bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Superhydrophobic aluminum alloy surface with excellent universality, corrosion resistance, and antifouling performance prepared without prepolishing
Authors: Feng Libang , Sultonzoda Firdavs , Wang Jing , Wang Haitao , Xue Fengxin 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIt is urgently necessary to seek more simple and effective methods to construct superhydrophobic metal surfaces to improve the corrosion resistance and antifouling performance. Herein, a facile method for fabricating superhydrophobic aluminum alloy surface is developed via boiling water treatment and stearic acid modification. It is noteworthy that no prepolishing on aluminum alloy is required and no caustic reagents and typical equipments are used during the preparation procedure. Therefore, the fabrication method is quite a simple and environment‐friendly technique. Both micro‐ and nano‐scaled binary structure forms at the resultant aluminum alloy surface while long alkyl chains are grafted onto the rough aluminum alloy surface chemically. Consequently, the resultant aluminum alloy exhibits outstanding superhydrophobicity. More importantly, the superhydrophobicity has excellent universality, diversity, stability, excellent corrosion resistance, and antifouling performance. The facile preparation, excellent superhydrophobic durability, and outstanding performance are quite in favor of the practical application.
Effect of ethylene diamine tetra‐acetic acid and functional monomers on the structure and adsorption properties of copper (II) ion‐imprinted polymers
Authors: Chaipuang Angkana , Phungpanya Chalida , Thongpoon Chalermporn , Watla‐iad Kanchana , Inkaew Prachak , Machan Theeraphan , Suwantong Orawan 
Published: April 2021

Novel copper (II) ion‐imprinted polymers (Cu‐IIPs) were synthesized by bulk polymerization using 1 mmol of copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate as the template ion, 1 mmol of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as the ligand, and 4 mmol of 4‐vinyl pyridine (4‐VP) or methacrylic acid (MAA) as the functional monomer dissolved in a porogen of 20 mL of methanol. Polymerization was performed with 20 mmol of pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA) as the crosslinker and 1 mmol of benzoyl peroxide as the initiator. The effect of pH, time, initial concentration of Cu2+, and selectivity tests on the adsorption capacity were investigated using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS). The prepared polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Adsorption capacity of Cu‐IIPs prepared with MAA increased from 0.794 to 2.163 mg g−1 at pH 6 within 24 hours, while Cu‐IIPs from MAA had high recognition ability with better recognition of Cu2+ than other ions. Thus, these Cu‐IIPs demonstrated potential application as an adsorbent for efficient removal of Cu2+ from aqueous solutions.
Effect of transfer from a pediatric to adult cystic fibrosis center on clinical status and hospital attendance
Authors: Collins Rachel , Singh Bhajan , Payne Donald N. , Bharat Chrianna , Noffsinger William , Dhaliwal Satvinder S. , O'Dea Christopher , Mulrennan Siobhain 
Published: April 2021

AbstractAimTransfer from pediatric to adult services could lead to clinical deterioration, few studies have examined this. We sought to examine the clinical impact of a structured individualized transition and transfer process in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).MethodsMedical records of all patients with CF in Western Australia who transferred from a pediatric center (Princess Margaret Hospital for Children) to an adult CF center (Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital) between 2008 and 2012 were reviewed. Data were extracted for 2 years before and after transfer. The number of CF outpatient visits, inpatient days, and home intravenous antibiotic therapy (HIVT) days were recorded at yearly intervals before and after transfer. Sputum culture results at transfer were collected. All respiratory function and anthropometric data over the 4 years were extracted.ResultsForty‐two patients with CF were transferred between 2008 and 2012. The mean age at transfer was 18.9 years (range 17–22). Compared to 1‐year pre‐transfer, the frequency of outpatient visits at 1‐ and 2‐year post‐transfer increased. After transfer, there was no change in BMI, HIVT days, or inpatient days, and no acceleration in the expected decline in FEV1.ConclusionThis study found that transfer from a pediatric to an adult CF center using a structured, individualized transition and transfer process was not associated with accelerated clinical deterioration.
Crystal structure of a GDP‐6‐OMe‐4‐keto‐L‐xylo‐heptose reductase from Campylobacter jejuni
Authors: Kim Jun‐Hong , Hofmann Andreas , Kim Jeong‐Sun 
Published: April 2021

AbstractCarbohydrates play a major role in infection strategies of various enteric pathogens. In Campylobacter jejuni, the most common cause of gastroenteritis, uniquely modified heptoses found in surface carbohydrates are synthesized by specific pathways. Owing to the importance of such pathways for the infectious potential of pathogens and/or their virulence, these biosynthesis pathways present potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Here, we determined the crystal structure of GDP‐6‐OMe‐4‐keto‐L‐xylo‐heptose reductase (MlghC), an enzyme within the L‐gluco‐heptose synthesis pathway of C. jejuni strain NCTC 11168. This enzyme lacks the canonical tyrosine residue of the conserved catalytic Ser‐Lys‐Tyr triad commonly found among functionally related reductases. Despite adopting the overall two‐domain fold shared with other short‐chain dehydrogenase/reductase family members, subtle structural differences in the interface between the cofactor‐ and substrate‐binding domains explain the absence of epimerase activity and different substrate specificity of this reductase. Modeling of the product‐bound complex based on the crystal structure presented here suggests that a tyrosine residue unique to MlghC replaces the missing canonical residue of the catalytic triad.
Impact of the Alkyl Side Chains of Cations and Anions on the Activity and Renaturation of Lysozyme: A Systematic Study Performed Using Six Amino‐Acid‐Based Ionic Liquids
Authors: Rakowska Paulina W. , Kloskowski Adam 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe impact of the structure of ionic liquid on the activity and renaturation of lysozyme from the hen egg white (HEWL) was investigated. A set of six ionic liquids based on morpholinium cation and N‐acylated amino acids as anions were exploited. The matrix used was based on two homologous series: one with N‐acetyl‐L‐valinate [Val] as a common anion and morpholinium cation with a different number of carbon atoms in the n‐alkyl chain (n=2, 4, 6, 8); and second, a common N‐butyl‐N‐methylmorpholinium cation and different N‐acylated amino acids. Interactions of ionic liquids with HEWL were explored by analyzing the changes in the activity of the enzyme based on the rate of hydrolysis of a β‐1,4‐glycosidic bond between components of peptidoglycan in the cell wall of Micrococcus luteus bacteria. The results demonstrated various mechanisms of interaction of cations and anions with HEWL, and hence, different trends in the association between the number of carbon atoms and the given property.
Study on Magnetic Porous Carbon Microspheres as a Novel Adsorbent for Malachite Green
Authors: Gong Liang , Wang Jie , Jiang Chenhao , Xiao Teng , Shen Kang , Lei Ming , Tang Yiping 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIn this paper, a novel adsorbent of magnetic mesoporous carbon microspheres (MCS) are prepared by template methods and using nano‐Fe3O4 particles as magnetic cores, and the adsorption capacity and mechanism are studied in detail. The results show that MCS exhibits high performance for removing malachite green (MG), the highest adsorption capacity can reach about 468.5 mg g−1. Furthermore, the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model and the quasi‐second‐order kinetic model can explain the experimental phenomena very well. And the high adsorption capacity of MCS is mainly attributed to its unique mesoporous structure by increasing the specific surface area and providing sufficient active sites. In addition, after magnetic separation and recovery, MCS can be regenerated with ethanol. And MCS maintains a high adsorption rate of 84.5 % after 5 cycles of MG adsorption and desorption. This composite material with high adsorption efficiency and rapid magnetic separation is a promising recyclable adsorbent for the actual wastewater treatment and purification process.
Preparation of Cu(II)‐Containing MOF Catalyst and Application in the α, β‐Dehydrogenation of Saturated Ketones
Authors: Pan Gao‐Fei , Wu Yun‐Long , Xing Rui‐Guang , Zhang Bang‐Wen 
Published: April 2021

AbstractA 0D Cu(II)‐containing metal organic framework (MOF) catalyst has been developed to promote α, β‐dehydrogenation of saturated ketones in the yield of 70 %–90 % at mild conditions without extra organic ligand. The single crystal data of the Cu‐MOF catalyst shows the 0D structure based on the typical dinuclear paddle‐wheel shaped, comprising of a Cu(II) center and four activated N atoms (including two N‐methyl‐pyrrolidone and two pyridine) which can activate the hydrogen atom of the saturated ketones. The Cu(II)‐containing MOF catalyst also exhibited satisfactory stability in the non‐proton polar solvent and could be reused for more than five times without any significant loss of activity.
A New Class of Linezolid‐Based Molecules as Potential Antimicrobial and Antitubercular Agents: A Rational Approach
Authors: Kushwaha Babita , Kushwaha Narva Deshwar , Parish Tanya , Guzman Junitta , Kajee Afsana , Shaikh Mahamadhanif S. , Kehinde Idowu , Obakachi Vincent A. , Pathan Tabasum Khan , Shinde Suraj Raosaheb , Karpoormath Rajshekhar 
Published: April 2021

AbstractA total of 19 linezolid‐based novel molecules (6 a–d,8 a–dand10 a–k) were synthesized by utilizing a simple and convenient synthetic method. Structures of all the novel derivatives were established by1H,13C NMR, FT‐IR and mass spectroscopic methods. In addition, structural elucidation of some representative compounds by19F, 2D NMR and single crystal X‐ray experiment's (6 dand8 b) further confirmed the structures of the desired compounds. All the final compounds were evaluated for theirin vitroantitubercular (Mycobacterium tuberculosisH37RV strain), antibacterial (S. aureus,B. subtilis,E. coliandP. aeruginosa) and antifungal (C. neoformans,C. albicansandA. niger) activities. The docking study of most active compounds were also performed towards 50S ribosomal unit ofHaloarcula marismortui. The Lipinski's rule of five and significant ADME pharmacokinetic parameters were also analysed indicating potential to develop good oral antimicrobial and antitubercular drug candidates.
Precisely Engineering Architectures of Co/C Sub‐Microreactors for Selective Syngas Conversion
Authors: Wei Jiatong , Chen Yanping , Ma Yanfu , Shi Xin , Zhang Xiaoli , Shi Chunjing , Hu Ming , Liu Jian 
Published: April 2021

AbstractFischer‐Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is an effective route to produce olefins, gasoline, diesel, and oxygenates from syngas (CO + H2). However, it still remains a challenge for regulating the product distribution of FTS. Here, a series of Co/C sub‐microreactors with precise designed nanoarchitectures are synthesized for selective syngas conversion. Through a combination of surface protection‐assisted etching and following carbonization process, Co/C sub‐microreactors with solid cube, double‐shelled hollow box, and hollow box architectures, namely, Co/C‐Cube, Co/C‐DBox, Co/C‐Box can be obtained. In FTS, comparing with solid Co/C‐Cube, double‐shelled hollow structured Co/C‐DBox is inclined to grow long‐chain hydrocarbon products, whereas hollow structured Co/C‐Box avails the formation of short‐chain hydrocarbon chemicals. Therefore, shape selective catalysis and controlled product distribution of FTS are realized by tuning the architectures of Co/C sub‐microreactors. It is expected to fundamentally unravel the heterogeneous catalytic process via upfront designing and precisely regulating the architectures of micro/nanoreactors.
Recent Representative Advances on the Synthesis and Reactivity of N‐Heterocyclic‐Carbene‐Supported Zinc Complexes
Authors: Specklin David , Fliedel Christophe , Dagorne Samuel 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe present account reviews the most recent noteworthy developments on the synthesis, structure and catalytic applications of Zn‐NHC species, a class of complexes that have attracted attention over the past five to ten years due to their enhanced robustness and hydrolytic stability versus classical Zn organometallics. In particular, thanks to NHC stabilization, access to unprecedented Zn species were recently achieved, including two‐coordinate Zn(II) organocations and thermally stable molecularly well‐defined Zn hydride species, opening the way to effective Zn‐mediated hydro‐silylation/‐boration catalysis of various unsaturated substrates under mild conditions. The potential of NHC−Zn species for the stabilization of unprecedented Zn species and use in various catalytic applications is only emerging and the vast array of readily available NHC structures should promote future developments of the field.
Commercial hostages in international business disputes
Authors: Carr Chris , Harris Dan 
Published: April 2021

AbstractA “commercial hostage” or “debt hostage” situation involves a dispute between a foreign company and its local partner over such matters as payment, the closing of a local office or facility, the laying off of local employees, or the transfer or ownership of intellectual property. Rather than file a lawsuit seeking money damages or an injunction, the local partner takes extra‐judicial steps to detain the foreigner against their will, so as to pressure the foreign company into resolving the dispute. The local police may even actively assist the local partner by way of inaction when the foreign company asks for help. While this activity occurs in a number of countries, this study focuses on China. One challenge in studying commercial hostage situations is gathering enough cases to be able to gauge the factors that drive them. Stated differently, how can scholars shift the study of this important topic from the anecdotal to a data‐based approach? This study is an initial attempt to do just that—it mainly attempts to gauge the frequency of recent commercial hostage activity in the P.R.C. Secondarily, it sheds light on where that activity occurs, why, and the identity of its victims. To accomplish this, Freedom of Information Act requests were submitted to six Western countries (including the U.S.) with significant China trade. English and Chinese business and legal media reports were also searched for commercial hostage cases involving foreigners. Between these two sources, dozens of commercial hostage incidents were identified. The vast majority occurred in or near Tier 1 cities and/or coastal regions, a significant number involved foreign firms operating in the commodity goods space, and a disproportionate percentage involved ethnic Chinese. Building on these findings, we conclude by providing a risk assessment matrix that foreign businesspersons can use to evaluate the risk of travelling to the P.R.C. for business. As trade tensions rise between the U.S. and China, the importance of this issue and evaluating commercial hostage risk may only increase.
Amyloid beta cleavage by ANA‐TA9, a synthetic peptide from the ANA/BTG3 Box A region
Authors: Hatakawa Yusuke , Nakamura Rina , Konishi Motomi , Sakane Toshiyasu , Tanaka Akiko , Matsuda Akira , Saito Motoaki , Akizawa Toshifumi 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIntroductionWe recently discovered a short synthetic peptide derived from the ANA/BTG3 protein Box A region called ANA‐TA9 (SKGQAYRMI), which possesses catalytic activity. Herein we demonstrated the proteolytic activity of ANA‐TA9 against amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42).MethodsThe proteolytic activity of ANA‐TA9 against both the authentic soluble form Aβ42 (a‐Aβ42) and the solid insoluble form Aβ42 (s‐Aβ42) was analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Plasma clearance, brain uptake, and cell viability were examined.ResultsANA‐TA9 cleaved not only a‐Aβ42 but also s‐Aβ42. Proteolytic activity was partially inhibited by 4‐(2‐aminoethyl) benzenesulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride, a serine protease inhibitor. Plasma clearance was very rapid, and the brain concentration indicated efficient brain delivery of ANA‐TA9 via nasal application. Cell viability analysis indicated that ANA‐TA9 did not display toxicity.DiscussionANA‐TA9 is an attractive potential candidate for the development of novel peptide drugs in Alzheimer's disease treatment.
Getting the Short End of the Stick: Power Relations and Their Distributive Outcomes for Lower-Income Countries in Transfer Pricing Governance
Authors: Vet Cassandra , Cassimon Danny , Van de Vijver Anne 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIt is widely recognized that international corporate taxation holds a distributional bias toward advanced economies and that developing countries only play a marginal role in tax governance-making. Yet, it is the ambition of both the G20 and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to integrate developing countries in the BEPS Inclusive Framework. The Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) action is the latest global initiative to update the international framework of corporate taxation and curb corporate tax avoidance. On one hand, the integration for developing countries within the policy-making forums remains incomplete and focused on the implementation of the global tax rules. On the other, even when lower-income countries have a seat at the table, uneven power relations shape the distributional outcomes of the G20-OECD tax reform project. This analysis of the power relations at play during the revision of the transactional profit split method (TPSM) reveals how dominant logics on value creation work against the material interests of developing countries in the distribution of taxing rights. Therefore, for a tax reform to be truly legitimate for developing countries, it should emancipate and even “decolonize” the discourse and ideas of the international tax regime. While the updated OECD guidelines on transfer pricing expanded the size of the overall cake of taxable profits, the dominant logics and criteria of the guidance make it difficult for lower-income countries to obtain a decent slice of the cake and actually eat it.
Tax Incentives in Pacific Alliance Countries, the BEPS Project (Action 5), and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda
Authors: Lozano Rodríguez Eleonora 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe chapter provides a theoretical and conceptual approach to tax incentives and their desirable and problematic characteristics. It then presents the objectives that, from the international scenario, the OECD’s BEPS Project and the Sustainable Development Agenda seek from their good design and implementation. Finally, it presents the current panorama of such incentives in Latin American countries in general, and in those of the Pacific Alliance in particular, analysing, based on a sample of income and value-added tax incentives, their difficulties in meeting international standards. Finally, it proposes a series of public policy recommendations for improvement.
Cognitive Assistance to Support Maintenance and Assembly Tasks: Results on Technology Acceptance of a Head-Mounted Device
Authors: Gerdenitsch Cornelia , Deinhard Lisa , Kern Bettina , Hold Philipp , Egger-Lampl Sebastian 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis paper presents a study investigating the user acceptance (i.e. the perceived ease of use, willingness to use the system over time, and perceived usefulness) of a smart head-mounted device that can be used as assistive technology for maintenance and assembly. In particular, we focus on the head-mounted display named HMT-1 from RealWear. The uniqueness of this technology is, among other things, that it offers the possibility to fold away the display with the instructions, allowing more control over the appearance of assistive content than in other head-mounted displays. Overall, 48 participants took part in this interview study. They mentioned some advantages (e.g., that the hands are free and that one can see the instructions while working on something else at the same time) and disadvantages of the technology (such as usability issues). They also suggested that the technology is suitable for non-routine tasks and tasks of medium-to-high complexity. Our findings highlight that a cognitive assistive technology is perceived as positive when direct assistance is available (in the visual field of the worker) with a possibility to control the system.
Attention Analysis for Assistance in Assembly Processes
Authors: Paletta Lucas 
Published: April 2021

AbstractHuman attention processes play a major role in the optimization of human-machine interaction (HMI) systems. This work describes a suite of innovative components within a novel framework in order to assess the human factors state of the human operator primarily by gaze and in real-time. The objective is to derive parameters that determine information about situation awareness of the human collaborator that represents a central concept in the evaluation of interaction strategies in collaboration. The human control of attention provides measures of executive functions that enable to characterize key features in the domain of human-machine collaboration. This work presents a suite of human factors analysis components (the Human Factors Toolbox) and its application in the assembly processes of a future production line. Comprehensive experiments on HMI are described which were conducted with typical tasks including collaborative pick-and-place in a lab based prototypical manufacturing environment.
Towards the Automated Coverlay Assembly in FPCB Manufacturing: Concept and Preliminary Tests
Authors: Valori Marcello , Basile Vito , Negri Simone Pio , Scalmati Paolo , Renghini Chiara , Fassi Irene 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIn modern electronics, flexible and rigid-flex PCBs are largely used due to their intrinsic versatility and performance, allowing to increase the available volume, or enabling connection between unconstrained components. Rigid-flex PCBs consists of rigid board portions with flexible interconnections and are commonly used in a wide variety of industrial applications. However, the assembly process of these devices still has some bottlenecks. Specifically, they require the application of cover layers (namely, coverlays), to provide insulation and protection of the flexible circuits. Due to the variability in planar shape and dimensions, the coverlay application is still performed manually, requiring troublesome manipulation steps and resulting in undetermined time-cycle and precision.This paper aims at the improvement of the industrial process currently performed, by proposing an approach for the automation of Kapton coverlay manipulation and application. Since these products are commercially provided as a film with a protective layer to be removed, the peeling issue is addressed, representing a challenging step of the automated process; the results of a systematic series of tests, performed in order to validate the peeling strategy, are reported in the paper. The overall assembly strategy relies on the development of a customized multi-hole vacuum gripper, whose concept is presented and contextualized in the proposed assembly process by outlining a suitable workcell architecture.