bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chitosan‐based fiber‐sponge materials as a promising tool for microalgae harvesting from Lake Baikal
Authors: Grigoriev Timofei E. , Lukanina Ksenia I. , Gotovtsev Pavel M. , Gorin Kirill V. , Melnikova Anna A. , Antipova Christina G. , Kamyshinsky Roman , Chvalun Sergei N. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMass eutrophication of microalgae and cyanobacteria is observed in Lake Baikal in the past decade. In this paper, the concept of replaceable adsorption filter material based on chitosan flocculant filler and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride polymer nonwoven material are proposed. Functional and mechanical properties and morphology of the material are investigated depending on a packing density and a degree of chitosan filling. The introduction of 45% chitosan increases the Young's modulus up to 10 times, and it makes the material more rigid in 2.8 times. The high efficiency of sorption and growth inhibition of cumulative biomass culture was shown. The biomass source is taken from the coast of Barguzinsky Bay of Lake Baikal. Dominant species is microalgae of Scenedesmus genus.
Electro‐mechanical deformation of amorphous and semi‐crystalline polymeric films
Authors: Zhang Ci , Li Zhenpeng , Nian Haofei , Zhu Lei , Olah Andrew , Baer Eric 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn our previous study, electrically induced mechanical stress was produced on monolithic polycarbonate (PC) films under a DC voltage using a needle‐plane electrode setup. This study investigated other materials with various structures and dielectric constants, in order to further understand the deformation mechanism. It was found that the elastic behavior occurred at electric fields intensities below that initiating measurable surface deformation. The amorphous materials, PS, and the semi‐crystalline materials, HDPE and PP, having dielectric constants all around 2.5, exhibited a similar observable deformation onset electric field at 200 MV/m. While PVDF, having a dielectric constant of 10.0–12.0, showed an onset at only 30 MV/m. The data was also compared to our previous study on PC. The depth and diameter of the deformation for all materials increased relative to the applied electric field up to film breakdown. Thermal annealing of the deformed films revealed a recoverable “delayed elastic” component and an irreversible “plastic” component. A three‐stage electrically induced mechanical deformation mechanism was proposed for amorphous materials, while a two‐stage mechanism was proposed for the semi‐crystalline materials. The difference on the energy loss versus deformed volume for amorphous and semi‐crystalline polymers was also determined and discussed.
Improving the moisture barrier and mechanical properties of semi‐refined carrageenan films
Authors: Sedayu Bakti B. , Cran Marlene J. , Bigger Stephen W. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractSemi‐refined carrageenan (SRC) films are sensitive to moisture and generally have poor mechanical properties. These factors limit their use in applications where moisture levels are high and good mechanical strength is required. This work investigated the incorporation of nanoclay (NC) into SRC film in combination with surface lamination using a thin layer of poly(caprolactone) (PCL) to enhance the barrier properties and hydrophobicity of the SRC film and concurrently improved the mechanical properties. The water vapor permeability, moisture uptake, and water solubility decreased by 92, 24, and 11%, respectively, and the water contact angle increased from 72° to 95°. The tensile strength and elongation at break increased by 17.9 and 2.8%, respectively, and the thermal stability also increased slightly. The PCL lamination was the main contributor to the enhanced barrier and mechanical properties of the films, whereas the NC inclusion contributed more to the enhanced thermal properties.
Xiaoyaosan regulates depression‐related behaviors with physical symptoms by modulating Orexin A/OxR1 in the hypothalamus
Authors: Hou Yajing , Liu Yueyun , Liu Chenyue , Yan Zhiyi , Ma Qingyu , Chen Jianbei , Zhang Man , Yan Qiuying , Li Xiaojuan , Chen Jiaxu 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe functional regulation of the orexin system in the central nervous system is closely related to the occurrence and development of psychotic disorders. Abnormal changes in the lateral region of the hypothalamus are associated with the comorbidity of depression and physical symptoms, and how the traditional Chinese formula Xiaoyaosan regulates these changes may reveal aspects of the pathogenesis of depression. This study aimed to establish a rat model of depression in order to examine changes in Orexin A/OxR1 expression in the lateral region of the hypothalamus and the effects of Xiaoyaosan. Sixty specific pathogen‐free (SPF) male healthy Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were used in the experiment and randomly divided into the control group, the model group, the Xiaoyaosan group and the fluoxetine group. The depression model was established by 21‐day chronic immobilization stress (CIS). Food intake and body weight were recorded, and the sucrose preference test (SPT) and open field test (OFT) were used to evaluate the model. Then, the expression of Orexin A/OxR1 in the hypothalamus was measured by ELISA, Western blot and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) analysis. The expression of Orexin A and OxR1 in the lateral hypothalamic area was significantly down regulated in the model group, compared with the control group. Xiaoyaosan significantly reversed these changes with obvious curative effects. Abnormal changes in Orexin A/OxR1 in the lateral hypothalamic area of rats with depression caused by chronic stress are closely related to the pathogenesis of depression accompanied by physical symptoms. Xiaoyaosan can improve depression accompanied by physical symptoms by regulating Orexin A/OxR1.
National Survey on Canadian Undergraduate Medical Programs: The Decline of the Anatomical Sciences in Canadian Medical Education
Authors: Rockarts Jasmine , Brewer‐Deluce Danielle , Shali Ari , Mohialdin Vian , Wainman Bruce 
Published: March 2020

The anatomical sciences have always been regarded as an essential component of medical education. In Canada, the methodology and time dedicated to anatomy teaching are currently unknown. Two surveys were administered to course directors and discipline leaders to gain a comprehensive view of anatomical education in Canadian medical schools. Participants were queried about contact hours (classroom and laboratory), content delivery and assessment methods for gross anatomy, histology, and embryology. Twelve schools responded to both surveys, for an overall response rate of 64%. Overall, Canadian medical students spend 92.8 (± 45.4) hours (mean ± SD) studying gross anatomy, 25.2 (± 21.0) hours for histology, and 7.4 (± 4.3) hours for embryology. Gross anatomy contact hours statistically significantly exceeded those for histology and embryology. Results show that most content is delivered in the first year of medical school, as anatomy is a foundational building block for upper‐year courses. Laboratory contact time for gross anatomy was 56.8 (± 30.7) hours, histology was 11.4 (± 16.2) hours, and embryology was 0.25 (± 0.6) hours. Additionally, 42% of programs predominantly used instructor/technician‐made prosections, another 33% used a mix of dissection and prosections and 25% have their students complete cadaveric dissections. Teaching is either completely or partially integrated into all Canadian medical curricula. This integration trend in Canada parallels those of other medical schools around the world where programs have begun to decrease contact time in anatomy and increase integration of the anatomical sciences into other courses. Compared to published American data, Canadian schools offer less contact time. The reason for this gap is unknown. Further investigation is required to determine if the amount of anatomical science education within medical school affects students' performance in clerkship, residency and beyond.
The Science of Empire: Darwinism, Human Diversity, and Russian Physical Anthropology
Authors: Mogilner Marina 
Published: March 2020

AbstractSummary: The article explores deployment of the Darwinian narrative of the “natural history of humanity” in Russian physical anthropology in the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century. It traces two narratives developed by the leading Russian school of physical anthropology: one narrative advanced a universalist vision of collective scholarly enterprise working toward clarifying the missing links in the a priori accepted developmental evolutionary model. The other constructed a new language that undermined the idea of species/subspecies/races/nations/ as stable, externally bounded, and internally homogeneous units and attempted to rationalize imperial hybridity. The article's main focus is on the latter classificatory narrative, its relational methodology, and the protostructuralist units of comparison that it produced.
Zwischen Mimesis und Typus. Die rassenanthropologische Lektüre altägyptischer Menschendarstellungen im 19. und frühen 20. Jahrhundert
Authors: Wiedemann Felix 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIm Zuge der archäologischen Erschließung Ägyptens und des Vorderen Orients im 19. Jahrhundert kamen zahlreiche Menschendarstellungen aus den Kulturen des Altertums zum Vorschein, die auch jenseits der Altertums‐ und Kunstwissenschaften große Faszination auszuüben vermochten. Dabei wurden insbesondere altägyptische Statuen und Reliefs weniger als ästhetische Repräsentationen, sondern als mimetisch‐typologische Darstellungen wahrgenommen, die nicht nur bestimmte Individuen, sondern ganze Völker mit ihren charakteristischen physischen Merkmalen abbilden. Vor diesem Hintergrund avancierten Abbildungen dieser Bildwerke zu wichtigen visuellen Referenzen anthropologischer Publikationen und sollten die Konstanz vermeintlicher Rassenmerkmale und damit die Gültigkeit wissenschaftlicher Klassifikationen belegen. Anhand vornehmlich deutschsprachiger Publikationen aus dem 19. und frühen 20. Jahrhundert rekonstruiert der Beitrag die epistemologischen Voraussetzungen und bildästhetischen Prämissen der anthropologischen Lektüre altägyptischer Menschendarstellungen und geht der Frage nach, warum sich dieses Verfahren weitgehend auf Objekte aus den Kulturen des Alten Orients konzentrierte. Im Fokus steht hier die klassizistische Kunst‐ und Körperauffassung, die auf der einen Seite einer anthropologischen Lektüre von Objekten aus der klassischen Antike im Wege stand, auf der anderen aber dazu beitrug, den ägyptischen jenen mimetischen und typologischen Charakter zuzuweisen, der sie als visuelle Referenzen auch für die physische Anthropologie attraktiv machte.
Stoffe auf Reisen: Die transnationalen Akteure Jan Czochralski und Ludwik Hirszfeld und die lokale Bedingtheit der Entstehung von Wissen
Authors: Steffen Katrin 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAt the beginning of the 20th century, research on material substances such as blood and metals was in high demand, as is apparent from the successful careers of the serologist Ludwik Hirszfeld (1884–1954) and the metallurgist Jan Czochralski (1885–1953). Both were leading experts of their time, their transnational biographies – spanning the German‐speaking countries and Poland – were remarkably similar, and they both played important roles in the development of their respective disciplines. This paper explores how their contributions were closely tied to the circulation of their respective research materials – blood and metals – and of knowledge about them throughout Europe and beyond. These examples forcefully demonstrate that, in order to fully understand how specific, widely accepted bodies of knowledge emerge, both local situations and the material conditions have to be considered. Drawing on Latour's actor‐network theory, the transnational stories of serology and metallurgy demonstrate the range of human and non‐human actors, practices, and techniques that contributed to the circulation of knowledge, to its successful application, and also to occasional failure in specific geographical and cultural contexts.
A highly sensitive fluorescence sensor based on lucigenin/chitosan/SiO2 composite nanoparticles for microRNA detection using magnetic separation
Authors: Chang Zheng , Feng Jing , Zheng Xingwang 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn this paper, a convenient reverse‐phase microemulsion method for the synthesis of SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) by simply introducing the chitosan and fluorescent dye of lucigenin during the formation reaction of SiO2 NPs was proposed. Addition of chitosan can make the SiO2 NPs porous, and increases lucigenin molecule incorporation into chitosan/SiO2 NPs nanopores based on electrostatic interaction and supermolecular forces. Therefore, fluorescence quantum yield of the lucigenin/chitosan/SiO2 composite nanoparticles was increased by introduction of chitosan and compared with lucigenin/SiO2 NPs without chitosan. Because the number of negative charges carried when using single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA) was different from that of double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA), the numbers of lucigenin/chitosan/SiO2 composite nanoparticles with positive charge adsorbed using ssDNA or dsDNA were different. Consequently, fluorescence intensity caused using ssDNA or dsDNA/miRNA was clearly discriminative. With increase in target DNA/miRNA concentration, the difference in fluorescence intensity also increased, resulting in a good linear relationship between fluorescence intensity sensitizing value and target miRNA concentrations. Therefore, a new fluorescence analysis method for direct detection of let‐7a in human gastric cancer cell samples without enzyme, label free and no immobilization was established using lucigenin/chitosan/SiO2 composite nanoparticles as a DNA hybrid indicator. The proposed method had high sensitivity and selectivity, low cost and the detection limit was 10 fM (S/N = 3).
Biotherapeutic Approaches in Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Tham Elizabeth Huiwen , Koh Elvin , Common John E. A. , Hwang In Young 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe skin microbiome plays a central role in inflammatory skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis (AD). In AD patients, an imbalance between pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and resident skin symbionts creates a state of dysbiosis which induces immune dysregulation and impairs skin barrier function. There are now exciting new prospects for microbiome‐based interventions for AD prevention. In the hopes of achieving sustained control and management of disease in AD patients, current emerging biotherapeutic strategies aim to harness the skin microbiome associated with health by restoring a more diverse symbiotic skin microbiome, while selectively removing pathogenic S. aureus. Examples of such strategies are demonstrated in skin microbiome transplants, phage‐derived anti‐S. aureus endolysins, monoclonal antibodies, and quorum sensing (QS) inhibitors. However, further understanding of the skin microbiome and its role in AD pathogenesis is still needed to understand how these biotherapeutics alter the dynamics of the microbiome community; to optimize patient selection, drug delivery, and treatment duration; overcome rapid recolonization upon treatment cessation; and improve efficacy to allow these therapeutic options to eventually reach routine clinical practice.
Novel nucleic acid detection strategies based on CRISPR‐Cas systems: From construction to application
Authors: Zhu Chu‐shu , Liu Chuan‐yang , Qiu Xin‐yuan , Xie Si‐si , Li Wen‐ying , Zhu Lingyun , Zhu Lv‐yun 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBeyond their widespread application as genome‐editing and regulatory tools, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)‐CRISPR‐associated (Cas) systems also play a critical role in nucleic acid detection due to their high sensitivity and specificity. Recently developed Cas family effectors have opened the door to the development of new strategies for detecting different types of nucleic acids for a variety of purposes. Precise and efficient nucleic acid detection using CRISPR‐Cas systems has the potential to advance both basic and applied biological research. In this review, we summarize the CRISPR‐Cas systems used for the recognition and detection of specific nucleic acids for different purposes, including the detection of genomic DNA, nongenomic DNA, RNA, and pathogenic microbe genomes. Current challenges and further applications of CRISPR‐based detection methods will be discussed according to the most recent developments.
Adjunct ketamine treatment of depression in treatment‐resistant schizophrenia patients is unsatisfactory in pilot and secondary follow‐up studies
Authors: Zhuo Chuanjun , Lin Xiaodong , Tian Hongjun , Liu Sha , Bian Haiman , Chen Ce 
Published: March 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the effects of adjunct ketamine treatment on chronic treatment‐resistant schizophrenia patients with treatment‐resistant depressive symptoms (CTRS‐TRD patients), including alterations in brain function.MethodsIntravenous ketamine (0.5 mg/kg body weight) was administered to CTRS‐TRD patients over a 1‐hr period on days 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, and 25 of our initial pilot study. This treatment method was subsequently repeated 58 days after the start of the pilot study for a secondary follow‐up study. Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and regional homogeneity (ReHo) results were used to assess treatment effects and alterations in brain function throughout the entire duration of our studies.ResultsBetween day 7 and day 14 of the first treatment, CDSS scores were reduced by 63.8% and PANSS scores were reduced by 30.04%. In addition, ReHo values increased in the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes. However, by day 21, depressive symptoms relapsed. During the second treatment period, CDSS and PANSS scores exhibited no significant differences compared to baseline between day 58 and day 86. On day 65, ReHo values were higher in the temporal, frontal, and parietal lobes. However, on day 79, the increase in ReHo values completely disappeared.ConclusionsDepressive symptoms in CTRS‐TRD patients were alleviated with adjunct ketamine treatment for only 1 week during the first treatment period. Moreover, after 1 month, the antidepressant effects of ketamine on CTRS‐TRD patients completely disappeared. Correspondingly, ReHo alterations induced by ketamine in the CTRS‐TRD patients were not maintained for more than 3 weeks. These pilot findings indicate that adjunct ketamine treatment is not satisfactory for CTRS‐TRD patients.
Haploidentical‐ versus identical‐sibling transplant for high‐risk pediatric AML: A multi‐center study
Authors: Zheng Feng-Mei , Zhang Xi , Li Chun-Fu , Cheng Yi-Fei , Gao Li , He Yue-Lin , Wang Yu , Huang Xiao-Jun 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundHuman leukocyte antigen‐identical sibling donor (ISD)‐hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is a potentially curative treatment for high‐risk pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A haploidentical donor (HID) is readily available to almost all children. Previous studies have demonstrated that patients with HID‐SCT had similar outcomes compared to ISD‐SCT for pediatric and adult AML. However, the role of HID‐SCT in high‐risk pediatric AML is unclear.MethodsTo compare the overall survival of high‐risk AML children who underwent either HID‐SCT or ISD‐SCT, we analyzed 179 cases of high‐risk AML patients under 18 years of age treated with either ISD‐SCT (n = 23) or HID‐SCT (n = 156). Granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor plus anti‐thymocyte globulin‐based regimens were used for HID‐SCT. We also analyzed the subgroup data of AML patients at first complete remission (CR1) before SCT with known cytogenetic risk.ResultsThe numbers of adverse cytogenetic risk recipients were 8 (34.8%) and 13 (18.8%) in the ISD‐SCT group and the HID‐SCT group, and the number of patients with disease status beyond CR1 were 6 (26.1%) and 14 (20.3%) in the two groups. The cumulative rates of grades II‐IV acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) were 13.0% in the ISD‐SCT group and 34.8% in the HID‐SCT group (P = 0.062), with a three‐year cumulative rates of chronic GVHD at 14.1% and 34.9%, respectively (P = 0.091). The relapse rate in the ISD‐SCT group was significantly higher than that in the HID‐SCT group (39.1% vs. 16.4%, P = 0.027); with non‐relapse mortality at 0.0% and 10.6% (P = 0.113), respectively. The three‐year overall survival rates were 73.0% for the ISD‐SCT group and 74.6% for the HID‐SCT group (P = 0.689). In subgroup analysis, the three‐year relapse rate in the ISD‐SCT group was higher than that in the HID‐SCT group (50.0% vs. 9.2%, P = 0.001) and the three‐year DFS in the ISD‐SCT group (50.0%) was lower than that in the HID‐SCT group (81.2%) (P = 0.021).ConclusionsUnmanipulated HID‐SCT achieved DFS and OS outcomes comparable to those of ISD‐SCT for high‐risk pediatric AML patients with potentially higher rate but manageable GVHD.
Iron protects childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells from methotrexate cytotoxicity
Authors: Abedi Marjan , Rahgozar Soheila , Esmaeili Abolghasem 
Published: March 2020

AbstractDrug resistance is a fundamental clinical concern in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pALL), and methotrexate (MTX) is an essential chemotherapy drug administered for the treatment. In the current study, the effect of iron in response to methotrexate and its underlying mechanisms were investigated in pALL cells. CCRF‐CEM and Nalm6 cell lines were selected as T and B‐ALL subtypes. Cells were pretreated with ferric ammonium citrate, exposed to the IC50 concentration of MTX and cell viability was assessed using MTT, colony formation, and flow cytometry assays. Iron‐loaded cells were strongly resistant to MTX cytotoxicity. The inhibitory effect of N‐acetyl cysteine to reverse the acquired MTX resistance was greater than that of the iron chelator, deferasirox, highlighting the importance of iron‐mediated ROS in MTX resistance. Subsequently, the upregulation of BCL2, SOD2, NRF2, and MRP1 was confirmed using quantitative RT‐PCR. Moreover, a positive correlation was demonstrated between the MRP1 expression levels and bone marrow iron storage in pALL patients. Further supporting our findings were the hematoxylin and eosin‐stained histological sections showing that iron‐treated nude mice xenografts demonstrated significantly more liver damage than those unexposed to iron. Overall, iron is introduced as a player with a novel role contributing to methotrexate resistance in pALL. Our findings suggest that the patients' bone marrow iron stores are necessary to be assessed during the chemotherapy, and transfusions should be carefully administrated.
Studies on the Catalytic Promiscuity of Limonene Epoxide Hydrolases in the Non‐hydrolytic Ring Opening of 1,2‐Epoxides
Authors: Bassanini Ivan , Ferrandi Erica Elisa , Monti Daniela , Riva Sergio 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe non‐hydrolytic ring opening of 1,2‐epoxides in the presence of limonene epoxide hydrolases (LEHs) and different nucleophiles has been investigated. Lyophilized, wild‐type LEHs were tested in selected water‐saturated organic solvents in the presence of cyclohexene oxide as substrate and different alcohols, thiols and primary amines as nucleophiles. Although the LEHs retained an appreciable catalytic activity under different reaction conditions, formation of the desired 1,2‐substituted cyclohexanols was not observed. Alternatively, LEH variants incapable of performing the hydrolytic reaction were generated by site‐directed mutagenesis and tested in aqueous media in the presence of different water‐soluble nucleophiles and cyclohexene oxide. Under defined reaction conditions, an acceleration of up to about threefold of the spontaneous reaction rate was observed in the presence of sodium azide and potassium thiocyanate as nucleophiles.