bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reproductive biology and nectar secretion dynamics ofPenstemon gentianoides(Plantaginaceae): a perennial herb with a mixed pollination system?
Authors: Salas-Arcos Lucía , Lara Carlos , Ornelas Juan Francisco
Published: August 2017

Background

In many plant species, pollination syndromes predict the most effective pollinator. However, other floral visitors may also offer effective pollination services and promote mixed pollination systems. Several species of the species-richPenstemon(Plantaginaceae) exhibit a suite of floral traits that suggest adaptation for pollination by both hymenopterans and hummingbirds. Transitions from the ancestral hymenopteran pollination syndrome to more derived hummingbird pollination syndrome may be promoted if the quantity or quality of visits by hummingbirds is increased and if the ancestral pollinator group performs less efficiently. The quantification of such shifts in pollination systems in the group is still limited. We aimed to investigate floral traits linked to this pollination syndrome inPenstemon gentianoideswith flowers visited by bumblebees and hummingbirds.

Methods

We investigated the floral biology, pollinator assemblages, breeding system and nectar production patterns ofP. gentianoidesinhabiting a temperate montane forest in central Mexico. Pollination experiments were also conducted to assess the pollinator effectiveness of bumblebees and hummingbirds.

Results

P. gentianoidesflowers are protandrous, with 8-d male phase (staminate) flowers, followed by the ∼1–7 d female phase (pistillate phase). Flowers display traits associated with hymenopteran pollination, including purple flowers abruptly ampliate-ventricose to a broad throat with anthers and stigmas included, and long lifespans. However, the nectar available in the morning hours was abundant and dilute, traits linked to flowers with a hummingbird pollination syndrome. Two hummingbird species made most of the visits to flowers,Selasphorus platycercus(30.3% of all visits), followed byArchilochus colubris(11.3%). Bumblebees (Bombus ephippiatus,B. huntiiandB. weisi) accounted for 51.8% of all recorded visits, but their foraging activity was restricted to the warmer hours. Hummingbirds made more foraging bouts and visited more flowers than hymenopteran species. Flowers experimentally pollinated byB. ephippiatusproduced significantly more fruits than those pollinated byS. platycercus. However, there was no statistical difference in the number of seeds produced per fruit when a bumblebee or a hummingbird was the pollinator.

Conclusions

We have shown that bumblebees and hummingbirds visit and pollinateP. gentianoidesflowers. Despite floral traits resembling the hymenoptera pollination syndrome, flowers ofP. gentianoidesoffer characteristic nectar rewards to flowers with a hummingbird pollination syndrome. Although pollination efficiency is higher among flowers visited by hymenoptera, the noteworthy percentage of fruit production and number of seeds per fruit derived from hummingbird pollination highlights the importance of hummingbirds as a functional group of pollinators that might have potential evolutionary consequences to the plants.
Ex vivo antioxidation activity of polysaccharides from the red alga Porphyra yezoensis
Authors: Liu F , Liu J , Gu J , Zhang L , Shen W , Guo T , Liu C , He P
Published: August 2017

The ex vivo antioxidation activity of polysaccharide extracted from the red seaweed Porphyra yezoensis was studied by systematically measuring and analyzing the scavenging efficiencies on the free radicals O–2•, •OH and DPPH, and the inhibitory effects on the hemolysis in mouse erythrocytes induced by H2O2 and on lipid peroxidation in mouse liver homogenates. The results show that Porphyra polysaccharide, in the experimental concentration range, possessed antioxidation activity. The scavenging efficiency for O–2• was found to be remarkably high and the maximum scavenging rate was 82.77%. The scavenging efficiency for •OH was even higher than for O–2•, with a maximum removing rate of 85.63%, whereas for DPPH it was 13.97%. The inhibitory effects on mouse erythrocyte hemolysis and malondialdehyde formation in mouse liver were significant, with maximum inhibition rates of 82.90% and 58.48%, respectively. The combined data indicate that the polysaccharide extracted from Porphyra has strong antioxidation activity.
Dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen dynamics in the Douro River estuary, Portugal
Authors: Magalhães C , Teixeira C , Teixeira R , Machado A , Azevedo I , Bordalo AA
Published: August 2017

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) are metabolically important in estuaries. Their availability is influenced by organic matter inputs (internal and external) as well as by internal microbial transformations within the system. In this study, spatial and seasonal dynamics of DOC and DON were evaluated in the Douro River estuary (Portugal). Monthly surveys were performed from October 2005 to December 2006 along a salinity gradient at three different depths. DOC and DON were calculated by subtracting the respective inorganic components (dissolved inorganic carbon, DIC, and dissolved inorganic nitrogen, DIN) from total dissolved carbon (TDC) and total dissolved nitrogen (TDN). In the Douro River estuary, DIC exhibits a linear and positive distribution as a function of salinity, indicating an input of DIC into the estuary from coastal waters. This pattern of distribution along the salinity gradient was also observed for total particulate matter, since a decreasing trend upstream was observed. In contrast, the results showed a general nonconservative behaviour of DOC along the estuarine transect during most months. This typical deviation from conservative mixing was mainly associated with sewage DOC sources into the lower and middle estuary. On average, DON concentrations represented 52–88% of the TDN. Along the transect, relationships between DIN and DON with salinity were generally conservative, decreasing towards the mouth, highlighting the fluvial source of such nitrogen forms; however, occasional DON sewage loads were registered. Estimated global Douro River watershed exports of DOC and DON to coastal waters yielded values of 420 kg C m–2 yr–1 and 125 kg N m–2 yr–1, respectively, which are high when compared with previously predicted levels from global models of DOC and DON export.
Yttrium in the Vigo Ria (NW Iberian Peninsula): Sources, distribution, and background levels
Authors: Marmolejo-Rodríguez AJ , Caetano M , De Pablo H , Vale C , Prego R
Published: August 2017

Certain heavy minerals enriched in yttrium, such as monazite and xenotime, have previously been indexed in the Vigo area. The levels and spatial distribution of this element were studied in 50 surface sediment samples from the Vigo Ria. The highest levels were found along the southern margin in the middle of the ria, coinciding with the geological source of the Galiñeiro Complex. From this zone, a dilution of yttrium in the sediments was observed seaward due to the presence of calcium carbonate (outer ria) and upstream due to the input of migmatites, anatexites, and two-mica granites (inner ria). The estimated background concentration in the Vigo Ria was 14.6 ± 2.6 mg kg–1 (Sc normalized), which is close to the average concentration found in surface sediments (13.4 ± 5.4 mg kg–1). This suggests that yttrium in the Vigo Ria sediments is mainly of lithogenic origin.
Molecular basis for the effect of the L31F mutation on CARD function in ARC
Authors: Ha Hyun Ji , Park Hyun Ho
Published: August 2017

The apoptosis repressor with caspase‐recruiting domain (ARC) is aberrantly overexpressed in various cancers. ARC contains a caspase recruitment domain (CARD) that is the main mediator of protein–protein interactions. Mutation of Leu31 within the CARD of ARC to Phe (ARC_L31F) is widely used as a functionally defective mutant of ARC despite a lack of clear experimental evidence regarding how its functionality is lost. In this study, we show that L31 in helix 2 (H2) is critical for stabilization of the helix bundle fold in the CARD domain. In addition, the L31F mutation disrupts homodimer formation that is critical to ARC functions. Our current study reveals the molecular basis for the L31F mutation disrupting the ARC CARD functions.
Electric and magnetic variations in the near‐Mars environment
Authors: Fowler C. M. , Andersson L. , Halekas J. , Espley J. R. , Mazelle C. , Coughlin E. R. , Ergun R. E. , Andrews D. J. , Connerney J. E. P. , Jakosky B.
Published: August 2017

For the first time at Mars the statistical distribution of (1‐D) electric field wave power in the magnetosphere is presented, along with the distribution of magnetic field wave power, as observed by the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN spacecraft from the first 14.5 months of the mission. Wave power in several different frequency bands was investigated, and the strongest wave powers were observed at the lowest frequencies. The presented statistical studies suggest that the full thermalization of ions within the magnetosheath does not appear to occur, as has been predicted by previous studies. Manual inspection of 140 periapsis passes on the dayside shows that Poynting fluxes (at 2–16 Hz) between ∼10−11 and 10−8 Wm−2 reach the upper ionosphere for all 140 cases. Wave power is not observed in the ionosphere for integrated electron densities greater than 1010.8 cm−2, corresponding to typical depths of 100–200 km. The observations presented support previous suggestions that energy from the Mars‐solar wind interaction can propagate into the upper ionosphere and may provide an ionospheric heating source. Upstream of the shock, the orientation of the solar wind interplanetary magnetic field was shown to significantly affect the statistical distribution of wave power, based on whether the spacecraft was likely magnetically connected to the shock or not—something that is predicted but has not been quantitatively shown at Mars before. In flight performance and caveats of the Langmuir Probe and Waves electric field power spectra are also discussed.
Statistical wave climate projections for coastal impact assessments
Authors: Camus P. , Losada I. J. , Izaguirre C. , Espejo A. , Menéndez M. , Pérez J.
Published: August 2017

Global multimodel wave climate projections are obtained at 1.0° × 1.0° scale from 30 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) global circulation model (GCM) realizations. A semi‐supervised weather‐typing approach based on a characterization of the ocean wave generation areas and the historical wave information from the recent GOW2 database are used to train the statistical model. This framework is also applied to obtain high resolution projections of coastal wave climate and coastal impacts as port operability and coastal flooding. Regional projections are estimated using the collection of weather types at spacing of 1.0°. This assumption is feasible because the predictor is defined based on the wave generation area and the classification is guided by the local wave climate. The assessment of future changes in coastal impacts is based on direct downscaling of indicators defined by empirical formulations (total water level for coastal flooding and number of hours per year with overtopping for port operability). Global multimodel projections of the significant wave height and peak period are consistent with changes obtained in previous studies. Statistical confidence of expected changes is obtained due to the large number of GCMs to construct the ensemble. The proposed methodology is proved to be flexible to project wave climate at different spatial scales. Regional changes of additional variables as wave direction or other statistics can be estimated from the future empirical distribution with extreme values restricted to high percentiles (i.e., 95th, 99th percentiles). The statistical framework can also be applied to evaluate regional coastal impacts integrating changes in storminess and sea level rise.
Linear response of field‐aligned currents to the interplanetary electric field
Authors: Weimer D. R. , Edwards T. R. , Olsen Nils
Published: August 2017

Many studies that have shown that the ionospheric, polar cap electric potentials (PCEPs) exhibit a “saturation” behavior in response to the level of the driving by the solar wind. As the magnitudes of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and electric field (IEF) increase, the PCEP response is linear at low driving levels, followed with a rollover to a more constant level. While there are several different theoretical explanations for this behavior, so far, no direct observational evidence has existed to confirm any particular model. In most models of this saturation, the interaction of the field‐aligned currents (FACs) with the solar wind/magnetosphere/ionosphere system has a role. As the FACs are more difficult to measure, their behavior in response to the level of the IEF has not been investigated as thoroughly. In order to resolve the question of whether or not the FAC also exhibit saturation, we have processed the magnetic field measurements from the Ørsted, CHAMP, and Swarm missions, spanning more than a decade. As the amount of current in each region needs to be known, a new technique is used to separate and sum the current by region, widely known as R0, R1, and R2. These totals are found separately for the dawnside and duskside. Results indicate that the total FAC has a response to the IEF that is highly linear, continuing to increase well beyond the level at which the electric potentials saturate. The currents within each region have similar behavior.
An Icosidodecahedral Supramolecule Based on Pentaphosphaferrocene: From a Disordered Average Structure to Individual Isomers
Authors: Heindl Claudia , Peresypkina Eugenia , Virovets Alexander V. , Bushmarinov Ivan S. , Medvedev Michael G. , Krämer Barbara , Dittrich Birger , Scheer Manfred
Published: August 2017

Pentaphosphaferrocenes [CpRFe(η5‐P5)] (1) and CuI halides are excellent building blocks for the formation of discrete supramolecules. Herein, we demonstrate the potential of Cu(CF3SO3) for the construction of the novel 2D polymer [{Cp*Fe(μ4,η5:1:1:1‐P5)}{Cu(CF3SO3)}]n (2) and the unprecedented nanosphere (CH2Cl2)1.4@[{CpBnFe(η5‐P5)}12{Cu(CF3SO3)}19.6] (3). The supramolecule 3 has a unique scaffold beyond the fullerene topology, with 20 copper atoms statistically distributed over the 30 vertices of an icosidodecahedron. Combinatorics was used to interpret the average disordered structure of the supramolecules. In this case, only two pairs of enantiomers with D5 and D2 symmetry are possible for bidentate bridging coordination of the triflate ligands. DFT calculations showed that differences in the energies of the isomers are negligible. The benzyl ligands enhance the solubility of 3, enabling NMR‐spectroscopic and mass‐spectrometric investigations.
Biodegradable baked foam made with chayotextle starch mixed with plantain flour and wood fiber
Authors: Vargas‐Torres Apolonio , Palma‐Rodriguez Heidi Maria , Berrios Jose De J. , Glenn Gregory , Salgado‐Delgado Rene , Olarte‐Paredes Alfredo , Prieto‐Mendez Judith , Hernandez‐Uribe Juan Pablo
Published: August 2017

New renewable materials are needed to reduce petroleum‐based plastic packaging. The effect of plantain flour (PF) and wood fiber (WF) on the properties of starch‐based foams (SBFs) were investigated. The SBFs were characterized using physical, thermal, and mechanical methods to better understand the relationship between PF and WF concentration. Contact angle values showed that the addition of WF or PF increased the hydrophobic character of the SBFs. Also, the addition of PF increased the heat transfer resistance and density of the foams, while their solubility decreased. The values of tensile strength and Young's modulus increased with increasing concentrations of PF in the SBFs. However, the addition of PF and WF promoted a decrease on the elongation at break of the SBFs. An increase in concentration of PF also showed a decrease in water vapor permeability, and an increase in the thickness of the cell wall layer of the SBFs. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2017,134, 45565.
Enhancing electrochemical performance of Fe3O4/graphene hybrid aerogel with hydrophilic polymer
Authors: Zhan Yanhu , Meng Yanyan , Yan Ning , Li Yuchao , Wei Denghu , Tao Xuquan
Published: August 2017

Graphene hybrid aerogels have attracted attention as electrode materials because of their unique porous architectures. However, their electrochemical performance is limited by the intrinsic hydrophobicity and the ease of aggregation of graphene nanosheets. We demonstrate a unique methodology to produce graphene hybrid aerogels through assembly of graphene nanosheets, nanometer‐scale ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4), and hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) into three‐dimensional hierarchical macrostructures. Electrochemical performance measurements exhibit a significant improvement in the specific capacitance of this ternary hybrid aerogel with remarkable cycling stability. Specifically, the specific capacitance is nearly 6.6 times higher than that of the neat graphene aerogel, and a cycling capacitance retention rate of 99% was achieved after 2000 cycles at a high current density of 0.5 A g−1. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements demonstrate a lower resistance in the Fe3O4/graphene/PVA aerogel electrode compared with that of both neat graphene and Fe3O4/graphene aerogel electrodes. The obtained graphene hybrid aerogels with outstanding cycling performance and high energy density are very promising as electrode materials for supercapacitors. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45566.
A new inhibitor of P(AM‐DMDAAC)/PVA intermacromolecular complex for shale in drilling fluids
Authors: Jiang Guancheng , Zhang Xianmin , Dong Tengfei , Xuan Yang , Wang Le , Jiang Qihui
Published: August 2017

A new poly(acrylamide‐dimethyldiallyammonium chloride)/poly(vinyl alcohol) [P(AM‐DMDAAC)/PVA, ADVA] intermacromolecular complex inhibitor of shale‐hydrated swelling was studied for its ability to counter well instability. ADVA exhibited excellent inhibitory performance, and the probable inhibition mechanism was determined. The hydrophilic groups in ADVA adsorbed to montmorillonite (MMT) through hydrogen bonding and cation exchange, and the hydrophobic groups isolated water from MMT. ADVA adhered to the MMT and entered the interlayer instead of water due to the PVA structure. ADVA could also form a thin film and reduce the hydrophilic property of the shale core to prevent water from contacting the shale formation. With the structure of poly(acrylamide‐dimethyldiallyammonium chloride) (AD), the complex adsorbed and bridged MMT to reduce the filtration loss of the basic mud after hot‐rolling. This prevented contact of free water from drilling fluids with the shale formation during the drilling process. With these properties, ADVA demonstrated potential application as an inhibitor for use in drilling fluids. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45584.
Tuning the nano/micro‐structure and properties of melt‐processed ternary composites of polypropylene/ethylene vinyl acetate blend and nanoclay: The influence of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters
Authors: Mofokeng Tladi Gideon , Ray Suprakas Sinha , Ojijo Vincent , Salehiyan Reza
Published: August 2017

The present study reports the dependence of the nano/micro‐structure and properties of polypropylene (PP)/ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)/nanoclay ternary composites on the kinetics and thermodynamics of the melt‐mixing process. The size of dispersed EVA particles in the blends increased in the presence of the nanoclay particles, whereas in the ternary blend composites the size of the EVA dispersions decreased with increasing processing time. Intercalation and exfoliation were achieved more efficiently in ternary composites prepared with a longer EVA processing time. Moreover, the incorporation of the nanoclay particles within the EVA phase and interphase, as well as a long processing time stabilized the morphology. The degree of crystallinity, melting behavior, and crystallization temperature of PP in the ternary composites were not influenced by the presence of the nanoclay particles or by the duration of the melt‐mixing process. The thermal stability of the ternary composites improved with increasing melt‐mixing time. The rheological and thermomechanical properties were found to be dependent on the processing time and on the resulting structure. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45585.
Polymer nanocomposites with cellulose nanocrystals made by co‐precipitation
Authors: Natterodt Jens C. , Shirole Anuja , Sapkota Janak , Zoppe Justin O. , Weder Christoph
Published: August 2017

A premixing method to produce polymer nanocomposites with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) is reported. This method involves the dissolution and dispersion of a polymer and CNCs in an organic solvent, co‐precipitation into water, drying of the resulting particles, and subsequent melt processing. The key aspect of the method is that it allows the kinetic trapping of well‐dispersed CNCs in the polymer. Although the nanocomposite must be dried before subsequent melt‐processing, the organic solvent can be removed by extraction in water and recycled, leaving only residual water in the composite, which is easily eliminated. This process presents numerous advantages compared with the time‐consuming solvent casting process, which often suffers from incomplete organic solvent evaporation. As a testbed, polyurethane (PU) composites with up to 30% of CNCs were prepared. These materials were either melt‐processed as produced or used as a masterbatch, i.e., they were diluted via melt‐mixing with neat polymer toward nanocomposites with lower filler content. All nanocomposites prepared using this approach had a homogeneous appearance. They displayed similar mechanical properties as the corresponding reference materials made by solvent casting, and significantly better properties than materials prepared by direct melt mixing. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45648.
Metformin promotes neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth through AMPK activation in human bone marrow–mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Ahn Min‐Ji , Cho Goang‐Won
Published: August 2017

Metformin is an AMP‐activated kinase (AMPK) activator that plays a role in glucose energy metabolism and cell protection. It is widely used to treat several diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and metabolic diseases. In this study, we investigated whether AMPK activation upon treatment with metformin may promote neurite outgrowth during the progression of neuronal differentiation in human bone marrow–mesenchymal stem cells (hBM–MSCs). Differentiation of metformin‐treated MSCs (Met‐MSCs to Met‐diMSCs) in the neuronal induction media resulted in an increase in the number of differentiated cells in a metformin concentration dependent manner. The differentiation rate reached its maximum at 3 H after the initial treatment with neuronal induction media. At 3 H of induction, the neurite length increased significantly in Met‐diMSCs as compared with control cells without metformin treatment (diMSCs). diMSCs showed a significant increase in the expression of neuronal‐specific marker genes; however, the expression of dendrite‐specific markers MAP‐2 and Tuj‐1 was significantly increased in Met‐diMSCs as compared to diMSCs, as confirmed by immunoblotting. This effect was abolished upon treatment with the AMPK inhibitor, compound C, as evident by quantitative PCR, immunoblotting, and immunocytochemical staining. Thus, metformin treatment promotes neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth in hBM–MSCs through AMPK activation.
Dynamic predictions with time‐dependent covariates in survival analysis using joint modeling and landmarking
Authors: Rizopoulos Dimitris , Molenberghs Geert , Lesaffre Emmanuel M.E.H.
Published: August 2017

A key question in clinical practice is accurate prediction of patient prognosis. To this end, nowadays, physicians have at their disposal a variety of tests and biomarkers to aid them in optimizing medical care. These tests are often performed on a regular basis in order to closely follow the progression of the disease. In this setting, it is of interest to optimally utilize the recorded information and provide medically relevant summary measures, such as survival probabilities, which will aid in decision making. In this work, we present and compare two statistical techniques that provide dynamically updated estimates of survival probabilities, namely landmark analysis and joint models for longitudinal and time‐to‐event data. Special attention is given to the functional form linking the longitudinal and event time processes, and to measures of discrimination and calibration in the context of dynamic prediction.
Production of Raw and Ligand‐modified Silica Monolith Particles in an Enhanced Scale and their Application in High Performance Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Ali Ashraf , Cheong Won Jo
Published: August 2017

Porous silica monolith particles have been successfully prepared in an enhanced scale (80–85 g/batch) and derivatized with some ligands and packed in micro‐columns. The separation efficiencies as high as 127 000 and 175 000 plates /m were achieved with 30 and 15 cm columns packed with C18 modified particles, respectively. The average particle size and particle size distribution were reduced by scale‐up and subtle change of the formulation of reaction mixture. This phase also has shown some encouraging possibility for fast analysis. Another phase derivatized with mixed ligands of C8 and urea functionalities showed promising feasibility for proteomic analysis.
Tuning of the Emission Color of Ba1−xGa2S4:xEu2+ Phosphors for Use in Three‐Band White LEDs
Authors: Cho Young‐Sik , Huh Young‐Duk
Published: August 2017

Ba1‐xGa2S4:xEu2+ (x = 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0) phosphors were prepared by performing a solid‐state reaction. The PL spectra of the Ba1−xGa2S4:xEu2+ phosphors were recorded. Very broad excitation bands are located in the range 300–480 nm, which suggests that the Ba1−xGa2S4:xEu2+ can be used as color emission phosphors when pumped with an excitation of 465 nm, which is the wavelength of a commercial blue‐emitting diode. The emission wavelength at the maximum PL intensity (λmax) for the Ba1−xGa2S4:xEu2+ phosphors increases gradually from 504 to 548 nm as the mole fraction of europium ions (x) in the phosphors increases. The variation in λmax for the Ba1−xGa2S4:xEu2+ phosphors with the mole fraction of europium ions can be interpreted in terms of the crystal structures of the Ba1−xGa2S4:xEu2+ phosphors. A three‐band white emission was obtained by coating a mixture of Ba0.5Ga2S4:0.5Eu2+ and CaS:Eu2+ phosphors onto the surface of a blue‐emitting diode.
Identification of the constituents and metabolites in rats after oral administration of Zi Shen Formula by UPLC‐Q‐TOF/MS combined pattern recognition analysis
Authors: Zheng Yanchao , Zhang Yidan , Geng Shihan , Xu Mengxi , Yin Qingshen , Song Lili , Zhuang Pengwei , Zhang Yanjun
Published: August 2017

An ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method was established to detect and identify the chemical constituents of Zi Shen Formula (ZSF) and its metabolites in serum, urine and feces, after oral administration to rats. A total of 68 compounds were characterized in ZSF extracts. In vivo, 38 prototype components and 32 metabolites of ZSF were tentatively identified in rat serum, urine and feces. Seven metabolic pathways including demethylation, hydroxylation, oxidation, sulfation, glucuronidation, methylation and de‐caffeoyl were proposed to be involved in the generation of these metabolites. It was found that glucuronidation, methylation and demethylation were the major metabolic processes of alkaloids, while demethylation, methylation, sulfation and de‐caffeoyl were the major metabolic pathways of phenylethanoid glycosides. The main metabolic pathways of steroidal saponins were oxidation and isotype reactions. These findings are significant for our understanding of the metabolism of ZSF. The proposed metabolic pathways of bioactive components might be crucial for further studies of the mechanisms of action and pharmacokinetic evaluations of ZSF.
Curcumin mitigates cerebral vasospasm and early brain injury following subarachnoid hemorrhage via inhibiting cerebral inflammation
Authors: Cai Jun , Xu Dandan , Bai Xiaoxin , Pan Ruihuan , Wang Bei , Sun Shuangxi , Chen Ruicong , Sun Jingbo , Huang Yan
Published: August 2017

Background and Purpose

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)‐induced cerebral vasospasm and early brain injury is a fatal clinical syndrome. Cerebral vasospasm and early brain injury are associated with inflammatory response and oxidative stress. Whether curcumin, which plays important roles to regulate inflammatory cytokines and inhibit oxidative stress, inhibits SAH‐induced inflammation and oxidative stress are largely unknown.

Methods

Adult male rats underwent autologous blood injection into prechiasmatic cistern to induce SAH. Curcumin (150 mg/kg) was administered at 0.5, 24 and 48 hr post‐SAH. Mortality calculation and neurological outcomes as well as morphological vasospasm of anterior cerebral artery were studied. Superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidation, and inflammatory cytokines (MCP‐1 and TNF‐α) expression in prefrontal region were quantified. Furthermore, p65 and phosphor‐p65 were quantitatively analyzed.

Results

Curcumin remarkedly reduced mortality and ameliorated neurological deficits after SAH induction (p < .05); morphological results showed that cerebral vasospasm in curcumin‐treated group was mitigated (p < .05). SAH‐induced MCP‐1 and TNF‐α overexpression were inhibited in curcumin‐treated group (p < .05). Importantly, phosphor‐p65 was significantly inhibited after curcumin treatment (p < .05).

Conclusions

Curcumin can inhibit SAH‐induced inflammatory response via restricting NF‐κB activation to alleviate cerebral vasospasm and early brain injury.
Apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 (APOE‐ε4) genotype is associated with decreased 6‐month verbal memory performance after mild traumatic brain injury
Authors: Yue John K. , Robinson Caitlin K. , Burke John F. , Winkler Ethan A. , Deng Hansen , Cnossen Maryse C. , Lingsma Hester F. , Ferguson Adam R. , McAllister Thomas W. , Rosand Jonathan , Burchard Esteban G. , Sorani Marco D. , Sharma Sourabh , Nielson Jessica L. , Satris Gabriela G. , Talbott Jason F. , Tarapore Phiroz E. , Korley Frederick K. , Wang Kevin K.W. , Yuh Esther L. , Mukherjee Pratik , Diaz‐Arrastia Ramon , Valadka Alex B. , Okonkwo David O. , Manley Geoffrey T. ,   the TRACK‐TBI Investigators
Published: August 2017

Introduction

The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele associates with memory impairment in neurodegenerative diseases. Its association with memory after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is unclear.

Methods

mTBI patients (Glasgow Coma Scale score 13–15, no neurosurgical intervention, extracranial Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≤1) aged ≥18 years with APOE genotyping results were extracted from the Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury Pilot (TRACK‐TBI Pilot) study. Cohorts determined by APOE‐ε4(+/−) were assessed for associations with 6‐month verbal memory, measured by California Verbal Learning Test, Second Edition (CVLT‐II) subscales: Immediate Recall Trials 1–5 (IRT), Short‐Delay Free Recall (SDFR), Short‐Delay Cued Recall (SDCR), Long‐Delay Free Recall (LDFR), and Long‐Delay Cued Recall (LDCR). Multivariable regression controlled for demographic factors, seizure history, loss of consciousness, posttraumatic amnesia, and acute intracranial pathology on computed tomography (CT).

Results

In 114 mTBI patients (APOE‐ε4(−)=79; APOE‐ε4(+)=35), ApoE‐ε4(+) was associated with long‐delay verbal memory deficits (LDFR: B = −1.17 points, 95% CI [−2.33, −0.01], p = .049; LDCR: B = −1.58 [−2.63, −0.52], p = .004), and a marginal decrease on SDCR (B = −1.02 [−2.05, 0.00], p = .050). CT pathology was the strongest predictor of decreased verbal memory (IRT: B = −8.49, SDFR: B = −2.50, SDCR: B = −1.85, LDFR: B = −2.61, LDCR: B = −2.60; p < .001). Seizure history was associated with decreased short‐term memory (SDFR: B = −1.32, p = .037; SDCR: B = −1.44, p = .038).

Conclusion

The APOE‐ε4 allele may confer an increased risk of impairment of 6‐month verbal memory for patients suffering mTBI, with implications for heightened surveillance and targeted therapies. Acute intracranial pathology remains the driver of decreased verbal memory performance at 6 months after mTBI.
Cost‐effectiveness analysis of potentially curative and combination treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma with person‐level data in a Canadian setting
Authors: Thein Hla‐Hla , Isaranuwatchai Wanrudee , Qiao Yao , Wong Kenny , Sapisochin Gonzalo , Chan Kelvin K. W. , Yoshida Eric M. , Earle Craig C.
Published: August 2017

Patients with early‐stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are potential candidates for curative treatments such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), surgical resection (SR), or liver transplantation (LT), which have demonstrated a significant survival benefit. We aimed to estimate the cost‐effectiveness of curative and combination treatment strategies among patients diagnosed withHCCduring 2002–2010. This study used Ontario Cancer Registry‐linked administrative data to estimate effectiveness and costs (2013USD) of the treatment strategies from the healthcare payer's perspective. Multiple imputation by logistic regression was used to handle missing data. A net benefit regression approach of baseline important covariates and propensity score adjustment were used to calculate incremental net benefit to generate incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) and uncertainty measures. Among 2,222 patients diagnosed withHCC, 10.5%, 14.1%, and 10.3% receivedRFA,SR, andLTmonotherapy, respectively; 0.5–3.1% dual treatments; and 0.5% triple treatments. Compared with no treatment (53.2%), transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) + RFA(average $2,465, 95%CI: −$20,000–$36,600/quality‐adjusted life years [QALY]) orRFAmonotherapy ($15,553, 95%CI: $3,500–$28,500/QALY) appears to be the most cost‐effective modality with lowestICERvalue. The cost‐effectiveness acceptability curve showed that if the relevant threshold was $50,000/QALY,RFAmonotherapy andTACE+ RFAwould have a cost‐effectiveness probability of 100%. Strategies usingLTdelivered the most additionalQALYs and became cost‐effective at a threshold of $77,000/QALY. Our findings found thatTACE+ RFAdual treatment orRFAmonotherapy appears to be the most cost‐effective curative treatment for patients with potential early stage ofHCCin Ontario. These findings highlight the importance of identifying and measuring differential benefits, costs, and cost‐effectiveness of alternativeHCCcurative treatments in order to evaluate whether they are providing good value for money in the real world.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Carbonylative Homocoupling of Aryl Iodides for the Synthesis of Symmetrical Diaryl Ketones with Formic Acid
Authors: Wu Fu‐Peng , Peng Jin‐Bao , Qi Xinxin , Wu Xiao‐Feng
Published: August 2017

A convenient method for the palladium‐catalyzed carbonylative homocoupling of aryl iodides was developed. With formic acid as the CO source, various symmetrical diaryl ketones were synthesized in moderate to good yield in the presence of a palladium catalyst.
Bead‐Level Characterization of Early‐Stage Amyloid β42 Aggregates: Nuclei and Ionic Concentration Effects
Authors: Hu Dingkun , Zhao Wei , Zhu Yong , Ai Hongqi , Kang Baotao
Published: August 2017

A growing body of evidence shows that soluble β‐amyloid (Aβ) aggregates, oligomers, and even protofibrils, may be more neurotoxic than fibrils. Here, we employ a coarse grain model to investigate the aggregation of 75mer Aβ42 oligomers and the salt effect, the cornerstone of fibril evolution. We find that the oligomer morphologies generated by seventy‐five monomers or mixed by both fifty monomers and five preset pentameric nuclei are different (spherical vs. bar‐/disk‐shaped) and are characterize by a full of coil content (former) and >70 % β‐turn content (latter), indicating a novel role of the nuclei played in the early aggregation stage. The aggregation for the former oligomer adopts a master‐nucleus mechanism, whereas for the latter combination of monomers and pentamers a multi‐nuclei one is found. The random salt ions will distribute around the aggregates to form several ion shells as the aggregation develops. A unique two‐fold gap between the shells is observed in the system containing 100 mm NaCl, endowing the physiological salt concentration with special implications. Meanwhile, an accurate ion–solute cutoff distance (0.66 nm) is predicted, and recommended to apply to many other aggregated biomolecular systems. The present distribution scenario of ions can be generalized to other aggregated systems, although it is strictly dependent on the identity of a specific aggregate, such as its charge and composition.
Understanding Carbon Dioxide Solubility in Ionic Liquids by Exploring the Link with Liquid Clathrate Formation
Authors: Kelley Steven P. , Flores Luis A. , Shannon Matthew S. , Bara Jason E. , Rogers Robin D.
Published: August 2017

The solubilities of the quadrupolar molecules benzene and CO2 in various ionic liquids (ILs) are compared in order to determine the connection between aromatic liquid clathrate formation and CO2 dissolution in ILs. It was found that both CO2 Henry's law constants and benzene solubility are remarkably well correlated with each other and with IL molar volume, suggesting both phenomena depend more on the strength of interionic interactions between the ions of an IL rather than the identity of either ion. However, IL ion‐quadrupole interactions were found to have an effect for dicyanamide ([N(CN)2]−), where solubility of CO2 and benzene are affected by destabilizing and stabilizing interactions with [N(CN)2]−, respectively. The results suggest both solubility phenomena are related to the incorporation of the solute into an IL host network. Aromatic liquid clathrate formation thus has potential as a facile experimental probe for predicting the relative ability of ILs to physisorb CO2.
Reservoir history matching using constrained ensemble Kalman filtering
Authors: Raghu Abhinandhan , Yang Xiongtan , Khare Swanand , Prakash Jagadeesan , Huang Biao , Prasad Vinay
Published: August 2017

The high heterogeneity of petroleum reservoirs, represented by their spatially varying rock properties (porosity and permeability), greatly dictates the quantity of recoverable oil. In this work, the estimation of the spatial permeability distribution, which is crucial for predicting the future performance of a reservoir, is carried out through a history matching technique based on constrained ensemble Kalman filtering (EnKF). The main contribution in this work is the novel implementation of hard and soft constraints in the recursive EnKF estimation methodology for petroleum reservoirs. Hard data is obtained from the actual values of the reservoir parameters at discrete locations obtained by core sampling and well logging, while the soft data considered is obtained from correlograms, which characterize the spatial correlation of the rock properties in a reservoir. In each time update, the parameter estimates obtained from the unconstrained EnKF are modified by one of two novel algorithms. In the first, the correlation matrix obtained after the unconstrained EnKF update is transformed to honour the true correlation structure from the correlogram by applying a projection‐based method. The second algorithm involves the use of a technique for soft constrained covariance localization. We observe that the soft data constrained localization method results in the best estimates of the permeability and also reduces the computational time significantly. We quantify the improvement in estimation performance of each of the constrained methods over unconstrained estimation. The method, while developed for estimation in petroleum reservoirs, is also generally applicable to systems with spatial heterogeneity and underlying spatial correlations.
DEM DEVELOPMENT AND PRECISION ANALYSIS FOR ANTARCTIC ICE SHEET USING CRYOSAT‐2 ALTIMETRY DATA
Authors: Fei LI , Feng XIAO , Sheng‐Kai ZHANG , Dong‐Chen E , Xiao CHENG , Wei‐Feng HAO , Le‐Xian YUAN , Yao‐Wen ZUO
Published: August 2017

Digital elevation models (DEMs) are of fundamental importance to many geoscientific and environmental studies in Antarctic and due to relatively poor coverage by ground based surveys, the main data source for constructing an Antarctic DEM is satellite altimetry. The newest operating satellite‐borne altimeter with ice applications is the ESA satellite CryoSat‐2, which was launched in April 2010. CryoSat‐2 provides altimetry data up to a latitude of 88°S/N, which is a significant improvement to previous satellite‐borne altimeters. Based on two full cycles of CryoSat‐2 observations acquired between December 2012 and January 2015, we derived a new DEM for the Antarctic Ice Sheet. The accuracy of generated DEM depends largely on the interpolation method adopted and five widely used interpolation methods were compared using the Cross Validation method. The Kriging method yielded better estimates for the Antarctic Ice Sheet and was adopted when constructing the final DEM. For the CryoSat‐2 LRM data we followed an iterative approach to correct for the surface slope, and the slope correction was applied to each data point using the relocation method. Data gap beyond the latitudinal limit of the CryoSat‐2 mission (88°S) was filled by contour data from Antarctic Digital Database (ADD). Finally, we present a new Antarctic DEM with a pixel size of 1 km×1 km. The accuracy of the final DEM was assessed by ICESat, IceBridge and GPS data and compared with four widely used Antarctic DEMs namely Bamber 1 km DEM, ICESat DEM, RAMPv2 DEM and JLB97 DEM. The results show that the CryoSat‐2 DEM has an uncertainty of 0.73±8.398 m. The vertical accuracy of the DEM is better than 1 m at domes, better than 4 m for the ice shelves, better than 10 m for the interior ice sheet and over 150 m for the rugged mountainous and coastal areas.
Solid‐State NMR H–N–(C)–H and H–N–C–C 3D/4D Correlation Experiments for Resonance Assignment of Large Proteins
Authors: Fraga Hugo , Arnaud Charles‐Adrien , Gauto Diego F. , Audin Maxime , Kurauskas Vilius , Macek Pavel , Krichel Carsten , Guan Jia‐Ying , Boisbouvier Jerome , Sprangers Remco , Breyton Cécile , Schanda Paul
Published: August 2017

Solid‐state NMR spectroscopy can provide insight into protein structure and dynamics at the atomic level without inherent protein size limitations. However, a major hurdle to studying large proteins by solid‐state NMR spectroscopy is related to spectral complexity and resonance overlap, which increase with molecular weight and severely hamper the assignment process. Here the use of two sets of experiments is shown to expand the tool kit of 1H‐detected assignment approaches, which correlate a given amide pair either to the two adjacent CO–CA pairs (4D hCOCANH/hCOCAcoNH), or to the amide 1H of the neighboring residue (3D HcocaNH/HcacoNH, which can be extended to 5D). The experiments are based on efficient coherence transfers between backbone atoms using INEPT transfers between carbons and cross‐polarization for heteronuclear transfers. The utility of these experiments is exemplified with application to assemblies of deuterated, fully amide‐protonated proteins from approximately 20 to 60 kDa monomer, at magic‐angle spinning (MAS) frequencies from approximately 40 to 55 kHz. These experiments will also be applicable to protonated proteins at higher MAS frequencies. The resonance assignment of a domain within the 50.4 kDa bacteriophage T5 tube protein pb6 is reported, and this is compared to NMR assignments of the isolated domain in solution. This comparison reveals contacts of this domain to the core of the polymeric tail tube assembly.
The role of feared possible selves in obsessive–compulsive and related disorders: A comparative analysis of a core cognitive self‐construct in clinical samples
Authors: Aardema Frederick , Moulding Richard , Melli Gabriele , Radomsky Adam S. , Doron Guy , Audet Jean‐Sebastien , Purcell‐Lalonde Magali
Published: August 2017

Increasingly, cognitive‐behavioural models have been considering the role of beliefs about the self in the development and maintenance of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), including sensitive domains of self‐concept and feared self‐perceptions. This has led to the development of the Fear of Self Questionnaire (FSQ; Aardema et al., ), which has shown strong internal consistency, divergent and convergent validity, and found to be a major predictor of unwanted thoughts and impulses (i.e., repugnant obsessions). The current study aimed to investigate fear of self‐perceptions using the FSQ in an OCD sample (n = 144) and related psychological disorders (eating disorders, n = 57; body dysmorphic disorder, n = 33) in comparison to a non‐clinical (n = 141) and clinical comparison group (anxiety/depressive disorders, n = 27). Following an exploratory factor analysis of the scale in the OCD sample, the results showed that participants with OCD in general did not score significantly higher on fear of self‐perceptions than did the clinical comparison participants. However, consistent with previous findings, fear of self was highly characteristic among OCD patients with unwanted repugnant thoughts and impulses. In addition, fear of self‐perceptions were significantly more elevated in those with eating or body dysmorphic disorders relative to the other non‐clinical and clinical groups. The construct of a “feared possible self” may be particularly relevant in disorders where negative self‐perception is a dominant theme, either involving concerns about one's inner self or concerns related to perceived bodily faults.
Histone deacetylase 1 and 2 are essential for murine neural crest proliferation, pharyngeal arch development, and craniofacial morphogenesis
Authors: Milstone Zachary J. , Lawson Grace , Trivedi Chinmay M.
Published: August 2017

Background: Craniofacial anomalies involve defective pharyngeal arch development and neural crest function. Copy number variation at 1p35, containing histone deacetylase 1 (Hdac1), or 6q21‐22, containing Hdac2, are implicated in patients with craniofacial defects, suggesting an important role in guiding neural crest development. However, the roles of Hdac1 and Hdac2 within neural crest cells remain unknown. Results: The neural crest and its derivatives express both Hdac1 and Hdac2 during early murine development. Ablation of Hdac1 and Hdac2 within murine neural crest progenitor cells cause severe hemorrhage, atrophic pharyngeal arches, defective head morphogenesis, and complete embryonic lethality. Embryos lacking Hdac1 and Hdac2 in the neural crest exhibit decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis in both the neural tube and the first pharyngeal arch. Mechanistically, loss of Hdac1 and Hdac2 upregulates cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitors Cdkn1a, Cdkn1b, Cdkn1c, Cdkn2b, Cdkn2c, and Tp53 within the first pharyngeal arch. Conclusions: Our results show that Hdac1 and Hdac2 function redundantly within the neural crest to regulate proliferation and the development of the pharyngeal arches by means of repression of cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitors. Developmental Dynamics 246:1015–1026, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.