bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single-cell data revealed the function of natural killer cells and macrophage cells in chemotherapy tolerance in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Gao Jing , Yan Xueqian , Fan Dan , Li Yuanchun
Published: November 2024

Background

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is highly prevalent and heterogeneous among adult acute leukemias. Current chemotherapeutic approaches for AML often face the challenge of drug resistance, and AML immune cells play an important role in the regulation of AML drug resistance. Thus, it is of key significance to explore the regulatory mechanisms of immune cells in AML to alleviate chemotherapy resistance in AML.

Methods

Based on AML single-cell transcriptomic data, this study revealed the differences in the expression of immune cell subpopulations and marker genes in AML patients in the complete remission group (CR) compared to AML patients in the non-complete remission group (non-CR) after chemotherapy. Functional enrichment by clusterprofiler revealed the regulatory functions of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in AML. AUCell enrichment scores were used to assess the immunoregulatory functions of immune cells. Pseudotime analysis was used to construct immune cell differentiation trajectories. CellChat was used for cellular communication analysis to elucidate the interactions between immune cells. Survival analysis with the R package “survival” revealed the role of immune cell marker genes on AML prognosis. Finally, the wound healing and trans-well assay were performed.

Results

Single-cell clustering analysis revealed that NK/T cells and macrophage cells subpopulations were significantly higher in non-CR AML patients than in CR AML. AUCell enrichment analysis revealed that FCAR+ and FCGR3A+ macrophages were significantly more active in the non-CR group and correlated with processes regulating cellular energy metabolism and immune cell activity. Differentially expressed NK cell marker genes between CR and non-CR groups mainly included HBA1, S100A8, and S100A9, which were associated with cancer drug resistance regulation, these marker genes of (FCAR, FCGR3A, PREX1, S100A8 and S100A9) were upregulated in human chronic myeloid leukemia cells (HAP1) and silencing of S100A8 affected migration and invasion of HAP1 cells. In particular, the differentiation pathways of macrophages and NK cells in non-CR differed from those of patients in the CR group. Cellular communication analyses showed that ligand-receptor pairs between NK cells and macrophage cells mainly included HLA-E-KLRK1, HLA-E-KLRC1, HLA-E-CD94:NKG2A, CLEC2B-KLRB1. In addition, LGALS9-CD45, CCL3L1- CCR1, CCL3-CCR1 between these two immune cells mainly regulate secreted signaling to mediate AML progression. Marker genes in NK/T cells and macrophage cells were significantly associated with AML prognosis.

Conclusion

This study reveals the potential role of NK cells and macrophages in AML chemoresistance through the analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data. This provides new ideas and insights into the key mechanisms of immune cells in AML treatment.
The ecological niche characteristics and interspecific associations of plant species in the alpine meadow of the Tibetan Plateau affected plant species diversity under nitrogen addition
Authors: Xiang Xuemei , De Ke Jia , Lin Weishan , Feng Tingxu , Li Fei , Wei Xijie
Published: November 2024

Background

Plant species diversity is of great significance to maintain the structure and function of the grassland ecosystem. Analyzing community niche and interspecific associations is crucial for understanding changes in plant species diversity. However, there are few studies on the response of plant species diversity, species niche characteristics, and interspecific relationships to nitrogen addition in alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Methods

This study investigates the effects of different levels of nitrogen addition (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 g N m−2) on plant species diversity, functional group importance values, niche width, niche overlap, and interspecific associations in an alpine meadow.

Results

1) Compared with the control (CK), the Shannon-Weiner index and species richness index significantly increased by 11.36% and 30.77%, respectively, with nitrogen addition at 30 g N m−2, while both indices significantly decreased by 14.48% and 23.08%, respectively, at 60 g N m−2. As nitrogen addition increased, the importance value of grasses showed an upward trend, whereas the importance value of sedges showed a decline. 2) The niche width of Poa pratensis L., Elymus nutans Griseb., and Stipa purpurea Griseb. are increased with higher nitrogen addition. As nitrogen addition increases, the niche overlap values also show a rising trend. At 60 g N m−2, the overall community association in the alpine meadow exhibited a significant negative correlation. These findings suggest that grasses exhibit strong ecological adaptability under high nitrogen addition and gain a competitive advantage in spatial competition, increasing their niche width. Moreover, as nitrogen levels increase, the importance values of grasses rise significantly, and their ecological characteristics become more similar, resulting in reduced niche overlap among plant species. Furthermore, high nitrogen addition intensifies interspecific competition between grasses, sedges, and forbs, disrupting the original balance and reducing species diversity. These insights provide a valuable understanding of changes in species diversity and competitive dynamics in alpine meadow plant communities under high nitrogen addition.
Health-related quality of life and its associated factors among Chinese seasonal retired migrants in Hainan
Authors: Chen Sikun , Li Tianchang , Wang Lingjun , Wang Shigong , Ouyang Lin , Wang Jiwei , Hu Dayi , Yu Jinming
Published: November 2024

Background

Seasonal retired migrants are mainly retired or semiretired people who migrate to warmer areas during the winter and then return to their original homes in the following year. Despite its increasing popularity, the evidence concerning the health status of Chinese seasonal retired migrants is controversial. Although some studies have shown that seasonal retired migrants have better health status, other studies note that migrants are driven involuntarily by health concerns and that their mental health suffers during migration. The objective of this study was to provide quantified evidence on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of seasonal retired migrants in China and to identify potential factors associated with HRQoL.

Methods

This was a community-based cross-sectional study of seasonal retired migrants who lived in Wuzhishan, Hainan during the winter. The Chinese version of the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) was used to assess participants’ HRQoL. Data on demographic and behavioral characteristics, body mass index, and the presence of chronic diseases were collected using a self-administered survey. Logistic regressions were used to explore the factors associated with responses in each dimension of the EQ-5D-5L descriptive system, and a multiple linear regression model was used to explore the factors associated with EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) scores.

Results

A total of 992 participants (female: 56.5%) were enrolled in the current study, with a mean age of 67.87 ± 6.98 years. Most participants reported problems in the pain/discomfort dimension (16.7%), followed by the anxiety/depression dimension (8.3%). Few participants reported problems in the first three dimensions of the EQ-5D-5L: mobility (5.4%), usual activities (2.0%), and self-care (1.2%). The median EQ-VAS score was 84 (interquartile range: 80–89). The regression results indicated that poor sleep quality, the presence of chronic diseases, and low-level physical activity were important factors that were negatively associated with multiple dimensions of the EQ-5D-5L. In addition, the EQ-VAS score was negatively associated with age, the presence of chronic diseases, poor sleep quality, and low-level physical activity.

Conclusion

This study revealed that Chinese seasonal retired migrants have high HRQoL. In addition, this study revealed that sleep quality and physical activity are correlated with multiple dimensions of the EQ-5D-5L descriptive system and EQ-VAS. Therefore, lifestyle interventions related to sleep quality and physical activity are essential for improving HRQoL among Chinese seasonal retired migrants.
Evaluation of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Genotypes based on Morphological Traits in Vindhya Region of Uttar Pradesh, India
Authors: Naresh Baira , Bara Bineeta Michael. , Lal Gaibriyal M. , Sahi Vaidurya Pratap
Published: November 2024

The study was conducted in the Field Experimentation Centre, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) during Rabi, 2023-2024. The soil of experimental plot was sandy loam in texture, nearly neutral in soil reaction (pH 7.1), low in organic carbon (0.36 %), available N (171.48 kg/ha), available P (15.2 kg/ha) and available K (232.5 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with fifteen genotypes which were replicated thrice. The results revealed that plant height (55.69 cm), No. of primary branches (3.19), number of secondary branches (10.34), no.of pods per plant (55.39), no. of seeds per plant (9.70), seed yield per plant (19.32 gm), seed yield per ha (3864.45 kg/ha), biological yield per plant (31.69 gm), harvest index (37.88%), seed index (19.38 gm), test weight (193.8gm), seed length (9.47 mm), seed width (8.23) were recorded highest in Phule Vikram genotype followed by PG-05 genotype and days to 50% flowering (56.79 DAS), days to 50% pod setting (81.09 DAS), days to maturity (117.43 DAS) were recorded the lowest in JG-16 genotype.
Effects of Restraint Stress and Cadmium Chloride on the Liver Function of Female Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus)
Authors: Owolabi Gbenga Opeyemi , Lawal Onaopepo Abdulwakeel , Offiong Innocent Effiom , Olanrewaju Aliyat Nafiu
Published: November 2024

Cadmium (Cd) and prolonged exposure to stress are associated with adverse health outcomes. Various studies have shown the impacts of stress and metal exposures on liver function. Cd is a non-redox metal, one of the important mechanisms underlying its toxicity is oxidative stress induction because of the generation of reactive species with the depletion of the antioxidant defense system. Cadmium and psychological stressors are known to affect the liver's functions. The study aimed to assess the impact of restraint stress and cadmium chloride administration on oxidative stress and liver functions in female Wistar rats. Twenty female Wistar rats (180-220g) were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=5 each): Control (CTL), Restraint stress (RSS), Cadmium chloride (CCC), Restraint+Cadmium (RSC). Experimental groups were administered a daily dose of 100 mg/kg/BW of Cadmium chloride and subjected to restraint stress via wire mesh for 30 minutes daily for 21 days. All rats were anaesthesized and sacrificed 24 hours after the last procedures. Blood was collected through cardiac puncture for biochemical analysis. Liver tissue was collected, homogenized and analyzed for biochemical assays and a part for histological analysis. Results showed that the weight gain difference and antioxidant enzymes decreased significantly (p<0.05) in RSC group when compared with the control. The findings also revealed that cadmium and restraint stress exposure induced hepatotoxicity with a significant difference in liver function markers. AST and ALT significantly increased (p<0.05) in RSC group when compared to RSS and CCC groups. Furthermore, ALP and TP showed significant increase (p<0.05) in RSC group when compared with other groups. The histological architecture of the livers was also distorted by restraint stress exposure and cadmium chloride administration. Overall, the findings established that both psychological and environmental stressors affect liver health, through different pathways.
New Explicit Exact Solutions for the (1+1) Dimensional Generalized Shallow Water Wave Equation
Authors: Li Wuming , Zuo Haoying
Published: November 2024

The shallow water wave equation describes the propagation of waves in shallow water (where the water depth is small relative to the wavelength). It is widely used in various fields such as fluid dynamics, flood propagation, plasma physics, quantum field theory, and so on. This paper investigates the wave solution of the generalized shallow water wave equations using three effective methods: Kudryashov-expansion approach, the modified rational sine-cosine approach and the Hirota bilinear approach. We succeeded in obtaining kink solutions, singular kink solutions, periodic solutions, breathing solutions, bright solitons, and complex value solutions. Furthermore, the different wave solutions are depicted by constructing 2D and 3D diagrams to enhance the understanding and verification of our results. This paper is helpful to study the propagation law of fluctuations and the dynamic characteristics of wave changes, and has an important guiding role in port engineering, water resources dispatching, and the prevention of various natural disasters.
The Multifaceted Clitoria ternatea (Aparajita): A Review of Its Phytochemistry, Medicinal Uses and Commercial Applications
Authors: Tamanna  , Kaur Amanpreet , Singh Navdeep , Shri Richa
Published: November 2024

Clitoria ternatea Linn., (aparajita/shankapushpi; family Fabaceae), is a traditional medicinal plant with diverse applications - both medicinal and commercial. It is a perennial twinning herb with prominent flowers. The multifaceted plant is native to tropical Asia. The aim of this review is to provide in-depth information on the phytochemistry along with commercial and medicinal uses of C. ternatea. Exhaustive review of available literature was carried out to compile and critically evaluate scientific information available on the plant. According to available literature, the plant possesses diverse health benefits. Traditionally it is used as an antidote for snake and scorpion bite, memory enhancer and anxiolytic agent and it shows various pharmacological activities that includes antidepressant, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, analgesic etc. The activities are attributed to the presence of varied constituents predominantly the unique acylated anthocyanins – ternatins, cyclotides, phenolic compounds etc. Commercially it is valued as a natural dye and food colorant because of the acylated anthocyanins in it. This plant has marked antioxidant and antiaging properties and hence it is gaining popularity in formulating cosmetics and cosmeceuticals. It is also used for protecting crops in agrotechnology. This review highlights the numerous medicinal properties, commercial uses, as well as its phytochemical investigation prove multifaceted potential of this plant. Further directions for developing the plant and its products as effective and stable medicine, nutraceutical and cosmeceuticals are also suggested.
Response of Foliar Sprays of Plant Growth Regulators and Micronutrients and Their Combinations on Morphological, Flowering and Yield Attributing Traits of Tomato at North -Bihar Condition
Authors: Kumar Sunil , Kumar Udit , Sharma K.K. , Lal Mangi , Jain Ayushi , Kumari Monu , Kumar Harshit
Published: November 2024

Tomato is a very important vegetable all over the world due to its nutrients enrichment and have considered as “poor man’s orange” worldwide. However, the crop is threatened with low yield and sub-standard quality fruits due to various biotic and abiotic, adverse climatic and poor nutrients status of soil. In the present study, an attempt was made to test the effects of foliar sprays of naphthalic acetic acid (NAA), gibberellic acid (GA3), zinc (Zn) and boron (B) on growth, yield and quality attributes of tomato var. Kashi Vishesh. Significant differences recorded in plant morphological parameters such as plant height, number of branches per plant, and number of leaves per plant including the number of branches at first fruit set and days to 50% flowering and yield attributing characteristics like average fruit weight (gm), equatorial diameter of the fruit (cm), polar diameter of the fruit (cm), fruit yield per plant (kg), fruit yield (t/ha) of tomato plants. The foliar spray of GA3 50ppm + ZnSO4 0.5% resulted in the highest plant height (82.11 cm and 124.23 cm), greatest number of branches per plant (10 and 13.4) and highest number of leaves per plant (160.1 and 199.1) at 60 and 75 DAT. In terms of yield attributes, it was demonstrated the maximum average fruit weight (65.02 g), equatorial diameter (5.23 cm), polar diameter (4.92 cm), fruit yield per plant (1.53 kg) and yield per hectare (29.31 tons). Conversely, foliar spray of GA3 at 50 ppm + Micro. mix. at 0.5% had shown nearby results of morphological and yield data. A rigorous statistical. Analysis using ANOVA was conducted and is comprehensively presented. These findings have the potential to contribute to the enhancement of tomato production in the specific Indo-Gangetic plains of North Bihar.
In vitro Efficacy of Trichoderma harzianum Nanoparticles Against Colletotrichum capsici Causing Fruit Rot of Chilli
Authors: Ardad Supriya S. , Magar Sunita J. , Patil Neha H. , Kavale Abhijeet N. , Banne Shridhar N.
Published: November 2024

This study evaluates the antifungal effectiveness of biosynthesized Trichoderma harzianum nanoparticles against Colletotrichum capsici, the pathogen responsible for anthracnose in chili crops. In vitro efficacy of biosynthesized Trichoderma harzianum nanoparticles were assessed against Colletotrichum capsica causing anthracnose of chilli using Agar well method. All three nanoparticles tested showed significant inhibition of mycelial growth at concentrations of 100, 250, and 500 ppm. The lowest mycelial growth was recorded with CuNP at 250 ppm (64.50 mm), while Zinc sulphate at 250 ppm showed the highest growth (85.00 mm). The zone of inhibition was greatest with CuNP at 250 ppm (25.50 mm), indicating strong antifungal activity, followed by AgNP and CuNP at 500 ppm. Overall, CuNP showed the highest zone of followed by Silver and Zinc nanoparticles. These findings suggest that CuNPs could be a promising biocontrol agent for chili anthracnose management, offering an eco-friendly alternative to chemical fungicides."
AI-Powered Hive Monitoring System For Varroa Mite Detection And Bee Health Management
Authors: . .
Published: November 2024

This paper proposes an innovative AI-powered hive monitoring system designed to address the critical issue of Varroa destructor mite infestations in honey bee colonies. The Varroa mite poses a significant threat to global bee populations, weakening bees, transmitting diseases, and potentially leading to colony collapse. Traditional control methods, such as chemical treatments, often have adverse effects on bee health and the environment. Our proposed system leverages advanced technologies, including machine learning, computer vision, and sensor networks, to provide a more sustainable and effective solution for mitigating the impact of Varroa mites on bee populations.
Analysis Of Feet Plantar Pressure Distribution On Padahastasana
Authors: Mondal Prabir , Mishra Vinita Bajpai
Published: November 2024

The purpose of the study was to analyze foot plantar pressure distribution in Padahasthasana. Seven male students from L.N.I.P.E, Gwalior aged 18 to 22 years were selected as subjects for the present study. All the subjects were free from any injury related to limbs. Each subject was instructed to stand in their stance position on the baropodomertic pressure platform with bare foot focus on the target and perform Padahastasana for 15 seconds. To find out the analysis of feet plantar pressure distribution on Padahasthasana the mean, standard deviation, and t-test were used at the significant level of 0.05. The findings indicated that no significant difference was found between the left foot and right foot in most of the factors of plantar pressure distribution like Arch Index, Maximum pressure, and surface area coverage but in the case of Average pressure significant difference was found
Rapid bacterial identification by direct PCR amplification of 16S rRNA genes using the MinION™ nanopore sequencer
Authors: Kai Shinichi , Matsuo Yoshiyuki , Nakagawa So , Kryukov Kirill , Matsukawa Shino , Tanaka Hiromasa , Iwai Teppei , Imanishi Tadashi , Hirota Kiichi
Published: January 2019

Rapid identification of bacterial pathogens is crucial for appropriate and adequate antibiotic treatment, which significantly improves patient outcomes. 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene amplicon sequencing has proven to be a powerful strategy for diagnosing bacterial infections. We have recently established a sequencing method and bioinformatics pipeline for 16S rRNA gene analysis utilizing the Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION™ sequencer. In combination with our taxonomy annotation analysis pipeline, the system enabled the molecular detection of bacterial DNA in a reasonable time frame for diagnostic purposes. However, purification of bacterial DNA from specimens remains a rate‐limiting step in the workflow. To further accelerate the process of sample preparation, we adopted a direct PCR strategy that amplifies 16S rRNA genes from bacterial cell suspensions without DNA purification. Our results indicate that differences in cell wall morphology significantly affect direct PCR efficiency and sequencing data. Notably, mechanical cell disruption preceding direct PCR was indispensable for obtaining an accurate representation of the specimen bacterial composition. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene analysis of mock polymicrobial samples indicated that primer sequence optimization is required to avoid preferential detection of particular taxa and to cover a broad range of bacterial species. This study establishes a relatively simple workflow for rapid bacterial identification via MinION™ sequencing, which reduces the turnaround time from sample to result, and provides a reliable method that may be applicable to clinical settings.
The bacteriolytic activity of native and covalently immobilized lysozyme against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria is differentially affected by charged amino acids and glycine
Authors: Levashov Pavel A. , Matolygina Darya A. , Ovchinnikova Ekaterina D. , Adamova Irina Yu , Gasanova Darya A. , Smirnov Sergey A. , Nelyub Vladimir A. , Belogurova Natalya G. , Tishkov Vladimir I. , Eremeev Nikolay L. , Levashov Andrey V.
Published: January 2019

The emergence of new antibiotic‐resistant bacterial strains means it is increasingly important to find alternatives to traditional antibiotics, such as bacteriolytic enzymes. The bacteriolytic enzyme lysozyme is widely used in medicine as an antimicrobial agent, and covalent immobilization of lysozyme can expand its range of possible applications. However, information on the effect of such immobilized preparations on whole bacterial cells is quite limited. Here, we demonstrate the differential effects of glycine and charged (basic and acidic) amino acids on the enzymatic lysis of Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria by soluble and immobilized lysozyme. Glycine and basic amino acids (histidine, lysine, and arginine) significantly increase the rate of lysis of Gram‐negative Escherichia coli cells in the presence of soluble lysozyme, but they do not substantially affect the rate of enzymatic lysis of Gram‐positive Micrococcus luteus. Glutamate and aspartate significantly enhance enzymatic lysis of both E. coli and M. luteus. When using immobilized lysozyme, the effects of amino acids on the rate of cell lysis are significantly reduced. For immobilized lysozyme, the presence of an external diffusion mode on cell lysis kinetics at bacterial concentrations below 4 × 108 colony‐forming units·mL−1 was shown. The broadening of the pH optimum of lysozyme activity after immobilization has been demonstrated for both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. The Michaelis constant (Km) values of immobilized lysozyme were increased by 1.5‐fold for E. coli cell lysis and 4.6‐fold for M. luteus cell lysis compared to soluble enzyme. A greater understanding of the effect of amino acids on the activity of native and immobilized lysozyme is important for both the development of new materials for medical purposes and elucidating the interaction of lysozyme with bacterial cells. Of particular interest is our finding that lysozyme activity against Gram‐negative bacteria is enhanced in the presence of glycine and charged amino acids over a wide range of concentrations.
Addiction consult services in hospitals show promise in facilitating ongoing care
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: January 2019

Addiction medicine consulting teams in acute‐care hospitals are beginning to show promise as an effective referral source to specialty treatment for opioid use disorders (OUDs). But inconsistencies in how these consult services are structured suggests much room for refinement, according to a newly published study.
Rheological and thermal behavior of Tunisian clay reinforced recycled polypropylene composites
Authors: Zdiri Khmais , Harzallah Omar , Elamri Adel , Khenoussi Nabyl , Brendlé Jocelyne , Mohamed Hamdaoui
Published: January 2019

In the present paper, the influence of Tunisian clay filler on rheological and thermal behaviors of based recycled polypropylene (RPP) composites is investigated. RPP was mixed with 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt% of Tunisian clay particles using twin‐screw extruder. Maleic anhydride‐grafted polypropylene (PP‐g‐MA) was used as a compatibilizer. The morphological, structural, rheological, and thermal properties of raw and composite materials were analyzed. Scanning electron microscopy results showed that with the incorporation of clay and PP‐g‐MA, the particles were uniformly dispersed into RPP/PP‐g‐MA/clay composites. FTIR analysis showed that clay particles altered the shape of the observation band of RPP, indicating the presence of a chemical interaction between the clay and RPP matrix. The increased storage and loss moduli indicated that the Tunisian clay had a reinforcing effect on the RPP matrix. In differential scanning calorimetry analysis, crystallization temperature (Tc) increased with clay content, indicating that the addition of Tunisian organoclay accelerated the crystallization of the RPP matrix. The slight decrease in melting temperature (Tm) with increasing clay loading could be due to PP‐g‐MA, which affects the mobility of macromolecular chains.
Rheology, crystallization, and thermal stability of poly(ethylene oxide) modified by a novel phenolic resin
Authors: Jiang Ying , Yu Xiaoxiao , Yu Ruobing
Published: January 2019

A novel phenolic resin (phenolic containing diphenyl oxide [named byMPF]) was synthesized and blended with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). In modifiedPEO, the shear‐thinning behavior appears and shortage modulus (G′) deviates from classic terminal behavior. Compared withPEO, there is an increase in the nucleation rate and a decrease in the growth rate of spherulites in modifiedPEO. A small amount ofMPFplays a role of the nucleating agent ofPEO. The addition ofMPFintoPEOmakes the glass transition temperature (Tg) and thermal decomposition temperature (Td5%) ofPEOhigher. When the content ofMPFis 2%, theTd5%ofMPF/PEOis 346°C, which is much higher than that of purePEO(240°C). When the content ofMPFis 50%,TgofPEOis up to 26°C, which is 90°C higher than that of purePEO.
Synthesis of fluorinated polyacrylate surfactant‐free core–shell latex by RAFT‐mediated polymerization‐induced self‐assembly: Effects of the concentration of hexafluorobutyl acrylate
Authors: Zhou Jianhua , Yao Hongtao , He Renyan
Published: January 2019

A simple method for preparing fluorinated polyacrylate surfactant‐free latex was developed by RAFT‐mediated polymerization‐induced self‐assembly, in which the fluorinated polyacrylate copolymers formed a core–shell spherical morphology. The influence of the concentration of hexafluorobutyl acrylate on the properties of latex was systematically studied. The results showed that the average particle size increased, and the monomer conversion gradually increased with increasing the length of the second segment (PHFBA). And the monomer conversion progressively decreased, and average particle size gradually increased as the concentration of monomer (HFBA) increased from 2 wt% to 6 wt%. Furthermore, the thermal stability and the water contact angle of the film increased as the concentration of HFBA increased, and the water contact angle of film can be up to 127.3° when the concentration of HFBA was 6 wt%. XPS also showed that the fluorine‐containing groups well concentrated at the film–air interfaces during the annealing process.
Preparation and properties of hydroxyl‐terminated cationic waterborne polyurethanes for cathodic electrodeposition coatings
Authors: He Xiaoling , Zhang Xindan , He Jingwei , Liu Fang
Published: January 2019

Hydroxyl‐terminated cationic waterborne polyurethanes (HCWPUs) were synthesized using N‐methyldiethanolamine (N‐MDEA) as internal emulsifier and mixed with cross‐linker of nonionic waterborne blocked polyisocyanate (NWBI) to prepare cathodic electrodeposition (CED) coatings. The effects of N‐MDEA content, NCO/OH molar ratio, neutralization degree, and NWBI content on the performance of HCWPUs emulsion and relevant CED coatings were investigated. The results showed that 7.5 wt.% of N‐MDEA content, 0.9/1 of NCO/OH molar ratio, and 100% of neutralization degree were the optimal experimental parameter for synthesizing excellent performance HCWPUs. Incorporation of nonionic waterborne blocked isocyanate could significantly promote the hardness, adhesion, and solvent resistance of CED coatings without influencing the emulsion stability and coatings thermostability.
Physical and electrochemical properties of PVA/TiO2 nanocomposite membrane
Authors: Abdel‐Hady Esam E. , Mohamed Hamdy F. M. , Abdel‐Hamed Mohamed Osman , Gomaa Mahmoud M.
Published: January 2019

A casting method becomes used for the preparation of the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/TiO2 nanocomposite. Characterization of the casting membranes was done using Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis, and AC impedance method. Surface morphology, element analysis, and distributions were investigated by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X‐ray analysis (SEM/EDX). Positron annihilation spectroscopy was used to examine the microstructure of the membranes under study, while their crystallinity was checked by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD). The FTIR spectra suggest a strong interaction between TiO2 and PVA nanoparticles, whereas WAXD results indicated that the amalgamation of TiO2 nanoparticles into the PVA matrix lowers the main crystallinity of PVA. The free volume size for PVA/TiO2 with cross‐linker decreases suggest that the filling of the cavities by Ti3+ and O− ions as well as complex formation, that is, lead to a lower value of permeability. Because of their lower cost, higher thermal and lower permeability, the cross‐linked PVA/TiO2 membrane was considered to use in alkaline direct methanol fuel cells.
Long range pipeline leak detection and localization using discrete observer and support vector machine
Authors: Xie Junyao , Xu Xiaodong , Dubljevic Stevan
Published: January 2019

A realistic pipeline modeled by a nonlinear coupled first‐order hyperbolic partial differential equations (PDEs) system is studied for the long transportation pipeline leak detection and localization. Based on the so‐called water hammer equation, a linear distributed parameter system is obtained by linearization. The structure and energy preserving time discretization scheme (Cayley–Tustin) is used to realize a discrete infinite‐dimensional hyperbolic PDEs system without spatial approximation or model order reduction. In order to reconstruct pressure and mass flow velocity evolution with limited measurements, a discrete‐time Luenberger observer is designed by solving the operator Riccati equation. Based on this distributed observer system, data on different normal and leakage conditions (various leak amounts and positions) are generated and fed to train a support vector machine model for leak detection, amount, and position estimation. Finally, the leak detection, amount estimation, and localization effectiveness of the developed method are proved by a set of simulations. © 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 65: e16532 2019
Quantitative comparison of hydrodynamic and elastoplastic approaches for modeling granular flow in silo
Authors: Luo Qi , Zheng Qijun , Yu Aibing
Published: January 2019

Hydrodynamic and elastoplastic theories are two commonly used continuum approaches for modeling granular materials. Here, the elastoplastic approach is extended to incorporate the rheology of dense granular flow, which therefore allows a quantitative comparison with the hydrodynamic approach under the same setting of rheological laws, material parameters, and numerical method. The flow patterns yielded by two approaches are apparently similar and the discharge rates are close. Yet the elastoplastic approach creates a narrow dome‐like flow zone in contrast to the wide cone‐like flow zone generated by the hydrodynamic approach. The shear localization is also less prominent in elastoplastic modeling owing to the existence of elastic deformation. The stresses predicted by two approaches match well in flow zones but show significant differences in stagnant zones. The proposed elastoplastic approach incorporating flow rheology can be used generally in both solid and fluid states of granular materials. © 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 65: e16533, 2019
Cutoff points for continuous metabolic risk score in adolescents from southern Brazil
Authors: Reuter Cézane Priscila , Andersen Lars Bo , de Moura Valim Andréia Rosane , Reuter Éboni Marília , Borfe Leticia , Renner Jane Dagmar Pollo , de Mello Elza Daniel
Published: January 2019

Objective

There is no consensus on the best diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the child and adolescent population. Thus, the present study aimed to establish cutoff points for a continuous metabolic risk score (cMetS) in adolescents from southern Brazil.

Methods

This was a cross‐sectional study conducted between 2014 and 2015. The sample consisted of 1739 schoolchildren (985 girls), aged 10‐17 years. cMetS was calculated by sum of the Z‐score of the following parameters: waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, glucose, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Three diagnostic criteria of MetS were used to create cut points for cMetS.

Results

The best cutoff point for cMetS was set at 3.40 for boys (sensitivity: 100.0%, specificity: 92.9%, AUC: 0.978) and 3.61 for girls (sensitivity: 100, 0%, specificity: 93.1%, AUC: 0.991). For these cutoff points, metabolic risk was found in 8.9% of adolescents (9.4% for boys and 8.5% for girls). A linear relationship was found between the mean values of cMetS and the number of components of MetS (mean cMetS −1.09 for no component present and 6.66 for 3 or more components).

Conclusions

The use of cMetS is valid for adolescents and can detect a greater proportion of students with metabolic risk, compared to the current criteria for diagnosis of MetS.
Heritability estimation of 2D:4D finger ratio in a Chuvashian population‐based sample
Authors: Kalichman Leonid , Batsevich Valery , Kobyliansky Eugene
Published: January 2019

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the familial correlations and heritability of 2D:4D ratio traits using a large population‐based sample of ethnically homogeneous pedigrees from Chuvasha and Bashkortostan Autonomies of the Russian Federation.

Methods

We calculated the familial correlations and performed a heritability analysis of 2D:4D ratio traits in a sample of 1541 subjects (803 men and 738 women, mean age 47.78 ± 16.89 years, range 18‐90 years).

Results

Familial correlations of 2D:4D ratio traits showed no significant correlation for spouses; however, parent‐offspring (0.15‐0.28, P < .001) and sibling correlations (0.13‐0.38, P < .009) were found to be significant. Heritability (H2) of visual classification of 2D:4D ratio was 0.36 for the left and 0.28 for the right hand; finger ratio was 0.55 and 0.66, respectively; the ray ratio was 0.49 and 0.59, respectively, thus indicating the existence of a clear familial aggregation of 2D:4D ratio variation in the Chuvashian pedigrees, which cannot be explained only by common environmental effects.

Discussion

Results of our study suggest familial aggregations of finger ratio variation (for all traits) in Chuvashian pedigrees. No evidence of assortative mating was found.
Amyloid‐β immunotherapy for alzheimer disease: Is it now a long shot?
Authors: Panza Francesco , Lozupone Madia , Seripa Davide , Imbimbo Bruno P.
Published: January 2019

The amyloid‐β (Aβ) cascade hypothesis of Alzheimer disease (AD) holds that brain accumulation of Aβ initiates the disease process. Accordingly, drug research has targeted Aβ production, clearance, and deposition as therapeutic strategies. Unfortunately, candidate drugs have failed to show clinical benefit in established, early, or prodromal disease, or in those with high AD risk. Currently, monoclonal antibodies specifically directed against the most neurotoxic Aβ forms are undergoing large‐scale trials to confirm initially encouraging results. However, recent findings on the normal physiology of Aβ suggest that accumulation may be compensatory rather than the pathological initiator. If this is true, alternative strategies will be needed to defeat this devastating disease. ANN NEUROL 2019;85:303–315.
Brain and cord imaging features in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders
Authors: Cacciaguerra Laura , Meani Alessandro , Mesaros Sarlota , Radaelli Marta , Palace Jacqueline , Dujmovic‐Basuroski Irena , Pagani Elisabetta , Martinelli Vittorio , Matthews Lucy , Drulovic Jelena , Leite Maria Isabel , Comi Giancarlo , Filippi Massimo , Rocca Maria A.
Published: January 2019

Objectives

To validate imaging features able to discriminate neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders from multiple sclerosis with conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods

In this cross‐sectional study, brain and spinal cord scans were evaluated from 116 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients (98 seropositive and 18 seronegative) in chronic disease phase and 65 age‐, sex‐, and disease duration–matched multiple sclerosis patients. To identify independent predictors of neuromyelitis optica diagnosis, after assessing the prevalence of typical/atypical findings, the original cohort was 2:1 randomized in a training sample (where a multivariate logistic regression analysis was run) and a validation sample (where the performance of the selected variables was tested and validated).

Results

Typical brain lesions occurred in 50.9% of neuromyelitis optica patients (18.1% brainstem periventricular/periaqueductal, 32.7% periependymal along lateral ventricles, 3.4% large hemispheric, 6.0% diencephalic, 4.3% corticospinal tract), 72.2% had spinal cord lesions (46.3% long transverse myelitis, 36.1% short transverse myelitis), 37.1% satisfied 2010 McDonald criteria, and none had cortical lesions. Fulfillment of at least 2 of 5 of absence of juxtacortical/cortical lesions, absence of periventricular lesions, absence of Dawson fingers, presence of long transverse myelitis, and presence of periependymal lesions along lateral ventricles discriminated neuromyelitis optica patients in both training (sensitivity = 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.84–0.97; specificity = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.78–0.97) and validation samples (sensitivity = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.66–0.92; specificity = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.71–0.99). MRI findings and criteria performance were similar irrespective of serostatus.

Interpretation

Although up to 50% of neuromyelitis optica patients have no typical lesions and a relatively high percentage of them satisfy multiple sclerosis criteria, several easily applicable imaging features can help to distinguish neuromyelitis optica from multiple sclerosis. ANN NEUROL 2019;85:371–384.
Cerebellar degeneration correlates with motor symptoms in Huntington disease
Authors: Singh‐Bains Malvindar K. , Mehrabi Nasim F. , Sehji Tvesa , Austria Micah D. R. , Tan Adelie Y. S. , Tippett Lynette J. , Dragunow Mike , Waldvogel Henry J. , Faull Richard L. M.
Published: January 2019

Objective

Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by variable motor and behavioral symptoms attributed to major neuropathology of mainly the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex. The role of the cerebellum, a brain region involved in the coordination of movements, in HD neuropathology has been controversial. This study utilizes postmortem human brain tissue to investigate whether Purkinje cell degeneration in the neocerebellum is present in HD, and how this relates to disease symptom profiles.

Methods

Unbiased stereological counting methods were used to quantify the total number of Purkinje cells in 15 HD cases and 8 neurologically normal control cases. Based on their predominant symptoms, the HD cases were categorized into 2 groups: “motor” or “mood.”

Results

The results demonstrated a significant 43% loss of Purkinje cells in HD cases with predominantly motor symptoms, and no cell loss in cases showing a major mood phenotype. There was no significant correlation between Purkinje cell loss and striatal neuropathological grade, postmortem delay, CAG repeat in the IT15 gene, or age at death.

Interpretation

This study shows a compelling relationship between Purkinje cell loss in the HD neocerebellum and the HD motor symptom phenotype, which, together with our previous human brain studies on the same HD cases, provides novel perspectives interrelating and correlating the variable cerebellar, basal ganglia, and neocortical neuropathology with the variability of motor/mood symptom profiles in the human HD brain. ANN NEUROL 2019;85:396–405.
Development of a high‐performance polysulfone hybrid ultrafiltration membrane using hydrophilic polymer‐functionalized mesoporous SBA − 15 as filler
Authors: Wang Haidong , Lu Xiaofei , Lu Dongwei , Wang Panpan , Ma Jun
Published: January 2019

A novel polysulfone hybrid ultrafiltration membrane was developed by blending hydrophilic poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] [P(PEGMA)] grafted mesoporous SBA‐15 [SBA‐g‐P(PEGMA)] as filler. The hydrophilic SBA‐g‐P(PEGMA) fillers were synthesized via surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. The effects of the SBA‐g‐P(PEGMA) fillers on the prepared hybrid membranes were systematically investigated. Compared with pristine SBA‐15 fillers, SBA‐g‐P(PEGMA) fillers contributed to higher hydrophilicity and a more developed pore structure in the hybrid membranes. Specifically, SBA‐15 grafted with a moderate P(PEGMA) molecular weight could better preserve the valid open‐ended filler pore structure in the membrane matrix, thus facilitating membrane permeability. The pure water flux of the as‐prepared polysulfone (PSF)/SBA‐g‐P(PEGMA) membrane was three times that of the PSF/SBA‐15 membrane (271.7 L m−2 h−1 vs. 88.2 L m−2 h−1) with similar membrane selectivity. Moreover, the PSF/SBA‐g‐P(PEGMA) membranes showed improved antifouling property. This work paves the way for developing high‐performance hybrid membranes by blending of hydrophilic polymer‐functionalized mesoporous fillers in the future. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47353.
Mechanical, acoustic, and thermal performances of shear thickening fluid–filled rigid polyurethane foam composites: Effects of content of shear thickening fluid and particle size of silica
Authors: Li Ting‐Ting , Ling Lei , Wang Xiaoxiao , Jiang Qian , Liu Bobo , Lin Jia‐Horng , Lou Ching‐Wen
Published: January 2019

Shear thickening fluid (STF) features a rheological property, and rigid polyurethane (PU) foams feature low thermal conductivity and excellent acoustic insulation. In this study, an STF/PU rigid foam composite sandwich structure was designed using different contents (0, 0.5, 1, or 1.5 wt %) of STF that contained 14 nm, 40 nm, or 75 nm silicon dioxide (SiO2). The effects of STF content and silica size on the cell structure, mechanical performance, acoustic absorption, and thermal performance of the STF/PU foam were explored. The test results show that STF/PU foam exhibited three characteristic acoustic absorption peaks, and the maximum acoustic absorption coefficient reached 0.841. STF addition increased compression, bending strength, and maximum acoustic coefficient, as well as initial mass loss temperature. STF‐filled PU foam composites containing 14 nm and 40 nm SiO2 had a mild rise in thermal insulation. The rigid STF/PU foam composites with a cell structure had the maximum thermal conductivity of 0.22 W m−1 K−1 and sound absorption coefficient of 0.841, which confirm that they are a good candidate for sound‐absorbing energy conservation materials. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47359.
Strengthen flame retardancy of epoxy thermoset by montmorillonite particles adhering phosphorus‐containing fragments
Authors: Liu Zhen , Qiu Yong , Qian Lijun , Chen Yajun , Xu Bo
Published: January 2019

Phosphaphenanthrene derivative tri‐(3‐DOPO‐2‐hydroxypropan‐1‐yl)‐1,3,5‐triazine‐2,4,6‐trione (TGD) and organo‐modified montmorillonite (OMMT) were jointly introduced into the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A cured by 4,4‐diamino‐diphenylmethane (EP) to investigate their flame retardant behaviors. With only addition of 0.5%OMMT and 2.5%TGD, epoxy thermoset achieved a limiting oxygen index value of 33.7% and passed UL 94 V‐0 rating test. Compared with the combustion behaviors of 3%OMMT/EP and 3%TGD/EP, an obvious synergistic flame retardant effect between OMMT and TGD can be concluded in OMMT/TGD/EP. Meanwhile, the FTIR spectra of gas‐phase and condensed‐phase products further proved this synergistic effect working in a physical way. On one hand, the co‐existence of hydroxyl‐containing TGD enabled montmorillonite (MMT) particles to filtrate and adhere more smoke fragments. On the other hand, the co‐action of MMT help the polar phosphorus‐containing fragments from TGD better strengthened char layer, enhancing the barrier and protective effect of residue. The synergistic flame retardant effect from OMMT/TGD system endowed themselves with higher flame retardant efficiency, and epoxy thermoset with better flame retardant performance. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 47500.
Morphology and thermal expansion in large HDPE injection moldings
Authors: Leung Mathew , Gnatowski Marek , Sun Grace , Stanese Adrian , Wong Tonny
Published: January 2019

Morphology and linear coefficients of thermal expansion (LCTE) within the wall of a large (10 kg) injection molded container were evaluated. The study employed polarized light microscopic birefringence techniques, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), as well as thermal mechanical analysis to determine the LCTE anisotropy in the skin and core of the wall. A difference in crystallinity between skin and core was found, and a region with distinct lamellas was seen under SEM without sample etching. A large variability in anisotropy of the LCTE was found in the relatively thick (~700 μm) skin of the molding. The LCTE differences between skin and core were attributed to molecular orientation related to resin flow. LCTE anisotropy as an important source of residual stress in the transition zone between skin and core was confirmed by fractographic analysis. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47507.