bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Highly Efficient ZrO2 Nanoparticle Based Electrochemical Sensor for the Detection of Organophosphorus Pesticides
Authors: Wang Haibo , Su Yingchun , Kim Hojong , Yong Daming , Wang Lei , Han Xiaojun
Published: September 2015

A sensitive electrochemical method for square‐wave voltammetric detection of organophosphate (OP) compounds was developed based on zirconia (ZrO2) nanoparticles modified electrode. The electrode was fabricated using electrochemical deposition and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which confirmed the successful formation of nanoparticles. Due to the strong affinity of ZrO2 with the phosphoric group, nitroaromatic OPs can strongly bind to the surface of ZrO2 nanoparticles (ZrO2NPs). Under optimized operational conditions, SWV was employed for Omethoate (a model of OP compounds) detection with 5 min absorption, which showed a wide detection range from 98.5 pmol·L−1 to 985 nmol·L−1, with a detection limit as low as 52.5 pmol·L−1. This electrochemical sensor has good selectivity, stability and reproducibility, and great potential in the detection of OP compounds in agriculture area.
Highly Enantioselective Intramolecular Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman Reaction Catalyzed by Mannose‐Based Thiourea‐phosphine
Authors: Yang Weihong , Yuan Kui , Song Hongliang , Sha Feng , Wu Xinyan
Published: September 2015

The saccharide‐based chiral bifunctional thiourea‐phosphines were developed as chiral organocatalysts for the intramolecular Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman reaction of ω‐formyl‐enones. With only 2 mol% of thiourea‐phosphine catalyst 3c, chiral functionalized cyclohexenes were achieved under mild reaction conditions with excellent yields and enantioselectivities.
The HAS‐BLED Score for Predicting Major Bleeding Risk in Anticoagulated Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhu Wengen , He Wenfeng , Guo Linjuan , Wang Xixing , Hong Kui
Published: September 2015

Our objective was to compare the diagnostic accuracy between the HAS‐BLED score and any of HEMORR2HAGES, ATRIA, CHADS2, or CHA2DS2‐VASc scores in anticoagulated patients with atrial fibrillation. We systematically searched the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Embase databases for relevant studies. Data were extracted and analyzed according to predefined clinical endpoints. Eleven studies were identified. Discrimination analysis demonstrates that HAS‐BLED has no significant C‐statistic differences for bleeding risk prediction compared with ATRIA or HEMORR2HAGES, but it has significant differences compared with CHADS2 or CHA2DS2‐VASc. The significant positive net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement values also show that HAS‐BLED is superior to that of any of HEMORR2HAGES, ATRIA, CHADS2, or CHA2DS2‐VASc scores. According to calibration analysis of HAS‐BLED, it overpredicts the risk of bleeding in the low (risk ratio [RR]: 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.63‐2.13, P = 0.64) risk stratification but underpredicts that in the moderate (RR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.51‐0.86, P = 0.002) and high (RR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.70‐1.10, P = 0.27) risk stratifications. The HAS‐BLED score not only performs better than the HEMORR2HAGES and ATRIA bleeding scores, but it also is superior to the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2‐VASc stroke scores for bleeding prediction. The HAS‐BLED score should be the optimal choice to assess major bleeding risk in clinical practice.
Vitamin D Supplementation in the Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure: A Meta‐analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Jiang Wei‐Long , Gu Hai‐Bo , Zhang Yu‐Feng , Xia Qing‐Qing , Qi Jia , Chen Jian‐Chang
Published: September 2015

Background

In recent years, there has been growing evidence that vitamin D deficiency is associated with the development and progression of chronic heart failure (CHF).

Hypothesis

Additional supplementation of vitamin D may have protective effects in patients with CHF.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases through June 2015 and included 7 randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of vitamin D on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with CHF. Then, we performed a meta‐analysis of clinical trials to confirm whether vitamin D supplementation is beneficial in CHF patients. The weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using fixed‐ or random‐effects models.

Results

Our pooled results indicated that additional supplementation of vitamin D was not superior to conventional treatment in terms of left ventricular ejection fraction, N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide, and 6‐minute walk distance. Moreover, vitamin D supplementation was associated with significant decreases in the levels of tumor necrosis factor‐α (WMD: −2.42 pg/mL, 95% CI: −4.26 to −0.57, P < 0.05), C‐reactive protein (WMD: −0.72 mg/L, 95% CI: −1.42 to −0.02, P < 0.05), and parathyroid hormone (WMD: −13.44 pg/mL, 95% CI: −21.22 to −5.67, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Vitamin D supplementation may decrease serum levels of parathyroid hormone and inflammatory mediators in CHF patients, whereas it has no beneficial effects on improvement of left ventricular function and exercise tolerance.
Noncirrhotic portal hypertension: Imaging, hemodynamics, and endovascular therapy
Authors: Krishnasamy Venkatesh P. , Hagar Michael J. , Chun Albert K. , Levy Elliot
Published: September 2015

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Herpes virus infections
Authors: Mueller Daniel , Clauss Heather
Published: September 2015

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The extinction of chronic viral hepatitis?
Authors: Kumar Sonal , Jacobson Ira M.
Published: September 2015

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Brain size and limits to adult neurogenesis
Authors: Paredes Mercedes F. , Sorrells Shawn F. , Garcia‐Verdugo Jose M. , Alvarez‐Buylla Arturo
Published: September 2015

The walls of the cerebral ventricles in the developing embryo harbor the primary neural stem cells from which most neurons and glia derive. In many vertebrates, neurogenesis continues postnatally and into adulthood in this region. Adult neurogenesis at the ventricle has been most extensively studied in organisms with small brains, such as reptiles, birds, and rodents. In reptiles and birds, these progenitor cells give rise to young neurons that migrate into many regions of the forebrain. Neurogenesis in adult rodents is also relatively widespread along the lateral ventricles, but migration is largely restricted to the rostral migratory stream into the olfactory bulb. Recent work indicates that the wall of the lateral ventricle is highly regionalized, with progenitor cells giving rise to different types of neurons depending on their location. In species with larger brains, young neurons born in these spatially specified domains become dramatically separated from potential final destinations. Here we hypothesize that the increase in size and topographical complexity (e.g., intervening white matter tracts) in larger brains may severely limit the long‐term contribution of new neurons born close to, or in, the ventricular wall. We compare the process of adult neuronal birth, migration, and integration across species with different brain sizes, and discuss how early regional specification of progenitor cells may interact with brain size and affect where and when new neurons are added. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:646–664, 2016. © 2015 The Authors The Journal of Comparative Neurology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Biomarkers of Brain Structure and Function for Neurodegenerative Disorders: Are They Adequate for Go/No Go Decisions in Drug Development?
Authors: Potter WZ
Published: September 2015

Given the high risk of developing drugs for neurodegenerative diseases if post‐phase I decisions to go into efficacy studies were made with quantitative knowledge of an agent's action in brain, the risks should be diminished. Furthermore, if biomarkers were compelling, they could be utilized during a lengthy trial as an early measure of futility. What follows is one perspective on the adequacy of current and emerging measures to be applied to such decision making.
Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) Guideline for UGT1A1 and Atazanavir Prescribing
Authors: Gammal RS , Court MH , Haidar CE , Iwuchukwu OF , Gaur AH , Alvarellos M , Guillemette C , Lennox JL , Whirl‐Carrillo M , Brummel SS , Ratain MJ , Klein TE , Schackman BR , Caudle KE , Haas DW
Published: September 2015

The antiretroviral protease inhibitor atazanavir inhibits hepatic uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1, thereby preventing the glucuronidation and elimination of bilirubin. Resultant indirect hyperbilirubinemia with jaundice can cause premature discontinuation of atazanavir. Risk for bilirubin‐related discontinuation is highest among individuals who carry two UGT1A1 decreased function alleles (UGT1A1*28 or *37). We summarize published literature that supports this association and provide recommendations for atazanavir prescribing when UGT1A1 genotype is known (updates at www.pharmgkb.org).
A New Scheme for High‐Intensity Laser‐Driven Electron Acceleration in a Plasma
Authors: Sadykova S. P. , Rukhadze A. A. , Samkharadze T. G.
Published: September 2015

We propose a new approach to high‐intensity relativistic laser‐driven electron acceleration in a plasma. Here, we demonstrate that a plasma wave generated by a stimulated forward‐scattering of an incident laser pulse can be in the longest acceleration phase with injected relativistic beam electrons. This is why the plasma wave has the maximum amplification coefficient which is determined by the acceleration time and the breakdown (overturn) electric field in which the acceleration of the injected beam electrons occurs. We must note that for the longest acceleration phase the relativity of the injected beam electrons plays a crucial role in our scheme. We estimate qualitatively the acceleration parameters of relativistic electrons in the field of a plasma wave generated at the stimulated forward‐scattering of a high‐intensity laser pulse in a plasma. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
An Orbital‐Free Quantum Hypernetted Chain Model Based Perturbation Theory for Equation of State of Hydrogen and Helium in Warm Dense Regime
Authors: Sai Venkata Ramana A.
Published: September 2015

We present in this work, a thermodynamic perturbation theory for equation of state of hydrogen and helium in the warm dense regime. The system is modeled as a mixture of classical point ions and quantum electrons. A perturbation series for Helmholtz free energy and correlation functions of the ions and electrons as a function of density and temperature is proposed. Combining the classical thermodynamic perturbation theory and the orbitial‐free quantum hyper‐netted chain theory, a systematic procedure to obtain the terms of the perturbation series is developed. The ion‐ion correlations are treated within the hyper‐netted chain approximation and the ion‐electron correlations are treated within the Thomas‐Fermi‐Dirac‐Weizsäcker approximation. The method has been applied to obtain isotherms of hydrogen and helium in the warm dense regime. The isotherms are compared with available ab‐initio data and the results are analyzed. A good agreement with ab‐initio data has been observed for pressures greater than one Mbar. Advantages and limitations of the present method are discussed along with possible future improvements. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Adult pre B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with unusually large proportion of bone marrow CD45 bright/high SSc blasts
Authors: Shahal‐Zimra Yael , Rotem Zohar , Chezar Judith , Oniashvili Nino , Leader Avi , Raanani Pia , Rabizadeh Esther
Published: September 2015

Background

We present a pre B‐ALL patient with the rare clinical manifestation of extramedullary disease, and a normal hemogram. This patient's blasts expressed bright CD45 and high side scatter (SSc) placing the cells in the monocyte gate.

Methods

Samples from peripheral blood and bone marrow (BM) aspirate from a 50‐year‐old female patient were immunophenotyped by multiparametric flow cytometry.

Results

Flow cytometry studies of the BM aspirate showed a large monocyte gate with 90‐95% of the cells expressing an abnormal B cell phenotype. Peripheral white blood cells count was normal and cytogenetic analysis of the BM revealed a normal karyotype.

Conclusion

It was not possible, based on CD45/SSc to identify a lymphoblast population in this pre B‐ALL patient. Although bright expression of CD45 B‐ALL blasts has been associated with poor prognosis to the best of our knowledge, the combination of bright CD45 blasts with high SSc has not been reported. As CD45 expression vs. SSc is routinely measured in the diagnostics of acute leukemias, a possible association between CD45 bright positivity and extramedullary disease or prognosis warrants further exploration. © 2015 International Clinical Cytometry Society
Steroid Sulfatase Inhibitors Based on Phosphate and Thiophosphate Flavone Analogs
Authors: Kozak Witold , Daśko Mateusz , Masłyk Maciej , Kubiński Konrad , Rachon Janusz , Demkowicz Sebastian
Published: September 2015

Preclinical Research

A series of phosphate and thiophosphate flavone derivatives were synthesized and biologically evaluated in vitro for inhibition of steroid sulfatase (STS) activity. The described synthesis includes the straightforward preparation of 7‐hydroxy‐2‐phenyl‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one 3a, 2‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐7‐hydroxy‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one 3b, 7‐hydroxy‐2‐(4‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one 3c, 7‐hydroxy‐2‐(p‐tolyl)‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one 3d modified with different phosphate or thiophosphate moieties. The inhibitory properties of the synthesized compounds were tested against human placenta STS. Some of the novel STS inhibitors had good activities against STS. In particular, the bis‐(4‐oxo‐2‐(p‐tolyl)‐4H‐chromen‐7‐yl) hydrogenthiophosphate, 6i had the most potent inhibitory effect with an IC50 value of 3.25 µM as compared to an IC50 value of 8.50 µM for the 2‐(4‐trifluoromethylphenyl)‐chromen‐4‐one‐7‐O‐sulfamate used as a reference. Drug Dev Res 76 : 450–462, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The role of sensory modality in prepulse inhibition: An ontogenetic study
Authors: Moran Landhing M. , Hord Lauren L. , Booze Rosemarie M. , Harrod Steven B. , Mactutus Charles F.
Published: September 2015

Deficits in prepulse inhibition (PPI), a measure of sensorimotor gating, are observed in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Despite the large PPI literature, the majority of studies characteristically employ tests with one interstimulus interval (ISI), of one modality, at one age. In the context of the auditory startle response (ASR), the present study examined (1) the profile for the ontogeny of PPI through adulthood in Long–Evans hooded rats with a reasonably comprehensive ISI function, (2) whether the ontogenetic profile for PPI is sensitive to modality of the prepulse stimulus, as a within‐session variable, and (3) whether the maturation of PPI differs for males and females. Despite the basic effect of more pronounced PPI in adult relative to preweanling animals, each sensory modality displayed a unique ontogenetic profile for PPI, without any compelling evidence for major differences between males and females, in accordance with the known temporal course of peripheral and central maturational profiles of sensory systems in the rat. The context for assessing auditory PPI (auditory and tactile vs. auditory and visual prepulses) influenced the overall startle response, i.e., a shift in the height of the entire profile, but did not significantly impact the auditory PPI profile per se. The translational relevance of preclinical sensorimotor assessments to patients with neurodevelopmental and/or neuropsychiatric disorders depends partly on an understanding of the ontogeny of sensorimotor gating in different sensory systems, and can be strengthened with the use of a reasonably comprehensive number of ISIs to provide relatively precise and defined response functions. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 58: 211–222, 2016.
DPP‐4 inhibitors and risk of infections: a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Yang Wenjia , Cai Xiaoling , Han Xueyao , Ji Linong
Published: September 2015

Background

To evaluate the risk of infections in the treatment of type 2 diabetes patients with dipeptidyl‐peptidase 4 (DPP‐4) inhibitors.

Methods

A literature search was conducted through electronic databases. The inclusion criteria included study duration of no less than 12 weeks developed in type 2 diabetes patients, the use of a randomized control group receiving a DPP‐4 inhibitor and the availability of outcome data for infections. Out of 2181 studies, 74 studies were finally included.

Results

The risk of overall infection for DPP‐4 inhibitors treatment was comparable to placebo (odds ratio (OR) = 0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.91 to 1.04, p = 0.40), metformin treatment (OR = 1.22, 95% CI, 0.95 to 1.56, p = 0.12), sulphonylurea treatment (OR = 1.09, 0.93 to 1.29, p = 0.29), thiazolidinedione treatment (OR = 0.86, 95% CI, 0.65 to 1.14, p = 0.29) and alpha glucosidase inhibitor treatment (OR = 1.03, 95% CI, 0.33 to 3.22, p = 0.96). When compared different DPP‐4 inhibitors with placebo treatment, risks of infections were comparable for alogliptin, linagliptin, sitagliptin, saxagliptin and vildagliptin. Compared with placebo or active comparator treatment, risks of infection in different systems for DPP‐4 inhibitors were all comparable.

Conclusions

The overall risk of infections of DPP‐4 inhibitor was not increased compared with control groups. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of standardized versus individualized caloric prescriptions in the nutritional rehabilitation of inpatients with anorexia nervosa
Authors: Haynos Ann F. , Snipes Cassandra , Guarda Angela , Mayer Laurel E. , Attia Evelyn
Published: September 2015

Objective

Sparse research informs how caloric prescriptions should be advanced during nutritional rehabilitation of inpatients with anorexia nervosa (AN). This study compared the impact of a standardized caloric increase approach, in which increases occurred on a predetermined schedule, to an individualized approach, in which increases occurred only following insufficient weight gain, on rate, pattern, and cumulative amount of weight gain and other weight restoration outcomes.

Method

This study followed a natural experiment design comparing AN inpatients consecutively admitted before (n = 35) and after (n = 35) an institutional change from individualized to standardized caloric prescriptions. Authors examined the impact of prescription plan on weekly weight gain in the first treatment month using multilevel modeling. Within a subsample remaining inpatient through weight restoration (n = 40), multiple regressions examined the impact of caloric prescription plan on time to weight restoration, length of hospitalization, maximum caloric prescription, discharge BMI, and incidence of activity restriction and edema.

Results

There were significant interactions between prescription plan and quadratic time on average weekly weight gain (p = .03) and linear time on cumulative weekly weight gain (p < .001). Under the standardized plan, patients gained in an accelerated curvilinear pattern (p = .04) and, therefore, gained cumulatively greater amounts of weight over time (p < .001). Additionally, 30% fewer patients required activity restriction under the standardized plan.

Discussion

Standardized caloric prescriptions may confer advantage by facilitating accelerated early weight gain and lower incidence of bedrest without increasing the incidence of refeeding syndrome. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:50–58).
Protease activity of Per a 10 potentiates Th2 polarization by increasing IL‐23 and OX40L
Authors: Agrawal Komal , Kale Sagar L , Arora Naveen
Published: September 2015

Proteases are implicated in exacerbation of allergic diseases. In this study, the role of proteolytic activity of Per a 10 was evaluated on Th2 polarization. Intranasal administration of Per a 10 in mice led to allergic airway inflammation as seen by higher IgE levels, cellular infiltration, IL‐17A, and Th2 cytokines, whereas, inactive (Δ)Per a 10 showed attenuated response. There was an increased OX40L expression on lung and lymph node dendritic cells in Per a 10 immunized group and on Per a 10 stimulated BMDCs. Reduction in CD40 expression without any change at transcript level in lungs of Per a 10 immunized mice suggested CD40 cleavage. BMDCs pulsed with Per a 10 showed reduced CD40 expression with lower IL‐12p70 secretion as compared to heat inactivated Per a 10. IL‐23, TNF‐α, and IL‐6 levels were significantly higher in Per a 10 stimulated BMDCs supernatant. In DC‐T cell coculture studies, Per a 10 pulsed BMDCs showed higher levels of IL‐4 and IL‐13 that were reduced on blocking of either IL‐23 or OX40L. In conclusion, the data suggests a critical role of protease activity of Per a 10 in promoting Th2 polarization by increasing IL‐23 secretion and OX40L expression on dendritic cells.
Design and Synthesis of an Au@MIL‐53(NH2) Catalyst for a One‐Pot Aerobic Oxidation/Knoevenagel Condensation Reaction
Authors: Qi Yue , Luan Yi , Peng Xiong , Yang Ming , Hou Junying , Wang Ge
Published: September 2015

Highly dispersed gold nanoparticles were deposited on an amino‐functionalized Al‐based MIL‐53 metal–organic framework by a facile adsorption/reduction strategy. The aromatic amino groups were utilized for adsorption and stabilization of AuCl4– and as basic catalytic sites in the Knoevenagel reaction. The bifunctional Au@MIL‐53(NH2) catalyst was utilized to develop an efficient one‐pot aerobic oxidation of alcohols/Knoevenagel condensation reaction that takes advantage of Au0 and NH2 incorporation at the same time. The roles of Au and NH2 groups were systematically investigated to elucidate their functionality during the one‐pot reaction. In addition, the Au@MIL‐53(NH2) catalyst can be easily recycled up to five times without leaching of the active centres or significant loss of catalytic activity.
Placebo and nocebo effects on itch: effects, mechanisms, and predictors
Authors: Bartels Danielle J.P. , van Laarhoven Antoinette I.M. , van de Kerkhof Peter C.M. , Evers Andrea W.M.
Published: September 2015

Placebo and nocebo effects have been extensively studied in the field of pain and more recently also on itch. In accordance with placebo research on pain, expectancy learning via verbal suggestion or conditioning has shown to induce placebo and nocebo effects on itch, in which the combination of both procedures seems most promising. Moreover, itch can also be transferred ‘contagiously’ in which suggestion and social behavioural learning seem to play a role. With regard to predictors of placebo and nocebo responding on itch and contagious itch, preliminary evidence suggests a role for individual psychological characteristics and personality traits regarding negative outcome expectancies. Although findings on placebo and nocebo effects on itch seem comparable to pain, we have only just begun to understand the underlying mechanisms and predictors of placebo and nocebo effects on itch.
Role of personality and expectations for itch and scratching induced by audiovisual itch stimuli
Authors: Schut C. , Rädel A. , Frey L. , Gieler U. , Kupfer J.
Published: September 2015

Itch is an unpleasant, bodily sensation, which – similar to pain – evokes behavioral reactions. As a response to itch, people start scratching. There are different ways to provoke itch and subsequent scratching in experimental settings. A non‐invasive method to induce itch and scratching is the presentation of itch‐related (audio‐) visual stimulus material, like slide‐supported lectures on skin diseases or crawling insects. Also, watching videos showing other people scratching provokes itch and the desire to scratch. In this review, we focus on psychological factors, which were shown to be associated with itch and scratching provoked by (audio‐) visual itch stimuli. First, we summarize the findings on the relationship between personality characteristics and (audio‐) visually induced itch. Agreeableness and self‐consciousness were shown to be associated with induced itch and scratching in patients with chronic skin diseases, while neuroticism was linked to induced itch in healthy subjects. Second, we present results of a recent study, in which we altered the expectations towards audio‐visually induced itch and scratching by changing the information given on upcoming itch stimuli. It was shown that subjects being informed about itch stimuli in a neutral way displayed a shorter scratch duration in itch inducing situations than subjects having catastrophizing expectations. Also, the increase in scratch duration and in the number of scratch movements induced by audiovisual itch stimuli was higher when the patients were not informed about itch induction. Thus, in itch patients neither catastrophizing nor trivializing symptoms seems to be helpful.
Malignancy‐associated pruritus
Authors: Rowe B. , Yosipovitch G.
Published: September 2015

Malignancy‐associated pruritus can be the result of a neoplasm's local effect on tissue or due to the systemic reaction to malignancy. A systemic reaction to malignancy has been termed ‘paraneoplastic itch’ and can be the first sign of an underlying malignancy. Paraneoplastic itch is most commonly caused by lymphoproliferative malignancies, and severity of itch correlates with stage of disease in Hodgkin's lymphoma and polycythemia vera. Non‐melanoma skin cancer is the most common type of malignancy‐associated pruritus, and recent data indicate that pruritus is associated with more than one‐third of non‐melanoma skin cancers. Cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas (CTCL), particularly more advanced stages, cause intractable pruritus and recent investigations into the pathophysiology of CTCL‐associated itch have implicated cyotokine interleukin‐31 as a putative mediator. Treatments that reduce itch in CTCL patients, such as histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), Mogamulizumab, a novel monoclonal antibody against chemokine receptor type‐4, and oral corticosteroids, have demonstrated a correlation between their anti‐pruritic effect and reduced serum levels of interleukin‐31.
Photoelectrochemical Aptasensor for the Sensitive Detection of Microcystin‐LR Based on Graphene Functionalized Vertically‐aligned TiO2 Nanotubes
Authors: Liu Meichuan , Yu Jing , Ding Xue , Zhao Guohua
Published: September 2015

In this work, a visible‐light driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) aptasensor with high sensitivity and selectivity for cyanobacterial toxin Microcystin‐LR (MC‐LR) has been developed. MC‐LR aptamers, serving as the specific recognition element, were conveniently immobilized onto vertically‐aligned titanium dioxide nanotubes (TiO2 NTs) photoanode substrate with the aid of graphene via π–π stacking interactions between the graphene hexagonal cells and the nucleobases of the DNA. The functionalization of graphene further endowed the constructed aptasensor visible‐light response activity. The aptasensor was used for the label‐free analysis of MC‐LR by monitoring the increase in photocurrent that resulted from the binding of MC‐LR and its aptamers. Results showed that the photocurrent increment had a linear relationship with logarithm of MC‐LR concentration in the range from 1.0 to 500 fM and the limit of detection reached as low as 0.5 fM. Furthermore, the aptasensor exhibited high selectivity while used to detect 100‐fold concentration other several potential coexisting interferents. A promising PEC aptasensing platform for highly sensitive and selective monitoring of MC‐LR has thus been established.
Startup of electrophoresis in a suspension of colloidal spheres
Authors: Chiang Chia C. , Keh Huan J.
Published: September 2015

The transient electrophoretic response of a homogeneous suspension of spherical particles to the step application of an electric field is analyzed. The electric double layer encompassing each particle is assumed to be thin but finite, and the effect of dynamic electroosmosis within it is incorporated. The momentum equation for the fluid outside the double layers is solved through the use of a unit cell model. Closed‐form formulas for the time‐evolving electrophoretic and settling velocities of the particles in the Laplace transform are obtained in terms of the electrokinetic radius, relative mass density, and volume fraction of the particles. The time scale for the development of electrophoresis and sedimentation is significantly smaller for a suspension with a higher particle volume fraction or a smaller particle‐to‐fluid density ratio, and the electrophoretic mobility at any instant increases with an increase in the electrokinetic particle radius. The transient electrophoretic mobility is a decreasing function of the particle volume fraction if the particle‐to‐fluid density ratio is relatively small, but it may increase with an increase in the particle volume fraction if this density ratio is relatively large. The particle interaction effect in a suspension on the transient electrophoresis is much weaker than that on the transient sedimentation of the particles.
Dye affinity chromatography for fast and simple purification of fucoidan from marine brown algae
Authors: Hahn Thomas , Zayed Ahmed , Kovacheva Mariya , Stadtmüller Ralf , Lang Siegmund , Muffler Kai , Ulber Roland
Published: September 2015

Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide with promising pharmacological applications. Due to its medicinal properties, there is a demand for a separation technique that yields a high purification grade. Here, we present a novel purification tool for recovering fucoidan from the marine brown macroalgae Fucus vesiculosus. The developed method is based on amino‐derivatized Sepabeads® EC‐EA. The beads were modified with toluidine blue (TB), a thiazine derivative, to exploit the strong donor acceptor interactions between the cationic dye and the anionic polysaccharide. The adsorption kinetics and the binding capacity of the resin were analyzed. A Sips model was used to approximate the adsorption isotherm, resulting in a maximum capacity of 127.7 mg fucoidan per g adsorbent. Investigation of the effect of adsorption step's pH on purity and chemical structure was performed by TB and Fourier transform infra‐red spectroscopy assays. Results showed that adsorption at pH 1 and 6 had negligible effects on fucoidan's chemical structure. However, purity was actually improved by 1.55‐ and 1.69‐fold at pH 1 and 6, respectively, with an average yield of 5 g/100 g dried algae powder. In contrast, only a 1.46‐fold increment was observed in fucoidan purified by the traditional method at pH 2, with a yield of 7.5 g/100 g dried algae powder. Furthermore, fucoidan purified by this method at pH 6 complies with, or even exceeds the quality of the commercially available (≥95% pure) fucoidan (Sigma‐Aldrich®) with respect to molecular weight and sulfur content. Therefore, dye affinity chromatography provides more advantages than the classically used techniques for fucoidan purification.
Development Trends of Natural Gas Resources and Gas‐Fired Power Generations in China
Authors: Qingmin Meng , Zhonglin Zhang , Fangwei Pu
Published: September 2015

Natural gas is becoming an important fuel source for China, which is also expected to remain so in the future. In this article, chronological data of natural gas are summarized through the descriptive statistics methodology. The status quo and development trend of natural gas resources in China are analyzed as well, with the result showing that the productions and imports of natural gas are increasing rapidly. Meanwhile, China has formed a multigas source supply pattern, including domestic gas, imported liquefied natural gas, and pipeline gas. Then, the current situation and main problems of gas‐fired generation are analyzed. The finding shows that the economic competitiveness of the gas‐fired generation and the supply mode of natural gas are the main barriers in promoting the development of gas‐fired generation. Moreover, the technical analysis on three different types of gas‐fired power generation is provided. In China, combined cycle gas‐fired power stations and single cycle gas‐fired power stations are good choices for the 12th Five‐Year period, and the large‐scale natural gas distributed energy combined cooling, heat, and power is more applicable for the 13th Five‐Year period. Finally, three suggestions are proposed for guiding the rational use of natural gas resources and promoting the development of gas‐fired power generation in China. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 35: 853–858, 2016
Experimental and Numerical Study of Serpentine Flow Fields for Improving Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Performance
Authors: Sudaroli B. Mullai , Kolar A. Kumar
Published: September 2015

Methanol crossover is an important issue as it affects direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) performance. But it may be controlled by selecting a proper flow field design. Experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of single, double and triple serpentine flow field configurations on a DMFC with a 25 cm2 membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with a constant open ratio. A three dimensional model was also developed for the anode of the DMFC to predict methanol concentration and cell current density distributions. Experimental and model results show that at lower methanol concentrations (0.25–0.5M), single serpentine flow field (SSFF) provides high peak power density, while a double serpentine flow field (DSFF) gives high peak power density at a high methanol concentration (1–2M). Single and double serpentine flow fields exhibit the same peak power density (33 mW cm−2) at 1M. But the cell efficiency of double serpentine flow field is 12.5% which is 3.5% point greater than single serpentine flow field. This is attributed to reduced mixed potential. triple serpentine flow field (TSFF) shows the lowest peak power density and cell efficiency, which is attributed to high mass transfer resistance.
Reward breaks through center‐surround inhibition via anterior insula
Authors: Wang Lihui , Yu Hongbo , Hu Jie , Theeuwes Jan , Gong Xiaoliang , Xiang Yang , Jiang Changjun , Zhou Xiaolin
Published: September 2015

Focusing attention on a target creates a center‐surround inhibition such that distractors located close to the target do not capture attention. Recent research showed that a distractor can break through this surround inhibition when associated with reward. However, the brain basis for this reward‐based attention is unclear. In this fMRI study, we presented a distractor associated with high or low reward at different distances from the target. Behaviorally the low‐reward distractor did not capture attention and thus did not cause interference, whereas the high‐reward distractor captured attention only when located near the target. Neural activity in extrastriate cortex mirrored the behavioral pattern. A comparison between the high‐reward and the low‐reward distractors presented near the target (i.e., reward‐based attention) and a comparison between the high‐reward distractors located near and far from the target (i.e., spatial attention) revealed a common frontoparietal network, including inferior frontal gyrus and inferior parietal sulcus as well as the visual cortex. Reward‐based attention specifically activated the anterior insula (AI). Dynamic causal modelling showed that reward modulated the connectivity from AI to the frontoparietal network but not the connectivity from the frontoparietal network to the visual cortex. Across participants, the reward‐based attentional effect could be predicted both by the activity in AI and by the changes of spontaneous functional connectivity between AI and ventral striatum before and after reward association. These results suggest that AI encodes reward‐based salience and projects it to the stimulus‐driven attentional network, which enables the reward‐associated distractor to break through the surround inhibition in the visual cortex. Hum Brain Mapp 36:5233–5251, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A parsimonious statistical method to detect groupwise differentially expressed functional connectivity networks
Authors: Chen Shuo , Kang Jian , Xing Yishi , Wang Guoqing
Published: September 2015

Group‐level functional connectivity analyses often aim to detect the altered connectivity patterns between subgroups with different clinical or psychological experimental conditions, for example, comparing cases and healthy controls. We present a new statistical method to detect differentially expressed connectivity networks with significantly improved power and lower false‐positive rates. The goal of our method was to capture most differentially expressed connections within networks of constrained numbers of brain regions (by the rule of parsimony). By virtue of parsimony, the false‐positive individual connectivity edges within a network are effectively reduced, whereas the informative (differentially expressed) edges are allowed to borrow strength from each other to increase the overall power of the network. We develop a test statistic for each network in light of combinatorics graph theory, and provide p‐values for the networks (in the weak sense) by using permutation test with multiple‐testing adjustment. We validate and compare this new approach with existing methods, including false discovery rate and network‐based statistic, via simulation studies and a resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging case–control study. The results indicate that our method can identify differentially expressed connectivity networks, whereas existing methods are limited. Hum Brain Mapp 36:5196–5206, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Patient specific hemodynamic response functions associated with interictal discharges recorded via simultaneous intracranial EEG‐fMRI
Authors: Beers Craig A. , Williams Rebecca J. , Gaxiola‐Valdez Ismael , Pittman Daniel J. , Kang Anita T. , Aghakhani Yahya , Pike G. Bruce , Goodyear Bradley G. , Federico Paolo
Published: September 2015

Simultaneous collection of scalp EEG and fMRI has become an important tool for studying the hemodynamic changes associated with interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) in persons with epilepsy, and has become a standard presurgical assessment tool in some centres. We previously demonstrated that performing EEG‐fMRI using intracranial electrodes (iEEG‐fMRI) is of low risk to patients in our research centre, and offers unique insight into BOLD signal changes associated with IEDs recorded from very discrete sources. However, it is unknown whether the BOLD response corresponding to IEDs recorded by iEEG‐fMRI follows the canonical hemodynamic response. We therefore scanned 11 presurgical epilepsy patients using iEEG‐fMRI, and assessed the hemodynamic response associated with individual IEDs using two methods: assessment of BOLD signal changes associated with isolated IEDs at the location of the active intracranial electrode, and by estimating subject‐specific impulse response functions to isolated IEDs. We found that the hemodynamic response associated with the intracranially recorded discharges varied by patient and by spike location. The observed shape and timing differences also deviated from the canonical hemodynamic response function traditionally used in many fMRI experiments. It is recommended that future iEEG‐fMRI studies of IEDs use a flexible hemodynamic response model when performing parametric tests to accurately characterize these data. Hum Brain Mapp 36:5252–5264, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Neural basis of disgust perception in racial prejudice
Authors: Liu Yunzhe , Lin Wanjun , Xu Pengfei , Zhang Dandan , Luo Yuejia
Published: September 2015

Worldwide racial prejudice is originated from in‐group/out‐group discrimination. This prejudice can bias face perception at the very beginning of social interaction. However, little is known about the neurocognitive mechanism underlying the influence of racial prejudice on facial emotion perception. Here, we examined the neural basis of disgust perception in racial prejudice using a passive viewing task and functional magnetic resonance imaging. We found that compared with the disgusted faces of in‐groups, the disgusted faces of out‐groups result in increased amygdala and insular engagement, positive coupling of the insula with amygdala‐based emotional system, and negative coupling of the insula with anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)‐based regulatory system. Furthermore, machine‐learning algorithms revealed that the level of implicit racial prejudice could be predicted by functional couplings of the insula with both the amygdala and the ACC, which suggests that the insula is largely involved in racially biased disgust perception through two distinct neural circuits. In addition, individual difference in disgust sensitivity was found to be predictive of implicit racial prejudice. Taken together, our results suggest a crucial role of insula‐centered circuits for disgust perception in racial prejudice. Hum Brain Mapp 36:5275–5286, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tunable release of ophthalmic therapeutics from injectable, resorbable, thermoresponsive copolymer scaffolds
Authors: Prosperi‐Porta Graeme , Muirhead Benjamin , Sheardown Heather
Published: September 2015

The sustained release of ophthalmic therapeutics to the posterior segment of the eye is a challenge. Injectable polymer materials have the potential to reduce injection frequency by providing long term therapeutic delivery. Copolymers with varying N‐isopropylacrylamide, acrylamide (AAm), acrylic acid N‐hydroxysuccinimide, and (r)‐α‐acryloyloxy‐β,β‐dimethyl‐γ‐butyrolactone (DBA) were synthesized by RAFT polymerization to develop injectable, resorbable, and thermoresponsive copolymer scaffolds. Upon injection into physiological conditions, these copolymers undergo a temperature induced gelation to form a drug releasing scaffold. Modification of the copolymer's AAm/DBA ratio and molecular weight afforded significant and precise control over the scaffold's physical properties and subsequent drug release profile. Hydrolytic DBA ring‐opening enables redissolution of the copolymers for clearance from the body. Precise control over the drug release profile from these copolymer scaffolds by simple alteration of composition and molecular weight provides an efficient method to customize the minimally invasive delivery of therapeutics to the posterior segment of the eye. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 53–62, 2017.
Response of human bone marrow‐derived MSCs on triphasic Ca‐P substrate with various HA/TCP ratio
Authors: Bajpai Indu , Kim Duk Yeon , Kyong‐Jin Jung , Song In‐Hwan , Kim Sukyoung
Published: September 2015

Calcium phosphates (Ca‐P) are used commonly as artificial bone substitutes to control the biodegradation rate of an implant in the body fluid. This study examined the in vitro proliferation of human bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) on triphasic Ca‐P samples. For this aspect, hydroxyapatite (HA), dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (DCPD), and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) were mixed at various ratios, cold compacted, and sintered at 1250°C in air. X‐ray diffraction showed that the β‐tricalcium phosphate (TCP) to α‐TCP phase transformation increased with increasing DCPD/HA ratio. The micro‐hardness deceased with increasing TCP content, whereas the mean grain size and porosity increased with increasing TCP concentration. To evaluate the in vitro degree of adhesion and proliferation on the HA/TCP samples, human BMSCs were incubated on the HA/TCP samples and analyzed by a cells proliferation assay, expression of the extracellular matrix (ECM) genes, such as α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) and fibronectin (FN), and FITC‐phalloidin fluorescent staining. In terms of the interactions of human BMSCs with the triphasic Ca‐P samples, H50T50 (Ca/P = 1.59) markedly enhanced cell spreading, proliferation, FN, and α‐SMA compared with H100T0 (Ca/P = 1.67). Interestingly, these results show that among the five HA/TCP samples, H50T50 is the optimal Ca‐P composition for in vitro cell proliferation. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 72–80, 2017.
Fucoxanthin Inhibits the Inflammation Response in Paw Edema Model through Suppressing MAPKs, Akt, and NFκB
Authors: Choi Jun‐Hui , Kim Na‐Hyun , Kim Sung‐Jun , Lee Hyo‐Jeong , Kim Seung
Published: September 2015

Undaria pinnatifida is a well‐known traditional Korean food with a variety of biological activities. Carrageenan (carr) is commonly used to induce paw edema in animal models. This study was designed to elucidate the processes underlying the anti‐inflammatory effect of fucoxanthin isolated from the sporophyll of U. pinnatifida in carr‐induced paw edema in ICR mice. Fucoxanthin significantly decreased carr‐induced increased nitric oxide levels in the plasma of mice with carr‐induced paw edema. Fucoxanthin protected catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity against disruption in mice with carr‐induced paw edema. In addition, fucoxanthin repressed carr‐induced activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase‐2, and nuclear factor kappa B, as well as carr‐induced phosphorylation of mitogen‐activated protein kinase, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase, c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase, p38, and protein kinase B/Akt. These results suggest that fucoxanthin may have therapeutic potential as a treatment for patients with inflammatory diseases.
Isomerization and fragmentation pathways of 1,2‐azaborine
Authors: Edel Klara , Fink Reinhold F. , Bettinger Holger F.
Published: September 2015

The generation of 1,2‐azaborine (4), the BN‐analogue of ortho‐benzyne, was recently achieved by elimination of tert‐butyldimethylchlorosilane under the conditions of flash vacuum pyrolysis. The present investigation identifies by computational means pathways for the thermal isomerization and fragmentation of 1,2‐azaborine. The computations were performed using single reference (hybrid/density functional, second order Møller‐Plesset perturbation, and coupled cluster theories) as well as multiconfiguration methods (complete active space SCF based second order perturbation theory, multireference configuration interaction, and multiconfiguration coupled electron pair approximation) with basis sets up to polarized triple‐ζ quality. The 1,2‐azaborine is, despite the distortion of its molecular structure, the most stable C4H4BN isomer investigated. The formation of BN‐endiyne isomers is highly unfavorable as the identified pathways involve barriers close to 80 kcal mol−1. The concerted fragmentation to ethyne and 2‐aza‐3‐bora‐butadiyne even has a barrier close to 120 kcal mol−1. The fragmentation of BN‐enediynes has energetic requirements similar to enediynes. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.