bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vacuum Electrochemistry Approach to Investigate Electrical Double‐Layer Capacitances of Ionic Liquid for Epitaxial Thin‐Film Electrodes of TiO2 and SrO on Niobium‐Doped (001)SrTiO3
Authors: Takahashi Chika , Kanai Mariko , Maruyama Shingo , Matsumoto Yuji 
Published: June 2020

AbstractNiobium‐doped (001)SrTiO3 (Nb:STO) single crystal, and epitaxial anatase (001)TiO2 and (001)SrO films, which were subsequently deposited on the Nb:STO by pulsed laser deposition, were electrochemically investigated with ionic liquid (IL) in a vacuum. After being prepared by cleaning and/or depositing the films, the electrode surfaces were characterized by observing the reflection of high‐energy electron diffraction, prior to the electrochemical measurements. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy as well as cyclic voltammetry were then performed, and the electrical double‐layer (EDL) capacitance at their interfaces with the IL were successfully evaluated. The EDL capacitance of IL was several μF cm−2 for Nb:STO and gradually increased to over 10 μF cm−2 with an increase of the thickness of the deposited TiO2 films. In contrast, as SrO was being deposited, the EDL capacitance gradually decreased, approaching a constant value of about 1.4 μF cm−2, which was significantly smaller than those values achieved for TiO2 films and single‐crystal Nb:STO. For different oxide/IL interfaces, a possible correlation between their measured EDL capacitance and the ionicity of the oxides is discussed.
Polyaniline/Copper Composite Anode Current Collectors Prepared through Electrochemical Polymerization for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhang Yunyan , Xiao Rengui , Liao Xia , Ma Zhiming , Huang Yu , Li Qianqian 
Published: June 2020

AbstractHerein, a new type of composite anode with a Cu foil current collector modified with polyaniline (PANI) was prepared (PANI/Cu). SEM manifests that the PANI layer is 1.8 μm thick and composed of PANI particles with a diameter of 50 nm nanometers, which provides a large contact surface area to enhance the strength of adhesion to the electrode material. FTIR and UV/Vis analysis confirmed that the PANI layer existed in the emeraldine (conductive) form. Half‐cells were assembled by using PANI/Cu and bare/Cu (both coated with Li4Ti5O12 electrode material) as the working electrode, and Li wafers as the counter electrode. Cycling performance tests demonstrated that, after cycling for 500 cycles at 1 C, the discharge capacity was 155.0 mAh g−1 and 137.6 mAh g−1 for PANI/Cu battery and bare/Cu battery, respectively. Electrochemical impedance revealed the impedance of the PANI/Cu battery is decreased effectively by the PANI layer.
Sodium‐Ion Selectivity Study of a Crown‐Ether‐Functionalized PEDOT Analog
Authors: Salinas Gerardo , Villarroel Marquez Ariana , Idir Maël , Shinde Shekhar , Frontana‐Uribe Bernardo A. , Raoux Matthieu , Lang Jochen , Cloutet Eric , Kuhn Alexander 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAn electropolymerized ion‐selective poly‐3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) analog is presented in this Communication. Poly‐(2‐phenyl‐15crown‐5‐(3,4‐ethylene‐dioxythiophene)‐amine) (PEDOT‐Crown15) showed excellent electrochemical stability with a fast electron transfer (ΔEp=50 mV). In comparison with unmodified PEDOT, a faster change from isolating to conducting state was observed. This is attributed to the formation of a well‐ordered internal polymer matrix, caused by the aniline‐Crown15 moiety. In situ electrochemical conductance measurements in the presence of different monovalent cations showed high affinity for Na+ ions, as evidenced by the decrease in the conductance of the polymer in comparison with K+ and Li+. This selectivity is attributed to a limitation of the charge hopping conductance.
Influences of soil amendments on alfalfa production and soil properties
Authors: DeSutter T. M. , Breker M. , Chatterjee A. , O'Brien P. L. , Wick A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractMillions of acres of agricultural soils in the Northern Great Plains have excessive levels of sodium (Na) which reduces their productivity potentials. Soil function in Na‐affected soils may be improved by soil amendments, but the effectiveness of these amendments is dependent on many site‐specific characteristics. This study investigated how three amendments (with three application rates), gypsum, spent lime (5, 15, and 30 ton ac−1), and potassium‐magnesium sulfate (1, 2.5, 5 ton ac−1), affected alfalfa (Medicago sativaL.) production and soil parameters at a site with subsurface tile drainage and a site without tile drainage over 4 yr. Notably, over the course of the study, none of the amendments affected alfalfa production or quality at either site, although the highest rate of potassium‐magnesium sulfate reduced biomass production by about 10%. After 4 yr within the 0‐ to 6‐ in depth, the amendments lowered electrical conductivity (EC) and %Na at the tiled site compared to the control but not at the nontiled site. Moreover, the higher rates of each amendment decreased %Na compared to initial conditions, but after 4 yr, these treatments were not different from the control (alfalfa only). This study determined that the use of a perennial crop, such as alfalfa, may be as effective as amendments in reducing the negative effects of Na on soil properties.
Tyrosine Conjugation Methods for Protein Labelling
Authors: Alvarez Dorta Dimitri , Deniaud David , Mével Mathieu , Gouin Sébastien G. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractOver the last two decades, the development of chemical biology and the need for more defined protein conjugates have fostered active research on new bioconjugation techniques. In particular, a wide range of biorthogonal labelling strategies have been reported to functionalise the phenol side chain of tyrosines (Tyr). Tyr occur at medium frequency and are partially buried at the protein surface, offering interesting opportunities for site‐selective labelling of the most reactive residues. Tyr‐targeting has proved effective for designing a wide range of important biomolecules including antibody–drug conjugates, fluorescent or radioactive protein probes, glycovaccines, protein aggregates, and PEG conjugates. Innovative methods have also been reported for site‐specific labelling with ligand‐directed anchors and for the specific affinity capture of proteins. This review will present and discuss these promising alternatives to the conventional labelling of the nucleophilic lysine and cysteine residues.
Borate Hydrides as a New Material Class: Structure, Computational Studies, and Spectroscopic Investigations on Sr5(BO3)3H and Sr5(11BO3)3D
Authors: Wylezich Thomas , Valois Renaud , Suta Markus , Mutschke Alexander , Ritter Clemens , Meijerink Andries , Karttunen Antti J. , Kunkel Nathalie 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe unprecedented borate hydride Sr5(BO3)3H and deuteride Sr5(11BO3)3D crystallizing in an apatite‐related structure are reported. Despite the presence of hydride anions, the compound decomposes only slowly in air. Doped with Eu2+, it shows broad‐band orange‐red emission under violet excitation owing to the 4f65d–4f7transition of Eu2+. The observed1H NMR chemical shift is in good agreement with previously reported1H chemical shifts of ionic metal hydrides as well as with quantum chemical calculations and very different from1H chemical shifts usually found for hydroxide ions in similar materials. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy of different samples containing1H,2H,natB, and11B combined with calculations unambiguously prove the absence of hydroxide ions and the sole incorporation of hydride ions into the borate. The orange‐red emission obtained by doping with Eu2+shows that the new compound class might be a promising host material for optical applications.
Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Heterocyclic Vicinal Fluoroamines by Using Asymmetric Protonation: Method Development and Mechanistic Study
Authors: Ashford Matthew W. , Xu Chao , Molloy John J. , Carpenter‐Warren Cameron , Slawin Alexandra M. Z. , Leach Andrew G. , Watson Allan J. B. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractA catalytic enantioselective synthesis of heterocyclic vicinal fluoroamines is reported. A chiral Brønsted acid promotes aza‐Michael addition to fluoroalkenyl heterocycles to give a prochiral enamine intermediate that undergoes asymmetric protonation upon rearomatization. The reaction accommodates a range of azaheterocycles and nucleophiles, generating the C−F stereocentre in high enantioselectivity, and is also amenable to stereogenic C−CF3 bonds. Extensive DFT calculations provided evidence for stereocontrolled proton transfer from catalyst to substrate as the rate‐determining step, and showed the importance of steric interactions from the catalyst's alkyl groups in enforcing the high enantioselectivity. Crystal structure data show the dominance of noncovalent interactions in the core structure conformation, enabling modulation of the conformational landscape. Ramachandran‐type analysis of conformer distribution and Protein Data Bank mining indicated that benzylic fluorination by this approach has the potential to improve the potency of several marketed drugs.
Functions of Phytic Acid in Fabricating Metal‐Free Carbocatalyst for Oxidative Coupling of Benzylamines†
Authors: Zhao Chuanchuan , Gao Yongjun , Zhang Ziyi , Ma Ding 
Published: June 2020

Summary of main observation and conclusionSustainable phytic acid and cellulose are selected as precursors to fabricate P‐doped carbon material (C‐P‐500), which possesses the high surface area and exhibits excellent catalytic activity and stability in the oxidative coupling of benzylamines (conversion > 95%, yield > 95%). During the carbonization of cellulose in the muffle furnace, phytic acid can efficiently prevent the cellulose‐derived carbon from combustion and create micro/meso porous structure because of its special function of fire retardation. Control experiments and characterizations demonstrate that P‐containing groups anchoring on C‐P‐500 improve the catalytic performance of carbocatalyst in the oxidation of benzylamines to imines. The excellent catalytic activity of C‐P‐500 should be contributed collectively by carbonyl and P=O(OH)2 groups. Due to the sustainable property of precursors and simple methodology for fabricating P‐doped carbocatalyst, along with the moderate reaction conditions, it is a green catalytic system for the oxidative coupling of benzylamines to imines.
Ensuring transparency and traceability of food local products: A blockchain application to a Smart Tourism Region
Authors: Baralla Gavina , Pinna Andrea , Tonelli Roberto , Marchesi Michele , Ibba Simona 
Published: June 2020

SummaryThis article proposes a blockchain oriented platform to guarantee the origin and provenance of food items in a Smart Tourism Region context. Local food and beverage, in fact, can become a good combination to attract tourist and to promote the area provided that their provenance is clearly certified. We designed and developed a blockchain‐based system to manage an agri‐food supply chain for tracking food items. By using smart contracts the platform guarantees transparency, efficiency and trustworthiness. Our system is particularly suitable to manage cold chain since the system interfaces with IoT network devices providing detailed information about data monitoring food such as storage temperature, environment humidity, and GPS data. All involved actors can share data and information in a more efficient, transparent, and tamper proof way than traditional systems. The final consumer can access with transparency to all the agri‐food chain of the purchased product and verify provenance by retrieving all detailed information registered in the blockchain public ledger. The proposed system has been designed according to the ABCDE method, an agile development process recently conceived, to obtain a higher software quality to design a general blockchain system by means software engineering practices. A real case study applied to local products from Sardinia, Italy, is proposed at the end of the article.
In Vitro Evaluation of Toxicant Influences on the Immune System
Authors: Kasten‐Jolly Jane , Lawrence David A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractCulture of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) still remains a convenient and sensitive method for measurement of a person's immune system health. Basic elements of the process, namely PBMC purification and culture medium formulation, were first reported in the late 1960s, and the utility of the method for clinical application was reported in the 1970s. Clinically, the approach can provide information about the ability of an individual's immune system to fight off attacks by various pathogens. Over the years, the method has undergone many improvements, which have been aided by advancements made in flow cytometry technology and the development of fluorescent reagents. The protocols presented here describe flow cytometry–based techniques for PBMC culture that can be employed to determine the impact of various environmental toxicants on the immune system. A major advantage of these procedures is that they will provide information about a toxicant or drug through in vitro methods. As the relationship between exposures to certain toxicants and an individual's response to vaccinations has been of concern, one of the protocols described shows how to test an environmental toxicant for potential modification of the immune response to vaccine antigen(s). © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.Basic Protocol 1: Measurement of cell proliferationSupport Protocol 1: Blood cell countingSupport Protocol 2: Measurement of cell viability after culturingBasic Protocol 2: Identification of affected naïve/memory cell subsets
Comparative phenomics of annual grain legume root architecture
Authors: Burridge James D. , Rangarajan Harini , Lynch Jonathan P. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractSuboptimal water and P availability are primary limitations to grain legume production. Root architecture influences water and P acquisition, but tradeoffs need to be better understood and mitigated. We hypothesized that tradeoffs in root class investment and resource acquisition strategy would be observable in a variety of grain legumes. Diversity panels of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray), cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.], soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), and single accessions of other legumes were phenotyped in the field. We identified inverse relationships among investments in different root classes in most species, and between indicators of deep and shallow exploration in all species. Bean and tepary bean showed particularly strong tradeoffs in investment patterns among root classes, whereas chickpea and groundnut show less pronounced tradeoffs. We found that legume root architectural phenotypes can be placed on a root system architecture (RSA) spectrum, and that root phenotypes of epigeal and hypogeal taxa present distinct adaptive mechanisms. These life strategies integrating resource acquisition, use, and phenology are exemplified by contrasting chickpea, with many root axes, to tepary bean with few root axes and a contrasting water use strategy. We propose several RSA ideotypes and highlight how dimorphic root architecture may co‐optimize resource acquisition.
Boosting Transport Kinetics of Cobalt Sulfides Yolk–Shell Spheres by Anion Doping for Advanced Lithium and Sodium Storage
Authors: Wang Bo , Cheng Yafei , Su Hao , Cheng Min , Li Yan , Geng Hongbo , Dai Zhengfei 
Published: June 2020

AbstractCobalt sulfides have been popularly used in energy storage because of their high theoretical capacity and abundant redox reactions. However, poor reaction kinetics, rapid capacity decay, and severe polarization owing to volume changes during electrochemical reaction are still huge challenges for cobalt sulfides in practical applications. Herein, cobalt sulfide yolk–shell spheres were synthesized by phosphorus doping (P‐CoS) to stabilize the structure of cobalt sulfides and improve their electronic/ion conductivity. Kinetic tests and density functional theory calculations confirm that the introduction of phosphorus into cobalt sulfides greatly reduces the diffusion barrier of Li+ in the intrinsic structure, thereby improving the reaction kinetics of electrode materials during the Li+ insertion/extraction process. In consequence, the P‐CoS electrode delivers a high lithium storage capacity (781 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 A g−1), excellent rate capability (489 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1), and outstanding cycling stability (no significant capacity decay over 4000 cycles at 5 A g−1). Especially for sodium‐ion battery application, the P‐CoS electrode expresses a striking capacity of approximately 260 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1 after 900 cycles.
An alternative method for smear preparation of fine‐needle aspiration cytology of cystic thyroid lesions: Evaluation of sample adequacy
Authors: Xavier‐Júnior José Cândido Caldeira , Zogheib Rodrigo José Pizzello , Camilo‐Júnior Deolino João , D'ávilla Solange Correa Garcia Pires , Mattar Neivio José 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundCystic thyroid lesions represent one of the most common causes of unsatisfactory fine‐needle aspiration sampling. Thus, it is important to access the maximum number of follicular cells from cystic fluid in order to reduce unsatisfactory rates. We compared the traditional method of smearing with an alternative one.MethodsFor each thyroid nodule, two smears were collected. Each smear was prepared using a distinct approach: either using the traditional technique or the alternative. Clinical data were taken from cytopathological request forms. The cytological aspects of the smears (eg, adequacy and number of cells) were observed during microscopy analysis. No cases were found to be suspicious for malignancy during ultrasound analysis (categories TR1 or TR2 according to ACR TI‐RADS).ResultsThirty‐five cases were analyzed. For smears prepared using both the traditional and the alternative techniques, 20 and 4 cases, respectively, were unsatisfactory. In the 20 unsatisfactory traditional smear cases, 9 (45%) showed enough cells for diagnosis in cytospin and/or cell block samples; the four unsatisfactory alternative method cases showed the same. There was a statistical difference between the two methods of collecting a smear concerning sample adequacy (P < .001), but there was no statistical difference regarding the cellularity (P = .842).ConclusionIn our data, the alternative method of using only one slide and the needle tip had higher rates of adequate sampling. Since it is cost effective and does not change the cytological analysis, this proposed alternative method can be useful in cases of cystic thyroid lesions.
Fluid preservation causes minimal reduction of parasite detectability in fish specimens: A new approach for reconstructing parasite communities of the past?
Authors: Fiorenza Evan A. , Leslie Katie L. , Torchin Mark E. , Maslenikov Katherine P. , Tornabene Luke , Wood Chelsea L. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractLong‐term datasets are needed to evaluate temporal patterns in wildlife disease burdens, but historical data on parasite abundance are extremely rare. For more than a century, natural history collections have been accumulating fluid‐preserved specimens, which should contain the parasites infecting the host at the time of its preservation. However, before this unique data source can be exploited, we must identify the artifacts that are introduced by the preservation process. Here, we experimentally address whether the preservation process alters the degree to which metazoan parasites are detectable in fluid‐preserved fish specimens when using visual parasite detection techniques. We randomly assigned fish of three species (Gadus chalcogrammus, Thaleichthys pacificus, and Parophrys vetulus) to two treatments. In the first treatment, fish were preserved according to the standard procedures used in ichthyological collections. Immediately after the fluid‐preservation process was complete, we performed parasitological dissection on those specimens. The second treatment was a control, in which fish were dissected without being subjected to the fluid‐preservation process. We compared parasite abundance between the two treatments. Across 298 fish individuals and 59 host–parasite pairs, we found few differences between treatments, with 24 of 27 host–parasite pairs equally abundant between the two treatments. Of these, one pair was significantly more abundant in the preservation treatment than in the control group, and two pairs were significantly less abundant in the preservation treatment than in the control group. Our data suggest that the fluid‐preservation process does not have a substantial effect on the detectability of metazoan parasites. This study addresses only the effects of the fixation and preservation process; long‐term experiments are needed to address whether parasite detectability remains unchanged in the months, years, and decades of storage following preservation. If so, ecologists will be able to reconstruct novel, long‐term datasets on parasite diversity and abundance over the past century or more using fluid‐preserved specimens from natural history collections.
Permafrost thaw stimulates primary producers but has a moderate effect on primary consumers in subarctic ponds
Authors: Wauthy Maxime , Rautio Milla 
Published: June 2020

AbstractFrozen tundra soils hold one of the Earth's largest pools of organic carbon. Climate warming and the associated permafrost thaw release a large fraction of this carbon into circumpolar lakes, inducing extreme browning that fuels the heterotrophic microbial food web. How this permafrost carbon affects organisms higher in the food chain remains unknown. Using dissolved organic matter properties, total phosphorus, chlorophyll a, fatty acids, and stable isotopes, we investigated the influence of thawing permafrost on primary producers and primary consumers of the planktonic food web. We sampled four subarctic thaw ponds that were affected by permafrost carbon and another four ponds that were not. Our results highlight the stimulating influence of eroding and degrading ice‐rich permafrost on nutrients and planktonic algae. Relative to the non‐thaw ponds, the permafrost thaw‐influenced freshwaters had higher total phosphorus concentrations (14.8 vs. 70.4 µg/L, respectively). This in turn led to a higher chlorophyll a (2.7 vs. 45.2 µg/L) and seston omega‐3 fatty acid concentrations (7.3 vs. 53.5 µg/L) despite significantly reduced light for primary production. Differences between the thaw and non‐thaw ponds were less marked at the primary consumer level. Daphnia pulex, which dominated the crustacean zooplankton community, did not respond to the higher omega‐3 availability in the thaw ponds but rather assimilated the high‐quality fatty acids equally in all ponds, possibly because their metabolic needs were already saturated. However, some lower quality terrestrial carbon compounds from permafrost ended up in the D. pulex body mass, resulting in a median allochthony of 18% based on fatty acid mixing model; non‐thaw ponds had median allochthony mixing model estimates of 8%. The high availability of algal resources seemed to prevent extensive zooplankton allochthony in subarctic thaw ponds.