orders of magnitude of body size. Together with body size (mass and length) and temperature (body and ambient), we also provide data on trophic group and habitat (aerial, terrestrial, aquatic). In publishing our data set, we hope to encourage others to contribute to a continued effort to build this locomotion database and to analyze these data for underlying patterns. Interspecific analyses can help elucidate how organismal locomotion varies with important morphological and physiological traits and environmental conditions, revealing generalities and deviations in organismal locomotion. Additionally, intraspecific analyses, which are possible for a number of species in our data set, can help corroborate these patterns and deviations and explore potential mechanisms that could underlie these patterns. Insights from these analyses should uncover drivers of locomotor performance and contribute to an understanding about how locomotion shapes ecological processes across scales. There are no copyright or proprietary restrictions, except this data paper should be cited when data are used for publication. In addition, we would appreciate hearing for which research projects or teaching exercises these data are used.
Can environmental DNA be used to detect first arrivals of the cane toad, Rhinella marina, into novel locations?
Authors: Villacorta‐Rath Cecilia , Adekunle Adeshina I. , Edmunds Richard C. , Strugnell Jan M. , Schwarzkopf Lin , Burrows Damien 
Published: June 2020

AbstractEradicating invasive species is difficult, but success is more likely when populations are small after arrival. The cane toad, Rhinella marina, is an invasive pest species that threatens native fauna worldwide. Increasingly, environmental DNA (eDNA) is used as a technique to monitor the presence of invasive species given its power to detect low numbers of individuals. We aimed to investigate eDNA persistence in freshwater at three different temperatures (25, 30 and 35°C) and eDNA detection thresholds for R. marina using controlled experiments in aquaria. For the latter, two water volumes and two cane toad exposure times were used (800 or 200 L volume with 5 or 30 min exposure). A 15‐ml water sample was collected from each replicated aquaria and preserved with 5 ml Longmire's buffer. Environmental DNA was extracted and four technical quantitative PCR replicates were analyzed targeting the cane toad 16S rDNA mitochondrial gene. Environmental DNA decayed rapidly in water and was reliably detected for up to 3 days after cane toad removal, regardless of the temperature treatment. Also, cane toad eDNA was detected in the water after a 5‐min initial exposure of a single individual in 800 L of water. Under the physical parameters tested here, a positive detection means that a cane toad has been in contact with the water body between 1 and 3 days prior to the sampling event. The results of the present study show the importance of eDNA for determining the presence of a species that occurs at low abundance in a small water body, such as at the onset of a cane toad invasion.
Prognostic nutritional index in elderly patients hospitalized for acute heart failure
Authors: Candeloro Matteo , Di Nisio Marcello , Balducci Martina , Genova Stefano , Valeriani Emanuele , Pierdomenico Sante Donato , Porreca Ettore 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAimsAcute heart failure (AHF) represents a frequent cause of hospitalization and is associated with significant mortality among elderly patients. Risk assessment models like the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) have been proposed to stratify the risk of death and identify patients requiring more intensive levels of care. We evaluated the predictive value of PNI for in‐hospital and overall mortality in a cohort of consecutive elderly patients hospitalized for AHF.Methods and resultsPrognostic nutritional index, laboratory, and clinical parameters were collected upon admission. PNI values were calculated from albumin concentration and lymphocyte count and reported on a continuous scale with lower values indicating worse prognosis. The primary outcome was overall all‐cause mortality defined as death from any cause occurring during hospitalization up to 6 months after discharge. Cox proportional regression analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and the relative 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The study population included 344 patients (median age 84 years, range 65 to 101). During a median follow‐up of 158 days (range 2 to 180 days), 75 patients (21.8%) died of whom 28 (8.1%) died during hospitalization. The median PNI was 34 (range 17 to 55). In univariable analysis, PNI was inversely associated with overall mortality (HR 0.90; 95% CI, 0.87 to 0.94) and in‐hospital mortality (HR 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85 to 0.98). In multivariable analysis, PNI remained a significant predictor of overall mortality (HR 0.93; 95% CI, 0.89 to 0.98) after adjustment for age, anaemia, NT‐proBNP values, and bedridden status. PNI values ≤34 were associated with a two‐fold higher risk of overall mortality (HR 2.54; 95% CI, 1.52 to 4.24) and three‐fold higher risk of in‐hospital mortality (HR 3.37; 95% CI, 1.14 to 9.95).ConclusionsLow PNI values are associated with short‐term and long‐term mortality among elderly patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure. Future studies are warranted to confirm these findings and evaluate the use of PNI to guide therapeutic decisions.
Circulating troponin and further left ventricular ejection fraction improvement in patients with previously recovered left ventricular ejection fraction
Authors: Howlett Jonathan G. , Sharma Nakul , Alemayehu Wendimagegn G. , Dyck Jason R.B. , Anderson Todd , Fine Nowell , Becker Harald , White James A. , Paterson D. Ian , Thompson Richard B. , Oudit Gavin Y. , Haykowsky Mark J. , Ezekowitz Justin A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAimsThe aim of this study is to determine factors associated with long‐term recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with heart failure with reduced EF (HFrEF) and if further recovery also occurs in this group.Methods and resultsAmong 621 participants enrolled in the Alberta Heart Failure Etiology and Analysis Team (HEART) Study, 316 with Stage C HF underwent comprehensive imaging and biomarker testing at enrolment and at 1‐year follow up. Using pre‐enrolment data, HF with recovered EF (HFrecEF) was defined as an absolute improvement ≥5% in LVEF from the prior lowest LVEF value, with a final LVEF value > 35% at or prior to study baseline. Participants with all LVEF > 40% were included for comparison. Hospitalization‐free survival to 5 years was performed.The median cohort age was 66 years, and time from diagnosis was 4 years; 82% were male patients. Of the 316 patients, 95 (30%) patients had HFrecEF and 56 (18%) patients pHFrEF. On multivariate analysis, only shorter duration of HF was predictive of HFrecEF status. Over 1 year, LVEF increased in the HFrecEF group 4.0% (0.15–7.90, P = 0.042) as compared with persistent HFrEF, who in turn demonstrated higher baseline serum high sensitivity Troponin‐T with further increase at follow up 0.55(0.33–0.86, P = 0.011). No change in any parameter in the HFpEF/HFmrEF group at follow up was observed.ConclusionsPatients with HFrecEF demonstrate evidence of additional late improvement in LVEF and unchanged troponin levels, in contrast to those with persistent HFrEF, where LVEF does not improve and serum troponin rises over time. These data help to inform mechanisms relating to late LV remodelling.
Pulmonary artery pressure‐guided therapy in ambulatory patients with symptomatic heart failure: the CardioMEMS European Monitoring Study for Heart Failure (MEMS‐HF)
Authors: Angermann Christiane E. , Assmus Birgit , Anker Stefan D. , Asselbergs Folkert W. , Brachmann Johannes , Brett Marie‐Elena , Brugts Jasper J. , Ertl Georg , Ginn Greg , Hilker Lutz , Koehler Friedrich , Rosenkranz Stephan , Zhou Qian , Adamson Philip B. , Böhm Michael ,   for the MEMS‐HF Investigators
Published: June 2020

AimsHeart failure (HF) leads to repeat hospitalisations and reduces the duration and quality of life. Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP)‐guided HF management using the CardioMEMS™ HF system was shown to be safe and reduce HF hospitalisation (HFH) rates in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III patients. However, these findings have not been replicated in health systems outside the United States. Therefore, the CardioMEMS European Monitoring Study for Heart Failure (MEMS‐HF) evaluated the safety, feasibility, and performance of this device in Germany, The Netherlands, and Ireland.Methods and resultsA total of 234 NYHA class III patients (68 ± 11 years, 22% female, ≥1 HFH in the preceding year) from 31 centres were implanted with a CardioMEMS sensor and underwent PAP‐guided HF management. One‐year rates of freedom from device‐ or system‐related complications and from sensor failure (co‐primary outcomes) were 98.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 95.8–100.0] and 99.6% (95% CI 97.6–100.0), respectively. Survival rate was 86.2%. For the 12 months post‐ vs. pre‐implant, HFHs decreased by 62% (0.60 vs. 1.55 events/patient‐year; hazard ratio 0.38, 95% CI 0.31–0.48; P < 0.0001). After 12 months, mean PAP decreased by 5.1 ± 7.4 mmHg, Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) overall/clinical summary scores increased from 47.0 ± 24.0/51.2 ± 24.8 to 60.5 ± 24.3/62.4 ± 24.1 (P < 0.0001), and the 9‐item Patient Health Questionnaire sum score improved from 8.7 ± 5.9 to 6.3 ± 5.1 (P < 0.0001).ConclusionHaemodynamic‐guided HF management proved feasible and safe in the health systems of Germany, The Netherlands, and Ireland. Physician‐directed treatment modifications based on remotely obtained PAP values were associated with fewer HFH, sustainable PAP decreases, marked KCCQ improvements, and remission of depressive symptoms.