Research in the Spotlight

ELECTROPHORESIS and the Journal of Separation Science (JSS) are two complementary separation science journals published by Wiley‐VCH. For the reader to realize the full benefits from both journals, a compilation of key research articles from JSS is reported here in this spotlight section. Similarly, JSS has created a spotlight section that compiles key research and review articles from ELECTROPHORESIS. Initially, this corner will be published bimonthly and may become a monthly publication later on. The abstracts listed below have been reduced in length to accommodate as many important papers as possible within the allotted space.     

Research in the Spotlight

ELECTROPHORESIS and the Journal of Separation Science (JSS) are two complementary separation science journals published by Wiley‐VCH. For the reader to realize the full benefits from both journals, a compilation of key research articles from JSS is reported here in this spotlight section. Similarly, JSS has created a spotlight section that compiles key research and review articles from ELECTROPHORESIS. Initially, this corner will be published bimonthly and may become a monthly publication later on.     

Research in the Spotlight

ELECTROPHORESIS and the Journal of Separation Science (JSS) are two complementary separation science journals published by Wiley‐VCH. For the reader to realize the full benefits from both journals, a compilation of key research articles from JSS is reported here in this spotlight section. Similarly, JSS has created a spotlight section that compiles key research and review articles from ELECTROPHORESIS. Initially, this corner will be published bimonthly and may become a monthly publication later on. The abstracts listed below have been reduced in length to accommodate as many important papers as possible within the allotted space.     

Current Applications of Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling Reaction in The Total Synthesis of Natural Products: An update

Suzuki‐Miyaura Coupling Reaction (SMCR) has been extensively used in the total synthesis of natural products. We underscored these achievements in a report published in Tetrahedron up to 2012. Since then, there has been tremendous growth in this field and numerous articles have been published after 2012. In this review, we tried to go insight and highlight the current developments in the applications of SMCR as a key and strategic step (steps) in the total synthesis of biologically active natural products accomplished and reported from 2012 till date.     

2020年毛细管电泳技术年度回顾

该文为2020年毛细管电泳(capillary electrophoresis,CE)技术年度回顾.归纳总结了以"capillary electro-phoresis-mass spectrometry"或"capillary isoelectric focusing"或"micellar electrokinetic...     

Partitioning in Aqueous Two-Phase Systems: Fundamentals,Applications and Trends

Over the last years, aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) regained an increasing interest due to their potential in the downstream processing of biomolecules. After many years with only a few articles published, a lot of effort and work has been put into studying these systems for the partitioning of a range of compounds including proteins, organic low-molecular weight molecules or metal ions. Although several research and review articles appeared, a background review on ATPS partitioning fundamentals is needed. In this article, partitioning theories and main effects of several important factors for partitioning, such as molecular weight of the polymer, effect of added salts, pH, electrical charges, and temperature on phase diagrams, tie-line lengths, interfacial tension and settling time of the two aqueous phases are extensively reviewed. The trend in ATPS research is given compiling the recent 2008–2013 research articles published in the field.     

A Bibliometric Evaluation of the Top 100 Cited Dimethyl Fumarate Articles

Dimethyl fumarate is a cytoprotective and immunomodulatory drug used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. We performed a bibliometric study examining the characteristics and trends of the top 100 cited articles that include dimethyl fumarate in the title. On 21 September 2020 we carried out an electronic search in the Web of Science (WOS), seeking articles that include the following terms within the title: dimethyl fumarate, BG-12, or Tecfidera. To focus our investigation on original research, we refined the search to include only articles, early access, others, case report, and clinical trials. We obtained a total of 1115 items, which were cited 7169 times, had a citation density of 6.43 citations/item, and an h-index of 40. Around 2010, there was a jump in the number of published articles per year, rising from 5 articles/year up to 12 articles/year. We sorted all the items by the number of citations and selected the top 100 most cited (T100). The T100 had 4164 citations, with a density of 37 citations/year and contained 16 classic research articles. They were published between 1961 and 2018; the years 2010–2018 amassed nearly 80% of the T100. We noted 17 research areas with articles in the T100. Of these, the number one ranking went to neurosciences/neurology with 39 articles, and chemistry ranked second on the T100 list with 14 items. We noticed that the percentage of articles belonging to different journals changed depending on the time period. Chemistry held the highest number of papers during 1961–2000, while pharmacology andneurosciences/neurology led the 2001–2018 interval. A total of 478 authors from 145 institutions and 25 countries were included in the T100 ranking. The paper by Gold R et al. was the most successful with 14 articles, 1.823 citations and a density of 140.23 citations/year. The biotechnological company Biogen led the T100 list with 20 articles. With 59 published articles, the USA was the leading country in publications. We concluded that this study analyzed the use of and research on dimethyl fumarate from a different perspective, which will allow the readership (expert or not) to understand the relevance of classic and recent literature on this topic.     

In Memoriam Glenn T. Seaborg (1912-1999): Nuclear Pioneer, Educator, and Public Servant

Chemistry and History In this section we present articles by leading scientific historians that chronicle the important events, persons, and publications that make up the rich history of chemical science. The history of chemistry, of course, has taken place against the background of world history, and the articles in this section often make that very clear. Chemists and their research are always influenced by current events. These articles are intended to describe the setting in which important discoveries occurred and to humanize their discoverers.—Clifford LeMaster, Editor in Chief     

Novel Synthetic Approach to Heteroatom Doped Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Optimizing the Bottom-Up Approach to Atomically Precise Doped Nanographenes

The success of the rational bottom-up approach to nanostructured carbon materials and the discovery of the importance of their doping with heteroatoms puts under the spotlight all synthetic organic approaches to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The construction of atomically precise heteroatom doped nanographenes has evidenced the importance of controlling its geometry and the position of the doping heteroatoms, since these parameters influence their chemical–physical properties and their applications. The growing interest towards this research topic is testified by the large number of works published in this area, which have transformed a once “fundamental research” into applied research at the cutting edge of technology. This review analyzes the most recent synthetic approaches to this class of compounds.     

Electromembrane extraction in microfluidic formats

Electromembrane extraction is a microextraction technique where charged analytes are extracted across a supported liquid membrane and selectively isolated from the sample based on an electrical field. Since the introduction in 2006, there has been continuously increasing interest in electromembrane extraction, and currently close to 50 new articles are published per year. Electromembrane extraction can be performed in different technical configurations, based on standard laboratory glass vials or 96-well plate systems, and applications are typically related to pharmaceutical, environmental, and food and beverages analysis. In addition to this, conceptual research has developed electromembrane extraction into different milli- and microfluidic formats. These are much more early-stage activities, but applications among others related to organ-on-chip systems and smartphone detection indicate unique perspectives. To stimulate more research in this direction, the current article reviews the scientific literature on electromembrane extraction in milli- and microfluidic formats. About 20 original research articles have been published on this subject so far, and these are discussed critically in the following. Based on this and the authors own experiences with the topic, we discuss perspectives, challenges, and future research.     

The Essential Oil-Bearing Plants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE): An Overview

Essential Oils (EOs) are expensive hydrocarbons produced exclusively by specific species in the plant kingdom. Their applications have deep roots in traditional herbal medicine, which lacks scientific evidence. Nowadays, more than ever, there is a growing global interest in research-based discoveries that maintain and promote health conditions. Consequently, EOs became a much attractive topic for both research and industry, with revenues reaching billions of dollars annually. In this work, we provide key guidance to all essential oil-bearing plants growing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The comprehensive data were collected following an extensive, up-to-date literature review. The results identified 137 plant species, including indigenous and naturalized ones, in the UAE, citing over 180 published research articles. The general overview included plant botanical names, synonyms, common names (Arabic and English), families and taxonomic authority. The study acts as a baseline and accelerator for research, industry and discoveries in multiple disciplines relying on essential oil-bearing plants.     

Important insights from the antimicrobial activity of Calotropis procera

Calotropis procera (family Apocynaceae) is a valuable medicinal plant as it contains many valuable phytochemicals such as glycosides (mostly cardenolides), flavonoids, triterpenes, alkaloids, steroids, saponins, proteins and enzymes. Multiparous biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, wound healing and wideranging antimicrobial activities of C. procera have been well investigated and reported. The main aim of this review was to present the encompassing information regarding antimicrobial activities of C. procera latex, different crude extracts and some isolated compounds which have been tested for antimicrobial property. Comprehensive data extracted from earlier as well as recently published original articles regarding antibacterial, antifungal, anti-protozoal and antiviral properties of C. procera were discussed and summarised in tabular forms. The compiled data comprised of plant parts, geographical origin, type of tested extracts/fractions, test model, used doses, tested microorganisms, obtained results and relevant references. In addition, the isolated antimicrobial pure compounds of C. procera are also discussed in a separate section. The analysis and information presented in this review identified the existing critical knowledge gaps in the research and also explored the future perspectives and further research opportunities of C. procera.     

Countercurrent chromatography: people and applications

The scientific literature was scanned for the published research articles dealing with countercurrent chromatography (CCC) over the time period 1980-May 2008. The search returned 1638 articles that were analyzed focussing on people and applications. Concerning the people, it was found that the geographical location of the CCC authors was relatively well balanced between USA, Asia with mainly China and Japan and Europe. Yoichiro Ito, the inventor of the technique, is by far the most productive author in the field with 331 articles or more than one over five CCC articles published in the time period. Without surprise, English is the dominant language with more than 82% of the articles. A significant 8% amount of CCC articles were published in Chinese in Chinese journals. Chromatography journals are the logical tribune for half of the published CCC articles. Concerning the applications, the separation and purification of natural compounds is the dominant theme in CCC making the subject of more than one article over two. Starting from the plant extract, CCC in few steps can produce significant amounts of more than 95% pure compounds used for identification and/or property studies. Other applications are found in the pharmaceutical and chemical field. The separation of enantiomers on the preparative scale is a field of growing importance.     

Hermann Staudinger Award 2006

Macromolecular News: This section contains news of the macromolecular community all over the world. Articles about, for example, people, projects, and market trends are welcome. Suggestions should be sent to the editorial office of the Macromolecular journals, preferably by E-mail to macromol@wiley-vch.de. The editorial office decides which articles will be published.     

On the analysis of ionic surface conduction to unravel charging processes at macroscopic soft and hard solid–liquid interfaces

The electrohydrodynamics of soft interfaces and the processes underlying interfacial charge formation by, for example, unsymmetrical ion adsorption are important aspects of current research on the electrosurface phenomena. In particular, the recent progress in both fields greatly benefits from the now-possible accurate evaluation and quantitative interpretation of (ionic) excess conductivities at solid surfaces and in 3D polyelectrolytic architectures. Achievements in the proper formulation of the conceptual and theoretical framework and in the improvement of measurement capabilities have been tightly connected to the work of Johannes (Hans) Lyklema (1930–2017). Considering his valuable contributions, we herein summarize the theoretical basis of surface conductivity analyses, review the experimental options for the quantification of the surface conductivity at macroscopic planar solid–liquid interfaces, and discuss exemplary surface conductivity case studies for soft and hard interfaces permeable or not to ions and fluid flow.Dedication: Johannes Lyklema (November 23, 1930–October 31, 2017) was a key scientist in colloid and interface science. He completed his doctorate at the University of Utrecht in 1957 under the supervision of Professor J. Th. G. Overbeek with a thesis entitled ‘Adsorption of counterions.’ In 1963, he was appointed a Professor of Physical and Colloid Chemistry at Wageningen Agricultural College (later named Wageningen University), a position he kept until his retirement in 1995. Under his directorate, the Laboratory of Physical and Colloid Chemistry at the Wageningen University became a world-leading research center known for its key research in the fields of interfaces, macromolecules, and electrochemistry. Johannes Lyklema published almost 400 articles and wrote the five-volume text book ‘Fundamentals of Interface and Colloid Science’; he gave lectures in five languages and in five continents, received honorary doctorates in Belgium, Sweden, and Spain, and has been awarded with the Order of the Dutch Lion, to quote only a few of the distinctions and awards he received during his career. In his research, Johannes Lyklema paid particular attention to the analysis and interpretation of the electrosurface phenomena. He was the founder and chairman of the International Advisory Board of the conference series Electrokinetic Phenomena (ELKIN) and section editor on electrokinetics in this journal (Current Opinion in Colloid and Interface Science). We will remember Johannes Lyklema as an eminent scientist as well as a warm-hearted and outstanding person.     

Considerations with regard to the calculation of key comparison reference values and uncertainties

Much has been published over the last years on finding the best (consensus) reference value for a given set of key comparison data, and a suite of approaches proposed. In this paper, several aspects are highlighted which should be taken into account when deciding on key comparison strategies, protocols, and the best approach to reliable key comparison reference value and uncertainty. Some of these aspects are briefly discussed. The paper is intended to intensify discussions, and any comments and opinions are welcome. Presented at the CCQM 2008 KCRV Workshop, April 2008, Sèvres, France. Papers published in this section do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Editors, the Editorial Board and the Publisher.     

Journal of Chemical Education 中关于化学批判性思维的文献分析

通过对1987年到2019年在Journal of Chemical Education上出版的所有以“Critical Thinking”为主题的文献进行内容分析,将这些文献分为5个类别,并从每一个类别中选择最具有代表性的一篇文献作为实例,从实验的过程分析、主动学习教学法、课程设置方案、纠正教科书错误、分析网络信息等5个维度提供了发展批判性思维能力的路径。最后总结了目前国际化学教育关于批判性思维的研究现状和趋势。     

Biosensors for environmental pollutants and food contaminants

This review article provides an overview of the most recent literature on biosensors for environmental pollutants and food contaminants. Due to the large number of publications, only papers published between 2000 and January 2003 were considered. Also, while not all of the published literature could be reviewed here, over 200 references are cited to provide a good overview of research undertaken in the last two years. Older publications are covered by a number of earlier review articles. This article provides an introduction into the field including specific consideration of the application areas, describes the typical biosensor assay format used, and is subsequently structured according to the biorecognition elements used (i.e., nucleic acids, enzymes, whole cells, tissue and whole organisms, antibodies and receptors, and biomimetic materials). In addition, a section on microbiosensing systems is provided. Since only very few microbiosensors with applications in environmental and food systems have been published, enabling technology is also covered in this article.Abbreviations BOD biological oxygen demand - cfu colony forming units - DNP dinitrophenol - GFP green fluorescent protein - NASBA nucleic acid sequence-based amplification - PCR polymerase chain reaction - ppt parts per trillion - QCM quartz crystal microbalance - SPR surface plasmon resonance     

Tualang Honey: A Decade of Neurological Research

Tualang honey has been shown to protect against neurodegeneration, leading to improved memory/learning as well as mood. In addition, studies have also demonstrated its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, a substantial part of this research lacks systematization, and there seems to be a tendency to start anew with every study. This review presents a decade of research on Tualang honey with a particular interest in the underlying mechanisms related to its effects on the central nervous system. A total of 28 original articles published between 2011 and 2020 addressing the central nervous system (CNS) effects of Tualang honey were analysed. We identified five main categories, namely nootropic, antinociceptive, stress-relieving, antidepressant, and anxiolytic effects of Tualang honey, and proposed the underlying mechanisms. The findings from this review may potentially be beneficial towards developing new therapeutic roles for Tualang honey and help in determining how best to benefit from this brain supplement.