bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Controlled Synthesis and Structure Engineering of Transition Metal‐based Nanomaterials for Oxygen and Hydrogen Electrocatalysis in Zinc‐Air Battery and Water‐Splitting Devices
Authors: Zhang Zhao , Zhang Hong , Yao Yirong , Wang Jiajun , Guo Hao , Deng Yida , Han Xiaopeng 
Published: February 2021

AbstractElectrocatalytic energy conversion plays a crucial role in realizing energy storage and utilization. Clean energy technologies such as water electrolysis, fuel cells, and metal‐air batteries heavily depend on a series of electrochemical redox reactions occurring on the catalysts surface. Therefore, developing efficient electrocatalysts is conducive to remarkably improved performance of these devices. Among numerous studies, transition metal‐based nanomaterials (TMNs) have been considered as promising catalysts by virtue of their abundant reserves, low cost, and well‐designed active sites. This Minireview is focused on the typical clean electrochemical reactions: hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, and oxygen reduction reaction. Recent efforts to optimize the external morphology and the internal electronic structure of TMNs are described, and beginning with single‐component TMNs, the active sites are clarified, and strategies for exposing more active sites are discussed. The summary about multi‐component TMNs demonstrates the complementary advantages of integrating functional compositions. A general introduction of single‐atom TMNs is provided to deepen the understanding of the catalytic process at an atomic scale. Finally, current challenges and development trends of TMNs in clean energy devices are summarized.
Optimization of Ni−Co−Fe‐Based Catalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction by Surface and Relaxation Phenomena Analysis
Authors: Attias Rinat , Vijaya Sankar Kalimuthu , Dhaka Kapil , Moschkowitsch Wenjamin , Elbaz Lior , Caspary Toroker Maytal , Tsur Yoed 
Published: February 2021

AbstractTrimetallic double hydroxide NiFeCo−OH is prepared by coprecipitation, from which three different catalysts are fabricated by different heat treatments, all at 350 °C maximum temperature. Among the prepared catalysts, the one prepared at a heating and cooling rate of 2 °C min−1 in N2 atmosphere (designated NiFeCo−N2‐2 °C) displays the best catalytic properties after stability testing, exhibiting a high current density (9.06 mA cm−2 at 320 mV), low Tafel slope (72.9 mV dec−1), good stability (over 20 h), high turnover frequency (0.304 s−1), and high mass activity (46.52 A g−1 at 320 mV). Stability tests reveal that the hydroxide phase is less suitable for long‐term use than catalysts with an oxide phase. Two causes are identified for the loss of stability in the hydroxide phase: a) Modeling of the distribution function of relaxation times (DFRT) reveals the increase in resistance contributed by various relaxation processes; b) density functional theory (DFT) surface energy calculations reveal that the higher surface energy of the hydroxide‐phase catalyst impairs the stability. These findings represent a new strategy to optimize catalysts for water splitting.
Bioinspired Cooperative Photobiocatalytic Regeneration of Oxidized Nicotinamide Cofactors for Catalytic Oxidations
Authors: Liao Huan‐Xin , Jia Hao‐Yu , Dai Jian‐Rong , Zong Min‐Hua , Li Ning 
Published: February 2021

AbstractInspired by water‐forming NAD(P)H oxidases, a cooperative photobiocatalytic system has been designed to aerobically regenerate the oxidized nicotinamide cofactors. Photocatalysts enable NAD(P)H oxidation with O2 under visible‐light irradiation, producing H2O2 as a byproduct, which is subsequently used as an oxidant by the horseradish peroxidase mediator system (PMS) to oxidize NAD(P)H. The photobiocatalytic system shows a turnover frequency of 8800 min−1 in the oxidation of NAD(P)H. Photobiocatalytic NAD(P)H oxidation proceeds smoothly at pH 6–9. In addition to natural NAD(P)H, synthetic biomimetics are also good substrates for this regeneration system. Total turnover numbers of up to 180000 are obtained for the cofactor when the photobiocatalytic regeneration system is coupled with dehydrogenase‐catalyzed oxidations. It may be a promising protocol to recycle the oxidized cofactors for catalytic oxidations.
Local connections and the larval competency strongly influence marine metapopulation persistence
Authors: Cecino Giorgia , Treml Eric A. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe relationship between metapopulation stability and connectivity has long been investigated in ecology, however, most of these studies are focused on theoretical species and habitat networks, having limited ability to capture the complexity of real‐world metapopulations. Network analysis became more important in modeling connectivity, but it is still uncertain which network metrics are reliable predictors of persistence. Here we quantify the impact of connectivity and larval life history on marine metapopulation persistence across the complex seascape of southeast Australia. Our work coupled network‐based approaches and eigenanalysis to efficiently estimate metapopulation‐wide persistence and the subpopulation contributions. Larval dispersal models were used to quantify species‐specific metapopulation connectivity for five important fisheries species, each summarized as a migration matrix. Eigenanalysis helped to reveal metapopulation persistence and determine the importance of node‐level network properties. Across metapopulations, the number of local outgoing connections was found to have the largest impact on metapopulation persistence, implying these hub subpopulations may be the most influential in real‐world metapopulations. Results also suggest the length of the pre‐competency period may be the most influential parameter on metapopulation persistence. Finally, we identified two major hot spots of local connectivity in southeast Australia, each contributing strongly to multispecies persistence. Managers and ecologists would benefit by employing similar approaches in making more efficient and more ecologically informed decisions and focusing more on local connectivity patterns and larval competency characteristics to better understand and protect real‐world metapopulation persistence. Practically this could mean developing more marine protected areas at shorter distances and supporting collaborative research into the early life histories of the species of interest.
Exploring the links between secondary metabolites and leaf spectral reflectance in a diverse genus of Amazonian trees
Authors: Fine Paul V. A. , Salazar Diego , Martin Roberta E. , Metz Margaret R. , Misiewicz Tracy M. , Asner Gregory P. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPlant defense chemistry is often hypothesized to drive ecological and evolutionary success in diverse tropical forests, yet detailed characterizations of plant secondary metabolites in tropical plants are logistically challenging. Here, we explore a new integrative approach that combines visible‐to‐shortwave infrared (VSWIR) spectral reflectance data with detailed plant metabolomics data from 19 Protium (Burseraceae) tree species. Building on the discovery that different Protium species have unique chemistries yet share many secondary metabolites, we devised a method to test for associations between metabolites and VSWIR spectral data. Given species‐level variation in metabolite abundance, we correlated the concentration of particular chemicals with the reflectance of the spectral bands in a wavelength band per secondary metabolite matrix. We included 45 metabolites that were shared by at least 5 Protium species and correlated their per‐species foliar abundances against each one of 210 wavelength bands of field‐measured VSWIR spectra. Finally, we tested whether classes of similar metabolites showed similar relationships with spectral patterns. We found that many secondary metabolites yielded strong correlations with VSWIR spectra of Protium. Furthermore, important Protium metabolite classes such as procyanidins (condensed tannins) and phytosterols were grouped together in a hierarchical clustering analysis (Ward’s algorithm), confirming similarity in their associations with plant spectral patterns. We also found a significant correlation in the phenolics content between juvenile and canopy trees of the same species, suggesting that species‐level variation in defense chemistry is consistent across life stages and geographic distribution. We conclude that the integration of spectral and metabolic approaches could represent a powerful and economical method to characterize important aspects of tropical plant defense chemistry.
Effects of shrub encroachment on soil aggregates and organic carbon vary in different grasslands in Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Zhu Yankun , Shen Haihua , Feng Yinping , Li He , Akinyemi Damilare Stephen , Hu Huifeng , Fang Jingyun 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWidespread shrub encroachment in grasslands can lead to changes in soil aggregates and soil organic carbon (SOC), especially in deep soils. Soil aggregates physicochemically protect SOC and thus affect soil carbon sequestration. Characterizing the changes in soil aggregates and their organic carbon associated with shrub encroachment is critical for evaluating the ecological consequences of shrub encroachment in different grasslands. In this study, we investigated soil aggregates of various sizes and their associated organic carbon at maximum soil depths of 5 m in shrub patches and neighboring grass matrix in two types (desert and typical) of grasslands in Inner Mongolia, China. The mean weight diameter (MWD) of the soil aggregates was similar between the shrub patches and grass matrix in both grasslands. However, the proportion of each aggregate size fraction to whole soil in the shrub patches was significantly lower than that in the grass matrix in the desert grasslands, while there was no significant difference between the shrub patches and grass matrix in the typical grasslands. In addition, the organic carbon content of aggregates in the shrub patches was greater than that in the grass matrix in deep soil layers (>50 cm) but was lower in the topsoil (0–10 cm depth) in the desert grasslands. However, the organic carbon content of aggregates at all soil depths was greater in shrub patches than in the grass matrix in typical grasslands. Our results suggest that the effects of shrub encroachment on the soil aggregate proportion and associated organic carbon vary at different soil depths and in different grassland types. The results of this study also suggest that it is necessary to determine the size structure and its relation to carbon content for soil aggregates to accurately predict SOC dynamics with shrub encroachment.
Cardio‐microcurrent device for chronic heart failure: first‐in‐human clinical study
Authors: Kosevic Dragana , Wiedemann Dominik , Vukovic Petar , Ristic Velibor , Riebandt Julia , Radak Una , Brandes Kersten , Goettel Peter , Duengen Hans‐Dirk , Tahirovic Elvis , Kottmann Tatjana , Voss Hans Werner , Zdravkovic Marija , Putnik Svetozar , Schmitto Jan D. , Mueller Johannes , Rame Jesus Eduardo , Peric Miodrag 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAimsMost devices for treating ambulatory Class II and III heart failure are linked to electrical pulses. However, a steady electric potential gradient is also necessary for appropriate myocardial performance and may be disturbed by structural heart diseases. We investigated whether chronic application of electrical microcurrent to the heart is feasible and safe and improves cardiac performance. The results of this study should provide guidance for the design of a two‐arm, randomized, controlled Phase II trial.Methods and resultsThis single‐arm, non‐randomized pilot study involved 10 patients (9 men; mean age, 62 ± 12 years) at two sites with 6 month follow‐up. All patients had New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III heart failure and non‐ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy, with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <35%. A device was surgically placed to deliver a constant microcurrent to the heart. The following tests were performed at baseline, at hospital discharge, and at six time points during follow‐up: determination of LVEF and left ventricular end‐diastolic/end‐systolic diameter by echocardiography; the 6 min walk test; and assessment of NYHA classification and quality of life (36‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey questionnaire). Microcurrent application was feasible and safe; no device‐related or treatment‐related adverse events occurred. During follow‐up, rapid and significant signal of efficacy (P < 0.005) was present with improvements in LVEF, left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter, left ventricular end‐systolic diameter, and distance walked. For eight patients, NYHA classification improved from Class III to Class I (for seven, as early as 14 days post‐operatively); for one, to Class II; and for one, to Class II/III. 36‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey questionnaire scores also improved highly significantly.ConclusionsChronic application of microcurrent to the heart is feasible and safe and leads to a rapid and lasting improvement in heart function and a near normalization of heart size within days. The NYHA classification and quality of life improve just as rapidly.
Pd‐Catalyzed Cascade Metallo‐Ene Cyclization/Metallo‐Carbene Coupling of Allenamides
Authors: Cao Chengqiang , Yang Yi , Li Xin , Liu Yunxia , Liu Hui , Zhao Zengdian , Chen Lei 
Published: February 2021

AbstractA highly efficient palladium‐catalyzed cascade metallo‐ene/metallo‐carbene coupling reaction was developed to produce 2,3‐dihydropyrrole derivatives in high yields. In this transformation, two new Csp3−Csp2 and Csp2−Csp2 bonds were constructed in one‐pot. The alkene was one of the most easily functionalized groups, making it possible for these molecules to be transformed into more complex molecules. More importantly, the final product possessed an attractive 1,3,8‐trienes scaffold, which was difficult to be synthesized.
Synthesis, Radiosynthesis, and in vitro Studies on Novel Hypoxia PET Tracers Incorporating [18F]FDR
Authors: Musolino Manuele , Fleming Ian N. , Schweiger Lutz F. , O'Hagan David , Dall'Angelo Sergio , Zanda Matteo 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe report the synthesis of five radiotracers incorporating different oxyamine spacers between the hypoxia‐reactive 2‐nitroimidazole moiety and the 5‐[18F]‐fluorodeoxyribose ([18F]FDR, 12) prosthetic group: three linear alkyl chains with 3, 5, 7 carbon atoms (15 a–c), a cyclopropyl ring (15 d) and a 1,4‐disubstituted‐1,2,3‐triazole (15 e). Experiments in hypoxic cells showed that 15 d displays superior uptake kinetics – and similar selectivity for hypoxic cells – relative to the gold standard hypoxia tracers [18F]fluoroazomycin arabinoside ([18F]FAZA) and [18F]fluoromisonidazole ([18F]FMISO). Lipophilicity and structural rigidity have strong influence on the selectivity of tracers 15 towards hypoxic cells: the lead tracer 15 d displays a logP=0.38 and the most rigid spacer. A sixth radiotracer (15 f), with a 2‐H‐imidazole replacing the 2‐nitroimidazole moiety of 15 d, was used to demonstrate that the cyclopropyl group does not play a meaningful role in the sensitivity towards hypoxia.
The effect of the anti‐diabetic drug metformin on musculoskeletal pain: A cross‐sectional study with 21,889 individuals from the UK biobank
Authors: Carvalho‐e‐Silva Ana Paula , Harmer Alison R. , Ferreira Manuela L. , Ferreira Paulo H. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundAlthough there is growing evidence of metformin's pleiotropic effects, including possible effects on pain, there is a lack of studies investigating the association of metformin with the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among a large cohort with type 2 diabetes cohort.MethodsCross‐sectional analyses were conducted with UK Biobank data from 21,889 participants with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, metformin use and musculoskeletal (back, knee, hip and neck/shoulder) pain were self‐reported. Participants reported musculoskeletal pain that had interfered with their usual activities in the last month (recent pain), and for more than 3 months (chronic pain). We performed logistic regression analyses for recent and chronic pain for each site and for multisite pain among participants with diabetes who did or did not take metformin.ResultsParticipants using metformin had lower odds of musculoskeletal pain for back [recent OR 0.91, 95%CI 0.85 to 0.97; chronic OR 0.87, 95%CI 0.81 to 0.93], knee [recent OR 0.91, 95%CI 0.85 to 0.97; chronic OR 0.87, 95%CI 0.81 to 0.94] and neck/shoulder regions [chronic OR 0.92, 95%CI 0.85 to 0.99] but not hip pain. Participants using metformin also had lower odds of reporting chronic multisite musculoskeletal pain. The associations were generally stronger among women.ConclusionsPeople with diabetes taking metformin were less likely to report back, knee, neck/shoulder and multisite musculoskeletal pain than those not taking metformin. Therefore, when treating these patients, clinicians should be aware that metformin may contribute to fewer reports of musculoskeletal pain. These effects should be investigated in future studies.SignificancePeople with type 2 diabetes taking metformin are less likely to present with musculoskeletal pain than those not taking metformin. Metformin may have a protective effect for musculoskeletal pain, which appears to be stronger among women than men.
High capacitive h‐MoO3 hexagonal rods and its applications towards lithium ion battery, humidity and nitrite sensing
Authors: Udayabhanu  , Pavitra Veerabhadrachar , Shivanna Marappa , Alharthi Fahad A. , Praveen Beekanahalli Mokshanatha , Ravikiran Yaled Thippeswamy , Byrappa Kullaiah , Nagaraju Ganganagappa 
Published: February 2021

SummaryIn this paper, the authors have investigated a suitable material for rechargeable lithium‐ion battery, which poses a challenge to the researchers in the search for alternate electrode materials. An analysis of humidity as well as nitrite sensing application, the potential of this material has been reported. MoO3 can reversibly store large amounts of Li; it can be a potential alternative electrode among currently existing anode materials. The self‐assembled hexagonal rods of h‐MoO3 as flowers have been synthesized via a simple and facile low temperature reflux method. The measured mean crystallite size and band gap (Eg) of h‐MoO3 hexagonal crystalline structure are 52 nm and 3.48 eV as per the XRD and UV‐vis DRS studies respectively. Hexagonal rod shaped h‐MoO3 anodes exhibit remarkable electrochemical stability, recyclability, high rate capability; which produce the initial discharge capacity of 1869 mAh g−1and then the capacity retained around 619 mAh g−1 at 100th cycle of charge‐discharge profile by applying the current rate of C/15. This simple and novel material synthesis provides unique morphology of hexagonal rods shaped h‐MoO3 flowers; and this scheme provides the facile pathways which enable the ease of electron transportation. The sensing activity of modified glassy electrode of h‐MoO3 has shown a limit of detection of 0.196 μM for 1 mM nitrite sensing. It also showed high humidity sensing response of 97.9 %, and indicated that the h‐MoO3 flowery material is well suitable for industrial applications.
Spectroscopic and in silico investigation of the interaction between GH1 β‐glucosidase and ginsenoside Rb1
Authors: Zhong Shuning , Yan Mi , Zou Haoyang , Zhao Ping , Ye Haiqing , Zhang Tiehua , Zhao Changhui 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe function and application of β‐glucosidase attract attention nowadays. β‐glucosidase was confirmed of transforming ginsenoside Rb1 to rare ginsenoside, but the interaction mechanism remains not clear. In this work, β‐glucosidase from GH1 family of Paenibacillus polymyxa was selected, and its gene sequence bglB was synthesized by codon. Then, recombinant plasmid was transferred into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and expressed. The UV–visible spectrum showed that ginsenoside Rb1 decreased the polarity of the corresponding structure of hydrophobic aromatic amino acids (Trp) in β‐glucosidase and increased new π‐π* transition. The fluorescence quenching spectrum showed that ginsenoside Rb1 inhibited intrinsic fluorescence, formed static quenching, reduced the surface hydrophobicity of β‐glucosidase, and KSV was 8.37 × 103 L/M (298K). Circular dichroism (CD) showed that secondary structure of β‐glucosidase was changed by the binding action. Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) showed that β‐glucosidase and Rb1 had strong binding power which KD value was 5.24 × 10–4 (±2.35 × 10–5) M. Molecular docking simulation evaluated the binding site, hydrophobic force, hydrogen bond, and key amino acids of β‐glucosidase with ginsenoside Rb1 in the process. Thus, this work could provide basic mechanisms of the binding and interaction between β‐glucosidase and ginsenoside Rb1.
Managing volatility in commodity momentum
Authors: Xu Qi , Wang Ying 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe empirically investigate the effect of managing volatility in commodity momentum. Using Chinese commodity futures data, we show that managing volatility significantly improves the performance of commodity momentum. Including the new strategy significantly enhances asset allocation performance. Then, we explore several potential explanations for the profitability of the new strategy. Commodity‐specific factors, business cycle risk, financial market conditions, investor sentiments, transaction costs, leverage constraints, and data‐snooping bias do not fully account for this profitability. The profitability is in line with the predictability of momentum‐specific risk rather than aggregate market risk. Comprehensive robustness checks support our main findings.
Redundancy circuits of the commissural pathways in human and rhesus macaque brains
Authors: Ghulam‐Jelani Zulfar , Barrios‐Martinez Jessica , Eguiluz‐Melendez Aldo , Gomez Ricardo , Anania Yury , Yeh Fang‐Cheng 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIt has been hypothesized that the human brain has less redundancy than animals, but the structural evidence has not been identified to confirm this claim. Here, we report three redundancy circuits of the commissural pathways in primate brains, namely the orbitofrontal, temporal, and occipital redundancy circuits of the anterior commissure and corpus callosum. Each redundancy circuit has two distinctly separated routes connecting a common pair of cortical regions. We mapped their trajectories in human and rhesus macaque brains using individual and population‐averaged tractography. The dissection results confirmed the existence of these redundancy circuits connecting the orbitofrontal lobe, amygdala, and visual cortex. The volume analysis showed a significant reduction in the orbitofrontal and occipital redundancy circuits of the human brain, whereas the temporal redundancy circuit had a substantial organizational difference between the human and rhesus macaque. Our results support the hypothesis that the human brain has less redundancy in the commissural pathways than that of the rhesus macaque brain. Further studies are needed to explore its neuropathological implications.