bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genome analysis of the ubiquitous boxwood pathogenPseudonectria foliicola
Authors: Rivera Yazmín , Salgado-Salazar Catalina , Veltri Daniel , Malapi-Wight Martha , Crouch Jo Anne 
Published: August 2018

Boxwood (Buxusspp.) are broad-leaved, evergreen landscape plants valued for their longevity and ornamental qualities. Volutella leaf and stem blight, caused by the ascomycete fungiPseudonectria foliicola and P. buxi, is one of the major diseases affecting the health and ornamental qualities of boxwood. Although this disease is less severe than boxwood blight caused byCalonectria pseudonaviculataandC. henricotiae, its widespread occurrence and disfiguring symptoms have caused substantial economic losses to the ornamental industry. In this study, we sequenced the genome ofP. foliicolaisolate ATCC13545 using Illumina technology and compared it to other publicly available fungal pathogen genomes to better understand the biology of this organism. Ade novoassembly estimated the genome size ofP. foliicolaat 28.7 Mb (425 contigs; N50 = 184,987 bp; avg. coverage 188×), with just 9,272 protein-coding genes. To our knowledge,P. foliicolahas the smallest known genome within the Nectriaceae. Consistent with the small size of the genome, the secretome, CAzyme and secondary metabolite profiles of this fungus are reduced relative to two other surveyed Nectriaceae fungal genomes:Dactylonectria macrodidymaJAC15-245 andFusarium graminearumPh-1. Interestingly, a large cohort of genes associated with reduced virulence and loss of pathogenicity was identified from theP. foliicoladataset. These data are consistent with the latest observations by plant pathologists thatP. buxiand most likelyP. foliicola,are opportunistic, latent pathogens that prey upon weak and stressed boxwood plants.
Pentoxifylline decreases post-operative intra-abdominal adhesion formation in an animal model
Authors: Yang Ya-Lin , Lee Meng-Tse Gabriel , Lee Chien-Chang , Su Pei-I , Chi Chien-Yu , Liu Cheng-Heng , Wu Meng-Che , Yen Zui-Shen , Chen Shyr-Chyr 
Published: August 2018

Background
Intra-abdominal adhesions develop after nearly every abdominal surgery, commonly causing female infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and small bowel obstruction. Pentoxifylline (PTX) is a methylxanthine compound with immunomodulatory and antifibrotic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PTX can reduce post-operative intra-abdominal adhesion formation via collagen deposition, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) level, inflammation, angiogenesis, and fibrosis.

Methods
Seventy male BALB/c mice were randomized into one of three groups: (1) sham group without peritoneal adhesion model; (2) peritoneal adhesion model (PA group); (3) peritoneal adhesion model with PTX (100 mg/kg/day i.p.) administration was started on preoperative day 2 and continued daily (PA + PTX group). On postoperative day 3 and day 7, adhesions were assessed using the Lauder scoring system. Parietal peritoneum was obtained for histological evaluation with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and picrosirius red staining. Fibrinolysis was analyzed by tPA protein levels in the peritoneum by ELISA. Immunohistological analysis was also conducted using markers for angiogenesis (ki67+/CD31+), inflammation (F4/80+) and fibrosis (FSP-1+ and α-SMA+). All the comparisons were made by comparing the PA group with the PTX treated PA group, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results
Intra-abdominal adhesions were markedly reduced by PTX treatment. Compared with the PA group, PTX treatment had lower adhesion scores than the PA group on both day 3 and day 7 (p < 0.05). Histological evaluations found that PTX treatment reduced collagen deposition and adhesion thickening. ELISA analysis showed that PTX treatment significantly increased the level of tPA in the peritoneum. In addition, in the immunohistological analysis, PTX treatment was found to significantly decrease the number of ki67+/CD31+ cells at the site of adhesion. Finally, we also observed that in the PTX treated group, there was a reduction in the expression of F4/80+, FSP-1+, and α-SMA+ cells at the site of adhesion.

Conclusion
PTX may decrease intra-abdominal adhesion formation via increasing peritoneal fibrinolytic activity, suppressing angiogenesis, decreasing collagen synthesis, and reducing peritoneal fibrosis. Our findings suggest that PTX can be used to decrease post-operative intra-abdominal adhesion formation.
Adjuvant and Antigen Systems for Malaria Transmission‐Blocking Vaccines
Authors: Huang Wei‐Chiao , Sia Zachary R. , Lovell Jonathan F. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractMalaria is transmitted by protozoan parasites of the Plasmodium genus, via mosquito vectors. Highly effective vaccines could be a valuable tool to control the disease, but have remained elusive, in part due to the complex lifecycle of the parasite. Transmission‐blocking vaccines (TBVs) take the unconventional approach of targeting the mosquito stages of the parasite life cycle. TBVs are yet to be tested in large‐scale human trials, but represent a prominent area of interest for malaria vaccine research and development. Because TBVs rely on passive antibody transfer from a blood meal to the mosquito midgut, techniques to boost host antibody generation are a focus of investigation. In this review, immunostimulants and delivery systems for conjugating, self‐assembling, or coadministrating TBV antigens and adjuvants are summarized.
Abnormal Near‐Infrared Absorption in 2D Black Phosphorus Induced by Ag Nanoclusters Surface Functionalization
Authors: Hu Zehua , Li Qiang , Lei Bo , Wu Jing , Zhou Qionghua , Gu Chengding , Wen Xinglin , Wang Junyong , Liu Yanpeng , Li Shisheng , Zheng Yue , Lu Junpeng , He Jun , Wang Li , Xiong Qihua , Wang Jinlan , Chen Wei 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBlack phosphorus (BP), as a fast emerging 2D material, shows promising potential in near‐infrared (NIR) photodetection owing to its relatively small direct thickness‐dependent bandgaps. However, the poor NIR absorption due to the atomically thin nature strongly hinders the practical application. In this study, it is demonstrated that surface functionalization of Ag nanoclusters on 2D BP can induce an abnormal NIR absorption at ≈746 nm, leading to ≈35 (138) times enhancement in 808 (730) nm NIR photoresponse for BP‐based field‐effect transistors. First‐principles calculations reveal that localized bands are introduced into the bandgap of BP, serving as the midgap states, which create new transitions to the conduction band of BP and eventually lead to the abnormal absorption. This work provides a simple yet effective method to dramatically increase the NIR absorption of BP, which is crucial for developing high‐performance NIR optoelectronic devices.
Protein‐Corona‐by‐Design in 2D: A Reliable Platform to Decode Bio–Nano Interactions for the Next‐Generation Quality‐by‐Design Nanomedicines
Authors: Mei Kuo‐Ching , Ghazaryan Artur , Teoh Er Zhen , Summers Huw D. , Li Yueting , Ballesteros Belén , Piasecka Justyna , Walters Adam , Hider Robert C. , Mailänder Volker , Al‐Jamal Khuloud T. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractHard corona (HC) protein, i.e., the environmental proteins of the biological medium that are bound to a nanosurface, is known to affect the biological fate of a nanomedicine. Due to the size, curvature, and specific surface area (SSA) 3‐factor interactions inherited in the traditional 3D nanoparticle, HC‐dependent bio–nano interactions are often poorly probed and interpreted. Here, the first HC‐by‐design case study in 2D is demonstrated that sequentially and linearly changes the HC quantity using functionalized graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets. The HC quantity and HC quality are analyzed using NanoDrop and label‐free liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC‐MS) followed by principal component analysis (PCA). Cellular responses (uptake and cytotoxicity in J774 cell model) are compared using imaging cytometry and the modified lactate dehydrogenase assays, respectively. Cellular uptake linearly and solely correlates with HC quantity (R2 = 0.99634). The nanotoxicity, analyzed by retrospective design of experiment (DoE), is found to be dependent on the nanomaterial uptake (primary), HC composition (secondary), and nanomaterial exposure dose (tertiary). This unique 2D design eliminates the size–curvature–SSA multifactor interactions and can serve as a reliable screening platform to uncover HC‐dependent bio–nano interactions to enable the next‐generation quality‐by‐design (QbD) nanomedicines for better clinical translation.
Alkynyl Pyridinium Crystals for Terahertz Generation
Authors: Valdivia‐Berroeta Gabriel A. , Heki Larry K. , McMurray Emmalee A. , Foote Lindsey A. , Nazari S. Hadi , Serafin Lorenzo Y. , Smith Stacey J. , Michaelis David J. , Johnson Jeremy A. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe design and synthesis of three organic nonlinear optical crystals is presented for terahertz (THz) generation that incorporates the optimal characteristics of known organic nonlinear optical crystals 4‐(4‐(dimethylamino)styryl)‐1‐methylpyridinium 4‐methylbenzenesulfonate (DAST) and 2‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxystyryl)‐1‐methylquinolinium 2,4,6‐trimethylbenzenesulfonate (HMQ‐TMS). The three crystals feature the 4‐((4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl)ethynyl)‐1‐methylpyridin‐1‐ium (4DEP) cation and three different anion combinations. Gas phase ab initio calculations of the cation show that 4DEP has a larger hyperpolarizability than cations from both DAST and HMQ‐TMS. To obtain the molecular packing needed for large nonlinear optical susceptibility and efficient THz generation, three anions are tested that result in noncentrosymmetric crystals: 4‐methylbenzenesulfonate, 3‐nitrobenzenesulfonate, and napthalene‐2‐sulfonate. After synthesis and crystallization, the crystal structure is characterized via X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and the relative THz generation efficiency for ideal crystals is predicted. 4DEP‐N2S shows a roughly 30% larger relative second‐order nonlinear optical susceptibility compared to HMQ‐TMS and DAST and, therefore, shows promise as a new advanced THz generation crystal.
Vacuum‐Ultraviolet Photovoltaic Detector with Improved Response Speed and Responsivity via Heating Annihilation Trap State Mechanism
Authors: Zheng Wei , Lin Richeng , Zhang Dan , Jia Lemin , Ji Xu , Huang Feng 
Published: August 2018

AbstractVacuum‐ultraviolet (VUV) photodetection is effective in probing the evolution and eruption of solar storms which are destructive to power transmission and communication systems. To realize real‐time monitoring of solar storms, astro‐ and solar physicists are dedicated to developing zero‐energy‐consumption VUV photovoltaic devices with high sensitivity. However, due to the lack of VUV transparent electrodes and high‐quality VUV photosensitive materials, the desired VUV photovoltaic devices with rapid temporal response are rarely reported. Here, graphene is used as the VUV transparent electrode, and a heterojunction device p‐Gr/AlN/n‐ZnO with p–i–n characteristics is fabricated. Benefitting from the lattice‐matched epitaxial growth of AlN film, the device realizes selective photovoltaic response to VUV light. More importantly, by employing a heat annihilation trap state mechanism, the response speed and responsivity of the device are increased by one order of magnitude. This strategy can also be applied to other multispectral photovoltaic devices, which provides a reference for the future development of new‐generation ultrafast monitoring space sensors.
Quinoid‐Resonant Conducting Polymers Achieve High Electrical Conductivity over 4000 S cm−1 for Thermoelectrics
Authors: Yuan Dafei , Liu Liyao , Jiao Xuechen , Zou Ye , McNeill Christopher R. , Xu Wei , Zhu Xiaozhang , Zhu Daoben 
Published: August 2018

AbstractNew conducting polymers polythieno[3,4‐b]thiophene‐Tosylate (PTbT‐Tos) are prepared by solution casting polymerization. Through tuning the alkyl group of TbT, the electrical conductivity can be effectively enhanced from 0.0001 to 450 S cm−1. Interestingly, the electrical conductivity of PTbT‐C1‐Tos increases significantly from 450 S cm−1 at room temperature to 4444 S cm−1 at 370 K, which is disparate from polyethylenedioxythiophene‐Tos exhibiting metallic conducting behavior. Quasi‐reversible phase transformation with temperature from 3D crystallites to lamellar‐stacking coincides with the increasing electrical conductivity of PTbT‐C1‐Tos with heating. Methyl‐substituted PTbT‐Tos with the best electrical property is further utilized for thermoelectrics and a power factor as high as 263 µW m−1 K−1 is obtained. It is believed that PTbT‐Tos will be a promising family of conducting polymers for solution‐processed organic electronics.
Mathematical Model for Predicting the Dissolution Behaviors of Hemicelluloses During Cold Caustic Extraction Process
Authors: Guan Qing‐Qing , Zhou Hua‐Jing , Peng Lin‐Cai , Chen Ke‐Li , He Liang , Chai Xin‐Sheng , Sun Bing 
Published: August 2018

SignificanceCold caustic extraction (i.e., CCE) is widely used in mill practice for hemicelluloses removal, and the parameters of which can significantly affect the hemicelluloses dissolution. Therefore, the dissolution behaviors of hemicelluloses under different CCE process parameters have been investigated. The results showed that with the temperature increases, the dissolution of hemicelluloses also increases. However, the effect of alkali content showed complicated, since lower content (<9.0 wt %) was good for the swelling of fibers (i.e., good for hemicelluloses dissolution), but higher content (>9.0 wt %) would accelerate the competing hydration of sodium ions with water and thus limited the dissolution of hemicelluloses. Besides, a mathematical model has been also developed for predicting the hemicelluloses dissolution during CCE process, which can provide a good guidance for enhancing the purification efficiency in the CCE process operation. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 65: 13–17, 2019
Recent Advances in Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed Functionalization of 1‐Thiosugars
Authors: Ibrahim Nada , Alami Mouad , Messaoudi Samir 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThioglycosides are valuable glycomimetic derivatives that have attracted much attention as mimetics of O‐glycosides. Thioglycosides are among the most important glycomimetics reported to date due to their powerful activities. Owing to their importance, building up methods for their construction has drawn considerable attention. However, the classical methods of their synthesis presenting many shortcomings such as the use of harsh acidic media, and are generally limited in substrate scope. Therefore, metal‐catalyzed coupling of thiosugars with halogenated electrophiles can be a superior and highly versatile approach to the sunthesis of thioglycosides. The central objective of this Focus Review is to highlight metal‐catalyzed reactions for the creation of aromatic and heteroaromatic thioglycosides.
Facile Fabrication of Concentrated Polymer Brushes with Complex Patterning by Photocontrolled Organocatalyzed Living Radical Polymerization
Authors: Wang Chen‐Gang , Chen Chen , Sakakibara Keita , Tsujii Yoshinobu , Goto Atsushi 
Published: August 2018

AbstractPhotocontrolled surface‐initiated reversible complexation mediated polymerization (photo‐SI‐RCMP) was successfully applied to fabricate concentrated polymer brushes with complex patterning structures. Positive‐type patterned polymer brushes were obtained by photo‐SI‐RCMP under visible light (550(±50) nm) using photomasks. A particularly interesting finding was that negative‐type patterned polymer brushes were also obtainable in a facile manner. A nonspecial UV light (250–385 nm) enabled the preparation of pre‐patterned initiator surfaces in a remarkably short time (1 min), leading to negative‐type patterned polymer brushes. Based on this unique selectivity between visible and UV light, the combination of two patterning techniques enabled the preparation of complex patterned brushes, including diblock copolymers, binary polymers, and functional binary polymers, without multistep immobilization of one or more initiators on the surfaces.
Cobalt‐Catalyzed Reductive Dimethylcyclopropanation of 1,3‐Dienes
Authors: Werth Jacob , Uyeda Christopher 
Published: August 2018

AbstractDimethylcyclopropanes are valuable synthetic targets that are challenging to access in high yield using Zn carbenoid reagents. Herein, we describe a cobalt‐catalyzed variant of the Simmons–Smith reaction that enables the efficient dimethylcyclopropanation of 1,3‐dienes using a Me2CCl2/Zn reagent mixture. The reactions proceed with high regioselectivity based on the substitution pattern of the 1,3‐diene. The products are vinylcyclopropanes, which serve as substrates for transition‐metal‐catalyzed ring‐opening reactions, including 1,3‐rearrangement and [5+2] cycloaddition. Preliminary studies indicate that moderately activated monoalkenes are also amenable to dimethylcyclopropanation under the conditions of cobalt catalysis.
Facile Benzene Reduction by a Ca2+/AlI Lewis Acid/Base Combination
Authors: Brand Steffen , Elsen Holger , Langer Jens , Donaubauer Wolfgang A. , Hampel Frank , Harder Sjoerd 
Published: August 2018

AbstractAttempted synthesis of the donor–acceptor complex (BDI)Ca+←AlI(BDI) complex by reaction of (BDI)Ca+ in the form of its B(C6F5)4− salt with (BDI)AlI in benzene led to dearomatization of the solvent and formation of (BDI)Ca+(C6H6)AlIII(BDI) (BDI=CH[C(CH3)N‐Dipp]2, Dipp=2,6‐diisopropylphenyl). The C6H62− anion is strongly puckered and its boat form features four long (ca. 1.50 Å) and two short (ca. 1.34 Å) C−C bond distances. The flagpole positions of the C6H62− anion chelate an AlIII cation giving a norbornadiene‐like fragment with Al in the 7‐position. The C=C double bonds of this alumina‐norbornadiene strongly coordinate to the Ca2+ metal ion. The complex is stable in solution up to 80 °C. Several mechanisms for its formation are discussed including a highly likely frustrated Lewis pair type mechanism in which benzene is activated by the Lewis acid (BDI)Ca+ followed by nucleophilic attack by the Lewis base (BDI)AlI.
Orally Active Peptides: Is There a Magic Bullet?
Authors: Räder Andreas F. B. , Weinmüller Michael , Reichart Florian , Schumacher‐Klinger Adi , Merzbach Shira , Gilon Chaim , Hoffman Amnon , Kessler Horst 
Published: August 2018

AbstractFor decades, the development of peptides as potential drugs was aimed solely at peptides with the highest affinity, receptor selectivity, or stability against enzymatic degradation. However, optimization of their oral availability is highly desirable to establish orally active peptides as potential drug candidates for everyday use. A twofold optimization process is necessary to produce orally active peptides: 1) optimization of the affinity and selectivity and 2) optimization of the oral availability. These two steps must be performed sequentially for the rational design of orally active peptides. Nevertheless, additional knowledge is required to understand which structural changes increase oral availability, followed by incorporation of these elements into a peptide without changing its other biological properties. Considerable efforts have been made to understand the influence of these modifications on oral availability. One approach is to improve the oral availability of a peptide that has been previously optimized for biological activity, as described in (1) above. The second approach is to first identify an intestinally permeable, metabolically stable peptide scaffold and then introduce the functional groups necessary for the desired biological function. Previous approaches to achieving peptide oral availability have been claimed to have general applicability but, thus far, most of these solutions have not been successful in other cases. This Review discusses diverse chemical modifications, model peptides optimized for bioavailability, and orally active peptides to summarize the state of the research on the oral activity of peptides. We explain why no simple and straightforward strategy (i.e. a “magic bullet”) exists for the design of an orally active peptide with a druglike biological function.
Chlorophyll Breakdown in a Fern—Discovery of Phyllobilin Isomers with a Rearranged Carbon Skeleton
Authors: Erhart Theresia , Vergeiner Stefan , Kreutz Christoph , Kräutler Bernhard , Müller Thomas 
Published: August 2018

AbstractAll structure‐based information on chlorophyll (Chl) breakdown in the higher plants relies on studies with angiosperms. Herein, the first investigation of a fern is reported, revealing a novel type of Chl catabolites (phyllobilins) in leaves of this large division of the vascular plants, and providing structural insights into an astounding metabolic process of the higher plants that appears to have played a role even in early phases of plant evolution. The tetrapyrrolic Chl catabolites in the cosmopolitan bracken fern were discovered to be phyllobilin isomers with an unprecedented skeleton, proposed to be the striking result of a rearrangement of a hypothetical phyllobilin precursor.
Novel sheet‐like bismuth subcarbonate‐zinc ferrite (Bi2O2CO3/ZnFe2O4) magnetically recyclable nanocomposites: Synthesis, characterization and enhanced catalytic performance for the reduction of nitrophenols and nitroanilines
Authors: Zarringhadam Parisa , Farhadi Saeed 
Published: August 2018

Sheet–like Bi2O2CO3/ZnFe2O4 magnetic nanocomposites (denoted as BOC‐ZFO) with different amounts of magnetic ZnFe2O4 (ZFO) nanoparticles were successfully produced by a simple hydrothermal route. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and N2 adsorption–desorption examination were utilized to analyze the structure, morphology, size, phase composition, optical and magnetic properties of the synthesized nanocomposites. The results demonstrated the successful deposition of uniform ZFO nanoparticles onto the surface of sheet–like BOC nanostructures. Then, the catalytic activity of magnetic BOC/ZFO nanocamposites was investigated for the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) to 4‐aminophenol (4‐AP) by using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) in hydrous solution and at room temperature. The results showed that BOC/ZFO nanocamposite with 30%wt of ZFO showed the best performance in the reduction of 4‐NP with 100% conversion into the amino derivative during 30 min. The effect of catalyst dosage was also investigated on the efficiency of reduction process. Under similar conditions, 2‐nitrophenol (2‐NP), 4‐nitroaniline (4‐NA) and 2‐nitroaniline (2‐NA) were also reduced to the amino derivatives within 16–29 min. The magnetic BOC/ZFO catalyst could be easily separated from the reaction system by an external magnet.