bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Perampanel in brain tumor‐related epilepsy: Observational pilot study
Authors: Maschio Marta , Zarabla Alessia , Maialetti Andrea , Giannarelli Diana , Koudriavtseva Tatiana , Villani Veronica , Zannino Silvana 
Published: April 2020

AbstractObjectivePossible loss of efficacy and potential interactions between antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and chemotherapy could complicate the management of patients with brain tumor‐related epilepsy (BTRE) that may expose patients to an increased risk of adverse events. Perampanel (PER) is a highly selective, noncompetitive, alpha‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA)‐type glutamate receptor antagonist. This study evaluates the effectiveness, QoL, cognition, and mood of PER in add‐on therapy in BTRE patients.Material and MethodsObservational pilot study on the effectiveness of PER as add‐on therapy in BTRE patients with uncontrolled seizures with a 6‐month follow‐up.ResultsWe recruited 26 BTRE patients. During the follow‐up, 16 underwent chemotherapy and 11 radiotherapy; 11 had disease progression. Five patients dropped out. Mean daily PER dosage was 6.6 mg in the 21 patients who completed the follow‐up and 6.4 mg in the ITT population. The mean number of seizures/month decreased from 10.8 ± 15.03 at baseline to 1.7 ± 4.34 in the 21 patients who reached the final follow‐up. Responder rate was 88.4%: Eight patients were seizure‐free, 15 had ≥50% seizure reduction, and 3 remained stable. Four patients (15.4%) reported AEs: 2 required PER dose reduction, and 2 dropped out. Neuropsychological, mood, and QoL questionnaires were not statistically different compared to baseline. There were no significant differences in seizure control in patients with/without IDH1 mutation and with/without MGMT methylation.ConclusionsPerampanel proved to be effective on seizure control in BRTE patients and to be well tolerated without negative effects on cognition and QoL. Perampanel could be a valid therapeutic option in BTRE.
Ultrasound‐Facilitated Direct meta‐C−H Functionalization of Arenes: A Time‐Economical Strategy under Ambient Temperature with Improved Yield and Selectivity
Authors: Jayarajan Ramasamy , Chandrashekar Hediyala B. , Dalvi Aishwarya K. , Maiti Debabrata 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe horizon of ultrasound‐assistance has been expanded to palladium‐catalyzed distal C−H functionalization of arenes. Compared to thermal conditions, operationally simple ultrasound mediated distal C−H functionalization occurred with a shorter reaction time and enhanced reactivity of reactants to give superior yields with improved selectivity both in terms of meta:others and mono:di. A wide variety of meta‐functionalizations such as olefination, alkylation, acetoxylation, allylation and cyanation were successfully carried out under ambient temperature.
Formation of Functional Cyclooctadiene Derivatives by Supramolecularly‐ Controlled Topochemical Reactions and Their Use as Highly Selective Fluorescent Biomolecule Probes†
Authors: Gan Ming‐Ming , Han Ying‐Feng 
Published: April 2020

Summary of main observation and conclusionControlling the regio‐ and stereochemistry of the photoproducts in solution is far more challenging for polyenes than for monoalkenes. Herein, a supramolecularly‐controlled topochemical reaction of conjugated dienes in homogeneous system is developed, ultimately providing two cyclooctadiene‐cored tetraimidazolium molecular receptors exclusively. These cyclooctadiene derivatives exhibited highly sensitive and selective fluorescence sensing for thymine relative to other biologically relevant species in aqueous solution at physiological pH. Both the cyclooctadiene moieties and imidazolium units play important roles in the selective recognition observed. The presented supramolecularly‐controlled method allows the simple yet rare selective photoconversion of flexible cyclooctadiene derivatives in solution. This study offers a new synthetic strategy for the preparation of functional molecules with potential for use in biological applications.
Detection and comparison of EGFR mutations from supernatants that contain cell‐free DNA and cell pellets from FNA non–small cell lung cancer specimens
Authors: Wu Wei , Huang Yan , Guo Junhong , Xie Xiaofeng , Li Hui , Cao Ziyang , Wei Haiting , Wu Chunyan 
Published: April 2020

BackgroundEpidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an important marker for targeted therapy in patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The samples obtained with minimally invasive biopsy techniques are usually small, and this limits their application in tissue subtyping or molecular profiling. The supernatants obtained after centrifugation of fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) samples are typically discarded. However, these fractions might contain cell‐free DNA that could be tested for EGFR mutations by genotyping methods that are normally used for plasma analysis.MethodsIn this study, 214 patients with known or suspected NSCLC who underwent FNA were enrolled. The workflow of the supernatants before molecular detection was as follows. The discarded FNA samples (15 mL) were stored in CytoLyt, a cleaning, fixation solution, and 10 mL of each sample was placed in a preservation solution for separation by low‐speed centrifugation. The primary supernatants (8 mL) were then separated by high‐speed centrifugation to obtain secondary supernatants. DNA was extracted from the supernatants with QIAamp circulating nucleic acid kits (Qiagen) and circulating DNA kits (AmoyDx), and EGFR mutations were assessed with Super‐ARMS EGFR detection kits (AmoyDx). The DNA was then extracted from corresponding cell pellets with tissue DNA kits (AmoyDx), and the EGFR status was analyzed with the amplification refractory mutation system and next‐generation sequencing methods.ResultsAll 214 samples yielded an adequate amount of cell‐free DNA for EGFR detection. The use of different DNA commercial extraction kits and the DNA contents of tumor cells did not affect the yield of DNA from the supernatants. The external controlled cycle threshold value of the EGFR test was affected by the concentration of the DNA in the supernatants (P < .05). However, the difference in the concentrations of the DNA in the supernatants did not affect the EGFR mutation status. The EGFR‐positive rate was 57.5% (123 of 214) in both the supernatants and the pellets from the 214 FNA samples. The concordance between EGFR variants in the supernatants and the corresponding pellets was 97.2%. EGFR mutations were also detected in 3 pellets but not in their corresponding supernatants and in 3 supernatants but not in their corresponding pellets. The supernatants of FNA biopsy samples might represent a new source for gaining information regarding the molecular characteristics of patients for targeted therapy.ConclusionsDiscarded supernatants provided an adequate amount of cell‐free DNA for EGFR detection, and this means that the pellets can be reserved for additional morphological and molecular analyses or to avoid repeat biopsies. Analyzing the EGFR status in cell supernatants and pellets might improve detection sensitivity and confer benefits to patients.
Don't forget about synchronization! Guidelines for using locks on graphics processing units
Authors: Nelson Jacob , Miller dePaul , Palmieri Roberto 
Published: April 2020

SummaryHeterogeneous devices are becoming necessary components of high performance computing infrastructures, and the graphics processing unit (GPU) plays an important role in this landscape. Given a problem, the established approach for exploiting the GPU is to design solutions that are parallel, without data dependencies. These solutions are then offloaded to the GPU's massively parallel capability. This design principle often leads to developing applications that cannot maximize GPU hardware utilization. The goal of this article is to challenge this common belief by empirically showing that allowing even simple forms of synchronization enables programmers to design solutions that admit conflicts and achieve better performance. Our experience shows that lock‐based solutions to the k‐means clustering problem, implemented using two well‐known locking strategies, outperform the well‐engineered and parallel KMCUDA on both synthetic and real datasets; with an average 8× faster runtimes across all locking algorithms on a synthetic dataset and 1.7× faster on a real world dataset across all locking algorithms (and max speedups of 71.3× and 2.75×, respectively). We validate these results using a more sophisticated clustering algorithm, namely fuzzy c‐means and summarize our findings by identifying three guidelines to help make concurrency effective when programming GPU applications.
Novel low complexity decoding method for the binary coded frequency shift keying modulation
Authors: Najjar Safa , Rouissi Fatma , Gassara Héla , Vinck AJ Han , Ghazel Adel 
Published: April 2020

SummaryThis paper proposes a coded modulation scheme based on frequency shift keying (FSK) modulation and a simple binary permutation code. FSK detection is based on the knowledge of the probability density function (PDF) of the noise and the attenuation of the channel, called FSK “Soft‐Decision” (FSK/SD) detection. We introduce an approximation of the FSK/SD, called FSK “Select Largest” (FSK/SL). We compare the FSK/SL detection with the classical PDF‐based detection techniques, such as FSK/SD and spread‐FSK (SFSK), for both coded and uncoded transmission. As a practical application, we use the power line communication (PLC) channel. We analyze and compare the performances for a narrowband PLC channel with attenuation and impulse noise.
Linking human values to consumer CSR perception: The moderating role of consumer skepticism
Authors: Ramasamy Santhiya , Dara Singh Karpal S. , Amran Azlan , Nejati Mehran 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThis paper examines the effect of human values on consumer CSR perception towards cosmetic companies. Since consumer skepticism is on the rise, its moderating effects are also investigated in this paper. Questionnaires were collected from 479 consumers of seven cosmetic companies which were subsequently analyzed via structural equation modelling. Findings revealed that human values such as self‐enhancement and openness to change have a significant influence on consumer CSR perception. Consumer skepticism was also found to moderate the relationship between human values of openness to change, self‐transcendence and conservation towards consumer CSR perception. The results allow decision‐makers to better understand the influence of consumers' value system on their CSR perception while elucidating the boundary conditions played by consumer skepticism, amplifying the need for organizations to engage in authentic and sincere CSR practices. This study tested the boundaries of the Schwartz Human Values Theory which has been expanded to measure consumer CSR perception.
Synchrotron X‐ray Radiography and Tomography of Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries—Cell Design, Electrolyte Flow Geometry, and Gas Bubble Formation
Authors: Eifert László , Bevilacqua Nico , Köble Kerstin , Fahy Kieran , Xiao Liusheng , Li Min , Duan Kangjun , Bazylak Aimy , Sui Pang‐Chieh , Zeis Roswitha 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe wetting behavior and affinity to side reactions of carbon‐based electrodes in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) are highly dependent on the physical and chemical surface structures of the material, as well as on the cell design itself. To investigate these properties, a new cell design was proposed to facilitate synchrotron X‐ray imaging. Three different flow geometries were studied to understand the impact on the flow dynamics, and the formation of hydrogen bubbles. By electrolyte injection experiments, it was shown that the maximum saturation of carbon felt was achieved by a flat flow field after the first injection and by a serpentine flow field after continuous flow. Furthermore, the average saturation of the carbon felt was correlated to the cyclic voltammetry current response, and the hydrogen gas evolution was visualized in 3D by X‐ray tomography. The capabilities of this cell design and experiments were outlined, which are essential for the evaluation and optimization of cell components of VRFBs.
Scalable Synthesis of Microsized, Nanocrystalline Zn0.9Fe0.1O‐C Secondary Particles and Their Use in Zn0.9Fe0.1O‐C/LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 Lithium‐Ion Full Cells
Authors: Asenbauer Jakob , Binder Joachim R. , Mueller Franziska , Kuenzel Matthias , Geiger Dorin , Kaiser Ute , Passerini Stefano , Bresser Dominic 
Published: April 2020

AbstractConversion/alloying materials (CAMs) are a potential alternative to graphite as Li‐ion anodes, especially for high‐power performance. The so far most investigated CAM is carbon‐coated Zn0.9Fe0.1O, which provides very high specific capacity of more than 900 mAh g−1 and good rate capability. Especially for the latter the optimal particle size is in the nanometer regime. However, this leads to limited electrode packing densities and safety issues in large‐scale handling and processing. Herein, a new synthesis route including three spray‐drying steps that results in the formation of microsized, spherical secondary particles is reported. The resulting particles with sizes of 10–15 μm are composed of carbon‐coated Zn0.9Fe0.1O nanocrystals with an average diameter of approximately 30–40 nm. The carbon coating ensures fast electron transport in the secondary particles and, thus, high rate capability of the resulting electrodes. Coupling partially prelithiated, carbon‐coated Zn0.9Fe0.1O anodes with LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 cathodes results in cobalt‐free Li‐ion cells delivering a specific energy of up to 284 Wh kg−1 (at 1 C rate) and power of 1105 W kg−1 (at 3 C) with remarkable energy efficiency (>93 % at 1 C and 91.8 % at 3 C).
CO2‐Enabled Biomass Fractionation/Depolymerization: A Highly Versatile Pre‐Step for Downstream Processing
Authors: Li Hu , Wu Hongguo , Yu Zhaozhuo , Zhang Heng , Yang Song 
Published: April 2020

AbstractLignocellulosic biomass is inevitably subject to fractionation and depolymerization processes for enhanced selectivity toward specific products, in most cases prior to catalytic upgrading of the three main fractions—cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Among the developed pretreatment techniques, CO2‐assisted biomass processing exhibits some unique advantages such as the lowest critical temperature (31.0 °C) with moderate critical pressure, low cost, nontoxicity, nonflammability, ready availability, and the addition of acidity, alongside easy recovery by pressure release. This Review showcases progress in the study of sub‐ or supercritical CO2‐mediated thermal processing of lignocellulosic biomass—the key pre‐step for downstream conversion processes. The auxo‐action of CO2 in biomass pretreatment and fractionation, along with the involved variables, direct degradation of untreated biomass in CO2 by gasification, pyrolysis, and liquefaction with relevant conversion mechanisms, and CO2‐enabled depolymerization of lignocellulosic fractions with representative reaction pathways are summarized. Moreover, future prospects for the practical application of CO2‐assisted up‐ and downstream biomass‐to‐bioproduct conversion are also briefly discussed.
Assessing the Viability of Recovery of Hydroxycinnamic Acids from Lignocellulosic Biorefinery Alkaline Pretreatment Waste Streams
Authors: Karlen Steven D. , Fasahati Peyman , Mazaheri Mona , Serate Jose , Smith Rebecca A. , Sirobhushanam Sirisha , Chen Mingjie , Tymokhin Vitaliy I. , Cass Cynthia L. , Liu Sarah , Padmakshan Dharshana , Xie Dan , Zhang Yaoping , McGee Mick A. , Russell Jason D. , Coon Joshua J. , Kaeppler Heidi F. , de Leon Natalia , Maravelias Christos T. , Runge Troy M. , Kaeppler Shawn M. , Sedbrook John C. , Ralph John 
Published: April 2020

AbstractInvited for this month's cover is the research team from the D.O.E. Great Lake Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The cover image shows how a diverse team with expertise in many different fields works together in an integrated fashion to address complex problems. Only when the whole system, from field to the liquid fuels and co‐products, is assessed, can we identify the key parameters needed to design an economically viable biorefinery‐based economy. Cover art by Chelsea Mamott. The Full Paper itself is available at 10.1002/cssc.201903345.
Targeting Toll‐like receptor‐4 to tackle preterm birth and fetal inflammatory injury
Authors: Robertson Sarah A , Hutchinson Mark R , Rice Kenner C , Chin Peck‐Yin , Moldenhauer Lachlan M , Stark Michael J , Olson David M , Keelan Jeffrey A 
Published: April 2020

AbstractEvery year, 15 million pregnancies end prematurely, resulting in more than 1 million infant deaths and long‐term health consequences for many children. The physiological processes of labour and birth involve essential roles for immune cells and pro‐inflammatory cytokines in gestational tissues. There is compelling evidence that the mechanisms underlying spontaneous preterm birth are initiated when a premature and excessive inflammatory response is triggered by infection or other causes. Exposure to pro‐inflammatory mediators is emerging as a major factor in the ‘fetal inflammatory response syndrome’ that often accompanies preterm birth, where unscheduled effects in fetal tissues interfere with normal development and predispose to neonatal morbidity. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) are critical upstream gatekeepers of inflammatory activation. TLR4 is prominently involved through its ability to sense and integrate signals from a range of microbial and endogenous triggers to provoke and perpetuate inflammation. Preclinical studies have identified TLR4 as an attractive pharmacological target to promote uterine quiescence and protect the fetus from inflammatory injury. Novel small‐molecule inhibitors of TLR4 signalling, specifically the non‐opioid receptor antagonists (+)‐naloxone and (+)‐naltrexone, are proving highly effective in animal models for preventing preterm birth induced by bacterial mimetic LPS, heat‐killed Escherichia coli, or the TLR4‐dependent pro‐inflammatory lipid, platelet‐activating factor (PAF). Here, we summarise the rationale for targeting TLR4 as a master regulator of inflammation in fetal and gestational tissues, and the potential utility of TLR4 antagonists as candidates for preventative and therapeutic application in preterm delivery and fetal inflammatory injury.
First presentation of restrictive early onset eating disorders in Asian children
Authors: Chew Chu Shan Elaine , Kelly Siobhan , Baeg Amerie , Oh Jean Yin , Rajasegaran Kumudhini , Davis Courtney 
Published: April 2020

AbstractObjectiveThis study aims to describe the spectrum of children with restrictive early onset eating disorders (EOEDs), defined as below 13 years of age, presenting to a tertiary institution in Asia and comparing them with older adolescents with eating disorders.MethodsThis is a retrospective case review of Asian children who were treated in an eating disorder center. Baseline characteristics and inpatient management at first presentation of children younger than 13 years of age (EOED) were compared to those in older adolescents.ResultsA total of 288 patients with restrictive eating disorders were analyzed with 53 (18%) patients having onset younger than age 13 at initial presentation. There were no significant differences in percentage weight loss and hospitalization rates between the two age groups. Patients with EOED presented with significantly shorter duration of symptoms, and lower rates of secondary amenorrhea. More patients with EOED required phosphate supplementation compared to those in older age group.ConclusionDespite having a shorter duration of illness, Asian children with EOED had similar percentage weight loss and rates of admission due to malnutrition as those in older Asian adolescent patients. This study underlined the severity of EOEDs and the need for early recognition and medical assessment.
Use of non‐LDL‐C lipid‐lowering medications in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Arnold Suzanne V. , Gosch Kensey , Wong Nathan D. , Hejjaji Vittal , Goyal Abhinav , Leiter Lawrence A. , Kosiborod Mikhail 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundA number of non‐low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol lipid abnormalities are associated with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, which may lead practitioners to use medications targeting these abnormal lipid fractions despite a lack of evidence or guideline recommendations.Methods and ResultsAmong 382 921 US patients with type 2 diabetes (69% with cardiovascular disease, 76% on a statin), 95 995 (26%) were on some nonstatin lipid‐lowering medication—19 265 (5%) on niacin, 32 919 (9%) on a fibrate and 69 513 (18%) on fish oil. Use of all three medications was stable over time and higher in patients with cardiovascular disease and with higher triglyceride levels, although even among patients with triglyceride levels <2.3 mmol/L, 6% were on a fibrate and 17% were on fish oil.ConclusionAs clinical trials demonstrate little to no cardiovascular benefit from taking these medications, greater attention is needed to focus the use of lipid‐lowering medications to those with proven benefit.
Spectroelectrochemical Evaluation of a ZnO Optically Transparent Electrode Prepared by the Spin‐spray Technique
Authors: Okazaki Takuya , Taniguchi Hiroaki , Wagata Hajime , Ito Mizuki , Kuramitz Hideki , Watanabe Tomoaki 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWe present a novel zinc oxide (ZnO) optically transparent electrode (OTE) prepared by the spin‐spray technique for spectroelectrochemistry. The spin‐spray technique can deposit ZnO film at a low cost, high rate deposition, and at a low temperature (<100 °C) in a single step. This new technique provides good optical transparency and electrical conductivity for ZnO. The electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of the ZnO electrode were investigated for varying thicknesses of ZnO using methylene blue as a redox indicator. A ZnO OTE chip that includes three electrodes on a glass chip was developed for thin‐layer spectroelectrochemistry. Moreover, the ZnO films were successfully applied in an electrochemical‐localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) method for methylene blue detection by using them as a transparent conducting substrate for loading gold nanoparticles.