bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of polymer‐silica hybrid‐supported catalysts for solvent‐free oxidation of ethylbenzene with TBHP
Authors: Chaudhary Vasu , Sharma Sweta 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPolymer‐silica hybrid support was synthesized, and Cu (II), Co (II), Mn (II), and Ni (II) metals were loaded over hybrid support by incipient impregnation method. Oxidation of ethylbenzene was performed for catalytic evaluation of catalysts at different reaction conditions, that is, the mole ratio of ethylbenzene to TBHP and reaction temperature. The main reaction product was acetophenone along with benzaldehyde as the minor product. The highest ethylbenzene conversion (96.5%) was attained at a 1:3 mole ratio of ethylbenzene to TBHP and temperature at 100°C. Activation energy and reusability of the catalysts were also determined, and results showed that they can be easily reused three times without much loss in their structural and catalytic properties.
Synthesis of (R)‐3‐(tert‐Butoxycarbonylamino)‐4‐(2,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)butanoic Acid, a Key Intermediate, and the Formal Synthesis of Sitagliptin Phosphate
Authors: Sreenivasulu Kurella , Chaudhari Pramod S. , Achanta Srinivas , Sud Abhishek , Dahanukar Vilas , Cobley Christopher J. , Llewellyn‐Beard Fiona , Bandichhor Rakeshwar 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAn alternate formal synthesis of Sitagliptin phosphate is disclosed from 2,4,5‐trifluorobenzadehyde in 8 linear steps with an overall yield of 31%. The chiral β‐amino acid moiety present in sitaglitpin is installed via an asymmetric hydrogenation followed by a stereoselective Hofmann rearrangement as the key steps. The key chiral intermediate Boc‐amino acid 1 prepared by this novel route was further converted to Sitagliptin phosphate following the known literature protocol.
Curved Phenine Normal Vectors: Geometric Measures of Geodesic Phenine Frameworks
Authors: Mio Tatsuru , Ikemoto Koki , Isobe Hiroyuki 
Published: March 2020

AbstractA vector was introduced to quantitatively describe the pyramidalization of 1,3,5‐trisubstituted benzene (phenine). The vector, named curved phenine normal vector (CPNV), defined the direction of pyramidalization of the trigonal phenine panel and quantified the degree of pyramidalization. The relative orientation of the two CPNVs further defined a dihedral angle, which quantified interphenine torsions. The CPNV analysis visually showed the geometric features of nanometer‐sized molecules by revealing the important role of torsions. Biased electrostatic potentials were also correlated with CPNV pyramidalizations.
Experimental Study on Microbial Fouling Inhibition Performance of Ni‐P‐NanoTiO2 Composite Surfaces
Authors: Liu Zuodong , Li Siqi , Xing Weiwei , Xu Zhiming 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMicrobial fouling of heat exchangers causes serious issues including increased fuel consumption, flow resistance, and maintenance cost expenditure. Composite Ni‐P‐nanoTiO2 coatings were prepared for inhibiting and mitigating the heat exchanger microbial fouling deposition. The surface energy components and wall adhesion work of microbial fouling medium had a significant effect on the microbial fouling deposition process. Compared with carbon steel coupons, the microbial fouling deposition on Ni‐P‐nanoTiO2 coatings was reduced by about 90 % and the wall adhesion work and microbial fouling deposition rate of these coatings were less. The Ni‐P‐nanoTiO2 coatings might not only be advantageous for controlling the initial microbial adhesion, but also effective for reducing the fouling deposition rate.
Influence of small molecules on the photo‐stability of water soluble porcine lens proteins
Authors: Honisch Claudia , Hussain Rohanah , Siligardi Giuliano , Ruzza Paolo 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe eye lens is a biconvex structure composed of lens fibres, cells that lack of blood and nerve supply and of any organelle, allowing for a high concentration of water soluble proteins that determine the lens transparency and refractive index. The lens water soluble protein pool in mammals is composed of α‐, β‐, and γ‐crystallins, the latter being involved in calcium homeostasis and having structural importance, the first playing a crucial role in preventing protein aggregation and the consequent lens obfuscation, which leads to the clinical outcome of cataract. Among different factors, oxidative stress, free radicals, and reactive oxygen species (ROSs) generated by the exposure to UV light are widely recognized to cause cataract formation. Taking advantage of synchrotron radiation circular dichroism, fluorescence, and circular dichroism spectroscopies, in the present study we investigate the influence of different small molecules with the potential to either quench ROS generation or to stabilize protein conformation. Therefore, ascorbic acid, an excellent antioxidant agent already present in the eye aqueous humour, has been tested along with ceftriaxone, mannitol and trehalose, which osmolyte activity was demonstrated interfering with model proteins misfolding. Our results showed that ascorbic acid strongly inhibits the ROS production without, however, preserving the native protein structure, whereas mannitol had no effect on the ROS production but retained better the secondary structure of WS proteins. Collectively, the use of a mixture of ascorbic acid and mannitol could be used to better protect eye lens proteins from ROS damage preventing the cataract onset.
Determination of high‐risk HPV status of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using the Roche cobas HPV test on cytologic specimens and acellular supernatant fluid
Authors: Wright Martha Frances , Weiss Vivian L. , Lewis James S. , Schmitz Jonathan E. , Ely Kim Adams 
Published: March 2020

BackgroundHigh‐risk human papillomavirus–positive (hrHPV+) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas comprise a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) with a distinct biology and prognosis. Commonly, the diagnosis of HNSCC is rendered on fine‐needle aspiration (FNA). Because cell blocks may be insufficient for determining HPV status using microscopy‐based techniques, the ability of liquid‐based assays was examined in the current study.MethodsThe performance of the Roche cobas 4800 platform was evaluated on the FNA material from the cell pellet and corresponding cell‐free supernatant fluid specimens of primary and metastatic HNSCCs. These results were compared with the p16 immunostain result from the histologic material obtained from the same patient. Discrepant cases were adjudicated using hrHPV RNA in situ hybridization.ResultsA total of 41 samples (23 primary tumors and 18 lymph node metastases) were acquired from 34 patients with HNSCC. Primary tumors included the oropharynx (20 samples), oral cavity (13 samples), larynx (3 samples), and skin (3 samples). In 2 cases, a primary tumor could not be identified. Twenty‐three samples (56%) were found to be p16 positive by immunohistochemistry. Twenty‐two samples were found to be positive on cobas hrHPV testing from both cell pellet and cell‐free supernatant fluid. Two cell‐free supernatant fluid specimens yielded indeterminate cobas results. At the time additional hrHPV RNA in situ hybridization analysis was performed, one cobas‐positive cell pellet was deemed to be a false‐positive result. The sensitivity of the cobas assay was 100% for pellet material and cell‐free supernatant fluid, with specificities of 94.7% and 100%, respectively.Conclusionscobas hrHPV testing of HNSCC specimens demonstrated high concordance with p16 immunohistochemistry on the corresponding cell block and/or tissue specimen. Using the cell‐free supernatant fluid in this platform could provide accurate HPV results while conserving material for cytomorphologic analyses.
MultiplexSSR: A pipeline for developing multiplex SSR‐PCR assays from resequencing data
Authors: Guo Liang , Yang Quan , Yang Jing‐Wen , Zhang Nan , Liu Bao‐Suo , Zhu Ke‐Cheng , Guo Hua‐Yang , Jiang Shi‐Gui , Zhang Dian‐Chang 
Published: March 2020

AbstractNext‐generation sequencing has greatly promoted the investigation of single nucleotide polymorphisms, while studies of simple sequence repeats are sharply decreasing. However, simple sequence repeats still present some advantages in conservation genetics. In this study, an end‐to‐end pipeline referred to as MultiplexSSR was established to develop multiplex PCR assays in batches with highly polymorphic simple sequence repeats for capillary platforms from resequencing data. The distribution of single sequence repeats in the genome, the error profiles of genotypes and allelotypes, and the increase in the allele length range depending on the number of individuals were investigated. A total of 98% of single sequence repeats presented lengths of less than 100 bp. The error rate of the genotyping and allelotyping of dimeric patterns was ten times higher than those for other patterns. The error rate of allelotyping was less than that of genotyping. The allele length range reached approximate saturation with 10 individuals. This pipeline uses allele numbers to select highly polymorphic loci, masks loci with variation, and applies in silico PCR to improve primer specificity. The application of the developed multiplex SSR‐PCR assays validated the pipeline's robustness, showing higher polymorphism and stability for the developed simple sequence repeats and a lower cost for genotyping and providing low‐depth resequencing data from less than a dozen individuals for the development of markers. This pipeline fills the gap between next‐generation sequencing and multiplex SSR‐PCR.
Time‐averaging voles match density with long‐term habitat quality
Authors: Morris Douglas W. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAn optimal habitat‐selecting organism should use a dispersal strategy that enables occupation of the habitat yielding greatest fitness. The strategy is complicated when habitat quality varies through time. Theory predicts that the long‐term distribution of individuals will match mean habitat quality while undermatching current habitat quality. I tested the prediction with experiments on controlled populations of meadow voles occupying two pairs of field enclosures. I released equal numbers, and equal sexes, of voles in each enclosure, and varied resource abundance between enclosures by supplemental feeding. I measured the voles’ response with giving‐up densities (GUDs) in artificial foraging patches, and with live‐trapping at the end of the experiment. The data were consistent with only one of four a priori dispersal models. Giving‐up densities declined with resource supply because short‐term supply had no effect on population density. GUDs were invariant to the time course of the experiment because densities were proportional to each enclosure’s long‐term mean quality. Similar patterns in sex ratios and patterns of habitat occupation by juvenile voles born during the experiment reinforce the interpretation of time‐averaged habitat matching. This study adds to the cumulating evidence that strategies of space use converge toward behavioral and evolutionary optima.
Analysis of lung stromal expression of the atypical chemokine receptor ACKR2 reveals unanticipated expression in murine blood endothelial cells
Authors: Hansell Christopher A.H. , Love Samantha , Pingen Marieke , Wilson Gillian J. , MacLeod Megan , Graham Gerard J. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAnalysis of chemokine receptor, and atypical chemokine receptor, expression is frequently hampered by the lack of availability of high‐quality antibodies and the species specificity of those that are available. We have previously described methodology utilizing Alexa‐Fluor‐labeled chemokine ligands as versatile reagents to detect receptor expression. Previously this has been limited to hematopoietic cells and methodology for assessing expression of receptors on stromal cells has been lacking. Among chemokine receptors, the ones most frequently expressed on stromal cells belong to the atypical chemokine receptor subfamily. These receptors do not signal in the classic sense in response to ligand but scavenge their ligands and degrade them and thus sculpt in vivo chemokine gradients. Here, we demonstrate the ability to use either intratracheal or intravenous, Alexa‐Fluor‐labeled chemokine administration to detect stromal cell populations expressing the atypical chemokine receptor ACKR2. Using this methodology, we demonstrate, for the first time, expression of ACKR2 on blood endothelial cells. This observation sets the lung aside from other tissues in which ACKR2 is exclusively expressed on lymphatic endothelial cells and suggest unique roles for ACKR2 in the pulmonary environment.
Thermal‐ and Photo‐Induced Isomerization of All‐E‐ and Z‐Isomer‐Rich Xanthophylls: Astaxanthin and Its Structurally‐Related Xanthophylls, Adonirubin, and Adonixanthin
Authors: Honda Masaki , Sowa Toshiyasu , Kawashima Yuki 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe effects of heating and photo‐irradiation on the stability of all‐E‐isomer‐rich and Z‐isomer‐rich xanthophylls, astaxanthin and its structurally related xanthophylls, adonirubin, and adonixanthin, are investigated. The xanthophylls with high Z‐isomer content are prepared from their high‐purity all‐E‐isomers by thermal isomerization and filtering techniques, that is, total Z‐isomer ratios of adonirubin, astaxanthin, and adonixanthin are 80.9%, 89.5%, and 72.5%, respectively. The all‐E‐ and Z‐isomer‐rich xanthophylls dissolved in ethanol are stored at 4, 30, and 50 °C in the dark and at 30 °C under photo‐irradiation using a fluorescent light for 21 days. In the all‐E‐isomer‐rich xanthophylls, as the storage temperature increases, the total Z‐isomer ratio becomes higher, whereas in the Z‐isomer‐rich xanthophylls, the all‐E‐isomer ratio becomes higher. Photo‐irradiation slightly promotes Z‐isomerization in (all‐E)‐xanthophylls, but highly promotes all‐E‐isomerization in Z‐isomer‐rich xanthophylls. In addition, photo‐irradiation prevents thermal Z‐isomerization of (all‐E)‐xanthophylls. Moreover, it is found that some xanthophyll Z‐isomers such as (9Z)‐astaxanthin are more stable than that of the other Z‐isomers against heating and photo‐irradiation. These findings can contribute not only to establishing suitable storage conditions for Z‐isomer‐rich xanthophylls, but also to developing control techniques for the E/Z‐isomer ratio of the xanthophylls.Practical Applications: The fundamental data on the stability of xanthophyll isomers against heating and photo‐irradiation and finding stable xanthophyll Z‐isomers are very important to develop xanthophyll materials rich in the Z‐isomers. Moreover, this study clearly shows that the heat treatment enhances the Z‐isomerization of xanthophylls, whereas the photo‐irradiation enhances the all‐E‐isomerization and prevents thermal Z‐isomerization of them. This information can be utilized in technology for arbitrarily controlling E/Z‐isomerization of xanthophylls.
Social and cultural influences on genetic screening programme acceptability: A mixed‐methods study of the views of adults, carriers, and family members living with thalassemia in the UK
Authors: Boardman Felicity K. , Clark Corinna , Jungkurth Elsita , Young Philip J. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAs population‐level carrier screening panels for reprogenetic information emerge globally, conditions to be included, and the timing of implementation is widely debated. Thalassemia is the only condition for which population‐based prenatal carrier screening is offered in the UK. However, little is known about the views and experiences of the UK thalassemia‐affected community toward this screening or other forms of genetic screening for thalassemia (newborn, preconception), despite the range of direct consequences of screening programmes for this group.Using a mixed‐methods integrative analysis (qualitative interviews n = 20 and quantitative survey n = 80), this study outlines the experiences and attitudes of adults with thalassemia, their family members, and screen‐identified thalassemia carriers toward preconception, prenatal, and newborn screening for thalassemia. The majority of participants described thalassemia as a burdensome condition with a range of negative impacts, which contributed to their strong support for screening in all its potential formats. However, the data also highlight the challenges of each screening mode for this group, reflected in the high level of value conflict in participants' accounts and decisions. Cultural, social, and (to a lesser extent) religious factors were found to mitigate against the advantages of early screens, particularly within faith communities. Social stigma emerged as key to this process, informing the way that thalassemia severity was not only perceived, but also experienced by affected adults, which ultimately influenced screening uptake and outcomes.These findings suggest that cultural and social sensitivity is as important as the mode of screening delivery itself, if the iatrogenic and unintended harms of screening—particularly the social/psychological burden of value conflict—are to be adequately addressed and minimized.
Facile preparation of stainless steel microextraction fiber via in situ growth of metal–organic framework UiO‐66 and its application to sensitive analysis of polycyclic musks
Authors: Lin Chenchen , Qi Guomin , Wang Li , Lin Xucong , Xie Zenghong 
Published: March 2020

AbstractA functional stainless steel microextraction fiber easily prepared by in situ growing metal–organic framework UiO‐66 was presented and used for high‐performance analysis of polycyclic musks. Via the robust Ag‐SH bonding reaction, mercaptoacetic acid was easily anchored on Ag film to provide carboxyl group on the stainless steel fiber, then in situ grown UiO‐66 was fulfilled via the coordination reaction between Zr4+ and carboxyl group. Good characteristics including large surface area, high thermal stability, and good adsorption property were achieved. Sensitive detection limits (0.015–0.040 ng/L) were achieved for polycyclic musks by coupling with gas chromatography with mass spectrometry, and it could be stable enough for 150 extraction cycles without a significant loss of extraction efficiency. Compared with the classical commercial fibers, 2.2–11.4 times higher enhancement factors were shown. Applied to the analysis of fortified river water samples, five typical polycyclic musks were well detected with the recoveries of 90.2–101.8%, respectively. It showed a facile approach for preparing stainless steel microextraction fiber via chemically bonding in situ grown metal–organic framework for high‐performance enrichment.
Enantioselective separation and dissipation of pydiflumetofen enantiomers in grape and soil by supercritical fluid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Wu Xiuming , Dong Fengshou , Xu Jun , Liu Xingang , Wu Xiaohu , Zheng Yongquan 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPydiflumetofen is registered in many countries and is widely used in crop production in the racemate form. However, the environmental behavior of the enantiomers has not been studied. An effective and sensitive chiral analytical method was first established for analyzing the pydiflumetofen enantiomers by supercritical fluid chromatography with tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The enantiomers could be separated and detected using the Chiralcel OD‐3 column in less than 3 min. The separation conditions were as follows: mobile phase, CO2/methanol (80:20); flow rate, 1.0 mL/min; column temperature, 30°C, auto back‐pressure regulator pressure, 2000 psi with modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe sample treatment method. The average recoveries of analytes from both matrices at three spiking levels were in the range of 84.1–103.0%. The limit of quantitation for each enantiomer was 0.005 mg/kg with a baseline resolution of approximately 1.64. The method was applied to monitor the enantioselective dissipation of pydiflumetofen in grape and soil. In grapes, (−)‐pydiflumetofen was degraded more rapidly than (+)‐pydiflumetofen. In soil, (+)‐pydiflumetofen was preferentially degraded. The data provided useful references for the risk assessment and rational use of pydiflumetofen in agriculture.
miR‐451a is downregulated and targets PSMB8 in prostate cancer
Authors: Liu Yun , Yang Huan‐Zhi , Jiang Yong‐Jun , Xu Li‐Qi 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAbnormal expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is frequently occurred in prostate cancer (PCa). This study was aimed to investigate the biological roles of miR‐451a in PCa. Quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) and Western blot were employed to investigate the expression levels of miR‐451a and proteasome (prosome, macropain) subunit, beta type, 8 (PSMB8) in PCa cell lines. Luciferase activity reporter assay was used to verify the connection between miR‐451a and PSMB8. in vitro functional experiments were performed to measure the effects of miR‐451a or PSMB8 on PCa cell proliferation, colony formation ability, cell invasion, and cell apoptosis. miR‐451a expression was downregulated, whereas PSMB8 expression was upregulated in PCa cell lines. Luciferase activity reporter assay confirmed the direct connection between miR‐451a and PSMB8. Overexpression of miR‐451a inhibits PCa cell proliferation, colony formation, cell invasion and promotes cell apoptosis, while the overexpression of PSMB8 caused the opposite effects. Moreover, rescue experiments confirmed PSMB8 was a functional target of miR‐451a. In conclusion, this study provides novel insights into the role of miR‐451a in PCa, and the results demonstrated miR‐451a could inhibit PCa progression by targeting PSMB8.
SOX2 mediates cisplatin resistance in small‐cell lung cancer with downregulated expression of hsa‐miR‐340‐5p
Authors: Cui Fei , Hao Zhe‐xue , Li Jin , Zhang Ya‐lei , Li Xu‐kai , He Jian‐xing 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundThis study is aimed to unravel the genetic factors associated with microRNA (miRNA) expression in regulating sex‐determining region Y‐box 2 (SOX2)‐mediated cisplatin resistance in small‐cell lung cancer (SCLC).MethodsThe relevance of SOX2 expression in SCLC was analyzed in a panel of SCLC cells by quantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR) and western blot (WB). We selected DMS114 cell line, in which SOX2 was amplified via lentiviral vector‐mediated transfection of the SOX2 genes and tested for the half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) by MTS assay. High‐throughput sequencing and screening of differentially expressed miRNAs between SOX2‐overexpressing and normal control cells were performed. Finally, miRanda software was used to verify the miRNAs bound with SOX2 and qPCR was used to identify the expression of miRNAs which were binding with SOX2.ResultsCisplatin‐resistant SOX2‐overexpressing DMS114 cell lines were successfully developed, showing a statistically significant increase in SOX2 expression by qPCR and WB. Our results showed a typically higher IC50 value in SOX2‐overexpressing cells compared with the negative controls. The high‐throughput sequencing analysis revealed that 68 miRNAs were upregulated and 24 miRNAs were downregulated in the SOX2‐overexpressing cells. The 24 downregulated miRNAs were further verified. Of them, a cancer‐related miRNA, hsa‐miR‐340‐5p, showed a higher binding affinity with SOX2 in network regulation mapping, which was also found to be markedly downregulated under qPCR analysis.ConclusionWe demonstrated that downregulated expression of hsa‐miR‐340‐5p may affect cisplatin resistance by mediating SOX2 expression in SCLC cells, which may provide a potential target for the therapy of chemoresistant SCLCs.