bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Functionalized Cellulose for Water Purification, Antimicrobial Applications, and Sensors
Authors: Bethke Kevin , Palantöken Sinem , Andrei Virgil , Roß Marcel , Raghuwanshi Vikram Singh , Kettemann Frieder , Greis Kim , Ingber Tjark T. K. , Stückrath Julius B. , Valiyaveettil Suresh , Rademann Klaus 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAs the most abundant natural polymer, cellulose presents a unique advantage for large‐scale applications. To fully unlock its potential, the introduction of desired functional groups onto the cellulose backbone is required, which can be realized by either chemical bonding or physical surface interactions. This review gives an overview of the chemistry behind the state‐of‐the‐art functionalization methods (e.g., oxidation, esterification, grafting) for cellulose in its various forms, from nanocrystals to bacterial cellulose. The existing and foreseeable applications of the obtained products are presented in detail, spanning from water purification and antibacterial action, to sensing, energy harvesting, and catalysis. A special emphasis is put on the interactions of functionalized cellulose with heavy metals, focusing on copper as a prime example. For the latter, its toxicity can either have a harmful influence on aquatic life, or it can be conveniently employed for microbial disinfection. The reader is further introduced to recent sensing technologies based on functionalized cellulose, which are becoming crucial for the near future especially with the emergence of the internet of things. By revealing the potential of water filters and conductive clothing for mass implementation, the near future of cellulose‐based technologies is also discussed.
Simulation and Fabrication of Stronger, Larger, and Faster Walking Biohybrid Machines
Authors: Pagan‐Diaz Gelson J. , Zhang Xiaotian , Grant Lauren , Kim Yongdeok , Aydin Onur , Cvetkovic Caroline , Ko Eunkyung , Solomon Emilia , Hollis Jennifer , Kong Hyunjoon , Saif Taher , Gazzola Mattia , Bashir Rashid 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAdvancing biologically driven soft robotics and actuators will involve employing different scaffold geometries and cellular constructs to enable a controllable emergence for increased production of force. By using hydrogel scaffolds and muscle tissue, soft biological robotic actuators that are capable of motility have been successfully engineered with varying morphologies. Having the flexibility of altering geometry while ensuring tissue viability can enable advancing functional output from these machines through the implementation of new construction concepts and fabrication approaches. This study reports a forward engineering approach to computationally design the next generation of biological machines via direct numerical simulations. This was subsequently followed by fabrication and characterization of high force producing biological machines. These biological machines show millinewton forces capable of driving locomotion at speeds above 0.5 mm s−1. It is important to note that these results are predicted by computational simulations, ultimately showing excellent agreement of the predictive models and experimental results, further providing the ability to forward design future generations of these biological machines. This study aims to develop the building blocks and modular technologies capable of scaling force and complexity of these devices for applications toward solving real world problems in medicine, environment, and manufacturing.
π‐Conjugated Polymers Incorporating a Novel Planar Quinoid Building Block with Extended Delocalization and High Charge Carrier Mobility
Authors: Kim Yunseul , Hwang Hansu , Kim Nam‐Koo , Hwang Kyoungtae , Park Jong‐Jin , Shin Ga‐In , Kim Dong‐Yu 
Published: April 2018

AbstractTwo novel conjugated polymers incorporating quinoidal thiophene are successfully synthesized. By combining 1D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and 2D nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy analyses, the isomeric form of the major quinoid monomer is clearly identified as the asymmetric Z, E‐configuration. The quinoidal polymers are synthesized via Stille polymerization with thiophene or bithiophene. Both quinoidal polymers exhibit the low band gap of 1.45 eV and amphoteric redox behavior, indicating extended conjugation owing to the quinoidal backbone. These quinoidal polymers show ambipolar behaviors with high charge carrier mobilities when applied in organic field‐effect transistors. In addition, the radial alignment of polymer chains achieved by off‐center spin‐coating leads to further improvement of device performance, with poly(quinoidal thiophene–bithiophene) exhibiting a high hole mobility of 8.09 cm2 V−1 s−1, which is the highest value among the quinoidal polymers up to now. Microstructural alteration via thermal annealing or off‐center spin‐coating is found to beneficially affect charge transport. The enhancement of crystallinity with strong π–π interactions and the nanofibrillar structure arising from planar well‐delocalized quinoid units is considered to be responsible for the high charge carrier mobility.
Mechanobiological Mimicry of Helper T Lymphocytes to Evaluate Cell–Biomaterials Crosstalk
Authors: Hasani‐Sadrabadi Mohammad Mahdi , Majedi Fatemeh S. , Bensinger Steven J. , Wu Benjamin M. , Bouchard Louis‐S. , Weiss Paul S. , Moshaverinia Alireza 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe unique properties of immune cells have inspired many efforts in engineering advanced biomaterials capable of mimicking their behaviors. However, an inclusive model capable of mimicking immune cells in different situations remains lacking. Such models can provide invaluable data for understanding immune–biomaterial crosstalk. Inspired by CD4+ T cells, polymeric microparticles with physicochemical properties similar to naïve and active T cells are engineered. A lipid coating is applied to enhance their resemblance and provide a platform for conjugation of desired antibodies. A novel dual gelation approach is used to tune the elastic modulus and flexibility of particles, which also leads to elongated circulation times. Furthermore, the model is enriched with magnetic particles so that magnetotaxis resembles the chemotaxis of cells. Also, interleukin‐2, a proliferation booster, and interferon‐γ cytokines are loaded into the particles to manipulate the fates of killer T cells and mesenchymal stem cells, respectively. The penetration of these particles into 3D environments is studied to provide in vitro models of immune‐biomaterials crosstalk. This biomimicry model enables optimization of design parameters required for engineering more efficient drug carriers and serves as a potent replica for understanding the mechanical behavior of immune cells.
Trash into Treasure: δ‐FAPbI3 Polymorph Stabilized MAPbI3 Perovskite with Power Conversion Efficiency beyond 21%
Authors: Zhang Yi , Zhou Zhongmin , Ji Fuxiang , Li Zhipeng , Cui Guanglei , Gao Peng , Oveisi Emad , Nazeeruddin Mohammad Khaja , Pang Shuping 
Published: April 2018

AbstractEffective passivation and stabilization of both the inside and interface of a perovskite layer are crucial for perovskite solar cells (PSCs), in terms of efficiency, reproducibility, and stability. Here, the first formamidinium lead iodide (δ‐FAPbI3) polymorph passivated and stabilized MAPbI3 PSCs are reported. This novel MAPbI3/δ‐FAPbI3 structure is realized via treating a mixed organic cation MA
x
FA1‐

x
PbI3 perovskite film with methylamine (MA) gas. In addition to the morphology healing, MA gas can also induce the formation of δ‐FAPbI3 phase within the perovskite film. The in situ formed 1D δ‐FAPbI3 polymorph behaves like an organic scaffold that can passivate the trap state, tunnel contact, and restrict organic‐cation diffusion. As a result, the device efficiency is easily boosted to 21%. Furthermore, the stability of the MAPbI3/δ‐FAPbI3 film is also obviously improved. This δ‐FAPbI3 phase passivation strategy opens up a new direction of perovskite structure modification for further improving stability without sacrificing efficiency.
Light‐Driven Reversible Transformation between Self‐Organized Simple Cubic Lattice and Helical Superstructure Enabled by a Molecular Switch Functionalized Nanocage
Authors: Zhou Kang , Bisoyi Hari Krishna , Jin Jian‐Qiu , Yuan Cong‐Long , Liu Zhen , Shen Dong , Lu Yan‐Qing , Zheng Zhi‐Gang , Zhang Weian , Li Quan 
Published: April 2018

AbstractSelf‐organized stimuli‐responsive smart materials with adjustable attributes are highly desirable for a plethora of device applications. Simple cubic lattice is quite uncommon in soft condensed matter due to its lower packing factor. Achieving a stable simple cubic soft lattice and endowing such a lattice with dynamic reconstruction capability solely by a facile light irradiation are of paramount significance for both fundamental studies and engineering explorations. Herein, an elegant stable self‐organized simple cubic soft lattice, i.e., blue phase II, in a chiral liquid crystal (LC) system is disclosed, which is stable down to room temperature and exhibits both reversible lattice deformation and transformation to a helical superstructure, i.e., cholesteric LC, by light stimulation. Such an amazing trait is attained by doping a judiciously designed achiral photoresponsive molecular switch functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanocage into a chiral LC host. An unprecedented reversible collapse and reconstruction of such a high symmetric simple cubic blue phase II driven by light has been achieved. Furthermore, a well‐defined conglomerate micropattern composed of simple cubic soft lattice and helical superstructure, which is challenging to fabricate in organic and inorganic crystalline materials, is produced using photomasking technology. Moreover, the promising photonic application based on such a micropattern is demonstrated.
Sequential Antifouling Surface for Efficient Modulation of the Nanoparticle–Cell Interactions in Protein‐Rich Environments
Authors: Zhang Feng , Kong Li , Liu Dongfei , Li Wei , Mäkilä Ermei , Correia Alexandra , Lindgren Rici , Salonen Jarno , Hirvonen Jouni J. , Zhang Hongbo , Kros Alexander , Santos Hélder A. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractModulating the nanoparticle (NP)–cell interactions in protein‐rich environments is of increasing significance to nanomedicine. One major challenge is that the synthetic identity (such as targeting) of NPs endowed for this purpose can be adversely altered by opsonization processes. The formed protein corona on NPs can cause fast clearance of NPs by macrophages and reduced cancer cell uptake. The transformable NPs, which are grafted with a cleavable antifouling surface to achieve inactive‐active targeting form conversion, offer great promise to efficiently modulate NP–cell interactions. However, most of the transformable NPs lack a sustainable protection mechanism to avoid the influence of the protein corona during the post‐transformation period, leading to the re‐opsonization on NPs. Here, the authors design a smart transformable nanosystem with a photo‐triggered zwitterion‐induced sequential antifouling surface to efficiently reduce protein adsorption on NPs and modulate the NP–cell interactions in protein‐rich environments. The authors demonstrate that the primary PEGylated antifouling surface could protect the NPs against uptake by macrophages. Furthermore, the photo‐induced secondary zwitterionic antifouling surface is shown to preserve the targeting capacity of biotin‐modified NPs during the post‐transformation period in protein‐rich environments. In contrast, the biotin‐conjugated NPs without antifouling surfaces almost lost the targeting specificity in protein‐rich environment.
The Chemistry between Hypervalent Iodine(III) Reagents and Organophosphorus Compounds
Authors: Murphy Graham K. , Racicot Léanne , Carle Myriam S. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe intersection between the chemistries of hypervalent iodine (HVI) reagents and organophosphorus compounds holds significant potential. To date, the merging of these research spheres has led to novel iodane motifs, many of which have been used in new oxyphosphorylation methodologies. In addition, HVI reagents have proven easily capable of transferring electrophilic carbon‐based (alkyl, aryl, alkynyl, etc.) ligands to various phosphorus nucleophiles. Furthermore, the ease with which HVI reagents oxidize phosphorus has led to novel esterification, amidation, alcohol functionalization and peptide coupling reactions. This Focus Review summarizes the chemistry to‐date between these two important classes of compounds.
Bone functional adaptation does not erase neutral evolutionary information
Authors: Agostini Gina , Holt Brigitte M. , Relethford John H. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate whether diaphyseal and craniofacial variation similarly reflect neutral genetic variation among modern European and South Africans.Materials and methodsDiaphyseal and craniofacial data were collected on English, South European, and South African samples. The Relethford‐Blangero model was used to compare predicted among‐population relationships generated by limb bones relative to those generated by the crania and, further, to test whether adaptive plasticity affected these predicted relationships. Evidence of adaptive plasticity was confirmed by comparing J, an indicator of limb bone robusticity, among individuals who worked different occupations in industrializing Lisbon (Portugal) and Bologna (Italy).ResultsDiaphyses were more variable than were crania and more robust in individuals with physically demanding occupations—both consistent with expectations of adaptive plasticity. However, diaphyseal variation still generated among‐population relationships consistent with neutral genetic predictions and Mantel tests confirmed a high, significant correlation between diaphyseal and craniofacial distance matrices. This pattern was not strongly affected by adaptive plasticity.DiscussionAmong‐population patterns of diaphyseal variation are consistent with neutral expectations and are consistent with historical data on population composition, genetics, and migration. Furthermore, plasticity induced by Industrial‐era levels of physical activity does not erase these neutral signatures. Diaphyseal variation may therefore be useful to infer neutral (presumably genetic) information across populations, and controlling for existing relationships may strengthen inferences of physical activity made when comparing limb bone structure across populations.
Influence of filler treatment on the behavior of blast furnace slag filled polypropylene compounds
Authors: Mostafa A. , Lucyshyn T. , Holzer C. , Flachberger H. , Oefner W. , Riess G. , Fritz B. 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACTBlast furnace slag (BFS) is a byproduct of the blast furnace in iron industry. Due to its composition and structure, BFS is suggested as a promising functional filler that can potentially improve the property profile of polypropylene. To overcome the lack of compatibility between BFS and polypropylene (PP), two coupling agents, vinylethoxysiloxane homopolymer silicon and methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, are utilized for treating the BFS surface. The influence of each coupling agent on the BFS–PP compound properties is investigated in this work. It is observed that both coupling agents equally increase the complex shear viscosity and thermal conductivity of the modified BFS compounds by 10% and 12%, respectively, compared to their unmodified counterparts. The degree of crystallinity of the modified compounds also increased by more than 25%. While the tensile stiffness and yield strength levels are found to be comparable for all compounds, the strain at break of some modified BFS compounds is doubled. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46535.
Surface modification of UHMWPE fibers by means of polyethylene wax grafted maleic anhydride treatment
Authors: Tian Y. L. , Guo L. M. 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACTA novel surface modification method for ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers to improve the adhesion with epoxy matrix was demonstrated. Polyethylene wax grafted maleic anhydride (PEW‐g‐MAH) was deposited on the UHMWPE fibers surface by coating method. The changes of surface chemical composition, crystalline structure, mechanical properties of fiber and composite, wettability, surface topography of fibers and adhesion between fiber and epoxy resin before and after finishing were studied, respectively. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra proved that some polar groups (MAH) were introduced onto the fiber surface after finishing. The X‐ray diffraction spectra indicated that crystallinity of the fiber was the same before and after finishing. Tensile testing results showed that mechanical properties of the fiber did not change significantly and the tensile strength of 9 wt % PEW‐g‐MAH treated fiber reinforced composite showed about 10.75% enhancement. The water contact angle of the fibers decreased after finishing. A single‐fiber pull out test was applied to evaluate the adhesion of UHMWPE fibers with the epoxy matrix. After treatment with 9 wt % PEW‐g‐MAH, a pull‐out force of 1.304 MPa which is 53.59% higher than that of pristine UNMWPE fibers was achieved. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46555.
Luminescence of Eu3+ ions in hybrid polymer‐inorganic composites based on poly(methyl methacrylate) and zirconia nanoparticles
Authors: Bugrov Alexander N. , Zavialova Anastasia Yu. , Smyslov Ruslan Yu. , Anan'eva Tatyana D. , Vlasova Elena N. , Mokeev Maxim V. , Kryukov Artem E. , Kopitsa Gennady P. , Pipich Vitaliy 
Published: April 2018

AbstractSpherical nanoparticles of ZrO2 with 2 and 10 mol% EuO1.5 up to 20 nm size were prepared by the method of hydrothermal synthesis for luminescent functionalization of the polymer–inorganic nanocomposites based on poly(methyl methacrylate). Surface modification of oxide nanoparticles was carried out by 3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate, dimethoxymethylvinyl silane and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate to provide uniform distribution and to prevent agglomeration of nanosized filler in the polymer matrix. Polymer–inorganic composites were synthesized by in situ free radical polymerization in bulk. Structuring of ZrO2‐EuO1.5 nanoparticles in the poly(methyl methacrylate) was studied by very‐small‐angle neutron scattering. According to the results, the dependence of photoluminescent properties of ZrO2‐EuO1.5 nanoparticles on the content of lanthanide, the symmetry of the crystal field, surface treatment and the polymer matrix were established. A correlation was shown between Stark splitting in luminescence spectra of ZrO2‐EuO1.5 nanoparticles and their phase composition. Using MMT‐assay it was shown that composites based on poly(methyl methacrylate) and ZrO2‐EuO1.5 nanoparticles do not have cytotoxic properties, which makes it possible to use them as prosthesis materials with contrasted and luminescent imaging properties.
Development of Visible‐Light‐Responsive RNA Scissors Based on a 10–23 DNAzyme
Authors: Kamiya Yukiko , Arimura Yu , Ooi Hideaki , Kato Kenjiro , Liang Xing‐Guo , Asanuma Hiroyuki 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe 10–23 DNAzyme is an artificially developed functional oligonucleotide that can cleave RNA in a sequence‐specific manner. In this study, we designed a new photo‐driven DNAzyme incorporating a photoresponsive DNA overhang complementary to the catalytic core region. The photoresponsive overhang region of the DNAzyme included either azobenzene components (Azos) or 2,6‐dimethyl‐4‐(methylthio)azobenzene units (SDM‐Azos) each attached to a d‐threoninol linker. When the Azos or SDM‐Azos were in the trans form, the photoresponsive DNA overhang hybridized with the DNAzyme, and the RNA cleavage activity was suppressed. cis Isomerization of Azos or SDM‐Azos, induced by 365 or 400 nm light, respectively, destabilized the duplex between the photoresponsive overhang and the catalytic core, and the DNAzyme recovered RNA cleavage activity. Reversible photoswitching of the DNAzyme activity was achieved by use of specific light irradiation. Further, light‐dependent photoswitching of protein expression in the presence of the DNAzyme was demonstrated. Thus, this photo‐driven DNAzyme has potential for application as a photocontrolled gene silencing system and a photoactivatable gene expression system.
Fabrication of Hierarchical V2O5 Nanorods on TiO2 Nanofibers and Their Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity under Visible Light
Authors: Ghosh Monoj , Liu Jiawei , Chuang Steven S. C. , Jana Sadhan C. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractWe report photocatalytic activities of a set of mesoporous, hierarchical “nanorods‐on‐nanofiber” heterostructures produced from the organization of vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nanorods on titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanofibers fabricated using gas jet fiber (GJF) spinning process. The precursor nanofibers spun from solutions of poly(vinylpyrrolidone), titanium tetraisopropoxide, and vanadium oxytriisopropoxide are calcined at 500–600 °C in air to yield the above hierarchical nanostructures. The calcination temperature and the composition of the spinning solutions are used as factors to obtain different sizes of the nanorods, nanofibers, and the crystallites. Photocatalytic oxidation of gas‐phase ethanol on the heterostructures under visible light at room temperature is studied. The materials calcined at 500 °C show oxidation of ethanol into carbon dioxide and water with about three orders of magnitude higher rate than single‐component V2O5 nanofibers and reference material V2O5 powder. The higher photocatalytic activity is attributed to the slowdown of the electron–hole charge recombination phenomena in the heterostructures as inferred from photoluminescence study. The heterostructure V2O5–TiO2 photocatalyst can be easily regenerated without sacrificing any photocatalytic performance.
Physicochemical Characterization of Wheat Straw during a Continuous Pretreatment Process
Authors: Molina-Guerrero Carlos Eduardo , de la Rosa Guadalupe , Castillo-Michel Hiram , Sánchez Arturo , García-Castañeda Concepción , Hernández-Rayas Angélica , Valdez-Vazquez Idania , Suarez-Vázquez Santiago 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe changes occurring during the depolymerization of lignocellulosic biomasses are not yet fully understood. Synchrotron micro‐Fourier transform infrared (µ‐FTIR), Raman spectroscopy (RS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) were applied for better characterization of wheat straw fibers during a continuous pretreatment process in terms of conditioning (C), extrusion (E), steam explosion (SE), and enzymatic hydrolysis (EH). µ‐FTIR revealed functional groups as phenylpropanoid polymers, ethers, and aliphatic alcohol. RS detected acetoacetate, methyl and phenol groups after SE. The crystallinity index and silica content were also determined.
Towards High‐Performance Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction: Inducing Atomic‐Level Reconstruction of Fe‐Nx Site for Atomically Dispersed Fe/N‐Doped Hierarchically Porous Carbon
Authors: Li Hanyu , Zhang Zhengping , Dou Meiling , Wang Feng 
Published: April 2018

AbstractA rational and effective strategy for the synthesis of a high‐performance non‐precious metal electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was developed by inducing reconstruction of Fe‐Nx site on pig‐bone‐derived nitrogen‐doped hierarchically porous carbon. The resultant Fe/N‐doped carbon electrocatalyst possessed abundant atomically dispersed non‐planar Fe‐N4 ORR active sites, with absolute presence of active D1 (FeII‐N4) and D3 (N‐FeII‐N2+2) sites, as well as large specific surface area and three‐dimensional porous structure with hierarchical micro‐/meso‐/macro‐pore distribution, which increased the utilization of active sites and promoted mass transport of ORR reactants. This resulted in a remarkably superior ORR activity with half‐wave potential of 0.87 V (20 mV higher than Pt/C) and kinetic current density of 10.9 mA cm−2 at 0.85 V (2.3‐fold of Pt/C) in alkaline electrolyte. This methodology provides a route for atomic‐level design of high‐performance ORR electrocatalyst.