bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Supramolecular and Hybrid Bonding Polymers
Authors: Stupp Samuel I. , Clemons Tristan D. , Carrow James K. , Sai Hiroaki , Palmer Liam C. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractStaudinger established a century ago the existence of covalent macromolecules, work that led to the development of transformative materials of great benefit to society and a “quantum leap” in our understanding of biological systems. Over the past few decades the concept of supramolecular polymers has emerged–chemical systems in which structural units bond strongly to each other non‐covalently. These dynamic systems actually exist in the natural world and can create soft materials with structures, properties, and functions beyond the ones we know in Staudinger polymers. We reflect here on the potential of novel systems in which covalent and supramolecular polymers are chemically integrated and describe them as hybrid bonding polymers. This paper describes the concept with recent examples from the Stupp laboratory, and discusses their potential functions as robotic materials that mimic living matter and structures that offer new ideas on how to recycle and reuse soft materials.
Improved automated detection of glaucoma by correlating fundus and SD‐OCT image analysis
Authors: Shehryar Tehmina , Akram Muhammad U. , Khalid Samina , Nasreen Shamila , Tariq Anum , Perwaiz Aqib , Shaukat Arslan 
Published: February 2020

AbstractGlaucoma is a multifactorial ocular disease. Ophthalmologists mostly use fundus or optical coherence tomography (OCT) for diagnosis of glaucoma. In this study, a hybrid computer‐aided‐diagnosis (H‐CAD) system has been proposed that integrates both fundus and OCT imaging technologies for reliable diagnosis of glaucoma. Fundus module inspects the outer layer of eye's posterior part. It considers a variety of structural and textural features and makes a decision using support vector machine (SVM). In OCT module, the cup to disc ratio (CDR) has been computed by examining the internal layers of the retina. The cup contour has been extracted from inner‐limiting‐membrane (ILM) layer using a set of novel techniques for the calculation of cup diameter. Similarly, in the disc diameter calculation the retinal‐pigment‐epithelium (RPE) layer termination points have been identified by a number of innovative strategies to locate disc margin. Furthermore, a new criterion based on the mean value of RPE‐layer end points has been proposed for the determination of cup edges. A local‐dataset annotated by four ophthalmologists has been used for evaluation of proposed H‐CAD system. The evaluations and results have shown that the final result of H_CAD system is more trustable than its contemporary automated models.
Efficacy of albumin and compounded plasma for plasma exchange in acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Authors: Hou Ruiqin , Tian Wenqin , Qiao Rui , Zhang Jie 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIntroductionThrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare life‐threatening thrombotic microangiopathy. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is the first‐line treatment for TTP. In our institution, albumin plus plasma (fresh frozen plasma [FFP] and/or cryoprecipitate‐reduced plasma [CRP]) has been used as replacement fluid since 2014. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of albumin combined with plasma as TPE for TTP.Material and MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated 20 patients admitted to our institution due to an acute episode of TTP between January 1, 2014 and February 1, 2019. They were divided into two groups according to the replacement fluid protocols: (a) albumin plus FFP (1:1) and (b) albumin plus mixed plasma [ie, albumin and FFP with CRP (2:1:1)] groups. Data on patient characteristics, replacement parameters, outcome, and hemorrhage risk were collected and analyzed.ResultsThere were no significant differences in treatment outcomes between the two groups (P > .05). However, the albumin plus mixed plasma group tended to require fewer plasma exchanges (median, 4) and shorter time to response (median, 15 days) compared to albumin plus FFP group (median, 6; 31 days). Although the cumulative survival of the albumin plus mixed plasma group was higher than the other group starting from day 23 after treatment, we did not observe significant difference (P = .50). No significant increase in the risk for hemorrhage was observed in either group.ConclusionsThe therapeutic efficacy of albumin and mixed plasma (2:1:1) is not inferior to that of albumin and FFP (1:1), and it can be used in treating TTP.
Passive anti‐C acquired in the setting of Rh immune globulin administration following Rh mismatched apheresis platelet transfusion: A case series
Authors: Sostin Nataliya , Ross Rebecca , Balbuena‐Merle Raisa , Hendrickson Jeanne E. , Tormey Christopher A. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractRh immune globulin (RhIG) may be administered to Rh(D)‐negative recipients of Rh(D)‐positive platelet (PLT) transfusions to mitigate anti‐D alloantibody formation. We report a series of seven patients in which anti‐C was detected as a result of RhIG administered as immunoprophylaxis following Rh‐mismatched apheresis PLT transfusion, persisting for a range of 27 to 167 days post‐RhIG. The passively transferred anti‐C antibodies created complexities for subsequent transfusion support. Based on these challenges, in combination with emerging evidence supporting an extremely low anti‐D alloimmunization risk following Rh‐mismatched apheresis PLTs, we have changed our practice and now limit RhIG immunoprophylaxis in this setting to women of reproductive age. In summary, the blood bank and apheresis communities should be aware that passive transfer of non‐D antibodies is possible following RhIG administration. This phenomenon represents a compelling reason to consider the risk/benefit ratio of RhIG and to limit its use to situations in which it is clinically necessary.
Excitation energies expressed as orbital energies of Kohn–Sham density functional theory with long‐range corrected functionals
Authors: Hirao Kimihiko , Chan Bun , Song Jong‐Won , Bhattarai Kamala , Tewary Subrata 
Published: February 2020

AbstractA new simple and conceptual theoretical scheme is proposed for estimating one‐electron excitation energies using Kohn–Sham (KS) solutions. One‐electron transitions that are dominated by the promotion from one initially occupied orbital to one unoccupied orbital of a molecular system can be expressed in a two‐step process, ionization, and electron attachment. KS with long‐range corrected (LC) functionals satisfies Janak's theorem and LC total energy varies almost linearly as a function of its fractional occupation number between the integer electron points. Thus, LC reproduces ionization energies (IPs) and electron affinities (EAs) with high accuracy and one‐electron excitation energies are expressed as the difference between the occupied orbital energy of a neutral molecule and the corresponding unoccupied orbital energy of its cation. Two such expressions can be used, with one employing the orbital energies for the neutral and cationic systems, while the other utilizes orbital energies of just the cation. Because the EA of a molecule is the IP of its anion, if we utilize this identity, the two expressions coincide and give the same excitation energies. Reasonable results are obtained for valence and core excitations using only orbital energies.
A catalytic synthesis of dihydrofuran‐3(2H)‐imine skeletons from isocyanides, terminal alkynes, and oxiranes
Authors: Samzadeh‐Kermani Alireza , Poorhabibi‐Zarandi Marjan 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn this catalytic multicomponent reaction, the nucleophilicity of terminal alkynes and isocyanides towards oxiranes has been explored. The reaction outcome depends highly on solvent, bases, and catalysts sources. An array of terminal alkynes, isocyanides, and oxiranes has been examined to explore the of this transformation. The reactions proceeded through SN2 path and in regioselective manner.
Galectin-10, the protein that forms Charcot-Leyden crystals, is not stored in granules but resides in the peripheral cytoplasm of human eosinophils
Authors: Melo Rossana C N , Wang Haibin , Silva Thiago P , Imoto Yoshimasa , Fujieda Shigeharu , Fukuchi Mineyo , Miyabe Yui , Hirokawa Makoto , Ueki Shigeharu , Weller Peter F 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
A predominant protein of human eosinophils is galectin-10 (Gal-10), also known as Charcot-Leyden crystal protein (CLC-P) because of its remarkable ability to form Charcot-Leyden crystals (CLCs), which are frequently found in tissues from patients with eosinophilic disorders. CLC-P/Gal-10 is highly expressed in human eosinophils and considered a biomarker of eosinophil involvement in inflammation. However, the intracellular sites where large pools of CLC-P/Gal-10 constitutively reside are still unclear, and whether this protein is derived or not from eosinophil granules remains to be established. Here, we applied pre-embedding immunonanogold transmission electron microscopy combined with strategies for optimal antigen and cell preservation and quantitative imaging analysis to investigate, for the first time, the intracellular localization of CLC-P/Gal-10 at high resolution in resting and activated human eosinophils. We demonstrated that CLC-P/Gal-10 is mostly stored in the peripheral cytoplasm of human eosinophils, being accumulated within an area of ∼250 nm wide underneath the plasma membrane and not within specific (secretory) granules, a pattern also observed by immunofluorescence. High-resolution analysis of single cells revealed that CLC-P/Gal-10 interacts with the plasma membrane with immunoreactive microdomains of high CLC-P/Gal-10 density being found in ∼60% of the membrane area. Eosinophil stimulation with CCL11 or TNF-α, which are known inducers of eosinophil secretion, did not change the peripheral localization of CLC-P/Gal-10 as observed by both immunofluorescence and immuno-EM (electron microscopy). Thus, in contrast to other preformed eosinophil proteins, CLC-P/Gal-10 neither is stored within secretory granules nor exported through classical degranulation mechanisms (piecemeal degranulation and compound exocytosis).
Chicken-or-egg question: Which came first, extracellular vesicles or autoimmune diseases?
Authors: Maione Federica , Cappellano Giuseppe , Bellan Mattia , Raineri Davide , Chiocchetti Annalisa 
Published: February 2020

AbstractExtracellular vesicles (EVs) have attracted great interest as contributors to autoimmune disease (AD) pathogenesis, owing to their immunomodulatory potential; they may also play a role in triggering tolerance disruption, by delivering auto-antigens. EVs are released by almost all cell types, and afford paracrine or distal cell communication, functioning as biological carriers of active molecules including lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Depending on stimuli from the external microenvironment or on their cargo, EVs can promote or suppress immune responses. ADs are triggered by inappropriate immune-system activation against the self, but their precise etiology is still poorly understood. Accumulating evidence indicates that lifestyle and diet have a strong impact on their clinical onset and development. However, to date the mechanisms underlying AD pathogenesis are not fully clarified, and reliable markers, which would provide early prediction and disease progression monitoring, are lacking. In this connection, EVs have recently been indicated as a promising source of AD biomarkers. Although EV isolation is currently based on differential centrifugation or density-gradient ultracentrifugation, the resulting co-isolation of contaminants (i.e., protein aggregates), and the pooling of all EVs in one sample, limit this approach to abundantly-expressed EVs. Flow cytometry is one of the most promising methods for detecting EVs as biomarkers, and may have diagnostic applications. Furthermore, very recent findings describe a new method for identifying and sorting EVs by flow cytometry from freshly collected body fluids, based on specific EV surface markers.
Impact of RAS mutations on the immune infiltrate of colorectal liver metastases: A preliminary study
Authors: Polidoro Michela Anna , Milana Flavio , Soldani Cristiana , Franceschini Barbara , Anselmo Achille , Colombo Federico Simone , Di Tommaso Luca , Cimino Matteo , Carnevale Silvia , Lleo Ana , Jaillon Sebastien , Torzilli Guido , Donadon Matteo 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog KRAS proto-oncogene is the most common altered gene in colorectal cancer (CRC). Determining its mutational status, which is associated with worse prognosis and resistance to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors, is essential for managing patients with CRC and colon liver metastases (CLM). Emerging studies highlighted the relationship of KRAS-mutated cancers and tumor microenvironment components, mainly with T cells. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship of CLM immune cell infiltrate with KRAS mutational status. We performed a retrospective study on paraffin-embedded CLM tissue sections from patients surgically resected at the Department of Hepatobiliary and General Surgery of Humanitas Clinical and Cancer Center. We studied the distribution of lymphocytes (CD3+ cells), macrophages (CD163+), and neutrophils (CD66b+) in CLM tumoral and peritumoral area. Percentage of positive cells was correlated with tumor macroscopic characteristic, clinical aspects, and KRAS mutation. We observed a significant increase in CD66b+ cells in the peritumoral area in patients KRAS-mutated compared to KRAS wild-type patients. Percentages of lymphocytes and macrophages did not show significant differences. Further, neutrophils were found to be significantly increased also in the bloodstream of KRAS-mutated patients, indicating increased mobilization of neutrophils and recruitment in the CLM site. In conclusion, this study reveals a new intriguing aspect of the peritumoral microenvironment, which could pave the way for new prognostic and predictive markers for patient stratification.
Clinical trial analysis of 2019‐nCoV therapy registered in China
Authors: Zhang Qi , Wang Yakun , Qi Changsong , Shen Lin , Li Jian 
Published: February 2020

AbstractSo far, there is a lack of effective drugs for the new coronavirus pneumonia. With more and more patients diagnosed, China has carried out more than 100 clinical studies of new coronavirus infection, including antiviral drugs, antimalarial drugs, glucocorticoids, plasma therapy, virus vaccine, and other Western drugs, while Chinese medicine research accounted for half of the studies. Most of the trials were initiated by investigators and the study period would last for 1 to 11 months. The primary endpoints included symptom improvement and virus nucleic acid turning negative, but the optimal endpoint has not been determined. Although the final results of studies will take a long time to complete, the interim research data may provide some help for the current urgent demand for drug treatment. Compared with that of during SARS period in 2003, China has the stronger capability to carry out clinical trials of new drugs in emergency period.
Human papillomavirus E6: Host cell receptor, GRP78, binding site prediction
Authors: Elfiky Abdo A. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractHuman papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cervical cancer‐promoting element that is transmitted through sexual routes. Anal, head, and throat cancers are also reported to be accompanied by HPV infection. E6 is one of the HPV nonstructural proteins, which is responsible for cell differentiation by targeting tumor suppressor genes, p105Rb and p53. E6 was reported to be stabilized by two chaperone proteins; glucose‐regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and heat shock protein 90. GRP78 is responsible for the unfolded protein response of the cells, and it was reported to be upregulated in many cancers, including cervical cancer. It was reported that knocking out GRP78 destabilizes E6 leading to faster degradation of E6 in vivo. The current work predicts the possible binding mode between E6 and GRP78 based on sequence and structural similarities.
Testing Shortened Versions of Smell Tests to Screen for Hyposmia in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Auger Stephen D. , Kanavou Sofia , Lawton Michael , Ben‐Shlomo Yoav , Hu Michele T. , Schrag Anette E. , Morris Huw R. , Grosset Donald G. , Noyce Alastair J. 
Published: February 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundHyposmia is an early feature in neurodegenerative diseases, most notably Parkinson's disease (PD). Using abbreviated smell tests could provide a cost‐effective means for large‐scale hyposmia screening. It is unclear whether short smell tests can effectively detect hyposmia in patient populations.ObjectivesTo test the ability of short smell combinations to “prescreen” for probable hyposmia in people with PD and target administration of more extensive tests, such as the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test.MethodsWe assessed the screening performance of a short 4‐smell combination previously derived from use of the 40‐item University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test in healthy older people and its ability to detect hyposmia in a large cohort of PD patients.ResultsThe novel 4‐smell combination included menthol, clove, onion, and orange and had a sensitivity of 87.1% (95% confidence interval, 84.9%–89.2%) and specificity of 69.7% (63.3%–75.5%) for detecting hyposmia in patients with PD. A different (also novel) 4‐item combination developed using a data‐driven approach in PD patients only achieved 81.3% (78.2%–84.4%) sensitivity for equivalent specificity.ConclusionsA short 4‐smell combination derived from a healthy population demonstrated high sensitivity to detect those with hyposmia and PD.
Neonatal exposure to bisphenol A advances pubertal development in female rats
Authors: Qiu Jing , Sun Yanyan , Sun Wen , Wang Yonghong , Fan Teng , Yu Jian 
Published: February 2020

AbstractNeonatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) is hypothesized to advance pubertal development. However, the effects of neonatal BPA exposure on pubertal development has not been described. In this study, female Sprague‐Dawley rats were exposed to 0.05, 0.5, 5, or 10 mg·kg−1·day−1 BPA, or corn oil vehicle alone from postnatal day 1 (PND1) to PND10 via subcutaneous injection. We evaluated day of vaginal opening (DVO), ovarian morphology, serum hormone concentrations, and hypothalamic expression of Gnrh1 and Kiss1 in female rats at PND35. DVO was significantly advanced in rats exposed to 5 and 10 mg·kg−1·day−1 BPA. Serum hormone concentrations increased as BPA dose increased. Additionally, hypothalamic Gnrh1 and Kiss1 expression were increased with BPA exposure; rats exposed to 10 mg·kg−1·day−1 BPA had significantly upregulated hypothalamic Gnrh1 and Kiss1 expressions in terms of both messenger RNA and protein levels. Our results suggest that exposure to a 10 mg·kg−1·day−1 dose of BPA might advance pubertal development significantly. In addition, within the range of 0 to 10 mg·kg−1·day−1, neonatal exposure to BPA may affect pubertal development in a dose‐dependent manner.
Absence of MyD88 from Skeletal Muscle Protects Female Mice from Inactivity‐Induced Adiposity and Insulin Resistance
Authors: Mahmassani Ziad S. , Reidy Paul T. , McKenzie Alec I. , Petrocelli Jonathan J. , Matthews O’Connor , de Hart Naomi M. , Ferrara Patrick J. , O’Connell Ryan M. , Funai Katsuhiko , Drummond Micah J. 
Published: February 2020

ObjectiveInactivity and inflammation are linked to obesity and insulin resistance. It was hypothesized that MyD88 (mediates inflammation) knockout from muscle (MusMyD88−/−) would prevent, whereas miR146a−/− (MyD88 inhibitor) would exacerbate, inactivity‐induced metabolic disturbances.MethodsCre‐control, MusMyD88−/−, and miR146a−/− mice were given running wheels for 5 weeks to model an active phenotype. Afterward, half were placed into a small mouse cage (SMC) to restrict movement for 8 days. Body composition, muscle (3H)2‐deoxyglucose uptake, visceral fat histology, and tissue weight (hind limb muscles, visceral fat, and liver) were assessed. In skeletal muscle and visceral fat, RNA sequencing and mitochondrial function were performed on female MusMyD88−/− and Cre‐control SMC mice.ResultsThe SMC induced adiposity, hyperinsulinemia, and muscle insulin‐stimulated glucose uptake, which was worsened in miR146a−/− mice. In females, MusMyD88−/− mice were protected. Female MusMyD88−/− mice during the SMC period (vs. Cre‐control) exhibited higher Igf1 and decreased Ip6k3 and Trim63 muscle expression. Visceral fat transcript changes corresponded to improved lipid metabolism, decreased adipose expansion (Gulp1↑, Anxa2↓, Ehd1↓) and meta‐inflammation (Hmox1↓), and increased beiging (Fgf10↑). Ralgapa2, negative regulator of GLUT4 translocation, and inflammation‐related gene 993011J21Rik2 were decreased in both muscle and fat.ConclusionsWhole‐body miR146a−/− exacerbated inactivity‐induced fat gain and muscle insulin resistance, whereas MusMyD88−/− prevented insulin resistance in female mice.
Interfacial crystallization behavior of poly(ether‐ether‐ketone) on polyimide‐modified CCF300 carbon fibers
Authors: Li Xuekuan , Zhao Yan , Wang Kai 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThermostable polyimide (PI) was synthesized and used as a sizing agent to modify carbon fiber (CF) surfaces. In order to investigate the influence of the PI sizing agent on interfacial properties of continuous CF reinforced poly(ether‐ether‐ketone) (CF/PEEK) composites, a comparative investigation on the interfacial crystallization behavior of PEEK on CF surface with and without PI modification was performed by in situ polarized optical microscope (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. The POM images showed that the unsized CFs acted as heterogeneous nucleating agents to accelerate the formation of transcrystals, whereas CFs with PI sizing agents reduced nucleation site density, inducing nonuniform crystal layers. Quantitative investigation on the kinetics of interfacial crystallization growth also revealed that the PI sizing agent was an obvious obstacle to nucleation and subsequent crystallization growth. Based on the Jeziorny‐modified Avrami model, nonisothermal crystallization kinetics was studied over a large range of cooling rates, whose results were found consistent with the results in POM observation. Moreover, a theoretical model was proposed to reveal the mechanisms for the considerable influence of the PI sizing agent on the interfacial crystallization behavior of PEEK in CF/PEEK composites, and the predication for other systems was also performed.