bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
To what extent do the storage conditions of polyether‐based polyurethane have an impact on diazepam delivery?
Authors: Maiguy‐Foinard Aurélie , Masse Morgane , Degoutin Stéphanie , Genay Stéphanie , Chai Feng , Barthélémy Christine , Odou Pascal , Blanchemain Nicolas , Décaudin Bertrand 
Published: April 2020

AbstractInteractions between medical device material and the drug itself have been evoked for polyurethane and may lead to underdosing. Polyurethane, sterilization mode, and the crosslinking level of the polymer have an influence on sorption. The aim here is to evaluate the impact of polyurethane conservation time and conditions as well as sterilization mode. Two polyurethane extension tubes were tested, one sterilized by ethylene oxide and the second by gamma radiation. Forced degradation experiments were performed. After 3 and 6 months of incubation, thermal properties, diazepam delivery and cytotoxicity of leachates were assessed. Diazepam delivery differs significantly according to the version of polyurethane. Sterilization however has no impact on diazepam delivery. No cytotoxicity was observed whatever the infusion tube and the aging conditions. In conclusion, sterilization procedures do not induce polyurethane degradation, but high temperature/relative humidity/time storage conditions lead to a slight degradation in polyurethane.
Crystal Contact Engineering Enables Efficient Capture and Purification of an Oxidoreductase by Technical Crystallization
Authors: Grob Phillip , Huber Max , Walla Brigitte , Hermann Johannes , Janowski Robert , Niessing Dierk , Hekmat Dariusch , Weuster‐Botz Dirk 
Published: April 2020

AbstractTechnical crystallization is an attractive method to purify recombinant proteins. However, it is rarely applied due to the limited crystallizability of many proteins. To overcome this limitation, single amino acid exchanges are rationally introduced to enhance intermolecular interactions at the crystal contacts of the industrially relevant biocatalyst Lactobacillus brevis alcohol dehydrogenase (LbADH). The wildtype (WT) and the best crystallizing and enzymatically active LbADH mutants K32A, D54F, Q126H, and T102E are produced with Escherichia coli and subsequently crystallized from cell lysate in stirred mL‐crystallizers. Notwithstanding the high host cell protein (HCP) concentrations in the lysate, all mutants crystallize significantly faster than the WT. Combinations of mutations result in double mutants with faster crystallization kinetics than the respective single mutants, demonstrating a synergetic effect. The almost entire depletion of the soluble LbADH fraction at crystallization equilibrium is observed, proving high yields. The HCP concentration is reduced to below 0.5% after crystal dissolution and recrystallization, and thus a 100‐fold HCP reduction is achieved after two successive crystallization steps. The combination of fast kinetics, high yields, and high target protein purity highlights the potential of crystal contact engineering to transform technical crystallization into an efficient protein capture and purification step in biotechnological downstream processes.
Simultaneous measurement of epinastine and its metabolite, 9,13b‐dehydroepinastine, in human plasma by a newly developed ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and its application to pharmacokinetic studies
Authors: Jeong Seung‐Hyun , Jang Ji‐Hun , Cho Hea‐Young , Lee Yong‐Bok 
Published: April 2020

AbstractEpinastine is an antiallergic drug with high selectivity for histamine receptors. It has been reported that 9,13b‐dehydroepinastine is present as a metabolite in vivo in humans, but there was little information about their pharmacokinetics (PKs) in humans. Although several analytical methods have been reported for epinastine analysis in different matrices, none are available for its metabolite. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop an analytical method to simultaneously measure epinastine and its metabolite, 9,13b‐dehydroepinastine, in human plasma samples using an ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometer. Analytes were separated on a C18 column. Quantification of this analysis was performed on a triple‐quadrupole mass spectrometer. Chromatograms showed high sensitivity, selectivity, and resolution with no interference with plasma constituents. Calibration curves for both epinastine and 9,13b‐dehydroepinastine in human plasma were 0.1–50 ng/ml and displayed excellent linearity with correlation coefficients (r2) >0.99. The developed analytical method satisfied the criteria of international guidance and was validated. The method could be successfully applied to pharmacokinetic studies of epinastine and, for the first time, the metabolite kinetics of epinastine to 9,13b‐dehydroepinastine in humans after oral administration of 20 mg epinastine hydrochloride tablets. Our study is expected to be useful in future studies such as dosage settings and clinical pharmacotherapy.
Deep hypothermia prevents striatal alterations produced by perinatal asphyxia: Implications for the prevention of dyskinesia and psychosis
Authors: Vázquez‐Borsetti Pablo , Acuña Andrés , Soliño Manuel , López‐Costa Juan José , Kargieman Lucila , Loidl Fabián César 
Published: April 2020

AbstractGABAergic medium spiny neurons are the main neuronal population in the striatum. Calbindin is preferentially expressed in medium spiny neurons involved in the indirect pathway. The aim of the present work is to analyze the effect of perinatal asphyxia on different subpopulations of GABAergic neurons in the striatum and to assess the outcome of deep therapeutic hypothermia. The uterus of pregnant rats was removed by cesarean section and the fetuses were exposed to hypoxia by immersion in water (19 min) at 37°C (perinatal asphyxia). The hypothermic group was exposed to 10°C during 30 min after perinatal asphyxia. The rats were euthanized at the age of one month (adolescent/adult rats), their brains were dissected out and coronal sections were immunolabeled for calbindin, calretinin, NeuN, and reelin. Reelin+ cells showed no staining in the striatum besides subventricular zone. The perinatal asphyxia (PA) group showed a significant decrease in calbindin neurons and a paradoxical increase in neurons estimated by NeuN staining. Moreover, calretinin+ cells, a specific subpopulation of GABAergic neurons, showed an increase caused by PA. Deep hypothermia reversed most of these alterations probably by protecting calbindin neurons. Similarly, there was a reduction of the diameter of the anterior commissure produced by the asphyxia that was prevented by hypothermic treatment.
Training lip force by oral screens. Part 3: Outcome for patients with stroke and peripheral facial palsy
Authors: Wertsén Madeleine , Stenberg Manne 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate whether training with an oral screen can improve oral motor function in patients with stroke and peripheral palsy. The participants in the study were eight patients with orofacial dysfunction after stroke, included 7–14 months after onset, and seven patients with peripheral palsy, included 14–28 months after onset. A customized oral screen in acrylic was made for each participant. The screen had a tube around the handle to allow air to pass when measurements were made of the perioral muscle force. When measuring the ability to suck, the hole was sealed with wax. The participants trained with the oral screen two times daily for 5 min. Measurements were made at baseline, after 1 month and thereafter every third month until no further improvement was achieved. Measurements were made with two different instructions, to squeeze and to suck. In the stroke group, muscles around the mouth improved when pouting and smiling; these participants also achieved statistically significant changes when sucking. For the peripheral palsy group, little improvement could be seen when pouting and smiling. However, these patients reported less or no drooling, and the measurements for sucking increased significantly for six of the seven patients. The first recorded significant change was seen in the stroke group after 4 weeks training and in the group with peripheral palsy after 6 weeks. Training with a custom‐made oral screen can significantly improve perioral muscle force and the ability to create negative intraoral pressure. The patients reported less leakage in saliva, drink, and food as well as fewer bite injuries and less food accumulation.
Response to salt stress imposed on cultivars of three turfgrass species: Poa pratensis, Lolium perenne, and Puccinellia distans
Authors: Bushman B. Shaun , Robbins Matthew D. , Robins Joseph G. , Thorsted Kimberly , Harris Paul , Johnson Paul G. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractCool‐season turfgrasses can be subjected to salt stress through a variety of sources, and selection for salt tolerance is an increasingly high priority. Two of the main turfgrass species in temperate regions are perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) (PRG) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) (KBG), and greenhouse evaluations have occurred to rank and characterize salt tolerance in each species. However, salt tolerance in a field setting in a semiarid climate has not been tested, and the genetic mechanisms by which each species specifically responds to salt stress is still unclear. In this study, we evaluated salt tolerance of 10 PRG and 12 KBG entries in a field setting and compare their salt tolerances to two alkaligrass cultivars. Using electrolyte leakage (EL) and turf green cover, tolerant and susceptible cultivars and accessions were identified from both species. Transcriptome‐level gene expression analysis was applied on a subset of the entries, and 62 differentially expressed transcripts were shared among the three species with a preponderance of transcripts involving carbohydrate metabolism, oxidation‐reduction processes, and ion transport within the cell. Upon further gene enrichment analysis of KBG, more transcripts in those three categories were found. The differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) represent mechanisms by which PRG and KBG respond to salt stress, as well as targets for selection for salt tolerance.
Developmental regulation of microtubule‐based trafficking and anchoring of axonal mitochondria in health and diseases
Authors: Cheng Xiu‐Tang , Sheng Zu‐Hang 
Published: April 2020

AbstractMitochondria are cellular power plants that supply most of the ATP required in the brain to power neuronal growth, function, and regeneration. Given their extremely polarized structures and extended long axons, neurons face an exceptional challenge to maintain energy homeostasis in distal axons, synapses, and growth cones. Anchored mitochondria serve as local energy sources; therefore, the regulation of mitochondrial trafficking and anchoring ensures that these metabolically active areas are adequately supplied with ATP. Chronic mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark feature of major aging‐related neurodegenerative diseases, and thus, anchored mitochondria in aging neurons need to be removed when they become dysfunctional. Investigations into the regulation of microtubule (MT)‐based trafficking and anchoring of axonal mitochondria under physiological and pathological circumstances represent an important emerging area. In this short review article, we provide an updated overview of recent in vitro and in vivo studies showing (1) how mitochondria are transported and positioned in axons and synapses during neuronal developmental and maturation stages, and (2) how altered mitochondrial motility and axonal energy deficits in aging nervous systems link to neurodegeneration and regeneration in a disease or injury setting. We also highlight a major role of syntaphilin as a key MT‐based regulator of axonal mitochondrial trafficking and anchoring in mature neurons.
Effects of ocean acidification on Antarctic marine organisms: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Hancock Alyce M. , King Catherine K. , Stark Jonathan S. , McMinn Andrew , Davidson Andrew T. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractSouthern Ocean waters are among the most vulnerable to ocean acidification. The projected increase in the CO2 level will cause changes in carbonate chemistry that are likely to be damaging to organisms inhabiting these waters. A meta‐analysis was undertaken to examine the vulnerability of Antarctic marine biota occupying waters south of 60°S to ocean acidification. This meta‐analysis showed that ocean acidification negatively affects autotrophic organisms, mainly phytoplankton, at CO2 levels above 1,000 μatm and invertebrates above 1,500 μatm, but positively affects bacterial abundance. The sensitivity of phytoplankton to ocean acidification was influenced by the experimental procedure used. Natural, mixed communities were more sensitive than single species in culture and showed a decline in chlorophyll a concentration, productivity, and photosynthetic health, as well as a shift in community composition at CO2 levels above 1,000 μatm. Invertebrates showed reduced fertilization rates and increased occurrence of larval abnormalities, as well as decreased calcification rates and increased shell dissolution with any increase in CO2 level above 1,500 μatm. Assessment of the vulnerability of fish and macroalgae to ocean acidification was limited by the number of studies available. Overall, this analysis indicates that many marine organisms in the Southern Ocean are likely to be susceptible to ocean acidification and thereby likely to change their contribution to ecosystem services in the future. Further studies are required to address the poor spatial coverage, lack of community or ecosystem‐level studies, and the largely unknown potential for organisms to acclimate and/or adapt to the changing conditions.
Contrasting altitudinal variation of alpine plant communities along the Swedish mountains
Authors: Måsviken Johannes , Dalerum Fredrik , Cousins Sara A. O. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractChanges in abiotic factors along altitudinal and latitudinal gradients cause powerful environmental gradients. The topography of alpine areas generates environmental gradients over short distances, and alpine areas are expected to experience greater temperature increase compared to the global average. In this study, we investigate alpha, beta, and gamma diversity, as well as community structure, of vascular plant communities along altitudinal gradients at three latitudes in the Swedish mountains. Species richness and evenness decreased with altitude, but the patterns within the altitudinal gradient varied between sites, including a sudden decrease at high altitude, a monotonic decrease, and a unimodal pattern. However, we did not observe a decline in beta diversity with altitude at all sites, and plant communities at all sites were spatially nested according to some other factors than altitude, such as the availability of water or microtopographic position. Moreover, the observed diversity patterns did not follow the latitudinal gradient. We observed a spatial modularity according to altitude, which was consistent across sites. Our results suggest strong influences of site‐specific factors on plant community composition and that such factors partly may override effects from altitudinal and latitudinal environmental variation. Spatial variation of the observed vascular plant communities appears to have been caused by a combination of processes at multiple spatial scales.
Electrochemically Reduced Graphene Oxide as Screen‐printed Electrode Modifier for Fenamiphos Determination
Authors: Gevaerd A. , Watanabe E. Y. , Fernandes K. , Papi M. A. P. , Banks C. E. , Bergamini M. F. , Marcolino‐Junior L. H. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn this study, electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) was used for the preparation of a screen‐printed modified electrode and applied for the voltammetric determination of fenamiphos (FNP) in tomato samples. Graphene oxide (GO) used for sensor construction was prepared according to an improved Hummers method and characterized by XRD, TEM, and FTIR, which confirmed the nanomaterial obtention. The ERGO formation was carried out from the electrodeposition by cyclic voltammetry, at 50 mV s−1 in the potential range of 0.0 to −1.5 V, during 50 cycles. ERGO‐SPE was used in the evaluation of the voltammetric behavior of FNP. The ERGO‐SPE proposed presented excellent electrochemical performance towards FNP oxidation, promoting an enhance on the anodic peak current and a decrease of peak potential. Under optimized conditions, it was possible to construct an analytical curve, using square wave voltammetry, with a linear region of 0.25 to 25.0 μM, with calculated limits of detection and quantification of 0.067 and 0.22 μM. From this, it was possible to analyze FNP in fortified tomato samples at three concentration levels, which showed recoveries values varying between 82 and 102 %. The ERGO‐SPE device proved useful in determining FNP, where the effect of the electrodeposition of the GO promoted a significant increase in the employability of the printed electrode.
Electrochemical Characteristics of a Novel Pyridinium Salt as a Candidate Drug Molecule and Its Interaction with DNA
Authors: Topkaya Seda Nur , Karasakal Ayça , Cetin Arif E. , Parlar Sülünay , Alptüzün Vildan 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn this article, for the first time, the electrochemical properties of a novel pyridine derivative, 4‐(2‐(2‐hydroxybenzylidene) hydrazinyl)‐1‐(3‐phenylpropyl) pyridinium bromide (abbreviated as 4‐Pyri), and its interaction with double stranded DNA (dsDNA) was investigated. The interaction between candidate drug molecule (4‐Pyri) and dsDNA was analyzed by examining 4‐Pyri (+0.6 V and +0.8 V) and guanine (+1.0 V) oxidation signal changes with Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) and Cyclic Voltammetry (CV). Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) was used to show the resistance changes before and after the interaction between 4‐Pyri and dsDNA. We showed that after the interaction with 4‐Pyri, the oxidation currents of guanine decreased dramatically, whereas the intrinsic oxidation currents of 4‐Pyri dramatically increased. 4‐Pyri oxidation current differences before and after the interaction with dsDNA enabled us to determine such interaction separately from guanine oxidation signals. In addition, resistance differences were observed at before and after the interaction with each other that confirmed the possible interaction. In addition, toxicity effect (S%) value, which is an important parameter for electrochemical studies indicated 4‐Pyri's toxicity to dsDNA. Our results demonstrated that 4‐Pyri interacts with dsDNA, and could be used as a potential candidate drug molecule due to its remarkable impact on dsDNA.
Explicit stencil computation schemes generated by Poisson's formula for the 2D wave equation
Authors: Khutoryansky Naum M. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractA new approach to building explicit time‐marching stencil computation schemes for the transient two‐dimensional acoustic wave equation is implemented. It is based on using Poisson's formula and its three time level modification combined with polynomial stencil interpolation of the solution at each time‐step and exact integration. The time‐stepping algorithm consists of two explicit stencil computation procedures: a first time‐step procedure incorporating the initial conditions and a two‐step scheme for the second and next time‐steps. Three particular explicit stencil schemes (with 5, 9, and 13 space points) are constructed using this approach. Their stability regions are presented. All of the obtained first time‐step computation expressions are different from those used in conventional finite‐difference methods. Accuracy advantages of the new schemes in comparison with conventional finite‐difference schemes are demonstrated by simulation using an exact benchmark solution.
The role of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in automatic formation of impression and reflected impression
Authors: Ito Ayahito , Yoshida Kazuki , Takeda Kenta , Sawamura Daisuke , Murakami Yui , Hasegawa Ai , Sakai Shinya , Izuma Keise 
Published: April 2020

AbstractPrevious neuroimaging studies demonstrated that ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) activity reflects how much an individual positively views each person (impression). Here, we investigated whether the degree to which individuals think others positively view them (reflected impression) is similarly tracked by activity in the vmPFC by using fMRI and speed‐dating events. We also examined whether activity of the vmPFC in response to the faces of others would predict the impression formed through direct interactions with them. The task consisted of three sessions: pre‐speed‐dating fMRI, speed‐dating events, and post‐speed‐dating fMRI (not reported here). During the pre‐speed‐dating fMRI, each participant passively viewed the faces of others whom they would meet in the subsequent speed‐dating events. After the fMRI, they rated the impression and reflected impression of each face. During the speed‐dating events, the participants had 3‐min conversations with partners whose faces were presented during the fMRI task, and they were asked to choose the partners whom they preferred at the end of the events. The results revealed that the value of both the impression and reflected impression were automatically represented in the vmPFC. However, the impression fully mediated the link between the reflected impression and vmPFC activity. These results highlight a close link between reflected appraisal and impression formation and provide important insights into neural and psychological models of how the reflected impression is formed in the human brain.
Stagnation point flow of Maxwell nanofluid containing gyrotactic micro‐organism impinging obliquely on a convective surface
Authors: Abbasi Aamar , Farooq Waseh , Riaz Iqra 
Published: April 2020

AbstractA numerical study is performed to discuss the nonaligned stagnation of a rate type fluid over a convective surface. The rheology of the fluid is presented by the constitutive equation of the Maxwell fluid model. Buongiorno's model is used to elaborate on the effects of Brownian motion and thermophoresis and motile microorganisms are introduced for the stability of the nanoparticles. The governing equations were solved by the implicit finite difference method. Graphical illustrations for velocity, temperature, nanoparticle concentration and motile microorganism profiles for various involved parameters are presented for both convective and nonconvective surfaces. It is depicted that the temperature, nanoparticle, and microorganism concentration profiles decease while both axial and tangential velocities increase with the velocity ratio parameter for both Newtonian and Maxwellian fluids. The magnitude of temperature, nanoparticle, and microorganism concentration profiles is large for the nonconvective surface as compared to the convective surface. The Nusselt number, Sherwood number, and motile organism number decrease as we move from Newtonian fluid to non‐Newtonian fluid. Furthermore, the increase in the Brownian motion parameter and thermophoresis parameter decreases the density of the motile organism over the convective as well as nonconvective surface.