bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pervaporation performance of poly(vinyl alcohol)‐graft‐poly(N‐hydroxymethyl acrylamide) membranes for dehydration of isopropyl alcohol‐water mixture
Authors: Baysak Fatma Kurşun , Işıklan Nuran 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIn the present work, poly(N‐hydroxymethyl acrylamide) grafted poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA‐g‐PNHMA) membranes were developed for the dehydration of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) by the use of pervaporation method. The PVA‐g‐PNHMA membranes have been synthesized and their chemical composition and morphology have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 13C‐nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X‐ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The impacts of numerous factors such as temperature, feed concentration as well as membrane thickness on their pervaporation performance were investigated and the optimal conditions were found. With the increase in the grafting percentage of the PVA‐g‐PNHMA membrane, both flux and separation factor also increase. The PVA‐g‐PNHMA membrane with a grafting percentage of 34% revealed the best separation factor of 362 with a flux of 0.0085 kg/m2.h for 12.6% mass of water in the feed solution. It has also been found that swelling behaviors of the membranes are consistent with all pervaporation results. Besides, permeation and diffusion activation energies were determined as 23.69 and 29.21 kJ/mol from the change of permeation flux with temperature. Based on the obtained outcomes, it is obvious that PVA‐g‐PNHMA membranes are quite efficient in the separation of IPA/water mixture via pervaporation.
Global–local consistency benefits memory‐guided tracking of a moving target
Authors: Chen Tingting , Ding Jinhong , Yue Guang H. , Liu Haoqiang , Li Jie , Jiang Changhao 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIntroductionPrevious findings have demonstrated that several Gestalt principles do facilitate VSTM performance in change detection tasks. However, few studies have investigated the role of and time‐course of global–local consistency in motion perception.MethodsParticipants were required to track a moving target surrounded by three different backgrounds: blank, inconsistent, or consistent. Global–local objects were be bound to move together (covariation). During the PMT, participants had to follow the moving target with their eyes and react as fast as possible when the target had just vanished behind the obstruction or would arrive at a predetermined point of interception. Variable error (VE) and constant error (CE) of estimated time‐to‐contact (TTC) and gain of smooth pursuit eye movements were calculated in various conditions and analyzed qualitatively.ResultsExperiment 1 established the basic finding that VSTM performance could benefit from global–local consistency. Experiment 2 extended this finding by eye‐tracking device. Both in visible phase and in occluded phase, CEs were smaller for the target in a consistent background than for the target in an inconsistent background and for the target in a blank background, with both differences significant (ps < .05). However, the difference in VE among three conditions was not significant. At early stage (100–250 ms), later stage (2750–3000 ms), and termination stage (5750–6000 ms) of smooth pursuit, the velocity gains were higher in the trials with consistent backgrounds than in the trials with inconsistent backgrounds and blank backgrounds (ps < .001). With the exception of 100–250 ms phase, the means did not differ between the inconsistent background and the blank background trials (ps > .1).ConclusionsGlobal–local consistency could be activated within the first few hundred milliseconds to prioritize the deployment of attention and eye movement to component target. Meanwhile, it also removes ambiguity from motion tracking and TTC estimation under some unpredictable conditions, leading to the consistency advantage during smooth‐pursuit termination phase. Global–local consistency may act as an important information source to TTC estimation and oculomotor response in PMT.
Efficiency of high cumulative cisplatin dose in high‐ and low‐risk patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Jiang Yu‐Ting , Chen Kai‐Hua , Yang Jie , Liang Zhong‐Guo , Li Ling , Qu Song , Zhu Xiao‐Dong 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe optimal cumulative cisplatin dose (CCD) during radiation therapy for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA‐NPC) patients receiving induction chemotherapy (IC) plus CCRT remains controversial. This study aimed to explore the treatment efficiency of CCD for high‐and low‐risk patients with LA‐NPC.MethodsData from 472 LA‐NPC patients diagnosed from 2014 to 2018 and treated with IC plus CCRT were reviewed. After propensity score matching, the therapeutic effects of a CCD > 200 and CCD ≤ 200 mg/m2 were evaluated comparatively. Five factors selected by multivariate analysis were incorporated to develop a nomogram. Subgroup analysis was conducted to explore the role of different CCDs in nomogram‐defined high‐ and low‐risk groups. Additionally, acute toxicities were evaluated comparatively between the high‐ and low‐CCD groups.ResultsAfter matching, there was no difference between different CCD groups for all patients in terms of 3‐year overall survival (OS), distant metastasis‐free survival (DMFS), locoregional recurrence‐free survival (LRRFS), or progression‐free survival (PFS). A nomogram was built by integrating pretreatment EBV DNA, clinical stage, and post‐IC EBV DNA, post‐IC primary gross tumor and lymph node volumes obtained a C‐index of 0.674. The high‐risk group determined by the nomogram had poorer 3‐year PFS, OS, DMFS, and LRRFS than the low‐risk group. A total of CCD > 200 mg/m2 increased the survival rates of 3‐year PFS and DMFS (PFS: 72.5% vs. 54.4%, p = 0.012; DMFS: 81.9% vs. 61.5%, p = 0.014) in the high‐risk group but not in the low‐risk group. Moreover, the high CCD increased treatment‐related acute toxicities.ConclusionsA high CCD was associated with better 3‐year PFS and DMFS rates than a low dose for high‐risk patients but could not produce a survival benefit for low‐risk patients.
A Multi‐enzyme Cascade for the Biosynthesis of AICA Ribonucleoside Di‐ and Triphosphate
Authors: Eltoukhy Lobna , Loderer Christoph 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAICA (5′‐aminoimidazole‐4‐carboxamide) ribonucleotides with different phosphorylation levels are the pharmaceutically active metabolites of AICA nucleoside‐based drugs. The chemical synthesis of AICA ribonucleotides with defined phosphorylation is challenging and expensive. In this study, we describe two enzymatic cascades to synthesize AICA derivatives with defined phosphorylation levels from the corresponding nucleobase and the co‐substrate phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate. The cascades are composed of an adenine phosphoribosyltransferase from Escherichia coli (EcAPT) and different polyphosphate kinases: polyphosphate kinase from Acinetobacter johnsonii (AjPPK), and polyphosphate kinase from Meiothermus ruber (MrPPK). The role of the EcAPT is to bind the nucleobase to the sugar moiety, while the kinases are responsible for further phosphorylation of the nucleotide to produce the desired phosphorylated AICA ribonucleotide. The selected enzymes were characterized, and conditions were established for two enzymatic cascades. The diphosphorylated AICA ribonucleotide derivative ZDP, synthesized from the cascade EcAPT/AjPPK, was produced with a conversion up to 91 %. The EcAPT/MrPPK cascade yielded ZTP with conversion up to 65 % with ZDP as a side product.
Construction of a cement–rebar nanoarchitecture for a solution‐processed and flexible film of a Bi2Te3/CNT hybrid toward low thermal conductivity and high thermoelectric performance
Authors: Chen Zhijun , Lv Haicai , Zhang Qichun , Wang Hanfu , Chen Guangming 
Published: December 2021

AbstractSolution processability and flexibility still remain major challenges for many thermoelectric (TE) materials, including bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3), a typical and commercially available TE material. Here, we report a new solution‐processed method to prepare a flexible film of a Bi2Te3/single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) hybrid, where the dissolved Bi2Te3 ion precursors are mixed with dispersed SWCNTs in solution and recrystallized on the SWCNT surfaces to form a “cement–rebar”‐like architecture. The hybrid film shows an n‐type characteristic, with a stable Seebeck coefficient of −100.00 ± 1.69 μV K−1 in air. Furthermore, an extremely low in‐plane thermal conductivity of ∼0.33 W m−1 K−1 is achieved at 300 K, and the figure of merit (ZT) reaches 0.47 ± 0.02. In addition, the TE performance is independent of mechanical bending. The unique “cement–rebar”‐like architecture is believed to be responsible for the excellent TE performances and the high flexibility. The results provide a new avenue for the fabrication of solution‐processable and flexible TE hybrid films and will speed up the applications of flexible electronics and energy conversion.
Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 Inhibitory Profile of New Quinoline Compounds in Cell Culture‐Based Infection Models
Authors: Herrmann Lars , Hahn Friedrich , Wangen Christina , Marschall Manfred , Tsogoeva Svetlana B. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe presently ongoing pandemic of human SARS‐CoV‐2 infections (COVID‐19) presents an enormous challenge in surveillance, vaccine and antiviral drug development. Here we report the synthesis of new bioactive quinoline‐morpholine hybrid compounds and their virological evaluation, which proves pronounced cell culture‐based inhibitory profile against SARS‐CoV‐2. Thus, selected quinoline compounds may suggest specific hit‐to‐lead development.
A Stereoselective Glycosylation Approach to the Construction of 1,2‐trans‐β‐d‐Glycosidic Linkages and Convergent Synthesis of Saponins
Authors: Yang Fuzhu , Hou Wu , Zhu Dapeng , Tang Yu , Yu Biao 
Published: December 2021

AbstractConventional syntheses of 1,2‐trans‐β‐d‐ or α‐l‐glycosidic linkages rely mainly on neighboring group participation in the glycosylation reactions. The requirement for a neighboring participation group (NPG) excludes direct glycosylation with (1→2)‐linked glycan donors, thus only allowing stepwise assembly of glycans and glycoconjugates containing this type of common motif. Here, a robust glycosylation protocol for the synthesis of 1,2‐trans‐β‐d‐ or α‐l‐glycosidic linkages without resorting to NPG is disclosed; it employs an optimal combination of glycosyl N‐phenyltrifluroacetimidates as donors, FeCl3 as promoter, and CH2Cl2/nitrile as solvent. A broad substrate scope has been demonstrated by glycosylations with 12 (1→2)‐linked di‐ and trisaccharide donors and 13 alcoholic acceptors including eight complex triterpene derivatives. Most of the glycosylation reactions are high yielding and exclusively 1,2‐trans selective. Ten representative, naturally occurring triterpene saponins were thus synthesized in a convergent manner after deprotection of the coupled glycosides. Intensive mechanistic studies indicated that this glycosylation proceeds by SN2‐type substitution of the glycosyl α‐nitrilium intermediates. Importantly, FeCl3 dissociates and coordinates with nitrile into [Fe(RCN)nCl2]+ and [FeCl4]−, and the ferric cationic species coordinates with the alcoholic acceptor to provide a protic species that activates the imidate, meanwhile the poor nucleophilicity of [FeCl4]− ensures an uninterruptive role for the glycosidation.
Structural changes in the neocortex as correlates of variations in EEG spectra and seizure susceptibility in rat brains with different degrees of dysplasia
Authors: Setkowicz Zuzanna , Gzielo Kinga , Kielbinski Michal , Janeczko Krzysztof 
Published: December 2021

AbstractDisturbances of the early stages of neurogenesis lead to irreversible changes in the structure of the mature brain and its functional impairment, including increased excitability, which may be the basis for drug‐resistant epilepsy. The range of possible clinical symptoms is as wide as the different stages of disturbed neurogenesis may be. In this study, we used a quadruple model of brain dysplasia by comparing structural and functional disorders in animals whose neurogenesis was disturbed with a single dose of 1 Gy of gamma rays at one of the four stages of neurogenesis, that is, on days 13, 15, 17, or 19 of prenatal development.When reached adulthood, the prenatally irradiated rats received EEG teletransmitter implantation. Thereafter, pilocarpine was administered and significant differences in susceptibility to seizure behavioral symptoms were detected depending on the degree of brain dysplasia. Before, during, and after the seizures significant correlations were found between the density of parvalbumin‐immunopositive neurons located in the cerebral cortex and the intensity of behavioral seizure symptoms or increases in the power of particular EEG bands. Neurons expressing calretinin or NPY showed also dysplasia‐related increases without, however, correlations with parameters of seizure intensity. The results point to significant roles of parvalbumin‐expressing interneurons, and also to expression of NPY—an endogenous anticonvulsant and neuroprotectant reducing susceptibility to seizures and supporting neuronal survival.
Association of vortical structures and hemodynamic parameters for regional thrombus accumulation in abdominal aortic aneurysms
Authors: Zambrano Byron A. , Gharahi Hamidreza , Lim Chae Young , Lee Whal , Baek Seungik 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe intraluminal thrombus (ILT) has been shown to negatively impact the progression of the abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). The formation of this thrombus layer has been connected to the local flow environment within AAAs, but the specific mechanisms leading to thrombus formation are still not fully understood. Our study investigated the association between vortical structures, near‐wall hemodynamic metrics (e.g., time averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS) and oscillatory shear index (OSI)), and ILT accumulation in a longitudinal cohort of 14 AAAs (53 scans total). Vortices and hemodynamic parameters were estimated using hemodynamic simulations performed to each scan of each patient and compared to local 3D changes of ILT thickness between two consecutive scans (ΔILT). Results showed that vortices formed and remained strong and close to the lumen surface in AAAs without an ILT, while in AAAs with ILTs these detached from the lumen surface and dissipated nearby wall region where an increase in ILT thickness was observed. Although low TAWSS was observed in regions with and without ILT accumulation, an inverse correlation between and TAWSS was observed within the regions that experienced a thrombus growth. Our results support the idea that vortical structures might be playing a role modulating ILT accumulation into specific wall regions. Also, it submits the idea that the low TAWSS will be modulating the growth of thrombus within these preferred ILT accumulated regions.
A comparative study on SoC embedded low power GPUs for real‐time edge‐based automated traffic surveillance
Authors: Jaiswal Deepak , Kumar Praveen 
Published: December 2021

SummaryAchieving real‐time processing for automated traffic surveillance is a major challenge due to the huge amount of data generated by a large number of surveillance cameras. For this, centralized computing has been a standard architecture for many years. But due to the increasing need for real‐time processing and limitations of centralized computing architecture (such as network congestion due to limited bandwidth and the need for costly high‐end servers), the paradigm is shifting toward edge processing. This article compares the suitability of two popular but different types of SoCs (System on Chip) (from NVIDIA and Qualcomm) embedded with low‐power GPUs as processing units for edge devices. These GPUs can be programmed as general‐purpose GPUs (GPGPU) to speed up compute‐intensive tasks, so as to achieve real‐time processing at the edge of the network. The article also discusses the architectural features and differences between these GPUs and recommends optimization techniques to leverage them. For quantitative comparison, we implement a wrong‐way vehicle detection algorithm (using background‐subtraction‐based moving object detection and Kalman‐filter‐based trajectory tracking), and optimized it for these SoCs. The experimental results show that real‐time processing can be achieved for HD videos with implementations optimized for these SoCs.
Synthesis and Mechanical Properties of sub 5‐μm PolyUiO‐66 Thin Films on Gold Surfaces
Authors: Frederick Esther , Appelhans Leah N. , Del Rio Frank W. , Strong Kevin T. , Smith Sean , Dickens Sara , Vreeland Erika 
Published: December 2021

AbstractMetal‐organic framework (MOF) thin films currently lack the mechanical stability needed for electronic device applications. Polymer‐based metal‐organic frameworks (polyMOFs) have been suggested to provide mechanical advantages over MOFs, however, the mechanical properties of polyMOFs have not yet been characterized. In this work, we developed a method to synthesize continuous sub‐5 μm polyUiO‐66(Zr) films on Au substrates, which allowed us to undertake initial mechanical property investigations. Comparisons between polyUiO‐66 and UiO‐66 thin films determined polyUiO‐66 thin films exhibit a lower modulus but similar hardness to UiO‐66 thin films. The initial mechanical characterization indicates that further development is needed to leverage the mechanical property advantages of polyMOFs over MOFs. Additionally, the demonstration in this work of a continuous surface‐supported polyUiO‐66 thin film enables utilization of this emerging class of polyMOF materials in sensors and devices applications.
Sampling Design for Quantifying Soil Organic Carbon Stock in Production Ag Fields
Authors: Morgan Cristine L. S. , Ackerson Jason P. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe following article kicks off a new five‐part series on assessing soil health. It seeks to provide a brief and practical review about measuring soil organic carbon (SOC), especially SOC stock. It is part of a larger Soil Science Society of America webinar series produced in partnership with The Soil Health Institute and sponsored by The Walton Family Foundation. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Soil & Water Management by reading the article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.
First record of non‐flying mammalian contributors to pollination in a tropical montane forest in Asia
Authors: Kobayashi Shun , Panha Somsak , Seesamut Teerapong , Nantarat Nattawadee , Likhitrakarn Natdanai , Denda Tetsuo , Izawa Masako 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThis study aims to identify the flower visitors of Mucuna thailandica (Fabaceae), endemic plant species in montane forests in Thailand, to determine their potential pollinators. The genus Mucuna produces papilionaceous flowers and has an explosive flower‐opening step. Explosive opening rapidly exposes stamens and pistil from keel petals and releases pollen. The flower of this species depends completely on animals to perform this step, essential for pollination success. Using a camera trap survey, we revealed that non‐flying mammals, such as squirrels (Callosciurus sp.) and masked palm civets (Paguma larvata), opened flowers explosively. Thus, these mammals contribute to the pollination of M. thailandica. This is the first report of non‐flying mammals contributing to pollination in montane forests in tropical Asia.
Informing conservation strategies with museum genomics: Long‐term effects of past anthropogenic persecution on the elusive European wildcat
Authors: von Thaden Alina , Cocchiararo Berardino , Mueller Sarah Ashley , Reiners Tobias Erik , Reinert Katharina , Tuchscherer Iris , Janke Axel , Nowak Carsten 
Published: December 2021

AbstractLike many carnivore species, European wildcats (Felis silvestris) have suffered severe anthropogenic population declines in the past, resulting in a strong population bottleneck at the beginning of the 20th century. In Germany, the species has managed to survive its near extinction in small isolated areas and is currently recolonizing former habitats owing to legal protection and concerted conservation efforts. Here, we SNP‐genotyped and mtDNA‐sequenced 56 historical and 650 contemporary samples to assess the impact of massive persecution on genetic diversity, population structure, and hybridization dynamics of wildcats. Spatiotemporal analyses suggest that the presumed postglacial differentiation between two genetically distinct metapopulations in Germany is in fact the result of the anthropogenic bottleneck followed by re‐expansion from few secluded refugia. We found that, despite the bottleneck, populations experienced no severe genetic erosion, nor suffered from elevated inbreeding or showed signs of increased hybridization with domestic cats. Our findings have significant implications for current wildcat conservation strategies, as the data analyses show that the two presently recognized wildcat population clusters should be treated as a single conservation unit. Although current populations appear under no imminent threat from genetic factors, fostering connectivity through the implementation of forest corridors will facilitate the preservation of genetic diversity and promote long‐term viability. The present study documents how museum collections can be used as essential resource for assessing long‐term anthropogenic effects on natural populations, for example, regarding population structure and the delineation of appropriate conservation units, potentially informing todays' species conservation.
Evolutionary insights into umami, sweet, and bitter taste receptors in amphibians
Authors: Zhong Huaming , Huang Jie , Shang Shuai , Yuan Baodong 
Published: December 2021

AbstractUmami and sweet sensations provide animals with important dietary information for detecting and consuming nutrients, whereas bitter sensation helps animals avoid potentially toxic or harmful substances. Enormous progress has been made toward animal sweet/umami taste receptor (Tas1r) and bitter taste receptor (Tas2r). However, information about amphibians is mainly scarce. This study attempted to delineate the repertoire ofTas1r/Tas2rgenes by searching for currently available genome sequences in 14 amphibian species. This study identified 16 Tas1r1, 9 Tas1r2, and 9 Tas1r3 genes to be intact and another 17 Tas1rgenes to be pseudogenes or absent in the 14 amphibians. According to the functional prediction ofTas1rgenes, two species have lost sweet sensation and seven species have lost both umami and sweet sensations. Anurans possessed a large number of intactTas2rs, ranging from 39 to 178. In contrast, caecilians possessed a contractive bitter taste repertoire, ranging from 4 to 19. Phylogenetic and reconciling analysis revealed that the repertoire of amphibianTas1rsandTas2rswas shaped by massive gene duplications and losses. No correlation was found between feeding preferences and the evolution ofTas1rsin amphibians. However, the expansion ofTas2rsmay help amphibians adapt to both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Bitter detection may have played an important role in the evolutionary adaptation of vertebrates in the transition from water to land.