bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling of the xylitol production from sugarcane bagasse by immobilized cells
Authors: Dorantes‐Landa Dalia N , Cocotle‐Ronzón Yolanda , Morales‐Cabrera Miguel A , Hernández‐Martínez Eliseo
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

Xylitol is a polyalcohol widely used in the pharmaceutical, medicine and food industry because of its anti‐cariogenic properties and low caloric value, with a sweetness equal to sucrose. Xylitol can be produced chemically or through a biotechnological route, though the last alternative still does not reach the yields to satisfy the industrial needs. The biotechnological route is an important alternative for the valorization of agroindustrial waste rich in hemicellulosic sugars, such as cane sugar bagasse, rice straw, banana peel, among others. To reduce the experimental costs, mathematical modeling is useful for determining the fermentation operation conditions and to improve the overall process.

RESULTS

A dynamic mathematical model for the description of xylitol production from sugarcane bagasse by Candida guilliermondii cells entrapped was developed. For the description of the microbial growth rate, free and immobilized microorganisms situations were considered in the kinetic model, including mass transfer effects. Experimental data reported in the literature were used to validate the proposed model. Additionally, a parametric estimation by the Levenberg–Marquardt method and a parametric sensitivity analysis was also performed.

CONCLUSION

The best experimental fit was obtained when the effects of inhibition by substrates are included in the kinetic model reaching a global determination index R2 > 0.95. Furthermore, this proposed model allowed us to evaluate the restraints that are generated due to the internal and external mass transfer processes of the immobilized medium. The parametric sensitivity analysis demonstrated the optimal operation conditions where the xylitol production can be favored. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
HIV incidence and factors associated with testing positive for HIV among men who have sex with men and transgender women in Myanmar: data from community‐based HIV testing services
Authors: Veronese Vanessa , Traeger Michael , Oo Zaw M , Tun Thet T , Oo Nwe N , Maung Htay , Hughes Chad , Pedrana Alisa , Stoové Mark
Published: February 2020

Introduction

In Myanmar, men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW) are disproportionately affected by HIV, despite national HIV program scale‐up. However, limited HIV surveillance capacity prevents monitoring of epidemic trends and program impact. This study aimed to estimate HIV prevalence and incidence and explore associated sexual risk behaviours among MSM and TW clients attending HIV testing clinics in Myanmar.

Methods

An electronic data management system was implemented in two community‐based, MSM and TW ‐tailored HIV testing clinics in Myanmar in August 2016. Unique client identifiers enabled prospective monitoring of service engagement, testing frequency and outcomes. We estimated HIV incidence and rate of HIV diagnosis at baseline testing visit among clients over a 15 month period. Correlates of HIV diagnoses were identified using multivariable logistic regression.

Results

2794 MSM and TW were tested for HIV. At their baseline test, 38% of clients reported any previous testing and 93% reported being sexually active over the previous three months, with 74% reporting sex with casual male partners and 28% reporting consistent condom use with casual partners. 291 clients tested positive for HIV for the first time at baseline (10.4%; 95% CI: 9.3 to 11.6). Twelve incident cases were detected among 279 clients receiving ≥2 tests (incidence = 10.1 per 100 person‐years; 95% CI: 5.73 to 17.8). HIV diagnosis at baseline was significantly associated with being a transgender woman or a non‐openly disclosing man who has sex with men, age 26 to 39 years, and reporting no testing history.

Conclusions

High HIV incidence and new diagnoses being associated with reporting no testing history points to undiagnosed HIV driving transmissions in Myanmar. Repeat testing was uncommon. HIV programs in Myanmar must focus on promoting frequent HIV testing alongside adequate coverage of education and primary prevention interventions among MSM and TW.
Tyrosine hydroxylase deficiency—Clinical insights and a novel deletion in TH gene in an Indian patient
Authors: Bijarnia‐Mahay Sunita , Jain Vivek , Thöny Beat
Published: February 2020

Tyrosine hydroxylase deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive, treatable disorder of neurotransmission. Fewer than 100 cases have been reported so far. We present a case of a 10‐month‐old infant who was symptomatic since 5 months of age and who received an initial diagnosis of infantile tremor syndrome. She presented with rest tremor, decreased facial expression, global hypokinesia, and later on with oculogyric crisis and dystonia. This diagnosis was revised after confirmation of tyrosine hydroxylase deficiency by CSF neurotransmitter analysis. Genetic studies revealed one previously reported missense variant, p.Thr399Met, and another large deletion starting upstream of exon 1 and encompassing exon 1. She was started on treatment with escalating doses of L‐Dopa/Carbidopa, with folinic acid supplementation. At 3.5 years of age, her cognitive functioning and development is appropriate for age. There is complete subsidence of dystonia and oculogyric episodes. She has occasional chorieform movements which appear to be drug related.
MRI of Bladder Cancer: Local and Nodal Staging
Authors: Caglic Iztok , Panebianco Valeria , Vargas Hebert A. , Bura Vlad , Woo Sungmin , Pecoraro Martina , Cipollari Stefano , Sala Evis , Barrett Tristan
Published: February 2020

Accurate staging of bladder cancer (BC) is critical, with local tumor staging directly influencing management decisions and affecting prognosis. However, clinical staging based on clinical examination, including cystoscopy and transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT), often understages patients compared to final pathology at radical cystectomy and lymph node (LN) dissection, mainly due to underestimation of the depth of local invasion and the presence of LN metastasis. MRI has now become established as the modality of choice for the local staging of BC and can be additionally utilized for the assessment of regional LN involvement and tumor spread to the pelvic bones and upper urinary tract (UUT). The recent development of the Vesical Imaging‐Reporting and Data System (VI‐RADS) recommendations has led to further improvements in bladder MRI, enabling standardization of image acquisition and reporting. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) incorporating morphological and functional imaging has been proven to further improve the accuracy of primary and recurrent tumor detection and local staging, and has shown promise in predicting tumor aggressiveness and monitoring response to therapy. These sequences can also be utilized to perform radiomics, which has shown encouraging initial results in predicting BC grade and local stage. In this article, the current state of evidence supporting MRI in local, regional, and distant staging in patients with BC is reviewed.

Level of Evidence

3

Technical Efficacy Stage

2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:649–667.
Preoperative MRI‐Based Radiomic Machine‐Learning Nomogram May Accurately Distinguish Between Benign and Malignant Soft‐Tissue Lesions: A Two‐Center Study
Authors: Wang Hexiang , Zhang Jian , Bao Shan , Liu Jingwei , Hou Feng , Huang Yonghua , Chen Haisong , Duan Shaofeng , Hao Dapeng , Liu Jihua
Published: February 2020

Background

Preoperative differentiation between malignant and benign soft‐tissue masses is important for treatment decisions.

Purpose/Hypothesis

To construct/validate a radiomics‐based machine method for differentiation between malignant and benign soft‐tissue masses.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

In all, 206 cases.

Field Strength/Sequence

The T1 sequence was acquired with the following range of parameters: relaxation time / echo time (TR/TE), 352–550/2.75–19 msec. The T2 sequence was acquired with the following parameters: TR/TE, 700–6370/40–120 msec. The data were divided into a 3.0T training cohort, a 1.5T MR validation cohort, and a 3.0T external validationcohort.

Assessment

Twelve machine‐learning methods were trained to establish classification models to predict the likelihood of malignancy of each lesion. The data of 206 cases were separated into a training set (n = 69) and two validation sets (n = 64, 73, respectively).

Statistical Tests

1) Demographic characteristics: a one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was performed for continuous variables as appropriate. The χ2 test or Fisher's exact test was performed for comparing categorical variables as appropriate. 2) The performance of four feature selection methods (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator [LASSO], Boruta, Recursive feature elimination [RFE, and minimum redundancy maximum relevance [mRMR]) and three classifiers (support vector machine [SVM], generalized linear models [GLM], and random forest [RF]) were compared for selecting the likelihood of malignancy of each lesion. The performance of the radiomics model was assessed using area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve (AUC) and accuracy (ACC) values.

Results

The LASSO feature method + RF classifier achieved the highest AUC of 0.86 and 0.82 in the two validation cohorts. The nomogram achieved AUCs of 0.96 and 0.88, respectively, in the two validation sets, which was higher than that of the radiomic algorithm in the two validation sets and clinical model of the validation 1 set (0.92, 0.88 respectively). The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the radiomics nomogram were 90.5%, 100%, and 80.6%, respectively, for validation set 1; and 80.8%, 75.8%, and 85.0% for validation set 2.

Data Conclusion

A machine‐learning nomogram based on radiomics was accurate for distinguishing between malignant and benign soft‐tissue masses.

Evidence Level

3

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:873–882.
Methods for estimating between‐study variance and overall effect in meta‐analysis of odds ratios
Authors: Bakbergenuly Ilyas , Hoaglin David C. , Kulinskaya Elena
Published: February 2020

In random‐effects meta‐analysis the between‐study variance (
τ2) has a key role in assessing heterogeneity of study‐level estimates and combining them to estimate an overall effect. For odds ratios the most common methods suffer from bias in estimating
τ2 and the overall effect and produce confidence intervals with below‐nominal coverage. An improved approximation to the moments of Cochran's Q statistic, suggested by Kulinskaya and Dollinger (KD), yields new point and interval estimators of
τ2 and of the overall log‐odds‐ratio. Another, simpler approach (SSW) uses weights based only on study‐level sample sizes to estimate the overall effect. In extensive simulations we compare our proposed estimators with established point and interval estimators for
τ2 and point and interval estimators for the overall log‐odds‐ratio (including the Hartung‐Knapp‐Sidik‐Jonkman interval). Additional simulations included three estimators based on generalized linear mixed models and the Mantel‐Haenszel fixed‐effect estimator. Results of our simulations show that no single point estimator of
τ2 can be recommended exclusively, but Mandel‐Paule and KD provide better choices for small and large numbers of studies, respectively. The KD estimator provides reliable coverage of
τ2. Inverse‐variance‐weighted estimators of the overall effect are substantially biased, as are the Mantel‐Haenszel odds ratio and the estimators from the generalized linear mixed models. The SSW estimator of the overall effect and a related confidence interval provide reliable point and interval estimation of the overall log‐odds‐ratio.
Hydrological consequences of natural rubber plantations in Southeast Asia
Authors: Chiarelli Davide D. , Passera Corrado , Rulli Maria Cristina , Rosa Lorenzo , Ciraolo Giuseppe , D'Odorico Paolo
Published: February 2020

Since the turn of the century, rubber plantations have been expanding their footprint across Southeast Asia in response to an increasing global demand for rubber products. Between 2000 and 2014, the area cultivated with rubber more than doubled. It is not clear how this major change in the agricultural landscape of Southeast Asia, the main area of rubber production in the world, is affecting land‐use patterns and water resources in the region. Here we use maps of rubber plantations and other croplands in conjunction with a hydrological model and remote sensing analyses to assess land‐use patterns and water resources affected by natural rubber plantations. Results show water requirements of rubber trees are comparable to those of forests but by far exceed those of the other predominant crops and shrubland vegetation with the effect of potentially increasing water scarcity when rubber plantations replace these crops. The expansion of rubber plantations accounts for a 38 km3/yr increase in green water consumption, thereby exacerbating the monthly water scarcity, with an additional 2.4 million people and more than 0.6 Mha facing water scarcity in the driest months as a result of the increase in rubber production. Monthly runoff substantially decreases (by up to 25%) in 14% of the basins where rubber was planted. These results highlight the existence of major land use and hydrological impacts of agricultural development in Southeast Asia that affect the local environment and rural communities, calling for a more sustainable management of the limited land and water resources.
Increasing periods after seeding under twice‐annually harvested alfalfa reduces soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in a semiarid environment
Authors: Wang Wei , Cheng Zheng‐Guo , Li Meng‐Ying , Wang Bao‐Zhong , Li Ji‐Yuan , Wang Wei , Su Yong‐Zhong , Batool Asfa , Xiong You‐Cai
Published: February 2020

It is unclear how multi‐year planting of alfalfa affects soil carbon and nitrogen stocks. We investigated alfalfa fields which had been seeded at the start of the first year and then harvested twice a year for 2, 5,8, 10 and 20 years (wheat field, CK) in the semiarid Loess Plateau. In general, soil water storage tended to drop from the second to eighth year and then tended to increase in the tenth and twentieth years, displaying a V‐shaped curve. Compared with CK, soil organic carbon (SOC) under alfalfa was significantly improved at the second year. It started to decrease to the lowest level at the eighth year, and then recovered to increasing at the tenth and twentieth years. Interestingly, soil C/N ratio, microbial biomass carbon, easily oxidizable organic carbon, and high fraction organic carbon followed a similar trend as SOC did, falling to lows in the eighth year, that is, 8.28 and 18.1 mg kg−1and 1.91 and 10.2 g kg−1,respectively. Notably, light fraction organic carbon and particulate organic carbon increased up to their highest values in the eighth year (1.78 and 2.81 g kg−1). Moreover, soil NH4+‐N, NO3−‐N, and microbial biomass nitrogen fell, following a similar dynamic as SOC. It can be argued that soil C and N sequestration be were weakened in successive planting years due to enhanced mineralization rates of C and N pools. The possible mechanism causing such phenomenon is also discussed. Multi‐year planting of alfalfa reduced the soil C and N stocks; therefore, alfalfa fields should be replanted in successive years only for an optimum number of years of planting.
Longterm Survival After Liver Transplantation for Autoimmune Hepatitis: Results From the European Liver Transplant Registry
Authors: Heinemann Melina , Adam Rene , Berenguer Marina , Mirza Darius , Malek‐Hosseini Seyed Ali , O’Grady John G. , Lodge Peter , Pratschke Johann , Boudjema Karim , Paul Andreas , Zieniewicz Krzysztof , Fronek Jiri , Weiss Karl Heinz , Karam Vincent , Duvoux Christophe , Lohse Ansgar , Schramm Christoph ,   all the other contributing centers (www.eltr.org) and the European Liver and Intestine Transplant Association (ELITA)
Published: February 2020

The aim of this study was to analyze longterm patient and graft survival after liver transplantation for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH‐LT) from the prospective multicenter European Liver Transplant Registry. Patient and liver graft survival between 1998 and 2017 were analyzed. Patients after AIH‐LT (n = 2515) were compared with patients receiving LT for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC‐LT; n = 3733), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC‐LT; n = 5155), and alcohol‐related cirrhosis (AC‐LT; n = 19,567). After AIH‐LT, patient survival was 79.4%, 70.8%, and 60.3% and graft survival was 73.2%, 63.4%, and 50.9% after 5, 10, and 15 years of follow‐up. Overall patient survival was similar to patients after AC‐LT (P = 0.44), but worse than after PBC‐LT (hazard ratio [HR], 1.48; P < 0.001) and PSC‐LT (HR, 1.19; P = 0.002). AIH‐LT patients were at increased risk for death (HR, 1.37‐1.84; P < 0.001) and graft loss (HR, 1.35‐1.80; P < 0.001) from infections compared with all other groups and had a particularly increased risk for lethal fungal infections (HR, 3.38‐4.20; P ≤ 0.004). Excluding patients who died within 90 days after LT, risk of death after AIH‐LT was superior compared with AC‐LT (HR, 0.84; P = 0.004), worse compared with PBC‐LT (HR, 1.38; P < 0.001) and similar compared with PSC‐LT (P = 0.93). Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) patients with living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) showed reduced survival compared with patients receiving donation after brain death (HR, 1.96; P < 0.001). In AIH‐LT patients, overall survival is inferior to PBC‐LT and PSC‐LT. The high risk of death after AIH‐LT is caused mainly by early fatal infections, including fungal infections. Patients with LDLT for AIH show reduced survival.
A novel way to synthesize pantothenate in bacteria involves β‐alanine synthase present in uracil degradation pathway
Authors: López‐Sámano Mariana , Beltrán Luis Fernando Lozano‐Aguirre , Sánchez‐Thomas Rosina , Dávalos Araceli , Villaseñor Tomás , García‐García Jorge Donato , García‐de los Santos Alejandro
Published: February 2020

Pantothenate is an indispensable vitamin precursor of the synthesis of coenzyme A (CoA), a key metabolite required in over 100 metabolic reactions. β‐Alanine (β‐ala) is an indispensable component of pantothenate. Due to the metabolic relevance of this pathway, we assumed that orthologous genes for ß‐alanine synthesis would be present in the genomes of bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes. However, comparative genomic studies revealed that orthologous gene replacement and loss of synteny occur at high frequency in panD genes. We have previously reported the atypical plasmid‐encoded location of the pantothenate pathway genes panC and panB (two copies) in R. etli CFN42. This study also revealed the unexpected absence of a panD gene encoding the aspartate decarboxylase enzyme (ADC), required for the synthesis of β‐ala. The aim of this study was to identify the source of β‐alanine in Rhizobium etli CFN42. In this study, we present a bioinformatic analysis and an experimental validation demonstrating that the source of β‐ala in this R. etli comes from β‐alanine synthase, the last enzyme of the uracil degradation pathway.
Phytoplankton‐derived zwitterionic gonyol and dimethylsulfonioacetate interfere with microbial dimethylsulfoniopropionate sulfur cycling
Authors: Gebser Björn , Thume Kathleen , Steinke Michael , Pohnert Georg
Published: February 2020

The marine sulfur cycle is substantially fueled by the phytoplankton osmolyte dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP). This metabolite can be metabolized by bacteria, which results in the emission of the volatile sulfur species methanethiol (MeSH) and the climate‐cooling dimethylsulfide (DMS). It is generally accepted that bacteria contribute significantly to DMSP turnover. We show that the other low molecular weight zwitterionic dimethylsulfonio compounds dimethylsulfonioacetate (DMSA) and gonyol are also widely distributed in phytoplankton and can serve as alternative substrates for volatile production. DMSA was found in 11 of the 16 surveyed phytoplankton species, and gonyol was detected in all haptophytes and dinoflagellates. These prevalent zwitterions are also metabolized by marine bacteria. The patterns of bacterial MeSH and DMS release were dependent on the zwitterions present. Certain bacteria metabolize DMSA and gonyol and release MeSH, in others gonyol inhibited DMS‐producing enzymes. If added in addition to DMSP, gonyol entirely inhibited the formation of volatiles in Ruegeria pomeroyi. In contrast, no substantial effect of this compound was observed in the DMSP metabolism of Halomonas sp. We argue that the production of DMSA and gonyol and their inhibitory properties on the release of volatiles from DMSP has the potential to modulate planktonic sulfur cycling between species.
Rationally designed chimeric solid‐binding peptides for tailoring solid interfaces
Authors: Yucesoy Deniz T. , Khatayevich Dimitry , Tamerler Candan , Sarikaya Mehmet
Published: February 2020

Joining biology with materials science requires the ability to design, engineer and control biology/solid‐state materials interfaces at the molecular level. The specific molecular interactions that take place among biomolecules, known as molecular recognition, enable all aspects of molecular processes in living systems prerequisite to the biological functions. Having the ability to establish specific biological interactions between the solid materials and biological constituents is essential for precise design of biologically viable soft interfaces that are molecularly tailored at solid surfaces. Solid‐binding peptides offer excellent opportunities in surface biofunctionalization over the traditionally utilized chemical approaches which generally make use of covalent bonds for surface molecular attachments with limited flexibility. Solid‐binding peptides are selected using directed evolution techniques using genotype to phenotype relationships and therefore referred also as genetically engineered peptides for inorganics (GEPI) and exclusively bind to solid materials using molecular recognition. Here, the peptide has weak interactions at multiple contact points that are established between the biomolecule and the solid lattice, and then folds into a conformation coherent with the underlying solid lattice through self‐organization on the surface. Solid‐binding peptides provide an unprecedented biological advantage as modular building blocks to couple biological and synthetic entities at the bio–solid interfaces. Taking full advantage of biology's versatility, they can easily be engineered to form chimeric molecules with inherent multifunctionality displaying biofunctional molecular entities, such as enzymes, co‐factors, antimicrobial peptides, antibodies, nucleic acids and molecular probes that target biomarkers. This minireview provides an insight into the key principles of solid‐binding peptides for advancing surfaces biofunctionalization by a selected set of examples on chimeric functions built upon linking, displaying and assembling functional molecular moieties at solid surfaces ranging from enzymatic biocatalysis to antimicrobial coatings. Modular multifunctional peptide design offers to tune molecular processes with coupled biological functions for a wide variety of applications in biotechnology, nanotechnology and medicine.
Surface modification of TiO2 for photoelectrochemical DNA biosensors
Authors: Sakib Sadman , Pandey Richa , Soleymani Leyla , Zhitomirsky Igor
Published: February 2020

A photoelectrochemical (PEC) DNA biosensor is developed using surface‐modified TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) as a sensitive transducer. Different catecholates and gallates are used as sensitizers for TiO2 NPs. The molecules are adsorbed on TiO2 via the catecholate type bonding mechanism to enhance light absorption in the visible range. The adsorbed molecules act as charge transfer mediators and enhance photocurrent. Despite the similar bonding mechanism of the molecules, the TiO2 NPs exhibit significant differences in photocurrent. The modified TiO2 films showed photocurrent increase in the order: 3,4‐dihydroxy‐L‐phenylalanine < 2,3,4‐trihydroxybenzoic acid < 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acid < 2,3,4‐trihydroxybenzaldehyde < 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid < 3,4‐dihydroxybenzaldehyde < caffeic acid. Testing results provide an insight into the influence of the structure and properties of the organic molecules on their adsorption and photocurrents of modified TiO2 films. The TiO2 NPs modified with caffeic acid are used for the fabrication of PEC DNA biosensor by forming photoelectrodes and immobilizing probe single‐stranded DNA on their surface. The caffeic acid‐modified TiO2‐based photoelectrodes offer the required signal magnitude to distinguish between complementary and non‐complementary DNA sequences in the 100 nM–1 pM DNA concentration range and with a limit of detection of 1.38 pM, paving the way towards PEC DNA sensing.
Targeting the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) in type 1 diabetes
Authors: Le Bagge Selena , Fotheringham Amelia K. , Leung Sherman S. , Forbes Josephine M.
Published: February 2020

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is one of the most common chronic diseases manifesting in early life, with the prevalence increasing worldwide at a rate of approximately 3% per annum. The prolonged hyperglycaemia characteristic of T1D upregulates the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and accelerates the formation of RAGE ligands, including advanced glycation end products, high‐mobility group protein B1, S100 calcium‐binding proteins, and amyloid‐beta. Interestingly, changes in the expression of RAGE and these ligands are evident in patients before the onset of T1D. RAGE signals via various proinflammatory cascades, resulting in the production of reactive oxygen species and cytokines. A large number of proinflammatory ligands that can signal via RAGE have been implicated in several chronic diseases, including T1D. Therefore, it is unsurprising that RAGE has become a potential therapeutic target for the treatment and prevention of disease. In this review, we will explore how RAGE might be targeted to prevent the development of T1D.
Hormonal Dysregulation and Unbalanced Specialized Pro‐Resolving Mediator Biosynthesis Contribute toward Impaired B Cell Outcomes in Obesity
Authors: Crouch Miranda , Al‐Shaer Abrar , Shaikh Saame Raza
Published: February 2020

Diet‐induced obesity is associated with impaired B‐cell‐driven humoral immunity, which coincides with chronic inflammation and has consequences for responses to infections and vaccinations. Key nutritional, cellular, and molecular mechanisms by which obesity may impair aspects of humoral immunity such as B cell development, class switch recombination, and formation of long‐lived antibody secreting cells are reviewed. A key theme to emerge is the central role of white adipose tissue on the formation and function of pro‐inflammatory B cell subsets that exacerbate insulin resistance. The underlying role of select hormones such as leptin is highlighted, which may be driving the formation of pro‐inflammatory B cells in the absence of antigen stimulation. This review also extensively covers the regulatory role of lipid metabolites such as prostaglandins and specialized pro‐resolving mediators (SPMs) that are synthesized from polyunsaturated fatty acids. Notably, SPM biosynthesis is impaired in obesity and contributes toward impaired antibody production. Future directions for research, including avenues for therapeutic intervention, are included.
A compact triple‐mode bandpass filter based on isosceles right‐angled triangular resonator
Authors: Zhang Qiao , Chen Chang , Ji Qin , Chen Weidong , Zhang Hualiang
Published: February 2020

In this letter, a triple‐mode bandpass filter based on isosceles right‐angled triangular (RAT) resonator with three magnetic walls is proposed. To realize the triple‐mode filter, the RAT resonator is perturbed by two metalized via‐holes around the center. These via‐holes form an LC resonant unit with the patch. Also, the via‐holes make mode shifting of the TM010Z mode while not affecting the TM110Z mode in order to form the passband. The proposed filter is fabricated and measured. The center frequency is 5.51 GHz and the fractional bandwidth is 20%. The minimum in‐band insertion loss and return loss are measured to be 1.26 dB and 20.5 dB. The measurement results show that the filter has featured both compact size and excellent in‐band responses.
Rapamycin preserves the primordial follicle pool during cisplatin treatment in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Xie Yanqiu , Li Song , Zhou Linyan , Lin Haiyan , Jiao Xuedan , Qiu Qi , Liang Yihua , Zhang Qingxue
Published: February 2020

Rapamycin has been proven to effectively inhibit the activation of primordial follicles while cisplatin‐induced the loss of primordial follicles due to the over‐activation of the primordial follicle stockpile. Whether rapamycin could inhibit the loss of primordial follicles induced by cisplatin is still unknown. The ovaries of neonatal Sprague Dawley rats were cultured in vitro in different doses of rapamycin (0.08, 0.16, and 0.32 μg/ml) and cisplatin (0.1, 0.4, and 0.8 μg/ml). The immature BALB/c mice were administered cisplatin with or without rapamycin by intraperitoneal injection. Ovaries were collected to analyze the histomorphology, the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of anti‐Mullerian hormone (AMH), growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9), and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and the expression of key proteins of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. Growing follicle counts of ovaries cultured in vitro in the R0.16 and R0.32 groups were decreased and the ratio of growing to primordial follicles was also decreased in a dose‐dependent manner. In the C0.8 group, growing follicles were decreased compared with the other groups while the ratio was substantially increased in the C0.4 and C0.8 group. Co‐treatment attenuated primordial follicle loss and reduced the upregulated ratio induced by cisplatin. Ovarian follicle dynamics in vivo was consistent with the in vitro results. Primordial follicles counts were statistically increased and the ratio was reduced in the rapamycin group compared with the control group. Primordial follicle counts were dramatically reduced in the cisplatin group whereas co‐treatment with rapamycin slightly recovered its counts. There was no obvious difference in the number of growing follicles between the cisplatin group and other groups. The ratio was significantly increased in cisplatin‐treated mice whereas decreased in the co‐treatment group. The apoptosis rate of antral follicles in cisplatin‐treated mice was higher than the other groups while the apoptosis rate was decreased in the co‐treatment group in vivo. Compared with the control and rapamycin group, the mRNA expression of AMH, GDF9, and BMP15 were downregulated in the cisplatin group. The co‐treatment group recovered the mRNA expression of BMP15. In addition, the expression of key protein of mTOR pathway rpS6 and its phosphorylated forms were increased in the cisplatin‐treated group while co‐treatment decreased their expression. Rapamycin attenuated the loss of primordial follicles induced by cisplatin through the inhibitory effect of rapamycin on the mTOR pathway. These results suggest that rapamycin may be an effective drug for the protection of ovarian function during chemotherapy.
Reaktion in der Nadel
Authors: Kuhlmann Christopher
Published: March 2020

Aminosäuren werden in der Pharma‐ oder Lebensmittelindustrie oft mit HPLC getrennt und über Fluoreszenz detektiert. Mit einer neue Methode lässt sich die bisher manuelle Vorsäulenderivatisierung automatisieren.
Comprehensively improved mechanical properties of silane crosslinked polypropylene/ethylene propylene diene monomer elastomer blends
Authors: Peng Hui , Lu Min , Wang Hao , Zhang Zhongzhou , Lv Fucheng , Niu Mingjun , Wang Wanjie
Published: February 2020

The properties and structure of silane crosslinked polypropylene (PP)/ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) elastomer blends had been carried out. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gel content tests were employed to evaluate the crosslinking reaction of PP/EPDM blends. Crosslinking efficiency of PP/EPDM blends was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimeter, dynamic mechanical analysis, dynamic rheology, and tensile testing. Tanδcurves of silane crosslinked PP/EPDM blends exhibited an obvious “gel point” originated from the formation of dynamic crosslinking network. The blend corresponding to the “gel point” presented comprehensively improved mechanical properties. These results demonstrated that characteristic rheological parameters showed close correlations with key mechanical properties of silane crosslinked PP/EPDM blends. Scanning electron microscopy images illustrated that crosslinking had remarkably changed the morphologies of PP/EPDM blends. The large deformation mechanism of these blends had been suggested.
Surface modification of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) films via environmental crazing
Authors: Yarysheva Alena , Strel'tsov Dmitry , Malakhov Sergey , Arzhakova Olga , Yarysheva Larisa , Volynskii Alexandr
Published: February 2020

This work addresses the phenomenon of the development of a patterned surface relief on polymer films via different modes of environmental crazing. Commercial films of semicrystalline poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) and amorphous glassy poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were subjected to tensile drawing in the presence of physically active liquid environments (carbon tetrachloride or aliphatic alcohols). The structure parameters and wettability of the modified films were studied by AFM, SEM, profilometer measurements and contact angle measurements. Environmental intercrystallite crazing of PTFE is accompanied by the development of an unstable structure with a high free surface, which experiences marked strain recovery upon unloading. As a result of the relief formation, PTFE hydrophobicity is enhanced (the water contact angle increases by 25°). Classical environmental crazing of PET films is accompanied by the formation of an anisotropic surface relief which is an assembly of crazes oriented perpendicular to the direction of tensile drawing, thus leading to the phenomenon of anisotropic wetting. The proposed approach for structural surface modification makes it possible to use the advantages of surface instability and spontaneous self‐organization of the polymer towards the development of a unique surface microrelief. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Optimal clutch size for quality control of bisexual and Wolbachia‐infected thelytokous lines of Trichogramma dendrolimi Matsumura (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) mass reared on eggs of a substitutive host, Antheraea pernyi Guérin‐Méneville (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)
Authors: Zhou Jin‐Cheng , Liu Quan‐Quan , Wang Qian‐Ru , Ning Su‐Fang , Che Wu‐Nan , Dong Hui
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

Trichogramma dendrolimi has been widely used in augmentative biocontrol of lepidopteran pests in China. In mass production of T. dendrolimi using Antheraea pernyi eggs as substitutive hosts, which are large in size, as clutch size is a parameter of importance to produce high quality parasitoids. Here, we aimed to determine the optimal clutch size for the bisexual Wolbachia‐uninfected line (TdB) and Wolbachia‐infected thelytokous line (TdT) of T. dendrolimi reared on A. pernyi eggs.

RESULTS

A medium clutch size of 42.75 to 62.27 for TdB and 52.93 to 57.14 for TdT was optimal to maximize fitness‐correlated traits of parasitoid individual. The optimal clutch sizes with maximized parameters included adult emergence rate, adult body size, adult longevity, fecundity, and sum of fecundity of all females per brood were 58.31 (86.00%), 42.75 (231.11 μm), 50.92 (2.69 days), 62.27 (150.89 eggs), and 83.25 (7926.33 eggs) for TdB and 57.14 (94.54%), 52.93 (236.97 μm), 53.64 (2.62 days), 56.80 (161.01 eggs), and 70.10 (8579.71 eggs) for TdT. The TdT had a shorter adult longevity, longer development time, and higher adult emergence rate than did its non‐infected bisexual counterpart.

CONCLUSION

A medium brood size in a A. pernyi egg host was optimal to produce offspring parasitoids with higher fitness parameters for both bisexual Wolbachia‐uninfected and thelytokous Wolbachia‐infected lines of T. dendrolimi. The determination of optimal clutch size for T. dendrolimi will provide the reference for the quality control of T. dendrolimi production and improvement of the field performance of the wasps. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
The analysis of commercially available natural products recommended for use in electronic cigarettes
Authors: Peace Michelle R. , Smith Mika E. , Poklis Justin L.
Published: February 2020

Rationale

Natural plant products have been used to promote health, prevent sickness, and treat various ailments. These products often consist of leaves, flowers, bark, roots, seeds, and/or other parts of the plant. Many of the pharmacologically active constituents of these products are known, but the pharmacology of these constituents may not be fully elucidated. Natural plant‐based products are also available in various forms other than the raw plant material. A wide array of commercial products such as capsules, powders, extracts, and electronic cigarette (e‐cigarette) electronic liquids (e‐liquids) are readily available and can be purchased from various outlets, both store‐based retailers and online. Newer e‐cigarettes are often advertised as “heat not burn” and are used for “vaping” various forms of extracts including “waxes” and “dabs” and raw plant material.

Methods

A single manufacturer was found online selling “24 different herbs” in powders, extracts, or e‐liquids. These were advertised as “legal in the USA” and each product listed multiple effects. Eight e‐liquids, six extracts (resins), and four powders from eight different “herbs,” namely African dream, areca nut, blue lotus, damiana, kra thum na, kra thum kok, klip dagga, and wild lettuce, were purchased. An advertisement for these products stated, “Most people use the leaves, powder or resin in vaporizers.” Direct analysis in real time AccuTOF™ mass spectrometry (DART‐MS) was used to identify the psychoactive components in the natural products.

Results

The psychoactive compounds that were identified in only two of the eight e‐liquids, three of the five resins, and three of the four powders were arecaidine, arecoline, coumarin, entadamide, mitragynine, 7‐hydroxymitragynine, and nuciferine.

Conclusions

Psychoactive and potentially harmful substances were present in the powders and resins of the natural products. The newer types of e‐cigarettes made for consuming natural products may increase their abuse potential.
Preliminary clinical application of the robot‐assisted CT‐guided irreversible electroporation ablation for the treatment of pancreatic head carcinoma
Authors: He Xiao F. , Xiao Yue Y. , Zhang Xiao , Zhang Xiao B. , Zhang Xin , Wei Ying T. , Zhang Zhong L. , Wiggermann Philipp
Published: February 2020

Background

To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a robot‐guided irreversible electroporation (IRE) ablation system for the treatment of pancreatic head carcinoma.

Methods

A total of 20 cases with pancreatic head carcinoma were divided into two groups: 11 cases in group A with manual probe placement and 9 cases in group B with robotic navigated probe placement. The two groups were compared in terms of planning time before puncture, puncture time, the total time of electrode deployment, number of scans, and punctual accuracy of the single electrode.

Results

Each probe was successfully punctured, and no complications were detected. P‐values were calculated for all the parameters, using the SPSS 25.0 software and the t test.

Conclusions

The new robot can reduce the total operating time as compared to the manual probe placement with the same accuracy in the IRE of pancreatic head carcinoma.
Effect of the OSA Esterification of Oxalis tuberosa Starch on the Physicochemical, Molecular, and Emulsification Properties
Authors: Velásquez‐Barreto Frank F. , Bello‐Pérez Luis A. , Yee‐Madeira Hernani , Alvarez‐Ramirez Jose , Velezmoro‐Sánchez Carmen E.
Published: February 2020

This work studies the physicochemical, molecular, and emulsification properties of Oxalis tuberosa (oca) starch modified with octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA). Freshly harvested oca tubers are washed and selected, and starch is extracted by tuber size reductions and successive washes. Modifications are performed with OSA for 6 h at pH 8.5–9. Mean particle size increases, while temperature and enthalpy of gelatinization decrease with OSA modification. In addition, peak, breakdown, and final viscosities increase as caused by partial disorganization of starch components during chemical modifications, an effect that is exhibited by variations of X‐ray diffraction type and crystallinity. Oca‐OSA starch produces pastes with pseudoplastic behavior and emulsions with higher emulsification properties in comparison with the native starch. These results indicate that esterification of oca starch with OSA can be used to produce starches with desired physicochemical and emulsification properties.
Nomenclatural anomalies among Kunth's Rubiaceae
Authors: Kirkbride Joseph H. , Wiersema John H.
Published: February 2020

Humboldt and Bonpland made one of the most important early expeditions yielding plant collections from Latin America. Carl Sigismund Kunth prepared the Nova genera et species plantarum for their magnificent Voyage aux régions équinoctiales du Nouveau Continent, fait en 1799–1804. At almost the same time, Roemer and Schultes were publishing the 16th edition of Linnaeus's Systema vegetabilium. Many Latin American species were treated in both publications under different names. In most cases, Kunth's names have priority over those published in Roemer and Schultes, but there are exceptions. Six rubiaceous names of Kunth are illegitimate because he cited prior valid names as synonyms: Declieuxia chiococcoides, Hedyotis cervantesii, Hedyotis hypnoides, Spermacoce distans, Spermacoce diversifolia (≡ Crusea simplex, comb. nov.), and Spermacoce tenella, and one, Macrocnemum tinctorium, because it is a later homonym. Many botanists have treated these names as available or improperly typified them; all are illegitimate and not to be used, and their typification is resolved.
Do Local Government Units in the Philippines Procure Medicines According to a Set Benchmark Price?
Authors: Cheng Kent Jason , Rivera Adovich , General Jojana Christine , Asence‐Mamporte Amelyn , Ulitin Allan , Miguel Red Thaddeus , Guerrero Anna Melissa , Florentino‐Fariñas Irene , Sison Karina , Lam Hilton
Published: February 2020

This retrospective study aimed to assess whether Philippine local government units (LGUs) procure drugs within official benchmark prices set by the Department of Health (DOH) called the Drug Price Reference Index (DPRI). Drug procurement price data found in the purchase orders or obligation requests of 35 purposively selected LGUs and LGU‐owned and ‐operated hospitals were collected. A Laspeyres index was used to measure the percent difference of the total drug expenditure when the quantities procured were priced at DPRI prices instead of supplier prices. Indices higher (lower) than 1 would indicate that drugs bought were more expensive (cheaper) than the DPRI prices. Results show that out of the 10 study sites, 8 were found to be deviant from the DPRI and indices ranged from 0.35 to 212.70, which implies that majority of LGUs are not compliant with the benchmark. The DOH already has a policy that enforces the adherence of DPRI among LGUs in place, but the policy has yet to be properly implemented. Monitoring may be done through computing the Laspeyres index described in this study. Monitoring can be delegated to DOH Regional offices to de‐load the DOH Central Office.
UV constraints on massive spinning particles: lessons from the gravitino
Authors: Melville Scott , Roest Diederik , Stefanyszyn David
Published: February 2020

Abstract

Self-interacting massive particles with spin ≥ 1 unavoidably violate unitarity; the question is at what scale. For spin-1 the strong coupling scale (at which perturbative unitarity is lost) cannot be raised by any finite tuning of the interactions, while for spin-2 there exists a special tuning of the Wilson coefficients which can raise this scale (and enjoys numerous special properties such as ghost-freedom). Here, we fill in the missing piece by describing how the self-interactions of a massive spin-3/2 field, or “massive gravitino”, become strongly coupled at high energies. We show that while several different structures appear in the leading order potential, the strong coupling scale cannot be raised (in the absence of additional fields). At the level of the off-shell Lagrangian, it is always the non- linear symmetries of the longitudinal Stückelberg mode that dictate the strong coupling, and we show that in general it is only possible to parametrically raise the strong coupling scale if Wess-Zumino structures exist for these symmetries. We complement this off-shell approach with a first analysis of positivity bounds for a massive spin-3/2 particle, showing that any potential self-interaction which contributes to an on-shell 2-to-2 elastic process at tree level must vanish if this low-energy theory is to have a standard UV completion. We identify the mixing between the longitudinal mode and the transverse modes as the main obstacle to positivity, and clarify how the non-Abelian nature of non-linear (dRGT) massive gravity allows it to satisfy positivity where all known spin ≥ 3/2 Abelian theories fail. Our results imply that a massive gravitino cannot appear alone in a controlled EFT — it must be accompanied by other particles, e.g. as part of a supermultiplet. Together with the spin-1 and spin-2 cases, we suggest features which will persist in even higher spin massive theories.
Gauge-invariant spectral description of the U (1) Higgs model from local composite operators
Authors: Dudal D. , van Egmond D.M. , Guimarães M.S. , Holanda O. , Palhares L.F. , Peruzzo G. , Sorella S.P.
Published: February 2020

Abstract

The spectral properties of a set of local gauge-invariant composite operators are investigated in the U(1) Higgs model quantized in the ’t Hooft Rξ gauge. These operators enable us to give a gauge-invariant description of the spectrum of the theory, thereby surpassing certain incommodities when using the standard elementary fields. The corresponding two-point correlation functions are evaluated at one-loop order and their spectral functions are obtained explicitly. As expected, the above mentioned correlation functions are independent from the gauge parameter ξ, while exhibiting positive spectral densities as well as gauge-invariant pole masses corresponding to the massive photon and Higgs physical excitations.