bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chemical synthesis of transmembrane peptide and its application for research on the transmembrane–juxtamembrane region of membrane protein
Authors: Sato Takeshi 
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACTMembrane proteins possess one or more hydrophobic regions that span the membrane and interact with the lipids that constitute the membrane. The interactions between the transmembrane (TM) region and lipids affect the structure and function of these membrane proteins. Molecular characterization of synthetic TM peptides in lipid bilayers helps to understand how the TM region participates in the formation of the structure and in the function of membrane proteins. The use of synthetic peptides enables site‐specific labeling and modification and allows for designing of an artificial TM sequence. Research involving such samples has resulted in significant increase in the knowledge of the mechanisms that govern membrane biology. In this review, the chemical synthesis of TM peptides has been discussed. The preparation of synthetic TM peptides is still not trivial; however, the accumulated knowledge summarized here should provide a basis for preparing samples for spectroscopic analyses. The application of synthetic TM peptides for gaining insights into the mechanism of signal transduction by receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) has also been discussed. RTK is a single TM protein and is one of the difficult targets in structural biology as crystallization of the full‐length receptor has not been successful. This review describes the structural characterization of the synthetic TM–juxtamembrane sequence and proposes a possible scheme for the structural changes in this region for the activation of ErbBs, the epidermal growth factor receptor family. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 106: 613–621, 2016.
Extending the Boundaries: An Assessment of the Integration of Extended Producer Responsibility Within Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Hickle Garth 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThe paper examines how extended producer responsibility (EPR) as an environmental policy approach and, more broadly, product management strategies are characterized within corporate social responsibility (CSR). The author summarizes the key concepts and arguments for sustainable product management strategies with an emphasis on the collection of discarded products at end of life, and identifies primary tools for recognizing and advancing product management strategies within CSR such as sustainability reporting and product standard and certification programs. The article analyzes 121 CSR reports for references to EPR and, more broadly, end‐of‐life management strategies for discarded products. It concludes with recommendations as to how CSR practices can more effectively recognize product management strategies as well as how EPR policy can be enhanced to further embed product end‐of‐life management strategies and activities within the CSR activities of firms. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Metabolic Remodeling of Cell‐Surface Sialic Acids: Principles, Applications, and Recent Advances
Authors: Cheng Bo , Xie Ran , Dong Lu , Chen Xing 
Published: November 2015

AbstractCell‐surface sialic acids are essential in mediating a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Sialic acid chemistry and biology remain challenging to investigate, demanding new tools for probing sialylation in living systems. The metabolic glycan labeling (MGL) strategy has emerged as an invaluable chemical biology tool that enables metabolic installation of useful functionalities into cell‐surface sialoglycans by “hijacking” the sialic acid biosynthetic pathway. Here we review the principles of MGL and its applications in study and manipulation of sialic acid function, with an emphasis on recent advances.
A Linear Sweep Voltammetric Procedure Applied to Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy for the Characterization of Carbon Materials towards the Vanadium(IV)/(V) Redox System
Authors: Steimecke Matthias , Rümmler Stefan , Kühhirt Mathias , Bron Michael 
Published: November 2015

AbstractA linear sweep voltammetric procedure applied to scanning electrochemical microscopy is presented to investigate carbon materials towards their activity for vanadium redox reactions of relevance for redox flow batteries. A linear sweep voltammetric experiment is performed at an ultramicroelectrode (UME) in close distance to an electrocatalytically active material, triggering a competition situation where both the UME and the material compete for the same molecule (VO2+). Depending on the redox activity of the catalytic material at the applied potential and thus the consumption of VO2+, a decreased current in the detection sweep at the UME is observed. After evaluating relevant experimental parameters using a glassy carbon electrode as substrate, the mode is applied to a commercial carbon material where its redox behavior was examined and compared with results from cyclic voltammetry. Finally, it is shown that the presented linear sweep voltammetry–scanning electrochemical microscopy (LSV‐SECM) method can be used to visualize catalytic activity.
Benzylidene Acetal Protecting Group as Carboxylic Acid Surrogate: Synthesis of Functionalized Uronic Acids and Sugar Amino Acids
Authors: Banerjee Amit , Senthilkumar Soundararasu , Baskaran Sundarababu 
Published: November 2015

AbstractDirect oxidation of the 4,6‐O‐benzylidene acetal protecting group to C‐6 carboxylic acid has been developed that provides an easy access to a wide range of biologically important and synthetically challenging uronic acid and sugar amino acid derivatives in good yields. The RuCl3–NaIO4‐mediated oxidative cleavage method eliminates protection and deprotection steps and the reaction takes place under mild conditions. The dual role of the benzylidene acetal, as a protecting group and source of carboxylic acid, was exploited in the efficient synthesis of six‐carbon sialic acid analogues and disaccharides bearing uronic acids, including glycosaminoglycan analogues.
A Simple Synthesis of an N‐Doped Carbon ORR Catalyst: Hierarchical Micro/Meso/Macro Porosity and Graphitic Shells
Authors: Eisenberg David , Stroek Wowa , Geels Norbert J. , Sandu Cosmin S. , Heller Adam , Yan Ning , Rothenberg Gadi 
Published: November 2015

AbstractReplacing platinum as an oxygen reduction catalyst is an important scientific and technological challenge. Herein we report a simple synthesis of a complex carbon with very good oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity at pH 13. Pyrolysis of magnesium nitrilotriacetate yields a carbon with hierarchical micro/meso/macro porosity, resulting from in situ templating by spontaneously forming MgO nanoparticles and from etching by pyrolysis gases. The mesopores are lined with highly graphitic shells. The high ORR activity is attributed to a good balance between high specific surface area and mass transport through the hierarchical porosity, and to improved electronic conductivity through the graphitic shells. This novel carbon has a high surface area (1320 m2g−1), and high nitrogen content for a single precursor synthesis (∼6 %). Importantly, its synthesis is both cheap and easily scalable.
Non‐uniform force allocation for area preservation in spring network models
Authors: Jančigová Iveta , Cimrák Ivan 
Published: November 2015

SummaryIn modeling of elastic objects in a flow such as red blood cells, white blood cells, or tumor cells, several elastic moduli are involved. One of them is the area conservation modulus. In this paper, we focus on spring network models, and we introduce a new way of modeling the area preservation modulus. We take into account the current shape of the individual triangles and find the proportional allocation of area conservation forces, which would for individual triangles preserve their shapes. The analysis shows that this approach tends to regularize the triangulation. We demonstrate this effect on individual triangles as well as on the complete triangulations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Make‐way: transporting latency‐sensitive flows nonblockingly in oversubscription data center networks
Authors: Deng Gang , Gong Zhenghu , Wang Hong 
Published: November 2015

SummaryMany recent studies show that data center networks usually mix with a large amount of latency‐agnostic background flows and a large number of latency‐sensitive flows. The former, although contributing most of the traffic, is deadline‐agnostic, while the latter always confronts a soft‐real‐time constraint, namely deadline. Missing this deadline may cause performance impairment. For this reason, directly using the traditional TCP in data center networks, which is deadline‐agnostic, may suffer from performance and efficiency problems. Recently, many works improve on TCP to address this problem. But all of them focus on the latency‐sensitive flows themselves. Because latency‐sensitive flows, although large in number, only account for a small part of traffic, these methods cannot effectively ensure deadline for the latency‐sensitive flows. In this paper, we propose Make‐way, a new data center network transport protocol for satisfying the deadlines of latency‐sensitive flows. In Make‐way, just as what the name depicts, once a latency‐sensitive flow encounters congestion, the latency‐agnostic background flows will make way for it. Especially, Make‐way does not need any special hardware support of modification. For the latency‐agnostic flows in data center networks usually contribute the majority traffic, by doing so, the latency‐sensitive flows may be transported nonblockingly in data center networks and thus can meet their deadlines. Extensive simulation results show that Make‐way can meet the deadlines of latency‐sensitive flows with a probability of more than 97%. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Order of Activity of Nitrogen, Iron Oxide, and FeNx Complexes towards Oxygen Reduction in Alkaline Medium
Authors: Zhu Yansong , Zhang Bingsen , Wang Da‐Wei , Su Dang Sheng 
Published: November 2015

AbstractIn alkaline medium, it seems that both metal‐free and iron‐containing carbon‐based catalysts, such as nitrogen‐doped nanocarbon materials, FeOx‐doped carbon, and Fe/N/C catalysts, are active for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, the order of activity of these different active compositions has not been clearly determined. Herein, we synthesized nitrogen‐doped carbon black (NCB), Fe3O4/CB, Fe3O4/NCB, and FeN4/CB. Through the systematic study of the ORR catalytic activity of these four catalysts in alkaline solution, we confirmed the difference in the catalytic activity and catalytic mechanism for nitrogen, iron oxides, and Fe–N complexes, respectively. In metal‐free NCB, nitrogen can improve the ORR catalytic activity with a four‐electron pathway. Fe3O4/CB catalyst did not exhibit improved activity over that of NCB owing to the poor conductivity and spinel structure of Fe3O4. However, FeN4 coordination compounds as the active sites showed excellent ORR catalytic activity.
Shape variation in the least killifish: ecological associations of phenotypic variation and the effects of a common garden
Authors: Landy J. Alex , Travis Joseph 
Published: November 2015

AbstractStudies of the adaptive significance of variation among conspecific populations often focus on a single ecological factor. However, habitats rarely differ in only a single ecological factor, creating a challenge for identifying the relative importance of the various ecological factors that might be maintaining local adaptation. Here we investigate the ecological factors associated with male body shape variation among nine populations of the poeciliid fish, Heterandria formosa, from three distinct habitats and combine those results with a laboratory study of three of those populations to assess the contributions of genetic and environmental influences to shape variation. Field‐collected animals varied principally in three ways: the orientation of the gonopodium, the intromittent organ; the degree of body depth and streamlining; and the shape of the tail musculature. Fish collected in the spring season were larger and had a more anteriorly positioned gonopodium than fish collected in autumn. Fish collected from lotic springs were larger and more streamlined than those collected from lentic ponds or tidal marshes. Some of the variation in male shape among populations within habitats was associated with population‐level variation in species richness, adult density, vegetative cover, predation risk, and female standard length. Population‐level differences among males in body size, position of the gonopodium, and shape of the tail musculature were maintained among males reared in a common environment. In contrast, population variation in the degree of streamlining was eliminated when males were reared in a common environment. These results illustrate the complicated construction of multivariate phenotypic variation and suggest that different agents of selection have acted on different components of shape.
The seesaw effect of winter temperature change on the recruitment of cotton bollworms Helicoverpa armigera through mismatched phenology
Authors: Reddy Gadi V. P. , Shi Peijian , Hui Cang , Cheng Xiaofei , Ouyang Fang , Ge Feng 
Published: November 2015

AbstractKnowing how climate change affects the population dynamics of insect pests is critical for the future of integrated pest management. Rising winter temperatures from global warming can drive increases in outbreaks of some agricultural pests. In contrast, here we propose an alternative hypothesis that both extremely cold and warm winters can mismatch the timing between the eclosion of overwintering pests and the flowering of key host plants. As host plants normally need higher effective cumulative temperatures for flowering than insects need for eclosion, changes in flowering time will be less dramatic than changes in eclosion time, leading to a mismatch of phenology on either side of the optimal winter temperature. We term this the “seesaw effect.” Using a long‐term dataset of the Old World cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in northern China, we tested this seesaw hypothesis by running a generalized additive model for the effects of the third generation moth in the preceding year, the winter air temperature, the number of winter days below a critical temperature and cumulative precipitation during winter on the demography of the overwintering moth. Results confirmed the existence of the seesaw effect of winter temperature change on overwintering populations. Pest management should therefore consider the indirect effect of changing crop phenology (whether due to greenhouse cultivation or to climate change) on pest outbreaks. As arthropods from mid‐ and high latitudes are actually living in a cooler thermal environment than their physiological optimum in contrast to species from lower latitudes, the effects of rising winter temperatures on the population dynamics of arthropods in the different latitudinal zones should be considered separately. The seesaw effect makes it more difficult to predict the average long‐term population dynamics of insect pests at high latitudes due to the potential sharp changes in annual growth rates from fluctuating minimum winter temperatures.
A Count Model Analysis of Traded Contracts in the JEPX Forward Market
Authors: OFUJI KENTA , TATSUMI NAOKI 
Published: November 2015

SUMMARYIt is desirable that the number of forward contracts traded on the Japan Electric Power Exchange increase. However, few studies have clarified what factors have contributed to impacting the number of forward contracts traded. In this study, the authors analyzed the number of forward contracts using four count regression models. The negative binomial regression model and the zero‐inflated models were better able to express the expected counts, by incorporating the overdispersion and excess zeros present in the observed data. Among others, the spot market can carry positive influences on the expected counts, by about 12% for a 1 yen/kWh increase in price, and by about 27% for a 0.1%‐point increase in volumes. The zero‐inflated models revealed that as many as three‐fourth of the entire forward products have a high probability of zero counts, while the remaining one‐fourth may see an increased number of counts as the spot market price and/or the spot volume becomes higher.
Impact of Retailer and Consumer Behavior on Voltage in Distribution Network Under Liberalization of Electricity Retail Market
Authors: SEKIZAKI SHINYA , NISHIZAKI ICHIRO , HAYASHIDA TOMOHIRO 
Published: November 2015

SUMMARYThe liberalization movement in Japan will be expanded to the residential sector and full liberalization of the retail market will be achieved in the near future. Against this background, it is expected that transactions in a distribution network (DN), which has many consumers of the residential sector, will be activated. Furthermore, consumers can control their loads depending on the selling prices offered by retailers with the introduction of demand response (DR) technologies such as home energy management systems (HEMS). Due to the variation of load by DR, however, the voltage profile in DN may be changed compared to the present situation. This may make voltage management difficult and cause problems such as voltage deviation from an adequate range. In this paper, the impact of DR in a liberalized electricity market on DN is evaluated for efficient voltage management. In order to evaluate the behavior of the retailer and consumers, this paper proposes a bi‐level programming approach based on the Stackelberg game model. Solving the bi‐level programming problem including the power flow equation for a DN model based on the IEEE 13‐bus test feeder, we analyze the impact of the retailer and consumers on the voltage in the DN in order to account for transactions between these market players.
Cost‐Benefit Analysis of Renewable Installation in Inter‐Intelligent Renewable Energy Network
Authors: YANO SHIRO , TANI MAMORU , TANIGUCHI TADAHIRO 
Published: November 2015

SUMMARYIn this paper, we target the specific smart grid concept called “inter‐intelligent renewable energy network (i‐Rene),” which is characteristically associated with photovoltaic (PV) panels, microstorage, and regional electricity markets. In this smart grid, every house has an artificial intelligence agent that learns the optimal treading strategy to minimize payments by residents. From the economic standpoint, we perform a cost‐benefit analysis (CBA) of the optimal installation of PV panels and microstorage in this smart grid. To perform the CBA, we use actual measured values of power demand profiles and power production profiles, which were obtained in 2010 at Shiga, Japan. In accordance with this analysis, we also discuss the necessary conditions for achieving grid parity of the i‐Rene smart grid .
Two Comparable Isostructural Microporous Metal–Organic Frameworks: Better Luminescent Sensor and Higher Adsorption Selectivity for the Fluorine‐Decorated Framework
Authors: Wang Hai‐Hua , Guo Tao‐Tao , Xie Dong , Bai Zhi‐Qin , Hou Lei , Wang Yao‐Yu 
Published: November 2015

AbstractTwo isostructural 3D metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), {[Zn3(tzba)3(dabco)]·5DMF·3H2O} (1) and {[Zn3(F‐tzba)3(dabco)]·5DMA·3H2O} (2) [tzba = 4‐(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl) benzolate, F‐tzba = 2‐fluoro‐4‐(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl) benzolate, dabco = triethylenediamine], were solvothermally synthesized from a tetrazolate–carboxylate bifunctional linker and a diamine ligand. The framework contains an uncommon metal–tetrazolate–carboxylate linear trinuclear Zn3(ttaz)3(COO)3 (ttaz = tetrazolyl) cluster, which serves as an eight‐connected node to afford a 3D porous network. Both 1 and 2 show strong photoluminescence and selective luminescent quenching for Cu2+ ions and nitrobenzene relative to that shown by other metal ions (e.g., Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+) and organic solvents (e.g., methanol, ethanol, acetonitrile, n‐propanol, 2‐propanol, ethyl acetate, toluene, dichloromethane, N,N′‐dimethylformamide, and N‐methylpyrrolidone). It is interesting to find that relative to 1, 2 decorated with F atoms exhibits more efficient luminescent sensing for these two guests. Furthermore, 2 also adsorbs more CO2 and has higher CO2/CH4 adsorption selectivities than 1 under the same conditions, which can be ascribed to the CO2‐philic F sites in the pores of 2. These advantages make 2 a promising material in both luminescent sensors and CO2 separation from a CO2/CH4 mixture.
Ruthenium Dyes with Azo Ligands: Light Harvesting, Excited‐State Properties and Relevance to Dye‐Sensitised Solar Cells
Authors: Hu Yue , Sanchez‐Molina Irene , Haque Saif A. , Robertson Neil 
Published: November 2015

AbstractA series of new RuII complexes has been synthesised, with different azo ligands as additional chromophore. The dyes are all intensely colored due to MLCT and ILCT transitions in the visible region. The photophysical study of the dyes, carried out by UV/Vis absorption and emission spectroscopy, showed unusual features such as intense solvatochromism and solvent‐dependent extinction coefficients. The energies of these excited states have been tuned by changing the electron density across the series of azo ligands, and this results in different contributions from each charge transfer process for the different complexes and consequently, different emission behavior. The detailed behaviour of these dyes was further studied and interpreted through electrochemical, structural and computational techniques. The dyes do not work well as sensitisers for DSSCs and this is investigated by emission spectroscopy on TiO2 and ZrO2 films, suggesting poor charge injection to TiO2.
Decrease of methyl methacrylate miniemulsion polymerization rate with incorporation of plant oils
Authors: Costa Cristiane , Wagner Manfred , Musyanovych Anna , Landfester Katharina , Sayer Claudia , Araújo Pedro H. H. 
Published: November 2015

Miniemulsion polymerization reactions of methyl methacrylate were conducted in the presence of plant oils, in order to investigate the effect of different types (linseed oil and andiroba oil) and amounts of oils on the polymerization reaction rates and on the molecular weight of the produced polymers. A decrease in the reaction rate, that was proportional to the number of double bonds present in the triglycerides, was observed. Polymers with lower molecular weights were obtained when triglycerides with higher number of double bonds were used. The experimental data were analyzed with a mathematical model developed to represent the kinetics of these reactions, including the kinetic mechanisms associated to free radical miniemulsion polymerization with an oil‐soluble initiator, and the model was able to predict the variation in the polymerization reaction rate depending on the type and amount of the plant oil.Practical applications: Plant oils can be incorporated to polymer latex by free radical miniemulsion polymerization partially substituting petroleum derived monomers. As most plant oils are highly hydrophobic, they act as co‐stabilizers preventing diffusional degradation increasing the stability of the colloidal dispersion. The growing polymer chain can react with the double bonds of the triglyceride molecules resulting in grafting. The grafting increases the compatibility between the polymer and the plant oil. However, the polymer molecular weight and the reaction rate decrease when the amount of unsaturated oil increases. A mathematical model was developed taking into account both addition and chain transfer mechanisms to describe the grafting reactions with the plant oils. The model can predict the variation in the polymerization reaction rate depending on the type and concentration of the plant oil in the reaction medium which helps to understand the mechanisms involved and to optimize formulations and operational conditions of polymerizations in the presence of plant oils.Polymerization rate decreases when plants oils are incorporated in PMMA nanoparticles.