bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantile-dependent expressivity of plasma adiponectin concentrations may explain its sex-specific heritability, gene-environment interactions, and genotype-specific response to postprandial lipemia
Authors: Williams Paul T. 
Published: October 2020

Background
“Quantile-dependent expressivity” occurs when the effect size of a genetic variant depends upon whether the phenotype (e.g. adiponectin) is high or low relative to its distribution. We have previously shown that the heritability (h2) of adiposity, lipoproteins, postprandial lipemia, pulmonary function, and coffee and alcohol consumption are quantile-specific. Whether adiponectin heritability is quantile specific remains to be determined.

Methods
Plasma adiponectin concentrations from 4,182 offspring-parent pairs and 1,662 sibships from the Framingham Heart Study were analyzed. Quantile-specific heritability from offspring-parent (βOP,h2 = 2βOP/(1 + rspouse)) and full-sib regression slopes (βFS, h2 = {(1 + 8rspouseβFS)0.05-1}/(2rspouse)) were robustly estimated by quantile regression with nonparametric significance assigned from 1,000 bootstrap samples.

Results
Quantile-specific h2 (± SE) increased with increasing percentiles of the offspring’s age- and sex-adjusted adiponectin distribution when estimated from βOP (Ptrend = 2.2 × 10−6): 0.30 ± 0.03 at the 10th, 0.33 ± 0.04 at the 25th, 0.43 ± 0.04 at the 50th, 0.55 ± 0.05 at the 75th, and 0.57 ± 0.08 at the 90th percentile, and when estimated from βFS (Ptrend = 7.6 × 10−7): 0.42 ± 0.03 at the 10th, 0.44 ± 0.04 at the 25th, 0.56 ± 0.05 at the 50th, 0.73 ± 0.08 at the 75th, and 0.79 ± 0.11 at the 90th percentile. Consistent with quantile-dependent expressivity, adiponectin’s: (1) heritability was greater in women in accordance with their higher adiponection concentrations; (2) relationships to ADIPOQ polymorphisms were modified by adiposity in accordance with its adiponectin-lowering effect; (3) response to rosiglitazone was predicted by the 45T> G ADIPOQ polymorphism; (4) difference by ADIPOQ haplotypes increased linearly with increasing postprandial adiponectin concentrations.

Conclusion
Adiponectin heritability is quantile dependent, which may explain sex-specific heritability, gene-environment and gene-drug interactions, and postprandial response by haplotypes.
Process and mechanism of land acquisition and land tenure security in informal settlements in Nairobi
Authors: Ono Haruka , Kidokoro Tetsuo 
Published: October 2020

AbstractUrbanization and informal settlements are a prevalent phenomenon in most African regions; they play an important role in the real estate market and the housing supply. This study examines the process and mechanism of land acquisition and land tenure security in informal settlements in Nairobi. We found that pseudo‐customary and pseudo‐formal systems work together in land acquisition and land tenure security. The former system derives from land acquisition and land tenure security under the authority of a traditional chief in rural areas, whereas the latter refers to the modern land registration procedure and urban planning standards. To ensure land acquisition and land tenure security, people use each of these systems and sometimes combine them. Moreover this study demonstrates that these land‐related systems are closely connected to the governance structure and site layout planning.
Suppressing Co‐Crystallization of Halogenated Non‐Fullerene Acceptors for Thermally Stable Ternary Solar Cells
Authors: Hultmark Sandra , Paleti Sri Harish Kumar , Harillo Albert , Marina Sara , Nugroho Ferry Anggoro Ardy , Liu Yanfeng , Ericsson Leif K. E. , Li Ruipeng , Martín Jaime , Bergqvist Jonas , Langhammer Christoph , Zhang Fengling , Yu Liyang , Campoy‐Quiles Mariano , Moons Ellen , Baran Derya , Müller Christian 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWhile photovoltaic blends based on non‐fullerene acceptors are touted for their thermal stability, this type of acceptor tends to crystallize, which can result in a gradual decrease in photovoltaic performance and affects the reproducibility of the devices. Two halogenated indacenodithienothiophene‐based acceptors that readily co‐crystallize upon mixing are studied, which indicates that the use of an acceptor mixture alone does not guarantee the formation of a disordered mixture. The addition of the donor polymer to the acceptor mixture readily suppresses the crystallization, which results in a fine‐grained ternary blend with nanometer‐sized domains that do not coarsen due to a high Tg ≈ 200 °C. As a result, annealing at temperatures of up to 170 °C does not markedly affect the photovoltaic performance of ternary devices, in contrast to binary devices that suffer from acceptor crystallization in the active layer. The results indicate that the ternary approach enables the use of high‐temperature processing protocols, which are needed for upscaling and high‐throughput fabrication of organic solar cells. Further, ternary devices display a stable photovoltaic performance at 130 °C for at least 205 h, which indicates that the use of acceptor mixtures allows to fabricate devices with excellent thermal stability.
Decoupled Electrochemical Water Splitting: From Fundamentals to Applications
Authors: McHugh Patrick J. , Stergiou Athanasios D. , Symes Mark D. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractElectrolytic water splitting to generate hydrogen and oxygen is one of the most promising ways in which to harness intermittent renewable power sources and store the energy these provide as a clean‐burning and sustainable fuel. In recent years, this has led to an explosion in reports on electrochemical water splitting, most of them focused on improving the efficiency of the electrochemical reactions themselves. However, efficient generation of hydrogen and oxygen is of little use if these products cannot be kept separate and the community is now coming to realize that there are considerable challenges associated with maintaining adequate separation between H2 and O2 during electrolysis driven by intermittent renewable sources. Decoupled electrolysis (whereby oxygen production occurs with reduction of a suitable mediator and hydrogen production is then paired with the reoxidation of this mediator) offers a solution to many of these challenges by allowing O2 and H2 to be produced at different times, at different rates, and even in completely different electrochemical cells. In this review, an overview of recent progress in the field of decoupled electrolysis for water splitting is given and the potential that this approach has for enabling a range of other sustainable chemical processes is explored.
Tuning oxygen reduction activity on chromia surface via alloying: a DFT study
Authors: Ng Man‐Fai , Blackwood Daniel John , Jin Hongmei , Tan Teck Leong 
Published: October 2020

AbstractEconomical electro‐catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are highly desirable for a range of advance energy storage technologies. Chromium compounds have been suggested as one possible source of non‐precious metal based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), especially chromia (Cr2O3) which is the most stable form of Cr oxide at room temperature. Using density functional theory+U calculations, we investigate the 4‐electron ORR on the hydroxylated Cr2O3 surfaces alloyed with 17 different transition metals. On the one hand, we find that the ORR overpotential is lower when the Cr2O3 surface alloyed with elements towards the end of both the first and second rows of transition metals. Among these elements, Cd alloyed Cr2O3 surface is found to promote the ORR the most, but due to its high toxicity and price it loses out to Zn as the recommended alloyant. On the other hand, we find that the ORR overpotential is generally higher and less varied on the Cr2O3 surface alloyed with the early‐to‐mid row transition metal elements (e. g. Zr, Ti). As Cr2O3 is also a major component in the passive film on stainless steels, where a low ORR rate is desirable to reduce the impact of localized corrosion. This implies that alloying with early‐to‐mid row transition elements could be beneficial to stainless steels. The difference in oxygen reduction activity is attributed to the tendency of forming stable ORR intermediates during the oxygen reduction process.
Improved Antiproliferative Activity and Fluorescence of a Dinuclear Gold(I) Bisimidazolylidene Complex via Anthracene‐Modification
Authors: Jakob Christian H. G. , Dominelli Bruno , Schlagintweit Jonas F. , Fischer Pauline J. , Schuderer Franziska , Reich Robert M. , Marques Fernanda , Correia João D. G. , Kühn Fritz E. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractA straightforward modification route to obtain mono‐ and di‐substituted anthroyl ester bridge functionalized dinuclear Au(I) bis‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes is presented. The functionalization can be achieved starting from a hydroxyl‐functionalized ligand precursor followed by transmetallation of the corresponding Ag complex or via esterification of the hydroxyl‐functionalized gold complex. The compounds are characterized by NMR‐spectroscopy, ESI‐MS, elemental analysis and SC‐XRD. The mono‐ester Au complex shows quantum yields around 18%. In contrast, the corresponding syn‐di‐ester Au complex, exhibits significantly lower quantum yields of around 8%. Due to insufficient water solubility of the di‐ester, only the mono‐ester complex has been tested regarding its antiproliferative activity against HeLa‐ (cervix) and MCF‐7‐ (breast) cancer cell lines and a healthy fibroblast cell line (V79). IC50 values of 7.26 μM in the HeLa cell line and 7.92 μM in the MCF‐7 cell line along with selectivity indices of 8.8 (HeLa) and 8.0 (MCF‐7) are obtained. These selectivity indices are significantly higher than those obtained for the reference drugs cisplatin or auranofin.
Using student‐centered approaches to teach the biochemistry of SARS‐CoV‐2
Authors: Zewail‐Foote Maha 
Published: October 2020

AbstractA biochemistry class was transformed to implement student‐centered, active‐learning pedagogies to help improve competencies associated with the scientific method. In responding to the COVID‐19 pandemic, the course content switched from the biochemistry of nucleic acids to the science of the newly discovered virus, SARS‐CoV‐2. This provided a unique opportunity to model authentic science inquiry through cycles of questioning, investigating, assessing, and critical thinking on a rapidly evolving, interdisciplinary topic. This learning experience helped enhance science literacy, supported self‐directed learning and curiosity, and emphasized the importance of evaluating information sources to recognize misinformation.
Validation of a HPLC method for quantification of midazolam in rat plasma: Application during a Maytenus ilicifolia–drug interaction study
Authors: do Nascimento Sara Batista , de Lima Nascimento Mariana , Duarte‐Almeida Joaquim Maurício , de Oliveira Flávio Martins , do Carmo Vieira Maria , Siqueira João Máximo , de Andrade Frank Pereira , da Costa César Isabela , de Castro Whocely Victor 
Published: October 2020

AbstractMidazolam (MDZ) is routinely employed as a marker compound of cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) activity. Despite the many HPLC–UV methods described to quantify MDZ in plasma, all of them use acetonitrile (ACN) or a mixture of methanol–isopropanol as organic solvent of the mobile phase. Since the ACN shortage in 2008, efforts have been made to replace this solvent during HPLC analysis. A simple, sensitive, accurate and repeatable HPLC–UV method (220 nm) was developed and validated to quantify MDZ in rat plasma using methanol instead. The method was applied during a herb–drug interaction study involving Maytenus ilicifolia, a Brazilian folk medicine used to treat gastric disorders. Plasma samples were alkalinized and MDZ plus alprazolam (internal standard) were extracted with diethyl ether. After solvent removal, the residue was reconstituted with methanol–water (1:1). The analyte was eluted throughout a C18 column using sodium acetate buffer (10 mm, pH 7.4)–methanol (40:60, v/v). The precision at the lower limit of quantification never exceeded 19.40%, and 13.86% at the higher levels of quality control standards, whereas the accuracy ranged from −19.81 to 14.33%. The analytical curve was linear from 50 to 2,000 ng/ml. The activity of the hepatic CYP3A enzymes was not affected by the extract.
Hidden dangers and updated labels on gastric balloons
Authors: Kolli Sindhura , Ofosu Andrew , Gurram Harini , Weissman Simcha , Dang‐Ho Paul Khoi , Mehta Tej I. , Gill Hailie , Gurram Krishna C. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn recent years, intragastric balloons (IGBs) have emerged as an efficacious, nonsurgical modality to treat obesity. We present a case in which an IGB caused a gastric ulcer, only unearthed after the novel technique of deflation and early retrieval.
“Ship‐in‐a‐Bottle” Strategy for Immobilization of 9‐Amino(9‐deoxy)epi‐Cinchona Alkaloid into Molecularly Imprinted Solid Acid: Acetal Hydrolysis/Asymmetric Aldol Tandem Reaction
Authors: Wei Shuai , Zhang Jianing , Li Shan , Ma Xuebing 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDirect immobilization of versatile 9‐amino(9‐deoxy)epi‐cinchona alkaloids without molecule modification to achieve heterogeneous organocatalysis is of interest in the low‐cost production of optically active compounds. In this paper, an exquisite “ship‐in‐a‐bottle” strategy for direct and simple immobilization of 9‐amino‐(9‐deoxy)epi‐quinine (QNNH2) into hollow polystyrene nano‐bowl with imprinted free space around −SO3H was developed via acid‐base reaction and radical polymerization. The heterogeneous organocatalyst with 0.44 mmol g−1 of QNNH2 and 0.48 mmol g−1 of residual −SO3H possessed fast mass transfer due to the characteristic architectural features, such as thin shell thickness, free space around catalytic site, and hollow interior. In heterogeneous acetal hydrolysis/asymmetric aldol tandem reaction, good to excellent catalytic performances (90–95 % yields, anti/syn=88/12–96/4, and 97–99 % ee anti) for acetals bearing electron‐withdrawing substituents (R=o, m, p‐NO2, Cl) were achieved. The “ship‐in‐a‐bottle” QNNH2 displayed good stability and reusability with excellent catalytic performances in the reuses.
Cation‐Specific Electrokinetic Separations Using Prussian Blue Intercalation Reactions
Authors: Thompson Jonathan R. , Davies Collin D. , Clausmeyer Jan , Crooks Richard M. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWe report a new approach for forming ion depletion zones (IDZs) using intercalation reactions at an electrochemically controlled Prussian blue (PB) film. The experiments described here were performed using a microfluidic device, wherein a charged fluorophore in solution was used as a proxy to monitor IDZ formation. In the presence of K+, intercalation reactions proceed readily to form an IDZ, and thus enrich the fluorophore up to 37‐fold. In the presence of the larger hydrated Li+ or tetrabutylammonium (TBA+) ions, however, ion intercalation proceeded less quickly than with K+. Slower ion intercalation resulted in a weaker IDZ and correspondingly lower enrichment factors of eight‐ and six‐fold, respectively. These results are significant because they show that PB intercalation reactions selectively form an IDZ. Accordingly, we anticipate that these findings will lead to a better understanding and further interesting applications of intercalation materials like PB for efficient and selective enrichment and separations.
Polyterthiophenes Cross‐Linked with Terpyridyl Metal Complexes for Molecular Architecture of Optically and Electrochemically Tunable Materials
Authors: Wagner Michal , Wagner Klaudia , Barnsley Jonathan E. , Veksha Andrei , Wagner Paweł , Gordon Keith C. , Bobacka Johan , Wallace Gordon G. , Ivaska Ari , Officer David L. , Lisak Grzegorz 
Published: October 2020

AbstractNovel conductive polymer‐based metal complexes were electrochemically synthesized and characterized in relation to (spectro)electrochemical stimuli. Particularly, we focused our attention on terthiophenes functionalized with terpyridine groups, along with Fe2+ cations present during electrochemical synthesis. The resultant electroactive films are coherent, robust, and exhibit mixed absorption profiles upon electrochemical doping, characteristic for both polyterthiophenes and metal‐ligand transitions. At certain oxidation potentials, the formation of radical cation and also dication states were observed. The latter, influence the optical transitions related to metal centers, and can reversibly be everted by switching to lower potentials. Furthermore, the polymer “cross‐linking metal” can be removed from the structure, which we obtained by partial exchange of Fe2+ with Cu2+ and Zn2+ cations. The conducted cation exchange studies however elucidate the complexity and difficulty of such an approach. With future electropolymerization “strategies” we are expecting to extend film stability during application of relatively high potentials, as well as in the interim of cation exchange.
A Novel Cathode Based on Selenium Confined in Biomass Carbon and Graphene Oxide for Potassium‐Selenium Battery
Authors: Cai Ruizheng , Chen Xinxin , Liu Penggao , Chen Tao , Liu Weifang , Fan Xiaowen , Ouyang Baixue , Liu Kaiyu 
Published: October 2020

AbstractSelenium exhibits smaller volume expansion and much higher electrical conductivity compared with sulfur, which makes it considered as a potential cathode material. In order to improve electrochemical performance of potassium‐selenium (K−Se) batteries, we prepared porous carbon/Se (PC/Se) composite via carbonization, KOH activation and melt diffusion and synthesized a novel porous carbon/Se/graphene oxide (PC/Se/GO) composite with the Se content of ∼40 % via controlling the ionic strength of the solution as cathode material in the work. The combination of porous carbon structure and graphene can effectively relieve the volume expansion of selenium during the charge and discharge process, and provide excellent conductivity. The one‐step conversion without polyselenides between the PC/Se/GO composite and metal potassium further improves the capacity and cycling stability. Therefore, the PC/Se/GO delivers high discharge capacities of 426.3 and 316.8 mAh g−1 in the 2nd and 150th cycles at 0.5 C. This work plays an important reference role for the exploration of advanced potassium‐selenium batteries.
Cobalt‐Free Pr0.5Ba0.4Sr0.1FeO3–δ as a Highly Efficient Cathode for Commercial YSZ‐Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
Authors: Kim Hyunmin , Joo Sangwook , Kwon Ohhun , Choi Sihyuk , Kim Guntae 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCobalt‐free perovskite oxides with mixed ionic and electronic conducting (MIEC) properties have been considered as promising alternatives for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cathode material. Among the cobalt‐free perovskite oxides, iron‐based perovskite oxides have received much spotlight as potential candidates for high‐temperature SOFC cathode material attributed to their great catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and excellent cell operation durability. Herein, Sr‐doped Pr0.5Ba0.4Sr0.1FeO3–δ (PBSF) is presented with the aims of enhancing the catalytic activity for ORR while retaining great durability for yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ)‐supported SOFC. The developed PBSF exhibited outstanding cathodic polarization resistance of 0.05 Ω cm2 at 850 °C, which is 3 times lower than the commercial La1–xSrxMnO3–δ. Furthermore, there is no observable degradation for 50 hours. This study presents a great potential to replace the commercial cathodes for YSZ‐supported SOFC.
Concise Total Syntheses of Bioactive Alkaloids Enabled by Development or Application of Cascade Reactions: A Personnel Adventure
Authors: Xie Xingang , She Xuegong 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDesign and development of new tactics and strategies to improve synthetic efficiency is a hot topic and main concern in nowadays’ chemical synthesis of bioactive natural products. Cascade reactions, which construct several bonds in one step via an orchestrated sequence, have been regarded as an important tactic to rapidly increase the molecular complexity, therefor to improve the synthetic efficiency. In this perspective account, we demonstrated and highlighted the significance of cascade reaction developments and applications in concise syntheses of bioactive alkaloids based on our own recent adventure in this research field.
What is the most favorite and original chemistry developed in your research group?Total synthesis of bioactive natural products is the most favorite chemistry in my research group and development or application of new strategies to improve the synthetic efficiency is the most original chemistry developed in my research group.How do you get into this specific field? Could you please share some experiences with our readers?My PhD project was total synthesis of bioactive natural lignans and I devoted myself into synthetic methodology development during my postdoctoral research period. In my opinion, a highly efficient synthetic method will greatly shorten the synthetic route and improve its efficiency for a target‐oriented total synthesis. On the other hand, target‐oriented total synthesis is the best platform to evaluate the practical value of a synthetic method. So I choose total synthesis of natural products and target‐oriented synthetic methodology development as my research fields when I began my independent research.How do you supervise your students?When the students start their projects, I discuss the research subjects with them once a month. Every Saturday night we hold a group meeting to learn and discuss the most recent published literatures related to our research. I give more encouragement when the students meet difficulties in their research. Then we try to solve the difficulties together.What is the most important personality for scientific research?In my view, diligence and persistence are the most important personalities for scientific research.What's your hobby? What's your favorite book(s)?Reading. My favorite book is Sapiens‐a brief history of humankind.How do you keep balance between research and family?I usually spend six days (from Monday to Saturday) on research work. On Sunday I will cook some delicious food and enjoy it with my family. My wife understands and supports my work very well. She has done a lot for our family.
Inorganic Semiconductor Quantum Dots as a Saturated Excitation (SAX) Probe for Sub‐Diffraction Imaging
Authors: Kumar Singh Avinash , Burkhow Sadie J. , Wijesooriya Chamari , Boote Brett W. , Petrich Jacob W. , Smith Emily A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe photoluminescence (PL) saturation of CdSe/ZnS core/shell inorganic semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) and its utility as a probe for saturated excitation (SAX) microscopy are reported. Under saturating excitation power densities, the PL signal was demodulated and recorded at harmonics of the fundamental frequency. For commercially available Qdot® 655 ITK™ QDs, the power density required to achieve saturation was dependent upon the local environment of the QDs. For QDs deposited and dried on a glass substrate, the excitation power density required for PL saturation was less than 1 kW/cm2. Compared to this, saturation of PL for QDs dispersed in water required an excitation power density greater than 200 kW/cm2. This observation is manifested as a limitation in the imaging of hydrated samples, as demonstrated for HeLa cells labelled with biotinylated‐phalloidin followed by labelling with streptavidin‐coated QDs. As saturation affects the obtained spatial resolution in several imaging formats, including confocal imaging, the provided data will aid in obtaining the optimal spatial resolution when using QD probes to image biological samples.