bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utilização do resíduo de peneiração do milho grão como aditivo para ensilagem de capim Tanzânia (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia)
Authors: Carvalho Vinícius Emanoel , Rocha Norberto Silva , Machado Antoniel De Castro , Araújo Saulo Alberto do Carmo , Roberto Cláudio Henrique Viana
Published: April 2019

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o potencial de utilização do resíduo de peneiração do beneficiamento do milho grão (RPBMG) na produção de ensilagem de capim-tanzânia (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia). Foi utilizado um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco níveis de inclusão (tratamento: 0, 5, 10, 20 e 30%, com base na matéria natural) e quatro repetições (silos experimentais). O RPBMG foi adquirido no mercado de Unaí-MG, sendo que o mesmo não teve nenhum tratamento prévio para sua utilização. As variáveis avaliadas foram: teores de matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), proteína bruta (PB), nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT), fibras digestíveis em detergente neutro (FDN), matéria mineral (MM), valor do potencial hidrogeniônico (pH) e digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS). A inclusão de níveis crescentes do RPBMG na ensilagem do capim-tanzânia acarretou efeito linear positivo (p < 0,05) nos teores de MS, MO, NDT e DIVMS. Para os teores de PB, FDN, pH e MM, observou-se efeito linear decrescente (p < 0,05) em função do acréscimo dos níveis de inclusão do RPBMG. A adição de 20% de RPBMG proporcionou adequada qualidade à silagem, o que acarretou melhor custo-benefício entre os tratamentos avaliados.
Nuevas técnicas, mismo objetivo: cómo comunicar de forma eficaz en tiempos digitales
Authors: Aced Cristina
Published: April 2019

Storytelling, gamification, branded content, transmedia, tuit-comunicados, escape rooms… Todos estos ingredientes ayudan a las marcas a captar la atención de sus audiencias de forma no intrusiva en un entorno comunicativo cada vez más saturado de contenidos. En el ámbito digital cambian las formas pero no la base: el objetivo de la comunicación sigue siendo llegar a los públicos de la forma más efectiva posible.
Beta-catenin signaling regulates barrier-specific gene expression in circumventricular organ and ocular vasculatures
Authors: Wang Yanshu , Sabbagh Mark F , Gu Xiaowu , Rattner Amir , Williams John , Nathans Jeremy
Published: April 2019

The brain, spinal cord, and retina are supplied by capillaries that do not permit free diffusion of molecules between serum and parenchyma, a property that defines the blood-brain and blood-retina barriers. Exceptions to this pattern are found in circumventricular organs (CVOs), small midline brain structures that are supplied by high permeability capillaries. In the eye and brain, high permeability capillaries are also present in the choriocapillaris, which supplies the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors, and the ciliary body and choroid plexus, the sources of aqueous humor and cerebrospinal fluid, respectively. We show here that (1) endothelial cells in these high permeability vascular systems have very low beta-catenin signaling compared to barrier-competent endothelial cells, and (2) elevating beta-catenin signaling leads to a partial conversion of permeable endothelial cells to a barrier-type state. In one CVO, the area postrema, high permeability is maintained, in part, by local production of Wnt inhibitory factor-1.
Mapping imported malaria in Bangladesh using parasite genetic and human mobility data
Authors: Chang Hsiao-Han , Wesolowski Amy , Sinha Ipsita , Jacob Christopher G , Mahmud Ayesha , Uddin Didar , Zaman Sazid Ibna , Hossain Md Amir , Faiz M Abul , Ghose Aniruddha , Sayeed Abdullah Abu , Rahman M Ridwanur , Islam Akramul , Karim Mohammad Jahirul , Rezwan M Kamar , Shamsuzzaman Abul Khair Mohammad , Jhora Sanya Tahmina , Aktaruzzaman M M , Drury Eleanor , Gonçalves Sonia , Kekre Mihir , Dhorda Mehul , Vongpromek Ranitha , Miotto Olivo , Engø-Monsen Kenth , Kwiatkowski Dominic , Maude Richard J , Buckee Caroline
Published: April 2019

For countries aiming for malaria elimination, travel of infected individuals between endemic areas undermines local interventions. Quantifying parasite importation has therefore become a priority for national control programs. We analyzed epidemiological surveillance data, travel surveys, parasite genetic data, and anonymized mobile phone data to measure the spatial spread of malaria parasites in southeast Bangladesh. We developed a genetic mixing index to estimate the likelihood of samples being local or imported from parasite genetic data and inferred the direction and intensity of parasite flow between locations using an epidemiological model integrating the travel survey and mobile phone calling data. Our approach indicates that, contrary to dogma, frequent mixing occurs in low transmission regions in the southwest, and elimination will require interventions in addition to reducing imported infections from forested regions. Unlike risk maps generated from clinical case counts alone, therefore, our approach distinguishes areas of frequent importation as well as high transmission.
Complete plastome sequence of Iodes cirrhosa Turcz., the first in the Icacinaceae, comparative genomic analyses and possible split of Idoes species in response to climate changes
Authors: Wang Liqiang , Zhang Hui , Jiang Mei , Chen Haimei , Huang Linfang , Liu Chang
Published: April 2019

Plastome-based phylogenetic study has largely resolved the phylogeny of Icacinaceae. However, no single complete plastome sequence is available for Icacinaceae species, thereby limiting the further phylogenomics analysis of the members of this family. Here, we obtained the complete plastome sequence of Iodes cirrhosa Turcz., which is the first in Icacinaceae, by using the next-generation sequencing technology. The genome was annotated and compared with other closely related plastomes by using mVISTA. The divergence time of six Iodes species was analyzed using the BEAST software. The plastome of I. cirrhosa was 151,994 bp long, with a pair of inverted repeats (IRs, 24,973 bp) separated by a large single-copy (LSC, 84,527 bp) region and a small single-copy (SSC, 17,521 bp) region. The plastome encoded 112 unique genes, including 80 protein-coding, 28 tRNA, and four rRNA genes. Approximately 59 repeat sequences and 188 simple sequence repeats were identified. Four pairs of partially overlapped genes, namely, psbD/psbC, ndhF/Ψycf1, atpB/atpE, and rpl22/rps3, were observed. A comparison of the boundaries of the LSC, SSC, and IR regions with four other plastomes from Aquifoliales and Sapindales exhibited a high overall degree of sequence similarity. Four most highly variable regions, namely, trnH-GUG/psbA, psbM/trnD-GUC, petA/psbJ, and rps16/trnQ-UUG, were found. Using the plastome of I. cirrhosa as reference, we reassembled the plastomes of five Iodes species. Ka/Ks ratio analyses revealed that 27 genes and 52 amino acid residue sites from 11 genes had undergone strong positive selection in the Iodes branch, with the most abundant proteins being the NDH and ribosomal proteins. Divergence-time analysis indicated that Iodes species were first formed 34.40 million years ago. Results revealed that the ancestor of the six species was likely to have split in the late Eocene epoch. In summary, the first complete plastome sequence of I. cirrhosa provided valuable information regarding the evolutionary processes of Iodes species.
Low Prevalence of Asymptomatic Malaria in Pregnancy among Subjects Attending Antenatal Clinic at a Tertiary Hospital in Bauchi, Nigeria: A Preliminary Report
Authors: Kadas A. S. , Okon K. O. , Alkali M. , Jibrin Y. B. , Balogun S. T. , Baffa M. A. , Dattijo L. M. , Shehu A. , Chama C.
Published: April 2019

Background: Asymptomatic malaria in pregnancy still posed clinical challenge and diagnostic problem. The preventive measures are often advocated during antenatal visits. This study assessed the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in pregnancy among subjects attending ante-natal clinics.

Methodology: The cross-sectional study was conducted among 140 volunteer asymptomatic pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) between July and September 2017. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on sociodemography, obstetric history and malaria control practices from the subjects following an informed consent. They were subjected to malaria screening by rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and Giemsa-stained blood smears were prepared for RDT-positive subjects. The malaria positive subjects were treated according to national treatment guidelines on malaria in pregnancy.

Results: The overall mean (standard deviation) age of the 140 subjects was 24.2 (±10.3) years with majority within the age group of 27-32 years (41.4%, 58/140; p<0.05). Only three of the 140 subjects had malaria parasitaemia giving a prevalence of 2.1% (3/140). Among all the variables analyzed, malaria in pregnancy was associated with only older age (p<0.05) in the present study. 

Conclusion: The study revealed low prevalence of asymptomatic malaria among pregnant women attending ATBUTH, Nigeria and could be attributed to the satisfactory ante-natal and malaria prevention practices. However, elaborate epidemiological studies are required to ascertain the finding.
Antifungal Effects of Methanolic Extract of Stem Bark of Bridelia ferruginea Benth. Leaves of Aloe vera L. and Stem Bark of Alstonia boonei De Wild
Authors: Fagbohun E. D. , Bamikole A. M.
Published: April 2019

The antifungal activities, proximate and phytochemical constituents of Aloe vera leaves extract, stem barks of both Alstonia boonei and Bridelia ferruginea were investigated. The methanolic crude extracts of these plants parts were tested for antifungal activity at different concentrations of 50.0, 100.0, 150.0, 200.0 mg/mL, respectively against against Aspergillus flavus, Absidia corymbifera and Aspergillus niger. Radial mycelial growth and dry mycelial weight methods were used to test for the extract activities against these fungi. The results of antifungal activity showed that all the plant extracts exhibited strong antifungal activities at higher concentration of 200.0 mg/mL. The phytochemical results showed that all the three medicinal plants contained steroid, flavonoid, phytate, phenol and oxalate which were known to exhibit antimicrobial properties as well as physiological activities. The proximate analyses showed that all the three medicinal plants contained appropriate amount of ashes, crude fibre and high carbohydrate content which provide energy when consumed. The results of this study showed that these plants possess some antifungal properties therefore the medicinal plants could serve as a potential source of active ingredients for the production of antifungal drugs.
Intrafraction tumor motion during deep inspiration breath hold pancreatic cancer treatment
Authors: Zeng Chuan , Xiong Weijun , Li Xiang , Reyngold Marsha , Gewanter Richard M. , Cuaron John J. , Yorke Ellen D. , Li Tianfang
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Beam gating with deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) has been widely used for motion management in radiotherapy. Normally it relies on some external surrogate for estimating the internal target motion, while the exact internal motion is unknown. In this study, we used the intrafraction motion review (IMR) application to directly track an internal target and characterized the residual motion during DIBH treatment for pancreatic cancer patients through their full treatment courses.

Methods and Materials

Eight patients with pancreatic cancer treated with DIBH volumetric modulated arc therapy in 2017 and 2018 were selected for this study, each with some radiopaque markers (fiducial or surgical clips) implanted near or inside the target. The Varian Real‐time Position Management (RPM) system was used to monitor the breath hold, represented by the anterior‐posterior displacement of an external surrogate, namely reflective markers mounted on a plastic block placed on the patient's abdomen. Before each treatment, a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan under DIBH was acquired for patient setup. For scan and treatment, the breath hold reported by RPM had to lie within a 3 mm window. IMR kV images were taken every 20° or 40° gantry rotation during dose delivery, resulting in over 5000 images for the cohort. The internal markers were manually identified in the IMR images. The residual motion amplitudes of the markers as well as the displacement from their initial positions located in the setup CBCT images were analyzed.

Results

Even though the external markers indicated that the respiratory motion was within 3 mm in DIBH treatment, significant residual internal target motion was observed for some patients. The range of average motion was from 3.4 to 7.9 mm, with standard deviation ranging from 1.2 to 3.5 mm. For all patients, the target residual motions seemed to be random with mean positions around their initial setup positions. Therefore, the absolute target displacement relative to the initial position was small during DIBH treatment, with the mean and the standard deviation 0.6 and 2.9 mm, respectively.

Conclusions

Internal target motion may differ from external surrogate motion in DIBH treatment. Radiographic verification of target position at the beginning and during each fraction is necessary for precise RT delivery. IMR can serve as a useful tool to directly monitor the internal target motion.
Incomplete Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: What Remains After Application of American College of Rheumatology and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics criteria?
Authors: Lambers Wietske M. , Westra Johanna , Jonkman Marcel F. , Bootsma Hendrika , de Leeuw Karina
Published: April 2019

Incomplete systemic lupus (iSLE) is an acknowledged condition of patients with clinical signs of lupus who do not fulfill classification criteria for SLE. Some patients with iSLE have persistent mild disease, but others have serious organ involvement, and up to 55% progress to established SLE. Research on this subject could reveal predictive or diagnostic biomarkers for SLE. Ideally, it would become possible to discern those patients with critical organ involvement or a high risk for progression to SLE. This high‐risk group might benefit from early treatment, which would preferably be confirmed in randomized controlled trials. This process would, however, require agreement on a definition of iSLE. The Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) classification criteria was composed in order to diagnose SLE earlier. The present review outlines the clinical characteristics of iSLE after introduction of SLICC criteria and furthermore proposes a definition of iSLE with the aim of discriminating the high‐risk group from those with a lower risk.
Research Infiltration: The Germination of Preoccupations
Authors: Patterson Carol
Published: April 2019

From its foundation as the Office for Metropolitan Architecture in Rotterdam, Netherlands, OMA has expanded to have bases on four continents. What binds the practice together is a relentlessly intellectual approach that informs not only its buildings, but also its work in academia, publishing and exhibitions through its research and design studio AMO. Carol Patterson, a director for OMA in London, gives the lowdown on how it evolved and how some projects can serve as a research basis for others.
Integrated Microphysiological Systems: Transferable Organ Models and Recirculating Flow
Authors: Renggli Kasper , Rousset Nassim , Lohasz Christian , Nguyen Oanh T. P. , Hierlemann Andreas
Published: April 2019

Studying and understanding of tissue and disease mechanisms largely depend on the availability of suitable and representative biological model systems. These model systems should be carefully engineered and faithfully reproduce the biological system of interest to understand physiological effects, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity to better identify new drug compounds. By relying on microfluidics, microphysiological systems (MPSs) enable the precise control of culturing conditions and connections of advanced in vitro 3D organ models that better reproduce in vivo environments. This review focuses on transferable in vitro organ models and integrated MPSs that host these transferable biological units and enable interactions between different tissue types. Interchangeable and transferrable in vitro organ models allow for independent quality control of the biological model before system assembly and building MPS assays on demand. Due to the complexity and different maturation times of individual in vitro tissues, off‐chip production and quality control entail improved stability and reproducibility of the systems and results, which is important for large‐scale adoption of the technology. Lastly, the technical and biological challenges and open issues for realizing and implementing integrated MPSs with transferable in vitro organ models are discussed.
Ceramic–Salt Composite Electrolytes from Cold Sintering
Authors: Lee Wonho , Lyon Christopher K. , Seo Joo‐Hwan , Lopez‐Hallman Raymond , Leng Yongjun , Wang Chao‐Yang , Hickner Michael A. , Randall Clive A. , Gomez Enrique D.
Published: April 2019

The development of solid electrolytes with the combination of high ionic conductivity, electrochemical stability, and resistance to Li dendrites continues to be a challenge. A promising approach is to create inorganic–organic composites, where multiple components provide the needed properties, but the high sintering temperature of materials such as ceramics precludes close integration or co‐sintering. Here, new ceramic–salt composite electrolytes that are cold sintered at 130 °C are demonstrated. As a model system, composites of Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3 (LAGP) or Li1+x
+y
Alx
Ti2−x
Siy
P3−y
O12 (LATP) with bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) salts are cold sintered. The resulting LAGP–LiTFSI and LATP–LiTFSI composites exhibit high relative densities of about 90% and ionic conductivities in excess of 10−4 S cm−1 at 20 °C, which are comparable with the values obtained from LAGP and LATP sintered above 800 °C. It is also demonstrated that cold sintered LAGP–LiTFSI is electrochemically stable in Li symmetric cells over 1800 h at 0.2 mAh cm−2. Cold sintering provides a new approach for bridging the gap in processing temperatures of different materials, thereby enabling high‐performance composites for electrochemical systems.
Direct Synthesis of the 2D Copper(II) 5‐Prop‐2‐ynoxyisophthalate MOF: Comment on “Surface Functionalization of Porous Coordination Nanocages Via Click Chemistry and Their Application in Drug Delivery”
Authors: Ahmad Nazir , Younus Hussein A. , Gaoke Zhang , Van Hecke Kristof , Verpoort Francis
Published: April 2019

Synthesis of metal–organic materials is often dependent on the reaction conditions of suitable solvent/solvent mixture and temperature. A new finding based on a previously described protocol is reported: instead of obtaining metal–organic polyhedra (MOP), a metal–organic framework (MOF) with a 2D layered structure is obtained, following the same reported protocol. The 2D Cu(II)–5‐prop‐2‐ynoxyisophthlate MOF, crystallized in a kagomé‐type structure, is synthesized using different solvent systems at room temperature, as well as under solvothermal (nonhydrothermal) conditions. Under harsh reaction conditions, alkyne functional groups maintain their integrity and the copper does not catalyze the oxidative coupling of the terminal alkyne groups. X‐ray diffraction analyses confirm the structure and phase purity of the product. Based on the present results and the previous work reported by Zhao et al., it seems that two products, namely 0D MOP and 2D MOF, are equally possible when using the same reactants under same reaction conditions. However, the materials obtained in all the trials are MOF instead of MOP. From the structure point of view, there is a difference in connectivity of the initial building units that determines whether the product is MOP or MOF.
Unambiguous Discrimination and Detection of Controlled Chemical Vapors by a Film‐Based Fluorescent Sensor Array
Authors: Liu Ke , Wang Zhaolong , Shang Congdi , Li Xiao , Peng Haonan , Miao Rong , Ding Liping , Liu Jing , Liu Taihong , Fang Yu
Published: April 2019

In situ, online, fast, and sensitive detection and discrimination of explosives, illicit drugs, and volatile organic compounds via vapor sampling is a challenge for many years. The highly efficient and noncontact detection of 15 types of chemicals mentioned above using a film‐based fluorescent sensor array is reported herein. Importantly, the presence of water, toiletries, fruit, dirty clothes, and other interferences has little effect upon detection. Discrimination of the controlled chemicals is realized using a pattern recognition strategy. Meanwhile, a conceptual detector based on a sensor array is constructed and successfully used for simulated field tests. It is strongly believed that the present work not only provides a powerful fluorescent technique for efficient detection and discrimination of controlled chemicals with remarkably different properties but also demonstrates that arraying a single sensor is a promising strategy to mitigate the limitations of conventional film‐based fluorescent sensors.
An Elastic Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Harvesting Random Mechanical Energy with Multiple Working Modes
Authors: Chen Yuliang , Zhang Ying , Zhan Taotao , Lin Zhiming , Zhang Steven L. , Zou Haiyang , Zhang Guobin , Zou Chongwen , Wang Zhong Lin
Published: April 2019

Because of the shortage of fossil energy and the rapid development of Internet of things nowadays, renewable and clean energy is becoming valuable and necessary. One renewable energy source, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), has been proved to effectively harvest energy from vibration, walking, and even sphygmus. TENGs based on contact–separation mode are foremost and fundamental, and the input stimuli for TENGs are strictly limited by constant amplitude and uniaxial direction of motion, which limits many practical applications. Therefore, it is extremely meaningful to develop a kind of TENG to collect random energy, which ubiquitously exists in the ambient environment. Here, an elastic rubber is placed inside the structure of an elastic TENG (E‐TENG). With this novel structure, the output signals of the TENG are almost independent of the amplitude of the external stimuli due to the elasticity of rubber. Moreover, the E‐TENG shows good performance on angle detection without the limitation of the direction of stimuli. It is believed that the E‐TENG will contribute to developing next‐generation flexible TENGs and self‐powered sensors in the future.
Manipulating Cherenkov Radiation and Smith–Purcell Radiation by Artificial Structures
Authors: Su Zhaoxian , Xiong Bo , Xu Yihao , Cai Ziqiang , Yin Jianbo , Peng Ruwen , Liu Yongmin
Published: April 2019

A moving charged particle, such as an electron, can radiate light due to the interaction between its Coulomb field and surrounding matter. This phenomenon has spawned great interest in the fields of physics, electron microscopy, optics, biology, and materials science. Since the radiation generated by the charged particles strongly depends on the surrounding matter, artificially engineered materials with exotic electromagnetic and optic properties, including metamaterials and metasurfaces, provide an unprecedented opportunity to tailor the interaction between the charged particle and matter, and ultimately enable to manipulate the radiated light. In this review, the fundamentals of Cherenkov radiation and Smith–Purcell radiation are presented. Subsequently, the recent advances in the control of Cherenkov radiation and Smith–Purcell radiation based on metamaterials and metasurfaces are summarized. Finally, the applications using these two physical phenomena, including electron‐driven photon sources and electron accelerators, are discussed in this review.
A Cell‐free DNA Barcode‐Enabled Single‐Molecule Test for Noninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis of Monogenic Disorders: Application to β‐Thalassemia
Authors: Yang Xingkun , Zhou Qinghua , Zhou Wanjun , Zhong Mei , Guo Xiaoling , Wang Xiaofeng , Fan Xin , Yan Shanhuo , Li Liyan , Lai Yunli , Wang Yongli , Huang Jin , Ye Yuhua , Zeng Huaping , Chuan Jun , Du Yuanping , Ma Chouxian , Li Peining , Song Zhuo , Xu Xiangmin
Published: April 2019

Noninvasive prenatal testing of common aneuploidies has become routine over the past decade, but testing of monogenic disorders remains a challenge in clinical implementation. Most recent studies have inherent limitations, such as complicated procedures, a lack of versatility, and the need for prior knowledge of parental genotypes or haplotypes. To overcome these limitations, a robust and versatile next‐generation sequencing‐based cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) allelic molecule counting system termed cfDNA barcode‐enabled single‐molecule test (cfBEST) is developed for the noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) of monogenic disorders. The accuracy of cfBEST is found to be comparable to that of droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) in detecting low‐abundance mutations in cfDNA. The analytical validity of cfBEST is evidenced by a β‐thalassemia assay, in which a blind validation study of 143 at‐risk pregnancies reveals a sensitivity of 99.19% and a specificity of 99.92% on allele detection. Because the validated cfBEST method can be used to detect maternal‐fetal genotype combinations in cfDNA precisely and quantitatively, it holds the potential for the NIPD of human monogenic disorders.
Fabrication of x‐Lithium Tetrabenzoporphyrin by One‐Pot Electrolysis Using n‐Butyllithium
Authors: Miyakubo Yusuke , Nishi Miki , Matsuda Masaki
Published: April 2019

The fabrication and properties of a neutral radical Li(tbp), where tbp is tetrabenzoporphyrin, are reported. Li2(tbp) was fabricated by the reaction of H2(tbp) with n‐BuLi, and was converted to x‐Li(tbp) by successive elctrocrystallization. The prepared x‐Li(tbp) was isomorphous with x‐Li(Pc) (Pc is phthalocayanine), and was a semiconductor having a characteristic one‐dimensional channel surrounded by columns of Li(tbp). The expansion of the channel, seen by the substitution of Pc with tbp, indicates the benefits of macrocyclic ligand (Mc) substitution as a molecular design tool for tuning the channel size in x‐Li(Mc).
Effects of preparation parameters on CO2/N2 gas permselectivity of polyether thin film composite membrane
Authors: Wang Yixuan , Fu Jiawen , Zhang Qingfu , Lin Liping , Yi Chunhai , Yang Bolun
Published: April 2019

In this work, ether oxide (EO)‐based multilayer composite membranes were prepared via interfacial polymerization (IP) of trimesoyl chloride (TMC) and polyetheramine (PEA) on polydimethylsiloxane precoated polysulfone support membrane. The effects of preparation parameters, such as monomer concentrations, reaction time, and heat‐treatment temperature on the membrane performance were investigated. The optimal preparation parameters have been concluded. The results showed the increasing monomers concentration of both PEA and TMC can lead to the decrease of CO2 permeance and increase of CO2/N2 selectivity. The optimal monomers concentration was found. When monomer concentrations are higher than the optimal values, the CO2 permeance decreases continually while CO2/N2 selectivity only shows a very limited improvement with the further increase of monomers concentration. The reaction time has similar effects on membrane performance as the monomers concentration. The effect of heat‐treatment temperature was also studied. With the increasing heat‐treatment temperature, the CO2 permeance shows a decrease tendency, while the CO2/N2 selectivity shows a maximum at 80 °C. When PEA is 0.013 mol L−1, TMC is 0.020 mol L−1, reaction time is 3 min, and heat‐treatment temperature is 80 °C, the optimum preparation conditions are achieved with CO2 permeance of 378.3 gas permeation unit (GPU) and CO2/N2 selectivity of 51.7 at 0.03 MPa. This work may help to design and fabricate gas separation membranes with desired performance. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47755.
A Bubble‐Dragged Catalytic Polymer Microrocket
Authors: Si Tieyan , Zou Xian , Wu Zhiguang , Li Tianlong , Wang Xin , Ivanovich Krasnyuk Ivan , He Qiang
Published: April 2019

We report the bubble dragged microrocket consisting of functionalized multilayer polymer covered asymmetrically by platinum nanoparticles. The microrocket is pushed back during bubble growth over a small step and dragged forward over a big step during bubble explosion. Each bubble explosion induced a shock wave of gas which propagates in water at ultrafast speed. The bubble dragged microrocket can move along an approximate straight line instead of a fluctuating circle which is the trajectory of a bubble‐pushed microrocket in most cases, which makes it a promising candidate for drug delivery and simulating rod‐shaped bacteria.
A nonlinear observer for activated sludge wastewater treatment process: Invariant observer
Authors: Liu Ying‐Bo , Zong Xi‐Ju , Jian Qing‐Zhi , Li Shi , Cheng Xin‐Gong
Published: April 2019

An activated sludge wastewater treatment process model is concerned in this paper. In order to estimate the variables that cannot be measured online, an invariant observer for activated sludge wastewater treatment process is presented. The invariant observer can measure biomass concentration, substrate concentration and dissolved oxygen concentration in high accuracy and rapidity. Meanwhile it can be structured by means of typical form, and its robust convergence property is verified by theoretical analysis and numerical simulations (MATLAB).
Back‐stepping sliding mode control of one degree of freedom flight motion table
Authors: Zarei Majid , Arvan Mohammadreza , Vali Ahmadreza , Behazin Farid
Published: April 2019

A one degree of freedom flight motion table is used to simulate the rotational movement of flying objects in hardware‐in‐the‐loop laboratories. This table uses a dual motor driving servo system. Owing to the existence of a gear transmission system, the backlash nonlinear function on modeling is inevitable, system equations are non‐affine and back‐stepping theory cannot handle this kind of system directly. Through new modeling of the backlash function as the summation of certain and uncertain parts, a proper structure for the controller algorithm is created. The controller is constructed through a back‐stepping sliding mode control algorithm. The back‐stepping concept allows the control algorithm to be extended to a high‐order dynamical system. Meanwhile, the SMC could eliminate these system uncertainties as it has a match perturbation with a virtual or real input signal of the subsystem. For non‐measurable variables, a sliding mode observer is also designed. The simulation results clearly demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method in comparison with conventional PID/FO‐PID control methods in angular tracking and speed synchronization.
Mean‐field backward stochastic differential equation with non‐Lipschitz coefficient
Authors: Wang Guangchen , Zhang Huanjun
Published: April 2019

This paper establishes a new existence and uniqueness result of a solution for one dimensional mean‐field backward stochastic differential equation (MFBSDE), where its coefficient is weaker than the classical Lipschitz case. An example is given to illustrate its applicability. This new solution will provide a key tool for studying mean‐field control problems.
Improved production of antifungal angucycline Sch47554 by manipulating three regulatory genes inStreptomycessp. SCC‐2136
Authors: Fidan Ozkan , Yan Riming , Zhu Du , Zhan Jixun
Published: April 2019

Sch47554 and Sch47555 are two angucyclines with antifungal activities against various yeasts and dermatophytes fromStreptomycessp. SCC‐2136. Theschgene cluster contains several putative regulatory genes. BothschA4andschA21were predicted as the TetR family transcriptional regulators, whereasschA16shared significant similarity to the AraC family transcriptional regulators. Although Sch47554 is the major product ofStreptomycessp. SCC‐2136, its titer is only 6.72 mg/L. This work aimed to increase the production of this promising antifungal compound by investigating and manipulating the regulatory genes in the Sch47554 biosynthetic pathway. Disruption ofschA4andschA16led to a significant increase in the production of Sch47554, whereas the titer was dramatically decreased whenschA21was disrupted. Overexpression of these genes gave opposite results. The highest titer of Sch47554 was achieved inStreptomycessp. SCC‐2136/ΔschA4(27.94 mg/L), which is significantly higher than the wild type. Our results indicate that SchA4 and SchA16 are repressors, whereas SchA21 acts as an activator. This work thus provides an initial understanding of functional roles of regulatory elements in the biosynthesis of Sch47554. Several efficient producing strains of Sch47554 were constructed by disrupting or overexpressing particular regulatory genes, which can be further engineered for industrial production of this medicinally important molecule.
Analytical comparison of emissions before and after using a three‐way catalyzer connected to an SI gas engine operating with methane, natural gas, biogas, and different syngas content
Authors: Nadaleti Willian Cézar , Przybyła Grzegorz , Lourenço Vitor Alves , Filho Paulo Belli
Published: April 2019

This work compares two studies in which the spark ignition gas engine test was used with typical biogases generated in the rice industry: Bio70 (Study 1), Bio65 (Study 2), Syngas1 and Syngas2 (in both studies). Methane (Study 1) and natural gas (Study 2) were also used. From these studies, three different ignition advance angles were chosen: 20°, 35°, and 55°, to compare and analyze the effects of these fuels and their mixtures inside the engine. The emissions were also evaluated using a three‐way catalytic converter connected to the engine. Study 1 demonstrated lower CO and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions than Study 2 for all conditions and all fuels, whereas NOx emissions varied according to the engine operating conditions (λ and ignition advance angle). Except in the case of the syngases, Study 1 demonstrated higher indicated efficiency, electrical efficiency, and electrical power than Study 2. After the use of the three‐way catalytic converter, HC and CO emissions were strongly reduced for all fuels and in different operational conditions. On the other hand, because the efficiency of the catalytic converter decreases abruptly in mixtures rich in NOx, this pollutant was not removed when λ > 1. The comparison of the two studies and the emissions after the use of a catalytic converter is important as it shows specific ways to improve the use and efficiency of the fuels to encourage the development of renewable energy both in industry and in the transport sector. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Colorimetric biosensor using dual‐amplification of enzyme‐free reaction through universal hybridization chain reaction system
Authors: Park Chae Rin , Rhee Won Jong , Kim Kyu Won , Hwang Byeong Hee
Published: April 2019

On‐site genetic detection needs to develop a sensitive and straightforward biosensor without special equipment, which can detect various genetic biomarkers. Hybridization chain reaction (HCR) amplifying signal isothermally could be considered as a good candidate for on‐site detection. Here, we developed a novel genetic biosensor on the basis of enzyme‐free dual‐amplification of universal hybridization chain reaction (uHCR) and hemin/G‐quadruplex horseradish peroxidase (HRP)‐mimicking DNAzyme. The uHCR is the strategy which enables simple design for multiple target detection by the introduction of target‐specific trigger hairpin without changing the whole system according to a target change. Also, HRP‐mimicking DNAzyme could produce a sensitive and quantitative colorimetric signal with increased stability with a limit of detection (LOD) of 5.67 nM. The universality of the uHCR biosensor was proven by the detection of four different targets (miR‐21, miR‐125b, KRAS‐Q61K, and BRAF‐V600E) for cancer diagnosis. The uHCR biosensor showed specificity that could discriminate single‐nucleotide polymorphism. Moreover, the uHCR biosensor could detect targets in the diluted serum sample. Overall, the uHCR biosensor demonstrated the potential for field testing with a simple redesign without complicated steps or special equipment using a universal hairpin system and enzyme‐free amplification. This strategy could enable stable and sensitive detection of a variety of targets. Therefore, it could be applied to urgent detection of various pathogens, remote diagnosis, and self‐screening of diseases.
Split‐enzyme fragment as a single affinity tag that enables protein expression, purification, and functional assays
Authors: Kim Sun Jin , Hatch Samuel T. , Dixon Andrew S. , Owen Shawn C.
Published: April 2019

Expressing, isolating, and characterizing recombinant proteins is crucial to many disciplines within the biological sciences. Different molecular tagging technologies have been developed to enable each individual step of protein production, from expression through purification and characterization. Monitoring the entire production process requires multiple tags or molecular interactions, because no individual tag has provided the comprehensive breadth of utility. An ideal molecular tag is small and does not interrupt expression, solubility, folding or function of the protein being purified and can be used throughout the production process. We adapted and integrated a split‐luciferase system (NanoBiT®, Promega
®) to perform the range of techniques essential to protein production. We developed a simple method to monitor protein expression in real time to optimize expression conditions. We constructed a novel affinity chromatography system using the split‐luciferase system to enable purification. We adapted western blot analysis, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and cell‐based bioassay to characterize the expressed proteins. Our results demonstrate that a single‐tag can fulfill all aspects needed throughout protein production.
Enhancing 5‐aminolevulinic acid tolerance and production by engineering the antioxidant defense system of Escherichia coli
Authors: Zhu Chengchao , Chen Jiuzhou , Wang Yu , Wang Lixian , Guo Xuan , Chen Ning , Zheng Ping , Sun Jibin , Ma Yanhe
Published: April 2019

5‐Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a value‐added compound with potential applications in the fields of agriculture and medicine. Although massive efforts have recently been devoted to building microbial producers of ALA through metabolic engineering, few studies focused on the cellular response and tolerance to ALA. In this study, we demonstrated that ALA caused severe cell damage and morphology change of Escherichia coli via generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), which were further determined to be mainly hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion radical. ALA treatment activated the native antioxidant defense system by upregulating catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression to combat ROS. Further overexpressing CAT (encoded by katG and katE) and SOD (encoded by sodA, sodB, and sodC) not only improved ALA tolerance but also its production level. Notably, coexpression of katE and sodB in an ALA synthase expressing strain enhanced the biomass and final ALA titer by 81% and 117% (11.5 g/L) in a 5 L bioreactor, respectively. This study demonstrates the importance of tolerance engineering in strain development. Reinforcing the antioxidant defense system holds promise to improve the bioproduction of chemicals that cause oxidative stress.
Effect of gene copy number and chaperone coexpression on recombinant hydrophobin HFBI biosurfactant production in Pichia pastoris
Authors: Sallada Nathanael D. , Harkins Lauren E. , Berger Bryan W.
Published: April 2019

Hydrophobins are small highly surface‐active fungal proteins with potential as biosurfactants in a wide array of applications. However, practical implementation of hydrophobins at large scale has been hindered by low recombinant yields. In this study, the effects of increasing hydrophobin gene copy number and overexpressing endoplasmic reticulum resident chaperone proteins Kar2p, Pdi1p, and Ero1p were explored as a means to enhance recombinant yields of the class II hydrophobin HFBI in the eukaryotic expression host Pichia pastoris. One‐, 2‐, and 3‐copy‐HFBI strains were attained using an in vitro multimer ligation approach, with strains displaying copy number stability following subsequent transformations as measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Increasing HFBI copy number alone had no effect on increasing HFBI secretion, but increasing copy number in concert with chaperone overexpression synergistically increased HFBI secretion. Overexpression of PDI1 or ERO1 caused insignificant changes in HFBI secretion in 1‐ and 2‐copy strains, but a statistically significant HFBI secretion increase in 3‐copy strain. KAR2 overexpression consistently resulted in enhanced HFBI secretion in all copy number strains, with 3‐copy‐HFBI secreting 22±1.6 fold more than the 1‐copy‐HFBI/no chaperone strain. The highest increase was seen in 3‐copy‐HFBI/Ero1p overexpressing strain with 30±4.0 fold increase in HFBI secretion over 1‐copy‐HFBI/no chaperone strain. This corresponded to an expression level of approximately 330 mg/L HFBI in the 5 ml small‐scale format used in this study.
Green innovation and knowledge: The role of size
Authors: Martínez‐Ros Ester , Kunapatarawong Rasi
Published: April 2019

This paper reports research on relationship between firm's knowledge sourcing strategy and green innovation. The data are taken from Spanish Technological Innovation Panel survey during 2007–2011. The study contributed to the literature by focusing on the moderating role of firm size on the relationship between knowledge sources and green innovations. Results from over 5,000 firms indicate a shift in the focus from internal knowledge to external knowledge when developing green innovations as firms grow in size. Despite benefits from broad knowledge search on green innovations, the relationship has an inverted U shape. The diminishing returns of knowledge breadth on green innovations are present for smaller firms and disappearing as firms get larger. Government policies promoting more coordination and knowledge complementarity between private and public sector will help to influence more knowledge transfer, ensuring a more sustainable and green economy.
Clinical and histopathological characteristics and survival analysis of 4594 Japanese patients with melanoma
Authors: Fujisawa Yasuhiro , Yoshikawa Shusuke , Minagawa Akane , Takenouchi Tatsuya , Yokota Kenji , Uchi Hiroshi , Noma Naoki , Nakamura Yasuhiro , Asai Jun , Kato Junji , Fujiwara Susumu , Fukushima Satoshi , Uehara Jiro , Hoashi Toshihiko , Kaji Tatsuya , Fujimura Taku , Namikawa Kenjiro , Yoshioka Manabu , Murao Naoki , Ogata Dai , Matsuyama Kanako , Hatta Naohito , Shibayama Yoshitsugu , Fujiyama Toshiharu , Ishikawa Masashi , Yamada Daisuke , Kishi Akiko , Nakamura Yoshiyuki , Shimiauchi Takatoshi , Fujii Kazuyasu , Fujimoto Manabu , Ihn Hironobu , Katoh Norito
Published: April 2019

Background

The incidence of melanoma among those of an Asian ethnicity is lower than in Caucasians; few large‐scale Asian studies that include follow‐up data have been reported.

Objectives

To investigate the clinical characteristics of Japanese patients with melanoma and to evaluate the prognostic factors.

Methods

Detailed patient information was collected from the database of Japanese Melanoma Study Group of the Japanese Skin Cancer Society. The American Joint Committee on Cancer seventh Edition system was used for TNM classification. The Kaplan‐Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model were used to estimate the impact of clinical and histological parameters on disease‐specific survival in patients with invasive melanoma.

Results

In total, 4594 patients were included in this analysis. The most common clinical type was acral lentiginous melanoma (40.4%) followed by superficial spreading melanoma (20.5%), nodular melanoma (10.0%), mucosal melanoma (9.5%), and lentigo maligna melanoma (8.1%). The 5‐year disease‐specific survival for each stage was as follows: IA = 98.0%, IB = 93.9%, IIA = 94.8%, IIB = 82.4%, IIC = 71.8%, IIIA = 75.0%, IIIB = 61.3%, IIIC = 41.7%, and IV = 17.7%. Although multivariate analysis showed that clinical classifications were not associated with survival across all stages, acral type was an independent poor prognostic factor in stage IIIA.

Conclusions

Our study revealed the characteristics of melanoma in the Japanese population. The 5‐year disease‐specific survival of each stage showed a similar trend to that of Caucasians. While clinical classification was not associated with survival in any stages, acral type was associated with poor survival in stage IIIA. Our result might indicate the aggressiveness of acral type in certain populations.
PHD finger protein 5A promoted lung adenocarcinoma progression via alternative splicing
Authors: Mao Shuangshuang , Li Yuan , Lu Zhiliang , Che Yun , Huang Jianbing , Lei Yuanyuan , Wang Yalong , Liu Chengming , Wang Xinfeng , Zheng Sufei , Sun Nan , He Jie
Published: April 2019

Alternative splicing (AS) and the regulation of AS by splicing factors play critical roles in cancer. Plant homeodomain (PHD)–finger domain protein PHF5A, a critical splicing factor involved in AS, has been demonstrated to play an oncogenic role in glioblastoma multiforme and breast cancer, but its biological function in lung cancer remains unclear. In the present study, we systematically analyzed the biological function and clinical relevance of PHF5A in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We found that PHF5A was significantly upregulated in NSCLC tumors compared with normal tissues in both TCGA data set and tissue microarrays. Upregulation of PHF5A was negatively correlated to the overall survival (OS) of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients. Loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function experiments confirmed that PHF5A functioned as an oncoprotein by promoting LUAD cell proliferation, migration and invasion, inducing G0/G1 cell cycle progression and inhibiting cisplatin–induced apoptosis. RNA–seq analysis identified many essential genes whose AS was dysregulated by PHF5A, including cell cycle–associated genes such as SKP2, CHEK2, ATR and apoptosis–associated genes such as API5 and BCL2L13. Additionally, pladienolide, a small molecular inhibitor of PHF5A, inhibited LUAD cell proliferation in a dose–dependent manner and induced AS changes similar to PHF5A knockdown. In conclusion, we validated that PHF5A played an oncogenic role via AS in LUAD and suggested that PHF5A might serve as a potential drug target with a promising anticancer therapeutic effect.