bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Design and Synthesis of Mechano‐Responsive Color‐Changing Thermoplastic Elastomer Based on Poly(n‐Butyl Acrylate)–Spiropyran‐Polystyrene Comb‐Structured Graft Copolymers
Authors: Jia Yanyu , Wang Wen‐Jun , Li Bo‐Geng , Zhu Shiping 
Published: July 2018

AbstractColorimetric mechanophores like spiropyran (SP) represent an emerging type of interesting signal molecule that can be incorporated into polymers or other materials as a stress transducer. In this work, a new type of spiropyran‐containing inimer molecule MA‐SP‐Br are designed and synthesized, which is incorporated into polybutylacrylate (PBA) chains through reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerization with n‐butyl acrylate (BA). PBA‐SP‐Br is then used as a macro‐initiator to graft polystyrene (PS) side chains from the PBA backbone through atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene. The resulting comb‐structured graft copolymer PBA‐SP‐PS contains 0.15–0.34% SP and exhibits a characteristic feature of thermoplastic elastomers. Under uniaxial stretch, the materials possess an excellent mechano‐responsivity and change color at strains as low as about 14%.
Precise Synthesis of PS‐PLA Janus Star‐Like Copolymer
Authors: Fan Xiaoshan , Win Khin Yin , Hu Zhiguo , Loh Xian Jun , Li Zibiao 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIn this work, an efficient strategy is designed for the precise synthesis of novel Janus star‐like copolymer (polystyrene)8‐b‐(poly(l‐lactide))8, (PLLA)8‐b‐(PS)8, consisting of two types of chemically distinct polymer arms, PS and PLLA, in an asymmetric structure. During the synthesis, PLLA hemisphere carrying protected hydroxyl groups at the focal point was first synthesized via a combined reactions of esterification, light‐induced “Click” chemistry, and ring opening polymerization (ROP) using a specially designed dendron as initiator. After removing the protecting moiety, the terminal hydroxyl groups on the dendron segment is increased fourfold and further modified into bromopropionate‐based macroinitiator through a two‐step end group transformation reaction, followed by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene to obtain the desired (PLLA)8‐b‐(PS)8 Janus star‐like copolymer. The versatility and efficiency of the designed synthetic strategy are demonstrated by the well‐defined molecular characteristics and high yields of the targeted product. In addition to the controlled degradation behavior of the PLLA segments, the remaining bromide groups located at the distal end of PS arms could allow for further fabrication of diverse building blocks through consecutive ATRP of various monomers. This work signifies the first time for facile and precise synthesis of Janus star‐like copolymer with unique biphasic structure and function control.
Parkinson's disease across ethnicities: A nationwide study in New Zealand
Authors: Pitcher Toni L. , Myall Daniel J. , Pearson John F. , Lacey Cameron J. , Dalrymple‐Alford John C. , Anderson Tim J. , MacAskill Michael R. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBackground: New Zealand is an ethnically diverse country with a unified national prescribing system. This provides a good framework to use drug‐tracing methodology to establish the prevalence and incidence of Parkinson's disease across different ethnic groups. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and incidence of Parkinson's disease in the major ethnic groups in New Zealand.Methods: Information on Parkinson's disease‐related medications was extracted from the national Pharmaceutical Collection of community‐dispensed medications for the period January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2014. Diagnoses for a large subset of individuals were independently determined through national mortality and hospital admissions data sets. We used a Bayesian model, accommodating uncertainty and bias, to estimate the number of people with Parkinson's disease.Results: We found the highest rate of Parkinson's disease in the European ethnic group and the lowest rate in the indigenous Māori. The 2006‐2013 age‐standardized incidence (per 100,000 population per year) was European, 33; Asian, 28; Pasifika, 27; Māori, 20. The 2013 age‐standardized prevalence (per 100,000 population) was European, 223; Asian, 174; Pasifika, 160; Māori, 114.Conclusions: There is a differential occurrence of Parkinson's disease across the major ethnic groups within the New Zealand population, with indigenous Māori showing the lowest incidence. Varying susceptibility profiles, gene‐environment interactions, and inequalities in accessing health care may play a role in the variation in rates of Parkinson's disease in New Zealand. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Rotation‐free triangular shell element using node‐based smoothed finite element method
Authors: Choi J. H. , Lee B. C. 
Published: July 2018

SummaryIn this paper, a triangular thin flat shell element without rotation degrees of freedom is proposed. In the Kirchhoff hypothesis, the first derivative of the displacement must be continuous because there are second‐order differential terms of the displacement in the weak form of the governing equations. The displacement is expressed as a linear function and the nodal rotation is defined using node‐based smoothed finite element method. The rotation field is approximated using the nodal rotation and linear shape functions. This rotation field is linear in an element and continuous between elements. The curvature is defined by differentiating the rotation field, and the stiffness is calculated from the curvature. A hybrid stress triangular membrane element was used to construct the shell element. The penalty technique was used to apply the rotation boundary conditions. The proposed element was verified through several numerical examples.
Deep eutectic solvents used as extraction solvent for the determination of flavonoids from Camellia oleifera flowers by high‐performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Ma Yaqian , Liu Menghan , Tan Ting , Yan Aiping , Guo Lan , Jiang Kun , Tan Changheng , Wan Yiqun 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIntroductionCamellia oleifera flowers are rich in flavonoids, but there has been little attention on their application. A simple and reliable method for determining the content of flavonoids in C. oleifera flowers would be very helpful for the utilisation of agriculture resources.ObjectiveTo develop an efficient analytical method for the determination of flavonoids in C. oleifera flowers by high‐performance liquid chromatography‐ultraviolet (HPLC‐UV) detection.MethodologyPreparing an environmentally‐friendly and effective solvent – deep eutectic solvents (DESs) – for compound extraction. Then investigating the influential factors of ultrasound‐assisted extraction with DESs by the Box–Behnken design combined with response surface methodology.ResultsDES‐5 synthesised with choline chloride and lactic acid (1:2) acquired excellent extractability for four flavonoids (quercetin 3‐O‐rhamnoside, kaempferol 3‐O‐rhamnoside and their aglycones) with different polarity. The proposed method, which could simultaneously determine four flavonoids with HPLC‐UV detection for the first time, displays satisfactory recovery yields and high precision with inter‐day relative standard deviation lower than 5.80%.ConclusionDESs could be promising solvents for efficiently and selectively extracting bioactive compounds from plant materials, and the analytical method for flavonoids of C. oleifera flowers could provide reference value for its application and be used in other plant resources.
Wafer integrated micro‐scale concentrating photovoltaics
Authors: Li Duanhui , Li Lan , Jared Bradley , Keeler Gordon , Miller Bill , Wood Michael , Hains Christopher , Sweatt William , Paap Scott , Saavedra Michael , Alford Charles , Mudrick John , Das Ujjwal , Hegedus Steve , Tauke‐Pedretti Anna , Hu Juejun , Gu Tian 
Published: July 2018

AbstractA novel micro‐scale photovoltaic concept, Wafer Integrated Micro‐scale Photovoltaics (WPV), is proposed, analyzed, and experimentally demonstrated. The WPV concept seamlessly integrates multijunction micro‐cells with a multi‐functional silicon platform that simultaneously provides optical concentration, hybrid PV/CPV architecture, and mechanical alignment features. Fabrication and optical performance characterization of the Si platform are described in this paper. Over 100% improvement in the concentration‐acceptance‐angle product (CAP) is demonstrated using the wafer‐embedded micro‐concentrating elements, leading to significantly reduced module material and fabrication costs, sufficient angular tolerance for low‐cost trackers, and an ultra‐compact optical architecture compatible with commercial flat panel infrastructures. The development of a prototypical module with a 400× concentration ratio is described. Outdoor optical characterization of the module shows acceptance angles of ±1.7° and ±2.5° for 90% of on‐axis power and full‐width‐half‐maximum, respectively. The projected performance of the PV/CPV hybrid architecture illustrates its potential for cost‐effective collection of both direct and diffuse sunlight, thereby extending the geographic and market domains for cost‐effective PV system deployment. Leveraging low‐cost micro‐fabrication and high‐level integration techniques, the WPV approach presents a promising route to combine the high performance of multijunction solar cells and the low costs of flat‐plate Si PV systems.
A sorghum NAC gene is associated with variation in biomass properties and yield potential
Authors: Xia Jingnu , Zhao Yunjun , Burks Payne , Pauly Markus , Brown Patrick J. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractSorghum bicolor is a C4 grass widely cultivated for grain, forage, sugar, and biomass. The sorghum Dry Stalk (D) locus controls a qualitative difference between juicy green (dd) and dry white (D‐) stalks and midribs, and co‐localizes with a quantitative trait locus for sugar yield. Here, we apply fine‐mapping and genome‐wide association study (GWAS) to identify a candidate gene underlying D, and use nearly isogenic lines (NILs) to characterize the transcriptional, compositional, and agronomic effects of variation at the D locus. The D locus was fine‐mapped to a 36 kb interval containing four genes. One of these genes is a NAC transcription factor that contains a stop codon in the NAC domain in the recessive (dd) parent. Allelic variation at D affects grain yield, sugar yield, and biomass composition in NILs. Green midrib (dd) NILs show reductions in lignin in stalk tissue and produce higher sugar and grain yields under well‐watered field conditions. Increased yield potential in dd NILs is associated with increased stalk mass and moisture, higher biomass digestibility, and an extended period of grain filling. Transcriptome profiling of midrib tissue at the 4–6 leaf stages, when NILs first become phenotypically distinct, reveals that dd NILs have increased expression of a miniature zinc finger (MIF) gene. MIF genes dimerize with and suppress zinc finger homeodomain (ZF‐HD) transcription factors, and a ZF‐HD gene is associated with midrib color variation in a GWAS analysis across 1,694 diverse sorghum inbreds. A premature stop codon in a NAC gene is the most likely candidate polymorphism underlying the sorghum D locus. More detailed understanding of the sorghum D locus could help improve agronomic potential in cereals.
Changing frequency of fluctuating light reveals the molecular mechanism for P700 oxidation in plant leaves
Authors: Shimakawa Ginga , Miyake Chikahiro 
Published: July 2018

AbstractNatural sunlight exceeds the demand of photosynthesis such that it can cause plants to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which subsequently cause photo‐oxidative damage. Because photosystem I (PSI) is a major source of ROS, plants actively maintain the reaction center chlorophyll of PSI(P700) oxidized under excessive light conditions to alleviate the ROS production. P700 oxidation is universally recognized in photosynthetic organisms as a physiological response to excessive light. However, it is still poorly understood how P700 oxidation is induced in response to fluctuating light with a variety of frequencies. Here, we investigated the relationships of photosynthetic parameters with P700 oxidation in Arabidopsis thaliana under a sine fluctuating light with different frequencies. As the photon flux density of the light increased, P700 was oxidized concurrently with the chlorophyll fluorescence parameter qL unless the electron acceptor side of PSI was limited. Conversely, we did not observe a proportional relationship of non‐photochemical quenching with P700 oxidation. The mutant crr‐2, which lacks chloroplast NADPH dehydrogenase, was impaired in P700 oxidation during light fluctuation at high, but not low frequency, unlike the pgrl1 mutant deficient in PGR5 and PGRL1 proteins, which could not oxidize P700 during light fluctuation at both high and low frequencies. Taken together, our findings suggested that the changing frequency of fluctuating light reveals the tracking performance of molecular mechanisms underlying P700 oxidation.
Metabolomics Integrated with Transcriptomics Reveals a Subtle Liver Metabolic Risk in Dairy Cows Fed Different Crop By‐products
Authors: Sun Hui‐Zeng , Wang Di‐Ming , Liu Hong‐Yun , Liu Jian‐Xin 
Published: July 2018

AbstractRuminants make large contributions to sustainable agriculture by converting crop by‐products into agricultural food. Multi‐omics integrative analysis helps to uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms. The liver metabolome‐transcriptome interface (LMTI) in dairy cows, including 3938 significant correlations (p < 0.01 and |ρ| > 0.6) among 772 genes, 306 metabolites, and 305 microRNAs, is first demonstrated. How different crop by‐products, corn stover (CS) and rice straw (RS), affect the liver metabolic functions based on the LMTI is further analyzed. Compared to the CS‐fed cows, 13 out of 24 metabolites have lower relative concentrations (variable importance projection > 1.0 and p < 0.05), and 51 out of 68 genes are downregulated in the RS group (p < 0.01 and fold change < –2). Integrated analysis of metabolomics and transcriptomics reveal that lipid metabolism is most enriched including 14 subpathways. The altered metabolites and genes revealed the enriched ketogenesis induced by the linoleic acid pathways (p = 0.017, topology value = 1), which is supported by blood and histomorphometric phenotypes. The above results indicate the foreseeable liver metabolic disorders when RS is fed to cows. These findings provide new insights into the liver metabolic mechanism and into crop by‐products utilization using integrative omics technologies.
Arrestin‐Domain Containing Protein 1 (Arrdc1) Regulates the Protein Cargo and Release of Extracellular Vesicles
Authors: Anand Sushma , Foot Natalie , Ang Ching‐Seng , Gembus Kelly M. , Keerthikumar Shivakumar , Adda Christopher G. , Mathivanan Suresh , Kumar Sharad 
Published: July 2018

AbstractExtracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid‐bilayered vesicles that are released by multiple cell types and contain nucleic acids and proteins. Very little is known about how the cargo is packaged into EVs. Ubiquitination of proteins is a key posttranslational modification that regulates protein stability and trafficking to subcellular compartments including EVs. Recently, arrestin‐domain containing protein 1 (Arrdc1), an adaptor for the Nedd4 family of ubiquitin ligases, has been implicated in the release of ectosomes, a subtype of EV that buds from the plasma membrane. However, it is currently unknown whether Arrdc1 can regulate the release of exosomes, a class of EVs that are derived endocytically. Furthermore, it is unclear whether Arrdc1 can regulate the sorting of protein cargo into the EVs. Exosomes and ectosomes are isolated from mouse embryonic fibroblasts isolated from wild type and Arrdc1‐deficient (Arrdc1−/−) mice. Nanoparticle tracking analysis–based EV quantitation shows that Arrdc1 regulates the release of both exosomes and ectosomes. Proteomic analysis highlights the change in protein cargo in EVs upon deletion of Arrdc1. Functional enrichment analysis reveals the enrichment of mitochondrial proteins in ectosomes, while proteins implicated in apoptotic cleavage of cell adhesion proteins and formation of cornified envelope are significantly depleted in exosomes upon knockout of Arrdc1.
Spatially Controlled Molecular Encapsulation in Natural Pine Pollen Microcapsules
Authors: Prabhakar Arun Kumar , Potroz Michael G. , Park Soohyun , Miyako Eijiro , Cho Nam‐Joon 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe loading of multiple drugs into a single carrier is an effective advanced clinical therapeutic for various diseases. Here, by exploiting the architectural features of natural pine pollen from Pinus massoniana, the spatially controlled encapsulation of two types of molecules in distinct compartments of a single microparticulate carrier is demonstrated. By simple vacuum and passive loading, diverse molecules such as proteins, organic dyes, and a drug are effectively encapsulated into the pollen microcapsule in binary fashion. This technique represents an advancement toward the use of natural pollen grains as a multifunctional molecular vehicle for functional drug delivery systems and innovative theranostic microdevices.
Synthesis of NIR‐Emitting InAs‐Based Core/Shell Quantum Dots with the Use of Tripyrazolylarsane as Arsenic Precursor
Authors: Tietze Remo , Panzer René , Starzynski Thorben , Guhrenz Chris , Frenzel Florian , Würth Christian , Resch‐Genger Ute , Weigand Jan J. , Eychmüller Alexander 
Published: July 2018

AbstractTris(3,5‐dimethylpyrazolyl)arsane (1) is introduced as a low‐cost and convenient to handle arsenic precursor for the straight forward synthesis of InAs quantum dots (QDs). Transamination of 1 with the solvent oleylamine (OLAH) gives trioleylarsane (As(OLA)3) which in the presence of the reducing agents diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAL‐H) or trioleylphosphane (P(OLA)3) yields InAs QDs via a typical hot injection approach. The size of the obtained InAs core QDs are tuned by varying the reaction time, the amount of the applied reducing agent, or even more effectively by changing the indium and/or zinc halide precursors, InX3, and ZnX2 (Cl, Br, or I). Passivation of the resulting InAs particles with a protective ZnS or ZnSe shell results in improved photoluminescence of the core/shell QDs covering a spectral range between 600 and 1150 nm.
Hydrogen migration in Coulomb explosion of cyclohexane to C2H4+ and C4H8+: Theoretical and experimental studies
Authors: Wu Hua , Wang Hui , Guo Zihan , Wen Junqing 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe equilibrium structure of cyclohexane dication C6H122+ and singly charged ions C2H4+ and C4H8+ suggests that hydrogen migration can proceed in dissociation process of C6H122+ to C2H4+ and C4H8+. Using dc‐slice imaging technique, the fragmentation pathway C6H122+ → C2H4++C4H8+ is detected under an intense femtosecond laser field. Two‐body Coulomb explosion (CE) of C6H122+ to C2H4+ and C4H8+ is securely identified. The quasi‐isotropic distributions of ions indicate the precursor have a relatively long dissociation time. Then, B3LYP density functional theory calculations are performed on this dissociation process, the results show the precursor C6H122+ undergoes molecular rearrangement and 1, 2‐ and 6, 5‐ hydrogen migrations during the dissociation process. These molecular rearrangement and hydrogen migration processes can reduce the anisotropy distribution of fragment ions C2H4+ and C4H8+, which is consistent with the experimental results. The present work will be useful to understand hydrogen migration processes within the hydrocarbon molecules.
Shaking table test on vibration control effects of a monopile offshore wind turbine with a tuned mass damper
Authors: Zhao Bin , Gao Hui , Wang Zixin , Lu Zheng 
Published: July 2018

AbstractTo investigate vibration control effects of a tuned mass damper (TMD) on the monopile offshore wind turbine tower under wind‐wave excitations and seismic excitations, shaking table tests on a 1/13‐scaled test model equipped with or without TMD are implemented. The TMD device adopted in the test is a bidirectional TMD whose mass ratio and frequency ratio are properly designed. During the test, the model identification of wind turbine model is conducted via white noise sweep. Furthermore, the influence of aerodynamic damping generated by blade rotation on the dynamic responses of a monopile offshore wind turbine is analyzed. Additionally, the vibration control effects of TMD under different rotation speeds of the blades and various external excitations are intensively studied. Based on the test results, the seismic responses of a monopile offshore wind turbine attached with/without TMD are also analyzed by the finite element software ANSYS. It has been found that the results obtained by numerical simulation fit well to the results derived from the experimental tests, showing that the numerical simulation method proposed in this paper is feasible with satisfactory accuracy. Both experimental and numerical researches conducted in this work are conducive to the further application of TMD to offshore wind turbines that are situated in seismic active regions. It should be noted that the investigated time‐histories cannot give a generalized result regarding the real performance of the TMD under wind‐wave excitations. The documented results can only support an overview about the tendency of the TMD efficiency.
Sprint to work: A&nbsp;novel model for team science collaboration in academic medicine
Authors: Sinha Shashank S. , Engler Tedi A. , Nallamothu Brahmajee K. , Ibrahim Andrew M. , Verhey-Henke Ann , Kerppola Marianna , Kerppola Marianna , Ellimoottil Chandy , Ryan Andrew M. 
Published: July 2018

Collaborative research in academic medicine is often inefficient and ineffective. It often fails to leverage the expertise of interdisciplinary team members, does not seek or incorporate team input at opportune times, and creates workload inequities. Adapting approaches developed in venture capital, we created the ‘sprint model’ for writing academic papers based on the analysis of secondary data. The ‘sprint model’ minimizes common barriers that undermine collaboration in academic medicine. This model for team science collaboration begins with team members convening for a highly focused, guided session. In this session, a facilitator moves the group through a structured process to create the study plan. This includes refining the research questions, developing the study design, and prototyping the presentation of results. After adopting this model, our team has drastically reduced time from idea inception to final product submission through increased efficiencies and reduced redundancies. From December 2016 to April 2018, our team has initiated 15 paper sprints. The median time from sprint to submission for paper sprints has been 1.7 months (minimum: 0.5; maximum: 9). Although our current ‘sprint’ approach has already demonstrated a substantial improvement in our ability to rapidly produce high-quality research, we believe the ‘pre-sprint’ preparation and ‘post-sprint’ processes can be further refined. Finally, we discuss the limitations of this model and our efforts to adapt the process to meet the evolving needs of research teams.