bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Microstirring Pill Enhances Bioavailability of Orally Administered Drugs
Authors: Mundaca‐Uribe Rodolfo , Karshalev Emil , Esteban‐Fernández de Ávila Berta , Wei Xiaoli , Nguyen Bryan , Litvan Irene , Fang Ronnie H. , Zhang Liangfang , Wang Joseph 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMajority of drugs are administered orally, yet their efficient absorption is often difficult to achieve, with a low dose fraction reaching the blood compartment. Here, a microstirring pill technology is reported with built‐in mixing capability for oral drug delivery that greatly enhances bioavailability of its therapeutic payload. Embedding microscopic stirrers into a pill matrix enables faster disintegration and dissolution, leading to improved release profiles of three widely used model drugs, aspirin, levodopa, and acetaminophen, without compromising their loading. Unlike recently developed drug‐carrying nanomotors, drug molecules are not associated with the microstirrers, and hence there is no limitation on the loading capacity. These embedded microstirrers are fabricated through the asymmetric coating of titanium dioxide thin film onto magnesium microparticles. In vitro tests illustrate that the embedded microstirrers lead to substantial enhancement of local fluid transport. In vivo studies using murine and porcine models demonstrate that the localized stirring capability of microstirrers leads to enhanced bioavailability of drug payloads. Such improvements are of considerable importance in clinical scenarios where fast absorption and high bioavailability of therapeutics are critical. The encouraging results obtained in porcine model suggest that the microstirring pill technology has translational potential and can be developed toward practical biomedical applications.
Oriented Growth of In‐Oxo Chain Based Metal‐Porphyrin Framework Thin Film for High‐Sensitive Photodetector
Authors: Tian Yi‐Bo , Vankova Nina , Weidler Peter , Kuc Agnieszka , Heine Thomas , Wöll Christof , Gu Zhi‐Gang , Zhang Jian 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe potential of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for applications in optoelectronics results from a unique combination of interesting photophysical properties and straightforward tunability of organic and inorganic units. Here, it is demonstrated that using MOF approach chromophores can be assembled into well‐ordered 1D arrays using metal‐oxo strands as lead structure, and the resulting porphyrinic rows exhibit unique photophysical properties and allow the realization of highly sensitive photodetectors. A porphyrinic MOF thin film, In‐TCPP surface‐coordinated MOF thin films with [021] orientation is fabricated using a layer‐by‐layer method, from In(NO3)3 and TCPP (5,10,15,20‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)porphyrin). Detailed experimental and theoretical analysis reveals that the assembly yields a structure where In‐oxo strands running parallel to the substrate fix the chromophoric linkers to yield 1D arrays of porphyrins. The frontier orbitals of this highly anisotropic arrangement are localized in these columnar arrangements of porphyrins and result in high photoactivity, which is exploited to fabricate a photodetector with record (as compared to other organic materials) responsivity in visible regime of 7.28 × 1014 Jones and short rise/fall times (0.07/0.04 s). This oriented MOF thin film‐based high‐sensitive photodetector provides a new avenue to use inorganic, stable lead structures to assemble organic semiconductors into regular arrays, thus creating a huge potential for the fabrication of optoelectronic devices.
Mitochondrial cardiomyopathy and ventricular arrhythmias associated with biallelic variants in C1QBP
Authors: Webster Gregory , Reynolds Meredith , Arva Nicoleta C. , Dellefave‐Castillo Lisa M. , McElligott Hilary S. , Kofman Amber , Laboski Aleksandra , Magnetta Defne , George Alfred L. , McNally Elizabeth M. , Puckelwartz Megan J. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPatients with biallelic mutations in the nuclear‐encoded mitochondrial gene C1QBP/p32 have been described with syndromic features and autosomal recessive cardiomyopathy. We describe the clinical course in two siblings who developed cardiomyopathy and ventricular fibrillation in infancy. We provide genomic analysis and clinical‐pathologic correlation. Both siblings had profound cardiac failure with ventricular arrhythmia. One child died suddenly. The second sibling survived resuscitation but required extracorporeal cardiopulmonary support and died shortly afterward. On cardiac autopsy, the left ventricle was hypertrophied in both children. Histological examination revealed prominent cardiomyocyte cytoplasmic clearing, and electron microscopy confirmed abnormal mitochondrial structure within cardiomyocytes. DNA sequencing revealed compound heterozygous variants in C1QBP (p.Thr40Asnfs*45 and p.Phe204Leu) in both children. Family segregation analysis demonstrated each variant was inherited from an unaffected, heterozygous parent. Inherited loss of C1QBP/p32 is associated with recessive cardiomyopathy, ventricular fibrillation, and sudden death in early life. Ultrastructural mitochondrial evaluation in the second child was similar to findings in engineered C1qbp‐deficient mice. Rapid trio analysis can define rare biallelic variants in genes that may be implicated in sudden death and facilitate medical management and family planning. (184/200).
Selective adsorption and separation of dyes from aqueous solution by a zirconium‐based porous framework material
Authors: Jia Shifang , Song Sufang , Zhao Xudong 
Published: May 2021

A water‐stable zirconium‐based metal–organic framework, MOF‐808, has been applied in selective adsorption and separation of the dyes (anionic fluorescein sodium [FS] and cationic rhodamine B [RhB]). Single‐component adsorption experiments indicate the superior adsorption of FS with a maximum adsorption capacity of 480.2 mg g−1, almost four times of the capacity for RhB. Further separation study shows that separation of these dyes can be achieved at a wide pH range of 3.5–8.5 and continuous separation is feasible in a simulated chromatographic column. Besides, this material can be well regenerated through acid washing method. Pore sieving effect is considered to be the key factor for the highly efficiency separation, and the host–guest interactions including H‐bond, π–π stacking, and coordination interactions are the main driven forces for the adsorption. Thus, this work demonstrates that MOF‐808 not only is a promising material for efficient separation of FS and RhB but also provides a new perspective for developing adsorbent with the help of distinct pore and chemical properties of MOFs.
Simple structured and highly efficient passive T‐type micromixer with circumferential in‐step at entry
Authors: Dundi Manoj , V. R. K. Raju , V. P. Chandramohan 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMany micromixing applications require simple structured passive mixers rather than complex structured passive or expensive active mixers. However, mixing quality in a typical simple structured passive mixer remains poor. In the present work, simple T‐type micromixer is modified with a circumferential in‐step at the entry of inlet channels to generate velocity components oblique to the mainstream inlet flow. The performance of T and T–T mixers with and without circumferential in‐step has been estimated for various Re (0 to 700). Results showed that inlet sample flow achieved velocity components of three‐dimensional nature with circumferential in‐step, leading to a momentous degree of intertwinement and entanglement of samples during the collision at the confluence of inlet channels. As a result, a remarkable improvement in mixing is obtained in the presence of in‐step for sufficiently higher flow rates of Re above 100 by T‐mixer and Re above 300 by T–T mixer. In particular, T‐mixer offers better advantage with in‐step compared to T–T mixer; marking an improvement for Re as low as 100 and above, as well as exhibiting shorter mixing lengths. Therefore, the present design of simple structured T‐mixer with in‐step at entry can be an effective device for various micromixing applications.
Master batch approach for developing PVDF/EVA/CNT nanocomposites with co‐continuous morphology and improved electrical conductivity
Authors: Lopes Pereira Elaine C. , Soares Bluma G. , Silva Adriana A. , Barra Guilherme M. O. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractConducting polymer composites constituted by co‐continuous poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/ ethylene‐ vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) blends with multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) were prepared by melt mixing using different procedures. The effect of the master batch approach on the conductivity, morphology, mechanical, thermal and rheological properties of PVDF/EVA/CNT nanocomposites was compared with that based on one step mixing strategy. The selective extraction experiments revealed that CNT was preferentially localized in the EVA phase in all situations, even when PVDF@CNT master batch was employed. Nanocomposites prepared with EVA@CNT master batch displayed higher conductivity, whose value reached around 10−1 S m−1 with the addition of 0.56 vol% of CNT. The better electrical performance was attributed to the better distribution of the filler, as indicated by transmission electron microscopy and rheological behavior. The electrical and rheological behavior were also investigated as a function of the CNT content.
Enzymatic Hydrolysis‐Responsive Supramolecular Hydrogels Composed of Maltose‐Coupled Amphiphilic Ureas
Authors: Yoshisaki Ryohei , Kimura Shinya , Yokoya Masashi , Yamanaka Masamichi 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMaltose is a ubiquitous disaccharide produced by the hydrolysis of starch. Amphiphilic ureas bearing hydrophilic maltose moiety were synthesized via the following three steps: I) construction of urea derivatives by the condensation of 4‐nitrophenyl isocyanate and alkylamines, II) reduction of the nitro group by hydrogenation, and III) an aminoglycosylation reaction of the amino group and the unprotected maltose. These amphiphilic ureas functioned as low molecular weight hydrogelators, and the mixtures of the amphipathic ureas and water formed supramolecular hydrogels. The gelation ability largely depended on the chain length of the alkyl group of the amphiphilic urea; amphipathic urea having a decyl group had the highest gelation ability (minimum gelation concentration=0.4 mM). The physical properties of the supramolecular hydrogels were evaluated by measuring their thermal stability and dynamic viscoelasticity. These supramolecular hydrogels underwent gel‐to‐sol phase transition upon the addition of α‐glucosidase as a result of the α‐glucosidase‐catalyzed hydrolysis of the maltose moiety of the amphipathic urea.
Simultaneous Removal of Antibiotics and Heavy Metals with Poly(Aspartic Acid)‐Based Fenton Micromotors
Authors: Ding Xiaoyong , Liu Yilin , Chen Xiao , Liu Wenjuan , Li Jing 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe discharge of diverse pollutants has led to a complex water environment and posed a huge health threat to humans and animals. Self‐propelled micromotors have recently attracted considerable attention for efficient water remediation due to their strong localized mass transfer effect. However, a single functionalized component is difficult to tackle with multiple contaminants and requires to combine different decontamination effects together. Here, we introduced a multifunctional micromotor to implement the adsorption and degradation roles simultaneously by integrating the poly(aspartic acid) (PASP) adsorbent with a MnO2‐based catalyst. The as‐prepared micromotors are well propelled in contaminated waters by MnO2 catalyzing hydrogen peroxide. In addition, the catalytic ramsdellite MnO2(R‐MnO2) inner layer is decorated with Fe2O3 nanoparticles to improve their catalytic performance, contributing to an excellent degradation ability with 90% tetracycline (TC) removal in 50 minutes by enhanced Fenton‐like reactions. Combining the attractive adsorption capability of poly (aspartic acid) (PASP), the composite micromotors offer an efficient removal of heavy metal ions in short time. Moreover, the designed micromotors are able to simultaneously remove antibiotic and heavy metals in mixed contaminants circumstance just in single treatment. This multifunctional micromotor with distinctive decontamination ability exhibits a promising prospective in treating multiple pollutants in the future.
Möglichkeiten und Grenzen numerischer Methoden in der Geotechnik
Authors: von Wolffersdorff Peter‐Andreas , Henke Sascha 
Published: May 2021

AbstractDie Verwendung numerischer Methoden ist mittlerweile zur Lösung komplexer Aufgaben in der Geotechnik gängige Praxis geworden, wobei die Finite‐Elemente‐Methode (FEM) die größte Bedeutung erlangt hat. Der Beitrag soll über die Möglichkeiten und Grenzen numerischer Methoden in der Geotechnik aufklären und helfen, evtl. vorhandene Vorbehalte gegenüber der Anwendung numerischer Methoden in der Geotechnik abzubauen. Nach einem Überblick über die vielfältigen Anwendungsgebiete der numerischen Methoden werden die Besonderheiten der Modellierung in der Geotechnik erläutert. Das sind u. a. die notwendigen Abstrahierungen des realen Baugrunds in einem numerischen Modell, die Größe des Berechnungsgebiets oder die Berücksichtigung der Baugrund‐Bauwerk‐Interaktion. Ausführlich wird auf die besondere Bedeutung der stofflichen Modellierung von Boden und Fels eingegangen und ein Überblick über die aktuelle Entwicklung der Stoffmodelle und deren Parameterbestimmung gegeben. Die FEM wird gegenwärtig auch vermehrt für die Bemessung geotechnischer Konstruktionen angewendet. Es werden die im Rahmen der gegenwärtigen Normungsinitiativen diskutierten Grundsätze für die Bemessung in der Geotechnik mittels numerischer Methoden beschrieben und bewertet. Aspekte im Zusammenhang mit dem Building Information Modeling (BIM) werden beleuchtet. Es wird auch auf die Notwendigkeit hingewiesen, spezialisierte Anwender zu qualifizieren, um numerische Methoden zielführend und sicher anwenden zu können.
Are people more selfish after giving gifts?
Authors: Polman Evan , Lu Zoe Y. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractHow people choose gifts is a widely studied topic, but what happens next is largely understudied. In two preregistered studies, one field experiment, and an analysis of secondary data, we show that giving gifts has a dark side, as it can negatively affect subsequent interpersonal behavior between givers and receivers. In Study 1, we found that giving a gift to one's romantic partner changes givers' interpretation of which behaviors constitute infidelity. Specifically, we found that givers (vs. nongivers) classified their questionable behaviors (e.g., sending a flirtatious text to someone other than their partner) less as a form of cheating on their partner. In Study 2, we examined how politely participants behave when delivering bad news to a friend. We found that givers (vs. nongivers) wrote significantly less polite messages to their friend. In Study 3, we tested real gifts that people give to friends and found givers (vs. nongivers) subsequently made more selfish decisions at their friends' expense. In all, our research refines the oft‐cited axiomatic assumption that gift giving strengthens relationships and illuminates the potential for future research to examine how decision making can alter interpersonal, romantic relationships.
Production of octanoic acid in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Investigation of new precursor supply engineering strategies and intrinsic limitations
Authors: Wernig Florian , Baumann Leonie , Boles Eckhard , Oreb Mislav 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe eight‐carbon fatty acid octanoic acid (OA) is an important platform chemical and precursor of many industrially relevant products. Its microbial biosynthesis is regarded as a promising alternative to current unsustainable production methods. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the production of OA had been previously achieved by rational engineering of the fatty acid synthase. For the supply of the precursor molecule acetyl‐CoA and of the redox cofactor NADPH, the native pyruvate dehydrogenase bypass had been harnessed, or the cells had been additionally provided with a pathway involving a heterologous ATP‐citrate lyase. Here, we redirected the flux of glucose towards the oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway and overexpressed a heterologous phosphoketolase/phosphotransacetylase shunt to improve the supply of NADPH and acetyl‐CoA in a strain background with abolished OA degradation. We show that these modifications lead to an increased yield of OA during the consumption of glucose by more than 60% compared to the parental strain. Furthermore, we investigated different genetic engineering targets to identify potential factors that limit the OA production in yeast. Toxicity assays performed with the engineered strains suggest that the inhibitory effects of OA on cell growth likely impose an upper limit to attainable OA yields.
One vector‐based method to verify predicted plant miRNAs, target sequences, and function modes
Authors: Zhou Hui , Hussain Syed S. , Shi Bu‐Jun 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMany microRNAs (miRNAs) have been predicted from small RNA sequencing data, but little was experimentally verified due to the lack of effective methods. Here, we developed a simple and reliable dual gene expression cassette vector‐based method to verify predicted plant miRNAs. We cloned osa‐miR528 as a known miRNA, hvu‐miRX as a predicted miRNA and TaDREB3 open reading frame as a non‐miRNA into the first gene expression cassette and fused their complementary or noncomplementary sequences as predicted target or nontarget sequences with the 3ʹ untranslated region of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the second one. When these constructs were bombarded into plant cells, only the construct containing both osa‐miR528 or hvu‐miRX and its complementary sequence did not generate green fluorescence. Stem‐loop reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction detected mature osa‐miR528 or mature hvu‐miRX in the cells, while northern analysis showed that GFP messenger RNA from the construct containing both osa‐miR528 or hvu‐miRX and its complementary sequence was degraded. Taken together, the results indicate that hvu‐miRX is an authentic miRNA like osa‐miR528, miRNA's complementary sequence is its target sequence, and both osa‐miR528 and hvu‐miRX silenced the GFP expression via a cleavage mode. Our method thus facilitates the verification of predicted plant miRNAs, target sequences, and function modes.
Tumor‐associated macrophage‐derived CCL5 promotes chemotherapy resistance and metastasis in prostatic cancer
Authors: Ma Jian , Shayiti Fuerhaiti , Ma Jing , Wei Meng , Hua Tingting , Zhang Rong , Su Junyan , Chen Peng 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe crosstalk between tumor microenvironment and cancer cells is emerging as a critical determinant in tumor progression. However, the underlying mechanism of tumor microenvironment‐induced cancer development remains controversial. Here, our study provides evidence to suggest that tumor‐associated macrophage (TAM) enrichment is found in chemoresistant prostatic tumor tissues. Those TAMs are demonstrated to promote chemoresistance and distant metastasis in prostatic cancer through secretion of CCL5. Mechanistically, TAM coculture or additional CCL5 can mediate the STAT3‐dependent epithelial–mesenchymal transition process, resulting in distant metastasis in prostatic cancer. Meanwhile, activation of STAT3 induced by CCL5 can mediate upregulation of the transcription factor Nanog, leading to drug resistance. In vivo study further demonstrated that blockade of STAT3 signals significantly reverses chemoresistance and suppresses lung metastasis in colorectal tumor‐bearing mice, suggesting a novel strategy for clinical prostatic cancer treatment.
BVES‐AS1 inhibits the malignant behaviors of colon adenocarcinoma cells via regulating BVES
Authors: Wen Wu , Wang Haiyan , Xie Shuang , Wu Zuyin , Zhang Chunxu 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe underexpression of the long noncoding RNA blood vessel epicardial substance antisense RNA 1 (BVES‐AS1) has been shown in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) patients. However, its role in COAD remains to be explored. This study aimed to investigate the function and potential mechanism of BVES‐AS1 in COAD. Colony formation, Cell Counting Kit‐8, JC‐1 mitochondrial membrane potential assay, wound healing, transwell, and western blot analyses were used to measure cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) in COAD cells. RNA pull‐down, luciferase reporter, and RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation assays were used to detect the interaction of BVES‐AS1 and downstream genes. BVES‐AS1 was expressed at low levels in COAD cells. Overexpressed BVES‐AS1 inhibited COAD cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT while elevating cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, BVES‐AS1 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA sponging miR‐522‐3p to regulate the expression of nearby gene blood vessel epicardial substance (BVES). Besides this, BVES‐AS1 recruited TATA‐box binding protein associated factor 15 (TAF15) to promote BVES messenger RNA stability. Taken together, our study confirmed that BVES‐AS1 inhibited COAD progression via interacting with miR‐522‐3p and TAF15 to regulate BVES expression, which might offer a perspective for COAD treatment.
The optimal cutoff of atrial high‐rate episodes for neurological events in patients with dual chamber permanent pacemakers
Authors: Lu Wei‐Da , Chen Ju‐Yi 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundPatients with atrial high‐rate episode (AHRE) are at higher risk of neurological events. This study aimed to identify the optimal cutoff threshold for AHRE duration in patients with dual chamber permanent pacemakers (PPM) without prior atrial fibrillation.MethodsWe included 355 consecutive patients receiving dual chamber pacemaker implantation. Primary outcome was composite endpoint of subsequent neurological events after various AHRE durations. AHRE was defined as >175 bpm (MEDTRONIC) or > 200 bpm (BIOTRONIK) for longer than 30 s. Cox regression analysis with time‐dependent covariates was conducted.ResultsThe mean age of included patients was 75.6 ± 11.3 years. Among 355 included patients, some had multiple AHREs; 125 patients (35.2%) developed AHRE ≥2 min, 107 (30.1%) had ≥5 min, 55 (15.5%) had ≥6 h, and 37 (10.4%) had ≥24 h. The mean follow‐up was 42.1 ± 31.2 months. During follow‐up, 19 neurological events occurred. After adjustment for CHA2DS2‐VASc score and device type, multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated AHRE ≥2 min (HR 13.605, 95% CI 3.010–61.498), and AHRE ≥5 min (HR 5.819, 95% CI 2.056–16.470) were significantly associated with neurological events. Hence, the optimal AHRE cutoff value was 2 min with the highest Youden index (sensitivity, 89.5%; specificity, 67.8%; AUC, 0.823, 95% CI, 0.763–0.884; p < 0.001).ConclusionsPatients with dual chamber PPM who develop AHRE have increased risk of neurological events. Comprehensive assessment of the risks and benefits of prescribing anticoagulants should be considered in PPM patients with AHRE ≥2 min.