bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Photosynthetic opportunity cost and energetic cost of a rapid leaf closure behavior in Mimosa pudica
Authors: Bao Tan , Roy Gwendolyn , Cahill James F. 
Published: September 2018

Premise of the StudyThe rapid leaf movement of Mimosa pudica is expected to be costly because of energetic trade‐offs with other processes such as growth and reproduction. Here, we assess the photosynthetic opportunity cost and energetic cost of the unique leaf closing behavior of M. pudica.MethodsIn the greenhouse, we employed novel touch‐stimulation machines to expose plants to one of three treatments: (1) untouched control plants; (2) plants touch‐stimulated to close their leaves during the day to incur energetic costs associated with leaf movement and reduced photosynthesis; (3) plants touched at night to assess the effects of touch alone. M. pudica is nyctinastic and closes its leaves at night; thus, touching at night does not impart additional costs. We directly assessed costs by comparing physical traits. Leaf re‐opening response was measured to assess the potential for plant behavioral plasticity to impact photosynthetic opportunity costs.Key ResultsThe cost of rapid leaf closure behavior was expressed as a 47% reduction in reproductive biomass accounting for the effect of touch. Touch itself changed physical traits such as biomass, with touched plants being generally bigger. Plants touched at night re‐opened their leaflets 26% quicker than plants touched during the day.ConclusionsWe reason that the reproductive allocation costs incurred by M. pudica can be attributed to a combination of photosynthetic opportunity cost and the energetic cost associated with increased stimulation of leaf movement and that behavioral plasticity has the potential to alter photosynthetic opportunity costs.
Design of antibacterial polyethylene terephthalate masterbatch functionalized by modified nano‐Mg(OH)2
Authors: Zhu Yimin , Wang Ying , Sha Lin , Zhao Jiao , Li Xiaoyi 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACTIn this work, antibacterial polyethylene terephthalate (PET) masterbatch (APM) was prepared by melting‐and‐mixing technology, with nano‐Mg(OH)2 as antibacterial fillers and pure‐PET slices as basic materials. In addition, titanate coupling agents and stearic acid were used as additives to improve the compatibility of nano‐Mg(OH)2 and PET. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) characterization indicated that the modified nano‐Mg(OH)2 particles (10, 20, and 30%) wrapped by PET with a diameter ranging of 0.1–0.5 μm were well dispersed in APM. Moreover, the attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR) results indicated the existence of titanate coupling agents and stearic acid in APM. Furthermore, the antibacterial test showed that nano‐Mg(OH)2 and APM had excellent antibacterial property against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and resulted in the protein leakage of E. coli. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46755.
Influence of silver nanowires on thermal and electrical behaviors of a poly(epoxy) coating for aeronautical application
Authors: Bedel Vincent , Lonjon Antoine , Dantras Éric , Bouquet Michel 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACTThermal and electrical behaviors of a poly(epoxy) coating with high electrical conductivity used for aeronautic applications are investigated. The poly(epoxy) used is designed for resin transfer molding (RTM) applications, it have a low viscosity at room temperature (around 1 Pa s) and a high T
g (>160 °C). This study details the influence of silver nanowires with a high aspect ratio, on the thermal behavior such as the relative degree of reaction α and the kinetics parameters thanks to dynamic and isothermal differential scanning calorimetry. Conductivity measurements of surface and volume have permitted to determine a very low percolation threshold at around 0.7% in volume. The value of electrical conductivity above the percolation threshold is upper than 102 S m−1 and the lowest surface resistivity was measured around 13 mΩ sq−1 both for 8% in volume of AgNWs. This kind of coating has a great interest for lightning strike protection of aircraft parts due to the high electrical conductivity obtained with a low overweight. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46829.
Heavy metal ions removal from water using a smart polyurethane/acrylic hybrid
Authors: Pardini F. M. , Faccia P. A. , Amalvy J. I. 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACTHeavy metal contamination is certainly one of the most serious environmental problems today. In the present work, polymer films with pH‐responsive properties were used for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution. These polymers were prepared using different amounts of 2‐(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DEA), and a polyurethane based on isophorone diisocyanate (PU) to obtain pH‐responsive hybrid films of PU/DEA. Equilibrium sorption characteristics of Cu2+ and Zn2+ on polymer films were evaluated through batch studies. Hybrid systems were characterized by using FTIR, UV–Visible and microscopy techniques. The effect of pH, initial metal ion concentration and hybrid film composition on the extent of sorption were investigated. Maximum removal of Cu2+ and Zn2+ in hybrid systems was at pH 4.0, for 250 mg/L initial concentration of each ion, and for the hybrid system with more proportion of DEA (50 wt. %). Polymer systems showed greater selectivity for Zn2+ than for Cu2+, and the equilibrium sorption data were satisfactorily fitted to Langmuir sorption isotherm model. Characterization techniques revealed that functional groups of DEA, in hybrid systems, are the main sorption sites for the metal ions. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46874.
Electrospun polymer blend with tunable structure for oil–water separation
Authors: Jurdi R. , Zaidouny L. , Abou‐Daher M. , Tehrani‐Bagha A. R. , Ghaddar N. , Ghali K. 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACTIn this study, polyurethane (PU) alone or in blend with 10% polystyrene (PS) or poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF‐HFP) was used for electrospinning (ES) of nanofibers. The optimum conditions for obtaining the minimum fiber diameter were found to be [polymer] = 10 wt %, polymer feed rate = 2 mL h−1, voltage = 21 kV, tip to collector distance = 21 cm, and the drum speed = 600 rpm. The time of ES was used as a parameter for controlling the thickness and the average pore size diameter of the membranes. The average pore size diameter decreased almost linearly by increasing the thickness. The resulting electrospun membranes were hydrophobic and oleophilic in nature with the water contact angle above 130°. The hydrostatic pressure head of the membranes increased by decreasing the average pore size diameter. The maximum initial oil separation flux was achieved for the membranes with larger average pore size diameters in the order of: PU9:1PS > PU > PU9:1PVDF‐HFP. The membranes were used for four consecutive cycles without any noticeable loss of separation performance. The diesel oil recovery percentage after 1 h was found to be above 85% for the PU9:1PS and PU membranes. A commercially available polytetrafluoroethylene membrane, with a thickness of 94 μm and the average pore size diameter of 0.45 μm, was used for benchmarking. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2018,135, 46890.
Electrically controlled release of 5‐fluorouracil from conductive gelatin methacryloyl‐based hydrogels
Authors: Oktay Salise , Alemdar Neslihan 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACTHerein, electro‐responsive hydrogels were obtained by incorporation of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) into the gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) by using photopolymerization technique. Hydrogels were characterized by FTIR and scanning electron microscopy analyses. Cytotoxicity tests were performed by L929 cell lines to determine cell compatibility. Swelling tests were conducted to investigate the water uptake capacity of hydrogels. 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) was selected as a model drug as it is known as a topical drug for some skin cancer type treatment. The release of 5‐FU from the hydrogel was provided in efficient and controlled manner at simulated skin cancer (pH = 5.5) and under 0 and 1.5 V. The simulated drug delivery experiments conducted in vitro revealed that the drug releasing amount was higher when voltage is applied to the hydrogels. All results visualized that the obtained GelMA‐based PEDOT/PSS hydrogels with enhanced electrical properties could be a potential candidate as an electrically sensitive drug carrier for treatment of skin cancer in the future applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 46914.
Pervaporation separation of an azeotropic mixture of a tetrahydrofuran–water system with nanostructured polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane embedded poly(vinyl alcohol)
Authors: Swapna Valiya Parambath , Jose Thomasukutty , George Soney C. , Thomas Sabu , Stephen Ranimol 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACTCage ‐ structured polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) molecules were used as modifiers in the fabrication of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) membrane for the separation of an azeotropic mixture of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and water system. Poly(ethylene glycol) and anionic octa(tetramethyl ammonium)‐functionalized POSS were used for this study. The membranes exhibited excellent water selectivity and permeance because of their preferential interactions toward water molecules in the azeotropic THF–water mixture. In the presence of poly(ethylene glycol)–POSS and anionic octa(tetramethyl ammonium)–POSS, the PVA membrane exhibited a significant increase in selectivity. A modified Maxwell–Stefan equation was used for the computation of the theoretical flux, which was compared with the experimental values. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47060.
A 3D Haloplumbate Framework Constructed From Unprecedented Lindqvist‐like Highly Coordinated [Pb6Br25]13− Nanoclusters with Temperature‐Dependent Emission
Authors: Li Xinxiong , Do T. Thu Ha , Granados del Águila A. , Huang Yinjuan , Chen Wangqiao , Xiong Qihua , Zhang Qichun 
Published: September 2018

AbstractSearching novel haloplumbate building units to construct three‐dimensional (3D) frameworks is very important and highly desirable because such materials would possess new physical properties and potential applications. Here, by employing tetrakis(N‐imidazolemethylene)methane(TIMM) as a structure‐directing agent, the first 3D haloplumbate framework constructed from unprecedented Lindqvist‐like highly coordinated [Pb6Br25]13− nanoclusters has been successfully prepared under hydrothermal condition, where all Pb2+ centres in [Pb6Br25]13− nanoclusters adopt seven‐/eight‐coordinated configurations. The as‐obtained material is a wide‐gap semiconductor (≈3.1 eV) and can be stable up to 320 °C. More importantly, this material has been demonstrated to show temperature‐dependent emission. Our results could provide a new strategy to explore novel metal–halide open‐framework materials.
Maternal antihypertensive medication use and selected birth defects in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Authors: Fisher Sarah C. , Van Zutphen Alissa R. , Werler Martha M. , Romitti Paul A. , Cunniff Christopher , Browne Marilyn L. ,   the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Published: September 2018

BackgroundThere are limited data on the relationship between antihypertensive medication use in early pregnancy and risk of birth defects.MethodsUsing data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, we examined associations between specific antihypertensive medication classes and 28 noncardiac birth defects. We analyzed self‐reported data on 17,038 case and 11,477 control pregnancies with estimated delivery dates during 1997–2011. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals, adjusted for maternal age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, parity, pregestational diabetes, and study site, for associations between individual birth defects and antihypertensive medication use during the first trimester of pregnancy. We compared risk among women reporting early pregnancy antihypertensive medication use to normotensive women.ResultsHypertensive women who reported early pregnancy antihypertensive medication use were more likely to be at least 35 years old, non‐Hispanic Black, obese, multiparous, and to report pregestational diabetes than normotensive women. Compared to normotensive women, early pregnancy antihypertensive medication use was associated with increased risk of small intestinal atresia (adjusted OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2–4.7) and anencephaly (adjusted OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.0–3.5). Risk of these defects was not specific to any particular medication class.ConclusionsMaternal antihypertensive medication use was not associated with the majority of birth defects we analyzed, but was associated with an increased risk for some birth defects. Because we cannot entirely rule out confounding by the underlying hypertension and most ORs were based on small numbers, the increased risks observed should be interpreted with caution.
Understanding how the concentration of neighborhood advantage and disadvantage affects spina bifida risk among births to non‐Hispanic white and Hispanic women, Texas, 1999–2014
Authors: Shumate Charles , Hoyt Adrienne , Liu Charles , Kleinert Aja , Canfield Mark 
Published: September 2018

BackgroundThis is the first study to utilize the index of concentration at the extremes (ICE) to examine risk factors for spina bifida in Texas. The ICE is a useful measure for providing the degree to which residents in a certain area are concentrated into groups at the extremes of disadvantage and privilege. We introduce two novel ICE measures (language and nativity), and three existing ICE measures (race/ethnicity, income, and education), which we applied specifically to Texas residents.MethodsWe used multivariable mixed‐model Poisson regression analyses to estimate spina bifida birth prevalence and prevalence ratios among singleton live births in Texas, 1999–2014, for each of our ICE measures. Maternal census tract at delivery was included in the models as a random effect. Analyses were stratified by maternal race/ethnicity (Hispanics and non‐Hispanic whites). Live births served as denominators for each category.ResultsAmong non‐Hispanic white women, those in the most disadvantaged versus the advantaged census tract quintile had adjusted relative risk between 1.6 and 8.5 for having a baby affected by spina bifida. However, Hispanic women in the most disadvantaged versus advantaged census tract quintile for four ICE measures had a 33% to 87% lower risk of having an affected pregnancy.ConclusionsFindings suggest spina bifida risk is associated with neighborhood disadvantage or advantage, and that relationship seems to vary by race‐ethnicity. The varied associations between ICE measures and spina bifida by race/ethnicity highlights the importance of using targeted interventions in the prevention of spina bifida.
A synthetic enzymatic pathway for extremely thermophilic acetone production based on the unexpectedly thermostable acetoacetate decarboxylase from Clostridium acetobutylicum
Authors: Zeldes Benjamin M. , Straub Christopher T. , Otten Jonathan K. , Adams Michael W. W. , Kelly Robert M. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractOne potential advantage of an extremely thermophilic metabolic engineering host (T
opt ≥ 70°C) is facilitated recovery of volatile chemicals from the vapor phase of an active fermenting culture. This process would reduce purification costs and concomitantly alleviate toxicity to the cells by continuously removing solvent fermentation products such as acetone or ethanol, a process we are calling “bio‐reactive distillation.” Although extremely thermophilic heterologous metabolic pathways can be inspired by existing mesophilic versions, they require thermostable homologs of the constituent enzymes if they are to be utilized in extremely thermophilic bacteria or archaea. Production of acetone from acetyl‐CoA and acetate in the mesophilic bacterium
Clostridium acetobutylicum utilizes three enzymes: thiolase, acetoacetyl‐CoA: acetate CoA transferase (CtfAB), and acetoacetate decarboxylase (Adc). Previously reported biocatalytic pathways for acetone production were demonstrated only as high as 55°C. Here, we demonstrate a synthetic enzymatic pathway for acetone production that functions up to at least 70°C in vitro, made possible by the unusual thermostability of Adc from the mesophile
C. acetobutylicum, and heteromultimeric acetoacetyl‐CoA:acetate CoA‐transferase (CtfAB) complexes from
Thermosipho melanesiensis and
Caldanaerobacter subterraneus, composed of a highly thermostable α‐subunit and a thermally labile β‐subunit. The three enzymes produce acetone in vitro at temperatures of at least 70°C, paving the way for bio‐reactive distillation of acetone using a metabolically engineered extreme thermophile as a production host.
Network meta-analysis of topical haemostatic agents in thyroid surgery
Authors: Polychronidis G , Hüttner F J , Contin P , Goossen K , Uhlmann L , Heidmann M , Knebel P , Diener M K , Büchler M W , Probst P 
Published: September 2018

Abstract

Background
The objective of this study was to investigate the potential benefit of local haemostatic agents for the prevention of postoperative bleeding after thyroidectomy.

Methods
A systematic literature search was performed, and RCTs involving adult patients who underwent thyroid surgery using either active (AHA) or passive (PHA) haemostatic agents were included in the review. The main outcome was the rate of cervical haematoma that required reoperation. A Bayesian random-effects model was used for network meta-analysis with minimally informative prior distributions.

Results
Thirteen RCTs were included. The rate of cervical haematoma requiring reoperation ranged from 0 to 9·1 per cent, and was not reduced by haemostatic agents: AHA versus control (odds ratio (OR) 1·53, 95 per cent credibility interval 0·21 to 10·77); PHA versus control (OR 2·74, 0·41 to 16·62) and AHA versus PHA (OR 1·77, 0·12 to 25·06). No difference was observed in the time required for drain removal, duration of hospital stay, and the rate of postoperative hypocalcaemia or recurrent nerve palsy. AHA led to a significantly lower total postoperative blood loss and reduced operating time in comparison with both the control and PHA groups.

Conclusion
The general use of local haemostatic agents has not been shown to reduce the rate of clinically relevant bleeding.
Efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation in a patient with chronic intractable constipation
Authors: Ohara Tadashi , Suzutani Tatsuo 
Published: September 2018

Key Clinical MessageWe have presented the first case report of FMT therapy for a patient with chronic intractable constipation. This therapy resulted in good, medium‐term outcomes. Follow‐up analysis of the intestinal flora suggested that transplanted microbes from the donor, particularly Bifidobacterium and Clostridium cluster IX, may have been incorporated into the recipient.
Rheological Characterization of Solids Phase in Biomass Processes of Disc‐Stack Centrifuges
Authors: Häggmark Carl , Königsson Staffan 
Published: September 2018

AbstractRheological characterization of the solids phase in bio‐industry disc‐stack centrifuges is considered. Three discriminatory properties of the solids phase are investigated, namely, the particle settling velocity, the angle of repose, and the solids phase viscosity. The solids phase produced in disc‐stack centrifuges in the food or biopharmaceutical industry possesses both liquid‐like and solid‐like properties which can be quantified by means of these test methods. The resulting rheological characterization can be used for diagnostic purposes in the selection process of industrial centrifuges and for optimization of centrifuge solids handling in biomass processing of suspension systems.
Turbulent Shear and Breakup of Flocculated Biomaterial in Centrifuge Inlets
Authors: Törnblom Olle 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAnalyses and simulations of a lab‐scale device for determining floc strength are presented together with simulations of two different hermetic disc‐stack centrifuge inlets. Two methods for determining the turbulent shear stresses on flocs in hermetic centrifuge inlets are described. A model for the average shear rate in a hermetic centrifuge inlet is proposed. A correlation for estimating the floc size of the centrifuge feed after passing the high‐shear zone of the inlet is derived.
Axitinib: A Photoswitchable Approved Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor
Authors: Schmidt Dorian , Rodat Theo , Heintze Linda , Weber Jantje , Horbert Rebecca , Girreser Ulrich , Raeker Tim , Bußmann Lara , Kriegs Malte , Hartke Bernd , Peifer Christian 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe goal of photopharmacology is to develop photoswitchable enzyme modulators as tunable (pro‐)drugs that can be spatially and temporally controlled by light. In this context, the tyrosine kinase inhibitor axitinib, which contains a photosensitive stilbene‐like moiety that allows for E/Z isomerization, is of interest. Axitinib is an approved drug that targets the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and is licensed for second‐line therapy of renal cell carcinoma. The photoinduced E/Z isomerization of axitinib has been investigated to explore if its inhibitory effect can be turned “on” and “off”, as triggered by light. Under controlled light conditions, (Z)‐axitinib is 43 times less active than that of the E isomer in an VEGFR2 assay. Furthermore, it was proven that kinase activity in human umbilical vein cells (HUVECs) was decreased by (E)‐axitinib, but only weakly affected by (Z)‐axitinib. By irradiating (Z)‐axitinib in vitro with UV light (λ=385 nm), it is possible to switch it almost quantitatively into the E isomer and to completely restore the biological activity of (E)‐axitinib. However, switching the biological activity off from (E)‐ to (Z)‐axitinib was not possible in aqueous solution due to a competing irreversible [2+2]‐photocycloaddition, which yielded a biologically inactive axitinib dimer.