bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of primary percutaneous cardiac intervention for ST elevation myocardial infarction with a saphenous vein graft culprit
Authors: Kheifets Mark , Vaknin‐Assa Hana , Greenberg Gabriel , Assali Abid , Kornowski Ran , Perl Leor
Published: December 2019

Background

Patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who have a history of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are at high risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Data on the risk of a saphenous vein graft (SVG)—infarct‐related artery (IRA) compared to other culprit vessels are sparse.

Methods

The study was based on a prospectively collected registry of 2,405 consecutive patients with STEMI attending a tertiary medical center in 2001–2017. Patients with an SVG‐IRA (n = 172) were compared with patients with native vessel disease (n = 2,333) for mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which included death, myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR), and coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) at 1 month and 3 years.

Results

The SVG‐IRA group was significantly older than the native vessel group (p = .05), with no between‐group differences in rates of male patients (76 vs. 82%, p = .59), diabetes (24.2 vs. 26.2%, p = .73), and renal failure (18.8 vs. 9.2%, p = .25). Mortality was higher in the SVG‐IRA group at 1 month (13.9 vs. 2.5%, p < .01) and 3 years (23.9 vs. 7.4%, p < .01). At 3 years, SVG‐IRA was associated with the highest rates of MACE (55.6%), compared with native vessel disease. After correction for confounders, SVG‐IRA remained an independent risk factor for MACE both at 1 month (HR‐2.08, 95%CI 1.72–3.11, p < .01) and 3 years (HR‐2.01, 95%CI 1.28–3.09, p < .01).

Conclusion

Among patients treated with pPCI for STEMI, outcomes are worse when the culprit is an SVG.
Enhanced Catalytic Performance of Zn‐containing HZSM‐5 upon Selective Desilication in Ethane Dehydroaromatization Process
Authors: Goodarzi Farnoosh , Thumbayil Rouzana Pulikkal , Enemark‐Rasmussen Kasper , Mielby Jerrik , Nguyen Thoa T.M. , Beato Pablo , Joensen Finn , Kegnæs Søren
Published: December 2019

The effect of introducing mesoporosity on the catalytic stability and selectivity of Zn‐containing ZSM‐5 catalysts was investigated for direct conversion of ethane to high‐value aromatics. Voids and mesopores were created in the zeolite (Si/Al=40) by selective desilication (recrystallization) using ammonium hydroxide and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. Zinc was incorporated in the samples by incipient wetness impregnation to achieve different concentrations of 0.5, 1 and 5 wt %. The samples were characterized by XRD, N2 physisorption, TGA, NH3‐TPD, ICP‐OES, FTIR, 1H, 27Al and 29Si solid‐state MAS NMR. The desilicated samples were compared to their parent analogues for ethane conversion to aromatics such as benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX). All of the desilicated samples showed an improvement in BTX yield and catalytic stability. Thus, the presence of mesoporosity increases the accessibility to the active sites and facilitates the mass transfer of aromatic compounds, which result in higher performance and catalytic stability of the desilicated ZSM‐5 samples containing zinc.
Boosting Microbial Fuel Cell Performance by Combining with an External Supercapacitor: An Electrochemical Study
Authors: Poli Federico , Seri Jacopo , Santoro Carlo , Soavi Francesca
Published: December 2019

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs), despite representing a promising technology, suffer from low power generation that hinders, in most of the cases, their application as power sources. In fact, MFCs are usually coupled with supercapacitors or batteries and these storage units accumulate the energy harvested by MFCs and deliver it on demand. In this work, the electrodes of a MFC are used as electrodes of an internal supercapacitor and discharges and self‐recharges are performed and investigated. Discharges between 1.5 mA and 4 mA were presented producing a maximum power of 1.59 mW. Discharges between 1 mA and 100 mA and recharges are systematically studied for three commercial supercapacitors (SCs) with different capacitances of 1 F, 3 F, and 6 F. The MFC was also connected in parallel with external SCs and discharged galvanostatically. The SC was self‐recharged by the MFC without any additional external power sources. At lower current pulses, the MFC contributed to the overall capacitance, probably owing to its faradaic component. At higher current pulses, the use of SCs enables the energy to be harvested by MFCs at power levels that could not be achieved with the MFC alone. This study demonstrates that, through the proper connection and operation mode of the MFC and SC, it is possible to improve and maximize the performance of every single unit. Understanding the MFC−SC combination is important for identifying the right practical application for which the combination is suitable.
Using chemometrics tools to gain detailed molecular information on chemical processes
Authors: Puxty Graeme , Maeder Marcel
Published: December 2019

Paul Gemperline has been active in many areas of data analysis in chemistry. In this contribution, we build on his developments in advanced process analysis. The most prominent aspect is data fusion, the combined analysis of measurements taken on different instruments, using different measurement techniques, and different chemical conditions. We have successfully applied these principles to the investigation of the chemistry of CO2 in aqueous amine solutions.
AuCl3‐Catalyzed Ring‐Closing Carbonyl–Olefin Metathesis
Authors: Wang Rui , Chen Yi , Shu Mao , Zhao Wenwen , Tao Maoling , Du Chao , Fu Xiaoya , Li Ao , Lin Zhihua
Published: December 2019

Compared with the ripeness of olefin metathesis, exploration of the construction of carbon–carbon double bonds through the catalytic carbonyl–olefin metathesis reaction remains stagnant and has received scant attention. Herein, a highly efficient AuCl3‐catalyzed intramolecular ring‐closing carbonyl–olefin metathesis reaction is described. This method features easily accessible starting materials, simple operation, good functional‐group tolerance and short reaction times, and provides the target cyclopentenes, polycycles, benzocarbocycles, and N‐heterocycle derivatives in good to excellent yields.
Ring‐Opened Hemiporphyrazines: Helical Molecules Exhibiting Circularly Polarized Luminescence
Authors: Tanaka Yusuke , Murayama Tomotaka , Muranaka Atsuya , Imai Eiyu , Uchiyama Masanobu
Published: December 2019

We designed and synthesized a new type of small helical molecule exhibiting intense circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) (12H) by modifying a 20π‐electron hemiporphyrazine with a large transition magnetic dipole moment. The hemiporphyrazine ring was opened and one additional pyridine unit was introduced, resulting in an overlap of two pyridine rings. X‐ray structure analysis confirmed that 12H and its zinc complex (1Zn) adopt a helical geometry. A racemic mixture of 1Zn was resolved into two enantiomers ((P)‐ and (M)‐1Zn), which exhibited CPL with a high luminescence dissymmetry factor (glum) value of ±2.1×10−2. The origin of the large glum value was rationalized by means of DFT calculations. Helical structures could be formed in a diastereoselective manner by covalently attaching chiral units to the skeleton (1’2H and 1’Zn). 1Zn was found to possess chiral recognition ability for amines.
Self‐Assembly of an Amino Acid Derivative into an Antimicrobial Hydrogel Biomaterial
Authors: Garcia Ana M. , Lavendomme Roy , Kralj Slavko , Kurbasic Marina , Bellotto Ottavia , Cringoli Maria C. , Semeraro Sabrina , Bandiera Antonella , De Zorzi Rita , Marchesan Silvia
Published: December 2019

N‐(4‐Nitrobenzoyl)‐Phe self‐assembled into a transparent supramolecular hydrogel, which displayed high fibroblast and keratinocyte cell viability. The compound showed a mild antimicrobial activity against E. coli both as a hydrogel and in solution. Single‐crystal XRD data revealed packing details, including protonation of the C‐terminus due to an apparent pKa shift, as confirmed by pH titrations. MicroRaman analysis revealed almost identical features between the gel and crystal states, although more disorder in the former. The hydrogel is thermoreversible and disassembles within a range of temperatures that can be fine‐tuned by experimental conditions, such as gelator concentration. At the minimum gelling concentration of 0.63 wt %, the hydrogel disassembles in a physiological temperature range of 39–42 °C, thus opening the way to its potential use as a biomaterial.
How career plateau beliefs and leader interpersonal unfairness harm job performance in dysfunctional organizational settings
Authors: De Clercq Dirk , Haq Inam Ul , Azeem Muhammad Umer , Hassan Amna
Published: December 2019

Building on social exchange theory and attribution theory, this study unpacks the relationship between employees' perceptions of organizational politics and job performance, considering the mediating effect of career plateau beliefs and the moderating effect of leader interpersonal unfairness. The findings provide empirical support for the theoretical predictions. An important reason for which perceptions of dysfunctional organizational politics reduce job performance is that employees develop beliefs that opportunities for their career development are limited. This mediating role of career plateau beliefs is particularly salient to the extent that employees are exposed to organizational leaders who treat them with disrespect. Organizations can mitigate the risk that highly politicized decision‐making processes lead to negative performance outcomes by stimulating fair interpersonal relationships.
GPU‐accelerated simulation of polydisperse multiphase flows using dual‐quadrature‐based moment methods
Authors: Santos Fabio P. , Lage Paulo L. C. , Favero Jovani L. , Senocak Inanc
Published: December 2019

Polydisperse multiphase flows can be simulated by coupling a population balance model to the multi‐fluid model. For the first time, this simulation is carried out using the dual‐quadrature method of generalized moments (DuQMoGeM) and its direct version to solve the population balance model. The main disadvantage of these methods is the high computational cost of the embedded cubature. Herein, this challenge was addressed by parallelization on graphics processing units, which resulted in a significant acceleration of the simulations, with speedups that can be larger than 1000. Numerical simulations considering simultaneous particles breakage and aggregation were conducted with direct DuQMoGeM‐FC and DQMoM‐FC, whose results were different due to the existence of quadrature error in the latter.
A New Liver Expression Quantitative Trait Locus Map From 1,183 Individuals Provides Evidence for Novel Expression Quantitative Trait Loci of Drug Response, Metabolic, and Sex‐Biased Phenotypes
Authors: Etheridge Amy S. , Gallins Paul J. , Jima Dereje , Broadaway K. Alaine , Ratain Mark J. , Schuetz Erin , Schadt Eric , Schroder Adrian , Molony Cliona , Zhou Yihui , Mohlke Karen L. , Wright Fred A. , Innocenti Federico
Published: December 2019

Expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) studies in human liver are crucial for elucidating how genetic variation influences variability in disease risk and therapeutic outcomes and may help guide strategies to obtain maximal efficacy and safety of clinical interventions. Associations between expression microarray and genome‐wide genotype data from four human liver eQTL studies (n = 1,183) were analyzed. More than 2.3 million cis‐eQTLs for 15,668 genes were identified. When eQTLs were filtered against a list of 1,496 drug response genes, 187,829 cis‐eQTLs for 1,191 genes were identified. Additionally, 1,683 sex‐biased cis‐eQTLs were identified, as well as 49 and 73 cis‐eQTLs that colocalized with genome‐wide association study signals for blood metabolite or lipid levels, respectively. Translational relevance of these results is evidenced by linking DPYD eQTLs to differences in safety of chemotherapy, linking the sex‐biased regulation of PCSK9 expression to anti‐lipid therapy, and identifying the G‐protein coupled receptor GPR180 as a novel drug target for hypertriglyceridemia.
Pharmacokinetic Modeling of Intrathecally Administered Recombinant Human Arylsulfatase A (TAK‐611) in Children With Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
Authors: Troy Steven , Wasilewski Margaret , Beusmans Jack , Godfrey C.J.
Published: December 2019

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a lysosomal storage disease caused by deficient arylsulfatase A (ASA) activity, which leads to neuronal sulfatide accumulation and motor and cognitive deterioration. Intrathecal delivery of a recombinant human ASA (TAK‐611, formerly SHP611) is under development as a potential therapy for MLD. We used serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) TAK‐611 concentrations measured during the phase I/II trial of intrathecal TAK‐611 to develop a pharmacokinetic (PK) model describing drug disposition. CSF data were well characterized by a two‐compartment model in the central nervous system (CNS); a single central compartment described the serum data. Estimated parameters suggested rapid distribution of TAK‐611 from CSF into the putative brain tissue compartment, with persistence in the brain between doses (median distributive and terminal half‐lives in the CNS: 1.02 and 477 hours, respectively). This model provides a valuable basis for understanding the PK distribution of TAK‐611 and for PK/pharmacodynamic analyses of functional outcomes.
Analytic and Data Sharing Options in Real‐World Multidatabase Studies of Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Medical Products
Authors: Toh Sengwee
Published: December 2019

A wide range of analytic and data sharing options are available in nonexperimental multidatabase studies designed to assess the real‐world benefits and risks of medical products. Researchers often consider six scientific domains when choosing among these options—study design, exposure type, outcome type, covariate summarization technique, covariate adjustment method, and data sharing approach. This article reviews available analytic and data sharing options and discusses key scientific and practical considerations when choosing among these options in multidatabase studies of comparative effectiveness and safety of medical products. The scientific considerations must be balanced against what the data‐contributing sites are able or willing to share. While pooling of person‐level data sets remains the most familiar and analytically flexible approach, newer analytic and data sharing approaches that share less granular summary‐level information may be equally valid and preferred in some multidatabase studies, especially when sharing of person‐level data is challenging or infeasible.
Timing of Pediatric Drug Approval and Clinical Evidence Submitted to Regulatory Authorities: International Comparison Among Japan, the United States, and the European Union
Authors: Hirota Saeko , Yamaguchi Takuhiro
Published: December 2019

Many prescription drugs approved for adult use lack pediatric labeling information, resulting in their off‐label use in children. Drug regulatory authorities have developed legal and regulatory frameworks to promote pediatric drug development. However, the current state of pediatric indication approval and quality of efficacy evidence, which forms the basis of regulatory approvals, is unknown. Here, we analyzed novel therapeutics approved in Japan, the United States, and the European Union during 2005–2014 to investigate the timing and frequency of pediatric indication approval, and characterized the design of pediatric studies supporting regulatory approval. We found that the United States and European Union experienced a higher frequency of supplemental indication approval in pediatrics based on better‐designed studies than Japan. The speed and efficiency of pediatric drug development will improve by coordinating pediatric studies on an international basis. The results also implied the necessity for a robust system of postmarketing monitoring of pediatric efficacy and safety.
Teaching sustainability across curricula: understanding faculty perspectives at Vancouver Island University
Authors: McCunn Lindsay J. , Bjornson Alexander , Alexander Don
Published: December 2019

Sustainability initiatives in higher education are growing in importance. This case study may guide faculty at other institutions seeking to gain deeper insight into the state of sustainability education where they work. Members of the Vancouver Island University Sustainability Advisory Committee hosted a workshop for faculty members, students and staff to explore how sustainability is incorporated into teaching and learning at the institution, to share perspectives, and examine ways to enhance individual and collective pedagogical practices. A World Café posed four questions for participants to answer as they rotated between tables. The resulting qualitative data were content analysed and interpreted. Key themes and categories from data concerning participants' successes and inspirations while teaching and learning at Vancouver Island University (VIU), challenges and barriers in blending sustainability into coursework, faculty's perceptions of student perspectives of sustainability in VIU courses and about resources and opportunities to integrate sustainability in interdisciplinary courses are reported and discussed. This case study differs from others in that it does not describe an evaluation of a programme but, rather, explicates a process by faculty working at a new university to elicit information from their peers and develop networks that will engage the university in interdisciplinary sustainability for years to come.
Fully scheduled decomposition channel estimation based MIMO‐POMA structured LTE
Authors: Kumar V. Madhu , Ramana T. Venkata
Published: December 2019

Recent challenging channel estimation for antenna beam shape MIMO without performance loss is to be improved. In this paper, a fully scheduled decomposition‐based channel estimation scheme is proposed by using the concept of MIMO with position‐orthogonal multiple access (POMA) system. Furthermore, to improve power allocation, an iterative power decomposition is proposed by giving solution to power optimization problem. The proposed work channel estimation achieves better comparisons.
Soft tissue tumor diagnosis: A three prong approach utilizing pattern analysis, immunocytochemistry, and molecular diagnostics
Authors: Layfield Lester J.
Published: December 2019

Tissue diagnosis of a soft tissue neoplasm is of paramount importance for the development of an appropriate treatment plan. Biopsy technique including approach and biopsy method is important to the success of diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Histologic and cytologic diagnoses are difficult and complicated by the large number of soft tissue lesions described, distinctly different biopotential for morphologically similar lesions, often small biopsy specimen size, and the generally limited experience many pathologists have in the diagnosis of soft tissue neoplasms. While utilized less frequently than core‐needle biopsies, fine‐needle aspiration is a valuable initial approach for the classification of soft tissue neoplasms. The combination of pattern based morphologic analysis, immunohistochemistry, and molecular diagnostics represents a utilitarian and generally successful approach for the diagnosis of soft tissue lesions.
The patient presenting with chronic limb‐threatening ischaemia. Does diabetes influence presentation, limb outcomes and survival?
Authors: Fitridge Robert , Pena Guilherme , Mills Joseph L.
Published: December 2019

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) confers an elevated risk of major amputation and delayed wound healing in diabetic patients with foot ulcers. The major international vascular societies recently developed evidence‐based guidelines for the assessment and management of patients with chronic limb‐threatening ischaemia (CLTI). CLTI represents the cohort of diabetic and non‐diabetic patients who have PAD which is of sufficient severity to delay wound healing and increase amputation risk. Diabetic patients with CLTI are more likely to present with tissue loss, infection and have less favourable anatomy for revascularization than those without diabetes. Although diabetes is not consistently reported as a strong independent risk factor for limb loss, major morbidity and mortality in CLTI patients, it is impossible in clinical practice to isolate diabetes from comorbidities, such as end‐stage renal disease and coronary artery disease which occur more commonly in diabetic patients. Treatment of CLTI in the diabetic patient is complex and should involve a multi‐disciplinary team to optimize outcomes. Clinicians should use an integrated approach to management based on patient risk assessment, an assessment of the severity of the foot pathology and a structured anatomical assessment of arterial disease as suggested by the Global Vascular Guidelines for CLTI.
Harvest models of small populations of a large carnivore using Bayesian forecasting
Authors: Andrén Henrik , Hobbs N. Thompson , Aronsson Malin , Brøseth Henrik , Chapron Guillaume , Linnell John D. C. , Odden John , Persson Jens , Nilsen Erlend B.
Published: December 2019

Harvesting large carnivores can be a management tool for meeting politically set goals for their desired abundance. However, harvesting carnivores creates its own set of conflicts in both society and among conservation professionals, where one consequence is a need to demonstrate that management is sustainable, evidence‐based, and guided by science. Furthermore, because large carnivores often also have high degrees of legal protection, harvest quotas have to be carefully justified and constantly adjusted to avoid damaging their conservation status. We developed a Bayesian state‐space model to support adaptive management of Eurasian lynx harvesting in Scandinavia. The model uses data from the annual monitoring of lynx abundance and results from long‐term field research on lynx biology, which has provided detailed estimates of key demographic parameters. We used the model to predict the probability that the forecasted population size will be below or above the management objectives when subjected to different harvest quotas. The model presented here informs decision makers about the policy risks of alternative harvest levels. Earlier versions of the model have been available for wildlife managers in both Sweden and Norway to guide lynx harvest quotas and the model predictions showed good agreement with observations. We combined monitoring data with data on vital rates and were able to estimate unobserved additional mortality rates, which are most probably due to poaching. In both countries, the past quota setting strategy suggests that there has been a de facto threshold strategy with increasing proportion, which means that there is no harvest below a certain population size, but above this threshold there is an increasing proportion of the population harvested as the population size increases. The annual assessment of the monitoring results, the use of forecasting models, and a threshold harvest approach to quota setting will all reduce the risk of lynx population sizes moving outside the desired goals. The approach we illustrate could be adapted to other populations of mammals worldwide.
Failure mechanism and fracture aperture characteristics of hard thick main roof based on voussoir beam structure in longwall coal mining
Authors: Zhang Chunwang , Jin Zhixin , Song Xuanmin , Feng Guorui , Li Zhu , Gao Rui , Zhu Defu , Li Chun
Published: December 2019

The mechanism and fracture aperture of thick hard roof failure were theoretically analyzed from the perspective of elastoplastic mechanics. A uniform load cantilever beam was established by considering the voussoir beam structure and stress condition. According to the stress inverse principle in solving the plane strain problem, the internal stress component analytic solution was deduced. Considering the lateral thrust and shear force and by applying the Mohr‐Coulomb failure criterion, the plastic zone boundary equation was obtained. Further analysis of the equivalent stress, equivalent strain, elastic energy density, distortion energy density, and strain energy density was studied with blocks of four different lengths, combined with the rotation angles after failure, to analyze the fissure aperture between straight and curved fracture traces. The theoretical analysis reveals that the deviatoric effect plays the lead role in rupture initiation and propagation; the cracks will deflect during failure, and the fracture trace presents a curved shape. The variation of fracture aperture exhibits a tendency to increase first, then decrease, and then increase along the fracture trace. The analytical approach presented in this paper provides a theoretical basis for determining the main seepage channel flow in underground mining.
A modality‐specific dysfunction of pain processing in schizophrenia
Authors: Zhou Lili , Bi Yanzhi , Liang Meng , Kong Yazhuo , Tu Yiheng , Zhang Xiangyang , Song Yanying , Du Xia , Tan Shuping , Hu Li
Published: December 2019

Clinical observations showed that schizophrenia (SCZ) patients reported little or no pain under various conditions that are commonly associated with intense painful sensations, leading to a higher risk of morbidity and mortality. However, this phenomenon has received little attention and its underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we conducted two experiments combining psychophysics, electroencephalography (EEG), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques to investigate neural mechanisms of pain insensitivity in SCZ patients. Specifically, we adopted a stimulus–response paradigm with brief stimuli of different sensory modalities (i.e., nociceptive, non‐nociceptive somatosensory, and auditory) to test whether pain insensitivity in SCZ patients is supra‐modal or modality‐specific, and used EEG and fMRI techniques to clarify its neural mechanisms. We observed that perceived intensities to nociceptive stimuli were significantly smaller in SCZ patients than healthy controls, whereas perceived intensities to non‐nociceptive somatosensory and auditory stimuli were not significantly different. The behavioral results were confirmed by stimulus‐evoked brain responses sampled by EEG and fMRI techniques, thus verifying the modality‐specific nature of the modulation of nociceptive information processing in SCZ patients. Additionally, significant group differences were observed in the spectral power of alpha oscillations in prestimulus EEG and the seed‐based functional connectivity in resting‐state fMRI (seeds: the thalamus and periaqueductal gray that are key nodes in ascending and descending pain pathways respectively), suggesting a possible contribution of cortical–subcortical dysfunction to the phenomenon. Overall, our study provides insight into the neural mechanisms of pain insensitivity in SCZ and highlights a need for systematic assessments of their pain‐related diseases.
A prospective evaluation of health‐related quality of life after skull base re‐irradiation
Authors: Bahig Houda , Ng Sweet P. , Pollard Courtney , Nguyen Theresa P. , Gunn Gary B. , Rosenthal David I. , Fuller Clifton D. , Frank Steven J. , Garden Adam S. , Reddy Jay P. , Morrison William H. , Ferrarotto Renata , Hanna Ehab Y. , DeMonte Franco , Su Shirley Y. , Phan Jack
Published: December 2019

Purpose

To report cancer control outcomes and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes after highly conformal skull‐based re‐irradiation (re‐RT).

Methods

Patients planned for curative intent re‐RT to a recurrent or new skull base tumor were enrolled. HRQoL were assessed using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Brain Tumor (MDASI‐BT) and the anterior skull base surgery quality of life (ASBQ) questionnaires.

Results

Thirty‐nine patients were treated with stereotactic body RT or intensity modulated RT. Median follow‐up was 14 months. Progression free survival was 71% at 1‐year. There was mild clinically significant worsening of fatigue, lack of appetite and drowsiness (MDASI‐BT), and physical function (ASBQ) at the end of RT, followed by recovery to baseline on subsequent follow‐ups. Subjective emotions were clinically improved at 12 months, with patients reporting feeling less tense/nervous.

Conclusion

Conformal skull base re‐RT is associated with mild immediate deterioration in physical function followed by rapid and sustained recovery.
Cu2MgO3 Electronic and Magnetic Properties – a DFT Study
Authors: Yekutiel Mivsam , Kukliansky Alon , Natan Amir
Published: December 2019

We investigate the properties of Guggenite‐α Cu2MgO3, which has an experimentally measured energy gap of approximately 1 eV. The band gap of Cu2MgO3, which is in the solar spectrum range makes it a potential candidate for photovoltaic applications. We calculate with PBE+U and LDA+U, and the SCAN functionals, the structure, formation energy and electronic structure of Cu2MgO3 in its anti‐ferromagnetic ground state and in the ferromagnetic phase. Finally we discuss the formation energy and band gap dependence on the U‐J Hubbard potential and compare our results to experiment.
Longitudinal structural MRI analysis and classification in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Zhang Yingteng , Liu Shenquan , Yu Xiaoli
Published: December 2019

Early diagnosis or detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is crucial so as to intervene in advance and to better understand the neurodegenerative process. Gray matter volume (GMV) plays an important role in demonstrating unique anatomical characteristics of the brain regions and further differentiates AD, MCI and normal control (NC). In this study, 317 subjects (100 NC, 58 stable MCI (sMCI), 53 converted MCI (cMCI) and 106 AD) are selected from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database. First, the differences of GMV patterns among the between‐group comparisons at different time points and the development of longitudinal pattern within the same group are compared. Next, the longitudinal feature combination strategy is applied to construct the classification model by using a support vector machine (SVM) combined with the nested leave‐one‐out cross‐validation (LOOCV) method. The brain structure experiences a gradual change in the process of developing from NC to AD. In addition, the baseline GMV combined with the longitudinal measurements for 2 years of follow‐up data yielded optimal classification results. Specifically, the AD‐NC comparison achieves the best classification performance with 98.06% accuracy, 97.17% sensitivity, 99.00% specificity, 99.04% positive predictive value (PPV) and 97.06% negative predictive value (NPV). The comparison of the two subtypes of MCI (ie, sMCI and cMCI) also achieves high accuracy. Other between‐group comparisons also receive high classification performance. According to statistics, caudate nucleus, hippocampus, temporal pole and lenticular putamen are the most important contribution areas to the between‐group comparisons. Our research has the potential to improve the clinical diagnosis of subtypes of MCI and predict the risk of its conversion to AD.
Measurement of the penetration of 56 cosmetic relevant chemicals into and through human skin using a standardized protocol
Authors: Hewitt Nicola J. , Grégoire Sébastien , Cubberley Richard , Duplan Hélène , Eilstein Joan , Ellison Corie , Lester Cathy , Fabian Eric , Fernandez Julien , Géniès Camille , Jacques‐Jamin Carine , Klaric Martina , Rothe Helga , Sorrell Ian , Lange Daniela , Schepky Andreas
Published: December 2019

OECD test guideline 428 compliant protocol using human skin was used to test the penetration of 56 cosmetic‐relevant chemicals. The penetration of finite doses (10 μL/cm2) of chemicals was measured over 24 hours. The dermal delivery (DD) (amount in the epidermis, dermis and receptor fluid [RF]) ranged between 0.03 ± 0.02 and 72.61 ± 8.89 μg/cm2. The DD of seven chemicals was comparable with in vivo values. The DD was mainly accounted for by the amount in the RF, although there were some exceptions, particularly of low DD chemicals. While there was some variability due to cell outliers and donor variation, the overall reproducibility was very good. As six chemicals had to be applied in 100% ethanol due to low aqueous solubility, we compared the penetration of four chemicals with similar physicochemical properties applied in ethanol and phosphate‐buffered saline. Of these, the DD of hydrocortisone was the same in both solvents, while the DD of propylparaben, geraniol and benzophenone was lower in ethanol. Some chemicals displayed an infinite dose kinetic profile; whereas, the cumulative absorption of others into the RF reflected the finite dosing profile, possibly due to chemical volatility, total absorption, chemical precipitation through vehicle evaporation or protein binding (or a combination of these). These investigations provide a substantial and consistent set of skin penetration data that can help improve the understanding of skin penetration, as well as improve the prediction capacity of in silico skin penetration models.
SERS‐based biosensor for Alzheimer disease evaluation through the fast analysis of human serum
Authors: Carlomagno Cristiano , Cabinio Monia , Picciolini Silvia , Gualerzi Alice , Baglio Francesca , Bedoni Marzia
Published: December 2019

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly, progressively affecting the cognitive functions with a complex diagnostic procedure that limits the time for a prompt intervention. In this study we optimized a reliable protocol for the analysis of AD patients and healthy subjects' serum using the Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), taking into consideration the effect of different variables on the final spectra, analyzed and compared through multivariate analysis and correlated with hippocampus volume. As results, we demonstrated a statistical difference between the spectra collected from the two investigated groups, with an accuracy, precision and specificity of respectively 83%, 86%, and 86%. The correlation of these data with those obtained from MRI, demonstrated a direct correlation between Raman spectra and hippocampus degeneration showing the Raman Spectroscopy (RS) as a potential tool for the monitoring of AD progression and rehabilitation treatments.
In vivo monitoring of rashes caused by systemic lupus erythematosus disease using snapshot spectral imaging
Authors: Zhang Yu , Lei Hongwei , Zhu Shuaishuai , Li Wei , Lin Jie , Zhang Jianlong , Li Yang , Jin Peng
Published: December 2019

Monitoring the activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is important to patient management. Blood biochemical indexes are commonly assessed but are both time demanding and traumatizing. In this study, a noninvasive and real‐time spatial‐spectral data tool was used to monitor SLE patients through rash spectral data. To build the relationship between the rash spectrum changes and changes in the patients' status, a snapshot hyperspectral Fourier transform imaging spectrometer was built to monitor the rash reflectance changes of hospitalized SLE patients. A simple rash activity index (RAI) which was normally distributed with the doctor's visual rating of rash severity was calculated from hyperspectral images. The sensitivity of the change in RAI is higher than complement 3/4 levels. RAI and anti‐dsDNA antibodies both decreased as the patients recovered. Anti‐dsDNA and complement 3/4 were important indicators of SLE activity suggesting that the RAI directly correlated with patient status. The snapshot spectrometer therefore provides an auxiliary method to monitor SLE disease.
A risk scoring system for the decreased glomerular filtration rate in Chinese general population
Authors: Gu Yan , Chen Min , Zhu Bei , Pei Xiaohua , Yong Zhenzhu , Li Xiaona , Zhang Qun , Zhao Weihong
Published: December 2019

Objective

The aim of this study was to establish a risk scoring system for the decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Chinese general population.

Methods

Totally 781 participants who underwent a health checkup in The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January to September 2017 were involved in the study. Significant variables chosen by multivariable logistic regression analysis were allocated the integral scores in proportion to its odds ratio (OR), and then the risk of decreased GFR was assessed based on the scores.

Results

The people with abnormal homocysteine (Hcy) level (OR: 1.534, 95% confidential interval [CI]: 1.075‐2.190, P = .018), males (OR: 2.054, 95%CI: 1.365‐3.092, P < .001), and those at the age of 46‐52 years (OR: 2.943, 95%CI: 1.546‐5.605, P = .001), 52‐59 years (OR: 3.664, 95%CI: 1.937‐6.931, P < .001) and ≥59 years (OR: 13.452, 95%CI: 7.339‐24.657, P < .001) were subjected to GFR reduction. These three variables were allocated the integral scores in proportion to its OR, and four risk categories were divided according to the scores. The prevalence of the decreased GFR in people with low (score 0‐4, n = 8), below the average (score 4‐6, n = 37), above the average (score 6‐13, n = 47), and high risks (score ≥ 13, n = 103) was 5.26%, 16.89%, 22.93% and 50.24%, respectively, and this prevalence raised with the increase of scores (P < .001).

Conclusions

A risk scoring system is developed in this study, which may offer a specific risk stratification for GFR reduction in Chinese general population.
Switches in histone modifications epigenetically control vitamin D3‐dependent transcriptional upregulation of the CYP24A1 gene in osteoblastic cells
Authors: Moena Daniel , Merino Paola , Lian Jane B. , Stein Gary S. , Stein Janet L. , Montecino Martin
Published: December 2019

In bone cells vitamin D dependent regulation of gene expression principally occurs through modulation of gene transcription. Binding of the active vitamin D metabolite, 1,25‐dihydroxy vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) induces conformational changes in its C‐terminal domain enabling competency for interaction with physiologically relevant coactivators, including SRC‐1. Consequently, regulatory complexes can be assembled that support intrinsic enzymatic activities with competency to posttranslationally modify chromatin histones at target genomic sequences to epigenetically alter transcription. Here we examine specific transitions in representation and/or enrichment of epigenetic histone marks during 1,25(OH)2D3 mediated upregulation of CYP24A1 gene expression in osteoblastic cells. This gene encodes the 24‐hydroxylase enzyme, essential for biological control of vitamin D levels. We demonstrate that as the CYP24A1 gene promoter remains transcriptionally silent, there is enrichment of H4R3me2s together with its “writing” enzyme PRMT5 and decreased abundance of the istone H3 and H4 acetylation, H3R17me2a, and H4R3me2a marks as well as of their corresponding “writers.” Exposure of osteoblastic cells to 1,25(OH)2D3 stimulates the recruitment of a VDR/SRC‐1 containing complex to the CYP24A1 promoter to mediate increased H3/H4 acetylation. VDR/SRC‐1 binding occurs concomitant with the release of PRMT5 and the recruitment of the arginine methyltransferases CARM1 and PRMT1 to catalyze the deposition of the H3R17me2a and H4R3me2a marks, respectively. Our results indicate that these dynamic transitions of histone marks at the CYP24A1 promoter, provide a “chromatin context” that is transcriptionally competent for activation of the CYP24A1 gene in osteoblastic cells in response to 1,25(OH)2D3.
Sprint speed is unaffected by dietary manipulation in trained male Anolis carolinensis lizards
Authors: Lailvaux Simon P. , Cespedes Ann M. , Weber William D. , Husak Jerry F.
Published: December 2019

Performance traits are energetically costly, and their expression and use can drive trade‐offs with other energetically costly life‐history traits. However, different performance traits incur distinct costs and may be sensitive to both resource limitation and to the types of resources that are accrued. Protein is likely to be especially important for supporting burst performance traits such as sprint speed, but the effect of varying diet composition on sprint training in lizards, an emerging model system for exercise training, is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that the response to sprint training is sensitive to both the type and amount of resources in Anolis carolinensis. We also measured bite force across all treatments as a control whole‐organism performance trait that should be unaffected by locomotor training. Both mass and bite force are reduced by dietary restriction over the course of 9 weeks of sprint training, but sprint speed is unaffected by either training or dietary restriction relative to controls. Furthermore, protein supplementation does not rescue a decline in either mass or bite force in trained, diet‐restricted males. These results contrast with those for endurance training, and suggest that sprint speed is more canalized than either endurance or bite force in green anoles.
Randomized clinical trial evaluating single maxillary gingival recession treatment with connective tissue graft and tunnel or trapezoidal flap: 2‐year follow‐up
Authors: Neves Felipe Lucas da Silva , Augusto Silveira Camila , Mathias‐Santamaria Ingrid Fernandes , Miguel Manuela Maria Viana , Ferraz Laís Fernanda Ferreira , Casarin Renato Correa Viana , Sallum Enilson Antônio , Tatakis Dimitris N. , Santamaria Mauro Pedrine
Published: December 2019

Background

The literature lacks long‐term evidence regarding outcomes of the coronally advanced tunnel flap (TUN) combined with connective tissue graft (CTG) when compared to the trapezoidal coronally advanced flap (CAF) and CTG combination. This study presents 2‐year results of a randomized clinical trial comparing CTG combined with either CAF or TUN in the treatment of single maxillary gingival recession (GR) defects.

Methods

Thirty‐nine patients, each contributing a single Miller Class I or II GR defect, were treated by CAF+CTG (control; n = 19) or TUN+CTG (test; n = 20) and completed the 2‐year follow up. Clinical, patient centered, and esthetic evaluations were performed and differences among groups were analyzed.

Results

At 2 years, mean root coverage for control and test group was 89.5% ± 14.6% and 87.7% ± 18.4%, respectively (P = 0.5). The corresponding complete root coverage prevalence was 68.4% and 50% (P = 0.4). Dentin hypersensitivity significantly decreased for both groups. The two groups showed improvement in esthetics, as assessed by both professionals and patients, without significant intergroup differences (P > 0.5). TUN+CTG sites were much more likely to present improvement in root coverage between 6 months and 2 years, exhibiting creeping attachment of 0.7 ± 0.6 mm.

Conclusions

At 2 years of follow up, both CAF+CTG and TUN+CTG resulted in significant clinical and esthetic improvements and provided similar results in the treatment of single maxillary GRs.
Diagnostic Ultrasound Safety Review for Point‐of‐Care Ultrasound Practitioners
Authors: Miller Douglas L. , Abo Alyssa , Abramowicz Jacques S. , Bigelow Timothy A. , Dalecki Diane , Dickman Eitan , Donlon John , Harris Gerald , Nomura Jason
Published: December 2019

Potential ultrasound exposure safety issues are reviewed, with guidance for prudent use of point‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS). Safety assurance begins with the training of POCUS practitioners in the generation and interpretation of diagnostically valid and clinically relevant images. Sonographers themselves should minimize patient exposure in accordance with the as‐low‐as‐reasonably‐achievable principle, particularly for the safety of the eye, lung, and fetus. This practice entails the reduction of output indices or the exposure duration, consistent with the acquisition of diagnostically definitive images. Informed adoption of POCUS worldwide promises a reduction of ionizing radiation risks, enhanced cost‐effectiveness, and prompt diagnoses for optimal patient care.
High‐Speed Large‐Field Multifocal Illumination Fluorescence Microscopy
Authors: Chen Zhenyue , Mc Larney Benedict , Rebling Johannes , Deán‐Ben Xosé Luis , Zhou Quanyu , Gottschalk Sven , Razansky Daniel
Published: December 2019

Scanning optical microscopy techniques are commonly restricted to a sub‐millimeter field‐of‐view (FOV) or otherwise employ slow mechanical translation, limiting their applicability for imaging fast biological dynamics occurring over large areas. A rapid scanning large‐field multifocal illumination (LMI) fluorescence microscopy technique is devised based on a beam‐splitting grating and an acousto‐optic deflector synchronized with a high‐speed camera to attain real‐time fluorescence microscopy over a centimeter‐scale FOV. Owing to its large depth of focus, the approach allows noninvasive visualization of perfusion across the entire mouse cerebral cortex, not achievable with conventional wide‐field fluorescence microscopy methods. The new concept can readily be incorporated into conventional wide‐field microscopes to mitigate image blur due to tissue scattering and attain optimal trade‐off between spatial resolution and FOV. It further establishes a bridge between conventional wide‐field macroscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy, thus it is anticipated to find broad applicability in functional neuroimaging, in vivo cell tracking, and other applications looking at large‐scale fluorescent‐based biodynamics.
A Spray‐Filming Self‐Healing Hydrogel Fabricated from Modified Sodium Alginate and Gelatin as a Bacterial Barrier
Authors: Du Yan , Li Lin , Peng Haitao , Zheng Heng , Cao Shuang , Lv Guoyu , Yang Aiping , Li Hong , Liu Tielong
Published: December 2019

Self‐healing hydrogels as wound dressings still face challenges in infection prevention, especially in the dressing of mass wounds, due to their inflexibility and the slow formation of the protective film on the wound. Therefore, designing a spray‐filming (rapid‐forming) hydrogel that can serve as a bacterial barrier is of particular significance in the development of wound dressings. Here, a self‐healing hydrogel based on adipic acid dihydrazide‐modified gelatin (Gel‐ADH) and monoaldehyde‐modified sodium alginate(SA‐mCHO) is prepared. Using dynamic, Schiff base bonds, the hydrogels exhibit excellent self‐healing properties. Moreover, the gelation time of SA‐mCHO/Gel‐ADH (SG) hydrogels is shortened to 2–21 s, resulting in rapid filming by spraying the two precursor solutions. In addition, the rapid spray‐filming ability might offer sufficient flexibility and rapidity for dealing with mass and irregular wounds. Notably, the bacterial barrier experiments show that the SG hydrogel films could form an effective barrier to Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans for 12 h. Therefore, SG hydrogels could be used in wound dressings and they show great promise in applications associated with mass and irregular traumas.
New substitution bases for complexity classes
Authors: Mazzanti Stefano
Published: December 2019

The set , the closure of F, is the closure with respect to substitution and concatenation recursion on notation of a set of basic functions comprehending the set F. By improving earlier work, we show that is the substitution closure of a simple function set and characterize well‐known function complexity classes as the substitution closure of finite sets of simple functions.