bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 augments damage by impairing fibrinolysis after traumatic brain injury
Authors: Griemert Eva‐Verena , Schwarzmaier Susanne M. , Hummel Regina , Gölz Christina , Yang Dong , Neuhaus Winfried , Burek Malgorzata , Förster Carola Y. , Petkovic Ivan , Trabold Raimund , Plesnila Nikolaus , Engelhard Kristin , Schäfer Michael K. , Thal Serge C.
Published: March 2019

Objective

Plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1) is the key endogenous inhibitor of fibrinolysis, and enhances clot formation after injury. In traumatic brain injury, dysregulation of fibrinolysis may lead to sustained microthrombosis and accelerated lesion expansion. In the present study, we hypothesized that PAI‐1 mediates post‐traumatic malfunction of coagulation, with inhibition or genetic depletion of PAI‐1 attenuating clot formation and lesion expansion after brain trauma.

Methods

We evaluated PAI‐1 as a possible new target in a mouse controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of traumatic brain injury. We performed the pharmacological inhibition of PAI‐1 with PAI‐039 and stimulation by tranexamic acid, and we confirmed our results in PAI‐1–deficient animals.

Results

PAI‐1 mRNA was time‐dependently upregulated, with a 305‐fold peak 12 hours after CCI, which effectively counteracted the 2‐ to 3‐fold increase in cerebral tissue‐type/urokinase plasminogen activator expression. PAI‐039 reduced brain lesion volume by 26% at 24 hours and 43% at 5 days after insult. This treatment also attenuated neuronal apoptosis and improved neurofunctional outcome. Moreover, intravital microscopy demonstrated reduced post‐traumatic thrombus formation in the pericontusional cortical microvasculature. In PAI‐1–deficient mice, the therapeutic effect of PAI‐039 was absent. These mice also displayed 13% reduced brain damage compared with wild type. In contrast, inhibition of fibrinolysis with tranexamic acid increased lesion volume by 25% compared with vehicle.

Interpretation

This study identifies impaired fibrinolysis as a critical process in post‐traumatic secondary brain damage and suggests that PAI‐1 may be a central endogenous inhibitor of the fibrinolytic pathway, promoting a procoagulatory state and clot formation in the cerebral microvasculature. Ann Neurol 2019;85:667–680
Hybrid Rhodamine Fluorophores in the Visible/NIR Region for Biological Imaging
Authors: Wang Liulin , Du Wei , Hu Zhangjun , Uvdal Kajsa , Li Lin , Huang Wei
Published: March 2019

Fluorophores and probes are invaluable for the visualization of the location and dynamics of gene expression, protein expression, and molecular interactions in complex living systems. Rhodamine dyes are often used as scaffolds in biological labeling and turn‐on fluorescence imaging. To date, their absorption and emission spectra have been expanded to cover the entire near‐infrared region (650–950 nm), which provides a more suitable optical window for monitoring biomolecular production, trafficking, and localization in real time. This review summarizes the development of rhodamine fluorophores since their discovery and provides strategies for modulating their absorption and emission spectra to generate specific bathochromic‐shifts. We also explain how larger Stokes shifts and dual‐emissions can be obtained from hybrid rhodamine dyes. These hybrid fluorophores can be classified into various categories based on structural features including the alkylation of amidogens, the substitution of the O atom of xanthene, and hybridization with other fluorophores.
Concise Synthesis of Potassium Acyltrifluoroborates from Aldehydes through Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Borylation/Oxidation
Authors: Taguchi Jumpei , Takeuchi Takumi , Takahashi Rina , Masero Fabio , Ito Hajime
Published: March 2019

Potassium acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) were prepared through copper(I)‐catalyzed borylation of aldehydes and subsequent oxidation. This synthetic route is characterized by the wide range of aldehydes accessible, favorable step economy, mild reaction conditions, and tolerance of various functional groups, and it enables the facile generation of a range of KATs, for example, bearing halide, sulfide, acetal, or ester moieties. Moreover, this method was applied to the three‐step synthesis of various α‐amino acid analogues that bear a KAT moiety on the C‐terminus by using naturally occurring amino acids as the starting material.
Stable Diindeno‐Fused Corannulene Regioisomers with Open‐Shell Singlet Ground States and Large Diradical Characters
Authors: Lu Ru‐Qiang , Wu Shuang , Yang Lin‐Lin , Gao Wen‐Bin , Qu Hang , Wang Xiao‐Ye , Chen Jun‐Bo , Tang Chun , Shi Hai‐Yan , Cao Xiao‐Yu
Published: March 2019

The synthesis of open‐shell polycyclic hydrocarbons with large diradical characters is challenging because of their high reactivities. Herein, two diindeno‐fused corannulene regioisomers DIC‐1 and DIC‐2, curved fragments of fullerene C104, were synthesized that exhibit open‐shell singlet ground states. The incorporation of the curved and non‐alternant corannulene moiety within diradical systems leads to significant diradical characters as high as 0.98 for DIC‐1 and 0.89 for DIC‐2. Such high diradical characters can presumably be ascribed to the re‐aromatization of the corannulene π system. Although the DIC compounds have large diradical characters, they display excellent stability under ambient conditions. The half‐lives are 37 days for DIC‐1 and 6.6 days for DIC‐2 in solution. This work offers a new design strategy towards diradicaloids with large diradical characters yet maintain high stability.
Polymer complexes. LXXVI. Synthesis, characterization, CT‐DNA binding, molecular docking and thermal studies of sulfoxine polymer complexes
Authors: El‐Sonbati Adel Z. , Diab Mostafa A. , Eldesoky Ahmed M. , Morgan Shaimaa M. , Salem Omnia L. 
Published: March 2019

Novel polymer complexes of 8‐hydroxyquinoline‐5‐sulfonic acid hydrate (H2L) with Cu2+, Co2+ and Ni2+ chloride were prepared and characterized. Microanalysis, magnetic susceptibility, IR spectra, electron spin resonance, mass spectra, X‐ray, molar conductance, thermal, and UV–Vis spectra studies have been used to confirm the structure of the prepared polymer complexes. The molecular and electronic structures of the hydrogen bond conformers for ligand (H2L) were optimized theoretically and the quantum chemical parameters were calculated. On the basis of elemental and IR data, the chemical structure of metal chelates commensurate that the tri‐dentate (H2L) coordinate to metal chlorides through oxygen atom of phenolic OH and oxygen atom of SO3‐H group by replacing H atoms and nitrogen of the quinoline ring. The magnetic studies suggested the octahedral geometrical structure for all produced polymer complexes with general formula {[ML (OH2)3] .xH2O}n (M = Cu2+, x = 1.; Co2+, x = 2 and Ni2+, x = 2) in molar ratio (1:1). Coats–Redfern and Horowitz–Metzger methods have been used for calculating the activation thermodynamic parameters of the thermal decomposition for H2L and its polymer complexes. The interaction between H2L and its transition metal complexes with the calf thymus DNA (CT‐DNA) was determined by UV–Vis spectra. Binding efficiency between H2L with the receptors of the prostate cancer (PDB code 2Q7L Hormone) and the breast cancer (PDB code 1JNX Gene regulation) was studied by molecular docking. The inhibition behaviour of H2L against the corrosion of carbon steel/HCl (2 M) solution was studied by weight loss, Tafel polarisation, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and electrochemical frequency modulation (EFM) techniques. The adsorption isotherm was found to be Friendlish isotherm. The morphology of inhibited carbon steel̕ s surface was studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS).
Half‐sandwich ruthenium‐based versatile catalyst for both alcohol oxidation and catalytic hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds in aqueous media
Authors: Qiao Xin‐Chao , Qiu Dan‐Chen , Lin Nan , Zhu Jing‐Wei , Deng Wei , Yao Zi‐Jian
Published: March 2019

A series of half‐sandwich ruthenium‐based catalysts for both alcohol oxidation and carbonyl compounds hydrogenation have been synthesized through metal‐induced C–H bond activation based on benzothiazole ligands. The neutral ruthenium complexes 1–4 were fully characterized by UV–vis, NMR, IR, and elemental analysis. Molecular structures of complexes 1 and 3 were further confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis. All complexes exhibited high activity for the catalytic oxidation of a variety of alcohols with tBuOOH as oxidants to give carbonyl compounds with high yields in water. Moreover, these half‐sandwich complexes also showed high efficiency for the catalytic hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds in a methanol–water mixture. The catalyst could be reused for at least five cycles without any loss of activity. The catalytic system also worked well for various kinds of substrates with either electron‐donating or electron‐withdrawing groups.
A new method and insights for estimating phenological events from herbarium specimens
Authors: Pearson Katelin D.
Published: March 2019

Premise of the Study

A novel method of estimating phenology of herbarium specimens was developed to facilitate more precise determination of plant phenological responses to explanatory variables (e.g., climate).

Methods and Results

Simulated specimen data sets were used to compare the precision of phenological models using the new method and two common, alternative methods (flower presence/absence and ≥50% flowers present). The new “estimated phenophase” method was more precise and extracted a greater number of significant species‐level relationships; however, this method only slightly outperformed the simple “binary” (e.g., flowers present/absent) method.

Conclusions

The new method enables estimation of phenological trends with greater precision. However, when time and resources are limited, a presence/absence method may offer comparable results at lower cost. Using a more restrictive approach, such as only including specimens in a certain phenophase, is not advised given the detrimental effect of decreased sample size on resulting models.
Improving author verification based on topic modeling
Authors: Potha Nektaria , Stamatatos Efstathios
Published: March 2019

Authorship analysis attempts to reveal information about authors of digital documents enabling applications in digital humanities, text forensics, and cyber‐security. Author verification is a fundamental task where, given a set of texts written by a certain author, we should decide whether another text is also by that author. In this article we systematically study the usefulness of topic modeling in author verification. We examine several author verification methods that cover the main paradigms, namely, intrinsic (attempt to solve a one‐class classification task) and extrinsic (attempt to solve a binary classification task) methods as well as profile‐based (all documents of known authorship are treated cumulatively) and instance‐based (each document of known authorship is treated separately) approaches combined with well‐known topic modeling methods such as Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA). We use benchmark data sets and demonstrate that LDA is better combined with extrinsic methods, while the most effective intrinsic method is based on LSI. Moreover, topic modeling seems to be particularly effective for profile‐based approaches and the performance is enhanced when latent topics are extracted by an enriched set of documents. The comparison to state‐of‐the‐art methods demonstrates the great potential of the approaches presented in this study. It is also demonstrates that even when genre‐agnostic external documents are used, the proposed extrinsic models are very competitive.
Testing the test: Are exams measuring understanding?
Authors: Sato Brian K. , Hill Cynthia F. C. , Lo Stanley M.
Published: March 2019

Grades in undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses are distributed under the assumption that high‐performing students have a strong understanding of the material. Similarly, the STEM education literature often presents exam performance as equivalent to understanding. Despite these assumptions, we have little knowledge regarding student thinking in relation to exam scores. To investigate this relationship, we asked undergraduate students to complete a series of written and verbal tasks. Twenty‐two participants were presented with biology questions and were instructed to write exam‐like responses along with their thought process. More than half of the participants then took part in retrospective interviews. We graded the exam‐like responses to award a performance score and coded the entirety of participants' writing for their understanding. We found a discrepancy between performance and understanding for over one quarter of our data. Furthermore, interviews allowed for a more complete picture of participant understanding than written responses. These results contribute to calls for re‐evaluating our course assessments and for questioning the understanding those assessments value. © 2019 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 47(3):296–302, 2019.
LncRNA H19 interacted with miR‐130a‐3p and miR‐17‐5p to modify radio‐resistance and chemo‐sensitivity of cardiac carcinoma cells
Authors: Jia Jianguang , Zhang Xinxin , Zhan Dankai , Li Jing , Li Zhixiang , Li Hongbo , Qian Jun
Published: March 2019

The current investigation explored the synthetic contribution of lncRNA H19, miR‐130a‐3p, and miR‐17‐5p to radio‐resistance and chemo‐sensitivity of cardiac cancer cells. Totally 284 human cardiac cancer tissues were gathered, and they have been pathologically diagnosed. The cardiac cancer cells were isolated with utilization of the mechanic method. Moreover, cisplatin, adriamycin, mitomycin, and 5‐fluorouracil were designated as the chemotherapies, and single‐dose X‐rays were managed as the radiotherapy for cardiac cancer cells. We also performed luciferase reporter gene assay to verify the targeted relationship between H19 and miR‐130a‐3p, as well as between H19 and miR‐17‐5p. Finally, mice models were established to examine the functions of H19, miR‐130a‐3p, and miR‐17‐5p on the development of cardiac cancer. The study results indicated that H19, miR‐130a‐3p, and miR‐17‐5p expressions within cardiac cancer tissues were significantly beyond those within adjacent nontumor tissues (P < 0.05), and H19 expression was positively correlated with both miR‐130a‐3p (rs = 0.43) and miR‐17‐5p (rs = 0.49) expressions. The half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of cisplatin, adriamycin, mitomycin, and 5‐fluorouracil for cardiac cancer cells were, respectively, determined as 2.01 μg/mL, 8.35 μg/mL, 24.44 μg/mL, and 166.42 μg/mL. The overexpressed H19, miR‐130a‐3p, and miR‐17‐5p appeared to improve the survival rate and viability of cardiac cancer cells that were exposed to chemotherapies and X‐rays (all P < 0.05). It was also drawn from luciferase reporter gene assay that H19 could directly target miR‐130a‐3p and miR‐17‐5p, thereby modifying the sensitivity of cardiac cancer cells to drugs and X‐rays (P < 0.05). Finally, the mice models also produced larger tumor size and higher tumor weight, when H19, miR‐130a‐3p, or miR‐17‐5p expressions were up‐regulated within them (P < 0.05). In conclusion, H19 could act on miR‐130a‐3p or miR‐17‐5p to alter the radio‐ and chemo‐sensitivities of cardiac cancer cells, helping to improve the radio‐/chemotherapies for cardiac cancer.
Help student‐athletes read between the lines before using dietary supplements
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: March 2019

To the typical hard‐working, well‐intentioned student‐athlete, dietary supplements have the appeal of an easy, quick fix to many common concerns, including energy, nutrition, sleep, strength, healing, rebuilding, and recovery. The supplements seem harmless, even wholesome — from the names and the pictures on the labels to the advertised results. The listed ingredients often sound like a healthy, natural alternative to prescription medications.
Lipopolysaccharide upregulates the proliferation, migration, and odontoblastic differentiation of NG2+ cells from human dental pulp in vitro
Authors: Yang Guofeng , Ju Yanqin , Liu Shangfeng , Zhao Shouliang
Published: March 2019

NG2+ cells have been proven to differentiate into odontoblasts in vivo, and their contribution to odontoblasts is significantly increased, especially after tooth injury. However, their characteristics in vitro, especially under an inflammatory environment, are still not fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to explore their proliferation, migration, and odontoblastic differentiation ability after treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro. In our study, NG2
+ cells were isolated from the human dental pulp by magnetic‐activated cell sorting, and these isolated cells were proven to be NG2
+ by immunostaining. When compared with human dental pulp cells (hDPCs), the NG2
+ cells showed no significant differences in cell migration with or without LPS incubation, but their proliferative ability was weaker. When treated with LPS, NG2
+ cells expressed elevated levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines including interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), IL‐6, IL‐8, and tumor necrosis factor‐α, and among these, the expression of IL‐1β and IL‐6 were higher than that of hDPCs. Their multipotent differentiation potential was confirmed by the induction of odontoblastic and adipogenic differentiation, and LPS increased their odontoblastic differentiation capacity. In the odontoblastic differentiation process, Wnt5a, BMP2, and BMP7 mRNA were increased, while the canonical Wnt‐related genes were decreased. In conclusion, the LPS stimulation promotes the migration, proliferative, and odontoblastic differentiation ability of NG2
+ cells from the human dental pulp in vitro, and bone morphogenetic protein and the noncanonical Wnt pathway may be involved in their odontoblastic differentiation. These results indicated their special roles in tooth injury repair and potential application in pulp regeneration.
Two fatal cases of rabies in humans who did not receive rabies postexposure prophylaxis in Nigeria
Authors: Audu Solomom W. , Mshelbwala Philip P. , Jahun Balarabe M. , Bouaddi Khadija , Weese Jeofrey Scott
Published: March 2019

Key Clinical Message

These two cases highlight some of the many challenges encountered when handling dog bite and rabies exposure. They also provide examples of the many barriers, and while highlighting only two individuals, they are likely representative of large numbers of the over 59 000 people that die every year from this preventable disease.
Analysis of Flow Patterns in High‐Gravity Equipment Using Gamma‐Ray Computed Tomography
Authors: Groß Kai , Bieberle André , Gladyszewski Konrad , Schubert Markus , Hampel Uwe , Skiborowski Mirko , Górak Andrzej
Published: March 2019

The capacity of today's gas‐liquid contacting equipment such as tray or packed columns is limited by the gravitational‐driven liquid flow. Intensified equipment applying centrifugal force offers great potential for enhancing the mass transfer and for reducing equipment size. Yet, detailed knowledge about the liquid flow inside rotating packings is scarce due to limited accessibility with conventional measurement systems. In this study, a gamma‐ray computed tomography is employed to quantify the liquid hold‐up and its distribution in the moving packing.
Expression of adiponectin receptors in the brain of adult zebrafish and mouse: Links with neurogenic niches and brain repair
Authors: Rastegar Sepand , Parimisetty Avinash , Cassam Sulliman Nora , Narra Sai Sandhya , Weber Sabrina , Rastegar Maryam , Viranaicken Wildriss , Couret David , Planesse Cynthia , Strähle Uwe , Meilhac Olivier , Lefebvre d'Hellencourt Christian , Diotel Nicolas
Published: March 2019

Adiponectin and its receptors (adipor) have been initially characterized for their role in lipid and glucose metabolism. More recently, adiponectin signaling was shown to display anti‐inflammatory effects and to participate in brain homeostasis and neuroprotection. In this study, we investigated adipor gene expression and its regulation under inflammatory conditions in two complementary models: mouse and zebrafish. We demonstrate that adipor1a, adipor1b, and adipor2 are widely distributed throughout the brain of adult fish, in neurons and also in radial glia, behaving as neural stem cells. We also show that telencephalic injury results in a decrease in adipor gene expression, inhibited by an anti‐inflammatory treatment (Dexamethasone). Interestingly, adiponectin injection after brain injury led to a consistent decrease (a) in the recruitment of microglial cells at the lesioned site and (b) in the proliferation of neural progenitors, arguing for a neuroprotective role of adiponectin. In a comparative approach, we investigate Adipor1 and Adipor2 gene distribution in the brain of mice and demonstrated their expression in regions shared with fish including neurogenic regions. We also document Adipor gene expression in mice after middle cerebral artery occlusion and lipopolysaccharide injection. In contrast to zebrafish, these inflammatory stimuli do no impact cerebral adiponectin receptor gene expression in mouse. This work provides new insights regarding adipor expression in the brain of fish, and demonstrates evolutionary conserved distribution of adipor with mouse. This is the first report of adipor expression in adult neural stem cells of fish, suggesting a potential role of adiponectin signaling during vertebrate neurogenesis. It also suggests a potential contribution of inflammation in the regulation of adipor in fish.
Kinetic Enhancement of Direct Hydrogenation of MgB2 to Mg(BH4)2 upon Mechanical Milling with THF, MgH2, and/or Mg
Authors: Sugai Cody , Kim Stephen , Severa Godwin , White James L. , Leick Noemi , Martinez Madison B. , Gennett Thomas , Stavila Vitalie , Jensen Craig
Published: March 2019

Modification of magnesium diboride, MgB2, by mechanical milling with THF, MgH2, and/or Mg results in a lowering of the conditions required for its direct, bulk hydrogenation to magnesium borohydride, Mg(BH4)2, by 300 bar and 100 °C. Following mechanical milling with MgH2 or THF and Mg, MgB2 can be hydrogenated to Mg(BH4)2 at 300 °C under 700 bar of H2 while achieving ∼54–71 % conversion to the borohydride. The discovery of a means of dramatically lowering the conditions required for the hydrogenation of MgB2 is an important step towards the development of a practical onboard hydrogen storage system based on hydrogen cycling between Mg(BH4)2 and MgB2. We suggest that mechano‐milling with THF, Mg, and/or MgH2 may possibly introduce defects in the MgB2 structure which enhance hydrogenation. The ability to activate the MgB2 through the introduction of structural defects transcends its relevance to hydrogen storage, as a method of overcoming its chemical inertness provides the key to harnessing other interesting properties of this material.
Nanoengineered Gd3Al2Ga3O12 Scintillation Materials with Disordered Garnet Structure for Novel Detectors of Ionizing Radiation
Authors: Korzhik Mikhail , Alenkov Vladimir , Buzanov Oleg , Fedorov Andrei , Dosovitskiy Georgy , Grigorjeva Larisa , Mechinsky Vitaliy , Sokolov Peter , Tratsiak Yauhen , Zolotarjovs Aleksejs , Dormenev Valery , Dosovitskiy Aleksei , Agrawal Devesh , Anniyev Toyli , Vasilyev Maxim , Khabashesku Valery
Published: March 2019

The search for engineering approaches to improve the scintillation properties of Gd3Al2Ga3O12 crystals and enable their production technology is of current interest. This crystal, while doped with Ce, is considered a good multi‐purpose scintillation material for detecting gamma‐quanta and neutrons. It is observed that co‐doping with Mg affected intrinsic defects in the crystal structure that create shallow electronic traps. Other point structure defects, which are based on local variations of the crystal stoichiometry, are significantly diminished by use of a co‐precipitated raw material. Nano‐structuring of the raw material enables production of a homogeneous precursor mixture for growing a crystal with minimal evaporation of Ga from the melt. The demonstrated nano‐engineering approach increased the light yield from the crystal by approximately 20%, enabling its applications in well logging.
Peculiarities of Defective Formations in Heterophase Regions of the Thermotropic Phase Transitions in Liquid Crystals
Authors: Nesrullajev Arif
Published: March 2019

A unique feature of phase transitions in liquid crystalline materials is the availability of heterophase regions. In such regions, the simultaneous coexistence of high temperature and low temperature phases takes place. Thermal mobility and temperature gradient in the heterophase regions lead to the appearance of various types of defective formations in the aligned and non‐aligned textures of liquid crystalline materials. In the present work, the morphologic, structural, and optical peculiarities of defective formations and non‐homogeneities, which appear in the heterophase regions of phase transitions, are investigated. The singular points, disclination, inversion walls, droplets, and confocal formations are objects of the investigations herein. The heterophase regions of the direct and reverse nematic ↔ isotropic liquid and smectic A ↔ isotropic liquid, smectic C ↔ isotropic liquid, and smectic C* ↔ isotropic liquid thermotropic phase transitions are created by the original method, that is, the capillary temperature wedge method. Crystallo‐optics and crystallo‐physics methods are used in this work.
Reporting on sustainable development: A comparison of three Italian small and medium‐sized enterprises
Authors: Girella Laura , Zambon Stefano , Rossi Paola
Published: March 2019

Nowadays, we are facing a new phase of capitalism. Information that is beyond financial capital and able to provide a more comprehensive picture of the path towards sustainable development of organizations is increasingly needed. A remarkable body of evidence already exists on how large listed companies are facing this change, but very little is known about small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). This work aims to analyse if and to what extent new forms of reporting such as sustainability and integrated reporting are adopted by SMEs to illustrate their journey to sustainable development. To this end, the reports of three Italian SMEs have been examined against the internationally set principles and contents of these reporting models. It emerges that, despite the shared ambition of these reports, they are different in nature and deliver a quite distinctive representation of the concerned SMEs and their ways to pursuing and communicating sustainable development at a micro level.
Ethylene glycol: Evidence of glucuronidation in vivo shown by analysis of clinical toxicology samples
Authors: Pedersen Daniel Sejer , Bélanger Patrick , Frykman Mikael , Andreasen Kirsten , Goudreault Danielle , Pedersen Henrik , Hindersson Peter , Breindahl Torben
Published: March 2019

In the search for improved laboratory methods for the diagnosis of ethylene glycol poisoning, the in vivo formation of a glucuronide metabolite of ethylene glycol was hypothesized. Chemically pure standards of the β‐O‐glucuronide of ethylene glycol (EG‐GLUC) and a deuterated analog (d4‐EG‐GLUC) were synthesized. A high‐performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry method for determination of EG‐GLUC in serum after ultrafiltration was validated. Inter‐assay precision (%RSD) was 3.9% to 15.1% and inter‐assay %bias was −2.8% to 12.2%. The measuring range was 2–100 μmol/L (0.48–24 mg/L). Specificity testing showed no endogenous amounts in routine clinical samples (n = 40). The method was used to analyze authentic, clinical serum samples (n = 31) from patients intoxicated with ethylene glycol. EG‐GLUC was quantified in 15 of these samples, with a mean concentration of 6.5 μmol/L (1.6 mg/L), ranging from 2.3 to 15.6 μmol/L (0.55 to 3.7 mg/L). In five samples, EG‐GLUC was detected below the limit of quantification (2 μmol/L) and it was below the limit of detection in 11 samples (1 μmol/L). Compared to the millimolar concentrations of ethylene glycol present in blood after intoxications and potentially available for conjugation, the concentrations of EG‐GLUC found in clinical serum samples are very low, but comparable to concentrations of ethyl glucuronide after medium dose ethanol intake. In theory, EG‐GLUC has a potential value as a biomarker for ethylene glycol intake, but the pharmacokinetic properties, in vivo/vitro stability and the biosynthetic pathways of EG‐GLUC must be further studied in a larger number of patients and other biological matrices.
Areca alkaloids measured from buccal cells using DART‐MS serve as accurate biomarkers for areca nut chewing
Authors: Franke Adrian A. , Biggs Laura , Yew Joanne Y. , Lai Jennifer F.
Published: March 2019

Background

Areca nut (AN) chewing is carcinogenic and biomarkers reflecting it are urgently needed to determine the effectiveness of emergent cessation programs. Buccal cells (BCs) may serve as an ideal matrix to measure such biomarkers; however, their utility for this purpose is unknown. Direct analysis in real time−mass spectrometry (DART−MS) is a sensitive technique that analyzes materials in the open air and requires minimal/no sample preparation. We utilized DART−MS to analyze BCs to test the usefulness of this method in measuring areca alkaloids as biomarkers for AN chewing.

Methods

We applied DART−MS in positive‐ion mode to quantitate over time human BCs: (a) exposed ex vivo to betel quid extracts (BQE) consisting of young AN, Piper betle L. leaf, slaked lime, and tobacco; and (b) obtained from seven chewers before and after BQ chewing. Quantification was performed by normalizing DART−MS alkaloid signal intensities to cholesterol intensities.

Results

Signals for areca alkaloids arecoline and arecaidine‐guvacoline were detected in BCs exposed ex vivo to BQE up to 7 days (the last day tested) after exposure and in BCs from chewers up to 3 days (the last day tested) post chewing.

Discussion

The presence of alkaloid signals in BQ‐exposed BCs verified BCs as a valid matrix and DART−MS as a suitable technique to measure biomarkers for AN chewing and provided reliable information on AN chewing timing.

Conclusion

DART−MS analyses of BCs can be used to accurately determine areca alkaloids as AN chewing biomarkers up to 3 days post chewing and possibly longer.
Radical Cation Salts of Cyanobenzene‐Ethylenedithio‐TTF Electron Donors with Halide (Cu and Hg) Binuclear Anions
Authors: Lopes Gonçalo , Gonçalves Ana Cristina , da Gama Vasco , Simão Dulce , Santos Isabel Cordeiro , Pereira Laura C. J. , Almeida Manuel , Rabaça Sandra
Published: March 2019

Three salts of the two isomers of the dissymmetric TTF‐derivative cyanobenzene‐ethylenedithio‐tetrathiafulvalene (CNB‐EDT‐TTF) with binuclear polyhalide complex dianions, namely [4‐CNB‐EDT‐TTF]2 [Cu2Cl6] (1); [5‐CNB‐EDT‐TTF]2 [Cu2Cl6] 2CH2Cl2 (2) and [5‐CNB‐EDT‐TTF]2 [Hg2Br6] (3) were prepared and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and magnetic susceptibility measurements. In spite of the different structural types of these compounds, the three compounds present donors in dimerized stacks. The crystal structures of 1 and 3 consist of segregated head‐to‐tail donor dimer stacks and dianion columns. The structural motif of 2 is mixed columns of alternating head‐to‐tail donor dimers and dianions. The three salts present C–N···H–C interactions, which in 2 and 3 can be described as a R22(10) synthon. The magnetic susceptibility of the salts with the paramagnetic (Cu2Cl6)2– dianion (1 and 2) show that they behave as paramagnets where the Cu2+ atoms of the dianion are antiferromagnetically coupled with magnetic exchange values J/kB of –58.8 and –155.6 K, respectively. The different J values are associated with differences in dianion geometry.
Transition‐Metal‐Free Heterobiaryl Synthesis via Aryne Coupling
Authors: Saied Tarak , Demangeat Catherine , Panossian Armen , Leroux Frédéric R. , Fort Yves , Comoy Corinne
Published: March 2019

We disclose, for the first time, an efficient route for the construction of various heterobiaryl backbones in fair to excellent yields using the Aryne coupling methodology. This study outlined the remarkable effect of external chelating ligands and salt additives on the heterocyclic partner reactivity in the aryne coupling reaction.
Eco‐friendly Sensors Developed by Herbal Based Silver Nanoparticles for Electrochemical Detection of Mercury (II) Ion
Authors: Eksin Ece , Erdem Arzum , Fafal Tugce , Kıvçak Bijen
Published: March 2019

In our study, the single‐use & eco‐friendly electrochemical sensor platform based on herbal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was developed for detection of mercury (II) ion (Hg2+). For this purpose, the surface of pencil graphite electrode (PGE) was modified with AgNPs and folic acid (FA), respectively. The concentrations of AgNPs and FA were firstly optimized by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) to obtain an effective surface modification of PGE. Each step at the surface modification process was characterized by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedence spectroscopy (EIS). The limit of detection (LOD) for Hg2+ was estimated and found to be 8.43 μM by CV technique. The sensor presented an excellent selectivity for Hg2+ against to other heavy metal ions such as Ca2+, Cd2+, Cr3+, Cu2+, Mg2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, Co2+ and Mn2+. Moreover, a rapid, selective and sensitive detection of Hg2+ was successfully performed in the samples of tap water within 1 min.
Solid‐contact Acetate‐selective Electrode Based on a 1,3‐bis(carbazolyl)urea‐ionophore
Authors: Martin Kerli , Kadam Sandip A. , Mattinen Ulriika , Bobacka Johan , Leito Ivo
Published: March 2019

The construction and study of solid‐contact acetate‐selective electrodes is described using a 1,3‐bis(carbazolyl)urea derivative as a neutral hydrogen‐bonding ionophore and poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) as the solid contact. It was shown recently that this ionophore binds acetate (logKass=4.98) that is used as primary ion in this study. The electrodes show linearity over the activity range of 10−4.50–10−1.10 with a sub‐Nernstian slope of −51.3 mV per decade and a detection limit of 10−5.00. The anion‐selectivity pattern of these electrodes deviates markedly from the Hofmeister pattern. When adding ionophore to the membrane the logarithm of the selectivity coefficient (logK) for SCN− decreased from 6.5 to 1.2, logK for I− decreased from 5.7 to 0.9, logK for NO3− decreased from 4.3 to 0.6 and logK for Br− decreased from 3.3 to 0.1. The selectivity coefficients of hydrophilic anions such as Cl−, F−, HPO42−, and SO42− are significantly lower than in case of the ionophore‐free membrane. It was discovered that the constructed electrodes are also relatively selective to bicarbonate. This work is an important step towards the further development of solid‐contact anion‐selective electrodes.
Roll‐to‐Roll printed PEDOT/PSS/GO Plastic Film for Electrochemical Determination of Carbofuran
Authors: Chekol Fekadu , Mehretie Solomon , Hailu Fitsum Addis , Tolcha Teshome , Megersa Negussie , Admassie Shimelis
Published: March 2019

In this work, we developed a roll‐to‐roll printed poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)/polystyrene sulphoanate without graphene oxide (GO) (PEDOT/PSS) and with graphene oxide (PEDOT/PSS/GO) plastic films for the electrochemical determination of carbofuran. Both the PEDOT/PSS and PEDOT/PSS/GO plastic films showed electroactivity towards the oxidation of carbofuran. Incorporation of graphene oxide (GO) improves the electrochemical activity of carbofuran and increased its sensitivity. The printed plastic films were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), surface profilometer, four point probe and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The effects of pH, deposition time, deposition potential and film thickness on the oxidation peak current of carbofuran were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, a dynamic linear range of 1 μM–90 μM with a detection limit of 1.0×10−7 M (S/N=3) were obtained. The printed PEDOT/PSS/GO plastic electrode was applied for the determination of carbofuran in vegetable and fruit samples with recoveries between 94.4 and 101.8 %.
Building integration of stator‐augmented PowerWindow, a linear cascade wind turbine
Authors: Jafari Seyed AmirHosein , Hassanli Sina , Kwok Kenny , Safaei Farzad , Kosasih Buyung , Zhao Ming
Published: March 2019

This study investigates power generation capacity of stator‐augmented PowerWindow, a linear cascade wind turbine, when installed in through‐building openings of a tall building. By employing a new approach, referred to as equivalent momentum sink method, the flow characteristics of the ducted flow, such as its pressure, velocity, and turbulence intensity are predicted when subjected to different wind directions in presence of a wind turbine. This study shows that a properly designed layout maintains the velocity in the through‐building openings for a wide range of wind directions and enhances the power generation by 50%‐80% in comparison with the free‐stream wind turbine installed at the same elevation. This study also compares the power generation of stator‐augmented PowerWindow with a conventional horizontal axis wind turbine, Ampair 300, installed in the same through‐building openings. The results show that the power generation of the ducted stator‐augmented PowerWindow is close to that of the ducted Ampair 300 in certain wind directions. However, it can also effectively generate power at those wind directions that the ducted Ampair 300 is unable to operate. The analysis shows that this advantage significantly increases the annual power generation probability of the building‐integrated stator‐augmented PowerWindow. As a case study, it is shown that by embedding four through‐building openings integrated with stator‐augmented PowerWindow in a tall building in Sydney area, a portion (0.55‐8.07 KW) of the electricity consumption of the building facilities can be supplied 72% of times.
Detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology and provenance of the Neoproterozoic Lower Roan Group, Chambishi Basin, North‐eastern Zambia: Implication for rift evolution of the Congo Craton
Authors: Liu Chun‐Fa , Zhang Jing , Tang Li , Yang Fan , Guo Jiang‐Tao , Zhou Cong , Cai Zhen‐Wang , Bian Xiao‐Long
Published: March 2019

Zambia Copperbelt hosts numerous world‐class, high‐grade sediment‐hosted stratiform Cu deposits. The Lower Roan Group of the Katanga Supergroup is the main ore host and mainly comprises clastic rocks. In this study, we conducted laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detrital zircon dating on the sedimentary rocks of the Lower Roan Group in the Chambishi Basin, in order to investigate the Neoproterozoic rift evolution of the Congo Craton. Our results reveal that the main zircon age population (97.1%) falls within 2.1–1.7 Ga (peaks at 1.95 and 1.88 Ga), and minor age populations fall into the Archaean (2.7–2.4 Ga), Palaeoproterozoic (2.3–2.1 Ga), and Mesoproterozoic (1.5–1.05 Ga). Detrital zircons from the Lower Roan Group have distinct oscillatory zoning in cathodoluminescence images, high Th/U ratios (mostly 0.5–2.0), and are sub‐angular, suggesting close detrital provenance. Provenance of the Lower Roan group may have been mainly the Lufubu Metamorphic Complex, Bangweulu Block, and Muva Supergroup, and minor the nearby granitoids of the Irumide Belt. The south‐eastern Congo Craton likely underwent two Neoproterozoic rifting events: the first rift cycle lasted from 880 to 820 Ma when the Lower Roan and Upper Roan groups were deposited in the Roan Basin. After an uplift, the Mwashia, Nguba, and Kundelungu groups of the Katanga Supergroup were likely deposited during the second rift basin development (765–635 Ma). The similar detrital zircon age spectra suggested that the Mwashia Group may have derived from the Lower Roan Group.
Use of new and uncommon synthetic psychoactive drugs among a nationally representative sample in the United States, 2005–2017
Authors: Palamar Joseph J. , Le Austin
Published: March 2019

Objectives

This study aims to examine patterns and first mentions of reported use of new or uncommon drugs across 13 years, among nationally representative samples in the United States.

Methods

Participants (ages ≥12) in the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (2005–2017, N = 730,418) were provided opportunities to type in names of new or uncommon drugs they had ever used that were not specifically queried. We examined self‐reported use across survey years and determined years of first mentions.

Results

From 2005 to 2017, there were 2,343 type‐in responses for use of 79 new or uncommon synthetic drugs, and 54 were first‐ever mentions of these drugs. The majority (65.8%) of mentions were phenethylamines (e.g., 2C‐x, NBOMe), which were also the plurality of new drug mentions (n = 22; 40.7%). Mentions of 2C‐x drugs in particular increased from 30 mentions in 2005 to 147 mentions in 2013. We estimate an upward trend in use of new or uncommon drugs between 2005 and 2017 (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Although type‐in responses on surveys are limited and underestimate prevalence of use, such responses can help inform researchers when new compounds are used. Continued surveillance of use of new and uncommon drugs is needed to inform adequate public health response.
The vertical influence of temperature and precipitation on snow cover variability in the Central Tianshan Mountains, Northwest China
Authors: Wu Senyao , Zhang Xueliang , Du Jinkang , Zhou Xiaobing , Tuo Ye , Li Runjie , Duan Zheng
Published: March 2019

Seasonal snow cover in mountainous regions will affect local climate and hydrology. In this study, we assessed the role of altitude in determining the relative importance of temperature and precipitation in snow cover variability in the Central Tianshan Mountains. The results show that: (a) in the study area, temperature has a greater influence on snow cover than precipitation during most of the time period studied and in most altitudes. (b) In the high elevation area, there is a threshold altitude of 3,900 ± 400 m, below which temperature is negatively correlated whereas precipitation is positively correlated to snow cover, and above which the situation is the opposite. Besides, this threshold altitude decreases from snow accumulated period to snow stable period and then increases from snowmelt period to snow‐free period. (c) Below 2,000 m, there is another threshold altitude of 1,400 ± 100 m during the snow stable period, below (above) which precipitation (temperature) is the main driver of snow cover.
Comparative analysis of Alzheimer's disease classification by CDR level using CNN, feature selection, and machine‐learning techniques
Authors: Khagi Bijen , Kwon Goo‐Rak , Lama Ramesh
Published: March 2019

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brain needs an impeccable analysis to investigate all its structure and pattern. This analysis may be a sharp visual analysis by an experienced medical professional or by a computer aided diagnosis system that can help to predict, what may be the recent condition. Similarly, on the basis of various information and technique, a system can be designed to detect whether a patient is prone to Alzheimer's disease or not. And this task of detection of abnormalities at an initial stage from brain MRI is a major challenge in the field of neurosciences. The main idea behind our research is to utilize the deep layers feature extraction benefited from deep neural network architecture, without extensive hardware resource training, and classifying the image on a basis of simple machine‐learning algorithm with selected best features in order to reduce work load, classification error and hardware utilization time. We have utilized convolution neural network (CNN) layer using similar architecture like that of Alexnet with some parametric change, for the automatic extraction of features of images obtained from slice extraction of whole brain MRI whereas 13 manual features based on gray level co‐occurrence matrix were also extracted to test the impact of this features on ranking. If we had only classified using CNN network, the misclassification rate was much higher. So, feature selection is achieved with feature ranking algorithms like Mutinffs, ReliefF, Laplacian and UDFS and so on and also tested with different machine‐learning techniques like Support Vector Machine, K‐Nearest Neighbor and Subspace Ensemble under different testing condition. The performance of the result is satisfactory with classification accuracy around 98% to 99% with 7:3 ratio of random holdout partition of training to testing image sets and also with fivefolds of cross‐validation on the same set using a standardized template.
Towards causal estimates of children's time allocation on skill development
Authors: Caetano Gregorio , Kinsler Josh , Teng Hao
Published: March 2019

In this paper we examine how children's time allocation affects their accumulation of cognitive skill. Children's time allocation is endogenous in a model of skill production since it is chosen by parents and children. We apply a recently developed test of exogeneity to search for specifications that yield causal estimates of the impact time inputs have on child skills. The test exploits bunching in time inputs induced by a nonnegativity time constraint and it has power to detect a variety of sources of endogeneity. We find that with a sufficiently rich set of controls we are unable to reject exogeneity in our most detailed production function specifications. The estimates from these specifications indicate that active time with adult family members, such as parents and grandparents, are the most productive in generating cognitive skill.
Bioprocess development for (2R,3R)‐butanediol and acetoin production using very high polarity cane sugar and sugarcane molasses by a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain
Authors: Maina Sofia , Mallouchos Athanasios , Nychas George‐John E , Freire Denise MG , de Castro Aline Machado , Papanikolaou Seraphim , Kookos Ioannis K , Koutinas Apostolis
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND

Efficient production of (2R,3R)‐2,3‐butanediol (BDO) and acetoin using the GRAS strain Bacillus amyloliquefaciens from very high polarity (VHP) cane sugar and sugarcane molasses could lead to the development of a sustainable industrial process.

RESULTS

The effect of initial substrate concentration, nitrogen source, temperature, inoculum size and pH were evaluated in shake flask cultures. Batch bioreactor cultures showed that (2R,3R)‐BDO production (up to 28 g L−1) with high yield (up to 0.43 g g−1) and productivity (up to 0.93 g L−1 h−1) was favored at low kLa values (17–49 h−1). Increasing kLa values (63–104 h−1) initiated acetoin production (up to 25.6 g L−1) with yields up to 0.4 g g−1 and productivities up to 1.42 g L−1 h−1. Fed‐batch fermentation carried out at kLa value of 49 h−1 with VHP cane sugar resulted in mixed production (127.3 g L−1) of (2R,3R)‐BDO, (2R,3S)‐BDO and acetoin at 122 h with high yield (0.50 g g−1) and productivity (1.04 g L−1 h−1). In a similar fed‐batch fermentation with sugarcane molasses, mainly (2R,3R)‐BDO production (48.7 g L−1 with purity of 87.8%) was achieved at 59 h with yield of 0.4 g g−1 and productivity of 0.83 g L−1 h−1. At 130 h, (2R,3R)‐BDO was converted mainly into acetoin (55.4 g L−1).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that kLa manipulation could be used in batch cultures to divert the bacterial metabolism towards either (2R,3R)‐BDO or acetoin production. Fed‐batch cultures with sugarcane molasses could lead to either (2R,3R)‐BDO or acetoin production with negligible by‐product formation. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry