bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biochemical characterization of different conformational states of the Sf9 cell‐purified p53His175 mutant protein
Authors: Cohen Pascale A. , Hupp Ted R. , Lane David P. , Daniels Dion A.
Published: July 2002

In this study, we expressed and purified the p53 mutant encoded by the His175 allele (p53His175) in a baculovirus expression system in order to study the folding and the DNA binding activity of the protein. A two‐site ELISA revealed that purified p53His175 protein preferentially displayed a PAb1620 conformation, which appeared to be not sufficient to interact specifically with DNA. The cryptic DNA binding activity of this mutant was then investigated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay in the presence of anti‐p53 antibodies, and shown to be refractory to significant activation by PAb421 (a potent allosteric activator of wild‐type p53's DNA binding activity). Nevertheless, p53His175 DNA binding was regulated by antibodies targeting the N‐terminal region of the protein. Furthermore, while the protein preferentially displayed a PAb1620 conformation, our data suggested the existence of an equilibrium between at least two folding states of the protein (PAb1620 and PAb240 conformations). A model rationalizing the conformation, antibody‐interacting ability and DNA binding regulation potential of p53His175 is presented.
Molecular characterization of human IgG monoclonal antibodies specific for the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1. Anti‐allergen IgG can enhance the anaphylactic reaction
Authors: Denépoux Stéphane , Eibensteiner Petra B. , Steinberger Peter , Vrtala Susanne , Visco Vincenzo , Weyer Anne , Kraft Dietrich , Banchereau Jacques , Valenta Rudolf , Lebecque Serge
Published: July 2002

We report the molecular characterization of five human monoclonal antibodies, BAB1–5 (BAB1: IgG1; BAB4: IgG2; BAB2, 3, 5: IgG4), with specificity for the major birch pollen allergen, Bet v 1. BAB1–5 were obtained after immunotherapy and contained a high degree of somatic mutations indicative of an antigen‐driven affinity maturation process. While BAB1 inhibited the binding of patients IgE to Bet v 1, BAB2 increased IgE recognition of Bet v 1, and, even as Escherichia coli‐expressed Fab, augmented Bet v 1‐induced immediate type skin reactions. The demonstration that IgG antibodies can enhance allergen‐induced allergic reactions is likely to explain the unpredictability of specific immunotherapy.
Evaluation of chemical tests for fetal bleeding from vasa previa
Authors: Odunsi K. , Bullough C.H.W. , Henzel J. , Polanska A.
Published: July 2002

Objectives: To evaluate different alkaline denaturation tests and compare with hemoglobin electrophoresis and the Kleihauer test, and to identify the simplest and most sensitive test that may help to rapidly show the presence of fetal hemoglobin and establish the diagnosis of fetal bleeding from vasa previa. Methods: Maternal and fetal cord blood were obtained from 20 women with uncomplicated deliveries and the samples were mixed in known concentrations ranging from 0–100% fetal blood. Further samples were prepared in which maternal and fetal blood mixtures were diluted with amniotic fluid so that the final concentration of fetal hemoglobin similarly ranged from 0–100%. Alkaline denaturation tests (Apt, Ogita, Loendersloot), hemoglobin electrophoresis and Kleihauer tests were performed on all 40 samples. Results: The Apt and Loendersloot tests were clearly positive at 60% concentrations of fetal blood. It took approximately 7 and 4 min, respectively, to complete the tests. The Ogita test was positive from fetal blood concentrations of 20% and took ~ 5 min. Hemoglobin electrophoresis took ~ 1 h to complete and the Hb‐F band was present even at 0% concentration of fetal blood and the band became more marked with increasing fetal blood concentration. The Kleihauer test was negative at 0% but positive from 0.01% fetal blood concentration. The test took ~ 45 min to perform. Conclusions: The Ogita test is the best all round alkaline denaturation test that may help to rapidly identify the presence of fetal hemoglobin and so establish the need to expedite delivery when there is fetal bleeding from vasa previa. It is simple to perform, does not require sophisticated equipment, unlikely to give false positive results, and takes only 5 min. The simplicity of the test makes it attractive for routine use on the labor ward.
Fertility and pregnancy in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Hudson M. , Flett G. , Sinclair T.S. , Brunt P.W. , Templeton A. , Mowat N.A.G.
Published: July 2002

Objective: A retrospective study of women with inflammatory bowel disease, aged 16–45 years during the 20‐year period 1967–1986, was carried out in North East Scotland. Method: Five‐hundred and three women were identified: 15 patients had died from unrelated causes and 22 had emigrated, but 409 of the remaining 466 patients (88%) replied to the study questionnaire. Results: Women with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease had normal fertility when compared with the general population of north east Scotland. However, unresolved infertility problems were more frequent in women who had undergone surgery for inflammatory bowel disease compared with those who had not (12% vs. 5% for Crohn's disease; 25% vs. 7% for ulcerative colitis). Disease relapse rates did not increase in pregnancy. Conclusions: Overall, at conception women with active disease were as likely to have a normal full‐term pregnancy as those in remission. However, spontaneous abortion occurred in five (36%) pregnancies of women who had undergone previous surgery for Crohn's disease and had evidence of recurrent disease. Three of these pregnancies were associated with active disease.
Safety and efficacy of stripping of membranes at term
Authors: Gupta R , Vasishta K , Sawhney H , Ray P
Published: July 2002

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of stripping of membranes in initiation of labor and to study its effect on maternal and perinatal morbidity. Method: One‐hundred primigravidae with certain gestational dates were randomized at 38 weeks gestation to either receive stripping of membranes or only gentle cervical examination. Cervical swabs were taken before pelvic examination at 38 weeks and again at the onset of labor. Placental membranes were sent for bacteriological study after delivery in all patients. Results: The mean gestational age, parity and Bishop score were similar in both groups at recruitment. Gestational age at delivery was lower in the study group (38.70±0.63) compared to the control group. Seventy‐two percent of the study group and 8% of the control group had spontaneous onset of labor within 7 days of examination. Labor was induced in one patient (2%) of the study group and 16 patients (32%) of the control group. No statistically significant difference was noted in incidence of premature rupture of membranes (PROM), mode of delivery, intrapartum events and perinatal outcome. No increase in neonatal morbidity was seen in association with this procedure. No patient in the study group had clinical evidence of chorioamnionitis. There was no statistically significant difference in the microbiological flora of both groups. Conclusion: Stripping of the fetal membranes is a safe and efficacious procedure for induction of labor. It decreases the incidence of induction of labor with no increase in incidence of maternal and neonatal morbidity.
Preeclampsia, labor duration and mode of delivery
Authors: Edwards C. , Witter F.R.
Published: July 2002

Objective: To determine if there is a difference in the length of labor, and method of delivery between preeclamptic and normotensive patients. Methods: A retrospective case control study was performed using a perinatal database. Study subjects included nulliparous patients diagnosed with preeclampsia, and were compared with normotensive nulliparous patients. Results: There were 1454 controls and 727 subjects identified. There was no difference between groups with regard to duration of total labor. There was a statistically but not clinically significant increase in the duration of the second stage in preeclamptics (35 vs. 27 min, P = 0.003). Preeclamptics had a consistently higher risk of cesarean delivery, even when controlled for confounding variables. Conclusion: The clinical belief that preeclamptic patients have more rapid labors is not supported. Preeclamptics do seem to have a higher risk of cesarean delivery.
The effects of systemic hormonal replacement therapy on the skin of postmenopausal women
Authors: Sauerbronn A.V.D , Fonseca A.M , Bagnoli V.R , Saldiva P.H , Pinotti J.A
Published: July 2002

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of hormonal replacement therapy on the skin of postmenopausal women. Method: Forty‐one postmenopausal women were randomly allocated to receive either hormonal replacement (valerate estradiol — 2 mg/day for 21 days and cyproterone acetate — 1 mg/day for 10 days) or placebo, both in a cyclic scheme for 6 months. Neither patients nor investigators were aware of the group allocation. Histologic changes were evaluated by skin biopsy of the left upper arm at baseline and after 6 months of treatment, utilizing computerized image analysis to assess the ratio area of epidermis/basement membrane length (AE/BML), ratio area of keratin/basement membrane length (AK/BML) and collagen and elastic fibers content. Result: Collagen content of the left upper arm increased after 6 months of treatment only in the hormonal group (+6.49%; P<0.05). Other parameters did not present any significant alteration after treatment in both groups. Conclusion: Hormonal replacement for climacterics increases skin collagen content.
A novel approach to studying the migratory morphology of embryonic mesenchymal cells
Authors: Harkin Damien G. , Bianco John I. , Collins Natalie
Published: July 2002

A polarized morphology, defined by extension of an anterior pseudopod, is essential for the amoeboid migration of embryonic mesenchymal cells. Leukocytes adopt a similar morphology immediately following suspension in simple buffers containing chemotactic factors. Polarization in suspension therefore provides a rapid and sensitive screening assay for putative regulators of leukocyte migration. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether this assay might also be used to study the motile behaviour of embryonic mesenchymal cells. Primary cultures of mesenchymal cells were established from explants of stage 28 chick embryo corneal‐limbal stroma. Serum‐starved, subconfluent cultures were harvested using ethylene‐diamine tetra‐acetic acid and resuspended in Hanks’ solution for up to 15 min at 37 °C. A variety of cell shapes, including spherical cells, blebbed cells, and cells with either non‐polarized or polarized pseudopodia were observed. The proportions of cells with pseudopodia increased significantly over time. Treatment of cells with the chemotactic mitogen platelet derived growth factor‐BB (PDGF‐BB, homodimer isoform) suppressed blebbing and increased both pseudopod formation and polarization. Optimal polarization occurred in concentrations of PDGF‐BB that are similar to those required for optimal chemotaxis (10 ng·mL–1). The polarization observed in the absence of PDGF‐BB suggests that the migration of cells examined in this study might be controlled at least in part by some intrinsic mechanism. In addition, the strong polarization response to PDGF‐BB confirms the role for this growth factor during corneal development. Observations of mesenchymal cell morphology in suspension, therefore provide novel data regarding the motile behaviour of embryonic cells.
New service development: areas for exploitation and exploration
Authors: Menor Larry J. , Tatikonda Mohan V. , Sampson Scott E.
Published: July 2002

The management of new service development (NSD) has become an important competitive concern in many service industries. However, NSD remains among the least studied and understood topics in the service management literature. As a result, our current understanding of the critical resources and activities to develop new services is inadequate given NSD’s importance as a service competitiveness driver. Until recently, the generally accepted principle behind NSD was that “new services happen” rather than occurring through formal development processes. Recent efforts to address this debate have been inconclusive. Thus, additional research is needed to validate or discredit the belief that new services happen as a result of intuition, flair, and luck. Relying upon the general distinctions between research exploitation and exploration, this paper describes areas in NSD research that deserve further leveraging and refinement (i.e. exploitation) and identifies areas requiring discovery or new study (i.e. exploration). We discuss the critical substantive and research design issues facing NSD scholars such as defining new services, choice in focusing on the NSD process or performance (or both), and specification of unit of analysis. We also examine what can be exploited from the study of new product development to further understanding of NSD. Finally, we explore one important area for future NSD research exploration: the impact of the Internet on the design and development of services. We offer research opportunities and research challenges in the study of NSD throughout the paper.
Age‐ and gender‐related changes in the cellularity of human bone marrow and the prevalence of osteoblastic progenitors
Authors: Muschler George F. , Nitto Hironori , Boehm Cynthia A. , Easley Kirk A.
Published: July 2002

Bone marrow harvested by aspiration contains connective tissue progenitor cells which can be induced to express a bone phenotype in vitro. The number of osteoblastic progenitors can be estimated by counting the colony‐forming units which express alkaline phosphatase (CFU‐APs). This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that human aging is associated with a significant change in the number or prevalence of osteoblastic progenitors in the bone marrow. Four 2‐ml bone marrow aspirates were harvested bilaterally from the anterior iliac crest of 57 patients, 31 men (age 15–83) and 26 women (age 13–79). A mean of 64 million nucleated cells was harvested per aspirate. The mean prevalence of CFU‐APs was found to be 55 per million nucleated cells. These data revealed a significant age‐related decline in the number of nucleated cells harvested per aspirate for both men and women (P = 0.002). The number of CFU‐APs harvested per aspirate also decreased significantly with age for women (P = 0.02), but not for men (P = 0.3). These findings are relevant to the harvest of bone marrow derived connective tissue progenitors for bone grafting and other tissue engineering applications, and may also be relevant to the pathophysiology of age‐related bone loss and post‐menopausal osteoporosis. © 2001 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Vascular response of the meniscus to injury: Effects of immobilization
Authors: Bray Robert C. , Smith Jacqueline A. , Eng Michael K. , Leonard Catherine A. , Sutherland Craig A. , Salo Paul T.
Published: July 2002

Failed meniscal healing may lead to degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee. Healing is thought to be dependent upon an adequate blood supply, yet “normal” vascular changes during healing are not well understood. In this study we have quantified vasoactive and angiogenic responses to medial meniscal injury in a rabbit model under clinically relevant conditions, and related these to histological criteria of healing.

Twenty‐six adult rabbits were given a standardized meniscal injury; 12 of these had the hind limb immobilized by pinning. Eight normal controls and 12 sham‐operated animals were also studied. After 4 weeks, animals underwent either vascular volume (vascular index) determination, or blood flow measurement using coloured microspheres. Histological analysis was also performed to assess meniscal healing.

In injured animals, blood flow to the menisci was increased fivefold 4 weeks post‐operative this increase was prevented by immobilization. The vascular index of the menisci was also increased threefold by injury, but not significantly reduced by immobilization. Histological examination of injured menisci showed examples of healing and non‐healing tears in both mobile and immobile groups.

Meniscal injuries are associated with characteristic changes in vascularity and perfusion, and these changes likely play a significant role in the healing process. Characterization of the vascular responses to meniscal injury may lead to techniques that can promote reliable healing of meniscal tears and thereby improve clinical outcomes. © 2001 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Chondrocyte apoptosis and regional differential expression of nitric oxide in the medial meniscus following partial meniscectomy
Authors: Kobayashi K. , Mishima H. , Hashimoto S. , Goomer R. S. , Harwood F. L. , Lotz M. , Moriya H. , Amiel D.
Published: July 2002

Partial medial meniscectomy leads to tibial articular cartilage degeneration. Nitric oxide (NO) production increases with the development of osteoarthritis (OA) and has been shown to have a catabolic effect on chondrocytes. Since distribution of chondrocytic and fibroblastic cell types within the total cell population comprising meniscus is region‐specific, we compared NO production in the peripheral and central regions of the medial meniscus 12 weeks after partial medial meniscectomy and assessed chondrocyte apoptosis and NO production in the tibial articular cartilage. Additionally, transcriptional gene expression of inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS) and immunohistochemical staining of nitrotyrosine were examined. The results showed that following partial medial meniscectomy, NO production in the central region of the medial meniscus and in the tibial articular cartilage were significantly higher than respective NO levels in normal and sham‐operated controls. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) revealed a high transcriptional expression of the iNOS gene in the central region of the meniscus and in tibial articular cartilage following partial medial meniscectomy. Nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity was prominent in the central region of the medial meniscus and in the deep layer of the tibial articular cartilage and apoptotic cells were also detected in situ in the superficial zone of the tibial articular cartilage and central regions of the medial meniscus following partial medial meniscectomy. These observations suggest that the central region of the meniscus is responsible for NO synthesis associated with apoptosis in both meniscal and articular cartilage cells following partial meniscectomy. © 2001 Orthopaedic Research Society. Punlished by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Early olfactory fiber projections and cell migration into the rat telencephalon
Authors: De Carlos Juan A. , López‐Mascaraque Laura , Valverde Facundo
Published: July 2002

The formation and development of primary olfactory axons was studied in the rat embryo using acetylcholinesterase histochemistry, immunocytochemistry for neuron‐specific β‐tubulin (TuJ1) and growth associated protein 43 (GAP43), and a fluorescent tracer DiI. Olfactory axons extend from the olfactory receptor neurons localized in the olfactory epithelium. These fibers grow to reach and enter the olfactory bulbs, where they form the first relay and integrative synaptic station in the olfactory system: the olfactory glomerulus. In this communication we address the development of primary olfactory fibers: first from the olfactory placode and later from the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory fibers enter the olfactory bulbs apparently in a disordered manner but soon arrange themselves in hook shaped aggregates of fibers, with many boutons (inmature synaptic terminals), to form the glomeruli. We detected this kind of structure for the first time at embryonic day 16. The olfactory receptor cells are usually anchored in the basal lamina of the olfactory epithelium but some of them, after reaching their targets, lose their epithelial attachment, leave the olfactory epithelium and migrate to and enter the olfactory bulbs. The traffic of cells between the olfactory epithelium and the brain lasts late into embryonic development. We describe four types of migratory mechanism used by different populations of cells to reach their targets in the telencephalic vesicle and propose the existence of migrating cells that enter the telencephalon. These data were corroborated by injections into the olfactory epithelium a of murine retrovirus carrying theEscherichia coli lac‐Z gene.
FGF‐9 is an autocrine/paracrine neurotrophic substance for spinal motoneurons
Authors: Kanda Takashi , Iwasaki Takayuki , Nakamura Satoshi , Ueki Akira , Kurokawa Tsutomu , Ikeda Kazuhiko , Mizusawa Hidehiro
Published: July 2002

Motoneurons need muscle‐derived neurotrophic substances for their survival during the initial phase of their development, but after maturation they lose this requirement and can survive after axotomy. This suggests that some neurotrophic substances other than target‐derived ones control the survival of motoneurons in adults. Because spinal motoneurons express fibroblast growth factor‐9 (FGF‐9) messenger RNA, we hypothesized that FGF‐9 might be an autocrine or paracrine survival factor for motoneurons. FGF‐9 promoted the survival of motoneurons and upregulated the choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in the dissociated cultures of ventral half of rat E13 spinal cord. Externally added FGF‐9 was more effective in low density cultures, and polyclonal blocking antibody against FGF‐9 significantly lowered the ChAT activity. Our results support an autocrine or paracrine role for FGF‐9 in mediating the survival of spinal motoneurons. Non‐target‐derived neurotrophic substances for motoneurons including FGF‐9 should be important in the pathogenesis of motor neuron disorders in the adults, especially amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Genetics of alcohol withdrawal
Authors: Schmidt L.G. , Sander T.
Published: July 2002

Alcohol withdrawal is a clinically and etiologically heterogeneous syndrome caused by a complex interaction of environmental (e.g., amount of ethanol) and genetic factors. Multiple genes are considered to be involved in various components of the syndrome, each of them contributing only modestly to withdrawal vulnerability. Association studies using candidate genes of the dopamine, serotonin, gabaergic and opioidergic systems are reviewed and methodological limitations are discussed.
A blind spot for secondary gain affecting therapy outcomes
Authors: van Egmond J. , Kummeling I.
Published: July 2002

Background

A study to determine whether the expectation for secondary gain held by psychiatric outpatients was associated with therapy outcomes.

Methods

The study was conducted at a Dutch psychiatric outpatient department. Our investigation set out to explore the expectation of obtaining secondary gain by directly asking the patient and clinician via questionnaires whether the patient anticipated to get specific ‘benefits’ from being in therapy.

Results

From 166 patients, 70 (42.2%) reported to expect secondary gain while in therapy. We found a significant relation between expectation for secondary gain and treatment outcomes. Patients with expectations for secondary gain were significantly more prone to poor therapy outcome. Only in nine of 147 cases (6%) did patients explicitly express their expectations for secondary gain towards a psychiatrist. Moreover, expectations for secondary gain did not appear to be related to Axis I and Axis II diagnoses.

Discussion

Secondary gain appeared to be a ‘veiled motive’ for getting therapy: patients did not express their expectations for secondary gain explicitly towards a psychiatrist. This aspect of veiled motives is of particular relevance in regard to the fact that expectations for secondary gain appeared to affect therapy results.
Social Security investment accounts
Authors: VanDerhei Jack L. , Olsen Kelly A.
Published: July 2002

Newly available 401(k) participant investment data may have implications for individual Social Security account (IA) proposals. We found that women with wages between $25,000 and $50,000 have a significantly greater probability of investing a small percentage of their 401(k) in equities than their male counterparts, but those with salaries over $75,000 have a smaller probability. Hence, women’s less aggressive investment behavior may be primarily due to younger cohorts and may not apply above a threshold wage. However, overall, 28.4% of men and 33.8% of women are conservative investors, suggesting the possible risk low IA accumulations under some proposals. © 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
Mean and pessimistic projections of retirement adequacy
Authors: Yuh Yoonkyung , Hanna Sherman , Montalto Catherine Phillips
Published: July 2002

Retirement adequacy is estimated using a 1995 United States sample of households. Based on mean lognormal portfolio projections and current contribution rates, 52% of households are adequately prepared for retirement. Based on pessimistic projections, only 42% of households are adequately prepared. A regression of the ratio of projected wealth to needs at retirement shows that adequacy increases with stock share (mean projection) and the impact increases with time until retirement. With pessimistic projections, there is no significant relationship between stock share and the adequacy ratio. Planned retirement age and household spending behavior are each significantly related to the adequacy ratio. © 1998 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
Quality of life in older patients with systolic and diastolic heart failure
Authors: Jaarsma T. , Halfens R. , Abu‐Saad H. Huijer , Dracup K. , Stappers J. , van Ree J.
Published: July 2002

Aims:

To get insight into the quality of life of a clinical practice sample of patients with heart failure that are admitted to the hospital. Secondly to determine differences between patients with systolic and diastolic dysfunction and finally to describe factors relating to quality of life.

Methods:

Three dimensions of quality of life (functional capabilities, symptoms and psychosocial adjustment to illness) were assessed during interviews of 186 patients with chronic heart failure. In addition, data on demographic, clinical and self‐care characteristics were collected and patients completed a 6‐min walk.

Results:

On average patients walked 172 m in 6 min and reported functioning in daily life at a mean level of 4.5 MET. Patients experienced four different symptoms of heart failure. Most of them described dyspnea, fatigue, sleep disturbance and ankle oedema. Problems with psychosocial adaptation occurred mostly in social and vocational domains. Overall well‐being of patients was rated as 6.4 on a 10‐point scale. In regard to quality of life, the only differences between patients with systolic and diastolic heart failure was the occurrence of ankle oedema and health‐care orientation. The variance in components of quality of life were partly explained by demographics and clinical characteristics. All three dimensions of quality of life were related to ability for self‐care.

Conclusion:

Patients with heart failure seen in clinical practice are often not comparable to patients described in major clinical trials or patients that are admitted for transplant evaluation. Their functional capabilities are more compromised, but they may have fewer problems with psychosocial adjustment. Patients with normal systolic dysfunction also report a low quality of life. It could be important to enhance self‐care abilities of patients to improve psychosocial adaptation to illness.
Inkjet‐Printed Conductive ITO Patterns for Transparent Security Systems
Authors: Gilshtein Evgeniia , Bolat Sami , Sevilla Galo Torres , Cabas‐Vidani Antonio , Clemens Frank , Graule Thomas , Tiwari Ayodhya N. , Romanyuk Yaroslav E.
Published: July 2020

Indium tin oxide (ITO) is a transparent conducting material that is widely used in devices where high transparency of the electrodes is required, such as flat panel and liquid crystal displays, touch panels, smart windows, and many others. ITO layers are deposited on a large scale by magnetron sputtering and then structured by lithography to define desired patterns of transparent electrodes. Here, a method for direct printing of transparent conductive patterns from ITO nanoparticle ink is communicated. The method combines inkjet printing with fast flash lamp annealing whereby the main novelty is to use an additional layer of a colored organic dye onto printed ITO to increase light absorption. The dye coating is instantly heated together with the underlying ITO layer by a light pulse, leading to an instant rise of the surface temperature, which is translated into improved optoelectronic properties of the ITO layers. Inkjet‐printed ITO patterns processed with the dye‐assisted flash lamp annealing exhibit a transmittance of up to 88% at 550 nm and resistivity of 3.1 × 10−3 Ω cm. Transparent touch‐sensing trackpad and capacitive touch sensors are demonstrated based on the printed ITO patterns, which can be utilized in transparent security systems and other transparent Internet‐of‐Things devices.
Thermosensitive Exosome–Liposome Hybrid Nanoparticle‐Mediated Chemoimmunotherapy for Improved Treatment of Metastatic Peritoneal Cancer
Authors: Lv Qijun , Cheng Lili , Lu Yao , Zhang Xiaoge , Wang Yizhen , Deng Junfeng , Zhou Jiangbing , Liu Bo , Liu Jie
Published: July 2020

Metastatic peritoneal carcinoma (mPC) is a deadly disease without effective treatment. To improve treatment of this disease, a recently developed hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has emerged as the standard of care. However, the efficacy of this approach is limited by inefficient drug penetration and rapidly developed drug resistance. Herein, a nanotechnology approach is reported that is designed to improve drug delivery to mPC and to augment the efficacy of HIPEC through delivery of chemoimmunotherapy. First, the drug delivery efficiency of HIPEC is determined and it is found that chemotherapy agents cannot be efficiently delivered to large tumors nodules. To overcome the delivery hurdle, genetically engineered exosomes‐thermosensitive liposomes hybrid NPs, or gETL NPs, are then synthesized, and it is demonstrated that the NPs after intravenous administration efficiently penetrates into mPC tumors and releases payloads at the hypothermia condition of HIPEC. Last, it is shown that, when granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) and docetaxel are co‐delivered, gETL NPs effectively inhibit tumor development and the efficacy is enhanced when HIPEC is co‐administered. The study provides a strategy to improve drug delivery to mPCs and offers a promising approach to improve treatment of the disease through combination of locoregional delivery of HIPEC and systemic delivery of chemoimmunotherapy via gETL NPs.
Defect Engineering in Manganese‐Based Oxides for Aqueous Rechargeable Zinc‐Ion Batteries: A Review
Authors: Xiong Ting , Zhang Yaoxin , Lee Wee Siang Vincent , Xue Junmin
Published: July 2020

The development of advanced cathode materials for aqueous the zinc ion battery (ZIB) represents a crucial step toward building future large‐scale green energy conversion and storage systems. Recently, significant progress has been achieved in the development of manganese‐based oxides for ZIB via defect engineering, whereby the intrinsic capacity and energy density have been enhanced. In this review, an overview of the recent progress in the defect engineering of manganese‐based oxides for aqueous ZIBs is summarized in the following order: 1) the structures and properties of the commonly used manganese‐based oxides, 2) the classification of the various types of defect engineering commonly reported, 3) the various strategies used to create defects in materials, and 4) the effects of the various types of defect engineering on the electrochemical performance of manganese‐based oxides. Finally, a perspective on the defect engineering of manganese‐based oxides is proposed to further enhance their electrochemical performance as a ZIB cathode.
Recent Advances in Flexible Field‐Effect Transistors toward Wearable Sensors
Authors: Li Ming-Zheng , Han Su-Ting , Zhou Ye
Published: July 2020

The introduction of the “Internet of Things” (IoTs) concept has spawned a series of research and development of wearable sensors. Flexible field‐effect transistors (FETs) are considered to be potential sensing devices due to the variety of material utilization and the self‐amplifying function on electrical signals. FETs have demonstrated the ability of detecting different kinds of external stimuli and continuous monitoring functionalities. Herein, the recent progress achieved by the academia in wearable sensors based on flexible FETs, including pressure, temperature, chemical, and biological analytes, which are vital for the manufacturing of smart wearable devices, is summarized. The sensing mechanism for different sensors is introduced and an in‐depth discussion is presented, including material engineering, problems at the current stage, and future challenges.
Revisit, Reform, and Redesign: A Novel Dissection Approach for Demonstrating Anatomy of the Orbit for Continuing Professional Development Education
Authors: Cotofana Sebastian , Gavril Diana L. , Frank Konstantin , Schenck Thilo L. , Pawlina Wojciech , Lachman Nirusha
Published: July 2020

Advanced postgraduate medical education for health‐care professionals is constantly evolving. Understanding facial anatomy and especially its vascular system is crucial when performing soft tissue filler injections to avoid adverse events including tissue loss or irreversible blindness. Standard anatomical resources often fall short of elucidating clinically relevant concepts in more highly specialized areas of interest. A novel dissection approach for demonstrating the anatomy of the lateral orbit was presented at scientific meetings to participants from dermatology, plastic surgery, and general practice. Results from the post‐course online survey (n = 52) were analyzed. The results of the survey reveal a high educational impact and a high clinical relevance of the novel dissection approach. In addition, the majority of respondents (97.7%; n = 51) felt that the exposed anatomical structure of the orbit and face improved their ability to safely perform cosmetic procedures on the face. More experienced respondents who had previously attended at least five cadaveric dissections were more likely to strongly agree that reviewing anatomy through this novel dissection approach increased their confidence in avoiding periorbital vascular danger zones. As minimally invasive outpatient procedures continue to evolve, practicing physicians and mid‐level providers often face the challenge of having to reconcile preexisting anatomical knowledge with new clinical practice. Skills required to navigate high impact anatomy include visualization of structures that form the navigational landscape and avoidance of key danger zones. The novel dissection approach to the lateral orbit reflects the increasing focus on revisiting, reforming, and redesigning anatomy for continuing professional development activities.
The management of sustainable development: A longitudinal analysis of the effects of environmental performance on economic performance
Authors: Bassetti Thomas , Blasi Silvia , Sedita Silvia Rita
Published: July 2020

The literature on sustainable development has largely focused on investigating the relationship between companies' environmental and economic performance. However, many aspects remain unexplored, and empirical studies are far from reaching a consensus due to the heterogeneity of the environmental and economic measures and methodologies used. This study contributes to the literature on sustainable development by considering a panel of 998 US companies observed over the period 2003–2017 using both traditional panel data methods and an unconditional quantile regression technique. The empirical evidence confirms that environmental performance, measured in terms of environmental orientation and environmental innovation, positively affects returns on assets and equity. It also demonstrates that these returns change across quantiles and depend on the capacity of green companies to generate the same streams of income as nongreen companies but with less capital. In other words, green firms tend to be more efficient in generating future wealth.
Mitral regurgitation due to a mediastinal desmoid tumor: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Shebli Baraa , Alzahran Ayham , Mansour Ali , Kabaweh Sami , Agha Sarab , Shareef Bayan , Abdullah Manar
Published: July 2020

Mediastinal tumors may cause a wide range of symptoms; therefore, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis, after excluding common causes, when dealing with pulmonary and cardiac symptoms such as dyspnea or even mitral regurgitation. The most common site of the desmoid tumors is the abdomen, but in very rare cases, it can be located in the mediastinum.
A neural network‐based instrumental method for light fastness assessment with dataset validation
Authors: Karami Samaneh , Izadan Hossein , Zeinal Hamadani Ali
Published: July 2020

A novel instrumental method for the light fastness assessment has been established. The accuracy of the visual method is affected by undesirable constraints, such as the different severity and the complications due to off‐tone color change of the specimens. Thus, it was desired to develop an instrumental method of the light fastness assessment. In this regard, a neural network‐based instrumental method of the light fastness assessment was developed. First, a proper light fastness panel was prepared, and then the visual light fastness assessments of experienced and inexperienced observers were collected. The accuracy and repeatability of the visual assessment results from these two groups of the observers were analyzed using different statistical criteria. The statistical analysis has shown that the mean of three trials of the inexperienced observers can be combined with the mean of the results obtained by experienced. Thus, all the results from the inexperienced and experienced observers were used to prepare a valid dataset for training a neural network. Different neural network structures trained with the prepared valid dataset. Among all of the implemented structures, the most accurate neural network structure is the one with one hidden layer and a 3‐7‐1 structure. The root mean square error and correlation coefficients of proposed 3‐7‐1 NN are 0.32 and 0.975, respectively, for the test sets. According to these results and the results from the comparison of the instrumental and visual assessment of the light fastness, it was concluded that the proposed neural network can be used for the instrumental light fastness assessment.
Characterization of wheat germplasm conserved in the Indian National Genebank and establishment of a composite core collection
Authors: Phogat B.S. , Kumar Sandeep , Kumari Jyoti , Kumar Naresh , Pandey Avinash Chandra , Singh T.P. , Kumar Sundeep , Tyagi R.K. , Jacob Sherry Rachel , Singh Amit Kumar , Srinivasan Kalyani , Jalli Radhamani , Bisht I.S. , Archak Sunil , Karale Moreshwar , Sharma Pankaj , Yadav Mamta , Joshi Uma , Mishra Priyanka , Kumari Geeta , Aftab Tariq , Gambhir Rajeev , Gangopadhyay K.K. , Rathi Y.S. , Pal Narendra , Sharma R.K. , Yadav S.K. , Bhatt K.C. , Singh Baleshwar , Prasad T.V. , Solanki Y.P.S. , Singh Dhiraj , Dutta M. , Yadav Mahesh C. , Rana J.C. , Bansal Kailash C.
Published: July 2020

The use of untapped plant genetic resources of wheat (Triticum spp.) can enhance its productivity. In the present study, we characterized 22,416 accessions of three different species of wheat conserved in the Indian National Genebank using 23 qualitative and 12 quantitative traits to develop a core set. These accessions were highly diverse on the basis of range, coefficient of variation, and Shannon–Weaver diversity index. Initial grouping was done on the bases of species and origin, and thereafter, agromorphological data were used to develop core sets for each species group using the heuristic approach with PowerCore. Finally, a composite core set was constituted comprising 2,226 accessions, which included 1,779 accessions of bread wheat (T. aestivum L.), 394 of durum wheat [T. turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) van Slageren], and 53 of emmer wheat [T. dicoccon Schrank; syn. T. turgidum L. subsp. dicoccon (Schrank) Thell]. The core set was validated under field conditions. Also, the coincidence rate of range (CR) (bread wheat, 85.78%; durum wheat, 87.52%; and emmer wheat, 95.34%) and variable rate of the coefficient of variation (VR) (bread wheat, 174.9%; durum wheat, 136.5%; and emmer wheat, 105.81%) were more than the threshold values of 80 and 100%, respectively. The phenotypic correlations among different traits attributable to coadapted gene complexes and total variation shown by principal components in the entire set were also mostly preserved in the core set. The composite wheat core and the trait‐specific germplasm sets identified would serve as valuable resources for global wheat improvement programs.
The effect of ploidy number on vigor, productivity, and potential adaptation to climate change in annual Medicago species
Authors: Innes Lauren A. , Denton Matthew D. , Dundas Ian S. , Peck David M. , Humphries Alan W.
Published: July 2020

Tetraploid plants, including those induced from diploid barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn.) and the snail medic [Medicago scutellata (L.) Mill.], have the potential to increase vigor and leaf size to improve adaptation to environments with low and variable rainfall in Mediterranean climates. The growth of tetraploid lines induced from barrel medic cultivar Sultan‐SU was evaluated against the diploid parent line and a natural tetraploid snail medic cultivar Sava in field conditions in Adelaide, South Australia. In field conditions, tetraploid lines had up to 106% greater autumn biomass than Sultan‐SU, 58% larger seed weight, and a 127% increase in leaf area. In a controlled environment experiment, snail medic Sava was the only entry to show improved early season (assessed at 6 wk) shoot biomass and canopy cover under short days and low temperatures that were designed to simulate a late start to the growing season. An examination of fresh flower buds showed that the fertility and stability of induced tetraploid lines varied between lines and generations. Hardseed breakdown patterns differed among tetraploid mutant lines, with two lines having much harder seed than Sultan‐SU. Some tetraploid Medicago spp. produced greater early biomass and larger leaves than diploids. Increasing ploidy level provides plant breeders with a promising tool in the development of new cultivars better suited to future climate scenarios.
The Effects of Asymmetry in Combination with Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanosheets on Hydrazine Electrocatalytic Detection on Cobalt Phthalocyanines
Authors: Mpeta Lekhetho S. , Sen Pinar , Nyokong Tebello
Published: July 2020

New symmetric {tetrakis [4‐(4‐(5‐chloro‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazol‐2‐yl) phenoxy phthalocyaninato] Co (II) (CoTPc)} and low symmetry {tris tert butyl phenoxy mono [4‐(4‐(5‐chloro‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazol‐2‐yl) phenoxy phthalocyaninato]} Co (II) (CoMPc) were successfully synthesised and combined with reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (rGONS) for electrocatalytic detection of hydrazine. Prior to electrocatalysis, the probes were characterised using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Chronoamperometry was used to determine catalytic rate constant and the limit of detection (LOD). CoMPc‐rGONS gave catalytic rate constant and LOD of 1.37×106 M−1 s−1 and 0.82 μM respectively, rendering it a more suitable probe for hydrazine, due to low symmetry.
Boosting the Dynamic Range for Electrochemical Sensing of Hydrogen Peroxide by Enhanced Integration of Pd Nanoparticles in 3D Porous Si Framework
Authors: Wang Zi , Bi Yunke
Published: July 2020

Three‐dimensional porous silicon framework (3D‐pSi) integrated with various nanostructures is highly potential for functional devices usage such as micro fuel cells or sensing chips. For noble metal deposition in highly directional Si nanowire array or porous Si with large aspect ratios, one difficulty is the restriction on the depth of deposition available. Herein, we would like to introduce a facile route to enhance the integration of Pd nanoparticles with anisotropic Si porous structure. By converting Si nanowire array into 3D‐pSi, the surface coverage of Pd nanoparticles is effectively improved as shown by scanning electron micrographs and cross‐sectional element mapping data. The relative electrochemical active surface area is increased by 3.5 folds. In order to demonstrate the merits brought by this morphological evolution, the electrochemical sensing devices are prepared for detecting H2O2 in PBS solution. As shown by differential pulse voltammetry, the upper limit of linear range of detection can be raised from 6.30 mM to 14.95 mM. This approach may indicate an alternative for boosting the performance of future sensing chips with progressively limited die area, especially attractive for those scenarios where large dynamic range is favourable.
Magnetohydrodynamic peristaltic flow of unsteady tangent‐hyperbolic fluid in an asymmetric channel
Authors: Naduvinamani Neminath Bujjappa , Guttedar Anita Siddayya , Shankar Usha , Basha Hussain
Published: July 2020

The aim of the present numerical investigation is to explore the impact of magnetic field on peristaltic flow of an incompressible tangent‐hyperbolic fluid in an asymmetric channel. The present physical model is developed based on the considered flow configuration and with the help of small Reynolds number approximations. The current flow problem is revealed under the influence of applied magnetic field. The asymmetric channel has been considered to narrate the present physical problem. Considered physical situation in the current investigation gives the unsteady coupled highly nonlinear system of partial differential equations. Also, the simplified equations for pressure, pressure gradient, and streamlines have been obtained with the help of suitable transformations. A regular perturbation scheme is employed to produce the semi‐analytical results of the present problem. The influence of various physical parameters on pressure, pressure gradient, and streamlines are illustrated with the help of graphs. From the present analysis, it is observed that the increasing magnetic number decreases the pressure and pressure gradient in the channel. Also, the size of trapping bolus increases with increasing values of Weissenberg number.
Three‐dimensional turbulent forced convection around a hot cubic block exposed to a cross‐flow and an impinging jet
Authors: Boudraa Bouziane , Bessaїh Rachid
Published: July 2020

A numerical study of a three‐dimensional, turbulent, forced convection flow around a hot cubic block exposed to cross‐flow and an impinging jet is carried out. The standard k‐ε turbulence model is used to study the effects of Reynolds number ratio on the flow and heat transfer. For each value of the Reynolds number of the jet, the Reynolds number ratio is equal to 1, 1.5, and 2. The influence of the channel height and the jet axis location are also examined. The governing equations are solved by using Ansys Fluent software 14.5. Results show that the heat transfer increases with the increase in the Reynolds number ratio. At the top of the cube, better cooling occurs with an increase in the speed of the impinging jet. A reduction in the height of the channel and the displacement of the axis of the jet toward the channel inlet improve the heat transfer. Our simulations are compared with experimental data found in the literature, using different turbulence models.