bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Role of Health Behaviors, Socioeconomic Status, and Cumulative Stress for Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Obesity
Authors: Cuevas Adolfo G. , Chen Ruijia , Slopen Natalie , Thurber Katherine A. , Wilson Norbert , Economos Christina , Williams David R.
Published: December 2019

Objective

This study aimed to examine the explanatory role of health behaviors, socioeconomic position (SEP), and psychosocial stressors on racial/ethnic obesity disparities in a multiethnic and multiracial sample of adults.

Methods

Using data from the Chicago Community Adult Health Study (2001‐2003), Oaxaca‐Blinder decomposition analysis was conducted to quantify the extent to which health behaviors (fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity), SEP, and cumulative stressors (e.g., perceived discrimination, financial strain) each explained differences in obesity prevalence in Black, US‐born Hispanic, and non‐US‐born Hispanic compared with non‐Hispanic White participants.

Results

SEP and health behaviors did not explain obesity differences between racial/ethnic minorities and White individuals. Having high levels of stress in four or more domains explained 4.46% of the differences between Black and White individuals, whereas having high levels of stress in three domains significantly explained 14.13% of differences between US‐born Hispanic and White. Together, the predictors explained less than 20% of differences between any racial/ethnic minority group and White individuals.

Conclusions

Exposure to stressors may play a role in obesity disparities, particularly among Black and US‐born Hispanic individuals. Other obesity‐related risk factors need to be examined to understand the underlying mechanisms explaining obesity disparities.
Influence of addition of selective metallic species on mechanical properties of graphene/acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene composites
Authors: Panwar Vinay , Pal Kaushik
Published: December 2019

In this work, we have studied the comparative effects of vacancies and the addition of two different metallic species (ie, boron and nickel) on mechanical properties of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with the help of an atomistic simulation toolkit. Calculations related to elastic constants, stress distribution, and localized stresses have shown that the doping of boron has a promising ability to overcome the loss in mechanical properties of a single layer graphene sheet which generally degrades due to the presence of vacancies. Though nickel is also having good mechanical properties and chemical activity but unfavorable for being used as a dopant in graphene. This should be due to the larger atomic size of nickel atoms which creates high localized stresses in the predefined structure of graphene. The presence of these metallic species in doped‐rGO has been experimentally confirmed with the help of Raman spectroscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Finally, the composites prepared with doped‐rGO and acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene have shown that nearly 7% doping of boron in rGO improved the tensile strength by 27%, tensile modulus by 8% and storage modulus by 53%.
Use of Tissue Plasminogen Activator Alteplase for Suspected Impella Thrombosis
Authors: Succar Luma , Donahue Kevin R. , Varnado Sara , Kim Ju H.
Published: December 2019

Background

Impella devices are being increasingly used to manage cardiogenic shock. The incidence of thrombosis and hemolysis in patients on Impella support increases with longer durations of use, and the management of Impella thrombosis remains ill‐defined.

Methods

In this case series, we describe our institutional use of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) alteplase in the Impella purge solution (0.04 or 0.08 mg/ml tPA in sterile water) for management of suspected Impella thrombosis in five patients, each with a different clinical course, treatment, and outcome. Given the limited evidence on the diagnosis of Impella thrombosis, suspicion was driven by the presence of decreased purge flow rates, increased purge pressures, and markers of hemolysis such as elevated lactate dehydrogenase and hematuria.

Outcomes

In all cases, tPA administration resulted in resolution of low purge flow rates and high purge pressures. No major bleeding complications were directly associated with tPA. Two patients were bridged successfully to heart transplantation, two patients underwent left ventricular assist device implantation, and one patient died after withdrawal of care.

Conclusion

Based on our experience, tPA administration appears to be a viable and safe salvage option to delay or prevent device exchange in the setting of suspected Impella thrombosis.
Phosphocyclocreatine is the dominant form of cyclocreatine in control and creatine transporter deficiency patient fibroblasts
Authors: Gorshkov Kirill , Wang Amy Q. , Sun Wei , Fisher Ethan , Frigeni Marta , Singleton Marc , Thorne Natasha , Class Bradley , Huang Wenwei , Longo Nicola , Do Minh‐Ha T. , Ottinger Elizabeth A. , Xu Xin , Zheng Wei
Published: December 2019

Creatine transporter deficiency (CTD) is a metabolic disorder resulting in cognitive, motor, and behavioral deficits. Cyclocreatine (cCr), a creatine analog, has been explored as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of CTD. We developed a rapid, selective, and accurate HILIC ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS) method to simultaneously quantify the intracellular concentrations of cCr, creatine (Cr), creatine‐d3 (Cr‐d3), phosphocyclocreatine (pcCr), and phosphocreatine (pCr). Using HILIC‐UPLC‐MS/MS, we measured cCr and Cr‐d3 uptake and their conversion to the phosphorylated forms in primary human control and CTD fibroblasts. Altogether, the data demonstrate that cCr enters cells and its dominant intracellular form is pcCr in both control and CTD patient cells. Therefore, cCr may replace creatine as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of CTD.
MicroRNAs in non‐small cell lung cancer: Gene regulation, impact on cancer cellular processes, and therapeutic potential
Authors: Petrek Hannah , Yu Ai‐Ming
Published: December 2019

Lung cancer remains the most lethal cancer among men and women in the United States and worldwide. The majority of lung cancer cases are classified as non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Developing new therapeutics on the basis of better understanding of NSCLC biology is critical to improve the treatment of NSCLC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are a superfamily of genome‐derived, small noncoding RNAs that govern posttranscriptional gene expression in cells. Functional miRNAs are commonly dysregulated in NSCLC, caused by genomic deletion, methylation, or altered processing, which may lead to the changes of many cancer‐related pathways and processes, such as growth and death signaling, metabolism, angiogenesis, cell cycle, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition, as well as sensitivity to current therapies. With the understanding of miRNA biology in NSCLC, there are growing interests in developing new therapeutic strategies, namely restoration of tumor suppressive miRNAs and inhibition of tumor promotive miRNAs, to combat against NSCLC. In this article, we provide an overview on the molecular features of NSCLC and current treatment options with a focus on pharmacotherapy and personalized medicine. By illustrating the roles of miRNAs in the control of NSCLC tumorigenesis and progression, we highlight the latest efforts in assessing miRNA‐based therapies in animal models and discuss some critical challenges in developing RNA therapeutics.
Triazophos‐induced vertical transmission of rice stripe virus is associated with host vitellogenin in the small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus
Authors: Xu Gang , Jiang Yu , Zhang Nannan , Liu Fang , Yang Guoqing
Published: December 2019

BACKGROUND

Rice stripe virus (RSV) is one of the most serious rice diseases in East Asia. The small brown planthopper (SBPH), Laodelphax striatellus, is an economically important rice pest. SBPH transmits RSV horizontally and vertically, resulting in serious rice economic losses. Exposure to sublethal doses of insecticides can induce many physiological and cellular changes in insects. However, the mechanism underlying triazophos‐induced RSV vertical transmission remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of vitellogenin (Vg) in triazophos‐induced RSV vertical transmission.

RESULTS

RSV vertical transmission rates were significantly induced by sublethal exposure to triazophos. The transcript abundance of viral RNA3 segment (RNA3) and capsid protein (CP) in the ovaries of SBPH were also significantly increased. Triazophos induced the expression level of Vg in L. striatellus (LsVg) and increased the contents of ovarian protein and fat body protein. Knockdown of Vg significantly reduced the expression levels of LsVg and Vg receptor (LsVgR), and decreased RSV accumulations in the ovaries. Double‐stranded Vg (dsVg)‐mediated down‐regulation could be rescued by exposure to triazophos. Vertical transmission rate of the dsVg‐injected group was significantly decreased compared with the dsGFP‐injected group, and triazophos significantly rescued the RSV vertical transmission rate of the dsVg‐injected group.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that triazophos‐induced RSV vertical transmission is associated with Vg. This work will help us to further elucidate sublethal doses of insecticides‐mediated effects and develop new strategies for pest control. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Calycosin ameliorates doxorubicin‐induced cardiotoxicity by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation via the sirtuin 1–NOD‐like receptor protein 3 pathway
Authors: Zhai Jinghui , Tao Lina , Zhang Sixi , Gao Huan , Zhang Yueming , Sun Jingmeng , Song Yanqing , Qu Xiaoyu
Published: December 2019

The limitation of doxorubicin (DOX), which is widely used for the treatment of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, is a vital problem in clinical application. The most serious of limit factors is cardiotoxicity. Calycosin (CA), an isoflavonoid that is the major active component in Radix astragali, has been reported in many bioactivities including antitumor, anti‐inflammatory, and cardioprotection. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of CA on DOX‐induced cardiotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. CA increased H9c2 cell viability and reduced apoptosis induced by DOX via Bcl‐2, Bax, and the PI3K‐Akt signaling pathway. Moreover, CA prevented DOX‐induced oxidative stress in cells by decreasing the generation of reactive oxygen species. Similarly, oxidative stress was inhibited by CA through the increased activities of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase and decreased the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and malondialdehyde in vivo. Furthermore, the levels of sirtuin 1 (Sirt1)–NOD‐like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and related proteins were ameliorated by CA in cells and in mice hearts. When H9c2 cells were treated by Ex527 (Sirt1 inhibitor), the effect of CA on expressions of NLRP3 and thioredoxin‐interacting protein was suppressed. In conclusion, the results suggested that CA might be a cotreatment with DOX to ameliorate cardiotoxicity by Sirt1–NLRP3 pathway.
A Bayesian approach to diagnosing covariance matrix shifts
Authors: Wang Binhui , Xu Feng , Shu Lianjie
Published: December 2019

In addition to the quick detection of abnormal changes in a multivariate process, it is also critical to provide an accurate fault identification of responsible components following an out‐of‐control signal. In line with the work of Tan and Shi for diagnosing shifts in the mean vector, this paper develops a Bayesian approach for diagnosing shifts in the covariance matrix. The simulation comparisons favor the proposed approach. A real example is also presented to demonstrate the implementation of the proposed method.
A DFT study on mechanisms of CO2 coupling with propargylic alcohols using alkali carbonates
Authors: Li Weiyi , Leng Geng , Li Caiqin , Lyu Yajing
Published: December 2019

The mechanisms of CO2 coupling with the propargylic alcohol using alkali carbonates M2CO3 (M = Li, Na, K, Cs) have been investigated by means of density functional theory calculations. The calculations reveal that the target product tetronic acid (TA) is yielded through two stages: (a) the formation of the α‐alkylidene cyclic carbonate (αACC) intermediate via Cs2CO3‐mediated carboxylative cyclization of the propargylic alcohol with CO2, and (b) the conversion of the αACC intermediate with Cs2CO3 to produce the cesium salt of the TA. Since the overall kinetic barriers for the two stages are comparable and affordable, the excellent chemoselectivity to the TA should be primarily originated from the high thermodynamic stability of the cesium salt of the TA. Moreover, relative to the TA, the possibility to yield the by‐product acyclic carbonate can be excluded due to the both kinetics and thermodynamic inferiority. This result is different from the organic base‐mediated reaction. Alternatively, our calculations predict that CsHCO3 together generated with the cesium salt of the TA might also be an available mediating reagent for the incorporation of CO2 with the propargylic alcohol. Compared to other alkali carbonates M2CO3 (M = Li, Na, K), the stronger basicity of Cs2CO3 and the lower ionic potential of cesium ion can raise the effective concentration of the αACC intermediate, and thus the conversion of the αACC intermediate into the cesium salt of the TA can be achieved with high yield.
Communicate the value of study abroad for community college students
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: December 2019

LOS ANGELES — The benefits of higher education extend beyond what is learned in the classroom. The opportunity to study abroad during their time in college can be a memorable experience for students, one that broadens their horizons. Community colleges might not be the institutions that come to most people's minds when thinking about rich study abroad experiences, but in fact, community colleges often offer students many options for an international experience.
The emerging landscape of health research based on biobanks linked to electronic health records: Existing resources, statistical challenges, and potential opportunities
Authors: Beesley Lauren J. , Salvatore Maxwell , Fritsche Lars G. , Pandit Anita , Rao Arvind , Brummett Chad , Willer Cristen J. , Lisabeth Lynda D. , Mukherjee Bhramar
Published: December 2019

Biobanks linked to electronic health records provide rich resources for health‐related research. With improvements in administrative and informatics infrastructure, the availability and utility of data from biobanks have dramatically increased. In this paper, we first aim to characterize the current landscape of available biobanks and to describe specific biobanks, including their place of origin, size, and data types. The development and accessibility of large‐scale biorepositories provide the opportunity to accelerate agnostic searches, expedite discoveries, and conduct hypothesis‐generating studies of disease‐treatment, disease‐exposure, and disease‐gene associations. Rather than designing and implementing a single study focused on a few targeted hypotheses, researchers can potentially use biobanks' existing resources to answer an expanded selection of exploratory questions as quickly as they can analyze them. However, there are many obvious and subtle challenges with the design and analysis of biobank‐based studies. Our second aim is to discuss statistical issues related to biobank research such as study design, sampling strategy, phenotype identification, and missing data. We focus our discussion on biobanks that are linked to electronic health records. Some of the analytic issues are illustrated using data from the Michigan Genomics Initiative and UK Biobank, two biobanks with two different recruitment mechanisms. We summarize the current body of literature for addressing these challenges and discuss some standing open problems. This work complements and extends recent reviews about biobank‐based research and serves as a resource catalog with analytical and practical guidance for statisticians, epidemiologists, and other medical researchers pursuing research using biobanks.
A Sulfonated Porous Polymer as Solid Acid Catalyst for Biofuel Synthesis and Chemical Fixation of CO2
Authors: Dey Tusar Kanto , Bhanja Piyali , Basu Priyanka , Ghosh Aniruddha , Islam Sk. Manirul
Published: December 2019

Deforestation and uncontrolled emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) through abundant use of fossil fuels result global warming. This serious threat to the atmosphere has deeply motivated the researchers to develop new strategies for chemical fixation of CO2 and biofuel synthesis. Here we report the sulfonated porous polytriphenylamine (SPPTPA‐1, BET surface area of 664 m2 g−1, pore volume 0.386 cc g−1) as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates via CO2 fixation into epoxides. SPPTPA‐1 catalyst contains pores with dimension of 1.8‐2.0 nm, which produced a H1 type hysteresis loop in N2 adsorption/desorption isotherm. The porous catalyst is thermally stable upto 196 °C. The synthesized SPPTPA‐1 catalyst contains large amount of surface acidic sites. Further, it catalyzes the esterification reaction of levulinic acid, long chain fatty acids and dicarboxylic acids due to presence of its acidic sites. This solid acid catalyst SPPTPA‐1 showed excellent recycling efficiency upto 5 times in all these demanding reactions.
Role of X‐ray Scattering Techniques in Understanding the Collagen Structure of Leather
Authors: Buchanan Jenna K. , Zhang Yi , Holmes Geoff , Covington Anthony D. , Prabakar Sujay
Published: December 2019

This review focuses on the SAXS and WAXS analysis of the collagen structure of leather, from pioneering works through to recent developments. X‐ray scattering can be used to investigate the structural features of fibrillar collagen in the leather matrix, including axial periodicity, fibril diameter, chemical fixation, hydration and fibrillar orientation. Key properties of leather, such as appearance, handle, strength, hydrothermal stability and resistance to putrefaction, are closely linked to these parameters, thereby underlining the importance of X‐ray scattering to the study of leather. Recent research on the molecular level changes in collagen structure at different stages of leather processing with a range of treatments is also summarized. We will highlight how studies using X‐ray scattering techniques have provided significant insights into tanning processes which could be used to improve leather properties and optimize/reduce the use of tanning agents such as chromium (III) in the industry. The review will also describe the details of collagen structure and tanning mechanisms that are yet to be determined by X‐ray scattering, as well as future advancements of this technique and what it can accomplish for the leather industry.
Catalytic Efficiency of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles in Synthesis of Chromones and Reduction of Nitro Aromatics
Authors: Kandula Venu , Balakrishna C. , Behera Manoranjan , Nagababu Uppu , Kumar G. Kiran , Chatterjee Anindita
Published: December 2019

Silver nanoparticles (AgNps) were biosynthesized and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), UV‐visible absorption (UV‐vis) and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The average size of the nanoparticles was found to be around 20 nm from TEM and surface plasmon band appeared at 420 nm. The nanoparticles are highly crystalline and possess face‐centered cubic (fcc) structures. These nanoparticles were used for the synthesis of chromones by a simple, mild and efficient method using microwave irradiation. Good yield upto 82% has been achieved for the synthesis of chromones. Further, the AgNps were used in reduction of aromatic nitro compounds to corresponding anilines with high yield. All reactions were studied under benign reaction conditions without using any hazardous organic solvents, expensive ligand or activator.
Evolution of Electronegativity of Chlorinated Sulfur‐Containing and Organic Compounds from Neutral to Core‐Excited/Ionized States
Authors: Carniato Stéphane
Published: December 2019

Absolute electronegativity of chlorinated ‐[CnH2nSCl (n=1,2,4)] sulfur‐containing groups and organic systems in their isolated forms has been theoretically evaluated with the help of ionization potential/electronic affinities calculations. The variation of the electronegativity of these groups when bond formation with an atomic chlorine was estimated between 1–4 in the Pauling scale within the frozen orbitals approximation (Koopman's theorem) applied to the Cl2s core‐level. The fluctuation of the electronegativity when removing explicitly one Cl 2 s inner‐shell electron has been also investigated for the series. Taking into account relaxation and correlation effects we show that core ionization produces a large increase of the group electronegativity by two units (3‐6 in the Pauling scale). The change of the electronegativity after Cl1s
LUMO core excitation and subsequent KL radiative decay in resonant inelastic x‐ray scattering process has been also followed through the analysis of the weight of the Cl 2p(z)−1LUMO1 component aligned along the R−Cl chemical bond and contributing to the Cl 2p3/2 spin‐orbit state. Electronegativities are found in the same range (1‐3) as for the initial ground state due to screening of the core‐vacancy by the promoted single electron onto the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). Subtle fluctuations of the chemical group electronegativity and relaxation/correlation processes with the sulfur position in the chains are discussed.
Magnetic and Optical Properties of Ag‐CoFe Nanohybrids Prepared by a Sequenced Microfluidic Process
Authors: Ma Jugang , Wang Junmei , Zhang Guangqing , Peng Lifan , Song Xiangrong , Ding Jie , Ji Shaoxia , Song Yujun
Published: December 2019

Metal‐based magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) with hybrid structures are currently attracting extensive attention due to the synergistic effects among constructing components. Their unique physicochemical properties endow them with widespread applications in catalysis, optics, magnetic separation and magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents. However, the formation of nanohybrids (NHs) is usually difficult due to the incompatibility of components, especially for NHs of core‐shell structures with mismatched crystal lattices. In this study, NHs containing Ag core and CoFe alloy surface layer (Ag‐CoFe NHs) with varieties of hybrid structures were successfully synthesized by a sequenced microfluidic process. The hybrid structure formation mechanism was discussed according to the crystal plane matching theory, and their related optical and magnetic properties were investigated. When compared to Ag NPs, Ag‐CoFe NHs presented a distinct red shifted and broader absorption peak in visible region. This may be attributed to the changes in dielectric constant caused by different CoFe shells and the diversity of hybrid structures. Moreover, due to the interface pinning effects and magnetoelectric coupling effect between Ag cores and CoFe shells, the superparamagnetic properties of Ag‐CoFe NHs still existed at room temperature although its block temperature was much higher than that of CoFe NPs. Based on these characteristics, the Ag‐CoFe NHs show great potential in magneto‐optics, multi‐mode nanomedicines and other related fields.
An Initial Study on the Feasibility of Using Rudimentary SERS in Quick Chemical Assessment of Ambient Aerosols
Authors: Saniel Monica Blaise B. , Lim Len Herald V. , Lamorena Rheo B.
Published: December 2019

A portable or field‐deployable Raman spectrometer was fabricated for ambient particulate matter chemical assessment. The Raman spectrometer was optimized using five organic compounds namely, naphthalene, ascorbic acid, oxalic acid, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), as general compositional classifiers. Compounds were deposited onto microscope glass slides and analyzed under varying laser power (30 mW – 200 mW) and integration time (3 s – 10s). Spectral data from the fabricated device were compared with that obtained from a benchtop reference device to verify correctness of spectral signature. Cu nanoparticles, as surface‐enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) substrates, were applied to the samples by direct dropping and drop‐coating. Results show that Raman intensity and signal to noise (S/N) ratio increases with increasing laser power and integration time. Results also show that the use of SERS technique amplified the Raman spectral signals of naphthalene and oxalic acid by 57% and 53.8%, respectively, in comparison to conventional Raman. Notably, no additional peaks were formed from the application of nanoparticles and only peak intensity amplification was observed.
Isolation and Bioactive Potential of Fucoidan from Marine Macroalgae Turbinaria conoides
Authors: Ganapathy Sivaranjani , Lingappa Sivakumar , Naidu Kavitha , Selvaraj Uthra , Ramachandiran Sivaramakrishnan , Ponnusamy Shanmugam , Somasundaram Somasundaram Thirugnanasambandam
Published: December 2019

The sulfated polysaccharide fucoidan was extracted from brown algae Turbinaria conoides using hot water and purified by anion‐exchange chromatography. The biochemical and monosaccharide composition of purified fucoidan was studied by colorimetric assays and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS). The purity of fucoidan was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis and the structure was characterized by using spectroscopic techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. Further, the bioactivity properties of fucoidan such as antioxidant, anticoagulant and anti‐inflammatory were evaluated. The results showed profound antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities of fucoidan. The anti‐coagulant activity of fucoidan demonstrated striking inhibition of intrinsic and extrinsic coagulants involved in coagulation pathway.
Interaction Studies of Methanol and Ethanol Vapors on Green Phosphorene Sheets: A First‐Principles Study
Authors: Swetha Baswa , Nagarajan Veerappan , Chandiramouli Ramanathan
Published: December 2019

The electronic and adsorption properties of methanol & ethanol on green phosphorene nanosheets (GP‐NS) are explored using first‐principles studies. We confirmed the stable structure of GP‐NS using formation energy, which is recorded as −3.72 eV/atom. We studied the adsorption energy of methanol and ethanol vapors on GP‐NS that are noted to be exothermic. Also, the charge transfer shows that charge transfer takes place between alcohol molecules and GP‐NS. The semiconducting nature of GP‐NS is noticed from our calculation. The change in the energy gap is observed owing to the adsorption of the ethanol & methanol vapors on GP‐NS. The results of this report reveal that GP‐NS is a capable base substrate for detecting alcohol vapors. The present report will lay new in‐roads for the usage of GP‐NS as chemical sensor.
A Novel Class Substituted Imidazo[2,1‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazole Derivatives: Synthesis, Characterization, In Vitro Biological Activity, and Potential Inhibitors Design Studies
Authors: Er Mustafa , Ahmadov Farid , Karakurt Tuncay , Direkel Şahin , Tahtaci Hakan
Published: December 2019

In this study, imidazo[2,1‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazole derivatives were designed and synthesized. All of the synthesized compounds were characterized by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR and 13C NMR), fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and X‐ray diffraction. The synthesized compounds were tested for antileishmanial activity against two Leishmania species and antibacterial activity against nine bacterial species in the study. It was observed that 2‐(4‐Fluorobenzylthio)‐6‐(4‐fluorophenyl)imidazo[2,1‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazole (5) had the highest antileishmanial activity (MIC: 625 μg/mL). Also, 4‐(2‐(4‐fluorobenzylthio)imidazo[2,1‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazol‐6‐yl)benzonitrile (10), 2‐(4‐fluorobenzylthio)‐6‐(4‐phenylphenyl)imidazo[2,1‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazole (11), and 4‐(2‐(4‐methoxybenzyl)imidazo[2,1‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazol‐6‐yl)benzonitrile (25) were found to be effective at different studied concentrations. PyRx software, which uses a Lamarckian genetics algorithm, was utilized to find the affinity values of all compounds in molecular docking simulations. Pharmacokinetic properties and toxicities of the ligands were then researched using PROTOX (a webserver for the prediction of oral toxicities of small molecules) and FAF‐Drugs (free adsorption distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME) tox filtering tool). The study showed that the ligands had acceptable toxicity and ADME properties for the inhibition of the 3JUS receptor.
Electrochemical Methodology as an Useful Tool for the Interfacial Characterization of Aqueous Reverse Micelles
Authors: Cobo Solís Airam K. , Luna M. Alejandra , Falcone R. Darío , Correa N. Mariano , Molina Patricia G.
Published: December 2019

In this work, for the first time, the electrochemical behavior of hydroquinone (H2Q) by linear voltammetry in aqueous reverse micelles (RMs) of sodium 1,4‐bis(2‐ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT)/n‐heptane, as well in homogenous media at different pH values, were studied. The choice of this molecular probe is because of its electrochemical response in water, strongly depend on the pH value thus, our goal is to know more about an intriguing issue in the soft matter field, what is the pH value for water encapsulated in the water pool of AOT RMs. Our work will demonstrate that the interfacial apparent pH value of AOT RMs is not strongly acidic as some of the literature works claim, but it is around a pH value of 6.7. Thus, through the electrochemistry technique, the present work reinforces the idea that the concept of is strongly dependent on the water‐interface interactions and the molecular probe location.
“Quinoline Consists of 1H‐1,2,3‐Triazole Hybrids: Design, Synthesis and Anticancer Evaluation”
Authors: Venkata Sivarami Reddy Gangireddy , C.Narkhede Umesh , Jadhav Vinod. D , Naidu Challa Gangu , Addada Ramakrishnam Raju , Pulya Sravani , Ghosh Balaram
Published: December 2019

A series of novel 8‐bromo‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl‐2‐methylquinoline derivatives and their Suzuki coupling products were synthesized via Copper catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) strategy followed by microwave assisted Suzuki coupling for the development of new series of anticancer agents. The invitro anticancer activity of the synthesized compounds were screened against human breast cancer (MDA‐MB‐231) and melanoma cell lines (B16F10). Among these, compounds 5 c (Azetidine), 5 e (Nitro benzoate), 5 f (fluorobenzyl)‐1H‐pyrazole), 5 g (Boc piperidine), 6 a (cyclo propyl), 6 c (5‐fluoro‐6‐methoxypyridin‐3‐yl)and 6 d (2‐methoxypyridin‐3‐yl) were showed anticancer activity ranging from 13.44 μM to 38.2 μM. The cellular toxicity of the novel compounds was also evaluated using normal human embryonic kidney (HEK) cell lines.
Synthesis, Photophysical, Thermal and Crystallographic Studies of 3‐Aminocoumarin Based Monobasic κ3‐O,N,O‐tridentate/ κ2‐N,O‐bidentate Schiff Base Divalent Complexes
Authors: Verma Sanjay K , Savani Chirag , Singh Vinay K.
Published: December 2019

The reaction of 3‐Amino coumarin based Schiff base ligands HL1 and HL2 with metal acetates in refluxing ethanol affords access to a new series of neutral mononuclear divalent complexes [MII‐κ3‐bis‐O,N,O‐tridentate Schiff base‐ HL1/ HL2] {HL1, MII=Co (1), Ni (2) or Zn (3); HL2, MII=Co (4), Ni (5) or Zn (6)}, [CuII‐κ2‐bis‐N,O‐bidentate Schiff base‐HL1] (7) and [CuII‐κ2‐bis‐N,O‐bidentate Schiff base‐HL2] (8). Compounds were characterized by microanalysis, standard spectroscopic (viz. MALDI‐TOF‐MS, IR, 1H and 13C NMR, UV‐visible absorption and emission) and TGA/DTA methods. The unambiguous crystal structure of HL1, HL2, complexes 2 and 3 was determined crystallographically. The IR, UV‐visible, EPR spectral and magnetic studies clearly suggest the κ3‐O,N,O‐tridentate‐ coordination mode of HL1 and HL2 towards cobalt(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) metal ions in 1–6 and κ2‐N,O‐bidentate‐coordination mode towards copper(II) metal ions in 7 and 8. Notably, compounds fluoresce a medium to strong emissions in the visible region is observed with concomitant Stokes shifts of ≈ 90 nm. UV‐visible transmittance spectral study reveals the semiconducting nature of HL1, HL2, complexes 1–8 gave with band gap energy of 1.57‐2.24 electron volts. The molecules of HL1, HL2, 2 and 3 are stabilized by various intermolecular CH…π, CH…O and π…π contacts that efficiently managed the growth of self‐assembly in three dimensions and form infinite molecular layers in the solid state.
Enhancing the Electrochromic Properties of Polyaniline through Incorporating Terpyridine Units and Coordination Bonding with Transition Metal Ions
Authors: Xiong Shanxin , Zhang Jiaojiao , Wang Ru , Wu Bohua , Chu Jia , Wang Xiaoqin , Zhang Runlan , Gong Ming , Li Zhen , Qu Mengnan , Chen Zhenming
Published: December 2019

A novel polyaniline‐terpyridine‐transition metal ions (PANI‐TPY−M (M=Fe (II), Co (II), Ni (II))) hybrid electrochromic materials containing coordination bonds were successfully synthesized in an aqueous medium. The molecular and aggregation structures of PANI‐TPY−M were systematically studied by FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), particle size analysis and Raman spectroscopy. The influence of transition metal ions on the thermal stability of materials was analyzed by TGA (thermogravimetric analysis). The electrochemical behaviors and electrochromic properties of materials were measured by CV (cyclic voltammetry) and UV‐vis (UV‐visible spectroscopy). It can be found that the electrochemical activities of PANI‐TPY and PANI‐TPY−M are both higher than that of PANI. Especially, the electrochromic devices with PANI‐TPY−M (M=Fe (II), Co (II), Ni (II)) as active layer exhibit obvious optical contrast enhancement function. As comparison to PANI, the contrast of PANI‐TPY increases about 57%, the contrast of PANI‐TPY−Fe increases about 76%, the contrast of PANI‐TPY−Co increases by nearly 73%, and the contrast of PANI‐TPY−Ni increases by 54%.
Fabrication of Ti3+ Self‐doped TiO2 via a Facile Carbothermal Reduction with Enhanced Photodegradation Activities
Authors: Wang Yan , Sun Liping , Chudal Lalit , Pandey Nil Kanatha , Zhang Manbo , Chen Wei
Published: December 2019

Herein, we report a new and facile carbothermal reduction method to prepare Ti3+ self‐doped titanium dioxide (TiO2) using inorganic carbon powder as a reducing agent. As‐prepared samples were thoroughly characterized by XRD, Raman, SEM, UV‐DRS, EPR, XPS, and BET. The photocatalytic activity of the as‐prepared nanomaterials was explored using the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under Xe light illumination. The self‐doped TiO2 (TiO2‐C0.5‐600) exhibits high photodegradation activity with the degradation efficiency of 97% in 120 min. The improved performance could be because of the separation of photogenerated carriers and the narrowing of band gap due to the introduction of Ti3+ and oxygen vacancy. Overall, our work demonstrates a simple, environmentally friendly, and economical synthesis method for narrowing the band gap and developing a highly photocatalytic material, thereby opening a new avenue in the field of wastewater treatment.
Multifunctional Carbon Dots for Trace Water Detection, White LEDs, and Bioimaging
Authors: Geng Bijiang , Wang Xulong , Li Ping , Shen Wenwen , Qin Hua , Fang Fuling , Yin Luqiao , Shen Longxiang , Pan Dengyu
Published: December 2019

Highly fluorescent, ultrafine CDs were synthesized by a simple one‐pot solvothermal method. The as‐prepared CDs exhibited unique yellow emission and intrinsic fluorescence characteristics independent of excitation wavelengths. We revealed a distinct fluorescence quenching mechanism in the CDs, where the reversible alternation between aggregation and dispersion states can mediate the fluorescence turn‐on and turn‐off response. Therefore, the CDs can be used as a fluorescence nanoswitch for the highly sensitive quantitative detection of trace water in organic solvents. We also demonstrated the applications of the CDs as a stable yellow phosphor and biological probe for white LEDs and biomembrane imaging. Our results suggest that the low‐cost fluorescent material has great promise for practice applications in sensing, bioimaging, and optoelectronic device.
Chemo‐ and Diastereoselective Synthesis of Pyrazolo‐tetrahydropyridines via Multicomponent Sequential Aza‐Diels‐Alder Reactions in Water
Authors: Nazeri Mohammad Taghi , Javanbakht Siamak , Shaabani Ahmad , Khavasi Hamid Reza
Published: December 2019

In this study, we report a novel and an efficient strategy for the synthesis of chemo‐ and diastereoselective synthesis of pyrazolo‐tetrahydropyridines via a one‐pot multi‐component intramolecular Aza‐Diels–Alder reactions (ADARs) from benzoylacetonitrile derivatives, phenylhydrazine, salicylaldehyde derivatives, and styrenesulfonyl or cinnamoyl chloride in H2O as a green solvent. This synthesis procedure was also designed to follow the group‐assisted purification (GAP) chemistry, which can avoid traditional purification such as recrystallization and chromatography methods.
Which principal components are most sensitive in the change detection problem?
Authors: Tveten Martin
Published: December 2019

Principal component analysis (PCA) is often used in anomaly detection and statistical process control tasks. For bivariate normal data, we prove that the minor projection (the least varying projection) of the PCA‐rotated data is the most sensitive to distributional changes, where sensitivity is defined as the Hellinger distance between the projections' marginal distributions before and after a change. In particular, this is almost always the case if only one parameter of the bivariate normal distribution changes, that is, the change is sparse. Simulations indicate that the minor projections are the most sensitive for a large range of changes and pre‐change settings in higher dimensions as well, including changes that are very sparse. This motivates using only a few of the minor projections for detecting sparse distributional changes in high‐dimensional data.
Engraftment of skeletal progenitor cells by bone-directed transplantation improves osteogenesis imperfecta murine bone phenotype
Authors: Sinder Benjamin P. , Novak Sanja , Wee Natalie K. Y. , Basile Mariangela , Maye Peter , Matthews Brya G. , Kalajzic Ivo
Published: December 2019

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disorder most commonly caused by mutations associated with type I collagen, resulting in a defective collagen bone matrix. Current treatments for OI focus on pharmaceutical strategies to increase the amount of defective bone matrix, but do not address the underlying collagen defect. Introducing healthy donor stem cells that differentiate into osteoblasts producing normal collagen in OI patients has the potential to increase bone mass and correct the mutant collagen matrix. In this study, donor bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs, also known as bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells) expressing both αSMACreERT2/Ai9 progenitor reporter and osteoblast reporter Col2.3GFP were locally transplanted into the femur of OI murine (OIM) mice. One month post-transplantation, 18% of the endosteal surface was lined by donor Col2.3GFP expressing osteoblasts indicating robust engraftment. Long-term engraftment in the marrow was observed 3 and 6 months post-transplantation. The presence of Col1a2-expressing donor cell-derived cortical bone matrix was detected in transplanted OIM femurs. Local transplantation of BMSCs increased cortical thickness (+12%), the polar moment of inertia (+14%), bone strength (+30%), and stiffness (+30%) 3 months post-transplantation. Engrafted cells expressed progenitor markers CD51 and Sca-1 up to 3 months post-transplantation. Most importantly, 3 months post-transplantation donor cells maintained the ability to differentiate into Col2.3GFP+ osteoblasts in vitro, and in vivo following secondary transplantation into OIM animals. Locally transplanted BMSCs can improve cortical structure and strength, and persist as continued source of osteoblast progenitors in the OIM mouse for at least 6 months.
A Major Hydrothermal Reservoir Underneath the Tatun Volcano Group of Taiwan: Clues from a Dense Linear Geophone Array
Authors: Lin C. H. , Lai Y. C. , Shih M. H. , Lin C. J. , Ku J. S. , Huang Y. C.
Published: December 2019

A dense linear geophone array is deployed across the Tatun volcano group (TVG) at the northern tip of Taiwan, where more than 7 million residents live in the Taipei metropolis. The array is composed of 50 geophones with a station spacing of ~ 200 m in average, and it is designed for striking in the NW–SE direction to record the many earthquakes in eastern Taiwan, where the Philippine Sea plate subducted beneath the Eurasia plate. The detailed examination of felt earthquakes shows consistent P-wave delays are recorded at particular stations of the array. The further forward modeling indicates there is a low-velocity zone (LVZ) at depths between ~ 0.5 and ~ 2.5 km beneath the major fumarole sites. Combining this preliminary result with previous studies including clustering seismicity, volcanic earthquakes, low-resistivity zone, strong degassing processes and shallow velocity structures, we suggest that the LVZ might be associated with the major hydrothermal reservoir at the TVG. The identification of the hydrothermal reservoir by the LVZ not only implies a potential volcanic threat, such as phreatic eruptions, in the future, but also provides the possibility of sustainable geothermal resources for replacing traditional nuclear and fossil fuel power plants. Detailed images of the LVZ and other volcanic structures will be obtained soon when dense geophone arrays with more than 600 geophones are deployed from 2020 to 2022.
Haloferax volcanii for biotechnology applications: challenges, current state and perspectives
Authors: Haque R. U. , Paradisi F. , Allers T.
Published: December 2019

Haloferax volcanii is an obligate halophilic archaeon with its origin in the Dead Sea. Simple laboratory culture conditions and a wide range of genetic tools have made it a model organism for studying haloarchaeal cell biology. Halophilic enzymes of potential interest to biotechnology have opened up the application of this organism in biocatalysis, bioremediation, nanobiotechnology, bioplastics and the biofuel industry. Functionally active halophilic proteins can be easily expressed in a halophilic environment, and an extensive genetic toolkit with options for regulated protein overexpression has allowed the purification of biotechnologically important enzymes from different halophiles in H. volcanii. However, corrosion mediated damage caused to stainless-steel bioreactors by high salt concentrations and a tendency to form biofilms when cultured in high volume are some of the challenges of applying H. volcanii in biotechnology. The ability to employ expressed active proteins in immobilized cells within a porous biocompatible matrix offers new avenues for exploiting H. volcanii in biotechnology. This review critically evaluates the various application potentials, challenges and toolkits available for using this extreme halophilic organism in biotechnology.
Older patients’ attitudes towards, and perceptions of, preoperative physical activity and exercise prior to colorectal cancer surgery—a gap between awareness and action
Authors: Karlsson Emelie , Dahl Oili , Rydwik Elisabeth , Nygren-Bonnier Malin , Bergenmar Mia
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Time for preoperative optimisation prior to colorectal cancer surgery is limited and older people tend to decline exercise interventions. This study sought to describe attitudes towards, and perceptions of, preoperative physical activity and exercise in older people prior to colorectal cancer surgery.

Methods

This is a qualitative interview study, analysed with inductive content analysis. Seventeen participants scheduled for colorectal surgery were recruited as a purposeful sample from two hospitals in Stockholm, Sweden. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted, face-to-face (n = 8) or by telephone (n = 9).

Results

Nine participants were male, median age was 75 years (range 70–91). The theme, ‘a gap between awareness and action’, was identified based on two main categories: ‘Attitudes towards preoperative physical exercise have a multifactorial base’ and ‘Preoperative physical exercise is possible with a push in the right direction’. The material described a gap between awareness of the benefits of physical activity and reports of performing physical activity. The reasons for the gap between thoughts and action in this respect seem to be multifactorial. Support from others emerged as an important possibility for overcoming the gap.

Conclusions

A gap between the patients’ awareness and action appeared in our material. Understanding this can guide healthcare professionals (HCPs) as to the support needed preoperatively. Advice on physical exercise before surgery should be specific, and individually tailored support for action should be offered. This support should also consider the individual’s current physical activity and preoperative attitude towards physical exercise.
Correction to: Context‑dependent aggression toward non‑nestmates in the ant Diacamma sp. from Japan
Authors: Uematsu Jumpei , Hayashi Masayuki , Shimoji Hiroyuki , Laurent Salazar Michel-Olivier , Tsuji Kazuki
Published: December 2019

The original article has been corrected.
Single-Cell Analysis for Glycogen Localization and Metabolism in Cultured Astrocytes
Authors: Zhu Yuanyuan , Fan Ze , Wang Rui , Xie Rougang , Guo Haiyun , Zhang Ming , Guo Baolin , Sun Tangna , Zhang Haifeng , Zhuo Lixia , Li Yan , Wu Shengxi
Published: December 2019

Cerebral glycogen is principally localized in astrocytes rather than in neurons. Glycogen metabolism has been implicated in higher brain functions, including learning and memory, yet the distribution patterns of glycogen in different types of astrocytes have not been fully described. Here, we applied a method based on the incorporation of 2-NBDG, a d-glucose fluorescent derivative that can trace glycogen, to investigate glycogen’s distribution in the brain. We identified two types of astrocytes, namely, 2-NBDGI (glycogen-deficient) and 2-NBDGII (glycogen-rich) cells. Whole-cell patch-clamp and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) were used to separate 2-NBDGII astrocytes from 2-NBDGI astrocytes. The expression levels of glycogen metabolic enzymes were analyzed in 2-NBDGI and 2-NBDGII astrocytes. We found unique glycogen metabolic patterns between 2-NBDGI and 2-NBDGII astrocytes. We also observed that 2-NBDGII astrocytes were mainly identified as fibrous astrocytes but not protoplasmic astrocytes. Our data reveal cell type-dependent glycogen distribution and metabolism patterns, suggesting diverse functions of these different astrocytes.