bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Indium Phosphite‐Based Porous Solids Exhibiting Organic Sensing and a Facile Route to Superhydrophobicity
Authors: Chang Yu‐Tzu , Lo Sheng‐Han , Lin Chia‐Her , Hung Ling‐I , Wang Sue‐Lein 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIn searching for practical crystalline porous solids, two unique hybrid materials with featured functions, In‐bpy and In‐dpe, were prepared without deliberately designed organic linker units or complex post‐modification procedures. Composed of oxalate‐embedded metal phosphite (MPO) sheets and bipyridyl‐type ligands of varied molecular lengths, they show a common pillar‐layered topology but are the first well‐characterized organo‐MPOs to possess genuine porosity, substantiated by CO2 adsorption, and structural stability under harsh conditions. In‐bpy exhibits a turn‐on fluorescence signal when in contact with p‐xylene, making it the first MPO‐based sensing material with selectivity and recyclability. Furthermore, In‐dpe demonstrates a facile and unprecedented route to the superhydrophobicity of porous solids via a [2+2] photocycloaddition reaction between linker and foreign units. Our findings suggest that MPO may serve as a promising platform for hybrid frameworks to create many more functional porous materials.
High‐Resolution NMR of Folded Proteins in Hyperpolarized Physiological Solvents
Authors: Kadeřávek Pavel , Ferrage Fabien , Bodenhausen Geoffrey , Kurzbach Dennis 
Published: July 2018

AbstractHyperpolarized 2D exchange spectroscopy (HYPEX) to obtain high‐resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of folded proteins under near‐physiological conditions is reported. The technique is based on hyperpolarized water, which is prepared by dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization and mixed in situ in an NMR spectrometer with a protein in a physiological saline buffer at body temperature. Rapid exchange of labile protons with the hyperpolarized solvent, combined with cross‐relaxation effects (NOEs), leads to boosted signal intensities for many amide 1H–15N correlations in the protein ubiquitin. As the introduction of hyperpolarization to the target protein is mediated via the solvent, the method is applicable to a broad spectrum of target molecules.
Norbornadiene‐Based Photoswitches with Exceptional Combination of Solar Spectrum Match and Long‐Term Energy Storage
Authors: Jevric Martyn , Petersen Anne U. , Mansø Mads , Kumar Singh Sandeep , Wang Zhihang , Dreos Ambra , Sumby Christopher , Nielsen Mogens Brøndsted , Börjesson Karl , Erhart Paul , Moth‐Poulsen Kasper 
Published: July 2018

AbstractNorbornadiene‐quadricyclane (NBD‐QC) photoswitches are candidates for applications in solar thermal energy storage. Functionally, they rely on an intramolecular [2+2] cycloaddition reaction, which couples the S0 landscape on the NBD side to the S1 landscape on the QC side of the reaction and vice‐versa. This commonly results in an unfavourable correlation between the first absorption maximum and the barrier for thermal back‐conversion. This work demonstrates that this correlation can be counteracted by using steric repulsion to hamper the rotational motion of the side groups along the back‐conversion path. It is shown that this modification reduces the correlation between the effective back‐conversion barrier and the first absorption maximum and also increases the back‐conversion entropy. The resulting molecules exhibit exceptionally long half‐lives for their metastable forms without significantly affecting other properties, most notably solar spectrum match and storage density.
Evaluation of the Edman degradation product of vancomycin bonded to core‐shell particles as a new HPLC chiral stationary phase
Authors: Hellinghausen Garrett , Lopez Diego A. , Lee Jauh T. , Wang Yadi , Weatherly Choyce A. , Portillo Abiud E. , Berthod Alain , Armstrong Daniel W. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractA modified macrocyclic glycopeptide‐based chiral stationary phase (CSP), prepared via Edman degradation of vancomycin, was evaluated as a chiral selector for the first time. Its applicability was compared with other macrocyclic glycopeptide‐based CSPs: TeicoShell and VancoShell. In addition, another modified macrocyclic glycopeptide‐based CSP, NicoShell, was further examined. Initial evaluation was focused on the complementary behavior with these glycopeptides. A screening procedure was used based on previous work for the enantiomeric separation of 50 chiral compounds including amino acids, pesticides, stimulants, and a variety of pharmaceuticals. Fast and efficient chiral separations resulted by using superficially porous (core‐shell) particle supports. Overall, the vancomycin Edman degradation product (EDP) resembled TeicoShell with high enantioselectivity for acidic compounds in the polar ionic mode. The simultaneous enantiomeric separation of 5 racemic profens using liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry with EDP was performed in approximately 3 minutes. Other highlights include simultaneous liquid chromatography separations of rac‐amphetamine and rac‐methamphetamine with VancoShell, rac‐pseudoephedrine and rac‐ephedrine with NicoShell, and rac‐dichlorprop and rac‐haloxyfop with TeicoShell.
Monocyte and Neutrophil Isolation, Migration, and Phagocytosis Assays
Authors: Maini Alexander , Foote Juliet R. , Hayhoe Richard , Patel Amit A. , O'Brien Alastair , Avraham‐Davidi Inbal , Yona Simon 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis article describes methods for isolating mouse monocytes and neutrophils, as well as in vitro protocols for measuring cell phagocytosis, migration, and polarization. The method employed here for the isolation of naive phagocytes overcomes many of the difficulties previously encountered concerning phagocyte activation. Three in vitro protocols are provided for the analysis of cell migration, one requiring no specialized equipment, one requiring a modified Boyden chamber, and the other employing a flow chamber, which measures cell adhesion, rolling, and migration. Three in vitro protocols to examine phagocytosis have been included in this updated version. Finally, a method is provided for imaging polarized cells by confocal microscopy. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Optimum design of high power and high efficiency mm‐wave fundamental oscillators
Authors: Shirinabadi Hossein , Kalantari Milad , Fotowat‐Ahmady Ali , Banai Ali 
Published: July 2018

SummaryA systematic method to design high power and high efficiency mm‐wave fundamental oscillators is presented. By using a linear time variant method, we first obtain the optimum conditions and show that these conditions can be significantly different for high power and high efficiency fundamental oscillation. Next, we propose a modified multistage ring oscillator with interstage passive networks to exploit the full capacity of the transistors in terms of output power or efficiency. Analytical expressions are also derived to determine the value of passive elements used in the oscillator. To verify the validity of the method, a 77‐GHz two‐stage (differential) VCO is designed in a 65‐nm CMOS process. Careful electromagnetic and circuit simulations demonstrate that the designed VCO has 2‐GHz tuning range, maximum output power of 10.5 dBm and maximum DC to RF efficiency of 24.1%. The designed VCO shows 54.8% and 108.7% improvement in terms of maximum output power and efficiency compared with a conventional cross‐coupled VCO with the same tuning range.
X‐ray computed tomography and its potential in ecological research: A review of studies and optimization of specimen preparation
Authors: Gutiérrez Yeisson , Ott David , Töpperwien Mareike , Salditt Tim , Scherber Christoph 
Published: July 2018

AbstractImaging techniques are a cornerstone of contemporary biology. Over the last decades, advances in microscale imaging techniques have allowed fascinating new insights into cell and tissue morphology and internal anatomy of organisms across kingdoms. However, most studies so far provided snapshots of given reference taxa, describing organs and tissues under “idealized” conditions. Surprisingly, there is an almost complete lack of studies investigating how an organism′s internal morphology changes in response to environmental drivers. Consequently, ecology as a scientific discipline has so far almost neglected the possibilities arising from modern microscale imaging techniques. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments of X‐ray computed tomography as an affordable, simple method of high spatial resolution, allowing insights into three‐dimensional anatomy bothin vivoandex vivo. We review ecological studies using this technique to investigate the three‐dimensional internal structure of organisms. In addition, we provide practical comparisons between different preparation techniques for maximum contrast and tissue differentiation. In particular, we consider the novel modality of phase contrast by self‐interference of the X‐ray wave behind an object (i.e., phase contrast by free space propagation). Using the cricketAcheta domesticus(L.) as model organism, we found that the combination ofFAEfixative and iodine staining provided the best results across different tissues. The drying technique also affected contrast and prevented artifacts in specific cases. Overall, we found that for the interests of ecological studies, X‐ray computed tomography is useful when the tissue or structure of interest has sufficient contrast that allows for an automatic or semiautomatic segmentation. In particular, we show that reconstruction schemes which exploit phase contrast can yield enhanced image quality. Combined with suitable specimen preparation and automated analysis, X‐rayCTcan therefore become a promising quantitative 3D imaging technique to study organisms′ responses to environmental drivers, in both ecology and evolution.
Intercolony variations in movement patterns and foraging behaviors among herring gulls (Larus argentatus) breeding in the eastern Wadden Sea
Authors: Enners Leonie , Schwemmer Philipp , Corman Anna‐Marie , Voigt Christian C. , Garthe Stefan 
Published: July 2018

AbstractHerring gulls (Larus argentatus) are opportunistic predators that prefer to forage in the intertidal zone, but an increasing degree of terrestrial foraging has recently been observed. We therefore aimed to analyze the factors influencing foraging behavior and diet composition in the German Wadden Sea. Gulls from three breeding colonies on islands at different distances from the mainland were equipped with GPS data loggers during the incubation seasons in 2012–2015. Logger data were analyzed for 37 individuals, including 1,115 foraging trips. Herring gulls breeding on the island furthest from the mainland had shorter trips (mean total distance = 12.3 km; mean maximum distance = 4.2 km) and preferred to feed on the tidal flats close to the colony, mainly feeding on common cockles (Cerastoderma edule) and shore crabs (Carcinus maenas). In contrast, herring gulls breeding close to the mainland carried out trips with a mean total distance of 26.7 km (mean maximum distance = 9.2 km). These gulls fed on the neobiotic razor clams (Ensis leei) in the intertidal zone, and a larger proportion of time was spent in distant terrestrial habitats on the mainland, feeding on earthworms. δ13C and δ15N values were higher at the colony furthest from the mainland and confirmed a geographical gradient in foraging strategy. Analyses of logger data, pellets, and stable isotopes revealed that herring gulls preferred to forage in intertidal habitats close to the breeding colony, but shifted to terrestrial habitats on the mainland as the tide rose and during the daytime. Reduced prey availability in the vicinity of the breeding colony might force herring gulls to switch to feed on razor clams in the intertidal zone or to use distant terrestrial habitats. Herring gulls may thus act as an indicator for the state of the intertidal system close to their breeding colony.
A high accuracy and efficiency indoor positioning system with visible light communication
Authors: Ma Yi‐Wei , Chen Jiann‐Liang , Chen Zheng‐Zhun 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPositioning technology is important to the development of location‐based services. This work proposes a highly accurate and efficient indoor positioning system that uses visible light communication technology. The system uses a fingerprinting positioning mechanism that is based on a mobile device. A dynamic k‐NN (DKNN) mechanism is developed to improve upon k‐nearest neighbor (k‐NN) positioning, which is based on fingerprinting. This work also proposes an integrated angle of arrival (AOA) and fingerprinting mechanism for three‐dimensional positioning, which reduces the time that would otherwise be required for fingerprinting training and improves the accuracy of the indoor positioning system. When used for fixed‐height two‐dimensional positioning, the mean error distance of the DKNN fingerprinting positioning mechanism is approximately 0.15 cm. The AOA mean error distance is approximately 11.43 cm. The traditional k‐NN mean error distance is approximately 1.47 cm. Ignoring the height error, the integrated AOA and fingerprinting positioning mechanisms have a mean error distance of approximately 2.43 cm; the traditional AOA mean error distance is approximately 11.10 cm, and the fingerprinting mean error distance is approximately 2.74 cm. When the height error is considered, the AOA and fingerprinting fusion positioning mechanisms have a mean error distance of approximately 2.83 cm; the AOA mean error distance is approximately 11.62 cm, and the fingerprinting mean error distance is approximately 4.15 cm. The experimental results therefore show that the proposed mechanism provides the highest positioning accuracy.
A Bayesian framework for health economic evaluation in studies with missing data
Authors: Mason Alexina J. , Gomes Manuel , Grieve Richard , Carpenter James R. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractHealth economics studies with missing data are increasingly using approaches such as multiple imputation that assume that the data are “missing at random.” This assumption is often questionable, as—even given the observed data—the probability that data are missing may reflect the true, unobserved outcomes, such as the patients' true health status. In these cases, methodological guidelines recommend sensitivity analyses to recognise data may be “missing not at random” (MNAR), and call for the development of practical, accessible approaches for exploring the robustness of conclusions to MNAR assumptions.Little attention has been paid to the problem that data may be MNAR in health economics in general and in cost‐effectiveness analyses (CEA) in particular. In this paper, we propose a Bayesian framework for CEA where outcome or cost data are missing. Our framework includes a practical, accessible approach to sensitivity analysis that allows the analyst to draw on expert opinion.We illustrate the framework in a CEA comparing an endovascular strategy with open repair for patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, and provide software tools to implement this approach.
Long‐term effects of aquifer overdraft and recovery on groundwater quality in a Ramsar wetland: Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park, Spain
Authors: Castaño Silvino , de la Losa Almudena , Martínez‐Santos Pedro , Mediavilla Rosa , Santisteban Juan Ignacio 
Published: July 2018

AbstractLas Tablas de Daimiel National Park is one of Spain's most representative groundwater‐dependent ecosystems. Under natural conditions, water inflows combined brackish surface water from River Gigüela with freshwater inputs from River Guadiana and the underlying aquifer. Since the mid‐1970s, aquifer overexploitation caused the desiccation of the wetlands and neighbouring springs. The National Park remained in precarious hydrological conditions for three decades, with the only exception of rapid floods due to extreme rainfall events and sporadic water transfers from other basins. In the late 2000s, a decrease in groundwater abstraction and an extraordinarily wet period reversed the trend. The aquifer experienced an unexpected recovery of groundwater levels (over 20 m in some areas), thus restoring groundwater discharge to springs and wetlands. The complex historical evolution of the water balance in this site has resulted in substantial changes in surface and groundwater quality. This becomes evident when comparing the pre‐1980 groundwater quality and the hydrochemical status in the wetland in two different periods, under “dry” and “wet” conditions. Although the system is close to full recovery from the groundwater‐level viewpoint, bouncing back in the major hydrochemical constituents has not yet been obtained. These still appear to evolve in response to the previous overexploitation state. Moreover, in some sectors, there are groundwater‐dependent ecosystems that remain different to those found in preoverexploitation times. The experience of Las Tablas de Damiel provides an observatory of long‐term changes in wetland water quality, demonstrating that the effects of aquifer overexploitation on aquatic ecosystems are more than a mere alteration of the water balance and that groundwater quality is the key to aquifer and aquatic ecosystem sustainability.
Role of differentially expressed genes and long non‐coding RNAs in papillary thyroid carcinoma diagnosis, progression, and prognosis
Authors: Cai Wei‐Yang , Chen Xiong , Chen Li‐Ping , Li Qian , Du Xiao‐Jing , Zhou Yang‐Yang 
Published: July 2018

AbstractCurrently, the combination of ultrasonography and fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) can not discriminate between benign and malignant tumor of thyroid in some cases. The main issue in assessing the patients with thyroid nodules is to distinguish thyroid cancer from benign nodules, and reduce diagnostic surgery. To identify potential molecular biomarkers for patients with indeterminate FNAB, we explored the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed long non‐coding RNAs (DElncRNAs) in TCGA database between 318 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tissues and 35 normal thyroid gland tissues by DESeq R. Furthermore, DEGs were verified by gene expression profile GSE33630. Ten top DEGs and DElncRNAs were identified as candidate biomarkers for diagnosis and Lasso (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator) logistic regression analysis were performed to improve the diagnostic accuracy of them. Besides, partial molecular biomarkers of top DEGs and DElncRNAs were closely related to the tumor stage (T), lymph node metastasis (N), metastasis (M) and pathological stage of PTC, which could reflect behavior of tumor progression. According to multivariate Cox analysis, the combination of two DEGs (METTL7B and KCTD16) and two DElncRNAs (LINC02454 and LINC02471) could predict the outcome in a more exact way. In conclusion, top DEGs and DElncRNAs could raise diagnosis of PTC in indeterminate FNAB specimens, and some could function as molecule biomarkers for tumor progression and prognosis.
Effects of lentiviral transfection containing bFGF gene on the biological characteristics of rabbit BMSCs
Authors: Peng Wuxun , Zhang Jian , Zhang Huai , Liu Gang , Dong Wentao , Zhang Fei 
Published: July 2018

AbstractTo investigate the effect of lentiviral transfection containing bFGF gene on the biological characteristics of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). BMSCs were obtained by density gradient centrifugation and adherence screening. The bFGF gene was transfected into BMSCs by lentiviral vector and divided into bFGF transfection group, empty virus group, and untransfected group according to the transfection conditions. After transfection, the morphology, expression of bFGF mRNA and protein, cell proliferation, cell cycle, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were observed in three groups of cells. High density BMSCs were successfully obtained by density gradient centrifugation and adherence screening. After transfection of BMSCs with bFGF gene, the cell morphology did not change significantly, while the expression of bFGF mRNA and protein were significantly increased, the cell proliferation curve shifted upward, the proportion of proliferating cells increased, and the activity of ALP was significantly enhanced. Compared with empty virus group and untransfected group, there was significant difference (P < 0.05). The rabbit bFGF gene was successfully introduced into the BMSCs cultured in vitro by lentiviral vector, and the target gene was stably expressed. And the expression of bFGF can promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.
Hydrogenation of methyl levulinate to γ‐valerolactone over Cu─Mg oxide using MeOH as in situ hydrogen source
Authors: Cao Xuejuan , Wei Junnan , Liu Huai , Lv Xinyue , Tang Xing , Zeng Xianhai , Sun Yong , Lei Tingzhou , Liu Shijie , Lin Lu 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDγ‐Valerolactone (GVL) is a versatile biomass‐derived platform molecule that could serve as a building block to produce chemicals, materials and fuels, but the production of GVL from biomass via a cost‐competitive method is challenging. In this contribution, a robust Cu─Mg oxide was prepared as an efficient bifunctional catalyst for both H2 production by MeOH reforming and hydrogenation of methyl levulinate (ML) to GVL in MeOH medium.RESULTSCu0.87Mg0.13Ox prepared by a urea hydrolysis method offered a GVL yield up to 90.6% at 220°C in 4 h without external hydrogen. This catalyst could be reused for at least seven consecutive cycles without loss of its activity. Notably, Cu0.87Mg0.13Ox also provided nearly 70% GVL yield in methanolysis products of cellulose in the presence of humins. Characterization of the catalyst indicates that the incorporation of MgO greatly facilitates the stabilization of Cu+ species that possess a better catalytic performance in ML hydrogenation compared with metallic Cu.CONCLUSIONThis robust Cu0.87Mg0.13Ox could greatly contribute to develop a highly facile and desirable two‐step strategy for GVL production from cellulose, through the integration of ML production by methanolysis of cellulose, H2 formation by MeOH reforming and ML hydrogenation in MeOH medium. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Identification of ligand binding activity and DNA recognition by RhlR protein from opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa—a molecular dynamic simulation approach
Authors: Chowdhury Nilkanta , Bagchi Angshuman 
Published: July 2018

AbstractRhlR protein from opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is involved in the transcription of virulence genes of the organism. The RhlR protein functions as a dimer and binds to the cognate promoter DNA with the help of an autoinducer ligand BHL to initiate the transcription of the virulence genes. Till date, there are no reports that detail the mechanism of virulence gene expression by RhlR protein in P. aeruginosa. In this work, we tried to analyse the molecular aspects of the various binding interactions of the RhlR protein while formimg the dimmer as well as with the promoter DNA. We analysed the mode of dimerisation of the RhlR protein and its binding interactions with the autoinducer BHL ligand. From our analyses, we could identify the potential amino acid residues which are involved in the binding interactions. We also predicted how the autoinducer BHL would help in making contacts with the DNA as well as with itself. Thus, the autoinducer BHL would serve as an important mediator of molecular interactions involved in binding the RhlR protein to itself as well as with the promoter DNA. Therefore, any other molecule which would be able to compete with the autoinducer ligand BHL to bind to RhlR protein but would not let the RhlR protein bind the promoter DNA would be an ideal drug candidate to prevent the transcription process of the virulence genes in P. aeruginosa. Our future aim is to predict suitable ligands which would compete with BHL to thwart the transcription process.