bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bimetallic Chromium Catalysts with Chain Transfer Agents: A Route to Isotactic Poly(propylene oxide)s with Narrow Dispersities
Authors: Morris Lilliana S. , Childers M. Ian , Coates Geoffrey W.
Published: March 2018

Bimetallic chromium catalysts are investigated for the enantioselective polymerization of propylene oxide. The catalyst is composed of two salen chromium species linked by an alkyl chain, the length of which significantly impacts the rate of polymerization. While the use of a chloride initiator on the catalyst resulted in bimodal molecular weight distributions, switching to a trifluoroacetate initiating group and adding a diol chain transfer agent afforded polymers of controllable molecular weight with low, unimodal dispersities.
Defining textual entailment
Authors: Korman Daniel Z. , Mack Eric , Jett Jacob , Renear Allen H.
Published: March 2018

Textual entailment is a relationship that obtains between fragments of text when one fragment in some sense implies the other fragment. The automation of textual entailment recognition supports a wide variety of text‐based tasks, including information retrieval, information extraction, question answering, text summarization, and machine translation. Much ingenuity has been devoted to developing algorithms for identifying textual entailments, but relatively little to saying what textual entailment actually is. This article is a review of the logical and philosophical issues involved in providing an adequate definition of textual entailment. We show that many natural definitions of textual entailment are refuted by counterexamples, including the most widely cited definition of Dagan et al. We then articulate and defend the following revised definition: T textually entails H = df typically, a human reading T would be justified in inferring the proposition expressed by H from the proposition expressed by T. We also show that textual entailment is context‐sensitive, nontransitive, and nonmonotonic.
Vasculitis and neurobrucellosis: Evaluation of nine cases using radiologic findings
Authors: Turkoglu Sule Aydin , Halicioglu Siddika , Sirmatel Fatma , Yildiz Murside , Yildiz Nebil , Yildiz Serpil
Published: March 2018

Background

Brucellosis is an important multisystemic disease with many different clinical symptoms, and its early diagnosis and treatment are possible. Neurobrucellosis (NB) is a rare but serious finding of brucellosis. Brucella can be seen as meningitis and encephalopathy, and it can cause cranial nerve pathologies, vascular syndromes, myopathy, spinal diseases, and psychiatric disorders. In NB, vascular syndromes secondary to inflammation are rarely seen. Here, we present nine young patients with vascular and nonspecific neuropsychiatric findings who had NB as the etiology of stroke.

Methods

Nine patients who were admitted to our Neurology Clinic between 2012 and 2017 for various reasons in whom brucellosis was found in the etiology were retrospectively studied. The patients' symptoms, physical examination, laboratory and radiographic findings, treatments, and treatment responses are discussed.

Results

Of the nine patients who presented to our clinic in the 4‐year period, five were female. The average age was 49 years. Five patients had small vessel vasculitis, three had great vessel vasculitis, and one had meningoencephalitis and pons abscess. Two patients had granuloma, and one had an aneurysm.

Conclusions

We aimed to present our cases due to the fact that this disease should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of patients with stroke and similar neuropsychiatric findings.
Performance of the Evolut‐R 34 mm versus Sapien‐3 29 mm in Transcatheter aortic valve replacement patients with larger annuli: Early outcome results of Evolut‐R 34 mm as compared with Sapien‐3 29 mm in patients with Annuli ≥26 mm
Authors: Eitan Amnon , Witt Julian , Stripling Jan , Haselbach Timo , Rieß Friedrich‐Christian , Schofer Joachim
Published: March 2018

Background

Evolut‐R 34 mm (received CE mark in January 2017) and Sapien‐3 29 mm are the only options for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with annulus ≥26 mm. We compared the short‐term outcomes of these valves in these patients.

Methods

Data was collected prospectively from consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis and annulus diameter larger than 26 mm treated by femoral approach TAVR.

Results

Between February 1, 2014 to August 19, 2017 Sapien‐3 29 mm was implanted in 55 and Evolut‐R 34 mm in 37 consecutive patients. Device success rate was 98.2% and 97.3% (P = 1.0) and the composite peri‐procedural complication rate was 7.3% and 2.7% (P = .645) in Sapin‐3 29 mm and Evolut‐R 34 mm, respectively. Composite endpoint of early safety in‐hospital did not differ significantly [5(9.2%) vs 3(8.1%), P = 1.00], respectively. Prosthetic valve Gradients were significantly lower with Evolut‐R 34 mm [maximal (18.0 ± 5.8 vs 11.2 ± 4.8 mmHg, P < .001) and mean (10.0 ± 3.3 vs 6.3 ± 2.7 mmHg, P < .001)]. Pacemaker implantation rate was high in both groups, and numerically but not statistically significant higher with Evolut‐R [10/50 (20.0%) vs 8/28 (28.6%), P = .389].

Conclusions

As compared to Sapien‐3 29 mm the Evolut‐R 34 mm is a real alternative for TAVR in patients with a large annulus with a comparable peri‐procedural complication rate, better hemodynamic results but a trend for higher pacemaker rate.
Serial intravascular ultrasound evaluation of the DESolve™ novolimus‐eluting bioresorbable coronary scaffold system
Authors: Barreira Gentil , Costa J. Ribamar , Costa Ricardo , Staico Rodolfo , Chamie Daniel , Slhessarenko Juliano R. , Tanajura Luiz Fernando , Abizaid Andrea , Sousa Amanda , Abizaid Alexandre
Published: March 2018

Introduction

Bioresorbable coronary scaffolds (BRS) have been developed to increase the late safety of coronary angioplasty by providing transitory coronary support and then being fully incorporated to the vessel wall. In the present trial, we sought to evaluate the performance and changes over time in the DESolve™ novolimus‐eluting BRS using serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in patients submitted to percutaneous coronary interventions.

Methods

Single‐center, prospective, non‐randomized study involving 17 consecutive patients submitted to implantation of the DESolve™ scaffold and serial evaluated with IVUS at different time points (post procedure, 6 and 18 months). Primary endpoint included the variation in lumen, scaffold, and vessel diameter and area along the months.

Results

Angiographic success was achieved in all cases. Scaffold area and volume on IVUS were significantly greater at 6 months than at baseline (6.41 ± 1.35 mm2 vs. 7.35 ± 1.53 mm2, P < 0.002; and 101.19 ± 20.9 mm3 vs. 118.51 ± 26.6 mm3, P = 0.001). Late lumen loss was 0.22 ± 0.30 mm at 6 months and 0.33 ± 0.44 mm at 18 months. No major adverse cardiac events occurred. At late follow‐up (18 months) the scaffold was not visualized by IVUS; therefore the evaluation was restricted to lumen and vessel at that time point.

Conclusions

IVUS serial evaluation of the novel DESolve BRS showed an increase in the device dimensions between baseline and 6 months, with concomitant enlargement of lumen dimensions and effective suppression of neointimal proliferation. At 18 months, no footprint of the scaffold was detected and the initial lumen enlargement was sustained.
Recent Advances in Multicomponent Particle Assembly
Authors: Guo Dan , Song Yanlin
Published: March 2018

Particle assembly and co‐assembly have been research frontiers in chemistry and material science in the past few decades. To achieve a large variety of intricate structures and functional materials, remarkable progress has been made in particle assembly principles and strategies. Essentially, particle assembly is driven by intrinsic interparticle interactions or the external control. In this article, we focus on binary or ternary particle co‐assembly and review the principles and feasible strategies. These advances have led to new disciplines of microfabrication technology and material engineering. Although significant achievement on particle‐based structures has been made, it is still challenging to fully develop general and facile strategies to precisely control the one‐dimensional (1D) co‐assembly. This article reviews the recent development on multicomponent particle co‐assembly, which significantly increases structural complexity and functional diversity. In particular, we highlight the advances in the particle co‐assembly of well‐ordered 1D binary superstructures by liquid soft confinement. Finally, prospective outlook for future trends in this field is proposed.
Deciphering the Surface Composition and the Internal Structure of Alloyed Silver–Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Grasmik Viktoria , Rurainsky Christian , Loza Kateryna , Evers Mathies V. , Prymak Oleg , Heggen Marc , Tschulik Kristina , Epple Matthias
Published: March 2018

Spherical bimetallic AgAu nanoparticles in the molar ratios 30:70, 50:50, and 70:30 with diameters of 30 to 40 nm were analyzed together with pure silver and gold nanoparticles of the same size. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and differential centrifugal sedimentation (DCS) were used for size determination. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to determine the nanoalloy composition, together with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) and ultraviolet‐visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopy. Underpotential deposition (UPD) of lead (Pb) on the particle surface gave information about its spatial elemental distribution and surface area. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were applied to study the shape and the size of the nanoparticles. X‐ray powder diffraction gave the crystallite size and the microstrain. The particles form a solid solution (alloy) with an enrichment of silver on the nanoparticle surface, including some silver‐rich patches. UPD indicated that the surface only consists of silver atoms.
Regium–π bonds: An Unexplored Link between Noble Metal Nanoparticles and Aromatic Surfaces
Authors: Frontera Antonio , Bauzá Antonio
Published: March 2018

The ability of metal clusters involving elements from group 11 (Ag, Cu, Au) to favorably interact with π systems of different size and electronic nature was evaluated at the PBE0‐D3/def2‐TZVPP//PBE0‐D3/def2‐TZVP level of theory. The M9 clusters (M=Cu, Ag, Au) were used as σ‐hole and σ‐lump donors, and benzene, trifluorobenzene, and hexafluorobenzene as aromatic rings. In addition, the study was expanded to the analysis of extended π systems by using naphthalene and anthracene as well as their corresponding perfluorinated derivatives. Furthermore, Bader's theory of Atoms in Molecules as well as natural bonding orbital and spin‐density calculations were used to further investigate and characterize the regium–π and σ‐lump complexes described herein. Apparently, regium–π bonds have not previously been described in the literature and may be of great importance in the understanding of organocatalytic processes involving aromatic substrates as well as in the design of new materials based on this novel subclass of σ‐hole bonding.
Determination of the permittivity of n‐hexane/oil sands mixtures over the frequency range of 200 MHz to 10 GHz
Authors: Hu Lanxiao , Li Huazhou Andy , Ahmadloo Majid
Published: March 2018

Combined electromagnetic (EM) heating and solvent injection has been recently proposed to recover bitumen from oil sands due to its great environmental friendliness. The permittivity of oil sands with the presence of solvent is a crucial property for the design, evaluation, and optimization of this process. In this study, we use the open‐ended coaxial probe method to measure the permittivity of oil sands over the frequency range of 200 MHz to 10 GHz. Results of the permittivity of the constituents of oil sands reveal that water is a major dielectric contributor; no relaxation phenomenon has been found for bitumen, sand, and n‐hexane over the tested frequency range. Also, the results for the oil sands mixtures show that water content is crucial for the permittivity of oil sands; both the dielectric constant and loss factor are enhanced with an increasing water content. With the addition of n‐hexane, the permittivity of bitumen slightly changes and fluctuates between the dielectric values of pure bitumen and n‐hexane. As for the n‐hexane/oil sands mixtures, the added n‐hexane induces the asphaltene aggregation/flocculation, affecting the interaction between water and asphaltene and leading to an enhanced free water content in the oil sands. Consequently, the permittivity of oil sands significantly increases after n‐hexane addition. Based on the experimental data, we evaluate the prediction accuracy of commonly used mixing models. A modified Lichtenecker‐Rother model considering effective water saturation is proposed to accurately characterize the permittivity of n‐hexane/oil sands mixtures. The obtained data and correlations can be useful when experimental data are missing.
Molecular anatomy of the alligator dorsal telencephalon
Authors: Briscoe Steven D. , Ragsdale Clifton W.
Published: March 2018

The evolutionary relationships of the mammalian neocortex and avian dorsal telencephalon (DT) nuclei have been debated for more than a century. Despite their central importance to this debate, nonavian reptiles remain underexplored with modern molecular techniques. Reptile studies harbor great potential for understanding the changes in DT organization that occurred in the early evolution of amniotes. They may also help clarify the specializations in the avian DT, which comprises a massive, cell‐dense dorsal ventricular ridge (DVR) and a nuclear dorsal‐most structure, the Wulst. Crocodilians are phylogenetically and anatomically attractive for DT comparative studies: they are the closest living relatives of birds and have a strikingly bird‐like DVR, but they also possess a highly differentiated reptile cerebral cortex. We studied the DT of the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, at late embryonic stages with a panel of molecular marker genes. Gene expression and cytoarchitectonic analyses identified clear homologs of all major avian DVR subdivisions including a mesopallium, an extensive nidopallium with primary sensory input territories, and an arcopallium. The alligator medial cortex is divided into three components that resemble the mammalian dentate gyrus, CA fields, and subiculum in gene expression and topography. The alligator dorsal cortex contains putative homologs of neocortical input, output, and intratelencephalic projection neurons and, most notably, these are organized into sublayers similar to mammalian neocortical layers. Our findings on the molecular anatomy of the crocodilian DT are summarized in an atlas of the alligator telencephalon.
Thalamostriatal and cerebellothalamic pathways in a songbird, the Bengalese finch
Authors: Nicholson David A. , Roberts Todd F. , Sober Samuel J.
Published: March 2018

The thalamostriatal system is a major network in the mammalian brain, originating principally from the intralaminar nuclei of thalamus. Its functions remain unclear, but a subset of these projections provides a pathway through which the cerebellum communicates with the basal ganglia. Both the cerebellum and basal ganglia play crucial roles in motor control. Although songbirds have yielded key insights into the neural basis of vocal learning, it is unknown whether a thalamostriatal system exists in the songbird brain. Thalamic nucleus DLM is an important part of the song system, the network of nuclei required for learning and producing song. DLM receives output from song system basal ganglia nucleus Area X and sits within dorsal thalamus, the proposed avian homolog of the mammalian intralaminar nuclei that also receives projections from the cerebellar nuclei. Using a viral vector that specifically labels presynaptic axon segments, we show in Bengalese finches that dorsal thalamus projects to Area X, the basal ganglia nucleus of the song system, and to surrounding medial striatum. To identify the sources of thalamic input to Area X, we map DLM and cerebellar‐recipient dorsal thalamus (DTCbN). Surprisingly, we find both DLM and dorsal anterior DTCbN adjacent to DLM project to Area X. In contrast, the ventral medial subregion of DTCbN projects to medial striatum outside Area X. Our results suggest the basal ganglia in the song system, like the mammalian basal ganglia, integrate feedback from the thalamic region to which they project as well as thalamic regions that receive cerebellar output.
Chromaticity changes of inorganic pigments in Chinese traditional paintings due to the illumination of frequently‐used light sources in museum
Authors: Dang Rui , Yuan Ye , Liu Gang , Liu Jie
Published: March 2018

Optical radiation can cause permanent damage to the color of Chinese traditional paintings, which have extremely high responsivity in the museum illumination. In order to obtain quantitative influence laws of artificial illumination on inorganic pigments in Chinese traditional paintings and provide basis for choosing light sources, a long periodic illumination experiment was carried out to examine how prolonged exposure of three light sources (tungsten halogen, metal halide and white light emitting diodes), frequently‐used in museums, affect the chromaticity of five inorganic pigments [azurite (blue), cinnabar (red), orpiment (yellow), ancient graphite (black), clam shell powder (white)], commonly used in Chinese traditional paintings. Through the experiment, we found that the illumination causes a color change to inorganic pigments, and the degree of which is related to the photochemical stability of pigments and the high energy shortwave radiation in the light source spectrum. We also obtain the color change laws of the five pigments and the quantitative relationships of color damage for different painting types. These results can provide data basis for related research on Chinese traditional painting illumination and choice basis for light sources in museum lighting designs.
Dancheong colors used for Korean cultural heritage architecture restoration
Authors: Song Injung , Bang Byungsun , Oh Semin , Ha Hyeyoung , Kwak Youngshin
Published: March 2018

Dancheong is Korean traditional decorative coloring on special wooden buildings, and it has been preserved by Danjeongjang as a national intangible cultural heritage—a craftman with a special skill to paint dancheong. All dancheong in the national heritage have been managed by the Cultural Heritage Administration following the standard procedure. However, there is no available information about final colors. In this study, a total of six different dancheong color paletts were prepared by six different apprentices of the living national treasures. In total, there were 20 different colors and 12 colors were shown in all six palettes. The color measurement result showed that well trained dancheong painter can reproduce the same colors repeatedly with fairly high precision with 1.8
on average except two colors—Ju‐hong and Yang‐cheong—showing high chroma differences, but with very similar lightness and hue angle indicating that hue of dancheong colors is the most important factor to judge the correctness of the color preproduction. The dancheong colors show large variations depending on the painters but the painters trained by the same teacher have the similar color palettes. Further in‐depth dancheong color investigation is needed to fully understand the contemporary dancheong colors.
Emotion detection from EEG recordings based on supervised and unsupervised dimension reduction
Authors: Liu Jingxin , Meng Hongying , Li Maozhen , Zhang Fan , Qin Rui , Nandi Asoke K.
Published: March 2018

In recent years, researchers have been trying to detect human emotions from recorded brain signals such as electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. However, due to the high levels of noise from the EEG recordings, a single feature alone cannot achieve good performance. A combination of distinct features is the key for automatic emotion detection. In this paper, we present a hybrid dimension feature reduction scheme using a total of 14 different features extracted from EEG recordings. The scheme combines these distinct features in the feature space using both supervised and unsupervised feature selection processes. Maximum Relevance Minimum Redundancy (mRMR) is applied to re‐order the combined features into max‐relevance with the labels and min‐redundancy of each feature. The generated features are further reduced with principal component analysis (PCA) for extracting the principal components. Experimental results show that the proposed work outperforms the state‐of‐art methods using the same settings in the publicly available DEAP data set.
Who stays in addiction treatment groups? Anxiety and avoidant attachment styles predict treatment retention and relapse
Authors: Marshall S. W. , Albery I. P. , Frings D.
Published: March 2018

Attachment styles have been shown to be an important predictor of relationship quality and well‐being. They have also been linked with ability to function well in groups. Insecure attachment styles are thought to be an underlying cause of addiction and represent a target for change in one‐to‐one therapy. How attachment styles themselves affect group therapy for addiction is understudied. The current study addresses this gap by examining the effects of attachment styles on relapse and treatment retention amongst a population of people attending addiction therapy groups. Fifty‐eight individuals in such groups completed measures of attachment anxiety and avoidance. Participants were followed up 4 weeks later, and their continued treatment attendance and relapse status were recorded. In terms of treatment retention, high anxiety/high avoidant participants had the highest retention. In terms of relapse, low anxiety/high avoidant participants had the lowest rates. These results are discussed in terms of the potentially protective effects of avoidant attachment styles during group therapy and the role of anxiety attachment in the continued maintenance of both protective and risky personal relationships.
The evolving normative dimensions of ‘riot’: Towards an elaborated social identity explanation
Authors: Stott Clifford , Ball Roger , Drury John , Neville Fergus , Reicher Stephen , Boardman Andrea , Choudhury Sanjeedah
Published: March 2018

The question of how normative form changes during a riot, and thus how collective behaviour spreads to different targets and locations, has been neglected in previous research, despite its theoretical and practical importance. We begin to address this limitation through a detailed analysis of the rioting in the London borough of Haringey in 2011. A triangulated analysis of multiple sources of data (including police reports, media accounts, and videos) finds a pattern of behaviour shifting from collective attacks on police targets to looting. A thematic analysis of 41 interview accounts with participants gathered shortly after the events suggests that a shared anti‐police identity allowed local postcode rivalries to be overcome, forming the basis of empowered action not only against the police but to address more long‐standing grievances and desires. It is argued that collective psychological empowerment operated in a ‘positive feedback loop’, whereby one form of collective self‐objectification (and perceived inability of police to respond) formed the basis of further action. This analysis of the development of new targets in an empowered crowd both confirms and extends the elaborated social identity model as an explanation for conflictual intergroup dynamics.
Calibrated prediction regions for Gaussian random fields
Authors: Lagazio Corrado , Vidoni Paolo
Published: March 2018

This paper proposes a method to construct well‐calibrated frequentist prediction regions, with particular regard to the highest prediction density regions, which may be useful for multivariate spatial prediction. We consider, in particular, Gaussian random fields, and using a calibrating procedure we effectively improve the estimative prediction regions, because the coverage probability turns out to be closer to the target nominal value. Whenever a closed‐form expression for the well‐calibrated prediction region is not available, we may specify a simple bootstrap‐based estimator. Particular attention is dedicated to the associated, improved predictive distribution function, which can be usefully considered for identifying spatial locations with extreme or unusual observations. A simulation study is proposed in order to compare empirically the calibrated predictive regions with the estimative ones. The proposed method is then applied to the global model assessment of a deterministic model for the prediction of PM10 levels using data from a network of air quality monitoring stations.
Academic Rigor in the College Classroom: Two Federal Commissions Strive to Define Rigor in the Past 70 Years
Authors: Francis Clay
Published: March 2018

Historic notions of academic rigor usually follow from critiques of the system—we often define our goals for academically rigorous work through the lens of our shortcomings. This chapter discusses how the Truman Commission in 1947 and the Spellings Commission in 2006 shaped the way we think about academic rigor in today's context.
Promoting Equity and Student Learning: Rigor in Undergraduate Academic Experiences
Authors: Bowman Nicholas A. , Culver KC
Published: March 2018

This chapter discusses rigor through an examination of academic experiences that promote college outcomes for all students, particularly for those from marginalized backgrounds or with lower academic preparation.
The Influence of Academic Rigor on Factors Related to College Student Persistence
Authors: Braxton John M. , Francis Clay H.
Published: March 2018

This chapter describes research findings that show a positive relationship between higher order examination questions and core concepts of empirically supported theories of college student persistence for both residential and commuter colleges and universities.
Treating cancer with microRNA replacement therapy: A literature review
Authors: Hosseinahli Nayer , Aghapour Mahyar , Duijf Pascal H. G. , Baradaran Behzad
Published: March 2018

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non‐coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post‐transcriptionally by interfering with the translation of one or more target mRNAs. The unique miRNA sequences are involved in many physiological and pathological processes. Dysregulation of miRNAs contributes to the pathogenesis of all types of cancer. Notably, the diminished expression of tumor suppressor miRNAs, such as members of the Let‐7 and miR‐34 family, promotes tumor progression, invasion and metastasis. The past lustrum in particular, has witnessed substantial improvement of miRNA replacement therapy. This approach aims to restore tumor suppressor miRNA function in tumor cells using synthetic miRNA mimics or miRNA expression plasmids. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of recent advances in miRNA replacement therapy for treatment of cancer and its advantages over conventional gene therapy. We discuss a wide variety of delivery methods and vectors, as well as obstacles that remain to be overcome. Lastly, we review efforts to reverse epigenetic alterations, which affect miRNA expression in cancer cells, and the promising observation that restoring miRNA function re‐sensitizes resistant tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. The fact that various miRNA replacement therapies are currently in clinical trial demonstrates the great potential of this approach to treat cancer.
Carnosic acid inhibits inflammation response and joint destruction on osteoclasts, fibroblast‐like synoviocytes, and collagen‐induced arthritis rats
Authors: Liu Mei , Zhou Xiaotian , Zhou Lin , Liu Zhenzhou , Yuan Jinbo , Cheng Jianwen , Zhao Jinmin , Wu Longfei , Li Hui , Qiu Haiwen , Xu Jiake
Published: March 2018

The discovery of new therapeutic drugs with the ability of preventing inflammation and joint destruction with less adverse effects is urgently needed for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Carnosic acid (CA), a major phenolic compound isolated from the leaves of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), has been reported to have antioxidative and antimicrobial properties. However, its effects on RA have not been elucidated. Here, we investigated the effects of CA on osteoclasts and fibroblast‐like synoviocytes in vitro and on collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) in Wistar rats in vivo. Our in vitro and in vivo studies showed that CA suppressed the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines including TNFɑ, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐17 and MMP‐3, and downregulated the production of RANKL. More importantly, we observed that CA inhibited osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption in vitro and exerted therapeutic protection against joint destruction in vivo. Further biochemical analysis demonstrated that CA suppressed RANKL‐induced activations of NF‐κB and MAPKs (JNK and p38) leading to the downregulation of NFATc1. Taken together, our findings provide the convincing evidence that rosemary derived CA is a promising natural compound for the treatment of RA.
Practical microscale one‐pot radiosynthesis of 18F‐labeled probes
Authors: Iwata Ren , Pascali Claudio , Terasaki Kazunori , Ishikawa Yoichi , Furumoto Shozo , Yanai Kazuhiko
Published: March 2018

High specific activity is often a significant requirement for radiopharmaceuticals. To achieve that with fluorine‐18 (18F)‐labeled probes, it is mandatory to start from no‐carrier–added fluoride and to reduce to a minimum the amount of precursor in order to decrease the presence of any pseudocarrier. In the present study, a feasible and efficient method for microscale one‐pot radiosynthesis of 18F‐labeled probes is described. It allows a substantial reduction in precursor, solvent, and reagents, thus reducing also possible side reaction in the case of base‐sensitive precursors. The method is based on the use of a small amount of Kryptofix 2.2.2/potassium [18F]fluoride in MeOH (K.222/K[18F]F‐MeOH) obtained using Oasis MAX and MCX cartridges. Five methods, differing in terms of MeOH evaporation and precursor addition, for the radiosynthesis of [18F]fallypride and [18F]FET in ≤50‐μL scale, were examined and evaluated. The method using the addition of DMSO to the K.222/K[18F]F‐MeOH solution prior to MeOH evaporation is proposed as a versatile procedure for feasible one‐pot 10‐ to 20‐μL scale radiosyntheses. This method was successfully applied also to the radiosynthesis of [18F]FES, [18F]FLT, and [18F]FMISO, with radiochemical yields comparable with those reported in the literature. Purification of a crude product by an analytical HPLC column was also demonstrated.
Intermediate detection in real time using reactive surface desorption dielectric‐barrier discharge ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhang Hong , Yu Kai , Li Na , He Jing , You Hong , Jiang Jie
Published: March 2018

Reactive intermediates play key roles for reaction mechanism elucidation. A suitable tool for identifying the key intermediates is crucial and highly desirable. In this study, surface desorption dielectric‐barrier discharge ionization (reactive SDDBDI) was developed for characterization of the reactive intermediates. In reactive SDDBDI, the plasma is doped with a reagent before the plasma ions are directed at a cover slip surface bearing another analyte. Different from SDDBDI, reactive SDDBDI can be used both as an ambient ionization source and as a means to produce reagent ions for ambient ion/molecule reactions. The online derivation of 4‐aminophenol with trifluoroacetic anhydride demonstrated that reactive SDDBDI can be used for chemical analysis where improved specificity or sensitivity is required. The utility of this approach for real‐time detection of reactive intermediate was demonstrated by the Schiff‐base and Eberlin reactions. The formed intermediates and products could be readily detected and identified by tandem mass spectrometry. These results indicate that reactive SDDBDI can be used to generate reagent ions that undergo ion/molecule reactions in the open air with an analyte at condensed phase on a surface. Reactive SDDBDI has high‐efficiency ion transmission and high MS sensitivity. It is thus a potential tool to perform ambient ion/molecule reactions and detect reactive intermediates.
Viscoelastic heating of insulated bovine intervertebral disc
Authors: Newman Harrah R. , Bowles Robert D. , Buckley Mark R.
Published: March 2018

Back pain is the leading cause of disability globally and the second most common cause of doctors’ visits. Despite extensive research efforts, the underlying mechanism of back pain has not been fully elucidated. The intervertebral disc (IVD) is a viscoelastic tissue that provides flexibility to the spinal column and acts as a shock absorber in the spine. When viscoelastic materials like the IVD are cyclically loaded, they dissipate energy as heat. Thus, diurnal, regular movements of the vertebral column that deform the IVD could increase disc temperature through viscoelastic heating. This temperature rise has the potential to influence cell function, drive cell death and induce nociception in innervating nociceptive neurons within the IVD. The present study was conducted to investigate the capacity of IVD to increase in temperature due to viscoelastic heating. Insulated caudal bovine IVD were subjected to physiological cyclic uniaxial compression over a range of frequencies (0.1‐15 Hz) and loading durations (1‐10 min) ex vivo, and the temperature rise in the tissue was recorded. According to our findings, the IVD can experience a temperature rise of up to 2.5°C under cyclic loading. Furthermore, under similar conditions, the inner nucleus pulposus exhibits more viscoelastic heating than the outer annulus fibrosis, likely due to its more viscous composition. The measured temperature rise of the disc has physiological relevance as degenerative IVD tissue has been shown to produce a sensitization of nociceptive neurons that spontaneously fire at 37°C, with a T50 response at 37.3°C and a maximum response at 38°C. Our results suggest that viscoelastic heating of IVD could interact with sensitized nociceptive neurons in the degenerative IVD to play a role in back pain.
Additive response to multiple environmental stressors in the seagrass Zostera marina L.
Authors: Moreno‐Marín Francisco , Brun Fernando Guillermo , Pedersen Morten Foldager
Published: March 2018

Ongoing climate changes alter a broad range environmental variables in coastal ecosystems, which may lead to changes in species range distributions or collapse of populations. It is often assumed that changes in environmental parameters affect organisms in a nonadditive way and multifactorial experiments are therefore needed to obtain a better prediction of the effects of climate change. We studied experimentally how combinations of high temperature, low light and high nitrogen (HN) availability affect eelgrass (Zostera marina), which is an important foundation species on the northern hemisphere. Plants were cultured under optimal (15°C) and high (25°C) temperature, limiting and saturating light, and low and high ammonium availability in a 3‐factorial design. We found that individual exposure to heat and shade, respectively, had a negative effect on eelgrass while the effect of exposure to HN‐availability alone was less harmful. Exposure to combinations of two or three stressors simultaneously had a stronger (negative) effect on eelgrass than exposure to each stressor individually, but the combined effects of exposure to multiple stressors were largely similar to the expected additive responses. A synergetic effect was only found in case of mortality when eelgrass plants were exposed to all three stressors simultaneously. The effects of exposure to single or multiple stressors could largely be explained from alterations in the C‐budget of the plants: exposure to one or more stressors lowered the acquisition of C, drained the C‐reserves and sometimes allocated energy to defense or repair processes instead of growth resulting in reduced growth and higher mortality.
Application of statistical and computational methodology to predict brainstem dosimetry for trigeminal neuralgia stereotactic radiosurgery
Authors: Du Qian , Zhang Chi , Zhu Xiaofeng , Liang Xiaoying , Zhang Chi , Verma Vivek , Follet Kenneth , Wang Shuo , Fan Qiyong , Ma Rongtao , Zhou Sumin , Zheng Dandan
Published: March 2018

Objectives

To apply advanced statistical and computational methodology in evaluating the impact of anatomical and technical variables on normal tissue dosimetry of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).

Methods

Forty patients treated with LINAC‐based TN SRS with 90 Gy maximum dose were randomly selected for the study. Parameters extracted from the treatment plans for the study included three dosimetric output variables: the maximum dose to the brainstem (BSmax), the volume of brainstem that received at least 10 Gy (V10BS), and the volume of normal brain that received at least 12 Gy (V12). We analyzed five anatomical variables: the incidence angle of the nerve with the brainstem surface (A), the nerve length (L), the nerve width as measured both axially (WA) and sagittally (WS), the distance measured along the nerve between the isocenter and the brainstem surface (D), and one technical variable: the utilized cone size (CS). Univariate correlation was calculated for each pair among all parameters. Multivariate regression models were fitted for the output parameters using the optimal input parameters selected by the Gaussian graphic model LASSO. Repeated twofold cross‐validations were used to evaluate the models.

Results

Median BSmax, V10BS, and V12 for the 40 patients were 35.7 Gy, 0.14 cc, and 1.28 cc, respectively. Median A, L, WA, WS, D, and CS were 43.7°, 8.8 mm, 2.8 mm, 2.7 mm, 4.8 mm, and 6 mm, respectively. Of the three output variables, BSmax most strongly correlated with the input variables. Specifically, it had strong, negative correlations with the input anatomical variables and a positive correlation with CS. The correlation between D and BSmax at −0.51 was the strongest correlation between single input and output parameters, followed by that between CS and V10BS at 0.45, and that between A and BSmax at −0.44. V12 was most correlated with cone size alone, rather than anatomy. LASSO identified an optimal 3‐feature combination of A, D, and CS for BSmax and V10BS prediction. Using cross‐validation, the multivariate regression models with the three selected features yielded stronger correlations than the correlation between the BSmax and V10BS themselves.

Conclusions

For the first time, an advanced statistical and computational methodology was applied to study the impact of anatomical and technical variables on TN SRS. The variables were found to impact brainstem doses, and reasonably strong correlation models were established using an optimized 3‐feature combination including the nerve incidence angle, cone size, and isocenter‐brainstem distance.
Timing of sperm capacitation varies reproducibly among men
Authors: Ostermeier G. Charles , Cardona Cristina , Moody Melissa A. , Simpson Alana J. , Mendoza Romeo , Seaman Eric , Travis Alexander J.
Published: March 2018

Sperm must mature functionally in the process of capacitation to become able to fertilize. Capacitation depends on membrane lipid changes, and can be quantitatively assessed by redistribution of the ganglioside GM1, the basis of the Cap‐Score™ sperm function test. Here, differences in Cap‐Score were compared among and within men at two time points. Ejaculates were liquefied, washed, and incubated for 3 hr under capacitating (Cap) conditions, then fixed and analyzed immediately (Day0); after being incubated 3 hr under Cap conditions then maintained 22–24 hr in fix (Day1‐fix); or after 22–24 hr incubation under Cap conditions prior to fixation (Day1). In all cases, a light fixative previously shown to allow membrane lipid movements was used. Day1‐fix and Day1 Cap‐Scores were greater than Day0 (p < 0.001; n = 25), whereas Day1‐fix and Day1 Cap‐Scores were equivalent (p = 0.43; n = 25). In 123 samples from 52 fertile men, Cap‐Score increased more than 1SD (7.7; calculated previously from a fertile cohort) from Day0 to Day1‐fix in 44% (54/123) of the samples. To test whether timing of capacitation was consistent within an individual, 52 samples from 11 fertile men were classified into either “early” or “late” capacitation groups. The average capacitation group concordance within a donor was 81%. Median absolute deviation (MAD; in Cap‐Score units) was used to assess the tightness of clustering of the difference from Day0 to Day1‐fix within individuals. The average (2.21) and median (1.98) MAD confirmed consistency within individuals. Together, these data show that the timing of capacitation differed among men and was consistent within men.
Effects of anesthesia on renal function and metabolism in rats assessed by hyperpolarized MRI
Authors: Qi Haiyun , Mariager Christian Østergaard , Lindhardt Jakob , Nielsen Per Mose , Stødkilde‐Jørgensen Hans , Laustsen Christoffer
Published: March 2018

Purpose

Anesthesia is necessary for most animal studies requiring invasive procedures. It is well documented that various types of anesthesia modulate a wide variety of important metabolic and functional processes in the body, and as such, represent a potential limitation in the study design. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the renal functional and metabolic consequences of 3 typical rodent anesthetics used in preclinical MRI: sevoflurane, inaction, and a mixture of fentanyl, fluanisone, and midazolam (FFM).

Methods

The renal effects of 3 different classes of anesthetics (inactin, servoflurane, and FFM) were investigated using functional and metabolic MRI. The renal glucose metabolism and hemodynamics was characterized with hyperpolarized [1‐13C]pyruvate MRI and by DCE imaging.

Results

Rats receiving sevoflurane or FFM had blood glucose levels that were 1.3‐fold to 1.4‐fold higher than rats receiving inactin. A 2.9‐fold and 4.8‐fold increased 13C‐lactate/13C‐pyruvate ratio was found in the FFM mixture anesthetized group compared with the sevoflurane and the inactin anesthetized groups. The FFM anesthesia resulted in a 50% lower renal plasma flow compared with the sevoflurane and the inactin anesthetized groups.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates different renal metabolic and hemodynamic changes under 3 different anesthetics, using hyperpolarized MR in rats. Inactin and sevoflurane were found to affect the renal hemodynamic and metabolic status to a lesser degree than FFM. Sevoflurane anesthesia is particularly easy to induce and maintain during the whole anesthesia procedure, and as such, represents a good alternative to inaction, although it alters the blood glucose level.
High Body Adiposity Drives Glucose Intolerance and Increases Cardiovascular Risk in Normoglycemic Subjects
Authors: Pérez‐Pevida Belén , Díaz‐Gutiérrez Jesús , Miras Alexander Dimitri , Silva Camilo , Romero Sonia , Salvador Javier , Escalada Javier , Frühbeck Gema
Published: March 2018

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess the utility of the 2‐hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) value to discriminate between different cardiometabolic profiles and examine the role of body composition in predicting the associated increased risk for glucose impairment, beta‐cell dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods

Subjects with normal fasting glucose completed a 2‐hour OGTT and were categorized to the carbohydrate metabolism alterations (CMAs) or the control group based on a 2‐hour glucose threshold of 7.8 mmol/L. Body composition, visceral adipose tissue, OGTT‐based parameters, and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and smoking status were measured.

Results

Subjects with CMAs exhibited a significantly higher 1‐hour postload glucose level and a greater decline in beta‐cell function and CVRF profiles. After multivariate adjustment, an excess of total body and visceral fat was associated with an increased risk of CMAs, beta‐cell dysfunction, CVRFs, and lower whole‐body insulin sensitivity.

Conclusions

These data support the etiopathogenic role of body and visceral fat in the development of glucose derangements and CVRFs early on in the metabolic dysregulation process. Thus, body composition analysis and OGTT assessment performed in individuals with normal fasting glucose enable a better identification of patients at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and CVD.
Impact fracture behavior and morphology of polypropylene/graphene nanoplatelets composites
Authors: Liang Ji‐Zhao
Published: March 2018

The influence of the size and content of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) on impact fracture toughness of reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites were investigated by means of a pendulum impact instrument at room temperature. The results showed that the Izod V‐notched and non‐notched impact strength and Charpy V‐notched impact strength increased when GNPs weight fraction was <0.4 wt%, and then decreased with increasing GNPs weight fraction. Moreover, the effect of the GNPs size on the impact fracture toughness was relatively significant; the GNPs with large layer number and flake thickness were beneficial to improve the Izod V‐notched impact fracture toughness, large particle lateral dimension was beneficial to improve the Izod non‐notched impact fracture toughness; while the GNPs with large specific surface area and flake thickness were beneficial to improve the Charpy V‐notched impact fracture toughness. Finally, the mechanisms of the toughened and reinforced effects of the GNPs on the PP/composites were discussed. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E511–E516, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
From self‐assembled peptide‐ynes to peptide polyacetylenes and polydiacetylenes
Authors: Marafon Giulia , Motta Maria Angela , Toniolo Claudio , Moretto Alessandro
Published: March 2018

A set of four organogelators from an α‐amino acid derivative to a tetrapeptide, covalently linked to an acetylenic moiety, was studied in terms of polymerization efficiencies to afford peptide polyacetylenes and polydiacetylenes. Peptides were designed to improve the organogelator behavior via formation of intermolecular H‐bonding‐mediated β‐sheet networks as a function of their main‐chain length. The polymerization experiments were run under appropriate conditions for the various monomers with the aim at elucidating how the monomer self‐assembly process might influence polymer formation. Starting compounds and their corresponding polymers were characterized by a variety of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques.
Molecular simulations of venom peptide‐membrane interactions: Progress and challenges
Authors: Deplazes Evelyne
Published: March 2018

Because of their wide range of biological activities venom peptides are a valuable source of lead molecules for the development of pharmaceuticals, pharmacological tools and insecticides. Many venom peptides work by modulating the activity of ion channels and receptors or by irreversibly damaging cell membranes. In many cases, the mechanism of action is intrinsically linked to the ability of the peptide to bind to or partition into membranes. Thus, understanding the biological activity of these venom peptides requires characterizing their membrane binding properties. This review presents an overview of the recent developments and challenges in using biomolecular simulations to study venom peptide‐membrane interactions. The review is focused on (i) gating modifier peptides that target voltage‐gated ion channels, (ii) venom peptides that inhibit mechanosensitive ion channels, and (iii) pore‐forming venom peptides. The methods and approaches used to study venom peptide‐membrane interactions are discussed with a particular focus on the challenges specific to these systems and the type of questions that can (and cannot) be addressed using state‐of‐the‐art simulation techniques. The review concludes with an outlook on future aims and directions in the field.