bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current Insights into the Biological Action of Squalene
Authors: Lou‐Bonafonte José M. , Martínez‐Beamonte Roberto , Sanclemente Teresa , Surra Joaquín C. , Herrera‐Marcos Luis V. , Sanchez‐Marco Javier , Arnal Carmen , Osada Jesús
Published: June 2018

Squalene is a triterpenic compound found in a large number of plants and other sources with a long tradition of research since it was first reported in 1926. Herein a systematic review of studies concerning squalene published in the last 8 years is presented. These studies have provided further support for its antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and anti‐atherosclerotic properties in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, an antineoplastic effect in nutrigenetic‐type treatments, which depends on the failing metabolic pathway of tumors, has also been reported. The bioavailability of squalene in cell cultures, animal models, and in humans has been well established, and further progress has been made in regard to the intracellular transport of this lipophilic molecule. Squalene accumulates in the liver and decreases hepatic cholesterol and triglycerides, with these actions being exerted via a complex network of changes in gene expression at both transcriptional and post‐transcriptional levels. Its presence in different biological fluids has also been studied. The combination of squalene with other bioactive compounds has been shown to enhance its pleiotropic properties and might lead to the formulation of functional foods and nutraceuticals to control oxidative stress and, therefore, numerous age‐related diseases in human and veterinary medicine.
An extended Greenwood‐Williamson modelbased normal interaction law for discrete element modelling of spherical particles with surface roughness
Authors: Zhao Tingting , Feng Y.T. , Wang Min
Published: June 2018

The current work aims to develop an improved random normal interaction law based on an extended Greenwood‐Williamson (GW) model for spherical particles with surface roughness in the discrete element modelling of particle systems. The extended GW model overcomes some theoretical defects of the classic GW model when incorporated into the discrete element framework. Based on 2 nondimensional forms in which only 2 surface roughness parameters are involved, an empirical formula of the improved interaction law is derived by the curve‐fitting technique. The resulting interaction law is incorporated into discrete element modelling to investigate the mechanical response of particle systems with different surface roughness. Numerical simulations are performed to model 1‐dimensional and 3‐dimensional compression tests to explore the macro and micro characteristics of granular particles with surface roughness. The results show that surface roughness makes the initial packing of a particle assembly looser and has a greater influence on looser packed samples as expected, but an assembly with moderate roughness may exhibit a higher strength. The limitations of the current development are also highlighted.
Teaching and evaluation of basic urodynamic skills in urology residency programs: Randomized controlled study
Authors: Shamout Samer , Andonian Sero , Kabbara Hani , Corcos Jacques , Campeau Lysanne
Published: June 2018

Aims

Considering the growing role of urodynamic studies (UDS) in urology, we aimed to determine the most effective teaching method with objective evaluation for urodynamic skills, to improve training and patient care.

Methods

Urology residents (n = 20) post‐graduate years 3‐5 were randomized to receive either a UDS video training module or a standard UDS teaching document one week prior to an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). The OSCE was a validated visual recognition exam with interpretation of 12 UDS tracing scenarios. Participants rated their proficiency to interpret UDS tracings before doing the OSCE. Total interpretation score was determined by the accuracy of their response to each question ranging from 0 to 2.

Results

The mean total interpretation score was 13.3 of 24 (55%). The video group achieved significantly higher interpretation scores (15.1 ± 2.08 vs 11.4 ± 2.41, P = 0.0017), and cumulative certainty scores (P = 0.0341). Overall interpretation scores significantly correlated with self‐reported proficiency scores prior to the exam (r = 0.502, P < 0.05), and total certainty scores (r = 0.531, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Reviewing a UDS video training module resulted in significantly better scores on objective assessment of urology residents’ UDS interpretation skills when compared with a standard teaching document. These findings must be interpreted with caution in light of sample size and short knowledge retention required for the assessment within a week. Therefore, using a UDS video training module could be more effective review tool for urology residents. These findings highlight the need to incorporate multimedia teaching into urology training curriculum.
Shape optimization using time evolution equations
Authors: Murai Daisuke , Kawamoto Atsushi , Kondoh Tsuguo
Published: June 2018

In this study, we deal with a numerical solution based on time evolution equations to solve the optimization problem for finding the shape that minimizes the objective function under given constraints. The design variables of the shape optimization problem are defined on a given original domain on which the boundary value problems of partial differential equations are defined. The variations of the domain are obtained by the time integration of the solution to derive the time evolution equations defined in the original domain. The shape gradient with respect to the domain variations are given as the Neumann boundary condition defined on the original domain boundary. When the constraints are satisfied, the decreasing property of the objective function is guaranteed by the proposed method. Furthermore, the proposed method is used to minimize the heat resistance under a total volume constraint and to solve the minimization problem of mean compliance under a total volume constraint.
Water‐Saving Advances Improve Hydrant Flushing Options
Authors: Bentley Christina , Wilkinson Chris
Published: June 2018

The water industry's long‐standing practice of discharging large quantities of treated drinking water through conventional hydrant flushing consumes significant resources. Now 21st‐century technologies are supporting conservation by delivering water‐saving approaches to distribution water processes.
Pursue Sustainability to Protect Source Water
Authors: West Adam
Published: June 2018

Water utilities are dealing with greater challenges than ever before to ensure safe drinking water. An Arkansas utility shows how sustainability principles offer a vision and best practices to support source water protection efforts.
Preservation of vascular endothelial repair in mice with diet‐induced obesity
Authors: Rashid S. T. , Haywood N. J. , Yuldasheva N. Y. , Smith J. , Aziz A. , Scott D. J. A. , Kearney M. T. , Wheatcroft S. B.
Published: June 2018

Introduction

Preservation of structural integrity of the endothelial monolayer and maintenance of endothelial cell function are of critical importance in preventing arterial thrombosis, restenosis and atherosclerosis. Obesity has been intimately linked with endothelial dysfunction, and reports of reduced abundance and functional impairment of circulating progenitor cells in obesity have led to the suggestion that defective endothelial repair contributes to obesity‐related cardiovascular disease.

Methods

C57BL/6 mice were fed a high‐fat diet for either 3 or 6 months to induce obesity; metabolic phenotyping was then carried out before femoral artery wire injury was performed. Endothelial regeneration was then quantified. Mononuclear cells and myeloid angiogenic cells were cultured and characterized for pro‐angiogenic properties.

Results

No impairment of endothelial regeneration following mechanical endothelial injury in diet‐induced obese mice when compared with chow‐fed controls was observed, despite the induction of an adverse metabolic phenotype characterized by glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. Dietary‐obese mice had increased numbers of circulating myeloid angiogenic cells, which retained normal functional properties including intact paracrine angiogenic effects.

Conclusion

Preserved endothelial regeneration despite metabolic dysregulation in dietary obese mice suggests that compensatory mechanisms mitigate the deleterious influence of insulin resistance on endothelial repair in obesity.
Qualitative and quantitative analysis of Teucrium polium essential oil components by GC–MS coupled with MCR and PARAFAC methods
Authors: Nikpour Hamidreza , Mousavi Mehdi , Asadollahzadeh Hamideh
Published: June 2018

Introduction

Teucrium polium is a herbal plant which has curative potential and pharmacological characteristics. Therefore, establishment of accurate analytical methods for characterising its active components is of prime importance.

Objective

Because of the complex nature of essential oil samples, some results of direct gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis maybe unreliable. Therefore, GC–MS is coupled with chemometric methods to resolve experimental information taken from chromatographic peaks, and assign compounds to them more correctly.

Methods

Essential oil of T. Polium of Koohbanan suburb (Kerman, Iran) was extracted by hydro‐distillation. Then the T. polium essential oil was qualitatively analysed using GC–MS coupled with multivariate curve resolution (MCR), to resolve experimental information taken from chromatographic peaks, and assign compounds to them more correctly. After that, the method of parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) was implemented to quantify the concentrations of five major components of the T. polium essential oil.

Results

The number of identified components increases from 74 using the direct method of analysis to 106 using the MCR method. It is shown that α‐pinene (8.93 μg/L), cis‐verbenol (3.98 μg/L) and myrtenal (1.02 μg/L) are the most abundant components in the T. polium essential oil.

Conclusion

By coupling GC–MS and chemometric resolution methods such as MCR‐alternating least squares (ALS) and PARAFAC more information with higher precision and accuracy can be obtained from raw experimental data. Also, it is shown that by implementing the PARAFAC method on the GC–MS data, it is possible to measure the concentration of the constituents of co‐eluted, overlapped or embedded chromatographic peaks.
Predictive Analytics for Identification of Patients at Risk for QT Interval Prolongation: A Systematic Review
Authors: Tomaselli Muensterman Elena , Tisdale James E.
Published: June 2018

Prolongation of the heart rate–corrected QT (QTc) interval increases the risk for torsade de pointes (TdP), a potentially fatal arrhythmia. The likelihood of TdP is higher in patients with risk factors that include female sex, older age, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, concomitant administration of two or more QTc interval‐prolonging medications, among others. Assessment and quantification of risk factors may facilitate prediction of patients at highest risk for developing QTc interval prolongation and TdP. Investigators have utilized the field of predictive analytics, which generates predictions using techniques including data mining, modeling, machine learning, and others, to develop methods of risk quantification and prediction of QTc interval prolongation. Predictive analytics have also been incorporated into clinical decision support (CDS) tools to alert clinicians regarding patients at increased risk of developing QTc interval prolongation. The objectives of this article are to assess the effectiveness of predictive analytics for identification of patients at risk of drug‐induced QTc interval prolongation and to discuss the efficacy of incorporation of predictive analytics into CDS tools in clinical practice. A systematic review of English‐language articles (human subjects only) was performed, yielding 57 articles, with an additional 4 articles identified from other sources; a total of 10 articles were included in this review. Risk scores for QTc interval prolongation have been developed in various patient populations including those in cardiac intensive care units (ICUs) and in broader populations of hospitalized or health system patients. One group developed a risk score that includes information regarding genetic polymorphisms; this score significantly predicted TdP. Development of QTc interval prolongation risk prediction models and incorporation of these models into CDS tools reduce the risk of QTc interval prolongation in cardiac ICUs and identify health system patients at increased risk for mortality. The impact of these QTc interval prolongation predictive analytics on overall patient safety outcomes, such as TdP and sudden cardiac death relative to the cost of development and implementation, requires further study.
Perspectives in the Use of Peptidomics in Ham
Authors: Gallego Marta , Mora Leticia , Toldrá Fidel
Published: June 2018

The use of proteomics in food science has permitted both a better characterization of the food products and the control of their final quality despite the fact that food systems are under continuous changes during processing and consumption. Ham is a very popular meat product frequently consumed in Mediterranean countries after a dry‐curing processing that results in the generation of large amounts of peptides that contribute to its texture, flavor, and final quality. Proteolysis is the main biochemical mechanism occurring throughout the dry‐cured ham processing and a better knowledge of this phenomenon is essential to give an extra value to the product and produce regular batches. In this regard, peptidomics has become an important tool for the characterization of dry‐cured hams in order to identify and quantify bioactive peptides and potential biomarkers, study their stability under processing conditions or gastrointestinal digestion, and search for post‐translational modifications that could affect the quality of dry‐cured hams. This manuscript is reviewing from the first uses of comparative proteomics in dry‐cured ham approaches to the most modern peptidomic studies and their contribution to the advance in meat science.
Quantitative Global Proteome and Lysine Succinylome Analyses Reveal the Effects of Energy Metabolism in Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Naiwen , Gao Ruxu , Yang Jianyu , Zhu Yuyan , Zhang Zhe , Xu Xiaolong , Wang Jianfeng , Liu Xiankui , Li Zeliang , Li Zhenhua , Gong Daxin , Li Jun , Bi Jianbin , Kong Chuize
Published: June 2018

In light of the increasing incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), its molecular mechanisms have been comprehensively explored in numerous recent studies. However, few studies focus on the influence of multi‐factor interactions during the occurrence and development of RCC. This study aims to investigate the quantitative global proteome and the changes in lysine succinylation in related proteins, seeking to facilitate a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying RCC. LC‐MS/MS combined with bioinformatics analysis are used to quantitatively detect the perspectives at the global protein level. IP and WB analysis were conducted to further verify the alternations of related proteins and lysine succinylation. A total of 3,217 proteins and 1,238 lysine succinylation sites are quantified in RCC tissues, and 668 differentially expressed proteins and 161 differentially expressed lysine succinylation sites are identified. Besides, expressions of PGK1 and PKM2 at protein and lysine, succinylation levels are significantly altered in RCC tissues. Bioinformatics analysis indicates that the glycolysis pathway is a potential mechanism of RCC progression and lysine succinylation may plays a potential role in energy metabolism. These results can provide a new direction for exploring the molecular mechanism of RCC tumorigenesis.
Eccrine Sweat as a Biofluid for Profiling Immune Biomarkers
Authors: Katchman Benjamin A. , Zhu Meilin , Blain Christen Jennifer , Anderson Karen S.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

Sweat is a relatively unexplored biofluid for diagnosis and monitoring of disease states. In this study, the proteomic profiling of immune‐related biomarkers from healthy individuals are presented.

Experimental Design

Eccrine sweat samples are collected from 50 healthy individuals. LC‐MS/MS is performed on two pools of sweat samples from five male and female participants. Individual sweat samples are analyzed by antibody isotyping microarrays (n = 49), human cytokine arrays (n = 30), and quantitative ELISAs for interleukin‐1α (n = 16), epidermal growth factor (n = 6), and angiogenin (n = 7).

Results

In sweat, 220 unique proteins are identified by shotgun analysis. Detectable antibody isotypes include IgA (100% positive; median 1230 ± 28 700 pg mL−1), IgD (18%; 22.0 ± 119 pg mL−1), IgG1 (96%; 1640 ± 6750 pg mL−1), IgG2 (37%; 292 ± 6810 pg mL−1), IgG3 (71%; 74.0 ± 119 pg mL−1), IgG4 (69%; 43.0 ± 42.0 pg mL−1), and IgM (41%; 69.0 ± 1630 pg mL−1). Of 42 cytokines, three are readily detected in all sweat samples (p < 0.01). The median concentration for interleukin‐1α is 352 ± 521 pg mL−1, epidermal growth factor is 86.5 ± 147 pg mL−1, and angiogenin is 38.3 ± 96.3 pg mL−1. Multiple other cytokines are detected at lower levels.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

Sweat can be used for profiling antibodies and innate immune biomarkers.
Multivariate network meta‐analysis to mitigate the effects of outcome reporting bias
Authors: Hwang Hyunsoo , DeSantis Stacia M.
Published: June 2018

Outcome reporting bias (ORB) is recognized as a threat to the validity of both pairwise and network meta‐analysis (NMA). In recent years, multivariate meta‐analytic methods have been proposed to reduce the impact of ORB in the pairwise setting. These methods have shown that multivariate meta‐analysis can reduce bias and increase efficiency of pooled effect sizes. However, it is unknown whether multivariate NMA (MNMA) can similarly reduce the impact of ORB. Additionally, it is quite challenging to implement MNMA due to the fact that correlation between treatments and outcomes must be modeled; thus, the dimension of the covariance matrix and number of components to estimate grows quickly with the number of treatments and number of outcomes. To determine whether MNMA can reduce the effects of ORB on pooled treatment effect sizes, we present an extensive simulation study of Bayesian MNMA. Via simulation studies, we show that MNMA reduces the bias of pooled effect sizes under a variety of outcome missingness scenarios, including missing at random and missing not at random. Further, MNMA improves the precision of estimates, producing narrower credible intervals. We demonstrate the applicability of the approach via application of MNMA to a multi‐treatment systematic review of randomized controlled trials of anti‐depressants for the treatment of depression in older adults.
Polymorphic Crystallization and Diversified Growth of CaCO3 in HPAM‐HABS‐Na2SiO3 Hybrid Solutions
Authors: Shi Weiguang , Zhang Shangshang , Wang Yanling , Wang Jun , Li Benxian , Liu Xiaoyang , Liu Xiangbin , Wang Qingguo , Cheng Jiecheng
Published: June 2018

CaCO3 crystallization is a controversial topic hampered in part by the lack of empirical evidence of the growth of polymorphic crystals. In this work, great effort has been made to investigate the polymorphic crystal growth mechanism and the diversified morphologies, including peanut, shuttle, worm‐like and irregular cubic CaCO3 that occur in hydrolysed polyacrylamide (HPAM) ‐ heavy alkylbenzene sulfonate (HABS) ‐ Na2SiO3 hybrid system. It is verified that silica has an inhibition effect during the phase‐transformation of CaCO3. With the addition of HPAM, a new morphology of CaCO3 composited with CaCO3 fibres was received in the HPAM‐Na2SiO3 mixed solution. In the ternary additive system, the template effect of HPAM is undermined by HABS, and HPAM forms a new polymer‐surfactant complex conformation. Meanwhile, the inhibition effect of silica is weakened with the increase of organics.
Importance of Azo‐Hydrazo Tautomerization in the Oxidative Degradation of Procarbazine by Cytochrome P450: Computational Insights
Authors: Mirzaei Saber , Taherpour Avat Arman , Khalilian Hossein
Published: June 2018

This work provides a comprehensive computational study on the oxidative degradation of prodrug procarbazine as a symmetrically disubstituted hydrazine (SDSH) by the active species of cytochrome P450 enzymes, compound I (Cpd I). Two model compounds, R‐CH2‐NH‐NH‐CH3 (R= Me and Ph), were selected for this study and all possible enzymatic and non‐enzymatic phases of their oxidative degradation were simulated. Procarbazine activation has three enzymatic processes. Dehydrogenation is the first step which leads to the release of azo compound. This step is either spontaneous (R=Me) or has very low barrier high (R=Ph). Azo system has another tautomer, hydrazo, which despite its more stability is not considered hitherto. Second enzymatic phase is the production of azoxy compound from either azo or hydrazo compound. The calculations revealed that the transition state of hydrazo oxidation to form azoxy compound (4.09/8.23 kcal.mol−1 for Me/Ph substituents), is almost half of the N2‐azo oxidation. In final enzymatic step the azoxy converts to hydroxyl‐azoxy compound. The transition state barrier of the third enzymatic phase is also lower for the hydrazo tautomer in comparison to the azo tautomer (6.55 vs. 19.39 kcal.mol−1 for R=Ph). The more stability and lower barrier energy showed very high importance of hydrazo tautomer in the catabolism of SDSH derivatives. The hydroxyl‐azoxy is not stable and undergoes decomposition to generate the metabolites.
Guianofruits A and B from the Fruit Oil of Andiroba (Carapa guianensis, Meliaceae) and Their Effects on LPS‐Activated NO Production
Authors: Sasayama Atsumi , Akita Keiko , Oya Hiroto , Kikuchi Takashi , In Yasuko , Fujitake Mihoyo , Yamada Takeshi , Tanaka Reiko
Published: June 2018

Two novel chukrasone‐type limonoids, Guianofruits A and B (1 and 2) were isolated from the fruit oil of Carapa guianensis AUBLET (Meliaceae), a traditional medicine in Brazil and Latin American countries. Their structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic analyses using 1D and 2D NMR techniques, HRFABMS, and X‐ray crystallography. Compounds 1 and 2 were rare chukrasone‐type limonoids that had once been isolated from Chukrasia tabularis. Compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for their effects on the production of NO in LPS‐activated mouse peritoneal macrophages. The results of the NO inhibitory assay suggested that compound 1 is valuable as a potential inhibitor of macrophage activation.
Nano‐RuO2‐Decorated Holey Graphene Composite Fibers for Micro‐Supercapacitors with Ultrahigh Energy Density
Authors: Zhai Shengli , Wang Chaojun , Karahan Huseyin Enis , Wang Yanqing , Chen Xuncai , Sui Xiao , Huang Qianwei , Liao Xiaozhou , Wang Xin , Chen Yuan
Published: June 2018

Compactness and versatility of fiber‐based micro‐supercapacitors (FMSCs) make them promising for emerging wearable electronic devices as energy storage solutions. But, increasing the energy storage capacity of microscale fiber electrodes, while retaining their high power density, remains a significant challenge. Here, this issue is addressed by incorporating ultrahigh mass loading of ruthenium oxide (RuO2) nanoparticles (up to 42.5 wt%) uniformly on nanocarbon‐based microfibers composed largely of holey reduced graphene oxide (HrGO) with a lower amount of single‐walled carbon nanotubes as nanospacers. This facile approach involes (1) space‐confined hydrothermal assembly of highly porous but 3D interconnected carbon structure, (2) impregnating wet carbon structures with aqueous Ru3+ ions, and (3) anchoring RuO2 nanoparticles on HrGO surfaces. Solid‐state FMSCs assembled using those fibers demonstrate a specific volumetric capacitance of 199 F cm−3 at 2 mV s−1. Fabricated FMSCs also deliver an ultrahigh energy density of 27.3 mWh cm−3, the highest among those reported for FMSCs to date. Furthermore, integrating 20 pieces of FMSCs with two commercial flexible solar cells as a self‐powering energy system, a light‐emitting diode panel can be lit up stably. The current work highlights the excellent potential of nano‐RuO2‐decorated HrGO composite fibers for constructing micro‐supercapacitors with high energy density for wearable electronic devices.
Fabricating Ir/C Nanofiber Networks as Free‐Standing Air Cathodes for Rechargeable Li‐CO2 Batteries
Authors: Wang Chengyi , Zhang Qinming , Zhang Xin , Wang Xin‐Gai , Xie Zhaojun , Zhou Zhen
Published: June 2018

Li‐CO2 batteries are promising energy storage systems by utilizing CO2 at the same time, though there are still some critical barriers before its practical applications such as high charging overpotential and poor cycling stability. In this work, iridium/carbon nanofibers (Ir/CNFs) are prepared via electrospinning and subsequent heat treatment, and are used as cathode catalysts for rechargeable Li‐CO2 batteries. Benefitting from the unique porous network structure and the high activity of ultrasmall Ir nanoparticles, Ir/CNFs exhibit excellent CO2 reduction and evolution activities. The Li‐CO2 batteries present extremely large discharge capacity, high coulombic efficiency, and long cycling life. Moreover, free‐standing Ir/CNF films are used directly as air cathodes to assemble Li‐CO2 batteries, which show high energy density and ultralong operation time, demonstrating great potential for practical applications.
Self‐Assembled Nanostructured CuCo2O4 for Electrochemical Energy Storage and the Oxygen Evolution Reaction via Morphology Engineering
Authors: Aqueel Ahmed Abu Talha , Hou Bo , Chavan Harish S. , Jo Yongcheol , Cho Sangeun , Kim Jongmin , Pawar Sambhaji M. , Cha SeungNam , Inamdar Akbar I. , Kim Hyungsang , Im Hyunsik
Published: June 2018

CuCo2O4 films with different morphologies of either mesoporous nanosheets, cubic, compact‐granular, or agglomerated embossing structures are fabricated via a hydrothermal growth technique using various solvents, and their bifunctional activities, electrochemical energy storage and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) for water splitting catalysis in strong alkaline KOH media, are investigated. It is observed that the solvents play an important role in setting the surface morphology and size of the crystallites by controlling nucleation and growth rate. An optimized mesoporous CuCo2O4 nanosheet electrode shows a high specific capacitance of 1658 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 with excellent restoring capability of ≈99% at 2 A g−1 and superior energy density of 132.64 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 0.72 kW kg−1. The CuCo2O4 electrode also exhibits excellent endurance performance with capacity retention of 90% and coulombic efficiency of ≈99% after 5000 charge/discharge cycles. The best OER activity is obtained from the CuCo2O4 nanosheet sample with the lowest overpotential of ≈290 mV at 20 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 117 mV dec−1. The superior bifunctional electrochemical activity of the mesoporous CuCo2O4 nanosheet is a result of electrochemically favorable 2D morphology, which leads to the formation of a very large electrochemically active surface area.
Self‐Propelled Micro/Nanomotors for Sensing and Environmental Remediation
Authors: Zarei Mohammad , Zarei Mohanna
Published: June 2018

Self‐propelled micro/nanomotors have gained attention for successful application in cargo delivery, therapeutic treatments, sensing, and environmental remediation. Unique characteristics such as high speed, motion control, selectivity, and functionability promote the application of micro/nanomotors in analytical sciences. Here, the recent advancements and main challenges regarding the application of self‐propelled micro/nanomotors in sensing and environmental remediation are discussed. The current state of micro/nanomotors is reviewed, emphasizing the period of the last five years, then their developments into the future applications for enhanced sensing and efficient purification of water resources are extrapolated.
A Multifunctional Biomimetic Nanoplatform for Relieving Hypoxia to Enhance Chemotherapy and Inhibit the PD‐1/PD‐L1 Axis
Authors: Zou Mei‐Zhen , Liu Wen‐Long , Li Chu‐Xin , Zheng Di‐Wei , Zeng Jin‐Yue , Gao Fan , Ye Jing‐Jie , Zhang Xian‐Zheng
Published: June 2018

Hypoxia is reported to participate in tumor progression, promote drug resistance, and immune escape within tumor microenvironment, and thus impair therapeutic effects including the chemotherapy and advanced immunotherapy. Here, a multifunctional biomimetic core–shell nanoplatform is reported for improving synergetic chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Based on the properties including good biodegradability and functionalities, the pH‐sensitive zeolitic imidazolate framework 8 embedded with catalase and doxorubicin constructs the core and serves as an oxygen generator and drug reservoir. Murine melanoma cell membrane coating on the core provides tumor targeting ability and elicits an immune response due to abundance of antigens. It is demonstrated that this biomimetic core–shell nanoplatform with oxygen generation can be partial to accumulate in tumor and downregulate the expression of hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α, which can further enhance the therapeutic effects of chemotherapy and reduce the expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1). Combined with immune checkpoints blockade therapy by programmed death 1 (PD‐1) antibody, the dual inhibition of the PD‐1/PD‐L1 axis elicits significant immune response and presents a robust effect in lengthening tumor recurrent time and inhibiting tumor metastasis. Consequently, the multifunctional nanoplatform provides a potential strategy of synergetic chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Monolayer Graphene Coupled to a Flexible Plasmonic Nanograting for Ultrasensitive Strain Monitoring
Authors: Tiefenauer Raphael F. , Dalgaty Thomas , Keplinger Tobias , Tian Tian , Shih Chih‐Jen , Vörös János , Aramesh Morteza
Published: June 2018

Plasmonically coupled graphene structures have shown great promise for sensing applications. Their complex and cumbersome fabrication, however, has prohibited their widespread application and limited their use to rigid, planar surfaces. Here, a plasmonic sensor based on gold nanowire arrays on an elastomer with an added graphene monolayer is introduced. The stretchable plasmonic nanostructures not only significantly enhance the Raman signal from graphene, but can also be used by themselves as a sensor platform for 2D strain sensing. These nanowire arrays on an elastomer are fabricated by template‐stripping based nanotransfer printing, which enables a simple and fast production of stable nanogratings. The ultrasmooth surfaces of such transferred structures facilitate reliable large‐area transfers of graphene monolayers. The resulting coupled graphene‐nanograting construct exhibits ultrahigh sensitivity to applied strain, which can be detected by shifts in the plasmonic‐enhanced Raman spectrum. Furthermore, this sensor enables the detection of adsorbed molecules on nonplanar surfaces through graphene‐assisted surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The simple fabrication of the plasmonic nanowire array platform and the graphene‐coupled devices have the potential to trigger widespread SERS applications and open up new opportunities for high‐sensitivity strain sensing applications.
Selective Etching Induced Synthesis of Hollow Rh Nanospheres Electrocatalyst for Alcohol Oxidation Reactions
Authors: Kang Yong‐Qiang , Xue Qi , Zhao Yue , Li Xi‐Fei , Jin Pu‐Jun , Chen Yu
Published: June 2018

The hollow noble metal nanostructures have attracted wide attention in catalysis/electrocatalysis. Here a two‐step procedure for constructing hollow Rh nanospheres (Rh H‐NSs) with clean surface is described. By selectively removing the surfactant and Au core of Au‐core@Rh‐shell nanostructures (Au@Rh NSs), the surface‐cleaned Rh H‐NSs are obtained, which contain abundant porous channels and large specific surface area. The as‐prepared Rh H‐NSs exhibit enhanced inherent activity for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) compared to state‐of‐the‐art Pt nanoparticles in alkaline media. Further electrochemical experiments show that Rh H‐NSs also have high activity for the electrooxidation of formaldehyde and formate (intermediate species in the course of the MOR) in alkaline media. Unfortunately, Rh H‐NSs have low electrocatalytic activity for the ethanol and 1‐propanol oxidation reactions in alkaline media. All electrochemical results indicate that the order of electrocatalytic activity of Rh H‐NSs for alcohol oxidation reaction is methanol (C1) > ethanol (C2) > 1‐propanol (C3). This work highlights the synthesis route of Rh hollow nanostructures, and indicates the promising application of Rh nanostructures in alkaline direct methanol fuel cells.
A Chemical Precipitation Method Preparing Hollow–Core–Shell Heterostructures Based on the Prussian Blue Analogs as Cathode for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Huang Yongxin , Xie Man , Wang Ziheng , Jiang Ying , Yao Ying , Li Shuaijie , Li Zehua , Li Li , Wu Feng , Chen Renjie
Published: June 2018

Prussian blue and its analogs are regarded as the promising cathodes for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). Recently, various special structures are constructed to improve the electrochemical properties of these materials. In this study, a novel architecture of Prussian blue analogs with large cavity and multilayer shells is investigated as cathode material for SIBs. Because the hollow structure can relieve volume expansion and core–shell heterostructure can optimize interfacial properties, the complex structure materials exhibited a highly initial capacity of 123 mA h g−1 and a long cycle life. After 600 cycles, the reversible capacity of the electrode still maintains at 102 mA h g−1 without significant voltage decay, indicating a superior structure stability and sodium storage kinetics. Even at high current density of 3200 mA g−1, the electrode still delivers a considerable capacity above 52 mA h g−1. According to the electrochemical analysis and ex‐situ measurements, it can be inferred that the enhanced apparent diffusion coefficient and improved insertion/extraction performance of electrode have been obtained by building this new morphology.
Concise Review: Age-Related Clonal Hematopoiesis: Stem Cells Tempting the Devil
Authors: Busque Lambert , Buscarlet Manuel , Mollica Luigina , Levine Ross L.
Published: June 2018

The recent characterization of clonal hematopoiesis in a large segment of the aging population has raised tremendous interest and concern alike. Mutations have been documented in genes associated with hematological cancers and in non-driver candidates. These mutations are present at low frequency in the majority of individuals after middle-age, and principally affect the epigenetic modifiers DNMT3A and TET2. In 10%–40% of cases, the clone will progress to meet the diagnostic criteria for Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential, which is associated with an increased risk of hematological cancer and cardiovascular mortality. Blood cell parameters appear unmodified in these individuals, but a minority of them will develop a hematologic malignancy. At this time, the factors put forward as potentially influencing the risk of cancer development are clone size, specific gene, specific mutation, and the number of mutations. Specific stress on hematopoiesis also gives rise to clonal expansion. Genotoxic exposure (such as chemotherapy), or immune attack (as in aplastic anemia) selects/provides a fitness advantage to clones with a context-specific signature. Clonal hematopoiesis offers a new opportunity to understand the biology and adaptation mechanisms of aging hematopoiesis and provides insight into the mechanisms underlying malignant transformation. Furthermore, it might shed light on common denominators of age-associated medical conditions and help devise global strategies that will impact the prevention of hematologic cancers and promote healthy aging.
No More Read‐Aloud Roulette: Putting Read‐Aloud Texts on Audio Recordings
Authors: Spenn Rachel
Published: June 2018

Voices From the Classroom essays share readers’ reflections on teaching experiences, advice for new teachers, and perspectives on current issues.
Next generation interactive tool as a backbone for universal access to electricity
Authors: Moner‐Girona Magda , Puig Daniel , Mulugetta Yacob , Kougias Ioannis , AbdulRahman Jafaru , Szabó Sándor
Published: June 2018

Energy planning in rural areas and in developing countries most often relies on the outputs of specialized analytical tools, of which only a handful have been developed. Over the years these tools have been upgraded, and the newest among them take into consideration, to a greater or lesser extent, all key determinants of energy generation and distribution. This article focuses on a “pool” of web‐based geo‐referencing open‐source tools and highlights the extent to which each analytical tool reflects the particularities of the various determinants of energy generation and distribution. In doing so, the present work identifies aspects of the tools that need to be strengthened. Building on this information, the article further maps the suitability of each tool with regard to calculating (at a local level) the six Sustainable Development Goal indicators that are closely related to energy. This makes it possible to draw conclusions about monitoring needs in study‐areas. Bringing together these two sets of findings, the article concludes with a research agenda for analytical tool development in the area of energy planning, which spills over developmental agendas.

This article is categorized under:

Energy and Development > Systems and Infrastructure

Energy and Development > Economics and Policy
Stump harvesting for bioenergy: A review of climatic and environmental impacts in northern Europe and America
Authors: Persson Tryggve , Egnell Gustaf
Published: June 2018

Stump harvesting is defined as an intensification of forest management in comparison with stem‐only harvesting and removal of tops and branches. It increases soil mixing and the proportion of bare soil. In contrast to earlier hypotheses, stump harvesting was found to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide, and methane in the short term. In the long term, heterotrophic soil CO2evolution is reduced. Both model and empirical studies indicate that stump removal can reduce the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool in the short term, but long‐term experiments (32–39 years) could not verify any SOC decline. Life cycle assessment studies showed that stumps as fuel resulted in markedly lower emissions of CO2into the atmosphere, viewed over a whole forest rotation compared to heating by natural gas and coal. Stump removal does not seem to affect timber production in the next forest rotation and often reduces the infection rate of root rot. It increases the natural regeneration of birch and pine, it can increase nitrate leaching at N‐rich sites, and it can increase the number of water‐filled cavities where methylmercury is formed. Stump extraction decreases the amount of dwarf shrubs in young clear‐cuts, but after 1–2 decades, these species are generally recovered. Many species dependent on dead wood are adversely affected by intense stump harvest. Model studies suggest that the risk of species extinction is small when only 10% of the total clear‐cut area in the forest landscape is stump harvested, but the risk of extinction rises at increasing extraction intensities.

This article is categorized under:

Bioenergy > Climate and Environment

Energy and Climate > Climate and Environment

Energy and Development > Climate and Environment
Considerations for culturally sensitive traditional ecological knowledge research in wildlife conservation
Authors: Ramos Seafha C.
Published: June 2018

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is increasingly being applied in the field of wildlife conservation, yet conceptualizations of what TEK is and views regarding whether TEK is science remain diverse and, at times, conflicting in the TEK discourse. Many practical and philosophical challenges come with the pursuit of TEK initiatives, potentially leaving wildlife researchers and managers wondering how to conduct projects effectively and also in a culturally sensitive manner. The consideration of historical and philosophical contexts that affect tribal communities may be beneficial in such cases. I provide a historical context by presenting chronological events of Indian Country in the United States as related to Federal Indian Law in parallel with the development of wildlife management as a profession. Additionally, I explore the philosophical context of TEK as science by discussing Western and Indigenous scientific paradigms and their linkages to TEK. Finally, given these contexts, I provide several suggestions for developing culturally sensitive approaches to TEK research in the wildlife field. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
4-particle amplituhedron at 3-loop and its Mondrian diagrammatic implication
Authors: Rao Junjie
Published: June 2018

Abstract

This article provides a direct calculation of the 4-particle amplituhedron at 3-loop order, by introducing a set of practical tricks. After delicately rearranging each piece of this calculation, we find a suggestive connection between positivity conditions and Mondrian diagrams, which will be quantitatively defined. Such a pattern can be generalized for all Mondrian diagrams among all those contribute to the 4-particle integrand of planar

$$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$

N
=
4

SYM to all loop orders, as a subsequent work 1712.09994 will show.
Liver Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Renal Dysfunction
Authors: Shirata Chikara , Hasegawa Kiyoshi , Kokudo Takashi , Yamashita Suguru , Yamamoto Satoshi , Arita Junichi , Akamatsu Nobuhisa , Kaneko Junichi , Sakamoto Yoshihiro , Kokudo Norihiro
Published: June 2018

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of liver resection in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with preoperative renal dysfunction (RD).

Methods

Data from 735 patients undergoing primary liver resection for HCC between 2002 and 2014 were analyzed. Short‐ and long‐term outcomes were compared between the RD group, defined by a preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate of <45 mL/min/1.73 m2, and the non‐RD group.

Results

Sixty‐two patients had RD. The incidence of postoperative pleural effusion (24 vs. 11%; P = 0.007) and major complications (Clavien–Dindo III–V; 31 vs. 15%; P = 0.003) were significantly higher in RD patients. In RD patients with Child‐Pugh A, 90‐day mortality rate (1.9%) and median survival time (6.11 years) were comparable to that of non‐RD patients. In contrast, RD patients with Child‐Pugh B had a very high 90‐day mortality rate (22.2%), and a significant shorter median survival time compared to non‐RD patients (1.19 vs. 4.84 years; P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Liver resection for Child‐Pugh A patients with RD is safe and has comparable oncological outcomes compared to non‐RD patients. However, selection of liver resection candidates from Child‐Pugh B patients with RD should be stricter.
The impact of premature birth on dental maturation in the permanent dentition
Authors: Paulsson Liselotte , Arvini Sara , Bergström Niclas , Klingberg Gunilla , Lindh Christina
Published: June 2018

Objectives

To evaluate tooth development and calculate dental maturity score in prematurely born children and to compare the findings with full-term born children.

Material and methods

Nine-year-old preterm children were selected from the Swedish Medical Birth Register. One group consisted of 36 extremely preterm children (born before week 29), and the other included 38 very preterm children (born during weeks 29 to 32). Panoramic radiography was performed on each child and the preterm children were compared with 42 full-term born children. Five observers independently assessed the tooth development stages for all teeth in the left mandible (31–37) on the panoramic radiographs according to the method described by Demirjian et al. (Hum Biol 45:211–227, 1973). Data from tooth development stages were compiled and converted into a dental maturity score for each group. Kappa values were calculated for intra- and inter-observer agreement.

Results

When the different development stages for each individual tooth were compared, all observers presented a significant delay in the maturity of tooth 37 for the extremely preterm group (p ≤ 0.002). The extremely preterm group had a significantly lower dental maturity score than the full-term group, as assessed by each observer (p ≤ 0.006). Kappa values for inter-observer agreement varied between 0.31 and 0.71 depending on tooth and intra-observer agreement was between 0.16 and 1.0.

Conclusions

At age 9, the extremely preterm children had a general delay in tooth development.

Clinical relevance

The increased survival rate of extremely preterm babies adds a new group of children to society. Dental clinicians should be aware that the delay in tooth development could impact the timing of orthodontic diagnostics and potential treatment.
Rainfall and population dynamics of Grey Pileated Finch Coryphospingus pileatus (Aves: Passeriformes) in a Neotropical dry forest
Authors: de Moura Pedro Teófilo Silva , de Paiva Luciana Vieira , de Oliveira Silva Clarisse Carolina , Cavalcante Liana Monique Paiva , Pichorim Mauro , França Leonardo Fernandes
Published: June 2018

In tropical dry environments rainfall periodicity may affect demographic parameters, resulting in fluctuations in bird abundance. We used capture–recapture data for the Grey Pileated Finch from a Neotropical dry forest to evaluate the hypothesis that intra‐ and inter‐annual survival, individuals entrance and population abundance, are related to local rainfall. Sampling occurred across 3 years, with individuals captured, tagged and evaluated for age and presence of brood patch every 14 days. Using the POPAN formulation, we generated demographic models to evaluate study population temporal dynamics. Best‐fit models indicated a low apparent annual survival in the first year (16%) compared to other years (between 47 and 62%), with this low value associated with an extreme drought. The abundance of juveniles at each capture occasion was significantly dependent on the accumulated precipitation in the previous 14 days, and the juvenile covariate was a strong predictor of the intra‐annual entrance probability (natality). Individuals entrance during the reproductive period corresponded to 53, 52 and 75% of total ingress for each year, respectively. The trend in sampled population size indicated positive exponential growth (Ninitial = 50, Nlast = 600), with intra‐annual fluctuations becoming progressively more intense. Low survival was relevant during population decline at study onset, while at study end intense Individuals entrance promoted rapid population growth. Thus, the indirect effects of rainfall and the combined effect of two demographic rates operated synergistically on the immediate population abundance of Grey Pileated Finch, an abundant bird in a Neotropical dry forest.
Facilitating Co-Creation Experience in the Classroom with Lego Serious Play
Authors: Dann Stephen
Published: June 2018

Lego Serious Play was founded within the Lego Corporation in the mid-90s as a response to an unusual problem why a company that sold creativity by the kilo was struggling for market share, profit and new thinking. Built from the ground up as a make-or-break proposition, the LSP process is an industry strength business solution designed to create conducive conditions for problem recognition, knowledge creation, and shared understanding. Based on these condition, and the 2010 open source licence of the protocol, this paper outlines the Lego Serious Play process, the history and origin of the method, and the seven principles underpinning its operation. The paper then outlines the adaptation of the LSP method from industry to academy, to showcase how to bring the technique into the classroom. Educators can use the step by step guide to construct a classroom activity that draws on Lego Serious Play to further promote key graduate outcomes of communication, creativity and shared understanding.