bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Palladium/Copper Cocatalyzed Coupling Reaction of Aroyl Hydrazides with Indoles
Authors: Liu Congrong , Yang Fulai 
Published: October 2016

AbstractAn unprecedented palladium/copper cocatalyzed coupling reaction of indoles with simple aroyl hydrazides has been developed under aerobic conditions. A range of aroyl hydrazides underwent palladium/copper cocatalyzed oxidative arylation with indoles open to air in a 1:1 mixture of dimethyl sulfoxide and nitromethane to give structurally diverse 2‐arylindoles or 3‐arylindoles in moderate to good yields. The reaction well tolerates a wide variety of functional groups such as alkoxy, halo, ester.
Design and Synthesis of Fluorescent Acyclic Nucleoside Phosphonates as Potent Inhibitors of Bacterial Adenylate Cyclases
Authors: Břehová Petra , Šmídková Markéta , Skácel Jan , Dračínský Martin , Mertlíková‐Kaiserová Helena , Velasquez Monica P. Soto , Watts Val J. , Janeba Zlatko 
Published: October 2016

AbstractBordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT) and Bacillus anthracis edema factor (EF) are key virulence factors with adenylate cyclase (AC) activity that substantially contribute to the pathogenesis of whooping cough and anthrax, respectively. There is an urgent need to develop potent and selective inhibitors of bacterial ACs with prospects for the development of potential antibacterial therapeutics and to study their molecular interactions with the target enzymes. Novel fluorescent 5‐chloroanthraniloyl‐substituted acyclic nucleoside phosphonates (Cl‐ANT‐ANPs) were designed and synthesized in the form of their diphosphates (Cl‐ANT‐ANPpp) as competitive ACT and EF inhibitors with sub‐micromolar potency (IC50 values: 11–622 nm). Fluorescence experiments indicated that Cl‐ANT‐ANPpp analogues bind to the ACT active site, and docking studies suggested that the Cl‐ANT group interacts with Phe306 and Leu60. Interestingly, the increase in direct fluorescence with Cl‐ANT‐ANPpp having an ester linker was strictly calmodulin (CaM)‐dependent, whereas Cl‐ANT‐ANPpp analogues with an amide linker, upon binding to ACT, increased the fluorescence even in the absence of CaM. Such a dependence of binding on structural modification could be exploited in the future design of potent inhibitors of bacterial ACs. Furthermore, one Cl‐ANT‐ANP in the form of a bisamidate prodrug was able to inhibit B. pertussis ACT activity in macrophage cells with IC50=12 μm.
Diagnostic yield of cytopathology in evaluating pericardial effusions: Clinicopathologic analysis of 419 specimens
Authors: Saab Jad , Hoda Rana S. , Narula Navneet , Hoda Syed A. , Geraghty Brian E. , Nasar Abu , Alperstein Susan A. , Port Jeffrey L. , Giorgadze Tamar 
Published: October 2016

BACKGROUNDPericardial effusions can cause considerable morbidity and potentially may lead to mortality. Malignant pericardial effusions are uncommon, and data on malignancies encountered in pericardial effusion cytology specimens are limited.METHODSRelevant records of all pericardial effusions from January 2008 to September 2014 were examined and compared with pericardial biopsy results when performed. Discrepant cases were reviewed to determine the cause of the disagreement.RESULTSIn total, 419 pericardial effusion specimens obtained from 364 patients were examined. Cytologic diagnostic categories included: negative for malignancy (332 specimens; 79%), equivocal (25 specimens; 6%), and positive (62 specimens from 51 patients; 15%). Forty‐seven patients who had positive effusions were known to have malignancy. The most common primary malignancies were breast (39.3%) and lung (39.3%) cancers in women and lung cancer (47.4%) in men. A concurrent pericardial biopsy was performed in 46% of patients. Excluding equivocal cytologic diagnoses, cytology and biopsy were concordant in 153 of 173 paired samples (88.4%). The sensitivity of cytology in diagnosing malignancy was 92.1% compared with 55.3% for pericardial biopsy.CONCLUSIONSCytologic examination has significant diagnostic utility in the evaluation of pericardial effusions and exhibits a lower false‐negative rate compared with pericardial biopsy. Submission of pericardial biopsy alongside effusion cytology is associated with increased sensitivity for detecting malignancy and may be especially useful in the setting of low‐volume pericardial effusion. Cancer Cytopathol 2017;125:128–137. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
Crystal Engineering of a Two‐Dimensional Lead‐Free Perovskite with Functional Organic Cations by Second‐Sphere Coordination
Authors: Cortecchia Daniele , Soci Cesare , Cametti Massimo , Petrozza Annamaria , Martí‐Rujas Javier 
Published: October 2016

AbstractHybrid lead halide perovskite semiconductors are attracting increasing attention for applications in optoelectronics. However, the high lead content calls for the development of greener and smarter alternatives through crystal engineering. This is extremely challenging since the use of functional cations often results in the disruption of the metal halide framework. Here we show the rational design of a new lead‐free, copper‐based hybrid perovskite following a second‐sphere coordination approach. Our synthetic strategy allows the incorporation of an organic cationic fluorophore within the two‐dimensional Cu−Cl framework of a layered copper perovskite. The functionalization results in a moisture‐stable and near‐UV/blue‐emitting copper perovskite. Along with the possibility of extending the emission in the visible range by further synthetic design, our approach paves the way for the development of a new class of Pb‐free perovskites with potential applications in solid‐state lighting.
Catalytic Upstream Biorefining through Hydrogen Transfer Reactions: Understanding the Process from the Pulp Perspective
Authors: Ferrini Paola , Rezende Camila A. , Rinaldi Roberto 
Published: October 2016

AbstractCatalytic upstream biorefining (CUB) encompasses processes for plant biomass deconstruction through the early‐stage conversion of lignin by the action of a hydrogenation catalyst. CUB processes produce lignin as an extensively depolymerised product (i.e., a viscous lignin oil) and render highly delignified pulps. In this report, we examine CUB from the pulp perspective. Notably, Raney Ni plays an indirect role in the processes that occur within the lignocellulose matrix. As there are negligible points of contact between the poplar wood chips and Raney Ni, the catalyst action is limited to the species leached from the matrix into the liquor. Nevertheless, the substantial changes in the liquor composition (through the decomposition of carboxylic acids and H‐transfer reductive processes on the lignin fragments) have significant implications for the pulp composition, degree of polymerisation and morphology. Compared with organosolv pulps, CUB pulps show higher xylan retention, higher delignification, and higher polymerisation degree. Moreover, the correlation between these properties and the performance of the enzymatic hydrolyses of CUB and organosolv pulps reveals that the high susceptibility of CUB pulps is mostly caused by their lower residual lignin contents.
Effective Release of Lignin Fragments from Lignocellulose by Lewis Acid Metal Triflates in the Lignin‐First Approach
Authors: Huang Xiaoming , Zhu Jiadong , Korányi Tamás I. , Boot Michael D. , Hensen Emiel J. M. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractAdding value to lignin, the most complex and recalcitrant fraction in lignocellulosic biomass, is highly relevant to costefficient operation of biorefineries. We report the use of homogeneous metal triflates to rapidly release lignin from biomass. Combined with metal‐catalyzed hydrogenolysis, the process separates woody biomass into few lignin‐derived alkylmethoxyphenols and cellulose under mild conditions. Model compound studies show the unique catalytic properties of metal triflates in cleaving lignin–carbohydrate interlinkages. The lignin fragments can then be disassembled by hydrogenolysis. The tandem process is flexible and allows obtaining good aromatic monomer yields from different woods (36–48 wt %, lignin base). The cellulose‐rich residue is an ideal feedstock for established biorefining processes. The highly productive strategy is characterized by short reaction times, low metal triflate catalyst requirement, and leaving cellulose largely untouched.
Phylogenetic relationships of freshwater fishes of the genus Capoeta (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae) in Iran
Authors: Ghanavi Hamid Reza , Gonzalez Elena G. , Doadrio Ignacio 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThe Middle East contains a great diversity of Capoeta species, but their taxonomy remains poorly described. We used mitochondrial history to examine diversity of the algae‐scraping cyprinid Capoeta in Iran, applying the species‐delimiting approaches General Mixed Yule‐Coalescent (GMYC) and Poisson Tree Process (PTP) as well as haplotype network analyses. Using the BEAST program, we also examined temporal divergence patterns of Capoeta. The monophyly of the genus and the existence of three previously described main clades (Mesopotamian, Anatolian‐Iranian, and Aralo‐Caspian) were confirmed. However, the phylogeny proposed novel taxonomic findings within Capoeta. Results of GMYC, bPTP, and phylogenetic analyses were similar and suggested that species diversity in Iran is currently underestimated. At least four candidate species, Capoeta sp4, Capoeta sp5, Capoeta sp6, and Capoeta sp7, are awaiting description. Capoeta capoeta comprises a species complex with distinct genetic lineages. The divergence times of the three main Capoeta clades are estimated to have occurred around 15.6–12.4 Mya, consistent with a Mio‐Pleistocene origin of the diversity of Capoeta in Iran. The changes in Caspian Sea levels associated with climate fluctuations and geomorphological events such as the uplift of the Zagros and Alborz Mountains may account for the complex speciation patterns in Capoeta in Iran.
Effects of environmental factors on genetic diversity ofCaragana microphyllain Horqin Sandy Land, northeast China
Authors: Huang Wenda , Zhao Xueyong , Zhao Xin , Li Yulin , Lian Jie 
Published: October 2016

AbstractCaragana microphylla(Leguminosae) is a dominant climax semishrub species in northern China. We evaluated genetic variation within and among populations sampled from three different environmental gradients in Horqin Sandy Land in northern China using intersimple sequence repeats markers and investigated the possible existence of relationships between genetic diversity and environmental factors. The results showed thatC. microphyllahave high genetic diversity, and environmental gradients affected genetic diversity ofC. microphyllapopulations. Genetic diversity of all populations was affected by many environmental factors and as well correlated with warm index and soil Olsen phosphorus (SOP) concentration. These results have important implications for restoration and management of these degraded ecosystems in arid and semi‐arid areas.
The effect of induced mutations on quantitative traits in Arabidopsis thaliana: Natural versus artificial conditions
Authors: Stearns Frank W. , Fenster Charles B. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractMutations are the ultimate source of all genetic variations. New mutations are expected to affect quantitative traits differently depending on the extent to which traits contribute to fitness and the environment in which they are tested. The dogma is that the preponderance of mutations affecting fitness will be skewed toward deleterious while their effects on nonfitness traits will be bidirectionally distributed. There are mixed views on the role of stress in modulating these effects. We quantify mutation effects by inducing mutations in Arabidopsis thaliana (Columbia accession) using the chemical ethylmethane sulfonate. We measured the effects of new mutations relative to a premutation founder for fitness components under both natural (field) and artificial (growth room) conditions. Additionally, we measured three other quantitative traits, not expected to contribute directly to fitness, under artificial conditions. We found that induced mutations were equally as likely to increase as decrease a trait when that trait was not closely related to fitness (traits that were neither survivorship nor reproduction). We also found that new mutations were more likely to decrease fitness or fitness‐related traits under more stressful field conditions than under relatively benign artificial conditions. In the benign condition, the effect of new mutations on fitness components was similar to traits not as closely related to fitness. These results highlight the importance of measuring the effects of new mutations on fitness and other traits under a range of conditions.
Diversity maintenance mechanism changes with vegetation type and the community size in a tropical nature reserve
Authors: Zhang Shuzi , Zang Runguo , Huang Yunfeng , Ding Yi , Huang Jihong , Lu Xinghui , Liu Wande , Long Wenxing , Zhang Junyan , Jiang Yong 
Published: October 2016

AbstractSpecies‐abundance distribution (SAD) is an essential tool to explain the mechanism of diversity maintenance in ecological communities. Most of the studies on diversity maintenance in a specific forest dynamics plot just consider stems with a certain minimum size class to include into the tree community to be examined. However, the species in the juvenile stage are easily disturbed by a variety of factors; here, we define the minimum stem size to tag trees in a community as the community size (DBHmintag), which implies that the communities with different minimum diameter at breast height (DBH) sizes to tag trees are tree assemblages containing tree populations of different minimum DBH. We used data from 17 1‐ha forest dynamics plots across six old‐growth forest types in a tropical nature reserve to explore diversity maintenance mechanism by SAD curves (at three levels of DBHmintag) fitting to neutral model and niche preemption model. We found that the SADs of the two zonal vegetation types (tropical montane rain forest and tropical lowland rain forest) were best fitted by neutral model at each level of DBHmintag; meanwhile, the best fitted models for the four azonal vegetation types (tropical coniferous forest, tropical deciduous monsoon rain forest, tropical montane evergreen forest, and tropical montane dwarf forest) varied with DBHmintag levels, for communities with DBHmintag ≥ 1 cm and DBHmintag ≥ 5 cm, the fitting effect of neutral model was better than niche preemption model's for the forest dynamics plots in the four azonal vegetation types, and for communities with DBHmintag ≥ 10 cm, the four azonal vegetation types were all best fitted by the niche model. Our results suggest that species diversity maintenance mechanisms of the two zonal vegetation types derived from the neutral model increased the predictive accuracy at each level of DBHmintag, and meanwhile, the four azonal vegetation types derived from the neutral model increased the predictive accuracy at smaller community size; however, with the increase in DBHmintag, these communities derived from the niche theory model increased the predictive accuracy. Habitat heterogeneity might be the major constraints in determining the neutral or niche process for diversity maintenance of a specific forest community.
A somatosensory‐to‐motor cascade of cortical areas engaged in perceptual decision making during tactile pattern discrimination
Authors: Hegner Yiwen Li , Lindner Axel , Braun Christoph 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThe processes underlying perceptual decision making are diverse and typically engage a distributed network of brain areas. It is a particular challenge to establish a sensory‐to‐motor functional hierarchy in such networks. This is because single‐cell recordings mainly study the nodes of decision networks in isolation but seldom simultaneously. Moreover, imaging methods, which allow simultaneously accessing information from overall networks, typically suffer from either the temporal or the spatial resolution necessary to establish a detailed functional hierarchy in terms of a sequential recruitment of areas during a decision process. Here we report a novel analytical approach to work around these latter limitations: using temporal differences in human fMRI activation profiles during a tactile discrimination task with immediate versus experimentally delayed behavioral responses, we could derive a linear functional gradient across task‐related brain areas in terms of their relative dependence on sensory input versus motor output. The gradient was established by comparing peak latencies of activation between the two response conditions. The resulting time differences described a continuum that ranged from zero time difference, indicative for areas that process information related to the sensory input and, thus, are invariant to the response delay instruction, to time differences corresponding to the delayed response onset, thus indicating motor‐related processing. Taken together with our previous findings (Li Hegner et al. []: Hum Brain Mapp 36:3339–3350), our results suggest that the anterior insula reflects the ultimate perceptual stage within the uncovered sensory‐to‐motor gradient, likely translating sensory information into a categorical abstract (non‐motor) decision. Hum Brain Mapp 38:1172–1181, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The effects of coal gangue and fly ash on the hydraulic properties and water content distribution in reconstructed soil profiles of coal‐mined land with a high groundwater table
Authors: Wang Jinman , Li Xinfeng , Bai Zhongke , Huang Longbin 
Published: October 2016

AbstractSoil water systems have been severely degraded in coal‐mined and subsiding land, where a shallow groundwater table is also present. The present paper discussed the effects of fly ash (FA) and coal gangue (CG) as filling materials on the hydraulic properties and water content distribution in a profile for the purpose of rehabilitating subsided lands. The saturated water content, water characteristic curve, and water diffusivity of local soil, FA, CG, and a mixture of FA and CG (“mixed filling”) were characterized. A column experiment was conducted to investigate the changes of water content in profiles reconstructed from the combination of soil and filling materials, including soil only, FA, CG, and a mixture of FA and CG, which were used to fill the lower part of the reconstructed profile. The mixture of FA and CG was found to possess similar hydraulic properties to those of the soil, particularly high water‐holding capacity and permeability. Moreover, the volumetric water contents in the whole profile containing the mixture of FA and CG were consistent with those of the profile reconstructed with soil only. As a result, it is recommended to adopt the mixture of FA and CG for reconstructing the lower profile of the land to alleviate or rehabilitate subsided land in coal mines.
Solid‐state solubilization of bones by B. megaterium in spent mushroom substrate as a medium for a phosphate enriched substrate
Authors: Wyciszkiewicz Małgorzata , Saeid Agnieszka , Samoraj Mateusz , Chojnacka Katarzyna 
Published: October 2016

AbstractBACKGROUNDThis paper details the results of solubilization of phosphates in spent mushroom substrate (SMS). As a substrate for the process, bones as a source of phosphates and SMS as medium were used.RESULTSThe process was conducted for 9 months and at the end of the process the substrate obtained was characterized as having a two times higher amount of available phosphorus (express as P2O5), which was confirmed by FTIR and SEM‐EDX analysis. A decrease in pH was observed. Strong correlation was found between temperature and the effectiveness of the process (P=0.000, r = 0.772). Solubilization combined with the degradation process lowered the C/N ratio from 13.6:1 to 11.7:1. The utilitarian properties of the substrate obtained were evaluated in germination tests.CONCLUSIONThe substrate obtained was characterized as having two times more available phosphorus and can serve as a biofertilizer for the cultivation of plants. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Isolation and partial characterization of 3 nontoxic d‐galactose–specific isolectins from seeds of Momordica balsamina
Authors: Awadallah Amna K.E. , Osman Makarim Elfadil M. , Ibrahim Mariam A. , Bernardes Emerson S. , Dias‐Baruffi Marcelo , Konozy Emadeldin Hassan E. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThree isolectins denoted hereforth MBaL‐30, MBaL‐60, and MBaL‐80 were isolated from seeds extract of Momordica balsamina by 30%, 60%, and 80% ammonium sulfate saturations, respectively. The native molecular weights of these lectins, as judged by gel filtration, were 108, 56, and 160 kDa, respectively. On SDS‐PAGE, under reduced condition, 27 kDa band was obtained for all isolectins. The lectins hemagglutinating activities were variably inhibited by d‐galactose (minimum inhibitory concentrations = 12.5mM, 50mM, and 0.391mM, respectively). MBaL‐30 and ‐60 could agglutinate all human blood types with slight preference for the A and O blood groups, whereas MBaL‐80 did not agglutinate B and AB blood types. The 3 isolectins were purified from crude seeds extract, collectively, in a single step on the affinity matrix Lactamyl‐Seralose 4B; this purified lectin fraction, which contains all isolectins, is termed MBaL. The N‐terminal of MBaL till the 25th amino acid was NLSLSELDFSADTYKSFIKNLRKQL, which shares 88% sequence identity with Momordica charantia lectin type‐2 ribosomal inactivating protein from Momordica charantia and 50% with momordin II from Momordica balsamina. MBaL retained 100% activity at up to 50°C for 30 minutes. MBaL‐30 and MBaL‐60 exhibited maximum activities in the pH range between 4 and 8, while MBaL‐80 was showing maximum activity in the pH range between 3 and 5. Treatment of MBaL‐30 and MBaL‐60 with EDTA completely abolished their hemagglutinating activities. Addition of Zn and Fe ions to the ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid–treated MBaL‐30 and MBaL‐60 lectins did not only regained the loss of activity but also resulted in 200% to 300% increase in activity, respectively. MBaL‐30 and ‐60 agglutinated gram positive Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus, whereas MBaL‐30 could merely agglutinate Escherichia coli. None of these lectins could arrest bacterial growth. Addition of MBaL to cancer cell lines (Gastric cancer cell line (AGS) and Gastric cencer cell line (MKN45), Glioblastoma (ECV‐304), and Human urinary bladder cancer cell line (U87‐MG)) at varying concentrations did not cause statistically significant changes on cell growth and viability.