bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nocardiosis Associated with Novel Agents at Relapsed Multiple Myeloma: Case Series
Authors: Turgutkaya Atakan , Bolaman Zahit , Ceylan Emel , Telli Murat , Korkmazgil Berna Gültekin , Karaman Can , Yavaşoğlu İrfan
Published: October 2019

Nocardiosis is a gram positive bacterial infection caused by aerobicactinomycetes. It’s nonspesific presentation and radiographic findings usually make it undiagnosed with highly fatal outcomes. The patients with intracelluler defects are prone to nocardiosis. Multiplemyelom(MM) itself is a mainly humoral deficiency disorder because of defective antibodies but recent drugs such as proteasome inhibitors and immuno modulatory drugs also cause cellular deficiency. Here we presented two definite and oneprobable pulmonary nocardiosis patients who have a diagnosis of MM, autologou shematopoetic stem cell transplant history in their past and anti myeloma therapy presently.
APRESENTAÇÃO
Authors: Filho Alvino O. Sanches
Published: October 2019

Editorial da 7ª Edição da Revista Prelúdios.

Dossiê Políticas Públicas
Enhanced glycosylation of an S‐layer protein enables a psychrophilic methanogenic archaeon to adapt to elevated temperatures in abundant substrates
Authors: Li Lingyan , Ren Mifang , Xu Yueqiang , Jin Cheng , Zhang Wenhao , Dong Xiuzhu
Published: October 2019

Adaptation to higher temperatures would increase the environmental competitiveness of psychrophiles, organisms that thrive in low‐temperature environments. Methanolobus psychrophilus, a cold wetland methanogen, ‘evolved’ as a mesophile, growing optimally at 30 °C after subculturings, and cells grown with ample substrates exhibited higher integrity. Here, we investigated N‐glycosylation of S‐layer proteins, the major archaeal envelope component, with respect to mesophilic adaptation. Lectin affinity enriched a glycoprotein in cells grown at 30 °C under ample substrate availability, which was identified as the S‐layer protein Mpsy_1486. Four N‐glycosylation sites were identified on Mpsy_1486, which exhibited different glycosylation profiles, with N94 only found in cells cultured at 30 °C. An N‐linked glycosylation inhibitor, tunicamycin, reduced glycosylation levels of Mpsy_1486 and growth at 30 °C, thus establishing a link between S‐layer protein glycosylation and higher temperature adaptation of the psychrophilic archaeon M. psychrophilus.
Evolutionary coupling saturation mutagenesis: Coevolution‐guided identification of distant sites influencing Bacillus naganoensis pullulanase activity
Authors: Wang Xinye , Jing Xiaoran , Deng Yi , Nie Yao , Xu Fei , Xu Yan , Zhao Yi‐Lei , Hunt John F. , Montelione Gaetano T. , Szyperski Thomas
Published: October 2019

Pullulanases are well‐known debranching enzymes hydrolyzing α‐1,6‐glycosidic linkages. To date, engineering of pullulanase is mainly focused on catalytic pocket or domain tailoring based on structure/sequence information. Saturation mutagenesis‐involved directed evolution is, however, limited by the low number of mutational sites compatible with combinatorial libraries of feasible size. Using Bacillus naganoensis pullulanase as a target protein, here we introduce the ‘evolutionary coupling saturation mutagenesis’ (ECSM) approach: residue pair covariances are calculated to identify residues for saturation mutagenesis, focusing directed evolution on residue pairs playing important roles in natural evolution. Evolutionary coupling (EC) analysis identified seven residue pairs as evolutionary mutational hotspots. Subsequent saturation mutagenesis yielded variants with enhanced catalytic activity. The functional pairs apparently represent distant sites affecting enzyme activity.
Regulation of the thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP)‐sensing riboswitch in NMT1 mRNA from Neurospora crassa
Authors: Gong Sha , Du Chengyi , Wang Yanli
Published: October 2019

The expression of Neurospora crassa NMT1 involved in thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) metabolism is regulated at the level of mRNA splicing by a TPP‐sensing riboswitch within the precursor NMT1 mRNA. Here, using the systematic helix‐based computational method, we investigated the regulation of this riboswitch. We find that the function of the riboswitch does not depend on the transcription process. Whether TPP is present or not, the riboswitch predominately folds into the ON state, while the OFF state aptamer structure does not appear during transcription. Since the transition from the ON state to the aptamer structure is extremely slow, TPP may interact with the RNA before full formation of the aptamer structure, promoting the switch flipping. The potential to fully form helix P0 of the ON state is necessary to restore ligand‐dependent gene control by the riboswitch.
Effects of high‐fat diet‐induced adipokines and cytokines on colorectal cancer development
Authors: Zhang Jian , Guo Shikui , Li Jinyuan , Bao Weimin , Zhang Peng , Huang Yingguang , Ling Ping , Wang Yongzhi , Zhao Quan
Published: October 2019

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common tumor worldwide, and recent epidemiological studies have indicated that obesity contributes to the morbidity and mortality of CRC. Furthermore, obesity‐related adipokines have been shown to be closely related to the incidence of CRC, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of high‐fat diet‐induced adipokines and cytokines on the development of CRC in vitro and in vivo. For the in vivo assays, we divided 2‐week‐old C57BL/6J‐ApcMin/J male mice into three groups: normal‐fat diet (ND), high‐fat and high‐sugar feed (HFHS), and high‐fat and low‐sugar feed (HFLS). After 1 week, all mice were injected with 20 mg·kg−1 1,2‐dimethylhydrazine once weekly for 10 consecutive weeks. Body weight, liver weight, epididymal fat weight and blood glucose levels were greatly increased in HFHS and HFLS groups compared with the ND group, and the expression levels of some adipokines and cytokines were obviously higher in HFHS or HFLS mice compared with ND mice. For the in vitro assays, HCT116 CRC cells were treated with sera of ND, HFHS or HFLS groups, or serum‐free media as a negative control. We observed that sera derived from HFHS or HFLS mice that contain excess adipokines and cytokines promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCT116 cells compared with the ND sera‐conditioned medium or serum‐free medium group. Therefore, high‐fat diet‐induced adipokines and cytokines may promote the progression of CRC in vivo and in vitro.
Superimposed Training and Blind Channel Estimation
Authors: Jiménez Juan C. Estrada , García M. Julia Fernández‐Getino , Méndez‐Romero Diego
Published: October 2019

Superimposed training (ST) is one of the most promising channel estimation techniques, which provides an even better performance than pilot‐symbol‐assisted modulation (PSAM). ST techniques superimpose pilot symbols over the data signal, so that pilots and data share the same resources, thus avoiding loss in data rate. This feature makes them very attractive for future 5G systems where high data rates are expected. ST techniques suffer from interference between pilots and data, which requires more sophisticated channel estimation and data detection algorithms. Apart from pilot‐based strategies, channel estimation can be accomplished without relying on training signals. Then, blind channel estimation can obtain channel information based on the analysis of the received signal. Blind techniques, similarly to ST schemes, do not waste resources for channel estimation, but their performance is not as precise as pilot‐based schemes. Nowadays, there is a great interest in ST and blind channel estimation due to its spectral efficiency.
Millimeter‐Wave Antenna Designs
Authors: Wu Qi , Wang Haiming , Hong Wei
Published: October 2019

Driven by the ever‐increasing demand for higher user data rates and greater network capacity, the exploration of the millimeter‐wave (mmWave) spectrum is considered a promising technique in the upcoming fifth‐generation (5G) mobile communication systems. As one of the key components in 5G mmWave systems, antenna designs are facing enormous challenges and therefore attracting much research attention. Several mmWave antenna design parameters gain higher priorities, including bandwidth, gain, polarization, radiation direction, fabrication techniques, and profile, which need further investigation and concern in the design process. Important techniques and research interests are thus discussed in detail, including antenna elements, single‐beam and multibeam arrays, antennas for mobile terminals, and antenna‐in‐package solutions.
Green/Energy‐Efficient Design for
D2D
Authors: Liu Xilong , Ansari Nirwan
Published: October 2019

Device‐to‐device (D2D) communications, which facilitates direct transmissions between proximate devices, is one of the key enabling technologies for 5G communications. A mobile device commonly carries a limited energy supply, and it is thus critical to develop energy‐efficient D2D communications. This article provides a discourse on how to improve energy efficiency in D2D communications via proper bandwidth and power allocation and how to leverage green energy harvesting and dual‐battery architecture to enhance self‐sustainability of devices. With the introduction of green energy–powered devices, a green relay assignment scheme is used to leverage the green relay devices to assist dual‐hop D2D communications. This article also elicits the important role of mobile edge computing (MEC) in enabling D2D communications in which cloudlets in MEC may provide essential computing resources for the cellular base stations to jointly consider the channel state information among the devices, multihop routing path and bandwidth allocation to efficiently facilitate D2D communications.
Extraction of Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Measures From Electronic Health Records Using Automated Processing Algorithms
Authors: Cannon Grant W. , Rojas Jorge , Reimold Andreas , Mikuls Ted R. , Bergman Debra , Sauer Brian C.
Published: October 2019

Objective

The accurate and efficient collection and documentation of disease activity measures (DAMs) is critical to improve clinical care and outcomes research in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study evaluated the performance of an automated process to extract DAMs from medical notes in the electronic health record (EHR).

Methods

An automated text processing system was developed to extract the Disease Activity Score for 28 joints (DAS28) and its clinical and laboratory elements from the Veterans Affairs EHR for patients enrolled in the Veterans Affairs Rheumatoid Arthritis (VARA) registry. After automated text processing derivation, data accuracy was assessed by comparing the automated text processing system and manual extraction with gold standard chart review in a separate validation phase.

Results

In the validation phase, 1569 notes from 596 patients at 3 sites were evaluated, with 75 (6%) notes detected only by automated text processing, 85 (5%) detected only by manual extraction, and 1408 (90%) detected by both methods. The accuracy of automated text processing ranged from 90.7% to 96.7% and the accuracy of manual extraction ranged from 91.3% to 95.0% for the different clinical and laboratory elements. The accuracy of the two methods to calculate the DAS28 was 78.1% for automated text processing and 78.3% for manual extraction.

Conclusion

The automated text processing approach is highly efficient and performed as well as the manual extraction approach. This advance has the potential for significant improvements in the collection, documentation, and extraction of these data to support clinical practice and outcomes research relevant to RA as well as the potential for broader application to other health conditions.
Efficient Orange–Red Delayed Fluorescence Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes with External Quantum Efficiency over 26%
Authors: Xie Feng‐Ming , Wu Ping , Zou Shi‐Jie , Li Yan‐Qing , Cheng Tao , Xie Miao , Tang Jian‐Xin , Zhao Xin
Published: October 2019

Highly efficient orange–red/red thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials have been rarely reported due to the restriction of their molecular design in the energy gap law. An effective strategy is to use large rigid planar units and strong intramolecular charge transfer for synthesizing efficient long‐wavelength TADF materials. Three novel orange–red to red TADF materials are obtained using a large rigid planar dibenzo[a,c]phenazine (BP) acceptor core and different numbers of strong electron‐donating phenoxazine (PXZ) moieties, namely 1PXZ‐BP, 2PXZ‐BP, and 3PXZ‐BP. The increase in the number of PXZ units red‐shifts the emission from 602 to 682 nm in solution. Moreover, these emitters are endowed with high electroluminescence performance due to small singlet–triplet energy difference (ΔEST), fast radiative rate, and high photoluminescence quantum yields. 1PXZ‐BP‐based orange–red organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) achieve an excellent external quantum efficiency of 26.3%, which is one of the highest efficiencies reported for orange–red TADF OLEDs.
Sequentially Deposited versus Conventional Nonfullerene Organic Solar Cells: Interfacial Trap States, Vertical Stratification, and Exciton Dissociation
Authors: Zhang Jiangbin , Futscher Moritz H. , Lami Vincent , Kosasih Felix U. , Cho Changsoon , Gu Qinying , Sadhanala Aditya , Pearson Andrew J. , Kan Bin , Divitini Giorgio , Wan Xiangjian , Credgington Dan , Greenham Neil C. , Chen Yongsheng , Ducati Caterina , Ehrler Bruno , Vaynzof Yana , Friend Richard H. , Bakulin Artem A.
Published: October 2019

Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) nonfullerene organic solar cells prepared from sequentially deposited donor and acceptor layers (sq‐BHJ) have recently been shown to be highly efficient, environmentally friendly, and compatible with large area and roll‐to‐roll fabrication. However, the related photophysics at donor‐acceptor interface and the vertical heterogeneity of donor‐acceptor distribution, critical for exciton dissociation and device performance, have been largely unexplored. Herein, steady‐state and time‐resolved optical and electrical techniques are employed to characterize the interfacial trap states. Correlating with the luminescent efficiency of interfacial states and its nonradiative recombination, interfacial trap states are characterized to be about 40% more populated in the sq‐BHJ devices than the as‐cast BHJ (c‐BHJ), which probably limits the device voltage output. Cross‐sectional energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy depth profiling directly visualize the donor–acceptor vertical stratification with a precision of 1–2 nm. From the proposed “needle” model, the high exciton dissociation efficiency is rationalized. This study highlights the promise of sequential deposition to fabricate efficient solar cells, and points toward improving the voltage output and overall device performance via eliminating interfacial trap states.
Proposing the solar‐wind energy flux hypothesis as a driver of inter‐annual variation in tropical tree reproductive effort
Authors: Hogan J. Aaron , Nytch Christopher J. , Bithorn John E. , Zimmerman Jess K.
Published: October 2019

Premise

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) affects tropical environmental conditions, potentially altering ecosystem function as El Niño events interact with longer‐term climate change. Anomalously warm equatorial Pacific Ocean temperatures affect rainfall and temperature throughout the tropics and coincide with altered leaf flush phenology and increased fruit production in wet tropical forests; however, the understanding of mechanisms underlying this pattern is limited. There is evidence that increases in tropical tree reproduction anticipate El Niño onset, motivating the continued search for a global driver of tropical angiosperm reproduction. We present the solar‐wind energy flux hypothesis: that physical energy influx to the Earth's upper atmosphere and magnetosphere, generated by a positive anomaly in the solar wind preceding El Niño development, cues tropical trees to increase resource allocation to reproduction.

Methods

We test this hypothesis using 19 years of data from Luquillo, Puerto Rico, correlating them with measures of solar‐wind energy.

Results

From 1994 to 2013, the solar‐wind energy flux into Earth's magnetosphere (Ein) was more strongly correlated with the number of species fruiting and flowering than the Niño 3.4 climate index, despite Niño 3.4 being previously identified as a driver of interannual increases in reproduction.

Conclusions

Changes in the global magnetosphere and thermosphere conditions from increased solar‐wind energy affect global atmospheric pressure and circulation patterns, principally by weakening the Walker circulation. We discuss the idea that these changes cue interannual increases in tropical tree reproduction and act through an unidentified mechanism that anticipates and synchronizes the reproductive output of the tropical trees with El Niño.
Disparities in bone density across contemporary Amazonian forager‐horticulturalists: Cross‐population comparison of the Tsimane and Shuar
Authors: Madimenos Felicia C. , Liebert Melissa A. , Cepon‐Robins Tara J. , Urlacher Samuel S. , Josh Snodgrass J. , Sugiyama Lawrence S. , Stieglitz Jonathan
Published: October 2019

Objectives

This study investigates bone density across the life course among Bolivian Tsimane and Ecuadorian Shuar of Amazonia. Both groups are rural, high‐fertility forager‐horticulturalists, with high lifetime physical activity levels. We test whether Tsimane and Shuar bone density patterns are different from each other, and if both groups are characterized by lower osteoporosis risk compared to U.S. references.

Methods

Anthropometric and calcaneal bone density data, obtained via quantitative ultrasonometry (QUS), were collected from 678 Tsimane and 235 Shuar (13–92 years old). Population and sex differences in QUS values (estimated bone mineral density, speed of sound, broadband ultrasound attenuation) by age group were assessed using Mann–Whitney U tests. Age‐related change and age at peak QUS value were determined using polynomial regressions. One‐way analyses of covariance assessed population‐level differences in QUS values by age group adjusting for body mass index. Participants aged 50+ years at elevated osteoporosis risk were identified using a T score < −1.8; binomial tests assessed risk compared to U.S. references.

Results

Shuar males and females <50 years old have QUS values 3–36% higher than Tsimane, with differences evident in adolescence. Among Tsimane and Shuar, 49 and 23% of participants aged 50+ years old, respectively, are at high risk for osteoporosis, compared to 34% of Americans; Shuar osteoporosis risk is comparable to Americans, while Tsimane risk is elevated.

Conclusions

Disparate patterns in QUS values are documented for Tsimane and Shuar, with pronounced differences early in life. Potential explanations for differences include gene–environment interactions and/or degree of market integration, which influences diet, activity profiles, pathogen exposures, and other lifestyle covariates. As Tsimane osteoporosis risk is greater than in the United States, findings point to alternative risk factors for low bone density that are not readily discernible in industrialized populations.
L‐Tyrosine‐Pd complex supported on Fe3O4magnetic nanoparticles: A new catalyst for C–C coupling and Synthesis of sulfides
Authors: Xie Hongxue , Liu Huihui , Wang Meimei , Pan Hui , Gao Caixia
Published: October 2019

In the present work, Fe3O4@L‐Tyrosine‐Pd heterogeneous nanocatalyst was prepared by a simple and inexpensive procedure. The prepared nanocatalyst was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray Diffraction (XRD), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP‐OES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy)TEM(, X‐ray mapping, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), N2adsorption and desorption (BET) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) techniques. Besides, it was employed as an efficent catalyst for C‐C cross coupling and S‐arylation reactions under green conditions. The optimized conditions for these reactions are described. The heterogeneous catalyst can be easily separated by applying a simple magnet and can also be reused in several consecutive runs without appreciable change in its catalytic activity.
Fishing facts and phishing fictions on K'gari (Fraser Island): Archaeological discourse in a post‐truth world
Authors: MEYRIC COSTELLO ANDREW JAMES
Published: October 2019

As a discipline, archaeology must explore ways to present Indigenous and scientific interpretations of the past, employing mechanisms that are effective and relevant to contemporary Indigenous people, and which communicate values for the future that are shared by Indigenous and non‐Indigenous peoples alike. Inclusive archaeological discourse and cultural heritage management can amplify First Nations voices and contribute to the public debate on the contemporary understanding of Australia's past. In developing new ways to explore archaeological relevance to First Nations people, but also working to prevent the loss of intellectual property, archaeologists in partnership with First Nations people can forge new ways to research and communicate ideas and scientific data. The contemporary story of K'gari (Fraser Island, south‐east Queensland) and the effective harnessing by Butchulla people of modern media strategies to assert their ongoing custodial and cultural rights and diminish colonial constructs imposed upon them is a powerful example of innovative resilience and positive social change.
On designing experiments for a dynamic response modeled by regression splines
Authors: Pan Rong , Saleh Moein
Published: October 2019

Dynamic response systems are often found in science, engineering, and medical applications, but the discussion on experimental design for such a system is relatively rare in literature. For an experimenter, designing such experiments requires making decisions on (1) when or where to take response measurements along the dynamic variable and (2) how to choose the combination of experimental factors and their levels. The first consideration is unique for such experiments, especially when the measurement cost is high. In this paper, we present a design approach through the mixed‐effect linear model, which is based on a hierarchical B‐spline function for the dynamic response. We develop several theorems that can assist in finding a statistically efficient sampling plan and propose an algorithm for searching the D‐optimal design of a dynamic response system.
Uncovering the In Vivo Proxisome Using Proximity‐Tagging Methods
Authors: Santin Yoann G.
Published: October 2019

The development of new approaches is critical to gain further insights into biological processes that cannot be obtained by existing methods or technologies. The detection of protein–protein interaction is often challenging, especially for weak and transient interactions or for membrane proteins. Over the last decade, several proximity‐tagging methodologies have been developed to explore protein interactions in living cells. Among those, the most efficient are based on protein partner modification, such as biotinylation or pupylation. Such technologies are based on engineered variants of enzymes like peroxidases or ligases that release reactive molecules, in the presence of specific substrates, that bind surrounding proteins. Fusing a protein of interest (POI) to these enzymes allows the definition of an unbiased “proxisome,” that is, all of the proteins in interaction or in close vicinity of the POI. Here, the different proximity‐labeling tools available are described and comprehensive comparison to discuss advantages and limitations is provided.
Percutaneous radiofrequency-assisted liver partition versus portal vein embolization before hepatectomy for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Melekhina O. , Efanov M. , Alikhanov R. , Tsvirkun V. , Kulezneva Y. , Kazakov I. , Vankovich A. , Koroleva A. , Khatkov I.
Published: October 2019

Background

Percutaneous radiofrequency-assisted liver partition with portal vein embolization in staged liver resection (PRALPPS) represents an alternative to portal vein embolization (PVE) followed by major liver resection in patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Methods

This was an observational case–control study. Both procedures were applied in patients with a future liver remnant (FLR) volume of less than 40 per cent. The main end points of the study were short-term morbidity and mortality for the two procedures. The study also compared the efficacy of the preresection phases estimated by kinetic growth rate (KGR), time interval and degree of hypertrophy of the FLR.

Results

The first phase (preresection) was completed in 11 and 18 patients, and the second phase (resection) in nine and 14 patients, in the PRALPPS and PVE groups respectively. Major morbidity after the first stage did not differ between the groups. There were no differences in blood loss, severe morbidity or liver failure rate after the second stage, with no deaths. The mean KGR of the FLR after the preresection phase for PRALPPS was 3·8 (0·6–9·8) per cent/day, and that after PVE was 1·8 (0–6·7) per cent/day (P = 0·037). The mean time interval for FLR hypertrophy in the PRALPPS and PVE groups was 15 (6–29) and 20 (8–35) days respectively (P = 0·039).

Conclusion

Short-term outcomes were similar for PRALPPS and PVE in terms of safety. Remnant hypertrophy was achieved more rapidly by PRALPPS.
Design, implementation, and outcomes of an elective course on preliminary structural biology for undergraduate students majoring in biotechnology
Authors: Zhang Jinyong , Jing Haiming , Luo Ping , Zhang Xiaoli , Zou Quanming
Published: October 2019

Biotechnological pharmaceuticals is a key course offered to third‐year undergraduates majoring in biotechnology in our university. However, students often experience difficulties in understanding the principles of related technologies. In this study, we developed and implemented an elective course on preliminary structural biology for biotechnology undergraduates, aiming at reinforcing the principles of these technologies by experimental practice. The course was composed of three phases and lasted for 15 weeks, 18 students were randomly divided into six teams and were encouraged to design, prepare, carry out, and conclude a project on their own. The main contents of their project were cloning, expression, purification, and crystal screening of HpaA, a lipoprotein from the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Examination scores of biotechnology pharmaceuticals were used to assess learning outcomes. The results showed that students who participated in this course gained higher scores in the final examination, and they performed better on the questions specifically related to the elective course. These results demonstrated that the course enhanced students' understanding of the technologies involved in this course by practical applications. Thus, this elective course was effective in helping biotechnology undergraduates to learn the theory and application of biological technologies, and the experience gained in this course may be useful for other technology‐based courses.
Composition and Intraspecific Chemical Variability of Leaf Essential Oil of Laggera pterodonta from Côte d'Ivoire
Authors: Kambiré Didjour Albert , Brice Boti Jean , Yapi Thierry Acafou , Ouattara Zana Adama , Paoli Mathieu , Bighelli Ange , Tomi Félix , Casanova Joseph
Published: October 2019

The chemical composition of 44 leaf oil samples of Laggera pterodonta (DC.) Sch.Bip. ex Oliv. (Asteraceae) from Côte d'Ivoire was investigated, using combination of chromatographic (GC‐FID) and spectroscopic (GC/MS, 13C‐NMR) techniques. Two oil samples chosen according to their chromatographic profiles were submitted to column chromatography and all fractions of CC were analyzed by GC‐FID, GC/MS and 13C‐NMR. In total, 83 components accounting for 96.5 to 99.4 % of the whole chemical composition were identified. Significant variations were observed within terpene classes: monoterpene hydrocarbons (0.4–22.7 %), oxygenated monoterpenes (32.9–54.9 %), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (18.6–38.3 %) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (3.5–38.4 %). Thus, the 44 compositions were subjected to hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA). Two groups were differentiated according to their composition. All the samples contained 2,5‐dimethoxy‐p‐cymene, α‐humulene and (E)‐β‐caryophyllene among the main components. Other components were present at appreciable contents and allowed differentiation of two groups: sabinene and germacrene D for Group I; 10‐epi‐γ‐eudesmol and eudesm‐7(11)‐en‐4α‐ol for Group II. All the samples collected in Eastern Côte d'Ivoire constituted Group I, while samples collected in the Central area of the country constituted Group II.
Carbon materials from melamine sponges for supercapacitors and lithium battery electrode materials: A review
Authors: Shi Yanying , Liu Guijing , Jin Rencheng , Xu Hui , Wang Qingyao , Gao Shanmin
Published: October 2019

With the increasing energy demand together with the deteriorating environment and decreasing fossil fuel resources, the development of highly efficient energy conversion and storage devices is one of the key challenges of both fundamental and applied research in energy technology. Melamine sponges (MS) with low density, high nitrogen content, and high porosity have been used to design and obtain three‐dimensional porous carbon electrode materials. More importantly, they are inexpensive, environment‐friendly, and easy to synthesize. There have been many reports on the modification of carbonized MS and MS‐based composites for supercapacitor and lithium battery electrode materials. In this paper, recent studies on the fabrication of electrode materials using MS as raw materials have been mainly reviewed, including carbonation, doping activation, and composite modification of MS, and expectations for the development of porous carbon materials for energy storage as a reference with excellent performance, environment‐friendliness, and long life.
Mitochondria‐Targeting Selenophene‐Modified BODIPY‐Based Photosensitizers for the Treatment of Hypoxic Cancer Cells
Authors: Karaman Osman , Almammadov Toghrul , Emre Gedik M. , Gunaydin Gurcan , Kolemen Safacan , Gunbas Gorkem
Published: October 2019

Two red‐absorbing, water‐soluble and mitochondria (MT)‐targeting selenophene‐substituted BODIPY‐based photosensitizers (PSs) were realized (BOD−Se, BOD−Se−I), and their potential as photodynamic therapy (PDT) agents were evaluated. BOD−Se−I showed higher 1O2 generation yield thanks to the enhanced heavy‐atom effect, and this derivative was further tested in detail in cell culture studies under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. BOD−Se−I not only effectively functioned under hypoxic conditions, but also showed highly selective photocytotoxicity towards cancer cells. The selectivity is believed to arise from differences in mitochondrial membrane potentials of healthy and cancerous cells. To the best of our knowledge, this marks the first example of a MT‐targeted BODIPY PS that functions under hypoxic conditions. Remarkably, thanks to the design strategy, all these properties where realized by a compound that was synthesized in only five steps with 32 % overall yield. Hence, this material holds great promise for the realization of next‐generation PDT drugs for the treatment of hypoxic solid tumors.
Discovery and Pharmacophore Mapping of a Low‐Nanomolar Inhibitor of P. falciparum Growth
Authors: Bassanini Ivan , Parapini Silvia , Galli Corinna , Vaiana Nadia , Pancotti Andrea , Basilico Nicoletta , Taramelli Donatella , Romeo Sergio
Published: October 2019

The treatment of malaria, the most common parasitic disease worldwide and the third deadliest infection after HIV and tuberculosis, is currently compromised by the dramatic increase and diffusion of drug resistance among the various species of Plasmodium, especially P. falciparum (Pf). In this view, the development of new antiplasmodial agents that are able to act via innovative mechanisms of action, is crucial to ensure efficacious antimalarial treatments. In one of our previous communications, we described a novel class of compounds endowed with high antiplasmodial activity, characterized by a pharmacophore never described before as antiplasmodial and identified by their 4,4’‐oxybisbenzoyl amide cores. Here, through a detailed structure‐activity relationship (SAR) study, we thoroughly investigated the chemical features of the reported scaffolds and successfully built a novel antiplasmodial agent active on both chloroquine (CQ)‐sensitive and CQ‐resistant Pf strains in the low nanomolar range, without displaying cross‐resistance. Moreover, we conducted an in silico pharmacophore mapping.
Dimension Reduction for Thin Films with Transversally Varying Prestrain: Oscillatory and Nonoscillatory Cases
Authors: Lewicka Marta , Lučić Danka
Published: October 2019

We study the noneuclidean (incompatible) elastic energy functionals in the description of prestressed thin films at their singular limits (Γ‐limits) as h → 0 in the film's thickness h. First, we extend the prior results to arbitrary incompatibility metrics that depend on both the midplate and the transversal variables (the “nonoscillatory” case). Second, we analyze a more general class of incompatibilities, where the transversal dependence of the lower‐order terms is not necessarily linear (the “oscillatory” case), extending the results of to arbitrary metrics and higher‐order scalings. We exhibit connections between the two cases via projections of appropriate curvature forms on the polynomial tensor spaces. We also show the effective energy quantization in terms of scalings as a power of h and discuss the scaling regimes h2 (Kirchhoff) and h4 (von Kármán) in the general case, as well as all possible (even powers) regimes for conformal metrics, thus paving the way to the subsequent complete analysis of the nonoscillatory setting described in Lewicka (2018). Third, we prove the coercivity inequalities for the singular limits at h2‐ and h4‐ scaling orders, while disproving the full coercivity of the classical von Kármán energy functional at scaling h4. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Secure analysis on entire software‐defined network using coloring distribution model
Authors: Xin‐Hui Zhao , Ze‐Hui Wu , Xiao‐Bin Song , Qing‐Xian Wang
Published: October 2019

Software Definition Network (SDN) has three features as separation of control and forwarding, unified management of configuration, and dynamic programming, which have greatly improved flexibility of network deployment and dynamics of network management, as well as efficiency of network transmission. However, its security problem is quite outstanding. This paper proposes a new security defense method based on coloring distribution model, which aims at the shortcomings of the current research that does not change the weak security, certainty, statics, and isomorphism of SDN. Motivated by the idea of moving target defense, our method abstracts network topology of SDN using coloring theory and realizes diversified deployment of controllers and switches, thus improving the security of network itself without changing the structure of SDN. Simulation results show that our method can prevent denial of service (DOS) attacks against controllers and switches and at the same time effectively block the worm, which is one of the most threat of smart city, propagation via switches.
Glycine‐Induced Electrodeposition of Nanostructured Cobalt Hydroxide: A Bifunctional Catalyst for Overall Water Splitting
Authors: Shilpa Nagaraju , Nadeema Ayasha , Kurungot Sreekumar
Published: October 2019

Herein, an interconnected α‐Co(OH)2 structure with a network‐like architecture was used as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for the overall water splitting reaction in alkaline medium. The complexing ability of glycine with a transition metal was exploited to form [Co(gly)3]− dispersion at pH 10, which was used for the electrodeposition. High‐resolution TEM, UV/Vis‐diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to confirm that the as‐synthesized materials had an α‐Co(OH)2 phase. The electrocatalytic oxygen and hydrogen evolution activity of the glycine‐coordinated α‐Co(OH)2 was found to be approximately 320 and 145 mV, respectively, at 10 mA cm−2. The material required approximately 1.60 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode; RHE) to achieve the benchmark of 10 mA cm−2 for overall water splitting with a mass activity of approximately 63.7 A g−1 at 1.60 V (vs. RHE). The chronoamperometric response was measured to evidence the stability of the material for overall water splitting for up to 24 h. Characterization of the catalyst after the oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions was performed by XPS and showed the presence of a CoII/CoIII oxidation state.
Radio resource management framework for energy‐efficient communications in the Internet of Things
Authors: G. C. Deepak , Bouhafs Faycal , Raschellà Alessandro , Mackay Michael , Shi Qi
Published: October 2019

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the vision of a global network that connects various physical world objects to the IT infrastructure through a wireless medium. Despite the availability of a number of mature radio access technologies such as GSM, Long‐Term Evolution, Wi‐Fi, and due to the current progress made in developing 5G technology, more and more IoT operators are opting to use low‐power wide‐area (LPWA) technologies due to their low cost and easy deployment. However, recent studies show that the radio resource allocation used in these technologies is not scalable. This limitation often results in packet collisions, retransmission and unnecessary waste of scarce energy resources. In this paper, we propose a radio resource management framework, based on software‐defined network (SDN), to overcome the inefficient radio resource allocation of LPWA technologies. This is possible through the centralized nature of SDN, which allows collecting network monitoring information to analyze and calculate the optimal channel assignment configuration across the IoT network. We perform software‐defined radio‐based spectrum monitoring within the real IoT network platform in 868 MHz bands in which the latest IoT technologies, ie, LoRa and SigFox, operate. We demonstrate, through extensive simulations, that the proposed approach provides a better radio resource allocation for LPWA, reduces the number of packet collisions, and significantly improves the energy efficiency of the IoT communications.
Primary auditory cortex representation of fear‐conditioned musical sounds
Authors: Staib Matthias , Abivardi Aslan , Bach Dominik R.
Published: October 2019

Auditory cortex is required for discriminative fear conditioning beyond the classical amygdala microcircuit, but its precise role is unknown. It has previously been suggested that Heschl's gyrus, which includes primary auditory cortex (A1), but also other auditory areas, encodes threat predictions during presentation of conditioned stimuli (CS) consisting of monophones, or frequency sweeps. The latter resemble natural prosody and contain discriminative spectro‐temporal information. Here, we use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in humans to address CS encoding in A1 for stimuli that contain only spectral but no temporal discriminative information. Two musical chords (complex) or two monophone tones (simple) were presented in a signaled reinforcement context (reinforced CS+ and nonreinforced CS−), or in a different context without reinforcement (neutral sounds, NS1 and NS2), with an incidental sound detection task. CS/US association encoding was quantified by the increased discriminability of BOLD patterns evoked by CS+/CS−, compared to NS pairs with similar physical stimulus differences and task demands. A1 was defined on a single‐participant level and based on individual anatomy. We find that in A1, discriminability of CS+/CS− was higher than for NS1/NS2. This representation of unconditioned stimulus (US) prediction was of comparable magnitude for both types of sounds. We did not observe such encoding outside A1. Different from frequency sweeps investigated previously, musical chords did not share representations of US prediction with monophone sounds. To summarize, our findings suggest decodable representation of US predictions in A1, for various types of CS, including musical chords that contain no temporal discriminative information.
Pembrolizumab‐induced myasthenia gravis with myositis and presumable myocarditis in a patient with bladder cancer
Authors: Todo Maki , Kaneko Gou , Shirotake Suguru , Shimada Yuki , Nakano Shintaro , Okabe Takashi , Ishikawa Shiho , Oyama Masafumi , Nishimoto Koshiro
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Pembrolizumab cause immune‐related adverse events. We herein report a case of advanced bladder cancer, who treated with pembrolizumab and exhibited intriguing clinical course.

Case presentation

A 63‐year‐old man with bladder carcinoma was treated by radical cystectomy, however, the bladder carcinoma recurred and invaded to the rectum. He was treated by combination therapy using gemcitabine and cisplatin, which were not effective for the tumor. He subsequently underwent treatment with pembrolizumab. In several 30 days, he suffered from the symptoms of myasthenia gravis. Serum levels of creatine kinase, its isozyme creatine kinase‐myocardial band, and troponin I were elevated. Electrocardiography showed a right bundle branch block. These findings suggested that he was myasthenia gravis with general myositis and presumable myocarditis. Oral prednisolone administration significantly attenuated these findings. The tumor drastically shrunk only by the single injection of pembrolizumab.

Conclusion

Early intervention with corticosteroid was effective for neuromuscular complications due to pembrolizumab.
The comparison of effectiveness and safety between different biosimilars of G‐CSF in the mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) for autologous transplantation (autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, auto‐PBSCT)
Authors: Wicherska‐Pawłowska Katarzyna , Rybka Justyna , Prajs Iwona , Szmigiel Katarzyna , Tyc Joanna , Frączak Ewa , Biedroń Monika , Kalicińska Elżbieta , Szymczak Donata , Wróbel Tomasz
Published: October 2019

Background

Autologous peripheral blood marrow stem cell transplantation (auto‐PBSCT) preceded by high‐dose chemotherapy is a well‐known method of treatment for patients with hematological cancers. Performing the procedure entails obtaining from the patient their own stem cells from peripheral blood using G‐CSF. Currently, various filgrastim biosimilars are widely used.

Aim of the Study

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of three different biosimilars of filgrastim in PBSC mobilization in patients with hematological malignancies.

Materials and Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of 282 patients (118 women and 164 men) who underwent stem cells mobilization for auto‐PBSCT in the Department of Hematology in Wroclaw in 2012‐2014. Three filgrastim biosimilars were used: Tevagrastim (95), Nivestim (92), and Zarzio (95). Ninety patients (32%) were diagnosed with multiple myeloma, 55 (19%) with Hodgkin's lymphoma, 90 (32%) with NHLs, 20 (7%) with acute myeloid leukemia, and 27 (10%) with another hematological cancer.

Results

The mean number of CD34+ cells collected during the first leukapheresis was 5.95 × 106/kg for Tevagrastim, 7.08 × 106/kg for Nivestim, and 6.8 × 106/kg for Zarzio (P > .05). The necessary number of leukapheresis for patients receiving Zarzio, Nivestim, and Tevagrastim was 1.32, 1.37, and 1.66, respectively (P > .05). The percentage of effective mobilizations was 88.2% for Zarzio, 86.2% for Nivestim, and 84.9% for Tevagrastim. The side effects included bone pain and headache.

Conclusion

All tested biosimilars demonstrated similar effectiveness and safety profiles in patients with hematological tumors undergoing PBSC mobilization; therefore, they can be used interchangeably.
Delayed adverse events in male plateletpheresis donors: Initial insights on donor safety
Authors: Gupta Abhaykumar M. , Bajpai Meenu
Published: October 2019

Background

Minimal information is available regarding delayed adverse donor events (D‐ADEs) in plateletpheresis donors. Proactive follow up of donors for D‐ADEs is not done routinely by BTS. The aim of this study was to analyze frequency and type of D‐ADEs and its correlation with contributory factors if any.

Methods

In this prospective observational study all eligible donors were contacted by telephone twice and asked about general wellbeing and questions specific to adverse donor events (ADEs). Donors were called at 24 hours and 2 weeks after donation. The ADEs were categorized in accordance with the International Society of Blood Transfusion standard guidelines.

Results

A total of 531 donors were analyzed in the study. D‐ADEs were more common as compared to immediate ADEs (I‐ADEs) (19.21% vs 5.46%, P < .0001). The most common D‐ADEs were bruises (7.34%) and sore arms (3.58%). Localized D‐ADEs in form of bruise and hematomas were more frequent as compared to systemic D‐ADEs like fatigue and vaso‐vagal reactions (16.01% vs 3.20% P < .0001). Repeat donors had a lower incidence of systemic D‐ADEs (1.61% vs 6.96%, P = .001). Donors with weight ≤75 kg and platelet count ≤230 × 103 μL were more prone to systemic D‐ADEs (P < .05). Citrate toxicity was more common in donors with weight ≤ 75 kg (P = .002).

Conclusions

Plateletpheresis procedures are relatively safer without any sequelae. D‐ADEs are more common than I‐ADEs. Localized D‐ADEs are more frequent than systemic D‐ADEs. First‐time donors are more prone to D‐ADEs than repeat donors.
Effect factors related to a high probability of hemodialysis independence in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients requiring hemodialysis
Authors: Song Jia , Jiang Fengjuan , Liu Hui , Ding Kai , Ren Yue , Li Lijuan , Wang Guojin , Shao Zonghong , Fu Rong
Published: October 2019

Background

Renal failure is a severe complication of symptomatic myeloma, related to higher mortality. Recovery from dialysis dependence can lead to enormous survival benefits. We investigated the effect factors for probability of dialysis independence.

Methods

Retrospective data on 45 newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) patients with serious renal impairment and requiring hemodialysis were analyzed. The statistical methods including logistic regression analysis, Kaplan‐Meier survival curves, the log‐rank test and the Cox proportional hazards model for survival analysis were used in our study.

Results

Twenty‐two of the 45 patients, who were on hemodialysis at diagnosis, became dialysis independence. In the logistic regression analysis, serum level of β2‐microglobulin, kidney disease history, involved free light chain, and achieving at least VGPR were significantly associated with reversibility from dialysis dependence. In addition, achieving hemodialysis discontinuation was related to better survival. The multivariate analyses demonstrated that reversibility from dialysis dependence, proteinuria < 3.5 g/24 h, and achieving at least VGPR were significantly associated with OS among NDMM patients requiring hemodialysis.

Conclusion

Lower serum level of β2‐microglobulin and lower level of free light chain at diagnosis, achieving at least VGPR, and shorter kidney disease history are related to a high probability of dialysis independence in NDMM patients with serious renal failure requiring dialysis.