bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organosolv fractionating pre‐treatment of lignocellulosic biomass for efficient enzymatic saccharification: chemistry, kinetics, and substrate structures
Authors: Zhao Xuebing , Li Siming , Wu Ruchun , Liu Dehua
Published: April 2017

Pre‐treatment to increase cellulose enzymatic hydrolyzability is a prerequisite step for bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass. The final objective of pre‐treatment is to increase cellulose accessibility to cellulase enzymes, which can be done by either removing hemicelluloses or delignification or modifying lignin structure. Organosolv fractionating pre‐treatment (OFP) achieves a fractionation of biomass in a one‐pot process with greatly increased cellulose digestibility. In this review, the research progress in recent years on the acid and alkali‐catalyzed OFP processes has been discussed, in terms of the process modes, chemistry, pre‐treatment kinetics as well as substrate structures. It is concluded that OFP not only improves cellulose digestibility but also shows great promise as an entry to biomass biorefining for co‐producing various chemicals and fuels; however, the economic feasibility of the OFP process has to be improved by reducing the energy consumption for solvent recovery and developing more products with higher added values. Finally, the challenge and perspective of OFP are further discussed. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
High‐yield production of recombinant CRM197, a non‐toxic mutant of diphtheria toxin, in the periplasm of Escherichia coli
Authors: Goffin Philippe , Dewerchin Marianne , De Rop Philippe , Blais Normand , Dehottay Philippe
Published: April 2017

A high cell density fed‐batch process was developed for production of recombinant CRM197, a non‐toxic mutant of diphtheria toxin widely used as a carrier in polysaccharide‐protein conjugate vaccines. Fully soluble recombinant CRM197 was obtained in high yields and with an authentic N‐terminus, by targeting the protein to the periplasm of Escherichia coli using the Signal Recognition Particle (SRP)‐dependent signal sequence of FlgI. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the set‐points of key process parameters (pH and feed rate at induction). Optimal production of periplasmic CRM197 was found at a slightly basic pH (7.5). The feed rate during induction was positively correlated with the accumulation of unprocessed cytoplasmic CRM197, consistent with limited capacity of the SRP secretion pathway. Decreasing the feed rate to align the protein synthesis rate with the secretion capacity, resulted in minimal production of cytoplasmic CRM197. Besides, the host background was found critical for production of periplasmic CRM197: B834(DE3) was the highest producer (>3 g/L), while BLR(DE3) produced one third less CRM197, and very low yields (290 mg/L) were obtained with HMS174(DE3). The optimized process is robust and linearly scalable, and represents a 20‐fold yield improvement compared to a process based on Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
A biomimetic hydrogel functionalized with adipose ECM components as a microenvironment for the 3D culture of human and murine adipocytes
Authors: Louis Fiona , Pannetier Pauline , Souguir Zied , Le Cerf Didier , Valet Philippe , Vannier Jean‐Pierre , Vidal Guillaume , Demange Elise
Published: April 2017

The lack of relevant in vitro models for adipose tissue makes necessary the development of a more physiological environment providing spatial and chemical cues for the effective maturation of adipocytes. We developed a biofunctionalized hydrogel with components of adipose extracellular matrix: collagen I, collagen VI, and the cell binding domain of fibronectin and we compared it to usual 2D cultures on plastic plates. This scaffold allowed 3D culture of mature adipocytes from the preadipocytes cell lines 3T3‐L1 and 3T3‐F442A, as well as primary Human White Preadipocytes (HWP), acquiring in vivo‐like organization, with spheroid shaped adipocytes forming multicellular aggregates. The size of these aggregates increased with time up to 120 μm in diameter after 4 weeks of maturation, with good viability. Significantly higher lipogenic activity (up to 20‐fold at day 28 for HWP cultures) and differentiation rates were also observed compared to 2D. Gene expression analyses highlighted earlier differentiation and complete maturation of 3D HWP compared to 2D, reinforced by the expression of Perilipin protein after 21 days of nutrition. This increase in adipocytes phenotypic and genotypic markers made this scaffold‐driven culture as a robust adipose 3D model. Retinoic acid inhibition of lipogenesis in HWP or isoprenalin and caffeine induction of lipolysis performed on mouse 3T3‐F442A cells, showed higher doses of molecules than typically used in 2D, underlying the physiologic relevance of this 3D culture system. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 1813–1824. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hypaphorine, an Indole Alkaloid Isolated from Caragana korshinskii Kom., Inhibites 3T3‐L1 Adipocyte Differentiation and Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Vitro
Authors: Luan Guangxiang , Tie Fangfang , Yuan Zhenzhen , Li Gang , He Jie , Wang Zhenhua , Wang Honglun
Published: April 2017

Obesity, a major health problem worldwide, is a complex multifactorial chronic disease that increases the risk for insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and hypertension. In this study, we assessed methods to isolate hypaphorine, a potent drug candidate for obesity and insulin resistance. Semi‐preparative reversed‐phase liquid chromatography (semi‐preparative RPLC) was established as a method to separate three compounds, adenosine, l‐tryptophan, and hypaphorine, from the crude extracts of Caragana korshinskii Kom. Due to its specific chemical structure, the effect of hypaphorine on differentiation and dexamethasone (DXM) induced insulin resistance of 3T3‐L1 cells was investigated. The structures of the three compounds were confirmed by UV, 1H‐NMR, and 13C‐NMR analysis and compared with published data. The activity results indicated that hypaphorine prevented the differentiation of 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes by down‐regulating hormone‐stimulated protein expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBPα), and their downstream targets, sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 c (SREBP1c) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). Hypaphorine also alleviated DXM‐induced insulin resistance in differentiated 3T3‐L1 adipocytes via increasing the phosphorylation level of Akt2, a key protein in the insulin signaling pathway. Taken together, we suggest that the method can be applied to large‐scale extraction and large‐quantity preparation of hypaphorine for treatment of obesity and insulin resistance.
Shortened dental arch as a solution for maxillary sinus proximity in dental implant restoration
Authors: Abdulghani Ashraf Sidig , Elhag Salma Babiker
Published: April 2017

Key Clinical Message

This case report demonstrates the benefit of using the shortened dental arch (SDA) design for a comprehensive implant‐supported restoration and the avoidance of the complexities of implant placement near the maxillary sinus. The SDA concept as a treatment option is encouraging in terms of function, patient satisfaction, and cost‐effectiveness.
In Vivo Synthesis of Polyhydroxylated Compounds from a “Hidden Reservoir” of Toxic Aldehyde Species
Authors: Bayer Thomas , Milker Sofia , Wiesinger Thomas , Winkler Margit , Mihovilovic Marko D. , Rudroff Florian
Published: April 2017

Synthetic enzyme cascades in living cells often lack efficiency owing to the formation of byproducts by endogenous enzymes or toxicity of the cascade intermediates. Highly reactive aldehyde species can trigger a metabolic stress response, and this leads to undesired side reactions and decreased yields. Owing to the metabolic background of Escherichia coli (E. coli), aldehydes may be irreversibly oxidized to carboxylic acids or reduced to the corresponding alcohols. Herein, we applied an approach to equilibrate the aldehyde concentration in vivo. We oxidized primary alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes by AlkJ, an alcohol dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas putida. Introduction of a carboxylic acid reductase from Nocardia iowensis allowed the target compound to be retrieved from the carboxylate sink. Further reduction of the aldehydes to alcohols by endogenous E. coli enzymes completed the equilibration between alcohols, aldehydes, and carboxylic acids. Thus, the aldehyde concentrations remained below nonviable concentrations. We demonstrated the concept on several primary alcohols, which reached the redox equilibrium within 6 h and persisted up to 24 h. Subsequent combination with a dihydroxyacetone‐dependent aldolase (Fsa1‐A129S, E. coli) demonstrated that the reactive aldehyde species were freely available and gave the aldol product, (3S,4R)‐1,3,4‐trihydroxy‐5‐phenylpentan‐2‐one, in 70 % yield within short reaction times.
Unprecedented Variety of Outcomes in the Oxygenation of Dinuclear Alkylzinc Derivatives of an N,N‐Coupled Bis(β‐diketimine)
Authors: Pietrzak Tomasz , Korzyński Maciej Damian , Justyniak Iwona , Zelga Karolina , Kornowicz Arkadiusz , Ochal Zbigniew , Lewiński Janusz
Published: April 2017

Reactions between O2 and organometallics with non‐redox‐active metal centers have received continuous interest for over 150 years, although significant uncertainties concerning the character and details of the actual mechanism of these reactions persist. Harnessing dinuclear three‐coordinate alkylzinc derivatives of an N,N‐coupled bis(β‐diketimine) proligand (LH2) as a model system, we demonstrate for the first time that a slight modification of the reaction conditions might have a dramatic influence on the oxygenation reaction outcomes, leading to an unprecedented variety of products originating from a single reaction system, that is, partially and fully oxygenated zinc alkoxides, zinc alkylperoxides, and zinc hydroxide compounds. Our studies indicate that accessibility of the three‐coordinate zinc center by the O2 molecule, coupled with the lower reactivity of Zn‐Me vs. Zn‐Et units towards dioxygen, are key factors in the oxygenation process, providing a novel tetranuclear methyl(methoxy)zinc {[L][ZnMe][Zn(μ‐OMe]}2 and zinc ethoxide {[L][Zn(μ‐OEt)]2}2. Remarkably, oxygenation of three‐coordinate alkylzinc [L][ZnR]2 complexes at ambient temperature afforded a unique hydroxide {[L][Zn(μ‐OH)]2}2. Oxygenation of the [L][ZnEt]2 complex in the presence of 4‐methylpyridine (py‐Me) at low temperature led to the isolation of a dinuclear zinc ethylperoxide [L][Zn(OOEt)(py‐Me)]2, which nicely substantiates the intermediacy of an unstable zinc alkylperoxide in the formation of the subsequent zinc alkoxide and hydroxide compounds. Finally, our investigations provide compelling evidence that a non‐redox‐active metal center plays a crucial role in the oxygenation process through assisting in single‐electron transfer from an M−C bond to an O2 molecule. Although the oxygenation of zinc alkyls occurs by radical pathways, the reported results stand in clear contradiction to the widely accepted free‐radical chain mechanism.
Diphenylphosphine‐Oxide‐Fused and Diphenylphosphine‐Fused Porphyrins: Synthesis, Tunable Electronic Properties, and Formation of Cofacial Dimers
Authors: Fujimoto Keisuke , Kasuga Yuko , Fukui Norihito , Osuka Atsuhiro
Published: April 2017

Diphenylphosphine‐oxide‐fused NiII porphyrin 8 was synthesized from 3,5,7‐trichloroporphyrin 5 via a reaction sequence of nucleophilic aromatic substitution with lithium diphenylphosphide, oxidation with H2O2, and palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular cyclization. Reduction of 8 with HSiCl3 gave diphenylphosphine‐fused NiII porphyrin 9. The embedded P=O and P moieties serve as a strong electron‐accepting and electron‐donating group to perturb the optical and electrochemical properties of the NiII porphyrin. NiII porphyrin 9 is diamagnetic with a low‐spin NiII center in solution but becomes paramagnetic with a five‐coordinated NiII center with high‐spin (S=1) state in the solid state. Diphenylphosphine‐oxide‐fused ZnII porphyrin 10 was also synthesized and shown to form a face‐to‐face dimer with mutual O‐Zn bonds in the crystal and in nonpolar and moderately polar solvents. The dimerization of 10 in CDCl3 has been revealed to be an entropy‐driven process with a large entropy gain (ΔSD=207 J K−1 mol−1).
Managing critical success factors for IS implementation: A stakeholder engagement and control perspective
Authors: Ahmed Zafor , Kumar Uma , Kumar Vinod
Published: April 2017

Enterprise information systems (IS) implementation is often part of an organization's strategic IT initiatives and requires a large investment of organizational resources, yet may fail due to inadequate management of critical success factors (CSF). Using a revelatory case study of a multi‐partner COTS implementation process by a large Canadian government organization, this research investigates successful management of CSF through optimal stakeholder engagement and a balancing of control configurations. This research identifies four distinct project orientations related to stakeholder engagements—strategic, responsibility, harmony, and persuasion—that can be of significant value in managing CSF and other challenges during implementation and post‐implementation phases. In addition to the identification of a need for control balancing in a multi‐partner IS implementation, three key drivers responsible for triggering control balancing are identified: (a) shared understanding, (b) negative anticipation, and (c) deviation of expectations. Copyright © 2017 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Wood sawdust and sewage sludge pyrolysis chars for CO2 adsorption using a magnetic suspension balance
Authors: Nascimento Paula F. P. , Sousa João F. , Oliveira Jackson A. , Possa Rosangela D. , Santos Luciene S. , Carvalho Fabíola C. , Ruiz Juan A. C. , Pedroza Marcelo M. , Bezerra Márcio B. D.
Published: April 2017

In view of global warming caused by the uncontrolled emissions of CO2 to the environment, there is a great need to develop methods able to eliminate this pollutant. Apart from establishing new techniques, the exploration of new materials with high separation performance and low cost are of importance. This work aims to treat carbon‐metals‐rich chars originated from the fast pyrolysis of sewage sludge and wood sawdust to be used as CO2 adsorbents. The samples were washed with ethanol and dichloromethane before their physical and chemical activation to remove impregnated bio‐oil. For the chemical activation, potassium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid were used as agents. The samples were analyzed via BET, TGA, XRD, and XRF. The results were used to investigate the role played by ethanol or dichloromethane and the effect of the activation on the properties of the materials such as specific surface area, total specific pore volume, and average pore size. CO2 isotherms were obtained experimentally at 25 °C using a magnetic suspension balance and the data was used to estimate Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm parameters. After chemical treatment, the sewage sludge char specific surface area increased 11 times and had an adsorptive capacity of 1.32 × 10−3 mol/g. The wood sawdust char specific surface area increased 90 times and had an adsorptive capacity of 3.73 × 10−3 mol/g. Desorption was carried out from 5 × 105 to 1 × 105 Pa at 37 °C and the efficiencies were 89.0 and 84.4 % for the sewage sludge and wood sawdust, respectively.
Adaptive unified continuum FEM modeling of a 3D FSI benchmark problem
Authors: Jansson Johan , Degirmenci Niyazi Cem , Hoffman Johan
Published: April 2017

In this paper, we address a 3D fluid‐structure interaction benchmark problem that represents important characteristics of biomedical modeling. We present a goal‐oriented adaptive finite element methodology for incompressible fluid‐structure interaction based on a streamline diffusion–type stabilization of the balance equations for mass and momentum for the entire continuum in the domain, which is implemented in the Unicorn/FEniCS software framework. A phase marker function and its corresponding transport equation are introduced to select the constitutive law, where the mesh tracks the discontinuous fluid‐structure interface. This results in a unified simulation method for fluids and structures. We present detailed results for the benchmark problem compared with experiments, together with a mesh convergence study.
A New Fabrication Method for Single‐Layer Nanosheets by Silver‐Assisted Exfoliation
Authors: Ganter Pirmin , Ziegler Christian , Friedrichs Anne T. , Duppel Viola , Scheu Christina , Lotsch Bettina V.
Published: April 2017

The discovery of 2D forms of matter, pioneered by graphene, has not only triggered new insights into fundamental physics but also pushed the limits of miniaturization. To process nanosheets into ultrathin functional devices, the development of scalable exfoliation routes is of key interest. Here, we demonstrate for the first time a mild, yet highly effective silver‐ion‐based exfoliation route for layered transition metal oxides. Single layer transition metal oxide nanosheets were obtained by applying silver ion exchange and subsequent treatment of the silver‐intercalated phases with an aqueous suspension containing organic iodides. This generic exfoliation route can be widely applied also to acid‐sensitive materials and allows the modification of the nanosheets with non‐conventional organic ligands, which owing to their chemical functionality may be used to tailor the optoelectronic and surface properties of the nanosheet–ligand hybrid.
Pharmacogenomics‐Based Point‐of‐Care Clinical Decision Support Significantly Alters Drug Prescribing
Authors: O'Donnell PH , Wadhwa N , Danahey K , Borden BA , Lee SM , Hall JP , Klammer C , Hussain S , Siegler M , Sorrentino MJ , Davis AM , Sacro YA , Nanda R , Polonsky TS , Koyner JL , Burnet DL , Lipstreuer K , Rubin DT , Mulcahy C , Strek ME , Harper W , Cifu AS , Polite B , Patrick‐Miller L , Yeo K‐TJ , Leung EKY , Volchenboum SL , Altman RB , Olopade OI , Stadler WM , Meltzer DO , Ratain MJ
Published: April 2017

Changes in behavior are necessary to apply genomic discoveries to practice. We prospectively studied medication changes made by providers representing eight different medicine specialty clinics whose patients had submitted to preemptive pharmacogenomic genotyping. An institutional clinical decision support (CDS) system provided pharmacogenomic results using traffic light alerts: green = genomically favorable, yellow = genomic caution, red = high risk. The influence of pharmacogenomic alerts on prescribing behaviors was the primary endpoint. In all, 2,279 outpatient encounters were analyzed. Independent of other potential prescribing mediators, medications with high pharmacogenomic risk were changed significantly more often than prescription drugs lacking pharmacogenomic information (odds ratio (OR) = 26.2 (9.0–75.3), P < 0.0001). Medications with cautionary pharmacogenomic information were also changed more frequently (OR = 2.4 (1.7–3.5), P < 0.0001). No pharmacogenomically high‐risk medications were prescribed during the entire study when physicians consulted the CDS tool. Pharmacogenomic information improved prescribing in patterns aimed at reducing patient risk, demonstrating that enhanced prescription decision‐making is achievable through clinical integration of genomic medicine.
Drop model for continuous milli‐beads production
Authors: Stelian Carmen , Nehari Abdeldjelil , Lebbou Kheirreddine , Duffar Thierry
Published: April 2017

Production of solid spheres from droplet solidification is gaining more and more interest, but needs a careful control of the drop diameter. The technique of dropping liquid alumina from a nozzle is used for processing the starting materials which are filling the crucibles in sapphire crystal growth technology. In the present work, experimental, theoretical and numerical analysis is carried out in order to describe the time evolution of the drop formation from a capillary tube. The main goal of this study is to develop a physical model able to explain the dynamics of drop formation, with application in drop weight method and production of small alumina balls. A new formula predicting the volume of falling drops is derived from the force balance at the instant of drop detachment. The theoretical predictions are compared to present numerical computations and experimental results of alumina milli‐beads production. Based on this model, the crucible and capillary tube geometries and the process parameters can be designed in order to get continuous production of reproducible droplets for mass production.
Dispersal and extrapolation on the accuracy of temporal predictions from distribution models for the Darwin's frog
Authors: Uribe‐Rivera David E. , Soto‐Azat Claudio , Valenzuela‐Sánchez Andrés , Bizama Gustavo , Simonetti Javier A. , Pliscoff Patricio
Published: April 2017

Climate change is a major threat to biodiversity; the development of models that reliably predict its effects on species distributions is a priority for conservation biogeography. Two of the main issues for accurate temporal predictions from Species Distribution Models (SDM) are model extrapolation and unrealistic dispersal scenarios. We assessed the consequences of these issues on the accuracy of climate‐driven SDM predictions for the dispersal‐limited Darwin's frog Rhinoderma darwinii in South America. We calibrated models using historical data (1950–1975) and projected them across 40 yr to predict distribution under current climatic conditions, assessing predictive accuracy through the area under the ROC curve (AUC) and True Skill Statistics (TSS), contrasting binary model predictions against temporal‐independent validation data set (i.e., current presences/absences). To assess the effects of incorporating dispersal processes we compared the predictive accuracy of dispersal constrained models with no dispersal limited SDMs; and to assess the effects of model extrapolation on the predictive accuracy of SDMs, we compared this between extrapolated and no extrapolated areas. The incorporation of dispersal processes enhanced predictive accuracy, mainly due to a decrease in the false presence rate of model predictions, which is consistent with discrimination of suitable but inaccessible habitat. This also had consequences on range size changes over time, which is the most used proxy for extinction risk from climate change. The area of current climatic conditions that was absent in the baseline conditions (i.e., extrapolated areas) represents 39% of the study area, leading to a significant decrease in predictive accuracy of model predictions for those areas. Our results highlight (1) incorporating dispersal processes can improve predictive accuracy of temporal transference of SDMs and reduce uncertainties of extinction risk assessments from global change; (2) as geographical areas subjected to novel climates are expected to arise, they must be reported as they show less accurate predictions under future climate scenarios. Consequently, environmental extrapolation and dispersal processes should be explicitly incorporated to report and reduce uncertainties in temporal predictions of SDMs, respectively. Doing so, we expect to improve the reliability of the information we provide for conservation decision makers under future climate change scenarios.
Fire‐mediated foraging tradeoffs in white‐tailed deer
Authors: Cherry Michael J. , Warren Robert J. , Conner L. Mike
Published: April 2017

Predation risk can induce individual prey to express behavioral, physiological, and morphological traits that can influence population‐level processes. Maternal care is an intuitive link between predator‐mediated traits of individuals and population‐level processes because maternal investment can decrease with predation risk, and often influences processes such as neonatal growth, survival, and recruitment. During fawn‐rearing, many ungulate species restrict space use to a fraction of their home range. Selection of and within these areas can influence the quality of concealment cover for fawns and forage availability during early lactation which is the peak of maternal investment. Fire influences the distribution of food resources and cover for prey and their predators. In frequently burned systems, ungulates typically move into recently burned areas to exploit increased forage quality and detection of predators that use cover to stalk their prey. We investigated the effects of time since fire on the selection of and within fawn‐rearing areas and foraging behavior in white‐tailed deer in a frequently burned pine savanna. White‐tailed deer selected woodlands with greater time since fire and avoided recently burned areas, likely sacrificing forage quality for concealment cover during fawn‐rearing. We then used camera data to test the effects of time since fire on foraging behavior and found that with increased time since fire female white‐tailed deer are more likely to be feeding while foraging at concentrated resources of standardized quality and quantity. By combining these data, we revealed that the counterintuitive avoidance of high‐quality forage in recently burned areas can be explained by predation risk. We documented fire effects on proactive (i.e., avoidance of recent burns) and reactive (decreased vigilance with increasing time since fire) antipredator behaviors in white‐tailed deer during the fawning season. Our results suggest that fire can spatially and temporally alter a landscape causing dynamic predation risk to which prey must respond to maximize fitness.
Controlling the Reactivity of Ferrocenyl Carbocations: Routes to Enantiomerically Pure Chlorophosphites and Solid‐State Characterization of a Benzopentalene Dimer
Authors: Nottingham Chris , Müller‐Bunz Helge , McGlinchey Michael J. , Guiry Patrick J.
Published: April 2017

A range of enantiopure ferrocenyl diols possessing a variety of electron‐withdrawing groups at the carbinol centre was investigated in the reaction with phosphorus trichloride. Subtle changes in the electronic properties of these groups led, after reaction with phosphorus trichloride, to distinctly different products: α‐substituted ferrocenes, (bis)phosphinic dichlorides, benzopentalene dimers or chlorophosphites. A mechanistic rationale was developed based upon the observed α‐ferrocenyl carbocation behaviour to account for the formation of such diverse products. Two benzopentalene dimers were isolated and successfully characterized by X‐ray crystallography, representing the first examples of such compounds in the solid‐state. The synthesis and characterization of an enantiopure ferrocenophane‐phosphoramidite‐gold(I) complex is also described.
Process Intensification of the Hydrogen Production Reaction Using a Carbon Membrane Reactor: Kinetics Analysis
Authors: Zhang Bing , Wang Dong , Zhou Jialing , Wu Yonghong , Zhao Dandan , Wang Tonghua , Qiu Jieshan
Published: April 2017

Plate carbon membranes were fabricated and coupled into a membrane reactor to intensify the steam reforming of methanol (SRM). The homemade Cu‐based catalyst and carbon membranes were characterized by using thermogravimetric analysis, X‐ray diffraction, N2 adsorption, and gas permeation. The effects of the reaction temperature, reactor type, and carbon membranes on the methanol conversion and hydrogen yield were investigated. The results show that the coupling of carbon membranes in the reactor improves the methanol conversion significantly. In addition, both the methanol conversion and reaction rate increase, and the hydrogen yield first decreases then increases as the reaction temperature was elevated from 220 to 300 °C. This indicates that both thermodynamic and kinetic factors contribute to the intensification of SRM in the carbon membrane reactor.
Effect of glyphosate acid on biochemical markers of periphyton exposed in outdoor mesocosms in the presence and absence of the mussel Limnoperna fortunei
Authors: Iummato María Mercedes , Pizarro Haydée , Cataldo Daniel , Di Fiori Eugenia , dos Santos Afonso María , del Carmen Ríos de Molina María , Juárez Ángela Beatriz
Published: April 2017

Glyphosate is currently the most widely used herbicide in agricultural production. It generally enters aquatic ecosystems through surface water runoff and aerial drift. We evaluated the effect of glyphosate acid on biochemical parameters of periphyton exposed to concentrations of 1, 3, and 6 mg/L in outdoor mesocosms in the presence and absence of the mussel Limnoperna fortunei. Periphyton ash-free dry weight, chlorophyll a content, carotene/chlorophyll a ratio, lipid peroxidation levels, and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were determined at days 0, 1, 7, 14, and 26 of the experimental period. Ash-free dry weight was similar between control and glyphosate-treated periphyton in the absence of L. fortunei. The latter had significantly lower carotene to chlorophyll a ratios and enzyme activities, and higher lipid peroxidation levels and chlorophyll a content than the former. These results show an adverse effect of glyphosate on the metabolism of periphyton community organisms, possibly inducing oxidative stress. On the contrary, no differences were observed in any of these variables between control and glyphosate-treated periphyton in the presence of L. fortunei. Mussels probably attenuated the herbicide effects by contributing to glyphosate dissipation. The results also demonstrate that biochemical markers provide useful information that may warn of herbicide impact on periphyton communities. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1775–1784. © 2016 SETAC
Effects of city living on the mesolimbic reward system—An fmri study
Authors: Krämer Bernd , Diekhof Esther K. , Gruber Oliver
Published: April 2017

Based on higher prevalence rates of several mental disorders for city dwellers, psychosocial stress effects of urban living have been proposed as an environmental risk factor contributing to the development of mental disorders. Recently, it was shown that amygdala activation differs between city dwellers and rural residents in response to a cognitive‐social stressor. Besides its influence on the amygdala, chronic stress also affects mesocorticolimbic brain regions involved in reward processing, and stress‐related dysregulation of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system is thought to contribute to onset and manifestation of psychiatric disorders. Here, we investigated differences in reward systems functioning in 147 healthy subjects living either in cities or in less urban areas by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging during performance of the desire‐reason‐dilemma paradigm, which permits a targeted investigation of bottom–up activation and top–down regulation of the reward circuit. Compared with subjects from less urban areas, city dwellers showed an altered activation and modulation capability of the midbrain (VTA) dopamine system. City dwellers also revealed increased responses in other brain regions involved in reward processing and in the regulation of stress and emotions, such as amygdala, orbitofrontal, and pregenual anterior cingulate cortex. These results provide further evidence for effects of an urban environment on the mesolimbic dopamine system and the limbic system which may increase the risk to develop mental disorders. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3444–3453, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Higher body mass index is associated with reduced posterior default mode connectivity in older adults
Authors: Beyer Frauke , Kharabian Masouleh Sharzhad , Huntenburg Julia M. , Lampe Leonie , Luck Tobias , Riedel‐Heller Steffi G , Loeffler Markus , Schroeter Matthias L. , Stumvoll Michael , Villringer Arno , Witte A. Veronica
Published: April 2017

Obesity is a complex neurobehavioral disorder that has been linked to changes in brain structure and function. However, the impact of obesity on functional connectivity and cognition in aging humans is largely unknown. Therefore, the association of body mass index (BMI), resting‐state network connectivity, and cognitive performance in 712 healthy, well‐characterized older adults of the Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases (LIFE) cohort (60–80 years old, mean BMI 27.6 kg/m2 ± 4.2 SD, main sample: n = 521, replication sample: n = 191) was determined. Statistical analyses included a multivariate model selection approach followed by univariate analyses to adjust for possible confounders. Results showed that a higher BMI was significantly associated with lower default mode functional connectivity in the posterior cingulate cortex and precuneus. The effect remained stable after controlling for age, sex, head motion, registration quality, cardiovascular, and genetic factors as well as in replication analyses. Lower functional connectivity in BMI‐associated areas correlated with worse executive function. In addition, higher BMI correlated with stronger head motion. Using 3T neuroimaging in a large cohort of healthy older adults, independent negative associations of obesity and functional connectivity in the posterior default mode network were observed. In addition, a subtle link between lower resting‐state connectivity in BMI‐associated regions and cognitive function was found. The findings might indicate that obesity is associated with patterns of decreased default mode connectivity similar to those seen in populations at risk for Alzheimer's disease. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3502–3515, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Survival outcomes for cutaneous angiosarcoma of the scalp versus face
Authors: Bernstein Jonathan M. , Irish Jonathan C. , Brown Dale H. , Goldstein David , Chung Peter , Razak Albiruni R. Abdul , Catton Charles , Gilbert Ralph W. , Gullane Patrick J. , O'Sullivan Brian
Published: April 2017

Background

The primary purpose of this study was to examine whether angiosarcoma outcomes differ for the scalp and face.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective outcomes analysis of 50 patients with cutaneous angiosarcoma treated by curative intent identified from the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Registry (from 1958 to 2014).

Results

Median survival was 26 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.6–34.6) and median follow‐up 29 months. For the scalp and face, respectively, the 5‐year locoregional control rate was 9% and 53% (p = .04); the recurrence‐free survival (RFS) rate was 5% and 27% (p = .017); and the overall survival (OS) rate was 9% and 26% (p = .017). Scalp lesions were larger, more likely to be multifocal, and presented more rapidly once noticed. In multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis, scalp location was independently prognostic for mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 2.10; 95% CI, 1.03–4.28; p = .04).

Conclusion

Scalp angiosarcoma has worse survival than angiosarcoma of the face. Scalp angiosarcoma tends to be larger at presentation, which may be because it is not noticed until more advanced. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 1205–1211, 2017
Insights on stream temperature processes through development of a coupled hydrologic and stream temperature model for forested coastal headwater catchments
Authors: Leach Jason A. , Moore Dan
Published: April 2017

Stream temperature controls a number of biological, chemical, and physical processes occurring in aquatic environments. Transient snow cover and advection associated with lateral throughflow inputs can have a dominant influence on stream thermal regimes for headwater catchments in the rain‐on‐snow zone. Most existing stream temperature models lack the ability to properly simulate these processes. We developed and evaluated a conceptual‐parametric catchment‐scale stream temperature model that includes the role of transient snow cover and lateral advection associated with throughflow. The model consists of routines for simulating canopy interception, snow accumulation and melt, hillslope throughflow runoff and temperature, and stream channel energy exchange processes. The model was used to predict discharge and stream temperature for a small forested headwater catchment near Vancouver, Canada, using long‐term (1963–2013) weather data to compute model forcing variables. The model was evaluated against 4 years of observed stream temperature. The model generally predicted daily mean stream temperature accurately (annual RMSE between 0.57 and 1.24 °C) although it overpredicted daily summer stream temperatures by up to 3 °C during extended low streamflow conditions. Model development and testing provided insights on the roles of advection associated with lateral throughflow, channel interception of snow, and surface–subsurface water interactions on stream thermal regimes. This study shows that a relatively simple but process‐based model can provide reasonable stream temperature predictions for forested headwater catchments located in the rain‐on‐snow zone.
Population Pharmacokinetics and Target Engagement of Natalizumab in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Muralidharan Kumar Kandadi , Kuesters Geoffrey , Plavina Tatiana , Subramanyam Meena , Mikol Daniel D. , Gopal Sreeja , Nestorov Ivan
Published: April 2017

Natalizumab (humanized immunoglobulin G4 antibody targeting alpha‐4 integrins) is a highly efficacious treatment for relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) that has been in clinical use since 2006. However, natalizumab pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics and concentration alpha‐4 integrin saturation relationships have not been well described in the scientific literature. Therefore, clinical data from 11 studies were pooled and analyzed to characterize the PK and pharmacodynamic (PD) properties of natalizumab in RRMS subjects. Natalizumab PK was best described using a 2‐compartment model with linear first‐order and Michaelis‐Menten elimination. Subcutaneous absorption of natalizumab was characterized using first‐order absorption with lag time. The relationship between natalizumab concentration and alpha‐4 integrin saturation (PD) was best described by a direct response model with a sigmoidal effect on alpha‐4 integrin saturation mediated by a maximum effect relationship with natalizumab concentrations. Covariate analysis showed that body weight, product formulations, and the presence of antinatalizumab antibodies were the main covariates affecting natalizumab PK, whereas age and formulations affected PD. The use of simulations based on a pharmacokinetic‐pharmacodynamic model showed that covariates, although statistically significant, are not expected to have any clinical impact at the approved clinical dosing regimen of natalizumab (300 mg once every 4 weeks).
Statins and Lower Gastrointestinal Conditions: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Pearlman Michelle , Covin Yvonne , Schmidt Robert , Mortensen Eric M. , Mansi Ishak A.
Published: April 2017

Several studies have reported constipation, abdominal pain, or diarrhea as common adverse events for statins. Statins are among the most commonly prescribed medications, and the impact on the prevalence of these conditions was rarely studied as main outcomes. The aim of this study is to determine if statin therapy is associated with constipation, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or colitis. This was a retrospective cohort study using a regional military health care data from October 1, 2003, to March 1, 2012. A propensity score–matched cohort of statin users and nonusers was created based on 82 variables. The primary analysis evaluated the odds ratios of the following diagnoses: constipation, ≥3 encounters for constipation; abdominal pain, ≥3 encounters for abdominal pain; diarrhea, ≥3 encounters for diarrhea; colitis, ≥3 encounters for colitis; and endoscopy of the lower gastrointestinal tract, ≥3 endoscopies of the lower gastrointestinal tract. After propensity score matching of 6342 statin users and 6342 nonusers, there was no statistically significant difference in constipation (OR, 0.96; 95%CI, 0.87–1.05; P = .33), abdominal pain (OR, 0.95; 95%CI, 0.88–1.02; P = .15), or colitis (OR, 1.02; 95%CI, 0.91–1.14; P = .73). However, there was an association between statin therapy and endoscopy of the lower gastrointestinal tract (OR, 1.14; 95%CI, 1.04–1.26; P = .002) and decreased odds of diarrhea (OR, 0.88; 95%CI, 0.80–0.97; P = .01). In this retrospective cohort study, an association between statin therapy and increased likelihood of being diagnosed with lower gastrointestinal conditions could not be demonstrated, contrary to some statins package inserts.
A comparative study of bacterial and fungal‐bacterial steady‐state stages of a biofilter in gaseous toluene removal: performance and microbial community
Authors: Zhai Jian , Shi Peng , Wang Zhu , Jiang Haitao , Long Chao
Published: April 2017

BACKGROUND

Traditional biofilters can lack efficiency in removing hydrophobic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) due to their low gas‐to‐liquid phase transfer rates. The aim of this research was to construct a high‐performance biofilter for toluene removal, compare the degradation performance with that of a traditional biofilter and reveal the relationship between the microbial community and operational performance with different operational parameters.

RESULTS

The results illustrate that compared with conventional biofilters, the removal efficiency (RE) and the maximum elimination capacity (ECmax) of the high‐performance, fungal and bacterial biofilter (F&B‐BF) increased by 19.6% and 18 g toluene m‐3 h‐1, respectively. The bed pressure drop (ΔP/H) decreased by 1.6 cm H2O m‐1 at an empty bed residence time (EBRT) of 45 s at pH 4.0 and using nitrate (NO3‐) as a nitrogen source.

CONCLUSION

Low pH values could properly inhibit bacterial growth and progressively allow fungi to predominate in the biofilm. The degrading capabilities of fungi and bacteria were coupled to improve the biofilter performance in toluene removal. Using NO3‐ as the nitrogen source could control the biofilms' overgrowth and reduce the ΔP/H value. The experimental data analysis showed that the fungal genus Phialophora and the bacterial genus Alicyclobacillus played key roles in toluene and phenol degradation, respectively. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Proteomic Profile ofMabuyasp. (Squamata: Scincidae) Ovary and Placenta During Gestation
Authors: Hernández‐Díaz Nathaly , Torres Rodrigo , Ramírez‐Pinilla Martha Patricia
Published: April 2017

Reptiles are one of the most diverse groups of vertebrates, providing an integrated system for comparative studies on metabolic, animal physiology, and developmental biology. However, the molecular data available are limited and only recently have started to call attention in the “omics” sciences.Mabuyasp. is a viviparous placentrotrophic skink with particular reproductive features, including microlecithal eggs, early luteolysis, prolonged gestation, and development of a highly specialized placenta. This placenta is responsible for respiratory exchange and the transference of all nutrients necessary for embryonic development. Our aim was to identify differentially expressed proteins in the ovary and placenta ofMabuyasp. during early, mid, and late gestation; their possible metabolic pathways; and biological processes. We carried out a comparative proteomic analysis during gestation in both tissues by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis, and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization. Differential protein expression in both tissues (Student's t‐testP< 0.05) was related to several processes such as cell structure, cell movement, and energy. Proteins found in ovary are mainly associated with follicular development and its regulation. In the placenta, particularly during mid and late gestation, protein expression is involved in nutrient metabolism, transport, protein synthesis, and embryonic development. This work provides new insights about the proteins expressed and their physiological mechanisms inMabuyasp. placenta and ovary during gestation.
On the Origin of Complex Adaptive Traits: Progress Since the Darwin Versus Mivart Debate
Authors: Suzuki Takao K.
Published: April 2017

The evolutionary origin of complex adaptive traits has been a controversial topic in the history of evolutionary biology. Although Darwin argued for the gradual origins of complex adaptive traits within the theory of natural selection, Mivart insisted that natural selection could not account for the incipient stages of complex traits. The debate starting from Darwin and Mivart eventually engendered two opposite views: gradualism and saltationism. Although this has been a long‐standing debate, the issue remains unresolved. However, recent studies have interrogated classic examples of complex traits, such as the asymmetrical eyes of flatfishes and leaf mimicry of butterfly wings, whose origins were debated by Darwin and Mivart. Here, I review recent findings as a starting point to provide a modern picture of the evolution of complex adaptive traits. First, I summarize the empirical evidence that unveils the evolutionary steps toward complex traits. I then argue that the evolution of complex traits could be understood within the concept of “reducible complexity.” Through these discussions, I propose a conceptual framework for the formation of complex traits, named as reducible‐composable multicomponent systems, that satisfy two major characteristics: reducibility into a sum of subcomponents and composability to construct traits from various additional and combinatorial arrangements of the subcomponents. This conceptual framework provides an analytical foundation for exploring evolutionary pathways to build up complex traits. This review provides certain essential avenues for deciphering the origin of complex adaptive traits.
Design, Synthesis, Antiviral Activities of Novel Phosphonate Derivatives Containing Quinazoline Based on Chalone Motif
Authors: Zhang Guo‐Ping , Pan Jian‐Ke , Zhang Jian , Wu Zeng‐Xue , Liu Deng‐Yue , Zhao Lei
Published: April 2017

Based on the structure of natural product chalone, a series of novel phosphonate derivatives were designed and synthesized through 1,4‐hydrophosphinylation of α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Their structures were characterized by IR, NMR, MS, and elemental analysis. The antiviral activities against cucumber mosaic virus were evaluated for the first time. The bioassay results indicated that most compounds exhibited good protective activities, low curative activities, and weak inactive activities. The antiviral protective activities of compounds C2 and C5 were 55.1% and 56.8%, respectively, which are slightly higher than those of the commercial Ningnanmyin (49.3%) and Dufulin (53.1%). Moreover, compounds C2 and C9 exhibited moderate curative activities (42.6% and 46.6%). Therefore, the basic motif of C1 can be used as a new lead structure for developing antivirus agents.