bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biocatalytic Degradation Efficiency of Postconsumer Polyethylene Terephthalate Packaging Determined by Their Polymer Microstructures
Authors: Wei Ren , Breite Daniel , Song Chen , Gräsing Daniel , Ploss Tina , Hille Patrick , Schwerdtfeger Ruth , Matysik Jörg , Schulze Agnes , Zimmermann Wolfgang
Published: May 2019

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the most important mass‐produced thermoplastic polyester used as a packaging material. Recently, thermophilic polyester hydrolases such as TfCut2 from Thermobifida fusca have emerged as promising biocatalysts for an eco‐friendly PET recycling process. In this study, postconsumer PET food packaging containers are treated with TfCut2 and show weight losses of more than 50% after 96 h of incubation at 70 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis indicates that the high linear degradation rates observed in the first 72 h of incubation is due to the high hydrolysis susceptibility of the mobile amorphous fraction (MAF) of PET. The physical aging process of PET occurring at 70 °C is shown to gradually convert MAF to polymer microstructures with limited accessibility to enzymatic hydrolysis. Analysis of the chain‐length distribution of degraded PET by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy reveals that MAF is rapidly hydrolyzed via a combinatorial exo‐ and endo‐type degradation mechanism whereas the remaining PET microstructures are slowly degraded only by endo‐type chain scission causing no detectable weight loss. Hence, efficient thermostable biocatalysts are required to overcome the competitive physical aging process for the complete degradation of postconsumer PET materials close to the glass transition temperature of PET.
The monocotyledonous underground: global climatic and phylogenetic patterns of geophyte diversity
Authors: Howard Cody Coyotee , Folk Ryan A. , Beaulieu Jeremy M. , Cellinese Nico
Published: May 2019

Premise

Geophytes—plants that typically possess a bulb, corm, tuber, and/or rhizome—have long captured the attention of hobbyists and researchers. However, despite the economic and evolutionary importance of these traits, the potential drivers of their morphological diversity remain unknown. Using a comprehensive phylogeny of monocots, we test for correlations between climate and geophyte growth form to better understand why we observe such a diversity of underground traits in geophytes. Understanding the evolutionary factors promoting independent origins of these potentially adaptive organs will lend insights into how plants adapt to environmental hardships.

Methods

Using a comprehensive phylogeny incorporated with global occurrence and climate data for the monocots, we investigated whether climatic patterns could explain differences between geophytes and non‐geophytes, as well as differences among bulbous, cormous, tuberous, rhizomatous, and non‐geophytic taxa. We used phylogenetically‐informedANOVAs,MANOVAs, andPCAs to test differences in climatic variables between the different growth forms.

Results

Geophytes inhabit cooler, drier, and more thermally variable climates compared to non‐geophytes. Although some underground traits (i.e., bulb, corm, and tuber) appear to inhabit particular niches, a result supported by strong phylogenetic signal, our data has limited evidence for an overall role of climate in the evolution of these traits. However, temperature may be a driving force in rhizome evolution, as well as the evolution of taxa which we considered here as non‐geophytic (e.g., trees, epiphytes, etc.).

Conclusions

While precipitation patterns have played a role in the evolution of geophytism, our results suggest that temperature should be more strongly considered as a contributing factor promoting the evolution of belowground bud placement, specifically in rhizomatous and non‐geophytic taxa. Bulbous, cormous, and tuberous taxa need closer examination of other mechanisms, such as anatomical constraints or genetic controls, in order to begin to understand the causes behind the evolution of their underground morphology.
1,3,5‐Triphenylpyrazoline‐Based Organocatalysis: Synthesis of Aryl‐Heteroaryl Compounds and Exploiting By‐Product from the Reaction for Alkyne‐Carbonyl Metathesis (ACM) Reaction in One Pot
Authors: Annes Sesuraj Babiola , Ramesh Subburethinam
Published: May 2019

A pyrazoline‐based organocatalyst was synthesized and used for the sequential formation of two structurally important heterocyclic compounds in one pot. A variety of substrates were found to be suitable for both arylation and alkyne‐carbonyl metathesis (ACM) reactions. Control reactions were performed to understand the catalytic pathway and a suitable mechanism was proposed.
Composition and stability of the vervet monkey milk microbiome
Authors: Petrullo Lauren , Jorgensen Matthew J. , Snyder‐Mackler Noah , Lu Amy
Published: May 2019

The human milk microbiome is vertically transmitted to offspring during the postnatal period and has emerged as a critical driver of infant immune and metabolic development. Despite this importance in humans, the milk microbiome of nonhuman primates remains largely unexplored. This dearth of comparative work precludes our ability to understand how species‐specific differences in the milk microbiome may differentially drive maternal effects and limits how translational models can be used to understand the role of vertically transmitted milk microbes in human development. Here, we present the first culture‐independent data on the milk microbiome of a nonhuman primate. We collected milk and matched fecal microbiome samples at early and late lactation from a cohort of captive lactating vervet monkeys (N = 15). We found that, similar to humans, the vervet monkey milk microbiome comprises a shared community of taxa that are universally present across individuals. However, unlike in humans, this shared community is dominated by the genera Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Prevotella. We also found that, in contrast to previous culture‐dependent studies in humans, the vervet milk microbiome exhibits greater alpha‐diversity than the gut microbiome across lactation. Finally, we did not find support for the translocation of microbes from the gut to the mammary gland within females (i.e., “entero‐mammary pathway”). Taken together, our results show that the vervet monkey milk microbiome is taxonomically diverse, distinct from the gut microbiome, and largely stable. These findings demonstrate that the milk microbiome is a unique substrate that may selectively favor the establishment and persistence of particular microbes across lactation and highlights the need for future experimental studies on the origin of microbes in milk.
Spin Transport over Huge Distances in a Magnetized 2D Electron System
Authors: Gorbunov Alexander V. , Kuznetsov Vladimir A. , Zhuravlev Andrey S. , Kulik Leonid V. , Dickmann Sergey , Timofeev Vladislav B.
Published: May 2019

Experimental results on the properties of a recently discovered new collective state, the magnetofermionic condensate, are summarized herein. Condensation occurs in a fermionic system, a quantum Hall insulator (filling factor ν = 2), as a result of the formation of a dense ensemble of long‐lived spin cyclotron magnetoexcitons, composite bosons. At temperatures below 1 K, the exciton ensemble exhibits a sharp enhancement in its response to an external electromagnetic field due to the formation of a super‐absorbing state that interacts coherently with the electromagnetic field. Simultaneously, the electrons below the Fermi level rearrange to form a new non‐equilibrium radiative recombination channel. The condensate shows a sharp decrease in viscosity and the ability to spread over macroscopically large distances, on the order of a millimeter, at a speed of . Due to this rapid long‐distance spin transfer, new opportunities in the field of spintronics have been opened up.
A Universal Quantitative Descriptor of the Dispersion Interaction Potential
Authors: Pollice Robert , Chen Peter
Published: May 2019

London dispersion, universally attractive forces originating from fluctuating dipoles, is omnipresent in molecules. While its understanding has recently made tremendous progress, its general appreciation is still lagging behind electrostatics. This can be explained by the simple tools available to study electrostatic interactions, such as electrostatic potential (ESP) maps and partial charges, and a lack thereof for dispersion. We herein report a universal quantitative descriptor of dispersion interaction potentials, which allows assessing dispersion visually by London dispersion potential (LDP) maps, and quantitatively using the average LDP on the van der Waals surface. We demonstrate the utility of these new tools by constructing a quantitative dispersion energy scale of the elements and common substituents, studying non‐covalent interactions (NCIs), and developing modern linear free energy relationships in catalysis.
Jumping Crystal of a Hydrogen‐Bonded Organic Framework Induced by the Collective Molecular Motion of a Twisted π System
Authors: Takeda Takashi , Ozawa Masataka , Akutagawa Tomoyuki
Published: May 2019

There is a limited number of reports on mechanically responsive molecular crystals, including thermo‐responsive and light‐responsive crystals. Rigid ordered molecular crystals with a close‐packing structure are less able to accept distortion, which hampers the development of such molecular crystals. The thermosalient effect, or “crystal jumping”, refers to a thermo‐responsive system that converts heat into mechanical force by thermally induced phase transition. While they have recently attracted attention as potential highly efficient molecular actuators, less than two dozens of thermosalient molecular crystals have been reported to date, and the design of such molecules as well as how they assemble to express a thermosalient effect are unknown. Herein, we demonstrate how the cooperative molecular motion of twisted π units could serve to develop a thermo‐responsive jumping molecular crystal with a hydrogen‐bonded organic framework (HOF) of tetra[2,3]thienylene tetracarboxylic acid (1). The cooperative change in the molecular structure triggered by the desolvation of THF in the channel of the HOF structure induced not only a change in the structure of HOF but also mechanical force. Hydrogen bonding interactions contributed significant thermal stability to maintain the HOF assembly even with a dynamic structural change.
L‐menthol‐based initiators for atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene
Authors: Vishwakarma Sambhav , Kumari Archana , Mitra Kheyanath , Singh Shikha , Singh Rajshree , Singh Jaydeep , Sen Gupta Susanta K. , Ray Biswajit
Published: May 2019

Two new atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiators, 2‐isopropyl‐5‐methylcyclohexyl 2‐bromopropanoate (1) and 2‐Isopropyl‐5‐methylcyclohexyl 2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropanoate (2), have been synthesized by the reaction of 2‐bromopropanoyl bromide and 2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropanoyl bromide, respectively, with L‐menthol and characterized by1H and13C NMR and FTIR spectroscopic studies. ATRP of styrene has successfully been carried out in a control manner using these initiators along with catalyst/ligand system consisting of Cu(I)Br/N,N,N/,N/,N//‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine. Polymerizations have yielded polystyrenes (PSts) of controlled molecular weight with low polydispersity index having a menthyl end group, as confirmed by1H NMR and gel permeation chromatography [GPC]. The controlled nature of the polymerization has also been confirmed by kinetic study of the polymerization process monitored via1H NMR and GPC. Initiator2has evolved as most efficient among the two. The obtained end‐functional PSt has also been used as a macroinitiator for homochain extension with styrene and heterochain extension with methyl methacrylate to produce PSt‐b‐PMMA, showing the living nature of the polymerization process. In comparison with the PSt sample prepared using widely used initiator ethyl‐2‐bromo‐isobutyrate with almost the same molecular weight and polydispersity, initiator2‐made L‐menthyl‐capped PSt has shown higher light transmission properties of its dichloromethane solution at ~259 nm, higher thermal stability, lower glass transition temperature, a broad melting temperature, and higher surface roughness over its film. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2019,136, 47964.
New structure found in a filter cake with the addition of an amphoteric polymer fluid loss additive
Authors: Cui Wuge , Jiang Guancheng , He Yinbo
Published: May 2019

Water‐based drilling fluids always suffer from high‐salt and high‐temperature conditions, which cause safety andeconomic problems. Amphoteric copolymers are expected to solve this, although the underlying factors are still controversial. In this study, the AST (an amphoteric copolymer which was synthesized from 2‐acrylamide‐2‐methyl propane sulfonicacid, (3‐acrylamidopropyl)trimethyl ammonium chloride and acrylamide) was used as fluid loss additive, kaolinite (KT) was used as an evaluation condition, and a sandwich structure was found on the cross section of the filter cake. Four potential mainstream explanations were analyzed: the polymer properties, rheological behavior, dispersion of platelets, and structure of the filter cake. The sandwich structures in the cross section of filter cake were finally found and were confirmed by energy‐dispersive spectroscopy. The sandwich structure, which consisted of an amphoteric polymer and a clay platelet, affected the fluid loss dramatically. This method for studying the cross section of the filter cake on the basis of KT evaluation could be used to investigate the filtration process of other fluid loss additives. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47965.
Influence of laser parameters in surface texturing of polyphenylene sulfide composites
Authors: Canel Timur , Kayahan Ersin , Candan Levent , Fidan Sinan , Sınmazçelik Tamer
Published: May 2019

Creating dimples at the ideal geometries to enhance the tribological properties of the polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) composite surface is the principal purpose of this study. In this manner, the effects of focus position (FP), pulse number (PN), and energy used for the making dimple geometry were investigated. In the ablation process, Nd:YAG laser with 1064 nm wavelength was used. Optimum laser process parameters were intended to obtain the largest ratio of dimple depth to width, circular dimples with a minimum ratio of molten zone diameter to spot size. The most effective parameters for obtaining dimple of desired properties are pulse energy (PE) with 60.64%, pulse duration (PD) with 55.61%, and FP with 55.94% for aspect ratio, circularity, and ratio of the diameter of the dimple to the spot size, respectively. In order to achieve a high aspect ratio or good circularity or minimum molten zone‐to‐spot size ratio, Taguchi optimization predicted the laser parameters. In the confirmation experiment with the proposed parameters, the highest aspect ratio was obtained as 2.05, the best circularity was obtained as 1.05, and minimum molten zone‐to‐spot size ratio was obtained as 1.073. Using the Taguchi method, accurate results were found with less experimentation. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47976.
Pyramidal parent training using behavioral skills training: Training caregivers in the use of a differential reinforcement procedure
Authors: Conklin Sarah M. , Wallace Michele D.
Published: May 2019

Six caregivers participated in a research study in which behavioral skills training (BST) was used within a pyramidal training model to train a differential reinforcement of an alternative behavior (DRA) procedure. Physical prompting was utilized to obtain correct responses across the identified alternative behavior. The caregivers were split into two tiers, comprised of three caregivers each. The experimenter trained tier‐one caregivers, who then trained tier‐two caregivers after meeting a predetermined mastery criterion. A multiple baseline design across participants research design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of correct implementation of the DRA procedure, demonstrating experimental control across participants. During baseline, caregivers did not implement DRA correctly. Following training, tier‐one and tier‐two caregivers demonstrated correct implementation of the DRA and prompting procedure. Intervention score was (M = 96%), from a baseline score of (M = 34.6%), for tier‐one participants. Intervention score was (M = 96.6%), from a baseline score of (M = 33%), for tier‐two participants. A follow‐up maintenance probe demonstrated correct implementation of the DRA procedure with prompting across both tiers of trained caregivers.
Two‐channel near‐infrared fluorescence Ag+ ion sensing of a new star‐shaped dendrimer
Authors: Cheng Huan‐ren , Yang Ling , Zhang Song , Rao Di , Lu Xiao‐ju
Published: May 2019

A new near‐infrared fluorescence sensor PDI‐PD for Ag+ ions was successfully prepared and its structure characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C NMR and high‐resolution mass spectrometry; matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (HRMS MALDI‐TOF). The probe exhibited rapid, sensitive, and selective two‐channel fluorescence responses towards Ag+ ions and protons. The probe has a marked high binding affinity and high sensitivity for Ag+, with a detection limit of 1.4 × 10−6 M. An approximately five‐fold enhanced core emission at 784 nm was attributed to fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The enhanced core emission of the probe with Ag+ ions based on photo‐induced electron transfer and FRET is discussed. In addition, the probe presented a visible colour change. All experimental results demonstrated that PDI‐PD is an efficient tool for the selective, sensitive and rapid detection of Ag+ ions and protons using two‐channel fluorescence responses.
Membrane‐Based Approach for the Downstream Processing of Influenza Virus‐Like Particles
Authors: Carvalho Sofia B. , Silva Ricardo J. S. , Moleirinho Mafalda G. , Cunha Bárbara , Moreira Ana S. , Xenopoulos Alex , Alves Paula M. , Carrondo Manuel J. T. , Peixoto Cristina
Published: May 2019

Currently, marketed influenza vaccines are only efficient against homologous viruses, thus requiring a seasonal update based on circulating subtypes. This constant reformulation adds several challenges to manufacturing, particularly in purification due to the variation of the physicochemical properties of the vaccine product. A universal platform approach capable of handling such variation is therefore of utmost importance. In this work, a filtration‐based approach is explored to purify influenza virus‐like particles. Switching from adsorptive separation to size‐based purification allows overcoming the differences in retention observed for different influenza strains. The proposed process employs a cascade of ultrafiltration and diafiltration steps, followed by a sterile filtration step. Different process parameters are assessed in terms of product recovery and impurities’ removal. Membrane chemistry, pore size, operation modes, critical flux, transmembrane pressure, and permeate control strategies are evaluated. After membrane selection and parameter optimization, concentration factors and diafiltration volumes are also defined. By optimizing the filtration mode of operation, it is possible to achieve product recoveries of approximately 80%. Overall, the process time is decreased by 30%, its scalability is improved, and the costs are reduced due to the removal of chromatography and associated buffer consumptions, cleaning, and its validation steps.
Metabolic profile of rosmarinic acid from Java tea (Orthosiphon stamineus) by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry with a three‐step data mining strategy
Authors: Zhang Jing , Wen Quan , Qian Kai , Feng Yulin , Luo Yun , Tan Ting
Published: May 2019

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a caffeic acid derivative and one of the most abundant and bioactive constituents in Java tea (Orthosiphon stamineus), which has significant biological activities. However, relatively few studies have been conducted to describe this compound's metabolites in vivo. Therefore, an ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–QTOF–MS/MS) analysis with a three‐step data mining strategy was established for the metabolic profile of RA. Firstly, the exogenously sourced ions were filtered out by the MarkerView software and incorporated with Microsoft Office Excel software. Secondly, a novel modified mass detects filter strategy based on the predicted metabolites was developed for screening the target ions with narrow, well‐defined mass detection ranges. Thirdly, the diagnostic product ions and neutral loss filtering strategy were applied for the rapid identification of the metabolites. Finally, a total of 16 metabolites were reasonably identified in urine, bile and feces, while metabolites were barely found in plasma. The metabolites of RA could also be distributed rapidly in liver and kidney. Glucuronidation, methylation and sulfation were the primary metabolic pathways of RA. The present findings might provide the theoretical basis for evaluating the biological activities of RA and its future application.
A homozygous mutation of alanyl‐transfer RNA synthetase 2 in a patient of adult‐onset leukodystrophy: A case report and literature review
Authors: Wang Jian‐Yong , Chen Song‐Fang , Zhang Hong‐Qiu , Wang Meng‐Yan , Zhu Jian‐Hong , Zhang Xiong
Published: May 2019

Introduction

Leukodystrophy is a group of hereditary leukoencephalopathies predominantly affecting the white matter. Multiple genes and mutations have been reported to be associated with this disorder. Identification of pathogenic genes can facilitate diagnosis of leukodystrophy and development of therapeutic strategies.

Methods

A case was presented with clinical examinations. Exome sequencing was applied to identify potential mutations. Sanger sequencing of blood DNA was applied to confirm the mutation and to examine additional members.

Results

We reported a Chinese male patient of adult‐onset leukodystrophy. Genetic examinations identified a homozygous mutation, c. 452T>C (p. M151T), in alanyl‐tRNA synthetase 2 (AARS2) in the patient. The disease was autosomal recessive as suggested by the genotypic analyses of his family members. We also reviewed phenotypic spectra of AARS2 mutation‐associated leukodystrophies from a total of 16 reported cases.

Conclusions

Our data provide further evidence that mutations of AARS2 are implicated in adult‐onset leukodystrophy.
Sustainable Bio‐ or CO2 economy: Chances, Risks, and Systems Perspective
Authors: Pfennig Andreas
Published: May 2019

To obtain a consistent view of sustainable future development, scenarios based on global balances have been derived. The world population may grow significantly faster than generally expected by many studies with up to 11.6 billion people in 2050. The climate goal of 1.5 °C can realistically not be reached any more and it is shown why it has been so difficult to realize that strong action would have been required years ago. Without change in behavior, a strong competition for land area will develop, mainly driven by human fertility and a large fraction of animal‐based food. While CO2‐based economy does not compete with food production for agricultural land area, its economic feasibility still needs to be demonstrated. In a bio‐based economy, third‐generation biomass alone will not be able to supply enough feedstock to fulfill all demands. Thus, competition with food production for land area will be unavoidable. Besides economic and ecological aspects, also ethics need to be considered. A holistic view is essential for deriving effective policies and ethical guidelines, but it also needs to influence personal decisions.
Technologies for the Storage of Hydrogen Part 1: Hydrogen Storage in the Narrower Sense
Authors: Müller Karsten
Published: May 2019

Storage of hydrogen in an efficient and dense manner is still a challenge. In addition to the conventional technologies of compression and liquefaction, there are different approaches trying to enhance the storage density by bonding hydrogen to another substance. Physisorption and chemisorption to organic as well as inorganic carriers are options. Although many of these technologies have not yet gone beyond the technological readiness of lab scale tests, there are a few that have already reached advanced technological levels. The first part of this two‐part review discusses storage technics with recovery of elemental hydrogen.
The primary motivation of sexual homicide offenders in China: Was it for sex, power and control, anger, or money?
Authors: Chan Heng Choon (Oliver) , Li Feng , Liu Sihai , Lu Xuesong
Published: May 2019

Background

Information on sexual homicides in China is scarce, particularly with respect to the offenders' primary motivation for the offence.

Aims

Our aim was to examine how offence characteristics of sexual murderers relate to different primary motivations.

Methods

The offender, victim, and offence characteristics of 67 sexual homicides, derived from police data of three regions and published case reports (1994–2017), were explored and compared according to offenders' primary motivation.

Results

Heterosexual sexual homicides were committed by offenders who were mainly driven by power and control, sex, and anger, compared with slightly over half of those who motivated primarily by financial gain. Sexual murderers whose killing was mainly driven by sex, money, and anger were more likely to target strangers, whereas offenders who motivated primarily by power and control were more likely to target an intimate partner. Victim abduction was more frequently seen in offenders who were motivated predominantly by money than other motives. Relative to financial gain as primary motivation, sexual killers who were mainly driven by sex, power and control, and anger were more likely to mutilate their victim.

Implications for practice

This study adds data to a field rarely studied anywhere and hardly at all in China. Findings may offer some help for criminal investigators who need to prioritise their investigative strategies. Once the individual is convicted and sentenced, they may help direct management and/or therapeutic strategies.
Effects of postsilking weak‐light stress on the flour quality of spring maize
Authors: Wen Zhangrong , Shi Kai , Lu Weiping , Lu Dalei
Published: May 2019

Background and objectives

The low sunlight from June to July caused by cloudy weather in Southern China has a detrimental influence on the grain yield and quality of spring maize because this period overlaps with the grain filling stage. A field trial was conducted to study the effects of postsilking shading (30% and 50% light deprivation defined as moderate sunlight [MS] and severe shading [SS], respectively, and with plants under natural sunlight as the control) on grain weight, nutrient contents, pasting, and thermal properties in 2016–2017. Zhengdan958 (ZD958) and Suyu30 (SY30) were used as materials.

Findings

MS and SS reduced the grain weight by 26.7% and 42.4% for ZD958 and by 17.4% and 25.7% for SY30 in 2016, respectively. In 2017, the decrease was 6.8% and 2.7% for ZD958 and SY30, respectively, and no difference was observed between MS and SS. Shading reduced the starch content and increased the protein content, and the effects were severe when a large amount of sunlight was deprived. SS increased the starch granule size in both varieties and years. MS resulted in an increase in 2016, but no increase was observed in 2017. Peak, trough, and breakdown viscosities decreased under shading. Similar reductions were generally observed between MS and SS. Shading exerted minimal effects on gelatinization and retrogradation temperatures, but the gelatinization enthalpy and peak height index gradually decreased with decreasing sunlight intensity. The retrogradation percentage increased under shading, and this increment was similar for MS and SS in 2016 and gradually intensified with increasing light deprivation in 2017.

Conclusions

Shading reduced starch and amylose contents and increased protein contents and starch granule size. These effects induced low peak and breakdown viscosities and high retrogradation percentage. The high viscosities and low retrograde of SY30 indicated that it has better grain quality than ZD958.

Significance and novelty

Shading deteriorates flour viscosity and increases the retrogradation tendency by reducing grain starch content and increasing protein content and starch granule size.
The supraseptal ethmoid sinus cell: A previously unreported ethmoid sinus variant
Authors: Gore Mitchell R.
Published: May 2019

To the author's knowledge, this is the first reported case in the literature of a supraseptal ethmoid sinus cell, located between the nasal septum and ethmoid roof. Such a cell, while rare, should be recognized and dissected carefully to prevent skull base injury and cerebrospinal fluid leak.
Ultrastructural Detection of Neuronal Markers, Receptors, and Vesicular Transporters
Authors: Zhang Shiliang , Morales Marisela
Published: May 2019

At the ultrastructural level, axon terminals containing synaptic vesicles are clearly observed. These axon terminals (presynaptic component of a synapse) may be seen establishing contacts (synapses) with cell bodies, axons, or dendrites (postsynaptic component of a synapse). By a combination of ultrastructural analysis and immunodetection of molecules, it is possible to determine the subcellular distribution of specific cellular markers (i.e., enzymes), neurotransmitters (within synaptic vesicles), vesicular transporters (in association with vesicles), and receptors (within the presynaptic or postsynaptic component of a synapse). Here we will provide detailed protocols that facilitate the ultrastructural detection of cellular markers, receptors, and vesicular transporters. These protocols include brain ultrastructural immunodetection of one, two, or three different types of molecules prior to brain tissue processing for ultrastructural analysis (pre‐embedding immunolabeling), brain molecular immunodetection after tissue processing for ultrastructural analysis (post‐embedding immunolabeling), or molecular immunodetection in purified synaptic vesicles. Published 2019. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Clinical chimeric antigen receptor‐T cell therapy: a new and promising treatment modality for glioblastoma
Authors: Brown Michael P , Ebert Lisa M , Gargett Tessa
Published: May 2019

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)‐T cell therapy is now approved in the United States and Europe as a standard treatment for relapsed/refractory B‐cell malignancies. It has also been approved recently by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia and may soon be publicly reimbursed. This advance has accentuated scientific, clinical and commercial interest in adapting this exciting technology for the treatment of solid cancers where it is widely recognised that the challenges of overcoming a hostile tumor microenvironment are most acute. Indeed, CAR‐T cell technology may be of the greatest value for those cancers that lack pre‐existing immunity because they are immunologically ‘cold’, or have a low somatic tumor mutation load, or both. These cancers are generally not amenable to therapeutic immune checkpoint blockade, but CAR‐T cell therapy may be effective because it provides an abundant supply of autologous tumor‐specific T cells. This is achieved by using genetic engineering to re‐direct autologous T‐cell cytotoxicity towards a tumor‐associated antigen, bypassing endogenous T‐cell requirements for antigen processing, MHC‐dependent antigen presentation and co‐stimulation. One of the most challenging solid cancers is glioblastoma, which has among the least permissive immunological milieu of any cancer, and which is almost always fatal. Here, we argue that CAR‐T cell technology may counter some glioblastoma defences and provide a beachhead for furthering our eventual therapeutic aims of restoring effective antitumor immunity. Although clinical investigation of CAR‐T cell therapy for glioblastoma is at an early stage, we discuss three recently published studies, which feature significant differences in target antigen, CAR‐T cell phenotype, route of administration and tumor response. We discuss the lessons, which may be learned from these studies and which may guide further progress in the field.
Deactivation of Escherichia coli with different volumes in drinking water using cold atmospheric plasma
Authors: Asadollahfardi Gholamreza , Khandan Melika , Aria Shiva Homayoun
Published: May 2019

This experimental study aimed to evaluate the potential of cold atmospheric plasma jet to deactivate Escherichia coli from drinking water. We studied the effect of the volume of water samples on the performance of plasma jet on deactivation of E. coli of 1, 500, 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 cubic centimetres. The results of deactivation of E. coli in 500 and 1,000 cc water samples were the same as one cc of a water sample and we observed 8‐log reduction of E. coli using 50 W. In 1,500 and 2,000 cc water samples at 8 min using a power of 50 W, 4.5 and 2.9 log reduction of E. coli was achieved and while we used 20 W, 2.5 and 1.8 log reduction of E. coli bacteria was performed. This indicated that the increasing volume of water above 1,500 cc caused the reduction of the efficiency of E. coli removal. Also, increasing power caused to increase E. coli removal efficiency. In addition, we monitored changes in pH values and temperature during experiments. Using 20 W, the temperature was increased (natural temperature of the water was 22 °C) 2 °C after 8 min while applying 50 W, the temperatures were raised 5 °C. pH of the water after 8 min in the 1,000 cc water sample, with an input power of 20 W, decreased from 7.1 to 5.5; while the input power was 50 W, pH changed from 7.1 to 4.3. With an increase in plasma irradiation time, the number of E. coli had a significant decrease per min while using in samples of 1 cc. After 8 min, we observed 4‐log reductions of E. coli with the input power of 20 W and 8‐log reduction of bacteria with the input power of 50 W. In 1,500 and 2,000 cc of water samples using plasma radiation for 8 min, 2.5 log and 1.8 log reduction of E. coli was achieved, respectively. This means that an increasing volume of water above 1,500 cc needs more power and time to deactivate E. coli from the water.
Morpho‐Rheological Fingerprinting of Rod Photoreceptors Using Real‐Time Deformability Cytometry
Authors: Santos‐Ferreira Tiago , Herbig Maik , Otto Oliver , Carido Madalena , Karl Mike O. , Michalakis Stylianos , Guck Jochen , Ader Marius
Published: May 2019

Distinct cell‐types within the retina are mainly specified by morphological and molecular parameters, however, physical properties are increasingly recognized as a valuable tool to characterize and distinguish cells in diverse tissues. High‐throughput analysis of morpho‐rheological features has recently been introduced using real‐time deformability cytometry (RT‐DC) providing new insights into the properties of different cell‐types. Rod photoreceptors represent the main light sensing cells in the mouse retina that during development forms apically the densely packed outer nuclear layer. Currently, enrichment and isolation of photoreceptors from retinal primary tissue or pluripotent stem cell‐derived organoids for analysis, molecular profiling, or transplantation is achieved using flow cytometry or magnetic activated cell sorting approaches. However, such purification methods require genetic modification or identification of cell surface binding antibody panels. Using primary retina and embryonic stem cell‐derived retinal organoids, we characterized the inherent morpho‐mechanical properties of mouse rod photoreceptors during development based on RT‐DC. We demonstrate that rods become smaller and more compliant throughout development and that these features are suitable to distinguish rods within heterogenous retinal tissues. Hence, physical properties should be considered as additional factors that might affect photoreceptor differentiation and retinal development besides representing potential parameters for label‐free sorting of photoreceptors. © 2019 The Authors. Cytometry Part A published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.
Improving scholarly productivity within schools of allied health professions
Authors: Radwan Ahmed
Published: May 2019

In schools of health professions and allied health, faculty members who do not attain tenure mainly do not meet scholarly productivity requirements. The organizational development plan I outline in this article can help tenure‐track faculty members improve their scholarly productivity, which, in turn, enables your school to retain them.
Single‐room housing accommodations in the age of anxiety
Authors: Masinter Michael R.
Published: May 2019

Disability services offices and their residence life counterparts on residential campuses report an upsurge in housing accommodation requests for anxiety. Typically, students with a diagnosis of anxiety from a health care provider seek a single room as an accommodation. Because anxiety is a universal human experience, it does not follow from a diagnosis that the student has a disability, or that a single room is an appropriate accommodation.
Monitoring program design for data‐limited marine biogenic habitats: A structured approach
Authors: Loh Tse‐Lynn , Archer Stephanie K. , Dunham Anya
Published: May 2019

Marine biogenic habitats—habitats created by living organisms—provide essential ecosystem functions and services, such as physical structuring, nutrient cycling, biodiversity support, and increases in primary, secondary, and tertiary production. With the growing trend toward ecosystem approaches to marine conservation and fisheries management, there is greater emphasis on rigorously designed habitat monitoring programs. However, such programs are challenging to design for data‐limited habitats for which underlying ecosystem processes are poorly understood. To provide guidance in this area, we reviewed approaches to benthic assessments across well‐studied marine biogenic habitats and identified common themes related to indicator selection, sampling methods, and survey design. Biogenic habitat monitoring efforts largely focus on the characteristics, distribution, and ecological function of foundation species, but may target other habitat‐forming organisms, especially when community shifts are observed or expected, as well as proxies of habitat status, such as indicator species. Broad‐scale methods cover large spatial areas and are typically used to examine the spatial configuration of habitats, whereas fine‐scale methods tend to be laborious and thus restricted to small survey areas, but provide high‐resolution data. Recent, emerging methods enhance the capabilities of surveying large areas at high spatial resolution and improve data processing efficiency, bridging the gap between broad‐ and fine‐scale methods. Although sampling design selection may be limited by habitat characteristics and available resources, it is critically important to ensure appropriate matching of ecological, observational, and analytical scales. Drawing on these common themes, we propose a structured, iterative approach to designing monitoring programs for marine biogenic habitats that allows for rigorous data collection to inform management strategies, even when data and resource limitations are present. A practical application of this approach is illustrated using glass sponge reefs—a recently discovered and data‐limited habitat type—as a case study.
Closed‐loop blood glucose control for type 1 diabetes
Authors: Furutani Eiko
Published: May 2019

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a specific form of diabetes wherein the immune system destroys insulin‐producing β cells until complete inability to secrete insulin. Patients with T1D require insulin therapy to maintain blood glucose levels within the desired range, although this is often difficult to achieve. To reduce the burden of the insulin therapy, closed‐loop blood glucose control methods have been studied. In this review, we first introduce some important mathematical models of glucose‐insulin metabolism, followed by some representative blood glucose control systems developed to date and discuss their implications in the near future.
Regional variation in interior Alaskan boreal forests is driven by fire disturbance, topography, and climate
Authors: Roland Carl A. , Schmidt Joshua H. , Winder Samantha G. , Stehn Sarah E. , Nicklen E. Fleur
Published: May 2019

High latitude regions are warming rapidly with important ecological and societal consequences. Utilizing two landscape‐scale data sets from interior Alaska, we compared patterns in forest structure in two regions with differing fire disturbance, topography, and summer climate norms. Our goal was to evaluate a set of hypotheses concerning possible warming‐driven changes in forest structure suggested by recent literature. We found essentially consistent habitat associations for the tree flora across two disparate study areas concomitant with considerable differences in observed patterns of forest structure and composition. Our results confirmed expected increases in broadleaved species occupancy and abundance in the warmer, more fire‐affected study region along with considerably higher tree occupancy and abundance in high elevation areas there. However, contrary to our predictions, we found no evidence of expected reductions in conifer occupancy or increases in non‐fire related tree mortality. Instead, both individual and combined tree species occupancy, density, abundance, and richness were considerably higher in the warmer, more fire‐influenced region, except in the warmest, driest areas (steep and south‐facing slopes at low elevation). Our comparison of two landscape‐scale data sets suggests that changes in tree distribution and forest structure in interior Alaska will proceed unevenly, governed by a mosaic of site‐dependent influences wherein forest community composition and species dominance will shift along different trajectories and at different rates according to variation in underlying landscape attributes. Although there were clear differences in forest structure between the two areas that were likely attributable to differences in growing season warmth and fire disturbance, we found scant support for the concept of an incipient, ongoing biome shift in interior Alaska resulting from impending diminution of boreal forest cover over the short to medium term. Indeed, we suggest that (depending on severity of disturbance dynamics and the rapidity of future warming) cooler areas of interior Alaska's forest may reasonably be expected to sustain marginal increases in forest cover with additional warming, at least in certain topographic positions (such as poorly drained basins and cool treeline sites) and/or geographic regions, prior to any landscape‐scale diminution of forest cover due to warming.
‘Beauty and the beast’ in infection: How immune–endocrine interactions regulate systemic metabolism in the context of infection
Authors: Wensveen Felix M. , Šestan Marko , Turk Wensveen Tamara , Polić Bojan
Published: May 2019

The immune and endocrine systems ensure two vital functions in the body. The immune system protects us from lethal pathogens, whereas the endocrine system ensures proper metabolic function of peripheral organs by regulating systemic homeostasis. These two systems were long thought to operate independently. The immune system uses cytokines and immune receptors, whereas the endocrine system uses hormones to regulate metabolism. However, recent findings show that the immune and endocrine systems closely interact, especially regarding regulation of glucose metabolism. In response to pathogen encounter, cytokines modify responsiveness of peripheral organs to endocrine signals, resulting in altered levels of blood hormones such as insulin, which promotes the ability of the body to fight infection. Here we provide an overview of recent literature describing various mechanisms, which the immune system utilizes to modify endocrine regulation of systemic metabolism. Moreover, we will describe how these immune–endocrine interactions derail in the context of obesity. From a clinical perspective we will elaborate how infection and obesity aggravate the development of metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus type 2 in humans. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive overview of immune‐induced changes in systemic metabolism following infection, with a focus on regulation of glucose metabolism.
Periodic Mesoporous Organosilicas from Polyion Complex Micelles – Effect of Organic Bridge on Nanostructure
Authors: Birault Albane , Molina Emilie , Trens Philippe , Cot Didier , Toquer Guillaume , Marcotte Nathalie , Carcel Carole , Bartlett John R. , Gérardin Corine , Wong Chi Man Michel
Published: May 2019

A new family of polyion complex (PIC)‐based periodic mesoporous organosilicas, PICPMOs, obtained by the hydrolysis‐condensation of organosilanes containing organic bridging units (phenylene, ethenylene and ethylene) in the presence of polyion complex (PIC) micelles as structure‐directing agents (SDAs), is described. The electrostatic interactions between the acrylic acid functions of a poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(acrylic acid) double‐hydrophilic block copolymer (DHBC) and the primary amine functions of a polyamine micellization agent control the formation of the core of the micellar complex, while the PEO chains of the micelle corona mediate the formation of the organic/inorganic interface that controls the evolution of the material. Herein, the micellization agent employed is an antibiotic drug, neomycin B. An important feature of this procedure is that the processing involves a “one‐pot” reaction, enabling the formation of the material and the direct encapsulation of the anti‐bacterial agent. This results in a reduction in the number and cost of processing steps, while offering the opportunity to easily tune the hybrid mesostructure. The PICPMO materials obtained are organized on different length scales, from long‐range‐ordered 2D hexagonal structuring in the case of the phenylene bridge to weakly organized wormlike structures in the case of the ethylene unit. The effect of organic bridge structure on the nanostructure and physical properties of the PICPMO is discussed.
Effects of fingerprint development reagents on subsequent DNA analysis
Authors: Lee Haneul , Yim Jihye , Eom Yong‐Bin
Published: May 2019

A variety of evidences are found at crime scenes. Fingerprint and DNA evidences are especially important in the process of identifying personal sources. Among evidences found at crime scenes, cigarette butts are important because they might contain both fingerprints and DNA. In this study, latent fingerprints were detected in cigarette butts using 1,8‐diazafluoren‐9‐one (DFO) and 1,2‐Indanedione/zinc chloride (1,2‐IND/Zn). Next, DNA extraction and real‐time qPCR were performed to quantify and identify the DNA present. Short tandem repeat (STR) profiling was also performed. The results showed that the quantity of DNA recovered was decreased by 16% in DFO‐treated cigarettes and by 27% in 1,2‐IND/Zn‐treated cigarettes when compared to untreated controls. When the STR profiling results were compared with those of the control sample, DFO, and 1,2‐IND/Zn reagent‐treated DNA samples showed individualized genotyping at several loci. Results of this study showed that when cigarette butts were found, DFO and 1,2‐IND/Zn reagents could be used for DNA profiling after fingerprint identification. However, the effect of DFO on STR profiling was less than that of 1,2‐IND/Zn. Therefore, we recommend the use of DFO for fingerprinting cigarette butts if further DNA processing is planned.