bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Breathing Life into the Cadaver: Introducing Air Dissection As a New Teaching and Dissecting Method for the Venous System
Authors: Iwanaga Joe , Kikuta Shogo , Tubbs R. Shane
Published: February 2019

Air insufflation has been used for various surgical procedures such as during laparoscopy. We hypothesized that the use of pressurized air might enable cadaveric dissection to differentiate smaller veins better than traditional dissection techniques. In three fresh‐frozen cadavers, the inferior vena cava (IVC) and right or left femoral veins were exposed just distal to the inguinal ligament and a needle placed into one of them. Pressurized air was then placed into the cannulated femoral vein using an air compressor. In all specimens, the IVC and most of its tributaries, both left and right sides, were clearly insufflated. When the IVC was traced superiorly by resecting the diaphragm through the caval foramen, the right atrium and ventricle were also found to be dilated. Additionally, venous variants that would have not been obvious without dilatation of the IVC were identified. Air dissection of the venous system in fresh‐frozen cadavers aids in anatomical dissection. Such a model might also serve as a surgical training model and teaching tool as it better mimics life‐like anatomy and physiology. We term this technique “cadaveric air dissection.” Clin. Anat. 32:566–572, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nucleolipids of the Nucleoside Antibiotics Formycins A and B: Synthesis and Biomedical Characterization Particularly Using Glioblastoma Cells
Authors: Rosemeyer Helmut , Knies Christine , Hammerbacher Katharina , Bender Eugenia , Bonaterra Gabriel A. , Hannen Ricarda , Bartsch Jörg W. , Nimsky Christopher , Kinscherf Ralf
Published: February 2019

Two lipophilic derivatives of formycin A (1) and formycin B (5) carrying an O‐2′,3′‐(ethyl levulinate) ketal group have been prepared. These were base‐alkylated at N(1) (for 1) and N(1) and N(6) (for 5) with both isopentenyl and all‐trans‐farnesyl residues. Upon the prenylation, side reactions were observed, resulting in the formation of nucleolipids with a novel tricyclic nucleobase (→4a, 4b). In the case of formycin B, O‐2′,3′‐(ethyl levulinate) (6) farnesylation gave the double prenylated nucleolipid 7. All new compounds were characterized by 1H‐, 13C‐, UV/VIS and fluorescence spectroscopy, by ESI‐MS spectrometry and/or by elemental analysis. Log P determinations between water and octanol as well as water and cyclohexane of a selection of compounds allowed qualitative conclusions concerning their potential blood‐brain barrier passage efficiency. All compounds were investigated in vitro with respect to their cytotoxic activity toward rat malignant neuroectodermal BT4Ca as well as against a series of human glioblastoma cell lines (GOS 3, U‐87 MG and GBM 2014/42). In order to differentiate between anticancer and side effects of the novel nucleolipids, we also studied their activity on PMA‐differentiated human THP‐1 macrophages. Here, we show that particularly the formycin A derivative 3b possesses promising antitumor properties in several cancer cell lines with profound cytotoxic effects partly on human glioblastoma cells, with a higher efficacy than the chemotherapeutic drug 5‐fluorouridine.
Transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation after aortic valve repair with HAART 300 device
Authors: Takayuki Gyoten , Volker Herwig , Axel Harnath , Dirk Fritzsche
Published: February 2019

We report the first successful case, to our knowledge, of CoreValve Evolut R (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) implantation into a failed HAART 300 aortic annuloplasty device (BioStable Science & Engineering, TX). An 81‐year‐old man presented with severe symptomatic aortic regurgitation secondary to failure of the 21 mm HAART 300 device, which had been implanted 45 days previously. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed grade 3 aortic regurgitation with central jet, without aortic valve stenosis. Because of the high risk for redo surgery, the heart team proceeded with femoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation. The 26 mm CoreValve Evolut R was deployed into the 21 mm HAART 300 device without difficulty or complications. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. The patient was discharged after 5 days. TTE showed a mean aortic valve gradient of 18 mmHg, with minimal paravalvular leak. Our experience suggests that CoreValve Evolut R implantation may be an attractive option in patients with failed HAART 300 aortic annuloplasty.
Ultra‐Low Loading of Ru Clusters over Graphitic Carbon Nitride: A Drastic Enhancement in Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Activity
Authors: Mori Kohsuke , Osaka Ryo , Naka Kohei , Tatsumi Daisuke , Yamashita Hiromi
Published: February 2019

The photocatalytic activity of graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) was dramatically enhanced by ultra‐low loading of Ru6 clusters (0.01 wt %). This was accomplished via the equilibrium adsorption of a Ru(NO)(NO3)3 precursor followed by annealing at 550 °C under an inert atmosphere. Varying both the type of Ru precursor and the annealing temperature permitted tuning of the local structure of the Ru centers between single site and nanoparticle morphologies. These variations in structure played a crucial role in determining the H2 evolution activity of the material in aqueous media under visible light irradiation (λ >420 nm) in the presence of Pt cocatalyst. The ultra‐low loading of Ru6 clusters led to a more than twenty‐fold increase in activity compared to that for bare g‐C3N4 owing to synergic effects. These effects included increases in the surface area by exfoliation as well as suppression of the recombination of electron‐hole pairs and improved charge migration, as demonstrated by analyses of the photoluminescence and photo‐electrochemical properties of the catalyst.
Assembling Two‐Phase Enzymatic Cascade Pathways in Pickering Emulsion
Authors: Pan Yongchun , Qiu Wu , Li Qin , Zhu Shuihong , Lin Changxu , Zeng Wenbin , Xiong Xueqing , Liu Xiang Yang , Lin Youhui
Published: February 2019

The design of enzymatic cascade pathways in biphasic systems with high efficiency is still a big challenge. Herein, we report a simple and efficient strategy for one‐pot biphasic tandem reactions by positioning distinct biocatalysts in spatially separate domains of Pickering emulsion. Due to the large interfacial area and the stability of Pickering interfacial biocatalysts, the as‐obtained Pickering emulsion system was confirmed as a nice microreactor with highly enhanced catalytic performance. Furthermore, in this hybrid catalytic system, unconventional computing relied on enzymatic cascade reactions can be performed. Such Pickering emulsion‐based logic system offers several distinctive advantages, including less “cross‐talk” and signal amplification. We believe that our result will have critical applications in future biocatalysis, nanomachines, smart diagnostics, intelligent drug delivery, nanomechanical, and electronics.
Hydrogen‐Bonded Polyrotaxane Cation Structure in Nickel Dithiolate Anion Radical Salts: Ferromagnetic and Semiconducting Behavior Associated with Structural Phase Transition
Authors: Shirakawa Yuki , Takahashi Kiyonori , Sato Hiroyasu , Hoshino Norihisa , Anetai Hayato , Noro Shin‐ichiro , Akutagawa Tomoyuki , Nakamura Takayoshi
Published: February 2019

The pseudo‐polyrotaxane structure of [(H‐bpy+)‐ (DB‐24‐crown‐8)]∞ (H‐bpy+ = monoprotonated 4,4‐bipyridinium; DB‐24‐crown‐8 = dibenzo‐24‐crown‐8) has been incorporated into the anion radical salt [Ni(dmit)2]− (dmit2− = 1,3‐dithiole‐2‐thione‐4,5‐dithiolate). (H‐bpy+)(DB‐24‐crown‐8)[Ni(dmit)2]− crystallized as two polymorphs, crystals 1 and 2. Crystal 1 was found to have a lower density and looser packing structure in which H‐bpy+ forms a one‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonding chain that passes though the crown ether ring of DB‐24‐crown‐8. DB‐24‐crown‐8 adopts a U‐shaped conformation in which two phenylene rings sandwich one of the pyridyl rings of H‐bpy+ to stabilize the structure. The [Ni(dmit)2]− anions are arranged in a layer parallel to the (10) plane with uniform side‐by‐side interactions. A structural phase transition was observed at 235 K, accompanied by ordering of the polyrotaxane structure. In crystal 1, at 173 K, H‐bpy+ is twisted around the central C−C bond, which perturbs the arrangement of [Ni(dmit)2]− through short C−H⋅⋅⋅S contacts. As a result, the semiconducting behavior, with an activation energy of 0.21 eV, becomes insulating below 235 K. The crystal exhibits ferromagnetic interactions because of the weak side‐by‐side interactions between [Ni(dmit)2]− anions. Crystal 2 has a similar pseudo‐polyrotaxane structure but showed no phase transition. This suggests that the looser crystal packing in crystal 1 induces the structural change of the pseudo‐polyrotaxane, perturbing the electron system of [Ni(dmit)2]−.
Multiple C−H Bond Activations in Corannulene by a Dirhenium Complex
Authors: Adams Richard D. , Dhull Poonam , Pennachio Matthew , Petrukhina Marina A. , Smith Mark D.
Published: February 2019

The reaction of Re2(CO)8(μ‐C6H5)(μ‐H), 1 with corannulene (C20H10) yielded the product Re2(CO)8(μ‐H)(μ‐η2‐1,2‐C20H9), 2 (65 % yield) containing a Re2 metalated corannulene ligand formed by loss of benzene from 1 and the activation of one of the CH bonds of the nonplanar corannulene molecule by an oxidative‐addition to 1. The corannulenyl ligand has adopted a bridging η2‐σ+π coordination to the Re2(CO)8 grouping. Compound 2 reacts with a second equivalent of 1 to yield three isomeric doubly metalated corannulene products: Re2(CO)8(μ‐H)(μ‐η2‐1,2‐μ‐η2‐10,11‐C20H8)Re2(CO)8(μ‐H), 3 (35 % yield), Re2(CO)8(μ‐H)(μ‐η2‐2,1‐μ‐η2‐10,11‐C20H8)Re2(CO)8(μ‐H), 4 (12 % yield), and Re2(CO)8(μ‐H)(μ‐η2‐1,2‐μ‐η2‐11,10‐C20H8)Re2(CO)8(μ‐H), 5 (12 % yield), by a second CH activation on a second rim double bond on the corannulene molecule. The isomers differ by the relative orientations of the coordinated Re2(CO)8(μ‐H) groupings. All new products were characterized structurally by single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis.
Synthesis of Functionalized Ketones from Acid Chlorides and Organolithiums by Extremely Fast Micromixing
Authors: Nagaki Aiichiro , Sasatsuki Kengo , Ishiuchi Satoshi , Miuchi Nobuyuki , Takumi Masahiro , Yoshida Jun‐ichi
Published: February 2019

Synthesis of ketones containing various functional groups from acid chlorides bearing electrophilic functional groups and functionalized organolithiums was achieved using a flow microreactor system. Extremely fast mixing is important for high chemoselectivity.
Radiation Matters in Fixed‐Bed CFD Simulations
Authors: Wehinger Gregor D.
Published: February 2019

Fixed‐bed reactors often operate at elevated temperatures, where radiation can be a significant heat‐transfer mechanism. Particle‐resolved CFD models fixed‐bed reactors on a very detailed macroscopic level. In this study, the contribution of radiative heat transfer is investigated in a 500‐mm bed of 7‐hole pellets. At industrially relevant temperatures (250 – 800 °C) and with a steam‐reforming gas‐phase mixture, the S2S and DOM radiation models were applied. Neglecting radiation results in temperatures being up to 6 % lower. In this case, the main driver is surface‐to‐surface (S2S) radiation. Additional modeling recommendations are given.
SDS‐modified Nanoporous Silver as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for Selectively Converting CO2 to CO in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Shi Lei , Zhang Yuning , Han Xiaofei , Niu Dongfang , Sun Jinlong , Yang Jenny Y. , Hu Shuozhen , Zhang Xinsheng
Published: February 2019

Summary of main observation and conclusion

Selectively electrochemical conversion of CO2 into organic fuel using renewable electricity is one of the most sought‐after processes. In this paper, we report the electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2RR) on the nanoporous Ag electrodes made of compacted Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs), which were prepared by one‐step reduction in the water phase with or without the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The scanning electron microscope (SEM) characterizations show that the compacted Ag electrodes have the nanoporous morphology formed by stacking AgNPs. Compared with the nanoporous Ag electrode without SDS modification (C‐AgNPs), the SDS‐modified AgNPs electrode (C‐AgNPs‐SDS) is highly effective in improving selective CO production in a wide range of potentials (–0.69 V — –1.19 V, vs. RHE), with a Faradaic efficiency of 92.2% and a current density of –8.23 mA·cm–2 for CO production at –0.79 V (vs. RHE). C‐AgNPs‐SDS is also catalytically stable with only less than 7% deactivation after 8 h of continuous electrolysis.
Heparin: What Is It? How Does It Work?
Authors: SCHWARTZ B. S.
Published: February 2019

The anticoagulant agent heparin inhibits thrombosis by interacting with antithrombin III. There are three distinct chemical elements that make up the heparin precursor molecule: Mucopolysaccharides, amino acids, and sugars. Separate from the chemical elements are three unique domains of activity that have been defined based on the functional interaction of heparin with antithrombin III. Bleeding complications are potential side effects of heparin therapy and may be caused by heparin interactions with platelets. However, reducing the size of the molecule (low‐molecular weight heparins) and varying the dosage may reduce the risk of excessive bleeding.
Transient Ischemic Attacks and Ischemic Stroke: Indications for Anticoagulation
Authors: MILLER V. T.
Published: February 2019

The value of anticoagulant therapy in cerebrovascular disease has not been adequately documented. Until the results of well‐designed trials are available, physicians must use these agents on the basis of personal experience, anecdotal reports, and uncontrolled series. We use anticoagulants in selected patients to (1) prevent recurrent cardioembolic stroke, (2) stem the progression of atherothrombotic stroke in progress, and (3) prevent stroke in patients presenting with a series of transient ischemic attacks. Given the unproved status of anticoagulants in cerebrovascular disease, it is essential to rule out contraindications or nonthrombotic causes of patient deterioration before they are administered.
Measuring the impact of data center failures on a cloud‐based emergency medical call system
Authors: Gomes Demis , Santos Guto Leoni , Rosendo Daniel , Gonçalves Glauco , Moreira Andre , Kelner Judith , Sadok Djamel , Endo Patricia Takako
Published: February 2019

Emergency call services are expected to be highly available in order to minimize the loss of urgent calls and, as a consequence, minimize loss of life due to lack of timely medical response. This service availability depends heavily on the cloud data center on which it is hosted. However, availability information alone cannot provide sufficient understanding of how failures impact the service and users' perception. In this paper, we evaluate the impact of failures on an emergency call system, considering service‐level metrics such as the number of affected calls per failure and the time an emergency service takes until it recovers from a failure. We analyze a real data set from an emergency call center for a large Brazilian city. From stochastic models that represent a cloud data center, we evaluate different data center architectures to observe the impact of failures on the emergency call service. Results show that changing data center's architecture in order to improve availability from two to three nines cannot decrease the average number of affected calls per failure. On the other hand, it can decrease the probability to affect a considerable number of calls at the same time.
Time‐Resolved Diffusion NMR Measurements for Transient Processes
Authors: MacDonald Thomas S. C. , Price William S. , Beves Jonathon E.
Published: February 2019

A general procedure for measurement of time‐resolved diffusion coefficients of molecular species by NMR is described, including the use of methanol for fast temperature‐independent gradient calibration.
Appraisement of Crystal Expansion in CH3NH3PbI3 on Doping: Improved Photovoltaic Properties
Authors: Salado Manuel , Kazim Samrana , Nazeeruddin Mohammad Khaja , Ahmad Shahzada
Published: February 2019

Three‐dimensional hybrid perovskite materials (CH3NH3PbI3) suffer from intrinsic instability owing to organic cation evaporation and ion migration. The inclusion of a large organic cation such as guanidinium has been probed to stabilize the structure. This work proposes the inclusion of imidazolium iodide (C3N2H5I) as an organic cation inside the CH3NH3PbI3 matrix, as a reservoir to control the spontaneous loss of iodide. The introduction of imidazolium iodide in amounts below 20 % has an impact on the crystallization process but not on the optical properties. It also positively controls non‐radiative recombination and improves the open‐circuit voltage of the solar cells. The present study paves way for a deeper insight into the limit of multi‐dimensional perovskite to further push the performance.
Genetic basis and outcome in a nationwide study of Finnish patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Jääskeläinen Pertti , Vangipurapu Jagadish , Raivo Joose , Kuulasmaa Teemu , Heliö Tiina , Aalto‐Setälä Katriina , Kaartinen Maija , Ilveskoski Erkki , Vanninen Sari , Hämäläinen Liisa , Melin John , Kokkonen Jorma , Nieminen Markku S. ,   The FinHCM Study Group, Laakso Markku , Kuusisto Johanna
Published: February 2019

Aims

Nationwide large‐scale genetic and outcome studies in cohorts with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have not been previously published.

Methods and results

We sequenced 59 cardiomyopathy‐associated genes in 382 unrelated Finnish patients with HCM and found 24 pathogenic or likely pathogenic mutations in six genes in 38.2% of patients. Most mutations were located in sarcomere genes (MYBPC3, MYH7, TPM1, and MYL2). Previously reported mutations by our study group (MYBPC3‐Gln1061Ter, MYH7‐Arg1053Gln, and TPM1‐Asp175Asn) and a fourth major mutation MYH7‐Val606Met accounted for 28.0% of cases. Mutations in GLA and PRKAG2 were found in three patients. Furthermore, we found 49 variants of unknown significance in 31 genes in 20.4% of cases. During a 6.7 ± 4.2 year follow‐up, annual all‐cause mortality in 482 index patients and their relatives with HCM was higher than that in the matched Finnish population (1.70 vs. 0.87%; P < 0.001). Sudden cardiac deaths were rare (n = 8). Systolic heart failure (hazard ratio 17.256, 95% confidence interval 3.266–91.170, P = 0.001) and maximal left ventricular wall thickness (hazard ratio 1.223, 95% confidence interval 1.098–1.363, P < 0.001) were independent predictors of HCM‐related mortality and life‐threatening cardiac events. The patients with a pathogenic or likely pathogenic mutation underwent an implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation more often than patients without a pathogenic or likely pathogenic mutation (12.9 vs. 3.5%, P < 0.001), but there was no difference in all‐cause or HCM‐related mortality between the two groups. Mortality due to HCM during 10 year follow‐up among the 5.2 million population of Finland was studied from death certificates of the National Registry, showing 269 HCM‐related deaths, of which 32% were sudden.

Conclusions

We identified pathogenic and likely pathogenic mutations in 38% of Finnish patients with HCM. Four major sarcomere mutations accounted for 28% of HCM cases, whereas HCM‐related mutations in non‐sarcomeric genes were rare. Mortality in patients with HCM exceeded that of the general population. Finally, among 5.2 million Finns, there were at least 27 HCM‐related deaths annually.
Recognition of Different Metal Cations by a trans‐4‐[4‐(Dimethylamino)styryl]‐1‐methylpyridinium Iodide@Tetramethylcucurbit[6]uril Probe
Authors: Deng Xin Yu , Chen Kai , Chen Ming‐Dong , Lü Li Bin , Tao Zhu
Published: February 2019

Based on the study of a known host–guest inclusion complex comprising cucurbit[6]uril (Q[6]) and a hemicyanine dye, trans‐4‐[4‐(dimethylamino)styryl]‐1‐pyridinium iodide (t‐DSMI), a water‐soluble symmetric tetramethylcucurbit[6]uril (TMeQ[6]), was selected to construct a t‐DSMI‐based probe to test the response to various metal cations in neutral water. The experimental results revealed that the probe responded to Cs+ cations in alkali metal systems, Ba2+ and Sr2+ cations in alkaline earth metal systems, Eu3+, Tm3+ and Yb3+ cations in lanthanide systems, and Cr3+, Fe3+ and Hg2+ cations in systems containing transition and other metal cations, via obvious fluorescence quenching.
Monohydrochloride Assisted Synthesis of Functionalized Isoxazoles and Pyrazoles from Allenic Ketones: First Synthesis of (Z)‐2‐Methyl‐7H‐benzo[b]pyrazolo[5,1‐d][1,5]oxazocines
Authors: Sarkar Debayan , Sahoo Sushree Ranjan
Published: February 2019

A facile hydrochloride promoted regioselective synthesis of isoxazoles and pyrazoles from 1,2‐allenic ketones is reported. The reaction has been scaled up to gram scale. A direct 8‐endo dig ring annulations towards the first synthesis of (Z)‐2‐methyl‐7H‐benzo[b]pyrazolo[5,1‐d][1,5]oxazocine has been developed.
Croconaine Rotaxane Dye with 984 nm Absorption: Wavelength‐Selective Photothermal Heating
Authors: McGarraugh Hannah H. , Liu Wenqi , Matthews Braden P. , Smith Bradley D.
Published: February 2019

Croconaines are an emerging class of near‐infrared dyes that are useful for various sensing, photothermal, optoelectronic, and photoacoustic applications. Previous work encapsulated a dumbbell‐shaped croconaine dye whose structure contains two thiophene flanking units inside a tetralactam macrocycle and produced a croconaine rotaxane 1 with a narrow 824 nm absorption band. Herein, a new rotaxane 2 is reported that encapsulates a croconaine dye with two thienothiophene flanking units. The new croconaine rotaxane 2 exhibits a narrow 984 nm absorption band that is distinct from the 824 nm absorption of rotaxane 1. Photothermal heating experiments showed that an 830 nm diode laser selectively heats a solution containing rotaxane 1, with no heating of a solution containing rotaxane 2. Conversely, a 980 nm diode laser selectively heats a solution containing rotaxane 2, with no heating of a solution containing rotaxane 1. The new croconaine rotaxane 2 shows no fatigue after four cycles of laser heating and cooling.
Regioselectivity Issues in the Addition of Grignard Reagents to Trifluoromethylated α‐Bromoenones
Authors: Romanov Alexey R. , Cahard Dominique , Rulev Alexander Yu.
Published: February 2019

The regioselectivity of addition of organomagnesium reagents to trifluoromethylated α‐bromoenones is reported. Alkyl and aryl Grignard reagents undergo 1,4‐ and/or 1,2‐addition but, in contrast to non‐fluorinated α‐bromoenones, the former direction is dominant for these fluorinated analogs. The high 1,4‐regioselectivity observed in most cases reflects the influence of the trifluoromethyl group on the direction of nucleophilic attack.
Viaticene A – An Unusual Tetraterpene Cuticular Lipid Isolated from the Springtail Hypogastrura viatica
Authors: Bello Jan E. , Stamm Patrick , Leinaas Hans Petter , Schulz Stefan
Published: February 2019

The cuticles of springtails are extremely wear‐ and friction‐resistant, super‐hydrophobic, non‐fouling, and self‐cleaning. As such, the chemistry of the lipids covering these cuticles is of great interest as a model for biomimetic super‐hydrophobic surfaces, although only few of these lipids have been structurally elucidated. Hypogastrura viatica, a surface‐dwelling springtail, produces highly branched tetraterpene hydrocarbons with an unprecedented [6+2]‐terpene connectivity as components of the epicuticular lipid layer. The structure of the major lipid component, viaticene A, was elucidated through isolation, spectroscopic analysis, chemical derivatization, synthesis, as well as stereochemical analysis of the core unit obtained from ozonolysis of the isolated lipid. Viaticenes A and B represent a new class of irregular tetraterpenoid natural products.
Carbon Cloth Decorated with MoS2 Microflowers as Flexible Binder‐Free Anodes for Lithium and Sodium Storage
Authors: Kang Jinwei , Feng Huagui , Huang Ping , Su Qingmei , Dong Shijia , Jiao Weicheng , Chen Xiaojuan , Du Gaohui , Yu Yuan , Xu Bingshe
Published: February 2019

Herein, a hierarchical architecture for high‐performance flexible lithium/sodium‐ion batteries (LIBs/SIBs) is reported, which comprises the interconnected carbon fiber cloth network (CC) decorated with MoS2 microflowers assembled by ultrathin MoS2 nanosheets (MoS2/CC) through an in situ hydrothermal method and a subsequent calcination treatment. When used as a flexible binder‐free anode, the MoS2/CC electrode shows an amazing cyclicality and a high reversible capacity for both lithium and sodium storages. As for LIBs, the MoS2/CC composite delivers a high specific capacity of 1263 mAh g−1 after cycled for 100 cycles at 0.1 A g−1. A rate capacity of 838 mAh g−1 can be obtained at 2 A g−1 after 100 cycles. As for SIBs, a reversible capacity of 515 mAh g−1 can be retained after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g−1. The enhanced electrochemical properties of MoS2/CC can be attributed to the following three synergic effects: 1) the carbon network offers an amazing conductivity environment without any binder or additive; 2) the sheet‐like structure of MoS2 provides the short Li ions diffusion path and can accommodate stress during cyclings; and 3) the 3D architecture ensures the well‐preserved structural integrity. The above results show that the MoS2/CC composite holds great promise as a flexible anode for practical applications in next‐generation LIBs and SIBs.
Comparison of false-positive rates of 2 hypothesis-test approaches in relation to laboratory toxicity test performance
Authors: Fox John F. , Denton Debra L. , Diamond Jerry , Stuber Robyn
Published: February 2019

We compared 2 statistical hypothesis-test approaches (no-observed-effect concentration [NOEC] and test of significant toxicity [TST]) to determine the influence of laboratory test performance on the false-positive error rate using the US Environmental Protection Agency's Ceriodaphnia dubia reproduction whole-effluent toxicity (WET) test endpoint. Simulation and power calculations were used to determine error rates based on observed control coefficients of variation (CV) for 8 laboratories over a range of effect levels. Average C. dubia control reproduction among laboratories was 20 to 40 offspring per female, and the 75th percentile CV was 0.10 to 0.31, reflecting a range in laboratory performance. The 2 approaches behave similarly for CVs of 0.2 to 0.3. At effects <10%, as CV decreases, TST is less likely to declare toxicity and NOEC is more likely to do so. Laboratory performance affects whether a sample is declared toxic and influences the probability of false-positive (and −negative) error rates using either approach. At the 75th percentile control CV observed for each laboratory, 4 laboratories would achieve approximately a 5% false-positive rate using 13 or fewer replicates for this test method. For the remaining 4 laboratories, more replicates would be needed to achieve a 5% false-positive rate. The present analyses demonstrate how false-positive rates are influenced by laboratory performance and WET test design. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:511–523. Published 2019 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
Performance analysis of multicell massive MIMO THP with pilot contamination
Authors: Maboud Sanaie Saiedeh , Khaleghi Bizaki Hossein
Published: February 2019

Pilot contamination (PC) is a performance limiting factor in multicell massive multiple‐input–multiple‐output systems. The PC may cause the channel estimation of users in the desired cell to be polluted with the channels of users with the same set of pilots in the adjacent cells. In this paper, we propose a multicell Tomlinson‐Harashima precoding (MC‐THP) to mitigate PC. The MC‐THP matrices are derived by the optimization function in which the errors seen by the users in the desired cell and the interference seen by the users in the neighboring cells are jointly minimized. In addition, the robust MC‐THP design with imperfect channel state information is investigated based on the covariance matrices of the channel estimation errors of the desired and interfering channels. Finally, an approximate analytical closed‐form of symbol error rate is obtained through the analysis of error covariance matrix in the desired cell. This is then used for power loading technique to improve the performance of the proposed MC‐THP. The simulation results confirm the improvement of the proposed MC‐THP concerning the conventional linear multicell minimum mean‐square error (MC‐MMSE) precoder.
On the capacity of additive white mixture Gaussian noise channels
Authors: Sheikh‐Hosseini Mohsen , Hodtani Ghosheh Abed
Published: February 2019

This paper provides an information‐theoretic study for the additive white impulsive noise channels by considering Gaussian mixture (GM) noise model, which includes Middleton class A andε‐mixture Gaussian models. First, three lower and two upper bounds are found for the differential entropy of complex multivariate GM distribution and these bounds are extended to the univariate GM noise of flat fading impulsive noise channels. Second, the instantaneous capacity of these channels is bounded using two lower and two upper bounds, and the ergodic capacity and outage probability of these bounds are investigated for the log‐normal fading model. Finally, the obtained bounds are numerically illustrated and their tightness is discussed for various realizations of the GM noise. The results demonstrate that the tight bounds are not the same for all considered realizations, but they are close enough and converge to each other for a specific realization.
Production and characterization of a new glycolipid, mannosylerythritol lipid, from waste cooking oil biotransformation by Pseudozyma aphidis ZJUDM34
Authors: Niu Yongwu , Wu Jianan , Wang Wei , Chen Qihe
Published: February 2019

Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) are glycolipids possessing unique biosurfactant properties. However, the prices of substrates currently used for MEL formation caused its unsustainable commercial development. Waste cooking oil poses significant ecological and economical problems. Thus, the production of MELs from used waste cooking oil using the biotransformation route is one of the better alternatives to utilize it efficiently and economically. This work aims at the production of MELs using waste cooking oil instead of soybean oil and evaluating the major characteristics and compositions of MELs. The titers reached 61.50 g/L by the optimization of culture medium, higher than the counterpart (10.25 ± 0.32 g/L) of the nonoptimized medium. MELs exhibited good surface activity and better performance in contrast to MELs grown on soybean oil. The water phase behavior of MEL‐A was also evaluated. The process showed higher productivity of MELs with better surface activity and application stability than the conventional process using soybean oil. The findings of this study imply that the use of inexpensive fermentation substrates associated with straightforward downstream processing is expected to have a great impact on the economy of MEL production.
Long noncoding RNA DINO (damage induced noncoding) represses the development of gastric cancer by modulating p21 and Bcl‐2 Associated X Protein (Bax) expression
Authors: Liu Qinqiang , Xiao Yan , Cai Peng , Li Jun , Li Dawei
Published: February 2019

lncRNAs are responsible for a variety of diseases, including gastric cancer (GC). Many recent studies have reported that lncRNAs can serve as crucial regulators of various genes. Nevertheless, the biological function of lncRNA damage induced noncoding (DINO) remained poorly investigated in GC. Therefore, in our present study, the detailed role of DINO was investigated. It was manifested that DINO was significantly downregulated in GC tissues. Then, DINO was modulated by infecting LV‐DINO or by LV‐shRNA in BGC‐823 and MGC‐803 cells. Moreover, it was displayed that GC cell proliferation was suppressed by DINO overexpression, whereas silencing DINO increased cell proliferation significantly. For another, it was indicated that DINO dramatically induced apoptotic ratios of BGC‐823 and MGC‐803 cells, whereas the decrease of DINO depressed GC cell apoptosis. Apart from these, GC cell cycle progression was greatly blocked by LV‐DINO. Furthermore, Western blot results displayed that upregulation of DINO elevated p21 expression and Bax expression. Oppositely, inhibition of DINO greatly suppressed p21 and Bax protein expression level. Taken these, DINO might exert a tumor inhibitory role in the progression of GC through modulating p21 and Bax.
Mesenchymal stem cells improve platelet counts in mice with immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Zhang Ping , Zhang Guoyang , Liu Xiaoyan , Liu Hongyun , Yang Pengfeng , Ma Liping
Published: February 2019

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a common autoimmune bleeding disorder. The breakdown of immune tolerance (regulatory T [Treg] cells and suppressor cytokines) plays an important role in ITP pathophysiology, especially in refractory ITP. Bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM‐MSCs) show immunomodulatory properties and have been extensively utilized for autoimmune diseases. However, it has not been fully elucidated how BM‐MSCs affect ITP. In this study, we explore the therapeutic mechanism of BM‐MSCs on ITP in mice. Dose‐escalation passive ITP mice were inducted by injection of MWReg30. BALB/c mice were randomly divided into two groups: ITP with BM‐MSC transplantation and ITP controls. The serum levels of cytokines (interleukin 10 [IL‐10] and transforming growth factor‐β1 [TGF‐β1]) were examined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. The frequency of Treg cells in both peripheral blood and spleen mononuclear cells was analyzed by flow cytometry, and the forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) messenger RNA (mRNA) level was measured by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. After BM‐MSC treatment, the platelet (PLT) counts were significantly elevated. Meanwhile, cytokines (TGF‐β1 and IL‐10), the ratios of Treg cells, and the Foxp3 mRNA expression level were significantly higher in the BM‐MSC group. Our results show that BM‐MSCs can improve PLT counts mainly by secreting suppressive cytokines and upregulating Tregs, which may provide new therapeutic potential for human ITP.
Exonuclease 1 expression is associated with clinical progression, metastasis, and survival prognosis of prostate cancer
Authors: Luo Fei , Wang Yu‐Zhuo , Lin Dong , Li Jian , Yang Kuo
Published: February 2019

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer‐related deaths in the male population in western countries, and we explored the association between exonuclease 1 (EXO1) expression and clinical progression, metastasis (Met), and survival prognosis of PCa. EXO1 expression of high/low‐metastatic patient‐derived xenografts model was investigated and clinical correlation and prognosis outcomes were validated. EXO1 in high‐metastatic models was significantly increased compared with low‐metastatic lines. In memorial sloan‐kettering cancer center (MSKCC) cohort, EXO1 expression positively correlated with PCa Met, and patients with high EXO1 had poor biochemical recurrence‐free survival in primary PCa cohort. Validation in The Cancer Genome Atlas primary cohort indicated EXO1 expression was significantly associated with lymph node Met and disease‐free survival. The overexpression of EXO1 is significantly associated with PCa poor survival outcome, and is a promising biomarker for PCa, especially for primary PCa. A prospective study is clearly needed to validate these findings.
Prognostic genes of hepatocellular carcinoma based on gene coexpression network analysis
Authors: Xu Baojin , Lv Wu , Li Xiaoyan , Zhang Lina , Lin Jie
Published: February 2019

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common subtype in liver cancer whose prognosis is affected by malignant progression associated with complex gene interactions. However, there is currently no available biomarkers associated with HCC progression in clinical application. In our study, RNA sequencing expression data of 50 normal samples and 374 tumor samples was analyzed and 9225 differentially expressed genes were screened. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis was then conducted and the blue module we were interested was identified by calculating the correlations between 17 gene modules and clinical features. In the blue module, the calculation of topological overlap was applied to select the top 30 genes and these 30 genes were divided into the green group (11 genes) and the yellow group (19 genes) through searching whether these genes were validated by in vitro or in vivo experiments. The genes in the green group which had never been validated by any experiments were recognized as hub genes. These hub genes were subsequently validated by a new data set GSE76427 and KM Plotter Online Tool, and the results indicated that 10 genes (FBXO43, ARHGEF39, MXD3, VIPR1, DNASE1L3, PHLDA1, CSRNP1, ADR2B, C1RL, and CDC37L1) could act as prognosis and progression biomarkers of HCC. In summary, 10 genes who have never been mentioned in HCC were identified to be associated with malignant progression and prognosis of patients. These findings may contribute to the improvement of the therapeutic decision, risk stratification, and prognosis prediction for HCC patients.
Adverse impact of carbon tetrachloride on metabolic function in mice
Authors: Liang Xiaoliu , Wu Ka , Liu Meizhen , Yang Bin
Published: February 2019

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), a potent hepatotoxin, is linked to the histopathological outcomes of inflammatory or oxidative stress, and cell death. However, further study of additional dysmetabolism induced by CCl
4 toxicant has not yet been investigated. In current study, chronical and acute exposures of CCl
4 in mice were used to unmask the biological molecular mechanism responsible for insulin‐dependent metabolic disorder. In experimental methods, a number of biochemical assays were used in assessment of biological impacts on insulin‐produced pancreas and insulin‐responsive hepatocyte after long‐ and short‐term exposures of CCl
4 toxicant, respectively. As a result, data from oral glucose tolerance test showed that CCl
4 exposures induced glucose tolerance and disrupted blood insulin and glucagon levels time‐dependently. Meanwhile, biochemical and histocytological analyses further indicated that CCl
4 exposures significantly resulted in liver cell damage, induced abnormal changes of hepatic and skeletal glycogen synthesis. In addition, acute CCl
4‐exposed mice showed reduced functional proteins of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), insulin receptor β, insulin receptor substrate 1, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), p‐AKT
Ser473 associated with AKT signaling pathway in liver cells, whereas acute CCl
4 exposure downregulated the endogenous expressions of the insulin and glucagon hormonal proteins in the pancreas. Taken together, the current findings highlight that CCl
4 impaired insulin‐dependent glucose homeostasis through modulating hepatocellular AKT signaling pathway in acute CCl
4 exposure and GLUT2/GSK3β pathway in chronic CCl
4‐exposed liver cells.
BAR‐based optimum adaptive steered MD for configurational sampling
Authors: Wang Xiaohui , Tu Xingzhao , Deng Boming , Zhang John Z. H. , Sun Zhaoxi
Published: February 2019

The equilibrium and nonequilibrium adaptive alchemical free energy simulation methods optimum Bennett's acceptance ratio and optimum crooks' equation (OCE), based on the statistically optimal bidirectional reweighting estimator named Bennett's Acceptance Ratio or Crooks' equation, perform initial sampling in the staging alchemical transformation and then determine the importance rank of different states via the time‐derivative of the variance. The method is proven to give speedups compared with the equal time rule. In the current work, we extend the time derivative of variance guided adaptive sampling method to the configurational space, falling in the term of steered MD (SMD). The SMD approach biasing physically meaningful collective variable (CV) such as one dihedral or one distance to pulling the system from one conformational state to another. By minimizing the variance of the free energy differences along the pathway in an optimized way, a new type of adaptive SMD (ASMD) is introduced. As exhibits in the alchemical case, this adaptive sampling method outperforms the traditional equal‐time SMD in nonequilibrium stratification. Also, the method gives much more efficient calculation of potential of mean force than the selection criterion‐based ASMD scheme, which is proven to be more efficient than traditional SMD. The OCE workflow is periodicity‐of‐CV dependent while ASMD is not. The performance is demonstrated in a dihedral flipping case and two distance pulling cases, accounting for periodic and nonperiodic CVs, respectively. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Continuous flow adsorption of phenolic compounds from olive mill wastewater with resin XAD16N: life cycle assessment, cost–benefit analysis and process optimization
Authors: Frascari Dario , Molina Bacca Aurora Esther , Wardenaar Tjerk , Oertlé Emmanuel , Pinelli Davide
Published: February 2019

BACKGROUND

Olive mill wastewaters (OMWs) represent a major environmental concern due to their high organic load and phytotoxic activity. The selective recovery of phenolic compounds (PCs) from OMW is promising, thanks to the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of PCs. The goal of this work was to perform a life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost–benefit analysis (CBA) of a full‐scale process of PC adsorption/desorption on resin Amberlite XAD16N. The industrial process was designed on the basis of laboratory tests aimed at performing a preliminary process optimization.

RESULTS

Adsorption tests were conducted at different velocities in a 1.8‐m column packed with XAD16N. The optimal superficial velocity and retention time (2.78 m h–1 and 0.56 h) allowed the attainment of satisfactory performances in terms of resin operating capacity (0.46), PC adsorption yield (0.92), PC mass fraction in the sorbed product (0.50 gPC/gVS) and specific antioxidant activity (3–6 gascorbic acid/gPC). Six consecutive adsorption/desorption cycles, operated with the same resin load, resulted in stable process performances. The LCA indicated that the environmental impact of the process could be decreased markedly through the addition of an anaerobic digestion step for the production of irrigation‐quality water and fertilizers from the dephenolized OMW. The PC market price required for the generation of a positive business case resulted relatively low (€1.7–13.5 kgPC–1).

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that the proposed PC adsorption/desorption technology, if integrated with an anaerobic digestion step, represents a promising solution for the treatment and valorization of OMW, a major agro‐industrial waste in Mediterranean countries. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Modeling the clay minerals–enzyme binding by fusion fluorescent proteins and under atomic force microscope
Authors: Math Renukaradhya K. , Reddy Srinivasa , Dae Yun Han , Kambiranda Devaiah , Ghebreiyessus Yemane
Published: February 2019

In the present study, binding of cellulase protein to different clay minerals were tested using fluorescent–protein complex and microscopic techniques. Cellulase gene (Cel5H) was cloned into three fluorescent vectors and expressed as fusion enzymes. Binding of Cel5H–mineral particles was confirmed by confocal microscopy, and enzyme assay. Among the Cel5H–fusion enzymes, green–fusion enzyme showed higher intensity compared with other red and yellow fusion–proteins. Intensity of fusion–proteins was dependent on the pH of the medium. Confocal microscopy revealed binding of the all three fusion proteins with different clay minerals. However, montmorillonite displayed higher binding capacity than kaolinite clay. Likewise, atomic force microscopy (AFM) image profile analysis showed proteins appeared globular molecules in free‐state on mica surface with an average cross sectional diameter of 110 ± 2 nm and rough surface of montmorillonite made protein appear flattened due to structural alteration. Even surface of kaolinite also exerted some strain on protein molecular conformation after binding to surface. Our results provide further evidence for 3D visualization of enzyme–soil complex and encourage furthering study of the force involved interactions. Therefore, our results indicate that binding of proteins to clay minerals was external and provides a molecular method to observe the interaction of clay minerals–enzyme complex.
Policies towards donation after circulatory death liver transplantation: the need for a guideline?
Authors: van Reeven Marjolein , Pirenne Jacques , Muiesan Paolo , Fondevila Constantino , IJzermans Jan N. M. , Polak Wojciech G.
Published: February 2019

Background

Liver transplantation (LT) using grafts from donation after circulatory death (DCD) is evolving to standard of care in many countries. Various transplant centers have developed a protocol for DCD‐LT. The existence of numerous protocols may cause inconsistencies. Knowledge of these differences may help improve the outcome of DCD‐LT.

Methods

An internet‐based survey was sent to 119 transplant surgeons among four countries: Belgium (BE), the Netherlands (NL), Spain (ES) and the United Kingdom (UK).

Results

Thirty‐three percent of all respondents indicated having no specific age limit for DCD‐LT donors, and if there was a limit, half of them ignored it. Calculation of donor warm ischemia time (dWIT) varied substantially between countries. In ES and the UK, the starting point of dWIT was defined as deterioration of saturation/blood pressure, while in NL, cardiac arrest was used as starting point. Seventy‐eight percent of the respondents used a super‐rapid sterno‐laparotomy as procurement technique. Surgeons from NL and BE mainly used aortic perfusion (95% and 72%), while dual perfusion was more common in the UK (90%) and ES (91%).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates major differences in approach to DCD‐LT. To assure both donors and recipients a consistent standard of care, a consensus meeting on DCD‐LT is highly recommended.
The puzzle of highly virulent Metarhizium anisopliae strains from Annona squamosa fields against Helicoverpa armigera
Authors: Pathan Ejaj K. , Deshpande Mukund V.
Published: February 2019

In our search for indigenous virulent strains of the entomopathogenic fungi, we observed that Metarhizium isolates from soils associated with Annona squamosa (custard apple) have higher virulence (>90% mortality of Helicoverpa armigera larvae at 1/10th spore concentration) than strains isolated from Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) fields. Proteomic analysis revealed two insecticidal cyclopeptides of A. squamosa origin in the M. anisopliae strains that led to higher virulence against H. armigera. Transcriptomic and genomic data indicated that M. anisopliae strains and A. squamosa had more than 20 genes in common, including those for cyclic hexapeptide synthase, non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase, and plant cyclotide genes, which are involved in the biosynthesis of insecticidal cyclopeptides. These genes were absent in M. anisopliae strains isolated from the S. lycopersicum fields. Further, these strains can establish an endophytic relationship with A. squamosa suggesting that these rhizospheric strains originally could be endophytes, which were eventually released into the soil. Further, Metarhizium strains associated with Capsicum annuum (chili), Azadirachta indica (neem), and Carica papaya (papaya) − plants with insecticidal properties − also had higher virulence against H. armigera. Thus exploration of rhizospheres of plants producing insecticidal metabolites to isolate entomopathogenic fungi, per se, could be a viable strategy in agricultural for crop protection.