bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of synovial fluid markers of cartilage synthesis and turnover to study effects of repeated intra‐articular administration of methylprednisolone acetate on articular cartilage in vivo
Authors: Robion F. C. , Doizé B. , Bouré L. , Marcoux M. , Ionescu M. , Reiner A. , Poole A. R. , Laverty Sheila
Published: July 2002

In vivo the effects of intra‐articular (IA) corticosteroids on articular cartilage remain controversial. This study was designed to examine this issue using synovial fluid (SF) markers of cartilage metabolism. Paired radiocarpal joints, without clinical or radiographic signs of joint disease, were studied in 10 adult horses. Aseptic arthrocentesis was performed weekly for 13 weeks. IA injections of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) into the treatment joint and the vehicle into the control joint were performed at weeks 3, 5 and 7. We used radioimmunoassays on SF samples which measure a keratan sulfate epitope (KS) and the 846 epitope on cartilage aggrecan (PG) and the C‐propeptide (CPII) of cartilage type II procollagen which is released following synthesis of this molecule. Gel chromatography was performed on selected SF samples to evaluate the sizes of SF PG molecules. The total joint KS and the 846 epitopes were both present on a heterogeneous population of mainly molecules which, from chromotographic analysis, appeared to be mainly fragments of the articular cartilage aggrecan. They were significantly elevated in MPA joints whereas CPII was significantly reduced compared to the control during the treatment period. These results indicate that the repeated use of IA MPA leads to a potentially harmful inhibition of procollagen II synthesis and an increased release of degradation products of the PG aggrecan from articular cartilage. © 2001 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Methylazoxymethanol‐induced micrencephaly in the Brown Norway strain: behavior and brain weight
Authors: Ferguson Herry A. , Holson R.Robert
Published: July 2002

A single injection of 20 mg/kg methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) on gestational day 14 in Brown Norway rats produced micrencephalic offspring (whole brain ≈65% of control). Despite the micrencephaly, MAM‐induced alterations in behavior assessed here were relatively mild. The MAM‐treated rats exhibited increased activity under darkened conditions in a complex maze and marginally increased activity after a challenge of methamphetamine. Open field activity, running wheel activity, and emergence behavior using a light/dark apparatus were not significantly affected. Compared with a similar study of Sprague–Dawley micrencephalics [Ferguson S. A., Racey F. D., Paule M. G. and Holson R. R. (1993) Behavioral effects of methyloxymethanol‐induced microencephaly. Behav. Neurosci.107, 1–10], frontal cortex and striatum weights were more reduced in Brown Norway micrencephalics. The MAM‐induced behavioral alterations in the Brown Norway strain may have appeared attenuated compared to alterations shown by MAM‐treated Sprague–Dawley rats due to differences in baseline behavior between these two strains. Compared to control Sprague–Dawley rats in the previous study, control Brown Norway rats were more active in the open field and running wheels, but less active in the complex maze, exhibiting little to no learning. Emergence tests indicated increased dark preference in Brown Norway rats. Baseline behavior (increased activity and light shyness) of control Brown Norway rats was similar to that of MAM‐treated Sprague–Dawley rats; a potential confound in the detection of behavioral effects of a compound. These findings emphasize the effects that strain selection may have on the outcome and interpretation of toxicological/teratological studies.
SERVING WOMEN IN NEED: NURSE‐MIDWIFERY PRACTICE IN THE UNITED STATES
Authors: Declercq Eugene R. , Williams Deanne R. , Koontz Ann M. , Paine Lisa L. , Streit Erica L. , McCloskey Lois
Published: July 2002

Objective: Nurse‐midwifery practices in the United States were examined to study the relationship between certified nurse‐midwives' (CNMs) demographic, work setting, and practice characteristics in terms of clientele, practice size, and practice type. Factors that might influence the ability of CNMs to serve populations at risk for poor outcomes were given particular attention.

Methodology: A total of 2,405 responses to a 1998 mailed survey of 6,365 nurse‐midwives ever‐certified by the American College of Nurse‐Midwives were analyzed.

Results: Study results indicated that CNMs continue to serve a population who are, based on a social risk profile, disproportionately at risk for poor pregnancy outcomes, including women who are uninsured (16%), immigrant (27%), adolescent (29%), and women of color (50%). It was also found that clientele varied according to practice settings: CNMs working in non‐hospital, nonprofit settings served a clientele that was 65% nonwhite, 44% immigrant, 40% adolescent, and 29% uninsured; these CNMs received 61% of their client payments from Medicaid. CNMs working in private offices or for managed care organizations were less likely to serve women with these characteristics.

Conclusion: Study results, taken in conjunction with research that documents the safety of nurse‐midwifery practice, reinforce policy recommendations that support expanded access to nurse‐midwifery services. Findings also indicate a need for further research in the areas of CNM workload and productivity in managed care settings and the association between CNM race and ethnicity and the race and ethnicity of their clients.
Contributions of Yap and Taz dysfunction to breast cancer initiation, progression, and aging‐related susceptibility
Authors: Fresques Tara , LaBarge Mark A.
Published: July 2020

Yap and Taz are co‐transcription factors that have been implicated in the development of many cancers. Here, we review the literature that analyzes the function of Yap/Taz in normal breast and breast cancer contexts. Our review of the literature suggests that Yap and Taz are involved in breast cancer and Taz, in particular, is involved in the triple‐negative subtype. Nevertheless, the precise contexts in which Yap/Taz contribute to specific breast cancer phenotypes remains unclear. Indeed, Yap/Taz dysregulation acts differentially and in multiple epithelial cell types during early breast cancer progression. We propose Yap/Taz activation promotes breast cancer phenotypes in breast cancer precursor cells. Further, Yap dysregulation as a result of aging in breast tissue may result in microenvironments that increase the fitness of breast cancer precursor cells relative to the normal epithelia.
Biallelic mutations in ABCB1 display recurrent reversible encephalopathy
Authors: Seo Jieun , Lee Cho‐Rong , Paeng Jin Chul , Kwon Hyun W. , Lee Duckgue , Kim Soon‐Chan , Han Jaeseok , Ku Ja‐Lok , Chae Jong Hee , Lim Byung Chan , Choi Murim
Published: July 2020

The clinical phenotype linked with mutations in ABCB1, encoding P‐glycoprotein, has never been reported. Here, we describe twin sisters with biallelic mutations in ABCB1 who showed recurrent reversible encephalopathy accompanied by acute febrile or afebrile illness. Whole‐exome sequencing was performed on one of the twin and her healthy parents, and revealed compound heterozygous loss‐of‐function variants in ABCB1. The patient brains displayed substantial loss of xenobiotic clearance ability, as demonstrated by [11C]verapamil positron emission tomography (PET) study, linking this phenotype with ABCB1 function. The endogenous cytokine clearance from the brain was also decreased in LPS‐treated ABCB1 knockout mice compared to controls. The results provide insights into the physiological requirement of ABCB1 in maintaining homeostasis of various compounds for normal brain function.
Refining the blank line‐up procedure: How should we instruct eyewitnesses?
Authors: Kucina Talira , Sauer James D. , Holt Glenys A. , Brewer Neil , Palmer Matthew A.
Published: July 2020

Presenting a blank line‐up—containing only fillers—to witnesses prior to showing a real line‐up might be useful for screening out those who pick from the blank line‐up as unreliable witnesses. We show that the effectiveness of this procedure varies depending on instructions given to witnesses. Participants (N = 462) viewed a simulated crime and attempted to identify the perpetrator from a line‐up approximately 1 week later. Rejecting a blank line‐up was associated with greater identification accuracy and greater diagnosticity of suspect identifications, but only when witnesses were instructed prior to the blank line‐up that they would view a series of line‐ups; the procedure was ineffective for screening when witnesses were advised they would view two line‐ups or received no instruction. These results highlight the importance of instructions used in the blank line‐up procedure, and the need for better understanding of how to interpret choosing patterns in this paradigm.
Vanadium Core–Shell Nanorods Inspect Metabolic Changes of Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Vedarethinam Vadanasundari , Huang Lin , Zhang Minchun , Su Haiyang , Hu Huiqian , Xia Hanping , Liu Yu , Wu Beirui , Wan Xu , Shen Jie , Xu Lin , Liu Wei , Ma Jing , Qian Kun
Published: July 2020

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes and ranks as the fifth leading cause of visual impairment, but an understanding of DR development has been hampered by the lack of an efficient metabolomic tool. Herein, vanadium core–shell nanorods are developed for metabolic fingerprinting to probe molecular variation in DR. First, a series of vanadium core–shells are constructed with different elemental composition and structural parameters, using silica nanorods to support vanadium oxide. The plasma metabolic fingerprints (MFs) are extracted by the optimized vanadium core–shell nanorod‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, by analyzing 500 nL of native plasma in seconds. As a result, DR patients are differentiated from non DR controls with a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 90% using a classification model built on the plasma MFs. Furthermore, DR progression is monitored by a panel of plasma metabolic signatures with gradual changes. This work provides an advanced molecular tool for the metabolomic characterization of DR and may guide the clinical decision making in DR for personalized medicine in the future.
Anisotropic Phonon Response of Few‐Layer PdSe2 under Uniaxial Strain
Authors: Luo Weijun , Oyedele Akinola D. , Gu Yiyi , Li Tianshu , Wang Xingzhi , Haglund Amanda V. , Mandrus David , Puretzky Alexander A. , Xiao Kai , Liang Liangbo , Ling Xi
Published: July 2020

PdSe2, an emerging 2D material with a novel anisotropic puckered pentagonal structure, has attracted growing interest due to its layer‐dependent electronic bandgap, high carrier mobility, and good air stability. Herein, a detailed Raman spectroscopic study of few‐layer PdSe2 (two to five layers) under the in‐plane uniaxial tensile strain up to 3.33% is performed. Two of the prominent PdSe2 Raman peaks are influenced differently depending on the direction of strain application. The mode redshifts more than the mode when the strain is applied along the a‐axis of the crystal, while the mode redshifts more than the mode when the strain is applied along the b‐axis. Such an anisotropic phonon response to strain indicates directionally dependent mechanical and thermal properties of PdSe2 and also allows the identification of the crystal axes. The results are further supported using first‐principles density‐functional theory. Interestingly, the near‐zero Poisson’s ratios for few‐layer PdSe2 are found, suggesting that the uniaxial tensile strain can easily be applied to few‐layer PdSe2 without significantly altering their dimensions at the perpendicular directions, which is a major contributing factor to the observed distinct phonon behavior. The findings pave the way for further development of 2D PdSe2‐based flexible electronics.
Template‐Assisted Electrochemical Deposition for Organic and Hybrid Nanowire Electronics
Authors: Zhu Weigang , Zhang Dezhong , Bai Shuming , Shi Qiang , Hu Wenping , Fu Hongbing
Published: July 2020

Organic optoelectronic nanostructures are essential in future large‐area nanoscale electronic circuits but their morphology, structure, and performance currently remain difficult to control. Here a new, simple, general anode aluminium oxide (AAO)‐template assisted electrochemical deposition method is developed for the preparation of uniform single‐crystalline small molecule nanowires in large quantities. Using rubrene as prototype, selected‐area electron diffraction and X‐ray diffraction results reveal that the obtained individual nanowires are single crystalline, while both of orthorhombic and triclinic rubrene nanowires are present. With red and yellow emissions at maximum wavelengths of 570 and 558 nm, respectively, the orthorhombic and triclinic nanowires show a 10× difference on field‐effect transistor hole mobility, in good agreement with theoretical calculation observations. Unexpectedly, the visible‐light photoresponse of the two kinds of nanowires does not show significant difference, suggesting a better charge separation and carrier photogeneration in triclinic nanowires. Overall, this is the first report on the structure–property correlations between triclinic and orthorhombic rubrene single crystalline nanowires, and the methodology launched here is applicable to different molecular semiconductors and hybrid nanostructures for next‐generation integrated optoelectronics.
Biomedical Applications of Polymeric Microneedles for Transdermal Therapeutic Delivery and Diagnosis: Current Status and Future Perspectives
Authors: Liu Tengfei , Luo Gaoxing , Xing Malcolm
Published: July 2020

Transdermal drug delivery is a crucial extension of drug administration routes and has been widely acknowledged as an alternative way to traditional oral administration and subcutaneous injections due to the advantages such as increased dosage efficacy, decreased systemic side effect, and improved patient compliance. The past few decades have witnessed biomedical applications of microneedles in various cutting‐edge fields. Microneedles are needles with micron‐scale length which can pierce the epidermis of the skin in a minimally invasive manner for transdermal drug delivery. Compared with inorganic and metal microneedles, polymeric microneedles have attracted more attention because of their superior biocompatibility, nontoxicity, and biodegradability. In this review, the state‐of‐art and future biomedical applications of polymeric microneedles are summarized. First of all, a brief introduction to the polymeric microneedles, including types of polymeric microneedles and methods for the fabrication is included. Then the biomedical applications of polymeric microneedles in transdermal drug delivery and diagnosis are summarized in detail. Finally, discussions on the current limitations and future perspectives of polymeric microneedles are provided.
A bioassay of long‐term stockpiled salvaged soil amended with biochar, peat, and humalite
Authors: Laskosky Jorden D. , Mante Afua A. , Zvomuya Francis , Amarakoon Inoka , Leskiw Leonard
Published: July 2020

Long‐term stockpiling of soil salvaged from oil sands operations often leads to the deterioration of soil quality and poor reclamation results for disturbed land. This study assessed the efficacy of organic amendments in improving the quality and productivity of long‐term stockpiled salvaged soil in Canada's Alberta oil sands region (AOSR). Dry soil samples (4.2 kg) from a 24‐yr‐old stockpile were placed into 5‐L pots and amended with biochar, humalite, peat, and 50:50 mixtures of biochar and peat (BCP) and biochar and humalite (BCH) at rates corresponding to 0, 6.55, 13.1, and 26.2 g C kg−1 soil. The pots were seeded with barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), fertilized, and placed in a growth chamber. Plants were allowed to grow for three crop cycles of 45 to 59 d each and harvested at the end of each cycle. Results showed that biochar and peat increased dry matter yield (DMY) by 38 and 40%, respectively, compared with the unamended soil. Humalite produced the highest N and P concentrations in plant tissue, but this did not translate to an increase in DMY. Biochar and peat offer the greatest promise for improving the productivity of long‐term stockpiled salvaged soil, thereby enhancing the success of reclamation of disturbed sites.
Aptamers with Tunable Affinity Enable Single‐Molecule Tracking and Localization of Membrane Receptors on Living Cancer Cells
Authors: Delcanale Pietro , Porciani David , Pujals Silvia , Jurkevich Alexander , Chetrusca Andrian , Tawiah Kwaku D. , Burke Donald H. , Albertazzi Lorenzo
Published: July 2020

Tumor cell‐surface markers are usually overexpressed or mutated protein receptors for which spatiotemporal regulation differs between and within cancers. Single‐molecule fluorescence imaging can profile individual markers in different cellular contexts with molecular precision. However, standard single‐molecule imaging methods based on overexpressed genetically encoded tags or cumbersome probes can significantly alter the native state of receptors. We introduce a live‐cell points accumulation for imaging in nanoscale topography (PAINT) method that exploits aptamers as minimally invasive affinity probes. Localization and tracking of individual receptors are based on stochastic and transient binding between aptamers and their targets. We demonstrated single‐molecule imaging of a model tumor marker (EGFR) on a panel of living cancer cells. Affinity to EGFR was finely tuned by rational engineering of aptamer sequences to define receptor motion and/or native receptor density.
Carrier‐Induced Modification of Palladium Nanoparticles on Porous Boron Nitride for Alkyne Semi‐Hydrogenation
Authors: Büchele Simon , Chen Zupeng , Fako Edvin , Krumeich Frank , Hauert Roland , Safonova Olga V. , López Núria , Mitchell Sharon , Pérez‐Ramírez Javier
Published: July 2020

Chemical modifiers enhance the efficiency of metal catalysts in numerous applications, but their introduction often involves toxic or expensive precursors and complicates the synthesis. Here, we show that a porous boron nitride carrier can directly modify supported palladium nanoparticles, originating unparalleled performance in the continuous semi‐hydrogenation of alkynes. Analysis of the impact of various structural parameters reveals that using a defective high surface area boron nitride and ensuring a palladium particle size of 4–5 nm is critical for maximizing the specific rate. The combined experimental and theoretical analyses point towards boron incorporation from defects in the support to the palladium subsurface, creating the desired isolated ensembles determining the selectivity. This practical approach highlights the unexplored potential of using tailored carriers for catalyst design.
One‐Pot Synthesis of Chiral N‐Arylamines by Combining Biocatalytic Aminations with Buchwald–Hartwig N‐Arylation
Authors: Cosgrove Sebastian C. , Thompson Matthew P. , Ahmed Syed T. , Parmeggiani Fabio , Turner Nicholas J.
Published: July 2020

The combination of biocatalysis and chemo‐catalysis increasingly offers chemists access to more diverse chemical architectures. Here, we describe the combination of a toolbox of chiral‐amine‐producing biocatalysts with a Buchwald–Hartwig cross‐coupling reaction, affording a variety of α‐chiral aniline derivatives. The use of a surfactant allowed reactions to be performed sequentially in the same flask, preventing the palladium catalyst from being inhibited by the high concentrations of ammonia, salts, or buffers present in the aqueous media in most cases. The methodology was further extended by combining with a dual‐enzyme biocatalytic hydrogen‐borrowing cascade in one pot to allow for the conversion of a racemic alcohol to a chiral aniline.
Intracellular Ruthenium‐Promoted (2+2+2) Cycloadditions
Authors: Miguel‐Ávila Joan , Tomás‐Gamasa María , Mascareñas José L.
Published: July 2020

Metal‐mediated intracellular reactions are becoming invaluable tools in chemical and cell biology, and hold promise for strongly impacting the field of biomedicine. Most of the reactions reported so far involve either uncaging or redox processes. Demonstrated here for the first time is the viability of performing multicomponent alkyne cycloaromatizations inside live mammalian cells using ruthenium catalysts. Both fully intramolecular and intermolecular cycloadditions of diynes with alkynes are feasible, the latter providing an intracellular synthesis of appealing anthraquinones. The power of the approach is further demonstrated by generating anthraquinone AIEgens (AIE=aggregation induced emission) that otherwise do not go inside cells, and by modifying the intracellular distribution of the products by simply varying the type of ruthenium complex.
Stereoselective Synthesis of Tropanes via a 6π‐Electrocyclic Ring‐Opening/ Huisgen [3+2]‐Cycloaddition Cascade of Monocyclopropanated Heterocycles
Authors: Sonnleitner Carina M. , Park Saerom , Eckl Robert , Ertl Thomas , Reiser Oliver
Published: July 2020

The synthesis of tropanes via a microwave‐assisted, stereoselective 6π‐electrocyclic ring‐opening/ Huisgen [3+2]‐cycloaddition cascade of cyclopropanated pyrrole and furan derivatives with electron‐deficient dipolarophiles is demonstrated. Starting from furans or pyrroles, 8‐aza‐ and 8‐oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes are accessible in two steps in dia‐ and enantioselective pure form, being versatile building blocks for the synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant targets, especially for new cocaine analogues bearing various substituents at the C‐6/C‐7 positions of the tropane ring system. Moreover, the 2‐azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane core (isoquinuclidines), being prominently represented in many natural and pharmaceutical products, is accessible via this approach.
Heterogeneous Electrofreezing of Super‐Cooled Water on Surfaces of Pyroelectric Crystals is Triggered by Trigonal Planar Ions
Authors: Curland Sofia , Allolio Christoph , Javitt Leah , Dishon Ben‐Ami Shiri , Weissbuch Isabelle , Ehre David , Harries Daniel , Lahav Meir , Lubomirsky Igor
Published: July 2020

Electrofreezing experiments of super‐cooled water (SCW) with different ions, performed directly on the charged hemihedral faces of pyroelectric LiTaO3 and AgI crystals, in the presence and in the absence of pyroelectric charge are reported. It is demonstrated that bicarbonate (HCO3−) ions elevate the icing temperature near the positively charged faces. In contrast, the hydronium (H3O+) slightly reduces the icing temperature. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the hydrated trigonal planar HCO3− ions self‐assemble with water molecules near the surface of the AgI crystal as clusters of slightly different configuration from those of the ice‐like hexagons. These clusters, however, have a tendency to serve as embryonic nuclei for ice crystallization. Consequently, we predicted and experimentally confirmed that the trigonal planar ions of NO3− and guanidinium (Gdm+), at appropriate concentrations, elevate the icing temperature near the positive and negative charged surfaces, respectively. On the other hand, the Cl− and SO42− ions of different configurations reduce the icing temperature.
Discovery of 2,4‐diaminopyrimidine derivatives targeting p21‐activated kinase 4: Biological evaluation and docking studies
Authors: Qin Qiaohua , Wu Tianxiao , Yin Wenbo , Sun Yixiang , Zhang Xiangyu , Wang Ruifeng , Guo Jing , Zhao Dongmei , Cheng Maosheng
Published: July 2020

In this study, novel 2,4‐diaminopyrimidine derivatives targeting p21‐activated kinase 4 (PAK4) were discovered and evaluated for their biological activity against PAK4. Among the derivatives studied, promising compounds A2, B6, and B8 displayed the highest inhibitory activities against PAK4 (IC50 = 18.4, 5.9, and 20.4 nM, respectively). From the cellular assay, compound B6 exhibited the highest potency with an IC50 value of 2.533 μM against A549 cells. Some compounds were selected for computational ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination) properties and molecular docking studies against PAK4. The detailed structure–activity relationship based on the biochemical activities and molecular docking studies were explored. According to the docking studies, compound B6 had the lowest docking score (docking energy: −7.593 kcal/mol). The molecular docking simulation indicated the binding mode between compound B6 and PAK4. All these results suggest compound B6 as a useful candidate for the development of a PAK4 inhibitor.
Exosome–transmitted microRNA‐133b inhibited bladder cancer proliferation by upregulating dual‐specificity protein phosphatase 1
Authors: Cai Xiaoxiao , Qu Lili , Yang Jian , Xu Junwen , Sun Li , Wei Xiaowei , Qu Xiaojun , Bai Tingting , Guo Zhirui , Zhu Yefei
Published: July 2020

Bladder Cancer (BC) is the ninth most common tumor in the world and one of the most common malignant tumors of the urinary system. Some studies reported that miR‐133b expression is reduced in BC, but whether it plays a role in the development of BC and its mechanism is unclear. microRNAs can be packaged into exosomes to mediate communication between tumor cells, affecting their proliferation and apoptosis. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of exosomal miR‐133b on BC proliferation and its molecular mechanism. Firstly, the expression of miR‐133b was evaluated in BC and adjacent normal tissues, as well as in serum exosomes of BC patients and healthy controls. Then the delivery and internalization of exosomes in cells was observed through fluorescence localization. Cell viability and apoptosis were assessed in BC cells transfected with mimics and incubated with exosomes. The role of exosomal miR‐133b was also analyzed in nude mice transplant tumors. Furthermore, the target gene of miR‐133b was predicted through bioinformatics. The level of miR‐133b was significantly decreased in BC tissues and in exosomes from serum of patients, which was correlated with poor overall survival in TCGA. Exosomal miR‐133b could be obtained using BC cells after transfection with miR‐133b mimics. The miR‐133b expression increased after incubation with exosomal miR‐133b, which lead to the inhibition of viability and increase of apoptosis in BC cells. Exosomal miR‐133b could suppress tumor growth in vivo. In addition, we found that exosomal miR‐133b may play a role in suppressing BC proliferation by upregulating dual‐specificity protein phosphatase 1 (DUSP1). These findings may offer promise for new therapeutic directions of BC.
Diagnostic performance of various liquid biopsy methods in detecting colorectal cancer: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhu Yuzhou , Yang Tinghan , Wu Qingbin , Yang Xuyang , Hao Jianqi , Deng Xiangbing , Yang Shuo , Gu Chaoyang , Wang Ziqiang
Published: July 2020

Liquid biopsy is a promising method in detecting colorectal cancer (CRC). However, previous meta‐analyses only focused on the diagnostic performance of cell‐free DNA (cfDNA). Therefore, we firstly evaluated the overall performance of all liquid biopsy methods. The pooled sensitivities, specificities, diagnostic odds ratios, and area under curve (AUC) of summary receiver operating characteristic curve for all liquid biopsy methods, exosomes, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and cfDNA were calculated, respectively. A total of 62 articles involving 18 739 individuals were included. Fifty‐one articles were about cfDNA, five articles were about CTCs, and six articles were about exosomes. The overall performance of all liquid biopsy methods had a pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76‐0.78), 0.89 (95% CI 0.88‐0.90), and 0.9004, respectively. The sensitivities were 0.82 (95% CI 0.79‐0.85), 0.76 (95% CI 0.72‐0.80), and 0.76 (95% CI 0.75‐0.77) for CTCs, exosomes, and cfDNA, respectively. The specificities were 0.97 (95% CI95% CI 0.95‐0.99), 0.92 (95% CI 0.89‐0.94), and 0.88 (95% CI 0.87‐0.89) for CTCs, exosomes, and cfDNA, respectively. The AUC were 0.9772, 0.9037, and 0.8963 for CTCs, exosomes, and cfDNA, respectively. The overall performance of all liquid biopsy methods had great diagnostic value in detecting CRC, regardless of subtypes. Among all liquid biopsy methods, CTCs showed the best diagnostic performance.
Birth month and risk of skin tumors—Follow up of six million Caucasians born from 1950 to 2014 in Sweden
Authors: Ljung Rickard , Talbäck Mats , Khanolkar Amal R. , Feychting Maria
Published: July 2020

Background

Some studies hypothesize that birth month—as a proxy of exposure to ultraviolet radiation in early infancy—is associated with increased risk of skin tumors.

Methods

We studied a national cohort of all 5 874 607 individuals born in Sweden to parents of Swedish or Nordic origin as a proxy for Caucasian origin, 1950 to 2014. The cohort was followed for incident skin tumors, including squamous cell carcinomas and melanomas but not basal cell carcinomas, through 2015 from birth up to age 65 for the oldest cohort. Cox regression estimated the association between month of birth and risk of skin tumors in models adjusted for sex, calendar period, and education. Crude observed to expected ratios were also calculated.

Results

There were 33 914 cases of skin tumors, of these, 3025 were squamous cell cancer, 16 968 malignant melanoma and 8493 melanoma in situ/other and 5 428 squamous cell in situ/other in 192 840 593 person‐years of follow‐up. Observed to expected ratios by month of birth showed no association between month of birth and risk of skin tumors, and the same result was seen when Cox regression analysis was used. Subgroup analyses by sex, educational level, calendar period, or age at follow‐up similarly showed no association.

Conclusion

This large register‐based cohort study showed no evidence of a higher risk of skin tumors in those born during the spring. Thus, this study lends no support to the hypothesis that birth during spring is a major risk factor for later skin tumors.
What issues bring primary school children to counselling? A service evaluation of presenting issues across 291 schools working with Place2Be
Authors: Toth Katalin , Samad Lamiya , Golden Sarah , Johnston Patrick , Hayes Rachel , Ford Tamsin
Published: July 2020

Background

Poor mental health reduces children's ability to function at school, which in turn may undermine their mental health. The provision of school‐based counselling aims to help schools to support their pupil's mental health. Most work on the types of difficulties brought to school counsellors has focused on secondary school pupils (aged 11 years or over), and to our knowledge, this is the first study of presenting issues in younger children.

Method

Data were systematically collected using a list of 21 potential presenting issues during assessment and formulation of 8,893 children referred for counselling in 291 UK primary schools over 3 years. We explored the number, severity and types of presenting issues recorded by counsellors in the whole sample by gender.

Results

The children assessed by counsellors had higher levels of known correlates for poor mental health than their peers in the same schools. Most children had multiple presenting issues, while 55% of children had at least one severe presenting issue. The commonest presenting issues were generalised anxiety, low self‐esteem, family tensions and mood swings. Girls were more likely to present with all types of anxiety and family tensions, while attentional problems and mood swings were commoner among boys.

Conclusions

Children referred for counselling in primary schools often present with multiple difficulties, which are often severe. This indicates the need for systematic and detailed assessment, adequate training and supervision and good links with external agencies.
Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Potential and Enzymes Inhibitory Properties of Globe Artichoke By‐Products
Authors: Rejeb Ines Ben , Dhen Nahla , Gargouri Mohamed , Boulila Abdennacer
Published: July 2020

In this study, chemical composition and in vitro biological activities of artichoke by‐products (leaves, floral stems and bracts) issued from two Tunisian varieties were evaluated. Analysis was performed by means of high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometric (LC/DAD/ESI‐MS). Total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents as well as the antioxidant activity conducted by three complementary methods, DPPH, ABTS and FRAP tests, were performed for each sample. Enzyme inhibitory effects against acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and α‐amylase were also studied. Results showed that TPC and TFC varied according to variety as well as the plant part. Bracts presented the highest TPC values (10–15 mg GAE/g DW), while leaves were distinguished by the highest TFC values (52–58 mg EQ/g DW). In vitro assays showed that Violet d'Hyères bracts and Blanc d'Oran leaves present the most antioxidant activities (30.040 and 20.428 mgET/gDW, respectively, by the DPPH method). Leaves demonstrated the highest acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory effects. Moreover, all organs displayed a noticeable inhibition towards α‐amylase. LC/DAD/MS analysis revealed that artichoke by‐products are a potential source of biopharmaceuticals such as luteolin derivatives from leaves and mono/dicaffeoylquinic acids in the other parts. This research demonstrates that globe artichoke by‐products, unexploited in our country, are a promising source of natural health promoting compounds with potential applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Radiolytic Cyclization Products of Phloridzin as Potent Anti‐Glycation Agents
Authors: Jeong Gyeong Han , Kim Tae Hoon
Published: July 2020

The current research examined for radiolytic structure modification and improved bioefficacy of phloridzin by γ‐ray, subsequent to a 50 kGy irradiation dose. Structures of the unusual degraded products phlorocyclin, isophlorocyclin, and radiophlorisin were determined spectroscopically, by detailed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS). Additionally, absolute configuration of the novel cyclized phlorocyclin and isophlorocyclin were proposed by circular dichroism (CD) spectrum analysis. Among the compounds tested, phlorocyclin and isophlorocyclin exhibit potent antidiabetic complication capacities toward advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation inhibition assay, with IC50 values of 9.1±0.5 and 13.8±0.7 μM, respectively. Furthermore, the predominantly formed products phlorocyclin and isophlorocyclin exerted significantly enhanced DPPH radical scavenging activity compared to the parent phloridzin. These results indicate that γ‐ray mediated cyclization of phloridzin exerts a positive influence on the bioactivity.
Perfluorocarbons in Chemical Biology
Authors: Miller Margeaux A. , Sletten Ellen M.
Published: July 2020

Perfluorocarbons, saturated carbon chains in which all the hydrogen atoms are replaced with fluorine, form a separate phase from both organic and aqueous solutions. Though perfluorinated compounds are not found in living systems, they can be used to modify biomolecules to confer orthogonal behavior within natural systems, such as improved stability, engineered assembly, and cell‐permeability. Perfluorinated groups also provide handles for purification, mass spectrometry, and 19F NMR studies in complex environments. Herein, we describe how the unique properties of perfluorocarbons have been employed to understand and manipulate biological systems.
Decoupling Oxygen and Chlorine Evolution Reactions in Seawater using Iridium‐based Electrocatalysts
Authors: Ko Jesse S. , Johnson James K. , Johnson Phillip I. , Xia Zhiyong
Published: July 2020

A series of iridium (Ir) organometallic‐based electrocatalysts fused onto high surface‐area activated carbon using pyrolysis were prepared for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in seawater electrolysis. These catalysts had a low loading of Ir (<6 wt%), while also inducing atom coordination to the Ir center. The morphology and chemical composition of these electrocatalysts were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which all showed a uniform dispersion of Ir and heteroatom‐doped moieties. To assess electrocatalytic activity, we used an artificial electrolyte comprising 0.1 M HClO4+3.5 wt% NaCl, and found that these catalysts delivered a low overpotential of 243 mV, a low Tafel slope (92 mV dec−1), and a high exchange current density (1.4 mA cm−2). By using a headspace chlorine gas (Cl2) detector in situ, we discovered that a Cl2 content of 27 ppm was present. When tested in synthetic seawater, the overpotential exhibited a two‐fold increase, yet Cl2 was undetected, thus indicating favorable OER kinetics. This significant finding exemplifies the need for in situ Cl2 detection for seawater splitting research, since further insight can be derived to help guide the design of novel electrocatalysts.
High Ethylene‐Yield Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane Using Sulfur Vapor as a “Soft” Oxidant
Authors: Liu Shanfu , Arinaga Allison M. , Lohr Tracy L. , Marks Tobin J.
Published: July 2020

Ethylene remains one of the most valuable chemical feedstocks. Currently the industrial conversion of ethane to ethylene is achieved largely by steam cracking. The catalytic, highly exothermic oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of ethane with O2 is a challenging alternative that has been extensively studied on the laboratory scale. Here we investigate the possibility of using disulfur (S2) vapor as a thermodynamically “soft” oxidant for catalytically converting ethane to ethylene (“SODH”). Investigating a series of four catalysts we report a maximum ethylene yield of 76 % over an earth‐abundant FeSx‐based catalyst (maximum 90.2 % C2H4 selectivity at 820 °C). Yield and selectivity are stable for 50 hours on stream. The SODH rate law is 1st order in ethane and
order in S2, supporting a proposed Mars van Krevelen‐like mechanism at temperatures <700 °C. Furthermore, conversion and selectivity become insensitive to catalyst identity at temperatures >860 °C, suggesting the intrusion of radical pathways.
Positron Emission Particle Tracking for Liquid‐Solid Mixing in Stirred Tanks
Authors: Windows-Yule Christopher R. K. , Hart-Villamil Roberto , Ridout Thomas , Kokalova Tzany , Nogueira-Filho Jose C.
Published: July 2020

Mixing in stirred tanks is vital to a wide range of industrial processes, typically requiring solids to be fully suspended and evenly distributed. The quality of suspension and mixing is typically measured visually. Such measurements are thus subject to human interpretation and can only feasibly be conducted in transparent systems – an uncommon condition in industrial systems. Visual measurements of homogeneity must also infer full 3D distributions of particles solely from the observation of a limited section thereof. This work details methods by which a system's homogeneity and state of suspension may be measured and quantified with no human interpretation, which can extract information from opaque systems and consider full 3D data acquired throughout the interior of a given system.
NanoMetrix: An app for chemometric analysis from near infrared spectra
Authors: Baumann Luiza , Librelotto Marcia , Pappis Cristiane , Helfer Gilson A. , Santos Roberta O. , dos Santos Ronaldo B. , da Costa Adilson Ben
Published: July 2020

Near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIR) associated with chemometric methods has been widely used in the determination of various compounds, as it is a fast, nondestructive, and analytical method with minimal sample preparation and universal application. In addition, the trend of miniaturization has allowed the development of new portable equipment, increasing the possibilities of point‐of‐use analysis at low cost. In this context, the objective of this study was to develop a portable analytical methodology using a low‐cost DLP NIRscan Nano spectrophotometer (Texas Instruments®) connected to a smartphone for data storage. For this, an app called NanoMetrix was developed, created natively for Android from Android Studio IDE, according to a software design standard known as Model‐View‐ViewModel (MVVM). To demonstrate the applicability of the method, 36 samples of plant tissue were analyzed to determine total nitrogen content. The calibration models were compared to those obtained with the SOLO+MIA software (Eigenvector Research, Inc.), 8.6.1. The results presented root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) 1.90 and 1.82 g kg−1, root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) 2.00 and 1.97 g kg−1, and R2pred 0.973 and 0.975, for the NanoMetrix application and the SOLO+MIA software, respectively. Therefore, the results indicate that the NanoMetrix integrated with the portable spectrophotometer, besides the acquisition of spectra, allows the processing of data in the field and reducing the time for the analysis and obtaining the results. Also, the chemometric associated with the NIR spectroscopy is a viable alternative to replace, or complement, the methods used for nitrogen determination.
Carnoquinolines Target Copper Dyshomeostasis, Aberrant Protein–Protein Interactions, and Oxidative Stress
Authors: Bellia Francesco , Grasso Giuseppa Ida , Ahmed Ikhlas Mohamed Mohamud , Oliveri Valentina , Vecchio Graziella
Published: July 2020

Metal dysregulation, oxidative stress, protein modification, and aggregation are factors strictly interrelated and associated with neurodegenerative pathologies. As such, all of these aspects represent valid targets to counteract neurodegeneration and, therefore, the development of metal‐binding compounds with other properties to combat multifactorial disorders is definitely on the rise. Herein, the synthesis and in‐depth analysis of the first hybrids of carnosine and 8‐hydroxyquinoline, carnoquinolines (CarHQs), which combine the properties of the dipeptide with those of 8‐hydroxyquinoline, are reported. CarHQs and their copper complexes were characterized through several techniques, such as ESI‐MS and NMR, UV/Vis, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. CarHQs can modulate self‐ and copper‐induced amyloid‐β aggregation. These hybrids combine the antioxidant activity of their parent compounds. Therefore, they can simultaneously scavenge free radicals and reactive carbonyl species, thanks to the phenolic group and imidazole ring. These results indicate that CarHQs are promising multifunctional candidates for neurodegenerative disorders and they are worthy of further studies.
Gold‐Speckled SPION@SiO2 Nanoparticles Decorated with Thiocarbohydrates for ASGPR1 Targeting: Towards HCC Dual Mode Imaging Potential Applications
Authors: Siciliano Giulia , Corricelli Michela , Iacobazzi Rosa Maria , Canepa Fabio , Comegna Daniela , Fanizza Elisabetta , Del Gatto Annarita , Saviano Michele , Laquintana Valentino , Comparelli Roberto , Mascolo Giuseppe , Murgolo Sapia , Striccoli Marinella , Agostiano Angela , Denora Nunzio , Zaccaro Laura , Curri M. Lucia , Depalo Nicoletta
Published: July 2020

Efforts are made to perform an early and accurate detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by simultaneous exploiting multiple clinically non‐invasive imaging modalities. Original nanostructures derived from the combination of different inorganic domains can be used as efficient contrast agents in multimodal imaging. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and Au nanoparticles (NPs) possess well‐established contrasting features in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X‐ray computed tomography (CT), respectively. HCC can be targeted by using specific carbohydrates able to recognize asialoglycoprotein receptor 1 (ASGPR1) overexpressed in hepatocytes. Here, two different thiocarbohydrate ligands were purposely designed and alternatively conjugated to the surface of Au‐speckled silica‐coated SPIONs NPs, to achieve two original nanostructures that could be potentially used for dual mode targeted imaging of HCC. The results indicated that the two thiocarbohydrate decorated nanostructures possess convenient plasmonic/superparamagnetic properties, well‐controlled size and morphology and good selectivity for targeting ASGPR1 receptor.
In Situ Self‐Polymerization to Form Hollow Graphitized Carbon Nanocages with Embedded Cobalt Nanoparticles for High‐Performance Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Lei Feifei , Cao Yuqing , Fu Yifang , Li Yunliang , Wang Runwei , Qiu Shilun , Zhang Zongtao
Published: July 2020

Lithium–sulfur batteries, owing to the multi‐electron participation in the redox reaction, possess enormous energy density, which has aroused much attention. Nevertheless, the detrimental shuttle effect, volume expansion, and electrical insulation of sulfur, have hindered their application. To improve the cyclability, a functional host, consisting of Co nanoparticles and N‐doped hollow graphitized carbon (Co‐NHGC) material, is elaborated, which has the advantages of: 1) the graphitized carbon material working as an electronic matrix to improve the utilization rate of sulfur; 2) the hollow structure relieving the stress change caused by volume expansion; 3) the rich active sites catalyze the electrochemical reaction of sulfur and entrap polysulfides. These advantages significantly improve the performance of the lithium–sulfur batteries. Accordingly, the S@Co‐NHGC cathode exhibits excellent initial specific capacity, high coulombic efficiency, and excellent rate performance. This work utilizes a novel method of dopamine in situ etching of a metal–organic framework to synthetize the Co‐NHGC host of sulfur, which will hopefully provide inspiration for other energy materials.
Multifunctional Features of Organic Charge‐Transfer Complexes: Advances and Perspectives
Authors: Wang Wei , Luo Lixing , Sheng Peng , Zhang Jing , Zhang Qichun
Published: July 2020

The recent progress of charge‐transfer complexes (CTCs) for application in many fields, such as charge transport, light emission, nonlinear optics, photoelectric conversion, and external stimuli response, makes them promising candidates for practical utility in pharmaceuticals, electronics, photonics, luminescence, sensors, molecular electronics and so on. Multicomponent CTCs have been gradually designed and prepared as novel organic active semiconductors with ideal performance and stability compared to single components. In this review, we mainly focus on the recently reported development of various charge‐transfer complexes and their performance in field‐effect transistors, light‐emitting devices, lasers, sensors, and stimuli‐responsive behaviors.
Chiral Chalcogenyl‐Substituted Naphthyl‐ and Acenaphthyl‐Silanes and Their Cations
Authors: Künzler Sandra , Rathjen Saskia , Rüger Katherina , Würdemann Marie S. , Wernke Marcel , Tholen Patrik , Girschik Corinna , Schmidtmann Marc , Landais Yannick , Müller Thomas
Published: July 2020

Cyclic silylated chalconium borates 13[B(C6F5)4] and 14[B(C6F5)4] with peri‐acenaphthyl and peri‐naphthyl skeletons were synthesized from unsymmetrically substituted silanes 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10 using the standard Corey protocol (Chalcogen Ch=O, S, Se, Te). The configuration at the chalcogen atom is trigonal pyramidal for Ch=S, Se, Te, leading to the formation of cis‐ and trans‐isomers in the case of phenylmethylsilyl cations. With the bulkier tert‐butyl group at silicon, the configuration at the chalcogen atoms is predetermined to give almost exclusively the trans‐configurated cyclic silylchalconium ions. The barriers for the inversion of the configuration at the sulfur atoms of sulfonium ions 13 c and 14 a are substantial (72–74 kJ mol−1) as shown by variable temperature NMR spectroscopy. The neighboring group effect of the thiophenyl substituent is sufficiently strong to preserve chiral information at the silicon atom at low temperatures.