bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Characterization of N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Coordinated Silicon Compounds Bearing a Fused-Ring Bulky Eind Group
Authors: Hayakawa Naoki , Sadamori Kazuya , Mizutani Shinsuke , Agou Tomohiro , Sugahara Tomohiro , Sasamori Takahiro , Tokitoh Norihiro , Hashizume Daisuke , Matsuo Tsukasa
Published: February 2018

The reactions of the fused-ring bulky Eind-substituted 1,2-dibromodisilene, (Eind)BrSi=SiBr(Eind) (1a) (Eind = 1,1,3,3,5,5,7,7-octaethyl-s-hydrindacen-4-yl (a)), with N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) (Im-Me4 = 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene and Im-iPr2Me2 = 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene) are reported. While the reaction of 1a with the sterically more demanding Im-iPr2Me2 led to the formation of the mono-NHC adduct of arylbromosilylene, (Im-iPr2Me2)→SiBr(Eind) (2a′), a similar reaction using the less bulky Im-Me4 affords the bis-NHC adduct of formal arylsilyliumylidene cation, [(Im-Me4)2→Si(Eind)]+[Br−] (3a). The NHC adducts 2a′ and 3a can also be prepared by the dehydrobromination of Eind-substituted dibromohydrosilane, (Eind)SiHBr2 (4a), with NHCs. The NHC-coordinated silicon compounds have been characterized by spectroscopic methods. The molecular structures of bis-NHC adduct, [(Im-iPr2Me2)2→Si(Eind)]+[Br−] (3a′), and 4a have been determined by X-ray crystallography.
Bottom–Up Electrodeposition of Large-Scale Nanotwinned Copper within 3D Through Silicon Via
Authors: Sun Fu-Long , Liu Zhi-Quan , Li Cai-Fu , Zhu Qing-Sheng , Zhang Hao , Suganuma Katsuaki
Published: February 2018

This paper is the first to report a large-scale directcurrent electrodeposition of columnar nanotwinned copper within through silicon via (TSV) with a high aspect ratio (~4). With this newly developed technique, void-free nanotwinned copper array could be fabricated in low current density (30 mA/cm2) and convection conditions (300 rpm), which are the preconditions for copper deposition with a uniform deep-hole microstructure. The microstructure of a whole cross-section of deposited copper array was made up of (111) orientated columnar grains with parallel nanoscale twins that had thicknesses of about 22 nm. The hardness was also uniform along the growth direction, with 2.34 and 2.68 GPa for the top and bottom of the TSV, respectively. The gelatin additive is also first reported hereas a key factor in forming nanoscale twins by adsorbing on the cathode surface, in order to enhance the overpotential for cathodic reaction during the copper deposition process.
Fe3O4 Nanoparticles in Targeted Drug/Gene Delivery Systems
Authors: Shen Lazhen , Li Bei , Qiao Yongsheng
Published: February 2018

Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs), the most traditional magnetic nanoparticles, have received a great deal of attention in the biomedical field, especially for targeted drug/gene delivery systems, due to their outstanding magnetism, biocompatibility, lower toxicity, biodegradability, and other features. Naked Fe3O4 NPs are easy to aggregate and oxidize, and thus are often made with various coatings to realize superior properties for targeted drug/gene delivery. In this review, we first list the three commonly utilized synthesis methods of Fe3O4 NPs, and their advantages and disadvantages. In the second part, we describe coating materials that exhibit noticeable features that allow functionalization of Fe3O4 NPs and summarize their methods of drug targeting/gene delivery. Then our efforts will be devoted to the research status and progress of several different functionalized Fe3O4 NP delivery systems loaded with chemotherapeutic agents, and we present targeted gene transitive carriers in detail. In the following section, we illuminate the most effective treatment systems of the combined drug and gene therapy. Finally, we propose opportunities and challenges of the clinical transformation of Fe3O4 NPs targeting drug/gene delivery systems.
Numerical Simulation of Transient Multiphase Flow in a Five-Strand Bloom Tundish during Ladle Change
Authors: Zhang Hua , Luo Ronghua , Fang Qing , Ni Hongwei , Song Xiao
Published: February 2018

The steel-slag-air multiphase flow in a bloom tundish with five strands during the transient casting of the ladle change was simulated using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) model, and the formation mechanisms of macro-inclusions and the behavior of the steel-slag-air interface during the filling process were investigated. Water model experiments were conducted to validate the multiphase model. The results showed that the numerical results of slag entrapment behavior and the exposed area of steel are basically consistent with the experimental results. The flow of molten steel in the tundish is weak except for the region around the stopper rods at the end of the emptying process. Strong fluctuations in liquid level were formed during the filling process, showing two wave crests in front of and behind the shroud in the impact zone, which intensified with the increase in filling time and then declined gradually. Entrapment phenomena and exposure of liquid steel could not be observed before the filling stage. While the entrapped slag droplets mostly float up and can be removed within 40 s during the filling process, the remainder enters the casting zone through the baffle. The maximum exposed area of molten steel is 252 cm2 when the filling time is 4.0 s.
Sulphated Flavonoids: Biosynthesis, Structures, and Biological Activities
Authors: Teles Yanna , Souza Maria , Souza Maria
Published: February 2018

The great diversity of enzymatic reactions in plant secondary metabolism allows the continuous discovery of new natural compounds and derivatives. Flavonoids, for example, can be found as aglycone or as several sorts of glycosylated, acetylated, methylated, and sulphated derivatives. This review focuses on sulphated flavonoids, an uncommon group of flavonoid derivatives found in some plant families. This work presents a compilation of sulphated flavonoids and their natural sources reported in the literature. Biosynthetic aspects and biological activities have also been reviewed, showing that these particular kinds of natural compounds play an interesting role in plant metabolism, as well as being potential candidates for the development of new drugs.
Antioxidant Activity and Protective Effects of Enzyme-Extracted Oudemansiella radiata Polysaccharides on Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury
Authors: Wang Xiuxiu , Liu Min , Zhang Chen , Li Shangshang , Yang Qihang , Zhang Jianjun , Gong Zhiyuan , Han Jiandong , Jia Le
Published: February 2018

This work was to examine the antioxidation in vitro and hepatoprotective effects of enzyme-extracted Oudemansiella radiata polysaccharides (En-OPS) on alcohol-induced liver damage in mice. The antioxidant activities were determined according to the scavenging effects of En-OPS on hydroxyl, superoxide, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, and the level of reducing power. En-OPS showed hepatoprotective activities on decreasing the serum levels of aspertate aminotransferase (AST), alamine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), as well as hepatic lipid levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triacylglycerols (TG). En-OPS treatment reversed the acute impairment induced by alcohol consumption, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, malondialdehyde (MAD), and lipid peroxide (LPO) elevation; and superoxide dismutase (SOD), GSH peroxide (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) impairment. The En-OPS effectively ameliorated alcohol metabolism by activating alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and reducing cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) levels. Furthermore, the histopathological observations also displayed that En-OPS could alleviate liver damage. These results indicated that En-OPS could be suitable to be an ingredient of preventing alcoholic liver diseases (ALD). In addition, the preliminary structure characteristics of En-OPS were also analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID).
Fast and Simple Analytical Method for Direct Determination of Total Chlorine Content in Polyglycerol by ICP-MS
Authors: Jakóbik-Kolon Agata , Milewski Andrzej , Dydo Piotr , Witczak Magdalena , Bok-Badura Joanna
Published: February 2018

The fast and simple method for total chlorine determination in polyglycerols using low resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) without the need for additional equipment and time-consuming sample decomposition was evaluated. Linear calibration curve for 35Cl isotope in the concentration range 20–800 µg/L was observed. Limits of detection and quantification equaled to 15 µg/L and 44 µg/L, respectively. This corresponds to possibility of detection 3 µg/g and determination 9 µg/g of chlorine in polyglycerol using studied conditions (0.5% matrix-polyglycerol samples diluted or dissolved with water to an overall concentration of 0.5%). Matrix effects as well as the effect of chlorine origin have been evaluated. The presence of 0.5% (m/m) of matrix species similar to polyglycerol (polyethylene glycol—PEG) did not influence the chlorine determination for PEGs with average molecular weights (MW) up to 2000 Da. Good precision and accuracy of the chlorine content determination was achieved regardless on its origin (inorganic/organic). High analyte recovery level and low relative standard deviation values were observed for real polyglycerol samples spiked with chloride. Additionally, the Combustion Ion Chromatography System was used as a reference method. The results confirmed high accuracy and precision of the tested method.
Enantiomeric Mixtures in Natural Product Chemistry: Separation and Absolute Configuration Assignment
Authors: N. L. Batista Andrea , M. dos Santos Fernando , Batista João , Cass Quezia
Published: February 2018

Chiral natural product molecules are generally assumed to be biosynthesized in an enantiomerically pure or enriched fashion. Nevertheless, a significant amount of racemates or enantiomerically enriched mixtures has been reported from natural sources. This number is estimated to be even larger since the enantiomeric purity of secondary metabolites is rarely checked in the natural product isolation pipeline. This latter fact may have drastic effects on the evaluation of the biological activity of chiral natural products. A second bottleneck is the determination of their absolute configurations. Despite the widespread use of optical rotation and electronic circular dichroism, most of the stereochemical assignments are based on empirical correlations with similar compounds reported in the literature. As an alternative, the combination of vibrational circular dichroism and quantum chemical calculations has emerged as a powerful and reliable tool for both conformational and configurational analysis of natural products, even for those lacking UV-Vis chromophores. In this review, we aim to provide the reader with a critical overview of the occurrence of enantiomeric mixtures of secondary metabolites in nature as well the best practices for their detection, enantioselective separation using liquid chromatography, and determination of absolute configuration by means of vibrational circular dichroism and density functional theory calculations.
Characterization, Stability and Biological Activity In Vitro of Cathelicidin-BF-30 Loaded 4-Arm Star-Shaped PEG-PLGA Microspheres
Authors: Bao Yueli , Wang Shanrong , Li Hongli , Wang Yunjiao , Chen Haiyun , Yuan Minglong
Published: February 2018

BF-30 is a single chain polypeptide of an N-segment with an α-helix from cathelicidin gene encoding, and it contains 30 amino acid residues, with a relative molecular mass and isoelectric point of 3637.54 and 11.79, respectively. Cathelicidin-BF-30 was entrapped in four-arm star-shaped poly(ethylene glycol-b-dl-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) block copolymers (4-arm-PEG-PLGA) by a double-emulsion solvent-evaporation method. Three release phases of cathelicidin-BF-30loaded 4-arm-PEG-PLGA microspheres were observed, including an initial burst-release phase, followed by a lag phase with minimal drug release and finally a secondary zero-order release phase. The delivery system released BF-30 over more than 15 days in vitro. Furthermore, the material for preparing the microspheres has good biocompatibility and biodegradability. Additionally, based on the drug resistance of food pathogenic bacteria, the antibacterial effects of BF-30 on Shigella dysenteriae CMCC 51105 (Sh. dysenteriae CMCC 51105), Salmonella typhi (S. typhi) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) as well as the stability of the in vitro release of the BF-30-loded microspheres were studied. The α-helix secondary structure and antibacterial activity of released BF-30 were retained and compared with native peptide. These BF-30 loaded microspheres presented <10% hemolysis and no toxicity for HEK293T cells even at the highest tested concentration (150 μg/mL), indicating that they are hemocompatible and a promising delivery and protection system for BF-30 peptide.
Antioxidation and Cytoprotection of Acteoside and Its Derivatives: Comparison and Mechanistic Chemistry
Authors: Li Xican , Xie Yulu , Li Ke , Wu Aizhi , Xie Hong , Guo Qian , Xue Penghui , Maleshibek Yerkingul , Zhao Wei , Guo Jiasong , Chen Dongfeng
Published: February 2018

The study tried to explore the role of sugar-residues and mechanisms of phenolic phenylpropanoid antioxidants. Acteoside, along with its apioside forsythoside B and rhamnoside poliumoside, were comparatively investigated using various antioxidant assays. In three electron-transfer (ET)-based assays (FRAP, CUPRAC, PTIO•-scavenging at pH 4.5), the relative antioxidant levels roughly ruled as: acteoside >forsythoside B > poliumoside. Such order was also observed in H+-transfer-involved PTIO•-scavenging assay at pH 7.4, and in three multiple-pathway-involved radical-scavenging assays, i.e., ABTS+•-scavenging, DPPH•-scavenging, and •O2−-scavenging. In UV-vis spectra, each of them displayed a red-shift at 335→364 nm and two weak peaks (480 and 719 nm), when mixed with Fe2+; however, acteoside gave the weakest absorption. In Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC−ESI−Q−TOF−MS/MS) analysis, no radical-adduct-formation (RAF) peak was found. MTT assay revealed that poliumoside exhibited the highest viability of oxidative-stressed bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. In conclusion, acteoside, forsythoside B, and poliumoside may be involved in multiple-pathways to exert the antioxidant action, including ET, H+-transfer, or Fe2+-chelating, but not RAF. The ET and H+-transfer may be hindered by rhamnosyl and apiosyl moieties; however, the Fe2+-chelating potential can be enhanced by two sugar-residues (especially rhamnosyl moiety). The general effect of rhamnosyl and apiosyl moieties is to improve the antioxidant or cytoprotective effects.
Bovine α-Lactalbumin Hydrolysates (α-LAH) Ameliorate Adipose Insulin Resistance and Inflammation in High-Fat Diet-Fed C57BL/6J Mice
Authors: Gao Jing , Song Jiajia , Du Min , Mao Xueying
Published: February 2018

Obesity-induced adipose inflammation has been demonstrated to be a key cause of insulin resistance. Peptides derived from bovine α-lactalbumin have been shown to inhibit the activities of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), scavenge 2,2′-azinobis [3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate] (ABTS+) radical and stimulate glucagon-like peptide-2 secretion. In the present study, the effects of bovine α-lactalbumin hydrolysates (α-LAH) on adipose insulin resistance and inflammation induced by high-fat diet (HFD) were investigated. The insulin resistance model was established by feeding C57BL/6J mice with HFD (60% kcal from fat) for eight weeks. Then, the mice were fed with HFD and bovine α-LAH of different doses (100 mg/kg b.w., 200 mg/kg b.w. and 400 mg/kg b.w.) for another 12 weeks to evaluate its protective effects against HFD-induced insulin resistance. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test (ipITT) were conducted after intervention with α-LAH for 10 weeks and 11 weeks, respectively. Results showed that bovine α-LAH significantly reduced body weight, blood glucose, serum insulin, and HOMA-IR (homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance) levels, lowered the area-under-the-curve (AUC) during OGTT and ipITT, and downregulated inflammation-related gene [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1] expression in adipose tissues of HFD-fed C57BL/6J mice. Furthermore, bovine α-LAH also suppressed insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) serine phosphorylation (Ser307, Ser612), enhanced protein kinase B (known as Akt) phosphorylation, and inhibited the activation of inhibitor of kappaB kinase (IKK) and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways in adipose tissues of HFD-fed C57BL/6J mice. These results suggested that bovine α-LAH could ameliorate adipose insulin resistance and inflammation through IKK and MAPK signaling pathways in HFD-fed C57BL/6J mice.
A Novel Adaptive Joint Time Frequency Algorithm by the Neural Network for the ISAR Rotational Compensation
Authors: Wang Zisheng , Yang Wei , Chen Zhuming , Zhao Zhiqin , Hu Haoquan , Qi Conghui
Published: February 2018

We propose a novel adaptive joint time frequency algorithm combined with the neural network (AJTF-NN) to focus the distorted inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) image. In this paper, a coefficient estimator based on the artificial neural network (ANN) is firstly developed to solve the time-consuming rotational motion compensation (RMC) polynomial phase coefficient estimation problem. The training method, the cost function and the structure of ANN are comprehensively discussed. In addition, we originally propose a method to generate training dataset sourcing from the ISAR signal models with randomly chosen motion characteristics. Then, prediction results of the ANN estimator is used to directly compensate the ISAR image, or to provide a more accurate initial searching range to the AJTF for possible low-performance scenarios. Finally, some simulation models including the ideal point scatterers and a realistic Airbus A380 are employed to comprehensively investigate properties of the AJTF-NN, such as the stability and the efficiency under different signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Results show that the proposed method is much faster than other prevalent improved searching methods, the acceleration ratio are even up to 424 times without the deterioration of compensated image quality. Therefore, the proposed method is potential to the real-time application in the RMC problem of the ISAR imaging.
Methionine-Capped Gold Nanoclusters as a Fluorescence-Enhanced Probe for Cadmium(II) Sensing
Authors: Peng Yan , Wang Maomao , Wu Xiaoxia , Wang Fu , Liu Lang
Published: February 2018

Gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) have been considered as novel heavy metal ions sensors due to their ultrafine size, photo-stability and excellent fluorescent properties. In this study, a green and facile method was developed for the preparation of fluorescent water-soluble gold nanoclusters with methionine as a stabilizer. The nanoclusters emit orange fluorescence with excitation/emission peaks at 420/565 nm and a quantum yield of about 1.46%. The fluorescence of the Au NCs is selectively and sensitively enhanced by addition of Cd(II) ions attributed to the Cd(II) ion-induced aggregation of nanoclusters. This finding was further used to design a fluorometric method for the determination of Cd(II) ions, which had a linear response in the concentration range from 50 nM to 35 μM and a detection limit of 12.25 nM. The practicality of the nanoprobe was validated in various environmental water samples and milk powder samples, with a fairly satisfactory recovery percent.
Enhanced Humidity Sensitivity with Silicon Nanopillar Array by UV Light
Authors: Li Wei , Ding Chao , Cai Yun , Liu Juyan , Wang Linlin , Ren Qingying , Xu Jie
Published: February 2018

The sensitivity of silicon nanopillar array for relative humidity (RH) with UV illumination was investigated in this work. The silicon nanopillar array was prepared by nanosphere lithography. Electrical measurements were performed on its sensing performance with and without UV irradiation. It was found that UV light improved the humidity sensitivity with different UV light wavelengths and power. The sensor response and recovery time were reduced. Furthermore, the turn-on threshold voltage and the operating voltage both decreased. These sensing characteristics can mainly be attributed to the electron-hole pairs generated by UV light. These electron-hole pairs promote the adsorption and desorption processes. The results indicate that silicon nanopillar array materials with UV irradiation might be competitive as novel sensing materials for fabricating humidity sensors with high performances.
Soil Water Extraction Monitored Per Plot Across a Field Experiment Using Repeated Electromagnetic Induction Surveys
Authors: Huang Jingyi , Purushothaman Ramamoorthy , McBratney Alex , Bramley Helen
Published: February 2018

Soil water (θ) dynamics are important parameters to monitor in any field-based drought research. Although apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) measured by electromagnetic (EM) induction has been used to estimate θ, little research has shown its successful application at the plot-scale for evaluating crop water use. An EM38 conductivity meter was used to collect time-lapse ECa data at the plot scale across a field cropped with 36 different chickpea genotypes. An empirical multiple linear regression model was established to predict θ measured by neutron probes and depth-specific electrical conductivity (σ) generated by a 1-D EM inversion algorithm. Soil water dynamics and movement were successfully mapped with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.87 and root-mean-square-error of 0.037 m3 m−3. The rate of soil drying varied with depth and was influenced by chickpea growth stages and genotypes. The results were also used to evaluate the differences in soil water use and rooting depths within- and across-plant species and during the growth stages. Coupled with physiology measurements, the approach can also be used to identify mechanisms of drought tolerance in the field and screening for effective water use in crop breeding programs.
A Report from the Cambodia Training Event for Awareness of Melioidosis (C-TEAM), October 2017
Authors: Bory Sotharith , Daily Frances , Khim Gaetan , Letchford Joanne , Sok Srun , Kol Hero , Seang Lak Muy , Tuseo Luciano , Vibol Chan , Oeng Sopheap , Turner Paul
Published: February 2018

Melioidosis is an endemic infection in Cambodia, a lower middle income SE Asian country. Despite more laboratories isolating and identifying Burkholderia pseudomallei in recent years, the infection remains under-recognised and under-diagnosed, particularly in the adult population. Lack of knowledge about the disease and lack of utilization of microbiology laboratories contributes to this, along with laboratory capacity issues. Treatment costs often hamper optimal management. In response to these issues, a national one-health training event was held in October 2017 to raise awareness of the disease amongst clinical, laboratory, and public health professionals. The meeting format, findings, and outcomes are described here.
Impact of Highly Reflective Materials on Meteorology, PM10 and Ozone in Urban Areas: A Modeling Study with WRF-CHIMERE at High Resolution over Milan (Italy)
Authors: Falasca Serena , Curci Gabriele
Published: February 2018

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) is a well-known phenomenon concerning an increasing percentage of the world’s population due to the growth rates of metropolitan areas. Given the health and economic implications of UHIs, several mitigation techniques are being evaluated and tested. In this study, we consider the use of highly reflective materials for urban surfaces, and we carried out numerical experiments using the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with the CHIMERE model in order to investigate the effects of these materials on the meteorology and air quality in the urban area of Milan (Italy). Results show that an increase in albedo from 0.2 to 0.7 for urban roofs, walls and streets leads to a decrease in UHI intensity by up to 2–3 °C and of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) height of about 500 m. However, the difference of PM10 and ozone between urban and surrounding areas increases by a factor of about 2, attributable to the reduction of PBL height and wind speed and to the increased reflected solar radiation that may enhance photochemical production during the daytime. Therefore, if anthropogenic emissions are held at the same levels, the potential benefit to the UHI in terms of thermal discomfort may have negative repercussions on air quality.
Sequencing Infrastructure Investments under Deep Uncertainty Using Real Options Analysis
Authors: Manocha Nishtha , Babovic Vladan
Published: February 2018

The adaptation tipping point and adaptation pathway approach developed to make decisions under deep uncertainty do not shed light on which among the multiple available pathways should be chosen as the preferred pathway. This creates the need to extend these approaches by means of suitable tools that can help sequence actions and subsequently enable the outlining of relevant policies. This paper presents two sequencing approaches, namely, the “Build to Target” and “Build Up” approach, to aid in sub-selecting a set of preferred pathways. Both approaches differ in the levels of flexibility they offer. They are exemplified by means of two case studies wherein the Net Present Valuation and the Real Options Analysis are employed as selection criterions. The results demonstrate the benefit of these two approaches when used in conjunction with the adaptation pathways and show how the pathways selected by means of a Build to Target approach generally have a value greater than, or at least the same as, the pathways selected by the Build Up approach. Further, this paper also demonstrates the capacity of Real Options to quantify and capture the economic value of flexibility, which cannot be done by traditional valuation approaches such as Net Present Valuation.
Time-frequency Features for Impedance Cardiography Signals During Anesthesia Using Different Distribution Kernels
Authors: Muñoz Jesús , Gambús Pedro , Jensen Erik W. , Vallverdú Montserrat
Published: February 2018

Objective: This works investigates the time-frequency content of impedance cardiography signals during a propofol-remifentanil anesthesia.

Materials and Methods: In the last years, impedance cardiography (ICG) is a technique which has gained much attention. However, ICG signals need further investigation. Time-Frequency Distributions (TFDs) with 5 different kernels are used in order to analyze impedance cardiography signals (ICG) before the start of the anesthesia and after the loss of consciousness. In total, ICG signals from one hundred and thirty-one consecutive patients undergoing major surgery under general anesthesia were analyzed. Several features were extracted from the calculated TFDs in order to characterize the time-frequency content of the ICG signals. Differences between those features before and after the loss of consciousness were studied.

Results: The Extended Modified Beta Distribution (EMBD) was the kernel for which most features shows statistically significant changes between before and after the loss of consciousness. Among all analyzed features, those based on entropy showed a sensibility, specificity and area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic above 60%.

Conclusion: The anesthetic state of the patient is reflected on linear and non-linear features extracted from the TFDs of the ICG signals. Especially, the EMBD is a suitable kernel for the analysis of ICG signals and offers a great range of features which change according to the patient’s anesthesia state in a statistically significant way.
Liquiritigenin Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Proliferation, Invasion, and Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition by Decreasing Expression of Runt-Related Transcription Factor 2
Authors: Meng Fan-Chun , Lin Jun-Kai
Published: February 2018

Inhibition of tumor metastasis is one of the most important purposes in colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. This study aimed to explore the effects of liquiritigenin, a flavonoid extracted from the roots ofGlycyrrhiza uralensisFisch, on HCT116 cell proliferation, invasion, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We found that liquiritigenin significantly inhibited HCT116 cell proliferation, invasion, and the EMT process, but had no influence on cell apoptosis. Moreover, liquiritigenin remarkably reduced the expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) in HCT116 cells. Overexpression of Runx2 obviously reversed the liquiritigenin-induced invasion and EMT inhibition. Furthermore, liquiritigenin inactivated the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway in HCT116 cells. Upregulation of Runx2 reversed the liquiritigenin-induced PI3K/AKT pathway inactivation. In conclusion, our research verified that liquiritigenin exerted significant inhibitory effects on CRC invasion and EMT process by downregulating the expression of Runx2 and inactivating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Liquiritigenin could be an effective therapeutic and preventative medicine for CRC treatment.
Long Noncoding RNA CCAL Promotes Papillary Thyroid Cancer Progression by Activation of NOTCH1 Pathway
Authors: Ye Ying , Song Yanan , Zhuang Juhua , He Saifei , Ni Jing , Xia Wei
Published: February 2018

Long noncoding RNA CCAL has been reported to promote tumor progression in various human cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma, osteosarcoma, and colorectal cancer. However, the role of CCAL in papillary thyroid cancer remains largely unknown. In the present study, we found that
the expression of CCAL was upregulated in papillary thyroid tumor tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Moreover, the expression of CCAL was positively related with papillary thyroid cancer severity and TNM stage and predicated poor prognosis. Besides, we found that knockdown of CCAL
significantly inhibited papillary thyroid cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and reduced tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. We found that knockdown of CCAL dramatically decreased the expression of NOTCH1 and suppressed the activation of the NOTCH1 signaling pathway.
Furthermore, overexpression of NOTCH1 rescued the proliferation, migration, and invasion in papillary thyroid cancer cells. Taken together, our data indicated that CCAL promoted papillary thyroid cancer development and progression by activation of the NOTCH1 pathway, which provided a new insight
on the design of therapeutic targets.
miR-365 Suppresses Cholangiocarcinoma Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis by Targeting E2F2
Authors: Chen Lunjian , Huang Xiaorong , Chen Xinxin
Published: February 2018

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is one of the most malignant adenocarcinomas arising from bile duct epithelial cells. However, the molecular mechanism regulating CCA development and progression still needs to be investigated. Here we found that miR-365 was downregulated in CCA tissues compared
with adjacent normal tissues. By functional experiments, we found that overexpression of miR-365 significantly inhibited CCA cell proliferation and promoted cellular apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, administration with miR-365 markedly suppressed the growth of tumor tissues in vivo. Mechanistically,
we identified E2F2 as the target gene of miR-365 in CCA cells. We found that overexpression significantly inhibited the expression of E2F2 in CCA cells, and there was an inverse correlation between the expression levels of E2F2 and miR-365 in CCA tissues. We also found that E2F2 was highly
expressed in CCA tissues and cell lines. Restoration of E2F2 in miR-365-overexpressing CCA cells promoted cell viability and reduced cellular apoptosis in CCA. Collectively, our study demonstrated the essential role of miR-365 and its functional mechanism in CCA cells, which provided a new
insight on the design of therapeutic targets for CCA treatment.
miR-615 Inhibits Prostate Cancer Cell Proliferation and Invasion by Directly Targeting Cyclin D2
Authors: Huang Fengyu , Zhao Hongjun , Du Zhaojin , Jiang Hong
Published: February 2018

Previous studies have reported that miR-615 exerts a tumor suppressor role in some tumors, such as esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer. However, the role of miR-615 in prostate cancer has not been defined. Here we found that miR-615 was downregulated in
prostate cancer tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-615 in PC-3 cells significantly inhibited cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion. Moreover, overexpression of miR-615 delayed tumor growth in vivo. In terms of mechanism, we found that cyclin D2 (CCND2) is a target gene
of miR-615 in prostate cancer. We showed that miR-615 could bind to the 3′-UTR region of CCND2 mRNA and inhibit its expression. There was a negative correlation between the expression of miR-615 and CCND2 in prostate cancer tissues. Moreover, restoration of cyclin D2 abolished the inhibitory
effects of miR-615 on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of prostate cancer cells. Taken together, our study identified miR-615 as a tumor suppressor by targeting cyclin D2 in prostate cancer.
lncRNA NORAD Contributes to Colorectal Cancer Progression by Inhibition of miR-202-5p
Authors: Zhang Jie , Li Xiao-Yan , Hu Ping , Ding Yuan-Sheng
Published: February 2018

Previous study indicates that long noncoding RNA NORAD could serve as a competing endogenous RNA to pancreatic cancer metastasis. However, its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) needs to be investigated. In the present study, we found that the expression of NORAD was significantly upregulated
in CRC tissues. Furthermore, the expression of NORAD was positively related with CRC metastasis and patients’ poor prognosis. Knockdown of NORAD markedly inhibited CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion but induced cell apoptosis in vitro. In vivo experiments also indicated
an inhibitory effect of NORAD on tumor growth. Mechanistically, we found that NORAD served as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-202-5p. We found that there was an inverse relationship between the expression of NORAD and miR-202-5p in CRC tissues. Moreover, overexpression of miR-202-5p in
SW480 and HCT116 cells significantly inhibited cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion. Taken together, our study demonstrated that the NORAD/miR-202-5p axis plays a pivotal function on CRC progression.
miR-363-3p Inhibits Osteosarcoma Cell Proliferation and Invasion via Targeting SOX4
Authors: Wang Kejun , Yan Lin , Lu Fen
Published: February 2018

miR-363-3p has been shown to suppress tumor growth and metastasis in various human cancers. However, the function of miR-363-3p in osteosarcoma (OS) has not been determined. In our study, we found that the expression of miR-363-3p was significantly downregulated in OS tissues compared
with adjacent normal tissues. miR-363-3p expression was associated with the poor overall survival rate of OS patients. Moreover, we found that overexpression of miR-363-3p markedly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of U2OS and MG63 cells. Moreover, we found that SOX4 was
a direct target of miR-363-3p in OS cells. Overexpression of miR-363-3p significantly inhibited the expression of SOX4. Expression levels of miR-363-3p and SOX4 were negatively correlated in OS tissues. Finally, we found that restoration of SOX4 attenuated the suppressive effects of miR-363-3p
on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of U2OS and MG63 cells. Therefore, our findings demonstrated that miR-363-3p served as a tumor suppressor in OS tissues by targeting SOX4.
Continuous multistep synthesis of 2-(azidomethyl)oxazoles
Authors: Rossa Thaís A , Suveges Nícolas S , Sá Marcus M , Cantillo David , Kappe C Oliver
Published: February 2018

An efficient three-step protocol was developed to produce 2-(azidomethyl)oxazoles from vinyl azides in a continuous-flow process. The general synthetic strategy involves a thermolysis of vinyl azides to generate azirines, which react with bromoacetyl bromide to provide 2-(bromomethyl)oxazoles. The latter compounds are versatile building blocks for nucleophilic displacement reactions as demonstrated by their subsequent treatment with NaN3in aqueous medium to give azido oxazoles in good selectivity. Process integration enabled the synthesis of this useful moiety in short overall residence times (7 to 9 min) and in good overall yields.
LHS 1610A: A Nearby Mid-M Dwarf with a Companion That Is Likely a Brown Dwarf
Authors: Winters Jennifer G. , Irwin Jonathan , Newton Elisabeth R. , Charbonneau David , Latham David W. , Han Eunkyu , Muirhead Philip S. , Berlind Perry , Calkins Michael L. , Esquerdo Gil
Published: February 2018

We present the spectroscopic orbit of LHS 1610A, a newly discovered single-lined spectroscopic binary with a trigonometric distance placing it at 9.9 ± 0.2 pc. We obtained spectra with the TRES instrument on the 1.5 m Tillinghast Reflector at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory located on Mt. Hopkins in AZ. We demonstrate the use of the TiO molecular bands at 7065–7165 Å to measure radial velocities and achieve an average estimated velocity uncertainty of 28 m s−1. We measure the orbital period to be 10.6 days and calculate a minimum mass of 44.8 ± 3.2 M
Jup for the secondary, indicating that it is likely a brown dwarf. We place an upper limit to 3σ of 2500 K on the effective temperature of the companion from infrared spectroscopic observations using IGRINS on the 4.3 m Discovery Channel Telescope. In addition, we present a new photometric rotation period of 84.3 days for the primary star using data from the MEarth-South Observatory, with which we show that the system does not eclipse.
Evolution of the Outflows in NGC 3516
Authors: Dunn Jay P. , Parvaresh Rozhin , Kraemer S. B. , Crenshaw D. Michael
Published: February 2018

We analyze the 2011 HST/COS spectrum of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 3516, which demonstrates clear changes in one of the intrinsic absorption troughs (component 5), slight evidence of change in a second trough (component 6), and the appearance of a new absorption trough (component 9). We interpret both the changes and the appearance of the new trough as bulk motion across the line of sight. The implied lower limit on the transverse velocity of component 5 is 360 km s−1, compared to the earlier 2001 HST/STIS spectrum, while the lower limits for components 6 and 9 are 920 km s−1, based on 2009 FUSE data. Component 5 also exhibits a shift in velocity centroid. This is only the second known case of this behavior in a Seyfert galaxy. Due to the high quality of the HST/COS spectrum, we identify a previously undetected trough due to an excited state of Si ii for component 1. In combination with the resonance trough of Si ii and photoionization modeling, we directly determine the distance of the component 1 outflow to be 67.2 pc.
The 105-Month Swift-BAT All-sky Hard X-Ray Survey
Authors: Oh Kyuseok , Koss Michael , Markwardt Craig B. , Schawinski Kevin , Baumgartner Wayne H. , Barthelmy Scott D. , Cenko S. Bradley , Gehrels Neil , Mushotzky Richard , Petulante Abigail , Ricci Claudio , Lien Amy , Trakhtenbrot Benny
Published: February 2018

We present a catalog of hard X-ray sources detected in the first 105 months of observations with the Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) coded-mask imager on board the Swift observatory. The 105-month Swift-BAT survey is a uniform hard X-ray all-sky survey with a sensitivity of

over 90% of the sky and

over 50% of the sky in the 14–195 keV band. The Swift-BAT 105-month catalog provides 1632 (422 new detections) hard X-ray sources in the 14–195 keV band above the

significance level. Adding to the previously known hard X-ray sources, 34% (144/422) of the new detections are identified as Seyfert active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in nearby galaxies (

). The majority of the remaining identified sources are X-ray binaries (7%, 31) and blazars/BL Lac objects (10%, 43). As part of this new edition of the Swift-BAT catalog, we release eight-channel spectra and monthly sampled light curves for each object in the online journal and at the Swift-BAT 105-month website.
Seasonal Evolution of Titan's Stratosphere Near the Poles
Authors: Coustenis A. , Jennings D. E. , Achterberg R. K. , Bampasidis G. , Nixon C. A. , Lavvas P. , Cottini V. , Flasar F. M.
Published: February 2018

In this Letter, we report the monitoring of seasonal evolution near Titan’s poles. We find Titan’s south pole to exhibit since 2010 a strong temperature decrease and a dramatic enhancement of several trace species such as complex hydrocarbons and nitriles (HC3N and C6H6 in particular) previously only observed at high northern latitudes. This results from the seasonal change on Titan going from winter (2002) to summer (2017) in the north and, at the same time, the onset of winter in the south pole. During this transition period atmospheric components with longer chemical lifetimes linger in the north, undergoing slow photochemical destruction, while those with shorter lifetimes decrease and reappear in the south. An opposite effect was expected in the north, but not observed with certainty until now. We present here an analysis of high-resolution nadir spectra acquired by Cassini/Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer in the past years and describe the temperature and composition variations near Titan’s poles. From 2013 until 2016, the northern polar region has shown a temperature increase of 10 K, while the south has shown a more significant decrease (up to 25 K) in a similar period of time. While the south polar region has been continuously enhanced since about 2012, the chemical content in the north is finally showing a clear depletion for most molecules only since 2015. This is indicative of a non-symmetrical response to the seasons in Titan’s stratosphere that can set constraints on photochemical and GCM models.
A new species of the genus Hexapleomera Dudich, 1931 from the South Korea, with molecular evidence (Crustacea, Tanaidacea, Tanaididae)
Authors: Wi Jin Hee , Jeong Man-Ki , Kang Chang-Keun
Published: February 2018

Two populations of new species are described forHexapleomeraDudich, 1931 from the southeastern coast and Jeju island of South Korea (north west Pacific). The specimens were collected using a light trap set overnight at the entrance near a pier or harbour.Hexapleomeraulsanasp. n.is clearly differentiated from other species in the genus by the uropod with five articles, a maxillule palp with four distal setae, the maxilliped coxa with three proximal setae, the epignath with short and blunt spiniform seta, the propodus of pereopods 2–3 with three ventral setae, and the maxilla with a rugged shape of the distal margin. Differences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene observed between two populations ofH.ulsanafrom different regions (Ulsan and Jeju Island) and betweenH.ulsanaandH.urashima(Japan) were 1.1 % and 32.4 %, respectively. Two genetically-close populations differed in the setae on pleopod 3, the proximal setae on the maxilliped coxa, and the ventral setae on pereopods 2–3, which showed that geographical distance affected the morphological divergence. In addition, a comprehensive comparison with previous records ofHexapleomerawas conducted and close examinations on the appendages, known to have morphological variations between the individuals of one species and/or between different genders, were carried out based on new species and discussed herein.
Les scénarios d’usage comme support aux méthodologies de Recherche en Design Science dans le cas d’invention
Authors: Pascal Amandine , Rouby Évelyne
Published: February 2018

Cet article s’intéresse aux méthodologies de Recherche en Design Science (RDS) dans les cas d’invention c.à.d. quand il n’existe pas de connaissances théoriques et pratiques pour appréhender le problème à résoudre et ainsi guider le travail de conception. Ici, la clarification du problème devient cruciale. Elle pose un véritable défi aux méthodologies classiques de RDS qui l’ignorent, considérant toujours le problème à résoudre comme a priori bien défini. Elle est aussi clé pour assurer la pertinence de l’artefact créé car mal appréhender le problème initial compromet ses chances de succès. L’apport de notre travail est donc de fournir une réponse méthodologique à la clarification du problème par la construction de scénarios d’usage. Notre apport ne se limite pas à l’introduction de ces dits scénarios dans les méthodologies de RDS. Il consiste aussi à en proposer une version originale en les ancrant dans une perspective structurationniste. La construction des scénarios d’usage a été appliquée au projet KMP, projet innovant de portail web de compétences pour favoriser les innovations entre entreprises et entre entreprises et organismes de recherche. Leur intégration dans les méthodologies de RDS est utile car elle permet de proposer un cadre méthodologique plus complet aux chercheurs désireux de mettre en œuvre une approche en RDS dans le cas d’invention.
Effect of reduced protein intake on endurance performance and water turnover during low intensity long duration exercise in Alaskan sled dogs
Authors: Pratt-Phillips S.E. , Olsen R. , Geor R. , Zirkle A. , Moore A. , Harkins C. , Davis M.
Published: February 2018

Increased nutritional demands for endurance exercise of dogs are typically met through increased amounts of their current food. As a result, protein intake is also increased, and excessive nitrogen may affect the dog’s water balance. Sixteen unconditioned Alaskan sled dogs underwent a 6-week exercise training protocol, wherein 8 dogs were fed increasing amounts of their normal kibble to maintain body weight, while the other 8 were fed the same amount of kibble, with increasing calorie needs met by equal amounts of sugar and oil. The diets resulted in similar calorie intakes (181.3±20.0 and 205.7±36.3 kcal/kg0.75, for the control and low protein dogs respectively) but control dogs had higher protein intakes (32.2±0.0 and 19.4±2.4% of metabolic energy intake). After 6 weeks of training the dogs completed a 5 day exercise test in which they travelled 24 km per day, where total energy expenditure was determined using doubly-labelled water technique. Dogs expended an average of 1,491±264 kcal/day (145±25 kcal/kg0.75/day), with no difference between the dietary treatments and no negative performance indicators. Following the exercise test the dogs underwent a 24 hour dehydration test (water withheld) followed by an 8 hour rehydration test (withad libitumwater intake recorded) where total body water was determined using deuterium oxide. Blood and urinary samples were also collected. Following exercise conditioning, control dogs had higher serum urea nitrogen than low protein dogs, and this as well as albumin decreased further during the 5 day exercise test. Low-protein dogs had lower overall total body water and higher fractional excretion of Na+, suggesting some renal adaptation. These findings suggest that reduced protein intake did not negatively affect athletic performance, though some facets of body chemistry were altered.