bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A case of prolonged sinus arrest for 5 minutes after Cryo‐balloon ablation to the left superior pulmonary vein
Authors: Miki Tomonori , Shiraishi Hirokazu , Shirayama Takeshi , Matoba Satoaki
Published: November 2019

A 63‐year‐old man was referred to our hospital for his palpitation due to atrial fibrillation. He was admitted for catheter ablation. Cryoablation was applied to the left superior pulmonary vein for 180 seconds, and its potential disappeared in 22 seconds. The lowest temperature was −45°C. Suddenly, sinus arrest was observed 1 minute after the completion of freezing. The right ventricle was paced but no atrial potential was observed for 5 minutes until normal sinus rhythm resumed. We report a case of severe sinus arrest after cryoablation to the left pulmonary vein.
Home Gastrostomy Feeding Education Program: Effects on the Caregiving Burden, Knowledge, and Anxiety Level of Mothers
Authors: Pars Hatice , Soyer Tutku
Published: November 2019

Background

It is highly important for healthcare professionals to give discharge education to families to increase their knowledge of gastrostomy care and complications and to inform them about the correct behaviors. The purpose of the present descriptive pretraining and posttraining evaluation study was to investigate the effects of a standardized, evidence‐based discharge education program prepared for children with gastrostomy tubes on the caregivers’ knowledge, anxiety levels, and caregiving burden.

Methods

The primary caregivers of children with a gastrostomy tube (n = 30) were interviewed on the first day of the education program and the first week and third month after the program, and a pretest/posttest, the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale and the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory were applied. Complications were determined by assessing the number of unplanned clinic visits and complications in the study group compared with the historical control group (historical comparison; n = 30).

Results

The study revealed that the knowledge levels of mothers increased in the first week and third month after training, and their caregiving burden and state‐trait anxiety levels significantly decreased. Although some complications arising from the enteral nutrition process were observed, it was found that the complications were fewer, and the difference was statistically significant compared with the group that did not receive the standardized, evidence‐based discharge education program.

Conclusion

The standardized education program should be recommended because caregivers managed the home care process more successfully, and the stress, anxiety, and difficulties experienced during homecare decreased.
Glass geochemical compositions from widespread tephras erupted over the last 200 years from Mount St. Helens
Authors: FOO ZHEN HUI , Jensen Britta J. L. , Bolton Matthew S. M.
Published: November 2019

Building reliable chronologies from lake sediments, peat and other paleoenvironmental archives can be challenging, especially for historical times where radiocarbon is unreliable. Nineteenth‐ and 20th‐century eruptions from Mount St. Helens (MSH) provide important chronostratigraphic markers for regional paleoenvironmental studies within this time frame, but are constrained by poorly geochemically characterized tephra and/or limited published data. Here, we present glass geochemistry from the most significant eruptions from this time. This includes proximal, medial and distal deposits of the 18 May 1980 MSH eruption, layer T (
ad 1799/1800), a new tephra that we argue represents the
ad 1842 eruption, and the 22 July 1980 eruption that had reported ashfall in Canada. Our results indicate that most tephras ejected during these eruptions, within a time frame of ~200 years, have distinct glass geochemical characteristics that can be used to identify distal deposits for tephrochronological studies. Layer T is on trend with analyses of the 1980 eruption but has a distinct dacitic glass population. The 1980 and
ad 1842 eruptions are similar, both having rhyolitic glass compositions, but the
ad 1842 event can be differentiated by a more constrained SiO2 range in the main geochemical population, and the presence of a unique SiO2 sub‐population.
Photonic nanojet mediated Raman enhancement: Vertical Raman mapping and simple ray matrix analysis
Authors: Gašparić Vlatko , Taccheo Stefano , Gebavi Hrvoje , Ristić Davor , Ivanda Mile
Published: November 2019

A new method for enhancing the Raman scattering signal has emerged recently, based on dielectric enhancement. Especially promising is the dielectric method based on microspheres and photonic nanojet. In this paper, geometrical aspects and the influence of the incident beam parameters on Raman enhancement by silica microspheres were systematically investigated in three steps: by characterizing the incident beam using knife‐edge method, performing horizontal and vertical Raman mapping imaging, and analyzing the results using ray transfer matrix analysis. Maps show a distinct enhancement (hotspot) area caused by the microsphere photonic nanojet and lens effect compared to a plain silicon substrate. Enhancement value on maps was the highest (5.7×) for 0.50 numerical aperture objective, when the incident beam size matched the microsphere diameter, and the focus of the incident beam was below the top of the sphere, so that the output beam focus was at the microsphere–substrate contact area. This geometrical configuration was confirmed as ideal by performing simple ray transfer matrix analysis. The ideal ranges of incident and output beam parameters match with the measured hotspot area. This three‐step process and the usage of vertical Raman mapping have been, for the best of our knowledge, performed for the first time in such configuration. This research introduces a new way of investigating microsphere‐assisted Raman enhancement, offers different approach to microsphere optics research, and improves current knowledge of the influence of the incident beam on the enhancement.
Emulsifying properties of defatted rice bran concentrates enriched in fiber and proteins
Authors: Bonifacino Carla , Franco‐Fraguas Eugenia , López Débora N , Wagner Jorge R , Cabezas Darío M , Panizzolo Luis A , Palazolo Gonzalo G , Abirached Cecilia
Published: November 2019

BACKGROUND

Rice bran (RB), a by‐product of the rice milling industry, constitutes around 10% of the total weight of rough rice. The interest in the use of RB is centered on its nutritional quality, its low cost, and its extensive worldwide production. As RB is commonly used for oil extraction, the defatted rice bran (DRB) is obtained as a second by‐product. The aim of this work was to obtain a defatted rice bran concentrate (DRBC), enriched in protein and fiber, from defatted rice bran flour (DRBF) and to determine its physicochemical and emulsifying properties.

RESULTS

To obtain the DRBC, the starch was efficiently hydrolyzed (> 98%) with α‐amylase and amyloglucosidase, with a concomitant increase in the proportions of crude protein (from 154.7 to 274.3 g kg−1) and total dietary fiber (from 276.1 to 492.3 g kg−1). Defatted rice bran concentrate exhibited a loss of protein solubility and increased surface hydrophobicity compared with DRBF. Defatted rice‐bran concentrate dispersions with and without previous ultrasound treatment were prepared. The sonication led to an increase in the apparent viscosity. Emulsions were prepared with dispersions with and without previous ultrasound treatment and showed high stability in quiescent conditions over 28 days. However, the emulsions prepared with dispersions treated with ultrasound resulted in lower D4,3 values and higher elastic and viscous moduli.

CONCLUSION

The rice bran concentrate can be used to obtain stable oil‐in‐water (O/W) emulsions, including both soluble and insoluble fractions, in acidic and neutral conditions. These innovative findings thus contribute to increasing the added value of this important by‐product of the rice‐milling industry. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Resveratrol: a review of plant sources, synthesis, stability, modification and food application
Authors: Tian Bingren , Liu Jiayue
Published: November 2019

Resveratrol, a stilbene molecule belonging to the polyphenol family, is usually extracted from a great many natural plants. The technologies of preparation and extraction methods are developing rapidly. As resveratrol has many beneficial properties, it has been widely utilized in food and medicine industry. In terms of its structure, it is susceptible to degradation and can undergo chemical changes during food processing. Different studies have therefore given more attention to various aspects of resveratrol, including anti‐aging, anti‐oxidant, and anti‐cancer activity. This review classifies the study of resveratrol, considers plant sources, synthesis, stability, common reactions, and food applications, and provides references to boost its food and medical utilization. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Stimulated biosynthesis of delphinidin‐related anthocyanins in tea shoots reducing the quality of green tea in summer
Authors: Zhang Qunfeng , Hu Jianhui , Liu Meiya , Shi Yuanzhi , De Vos Ric C. H. , Ruan Jianyun
Published: November 2019

BACKGROUND

Greater proportions of purple tea buds and leaves usually appear in the summer, which seriously affects the color and taste quality of green tea products, yet the metabolism of purple tea shoots in summer remains unclear. Here, the metabolomic profiles and gene expression of related flavonoid metabolic pathways in the purple and normal green shoots of ‘Longjing 43’, and the quality of green tea made with these two phenotypes, were analyzed and compared.

RESULTS

Differential metabolites identified using high‐performance liquid chromatography–Orbitrap/mass spectrometry indicated that anthocyanin biosynthesis in purple leaves was enriched, with higher levels of anthocyanidins (delphinidin‐hexose‐coumaroyl showed the greatest increase), proanthocyanidins (oligomers of catechins) and kaempferol glycoside. Expression patterns of the genes ANR, ANS, FLS, LAR, C4H, PAL, CHI, CHS and DFR revealed that the metabolism of anthocyanin is positively regulated by high temperature and/or light levels in summer. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry results showed that, in purple tea shoots, the metabolism of carbohydrates was enriched whereas that of amino acids was diminished, while their mannose, fructose, d‐galactose, sorbose and d‐glucose contents were more than double those found in green leaves. A sensory evaluation confirmed that a greater quantity of purple shoots had a greater negative impact on green tea quality because of a bitter taste and dark color (leaves and infusions were tested).

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight the need for and possibility of improving commercial tea quality via cultivation that controls the temperature or light of tea gardens during the summer. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Lack of additive benefit of oral steroids on short‐term postoperative outcomes in nasal polyposis
Authors: Arancibia Claudio , Langdon Cristóbal , Mullol Joaquim , Alobid Isam
Published: November 2019

Objectives

There is a lack of evidence concerning the efficacy of oral corticosteroids (OCS) as a postoperative treatment for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). The objective of our study was to determine the short‐term additive benefit of postoperative OCS in CRSwNP patients.

Methods

We prospectively randomized CRSwNP patients who were treated by endoscopic sinus surgery. All patients were resistant to maximum medical treatment according to European position paper on rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps 2012 guidelines. Treatment group received postoperative OCS in descending doses plus nasal douching over a period of 4 weeks, whereas the control group received only nasal douching. The efficacy of OCS was determined by a total 5 item symptoms score (T5SS), polyp size score, Barcelona Smell Test 24 and Medical Outcome Study Short Form‐36 questionnaire for quality of life (QoL).

Results

Of the 70 enrolled patients, 35 were in the treatment group and 35 in the control group. After 4 weeks of follow‐up, patients from both groups improved in T5SS, QoL, endoscopic findings (except for crusts that increased in both) and sense of smell, without significant differences between OCS and control groups.

Conclusion

Postoperative OCS as an add‐on treatment for CRSwNP patients does not improve sinonasal and QoL outcomes; thus, they should not be routinely recommended.

Level of Evidence

Ib Laryngoscope, 2019
Termite footprints in restored versus degraded agrosystems in South West Niger
Authors: Amadou Issoufou Abdourhimou , Maman Garba , Soumana Idrissa , Kaiser Dorkas , Konate Souleymane , Mahamane Sabiou , Mahamane Ali
Published: November 2019

One approach to achieving sustainable food security is to maintain or restore natural ecosystem services that diminish dependence on human inputs to agrosystems. More efficient use of agrosystem restoration practices can be achieved with the aid of termites' activities, which positively influence the physicochemical and hydraulic properties of soils in favor of productive soil. However, termites have a significant place in agrosystems, but it has remained under exploited and unrefined and needs to be restored to increase its yield. Here, we quantify the colonization rates of termites on marginal soils and in agrosystems with ongoing restoration efforts, as well as determine their footprints on soil characteristics over a 2‐year period in semi‐arid Niger. We used a rapid assessment protocol, a technic used to assess termites' population in semi‐arid regions, adapted from an earlier studies. The results from various analyses showed that termite abundance, richness, and diversity were 15% to 45% higher in the restored agrosystems than in the degraded ones. The evenness did not augment in the restored habitats what might result from the changes in soil properties triggered by clearcutting. Moreover, organic compounds, particularly carbon, nitrogen, in some cases phosphorus, and exchangeable cations are more abundant in restored sites where termite activities are intense than in the controls. A higher termite diversity and abundance are important factors underlying positive changes in soil properties. This study provides evidence of the effectiveness of termite species in restoring degraded soil and in maintaining long‐term soil fertility, thereby facilitating sustainable agriculture.
Global existence, asymptotic stability and blow‐up of solutions for the generalized Boussinesq equation with nonlinear boundary condition
Authors: Zhang Hongwei , Hu Qingying , Liu Gongwei
Published: November 2019

In this paper, we consider initial boundary value problem of the generalized Boussinesq equation with nonlinear interior source and boundary absorptive terms. We establish firstly the local existence of solutions by standard Galerkin method. Then we prove both the global existence of the solution and a general decay of the energy functions under some restrictions on the initial data. We also prove a blow‐up result for solutions with positive and negative initial energy respectively.
Disulfide‐Based Self‐Immolative Linkers and Functional Bioconjugates for Biological Applications
Authors: Deng Zhengyu , Hu Jinming , Liu Shiyong
Published: November 2019

It is of vital importance to reversibly mask and selectively activate bioactive agents for advanced therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, aiming to efficiently suppress background interferences and attenuate systemic toxicity. This strategy has been involved in diverse applications spanning from chemical/biological sensors and diagnostics to drug delivery nanocarriers. Among these, redox‐responsive disulfide linkages have been extensively utilized by taking advantage of extracellular and intracellular glutathione (GSH) gradients. However, direct conjugation of cleavable triggers to bioactive agents through disulfide bonds suffers from bulky steric hindrance and limited choice of trigger–drug combinations. Fortunately, the emergence of disulfide self‐immolative linkers (DSILs) provides a general and robust strategy to not only mask various bioactive agents through the formation of dynamic disulfide linkages but also make it possible to be selectively activated upon disulfide cleavage in the reductive cytoplasmic milieu. In this review, recent developments in DSILs are focused with special attention on emerging chemical design strategies and functional applications in the biomedical field.
Deep Brain Stimulation for Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease With Early Motor Complications
Authors: Barbe Michael T. , Tonder Lisa , Krack Paul , Debû Bettina , Schüpbach Michael , Paschen Steffen , Dembek Till A. , Kühn Andrea A. , Fraix Valerie , Brefel‐Courbon Christine , Wojtecki Lars , Maltête David , Damier Phillippe , Sixel‐Döring Friederike , Weiss Daniel , Pinsker Marcus , Witjas Tatiana , Thobois Stephane , Schade‐Brittinger Carmen , Rau Jörn , Houeto Jean‐Luc , Hartmann Andreas , Timmermann Lars , Schnitzler Alfons , Stoker Valerie , Vidailhet Marie , Deuschl Günther ,   for the EARLYSTIM study group
Published: November 2019

Background

Effects of DBS on freezing of gait and other axial signs in PD patients are unclear.

Objective

Secondary analysis to assess whether DBS affects these symptoms within a large randomized controlled trial comparing DBS of the STN combined with best medical treatment and best medical treatment alone in patients with early motor complications (EARLYSTIM‐trial).

Methods

One hundred twenty‐four patients were randomized in the stimulation group and 127 patients in the best medical treatment group. Presence of freezing of gait was assessed in the worst condition based on item‐14 of the UPDRS‐II at baseline and follow‐up. The posture, instability, and gait‐difficulty subscore of the UPDRS‐III, and a gait test including quantification of freezing of gait and number of steps, were performed in both medication‐off and medication‐on conditions.

Results

Fifty‐two percent in both groups had freezing of gait at baseline based on UPDRS‐II. This proportion decreased in the stimulation group to 34%, but did not change in the best medical treatment group at 24 months (P = 0.018). The steps needed to complete the gait test decreased in the stimulation group and was superior to the best medical treatment group (P = 0.016). The axial signs improved in the stimulation group compared to the best medical treatment group (P < 0.01) in both medication‐off and medication‐on conditions.

Conclusions

Within the first 2 years of DBS, freezing of gait and other axial signs improved in the medication‐off condition compared to best medical treatment in these patients. © 2019 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Is one nerve transfer enough? A systematic review and pooled analysis comparing ulnar fascicular nerve transfer and double ulnar and median fascicular nerve transfer for restoration of elbow flexion after traumatic brachial plexus injury
Authors: Donnelly Megan R. , Rezzadeh Kevin T. , Vieira Dorice , Daar David , Hacquebord Jacques
Published: November 2019

Objectives

Double fascicular transfer is argued to result in improved elbow flexion compared to the traditional ulnar fascicular transfer because it reinnervates both the biceps and the brachialis. This study seeks to determine if double fascicular transfer should be preferred over ulnar fascicular transfer to restore elbow flexion in patients with upper trunk brachial plexus injuries (BPI) by analyzing the current database of literature on the topic.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria were studies reporting Medical Research Council (MRC) scores on individual patients undergoing ulnar fascicular transfer and double fascicular transfer (ulnar and median nerve fascicle donors). Patients were excluded if: age < 18 years old and follow‐up <12 months. Demographics obtained include age, sex, extent of injury (C5‐C6/C5‐C7), preoperative interval, procedure type, and follow‐up time. Outcomes included absolute MRC score and ability to achieve MRC score ≥3 and ≥4. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were completed to evaluate predictors of postoperative outcomes.

Results

Eighteen studies (176 patients) were included for pooled analysis. Patients that underwent double fascicular transfer had a higher percentage of patients attain a MRC score ≥ 4 compared to ulnar fascicular transfer subjects (83.0% vs. 63.3%, p = .013). Double fascicular transfer was a predictor of achieving high MRC scores (OR = 2.829, p = .015). Multivariate analysis showed that procedure type was the only near significant predictor of ability to obtain MRC ≥4 (OR: 2.338, p = .054).

Conclusions

This analysis demonstrates that double fascicular transfer is associated with superior postoperative outcomes and should be performed for restoring elbow flexion.
Sustained Human Background Exposure to Acrolein Evidenced by Monitoring Urinary Exposure Biomarkers
Authors: Ruenz Meike , Goerke Katharina , Bakuradze Tamara , Abraham Klaus , Lampen Alfonso , Eisenbrand Gerhard , Richling Elke
Published: November 2019

Scope

This study investigates a potential correlation between the intake of heat‐processed food and the excretion of the acrolein (AC) biomarkers N‐acetyl‐S‐(3‐hydroxypropyl)‐l‐cysteine (HPMA) and N‐acetyl‐S‐(carboxyethyl)‐l‐cysteine (CEMA) based on two human studies.

Methods and Results

Human exposure to AC is monitored using the AC‐related mercapturic acids HPMA and CEMA in the urine of a) non‐smoking volunteers under defined living conditions and b) of non‐smoking volunteers on unrestricted or vegan diet under free living conditions. Free living volunteers in part show markedly enhanced urinary excretions of HPMA and CEMA. The intake of heat‐processed food does not influence AC‐related biomarker excretion. Incidentally enhanced urinary exposure biomarker levels appear to suggest AC exposure possibly from open fire, barbecuing, or tobacco smoke. However, kinetics of urinary biomarkers related to tobacco and other potential smoke exposure, do not correlate with those observed for HPMA and CEMA.

Conclusion

This study is the first to convincingly show a sustained and substantial background exposure to AC in non‐smoking humans, clearly independent from uptake of heat‐processed foods. The data strongly point to endogenous AC generation by pathways of mammalian and/or microbial metabolism as yet not taken into consideration.
Prospective GIRF‐based RF phase cycling to reduce eddy current‐induced steady‐state disruption in bSSFP imaging
Authors: Bruijnen Tom , Stemkens Bjorn , van den Berg Cornelis Antonius Theodorus , Tijssen Rob Hendrikus Nicolaas
Published: November 2019

Purpose

To propose an explicit Balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP) signal model that predicts eddy current‐induced steady‐state disruptions and to provide a prospective, practical, and general eddy current compensation method.

Theory and Methods

Gradient impulse response functions (GIRF) were used to simulate trajectory‐specific eddy current‐induced phase errors at the end of a repetition block. These phase errors were included in bloch simulations to establish a bSSFP signal model to predict steady‐state disruptions and their corresponding image artifacts. The signal model was embedded in the MR system and used to compensate the phase errors by prospectively modifying the phase cycling scheme of the RF pulse. The signal model and eddy current compensation method were validated in phantom and in vivo experiments. In addition, the signal model was used to analyze pre‐existing eddy current mitigation methods, such as 2D tiny golden angle radial and 3D paired phase encoded Cartesian acquisitions.

Results

The signal model predicted eddy current‐induced image artifacts, with the zeroth‐order GIRF being the primary factor to predict the steady‐state disruption. Prospective RF phase cycling schemes were automatically computed online and considerably reduced eddy current‐induced image artifacts. The signal model provides a direct relationship for the smoothness of k‐space trajectories, which explains the effectiveness of phase encode pairing and tiny golden angle trajectory.

Conclusions

The proposed signal model can accurately predict eddy current‐induced steady‐state disruptions for bSSFP imaging. The signal model can be used to derive the eddy current‐induced phase errors required for trajectory‐specific RF phase cycling schemes, which considerably reduce eddy current‐induced image artifacts.
Obesity Risk Among Young Australian Women: A Prospective Latent Class Analysis
Authors: Hendryx Michael , Chojenta Catherine , Byles Julie E.
Published: November 2019

Objective

Prospective studies on obesity incidence specifically among young adults have not been reported. This study examined risks of obesity incidence over 19 years among young women without obesity at baseline.

Methods

Women aged 18 to 23 years at baseline (N = 8,177) were followed up every 2 to 3 years to ages 37 to 42 using the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. A latent class analysis identified obesity‐risk classes based on time‐dependent measures of income, education, physical activity, sleep quality, dietary behavior, depression, stressful events, and social functioning. Cox proportional hazards regression models examined associations between incident obesity and latent classes, controlling for covariates.

Results

Four latent classes were identified, including a lower‐risk referent class and classes characterized by poor exercise and diet, stress and low income, and multiple intermediate‐level risks. Compared with the referent, all three risk classes had significantly higher obesity risk, with the highest risk in the stress and low‐income group (hazard ratio = 2.22; 95% CI: 1.92‐2.56). Individual risks associated with obesity included lower education, stressful life events, and lower vigorous physical activity.

Conclusions

Young women without baseline obesity were at risk of developing obesity when they experienced co‐occurring behavioral, socioeconomic, and psychosocial risks. Both latent classes and individual risk indicators offer insights into prevention strategies.
Digital self‐monitoring: Does adherence or association with outcomes differ by self‐monitoring target?
Authors: Butryn Meghan L. , Godfrey Kathryn M. , Martinelli Mary K. , Roberts Savannah R. , Forman Evan M. , Zhang Fengqing
Published: November 2019

Objective

Digital self‐monitoring of eating, physical activity, and weight is increasingly prescribed in behavioural weight loss programmes. This study determined if adherence rates or associations with outcomes differed according to self‐monitoring target (ie, self‐monitoring of eating versus physical activity versus weight).

Methods

Participants in a 3‐month, group‐based weight loss programme were instructed to use an app to record food intake, wear a physical activity sensor, and use a wireless body weight scale. At post‐treatment, weight loss was measured in clinic and moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was measured by research‐grade accelerometer.

Results

Adherence to self‐monitoring decreased significantly over time for eating and weight but not physical activity. Overall, adherence to self‐monitoring of weight was lower than that of eating or physical activity. Greater adherence to self‐monitoring of eating, physical activity, and weight each predicted greater weight loss. Only greater adherence to self‐monitoring of eating was associated with greater bouted minutes of MVPA.

Conclusions

Findings from this study suggest that self‐monitoring should be considered a target‐specific behaviour rather than a unitary construct when conceptualizing adherence and association with treatment outcomes.
Marine‐natural‐products for biocides development: first discovery of meridianin alkaloids as antiviral and anti‐phytopathogenic‐fungus agents
Authors: Dong Ji , Huang Shi‐sheng , Hao Ya‐nan , Wang Zi‐wen , Liu Yu‐xiu , Li Yong‐qiang , Wang Qing‐min
Published: November 2019

BACKGROUND

Food is an important strategic material related to national economy and people's livelihood. Plant diseases seriously affect crop yield and quality. Marine natural products are an important source for novel drugs discovery. In this work, meridianin alkaloids were selected as the parent structure. A series of meridianin alkaloid analogues were rationally designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antiviral activities and fungicidal activities.

RESULT

These compounds were found to have good antiviral and fungicidal activities for the first time. The structure–activity relationship (SAR) research revealed that introducing bromine atom at the 5‐position of indole ring is beneficial to antiviral activity, but introducing methoxy group is not conducive. Introducing bromine atom at the 6‐position of indole ring or nitrogen atom at the 7‐position of the indole ring resulted in lower antiviral activity. Most of the meridianin derivatives showed higher anti‐TMV activities at 500 μg mL−1 than Ribavirin, especially for compounds 6c, 8a and 10a. All of the compounds also displayed broad spectrum fungicidal activities against 14 kinds of phytopathogenic fungi at 50 μg mL−1.

CONCLUSION

Compound 6c with relatively simple structure and excellent antiviral activity, which is similar to that of Ningnanmycin, emerged as novel anti‐TMV lead compound. Compound 5d with broad spectrum and high effect fungicidal activity emerged as a new fungicidal lead compound. Current research lays a solid foundation for the application of meridianin alkaloids in crop protection. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Indirect Detection of the Light Emission in the Local Tunnel Junction
Authors: Lebedev Denis V. , Mozharov Alexey M. , Bolshakov Alexey D. , Shkoldin Vitaliy A. , Permyakov Dmitry V. , Golubok Alexander O. , Samusev Anton K. , Mukhin Ivan S.
Published: November 2019

Herein, I(V) characteristics of the tunnel junction between the scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) Pt/Ir probe and atomically flat Au film on mica using ultrahigh vacuum STM is investigated. To ensure cleanness and flatness of the Au films, optimization of the substrate annealing and Ar plasma treatment are performed. The obtained technological parameters allow to drastically improve the reproducibility of I(V) measurements. The analysis of I(V), d2I/dV2 (V), and Fowler–Nordheim plots is conducted, and the presence of the features in the bias region near 1.8 V in the form of peak and minimum, peak and anomalous extra minimum, respectively is demonstrated. The direct optical measurements confirm that the features on I(V) curves are associated with the generation of photons from the STM probe‐sample gap, governed by inelastic tunneling processes. The proposed I(V) analysis approach is used for indirect sensing and investigation of the light emission in the tunnel junction offering a powerful tool for the studies of the photonic sources with deeply subwavelength dimensions.
Analysing Sr isotopes in low‐Sr samples such as single insects with inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry using N2O as a reaction gas for in‐line Rb separation
Authors: Murphy David Thomas , Allen Charlotte M. , Ghidan Osama , Dickson Andrew , Hu Wan‐Ping , Briggs Ethan , Holder Peter W. , Armstrong Karen F.
Published: November 2019

Rationale

Strontium isotopes are valuable markers of provenance in a range of disciplines. Limited amounts of Sr in low‐mass samples such as insects mean that conventional Sr isotope analysis precludes their use for geographic origins in many ecological studies or in applications such as biosecurity. Here we test the viability of using inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS/MS) with N2O as a reaction gas for accurately determining Sr isotopes in insects with Sr < 100 ng.

Methods

Strontium isotopes were determined in solution mode using ICP‐MS/MS with 0.14 L/min N2O as a reaction gas to convert Sr+ into SrO+ for in‐line separation of 87Sr from 87Rb. The Sr isotope reference standards NIST SRM 987, NIST SRM 1570a and NIST SRM 1547 were used to assess accuracy and reproducibility. Ten insect species collected from the wild as a proof‐of‐principle application were analysed for Sr concentration and Sr isotopes.

Results

Using ICP‐MS/MS we show for the first time that internal mass bias correction of 87Sr16O/86Sr16O based on 88Sr16O/86Sr16O works to give for NIST SRM 987 a 87Sr/86Sr ratio of 0.7101 ± 0.012 (RSD = 0.17%) and for NIST SRM 1570a a 87Sr/86Sr ratio of 0.7100 ± 0.009 (RSD = 0.12%), which are within error of the accepted values. The first 87Sr/86Sr ratio of NIST SRM 1547 is 0.7596 ± 0.0014. Strontium analyses were run on 0.8 mL of 0.25–0.5 ppb Sr, which equates to 2–4 ng of Sr. Strontium isotope analysis with a precision of >99.8% can be achieved with in‐line separation of 87Sr from 87Rb at least up to solutions with 25 ppb Rb.

Conclusions

A minimum of 5 mg of insect tissue is required for Sr isotope analysis. This new ICP‐MS/MS method enables Sr isotope analysis in single insects, allowing population‐scale studies to be feasible and making possible applications with time‐critical uses such as biosecurity.
Compensation‐based data‐driven ILC with input and output package dropouts
Authors: Chi Ronghu , Lv Yunkai , Hou Zhongsheng
Published: November 2019

This paper explores the problem of random data loss at both input and output sides and proposes a compensation‐based data‐driven iterative learning control (cDDILC) to refrain from deteriorating of the control performance due to the data loss. A linear data model is first established to describe the input‐output dynamics of a repetitive control system in the iteration domain. The linear data model, which only virtually exists in the computer without any physical backgrounds, is employed as a predictive model to estimate and compensate the lost output data. Meanwhile, the lost input data is replaced by the corresponding input of the same time instant in the latest previous iterations. Then, a cDDILC is proposed by introducing two Bernoulli random variables to describe the stochastic data loss at both input and output sides. The proposed cDDILC method is data driven and independent of a precise plant model. Although the design and analysis of the cDDILC start from a MIMO linear repetitive system, one can easily extend the results to a MIMO nonlinear nonaffine one. Theoretical analysis and simulations confirm the efficiency of the proposed cDDILC method.
Continuous Synthesis of Nanocrystals via Flow Chemistry Technology
Authors: Sui Jinsong , Yan Junyu , Liu Di , Wang Kai , Luo Guangsheng
Published: November 2019

Modern nanotechnologies bring humanity to a new age, and advanced methods for preparing functional nanocrystals are cornerstones. A considerable variety of nanomaterials has been created over the past decades, but few were prepared on the macro scale, even fewer making it to the stage of industrial production. The gap between academic research and engineering production is expected to be filled by flow chemistry technology, which relies on microreactors. Microreaction devices and technologies for synthesizing different kinds of nanocrystals are discussed from an engineering point of view. The advantages of microreactors, the important features of flow chemistry systems, and methods to apply them in the syntheses of salt, oxide, metal, alloy, and quantum dot nanomaterials are summarized. To further exhibit the scaling‐up of nanocrystal synthesis, recent reports on using microreactors with gram per hour and larger production rates are highlighted. Finally, an industrial example for preparing 10 tons of CaCO3 nanoparticles per day is introduced, which shows the great potential for flow chemistry processes to transfer lab research to industry.
Laser‐Assisted Lattice Recovery of Graphene by Carbon Nanodot Incorporation
Authors: Borenstein Arie , Strauss Volker , Kowal Matthew D. , Anderson Mackenzie , Kaner Richard B.
Published: November 2019

Producing highly oriented graphene is a major challenge that constrains graphene from fulfilling its full potential in technological applications. The exciting properties of graphene are impeded in practical bulk materials due to lattice imperfections that hinder charge mobility. A simple method to improve the structural integrity of graphene by utilizing laser irradiation on a composite of carbon nanodots (CNDs) and 3D graphene is presented. The CNDs attach themselves to defect sites in the graphene sheets and, upon laser‐assisted reduction, patch defects in the carbon lattice. Spectroscopic experiments reveal graphitic structural recovery of up to 43% and electrical conductivity four times larger than the original graphene. The composites are tested as electrodes in electrochemical capacitors and demonstrate extremely fast RC time constant as low as 0.57 ms. Due to their low defect concentrations, the reduced graphene oxide‐carbon nanodot (rGO‐CND) composites frequency response is sufficiently fast to operate as AC line filters, potentially replacing today's electrolytic capacitors. Using this methodology, demonstrated is a novel line filter with one of the fastest capacitive responses ever reported, and an aerial capacitance of 68.8 mF cm−2. This result emphasizes the decisive role of structural integrity for optimizing graphene in electronic applications.
High‐Power Microbial Fuel Cells Based on a Carbon–Carbon Composite Air Cathode
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyuan , Wang Qiuying , Tang Cheng , Wang Hao‐Fan , Liang Peng , Huang Xia , Zhang Qiang
Published: November 2019

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can convert organics in wastewater directly to electricity, and improving oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance is critical to their development and future applications. Electrocatalytic ORR performance is determined by the intrinsic activity and accessible amounts of active sites. A surface nitrogen‐enriched carbon coaxial nanocable (NCCN) is applied as an ORR electrocatalyst and combined with activated carbon (AC) with 80 wt% addition as a carbon–carbon composite air cathode in MFCs. The fully exposed nitrogen active sites of NCCN contribute to the enhanced ORR activity, while the graphitized core affords a rapid pathway for electron transportation. AC serves as a spacer to construct a porous framework with interconnected ion diffusion channels. This cathode thus exhibits a maximum power density of 2090 mW m–2, 120% higher than commercial Pt/C electrocatalysts, and also 6% higher than the pure NCCN, indicating a synergistic effect between NCCN and AC. A high‐performance NCCN‐AC air cathode with a great promise for future MFC applications is reported and an effective strategy to bridge the electrocatalytic performance from nanomaterials to practical devices is presented.
The cell stress response: extreme times call for post‐transcriptional measures
Authors: Pizzinga Mariavittoria , Harvey Robert F. , Garland Gavin D. , Mordue Ryan , Dezi Veronica , Ramakrishna Manasa , Sfakianos Aristeidis , Monti Mie , Mulroney Thomas E. , Poyry Tuija , Willis Anne E.
Published: November 2019

Following cell stress, a wide range of molecular pathways are initiated to orchestrate the stress response and enable adaptation to an environmental or intracellular perturbation. The post‐transcriptional regulation strategies adopted during the stress response result in a substantial reorganization of gene expression, designed to prepare the cell for either acclimatization or programmed death, depending on the nature and intensity of the stress. Fundamental to the stress response is a rapid repression of global protein synthesis, commonly mediated by phosphorylation of translation initiation factor eIF2α. Recent structural and biochemical information have added unprecedented detail to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying this regulation. During protein synthesis inhibition, the translation of stress‐specific mRNAs is nonetheless enhanced, often through the interaction between RNA‐binding proteins and specific RNA regulatory elements. Recent studies investigating the unfolded protein response (UPR) provide some important insights into how posttranscriptional events are spatially and temporally fine‐tuned in order to elicit the most appropriate response and to coordinate the transition from an early, acute stage into the chronic state of adaptation. Importantly, cancer cells are known to hi‐jack adaptive stress response pathways, particularly the UPR, to survive and proliferate in the unfavorable tumor environment. In this review, we consider the implications of recent research into stress‐dependent post‐transcriptional regulation and make the case for the exploration of the stress response as a strategy to identify novel targets in the development of cancer therapies.

This article is categorized under:

RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease

RNA Evolution and Genomics > RNA and Ribonucleoprotein Evolution

Translation > Translation Mechanisms > Translation Regulation
Carbon source requirements for mating and mating‐type switching in the methylotrophic yeasts Ogataea (Hansenula) polymorpha and Komagataella phaffii (Pichia pastoris)
Authors: Feng Dahao , Stoyanov Anton , Olliff Juliana C. , Wolfe Kenneth H. , Lahtchev Kantcho , Hanson Sara J.
Published: November 2019

The methylotrophic yeasts Ogataea (Hansenula) polymorpha and Komagataella phaffii (Pichia pastoris) have important industrial applications and are models for several biological processes including peroxisome biology and methanol metabolism. We examined the carbon source requirements for mating‐type (MAT) switching and mating in both species. Haploid strains of O. polymorpha and K. phaffii are homothallic, and switch MAT by a flip/flop mechanism in which a chromosomal region containing the MAT genes undergoes an inversion. MAT switching is induced by nitrogen starvation in both species and can be detected 4–6 hr after induction. Both switching and mating require a utilizable carbon source that can be either fermentable or nonfermentable. We further observed that although methanol can be used as a sole carbon source in both species, it does not support the induction of MAT switching or mating. Our results provide insight into the nutritional cues that influence entry into sexual processes in methylotrophic yeasts that undergo flip/flop MAT switching.
Cubic interactions for arbitrary spin $$ \mathcal{N} $$ -extended massless supermultiplets in 4d flat space
Authors: Metsaev R.R.
Published: November 2019

Abstract

$$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
-extended massless arbitrary integer and half-integer spin supermultiplets in four dimensional flat space are studied in the framework of light-cone gauge formalism. For such multiplets, by using light-cone momentum superspace, we build unconstrained light-cone gauge superfield formulation. The superfield formulation is used to develop a superspace representation for all cubic interactions vertices of the $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
-extended massless supermultiplets. Our suitable treatment of the light-cone gauge superfields allows us to obtain attractively simple superspace representation for the cubic interaction vertices. Su- perspace realization of relativistic symmetries of the $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
-extended Poincaré superalgebra on space of interacting fields is also obtained.
Erratum to: Axion global fits with Peccei-Quinn symmetry breaking before inflation using GAMBIT
Authors: Hoof Sebastian , Kahlhoefer Felix , Scott Pat , Weniger Christoph , White Martin
Published: November 2019

Example for the effect of wrongly defining the axion-photon coupling. The colour map and black lines are for the corrected figure using GAMBIT 1.3.1, while dashed blue lines indicate the previous erroneous exclusion lines from GAMBIT 13 0.
The uniqueness of hypergravity
Authors: Rahman Rakibur
Published: November 2019

Abstract

We show that consistent interactions of a spin-2 and a higher-spin Majorana fermion gauge fields in 30 fiat space lead uniquely to Aragone-Deser hypergravity or its generalization. Our analysis employs the ERST-cohomological techniques, and works in the metric-like formulation under the assumptions of locality, parity and Poincaré invariance. Local hypersymmetry shows up as the unique consistent deformation of the gauge transformations. An extension of the theory with fermion flavors does not change these features, while a cosmological deformation becomes obstructed unless we allow for some new degrees of freedom and/or non-locality.
The common message of constraint-based optimization approaches: overflow metabolism is caused by two growth-limiting constraints
Authors: de Groot Daan H. , Lischke Julia , Muolo Riccardo , Planqué Robert , Bruggeman Frank J. , Teusink Bas
Published: November 2019

Living cells can express different metabolic pathways that support growth. The criteria that determine which pathways are selected in which environment remain unclear. One recurrent selection is overflow metabolism: the simultaneous usage of an ATP-efficient and -inefficient pathway, shown for example in Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and cancer cells. Many models, based on different assumptions, can reproduce this observation. Therefore, they provide no conclusive evidence which mechanism is causing overflow metabolism. We compare the mathematical structure of these models. Although ranging from flux balance analyses to self-fabricating metabolism and expression models, we can rewrite all models into one standard form. We conclude that all models predict overflow metabolism when two, model-specific, growth-limiting constraints are hit. This is consistent with recent theory. Thus, identifying these two constraints is essential for understanding overflow metabolism. We list all imposed constraints by these models, so that they can hopefully be tested in future experiments.
Postoperatives „remote monitoring“
Authors: Preckel B. , Posthuma L. M. , Visscher M. J. , Hollmann M. W.
Published: November 2019

Im Rahmen operativer Eingriffe treten Komplikationen meistens in der postoperativen Phase auf. Hierbei können kleine klinische Hinweise beobachtet werden, die der signifikanten Zustandsverschlechterung des Patienten vorausgehen. Auf der Normalstation werden Vitalparameter wie Herz- und Atemfrequenz alle 4–8 h erfasst. Selbst wenn bei kritisch erkrankten Patienten der Beobachtungszeitraum auf 2 h verkürzt wird und die Erhebung der Vitalfunktionen ca. 10 min in Anspruch nimmt, ist der Patient nur für 120 min pro 24 h überwacht und bleibt dementsprechend postoperativ auf der Normalstation 22 von 24 h unbeobachtet. Neue kabellose Monitoring-Systeme stehen zur Verfügung, um einige Vitalfunktionen mithilfe eines tragbaren Sensors kontinuierlich zu registrieren und Abweichungen in Form von Benachrichtigungen/Alarmen für das Personal kenntlich zu machen. Obwohl das optimale Monitoring-System bislang noch nicht existiert und die Implementierung dieser neuen Systeme ggf. Risiken beinhalten kann, ergeben sich bereits heute Chancen zur Optimierung der Überwachung postoperativer Patienten auf der Normalstation.