bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Repurposing an old drug for new use: Niclosamide in psoriasis‐like skin inflammation
Authors: Thatikonda Sowjanya , Pooladanda Venkatesh , Godugu Chandraiah 
Published: December 2019

AbstractDrug discovery is an onerous, extremely expensive, and time‐consuming process. Instead, drug repurposing is an attractive strategy for exploiting novel indications for a drug beyond its original use. The untapped potential of drug repurposing compensates the barriers associated with the drug discovery pipeline. Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease, where hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and exaggerated immune responses are the important hallmarks of the disease. Extensive in vitro and preclinical research has demonstrated that niclosamide was found to exert potent anticancer and anti‐inflammatory properties by targeting STAT3, p65 NF‐κB, and NFATc‐1 signaling paradigm with minimal host toxicity. From the disease perspective, the static intracellular molecular network in both cancer and psoriasis share overlapping pathological features in terms of hyperproliferation and chronic inflammation, which is mediated by the aforementioned signaling cascade. The plausible mechanistic relevance has prompted us to investigate the implementation of niclosamide for repositioning in psoriasis. Our in vitro and in vivo findings suggest that niclosamide inhibits keratinocytes hyperproliferation by reactive oxygen species‐mediated apoptosis through the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, cell cycle arrest at Sub G1 phase, and DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, niclosamide treatment resulted in abrogation of lipopolysaccharide‐induced inflammatory cytokine levels in murine macrophages. Additionally, our results provided a preclinical rationale in imiquimod (IMQ)‐induced BALB/c mouse model, where niclosamide diligently mitigated the IMQ‐induced epidermal hyperplasia and inflammation by downregulating STAT3, p65 NF‐κB, and NFATc‐1 transcription factors along with Akt, Ki‐67, and ICAM‐1 protein expression.
Management and outcomes of ruptured, perforated or fistulized tumors of mesenchymal origin
Authors: Asare Elliot A. , Davis Catherine H. , Chiang Yi‐Ju , Sabir Sharjeel , Rajkot Nikita F. , Phillips Paula R. , Roland Christina L. , Torres Keilla E. , Hunt Kelly K. , Feig Barry W. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundPatients with ruptured, perforated or fistulized (RPF) sarcomas commonly have issues such as sepsis and malnutrition and are usually unsuitable for oncologic resection in the emergency setting. We present our approach for managing a series of patients and the outcomes which were achieved with multidisciplinary care.MethodsWe reviewed records of patients referred to the section of sarcoma surgical oncology. Clinicopathologic factors, preoperative and operative interventions as well as short‐term oncologic outcomes were assessed.ResultsSixteen patients were identified between 1 January 1998 to 31 December 2018. Median age was 42.8 years. Histologies were; Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (7), desmoid (4), spindle cell tumor (2), dedifferentiated liposarcoma (2), and nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (1). Five patients had preoperative sepsis, 8 received antimicrobials, and 50% required hospitalization with a median stay of 21 days. Total parenteral nutrition was administered to 5 (31.3%) patients. Median tumor size and estimated blood loss were 13.1 cm and 350 mL respectively. No perioperative mortality occurred. Two patients have expired at a median follow‐up of 16.1 months.ConclusionPreoperative optimization, including the use of percutaneous drains, and antibiotics to control sepsis, where necessary, can lead to eventual oncologic resection with acceptable morbidity and no short‐term mortality for patients with RPF sarcomas.
Development and validation of a coolant sensor for characterizing corrosion protection
Authors: Matzke P. , Strassmann J. , Andersohn G. , Oechsner M. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractEin differenziertes Thermomanagement bildet in modernen Verbrennungskraftmaschinen eine der Grundlagen zur Erzielung höherer Leistungsdichten. In diesem Zusammenhang wachsen auch die Anforderungen an den Betriebsstoff Kühlmittel. Nur eine auf die Nutzungsdauer hin gewährleistete Mindestqualität des Kühlmittels kann die Funktionsweise des Kühlsystems gewährleisten. Im Folgenden wird auf Basis grundlegender elektrochemischer und analytischer Untersuchungen das Ergebnis einer Sensorentwicklung vorgestellt, die eine rasche und aussagekräftige Bewertung der Korrosionsschutzwirkung von Kühlmitteln ermöglichen soll.
Microstructure and mechanical properties of hypereutectic aluminium‐silicon alloy annealing at liquid‐solid region
Authors: Wang J. , Yang W. , Wu C. , Tu H. , Su X. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe microstructure and mechanical properties of hypereutectic Al−Si alloys containing 16 wt.%, 21 wt.% and 30 wt.% Si (AlSi16, AlSi21 and AlSi30) have been investigated in “as‐cast” and “annealed at the liquid‐solid region”. The results show that the morphologies of primary Silicon in AlSi30 changed hardly after being annealed at 587 °C for different time. The morphology of eutectic silicon in all Al−Si alloys changed from flake‐like to granular after being annealed at 587 °C for 5 min to 15 min. With the increase of silicon content, the average size of the granular eutectic silicon decreased. The spheroidized effect for the eutectic silicon in AlSi21 was the best. After being annealed for 15 min, the tensile strength of AlSi16, AlSi21 and AlSi30 alloys decreased by 10.4 %, 11.7 % and 11.5 %, respectively. Their elongation increased 61.1 %, 50.0 % and 33.3 %, respectively. The comprehensive mechanical properties of AlSi16 and AlSi21 alloys were improved markedly after being annealed at 587 °C for 15 min.
Effect of selective laser melting on microstructure and properties of AZ91D alloy
Authors: Zhu Z. , Zhang M. , Chen C. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractSelective laser melting technology is used to manufacture porous and solid AZ91D alloys. The effects of laser power and hatch spacing on the density, blowholes, microstructure and mechanical properties of AZ91D alloy are studied. The laser power and hatch spacing play a significant role in the density and blowholes of AZ91D specimens. The grains size of specimens increases from 1 μm–2 μm to 8 μm–10 μm from the bottom to the top in single molten pool. Compared with grain size of die‐casting alloy (30 μm), that of selective laser melted gets refinement. There is no significant change in microstructure in the bottom, middle and top of specimens. The micro‐hardness of AZ91D alloy, reaching up to 115.3 HV 0.1, is superior to that of die‐casting alloy (56 HV 0.1). The compression properties of porous and solid specimens reach the degree of die‐casting solid magnesium alloy. AZ91D alloy shows the potential in the application of medical biodegradable materials.
Improvement of the 24 hr forecast of surface UV radiation using an ensemble approach
Authors: Krzyścin Janusz W. , Guzikowski Jakub , Pietruczuk Aleksander , Sobolewski Piotr S. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractA methodology is proposed to improve the 24 hr forecast of the ultraviolet (UV) index and the duration of exposure to obtain the minimal erythemal dose (MED). A forecast ensemble consisting of 10 members (differing in initial and boundary conditions) is examined to search for the best performed ensemble member. Routine UV measurements are used for the forecast validation. These are carried out at Belsk (20.8 ° E, 51.8 ° N) and in Racibórz (18.2 ° E, 50.1 ° N) representing a rural and an urban site in Poland, respectively. Each ensemble member is built using the clear‐sky simulations by a radiative transfer model. The clear‐sky irradiance is attenuated using the cloud modification factor (CMF) depending on the cloud cover by low‐ and mid‐level clouds. The 24 hr forecast of cloudiness is obtained by the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. Every day, for each ensemble member, the optimal CMF values are built by the offline bootstrapping of the original CMF matrix. The performance of all ensemble members is evaluated for the day preceding the forecast. The best one is subsequently used for the next‐day forecast. This procedure provides a more accurate forecast than that based on a single member of the ensemble. For both sites, the root mean square percentage error for the duration of the MED exposure changes from about 30% to about 15%, and mean absolute percentage error from about 20–25% to about 10%.
Analysis of the critical pool level of partially submerged slopes
Authors: Wang Wei , Griffiths D.V. 
Published: December 2019

SummaryPartially submerged c′ − φ′ slopes with a horizontal water table exhibit a critical pool level at which the factor of safety becomes a minimum. The phenomenon was first identified using finite element methods, but in this paper, a more thorough analytical investigation is presented. The approach described herein assumes a rigid block sliding with a circular failure mechanism, combined with optimization software to identify the critical circle. The method is initially validated against known slope solutions that assume circular and log‐spiral mechanisms and shown to give excellent agreement, especially for flatter slopes. The method is then applied to partially submerged slopes with a focus on the critical pool level. Through detailed investigation of the overturning and restoring moments in the stability analyses, the critical pool level phenomenon is shown to lie in the trade‐off between the destabilizing effects of internal pore pressures on soil strength and the stabilizing effect of external hydrostatic water pressures on the slope surface.
Biodegradable and Compostable Plastics: A Critical Perspective on the Dawn of their Global Adoption
Authors: Ciriminna Rosaria , Pagliaro Mario 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe global adoption of biodegradable and compostable plastics obtained from biomass‐derived monomers, we argue in this account, is now close to the inflection point. The first industrially significant impact will affect the packaging segment of the global chemical industry. In this process, China and India will play a pivotal role. Selected guidelines aiming to foster development of bioplastics industry in both developed and developing nations are provided.
Decomposition of Copper Formate Clusters: Insight into Elementary Steps of Calcination and Carbon Dioxide Activation
Authors: Pascher Tobias F. , Ončák Milan , van der Linde Christian , Beyer Martin K. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe decomposition of copper formate clusters is investigated in the gas phase by infrared multiple photon dissociation of Cu(II)n(HCO2)2n+1−, n≤8. In combination with quantum chemical calculations and reactivity measurements using oxygen, elementary steps of the decomposition of copper formate are characterized, which play a key role during calcination as well as for the function of copper hydride based catalysts. The decomposition of larger clusters (n>2) takes place exclusively by the sequential loss of neutral copper formate units Cu(II)(HCO2)2 or Cu(II)2(HCO2)4, leading to clusters with n=1 or n=2. Only for these small clusters, redox reactions are observed as discussed in detail previously, including the formation of formic acid or loss of hydrogen atoms, leading to a variety of Cu(I) complexes. The stoichiometric monovalent copper formate clusters Cu(I)m(HCO2)m+1−, (m=1,2) decompose exclusively by decarboxylation, leading towards copper hydrides in oxidation state +I. Copper oxide centers are obtained via reactions of molecular oxygen with copper hydride centers, species containing carbon dioxide radical anions as ligands or a Cu(0) center. However, stoichiometric copper(I) and copper(II) formate Cu(I)(HCO2)2− and Cu(II)(HCO2)3−, respectively, is unreactive towards oxygen.
Collaborating for improving diabetes care in Ealing, London: a time for cautious optimism, years 2011 to 2018
Authors: Chandok Raj , Baynes Kevin , Willis Tony , Birnbaum Maurice , Unadkat Neha 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn 2011, providers and commissioners met to review diabetes care in Ealing, London, UK. The needs assessment showed that there was: a high prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed people with diabetes; a projected 50% increase in diagnosed people with diabetes during the ensuing decade; a lack of resources deployed in meeting the needs of people with diabetes; a necessity to involve people with diabetes to shape local diabetes care; and, worryingly, outcomes were poor.This paper describes how to integrate different contributions to health and care at community level – community‐oriented integrated care – as has been advocated worldwide for many years. Community‐oriented integrated care is complicated because it requires a whole system approach, involving collaboration between commissioners and providers, specialists and generalists, and a range of local organisations, patients and citizens. Commissioners and providers in Ealing collaborated with its neighbouring clinical commissioning groups between 2011 and 2018, in a significant number of initiatives, in improving diabetes care that enabled the achievement of certain initiatives more cost‐effectively, and at scale and pace. Copyright © 2019 John Wiley & Sons. Practical Diabetes 2019; 36(6): 212–218
Stabilization and second‐order optimization for multimodule impulsive switched linear systems
Authors: Ai Zidong , Peng Lianghong 
Published: December 2019

SummaryIn this work, we investigate stabilization and optimization issues for a class of multimodule impulsive switched linear systems. First, we establish a necessary and sufficient criterion on asymptotic stabilizability via a pathwise state‐feedback scheme, which achieves the merits of both time‐driven and state‐feedback mechanisms. Then, we present an impulse/switching instant optimization problem that usually arises in finite‐horizon optimal control. To reduce the computational burden, we propose a novel method via developing efficiently computable expressions for the cost function, the gradient vector, and the Hessian matrix. Next, we design a second‐order optimization algorithm searching for the optimal impulse/switching instants. Finally, a numerical example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
UAV‐derived estimates of forest structure to inform ponderosa pine forest restoration
Authors: Belmonte Adam , Sankey Temuulen , Biederman Joel A. , Bradford John , Goetz Scott J. , Kolb Thomas , Woolley Travis 
Published: December 2019

AbstractRestoring forest ecosystems has become an increasingly high priority for land managers across the American West. Millions of hectares of forest are in need of drastic yet strategic reductions in density (e.g., basal area). Meeting the restoration and management goals requires quantifying metrics of vertical and horizontal forest structure, which has relied upon field‐based measurements, manned airborne or satellite remote sensing datasets. We used unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) image‐derived Structure‐from‐Motion (SfM) models and high‐resolution multispectral orthoimagery in this study to quantify vertical and horizontal forest structure at both the fine‐ (<4 ha) and mid‐scales (4–400 ha) across a forest density gradient. We then used these forest structure estimates to assess specific objectives of a forest restoration treatment. At the fine‐scale, we found that estimates of individual tree height and canopy diameter were most accurate in low‐density conditions, with accuracies degrading significantly in high‐density conditions. Mid‐scale estimates of canopy cover and forest density followed a similar pattern across the density gradient, demonstrating the effectiveness ofUAVimage‐derived estimates in low‐ to medium‐density conditions as well as the challenges associated with high‐density conditions. We found that post‐treatment conditions met a majority of the prescription objectives and demonstrate theUAVimage application in quantifying changes from a mechanical thinning treatment. We provide a novel approach to forest restoration monitoring usingUAV‐derived data, one that considers varying density conditions and spatial scales. Future research should consider a more spatially extensive sampling design, including different restoration treatments, as well as experimenting with different combinations of equipment, flight parameters, and data processing workflows.
Marmots from space: assessing population size and habitat use of a burrowing mammal using publicly available satellite images
Authors: Koshkina Alyona , Grigoryeva Irina , Tokarsky Viktor , Urazaliyev Ruslan , Kuemmerle Tobias , Hölzel Norbert , Kamp Johannes 
Published: December 2019

AbstractSocial, burrowing mammals such as prairie dogs, ground squirrels or marmots are keystone species in grassland ecosystems. Grasslands have been converted into cropland or pastures globally, yet it remains virtually unknown how this has affected the biogeography of burrowing mammals, as efficient, broad‐scale survey methods are lacking. We aimed to test whether structures created by burrowing rodents can be reliably detected on publicly available, very‐high‐resolution satellite images, in order to assess rodent distribution and abundance. We identified burrows of Bobak marmot (Marmota bobak), a keystone burrowing steppe rodent, on 1300 randomly selected plots of 1 km diameter (78.53 ha) across the species’ range (~950 000 km²) in Kazakhstan and southern Russia using Google Earth and Bing images. We then used burrow occurrences and species distribution models to map marmot distribution. We assessed how marmot occurrence and density vary across land‐use types. We also combined satellite‐based burrow densities and ground‐survey data to derive a new population estimate for the species across Kazakhstan. We mapped a total of 7425 burrows from the satellite imagery. Field visits at a subsample of burrows suggested that burrow occurrence was detected reliably. Broad‐scale marmot distribution was mainly determined by summer rainfall, land use and elevation. Occurrence probability was highest on arable croplands, followed by abandoned croplands and grazed steppe. The current Bobak marmot population size for Kazakhstan was estimated at 6.1 (±2.4) million individuals. Our results demonstrate that publicly available, very‐high‐resolution images can be used to reliably map the distribution of burrowing mammals across large geographic scales. The observed and predicted distributions indicate that the Bobak's range has remained almost unchanged in Kazakhstan since the 1950s, despite several drastic episode of land‐use change. This suggests that burrowing mammals can be remarkably resilient to land‐use pressure, questioning prevailing narratives of population collapse in these species following agricultural expansion.
Mesoporous Carbons Derived from Pyrolysis of Organosilica‐Based Ionogels for Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Zheng Jianqi , Sun Dexin , Huang Baobing , Liu Yuchuan , Xie Zailai 
Published: December 2019

AbstractDeveloping of novel carbon‐based materials for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction is highly important for sustainable energy conversion. In this work, iron‐containing ionogels were prepared from functional ionic liquid 1‐propionic acid‐2‐methyl imidazole bromide as the linker and an organically‐modified silica framework as the host, which were polymerized in the presence of iron(III) nitrate nonahydrate. The ionogels are mechanically stable, yellowish and transparent. After pyrolysis and washing by acid, unique mesoporous carbon materials were innovatively synthesized. Moreover, the as‐obtained carbon materials possess very high surface areas (1127 m2 g−1), significant mesoporosity and abundant catalytic sites (e. g., effective N configurations). The optimal catalyst exhibits remarkable ORR activity with an onset potential (Eonset) of 0.98 V vs. RHE, a half‐wave potential (E1/2) of 0.823 V vs. RHE and a diffusion‐limited current density (jL) of 5.75 mA cm−2 in 0.1 M KOH, comparable to the commercial Pt/C catalyst in the same condition. This work provided a new strategy to fabricate promising electrocatalyts for application in fuel cells.
Synthesis of Enantiomerically Enriched Alkynylaryl‐Substituted α‐Amino Acids through Sonogashira Reactions
Authors: Saghyan Ashot S. , Mkrtchyan Anna F. , Mardiyan Zorayr Z. , Hayriyan Liana A. , Karapetyan Ani J. , Belokon Yuri N. , Ehlers Peter , Langer Peter 
Published: December 2019

AbstractVarious enantiomerically enriched non‐proteinogenic (S)‐α‐amino acids were obtained in high chemical and optical yields through Sonogashira cross‐coupling reactions and Glaser couplings. The Schiff base Ni(II)complexes of the chiral auxiliary (S)‐BPB (BPB=N‐benzyl proline benzophenone) and an amino acid containing an aryl bromide moiety in the α‐position were synthesized and subsequently used in Sonogashira coupling reactions. The obtained Ni(II) complexes were hydrolyzed with aqueous HCl and novel amino acids, containing an alkynylaryl moiety, were isolated in good yields and with high enantiomeric excess (>99% ee). The chiral auxiliary (S)‐BPB can be recycled and reused for the synthesis of the starting Ni(II) complex.
Base‐Promoted Metal‐Free Arylation of Benzoxazoles with Phenylglyoxylic Acids
Authors: Yang Zhiyong , Zhou Liang , Liu Ying , Lu Hongwen , Wu Fengxuan , Xie Yuxin , Liu Jianle 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAn efficient and environmental protocol for the arylation of benzoxazoles with phenylglyoxylic acids promoted by base has been developed. This protocol provides expedient access to substituted 2‐aryl benzoxazoles with CO2 as the only byproduct. The present transformation provided high yields at a relatively low temperature and tolerated chloro‐, bromo‐, fluoro‐, and methoxy‐ groups, even heterocycles.
The Change in the Nature of the Chemical Bond through Hydrogen Tunneling Process in BN‐Ethylamine
Authors: Lopez‐Castillo Alejandro , Morgon Nelson H. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe change process in the nature of the chemical bond between BN single covalent (…H2B‐NH2) and coordinate covalent (…H2B‐NH3) bonds was studied considering the BN‐ethylamine molecule (NH2BH2NH3). This molecule is an inorganic ethylamine in which the C atoms were substituted by BN pairs and the B atom is in the center of molecule.