bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Encapsulation of flexible organic light emitting diodes by UV‐cure epoxy siloxane
Authors: Kermaninejad Hamidreza , Najafi Farhood , Soleimani‐Gorgani Atasheh
Published: June 2019

In this research, a silicon additive was synthesized by reaction of the hydroxyl terminated poly‐dimethyl siloxane (PDMS‐OH) with 3‐glycidoxy propyl tri‐methoxy silane (TMS‐epoxy). The synthesized silicon additive characterized and evaluated to use as a curing agent for preparing high‐performance and impermeable epoxy resin for encapsulation of flexible optoelectronic devices such as thin film photovoltaics and polymer light‐emitting diodes to protect them against water penetration and increase their lifespan. The synthesized additive was characterized by FTIR, NMR, and elemental analysis. Thermal properties of the UV curable resin were investigated by using DSC and DMTA. The prepared UV cure epoxy resin exhibited an appropriate melting temperature (56.19 °C). Contact angle test, SEM, and calcium test was used to investigate the properties of UV‐cured coating resin. The water contact angle of the cured prepared resin film showed good hydrophobicity. The SEM results confirmed the uniformity of cured film and UV cure resin dispersion. Transparency and flexibility of the cured film to encapsulate the flexible light emitting diodes are acceptable. The permeability of cured film to water vapor was evaluated by calcium test, which shows the cured film suitability to encapsulate the FOLED. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 48033.
Synthesis and characterization of PBTCA‐modified hyperbranched polyether corrosion and scale inhibitors
Authors: Wang Yetao , Chen Hualin , Zhang Zhijian , Huang Henghui , Liu Bailing , Ding Keyi
Published: June 2019

In this study, hyperbranched polyether (HBP) with terminal hydroxyl was synthesized from tetrahydrofuran and glycidol by cationic open‐loop polymerization and then modified by 2‐phosphono‐butane‐1,2,4‐tricarboxylic acid to introduce carboxyl and phosphorus to improve corrosion and scale inhibition. The structure of the products (HBPs) was determined by FTIR and 1H‐NMR. The scale inhibition efficiency (E) of calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate reached 99.74 and 97.10% at a concentration of 20 mg/L. X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to examine crystal type and morphology. The addition of scale inhibitors can inhibit the growth of the calcium scale crystal and destroy the crystal structure. The corrosion inhibition rate of HBPs can reach 72.98% when dosage was 150 mg/L. Polarization curve showed that HBPs was a kind of mixed corrosion inhibitor. The adsorption of HBPs on the surface of carbon steel conformed to Langmuir adsorption, which formed physical adsorption film and inhibited the corrosion process. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 48041.
Hierarchical superhydrophobic surfaces for oil–water separation via a gradient of ammonia content controlling of dopamine oxidative self‐polymerization
Authors: Wen Fubin , Lei Chunyan , Chen Jinming , Huang Yuewen , Wang Bin
Published: June 2019

Superhydrophobic three‐dimensional porous materials have been considering as one of the most promising candidate absorbents for removal and collection of oil spills or organic contaminants from water. In this work, we report a novel and straightforward method for construction of hierarchical superhydrophobic surfaces on the commercial melamine sponge by controlling of the dopamine oxidative selfpolymerization via a gradient of ammonia content. The surface roughness of the sponge was enhanced by the deposited polydopamine coatings whose surfaces exhibited different morphologies at solutions of varied ethanol‐ammonia ratios. Thereafter the low‐surface free energy moieties were decorated on the surfaces by utilizing a secondary modification platform of polydopamine. Correspondingly, the obtained superhydrophobic melamine sponge achieved a water contact angle of 162.6° ± 1. Furthermore, the superhydrophobic sponge exhibited excellent absorption performances and extraordinary recyclabilities toward a variety of oils and organic solvents. These findings presented in this study offer an effective and versatile approach for oil spills and organic solvents containment removal and environmental remediation in more fundamental and practical fields. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 48044.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC)‐Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Potential Therapeutics as MSC Trophic Mediators in Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Yuan Qi‐ling , Zhang Yin‐gang , Chen Qian
Published: June 2019

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent progenitor cells with the capabilities of self‐renewing, differentiating into multiple lineages, and achieving trophic effects during tissue repair. MSCs can secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) including exosomes and microvesicles, which mediate their trophic effects on other cells. Carrying a variety of intracellular molecules of MSCs including lipids, proteins, RNA (mRNA and noncoding RNA), and DNA, EVs deliver them into other cells to regulate tissue regeneration process. The therapeutic effects of MSC‐derived EVs have been observed in a number of animal disease models. In this review, we focus on the current state and future directions of MSC‐derived EVs in regenerative medicine. Anat Rec, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dissection in the Modern Medical Curriculum: An Exploration into Student Perception and Adaptions for the Future
Authors: Jeyakumar Arunan , Dissanayake Bhanuka , Dissabandara Lakal
Published: June 2019

For centuries cadaveric dissection has been a cornerstone of medical anatomy education. However, time and financial limitations in modern, compressed medical curricula, coupled with the abundance of alternate modalities, have raised questions about the role of dissection. This study was designed to explore student perceptions of the efficacy of a dissection program for learning musculoskeletal anatomy, and possible adaptations for appropriate inclusion of dissection in the modern medical curricula. A paper‐based questionnaire was used to collect data from 174 medical students after completion of cadaveric dissections. Data were analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Students strongly believed that cadaver‐based learning is essential to anatomy education and modern teaching modalities only complement this. Moreover, most students reported that dissection provided an additional, immersive learning experience that facilitated active learning and helped in developing manual competencies. Students with previous dissection experience or an interest in anatomy‐related specialties were significantly more likely to attend dissection sessions. Students found that the procedural dissection components enhanced the knowledge of applied anatomy and is beneficial for the development of clinical skills. They welcomed the idea of implementing more procedure‐based dissections alongside lectures and prosections‐based practical (PBP) sessions. Cadaveric dissection plays an integral role in medical anatomy education. Time restraints and an increased focus on clinical significance, however, demand carefully considered adaptations of existing dissection protocols. The introduction of procedure‐based dissection offers an innovative, highly engaging and clinically relevant package that would amalgamate skills essential to medical practice while retaining the benefits that have allowed dissection to stand the test of time.
Process for Continuous Fab Production by Digestion of IgG
Authors: Ulmer Nicole , Ristanovic Dragana , Morbidelli Massimo
Published: June 2019

Intensified processing and end‐to‐end integrated continuous manufacturing are increasingly being considered in bioprocessing as an alternative to the current batch‐based technologies. Similar approaches can also be used at later stages of the production chain, such as in the post‐translational modifications that are often considered for therapeutic proteins. In this work, a process to intensify the enzymatic digestion of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and the purification of the resulting Fab fragment is developed. The process consists of the integration of a continuous packed‐bed reactor into a multicolumn chromatographic process. The integration is realized through the development of a novel multicolumn countercurrent solvent gradient purification (MCSGP) process, which, by adding a third column to the classical two‐column MCSGP process, allows for continuous loading and then straight‐through processing of the mixture leaving the reactor.
Investigating the combination of single‐pass tangential flow filtration and anion exchange chromatography for intensified mAb polishing
Authors: Elich Thomas , Goodrich Elizabeth , Lutz Herb , Mehta Ushma
Published: June 2019

There is growing interest within the biopharmaceutical industry to improve manufacturing efficiency through process intensification, with the goal of generating more product in less time with smaller equipment. In monoclonal antibody (mAb) purification, a unit operation that can benefit from intensification is anion exchange (AEX) polishing chromatography. Single‐pass tangential flow filtration (SPTFF) technology offers an opportunity for process intensification by reducing intermediate pool volumes and increasing product concentration without recirculation. This study evaluated the performance of an AEX resin, both in terms of host cell protein (HCP) purification and viral clearance, following concentration of a mAb feed using SPTFF. Results show that preconcentration of AEX feed material improved isotherm conditions for HCP binding, resulting in a fourfold increase in resin mAb loading at the target HCP clearance level. Excellent clearance of minute virus of mouse and xenotropic murine virus was maintained at this higher load level. The increased mAb loading enabled by SPTFF preconcentration effectively reduced AEX column volume and buffer requirements, shrinking the overall size of the polishing step. In addition, the suitability of SPTFF for extended processing time operation was demonstrated, indicating that this approach can be implemented for continuous biomanufacturing. The combination of SPTFF concentration and AEX chromatography for an intensified mAb polishing step which improves both manufacturing flexibility and process productivity is supported.
Mehrphasige Strömungen bei der Trennung und Zusammenführung in verzweigten Rohrleitungen
Authors: Buchholz Niklas , Luke Andrea
Published: June 2019

Mehrphasige Transportnetzwerke bestehen neben Apparaten und Mehrphasenpumpen aus Rohrleitungen. Sowohl die Phasenverteilung in Verbindung mit auftretenden Druckverlusten als auch Sorptionseffekte in sog. Knotenpunkten, d. h. in einer Zusammenführung bzw. Teilung einer Rohrleitung, wirken sich wesentlich auf das Betriebsverhalten aus. Der Einfluss verschiedener Betriebsparameter auf das Verhalten des mehrphasigen Fluids wird hinsichtlich der o.g. Strömungseigenschaften experimentell und theoretisch untersucht.
Intensified Electrocatalytic CO2 Conversion in Pressure‐Tunable CO2‐Expanded Electrolytes
Authors: Shaughnessy Charles I. , Sconyers David J. , Kerr Tyler A. , Lee Hyun‐Jin , Subramaniam Bala , Leonard Kevin C. , Blakemore James D.
Published: June 2019

Multimolar CO2 concentrations are achieved in acetonitrile solutions containing supporting electrolyte at relatively mild CO2 pressures (<5 MPa) and ambient temperature. Such CO2‐rich, electrolyte‐containing solutions are termed as CO2‐eXpanded Electrolytes (CXEs) because significant volumetric expansion of the liquid phase accompanies CO2 dissolution. Cathodic polarization of a model polycrystalline gold electrode‐catalyst in CXE media enhances CO2 to CO conversion rates by up to an order of magnitude compared with those attainable at near‐ambient pressures, without loss of selectivity. The observed catalytic process intensification stems primarily from markedly increased CO2 availability. However, a non‐monotonic correlation between the dissolved CO2 concentration and catalytic activity is observed, with an optimum occurring at approximately 5 m CO2 concentration. At the highest applied CO2 pressures, catalysis is significantly attenuated despite higher CO2 concentrations and improved mass‐transport characteristics, attributed in part to increased solution resistance. These results reveal that pressure‐tunable CXE media can significantly intensify CO2 reduction rates over known electrocatalysts by alleviating substrate starvation, with CO2 pressure as a crucial variable for optimizing the efficiency of electrocatalytic CO2 conversion.
Sustainable Non‐Thermal Plasma‐Assisted Nitrogen Fixation—Synergistic Catalysis
Authors: Peng Peng , Schiappacasse Charles , Zhou Nan , Addy Min , Cheng Yanling , Zhang Yaning , Ding Kuan , Wang Yunpu , Chen Paul , Ruan Roger
Published: June 2019

In this Minireview, the multiple chemical synergies present in catalytic non‐thermal plasma‐assisted nitrogen fixation (NTPNF) are uncovered through a critical exploration of the underlying mechanisms, during which the catalyst, plasma, and reactants play different roles. For the gas‐phase NTPNF, the synergies consist of different aspects of the catalytic pathways such as electron‐impact dissociation; Zeldovich mechanism in the PNO interactions; and Eley–Rideal, Langmuir–Hinshelwood, surface adsorption, and diffusion mechanisms for the plasma–catalyst interactions. The synergies within the gas–liquid NTPNF involve contributions of plasma and UV excitation to the gas‐phase reactions and the UV excitation of molecules at the liquid–surface interface, which improves synthesis of aqueous nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium products. Based on the various synergistic mechanisms during NTPNF, future potential applications are proposed for how NTPNF could benefit the sustainable nitrogen fixation industry.
Residual eating disorder symptoms and clinical features in remitted and recovered eating disorder patients: A systematic review with meta‐analysis
Authors: Tomba Elena , Tecuta Lucia , Crocetti Elisabetta , Squarcio Fabio , Tomei Giuliano
Published: June 2019

Objective

In psychiatry, the presence of residual symptoms after treatment is linked to the definitions of remission and recovery. To identify the presence of residual eating disorder (ED) symptoms and associated non‐ED clinical features in remitted and recovered EDs, the current systematic review with meta‐analysis was performed.

Method

A systematic review was conducted on residual ED symptoms and non‐ED clinical features including comorbid psychopathology, neurophysiological functioning, cognitive functioning, and quality of life in ED patients considered remitted or recovered. To examine residual ED symptoms, meta‐analyses were performed while considering age, study quality, remission, and recovery criteria strictness as moderators. Sensitivity, publication bias, and heterogeneity analyses were also conducted.

Results

The 64 studies selected for the systematic review underscored the presence of residual ED symptoms in anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), and impairments and deficits in the additional features examined. From the 64 studies, 31 were selected regarding residual ED symptoms in AN for meta‐analysis. Large effect sizes indicated that remitted/recovered AN patients reported significantly lower body mass index (Hedges' g = −0.62[−0.77, −0.46]) and significantly greater symptomatology in terms of ED examination‐questionnaire (Hedges'g = 0.86 [0.48,1.23]) and ED inventory (Hedges' g = 0.94[0.64,1.24]) than healthy controls, independently of remission and recovery criteria strictness, age, and study quality.

Discussion

The presence of residual ED symptoms in AN is quantitatively supported, whereas the presence of residual ED symptoms in BN should be further investigated. Data on binge‐eating disorder are missing. Future research should use consistent, multicomponent, and standardized comparable indicators of recovery.
Opposite effects of winter day and night temperature changes on early phenophases
Authors: Meng Fandong , Zhang Lirong , Zhang Zhenhua , Jiang Lili , Wang Yanfen , Duan Jichuang , Wang Qi , Li Bowen , Liu Peipei , Hong Huan , Lv Wangwang , Renzeng Wangmu , Wang Zhezhen , Luo Caiyun , Dorji Tsechoe , Zhou Huakun , Du Mingyuan , Wang Shiping
Published: June 2019

Changes in day (maximum temperature, TMAX) and night temperature (minimum temperature, TMIN) in the preseason (e.g., winter and spring) may have opposite effects on early phenophases (e.g., leafing and flowering) due to changing requirements of chilling accumulations (CAC) and heating accumulations (HAC), which could cause advance, delay or no change in early phenophases. However, their relative effects on phenology are largely unexplored, especially on the Tibetan Plateau. Here, observations were performed using a warming and cooling experiment in situ through reciprocal transplantation (2008–2010) on the Tibetan Plateau. We found that winter minimum temperature (TMIN) warming significantly delayed mean early phenophases by 8.60 d/°C, but winter maximum temperature (TMAX) warming advanced them by 12.06 d/°C across six common species. Thus, winter mean temperature warming resulted in a net advance of 3.46 d/°C in early phenophases. In contrast, winter TMIN cooling, on average, significantly advanced early phenophases by 5.12 d/°C, but winter TMAX cooling delayed them by 7.40 d/°C across six common species, resulting in a net delay of 2.28 d/°C for winter mean temperature cooling. The opposing effects of TMAX and TMIN warming on the early phenophases may be mainly caused by decreased CAC due to TMIN warming (5.29 times greater than TMAX) and increased HAC due to TMAX warming (3.25 times greater than TMIN), and similar processes apply to TMAX and TMIN cooling. Therefore, our study provides another insight into why some plant phenophases remain unchanged or delayed under climate change.
Species interactions affect the spread of vector‐borne plant pathogens independent of transmission mode
Authors: Crowder David W. , Li Jing , Borer Elizabeth T. , Finke Deborah L. , Sharon Rakefet , Pattemore David E. , Medlock Jan
Published: June 2019

Within food webs, vectors of plant pathogens interact with individuals of other species across multiple trophic levels, including predators, competitors, and mutualists. These interactions may in turn affect vector‐borne pathogens by altering vector fitness and behavior. Predators, for example, consume vectors and reduce their abundance, but often spur movement of vectors as they seek to avoid predation. However, a general framework to predict how species interactions affect vectors of plant pathogens, and the resulting spread of vector‐borne pathogens, is lacking. Here we developed a mathematical model to assess whether interactions such as predation, competition, and mutualism affected the spread of vector‐borne plant pathogens with nonpersistent or persistent transmission modes. We considered transmission mode because interactions affecting vector–host encounter rates were expected to most strongly affect nonpersistent pathogens that are transmitted with short feeding bouts; interactions that affect vector feeding duration were expected to most strongly affect persistent pathogens that require long feeding bouts for transmission. Our results show that interactions that affected vector behavior (feeding duration, vector–host encounter rates) substantially altered rates of spread for vector‐borne plant pathogens, whereas those affecting vector fitness (births, deaths) had relatively small effects. These effects of species interactions were largely independent of transmission mode, except when interactions affected vector–host encounter rates, where effects were strongest for nonpersistent pathogens. Our results suggest that a better understanding of how vectors interact with other species within food webs could enhance our understanding of disease ecology.
A simplified DNA extraction protocol for unsorted bulk arthropod samples that maintains exoskeletal integrity
Authors: Nielsen Martin , Gilbert M. Thomas P. , Pape Thomas , Bohmann Kristine
Published: June 2019

High‐throughput DNA sequencing offers an efficient tool for assessing the taxonomic content of bulk arthropod samples. Many current DNA extraction protocols however require extensive handling of samples, like specimen‐based DNA extractions, or sorting of samples and are thus unsuitable for large scale studies. Furthermore, protocols often include homogenization and thus imply partial or complete destruction of the sample constituents. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate steps related both to sample pre‐processing and DNA extraction of unsorted bulk arthropod samples and explore possibilities for simplifying sample processing and thus increase sample handling efficiency without losing taxonomic information. Using mock bulk arthropod samples, we compare laboratory steps related to DNA extraction and semi‐automatic handling. Specifically, we (a) assess whether aliquots of digest buffer from bulk arthropod samples adequately describe the community composition; (b) compare a non‐destructive and a destructive DNA extraction method; (c) compare a phenol/chloroform inhibitor removal method with the exclusion of the same; and (d) compare manual purification to automated DNA purification on a QIAcube laboratory robot. Using DNA metabarcoding and mock bulk arthropod samples, we show that it is possible to efficiently process unsorted arthropod bulk samples with a non‐destructive DNA extraction approach. We found that homogenizing samples yielded more DNA but also generally produced more inconsistent results when compared to non‐destructive extraction. When assessing the recovered taxonomic content of samples (operational taxonomic units, OTUs), intact samples performed at least comparable to, if not better, than homogenized samples. Additionally, we show that sample processing can be further simplified from using a defined volume of digest, no phenol/chloroform purification and automated DNA purification. This approach can be a way to process hundreds of unsorted bulk samples effectively, consistently and with a minimum loss of valuable morphologic information.
Rationale and design for the development of a novel nitroxyl donor in patients with acute heart failure
Authors: Felker G. Michael , Borentain Maria , Cleland John G. , DeSouza Mary M. , Kessler Paul D. , O'Connor Christopher M. , Seiffert Dietmar , Teerlink John R. , Voors Adriaan A. , McMurray John J.V.
Published: June 2019

Hospitalisation for acute heart failure remains a major public health problem with high prevalence, morbidity, mortality, and cost. Prior attempts to develop new therapies for this condition have not been successful. Nitroxyl (HNO) plays a unique role in cardiovascular physiology by direct post‐translational modification of thiol residues on target proteins, specifically SERCA2a, phospholamban, the ryanodine receptor and myofilament proteins in cardiomyocytes. In animal models, these biological effects lead to vasodilatation, increased inotropy and lusitropy, but without tachyphylaxis, pro‐arrhythmia or evidence of increased myocardial oxygen demand. BMS‐986231 is an HNO donor being developed as a therapy for heart failure, and initial studies in patients with heart failure support the potential clinical value of these physiological effects. In this manuscript, we describe the ongoing phase II development programme for BMS‐986231, which consists of three related randomised placebo‐controlled clinical trials, StandUP‐AHF, StandUP‐Imaging and StandUP‐Kidney, which are designed to provide evidence of tolerability and efficacy as well as confirm the anticipated physiological effects in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. These studies will set the stage for the further study of BMS‐986231 in future phase III clinical trials.
Long Term Egg Yolk Consumption Alters Lipid Metabolism and Attenuates Hyperlipidemia in Mice Fed a High‐Fat Diet Based on Lipidomics Analysis
Authors: Yu Zhihui , Wang Ning , Ahn Dong U. , Ma Meihu
Published: June 2019

Studies on the association between egg yolk (EY) consumption and obesity are limited and the involved mechanism still needs to be further explored. In this study, the effects of EY consumption under normal and high fat diets on mice based on lipidomics approach is compared. A total of 893 and 925 individual lipid species are determined in serum and liver, respectively. The results reveal that EY can alleviate the hyperlipidemia in HFD‐induced obese mice by increasing serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) and neutral glycerolipid, hepatic fatty acids (FAs), and the size of adipose tissue cells. OPLS‐DA and S‐plots show that 29 lipid biomarkers in serum, mainly including phosphatidylcholine (PC), triglyceride (TG), and phosphatidylinositol (PI), and 44 lipid biomarkers in liver including TG, lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), and lysophosphatidylethanolamine (lysoPE) are related to obesity caused by HFD. In addition, the regulation of EY on lipid disorders is mainly related to the decreases in serum TG and PC, and hepatic fatty acids (FAs), TG and diacylglycerol (DG), which is closely associated with glycerophospholipid metabolism. These findings suggest that long‐term treatment of EY consumption may not increase NAFLD risk factors in normal diet‐fed mice, further improving the hyperlipidemia in HFD‐induced mice.

Practical Applications: This study investigates the overall effects of EY on normal and high‐fat diet by lipidomic analysis. It is concluded that the intake of EY can improve the hyperlipidemia in HFD‐induced obese mice by improving glycerophospholipid metabolism. These results facilitate to comprehensively evaluate the nutrition of EY and help elucidate the favorable effect of eggs.

The flow chart of the egg yolk nutritional evaluation based on 100‐d mice experiment. The lipid profiles in serum and liver are further investigated using UPLC‐MS/MS method to elucidate its favorable effect on lipid metabolism.
Amplified Electrochemical Response of Phenol by Oxygenation of Tyrosinase Coupling with Electrochemical‐chemical‐chemical Redox Cycle
Authors: Guo Liping , Du Hui , Zhao Huiying , Li Jian
Published: June 2019

In this work, an novel electrochemical‐chemical‐chemical (ECC) redox cycle was designed in an enzyme‐based sensor for acquiring additional signal amplification. The tyrosinase (Tyr) was entrapped in a sulfonated polyaniline−chitosan (SPAN−CS) composite which was used as a redox capacitor on a glass carbon electrode. Firstly, the substrate, phenol was catalyzed to catechol and further catalyzed to o‐benzoquinone by Tyr. Next, in the presence of Ru(NH3)6Cl2, the reduced state of SPAN(SPANred) was reacted with o‐benzoquinone to form it's oxidized state (SPANox) and catechol, then SPANox was reduced back to SPANred by Ru(II) in the solution. Finally, the amplified anodic current of catechol was obtained on electrode through above ECC redox cycle system. In addition, the ECC redox cycling led to a high signal‐to‐background ratio. The voltammetric response showed excellent analytical performance to phenol over two linear range of 3.5 to 200.0 nmol L−1 and 200.0 to 2000.0 nmol L−1 with a high sensitivity of 2204 μA mM−1. The detection limit was obtained to be 0.8 nmol L−1 (S/N=3). Furthermore, the proposed approach exhibited good repeatability, stability and specificity, and could offer practicality in the detection of phenol in tap water.
The new Micro‐set for Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Simultaneous Determination of Nickel and Cobalt Traces in Aqueous Media
Authors: Ochab Mateusz , Gęca Iwona , Korolczuk Mieczyslaw
Published: June 2019

This article the first reports on a fabrication and application of an electrochemical three electrode micro‐set containing: in situ plated lead film on carbon fiber working microelectrode, Ag/AgCl reference electrode and a platinum wire counter electrode placed in one casing for simultaneous Ni(II) and Co(II) traces determination by square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SW AdSV). Ni(II) and Co(II) in forms of their complexes with nioxime were accumulated on the lead film plated on a carbon fibers microelectrode during standard procedure of measurement. Thanks to the fact that measurements were performed in micro‐vessel of a volume of 200 μl small amounts of reagents were used to prepare samples for measurements. In addition, because of the use of microelectrode, sample solutions were not mixed during accumulation step of measurements. This fact creates the possibility of conducting fields analysis. The experimental parameters (composition of the supporting electrolyte, potential and time of accumulation) and possible interference effects were investigated. The linear calibration graphs for Ni(II) and Co(II) were in the range from 2×10−9 to 1×10−7 mol L−1 and from 2×10−10 to 1×10−8 mol L−1 for Ni(II) and Co(II), respectively. The correctness of the proposed method was checked by determining Ni(II) and Co(II) in the certified reference material (SPS‐SW1) with satisfactory results.
Optimal operation of the combined heat and power system equipped with power‐to‐heat devices for the improvement of wind energy utilization
Authors: Yu Yanjuan , Chen Hongkun , Chen Lei , Chen Cheng , Wu Jun
Published: June 2019

The combined heat and power system (CHPS) is one important type of the integrated energy system in Northern China. Compared with the independently operated power system, the combined heat and power system (CHPS) has a great potential to improve the utilization of wind energy in virtue of the energy storage of the heating system and power‐to‐heat (P2H) devices. This paper studies the optimal operation of the CHPS equipped with the electric boiler (EB) and heat pump (HP). Comprehensive factors are considered, including P2H conversion, the thermal inertia of district heating network (DHN) and buildings, and adjustable heat loads. An equivalent model of the heating system is developed to express the direct mathematical relations between the heat source and heat loads. Redundant details of the DHN are simplified to reduce the complexity of the optimization problem. Furthermore, a self‐repair method incorporated with the real‐coded genetic algorithm (RCGA) is proposed to efficiently handle the nonlinear constraints. The effectiveness of the solving method is verified in case studies. The impacts of the EB and the HP on the CHPS are compared in details. The results show that the HP offers better performance than the EB on coal saving and improving wind power integration.
Sustainable Surface Engineering of Lignocellulose and Cellulose by Synergistic Combination of Metal‐Free Catalysis and Polyelectrolyte Complexes
Authors: Alimohammadzadeh Rana , Osong Sinke H. , Rafi Abdolrahim A. , Dahlström Christina , Cordova Armando
Published: June 2019

A sustainable strategy for synergistic surface engineering of lignocellulose and cellulose fibers derived from wood by synergistic combination of metal‐free catalysis and renewable polyelectrolyte (PE) complexes is disclosed. The strategy allows for improvement and introduction of important properties such as strength, water resistance, and fluorescence to the renewable fibers and cellulosic materials. For example, the “green” surface engineering significantly increases the strength properties (up to 100% in Z‐strength) of chemi‐thermomechanical pulp (CTMP) and bleached sulphite pulp (BSP)‐derived sheets. Next, performing an organocatalytic silylation with a nontoxic organic acid makes the corresponding lignocellulose and cellulose sheets hydrophobic. A selective color modification of polysaccharides is developed by combining metal‐free catalysis and thiol‐ene click chemistry. Next, fluorescent PE complexes based on cationic starch (CS) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) are prepared and used for modification of CTMP or BSP in the presence of a metal‐free catalyst. Laser‐scanning confocal microscopy reveals that the PE‐strength additive is evenly distributed on the CTMP and heterogeneously on the BSP. The fluorescent CS distribution on the CTMP follows the lignin distribution of the lignocellulosic fibers.
Lipoprotein Lipase Up‐regulation in Hepatic Stellate Cells Exacerbates Liver Fibrosis in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in Mice
Authors: Teratani Toshiaki , Tomita Kengo , Furuhashi Hirotaka , Sugihara Nao , Higashiyama Masaaki , Nishikawa Makoto , Irie Rie , Takajo Takeshi , Wada Akinori , Horiuchi Kazuki , Inaba Kenichi , Hanawa Yoshinori , Shibuya Naoki , Okada Yoshikiyo , Kurihara Chie , Nishii Shin , Mizoguchi Akinori , Hozumi Hideaki , Watanabe Chikako , Komoto Shunsuke , Nagao Shigeaki , Yamamoto Junji , Miura Soichiro , Hokari Ryota , Kanai Tananori
Published: June 2019

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) plays a central role in incorporating plasma lipids into tissues and regulates lipid metabolism and energy balance in the human body. Conversely, LPL expression is almost absent in normal adult livers. Therefore, its physiological role in the liver remains unknown. We aimed to elucidate the role of LPL in the pathophysiology of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a hepatic manifestation of obesity. Hepatic stellate cell (HSC)–specific LPL‐knockout (LplHSC‐KO
) mice, LPL‐floxed (Lplfl/fl
) mice, or double‐mutant toll‐like receptor 4–deficient (Tlr4−/−
) LplHSC‐KO
mice were fed a high‐fat/high‐cholesterol diet for 4 weeks to establish the nonalcoholic fatty liver model or an high‐fat/high‐cholesterol diet for 24 weeks to establish the NASH model. Human samples, derived from patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, were also examined. In human and mouse NASH livers, serum obesity‐related factors, such as free fatty acid, leptin, and interleukin‐6, dramatically increased the expression of LPL, specifically in HSCs through signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling, as opposed to that in hepatocytes or hepatic macrophages. In the NASH mouse model, liver fibrosis was significantly reduced in LplHSC‐KO
mice compared with that in Lplfl/fl
mice. Nonenzymatic LPL‐mediated cholesterol uptake from serum lipoproteins enhanced the accumulation of free cholesterol in HSCs, which amplified TLR4 signaling, resulting in the activation of HSCs and progression of hepatic fibrosis in NASH. Conclusion: The present study reveals the pathophysiological role of LPL in the liver, and furthermore, clarifies the pathophysiology in which obesity, as a background factor, exacerbates NASH. The LPL‐mediated HSC activation pathway could be a promising therapeutic target for treating liver fibrosis in NASH.
The impact of climate change on water fluxes in a Macaronesian cloud forest
Authors: Ritter Axel , Regalado Carlos M. , Guerra Juan Carlos
Published: June 2019

Fog phenomena and their associated meteorological variables were continuously monitored during 4 years in an evergreen laurisilva cloud forest of the Anaga Massif Biosphere Reserve (Tenerife, Canary Islands), in order to establish its current dynamics. Fog was more frequent during night through early morning and in the afternoon, and particularly from May until September, coincidental with a frequent immersion of the 1025 m a.s.l. experimental site in the cloud layer of wind‐driven stratocumulus. The concomitant meteorological conditions during different fog regimes, characterized according to visibility (Ω) ranges, were compared with those when fog was absent. The presence of fog was associated with a significant reduction in global solar radiation, Rg, increased wind speed, and lower and more stable ambient temperatures. The foggy versus fog‐free hourly medians of Rg were found to be linearly related, whereas the proportion of median Rg reduction due to fog varied logarithmically with Ω. However, foggy versus fog‐free extreme values of the hourly Rg distributions departed from such a linear trend. By contrast, hourly temperatures during foggy versus fog‐free periods behaved linearly for most of the Ω range, except for very dense fog, Ω ≤ 100 m. Transpiration of the canopy, intermittently wetted due to interception of both rain and fog water droplets, was determined by quantifying the water balance at leaf scale with a mathematical model for the two representative hypostomatous species present at the site: the arboreal shrub Erica platycodon, with needle‐like leaves, and the laurophyll tree Myrica faya. Both tree transpiration and evaporation of the intercepted fog water were predictively higher during summer. By contrast, transpiration was reduced during February, in agreement with a 1 year period of sap velocity measurements, and was not appreciably affected by soil moisture content. The consequences of an anticipated downward shift of the stratocumulus cloud layer and of various projected Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) scenarios in the Macaronesian area were simulated, yielding in all cases a significant rise in transpiration for both species. Particularly, the simulated RCPs scenarios implied 29%–73% increments in transpiration from the actual values. Because fog is concomitant with lower temperatures and vapour pressure deficit, the modification of its current distribution as a consequence of climate change may have a direct effect on such associated meteorological variables, and therefore a meaningful impact in the water relations of the laurel cloud forests.
Reducing the network bandwidth requirements for 360∘ immersive video streaming
Authors: De Cicco Luca , Mascolo Saverio , Palmisano Vittorio , Ribezzo Giuseppe
Published: June 2019

Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality applications are getting increasingly popular and new services are emerging in a diverse set of fields such as entertainment, art, e‐health, and smart factories. 360° videos are an advancement of classical two‐dimensional videos giving the user the impression of being immersed at the center of a scene that can be explored freely and dynamically by simply turning the head to a given region of interest (RoI). Providing a high Quality of Experience to users when streaming 360° videos over the Internet is particularly challenging due to the very high bandwidth requirements. In this letter, a scaling technique to reduce bandwidth requirements to stream omni‐directional videos is presented. An experimental investigation of the proposed approach has shown that it is possible to obtain a reduction of the required bitrate up to around 50% while gracefully degrading visual quality far from the RoI.
Long noncoding RNA NORAD regulates cancer cell proliferation and migration in human osteosarcoma by endogenously competing with miR‐199a‐3p
Authors: Wang Xuming , Zou Jilong , Chen Hongjun , Zhang Peng , Lu Zhiyuan , You Zhitao , Sun Jiabing
Published: June 2019

In this study, we evaluated the expressions and functions of a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), Noncoding RNA activated by DNA damage (NORAD) in human osteosarcoma. NORAD expressions were evaluated by qRT‐PCR in in vitro osteosarcoma cell lines and in vivo clinical specimens. SiRNA‐induced NORAD downregulation was conducted in Saos‐2 and 143B cells, and the functional effects of NORAD downregulation on osteosarcoma cells were evaluated by CCK‐8 proliferation assay, 24‐well transwell invasion assay and in vivo tumor explant assay, respectively. The possibility of NORAD endogenously competing microRNA target, hsa‐miR‐199a‐3p was examined by dual‐luciferase reporter assay and qRT‐PCR. Then, hsa‐miR‐199a‐3p was downregulated in NORAD‐inhibited osteosarcoma cells to examine its role in regulating NORAD inhibition induced cancer suppression in osteosarcoma cells. NORAD was found to be significantly overexpressed in both osteosarcoma cells and osteosarcoma tumors. In Saos‐2 and 143B cells transfected with NORAD‐specific siRNA, their proliferation, invasion, and in vivo explant growth were all markedly suppressed. Hsa‐miR‐199a‐3p was confirmed to be the competing target of NORAD. Its downregulation in Saos‐2 and 143B cells inversely augment proliferation and invasion that were initially suppressed by NORAD‐downregulation. The results of our study show that NORAD plays an important role in regulating cancer cell functions of osteosarcoma, possibly through endogenously competing with hsa‐miR‐199a‐3p.
Overexpression of lncRNA Gm2691 attenuates apoptosis and inflammatory response after myocardial infarction through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway
Authors: Li Tingting , Tian Hongbo , Li Jun , Zuo Anju , Chen Jiying , Xu Dan , Guo Yuan , Gao Haiqing
Published: June 2019

Acute myocardial infarction is one of the most threatening disease in the world. In previous studies, numerous dysregulated lncRNAs exposed to ischemic reperfusion injury have been identified. In this differential lncRNAs, Gm2691 attracted our attention due to its high fold change. The aim of the study was to investigate the function and mechanism of lncRNA Gm2691 in ischemic reperfusion injury. AnaeroPack anaerobic system treated neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes were used to analyze the function of lncRNA Gm2691 in vitro. Tunel, Caspase3, and inflammation markers were detected to evaluate apoptosis and inflammatory response. Rat acute myocardial infarction was performed to elucidate the function of lncRNA Gm2691 in vivo. The results showed that LncRNA Gm2691 improved the cardiac function and attenuated the inflammatory response in vivo. We also found that lncRNA Gm2691 reduced the apoptosis and improved cell survival rates in anaeroPack anaerobic system treated neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes. Western blot analysis revealed that lncRNA Gm2691 decreased Akt and ERK1/2 activities, suggesting that lncRNA Gm2691 may functioned through Akt signaling pathway. We verified the function and mechanism of lncRNA Gm2691 and provide evidence that lncRNA Gm2691 may play important role in ischemic reperfusion injury, and understanding the precise role of Gm2691 will undoubtedly shed new light on the clinical treatment.
Establishing initial auditory‐visual conditional discriminations and emergence of initial tacts in young children with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Fisher Wayne W. , Retzlaff Billie J. , Akers Jessica S. , DeSouza Andresa A. , Kaminski Ami J. , Machado Mychal A.
Published: June 2019

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often display impaired listener skills, and few studies have evaluated procedures for establishing initial auditory‐visual conditional discrimination skills. We developed and evaluated a treatment package for training initial auditory‐visual conditional discriminations based on the extant research on training such discriminations in children with ASD with at least some preexisting skills in this area. The treatment package included (a) conditional‐only training, (b) prompting the participant to echo the sample stimulus as a differential observing response, (c) prompting correct selection responses using an identity‐match prompt, (d) using progressively delayed prompts, and (e) repeating trials until the participant emitted an independent correct response. Results indicated all participants mastered all listener targets, and the two participants for whom we tested the emergence of corresponding tacts showed mastery of most tacts without direct training. We discuss these results relative to prior research on listener skills and tacts.
Volume intensified dilution of a ring‐closing metathesis in ethyl acetate by means of a membrane‐assisted process in solvent recycle
Authors: Porto‐Carrero Wim , Cupani Anna , Veenstra Marieke J , Dorbec Matthieu , Eykens Lies , Ormerod Dominic
Published: June 2019

BACKGROUND

Ring‐closing metathesis (RCM) for the synthesis of macrocycles has been used more and more often over recent years, including some interesting applications on industrial scale. However, like all macrocyclization strategies RCM is plagued by the traditional issue of low volume efficiency. To‐date this is typically addressed in a molecule specific manner with varying degrees of success. Here we report a process intensification method of metathesis macrocyclization that reduces the solvent load required for the reaction significantly.

RESULTS

Metathesis macrocylizations were successfully carried out in a solvent volume of upto 82% lower than an equivalent batch reaction, with only minimal impact upon the reaction outcome. A switch of reaction solvent to ethyl acetate renders the process more benign and applicable to large scale.

CONCLUSION

A membrane‐assisted processing method that relies upon organic solvent nanofiltration permitting an internal solvent recycling and concumittent in situ product removal. The method is also designed to be applicable to a wide range of metathesis cyclizations. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
ELK1‐activated GPC3‐AS1/GPC3 axis promotes the proliferation and migration of cervical cancer cells
Authors: Hu Rong , Zhu Zongming
Published: June 2019

Background

Long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) is reported to be involved in multiple biological processes in numerous human tumors. Furthermore, an increasing number of studies have confirmed the involvement of lncRNA in the initiation and development of human cancers, including cervical cancer (CC).

Methods

The present study explored the potential role of lncRNA glypican 3 antisense transcript 1 (GPC3‐AS1) with respect to regulating CC cell proliferation and migration.

Results

A quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction confirmed that GPC3‐AS1 was up‐regulated in CC cells compared to normal CRL‐2614 cells. Loss‐of‐function assays demonstrated the negative effect of GPC3‐AS1 depletion on CC cell proliferation and migration. GPC3‐AS1 positively regulated its nearby gene glypican 3 (GPC3). Significant up‐regulation of GPC3 was also observed in CC cells, consistently with GPC3‐AS1. In addition, GPC3‐AS1 and GPC3 synergistically promoted the proliferative and migratory abilities of CC cells. Mechanistic investigation showed that ELK1 acted as the transcription activator of GPC3‐AS1 and GPC3, thus contributing to their up‐regulation in CC cells. Rescue assays indicated that the ELK1‐induced GPC3‐AS1/GPC3 axis promoted cell proliferation and migration in CC.

Conclusions

The results of the present study have revealed a novel molecular pathway that can regulate CC cell proliferation and migration, thus providing a new basis for investigating the molecular mechanism associated with CC progression.
Cationic micelle: A promising nanocarrier for gene delivery with high transfection efficiency
Authors: Wang Haili , Ding Shenggang , Zhang Ze , Wang Longhai , You Yezi
Published: June 2019

Micelles have demonstrated an excellent ability to deliver several different types of therapeutic agents, including chemotherapy drugs, proteins, small‐interfering RNA and DNA, into tumor cells. Cationic micelles, comprising self‐assemblies of amphiphilic cationic polymers, have exhibited tremendous promise with respect to the delivery of therapy genes and gene transfection. To date, research in the field has focused on achieving an enhanced stability of the micellar assembly, prolonged circulation times and controlled release of the gene. This review focuses on the micelles as a nanosized carrier system for gene delivery, the system‐related modifications for cytoplasm release, stability and biocompatibility, and clinic trials. In accordance with the development of synthetic chemistry and self‐assembly technology, the structures and functionalities of micelles can be precisely controlled, and hence the synthetic micelles not only efficiently condense DNA, but also facilitate DNA endocytosis, endosomal escape, DNA uptake and nuclear transport, resulting in a comparable gene transfection of virus.