bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Automatic segmentation of true color sectioned images using FMRIB Software Library: First trial in brain, gray matter, and white matter
Authors: Chung Beom Sun , Park Jin Seo 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThree‐dimensional (3D) models of the brain made from magnetic resonance images (MRI) are used in various medical fields. 3D models assembled from grayscale color and low‐resolution can be complemented with true color sectioned images of the Visible Korean. The purpose of this study is to apply the MRI automatic segmentation technique to the sectioned images. 3D models of the sectioned images, which have true color and high resolution, can be produced without manual segmentation. The Brain Extraction Tool and the Automated Segmentation Tool of the FMRIB Software Library (FSL) were chosen for automatic segmentation. Using those tools, true color sectioned images were reconstructed from gray 3D models of brain, gray matter, and white matter. Color 3D models of those structures were generated from the gray 3D models using MRIcroGL. The color 3D models made from the sectioned images revealed details of brain anatomy that could not be observed on the 3D models from MRI. This trial suggests that convergence of the MRI segmentation technique with color sectioned images is a time‐efficient method for producing color 3D models of various structures. In future, the method of this study will be used for various sectioned images of cadavers. The resulting color sectioned images and 3D models will be made available to other researchers.
Endoscopic anatomy of the sellar barrier: From the anatomical model to the operating room
Authors: Villalonga Juan F. , Fuchssteiner Christoph , Solari Domenico , Campero Alvaro , Cavallo Luigi M. , Cappabianca Paolo , Hirtler Lena 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe sellar barrier concept reflects the association between the components of the roof of the pituitary fossa and the risk of intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak in the surgery of pituitary adenomas. We based our concept in previous reports on the microsurgical anatomy of the pituitary fossa's superior wall. However, proof of the usefulness of this concept in endoscopic approaches is yet missing. The aim of this study was to describe the endoscopic anatomy of the sellar barrier and its subtypes in a laboratory setting and to provide evidence of its clinical usefulness.MethodsWe provided anatomical models in six fresh‐frozen head and neck specimens. We performed an endoscopic endonasal approach and recreated a pathological model of each possible subtype of sellar barrier. To demonstrate the usefulness of this model in clinical practice, we conducted a prospective study including all patients with pituitary adenoma operated by an endoscopic approach between June and July 2019.ResultsWe successfully recreated the models for each subtype of sellar barrier. When analyzing the clinical cases, we found that intraoperatively, 73.69% (14) had a strong sellar barrier; 21.05% (4) had mixed sellar barrier, and 5.26% (1) had weak sellar barrier. We recorded one case of intraoperative CSF leak in a patient with a weak sellar barrier by magnetic resonance imaging.ConclusionWe described the endoscopic anatomy of the sellar barrier and we recreated the three subtypes in anatomical models. We also identified these subtypes in a series of clinical cases, proving its clinical usefulness.
Experimental mummification—In the tracks of the ancient Egyptians
Authors: Öhrström Lena , Tekin Ahmed , Biedermann Philipp , Morozova Irina , Habicht Michael , Gascho Dominic , Bode‐Lesniewska Beata , Imhof Alexander , Rühli Frank , Eppenberger Patrick 
Published: January 2020

AbstractUnderstanding natural and artificial postmortem alterations in different tissues of the human body is essential for bioarchaeology, paleogenetics, physical anthropology, forensic medicine, and many related disciplines. With this study, we tried to gain a better understanding of tissue alterations associated with the artificial mummification techniques of ancient Egypt, in particular for mummified visceral organs. We used several entire porcine organs and organ sections (liver, lung, stomach, ileum, and colon), which provided a close approximation to human organs. First, we dehydrated the specimens in artificial natron, before applying natural ointments, according to the ancient literary sources and recent publications. We periodically monitored the temperature, pH value, and weight of the specimens, in addition to radiodensity and volumetric measurements by clinical computed tomography and sampling for histological, bacteriological, and molecular analyses. After seven weeks, mummification was seen completed in all specimens. We observed a considerable loss of weight and volume, as well as similar courses in the decay of tissue architecture but varying levels of DNA degradation. Bacteriologically we did not detect any of the initially identified taxa in the samples by the end of the mummification process, nor any fungi. This feasibility study established an experimental protocol for future experiments modeling ancient Egyptian mummification of visceral organs using human specimens. Understanding desiccation and mummification processes in non‐pathological tissues of specific visceral organs may help to identify and interpret disease‐specific alterations in mummified tissues in ancient Egyptian canopic jars and organ packages contained in whole mummies.
Molecular Design, Synthesis and Docking Study of Alkyl and Benzyl Derivatives of Robustic Acid as Topoisomerase I Inhibitors
Authors: Chen Rui , Huang Jiayong , Jaiswal Yogini , Wei Jianhua , Huo Lini , Xia Xing , Zhong Jing , Williams Leonard , Huang Maochun , Liang Yan 
Published: January 2020

AbstractRobustic acid is reported to be a bioactive compound, isolated from the medicinal plant Dalbergia benthamii Prain. Ten alkyl and benzyl derivatives (2a–2j) of robustic acid were designed and synthesized based on molecular docking approaches. The biological activities of most of the synthesized compounds (such as 2g, 2h, and 2i) were closely consistent with the docking results. In particular, 4‐O‐phenylpropyl substituted compound 2g displayed potent topoisomerase I inhibitory activity as well as cytotoxicity against SMMC‐7721, HepG2, and HeLa cell lines. Further biological testing suggests that compound 2g acted mainly by an arrest of the tumor cells in G1 phase of the cell cycle and suppressed cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis. The findings of this study are encouraging with respect to potential utilization of these compounds as new topoisomerase I inhibitors.
Bacterial Lysis via Photocatalysis ‐ A Critical Mechanistic Review
Authors: Gupta Rimzhim , Modak Jayant 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThis Review discusses one of the most important area of photocatalytic reactions. In current research scenario, photocatalysis is well utilized strategy for a wide variety of applications including organic/ inorganic decontamination, solar fuel generation, microbial disinfection etc. This Review touches upon the mechanistic aspect of microbial disinfection, the growth in the research, issues to be addressed in future to make it a sustainable technology for this application. This Review discusses the fundamental understanding of photocatalysis, important strategies to tune their optical properties to enhance the spectral range of absorption in visible and near infrared wavelength region. Various photocatalysis reports these days don't focus on the stability, reusability and recovery of the photocatalysts. However, these issues are very important to deal with for large scale viability of the process. Therefore, we have tried to address these issues along with the detailed experimental information and eliminate the misconceptions about bacterial disinfection. The details provided in this Review would help the researchers working in this area to a large extent and would open various questions for them to answer.
High Catalytic Activity of Crystalline Lithium Calcium Silicate for Oxidative Coupling of Methane Originated from Crystallographic Joint Effects of Multiple Cations
Authors: Matsumoto Tomohiro , Saito Miwa , Ishikawa Satoshi , Fujii Kotaro , Yashima Masatomo , Ueda Wataru , Motohashi Teruki 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) to C2 hydrocarbons is one of the most attractive catalytic processes towards the effective utilization of methane. Despite a great deal of effort in past research, the primary activation factor for OCM has still been unclear because of the chemical and structural complexities of known catalysts such as Mn−Na2WO4/SiO2. Here, we report a high catalytic activity of a crystalline oxide Li2CaSiO4 for OCM. The C2 selectivity and CH4 conversion reach 77.5 % and 28.3 %, respectively, at 750 °C, which are comparable to or even higher than those with Mn−Na2WO4/SiO2. The simplicity of active sites in our single‐phase Li2CaSiO4 catalyst facilitates a deeper understanding of the reaction mechanism, which leads to a crystallographic design concept for highly active OCM catalysts containing multiple cations.
Influence of Anion Chaotropicity on the SO2 Oxidation Reaction: When Spectator Species Determine the Reaction Pathway
Authors: Dourado André H. B. , Silva Norberto A. , Munhos Renan L. , Del Colle Vinicius , Arenz Matthias , Varela Hamilton , Córdoba de Torresi Susana I. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe electrochemical SO2 oxidation reaction (SO2OR) is a promising alternative to the O2 evolution reaction for H2 electrochemical generation. The SO2OR exhibits a low thermodynamic potential and small kinetic barrier, and Au has been observed to be a very active catalyst. For this material, nonlinear dynamic behavior is observed, which is related to the electrolyte chaotropicity at the solid‐liquid interface. In this work, the influence of the chaotropicity was investigated by electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical techniques, and the main reasons for the dependence on the chaotropicity were investigated. The electrochemical response as a function of the chaotropicity was determined as a function of the mechanism observed, and the reaction pathway selection was related to the intermediate adsorption, which in turn was controlled by the interfacial water structure. The “neutral” chaotropicity was found to be the optimum condition for SO2OR.
Atom‐Ratio‐Conducted Tailoring of PdAu Bimetallic Nanocrystals with Distinctive Shapes and Dimensions for Boosting the ORR Performance
Authors: Wang Jingchun , Li Meng , Zhang Jingzi , Yan Yawei , Qiu Xiaoyu , Cai Bingfeng , Yang Gaixiu , Tang Yawen 
Published: January 2020

AbstractSystematically manipulating the shape, dimension, and surface structure of PdAu nanocrystals is an active subject because it offers a powerful means to regulate and investigate their structure–activity relationship. Meanwhile, it is still urgent to reduce the use of two‐dimensional precious‐metal‐based nanomaterials. This work demonstrates that PdAu nanocrystals with a variety of shapes/dimensions, including 1D anisotropic nanowires, 2D porous nanosheets, and 3D penetrative nanoflowers, can be systematically synthesized by simply adjusting the atomic ratio or the reaction time in the same protocol. The resultant PdAu nanocrystals with distinctive shapes, but the same building blocks triumphantly avoid the effects of facet and surface properties; this represents an ideal platform for directly comparing the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. 2D porous PdAu nanosheets demonstrate superior ORR performance (Eonset = 1.040 V, E1/2 = 0.932 V) compared with other‐dimension‐based samples and commercial Pd black; this is attributed to the abundant surface atoms and omni‐directional mass‐transfer channels. This work not only paves the way for systematically measuring a series of distinctive PdAu nanocrystals as non‐Pt electrocatalysts, but also sheds light on the study of structures/dimensions in tuning the catalytic properties of bimetallic nanocrystals.
ZnCl2‐Catalyzed [4+1] Annulation of Alkylthio‐Substituted Enaminones and Enaminothiones with Sulfur Ylides
Authors: He Yuan , Lou Jiang , Yu Zhengkun , Zhou Yong‐Gui 
Published: January 2020

AbstractConcise construction of furan and thiophene units has played an important role in the synthesis of potentially bioactive compounds and functional materials. Herein, an efficient Lewis acid ZnCl2 catalyzed [4+1] annulation of alkylthio‐substituted enaminones is reported, that is, α‐oxo ketene N,S‐acetals with sulfur ylides to afford 2‐acyl‐3‐aminofuran derivatives. In a similar fashion, [4+1] annulation of the corresponding enaminothiones, that is, α‐thioxo ketene N,S‐acetals, with sulfur ylides efficiently proceeded to give multisubstituted 3‐aminothiophenes. This method features wide substrate scopes as well as broad functional group tolerance, offering a concise route to highly functionalized furans and thiophenes.
Theoretical studies of infrared signatures of proton‐bound amino acid dimers with homochiral and heterochiral moieties
Authors: Poline Mathias , Rebrov Oleksii , Larsson Mats , Zhaunerchyk Vitali 
Published: January 2020

AbstractProton‐bound homochiral and heterochiral dimers, X‐H+‐X, of five amino acids (X = Ser, Ala, Thr, Phe, and Arg) are investigated theoretically using quantum chemical density functional theory (DFT) calculations and molecular dynamics simulations with the aim to unveil diastereomer‐specific mid‐infrared (mid‐IR) absorption bands in the spectral range of 1000 to 1800 cm−1. The theoretical calculations performed in this work imply that all systems, except Ala2H+, have distinct mid‐IR absorption bands in homochiral and heterochiral configurations, which make them appropriate systems to be studied experimentally with mid‐IR spectroscopy. We show that intermolecular interaction with the side chain, in the form of hydrogen bonding or cation‐π interaction, is necessary for chiral effects to be present in the mid‐IR spectra of proton‐bound dimers of amino acids. We also report new conformers for Ala2H+, Thr2H+, Phe2H+, and Arg2H+, which were not found in earlier studies of these dimers.
Latente Fingerabdrücke auf Thermopapier
Authors: Jonas Albert , Rubner Isabel , Oetken Marco 
Published: January 2020

ZusammenfassungFingerabdrücke sind eines der wichtigsten Beweismittel bei der Aufklärung von Kriminalfällen, ihre Sicherung zählt daher zu den Hauptaufgaben der Forensik. Beim Sichtbarmachen latenter Fingerabdrücke auf Quittungsbelegen stehen Forensiker vor einer schwierigen Aufgabe, da viele gängige Nachweismethoden die Farbreaktion im Thermopapier auslösen, womit dieses schwarz, der Aufdruck unleserlich und damit die Beweiskraft des Belegs zunichte gemacht wird. Die Zusammenhänge um thermochrome Dreikomponentengemische helfen, die Entwicklung eines Fingerabdrucks auf Thermopapier durch gezielte Wärmeeinwirkung zu verstehen. Die Schwärzung des Thermopapiers am Ort des Fingerabdrucks beruht nach unseren Ergebnissen auf Zwischenmolekularen Kräften. Neu ausgebildete Kräfte zwischen den Molekülen der hydrophoben Fingerabdrucksekrete und den Komponenten des thermochromen Gemischs im Thermopapier führen dazu, dass der im Papier eingelagerte Farbentwickler und Leukofarbstoff schon bei geringerer Hitzeeinwirkung mobilisiert werden und so den schwarzen Entwickler‐Farbstoff‐Komplex bilden können. Diese Hypothese wird durch eine neu entwickelte Methode gestützt, wonach Fingerabdrücke auch durch Eintauchen des Quittungsbelegs in heißes Wasser entwickelt werden können.
Microbiome applications for pathology: challenges of low microbial biomass samples during diagnostic testing
Authors: Selway Caitlin A , Eisenhofer Raphael , Weyrich Laura S 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe human microbiome can play key roles in disease, and diagnostic testing will soon have the ability to examine these roles in the context of clinical applications. Currently, most diagnostic testing in pathology applications focuses on a small number of disease‐causing microbes and dismisses the whole microbial community that causes or is modulated by disease. Microbiome modifications have already provided clinically relevant insights in gut and oral diseases, such as irritable bowel disease, but there are currently limitations when clinically examining microbiomes outside of these body sites. This is critical, as the majority of microbial samples used in pathology originate from body sites that contain low concentrations of microbial DNA, including skin, tissue, blood, and urine. These samples, also known as low microbial biomass samples, are difficult to examine without careful consideration and precautions to mitigate contamination and biases. Here, we present the limitations when analysing low microbial biomass samples using current protocols and techniques and highlight the advantages that microbiome testing can offer diagnostics in the future, if the proper precautions are implemented. Specifically, we discuss the sources of contamination and biases that may result in false assessments for these sample types. Finally, we provide recommendations to mitigate contamination and biases from low microbial biomass samples during diagnostic testing, which will be especially important to effectively diagnose and treat patients using microbiome analyses.
Preparative‐Scale Enzymatic Synthesis of rac‐Glycerol‐1‐phosphate from Crude Glycerol Using Acid Phosphatases and Phosphate
Authors: Tasnádi Gábor , Staśko Marcin , Ditrich Klaus , Hall Mélanie , Faber Kurt 
Published: January 2020

AbstractGlycerol is a byproduct of biodiesel production and is generated in large amounts, which has resulted in an increased interest in its valorization. In addition to its use as an energy source directly, the chemical modification of glycerol may result in value‐added derivatives. Herein, acid phosphatases employed in the synthetic mode were evaluated for the enzymatic phosphorylation of glycerol. Nonspecific acid phosphatases could tolerate glycerol concentrations up to 80 wt % and pyrophosphate concentrations up to 20 wt % and led to product titers up to 167 g L−1 in a kinetic approach. In the complementary thermodynamic approach, phytases were able to condense glycerol and inorganic monophosphate directly. This unexpected behavior enabled the simple and cost‐effective production of rac‐glycerol‐1‐phosphate from crude glycerol obtained from a biodiesel plant. A preparative‐scale synthesis on a 100 mL‐scale resulted in the production of 16.6 g of rac‐glycerol‐1‐phosphate with a reasonable purity (≈75 %).
Design of C3N4‐Based Hybrid Heterojunctions for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production Activity
Authors: Yan Fengpo , Wu Yonghua , Jiang Linqin , Xue Xiaogang , Lv Jiangquan , Lin Lingyan , Yu Yunlong , Zhang Jiye , Yang Fugui , Qiu Yu 
Published: January 2020

AbstractSemiconductors and metals can form an Ohmic contact with an electric field pointing to the metal, or a Schottky contact with an electric field pointing to the semiconductor. If these two types of heterojunctions are constructed on a single nanoparticle, the two electric fields may cause a synergistic effect and increase the separation rate of the photogenerated electrons and holes. Metal Ni and Ag nanoparticles were successively loaded on the graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) surface by precipitation and photoreduction in the hope of forming hybrid heterojunctions on single nanoparticles. TEM/high‐resolution TEM images showed that Ag and Ni were loaded on different locations on C3N4, which indicated that during the photoreduction reaction Ag+ obtained electrons from C3N4 in the reduction reaction, whereas oxidation reactions proceeded on Ni nanoparticles. Photocatalytic hydrogen production experiments showed that C3N4‐based hybrid heterojunctions can greatly improve the photocatalytic activity of materials. The possible reason is that two heterojunctions could form a long‐range electric field similar to the p‐i‐n structure in semiconductors. Most of the photogenerated carriers were generated and then separated in this electric field, thereby increasing the separation rate of electrons and holes. This further improved the photocatalytic activity of C3N4.
Improving Artificial Photosynthesis over Carbon Nitride by Gas–Liquid–Solid Interface Management for Full Light‐Induced CO2Reduction to C1and C2Fuels and O2
Authors: Xia Yang , Xiao Kai , Cheng Bei , Yu Jiaguo , Jiang Lei , Antonietti Markus , Cao Shaowen 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe activity and selectivity of simple photocatalysts for CO2reduction remain limited by the insufficient photophysics of the catalysts, as well as the low solubility and slow mass transport of gas molecules in/through aqueous solution. In this study, these limitations are overcome by constructing a triphasic photocatalytic system, in which polymeric carbon nitride (CN) is immobilized onto a hydrophobic substrate, and the photocatalytic reduction reaction occurs at a gas–liquid–solid (CO2–water–catalyst) triple interface. CN anchored onto the surface of a hydrophobic substrate exhibits an approximately 7.2‐fold enhancement in total CO2conversion, with a rate of 415.50 μmol m−2 h−1under simulated solar light irradiation. This value corresponds to an overall photosynthetic efficiency for full water–CO2conversion of 0.33 %, which is very close to biological systems. A remarkable enhancement of direct C2 hydrocarbon production and a high CO2conversion selectivity of 97.7 % are observed. Going from water oxidation to phosphate oxidation, the quantum yield is increased to 1.28 %.
Proteome‐wide analysis of T‐cell response to BK polyomavirus in healthy virus carriers and kidney transplant recipients reveals a unique transcriptional and functional profile
Authors: Ambalathingal George R , Francis Ross S , Corvino Dillon , Srihari Sriganesh , Aftab Blake T , Smith Corey , Khanna Rajiv 
Published: January 2020

AbstractObjectivesCellular immunity against BK polyomavirus (BKV)‐encoded antigens plays a crucial role in long‐term protection against virus‐associated pathogenesis in transplant recipients. However, in‐depth understanding on dynamics of these cellular immune responses is required to develop better immune monitoring and immunotherapeutic strategies.MethodsHere, we have conducted a proteome‐wide analysis of BKV‐specific T‐cell responses in a cohort of 53 healthy individuals and 26 kidney transplant recipients to delineate the functional and transcriptional profile of these effector cells and compared these characteristics to T cells directed against cytomegalovirus, which is also known to cause significant morbidity in transplant recipients.ResultsProfiling of BKV‐specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells revealed that kidney transplant recipients with high levels of circulating viraemia showed significantly reduced T‐cell reactivity against large T and/or small T antigens when compared to healthy donors. Interestingly, T cells specific for these antigens showed strong cross‐recognition to orthologous JC virus (JCV) peptides, including those exhibiting varying degrees of sequence identity. Ex vivo functional and phenotypic characterisation revealed that the majority of BKV‐specific T cells from renal transplant recipients expressed low levels of the key transcriptional regulators T‐bet and eomesodermin, which was coincident with undetectable expression of granzyme B and perforin. However, in vitro stimulation of T cells with BKV epitopes selectively enhanced the expression of T‐bet, granzyme B and cellular trafficking molecules (CCR4, CD49d and CD103) with minimal change in eomesodermin and perforin.ConclusionsThese observations provide an important platform for the future development of immune monitoring and adoptive T‐cell therapy strategies for BKV‐associated diseases in transplant recipients, which may also be exploited for similar therapeutic value in JCV‐associated clinical complications.