bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FLUORESCENT PROPERTIES OF PHENYL - CONTAINING ISOMERS OF PALLADIUM COMPLEXES OF OCTAETHYLPORPHIN IN ACETONITRILE
Authors: Ivanova Yulia B. , Dmitrieva Olga A. , Mamardashvili Nugzar Zh. , Semeykin Alexander S. , Pukhovskaya Svetlana G. , Kruk Mikolay M.
Published: December 2019

The fluorimetric measurements of the acetonitrile solutions of palladium complexes of the octaethylporphyrin, 5,10- biphenyl octaethylporphyrin and 5,15-biphenyl octaethylporphyrin at 293 K were performed. Tetraphenylporfin was used in toluene as standards. It was determined that the studied compounds differ in the architecture of peripheral substitution, and as a result in molecular conformation and symmetry, which determine the rates of intramolecular processes of deactivation of electronic excitation energy. It was established that the introduction of two phenyl fragments into the meso-positions of the tetrapyrrole macrocycle of the octaethylporphyrin molecule markedly changes the spectral-luminescent properties of their palladium complexes. The compound with the adjacent arrangement of phenyl fragments of 5,10-diphenylctaethylporphyrin is characterized by concentrated steric effects in the region of one quadrant of the macrocycle containing two phenyl groups and the pyrrole fragment located between them. This arrangement of phenyl fragments leads to the formation of an asymmetrically distorted saddle-shaped conformer, as evidenced by the bathochromic shift of the bands in the electronic absorption spectrum by 495 cm–1. The quantum yield of S1→S0 fluorescence decreases slightly to 4.6·10-3, which is explained by the formation of a new competing non-radiative deactivation channel — the internal S1→S0 conversion, which is characteristic of distorted saddle-shaped macrocycle. When phenyl groups at opposite meso-positions of the 5.15-diphenyl octaethylporphyrin macrocycle flanked by alkyl groups in the Cb positions of the pyrrole rings, a conformer is formed with a macrocycle elongated along the Cm-Cm axis. This is probably due to the stricter molecular structure of this conformer compared to palladium octaethylporphyrin and the absence of conformational dynamics in the S1 excited state. As a result, the bathochromic shift of the bands in the electronic absorption spectrum of 5.15 – diphenyl octaethylporphyrin is less than 100 cm-1 and the quantum yield of S1→S0 fluorescence is almost equal to the quantum yield of the palladium complex of octaethylporphyrin - 5.4·10-3, which is probably due to the low non-radiative internal S1→S0 conversion for the 5.15-diphenyl octaethylporphyrin compared to the 5.10-diphenyl octaethylporphyrin.
Struktura i ocena zasobów lokalnych w regionach Polski Wschodniej = Structure and evaluation of local resources in regions of Eastern Poland
Authors: Bański Jerzy
Published: December 2019

Rozwój regionalny jest w znacznym stopniu uwarunkowany jakością i ilością zasobów wewnętrznych w regionie oraz poziomem ich wykorzystania. Zasoby lokalne są niepowtarzalnymi i użytecznymi społecznie i gospodarczo cechami, czynnikami i zjawiskami na określonym terytorium, kształtującymi jego wewnętrzny potencjał do rozwoju. Wśród nich można wyróżnić zasoby materialne i niematerialne, a te z kolei można dzielić na grupy i rodzaje. Podstawowym celem opracowania jest rozpoznanie struktury zasobów lokalnych oraz ocena ich potencjału rozwojowego w trzech regionach Polski Wschodniej. W waloryzacji zasobów lokalnych wykorzystano dwie cechy – utylitarność i unikatowość, którym przypisywano odpowiednie wartości wskaźnikowe. Badanie wykazało przewagę zasobów o przeciętnych wartościach utylitarności i unikatowości oraz ich duże zróżnicowanie przestrzenne. Stwierdzono też dominację kilku rodzajów zasobów, w tym: budowli i form architektonicznych oraz walorów kształtujących atrakcyjność turystyczną. Zasoby o najwyższej użyteczności w kształtowaniu rozwoju lokalnego mają równocześnie wysokie oceny unikatowości. Natomiast część wysokounikatowych zasobów nie ma równie istotnej użyteczności praktycznej. Może to świadczyć o niewykorzystanym jeszcze potencjale zasobów lokalnych w badanych regionach.
Usługi hotelowe na obszarach wiejskich w Polsce = Hotel infrastructure in the rural areas of Poland
Authors: Napierała Tomasz
Published: December 2019

Celem artykułu jest zidentyfikowanie kierunków rozwoju wiejskiego zagospodarowania hotelowego w Polsce w latach 2012–2017. Przedmiotem badań są skategoryzowane hotele. Cel zrealizowano na podstawie analizy zmian wielkości i struktury bazy hotelowej, a w szczególności na podstawie analizy kartograficznej syntetycznego wskaźnika opartego na zmodyfikowanych wskaźnikach poziomu zagospodarowania turystycznego: Baretje’a-Deferta i gęstości bazy noclegowej. W badanym okresie hotele na obszarach wiejskich rozwijały się szybciej niż na obszarach zurbanizowanych. Rozwój ten dotyczył przede wszystkim obiektów luksusowych. Obszarami koncentracji wiejskiego zagospodarowania hotelowego są przede wszystkim tereny wiejskie największych obszarów metropolitalnych, jak również tradycyjne obszary wiejskie Wielkopolski, Warmii, Kaszub, Pogórza Karpackiego i doliny Pilicy. W badanym okresie wiejskie zagospodarowanie hotelowe rozwijało się przede wszystkim na południu, jak również na wschodzie Polski.
Turystyka w dokumentach strategicznych gmin wiejskich województwa pomorskiego = Tourism in strategic documents of rural communes in the Pomorskie Voivodeship
Authors: Nowicka Klaudia
Published: December 2019

Za cel niniejszego opracowania autorka postawiła sobie określenie, jakie znaczenie ma turystyka w rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczym gmin wiejskich województwa pomorskiego, na podstawie zapisów dokumentów strategicznych. Aby zrealizować tak postawiony cel autorka poddała analizie dostępne aktualne dokumenty strategiczne dla 74 gmin, korzystając z analizy komputerowej oraz kontekstowej wszystkich dostępnych tekstów. Szczegółowej analizie poddano wybrane fragmenty opracowań, tj. rozdziały dotyczące celów strategicznych i operacyjnych oraz analizy SWOT. Badanie dotyczyło tych celów oraz elementów analizy SWOT, które w sposób bezpośredni związane były z rozwojem turystyki w gminie. Ponadto, analiza pozwoliła na określenie, w jakim stopniu strategie rozwoju gmin wiejskich województwa pomorskiego są narzędziem przydatnym w długofalowym planowaniu rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego w odniesieniu do rozwoju branży turystycznej w gminie.
An Attempt at the Automation of the Routing of Mountain Forest Roads with the Use of GIS Spatial Analyses
Authors: Gołąb Janusz , Pirowski Tomasz
Published: December 2019

The routing of road corridors in the project of a forest road network in the mountains, along with defining the functions of these roads, is the most important activity in the entire task. It must be preceded by a detailed inventory consisting of many factors characterising the analysed transport area, including economic, technical or environmental factors. This study presents an attempt at the semi-automatic routing of road corridors with the use of GIS technology. The original multi-stage methodology proposed by the present authors is based on raster analyses of the Digital Terrain Model at a resolution of 1 m. The initial stage consists in a preliminary outline of the road network being designed, which is performed by an experienced designer on a contour map. Due to the complicated terrain in mountain areas, the pre-determined road sections are divided into sections for which a generalised direction in the form of a straight line can be indicated. On the basis of the azimuths of these particular direction lines, “targeted” terrain inclinations are calculated for each section separately, which help in decisions concerning the location of the planned road sections. The results obtained indicate the key role of the initial concept of the designed road network, as outlined by the expert, and based on the expert’s professional experience. The problem lies in strongly varied terrain, which forces the designer to use short sections of corridors. This, in turn, significantly increases the amount of work. Good effects of road routing automation can be  obtained in areas where land relief is complicated. The designed locations of road sections must be finally verified in terms of terrain inclination along the designated lines, which is essential for the possibility of subsequent detailed design, construction and use of road sections.
Restoration of Boundary Markers and the Determination of Boundary Points in the Context of the Reliability of the Register of Land and Buildings
Authors: Maślanka Józef
Published: December 2019

The restoration of boundary markers and the determination of boundary points are substantive technical surveying activities, legally regulated in Poland under Section 6 of the Geodetic and Cartographic Law on the delimitation of real properties. These activities are essential for both the proper functioning of the register of land and buildings (EGiB) as well as from the point of view of the owners who, for various reasons including peaceable possession, want to know the course of the boundaries of their properties and have them physically marked on the ground. According to the author of this research paper, the interpretations of the legal regulations on the restoration of boundary markers and determination of boundary points which have recently appeared in the Polish subject literature and geodetic journals, as well as the solutions applied in surveying practice, arouse considerable doubts and cause markerificant distortion of the data stored in the databases of the register of land and buildings as well as result in misinterpretation and incorrect application of these provisions by land surveyors. The article presents a descriptive formal analysis of the applicable provisions of law and the effects of their application on the quality of this data. The author opposes what is, in his opinion, an unauthorised, broad interpretation of the legal provisions, a consequence of which is the fact that a mere physical monumentation of a boundary point on the ground, performed under a technical procedure, fundamentally changes and increases the legal markerificance of this boundary point.
The Use of Surveying and Photogrammetric Court Evidence in the Usucaption Procedures for Proving the Acquisition of the Ownership of Real Estate
Authors: Cienciała Agnieszka , Florek-Paszkowski Ryszard
Published: December 2019

Fulfilling the required prerequisites for acquisitive prescription (usucaption) such as uninterrupted possession and the lapse of time results in the acquisition of ownership. Both, in the stage of examining the case in respect of fulfilling the prerequisites for acquisitive prescription as well as in the stage of adjudicating in court proceedings, contemporary and archive urveying and photogrammetric evidence plays a vital role. There are situations when the socalled “acquisitive prescription map”, prepared by a licensed land surveyor, showing the area being the subject of the petition and the state of cadastral boundaries as of the day of acquiring the ownership right, is necessary. The aim of this paper is the analysis of the applicability of present and archival aerial photos, maps, especially cadastral orthophotomaps and other documents gathered in the state geodetic and cartographic resource as a proof of holding an immovable, justifying the data of acquiring the right by acquisitive prescription and showing the scope of possession. In fact, the combined analysis of all the above-mentioned evidence accessible for a given area gives complete information about a property being in its entirety or in part a matter of proceedings for ascertaining the acquisition of the ownership of a real property by acquisitive prescription. Moreover, this publication describes some of the problems encountered in the professional practice of court experts during preparation of cquisitive prescription maps.
Aspects of Agricultural Real Estate Management in the Value Approach in Ukraine
Authors: Nevesela Anastasiia
Published: December 2019

The paper discusses aspects of agricultural real estate management according to the value approach in Ukraine. The paper also characterises agricultural lands in reference to their soil classes and acreages. It also discusses the term of tenancy as one of the forms of management of agricultural real estates. The procedure of the determination of the value of agricultural real estates in Ukraine has been also discussed. The paper also presents the conditions of agricultural lands in Ukraine, their acreages and the amount of lands owned by the state and by private owners. The procedure of leasing agricultural lands has been also described.
Crosslinguistic Influence in Second Language Acquisition
Authors: Alonso Rosa Alonso
Published: December 2019

Crosslinguistic influence refers to the effect of a language on another. This entry outlines the different primary and secondary terms that have been used to refer to this issue and the different directions transfer can take, such as from L1 to L2, from L2 to L1, among others, and how it can affect both perception and production. Manifestations of transfer such as errors or hypercorrections are also mentioned. As it is a controversial topic, different methods of verification are explained, such as using different L1 groups. Main findings are also included, from language distance to individual differences. Finally, recent theoretical and empirical advances are dealt with. The former is exemplified with three theoretical models: thinking for speaking, conceptual transfer, and multicompetence, and the latter with new developments, focusing on the use of new methodological tools.
Language and Identity
Authors: Edwards John
Published: December 2019

A real sense of group continuity can exist without original‐language pillars, but, while it remains, language is one of the strongest supports for group continuity. Even at the “ordinary” communicative level, the symbolic value of language is particularly powerful, as the history of ethnic and national affiliation—and political activism—clearly reveals. In this emblematic role, language can remain as a marker even after vernacular language shift has occurred, although probably not forever. Language often intertwines with other group boundary indicators, religion and gender among them. In a world of “global English” it is unsurprising that the language and identity relationship has become more immediately relevant for speakers of endangered languages, although the growth and increasing importance of localized forms of English have also emerged.
Evaluation of Microfluidic Ceiling Designs for the Capture of Circulating Tumor Cells on a Microarray Platform
Authors: Liu Hui‐Yu , Koch Claudia , Haller Anna , Joosse Simon A. , Kumar Ravi , Vellekoop Michael J. , Horst Ludwig J. , Keller Laura , Babayan Anna , Failla Antonio Virgilio , Jensen Jana , Peine Sven , Keplinger Franz , Fuchs Harald , Pantel Klaus , Hirtz Michael
Published: December 2019

The capture of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is still a challenging application for microfluidic chips, as these cells are rare and hidden in a huge background of blood cells. Here, different microfluidic ceiling designs in regard to their capture efficiency for CTCs in model experiments and more realistic conditions of blood samples spiked with a clinically relevant amount of tumor cells are evaluated. An optimized design for the capture platform that allows highly efficient recovery of CTCs from size‐based pre‐enriched samples under realistic conditions is obtained. Furthermore, the viability of captured tumor cells as well as single cell recovery for downstream genomic analysis is demonstrated. Additionally, the authors' findings underline the importance of evaluating rational design rules for microfluidic devices based on theoretical models by application‐specific experiments.
Directed Emission from Self‐Assembled Microhelices
Authors: Helmbrecht Lukas , Tan Melissa , Röhrich Ruslan , Bistervels Marloes H. , Kessels Bruno Ortiz , Koenderink A. Femius , Kahr Bart , Noorduin Willem L.
Published: December 2019

Bottom‐up assembly can organize simple building blocks into complex architectures for light manipulation. The optical properties of self‐assembled polycrystalline barium carbonate/silica double helices are studied using fluorescent Fourier and Mueller matrix microscopy. Helices doped with fluorescein direct light emission along the long axis of the structure. Furthermore, light transmission measured normal and parallel to the long axis exhibits twist sense‐specific circular retardance and waveguiding, respectively, although the measurements suffer from depolarization. The helices thus integrate highly directional emission with enantiomorph‐specific polarization. This optical response emerges from the arrangement of nanoscopic mineral crystallites in the microscopic helix, and demonstrates how bottom‐up assembly can achieve ordering across multiple length scales to form complex functional materials.
Solvation‐Involved Nanoionics: New Opportunities from 2D Nanomaterial Laminar Membranes
Authors: Zhan Hualin , Xiong Zhiyuan , Cheng Chi , Liang Qinghua , Liu Jefferson Zhe , Li Dan
Published: December 2019

Nanoporous laminar membranes composed of multilayered 2D nanomaterials (2D‐NLMs) are increasingly being exploited as a unique material platform for understanding solvated ion transport under nanoconfinement and exploring novel nanoionics‐related applications, such as ion sieving, energy storage and harvesting, and in other new ionic devices. Here, the fundamentals of solvation‐involved nanoionics in terms of ionic interactions and their effect on ionic transport behaviors are discussed. This is followed by a summary of key requirements for materials that are being used for solvation‐involved nanoionics research, culminating in a demonstration of unique features of 2D‐NLMs. Selected examples of using 2D‐NLMs to address the key scientific problems related to nanoconfined ion transport and storage are then presented to demonstrate their enormous potential and capabilities for nanoionics research and applications. To conclude, a personal perspective on the challenges and opportunities in this emerging field is presented.
Reduced‐Graphene‐Oxide‐Guided Directional Growth of Planar Lithium Layers
Authors: Li Nan , Zhang Kun , Xie Keyu , Wei Wenfei , Gao Yong , Bai Maohui , Gao Yuliang , Hou Qian , Shen Chao , Xia Zhenhai , Wei Bingqing
Published: December 2019

Rechargeable lithium (Li) metal batteries hold great promise for revolutionizing current energy‐storage technologies. However, the uncontrollable growth of lithium dendrites impedes the service of Li anodes in high energy and safety batteries. There are numerous studies on Li anodes, yet little attention has been paid to the intrinsic electrocrystallization characteristics of Li metal and their underlying mechanisms. Herein, a guided growth of planar Li layers, instead of random Li dendrites, is achieved on self‐assembled reduced graphene oxide (rGO). In situ optical observation is performed to monitor the morphology evolution of such a planar Li layer. Moreover, the underlying mechanism during electrodeposition/stripping is revealed using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. The combined experiment and simulation results show that when Li atoms are deposited on rGO, each layer of Li atoms grows along (110) crystallographic plane of the Li crystals because of the fine in‐plane lattice matching between Li and the rGO substrate, resulting in planar Li deposition. With this specific topographic characteristic, a highly flexible lithium–sulfur (Li–S) full cell with rGO‐guided planar Li layers as the anode exhibits stable cycling performance and high specific energy and power densities. This work enriches the fundamental understanding of Li electrocrystallization without dendrites and provides guidance for practical applications.
Atomic Scale Understanding of the Epitaxy of Perovskite Oxides on Flexible Mica Substrate
Authors: Lu Lu , Dai Yanzhu , Du Hongchu , Liu Ming , Wu Jingying , Zhang Yong , Liang Zhongshuai , Raza Subhan , Wang Dawei , Jia Chun‐Lin
Published: December 2019

The excellent functionalities of perovskite oxides and the growing demands for flexible devices lead to great interests on epitaxial growth of functional oxide films on flexible mica substrates. Understanding the film epitaxy on the substrate with a very different crystal structure is a key issue for the optimization of the film growth and hence properties. Such understanding largely depends on knowing the atomic structure of the interfaces between the films and the substrates. Here, the interface between the epitaxial films of SrTiO3 on the fluorophlogopite mica substrate is studied in detail. Two types of interfaces, clean or with secondary phase, exist in this system, leading to two types of crystallographic orientation relationships. Atomic‐resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy images reveal that at the clean interface the (111) Sr–O3 atomic plane of SrTiO3 interacts with the (001) (SiAl)2–O3 plane of mica. This interface structure and thus the epitaxy of the film are understood in light of the strong similarity of the oxygen sublattices in these two atomic planes. First‐principles calculations demonstrate strong bonding of the atoms at the interface, which is also corroborated by the observation of misfit dislocations at the interfaces.
Coating‐Sheddable CD44‐Targeted Poly(d,l‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) Nanomedicines Fabricated by Using Photoclick‐Crosslinkable Surfactant
Authors: Li Shuai , Qiu Min , Guo Jiakun , Zhao Xiaofei , Zhong Zhiyuan , Deng Chao
Published: December 2019

Poly(d,l‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA)‐based nanotherapeutics are intensively employed for the treatment of various diseases, though they frequently suffer from stability, selectivity, and drug release problems. Here, a facile fabrication of coating‐sheddable CD44‐targeted PLGA nanoparticles using photoclick‐crosslinkable hyaluronic acid‐graft‐tetrazole (HA‐g‐Tet) as a surfactant followed by photoclick reaction with l‐cystine dimethacrylamide (MA‐Cys‐MA) (X‐PHS@NPs) for targeted delivery of docetaxel (DTX) to breast tumors in vivo is reported. X‐PHS@NPs exhibit strong blue fluorescence and a size of 109 nm. DTX‐loaded X‐PHS@NPs (DTX‐X‐PHS@NPs), while stable at physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 37 °C), release about 76.6% DTX under 10 m glutathione conditions. DTX‐X‐PHS@NPs are potent toward CD44‐overexpressing MCF‐7 human breast cancer cells with a low IC50 of 0.27 µg mL−1. Interestingly, X‐PHS@NPs reveal excellent tumor penetration ability and DTX‐X‐PHS@NPs induce significantly more effective inhibition of MCF‐7 human breast tumors in nude mice than free DTX. These coating‐sheddable CD44‐targeted PLGA nanoparticles provide an interesting platform for cancer chemotherapy.
Long Cycle Life Organic Polysulfide Catholyte for Rechargeable Lithium Batteries
Authors: Wang Dan‐Yang , Si Yubing , Guo Wei , Fu Yongzhu
Published: December 2019

Organic compounds with active sites for lithiation can be used as electrode materials for lithium batteries. Their tunable structures allow a variety of materials to be made and investigated. Herein, a spectrum of dipyridyl polysulfides (Py2Sx, 3 ≤ x ≤ 8) is prepared in electrolyte by a one‐pot synthesis method from dipyridyl disulfide (Py2S2) and elemental sulfur. It renders up to seven dipyridyl polysulfides (i.e., Py2S3, Py2S4, Py2S5, Py2S6, Py2S7, and Py2S8) which show fully reversible electrochemical behavior in lithium batteries. In the discharge, the initial lithiation occurs at 2.45 V leading to the breakage of SαSβ bonds in Py2Sx and formation of lithium 2‐pyridinethiolate, in which lithium is coordinated in between N and S atoms. The left sulfur species act as elemental sulfur, showing two voltage plateaus at 2.3 and 2.1 V. The molecular dynamics simulations show the attraction between pyridyl groups and lithium polysulfides/sulfide via N···Li···S bonds, which enable good retention of soluble discharge products within electrodes and stable cycling performance. In the recharge, low‐order Py2Sx (e.g., Py2S3, Py2S4, and Py2S5) remain as the charged products. The mixture catholyte exhibits superlong cycle life at 1C rate with 1200 cycles and 70.5% capacity retention.
Conformal Cu Coating on Electrospun Nanofibers for 3D Electro‐Conductive Networks
Authors: Jiang Fuze , Ju Wenbo , Pan Zhengyuan , Lin Luchan , Yue Yang , Zhao Yi‐Bo , Li Congju , Clemens Frank , Battaglia Corsin , Wang Jing
Published: December 2019

Electro‐conductive nanofiber networks have potential applications as gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) operating at solid–liquid–gas three‐phase interfaces. Flexible GDEs are developed, based on a versatile method of conformally coating a Cu layer on membranes consisting of stacked electrospun nonconductive polymer nanofibers. The Cu coating, comprising fine‐grained Cu crystals, has an average thickness of circa 50 nm and a root‐mean‐square roughness of circa 5.3 nm, maintaining the topography of polymer nanofibers. For nanofiber membranes with a thickness ranging in a few micrometers, the conformal Cu layer coats all nanofibers in the outermost layers as well as in the bulk of the membrane. All demonstrated Cu‐coated nanofiber networks have sheet resistance <2.4 Ω◽, and gas permeability in the order of 10−13 to 10−15 m2, which are comparable to some commercialized carbon based micro‐/nanofiber GDEs. Particularly, these conductive nanofiber networks have excellent bending durability, with negligible conductivity degradation after 10 000 bending test cycles. The high conductivity, gas permeability, and flexibility of these 3D nanofiber networks allow for applications as GDEs into various flexible electrochemical devices.
Two‐in‐one method: Novel pancreaticojejunostomy technique for the bifid pancreas
Authors: Ishida Jun , Toyama Hirochika , Tsugawa Daisuke , Kido Masahiro , Fukumoto Takumi
Published: December 2019

The bifid pancreas is a rare anatomical variation of the pancreatic duct in which double main pancreatic ducts in the body and tail of the pancreas join at the pancreas head and drain through the major papilla. When pancreaticoduodenectomies are carried out on bifid pancreases, close attention must be paid to the reconstruction because of the possibility that there may be two pancreatic ducts that need to be reconstructed. We present a case of pancreaticoduodenectomy for the bifid pancreas and a novel technique named the ‘two‐in‐one’ method for double pancreatic duct to jejunum anastomosis. Using the two‐in‐one method, we anastomosed one jejunal hole to a double pancreatic duct. Pancreatic texture was normal and postoperative volumes of pancreatic juice from the two external pancreatic duct stents were 250 mL and 100 mL/day, respectively. Postoperative recovery went well although the patient needed a slightly longer hospital stay as a result of surgical site infection. This novel anastomotic technique was as simple to carry out as a normal pancreaticojejunostomy and may be useful for reconstruction of the bifid pancreas.
Caspase recruitment domain family member 9 expression is a promising biomarker in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Sekino Nobufumi , Kano Masayuki , Sakata Haruhito , Murakami Kentaro , Toyozumi Takeshi , Matsumoto Yasunori , Ryuzaki Takahiro , Ikeda Junichiro , Ota Masayuki , Matsubara Hisahiro
Published: December 2019

Aim

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a refractory digestive organ cancer that requires better treatment strategies. We have recently reported that the antidiabetic drug metformin exerts antitumor effects on ESCC by inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) nuclear translocation. In the present study, we focused on caspase recruitment domain family member 9 (CARD9), an essential signal adapter in NF‐κB activation to examine whether it can be used as a prognostic factor in ESCC.

Methods

We investigated CARD9 expression immunohistochemically in clinical samples obtained from 93 patients with ESCC who underwent curative esophagectomy. CARD9 expression was analyzed for correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and ESCC prognosis. The molecular effects were investigated by knocking down ESCC cells. Comprehensive RNA expression changes in these ESCC cells were detected by next‐generation sequencing (NGS).

Results

High CARD9 expression is significantly correlated with advanced tumor depth (P < .001), positive lymph node metastasis (P = .005) and advanced stage (P = .001). Kaplan‐Meier method and the log‐rank test showed that overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) were significantly poor in the high CARD9 expression group (OS: P = .027, DFS: P = .005). Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that high CARD9 expression is a significant poor prognostic factor for DFS. Cell proliferation and migration were suppressed by CARD9 knockdown. NGS detected altered the expression of some RNAs including maternally expressed 3 (MEG3).

Conclusion

High CARD9 expression is significantly associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, CARD9 expression may be a prospective prognostic biomarker in ESCC.
Monochromatic Composite Right/Left Handedness in the Quantized Composite Right/Left Handed Transmission Line
Authors: Zhao Shun‐Cai , Lin Xin
Published: December 2019

Macro composite right/left handedness (CRLH) signifies positive/negative refraction index in different frequency bands in the composite right/left handed transmission line (CRLH‐TL). In this paper, the refraction index of a quantized CRLH‐TL in the thermal squeezed state is visited. Performing explicit calculations on the squeezed parameters and electronic components' parameters, a novel regime for implementing CRLH with a single operating frequency via the squeezed parameters and electronic components' parameters is found. The definitely different monochromatic CRLH enriches the initial definition of CRLH, and may propose a novel direction to implement CRLH in metamaterials.
Facile synthesis of indolizines using layered double hydroxides@poly(p‐phenylenediamine) as a catalyst with a green tool (neat technology)
Authors: Karamshahi Zahra , Ghorbani‐Vaghei Ramin
Published: December 2019

The three‐component reaction of phenacyl bromide, dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and pyridine is catalyzed by layered double hydroxides@poly(p‐phenylenediamine) (LDHs@PpPDA), in a one‐pot reaction, in order to give the corresponding indolizines in excellent yields.
Recovery of metals and complexant in wastewater by shear induced dissociation coupling with ultrafiltration
Authors: Zhou Han , Qiu Yun‐Ren , Le Hui‐Shang
Published: December 2019

Heavy metals (Pb (II), Hg (II), and Cd (II)) in ore dressing wastewater (ODW) were selectively separated by shear‐induced dissociation coupling with ultrafiltration (SID‐UF) using polyacrylic acid sodium (PAAS) as complexant. Metals (Pb (II), Hg (II), and Cd (II)) were complexed with PAAS and rejected by ultrafiltration membrane at first. The effects of pH and P/M (mass ratio of polymer to metal ions) on the rejection were investigated and the suitable pH and P/M were obtained, at which the rejection arrived at almost 100%. For the recovery of metals and polymer complexant from the retained, the shear stabilities of PAA‐metal (PAA‐M) complexes were studied, and the critical shear rates of PAA‐Pb, PAA‐Hg, and PAA‐Cd complexes at pH 7.0 were 2.72 × 10,5 2.42 × 105 and 2.01 × 105 s−1, respectively. According to the difference of the critical shear rates of the PAA‐M complexes, SID‐UF was used to recover Pb (II), Hg (II), Cd (II) and PAAS. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48854.
What is the ocean: A sea‐change in our perceptions and values?
Authors: Rock Jenny , Sima Ellen , Knapen Manon
Published: December 2019

Throughout human history, the ocean has occupied myriad cultural meanings, mythologies and practices, which were often founded on a notion of the sea as being so large and ‘powerful’ as to be immune to human impacts. These conceptions were grounded in observations from the surface or shoreline, and in periods when human activities in the ocean were more technologically and spatially limited than they are today.

Advancements in science and technology have significantly altered how humans interact with and access the ocean, allowing exploration and exploitation of ocean areas and processes that were previously incomprehensible. This new capacity to understand and extract from the ocean might be expected to profoundly alter human relationships to it and conceptions of it.

As public support and engagement with marine conservation and ‘blue economies’ stem from value and belief systems, future marine management will benefit from recognizing our historical marine relationships as context for changes in understanding, use, and the increasing environmental degradation faced by the ocean. This review focuses on perspectives of the ocean that have been held historically and queries their future persistence at this potential turning point in our relationship with the ocean.
The evolution of magnetic field and spin‐down of young pulsars
Authors: Gao Zhi‐Fu , Peng Fang‐Kun , Wang Na
Published: December 2019

Here, we summarize our recent work on the evolution of magnetic field and spin‐down of young pulsars including high‐B pulsars and magnetars. Our work includes the following three parts: (a) Based on the estimated ages of their potentially associated supernova remnants (SNRs), we estimate the values of the mean braking indices of eight magnetars with SNRs and find that five magnetars have smaller mean braking indices of 1 < n < 3, and we interpret them within a combination of magnetodipole radiation and wind‐aided braking. (b) The low braking index of n = 0.9(2) for PSR J1734‐3333 could undergo a supercritical accretion soon after its formation in a supernova explosion. The buried multipole magnetic fields will merge into a dipole magnetic field. Retaining the current field growth index ϵ = 1.34, this pulsar will become a magnetar with dBp∼6.2(2) × 1014 G and dBp∼1.06(4) × 1015 G after 50 kyrs and 100 kys, respectively. (c) By introducing a mean rotation energy conversion coefficient and combining the pulsar's high‐energy and timing observations with a reliable nuclear equation of state, we estimate the initial spin period, initial dipole magnetic field, and true age of PSR J1640‐4631. For this source, its measured high braking index n = 3.15(3) is attributed to a long‐term dipole magnetic field decay, and its soft X‐ray emission is attributed to anisotropic heating.
Efficacy of Social Story Intervention in Training Toothbrushing Skills Among Special‐Care Children With and Without Autism
Authors: Zhou Ni , Wong Hai Ming , McGrath Colman
Published: December 2019

Toothbrushing is a routine practice for oral hygiene maintenance. It is also a challenging task for young children with special care needs. In this study, social stories were employed to teach toothbrushing skills for preschool children with special needs. Those children were recruited from the Special Child Care Centers, including 87 children with autism and 94 children without autism. A validated toothbrushing social story was used to demonstrate the toothbrushing procedure for all the recruited children. Parents were encouraged to show the stories to their children before or during their daily toothbrushing. Children's toothbrushing performance, oral hygiene status, and gingival health status were assessed at baseline and 6 months. Toothbrushing performance, oral hygiene, and gingival status of the recruited children were significantly improved after using social stories. Moreover, children with autism showed better oral hygiene status (P = 0.01) and better gingival status (P < 0.001) than their peers without autism. However, there were no significant differences in the toothbrushing performance among children with and without autism. The regression models indicated that the improvement of children's toothbrushing performance and oral health status were associated with children's intellectual functioning and parents' attitudes toward the usefulness of social story intervention. The principal findings suggested that social story intervention could be used to improve toothbrushing skills among children with or without autism, while it was more efficient in improving the oral hygiene status among children with autism. Autism Res 2020, 13: 666–674. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Lay Summary

Toothbrushing is considered as a basic self‐care practice that should be advocated in early childhood. We used social stories to train toothbrushing skills among preschoolers with special care needs. The toothbrushing skills of the recruited children were significantly improved after 6‐months intervention, and children with autism showed better oral hygiene status than their peers without autism. These findings suggested that social story‐based health promotion could be implemented among children with special needs.
Compressed Nanolamella‐Stacked Ni(OH)2/NiCo2O4 Composite as Electrode for Battery‐Type Supercapacitor
Authors: Guo Chunli , Wang Huaiyan , Ren Xiaochuan , Zhang Weike , Hou Lifeng , Wei Yinghui , Bai Zhongchao
Published: December 2019

Transition metal oxides/hydroxides as electrode materials for supercapacitors have drawn great attention in the past decades. However, the large volume expansion during the cycling always leads to capacity decrease and short cycle life. In this paper, a compressed Ni(OH)2/NiCo2O4 nanolamellas composite grown on nickel foam is synthesized by a one‐step hydrothermal method towards the enhanced performance of supercapacitors. The resulting Ni(OH)2/NiCo2O4 composite displays unexpectedly excellent cycle stability both in single‐electrode cycling (112 % after 90,000 cycles at 5 mA cm−2) and hybrid supercapacitor cycling (124 % after 80,000 cycles at 1 A g−1). The excellent electrochemical performances are attributed to the unique compressed nanolamella‐stacked architecture, which can not only accommodate the volume expansion, but also increase the contact area between the electrode and electrolyte.
Effect of γ‐irradiation on thermal and thermoluminescence properties of polystyrene/europium (III) oxide composite film
Authors: Bhavsar Shilpa , Singh N.L. , Singh Birendra
Published: December 2019

In the present study, polystyrene:europium (III) oxide polymer films at a ratio of 95:5 wt% were prepared using a solution casting technique. These polymeric films were irradiated with 5, 25 and 50 kGy γ‐radiation doses and their thermoluminescence (TL) and thermal properties were studied as a function of radiation dose. Analysis of Fourier transform infrared spectra revealed different modes of vibration and polymer–filler interaction. Reduction of vibrational modes with radiation dose was observed. The TL glow curve intensity was observed to increase with increasing radiation dose and to become broader in the 378 K and 444 K regions. Detrapping of electrons implied by the glow curve was caused by thermally induced macromolecular motion, concurrent with β‐relaxation in polystyrene. The TL glow curve parameters were computed using a glow curve deconvolution method. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis indicated that the glass transition temperature (Tg) increased with increase in dose, suggesting crosslinking of the polymer chain. Scanning electron microscopy analysis evidenced the change in surface morphology due to γ‐irradiation.
The potential population‐based impact of an HPV vaccination intervention in Colorado
Authors: Cataldi Jessica R. , Håbesland Marian , Anderson‐Mellies Amy , Dempsey Amanda F. , Cockburn Myles
Published: December 2019

Background

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common cause of cervical cancer and can be prevented with vaccination, but HPV vaccination rates remain low. An intervention to improve health care provider communication about vaccination has been shown to increase HPV vaccination rates in an initial trial in Colorado, where about 160 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year.

Methods

Census data were combined with Colorado cancer and immunization registry data to identify clinics in locations that would most benefit from implementation of this intervention to improve HPV vaccination rates. ArcGIS Pro was used to map cervical cancer incidence, immunization rates, population data, and location of clinics participating in practice‐based research networks (PBRNs). Results from the provider communication intervention trial and published estimates of the number needed to vaccinate to prevent a case of cervical cancer were used to predict the number of cervical cancer cases prevented based on increased vaccination due to the intervention.

Results

Ninety‐eight Colorado PBRN clinics were analyzed. For the 10 clinics with the highest predicted number of cervical cancer cases prevented, 5218 additional patients would be vaccinated and 43 cervical cancer cases prevented with implementation of the intervention. If implemented in all 98 clinics, the intervention would lead to 20 490 additional patients vaccinated (range 7‐658/clinic) and 171 cases of cervical cancer prevented (range 0.05‐5.48/clinic).

Conclusions

Geographic data from cancer and immunization registries can inform the dissemination of evidence‐based practices like the provider communication intervention for HPV vaccination to maximize impact on public health.
In Situ Acetaldehyde Synthesis for Carboligation Reactions
Authors: Biewenga Lieuwe , Kunzendorf Andreas , Poelarends Gerrit J.
Published: December 2019

The enzyme 4‐oxalocrotonate tautomerase (4‐OT) can promiscuously catalyze various carboligation reactions using acetaldehyde as a nucleophile. However, the highly reactive nature of acetaldehyde requires intricate handling, which can impede its usage in practical synthesis. Therefore, we investigated three enzymatic routes to synthesize acetaldehyde in situ in one‐pot cascade reactions with 4‐OT. Two routes afforded practical acetaldehyde concentrations, using an environmental pollutant, trans‐3‐chloroacrylic acid, or a bio‐renewable, ethanol, as starting substrate. These routes can be combined with 4‐OT catalyzed Michael‐type additions and aldol condensations in one pot. This modular systems biocatalysis methodology provides a stepping stone towards the development of larger artificial metabolic networks for the practical synthesis of important chemical synthons.
Tackling Achilles’ Heel in Synthetic Biology: Pairing Intracellular Synthesis of Noncanonical Amino Acids with Genetic‐Code Expansion to Foster Biotechnological Applications
Authors: Biava Hernán D.
Published: December 2019

For the last two decades, synthetic biologists have been able to unlock and expand the genetic code, generating proteins with unique properties through the incorporation of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs). These evolved biomaterials have shown great potential for applications in industrial biocatalysis, therapeutics, bioremediation, bioconjugation, and other areas. Our ability to continue developing such technologies depends on having relatively easy access to ncAAs. However, the synthesis of enantiomerically pure ncAAs in practical quantitates for large‐scale processes remains a challenge. Biocatalytic ncAA production has emerged as an excellent alternative to traditional organic synthesis in terms of cost, enantioselectivity, and sustainability. Moreover, biocatalytic synthesis offers the opportunity of coupling the intracellular generation of ncAAs with genetic‐code expansion to overcome the limitations of an external supply of amino acid. In this minireview, we examine some of the most relevant achievements of this approach and its implications for improving technological applications derived from synthetic biology.
Phosphorylation of Dab2 is involved in inhibited VEGF‐VEGFR‐2 signaling induced by downregulation of syndecan‐1 in glomerular endothelial cell
Authors: Jing Zhou , Jia‐jun Wu , Wei‐jie Yuan
Published: December 2019

Disabled‐2 (Dab2) and PAR‐3 (partitioning defective 3) are reported to play critical roles in maintaining retinal microvascular endothelial cells biology by regulating VEGF‐VEGFR‐2 signaling. The role of Dab2 and PAR‐3 in glomerular endothelial cell (GEnC) is unclear. In this study, we found that, no matter whether with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment or not, decreased expression of Dab2 could lead to cell apoptosis by preventing activation of VEGF‐VEGFR‐2 signaling in GEnC, accompanied by reduced membrane VEGFR‐2 expression. And silencing of PAR‐3 gene expression caused increased apoptosis of GEnC by inhibiting activation of VEGF‐VEGFR‐2 signaling and membrane VEGFR‐2 expression. In our previous research, we found that the silencing of syndecan‐1 gene expression inhibited VEGF‐VEGFR‐2 signaling by modulating internalization of VEGFR‐2. And our further research demonstrated that downregulation of syndecan‐1 lead to no significant change in the expression of Dab2 and PAR‐3 both at messenger RNA and protein levels in GEnC, while phosphorylation of Dab2 was significantly increased in GEnC transfected with Dab2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) compared with control siRNA. Atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) could induce phosphorylation of Dab2, thus negatively regulating VEGF‐VEGFR‐2 signaling. And we found that decreased expression of syndecan‐1 lead to activation of aPKC, and aPKC inhibitor treatment could block phosphorylation of Dab2 in GEnC. Besides, aPKC inhibitor treatment could activate VEGF‐VGEFR‐2 signaling in GEnC transfected with syndecan‐1 siRNA in a dose‐dependent manner. In conclusion, we speculated that phosphorylation of Dab2 is involved in preventing activation of VEGF‐VEGFR‐2 signaling in GEnC transfected with syndecan‐1 siRNA. This provides a new target for the therapy of GEnC injury and kidney disease.
NEAT1/miR‐193a‐3p/SOX5 axis regulates cartilage matrix degradation in human osteoarthritis
Authors: Liu Feng , Liu Xiangyang , Yang Yue , Sun Zhibo , Deng Shuang , Jiang Zhongping , Li Wen , Wu Fei
Published: December 2019

Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were reported to be involved in the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of this work was to explore the functional role of lncRNA nuclear‐enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) in OA. Reverse‐transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) was employed to analyze the expression of microRNA (miR‐193a)‐3p, NEAT1, and sex‐determining region Y‐box protein 5 (SOX5), as well as the levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), IL‐1β, tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), and IL‐8 in OA cartilage tissue and chondrocytes. In addition, flow cytometry was used to measure the apoptosis of chondrocytes. The protein levels of extracellular matrix ACAN, collagen type II α1 chain (Col2a1), matrix metalloproteinase‐3 (MMP‐3), MMP‐13, a disintegrin, and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS)‐5 and SOX5 were determined using western blot analysis. Dual‐luciferase reporter assay was performed to determine the target relationship among NEAT1, miR‐193a‐3p, and SOX5. We found that miR‐193a‐3p expression was downregulated, while NEAT1 and SOX5 were upregulated in OA cartilage tissue and chondrocytes. Both upregulation of miR‐193a‐3p and knockdown of NEAT1 suppressed inflammation, apoptosis, and reduced the protein levels of MMP‐3, MMP‐13, and ADAMTS‐5, while elevating ACAN and Col2a1 expression in chondrocytes. NEAT1 targeted miR‐193a‐3p, and SOX5 was targeted by miR‐193a‐3p. Silencing of miR‐193a‐3p reversed the NEAT1 knockdown‐mediated effect on the inflammation, apoptosis, and production of the extracellular matrix. The introduction of SOX5 abolished the impact of the upregulation of miR‐193a‐3p on inflammation, apoptosis, and production of extracellular matrix in chondrocytes. In conclusion, NEAT1/miR‐193a‐3p/SOX5 axis regulates cartilage matrix degradation in human OA.