bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variations of Lateral Bedrock Erosion Rates Control Planation of Uplifting Folds in the Foreland of the Tian Shan, NW China
Authors: Bufe Aaron , Burbank Douglas W. , Liu Langtao , Bookhagen Bodo , Qin Jintang , Chen Jie , Li Tao , Thompson Jobe Jessica A. , Yang Huili
Published: November 2017

Fluvial planation surfaces, such as straths, commonly serve as recorders of climatic and tectonic changes and are formed by the lateral erosion of rivers, a process that remains poorly understood. Here we present a study of kilometer‐wide, fluvially eroded, low‐relief surfaces on rapidly uplifting folds in the foreland of the southwestern Tian Shan. A combination of field work, digital elevation model analysis, and dating of fluvial deposits reveals that despite an arid climate and rapid average rock‐uplift rates of 1–3 mm/yr, rivers cut extensive (>1–2 km wide) surfaces with typical height variations of <6 m over periods of >2–6 kyr. The extent of this “beveling” varies in space and time, such that different beveling episodes affect individual structures. Between times of planation, beveled surfaces are abandoned, incised, and deformed across the folds. In a challenge to models that link strath cutting and abandonment primarily to changes in river incision rates, we demonstrate that lateral erosion rates of antecedent streams crossing the folds have to vary by more than 1 order of magnitude to explain the creation of beveled platforms in the past and their incision at the present day. These variations do not appear to covary with climate variability and might be caused by relatively small (much less than an order of magnitude) changes in sediment or water fluxes. It remains uncertain in which settings variations in lateral bedrock erosion rates predominate over changes in vertical erosion rates. Therefore, when studying fluvial planation and strath terraces, variability of both lateral and vertical erosion rates should be considered.
High Sensitivity of Arctic Liquid Clouds to Long‐Range Anthropogenic Aerosol Transport
Authors: Coopman Q. , Garrett T. J. , Finch D. P. , Riedi J.
Published: November 2017

The rate of warming in the Arctic depends upon the response of low‐level microphysical and radiative cloud properties to aerosols advected from distant anthropogenic and biomass‐burning sources. Cloud droplet cross‐section density increases with higher concentrations of cloud condensation nuclei, leading to an increase of cloud droplet absorption and scattering radiative cross sections. The challenge of assessing the magnitude of the effect has been decoupling the aerosol impacts on clouds from how clouds change solely due to natural meteorological variability. Here we address this issue with large, multi‐year satellite, meteorological, and tracer transport model data sets to show that the response of low‐level clouds in the Arctic to anthropogenic aerosols lies close to a theoretical maximum and is between 2 and 8 times higher than has been observed elsewhere. However, a previously described response of arctic clouds to biomass‐burning plumes appears to be overstated because the interactions are rare and modification of cloud radiative properties appears better explained by coincident changes in temperature, humidity, and atmospheric stability.
Ecliptic North‐South Symmetry of Hydrogen Geocorona
Authors: Kameda S. , Ikezawa S. , Sato M. , Kuwabara M. , Osada N. , Murakami G. , Yoshioka K. , Yoshikawa I. , Taguchi M. , Funase R. , Sugita S. , Miyoshi Y. , Fujimoto M.
Published: November 2017

The hydrogen exosphere constitutes the uppermost atmospheric layer of the Earth, and its shape may reflect the last stage of the atmospheric escape process. The distribution of hydrogen in the outer exosphere remains unobserved because outer geocoronal emissions are difficult to observe from within the exosphere. In this study, we used the Lyman Alpha Imaging Camera on board the Proximate Object Close Flyby with Optical Navigation spacecraft, located outside the exosphere, to obtain the first image of the entire geocorona that extends to more than 38 Earth radii. The observed emission intensity distribution can be reproduced using our analytical model that has three parameters: exobase temperature, exobase density, and solar radiation pressure, which implies that hot hydrogen production in the magnetized plasmasphere is not the dominant process shaping the outer hydrogen exosphere. However, the role of the magnetic effect in determining the total escape flux cannot be ruled out.
Sunward Strahl: A Method to Unambiguously Determine Open Solar Flux from In Situ Spacecraft Measurements Using Suprathermal Electron Data
Authors: Owens M. J. , Lockwood M. , Riley P. , Linker J.
Published: November 2017

A fraction of the magnetic flux which threads the photosphere reaches sufficient coronal altitude to be dragged out by the solar wind and form the heliospheric magnetic field (HMF). Directly measuring this “open solar flux” (OSF) component, however, is difficult. While OSF can be extrapolated from photospheric magnetic field measurements, the most direct method is from in situ spacecraft measurements of the HMF. The difficultly is unambiguously distinguishing between HMF which connects directly back to the Sun (the OSF) and that which is locally distorted by waves, turbulence, and near‐Sun reconnection. Suitable temporal filtering of the data can remove such “noise,” but the level of filtering cannot be known a priori and varies with solar cycle, solar wind types, etc. Here we use the suprathermal electron beam, or “strahl,” to distinguish between different HMF topologies. As strahl moves antisunward on global scales, times when strahl is observed to be moving sunward indicate that the HMF is locally inverted. By subtracting the inverted HMF, we compute the OSF without need for arbitrary filtering of the data. We find that the OSF obtained in this manner is slightly larger than the proposed “kinematic correction” based on observed solar wind velocity structure, though in general agreement. Our new OSF estimate agrees with methods based wholly on HMF data, if the data are first used to compute approximately 1 day averages during solar minimum and approximately 3 day averages during solar maximum, stressing the point that the filter method is unreliable because the required characteristics vary.
Compressive MIMO Beamforming of Data Collected in a Refractive Environment
Authors: Wagner Mark , Nannuru Santosh , Gerstoft Peter
Published: November 2017

The phenomenon of ducting is caused by abnormal atmospheric refractivity patterns and is known to allow electromagnetic waves to propagate over the horizon with unusually low propagation loss. It is unknown what effect ducting has on multiple input multiple output (MIMO) channels, particularly its effect on multipath propagation in MIMO channels. A high‐accuracy angle‐of‐arrival and angle‐of‐departure estimation technique for MIMO communications, which we will refer to as compressive MIMO beamforming, was tested on simulated data then applied to experimental data taken from an over the horizon MIMO test bed located in a known ducting hot spot in Southern California. The multipath channel was estimated from the receiver data recorded over a period of 18 days, and an analysis was performed on the recorded data. The goal is to observe the evolution of the MIMO multipath channel as atmospheric ducts form and dissipate to gain some understanding of the behavior of channels in a refractive environment. This work is motivated by the idea that some multipath characteristics of MIMO channels within atmospheric ducts could yield important information about the duct.
Oncogene Addiction in Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia
Authors: Jackson Lorna , Gómez‐Castañeda Eduardo , Jørgensen Heather G , Hopcroft Lisa EM , Rogers Simon , Holyoake Tessa L , Huang Xu
Published: November 2017

Oncogene addiction is the dependence seen in some types of cancer cells on the presence or activity of an oncogene. Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is driven by the
BCR‐ABL1
oncogene. CML has become a paradigm for targeted therapies, as the disease is effectively managed in most patients by BCR‐ABL1 inhibitors. Although the symptom‐causing leukaemic progenitor cells depend on the kinase activity of BCR‐ABL1 for survival, the more primitive leukaemia stem cells (LSCs) responsible for disease maintenance and relapse are not dependent on the
BCR‐ABL1
oncogene and lie dormant in the bone marrow of patients during treatment. The advances in knowledge achieved through the study of CML LSCs indicate that cancer stem cells (CSCs), which underlie many different cancers, may not display oncogene addiction in the classical sense. This provides yet another obstacle to the efforts to cure cancers using targeted therapies. To eradicate these CSCs and discover ways to truly cure CML and other CSC‐driven cancers, we must investigate them for their unique dependencies.

Key Concepts

Oncogene addiction refers to the dependence of some types of cancer cells on the presence or activity of an oncogene.

Cancer researchers are working to identify sources of oncogene addiction, as they represent attractive therapeutic targets.

Chronic myeloid leukaemia progenitor cells are dependent on BCR‐ABL1 oncogenic kinase activity for their survival.

Targeting the ‘addictive’ BCR‐ABL1 oncoprotein has proved to be a successful therapeutic strategy for managing chronic myeloid leukaemia.

Some cancers are maintained by self‐renewing multipotent cancer stem cells.

Cancer stem cells have demonstrated the ability to escape oncogene addiction, for example, in chronic myeloid leukaemia.

Activation of alternative survival pathways may protect cancer stem cells from therapeutic targeting of proteins encoded by oncogenes.

Combining high‐throughput and single‐cell technologies could be a powerful strategy to investigate oncogene dependencies of cancer stem cells.
Key Factors Achieving Large Recovery Strains in Polycrystalline Fe–Mn–Si‐Based Shape Memory Alloys: A Review
Authors: Peng Huabei , Chen Jie , Wang Yongning , Wen Yuhua
Published: November 2017

Fe–Mn–Si‐based shape memory alloys are the most favorable for large‐scale applications owing to low cost, good workability, good machinability, and good weldability. However, polycrystalline Fe–Mn–Si‐based shape memory alloys have low recovery strains of only 2–3% after solution treatment, although monocrystalline ones reach a large recovery strain of ≈9%. This review gives an overview of the improvement of recovery strains for polycrystalline Fe–Mn–Si‐based shape memory alloys. It is proposed that two fundamental aspects, that is, composition design and microstructure design, shall be satisfied for obtaining large recovery strains of above 6%. Alloying compositions determining the ceiling of recovery strains shall follow three guidelines: (i) Si content is 5–6 wt%; (ii) 20 wt% ≤ Mn ≤ 32 wt%; (iii) addition of elements strongly strengthening austenite matrix. Microstructure design includes coarsening austenitic grains and reducing twin boundaries as far as possible together with introducing a high density of stacking faults and second phases of strengthening austenite.
Carbon–Heteroatom Bond Formation by an Ultrasonic Chemical Reaction for Energy Storage Systems
Authors: Kim Hyun‐Tak , Shin HyeonOh , Jeon In‐Yup , Yousaf Masood , Baik Jaeyoon , Cheong Hae‐Won , Park Noejung , Baek Jong‐Beom , Kwon Tae‐Hyuk
Published: November 2017

The direct formation of CN and CO bonds from inert gases is essential for chemical/biological processes and energy storage systems. However, its application to carbon nanomaterials for improved energy storage remains technologically challenging. A simple and very fast method to form CN and CO bonds in reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by an ultrasonic chemical reaction is described. Electrodes of nitrogen‐ or oxygen‐doped RGO (N‐RGO or O‐RGO, respectively) are fabricated via the fixation between N2 or O2 carrier gas molecules and ultrasonically activated RGO. The materials exhibit much higher capacitance after doping (133, 284, and 74 F g−1 for O‐RGO, N‐RGO, and RGO, respectively). Furthermore, the doped 2D RGO and 1D CNT materials are prepared by layer‐by‐layer deposition using ultrasonic spray to form 3D porous electrodes. These electrodes demonstrate very high specific capacitances (62.8 mF cm−2 and 621 F g−1 at 10 mV s−1 for N‐RGO/N‐CNT at 1:1, v/v), high cycling stability, and structural flexibility.
Highly Efficient Synthesis of a Ladder‐Type BN‐Heteroacene and Polyheteroacene
Authors: Liu Feng , Zhang Hailei , Dong Jingwei , Wu Yonggang , Li Weiwei
Published: November 2017

A ladder‐type BN‐heteroacene and its polymer derivative were obtained in high yields by using a Pd0‐catalyzed Suzuki reaction followed by ring closure with phenylboron dichloride. The BN‐heteroacene and polyheteroacene show good solubility in commonly used solvents, high thermal stability and strong blue and green light emission, respectively, in tetrahydrofuran. These properties indicate that the BN‐heteroacene and polyheteroacene have great potential for application in organic electronics.
Zinc oxide nanorod‐loaded activated carbon for ultrasound‐assisted adsorption of safranin O: Central composite design and genetic algorithm optimization
Authors: Sharifpour E. , Ghaedi M. , Nasiri Azad F. , Dashtian K. , Hadadi H. , Purkait M.K.
Published: November 2017

This paper focuses on the development of an effective methodology to obtain the optimum ultrasonic‐assisted removal of a dye, safranin O (SO), under optimum conditions that maximize the removal percentage, using ZnO nanorod‐loaded activated carbon (ZnO‐NRs‐AC) in aqueous solution. Central composite design coupled with genetic algorithm was used for parameter optimization. The effects of variables such as pH, initial dye concentration, mass of ZnO‐NRs‐AC and sonication time were studied. The interactive and main effects of these variables were evaluated using analysis of variance. The structural and physicochemical properties of the ZnO‐NRs‐AC adsorbent were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. Adsorption equilibrium data were fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm and the maximum monolayer capacity was found to be 32.06 mg g−1. Studies of the adsorption kinetics of the SO dye showed a rapid sorption dynamic with a pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model, suggesting a chemisorption mechanism.
Schiff base supported mononuclear organotin(IV) complexes: Syntheses, structures and fluorescence cell imaging
Authors: Vinayak Richa , Dey Dhritiman , Ghosh Dipanjan , Chattopadhyay Dhrubajyoti , Ghosh Abhrajyoti , Nayek Hari Pada
Published: November 2017

Three mononuclear organotin(IV) complexes supported by Schiff bases have been synthesized. The complexes [(C6H5)2Sn(L)] (1), [(t‐Bu)2Sn(L)] (2) and [(t‐Bu)2Sn(L')] (3) (L, L' = deprotonated Schiff bases) were obtained in good yield by the reaction of Schiff bases H2L or H2L′ with corresponding diorganotin dichlorides respectively. All newly synthesized complexes were characterized by means of FT‐IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and multinuclear (1H, 13C and 119Sn) NMR spectroscopy. In addition, single crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses were employed to establish the solid state molecular structures of these complexes. The structures of 1–3 reveal that all complexes are mononuclear with a five‐coordinated tin(IV) centre in it. The absorption and emission properties of all complexes have been investigated. Moreover, cytotoxicity and fluorescence cell imaging studies of theses complexes have been performed.
Suzuki–Miyaura coupling catalyzed by palladium nanoparticles biosynthesized using Glycyrrhiza glabra as reducing and stabilyzing agent
Authors: Veisi Hojat , Adib Mehdi , Karimi‐Nami Rahman , Yasaei Zahra , Tajik Mahnaz , Mosavat Talieh Sadat , Hemmati Saba
Published: November 2017

An unprecedented environmentally friendly method has been developed for the synthesis of palladium nanoparticles supported on Glycyrrhiza glabra. The synthesized nanoparticles were utilized in Suzuki–Miyaura reaction between different aryl halides and aryl bronic acid in aqueous media. This heterogeneous catalyst can be reused and recycled repeatedly more than five times with only slight loss of its initial catalytic efficiency. This reaction carrid out under atmospheric pressure with high efficiency, unique and simple work‐up procedure and excellent yields.
Enhanced antioxidant activity of fish gelatin–chitosan edible films incorporated with procyanidin
Authors: Ramziia Sadykova , Ma Hui , Yao Yunzhen , Wei Kunrui , Huang Yaqin
Published: November 2017

Gelatin and chitosan are edible polymers, which may be used in combination with antioxidant extracts as films to extend shelf life of foods. In this work, fish gelatin–chitosan edible films with procyanidin (PC) are successfully prepared. The effects of PC on the antioxidant, microstructure, physical properties, and antimicrobial activity of the films and solutions are studied. The results suggest that the addition of PC makes the gelatin–chitosan film possess the highest 2,2‐azinobios‐(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity up to 95.63% at 1.00 mg/mL. As to mechanical properties, drop in tensile strength (27.17 ± 2.35%) and gain in elongation at break (33.42 ± 2.48%) are found for film with 1.00 mg/mL of PC. Owing to the simultaneous antioxidant and antimicrobial activities displayed for these films based on blends of gelatin and chitosan and additivated with PC could provide an alternative as active packaging material for food applications such as fish, meat, and cheese. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45781.
Polyimide–polyurea copolymer coating with outstanding corrosion inhibition properties
Authors: Feng Linqian , Iroh Jude O.
Published: November 2017

A novel class of copolymers containing polyimide and polyurea blocks with unique physical properties and capable of providing effective protection to aluminum alloy 2024‐T3 substrate against corrosion has been prepared. The structure and properties of polyurea‐b‐polyimide (PUI) copolymers were controlled by varying the co‐monomer concentration. The PUI block copolymer can reorganize into a supra‐molecular structure by forming intra‐ and inter‐hydrogen bonding interactions between adjacent copolymer chains, resulting in a dense and compact structure capable of protecting the imide ring from hydrolysis when exposed to a corrosive environment. Apart from minimized surface hydrolysis, the establishment of compacted morphology also leads to a drastically improved barrier property and reduced diffusivity. The corrosion rate and polarization resistances of PUI‐coated aluminum alloys were measured by using direct current polarization technique. Increasing polyurea concentration resulted in a remarkable decrease in diffussivity and surface energy, consistent with the measured remarkable increase in the coatings durability and corrosion performance. Corrosion inhibition tests were carried out for more than 30 weeks in a saturated NaCl solution containing 3.5 wt % of salt. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45861.
Understanding the role of isocyanate dilution toward spraying of polyurea
Authors: Iqbal N. , Kumar D. , Roy Prasun Kumar
Published: November 2017

An experimental study into the consequences of diluting isocyanate toward processing of polyurea has been reported. The effect of introducing increasing amount of propylene carbonate into a representative isocyanate precursor has been established. Viscosity‐blending index based equations were found to be more reliable toward prediction of isocyanate precursor‐propylene carbonate blend viscosity. Spraying of undiluted isocyanate precursor with amine formulations led to formation of “noodle‐like” fibrous product, irrespective of the type of chain extender being used. Diluting isocyanate with propylene carbonate (10% v/v), lowered the viscosity of the precursor from 85 to 48 mPa s (at 70 °C), and the resulting formulations could be effectively sprayed to form polyurea films with excellent mechanical properties. Dilution with propylene carbonate also increased the “tack free” time appreciably from ∼1 to ∼4 s, which directly reflects on the improved processability. Rheological studies were performed to quantify the activation energy associated with the isocyanate‐amine reaction for polyurea preparation. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45869.
Tricalycoside, a New Cerebroside from Tricalysia coriacea (Rubiaceae)
Authors: Awouafack Maurice D. , Tane Pierre , Morita Hiroyuki
Published: November 2017

A new cerebroside, named as tricalycoside (1), was isolated from the CH2Cl2/MeOH (1:1) extract of twigs and leaves of Tricalysia coriacea using repeated silica gel open column chromatography followed by preparative TLC and Sephadex LH‐20, together with six known compounds (2 – 7). The structure of the new compound was determined by analysis of 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR, MS data, chemical conversion, and by comparison of these data with those from the literature. Tricalycoside (1) possessed a weak antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae (MIC = 75 μg/mL).
Large Changes in Fluorescent Color and Intensity of Symmetrically Substituted Arylmaleimides Caused by Subtle Structure Modifications
Authors: Wang Jingwei , Liu Zhengde , Yang Shuming , Lin Youzhi , Lin Zhenghuan , Ling Qidan
Published: November 2017

Herein we report on four diarylmaleimides based on 3‐ or 2‐substituted benzothiophene (M3S or M2S) and benzofuran (M3O or M2O), which show very different emission properties: aggregation‐caused quenching (ACQ), aggregation‐induced emission (AIE), and dual‐state strong emission (DSE) in both solution and solid states. Their emission color in the solid state can be adjusted from green–yellow into red. M2O displays strong red solid‐state emission at 630 nm with a quantum yield of 46.3 %. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis confirms that their large distinction in solid‐state emission originates from their different packing structures: hydrogen‐bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) for M3S, a staggered structure for M3O, J‐aggregation for M2S, and weak H‐aggregation for M2O. HOF of M3S and weak H‐aggregation of M2O make them produce inverse‐type piezochromic fluorescence: blueshifted “turn‐on” and redshifted “turn‐off” emission, respectively. These results provide new insight in fluorescence manipulated by subtle structure modification.
PKU‐21: A Novel Layered Germanate Built from Ge7 and Ge10 Clusters for CO2 Separation
Authors: Liang Jie , Su Jie , Peng Fei , Zeng Yongfei , Sun Junliang
Published: November 2017

The attractive properties of layered inorganic materials, which make them suitable for numerous applications in chemical industries and life sciences, originated from their crystalline framework structures. Here, we report a new layered germanate PKU‐21, which was prepared by the hydrothermal synthesis method using 2‐propanolamine (MIPA) as the structure‐directing agent. The structure of PKU‐21 was determined from synchrotron single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and synchrotron powder X‐ray diffraction data. It reveals a complicated framework structure containing 18 unique Ge atoms in the asymmetric unit. PKU‐21 is the first layered germanate built from both Ge7 and Ge10 clusters, following the 3‐dimensional germanate PKU‐17. The preparation and structure of PKU‐21 are discussed in comparison with PKU‐17, which provides new insight into the formation mechanism of germanates. Gas sorption experiments indicate that the layered PKU‐21 sample exhibits a better CO2 sorption selectivity over N2 and CH4 at 298 K than at 273 K, making it a promising candidate for CO2 separation.
pH‐Responsive Host−Guest Complexation between a Water‐solublePillar[7]Arene and a 2,7‐Diazapyrenium Salt and Its Application inControllable Self‐assembly
Authors: Li Zhengtao , Yang Jie , Huang Feihe
Published: November 2017

A novel host−guest recognition motif based on a water‐soluble pillar[7]arene (WP7) and a 2,7‐diazapyrenium salt (DMDAP) was prepared. According to the integrated results of 1H NMR, 2D NOESY, UV–vis spectroscopy and fluorescence titration experiments, we demonstrated that the molecular recognition of WP7 to DMDAP in water not only has high association constant but also has pH‐responsiveness. Subsequently, we took advantage of this molecular recognition motif to fabricate a supra‐amphiphile based on WP7 and an amphiphilic 2,7‐diazapyrenium derivative DAPAC. Its controllable self‐assembly in water was also investigated by means of TEM and DLS techniques.
In Vivo Energy Transfer from Bacteriochlorophyll c, d, e, or f to Bacteriochlorophyll a in Wild‐Type and Mutant Cells of the Green Sulfur Bacterium Chlorobaculum limnaeum
Authors: Harada Jiro , Shibata Yutaka , Teramura Misato , Mizoguchi Tadashi , Kinoshita Yusuke , Yamamoto Ken , Tamiaki Hitoshi
Published: November 2017

Green sulfur bacteria have light‐harvesting antenna systems, called chlorosomes, which usually contain one of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) c, d, and e molecules depending on the bacterial strain. Additionally, BChl f has never been found in nature but was observed in chlorosomes of the constructed mutant. In this study, we used the brown‐colored green sulfur bacterium Chlorobaculum limnaeum RK‐j‐1 strain possessing BChl e, and constructed its mutants accumulating only either BChl c, d, or f. In the mutant cells, these pigments showed different electronic absorption spectra, and their Qy peaks shifted hypsochromically in the order of BChls c, d, e, and f. The energy transfer from the chlorosomal aggregates to BChl a in these mutant cells was observed at 77 K by using picosecond time‐resolved fluorescence measurements. According to the Förster energy‐transfer mechanism, the energy‐transfer efficiency from the chlorosomal aggregates to BChl a decreased in the order of BChl c, BChl d, BChl e to BChl f.
Pauli blocking by effective pair pseudopotential in degenerate Fermi systems of particles
Authors: Larkin A.S. , Filinov V.S. , Fortov V.E.
Published: November 2017

An explicit analytical expression of the Wigner function has been proposed to account for Fermi statistical effects using an effective pair pseudopotential in phase space. The derived pseudopotential depends on coordinates, momenta, and the degeneracy parameter of fermions and takes into account Pauli blocking of fermions in phase space. A new quantum Monte Carlo method (WPIMC) is put forward to calculate average values of arbitrary quantum operators in phase space. When calculated using the WPIMC method, the momentum distributions and pair distribution functions for degenerate ideal fermions are in good agreement with the analytical distribution over a wide range of values of the degeneracy parameter. Generalization of this approach for treating strongly correlated fermions is in progress.
In situ Carbothermal Synthesis of Nanoscale Zero‐Valent Iron Functionalized Porous Carbon from Metal–Organic Frameworks for Efficient Detoxification of Chromium(VI)
Authors: Wang Zhe , Yang Jian , Li Yongsheng , Zhuang Qixin , Gu Jinlou
Published: November 2017

Owing to the high toxicity of CrVI species to human health and the ecosystem, much attention has been paid to the development of efficient adsorbents for CrVI. Herein, MIL‐100(Fe) was successfully utilized as a precursor for the carbothermal reductive synthesis of nanoscale zero‐valent iron functionalized porous carbon (nZVI@C) for the effective removal of CrVI. The organic ligands in MIL‐100(Fe) were transformed into a porous carbon matrix, whereas the Fe–O clusters were reduced in situ to nZVI owing to the strong reducibility of pyrolytic carbon. Additionally, the nZVI was distributed uniformly in the carbon support with a high loading and controllable particle size. Highly toxic CrVI species were efficiently degraded into less toxic CrIII species at the nZVI reductive sites, and then the CrIII species precipitated as (CrxFe1–x)(OH)3 in the porous hybrids. The CrVI adsorption capacity of the developed nZVI@C reached 206 mg g–1 under optimal conditions. Furthermore, the excellent magnetic performance of nZVI@C makes it convenient for CrVI remediation through simple magnetic separation. These outstanding characteristics indicate the promising potential of the developed material as an adsorbent for the efficient removal of CrVI from industrial wastewater.
Estimation of the Volume of Blood in a Small Disc Punched From a Dried Blood Spot Card
Authors: Hewawasam Erandi , Liu Ge , Jeffery David W. , Gibson Robert A. , Muhlhausler Beverly S.
Published: November 2017

A specialized dried blood spot (DBS) collection system (PUFAcoat™) in combination with liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) has enabled the measurement of numerous analytes in minimal volumes of blood. The current study aimed to determine the volume of blood in 3 and 6 mm discs obtained from our DBS system. The volume of blood in 3 and 6 mm discs obtained from DBS cards is estimated using four different methods: (i) gravimetric analysis; (ii) LC‐MS/MS; (iii) a hemoglobin colorimetric assay; and (iv) GC. Differences in the estimated volume are compared between methods, and variations in estimated blood volume within and between individuals are determined. The average volume of blood in a DBS disc is calculated to be 1.6 ± 0.4 μL and 8.7 ± 1.9 μL for 3 and 6 mm discs, respectively. This estimate is similar between direct and indirect analytical methods and between DBS samples with different starting volumes independent of the method, but there is considerable variation in the volume of blood in comparably‐sized DBS discs from different individuals. Current methods enable the estimation of the blood volume in a small disc obtained from a DBS but a method that can both accurately measure volume and store blood on a DBS is required.

Practical Applications: This study demonstrates that it is possible to evaluate the volume of blood contained in a small disc punched from a dried blood spot (DBS) card using a range of different methods, but there is considerable variation in the estimate of volume in samples collected from different individuals. These variations could potentially result in overestimation or underestimation of endogenous levels of various metabolites if presuming a fixed volume, which may be clinically significant. Although there are several ways to correct for blood volume contained on a DBS, the practicality and the universality of these methods are questionable. Ideally, the development of a tool to better determine the volume of blood and/or to precisely spot a volume of blood is required to ensure accuracy when expressing the results of DBS analyses per unit of blood.

The volume of blood in a 3 or 6 mm disc obtained from a DBS needs to be known to accurately quantify endogenous levels of metabolites per unit of blood using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry.
Iron‐Catalyzed Synthesis of α‐Dienyl Five‐ and Six‐Membered N‐Heterocycles
Authors: Gonnard Laurine , Guérinot Amandine , Cossy Janine
Published: November 2017

The iron‐catalyzed synthesis of α‐dienyl N‐heterocycles is reported. The method is cost‐effective, atom‐economic, and led to a range of substituted α‐dienyl heterocycles in moderate to good yields and diastereoselectivities. The α‐dienyl piperidines are key synthetic intermediates as demonstrated by the preparation of a panel of α‐polyenyl N‐heterocycles.
Small bowel obstruction after transoral robotic surgery
Authors: McClellan Joseph , Achim Virginie , Clayburgh Daniel
Published: November 2017

Background

Head and neck surgery is not often considered a risk factor for intestinal ileus and small bowel obstruction. However, many of these patients may have had prior abdominal surgery, a known risk factor for small bowel obstruction, and may be at risk for bowel obstruction after a surgical procedure of the head and neck.

Methods

We present a case describing a patient who, after undergoing transoral robotic surgery, experienced delayed postoperative ileus and eventual small bowel obstruction requiring exploratory laparotomy and bowel resection.

Results

Although the patient required total parenteral nutrition for several days, he eventually was able to resume tube feeds, and after several months was able to tolerate an oral diet.

Conclusion

Although uncommon complications of head and neck surgery, intestinal ileus and small bowel obstruction can develop as the result of stress/inflammation, postoperative narcotic pain medication, and prior abdominal surgery.
Imbalanced Osteogenesis and Adipogenesis in Mice Deficient in the Chemokine Cxcl12/Sdf1 in the Bone Mesenchymal Stem/Progenitor Cells
Authors: Tzeng Yi-Shiuan , Chung Ni-Chun , Chen Yu-Ren , Huang Hsin-Yi , Chuang Wen-Po , Lai Dar-Ming
Published: November 2017

Bone and bone marrow serve as an imperative ecosystem to various types of cells participating in critical body functions. The chemokine Cxcl12, also known as stromal cell-derived factor 1 (Sdf1), is one of the communication factors in the marrow microenvironment that regulates hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell homeostasis. However, the function of Cxcl12 in other bone marrow cells in vivo is yet to be discovered. Here we report a novel function of Cxcl12 in postnatal bone development and homeostasis. Targeted deletion of Cxcl12 in Paired related homeobox 1 (Prx1)-expressing or osterix (Osx)-expressing mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MSPCs), but not in mature osteoblasts, resulted in marrow adiposity and reduced trabecular bone content. In vivo lineage tracing analysis revealed biased differentiation of MSPCs toward adipocytes. In contrast, adult-stage deletion of Cxcl12 in Osx-expressing cells led to reduced bone content but not adiposity. Targeting the receptor Cxcr4 in the Prx1-expressing cells also resulted in reduced trabecular bone content but not adiposity. Our study reveals a previously unidentified role of the MSPC-secreting Cxcl12 that regulates its osteogenesis and adipogenesis through the cell-autonomous and non-autonomous mechanism, respectively; which could further influence the homeostatic control of the hematopoietic system. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Assessment of chemotherapy on various biochemical markers in breast cancer patients
Authors: Paz Márcia F. C. J. , Gomes Antonio L. , Islam Muhammad T. , Tabrez Shams , Jabir Nasimudeen R. , Alam Mohammad Z. , Machado Kátia C. , de Alencar Marcus V. O. B. , Machado Keylla C. , Ali Eunus S. , Mishra Siddhartha K. , Gomes Leonardo F. , Sobral André Luiz Pinho , e Sousa João M. C. , de Souza Geane F. , Melo‐Cavalcante Ana Amélia C. , da Silva Juliana
Published: November 2017

Chemotherapy is a standard treatment method for the patients with locally advanced breast cancer. Lately, cyclophosphamide (CYP) and doxorubicin (DOX) are used as the major chemotherapeutic agents especially for the treatment of breast cancer. Till date, no serum biomarker has been able to provide an early diagnosis of breast cancer. This study aimed to assess inflammatory, cardiac, renal and hematological markers in 56 breast cancer patients (BCP) before, during and after termination of chemotherapy with CYP and DOX. Blood samples were collected from the patients at the each treatment stages mentioned above. These samples were assessed for interleukin 6 (IL‐6), interleukin 10 (IL‐10), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), creatinine, hemoglobin (Hb), leukocyte, platelet and Na+/K+‐ATPase levels either by ELISA or colorimetric methods. The results suggest a significant increase in IL‐6 level at all the stages in BCP as compared to control group. On the other hand, IL‐10, CK and Na+/K+‐ATPase levels were found to be significantly declined during all the stages. Moreover, the majority of hematological parameters remained unchanged throughout the treatment period with the exception of creatinine and Hb which showed slight modulation in their level at different stages. Based on the results, we conclude that breast cancer and co‐treatment with CYP and DOX, interfere arious biological markers, thereby, showing the physiological imbalance.
The Impact of Financial Crises on the Poor
Authors: Rewilak Johan
Published: November 2017

Financial crises have detrimental impacts on the economy via depressed economic growth and rising unemployment, however, their impact on the poorest in society is relatively under‐researched. This paper investigates the impact of three different types of financial crises on the income of the poor. Using a variety of estimation techniques and controlling for a lagged dependent variable, the results suggest that currency crises are the most harmful to the poor, followed by banking crises. Debt crises only have a statistically significant effect on the income of the poor in richer countries. © 2017 The Authors Journal of International Development Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Re‐evaluation of MIS 3 glaciation using cosmogenic radionuclide and single grain luminescence ages, Kanas Valley, Chinese Altai
Authors: Gribenski Natacha , Jansson Krister N. , Preusser Frank , Harbor Jonathan M. , Stroeven Arjen P. , Trauerstein Mareike , Blomdin Robin , Heyman Jakob , Caffee Marc W. , Lifton Nathaniel A. , Zhang Wei
Published: November 2017

Previous investigations observed a period of major glacial advances in Central Asia during marine oxygen isotope stage (MIS) 3 (57–29 ka), out of phase with global ice volume records. We have re‐examined the Kanas moraine complex in the Altai Mountains of Central Asia, where an MIS 3 glaciation had been previously inferred. New and consistent cosmogenic exposure and single‐grain luminescence ages indicate that the Kanas complex was formed during MIS 2 (29–12 ka), which brings its timing in line with the global ice volume record. We also identified a lateral moraine from a more extensive ice extent that dates to late MIS 5/MIS 4. To place our results in a wider contextual framework, we review the chronologies of another 26 proposed major MIS 3 glacial advances in Central Asia. For most of these sites, we find that the chronological data do not provide an unequivocal case for MIS 3 glaciation.
Raman study on the effects of annealing atmosphere of patterned graphene
Authors: Son Jangyup , Choi Minkyung , Hong Jongill , Yang In‐Sang
Published: November 2017

Despite extensive research on graphene, there are still lacks of understanding the structural changes under harsh stress environments such as high current in uncontrolled atmosphere. Investigating the structural changes of graphene patterned into device at high temperature would be important as the electrical current path of graphene becomes narrower and thus stronger in heat dissipation. In this paper, we performed a comparative study of the structural and electronical changes of graphene for as‐grown graphene and patterned graphene in a microbridge shape heated up to 500 °C in air or Ar. While the as‐grown graphene heated in air or Ar was nearly free from the structural changes, the microbridge graphene exhibited strong structural changes after annealing in Ar, i.e. the broadening in the G and the 2D peaks remained even after cooling back to 30 °C. On the other hand, the microbridge graphene heated in air was observed to release stress probably due to formation of vacancies by oxygen adsorption. The different behavior of microbridge graphene heated in Ar from that of as‐grown graphene in the same condition is obvious. This means that graphene in microscopic devices should be treated differently from the as‐grown graphene. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structure Tuning of Electrostatically Self‐Assembled Nanoparticles through pH: The Role of Charge Ratio
Authors: Mariani Giacomo , Schweins Ralf , Gröhn Franziska
Published: November 2017

Systems that can be controlled through external triggers are of interest for a variety of applications from medicine to energy conversion. Here, the effects of pH on the electrostatic self‐assembly of generation four poly(amidoamine) dendrimers and a divalent azo dye, keeping constant the charge ratio, are discussed. Nanoparticles stabilized by an excess of dendrimer charge form at 3.5 ≤ pH ≤ 8.5. The nanoparticle structure strongly depends on pH: at 7 ≤ pH ≤ 8.5, where only the dendrimer primary amines are protonated, spherical particles form, while at 3.5 ≤ pH < 7 where also the tertiary amines are protonated, cylinders form. Not only the nanoparticle structure but also the interaction of the molecular building blocks is controlled by pH: the dye stacking changes and the twist angle of the dye molecules increases as the pH decreases. Results are related to changes in the dye–dendrimer and dye–dye interaction, in particular spherical nanoparticles are formed when the interaction is small. Finally, the structures at different pH and constant charge ratio are compared to results at constant loading ratio to understand the overall role of the pH in electrostatic self‐assembly. A pH‐responsive shape is of great interest, for example, for drug delivery.
Layer‐by‐Layer Assembly of κ‐Casein Amyloid Fibrils for the Preparation of Hollow Microcapsules
Authors: Lee Jubong , Lee Ji‐Hye , Yeom Bongjun , Char Kookheon
Published: November 2017

Amyloids are known to self‐assemble into fibril forms derived from natural or artificial proteins exhibiting superior mechanical properties, stability, and biocompatibility. However, few studies have investigated the applications of amyloid fibrils. Herein, the layer‐by‐layer growth of zwitterionic κ‐casein amyloid fibrils (κCFs) to prepare stable hollow microcapsules is investigated, which is potentially applicable to drug delivery systems. The growth of κCFs increases linearly when electrostatic interactions between the constituent pair become more prominent, for instance, cationic κCFs paired with poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate) (PSS), and anionic κCFs paired with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride). In contrast, the increase in film thickness shows the exponential‐to‐linear transition when hydrogen bonding is responsible for adsorption between cationic κCFs and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). It is thus concluded that stable κCF/PSS hollow microcapsules are prepared by using the electrostatic interaction. However, the κCF/PAA hollow microcapsules are ruptured due to the breakage of hydrogen bonding upon removal of sacrificial templates.
Analysis of the plasma proteome using iTRAQ and TMT‐based Isobaric labeling
Authors: Moulder Robert , Bhosale Santosh D. , Goodlett David R. , Lahesmaa Riitta
Published: November 2017

Over the past decade, chemical labeling with isobaric tandem mass tags, such as isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification reagents (iTRAQ) and tandem mass tag (TMT) reagents, has been employed in a wide range of different clinically orientated serum and plasma proteomics studies. In this review the scope of these works is presented with attention to the areas of research, methods employed and performance limitations. These applications have covered a wide range of diseases, disorders and infections, and have implemented a variety of different preparative and mass spectrometric approaches. In contrast to earlier works, which struggled to quantify more than a few hundred proteins, increasingly these studies have provided deeper insight into the plasma proteome extending the numbers of quantified proteins to over a thousand.
Image quality and dose for a multisource cone‐beam CT extremity scanner
Authors: Gang Grace J. , Zbijewski Wojciech , Mahesh Mahadevappa , Thawait Gaurav , Packard Nathan , Yorkston John , Demehri Shadpour , Siewerdsen Jeffrey H.
Published: November 2017

Purpose

This work investigates the dose characteristics and image quality of a multisource cone‐beam CT scanner dedicated for extremity imaging.

Methods

The scanner has an x‐ray source with three separate anode–cathode units evenly distributed along the longitudinal direction. A nominal scan protocol fires the three sources sequentially, and a total of 600 projections (200 for each source) are acquired over a source–detector orbit of 210o. Dose was measured using a Farmer chamber in three CTDI phantoms stacked end‐to‐end. Measurements were performed at the central and four peripheral locations of a CTDI phantom on the axial plane and repeated along the longitudinal direction. The extent of 3D sampling of the three‐source configuration was assessed in the Fourier domain through noise power spectrum measurements from air scans and compared with that from a single‐source scan. A modified Defrise phantom and anthropomorphic knee and hand phantoms were used for visual assessment of cone‐beam artifacts in the reconstructed images.

Results

The dose distribution for the three‐source configuration exhibits radial asymmetry on the axial plane consistent with a short‐scan geometry. Along the longitudinal direction, the highest dose was measured at the central axial plane where the field of view (FOV) from all three sources overlaps and falls off more slowly toward the end compared to a single‐source configuration. The extent of 3D sampling is improved throughout the FOV as each source compensates for missing frequencies from the adjacent source. As a result, the reduction in streak and shading artifacts is apparent in the reconstructed images of all three phantoms. The improvement in image quality from the three‐source configuration is most pronounced in joint spaces farther from the central axial plane.

Conclusions

Initial assessment of the multisource scanner demonstrated the advantages over single‐source designs in a compact scanner with large longitudinal FOV. The reduction in cone‐beam artifact is particularly valuable for extremity imaging where high‐contrast articular surfaces are present away from the central axial plane and/or throughout the FOV.
Preparation and characterization of silicone rubber through the reaction between γ‐chloropropyl and amino groups with siloxane polyamidoamine dendrimers as cross‐linkers
Authors: Dong Fuying , Lu Hang , Feng Shengyu , Tang Xinde
Published: November 2017

A novel heat‐curable silicone rubber (MCSR/Si‐PAMAM) was prepared by using siloxane polyamidoamine (Si‐PAMAM) dendrimers as cross‐linkers and polysiloxane containing γ‐chloropropyl groups as gums. The chemical cross‐linking occurs through the reaction between Si‐PAMAM dendrimers and polysiloxane containing γ‐chloropropyl groups. The effect of various amounts of cross‐linkers on mechanical properties of MCSR/Si‐PAMAM was discussed in this paper. MCSR/Si‐PAMAM exhibits favorable mechanical properties with a tensile strength of 10.06 MPa and a tear strength of 47.9 kN/m when the molar ratio r of [N‐H]/[CH2CH2CH2Cl] is 1:1. These excellent mechanical properties can be attributed to the formation of concentrative cross‐linking from Si‐PAMAM dendrimers in the cross‐linking networks, along with the introduction of Si–O–Si units in the internal structure of dendrimers. The introduction of Si–O–Si units reduces the steric hindrance of molecular structure, which facilitates the N–H bonds in the interior layers of dendrimers to react with γ‐chloropropyl groups. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis results indicate that MCSR/Si‐PAMAM is thermally stable even at high temperatures in a nitrogen atmosphere. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis reveals that the glass transition peak of MCSR/Si‐PAMAM is not identified in the temperature range −150 to −30°C, only a melting endothermic peak at −40°C.