bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electricity production and bacterial communities of microbial fuel cell supplied with oily sludge
Authors: Guo Haiying , Xie Shuixiang , Deng Hao , Geng Xiaoheng , Wang Penghua , Huang Chunfeng , Tang Shanfa
Published: February 2020

Oily sludge is a major problem affecting the quality of oil fields and surrounding environment. Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology is a simple way to treat the oily sludge while generating electricity. To investigate the electrochemical properties of such MFC and the characteristics of bacteria attached to anode, a single‐chamber MFC supplemented with oily sludge was constructed. The electrochemical results showed that the oily sludge is suitable for MFC operation, with a maximum output voltage of 299.13 mV and a maximum output power (Pmax) of 2,255.52 mW/m2. The cyclic voltammetry curve of MFC anode displayed an “S” shape, whereas the main peaks were at 0 and 0.1 V, indicating a strong redox reaction on the anode carbon felt. The limiting current was 0.08 A/cm2. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the bacteria on the anode surface showed that most of bacteria displayed a rod‐shaped morphology, whereas the biological metagenomic classification sequencing showed that the predominant electricity‐producing bacteria were Proteiniciclasticum (15.83%) from Firmicutes and Pseudomonas (11.9%) from Gammaproteobacteria. MFC can effectively utilize the oily sludge to generate electricity at the same time, which provides a theoretical basis for the research of MFCs' pollution control and electricity production.
Effect of copper and iron substitution on the structures and electrochemical properties of LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 cathode materials
Authors: Xi Zhao , Wang Zhixing , Peng Wenjie , Guo Huajun , Wang Jiexi
Published: February 2020

Cu and Fe are the main impurity elements in the hydrometallurgical regeneration of spent lithium‐ion batteries. Hence, it is important to study the effect of Cu and Fe doping on the structures and electrochemical properties of cathode materials. In this study, a series of Cu‐ and/or Fe‐doped LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 cathode materials are synthesized by spray pyrolysis and high‐temperature solid‐state method. The inductively coupled plasma (ICP), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and Rietveld refinement results reveal that Cu and Fe can incorporate into the crystal lattice and cation mixing is suppressed. The X‐ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS) results show that the relative ratio of Ni2+/Ni3+ on the surface is effectively decreased. Electrochemical results display that the electrochemical performances of Cu‐ and/or Fe‐doped samples are improved when the atomic ratio of Ni to Cu and Ni to Fe is greater than 79.0 and 399.0, respectively. The dQ/dV, GITT, EIS, XRD, and XPS studies indicate that the structure stability, Li+ diffusion coefficient, and charge transfer can be increased by appropriate Cu and/or Fe substitution. The results suggest that appropriate Cu and Fe can be doped into LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 as beneficial elements rather than removed as impurities.
VGMF: Visual contents and geographical influence enhanced point‐of‐interest recommendation in location‐based social network
Authors: Liu Bo , Meng Qing , Zhang Hengyuan , Xu Kun , Cao Jiuxin
Published: February 2020

Point‐of‐interest (POI) recommendation system has become an essential part of the location‐based social networks (LBSNs). Existing researches on POI recommendation mostly focus on geographical contents. However, the sparsity of user geographic data impedes the further improvement of POI recommendation performance. We have realized that for LBSNs, which are usually image‐heavy networks, the visual contents are significant clues for users' POI estimation. Based on the above, we propose a novel method to combine both geographical and visual contents for POI recommendation. The advantages of this method are threefold. First, through a fusion of both geographical and visual contents, we greatly alleviate the problem of sparse location data, which can significantly improve the recommendation performance. Second, we characterize the geographical clustering phenomenon more precisely, which can further improve the recommendation quality. Third, different from previous works that treat all locations where users have not visited as negative samples, we put forward an elaborate method to generate negative samples by calculating the inconsistency between users' preferable visual contents and location visual content. In the end, the problem of imbalance of positive and negative data is solved. We extensively evaluate the performance of our algorithm and other competitive baselines, and the evaluation results confirm the superiority of our method. Through the study of users' behaviors and some clues of users' preference in the POI recommendation, it will provide some instructions and references for the privacy protection in the LBSN security research. Furthermore, to render our experiments reproducible, the codes, and the dataset can be found at https://github.com/socialsnail/VGMF.
Soft tissue reconstruction with anterior pedicled inferior turbinate flap in conjunction with palatal flap for standard inferior maxillectomy with hard palate resection
Authors: Omura Kazuhiro , Nomura Kazuhiro , Aoki Satoshi , Otori Nobuyoshi , Tanaka Yasuhiro
Published: February 2020

Background

The defect after surgical resection of sinonasal malignant tumors is normally reconstructed using free flaps obtained from donor sites. There is no report of using the palatal island flap to reconstruct defects after surgery. We aimed to describe our technique of soft tissue reconstruction through anterior pedicled inferior turbinate (APIT) flap in conjunction with palatal flap for standard inferior maxillectomy with hard palate resection and its outcomes and to discuss its advantages and disadvantages compared with free‐flap reconstruction.

Methods

For resection of malignant tumors arising from the anterior nasal septum, we preserved the hard palate during maxillectomy using a palatal island flap and an anterior pedicled inferior turbinate flap.

Results

One patient developed a small oroantral fistula, which was sealed with a denture. The other patient had a good outcome.

Conclusion

Our technique of maxillectomy is useful for selected cases of sinonasal malignancy that require maxillary floor resection.
Risk of Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Cancer in Patients With NAFLD and Normal Liver Enzymes
Authors: Natarajan Yamini , Kramer Jennifer R. , Yu Xian , Li Liang , Thrift Aaron P. , El‐Serag Hashem B. , Kanwal Fasiha
Published: February 2020

Background and Aims

The long‐term risk of disease for patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the absence of elevated enzymes is unclear. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Corporate Data Warehouse of the Veterans Health Administration.

Approach and Results

We classified patients into three groups: patients with steatosis/normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT), steatosis/elevated ALT, and no steatosis/normal ALT. We examined incidence rates for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and conducted cause‐specific hazard models to evaluate the risk of cirrhosis and HCC. We identified 3,522 patients with steatosis/normal ALT, 15,419 patients with steatosis/elevated ALT, and 9,267 patients with no steatosis/normal ALT. The mean age in each group was 58.9, 54.7 and 59.3 years, respectively; over 90% were men. Compared to patients with hepatic steatosis/normal ALT, those with steatosis/elevated ALT were younger and more likely to be obese (both P < 0.01). In patients with steatosis/normal ALT, the incidence rates of cirrhosis and HCC were 1.22 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.83‐1.74) and 0.20 (95% CI: 0.06‐0.46) per 1,000 person‐years, respectively; this was lower than in patients with steatosis/elevated ALT (cirrhosis: 3.85; 95% CI: 3.50‐4.23, and HCC: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.26‐0.49). Patients with steatosis/elevated ALT had a higher risk of developing cirrhosis (adjusted hazard ratio: 3.37; 95% CI:  2.34‐4.86; P < 0.01) than patients with steatosis/normal ALT; they also had a higher risk of HCC, although it did not reach statistical significance (hazard ratio: 2.07; 95% CI: 0.82‐5.28; P = 0.13). The risk of cirrhosis and HCC in patients with steatosis/normal ALT and those without steatosis was not significantly different.

Conclusions

Patients with hepatic steatosis with persistently normal ALT are at lower risk for cirrhosis compared to those with steatosis and elevated ALT and not different from the risk in a clinical cohort without hepatic steatosis.
Molecular profiling identifies synchronous endometrial and ovarian cancers as metastatic endometrial cancer with favorable clinical outcome
Authors: Reijnen Casper , Küsters‐Vandevelde Heidi V.N. , Ligtenberg Marjolijn J.L. , Bulten Johan , Oosterwegel Marloes , Snijders Marc P.L.M. , Sweegers Sanne , de Hullu Joanne A. , Vos Maria C. , van der Wurff Anneke A.M. , van Altena Anne M. , Eijkelenboom Astrid , Pijnenborg Johanna M.A.
Published: February 2020

Synchronous primary endometrial and ovarian cancers (SEOs) represent 10% of all endometrial and ovarian cancers and are assumed to develop as independent entities. We investigated the clonal relationship between endometrial and ovarian carcinomas in a large cohort classified as SEOs or metastatic disease (MD). The molecular profiles were compared to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data to explore primary origin. Subsequently, the molecular profiles were correlated with clinical outcome. To this extent, a retrospective multicenter study was performed comparing patients with SEOs (n = 50), endometrial cancer with synchronous ovarian metastasis (n = 19) and ovarian cancer with synchronous endometrial metastasis (n = 20). Targeted next‐generation sequencing was used, and a clonality index was calculated. Subsequently, cases were classified as POLE mutated, mismatch repair deficient (MMR‐D), TP53‐wild‐type or TP53‐mutated. In 92% of SEOs (46/50), the endometrial and concurrent ovarian carcinoma shared at least one somatic mutation, with a clonality index above 0.95, supporting a clonal origin. The SEO molecular profiles showed striking similarities with the TCGA endometrial carcinoma set. SEOs behaved distinctly different from metastatic disease, with a superior outcome compared to endometrial MD cases (p < 0.001) and ovarian MD cases (p < 0.001). Classification according to the TCGA identified four groups with different clinical outcomes. TP53 mutations and extra‐utero‐ovarian disease were independent predictors for poor clinical outcome. Concluding, SEOs were clonally related in an overwhelming majority of cases and showed a favorable prognosis. Their molecular profile implied a primary endometrial origin. TP53 mutation and extra‐utero‐ovarian disease were independent predictors for outcome, and may impact adjuvant systemic treatment planning.
Therapeutic targeting of soluble CD146/MCAM with the M2J‐1 monoclonal antibody prevents metastasis development and procoagulant activity in CD146‐positive invasive tumors
Authors: Stalin Jimmy , Traboulsi Wael , Vivancos‐Stalin Lucie , Nollet Marie , Joshkon Ahmad , Bachelier Richard , Guillet Benjamin , Lacroix Romaric , Foucault‐Bertaud Alexandrine , Leroyer Aurélie S. , Dignat‐George Françoise , Bardin Nathalie , Blot‐Chabaud Marcel
Published: February 2020

Initially discovered in human melanoma, CD146/MCAM is expressed on many tumors and is correlated with cancer progression and metastasis. However, targeting CD146 remains challenging since it is also expressed on other cell types, as vessel cells, where it displays important physiological functions. We previously demonstrated that CD146 is shed as a soluble form (sCD146) that vectorizes the effects of membrane CD146 on tumor angiogenesis, growth and survival. We thus generated a novel monoclonal antibody, the M2J‐1 mAb, which specifically targets sCD146, but not membrane CD146, and counteracts these effects. In our study, we analyzed the effects of sCD146 on the dissemination and the associated procoagulant phenotype in two highly invasive human CD146‐positive cancer cell lines (ovarian and melanoma). Results show that sCD146 induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition, favored the generation of cancer stem cells and increased the membrane expression of tissue factor. Treatment of cancer cells with sCD146 in two experimental models (subcutaneous xenografting and intracardiac injection of cancer cells in nude mice) led to increased tumor dissemination and procoagulant activity. The M2J‐1 mAb drastically reduced metastasis but also procoagulant activity, in particular by decreasing the number of circulating tumor microparticles, and blocked the relevant signaling pathways as demonstrated by RNA expression profiling experiments. Thus, our findings demonstrate that sCD146 mediates important pro‐metastatic and procoagulant effects in two CD146‐positive tumors. Targeting sCD146 with the newly generated M2J‐1 mAb could constitute an innovative strategy for preventing dissemination and thromboembolism in many CD146‐positive tumors.
Quantification of multicellular colonization in tumor metastasis using exome‐sequencing data
Authors: Nishino Jo , Watanabe Shuichi , Miya Fuyuki , Kamatani Takashi , Sugawara Toshitaka , Boroevich Keith A. , Tsunoda Tatsuhiko
Published: February 2020

Metastasis is a major cause of cancer‐related mortality, and it is essential to understand how metastasis occurs in order to overcome it. One relevant question is the origin of a metastatic tumor cell population. Although the hypothesis of a single‐cell origin for metastasis from a primary tumor has long been prevalent, several recent studies using mouse models have supported a multicellular origin of metastasis. Human bulk whole‐exome sequencing (WES) studies also have demonstrated a multiple “clonal” origin of metastasis, with different mutational compositions. Specifically, there has not yet been strong research to determine how many founder cells colonize a metastatic tumor. To address this question, under the metastatic model of “single bottleneck followed by rapid growth,” we developed a method to quantify the “founder cell population size” in a metastasis using paired WES data from primary and metachronous metastatic tumors. Simulation studies demonstrated the proposed method gives unbiased results with sufficient accuracy in the range of realistic settings. Applying the proposed method to real WES data from four colorectal cancer patients, all samples supported a multicellular origin of metastasis and the founder size was quantified, ranging from 3 to 17 cells. Such a wide‐range of founder sizes estimated by the proposed method suggests that there are large variations in genetic similarity between primary and metastatic tumors in the same subjects, which may explain the observed (dis)similarity of drug responses between tumors.
Bisphenol A induces a shift in sex differentiation gene expression with testis‐ova or sex reversal in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes)
Authors: Horie Yoshifumi , Kanazawa Nobuhiko , Takahashi Chiho , Tatarazako Norihisa , Iguchi Taisen
Published: February 2020

Bisphenol A (BPA), a very important raw material in the plastics industry, is an endocrine‐disrupting chemical in teleost fish. Although BPA induces testis‐ova and sex reversal in teleost fish species, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. We evaluated the effects of BPA (measured concentrations: 45, 92, 326, 1030 and 3406 μg/L) on Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) using OECD TG234 (2011, Fish Sexual Development Test, OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals, Section 2). BPA at 1030 and 3406 μg/L induced testis‐ova and sex reversal with female‐type secondary sexual characteristics in XY males at 30 and 60 days posthatching (dph). Then we examined the BPA effect on the expression of sex differentiation genes related to the testis‐ova and sex reversal in XY medaka. BPA exposure (1030 and 3406 μg/L) suppressed gsdf mRNA expression and increased cyp19a1a mRNA expression in XY individuals at stage 38 and 30 dph, although foxl2 mRNA expression showed no change. Interestingly, the concentration of BPA that suppressed gsdf mRNA expression at the larval stage was consistent with that needed to induce testis‐ova and sex reversal. These results suggest that the gsdf gene at the embryonic stage can be used as a useful biomarker for predicting the impact of estrogenic endocrine‐disrupting chemicals on sexual differentiation in Japanese medaka.
Association of Tramadol Use With Risk of Hip Fracture
Authors: Wei Jie , Lane Nancy E , Bolster Marcy B , Dubreuil Maureen , Zeng Chao , Misra Devyani , Lu Na , Choi Hyon K , Lei Guanghua , Zhang Yuqing
Published: February 2020

Several professional organizations have recommended tramadol as one of the first-line or second-line therapies for patients with chronic noncancer pain and its prescription has been increasing rapidly worldwide; however, the safety profile of tramadol, such as risk of fracture, remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the association of tramadol with risk of hip fracture. Among individuals age 50 years or older without a history of hip fracture, cancer, or opioid use disorder in The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database in the United Kingdom general practice (2000–2017), five sequential propensity score–matched cohort studies were assembled, ie, participants who initiated tramadol or those who initiated one of the following medications: codeine (n = 146,956) (another commonly used weak opioid), naproxen (n = 115,109) or ibuprofen (n = 107,438) (commonly used nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]), celecoxib (n = 43,130), or etoricoxib (n = 27,689) (cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors). The outcome was incident hip fracture over 1 year. After propensity-score matching, the included participants had a mean age of 65.7 years and 56.9% were women. During the 1-year follow-up, 518 hip fracture (3.7/1000 person-years) occurred in the tramadol cohort and 401 (2.9/1000 person-years) occurred in the codeine cohort. Compared with codeine, hazard ratio (HR) of hip fracture for tramadol was 1.28 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13 to 1.46). Risk of hip fracture was also higher in the tramadol cohort than in the naproxen (2.9/1000 person-years for tramadol, 1.7/1000 person-years for naproxen; HR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.41 to 2.03), ibuprofen (3.4/1000 person-years for tramadol, 2.0/1000 person-years for ibuprofen; HR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.39 to 1.96), celecoxib (3.4/1000 person-years for tramadol, 1.8/1000 person-years for celecoxib; HR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.40 to 2.44), or etoricoxib (2.9/1000 person-years for tramadol, 1.5/1000 person-years for etoricoxib; HR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.34 to 2.87) cohort. In this population-based cohort study, the initiation of tramadol was associated with a higher risk of hip fracture than initiation of codeine and commonly used NSAIDs, suggesting a need to revisit several guidelines on tramadol use in clinical practice. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Prediction of catalytic activities of bis(imino)pyridine metal complexes by machine learning
Authors: Yang Wenhong , Fidelis Timothy Tizhe , Sun Wen‐Hua
Published: February 2020

This work demonstrates the potential of machine learning (ML) method to predict catalytic activity of transition metal complex precatalyst toward ethylene polymerization. For this purpose, 294 complexes and 15 molecular descriptors were selected to build the artificial neural network (ANN) model. The catalytic activity can be well predicted by the obtained ANN model, which was further validated by external complexes. Boruta algorithm was employed to explicitly decipher the importance of descriptors, illustrating the conjugated bond structure, and bulky substitutions are favorable for catalytic activity. The present work indicates that ML could give useful guidance for the new design of homogenous polyolefin catalyst.
The effect of vitamin D on sarcopenia depends on the level of physical activity in older adults
Authors: Yang Aolin , Lv Qingqing , Chen Feng , Wang Yingfang , Liu Yixuan , Shi Wanying , Liu Ying , Wang Difei
Published: February 2020

Objective

Sarcopenia in older adults is closely related to vitamin D deficiency and reduced levels of physical activity, but little has been reported on the interaction between physical activity and the positive effects of vitamin D. The purpose of this study was to explore the interactive effect of vitamin D and physical activity on muscle mass and function through animal experiments and population surveys.

Methods

Male 4‐week‐old C57BL/6J mice were fed different purified diets: a vitamin D‐deficient diet (with increased calcium and phosphorus to prevent the effects of abnormal mineral levels on muscle) or a 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D)‐supplemented diet. After 24 weeks on the assigned diets, the mice were immobilized. The level of skeletal muscle atrophy in the mice was determined by grip strength, gastrocnemius (GA) muscle mass and muscle fiber cross‐sectional area (CSA); additionally, the protein expression levels of FOXO3a and the E3 ubiquitin ligases MuRF1 and MAFbx were detected. A cross‐sectional study included data from 4139 older adults (64.9% women, 67.9 ± 6.7 years) as part of a survey in Shenyang, Northeast China. The associations of serum 25(OH)D3 and physical activity with timed up and go test (TUG) performance, handgrip strength, calf circumference, and body muscle mass were assessed by a linear regression analysis that was adjusted for covariates.

Results

In activity‐limited mice, vitamin D deficiency accelerated the decrease in GA muscle weight, muscle fiber CSA, and grip strength and increased the protein expression of MuRF1, MAFbx, and FOXO3a (all P < 0.05). In addition, 1,25D supplementation may inhibit the grip‐strength reduction induced by limited activity (P = 0.069). Serum 25(OH)D3 and physical activity were linearly related to TUG time (P < 0.001) and handgrip strength (P < 0.05) after adjustment for sex, age, body mass index (BMI), education level, smoking status, and serum calcium level. Serum 25(OH)D3 and physical activity had interactive effects on TUG (P < 0.001) and handgrip strength (P < 0.05) but not calf circumference or body muscle mass in older adults.

Conclusions

The effect of vitamin D on muscle strength and physical performance depends on physical activity level in the elderly. It is recommended that older adults strive to avoid both physical inactivity and vitamin D deficiency. Because physical inactivity and vitamin D deficiency may exacerbate muscle atrophy, the biological mechanism may involve synergistic effects of vitamin D and physical activity on the promotion of muscle protein ubiquitination and degradation.
miR‐511 inhibits proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer cells by targeting FGF4
Authors: Zhang Chao , Yang Ting , Jiang Hongchuan
Published: February 2020

Background

The present study aimed to explore the functions and molecular mechanisms of miR‐511 in breast cancer.

Methods

A quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was used to detect miR‐511 levels in breast cancer tissues; a chi‐squared test was used to analyze the relationship between miR‐511 expression level and pathological parameters of breast cancer patients; the proliferation of breast cancer cell lines MDA‐MB‐231 and MCF‐7 was determined by the cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8) assay; migration was determined by scratch wound healing assay and transwell assay; TargetScan was used to predict the binding site between the 3'‐untranslated region (3'‐UTR) of fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF4) and miR‐511; and qRT‐PCR, western blot and a luciferase reporter gene assay were conducted to further validate the targeting relationship between miR‐511 and FGF4.

Results

The expression level of miR‐511 was lower in breast cancer tissues than that in adjacent normal tissues. Low expression of miR‐511 was associated with larger tumor size, lymph node metastasis and short survival time. In vitro experiments showed that miR‐511 modulated the proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer cells. It was also confirmed that miR‐511 directly targeted 3'‐UTR of FGF4 and reduced its expression, and FGF4 overexpression reversed the effect of miR‐511 on the malignant phenotypes of breast cancer cells.

Conclusions

The results obtained in the present study demonstrate that miR‐511 inhibits breast cancer proliferation and metastasis by down‐regulating FGF4 expression, which may be helpful in the development of new treatment strategies for breast cancer.
Bacterial cell leakage potential of newly synthesized quinazoline derivatives of 1,5‐benzodiazepines analogue
Authors: Misra Apoorva , Dwivedi Jaya , Shukla Shruti , Kishore Dharma , Sharma Swapnil
Published: February 2020

Novel quinazoline embellished analogues of 1,5‐benzodiazepine (6, 9, 13, 17, 21 and 24) were synthesized using one‐pot domino approach. Structure of the compounds synthesized, were established with the help of IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectral data. Further, antibacterial activity, FE‐SEM imaging and cell leakage study was also performed.
TEG011 persistence averts extramedullary tumor growth without exerting off-target toxicity against healthy tissues in a humanized HLA-A*24:02 transgenic mice
Authors: Johanna Inez , Hernández-López Patricia , Heijhuurs Sabine , Bongiovanni Laura , de Bruin Alain , Beringer Dennis , van Dooremalen Sanne , Shultz Leonard D. , Ishikawa Fumihiko , Sebestyen Zsolt , Straetemans Trudy , Kuball Jürgen
Published: February 2020

γδT cells play an important role in cancer immunosurveillance and are able to distinguish malignant cells from their healthy counterparts via their γδTCR. This characteristic makes γδT cells an attractive candidate for therapeutic application in cancer immunotherapy. Previously, we have identified a novel CD8α-dependent tumor-specific allo-HLA-A*24:02-restricted Vγ5Vδ1TCR with potential therapeutic value when used to engineer αβT cells from HLA-A*24:02 harboring individuals. αβT cells engineered to express this defined Vγ5Vδ1TCR (TEG011) have been suggested to recognize spatial changes in HLA-A*24:02 present selectively on tumor cells but not their healthy counterparts. However, in vivo efficacy and toxicity studies of TEG011 are still limited. Therefore, we extend the efficacy and toxicity studies as well as the dynamics of TEG011 in vivo in a humanized HLA-A*24:02 transgenic NSG (NSG-A24:02) mouse model to allow the preparation of a first-in-men clinical safety package for adoptive transfer of TEG011. Mice treated with TEG011 did not exhibit any graft-versus-host disease-like symptoms and extensive analysis of pathologic changes in NSG-A24:02 mice did not show any off-target toxicity of TEG011. However, loss of persistence of TEG011 in tumor-bearing mice was associated with the outgrowth of extramedullary tumor masses as also observed for mock-treated mice. In conclusion, TEG011 is well tolerated without harming HLA-A*24:02+ expressing healthy tissues, and TEG011 persistence seems to be crucial for long-term tumor control in vivo.
The first two cases of 2019‐nCoV in Italy: Where they come from?
Authors: Giovanetti Marta , Benvenuto Domenico , Angeletti Silvia , Ciccozzi Massimo
Published: February 2020

A novel Coronavirus, 2019‐nCoV, has been identified as the causal pathogen of an ongoing epidemic, with the first cases reported in Wuhan, China, last December 2019, and has since spread to other countries worldwide, included Europe and very recently Italy. In this short report, phylogenetic reconstruction was used to better understand the transmission dynamics of the virus from its first introduction in China focusing on the more recent evidence of infection in a couple of Chinese tourists arrived in Italy on 23rd January 2020 and labeled as Coronavirus Italian cases. A maximum clade credibility tree has been built using a dataset of 54 genome sequences of 2019‐nCoV plus two closely related bat strains (SARS‐like CoV) available in GenBank. Bayesian time‐scaled phylogenetic analysis was implemented in BEAST 1.10.4. The Bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction showed that 2019‐2020 nCoV firstly introduced in Wuhan on 25 November 2019, started epidemic transmission reaching many countries worldwide, including Europe and Italy where the two strains isolated dated back 19 January 2020, the same that the Chinese tourists arrived in Italy. Strains isolated outside China were intermixed with strains isolated in China as evidence of likely imported cases in Rome, Italy, and Europe, as well. In conclusion, this report suggests that further spread of 2019‐nCoV epidemic was supported by human mobility and that quarantine of suspected or diagnosed cases is useful to prevent further transmission. Viral genome phylogenetic analysis represents a useful tool for the evaluation of transmission dynamics and preventive action.
Full‐mouth disinfection effects on gingival fluid calprotectin, osteocalcin, and N‐telopeptide of Type I collagen in severe periodontitis
Authors: Afacan Beral , Çınarcık Serhat , Gürkan Ali , Özdemir Güven , İlhan Harika Atmaca , Vural Caner , Köse Timur , Emingil Gülnur
Published: February 2020

Background

To compare the effects of full‐mouth disinfection (FMD) and full‐mouth ultrasonic debridement (FMUD) on clinical, microbiological and biochemical parameters with conventional quadrant‐wise scaling and root planning (Q‐SRP) in severe chronic periodontitis.

Methods

In the present prospective randomized controlled clinical trial with three parallel arms (#NCT04038801), 60 chronic periodontitis patients were randomly assigned to three study groups by a consecutive number in ascending order: FMD (n = 20), FMUD (n = 20), and Q‐SRP (n = 20). All measurements and treatments were performed by the same investigator. At baseline, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and subgingival plaque were collected and clinical periodontal parameters were recorded. Ultrasonic debridement was completed within 24 hours in FMD and FMUD groups. Chlorhexidine gluconate was used for FMD. Q‐SRP was performed by hand instruments per quadrant at 1‐week‐intervals. Clinical measurements and sampling were repeated at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. Real‐time PCR was used for quantitative analysis of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and total bacteria count. GCF Calprotectin, osteocalcin, and N‐telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx) levels were analyzed by ELISA. The changes of GCF biomarker levels after treatment between groups were the primary outcomes.

Results

No harm was observed. All treatment strategies resulted in significant improvements in all clinical parameters (P < 0.05), with no significant differences between study groups at all time‐points (P ˃ 0.05). Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans was significantly decreased in FMD compared to FMUD and Q‐SRP at 6 months (P < 0.05). Although GCF NTx total amounts increased in all groups during the study period, this increase was less prominent in full‐mouth groups at three time points after treatment (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Present results represent the short‐term effects. Full‐mouth treatment approaches offered limited beneficial effects on microbiological and biochemical parameters over quadrant‐wise approach. All three treatment strategies can be recommended in the management of severe chronic periodontitis.
Investigation of the Stokes to anti‐Stokes ratio for germanium nanowires obtained by electrochemical deposition
Authors: Pavlikov Alexander V. , Forsh Pavel A. , Kashkarov Pavel K. , Gavrilov Sergey A. , Dronov Alexey A. , Gavrilin Ilya M. , Volkov Roman L. , Borgardt Nikolay I. , Bokova‐Sirosh Sofia N. , Obraztsova Elena D.
Published: February 2020

Germanium nanowires fabricated by the electrochemical liquid–liquid–solid deposition from water solutions on titanium coated silicon substrate were studied by Raman spectroscopy in order to estimate the heating effect of exciting radiation. The Stokes to anti‐Stokes ratio was determined for crystalline Ge wafer and for nanowires with different mean diameters at two different excitation wavelengths. It was demonstrated that local heating by exciting laser radiation can lead to an increase in temperature sufficiently high for crystallization of initially amorphous Ge nanowires. The results presented may be of great use for fabricating devices, such as metal ion batteries or thermoelectric elements, based on Ge nanowire.
Effects of Tetragenococcus halophilus and Candida versatilis on the production of aroma‐active and umami‐taste compounds during soy sauce fermentation
Authors: Zhang Lijie , Zhang Ling , Xu Yan
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

Soy sauce is a well‐known condiment worldwide. However, the high salt content in soy sauce contributes to the high intake of sodium salt, which usually results in high blood pressure. High salt soy sauce usually has the better quality (aroma and taste) than low salt. Tetragenococcus halophilus and Candida versatilis are important starters for soy sauce fermentation. It is of urgent need to explore what the effect of these two strains on the aroma‐ and taste‐attributes of soy sauce to achieve high quality fermentation with low salt.

RESULTS

In this study, aroma‐active and taste compounds in soy sauce were reviewed and listed. Then, soy sauce fermentation inoculated with different combinations of T. halophilus (at different inoculated time) and C. versatilis were completed. Aroma‐active and taste compounds in different samples were quantified. Multivariate analysis was used to analyze these data. The aroma‐active compounds which were highly related to the inoculation of T. halophilus and C. versatilis were found. Meanwhile, the addition time of T. halophilus could also be highly related to the production of aroma‐active compounds. More importantly, T. halophilus was highly correlated with the production of umami‐taste compounds in soy sauce, including aspartic acid, glutamic acid, alanine and N
‐succinyl‐glutamic acid.

CONCLUSION

These results will provide a better understanding of the effects of T. halophilus and C. versatilis on the formation of significant aroma‐active and umami‐taste constituents in soy sauce. Furthermore, it will be helpful to realize fermentative control of soy sauce with high quality at low salt. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Changes in microbial, physiochemical, and functional properties of pasteurized liquid whole egg during refrigerated storage
Authors: Wang Jing , Gu Luping , Su Yujie , Chang Cuihua , Xu Lilan , Yang Yanjun , Li Junhua
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

Liquid eggs have the advantages of high hygiene security, easy use, and convenient transportation, but their shelf life is only limited to 2~3 weeks. The microbial, physiochemical, and functional properties of pasteurized LWE were investigated in this study to evaluate the quality of pasteurized liquid whole egg (LWE) during refrigerated storage.

RESULTS

The tested shelf life of the pasteurized LWE was 16 days when stored at 4 °C. During refrigerated storage, Pseudomonas gradually became the dominant bacterium in LWE following lactic acid bacteria, although the initial number of Pseudomonas after pasteurization was relatively limited (< 10 CFU mL−1). A total of 23 strains, including six Pseudomonas strains, were obtained. The pH of pasteurized LWE decreased with the growth of microorganisms, while the content of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB‐N) increased curvilinearly. The average particle size increased almost continuously until the sample reached its shelf life. The functional properties of pasteurized LWE were also reduced after a week of refrigerated storage at 4 °C when the microorganisms in pasteurized LWE entered an exponential growth period and the TVB‐N content of pasteurized LWE reached its first peak.

CONCLUSION

During refrigerated storage, Pseudomonas was the dominant bacterium in LWE next to lactic acid bacteria. After a week of refrigerated storage at 4 °C, the particle size of LWE increased, while the functional properties of LWE reduced. This study provides a basis for extending the shelf life of liquid egg products in future research. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Molecular action mechanism of anti‐inflammatory hydrolysates obtained from brewers' spent grain
Authors: Cian Raúl E , Hernández‐Chirlaque Cristina , Gámez‐Belmonte Reyes , Drago Silvina R , Sánchez de Medina Fermín , Martínez‐Augustin Olga
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

Brewers’ spent grain (BSG) is a relevant, protein‐rich by‐product of the brewing process. Protein hydrolysates from different sources exert immune‐regulatory actions activating toll‐like receptors (TLRs), nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), and mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Effects of gastrointestinal digestion have been poorly studied. Here, we studied the immune‐regulatory effect of BSG hydrolysates, and their in‐vitro‐digested products, on rat splenocytes, macrophages, and T lymphocytes

RESULTS

In primary cultures of rat spleen cells, BSG hydrolysates induced interleukin 10 and tumor necrosis factor production in basal conditions. Under stimulation with lipopolysaccharide or concanavalin A, hydrolysates further induced interleukin 10 production. Tumor necrosis factor and interferon‐γ were inhibited in lipopolysaccharide‑ and concanavalin‐A‐stimulated cells respectively. In vitro gastrointestinal digestion attenuated the observed effects. Splenic macrophages and T lymphocytes behaved in a similar fashion. In spleen cells from TLR2−/− and TLR4−/− mice, immune‐regulatory effects were greatly reduced or abrogated. The study of signal transduction pathways indicated a major involvement of NFκB, and the contribution of MAPKs p38, c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase, and extracellular signal‐regulated kinases 1 and 2.

CONCLUSION

BSG hydrolysates, like those obtained from other food sources, regulate the immune response, involving TLR2 and TLR4 and the activation of NFκB and MAPKs, an effect partly maintained after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Our data support the hypothesis of a shared, rather unspecific, mechanism of action of protein hydrolysates. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Complications after thigh sarcoma resection
Authors: Elswick Sarah M. , Curiel Daniel A. , Wu Peter , Akhavan Arya , Molinar Vanessa E. , Mohan Anita T. , Sim Frank H. , Martinez‐Jorge Jorys , Saint‐Cyr Michel
Published: February 2020

Background and Objectives

Standard treatment for extremity sarcoma is limb‐sparing surgery often with radiation, but complications occur frequently. We sought to determine factors predictive of wound complications after thigh sarcoma resection and reconstruction while analyzing trends over time.

Methods

We reviewed all thigh defects requiring plastic surgeon reconstruction following sarcoma resection at our institution from 1997 to 2014. Patient demographics, comorbidities, operative characteristics, multi‐modality therapies, and complications were analyzed. Wound complications were: infection, dehiscence, seroma, hematoma, or partial/total flap loss.

Results

There were 159 thigh reconstructions followed for 30 months on average. Eighty‐seven percent of patients underwent radiation and 42% had chemotherapy. Almost half (49.1%) had a complication. The most common wound complication was surgical site infection (23.3%) followed by dehiscence (19.5%), and seroma (10.7%). Less common were partial (2.5%) or total flap loss (0.6%). Reoperation was required in 21 patients (13.2%). Tobacco use, older patient age, cardiac disease, and higher body mass index were independently associated with wound complications. Complications trended towards decreasing over time, but this was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Tobacco use, cardiac disease, and higher body mass index, but not the timing of reconstruction, appear to increase the risk of wound complications after thigh soft tissue sarcomas resection and plastic surgery reconstruction.
When does nutrient management sequester more carbon in soils and produce high and stable grain yields in China?
Authors: Waqas Muhammad Ahmed , Li Yu'e , Lal Rattan , Wang Xiaohan , Shi Shengwei , Zhu Yongchang , Li Jianling , Xu Minggang , Wan Yunfan , Qin Xiaobo , Gao Qingzhu , Liu Shuo
Published: February 2020

In agro‐ecosystems, fertilization practices must accomplish high and stable crop productivity, with maximum soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration to address climate change and food security challenges. However, the impacts of these practices on SOC and crop yields are variable over the long‐term duration, and an improved understanding of the factors influencing SOC sequestration and sustainable productivity is still needed to provide evidence‐based management decisions. Therefore, we conducted a meta‐analysis to evaluate the impact of long‐term (≥10 years) application of different fertilizer management practices adapted across China on crop productivity, yield sustainability, and SOC sequestration. Results indicated that unbalanced mineral fertilizer (UMF), balanced mineral fertilizer (BMF), organic fertilizers (OF), combined unbalanced mineral and OF, and combined balanced mineral and organic fertilizers (BMOF) significantly enhanced the grain yield, and SOC sequestration compared with control (p < .05). For UMF, the increases in SOC and grain yields were least among fertilization practices. Comparing OF, BMF mostly produced more grain yields, but with a slight increase in C sequestration. Highest SOC sequestration rate of 0.43 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 was recorded in BMOF, among all the treatments. The data obtained indicated that SOC sequestration is highly time‐dependent. Irrespective of fertilization mode, SOC gradually increased and attained the peak of sequestration rate in the initial two decades rather than at later stages of fertilizer addition. The linear fitted model indicated that an increase in SOC sequestration benefits sustainable productivity. The available data indicate that crop yields can be improved by 143 kg ha−1 for rice (Oryza sativa), 255 kg ha−1 for maize (Zea mays), and 202 kg ha−1 for wheat (Triticum aestivum) with every 1 Mg ha−1 increase in SOC stock by fertilization in the root zone. In crux, BMOF can maintain and improve soil quality while producing high and stable crop yields.
Organic sulfur: A spatially variable and understudied component of marine organic matter
Authors: Longnecker Krista , Oswald Lisa , Kido Soule Melissa C. , Cutter Gregory A. , Kujawinski Elizabeth B.
Published: February 2020

Sulfur (S) is a major heteroatom in organic matter. This project evaluated spatial variability in the concentration and molecular‐level composition of organic sulfur along gradients of depth and latitude. We measured the concentration of total organic sulfur (TOS) directly from whole seawater. Our data reveal high variability in organic sulfur, relative to established variability in total organic carbon or nitrogen. The deep ocean contained significant amounts of organic sulfur, and the concentration of TOS in North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) decreased with increasing age while total organic carbon remained stable. Analysis of dissolved organic matter extracts by ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry revealed that 6% of elemental formulas contained sulfur. The sulfur‐containing compounds were structurally diverse, and showed higher numbers of sulfur‐containing elemental formulas as NADW moved southward. These measurements of organic sulfur in seawater provide the foundation needed to define the factors controlling organic sulfur in the global ocean.
All at once or one at a time? The effect of simultaneous versus sequential discount presentation on store patronage intentions
Authors: DelVecchio Devon , Wang Jessie J. , Brigden Neil
Published: February 2020

Retailers often employ store flyers, be they in print or digital form, to drive store traffic. A fundamental difference in the presentation of multicomponent information, such as the multiple discounts presented in flyers, is whether the components are displayed simultaneously (all at once) of sequentially (one at a time). Yet a little extant research examines how these different presentations affect individuals' responses to retailer price promotions. Three experiments demonstrate that a sequential display of price discounts is associated with more positive store patronage intentions. Evidence, gleaned by both measuring and manipulating the process by which the discounts are evaluated, implicates a greater sense of accumulating benefit with each successive discount when presented sequentially as the driver of the cross‐format difference in patronage intentions.
Poly(ethylene glycol) Diacrylate Based Electro‐Active Ionic Elastomer
Authors: Rajapaksha Chathuranga Prageeth Hemantha , Feng Chenrun , Piedrahita Camilo , Cao Jinwei , Kaphle Vikash , Lüssem Björn , Kyu Thein , Jákli Antal
Published: February 2020

Preparation and low voltage induced bending (converse flexoelectricity) of crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), modified with thiosiloxane (TS) and ionic liquid (1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate) (IL) are reported. In between 2µm PEDOT:PSS electrodes at 1 V, it provides durable (95% retention under 5000 cycles) and relatively fast (2 s switching time) actuation with the second largest strain observed so far in ionic electro‐active polymers (iEAPs). In between 40 nm gold electrodes under 8 V DC voltage, the film can be completely curled up (270° bending angle) with 6% strain that, to the best of the knowledge, is unpreceded among iEAPs. These results render great potential for the TS/PEGDA/IL based electro‐active actuators for soft robotic applications.
Random Branching of Polymer Chains with Schulz–Zimm Distribution. 1. Bivariate Distribution and Related Formulae
Authors: Tobita Hidetaka
Published: February 2020

Analytical solution for the bivariate distribution W(r,k) of the degree of polymerization r and the number of branch points k is obtained for the random branching of polymer chains that follow the Schulz–Zimm distribution, or in mathematical term, the gamma distribution. It is found that when the bivariate distribution is normalized to make the total area unity, the normalized distribution follows another gamma distribution. The bivariate distribution function enables one to determine various useful properties of the branched polymer system, including full weight fraction distribution W(r), the number‐ and weight‐average degree of polymerization having k branch points, the expected branching density ρ for a given degree of polymerization r or a given number of branch points k. The branching density at large r limit, ρr → ∞ is an important property to represent the branched polymer system, rather than the average branching density of the whole system, and the value of ρr → ∞ can be determined for the present random branched system. The effect of the distribution breadth of the primary chains can be investigated by using the formulae developed in this article.