bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of a coagulated thrombus injection for peripheral artery perforation: The coagulated thrombus hemostasis method
Authors: Tokuda Takahiro , Hirano Keisuke , Yamawaki Masahiro , Araki Motoharu , Kobayashi Norihiro , Mori Shinsuke , Sakamoto Yasunari , Takimura Hideyuki , Tsutsumi Masakazu , Ito Yoshiaki
Published: July 2017

Background

This retrospective study assesses the safety and efficacy of using a thrombus injection for treatment a peripheral artery perforation.

Methods and Results

From March 2013 to April 2016, we performed 1,152 endovascular treatment (EVT) at our hospital. Of these, 28 peripheral artery perforations occurred during the EVT procedure and 20 were treated with a thrombus, which we artificially created. The thrombus comprised the patient's blood and thrombin. It was injected into the perforation site from the tip of an over‐the‐wire balloon using ballooning method.

The perforated arteries occurred in below‐the‐knee artery (45%), superficial femoral artery (35%), deep femoral artery (10%), popliteal artery (5%), and external iliac artery (5%). Thrombus injection was successful in 19 of the 20 perforations (95%). One patient required coil embolization. There were no complications during or after admission.

Conclusions

Thrombus injection is a safety method and might be considered as one of the approaches for stopping peripheral artery perforation.
Midterm to long‐term safety and efficacy of self‐expandable nitinol stent implantation for coarctation of aorta in adults
Authors: Haji Zeinali Ali Mohammad , Sadeghian Mohammad , Qureshi Shakeel A. , Ghazi Payam
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Endovascular treatment of coarctation of aorta (CoA) by self‐expandable Nitinol stents is one of the recognized treatment methods and may be an alternative to surgery or balloon‐expandable stent implantation for CoA but there is little information about midterm to long term results of self‐expandable stents.

Methods

Sixty‐two patients with CoA (40 men), with a mean age of 30.7 ± 11 years, (range 17–63 years) underwent stent implantation with Optimed self‐expandable Nitinol stents between 2005 and 2014. Successful outcome was defined as peak systolic pressure gradient ≤20 mmHg after stent implantation. The patients were followed‐up clinically and by echocardiography and in patients, in whom there was suspicion of recoarctation, CT angiography or recatheterization was performed.

Results

65 stents were successfully implanted in all 62 patients. Peak systolic pressure gradient decreased from mean 62.4 ± 18 mmHg (range 35–100 mmHg) to mean 2.8 ± 5 mmHg (range 0–15 mmHg; P < 0.001). Stent displacement occurred in 3 patients during the procedure. These were managed successfully by an overlapping second stent. None of the patients had major complications such as aortic dissection, rupture, or vascular access problems. In follow up, only three patients had recoarctation, and two of these were managed successfully by balloon redilation or further stenting 16 and 18 months after the first procedure and one patient refused reintervention. There were two deaths, unrelated to the procedure, 12 and 78 months after the initial intervention. Follow‐up of a mean of 45.5 ± 17 months (range 12–105 months) demonstrated no evidence of aneurysm formation or stent fracture.

Conclusions

Self‐expandable nitinol stents for the treatment of native and recurrent CoA is safe and has good efficacy with acceptable midterm to long‐term outcome.
TIcaGrEloR and Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold implantation for recovery of vascular function after successful chronic total occlusion recanalization (TIGER‐BVS trial): Rationale and study design
Authors: Brugaletta Salvatore , Gomez‐Lara Josep , Caballero Juan , Ortega‐Paz Luis , Teruel Luis , Jimenez Fernandez Miriam , Romaguera Rafael , Alcalde Martinez Vicente , Ñato Marcos , Molina Navarro Eduardo , Gomez‐Hospital Joan‐Antoni , Correa Vilches Concepcion , Joyera Maria , Cequier Angel , Sabate Manel
Published: July 2017

Objectives

To explore the role of ticagrelor versus clopidogrel in coronary blood flow normalization immediately after chronic coronary total occlusion (CTO) recanalization.

Background

Coronary vascular function of a CTO immediately after recanalization is demonstrated to be poor.

Methods

The TIGER BVS is a prospective, double‐randomized, open‐label, two parallel‐group controlled clinical trial to evaluate efficacy of ticagrelor versus clopidogrel in improving vascular function of coronary segment distal to CTO immediately after CTO recanalization. A total of 50 patients who receive CTO PCI will be randomized 1:1 to receive ticagrelor versus clopidogrel at least 3 days before the procedure. Immediately after CTO recanalization with Absorb BVS implantation, a specific study of vascular function under adenosine infusion will be performed. Patients will be therefore randomized 1:1 to receive angiographic follow‐up with vascular function and optical coherence tomography analyses at 1‐ or 3‐year follow‐up. This study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov with number NCT02211066.

Conclusions

The TIGER BVS trial will provide the first randomized comparison between ticagrelor versus clopidogrel in recovering vascular function in CTO patients. It will also provide important data on vascular restoration therapy of Absorb BVS in this scenario.
Assessment of bioresorbable scaffold with a novel high‐definition 60 MHz IVUS imaging system: Comparison with 40‐MHz IVUS referenced to optical coherence tomography
Authors: Okada Kozo , Kitahara Hideki , Mitsutake Yoshiaki , Tanaka Shigemitsu , Kimura Takumi , Yock Paul G. , Fitzgerald Peter J. , Ikeno Fumiaki , Honda Yasuhiro
Published: July 2017

Background

In vivo assessment of bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) is of growing clinical interest. The novel 60MHz high‐definition intravascular ultrasound (HD‐IVUS) has been developed to overcome the limitations of conventional 40 MHz IVUS. This study aimed to evaluate the performance and limitations of 60 MHz HD‐IVUS compared with 40 MHz IVUS with respect to polymeric‐strut visualization, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and feasibility of high‐speed pullback in the assessment of BRS.

Methods and Results

In a bench‐test model, 361 struts were analyzed to evaluate the influence of ultrasound‐beam angles and proximity of adjacent struts on IVUS visualization of BRS struts. Various settings were created by deforming the BRS and positioning the transducer offcenter. In an in vivo swine coronary model, scaffold and lumen areas, degree of visible external elastic membrane, incomplete strut apposition, and strut fracture were evaluated in 59 matched cross‐sections obtained at conventional (0.5 mm/sec) and high speed (10 mm/sec) pullbacks. Both studies utilized optical coherence tomography (OCT) as reference. Overall, 60 MHz HD‐IVUS demonstrated significantly improved visualization of polymeric struts compared with 40 MHz IVUS (well‐visualized: 84.5% vs 62.3%, not visible: 4.4% vs 13.9%, respectively. P < 0.001), which was less affected by the beam angle and adjacent strut proximity. In the in vivo model, 60‐MHz HD‐IVUS showed better agreement of area measurements and strut abnormalities with OCT than 40 MHz IVUS. These findings were also confirmed on high‐speed pullback images of 60 MHz HD‐IVUS.

Conclusion

As referenced to OCT, this study showed superiority of 60 MHz HD‐IVUS over 40 MHz IVUS in the assessment of BRS with feasibility of high‐speed pullback imaging.
Fe‐Containing Zeolites for NH3‐SCR of NOx: Effect of Structure, Synthesis Procedure, and Chemical Composition on Catalytic Performance and Stability
Authors: Martín Nuria , Vennestrøm Peter N. R. , Thøgersen Joakim R. , Moliner Manuel , Corma Avelino
Published: July 2017

The direct preparation of different iron‐containing Beta and CHA zeolites has been attempted under diverse synthesis conditions, including in alkaline and fluoride media, to evaluate the influence of their physicochemical properties on the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx using NH3 as reductant. Of the different Fe‐Beta zeolites, the sample prepared in the absence of alkali cations with a Si/Al ratio of around 13 showed high NO conversion values (>90 %). However, this catalyst suffered from severe deactivation when aged at high temperatures in the presence of steam. The preparation of more hydrophobic Fe‐Beta zeolites did not improve the resistance of the catalyst against steam. In contrast, Fe‐CHA zeolites prepared by a one‐pot method under alkaline conditions with a Si/Al ratio of around 13 by using N,N,N‐trimethyladamantylammonium as template not only showed excellent catalytic activity but also high hydrothermal stability, especially when sodium cations were selectively removed. Moreover, the Fe‐CHA material synthesized by using the less expensive tetraethylammonium template also resulted in an active and hydrothermally stable catalyst.
Structural Features of Europium(II)‐Containing Cryptates That Influence Relaxivity
Authors: Lenora Chamika U. , Carniato Fabio , Shen Yimin , Latif Zahid , Haacke E. Mark , Martin Philip D. , Botta Mauro , Allen Matthew J.
Published: July 2017

EuII‐containing complexes were studied with respect to properties relevant to their use as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. The influences of molecular parameters and field strength on relaxivity were studied for a series of EuII‐containing cryptates and their adducts with β‐cyclodextrins, poly‐β‐cyclodextrins, and human serum albumin. Solid‐ and solution‐phase characterization of EuII‐containing complexes is presented that demonstrates the presence of inner‐sphere molecules of water. Additionally, relaxivity, water‐exchange rate, rotational correlation time, and electronic relaxation times were determined using variable‐temperature 17O NMR, nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques. These results are expected to be instrumental in the design of future EuII‐based contrast agents.
Orotidine‐Containing RNA: Implications for the Hierarchical Selection (Systems Chemistry Emergence) of RNA
Authors: Kim Eun‐Kyong , Martin Vincent , Krishnamurthy Ramanarayanan
Published: July 2017

The prebiotic synthesis of canonical nucleobases from HCN is a cornerstone for the RNA world hypothesis. However, their role in the primordial pathways to RNA is still debated. The very same process starting from HCN also gives rise to orotic acid, which (via orotidine) plays a crucial role in extant biology in the de novo synthesis of uridine and cytidine, the informational base‐pairs in RNA. However, orotidine itself is absent in RNA. Given the prebiotic and biological relevance of orotic acid vis‐à‐vis uracil, we investigated orotidine‐containing RNA oligonucleotides and show that they have severely compromised base‐pairing properties. While not unexpected, these results suggest that the emergence of extant RNA cannot just be a consequence of the plausible prebiotic formation of its chemical constituents/building blocks. In combination with other investigations on alternative prebiotic nucleobases, sugars, and linkers, these findings imply that the selection of the components of extant RNA occurred at a higher hierarchical level of an oligomer/polymer based on its functional properties—pointing to a systems chemistry emergence of RNA from a library of precursors.
A Lithium Ion Highway by Surface Coordination Polymerization: In Situ Growth of Metal–Organic Framework Thin Layers on Metal Oxides for Exceptional Rate and Cycling Performance
Authors: Han Yuzhen , Yu Danni , Zhou Junwen , Xu Peiyu , Qi Pengfei , Wang Qianyou , Li Siwu , Fu Xiaotao , Gao Xing , Jiang Chenghao , Feng Xiao , Wang Bo
Published: July 2017

A thin layer of a highly porous metal–organic framework material, ZIF‐8, is fabricated uniformly on the surface of nanostructured transition metal oxides (ZnO nanoflakes and MnO2 nanorods) to boost the transfer of lithium ions. The novel design and uniform microstructure of the MOF‐coated TMOs (ZIF‐8@TMOs) exhibit dramatically enhanced rate and cycling performance comparing to their pristine counterparts. The capacities of ZIF‐8@ZnO (nanoflakes) and ZIF‐8@MnO2 (nanorods) are 28 % and 31 % higher that of the pristine ones at the same current density. The nanorods of ZIF‐8@MnO2 show a capacity of 1067 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles at 1 Ag−1 and without any fading. To further improve the conductivity and capacity, the ZIF‐8‐coated materials are pyrolyzed at 700 °C in an N2 atmosphere (ZIF‐8@TMO‐700 N). After pyrolysis, a much higher capacity improvement is achieved: ZIF‐8@ZnO‐700 N and ZIF‐8@MnO2‐700 N have 54 % and 69 % capacity increases compared with the pristine TMOs, and at 1 Ag−1, the capacity of ZIF‐8@MnO2‐700 N is 1060 mAh g−1 after cycling for 300 cycles.
Polyacrylamides revisited: flocculation of kaolin suspensions and mature fine tailings
Authors: Strandman Satu , Vachon Rémi , Dini Maryam , Giasson Suzanne , Zhu X. X.
Published: July 2017

A series of acrylamide‐based water‐soluble (co)polymers was synthesized and they were investigated as flocculants of model kaolin suspensions and mature fine tailings of oil sands. The effects of molar mass, charge density, and polymer concentration on flocculation efficiency were studied by monitoring the initial settling rate during sedimentation. Hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) with high molar mass and intermediate acrylic acid contents (0.14–0.41 mol/mol (14–41 mol%)) performed better in flocculation tests on kaolin suspensions requiring lower dose for maximum initial settling rate than native polyacrylamide (PAM). Surface force measurements showed that at low polymer concentrations (1 ppm), the partially‐adsorbed polymer induced a bridging attraction between the mica surfaces. Increasing the polymer concentration to 10 and 50 ppm caused purely repulsive forces. The presence of anionic groups in HPAM led to stronger repulsion, which was also demonstrated by the higher viscosity and larger hydrodynamic radius of the charged polymer. The charge‐induced increase in the viscosity of polymer solutions was suppressed by the screening effect of salts in a buffer solution and reducing the viscosity is desirable in the injection of flocculants in the industrial process.
Heme Oxygenase Database (HemeOxDB) and QSAR Analysis of Isoform 1 Inhibitors
Authors: Amata Emanuele , Marrazzo Agostino , Dichiara Maria , Modica Maria N. , Salerno Loredana , Prezzavento Orazio , Nastasi Giovanni , Rescifina Antonio , Romeo Giuseppe , Pittalà Valeria
Published: July 2017

Due to increasing interest in the field of heme oxygenases (HOs), we built a ligand database called HemeOxDB that includes the entire set of known HO‐1 and HO‐2 inhibitors, resulting in more than 400 compounds. The HemeOxDB is available online at http://www.researchdsf.unict.it/hemeoxdb/, and having a robust search engine allows end users to build complex queries, sort tabulated results, and generate color‐coded two‐ and three‐dimensional graphs. This database will grow to be a tool for the design of potent and selective HO‐1 or HO‐2 inhibitors. We were also interested in virtually searching for alternative inhibitors, and, for the first time in the field of HOs, a quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) model was built using half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of the whole set of known HO‐1 inhibitors, taken from the HemeOxDB and employing the Monte Carlo technique. The statistical quality suggested that the model is robust and possesses desirable predictive potential. The screening of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‐approved drugs, external to our dataset, suggested new predicted inhibitors, opening the way for replacing imidazole groups. The HemeOxDB and the QSAR model reported herein may help in prospectively identifying or repurposing new drugs with optimal structural attributes for HO enzyme inhibition.
The Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology: Analysis and suggestions of initial survey
Authors: Rossi Esther Diana , Faquin William C. , Baloch Zubair , Barkan Güliz A. , Foschini Maria Pia , Pusztaszeri Marc , Vielh Philippe , Kurtycz Daniel F. I.
Published: July 2017

BACKGROUND

An international panel of experts in the field of salivary gland cytology (SGC), supported by the American Society of Cytopathology (ASC) and the International Academy of Cytology, conducted a survey to seek evidence and practice patterns regarding SGC. Results were used to provide focus for the proposed Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology.

METHODS

The study group, formed during the 2015 European Congress of Cytology held in Milan, Italy, generated a survey that included 49 specific questions related to the taxonomies, practices, and diagnostic entities of salivary cytology. Qualtrics software was used as the study platform. Software and server support were provided by the division of information technology at the University of Wisconsin. The survey was available online from November 2015 until February 2016. Participants were invited through the Web sites of the ASC, the International Academy of Cytology, and the Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology as well as by the ASC e‐mail “ListServe”; responses were evaluated by the Milan System editors.

RESULTS

Responses from a total of 515 participants were collected and reviewed. A total of 347 participants provided demographic data information. Responses revealed variations in diagnostic practice and subsequent management. Participants believed that the acceptable rate for nondiagnostic samples should not be higher than 10%. There were varied opinions regarding the approach to neoplastic lesions of uncertain malignant potential, those that may or may have not local invasion and distant spread.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of the survey demonstrated strong support for the development of a unified system for reporting SGC. Cancer Cytopathol 2017;125:757‐66. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Gas Evolution in Activated‐Carbon‐Based Supercapacitors with Protic Deep Eutectic Solvent as Electrolyte
Authors: Phadke Satyajit , Amara Samia , Anouti Mérièm
Published: July 2017

One of the primary causes of aging in supercapacitors are the irreversible faradaic reactions occurring near the operating‐voltage limit that lead to the production of gases resulting in device swelling, increased resistance, and lowering of the capacitance. In this study, a protic deep eutectic solvent (DES) consisting of mixture of lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) with formamide (FMD) as H‐bond donor (xLiFSI=0.25; C=2.5 m LiFSI) is investigated as electrolyte for activated carbon (AC)‐based electrical double layer capacitors (EDLCs). Characterization of the viscosity, conductivity, and the ionicity of the electrolyte in a wide range of temperatures indicates >88 % salt dissociation. In situ pressure measurements are performed to understand the effect of cycling conditions on the rate of gas generation, quantified by the in operando pressure variation dP/dt. These measurements demonstrate that about 25 % of the faradaic reactions leading to gas generation are electrochemically reversible. Cell aging studies demonstrate promising potential of the LiFSI/FMD as a protic electrolyte for AC‐based EDLCs and high energy density close to 30 Wh kg−1 at 2.4 V.
Phenolic compounds obtained from alkyl oleates as additives to improve the oxidative stability of methyl rapeseed biodiesel
Authors: Muniz‐Wypych Aline S. , da Costa Mayara M. , Oliveira Angelo R. S. , Neu Philipp M. , Schober Sigurd , Mittelbach Martin , Ramos Luiz P. , César‐Oliveira Maria Aparecida F.
Published: July 2017

Phenolic antioxidants have limited solubility in biodiesel, so this research developed new antioxidants by addition of hydroquinone and catechol on unsaturated fatty acid esters, which improved significantly the oxidative stability of rapeseed biodiesel. This new compound class is more soluble in biodiesel than hydroquinone and catechol, in same molar concentrations. The aging of biodiesel was studied using Metrohm model 743 Rancimat and PetroOxy devices and it was possible to observe an improvement on oxidation stability in both testing using these new antioxidants. Especially the additives 2MB3 and 4MB3 improved the induction period (IP) of rapeseed methyl ester (RME‐B100), from 4 to 63 and 65 h, respectively, with 30 mmol/kg of additives, while hydroquinone in comparison improves the stability to 25 h in the same molar concentration. This new class of antioxidants is promising to enhance oxidative stability of biodiesel, showing the capability of such additives to be commercialized for this purpose.

Practical applications: Biodiesel is obtained by different raw materials, so the composition is different according to the source. The biodiesel with higher amounts of unsaturated fatty acids is more susceptible to oxidation than those with higher saturation. To solve problems caused by oxidative deterioration of biodiesel, this research aimed to synthesize a new class of antioxidants as an alternative for preventing and minimize oxidative damage of biofuels.

Rapeseed biodiesel without any addition of additive was out of specification according to EN 14214, which regulates oxidative stability greater or equal to 8 h. The additives herein obtained improved significantly the oxidation stability for rapeseed biodiesel by more than 100%.
A numerical study on the cumulative out‐of‐plane damage to church masonry façades due to a sequence of strong ground motions
Authors: Casolo Siro
Published: July 2017

Seismic shocks occur sometimes as a sequence, close in space and time, of destructive events of comparable intensity. In these cases, a significant portion of the damage to historical buildings can be related with the cumulated damage on structures that become progressively more vulnerable. This research investigates the specific increase of damage determined by a sequence of strong ground motions, focusing the interest on the out‐of‐plane response of 2 church masonry façades. The dynamic analyses were performed by a specific rigid body and spring model RBSM, which only accounts for out‐of‐plane damage mechanisms. Two idealized models of façade, each made of 2 different masonry bonds, have been studied by applying various sequences of recorded accelerograms. The results highlighted a complex relationship between the spectral content of the seismic shocks and the characteristics of the structures that change in the course of the loading sequence due to the development of damage. The Housner spectral intensity proved to be a reliable scalar measure of the ground motion destructiveness for these façades. Moreover, when considering a design‐consistent accelerogram that causes a relevant damage pattern, ie, with a significant elongation of the effective first period of vibration, the numerical results indicated a possible spectral intensity threshold below which the occurrence of repeated seismic shocks, both before and after the reference design shock, can be considered as irrelevant. On the other hand, a catastrophic increase of damage should be expected when this threshold is overcome.
Oil and stock markets before and after financial crises: A local Gaussian correlation approach
Authors: Bampinas Georgios , Panagiotidis Theodore
Published: July 2017

The effect of financial shocks on the cross‐market linkages between oil prices (spot and futures) and stock markets is examined for four major crises. We employ the local Gaussian correlation approach and find that the two markets were regionalized for most of the 1990s and the early 2000s. Flights from stocks to oil occur in all crisis episodes, except the recent global financial crisis. The view that stock and oil markets behave like “a market of one” after the financialization of commodities is further supported by the presence of contagion between US stock markets and all the benchmark oil markets.
Building Farm‐Level Capacities in Irrigation Water Management to Adapt to Climate Change
Authors: Kakumanu Krishna Reddy , Kaluvai Yella Reddy , Nagothu Udaya Sekhar , Lati Narayan Reddy , Kotapati Gurava Reddy , Karanam Sunitha
Published: July 2017

Climate change characterized by global warming has become a hotspot of research in recent years for water resources, agriculture, ecology and other disciplines. In India, studies have shown an increasing trend in surface temperature, with decreasing trends in rainfall. Farmers are also more affected by the climate variability which has a serious influence on their production and income. The climate change and adaptation (ClimaAdapt) programme was implemented from 2012 to 2016 to build farm‐level capacities and enhance the adaptive capacity of the agricultural and water sectors in the Krishna basin of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states. Water‐saving interventions such as direct seeded rice, a modified system of rice intensification and alternate wetting and drying (AWD) of rice were implemented in a cluster approach and enhanced water productivity. The training and implementation programmes increased the adaptation and awareness of farmers. Water measurements were carried out by using flumes and ultrasonic sensors. The area under direct seeded rice has increased to 64% in the study district and 77% of the trained farmers are adopting the practice. Capacity building, implementation and science–policy linkages are the key pillars of the programme to improve the adaptive capacity and scaling‐up of water management practices. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Description of D‐glucosamine immobilization kinetics onto poly(lactic acid) surface via a multistep physicochemical approach for preparation of novel active biomaterials
Authors: Swilem Ahmed E. , Lehocký Marian , Humpolíček Petr , Kucekova Zdenka , Novák Igor , Mičušík Matej , Abd El‐Rehim Hassan A. , Hegazy El‐Sayed A. , Hamed Ashraf A. , Kousal Jaroslav
Published: July 2017

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) has shown much success in the preparation of tissue engineering scaffolds as it can be fabricated with a tailored architecture. However, the PLA surface has drawbacks including the lack of biofunctional motifs which are essential for high affinity to biological cells. Therefore, this study describes a multistep physicochemical approach for the immobilization of d‐glucosamine (GlcN), a naturally occurring monosaccharide having many biological functions, on the PLA surface aiming at enhancing the cell proliferation activity. In this approach, poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) spacer arms are first introduced into the PLA surface via plasma post‐irradiation grafting technique. Then, covalent coupling or physical adsorption of GlcN with/on the PAAc spacer is carried out. Factors affecting the grafting yield are controlled to produce a suitable spacer for bioimmobilization. X‐ray photon spectroscopic (XPS) analyses confirm the immobilization of GlcN on the PLA surface. The XPS results reveal also that increasing the yield of grafted PAAc spacer on the PLA surface increases the amount of covalently immobilized GlcN, but actually inhibits the immobilization process using the physical adsorption method. Contact angle measurements and atomic force microscopy (AFM) show a substantial increase of surface energy and roughness of PLA surface, respectively, upon the multistep modification procedure. The cytocompatibility of the modified surfaces is assessed using a mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cell line. Observation from the cell culture basically demonstrates the potential of GlcN immobilization in improving the cytocompatibility of the PLA surface. Moreover, the covalent immobilization of GlcN seems to produce more cytocompatible surfaces if compared with the physical adsorption method. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 3176–3188, 2017.
Loss of benzaldehyde in the fragmentation of protonated benzoylamines: Benzoyl cation as a hydride acceptor in the gas phase
Authors: Chai Yunfeng , Shao Yunlong , Wang Lu , Wang Lin
Published: July 2017

In electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry of protonated 1‐benzoylamines (1‐benzoylpiperadine, 1‐benzoylmorpholine, and 1‐benzoyl‐4‐methylpiperazine), the dominant fragmentation pathway was amide bond cleavage to form benzoyl cation and neutral amine. Meanwhile, in their fragmentations, an interesting loss of benzaldehyde (106 Da) was observed and identified to derive from hydride transfer reaction between the benzoyl cation and amine. A stepwise mechanism for loss of 106 Da (benzene and CO) could be excluded with the aid of deuterium labeling experiment. Theoretical calculations indicated that hydride transfers from amines (piperadine, morpholine, and 1‐methylpiperazine) to benzoyl cation were thermodynamically permitted, and 1‐methylpiperazine was the best hydride donor among the 3 amines. The mass spectrometric experimental results were consistent with the computational results. The relative abundance of the iminium cation (relative to the benzoyl cation) in the fragmentation of protonated 1‐benzoyl‐4‐methylpiperazine was higher than that in the fragmentation of the other 2 protonated 1‐benzoylamines. By comparing the fragmentations of protonated 1‐benzyl‐4‐methylpiperazine and protonated 1‐benzoyl‐4‐methylpiperazine and the energetics of their hydride transfer reactions, this study revealed that benzoyl cation was a hydride acceptor in the gas phase, but which was weaker than benzyl cation.
Carbon stable isotope (δ13C) and elemental (TOC, TN) geochemistry in saltmarsh surface sediments (Western Brittany, France): a useful tool for reconstructing Holocene relative sea‐level
Authors: Goslin Jérôme , Sansjofre Pierre , Van Vliet‐Lanoë Brigitte , Delacourt Christophe
Published: July 2017

Providing a dense network of Holocene relative sea‐level (RSL) records still faces some challenges, such as the paucity of microfossil assemblages within some Holocene sedimentary sequences. Recently, the isotopic (δ13C) and elemental geochemistry [total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and C/N ratios] of saltmarsh sediments has showed potential for RSL reconstruction. This study presents the results of new δ13C, TOC and TN measurements obtained on surface sediments of two marshes of the Brittany region (France). Overall, the distribution of δ13C, TOC, TN and C/N values shows clear dependencies with elevation. Sediments from above and below the high tide level show contrasting TN contents. Clustering analyses identified three elevation‐dependent groups, characterized by specific values of δ13C, TOC and TN. The use of this geochemical reference for RSL reconstruction is tested on a core retrieved from one of the marshes. The sea‐level index points obtained plot in good accordance with the microfauna‐based RSL positions previously obtained in the region. Some diagenetic losses in TN are observed between modern and Holocene sediments. This does not appear to be harmful to the accuracy of the RSL reconstructions but suggests that C/N ratios may be unreliable palaeoenvironmental proxies in this specific context.
Omics‐prediction of bioactive peptides from the edible cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis proteome
Authors: Ji Chaofan , Han Jing , Zhang Jingbo , Hu Jing , Fu Yinghuan , Qi Hang , Sun Yue , Yu Chenxu
Published: July 2017

BACKGROUND

Bioinformatics approaches are widely used to evaluate the prospects of novel protein sources in bioactive peptide research. Edible cyanobacteria are considered as potential protein precursors. However, the abundance of unicellular cyanobacterial proteins is largely unknown and highly dynamic according to the cultivation conditions, which need to be considered in this research field. The objective of this work was to evaluate the protein abundance of Arthrospira platensis, as well as to map the bioactive peptide sequences from the high‐abundance proteins of the A. platensis proteome.

RESULTS

The high‐abundance proteins of the A. platensis proteome were identified with a high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry‐based method. A total of 593 proteins were detected and quantified. The occurrence frequency of the bioactive peptides in A. platensis proteome was calculated according to the amino acid sequences via the bioinformatics approaches. Further in silico digested by trypsin, pepsin and chymotrypsin, these proteins liberated 78, 99, and 96 bioactive peptides, respectively. In each case, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors were enriched.

CONCLUSION

This work will help rationally design the protocols for cyanobacterial cultivation, protein pre‐treatment and peptide separation, and further produce more peptides with specific functions. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Existence of solution of a finite volume scheme preserving maximum principle for diffusion equations
Authors: Yuan Guangwei , Yu Yunlong
Published: July 2017

In this article, a cell‐centered finite volume scheme preserving maximum principle for diffusion equations with scalar coefficients is developed. The construction of the scheme consists of three steps: at first the discrete normal flux is obtained by a linear combination of two single‐sided fluxes, then the tangential term of the normal flux is modified by using a nonlinear combination of two single‐sided tangential fluxes, finally the auxiliary unknowns in the tangential fluxes are calculated by the convex combinations of the cell‐centered unknowns. It is proved that this nonlinear scheme satisfies the discrete maximum principle (DMP). Moreover, the existence of a solution of the nonlinear scheme is proved by using the Brouwer's fixed point theorem and the bounded estimates. Numerical experiments are presented to show that the scheme not only satisfies DMP, but also obtains the second‐order accuracy and conservation.© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 34: 80–96, 2018
A parallel finite volume scheme preserving positivity for diffusion equation on distorted meshes
Authors: Sheng Zhiqiang , Yue Jingyan , Yuan Guangwei
Published: July 2017

Parallel domain decomposition methods are natural and efficient for solving the implicity schemes of diffusion equations on massive parallel computer systems. A finite volume scheme preserving positivity is essential for getting accurate numerical solutions of diffusion equations and ensuring the numerical solutions with physical meaning. We call their combination as a parallel finite volume scheme preserving positivity, and construct such a scheme for diffusion equation on distorted meshes. The basic procedure of constructing the parallel finite volume scheme is based on the domain decomposition method with the prediction‐correction technique at the interface of subdomains: First, we predict the values on each inner interface of subdomains partitioned by the domain decomposition. Second, we compute the values in each subdomain using a finite volume scheme preserving positivity. Third, we correct the values on each inner interface using the finite volume scheme preserving positivity. The resulting scheme has intrinsic parallelism, and needs only local communication among neighboring processors. Numerical results are presented to show the performance of our schemes, such as accuracy, stability, positivity, and parallel speedup.© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 33: 2159–2178, 2017
Key‐nodes selection problem for minimum cost control of directed networks
Authors: Li Guoqi , Tang Pei , Wen Changyun , Huang Jiangshuai , Ma Cheng
Published: July 2017

The key‐nodes selection problem is to determine key nodes from all those connected to external control sources so that the minimum cost is achieved when they are used to control a directed network. Clearly, it is an important issue in both theory and application. But its solution still remains open because of the difficulty in analyzing the graphical properties of key nodes. We present a method, called normalized projected gradient method (NPGM), to address this critical issue. An index notation arrangement‐based chain rule is proposed to obtain the gradient of a defined cost function where matrix‐by‐matrix derivatives are involved. In addition, projection and normalization operators are used to establish the convergence property of NPGM. Simulation results also demonstrate its satisfactory performance. We believe that the presented results of NPGM not only provide a technical breakthrough, but also our discussions on them reveal certain important physical insights regarding key nodes selection in controlling complex directed networks.
SOX11 promotes invasive growth and ductal carcinoma in situ progression
Authors: Oliemuller Erik , Kogata Naoko , Bland Philip , Kriplani Divya , Daley Frances , Haider Syed , Shah Vandna , Sawyer Elinor J , Howard Beatrice A
Published: July 2017

Here, we show that SOX11, an embryonic mammary marker that is normally silent in postnatal breast cells, is expressed in many oestrogen receptor‐negative preinvasive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) lesions. Mature mammary epithelial cells engineered to express SOX11 showed alterations in progenitor cell populations, including an expanded basal‐like population with increased aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity, and increased mammosphere‐forming capacity.
DCIS.com cells engineered to express SOX11 showed increased ALDH activity, which is a feature of cancer stem cells. The CD44+/CD24–/ALDH+ cell population was increased in DCIS.com cells that expressed SOX11. Upregulating SOX11 expression in DCIS.com cells led to increased invasive growth both in vitro and when they were injected intraductally in a mouse model of DCIS that recapitulates human disease. Invasive lesions formed sooner and tumour growth was augmented in vivo, suggesting that SOX11 contributes to the progression of DCIS to invasive breast cancer. We identified potential downstream effectors of SOX11 during both microinvasive and invasive tumour growth stages, including several with established links to regulation of progenitor cell function and prenatal developmental growth. Our findings suggest that SOX11 is a potential biomarker for DCIS lesions containing cells harbouring distinct biological features that are likely to progress to invasive breast cancer. © 2017 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 promotes prostate cancer progression through activating the Cdc42–PAK1 axis
Authors: Guo Yaxiu , Zhang Zhisong , Wei Huiting , Wang Jingyu , Lv Junqiang , Zhang Kai , Keller Evan T , Yao Zhi , Wang Quan
Published: July 2017

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the leading cause of urinary tract infections and plays a role in prostatic carcinogenesis and prostate cancer (PCa) progression. However, the mechanisms through which UPEC promotes PCa development and progression are unclear. Cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1) is one of the most important UPEC toxins and its role in PCa progression has never been studied. We found that UPEC‐secreted CNF1 promoted the migration and invasion of PCa cells and PCa metastasis. In vitro studies showed that CNF1 promotes pro‐migratory and pro‐invasive activity through entering PCa cells and activating Cdc42, which subsequently induced PAK1 phosphorylation and up‐regulation of MMP‐9 expression. CNF1 also promoted pulmonary metastasis in a xenograft mouse model through these mechanisms. PAK1 phosphorylation correlated with advanced grades of PCa in human clinical PCa tissues. These results suggest that CNF1 derived from UPEC plays an important role in PCa progression through activating a Cdc42–PAK1 signal axis and up‐regulating the expression of MMP‐9. Therefore, surveillance for and treatment of cnf1‐carrying UPEC strains may diminish PCa progression and thus have an important clinical therapeutic impact. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mortality in children with low‐grade glioma or glioneuronal tumors: A single‐institution study
Authors: Upadhyaya Santhosh A. , Ghazwani Yahya , Wu Shengjie , Broniscer Alberto , Boop Fredrick A. , Gajjar Amar , Qaddoumi Ibrahim
Published: July 2017

Background

While pediatric low‐grade glioma/glioneuronal tumors (LGG/LGGNTs) are considered slow‐growing, indolent tumors with excellent long‐term prognosis, mortality due to the disease is not unknown. Few studies have addressed the cause of death in this population.

Methods

Retrospective review of clinicopathologic and radiologic data for children 21 years or younger with LGG/LGGNT who died at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital between April 1985 and June 2015. Our primary objective was to determine the causes and timing of mortality in affected children.

Results

For the 87 eligible patients, median age at diagnosis was 7.7 years (range, 0.21–21 years), median age at death was 14.26 years (range, 0.58–32 years), and median time to death from diagnosis was 4.02 years (range, 0.21–24 years). Midbrain/thalamus was the most common tumor location (n = 34), followed by suprasellar/hypothalamic (n = 18) and cerebrocortical (n = 13). Astrocytoma not otherwise specified (n = 24), pilocytic astrocytoma (n = 23), and fibrillary astrocytoma (n = 11) were the predominant histologic diagnoses. Causes of death included progressive primary disease (PD) (n = 43), progression of PD with histological features of a high‐grade glioma at progression or at autopsy (PD‐HGG) (n = 15), second cancer (n = 3), suicide (n = 4), and vehicular accident (n = 3). Among the 15 patients with PD‐HGG, 12 received radiation therapy before histologic confirmation of progression.

Conclusions

PD and PD‐HGG contributed to 66% of the mortality in our patient cohort. Early psychological intervention should be included as part of the multidisciplinary management approach of children with LGG/LGGNT to reduce the risk of suicide in vulnerable subjects.
Moderating effect of age on the association between future time perspective and preventive coping
Authors: Chen Tao , Liu Lu‐lu , Cui Ji‐fang , Chen Xing‐jie , Shi Hai‐song , Neumann David L. , Shum David H. K. , Wang Ya , Chan Raymond C. K.
Published: July 2017

The present study aimed to investigate the moderating effect of age on the relationship between future time perspective (FTP) and future‐oriented coping. A total of 1,915 participants aged 9–84 years completed measures of FTP and future‐oriented coping. Moderation analyses were conducted to examine whether age played a role in the association between FTP and future‐oriented coping (proactive and preventive). Results showed that proactive and preventive coping were negatively correlated with age, and age moderated the association between FTP and preventive coping but not proactive coping. Furthermore, the strength of the positive association between FTP and preventive coping was strongest among the older participants, moderate among the middle‐aged participants, and weakest among the younger participants. These results suggest that the association between FTP and preventive coping varies across the lifespan.
Accuracy in direct behavior rating is minimally impacted by completion latency
Authors: Dart Evan H. , Radley Keith C. , Fischer Aaron J. , Collins Tai A. , Terjesen Mark D. , Wright Sarah J. , McCargo Morgan , Hicks Ashley J.
Published: July 2017

Direct behavior ratings (DBRs) have been proposed as an efficient method to assess student behavior in the classroom due to their relative ease of administration compared to alternative methods like systematic direct observation. DBRs are considered low‐inference assessments of behavior because they are designed to be completed immediately following a specified observation period of student behavior; however, in practice it is common for teachers and other respondents to delay completion of a DBR until they are reminded to do so. It is unclear what effect, if any, this latency between observation and DBR completion has on rater accuracy. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of completion latency on accuracy in an analogue setting. Two‐hundred forty‐one undergraduate students (83.8% female) with a mean age of 21 participated across eight groups and were asked to complete an electronic DBR immediately after watching a video of student behavior or after a predetermined delay of 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, or 6 hours. A one‐way analysis of variance revealed that there was no statistically significant relationship between completion latency and DBR accuracy, F(7, 233) = .959, p = .46, η2 = .028.
New phthalimide‐methionine dyad‐based fluorescence probes for reactive oxygen species: Singlet oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, and hypochlorite
Authors: Griesbeck Axel G. , Öngel Banu , Atar Murat
Published: July 2017

Different reactive oxygen species were detected by the molecular probes 1‐3 that were composed of the phthalimide fluorophore as reporter and a methionine‐derived thioether side‐chain as receptor part. The sulfoxides that were formed as the primary oxidation products show strong fluorescence in the blue‐green (430‐540 nm) spectral region. Self‐sensitized oxidation by singlet oxygen is in general inefficient indicating rapid electron‐transfer quenching of the excited probe molecules. With hydrogen peroxide as thermal oxidant conversion to the sulfoxides is slow but can be accelerated by addition of titanium(IV) catalysts, whereas hypochlorite as oxidant behaves much more reactive even under uncatalyzed conditions. Singlet oxygen that is generated by energy transfer from the photosensitizer Rose Bengal was detected by sensor 1a with rate constants of >107M–1 s–1, a typical rate constant for the oxidation of thioethers to sulfoxides.
Neutron structure of the T26H mutant of T4 phage lysozyme provides insight into the catalytic activity of the mutant enzyme and how it differs from that of wild type
Authors: Hiromoto Takeshi , Meilleur Flora , Shimizu Rumi , Shibazaki Chie , Adachi Motoyasu , Tamada Taro , Kuroki Ryota
Published: July 2017

T4 phage lysozyme is an inverting glycoside hydrolase that degrades the murein of bacterial cell walls by cleaving the β‐1,4‐glycosidic bond. The substitution of the catalytic Thr26 residue to a histidine converts the wild type from an inverting to a retaining enzyme, which implies that the original general acid Glu11 can also act as an acid/base catalyst in the hydrolysis. Here, we have determined the neutron structure of the perdeuterated T26H mutant to clarify the protonation states of Glu11 and the substituted His26, which are key in the retaining reaction. The 2.09‐Å resolution structure shows that the imidazole group of His26 is in its singly protonated form in the active site, suggesting that the deprotonated Nɛ2 atom of His26 can attack the anomeric carbon of bound substrate as a nucleophile. The carboxyl group of Glu11 is partially protonated and interacts with the unusual neutral state of the guanidine moiety of Arg145, as well as two heavy water molecules. Considering that one of the water‐binding sites has the potential to be occupied by a hydronium ion, the bulk solvent could be the source for the protonation of Glu11. The respective protonation states of Glu11 and His26 are consistent with the bond lengths determined by an unrestrained refinement of the high‐resolution X‐ray structure of T26H at 1.04‐Å resolution. The detail structural information, including the coordinates of the deuterium atoms in the active site, provides insight into the distinctively different catalytic activities of the mutant and wild type enzymes.