bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Conotoxin Φ‐MiXXVIIA from the Superfamily G2 Employs a Novel Cysteine Framework that Mimics Granulin and Displays Anti‐Apoptotic Activity
Authors: Jin Ai‐Hua , Dekan Zoltan , Smout Michael J. , Wilson David , Dutertre Sébastien , Vetter Irina , Lewis Richard J. , Loukas Alex , Daly Norelle L. , Alewood Paul F. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractConotoxins are a large family of disulfide‐rich peptides that contain unique cysteine frameworks that target a broad range of ion channels and receptors. We recently discovered the 33‐residue conotoxin Φ‐MiXXVIIA from Conus miles with a novel cysteine framework comprising three consecutive cysteine residues and four disulfide bonds. Regioselective chemical synthesis helped decipher the disulfide bond connectivity and the structure of Φ‐MiXXVIIA was determined by NMR spectroscopy. The 3D structure displays a unique topology containing two β‐hairpins that resemble the N‐terminal domain of granulin. Similar to granulin, Φ‐MiXXVIIA promotes cell proliferation (EC50 17.85 μm) while inhibiting apoptosis (EC50 2.2 μm). Additional framework XXVII sequences were discovered with homologous signal peptides that define the new conotoxin superfamily G2. The novel structure and biological activity of Φ‐MiXXVIIA expands the repertoire of disulfide‐rich conotoxins that recognize mammalian receptors.
Cyclic Depsipeptide BE‐43547A2: Synthesis and Activity against Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Sun Yuanjun , Ding Yahui , Li Dongmei , Zhou Ruifei , Su Xiuwen , Yang Juan , Guo Xiaoqian , Chong Chuanke , Wang Jinghan , Zhang Weicheng , Bai Cuigai , Wang Liang , Chen Yue 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAsymmetric total synthesis of the cyclic depsipeptide BE‐43547A2 was achieved in 15 linear steps on a 350 mg scale in one batch. The synthesis features the highly diastereoselective construction of an α‐hydroxy‐β‐ketoamide through α‐hydroxylation with a d.r. of up to 86:1. BE‐43547A2 significantly reduces the percentage of pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs) in Panc‐1 cell cultures, and dramatically reduces the tumorsphere‐forming capability of Panc‐1 cells. An in vivo tumor‐initiation assay, a gold standard for cancer stem cell assays, confirmed that BE‐43547A2 can abolish the tumorigenesis of Panc‐1 cells. The anti‐PCSC activity of BE‐43547A2 could make this depsipeptide scaffold a promising starting point for discovering new PCSC‐targeting drugs.
Polycyclic Polyprenylated Acylphloroglucinols: An Emerging Class of Non‐Peptide‐Based MRSA‐ and VRE‐Active Antibiotics
Authors: Guttroff Claudia , Baykal Aslihan , Wang Huanhuan , Popella Peter , Kraus Frank , Biber Nicole , Krauss Sophia , Götz Friedrich , Plietker Bernd 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIn the past 20 years, peptide‐based antibiotics, such as vancomycin, teicoplanin, and daptomycin, have often been considered as second‐line antibiotics. However, in recent years, an increasing number of reports on vancomycin resistance in pathogens appeared, which forces researchers to find novel lead structures for potent new antibiotics. Herein, we report the total synthesis of a defined endo‐type B PPAP library and their antibiotic activity against multiresistant S. aureus and various vancomycin‐resistant Enterococci. Four new compounds that combine high activities and low cytotoxicity were identified, indicating that the PPAP core might become a new non‐peptide‐based lead structure in antibiotic research.
Synergistic Manganese(I) C−H Activation Catalysis in Continuous Flow: Chemoselective Hydroarylation
Authors: Wang Hui , Pesciaioli Fabio , Oliveira João C. A. , Warratz Svenja , Ackermann Lutz 
Published: October 2017

AbstractChemoselective hydroarylations were accomplished by a novel synergistic Brønsted acid/manganese(I)‐catalyzed C−H activation manifold. Thus, alkynes bearing O‐leaving groups could, for the first time, be employed for C−H alkenylations without concurrent β‐O elimination, thereby setting the stage for versatile late‐stage diversifications. Also described is the first manganese‐catalyzed C−H activation in continuous flow, thus enabling efficient hydroarylations within only 20 minutes.
Single‐Step Reagentless Laser Scribing Fabrication of Electrochemical Paper‐Based Analytical Devices
Authors: de Araujo William R. , Frasson Carolina M. R. , Ameku Wilson A. , Silva José R. , Angnes Lúcio , Paixão Thiago R. L. C. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractA single‐step laser scribing process is used to pattern nanostructured electrodes on paper‐based devices. The facile and low‐cost technique eliminates the need for chemical reagents or controlled conditions. This process involves the use of a CO2 laser to pyrolyze the surface of the paperboard, producing a conductive porous non‐graphitizing carbon material composed of graphene sheets and composites with aluminosilicate nanoparticles. The new electrode material was extensively characterized, and it exhibits high conductivity and an enhanced active/geometric area ratio; it is thus well‐suited for electrochemical purposes. As a proof‐of‐concept, the devices were successfully employed for different analytical applications in the clinical, pharmaceutical, food, and forensic fields. The scalable and green fabrication method associated with the features of the new material is highly promising for the development of portable electrochemical devices.
High Sulfur Content Material with Stable Cycling in Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Preefer Molleigh B. , Oschmann Bernd , Hawker Craig J. , Seshadri Ram , Wudl Fred 
Published: October 2017

AbstractWe demonstrate a novel crosslinked disulfide system as a cathode material for Li‐S cells that is designed with the two criteria of having only a single point of S−S scission and maximizing the ratio of S−S to the electrochemically inactive framework. The material therefore maximizes theoretical capacity while inhibiting the formation of polysulfide intermediates that lead to parasitic shuttle. The material we report contains a 1:1 ratio of S:C with a theoretical capacity of 609 mAh g−1. The cell gains capacity through 100 cycles and has 98 % capacity retention thereafter through 200 cycles, demonstrating stable, long‐term cycling. Raman spectroscopy confirms the proposed mechanism of disulfide bonds breaking to form a S−Li thiolate species upon discharge and reforming upon charge. Coulombic efficiencies near 100 % for every cycle, suggesting the suppression of polysulfide shuttle through the molecular design.
Synthesis of the Unknown Indeno[1,2‐a]fluorene Regioisomer: Crystallographic Characterization of Its Dianion
Authors: Dressler Justin J. , Zhou Zheng , Marshall Jonathan L. , Kishi Ryohei , Takamuku Shota , Wei Zheng , Spisak Sarah N. , Nakano Masayoshi , Petrukhina Marina A. , Haley Michael M. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractOf the five possible indenofluorene regioisomers, examples of a fully conjugated indeno[1,2‐a]fluorene scaffold have so far remained elusive. This work reports the preparation and characterization of 7,12‐dimesitylindeno[1,2‐a]fluorene as a highly reactive species. Experimental and computational data support the notion of a molecule with pronounced diradical character that exists in a triplet ground state. As such, both NICS and ACID calculations suggest that the indeno[1,2‐a]fluorene scaffold is weakly Baird aromatic. Reduction of the unstable red solid with Cs metal produces the dianion of the title compound, from which single crystals could be obtained and X‐ray data acquired, thus fully corroborating the proposed indeno[1,2‐a]fluorene hydrocarbon core.
Radical‐Based C−C Bond‐Forming Processes Enabled by the Photoexcitation of 4‐Alkyl‐1,4‐dihydropyridines
Authors: Buzzetti Luca , Prieto Alexis , Roy Sudipta Raha , Melchiorre Paolo 
Published: October 2017

AbstractWe report herein that 4‐alkyl‐1,4‐dihydropyridines (alkyl‐DHPs) can directly reach an electronically excited state upon light absorption and trigger the generation of C(sp3)‐centered radicals without the need for an external photocatalyst. Selective excitation with a violet‐light‐emitting diode turns alkyl‐DHPs into strong reducing agents that can activate reagents through single‐electron transfer manifolds while undergoing homolytic cleavage to generate radicals. We used this photochemical dual‐reactivity profile to trigger radical‐based carbon–carbon bond‐forming processes, including nickel‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions.
Plywood adhesives derived from distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS) incorporating 2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate
Authors: Biancaniello Michael , Wang Tao , Misra Manjusri , Mohanty Amar K. 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACTDistillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a byproduct of corn ethanol production, are currently used primarily as an alternative animal feed thanks to its high protein content and low cost. Previous research has developed a protein‐based bioadhesive from DDGS. However, the adhesive does not possess the appropriate properties to compete with synthetic adhesives and other bio‐based adhesives. In this study, a bioadhesive is prepared from DDGS and hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) is incorporated to improve the bonding strength and moisture resistance. The greatest increase in lap‐shear strength was observed in the adhesive containing 50% of the acrylic resin. Water resistance was absent from the original DDGS adhesive, but established upon the inclusion of HEA. HEA was found to self‐polymerize under the hot‐pressing conditions and form a co‐continuous phase with the protein adhesive derived from DDGS. The strength of the adhesives was adequate for bonding plywood panels. More work must be done to further enhance the performance of the adhesives for wider applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45689.
Development of composite membrane PBAT: Zeolite Y for application as rhynchophorol release system
Authors: Correia Paulo Romano Cruz , Ramos Ingrid Graça , Viana Arão Cardoso , Mascarenhas Artur José Santos , Sant'ana Antônio Euzébio Goulart , Goulart Henrique Fonseca , Druzian Janice Izabel 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACTComposite membranes consisting of biodegradable poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate (PBAT) and zeolite Y (0–10 wt %) were produced by extrusion. Zeolite Y is well dispersed in the membrane up to 5 wt %, but tends to agglomerate at higher contents. The presence of zeolite Y in the composite resulted in an improvement of the thermal stability, mechanical properties, and increased the barrier properties. The interaction of the composite membranes with rhynchophorol was investigated by different techniques, showing that the semiochemical progressively lixiviates PBAT monomers, causing thermal and mechanical properties to decrease. However, no interaction seemed to occur between the rhynchophorol and the zeolite. Studies of diffusion of pheromone through membranes have shown that the addition of the zeolite Y has not contributed significantly to a decrease in the release rate of rhynchophorol, but the presence of the zeolite Y helps to increase chemical, mechanical, and thermal stabilities of the membranes. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45757.
Antimicrobial activity of PLA/PEG nanofibers containing terpinen‐4‐ol against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans
Authors: Nepomuceno Neymara C. , Barbosa Mariângela A. , Bonan Roberta F. , Oliveira Juliano E. , Sampaio Fábio C. , Medeiros Eliton S. 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACTIn this article, nanofibrous mats of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with different PLA/PEG ratios were prepared by solution blow spinning. Terpinen‐4‐ol, a major phytoconstituent from tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) was added to the fibers and their antimicrobial activity against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (ATCC 00078) was tested. Spun mats were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analyses, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and cell viability tests by biofilm grown on the surface of inhibitory fibers. Fibers had average diameters dependent on polymer ratio. PEG acted as a plasticizer resulting in a reduction in PLA crystallinity. Addition of PEG lead to a faster drug release. Fibrous mats with terpinen‐4‐ol, whose incorporation was verified by FTIR, showed an effective antimicrobial activity against A. actinomycetemcomitans, similar to those containing 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate (P < 0.05), used as both the positive control and the dose level recommended for patient treatment. These results confirm the potential of solution blow spun fibrous mats containing terpinen‐4‐ol in the treatment of aggressive periodontitis. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45782.
Comparison of prolonged antibacterial activity and release profile of propolis‐incorporated PVA nanofibrous mat, microfibrous mat, and film
Authors: Zeighampour Farideh , Alihosseini Farzaneh , Morshed Mohammad , Rahimi Abd Allah 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACTPropolis as a natural antibacterial agent was incorporated into the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) in different forms of nanofiber, microfiber, and film. The successful fabrication of uniform nanofibers with 85–314 nm diameters and microfibers with 2.02 μm diameter was proved by scanning electron microscopy. Structural analysis by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction and swelling properties confirmed the formation PVA hydrogel and its H‐bonding to the propolis. Evaluation and comparison of antimicrobial properties of produced samples against Staphylococcus aureus strains revealed that nanofiber mat with 19 mm inhibition zone has 11.76 and 26.67% higher efficiency against bacteria than microfiber mat and film with 17 and 15 mm inhibition zone, respectively. Nanofibrous mat showed sustained release during 96 h by maintaining full antibacterial activity up to 51 h which is of great importance in burn wounds. These results confirm the advanced performance of natural propolis in the form of nanofiber substrate as wound dressing. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45794.
Fabrication and characterization of soluble, high thermal, and hydrophobic polyimides based on 4‐(3,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐2,6‐bis(4‐aminophenyl)pyridine
Authors: Huang Xiaohua , Chen Beicai , Liu Chanjuan , Zhou Huanfu , Wei Chun 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACTA novel aromatic diamine monomer, 4‐(3,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐2,6‐bis(4‐aminophenyl)pyridine (DPAP) was successfully synthesized by 4′‐nitroacetophenone and 3,5‐dimethoxybenzaldehyde as raw material. The structure of DPAP was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass analysis. A series of polyimides (PIs) were obtained by polycondensation with various dianhydrides via the conventional two‐step method. These PIs showed good solubility in organic solvents. They also presented high thermal stability, the glass transition temperatures (Tg) of polymers were in the range of 325–388 °C, and the temperature at 10% weight loss was in the range of 531–572 °C. Furthermore, these polymers also exhibited outstanding hydrophobicity with the contact angles in the range of 89.1°–93.5°. Moreover, the results of wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) confirmed these polymers showed amorphous structure. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45827.
Dextran microgels loaded with ZnO QDs: pH‐triggered degradation under acidic conditions
Authors: Zhang Jing , Chen Liqun , Chen Jiada , Wu Dan , Feng Jie 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACTWe demonstrated an extremely facile way to fabricate inorganic–organic microgels with pH sensitivity and fluorescence. Aqueous dextran microgels are crosslinked by ZnO quantum dots (QDs). The ZnO@Dextran microgels were synthesized by simply mixing amino‐modified ZnO (ZnO QDs) with carboxymethyl dextran (CMD) while stirring. The hybrid microgels showed an average diameter of ∼5 μm and strong fluorescence under ultraviolet (365 nm) irradiation. Up to 79.3 wt % of ZnO QDs were loaded into microgels. The ZnO QDs crosslinkage in the hybrid microgels structure enabled the microgels to degrade under mild acidic environment due to pH sensitivity of ZnO QDs. After loading of doxorubicin (Dox), the microgels were used as drug carriers for pH‐controlled release of Dox. The degradation of the microgels and the release of loaded cargos could be monitored by detecting fluorescence intensity of the microgels. Moreover, owing to the cytotoxicity of ZnO QDs at their destination, drug‐loaded ZnO@Dextran microgels can be used for synergistic therapy. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45831.
A Novel Spiro[acridine‐9,9′‐fluorene] Derivatives Containing Phenanthroimidazole Moiety for Deep‐Blue OLED Application
Authors: Sun Wei , Zhou Nonglin , Xiao Yin , Wang Shirong , Li Xianggao 
Published: October 2017

AbstractTypical π–π stacking and aggregation‐caused quenching could be suppressed in the film‐state by the spiro conformation molecular design in the field of organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). Herein, a novel deep‐blue fluorescent material with spiro conformation, 1‐(4‐(tert‐butyl)phenyl)‐2‐(4‐(10‐phenyl‐10H‐spiro[acridine‐9,9′‐fluoren]‐2‐yl)phenyl)‐1H‐phenanthro[9,10‐d]imidazole (SAF‐BPI), was designed and synthesized. The compound consists of spiro‐acridine‐fluorene (SAF) as donor part and phenanthroimidazole (BPI) as acceptor part. Owing to the rigid SAF skeleton, this compound exhibits a high thermal stability with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 198 °C. The compound exhibits bipolar transporting characteristics demonstrated by the single‐carrier devices. The non‐doped OLEDs based on the SAF‐BPI as the emitting layer shows maximum emission at 448 nm, maximum luminance of 2122 cd m−2, maximum current efficiency (CE) of 3.97 cd A−1, and a maximum power efficiency of 2.08 lm W−1. The chromaticity coordinate is stable at (0.15, 0.10) at the voltage of 7–11 V. The device shows a slow efficiency roll‐off with CE of 3.35 and 2.85 cd A−1 at 100 and 1000 cd m−2, respectively.
Continuous‐Action XCSR with Dynamic Reward Assignment Dedicated to Control of Black‐Box Mechanical Systems
Authors: Hashemnia Saeed , Shariat Panahi Masoud , Mahjoob Mohammad 
Published: October 2017

AbstractA real‐value classifier system (CSR) is improved by the introduction of a continuous domain of actions to be employed for control of mechanical systems where there is no information concerning the system's mathematical model. To enable the classifier system to handle real‐world control problems where continuous (non‐discrete) actions are required, the exploitation of fuzzy membership functions is proposed. To cope with the dynamic system's delayed response due to its mass inertia, a dynamic reward assignment mechanism is incorporated into the proposed CSR. This allows the rapid calculation of the reward and hence enables the controller to be used in such real time applications. To demonstrate the efficiency of the developed enhanced CSR, it is employed as the controller to balance an unmanned bicycle, without using bicycle properties for the design process of the enhanced CSR. Simulation results show that in terms of overshoot and settling time, the proposed classifier system outperforms traditional XCSR as well as some of the more common balance‐control strategies reported in the literature, as verified using ADAMS software.
Setting the design space of biorefineries through sustainability values, a practical approach
Authors: Palmeros Parada Mar , Asveld Lotte , Osseweijer Patricia , Posada John A. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractSustainable development has become an outstanding aspiration in our society. However, the meaning of sustainability and how it should be operationalized is a complex issue that depends on subjective beliefs and values. To advance toward sustainable biobased production, we present an approach to delimit the design space of biorefineries by considering stakeholders’ values. Concepts from Design for Values were taken as the starting point for this approach, which was further developed with a biojet fuel production case in the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo. Design propositions that considered the interaction between stakeholders’ values, sustainability, and the production system were derived and used to suggest design space boundaries. These design boundaries are indicative, allowing for deliberation during future design activities. Through them, designers are prompted to actively reflect on the interaction between biorefinery systems and the socioeconomic and environmental context around them. By opening the design process to stakeholders’ values, we have developed a constructivist approach to incorporate sustainability in an inclusive and context‐specific manner during the early stages of biorefinery design. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Better Safe than Sorry: Risking Irresponsibility by Seeking Uncertainty
Authors: Nordbye Gro Hege Haraldsen , Riege Anine H. , Teigen Karl Halvor 
Published: October 2017

AbstractResearch findings differ as to whether choosing a risky option is an efficient strategy for decision makers seeking to avoid responsibility for potential failures. A risky choice may leave the final outcome to chance factors, but the decision maker can still be held responsible for choosing risk. Further, it is unclear whether a risky choice is a responsible choice. The present article investigates the putative relationship between risk‐taking and responsibility by drawing a distinction between being responsible for the outcome (R1) versus acting responsibly (R2). Four experiments were performed, in which participants were presented with scenarios describing decision makers facing a choice between a risky (uncertain) option and a riskless (certain) option, framed in terms of losses or equivalent gains. The results showed that decision makers who chose the risky alternative were judged to have acted in a less responsible manner (R2), while still being held equally responsible for the outcome (R1), unless they were ignorant of the risks involved. Choosing risk did not absolve decision makers from blame, despite being less causal and less in control than those who chose the riskless option. Risky decision makers were also judged to be more personally involved. The dissociation between R1 and R2 ratings confirms earlier findings and serves to clarify an alleged relationship between risky choices and responsibility aversion. Framing effects for own choices were found in both scenarios. In contrast, responsibility ratings were only slightly affected by frame. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.