bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Pyrolysis‐Free Covalent Organic Polymer for Oxygen Reduction
Authors: Guo Jianing , Lin Chun‐Yu , Xia Zhenhai , Xiang Zhonghua 
Published: July 2018

AbstractHighly efficient electrocatalysts derived from metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) have been developed. However, the subsequent pyrolysis is often needed owing to their poor intrinsic electrical conductivity, leading to undesirable structure changes and destruction of the original fine structure. Now, hybrid electrocatalysts were formed by self‐assembling pristine covalent organic polymer (COP) with reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The electrical conductivity of the hybridized COP/rGO materials is increased by more than seven orders of magnitude (from 3.06×10−9 to 2.56×10−1 S m−1) compared with pure COPs. The ORR activities of the hybrid are enhanced significantly by the synergetic effect between highly active COP and highly conductive rGO. This COP/rGO hybrid catalyst exhibited a remarkable positive half‐wave (150 mV).
Yogurt Fortification with Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) Flour: Physicochemical and Sensory Effects
Authors: Chen Xi , Singh Mukti , Bhargava Kanika , Ramanathan Ranjith 
Published: July 2018

AbstractYogurt, a popular dairy product made by bacterial fermentation of milk, is a nutritious food that contains probiotics beneficial for digestive health. Protein fortification is an effective way to design foods with increased satiety. Chickpea is rich in protein, fiber, and prebiotics and can be a source for enhancing the nutritional quality of food products while providing functional attributes of macromolecules and promoting probiotic growth. The present study evaluated the effects of the addition of chickpea flour (1%, 2%, 3%, or 5%, w/v, level) on selected quality parameters of yogurt of 2% fat‐containing milk that was inoculated with a yogurt culture, fermented, and stored at 4 °C up to 21 days. The results demonstrated that addition of chickpea flour to the yogurt mix promoted the growth of bacteria during yogurt making, and decreased the incubation time. Fortification of yogurt with 1% and 2% chickpea flour provided a significant improvement in the viscosity of stored yogurt. Chickpea flour stimulated the growth of probiotic bacteria and maintained higher counts over the 21‐day refrigerated storage. Sensory evaluation revealed no significant influence on the acceptance scores of yogurt with addition of 1% or 2% of chickpea flour. The results suggest that addition of chickpea flour up to 2% level can be an option to enhance the protein level of yogurt without adverse effects on product qualities and sensorial properties.
An interactive approach for illustrating a proof of the sampling theorem using MATHEMATICA
Authors: Guerrero Fabio G. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractLearning methods in engineering education should evolve to take advantage of the progress of technology. Despite being one of the most important theorems of engineering, at undergraduate level the foundations of sampling theorem are usually oversimplified, whereas at graduate level its proof is frequently presented in the context of a rigorous mathematical framework. This paper presents an interactive approach to illustrate an amenable proof of the sampling theorem through example. Apart from its practical value as a learning tool, the proof captures some mathematical subtleties that can help to understand some more advanced concepts. The goal of this work is to show that learning the sampling theorem through an interactive example of its mathematical proof can be an enjoyable and insightful experience.
A prospective Phase II study to examine the relationship between quality of life and adverse events of first‐line chemotherapy plus cetuximab in patients with KRAS wild‐type unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer: QUACK trial
Authors: Iwamoto Shigeyoshi , Ooki Akira , Morita Satoshi , Hara Hiroki , Tanioka Hiroaki , Satake Hironaga , Kataoka Masato , Kotaka Masahito , Kagawa Yoshinori , Nakamura Masato , Shingai Tatsushi , Ishikawa Masashi , Miyake Yasuhiro , Sudo Takeshi , Hashiguchi Yojiro , Yabuno Taichi , Sakamoto Junichi , Tsuji Akihito , Ando Masahiko , Yamaguchi Kensei 
Published: July 2018

AbstractA prospective trial has not been performed to investigate associations between quality of life (QOL), adverse events (AEs), and overall survival (OS) in the first‐line treatment with cetuximab plus standard chemotherapy for advanced/metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Associations between patient outcome and health‐related QOL (HRQOL) together with skin toxicity‐related QOL were prospectively evaluated using EORTC QLQ‐C30 and DLQI questionnaires. One hundred and forty mCRC patients were analyzed in this study, and 87.8% received pre‐emptive skin treatment. Skin toxicity had no clinical impact on HRQOL or skin‐related QOL during the first 8 weeks and throughout the study period. An early skin reaction with a grade ≥2 at 8 weeks was significantly associated with a favorable OS compared with a grade of ≤1 (HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.24‐0.95; P = .035) and was confirmed to be an independent predictor of OS (HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.21‐0.97; P = .040). Patients symptomatic at baseline who responded to treatment had improved HRQOL compared to nonresponding patients. Severe mucositis/stomatitis had a statistically significant and clinically meaningful negative impact on HRQOL (mean changes from baseline throughout the study period in global health status were −12.64 for a grade of ≥2 vs −0.35 for a grade of 0 or 1 (P = .005)). In conclusion, severe early skin reactions predict favorable OS for patients treated with cetuximab plus chemotherapy without impairing QOL. In addition, mucositis/stomatitis was the most substantial AE compromising both QOL and treatment compliance.
Downregulation of MCT4 for lactate exchange promotes the cytotoxicity of NK cells in breast carcinoma
Authors: Long Yaping , Gao Zihe , Hu Xiao , Xiang Feng , Wu Zhaozhen , Zhang Jiahui , Han Xiao , Yin Liyong , Qin Junfang , Lan Lan , Yin Fuzai , Wang Yue 
Published: July 2018

AbstractMonocarboxylate transporter‐4 (MCT4), a monocarboxylic acid transporter, demonstrates significantly increased expression in the majority of malignancies. We performed an experiment using BALB/C mice, and our results showed that ShMCT4 transfection or the pharmaceutic inhibition of MCT4 with 7acc1 strengthens the activity of NK cells. The results of a calcein assay revealed that the cytotoxicity of NK cells was strengthened via inhibition of MCT4. In addition, ELISA testing showed that the content of perforin and CD107a was increased, and PCR amplification and immunoblotting revealed that the expression of NKG2D and H60 was upregulated after the inhibition of MCT4. Further, we observed an elevated pH value, decreased extracellular lactate flow, and attenuated tumor growth. Therefore, we concluded that the inhibition of MCT4 enhanced the cytotoxicity of NK cells by blocking lactate flux and reversing the acidified tumor microenvironment. In addition to these findings, we also discovered that MCT4 depletion may have a pronounced impact on autophagy, which was surmised by observing that the inhibition of autophagy (3MA) pulled the enhanced cytotoxicity of NK cells downwards. Together, these data suggest that the key effect of MCT4 depletion on NK cells probably utilizes inductive autophagy as a compensatory metabolic mechanism to minimize the acidic extracellular microenvironment associated with lactate export in tumors.
When the going gets tough: Schools in challenging circumstances and the effectiveness of principals' leadership styles
Authors: Berkovich Izhak 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe principal's leadership style is one of the most common ways of conceptualizing school leadership behaviours. We lack understanding, however, of how the effectiveness of school leadership styles varies across degrees of challenging circumstances. Data obtained from a quantitative survey of primary school teachers in Israel (N = 570) and from the Ministry of Education database were used to account for principals' leadership styles and their effectiveness in schools facing more challenging circumstances (N = 15) and in those facing less challenging circumstances (N = 46). Differences were found in the relations between principals' transactional behaviours on one hand and the teaching dimension of school culture and principals' perceived effectiveness on the other, as a function of challenging school circumstances. The study also found a difference in the relations of principals' transformational behaviours and the safety dimension of school culture, by level of challenging school circumstances. The data also revealed that in schools facing less challenging circumstances, principals' passive behaviours were related to students' achievements and principals' perceived effectiveness, but not in schools facing more challenging circumstances. The findings and their implications are discussed.
Laser‐Induced Fluorescence in Multiphase Systems
Authors: Rüttinger Sophie , Spille Claas , Hoffmann Marko , Schlüter Michael 
Published: July 2018

AbstractNowadays, multiphase flows occur in many different applications in everyday life or industrial context. Consequently, the understanding of transport phenomenolgy between the participating phases is a crucial task of recent and prospective research. When it comes to the optimization of absorption and chemical reaction tasks in process industry, in‐depth knowledge concerning mass transfer is required. The laser‐induced fluorescence (LIF) imaging is therefore a promising optical measurement technique to characterize concentration fields with high spatial and temporal resolution. This review gives an overview of the different fields of research within which LIF measurements are carried out, with focus on gas‐liquid systems. Chances and obstacles of recently publicated results as well as experiences of LIF methods regarding multiphase flows are presented and discussed.
Anatomic spectrum of left coronary artery anomalies and associated mechanisms of coronary insufficiency
Authors: Angelini Paolo , Uribe Carlo 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis is a novel re‐appraisal of an understudied and misunderstood group of important coronary anomalies. The general name of the group is “anomalous origin of the left coronary artery,” but several additional details should be included in this group of anomalies and the explanation of their pathophysiology. The most lethal form in young athletes or military recruits features intramural aortic proximal course. This comprehensive review is based on a large experience at a dedicated center for coronary artery anomalies, using evolving knowledge (over 20 years) while employing prospective and disciplined programs of evaluation and treatment, according to the nature and severity of each anomaly. The most common pathogenic mechanism of coronary dysfunction relates to intramural coronary course, with or without ectopic origin, leading to variable lateral compression and stenosis inside the aortic tunica media; this compression is present at rest and worsens with exertion. We propose that such variable and dynamic stenoses can be best studied by examining their specific anatomy and clinical presentation, stress testing, and, most importantly, in vivo evaluation by intravascular ultrasonography. Such methods should be used to support individual risk evaluation and selection among treatment options.
Classification and pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Sysol J. R. , Machado R. F. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPulmonary hypertension is a fatal disease of multiple etiologies that is estimated to affect over 100 million people worldwide. The disease is defined hemodynamically as a mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥ 25 mmHg at rest. Despite important advances in our understanding of the pathobiology of this disease and improvements in patient management, outcomes are still poor and no curative treatments are currently available. The complex nature of this disease requires detailed clinical evaluation for accurate diagnosis and treatment. Recent advances in clinical recognition, classification, and understanding of the underlying pathological processes in pulmonary hypertension have led to improved diagnostic testing and therapeutic options for patients. A hallmark of pulmonary hypertension is an increased pulmonary vascular resistance which leads to progressive elevations in pulmonary artery pressure, resulting in compensatory right ventricular hypertrophy and, ultimately, heart failure. Clinically, these pulmonary vascular changes initially present as nonspecific symptoms, including unexplained dyspnea on exertion, fatigue, chest pain, and syncope. Signs of right ventricular dysfunction are also frequently present. Common pathogenic features of pulmonary hypertension include sustained pulmonary vasoconstriction, vascular remodeling of the small pulmonary arteries, in situ thrombosis, and increased vascular wall stiffness, resulting in increased pulmonary arterial pressure due to increased pulmonary vascular resistance. Despite improvements in clinical classification and understanding of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of pulmonary hypertension, current therapies are limited to supportive care and targeting pulmonary vasoconstriction. There remains a need to identify novel therapeutic targets in this disease. This review provides a succinct overview of the clinical classification and pathophysiology of PH that can be used as a reference by physicians and physician‐scientists.
The role of echocardiography in the diagnostic work‐up of pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Sachpekidis V. , Karvounis H. , Giannakoulas G. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPulmonary hypertension (PH) is a disorder with sometimes a challenging diagnosis, which can be made only by right heart catheterization. The role of echocardiography in the work‐up of these patients is manifold. Its main contribution is in the assessment of the presence of PH in the setting of a clinical suspicion and thus it serves as a gatekeeper to avoid unnecessary invasive catheterizations. In this regard, estimation of pulmonary artery pressure is a central but not the only component that should be pursued, since there are many other additional echocardiographic features that can help the clinician to estimate the probability of the presence of PH more accurately and to fully assess its pathophysiological consequences. In addition, echocardiography can offer invaluable insight into right ventricular size and function, which is the cardiac chamber that is mainly affected by the disease and finally, it can provide important clues about the cause of PH and mainly help identify patients with pulmonary venous hypertension, in which treatment is entirely different from patients with precapillary hypertension. This review summarizes the echocardiographic findings commonly observed in patients with PH and focuses on important features that allow the clinician to exploit the full potential of this modality when assessing these patients.
Current knowledge on very late stent thrombosis
Authors: Kafkas N. , Dragasis S. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractVery late stent thrombosis (VLST) represents a rare, but potentially lethal complication, in the era of percutaneous coronary intervention. Its etiology, pathogenesis, and predictive factors have not yet been established due to its relatively low prevalence and multifactorial nature. In this review article, after presenting the current definitions on stent thrombosis, we focus on the contemporary data on VLST, for both bare‐metal stents and drug‐eluting stents. Possible pathophysiological mechanisms and predictive factors are also illustrated, with data drawn from several multicenter studies. Factors such as younger patients, smokers at the time of initial DES implantation, STEMI or the presence of thrombus at the time of initial DES implantation, overlapping stents, seem to represent independent predictors of VLST. Finally, there is a special reference on cases of VLST, studied with optical coherence tomography (OCT). OCT managed to identify the cause of VLST in over 97% of the cases in these studies, whereas some of the most common mechanisms of VLST in these patients were stent malapposition, neoatherosclerosis rupture, uncovered struts, and stent underexpansion.
Myocardial perfusion SPECT and SPECT/CT in interventional cardiology
Authors: Trägårdh E. , Hasbak P. , Hesse B. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractMyocardial perfusion imaging with single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is an important and widely used non‐invasive imaging test for the diagnosis and semiquantification of myocardial ischemia. SPECT data, acquired after a stress test and at rest on a gamma camera, shows left ventricular tracer uptake during stress and at rest. The tracer distributions are proportionate to the relative, regional coronary‐flow distributions, respectively. A stress‐induced perfusion defect reflects myocardial ischemia, while a permanent defect, unchanged from stress to rest, indicates myocardial infarction. By ECG‐gating global and regional left ventricular function can also be assessed. The three most important indications for SPECT in the setting of interventional cardiology include (1) the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in intermediate‐risk patients, (2) the assessment of ischemia in patients with prior successful revascularization and recurrence of symptoms, and (3) the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department. The amount of ischemia is related to the outcome of patients undergoing revascularization. It was observed that patients with an ischemic area of <10% of the left ventricle demonstrated by SPECT benefit from staying on optimal medical therapy, whereas patients with more ischemia on SPECT benefit from revascularization. Guidelines and appropriate use criteria for the indications of SPECT in relation to interventional cardiology have been published by the European Society and American College of Cardiology.
The first case of deafness‐dystonia syndrome due to compound heterozygous variants in FITM2
Authors: Shakir Aamina , Wadley Alexandrea F. , Purcarin Gabriela , Wierenga Klaas J. 
Published: July 2018

Key Clinical MessageWe report the second known family affected by deafness‐dystonia syndrome associated with loss of function of FITM2. Our patient is compound heterozygous for pathogenic FITM2 variants, while affected siblings in the first report were homozygous. This case provides evidence that this novel genetic disorder is associated with autosomal recessive inheritance.
The feasibility of early detection and grading of apple bruises using hyperspectral imaging
Authors: Tan Wenyi , Sun Laijun , Yang Fei , Che Wenkai , Ye Dandan , Zhang Dan , Zou Borui 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe ability to determine if an apple is bruised and to provide quantitative and objective descriptions of the degree of bruising is not the only important basis for assessing apple quality but also has significance for improving the postharvest handling of apples. In this study, segmented principal component analysis for hyperspectral images in the spectral range of 401 to 1037 nm was carried out, and seven characteristic wavelengths were selected based on the weight coefficients of the principal component images. By using the principal component analysis operations with the selected wavelengths and image processing methods, an accurate recognition algorithm for apple bruises was proposed. For 40 intact samples and 160 bruised samples, the average correct recognition rate was 99.1%. Moreover, this paper obtained the average spectra of 157 segmented bruised regions by applying a binary mask. A characteristic wavelength selection method that combines competitive adaptive reweighted sampling with correlation coefficient methods and supports vector machine modeling methods based on grid parameter optimization was put forward for the classification and identification of the bruising degrees of apples. The results showed that the classification accuracy was as high as 97.5% for the test set. Overall, this study demonstrated that hyperspectral imaging technology can be used to accurately and effectively identify early bruises and determine the bruising degree of apples, which provides a new method for on‐line, nondestructive detection, and grading of early bruises in apples.
Structural and Synthetic Insights into Pyridine Homocouplings Mediated by a β‐Diketiminato Magnesium Amide Complex
Authors: Davin Laia , Clegg William , Kennedy Alan R. , Probert Michael R. , McLellan Ross , Hevia Eva 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe reaction of [(DippNacnac)Mg(TMP)] (1) with 4‐subtituted pyridines proceeds via sequential regioselective metallation and 1,2‐addition to furnish a range of symmetric 4,4′‐R2‐2,2′‐bipyridines in good yield, representing a new entry into bipyridine synthesis. Interestingly, the reaction of 1 with 2‐OMe‐pyridine led to formation of asymmetric bipyridine 6, resulting from the C6‐magnesiation of the heterocycle followed by a C−C coupling step by addition to the C2 position of a second, non‐metallated molecule, and subsequent elimination of [DippNacnacMgOMe]2 (7). Synthesis combined with spectroscopic and structural analysis help rationalise the underlying processes resulting in the observed reactivity, and elucidate the key role that the sterically encumbered β‐diketiminate ligand plays in determining regioselectivity.
Experimental and Theoretical Study on the Cycloreversion of a Nucleobase‐Derived Azetidine by Photoinduced Electron Transfer
Authors: Fraga‐Timiraos Ana B. , Francés‐Monerris Antonio , Rodríguez‐Muñiz Gemma M. , Navarrete‐Miguel Miriam , Miranda Miguel A. , Roca‐Sanjuán Daniel , Lhiaubet‐Vallet Virginie 
Published: July 2018

AbstractAzetidines are interesting compounds in medicine and chemistry as bioactive scaffolds and synthetic intermediates. However, photochemical processes involved in the generation and fate of azetidine‐derived radical ions have scarcely been reported. In this context, the photoreduction of this four‐membered heterocycle might be relevant in connection with the DNA (6‐4) photoproduct obtained from photolyase. Herein, a stable azabipyrimidinic azetidine (AZTm), obtained from cycloaddition between thymine and 6‐azauracil units, is considered to be an interesting model of the proposed azetidine‐like intermediate. Hence, its photoreduction and photo‐oxidation are thoroughly investigated through a multifaceted approach, including spectroscopic, analytical, and electrochemical studies, complemented by CASPT2 and DFT calculations. Both injection and removal of an electron result in the formation of radical ions, which evolve towards repaired thymine and azauracil units. Whereas photoreduction energetics are similar to those of the cyclobutane thymine dimers, photo‐oxidation is clearly more favorable in the azetidine. Ring opening occurs with relatively low activation barriers (<13 kcal mol−1) and the process is clearly exergonic for photoreduction. In general, a good correlation has been observed between the experimental results and theoretical calculations, which has allowed a synergic understanding of the phenomenon.