bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polymer Nanocontainers for Intracellular Delivery
Authors: Pottanam Chali Sharafudheen , Ravoo Bart Jan
Published: July 2019

Carriers for intracellular delivery are required to overcome limitations of therapeutic agents such as low specificity, systemic toxicity, high clearance rate, and low therapeutic index. Nanocontainers comprised of an aqueous core and a polymer shell have received increasing attention because they readily combine stimuli response to improve intracellular payload release and surface modification to enhance selectivity towards the desired region of action. This Minireview summarizes the design and properties of polymer nanocontainers for intracellular delivery, classified according to the polymer architecture.
Luminescence study of LiMgBO3:Dy for γ‐ray and carbon ion beam exposure
Authors: Yerpude Mangesh M. , Chopra Vibha , Dhoble N.S. , Kadam R.M. , Krupski Aleksander R. , Dhoble S.J.
Published: July 2019

LiMgBO3:Dy3+, a low Zeff material was prepared using the solution combustion method and its luminescence properties were studied using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermoluminescence (TL), photoluminescence (PL), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques. Reitvield refinement was also performed for the structural studies. The PL emission spectra for LiMgBO3:Dy3+ consisted of two peaks at 478 due to the 4F9/2→6H15/2 magnetic dipole transition and at 572 nm due to the hypersensitive 4F9/2→6H13/2 electric dipole transition of Dy3+, respectively. A TL study was carried out for both the γ‐ray‐irradiated sample and the C5+ irradiated samples and was found to show high sensitivity for both. Moreover the γ‐ray‐irradiated LiMgBO3:Dy3+ sample showed linearity in the dose range 10 Gy to 1 kGy and C5+‐irradiated samples show linearity in the fluence range 2 × 1010 to 1 × 1011 ions/cm2. In the present study, the initial rise method, various heating rate method, the whole glow curve method, glow curve convolution deconvolution function, and Chen's peak shape method were used to calculate kinetic parameters to understand the TL glow curve mechanism in detail. Finally, an EPR study was performed to examine the radicals responsible for the TL process.
Distinct gene alterations between Fos‐expressing striatal and thalamic neurons after withdrawal from methamphetamine self‐administration
Authors: Li Xuan , Davis Ian R. , Lofaro Olivia M. , Zhang Jianjun , Cimbro Raffaello , Rubio F. Javier
Published: July 2019

Background

Methamphetamine (Meth) seeking progressively increases after withdrawal (incubation of Meth craving). We previously demonstrated a role of anterior intralaminar nucleus of thalamus (AIT) to dorsomedial striatum (DMS) projections in this incubation. Here, we examined molecular alterations in DMS and AIT neurons activated (identified by neuronal activity marker Fos) during “incubated” Meth‐seeking relapse test after prolonged withdrawal.

Methods

We trained male rats to self‐administer Meth or saline (control condition) for 10 days (6 hr/day). Using fluorescence‐activated cell sorting, we examined gene expression in Fos‐positive (activated during a 2‐hr relapse test) and Fos‐negative (nonactivated) DMS and AIT neurons.

Results

In DMS, we found increased mRNA expressions of immediate early genes (IEGs) (Arc, Egr1, Npas4, Fosb), Trkb, glutamate receptors subunits (Gria3, Grin1, Grin2b, Grm1), and epigenetic enzymes (Hdac3, Hdac5, Crebbp) in Fos‐positive neurons, compared with Fos‐negative neurons. In AIT, we found that fewer genes (Egr1, Fosb, TrkB, Grin1, and Hdac5) exhibited increased mRNA expression in Fos‐positive neurons. Unexpectedly, in both brain regions, gene alterations described above also occurred in drug‐naïve saline self‐administration control rats.

Conclusions

These results demonstrated that transcriptional regulations in Fos‐positive neurons activated during the relapse tests are brain region‐specific but are not uniquely associated with drug exposure during the self‐administration training.
HOXA10 induces BCL2 expression, inhibits apoptosis, and promotes cell proliferation in gastric cancer
Authors: Song Chenlong , Han Yang , Luo Huan , Qin Zhiwei , Chen Zhengqian , Liu Yuan , Lu Su , Sun Huimin , Zhou Chongzhi
Published: July 2019

Homeobox A10 (HOXA10) has been implicated critical for the promotion of carcinogenesis, but the underlying mechanism between HOXA10 and malignant gastric cancer (GC) phenotype remains elusive. In the present study, we analyzed and validated that HOXA10 and BCL2 expressions were elevated both at the mRNA and protein levels in GC tissues. Upregulated HOXA10 promoted GC cell proliferation with reduced apoptosis in vitro and accelerated GC tumor growth in vivo. Bioinformatics analysis and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) experiment inferred that HOXA10 might upregulate the expression of BCL2. By performing western blot, chromatin immunoprecipitation and quantitative PCR (ChIP‐qPCR), and rescue experiment, we found that HOXA10 might bind to BCL2 promoter region, induce its expression, and thus inhibit intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Moreover, higher expression of HOXA10 and BCL2 predicted poor overall survival (OS) in GC patients. In summary, our study indicated that HOXA10 was upregulated in GC, and that HOXA10 might promote cell proliferation by elevating BCL2 expression and inhibiting apoptosis.
Repurposing the Pummerer Rearrangement: Determination of Methionine Sulfoxides in Peptides
Authors: Woodroofe Carolyn C. , Ivanic Joseph , Monti Sarah , Levine Rodney L. , Swenson Rolf E.
Published: July 2019

The reversible oxidation of methionine residues in proteins has emerged as a biologically important post‐translational modification. However, detection and quantitation of methionine sulfoxide in proteins is difficult. Our aim is to develop a method for specifically derivatizing methionine sulfoxide residues. We report a Pummerer rearrangement of methionine sulfoxide treated sequentially with trimethylsilyl chloride and then 2‐mercaptoimidazole or pyridine‐2‐thiol to produce a dithioacetal product. This derivative is stable to standard mass spectrometry conditions, and its formation identified oxidized methionine residues. The scope and requirements of dithioacetal formation are reported for methionine sulfoxide and model substrates. The reaction intermediates have been investigated by computational techniques and by 13C NMR spectroscopy. These provide evidence for an α‐chlorinated intermediate. The derivatization allows for detection and quantitation of methionine sulfoxide in proteins by mass spectrometry and potentially by immunochemical methods.
New Type of Columnar Liquid Crystal Superlattice in Double‐Taper Ionic Minidendrons
Authors: Li Ya‐Xin , Fan Fang‐Fang , Wang Jie , Cseh Liliana , Xue Min , Zeng Xiang‐Bing , Ungar Goran
Published: July 2019

Wedge‐shaped molecules, such as dendrons, are among the most important building blocks for directed supramolecular self‐assembly. Here we present a new approach aimed at widening the range and complexity of potential mesophases by introducing double‐tapered mesogens. Two series of compounds are presented, both alkali metal salts (Li, Na, Cs) of 3,4,5‐tris‐alkoxybenzoic acid with a second taperedtris‐alkoxyaryl group attached at the end of an alkoxy chain. The double‐tapered compounds all display an unusual hexagonal columnar phase consisting of one ionic and three non‐ionic columns per unit cell. The cation size has an unexpectedly drastic effect on unit cell size. Unlike most columnar phases, the current phases show unusually high dimensional stability on heating, and high stiffness in spite of being 80–85 % aliphatic, attributed to their molecular topology. The described approach may lead to co‐assemblies of multifunctional materials, for example, parallelp‐ andn‐semiconducting nanowires or parallel ionic and electronic conductors.
Abnormal Nucleophilic Substitution on Methoxytropone Derivatives: Steric Strategy to Synthesize 5‐Substituted Azulenes
Authors: Kumar Neha Rani , Agrawal Abhijeet R. , Zade Sanjio S.
Published: July 2019

Azulene is a non‐alternant non‐benzenoid aromatic system, and in turn, it possesses unusual photophysical properties. Azulene‐based conjugated systems have received increasing interest in recent years as optoelectronic materials. Despite the routes available for the preparation of substituted azulene derivatives, there remain few methods that allow regioselective substitution on the seven‐membered ring of azulenes due to the subtle reactivity difference among the various positions. This report explores the reactivity of substituted tropolones as the azulene precursors and also provides a new method to create 5‐substituted azulenes. The reaction of cyanoacetate enolate with unsubstituted 2‐methoxytropone affords azulene through the attack of the nucleophile on the C‐2 center (normal pathway). We have observed that 3‐substituted 2‐methoxytropones undergo steric‐guided nucleophilic addition at the C‐7 center (abnormal pathway) to afford 5‐substituted azulene derivatives. Based on this observation and DFT calculation, a new synthetic strategy is devised for the regioselective synthesis of 5‐substituted multifunctional azulenes, which cannot be accessed by any other method.
The effects of modes of hydrogen input and reactor configuration on reaction rate and H2 efficiency in the catalytic hydrogenation of alkynol to alkenol
Authors: Navarro‐Fuentes Francisca , Keane Mark , Ni Xiong‐Wei
Published: July 2019

Hydrogenation often involves three phases where hydrogen‐on‐demand is the typical mode of operation in industrial scale reactors. In research labs and publications, however, continuous hydrogen flow has been used. This paper investigates the effect of such modes of operation on reaction rate using a selective hydrogenation of 3‐butyn‐2‐ol over Pd/Al2O3 to obtain 3‐buten‐2‐ol as the model reaction. The two modes of operation were first tested in a commercial PARR stirred tank reactor and then repeated in an oscillatory baffled reactor (OBR) in order to validate the experimental results. Our investigation demonstrates that an enhanced reaction performance and 10 times better H2 efficiency were obtained when the pressure was maintained constant during the reaction by feeding gas as required, ie hydrogen‐on‐demand mode. The method of a continuous flow of hydrogen in hydrogenation means that excess hydrogen is vented out when operating at ambient pressures or builds up at elevated pressures. Our work also enables a comparison of reactor designs on reactor performance, and three times higher H2 efficiency and 2.3 times shorter residence time were achieved when using the OBR instead of the PARR due to its enhanced and uniform mixing, regardless of the mode of operation.
Toward Microfluidic Label‐Free Isolation and Enumeration of Circulating Tumor Cells from Blood Samples
Authors: Raillon Camille , Che James , Thill Sandy , Duchamp Margaux , Desbiolles Benoît X. E. , Millet Arnaud , Sollier Elodie , Renaud Philippe
Published: July 2019

The isolation, analysis, and enumeration of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from cancer patient blood samples are a paradigm shift for cancer patient diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring. Most methods used to isolate and enumerate these target cells rely on the expression of cell surface markers, which varies between patients, cancer types, tumors, and stages. Here, we propose a label‐free high‐throughput platform to isolate, enumerate, and size CTCs on two coupled microfluidic devices. Cancer cells were purified through a Vortex chip and subsequently flowed in‐line to an impedance chip, where a pair of electrodes measured fluctuations of an applied electric field generated by cells passing through. A proof‐of‐concept of the coupling of those two devices was demonstrated with beads and cells. First, the impedance chip was tested as a stand‐alone device: (1) with beads (mean counting error of 1.0%, sizing information clearly separated three clusters for 8, 15, and 20 um beads, respectively) as well as (2) with cancer cells (mean counting error of 3.5%). Second, the combined setup was tested with beads, then with cells in phosphate‐buffered saline, and finally with cancer cells spiked in healthy blood. Experiments demonstrated that the Vortex HT chip enriched the cancer cells, which then could be counted and differentiated from smaller blood cells by the impedance chip based on size information. Further discrimination was shown with dual high‐frequency measurements using electric opacity, highlighting the potential application of this combined setup for a fully integrated label‐free isolation and enumeration of CTCs from cancer patient samples. © 2019 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Bandwidth estimation in high mobility scenarios of IEEE 802.11 infrastructure‐less mobile ad hoc networks
Authors: Pal Pankaj , Tripathi Sachin , Kumar Chiranjeev
Published: July 2019

Bandwidth estimation in mobile ad hoc networks (MANET), where each node can move randomly and is capable of frequently changing its link with other nodes, is a challenging task. Motivation of this work is in contrast with TCP new‐reno which decreases the congestion window both in the event of link failure and congestion, which in the case of packet loss due to link failure should be close to available channel bandwidth. The proposed novel approach capture the node's mobility behavior in broadcast and unicast scenarios of IEEE 802.11 standard to efficiently estimate the sender's window size. This proposal introduces a data structure and source‐to‐destination path stability metric to imitate the mobility behavior of network and presents the analytic characterization of steady‐state throughput as a function of packet loss, round trip time, and path stability over IEEE 802.11 infrastructure‐less MANET. The performance is evaluated over random‐walk, random‐waypoint, and Gauss‐Markov mobility models in 2D and 3D environments using QualNet 7.4 network simulator. The proposed analytical model is also evaluated through two‐tailed statistical test. Analytical, statistical, and simulation‐based comparisons demonstrate the effectiveness of proposed method in high‐mobility scenarios.
SEBAP: A secure and efficient biometric‐assisted authentication protocol using ECC for vehicular cloud computing
Authors: Kumar Vinod , Ahmad Musheer , Kumari Adesh , Kumari Saru , Khan M. K.
Published: July 2019

Vehicular cloud computing (VCC) is an emerging research area of cloud and vehicular networking. It equips vehicles with networking and sensing capacities for vehicle‐to‐vehicle or vehicle‐to‐infrastructure communication with available roadside infrastructure. It is significantly utilized in traffic management and road safety using cloud applications. To obtain impressive networking in vehicular communication, there is a need of hybrid technological approach in the form of VCC utilizing vehicular resources, cloud infrastructure, and Internet of Things (IoT) environment. VCC presents smart vehicular communication structure and maintains autonomous traffic, improved vehicle control, and enhanced system security. Security and privacy has appeared to be a major concern in VCC because of involvement of unknown vehicles and infrastructure via public network. In this article, we propose a biometric and elliptic curve cryptography (ECC)‐assisted authentication framework for VCC. The presented framework obtains most of security features and attributes for secure communication in the presence of active and passive attackers. Further, we provide formal security model and its proof, which is based on random oracle model. We compare the performance of our protocol with similar frameworks in the same environment. Our analysis indicates that the presented framework is secure and efficient in terms of communication and computation overheads. As a result, the presented protocol can be utilized in VCC.
Dependability analysis for characterizing Google cluster reliability
Authors: Mesbahi Mohammad Reza , Rahmani Amir Masoud , Hosseinzadeh Mehdi
Published: July 2019

Cloud solutions are emerging as a new suitable way of transforming traditional IT data centers to highly available and reliable computing resources for hosting critical applications and data. However, software and hardware failures are a common problem in cloud datacenters that can lead to harmful damages. In this paper, we analyze the physical server failures in the Google cloud datacenter. We study the Google cluster properties to investigate the relationship among physical servers' failure rate and jobs failure events. The failure rate of Google cluster executed jobs and servers is taken into consideration during a 29‐day period.

We present a reliability model for Google cluster physical machines using the continuous time Markov chains according to this observation. We attempt to analyze the obtained model through SHARPE software packages to improve the understanding of failure events in the Google cloud cluster. We also explore the cluster availability based on parameters like steady‐state availability, steady‐state unavailability, mean time to failure, and mean time to repair in the Google cluster.
Synthesis of Bioactive N‐Acyclic Gold(I) and Gold(III) Diamino Carbenes with Different Ancillary Ligands
Authors: Montanel‐Pérez Sara , Elizalde Raquel , Laguna Antonio , Villacampa M. Dolores , Gimeno M. Concepción
Published: July 2019

A series of gold(I) and gold(III) N‐acyclic diamino carbene (ADC) complexes with different ancillary ligands have been synthesized. The chloride carbene derivatives [Au{C(NHR)(NHCH2py)}Cl] (R = Cy, R = naphthyl, R = xylyl) have been obtained by reaction of 2‐picolylamine with the corresponding [AuCl(CNR)]. The gold(I) thiolate derivatives [Au{C(NHR)(NHCH2py)}(Spy)] were prepared by reaction of the chlorido complexes with 2‐mercaptopyridine (2‐HSpy) in presence of potassium carbonate. The phosphane derivative [Au(pyCH2NH2)(PPh3)](OTf) was obtained by reaction of freshly prepared [Au(OTf)(PPh3)] with 2‐picolylamine. The phosphane‐carbene complexes [Au{C(NHR)(NHCH2py}(PPh3)](OTf) were obtained from the reaction of picolylamino species with the isocyanide. The gold(III) derivative cis‐[Au(C6F5)2(pyCH2NH2)](ClO4) was obtained by the reaction of 2‐picolylamine with freshly [Au(C6F5)2(Et2O)2](ClO4). The reaction of the former with CNCy led to complex cis‐[Au(C6F5)2{C(NHCy)(NHCH2py)}]ClO4 by a nucleophilic attack of the isocyanide to the amine ligand, thus producing a bidentate C,N acyclic carbene ligand. Cytotoxic studies against the tumor human cell lines Jurkat (T‐cell leukaemia), MiaPaca2 (pancreatic carcinoma), A549 (lung carcinoma) and MDA‐MB‐231 (breast carcinoma) showed moderate to good cytotoxic activity for some of the complexes.
Complexes of Keggin POMs [PM12O40]3– (M = Mo, W) with GlyGly Peptide and Arginine – Crystal Structures and Solution Reactivity
Authors: Rominger Kayly M. , Nestor Gustav , Eriksson Jan E. , Seisenbaeva Gulaim A. , Kessler Vadim G.
Published: July 2019

Metal oxide nanoparticles are potentially attractive tools for biomedical applications such as bioimaging and drug delivery. This urges experimental studies of their surface interaction with biomolecules, in the first hand, amino acids and proteins. Especially intriguing is the effect of not only shape and size but of chemical nature of the particles on the nature of bonds emerging between them and biomolecules. In present study we isolated, structurally characterized and compared complexes with model molecules glycylglycine and arginine of spherically shaped Keggin POMs [PM12O40]3–, M = Mo, W as models for individual nanoparticles ca. 1 nm in size. Surprisingly, structures of the chemically analogous Mo‐ and W‐compounds were not isomorphous, and in case of arginine cations even differed in compositions. The structures of Mo‐derivatives are dominated by charge interactions, while for the W‐ones, the hydrogen bonding, leading to possible configuration changes in biomolecules, is of prime importance. Keggin POMs appear to be unstable to hydrolysis on strong dilution according to 1H and 31P NMR and electrospray ionization MS data, but are appreciably stabilized, when in complex with a peptide or an amino acid.
Ring Closing Metathesis Approach for the Synthesis of o‐Terphenyl Derivatives
Authors: Karmakar Shilpi , Mandal Tirtha , Dash Jyotirmayee
Published: July 2019

A linear synthesis of o‐terphenyl derivatives has been delineated using ring closing metathesis (RCM) as the key step. In this approach, benzil derivatives upon allyl Grignard addition provides diphenyl‐1,2‐diallyl dihydroxy derivatives which undergo ring closing metathesis to afford tetrahydro terphenyl derivatives. Aromatization‐driven dehydration then leads to a diverse set of electron rich and electron deficient o‐terphenyls. Furthermore, oxidative coupling of electron rich o‐terphenyls provides the corresponding triphenylene derivatives.
Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity of Ni‐CNT Nanocomposites for Simultaneous Determination of Epinephrine and Dopamine
Authors: Manivel Perumal , Thamilselvan Annadurai , Rajagopal Venkatachalam , Nesakumar Noel , Suryanarayanan Vembu
Published: July 2019

A promising electrochemical sensor based nickel‐carbon nanotube (Ni‐CNT) modified on glassy carbon (GC) electrode had been developed and the properties of the modified electrode were characterized by multispectroscopic analysis. The fabricated sensor (GC/Ni‐CNT) electrode was utilized to determine the catecholamines such as epinephrine and dopamine simultaneously. Differential pulse voltammetry and amperometry were used to verify the electrochemical behavior of the studied compounds. The GC/Ni‐CNT based amperometric sensor showed a wide linear range and low detection limit with high analytical sensitivity of 8.31 and 6.61 μA μM−1 for EP and DA, respectively which demonstrates better characteristics compared to other electrodes reported in the literature. Further, no significant change in amperometric current response was observed in presence of biological interference species such as glucose, cysteine, citric acid, uric acid and ascorbic acid in the detection of EP and DA. The utility of this GC/Ni‐CNT electrode was well established for the determination of EP and DA in human urine samples.
Ecosystem Controls on Methylmercury Production by Periphyton Biofilms in a Contaminated Stream: Implications for Predictive Modeling
Authors: Schwartz Grace E. , Olsen Todd A. , Muller Katherine A. , Brooks Scott C.
Published: July 2019

Periphyton biofilms produce a substantial fraction of the overall monomethylmercury (MMHg) flux in East Fork Poplar Creek, an industrially contaminated, freshwater creek in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. We examined periphyton MMHg production across seasons, locations, and light conditions using mercury stable isotopes. Methylation and demethylation rate potentials (km, trans av and kd, trans av, respectively) were calculated using a transient availability kinetic model. Light exposure and season were significant predictors of km, trans av, with greater values in full light exposure and in the summer. Season, light exposure, and location were significant predictors of kd, trans av, which was highest in dark conditions, in the spring, and at the upstream location. Light exposure was the controlling factor for net MMHg production, with positive production for periphyton grown under full light exposure and net demethylation for periphyton grown in the dark. Ambient MMHg and km, trans av were significantly correlated. Transient availability rate potentials were 15 times higher for km and 9 times higher for kd compared to full availability rate potentials (km, full av and kd, full av) calculated at 1 d. No significant model for the prediction of km, full av or kd, full av could be constructed using light, season, and location. In addition, there were no significant differences among treatments for the full availability km, full av, kd, full av, or net MMHg calculated using the full availability rate potentials. km, full av was not correlated with ambient MMHg concentrations. The present results underscore the importance of applying transient availability kinetics to MMHg production data when estimating MMHg production potential and flux. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:2426–2435. © 2019 SETAC

Abstract

The transient availability kinetic model predicts net positive MMHg production in light conditions and net negative MMHg production in dark conditions, across seasons and locations in East Fork Poplar Creek periphyton.
Release of Munitions Constituents in Aquatic Environments Under Realistic Scenarios and Validation of Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers for Monitoring
Authors: Lotufo Guilherme R. , George Robert D. , Belden Jason B. , Woodley Christa , Smith David L. , Rosen Gunther
Published: July 2019

Munitions constituents (MC) may be released into aquatic environments as a result of underwater military munitions (UWMM) corrosion and breach. The present study investigated the release of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) from Composition B fragments under 2 realistic exposure scenarios in a large flume with flow set at 15 cm/s: the first represented the release of MC from fully exposed Composition B, and the second represented release through a small hole, simulating a breached munition. Release of MC through a small hole was approximately 10 times lower than from exposed Composition B, demonstrating the strong influence of exposure to flow on release. The rate of release of MC into the flume was similar to that previously reported in a related field experiment, but a similar mass loss resulted in MC concentration in the field >300 times lower, likely by the dilution effect of hydrodynamic transport. The present study corroborates previous findings of release of MC at UWMM sites resulting in concentrations below the toxicity threshold to most species. In the flume water, MC was quantified using frequent grab sampling and polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS). For TNT, POCIS-estimated time-weighted average concentrations were up to 40% higher than those derived from grab samples, whereas for RDX differences were 6% or less, demonstrating that POCIS provide reliable temporal integration of changing environmental concentrations for common MC. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:2383–2391. Published 2019 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America
A labelled ocean SAR imagery dataset of ten geophysical phenomena from Sentinel‐1 wave mode
Authors: Wang Chen , Mouche Alexis , Tandeo Pierre , Stopa Justin E. , Longépé Nicolas , Erhard Guillaume , Foster Ralph C. , Vandemark Douglas , Chapron Bertrand
Published: July 2019

The Sentinel‐1 mission is part of the European Copernicus program aiming at providing observations for Land, Marine and Atmosphere Monitoring, Emergency Management, Security and Climate Change. It is a constellation of two (Sentinel‐1 A and B) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites. The SAR wave mode (WV) routinely collects high‐resolution SAR images of the ocean surface during day and night and through clouds. In this study, a subset of more than 37,000 SAR images is labelled corresponding to ten geophysical phenomena, including both oceanic and meteorologic features. These images cover the entire open ocean and are manually selected from Sentinel‐1A WV acquisitions in 2016. For each image, only one prevalent geophysical phenomenon with its prescribed signature and texture is selected for labelling. The SAR images are processed into a quick‐look image provided in the formats of PNG and GeoTIFF as well as the associated labels. They are convenient for both visual inspection and machine learning‐based methods exploitation. The proposed dataset is the first one involving different oceanic or atmospheric phenomena over the open ocean. It seeks to foster the development of strategies or approaches for massive ocean SAR image analysis. A key objective was to allow exploiting the full potential of Sentinel‐1 WV SAR acquisitions, which are about 60,000 images per satellite per month and freely available. Such a dataset may be of value to a wide range of users and communities in deep learning, remote sensing, oceanography and meteorology.
Synthesis of Benzazepinones via Intramolecular Cyclization Involving Ketene Iminium Intermediates
Authors: Kolleth Amandine , Dagoneau Dylan , Quinodoz Pierre , Lumbroso Alexandre , Avanthay Mickael , Catak Saron , Sulzer‐Mossé Sarah , De Mesmaeker Alain
Published: July 2019

Herein, we describe a very straightforward and metal free method for the synthesis of benzazepinones through an intramolecular cyclization. This involves an ortho‐vinyl‐anilino‐amide as starting material which is converted to a keteniminium intermediate that spontaneously cyclize to form a 7‐membered ring iminium. Under slightly basic hydrolysis conditions, this latter is ultimately converted to the desired benzazepinone. Control experiments on the electron density of the nitrogen constituting the aniline were performed to support our proposed mechanism and rationalize the selectivity of the reaction.
An evaluation of the effects of general practitioner–supported patient noncommunicable diseases control model in Shanghai, China
Authors: Shu Zhiqun , Wang Ling , Sun Xiaoming
Published: July 2019

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. A litmus test for China's health reform is its ability to effectively deal with NCDs. The general practitioners (GPs)–supported NCD control model was designed to address ways to effectively prevent and control NCDs population‐wide. This study aimed to evaluate the GPs‐supported NCD control model and its effect on China's NCD control. The model was structured with three layers of two‐way relationships between patients, GPs, and specialists. The four technologies included the community‐based NCD self‐management model, the electronic clinical‐pathways–supporting community NCD intervention, the largest regional independent medical information system engaged by the Shanghai Healthcare Cloud, and continuous and successive policy intervention. Under the influence of the model, hypertension awareness, treatment, and control were the highest in Shanghai. By 31 August 2017, 131 453 users declined to use the mobile application while 10 444 completed the type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk assessment. By 15 August 2017, 249 000 residents had participated in early detection and screening, leading to the identification of 29 304 (11.8%) being in a prediabetic state and 24 422 (9.8%) being newly diagnosed with T2DM. From 2012 to 2016, 208 537 patients were newly identified with hypertension using Internet‐connected devices and hypertension awareness increased 5.7%. After implementing the self‐management interventions, patients' blood pressure was controlled at around 90% (from 2007 to 2015). This pilot model in Shanghai suggested positive social benefits and appears to have played an important role in advancing NCD control in China.
Effects of prematurity on infants' joint attention abilities: A meta‐analytic study
Authors: Mateus Vera , Osório Ana , Martins Carla
Published: July 2019

Joint attention abilities seem to be compromised in preterm infants. This meta‐analysis aimed at investigating whether premature infants differ systematically from full‐term infants in several dimensions of joint attention—initiating joint attention, responding to joint attention, and joint attention episodes—and explore whether such differences are dependent on gestational age. Bibliographic databases and repositories of dissertations and theses were searched from January 1970 to June 2016. Empirical studies were eligible if an observational measure was used to assess joint attention from 9‐ to 24‐month corrected age and a full‐term comparison group was included. Overall, preterm infants did not differ from full‐term infants across each joint attention dimension. However, impairments emerged for responding and joint attention episodes when degree of prematurity was considered. Results suggest that distinct dimensions of joint attention may be differently influenced by prematurity.

Highlights

Meta‐analysis aimed at investigating the effect of prematurity on infants' joint attention abilities.

Overall, preterm and full‐term infants did not differ in joint attention, but specific impairments emerged when considering degree of prematurity.

Results suggest a differential impact of prematurity on specific dimensions of infants' joint attention abilities.
Chromatin nanoscale compaction in live cells visualized by acceptor‐to‐donor ratio corrected Förster resonance energy transfer between DNA dyes
Authors: Pelicci Simone , Diaspro Alberto , Lanzanò Luca
Published: July 2019

@Chromatin nanoscale architecture in live cells can be studied by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between fluorescently labeled chromatin components, such as histones. A higher degree of nanoscale compaction is detected as a higher FRET level, since this corresponds to a higher degree of proximity between donor and acceptor molecules. However, in such a system, the stoichiometry of the donors and acceptors engaged in the FRET process is not well defined and, in principle, FRET variations could be caused by variations in the acceptor‐to‐donor ratio rather than distance. Here, to get a FRET level independent of the acceptor‐to‐donor ratio, we combine fluorescence lifetime imaging detection of FRET with a normalization of the FRET level to a pixel‐wise estimation of the acceptor‐to‐donor ratio. We use this method to study FRET between two DNA binding dyes staining the nuclei of live cells. We show that this acceptor‐to‐donor ratio corrected FRET imaging reveals variations of nanoscale compaction in different chromatin environments. As an application, we monitor the rearrangement of chromatin in response to laser‐induced microirradiation and reveal that DNA is rapidly decompacted, at the nanoscale, in response to DNA damage induction.
Increased Risk of Bone Fractures in Hemodialysis Patients Treated with Proton Pump Inhibitors in Real World: Results from the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS)
Authors: Fusaro Maria , D'Arrigo Graziella , Pitino Annalisa , Iervasi Giorgio , Tentori Francesca , Robinson Bruce , Aghi Andrea , Bieber Brian , Mccullogh Keith , Fabris Fabrizio , Plebani Mario , Giannini Sandro , Gallieni Maurizio , Tripepi Giovanni
Published: July 2019

Long-term treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is associated with an increased risk of fractures in the general population. PPIs are widely prescribed to dialysis patients but to date no study has specifically tested, by state-of-art statistical methods, the relationship between use of PPIs and fractures in this patient population. This study aimed to assess whether use of PPIs is associated with bone fractures (ie, hip fractures and fractures other than hip fractures) in a large international cohort of hemodialysis patients. We considered an observational prospective cohort of 27,097 hemodialysis patients from the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS). Data analysis was performed by the Fine and Gray method, considering the competitive risk of mortality, as well as by a cause-specific hazards Cox model with death as a censoring event and matching patients according to the prescription time. Of 27,097 hemodialysis patients, 13,283 patients (49%) were on PPI treatment. Across the follow-up period (median, 19 months), 3.8 bone fractures × 100 person-years and 1.2 hip fractures × 100 person-years occurred. In multiple Cox models, considering the competitive risk of mortality, the incidence rate of bone (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR] 1.22; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.36; p < 0.001) and hip fractures (SHR 1.35; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.62; p = 0.001) was significantly higher in PPI-treated than in PPI-untreated patients. These findings also held true in multiple, cause-specific, hazards Cox models matching patients according to the prescription time (bone fractures: HR 1.47; 95% CI, 1.23 to 1.76; p < 0.001; hip fractures: HR 1.85; 95% CI, 1.37 to 2.50; p < 0.001). The use of PPIs requires caution and a careful evaluation of risks/benefits ratio in hemodialysis patients. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Neonicotinoid pesticides poorly interact with human drug transporters
Authors: Le Vée Marc , Bacle Astrid , Bruyere Arnaud , Fardel Olivier
Published: July 2019

The interactions of six neonicotinoid pesticides and one neonicotinoid metabolite with drug transporters have been characterized in vitro. Acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, thiacloprid and its metabolite thiacloprid amide, and thiamethoxam, each used at 100 µM, did not impair activity of the efflux pumps P‐glycoprotein, multidrug resistance‐associated proteins, and breast cancer resistance protein. They also did not inhibit that of the uptake transporters OATP1B1, OATP1B3, OAT4, and MATE1, whereas that of OATP2B1, OAT1, and MATE2‐K was affected by only one of the seven neonicotinoids. Activity of OCT1 was moderately stimulated (up to 1.5‐fold) by several neonicotinoids. By contrast, that of OAT3 and OCT2 was inhibited by most (OAT3), if not all (OCT2), neonicotinoids, with IC50 values in the 20 to 60 µM range for thiacloprid, likely not relevant to environmental exposure. Thiacloprid was moreover not transported by OAT3 and OCT2. Overall, these data suggest that neonicotinoid pesticides rather poorly interact with drug transporter activities.
The role of microRNAs in the regulation of insulin signaling pathway with respect to metabolic and mitogenic cascades: A review
Authors: Ebrahimi Reyhane , Bahiraee Alireza , Niazpour Farshad , Emamgholipour Solaleh , Meshkani Reza
Published: July 2019

Insulin resistance (IR) is a shared pathological condition among type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and other metabolic disorders. It is growing significantly all over the world and consequently, a substantial effort is needed for developing the potential novel diagnostics and therapeutics. An insulin signaling pathway is tightly modulated by different mechanisms including the epigenetic modifications. Today, a deal of great attention has been shifted towards the regulatory role of noncoding RNAs on target proteins of the insulin signaling pathway. Noncoding RNAs are a major area of the epigenetics which control gene expression at the posttranscriptional levels and include a large class of microRNAs (miRNAs). With this in view, many studies have implicated the mediatory effects of miRNAs on the downstream metabolic and mitogenic proteins of the insulin signaling pathway. Since providing new biomarkers for the early diagnosis of IR and related metabolic traits are very significant, we intended to review the possible role of miRNAs in the regulation of the insulin signaling pathway, with a primary focus on the downstream target proteins of the metabolic and mitogenic cascades.
Replica sub‐permutation method for molecular dynamics and monte carlo simulations
Authors: Yamauchi Masataka , Okumura Hisashi
Published: July 2019

We propose an improvement of the replica‐exchange and replica‐permutation methods, which we call the replica sub‐permutation method (RSPM). Instead of considering all permutations, this method uses a new algorithm referred to as sub‐permutation to perform parameter transition. The RSPM succeeds in reducing the number of combinations between replicas and parameters without the loss of sampling efficiency. For comparison, we applied the replica sub‐permutation, replica‐permutation, and replica‐exchange methods to a β‐hairpin mini protein, chignolin, in explicit water. We calculated the transition ratio and number of tunneling events in the parameter space, the number of folding–unfolding events, the autocorrelation function, and the autocorrelation time as measures of sampling efficiency. The results indicate that among the three methods, the proposed RSPM is the most efficient in both parameter and conformational spaces. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Immobilization of HIV‐1 TAT peptide on gold nanoparticles: A feasible approach for siRNA delivery
Authors: Ahwazi Razieh P. , Kiani Melika , Dinarvand Meshkat , Assali Akram , Tekie Farnaz S. M. , Dinarvand Rasoul , Atyabi  Fatemeh
Published: July 2019

RNA interference is one of the prosperous approaches for cancer treatment. However, small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery to cancer cells has been faced with various challenges restricting their clinical application over the decades. Since ROR1 is an onco‐embryonic gene overexpressed in many malignancies, suppression of ROR1 by siRNA can potentially fight cancer. Herein, a delivery system for ROR1 siRNA based on HIV‐1 TAT peptide‐capped gold nanoparticles (GNPs) was developed to treat breast cancer. Besides, we introduced a new feasible method for conjugating the peptide to the nanoparticles. Since the GNPs have high affinity to the sulfur, the findings demonstrated the peptide successfully conjugated to the nanoparticles via Au–S bonds. As positively charged nanoparticles showed high cellular uptake, we could use a low concentration of nanoparticles led to high efficient gene transfection with negligible cytotoxicity that was confirmed by flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, gel retardation, and 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Following transfection, downregulation of ROR1 and its targeted gene, CCND1, induced apoptosis in cancer cells. In conclusion, the reported capped GNPs could be potentially utilized for delivering negatively charged therapeutic agents in particular genes.
Subclavicular flap: A valid reconstructive option among anterior chest flaps in oral cancer patients
Authors: Mannelli Giuditta , Agostini Tommaso , Arcuri Francesco , Comini Lara Valentina , Spinelli Giuseppe
Published: July 2019

Background

The subclavicular pedicled flap is based on the thoracic branch of the supraclavicular artery, and it represents a versatile reconstructive option for low‐middle third face defects. Since its use in head and neck surgical oncology has not been popularized yet, we propose its application for oral cavity reconstruction after cancer resection by showing favorable results.

Methods

Eighteen subclavicular pedicled flaps were used to treat intraoral defects after oral squamous‐cell cancer resection between June 2015 and December 2018. Tumor dissection type, complications, donor and reconstructed area results, and functional and aesthetic outcomes were assessed.

Results

No major complications were observed and all of the flaps survived. Adjuvant therapy was administered without delay when needed, and all of the patients had normal functional outcomes and good aesthetic results.

Conclusions

The subclavicular flap is an excellent choice for the reconstruction of oral cavity defects. Selection of patients should exclude positive lower‐third neck node and include appropriate informed consent for women due to the possibility of deformity of the breast. In our opinion, this flap has the potential for common application given its consistent anatomy and donor site advantages, including long pedicle, high pivot point, and relatively unlimited flap width.
Pre‐Vulcanization of Large and Small Natural Rubber Latex Particles: Film‐Forming Behavior and Mechanical Properties
Authors: Sriring Manus , Nimpaiboon Adun , Dechnarong Nattanee , Kumarn Sirirat , Higaki Yuji , Kojio Ken , Takahara Atsushi , Ho Chee Cheong , Sakdapipanich Jitladda
Published: July 2019

The pre‐vulcanized large rubber particle (LRP) and small rubber particle (SRP) latices are independently prepared to investigate their film‐forming process and mechanical properties after being cast into films. The surface morphologies and roughness of both LRP and SRP films are found to be dependent on crosslink densities. The networks inside each rubber particle (RP) restrict particle deformation resulting in residual contour of RP within the film surface. For highly crosslinked RP, the collapse of the top surface of the RPs in the LRP films appears to create many “crater‐like” structures within the film surfaces, while they present only protruding particles within the SRP and blend films. This seems to indicate that LRPs are easier to coalesce and form film than SRPs. Additionally, dynamic and mechanical properties and strain‐induced crystallization (SIC) behaviors of the latex films, are effectively enhanced after pre‐vulcanization. The pre‐vulcanized LRP films perform better tensile properties and SIC than the SRP can.
Stepwise Optimized 3D Printing of Arbitrary 3D Structures at Millimeter Scale with High Precision Surface
Authors: Yang Hua , Zhao Yuan‐Yuan , Zheng Mei‐Ling , Jin Feng , Dong Xian‐Zi , Duan Xuan‐Ming , Zhao Zhen‐Sheng
Published: July 2019

3D printing based on additive manufacturing has attracted widespread attention in the fields of microbiology and microelectronics due to its advantages of waste reduction, arbitrary manufacturing, and rapid prototyping in potential applications. These techniques can create structures at the centimeter scale, however, there are some limitations in terms of resolution and geometric constraints. Here, a micro–nano 3D printing protocol based on additive manufacturing to achieve the 3D structure (3DS) not only possessing millimeter scale structural dimensions but also nanometer features are proposed. A theory is verified to assist the design and fabrication of the 3DS with millimeter scale and nanometer precision. The structures are predesigned and the scanning strategy is optimized before 3D printing to improve the manufacturing efficiency and precision. A customized 3DS with a height of 2.2 mm is obtained, which is a challenge for the conventional two‐photon polymerization fabrication. Furthermore, a 1.2 mm 3DS with inside scaffold and smooth surface is efficiently achieved within 2.7 h with a nanometer surface roughness by using the proposed stepwise optimized 3D printing process. This study offers a flexible and low‐cost technology to generate highly customizable, precisely controllable 3DS for potential applications in microelectronics and microdevices.
Activation of cryptic splice sites in three patients with chronic granulomatous disease
Authors: de Boer Martin , van Leeuwen Karin , Hauri‐Hohl Mathias , Roos Dirk
Published: July 2019

Background

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immune deficiency caused by mutations in the genes encoding the structural components of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase. As a result, the patients cannot generate sufficient amounts of reactive oxygen species required for killing pathogenic microorganisms.

Methods

We analyzed NADPH oxidase activity and component expression in neutrophils, performed genomic DNA and cDNA analysis, and used mRNA splicing prediction tools to evaluate the impact of mutations.

Results

In two patients with CGD, we had previously found mutations that cause aberrant pre‐mRNA splicing. In one patient an exonic mutation in a cryptic donor splice site caused the deletion of the 3' part of exon 6 from the mRNA of CYBB. This patient suffers from X‐linked CGD. The second patient, with autosomal CGD, has a mutation in the donor splice site of intron 1 of CYBA that activates a cryptic donor splice site downstream in intron 1, causing the insertion of intronic sequences in the mRNA. The third patient, recently analyzed, also with autosomal CGD, has a mutation in intron 4 of CYBA, 15 bp from the acceptor splice site. This mutation weakens a branch site and activates a cryptic acceptor splice site, causing the insertion of 14 intronic nucleotides into the mRNA.

Conclusion

We found three different mutations, one exonic, one in a donor splice site and one intronic, that all caused missplicing of pre‐mRNA. We analyzed these mutations with four different splice prediction programs and found that predictions of splice site strength, splice enhancer and splice silencer protein binding and branch site strength are all essential for correct prediction of pre‐mRNA splicing.