bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ginsenoside Rg3 attenuates ovariectomy‐induced osteoporosis via AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway
Authors: Zhang Xiaonan , Huang Fenglan , Chen Xiaoyong , Wu Xiaoqing , Zhu Jinyu
Published: June 2020

Ginsenoside Rg3, a ginsenoside isolated from Panax ginseng, can regulate autophagy via AMP‐activated protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) signaling pathway. AMPK/mTOR signaling and autophagy have been reported to be involved in osteogenesis. Here, the effect of Rg3 on ovariectomy (OVX)‐induced osteoporosis is explored. In vivo, rats were treated with 20 mg/kg Rg3 after OVX and the body weight (BW) was monitored. Bone mineral density (BMD), hematoxylin–eosin staining of femur tissues, osteogenesis, autophagy, and AMPK/mTOR signaling were analyzed. In vitro, MC3T3‐E1 cells were treated with 0, 1, 5, 10, 20, and 100 μmol/L Rg3. 10 and 20 μmol/L Rg3, which had no significant effect on cell viability and significantly affected AMPK/mTOR signaling, were chosen for further analysis. Then osteogenic differentiation was induced with Rg3 or/and AMPK inhibitor (Compound C). AMPK/mTOR signaling, autophagy, osteogenic differentiation, and mineralization by Alizarin Red staining were analyzed. The expression or activity of AMPK/mTOR signaling‐related proteins, autophagy markers, and osteogenesis markers was measured by western blotting or commercial kits, and cell viability by cell counting kit‐8 assay kits. Rg3 significantly alleviated OVX‐induced BW increases, BMD declines and histological changes of femur tissues, promoted osteogenesis, autophagy, and AMPK signaling, but inhibited mTOR signaling in vivo. Moreover, Rg3 significantly enhanced AMPK signaling, autophagy, osteogenic differentiation, and mineralization, but suppressed mTOR signaling in vitro. However, Compound C significantly reversed Rg3‐induced alterations in vitro, indicating that Rg3 regulated autophagy, osteogenic differentiation, and mineralization via AMPK/mTOR signaling. Hence, it was speculated that Rg3 might attenuate OVX‐induced osteoporosis via AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.
Discovery and Characterization of Novel Naphthalimide Analogs as Potent Multitargeted Directed Ligands against Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Gao Jie , Chapman James
Published: June 2020

Current therapeutic drugs for Alzheimer's disease (AD) can only offer limited symptomatic benefits and do not halt disease progression. Multitargeted directed ligands (MTDLs) have been considered to be a feasible way to treat AD due to the multiple neuropathological processes in AD. Previous studies proposed that compounds containing two aromatic groups connected by a carbon chain should act as effective amyloid β (Aβ) aggregation inhibitors although the optimal length of the carbon chain has not been explored. In the current study, a series of naphthalimide analogs were designed and synthesized based on the proposed structure and multiple bioactivities beneficial to the AD treatment were reported. In vitro studies showed that compound 8, which has two aromatic groups connected by a two‐carbon chain, exhibited significant inhibition of Aβ aggregation through the prevention of elongation and association of Aβ fibril growth. Furthermore, this compound also displayed antioxidative activities and neuroprotection from Aβ monomer induced toxicity in primary cortical neurons. The results of the present study highlight a novel naphthalimide‐based compound 8 as a promising MTDL against AD. Its structural elements can be further explored for enhanced therapeutic capabilities.
“New” cyanobacterial blooms are not new: two centuries of lake production are related to ice cover and land use
Authors: Ewing Holly A. , Weathers Kathleen C. , Cottingham Kathryn L. , Leavitt Peter R. , Greer Meredith L. , Carey Cayelan C. , Steele Bethel G. , Fiorillo Alyeska U. , Sowles John P.
Published: June 2020

Recent cyanobacterial blooms in otherwise unproductive lakes may be warning signs of impending eutrophication in lakes important for recreation and drinking water, but little is known of their historical precedence or mechanisms of regulation. Here, we examined long‐term sedimentary records of both general and taxon‐specific trophic proxies from seven lakes of varying productivity in the northeastern United States to investigate their relationship to historical in‐lake, watershed, and climatic drivers of trophic status. Analysis of fossil pigments (carotenoids and chlorophylls) revealed variable patterns of past primary production across lakes over two centuries despite broadly similar changes in regional climate and land use. Sediment abundance of the cyanobacterium Gloeotrichia, a large, toxic, nitrogen‐fixing taxon common in recent blooms in this region, revealed that this was not a new taxon in the phytoplankton communities but rather had been present for centuries. Histories of Gloeotrichia abundance differed strikingly across lakes and were not consistently associated with most other sediment proxies of trophic status. Changes in ice cover most often coincided with changes in fossil pigments, and changes in watershed land use were often related to changes in Gloeotrichia abundance, although no single climatic or land‐use factor was associated with proxy changes across all seven lakes. The degree to which changes in lake sediment records co‐occurred with changes in the timing of ice‐out or agricultural land use was negatively correlated with the ratio of watershed area to lake area. Thus, both climate and land management appeared to play key roles in regulation of primary production in these lakes, although the manner in which these factors influenced lakes was mediated by catchment morphometry. Improved understanding of the past interactions between climate change, land use, landscape setting, and water quality underscores the complexity of mechanisms regulating lake and cyanobacterial production and highlights the necessity of considering these interactions—rather than searching for a singular mechanism—when evaluating the causes of ongoing changes in low‐nutrient lakes.
Elevated plasma sRAGE and IGFBP7 in heart failure decrease after heart transplantation in association with haemodynamics
Authors: Ahmed Abdulla , Ahmed Salaheldin , Arvidsson Mattias , Bouzina Habib , Lundgren Jakob , Rådegran Göran
Published: June 2020

Aims

Metabolic derangement is implicated in the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF) and pulmonary hypertension (PH). We aimed to identify the dynamics of metabolic plasma proteins linked to end‐stage HF and associated PH in relation to haemodynamics, before and after heart transplantation (HT).

Methods and results

Twenty‐one metabolic plasma proteins were analysed with proximity extension assay in 20 controls and 26 patients before and 1 year after HT. Right heart catheterizations were performed in the HF patients pre‐operatively and 1 year after HT. Plasma levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) and insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) were higher in HF patients compared with controls (P < 0.0001) and decreased after HT (P < 0.0001), matching controls' levels. The decrease in sRAGE after HT correlated with improved mean pulmonary arterial pressure (rs = 0.7; P < 0.0001), pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (rs = 0.73; P < 0.0001), pulmonary vascular resistance (rs = 0.65; P = 0.00062), and pulmonary arterial compliance (rs = −0.52; P = 0.0074). The change in plasma IGFBP7 after HT correlated with improved mean right atrial pressure (rs = 0.71; P = 0.00011) and N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (rs = 0.71; P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Our results indicate that plasma sRAGE may reflect passive pulmonary vascular congestion and the ‘mechanical’ state of the pulmonary vasculature in HF patients with or without related PH. Furthermore, sRAGE and IGFBP7 may provide additional insight into the pathophysiological mechanisms in HF and associated PH. Their potential clinical and therapeutic relevance in HF and associated PH need further investigation.
A registry‐based algorithm to predict ejection fraction in patients with heart failure
Authors: Uijl Alicia , Lund Lars H. , Vaartjes Ilonca , Brugts Jasper J. , Linssen Gerard C. , Asselbergs Folkert W. , Hoes Arno W. , Dahlström Ulf , Koudstaal Stefan , Savarese Gianluigi
Published: June 2020

Aims

Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) is required to categorize heart failure (HF) [i.e. HF with preserved (HFpEF), mid‐range (HFmrEF), and reduced (HFrEF) EF] but is often not captured in population‐based cohorts or non‐HF registries. The aim was to create an algorithm that identifies EF subphenotypes for research purposes.

Methods and results

We included 42 061 HF patients from the Swedish Heart Failure Registry. As primary analysis, we performed two logistic regression models including 22 variables to predict (i) EF≥ vs. <50% and (ii) EF≥ vs. <40%. In the secondary analysis, we performed a multivariable multinomial analysis with 22 variables to create a model for all three separate EF subphenotypes: HFrEF vs. HFmrEF vs. HFpEF. The models were validated in the database from the CHECK‐HF study, a cross‐sectional survey of 10 627 patients from the Netherlands. The C‐statistic (discrimination) was 0.78 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77–0.78] for EF ≥50% and 0.76 (95% CI 0.75–0.76) for EF ≥40%. Similar results were achieved for HFrEF and HFpEF in the multinomial model, but the C‐statistic for HFmrEF was lower: 0.63 (95% CI 0.63–0.64). The external validation showed similar discriminative ability to the development cohort.

Conclusions

Routine clinical characteristics could potentially be used to identify different EF subphenotypes in databases where EF is not readily available. Accuracy was good for the prediction of HFpEF and HFrEF but lower for HFmrEF. The proposed algorithm enables more effective research on HF in the big data setting.
H‐*BEA Zeolite‐Catalyzed Nucleophilic Substitution in Allyl Alcohols Using Sulfonamides, Amides, and Anilines
Authors: Ohtsuki Akimichi , Aoki Shunsuke , Nishida Ryo , Morita Sachiko , Fujii Takeshi , Okumura Kazu
Published: June 2020

Herein, we report a novel zeolite‐catalyzed nucleophilic substitution in allyl alcohols. The product yield was improved upon the addition of NaOTf (0.05 mol‐%) using the studied zeolites. The highest yields were observed using H‐*BEA(Si/Al2 = 40)/NaOTf. The scope of the reaction with respect to the nucleophile was examined using 1,3‐diphenylprop‐2‐ene‐1‐ol as a model substrate under optimized reaction conditions. p‐Substituted aryl sulfonamides bearing electron‐rich or electron‐deficient substituents, alkyl sulfonamides, and heteroaryl sulfonamides undergo the amidation reaction to produce their corresponding allyl sulfonamides in good yield. Amides and anilines exhibited low activity under the optimized conditions, however, performing the reaction at 90 °C produced the target product. The scope of the allyl alcohol was investigated using p‐toluenesulfonamide as the nucleophile and the reaction proceeded with a variety of allylic alcohols. To probe the practical utility of the H‐*BEA‐catalyzed amidation reaction, a gram‐scale reaction was performed using 1.01 g (4.8 mmol) of allyl alcohol, which afforded the target product in 88 % yield.
Study on torque and clamping forces of screw‐connected plywood
Authors: Kumpenza Cedou , Schmidt Gerhard‐David , Sotayo Adeayo , Ringhofer Andreas , Müller Ulrich
Published: June 2020

In various engineering applications, screws are commonly used to connect wood and engineered wood products to each other. To describe the axial loads which may be transmitted with these components, it is important to quantify the resulting clamping forces in relation to the applied screw torques. In this initial study, birch plywood panels with thicknesses of t = 12, 16, and 20 mm connected with screws (major thread diameter d ≈ 5 mm) are experimentally tested to establish screw driving, tightening and stripping torques. In addition to that, the resulting clamping forces that occur over a time period of 120 hours are monitored and analyzed. A good agreement was found between the established time‐dependent clamping force functions compared to the regression model, which are recommended in the literature.
Effects of hexagonal boron nitride based nanofluid on the tribological and performance, emission characteristics of a diesel engine: An experimental study
Authors: Ramteke Sangharatna M. , Chelladurai H.
Published: June 2020

In recent years, nanoparticles have attracted researchers attention due to its wear and friction reduction characteristics in lubricating oil. Hence, it is of utmost importance to consider nanoparticles additive in the lube oil and study its impact on the tribological and performance characteristics of mechanical systems. Therefore, this paper intends to explore the impact of conventional and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) nanoparticles‐based lubricant on the wear of engine components, performance, and emission characteristics of a diesel engine. The different concentration namely, 0.5 wt.%, 0.75 wt.%, and 1 wt.% BN‐based nanofluids were formulated. The formulated nanofluids were characterized by UV‐spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for dispersion and heat capacity analyses respectively. From the characterization results, 1wt.% BN nanofluid was found stable and well dispersed and therefore, considered for further experimental analysis. The outcomes of the present study revealed that 1 wt.% BN‐based nanofluid shown better anti‐wear properties and improvement in performance, emission characteristics of the diesel engine. The obtained results will be useful for the lubricant industry to think toward formulating nanoparticles‐based lubricating
oil.
Contrasting Effects of Predation Risk and Copper on Copepod Respiration Rates
Authors: Lode Torben , Heuschele Jan , Andersen Tom , Titelman Josefin , Hylland Ketil , Borgå Katrine
Published: June 2020

Natural biotic and anthropogenic stressors can interact to alter contaminant toxicity. Energetic restrictions are potential mechanisms causing this pattern. To identify processes underlying observed effects of predation risk and copper (Cu) on delayed copepod age at maturity, we examined how these 2 stressors affect respiration rates. We tested 2 very different copepod species: the large, pelagic calanoid Calanus finmarchicus and the small, semibenthic harpacticoid Tigriopus brevicornis. Adult individuals were exposed for 12 h to the treatments: predation risk, Cu (23 µg L−1), combined predation risk and Cu (23 µg L−1), or control. Oxygen concentrations were monitored continuously. The 2 species differed in their responses. We found no clear effects of either stressor in C. finmarchicus. In T. brevicornis, predation risk increased respiration rates, whereas Cu alone had little impact. In contrast, combined exposure to predation risk and Cu interacted to reduce respiration rates to less than expected. We further observed an effect of sex because female-biased T. brevicornis replicates were more sensitive to both predation risk (increased respiration rates) and Cu exposure (reduced respiration rates). The present study provides further evidence that predation risk can interact with copepod responses toward Cu exposure. Interactive effects of biotic stressors ought to be considered to improve future marine environmental monitoring. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1765–1773. © 2020 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Abstract

Contrasting exposure effects on copepod respiration.
Effects of saw palmetto fruit extract intake on improving urination issues in Japanese men: A randomized, double‐blind, parallel‐group, placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Ishii Ikuya , Wada Tatsuya , Takara Tsuyoshi
Published: June 2020

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of 12‐week consumption of saw palmetto fruit extract (320 mg per day) on urination issues. A total of 44 Japanese men aged 40–69 years who experienced urination issues and awaken ≥2 times at night to urinate participated in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study between June and December 2017. All subjects were randomly allocated into a saw palmetto fruit extract group (SP group, n = 22) or a placebo group (P group, n = 22) using a computerized random number generator. Each group took their assigned one capsule every day for 12 weeks. Subjective symptoms and impact on daily life were assessed using the international prostate symptom score (IPSS) as a primary outcome, King's health questionnaire (KHQ), and overactive bladder symptom score. A safety evaluation was also performed. A total of 20 subjects in each group were analyzed. There was a significant group–time interaction for total IPSS. The SP group also showed a significant decrease in IPSS at 8 weeks compared with the P group, suggesting reduced subjective symptoms related to urination issues. We observed no adverse effects. The consumption of saw palmetto fruit extract capsule for 12 weeks relieved subjective symptoms related to urination, which suggests improvement of the issue in healthy Japanese men.
Liver X Receptor Alpha Activation Inhibits Autophagy and Lipophagy in Hepatocytes by Dysregulating Autophagy‐Related 4B Cysteine Peptidase and Rab‐8B, Reducing Mitochondrial Fuel Oxidation
Authors: Kim Yun Seok , Nam Hyeon Joo , Han Chang Yeob , Joo Min Sung , Jang Kiseok , Jun Dae Won , Kim Sang Geon
Published: June 2020

Background and Aims

Fat accumulation results from increased fat absorption and/or defective fat metabolism. Currently, the lipid‐sensing nuclear receptor that controls fat utilization in hepatocytes is elusive. Liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) promotes accumulation of lipids through the induction of several lipogenic genes. However, its effect on lipid degradation is open for study. Here, we investigated the inhibitory role of LXRα in autophagy/lipophagy in hepatocytes and the underlying basis.

Approach and Results

In LXRα knockout mice fed a high‐fat diet, or cell models, LXRα activation suppressed the function of mitochondria by inhibiting autophagy/lipophagy and induced hepatic steatosis. Gene sets associated with “autophagy” were enriched in hepatic transcriptome data. Autophagy flux was markedly augmented in the LXRα knockout mouse liver and primary hepatocytes. Mechanistically, LXRα suppressed autophagy‐related 4B cysteine peptidase (ATG4B) and Rab‐8B, responsible for autophagosome and ‐lysosome formation, by inducing let‐7a and microRNA (miR)‐34a. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay enabled us to find LXRα as a transcription factor of let‐7a and miR‐34a. Moreover, 3’ untranslated region luciferase assay substantiated the direct inhibitory effects of let‐7a and miR‐34a on ATG4B and Rab‐8B. Consistently, either LXRα activation or the let‐7a/miR‐34a transfection lowered mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate and mitochondrial transmembrane potential and increased fat levels. In obese animals or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients, let‐7a and miR‐34a levels were elevated with simultaneous decreases in ATG4B and Rab‐8B levels.

Conclusions

LXRα inhibits autophagy in hepatocytes through down‐regulating ATG4B and Rab‐8B by transcriptionally activating microRNA let‐7a‐2 and microRNA 34a genes and suppresses mitochondrial biogenesis and fuel consumption. This highlights a function of LXRα that culminates in the progression of liver steatosis and steatohepatitis, and the identified targets may be applied for a therapeutic strategy in the treatment of NAFLD.
Population Pharmacokinetic Modeling of Cyclosporine Among Malaysian Renal Transplant Patients: An Evaluation of Methods to Handle Missing Doses in Conventional Drug‐Monitoring Data
Authors: Albitar Orwa , Ballouze Rama , Harun Sabariah Noor , Mohamed Noor Dzul Azri , Sheikh Ghadzi Siti Maisharah
Published: June 2020

Cyclosporine is a primary drug in transplant immunosuppression regimens. It has a narrow therapeutic index and variable pharmacokinetic behavior. This study aimed to develop a population pharmacokinetic model of cyclosporine in Malaysian renal transplant recipients as well as to evaluate the performances of different methodsfor handling missing doses. A total of 2804 concentrationts predose and 2 hours after doses were collected retrospectively from 113 renal transplant patients on cyclosporine in Penang General Hospital. Model structure and pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using nonlinear mixed‐effects modeling software. Missing doses were handled using different methods to evaluate their performance. Covariate analysis was performed using stepwise forward addition (P< .05) followed by backward elimination (P< .001). Prediction‐corrected visual predictive check and sampling‐importance resampling methods were used to validate the final model. A 1‐compartment model with first‐order absorption and elimination best fitted the data. All methods to handle missing doses performed well with the missing dose method being superior to other methods and thus was applied in the final model. Cyclosporine clearance (CL/F) was estimated as 15.1 L/h, and volume of distribution (V/F) was 108 L. Postoperative time, sex, and calcium channel blockers were identified as significant covariates on CL/F, whereas sex and cholesterol level were identified as significant covariates on V/F. This is the first population pharmacokinetic model developed in Malaysian renal transplant patients using a large sample with an evaluation of different methods to handle missing doses in less informative conventional therapeutic drug‐monitoring data.
Prognostic plasma biomarkers of early complications and graft‐versus‐host disease in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Balakrishnan Balaji , Illangeswaran Raveen Stephen Stallon , Rajamani Bharathi M , Pai Aswin Anand , Raj Infencia Xavier , Paul Daniel Zechariah , Lakshmi Kavitha , Mani Thenmozhi , Mohanan Ezhilpavai , Kulkarni Uday , Devasia Anup Joseph , NA Fouzia , Korula Anu , Abraham Aby , Srivastava Alok , Mathews Vikram , Paczesny Sophie , George Biju , Balasubramanian Poonkuzhali
Published: June 2020

Early complications post hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) such as sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) and graft versus host disease (GVHD) can be life threatening. Although several biomarkers have been identified to correlate with these complications and their response to treatment, these are yet to be used in clinical practice. Here, we evaluated circulating endothelial cells (CECs) (n = 26) and plasma biomarkers (ST2, REG3α, VCAM1, ICAM1, TIM3) (N = 210) at early time points, to determine their association with early complications post‐HSCT. Elevated CEC counts at the end of conditioning was associated with GVHD, indicating endothelial damage during HSCT. Plasma levels of REG3α, VCAM1, ICAM1, and TIM3 on day 14 (D14) and D14 ICAM1 and D28 ST2 were significantly higher in patients with SOS and aGVHD, respectively. Upon sub‐group analysis, D28 ST2, D14/D28 REG3α, and D14 ICAM1 levels were significantly higher in patients with gastrointestinal GVHD, while D28 ST2 was higher in those with skin/liver GVHD. High ST2 levels on D28 was significantly associated with non‐relapse mortality (NRM) and overall survival. Our results suggest that elevated ST2 levels on D28 could predict the likelihood of developing aGVHD and could influence NRM and OS.
Increased volume and collagen crosslinks drive soft tissue contribution to post‐traumatic elbow contracture in an animal model
Authors: Dunham Chelsey L. , Steenbock Heiko , Brinckmann Jürgen , Reiter Alex J. , Castile Ryan M. , Chamberlain Aaron M. , Lake Spencer P.
Published: June 2020

Post‐traumatic joint contracture (PTJC) in the elbow is a biological problem with functional consequences. Restoring elbow motion after injury is a complex challenge because contracture is a multi‐tissue pathology. We previously developed an animal model of elbow PTJC using Long‐Evans rats and showed that the capsule and ligaments/cartilage were the primary soft tissues that caused persistent joint motion loss. The objective of this study was to evaluate tissue‐specific changes within the anterior capsule and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) that led to their contribution to elbow contracture. In our rat model of elbow PTJC, a unilateral surgery replicated damage that commonly occurs due to elbow dislocation. Following surgery, the injured limb was immobilized for 42 days. The capsule and LCL were evaluated after 42 days of immobilization or 42 days of immobilization followed by 42 days of free mobilization. We evaluated extracellular matrix protein biochemistry, non‐enzymatic collagen crosslink content, tissue volume with contrast‐enhanced micro‐computed tomography, and tissue mechanical properties. Increased collagen content, but not collagen density, was observed in both injured limb capsules and LCLs, which was consistent with the increased tissue volume. Injured limb LCLs exhibited decreased normalized maximum force, and both tissues had increased immature collagen cross‐links compared to control. Overall, increased tissue volume and immature collagen crosslinks in the capsule and LCL drive their contribution to elbow contracture in our rat model.
Quantum dot phosphors free from hazardous elements: Current status and prospects for established materials and new ZnTe‐based alloys
Authors: Tsukuda Satoshi , Omata Takahisa
Published: June 2020

Television broadcasts are moving to a digital video format based on ultra‐high‐definition (UHD). In addition to high resolution, such UHD displays require a wide color gamut. Quantum dots (QDs) have narrow and color‐tunable emission making these unique light sources for achieving a wide color gamut. Most progress in QDs has been made based on cadmium‐containing materials, as represented by CdSe. These systems have excellent performance in terms of their narrow‐band emission and high emission quantum yield; however, the toxicity of cadmium represents a barrier to practical applications of QD displays. Over the last decade, considerable efforts have been made to develop QDs that do not contain cadmium. Some established alternative materials include InP, CuInS2, and lead halide perovskites. In addition, ZnTe‐based alloy QDs have recently been proposed as promising green and red phosphors. Narrow‐band and green emission (30 nm of full‐width at half‐maximum at a wavelength of 535 nm) has also been reported for Zn (Te, Se) alloy QDs. In this review article, we give a brief overview of progress in established cadmium‐free QDs and describe the current status and future challenges of new cadmium‐free QDs, ZnTe‐based alloy QDs.
Targeted characterization of acylated compounds from Scrophulariae Radix using liquid chromatography coupled with Orbitrap mass spectrometry and diagnostic product ion‐based data analysis
Authors: Shang Zhanpeng , Xu Lulu , Wang Haidong , Sun Long , Bo Tao , Ye Min , Qiao Xue
Published: June 2020

Acylated compounds are often present in herbal medicines. In this study, a diagnostic product ion‐based strategy was established to comprehensively characterize acylated compounds in Scrophulariae Radix. After untargeted data acquisition using ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography coupled with Orbitrap mass spectrometry, the data were processed by three‐stage diagnostic product ions. First, diagnostic product ions corresponding to the acyl groups (cinnamoyl, p‐coumaroyl, feruloyl, and caffeoyl) were used to search 90 compounds. Second, these compounds were divided into three categories using diagnostic product ions for phenylethanoid glycosides, iridoid glycosides, and phenylpropanoids, respectively. Last, the linkage position of the acyl group to iridoid glycosides was discriminated via the third‐stage diagnostic product ions. As a result, 90 acylated compounds were characterized, and 37 of them were reported from Scrophulariae Radix for the first time.
Managing operational risks through knowledge sharing infoodsupply chains
Authors: Ali Imran , Gurd Bruce
Published: June 2020

Despite the unprecedented growth in research on knowledge management and supply chain risk management, most prior studies discuss these two topics in isolation. Also, there is a scarcity of empirical research on both topics. By pulling together seemingly unrelated concepts of knowledge sharing and supply chain risk management, this study devises an integrated model investigating the extent to which operational risks affect supply chain performance and the moderating role of knowledge sharing. The dataset contains 225 responses collected from the firm managers of the Australian food supply chains (FSCs) and analyzed through structural equation modeling. The findings uncover that operational risks significantly undermine FSCs performance. However, knowledge sharing inversely moderates the adverse effect of operational risks, such that the higher the knowledge sharing, the lower the adverse performance effect of operational risks and vice versa. The findings enhance managerial discernment about the criticality of frequently occurring operational risks and the role of knowledge sharing in risk mitigation. The novelty of this study lies in the unified model that simultaneously delves into the performance effect of operational risks and moderating influence of knowledge sharing on risk‐performance nexus.
A game‐theoretic proof of Shelah's theorem on labeled trees
Authors: Wilson Trevor M.
Published: June 2020

We give a new proof of a theorem of Shelah which states that for every family of labeled trees, if the cardinality κ of the family is much larger (in the sense of large cardinals) than the cardinality λ of the set of labels, more precisely if the partition relation holds, then there is a homomorphism from one labeled tree in the family to another. Our proof uses a characterization of such homomorphisms in terms of games.
Self‐concept, individual characteristics, and counterfeit consumption: Evidence from an emerging market
Authors: Malik Aneela , Merunka Dwight , Akram Muhammad S. , Barnes Bradley R. , Chen Annie
Published: June 2020

The study draws on a sample of over 350 consumers from 10 department stores in an emerging market where counterfeit products are available in abundance and there is a huge demand for such goods. The findings reveal that interdependent and independent self traits significantly affect individual characteristics, that is, susceptibility to normative influence, readiness to take social risk, and status acquisition (SA), which in turn influences counterfeit purchase intention. It was discovered that such individual characteristics play a mediating effect on the self‐concept—purchase intention relationship and that high degrees of interdependent self traits positively affect consumers' purchase intention. The study adds to the theory of reasoned action (TRA) by incorporating SA variables into the TRA framework and discovers their significant influence on purchase intention. Some novel insights surrounding counterfeit consumption in an emerging economy context are presented and several implications are extracted to help practitioners appeal to such individual characteristics for combating counterfeit consumption.
Solvent Vapor Annealing of a Diblock Copolymer Thin Film with a Nonselective and a Selective Solvent: Importance of Pathway for the Morphological Changes
Authors: Jung Florian A. , Berezkin Anatoly V. , Tejsner Tim B. , Posselt Dorthe , Smilgies Detlef‐M. , Papadakis Christine M.
Published: June 2020

Diblock copolymer thin films of polystyrene‐block‐poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PS‐b‐PDMS) featuring PDMS cylinders in a PS matrix are investigated during solvent vapor annealing with mixtures of n‐heptane (which is strongly selective for PDMS) and toluene (which is close to nonselective for both blocks). Swelling in the vapor of one of the pure solvents and exchanging it stepwise by the vapor of the other solvent is compared to swelling in a given binary solvent vapor mixture for a prolonged time. The resulting structural changes, such as ordering of the cylinders on a hexagonal lattice and their transition into lamellae, are followed using in situ, real‐time grazing‐incidence small‐angle X‐ray scattering (GISAXS). In three runs, the sequence of solvent vapor swelling and vapor exchange is varied. Compiling the resulting morphologies in a diagram of states in dependence on the solvent content in the film and in the minority nanodomains allows insight into the role of the glass transition of the PS matrix for the ordering processes and their time scales. Based on these findings, a protocol is suggested to efficiently obtain an order‐to‐order transition from the cylindrical morphology with random domain orientation to the oriented lamellar state.
Structure–Activity Relationships of Voltaglue Organic Blends
Authors: Tan Nigel C. S. , Ghosh Animesh , Steele Terry W. J.
Published: June 2020

Voltage‐activated, one‐pot adhesives are an emerging platform with many potential advantages, but require multicomponent grafting of electrochemical donors and acceptors for operation in organic environments. This formulation strategy reduces throughput efficiency, organic solubility, and requires additional purification of the grafted dendrimers. A more advanced strategy is proposed for setting up the donor–acceptor conductive network by exploiting a flexible blending design, providing faster throughput of structure–activity analyses with less synthetic investment. The blend method investigates the ampere‐dependent storage modulus and gelation time as a function of both donor and acceptor concentration. This blend strategy allows a rapid evaluation of donor–acceptor parameters involved in voltage‐activated adhesive formulations.
Optimal topology design and distributed formation control of multiagent systems with complex‐weights directed networks
Authors: Ghasemi Ali , Menhaj Mohammad B. , Askari Javad , Ebrahimi Dehshalie Maziar
Published: June 2020

In this article, we consider the optimal topology design and distributed formation control problem of multiagent systems (MAS) with complex‐weighted directed topology. First, a framework is proposed to associate optimal topology of MAS to a constrained optimization problem with a complex Laplacian matrix, which is independent of the agent dynamics. The main contribution of the proposed approach compared with existing results is that the proposed approach does not require the calculation of the stabilizing matrix such that the closed‐loop system is asymptotically stable, and a unique set of complex weights that satisfy associated cooperative conditions can be chosen. Then, a distributed formation control protocol is proposed to enable all agents to achieve the control goal. Finally, some numerical example results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Government Assistance Protects Low‐Income Families from Eviction
Authors: Lundberg Ian , Gold Sarah L. , Donnelly Louis , Brooks‐Gunn Jeanne , McLanahan Sara S.
Published: June 2020

A lack of affordable housing is a pressing issue for many low‐income American families and can lead to eviction from their homes. Housing assistance programs to address this problem include public housing and other assistance, including vouchers, through which a government agency offsets the cost of private market housing. This paper assesses whether the receipt of either category of assistance reduces the probability that a family will be evicted from their home in the subsequent six years. Because no randomized trial has assessed these effects, we use observational data and formalize the conditions under which a causal interpretation is warranted. Families living in public housing experience less eviction conditional on pre‐treatment variables. We argue that this evidence points toward a causal conclusion that assistance, particularly public housing, protects families from eviction.
HIV Infection in Pregnant Women: A 2020 Update
Authors: Harris Kristin , Yudin Mark H.
Published: June 2020

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was first described in 1981, and continues to be one of the worst global health pandemics in recorded history. Concerted international efforts have helped to increase awareness of human immunodeficiency (HIV) status, improve access to treatment and continuation of therapy to achieve viral suppression with a goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. The clinical outcomes for patients living with HIV on combined antiretroviral therapy are considerably improved with prolonged life expectancy and superior quality of life. Further, perinatal transmission rates have dramatically decreased with elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV in a growing number of countries worldwide. However, there have been significant reductions in the pace of progress in treatment expansion for pregnant women with failure to meet global targets in 2018. In this review, we will highlight recent advances and challenges ahead in 2020 for three areas of perinatal care for women with HIV in developed countries: (a) pregnancy planning considerations, (b) impact of antiviral medications on perinatal outcomes, and (c) infant feeding practices. The promise of a HIV‐free generation is on the horizon and continued international efforts in preventing perinatal transmission are an important component of this achievement.
Structural dynamics of pentapeptide repeat proteins
Authors: Xu Shenyuan , Kennedy Michael A.
Published: June 2020

Pentapeptide repeat proteins (PRPs) represent a large superfamily with more than 38 000 sequences in nearly 3500 species, the majority belonging to cyanobacteria but represented among all branches of life. PRPs contain at least eight consecutive pentapeptide repeats with the consensus (A/C/S/V/T/L/I)(D/N/S/K/E/I/R)(L/F)(S/T/R/E/Q/K/V/D)(G/D/E/N/R/Q/K). PRPs fold into right‐handed quadrilateral β helices, also known as repeat‐five‐residue (Rfr)‐folds, with four consecutive pentapeptide repeats comprising a single coil, the ~90° change in polypeptide direction in square‐shaped coils achieved by type I, II and IV β turns, and hydrogen bonds between coils establishing β ladders on each Rfr‐fold face. PRPs are broadly categorized into group 1 and 2 involved in antibiotic resistance and group 3 currently having unknown functions. Motivated by their intriguing structures, we are investigating PRP biophysical characteristics, including Rfr‐fold thermal stability, β turn and β ladder hydrogen bond amide exchange rates and backbone dynamics. Here, we present analysis of 20 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and all atom normal mode analysis (aaNMA) calculations for four group 1 and group 2 and four group 3 PRPs whose structures have been determined by X‐ray crystallography. The MD cross‐correlation matrices and aaNMA indicated strong correlated motion between adjacent coils and weak coupled motion between coils separated by one or more intervening coils. Slow anticorrelated motions were detected between adjacent coils in aaNMA modes that we hypothesize are requisite to access exchange‐competent states necessary to permit solvent exchange of amide hydrogens involved in β‐ladder and β‐turns hydrogen bonds, which can have lifetimes on the order of months.
Upper‐tropospheric inflow layers in tropical cyclones
Authors: Wang Shanghong , Smith Roger K. , Montgomery Michael T.
Published: June 2020

Three‐dimensional numerical simulations of tropical cyclone intensification with sufficient vertical resolution have shown the development of a layer of strong inflow just beneath the upper‐tropospheric outflow layer as well as, in some cases, a shallower layer of weaker inflow above the outflow layer. Here we provide an explanation for these inflow layers in the context of the prototype problem for tropical cyclone intensification, which considers the evolution of a vortex on an f‐plane in a quiescent environment, starting from an initially symmetric, moist, cloud‐free vortex over a warm ocean. We attribute the inflow layers to a subgradient radial force that exists through much of the upper troposphere beyond a certain radius. An alternative explanation that invokes classical axisymmetric balance theory is found to be problematic. We review evidence for the existence of such inflow layers in recent observations. Some effects of the inflow layers on the storm structure are discussed.
A method of steepest ascent for multiresponse surface optimization using a desirability function method
Authors: Lee Dong‐Hee , Kim So‐Hee , Byun Jai‐Hyun
Published: June 2020

Multiresponse problems are common in product or process development. A conventional approach for optimizing multiple responses is to use a response surface methodology (RSM), and this approach is called multiresponse surface optimization (MRSO). In RSM, the method of steepest ascent is widely used for searching for an optimum region where a response is improved. In MRSO, it is difficult to directly apply the method of steepest ascent because MRSO includes several responses to be considered. This paper suggests a new method of steepest ascent for MRSO, which accounts for tradeoffs between multiple responses. It provides several candidate paths of steepest ascent and allows a decision maker to select the most preferred path. This generation and selection procedure is helpful to better understand the tradeoffs between the multiple responses, and ultimately, it moves the experimental region to a good region where a satisfactory compromise solution exists. A hypothetical example is employed for illustrating the proposed procedure. The results of this case study show that the proposed method searches the region containing an optimum where a satisfactory compromise solution exists.
Robust T2 control chart using median‐based estimators
Authors: Maleki Fatemeh , Mehri Saeed , Aghaie Abdollah , Shahriari Hamid
Published: June 2020

One of the most widely used multivariate control charts is the Hotelling T2. In order to construct a Hotelling T2 control chart, the mean vector (μ) and the variance–covariance matrix (Σ) must be first estimated. The classical estimators of μ and Σ are usually used to design Hotelling T2 control chart. The classical estimators are sensitive to the presence of outliers. One way to deal with outliers is to use robust estimators. In this study, a robust T2 control chart is proposed. The mean vector is obtained from the sample median. The median absolute deviation and the comedian are used as the estimates of the elements of the variance–covariance matrix. The proposed robust estimators of the mean vector and the variance–covariance matrix are compared with the sample mean vector and the sample variance–covariance matrix, and the M estimator of these parameters, through efficiency and robustness measures. The performances of the proposed robust T2 control chart and the classical and the M estimators are also compared by means of average run length. Simulation results reveal that the proposed robust T2 control chart has much better performance than the traditional Hotelling T2 and similar performance to the M estimator in detecting shifts in process mean vector. Use of other robust estimators to estimate the process parameters is an area for further research.
Left pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to post‐operative lung abscess
Authors: Amore Dario , Bocchini Giorgio , Casazza Dino , Caterino Umberto , Palma Albina , Curcio Carlo
Published: June 2020

Key message

A prompt diagnosis is mandatory to avoid fatal complications in case of pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm.
Accessory V6 during thoracoscopic middle lobectomy: “an uncomfortable presence”
Authors: Amore Dario , Scaramuzzi Roberto , Casazza Dino , Imitazione Pasquale , Muto Emanuele , Lieto Roberta
Published: June 2020

Key message

The identification of the accessory vein draining the superior segment of the right lower lobe (accessory V6), during the posterior mediastinal lymph node dissection, can help avoid operative complications.
Exponential stabilization of inertial quaternion‐valued Cohen‐Grossberg neural networks: Lexicographical order method
Authors: Li Ruoxia , Cao Jinde
Published: June 2020

In this article, a general class of delayed interval inertial Cohen‐Grossberg neural networks described by quaternion‐valued parameters is considered. Under the homeomorphism mapping theory and lexicographical order method, we investigate the exponential stabilization problem for the quaternion‐valued Cohen‐Grossberg neural networks. To do so, we verify the existence and uniqueness of the equilibrium point (EP), and then by designing a sampled‐data feedback controller, several sufficient criteria are derived to ascertain the robust stability of the EP for the given system. What should be mentioned is that the state parameters are taking values in an interval, which implies the states are taking values between two different quaternions, thus, a lexicographical order method is employed, which proposed an effective method to determine the “magnitude” of two different quaternions. Finally, numerical example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed theoretical results.
XPS and TOF‐SIMS applied to the study of ancient artifacts: Further studies on Alexandrian tetradrachms from the time of the Julio‐Claudian dynasty
Authors: Sodhi Rana N.S. , Brodersen Peter M. , Zaccagnino Cristiana
Published: June 2020

Two tetradrachms from the Diniacopoulos collection housed at Queen's University are the subject of this study. Previously, a protocol had been developed for a coin of the Emperor Claudius from the same collection, which showed that a combination of Time‐of‐Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS), Energy Dispersive X‐ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) could provide information and identify areas of interest for additional analysis, thereby minimizing the amount of damage incurred. This is now applied to two more tetradrachms issued by the same mint and dated respectively to the time of Tiberius (14–37 AD) and Nero (54–68 AD). Preliminary results have indicated both differences and similarities between these coins and that from the time of Claudius. By comparing these results, it is hoped that information as to how the coins were made can be elucidated, shedding light on the different components and composition of the alloys produced in the same mint but at different time periods. Moreover, the detection and the identification of corrosion products, along with understanding what restorations methods may have been applied in the past, can guide conservators to determine what conservation treatment and preservation strategies are most appropriate for these antiquities.
Synthesis of 2‐Methylresorcinol‐Based Deepened Cavitands with Chiral Inlet Bearing Steroidal Moieties on the Upper Rim
Authors: Nagymihály Zoltán , Wölfling János , Schneider Gyula , Kollár
Published: June 2020

A tetraiodocavitand, synthesised in conventional high‐yielding reactions, was used as substrate in homogeneous catalytic reactions such as aminocarbonylation and Sonogashira reaction. 3α‐Aminopregnane and 17α‐ethinylandrostane derivatives were used as coupling agents, respectively. While the aminocarbonylation of the tetraiodocavitand carried out at low pressure carbon monoxide resulted in the formation of tetra‐carboxamides as major products, the high pressure carbonylation (40 bar CO) yielded the corresponding tetrakis(2‐ketocarboxamides) with high chemoselectivity. The ethinyl functionality of the steroid enabled the facile cross‐coupling with the cavitand possessing iodoarene functionalities.