bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estimating the stability and reactivity of cyclic tetrahalo substituted germylenes: A density functional theory investigation
Authors: Koohi Maryam 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe largest unsaturated carbene, cyclonona‐3,5,7‐trienylidene (1H), emerges as a boat‐shaped transition state (TS) for having a negative force constant (FC). Following the quest for stable germylenes (2X, where X = H, F, Cl, Br, and I) with C8H6X4Ge: formula, the density functional theory (DFT) calculations are carried out to assay the substituent effect on their thermodynamic and kinetic possibilities. These singlet and triplet germylenes (2X‐S and 2X‐T, respectively) appear as boat‐shaped minima without imaginary frequencies and the order of their stability estimated by singlet (S)–triplet (T) energy difference (ΔES‐T = ET − ES) is 1H < 2H < 2F < 2Cl < 2I < 2Br. The purpose of the present work is to swiftly switch from T carbene to S germylenes through alteration of the substituents and assess the influence of different halogens on the stability and other properties. The 2Br‐S seems as the most stable species. From kinetic point of view, 2Cl, 2Br, and 2I are more stable than some of synthesized germylenes. The stabilization of the S state is essential to stabilize germylenes. This can be achieved by σ‐electron withdrawing and π‐electron donating substituents, of which stabilizing effect can be further increased in the order of steric effect < positive hyperconjugation < negative hyperconjugation < mesomeric effect. Applying suitable isodesmic reactions, we show the π‐donor/σ‐acceptor halogen substituents stabilize not only the S but also the T states, and these groups stabilize 2X‐S more than 2X‐T.
Sensitivity of tumor versus normal cell migration and morphology to cold atmospheric plasma‐treated media in varying culture conditions
Authors: Pranda Marina A. , Murugesan Brittney J. , Knoll Andrew J. , Oehrlein Gottlieb S. , Stroka Kimberly M. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractCold atmospheric plasma (CAP) produces reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species, which may disproportionally damage tumor cells, resulting in potentially selective cancer therapy. Here, we compare the effects of two CAP sources, that is, the atmospheric pressure plasma jet and the surface micro discharge, on the selectivity of CAP‐treated cell‐culture media. CAP‐treated media were applied to metastatic breast tumor cells and their normal breast epithelial cell counterparts to assess treatment selectivity, while systematically varying common cell‐culture media and cell‐matrix binding moieties. We show that media compositions are crucial in a CAP‐treated media selectivity, while binding moieties (specifically, collagen I, fibronectin, and poly‐d‐lysine) play a lesser role. These data have further implications in the translation of CAP to in vivo use.
A study on the influence of gas mixtures on the property of plasma‐activated water
Authors: Lai Cheng‐Chun , Deng Yong‐Xin , Liao Ying‐Hao 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe present study applying a plasma jet to activate water in a controllable environment is aimed to investigate the effect of a combination of (working/chamber gas) on the properties of plasma‐activated water. After 10 min of activation, results reveal that a significant decrease in solution pH is observed with the presence of N2. Hydrogen peroxide appears to be the major species for most gas mixtures, except [Ar + air/Ar] and [Ar + air/air], where nitrite and nitrate dominate. A gas mixture of [Ar + air/Ar] produces the maximum concentration of , while the maximum and H2O2 are observed for [Ar + air/air] and (Ar/Ar), respectively. Overall, the antibacterial efficacy correlates well with concentration.
Computational simulations of TNF receptor oligomerization on plasma membrane
Authors: Su Zhaoqian , Wu Yinghao 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe interactions between tumor necrosis factors (TNFs) and their corresponding receptors (TNFRs) play a pivotal role in inflammatory responses. Upon ligand binding, TNFR receptors were found to form oligomers on cell surfaces. However, the underlying mechanism of oligomerization is not fully understood. In order to tackle this problem, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been applied to the complex between TNF receptor‐1 (TNFR1) and its ligand TNF‐α as a specific test system. The simulations on both all‐atom (AA) and coarse‐grained (CG) levels achieved the similar results that the extracellular domains of TNFR1 can undergo large fluctuations on plasma membrane, while the dynamics of TNFα‐TNFR1 complex is much more constrained. Using the CG model with the Martini force field, we are able to simulate the systems that contain multiple TNFα‐TNFR1 complexes with the timescale of microseconds. We found that complexes can aggregate into oligomers on the plasma membrane through the lateral interactions between receptors at the end of the CG simulations. We suggest that this spatial organization is essential to the efficiency of signal transduction for ligands that belong to the TNF superfamily. We further show that the aggregation of two complexes is initiated by the association between the N‐terminal domains of TNFR1 receptors. Interestingly, the cis‐interfaces between N‐terminal regions of two TNF receptors have been observed in the previous X‐ray crystallographic experiment. Therefore, we provide supportive evidence that cis‐interface is of functional importance in triggering the receptor oligomerization. Taken together, our study brings insights to understand the molecular mechanism of TNF signaling.
The expression and function of opsin genes related to the phototactic behavior of Asian citrus psyllid
Authors: Li Chaofeng , Tian Fajun , Lin Tao , Wang Zhengbing , Liu Jiali , Zeng Xinnian 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is a prominent pest of citrus because it transmits Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus associated with huanglongbing. Phototactic behavior ubiquitously exists in insects and plays essential roles in host‐searching and mate‐searching in ACP. However, its mechanism has remained unclear to date. In this paper, molecular assays were performed to understand the relation between opsins and the phototactic behavior of ACP.RESULTSWe cloned five opsin genes and analyzed their expression patterns. The main three opsin genes (Dc‐UV, Dc‐BW and Dc‐LW) displayed high expression levels in daytime, and the expression levels of the other two opsin genes (Dc‐UV‐like and Dc‐arthropsin) increased during nighttime. In constant darkness, the expression patterns and levels of opsin genes of ACP were altered. Under starvation, the expression levels of the main three opsins were reduced (53.89–84.10%). In contrast, the expression levels in females increased (27.55–60.58%). Feeding of double‐stranded RNA (Dc‐UV, Dc‐LW or Dc‐BW) have reduced the phototactic efficiency of ACP to ultraviolet light (44.79%), green light (54.81%) and blue light (43.00%), respectively.CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that the expression levels and patterns of opsins of ACP were influenced by photoperiod and the physiological status of ACP. Our research indicates that opsins play crucial roles in phototactic behavior in ACP. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Population Pharmacokinetics of Ipilimumab in Combination With Nivolumab in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors
Authors: Sanghavi Kinjal , Zhang Jason , Zhao Xiaochen , Feng Yan , Statkevich Paul , Sheng Jennifer , Roy Amit , Vezina Heather E. 
Published: November 2019

Ipilimumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of melanoma as monotherapy and for the treatment of melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, and colorectal cancer in combination with nivolumab. Ipilimumab time‐varying clearance (CL) was assessed by a population pharmacokinetics (PPK) model developed using statistically significant covariates identified in a previous PPK analysis plus additional covariates. Data from 3,411 patients who received ipilimumab 0.3–10 mg/kg alone or in combination with nivolumab in 16 clinical trials were analyzed. Ipilimumab CL decreased over time; the change in CL was greater in patients treated with nivolumab combination than ipilimumab alone and in responders vs. nonresponders. Time‐varying covariates including body weight, lactate dehydrogenase, albumin, and performance status were evaluated on change in ipilimumab CL. In addition, ipilimumab CL was similar across different tumor types, nivolumab dosing regimens, and lines of therapy. These data suggest an association of ipilimumab CL with disease severity.
Mast cell mediators in relation to dengue severity: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Sherif Nourin Ali , Zayan Ahmad Helmy , Elkady Aya Hesham , Ghozy Sherief , Ahmed Ahmed Reda , Omran Esraa Salah , Taha Elsayed A. , Eldesoky Esraa Ali , Ebied Amr , Tieu Thuan , Maraie Noha , Kamel Mohamed Gomaa , Ngo Huyen Thi , Mattar Omar Mohamed , Hirayama Kenji , Huy Nguyen Tien 
Published: November 2019

SummaryBackgroundDegranulation of mast cells (MCs) releases several mediators such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), chymase, tryptase, histamine, and cytokines, which all have important roles in the severity of dengue infection. We aimed to investigate the role of MCs in severity of dengue.MethodsWe searched for relevant studies in 10 databases on 15 August 2016. Meta‐analysis (MA) was conducted by R version 3.5.0.ResultsWe included 24 studies. in vivo and in vitro studies showed higher MC products released from infected mice/cells with dengue virus. In addition, when administering MC stabilizers or antihistaminic drugs, there was a decrease in vascular/capillary permeability. In human and at early stages, studies revealed an insignificant difference in VEGF levels in dengue fever (DF) versus dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.145; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.348‐0.638). Meanwhile, at acute stages and compared with healthy controls, high heterogeneity with an inconclusive difference in VEGF levels were noted in DF and DHF. However, pooled serum and plasma levels of VEGF were increased significantly in dengue shock syndrome (DSS) versus healthy controls (SMD 0.65; 95% CI, 0.3‐0.95). There were also significantly higher chymase levels in DHF patients compared with DF during the acute phase (MD −6.531; 95% CI, −12.2 to −0.9).ConclusionVEGF and chymase levels are mediators in dengue pathogenesis. However, limited data were available to support their role in severe dengue cases. Further studies are needed to evaluate the function of other mediators in dengue severity.
Lyapunov‐Krasovskii stability analysis of delayed Filippov system: Applications to neural networks with switching control
Authors: Cai Zuowei , Huang Lihong 
Published: November 2019

SummaryThis paper gives the stability analysis of Filippov system with delay. Under the Filippov‐framework, we introduce a general type of Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional (LKF) to derive the stability of delayed differential inclusions (DDIs), where the indefiniteness or positive definiteness of the derivative of LKF holds for almost everywhere along the trajectories of state solution. The proposed LKF of this paper generalizes the classic LKF whose derivative possesses negative definiteness or seminegative definiteness for everywhere. As a result, the stability, uniform stability, uniform asymptotic stability, and global exponential stability criteria of the trivial solution for DDI are established. Moreover, the developed LKF method is applied to solve the stabilization control issue of delayed neural networks, possessing discontinuous input‐output activation.
Autonomous maritime collision avoidance: Field verification of autonomous surface vehicle behavior in challenging scenarios
Authors: Kufoalor D. K. M. , Johansen T. A. , Brekke E. F. , Hepsø A. , Trnka K. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWe present results from sea trials for an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) equipped with a collision avoidance system based on model predictive control (MPC). The sea trials were performed in the North Sea as part of an ASV Challenge posed by Deltares through a Dutch initiative involving different authorities, including the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the Netherlands Coastguard, and the Royal Netherlands Navy. To allow an ASV to operate in a maritime environment governed by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), the ASV must be capable of complying with COLREGs. Therefore, the sea trials focused on verifying COLREGs‐compliant behavior of the ASV in different challenging scenarios using automatic identification system (AIS) data from other vessels. The scenarios cover situations where some obstacle vessels obey COLREGs and emergency situations where some obstacles make decisions that increase the risk of collision. The MPC‐based collision avoidance method evaluates a combined predicted collision and COLREGs‐compliance risk associated with each obstacle and chooses the ‘best’ way out of dangerous situations. The results from the verification exercise in the North Sea show that the MPC approach is capable of finding safe solutions in challenging situations, and in most cases demonstrates behaviors that are close to the expectations of an experienced mariner. According to Deltares’ report, the sea trials have shown in practice that the technical maturity of autonomous vessels is already more than expected.
Aerobic Oxidation of Thiols and In Situ Generated Thiols to Symmetrical Disulfides (Disulfanes) Catalyzed by Na2S4O6
Authors: Abbasi Mohammad , Nowrouzi Najmeh , Mousavi Saadat 
Published: November 2019

AbstractA simple and efficient procedure for aerobic oxidation of thiols into symmetric disulfides using Na2S4O6 as catalyst in situ generated by reacting Na2S2O3 with I2 in poly ethylene glycol (PEG‐200) has been introduced. Using this catalyst system, convenient protocol for one‐pot achievement of symmetric disulfides via aerobic oxidation of thiols in situ generated by reacting alkyl halides with thiourea is introduced.
Highly Efficient Ionic Photocurrent Generation through WS2‐Based 2D Nanofluidic Channels
Authors: Jia Pan , Wen Qi , Liu Dan , Zhou Min , Jin Xiaoyan , Ding Liping , Dong Huanli , Lu Diannan , Jiang Lei , Guo Wei 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe unique feature of nacre‐like 2D layered materials provides a facile, yet highly efficient way to modulate the transmembrane ion transport from two orthogonal transport directions, either vertical or horizontal. Recently, light‐driven active transport of ionic species in synthetic nanofluidic systems attracts broad research interest. Herein, taking advantage of the photoelectric semiconducting properties of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides, the generation of a directional and greatly enhanced cationic flow through WS2‐based 2D nanofluidic membranes upon asymmetric visible light illumination is reported. Compared with graphene‐based materials, the magnitude of the ionic photocurrent can be enhanced by tens of times, and its photo‐responsiveness can be 2–3.5 times faster. This enhancement is explained by the coexistence of semiconducting and metallic WS2 nanosheets in the hybrid membrane that facilitates the asymmetric diffusion of photoexcited charge carriers on the channel wall, and the high ionic conductance due to the neat membrane structure. To further demonstrate its application, photonic ion switches, photonic ion diodes, and photonic ion transistors as the fundamental elements for light‐controlled nanofluidic circuits are further developed. Exploring new possibilities in the family of liquid processable colloidal 2D materials provides a way toward high‐performance light‐harvesting nanofluidic systems for artificial photosynthesis and sunlight‐driven desalination.
Promising Applications of AIEgens in Animal Models
Authors: He Bairong , Situ Bo , Zhao Zujin , Zheng Lei 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIn vivo investigations using small animal models are of great significance for the comprehensive understanding of biological and physiological functions—seeing is believing. Fluorescence imaging can provide real‐time and dynamic information of living systems. During the past few years, aggregation‐induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) are widely and rapidly developed for biological detection, imaging, and medicine, owing to their distinct advantages of structural variety, easy functionalization, strong luminescence, large Stokes shift, high photobleaching‐resistance, good biocompatibility, and so forth. In this review, recent advances in applying AIEgens in living animals are highlighted, including in vivo vascular and tumor‐targeted imaging, monitoring biological processes, disease diagnosis, and image‐guided therapy. The aim of this review is to provide a well‐rounded view of the potential applications of AIEgens for biomedical research at the preclinical animal level for researchers and clinicians, and to inspire more practical inventions that will improve or assist clinical techniques.
Dynamic experimental and numerical study of double beam–column joints in modern traditional‐style steel buildings with viscous damper
Authors: Wu Zhanjing , Xue Jianyang , Ke Xiaojun , Sui Yan , Dong Jinshuang 
Published: November 2019

SummaryModern traditional‐style steel (MTS) structure is an innovative architecture structure that is widely used in China. This paper explores the possibility of using viscous damper, which can be conveniently installed between beam and column, to replace “sparrow brace” at beam–column joints to improve its seismic capability. Three 1/2.6 scaled MTS double beam–column joints, one without viscous damper and two with viscous damper, were fabricated and tested under dynamic cyclic loading. The results indicated that the primary failure modes were cracking of base metal and local bucking at the beam ends. The hysteretic curve of specimens with viscous dampers was more plump than the common specimen without viscous dampers, indicating better energy dissipation capacity. The displacement ductility ratio was about 1.79–1.96, indicating the viscous damper has little effect on the ductility, whereas in plastic stage, the energy dissipation of specimens and viscous damper increased rapidly, indicating great energy dissipating function of viscous damper. Meanwhile, the results also proved that finite element analysis may stimulate and predict the mechanical behavior of MTS double beam joints with viscous dampers.
Medical needs for translational biophotonics with the focus on Raman‐based methods
Authors: Krafft Christoph , Popp Jürgen 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis report summarizes state‐of‐the‐art biophotonic approaches for unmet needs in medicine with the focus on spontaneous and coherent Raman methods since 2017. Numerous proof‐of‐principle studies demonstrated how Raman spectroscopy and imaging were applied to classify tissues, delineate tumor borders and detect tumor cells in various disciplines such as histopathology, cytopathology and endoscopy. In some cases, Raman technologies were combined with other modalities such as fluorescence, optical coherence tomography, white light imaging, photoacoustic imaging, optoacoustics and multiphoton microscopy. However, the number of patients and specimens were usually small in these studies. It is concluded that preclinical biophotonic studies using high‐throughput instruments are required to collect big data from larger patient cohorts and develop robust classification algorithms for clinical translation.
Sparse separable 2‐D FIR filter design based on iterative reweighted ℓ1 norm and greedy searching techniques
Authors: Wang Hao , Li Weiqi , Zhao Zhijin , Sun Jian 
Published: November 2019

AbstractA new separable 2‐D finite impulse response (FIR) filter design technique with sparse coefficients is proposed. This technique includes two stages. In the first stage, the iterative reweighted ℓ1 norm technique is utilized to design a sparse separable 2‐D FIR filter based on some initial design. In the second stage, the greedy searching technique is utilized to make more sparse coefficients based on the first stage design. Simulation experiment validates the effectiveness of the proposed technique. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Bag-of-gold spacetimes, Euclidean wormholes, and inflation from domain walls in AdS/CFT
Authors: Fu Zicao , Marolf Donald 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
We use Euclidean path integrals to explore the set of bulk asymptotically AdS spacetimes with good CFT duals. We consider simple bottom-up models of bulk physics defined by Einstein-Hilbert gravity coupled to thin domain walls and restrict to solutions with spherical symmetry. The cosmological constant is allowed to change across the domain wall, modeling more complicated Einstein-scalar systems where the scalar potential has multiple minima. In particular, the cosmological constant can become positive in the interior. However, in the above context, we show that inflating bubbles are never produced by smooth Euclidean saddles to asymptotically AdS path integrals. The obstacle is a direct parallel to the well-known obstruction to creating inflating universes by tunneling from flat space. In contrast, we do find good saddles that create so-called “bag-of-gold” geometries which, in addition to their single asymptotic region, also have an additional large semi-classical region located behind both past and future event horizons. Furthermore, without fine-tuning model parameters, using multiple domain walls we find Euclidean geometries that create arbitrarily large bags-of-gold inside a black hole of fixed horizon size, and thus at fixed Bekenstein-Hawking entropy. Indeed, with our symmetries and in our class of models, such solutions provide the unique semi-classical saddle for appropriately designed (microcanonical) path integrals. This strengthens a classic tension between such spacetimes and the CFT density of states, similar to that in the black hole information problem.
Direct conversion of human fibroblasts into therapeutically active vascular wall-typical mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Steens Jennifer , Unger Kristian , Klar Lea , Neureiter Anika , Wieber Karolin , Hess Julia , Jakob Heinz G. , Klump Hannes , Klein Diana 
Published: November 2019

AbstractCell-based therapies using adult stem cells are promising options for the treatment of a number of diseases including autoimmune and cardiovascular disorders. Among these, vascular wall-derived mesenchymal stem cells (VW-MSCs) might be particularly well suited for the protection and curative treatment of vascular damage because of their tissue-specific action. Here we report a novel method for the direct conversion of human skin fibroblasts towards MSCs using a VW-MSC-specific gene code (HOXB7,HOXC6andHOXC8) that directs cell fate conversion bypassing pluripotency. This direct programming approach using either a self-inactivating (SIN) lentiviral vector expressing the VW-MSC-specific HOX-code or a tetracycline-controlled Tet-On system for doxycycline-inducible gene expressions ofHOXB7,HOXC6andHOXC8successfully mediated the generation of VW-typical MSCs with classical MSC characteristics in vitro and in vivo. The induced VW-MSCs (iVW-MSCs) fulfilled all criteria of MSCs as defined by the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT). In terms of multipotency and clonogenicity, which are important specific properties to discriminate MSCs from fibroblasts, iVW-MSCs behaved like primary ex vivo isolated VW-MSCs and shared similar molecular and DNA methylation signatures. With respect to their therapeutic potential, these cells suppressed lymphocyte proliferation in vitro, and protected mice against vascular damage in a mouse model of radiation-induced pneumopathy in vivo, as well as ex vivo cultured human lung tissue. The feasibility to obtain patient-specific VW-MSCs from fibroblasts in large amounts by a direct conversion into induced VW-MSCs could potentially open avenues towards novel, MSC-based therapies.