bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Concept End Points Informing Design Considerations for Confirmatory Clinical Trials in Osteoarthritis
Authors: Kim Yura , Levin Gregory , Nikolov Nikolay P. , Abugov Robert , Rothwell Rebecca 
Published: December 2020

ObjectiveThere is an unmet need for therapies that target the underlying pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA). However, defining appropriate measures for clinical trials of such therapies is challenging. Our objective was to propose concept clinical end points that directly capture clinical benefit in this setting and evaluate the feasibility of their use.MethodsThis analysis used the multicenter, longitudinal, observational Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) database. OAI participants primarily had knee OA, with follow‐up of up to 9 years and assessments of joints, surgical interventions, performance outcomes, and patient‐reported outcomes. We examined this data set to identify existing outcome measures of direct clinical benefit. We evaluated the feasibility of conducting trials using these candidate end points by estimating incidence rates and resulting required sample sizes and study durations in time‐to‐event analyses.ResultsWe identified candidate end points based on total knee replacement (TKR) and composite end points defined by TKR and conservative thresholds of patient‐reported outcomes of pain and function. Using time to TKR as an end point, a study with an average follow‐up time of 3 years requires approximately 3,000 to 18,000 subjects, depending on effect size. Alternatively, for a composite end point, such as “time to TKR or severe pain or severely impaired functioning,” the required sample sizes ranged from approximately 2,000 to 11,000 for a 3‐year study.ConclusionThe proposed concept end points can reliably and feasibly evaluate the effectiveness of therapies for this unmet need. In particular, the composite end point approach can substantially reduce sample sizes (up to approximately 40%) compared to the use of TKR alone.
Self‐Powered Smart Shoes with Tension‐Type Ribbon Harvesters and Sensors
Authors: Jung Kyung‐Chae , Son Jeong‐Hyeop , Chang Seung‐Hwan 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis study aims to develop self‐powered smart shoes that can monitor the changes in the bodyweight of a user. A tension‐type energy harvester and strain sensor are fabricated using polyvinylidene fluoride‐based ribbons and nanopowder containing piezoresistive ribbons, respectively. Two different conducting nanopowders (carbon black and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes) are used as stretchable sensors, and the most appropriate mixing ratio of the nanopowders is determined. The energy harvesting performance of the tension‐type ribbon harvesters is experimentally investigated based on the combination patterns of ribbons and gait patterns, and a method is introduced to apply the harvesting ribbon to shoes. Tension‐type ribbon sensors that detect bodyweight are installed in an acrylic insole with four rectangular holes. The connecting method between the sensors, which guarantees the stability and high sensitivity of the sensor signals, is investigated. Finally, electronic circuits are designed for energy harvesting, data communication, and switching power sources. These designed circuits are implemented in smart shoes.
A Supraparticle‐Based Five‐Level‐Identification Tag That Switches Information Upon Readout
Authors: Miller Franziska , Wintzheimer Susanne , Prieschl Johannes , Strauss Volker , Mandel Karl 
Published: December 2020

AbstractProduct identification tags are of great importance in a globalized world with increasingly complex trading routes and networks. Beyond currently used coding strategies, such as QR codes, higher data density, flexible application as well as miniaturization and readout indication are longed for in the next generation of security tags. In this work, micron‐sized supraparticles (SPs) with encoded information (ID) are produced that not only exhibit multiple initially covert identification levels but are also irreversibly marked as “read” upon readout. To achieve this, lanthanide doped CaF2 nanoparticles are assembled in various quantity‐weighted ratios via spray‐drying in presence of a broad‐spectrum stealth fluorophore (StFl), yielding covert spectrally encoded ID‐SPs. Using these as pigments, QR codes, initially dominated by the green fluorescence of the StFl, could be generated. Upon thermal energy input, these particle‐based tags irreversibly switch to an activated state revealing not only multiple luminescent colors but also spectral IDs. This strategy provides the next generation of material‐based security tags with a high data density and security level that switch information upon readout and can be, therefore, used as seal of quality.
Pt/MnO2 Nanoflowers Anchored to Boron Nitride Aerogels for Highly Efficient Enrichment and Catalytic Oxidation of Formaldehyde at Room Temperature
Authors: Chen Dongyun , Zhang Guping , Wang Mengmeng , Li Najun , Xu Qingfeng , Li Hua , He Jinghui , Lu Jianmei 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe catalytic room temperature oxidation of formaldehyde (HCHO) is widely considered as a viable method for the abatement of indoor toxic HCHO pollution. Herein, Pt/MnO2 nanoflowers anchored to boron nitride aerogels (Pt/MnO2‐BN) were fabricated for the catalytic room temperature oxidation of HCHO. The three‐dimensional Pt/MnO2‐BN aerogels demonstrated superior catalytic activity as a result of the improved diffusion of the reactant molecules within the porous structure. Furthermore, the porous aerogels displayed excellent HCHO adsorption capacities, which promote a rapid HCHO gas‐phase concentration reduction and a subsequent complete oxidation of the adsorbed HCHO. The combined adsorption and oxidation properties of the Pt/MnO2‐BN aerogels enhance the oxidative removal of HCHO. The optimized Pt/MnO2‐BN demonstrated excellent catalytic activity toward HCHO (200 ppm) at room temperature, achieving a 96 % formaldehyde conversion after 50 min.
Nonlinear Optical Oxythiophosphate Approaching the Good Balance with Wide Ultraviolet Transparency, Strong Second Harmonic Effect, and Large Birefringence
Authors: Zhang Xinyuan , Kang Lei , Gong Pifu , Lin Zheshuai , Wu Yicheng 
Published: December 2020

AbstractUltraviolet (UV) transparency, second harmonic effect and optical birefringence are three vital but mutually restrictive factors in the application of UV nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. It is difficult for traditional phosphates to achieve a good balance among these factors. In this communication, we propose that the structural evolution of the NLO motif from traditional phosphate to oxythiophosphate would enhance the birefringence and second harmonic generation (SHG) effect while maintaining wide UV transparency, which is confirmed by first‐principles calculations and preliminary experimental measurements. Following this strategy, we predict that, compared with the well‐known NLO phosphate KH2PO4, the oxythiophosphate KH2PO3S exhibits better balance for the UV NLO performance, including wide UV transparency (UV cutoff down to 203 nm), strong SHG effect (ca. 0.9 pm V−1), and large birefringence (ca. 0.1 at 1 μm) with short phase‐matching SHG output wavelength (≈214 nm).
Severe tumor lysis syndrome during the induction therapy for the treatment of blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm arising from myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms
Authors: Sagou Ken , Ito Makoto , Kawamura Yuma , Ukai Shun , Goto Miyo , Fukushima Nobuaki , Ozeki Kazutaka , Fukuyama Ryuichi , Kohno Akio 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBPDCN shows clinically heterogeneous characteristics. And as other hematological malignancies, symptoms of BPDCN suggesting a high tumor burden, such as high white blood cell count or splenomegaly, should be carefully considered to prevent TLS.
Comprehensive phenotyping of endothelial cells using flow cytometry 1: Murine
Authors: Grant Dillon , Wanner Nicholas , Frimel Matthew , Erzurum Serpil , Asosingh Kewal 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe endothelium forms a selective barrier between circulating blood or lymph and surrounding tissue. Endothelial cells play an essential role in vessel homeostasis, and identification of these cells is critical in vascular biology research. However, characteristics of endothelial cells differ depending on the location and type of blood or lymph vessel. Endothelial cell subsets are numerous and often identified using different flow cytometric markers, making immunophenotyping these cells complex. In part 1 of this two part review series, we present a comprehensive overview of markers for the flow cytometric identification and phenotyping of murine endothelial subsets. These subsets can be distinguished using a panel of cell surface and intracellular markers shared by all endothelial cells in combination with additional markers of specialized endothelial cell types. This review can be used to determine the best markers for identifying and phenotyping desired murine endothelial cell subsets.
Hirudin prevents vascular endothelial cell apoptosis and permeability enhancement induced by the serum from rat with chronic renal failure through inhibiting RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway
Authors: Chen Jing , Shi Wenbin , Xu Yan , Zhang Huaming , Chen Bo 
Published: December 2020

AbstractEndothelial cells injury and activation contribute to arteriovenous fistula (AVF) stenosis. Hirudin (Hiru) can inhibit the activity of thrombin, which was reported to enhance endothelial cell permeability and promote vascular inflammatory responses. RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway is also important in regulating vascular endothelial permeability. This study aimed to investigate the role of Hiru on the viability and permeability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) following stimulation of serum from rat with chronic renal failure (CRF) and illustrated the effects of Hiru on RhoA/ROCK signaling. Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group and CRF group. Serum from each group was collected to stimulate HUVECs. Proliferation capability was estimated with Cell Count Kit‐8 (CCK‐8) assay. Transwell assay was performed to determine permeability. Cell apoptosis was examined using Tunel staining. Telomere length and telomerase activity were determined by qPCR. Moreover, the expression of RhoA, ROCK1 and ROCK2 was estimated via western blot. Results showed that the serum from CRF rat significantly inhibited cell viability while enhanced cell permeability and apoptosis. Different concentrations of Hiru prevented the above effects caused by CRF serum. Additionally, Hiru recovered the CRF serum‐induced decreased telomere length and telomerase activity. Hiru also inhibited the protein expression of RhoA, ROCK1 and ROCK2, which were activated by CRF serum. Moreover, the ROCK inhibitor, Y27632, exhibited similar effects with Hiru. In conclusion, Hiru‐restored HUVECs cell viability, telomere length and telomerase activity, suppressed permeability and apoptosis in the presence of CRF serum might depend on inactivating the RhoA/ROCK signaling.
Optical plasticity of mammalian cells
Authors: Subramanian Kaushikaram , Petzold Heike , Seelbinder Benjamin , Hersemann Lena , Nüsslein Ina , Kreysing Moritz 
Published: December 2020

AbstractTransparency is widespread in nature, ranging from transparent insect wings to ocular tissues that enable you to read this text, and transparent marine vertebrates. And yet, cells and tissue models in biology are usually strongly light scattering and optically opaque, precluding deep optical microscopy. Here we describe the directed evolution of cultured mammalian cells toward increased transparency. We find that mutations greatly diversify the optical phenotype of Chinese Hamster Ovary cells, a cultured mammalian cell line. Furthermore, only three rounds of high‐throughput optical selection and competitive growth are required to yield fit cells with greatly improved transparency. Based on 15 monoclonal cell lines derived from this directed evolution experiment, we find that the evolved transparency frequently goes along with a reduction of nuclear granularity and physiological shifts in gene expression profiles. In the future this optical plasticity of mammalian cells may facilitate genetic clearance of living tissues for in vivo microscopy.
Beta‐arrestin 2 mediates cardiac hypertrophy induced by thyroid hormones via AT1R
Authors: Lino Caroline Antunes , de Bortoli Teixeira Larissa , Capelupe Simões Sarah , de Oliveira Silva Tábatha , Diniz Gabriela Placoná , da Costa‐Neto Claudio Miguel , Barreto‐Chaves Maria Luiza Morais 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWe have previously reported that angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1R) contributes to the hypertrophic effects of thyroid hormones (TH) in cardiac cells. Even though evidence indicates crosstalks between TH and AT1R, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Beta‐arrestin (ARRB) signaling has been described as noncanonical signal transduction pathway that exerts important effects in the cardiovascular system through G‐protein‐coupled receptors, as AT1R. Herein, we investigated the contribution of ARRB signaling in TH‐induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Primary cardiomyocyte cultures were treated with Triiodothyronine (T3) to induce cell hypertrophy. T3 rapidly activates extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling, which was partially inhibited by AT1R blockade. Also, ERK1/2 inhibition attenuated the hypertrophic effects of T3. ARRB2 was upregulated by T3, and small interfering RNA assays revealed the role of ARRB2—but not ARRB1—on ERK1/2 activation and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Corroborating these findings, the ARRB2‐overexpressed cells showed increased expression of hypertrophic markers, which were attenuated by ERK1/2 inhibition. Immunocytochemistry and immunoprecipitation assays revealed the increased expression of nuclear AT1R after T3 stimulation and the increased interaction of AT1R/ARRB2. The inhibition of endocytosis also attenuated the T3 effects on cardiac cells. Our results evidence the contribution of ARRB2 on ERK1/2 activation and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by T3 via AT1R.
Distinct temporal actions of different types of unfolded protein responses during aging
Authors: Sheng Yi , Yang Guang , Markovich Zachary , Han Sung Min , Xiao Rui 
Published: December 2020

AbstractProteotoxic stress is a common challenge for all organisms. Among various mechanisms involved in defending such stress, the evolutionarily conserved unfolded protein responses (UPRs) play a key role across species. Interestingly, UPRs can occur in different subcellular compartments including the endoplasmic reticulum (UPRER), mitochondria (UPRMITO), and cytoplasm (UPRCYTO) through distinct mechanisms. While previous studies have shown that the UPRs are intuitively linked to organismal aging, a systematic assay on the temporal regulation of different type of UPRs during aging is still lacking. Here, using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as the model system, we found that the endogenous UPRs (UPRER, UPRMITO, and UPRCYTO) elevate with age, but their inducibility exhibits an age‐dependent decline. Moreover, we revealed that the temporal requirements to induce different types of UPRs are distinct. Namely, while the UPRMITO can only be induced during the larval stage, the UPRER can be induced until early adulthood and the inducibility of UPRCYTO is well maintained until mid‐late stage of life. Furthermore, we showed that different tissues may exhibit distinct temporal profiles of UPR inducibility during aging. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that UPRs of different subcellular compartments may have distinct temporal mechanisms during aging.
Assessing the performance of international pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) eligibility guidelines in a cohort of Chinese MSM, Beijing, China 2009 to 2016
Authors: Hall Eric W , Wang Liming , Huang Xiaojie , Sullivan Patrick S , Siegler Aaron J 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIntroductionPrEP is a powerful HIV prevention tool, and locally relevant eligibility criteria are necessary to optimize the prevention impact of PrEP. We assessed performance of existing national and international PrEP eligibility criteria to predict future HIV seroconversion among MSM in Beijing, China.MethodsParticipants were MSM aged ≥18 years who enrolled in a cohort study between July 2009 and March 2016. Participants completed HIV testing, syphilis testing, and a questionnaire on recent sexual health behaviours at each follow‐up visit and were followed until HIV seroconversion or dropout. We assessed PrEP eligibility at the most recent follow‐up visit prior to the final study visit. Participants were classified as indicated for PrEP (or not) based on criteria from guidelines from Europe, Korea, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, United States and the World Health Organization. To compare guideline performance, we calculated sensitivity, specificity, Youden’s Index (YI), Matthew’s Correlation Coefficient (MCC), F1 scores and diagnostic odds ratios. For each guideline, performance measures were compared to random allocation of PrEP by randomly selecting a proportion of participants equal to the proportion indicated.ResultsThere were 287 (17∙3%) incident HIV seroconversions among 1663 MSM. The number of men indicated for PrEP from different guidelines ranged from 556 (33∙4%) to 1569 (94∙2%). Compared to random allocation, sensitivity of algorithms to predict seroconversion ranged from slightly worse (−4∙7%) to 30∙2% better than random. However, in absolute terms, none of the sensitivity values increased by more than 11% when compared to random allocation. For all guidelines, specificity was not meaningfully better than random allocation. No guidelines had high binary classification performance measures.ConclusionsThe performance of international indication guidelines in this sample was only slightly better than random allocation. Using such guidelines to screen out MSM self‐identifying as interested in PrEP could lead to misallocation of resources and to good candidates for PrEP being denied access. For settings in which international guidelines perform poorly, alternative indication approaches should be considered.
Sensitivity analysis and uncertainty estimation in small‐signal modeling forInP HBT(invited paper)
Authors: Cao Ke‐Jing , Zhang Ao , Gao Jian‐Jun 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn this paper, a sensitivity analysis and uncertainty estimation of small‐signal model for InP HBT is presented. Analytical expressions for sensitivity are derived in terms of the measured S‐parameters based on the direct intrinsic parameters extraction. Furthermore, the uncertainties of the intrinsic parameters vs frequency are discussed to give more reliable extraction results. The optimal solutions of the parameters are obtained by utilizing sensitivity analysis. In the frequency range of 45 MHz‐40GHz, good fits between the measured and modeled S‐parameters are achieved for 5 × 5μm2InP HBT.
Flaw Sensitivity and Tensile Fatigue of Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Hydrogels
Authors: Koshut William J. , Rummel Caleb , Smoot David , Kirillova Alina , Gall Ken 
Published: December 2020

AbstractTensile fatigue behavior is commonly overlooked as researchers pursue the toughest hydrogels. This work describes a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel prepared through freezing–thawing (FT) processing to achieve varied monotonic strength and toughness. The monotonic tensile responses of relatively strong and weak versions of the hydrogel are studied with cylindrical hole and crack‐like flaws of different sizes to develop an understanding of monotonic strength in the presence of two different, extreme defect types. The monotonic strength of the samples with cylindrical defects is reasonably predicted using nominal stress which accounts for a loss of load‐bearing area, while linear‐elastic fracture mechanics gives a first‐order approximation of the impact of crack‐like flaw size on monotonic strength. A subset of key defected samples are further subjected to cyclic loading and fatigue failure at varying stress amplitude. The cylindrical defect samples outperformed cracked samples in fatigue, and the utilization of four FT cycles instead of two improved both monotonic toughness and fatigue properties. This work represents the first tensile fatigue analysis on defected hydrogel materials, sheds light on the behavior of hydrogels in cyclic loading environments, and evaluates both the monotonic toughness and fatigue behavior of soft materials with and without defects.
Computer Assisted Structure Elucidation (CASE): Current and future perspectives
Authors: Elyashberg Mikhail , Argyropoulos Dimitris 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe first efforts for the development of methods for Computer‐Assisted Structure Elucidation (CASE) were published more than 50 years ago. CASE expert systems based on one‐dimensional (1D) and two‐dimensional (2D) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) data have matured considerably by now. The structures of a great number of complex natural products have been elucidated and/or revised using such programs. In this article, we discuss the most likely directions in which CASE will evolve. We act on the premise that a synergistic interaction exists between CASE, new NMR experiments, and methods of computational chemistry, which are continuously being improved. The new developments in NMR experiments (long‐range correlation experiments, pure‐shift methods, coupling constants measurement and prediction, residual dipolar couplings [RDCs]), and residual chemical shift anisotropies [RCSAs], evolution of density functional theory (DFT), and machine learning algorithms will have an influence on CASE systems and vice versa. This is true also for new techniques for chemical analysis (Atomic Force Microscopy [AFM], “crystalline sponge” X‐ray analysis, and micro‐Electron Diffraction [micro‐ED]), which will be used in combination with expert systems. We foresee that CASE will be utilized widely and become a routine tool for NMR spectroscopists and analysts in academic and industrial laboratories. We believe that the “golden age” of CASE is still in the future.
CONST: Continuous online NoSQL schema tuning
Authors: Mozaffari Maryam , Nazemi Eslam , Eftekhari‐Moghadam Amir‐Masoud 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSelf‐tuning is a feature of autonomic databases that includes the problem of automatic schema design. Automating the schema design process is critical to provide an optimized schema that increases the performance of an application's workload in NoSQL databases. There has been important work on automated design tuning for NoSQL databases. Existing solutions take an offline approach to the schema design problem and leave several important decisions to database administrators. Although offline approaches recommend good and efficient schemas, their analysis is far too heavy‐weight to be run continuously. This paper develops a novel self‐tuning control loop, called CONST, for online monitoring, analysis, and schema tuning a managed NoSQL database system that automatically modify the current schema design reacting to changes in the application's workload. CONST provides components that fulfill IBM's MAPE‐K loop phases to support self‐tuning. We describe an implementation of the proposed CONST loop on top of the Cassandra wide column store and evaluate its performance experimentally. Our results show the low overhead of CONST and demonstrate its ability to tune a schema design in response to changes in the application's workload.