bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High Voltage Stability and Characterization of P2‐Na0.66Mn1‐yMgyO2 Cathode for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Or Tyler , Kaliyappan Karthikeyan , Bai Zhengyu , Chen Zhongwei 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe development of sodium‐ion batteries is currently limited by the availability of high‐energy and low‐cost cathode materials. The energy density of cathodes can be maximized by expanding the voltage range for cycling, but this often leads to severe capacity degradation. Cathodes that demonstrate good long‐term cyclability at high voltage cut‐offs (>4.3 V vs Na/Na+) are scarce in the literature. In this work, layered P2‐Na0.66Mn1‐yMgyO2 was synthesized by using a modified Pechini method at various compositions (y=0, 0.05, 0.1) and characterized after extended cycling between 2–4.5, 4.6, and 4.7 V vs. Na/Na+. Na0.66Mn0.95Mg0.05O2 displayed a similar initial discharge capacity to Na0.66MnO2 with significant improvements in cycle retention. It was most promising when cycled between 2 and 4.5 V, retaining 140 mAh g−1 (82 % retention) and 116 mAh g−1 (68 % retention) after 50 and 100 cycles, respectively, at low current (40 mA g−1). A higher Mg dopant quantity led to improvements in cyclability and rate performance albeit with lower initial discharge capacity. Electrochemical and physical (ex situ XRD) characterizations were used to delineate the role of high‐voltage phase transitions, SEI layer formation, electrolyte solvent insertion into sodium slabs, and active material degradation/dissolution toward capacity loss.
Anion‐Immobilized and Fiber‐Reinforced Hybrid Polymer Electrolyte for Advanced Lithium‐Metal Batteries
Authors: Wang Zhitao , Zhou Hu , Meng Chunfeng , Zhang Lu , Cai Yueji , Yuan Aihua 
Published: June 2020

Abstract3D‐skeleton‐reinforced hybrid polymer electrolytes (HPEs) are conducive to improving the electrochemical performance and mechanical strength, but their preparation methods are usually tedious and inappropriate for practical application. The simplification of the preparation process and the further optimization of 3D skeletons are urgent to develop high‐performance solid‐state batteries. In this work, glass fiber (GF) decorated with ZIF‐67 (GF@ZIF‐67) was originally selected as 3D skeleton to construct an anion‐immobilized and fiber‐reinforced polyethylene oxide (PEO)‐based HPE (GF@ZIF@PEO). The presence of GF@ZIF‐67 3D skeleton can enhance the mechanical strength, whereas Lewis‐acidic metal sites of ZIF‐67 can immobilize free anions of the polymer matrix, accelerating ion migration and facilitating long‐term cycling stability. Consequently, the assembled LiFePO4/Li solid‐state batteries delivered a reversible capacity of 132 mAh g−1 with the capacity retention of 92 % at 1 C after 200 cycles. Our universal approach paves the way for advanced solid‐state electrolytes.
The Diversity of a Polyclonal FluCell‐SELEX Library Outperforms Individual Aptamers as Emerging Diagnostic Tools for the Identification of Carbapenem Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Kubiczek Dennis , Raber Heinz , Bodenberger Nicholas , Oswald Thomas , Sahan Melis , Mayer Daniel , Wiese Sebastian , Stenger Steffen , Weil Tanja , Rosenau Frank 
Published: June 2020

AbstractTextbook procedures require the use of individual aptamers enriched in SELEX libraries which are subsequently chemically synthesized after their biochemical characterization. Here we show that this reduction of the available sequence space of large libraries and thus the diversity of binding molecules reduces the labelling efficiency and fidelity of selected single aptamers towards different strains of the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to a polyclonal aptamer library enriched by a whole‐cell‐SELEX involving fluorescent aptamers. The library outperformed single aptamers in reliable and specific targeting of different clinically relevant strains, allowed to inhibit virulence associated cellular functions and identification of bound cell surface targets by aptamer based affinity purification and mass spectrometry. The stunning ease of this FluCell‐SELEX and the convincing performance of the P. aeruginosa specific library may pave the way towards generally new and efficient diagnostic techniques based on polyclonal aptamer libraries not only in clinical microbiology.
Fluorinated PLGA Nanoparticles for Enhanced Drug Encapsulation and 19F NMR Detection
Authors: Neri Giulia , Mion Giuliana , Pizzi Andrea , Celentano Wanda , Chaabane Linda , Chierotti Michele R. , Gobetto Roberto , Li Min , Messa Piergiorgio , De Campo Floryan , Cellesi Francesco , Metrangolo Pierangelo , Baldelli Bombelli Francesca 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn the continuous search for multimodal systems with combined diagnostic and therapeutic functions, several efforts have been made to develop multifunctional drug delivery systems. In this work, through a covalent approach, a new class of fluorinated poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) co‐polymers (F‐PLGA) were designed that contain an increasing number of magnetically equivalent fluorine atoms. In particular, two novel compounds, F3‐PLGA and F9‐PLGA, were synthesized and their chemical structure and thermal stability were analyzed by solution NMR, DSC, and TGA. The obtained F‐PLGA compounds were proven to form in aqueous solution colloidal stable nanoparticles (NPs) displaying a strong 19F NMR signal. The fluorinated NPs also showed an enhanced ability to load hydrophobic drugs containing fluorine atoms compared to analogous pristine PLGA NPs. Preliminary in vitro studies showed high cell viability and the NP ability to intracellularly deliver and release a functioning drug.
Enantioseparation of citalopram enantiomers by capillary electrophoresis: Method development through experimental design and computational modeling
Authors: Budău Monica , Hancu Gabriel , Muntean Daniela Lucia , Papp Lajos Attila , Cârje Anca Gabriela , Garaj Vladimir 
Published: June 2020

AbstractCitalopram (CIT) is a frequently used modern antidepressant that inhibits selectively serotonin reuptake in the brain. It has a chiral center in its structure and is used in therapy as both racemic mixture and pure enantiomer as its pharmacological effect is almost entirely associated with S‐CIT. The aim of this study was the development of a simple and rapid capillary electrophoresis (CE) method for the separation and quantification of CIT enantiomers. To establish the optimum chiral selector, several native and derivatized, neutral, and ionized cyclodextrins (CDs) were examined at different pH levels. An experimental design strategy was adopted for method optimization; a fractional factorial design was applied for screening purposes to identify significant experimental factors followed by a face‐centered central composite design used for optimization purposes. Computational modeling was used to obtain information on the interaction energy and the geometry of the complexes to aid in the understanding of chiral separation mechanism. The best results were obtained when using a 25‐mM phosphate buffer at pH 7.0, 3‐mM CM‐β‐CD as chiral selector, 17.5°C temperature, 15‐kV voltage, and 50 mbar/s hydrodynamic injection. The separation time was fast, below 3 min, and the migration order was S‐CIT followed by R‐CIT. The analytical performance of the method was verified in terms of precision, linearity, accuracy, sensibility, and robustness, and the method was applied for the determination of CIT enantiomers from pharmaceutical preparations.
Development of dissolved carbon dioxide‐driven‐and‐controlled repeated batch fermentation process for ethanol production
Authors: Feng Sijing , Lin Yen‐Han 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWe previously observed that as glucose is completely exhausted during ethanol fermentation, the dissolved carbon dioxide (DCO2) level in the fermenter will suddenly decline. This observation was implemented to design and develop a DCO2‐driven‐and‐controlled repeated batch fermentation process for ethanol production. The process was tested at four different glucose concentrations (~150 g/L, ~200 g/L, ~250 g/L, and ~300 g/L), and each glucose concentration was controlled under three respective DCO2 control levels (without DCO2 control, and DCO2 controlled at either 1000 mg/L or 750 mg/L). The results show that reported process features complete glucose utilization and is self‐driven. For glucose concentration less than 200 g/L, ~41%‐50% of fermentation time per batch was saved during the repeated batch operation. It took 12.1 ± 1.1 hours‐14.9 ± 1.9 hours to complete a batch with glucose feed at ~250 g/L and 21.7 ± 6 hours‐31.5 ± 7 hours to complete a batch with glucose feed at ~300 g/L. The reported process is time saving and stable, but the ethanol yield is ~20% lower than the operation without DCO2 control. Dissolved CO2 control became essential for glucose concentrations greater than 250 g/L if zero glucose discharge in each batch during the operation is desired.
Copper‐Catalyzed Modular Access to N‐Fused Polycyclic Indoles and 5‐Aroyl‐pyrrol‐2‐ones via Intramolecular N—H/C—H Annulation with Alkynes: Scope and Mechanism Probes
Authors: Liu Yan‐Hua , Song Hong , Zhang Chi , Liu Yue‐Jin , Shi Bing‐Feng 
Published: June 2020

Summary of main observation and conclusionCopper‐catalyzed intramolecular N—H/C—H annulation with alkynes has been developed. A variety of densely functionalized heterocycles, such as pyrrolo[1,2‐a]indoles, indolo[1,2‐c]quinazolin‐2‐ones, oxazolo[3,4‐a]indoles, and imidazo[1,5‐a]indoles, were synthesized in an atom‐ and step‐economical manner, owing to the high modularized feature of aniline moiety, the linker moiety, as well as the alkyne moiety. By simply changing the oxidant from di‐tert‐butyl peroxide (DTBP) to 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl (TEMPO), the reaction could readily be transformed to the aminooxygenation pathway, which grabs one oxygen atom from the TEMPO to generate 5‐aroyl‐pyrrol‐2‐ones. Mechanistic experiments indicate that vinyl radical is involved in this reaction and an amidyl‐radical‐initiated radical cascade might be responsible for this transformation.
Homogeneous Catalytic Ozonation of Lipids Involving Fe2+ and Mn2+: An Experimental and Modeling Study
Authors: Ramos Rúbia Martins Bernardes , Biz Ana Paula , Tavares Deolinda Alvarez , Kolicheski Mônica Beatriz , Dantas Tirzhá Lins Porto 
Published: June 2020

AbstractGiven the issue of lipids in effluent treatment systems and their negative impact on the environment, this study aimed to examine lipid degradation by homogenous catalytic ozonation with the aid of iron and manganese ions. This technology presents the possibility of completely mineralizing pollutants using hydroxyl radicals. Milk is chosen as the lipid source because of the high concentration of triglycerides in its matrix, this kind of lipid being the one found most frequently in food and, consequently, in effluent treatment systems. The milk pH value is controlled, and acidic, neutral, and basic conditions are evaluated. The rates of pseudo‐first‐order reactions and the effective value are estimated. It is shown that under acidic conditions low catalyst dosages are enough to cause the complete degradation of lipids. Under neutral conditions, a similar behavior is observed. Under basic conditions, higher catalyst dosages give higher reaction rates. The order of effectiveness of the catalysts under acidic and basic conditions is Fe2+ > Mn2+, with Mn2+ > Fe2+ under neutral conditions. Homogeneous catalytic ozonation is therefore efficient at lipid degradation. This technique is viable economically, since the lipid removal occurred at low ozone levels. In addition, the ions used as catalysts are naturally abundant.
Impact of the adapted white point and the cultural background on memory color assessments
Authors: Babilon Sebastian , Khanh Tran Quoc 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWith their inherent ability of serving as an internal reference, memory colors provide a very powerful concept in the evaluation of color rendering properties of white light sources with respect to visual appreciation. Recent results for example suggest fairly good correlations between memory‐based color quality metrics and the observers' general color preferences. However, due to technical limitations in the design of the underlying psychophysical experiments, they generally lack the explicit inclusion of realistic viewing and adaptation conditions, which is supposed to have a nonnegligible impact on the model prediction performance. In addition, intercultural effects might play a crucial role in the context of memory colors. For these reasons, the current article investigates the impact of both the adapted white point and the observers' cultural background on memory color assessments in order to contribute to a better understanding of these dependencies and their interactions. For this purpose, the color appearance rating results of Chinese and German observers were collected for a selection of 12 different familiar test objects assessed under two different adaptation conditions at 3200 K and 5600 K, respectively. From the statistical analysis of the experimental data, it is shown, in accordance to previous studies, that the impact of the observed intercultural deviations is likely to be of no practical importance even though significance is found. Despite considerably larger effect sizes, the same must be concluded for the two tested adaptation conditions.
A verifiable ranked ciphertext retrieval scheme based on bilinear mapping
Authors: Huang Baohua , Huang Pirong , Yuan Hong , Liang Sheng 
Published: June 2020

SummaryIt is prevalent nowadays for data owners to outsource their data to the cloud. Most of the traditional searchable schemes are proposed under the honest and curious model, lacking verification of integrity and correctness of the retrieval results. Because the cloud server is not completely trustworthy and there may be improper execution of the users' retrieval requests, it is necessary to verify the retrieval results returned by the cloud server. In order to address these issues, we propose a verifiable ranked ciphertext retrieval scheme (VRCRS) based on bilinear mapping. For the purpose of ranking the keywords and improving the security of ciphertext retrieval scheme, we utilize the lucene search engine toolkit to score keywords, and improve the traditional inverted index structure for building a secure inverted index structure. By adding dummy words into the dictionary of keywords, the proposed scheme can resist the keywords statistics attack of malicious server. To ensure the correctness and integrity of returned ciphertext, we apply bilinear mapping to generate validation tags for keywords. The theoretical analysis and experimental results show that the proposed scheme is secure and efficient. VRCRS can actually identify the illegal behavior of cloud server such as tampering and forgery.
Dengue Fever, COVID‐19 (SARS‐CoV‐2), and Antibody‐Dependent Enhancement (ADE): A Perspective
Authors: Ulrich Henning , Pillat Micheli M. , Tárnok Attila 
Published: June 2020

AbstractSARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic and recurrent dengue epidemics in tropical countries have turned into a global health threat. While both virus‐caused infections may only reveal light symptoms, they can also cause severe diseases. Here, we review the possible antibody‐dependent enhancement (ADE) occurrence, known for dengue infections, when there is a second infection with a different virus strain. Consequently, preexisting antibodies do not neutralize infection, but enhance it, possibly by triggering Fcγ receptor‐mediated virus uptake. No clinical data exist indicating such mechanism for SARS‐CoV‐2, but previous coronavirus infections or infection of SARS‐CoV‐2 convalescent with different SARS‐CoV‐2 strains could promote ADE, as experimentally shown for antibodies against the MERS‐CoV or SARS‐CoV spike S protein. © 2020 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Thymus aging in mice deficient in either EphB2 or EphB3, two master regulators of thymic epithelium development
Authors: García‐Ceca Javier , Montero‐Herradón Sara , Zapata Agustín G. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe epithelial microenvironment is involved in thymus aging, but the possible role of EphB receptors that govern the thymic epithelium development has not been investigated. Herein, we study the changes undergone by the thymus of EphB‐deficient mice throughout their life.ResultsImmune alterations occurring throughout life were more severe in mutant than in wild‐type (WT) mice. Mutant thymuses exhibit lower cellularity than WT ones, as well as lower proportions of early thymic progenitors cells and double‐positive (CD4+CD8+) thymocytes, but higher of double‐negative (CD4−CD8−) and single‐positive (CD4+CD8−, CD4−CD8+) cells. Throughout life, CD4+ naïve cells decreased particularly in mutant mice. In correlation, memory T cells, largely CD8+ cells, increased. Aged thymic epithelium undergoes changes including appearance of big epithelial free areas, decrease of K8+K5− areas, which, however, contain higher proportions of Ly51+UEA1− cortical epithelial cells, in correlation with reduced Aire+ medullary epithelial cells. Also, aged thymuses particularly those derived from mutant mice exhibited increased collagen IV, fat‐storing cells, and connective cells.ConclusionsThe absence of EphB accelerates the alterations undergone throughout life by both thymic epithelium and thymocytes, and the proportions of peripheral naïve and memory T cells, all of which are hallmarks of immune aging.
Quantifying natural disturbances using a large‐scale dendrochronological reconstruction to guide forest management
Authors: Čada Vojtěch , Trotsiuk Volodymyr , Janda Pavel , Mikoláš Martin , Bače Radek , Nagel Thomas A. , Morrissey Robert C. , Tepley Alan J. , Vostarek Ondřej , Begović Krešimir , Chaskovskyy Oleh , Dušátko Martin , Kameniar Ondrej , Kozák Daniel , Lábusová Jana , Málek Jakub , Meyer Peter , Pettit Joseph L. , Schurman Jonathan S. , Svobodová Kristýna , Synek Michal , Teodosiu Marius , Ujházy Karol , Svoboda Miroslav 
Published: June 2020

AbstractEstimates of historical disturbance patterns are essential to guide forest management aimed at ensuring the sustainability of ecosystem functions and biodiversity. However, quantitative estimates of various disturbance characteristics required in management applications are rare in longer‐term historical studies. Thus, our objectives were to (1) quantify past disturbance severity, patch size, and stand proportion disturbed and (2) test for temporal and subregional differences in these characteristics. We developed a comprehensive dendrochronological method to evaluate an approximately two‐century‐long disturbance record in the remaining Central and Eastern European primary mountain spruce forests, where wind and bark beetles are the predominant disturbance agents. We used an unprecedented large‐scale nested design data set of 541 plots located within 44 stands and 6 subregions. To quantify individual disturbance events, we used tree‐ring proxies, which were aggregated at plot and stand levels by smoothing and detecting peaks in their distributions. The spatial aggregation of disturbance events was used to estimate patch sizes. Data exhibited continuous gradients from low‐ to high‐severity and small‐ to large‐size disturbance events. In addition to the importance of small disturbance events, moderate‐scale (25–75% of the stand disturbed, >10 ha patch size) and moderate‐severity (25–75% of canopy disturbed) events were also common. Moderate disturbances represented more than 50% of the total disturbed area and their rotation periods ranged from one to several hundred years, which is within the lifespan of local tree species. Disturbance severities differed among subregions, whereas the stand proportion disturbed varied significantly over time. This indicates partially independent variations among disturbance characteristics. Our quantitative estimates of disturbance severity, patch size, stand proportion disturbed, and associated rotation periods provide rigorous baseline data for future ecological research, decisions within biodiversity conservation, and silviculture intended to maintain native biodiversity and ecosystem functions. These results highlight a need for sufficiently large and adequately connected networks of strict reserves, more complex silvicultural treatments that emulate the natural disturbance spectrum in harvest rotation times, sizes, and intensities, and higher levels of tree and structural legacy retention.
Shifting trophic control of fishery–ecosystem dynamics following biological invasions
Authors: Goto Daisuke , Dunlop Erin S. , Young Joelle D. , Jackson Donald A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIncreasing human population size and mobility have accelerated the translocation of nonnative species globally, which has become a major threat to conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Introduced species can disrupt species interactions of the recipient ecosystem, triggering system‐wide events, and amplify or dampen effects of existing pressures. We show how two pervasive intercontinental invasive consumers in North American lakes, dreissenids (filter‐feeding mussels) and Bythotrephes (carnivorous zooplankton), nonlinearly modify consumer–resource dynamics and undermine management interventions to rebuild cold‐water predatory fish biomass. Synthesizing 30 yr (1986–2015) of lake‐wide monitoring data with a dynamic mass‐balance food‐web model (consisting of 61 species and trophic groups), we reconstructed historical food‐web dynamics of Lake Simcoe, a large, temperate lake in Ontario, Canada that has shifted from a turbid to clear‐water state. We then analyzed patterns of biomass fluctuations of three recreationally harvested, ecologically connected populations; lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush, a piscivore), lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis, a benthivore), and cisco (C. artedi, a planktivore) before and after the invasions by testing hypotheses on their delayed recoveries under management interventions–predator manipulations (fishery removal and stocking) and nutrient (phosphorus) load reduction. Analyses suggest that fishery harvest primarily regulated early recovery trajectories of the piscivore and planktivore, weakening top‐down control prior to the establishment of the invasive consumers. By contrast, the benthivore biomass patterns were shaped, in part, by the invasive mussels (via diet shift), independently of management actions. Although improved water quality (with reduced hypoxia in deeper water) and, in turn, higher macrophyte production are projected to expand the predation refuge for young fish, intensified planktivory (by Bythotrephes) and herbivory (by dreissenids) have triggered shifts in community composition (from pelagic to demersal dominance). These system‐wide shifts, in turn, have substantially diminished ecosystem productivity, thereby shrinking fishery yields. Novel consumers can rewire food webs, disrupt energy flows, and suppress predator recoveries, underscoring the need to account for altered ecological reality when sustainably managing fishery resources in invaded ecosystems.