bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Surface Plasmon Resonance‐Enhanced Visible‐NIR‐Driven Photocatalytic and Photothermal Catalytic Performance by Ag/Mesoporous Black TiO2 Nanotube Heterojunctions
Authors: Qiao Panzhe , Sun Bojing , Li Haoze , Pan Kai , Tian Guohui , Wang Lei , Zhou Wei 
Published: November 2018

AbstractAg/mesoporous black TiO2 nanotubes heterojunctions (Ag‐MBTHs) were fabricated through a surface hydrogenation, wet‐impregnation and photoreduction strategy. The as‐prepared Ag‐MBTHs possess a relatively high specific surface area of ≈85 m2 g−1 and an average pore size of ≈13.2 nm. The Ag‐MBTHs with a narrow band gap of ≈2.63 eV extend the photoresponse from UV to the visible‐light and near‐infrared (NIR) region. They exhibit excellent visible‐NIR‐driven photothermal catalytic and photocatalytic performance for complete conversion of nitro aromatic compounds (100 %) and mineralization of highly toxic phenol (100 %). The enhancement can be attributed to the mesoporous hollow structures increasing the light multi‐refraction, the Ti3+ in frameworks and the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of plasmonic Ag nanoparticles favoring light‐harvesting and spatial separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs, which is confirmed by transient fluorescence. The fabrication of this SPR‐enhanced visible‐NIR‐driven Ag‐MBTHs catalyst may provide new insights for designing other high‐performance heterojunctions as photocatalytic and photothermal catalytic nanomaterials.
Measuring the sustainability of the knitwear sector of Bangladesh: Sustainability Vulnerability Index
Authors: Reza Alavy Kifait , Islam Md. Shahidul 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe knitwear industry of Bangladesh has been going through a major shift as plethora of challenges has been thrown towards it since the Rana Plaza incident. This study identifies the current scenario of the sector and the challenges that accompany the sustainability of the sector with regard to sustainable development. An indicator titled “Sustainability Vulnerability Index (SVI)” has been established using indexing method and is scaled from 0 (least vulnerable) to 0.8 (most vulnerable). The results show that the most vulnerable indicator is for environment (0.632) followed by economic aspect (0.423) and the least vulnerable is the social aspect (0.138), and these all culminate the SVI as 0.402. This study seeks to highlight opportunities for the academic community, governmental bodies, and policy makers to contribute to the development of a sustainable knitwear sector in the global economy.
A study of environmental policies and regulations, governance structures, and environmental performance: The role of female directors
Authors: Elmagrhi Mohamed H. , Ntim Collins G. , Elamer Ahmed A. , Zhang Qingjing 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThis paper seeks to contribute to the existing business strategy and the environment literature by examining the effect of governance structures on environmental performance within a unique context of improving environmental governance, policies, regulations, and management. Specifically, we investigate the extent to which corporate board gender diversity, including the proportion, age, and level of education of female directors, affects environmental performance of Chinese publicly listed corporations. Using one of the largest Chinese data sets to date, consisting of a sample of 383 listed A‐shares from 2011 to 2015 (i.e., observations of 1,674), our findings are threefold. First, we find that the proportion and age of female directors have a positive effect on the overall corporate environmental performance. Second, our findings indicate that the proportion and age of female directors also have a positive effect on the three individual environmental performance components, namely, environmental (a) strategy, (b) implementation, and (c) disclosure. Finally, and by contrast, we do not find any evidence that suggests that the level of education of female directors has any impact on environmental performance, neither the overall environmental performance measure nor its individual components. Our findings have important implication for regulators and policymakers. Our evidence is robust to controlling for alternative measures, other governance and firm‐level control variables, and possible endogeneities. We interpret our findings within a multitheoretical framework that draws insights from agency, legitimacy, neo‐institutional, resource dependence, stakeholder, and tokenism theoretical perspectives.
Helical Ullazine‐Quinoxaline‐Based Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Authors: Richter Marcus , Hahn Sebastian , Dmitrieva Evgenia , Rominger Frank , Popov Alexey , Bunz Uwe H. F. , Feng Xinliang , Berger Reinhard 
Published: November 2018

AbstractPolycyclic aromatic azomethine ylides (PAMYs) are powerful building blocks in the bottom‐up synthesis of internally nitrogen‐containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (N‐PAHs) through 1,3‐cycloaddition reactions. In this work, the cycloaddition reaction of PAMYs to asymmetric ortho‐quinones is presented, which, in contrast to the addition to symmetric para‐quinones, facilitates subsequent condensation reactions and allows the synthesis of three helical N‐PAHs with ullazine‐quinoxaline (UQ‐1–3) backbones. UQ‐1 and UQ‐2 possess two helical centers; however, single‐crystal X‐ray analysis together with the computational modeling of UQ‐3 elucidate the formation of only the thermodynamically most stable geometry with four helical centers in a (P,P,M,M) configuration. For the series UQ‐1–3, the number of redox steps is directly correlated with the number of ullazine or quinoxaline units incorporated into the targeted molecular backbones. A detailed investigation of the spectroscopic and magnetic properties of the radical cation and anion as well as the dication and dianion species by in situ EPR/UV/Vis‐NIR spectroelectrochemistry is provided. The excellent optical and redox properties combined with helical geometries render them possibly applicable as chiral emitter or ambipolar charge transport material in organic electronics.
Synthesis and Molecular Editing of Callyspongiolide, Part 1: The Alkyne Metathesis/trans‐Reduction Strategy
Authors: Mata Guillaume , Wölfl Bernhard , Fürstner Alois 
Published: November 2018

AbstractA path‐scouting investigation into the highly cytotoxic marine macrolide callyspongiolide is reported that capitalizes on the selective formation of the C10−C11 alkene site. While the closure of the macrocycle by ring closing alkyne metathesis (RCAM) with the aid of a molybdenum alkylidyne complex was high yielding, the envisaged semi‐reduction of the cycloalkyne to the corresponding E‐alkene proved challenging. The reasons are likely steric in origin, in that the methyl branches on either side of the alkyne seem to prevent effective coordination of the substrate to the ruthenium catalyst, which must carry a bulky Cp* ligand to ensure high trans‐selectivity. This notion is supported by the preparation of a callyspongiolide analogue, in which the two methyl groups in question are excised; its formation by RCAM followed by trans‐hydrostannation/proto‐destannation was straightforward. In parallel work the formation of the fully functional building block 54 showed that the presence of an unprotected ‐OH group allows even hindered substrates to be processed: the protic group adjacent to the triple bond engages with a chloride ligand on the ruthenium catalyst in hydrogen bonding and hence assists in substrate binding. Moreover, the preparation of an alkynylogous callyspongiolide analogue is described.
The Alcohol‐to‐Jet Conversion Pathway for Drop‐In Biofuels: Techno‐Economic Evaluation
Authors: Geleynse Scott , Brandt Kristin , Garcia‐Perez Manuel , Wolcott Michael , Zhang Xiao 
Published: November 2018

AbstractInvited for this month's cover is Professor Michael Wolcott's FAA Project Team at Washington State University. The image shows how the Alcohol‐to‐Jet (ATJ) pathway can provide sustainable alternative jet fuels from a variety of feedstocks. The Full Paper itself is available at 10.1002/cssc.201801690.
Taxonomic and ecomorphological diversity of temnospondyl amphibians across the Permian–Triassic boundary in the Karoo Basin (South Africa)
Authors: Tarailo David A 
Published: November 2018

AbstractTemnospondyl amphibians experienced a geologically brief interval of success in the wake of the end‐Permian mass extinction. This study examines the relationship between taxonomic and ecological diversity of temnospondyls across the Permian–Triassic boundary in the Karoo Basin of South Africa. Ecomorphological diversity, as implied by differences in cranial shape, was incorporated into the study by the use of a landmark‐based geometric morphometric analysis. Both taxonomic diversity and cranial disparity are low during the Permian and increase across the Permian–Triassic boundary. Taxonomic diversity is stable through the Triassic, but disparity shows subsequent increases during the Olenekian and Anisian. Temnospondyls are restricted in size immediately following the extinction, but size range fully rebounds by the Olenekian. Cranial shape is heavily influenced by phylogenetic relatedness, and the observed increases in disparity may be partly the result of decreases in the net relatedness of coeval Karoo stereospondylomorph temnospondyls in younger faunas. The increase in community level taxonomic diversity for temnospondyls in the Karoo following the end‐Permian mass extinction was likely facilitated by an influx of distantly related and ecologically distinct species.
Sequence and structural analysis of fibronectin‐binding protein reveals importance of multiple intrinsic disordered tandem repeats
Authors: Saravanan Konda Mani , Ponnuraj Karthe 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe location of certain amino acid sequences like repeats along the polypeptide chain is very important in the context of forming the overall shape of the protein molecule which in fact determines its function. In gram‐positive bacteria, fibronectin‐binding protein (FnBP) is one such repeat containing protein, and it is a cell wall‐attached protein responsible for various acute infections in human. Several studies on sequence, structure, and function of fibronectin‐binding regions of FnBPs were reported; however, no detailed study was carried out on the full‐length protein sequence. In the present study, we have made a thorough sequence and structure analysis on FnBP_A of Staphylococcus aureus and explored the presence of dual ligand‐binding ability of fibrinogen (fg)‐binding region and its molecular recognition processes. Multiple sequence alignment and protein‐protein docking analysis reveal the regions which are likely involved in dual ligand binding. Further analysis of docking of FnBP_A fg‐binding region and fn N‐terminal modules suggests that if the latter binds to the fg‐binding region of FnBP_A, it would inhibit the subsequent binding of fg because of steric hindrance. The sequence analysis further suggests that the abundance of disorder promoting residue glutamic acid and dual personality (both order/disorder promoting) residue threonine in tandem repeats of FnBP_A and B proteins possibly would help the molecule to undergo a conformational change while binding with fn by β‐zipper mechanism. The segment‐based power spectral analysis was carried out which helps to understand the distribution of hydrophobic residues along the sequence particularly in intrinsic disordered tandem repeats. The results presented here will help to understand the role of internal repeats and intrinsic disorder in the molecular recognition process of a pathogenic cell surface protein.
Unconditionally stable five‐step LOD‐FDTD method in plasma medium
Authors: Feng Xuejian , Deng Haochuan , Wei Xiao , Yin Hongcheng , Yang Lixia 
Published: November 2018

AbstractA three‐dimensional unconditionally stable five‐step locally one‐dimensional finite‐difference time‐domain (LOD‐FDTD) method for anisotropic magnetized plasma medium is presented. Firstly, we search for a diagonal matrix to transform Maxwell coefficient matrix of plasma into skew symmetric matrix which is beneficial to analyze the properties of the proposed algorithm. Then, the detailed formula derivation and numerical stability analysis is presented. At last, the resonance frequency of a microwave cavity partially filled with a plasma slab and the rotation angle of an infinite plasma slab are simulated to verify the accuracy and stability of the proposed method. The effectiveness of the proposed method is further demonstrated by comparing with the three‐step LOD‐FDTD method.
Soils from an iron and steel scrap storage yard remediated with aided phytostabilization
Authors: Radziemska Maja , Koda Eugeniusz , Vaverkovà Magdalena D. , Gusiatin Zygmunt M. , Cerdà Artemi , Brtnický Martin , Mazur Zbigniew 
Published: November 2018

AbstractAreas degraded by industrial activity demonstrate unfavorable chemical and physical conditions, including a high concentration of trace elements (TEs), which reduce the growth and development of appropriate plant cover. For the above reasons, in recent years, the demand for the development of natural and effective technologies for removing particularly hazardous compounds such as TEs from the environment has been growing. Because aided phytostabilization is a relatively new technology, examination of new additions immobilizing TEs in combination with an appropriately selected species plan poses a challenge in environmental protection and engineering. The novelty of this study is in the assessment of the usefulness of previously not applied soil amendments in processes of TEs immobilization in contaminated soils. This study presents the results of a vegetation experiment using a mix of grasses and rarely used mineral soil amendments (halloysite, diatomite, dolomite) for aided phytostabilization of soil originating from an area affected by industrial activity and characterized by high TEs concentrations. Additionally, the degree of phytotoxicity of the examined soils was determined. The greatest above‐ground biomass was observed when diatomite, dolomite, and halloysite were added to the soil. The concentrations of the analyzed TEs in test plants were higher in roots than in the above‐ground parts. This indicates that mineral amendments affected soil properties promoting TEs precipitation and decreasing TEs bioavailability. The highest increase in soil pH was observed after the application of dolomite to the soil. The average contents of Pb, Ni, Cu, and Cr in soil demonstrated the highest reduction after diatomite and halloysite application. The conducted research confirms the possibility of applying the examined soil additives to support phytostabilization of alkaline soil highly contaminated with TEs.
A significant increase in the normalized difference vegetation index during the rapid economic development in the Pearl River Delta of China
Authors: Hu Mengmeng , Xia Beicheng 
Published: November 2018

AbstractSince 2000, the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) has increased by more than eight‐fold. Experiences throughout the world indicate that the impacts of economic development on vegetation are particularly important. This study analyzed the variations in vegetation coverage in the PRD from 2000 to 2016. Moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data were employed, whereas climate data, GDP, and population were also used as influencing factors. Topographic factors were introduced to explain the spatial vegetation patterns, and the impacts of human activities on vegetation were explored. The results revealed (a) the overall vegetation coverage in the PRD showed an increasing trend, and the overall average NDVI increased by 0.0033/a. (b) The spatial pattern did not change greatly, but the high and low NDVI values moved to low elevations and shallow topographic slopes where human activities were prevalent. This trend resulted in increased NDVI values in 38% of the area of the PRD (p < 0.01). (c) There was a positive correlation between NDVI and economic growth (GDP, population), with correlation coefficients greater than 0.8 (p < 0.01). NDVI is influenced by climate change and human activities (such as afforestation, resident lifestyles, and economic development policies). This study reveals that with good policies, both rapid economic development and vegetation coverage improvements can be simultaneously achieved in a region. The findings of this study are crucial for the sustainable development of the mega‐urban agglomerations of the PRD and Guangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macau Grand Bay.
PTRHD1 Loss‐of‐function mutation in an african family with juvenile‐onset Parkinsonism and intellectual disability
Authors: Kuipers Demy J.S. , Carr Jonathan , Bardien Soraya , Thomas Pearl , Sebate Boiketlo , Breedveld Guido J. , van Minkelen Rick , Brouwer Rutger W.W. , van Ijcken Wilfred F.J. , van Slegtenhorst Marjon A. , Bonifati Vincenzo , Quadri Marialuisa 
Published: November 2018

ABSTRACT
Background: The genetic bases of PD in sub‐Saharan African (SSA) populations remain poorly characterized, and analysis of SSA families with PD might lead to the discovery of novel disease‐related genes.
Objectives: To investigate the clinical features and identify the disease‐causing gene in a black South African family with 3 members affected by juvenile‐onset parkinsonism and intellectual disability.
Methods: Clinical evaluation, neuroimaging studies, whole‐exome sequencing, homozygosity mapping, two‐point linkage analysis, and Sanger sequencing of candidate variants.
Result: A homozygous 28‐nucleotide frameshift deletion in the PTRHD1 coding region was identified in the 3 affected family members and linked to the disease with genome‐wide significant evidence. PTRHD1 was recently nominated as the disease‐causing gene in two Iranian families, each containing 2 siblings with similar phenotypes and homozygous missense mutations.
Conclusion: Together with the previous reports, we provide conclusive evidence that loss‐of‐function mutations in PTRHD1 cause autosomal‐recessive juvenile parkinsonism and intellectual disability. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Analysis of lateral loading of pile groups using embedded beam elements with interaction surface
Authors: Turello Diego F. , Pinto Federico , Sánchez Pablo J. 
Published: November 2018

SummaryThe numerical simulation of soil‐pile interaction problems, by means of full 3D finite element models, involves a large number of degrees of freedom (DOF) and difficulties during the mesh generation process. In order to reduce the unknowns and simplify and properly analyze such class of geotechnical problems, the so‐called embedded beam elements (EBE) have recently been developed. In a preceding contribution of the authors, an improved EBE formulation, which brings into play the soil‐pile interaction surface, was proposed with the aim to localize material plasticity in the soil surrounding the pile. This embedded beam model couples two different finite elements, each described by distinct kinematics (ie, solid and beam). The coupling is incorporated in the formulation by means of kinematical constrains established over the solid and beam displacement fields on the interaction surface. One of the main advantages of the embedded elements is that the addition of beams structural members immersed within the 3D soil model does not represent a constraint for the solid mesh, which can be adopted independently from the beam mesh. In this paper, the lateral loading of pile groups is studied by means of the proposed EBE approach with elasto‐plastic interfaces. In order to represent a rigid cap, a master node and a special set of kinematical restrictions are incorporated into the formulation. The paper presents results obtained by means of the present formulation compared against other well‐established analysis methods and test results published in the literature, for both elastic and elasto‐plastic cases.
Resilience Among Police Officers: a Critical Systematic Review of Used Concepts, Measures, and Predictive Values of Resilience
Authors: Janssens Kim M. E. , van der Velden Peter G. , Taris Ruben , van Veldhoven Marc J. P. M. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractResilience, hardiness, and psychological capital are considered to be important capacities for police officers to cope with and adapt to challenging stressful and potentially traumatic situations. Despite their growing popularity, a systematic review assessing used concepts and instruments for these capacities and synthesizing the results of studies on the predictive values of resilience, hardiness, and psychological capital among police officers is absent. The aim of the present study is to fill this gap of scientific knowledge, and for this purpose, a systematic literature search was conducted using PsycInfo, Pubmed, and Web of Science. We identified 17 cross-sectional and 5 longitudinal studies. Results showed that resilience, hardiness, and psychological capital were studied mostly in relation to physical and mental health variables. No study focused on officers’ professional functioning. In both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, associations with health variables were very weak to moderate, while cross-sectional studies mostly yielded stronger associations than longitudinal associations. In sum, we found no empirical support for the growing popularity.
Evidence-based review of methods used to reduce pain after excisional hemorrhoidectomy
Authors: Emile Sameh Hany 
Published: November 2018

Abstract
Background Excisional hemorrhoidectomy is one of the most commonly performed anorectal procedures. Despite the satisfactory outcomes of excisional hemorrhoidectomy, the pain perceived by the patients following the procedure can be a distressing sequel. This review aimed to search the current literature for the existing evidence on how to avoid or minimize the severity of post-hemorrhoidectomy pain.
Methods An organized literature search was performed using electronic databases including PubMed/Medline and Google Scholar service for the articles that evaluated different methods for pain relief after excisional hemorrhoidectomy. Then, the studies were summarized in a narrative way illustrating the hypothesis and the outcomes of each study. The methods devised to reduce pain after excisional hemorrhoidectomy were classified into three main categories: technical tips; systemic and topical agents; and surgical methods. The efficacy of each method was highlighted along the level of evidence supporting it.
Results Stronger evidence (level Ia) supported LigaSure hemorrhoidectomy and the use of glyceryl trinitrate ointment to be associated with significant pain relief after excisional hemorrhoidectomy whereas the remaining methods were supported by lower level of evidence (level Ib).
Conclusion The use of LigaSure in performing excisional hemorrhoidectomy and the application of topical glyceryl trinitrate ointment contributed to remarkable relief of postoperative pain after excisional hemorrhoidectomy according to the highest level of evidence. Perhaps a multimodality strategy that combines systemic and topical agents can be the optimal method for control of pain after excisional hemorrhoidectomy, yet further prospective trials are required to draw such conclusion.