bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of extreme drought and incentive programs on flooded agriculture and wetlands in California’s Central Valley
Authors: Reiter Matthew E. , Elliott Nathan K. , Jongsomjit Dennis , Golet Gregory H. , Reynolds Mark D. 
Published: June 2018

BackgroundBetween 2013 and 2015, a large part of the western United States, including the Central Valley of California, sustained an extreme drought. The Central Valley is recognized as a region of hemispheric importance for waterbirds, which use flooded agriculture and wetlands as habitat. Thus, the impact of drought on the distribution of surface water needed to be assessed to understand the effects on waterbird habitat availability.MethodsWe used remote sensing data to quantify the impact of the recent extreme drought on the timing and extent of waterbird habitat during the non-breeding season (July–May) by examining open water in agriculture (rice, corn, and other crops) and managed wetlands across the Central Valley. We assessed the influence of habitat incentive programs, particularly The Nature Conservancy’s BirdReturns and The Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Waterbird Habitat Enhancement Program (WHEP), at offsetting habitat loss related to drought.ResultsOverall, we found statistically significant declines in open water in post-harvest agriculture (45–80% declines) and in managed wetlands (39–60% declines) during the 2013–2015 drought compared to non-drought years during the period of 2000–2011. Crops associated with the San Joaquin Basin, specifically corn, as well as wetlands in that part of the Central Valley exhibited larger reductions in open water than rice and wetlands in the Sacramento Valley. Semi-permanent wetlands on protected lands had significantly lower (39–49%) open water in the drought years than those on non-protected lands while seasonal wetlands on protected lands had higher amounts of open water. A large fraction of the daily open water in rice during certain times of the year, particularly in the fall for BirdReturns (61%) and the winter for WHEP (100%), may have been provided through incentive programs which underscores the contribution of these programs. However, further assessment is needed to know how much the incentive programs directly offset the impact of drought in post-harvest rice by influencing water management or simply supplemented funding for activities that might have been done regardless.DiscussionOur landscape analysis documents the significant impacts of the recent extreme drought on freshwater wetland habitats in the Central Valley, the benefits of incentive programs, and the value of using satellite data to track surface water and waterbird habitats. More research is needed to understand subsequent impacts on the freshwater dependent species that rely on these systems and how incentive programs can most strategically support vulnerable species during future extreme drought.
Temporal variability of phytoplankton biomass and primary production off Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Authors: Cervantes-Duarte Rafael , Barón-Campis Sofía , Hernández-Becerril David Uriel , Gaxiola-Castro Gilberto , Lara-Lara J Rubén 
Published: June 2018

Sixteen monthly cruises were carried out at a station 6.5 km to the NW of the mouth of Magdalena Bay (Mexico) to study the temporal variability of phytoplankton biomass and primary production rates, and the response of phytoplankton to the prevailing hydrographic characteristics. During each cruise, temperature and salinity were measured in the water column, and discrete samples were collected to measure inorganic nutrient concentrations (nitrate, phosphate, and silicate) and chlorophyll a content (as a proxy for phytoplankton biomass); in addition, in situ incubations were performed to estimate primary production (PP) rates using the 14C technique. During spring and early summer (March–July), the water column at the study site was cold (14.4 ºC at 80 m depth and 17.7 ºC at the surface) and well mixed, with high nutrient concentrations (nitrate = 6.39 μM, phosphate = 0.91 μM, and silicate = 11.87 μM) at the surface, typical of intense upwelling systems. On the contrary, from August to February the water column was stratified (23.5 ± 3.2 ºC above the thermocline and 17.0 ± 1.7 ºC at 80 m depth) and had low nutrient concentrations (nitrate = 3.90 μM, phosphate = 0.47 μM, and silicate = 10.30 μM) at the surface. Phytoplankton abundance, chlorophyll a concentration, and PP rates in the euphotic zone were higher during the upwelling season, with maximum cell density of 1.7 × 106 cells·L–1 (nanoplankton fraction), integrated chlorophyll a content of 231 mg·m–2, and integrated PP rates of 553 mg C·m–2·h–1). Abundance of cells <20 μm, as determined by flow cytometry, revealed the importance of the nanoplankton and picoplankton fractions in this region. This study showed the seasonal variability of phytoplankton communities (biomass and productivity) in waters off Magdalena Bay and the coupling of phytoplankton to environmental variability. Seasonal variability was similar to that observed for other typical coastal upwelling regions, that is, higher phytoplankton abundances and PP rates in spring and summer and lower values in autumn and winter.
Key words: biomass, primary productivity, hydrography, coastal zone, Magdalena Bay.
Highly Bendable Ionic Soft Actuator Based on Nitrogen‐Enriched 3D Hetero‐Nanostructure Electrode
Authors: Kotal Moumita , Kim Jaehwan , Tabassian Rassoul , Roy Sandipan , Nguyen Van Hiep , Koratkar Nikhil , Oh Il‐Kwon 
Published: June 2018

AbstractElectrically responsive ionic soft actuators that can exhibit large bending strain under low electrical input power are promising candidates for future soft electronics and wearable devices. However, some drawbacks such as low blocking force, slow response time, and poor durability should be overcome for practical engineering applications. Herein, this study reports defect‐engineered 3D graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) and nitrogen‐doped graphene (NG) hetero‐nanostructure that were developed by one‐pot hydrothermal method in order to design functionally antagonistic hybrid electrodes for superior ionic soft actuators. While NG facilitates rapid electron transfer in 3D networked nanoarchitectures, the enriched‐nitrogen content in GCN provides good wettability and mechanical resiliency with poly(3,4 ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS). The 3D hybrid nanostructures generate unimpeded ion channels and sufficient contact area with the electrolyte membrane to provide higher capacitance and mechanical integrity, which are critical prerequisites for high‐performance actuation. The developed soft actuator based on the nitrogen‐enriched 3D hetero‐nanostructure is found to exhibit large bending strain (0.52%), wide frequency response, 5 h durability (93% retention), 2.4 times higher bending displacement, and twofold higher electromechanical efficiency compared to PEDOT:PSS under ±0.5 V input voltage. Such 3D functionally antagonistic hybrid electrodes offer hitherto unavailable opportunities in developing ultralow voltage‐driven ionic actuators for the next‐generation soft electronics.
Manipulation of Band Structure and Interstitial Defects for Improving Thermoelectric SnTe
Authors: Tang Jing , Gao Bo , Lin Siqi , Li Juan , Chen Zhiwei , Xiong Fen , Li Wen , Chen Yue , Pei Yanzhong 
Published: June 2018

AbstractMany efforts are recently devoted on improving thermoelectric SnTe as an environment—friendly alternative to conventional PbTe and successful approaches include valence band convergence, nanostructuring, and substantial/interstitial defects. Among these strategies, alloying SnTe with MnTe enables the most effective reduction in the valence band offset (between L and Σ) for a convergence due to its high solubility of ≈15%, yet there is no indication that the solubility of MnTe is high enough for fully optimizing the valence band structure and thus for maximizing the electronic performance. Here, a strategy is shown to increase the MnTe solubility up to ≈25% by alloying with 5% GeTe, which successfully locates the composition (20% MnTe) to optimize the valence band structure by converging a more degenerated Λ (as compared with band L) and Σ valence bands. Through a further alloying with Cu2Te, the resultant Cu‐interstitial defects enable a sufficient reduction in lattice thermal conductivity to its amorphous limit (0.4 W m−1 K−1). These electronic and thermal effects successfully realize a record‐high thermoelectric figure of merit, zT of 1.8, strongly competing with that of PbTe. This work demonstrates the validity of band manipulation and interstitial defects for realizing extraordinary thermoelectric performance in SnTe.
3D Printing Nanoscale Bioactive Glass Scaffolds Enhance Osteoblast Migration and Extramembranous Osteogenesis through Stimulating Immunomodulation
Authors: Zhao Fujian , Xie Weihan , Zhang Wen , Fu Xiaoling , Gao Wendong , Lei Bo , Chen Xiaofeng 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBioactive glass (BG) can repair bone defects, however, it is not clear whether BG has the ability for bone augmentation without making any bone defect. Unlike the intramembranous osteogenesis in bone defect repair, the extramembranous osteogenesis occurs outside the cortical bone and the osteoprogenitor cells show the reversed migration. Herein, nanoscale bioactive glass scaffolds (BGSs) are fabricated, and their role and immunomodulation‐related mechanism in the extramembranous osteogenesis are investigated. The in vitro migration and differentiation of calvaria preosteoblasts are studied by culturing with peripheral macrophage‐conditioned medium after stimulating with BGSs. The results indicate that the proinflammatory environment significantly promotes preosteoblast migration, but has limited effect on osteogenic differentiation. However, the anti‐inflammatory environment and BGSs significantly increase the osteogenic differentiation of preosteoblasts. The in vivo extramembranous osteogenesis evaluation shows that the active osteogenesis is observed near the skull. The osteoblasts derived from the reverse migration of cranial cells can be confirmed by comparing with the scaffolds implanted in back subcutaneous which is just colonized by fibrous tissue. This study may bring a fresh perspective for BG in bone regeneration and explore the osteogenic immunomodulation of peripheral macrophages in a nonosteogenic environment.
Monolithic Polymer Nanoridges with Programmable Wetting Transitions
Authors: Lee Won‐Kyu , Jung Woo‐Bin , Rhee Dongjoon , Hu Jingtian , Lee Young‐Ah Lucy , Jacobson Christian , Jung Hee‐Tae , Odom Teri W. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThis paper describes polymeric nanostructures with dynamically tunable wetting properties. Centimeter‐scale areas of monolithic nanoridges can be generated by strain relief of thermoplastic polyolefin films with fluoropolymer skin layers. Changing the amount of strain results in polyolefin ridges with aspect ratios greater than four with controlled feature densities. Surface chemistry and topography are demonstrated to be able to be tailored by SF6‐plasma etching to access multiple wetting states: Wenzel, Cassie–Baxter, and Cassie‐impregnating states. Reversible transitions among the wetting states can be realized in a programmable manner by cyclic stretching and reshrinking the patterned substrates without delamination and cracking.
Continuous Fabrication of Meter‐Scale Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotube Films and their Use in Flexible and Transparent Integrated Circuits
Authors: Wang Bing‐Wei , Jiang Song , Zhu Qian‐Bing , Sun Yun , Luan Jian , Hou Peng‐Xiang , Qiu Song , Li Qing‐Wen , Liu Chang , Sun Dong‐Ming , Cheng Hui‐Ming 
Published: June 2018

AbstractSingle‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), especially in the form of large‐area and high‐quality thin films, are a promising material for use in flexible and transparent electronics. Here, a continuous synthesis, deposition, and transfer technique is reported for the fabrication of meter‐scale SWCNT thin films, which have an excellent optoelectrical performance including a low sheet resistance of 65 Ω/◽ with a transmittance of 90% at a wavelength of 550 nm. Using these SWCNT thin films, high‐performance all‐CNT thin‐film transistors and integrated circuits are demonstrated, including 101‐stage ring oscillators. The results pave the way for the future development of large‐scale, flexible, and transparent electronics based on CNT thin films.
Recent Progress of Highly Efficient Red and Near‐Infrared Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescent Emitters
Authors: Kim Ji Han , Yun Ju Hui , Lee Jun Yeob 
Published: June 2018

AbstractOrganic emitters have been widely developed since the demonstration of high efficiency in pure organic emitters represented by thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) emitters. Pure organic‐based TADF emitters are found to harvest all singlet and triplet excitons for radiative transition processes, like phosphorescent emitters that utilize all generated excitons for light emission by strong spin–orbit coupling. Red, green, and blue organic emitters are investigated, but major interest is focused on green and blue organic emitters. However, recent studies are being directed to red and even near‐infrared emitters because of their wide applications in bioimaging, sensors, telecommunications, and night vision. Although the external quantum efficiency of the red and near‐infrared TADF organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) is low, the external quantum efficiency of red OLEDs has been advanced to close to 30% and that of near‐infrared OLEDs to the 10% level. Therefore, more attention is being paid to red and near‐infrared TADF emitters. In this work, recent progress of the red and near‐infrared TADF emitters is reviewed to understand the molecular design principle and the molecular structure–photophysical characteristics and molecular structure–device performance relationships. In addition, future prospect of the red and near‐infrared TADF emitters is proposed.
Geometric Metasurfaces for Ultrathin Optical Devices
Authors: Wen Dandan , Yue Fuyong , Liu Wenwei , Chen Shuqi , Chen Xianzhong 
Published: June 2018

AbstractMetasurfaces, planar metamaterials consisting of a single layer or several layers of artificial structures, not only form the basis for fundamental physics research but also have considerable technological significance. Metasurfaces can locally modify the optical property within a subwavelength range, which can facilitate device miniaturization and system integration. Metasurfaces have shown extraordinary capabilities in the local manipulation of the light's amplitude, phase, and polarization, leading to a plethora of novel applications such as generalized Snell's law of refraction and photonic spin Hall effect. This progress report is focused on the recent advancements in the fundamental research of geometric metasurfaces and their applications in ultrathin optical devices, including planar metalenses, helicity multiplexed holograms, functionality switchable devices, polarization beam splitters, vector beam generation, arbitrary polarization control, and so on. The compactness, ease of fabrication, and unusual functionalities of these devices render geometric optical metasurface devices very attractive for new applications such as encryption, imaging, anti‐counterfeiting, optical communications, quantum science, and fundamental physics. This paper aims to bring readers some new insights, and to broaden the applications of geometric metasurfaces in more research fields of science and technology.
Nonimmunogenetic Viral Capsid Carrier with Cancer Targeting Activity
Authors: Lee Bo‐Ram , Jo Eunji , Yoon Hong Yeol , Yoon Chul Joo , Lee Hyo‐Jung , Kwon Koo Chul , Kim Tae Woo , Lee Jeewon 
Published: June 2018

AbstractAlthough protein nanoparticles (PNPs) (e.g., viral capsids) capable of delivering a broad range of drug agents have shown distinctive advantages over synthetic nanomaterials, PNPs have an intrinsic drawback that hampers their clinical application, that is, potential immunogenicity. Here, a novel method for resolving the immunogenicity problem of PNPs, which is based on the genetic presentation of albumin‐binding peptides (ABPs) on the surface of PNP, is reported. ABPs are inserted into the surface of a viral capsid (hepatitis B virus capsid/HBVC) while preserving the native self‐assembly function of HBVC. The ABPs effectively gather human serum albumins around HBVC and significantly reduce both inflammatory response and immunoglobulin titer in live mice compared to ABP‐free HBVC. Furthermore, ABP‐conjugated HBVCs remain within tumors for a longer period than HBVCs conjugated to tumor cell receptor‐bindingpeptides, indicating that the ABPs are also capable of enhancing tumor‐targeting performance. Although applied to HBVC for proof of concept, this novel approach may provide a general platform for resolving immunogenicity and cancer‐targeting problems of PNPs, which enables the development of a variety of PNP‐based drug delivery carriers with high safety and efficacy.
Repeat Module‐Based Rational Design of a Photoswitchable Protein for Light‐Driven Control of Biological Processes
Authors: Heu Woosung , Choi Jung Min , Kyeong Hyun‐Ho , Choi Yoonjoo , Kim Hee Yeon , Kim Hak‐Sung 
Published: June 2018

AbstractLight‐driven control of biological processes using photoswitchable proteins allows high spatiotemporal interrogation or manipulation of such processes, assisting in understanding their functions. Despite considerable advances, however, the wide spread use of optical control has been hampered by a limited repertoire of photoswitchable proteins and a lack of generalized design strategy. Herein, we present a repeat module‐based rational design of a photoswitchable protein composed of LRR (Leucine‐rich repeat) modules using azobenzene as a photochromic ligand. Our design approach involves the rational selection of a Cβ pair between two nearby modules within a convex region and subsequent cross‐linking with a photochromic ligand. We demonstrate the general utility and potential of our strategy by showing the design of three target‐specific photoswitchable proteins and a light‐driven modulation of the cell signaling. With an abundance of LRR proteins in nature, our approach can expand the repertoire of photoswitchable proteins for light‐driven control of biological processes.
Extra‐Framework Aluminum‐Assisted Initial C−C Bond Formation in Methanol‐to‐Olefins Conversion on Zeolite H‐ZSM‐5
Authors: Wang Chao , Chu Yueying , Xu Jun , Wang Qiang , Qi Guodong , Gao Pan , Zhou Xue , Deng Feng 
Published: June 2018

AbstractSurface methoxy species bound to an extra‐framework Al (SMS‐EFAL) was unambiguously identified by advanced 13C‐{27Al} double‐resonance solid‐state NMR technique in the methanol‐to‐olefins reaction on H‐ZSM‐5 zeolite. The high reactivity of the SMS‐EFAL leads to the formation of surface ethoxy species and ethanol as the key intermediates for ethene generation in the early reaction stage. A direct route for the initial C−C bond formation in ethene was proposed and corroborated by density functional theory calculations.
Carborane‐Induced Excimer Emission of Severely Twisted Bis‐o‐Carboranyl Chrysene
Authors: Marsh Adam V. , Cheetham Nathan J. , Little Mark , Dyson Matthew , White Andrew J. P. , Beavis Peter , Warriner Colin N. , Swain Anthony C. , Stavrinou Paul N. , Heeney Martin 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe synthesis of a highly twisted chrysene derivative incorporating two electron deficient o‐carboranyl groups is reported. The molecule exhibits a complex, excitation‐dependent photoluminescence, including aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) with good quantum efficiency and an exceptionally long singlet excited state lifetime. Through a combination of detailed optical studies and theoretical calculations, the excited state species are identified, including an unusual excimer induced by the presence of o‐carborane. This is the first time that o‐carborane has been shown to induce excimer formation ab initio, as well as the first observation of excimer emission by a chrysene‐based small molecule in solution. Bis‐o‐carboranyl chrysene is thus an initial member of a new family of o‐carboranyl phenacenes exhibiting a novel architecture for highly‐efficient multi‐luminescent fluorophores.
Nickel Doping in Atomically Thin Tin Disulfide Nanosheets Enables Highly Efficient CO2 Reduction
Authors: Zhang An , He Rong , Li Huiping , Chen Yijun , Kong Taoyi , Li Kan , Ju Huanxin , Zhu Junfa , Zhu Wenguang , Zeng Jie 
Published: June 2018

AbstractEngineering electronic properties by elemental doping is a direct strategy to design efficient catalysts towards CO2 electroreduction. Atomically thin SnS2 nanosheets were modified by Ni doping for efficient electroreduction of CO2. The introduction of Ni into SnS2 nanosheets significantly enhanced the current density and Faradaic efficiency for carbonaceous product relative to pristine SnS2 nanosheets. When the Ni content was 5 atm %, the Ni‐doped SnS2 nanosheets achieved a remarkable Faradaic efficiency of 93 % for carbonaceous product with a current density of 19.6 mA cm−2 at −0.9 V vs. RHE. A mechanistic study revealed that the Ni doping gave rise to a defect level and lowered the work function of SnS2 nanosheets, resulting in the promoted CO2 activation and thus improved performance in CO2 electroreduction.
Identification of pyrazolopyridine derivatives as novel spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitors
Authors: Huang Yahui , Li Yu , Dong Guoqiang , Zhang Wannian , Liu Na , Sheng Chunquan 
Published: June 2018

AbstractInhibition of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) is a promising strategy for the treatment of various allergic and autoimmune disorders such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and allergic rhinitis. Previously, a Syk inhibitor with novel indazole scaffold was discovered by structure‐based virtual screening. Herein, the structure–activity relationship of the indazole Syk inhibitors was investigated. Several new inhibitors demonstrated potent activity against Syk. In particular, compound 18c showed good Syk inhibitory activity (IC50 = 1.2 µM), representing a good lead compound for further optimization.
Application of virtual laboratories and molecular simulations in teaching nanoengineering to undergraduate students
Authors: Kilani Mohamed , Torabi Korosh , Mao Guangzhao 
Published: June 2018

AbstractWe address the challenges in teaching nanoengineering to undergraduates by applying computational tools to aid student learning. Virtual labs have been developed for the nanoparticle synthesis and characterization while a second lab module has been developed to study ‐helical protein structures and their tensile mechanics based on online molecular simulations.
A mobile app for teaching formal languages and automata
Authors: Pereira Carlos H. , Terra Ricardo 
Published: June 2018

AbstractFormal Languages and Automata (FLA) address mathematical models able to specify and recognize languages, their properties and characteristics. Although solid knowledge of FLA is extremely important for a B.Sc. degree in Computer Science and similar fields, the algorithms and techniques covered in the course are complex and difficult to assimilate. Therefore, this article presents FLApp, a mobile application—which we consider the new way to reach students—for teaching FLA. The application—developed for mobile phones and tablets running Android—provides students not only with answers to problems involving Regular, Context‐free, Context‐Sensitive, and Recursively Enumerable Languages, but also an Educational environment that describes and illustrates each step of the algorithms to support students in the learning process.