bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Arthropod Pests and Tomato Value Chain: Review of Research Cocktails in Nigeria
Authors: Oso Adeola Abiola 
Published: April 2020

Background: Tomato is an essential and remunerative staple food widely grown and consumed in all parts of Nigeria. The northern parts of the country produce ninety-eighth percent of the tomatoes consumed annually. However, higher percentages of tomatoes produced in these regions are lost due to gaps recorded in its value chain.
Principal Findings: Tomato value chain needs to be strengthened from production to processing, preservation and good marketing structure. Challenges bedevilling tomato value chain in Nigeria include poor accessibility to production inputs such as seeds, nurseries, fertilizers; poor packing systems and transportation problems; marketing challenges and yield reduction caused by a complex of arthropod pests attacking the crop. The major arthropod pests inflicting economic damage on tomato include fruit borer, whitefly, aphid, thrips and leaf miners.
Interventions: Considering the Nigerian Government’s recent interventions: “close border”, increased tariffs on the importation, and different incentives such as “tax holiday” and introduction of zero percent import duty on greenhouse equipment, soft loans through Bank of Agriculture as well as a national collaborative effort against the menace of tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta) invasion; How much of these interjectory efforts have translated to the realization of national self-sufficiency in the tomato value chain?
Conclusion: This paper highlights the general introduction of tomato, its botany, nutritional benefits, tomato value chain in Nigeria, Nigerian government interventions towards its sustainability with particular focus on research cocktails at combating the problems of arthropod pests on the tomato to identify the probable critical solutions to these harmful pests.
Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infection among Adult Females in Omu-Aran South-West Nigeria
Authors: James A. Ndako , Owolabi Akinyomade , Olatinsu Oludolapo , Omolade Adedapo O. , Ifeanyi Ilochi 
Published: April 2020

Background: Urinary tract infection is caused by the presence and replication of microorganisms in the urinary tract. Urinary tract infection is a major health problem among females especially among pregnant women and this is caused by the physiological makeup of the female urinary tract.
Objective: This study was designed to assess the epidemiology of UTIs present amidst pregnant women and females residing in the Omu-Aran community.
Materials and Methods: A total of 100 individuals were involved of which 50 were pregnant women while the remaining 50 were non-pregnant females. Semi-structured questionnaires were distributed to all participants to obtain their data. Samples of urine (early morning midstream) were collected in universal bottles from participants. The urine specimens were cultured on four different agar plates which were; cystein lactose electrolyte deficient agar, blood agar, MacConkey agar and nutrient agar for significant bacteria growth. Microscopic and macroscopic examination was also carried out on the samples for possible detection of infections.
Results: The result of the culture showed a significant bacterial growth of 77% and 23% of the samples collected showed no significant bacterial growth. Bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus spp., Proteus species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans were isolated. With Staphylococcus aureus predominantly present and observed as the causative factor for (45.4%) occurrence of UTIs, closely followed by Staphylococcus saprophyticus (13.0%), Escherichia coli (13.0%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.1%) Proteus species (9.1%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (7.8%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.3%). However the only fungi isolated was Candida albicans showing (1.3%) prevalence, Candida is the most common cause of fungal infections in humans.
Conclusion: Results obtained in this work showed a high prevalence of Urinary tract infection at our study location. A prompt enlightenment campaign and need for periodic check among females is highly advocated to reduce or out rightly eliminate the spread of common uropathogens in circulation.
Flexible Porous Organic Polymer Membranes for Protonic Field‐Effect Transistors
Authors: Zhong Hong , Wu Guodong , Fu Zhihua , Lv Haowei , Xu Gang , Wang Ruihu 
Published: April 2020

AbstractArtificial transistors represent an ideal means for meeting the requirements in interfacing with biological systems. It is pivotal to develop new proton‐conductive materials for the transduction between biochemical events and electronic signals. Herein, the first demonstration of a porous organic polymer membrane (POPM) as a proton‐conductive material for protonic field‐effect transistors is presented. The POPM is readily prepared through a thiourea‐formation condensation reaction. Under hydrated conditions and at room temperature, the POPM delivers a proton mobility of 5.7 × 10−3 cm2 V−1 s−1; the charge carrier densities are successfully modulated from 4.3 × 1017 to 14.1 × 1017 cm−3 by the gate voltage. This study provides a type of promising modular proton‐conductive materials for bioelectronics application.
Ruthenium Triazine Composite: A Good Match for Increasing Hydrogen Evolution Activity through Contact Electrification
Authors: Ju Qiangjian , Ma Ruguang , Pei Yu , Guo Beibei , Li Zichuang , Liu Qian , Thomas Tiju , Yang Minghui , Hutchings Graham J. , Wang Jiacheng 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe development of Pt‐free catalysts for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which is widely used in industrial scale water‐alkali electrolyzers, remains a contemporary and pressing challenge. Ruthenium (Ru) has excellent water‐dissociation abilities and could be an alternative water splitting catalyst. However, its large hydrogen binding energy limits HER activity. Here, a new approach is proposed to boost the HER activity of Ru through uniform loading of Ru nanoparticles on triazine‐ring (C3N3)‐doped carbon (triNC). The composite (Ru/triNC) exhibits outstanding HER activity with an ultralow overpotential of ≈2 mV at 10 mA cm−2; thereby making it the best performing electrocatalyst hitherto reported for alkaline HER. The calculated metal mass activity of Ru/triNC is >10 and 15 times higher than that of Pt/C and Pt/triNC. Both theoretical and experimental studies reveal that the triazine‐ring is a good match for Ru to weaken the hydrogen binding on Ru through interfacial charge transfer via increased contact electrification. Therefore, Ru/triNC can provide the optimal hydrogen adsorption free energy (approaching zero), while maintaining the strong water‐dissociation activity. This study provides a new avenue for designing highly efficient and stable electrocatalysts for water splitting.
Mastering Electrocardiogram Interpretation Skills Through a Perceptual and Adaptive Learning Module
Authors: Krasne Sally , Stevens Carl D. , Kellman Philip J. , Niemann James T. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAlthough accurate interpretation of the standard 12‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is fundamental to diagnosing heart disease, several prior studies report low accuracy rates among medical students, residents, and practicing physicians. The objective of this study was to determine if an online ECG Perceptual and Adaptive Learning Module (ECG PALM) is an efficient instrument to teach ECG interpretation.The ECG PALM consists of 415 unique ECG tracings with associated pretest, posttest, and delayed tests, each using 30 additional ECGs to gauge the effectiveness and durability of training. Between 2013 and 2015, a total of 113 third‐year and 156 fourth‐year medical students and 34 first‐year, 41 second‐year, and 37 third‐year emergency medicine residents completed the PALM and associated tests. We measured two mastery criteria: accuracy, the percentage of correct interpretations, and fluency, the percentage of images interpreted accurately within 15 seconds.The ECG PALM produced statistically significant improvements (0.0001 < p < 0.0045) in student and resident performance for both accuracy (effect size = 0.9 to 3.2) and fluency (effect size = 2.5 to 3.1) following training ranging from 46 ± 24 minutes (R3s) to 88 ± 32 minutes (third‐year medical students). Medical students and residents performed significantly better on a test the year following training (delayed test) than those without prior ECG PALM training (pretest). The fluency of R3 residents in classifying the 15 diagnostic categories was less than 60% for nine of the 15 diagnoses and greater than 80% for only one. Following PALM training, fluency was higher than 80% for seven of the 15 categories and less than 60% for only two categories. Accuracy in recognizing ST‐elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs) was high both before and after PALM training for R3s, but fluency was only 64% for anterior STEMIs on the pretest, increasing to 93% following PALM training.These observations suggest that the ECG PALM is an effective and durable supplemental tool for developing mastery in interpreting common ECG abnormalities.
D‐A Polymer with a Donor Backbone ‐ Acceptor‐side‐chain Structure for Organic Solar Cells
Authors: He Keqiang , Li Xu , Liu Haitao , Zhang Zhifang , Kumar Pankaj , Ngai Jenner H. L. , Wang Jinliang , Li Yuning 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWe report the design, synthesis, and properties of a novel type of donor (D)‐acceptor (A) polymer, poly(3‐(([2,2′:5′,2′′‐terthiophen]‐3‐yl‐5,5“‐diyl)methylene)‐1‐(2‐octyldodecyl)indolin‐2‐one) (PTIBT), with a donor backbone and acceptor side chains (Type II D‐A polymer) as donor for organic solar cells (OSCs) as opposed to the conventional D‐A polymers having both donor and acceptor units on backbone (Type I D‐A polymers). PTIBT having a backbone consisting of thiophene donor units and side chains containing indolin‐2‐one acceptor units was synthesized very conveniently in three steps. This polymer has a high dielectric constant of 7.70, which is beneficial for the exciton diffusion and dissociation in the active blend layer in an OSC. In addition, PTIBT was found to have a low‐lying HOMO energy level of −5.41 eV and a wide band gap of 1.80 eV in comparison to its counterpart Type I D‐A polymer. In organic thin film transistors (OTFTs), PTIBT showed typical p‐type semiconductor performance with hole mobilities of up to 1.81×10−2 cm2 V−1 s−1. When PTIBT and ITIC were used as donor and acceptor to form a blend active layer, the best OSC device showed a JSC of 15.19 mAcm−2, a VOC of 0.66 V, and a fill factor of 0.57, resulting in a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of up to 5.72%.
Optimal Configuration of N‐Doped Carbon Defects in 2D Turbostratic Carbon Nanomesh for Advanced Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysis
Authors: Lai Qingxue , Zheng Jing , Tang Zeming , Bi Da , Zhao Jingxiang , Liang Yanyu 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe charge redistribution strategy driven by heteroatom doping or defect engineering has been developed as an efficient method to endow inert carbon with significant oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. The synergetic effect between the two approaches is thus expected to be more effective for manipulating the charge distribution of carbon materials for exceptional ORR performance. Herein we report a novel molecular design strategy to achieve a 2D porous turbostratic carbon nanomesh with abundant N‐doped carbon defects (NDC). The molecular level integration of aromatic rings as the carbon source and urea units as the N source and sacrificial template into the novel precursor of polyurea (PU) promises the formation of abundant carbon edge defects and N doping sites. A special active site—a carbon edge defect doped with a graphitic valley N atom—was revealed to be responsible for the exceptional ORR performance of NDC material.
Understanding High‐Rate K+‐Solvent Co‐Intercalation in Natural Graphite for Potassium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Li Lin , Liu Luojia , Hu Zhe , Lu Yong , Liu Qiannan , Jin Song , Zhang Qiu , Zhao Shuo , Chou Shu‐Lei 
Published: April 2020

AbstractGraphite shows great potential as an anode material for rechargeable metal‐ion batteries because of its high abundance and low cost. However, the electrochemical performance of graphite anode materials for rechargeable potassium‐ion batteries needs to be further improved. Reported herein is a natural graphite with superior rate performance and cycling stability obtained through a unique K+‐solvent co‐intercalation mechanism in a 1 m KCF3SO3 diethylene glycol dimethyl ether electrolyte. The co‐intercalation mechanism was demonstrated by ex situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and in situ X‐ray diffraction. Moreover, the structure of the [K‐solvent]+ complexes intercalated with the graphite and the conditions for reversible K+‐solvent co‐intercalation into graphite are proposed based on the experimental results and first‐principles calculations. This work provides important insights into the design of natural graphite for high‐performance rechargeable potassium‐ion batteries.
Revealing the Role of Tin(IV) Halides in the Anisotropic Growth of CsPbX3 Perovskite Nanoplates
Authors: Bonato Luiz G. , Moral Raphael F. , Nagamine Gabriel , Alo Arthur , Germino José C. , da Silva Douglas S. , Almeida Diogo B. , Zagonel Luiz F. , Galembeck Fernando , Padilha Lázaro A. , Nogueira Ana Flávia 
Published: April 2020

AbstractCsPbX3 perovskite nanoplates (PNPLs) were formed in a synthesis driven by SnX4 (X=Cl, Br, I) salts. The role played by these hard Lewis acids in directing PNPL formation is addressed. Sn4+ disturbs the acid–base equilibrium of the system, increasing the protonation rate of oleylamine and inducing anisotropic growth of nanocrystals. Sn4+ cations influence the reaction dynamics owing to complexation with oleylamine molecules. By monitoring the photoluminescence excitation and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the PNPLs grown at different temperatures, the influence of the thickness on their optical properties is mapped. Time‐resolved and spectrally resolved PL for colloidal dispersions with different optical densities reveals that the dependence of the overall PL lifetime on the emission wavelength do not originate from energy transfer between PNPLs but from the contribution of PNPLs with distinct thickness, indicating that thicker PNPLs exhibit longer PL lifetimes.
Improving Cancer Immunotherapy Outcomes Using Biomaterials
Authors: Yan Shuangqian , Luo Zichao , Li Zhenglin , Wang Yu , Tao Jun , Gong Changyang , Liu Xiaogang 
Published: April 2020

AbstractImmunotherapy has made great strides in improving clinical outcomes in cancer treatment. However, few patients exhibit adequate response rates for key outcome measures and desired long‐term responses, and they often suffer systemic side effects due to the dynamic nature of the immune system. This has motivated a search for alternative strategies to improve unsatisfactory immunotherapeutic outcomes. In recent years, biomaterial‐assisted immunotherapy has shown promise in cancer treatment with improved therapeutic efficacy and reduced side effects. These biomaterials have illuminated fundamental mechanisms underlying the immunoediting process, while greatly improving the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T‐cell therapy, cancer vaccine therapy, and immune checkpoint blockade therapy. This Minireview discusses recent advances in engineered biomaterials that address limitations associated with conventional cancer immunotherapies.
A Chemoenzymatic Approach to the Synthesis of Glycopeptide Antibiotic Analogues
Authors: Tailhades Julien , Zhao Yongwei , Ho Y. T. Candace , Greule Anja , Ahmed Iftekhar , Schoppet Melanie , Kulkarni Ketav , Goode Rob J. A. , Schittenhelm Ralf B. , De Voss James J. , Cryle Max J. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractGlycopeptide antibiotics (GPAs) are important antibiotics that are highly challenging to synthesise due to their unique and heavily crosslinked structure. Given this, the synthetic production and diversification of this key compound class remains impractical. Furthermore, the possibility of biosynthetic reengineering of GPAs is not yet feasible since the selectivity of the biosynthetic crosslinking enzymes for altered substrates is largely unknown. We show that combining peptide synthesis with enzymatic cyclisation enables the formation of novel examples of GPAs and provides an indication of the utility of these crucial enzymes. By accessing the biosynthetic process in vitro, we identified peptide modifications that are enzymatically tolerated and can also reveal the mechanistic basis for substrate intolerance where present. Using this approach, we next specifically activated modified residues within GPAs for functionalisation at previously inaccessible positions, thereby offering the possibility of late‐stage chemical functionalisation after GPA cyclisation is complete.
Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Atroposelective Synthesis of Biaryls by C−H Activation and Intermolecular Coupling with Sterically Hindered Alkynes
Authors: Wang Fen , Qi Zisong , Zhao Yuxia , Zhai Shuailei , Zheng Guangfan , Mi Ruijie , Huang Zhiyan , Zhu Xiaolin , He Xiaoming , Li Xingwei 
Published: April 2020

AbstractReported herein is the atroposelective synthesis of biaryl NH isoquinolones by RhIII‐catalyzed C−H activation of benzamides and intermolecular [4+2] annulation for a broad scope of 2‐substituted 1‐alkynylnaphthalenes, as well as sterically hindered, symmetric diarylacetylenes. The axial chirality is constructed based on dynamic kinetic transformation of the alkyne in redox‐neutral annulation with benzamides, with alkyne insertion being stereodetermining. The reaction accommodates both benzamides and heteroaryl carboxamides and proceeds in excellent regioselectivity (if applicable) and enantioselectivities (average 91.8 %ee). An enantiomerically and diastereomerically pure rhodacyclic complex was prepared and offers insight into enantiomeric control of the coupling system, wherein the steric interactions between the amide directing group and the alkyne substrate dictate both the regio‐ and enantioselectivity.
Unprecedented Kinetic Inertness for a Mn2+‐Bispidine Chelate: A Novel Structural Entry for Mn2+‐Based Imaging Agents
Authors: Ndiaye Daouda , Sy Maryame , Pallier Agnès , Même Sandra , de Silva Isidro , Lacerda Sara , Nonat Aline M. , Charbonnière Loïc J. , Tóth Éva 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe search for more biocompatible alternatives to Gd3+‐based MRI agents, and the interest in 52Mn for PET imaging call for ligands that form inert Mn2+ chelates. Given the labile nature of Mn2+, high inertness is challenging to achieve. The strongly preorganized structure of the 2,4‐pyridyl‐disubstituted bispidol ligand L1 endows its Mn2+ complex with exceptional kinetic inertness. Indeed, MnL1 did not show any dissociation for 140 days in the presence of 50 equiv. of Zn2+ (37 °C, pH 6), while recently reported potential MRI agents MnPyC3A and MnPC2A‐EA have dissociation half‐lives of 0.285 h and 54.4 h under similar conditions. In addition, the relaxivity of MnL1 (4.28 mm−1 s−1 at 25 °C, 20 MHz) is remarkable for a monohydrated, small Mn2+ chelate. In vivo MRI experiments in mice and determination of the tissue Mn content evidence rapid renal clearance of MnL1. Additionally, L1 could be radiolabeled with 52Mn and the complex revealed good stability in biological media.
Sandwich‐like Catalyst–Carbon–Catalyst Trilayer Structure as a Compact 2D Host for Highly Stable Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Li Rongrong , Peng Hongjie , Wu Qingping , Zhou Xuejun , He Jiang , Shen Hangjia , Yang Minghui , Li Chilin 
Published: April 2020

AbstractHerein, we propose the construction of a sandwich‐structured host filled with continuous 2D catalysis–conduction interfaces. This MoN‐C‐MoN trilayer architecture causes the strong conformal adsorption of S/Li2Sx and its high‐efficiency conversion on the two‐sided nitride polar surfaces, which are supplied with high‐flux electron transfer from the buried carbon interlayer. The 3D self‐assembly of these 2D sandwich structures further reinforces the interconnection of conductive and catalytic networks. The maximized exposure of adsorptive/catalytic planes endows the MoN‐C@S electrode with excellent cycling stability and high rate performance even under high S loading and low host surface area. The high conductivity of this trilayer texture does not compromise the capacity retention after the S content is increased. Such a job‐synergistic mode between catalytic and conductive functions guarantees the homogeneous deposition of S/Li2Sx, and avoids thick and devitalized accumulation (electrode passivation) even after high‐rate and long‐term cycling.
Three‐dimensional culture models to study drug resistance in breast cancer
Authors: Fisher Madeline F. , Rao Shreyas S. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractDespite recent advances in breast cancer treatment, drug resistance frequently presents as a challenge, contributing to a higher risk of relapse and decreased overall survival rate. It is now generally recognized that the extracellular matrix and cellular heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment influences the cancer cells' ultimate fate. Therefore, strategies employed to examine mechanisms of drug resistance must take microenvironmental influences, as well as genetic mutations, into account. This review discusses three‐dimensional (3D) in vitro model systems which incorporate microenvironmental influences to study mechanisms of drug resistance in breast cancer. These bioengineered models include spheroid‐based models, biomaterial‐based models such as polymeric scaffolds and hydrogels, and microfluidic chip‐based models. The advantages of these model systems over traditionally studied two‐dimensional tissue culture polystyrene are examined. Additionally, the applicability of such 3D models for studying the impact of tumor microenvironment signals on drug response and/or resistance is discussed. Finally, the potential of such models for use in the development of strategies to combat drug resistance and determine the most promising treatment regimen is explored.