bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Light‐driven catalysis with engineered enzymes and biomimetic systems
Authors: Edwards Emily H. , Bren Kara L. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractEfforts to drive catalytic reactions with light, inspired by natural processes like photosynthesis, have a long history and have seen significant recent growth. Successfully engineering systems using biomolecular and bioinspired catalysts to carry out light‐driven chemical reactions capitalizes on advantages offered from the fields of biocatalysis and photocatalysis. In particular, driving reactions under mild conditions and in water, in which enzymes are operative, using sunlight as a renewable energy source yield environmentally friendly systems. Furthermore, using enzymes and bioinspired systems can take advantage of the high efficiency and specificity of biocatalysts. There are many challenges to overcome to fully capitalize on the potential of light‐driven biocatalysis. In this mini‐review, we discuss examples of enzymes and engineered biomolecular catalysts that are activated via electron transfer from a photosensitizer in a photocatalytic system. We place an emphasis on selected forefront chemical reactions of high interest, including CH oxidation, proton reduction, water oxidation, CO2 reduction, and N2 reduction.
Progress and barriers in understanding and preventing indirect land‐use change
Authors: Daioglou Vassilis , Woltjer Geert , Strengers Bart , Elbersen Berien , Barberena Ibañez Goizeder , Sánchez Gonzalez David , Gil Barno Javier , van Vuuren Detlef P. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractClimate change mitigation pathways have highlighted both the critical role of land‐use emissions, and the potential use of biofuels as a low‐emission energy carrier. This has led to concerns about the emission mitigation potential of biofuels, particularly related to indirect land‐use change (ILUC). This arises when the production of biofuels displaces the production of land‐based products elsewhere, either directly or via changes in crop prices, leading to indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We review a large body of literature that has emerged on ILUC assessment and quantification, highlighting the methodologies employed, the resultant emission factors, modeled dynamics driving ILUC, and the uncertainty therein. Our review reveals that improvements in ILUC assessment methods have failed to reduce uncertainty and increase confidence in ILUC factors, instead making marginal improvements to economic models. Thus, while assessments have highlighted measures that could reduce ILUC, it is impossible to control or determine the actual ILUC resulting from biofuel production. This makes ILUC a poor guiding principle for land‐use and climate policy, and does not help with the determination of the GHG performance of biofuels. Instead climate and land‐use policy should focus on more integrated protection of terrestrial resources, covering all land‐use‐related products. © 2020 The Authors. Biofuels, Bioproducts, and Biorefining published by Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
From industrial by‐products to value‐added compounds: the design of efficient microbial cell factories by coupling systems metabolic engineering and bioprocesses
Authors: Rangel Albert E. T. , Gómez Ramírez Jorge Mario , González Barrios Andrés Fernando 
Published: June 2020

AbstractMicrobial cell factories have been used for the production of valuable chemical compounds using a classical metabolic engineering approach, but this requires much time and cost, and labor‐intensive processes to make cell factories industrially competitive. Systems metabolic engineering is an upgraded version, which understands the cell as a complex system in which networks of genes, transcripts, proteins, and metabolites are connected, facilitating the analysis of potential cell factories. However, efficient cell factory design, which aims for industrial‐scale production, requires a comprehensive system, which goes beyond metabolism and considers industrial production challenges. A review is provided here of the developments and challenges in the application of systems biology for metabolic engineering and in recovery and purification processes for scaling up bio‐based chemical production. Then, a new design, build, test, and learn prediction cycle for metabolic engineering is proposed, for the design of efficient cell factories. This considers system‐wide characteristics and relies upon the integration of upstream (strain development), midstream (fermentation), and downstream (recovery and purification) analysis for strain design. In addition to this cycle, three issues should be taken into consideration: (i) The use of simple, available, and inexpensive materials; (ii) the identification and elimination of bottlenecks using non‐complex recovery and purification processes; (iii) the assessment of commercial and chemical industry requirements from the perspective of system efficiency. In this context, highly efficient microbial cell factories should be developed to produce compounds with improved production performance to meet industrial application requirements. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Moral tribalism and its discontents: How intuitive theories of ethics shape consumers' deference to experts
Authors: Johnson Samuel G.B. , Rodrigues Max , Tuckett David 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWe study the psychology at the intersection of two social trends. First, as markets become increasingly specialized, consumers must increasingly defer to outside experts to decide among complex products. Second, people divide themselves increasingly into moral tribes, defining themselves in terms of shared values with their group and often seeing these values as being objectively right or wrong. We tested how and why these tribalistic tendencies affect consumers' willingness to defer to experts. We find that consumers are indeed tribalistic in which experts they find convincing, preferring products advocated by experts who share their moral values (Study 1), with this effect generalizing across product categories (books and electronics) and measures (purchase intentions, information‐seeking, willingness‐to‐pay, product attitudes, and consequential choices). We also establish the mechanisms underlying these effects: because many consumers believe moral matters to be objective facts, experts who disagree with those values are seen as less competent and therefore less believable (Studies 2 and 3), with this effect strongest among consumers who are high in their belief in objective moral truth (Study 4). Overall, these studies seek not only to establish dynamics of tribalistic deference to experts but also to identify which consumers are more or less likely to fall prey to these tribalistic tendencies.
Selective reaction of homocysteine with o‐phthalaldehyde under flow conditions in highly alkaline medium: fluorimetric determination using zone fluidics
Authors: Tsiasioti Apostolia , Andreou Aikaterini , Tzanavaras Paraskevas D. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn the present study we report the reaction between homocysteine and o‐phthalaldehyde under flow conditions. Homocysteine reacts on‐line with the derivatization reagent in a strong alkaline medium and in the absence of nucleophilic reagents to yield a fluorescent derivative (λex/λem = 370/480 nm). The reaction variables were investigated using the concept of zone fluidics. Selectivity factors against other compounds were calculated at 10‐fold excess. The findings formed the basis of an automated proposed method that was found to be linear in the range 0.1–1.5 μmol L−1, with a limit of detection of 20 nmol L−1 and relative standard deviation < 0.5% (within‐day) and 3.2% (between‐day). The method proved to be rapid, offering a practical sampling rate of 24 h−1 and accurate following application to an artificial urine matrix with minimum dilution.
Technoeconomic analysis of semicontinuous bioreactor production of biopharmaceuticals in transgenic rice cell suspension cultures
Authors: Corbin Jasmine M. , McNulty Matthew J. , Macharoen Kantharakorn , McDonald Karen A. , Nandi Somen 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBiopharmaceutical protein production using transgenic plant cell bioreactor processes offers advantages over microbial and mammalian cell culture platforms in its ability to produce complex biologics with simple chemically defined media and reduced biosafety concerns. A disadvantage of plant cells from a traditional batch bioprocessing perspective is their slow growth rate which has motivated us to develop semicontinuous and/or perfusion processes. Although the economic benefits of plant cell culture bioprocesses are often mentioned in the literature, to our knowledge no rigorous technoeconomic models or analyses have been published. Here we present technoeconomic models in SuperPro Designer® for the large‐scale production of recombinant butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), a prophylactic/therapeutic bioscavenger against organophosphate nerve agent poisoning, in inducible transgenic rice cell suspension cultures. The base facility designed to produce 25 kg BChE per year utilizing two‐stage semicontinuous bioreactor operation manufactures a single 400 mg dose of BChE for $263. Semicontinuous operation scenarios result in 4–11% reduction over traditional two‐stage batch operation scenarios. In addition to providing a simulation tool that will be useful to the plant‐made pharmaceutical community, the model also provides a computational framework that can be used for other semicontinuous or batch bioreactor‐based processes.
Human trabecular meshwork cell behavior is influenced by collagen scaffold pore architecture and glycosaminoglycan composition
Authors: Osmond Matthew J. , Krebs Melissa D. , Pantcheva Mina B. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractGlaucoma is a degenerative eye disease in which damage to the optic nerve leads to a characteristic loss of vision. The primary risk factor for glaucoma is an increased intraocular pressure that is caused by an imbalance of aqueous humor generation and subsequent drainage through the trabecular meshwork (TM) drainage system. The small size, donor tissue limitations, and high complexity of the TM make it difficult to research the relationship between the TM cells and their immediate environment. Thus, a biomaterial‐based approach may be more appropriate for research manipulations and in vitro drug development platforms. In this work, human TM (hTM) cells were cultured on various collagen scaffolds containing different glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and different pore architectures to better understand how hTM cells respond to changes in their extracellular environment. Cellular response was measured by quantifying cellular proliferation and expression of an important extracellular matrix protein, fibronectin. The pore architecture of the scaffolds was altered using freeze‐casting technique to make both large and small pores that were aligned or with a non‐aligned random structure. The composition of the scaffolds was altered with the addition of chondroitin sulfate and/or hyaluronic acid. It was found that the hTM cells grown on large pore scaffolds proliferate more than those grown on small pores. There was an increase in the fibronectin expression with the incorporation of GAGs, and its morphology was changed by the underlying pore architecture. This work will help provide an insight into the behavior of hTM cells when introducing changes in their microenvironment.
Immobilization rapidly selects for chemoresistant ovarian cancer cells with enhanced ability to enter dormancy
Authors: Lam Tiffany , Aguirre‐Ghiso Julio A. , Geller Melissa A. , Aksan Alptekin , Azarin Samira M. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAround 20–30% of ovarian cancer patients exhibit chemoresistance, but there are currently no methods to predict whether a patient will respond to chemotherapy. Here, we discovered that chemoresistant ovarian cancer cells exhibit enhanced survival in a quiescent state upon experiencing the stress of physical confinement. When immobilized in stiff silica gels, most ovarian cancer cells die within days, but surviving cells exhibit hallmarks of single‐cell dormancy. Upon extraction from gels, the cells resume proliferation but demonstrate enhanced viability upon reimmobilization, indicating that initial immobilization selects for cells with a higher propensity to enter dormancy. RNA‐seq analysis of the extracted cells shows they have signaling responses similar to cells surviving cisplatin treatment, and in comparison to chemoresistant patient cohorts, they share differentially expressed genes that are associated with platinum‐resistance pathways. Furthermore, these extracted cells demonstrate greater resistance to cisplatin and paclitaxel, despite being proliferative. In contrast, serum starvation and hypoxia could not effectively select for chemoresistant cells upon removal of the environmental stress. These findings demonstrate that ovarian cancer chemoresistance and the ability to enter dormancy are linked, and immobilization rapidly distinguishes chemoresistant cells. This platform could be suitable for mechanistic studies, drug development, or as a clinical diagnostic tool.
Biomass and pigment production for Arthrospira platensis via semi‐continuous cultivation in photobioreactors: Temperature effects
Authors: Karemore Ankush , Yuan Yanhui , Porubsky William , Chance Ronald 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThis study describes the response of Arthrospira platensis to a variety of temperature conditions as reflected in variations of photosynthetic parameters, pigmentation, and biomass productivity in indoor photobioreactor (PBR) cultivations. These experiments are designed to better understand the impact of temperature, seasonal variations, and acclimation effects on outdoor biomass production. The irradiance level and temperature range (20–39°C) are chosen to enable modeling of semi‐continuous operation of large‐scale outdoor PBR deployments. Overall, the cultivations are quite stable with some pigment‐related instabilities after prolonged high‐temperature exposure. Changes in productivity with temperature, as reflected in measured photosynthetic parameters, are immediate and mainly attributable to the temperature dependence of the photosaturation parameter, a secondary factor being variation in pigment content on a longer time scale corresponding to turnover of the culture population. Though pigment changes are not accompanied by significant changes in productivity, prolonged exposure at 35°C and above yields a clear degradation in performance. Productivities in a semi‐continuous operation are quantitatively reproduced with a productivity model incorporating photosynthetic parameters measured herein. This study confirms the importance of temperature for biomass and pigment production in Arthrospira cultivations and provides a basis for risk assessments related to temperature mitigation for large‐scale outdoor cultivations.
Simultaneous determination of VD2, VD3, 25(OH) D2, and 25(OH) D3 in human plasma using electrospray LC–MS/MS as well as its application to evaluate VD plasma levels in depressive, schizophrenic patients and healthy individuals
Authors: Lyu Haiyan , Wang Suping , Jin Ying , Shen Rong , Chen Jiayun , Zhu Chunyan , Chen Binbin , Wu Caisheng 
Published: June 2020

AbstractVitamin D measurements in biological fluids by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) have been widely used but remain challenging at very low concentration levels. Rapid, high recovery, sensitive and reliable measurements of vitamin D, as well as its primary metabolites using LC–MS/MS are urgently needed for a routine clinical laboratory. Herein, we reported a novel electrospray LC–MS/MS method for determining vitamin D and its primary metabolites using the supported liquid extraction method to achieve higher recoveries, with optimized pH values to achieve optimal derivatization efficiency for higher sensitivity and selected chromatographic conditions to shorten the separation time. The method has been validated with respect to selectivity, recovery, matrix effects, accuracy and precision, stabilities, carryover and dilution effects. The method has been successfully applied to quantify the VD plasma concentrations of depressive, schizophrenic patients and healthy individuals. The result showed that there were significant differences in plasma VD levels between mental disorder patients with healthy individuals, and the total VD levels in mental disorder patients were much higher than healthy individuals, which might require larger clinical samples for validation.
A qualitative exploration of the sociology of poststroke visual impairments and the associated health inequalities
Authors: Hanna Kerry , Mercer David , Rowe Fiona 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIntroductionInequalities have been found to exist within the visually impaired stroke population on an individual level, in relation to demographic differences, unequal access to vision services, transport, employment, and financial repercussions. The long‐term impact of living with poststroke visual impairments must be explored, in order to identify complications accessing NHS services and to inform possible changes to service planning and delivery in order to tackle such complications.AimTo explore the extent of health inequalities within visually impaired stroke survivors in the northwest of England and discuss potential solutions to these.MethodsFocus groups and individual interviews (n = 13 stroke survivors and n = 1 spouse) were conducted between October 2016 and January 2017. Transcription and thematic analysis of the transcripts was undertaken, using line‐by‐line coding, underpinned with social constructionism.ResultsThe findings draw on lived experiences of stroke survivors across their journey from prestroke to life after stroke. The three overarching experiences of stroke and visual impairment that emerged in respondent accounts were constructed in terms of “loss,” concerning (a) the physical being, (b) the psychosocial being and, (c) the systematic organization of health care.ConclusionThe stroke survivors frequently reported a complete lack of visual care, with many recounting apathetic experiences, often resonating power imbalance in the healthcare system. Where suitable care is being offered after stroke, a desire for a personalized approach to rehabilitation, with adapted communication methods specific to individual needs, featured strongly in many of the respondent accounts. The findings emphasize a need to ensure vision rehabilitation is offered to all stroke survivors suffering from poststroke visual impairment, and to educate stroke clinicians and patients of the bigger picture of life after stroke, highlighting all forms of available support.
High‐frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation protects APP/PS1 mice against Alzheimer’s disease progress by reducing APOE and enhancing autophagy
Authors: Chen Xia , Dong Guo‐Ying , Wang Lin‐Xiao 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIntroductionThe repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has clinically wide application prospect of psychiatry and neuroscience, for its painless, noninvasive, and high efficiency. So far, rTMS has been used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) but the underlying mechanism is not clear.Methods and ResultsThe APP/PS1 mice at 3‐month‐old were treated by 5 Hz high‐frequency (HF) rTMS for two weeks. After rTMS treatment, the AD‐like cognitive impairments of APP/PS1 mice were investigated subsequently, and molecular mechanisms underlying was further explored. The study showed that the 2‐week rTMS at 5Hz frequency improved cognitive impairments and AD‐like pathology (including a decrease in p‐Tau, APP, Aβ, and PP2A expression) of APP/PS1 mice. Although BDNF‐TrkB signaling was significantly enhanced, no differences of SYN, PSD95 and p‐AKT were observed in the brain of APP/PS1 mice. On the contrary, the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio was elevated with a significant reduction of ApoE and p62 in mice.ConclusionsrTMS exerts a potentially protective role in the prevention and treatment of AD by reducing ApoE expression and promoting autophagic flux, which provides a new insight into the mechanism of rTMS.
Industry convergence as a strategy for achieving sustainable development of agricultural complex: The case of Sandun‐Lanli in China
Authors: Chen Xiaowei , Zhang Tianyu , Jia Fu 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe purpose of the paper is to conceptualize and provide empirical evidence for the adoption of industry convergence strategy to sustainably develop the agricultural complex (AC) as a form of multifunctional agriculture in the Chinese context, which aims to achieve environmental sustainability in agricultural production and promotion of farmers' income and employment opportunities. A longitudinal single‐case study method was adopted. Thirty‐six face‐to‐face interviews were carried out with key respondents from various levels and types of government agencies, the Wu‐Sheng Company, and village collectives; participative observations were conducted during the fieldwork between 2016 and 2019. We found sustainability is embedded in and achieved through the industry convergence strategies of AC in the rural area of China. We are the first to formally define AC, propose the four‐stage industry convergence strategies of Wu‐Sheng in the process of developing the AC, and build connection between the AC and sustainable development. The case provides important, rich insights into the AC, industry convergence, and agricultural land use policy and therefore has enormous implications for agricultural companies as well as governments.
A phase I study of toripalimab, an anti‐PD‐1 antibody, in patients with refractory malignant solid tumors
Authors: Wei Xiao‐Li , Ren Chao , Wang Feng‐Hua , Zhang Yang , Zhao Hong‐Yun , Zou Ben‐Yan , Wang Zhi‐Qiang , Qiu Miao‐Zhen , Zhang Dong‐Sheng , Luo Hui‐Yan , Wang Feng , Yao Sheng , Xu Rui‐Hua 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundSeveral programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD‐L1)/programmed cell death protein 1 (PD‐1) antibodies have been approved for cancer treatment worldwide. Their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics have been reported mainly in western countries, but related data in Chinese patients are limited. This study was conducted to investigate the safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of an anti‐PD‐1 antibody, toripalimab, in Chinese patients.MethodsA single‐center phase I study was conducted in Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center. Eligible patients were adults with histologically confirmed, treatment‐refractory, advanced, solitary malignant tumors. Toripalimab was intravenously infused every 2 weeks in dose‐escalating cohorts at 0.3 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and 240 mg. The study followed standard 3 + 3 design.ResultsBetween 15th March 2016 and 27th September 2016, 25 patients were enrolled, of whom 3 (12.0%), 7 (28.0%), 6 (24.0%), 6 (24.0%), 3 (12.0%) received 0.3 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and 240 mg toripalimab, respectively. After a median follow‐up time of 5.0 months (range: 1.5‐19.8 months), we observed that the commonest treatment‐related adverse events (TRAEs) were fatigue (64.0%) and rash (24.0%). No grade 3 or higher TRAEs were observed. No dose‐limiting toxicity, treatment‐related serious adverse events (SAEs), or treatment‐related death occurred. Objective response rate was 12.5%. The half‐life of toripalimab was 150‐222 h after a single dose infusion. Most patients, including those from the 0.3 mg/kg group, maintained complete PD‐1 receptor occupancy (> 80%) on activated T cells since receiving the first dose of toripalimab.ConclusionsToripalimab is a promising anti‐PD‐1 antibody, which was well tolerated and demonstrated anti‐tumor activity in treatment‐refractory advanced solitary malignant tumors. Further exploration in various tumors and combination therapies is warranted.