bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound‐Driven Secondary Self‐Assembly of Amphiphilic β‐Cyclodextrin Dimers
Authors: Zhang Hai‐tao , Fan Xiao‐dong , Tian Wei , Suo Rong‐tian , Yang Zhen , Bai Yang , Zhang Wan‐bin 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe controlled secondary self‐assembly of amphiphilic molecules in solution is theoretically and practically significant in amphiphilic molecular applications. An amphiphilic β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) dimer, namely LA‐(CD)2, has been synthesized, wherein one lithocholic acid (LA) unit is hydrophobic and two β‐CD units are hydrophilic. In an aqueous solution at room temperature, LA‐(CD)2 self‐assembles into spherical micelles without ultrasonication. The primary micelles dissociates and then secondarily form self‐assemblies with branched structures under ultrasonication. The branched aggregates revert to primary micelles at high temperature. The ultrasound‐driven secondary self‐assembly is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and Cu2+‐responsive experiments. Furthermore, 2D NOESY NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy results indicate that the formation of the primary micelles is driven by hydrophilic–hydrophobic interactions, whereas host–guest interactions promote the formation of the secondary assemblies. Additionally, ultrasonication is shown to be able to effectively destroy the primary hydrophilic–hydrophobic balances while enhancing the host–guest interaction between the LA and β‐CD moieties at room temperature.
Functional Graphene by Thiol‐ene Click Chemistry
Authors: Luong Nguyen Dang , Sinh Le Hoang , Johansson Leena‐Sisko , Campell Joseph , Seppälä Jukka 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThiol‐ene click reaction was successfully employed for chemical modification of graphene oxide (GO) by one‐step synthesis. Herein, 2,2‐azobis(2‐methylpropionitrile) (AIBN) was used as thermal catalyst and cysteamine hydrochloride (HS−(CH2)2−NH2HCl) was used as thiol‐containing compound, which is incorporated to GO surface upon reaction with the C=C bonds. The hydrochloride acts as protecting group for the amine, which is finally eliminated by adding sodium hydroxide. The modified GO contains both S‐ and N‐containing groups (NS‐GO). We found that NS‐GO sheets form good dispersion in water, ethanol, and ethylene glycol. These graphene dispersions can be processed into functionalized graphene film. Besides, it was demonstrated that NS‐GO was proved to be an excellent host matrix for platinum nanoparticles. The developed method paves a new way for graphene modification and its functional nanocomposites.
Standards kompetenzorientierter Schulbücher für die Naturwissenschaften
Authors: Bölsterli Katrin , Wilhelm Markus , Rehm Markus 
Published: January 2015

AbstractVergleichbar mit dem Handeln von Lehrkräften müssen „gute“ Schulbücher bestimmten Standards genügen, wenn sie maßgeblich auf die Qualität eines kompetenzorientierten Unterrichts wirken sollen. Welche Standards als relevant betrachtet werden, hängt jedoch von der Perspektive ab. Aus diesem Grund wird in der vorliegenden Teilstudie einer größeren Studie [1] folgender Frage nachgegangen: Welche Unterschiede bestehen zwischen Grund‐ und Sekundarschullehrkräften sowie Didaktikdozierenden bezüglich der zehn Top‐Standards für kompetenzorientierte Schulbücher der Naturwissenschaften? Zur Beantwortung dieser Frage wurden Schulbuchstandards evidenzbasiert ermittelt. Dazu wurden vorläufige Standards qualitativ erhoben und in einem quantitativen Fragebogen nach ihrer Relevanz gewichtet. Für die Gewichtung der Schulbuchstandards wurden Grund‐ und Sekundarschullehrkräfte sowie Didaktikdozierende der Naturwissenschaften befragt. Die Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass Lehrkräfte stark auf die Praxistauglichkeit von Schulbüchern achten, während Didaktikdozierende eher kompetenzorientierte Aspekte hoch gewichten. Weiter zeigt sich, dass Grundschullehrkräfte Lehrerbände höher gewichten als Sekundarschullehrkräfte.
Natural Products as Zinc‐Dependent Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
Authors: Tan Shuai , Liu Zhao‐Peng 
Published: January 2015

AbstractZinc‐dependent histone deacetylases (HDACs), a family of hydrolases that remove acetyl groups from lysine residues, play an important role in the regulation of multiple processes, from gene expression to protein activity. The dysregulation of HDACs is associated with many diseases including cancer, neurological disorders, cellular metabolism disorders, and inflammation. Molecules that act as HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) exhibit a variety of related bioactivities. In particular, HDACi have been applied clinically for the treatment of cancers. Inhibition through competitive binding of the catalytic domain of these enzymes has been achieved by a diverse array of small‐molecule chemotypes, including a number of natural products. This review provides a systematic introduction of natural HDACi, with an emphasis on their enzyme inhibitory potency, selectivity, and biological activities, highlighting their various binding modes with HDACs.
Plasmon‐Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Using Au Nanoparticles Decorated on Hematite Nanoflake Arrays
Authors: Wang Lei , Zhou Xuemei , Nguyen Nhat Truong , Schmuki Patrik 
Published: January 2015

AbstractHematite nanoflake arrays were decorated with Au nanoparticles through a simple solution chemistry approach. We show that the photoactivity of Au‐decorated Fe2O3 electrodes for photoelectrochemical water oxidation can be effectively enhanced in the UV/Visible region compared with the bare Fe2O3. Au‐nanoparticle‐decorated Fe2O3 nanoflake electrodes exhibit a significant cathodic shift of the onset potential up to 0.6 V [vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)], and a two times increase in the water oxidation photocurrent is achieved at 1.23 VRHE. A maximum photocurrent of 2.0 mA cm−2 at 1.6 VRHE is obtained in 1 M KOH under AM 1.5 (100 mW cm−2) conditions. The enhancement in photocurrent can be attributed to the Au nanoparticles acting as plasmonic photosensitizers that increase the optical absorption.
Biomarkers of animal health: integrating nutritional ecology, endocrine ecophysiology, ecoimmunology, and geospatial ecology
Authors: Warne Robin W. , Proudfoot Glenn A. , Crespi Erica J. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractDiverse biomarkers including stable isotope, hormonal, and ecoimmunological assays are powerful tools to assess animal condition. However, an integrative approach is necessary to provide the context essential to understanding how biomarkers reveal animal health in varied ecological conditions. A barrier to such integration is a general lack of awareness of how shared extraction methods from across fields can provide material from the same animal tissues for diverse biomarker assays. In addition, the use of shared methods for extracting differing tissue fractions can also provide biomarkers for how animal health varies across time. Specifically, no study has explicitly illustrated the depth and breadth of spacial and temporal information that can be derived from coupled biomarker assessments on two easily collected tissues: blood and feathers or hair. This study used integrated measures of glucocorticoids, stable isotopes, and parasite loads in the feathers and blood of fall‐migrating Northern saw‐whet owls (Aegolius acadicus) to illustrate the wealth of knowledge about animal health and ecology across both time and space. In feathers, we assayed deuterium (δD) isotope and corticosterone (CORT) profiles, while in blood we measured CORT and blood parasite levels. We found that while earlier migrating owls had elevated CORT levels relative to later migrating birds, there was also a disassociation between plasma and feather CORT, and blood parasite loads. These results demonstrate how these tissues integrate time periods from weeks to seasons and reflect energetic demands during differing life stages. Taken together, these findings illustrate the potential for integrating diverse biomarkers to assess interactions between environmental factors and animal health across varied time periods without the necessity of continually recapturing and tracking individuals. Combining biomarkers from diverse research fields into an integrated framework hold great promise for advancing our understanding of environmental effects on animal health.
Diversity patterns of ground beetles and understory vegetation in mature, secondary, and plantation forest regions of temperate northernChina
Authors: Zou Yi , Sang Weiguo , Wang Shunzhong , Warren‐Thomas Eleanor , Liu Yunhui , Yu Zhenrong , Wang Changliu , Axmacher Jan Christoph 
Published: January 2015

AbstractPlantation and secondary forests form increasingly important components of the global forest cover, but our current knowledge about their potential contribution to biodiversity conservation is limited. We surveyed understory plant and carabid species assemblages at three distinct regions in temperate northeastern China, dominated by mature forest (Changbaishan Nature Reserve, sampled in 2011 and 2012), secondary forest (Dongling Mountain, sampled in 2011 and 2012), and forest plantation habitats (Bashang Plateau, sampled in 2006 and 2007), respectively. Theα‐diversity of both taxonomic groups was highest in plantation forests of the Bashang Plateau. Beetleα‐diversity was lowest, but plant and beetle species turnover peaked in the secondary forests of Dongling Mountain, while habitats in the Changbaishan Nature Reserve showed the lowest turnover rates for both taxa. Changbaishan Nature Reserve harbored the highest proportion of forest specialists. Our results suggest that in temperate regions of northern China, the protected larch plantation forest established over extensive areas might play a considerable role in maintaining a high biodiversity in relation to understory herbaceous plant species and carabid assemblages, which can be seen as indicators of forest disturbance. The high proportion of phytophagous carabids and the rarity of forest specialists reflect the relatively homogenous, immature status of the forest ecosystems on the Bashang Plateau. China's last remaining large old‐growth forests like the ones on Changbaishan represent stable, mature ecosystems which require particular conservation attention.
Proximity to encroaching coconut palm limits native forest water use and persistence on a Pacific atoll
Authors: Krauss Ken W. , Duberstein Jamie A. , Cormier Nicole , Young Hillary S. , Hathaway Stacie A. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractCompetition for fresh water between native and introduced plants is one important challenge facing native forests as rainfall variability increases. Competition can be especially acute for vegetation on Pacific atolls, which depend upon consistent rainfall to replenish shallow groundwater stores. Patterns of sap flow, water use, and diameter growth ofPisonia grandistrees were investigated on Sand Islet, Palmyra Atoll, Line Islands, during a period of low rainfall. Sap flow in the outer sapwood was reduced by 53% forP.grandistrees growing within coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) stands (n = 9) versus away from coconut palm (n = 9). This suggested that water uptake was being limited by coconut palm. Radial patterns of sap flow into the sapwood ofP.grandisalso differed between stands with and without coconut palm, such that individual tree water use forP.grandisranged from 14 to 67 L day−1, averaging 47·8 L day−1without coconut palm and 23·6 L day−1with coconut palm. Diameter growth ofP.grandiswas measured from nine islets. In contrast to sap flow, competition with coconut palm increased diameter growth by 89%, equating to an individual tree basal area increment of 5·4 versus 10·3 mm2 day−1. Greater diameter growth countered by lower rates of water use byP.grandistrees growing in competition with coconut palm suggests that stem swell may be associated with water storage when positioned in the understory of coconut palm, and may facilitate survival when water becomes limiting until too much shading overwhelmsP.grandis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Deconvolution in Potentiometric SECM
Authors: Kiss András , Nagy Géza 
Published: January 2015

AbstractOne of the main limitations of potentiometric scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is the large RC time constant, and therefore long response time of the cell. A relatively long equilibration interval has to be allowed before sampling at each data acquisition point to reach equilibrium potential, and avoid image distortion. In this paper, we present a method to get high‐quality, low distortion images, without increasing scan time. The convolution function causing the distortion can be expressed from the response function of the potentiometric cell. A model system was studied with high scan rate, then the image was deconvoluted using the inverse of the potentiometric response function to calculate the equilibrium potential for each data acquisition point from the respective observed values.
Passion fruit juice with different sweeteners: sensory profile by descriptive analysis and acceptance
Authors: Rocha Izabela Furtado de Oliveira , Bolini Helena Maria André 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThis study evaluated the effect of different sweeteners on the sensory profile, acceptance, and drivers of preference of passion fruit juice samples sweetened with sucrose, aspartame, sucralose, stevia, cyclamate/saccharin blend 2:1, and neotame. Sensory profiling was performed by 12 trained assessors using quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA). Acceptance tests (appearance, aroma, flavor, texture and overall impression) were performed with 124 consumers of tropical fruit juice. Samples with sucrose, aspartame and sucralose showed similar sensory profile (P < 0.05), without bitter taste, bitter aftertaste, and metallic taste, and samples with sucrose and sucralose did not differ from each other for the attribute sweet aftertaste. Passion fruit flavor affected positively and sweet aftertaste affected negatively the acceptance of the samples. Samples sweetened with aspartame, sucralose, and sucrose presented higher acceptance scores for the attributes flavor, texture, and overall impression, with no significant (P < 0.05) differences between them. Aspartame and sucralose can be good substitutes for sucrose in passion fruit juice.
Hepatocyte responses to in vitro freezing and β‐adrenergic stimulation: Insights into the extreme freeze tolerance of subarctic Rana sylvatica
Authors: do Amaral M. Clara F. , Lee Richard E. , Costanzo Jon P. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTThe wood frog, Rana sylvatica LeConte 1825, is a freeze‐tolerant amphibian widely distributed in North America. Subarctic populations of this species can survive experimental freezing to temperatures below −16 °C, whereas temperate populations tolerate freezing only at temperatures above −6 °C. We investigated whether hepatocytes isolated from frogs indigenous to Interior Alaska (subarctic) or southern Ohio (temperate) had distinct characteristics that could contribute to this variation in freeze tolerance capacity. Following in vitro freezing, cell damage, as assessed from lactate dehydrogenase leakage, was similar between samples from Alaskan and Ohioan frogs. Preincubation of cells in media containing glucose or urea, the two primary cryoprotectants used by R. sylvatica, markedly reduced freezing damage to hepatocytes; however, results suggested that cells of the northern phenotype were comparatively more amenable to cryoprotection by urea. Stimulation of isolated hepatocytes with β‐adrenergic agonists, which simulates the freezing‐induced cryoprotectant mobilization response, gave rates of glucose production from endogenous glycogen reserves that were similar between the populations. Our findings suggest that extreme freeze tolerance in subarctic R. sylvatica does not require an enhanced ability of the liver to resist freezing stress or rapidly mobilize cryoprotectant. J. Exp. Zool. 323A: 89–96, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rapid identification of erythrocyte phospholipids in Sprague–Dawley rats by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Pi Juanjuan , Wu Xia , Yang Shitian , Zeng Pingyan , Feng Yifan 
Published: January 2015

A rapid, sensitive, and reliable approach for analyzing five kinds of erythrocyte phospholipids in Sprague–Dawley rats was provided by ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry with MassLynxTM MassFragment. Improving conventional high performance liquid chromatography techniques, ultra high performance liquid chromatography integrated with quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry offers high sensitivity and increased analytical speed by using columns packed with sub‐2 μm particles (1.7 μm), which allows a faster separation to be achieved. Through this method, 83 phospholipids were tentatively characterized based on their mass spectra and tandem mass spectra, as well as by matching the in‐house formula database within a mass error of 5 ppm, including 40 phosphatidylcholines, 24 phosphatidyl ethanolamines, three phosphatidylinositols, six phosphatidylserines, and ten sphingomyelins. Our present results proved that the established method could be used to qualitatively analyze complex erythrocyte phospholipids in Sprague–Dawley rats and provide a useful data base for pharmacology and phospholipidomics to seek potential biomarkers of disease prediction.
Remediation of a Magnesium‐Contaminated Soil by Chemical Amendments and Leaching
Authors: Wang Hong‐Quan , Zhao Qiong , Zeng De‐Hui , Hu Ya‐Lin , Yu Zhan‐Yuan 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe deposition of magnesium (Mg)‐rich dust from magnesite mining activities has resulted in serious land degradation. However, the main factors limiting plant growth in Mg‐contaminated soils are unclear. Moreover, little information is available on the remediation of Mg‐contaminated soils. In this study, remediation of soils contaminated with Mg‐rich dust was investigated in a pot experiment using maize as the indicator plant. There were five treatments: (i) control; (ii) leaching; (iii) application of CaCl2; (iv) leaching + CaCl2application; and (v) application of Ca(H2PO4)2 · H2O. Soil properties and growth of maize (Zea maysL.) seedlings were measured. Leaching alone significantly decreased soluble Mg concentration. Leaching + CaCl2application greatly increased exchangeable Ca concentration and decreased soil pH by 0·3 units. Application of CaCl2alone increased soluble Mg concentration sharply, which directly inhibited the germination of maize seeds. Application of Ca(H2PO4)2 · H2O significantly increased the concentrations of exchangeable Ca and available phosphorus and decreased soil pH by 1·7 units. The biomass of maize seedlings increased in the order of control = leaching < leaching + CaCl2 < < Ca(H2PO4)2 · H2O. These results suggested that the plant growth in Mg‐contaminated soils was limited primarily by Ca deficiency and secondarily by high soil pH when exchangeable Ca was sufficient. High soil pH suppressed plant growth probably mainly by inhibiting phosphate uptake from the soil. Applying acid Ca salt with low solubility is an attractive option for the remediation of Mg‐contaminated soils. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biodiversity hot spot on a hot spot: novel extremophile diversity in Hawaiian fumaroles
Authors: Wall Kate , Cornell Jennifer , Bizzoco Richard W. , Kelley Scott T. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractFumaroles (steam vents) are the most common, yet least understood, microbial habitat in terrestrial geothermal settings. Long believed too extreme for life, recent advances in sample collection and DNA extraction methods have found that fumarole deposits and subsurface waters harbor a considerable diversity of viable microbes. In this study, we applied culture‐independent molecular methods to explore fumarole deposit microbial assemblages in 15 different fumaroles in four geographic locations on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Just over half of the vents yielded sufficient high‐quality DNA for the construction of 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence clone libraries. The bacterial clone libraries contained sequences belonging to 11 recognized bacterial divisions and seven other division‐level phylogenetic groups. Archaeal sequences were less numerous, but similarly diverse. The taxonomic composition among fumarole deposits was highly heterogeneous. Phylogenetic analysis found cloned fumarole sequences were related to microbes identified from a broad array of globally distributed ecotypes, including hot springs, terrestrial soils, and industrial waste sites. Our results suggest that fumarole deposits function as an “extremophile collector” and may be a hot spot of novel extremophile biodiversity.
Effects of short‐ and long‐term Mediterranean‐based dietary treatment on plasma LC‐QTOF/MS metabolic profiling of subjects with metabolic syndrome features: The Metabolic Syndrome Reduction in Navarra (RESMENA) randomized controlled trial
Authors: Bondia‐Pons Isabel , Martinez José Alfredo , de la Iglesia Rocio , Lopez‐Legarrea Patricia , Poutanen Kaisa , Hanhineva Kati , Zulet Maria de los Ángeles 
Published: January 2015

ScopeAdherence to the Mediterranean diet has been associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Metabolomics approach may contribute to identify beneficial associations of metabolic changes affected by Mediterranean diet‐based interventions with inflammatory and oxidative‐stress markers related to the etiology and development of the MetS.Methods and resultsLiquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole‐time of flight‐MS metabolic profiling was applied to plasma from a 6‐month randomized intervention with two sequential periods, a 2‐month nutritional‐learning intervention period, and a 4‐month self‐control period, with two energy‐restricted diets; the RESMENA diet (based on the Mediterranean dietary pattern) and the Control diet (based on the American Heart Association guidelines), in 72 subjects with a high BMI and at least two features of MetS. The major contributing biomarkers of each sequential period were lipids, mainly phospholipids and lysophospholipids. Dependency network analysis showed a different pattern of associations between metabolic changes and clinical variables after 2 and 6 month of intervention, with a highly interconnected network during the nutritional‐learning intervention period of the study.ConclusionThe 2‐month RESMENA diet produced significant changes in the plasma metabolic profile of subjects with MetS features. However, at the end of the 6‐month study, most of the associations between metabolic and clinical variables disappeared; suggesting that adherence to healthy dietary habits had declined during the self‐control period.