bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toughening mechanism of rubber reinforced epoxy composites by thermal and microwave curing
Authors: Xi Jiaojiao , Yu Zhiqiang
Published: September 2017

The carboxyl terminated polybutadiene (CTBN) is utilized to improve the toughness of diglycidylether of bisphenol A epoxy cured by heat and microwave. The change of viscosity, chemical groups, and the glass transition temperature (Tg) of system are analyzed. The impact performance is characterized to evaluate the fracture toughness, and tensile properties also are investigated. The fracture morphologies are observed by the scanning electron microscopy for exploring toughening mechanism. The viscosity results indicate that viscosity of system increases with increasing of CTBN, demonstrating the formation of precrosslinking and interpenetrating network structure of two phases. The Fourier transform infrared spectrometer results show that effective chemical bonds are formed between CTBN and epoxy resins. The Tg decreases with introducing CTBN, indicating the decline of crosslinking density, which further suggests inherent three‐dimensional structure have been changed. The impact strength and energy increase with increasing of CTBN, and reach a maximum value of 5.92 kJ/m2 and 0.13 kJ at 15% for thermal curing, respectively, increased by 36.8% and 23.1% relative to microwave curing system, while tensile strength and modulus reach the optimum at 5%. Scanning electron microscopy observation finds that “plastic tensile” and “microvoid” deriving from “sea‐island” structure exist, presenting the ductile fracture features. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45767.
Analysis of testing with multiple choice versus open‐ended questions: Outcome‐based observations in an anatomy course
Authors: Melovitz Vasan Cheryl A. , DeFouw David O. , Holland Bart K. , Vasan Nagaswami S.
Published: September 2017

The pedagogical approach for both didactic and laboratory teaching of anatomy has changed in the last 25 years and continues to evolve; however, assessment of student anatomical knowledge has not changed despite the awareness of Bloom's taxonomy. For economic reasons most schools rely on multiple choice questions (MCQ) that test knowledge mastered while competences such as critical thinking and skill development are not typically assessed. In contrast, open‐ended question (OEQ) examinations demand knowledge construction and a higher order of thinking, but more time is required from the faculty to score the constructed responses. This study compares performances on MCQ and OEQ examinations administered to a small group of incoming first year medical students in a preparatory (enrichment) anatomy course that covered the thorax and abdomen. In the thorax module, the OEQ examination score was lower than the MCQ examination score; however, in the abdomen module, the OEQ examination score improved compared to the thorax OEQ score. Many students attributed their improved performance to a change from simple memorization (superficial learning) for cued responses to conceptual understanding (deeper learning) for constructed responses. The results support the view that assessment with OEQs, which requires in depth knowledge, would result in student better performance in the examination. Anat Sci Educ 11: 254–261. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.
Evaluating a bedside tool for neuroanatomical localization with extended‐matching questions
Authors: Tan Kevin , Chin Han Xin , Yau Christine W.L. , Lim Erle C.H. , Samarasekera Dujeepa , Ponnamperuma Gominda , Tan Nigel C.K.
Published: September 2017

Neuroanatomical localization (NL) is a key skill in neurology, but learners often have difficulty with it. This study aims to evaluate a concise NL tool (NLT) developed to help teach and learn NL. To evaluate the NLT, an extended‐matching questions (EMQ) test to assess NL was designed and validated. The EMQ was validated with fourth‐year medical students and internal medicine and neurology residents. The NLT's usability was evaluated with third‐ and fourth‐year students, and the effectiveness was evaluated with an experimental study of second‐year students, using the EMQ as the outcome measure. Students were taught how to use both the NLT and textbook algorithms (control) to perform NL, then randomized into either group, and only allowed to use their assigned tool to complete the EMQ. Primary outcome was the difference in mean EMQ scores expressed as a percentage of total score. For EMQ validation, students (n = 56) scored lower than residents (n = 50) (76.7% ± 1.7 vs. 83.0% ± 1.6; mean ± standard error of mean, P < 0.009). The EMQ demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach's α 0.85) and generalizability (G‐coefficient 0.85). Third‐ (n = 77) and fourth‐year (n = 42) students found the NLT user‐friendly and helpful in their learning of NL. In the experimental study, scores were significantly higher for NLT group (n = 94) than for controls (n = 101) (42.5 vs. 37.0%, P = 0.014); the effect size (Cohen's d) was 0.36. The EMQ is validated to reliably assess NL and is generalizable, feasible, practical, and of low cost. The concise and user‐friendly NLT for NL was effective in aiding medical student performance of NL. Anat Sci Educ 11: 262–269. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.
Discourse relations in rationale‐containing text‐segments
Authors: Xiao Lu , Conroy Nadia K.
Published: September 2017

Offering one's perspective and justifying it has become a common practice in online text‐based communications, just as it is in typical, face‐to‐face communication. Compared to the face‐to‐face communications, it can be particularly more challenging for users to understand and evaluate another's perspective in online communications. On the other hand, the availability of the communication record in online communications offers a potential to leverage computational techniques to automatically detect user opinions and rationales. One promising approach to automatically detect the rationales is to detect the common discourse relations in rationale texts. However, no empirical work has been done with regard to which discourse relations are commonly present in the users’ rationales in online communications. To fill this gap, we annotated the discourse relations in the text segments that contain the rationales (N = 527 text segments). These text segments are obtained from five datasets that consist of five online posts and the first 100 comments. We identified 10 discourse relations that are commonly present in this sample. Our finding marks an important contribution to this rationale detection approach. We encourage more empirical work, preferably with a larger sample, to examine the generalizability of our findings.
Trustworthiness attribution: Inquiry into insider threat detection
Authors: Ho Shuyuan Mary , Kaarst‐Brown Michelle , Benbasat Izak
Published: September 2017

Insider threat is a “wicked” contemporary organizational problem. It poses significant threats to organizational operations and information security. This article reviews insider threat research and outlines key propositions to conceptualize the interpretation of dynamic human information behavior in an organizational setting, which represent an integration of trustworthiness and human sensors’ attribution in close relationships. These propositions posit that when a focal individual violates integrity‐based trust, the group can collectively attribute a shift in trustworthiness, triggering a natural peer attribution process that assigns cause to observed behavior. Group communication can thus reflect subtle changes in a focal individual's perceived trustworthiness. The ability to understand group‐based computer‐mediated communication patterns over time may become essential in safeguarding information assets and the “digital well‐being” of today's organizations. This article contributes a novel theoretical lens to examine dynamic insights on insider threat detection.
Study of Six Green Insensitive High Energetic Coordination Polymers Based on Alkali/Alkali‐Earth Metals and 4,5‐Bis(tetrazol‐5‐yl)‐2 H‐1,2,3‐triazole
Authors: Chen Dong , Jing Dong , Zhang Qi , Xue Xianggui , Gou Shaohua , Li Hongzhen , Nie Fude
Published: September 2017

Constructing insensitive high‐performance energetic coordination polymers (ECPs) with alkali/alkali‐earth metal ions and a nitrogen‐rich organic backbone has been proved to be a feasible strategy in this work. Six diverse dimensional novel ECPs (compounds 1–6) were successfully synthesized from NaI, CsI, CaII, SrII, BaII ions and a nitrogen‐rich triheterocyclic 4,5‐bis(tetrazol‐5‐yl)‐2 H‐1,2,3‐triazole (H3BTT). All compounds show outstanding stability and low sensitivity, the thermal stability of these ECPs are significantly improved as the structural reinforcement increases from 1D to 3D, in which the decomposition temperature of 3D BaII based compound 6 is as high as 397 °C. Long‐term storage experiments show that compounds 5 and 6 are stable enough at high temperature. Moreover, the six compounds hold considerable detonation performances, in which CaII based compound 5 possesses the detonation velocity of 9.12 km s−1, along with the detonation pressure of 34.51 GPa, exceeding those of most energetic coordination polymers. Burn tests further certify that the six compounds can be versatile pyrotechnics.
Reconstruction of lignin and hemicelluloses by aqueous ethanol anti‐solvents to improve the ionic liquid‐acid pretreatment performance of Arundo donax Linn
Authors: You Tingting , Wang Ruizhen , Zhang Xueming , Ramaswamy Shri , Xu Feng
Published: September 2017

Ionic liquid (IL)‐acid pretreatment is known to not only enhance the enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency of lignocellulose but also to generate deposits on the surface of fiber by conventional water regeneration, which retard the increment. In this study, ethanol aqueous solution regeneration was developed as a new method to change the substrates characteristics for IL‐acid pretreatment and their effects on the enzymatic hydrolysis were evaluated. Following the IL‐acid reaction, the biomass slurry was subjected to ethanol aqueous solution at various concentration. Results indicated that anti‐solvent choice significantly influenced the reconstruction of both hemicelluloses and lignin as a result of the competition between water and ethanol. The partial removal of hemicelluloses and suitable lignin re‐localization contributed to a more porous structure. Consequently, the cellulose digestibility of aqueous ethanol regenerated samples was dramatically enhanced to ∼100% and approximately 11‐ and 2‐fold higher than that of untreated and conventional water regenerated pretreated samples, respectively. A giant leap in the initial rate of enzymatic hydrolysis was also detected in 50% ethanol aqueous solution regenerated samples and only about 10 hr was needed to convert 80% of cellulose to glucose due to the appearance of cellulose II hydrate‐like and more porous structure.
Engineering of cell membrane to enhance heterologous production of hyaluronic acid in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Westbrook Adam W. , Ren Xiang , Moo‐Young Murray , Chou C. Perry
Published: September 2017

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a high‐value biopolymer used in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Current methods of HA production, including extraction from animal sources and streptococcal cultivations, are associated with high costs and health risks. Accordingly, the development of bioprocesses for HA production centered on robust “Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)” organisms such as Bacillus subtilis is highly attractive. Here, we report the development of novel strains of B. subtilis in which the membrane cardiolipin (CL) content and distribution has been engineered to enhance the functional expression of heterologously expressed hyaluronan synthase (HAS) of Streptococcus equisimilis (SeHAS), in turn, improving the culture performance for HA production. Elevation of membrane CL levels via overexpressing components involved in the CL biosynthesis pathway, and redistribution of CL along the lateral membrane via repression of the cell division initiator protein FtsZ resulted in increases to the HA titer of up to 204% and peak molecular weight of up to 2.2 MDa. Moreover, removal of phosphatidylethanolamine and neutral glycolipids from the membrane of HA‐producing B. subtilis via inactivation of pssA and ugtP, respectively, has suggested the lipid dependence for functional expression of SeHAS. Our study demonstrates successful application of membrane engineering strategies to develop an effective platform for biomanufacturing of HA with B. subtilis strains expressing Class I streptococcal HAS.
Intracellular response to process optimization and impact on productivity and product aggregates for a high‐titer CHO cell process
Authors: Handlogten Michael W. , Lee‐O'Brien Allison , Roy Gargi , Levitskaya Sophia V. , Venkat Raghavan , Singh Shailendra , Ahuja Sanjeev
Published: September 2017

A key goal in process development for antibodies is to increase productivity while maintaining or improving product quality. During process development of an antibody, titers were increased from 4 to 10 g/L while simultaneously decreasing aggregates. Process development involved optimization of media and feed formulations, feed strategy, and process parameters including pH and temperature. To better understand how CHO cells respond to process changes, the changes were implemented in a stepwise manner. The first change was an optimization of the feed formulation, the second was an optimization of the medium, and the third was an optimization of process parameters. Multiple process outputs were evaluated including cell growth, osmolality, lactate production, ammonium concentration, antibody production, and aggregate levels. Additionally, detailed assessment of oxygen uptake, nutrient and amino acid consumption, extracellular and intracellular redox environment, oxidative stress, activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway, protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) expression, and heavy and light chain mRNA expression provided an in‐depth understanding of the cellular response to process changes. The results demonstrate that mRNA expression and UPR activation were unaffected by process changes, and that increased PDI expression and optimized nutrient supplementation are required for higher productivity processes. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate the role of extra‐ and intracellular redox environment on productivity and antibody aggregation. Processes using the optimized medium, with increased concentrations of redox modifying agents, had the highest overall specific productivity, reduced aggregate levels, and helped cells better withstand the high levels of oxidative stress associated with increased productivity. Specific productivities of different processes positively correlated to average intracellular values of total glutathione. Additionally, processes with the optimized media maintained an oxidizing intracellular environment, important for correct disulfide bond pairing, which likely contributed to reduced aggregate formation. These findings shed important understanding into how cells respond to process changes and can be useful to guide future development efforts to enhance productivity and improve product quality.
Meta-analysis of immunonutrition in major abdominal surgery
Authors: Probst P , Ohmann S , Klaiber U , Hüttner F J , Billeter A T , Ulrich A , Büchler M W , Diener M K
Published: September 2017

Background

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential benefits of immunonutrition in major abdominal surgery with special regard to subgroups and influence of bias.

Methods

A systematic literature search from January 1985 to July 2015 was performed in MEDLINE, Embase and CENTRAL. Only RCTs investigating immunonutrition in major abdominal surgery were included. Outcomes evaluated were mortality, overall complications, infectious complications and length of hospital stay. The influence of different domains of bias was evaluated in sensitivity analyses. Evidence was rated according to the GRADE Working Group grading of evidence.

Results

A total of 83 RCTs with 7116 patients were included. Mortality was not altered by immunonutrition. Taking all trials into account, immunonutrition reduced overall complications (odds ratio (OR) 0·79, 95 per cent c.i. 0·66 to 0·94; P = 0·01), infectious complications (OR 0·58, 0·51 to 0·66; P < 0·001) and shortened hospital stay (mean difference –1·79 (95 per cent c.i. –2·39 to –1·19) days; P < 0·001) compared with control groups. However, these effects vanished after excluding trials at high and unclear risk of bias. Publication bias seemed to be present for infectious complications (P = 0·002). Non-industry-funded trials reported no positive effects for overall complications (OR 1·13, 0·88 to 1·46; P = 0·34), whereas those funded by industry reported large effects (OR 0·66, 0·48 to 0·91; P = 0·01).

Conclusion

Immunonutrition after major abdominal surgery did not seem to alter mortality (GRADE: high quality of evidence). Immunonutrition reduced overall complications, infectious complications and shortened hospital stay (GRADE: low to moderate). The existence of bias lowers confidence in the evidence (GRADE approach).
A Platinum(II)‐based Photosensitive Tripod as an Effective Photodynamic Anticancer Agent through DNA Damage
Authors: Zhong Yi‐Fang , Zhang Hang , Liu Wen‐Ting , Zheng Xiao‐Hui , Zhou Yi‐Wei , Cao Qian , Shen Yong , Zhao Yong , Qin Peter Z. , Ji Liang‐Nian , Mao Zong‐Wan
Published: September 2017

Herein, two photosensitive platinum(II)‐based tripods were designed and synthesized. Notably, complex 1 ({[Pt(dien)]3L}(NO3)6, L=tri(4‐pyridylphenyl)amine and dien=diethylenetriamine), which mainly accumulated in the cell nucleus, exhibited very low cytotoxicity in the absence of light irradiation, but displayed a remarkable increase in cytotoxicity upon visible light irradiation. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the tripod interacted with DNA in the nucleus, induced ROS generation upon light irradiation, and consequently elicited rapid DNA damage response; thereby triggering cancer cell apoptosis.
Microwave‐Assisted Rapid One‐Pot Synthesis of Fused and Non‐Fused Indoles and 5‐[18F]Fluoroindoles from Phenylazocarboxylates
Authors: Krüll Jasmin , Hubert Anja , Nebel Natascha , Prante Olaf , Heinrich Markus R.
Published: September 2017

Substituted indoles can be prepared from phenylazocarboxylates through a rapid one‐pot sequence featuring a microwave‐assisted Fischer indole synthesis as a key step. Considering that the phenylazocarboxylates may beforehand be modified by mild nucleophilic aromatic substitution, including the introduction of [18F]fluoride, the overall strategy offers an attractive new access to 5‐[18F]fluoroindoles.
Energetic 1,2,5‐Oxadiazolo‐Pyridazine and its N‐Oxide
Authors: Tang Yongxing , He Chunlin , Imler Gregory H. , Parrish Damon A. , Shreeve Jean'ne M.
Published: September 2017

Achieving an energetic compound, which exhibits high performance and insensitivity, is important in the field of energetic materials and remains a major challenge. Herein, we found that oxidation of 4,7‐diaminopyridazino[4,5‐c]furoxan (5) with a mixture of 50 % hydrogen peroxide and trifluoroacetic anhydride gave 6‐amino‐7‐nitro‐[1,2,5]oxadiazolo[3,4‐c]pyridazine (7) and its N‐oxide derivative (8). The oxidation of 5 with hypofluorous acid (HOF) was also studied. Compound 8 displayed an energetic performance compared to triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB) and insensitive properties (impact sensitivity (IS) 36 J and friction sensitivity (FS)>360 N). Such excellent properties make 8 attractive for high‐performance applications, in which insensitivity is important.
Was gibt's Neues?
Authors: Böck Barbara
Published: September 2017

No abstract.
Application of the nondestructive second derivative spectrophotometry to eliminate the effect of substrate in identification of madder used in Persian carpets
Authors: Ghanean Sarvenaz , Ghanbar Afjeh Mansoureh
Published: September 2017

The handmade Persian carpet is famous worldwide not only for its elegant design and artistic structure, but also for its brilliant color harmony and incomparable raw materials. Various natural dyes accompanied by different mordants are used on various woolen yarns to obtain a wide range of unrepeatable shades for carpet. In this article, as a first step, the diversity of the undyed woolen yarns used in Persian carpets was statistically investigated by implementation of the Principle Component Analysis. Then the second derivative of Kubelka‐Munk function of samples dyed with madder was considered to reach a pattern for identifying madder. The results show that, although the spectral reflectance of different selected woolen yarns has at least 3 dimensions, all derivative curves are qualitatively very similar with the same minimum and maximum peaks at 510 and 605 nm, respectively. The findings are confirmed when various types of madder were used in the dyeing process. As a result, it is shown that the nondestructive derivative spectrophotometry is able to identify madder on alum mordanted woolen yarns used in Persian carpets and to eliminate the effect of substrate. It is a useful technique for preservation, conservation, and dissemination of the Persian carpet.
Phase Transitions in Tetramethylammonium Hexachlorometalate Compounds (TMA)2MCl6 (M = U, Np, Pt, Sn, Hf, Zr)
Authors: Autillo Matthieu , Wilson Richard E.
Published: September 2017

A study of the phase transitions occurring in tetramethylammonium hexachlorometalate compounds with M = UIV, NpIV, ZrIV, SnIV, HfIV, and PtIV were performed using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction across the temperature range 120–400 K. When the crystals are cooled, movement of the octahedral [MCl6]2– anions induces a phase transition from Fm3m to Fd3c with a doubling of the unit cell. For the actinide compounds, no correlation between the f‐electron configuration and the transition temperature was observed; instead, a correlation between the transition temperatures and both the [MCl6]2– anion and the TMA cation size is highlighted. Two phase transitions were observed and characterized. The first phase transition occurs with the ordering of the TMA cation and the second from a rotation of the [MCl6]2– octahedra. A third phase transition was observed at lower temperatures and was ascribed to a tetragonal distortion of the [MCl6]2– anions. Synthesis and study of the deuterated compounds did not show a significant isotope effect. Raman spectra of the protonated and deuterated compounds indicate only weak hydrogen bonding interactions between the TMA cations and the [MCl6]2– octahedra.
Analysis of antibiotics by CE and CEC and their use as chiral selectors: An update
Authors: Greño Maider , Castro‐Puyana María , García María Ángeles , Marina María Luisa
Published: September 2017

Natural, synthetic or semisynthetic antibiotics are highly used to prevent or treat diseases in humans and animals, and to promote animal growth. This fact makes that antibiotics residues or their transformation products may be present in food or in the environment after human or animal excretion. For this reason, it is imperative to develop reliable and sensitive analytical methodologies for their analysis. The main aim of this work is to present and discuss the most recent applications of capillary electromigration methods for the analysis of antibiotics, including the developments and applications of their use as chiral selectors in CE. The literature published from June 2015 to June 2017 is included following the previous review by Domínguez‐Vega et al. (Electrophoresis, 2016, 37, 189–211). Information about the use of different detection systems, off‐line and on‐line strategies to improve sensitivity, and microchip devices for the analysis of antibiotics is provided and properly discussed.
The association between cognitive fluctuations and activities of daily living and quality of life among institutionalized patients with dementia
Authors: Sun Meng , Mainland Brian J. , Ornstein Tisha J. , Mallya Sasha , Fiocco Alexandra J. , Sin Gwen Li , Shulman Kenneth I. , Herrmann Nathan
Published: September 2017

Objective

Cognitive fluctuations (CFs) occur commonly in dementia of all types. While it is generally accepted that CFs can affect the clinical rating of dementia severity and neuropsychological performance, little is known about their impact on patients' activities of daily living (ADLs) and quality of life (QOL). Our study aims to explore the impact of CFs on ADLs and QOL among institutionalized patients with dementia.

Methods

The present study examined the nature and frequency of CFs in 55 institutionalized dementia patients. We used the Dementia Cognitive Fluctuation Scale (DCFS) to assess the presence and severity of CFs. The Alzheimer's Disease Functional Assessment of Change Scale (ADFACS) was used to assess patients' ADLs, and the Quality of Life in Late Stage Dementia scale (QUALID) was used to assess QOL. Linear regression models were used to assess the relationships between CFs, ADLs, and QOL.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 90.41 years (SD = 2.84). Their mean Aggressive Behavior Scale score was 1.13 (SD = 1.59), mean Severe Impairment Battery total score was 86.65 (SD = 13.77), and mean DCFS score was 10.07 (SD = 3.04). The mean ADFACS‐ADL score was 10.88 (SD = 6.37), mean ADFACS‐IADL score was 16.61 (SD = 9.54), and mean QUALID total score was 18.25 (SD = 5.70). DCFS significantly predicted ADFACS‐ADL score (R2 = 0.39, β = 0.30, P = .011) although the relationship between ADFACS‐IADL score and DCFS score was not significant (R2 = 0.16, P = .111). DCFS significantly predicted QUALID score (R2 = 0.08, β = 0.29, P = .033).

Conclusion

More severe CFs in patients with dementia were significantly associated with impaired ability to engage in ADLs and poorer QOL.
Impact of chronic disease on the mid‐age employment in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Chun‐Chih , Lin Ying‐Tzu
Published: September 2017

Chronic diseases, also known as non‐communicable diseases (NCDs), have become the leading causes of deaths and disability around the world. Cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes are also listed in the top 10 causes of deaths in Taiwan for decades. This study aims to investigate the relationship the chronic diseases and the mid‐age employment in Taiwan. We estimate the impact of the chronic diseases on employment using the 2009 NHIS data of Taiwan using 2 kinds of probit model. In addition, we show that a usual probit model can underestimate the negative effect of NCDs on mid‐age employment. To reduce the productivity loss from the NCDs, policymakers can increase the awareness of risk of these chronic diseases through media and the adult preventive care services, which is free for the people aged 40 and above in Taiwan.
CoCr‐enriched medium modulates integrin‐based downstream signaling and requires a set of inflammatory genes reprograming in vitro
Authors: Fernandes Célio J. C. , Bezerra Fabio , do Carmo Maiara das D. , Feltran Georgia S. , Rossi Mariana C. , da Silva Rodrigo A. , Padilha Pedro de M. , Zambuzzi Willian F.
Published: September 2017

Significant health concerns have been raised by the high levels of Cr and Co ions into whole blood as resulted of corrosion process released from biomedical implants, but very little is known about their biological behavior in governing cell metabolism. Thus, we prompted to address this issue by exploring the effects of CoCr enriched medium on both fibroblast and preosteoblast (pre‐Ob) cells. First, we showed there is a significant difference in Co and Cr releasing dependent on engineered surface, it being even more released in dual acid‐etching treating surface (named w/DAE) than the machined surfaces (named wo/DAE). Thereafter, we showed CoCr affects pre‐osteoblast and fibroblast metabolism by dynamically modulating integrin‐based downstream signaling (FAK, Src, Rac1, and Cofilin). Specifically on this matter, we have shown there is dynamic β1‐integrin gene activation up 24 h in both preosteoblast and fibroblast. Our analysis showed also that both pre‐Ob and fibroblast are important resource of proinflammatory cytokines when responding to CoCr enriched medium. In addition, survival‐related signaling pathway was also affected interfering on survival and proliferating signal, mainly affecting CDK2, mapk‐Erk and mapk‐p38 phosphorylations, while AKT/PKB‐related gene remained active. In addition, during cell adhesion PP2A (an important Ser/Thr phosphatase) was inactive in both cell lineages and it seems be a CoCr's molecular fingerprint, regulating specific metabolic pathways involved with cytoskeleton rearrangement. Altogether, our results showed for the first time CoCr affects cellular performance in vitro by modulating integrin activation‐based downstream signaling and requiring a reprograming of inflammatory genes activations in vitro. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 839–849, 2018.
The roles of interleukin‐1 and RhoA signaling pathway in rat epilepsy model treated with low‐frequency electrical stimulation
Authors: Liu Ai‐Hua , Wu Ya‐Ting , Li Li‐Ping , Wang Yu‐Ping
Published: September 2017

This study aims to explore the correlation between interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) and epilepsy in rats when treated with low‐frequency electrical stimulation via the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway. Twenty‐four SD rats were elected for this study, among which six rats were assigned as the normal group. And 16 rat models with epilepsy were successfully established and assigned into the model group, the ES group and the ES + IL‐8 group, with each group comprising of six rats. The seizure frequency and duration was recorded. Electroencephalogram (EEG) power was detected at α1, α2, β, θ, and δ. The mRNA expressions of IL‐1β and IL‐1R1 were detected using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR), and the protein expressions of RhoA, ROCK I and ROCK II were detected by western blotting. In comparison with the model group, the seizure frequency duration, the power of δ, θ, α1, α2, and β, the mRNA and protein expressions of IL‐1β and IL‐1R1, the expressions of RhoA and ROCK I proteins, and the ratio of RhoA protein between membrane and cytosol decreased in the ES group, while the expression of ROCK II increased (all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in these indexes between the ES + IL‐8 group and the model group (all P > 0.05). These findings signified that IL‐1 might inhibit the efficacy of low‐frequency ES for epilepsy via the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway, which may provide a theoretical basis for clinical treatment of epilepsy.
Cd(II) Complexes of 2,2':6',2''‐Terpyridine Substituted at 4'‐Position with Thienyl Groups: Synthesis, Structures, Luminescence, and Photocatalytic Activities
Authors: Zhang Jianxin , Yan Xia
Published: September 2017

Four new complexes, namely Cd(II)(4'‐(2‐(5‐R‐thienyl))‐terpyridine)2(ClO4)2 (R = hydrogen (1), bromo (2), methyl (3), and methoxy (4)), were synthesized and characterized by high‐resolution mass spectrometry, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. Complexes 2 and 4 were further characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, which showed that the Cd(II) ions in complexes 2 and 4 are both six‐coordinated with the N6 coordination sphere, displaying distorted octahedral geometries. The luminescence of complexes 1–4 was studied. Moreover, the photocatalytic properties of complexes 1–4 were investigated and compared with those of their parent complex Cd(II)(terpyridine)2(ClO4)2.
Clinical values of circular RNA 0000181 in the screening of gastric cancer
Authors: Zhao Qianfu , Chen Shijun , Li Tianwen , Xiao Bingxiu , Zhang Xinjun
Published: September 2017

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are recently found involved in cancer occurrence and development. However, their values in the diagnosis of gastric cancers are largely unknown. In this study, we analyzed the values of hsa_circ_0000181 in the diagnosis of gastric cancer.

Methods

Using divergent primers, hsa_circ_0000181 expression levels in fresh gastric cancer tissues and paired adjacent non‐tumorous tissues, and plasmas from patient with gastric cancer and health people were detected by real‐time quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). The association between hsa_circ_0000181 levels and the clinicopathologic features of patients with gastric cancer was further analyzed. Finally, to evaluate the diagnostic value, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was established.

Results

Hsa_circ_0000181 levels in gastric cancer tissues and plasma from gastric cancer patients were significantly decreased than those in paired adjacent non‐tumorous tissues (P < .001) and healthy people (P < .001), respectively. Furthermore, hsa_circ_0000181 expression in gastric cancer tissues was significantly correlated with tumor diameter (P = .027), lymphatic metastasis (P = .044), distal metastasis (P = .023), and carbohydrate antigen 19‐9 (P = .031). Its decreased levels in patients' plasma were significantly associated with differentiation (P = .038) and carcinoembryonic antigen (P = .037). The areas under ROC curve were 0.756. The specificity of tissue hsa_circ_0000181 and sensitivity of plasma hsa_circ_0000181 were 85.2% and 99.0%, respectively.

Conclusions

Thanks to the high stability, tissue and plasma hsa_circ_0000181 may be a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of gastric cancer.
Synthesis and application of selective adsorbent for pirimicarb pesticides in aqueous media using allyl‐β‐cyclodextrin based binary functional monomers
Authors: He Chengzijing , Lay Sovichea , Yu Haining , Shen Shengrong
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND

Binary functional monomers, allyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (allyl‐β‐CD) and methacrylic acid (MAA) or allyl‐β‐CD and acrylonitrile (AN), were exploited in a fabrication of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for selective recognition and large enrichment of pirimicarb from aqueous media.

RESULTS

Special attention was paid to the computational simulation of the imprinting molecular and functional monomers. The morphological characteristics of MIPs made of allyl‐β‐CD and MAA (M‐MAA) were characterised by scanning electron microscopy. The effect of binding capacity of MAA‐linked allyl‐β‐CD MIPs (M‐MAA) demonstrated higher efficiency than that of AN‐linked allyl‐β‐CD MIPs (M‐AN) when tested in binding specificity. Finally, M‐MAA was chosen to run through molecularly imprinted solid‐phase extraction (MISPE) to analyse the spiked fresh leafy vegetables of pirimicarb.

CONCLUSION

The present proposed technique is a promising tool for the preparation of the receptors which could recognise pirimicarb pesticide in aqueous media. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Perioperative fluid and hemodynamic management within an enhanced recovery pathway
Authors: Manning Michael W. , Dunkman William Jonathan , Miller Timothy E.
Published: September 2017

Goal‐directed fluid therapy (GDFT) seeks to improve outcomes through individualized optimization of oxygen delivery using IV fluid and vasoactive infusions. Trials of GDFT show clinical benefits over traditional liberal fluid administration, but fail to demonstrate benefits when compared to a restrictive strategy within an optimized enhanced recovery protocol. The ideal monitors, hemodynamic goals, and fluid administration strategy are not well established but may be less important than rational application of thoughtful fluid management strategies.
The PD‐1 and PD‐L1 pathway in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis
Authors: Ahn Julie , Bishop Justin A. , Roden Richard B. S. , Allen Clint T. , Best Simon R. A.
Published: September 2017

Objectives/Hypothesis

Generation of an immunosuppressive microenvironment may enable a persistent human papillomavirus infection in the setting of an otherwise normal immune system. We hypothesized that expression of the T‐lymphocyte co‐inhibitory receptor programmed death 1 (PD‐1) and its ligand PD‐L1 would be increased in the recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) microenvironment compared to normal controls.

Study Design

Case‐control study.

Methods

Formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded respiratory papilloma and normal controls were obtained under institutional review board approval, stained for CD4, CD8, FoxP3, and PD‐1, and scored by automated cell count. PD‐L1 staining was scored by a blinded pathologist using an adjusted inflammation score that accounted for epithelial and immune infiltrate.

Results

Thirty‐nine RRP cases and seven controls were studied. All immunologic markers demonstrated significantly increased staining in RRP specimens compared to normal controls (all P < .01). PD‐1 correlated with both CD4 (P < .0001) and CD8 (P < .001) cell counts. Epithelial staining for PD‐L1 (68%) and PD‐L1+ infiltrating immune cells (76%) were observed in the majority of papilloma samples. The strongest staining for PD‐L1 was usually observed in the basal papilloma layer adjacent to the immunologic infiltrate in the vascular core. Disease severity inversely correlated with CD8 cell counts (P = .01). A correlation between disease severity and other immunologic markers was not observed.

Conclusions

Most RRP specimens demonstrate PD‐1 T‐lymphocyte infiltration and PD‐L1 expression on both papilloma and infiltrating immune cells. This study suggests that this checkpoint pathway may be contributing to local immunosuppression in RRP, and opens the door for clinical trials utilizing PD‐blocking monoclonal antibodies.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 128:E27–E32, 2018
Assessment of a photon‐counting detector for a dual‐energy C‐arm angiographic system
Authors: Ahmad Moiz , Fahrig Rebecca , Pung Leland , Spahn Martin , Köster Niko S. , Reitz Silke , Moore Teri , Choi Jang‐Hwan , Hinshaw Waldo , Xia Yan , Müller Kerstin
Published: September 2017

Purpose

This article presents the implementation and assessment of photon‐counting dual‐energy x‐ray detector technology for angiographic C‐arm systems in interventional radiology.

Methods

A photon‐counting detector was successfully integrated into a clinical C‐arm CT system. Detector performance was assessed using image uniformity metrics in both 2D projections and 3D cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Uniform exposure fields were acquired to analyze projection images and scans of a homogeneous cylinder phantom were taken to analyze 3D reconstructions. Image uniformity was assessed over a broad range of imaging parameters.

Results

Detector calibration greatly improved image uniformity, reducing image variation from 8.8% to 0.5% in an ideal scenario, but image uniformity degraded when imaging parameters varied strongly from values set at calibration: the tube voltage, low‐high energy threshhold, and tube current had the greatest impact. Material discrimination and dynamic angiography capabilities were successfully demonstrated in separate phantom and in vivo experiments.

Conclusion

The uniformity results identified major factors degrading image quality. The quantitative results will guide selection of calibration points to mitigate the loss of uniformity. The unique combination of dual‐energy and fluoroscopy imaging capabilities with a flat‐panel photon‐counting detector may enable new applications in interventional radiology.
Technical Note: Scanning of parallel‐plate ionization chamber and diamond detector for measurements of water‐dose profiles in the vicinity of a narrow x‐ray microbeam
Authors: Nariyama Nobuteru
Published: September 2017

Purpose

Scanning of dosimeters facilitates dose distribution measurements with fine spatial resolutions. This paper presents a method of conversion of the scanning results to water‐dose profiles and provides an experimental verification.

Methods

An Advanced Markus chamber and a diamond detector were scanned at a resolution of 6 μm near the beam edges during irradiation with a 25‐μm‐wide white narrow x‐ray beam from a synchrotron radiation source. For comparison, GafChromic films HD‐810 and HD‐V2 were also irradiated. The conversion procedure for the water dose values was simulated with Monte Carlo photon‐electron transport code as a function of the x‐ray incidence position. This method was deduced from nonstandard beam reference‐dosimetry protocols used for high‐energy x‐rays.

Results

Among the calculated nonstandard beam correction factors, Pwall, which is the ratio of the absorbed dose in the sensitive volume of the chamber with water wall to that with a polymethyl methacrylate wall, was found to be the most influential correction factor in most conditions. The total correction factor ranged from 1.7 to 2.7 for the Advanced Markus chamber and from 1.15 to 1.86 for the diamond detector as a function of the x‐ray incidence position. The water dose values obtained with the Advanced Markus chamber and the HD‐810 film were in agreement in the vicinity of the beam, within 35% and 18% for the upper and lower sides of the beam respectively. The beam width obtained from the diamond detector was greater, and the doses out of the beam were smaller than the doses of the others.

Conclusions

The comparison between the Advanced Markus chamber and HD‐810 revealed that the dose obtained with the scanned chamber could be converted to the water dose around the beam by applying nonstandard beam reference‐dosimetry protocols.
A novel approach to probing in vivo metabolite relaxation: Linear quantification of spatially modulated magnetization
Authors: Li Linqing , Li Ningzhi , An Li , Shen Jun
Published: September 2017

Purpose

Conventional sequences for metabolite transverse relaxation quantification all generally measure signal changes at different echo times (TEs). However, quantification results obtained via these conventional methods can be very different and are highly dependent on the type of sequence being applied. TE‐dependent effects such as diffusion, macromolecule baseline, and J‐coupling modulation contribute significantly to these differences. Here, we propose a novel technique—multiple flip angle pulse‐driven ratio of longitudinal steady states (MARzss)—for preparing magnetization with T2/T1 weighting. Using premeasured T1 values, T2 values for metabolites can thereby be determined. The measurement procedure does not require varying TE and is TE independent; T2, diffusion, and J‐coupling effects induced by the readout sequence are cancelled.

Method

Longitudinal steady states at different flip angles were prepared with trains of radio frequency pulses interspersed with field gradients. The resulting spatially modulated longitudinal magnetization was acquired with a PRESS readout module. A new linear equation for quantification of MARzss was derived from Bloch equations.

Results

By implementing this readout‐independent method, T2 measurement of brain metabolites at 7T was demonstrated through Bloch simulations, phantom, and in vivo experiments.

Conclusions

The proposed MARzss technique can be used to largely avoid multi‐TE associated interference, including diffusion, macromolecules, and J modulation. This MARzss technology, which is uniquely insensitive to readout sequence type and TE, is a promising technique for more accurately probing in vivo metabolite relaxation. Magn Reson Med 79:2491–2499, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Chronic psychological stress promotes lung metastatic colonization of circulating breast cancer cells by decorating a pre‐metastatic niche through activating β‐adrenergic signaling
Authors: Chen Hongyu , Liu Dan , Guo Liang , Cheng Xiang , Guo Ning , Shi Ming
Published: September 2017

Numerous studies have indicated that primary tumors induce the formation of a pre‐metastatic niche in distant organs by secreting tumor‐derived factors. The present study shows that pre‐exposure to chronic stress enhanced lung colonization efficiency by circulating tumor cells, suggesting that chronic stress critically influences pre‐metastatic lungs before the arrival of disseminated tumor cells. Ablation of the sympathetic nerve function by 6‐OHDA or blockage of the β‐adrenergic signaling by propranolol remarkably suppressed stress‐induced lung metastasis. Depletion of circulating monocytes or lung macrophages strongly abolished stress‐induced lung seeding by tumor cells, whereas treatment of mice with the β‐adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (ISO) during the pre‐metastatic phase promoted the infiltration of macrophages to the lung. Meanwhile, the numbers of monocytes in peripheral blood, spleen, and bone marrow were remarkably increased in response to ISO stimulation. These data indicate that the β‐adrenergic signaling promotes lung metastatic colonization by tumor cells through increased output of monocytes in the pre‐metastatic phase and infiltration of macrophages into the pre‐metastatic lung. Mechanistic studies revealed that ISO stimulation upregulated the expression of CCL2 in pulmonary stromal cells and CCR2 in monocytes/macrophages, leading to the recruitment and infiltration of macrophages into the pre‐metastatic lung. By inducing a response of monocytes/macrophages driven by the CCL2/CCR2 axis, stress‐related catecholamine may act as a crucial factor in regulating the pre‐metastatic niche for and lung colonization by tumor cells. Our data demonstrate that disturbance of host macro‐environmental homeostasis has an influence on future metastatic organs. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Novel HPPD inhibitors: triketone 2H‐benzo[b][1,4]oxazin‐3(4H)‐one analogs
Authors: Li Hua‐Bin , Li Lei , Li Jun‐Xian , Han Ting‐Feng , He Jing‐Li , Zhu You‐Quan
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND

Herbicides that inhibit 4‐hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD, EC 1.13.11.27) are very important for grass weed control. In order to discover novel HPPD herbicides, a series of triketone 2H‐benzo[b] oxazin‐3(4H)‐one analogs was designed and synthesized.

RESULTS

In comparison with the commercial triketone HPPD herbicide mesotrione (IC50 = 0.252 μM), some of these new triketone analogs displayed excellent HPPD inhibitory potency in vitro, for example B39 (IC50 = 0.172 μM) and B41 (IC50 = 0.156 μM). In addition, some of these compounds exhibited pre‐ and post‐emergence herbicidal activity similar to mesotrione when applied at 375 g/ha.

CONCLUSION

Many of the title compounds described in this paper could be important lead structures for the further development of novel HPPD herbicides. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Leveraging Population‐Based Clinical Quantitative Phenotyping for Drug Repositioning
Authors: Brown Adam S. , Rasooly Danielle , Patel Chirag J.
Published: September 2017

Computational drug repositioning methods can scalably nominate approved drugs for new diseases, with reduced risk of unforeseen side effects. The majority of methods eschew individual‐level phenotypes despite the promise of biomarker‐driven repositioning. In this study, we propose a framework for discovering serendipitous interactions between drugs and routine clinical phenotypes in cross‐sectional observational studies. Key to our strategy is the use of a healthy and nondiabetic population derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, mitigating risk for confounding by indication. We combine complementary diagnostic phenotypes (fasting glucose and glucose response) and associate them with prescription drug usage. We then sought confirmation of phenotype‐drug associations in unidentifiable member claims data from the Aetna Insurance company using a retrospective self‐controlled case analysis approach. We identify bupropion as a plausible glucose lowering agent, suggesting that surveying otherwise healthy individuals in cross‐sectional studies can discover new drug repositioning hypotheses that have applicability to longitudinal clinical practice.