bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Untangling the cobalt promotion role for ruthenium in sodium borohydride dehydrogenation with multiwalled carbon nanotube‐supported binary ruthenium cobalt catalyst
Authors: Avci Hansu Tulin , Sahin Omer , Çağlar Aykut , Demir Kivrak Hilal 
Published: November 2020

SummaryIn the present study, multiwalled carbon nanotube‐supported Ru (Ru/MWCNT) and RuCo (RuCo/MWCNT) nanocatalysts with 3 wt% Ru loading were synthesized via sodium borohydride (SBH) reduction method for the dehydrogenation of SBH (RSBH). These nanocatalysts were characterized with XRD, XPS, SEM–EDX, and TEM. Ru/MWCNT and Ru:Co/MWCNT catalysts with varying Ru:Co atomic ratios were prepared successfully, and electronic state of Ru:Co altered compared to Ru. RSBH activities of these Ru/MWCNT and RuCo/MWCNT were examined in alkaline environment. RuCo/MWCNT at 80:20 atomic ratio exhibits superior H2 evolution. Further experiments were performed with RuCo/MWCNT at 80:20 atomic ratio to determine how NaOH concentration (CNaOH), reaction temperature (Trxn), SBH concentration (CSBH), and amount of nanocatalyst (Mc) affect RSBH activities. Activation energy (Ea) was calculated using the Arrhenius equation. RuCo/MWCNT at 80:20 atomic ratio exhibits superior H2 evolution activities compared to the literature values. Initial rate (IR) for this nanocatalyst was found as 123.9385 mL H2 g−1cat min−1. As a result of these kinetic calculations, the Ea of the nanocatalysts was calculated as 35.978 kJ/mol. The degree of reaction (n) was found to be 0.53 by trial and error. RuCo/MWCNT at 80:20 atomic ratio is a promising nanocatalyst for RSBH.
Bile Acid Profiles in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and Their Ability to Predict Hepatic Decompensation
Authors: Mousa Omar Y. , Juran Brian D. , McCauley Bryan M. , Vesterhus Mette N. , Folseraas Trine , Turgeon Coleman T. , Ali Ahmad H. , Schlicht Erik M. , Atkinson Elizabeth J. , Hu Chang , Harnois Denise , Carey Elizabeth J. , Gossard Andrea A. , Oglesbee Devin , Eaton John E. , LaRusso Nicholas F. , Gores Gregory J. , Karlsen Tom H. , Lazaridis Konstantinos N. 
Published: November 2020

Background and Aims
Altered bile acid (BA) homeostasis is an intrinsic facet of cholestatic liver diseases, but clinical usefulness of plasma BA assessment in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) remains understudied. We performed BA profiling in a large retrospective cohort of patients with PSC and matched healthy controls, hypothesizing that plasma BA profiles vary among patients and have clinical utility.

Approach and Results
Plasma BA profiling was performed in the Clinical Biochemical Genetics Laboratory at Mayo Clinic using a mass spectrometry based assay. Cox proportional hazard (univariate) and gradient boosting machines (multivariable) models were used to evaluate whether BA variables predict 5‐year risk of hepatic decompensation (HD; defined as ascites, variceal hemorrhage, or encephalopathy). There were 400 patients with PSC and 302 controls in the derivation cohort (Mayo Clinic) and 108 patients with PSC in the validation cohort (Norwegian PSC Research Center). Patients with PSC had increased BA levels, conjugated fraction, and primary‐to‐secondary BA ratios relative to controls. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) increased total plasma BA level while lowering cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid concentrations. Patients without inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) had primary‐to‐secondary BA ratios between those of controls and patients with ulcerative colitis. HD risk was associated with increased concentration and conjugated fraction of many BA, whereas higher G:T conjugation ratios were protective. The machine‐learning model, PSC‐BA profile score (concordance statistic [C‐statistic], 0.95), predicted HD better than individual measures, including alkaline phosphatase, and performed well in validation (C‐statistic, 0.86).

Conclusions
Patients with PSC demonstrated alterations of plasma BA consistent with known mechanisms of cholestasis, UDCA treatment, and IBD. Notably, BA profiles predicted future HD, establishing the clinical potential of BA profiling, which may be suited for use in clinical trials.
MHD conjugate heat transfer and entropy generation analysis of MWCNT/water nanofluid in a partially heated divided medium
Authors: Ferhi Mokhtar , Djebali Ridha , Al‐Kouz Wael , Abboudi Said , Chamkha Ali J. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe aim of this article is to conduct the lattice Boltzmann simulation of the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) natural conjugate heat transfer in an apportioned cavity loaded with a multiwalled carbon nanotube/water nanofluid. The divided cavity is, to some extent, heated and cooled at the upright walls, whereas the horizontal walls are adiabatic. The nanofluid properties are evaluated on the basis of experimental correlations. The parameters ranges in the study are as follows: nanoparticles' volume fraction (%): 0 ≤ ϕ ≤ 0.5, temperature (°C): T = 27, Rayleigh number (Ra): 103 ≤ Ra ≤ 105, Hartmann number (Ha): 0 ≤ Ha ≤ 90, and the magnetic field inclination angle (γ): 0 ≤ γ ≤ π/2. The current outcomes are observed to be in great concurrence with the numerical results introduced in the literature. The impacts of the aforesaid parameters on local and average heat transfer, entropy generation, and Bejan number (Be) are explored and discussed. Indeed, the transfer of heat increases linearly with ϕ for a low Ra. As Ra increases, the average Nusselt number decreases for a high value of ϕ. The increase of nanoparticles' volume fraction leads to a reduction in the entropy generation and an increase in the Bejan number for a high Ra, but at low Ra, these functions remain constant. As the Ha increases, the transfer of heat and the entropy generation decreases, whereas there is an increase in Be. The transfer of heat, total entropy generation, and the Be depends strongly on the direction of the magnetic field. The increase of heater and cooler size has a great influence on the transfer of heat, entropy generation, and Be.
Enhanced IgG1‐mediated antibody response towards thymus‐dependent immunization in CXCR1‐deficient mice
Authors: Jaufmann Jennifer , Carevic Melanie , Tümen Leyla , Eliacik Derya , Schmitt Fee , Hartl Dominik , Beer‐Hammer Sandra 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundChemokine receptors and their corresponding ligands are key players of immunity by regulation of immune cell differentiation and migration. CXCR1 is a high‐affinity receptor for CXCL8. Differential expression of CXCR1 is associated with a variety of human pathologies including cancer and inflammatory diseases. While various studies have highlighted the importance of CXCR1‐mediated CXCL8‐sensing for neutrophil trafficking and function, its role in B‐cell responses remains unsolved. Therefore, our aim was to investigate innate and adaptive antibody responses in CXCR1‐deficient mice.MethodsCell populations of the spleen and the peritoneal cavity were identified and quantified via flow cytometry. To investigate thymus‐independent (TI) and thymus‐dependent (TD) antibody responses, mice were immunized intraperitoneally with TNP‐Ficoll, Pneumovax23, and TNP‐Chicken Gamma Globulin. Mice were bled before as well as 7 and 14 days after vaccination to collect serum. Serum antibody levels overtime were analyzed according to their specificity by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. B‐1 cell functionality was examined by IL‐5/IL‐5Rα‐dependent stimulation of peritoneal and splenic cells in vitro. To analyze CXCR1/2‐expression, CD19+ splenocytes were enriched by magnetic‐activated cell sorting before isolation of total RNA contents, followed by reverse transcription and real‐time polymerase chain reaction.ResultsThe distribution of natural B‐1 cell populations was disturbed in the absence of CXCR1, while their responsiveness towards TI antigens and in vitro stimulation remained functional. Besides, CXCR1‐deficiency was accompanied by increased frequencies of follicular B‐2 cells in the spleen. Interestingly, these mice produced elevated levels of antigen‐specific IgG1 upon TD immunization and harbored a significantly enlarged proportion of CXCR5‐expressing T helper (H) cells. CXCR1‐expression was detectable in CD19+ splenocytes derived from wild‐type, but not CXCR1‐deficient mice.ConclusionOur data demonstrate a previously unknown relevance of CXCR1 for the production of specific IgG1 in response to vaccination. These findings identify CXCR1 as a promising candidate for future studies on the regulation of adaptive antibody responses.
Financial development, financial structure and economic growth in the Sub‐Saharan African countries
Authors: Ouedraogo Salifou , Sawadogo Hamidou 
Published: November 2020

AbstractWe use a financial development indicator to revisit the relationship of financial development and financial structure with economic growth. The financial development indicator simultaneously takes into account accessibility, depth and financial efficiency for the period 1980–2017 for Sub‐Saharan Africa countries. The continuously updated fully modified (Cup‐FM) and continuously updated bias corrected (Cup‐BC) estimators, as well as the panel smooth transition regression (PSTR), were used to examine the linear and nonlinear effects of financial development and financial structure on economic growth. For low‐income countries, the Cup‐FM and the Cup‐BC estimators indicate that the financial system relies on financial markets. The findings obtains through the PSTR model confirm this conclusion when the financial market represents more than 34% of financial institutions. For middle‐income countries, the Cup‐FM and Cup‐BC estimators reveal that the financial system relies on banking industry. However, this result is not supported by the PSTR model. In fact, it indicates that the financial system in these countries is based on financial markets when government expenditure as percentage of gross domestic product is less than 2.62%. Above this threshold, the financial system depends on the development of financial services, legal and regulatory framework.
A new release of MOPAC incorporating the INDO/S semiempirical model with CI excited states
Authors: Gieseking Rebecca L. M. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe semiempirical INDO/S Hamiltonian is incorporated into a new release of MOPAC2016. The MOPAC2016 software package has long been at the forefront of semiempirical quantum chemical methods (SEQMs) for small molecules, proteins, and solids and until this release has included only NDDO‐type SEQMs. The new code enables the calculation of excited states using the INDO/S Hamiltonian combined with a configuration interaction (CI) approach using single excitations (CIS), single and double excitations (CISD), or multiple reference determinants (MRCI) where reference determinants are generated using a complete active space (CAS) approach. The capacity to perform excited‐state calculations beyond the CIS level makes INDO/CI one of the few low‐cost computational methods capable of accurately modeling states with substantial double‐excitation character. Solvent corrections to the ground‐state and excited‐state energies can be computed using the COSMO implicit solvent model, incorporating state‐specific corrections to the excited states based on the solvent refractive index. This code produces physically reasonable electronic structures, absorption spectra, and solvatochromic shifts at low computational costs for systems up to hundreds of atoms, and for both organic molecules and metal clusters.
Exosomes from bovine endometrial epithelial cells ensure trophoblast cell development by miR‐218 targeting secreted frizzled related protein 2
Authors: Wang Xiangguo , Li Qianru , Xie Tongtong , Yuan Mengyi , Sheng Xihui , Qi Xiaolong , Xing Kai , Liu Fang , Guo Yong , Xiao Longfei , Ni Hemin 
Published: November 2020

AbstractEndometritis is a common disease affecting fertility in cows during the perinatal period, which disturbs the molecular milieu of the uterine environment and impairs embryo development and implantation. Exosomes are important extracellular components that transmit a variety of micro RNAs (miRNAs), which perform key regulatory functions. In this study, we investigated plasma exosomal miRNAs from cows with endometritis and from cultured endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to explore the role of EEC‐derived exosomes and their miRNAs in bovine endometritis. Plasma exosomes were collected from nine healthy dairy cows and nine dairy cows with endometritis, and culture supernatant exosomes were isolated from EECs challenged with or without LPS. Exosomal RNA was extracted using commercial kits and miRNA profiles were generated using RNA‐seq. We found that miR‐218 was differentially expressed in EECs under conditions of endometrial inflammation. Inhibition studies suggested that reduced levels of miR‐218 in EEC‐derived exosomes when transferred into placental trophoblast cells impaired embryonic development and decreased placental trophoblast cell migration by targeting secreted frizzled related protein 2. We propose that exosomal miR‐218 secreted from EECs acts as a driver of embryonic development and differentiation. In addition, exosomal miR‐218 may provide a valuable diagnostic marker for bovine endometritis.
Hepatitis E virus infection and waste pickers: A case‐control seroprevalence study
Authors: Alvarado‐Esquivel Cosme , Gutierrez‐Martinez Verónica Dayali , Ramírez‐Valles Eda Guadalupe , Sifuentes‐Alvarez Antonio 
Published: November 2020

AbstractWhether waste pickers are a risk group for hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is largely unknown. This study aimed to determine the association between HEV exposure and the occupation of waste pickers and the work characteristics of waste pickers. An age‐and gender‐matched case‐control seroprevalence study of 86 waste pickers and 86 control subjects of the general population was performed. We determined anti‐HEV IgG antibodies in sera of cases and controls using a commercially available enzyme‐linked immunoassay. The McNemar's test was used to assess the association between HEV seropositivity and the occupation of waste picker. The association between HEV seropositivity and work characteristics of waste pickers was assessed by bivariate and logistic regression analyses. Anti‐HEV IgG antibodies were detected in 14 (16.3%) of the 86 waste pickers and in 8 (9.3%) of the 86 control subjects (McNemar's pair test: odds ratio (OR) = 13.0; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.73–230.77; p = .02). Bivariate analysis showed that HEV exposure was associated with an ill status (p = .01) and reflexes impairment (p = .009). Logistic regression analysis showed that HEV seropositivity was associated with increasing age (OR = 6.52; 95% CI: 1.95–21.78; p = .002) and raising pigs (OR = 12.01; 95% CI: 1.48–97.26; p = .02). This is the first age‐ and gender‐matched case‐control study on the association between HEV infection and the occupation of waste picker. Waste pickers represent a risk group for HEV infection. Factors associated with HEV seropositivity found in this study may help in the design of optimal planning to avoid HEV infection.
Comparison of procedural outcomes in patients undergoing catheter vs surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Doshi Rajkumar , Kumar Ashish , Shariff Mariam , Adalja Devina , Patel Krunalkumar , Patel Kirtenkumar , Desai Rupak , Gullapalli Nageshwara , Vallabhajosyula Saraschandra 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundThere is a lack of research comparing procedural outcomes of surgical ablation (SA) and catheter ablation (CA) among patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and atrial fibrillation (AF). The main objective was to compare the short‐term procedural outcomes of SA and CA in patients with HFrEF.MethodsWe used the national inpatient sample to identify hospitalizations over 18 years with HFrEF hospitalization and AF, and undergoing SA and CA from 2016 to 2017. Furthermore, the clinical outcomes of SA vs CA in AF stratified as nonparoxysmal and paroxysmal were analyzed.ResultsA total of 1,770 HFrEF hospitalizations with AF who underwent SA and 1,620 HFrEF hospitalizations with AF who underwent CA were included in the analysis. Hospitalizations with CA had higher baseline comorbidities. The in‐hospital mortality among HFrEF with AF undergoing SA as compared with CA was similar (2.8% vs 1.9%, respectively, adjusted P‐value 0.09). Hospitalizations with SA had a significantly longer length of hospital stay, a higher percentage of postprocedural, and cardiac complications. In HFrEF hospitalizations with nonparoxysmal AF, SA as compared with CA was associated with a higher percentage of in‐hospital mortality (2.4% vs 1%, adjusted P‐value <.05), a longer length of stay, a higher cost of treatment, and a higher percentage of cardiac complications.ConclusionCA is associated with lower in‐hospital adverse procedural outcomes as compared with SA among HFrEF hospitalizations with AF. Further research with freedom from AF as one of the outcome is needed between two groups for HFrEF.
Comparison of separation modes for microchip electrophoresis of proteins
Authors: Samarasinghe Thushara N. , Zeng Yong , Johnson Carey K. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractSeparation of a set of model proteins was tested on a microchip electrophoresis analytical platform capable of sample injection by two different electrokinetic mechanisms. A range of separation modes—microchip capillary zone electrophoresis, microchip micellar electrokinetic chromatography, and nanoparticle‐based sieving—was tested on glass and polydimethylsiloxane/glass microchips and with silica‐nanoparticle colloidal arrays. The model proteins calmodulin (18 kiloDalton), bovine serum albumin (66 kDa), and concanavalin (106 kDa) were labeled with Alexa Fluor 647 for laser‐induced fluorescence detection. The best separation and resolution were obtained in a silica‐nanoparticle colloidal array chip.
Turbulence in a small boreal lake: Consequences for air–water gas exchange
Authors: MacIntyre Sally , Bastviken David , Arneborg Lars , Crowe Adam T. , Karlsson Jan , Andersson Andreas , Gålfalk Magnus , Rutgersson Anna , Podgrajsek Eva , Melack John M. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe hydrodynamics within small boreal lakes have rarely been studied, yet knowing whether turbulence at the air–water interface and in the water column scales with metrics developed elsewhere is essential for computing metabolism and fluxes of climate‐forcing trace gases. We instrumented a humic, 4.7 ha, boreal lake with two meteorological stations, three thermistor arrays, an infrared (IR) camera to quantify surface divergence, obtained turbulence as dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy (ε) using an acoustic Doppler velocimeter and a temperature‐gradient microstructure profiler, and conducted chamber measurements for short periods to obtain fluxes and gas transfer velocities (k). Near‐surface ε varied from 10−8 to 10−6 m2 s−3 for the 0–4 m s−1 winds and followed predictions from Monin–Obukhov similarity theory. The coefficient of eddy diffusivity in the mixed layer was up to 10−3 m2 s−1 on the windiest afternoons, an order of magnitude less other afternoons, and near molecular at deeper depths. The upper thermocline upwelled when Lake numbers (LN) dropped below four facilitating vertical and horizontal exchange. k computed from a surface renewal model using ε agreed with values from chambers and surface divergence and increased linearly with wind speed. Diurnal thermoclines formed on sunny days when winds were < 3 m s−1, a condition that can lead to elevated near‐surface ε and k. Results extend scaling approaches developed in the laboratory and for larger water bodies, illustrate turbulence and k are greater than expected in small wind‐sheltered lakes, and provide new equations to quantify fluxes.
Small‐Angle X‐Ray Scattering Measurements on Amphiphilic Polymer Conetworks Swollen in Orthogonal Solvents
Authors: Benski Lena , Viran Ismail , Katzenberg Frank , Tiller Joerg C. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractAmphiphilic polymer conetworks (APCNs), which combine two different polymer nanophases, have a broad range of applications that involve their unique potential to separately swell one of these nanophases in a selective solvent. Little is known about the structural changes of such APCNs upon swelling in dependence on the topology. Here, conetworks composed of poly(2‐ethylhexyl acrylate) crosslinked by poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline) (PMOx) are investigated with small‐angle X‐ray scattering in dry and swollen state using the orthogonal solvents water and toluene. The data clearly show that the structural changes induced by swelling are strongly dependent on the topology of the APCNs. While water leads to fusion of PMOx phases resulting in larger structures than found in the dry APCN, toluene is only swelling the hydrophobic phases without structural changes.
Microstructural, Thermal, Crystallization, and Water Absorption Properties of Films Prepared from Never‐Dried and Freeze‐Dried Cellulose Nanocrystals
Authors: Hossain Kazi M. Zakir , Calabrese Vincenzo , da Silva Marcelo A. , Schmitt Julien , Bryant Saffron J. , Islam Md Towhidul , Felfel Reda M. , Scott Janet L. , Edler Karen J. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIn this paper, the microstructural, optical, thermal, crystallization, and water absorption properties of films prepared from never‐dried (ND) and freeze‐dried (FD) cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are reported. Morphology of the ND CNCs reveals a needle‐like structure, while after freeze‐drying, they show a flake‐like morphology. Microstructural analysis of ND and FD CNCs are further studied via small angle X‐ray scattering to probe interactions. ND CNCs yield a transparent film with a low surface roughness (14 ± 4 nm), while the FD CNC film evidence a significant reduction of their transparency due to their higher surface roughness (134 ± 20 nm). Although Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analyses reveal no chemical change occurs during the freeze‐drying process, yet a more intense thermal degradation profile is observed for FD CNC film, probably due to the higher oxygen ingress within the gaps created between the stacked flakes. This, in turn, results in a greater loss of crystallinity at a higher temperature (300 °C) compared to the ND CNC film. A rapid decrease in water contact angle of the FD CNC film proves that the morphology of flakes and their orientation within the film has a strong influence in increasing water absorption capacity.
Multifunctional DNA Nanogels for Aptamer‐Based Targeted Delivery and Stimuli‐Triggered Release of Cancer Therapeutics
Authors: Lee Kyungsene , Kim Taehyung , Kim Young Min , Yang Kyungjik , Choi Inseok , Roh Young Hoon 
Published: November 2020

AbstractTargeted, stimulus‐responsive DNA nanogels hold considerable promise for cancer therapeutics. To expand their functionality including thermoresponsiveness, here, multifunctional DNA nanogels are developed for potential application toward cancer‐targeted delivery and stimuli‐responsive release of cancer therapeutics. Three types of functionalized DNA nanobuilding units are formed into DNA nanogels of ≈200 nm via sequence‐dependent self‐assembly. The sequence‐dependent assembly of nanobuilding units is precisely designed for controlled assembly and thermal disassembly at physiological temperatures. The supramolecular structure exhibits multifunctionalities including temperature‐induced disassembly, aptamer‐mediated cancer cell targeting, and light‐triggered temperature increase. The nanogels support co‐loading of cancer therapeutics including anti‐sense oligonucleotides and doxorubicin along with stimuli‐responsive release of loaded drugs through temperature‐responsive structural disassembly and pH‐responsive deintercalation. The nanogels exhibit efficient aptamer‐mediated cancer‐specific intracellular delivery and combinational anticancer effects upon light triggering. The developed DNA nanogels, thus, constitute potential noncationic nanovectors for targeted delivery of combinational cancer therapeutics.