bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Covalently linked nanocomposites of polypyrrole with graphene: Strategic design toward optimized properties
Authors: Naidek Naiane , Zarbin Aldo J. G. , Orth Elisa S. 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACTGraphene‐based nanocomposites with conducting polymers have attracted increasing interest due to the enhanced synergistic properties, which can potentiate and broaden applications. In this context, covalent functionalization stands out as a strategic designing tool, which optimizes the interaction between the nanocomposites components. Herein, covalently linked polymeric nanocomposites were obtained between graphene derivatives and polypyrrole (Ppy) under mild routes (i.e., aqueous, room temperature). First, pyrrole was covalently functionalized on graphene oxide (GO) through stable amide bonds and further polymerization with FeCl3 led to the polymeric nanocomposites. Finally, to improve conductivity, GO was reduced using NaBH4. Similarly, analogous non‐covalent nanocomposites were obtained for comparison purposes. All samples were thoroughly characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and infrared and Raman spectroscopy, confirming the targeted functionalization, polymerization, and reduction processes. Moreover, the covalent link effectively enhances the interaction of the nanocomposite's components as evidenced by its improved electrochemical stability (300 cycles), compared to the non‐covalent composites which loses conductivity in the initial stages. Indeed, Ppy is known for its low stability, limiting its applications. Overall, the results herein evidence that covalently linked nanocomposites can be successfully obtained with optimized electrochemical response, promising for applications as supercapacitors and artificial muscles. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018, 56, 579–588
High‐Responsivity Photodetectors Based on Formamidinium Lead Halide Perovskite Quantum Dot–Graphene Hybrid
Authors: Pan Rui , Li Haiyang , Wang Jun , Jin Xiao , Li Qinghua , Wu Zhiming , Gou Jun , Jiang Yadong , Song Yinglin 
Published: January 2018

AbstractHighly performance photodetector requires a wide range of responses of the incident photons and converts them to electrical signals efficiently. Here, a photodetector based on formamidinium lead halide perovskite quantum dots (e.g., FAPbBr3 QDs)–graphene hybrid, aiming to take the both advantages of the two constituents. The FAPbBr3 QD–graphene layer not only benefits from the high mobility and wide spectral absorption of the graphene material but also from the long charge carrier lifetime and low dark carrier concentration of the FAPbBr3 QDs. The photodetector based on FAPbBr3 QD–graphene hybrid exhibits a broad spectral photoresponse ranging from 405 to 980 nm. A photoresponsivity of 1.15 × 105AW−1 and an external quantum efficiency as high as 3.42 × 107% are obtained under an illumination power of 3 µW at 520 nm wavelength. In detail, a high responsivity is achieved in 405–538 nm, while a relatively low but fast response is observed in 538–980 nm. The photoelectric conversion mechanism of this hybrid photodetector is investigated in the view of built‐in electric field from the QD–graphene contact which improves the photoconductive gain.
Dual Template Engaged Synthesis of Hollow Ball‐in‐Tube Asymmetrical Structured Ceria
Authors: Wang Yong , Gao Daowei , Li Cuncheng , Li Chunsheng , Rosei Federico , Ma Dongling , Chen Guozhu 
Published: January 2018

AbstractHollow materials with different configurations are of interest due to their unique structural features, which induce interesting properties e.g. catalysis. Here, the synthesis of asymmetrical hollow ball‐in‐tube (HBT) structured CeO2 is reported, which is achieved using a dual template engaged solid–liquid interfacial reaction. In this reaction, the SiO2 sphere (hard template)‐embedded Ce(OH)CO3 nanorod (sacrificial template) composite is first treated with NaOH solution, followed by an acid wash to obtain asymmetrical hollow structured CeO2. Such HBT structured CeO2 is demonstrated to be a good support for Au nanoparticles toward CO oxidation as compared to simple hollow CeO2 nanotubes, leading to significantly increase catalytic activity.
Self‐Propelled Micro/Nanoparticle Motors
Authors: Guix Maria , Weiz Sonja M. , Schmidt Oliver G. , Medina‐Sánchez Mariana 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe growing interest in the design and fabrication of novel autonomous micro‐ and nanoparticles is motivated by the vast advances in their motion efficiency and their further implementation in both biomedical and environmental fields. The present review covers the motion principle and fabrication procedures of synthetic and hybrid particle‐like micromotors reported to date to give a comprehensive view of the key design parameters and different approaches for optimal motor guidance. The applications of self‐propelled micro‐ and nanoparticles in different fields are classified accordingly to clarify not only the latest advances but also the current challenges and constraints in the field. This review aims to provide clues to develop more efficient and biocompatible autonomous microparticles in the future, with advanced multitasking and sensing capabilities while being able to perform cooperative work.
Pd–Ru Bimetallic Nanocrystals with a Porous Structure and Their Enhanced Catalytic Properties
Authors: Wan Shulin , Wang Qingxiao , Ye Haihang , Kim Moon J. , Xia Xiaohu 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThis work, for the first time, reports the synthesis, characterization, and catalytic properties of a novel type of bimetallic nanocrystals—Pd–Ru nanocrystals with a highly porous structure on the surface. The synthesis relies on a seed‐mediated growth, at which Ru atoms are added to the surface of preformed Pd nanocubes as the seeds. The key to the successful synthesis is to direct the crystal growth along a 3D island mode through kinetic control. The Ru shells on Pd surfaces primarily take a hexagonal close packing (hcp) crystal structure. The extent of porosity for Ru shells can be conveniently controlled by adjusting the amount of Ru precursor introduced to a synthesis. The Pd–Ru porous nanocrystals exhibit a substantially enhanced peroxidase‐like activity with a catalytic constant (Kcat) as high as 4.8 × 105 s−1, which is two‐orders‐of‐magnitude greater than the Kcat value of natural peroxidases.
Synthesis of Flower‐Like AuPd@SiO2 Nanoparticles with a Broad Light Extinction for Application to Efficient Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Tsuji Masaharu , Uto Keiko , Hayashi Jun‐Ichiro , Yoshiwara Akihiko 
Published: January 2018

AbstractFlower‐like AuPd alloy nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared by reducing a mixture of HAuCl4/H2PdCl4 in an aqueous solution. Transmittance electron microscope (TEM), TEM‐energy dispersed X‐ray spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction data indicate that AuPd alloy NPs are composed of Pd rich core and Au rich shell. Crystal growth mechanism of ununiform AuPd alloy NPs is discussed in terms of oxidative etching by Cl−/O2. Even when AuPd alloy NPs are covered by SiO2 shells for the use of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), ununiform alloy structure of AuPd NPs is reserved after sintering at 450 °C. When 0.36–4.8 wt% of AuPd@SiO2 NPs are added to TiO2–N719–DSSCs, the photoconversion efficiency (PCE) is enhanced by 7–38% in comparison with that obtained without addition of metallic NPs. The enhancement of PCE by the addition of AuPd@SiO2 NPs is discussed in terms of near‐field surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of metallic NPs and far‐field light‐scattering effect of large TiO2 aggregates formed by the addition of a small amount of distilled water into TiO2 pastes. On the basis of the short‐circuit current density (Jsc) and the open‐circuit voltage (Voc) changes upon the addition of AuPd@SiO2, the enhancement of PCE is attributed to synergy effects of far‐field scattering of large TiO2 aggregates and near‐field SPR of AuPd@SiO2 NPs.
In vitro and in vivo metabolite identification of a novel benzimidazole compound ZLN005 by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Sun Wenchao , Nguyen Khoa Dinh , Fitch William L. , Banister Samuel D. , Tang Hongxiang , Zhang Xiaolan , Yu Lewis , Engleman Edgar G. , Rajadas Jayakumar 
Published: January 2018

RationaleA novel benzimidazole compound ZLN005 was previously identified as a transcriptional activator of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC‐1α) in certain metabolic tissues. Upregulation of PGC‐1α by ZLN005 has been shown to have a beneficial effect in a diabetic mouse model and in a coronary artery disease model in vitro. ZLN005 could also have therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative diseases involving down‐regulation of PGC‐1α. Given the phenotypic efficacy of ZLN005 in several animal models of human disease, its metabolic profile was investigated to guide the development of novel therapeutics using ZLN005 as the lead compound.MethodsZLN005 was incubated with both rat and human liver microsomes and S9 fractions to identify in vitro metabolites. Urine from rats dosed with ZLN005 was used to identify in vivo metabolites. Extracted metabolites were analyzed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) using a hybrid linear ion trap triple quadrupole mass spectrometer in full scan, enhanced product ion scan, neutral loss scan and precursor scan modes. Metabolites in plasma and brain of ZLN005‐treated rats were also profiled using multiple reaction monitoring.ResultsIdentified in vitro transformations of ZLN005 include mono‐ and dihydroxylation, further oxidation to carboxylic acids, and mono‐O‐glucuronide and sulfate conjugation to hydroxy ZLN005 as well as glutathione conjugation. Identified in vivo metabolites are mainly glucuronide and sulfate conjugates of dihydroxyl, carboxyl, and hydroxy acid of the parent compound. The parent compound as well as several major phase I metabolites were found in rat plasma and brain.ConclusionsUsing both in vitro and in vivo methods, we elucidated the metabolic pathway of ZLN005. Phase I metabolites with hydroxylation and carboxylation, as well as phase II metabolites with glucuronide, sulfate and glutathione conjugation, were identified.
On strong controllability for planar affine nonlinear systems
Authors: Sun Yimin , Yu Gaohang 
Published: January 2018

SummaryDifferent to linear systems, a controllable nonlinear system does not generally imply that it is strongly controllable. This paper will investigate the strong controllability of planar affine nonlinear systems and obtain its necessary and sufficient condition by introducing the variation function of the control curve. These conditions are imposed on the system structure only. In addition, we also point out that, for a class of polynomial systems, their strong controllability is equivalent to their controllability. Finally, some examples are given to show the application of our results.
Software architectures for health care cyber‐physical systems: A systematic literature review
Authors: Plaza Andrea M. , Díaz Jessica , Pérez Jennifer 
Published: January 2018

AbstractCyber‐physical systems (CPS) refer to the next generation of Information and Communication Technology systems that mainly integrate sensing, computing, and communication to monitor, control, and interact with a physical process to provide citizens and businesses with smart applications and services: health care, smart homes, smart cities, and so on. In recent years, health care has become one of the most important services due to the continuous increases in its costs. This has motivated extensive research on health care CPS, and some of that research has focused on describing the software architecture behind these systems. However, there is no secondary study to consolidate the research. This paper aims to identify and compare existing research on software architectures for health care CPS in order to determine successful solutions that could guide other architects and practitioners in their health care projects. We conducted a systematic literature review and compared the selected studies based on a characterization schema. The research synthesis results in a knowledge base of software architectures for health care CPS, describing their stakeholders, functional and non‐functional features, quality attributes architectural views and styles, components, and implementation technologies. This systematic literature review also identifies research gaps, such as the lack of open common platforms, as well as directions for future research.
Roaring bitmaps: Implementation of an optimized software library
Authors: Lemire Daniel , Kaser Owen , Kurz Nathan , Deri Luca , O'Hara Chris , Saint‐Jacques François , Ssi‐Yan‐Kai Gregory 
Published: January 2018

SummaryCompressed bitmap indexes are used in systems such as Git or Oracle to accelerate queries. They represent sets and often support operations such as unions, intersections, differences, and symmetric differences. Several important systems such as Elasticsearch, Apache Spark, Netflix's Atlas, LinkedIn's Pivot, Metamarkets' Druid, Pilosa, Apache Hive, Apache Tez, Microsoft Visual Studio Team Services, and Apache Kylin rely on a specific type of compressed bitmap index called Roaring. We present an optimized software library written in C implementing Roaring bitmaps: CRoaring. It benefits from several algorithms designed for the single‐instruction–multiple‐data instructions available on commodity processors. In particular, we present vectorized algorithms to compute the intersection, union, difference, and symmetric difference between arrays. We benchmark the library against a wide range of competitive alternatives, identifying weaknesses and strengths in our software. Our work is available under a liberal open‐source license.
Overall design optimization of dedicated outboard airfoils for horizontal axis wind turbine blades
Authors: Li Xingxing , Yang Ke , Liao Caicai , Bai Jingyan , Zhang Lei , Xu Jianzhong 
Published: January 2018

AbstractDesigning the primary airfoils for the outboard part of wind turbine blades is a complicated problem of balancing structural, aerodynamic, and acoustic requirements. This paper presents an optimization method for the overall performance of outboard wind turbine airfoils. Based on the complex flow characteristics of the rotor blades and the varying requirements along the span of a blade, the design principles of outboard airfoils were investigated. The requirements for improving the structural performance and reducing the aerodynamic noise were combined with the following aerodynamic design considerations: high efficiency, low extreme loads, stability, and a wide operating region. Thus, this paper proposes a new mathematical model for overall airfoil optimization using the airfoil performance evaluation indicators. Then, an integrated optimization design platform is established for outboard airfoils. Through 2 design cases, new airfoils with desirable aerodynamic characteristics and improved overall performance were obtained. Comparisons between the new airfoils and reference airfoils based on numerical predictions indicate that the proposed method with the newly established mathematical model can effectively balance the complex requirements of the airfoil and improve its overall performance. More notably, the design cases also indicate that the established optimization design method can be used to address special designs of outboard airfoils for different blade requirements.
Surveying the landscape of optogenetic methods for detection of protein–protein interactions
Authors: Wiens Matthew D. , Campbell Robert E. 
Published: January 2018

Mapping the protein–protein interaction (PPi) landscape is of critical importance to furthering our understanding how cells and organisms function. Optogenetic methods, that is, approaches that utilize genetically encoded fluorophores or fluorogenic enzyme reactions, uniquely enable the visualization of biochemical phenomena in live cells with high spatial and temporal accuracy. Applying optogenetic methods to the detection of PPis requires the engineering of protein‐based systems in which an optical signal undergoes a substantial change when the two proteins of interest interact. In recent years, researchers have developed a number of creative and effective optogenetic methods that achieve this goal, and used them to further elaborate our map of the PPi landscape. In this review, we provide an introduction to the general principles of optogenetic PPi detection, and then provide a number of representative examples of how these principles have been applied. We have organized this review by categorizing methods based on whether the signal generated is reversible or irreversible in nature, and whether the signal is localized or nonlocalized at the subcellular site of the PPi. We discuss these techniques giving both their benefits and drawbacks to enable rational choices about their potential use.This article is categorized under:

Laboratory Methods and Technologies > Imaging
Laboratory Methods and Technologies > Macromolecular Interactions, Methods
Analytical and Computational Methods > Analytical Methods
Organic acidurias in adults: late complications and management
Authors: Tuncel Ali Tunç , Boy Nikolas , Morath Marina A. , Hörster Friederike , Mütze Ulrike , Kölker Stefan 
Published: January 2018

AbstractOrganic acidurias (synonym, organic acid disorders, OADs) are a heterogenous group of inherited metabolic diseases delineated with the implementation of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in metabolic laboratories starting in the 1960s and 1970s. Biochemically, OADs are characterized by accumulation of mono‐, di‐ and/or tricarboxylic acids (“organic acids”) and corresponding coenzyme A, carnitine and/or glycine esters, some of which are considered toxic at high concentrations. Clinically, disease onset is variable, however #Affected individuals may already present during the newborn period with life‐threatening acute metabolic crises and acute multi‐organ failure. Tandem mass spectrometry‐based newborn screening programmes, in particular for isovaleric aciduria and glutaric aciduria type 1, have significantly reduced diagnostic delay. Dietary treatment with low protein intake or reduced intake of the precursor amino acid(s), carnitine supplementation, cofactor treatment (in responsive patients) and nonadsorbable antibiotics is commonly used for maintenance treatment. Emergency treatment options with high carbohydrate/glucose intake, pharmacological and extracorporeal detoxification of accumulating toxic metabolites for intensified therapy during threatening episodes exist. Diagnostic and therapeutic measures have improved survival and overall outcome in individuals with OADs. However, it has become increasingly evident that the manifestation of late disease complications cannot be reliably predicted and prevented. Conventional metabolic treatment often fails to prevent irreversible organ dysfunction with increasing age, even if patients are considered to be “metabolically stable”. This has challenged our understanding of OADs and has elicited the discussion on optimized therapy, including (early) organ transplantation, and long‐term care.
Regional geothermal aquifer architecture of the fluvial Lower Cretaceous Nieuwerkerk Formation – a palynological analysis
Authors: Willems Cees J.L. , Vondrak Andrea , Munsterman Dirk K. , Donselaar Marinus E. , Mijnlieff Harmen F. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe primary challenge for efficient geothermal doublet design and deployment is the adequate prediction of the size, shape, lateral extent and thickness (or aquifer architecture) of aquifers. In the West Netherlands Basin, fluvial Lower Cretaceous sandstone-rich successions form the main aquifers for geothermal heat exploitation. Large variations in the thickness of these successions are recognised in currently active doublet systems that cannot be explained. This creates an uncertainty in aquifer thickness prediction, which increases the uncertainty in doublet lifetime prediction as it has an impact on net aquifer volume. The goal of this study was to improve our understanding of the thickness variations and regional aquifer architecture of the Nieuwerkerk Formation geothermal aquifers. For this purpose, new palynological data were evaluated to correlate aquifers in currently active doublet systems based on their chronostratigraphic position and regional Maximum Flooding Surfaces. Based on the palynological cuttings analysis, the fluvial interval of the Nieuwerkerk Formation was subdivided into two successions: a Late Ryazanian to Early Valanginian succession and a Valanginian succession. Within these successions trends were identified in sandstone content. In combination with seismic interpretation, maps were constructed that predict aquifer thickness and their lateral extent in the basin. The study emphasises the value of palynological analyses to reduce the uncertainty of fluvial hot sedimentary aquifer exploitation.
Neural correlates of ostracism in transgender persons living according to their gender identity: a potential risk marker for psychopathology?
Authors: Mueller Sven C. , Wierckx Katrien , Boccadoro Sara , T'Sjoen Guy 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBackgroundStigmatization in society carries a high risk for development of psychopathology. Transgender persons are at particularly high risk for such stigmatization and social rejection by others. However, the neural correlates of ostracism in this group have not been captured.MethodTwenty transgender men (TM, female-to-male) and 19 transgender women (TW, male-to-female) already living in their gender identity and 20 cisgender men (CM) and 20 cisgender women (CW) completed a cyberball task assessing both exclusion and re-inclusion during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).ResultsDuring psychosocial stress between-group differences were found in the dorsal and ventral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). Patterns were consistent with sex assigned at birth, i.e. CW showed greater activation in dorsal ACC and IFG relative to CM and TW. During re-inclusion, transgender persons showed greater ventral ACC activity relative to CW, possibly indicating persistent feelings of exclusion. Functional connectivity analyses supported these findings but showed a particularly altered functional connectivity between ACC and lateral prefrontal cortex in TM, which may suggest reduced emotional regulation to the ostracism experience in this group. Depressive symptoms or hormonal levels were not associated with these findings.ConclusionThe results bear implications for the role of social exclusion in development of mental health problems in socially marginalized groups.