bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
One‐Step Synthesis of a MoS2−CuS Composite with High Electrochemical Activity as an Effective Counter Electrode for CdS/CdSe Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Kamaja Chaitanya Krishna , Devarapalli Rami Reddy , Shelke Manjusha V. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractInorganic nanostructured composite materials involving metal sulfides are increasingly important in electrochemical applications like solar cells. In this research, we have developed a one‐step in situ solvothermal method to synthesize a MoS2−CuS composite. MoS2 sheets increase electron‐transfer ability, assisting the improvement in catalytic activity of the MoS2−CuS counter electrode. The charge‐transfer resistance derived from impedance spectroscopy for the MoS2−CuS composite counter electrode at the electrode/electrolyte interface is very low, as compared to MoS2, mostly owing to the increased number of active catalytic sites for the reduction of polysulfide electrolyte. The Tafel polarization plot shows excellent electrocatalytic activity of the MoS2−CuS composite towards polysulfide electrolyte. Finally, the CdS/CdSe sensitized solar cell achieves a power conversion efficiency of about 5 % upon optimization of the MoS2−CuS composition.
Platinum‐Based Organometallic Folders for the Recognition of Electron‐Deficient Aromatic Substrates
Authors: Nuevo Daniel , Gonell Sergio , Poyatos Macarena , Peris Eduardo 
Published: April 2017

AbstractA series of platinum complexes with cis‐oriented polyaromatic N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands were prepared and characterized. The relative disposition of the polyaromatic ligands about the metal cause these compounds to behave as metallofolders, featuring a cavity defined by the void space between the polyaromatic functionalities. The complexes were used as receptors of organic molecules, whereby selective affinity was displayed for electron‐deficient aromatic substrates, such as 1,2,4,5‐tetracyanobenzene (TCNB), 2,4,7‐trinitro‐9‐fluorenone (TNFLU), and 1,4,5,8‐naphtalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (NTCDA). The binding affinities of two of the metallofolders with these substrates were determined by means of 1H NMR titrations. Electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) was also used to assess the affinities. The molecular structure of one of the platinum folders was determined in the presence of TCNB, showing the clear interaction between this guest molecule and the folder formed by the two mutually cis‐oriented polyaromatic ligands. This work demonstrates how the presence of the mutually cis‐oriented polyaromatic ligands may be a very useful tool for the preparation of metal‐based receptors.
Enantiomeric NMR signal separation behavior and mechanism of samarium(III) and neodymium(III) complexes with (S,S)‐ethylenediamine‐N,N'‐disuccinate
Authors: Aizawa Sen‐Ichi , Okano Masaru , Kidani Takahiro 
Published: April 2017

AbstractEnantiomeric 1H and 13C NMR signal separation behaviors of various α‐amino acids and DL‐tartarate were investigated by using the samarium(III) and neodymium(III) complexes with (S,S)‐ethylenediamine‐N,N'‐disuccinate as chiral shift reagents. A relatively smaller concentration ratio of the lanthanide(III) complex to substrates was suitable for the neodymium(III) complex compared with the samarium(III) one, striking a balance between relatively greater signal separation and broadening. To clarify the difference in the signal separation behavior, the chemical shifts of β‐protons for fully bound D‐ and L‐alanine (δb(D) and δb(L)) and their adduct formation constants (Ks) were obtained for both metal complexes. Preference for D‐alanine was similarly observed for both complexes, while it was revealed that the difference between the δb(D) and δb(L) values is the significant factor to determine the enantiomeric signal separation. The neodymium(III) and samarium(III) complexes can be used complementarily for higher and smaller concentration ranges of substrates, respectively, because the neodymium(III) complex gives the larger difference between the δb(D) and δb(L) values with greater signal broadening compared to the samarium(III) complex.
Chiral analysis of ammuxetine enantiomers in dog plasma using online SPE/liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection after precolumn chiral derivatization
Authors: Yu Jimei , Li Xin , Zhou Jiezhao , Xie Xiangyang , Chen Meiling , He Xinhua , Yang Yang , Zhang Youzhi , Zheng Aiping , Mei Xingguo , Li Ying 
Published: April 2017

AbstractAmmuxetine (AMT), a novel chiral antidepressant candidate compound, exhibits better antidepression effects than duloxetine in different animal models. In this article, a chiral derivatization method, combined with online solid phase extraction (online SPE) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), was developed for the chiral separation of AMT enantiomers after administration of racemic AMT to dogs. The derivatization reaction employed 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐b‐glucopyr‐anosyl isothiocyanate (GITC) as a precolumn chiral derivatization reagent. A SPE column Retain PEP Javelin (10 × 2.1 mm) was used to remove proteins and other impurities in plasma samples. The enantiomeric derivatives were separated on a ZORBAX SB‐C18 column (50 × 2.1 mm × 3.5 μm) with an isocratic elution procedure. The selected multiple reaction monitoring mode of the positive ion was performed and the parent to the product transitions m/z 681.0/543.1 and m/z 687.4/543.1 were used to measure the derivatives of AMT and duloxetine (internal standard) with electrospray ionization. The method was validated in terms of specificity, linearity, sensitivity, precision, accuracy, matrix effect, and stability. The method was applied to a pharmacokinetics study of AMT racemate in dogs. The results suggested that the pharmacokinetic of AMT enantiomers might be stereoselective in dogs.
Gestaltung digitaler Lernumgebungen mit PowerPoint und PREZI
Authors: Banerji Amitabh 
Published: April 2017

AbstractZur Stärkung der Medienkompetenz angehender Chemielehrkräfte wurde am Institut für Chemie und ihre Didaktik der Universität zu Köln ein Seminarkonzept erprobt, das die Gestaltung digitaler Lernumgebung mittels PowerPoint und PREZI durch die Studierenden selbst fokussierte. In diesem Praxisbericht werden die zentralen Erfahrungen und Ergebnisse aus diesem Seminar zusammengetragen.
Structure–Activity Relationship Studies, SPR Affinity Characterization, and Conformational Analysis of Peptides That Mimic the HNK‐1 Carbohydrate Epitope
Authors: Ieronymaki Matthaia , Nuti Francesca , Brancaccio Diego , Rossi Giada , Real‐Fernández Feliciana , Cao Yihong , Monasson Olivier , Larregola Maud , Peroni Elisa , Uziel Jacques , Sabatino Giuseppina , Novellino Ettore , Carotenuto Alfonso , Papini Anna Maria , Rovero Paolo 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe design of molecules that mimic biologically relevant glycans is a significant goal for understanding important biological processes and may lead to new therapeutic and diagnostic agents. In this study we focused our attention on the trisaccharide human natural killer cell‐1 (HNK‐1), considered the antigenic determinant of myelin‐associated glycoprotein and the target of clinically relevant auto‐antibodies in autoimmune neurological disorders such as IgM monoclonal gammopathy and demyelinating polyneuropathy. We describe a structure–activity relationship study based on surface plasmon resonance binding affinities aimed at the optimization of a peptide that mimics the HNK‐1 minimal epitope. We developed a cyclic heptapeptide that shows an affinity of 1.09×10−7 m for a commercial anti‐HNK1 mouse monoclonal antibody. Detailed conformational analysis gave possible explanations for the good affinity displayed by this novel analogue, which was subsequently used as an immunological probe. However, preliminary screening indicates that patients′ sera do not specifically recognize this peptide, showing that murine monoclonal antibodies cannot be used as a guide to select immunological probes for the detection of clinically relevant human auto‐antibodies.
Depression, anxiety, and compulsive sexual behaviour among men in residential treatment for substance use disorders: The role of experiential avoidance
Authors: Brem Meagan J. , Shorey Ryan C. , Anderson Scott , Stuart Gregory L. 
Published: April 2017

Nearly one‐third of individuals in treatment for substance use disorders endorse at‐risk levels of compulsive sexual behaviours (CSBs). Untreated sexual compulsivity may facilitate relapse for treatment‐seeking men. Previous research and theory suggest that CSBs are maintained by efforts to escape or alter negative affect (e.g., depression and anxiety). However, this hypothesis has not been examined within a sample of men in treatment for substance use disorders. In an effort to better understand CSBs within a population of men with substance use disorders, the present study is the first to examine experiential avoidance as one potential mechanism underlying the relation between men's symptoms of depression and anxiety and their use of CSBs. The present study reviewed medical records of 150 men in residential treatment for substance use disorders. Structural equation modelling was used to examine pathways from men's depression and anxiety symptoms to CSBs directly and indirectly through experiential avoidance while controlling for alcohol/drug problems and use. Results revealed significant indirect effects of both depression and anxiety symptoms on CSB through experiential avoidance. These results support and extend existing research on CSB in a treatment population. Findings suggest that intervention efforts for CSB may benefit by targeting men's avoidance of painful internal events.Key Practitioner Message

Compulsive sexual behaviour is related to symptoms of depression and anxiety amongst men in residential treatment for substance use disorders.
Experiential avoidance is positively related to compulsive sexual behaviour amongst men with substance use disorders.
For men in treatment for substance use disorders, the relation between symptoms of depression and anxiety and compulsive sexual behaviour is explained, in part, by experiential avoidance.
Helping men with substance use disorders develop more adaptive methods of processing aversive experiences, as opposed to escaping them, may reduce their use of compulsive sexual behaviours when faced with aversive affect.
Output‐voltage feedback control topology for inverters dedicated to renewable energy systems
Authors: Arab Mustapha , Zegaoui Abdallah , Petit Pierre , Djahbar Abdelkader , Aillerie Michel 
Published: April 2017

SummaryWe present a new control topology for inverters, mainly dedicated to renewable energy applications. The originality is due to the integration in the inverter of an adaptive regulation of its output voltage controlled by a closed feedback loop allowing compensating the voltage drops induced by load variations. The feedback control is based on an adaptive pulse wave modulation (APWM) technique, that controls the power switches of the inverter to obtain the purest possible sine‐wave voltage. The APWM technique straightforwardly compares the inverter output voltage with a reference signal at the grid frequency. In this contribution, this technique is applied to a single‐phase push‐pull inverter but could have been integrated for the control of all kinds of inverter topologies in renewable energy systems. We have shown that the APWM technique allows generating pure sine‐wave voltage, with low total harmonic distortion compared with the generally obtained by classical systems and that load variations do not affect the quality of the output. An experimental prototype of a single‐phase inverter with an adaptive regulation based on APWM technique was developed. The experimental characterizations of the prototype confirm the simulations. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Search me if you can: Multiple mix zones with location privacy protection for mapping services
Authors: Memon Imran , Arain Qasim Ali , Memon Muhammad Hammad , Mangi Farman Ali , Akhtar Rizwan 
Published: April 2017

SummaryThe mobile vehicle is gaining popularity nowadays using map services like Google Maps and other mapping services. However, map services users have to expose sensitive information like geographic locations (GPS coordinates) or address to personal privacy concerns as users share their locations and queries to obtain desired services. Existing mix zones location privacy protection methods are most general purposed and theoretical value while not applicable when applied to provide location privacy for map service users. In this paper, we present new (multiple mix zones location privacy protection) MMLPP method specially designed for map services on mobile vehicles over the road network. This method enables mobile vehicle users to query a route between 2 endpoints on the map, without revealing any confidential location and queries information. The basic idea is to strategically endpoints to nearby ones, such that (1) the semantic meanings encoded in these endpoints (eg, their GPS coordinates) change much, ie, location privacy is protected; (2) the routes returned by map services little change, ie, services usability are maintained. Specifically, a mobile client first privately retrieves point of interest close to the original endpoints, and then selects 2 points of interest as the shifted endpoints satisfying the property of geoindistinguishability. We evaluate our MMLPP approach road network application for GTMobiSim on different scales of map services and conduct experiments with real traces. Results show that MMLPP strikes a good balance between location privacy and service usability.
Characterization of new bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp)‐2 regulatory alleles
Authors: Shah Tapan A. , Zhu Youhua , Shaikh Nadia N. , Harris Marie A. , Harris Stephen E. , Rogers Melissa B. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractBone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2, HGNC:1069, GeneID: 650) is a classical morphogen; a molecule that acts at a distance and whose concentration influences cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Key events requiring precise Bmp2 regulation include heart specification and morphogenesis and neural development. In mesenchymal cells, the concentration of BMP2 influences myogenesis, adipogenesis, chondrogenesis, and osteogenesis. Because the amount, timing, and location of BMP2 synthesis influence pattern formation and organogenesis, the mechanisms that regulate Bmp2 are crucial. A sequence within the 3'UTR of the Bmp2 mRNA termed the “ultra‐conserved sequence” (UCS) has been largely unchanged since fishes and mammals diverged. Cre‐lox mediated deletion of the UCS in a reporter transgene revealed that the UCS may repress Bmp2 in proepicardium, epicardium, and epicardium‐derived cells (EPDC) and in tissues with known epicardial contributions (coronary vessels and valves). The UCS also repressed the transgene in the aorta, outlet septum, posterior cardiac plexus, cardiac and extra‐cardiac nerves, and neural ganglia. We used homologous recombination and conditional deletion to generate three new alleles in which the Bmp2 3'UTR was altered as follows: a UCS flanked by loxP sites with or without a neomycin resistance targeting vector, or a deleted UCS. Deletion of the UCS was associated with elevated Bmp2 mRNA and BMP signaling levels, reduced fitness, and embryonic malformations.
Responses of plant phenology, growth, defense, and reproduction to interactive effects of warming and insect herbivory
Authors: Lemoine Nathan P. , Doublet Dejeanne , Salminen Juha‐Pekka , Burkepile Deron E. , Parker John D. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractClimate warming can modify plant reproductive fitness through direct and indirect pathways. Direct effects include temperature‐driven impacts on growth, reproduction, and secondary metabolites. Indirect effects may manifest through altered species interactions, including herbivory, although studies comparing the interactive effects of warming and herbivory are few. We used experimental warming combined with herbivore exclusion cages to assess the interactive effects of climate warming and herbivory by Popillia japonica, the Japanese beetle, on flowering phenology, growth, defense, and lifetime reproduction of a biennial herb, Oenothera biennis. Regardless of temperature, herbivory delayed flowering phenology and, surprisingly, led to decreased levels of foliar defenses. At ambient temperatures, plants were able to compensate for herbivory by producing smaller seeds and increasing total seed production, leading to similar investment in seed biomass for plants exposed to and protected from herbivores. At elevated temperatures, plants had elevated total seed production, but herbivory had negligible impacts on flower and fruit production, and total lifetime seed biomass was highest in plants exposed to herbivores in warmed conditions. We speculate that warming induced a stress response in O. biennis resulting from low soil moisture, which in turn led to an increase in seed number at the expense of maternal investment in each seed. Plant‐insect interactions might therefore shift appreciably under future climates, and ecologists must consider both temperature and herbivory when attempting to assess the ramifications of climate warming on plant populations.
Parasite responses to large mammal loss in an African savanna
Authors: Weinstein Sara , Titcomb Georgia , Agwanda Bernard , Riginos Corinna , Young Hillary 
Published: April 2017

AbstractBiodiversity loss can alter disease transmission; however, the magnitude and direction of these effects vary widely across ecosystems, scales, and pathogens. Here we experimentally examine the effects of one of the most globally pervasive patterns of biodiversity decline, the selective loss of large wildlife, on infection probability, intensity and population size of a group of common rodent‐borne parasites – macroparasitic helminths. Consistent with previous work on vector‐borne pathogens, we found that large wildlife removal causes strong and systematic increases of rodent‐borne parasites, largely due to increases in rodent density, as rodents are released from competition with larger herbivores. Although we predicted that increased host density would also increase per capita infection among all directly transmitted parasites, this additional amplification occurred for only two of three examined parasites. Furthermore, the actual effects of large mammal loss on per capita infection were mediated by the complex suite of abiotic and biotic factors that regulate parasite transmission. Thus, while these results strongly suggest that large wildlife loss will cause systematic increases in rodent parasite populations, they also underscore the difficulty of making more specific predictions for a given parasite based on simple attributes such as transmission mode or life history strategy. Instead, detailed information on the ecology of each parasite species would be necessary to make more accurate predictions of how biodiversity loss will affect infection.
The potential indirect effects among plants via shared hummingbird pollinators are structured by phenotypic similarity
Authors: Bergamo Pedro Joaquim , Wolowski Marina , Maruyama Pietro Kiyoshi , Vizentin‐Bugoni Jeferson , Carvalheiro Luísa G. , Sazima Marlies 
Published: April 2017

AbstractPlant species within communities may overlap in pollinators’ use and influence visitation patterns of shared pollinators, potentially engaging in indirect interactions (e.g., facilitation or competition). While several studies have explored the mechanisms regulating insect‐pollination networks, there is a lack of studies on bird‐pollination systems, particularly in species‐rich tropical areas. Here, we evaluated if phenotypic similarity, resource availability (floral abundance), evolutionary relatedness and flowering phenology affect the potential for indirect effects via shared pollinators in hummingbird‐pollinated plant species within four communities in the Brazilian Atlantic forest. Among the evaluated factors, phenotypic similarity (corolla length and anther height) was the most important variable, while resource availability (floral abundance) had a secondary importance. On the other hand, evolutionary relatedness and flowering phenology were less important, which altogether highlights the relevance of convergent evolution and that the contribution of a plant to the diet of the pollinators of another plant is independent of the level of temporal overlap in flowering in this tropical system. Interestingly, our findings contrast with results from multiple insect‐pollinated plant communities, mostly from temperate regions, in which floral abundance was the most important driver, followed by evolutionary relatedness and phenotypic similarity. We propose that these contrasting results are due to high level of specialization inherent to tropical hummingbird‐pollination systems. Moreover, our results demonstrated that factors defining linkage rules of plant‐hummingbird networks also determinate plant‐plant potential indirect effects. Future studies are needed to test if these findings can be generalized to other highly specialized systems. Overall, our results have important implications for the understanding of ecological processes due resource sharing in mutualistic systems.
Deep or air frying? A comparative study with different vegetable oils
Authors: Santos Carla S. P. , Cunha Sara C. , Casal Susana 
Published: April 2017

A comparative study of deep‐frying and air‐frying was performed, using two commercial air‐frying equipment's and four common frying oils − sunflower, soybean, canola, and olive oils. Fried potatoes were compared in terms of color, moisture, lipid composition and degradation indicators, tocopherols, total ascorbic acid, β‐carotene, antioxidant activity, acrylamide, and sensory analysis. The results show that fried potatoes obtained by air‐frying processes presented an average of 70% less fat, which leads to a reduction of 45 kcal per 100 g. Most chemical parameters were similar on both frying processes, including acrylamide content, or showed slightly better results with air‐frying process, namely ascorbic acid amounts. However, incorporated fat was more damaged in deep‐fried potatoes, with a significant increase on both p‐anisidine and polar compounds. Despite the less significant differences observed in the two air‐frying equipment's tested, lipid oxidation allowed their distinction, particularly p‐anisidine that was higher in Airfryer than Actifry, independently of the oil type. All tested oils behaved similarly, and were mainly responsible for potatoes enrichment in tocopherols, phenolics, and β‐carotene, but lower lipid oxidation was observed with olive oil. From the assessor's perspective, taste and odor qualities were more determinant for acceptability of fried potatoes than color.Practical applications: Air‐frying has emerged in recent years as a healthier alternative to deep‐frying. The direct comparison of deep‐frying and air‐frying technologies with different vegetables oils shows that air‐frying process presents health benefits for consumers, with less fat ingestion and less fat oxidation, particularly when using olive oil, but also economic and ecological advantages due to reduced amount of oil used and no effluent after frying.A direct comparison of potatoes frying in two air‐frying systems using different vegetable oils showed health benefits to the consumers when compared with deep‐frying, both by the reduced amount of incorporated fat and lower fat degradation degree.