bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of key genes involved in the biosynthesis of triterpenic acids in the mint family
Authors: Aminfar Zahra , Rabiei Babak , Tohidfar Masoud , Mirjalili Mohammad Hossein
Published: November 2019

Triterpenic acids (TAs), a large group of natural compounds with diverse biological activity, are produced by several plant taxa. Betulinic, oleanolic, and ursolic acids are the most medicinally important TAs and are mainly found in plants of the mint family. Metabolic engineering is strongly dependent on identifying the key genes in biosynthetic pathways toward the products of interest. In this study, gene expression tracking was performed by transcriptome mining, co-expression network analysis, and tissue-specific metabolite-expression analysis in order to identify possible key genes involved in TAs biosynthetic pathways. To this end, taxa-specific degenerate primers of six important genes were designed using an effective method based on the MEME algorithm in a phylogenetically related group of sequences and successfully applied in three members of the Lamiaceae (Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia officinalis, and Thymus persicus). Based on the results of in-depth data analysis, genes encoding squalene epoxidase and oxido squalene cyclases are proposed as targets for boosting triterpene production. The results emphasize the importance of identifying key genes in triterpene biosynthesis, which may facilitate genetic manipulation or overexpression of target genes.
Laparoscopic Resection of Residual Retroperitoneal Tumor Mass in Advanced Nonseminomatous Testicular Germ Cell Tumors; a Feasible and Safe Oncological Procedure
Authors: Öztürk Çiğdem , Been Lukas B. , van Ginkel Robert J. , Gietema Jourik A. , Hoekstra Harald J.
Published: November 2019

Ten-year oncological experience of the University Medical Center Groningen with conventional laparotomy (C-RRRTM) and laparoscopy (L-RRRTM) is described concerning resection of residual retroperitoneal tumor masses (RRTM) in a large series of patients with advanced nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors (NSTGCT). 150 consecutive patients with disseminated NSTGCT required adjunctive surgery after combination chemotherapy. L-RRRTM was scheduled in 89 and C-RRRTM in 61 patients. Median residual tumor diameter was 20 mm in the L-RRRTM versus 42 mm in the C-RRRTM group (p < 0.001). Conversion rate was 15% in the L-RRRTM group. Perioperative complications occurred in 5 patients (6%) in the L-RRRTM and 7 (12%, NS) in the C-RRRTM group. Median duration of L-RRRTM was 156 minutes vs. 221 minutes for C-RRRTM (p < 0.001). 17/89 patients in the L-RRRTM group had postoperative complications versus 18/61 patients in the C-RRRTM group (NS). Median postoperative stay in the L-RRRTM group was 2 vs. 6 days in the C-RRRTM group (p < 0.001). During a median follow-up of 79 months, 27 patients had recurrences: 8 (9%) in the L-RRRTM group and 19 (31%) in the C-RRRTM group (p < 0.001). Laparoscopic resection of RRTM for advanced NSTGCT is feasible and an oncologically safe option in appropriately selected patients.
Contrasting global, regional and local patterns of genetic structure in gray reef shark populations from the Indo-Pacific region
Authors: Boissin E. , Thorrold S. R. , Braun C. D. , Zhou Y. , Clua E. E. , Planes S.
Published: November 2019

Human activities have resulted in the loss of over 90% of sharks in most ocean basins and one in four species of elasmobranch are now listed at risk of extinction by the IUCN. How this collapse will affect the ability of populations to recover in the face of continued exploitation and global climate change remains unknown. Indeed, important ecological and biological information are lacking for most shark species, particularly estimates of genetic diversity and population structure over a range of spatial scales. Using 15 microsatellite markers, we investigated genetic diversity and population structure in gray reef sharks over their Indo-Pacific range (407 specimens from 9 localities). Clear genetic differentiation was observed between the Indian and the Pacific Ocean specimens (FST = 0.145***). Further differentiation within the Pacific included a West and East cleavage as well as North-Central and South-Central Pacific clusters. No genetic differentiation was detected within archipelagos. These results highlight the legacy of past climate changes and the effects of large ocean expanses and circulation patterns on contrasting levels of connectivity at global, regional and local scales. Our results indicate a need for regional conservation units for gray reef sharks and pinpoint the isolation and vulnerability of their French Polynesian population.
Evidence that fodipir (DPDP) binds neurotoxic Pt2+ with a high affinity: An electron paramagnetic resonance study
Authors: Stehr Jan Eric , Lundström Ingemar , Karlsson Jan Olof G.
Published: November 2019

Oxaliplatin typically causes acute neuropathic problems, which may, in a dose-dependent manner, develop into a chronic form of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), which is associated with retention of Pt2+ in the dorsal root ganglion. A clinical study by Coriat and co-workers suggests that co-treatment with mangafodipir [Manganese(II) DiPyridoxyl DiPhosphate; MnDPDP] cures ongoing CIPN. These authors anticipated that it is the manganese superoxide dismutase mimetic activity of MnDPDP that explains its curative activity. However, this is questionable from a pharmacokinetic perspective. Another, but until recently undisclosed possibility is that Pt2+ outcompetes Mn2+/Ca2+/Zn2+ for binding to DPDP or its dephosphorylated metabolite PLED (diPyridoxyL EthylDiamine) and transforms toxic Pt2+ into a non-toxic complex, which can be readily excreted from the body. We have used electron paramagnetic resonance guided competition experiments between MnDPDP (10logKML ≈ 15) and K2PtCl4, and between MnDPDP and ZnCl2 (10logKML ≈ 19), respectively, in order to obtain an estimate the 10logKML of PtDPDP. Optical absorption spectroscopy revealed a unique absorption line at 255 nm for PtDPDP. The experimental data suggest that PtDPDP has a higher formation constant than that of ZnDPDP, i.e., higher than 19. The present results suggest that DPDP/PLED has a high enough affinity for Pt2+ acting as an efficacious drug in chronic Pt2+-associated CIPN.
The effect of local species composition on the distribution of an avian invader
Authors: Magory Cohen Tali , Dor Roi
Published: November 2019

Estimating the potential distribution of invasive species has been primarily achieved by employing species distribution models (SDM). Recently introduced joint species distribution models (JSDM) that include species interactions are expected to improve model output. Here we compare the predictive ability of SDM and JSDM by modelling the distribution of one of the most prolific avian invaders in the world, the common myna (Acridotheres tristis), in a recent introduction in Israel. Our results indicate that including information on the local species composition did not improve model accuracy, possibly because of the unique characteristics of this species that include broad environmental tolerance and behavior flexibility. However, the JSDM provided insights into co-occurrence patterns of common mynas and their local heterospecifics, suggesting that at this time point, there is no evidence of species exclusion by common mynas. Our findings suggest that the invasion potential of common mynas depends greatly on urbanization and less so on the local species composition and reflect the major role of anthropogenic impact in increasing the distribution of avian invaders.
Caldera-forming eruptions of mushy magma modulated by feedbacks between ascent rate, gas retention/loss and bubble/crystal framework interaction
Authors: Okumura Satoshi , L. de Silva Shanaka , Nakamura Michihiko , Sasaki Osamu
Published: November 2019

Caldera-forming eruptions of mushy silicic magma are among the most catastrophic natural events on Earth. In such magmas, crystals form an interlocking framework when their content reaches critical thresholds, resulting in the dramatic increase in viscous resistance to flow. Here, we propose a new mechanism for the ascent of mushy magma based on microstructural observations of crystal-rich silicic pumices and lavas from the Central Andes and decompression experiments. Microstructural data include spherical vesicles and jigsaw-puzzle association of broken crystals in pumices, whereas there is limited breakage of crystals in lavas. These observations insinuate that shearing of magma during ascent was limited. Decompression experiments reveal contrasting interaction between growing gas bubbles and the crystal framework in crystal-rich magma. Under slow decompression typical of effusive eruptions, gas extraction is promoted, whereas under rapid decompression, bubbles are retained and the crystal framework collapses. This feedback between decompression rate, retention of gas bubbles, and integrity of the crystal framework leads to strong non-linearity between magma decompression rate and eruption explosivity. We extend these findings to caldera-forming eruptions of crystal-rich magma where large overpressures are induced by caldera-collapse, resulting in magma plug-flow, rapid decompression facilitated by shear-localization at conduit margins, and explosive eruption.
The HIV protease inhibitor darunavir prevents kidney injury via HIV-independent mechanisms
Authors: Gao Xiaobo , Rosales Alan , Karttunen Heidi , Bommana Geetha M. , Tandoh Buadi , Yi Zhengzi , Habib Zainab , D’Agati Vivette , Zhang Weijia , Ross Michael J.
Published: November 2019

HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is a rapidly progressive kidney disease that is caused by HIV infection of renal epithelial cells with subsequent expression of viral genes, including vpr. Antiretroviral therapy ameliorates HIVAN without eradicating HIV from the kidneys and the mechanism by which it protects kidneys is poorly understood. Since HIV protease inhibitors have “off target” cellular effects, we studied whether darunavir, the most commonly prescribed protease inhibitor, protects kidneys from HIV-induced injury via mechanisms independent of HIV protease and viral replication. Renal epithelial cells were transduced with lentiviruses encoding HIV (lacking protease and reverse transcriptase), Vpr, or vector control. Darunavir attenuated HIV and Vpr-induced activation of Stat3, Src, Erk, and cytokines, which are critical for HIVAN pathogenesis. We then studied HIV-transgenic mice, which develop HIVAN in the absence of HIV protease or reverse transcriptase. Mice were treated with darunavir, zidovudine, darunavir + zidovudine, or control. Darunavir and darunavir + zidovudine reduced albuminuria and histologic kidney injury and normalized expression of dysregulated proteins. RNA-seq analyses demonstrated that darunavir suppressed HIV-induced upregulation of immune response genes in human kidney cells. These data demonstrate that darunavir protects against HIV-induced renal injury via mechanisms that are independent of inhibition of HIV protease.
Machine-learning based reconstructions of primary and secondary climate variables from North American and European fossil pollen data
Authors: Salonen J. Sakari , Korpela Mikko , Williams John W. , Luoto Miska
Published: November 2019

We test several quantitative algorithms as palaeoclimate reconstruction tools for North American and European fossil pollen data, using both classical methods and newer machine-learning approaches based on regression tree ensembles and artificial neural networks. We focus on the reconstruction of secondary climate variables (here, January temperature and annual water balance), as their comparatively small ecological influence compared to the primary variable (July temperature) presents special challenges to palaeo-reconstructions. We test the pollen–climate models using a novel and comprehensive cross-validation approach, running a series ofh-block cross-validations usinghvalues of 100–1500 km. Our study illustrates major benefits of this variableh-block cross-validation scheme, as the effect of spatial autocorrelation is minimized, while the cross-validations with increasinghvalues can reveal instabilities in the calibration model and approximate challenges faced in palaeo-reconstructions with poor modern analogues. We achieve well-performing calibration models for both primary and secondary climate variables, with boosted regression trees providing the overall most robust performance, while the palaeoclimate reconstructions from fossil datasets show major independent features for the primary and secondary variables. Our results suggest that with careful variable selection and consideration of ecological processes, robust reconstruction of both primary and secondary climate variables is possible.
Mechanism and Consequences of The Impaired Hif-1α Response to Hypoxia in Human Proximal Tubular HK-2 Cells Exposed to High Glucose
Authors: García-Pastor Coral , Benito-Martínez Selma , Moreno-Manzano Victoria , Fernández-Martínez Ana B. , Lucio-Cazaña Francisco Javier
Published: November 2019

Renal hypoxia and loss of proximal tubular cells (PTC) are relevant in diabetic nephropathy. Hypoxia inhibits hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) degradation, which leads to cellular adaptive responses through HIF-1-dependent activation of gene hypoxia-responsive elements (HRE). However, the diabetic microenvironment represses the HIF-1/HRE response in PTC. Here we studied the mechanism and consequences of impaired HIF-1α regulation in human proximal tubular HK-2 cells incubated in hyperglycemia. Inhibition at different levels of the canonical pathway of HIF-1α degradation did not activate the HIF-1/HRE response under hyperglycemia, except when proteasome was inhibited. Further studies suggested that hyperglycemia disrupts the interaction of HIF-1α with Hsp90, a known cause of proteasomal degradation of HIF-1α. Impaired HIF-1α regulation in cells exposed to hyperglycemic, hypoxic diabetic-like milieu led to diminished production of vascular endothelial growth factor-A and inhibition of cell migration (responses respectively involved in tubular protection and repair). These effects, as well as impaired HIF-1α regulation, were reproduced in normoglycemia in HK-2 cells incubated with microparticles released by HK-2 cells exposed to diabetic-like milieu. In summary, these results highlight the role of proteasome-dependent mechanisms of HIF-1α degradation on diabetes-induced HK-2 cells dysfunction and suggest that cell-derived microparticles may mediate negative effects of the diabetic milieu on PTC.
People with autism perceive drastic illusory changes for repeated verbal stimuli
Authors: Itoi Chihiro , Kato Nobumasa , Kashino Makio
Published: November 2019

A core symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is restricted and repetitive behavior, characterized partly by insistence on sameness and excessively focused interest. This behavior has often been interpreted as a manifestation of anxiety and fear triggered by resistance to change. The implicit assumption underlying this interpretation is that perception per se (such as the judgment of sameness and changes in sensory stimuli) is not different between ASD and typically developed (TD) individuals, but that only the emotional response to the same amount of perceived change is. However, few studies have examined how individuals with ASD actually perceive a repeated presentation of the same sensory stimulus. To explore this issue, we conducted a listening test to compare perception of a repeated sound pattern, namely a spoken word, between ASD and TD groups. Prolonged listening to a repeated word without a pause may induce perceptual changes, which is known as the verbal transformation effect. We discovered that individuals with ASD tend to perceive more drastic changes or differences for the same repeated auditory pattern. This suggests that such variable perception incites individuals with ASD to persist for sameness.
Numerical Simulations of MitraClip Placement: Clinical Implications
Authors: Kamakoti Ramji , Dabiri Yaghoub , Wang Dee Dee , Guccione Julius , Kassab Ghassan S.
Published: November 2019

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common type of valvular heart disease in patients over the age of 75 in the US. Despite the prevalence of mitral regurgitation in the elderly population, however, almost half of patients identified with moderate-severe MR are turned down for traditional open heart surgery due to frailty and other existing co-morbidities. MitraClip (MC) is a recent percutaneous approach to treat mitral regurgitation by placement of MC in the center of the mitral valve to reduce MR. There are currently no computational simulations to elucidate the role of MC on both the fluid and solid mechanics of the mitral valve. Here, we use the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) approach to study various positional placements of the MC in the mitral valve and its impact on reducing MR. SPH is a particle based (meshless) approach that handles flow through narrow regions quite efficiently. Fluid and surrounding anatomical structure interactions is handled via contact and hence can be used for studying fluid-structure interaction problems such as blood flow with surrounding tissues/structure. This method is available as part of the Abaqus/Explicit solver. Regurgitation was initiated by removing targeted chordae tendineae that are attached to specified leaflets of the mitral valve and, subsequently, MC implants are placed in various locations, starting from the region near where the chordae tendineae were removed and moving away from the location towards the center of the valve. The MC implant location closest to where the chordae tendineae were removed showed the least amount of residual MR post-clip implantation amongst all other locations of MC implant considered. These findings have important implications for strategic placement of the MC depending on the etiology of MR to optimize clinical outcome.
Microbial communities and soil chemical features associated with commercial production of the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lingzhi in soil
Authors: Ke Le-Qin , Li Pu-Dong , Xu Jian-Ping , Wang Qiu-Shuang , Wang Liang-Liang , Wen Hui-Ping
Published: November 2019

Crop production, including mushroom farming, may cause significant changes to the underlying substrates which in turn, can influence crop quality and quantity during subsequent years. Here in this study, we analyzed the production of the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lingzhi and the associated soil microbial communities and soil chemical features over 24 months from April 2015 to April 2017. This Basidiomycete mushroom, known as Lingzhi in China, is commonly found on dead trees and wood logs in temperate and subtropical forests. Its economic and medicinal importance have propelled the development of a diversity of cultivation methods. The dominant method uses wood logs as the main substrate, which after colonization by Lingzhi mycelia, are buried in the soil to induce fruiting. The soil microbial communities over the 24 months were analyzed using the Illumina HiSeq platform targeting a portion of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and the fungal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1). Overall, a significant reduction of Lingzhi yield was observed over our experimentation period. Interestingly, temporal changes in soil microbial compositions were detected during the 24 months, with the fungal community showing more changes than that of bacteria in terms of both species richness and the relative abundance of several dominant species after each fruiting. The soil chemical features also showed significant changes, with decreasing soil nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and increasing soil pH and iron content after each fruiting. We discuss the implications of our results in sustainable Lingzhi production in soil.
Comparison of whole blood and spleen transcriptional signatures over the course of an experimental malaria infection
Authors: Talavera-López Carlos , Bediako Yaw , Lin Jing-wen , Joseph Valletta John , Recker Mario , Langhorne Jean
Published: November 2019

Although the spleen is broadly accepted as the major lymphoid organ involved in generating immune responses to the erythrocytic stages of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium, human splenic tissue is not readily available in most cases. As a result, most studies of malaria in humans rely on peripheral blood to assess cellular immune responses to malaria. The suitability of peripheral blood as a proxy for splenic immune responses is however unknown. Here, we have simultaneously analysed the transcriptomes of whole blood and spleen over 12 days of erythrocytic stage Plasmodium chabaudi infection in C57BL/6 mice. Using both unsupervised and directed approaches, we compared gene expression between blood and spleen over the course of infection. Taking advantage of publicly available datasets, we used machine learning approaches to infer cell proportions and cell-specific gene expression signatures from our whole tissue transcriptome data. Our findings demonstrate that spleen and blood are quite dissimilar, sharing only a small amount of transcriptional information between them, with transcriptional differences in both cellular composition and transcriptional activity. These results suggest that while blood transcriptome data may be useful in defining surrogate markers of protection and pathology, they should not be used to predict specific immune responses occurring in lymphoid organs.
Identification of candidate ATP-binding cassette transporter gene family members in Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) via adult tissues transcriptome analysis
Authors: Wang Zhengbing , Tian Fajun , Cai Lijun , Zhang Jie , Liu Jiali , Zeng Xinnian
Published: November 2019

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters exist in all living organisms and play major roles in various biological functions by transporting a wide variety of substrates across membranes. The functions of ABC transporters in drug resistance have been extensively studied in vertebrates; however, they are rarely characterized in agricultural pests. The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, is one of the most damaging pests of the Citrus genus because of its transmission of Huanglongbing, also known as Yellow Dragon disease. In this study, the next-generation sequencing technique was applied to research the ABC transporters of D. citri. Fifty-three ABC transporter genes were found in the RNA-Seq data, and among these ABC transporters, 4, 4, 5, 2, 1, 4, 18 and 15 ABC proteins belonged to the ABCA-ABCH subfamilies, respectively. Different expression profiles of 52 genes between imidacloprid-resistant and imidacloprid-susceptible strains were studied by qRT-PCR; 5 ABCGs and 4 ABCHs were significantly upregulated in the imidacloprid-resistant strain. In addition, five of the nine upregulated genes were widely expressed in adult tissues in spatial expression analysis. The results suggest that these genes may play key roles in this phenotype. In general, this study contributed to our current understanding of D. citri resistance to insecticides.
Prediction of Early Recurrence of Solitary Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Orthotopic Liver Transplantation
Authors: Feng Jiliang , Zhu Ruidong , Feng Dezhao , Yu Lu , Zhao Dawei , Wu Jushan , Yuan Chunwang , Chen Junmei , Zhang Yan , Zheng Xiu
Published: November 2019

Hepatocellular carcinomas(HCC) consisted of heterogeneous subtypes with different recurrence probabilities after liver transplantation(LT). Our study aimed to develop an improved model for predicting the recurrence of solitary HCC after LT. In this retrospective study, 151 solitary HCC patients who received orthotopic LT over a period of 10 consecutive years were included. All recipients received graft from deceased donors. The first eligible 50 patients were used as validation cohort and others were utilized to construct the model. A two-tailed P < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance for all analysis. Based on the maximisation of the Youden’s index, the optimal cutoff values for alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) and tumor diameter were 261.6 ng/mL and 3.6 cm, respectively. Vascular involvement includes gross and microscopic vascular invasion. Variables potentially affecting recurrence-free survival(RFS) were examined using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that AFP, tumor diameter, vascular invasion and cytokeratin-19/glypican-3 sub-typing were independent prognostic factors for RFS, thus comprised the risk scoring model. The AUC values of the model in the cohorts were significantly higher than that of the Milan, UCSF, Fudan and Hangzhou criteria. These findings suggest the model has high performance in predicting early recurrence of solitary HCC patients after LT.
Employing DNA binding dye to improve detection of Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei in real-time LAMP
Authors: Ma Biao , Yu Huanteng , Fang Jiehong , Sun Chuanxin , Zhang Mingzhou
Published: November 2019

Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) is a pathogen in the pancreatic tissue of prawn, as reported in recent years. Enterosporidiosis caused by EHP in Penaeus genus is spreading widely, which seriously threatens the sustainable development of shrimp aquaculture in the world. Empolying the DNA binding dye of SYTO-16, a real-time quantitative loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method has been established herein to detect EHP. The primer sequences used in the LAMP reaction were according to the SSU rRNA gene. The LAMP assay has reached a sensitivity of 101 copies/µL and no cross-reaction with other aquatic pathogens. Compared with normal PCR, the efficiency of the LAMP technique is more sensitive, which has a shorter detection time. The use of fluorescent nucleic acid dye (SYTO-16) reveals a more satisfactory performance relative to calcein. The quantitative LAMP assay can be considered as a valid tool for rapid detection of microsporidian in prawns. Our study provides a scientific basis to follow the effect of the pathogen infection on growth of cultured penaeid shrimp.
Propranolol exhibits activity against hemangiomas independent of beta blockade
Authors: Sasaki Maiko , North Paula E. , Elsey Justin , Bubley Jeffrey , Rao Shikha , Jung Yoonhee , Wu Shengnan , Zou Ming-Hui , Pollack Brian P. , Kumar Jayanth , Singh Hartej , Arbiser Jack L.
Published: November 2019

Propranolol is a widely used beta blocker that consists of a racemic mixture of R and S stereoisomers. Only the S stereoisomer has significant activity against the beta-adrenergic receptor. A fortuitous clinical observation was made in an infant who received propranolol for cardiac disease, and regression of a hemangioma of infancy was noted. This has led to the widespread use of propranolol for the treatment of large and life-threatening hemangiomas of infancy. Infants receiving propranolol require monitoring to ensure that they do not suffer from side effects related to beta blockade. The exact mechanism of activity of propranolol in hemangioma of infancy is unknown. In this study, we treated hemangioma stem cells with both beta blockade active S- and inactive R-propranolol and looked for genes that were coordinately regulated by this treatment. Among the genes commonly downregulated, Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) was among the most regulated. We confirmed that propranolol isomers downregulated ANGPTL4 in endothelial cells, with greater downregulation of ANGPTL4 using the beta blockade inactive R-propranolol. ANGPTL4 is present in human hemangiomas of infancy. Finally, R-propranolol inhibited the growth of bEnd.3 hemangioma cells in vivo. The implication of this is that hemangioma growth can be blocked without the side effects of beta blockade. Given that humans have been exposed to racemic propranolol for decades and thus to R-propranolol, clinical development of R-propranolol for hemangiomas of infancy and other angiogenic diseases is warranted.
The effect of metal ions on endogenous melanin nanoparticles used as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents
Authors: Chen Anqi , Sun Jinghua , Liu Shijie , Li Liping , Peng Xiaoyang , Ma Lixin , Zhang Ruiping
Published: November 2019

The effect of chelated metal ions on endogenous melanin nanoparticles as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents.
Enantioselective palladium-catalyzed diarylation of unactivated alkenes
Authors: Ju Baihang , Chen Shigui , Kong Wangqing
Published: November 2019

Enantioselective Pd-catalyzed diarylation of unactivated alkenes between arenediazonium salts and arylboronic acids has been developed. This method provides an efficient route to dihydrobenzofurans with all-carbon quaternary centers in good yields with 88–99% ee.
Chemical self-assembly strategies for designing molecular electronic circuits
Authors: Olson Dustin , Boscoboinik Alejandro , Tysoe Wilfred T.
Published: November 2019

Design principles are demonstrated for fabricating molecular electronic circuits using the inherently self-limiting growth of molecular wires between gold nanoparticles from the oligomerization of 1,4-phenylene diisocyanide.
The fabrication of Au/Pd plasmonic alloys on UiO-66-NH2: an efficient visible light-induced photocatalyst towards the Suzuki Miyaura coupling reaction under ambient conditions
Authors: Subudhi Satyabrata , Mansingh Sriram , Tripathy Suraj Prakash , Mohanty Ashutosh , Mohapatra Priyabrat , Rath Dharitri , Parida Kulamani
Published: November 2019

The current study on Au/Pd@UiO-66-NH2 explores a novel approach towards photocatalytic SMC coupling reaction. This investigation highlights a well studied mechanistic pathway towards the formation of biphenyl as the target product.
The effects of drying technique and surface pre-treatment on the cytotoxicity and dissolution rate of luminescent porous silicon quantum dots in model fluids and living cells
Authors: Gongalsky Maxim B. , Tsurikova Uliana A. , Storey Catherine J. , Evstratova Yana V. , Kudryavtsev Andrew A. , Canham Leigh T. , Osminkina Liubov A.
Published: November 2019

Tailoring of the cytotoxicity and dissolution rate of luminescent porous silicon quantum dots is presented.
Macrophage activation by edible mushrooms is due to the collaborative interaction of toll-like receptor agonists and dectin-1b activating beta glucans derived from colonizing microorganisms
Authors: Zhang Jin , Tyler Heather L. , Haron Mona H. , Jackson Colin R. , Pasco David S. , Pugh Nirmal D.
Published: November 2019

Insoluble beta glucans and TLR agonists derived from colonizing microorganisms are responsible for in vitro macrophage activation by edible mushrooms.
Microbial production of sebacic acid from a renewable source: production, purification, and polymerization
Authors: Jeon Woo-Young , Jang Min-Jeong , Park Gyu-Yeon , Lee Hye-Jeong , Seo Sung-Hwa , Lee Hee-Suk , Han Changpyo , Kwon Heeun , Lee Ho-Chang , Lee Jong-Hwa , Hwang Yong-Taek , Lee Myung-Ock , Lee Jeong-Gyu , Lee Hong-Weon , Ahn Jung-Oh
Published: November 2019

Sebacic acid is an aliphatic ten-carbon dicarboxylic acid (1,10-decanedioic acid) with a variety of industrial applications. Here, we present its microbial production, purification, and polymerization.
Bulk network polymers with dynamic B–O bonds: healable and reprocessable materials
Authors: Bapat Abhijeet P. , Sumerlin Brent S. , Sutti Alessandra
Published: November 2019

The recent progress in healable and reprocessable bulk network polymers with dynamic B–O bonds is reviewed.
Clioquinol induces S-phase cell cycle arrest through the elevation of the calcium level in human neurotypic SH-SY5Y cells
Authors: Lv Xiaoguang , Zheng Qiaoqiao , Li Ming , Huang Zhiwei , Peng Min , Sun Jing , Shi Ping
Published: November 2019

Clioquinol is recently considered to be the most promising drug for treating cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. However, its mode of action varies from different disease models. In this study, we found that clioquinol inhibited cell growth in human neurotypic SHSY-5Y cells, which was attributed to both S-phase cell-cycle arrest and autophagic cell death. Clioquinol increased the intracellular contents of iron and zinc as well as calcium as measured by ICP-AES. Staining of Fluo-3 confirmed an increase in the level of calcium. Analysis of the metal-binding ability of clioquinol showed that it was not a chelating agent of calcium ions and the elevation of intracellular calcium content is not achieved by clioquinol as an ionophore. CaCl2 could simulate or even aggravate the cytotoxicity of clioquinol and it increased S-phase cell cycle arrest induced by clioquinol in a concentration dependent manner. Staining of acridine orange demonstrated that autophagy induced by clioquinol was not affected by addition of calcium ions. In contrast, the intracellular calcium ion chelator BAPTA-am abolished the clioquinol-induced S phase arrest and reduced the cell death caused by clioquinol. The WB assay of cell cycle-related proteins (CDK2, p21 and p27) further confirmed that S phase arrest is positively correlated with intracellular calcium elevation, which was due to the alterations of the mRNA and protein levels of calcium pumps (SERCA and SPCA). Taken together, these data indicate that clioquinol regulates the level of intracellular calcium ions to induce S-phase cell cycle arrest in human SH-SY5Y cells. Our results demonstrate for the first time that an increase of intracellular calcium content is one of the mechanisms of clioquinol in the inhibition of human neurotypic SHSY-5Y cells.
Lightweight, mechanically flexible and thermally superinsulating rGO/polyimide nanocomposite foam with an anisotropic microstructure
Authors: Qin Yuyang , Peng Qingyu , Zhu Yue , Zhao Xu , Lin Zaishan , He Xiaodong , Li Yibin
Published: November 2019

Anisotropic rGO/PI thermally insulating nanocomposite foam with highly ordered structures.
Accurate electromechanical characterization of soft molecular monolayers using piezo force microscopy
Authors: Miller Nathaniel C. , Grimm Haley M. , Horne W. Seth , Hutchison Geoffrey R.
Published: November 2019

We report a new methodology for the electromechanical characterization of organic monolayers based on the implementation of dual AC resonance tracking piezo force microscopy (DART-PFM) combined with a sweep of an applied DC field under a fixed AC field.
Mechanism of fatty acid decarboxylation catalyzed by a non-heme iron oxidase (UndA): a QM/MM study
Authors: Zhang Shiqing , Liu Yongjun
Published: November 2019

QM/MM calculations reveal that the fatty acid decarboxylase UndA employs the FeIII–OO˙− complex to initiate the β-H abstraction with the monodentate coordination mode. The iron center accepts the extra electron of the substrate radical.
Solvatochromic dual luminescence of Eu–Au dyads decorated with chromophore phosphines
Authors: Belyaev Andrey , Slavova Sofia O. , Solovyev Igor V. , Sizov Vladimir V. , Jänis Janne , Grachova Elena V. , Koshevoy Igor O.
Published: November 2019

Chromophore-containing phosphines produce highly solvatochromic gold(i) fluorophores. Their combination with red-emitting Eu centers offers a facile approach to dual emissive complexes with widely tunable luminescence characteristics.
A novel strategy for the synthesis of hard carbon spheres encapsulated with graphene networks as a low-cost and large-scalable anode material for fast sodium storage with an ultralong cycle life
Authors: Yasin Ghulam , Arif Muhammad , Mehtab Tahira , Shakeel Muhammad , Mushtaq Muhammad Asim , Kumar Anuj , Nguyen Tuan Anh , Slimani Yassine , Nazir M. Tariq , Song Huaihe
Published: November 2019

We designed a cost-effective and novel strategy for the construction of hard carbon spheres enveloped with graphene networks as a high performance anode material for sodium-ion batteries.
Cobalt(iii)-catalyzed ketone-directed C–H vinylation using vinyl acetate
Authors: Sk Md Raja , Maji Modhu Sudan
Published: November 2019

Weakly coordinating, ketone-directed C–H vinylation using vinyl acetate is reported here for a wide range of aromatic ketones such as acetophenones, diaryl ketones, chromones and chalcones under cost-effective and air-stable cobalt(iii)-catalysis.
Merging photochemistry with electrochemistry in organic synthesis
Authors: Yu Yi , Guo Peng , Zhong Jun-Song , Yuan Yaofeng , Ye Ke-Yin
Published: November 2019

Recent advances merging photochemistry with electrochemistry in organic synthesis are highlighted.
Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed [3 + 3] annulation reactions of N-nitrosoanilines and cyclopropenones: an approach to functionalized 4-quinolones
Authors: Liu Yafeng , Tian Yuan , Su Kexin , Wang Peigen , Guo Xin , Chen Baohua
Published: November 2019

We report Rh(iii)-catalyzed [3 + 3] annulation reactions for the preparation of functionalized 4-quinolones from available N-nitrosoanilines and cyclopropenones.
Computational investigations of the binding mechanism of novel benzophenone imine inhibitors for the treatment of breast cancer
Authors: Shtaiwi Amneh , Adnan Rohana , Khairuddean Melati , Khan Shafi Ullah
Published: November 2019

4-Hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT), the most common hormone used for the treatment of breast cancer, is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) inhibitor that acts as an antagonist in breast tissue and a partial agonist in the endometrium; therefore, it increases the risk of uterine cancer while lowering the risk of breast cancer recurrence.
Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) alleviates the malignant biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinomaviaWnt/β-catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Jiang ZhongYu , Mao Zhen
Published: November 2019

Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is an active substance isolated fromAstragalus membranaceus(Fisch.) Bungede, which has been shown to have pharmacological effects in a variety of cancers.
Two-dimensional polar metals in KNbO3/BaTiO3 superlattices: first-principle calculations
Authors: Li Gang , Huang Huiyu , Peng Shaoqin , Xiong Ying , Xiao Yongguang , Yan Shaoan , Cao Yanwei , Tang Minghua , Li Zheng
Published: November 2019

Polar metals, commonly defined by the coexistence of polar structure and metallicity, are thought to be scarce because free carriers eliminate internal dipoles that may arise owing to asymmetric charge distributions.
Structure and conductivity enhanced treble-shelled porous silicon as an anode for high-performance lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Lin Yangfan , Lin Hanqing , Jiang Jingwei , Yang Deren , Du Ning , He Xueqin , Ren Jianguo , He Peng , Pang Chunlei , Xiao Chengmao
Published: November 2019

In this paper, a treble-shelled porous silicon structure is synthesized through three-step approach to enhance the structural stability and conductivity.
Graphene oxide-based electrochemical activation of ethionamide towards enhanced biological activity
Authors: Mulik Balaji B. , Dhumal Sambhaji T. , Sapner Vijay S. , Rehman Naziya N. M. A. , Dixit Prashant P. , Sathe Bhaskar R.
Published: November 2019

Electrochemical oxidative activation of ethionamide (ETO) on GO (∼500 nm) confirmed by HRMS and FTIR analysis. The ETO-O (oxidized form) showed enhancement in activity over ETO against Gram negative pathogens (E. aerogenes,S. abony,S. boydii,E. coli).
The concentration and origins of carboxylic acid groups in oil paint
Authors: Baij Lambert , Chassouant Louise , Hermans Joen J. , Keune Katrien , Iedema Piet D.
Published: November 2019

Zinc complexation can be used to quantify the concentration of carboxylic acid groups in an oil painting.
Probing relaxation dynamics of a cationic lipid based non-viral carrier: a time-resolved fluorescence study
Authors: Singh Priya , Mukherjee Dipanjan , Singha Subhankar , Sharma V. K. , Althagafi Ismail I. , Ahmed Saleh A. , Mukhopadhyay R. , Das Ranjan , Pal Samir Kumar
Published: November 2019

Lipid vesicles composed of cationic dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) and neutral 1-monooleoyl-rac-glycerol (MO) are promising non-viral carriers of nucleic acids for delivery into cells.
Sustainable competitive adsorption of methylene blue and acid red 88 from synthetic wastewater using NiO and/or MgO silicate based nanosorbcats: experimental and computational modeling studies
Authors: Abuhatab Saqr , El-Qanni Amjad , Marei Nedal N. , Hmoudah Maryam , El-Hamouz Amer
Published: November 2019

Silica-based NiO and MgO nanosorbcats (SBNs) for competitive adsorption of methylene blue and acid red 88.
A review: the effect of the microporous support during interfacial polymerization on the morphology and performances of a thin film composite membrane for liquid purification
Authors: Liu Feng , Wang LanLan , Li Dawei , Liu Qingsheng , Deng Bingyao
Published: November 2019

The thin film composite membrane prepared by interfacial polymerization on porous supports is currently one of the most efficient technologies for brackish water purification and seawater desalination, including reverse osmosis, forward osmosis and nanofiltration.
Comparison of two sequential extraction procedures for tungsten fractionation in the tungsten mining soils
Authors: Li Ruiping , Wang Wenjie , Wang Shiliang , Lin Chunye , Wang Xiangyi , Meng Lingchuan , Yuan Xianlong
Published: November 2019

The Wenzel SEP showed higher extraction efficiency in potentially mobile tungsten fractions, especially for the tungsten associated with iron hydroxides.
Micro-manganese as a weight agent for improving the suspension capability of drilling fluid and the study of its mechanism
Authors: Ma Jingyuan , Yu Peizhi , Xia Boru , An Yuxiu
Published: November 2019

The micro-manganese (Mn3O4) was compared with the commonly used weighting agent barite to mainly study the suspension mechanism of Mn3O4.
Tuning radical interactions in trisradical tricationic complexes by varying host-cavity sizes
Authors: Cai Kang , Shi Yi , Cao Changsu , Vemuri Suneal , Cui Binbin , Shen Dengke , Wu Huang , Zhang Long , Qiu Yunyan , Chen Hongliang , Jiao Yang , Stern Charlotte L. , Alsubaie Fehaid M. , Xiao Hai , Li Jun , Stoddart J. Fraser
Published: November 2019

Although host–guest pairing interactions between bisradical dicationic cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) (BB2(˙+)) and the bipyridinium radical cation (BIPY˙+) have been studied extensively, host molecules other than BB2(˙+) are few and far between.
Correction: Transfer matrix theory of polymer complex coacervation
Authors: Lytle Tyler K. , Sing Charles E.
Published: November 2019

Correction for ‘Transfer matrix theory of polymer complex coacervation’ by Tyler K. Lytle et al., Soft Matter, 2017, 13, 7001–7012.
A self-protective, reproducible textile sensor with high performance towards human–machine interactions
Authors: Zhang Ling , He Jiang , Liao Yusheng , Zeng Xuetao , Qiu Nianxiang , Liang Yun , Xiao Peng , Chen Tao
Published: November 2019

A self-protective, reproducible electronic textile with desirable superlyophobicity, mechanical durability and high-sensitive performance for human-machine interaction.
Band alignment in multilayered semiconductor homojunctions supported on metals
Authors: Wang Qian , Dou Kunpeng , Shi Xingqiang
Published: November 2019

To solve the tough problem of momentum-mismatch in heterojunctions, we propose a universal approach to obtain type II band alignment in two-dimensional semiconductor homojunctions with wide range momentum-space-match by band-nesting effect.
Exploiting supramolecular assemblies for filterless ultra-narrowband organic photodetectors with inkjet fabrication capability
Authors: Anantharaman Surendra B. , Strassel Karen , Diethelm Matthias , Gubicza Agnes , Hack Erwin , Hany Roland , Nüesch Frank A. , Heier Jakob
Published: November 2019

Strongly coupled dye molecules are known to produce narrowband absorption in a large spectral range. Here we exploit this feature to achieve organic photodetectors with ultra-narrow full-width at half-maximum response at low bias voltage.
FPGA‐based active disturbance rejection velocity control for a parallel DC/DC buck converter‐DC motor system
Authors: Guerrero Esteban , Guzmán Enrique , Linares Jesús , Martínez Alberto , Guerrero Gerardo
Published: November 2019

This study deals with the robust velocity controller of a DC motor driven by means of parallel DC/DC buck power converters with equal current distribution, from the perspective of a generalised proportional–integral (GPI)‐observers‐based active disturbance rejection controller (ADRC). The multivariable system is subject to constant torque load demands and changes in the internal parameters. The linear output feedback controllers actively counteract the exogenous and endogenous disturbances that result from the cascading parallel converter and the DC motor. A rapid prototyping tool is used for synthetising the proposed controller into a field‐programmable gate array (FPGA) which is based on Matlab/Simulink and a Xilinx System Generator. The robustness of the proposed ADRC system is analysed. The FPGA‐based implementation setup is presented with the purpose of validating the theoretical calculations of the proposed DC motor velocity control.
Prediction of salt contamination in the rotating blade of wind turbine under lightning strike occurrence using fuzzy c‐means and k‐means clustering approaches
Authors: Huang Sheng‐Lu , Chen Jiann‐Fuh , Liang Tsorng‐Juu , Su Ming‐Shou , Chen Chien‐yi
Published: November 2019

This study proposes an alternative methodology for predicting salt contamination in rotating blade of wind turbine under lightning strike using fuzzy c‐means (FCM) and k‐means (KM) clustering approaches. The salt contamination states of wind turbine blades are classified with four different levels of equivalent salt deposit density (ESDD) classes. The lightning strike experiments are set up for simulating the condition when the blades are struck by lightning with four rotational speeds under various ESDD classes. Then, the absolute peak value of the measured current signals in grounding line using the high‐frequency current transformer and the average power are used to represent the input vectors of FCM and KM to predict the class of the salt contamination. The experimental results validated that the proposed approach can effectively classify the measured current signal and accurately predict the ESDD class on lightning strike occurrence.
Design and verification of a radiation detector's electronics system
Authors: Guo Siming , Wu Jinjie , Zhang Jian , Wang Panfeng
Published: November 2019

The electronics system is a crucial component of a nuclear radiation detector whose performance directly affects the accuracy of nuclear radiation monitoring. The design of a neutron detector's electronics system is introduced here. Two sets of preamplifiers are designed, the amplitude‐versus‐frequency curves of the preamplifiers are compared using Multisim simulation software, and a better preamplifier is determined through the comparison. A similar approach is used in the design of main amplifier, the amplitude‐versus‐frequency curves of four operational amplifiers are simulated by Multisim, and the best ones are chosen. The discriminator and trigger are designed in the electronics after the main amplifier, which are used for signal screening and shaping. The neutron detector is tested by cosmic neutrons in environmental background, which is composed of the designed electronic system and a proportional counter tube. Experiments show that the electronics is suitable for neutron detector.