bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Waterborne poly(urethane‐urea) gas permeation membranes for CO2/CH4 separation
Authors: Reis Rodrigo A. , Pereira Juliana H. C. , Campos Antoniel C. C. , Barboza Elaine M. , Delpech Marcia C. , Cesar Deborah V. , Dahmouche Karim , Bandeira Cirlene F. 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACTIn this work, dense membranes from aqueous dispersions of poly(urethane‐urea) (PUU) based on poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) and a block copolymer composed of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(propylene glycol) (PPG), EG‐b‐PG, with 7 wt % of the former were obtained. Nonpolluting formulations were synthesized with proportions of PPG and EG‐b‐PG as 1:0, 1:1, 1:3, and 3:1 in terms of equivalent number ratios. The effect of small and gradual increases in PEG segments was evaluated for the permeability of pure CO2, CH4, and N2, at room temperature. Slight increases in PEG‐based segments in PUU promoted some remarkable properties, which led to a simultaneous increase in CO2 permeability and ideal selectivity for CH4 (300%) and N2 (380%). Infrared spectroscopy showed that the PEG portions induced hydrogen bonds between NH of urethane and ether groups in the PEG portions, which promoted ordering of the flexible segments, confirmed by X‐ray diffractometry and small‐angle X‐ray scattering. Diffractometry techniques also confirmed the absence of crystalline domains, as did dynamic mechanical analysis. The produced membranes showed performance above Robeson's 2008 upper bound and seemed to be a superior polymeric material for CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 separation. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46003.
Sample preparation for large‐scale bioanalytical studies based on liquid chromatographic techniques
Authors: Medvedovici Andrei , Bacalum Elena , David Victor 
Published: November 2017

AbstractQuality of the analytical data obtained for large‐scale and long term bioanalytical studies based on liquid chromatography depends on a number of experimental factors including the choice of sample preparation method. This review discusses this tedious part of bioanalytical studies, applied to large‐scale samples and using liquid chromatography coupled with different detector types as core analytical technique. The main sample preparation methods included in this paper are protein precipitation, liquid–liquid extraction, solid‐phase extraction, derivatization and their versions. They are discussed by analytical performances, fields of applications, advantages and disadvantages. The cited literature covers mainly the analytical achievements during the last decade, although several previous papers became more valuable in time and they are included in this review.
Determination of tubuloside B by LC‐MS/MS and its application to a pharmacokinetic study in rats
Authors: Yang Shenbao , Qu Ruiying , Sun Peilu , Xiong Shan , Yan Siyi , Deng Zhipeng 
Published: November 2017

AbstractTubuloside B, a novel neuroprotective phenylethanoid, is a major active constituent of Cistanche tubulosa and Cistanche deserticola. A specific and sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for the quantification of tubuloside B in rat plasma. Sample preparation was conducted through a protein‐precipitation extraction with methanol using tubuloside A as internal standard (IS). Chromatographic separation was achieved using a Capcell Pak C18 column (2.0 × 50 mm, 5 μm) with a mobile phase of methanol–10 mm ammonium acetate buffer (70:30, v/v) in an isocratic elution. Mass spectrometry analysis was performed in negative ionization mode with selected reaction monitoring transitions at m/z 665.1 → 160.9 for tubuloside B, and m/z 827.1 → 160.9 for IS. Calibration curves were linear over the range of 1.64–1640 ng/mL for plasma samples samples (R2 > 0.990). The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 1.64 ng/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐day accuracy was between 92.3 and 113.0% with the RSD <9.23% at all LLOQ and quality control levels. Finally, this method was successfully applied in the pharmacokinetics study of tubuloside B after intravenous administration.
Immobilization of Superoxide Dismutase on Polyelectrolyte‐Functionalized Titania Nanosheets
Authors: Rouster Paul , Pavlovic Marko , Szilagyi Istvan 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme was successfully immobilized on titania nanosheets (TNS) functionalized with the poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) polyelectrolyte. The TNS–PDADMAC solid support was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis followed by self‐assembled polyelectrolyte layer formation. It was found that SOD strongly adsorbed onto oppositely charged TNS–PDADMAC through electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. The TNS–PDADMAC–SOD material was characterized by light scattering and microscopy techniques. Colloidal stability studies revealed that the obtained nanocomposites possessed good resistance against salt‐induced aggregation in aqueous suspensions. The enzyme kept its functional integrity upon immobilization; therefore, TNS–PDADMAC–SOD showed excellent superoxide radical anion scavenging activity. The developed system is a promising candidate for applications in which suspensions of antioxidant activity are required in the manufacturing processes.
Regio‐ and Stereoselective Iron‐Catalyzed Oxyazidation of Enamides Using a Hypervalent Iodine Reagent
Authors: Bertho Sylvain , Rey‐Rodriguez Romain , Colas Cyril , Retailleau Pascal , Gillaizeau Isabelle 
Published: November 2017

AbstractA novel regio‐ and diastereoselective iron‐catalyzed intermolecular oxyazidation of enamides using various azidobenziodoxolone (ABX) derivatives is presented. A variety of α‐N3 amino derivatives and of α‐N3 piperidines were synthesized in good yields and under mild reaction conditions. The reaction involves a radical process using cheap FeCl2 as the initiator.
Elucidating the Impact of Chalcogen Content on the Photovoltaic Properties of Oxychalcogenide Perovkskites: NaMO3−xQx (M=Nb, Ta; Q=S, Se, Te)
Authors: Park Heesoo , Alharbi Fahhad H , Sanvito Stefano , Tabet Nouar , El‐Mellouhi Fedwa 
Published: November 2017

AbstractIn the quest for nontoxic and stable perovskites for solar cells, we have conducted a systematic study of the effect of chalcogen content in oxychalcogenide perovskite by using DFT and quasi‐particle perturbation theory. We explored the changes in the electronic structure due to the substitution of O atoms in NaNbO3 and NaTaO3 perovskite structures with various chalcogens (S, Se, Te) at different concentrations. Interestingly, the introduction of the chalcogen atoms resulted in a drastic reduction in the electronic band gap, which made some of the compounds fall within the visible range of the solar spectrum. In addition, our analysis of the electronic structure shows that the optical transition becomes direct as a result of the strong hybridization between the orbitals of the transition metal and those of the chalcogen ion, in contrast to the indirect band feature of NaNbO3 and NaTaO3. We identified candidates with a high theoretical solar conversion efficiency that approached the Shockley–Queisser limit, which makes them suitable for thin‐film solar cell applications. The present work serves as a guideline for experimental efforts by identifying the chalcogen content that should be targeted during the synthetic route of thermodynamically stable and strongly photoactive absorbers for oxychalcogenide perovskites in thin‐film solar cells.
Neck circumference: A valuable anthropometric measurement to detect metabolic syndrome among different age groups in China
Authors: Cui Ting , Yan Bao‐huan , Liu Zhan , Yang Hui , Gyan Michael , Ma Yu‐xia 
Published: November 2017

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between neck circumference and metabolic syndrome in Chinese residents and to explore the cut‐off points of neck circumference for metabolic syndrome in different age groups.MethodsIn all, 4227 Chinese adults (18‐90 y) were enrolled in the study and divided into 3 subgroups (young, middle‐aged, and elderly) according to their ages. The compared data for the subjects included anthropometric indicators and biochemical detection indices. Neck circumference was compared with other simple anthropometric indices using receiver operating characteristic curves.Results(1) In all, 362 of the subjects who were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome were young (16.8%), 428 were middle‐aged (36.9%), and 485 were elderly people (53.1%). (2) The areas under the curve of neck circumference for metabolic syndrome for the 3 subgroups, young, middle‐aged, and elderly, for males were 0.853, 0.792, and 0.828, respectively, and these values were 0.859, 0.780, and 0.725 for females, respectively. (3) Neck circumference cut‐offs were 39.05, 39.45, and 38.90 cm in men and 34.15, 33.55, and 33.95 cm in women.ConclusionsNeck circumference contributed to determining metabolic syndrome risk beyond the classical anthropometric indices among different age groups in China.
Introduction history overrides social factors in explaining genetic structure of females in Mediterranean mouflon
Authors: Portanier Elodie , Garel Mathieu , Devillard Sébastien , Marchand Pascal , Andru Julie , Maillard Daniel , Bourgoin Gilles 
Published: November 2017

AbstractFine‐scale spatial genetic structure of populations results from social and spatial behaviors of individuals such as sex‐biased dispersal and philopatry. However, the demographic history of a given population can override such socio‐spatial factors in shaping genetic variability when bottlenecks or founder events occurred in the population. Here, we investigated whether socio‐spatial organization determines the fine‐scale genetic structure for both sexes in a Mediterranean mouflon (Ovis gmelini musimon × Ovissp.) population in southern France 60 years after its introduction. Based on multilocus genotypes at 16 loci of microsatelliteDNA(n = 230 individuals), we identified three genetic groups for females and two for males, and concurrently defined the same number of socio‐spatial units using bothGPS‐collared individuals (n = 121) and visual resightings of marked individuals (n = 378). The socio‐spatial and genetic structures did not match, indicating that the former was not the main driver of the latter for both sexes. Beyond this structural mismatch, we found significant, yet low, genetic differentiation among female socio‐spatial groups, and no genetic differentiation in males, with this suggesting female philopatry and male‐biased gene flow, respectively. Despite spatial disconnection, females from the north of the study area were genetically closer to females from the south, as indicated by the spatial analysis of the genetic variability, and this pattern was in accordance with the common genetic origin of their founders. To conclude, more than 14 generations later, genetic signatures of first introduction are not only still detectable among females, but they also represent the main factor shaping their present‐time genetic structure.
Phylogenetic turnover during subtropical forest succession across environmental and phylogenetic scales
Authors: Purschke Oliver , Michalski Stefan G. , Bruelheide Helge , Durka Walter 
Published: November 2017

AbstractAlthough spatial and temporal patterns of phylogenetic community structure during succession are inherently interlinked and assembly processes vary with environmental and phylogenetic scales, successional studies of community assembly have yet to integrate spatial and temporal components of community structure, while accounting for scaling issues. To gain insight into the processes that generate biodiversity after disturbance, we combine analyses of spatial and temporal phylogenetic turnover across phylogenetic scales, accounting for covariation with environmental differences. We compared phylogenetic turnover, at the species‐ and individual‐level, within and between five successional stages, representing woody plant communities in a subtropical forest chronosequence. We decomposed turnover at different phylogenetic depths and assessed its covariation with between‐plot abiotic differences. Phylogenetic turnover between stages was low relative to species turnover and was not explained by abiotic differences. However, within the late‐successional stages, there was high presence‐/absence‐based turnover (clustering) that occurred deep in the phylogeny and covaried with environmental differentiation. Our results support a deterministic model of community assembly where (i) phylogenetic composition is constrained through successional time, but (ii) toward late succession, species sorting into preferred habitats according to niche traits that are conserved deep in phylogeny, becomes increasingly important.
Comparative population genetic structure of redbelly tilapia (Coptodon zillii (Gervais, 1848)) from three different aquatic habitats in Egypt
Authors: Soliman Taha , Aly Walid , Fahim Reda M. , Berumen Michael L. , Jenke‐Kodama Holger , Bernardi Giacomo 
Published: November 2017

AbstractRecently, tilapia have become increasingly important in aquaculture and fisheries worldwide. They are one of the major protein sources in many African countries and are helping to combat malnutrition. Therefore, maintenance and conservation genetics of wild populations of tilapia are of great significance. In this study, we report the population genetic structure and genetic diversity of the redbelly tilapia (Coptodon zillii) in three different Egyptian aquatic environments: brackish (Lake Idku), marine (Al‐Max Bay), and freshwater (Lake Nasser). The habitat differences, environmental factors, and harvesting pressures are the main characteristics of the sampling sites. Three mitochondrial DNA markers (COI: cytochrome oxidase subunit I; the D‐loop; CYTB: cytochrome b) were used to assess population structure differences among the three populations. The population at Lake Nasser presented the highest genetic diversity (Hd = 0.8116, H = 6), and the marine population of Al‐Max Bay the lowest (Hd = 0.2391, H = 4) of the combined sequences. In addition, the phylogenetic haplotype network showed private haplotypes in each environmental habitat. Results presented here will be useful in aquaculture to introduce the appropriate broodstock for future aquaculture strategies of C. zillii. In addition, evidence of population structure may contribute to the management of tilapia fisheries in Egyptian waters.
Percolation observations in an arid piedmont watershed and linkages to historical conditions in the Chihuahuan Desert
Authors: Schreiner‐McGraw Adam P. , Vivoni Enrique R. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractA critical hydrologic process in arid and semiarid regions is the interaction between ephemeral channels and groundwater aquifers. Generally, it has been found that ephemeral channels contribute to groundwater recharge when streamflow infiltrates into the sandy bottoms of channels. This process has traditionally been studied in channels that drain large areas (tens to hundreds of square kilometers). Since the water table in arid and semiarid regions is typically far from the surface, measured streamflow losses or percolation into the deep vadose zone is equated to groundwater recharge. In this study, we use a water balance approach to estimate deep percolation in a first‐order, instrumented watershed (4.7 ha) on a piedmont slope of the Jornada Experimental Range (JER) in the Chihuahuan Desert. Results indicate that runoff generated within the piedmont slope contributes significantly to deep percolation. During the short‐term 6‐yr study period, we estimated 385 mm of total percolation, 62 mm/yr, or a ratio of percolation to rainfall of 0.26. Based on the instrument network, we identified that percolation occurs inside channel areas when these receive overland sheetflow from hillslopes. We observed less streamflow leaving the watershed as compared to percolation during the study period, leading to an outlet streamflow to rainfall ratio of 0.02. Using long‐term data sets available from the JER, we estimate that over the last 100 yr, 48 mm/yr of percolation occurs at the study site, a ratio of percolation to rainfall of 0.19. We then scale this up to determine the contribution of similarly sized watersheds on the piedmont slopes of the JER. These observations highlight the importance of arid piedmont slopes for generating groundwater recharge, in particular during above‐average rainfall periods.
Recent Advances in the Development of Anode Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Utilizing Liquid Oxygenated Hydrocarbon Fuels: A Mini Review
Authors: Wang Wei , Qu Jifa , Julião Paulo Sérgio Barros , Shao Zongping 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSolid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are the most widely used fuel cells due to their excellent fuel flexibility, high efficiency and low emissions. Although the liquid fuels are easier to handle and transport than hydrogen, their direct use in SOFC leads to serious performance deterioration because of the coke formation on the traditional Ni‐based cermet anodes. In this review, the advances in the development of coking resistant anodes and the new liquid fuels such as oxygenated hydrocarbons to solve the problem of coke formation with Ni‐based anodes are summarized. It is concluded that Ni‐based cermets are still the most promising anode materials and some targeted modifications are needed to improve the coking resistance. Several strategies to improve the coking resistance of Ni‐based anodes are highlighted. The aim of this review is to provide some helpful guidance and potential directions for the future design of anodes for SOFCs utilizing liquid oxygenated hydrocarbon fuels directly.
Cu‐ and Co‐Modified Pd/C Nanoparticles as the High Performance Cathodic Catalysts for Mg‐H2O2 Semi‐Fuel Cell
Authors: Sun L. , Shi L. , Zhang S. , He W. , Zhang Y. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWe had prepared PdxCoy/C and PdxCuy/C nanocatalysts with different actomic ratio of Pd and Co or Cu via modified sodium borohydride reduction method and investigated their electrocatalytic properties for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) reduction reaction with emphases on the effects of composition and structure. The activities of PdxCoy/C and PdxCuy/C catalysts increased firstly and then decreased with the amount of Pd adding. Both the Pd8Co/C and Pd8Cu/C showed the better catalytic performance than that of the other Pd and Co or Cu atomic ratio. The Pd8Co and Pd8Cu NPs were 3–4 nm in size and uniformly distributed on the C surface in an alloy way. The Pd8Co/C and Pd8Cu/C catalysts exhibited a superior activity and stability on H2O2 electroreduction reaction than the Pd/C and the commercial Pd/C (JM) catalysts, which due to Co and Cu enter into the Pd lattice and alter the electronic structure of Pd. The Mg‐H2O2 semi‐fuel cells with the two catalysts supported on the carbon paper as the cathodes expressed a peak power density of 140 mW cm−2 for the Pd8Co/C cathode and 168 mW cm−2 for the Pd8Cu/C cathode.
Spontaneous neural activity differences in posttraumatic stress disorder: A quantitative resting‐state meta‐analysis and fMRI validation
Authors: Disner Seth G. , Marquardt Craig A. , Mueller Bryon A. , Burton Philip C. , Sponheim Scott R. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractIdentifying the pathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a critical step toward reducing its debilitating impact. Spontaneous neural activity, measured at rest using various neuroimaging techniques (e.g., regional homogeneity [ReHo], amplitude of low frequency fluctuations [ALFF]), can provide insight about baseline neurobiological factors influencing sensory, cognitive, or behavioral processes associated with PTSD. The present study used activation likelihood estimation (ALE) to conduct the largest‐to‐date quantitative meta‐analysis of spontaneous neural activity in PTSD, including 457 PTSD cases, 292 trauma‐exposed controls (TECs), and 293 non‐traumatized controls (NTCs) across 22 published studies. Five regions‐of‐interest (ROIs) were identified where activity differed between PTSD cases and controls: one when compared to all controls (left globus pallidus), two when compared to TECs (left inferior parietal lobule [IPL] and right lingual gyrus), and two when compared to NTCs (left amygdala and right caudate head). To corroborate these results, a second analysis was conducted using resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging on an independent sample of 205 previously‐deployed US military veterans. In this analysis, converging evidence from ReHo and ALFF showed that spontaneous neural activity in the left IPL alone was positively correlated with PTSD symptom severity. This result is consistent with theoretical accounts that link left IPL activity with PTSD‐relevant processes such as processing of emotional stimuli (e.g., fearful faces) and the extent that attention is captured by salient autobiographical memories. By modeling the neurobiological correlates of PTSD, we can increase our understanding of this debilitating disorder and guide the development of future clinical innovations.
Chronnectome fingerprinting: Identifying individuals and predicting higher cognitive functions using dynamic brain connectivity patterns
Authors: Liu Jin , Liao Xuhong , Xia Mingrui , He Yong 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe human brain is a large, interacting dynamic network, and its architecture of coupling among brain regions varies across time (termed the “chronnectome”). However, very little is known about whether and how the dynamic properties of the chronnectome can characterize individual uniqueness, such as identifying individuals as a “fingerprint” of the brain. Here, we employed multiband resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from the Human Connectome Project (N = 105) and a sliding time‐window dynamic network analysis approach to systematically examine individual time‐varying properties of the chronnectome. We revealed stable and remarkable individual variability in three dynamic characteristics of brain connectivity (i.e., strength, stability, and variability), which was mainly distributed in three higher order cognitive systems (i.e., default mode, dorsal attention, and fronto‐parietal) and in two primary systems (i.e., visual and sensorimotor). Intriguingly, the spatial patterns of these dynamic characteristics of brain connectivity could successfully identify individuals with high accuracy and could further significantly predict individual higher cognitive performance (e.g., fluid intelligence and executive function), which was primarily contributed by the higher order cognitive systems. Together, our findings highlight that the chronnectome captures inherent functional dynamics of individual brain networks and provides implications for individualized characterization of health and disease.