bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Imidazole‐Grafted Nanogels for the Fabrication of Organic–Inorganic Protein Hybrids
Authors: Rodriguez‐Abetxuko Andoni , Morant‐Miñana Maria Carmen , López‐Gallego Fernando , Yate Luis , Seifert Andreas , Knez Mato , Beloqui Ana 
Published: July 2018

AbstractHere, a platform for the development of highly responsive organic–inorganic enzyme hybrids is provided. The approach entails a first step of protein engineering, in which individual enzymes are armored with a porous nanogel decorated with imidazole motifs. In a second step, by mimicking the biomineralization mechanism, the assembly of the imidazole nanogels with CuSO4 and phosphate salts is triggered. A full characterization of the new composites reveals the first reported example in which the assembly mechanism is triggered by the sum of Cu(II)–imidazole interaction and Cu3(PO4)2 inorganic salt formation. It is demonstrated that the organic component of the hybrids, namely the imidazole‐modified polyacrylamide hydrogel, provides a favorable spatial distribution for the enzyme. This results in enhanced conversion rates, robustness of the composite at low pH values, and a remarkable thermal stability at 65 °C, exhibiting 400% of the activity of the mineralized enzyme lacking the organic constituent. Importantly, unlike in previous works, the protocol applies to the use of a broad range of transition metal cations (including mono‐, di‐, and trivalent cations) to trigger the mineralization mechanism, which eventually broadens the chemical and structural diversity of organic–inorganic protein hybrids.
Shifting through the forest: home range, movement patterns, and diet of the eastern chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda
Authors: Moore Jennifer F. , Mulindahabi Felix , Gatorano Gratien , Niyigaba Protais , Ndikubwimana Innocent , Cipolletta Chloé , Masozera Michel K. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPopulations of the endangered eastern chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) are declining throughout their range. Although Nyungwe National Park (NNP) harbors the largest remaining eastern chimpanzee population in Rwanda, we know little about their space use and dietary patterns. We studied home range, movement, and diet of two communities of chimpanzees in NNP using daily tracking data (6:00 am to 6:00 pm) collected from 2000 to 2015. One community, Mayebe, resided in the forest center, and the other community, Cyamudongo, inhabited a forest fragment located about 10 km from the main forest. Home range estimated with the 95% kernel density estimation (KDE) method was 21 km2 for the Mayebe community and 4 km2 for the Cyamudongo community. Chimpanzee home range sizes were smaller during the dry versus wet season and varied monthly throughout the year. The Mayebe community had an average hourly step length of 75 ± SE 5 m with a daily movement range of 987 ± SE 71 m, while the Cyamudongo community had a shorter hourly step length of 52 ± SE 3 m with a daily movement range of 651 ± SE 71 m. Both chimpanzee communities fed primarily on Ficus spp. Other important dietary items included fruits of Symphonia globulifera, Syzygium guineense, and Chrysophyllum gorungosanum for the Mayebe community and Trilepisium madagascariense for the Cyamudongo community. Food choice varied monthly and seasonally for each chimpanzee community. Our study provides the first estimates of home range size and movement parameters for chimpanzees in Rwanda and documents their food habits and seasonal variations therein. We also identified the 50% core home range for each chimpanzee community and suggest this area as the focus of management actions. These results could help park management reduce threats to chimpanzees and other sympatric species by improving the efficiency of ranger patrols.
The Chaotropic Effect as an Assembly Motif in Chemistry
Authors: Assaf Khaleel I. , Nau Werner M. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractFollowing up on scattered reports on interactions of conventional chaotropic ions (for example, I−, SCN−, ClO4−) with macrocyclic host molecules, biomolecules, and hydrophobic neutral surfaces in aqueous solution, the chaotropic effect has recently emerged as a generic driving force for supramolecular assembly, orthogonal to the hydrophobic effect. The chaotropic effect becomes most effective for very large ions that extend beyond the classical Hofmeister scale and that can be referred to as superchaotropic ions (for example, borate clusters and polyoxometalates). In this Minireview, we present a continuous scale of water–solute interactions that includes the solvation of kosmotropic, chaotropic, and hydrophobic solutes, as well as the creation of void space (cavitation). Recent examples for the association of chaotropic anions to hydrophobic synthetic and biological binding sites, lipid bilayers, and surfaces are discussed.
Isolation of Fucoxanthin from Brown Algae and Its Antioxidant Activity: In Vitro and 5% Fish Oil‐In‐Water Emulsion
Authors: Koduvayur Habeebullah Sabeena Farvin , Surendraraj Alagarsamy , Jacobsen Charlotte 
Published: July 2018

AbstractFucoxanthin, a nonprovitamin A carotenoid, is a yellowish‐brown pigment found abundantly in brown algae. Along with chlorophyll a, it is bound to proteins and acts as a light‐harvesting and a light‐transferring pigment. The occurrence of carotenoids and chlorophylls in photosynthetic tissues complicates the isolation of pure fucoxanthin. The present study deals with a method for the isolation of fucoxanthin by low‐temperature crystallization and testing its antioxidant activity both in in vitro assays and in 5% oil‐in‐water emulsion. The yield of fucoxanthin obtained with this method ranged from 0.1% to 0.5% of dried algae depending on the species. Fucoxanthin showed good α,α‐diphenyl‐β‐picrylhydrazyl radical‐scavenging and iron‐chelating properties. However, it showed low reducing power and was poor in the inhibition of lipid oxidation in a liposome model system. When tested in 5% fish oil‐in‐water emulsion with iron as an oxidation inducer, fucoxanthin showed antioxidant activity by resulting in low levels of volatile oxidation products and low tocopherol loss compared to control and butylated hydroxytoluene.
Pharmacokinetics of Sijunzi decoction in rat plasma after oral administration using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization quadrupole–time of flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Qu Gonglin , Qi Xuesong , Shao Shuai , Li Chen , Wang Chunyan , Wang Chengfang , Gou Qiao 
Published: July 2018

AbstractSijunzi decoction (SJZD) is one of the most well‐known traditional Chinese herbal formulations. This study elucidates the pharmacokinetics of SJZD in rat plasma after the administration of a single oral dose of 3 mL/kg using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization quadrupole–time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐ESI‐Q‐TOF/MS) with bergapten as an internal standard. The separation was performed on an Agilent Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.8 μm) by elution with acetonitrile and water (containing 0.1% formic acid) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. Electrospray ionization in positive and negative ion modes was used to quantify six compounds, with monitored ion m/z values of 249.1397 [M + H]+ and 529.3857 [M + H]+ for atractylenolide III (ATL‐III) and pachymic acid (PA), respectively, and m/z of 1107.6638 [M − H]−, 991.5746 [M – H + HCOO]−, 821.3714 [M − H]−, 469.3315 [M − H]− for ginsenoside Rb1, Re, glycyrrhizic acid (GL), and glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), respectively. The calibration curves for ginsenoside Rb1, Re, ATL‐III, PA, GL and GA were 0.0015–0.75, 0.001–0.5, 0.0004–0.2, 0.003–0.9, 0.0015–0.3 and 0.001–1.5 μg/mL, respectively. The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions (RSD) were <14.3%. The rapid, sensitive and specific UHPLC‐ESI‐Q‐TOF/MS method developed and validated in this study was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of the six components of SJZD using rat plasma for pharmacokinetic studies after oral administration.
Identifying consumers' engagement with renewable energy
Authors: Venugopal Aparna , Shukla Dhirendra 
Published: July 2018

AbstractA moral engagement with sustainability enhances consumers' willingness to pay an increased rate for renewable energy when utility firms offer a variety of financial incentives to buy, rent and lease energy solutions to promote the uptake of energy‐efficient technologies. Using structural equation modelling, with data collected from 140 residential energy consumers in Canada, this paper tests and finds evidence that consumers' moral disengagement with environmental concerns negatively influences their willingness to pay more for renewable energy. Furthermore, it is observed that a consumer's perceived sense of control when evaluating energy solutions further accentuates the effects of moral disengagement on willingness to pay. These findings also illuminate the socio‐economic factors that encourage moral engagement concerning renewables. These findings underscore and build upon the claims of the theory of moral self‐regulation. The results and implications guide energy suppliers in potential niche business models to promote the uptake of energy efficient technologies. Similarly, the findings can guide policy‐makers on the cognitive and psychological factors that shape consumers' moral engagement with environmental concerns.
Entrepreneurial orientation, environmental sustainability and new venture performance: Does stakeholder integration matter?
Authors: Amankwah‐Amoah Joseph , Danso Albert , Adomako Samuel 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPrevious research has theorised that the link between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and performance is mediated by environmental sustainability orientation (ESO). However, firm‐level factors that may moderate this relationship are lacking. This paper attempts to fill this gap by examining how and when EO enhances new venture performance by considering ESO as mediator and stakeholder integration as an important contingent factor. Using primary data obtained from 242 chief executive officers/entrepreneurs, it was found that the indirect relationship between EO and new venture performance is strengthened at high levels of stakeholder integration. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
HOXA11 antisense long noncoding RNA (HOXA11‐AS): A promising lncRNA in human cancers
Authors: Lu Cheng‐Wei , Zhou Dan‐Dan , Xie Tian , Hao Ji‐Long , Pant Om Prakash , Lu Cheng‐Bo , Liu Xiu‐Fen 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe cancers are the leading cause of disease‐related deaths worldwide with a high risk of morbidity and mortality. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a critical role in a wide range of biological processes, including tumorigenesis. HOXA11‐AS (NCRNA00076), the antisense strands of HOXA11 gene, was initially revealed in a mouse embryonic cDNA library in 2009 and it was a fairly novel lncRNA. This review summarized the advanced research progression concerning the expression and role of HOXA11‐AS in different human malignancies. The expression of HOXA11‐AS is aberrantly altered in many cancers, either as a tumor suppressor or as a tumor accelerator. The different underlying mechanism of HOXA11‐AS in different cancers (including, nonsmall cell lung cancers, osteosarcoma, uveal melanoma, glioma, hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, and glioblastoma) was also detailed. These findings lead us to conclude that HOXA11‐AS participate in the complex network of cancers and plays an important role in the tumorigenesis and progression. Functional HOXA11‐AS could be a promising biomarker for early detection as well as prognosis evaluation in cancer patients. Future HOXA11‐AS‐targeted intervention may become a valuable novel therapeutic tool, improving the clinical management of cancers.
Emerging findings into molecular mechanism of brain metastasis
Authors: Ni Wenting , Chen Wenxing , Lu Yin 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBrain metastasis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. Hence, the need to develop improved therapies to prevent and treat metastasis to the brain is becoming urgent. Recent studies in this area are bringing about some advanced progress on brain metastasis. It was concluded that the occurrence and poor prognosis of brain metastasis have been mostly attributed to the exclusion of anticancer drugs from the brain by the blood‐brain barrier. And several highly potent new generation targeted drugs with enhanced CNS distribution have been developed constantly. However, the noted “seed and soil” hypothesis also suggests that the outcome of metastasis depends on the relationship between unique tumor cells and the specific organ microenvironment. Moreover, increasing studies in multiple tumor types demonstrated that brain metastasis has great molecular differences between primary tumors and extracranial metastasis to a large extent. Here, the authors summarized the most common malignancies that could lead to brain metastasis—lung cancer, breast cancer and melanoma and their related mutated factors. Only by comprehending a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms, more effective brain‐specific therapies will be developed for brain metastasis.
Sugar daddies and blessers: A contextual study of transactional sexual interactions among young girls and older men
Authors: Hoss Juliane , Blokland Linda M. Eskell 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis mixed method study aimed to gather a contextual understanding of the perspectives of young girls in South Africa with regard to transactional sexual interactions between older men and young girls. Two major narratives of the “sugar daddy” phenomenon have dominated the public discourse on the topic. One emphasises the girls' vulnerability and experience of victimisation, whereas the other highlights their role as social agents with control in such interactions. In this study, the participants acknowledged the heterogeneity among partners in such interactions, which suggests that the phenomenon of “sugar daddies” cannot be explained by a simple narrative. The girls' experiences form a continuum based on the degree of their individual control and the extent of their vulnerability in such an interaction. Contextual factors and social norms influence decisions and experiences in these interactions. The study concludes that these relationships form part of the girls' daily experiences of structural violence as well as gender inequality and can be regarded as a symptom of broader societal structures and norms. Quantitative data investigate the mental health status of the participants, whereas an essentialist/realist thematic analysis of qualitative data explores experiences and perceptions of the girls.
Selective Epoxidation of Fatty Acids and Fatty Acid Methyl Esters by Fungal Peroxygenases
Authors: Aranda Carmen , Olmedo Andrés , Kiebist Jan , Scheibner Katrin , del Río José C. , Martínez Angel T. , Gutiérrez Ana 
Published: July 2018

AbstractRecently discovered fungal unspecific peroxygenases from Marasmius rotula and Chaetomium globosum catalyze the epoxidation of unsaturated fatty acids (FA) and FA methyl esters (FAME), unlike the well‐known peroxygenases from Agrocybe aegerita and Coprinopsis cinerea. Reactions of a series of unsaturated FA and FAME with cis‐configuration revealed high (up to 100 %) substrate conversion and selectivity towards epoxidation, although some significant differences were observed between enzymes and substrates with the best results being obtained with the C. globosum enzyme. This and the M. rotula peroxygenase appear as promising biocatalysts for the environmentally‐friendly production of reactive FA epoxides given their self‐sufficient monooxygenase activity and the high conversion rate and epoxidation selectivity.
Correlating Charge‐Carrier Dynamics with Efficiency in Quantum‐Dot Solar Cells: Can Excitonics Lead to Highly Efficient Devices?
Authors: Maiti Sourav , Dana Jayanta , Ghosh Hirendra N. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe photovoltaic performance of quantum‐dot solar cells strongly depends on the charge‐carrier relaxation and recombination processes, which need to be modulated in a favorable way to obtain maximum efficiency. Recently, significant efforts have been devoted to investigate the carrier dynamics of nanocrystal sensitizers, both in solution and deposited on TiO2 photoanodes, with the aim to correlate the excitonics with solar‐energy conversion efficiency. This Minireview summarizes some proof of the concepts that efficiency can be directly correlated to the exciton dynamics of quantum‐dot solar cells. The presented findings are based on CdSeS alloy, CdSe/CdS core/shell, Au/CdSe nanohybrids, and Mn‐doped CdZnSSe nanocrystals, where the favourable excitonic processes are optimized to enhance the efficiency. Future prospects and limitations are addressed as well.
On the Viability of Catalytic Turnover via Al−O/B−H Metathesis: The Reactivity of β‐Diketiminate Aluminium Hydrides towards CO2 and Boranes
Authors: Caise Alexa , Jones Dafydd , Kolychev Eugene L. , Hicks Jamie , Goicoechea Jose M. , Aldridge Simon 
Published: July 2018

AbstractA series of β‐diketiminate stabilized aluminium hydrides of the type (Nacnac)Al(R)H has been synthesized offering variation in the auxiliary R substituent and in the Nacnac backbone. These show significant variation in the nature of the Al−H bond: electron‐donating R groups give rise to weaker (and presumably more hydridic) Al−H bonds, leading to enhanced rates of reactivity towards CO2. The resulting κ1‐formate complexes (Nacnac)Al(R){OC(O)H} have been isolated and their reactivity towards B−H‐containing reductants probed. In the case of HBpin no reaction is observed (even under forcing conditions), while the more reactive boranes HBcat and {H(9‐BBN)}2 ultimately yield boryloxy complexes of the type (Nacnac)Al(R)(OBX2) (X2=cat, 9‐BBN). However, no hint of Al−O/B−H metathesis is observed even under forcing conditions. With BH3⋅SMe2 the major product is a related boryloxy system, although (uniquely) in this case a minor product is observed which contains an Al−H bond. We hypothesize that (Nacnac)Al(R)(κ2‐BH4) is formed (despite the unfavourable thermodynamics of Al−O/B−H metathesis) due to the additional driving force provided by coordination of the strongly Lewis acidic BH3 unit to the Al−H bond. That said, we find that (unlike the analogous gallium systems) no catalytic turnover can be achieved in the reduction of CO2 by boranes mediated by these aluminium hydrides.
Quantitative assessment of changes in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics along the courses of the cortico‐ponto‐cerebellar tracts secondary to supratentorial human brain glial tumors
Authors: Mirbagheri Saeedeh , Kamali Arash , Cai Chunyan , Kasaie Parastu , Pillai Jay Jan , Gujar Sachin Krishnakant , Khorsandi Azita , Sair Haris Iqbal 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe cortico‐ponto‐cerebellar tract (CPCT) is the largest projection pathway, which synapses at the pons. Remote effects of supratentorial brain tumors have not been evaluated along the infratentorial course of the CPCT.AimThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the possible lateralization of the diffusion tensor metrics of the affected CPCT in patients with supratentorial brain tumor.Methods and ResultsWe included 39 patients with 29 left‐sided tumors (LST) and 10 right‐sided tumors, retrospectively. We measured the magnitude of changes of the fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the CPCT prior to the brain surgery at the level of crus cerebri and middle cerebellar peduncle. Regions of interest (ROIs) were placed on the lateral side of crus cerebri, and ROI‐1 (anterior 1/3), ROI‐2 (middle 1/3), ROI‐3 (posterior 1/3), and ROI‐4 were placed at the level of middle cerebellar peduncle. We hypothesized that there would be decreased FA and increased ADC values of the ipsilesional CPCT compared with contralesional CPCT.Ipsilesional FA values were decreased with simultaneous increased ADC value along the CPCT compared with contralesional CPCT in following ROIs, ROI‐1 (LST FA: P = .005, ADC: P = .037) and ROI‐3 (LST FA: P = .049, ADC: P = .049), respectively. Affected ROI‐4 in LST cases also showed lower FA values, although not statistically significant.ConclusionWe observed a statistically significant FA value decrease and ADC increase along the left ROI‐1 and ROI‐3 as well as the nonstatistically significant FA decrease of the left ROI‐4 at the second neuron level when there was a related supratentorial tumor. These findings are suggestive of presynaptic and postsynaptic microstructural changes of these tracts following the presynaptic involvement by a primary supratentorial brain tumor.
Effects of Electric Fields on Multiple Exciton Generation
Authors: Gordi Mahdi , Moravvej‐Farshi Mohammad Kazem , Ramezani Hamidreza 
Published: July 2018

AbstractUnique properties of lead chalcogenides have enabled multiple exciton generation (MEG) in their nanocrystals that can be beneficial in enhancing the efficiency of third‐generation solar cells. Although the intrinsic electric field plays an imperative role in a solar cell, its effect on the multiple exciton generation (MEG) has been overlooked, so far. Using EOM‐CCSD as a many‐body approach, we show that any electric field can affect the absorptivity spectra of the lead chalcogenide nanocrystals (Pb4Te4, Pb4Se4, and Pb4S4). The same electric field, however, has insignificant effects on the MEG quantum probabilities and the thresholds in these nanocrystals. Furthermore, simulations show that Pb4Te4, among the aforementioned nanocrystals, has the lowest MEG threshold and the strongest absorptivity peak that is located in the multi‐excitation window, irrespective of the field strength, making it the most suitable candidate for MEG applications. Simulations also demonstrate that an electric field affects the MEG characteristics in the Pb4Te4 nanocrystal, in general, less than it perturbs MEG characteristics in Pb4Se4 and Pb4S4 nanocrystals. Our results can have a great impact in designing optoelectronic devices whose performance can be significantly influenced by MEG.
Commitment to sustainable development: Exploring the factors affecting employee attitudes towards corporate social responsibility‐oriented management
Authors: Wang Yingyan 
Published: July 2018

AbstractEmployee contributions are indispensable to the success of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices; however, surprisingly little research has focused on how positive attitudes toward CSR‐oriented management can be facilitated among employees. Applying a relational demography approach and related theories, this study examines employees' emotional identification and behavioral engagement with CSR‐oriented mission activities. Data from a Fortune Global 500 company in Japan show the direct effect of position and the asymmetric effects of position dissimilarity. Lower‐positioned employees tend to report enhanced positive attitudes toward CSR‐oriented mission activities when working with a greater number of higher‐positioned colleagues. Furthermore, perceived mission‐based support mediates the effect of the interaction between position dissimilarity and position on employees' attitudes toward CSR‐oriented activities. On the basis of these findings, it is argued that companies should recognize the importance of managerial members as role models and provide employees with sufficient support to facilitate positive attitudes toward CSR practices.