bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fabrication and characterization of poly(vinylidene fluoride)–polytetrafluoroethylene composite membrane for CO2 absorption in gas–liquid contacting process
Authors: Du Mengfan , Gong Huijuan , Pang Honglei , Shen Qi , Chen Zezhi
Published: March 2019

The wetting resistance of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane is a critical factor which determines the carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption performance of the gas–liquid membrane contactors. In this study, the composite PVDF–polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hollow fiber membranes were fabricated through dry‐jet wet phase‐inversion method by dispersing PTFE nanoparticles into PVDF solution and adopting phosphoric acid as nonsolvent additive. Compared with the PVDF membrane, the composite membranes presented higher CO2 absorption flux due to their higher effective surface porosity and surface hydrophobicity. The composite membrane with addition of 5 wt % PTFE in the dope gained the optimum CO2 absorption flux of 9.84 × 10−4 and 2.02 × 10−3 mol m−2 s−1 at an inlet gas (CO2/N2 = 19/81, v/v) flow rate of 100 mL min−1 by using distilled water and aqueous diethanolamine solution, respectively. Moreover, the 5% PTFE membrane showed better long‐term stability than the PVDF membrane regardless of different types of absorbent, indicating that polymer blending demonstrates great potential for gas separation. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47767.
Disease Burden in Osteoarthritis Is Similar to That of Rheumatoid Arthritis at Initial Rheumatology Visit and Significantly Greater Six Months Later
Authors: Chua Jacquelin R. , Jamal Shakeel , Riad Mariam , Castrejon Isabel , Malfait Anne‐Marie , Block Joel A. , Pincus Theodore
Published: March 2019

Objective

To analyze disease burden in osteoarthritis (OA) according to Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ)/Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) scores at the initial visit and the 6‐month follow‐up visit, compared with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a benchmark for high disease burden.

Methods

All patients with all diagnoses at the Rush University Medical Center Division of Rheumatology complete a paper MDHAQ at all visits, saved as a PDF in the electronic health record. MDHAQ 0–10 scores for physical function, pain, and patient global assessment (compiled into RAPID3 0–30 scores) and additional scales at the initial and 6‐month follow‐up visits, for new OA and RA patients seen from 2011 to 2017, were compared. OA and RA patients were classified as self‐referred or physician‐referred, and RA patients were classified as disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)–naive or having prior‐DMARD treatment. Patient groups were compared using t‐tests and analysis of variance, adjusted for age, disease duration, body mass index (BMI), education, and ethnicity.

Results

Compared with RA patients, OA patients had higher age, BMI, and disease duration. At initial visit, the mean RAPID3 did not differ significantly in OA versus DMARD‐naive RA patients, whether self‐ or physician‐referred (range 14.8–16.4 [P = 0.38]), or in all OA patients versus DMARD‐naive RA patients versus prior‐DMARD RA patients (15.0, 15.7, and 15.8, respectively [P = 0.49]). After 6 months, RAPID3 was improved to 13.3, 10.3, and 10.8, respectively, which represented substantially greater improvement in RA patients than OA patients (P < 0.001). Similar results were seen for most self‐reported measures and in adjusted analyses.

Conclusion

MDHAQ/RAPID3 scores are similar in OA and RA patients at the initial visit, but higher in OA patients than in RA patients 6 months later, reflecting superior RA treatments. The same MDHAQ/RAPID3 allows comparisons of disease burdens in different diseases.
Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Trial of Intraarticular Trans‐Capsaicin for Pain Associated With Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Authors: Stevens Randall M. , Ervin John , Nezzer Jennifer , Nieves Yeni , Guedes Kimberly , Burges Robin , Hanson Peter D. , Campbell James N.
Published: March 2019

Objective

To assess the efficacy and safety of high‐purity synthetic trans‐capsaicin (CNTX‐4975) in patients with chronic moderate‐to‐severe osteoarthritis (OA)–associated knee pain.

Methods

In this phase II multicenter double‐blind study, patients ages 45–80 years who had stable knee OA were randomized in a 2:1:2 ratio to receive a single intraarticular injection of placebo, CNTX‐4975 0.5 mg, or CNTX‐4975 1.0 mg. The primary efficacy end point was area under the curve (AUC) for change from baseline in daily Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index pain with walking score (range 0–10, 0 = none and 10 = extreme) through week 12. Secondary efficacy end points included a similar AUC analysis of outcomes in patients treated with CNTX‐4975 0.5 mg, and evaluations extending to 24 weeks.

Results

Efficacy was evaluated in 172 patients (placebo group, n = 69; CNTX‐4975 0.5 mg group, n = 33; CNTX‐4975 1.0 mg group, n = 70). At week 12, greater decreases in the AUC for the pain score were observed with CNTX‐4975 in the 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg groups versus placebo (0.5 mg group least squares mean difference [LSMD] −0.79, P = 0.0740; 1.0 mg group LSMD −1.6, P < 0.0001). Significant improvements were maintained at week 24 in the 1.0 mg group (LSMD −1.4, P = 0.0002). Treatment‐emergent adverse events were similar in the placebo and CNTX‐4975 1.0 mg groups.

Conclusion

In this study, CNTX‐4975 provided dose‐dependent improvement in knee OA–associated pain. CNTX‐4975 1.0 mg produced a significant decrease in OA knee pain through 24 weeks; CNTX‐4975 0.5 mg significantly improved pain at 12 weeks, but the effect was not evident at 24 weeks.
Identifying social roles using heterogeneous features in online social networks
Authors: Liu Yezheng , Du Fei , Sun Jianshan , Silva Thushari , Jiang Yuanchun , Zhu Tingting
Published: March 2019

Role analysis plays an important role when exploring social media and knowledge‐sharing platforms for designing marking strategies. However, current methods in role analysis have overlooked content generated by users (e.g., posts) in social media and hence focus more on user behavior analysis. The user‐generated content is very important for characterizing users. In this paper, we propose a novel method which integrates both user behavior and posted content by users to identify roles in online social networks. The proposed method models a role as a joint distribution of Gaussian distribution and multinomial distribution, which represent user behavioral feature and content feature respectively. The proposed method can be used to determine the number of roles concerned automatically. The experimental results show that the proposed method can be used to identify various roles more effectively and to get more insights on such characteristics.
Mini‐Generator Based on Self‐Propelled Vertical Motion of a Functionally Cooperating Device Driven by H2‐Forming Reaction
Authors: Zhang Lina , Zhang Xuan , Xiao Meng , Zhang Han , Zhang Yajun
Published: March 2019

Mini‐generators based on locomotion of small objects have aroused widespread attention because of their potential application in powering small‐scale electronic devices. Although improvements have been made in the development of mini‐generators, there are still some key challenges such as low power output and energy conversion efficiency, which limit the potential application of mini‐generators. Herein, through integrating a superhydrophobic surface, chemical reaction and solenoid coil/magnet into a system, an innovative mini‐generator is designed, which can convert chemical energy into electrical energy through mechanical form. As a result, the energy conversion efficiency and output power are both three hundred times higher than previously reported results and can be applied to power light‐emitting diodes without amplification. We believe that the proposed mini‐generator provides more chance for the application of self‐supplying power sources for electronic devices.
The nonlinear X‐ray/ultraviolet relation in active galactic nuclei: Contribution of instrumental effects on the X‐ray variability
Authors: Lusso E.
Published: March 2019

We have recently demonstrated that the nonlinear relation between ultraviolet and X‐ray luminosity in quasars is very tight (with an intrinsic dispersion of ∼0.2 dex), once contaminants (e.g., dust reddening, X‐ray absorption), variability, and differences in the active galactic nuclei physical properties are taken into account. This relation has thus great potential to advance our understanding in both supermassive black hole accretion physics and observational cosmology, by targeting a single class of objects. Here, we focus on the various contributions to the observed X‐ray variability in a homogenous sample of 791 quasars selected from SDSS–DR7 with X‐ray data from the 3XMM–DR7 source catalog. The 250 quasars in this cleaned data set with at least two X‐ray observations typically vary with a SD of fractional variation of 15–30% on timescales of weeks/years. Yet, when the count rates are computed at progressively smaller off‐axis values, the same quantity is reduced to roughly 10–25%. This suggests that, when estimating variability indicators, part of the quoted variability amplitude could be due to instrumental/calibration issues rather than true variations in the quasar emission.
Zur Fortentwicklung des Microplane‐Modells für die numerische Analyse von Betonstrukturen
Authors: Steinke Christian , Zreid Imadeddin , Graf Wolfgang , Kaliske Michael
Published: March 2019

Weltweit ist Stahlbeton der meist angewendete Baustoff im Bauwesen. Grundlage einer qualitativ hochwertigen und effizienten deterministischen Analyse ist die nichtlineare numerische Modellierung. Aus der Vielzahl der aktuellen Entwicklungen ist die Beschreibung der Betoncharakteristiken mit dem Microplane‐Modell ausgewählt. Die wesentlichen Aspekte und Vorteile der Vorgehensweisen werden vorgestellt und an sehr anschaulichen praktischen Beispielen gezeigt. Die Implementierung der Modelle in kommerzielle Programme ist weit vorangeschritten, sodass eine breite Nutzung zukünftig möglich sein wird. Der vorliegende Beitrag wurde am 19. Okt. 2018 im Rahmen des 22. Dresdner Baustatik Seminars präsentiert.
Correcting for measurement error in fractional polynomial models using Bayesian modelling and regression calibration, with an application to alcohol and mortality
Authors: Gray Christen M. , Carroll Raymond J. , Lentjes Marleen A. H. , Keogh Ruth H.
Published: March 2019

Exposure measurement error can result in a biased estimate of the association between an exposure and outcome. When the exposure–outcome relationship is linear on the appropriate scale (e.g. linear, logistic) and the measurement error is classical, that is the result of random noise, the result is attenuation of the effect. When the relationship is non‐linear, measurement error distorts the true shape of the association. Regression calibration is a commonly used method for correcting for measurement error, in which each individual's unknown true exposure in the outcome regression model is replaced by its expectation conditional on the error‐prone measure and any fully measured covariates. Regression calibration is simple to execute when the exposure is untransformed in the linear predictor of the outcome regression model, but less straightforward when non‐linear transformations of the exposure are used. We describe a method for applying regression calibration in models in which a non‐linear association is modelled by transforming the exposure using a fractional polynomial model. It is shown that taking a Bayesian estimation approach is advantageous. By use of Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms, one can sample from the distribution of the true exposure for each individual. Transformations of the sampled values can then be performed directly and used to find the expectation of the transformed exposure required for regression calibration. A simulation study shows that the proposed approach performs well. We apply the method to investigate the relationship between usual alcohol intake and subsequent all‐cause mortality using an error model that adjusts for the episodic nature of alcohol consumption.
Predicting health status in the first year after trauma
Authors: de Munter L , Polinder S , van de Ree C L P , Kruithof N , Lansink K W W , Steyerberg E W , de Jongh M A C
Published: March 2019

Background

Although mortality rates following major trauma are continuing to decline, a growing number of patients are experiencing long-term disability. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with health status in the first year following trauma and develop prediction models based on a defined trauma population.

Methods

The Brabant Injury Outcome Surveillance (BIOS) study was a multicentre prospective observational cohort study. Adult patients with traumatic injury were included from August 2015 to November 2016 if admitted to one of the hospitals of the Noord-Brabant region in the Netherlands. Outcome measures were EuroQol Five Dimensions 5D-3L (EQ-5D™ utility and visual analogue scale (VAS)) and Health Utilities Index (HUI) 2 and 3 scores 1 week and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after injury. Prediction models were developed using linear mixed models, with patient characteristics, preinjury health status, injury severity and frailty as possible predictors. Predictors that were significant (P < 0·050) for one of the outcome measures were included in all models. Performance was assessed using explained variance (R2).

Results

In total, 4883 patients participated in the BIOS study (50·0 per cent of the total), of whom 3366 completed the preinjury questionnaires. Preinjury health status and frailty were the strongest predictors of health status during follow-up. Age, sex, educational level, severe head or face injury, severe torso injury, injury severity, Functional Capacity Index score, co-morbidity and duration of hospital stay were also relevant in the multivariable models predicting health status. R2 ranged from 35 per cent for EQ-VAS to 48 per cent for HUI 3.

Conclusion

The most important predictors of health status in the first year after trauma in this population appeared to be preinjury health status and frailty.
Nontarget metabolomics profiling of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
Authors: Deng Jun , Xia Zhiwei , Qiu Dongxu , Jiao Xiao , Xiao Bo , Zhou Wenbin , Yang Huan , Li Jing
Published: March 2019

To investigate the characteristic of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, UHPLC–MS was used to identify metabolites by metabolite extraction and on‐machine detection. Multivariate analysis methods were used to complete differential metabolite screening and metabolic pathway analysis. The content of eight substances, such as tryptophan and l‐glutamic acid in the plasma of NMOSD patients, was higher than that of the healthy control group. Moreover, no differential metabolite was found in the plasma of patients with AQP‐4 antibody‐positive and antibody‐negative NMOSD. The content of five substances including 3‐hydroxybutyric acid in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with NMOSD was reduced. We demonstrated that the distribution of metabolites in plasma between NMOSD patients and healthy counterparts was significantly different. However, there is no significant difference in plasma metabolites between AQP‐4 antibody positive and negative NMOSD. There were some differences in metabolites between the cerebrospinal fluid of NMOSD patients and that of healthy controls. A variety of amino‐acid abnormalities, sphingomyelin dysfunction, energy metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction are involved in the pathogenesis of NMOSD.
Microsurgical clipping of an unruptured superiorly projecting ACoM aneurysm in a rotated ACoM complex
Authors: Glauser Gregory , Choudhri Omar A.
Published: March 2019

Key Clinical Message

This case illustrates surgical technique for wide neck aneurysm clipping in a rotated complex and how to manage intraoperative aneurysm rupture while maintaining hemostasis (Cai et al., Anterior communicating artery aneurysm morphology and the risk of rupture. World Neurosurg. 2018;109:119 and Dehdashti et al., The implication of anterior communicating complex rotation and 3‐dimensional computerized tomography angiography findings in surgical approach to anterior communicating artery aneurysms. World Neurosurg. 2016;91:34).
Mordenite Nanorods Prepared by an Inexpensive Pyrrolidine‐based Mesoporogen for Alkane Hydroisomerization
Authors: Bolshakov Aleksei , Romero Hidalgo Douglas E. , van Hoof Arno J. F. , Kosinov Nikolay , Hensen Emiel J. M.
Published: March 2019

We report the synthesis of hierarchical mordenite zeolite nanorods in one step using inexpensive mono‐quaternary ammonium N‐cetyl‐N‐methylpyrrolidinium (C16NMP) as mesoporogen to the synthesis gel. The presence of a small amount of C16NMP results in the formation of 0.6–1 μm rods‐like crystals oriented along the c‐axis with a high mesoporous volume (0.12 cm3 g−1) and external surface area (∼90 m2 g−1) compared to bulk mordenite. Acidity characterization shows that the presence of C16NMP during mordenite formation leads to a redistribution of aluminum in the zeolite framework: the amount of Brønsted acid sites in the side‐pockets (8MR channels) is increased at the expense of those in the 12MR main channels. As these latter acid sites are the ones involved in the conversion of alkene intermediates in bifunctional hydroconversion of alkanes, an optimized hierarchical mordenite prepared with C16NMP displays a more ideal hydrocracking selectivity than bulk MOR prepared solely with sodium.
Characterization of Type IV Carboxylate Reductases (CARs) for Whole Cell‐Mediated Preparation of 3‐Hydroxytyrosol
Authors: Horvat Melissa , Fritsche Susanne , Kourist Robert , Winkler Margit
Published: March 2019

Fragrance and flavor industries could not imagine business without aldehydes. Processes for their commercial production raise environmental and ecological concerns. The chemical reduction of organic acids to aldehydes is challenging. To fulfill the demand of a mild and selective reduction of carboxylic acids to aldehydes, carboxylic acid reductases (CARs) are gaining importance. We identified two new subtype IV fungal CARs from Dichomitus squalens CAR (DsCAR) and Trametes versicolor CAR (Tv2CAR) in addition to literature known Trametes versicolor CAR (TvCAR). Expression levels were improved by the co‐expression of GroEL‐GroES with either the trigger factor or the DnaJ‐DnaK‐GrpE system. Investigation of the substrate scope of the three enzymes revealed overlapping substrate‐specificities. Tv2CAR and DsCAR showed a preferred pH range of 7.0 to 8.0 in bicine buffer. TvCAR showed highest activity at pH 6.5 to 7.5 in MES buffer and slightly reduced activity at pH 6.0 or 8.0. TvCAR appeared to tolerate a wider pH range without significant loss of activity. Type IV fungal CARs optimal temperature was in the range of 25–35 °C. TvCAR showed a melting temperature (Tm) of 55 °C indicating higher stability compared to type III and the other type IV fungal CARs (Tm 51–52 °C). Finally, TvCAR was used as the key enzyme for the bioreduction of 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid to the antioxidant 3‐hydroxytyrosol (3‐HT) and gave 58 mM of 3‐HT after 24 h, which correlates to a productivity of 0.37 g L−1 h−1.
Hydrodynamic Characteristics in the Counter‐Flow Total Spray Tray
Authors: Tao Jinliang , Shi Zhicheng , Ling Yanli , Wei Feng
Published: March 2019

The capacity of a column is limited by the distribution of gas and liquid, especially in case of large‐diameter cross‐flow trays. In order to solve the bottleneck, a new counter‐flow tray named total spray tray (TST) was put forward. Taking air/water as medium, the hydrodynamic behavior, including the pressure drop, weeping, entrainment, and clear liquid height, was investigated, in comparison with the CTST, which had a higher capacity. Based on experimental data, the correlations of the TST pressure drop were established by regression analysis method. The experimental results show that the TST has a lower wet pressure drop and less weeping. More interestingly, its clear liquid height can be self‐adjusting with the variation of the gas kinetic energy factor, which is beneficial to improving the capacity.
Preparation of High‐Purity 2,6‐Naphthalenedicarboxylic Acid from Coal Tar Distillate
Authors: Ban Heng , Cheng Youwei , Wang Lijun , Li Xi , Zhou Xiaoye , Zhang Xinjian
Published: March 2019

Using coal tar distillate as the starting material, a novel high‐purity 2,6‐naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (2,6‐NDA) preparation method was developed. Firstly, the 2,6‐dimethylnaphthalene (2,6‐DMN) precursor was separated by successive vacuum distillation, melt crystallization, and solvent crystallization from the 250–270 °C fraction of the coal tar distillate. Then, over Co‐Mn‐Br as catalysts, oxidation of 2,6‐DMN was carried out in acetic acid to produce crude 2,6‐NDA with molecular oxygen. By high‐temperature hydrogenation, the crude 2,6‐NDA was further purified to obtain high‐purity 2,6‐NDA. From the coal tar distillate to pure 2,6‐NDA, the operation parameters and reaction conditions of each process were optimized and evaluated, indicating that the proposed 2,6‐NDA synthesis method has great potential for industrial application to create cheap feedstock in viable yields.
Ionic Conductivity over Metal/Water Interfaces in Ionomer‐Free Fuel Cell Electrodes
Authors: Hu Leiming , Zhang Muxing , Komini Babu Siddharth , Kongkanand Anusorn , Litster Shawn
Published: March 2019

Ion conduction and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics at metal/water interfaces are important in determining the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, the coupled ion transport and electrochemical reactions in ionomer‐free domains of catalyst layers are still unclear. In this work, we deconvolute the ion transport and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) by studying metal/water interfaces of platinum (Pt) and gold (Au) ionomer‐free porous cathodes. In our experiments, a conventional membrane electrode assembly (MEA) was used for electrochemical characterization of ionomer‐free electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and polarization curve measurements at different relative humidity (RH) conditions show that active surface area and ORR current density increases with RH. We also use microstructured electrode scaffold (MES) apparatus for measurement of the ionic conductivity in the cathode. The results show that the ionic conductivity increases with the RH and water coverage. The potential dependence of ionic conductivity for Au approximately follows the classical Guoy‐Chapman electrical double layer (EDL) behavior, while the ionic conductivity of the Pt electrode did not show a strong potential dependence, indicating that it could also be affected by other mechanisms, such as formation of surface oxide and diffusion of adsorbed hydrogen on its surface.
Gallium “Shears” for C=N and C=O Bonds of Isocyanates
Authors: Dodonov Vladimir A. , Chen Weixing , Zhao Yanxia , Skatova Alexandra A. , Roesky Peter W. , Wu Biao , Yang Xiao‐Juan , Fedushkin Igor L.
Published: March 2019

Digallane [L1Ga−GaL1] (1, L1=dpp‐bian=1,2‐[(2,6‐iPr2C6H3)NC]2C12H6) reacts with RN=C=O (R=Ph or Tos) by [2+4] cycloaddition of the isocyanate C=N bonds across both of its C=C−N−Ga fragments to afford [L1(O=C−NR)Ga−Ga(RN−C=O)L1] (R=Ph, 3; R=Tos, 4). The reactions with both isocyanates result in new C−C and N−Ga single bonds. In the case of allyl isocyanate, the [2+4] cycloaddition across one C=C−N−Ga fragment of 1 is accompanied by insertion of a second allyl isocyanate molecule into the Ga−N bond of the same fragment to afford compound [L1Ga−Ga(AllN− C=O)2L1] (5) (All=allyl). In the presence of Na metal, the related digallane [L2Ga−GaL2] (2; L2=dpp‐dad=[(2,6‐iPr2C6H3)NC(CH3)]2) is converted into the gallium(I) carbene analogue [L2Ga:]− (2 A), which undergoes a variety of reactions with isocyanate substrates. These include the cycloaddition of ethyl isocyanate to 2 A affording [Na2(THF)5]{L2Ga[EtN−C(O)]2GaL2} (6), cleavage of the N=C bond with release of 1 equiv. of CO to give [Na(THF)2]2[L2Ga(p‐MeC6H4)(N−C(O))2−N(p‐MeC6H4)]2 (7), cleavage of the C=O bond to yield the di‐O‐bridged digallium compound [Na(THF)3]2[L2Ga‐(μ‐O)2‐GaL2] (8), and generation of the further addition product [Na2(THF)5][L2Ga(CyNCO2)]2 (9). Complexes 3–9 have been characterized by NMR (1H, 13C), IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X‐ray diffraction analysis. Their electronic structures have been examined by DFT calculations.
Lymphocytic colitis–like pattern of mucosal injury and the challenges in diagnosing cancer immunotherapy‐related toxicity
Authors: Grover Shilpa , Srivastava Amitabh
Published: March 2019

Although instrumental in the identification of patients with immune‐related colitis, histopathologic evaluation of the colon is not specific. Lymphocytic colitis, a subtype of microscopic colitis, may be preexisting or due to medications other than checkpoint inhibitors, and can occur in the absence of a clearly identifiable offending agent.
Assessing color performance of whole‐slide imaging scanners for digital pathology
Authors: Cheng Wei‐Chung , Saleheen Firdous , Badano Aldo
Published: March 2019

The color performance of two commercial whole‐slide imaging (WSI) scanners was compared against the ground truth and a hypothetical monochrome scanner. Three biological tissue slides were used to test the WSI scanners. A multispectral imaging system was developed to obtain the color truth of the biological tissue slides at the pixel level. The hypothetical monochrome scanner was derived from the color truth as a lower bound for comparison. The CIEDE2000 formula was used to measure color errors. Results show that color errors generated by the modern commercial WSI scanner, the legacy commercial WSI scanner, and the monochrome WSI scanner are in the range of [8.4, 13.0], [18.0, 26.33], and [17.4, 17.6] ΔE00, respectively. The legacy commercial WSI scanner was outperformed by not only the modern commercial WSI scanner but also by the hypothetical monochrome scanner.
The Effect of the Phospholipid Bilayer Environment on Cholesterol Crystal Polymorphism
Authors: Varsano Neta , Beghi Fabio , Dadosh Tali , Elad Nadav , Pereiro Eva , Haran Gilad , Leiserowitz Leslie , Addadi Lia
Published: March 2019

Invited for this month's cover are the group of Prof. Lia Addadi at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel and collaborators at the Università Degli Studi di Milano, Italy, and the ALBA Synchrotron Light Source, Spain. The front cover shows how cholesterol crystals form in macrophage cells and in lipid bilayers of different compositions. Cholesterol monohydrate stable triclinic crystals form in vitro as rhomb‐shaped plates, whereas the monoclinic crystals fold into tubular or helical shapes. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/cplu.201800632.
Illuminating interviews: Insights into the hearts and minds of conflict resolution practitioners
Authors: Katz Neil H. , Bascombe Nekeisha G. , Tokar Peter
Published: March 2019

This article shares insights gleaned from interviews with nine experienced, successful conflict resolution practitioners engaged in a variety of interventions from a variety of organizations. The interviews were conducted first with graduate students participating in a class on “Reflective Practice.” Subsequently, the authors conducted a second round of interviews to appeal to a wider audience. Questions and topics addressed by the respondents included childhood disposition for this kind of work, critical milestones along the way, helpful characteristics/attributes, satisfaction they derive from their work, greatest challenges, lessons learned, and examples of “reflecting‐in‐action” utilization.
Coolade. A Low‐Foaming Surfactant for Organic Synthesis in Water
Authors: Lee Nicholas R. , Cortes‐Clerget Margery , Wood Alex B. , Lippincott Daniel J. , Pang Haobo , Moghadam Farbod A. , Gallou Fabrice , Lipshutz Bruce H.
Published: March 2019

Several types of reduction reactions in organic synthesis are performed under aqueous micellar‐catalysis conditions (in water at ambient temperature), which produce a significant volume of foam owing to the combination of the surfactant and the presence of gas evolution. The newly engineered surfactant “Coolade” minimizes this important technical issue owing to its low‐foaming properties. Coolade is the latest in a series of designer surfactants specifically tailored to enable organic synthesis in water. This study reports the synthesis of this new surfactant along with its applications to gas‐involving reactions.
Post‐Disaster least loaded lightpath routing in elastic optical networks
Authors: Ashraf M. Waqar , Idrus Sevia M. , Butt Rizwan Aslam , Iqbal Farabi
Published: March 2019

Disaster events directly affect the physical topology of core networks and may lead to simultaneous failure of multiple lightpaths leading to massive service outages for network operators. To recover from such a failure scenario, the existing routing algorithms running on network nodes (routers or switches) typically attempt to reestablish the connections over new routes with shortest distances and hop count approach. However, this approach may result in congestion on some links, while other links may have the unutilized capacity. Hence, intelligent lightpath computing techniques are required to efficiently route network traffic over the new routes by considering traffic load of each link in addition to distance and hop count to minimize network congestion. In this paper, we have proposed a capacity‐constrained maximally spatial disjoint lightpath algorithm to tackle the provisioning and restoration of disrupted lightpaths in a postdisaster scenario in the context of elastic optical networking. This algorithm computes an alternate least loaded lightpath for disrupted primary lightpath using capacity‐constrained shortest lightpath. Alternate lightpath selection is based on a criteria parameter for a lightpath to be least loaded and constrained by either the length or the spatial distance between primary and alternate lightpaths. The spatial distance between lightpaths enables to reestablish the disrupted connection request away from disaster proximity. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated through simulation for several parameters like blocking probability, network utilization, connection success rates, and minimum spatial distance.
Enhancing spectral efficiency of FSO system using adaptive SIM/M‐PSK and SIMO in the presence of atmospheric turbulence and pointing errors
Authors: Al‐Nahhal Mohamed , Ismail Tawfik
Published: March 2019

This paper proposes an adaptive transmission modulation (ATM) technique for free‐space optical (FSO) links over gamma‐gamma turbulence channels.The ATM technique provides efficient utilization of the FSO channel capacity for improving spectral efficiency, by adapting the order of the phase‐shift keying modulation scheme, according to the channel conditions and the required bit error rate (BER). To overcome the channel degradation resulting from the turbulence effects as well as the pointing errors (PEs), single‐input multiple‐output (SIMO) system with maximal ratio combining (MRC) is proposed. Exact closed‐form expressions of BER and upper bound of the capacity are derived and verified by Monte Carlo simulations. The numerical results show that the proposed adaptive technique improves the spectral efficiency (SE) five times higher than the nonadaptive technique at the same BER threshold (10−3).This improvement is achieved at signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) equals 27 and 42 dB in the case of atmospheric turbulence without and with PE, respectively. Furthermore, this SE could be obtained while the SNR = 30 dB by using (1 × 4) SIMO scheme with MRC and PE and having the same transmitting optical power.
Understand ‘legitimate educational interest’ under FERPA
Authors: Rainsberger Richard
Published: March 2019

There are only three sections of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act regulations where the term legitimate educational interest is found. The first is 34 CFR §99.31(a)(2) — the school official/legitimate educational interest section. That section permits school officials to disclose a student's education records, without the student's written consent, to another school official if a legitimate educational interest exists. This is the most commonly used exception to disclose without the student's written consent. How could we, as school officials, get all of our work done if we had to get written consent before we disclosed, or discussed, any education records with other school officials?
Extinction vortex dynamics of top predators isolated by urbanization
Authors: Benson John F. , Mahoney Peter J. , Vickers T. Winston , Sikich Jeff A. , Beier Paul , Riley Seth P. D. , Ernest Holly B. , Boyce Walter M.
Published: March 2019

Extinction risk is elevated in small, isolated populations due to demographic and genetic interactions. Therefore, it is critical to model these processes realistically in population viability analyses (PVA) to inform local management and contribute to a greater understanding of mechanisms within the extinction vortex. We conducted PVA's for two small mountain lion populations isolated by urbanization in southern California to predict population growth, extinction probability, and loss of genetic diversity with empirical data. Specifically, we (1) provide the first PVA for isolated mountain lions in the Santa Ana Mountains (SAM) that considers both demographic and genetic risk factors and (2) test the hypothesis that variation in abundance and mortality between the SAM and Santa Monica Mountains (SMM) result in differences in population growth, loss of heterozygosity, and extinction probability. Our models predicted 16–21% probability of local extinction in the SAM due purely to demographic processes over 50 yr with current low levels or no immigration. Our models also predicted that genetic diversity will further erode in the SAM such that concern regarding inbreeding depression is warranted unless gene flow is increased, and that if inbreeding depression occurs, rapid local extinction will be highly likely. Dynamics of the two populations were broadly similar, but they also exhibited differences driven by larger population size and higher mortality in the SAM. Density‐independent scenarios predicted a rapidly increasing population in the SMM, whereas growth potential did not differ from a stable trend in the SAM. Demographic extinction probability and loss of heterozygosity were greater in the SMM for density‐dependent scenarios without immigration. However, higher levels of immigration had stronger, positive influences on both demographic viability and retention of genetic diversity in the SMM driven by lower abundance and higher adult survival. Our results elucidate demographic and genetic threats to small populations within the extinction vortex, and how these vary relative to demographic structure. Importantly, simulating seemingly attainable increases in connectivity was sufficient to greatly reduce extinction probability. Our work highlights that conservation of large carnivores is achievable within urbanized landscapes, but requires land protection, connectivity, and strategies to promote coexistence with humans.
Drivers of forest cover changes in the Chocó‐Darien Global Ecoregion of South America
Authors: Fagua J. Camilo , Baggio Jacopo A. , Ramsey R. Douglas
Published: March 2019

Tropical rain forests are suffering the highest deforestation and reforestation ever recorded. Interactions between direct (proximate or direct causes) and indirect (underling or indirect causes) drivers could cluster these forest cover changes forming hotspots (areas that exhibit significant spatial correlation of deforestation or reforestation transitions). Using land use–land cover maps and global (I) and local (Ii) Moran's tests, we identified these hotspots in the Chocó‐Darien Global Ecoregion (CGE) of South America, a natural region that was declared one of the top 25 hotspots for conservation priorities in the world. Subsequently, we tested and studied the effects and interactions between deforestation and reforestation hotspots and their direct and indirect drivers using Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling (Bayesian SEM). We found that deforestation and reforestation were spatially auto‐correlated forming hotspots (I = 0.49,P = 0.001 for deforestation transitions andI = 0.48,P = 0.001 for reforestation transitions). Also, hotspots of deforestation and reforestation were auto‐correlated within municipality borders (I = 0.5,P = 0.001 for deforestation transitions;I = 0.49,P = 0.001 for reforestation transitions). Eighteen municipalities located on the border between Colombia and Ecuador showed significant aggregations of deforestation hotspots, while thirty‐four municipalities in three areas of Colombia and the area between the Colombian and Ecuadorian border showed significant clustering of reforestation hotspots. Eleven of these municipalities presented significant clustering of both reforestation and deforestation hotspots. The Bayesian SEM for deforestation showed that population growth and road density were indirect drivers of deforestation hotspots (0.191 and 0.127 standard deviation units). The Bayesian SEM for reforestation found that armed conflicts, Gross Domestic Product, and average annual rain were indirect drivers related to reforestation hotspots (0.228, 0.076, and 0.081 standard deviation units, respectively). Our assessment shows a novel methodology to study interactions among direct and indirect drivers of forest change and their potential dissimilar effects on forest transitions.
Creatine supplementation impairs airway inflammation in an experimental model of asthma involving P2 × 7 receptor
Authors: Garcia Monique , Santos‐Dias Alana , Bachi André Luis Lacerda , Oliveira‐Junior Manoel Carneiro , Andrade‐Souza Adilson Santos , Ferreira Sérgio César , Aquino‐Junior Jefferson Comin Jonco , Almeida Francine Maria , Rigonato‐Oliveira Nicole Cristine , Oliveira Ana Paula Ligeiro , Savio Luiz Eduardo Baggio , Coutinho‐Silva Robson , Müller Tobias , Idzko Marco , Siepmann Timo , Vieira Rodolfo Paula
Published: March 2019

Creatine (Cr) is a substrate for adenosine triphosphate synthesis, and it is the most used dietary supplement among professional and recreative athletes and sportsmen. Creatine supplementation may increase allergic airway response, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms are unknown. We used murine model of OVA‐induced chronic asthma and showed that Cr supplementation increased total proteins, ATP level, lymphocytes, macrophages, and IL‐5 levels in BALF, as well as IL‐5 in the supernatant of re‐stimulated mediastinal lymph nodes. IL‐5 and IL‐13 expression by epithelial cells and by peribronchial leukocytes were increased by Cr. Cr augmented the expression of P2 × 7 receptor by peribronchial leukocytes and by epithelial cells, and increased the accumulation of eosinophils in peribronchial space and of collagen fibers in airway wall. In human cells, while Cr induced a release of ATP, IL‐6, and IL‐8 from BEAS‐2B cells, whole blood cells, such as eosinophils, and CD4+ T cells, P2 × 7 receptor inhibitor (A740003) reduced such effects, as denoted by reduced levels of ATP, IL‐6, and IL‐8. Therefore, Cr supplementation worsened asthma pathology due to activation of airway epithelial cells and peribronchial leukocytes, involving purinergic signaling.
The B cell novel protein 1 (BCNP1) regulates BCR signaling and B cell apoptosis
Authors: Hong Rongjian , Lai Nannan , Ouchida Rika , Xiong Ermeng , Zhou Yang , Min Qing , Liu Jun , Tang Yue , Hikida Masaki , Tsubata Takeshi , Wang Yanqing , Wang Ji‐Yang
Published: March 2019

The BCR plays a central role in B cell development, survival, activation, and differentiation. We have identified the B cell novel protein 1 (BCNP1) as a new regulator of BCR signaling. BCNP1 contains a pleckstrin homology domain, three proline‐rich motifs, and a potential SH2 binding site, and is predominantly expressed by B cells. We found that BCNP1 overexpression in WEHI231 immature B cells potentiated α‐IgM‐induced apoptosis. Conversely, BCNP1‐deficient WEHI231 cells, generated by CRISPR‐Cas9‐mediated genome editing, exhibited reduced apoptosis after BCR crosslinking. Biochemical analyses revealed that BCNP1 physically interacted with the B cell linker protein (BLNK), Grb2, and PLCγ2. Moreover, absence of BCNP1 resulted in accelerated dephosphorylation of BLNK, reduced phosphorylation of SYK and PLCγ2, and decreased Ca2+ influx after BCR crosslinking. These results demonstrate that BCNP1 promotes BCR signaling by modulating the phosphorylation of BLNK, SYK, and PLCγ2.
Peripheral and systemic antigens elicit an expandable pool of resident memory CD8+ T cells in the bone marrow
Authors: Pascutti Maria Fernanda , Geerman Sulima , Collins Nicholas , Brasser Giso , Nota Benjamin , Stark Regina , Behr Felix , Oja Anna , Slot Edith , Panagioti Eleni , Prier Julia E. , Hickson Sarah , Wolkers Monika C. , Heemskerk Mirjam H.M. , Hombrink Pleun , Arens Ramon , Mackay Laura K. , van Gisbergen Klaas P.J.M. , Nolte Martijn A.
Published: March 2019

BM has been put forward as a major reservoir for memory CD8+ T cells. In order to fulfill that function, BM should “store” memory CD8+ T cells, which in biological terms would require these “stored” memory cells to be in disequilibrium with the circulatory pool. This issue is a matter of ongoing debate. Here, we unequivocally demonstrate that murine and human BM harbors a population of tissue‐resident memory CD8+ T (TRM) cells. These cells develop against various pathogens, independently of BM infection or local antigen recognition. BM CD8+ TRM cells share a transcriptional program with resident lymphoid cells in other tissues; they are polyfunctional cytokine producers and dependent on IL‐15, Blimp‐1, and Hobit. CD8+ TRM cells reside in the BM parenchyma, but are in close contact with the circulation. Moreover, this pool of resident T cells is not size‐restricted and expands upon peripheral antigenic re‐challenge. This works extends the role of the BM in the maintenance of CD8+ T cell memory to include the preservation of an expandable reservoir of functional, non‐recirculating memory CD8+ T cells, which develop in response to a large variety of peripheral antigens.
New Boron(III) Blue Emitters for All‐Solution Processed OLEDs: Molecular Design Assisted by Theoretical Modeling
Authors: Salla Cristian A. M. , Teixeira dos Santos Jéssica , Farias Giliandro , Bortoluzi Adailton J. , Curcio Sergio F. , Cazati Thiago , Izsák Róbert , Neese Frank , de Souza Bernardo , Bechtold Ivan H.
Published: March 2019

Luminescent boron(III) complexes have recently been employed as emitters in organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) with reasonable success. They are easy to prepare and sufficiently stable to be used in such devices, being of great interest as a simple molecular emissive layer. Although emitters for this class with all colors have already been reported, highly efficient and stable blue emitters for applications in solution processed devices still pose a challenge. Here, we report the design, synthesis, and characterization of new boron complexes based on the 2‐(benzothiazol‐2‐yl)phenol ligand (HBT), with different donor and acceptor groups responsible for modulating the emission properties, from blue to red. The molecular design was assisted by calculations using our newly developed formalism, where we demonstrate that the absorption and fluorescence spectra can be successfully predicted, which is a powerful technique to evaluate molecular photophysical properties prior to synthesis. In addition, density functional theory (DFT) enables us to understand the molecular and electronic structure of the molecules in greater detail. The molecules studied here presented fluorescence efficiencies as high as Φ = 0.88 and all solution processed OLEDs were prepared and characterized under an ambient atmosphere, after dispersion in the emitting layer. Surprisingly, even considering these rather simple experimental conditions, the blue emitters displayed superior properties compared to those in the present literature, in particular with respect to the stability of the current efficiency.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Hydroxy Group Directed Regioselective Mono‐arylation of 2‐Hydroxybiphenyls to 2‐Hydroxy to ortho‐Terphenyls
Authors: Kumar Devarapalli Ravi , Gopi Krishna Reddy Alavala , Satyanarayana Gedu
Published: March 2019

Palladium‐catalyzed, hydroxy group assisted regioselective mono‐arylation of 2‐hydroxybiphenyls to 2‐hydroxy‐ortho‐terphenyls is presented. Current methodology was amenable on a broad range of 2‐hydroxybiphenyls as well as iodoarenes, and furnished a variety of 2‐hydroxy‐ortho‐terphenyls in good to excellent yields.
Reductive Bromodifluoromethylation of Nitrones Promoted by Visible Light
Authors: Dmitriev Igor A. , Supranovich Vyacheslav I. , Levin Vitalij V. , Dilman Alexander D.
Published: March 2019

A method for the synthesis of bromodifluoromethyl‐substituted hydroxylamines via reaction of nitrones with dibromodifluoromethane is described. The reaction is mediated by an iridium photocatalyst activated by blue light and employs ascorbic acid as a reductant. In the products, the bromodifluoromethyl fragment can be reduced to the CHF2‐group or can be functionalized through the hydrofluoroalkylation process.
Pregnancy drugs, fetal germline epigenome, and risks for next‐generation pathology: A call to action
Authors: Escher Jill , Robotti Suzanne
Published: March 2019

Drugs taken during pregnancy can affect three generations at once: the gestating woman (F0), her exposed fetus (F1), and the fetal germ cells that confer heritable information for the grandchildren (F2). Unfortunately, despite growing evidence for connections between F0 drug exposures and F2 pathology, current approaches to risk assessment overlook this important dimension of risk. In this commentary, we argue that the unique molecular vulnerabilities of the fetal germline, particularly with regard to global epigenomic reprogramming, combined with empirical evidence for F2 effects of F1 in utero drug and other exposures, should change the way we consider potential long‐term consequences of pregnancy drugs and alter toxicology's standard somatic paradigm. Specifically, we (1) suggest that pregnancy drugs common in the postwar decades should be investigated as potential contributors to the “missing heritability” of many pathologies now surging in prevalence; (2) call for inclusion of fetal germline risks in pregnancy drug safety assessment; and (3) highlight the need for intensified research to ascertain generational impacts of diethylstilbestrol, a vanguard question of human germline toxicity. Only by fully addressing this important dimension of transplacental exposure can we responsibly evaluate safety of drug exposures during pregnancy and convey the full scope of risks, while also retrospectively comprehending the generational legacy of recent history's unprecedented glut of evolutionarily novel intrauterine exposures. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 60:445–454, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.