bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Simultaneously enhancing the thermal conductivity and dielectric constant of BN/CF hybrid filled polypropylene/polystyrene composites via in situ reactive processing
Authors: Jiang Xueliang , Ma Pengfei , Zhou Cong , Zhu Wenwen , You Feng , Yao Chu , Liu Fangjun 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThermal conductive and electrical insulating polymer composites are exerted a tremendous fascination on the field of thermal management. The effective utilization of fillers is indispensable to construct the thermal conductive pathway to fabricate high thermal conductive polymer composites. Herein, a facile approach involves selective localization of boron nitride (BN) and carbon fiber (CF) through in situ polymerization of styrene through reactive processing as well as double‐percolation structure design. These composites can be easily fabricated by blending the BN, CF with polystyrene during the polymerization of styrene monomer and secondary compounding with polypropylene (PP). The selective localization of BN and CF was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) characterization. The cocontinuous structure of PP/PS was also confirmed by SEM observation. The thermal conductivity values was promoted from 0.22 W/mk for PP/PS blends to 0.62 W/mk for the in situ reactive blending composites with 14.5 wt% BN and 18 wt% CF. Moreover, the dielectric properties were also higher than that of the simple melt blending composites. Therefore, the method we proposed provides a potentially feasible plan to design and prepare the thermal conductive and electrical insulating composites for thermal management applications.
Pharmacological plasticity—How do you hit a moving target?
Authors: Parnham Michael J. , Geisslinger Gerd 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPaul Ehrlich's concept of the magic bullet, by which a single drug induces pharmacological effects by interacting with a single receptor has been a strong driving force in pharmacology for a century. It is continually thwarted, though, by the fact that the treated organism is highly dynamic and the target molecule(s) is (are) never static. In this article, we address some of the factors that modify and cause the mobility and plasticity of drug targets and their interactions with ligands and discuss how these can lead to unexpected (lack of) effects of drugs. These factors include genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic variability, cellular plasticity, chronobiological rhythms, time, age and disease resolution, sex, drug metabolism, and distribution. We emphasize four existing approaches that can be taken, either singly or in combination, to try to minimize effects of pharmacological plasticity. These are firstly, to enhance specificity using target conditions close to those in diseases, secondly, by simultaneously or thirdly, sequentially aiming at multiple targets, and fourthly, in synchronization with concurrent dietary, psychological, training, and biorhythm‐synchronizing procedures to optimize drug therapy.
N‐Palmitoylglycine and other N‐acylamides activate the lipid receptor G2A/GPR132
Authors: Foster James R. , Ueno Shohta , Chen Mao Xiang , Harvey Jenni , Dowell Simon J. , Irving Andrew J. , Brown Andrew J. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe G‐protein‐coupled receptor GPR132, also known as G2A, is activated by 9‐hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (9‐HODE) and other oxidized fatty acids. Other suggested GPR132 agonists including lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) have not been readily reproduced. Here, we identify N‐acylamides in particular N‐acylglycines, as lipid activators of GPR132 with comparable activity to 9‐HODE. The order‐of‐potency is N‐palmitoylglycine > 9‐HODE ≈ N‐linoleoylglycine > linoleamide > N‐oleoylglycine ≈ N‐stereoylglycine > N‐arachidonoylglycine > N‐docosehexanoylglycine. Physiological concentrations of N‐acylglycines in tissue are sufficient to activate GPR132. N‐linoleoylglycine and 9‐HODE also activate rat and mouse GPR132, despite limited sequence conservation to human. We describe pharmacological tools for GPR132, identified through drug screening. SKF‐95667 is a novel GPR132 agonist. SB‐583831 and SB‐583355 are peptidomimetic molecules containing core amino acids (glycine and phenylalanine, respectively), and structurally related to previously described ligands. A telmisartan analog, GSK1820795A, antagonizes the actions of N‐acylamides at GPR132. The synthetic cannabinoid CP‐55 940 also activates GPR132. Molecular docking to a homology model suggested a site for lipid binding, predicting the acyl side‐chain to extend into the membrane bilayer between TM4 and TM5 of GPR132. Small‐molecule ligands are envisaged to occupy a “classical” site encapsulated in the 7TM bundle. Structure‐directed mutagenesis indicates a critical role for arginine at position 203 in transmembrane domain 5 to mediate GPR132 activation by N‐acylamides. Our data suggest distinct modes of binding for small‐molecule and lipid agonists to the GPR132 receptor. Antagonists, such as those described here, will be vital to understand the physiological role of this long‐studied target.
Critical review on fly‐ash based geopolymer concrete
Authors: Meesala Chakradhara R. , Verma Nikhil K. , Kumar Shailendra 
Published: November 2019

AbstractDue to enormous growth in industrial development, the consumption of cement is substantially increased in the recent times and the cement manufacturing industry produces annually about 1.35 billion tons of the greenhouse gas emissions which are about 7% of the total greenhouse gas emission by man‐made to the atmosphere. At the same time, the thermal power plants have been generating huge quantity of fly‐ash, which is not being recycled properly. This creates huge burden on solid waste management. Hence, to minimize the emission of CO2 from cement industry and to increase the utilization of fly‐ash, a geopolymer technology is one of the viable solutions. In terms of global warming, the geopolymer technology‐based fly‐ash activated by an alkaline activators not only have potential to significantly reduce carbon footprint of ordinary portland cement concrete, but also shows considerable promise for applications in concrete industry as an alternative binder to the Portland cement. This paper provides a brief status of fly‐ash based geopolymer paste and concrete, encapsulates, and analyses critically the most significant research findings on various properties of geopolymer concrete (GPC) over the past two decades. Also, it identifies the important factors to be considered in improving the performance of GPC at elevated temperatures as well as at ambient temperatures. Collation and analysis of more than 100 research papers in this area may provide a valuable stating document for further research.
Re‐delimitation of Tinospora (Menispermaceae): Implications for character evolution and historical biogeography
Authors: Lian Lian , Ortiz Rosa Del C. , Jabbour Florian , Chen Zhi‐Duan , Wang Wei 
Published: November 2019

AbstractTraditional Tinospora is a heterogeneous genus, distributed in the African and Asian tropics as well as Australia and adjacent islands. Molecular phylogenetics has contributed greatly to improve our understanding of the genus over the past decade, however its circumscription is yet unresolved. In this study, we present a phylogenetic analysis of Burasaieae using six molecular markers (rbcL, atpB, matK, ndhF, trnL‐F, ITS), with a focus on Tinospora. Our results indicate that sampled species of Tinospora are distributed in three different clades. Tinospora tinosporoides, endemic to Australasia, is strongly supported as sister to the South American Borismene. By integrating lines of evidence from molecular phylogeny and morphology, we resurrected the monotypic Fawcettia to include F. tinosporoides. Our estimated age for the split of Fawcettia‐Borismene was ca. 29 Ma, suggesting that trans‐Pacific long‐distance dispersal may be the most feasible explanation for the Australasian–South American disjunction. Tinospora oblongifolia is a member of Hyalosepalum, characterized by three stamens with connate filaments, whereas T. tenera, once placed in Hyalosepalum, is recovered within Tinospora, characterized by six stamens. Evolutionary inferences of morphological characters indicate that the five selected characters, traditionally used to distinguish genera in Burasaieae, are highly homoplastic. Our molecular dating and ancestral range reconstruction suggest that Tinospora originated from Africa in the middle Oligocene (ca. 28 Ma) and expanded into Asia in the Early Miocene (ca. 21 Ma). Within Tinospora, a vicariance event occurred in the Middle Miocene (ca. 17 Ma) resulting in the split of African T. tenera and its Asian allies. One dispersal from Asia to Africa was inferred in the Late Miocene (ca. 10 Ma). Australian T. smilacina and T. esiangkara originated from Asia in the early Late Miocene (ca. 11 Ma). Thus, geodispersal and subsequent vicariance, as well as transoceanic long‐distance dispersal, have been responsible for the present distribution of Tinospora.
The spider orchid trapped in its molecular web: Phylogeny and morphological evolution of the orchid genera Bartholina and Holothrix (Orchidaceae: Orchidoideae)
Authors: Le Péchon Timothée , Johnson Steven D. , Bytebier Benny 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe orchid flora of southern Africa is taxonomically well‐known, although the phylogenetic relationships within and between several emblematic genera remain poorly understood. A case in point are the morphologically related genera Bartholina (2 spp.)—also known as spider orchids—and Holothrix (ca. 46 spp.) (Orchidaceae: Orchidoideae: Orchidinae). In this paper, we reconstructed phylogenetic relationships for those two orchid genera. We sequenced one nuclear (ITS) and two plastid (trnL+trnL‐F, matK) DNA regions, for 62 accessions, representing 29 species (out of 48 species, 60%) of the Holothrix/Bartholina alliance. The concatenated matrix included 3507 molecular characters and was analyzed using maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference, and parsimony. Our results showed that Holothrix is paraphyletic, with Bartholina nested within Holothrix. We identified five monophyletic lineages, strongly supported by molecular data, and several morphological synapomorphies that will form the basis of a new infrageneric classification. Furthermore, the phylogenetic tree clarified the taxonomy of the Holothrix villosa species complex and showed that H. villosa var. condensata is best treated at the rank of species.
Impact of zinc oxide nanoparticles on thioredoxin‐interacting protein and asymmetric dimethylarginine as biochemical indicators of cardiovascular disorders in gamma‐irradiated rats
Authors: Abdel‐Magied Nadia , Shedid Shereen M. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractNanoparticle is a microscopic particle that has been existed in a wide range of biotechnological purposes. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO‐NPs) have fewer environmental hazards and have shown positive impacts in the medical field. This work aimed to observe the effects of low and high doses of ZnO‐NPs on heart injury induced by ionizing radiation (IR). Animals were irradiated by 8 Gy of gamma rays and ZnO‐NPs (10 and 300 mg/Kg/day) were orally delivered to rats 1 hour after irradiation. Animals were dissected on 15th day postirradiation. Data showed that the oxidative damage resulted from radiation exposure, appeared by marked increments in the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the level and protein expression of thioredoxin‐interacting protein (TXNIP) with a noticeable decline in the level and expression of thioredoxin 1 (Trx‐1) and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), as well as glutathione (GSH) level and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Moreover, radiation‐induced inflammation, manifested by a noticeable elevation in the level of tumor necrotic factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin‐18 (IL‐18), and C‐reactive protein (CRP). Additionally, endothelial dysfunction marked with a high level of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), total nitrite/nitrate (NOx), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1), homocysteine (Hcy), creatine kinase (CK‐MB), cardiac troponin‐I (cTn‐I), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). In addition, a decrease of zinc (Zn) level in the cardiac tissue was recorded. ZnO‐NPs treatment (10 mg/kg) mitigated the oxidative stress and inflammation effects on the cardiovascular tissue through the positive modulations in the studied parameters. In contrast, ZnO‐NPs treatment (300 mg/kg) induced cardiovascular toxicity of normal rats and elevated the deleterious effects of radiation. In conclusion, ZnO‐NPs at a low dose could mitigate the adverse effects on cardiovascular tissue induced by radiation during its applications, while the high dose showed morbidity and mortality in normal and irradiated rats.
Combinatorics of Wilson loops in $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 SYM theory
Authors: Mück Wolfgang 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe theory of Wilson loops for gauge theories with unitary gauge groups is formulated in the language of symmetric functions. The main objects in this theory are two generating functions, which are related to each other by the involution that exchanges an irreducible representation with its conjugate. Both of them contain all information about the Wilson loops in arbitrary representations as well as the correlators of multiply­wound Wilson loops. This general framework is combined with the results of the Gaussian matrix model, which calculates the expectation values of$$ \frac{1}{2} $$12-BPS circular Wilson loops in$$ \mathcal{N} $$N= 4 Super-Yang-Mills theory. General, explicit, formulas for the connected correlators of multiply-wound Wilson loops in terms of the traces of symmetrized matrix products are obtained, as well as their inverses. It is shown that the generating functions for Wilson loops in mutually conjugate representations are related by a duality relation whenever they can be calculated by a Hermitian matrix model.
On the Solvability Complexity Index for Unbounded Selfadjoint and Schrödinger Operators
Authors: Rösler Frank 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWe study the solvability complexity index (SCI) for unbounded selfadjoint operators on separable Hilbert spaces and perturbations thereof. In particular, we show that if the extended essential spectrum of a selfadjoint operator is convex, then the SCI for computing its spectrum is equal to 1. This result is then extended to relatively compact perturbations of such operators and applied to Schrödinger operators with (complex valued) potentials decaying at infinity to obtain $${\text {SCI}}=1$$SCI=1 in this case, as well.
Statistical shape modelling of the first carpometacarpal joint reveals high variation in morphology
Authors: Rusli Wan M. R. , Kedgley Angela E. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe first carpometacarpal (CMC) joint, located at the base of the thumb and formed by the junction between the first metacarpal and trapezium, is a common site for osteoarthritis of the hand. The shape of both the first metacarpal and trapezium contributes to the intrinsic bony stability of the joint, and variability in the morphology of both these bones can affect the joint’s function. The objectives of this study were to quantify the morphological variation in the complete metacarpal and trapezium and determine any correlation between anatomical features of these two components of the first CMC joint. A multi-object statistical shape modelling pipeline, consisting of scaling, hierarchical rigid registration, non-rigid registration and projection pursuit principal component analysis, was implemented. Four anatomical measures were quantified from the shape model, namely the first metacarpal articular tilt and torsion angles and the trapezium length and width. Variations in the first metacarpal articular tilt angle (− 6.3° < θ < 12.3°) and trapezium width (10.28 mm < $${\fancyscript{w}}$$
w
< 11.13 mm) were identified in the first principal component. In the second principal component, variations in the first metacarpal torsion angle (0.2° < α < 14.2°), first metacarpal articular tilt angle (1.0° < θ < 6.4°) and trapezium length (12.25 mm < $$\text{ }\ell$$

ℓ

< 17.33 mm) were determined. Due to their implications for joint stability, the first metacarpal articular tilt angle and trapezium width may be important anatomical features which could be used to advance early detection and treatment of first CMC joint osteoarthritis.
From Harmony to Conflict: MacIntyrean Virtue Ethics in a Confucian Tradition
Authors: Chu Irene , Moore Geoff 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis paper explores whether MacIntyrean virtue ethics concepts are applicable in non-Western business contexts, specifically in SMEs in Taiwan, a country strongly influenced by the Confucian tradition. It also explores what differences exist between different polities in this respect, and specifically interprets observed differences between the Taiwanese study and previous studies conducted in Europe and Asia. Based on case study research, the findings support the generalizability of the MacIntyrean framework. Drawing on the institutional logics perspective and synthesizing this with MacIntyrean concepts, the paper explains the differences between the studies largely by reference to the Confucian tradition operating at both the micro-level within firms and at the macro-level as a means of harmonizing the potentially competing institutional logics to which firms are subject. The recent weakening of this tradition, however, suggests that increased conflict may characterize the future.
Making exit costly but efficient: the political economy of exit clauses and secession
Authors: Huysmans Martijn , Crombez Christophe 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis article presents a political economic analysis of exit from federations. After the federation has formed, members’ benefits from it may be different than expected. If a member ends up not benefitting, it may wish to secede i.e. exit the federation. Based on formal models, we show how state-contingent exit penalties can induce socially efficient exit decisions: they force the secessionist member to take into account the lost benefits of the federation for the other. Even if ex-ante specified exit penalties cannot be made state-contingent, they may still enhance social welfare by preventing forceful exit. Empirical evidence concerning Montenegro, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the EU is compatible with these claims. In spite of the simplifications inherent to any modeling exercise, we hope that our results stimulate more research into exit clauses as a means to mitigate the problem of violent secessionism.
Soy intake and breast cancer risk: a prospective study of 300,000 Chinese women and a dose–response meta-analysis
Authors:   the China Kadoorie Biobank Collaborative Group, Wei Yuxia , Lv Jun , Guo Yu , Bian Zheng , Gao Meng , Du Huaidong , Yang Ling , Chen Yiping , Zhang Xi , Wang Tao , Chen Junshi , Chen Zhengming , Yu Canqing , Huo Dezheng , Li Liming 
Published: November 2019

AbstractEpidemiological evidence on the association of soy intake with breast cancer risk is still inconsistent due to different soy intake levels across previous studies and small number of breast cancer cases. We aimed to investigate this issue by analyzing data from the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) study and conducting a dose–response meta-analysis to integrate existing evidence. The CKB study included over 300,000 women aged 30–79 from 10 regions across China enrolled between 2004 and 2008, and followed-up for breast cancer events until 31 December 2016. Information on soy intake was collected from baseline, two resurveys and twelve 24-h dietary recalls. We also searched for relevant prospective cohort studies to do a dose–response meta-analysis. The mean (SD) soy intake was 9.4 (5.4) mg/day soy isoflavones among CKB women. During 10 years of follow-up, 2289 women developed breast cancers. The multivariable-adjusted relative risk was 1.00 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81–1.22) for the fourth (19.1 mg/day) versus the first (4.5 mg/day) soy isoflavone intake quartile. Meta-analysis of prospective studies found that each 10 mg/day increment in soy isoflavone intake was associated with a 3% (95% CI 1–5%) reduced risk of breast cancer. The CKB study demonstrated that moderate soy intake was not associated with breast cancer risk among Chinese women. Higher amount of soy intake might provide reasonable benefits for the prevention of breast cancer.
Channel length-dependent characterisations of organic thin-film transistors with solution processable gadolinium phthalocyanine derivatives
Authors: Barard Seema , Mukherjee Debdyuti , Sarkar Sujoy , Kreouzis T. , Chambrier I. , Cammidge A. N. , Ray A. K. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractSpin-coated 52-nm-thick films of newly synthesised gadolinium liquid crystalline bisphthalocyanine sandwich (GdPc2) complexes with octyl chains non-peripheral positions have been successfully employed as active layers for bottom-gate organic field effect transistors having both short $$(5\,\upmu {\text{m}})$$(5μm) and long $$( 20\,\upmu {\text{m}})$$(20μm) channels. The scaling down of the channel length $$( L )$$(L) decreases the field effect mobility due to the increase in the contact resistance between the gold electrodes and the GdPc2 semiconducting layer. Values of on–off ratio and sub-threshold voltage swing are higher nearly one order of magnitude for $$L = 5 \,\upmu{\text{ m}}$$L=5μm than those for $$L = 20\;\upmu m$$L=20μm.
Backbone and methyl assignment of bacteriorhodopsin incorporated into nanodiscs
Authors: Kooijman Laurens , Ansorge Philipp , Schuster Matthias , Baumann Christian , Löhr Frank , Jurt Simon , Güntert Peter , Zerbe Oliver 
Published: November 2019

AbstractResonance assignments are challenging for membrane proteins due to the size of the lipid/detergent-protein complex and the presence of line-broadening from conformational exchange. As a consequence, many correlations are missing in the triple-resonance NMR experiments typically used for assignments. Herein, we present an approach in which correlations from these solution-state NMR experiments are supplemented by data from 13C unlabeling, single-amino acid type labeling, 4D NOESY data and proximity of moieties to lipids or water in combination with a structure of the protein. These additional data are used to edit the expected peaklists for the automated assignment protocol FLYA, a module of the program package CYANA. We demonstrate application of the protocol to the 262-residue proton pump from archaeal bacteriorhodopsin (bR) in lipid nanodiscs. The lipid-protein assembly is characterized by an overall correlation time of 44 ns. The protocol yielded assignments for 62% of all backbone (H, N, Cα, Cβ, C′) resonances of bR, corresponding to 74% of all observed backbone spin systems, and 60% of the Ala, Met, Ile (δ1), Leu and Val methyl groups, thus enabling to assign a large fraction of the protein without mutagenesis data. Most missing resonances stem from the extracellular half, likely due intermediate exchange line-broadening. Further analysis revealed that missing information of the amino acid type of the preceding residue is the largest problem, and that 4D NOESY experiments are particularly helpful to compensate for that information loss.