bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design and development of innovative microparticulate/nanoparticulate inhalable dry powders of a novel synthetic trifluorinated chalcone derivative and Nrf2 agonist
Authors: Muralidharan Priya , Jones Brielle , Allaway Graham , Biswal Shyam S. , Mansour Heidi M.
Published: November 2020

Chalcone derivatives are shown to possess excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties which are of great interest in treating respiratory diseases such as acute lung injury (ALI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary fibrosis (PF). This study successfully designed and developed dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulations of TMC (2-trifluoromethyl-2′-methoxychalone), a new synthetic trifluorinated chalcone and Nrf2 agonist, for targeted pulmonary inhalation aerosol drug delivery. An advanced co-spray drying particle engineering technique was used to design and produce microparticulate/nanoparticulate formulations of TMC with a suitable excipient (mannitol) as inhalable particles with tailored particle properties for inhalation. Raw TMC and co-spray dried TMC formulations were comprehensively characterized for the first time using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, thermal analysis, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and molecular fingerprinting as dry powders by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Further, biocompatibility and suitability of formulations were tested with in vitro cellular transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) in air-interface culture (AIC) using a human pulmonary airway cell line. The ability of these TMC formulations to perform as aerosolized dry powders was systematically evaluated by design of experiments (DOEs) using three different FDA-approved human inhaler devices followed by interaction parameter analyses. Multiple spray drying pump rates (25%, 75%, and 100%) successfully produced co-spray dried TMC:mannitol powders. Raw TMC exhibited a first-order phase transition temperature at 58.15 ± 0.38 °C. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that these innovative TMC dry powder particles are suitable for targeted delivery to the airways by inhalation.
Cell-free synthesis of the hirudin variant 1 of the blood-sucking leech Hirudo medicinalis
Authors: Wüstenhagen Doreen A. , Lukas Phil , Müller Christian , Aubele Simone A. , Hildebrandt Jan-Peter , Kubick Stefan
Published: November 2020

Synthesis and purification of peptide drugs for medical applications is a challenging task. The leech-derived factor hirudin is in clinical use as an alternative to heparin in anticoagulatory therapies. So far, recombinant hirudin is mainly produced in bacterial or yeast expression systems. We describe the successful development and application of an alternative protocol for the synthesis of active hirudin based on a cell-free protein synthesis approach. Three different cell lysates were compared, and the effects of two different signal peptide sequences on the synthesis of mature hirudin were determined. The combination of K562 cell lysates and the endogenous wild-type signal peptide sequence was most effective. Cell-free synthesized hirudin showed a considerably higher anti-thrombin activity compared to recombinant hirudin produced in bacterial cells.
Author Correction: Mitochondrial genetic variation reveals phylogeographic structure and cryptic diversity in Trioza erytreae
Authors: Ajene Inusa , Khamis Fathiya M. , Pietersen Gerhard , van Asch Barbara
Published: November 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Interaction of liming and long-term fertilization increased crop yield and phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) through mediating exchangeable cations in acidic soil under wheat–maize cropping system
Authors: Qaswar Muhammad , Dongchu Li , Jing Huang , Tianfu Han , Ahmed Waqas , Abbas Muhammad , Lu Zhang , Jiangxue Du , Khan Zulqarnain Haider , Ullah Sami , Huimin Zhang , Boren Wang
Published: November 2020

Low phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) is one of the main problems of acidic soil that limit the crop growth. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the response of crop yield and PUE to the long-term application of fertilizers and quicklime (CaO) in the acidic soil under wheat–maize rotation system. Treatments included, CK (no fertilization), NP (inorganic nitrogen and P fertilization), NPK (inorganic N, P and potassium fertilization), NPKS (NPK + straw return), NPCa (NP + lime), NPKCa (NPK + lime) and NPKSCa (NPKS + lime). Results showed that, fertilizer without lime treatments, significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased soil pH and crop yield, compared to the fertilizer with lime treatments during the period of 2012–2018. Average among years, compared to the CK treatment, wheat grain yield increased by 138%, 213%, 198%, 547%, 688% and 626%, respectively and maize yield increased by 687%, 1887%, 1651%, 2605%, 5047% and 5077%, respectively, under the NP, NPK, NPKS, NPCa, NPKCa and NPKSCa treatments. Lime application significantly increased soil exchangeable base cations (Ca2+and Mg2+) and decreased Al3+cation. Compared to the NP treatment, phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) increased by 220%, 212%, 409%, 807% and 795%, respectively, under the NPK, NPKS, NPCa, NPKCa and NPKSCa treatments. Soil pH showed significant negative relationship with exchangeable Al3+and soil total N. While, soil pH showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) positive relationship with exchangeable Ca2+, PUE and annual crop yield. PUE was highly negatively correlated with soil exchangeable Al3+. In addition, soil exchangeable Ca2+, pH, exchangeable Al3+and available N were the most influencing factors of crop yield. Therefore, we concluded that lime application is an effective strategy to mitigate soil acidification and to increase PUE through increasing exchangeable base cations and reducing the acidic cations for high crop yield in acidic soil.
Genomic investigation of co-targeting tumor immune microenvironment and immune checkpoints in pan-cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Huang Xing , Tang Tianyu , Zhang Gang , Hong Zhengtao , Xu Jian , Yadav Dipesh Kumar , Bai Xueli , Liang Tingbo
Published: November 2020

Drugs that target immune checkpoints (ICPs) have become the most popular weapons in cancer immunotherapy; however, they are only beneficial for a small fraction of patients. Accumulating evidence suggests that the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) plays a critical role in anti-cancer immunity. This study aimed to assess the potential merits and feasibility of combinational targeting ICPs and TIME in cancer immunotherapy. A total of 31 cancer type-specific datasets in TCGA were individually collected by the publicly available web servers for multiple bioinformatic analyses of ICPs and TIME factors. GEPIA was used to calculate the prognostic indexes, STRING was used to construct protein–protein interactions, cBioPortal was used for visualization and comparison of genetic alterations, and TISIDB was used to explore the correlation to tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Intriguingly, TIME factors were identified to have more global coverage and prognostic significance across multiple cancer types compared with ICPs, thus offering more general targetability in clinical therapy. Moreover, TIME factors showed interactive potential with ICPs, and genomic alteration of TIME factors coupled with that of ICPs, at least in pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, TIME factors were found to be significantly associated with TILs, including but not limited to pancreatic cancer. Finally, the clinical significance and translational potential of further combination therapies that incorporate both ICP inhibitors and TIME factor-targeted treatments were discussed. Together, TIME factors are promising immunotherapeutic targets, and a combination strategy of TIME factors-targeted therapies with ICP inhibitors may benefit more cancer patients in the future.
Fe–N–C single-atom nanozymes with peroxidase-like activity for the detection of alkaline phosphatase
Authors: Xie Xiaolei , Wang Yufei , Zhou Xiaobin , Chen Junyang , Wang Mengke , Su Xingguang
Published: November 2020

A colorimetric strategy for the detection of ALP activity based on Fe/NC-SAs.
Turbulent pattern in the 1,4-cyclohexanedione Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction
Authors: Anupong Suparinthon , Schreiber Igor , Kheowan On-Uma
Published: November 2020

Chemical turbulence was observed experimentally in the 1,4-cyclohexanedione Belousov–Zhabotinsky (CHD-BZ) reaction. Turbulence is characterized by a two-dimensional Fourier transform. Mechanism of the onset of the turbulence is proposed.
The preferred geometry of hydroperoxides is the result of an interplay between electrostatic and hyperconjugative effects
Authors: Afonso Marco A. S. , Cormanich Rodrigo A.
Published: November 2020

Stereoelectronic effects were evaluated in the natural bond orbital framework as candidate sources of the preferred geometry of HOOR hydroperoxides. The reactivity of the compounds was also studied in terms of their HOMO–LUMO and O–O bond dissociation energies.
Catalytic conversion of alkynes to α-vinyl sulfides mediated by carbene-linker-carbene (CXC) rhodium and iridium complexes
Authors: Tolley Lewis C. , Fernández Israel , Bezuidenhout Daniela I. , Guisado-Barrios Gregorio
Published: November 2020

The performance of a set of mono- and bimetallic Rh(i) and Ir(i) complexes bearing carbene-linker-carbene (CXC) bis-triazolylidene ligands (with X = O, N) coordinated in a bridging or chelating fashion was evaluated in the hydrothiolation of alkynes.
Biodegradation mechanisms and functional microbiology in conventional septic tanks: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Shaw Kelsey , Dorea Caetano C.
Published: November 2020

Knowledge gaps exist pertaining to the interaction between anaerobic conditions, microbiology and activity that characterize biodegradation mechanisms in septic tanks.
Vegetarian diets during pregnancy: effects on the mother's health. A systematic review
Authors: Baroni Luciana , Rizzo Gianluca , Goggi Silvia , Giampieri Francesca , Battino Maurizio
Published: November 2020

While interest in vegetarian nutrition has been steadily increasing, some aspects have not yet been consistently investigated.
Glycation mechanism of lactoferrin–chitosan oligosaccharide conjugates with improved antioxidant activity revealed by high-resolution mass spectroscopy
Authors: Wang Wen-Duo , Chen Chun , Fu Xiong
Published: November 2020

Glycosylation has a great effect on the antioxidant ability of proteins, which is due to the structural conformational change of peptides in the protein.
Microfluidic assay of antiplatelet agents for inhibition of shear-induced platelet adhesion and activation
Authors: Rahman Shekh Mojibur , Hlady Vladimir
Published: November 2020

We have developed a microfluidic system to perfuse whole blood through a flow channel with an upstream stenotic region and a downstream protein capture region.
NMR-based plasma metabolomics of adult B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Yang Fengmin , Li Qian , Xiang Junfeng , Zhang Hong , Sun Hongxia , Ruan Guorui , Tang Yalin
Published: November 2020

The metabolic abnormalities of adult B-cell ALL patients were found through plasma NMR metabolomics.
Electrocatalytic reduction of nitrogen to ammonia under ambient conditions using a nanorod-structured MoN catalyst
Authors: Liu Guoqiang , Zhao Cuijiao , Ding Shimin
Published: November 2020

The MoN/CFC catalyst exhibits superior activity towards electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction.
(tBu)4M(ii)Phthalocyanines (M = Co(ii), Ni(ii), Cu(ii)) revisited: self-assembled nanosheets for enhanced electrochemically catalyzed hydrogen evolution
Authors: Zhu Weihua , Xia Fei , Niu Yingjie , Liang Xu
Published: November 2020

Three M(ii)(tBu)4phthalocyanines (M = Co(ii), Ni(ii), Cu(ii)) were revisited and constructed as nanosheets through solvent and ultrasonication dual-controlled aggregations.
The AlAl triple bond in Al2X5+ and Al2X62+ (X = Li, Na) clusters with multiple alkali metal coordination
Authors: Liu Yingying , Zhu Changyan , Wen Chaoxia , Zhang Min , Geng Yun , Liu Xingman , Su Zhongmin
Published: November 2020

The AlAl triple bond does not change obviously with the increase in the number of Li+ or Na+ and [AlAl]4− is the core to stabilize these clusters and its stability is hard to be affected by the numbers and positions of the Li+ or Na+.
MnPS3 spin-flop transition-induced anomalous Hall effect in graphite flake via van der Waals proximity coupling
Authors: Zhang Ying , Wang Wenhui , Huang Meng , Liu Ping , Hu Guojing , Feng Chao , Lei Xueyan , Gu Meng , Yang Hongxin , Liu Kaihui , Xiang Bin , Lu Yalin
Published: November 2020

Detection of the antiferromagnetic (AFM) state is an important issue for the application of two-dimensional (2D) antiferromagnets in spintronics, and interfacial exchange coupling is a highly efficient means to detect AFM order.
Microscopic insight into nanodiamond polymer composites: reinforcement, structural, and interaction properties
Authors: Wang Muhan , Zhang Kaixuan , Hou Dongshuai , Wang Pan
Published: November 2020

Nanodiamond (ND)-reinforced polymer composites attract a great deal of attention; however, insufficient understanding of their reinforced behavior is greatly limiting their further design and application.
Gradient and asymmetric copolymers: the role of the copolymer composition profile in the ionization of weak polyelectrolytes
Authors: Farias-Mancilla Barbara , Zhang Junliang , Kulai Ihor , Destarac Mathias , Schubert Ulrich S. , Guerrero-Sanchez Carlos , Harrisson Simon , Colombani Olivier
Published: November 2020

The ionization of weak polyelectrolytes can be altered by controlling the composition profile of the comonomers along the chain.
A brain glioma gene delivery strategy by angiopep-2 and TAT-modified magnetic lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles
Authors: Qiao Lanxin , Qin Yu , Wang Yaxin , Liang Yi , Zhu Dunwan , Xiong Wei , Li Lu , Bao Di , Zhang Linhua , Jin Xu
Published: November 2020

The gene delivery system can penetrate the BBB model efficiently and transfect C6 glioma cells effectively in magnetic field.
Photocatalytic activity and antibacterial properties of linen fabric using reduced graphene oxide/silver nanocomposite
Authors: Farouk A. , Saeed S. El-Sayed , Sharaf S. , Abd El-Hady M. M.
Published: November 2020

Silver nanoparticles werein situprepared on the surface of linen fabric coated by graphene oxide (GO).
Widely used catalysts in biodiesel production: a review
Authors: Changmai Bishwajit , Vanlalveni Chhangte , Ingle Avinash Prabhakar , Bhagat Rahul , Rokhum Samuel Lalthazuala
Published: November 2020

An ever-increasing energy demand and environmental problems associated with exhaustible fossil fuels have led to the search for an alternative energy. In this context, biodiesel has attracted attention worldwide as an alternative to fossil fuel.
Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane as a recyclable soft template to synthesize mesoporous polymeric carbon nitride with enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Authors: Liang Zhiwei , Liu Lei , Zhuang Xiaojia , Tang Zicheng , Li Haiping , Kang Wenbing
Published: November 2020

A novel recyclable template was used to prepare mesoporous polymeric carbon nitride with prominently increased specific surface area and photoactivity.
Catalysis in Pickering emulsions
Authors: Rodriguez Ana Maria Bago , Binks Bernard P.
Published: November 2020

Pickering emulsions have emerged as vehicles to carry out catalytic reactions, allowing a more environmentally friendly process with high conversions and selectivities and important advantages for catalyst recovery.
Enhancing the photovoltaic performance of heteroheptacene-based nonfullerene acceptors through the synergistic effect of side-chain engineering and fluorination
Authors: Cai Dongdong , Zhang Jianqi , Wang Jin-Yun , Ma Yunlong , Wan Shuo , Wang Pengsong , Wei Zhixiang , Zheng Qingdong
Published: November 2020

The synergistic effect of end-group fluorination and side-chain engineering leads to a nonfullerene acceptor with an outstanding power conversion efficiency of 14.75%.
A stretchable and self-healable organosilicon conductive nanocomposite for a reliable and sensitive strain sensor
Authors: Zhang Kaiming , Song Chengxin , Wang Zhe , Gao Chuanhui , Wu Yumin , Liu Yuetao
Published: November 2020

Stretchable conductive nanocomposites can be further used as strain sensors, which are extensively applied in bionic electronic devices, human activity monitoring and soft robots.
High-quality warm white organic electroluminescence from efficient phosphor-only emitting systems based on bipolar iridium(iii) complexes
Authors: Zhuang Xuming , Wang Helei , Xu Daren , Liu Yu , Wang Yue
Published: November 2020

Warm white organic light-emitting diodes (WOLEDs) based on efficient phosphor-only emitting systems exhibit very high peak electroluminescence (EL) efficiencies of 25.0/22.5% and 71.3/59.3 lm W−1 and desirable color rendering index (CRI) of 81/90.
Power‐control and speed‐control modes of a DFIG using adaptive sliding mode type‐2 neuro‐fuzzy for wind energy conversion system
Authors: Moradi Hassan , Yaghobi Hamid , Alinejad‐Beromi Yousef , Bustan Danyal
Published: November 2020

This study proposes an adaptive sliding mode type‐2 neuro‐fuzzy control scheme for power‐control and speed‐control modes of doubly fed induction generator (DFIG). DFIG‐based wind turbine system operates as variable‐speed wind energy conversion system (WECS) with constant frequency. In the proposed controller design, a sliding mode control (SMC) strategy is used for online training of the parameters of type‐2 fuzzy set (T2FS) membership functions. Due to the uncertainty of the wind speed and variation in parameters in the WECS, an interval T2FS is used in the proposed control scheme. Based on the controller inputs, the SMC adaptive strategy is used to tune the parameters of antecedent and consequent parts of T2FS. These inputs are active and reactive power and rotor speed errors and their time derivative. These inputs fed to the type‐2 neuro‐fuzzy system. The results of simulation for a 1.5 MW DFIG‐based WECS are compared with the classical proportional–integral (PI) controller and type‐1 neuro‐fuzzy controller to validate the effectiveness of the proposed controller in power‐control and speed‐control regions. The results of simulation indicate that, in comparison to the PI and type‐1 neuro‐fuzzy controller, the proposed control scheme has better performance in both power‐control and speed‐control modes.
Wind turbine multiphase operational trajectory in an all‐DC wind generation system
Authors: Beik Omid , Al‐Adsani Ahmad S.
Published: November 2020

An operational trajectory and a control scheme for wind turbine generators (WTGs) in an all‐DC wind system is proposed in this study. The wind turbine includes a multiphase hybrid generator (HG) and a passive rectification stage. The WTG output is sent to an off‐shore substation using a medium‐voltage DC (MVDC) collector grid. The off‐shore substation is connected to the terrestrial grid using a high‐voltage DC (HVDC) transmission grid. The multiphase HG employs a two‐rotor topology and facilitates an active control over the wind turbine power and voltage. The proposed control scheme allows for a variable MVDC grid voltage while maintaining a wind turbine desired power under maximum power point tracking. The wind turbine trajectory is a path that wind turbine operates on as the wind velocity varies, and it is defined by HG control current, MVDC grid voltage and wind turbine power. To present the effectiveness of the proposed control and verifying the analytical model of wind turbine trajectory, a simulation platform is developed and results are presented.
Optimising and comparing source-extraction tools using objective segmentation quality criteria
Authors: Haigh Caroline , Chamba Nushkia , Venhola Aku , Peletier Reynier , Doorenbos Lars , Watkins Matthew , Wilkinson Michael H. F.
Published: November 2020

Context. With the growth of the scale, depth, and resolution of astronomical imaging surveys, there is increased need for highly accurate automated detection and extraction of astronomical sources from images. This also means there is a need for objective quality criteria, and automated methods to optimise parameter settings for these software tools.

Aims. We present a comparison of several tools developed to perform this task: namely SExtractor, ProFound, NoiseChisel, and MTObjects. In particular, we focus on evaluating performance in situations that present challenges for detection. For example, faint and diffuse galaxies; extended structures, such as streams; and objects close to bright sources. Furthermore, we develop an automated method to optimise the parameters for the above tools.

Methods. We present four different objective segmentation quality measures, based on precision, recall, and a new measure for the correctly identified area of sources. Bayesian optimisation is used to find optimal parameter settings for each of the four tools when applied to simulated data, for which a ground truth is known. After training, the tools are tested on similar simulated data in order to provide a performance baseline. We then qualitatively assess tool performance on real astronomical images from two different surveys.

Results. We determine that when area is disregarded, all four tools are capable of broadly similar levels of detection completeness, while only NoiseChisel and MTObjects are capable of locating the faint outskirts of objects. MTObjects achieves the highest scores on all tests for all four quality measures, whilst SExtractor obtains the highest speeds. No tool has sufficient speed and accuracy to be well suited to large-scale automated segmentation in its current form.
Broad-line region configuration of the supermassive binary black hole candidate PG1302-102 in the relativistic Doppler boosting scenario
Authors: Song Zihao , Ge Junqiang , Lu Youjun , Yan Changshuo , Ji Xiang
Published: November 2020

PG1302-102 is thought to be a supermassive binary black hole (BBH) system according to the periodical variations of its optical and UV photometry, which may be interpreted as being due to the relativistic Doppler boosting of the emission mainly from the disk around the secondary black hole (BH) modulated by its orbital motion. In this paper, we investigate several broad emission lines of PG1302-102 using archived UV spectra obtained by IUE, GALEX, andHubble, to reveal the broad-line region (BLR) emission properties of this BBH system under the Doppler boosting scenario. We find that the broad lines Lyα, N V, C IV, and CIII] all show Gaussian profiles, and none of these lines exhibits obvious periodical variation. Adopting a simple model for the BLR, we perform Markov chain Monte Carlo fittings to these broad lines, and find that the BLR must be viewed at an orientation angle of ∼33°, close to face-on. If the Doppler boosting interpretation is correct, then the BLR is misaligned with the BBH orbital plane by an angle of ∼51°, which suggests that the Doppler boosted continuum variation has little effect on the broad-line emission and thus does not lead to periodical line variation. We further discuss the possible implications for such a BLR configuration with respect to the BBH orbital plane.
Asymptotic behavior of u-capacities and singular perturbations for the Dirichlet-Laplacian
Authors: Abatangelo Laura , Bonnaillie-Noël Virginie , Léna Corentin , Musolino Paolo
Published: November 2020

In this paper we study the asymptotic behavior of u-capacities of small sets and its application to the analysis of the eigenvalues of the Dirichlet-Laplacian on a bounded planar domain with a small hole. More precisely, we consider two (sufficiently regular) bounded open connected sets Ω and ω of ℝ2, containing the origin. First, if ε is close to 0 and if u is a function defined on Ω, we compute an asymptotic expansion of the u-capacity [see formula in PDF] as ε → 0. As a byproduct, we compute an asymptotic expansion for the Nth eigenvalues of the Dirichlet-Laplacian in the perforated set [see formula in PDF] for ε close to 0. Such formula shows explicitly the dependence of the asymptotic expansion on the behavior of the corresponding eigenfunction near 0 and on the shape ω of the hole.
Production and characterization of TiO2 nanoparticle thin films for its application in DSSCs
Authors: Chaiwichian Saranyoo , Lunput Sumneang
Published: November 2020

In this research, TiO2 nanoparticle thin films were successfully prepared on FTO glass substrates through a doctor blade technique, and its application was tested in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with different sensitizing dyes such as methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO). The physicochemical properties of intended thin films were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis DRS) techniques. The experimental results revealed that dipped TiO2 nanoparticle thin films into MB dye solution showed a higher photovoltaic efficiency (1.45%) when compared with the MO dye solution. A reasonable mechanism of DSSCs was also proposed.
Eine kurzgefasste Geschichte der Handchirurgie mit Videolink
Authors: Giunta Riccardo E. , Möllhoff Nicholas , Gohritz Andreas , Langer Martin , Lanz Ulrich
Published: November 2020

Die Handchirurgie vereint Kompetenzen der Mikrochirurgie, Frakturheilkunde, Nerven- und Sehnenchirurgie und widmet sich dem im Alltag so essentiellen Funktionsorgan: der Hand. Ein so hochspezielles und bedeutsames Fach fußt auf den Wurzeln wissenschaftlicher Arbeiten und Meilensteinen aus der Vergangenheit. Als Nachtrag zum 58. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Handchirurgie (DGH) in München (Tagungspräsident: Univ.-Prof. Dr. R. Giunta), soll dieser kurzgefasste Beitrag gemeinsam mit dem bei der Kongresseröffnung in Ausschnitten gezeigten Video die Entstehung der Handchirurgie von ihren Ursprüngen über Hippokrates, das Mittelalter, die Renaissance, das 18. und 19. Jahrhundert, sowie die zwei Weltkriege zusammenfassen. Bedeutende Persönlichkeiten der jeweiligen zeitlichen Perioden werden dabei vorgestellt. Zusammenfassend entwickelte sich die Handchirurgie aus Fortschritten in der Anatomie, der Sehnenchirurgie, der Nervenchirurgie, und vor allem auch durch die Notwendigkeit einer spezialisierten Versorgung von Verletzungen der oberen Extremität während und nach dem 2. Weltkrieg. Ein fundiertes Verständnis der Geschichte und der Einblick in die Entstehung unseres Faches unterstreicht die Bedeutung unserer täglichen Arbeit als Handchirurgen und schafft neue Anreize für die Weiterentwicklung der Handchirurgie in der Zukunft.

Dieser Beitrag erscheint zum 80. Geburtstag von Ulrich Lanz im November 2020.
Flow Cytometric Assessment of AKT Signaling in Platelet Activation: An Alternative Diagnostic Tool for Small Volumes of Blood
Authors: Althaus K. , Wagner M. , Marini I. , Bakchoul T. , Pelzl L.
Published: November 2020

Introduction The diagnosis of platelet function disorder in children is challenging. Light transmission aggregometry is the gold standard for platelet function disorders. However, large blood volumes are required. Currently, there are no existing tools for the diagnosis of platelet function disorders that use small blood volumes. AKT signaling plays a central role in platelet activation during hemostasis and might be visualized by flow cytometry.

Methods Platelet-rich plasma obtained by centrifugation of citrated blood from healthy volunteers was activated with arachidonic acid, thrombin receptor activating peptide-6 (TRAP-6), collagen, adenosine diphosphate ADP, collagen-related peptide (CRP), and epinephrine. After platelet activation, the phosphorylation of AKT was assessed by flow cytometer using a Navios cytometer.

Results Healthy volunteers showed a reproducible phosphorylation of AKT upon activation. In comparison to nonactivated platelets, we documented an increase in pAKT expression with all agonists. Especially TRAP-6 and CRP caused considerable increase in percentage of pAKT expression throughout all the tested healthy volunteers.

Conclusion An activation of the AKT-signal pathway by different agonists can clearly be detected on the flow cytometer, indicating that the visualization of signaling in platelets by flow cytometry might be an efficient alternative for light transmission aggregometry to test platelet function in children.
Insights from the Hereditary Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Registry: Discussion of Key Findings Based on Individual Cases from Switzerland
Authors: Kremer Hovinga Johanna A. , Braschler Thomas R. , Buchkremer Florian , Farese Stefan , Hengartner Heinz , Lovey Pierre-Yves , Largiadèr Carlo R. , Mansouri Taleghani Behrouz , Tarasco Erika
Published: November 2020

The Hereditary TTP Registry is an international cohort study for patients with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of hereditary thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (hTTP) and their family members. Hereditary TTP is an ultra-rare blood disorder (prevalence of ∼1–2 cases per million), the result of autosomal-recessively inherited congenital ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13) deficiency (ADAMTS13 activity <10% of the normal), and associated with yet many unanswered questions. Until December 2017, the Hereditary TTP Registry had enrolled 123 confirmed hTTP patients. Their median age at disease onset was 4.5 years (range: 0–70) and at clinical diagnosis 16.7 years (range: 0–69), a difference that highlights the existing awareness gap in recognizing hTTP. The systematic collection of clinical data of individual patients revealed their substantial baseline comorbidities, as a consequence of recurring TTP episodes in the past. Most notable was the high proportion of patients having suffered from premature arterial thrombotic events, mainly transient ischemic attacks, ischemic strokes, and to a lesser extent myocardial infarctions. At 40 to 50 years of age and above, more than 50% of patients had suffered from at least one such event, and many had experienced arterial thrombotic events despite regular plasma infusions every 2 to 3 weeks that supplements the missing plasma ADAMTS13. The article by van Dorland et al. (Haematologica 2019;104(10):2107–2115) and the ongoing Hereditary TTP Registry cohort study were recognized with the Günter Landbeck Excellence Award at the 50th Hemophilia Symposium in Hamburg in November 2019, the reason to present the Hereditary TTP Registry in more detail here.
A Rapid Mercury Droplet Electrode Polarography Method for Determination of Blood Lead Level in Lead Poisoned People
Authors: Hosseini Golriz , Hanaie Jalal , Ostadi Ali , Valipor Javad , Hamidi Aliasghar , Ghanbarzadeh Saeed
Published: November 2020

Background Lead is a hazardous heavy metal, which causes many problems in the human body. Unfortunately, recent reports showed that smugglers and opium sellers add lead to drugs during the production procedure in order to increase its weight and cost.

Purpose The aim of this study was development of a rapid and accurate method for measurement of blood lead levels (BLL) in the oral and inhaled opiate abuser people.

Methods BLL in samples obtained from the oral and inhaled opium addicted patients referring to Sina Hospital in Tabriz, Iran, during 2017 was compared with healthy control group (N=15). The wet digestion method was used to prepare whole blood and Mercury Droplet Electrode Polarography (MDEP) method was utilized for measurement of the lead content of digested samples.

Results Results showed that there were significant differences between the BLL of samples obtained from oral (17.12±74.61 μg/dL, p<0.0003) and inhaled (19.33±2.257 μg/dL, p<0.0001) opium addicted groups in comparison with healthy control group (4.669±0.3367 μg/dL).

Conclusion Based on the results of this study it was observed that BLL in opium addicted people needs to be measured as soon as possible. Furthermore, screening of blood lead concentrations in opium-addicted people with a rapid and accurate MDEP method is very necessary and important.
Scandium Triflate Catalyzed Nazarov Cyclization of Arylvinyl Epoxides Derived from Alkoxides and Chloro(aryl)carbenes: A Facile Access to Resveratrol-Derived Natural Products
Authors: Sudhakar Gangarajula , Satish Nagam
Published: November 2020

The reaction of arylvinyl alkoxides with chloro(aryl)carbenes provided the corresponding arylvinyl epoxides that underwent Nazarov cyclization in a catalytic amount of scandium triflate, providing easy access to several highly substituted indenes, including some resveratrol-derived natural products.
Solutions for Unexpected Challenges Encountered when Integrating Research Genomics Results into the EHR
Authors: Rasmussen Luke V. , Hoell Christin , Smith Maureen E. , Chisholm Rex , Starren Justin , Aufox Sharon , Luo Yuan , Rasmussen-Torvik Laura J.
Published: November 2020

Background While there have been published reports detailing technical challenges of incorporating genetic test results into the electronic health record (EHR) with proposed solutions, less has been published about unanticipated sociotechnological or practical communication challenges involved in this process.

Objectives This study was aimed to describe unanticipated issues that arose returning genetic research results through the EHR as part of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)-funded electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) 3 consortium, and provide lessons learned for future implementations

Methods We sequenced 3,000 participants on a 109-gene panel and returned genetic results initially in person and/or by letter, with a later release directly into the EHR and patient portal.

Results When results were returned through the EHR, multiple participants expressed confusion and contacted the health system, resulting in our institution temporarily freezing our return of research results.

Discussion We determined the likely causes of this issue to be (1) the delay between enrollment and results return, (2) inability to personalize mass e-mail messages announcing new research test results in the EHR, (3) limited space for description of test results in the EHR, and (4) the requirement to list an ordering physician for research results in the EHR. For future return of results, we propose sending preparatory e-mails to participants, including screenshots of how they can expect to see their results presented in the EHR portal.

Conclusion We hope our lessons learned can provide helpful guidance to other sites implementing research genetic results into the EHR and can encourage EHR developers to incorporate greater flexibility in the future.
COVID-19 Pulmonary Failure and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: First Experience from Three European Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Centers
Authors: Yankah Charles Abraham , Trimlett Richard , Sandoval Elena , Lotz Christopher , Ledot Stephane , Pomar Jose Luis , Price Susanna , Meybohm Patrick
Published: November 2020

On April 17, 2020, a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) webinar was held by selected international experts in the field of intensive care and specialized respiratory ECMO centers from Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, which was hosted by the German Heart Centre Berlin/Charité. The experts shared their experience about the treatment of 42 patients with severe acute respiratory failure requiring venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO). Patients were predominantly male (male-to-female ratio: 3:1), with a mean age of 51 years (range: 25–73 years). VV-ECMO support was indicated in 30% of the ventilated COVID-19 patients. The mean time requiring mechanical ventilation was 16.5 days, with a mean duration of ECMO support of 10.6 days. At the time of the webinar, a total of 17 patients had already been decannulated from ECMO, whereas six died with multiorgan failure. 18 patients remained on ECMO, with their final outcomes unknown at the time of the webinar. Hospital mortality was 25.6% (as of April 17, 2020). In this respect, VV-ECMO, provided by expert centers, is a recognized and validated mode of advanced life-support during the recent COVID-19 pandemic with good outcomes.
Hemorrhage in Essential Thrombocythemia or Polycythemia Vera: Epidemiology, Location, Risk Factors, and Lessons Learned from the Literature
Authors: Nicol Christophe , Lacut Karine , Pan-Petesch Brigitte , Lippert Eric , Ianotto Jean-Christophe
Published: November 2020

Hemorrhage is a well-known complication of essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV), but evidence-based data on its management and prevention are lacking to help inform clinicians. In this review, appropriate published data from the past 15 years regarding bleeding epidemiology, classification, location, and risk factors are presented and discussed. Research was conducted using the Medline database. The bleeding classifications were heterogeneous among the collected studies. The median incidences of bleeding and major bleeding were 4.6 and 0.79% patients/year, in ET patients and 6.5 and 1.05% patients/year in PV patients, respectively. The most frequent location was the gastrointestinal tract. Bleeding accounted for up to 13.7% of deaths, and cerebral bleeding was the main cause of lethal hemorrhage. Thirty-nine potential risk factors were analyzed at least once, but the results were discrepant. Among them, age >60 years, bleeding history, splenomegaly, myeloproliferative neoplasm subtype, and platelet count should deserve more attention in future studies. Among the treatments, aspirin seemed to be problematic for young patients with ET (especially CALR-mutated ET patients) and anagrelide was also identified as a bleeding inducer, especially when associated with aspirin. Future studies should analyze bleeding risk factors in more homogeneous populations and with common bleeding classifications. More tools are needed to help clinicians manage the increased risk of potentially lethal bleeding events in these diseases.
Development of a novel thermoacoustic flue-gas analyzer
Authors: Aziz M. , Saleh H. , Abd El-Rahman A.
Published: November 2020

Flue gas analyzers, such as those based on electrochemical cells and infrared sensors, are commonly used to determine the molar concentrations of the different species of flue-gas mixtures and provide information about the associated air-fuel ratio and the resulting combustion efficiency. Here, a new methodology for quaternary-gas analysis that relies on thermoacoustic technology is described for the determination of the composition of typical mixtures of flue gases [A. I. Abd El-Rahman et al., “Thermoacoustic flue-gas analyzer,” EG Patent: International Application No. PCT/EG2020/0000029 (September 23, 2020)]. The hot flue-gas mixtures resulting from the combustion of high-carbon bituminous coal and low-carbon natural gas are allowed to fill in the resonator of an optimized half-wavelength thermoacoustic engine at TH = 900 °C. Under controlled cooling, spontaneous gas–particle oscillations appear at distinct values of resonance frequencies and onset temperature gradients that particularly depend on the molar concentrations of the quaternary-gas components (CO2, CO, O2, and N2) of the introduced samples. Operational ternary diagrams along with respective sensitivity profiles are discussed in detail.
Transient compressible flow in a compliant viscoelastic tube
Authors: Anand Vishal , Christov Ivan C.
Published: November 2020

Motivated by problems arising in the pneumatic actuation of controllers for micro-electromechanical systems, labs-on-a-chip or biomimetic soft robots, and the study of microrheology of both gases and soft solids, we analyze the transient fluid–structure interactions (FSIs) between a viscoelastic tube conveying compressible flow at low Reynolds number. We express the density of the fluid as a linear function of the pressure, and we use the lubrication approximation to further simplify the fluid dynamics problem. On the other hand, the structural mechanics is governed by a modified Donnell shell theory accounting for Kelvin–Voigt-type linearly viscoelastic mechanical response. The fluid and structural mechanics problems are coupled through the tube’s radial deformation and the hydrodynamic pressure. For small compressibility numbers and weak coupling, the equations are solved analytically via a perturbation expansion. Three illustrative problems are analyzed. First, we obtain exact (but implicit) solutions for the pressure for steady flow conditions. Second, we solve the transient problem of impulsive pressurization of the tube’s inlet. Third, we analyze the transient response to an oscillatory inlet pressure. We show that an oscillatory inlet pressure leads to acoustic streaming in the tube, attributed to the nonlinear pressure gradient induced by the interplay of FSI and compressibility. Furthermore, we demonstrate an enhancement in the volumetric flow rate due to FSI coupling. The hydrodynamic pressure oscillations are shown to exhibit a low-pass frequency response (when averaging over the period of oscillations), while the frequency response of the tube deformation is similar to that of a bandpass filter.
Development and characterization of thermal helium beam diagnostic with four helium lines for RFX-mod2 experiment
Authors: Agostini M. , Scarin P. , Milazzo R. , Cervaro V. , Ghiraldelli R.
Published: November 2020

Thermal Helium Beam (THB) diagnostic is widely used for measuring the electron density and temperature in the boundary region of fusion plasmas, edges, and scrape-off layers. In its standard configuration, it measures three HeI lines (667.8 nm, 706.5 nm, and 728.1 nm) and, by using a collisional-radiative model, evaluates ne and Te from the ratios of their intensities. At large neutral He density (n0 ≳ 1017 m−3), radiation re-absorption is not negligible and it has to be taken into account; it can be estimated by measuring the intensity of the fourth HeI line, λ = 501.6 nm. The original THB diagnostic of the RFX-mod experiment has been upgraded, setting up the fourth line intensity acquisition. A Czerny–Turner spectrograph separates the lines, and the old multichannel photomultiplier (PMT) detectors are replaced with the new Multi-Pixel Photon Counter (MPPC). Two 16-channel MPPC array modules allow the observation of 32 signals (4 lines × 8 spatial points). Since the MPPCs are not sensitive to the magnetic field, the whole system can be installed near the experimental device, allowing a large reduction in the optical fibers’ length with a gain in the collected signal intensity. This new THB will be installed in the new experiment RFX-mod2, the upgrade of the RFX-mod device. The RFX-mod2 will operate as both reversed field pinch and tokamak, and the goal of the THB is the evaluation of the edge electron density and temperature profiles in the two magnetic configurations, in D or H plasmas. This paper describes the system, the performance of the MPPC compared with the PMTs, the alignment, and the calibration.
On the near-wall structures and statistics of fluctuating pressure in compressible turbulent channel flows
Authors: Tang Jiupeng , Zhao Zhiye , Wan Zhen-Hua , Liu Nan-Sheng
Published: November 2020

The near-wall structures and statistics of fluctuating pressure (p′) in compressible turbulent channel flows (CTCF) with isothermal walls have been investigated by direct numerical simulations. Two typical cases for high bulk Mach number Ma = 3.83 and low one Ma = 1.56 are considered. A novel type of near-wall pressure structures named “alternating positive and negative structures (APNS)” is found in the high-Ma case based on the comprehensive analysis of spectra and dynamic mode decomposition of p′. These APNS of p′ are identified to have the streamwise and spanwise length scales of (λx/h, λz/h) ≈ (0.9, 1.5), where h is the channel half-height, and prefer to inhabit the low-speed wall streaks. It is also verified via a pressure splitting method that the APNS of p′ are dominated by the compressibility effects. Based on the linear stability analysis, the APNS of p′ can be intimately related to a linear stability eigenmode of the high-Ma CTCF and are sustained by the transient growth mechanism as the disturbances of the APNS length scales. Furthermore, these APNS of p′ offer an extra mechanism to generate the near-wall p′ for the high-Ma case. Moreover, it is found that the APNS of p′ have a dominating effect on the pressure-dilatation correlation and the production of Reynolds shear stress. The present study may provide a reliable way to achieve a better understanding and modeling of compressibility effects in the wall-bounded turbulence of high Ma.
On time periodic solutions to the conformal cubic wave equation on the Einstein cylinder
Authors: Chatzikaleas Athanasios
Published: November 2020

We consider the conformal wave equation on the Einstein cylinder with a defocusing cubic non-linearity. Motivated by a method developed by Rostworowski and Maliborski on the existence of time periodic solutions to the spherically symmetric Einstein–Klein–Gordon system, we study perturbations around the zero solution as a formal series expansion and assume that the perturbations bifurcate from one mode. In the center of this work stands a rigorous proof on how one can choose the initial data to cancel out all secular terms in the resonant system. Interestingly, our analysis reveals that the only possible choice for the existence of time periodic solutions bifurcating from the first mode is when the error terms in the expansion are all proportional to this dominant one mode. Finally, we use techniques from ordinary differential equations and establish the existence of time periodic solutions for the initial data proportional to the first mode of the linearized operator.
Rough-wall turbulence in minimal flow units with rod-roughened walls
Authors: Zhang Bo-Yuan , Huang Wei-Xi , Xu Chun-Xiao
Published: November 2020

Numerical simulation of minimal flow units (MFUs) can obtain “healthy turbulence” below a certain wall-normal height by limiting the effects of large-scale motions in the outer region. By “health,” it is meant that the mean velocity profile is consistent with the full-sized flow. In the present study, MFUs with rod-roughened walls at friction Reynolds numbers of 1000, 2000, and 4000 are studied by direct numerical simulation. For all the minimal channels, the domain size in streamwise and spanwise directions and the geometric parameters of roughness elements remain unchanged under the normalization of viscous units. The spurious spanwise uniform motions (SUM), induced by the narrow width of MFU, have significant contribution to turbulent fluctuations, especially to pressure. The spurious SUM are proved to be structures traveling downstream, holding strong relationship with the domain width. A new decomposition method is proposed to eliminate the spurious SUM. The results of MFU show that the roughness functions at different Reynolds numbers agree well with each other, implying that the effect of roughness on the main flow is independent of Reynolds numbers. In the context of the same wall roughness, the turbulent fluctuations and the roughness-induced fluctuations exhibit good Reynolds number independence. Additionally, the results of premultiplied spectra of the three velocity components suggest that the MFU could represent the near-wall small-scale motions within the full-sized domain. The universal signals extracted from the full-sized channel agree well with the near-wall velocity fluctuations in the MFU for all three velocity components.