bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anisotropic Gas Separation in Oriented ZIF‐95 Membranes Prepared by Vapor‐Assisted In‐Plane Epitaxial Growth
Authors: Ma Xixi , Wan Zheng , Li Yanhong , He Xiao , Caro Jürgen , Huang Aisheng 
Published: August 2020

AbstractControl of the microstructure grain orientation, grain boundaries and thickness are crucial for MOF membranes. We report a novel synthesis strategy to prepare highly c‐oriented ZIF‐95 membranes through vapor‐assisted in‐plane epitaxial growth. In a mixed DMF/water vapor atmosphere, in‐plane epitaxial growth of a ZIF‐95 seeds layer was achieved to obtain an oriented and well‐intergrown ZIF‐95 membrane with a thickness of only 600 nm. Demonstrated by both experimental and simulation studies, the c‐oriented ZIF‐95 membrane displayed superior separation performance because a perfectly oriented structure resulted in a notable reduction of intercrystalline defects and transport pathways. For the separation of equimolar binary mixtures at 100 °C and 1 bar, the mixture separation factors of H2/CO2 and H2/CH4 were 32.2 and 53.7, respectively, with an H2 permeance of over 7.9×10−7 mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1, which was 4.6 times higher than that of a randomly oriented ZIF‐95 membrane.
Effect of ZnO nanoparticles loading in double‐layer polyvinylidene fluoride membrane for desalination via direct contact membrane distillation
Authors: Mat Radzi Nurul Hafifah , Ahmad Abdul Latif 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIn this study, double‐layer flat sheet membranes consist of nanocomposite polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)–ZnO layer on the top, whereas pristine polymeric PVDF on the bottom was fabricated via the double‐casting phase inversion (DCPI) method. The nanocomposite layer was prepared by loading 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% of ZnO nanoparticles. The morphology of the membranes changed as ZnO nanoparticles were introduced in the top layer, where the structure is more rigid and porous than the bottom layer. The increment concentration of nanoparticles in the top layer of the double‐layer membrane gives an effect in increasing of water contact angle slightly, which is from 136° to 140°. Furthermore, the liquid entry pressure of water (LEPw) decreases gradually from 0.69 to 0.4 bar with a high concentration of ZnO due to the presence of large pores. The increment concentration of ZnO nanoparticles also resulted in high porosity and reduced pore size, which reduce the resistance of water vapour to pass through the pores as well as enhancing the performance of membrane distillation (MD). Direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) experiments were carried out to evaluate the efficiency of the fabricated double‐layer membrane in the desalination of seawater from fish farm water for 6‐h operation. The optimal double‐layer membrane with 0.5% ZnO nanoparticles loading maintained a stable flux of 9.42 L/m2h with 99.9% salt rejection and has antifouling properties. The results indicated that the fabricated double‐layer membrane via the DCPI method fulfils the required properties for MD application with excellent salt rejection.
Impact of feeding fish as a tourist attraction on a coral reef invertivorous fish's diet and growth
Authors: Silva Fernanda Carolina da , Ferreira Júnior Augusto Luiz , Artoni Roberto Ferreira , Bessa Eduardo 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Tourism in marine environments is growing each year, especially in regions with attractive coastlines. One of the main activities practised by tourists is offering food, normally bread, to fish. This activity can result in negative impacts that are still not fully understood. Such impacts were previously detected among omnivores, but fish at other trophic levels also respond to feeding by humans.
The effects of supplementary fish feeding by tourists on the diet of a coral reef predatorial haemulid fish, a common reef fish in many tourist destinations, were analysed. Specimens were sampled from one location in which tourists frequently feed the fish and another in which fish maintain their natural diet, both in a marine protected area. The standard length, total weight, hepatosomatic index, condition factor, starch content, and diet composition of fish from the two locations were compared.
Specimens fed by tourists were generally larger than those consuming a natural diet, but weight, hepatosomatic index, and condition factor were not statistically different. Diet composition varied between the two areas, with almost half of the stomach contents from specimens collected in the supplementary feeding area composed of starch. Considering the natural diet of this species, carbohydrate ingestion can interfere with energy accumulation. Additionally, natural prey species were being consumed on a smaller scale.
These results shed light on the controversial issue of supplementary fish feeding as a tourist attraction and provide information to help shape effective ecotourism management. In this regard, the offered food volume should be banned in more sensitive environments, reduced in remaining areas and food quality should be controlled to make ecotourism a more sustainable activity globally.
Susceptibility to COVID‐19 in Patients Treated With Antimalarials: A Population‐Based Study in Emilia‐Romagna, Northern Italy
Authors: Salvarani Carlo , Mancuso Pamela , Gradellini Federica , Viani Nilla , Pandolfi Paolo , Reta Massimo , Carrozzi Giuliano , Sandri Gilda , Bajocchi Gianluigi , Galli Elena , Muratore Francesco , Boiardi Luigi , Pipitone Nicolò , Cassone Giulia , Croci Stefania , Marata Anna Maria , Costantini Massimo , Giorgi Rossi Paolo 
Published: August 2020

ObjectiveTo evaluate the susceptibility to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) in patients with autoimmune conditions treated with antimalarials in a population‐based study.MethodsAll residents treated with chloroquine (CQ)/hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) from July through December 2019 and living in 3 provinces of Regione Emilia‐Romagna were identified by drug prescription registries and matched with the registry containing all residents living in the same areas who have had swabs and tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS–CoV‐2). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated.ResultsA total of 4,408 patients were identified. The prevalence of patients receiving antimalarials was 0.85 per 1,000 men and 3.3 per 1,000 women. The cumulative incidence of testing during the study period was 2.7% in the general population and 3.8% among those receiving CQ or HCQ, while the cumulative incidence of testing positive was 0.55% in the general population and 0.70% among those receiving CQ/HCQ. Multivariate models showed that those receiving CQ/HCQ had a slightly higher probability of being tested compared to the general population (OR 1.09 [95% CI 0.94–1.28]), the same probability of being diagnosed as having COVID‐19 (OR 0.94 [95% CI 0.66–1.34]), and a slightly lower probability of being positive once tested (OR 0.83 [95% CI 0.56–1.23]). None of the differences were significant.ConclusionOur findings do not support the use of antimalarials as a prophylactic treatment of COVID‐19.
Convenient Preparation and Structure Determination of Air‐ and Moisture‐Tolerant Difluoromethylborates
Authors: Yokawa Akitaka , Ito Shigekazu 
Published: August 2020

AbstractConvenient and reliable synthetic methods for difluoromethylborates have been established. The intermediary generated difluoromethylsilicate species from TMSCF2H (TMS=trimethylsilyl) and potassium tert‐butoxide were allowed to react with pinBPh (Me4C2O2BPh) in the presence of 18‐crown‐6 to give the corresponding borate compound [pinB(Ph)CF2H]−K+(18‐crown‐6) as an air‐ and moisture‐tolerant solid. The unambiguously determined crystal structure of [pinB(Ph)CF2H]−K+(18‐crown‐6) revealed that the difluoromethylborate unit partially coordinated on the potassium ion. Reaction of [pinB(Ph)CF2H]–K+(18‐crown‐6) with potassium difluoride (KHF2) in acetic acid enabled substitution of the pinacol unit and phenyl group with fluorides, and gave (difluoromethyl)trifluoroborate [F3BCF2H]–K+(18‐crown‐6) in a good yield. The crystal structure of air‐ and moisture‐tolerant [F3BCF2H]–K+(18‐crown‐6), which would be a promising reagent for synthesis of various difluoromethylboron species, showed a polyrotaxane‐like polymeric structure based on the K⋅⋅⋅F interactions between the K+(18‐crown‐6), CF2H, and BF3 units.
Genomic Stress Responses Drive Lymphocyte Evolvability: An Ancient and Ubiquitous Mechanism
Authors: Swiatczak Bartlomiej 
Published: August 2020

AbstractSomatic diversification of antigen receptor genes depends on the activity of enzymes whose homologs participate in a mutagenic DNA repair in unicellular species. Indeed, by engaging error‐prone polymerases, gap filling molecules and altered mismatch repair pathways, lymphocytes utilize conserved components of genomic stress response systems, which can already be found in bacteria and archaea. These ancient systems of mutagenesis and repair act to increase phenotypic diversity of microbial cell populations and operate to enhance their ability to produce fit variants during stress. Coopted by lymphocytes, the ancient mutagenic processing systems retained their diversification functions instilling the adaptive immune cells with enhanced evolvability and defensive capacity to resist infection and damage. As reviewed here, the ubiquity and conserved character of specialized variation‐generating mechanisms from bacteria to lymphocytes highlight the importance of these mechanisms for evolution of life in general.
Ein Winzling lehrt das Fürchten
Authors: Vogt Heidrun 
Published: August 2020

ZusammenfassungDie Kirschessigfliege (Drosophila suzukii), heimisch in Südostasien, ist ein invasiver Schädling. Sie gehört zu der Familie der Taufliegen (Drosophilidae). Wohl durch den globalen Handel in die USA und nach Europa verschleppt, konnte sie sich seit 2008 in kürzester Zeit enorm ausbreiten. Geeignete Klimabedingungen, die Verfügbarkeit einer Vielzahl von Wirtspflanzen und das Nutzen einer ökologischen Nische, nämlich der Befall intakter reifender und reifer weichschaliger Früchte, waren hierfür ideale Voraussetzungen. Der Schädling verfügt zudem über ein großes Vermehrungspotential bei kurzer Entwicklungszeit sowie ausgeprägte Überwinterungsstrategien. Die Kirschessigfliege ist schwer zu bekämpfen und verursacht enorme Schäden.
Die Tricks der Stinkenden Nieswurz
Authors: Bosch Stefan , Lurz Peter 
Published: August 2020

ZusammenfassungDie Stinkende Nieswurz (Helleborus foetidus) wendet geniale Tricks an, um Bestäuber anzulocken und um später den Abtransport und die Verbreitung der Samen zu erzielen. Hefen in der Blüte erwärmen den Nektar durch ihre Stoffwechselaktivität und machen diesen für Bienen und Hummeln im kalten Frühjahr attraktiv. So werden Bestäuber in einem Zeitfenster angelockt, in dem die Konkurrenz durch andere Blüten noch gering ist. Durch die frühe Blüte fällt die Samenreife in den Spätfrühling oder Frühsommer. In dieser Zeit ist hochwertige Nahrung für Ameisen noch Mangelware, so dass diese gerne auf die Samen der Nieswurz zurückgreifen und diese verbreiten (Myrmechorie). Um die Samen für Ameisen unwiderstehlich zu machen, werden sie mit einem Ölkörperchen (Elasiosom) ausgestattet, das neben Ölen Zucker und Vitamine enthält. Als Duftlockstoff enthalten die Ölkörper außerdem eine Fettsäure. Aber was Ameisen anlockt, macht sie auch für Samenfresser wie Mäuse attraktiver. Deshalb hängt das Überleben (und Keimen) der Samen davon ab, dass das Elaiosom von den Ameisen abgetrennt wird. Die Bestäubung und Samenverbreitung der Nieswurz ist viel faszinierender als es auf dem ersten Blick den Anschein hat. Es ist ein Beispiel für die äußerst komplexen Verknüpfungen zwischen Pflanzen, ihren Blüten, unterschiedlichsten Tieren, Hefen und Bakterien.
Nachrichten des Verbandes Biologie, Biowissenschaften & Biomedizin in Deutschland
Authors: Bronsema Viola 
Published: August 2020

Wissenschaft & GesellschaftAccess and Benefit SharingGerman Nagoya Protocol HUBRechenschaftJahresbericht 2019LandesverbändeKarl von Frisch‐Preise 2020Bundesdelegiertenkonferenz 2020
A rational approach to improving titer in Escherichia coli‐based cell‐free protein synthesis reactions
Authors: Colant Noelle , Melinek Beatrice , Teneb Jaime , Goldrick Stephen , Rosenberg William , Frank Stefanie , Bracewell Daniel G. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractCell‐free protein synthesis (CFPS) is an established method for rapid recombinant protein production. Advantages like short synthesis times and an open reaction environment make CFPS a desirable platform for new and difficult‐to‐express products. Most recently, interest has grown in using the technology to make larger amounts of material. This has been driven through a variety of reasons from making site specific antibody drug conjugates, to emergency response, to the safe manufacture of toxic biological products. We therefore need robust methods to determine the appropriate reaction conditions for product expression in CFPS. Here we propose a process development strategy for Escherichia coli lysate‐based CFPS reactions that can be completed in as little as 48 hr. We observed the most dramatic increases in titer were due to the E. coli strain for the cell extract. Therefore, we recommend identifying a high‐producing cell extract for the product of interest as a first step. Next, we manipulated the plasmid concentration, amount of extract, temperature, concentrated reaction mix pH levels, and length of reaction. The influence of these process parameters on titer was evaluated through multivariate data analysis. The process parameters with the highest impact on titer were subsequently included in a design of experiments to determine the conditions that increased titer the most in the design space. This proposed process development strategy resulted in superfolder green fluorescent protein titers of 0.686 g/L, a 38% improvement on the standard operating conditions, and hepatitis B core antigen titers of 0.386 g/L, a 190% improvement.
Ferritinophagy is not required for colon cancer cell growth
Authors: Hasan Mazen , Reddy Sreedhar M. , Das Nupur K. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractFerritinophagy is a form of selective autophagy responsible for degrading intracellular ferritin, mediated by nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4). NCOA4 plays significant roles in systemic iron homeostasis, and its disruption leads to simultaneous anemia and susceptibility to iron overload. The importance of iron colorectal cancer pathogenesis is well studied; however, the role of ferritinophagy in colon cancer cell growth has not been assessed. Disruption of ferritinophagy via NCOA4 knockout leads to only marginal differences in growth under basal and iron‐restricted conditions. Moreover, NCOA4 played no significant role in cell death induced by 5‐fluorouracil and erastin. Western blotting analysis for ferritin and transferrin receptor 1 found a dose‐dependent effect on expression in both proteins in wild‐type and NCOA4 knockout cell lines, but further investigation revealed no difference in growth response when treated at both high and low doses. Our data demonstrate a marginal role for ferritinophagy in growth both under normal and cytotoxic conditions in colon cancer cells, as well as a possible compensatory mechanism in colon cancer cells in response to ferroptosis induction.
Thermochemical Energy Storage Performances of Steel Slag‐Derived CaO‐Based Composites
Authors: Bai Shengbin , Zhou Yue , Chen Yuning , Wang Zhiqiang , Sun Jian , Zhao Chuanwen 
Published: August 2020

AbstractLow‐cost and easily scaled‐up acidification is a potential synthesis approach to produce CaO‐based composites derived from steel slag for thermal energy storage/release via multicyclic calcination/carbonation. Acid concentration, acidification temperature, and acidification duration were comparatively investigated. The cyclic thermal energy storage/release properties of such composites are closely related to the acidification parameters, mainly attributed to the differences in the composition of the synthetic composites under different acidification conditions. The synergistic effect of the increased Ca and Mg content as well as the reduced content of Si and Fe within the composites contributes to improve their cyclic thermal energy storage/release performance.
Extraction of information about structural changes in a semisolid pharmaceutical formulation from near‐infrared and Raman images by multivariate curve resolution–alternating least squares and ComDim
Authors: Mitsutake Hery , Neves Marina De Géa , Rutledge Douglas N. , Poppi Ronei Jesus , Breitkreitz Márcia Cristina 
Published: August 2020

AbstractSolid dispersions are an interesting option to improve the solubility of Class II (high permeability, low water solubility) drugs of the Biopharmaceutical Classification System without the use of organic solvents. However, structural changes (polymorphism) may be present in both active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and excipients, which require evaluation during pharmaceutical development. Thus, the aim of this work was to demonstrate the feasibility of using Raman and near‐infrared (NIR) mapping associated with multivariate curve resolution–alternating least squares (MCR‐ALS) and common components and specific weights analysis (CCSWA or ComDim) chemometric methods to assess the solid dispersions of atorvastatin calcium in Gelucire® 48/16 under controlled (3.0 ± 1.0°C, sealed flask) and accelerated (33.0 ± 1.0°C, 75% of relative humidity, open flask) aging conditions. MCR‐ALS allowed the identification of the amorphous and crystalline fractions of the drug within the solid dispersion, which is not easily achieved by traditional techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry and X‐ray diffraction, especially for semisolid formulations. ComDim results indicated that Raman seemed more sensitive to the presence of the API, whereas NIR was found to be more sensitive to alterations in the spectra of the excipient. The use of the ComDim method is not yet widespread in the pharmaceutical area; therefore, this paper shows its potential to support pharmaceutical development in preformulation stages for stability studies.
Destabilizing Alkaline Water with 3d‐Metal (Oxy)(Hydr)Oxides for Improved Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: You Bo , Qiao Shi Zhang 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAlkaline water electrolysis enables the use of nonprecious metal‐based catalysts and therefore holds great promise for large‐scale generation of renewable hydrogen fuel, especially when driven by renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. However, the sluggish kinetics of the water adsorption and dissociation steps in the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) lower its energy conversion efficiency. Recent achievements have proved that 3d‐metal (oxy)(hydr)oxides can accelerate these two kinetic processes and thereby improve the activity of diverse HER electrocatalysts from experimental and theoretical points of view. Moreover, a positive role of strong coupling between HER catalysts and 3d‐metal (oxy)(hydr)oxides has been discovered recently. In this minireview, a compendious introduction to recent progress is provided, including experiments and theory. Remarks on the challenges and perspectives in this rapidly developing field are also provided.
Enantioselective Alkynylation of Isatins: A Combination of Metal Catalysis and Organocatalysis
Authors: Jiang Dan , Tang Pei , Tan Qiuyuan , Yang Zhao , He Ling , Zhang Min 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAn efficient and catalytic asymmetric alkynylation of isatins has been developed using a bifunctional amidophosphine‐urea/AgBF4 complex as the catalyst. By a combination of metal catalysis and organocatalysis, excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99 % ee) and good yields are achieved. A wide range of both terminal alkynes and isatins are tolerated by this new catalyst system, providing access to structurally diverse propargylic alcohols with tetrasubstituted stereogenic centers in high efficiency.
Ultrathin Mn Doped Ni‐MOF Nanosheet Array for Highly Capacitive and Stable Asymmetric Supercapacitor
Authors: Zheng Dengchao , Wen Hao , Sun Xun , Guan Xin , Zhang Jie , Tian Wenli , Feng Hao , Wang Hongjing , Yao Yadong 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIn this study, we demonstrate that an Mn‐doped ultrathin Ni‐MOF nanosheet array on nickel foam (Mn0.1‐Ni‐MOF/NF) serves as a highly capacitive and stable supercapacitor positive electrode. The Mn0.1‐Ni‐MOF/NF shows an areal capacity of 6.48 C cm−2 (specific capacity C: 1178 C g−1) at 2 mA cm−2 in 6.0 m KOH, outperforming most reported MOF‐based materials. More importantly, it possesses excellent cycle stability to maintain 80.6 % capacity after 5000 cycles. An asymmetric supercapacitor device utilizing Mn0.1‐Ni‐MOF/NF as the positive electrode and activated carbon as the negative electrode attains a high energy density of 39.6 Wh kg−1 at 143.8 Wkg−1 power density with a capacitance retention of 83.6 % after 5000 cycles.
Control of Intermolecular Photoinduced Electron Transfer in Deoxyadenosine‐Based Fluorescent Probes
Authors: Le Hoang‐Ngoan , Brazard Johanna , Barnoin Guillaume , Vincent Steve , Michel Benoît Y. , Leonard Jérémie , Burger Alain 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIn this work, we report on the Photoinduced Electron Transfer (PET) reaction between a donor (adenine analogue) and an acceptor (3‐methoxychromone dye, 3MC) in the context of designing efficient fluorescent probes as DNA sensors. Firstly, Gibbs energy was investigated in disconnected donor–acceptor systems by Rehm‐Weller equation. The oxidation potential of the adenine derivative was responsible for exergonicity of the PET reaction in separated combinations. Then, the PET reaction in donor‐π‐acceptor conjugates was investigated using steady‐state fluorescence spectroscopy, acid‐mediated PET inhibition and transient absorption techniques. In conjugated systems, PET is a favorable pathway of fluorescent quenching when an electron‐rich adenine analogue (d7A) was connected to the fluorophore (3MC). We found that formation of ground‐state complexes even at nm concentration range dominated the dye photophysics and generated poorly emissive species likely through intermolecular PET from d7A to 3MC. On the other hand, solution acidification disrupts complexation and turns on the dye emission. Bridging an electron‐poor adenine analogue with high oxidation potential (8 d7A) to 3MC presenting low reduction potential is another alternative to prevent complex formation and produce highly emissive monomer conjugates.
Acidity and Glutathione Dual‐Responsive Polydopamine‐Coated Organic‐Inorganic Hybrid Hollow Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Controlled Drug Delivery
Authors: Chen Qi , Chen Yunna , Zhang Wenjing , Huang Qianqian , Hu Mengru , Peng Daiyin , Peng Can , Wang Lei , Chen Weidong 
Published: August 2020

AbstractControversial biodegradability and nonspecific pre‐drug leakage are major limitations for inorganic nanoparticles in cancer treatment. To solve these problems, we developed organic‐inorganic hybridized hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles with polydopamine modifications on the surface to simultaneously achieve enhanced biodegradability and controllable drug release. The morphology and chemical structure of the nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, N2adsorption‐desorption isotherms, TEM‐mapping and XPS. Moreover, the release behavior of nanoparticles under various pH conditions and the degradation behavior in the presence of GSH were evaluated. With effective controlled release, HMONs‐PTX@PDA were shown to significantly inhibit cancer cell proliferation and achieve antitumor effects in vivo through dual‐response release in the tumor microenvironment. Overall, this nanoplatform has significant potential to achieve tumor microenvironment‐responsive degradation and release to enhance tumor accumulation, which is very promising for cancer treatment.