bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cosmetic colouring by Bearded Vultures Gypaetus barbatus: still no evidence for an antibacterial function
Authors: Margalida Antoni , Braun Markus S. , Negro Juan José , Schulze-Hagen Karl , Wink Michael
Published: May 2019

Bearded Vultures regularly visit ferruginous springs for cosmetic purposes to obtain their reddish plumage colouration. Different hypotheses have been proposed to explain this deliberate application of adventitious colouration: (1) to signal individual dominance status; (2) to exploit an anti-bacterial effect of iron oxides or ochre to reduce feather degradation by bacteria and, in parallel (3) to enable incubating birds to transfer this protection to their developing embryos to increase hatching success. Here, we re-evaluate the antibacterial hypothesis using three experimental approaches: (a) by applying feather-degrading bacteria to stained and unstained bearded vulture feathers; (b) by assessing the antibacterial activity of ochre; and (c) by comparing the breeding success of orange individuals with pale ones. Our findings suggest that the in vitro addition of feather degrading Bacillus licheniformis to naturally stained Bearded Vulture feathers did not retard feather degradation compared to controls. Iron particles from red soil (ochre) or iron salts had no antibacterial effect on the growth of three species of bacteria (Escherichia coli, Kocuria rhizophila and Bacillus licheniformis), incubated either in the dark or under visible light. Finally, breeding success did not differ between territories occupied by pale individuals versus orange ones. These results run counter to the hypothesis that iron oxides have an antibacterial role in Bearded Vultures. The use of red soils by Bearded Vultures may function as a territorial status signal, but may also be involved in other processes, such as pair formation and the long-term maintenance of the pair bond, as suggested for the closely related Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus.
Foot pressure distribution in White Rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum) during walking
Authors: Panagiotopoulou Olga , Pataky Todd C. , Hutchinson John R.
Published: May 2019

White rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum) are odd-toed ungulates that belong to the group Perissodactyla. Being second only to elephants in terms of large body mass amongst extant tetrapods, rhinoceroses make fascinating subjects for the study of how large land animals support and move themselves. Rhinoceroses often are kept in captivity for protection from ivory poachers and for educational/touristic purposes, yet a detrimental side effect of captivity can be foot disease (i.e., enthesopathies and osteoarthritis around the phalanges). Foot diseases in large mammals are multifactorial, but locomotor biomechanics (e.g., pressures routinely experienced by the feet) surely can be a contributing factor. However, due to a lack of in vivo experimental data on rhinoceros foot pressures, our knowledge of locomotor performance and its links to foot disease is limited. The overall aim of this study was to characterize peak pressures and center of pressure trajectories in white rhinoceroses during walking. We asked two major questions. First, are peak locomotor pressures the lowest around the fat pad and its lobes (as in the case of elephants)? Second, are peak locomotor pressures concentrated around the areas with the highest reported incidence of pathologies? Our results show a reduction of pressures around the fat pad and its lobes, which is potentially due to the material properties of the fat pad or a tendency to avoid or limit “heel” contact at impact. We also found an even and gradual concentration of foot pressures across all digits, which may be a by-product of the more horizontal foot roll-off during the stance phase. While our exploratory, descriptive sample precluded hypothesis testing, our study provides important new data on rhinoceros locomotion for future studies to build on, and thus impetus for improved implementation in the care of captive/managed rhinoceroses.
Retrotransposon-based genetic variation ofPoa annuapopulations from contrasting climate conditions
Authors: Androsiuk Piotr , Koc Justyna , Chwedorzewska Katarzyna Joanna , Górecki Ryszard , Giełwanowska Irena
Published: May 2019

Background

Poa annuaL. is an example of a plant characterized by abundant, worldwide distribution from polar to equatorial regions. Due to its high plasticity and extraordinary expansiveness,P. annuais considered an invasive species capable of occupying and surviving in a wide range of habitats including pioneer zones, areas intensively transformed by human activities, remote subarctic meadows and even the Antarctic Peninsula region.

Methods

In the present study, we evaluated the utility of inter-primer binding site (iPBS) markers for assessing the genetic variation ofP. annuapopulations representing contrasting environments from the worldwide range of this species. The electrophoretic patterns of polymerase chain reaction products obtained for each individual were used to estimate the genetic diversity and differentiation between populations.

Results

iPBS genotyping revealed a pattern of genetic variation differentiating the six studiedP. annuapopulations characterized by their different climatic conditions. According to the analysis of molecular variance, the greatest genetic variation was recorded among populations, whereas 41.75% was observed between individuals within populations. The results of principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and model-based clustering analysis showed a clear subdivision of analyzed populations. According to PCoA, populations from Siberia and the Kola Peninsula were the most different from each other and showed the lowest genetic variability. The application of STRUCTURE software confirmed the unique character of the population from the Kola Peninsula.

Discussion

The lowest variability of the Siberia population suggested that it was subjected to genetic drift. However, although demographic expansion was indicated by negative values of Fu’sFSstatistic and analysis of mismatch distribution, it was not followed by significant traces of a bottleneck or a founder effect. For the Antarctic population, the observed level of genetic variation was surprisingly high, despite the observed significant traces of bottleneck/founder effect following demographic expansion, and was similar to that observed in populations from Poland and the Balkans. For the Antarctic population, the multiple introduction events from different sources are considered to be responsible for such an observation. Moreover, the results of STRUCTURE and PCoA showed that theP. annuafrom Antarctica has the highest genetic similarity to populations from Europe.

Conclusions

The observed polymorphism should be considered as a consequence of the joint influence of external abiotic stress and the selection process. Environmental changes, due to their ability to induce transposon activation, lead to the acceleration of evolutionary processes through the production of genetic variability.
Effects of water level fluctuation on thermal stratification in a typical tributary bay of Three Gorges Reservoir, China
Authors: Jin Juxiang , Wells Scott A. , Liu Defu , Yang Guolu , Zhu Senlin , Ma Jun , Yang Zhengjian
Published: May 2019

Xiangxi River is a typical tributary of Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) in China. Based on field observations in 2010, thermal stratification was significant in most months of the year. Through field data analysis and numerical simulations, the seasonal and spatial variation of thermal stratification as related to the impact of the operation of TGR were investigated. Thermal stratification was most pronounced from April to September in the Xiangxi River tributary. Air temperature (AT) and water level (WL) were the two dominant variables impacting thermal stratification. AT affected the surface water temperature promoting the formation of thermal stratification, and high WLs in TGR deepened the thermocline depth and thermocline bottom depth. These results provide a preliminary description of the seasonal variation and spatial distribution of thermal stratification, which is important for better understanding how thermal stratification affects algae blooms in Xiangxi River.
Polyphosphazene Polymer
Authors: Ogueri Kenneth S. , Allcock Harry R. , Laurencin Cato T.
Published: May 2019

Polyphosphazenes are a unique class of inorganic–organic hybrid polymers with a backbone composed of alternating phosphorus and nitrogen atoms. The ease with which the precursor prepolymer poly(dichlorophosphazene) can be modified has resulted in a versatile polymer system. The labile nature of the P−Cl bonds has allowed the substitution of chlorine atoms with groups like alkoxy‐, aryloxy, alkyl ether, fluoroalkoxy, amino acid/peptide esters, drug molecules, transition metal groups, and many more. Careful selection of the side groups offers efficient control of material properties such as bioactivity, crystallinity, solubility, and surface characteristics. Hence, these properties have led to the use of this exceptional class of polymers in a broad range of applications such as biomaterials for regenerative engineering and drug delivery, elastomers, solid membranes for gas/liquid separation, optical materials, flame retardants, and electrolytes for energy storage cells. This article gives an overview of the synthetic routes of polyphosphazene polymers and their composition–structure–properties relationships and highlights their applications in various fields.
A Passive Thermal Switch with Kirigami‐Inspired Mesostructures
Authors: Heo Hyeonu , Li Shouhang , Bao Hua , Ju Jaehyung
Published: May 2019

The objective of this work is to design a passive thermal switch with Kirigami‐inspired architected materials composed of bilayer hinges and to analyze thermomechanical and thermal performance at the ON/OFF states based on a composition of materials and geometry of metamaterials. Analytical models are constructed to determine the thermal deformation and heat transport of the metamaterial, followed by finite element‐based simulations. A two‐step design approach − i) selection of multi‐materials and ii) geometric modification of mesostructures provides a robust method for the design of a passive thermal switch with Kirigami‐inspired metamaterials. The mesostructures designed have potential as a passive thermal switch enabling to engineer a large thermal deformation, a small thermal resistance, and a sizable thermal switch ratio. With a systematic approach, this work demonstrates that Kirigami structures with multi‐materials can be potentially used for a tool of thermal transport.
Fe3C‐Co Nanoparticles Encapsulated in a Hierarchical Structure of N‐Doped Carbon as a Multifunctional Electrocatalyst for ORR, OER, and HER
Authors: Yang Chun Cheng , Zai Shi Feng , Zhou Yi Tong , Du Li , Jiang Qing
Published: May 2019

Rational design of non‐noble metal catalysts with robust and durable electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is extremely important for renewable energy conversion and storage, regenerative fuel cells, rechargeable metal–air batteries, water splitting etc. In this work, a unique hybrid material consisting of Fe3C and Co nanoparticles encapsulated in a nanoporous hierarchical structure of N‐doped carbon (Fe3C‐Co/NC) is fabricated for the first time via a facile template‐removal method. Such an ingenious structure shows great features: the marriage of 1D carbon nanotubes and 2D carbon nanosheets, abundant active sites resulting from various active species of Fe3C, Co, and NC, mesoporous carbon structure, and intimate integration among Fe3C, Co, and NC. As a multifunctional electrocatalyst, the Fe3C‐Co/NC hybrid exhibits excellent performance for ORR, OER, and HER, outperforming most of reported triple functional electrocatalysts. This study provides a new perspective to construct multifunctional catalysts with well‐designed structure and superior performance for clean energy conversion technologies.
Stabilized Molybdenum Trioxide Nanowires as Novel Ultrahigh‐Capacity Cathode for Rechargeable Zinc Ion Battery
Authors: He Xinjun , Zhang Haozhe , Zhao Xingyu , Zhang Peng , Chen Minghua , Zheng Zhikun , Han Zhiji , Zhu Tingshun , Tong Yexiang , Lu Xihong
Published: May 2019

Exploration of high‐performance cathode materials for rechargeable aqueous Zn ion batteries (ZIBs) is highly desirable. The potential of molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) in other electrochemical energy storage devices has been revealed but held understudied in ZIBs. Herein, a demonstration of orthorhombic MoO3 as an ultrahigh‐capacity cathode material in ZIBs is presented. The energy storage mechanism of the MoO3 nanowires based on Zn2+ intercalation/deintercalation and its electrochemical instability mechanism are particularly investigated and elucidated. The severe capacity decay of the MoO3 nanowires during charging/discharging cycles arises from the dissolution and the structural collapse of MoO3 in aqueous electrolyte. To this end, an effective strategy to stabilize MoO3 nanowires by using a quasi‐solid‐state poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA)/ZnCl2 gel electrolyte to replace the aqueous electrolyte is developed. The capacity retention of the assembled ZIBs after 400 charge/discharge cycles at 6.0 A g−1 is significantly boosted, from 27.1% (in aqueous electrolyte) to 70.4% (in gel electrolyte). More remarkably, the stabilized quasi‐solid‐state ZIBs achieve an attracting areal capacity of 2.65 mAh cm−2 and a gravimetric capacity of 241.3 mAh g−1 at 0.4 A g−1, outperforming most of recently reported ZIBs.
Life course associations of height, weight, fatness, grip strength, and all‐cause mortality for high socioeconomic status Guatemalans
Authors: Mansukoski Liina , Johnson William , Brooke‐Wavell Katherine , Galvez‐Sobral J. Andres , Furlan Luis , Cole Tim J. , Bogin Barry
Published: May 2019

Objectives

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between physical growth in preadult life with five outcomes at ages 64 to 76: weight, body mass index (BMI), estimated body fat percentage, hand grip strength, and mortality.

Methods

Super‐imposition by translation and rotation (SITAR) growth curves of 40 484 Guatemalan individuals aged 3 to 19 years were modeled for the parameters of size, timing and intensity (peak growth velocity, eg, cm/year) of height, weight, BMI, and grip strength. Associations between the SITAR parameters and old age outcomes were tested using linear and binary logistic regression for a follow‐up sample of high socioeconomic status (SES) Guatemalans, of whom 50 were aged 64 to 76 years at re‐measurement and 45 died prior to the year 2017.

Results

SITAR models explained 69% to 98% of the variance in each outcome, with height the most precise. Individuals in the follow‐up sample who had a higher BMI before the age of 20 years had higher estimated body fat (B = 1.4 CI −0.02‐2.8) and BMI (B = 1.2, CI 0.2‐2.2) at the ages of 64 to 76 years. Those who grew slower in height but faster in weight and BMI before the age of 20 years had higher BMI and body fat later in life.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the importance of a life course perspective on health and mortality risk. Childhood exposures leading to variation in preadult growth may be key to better understanding health and mortality risks in old age.
Estimation of surgeons’ ergonomic dynamics with a structured light system during endoscopic surgery
Authors: Lobo David , Anuarbe Pedro , López‐Higuera José Miguel , Viera Jaime , Castillo Nathalia , Megía Roberto
Published: May 2019

Background

The purpose of this study was to use motion capture to collect body posture information during simulated endoscopic sinus surgery interventions performed by both specialists and residents in standing and sitting positions and to analyze that information with the validated Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) tool, which allows calculation of a risk index of musculoskeletal overload.

Methods

Bilateral endoscopic sinus surgery was performed in 5 cadaver heads by 2 residents, and 4 practicing rhinologists. Musculoskeletal symptoms were evaluated before and after the dissection. Full‐body postural data were collected with the help of Kinect and a .NET WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) software application to record images of the surgical procedures, and then analyzed with the RULA tool to calculate a risk score indicative of the exposure of the individual surgeon to ergonomic risk factors associated with upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders.

Results

All subjects reported physical discomfort after nasal endoscopic procedures. An overall similar RULA score was obtained by the residents and the practicing rhinologists. The RULA score was slightly lower for the sitting position than for the standing position, mostly due to a lower score in group B (neck, trunk, and leg); however, the RULA score for group A (arm and wrist analysis) was higher, denoting a higher risk for the upper back and arms.

Conclusion

Significant musculoskeletal symptoms were reported after an endoscopic operation by both the resident and the practicing otolaryngologists. All surgeons obtained a high RULA score, meaning that urgent changes are required in the task.
Effects of coal ash on iron‐based oxygen carrier in chemical‐looping combustion using three different rank coals as fuel
Authors: Zhang Zhifeng , Wang Yifei , Zhu Longchu , Li Jilin , Wang Fuchen , Yu Guangsuo
Published: May 2019

The combustion characteristics vary with coal rank changes, and coal ash has a significant effect on chemical looping combustion. In this work, combustion experiments of three coals and their acid‐washing samples were carried out in a bench‐scale fluidized bed reactor. The results showed that low‐rank coal had higher reactivity and shorter reduction time. On account of high volatility and low density, combustion efficiency of high volatile coal was lower than high‐rank coal resulting in lower CO2 concentration. CO2 concentration in combustion products of GY was up to 99.95%, but it was 91.2% for SF. The composition and content of coal ash had a great influence on the activity of the iron‐based oxygen carrier. Reactivity of the oxygen carrier was significantly increased after burning high Ca content coal, and ash shortened reduction time from 46 to 35 min. The coal with high Si content had negative effect on the reactivity of oxygen carriers. The coal ash mainly affected the oxygen carrier at the later stage of the reduction.
Effect of polyaspartic acid‐functionalized graphene oxide on the mechanical performance of polyimide‐based composites
Authors: Yuan Rui , Wu Yanping , Ju Pengfei , Ji Li , Li Hongxuan , Chen Lei , Zhou Huidi , Chen Jianmin
Published: May 2019

Graphene oxide (GO) can improve the mechanical property of polymer matrix greatly. However, its poor dispersibility may considerably lower reinforcing efficiency. To address this problem, the environment‐friendly polyaspartic acid (PASP) was adopted to modify GO through two generally modified methods: hydrogen bond adsorption and chemical graft modification. Findings indicate that the covalent bond grafted PASP–GO exhibits better dispersibility than the product by noncovalent method (PASP/GO‐noncovalent). For chemically grafted PASP–GO, the nearly spherical polymer nanoparticles are formed on the GO nanosheets through self‐polymerization, and its size can be well manipulated by adjusting the dosage of PASP so as to yield PASP–GO‐1/4, PASP–GO‐1/2, and PASP–GO‐1/1 (mass ratio: mPASP/mGO = 1/4, 1/2, and 1/1); the corresponding diameters of these polymer aggregates are 56.4 ± 7.1, 90.1 ± 12.6, and 151.2 ± 16.1 nm. They are further utilized to reinforce polyimide matrix. Compared with the PASP–GO‐1/2 and PASP–GO‐1/1, the smaller PASP–GO‐1/4 has better strengthening effect, due to its high specific surface area and dense distribution. This desirable fabrication of GO‐based nanofillers provides a new avenue on the development of polymer matrix with comprehensive performances. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47939.
Adaptive finite‐time neural network control for redundant parallel manipulators
Authors: Nguyen Van‐Truong , Su Shun‐Feng , Wang Ning , Sun Wei
Published: May 2019

This paper reports our study of an adaptive finite‐time neural network control scheme for redundant parallel manipulators. The proposed controller is based on fully tuned radial basis function neural networks (RBFNs), nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode control (NFTSMC), and nonlinearities in output feedback. RBFNs with a fully online update on the output weights and both the centers and variances of Gaussian functions are used to estimate system uncertainties and disturbances. The proposed approach possesses several advantages over other existing approaches like robustness, rapid response, nonsingularity, higher precision, finite‐time convergence, and better tracking control performance. The stability of the parallel manipulators is ensured by the Lyapunov theory. Finally, simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
A weighted partial likelihood approach for zero‐truncated models
Authors: Hwang Wen‐Han , Heinze Dean , Stoklosa Jakub
Published: May 2019

Zero‐truncated data arises in various disciplines where counts are observed but the zero count category cannot be observed during sampling. Maximum likelihood estimation can be used to model these data; however, due to its nonstandard form it cannot be easily implemented using well‐known software packages, and additional programming is often required. Motivated by the Rao–Blackwell theorem, we develop a weighted partial likelihood approach to estimate model parameters for zero‐truncated binomial and Poisson data. The resulting estimating function is equivalent to a weighted score function for standard count data models, and allows for applying readily available software. We evaluate the efficiency for this new approach and show that it performs almost as well as maximum likelihood estimation. The weighted partial likelihood approach is then extended to regression modelling and variable selection. We examine the performance of the proposed methods through simulation and present two case studies using real data.
Osteogenic potential of zingerone, a phenolic compound in mouse mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Srinaath Narasimhan , Balagangadharan Kalimuthu , Pooja Vikraman , Paarkavi Udhaykumar , Trishla Adhikari , Selvamurugan Nagarajan
Published: May 2019

Zingerone, 4‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)‐2‐butanone (Zg), a phenolic compound isolated from ginger is reported to have anti‐inflammatory and antidiabetic properties. However, its role in the promotion of osteogenesis is not known. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of Zg on osteogenesis at the cellular and molecular levels. Zg treatment was nontoxic to mouse mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs). At the cellular level, it enhanced osteoblast differentiation as evidenced by more calcium deposits. At the molecular level, Zg stimulated the expression of Runx2 (a bone transcription factor) and other marker genes of osteoblast differentiation in mMSCs. Recent studies indicated that microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate bone metabolism, and we identified that Zg treatment in mMSCs upregulated mir‐590, a positive regulator of Runx2 by targeting Smad7, an antagonist of TGF‐β1 signaling. Thus, the osteogenic potential of Zg would be beneficial for treating bone and bone‐related diseases.
Layer‐by‐layer nanoparticles for novel delivery of cisplatin and PARP inhibitors for platinum‐based drug resistance therapy in ovarian cancer
Authors: Mensah Lawrence B. , Morton Stephen W. , Li Jiahe , Xiao Haihua , Quadir Mohiuddin A. , Elias Kevin M. , Penn Emily , Richson Aysen K. , Ghoroghchian Paiman Peter , Liu Joyce , Hammond Paula T.
Published: May 2019

Advanced staged high‐grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the leading cause of gynecological cancer death in the developed world, with 5‐year survival rates of only 25–30% due to late‐stage diagnosis and the shortcomings of platinum‐based therapies. A Phase I clinical trial of a combination of free cisplatin and poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) showed therapeutic benefit for HGSOC. In this study, we address the challenge of resistance to platinum‐based therapy by developing a targeted delivery approach. Novel electrostatic layer‐by‐layer (LbL) liposomal nanoparticles (NPs) with a terminal hyaluronic acid layer that facilitates CD44 receptor targeting are designed for selective targeting of HGSOC cells; the liposomes can be formulated to contain both cisplatin and the PARPi drug within the liposomal core and bilayer. The therapeutic effectiveness of LbL NP‐encapsulated cisplatin and PARPi alone and in combination was compared with the corresponding free drugs in luciferase and CD44‐expressing OVCAR8 orthotopic xenografts in female nude mice. The NPs exhibited prolonged blood circulation half‐life, mechanistic staged drug release and targeted codelivery of the therapeutic agents to HGSOC cells. Moreover, compared to the free drugs, the NPs resulted in significantly reduced tumor metastasis, extended survival, and moderated systemic toxicity.
Limiting the metabolic burden of recombinant protein expression during selection yields pools with higher expression levels
Authors: Ong E‐Ching , Smidt Pauline , McGrew Jeffrey T.
Published: May 2019

In order to avoid the metabolic burden of protein expression during cell growth, and to avoid potential toxicity of recombinant proteins, microbial expression systems typically utilize regulated expression vectors. In contrast, constitutive expression vectors have usually been utilized for isolation of protein expressing mammalian cell lines. In mammalian systems, inducible expression vectors are typically utilized for only those proteins that are toxic when overexpressed. We developed a tetracycline regulated expression system in CHO cells, and show that cell pools selected in the uninduced state recover faster than those selected in the induced state even though the proteins showed no apparent toxicity or expression instability. Furthermore, cell pools selected in the uninduced state had higher expression levels when protein expression was turned on only in production cultures compared to pools that were selected and maintained in the induced state through production. We show a titer improvement of greater than twofold for an Fc‐fusion protein and greater than 50% improvement for a recombinant antibody. The improvement is primarily due to an increase in specific productivity. Recombinant protein mRNA levels correlate strongly with protein expression levels and are highest in those cultures selected in the uninduced state and only induced during production. These data are consistent with a model where CHO cell lines with constitutive expression select for subclones with lower expression levels.
Dynamic urinary proteomic analysis in a Walker 256 intracerebral tumor model
Authors: Zhang Linpei , Li Yuqiu , Meng Wenshu , Ni Yanying , Gao Youhe
Published: May 2019

Background

Patients with primary and metastatic brain cancer have an extremely poor prognosis, mostly due to the late diagnosis of disease. Urine, which lacks homeostatic mechanisms, is an ideal biomarker source that accumulates early and highly sensitive changes to provide information about the early stage of disease.

Methods

A rat model mimicking the local tumor growth process in the brain was established with intracerebral Walker 256 (W256) cell injection. Urine samples were collected on days 3, 5, and 8 after injection, and then analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry.

Results

In the intracerebral W256 model, no obvious clinical manifestations or abnormal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signals were found on days 3 or 5; at these time points, 9 proteins were changed significantly in the urine of all eight tumor rats. On day 8, when tumors were detected by MRI, 25 differential proteins were identified, including 10 that have been reported to be closely related to brain metastasis or primary tumors. The differential urinary proteome was compared with those from the subcutaneous W256 model and the intracerebral C6 model. Few differential proteins overlapped, and specific differential protein patterns were observed among the three models.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate that early changes in the urine proteome can be detected in the intracerebral W256 model. The urinary proteome can reflect the difference when tumor cells with different growth characteristics are inoculated into the brain and when identical tumor cells are inoculated into different areas, specifically, the subcutis and the brain.
Electrons and Holes as Catalysts in Organic Electrosynthesis
Authors: Francke Robert , Little R. Daniel
Published: May 2019

The injection (or removal) of electrons into (or from) a substrate by an electrode can effectively catalyze various redox‐neutral reactions that otherwise require harsh conditions and/or the use of reagents. Such processes involve the electrogeneration of an ionic or radical ionic species, which after a coupled chemical step either undergoes a backward electron exchange with the electrode (ECEb mechanism) or triggers a chain process in the bulk solution. Under these circumstances, sub‐stoichiometric amounts of charge are sufficient to achieve a full conversion and conceptionally, the electrons and holes can be understood as being catalysts. This principle has been successfully applied to accomplish a number of redox‐neutral transformations such as molecular rearrangements, Diels‐Alder‐type cycloadditions and radical substitution reactions (SRN1) in a mild and atom‐economical fashion. Although examples have been reported but sporadically since the early 1970s, a number of exciting recent developments have led us to review and discuss these cases using unifying mechanistic concepts that are described herein.
Tapping Renewables: A New Dawn for Organic Electrosynthesis in Aqueous Reaction Media
Authors: Harnisch Falk , Schröder Uwe
Published: May 2019

The birthplace of organic electrochemistry was an aqueous solution, with a biogenic, renewable compound being the reactant of the first organic electrosynthesis. Now, 170 years later, the relevance of electrosynthesis is rising again and, hence, the original work comes to the fore. Water is considered a green solvent, biogenic compounds increasingly replace fossil compounds as a feedstock for the chemical industry, and electrosynthesis bridges energy and chemistry sector. In this Minireview, we advocate the use of water as the solvent for electrochemical conversion of biogenic organic compounds. We show that, although the use of water may put certain constraints on organic electrosynthesis, using aqueous reaction media opens interesting perspectives. As illustrated on selected examples, synergies can be created for the conversion of oxygenates, for hydrogenation and hydrodeoxygenation reactions, product separation and in coupling electrochemical and biochemical processes.
Reduced Graphene Oxide Boosted Ultrafine Cu2SnS3 Nanoparticles for High‐performance Sodium Storage
Authors: Fu Lin , Li Guocheng , Shang Chaoqun , Mao Eryang , Huang Lanyan , Wang Xiancheng , Ma Ge , Wang Xin , Zhou Guofu
Published: May 2019

Ternary Sn‐based sulfides have been considered as potential anode materials for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) due to their unique composition and high theoretical specific capacities. However, such kind of materials suffers from sluggish kinetics and huge volumetric variation resulting from the large ionic size of the sodium ions during the battery operation process. Herein, we use a facile hydrothermal method to prepare Cu2SnS3/reduced graphene oxide (CTS/RGO) composite. Characterizations reveal that CTS/RGO consists of ultrafine CTS nanoparticles with uniform and small size, which are anchored uniformly on the surface of RGO sheets. Benefited from the unique structure feature, CTS/RGO has a high reversible capacity of 566.8 mA h g−1, good cycle stability and rate capability even at a high current density of 3200 mA g−1, which is superior to that of bare CTS. The improved performances are ascribed to the unique structure with anchoring ultrafine CTS nanoparticles on the surface of high conductive and flexible RGO sheets, which can greatly enhance electrochemical reaction kinetics and effectively alleviate volume effect of the active materials.
Well‐Aligned Hierarchical Graphene‐Based Electrodes for Pseudocapacitors with Outstanding Low‐Temperature Stability
Authors: Kong Jing , Xiong Guoping , Bo Zheng , Lu Xinchao , Yi Kexin , Kuang Wenhao , Yang Shiling , Yang Huachao , Tian Siyu , Yan Jianhua , Cen Kefa
Published: May 2019

The relatively poor performance stability of pseudocapacitors over a wide temperature window (i. e. temperature stability), particularly at low temperatures, hinders their practical applications. Here, well‐aligned hierarchical pseudocapacitive electrodes are fabricated, featuring run‐through channels in a graphene network (GN) as ion‐buffering reservoirs, open inter‐sheet channels between vertical graphene nanosheets (VGNSs) for fast ion transport and MnO2 nanopetals on VGNSs for efficient interfacial pseudocapacitive reactions. With reduced ion diffusion length and charge‐transfer resistance as well as improved ion‐transport rate, the capacitance of pseudocapacitive electrodes decreases from 541 to 490 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 as the temperature drops from 25 to 0 °C, revealing a high capacitance retention of 90.7 %. Furthermore, the specific capacitance of a symmetric device based on the hierarchical electrodes at −30 °C maintains 80.8 % of the room‐temperature capacitance. Such outstanding temperature stability is comparable to the state‐of‐the‐art electric double‐layer capacitors. Importantly, 86.0 % of capacitance is retained after repeated heating and cooling at temperatures ranging from −30 to 60 °C for 5000 cycles. Asymmetric supercapacitors with the hierarchical architecture in the positive electrode exhibit stable performance over a wide temperature range. These results demonstrate the rationality of the electrode design for practical energy storage applications in harsh temperature environments.
Establishing a common metric for self‐reported anxiety in patients with prostate cancer: Linking the Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer with PROMIS Anxiety
Authors: Victorson David , Schalet Benjamin D. , Kundu Shilajit , Helfand Brian T. , Novakovic Kristian , Penedo Frank , Cella David
Published: May 2019

Background

Anxiety is a common patient concern and clinical endpoint in prostate cancer outcomes research. It is measured using different self‐report instruments that are not directly comparable, thereby making clinical trials, clinical performance measurement, and comparative effectiveness research challenging when anxiety is the outcome of interest. The objective of the current study was to enable a common reporting metric of anxiety so that scores on commonly used anxiety measures could be converted into Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores for ease of application, interpretation, and comparability.

Methods

Using an internet health panel, a total of 806 men with clinically localized prostate cancer completed items from the National Institutes of Health PROMIS Anxiety Short Form (version 7a) and the 18‐item Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer (MAX‐PC). A common metric was created using analyses based on item response theory, producing score crosswalk tables. The linking relationships were evaluated by resampling small subsets and estimating confidence intervals for the differences between the observed and linked PROMIS scores.

Results

Results of factor analysis and item response theory model fit supported the hypothesis that both scales measure essentially the same concept. Therefore, crosswalk tables appear to be justified and increasingly robust with increasing sample sizes.

Conclusions

MAX‐PC Anxiety results can be expressed on the PROMIS Anxiety metric for the purposes of clinical performance measurement, clinical trial outcomes, comparative effectiveness research, and other efforts to compare anxiety results across studies that use any one of these measures.
Cytomorphologic comparison of type 1 and type 2 papillary renal cell carcinoma: A retrospective analysis of 28 cases
Authors: Magers Martin J. , Perrino Carmen M. , Cramer Harvey M. , Wu Howard H.
Published: May 2019

Background

Papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) is classified as type 1 or type 2 on the basis of histomorphologic features. Type 1 pRCC typically carries a better prognosis, and renal cell carcinoma is often diagnosed by fine‐needle aspiration (FNA). Thus, this study was designed to characterize cytomorphologic features present in FNA cases that could be used to discriminate between type 1 and type 2 pRCC.

Methods

Electronic records of Indiana University were searched for pRCC FNA cases (2007‐2018). Corresponding surgical pathology reports were reviewed to classify patients as having type 1 or type 2 pRCC. FNA slides were reviewed to assess cytomorphologic features (ie, nuclear grade; cell size; cytoplasmic volume and quality; and the presence of single cells, papillary clusters, nuclear grooves, foamy histiocytes, hemosiderin pigment, psammoma bodies, and hyaline globules). A semiquantitative score was assigned to each feature. The nuclear grade was assigned with the World Health Organization/International Society of Urological Pathology grading system. The cytomorphologic features of type 1 and type 2 pRCC were compared.

Results

Sixteen patients with type 1 pRCC and 12 patients with type 2 pRCC were included in the study. Type 2 pRCC had a higher nuclear grade, a higher volume of cytoplasm, and more granular cytoplasm. Type 1 pRCC more frequently had nuclear grooves and clear cytoplasm. The remaining features (ie, cell size, papillary clusters, single cells, foamy histiocytes, hemosiderin pigment, psammoma bodies, and hyaline globules) were not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Nuclear grade, cytoplasmic volume and granularity or clarity, and nuclear grooves are cytomorphologic features that may aid in the distinction between type 1 and type 2 pRCC.
A general analytical method for evaluation of the thermodynamic properties of matters using virial coefficients with Morse potential at high temperature
Authors: Mamedov B.A. , Cacan H.
Published: May 2019

In this paper, we established an analytical formula for the second virial coefficient (SVC) with Morse potential without using any numerical methods, and the obtained formula is applied to the calculation of the speed of sound of some matter at high temperature. This approach is based on the series expansion formula and special functions, which allows the exact evaluations of any thermodynamic properties of matter using the SVC. As an application, the obtained analytical formula is used for evaluation of the SVC with Morse potential for high‐temperature gas and the plasma region of the intermolecular interactions of neutral atom gases of B, Si, Zn, H2, N2, O2, NO, CO, He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe. Based on the obtained formula of SVC, the speed of sound for gases of N2, Ar, and Zn are also determined analytically. A specific maximum temperature is chosen for every gas to ensure that there are still neutral atoms in the gas, and low temperatures are avoided due to quantum effects. The results are compared with numerical data and another analytical data from the literature. The new analytical solution is shown to be in good agreement with the compared data and is verified to supply proper thermodynamic data.
Field‐amplified sample injection combined with capillary electrophoresis for the simultaneous determination of five chlorophenols in water samples
Authors: Gao Fangfang , Chen Xiaoxia , Li Xiaobin , Li Jinhua , Liu Huitao , Chen Lingxin
Published: May 2019

A sensitive method of CZE‐ultraviolet (UV) detection based on the on‐line preconcentration strategy of field‐amplified sample injection (FASI) was developed for the simultaneous determination of five kinds of chlorophenols (CPs) namely 4‐chlorophenol (4‐CP), 2‐chlorophenol (2‐CP), 2,4‐dichlorophenol (2,4‐DCP), 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol (2,4,6‐TCP), and 2,6‐dichlorophenol (2,6‐DCP) in water samples. Several parameters affecting CZE and FASI conditions were systematically investigated. Under the optimal conditions, sensitivity enhancement factors for 4‐CP, 2‐CP, 2,4‐DCP, 2,4,6‐TCP, and 2,6‐DCP were 9, 27, 35, 43, and 43 folds, respectively, compared with the direct CZE, and the baseline separation was achieved within 5 min. Then, the developed FASI‐CZE‐UV method was applied to tap and lake water samples for the five CPs determination. The LODs (S/N = 3) were 0.0018–0.019 µg/mL and 0.0089–0.029 µg/mL in tap water and lake water, respectively. The values of LOQs in tap water (0.006–0.0074 µg/mL) were much lower than the maximum permissible concentrations of 2,4,6‐TCP, 2,4‐DCP, and 2‐CP in drinking water stipulated by World Health Organization (WHO) namely 0.3, 0.04, and 0.01 µg/mL, respectively, and thereby the method was suitable to detect the CPs according to WHO guidelines. Furthermore, the method attained high recoveries in the range of 83.0–119.0% at three spiking levels of five CPs in the two types of water samples, with relative standard deviations of 0.37–8.58%. The developed method was proved to be a simple, sensitive, highly automated, and efficient alternative to CPs determination in real water samples.
CRISPR‐based curing and analysis of metabolic burden of cryptic plasmids in Escherichia coli Nissle 1917
Authors: Zainuddin Halimatun S. , Bai Yanfen , Mansell Thomas J.
Published: May 2019

E. coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) has long been used as an over‐the‐counter probiotic and has shown potential to be used as a live biotherapeutic. It contains two stably replicating cryptic plasmids, pMUT1, and pMUT2, the function of which is unclear but the presence of which may increase the metabolic burden on the cell, particularly in the context of added recombinant plasmids. In this work, we present a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats‐Cas9‐based method of curing cryptic plasmids, producing strains cured of one or both plasmids. We then assayed heterologous protein production from three different recombinant plasmids in wild‐type and cured EcN derivatives and found that production of reporter proteins was not significantly different across strains. In addition, we replaced pMUT2 with an engineered version containing an inserted antibiotic resistance reporter gene and demonstrated that the engineered plasmid was stable over 90 generations without selection. These findings have broad implications for the curing of cryptic plasmids and for stable heterologous expression of proteins in this host. Specifically, curing of cryptic plasmids may not be necessary for optimal heterologous expression in this host.
Pig‐a gene mutation database
Authors: Shemansky Jennifer M. , McDaniel Lea Patrice , Klimas Christopher , Dertinger Stephen D. , Dobrovolsky Vasily N. , Kimoto Takafumi , Horibata Katsuyoshi , Polli James E. , Heflich Robert H.
Published: May 2019

Mutations in the X‐linked phosphatidylinositol glycan, class A gene (Pig‐a) lead to loss of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors and GPI‐anchored proteins from the surface of erythrocytes and other mammalian cells. The Pig‐a gene mutation assay quantifies in vivo gene mutation by immunofluorescent labeling and flow cytometry to detect the loss of GPI‐anchored proteins on peripheral blood erythrocytes. As part of the regulatory acceptance of the assay, a public database has been created that provides detailed information on Pig‐a gene mutation assays conducted in rats and mice. A searchable version of the database is available through a website designed and hosted by the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Currently, the database contains only mouse and rat data, but it is anticipated that it will expand to include data from other species, including humans. A major purpose in developing the database was to aid in the preparation of a Retrospective Performance Analysis and Detailed Review Paper required for Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development Test Guideline acceptance. We anticipate, however, that it also will be useful for accessing and comparing Pig‐a data to data from other assays and for conducting quantitative assessments of Pig‐a gene mutation responses. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 60:759–762, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bayesian spatiotemporal modeling for estimating short‐term exposure to air pollution in Santiago de Chile
Authors: Nicolis O. , Díaz M. , Sahu S. K. , Marín J. C.
Published: May 2019

Spatial prediction of exposure to air pollution in a large city such as Santiago de Chile is a challenging problem because of the lack of a dense air‐quality monitoring network. Statistical spatiotemporal models exploit the space–time correlation in the pollution data and other relevant meteorological and land‐use information to generate accurate predictions in both space and time. In this paper, we develop a Bayesian modeling method to accurately predict hourly PM2.5concentrations in a 1‐km high‐resolution grid covering the city. The modeling method combines a spatiotemporal land‐use regression model for PM2.5and a Bayesian calibration model for the input meteorological variables used in the land‐use regression model. Using a 3‐month winter‐time pollution data set, the output of sample validation results obtained in this paper shows a substantial increase in accuracy due to the incorporation of the linear calibration model. The proposed Bayesian modeling method is then used to provide short‐term spatiotemporal predictions of PM2.5concentrations on a fine (1 km2) spatial grid covering the city. Along with the paper, we publish theRcode used and the output of sample predictions for future scientific use.
Capture of CO2 by highly concentrated alkanolamine solutions in a rotating packed bed
Authors: Wang Yi‐Ming , Chen Yu‐Shao
Published: May 2019

The capture of CO2 in a rotating packed bed (RPB) using highly concentrated alkanolamine solutions has been proved to be an effective way to enhance the absorption efficiency of CO2. In this investigation, the effects of alkanolamine concentration on the CO2 removal efficiency and mass transfer coefficients (KGa) at various lean CO2 loadings were studied. Monoethanolamine and 2‐methyl‐amino‐ethanol solutions were used to absorb CO2 in an RPB. Experimental results showed that increasing the alkanolamine concentration effectively enhanced the CO2 absorption efficiency of a fresh absorbent. For an absorbent with a high CO2 loading, an optimal alkanolamine concentration was observed because the viscosity of the absorbent dramatically increased at high alkanolamine concentration and high CO2 loading. A correlation of KGa was proposed and the mass transfer coefficient can be expressed as a function of the free alkanolamine concentration and the viscosity of the absorbent.
Investigation of self‐adaptive thermal control design in passive direct methanol fuel cell
Authors: Yuan Zhenyu , Chuai Wenhui , Guo Zhongming , Tu Zhaoyin , Kong Fanbo
Published: May 2019

A novel anode thermal optimization approach is presented and developed in this paper, based on the detailed investigations of operating temperature on the performance of passive micro direct methanol fuel cell (μDMFC). First, a two‐dimensional model of two‐phase cell is established to observe methanol solution transport and pressure distribution under different operating temperatures. Moreover, passive stainless steel‐based μDMFC preparation and fabrication use micro laser‐cut technology, and the influences of cell temperature on corresponding cell performances are under experimental investigation. Eventually, according to the consequences of simulation and experimental analysis, a practical anode self‐adaptive thermal control strategy equips with the self‐made silicone heating sheet is designed, and the stable work of μDMFC at the optimal temperature is realized through this method. Compared with the conventional fuel cell, the optimized fuel cell system can significantly improve the net output power density and efficiency (Power density increased from 20.8 mW cm−2 to 52.16 mW cm−2).