bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elucidating the Effect of Iron Doping on the Electrochemical Performance of Cobalt‐Free Lithium‐Rich Layered Cathode Materials
Authors: Wu Fanglin , Kim Guk‐Tae , Kuenzel Matthias , Zhang Huang , Asenbauer Jakob , Geiger Dorin , Kaiser Ute , Passerini Stefano
Published: October 2019

The eco‐friendly and low‐cost Co‐free Li1.2Mn0.585Ni0.185Fe0.03O2 is investigated as a positive material for Li‐ion batteries. The electrochemical performance of the 3 at% Fe‐doped material exhibits an optimal performance with a capacity and voltage retention of 70 and 95%, respectively, after 200 cycles at 1C. The effect of iron doping on the electrochemical properties of lithium‐rich layered materials is investigated by means of in situ X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique during the first charge–discharge cycle while high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy is used to follow the structural and chemical change of the electrode material upon long‐term cycling. By means of these characterizations it is concluded that iron doping is a suitable approach for replacing cobalt while mitigating the voltage and capacity degradation of lithium‐rich layered materials. Finally, complete lithium‐ion cells employing Li1.2Mn0.585Ni0.185Fe0.03O2 and graphite show a specific energy of 361 Wh kg−1 at 0.1C rate and very stable performance upon cycling, retaining more than 80% of their initial capacity after 200 cycles at 1C rate. These results highlight the bright prospects of this material to meet the high energy density requirements for electric vehicles.
Soft Hybrid Wave Spring Actuators
Authors: Skorina Erik H. , Onal Cagdas D.
Published: October 2019

Soft continuum manipulators, inspired by squid tentacles and elephant trunks, show promise in allowing robots to safely interact with complex environments. One ongoing problem for these manipulators is torsional stiffness, as continuum manipulators are naturally compliant and cannot actively resist torsional strain. A hybrid actuator that combines molded silicone actuators with 3D printed flexible wave springs is used to overcome this problem. It is shown that the inclusion of the 3D printed wave spring increases actuator torsional stiffness by up to a factor of 10. Further investigation of these structures is performed using both experimentation and simulation. Finally, this hybrid actuator design is used to create a nine‐degree‐of‐freedom soft continuum manipulator, which is used to perform a cantilevered pick‐and‐place task impossible for a traditional soft manipulator of similar size.
Finger length ratio in longevity populations
Authors: Kalichman Leonid , Batsevich Valery , Kobyliansky Eugene
Published: October 2019

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of finger length ratio between three longevity populations (Abkhazians, Azerbaijanis, and Georgians) and one nonlongevity population (Russians), as well as between a longevity and nonlongevity sample within one ethnic group (Abkhazians).

Methods

In a cross‐sectional observational study, we compared the prevalence of finger length ratio in longevity vs nonlongevity samples.

Results

A negative relationship was observed between longevity index and prevalence of type 1 (feminine type) ratio. In longevity samples, the prevalence of type 1 ratio was lower and the prevalence of type 3 (masculine type) ratio was higher than in the nonlongevity sample of Russians. This difference was statistically significant (P < .001) in both males and females. A similar difference between longevity and nonlongevity samples was exhibited in the Abkhazian samples. In males and females, a significantly higher prevalence of type 1 and lower type 3 finger ratios (P < .001) were shown in the nonlongevity samples.

Conclusions

Finger length ratio pattern in longevity populations differs from that of nonlongevity populations. In longevity samples, the prevalence of type 1 ratio was lower and the prevalence of type 3 ratio was higher vs the nonlongevity sample. A similar type of difference was seen in the longevity and nonlongevity samples belonging to one ethnic group, the Abkhazians. Previous studies found that the type 1 finger length ratio was related to important morbidities that have a potential for shortening the life span. This can be one of the most plausible explanations for our findings.
Design Parameters of Tissue‐Engineering Scaffolds at the Atomic Scale
Authors: Jekhmane Shehrazade , Prachar Marek , Pugliese Raffaele , Fontana Federico , Medeiros‐Silva João , Gelain Fabrizio , Weingarth Markus
Published: October 2019

Stem‐cell behavior is regulated by the material properties of the surrounding extracellular matrix, which has important implications for the design of tissue‐engineering scaffolds. However, our understanding of the material properties of stem‐cell scaffolds is limited to nanoscopic‐to‐macroscopic length scales. Herein, a solid‐state NMR approach is presented that provides atomic‐scale information on complex stem‐cell substrates at near physiological conditions and at natural isotope abundance. Using self‐assembled peptidic scaffolds designed for nervous‐tissue regeneration, we show at atomic scale how scaffold‐assembly degree, mechanics, and homogeneity correlate with favorable stem cell behavior. Integration of solid‐state NMR data with molecular dynamics simulations reveals a highly ordered fibrillar structure as the most favorable stem‐cell scaffold. This could improve the design of tissue‐engineering scaffolds and other self‐assembled biomaterials.
ZIF‐8 Membrane Separation Performance Tuning by Vapor Phase Ligand Treatment
Authors: Eum Kiwon , Hayashi Mikio , De Mello Matheus Dorneles , Xue Feng , Kwon Hyuk Taek , Tsapatsis Michael
Published: October 2019

Vapor phase ligand treatment (VPLT) of 2‐aminobenzimidazole (2abIm) for 2‐methylimidazole (2mIm) in ZIF‐8 membranes prepared by two different methods (LIPS: ligand induced permselectivation and RTD: rapid thermal deposition) results in a notable shift of the molecular level cut‐off to smaller molecules establishing selectivity improvements from ca. 1.8 to 5 for O2/N2; 2.2 to 32 for CO2/CH4; 2.4 to 24 for CO2/N2; 4.8 to 140 for H2/CH4 and 5.2 to 126 for H2/N2. Stable (based on a one‐week test) oxygen‐selective air separation performance at ambient temperature, 7 bar(a) feed, and 1 bar(a) sweep‐free permeate with a mixture separation factor of 4.5 and oxygen flux of 2.6×10−3 mol m−2 s−1 is established. LIPS and RTD membranes exhibit fast and gradual evolution upon a 2abIm‐VPLT, respectively, reflecting differences in their thickness and microstructure. Functional reversibility is demonstrated by showing that the original permeation properties of the VPLT‐LIPS membranes can be recovered upon 2mIm‐VPLT.
Radical Monofluoroalkylative Alkynylation of Olefins by a Docking–Migration Strategy
Authors: Wang Min , Zhang Huihui , Liu Jige , Wu Xinxin , Zhu Chen
Published: October 2019

A radical‐mediated monofluoroalkylative alkynylation of alkenes is disclosed for the first time. The reaction demonstrates a remarkably broad substrate scope in which both activated and unactivated alkenes are suitable starting materials. The concurrent addition of an alkynyl and a monofluoroalkyl group onto an alkene proceeds through a docking–migration sequence, affording a vast array of valuable fluoroalkyl‐substituted alkynes. Many complex natural products and drug derivatives are readily functionalized, demonstrating that this method can be used for late‐stage alkynylation.
Aluminium‐Mediated Carbon Dioxide Reduction by an Isolated Monoalumoxane Anion
Authors: Anker Mathew D. , Coles Martyn P.
Published: October 2019

The deoxygenative conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide is promoted by the aluminyl anion [Al(NONAr)]−(NONAr=[O(SiMe2NAr)2]2−, Ar=2,6‐iPr2C6H3). The reaction proceeds via the isolable monoalumoxane anion [Al(NONAr)(O)]−, containing a terminal aluminum‐oxygen bond. This species reacts with a second equivalent of carbon dioxide to afford the carbonate [Al(NONAr)(CO3)]−, and with nitrous oxide to generate the hyponitrite anion, [Al(NONAr)(κ2O,O′‐N2O2)]−.
Giant Enhancement of Second Harmonic Generation Accompanied by the Structural Transformation of 7‐Fold to 8‐Fold Interpenetrated Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
Authors: Chen Zhihui , Gallo Gianpiero , Sawant Vaishali A. , Zhang Tianxiang , Zhu Menglong , Liang Liangliang , Chanthapally Anjana , Bolla Geetha , Quah Hong Sheng , Liu Xiaogang , Loh Kian Ping , Dinnebier Robert E. , Xu Qing‐Hua , Vittal Jagadese J.
Published: October 2019

Interpenetration in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is an intriguing phenomenon with significant impacts on their properties, and functional applications. Herein, we show that a 7‐fold interpenetrated MOF (1) is transformed into an 8‐fold interpenetrated MOF by the loss of DMF in a single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal manner. This is accompanied by a giant enhancement of the second harmonic generation (SHG ca. 125 times) and two‐photon photoluminescence (ca. 14 times). The strengthened π–π interaction between the individual diamondoid networks and intensified oscillator strength of the molecules aid the augment of dipole moments and boost the nonlinear optical conversion efficiency. Large positive and negative thermal expansions of 1 occur at 30–150 °C before the loss of DMF. These results offer an avenue to manipulate the NLO properties of MOFs using interpenetration and provide access to tunable single‐crystal NLO devices.
S‐Adenosyl Methionine Cofactor Modifications Enhance the Biocatalytic Repertoire of Small Molecule C‐Alkylation
Authors: McKean Iain J. W. , Sadler Joanna C. , Cuetos Anibal , Frese Amina , Humphreys Luke D. , Grogan Gideon , Hoskisson Paul A. , Burley Glenn A.
Published: October 2019

A tandem enzymatic strategy to enhance the scope of C‐alkylation of small molecules via the in situ formation of S‐adenosyl methionine (SAM) cofactor analogues is described. A solvent‐exposed channel present in the SAM‐forming enzyme SalL tolerates 5′‐chloro‐5′‐deoxyadenosine (ClDA) analogues modified at the 2‐position of the adenine nucleobase. Coupling SalL‐catalyzed cofactor production with C‐(m)ethyl transfer to coumarin substrates catalyzed by the methyltransferase (MTase) NovO forms C‐(m)ethylated coumarins in superior yield and greater substrate scope relative to that obtained using cofactors lacking nucleobase modifications. Establishing the molecular determinants that influence C‐alkylation provides the basis to develop a late‐stage enzymatic platform for the preparation of high value small molecules.
Catalytic Difunctionalization of Unactivated Alkenes with Unreactive Hexamethyldisilane through Regeneration of Silylium Ions
Authors: Wu Qian , Roy Avijit , Irran Elisabeth , Qu Zheng‐Wang , Grimme Stefan , Klare Hendrik F. T. , Oestreich Martin
Published: October 2019

A metal‐free, intermolecular syn‐addition of hexamethyldisilane across simple alkenes is reported. The catalytic cycle is initiated and propagated by the transfer of a methyl group from the disilane to a silylium‐ion‐like intermediate, corresponding to the (re)generation of the silylium‐ion catalyst. The key feature of the reaction sequence is the cleavage of the Si−Si bond in a 1,3‐silyl shift from silicon to carbon. A central intermediate of the catalysis was structurally characterized by X‐ray diffraction, and the computed reaction mechanism is fully consistent with the experimental findings.
Metal–Organic Gels from Silver Nanoclusters with Aggregation‐Induced Emission and Fluorescence‐to‐Phosphorescence Switching
Authors: Xie Zengchun , Sun Panpan , Wang Zhi , Li Hongguang , Yu Longyue , Sun Di , Chen Mengjun , Bi Yuting , Xin Xia , Hao Jingcheng
Published: October 2019

Luminescent metal nanoclusters (NCs) are emerging as a new class of functional materials that have rich physicochemical properties and wide potential applications. In recent years, it has been found that some metal NCs undergo aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) and an interesting fluorescence‐to‐phosphorescence (F‐P) switching in solutions. However, insights of both the AIE and the F‐P switching remain largely unknown. Now, gelation of water soluble, atomically precise Ag9 NCs is achieved by the addition of antisolvent. Self‐assembly of Ag9 NCs into entangled fibers was confirmed, during which AIE was observed together with an F‐P switching occurring within a narrow time scale. Structural evaluation indicates the fibers are highly ordered. The self‐assembly of Ag9 NCs and their photoluminescent property are thermally reversible, making the metal–organic gels good candidates for luminescent ratiometric thermometers.
Self‐healable polyacrylic acid‐polyacrylamide‐ferric ion dual‐crosslinked hydrogel with good biotribological performance as a load‐bearing surface
Authors: Liu Yuntong , Xiong Dangsheng
Published: October 2019

Although having been widely investigated, polymer hydrogels still have many defects like poor tribological properties and insufficient durability, hindering their further applications in biomedical fields. In this study, we present a simple method to synthesize polyacrylic acid‐polyacrylamide‐ferric ion (PAA‐PAAm‐Fe3+) dual‐crosslinked hydrogels with self‐healing abilities and “soft‐hard” hydrogel‐polyetheretherketone (PEEK) combined load‐bearing surfaces with low friction coefficients. After analytical characterizations, the results demonstrated that the hydrogels could repair themselves without any external stimuli. Because of the excellent biphasic and aqueous lubrication provided by the hydrogel layer and the load‐bearing capacity provided by the PEEK substrate, the friction coefficient of a load‐bearing surface was as low as 0.048 in water, much lower than a pristine PEEK block or a hydrogel block sample. This work fabricated self‐healable PAA‐PAAm‐Fe3+ hydrogels and low friction bearing surfaces, successfully improving the tribology properties of hydrogels, hopefully promoting their applications as biomedical materials such as articular cartilage. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48499.
Silica‐filled S‐SBR with epoxidized soybean oil: Influence of the mixing process on rheological and mechanical properties of the compound
Authors: Espósito Leandro H. , Marzocca Angel J.
Published: October 2019

The incorporation of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) in a silica‐filled tread rubber was studied. The aim of this research is to determinate the influence of ESO addition stage on rheological, thermal, mechanical, and viscoelastic properties in the rubber compound. The results suggested that ESO may compete with the silanes in the reaction with silanol groups on the silica surface, interfering with the silanization process. Therefore, a series of ESO‐functionalized silica particles were prepared in which the ESO addition at different conditions were compared to the compound mixing conditions. The presence of covalent bonds by ESO onto silica surface and the changes originated by the silane incorporation were confirmed by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Consequently, it can be affirmed that the effect of reaction conditions and the sequence of silane/ESO mixing have a strong influence on the final properties of the rubber compound. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48504.
Cortical morphometry and structural connectivity relate to executive function and estradiol level in healthy adolescents
Authors: Stoica Teodora , Knight Lindsay Kathleen , Naaz Farah , Ramic Melina , Depue Brendan E.
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Emotional and behavioral control is necessary self‐regulatory processes to maintain stable goal‐driven behavior. Studies indicate that variance in these executive function (EF) processes is related to morphological features of the brain and white matter (WM) differences. Furthermore, sex hormone level may modulate circuits in the brain important for cognitive function.

Methods

We aimed to investigate the structural neural correlates of EF behavior in gray matter (GM) and WM while taking into account estradiol level, in an adolescent population. The present study obtained neuroimaging behavioral and physiological data from the National Institute of Health's Pediatric Database (NIHPD). We analyzed the relationship between cortical morphometry and structural connectivity (N = 55), using a parent‐administered behavioral monitoring instrument (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function—BRIEF), estradiol level, as well as their interaction.

Results

Executive function behavior and estradiol level related to bidirectional associations with cortical morphometry in the right posterior dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (pDLPFC) and primary motor cortex (PMC), as well as fractional anisotropy (FA) in the forceps major and minor. Lastly, the interaction of EF behavior and estradiol level related to decreased volume in the right PMC and was linked to altered FA in the right inferior fronto‐occipital fasciculus (iFOF).

Conclusions

The study provides evidence that the relationship between EF behavior and estradiol level related to bidirectional GM and WM differences, implying estradiol level has an influence on the putative structural regions underlying EF behavior. The findings represent a crucial link between EF behavior and hormonal influence on brain structure in adolescence.
Brain activity during traditional textbook and audiovisual‐3D learning
Authors: Pujol Jesus , Blanco‐Hinojo Laura , Martínez‐Vilavella Gerard , Canu‐Martín Lucila , Pujol Anna , Pérez‐Sola Víctor , Deus Joan
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Audiovisual educational tools have increasingly been used during the past years to complement and compete with traditional textbooks. However, little is known as to how the brain processes didactic information presented in different formats. We directly assessed brain activity during learning using both traditional textbook and audiovisual‐3D material.

Methods

A homogeneous sample of 30 young adults with active study habits was assessed. Educational material on the subject of Cardiology was adapted to be presented during the acquisition of functional MRI.

Results

When tested after image acquisition, participants obtained similar examination scores for both formats. Evoked brain activity was robust during both traditional textbook and audiovisual‐3D lessons, but a greater number of brain systems were implicated in the processing of audiovisual‐3D information, consistent with its multisource sensory nature. However, learning was not associated with group mean brain activations, but was instead predicted by distinct functional MRI signal changes in the frontal lobes and showed distinct cognitive correlates. In the audiovisual‐3D version, examination scores were positively correlated with late‐evoked prefrontal cortex activity and working memory, and negatively correlated with language‐related frontal areas and verbal memory. As for the traditional textbook version, the fewer results obtained suggested the opposite pattern, with examination scores negatively correlating with prefrontal cortex activity evoked during the lesson.

Conclusions

Overall, the results indicate that a similar level of knowledge may be achieved via different cognitive strategies. In our experiment, audiovisual learning appeared to benefit from prefrontal executive resources (as opposed to memorizing verbal information) more than traditional textbook learning.
Integration of high‐throughput analytics and cell imaging enables direct early productivity and product quality assessment during Chinese Hamster ovary cell line development for a complex multi‐subunit vaccine antigen
Authors: Li Xiangming , Zhang Yujian , Jing Li , Fu Zongming , Ma Ou , Ganguly Jishna , Vaidya Nilesh , Sisson Richard , Naginskaya Jennifer , Chinthala Avinash , Cui Minggang , Yamagata Ryan , Wilson Mark , Sanders Matthew , Wang Zihao , Lo Surdo Paola , Bugno Marcin
Published: October 2019

Mammalian cell line generation typically includes stable pool generation, single cell cloning and several rounds of clone selection based on cell growth, productivity and product quality criteria. Individual clone expansion and phenotype‐based ranking is performed initially for hundreds or thousands of mini‐scale cultures, representing the major operational challenge during cell line development. Automated cell culture and analytics systems have been developed to enable high complexity clone selection workflows; while ensuring traceability, safety, and quality of cell lines intended for biopharmaceutical applications. Here we show that comprehensive and quantitative assessment of cell growth, productivity, and product quality attributes are feasible at the 200–1,200 cell colony stage, within 14 days of the single cell cloning in static 96‐well plate culture. The early cell line characterization performed prior to the clone expansion in suspension culture can be used for a single‐step, direct selection of high quality clones. Such clones were comparable, both in terms of productivity and critical quality attributes (CQAs), to the top‐ranked clones identified using an established iterative clone screening approach. Using a complex, multi‐subunit antigen as a model protein, we observed stable CQA profiles independently of the cell culture format during the clonal expansion as well as in the batch and fed‐batch processes. In conclusion, we propose an accelerated clone selection approach that can be readily incorporated into various cell line development workstreams, leading to significant reduction of the project timelines and resource requirements.
Whole course of pallidothalamic tracts identified on the sectioned images and surface models
Authors: Chung Beom Sun , Park Jin Seo
Published: October 2019

The anatomy of the pallidothalamic tracts, including the ansa lenticularis, lenticular fasciculus, and thalamic fasciculus (field H1 of Forel), should be elucidated by neurosurgeons and neuroscientists who study deep brain stimulation. In this study, serially sectioned images of a human cadaver head were employed to overcome the limitations of existing methods to observe the pallidothalamic tracts. Owing to the high resolution and real color of the sectioned images, 28 structures, including the pallidothalamic tracts and mammillothalamic fasciculus, were identified. The structures were segmented and made into surface models, which are helpful in improving the stereoscopic understanding. Observing the sectioned images and surface models may help in understanding the detailed anatomy of the pallidothalamic tracts. The new findings, such as the spatial relationship of the tracts, were summarized in a schematic figure. Moreover, to elucidate the anatomical structures along the course of deep brain stimulation, virtual electrodes were inserted into the surface models. The sectioned images and surface models of this study are expected to enhance the understanding of the pallidothalamic tract anatomy. A portable document format file containing the surface models and the sectioned images can be freely downloaded from the authors' homepage. Clin. Anat. 32:66–76, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Systematic reviews as a “lens of evidence”: Determinants of cost‐effectiveness of breast cancer screening
Authors: Mandrik Olena , Ekwunife Obinna Ikechukwu , Meheus Filip , Severens Johan L. (Hans) , Lhachimi Stefan , Uyl‐de Groot Carin A. , Murillo Raul
Published: October 2019

Systematic reviews with economic components are important decision tools for stakeholders seeking to evaluate technologies, such as breast cancer screening (BCS) programs. This overview of systematic reviews explores the determinants of the cost‐effectiveness of BCS and assesses the quality of secondary evidence. The search identified 30 systematic reviews that reported on the determinants of the cost‐effectiveness of BCS, including the costs of breast cancer and BCS. While the quality of the reviews varied widely, only four out of 30 papers were considered to be of a high quality. We did not identify publication bias in the original evidence on the cost‐effectiveness of mammography screening; however, we highlight a need for improved clarity in both reporting and data verification. The reviews consisted mainly of studies from high‐income countries. Breast cancer costs varied widely among the studies. Factors leading to higher costs included: time (diagnosis and last months before death), later stage or metastases, recurrence of the disease, age below 64 years and type of follow‐up (more intensive or more specialized). Overall, screening with mammography was considered cost‐effective in the age range 50‐69 years in Western European and Northern American countries but not for older or younger women. Its cost‐effectiveness was questionable for low‐income settings and Asia. Mammography screening was more cost‐effective with biennial screening compared to annual screening and single reading using computer‐aided detection vs double reading. No information on the cost‐effectiveness of ultrasonography was found, and there is much uncertainty on the cost‐effectiveness of CBE because of methodological limitations.
RETRACTED: lncRNA ABHD11‐AS1, regulated by the EGFR pathway, contributes to the ovarian cancer tumorigenesis by epigenetically suppressing TIMP2
Authors: Zeng Xiang‐Yang , Jiang Xiao‐Yan , Yong Jia‐Hui , Xie Hui , Yuan Jing , Zeng Da , Dou Ying‐Yu , Xiao Song‐Shu
Published: October 2019

Objective

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a common gynecologic malignancy characterized by extensive peritoneal metastasis and high mortality rate. ABHD11 Antisense RNA1 (ABHD11‐AS1) has recently been identified as a regulator of growth and metastasis in multiple tumors, including EOC. However, the biological function and potential mechanism of ABHD11‐AS1 in EOC remains poorly understood.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry, western blot, and qRT‐PCR analysis were used to determine the expression pattern of ABHD11‐AS1 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in both EOC tissues and cell lines, respectively. Colony formation, transwell and wound healing assays were performed to evaluate the roles of EGFR and ABHD11‐AS1 on the capacity of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Western blot analysis was performed to measure the regulation of EGFR pathway on STAT3. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation was employed to demonstrate the interaction between ABHD11‐AS1 and STAT3. RNA immunoprecipitation was subjected to prove the direct binding between ABHD11‐AS1 and EZH2. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to measure the expression and localization of TIMP2. EOC mouse model was conducted for validating the role of ABHD11‐AS1 in vivo.

Results

EGFR and ABHD11‐AS1 were highly expressed in EOC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of EGFR or ABHD11‐AS1 inhibited cell growth, migration, and invasion of EOC cells. Expression of ABHD11‐AS1 was regulated by the activation of EGFR signaling pathway, mediated by STAT3. Besides, ABHD11‐AS1 was shown to silence TIMP2 by binding to chromatin‐modifying enzyme EZH2. Furthermore, inhibition of EGFR pathway or ABHD11‐AS1 repressed the tumor growth of EOC.

Conclusion

We defined the regulatory relationship between the EGFR signaling pathway, ABHD11‐AS1, EZH2, and TIMP2 suggesting that ABHD11‐AS1 may act as an oncogene and a potential target for antitumor therapies in ovarian cancer.
Apolipoproteins and cancer
Authors: Ren Liwen , Yi Jie , Li Wan , Zheng Xiangjin , Liu Jinyi , Wang Jinhua , Du Guanhua
Published: October 2019

The role of apolipoproteins in cardiovascular disease has been well investigated, but their participation in cancer has only been explored in a few published studies which showed a close link with certain kinds of cancer. In this review, we focused on the function of different kinds of apolipoproteins in cancers, autophagy, oxidative stress, and drug resistance. The potential application of apolipoproteins as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis was highlighted, together with an investigation of their potential as drug targets for cancer treatment. Many important roles of apolipoproteins and their mechanisms in cancers were reviewed in detail and future perspectives of apolipoprotein research were discussed.
Myosteatosis in a systemic inflammation‐dependent manner predicts favorable survival outcomes in locally advanced esophageal cancer
Authors: Gabiatti Camila T. B. , Martins Mariane C. L. , Miyazaki Daniela L. , Silva Leandro P. , Lascala Fabiana , Macedo Ligia T. , Mendes Maria Carolina Santos , Carvalheira José Barreto Campello
Published: October 2019

Increased adiposity and its attendant metabolic features as well as systemic inflammation have been associated with prognosis in locally advanced esophageal cancer (LAEC). However, whether myosteatosis and its combination with systemic inflammatory markers are associated with prognosis of esophageal cancer is unknown. Our study aimed to investigate the influence of myosteatosis and its association with systemic inflammation on progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in LAEC patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT). We retrospectively gathered information on 123 patients with LAEC submitted to dCRT at the University of Campinas Hospital. Computed tomography (CT) images at the level of L3 were analyzed to assess muscularity and adiposity. Systemic inflammation was mainly measured by calculating the neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Median PFS for patients with myosteatosis (n = 72) was 11.0 months vs 4.0 months for patients without myosteatosis (n = 51) (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34‐0.83; P = .005). Myosteatosis was also independently associated with a favorable OS. Systemic inflammation (NLR > 2.8) was associated with a worse prognosis. The combination of myosteatosis with systemic inflammation revealed that the subgroup of patients with myosteatosis and without inflammation presented less than half the risk of disease progression (HR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.26‐0.85; P = .013) and death (HR: 0.39; 95% CI, 0.21‐0.72; P = .003) compared with patients with inflammation. This study demonstrated that myosteatosis without systemic inflammation was independently associated with favorable PFS and OS in LAEC patients treated with dCRT.
Copper‐Catalyzed Radical Cross‐Coupling of Oxime Esters and Sulfinates for Synthesis of Cyanoalkylated Sulfones
Authors: Zhou Xue‐Song , Cheng Ying , Chen Jun , Yu Xiao‐Ye , Xiao Wen‐Jing , Chen Jia‐Rong
Published: October 2019

Sulfones and alkylnitriles play a significant role in both organic and medicinal chemistry, as versatile synthetic building blocks and privileged pharmacophores in many natural products and bioactive compounds. Herein, a room‐temperature, copper‐catalyzed radical cross‐coupling of redox‐active cycloketone oxime esters and sulfinate salts is described for the first time. Key to the success of this process involves catalytic generation of a cyclic iminyl radical and ensuing ring‐opening C−C bond cleavage. The resultant cyanoalkyl radical is then engaged in cross‐coupling with nucleophilic sulfinate to form cyanoalkylated sulfones.
Synthesis and Characterization of Ag@g−C3N4 and Its Photocatalytic Evolution in Visible Light Driven Synthesis Of Ynone
Authors: Patel Sunil B. , Vasava Dilip V.
Published: October 2019

The primary aim of this work is to synthesize photocatalyst to promote the synthesis of ynones. In this context, we synthesized AgNPs@g−C3N4 nanocomposite. The nanocomposite was characterized by using SEM, HR‐TEM, XRD, EDS, ICP‐AES, UV‐Vis DRS, XPS, PL and FT‐IR. From the results of characterization, it was transpired that the AgNPs anchored firmly on the carbon nitride sheet and the size of nanoparticles ranges between 2–6 nm. We utilized the photoactive nanocomposite for the synthesis of various substituted ynones under visible light irradiation. Excellent yields were generated for the various substituted ynones (74–84 %). Furthermore, we study the gram scale synthesis and achieved yield up to 78 %. Recyclability of the nanocomposite was also studied and found that the material was recyclable up to 4 times without any significant loss in its activity. We have used 80 W tungsten bulb (λ>420 nm) as the light source and GVL (gamma Valero lactone) as the solvent which proves the process much greener as compared to the conventional methods.
A Three‐Dimensional M3AB‐Type Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Antiperovskite Ferroelectric: [C3H7FN]3[SnCl6]Cl
Authors: Li Guo‐Ping , Lu Si‐Qi , Chen Xin , Liao Wei‐Qiang , Tang Yuan‐Yuan , Xiong Ren‐Gen
Published: October 2019

Since the first perovskite CaTiO3 was discovered in 1839, the development of perovskite has a history of 180 years. The emergence of solar cells (CH3NH3)PbI3 has set off the trend of hybrid organic–inorganic perovskite (HOIP) materials. Since then, various HOIPs have sprung up and been widely used in various material devices. Among them, HOIP ferroelectrics have gained widespread attention. However, antiperovskite, as a twin brother of perovskite, has been neglected although it has similar structure with perovskite. Here, we successfully found that [C3H7FN]3[SnCl6]Cl has a three‐dimensional (3D) antiperovskite structure with the formula M3AB. Importantly, the compound exhibits obvious ferroelectric properties with an Aizu notation of 622F6 at 391 K. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first 3D hybrid organic–inorganic antiperovskite ferroelectric, which will greatly promote the development of antiperovskite families with more superior physical properties.
Periodicity in Structure, Bonding, and Reactivity for p‐Block Complexes of a Geometry Constraining Triamide Ligand
Authors: Marczenko Katherine M. , Zurakowski Joseph A. , Kindervater Marcus B. , Jee Samantha , Hynes Toren , Roberts Nicholas , Park Seoyeon , Werner‐Zwanziger Ulrike , Lumsden Michael , Langelaan David N. , Chitnis Saurabh S.
Published: October 2019

The use of pincer ligands to access non‐VSEPR geometries at main‐group centers is an emerging strategy for eliciting new stoichiometric and catalytic reactivity. As part of this effort, several different tridentate trianionic substituents have to date been employed at a range of different central elements, providing a patchwork dataset that precludes rigorous structure–function correlation. An analysis of periodic trends in structure (solid, solution, and computation), bonding, and reactivity based on systematic variation of the central element (P, As, Sb, or Bi) with retention of a single tridentate triamide substituent is reported herein. In this homologous series, the central element can adopt either a bent or planar geometry. The tendency to adopt planar geometries increases descending the group with the phosphorus triamide (1) and its arsenic congener (2) exhibiting bent conformations, and the antimony (3) and bismuth (4) analogues exhibiting a predominantly planar structure in solution. This trend has been rationalized using an energy decomposition analysis. A rare phase‐dependent dynamic covalent dimerization was observed for 3 and the associated thermodynamic parameters were established quantitatively. Planar geometries were found to engender lower LUMO energies and smaller band gaps than bent ones, resulting in different reactivity patterns. These results provide a benchmark dataset to guide further research in this rapidly emerging area.
Chelation of metal ions with citric acid in the ammoniation process of wet‐process phosphoric acid
Authors: Xu Dejun , Wan Jiali , Xu Dehua , Luo Tao , Zhong Yanjun , Yang Xiushan , Yang Lin , Zhang Zhiye , Wang Xinlong
Published: October 2019

A new process is proposed in which citric acid is added during the ammoniation process of wet‐process phosphoric acid (WPA) to chelate metal ions to produce fertilizer ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (MAP) containing medium trace elements. The parameters of the chelation reaction were studied systematically and the results show that the optimal reaction condition is pH 3.0, reaction time 60 minutes, temperature 50.0°C, and citric acid content 1.48%. The XRD patterns show that the water‐insoluble compounds are complex mixtures, and the composition of the water‐insoluble compounds are changed through the addition of citric acid. FTIR and XPS analyes further demonstrate that water‐insoluble compounds are complex mixtures. The XRD patterns of the MAP products indicate that the structure and morphology of the MAP were changed by the addition of citric acid. In addition, the contents of major elements, medium elements, and trace elements in the MAP product are 68.72%, 0.24%, and 0.50%, respectively, which is consistent with the relevant China national standard.
One‐ and Two‐Component Organogels Containing Cyanostilbene without any Auxiliary Substituents
Authors: Katla Jagadish , Shaik Althaf , Dahiwadkar Rahul , Thiruvenkatam Vijay , Kanvah Sriram
Published: October 2019

Pyridyl acrylonitrile without traditional auxiliary groups form stable organogels in ethanol. The addition of a second non‐gelating cyanostilbene component results in a more stable two‐component gel. Single crystal X‐ray data reveal the influence of C−H⋅ ⋅ ⋅N, C−H⋅ ⋅ ⋅π, and π–π interactions in the formation of organogels. The morphology of the xerogels was studied by using SEM, which showed the self‐assembly of molecules to fibers and sheet‐like structures, and phase differences upon the gel formation and the structural phase characterization was measured using powder XRD. Exposure of the organogels to acidic (TFA) vapors results in distinct color changes and loss of gelation properties, thus highlighting the potential of these gels in sensing. The results represent a rare example of two‐component organogels using two different cyanostilbene units and show that functional two‐component organogels can be formed by utilizing the synergistic effects of the individual components.
Pollinator specialization increases with a decrease in a mass‐flowering plant in networks inferred from DNA metabarcoding
Authors: Pornon André , Baksay Sandra , Escaravage Nathalie , Burrus Monique , Andalo Christophe
Published: October 2019

How native mass‐flowering plants affect the specialization of insects at individual and species levels and the consequences for pollination networks have received much less attention than for mass‐flowering crops or alien species and basically remain unexplored.

Using existing DNA metabarcoding data on the pollen loads of 402 flower‐visiting insects, we assessed the effects of a native mass‐flowering plant of high reward quality, the shrub Rhododendron ferrugineum, on pollination networks by investigating: (a) the food niches of individual pollinators and pollinator species and (b) the structure of individual and species networks in subalpine heathland patches with extremely contrasted densities of R. ferrugineum.

Relative to its high abundance in high‐density patches, the shrub was greatly underrepresented and did not dominate individual's or species' generalized networks, rather individual and species specialization increased with a decrease in R. ferrugineum density. Furthermore, individuals of the more generalist dipteran Empididae species tended to extend exclusive interactions with rare plant species in low‐density networks. The same trend was observed in the more specialist Apidea but toward rare species in high‐density networks. Our results reveal a quite paradoxical view of pollination and a functional complementarity within networks. Niche and network indices mostly based on the occurrence of links showed that individual pollinators and pollinator species and networks were highly generalized, whereas indices of link strength revealed that species and above all individuals behave as quite strict specialists.

Synthesis. Our study provides insights into the status of a native mass‐flowering plant in individual's and insect species' food niches and pollination networks. It revealed that a generalist pollinator species can be highly specialized at the individual level and how rare plant species coexisting with mass‐flowering plants may nevertheless be visited.
Snails in the sun: Strategies of terrestrial gastropods to cope with hot and dry conditions
Authors: Schweizer Mona , Triebskorn Rita , Köhler Heinz‐R.
Published: October 2019

Terrestrial gastropods do not only inhabit humid and cool environments but also habitat in which hot and dry conditions prevail. Snail species that are able to cope with such climatic conditions are thus expected to having developed multifaceted strategies and mechanisms to ensure their survival and reproduction under heat and desiccation stress. This review paper aims to provide an integrative overview of the numerous adaptation strategies terrestrial snails have evolved to persist in hot and dry environments as well as their mutual interconnections and feedbacks, but also to outline research gaps and questions that remained unanswered. We extracted relevant information from more than 140 publications in order to show how biochemical, cellular, physiological, morphological, ecological, thermodynamic, and evolutionary parameters contribute to provide an overall picture of this classical example in stress ecology. These mechanisms range from behavioral and metabolic adaptations, including estivation, to the induction of chaperones and antioxidant enzymes, mucocyte and digestive gland cell responses and the modification and frequency of morphological features, particularly shell pigmentation. In this context, thermodynamic constraints call for processes of complex adaptation at varying levels of biological organization that are mutually interwoven. We were able to assemble extensive, mostly narrowly focused information from the literature into a web of network parameters, showing that future work on this subject requires multicausal thinking to account for the complexity of relationships involved in snails' adaptation to insolation, heat, and drought.
The MIAmaxent R package: Variable transformation and model selection for species distribution models
Authors: Vollering Julien , Halvorsen Rune , Mazzoni Sabrina
Published: October 2019

The widely used “Maxent” software for modeling species distributions from presence‐only data (Phillips et al., Ecological Modelling, 190, 2006, 231) tends to produce models with high‐predictive performance but low‐ecological interpretability, and implications of Maxent's statistical approach to variable transformation, model fitting, and model selection remain underappreciated. In particular, Maxent's approach to model selection through lasso regularization has been shown to give less parsimonious distribution models—that is, models which are more complex but not necessarily predictively better—than subset selection. In this paper, we introduce the MIAmaxent R package, which provides a statistical approach to modeling species distributions similar to Maxent's, but with subset selection instead of lasso regularization. The simpler models typically produced by subset selection are ecologically more interpretable, and making distribution models more grounded in ecological theory is a fundamental motivation for using MIAmaxent. To that end, the package executes variable transformation based on expected occurrence–environment relationships and contains tools for exploring data and interrogating models in light of knowledge of the modeled system. Additionally, MIAmaxent implements two different kinds of model fitting: maximum entropy fitting for presence‐only data and logistic regression (GLM) for presence–absence data. Unlike Maxent, MIAmaxent decouples variable transformation, model fitting, and model selection, which facilitates methodological comparisons and gives the modeler greater flexibility when choosing a statistical approach to a given distribution modeling problem.
The species diversity × fire severity relationship is hump‐shaped in semiarid yellow pine and mixed conifer forests
Authors: Richter Clark , Rejmánek Marcel , Miller Jesse E. D. , Welch Kevin R. , Weeks JonahMaria , Safford Hugh
Published: October 2019

The combination of direct human influences and the effects of climate change are resulting in altered ecological disturbance regimes, and this is especially the case for wildfires. Many regions that historically experienced low–moderate severity fire regimes are seeing increased area burned at high severity as a result of interactions between high fuel loads and climate warming with a number of negative ecological effects. While ecosystem impacts of altered fire regimes have been examined in the literature, little is known of the effects of changing fire regimes on forest understory plant diversity even though understory taxa comprise the vast majority of forest plant species and play vital roles in overall ecosystem function. We examined understory plant diversity across gradients of wildfire severity in eight large wildfires in yellow pine and mixed conifer temperate forests of the Sierra Nevada, California, USA. We found a generally unimodal hump‐shaped relationship between local (alpha) plant diversity and fire severity. High‐severity burning resulted in lower local diversity as well as some homogenization of the flora at the regional scale. Fire severity class, post‐fire litter cover, and annual precipitation were the best predictors of understory species diversity. Our research suggests that increases in fire severity in systems historically characterized by low and moderate severity fire may lead to plant diversity losses. These findings indicate that global patterns of increasing fire size and severity may have important implications for biodiversity.
Predictive factors of high societal costs among chronic low back pain patients
Authors: Mutubuki Elizabeth N. , Luitjens Mariette A. , Maas Esther T. , Huygen Frank J. P. M. , Ostelo Raymond W. J. G. , van Tulder Maurits W. , van Dongen Johanna M.
Published: October 2019

Background

Societal costs of low back pain (LBP) are high, yet few studies have been performed to identify the predictive factors of high societal costs among chronic LBP patients. This study aimed to determine which factors predict high societal costs in patients with chronic LBP.

Methods

Data of 6,316 chronic LBP patients were used. In the main analysis, high societal costs were defined as patients in the top 10% of cost outcomes. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using patients in the top 5% and top 20% of societal costs. Potential predictive factors included patient expectations, demographic factors (e.g. age, gender, nationality), socio‐economic factors (e.g. employment, education level) and health‐related factors (e.g. body mass index [BMI], general health, mental health). The final prediction models were obtained using backward selection. The model's prognostic accuracy (Hosmer–Lemeshow X2, Nagelkerke's R2) and discriminative ability (area under the receiver operating curve [AUC]) were assessed, and the models were internally validated using bootstrapping.

Results

Poor physical health, high functional disability, low health‐related quality of life, high impact of pain experience, non‐Dutch nationality and decreasing pain were found to be predictive of high societal costs in all models, and were therefore considered robust. After internal validation, the models' fit was good, their explained variance was relatively low (≤14.1%) and their AUCs could be interpreted as moderate (≥0.71).

Conclusion

Future studies should focus on understanding the mechanisms associated with the identified predictors for high societal costs in order to design effective cost reduction initiatives.

Significance

Identifying low back pain patients who are at risk (risk stratification) of becoming high‐cost users and making appropriate initiatives could help in reducing high costs.