bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Baixo conhecimento de doadores de sangue sobre a hanseníase como fator de vulnerabilidade para a disseminação da doença
Authors: Teixeira Regina Rafael , Santos Tamires De Oliveira , Aguiar Amanda Aparecida Silva de , Carvalho Thaís Batista de , Negri Elaine Cristina , Peresi Lordelo Eliana
Published: June 2020

A hanseníase é uma doença infectocontagiosa que ainda representa um grave problema de saúde pública no Brasil e seu desconhecimento pela população geral ainda é muito grande. Diante disso, nosso objetivo foi a caracterização do doador de sangue e de seu conhecimento sobre a hanseníase, visando contribuir para identificar pontos de vulnerabilidade sobre a doença. Foram entrevistados doadores de sangue (n=199) através de um questionário estruturado abordando características socioeconômicas e o conhecimento sobre a hanseníase. Para a análise dos dados foi utilizado o método de Goodman e considerado significativo p<0,05. Nossos resultados demonstraram que somente a escolaridade teve associação significativa com a falta de conhecimento sobre a hanseníase. Diante disto, verificou-se déficit de conhecimento da população geral quanto à hanseníase. Sugerimos um aprimoramento da divulgação das informações quanto à doença a fim de promover melhoras nos serviços de saúde, acompanhamento dos doentes e prevenção da população saudável.
Aspectos da vacinação contra hepatite B em idosos, no município de Salvador (BA), de 2004 a 2018: um estudo descritivo a partir do Sistema Eletrônico do Departamento de Informática do SUS (DATASUS).
Authors: Assis Viviane Da Conceição Davino de , Lemaire Denise Carneiro
Published: June 2020

Introdução: a hepatite B é um grave problema de saúde pública no país e no mundo. Nos últimos dez anos, houve aumento significativo do número de casos notificados em idosos. Embora seja uma doença imunoprevinível, há poucos dados na literatura sobre a situação vacinal deste grupo populacional. Objetivo: este estudo visou investigar e descrever dados sobre a vacinação para hepatite B no município de Salvador, Bahia, registrados no Sistema eletrônico do Departamento de Informática do SUS (DATASUS) do Ministério da Saúde. Materiais e métodos: Trata-se de estudo descritivo, a partir de dados secundários disponíveis no Sistema de Informações do Programa Nacional de Imunizações e Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação, no período 2004 a 2018, referentes ao município de Salvador, Bahia. Resultados: foram notificados 120 casos de hepatite B em idosos, no período estudado. A principal forma de contágio foi pela via sexual. Os maiores números de doses aplicadas da vacina foram observados nos anos 2017 e 2018, principalmente da primeira dose. Este aumento está, provavelmente, associado ao fato de que, em 2016, esta vacina passou a ser disponibilizada de forma universal, independentemente de idade ou condições de vulnerabilidade. Contudo, a proporção da população idosa residente no município de Salvador vacinada foi muito baixa (< 1% ao ano). Conclusão: este estudo revelou baixa cobertura vacinal da população de idosos de Salvador. Estes dados reforçam a importância de estratégias no planejamento de programas de atenção à saúde do idoso que incentivem maior adesão à vacinação completa contra hepatite B.
Nonequilibrium Dynamics of Magnetic Nanoparticles with Applications in Biomedicine
Authors: Shasha Carolyn , Krishnan Kannan M.
Published: June 2020

Magnetic nanoparticles are currently the focus of investigation for a wide range of biomedical applications that fall into the categories of imaging, sensing, and therapeutics. A deep understanding of nanoparticle magnetization dynamics is fundamental to optimization and further development of these applications. Here, a summary of theoretical models of nanoparticle dynamics is presented, and computational nonequilibrium models are outlined, which currently represent the most sophisticated methods for modeling nanoparticle dynamics. Nanoparticle magnetization response is explored in depth; the effect of applied field amplitude, as well as nanoparticle size, on the resulting rotation mechanism and timescale is investigated. Two applications in biomedicine, magnetic particle imaging and magnetic fluid hyperthermia, are highlighted.
Core–Shell Structured Nanoenergetic Materials: Preparation and Fundamental Properties
Authors: Ma Xiaoxia , Li Yuxiang , Hussain Iftikhar , Shen Ruiqi , Yang Guangcheng , Zhang Kaili
Published: June 2020

Energetic materials, including explosives, pyrotechnics, and propellants, are widely used in mining, demolition, automobile airbags, fireworks, ordnance, and space technology. Nanoenergetic materials (nEMs) have a high reaction rate and high energy density, which are both adjustable to a large extent. Structural control over nEMs to achieve improved performance and multifunctionality leads to a fascinating research area, namely, nanostructured energetic materials. Among them, core–shell structured nEMs have gained considerable attention due to their improved material properties and combined multiple functionalities. Various nEMs with core–shell structures have been developed through diverse synthesis routes, among which core–shell structured nEMs associated with explosives and metastable intermolecular composites (MICs) are extensively studied due to their good tunability and wide applications, as well as excellent energetic (e.g., enhanced heat release and combustion) and/or mechanical properties. Herein, the preparation methods and fundamental properties of the abovementioned kinds of core–shell structured nEMs are summarized and the reasons behind the satisfactory performance clarified, based on which suggestions regarding possible future research directions are proposed.
Iron Ion‐Doped Tricalcium Phosphate Coatings Improve the Properties of Biodegradable Magnesium Alloys for Biomedical Implant Application
Authors: Antoniac Iulian V. , Filipescu Mihaela , Barbaro Katia , Bonciu Anca , Birjega Ruxandra , Cotrut Cosmin M. , Galvano Ettore , Fosca Marco , Fadeeva Inna V. , Vadalà Gianluca , Dinescu Maria , Rau Julietta V.
Published: June 2020

Iron‐substituted tricalcium phosphate (Fe‐TCP) (about 1 wt%) coatings are deposited on biodegradable Mg‐Ca alloys to improve their corrosion resistance. Pulsed laser deposition technique is used for coating preparation. The 2 µm thick coatings are uniformly deposited. (Ca+Fe)/P ratio for the Fe‐TCP coatings is close to the stoichiometric value. Coated and uncoated Mg‐Ca alloys are subjected to electrochemical tests to investigate the influence of the coatings on their corrosion resistance in simulated body fluid (SBF). Tafel curves corresponding to coated and uncoated Mg‐Ca alloy samples in SBF show that the most electropositive corrosion potential is reached for the Fe‐TCP‐coated Mg‐Ca deposited at 300 °C. From the obtained and calculated values of the electrochemical parameters it follows that this sample possesses the best characteristics: it has the smallest porosity and the highest protective efficiency in SBF. Equine adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells are used for 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide test and osteogenic differentiation study. Microbiology tests are performed with Escherichia coli (E. coli) (Gram−) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram+) bacteria strains. The Fe‐TCP‐coated Mg‐Ca deposited at 300 °C is characterized by the best cytocompatibility and good ability to inhibit the growth of E. coli and is recommended for biomedical implant applications.
A Cu‐Doping Strategy to Enhance Photoelectric Performance of Self‐Powered Hole‐Conductor‐Free Perovskite Photodetector for Optical Communication Applications
Authors: Liu Zhiyong , Liu Xingyue , Sun Bo , Tan Xianhua , Ye Haibo , Zhou Jianxin , Tang Zirong , Shi Tielin , Liao Guanglan
Published: June 2020

Photodetectors are essential parts of wireless optical communication system for obtaining high fidelity signal transmission, which mainly relies on expensive and energy‐consuming Si, GaN, and InGaAs based photodiodes. The emerging organic–inorganic metal halide perovskite materials, with the merits of low‐cost, strong optical absorption, superior charge transport, and so on, are widely investigated in photodetection applications. Herein, a Cu ion induced p‐type doping strategy for perovskite film is proposed to facilitate hole transport, passivate trap states, avoid charge accumulation, and suppress recombination of photogenerated carriers, contributing to an enhanced photoelectric performance for self‐powered hole‐conductor‐free devices. The optimal device shows a highest responsivity of 0.37 A W−1, detectivity of 1.06 × 1012 Jones, linear dynamic range of over 101 dB, and an ultimate photoresponse rate approaching 5 µs. Moreover, an optical communication system integrated with the perovskite photodetector as light signal receiver for transmitting digital signals is demonstrated, in which characters can be transmitted accurately, and audio signal is recovered with high fidelity. The results suggest that with proper chemical modification, perovskite materials are promising alternative to inorganic semiconductors for efficient photodetection in advanced integrated optical communication system.
Overcoming the Abbe Diffraction Limit Using a Bundle of Metal‐Coated High‐Refractive‐Index Sapphire Optical Fibers
Authors: Zaytsev Kirill I. , Katyba Gleb M. , Chernomyrdin Nikita V. , Dolganova Irina N. , Kucheryavenko Anna S. , Rossolenko Anna N. , Tuchin Valery V. , Kurlov Vladimir N. , Skorobogatiy Maksim
Published: June 2020

While fiber bundles attract much interest in optics, their resolution is limited by the individual fiber size, which can be as large as a wavelength λ for common fiber optics materials. In order to increase fiber bundle resolution, in this work, high‐refractive‐index sapphire fibers with n > 3 are employed in the terahertz (THz) range, which ensures strong confinement of the guided modes and enables a fiber bundle resolution beyond the 0.62λ Abbe limit of free space optics. A sapphire fiber bundle is fabricated and its advanced resolution is experimentally demonstrated, using both analysis of the pair correlation function of the disordered fiber packing and continuous‐wave THz imaging. The resolution vares across the aperture with the mean value of 0.53λ, while, at certain regions of the bundle, it is as low as 0.3λ. The developed principles can be translated to any spectral range where high‐refractive‐index fiber optics materials are available.
Long Persistent Luminescence from All‐Inorganic Perovskite Nanocrystals
Authors: Zhang Hao , Yang Ze , Zhao Lei , Cao Jiangyan , Yu Xue , Yang Yang (Michael) , Yu Siufung , Qiu Jianbei , Xu Xuhui
Published: June 2020

The advantages of ultrahigh photoluminescence quantum yield and narrow spectral bandwidth of all‐inorganic lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) enable them as the most potential candidates for optoelectronic applications. However, it is difficult to obtain long persistent luminescence from inorganic perovskite nanocrystals as the creation of effective trapping centers comes along with the generation of nonradioactive recombination centers. Here, replacing Pb2+ by appropriate lanthanide ions (Ln3+) in CsPbBr3 nanocrystals that are embedded inside an amorphous transparent medium via a high‐temperature (≈500 °C) fabrication process is proposed to achieve stable and effective trapping centers. Furthermore, the surface coating of the enclosed nanocrystals prevents the formation of surface defects, leading to long persistent luminescence from CsPbBr3: Ln3+ NCs. The CsPbBr3: Ln3+ NCs with unprecedented high color purity (≈89.9%) and long lasting time of more than 1800 s could be a promising candidate for the application in anti‐counterfeiting.
Complete endoscopic sinus surgery followed by aspirin desensitization is associated with decreased overall corticosteroid use
Authors: Bosso John V. , Locke Tran B. , Kuan Edward C. , Tripathi Siddhant H. , Ig‐Izevbekhai Kevin I. , Kalaf Laila T. , Kohanski Michael A. , Palmer James N. , Adappa Nithin D.
Published: June 2020

Background

Aspirin‐exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is an aggressive respiratory tract inflammatory disorder manifesting as asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis, and a respiratory sensitivity to aspirin and nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Corticosteroids, both systemic and topical/inhaled, are used to treat inflammation of the upper and lower airways. Our objective was to examine the potential impact of complete endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and aspirin desensitization (AD) on short‐term and long‐term corticosteroid use.

Methods

For this pilot study, a retrospective chart review of all patients with AERD who underwent ESS followed by AD was performed. Daily prednisone use, average daily prednisone dose, and inhaled corticosteroid use were analyzed at the following time points: preoperative, postoperative/pre‐AD, and 2 to 3 months, 4 to 6 months, 7 to 12 months, and 13 to 24 months following AD.

Results

A total of 125 patients underwent ESS followed by AD. Compared to preoperatively, patients who underwent ESS and AD were less likely to be on daily prednisone at all time points and upon long‐term follow‐up (32% preoperatively vs 10% at 13 to 24 months, McNemar's test = 9.00, p = 0.009). Average daily prednisone dose decreased from 10.6 ± 7.9 mg preoperatively to 3.8 ± 2.6 mg at 13 to 24 months following AD (Mann‐Whitney U; W = 122, p = 0.01). Similarly, high‐dose and medium‐dose inhaled corticosteroid use decreased from 18% to 7% and from 36% to 22% respectively (Pearson's chi‐square = 8.06, p = 0.05).

Conclusion

In our AERD cohort who underwent ESS followed by AD, there was an observed decrease in overall systemic and topical/inhaled corticosteroid use. These findings can have implications for treatment given the potentially hazardous side effects of corticosteroid use.
Synthesis, structure elucidation, DNA binding and molecular docking studies of novel copper(II) complexes of two 1,3,4‐thiadiazolethiosemicarbazone derivatives
Authors: Takroni Khadiga M. , Farghaly Thoraya A. , Harras Marwa F. , El‐Ghamry Hoda A.
Published: June 2020

Four novel Cu(II) chelates were synthesized by reacting hydrated CuCl2 and Cu(CH3COO)2 with two derivatives of 1,3,4‐thiadiazolethiosemicarbazone. The structures and geometries of the synthesized complexes were deduced applying the alternative analytical and spectral tools confirming the complexes to have the formulae [(LH)Cu(Cl)]•0.5H2O, [(LH)Cu(OAc)(H2O)2]•0.5H2O, [(LCl)Cu(Cl)(H2O)2]•H2O and [(LCl)Cu(OAc)]; where LH and LCl are phenyl and p‐chlorophenyl derivatives of 1,3,4‐thiadiazolethiosemicarbazone ligands, respectively (deprotonated form). IR spectral data confirmed the coordination of the ligands to the copper center as monobasic tridentate in the thiol form. Thermal analysis, UV–Vis spectra and magnetic moment assured the geometry around the copper center to be square planar, trigonal bipyramid and octahedral which have been confirmed by the computational studies. The two ligand derivatives and their copper complexes were applied to evaluate their binding modes with SS‐DNA via UV–Vis spectral titration and viscosity measurements. The DNA‐binding constant (kb) values of the investigated derivatives were calculated and compared with ethidium bromide in order to assess their mode of binding with DNA. Moreover, docking study of these complexes was carried out to recognize the drug–DNA interactions and to calculate their binding energies.
Photocatalytic membrane filtration and its advantages over conventional approaches in the treatment of oily wastewater: A review
Authors: Nascimbén Santos Érika , László Zsuzsanna , Hodúr Cecilia , Arthanareeswaran Gangasalam , Veréb Gábor
Published: June 2020

Clean water supply has become one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century; therefore, water source protection is of increasing importance. Beyond environmental protection reasons, economic concerns—derived from increasing costs of processing water and wastewater discharge—also prompt industries to use advanced wastewater treatment methods, which ensure higher purification efficiency or even the recycling of water. Therefore, highly effective treatment of oily wastewaters has become an urgent necessity because they are produced in high quantities and have harmful effects on both the environment and human population. However, high purification efficiency can be difficult to achieve, because some compounds are hard to eliminate. Conventional methods are effective for the removal of floating and dispersed oil, but for finely dispersed, emulsified and dissolved oil advanced methods must be used, such as membrane filtration which exhibits several advantages. The application of this technology is restricted by fouling—the major limiting factor—which jeopardizes the membrane performance. In order to reduce fouling, in‐depth research is being conducted to make the treatment of oil‐contaminated water technically and economically feasible. The present work aims to review the conventional oil separation methods with their limitations and to focus on membrane filtration, which ensures significantly higher purification efficiencies, including the main problem: the flux reduction caused by fouling. This paper also discusses promising solutions, such as membrane modification methods, mostly with hydrophilic and/or photocatalytic nanoparticles and nanocomposites, overviewing the efforts that are being made to develop feasible technologies to treat oil‐contaminated waters.
Effects of pumpkin powder addition on the rheological, sensory, and quality attributes of Taftoon bread
Authors: Davoudi Zahra , Shahedi Mohammad , Kadivar Mehdi
Published: June 2020

Background and objectives

Incorporation of dietary fibers into bread can add to nutritional composition of the finished product; however, they change the rheological properties of the dough and final product quality. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of pumpkin powder on the rheological properties of the dough and the quality of Taftoon bread.

Findings

Addition of pumpkin powder significantly increased the dough development time, dough stability, and farinograph quality number and however decreased water absorption. The pumpkin powder caused an increase in the dough extensibility, resistance, and resistance coefficient. The shear stress and thus the bread staling increased with a rise in the pumpkin powder content. The yellowness of the bread containing the pumpkin powder was significantly higher than that of the control bread.

Conclusions

Pumpkin powder improved the nutritional value of the bread without any negative effect on the sensory attributes of the final product. The bread produced with 10% pumpkin powder had the highest score of overall acceptability compared to standard Taftoon without pumpkin powder.

Significance and novelty

A large number of studies have been conducted to relate the effect of fibers to dough rheology and bread quality, but very little has been emphasized on Taftoon bread.
The predictive value of positive and suspicious urine cytology: Are they different?
Authors: Kuan Kevin C. , Segura Sheila E. , Ahlstedt Jeffrey , Khader Samer N. , Hakima Laleh
Published: June 2020

Background

Urine cytology evaluation is an effective test in the detection of high‐grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC). While the guideline distinguishes the 2 categories: “positive for HGUC” (PHGUC) and “suspicious for HGUC” (SHGUC), the association between these categories with their subsequent follow‐up biopsies remains unclear. This study aims to determine and compare the positive predictive value (PPV) of the specimens in PHGUC and SHGUC categories with their respective histologic diagnoses.

Methods

During the period of 03/01/2008 to 07/31/2018, urine cytology cases diagnosed as PHGUC and SHGUC with subsequent bladder biopsy within 12 months were retrieved. All cases were correlated with first biopsy obtained during 12 months of cytology specimen. Biopsy result with HGUC, carcinoma in situ, or non‐urothelial carcinoma diagnoses were considered as concordance.

Results

378 cases (229 SHGUC and 149 PHGUC) were identified from 263 patients. For the 229 SHGUC cases, the PPV was 72% (n = 166) and for the 149 PHGUC cases, the PPV was 85% (n = 127). While both categories have high PPV, they are statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Additionally, 33 cases were found to have low‐grade urothelial carcinoma (LGUC), constituting a portion of discordant results.

Conclusion

PHGUC and SHGUC categories are both associated with a high risk of malignancy, however, there is a statistically significant difference between them in our study, supporting the PSRUC guidelines of two separate categories. In instances when urine cytology is discordant with biopsy results, further investigation and clinical follow up is warranted. LGUC appears to remain a common pitfall especially in the suspicious category.
Enabling Extraordinary Rate Performance for Poorly Conductive Oxide Pseudocapacitors
Authors: Abdollahifar Mozaffar , Liu Hao‐Wen , Lin Chia‐Hsin , Weng Yu‐Ting , Sheu Hwo‐Shuenn , Lee Jyh‐Fu , Lu Meng‐Lin , Liao Yen‐Fa , Wu Nae‐Lih
Published: June 2020

Pseudocapacitive transition metal oxides (PTMOs) have the advantages of high areal capacitance and material density suitable for high‐energy supercapacitor devices, but they are typically marred by insufficient rate performance, which in turn deteriorates cyclic stability at high current levels. Using the example of spinel manganese oxide, herein we demonstrate that a pseudocapacitive oxide electrode of remarkable rate performance and cyclic stability may be realized by adopting oxide nanocrystallites, which are derived based on a novel solution chemistry, and carbon additive (CA) nanoparticles with highly uniform of size distributions. Precisely controlling the particle morphology and size distribution of the active material and conductive additive (CA) in the nanometer range can maximize the density of active material‐CA‐electrolyte three‐phase contact points, thus facilitating synchronized electron and cation flow for the completion of surface faradaic reactions. The resultant Mn3O4 pseudocapacitive electrode exhibits rate capability and cycle stability, including 60% capacity retention at 60 A g−1 and no capacity fade over 100 000 cycles under dynamic current densities, far superior to the state‐of‐the‐art PTMO electrodes. The electrode design strategy is in general applicable to pseudocapacitors containing poorly conductive active materials.
Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Supported on Multi‐walled Carbon Nanotube Modified Electrode for Electrochemical Sensing of a Fluoroquinolone Drug
Authors: Siddegowda K. S. , Mahesh B. , Chamaraja N. A. , Roopashree B. , Kumara Swamy N. , Nanjundaswamy G. S.
Published: June 2020

A facile, and novel construction strategy invented on electrochemical procedures for the assemblage of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) with a multiwalled carbon nanotube modified carbon paste electrode (ZnO‐MWCNTMCPE) to ascertain the fluoroquinolone drug‐Moxifloxacin (MOX). The ZnO‐MWCNTMCPE can significantly improve the electron transfer process and lessen the impedance of the surface of the electrode. Besides, the oxidation of MOX has remarkably enhanced on the modified electrode. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the empirical results exhibited that the oxidation peak current was linearly proportional to the concentration of MOX in the range of 1.0×10−7 to 2.4×10−6 mol L−1 with a detection limit of 0.452×10−7 mol L−1. To analyze the practicality of the MOX determination technique in real samples, the intended sensor manipulated for the adjudication of MOX in human urine specimens, and the results authenticated the explore of MOX with the highest accuracy. Further, the proposed sensor system exercised for the simultaneous evaluation of paracetamol (ACOP) and MOX, the DPV technique unveiled the well‐separated peaks among ACOP (0.188 mV) and MOX (0.814 mV) with a peak separation (ΔE) of 626 mV in real samples. Therefore, the suggested system could sense and discover the MOX in the biological systems.
Undifferentiated round cell sarcomas with novel SS18‐POU5F1 fusions
Authors: Antonescu Cristina R. , Agaram Narasimhan P. , Sung Yun‐Shao , Zhang Lei , Dickson Brendan C.
Published: June 2020

Despite significant recent advances in characterizing the molecular pathogenesis of undifferentiated round cell neoplasms, rare cases remain unclassified. Here, we report two distinctive undifferentiated round cell tumors occurring in young adults. One tumor presented intrabdominally and the other arose within the abdominal wall. One patient died of disease following local and distance recurrence, despite aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Morphologically, both tumors were similarly composed of primitive round to epithelioid cells arranged in nests, sheets, and trabecular patterns. The cytoplasm was scant and amphophilic, while the nuclei were round and uniform with brisk mitotic activity. Focal necrosis was present. Immunohistochemically, both tumors were variably positive for S100 and EMA, and one case focally expressed cytokeratin and TLE1. Targeted RNA sequencing revealed in both an identical SS18‐POU5F1 fusion gene. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed which confirmed SS18 and POU5F1 gene rearrangements. Expression data, relative to over 200 other mesenchymal neoplasms that had undergone targeted RNA sequencing on the same platform, suggested the SS18‐POU5F1 tumors cluster with EWSR1/FUS‐POU5F1‐positive myoepithelial tumors. In view of our limited sample size, additional studies are needed to characterize the breadth of clinical and pathologic findings in these neoplasms. In addition, further investigation is necessary to determine whether this entity represents a clinically aggressive and phenotypically undifferentiated variant of myoepithelial tumors, or perhaps an altogether novel category of undifferentiated round cell sarcoma.
Disturbed brain ether lipid metabolism and histology in Sjögren‐Larsson syndrome
Authors: Staps Pippa , Rizzo William B. , Vaz Frédéric M. , Bugiani Marianna , Giera Martin , Heijs Bram , van Kampen Antoine H. C. , Pras‐Raves Mia L. , Breur Marjolein , Groen Annemieke , Ferdinandusse Sacha , van der Graaf Marinette , Van Goethem Gert , Lammens Martin , Wevers Ron A. , Willemsen Michèl A. A. P.
Published: June 2020

Sjögren‐Larsson syndrome (SLS) is a rare neurometabolic syndrome caused by deficient fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase. Patients exhibit intellectual disability, spastic paraplegia, and ichthyosis. The accumulation of fatty alcohols and fatty aldehydes has been demonstrated in plasma and skin but never in brain. Brain magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy studies, however, have shown an abundant lipid peak in the white matter of patients with SLS, suggesting lipid accumulation in the brain as well. Using histopathology, mass spectrometry imaging, and lipidomics, we studied the morphology and the lipidome of a postmortem brain of a 65‐year‐old female patient with genetically confirmed SLS and compared the results with a matched control brain. Histopathological analyses revealed structural white matter abnormalities with the presence of small lipid droplets, deficient myelin, and astrogliosis. Biochemically, severely disturbed lipid profiles were found in both white and gray matter of the SLS brain, with accumulation of fatty alcohols and ether lipids. Particularly, long‐chain unsaturated ether lipid species accumulated, most prominently in white matter. Also, there was a striking accumulation of odd‐chain fatty alcohols and odd‐chain ether(phospho)lipids. Our results suggest that the central nervous system involvement in SLS is caused by the accumulation of fatty alcohols leading to a disbalance between ether lipid and glycero(phospho)lipid metabolism resulting in a profoundly disrupted brain lipidome. Our data show that SLS is not a pure leukoencephalopathy, but also a gray matter disease. Additionally, the histopathological abnormalities suggest that astrocytes and microglia might play a pivotal role in the underlying disease mechanism, possibly contributing to the impairment of myelin maintenance.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected alveolar epithelial cells modulate dendritic cell function through the HIF-1α-NOS2 axis
Authors: Rodrigues Tamara Silva , Alvarez Annie Rocio Piñeros , Gembre Ana Flávia , Forni Maria Fernanda Pereira de Araújo Demonte , de Melo Bruno Marcel Silva , Alves Filho José Carlos Farias , Câmara Niels Olsen Saraiva , Bonato Vânia Luiza Deperon
Published: June 2020

Tuberculosis kills more than 1 million people every year, and its control depends on the effective mechanisms of innate immunity, with or without induction of adaptive immune response. We investigated the interaction of type II alveolar epithelial cells (AEC-II) infected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis with dendritic cells (DCs). We hypothesized that the microenvironment generated by this interaction is critical for the early innate response against mycobacteria. We found that AEC-II infected by M. tuberculosis induced DC maturation, which was negatively regulated by HIF-1α-inducible NOS2 axis, and switched DC metabolism from an early and short peak of glycolysis to a low energetic status. However, the infection of DCs by M. tuberculosis up-regulated NOS2 expression and inhibited AEC-II-induced DC maturation. Our study demonstrated, for the first time, that HIF-1α-NOS2 axis plays a negative role in the maturation of DCs during M. tuberculosis infection. Such modulation might be useful for the exploitation of molecular targets to develop new therapeutic strategies against tuberculosis.
Functional brain connectivity changes across the human life span: From fetal development to old age
Authors: Edde Manon , Leroux Gaëlle , Altena Ellemarije , Chanraud Sandra
Published: June 2020

The dynamic of the temporal correlations between brain areas, called functional connectivity (FC), undergoes complex transformations through the life span. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of these changes in the nonpathological brain from fetal life to advanced age. After a brief description of the main methods, we propose that FC development can be divided into four main phases: first, before birth, a strong change in FC leads to the emergence of functional proto‐networks, involving mainly within network short‐range connections. Then, during the first years of life, there is a strong widespread organization of networks which starts with segregation processes followed by a continuous increase in integration. Thereafter, from adolescence to early adulthood, a refinement of existing networks in the brain occurs, characterized by an increase in integrative processes until about 40 years. Middle age constitutes a pivotal period associated with an inversion of the functional brain trajectories with a decrease in segregation process in conjunction to a large‐scale reorganization of between network connections. Studies suggest that these processes are in line with the development of cognitive and sensory functions throughout life as well as their deterioration. During aging, results support the notion of dedifferentiation processes, which refer to the decrease in functional selectivity of the brain regions, resulting in more diffuse and less specialized FC, associated with the disruption of cognitive functions with age. The inversion of developmental processes during aging is in accordance with the developmental models of neuroanatomy for which the latest matured regions are the first to deteriorate.
Distinct tropical Pacific sea surface temperature anomaly regimes enhanced under recent global warming
Authors: Li Jing , Mu Lin , Zhong Linhao
Published: June 2020

El Niño and Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events are usually monitored by tropical Pacific sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) patterns with dramatic impacts on the global climate. To explore the diversity of the tropical Pacific SSTA, a novel method combined empirical orthogonal function analysis and the K‐means clustering algorithm is carried out to classify SSTA patterns during 1950–2016. Meanwhile, the total distance variance and total silhouette value are introduced to determine an optimal number of distinguishable representative SSTA patterns. Ten SSTA patterns are obtained, which shows frequent basin‐wide warming and extreme cold ENSO events in recent decades. It may be attributed to the changes in composition of the intrinsic modes along with the background mode of slowly increasing east–west SST gradient. The comparative analysis between periods 1950–1969 and 1997–2016 suggests that the two regimes of tropical Pacific SSTA, featured as extreme warm and moderate warm/extreme cold patterns respectively, become more distinct under recent global warming.
miR‐744‐5p inhibits cellular proliferation and invasion via targeting ARF1 in epithelial ovarian cancer
Authors: Zhao Lai‐Gang , Wang Jiao , Li Jin , Li Qin‐Fen
Published: June 2020

miR‐744‐5p has been demonstrated to play an important role in cancer progression. However, the functions of miR‐744‐5p in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) are not well clarified. In this study, our aim was to investigate the role of miR‐744‐5p and its underlying molecular mechanism in cell progression of EOC. EOC clinical tissues and matched adjacent ovarian epithelial tissues were collected from 18 patients. Tissues and cell lines were analyzed by qPCR or Western blot to investigate the expression of miR‐744‐5p and ARF1 in EOC. Cell proliferative capacity was assessed by CCK8 and colony formation assays. Wound healing and transwell assays were performed to evaluate cell migration and invasion. The potential binding relation between miR‐744‐5p and IRF1 was demonstrated by dual luciferase report assay. The results showed that expression of miR‐744‐5p was low in EOC clinical tissues and cells. Overexpression of miR‐744‐5p inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of EOC cells. Further mechanistic study identified that ARF1 is a target of miR‐744‐5p, which is negatively correlated with the expression of miR‐744‐5p, and overexpression of ARF1 could reverse the inhibition of miR‐744‐5p on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of EOC cells. Taken together, our results indicated that miR‐744‐5p attenuated EOC progression via targeting IRF1, providing potential guidance for the clinical treatment of ovarian cancer.
Association of Dietary Phytosterols with Cardiovascular Disease Biomarkers in Humans
Authors: Kaur Ramandeep , Myrie Semone B.
Published: June 2020

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Elevated concentrations of serum total cholesterol (TC) and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) are major lipid biomarkers that contribute to the risk of CVD. Phytosterols well known for their cholesterol‐lowering ability, are non‐nutritive compounds that are naturally found in plant‐based foods and can be classified into plant sterols and plant stanols. Numerous clinical trials demonstrated that 2 g phytosterols per day have LDL‐C lowering efficacy ranges of 8–10%. Some observational studies also showed an inverse association between phytosterols and LDL‐C reduction. Beyond the cholesterol‐lowering beneficial effects of phytosterols, the association of phytosterols with CVD risk events such as coronary artery disease and premature atherosclerosis in sitosterolemia patients have also been reported. Furthermore, there is an increasing demand to determine the association of circulating phytosterols with vascular health biomarkers such as arterial stiffness biomarkers. Therefore, this review aims to examine the ability of phytosterols for CVD risk prevention by reviewing the current data that looks at the association between dietary phytosterols intake and serum lipid biomarkers, and the impact of circulating phytosterols level on vascular health biomarkers. The clinical studies in which the impact of phytosterols on vascular function is investigated show minor but beneficial phytosterols effects over vascular health. The aforementioned vascular health biomarkers are pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, and arterial blood pressure. The current review will serve to begin to address the research gap that exists between the association of dietary phytosterols with CVD risk biomarkers.
Creating Complex Polyacrylamide Hydrogel Structures Using 3D Printing with Applications to Mechanobiology
Authors: Wang Yu‐li , Li David
Published: June 2020

Due to its favorable physical and chemical properties, including chemical inertness, low fouling by biological molecules, high porosity and permeability, optical transparency, and adjustable elasticity, polyacrylamide has found a wide range of biomedical and non‐biomedical applications. To further increase its versatility, this communication describes a simple method, using readily available reagents and equipment, for 3D printing polyacrylamide hydrogels at a resolution of 100–150 μm to create complex structures. As a demonstration of the application, the method is used for creating a lab‐on‐a‐chip cell culture surface with micropatterned stiffness, which then leads to the discovery of stiffness‐guided collective cell segregation distinct from durotaxis. The present technology is expected to unleash new applications such as the construction of biocompatible elastic medical devices and artificial organs.
Antibacterial Thin Film Composite Polyamide Membranes Prepared by Sequential Interfacial Polymerization
Authors: Zhai Xiaofei , Ye Jianlong , He Yaoting , Ahmatjan Zulpiyam , Zhang Yufeng , Lin Song , Wang Chunhao , Hu Xiaoyu , Meng Jianqiang
Published: June 2020

In this work, thin film composite polyamide (PA) membranes are modified by polyethyleneimine (PEI) and 2,6‐diaminopyridine (DAP) through sequential interfacial polymerization to fabricate contact active antibacterial membranes. The modified membranes show improved hydrophilicity and enhancement of zeta potential. Upon tethering with PEI and DAP onto the PA membranes, the membrane flux increases from 35.7 to 46.7 and 50.0 L m−2 h−1, respectively. Further the salt rejection rate improves from 96.6% to 98.0% and 98.8%, respectively. The PA‐PEI membranes have a better antibacterial performance than PA‐DAP, with a bacteria killing ratio for both Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) over 96.7%, while a commercial LC LE‐4040 membrane presents bacteria killing ratio of 13.3% for E. coli and 8.4% for S. aureus, respectively.
Modeling of Reversible Deactivation Radical Polymerization of Vinyl Monomers Promoted by Redox Initiation Using NHPI and Xanthone
Authors: López‐Domínguez Porfirio , Clemente‐Montes Diego Alberto , Vivaldo‐Lima Eduardo
Published: June 2020

Two mathematical approaches for modeling of the kinetics and evolution of molar mass distributions in the reversible deactivation radical polymerization of vinyl monomers promoted by redox reaction with N‐hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) and xanthone (XT) are presented. In the first modeling approach, the polymerization scheme is implemented in the standard version of the Predici commercial software. In the second case, an accelerated, self‐implemented version of the so called kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) approach, considering binary trees, is used. The effect of concentrations of XT and monomer, as well as monomer type, on monomer conversion, NHPI efficiency, molar mass averages, molar mass dispersity, and full molar mass distributions are studied. The models are validated using literature available experimental data of polymerizations of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene, in toluene, at 70 °C. The calculated results indicate that NHPI initiator efficiencies are low (<0.2); polymer end‐group functionalities present a maximum value of about 0.8 with a subsequent decrease with monomer conversion; molar mass distributions are broad, exhibiting low molar mass tails. In addition, the hypothetical copolymerization of styrene and MMA is also considered. Copolymer composition distributions for short molecules are broader than those for large ones.
Electrical resistivity tomography monitoring of two managed aquifer recharge ponds in the alluvial aquifer of the Llobregat River (Barcelona, Spain)
Authors: Sendrós Alex , Himi Mahjoub , Lovera Raúl , Rivero Luis , Garcia‐Artigas Ruben , Urruela Aritz , Casas Albert
Published: June 2020

Over the past 20 years, there has been growing interest in the use of the subsurface for water storage using shallow ponds, where water is infiltrated to the subsurface and subsequently groundwater is recovered from pumping wells. This scheme is designed as a surface‐managed aquifer recharge. Llobregat artificial recharge ponds are managed aquifer recharge systems located in alluvial aquifers near Barcelona, with strong significance for water supply to the city. The recharge ponds have shown low infiltration rates since the beginning (e.g., Ca n'Albareda) and a significant decrease after some months (e.g., Sant Vicenç). Consequently, different methodologies were designed for monitoring the systems and evaluating the effectiveness of the selected areas and maintenance procedures. For this purpose, we combined the use of electrical resistivity tomography with standard hydrogeological methodologies, including water table monitoring from piezometers and infiltration tests. The combination of direct and indirect methods have allowed us to improve the diagnosis of the subsurface involved in the managed recharge system. The electrical resistivity tomography technique has shown to be a cost‐effective and high‐resolution tool, flexible and well adaptable for surveying at different scales without disturbing the recharge process. As a consequence, we demonstrate the usefulness of electrical resistivity tomography imaging to unveil hydrogeological heterogeneities and monitoring infiltration, the effect of clogging and clean‐up processes in surface‐managed aquifer recharge projects.
Effect of thermal gradient on interfacial behavior of hybrid fiber reinforced polypropylene composites fabricated by injection overmolding technique
Authors: Jiang Bingyan , Fu Liang , Zhang Muhan , Weng Can , Zhai Zhanyu
Published: June 2020

Hybrid fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites, fabricated by overmolding technique, are a novel class of lightweight components that benefit from the high mechanical performance of continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastics (CFRT) as well as geometric complexity because of short fiber reinforced thermoplastics (SFRT) composites architecture. The heterogonous interface between CFRT and SFRT in the hybrid structure was generated when SFRT was injected on CFRT surface during overmolding processing. However, the unmatched thermal properties between SFRT and CFRT may cause the poor adhesion at the interface due to the variation of temperature. In this article, how the thermal gradient affects the interfacial properties of hybrid structures is investigated through numerical and experimental methods. The results obtained from the molecular dynamics simulation demonstrate that decreasing thermal gradient can accelerate the molecular diffusion across the interface. Thus, at lower thermal gradient, the gap at interface is gradually disappeared. The results of the interfacial strength estimated by tensile lap shear test method show that the interfacial shear strength is greatly improved by decreasing thermal gradient because of higher crystallinity and bigger spherulite size of PP matrix at interface. In addition, the fracture mechanism of hybrid structure is observed to evolve with thermal gradient.
Encountering the Affective in Latino Immigrant Youth Narratives
Authors: Lee Crystal Chen , Falter Michelle M. , Schoonover Nina R.
Published: June 2020

The authors argue that attending to the affective dimensions of everyday life for Latino immigrant youth offers a disorientation away from the circulation of fear around immigration in the United States, and a new orientation that links together the intimate affective images and narratives of the everyday that are less oppressive and rooted in and branch out to hope and solidarity. To demonstrate the importance of the affective, the authors conducted a post‐qualitative research inquiry interested in animating lifeworlds of seven Latino immigrant youth living in the context of North Carolina. The authors used process and nonrepresentational affect theories to analyze the data, tracing the rogue intensities and surface tensions of ordinary affects across and through the different students and their writing to highlight the students’ fragments of experience as Latino youth in America today. Specifically, the authors drew on Ahmed’s affect theory of sticky objects and sweaty concepts as they analyzed students’ words against the discourse of fear and hate. In tracing the affects that circulate around three sticky objects—immigration, families, and America—the authors witnessed and experienced the moments of tension in students’ affective lives. Doing this work with narratives of first‐generation immigrants exposes the effect that embodied memories have on present‐day experiences. The authors maintain that attunement to the affective realm produces a humanizing practice of literacy research and provides counteraffects of hope, gratitude, and life that speak to the more‐than‐representational written narratives.
Injectable Nonmagnetic Liquid Metal for Eddy‐Thermal Ablation of Tumors under Alternating Magnetic Field
Authors: Yang Nailin , Li Wei , Gong Fei , Cheng Liang , Dong Ziliang , Bai Shang , Xiao Zhisheng , Ni Caifang , Liu Zhuang
Published: June 2020

Hyperthermia induced by the alternating magnetic field (AMF) to heat magnetic nanomaterials localized within the tumor has attracted wide attention due to its ability in effective tumor ablation, low side effects, and deep tissue penetration. However, rather strong AMFs are often needed to realize effective magnetic hyperthermia of tumors. Herein, it is discovered that nonmagnetic gallium–indium liquid metal (GaIn LM) above certain sizes prepared by the shearing force could be effectively heated up under AMF with a low field intensity owing to the eddy‐thermal effect, which could be utilized for AMF‐induced hyperthermia treatment of tumors. As demonstrated in experiments using mice bearing subcutaneous 4T1 breast tumors and rats with deeply seated orthotopic liver tumors, local injection of GaIn LM followed by AMF treatment could result in effective ablation of those tumors. With great in vitro biocompatibility, such GaIn LM also shows no appreciable in vivo toxicity to mice within two months. This work thus presents a new type of thermal ablation therapy using nonmagnetic, biocompatible, and injectable LM to ablate tumors under a low‐field‐intensity AMF, with the eddy‐thermal heating mechanism distinctive from that in conventional magnetic hyperthermia therapies using magnetic nanoagents.
A Review on Solution‐Processable Dopant‐Free Small Molecules as Hole‐Transporting Materials for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Zhang Luozheng , Zhou Xianyong , Liu Chang , Wang Xingzhu , Xu Baomin
Published: June 2020

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) based on conventional hole‐transporting materials (HTMs) have achieved power conversion efficiencies comparable to those of typical inorganic solar cells; however, the dopants used to increase the hole mobility or the film‐forming ability impart these devices with a poor long‐term stability, blocking the industrial commercialization of PSCs. As an alternative, HTMs without any dopants are explored. Herein, dopant‐free small molecular HTMs (SM‐HTMs) are reviewed and the performance based on the analyses of their molecular structures are evaluated. A summary of the designing principle and an outlook of the development of highly efficient SM‐HTMs are presented.