bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Withaferin A reverses bile duct ligation‐induced liver fibrosis by modulating extracellular matrix deposition: Role of LOXL2/Snail1, vimentin, and NFκB signaling
Authors: Sayed Nilofer , Khurana Amit , Saifi Mohd Aslam , Singh Mandip , Godugu Chandraiah 
Published: July 2019

AbstractHerein, we studied the effect of Withaferin A (WFA) in reversing bile duct ligation (BDL)‐induced liver fibrosis. BDL was performed on C57BL/6J mice and 2 days later, WFA (1 and 3 mg/kg) was administered for 12 days. Estimation of liver enzymes and assays for lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, and nitrite levels were performed. Picrosirius red, Masson's trichrome, and H&E staining were performed to study histological changes. WFA proved to be a holistic intervention for the attenuation and reversal of liver fibrosis. Reduction in inflammatory stimulus and oxidative stress restored the levels of stress‐related chaperone Hsp70 (p < .001 vs. BDL) in WFA treated groups. We found 3.59‐fold (p < .001) and 1.37‐fold (p < .01) reduction in the expression of lysyl oxidase like2 (LOXL2) and Snail1, respectively, in WFA‐treated animals as compared with BDL animals. These reductions led to 1.9‐fold (p < .001) elevation in levels of E‐cadherin signifying the reversal of epithelial to mesenchymal transition by WFA. Further, the reduction in LOXL2 levels enhanced the susceptibility of fibrotic scar toward degradation. The picrosirius red and Masson's trichrome staining done on liver tissue sections supported the above results. We, for the first time, report the role of WFA in modulating the expression of LOXL2 and Snail1 in addition to vimentin inhibition and regulation of NFκB signaling for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz by HPLC and LC‐qTOF‐MS/MS
Authors: Peng Qian , Shang Xueying , Zhu Chenchen , Qin Shengying , Zhou Yuan , Liao Qiongfeng , Zhang Ren , Zhao Zhongxiang , Zhang Lei 
Published: July 2019

AbstractOroxylum indicum, as a popular functional Chinese herbal medicine for reducing hyperactivity, relieving sore throat, smoothing the liver and adjusting stomach, mainly contains flavonoids. In this study, we aimed to establish a fast and sensitive method that enables to analyze the chemical components in O. indicum qualitatively and quantitatively. First, a total of 42 components were characterized by LC‐quadrupole time‐of‐flight (qTOF)‐tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), including 23 flavonoid glycosides, 13 flavonoids and six other types of compounds. Then, 17 characteristic components of the 19 common peaks in the chromatographic fingerprints of O. indicum were confirmed. Fifty samples were classified into two groups by hierarchical clustering analysis and orthogonal partial least squares‐discriminant analysis, which also identified the 10 main chemical markers responsible for differences between samples. Last, the quantitative analysis of multiple components with a single marker method was established for simultaneous determination of six main active components in O. indicum by LC‐UV with oroxin B was chosen as internal reference substance. Finally, a rapid and efficient method integrating HPLC with LC‐electrospray ionization‐qTOF‐MS/MS analysis was established to comprehensively discriminate and assess the quality of O. indicum samples.
Solvothermal Synthesis of Mesoporous 3D‐CuCo2O4 Hollow Tubes as Efficient Electrocatalysts for Methanol Electro‐Oxidation
Authors: Tiongco Diane Clare M. , Jadhav Harsharaj S. , Roy Animesh , Seo Jeong Gil 
Published: July 2019

AbstractTransition metal oxides have attracted attention as promising electrode materials for energy storage and conversion devices with high electrochemical activity and stability. In this study, a simple and cost‐effective solvothermal synthesis of rectangular 3D CuCo2O4 hollow tubes have been developed for methanol electro‐oxidation application. Electrochemical analysis shows that CuCo2O4 hollow tubes exhibit superior electrochemical performance in terms of current density and cycling stability, with 75 mA cm−2 and 90 % retention rate after 1000 cycles, respectively. The high electrochemical performances are mainly due to the morphological structure of CuCo2O4 hollow tubes, which possess high surface area and porosity, resulting to a faster electron‐ion transfer, enhanced reactivity and stability. Given that the synthesis of CuCo2O4 hollow tubes involve a facile and cost‐effective technique, the present approach, thus, opens a new era to novel materials for large‐scale processes in different electrochemical applications.
Sustainability Index to Assess the Environmental Impact of Heat Supply Systems
Authors: Hehenberger-Risse Diana , Straub Julia , Niechoj Diana , Lutzenberger Alexa 
Published: July 2019

AbstractA sustainable heat supply is studied by defining indicators to evaluate local heat supply systems based on renewable energies compared to fossil energy reference scenarios. Besides the energy production, the evaluation considers the heat distribution network and long‐term storage. The indicators include ecological, economic, and social aspects.
Electronic Properties, Phase Transformation, and Anionic Redox of Monoclinic Na2MnO3 Cathode Material for Sodium‐Ion Batteries: First‐Principle Calculations
Authors: Gao Xinying , Wang Dashuai , Lian Ruqian , Kan Dongxiao , Mamoor Muhammad , Wang Chunzhong , Chen Gang , Gao Chunge , Wei Yingjin 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe high electrochemical performance of Li2MnO3‐derived Li‐rich layered oxides suggests that Na2MnO3 might be a promising cathode material for sodium‐ion batteries for its effective anionic oxygen redox. However, experimental and theoretical evidence for anionic redox and enhanced Na+ capacity of Na2MnO3 has not been established. In the present work, the structural and thermal stability, and the anionic oxygen redox mechanism of Na2MnO3 were studied by using first‐principle calculations based on density functional theory. About 1.75 Na+ per formula unit were extracted from Na2‐xMnO3 through partial O2− oxidation while the local structure remained intact, resulting in a large theoretical capacity of 315 mA h g−1. Surface Na+ was extracted before bulk Na+, which might have led to oxygen loss and structural transformation from the surface to the material bulk. Given the importance of high capacity in practical applications, Na2MnO3 and its derived Na‐rich layered oxides might be considered promising cathode materials for sodium ion batteries.
The personality disorders and money beliefs and behaviors
Authors: Furnham Adrian 
Published: July 2019

AbstractJust over 400 participants completed a measure of the personality disorders (PDs) (the Coolidge Axis‐II Inventory – Short Form measuring 14 dimensions) and one of money beliefs (The New Money Attitudes Test measuring five factors). Correlational analysis showed few significant age, gender, and educational relationships to the five money factors but that the PDs were consistently related to many of the factors. Regressions revealed that the PDs were most strongly related to two factors: Power and Prestige and Financial Literacy Worries factors. The regressions accounted for almost a quarter of the variance in the outcome variables. Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of the origin of money beliefs. Limitations are noted.
Enantioselectivity Induced by Stereoselective Interlocking: A Novel Core Motif for Tropos Ligands
Authors: Scholtes Jan Felix , Trapp Oliver 
Published: July 2019

AbstractWell‐defined supramolecular interactions are a powerful tool to control the stereochemistry of a catalytic reaction. In this paper, we report a novel core motif for fluxional 2,2′‐biphenyl ligands carrying (S)‐amino acid‐derived interaction sites in 5,5′‐position that cause spontaneous enrichment of the Rax rotamer. The process is based on strong non‐covalent interlocking between interaction sites, which causes diastereoselective formation of a supramolecular ligand dimer, in which the axial chirality of the two subunits is dictated by the stereochemical information in the amino acid residues. The detailed structure of the dimer was elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. Three different phosphorus‐based ligand types, namely a bisphosphine, a bisphosphinite and a phosphoramidite were synthesized and characterized. Whereas the first one was found to exist in a strongly weighted equilibrium, the two others each exhibited stereoconvergent behavior transforming into the diastereopure Rax rotamer. Enriched ligands were used in rhodium‐mediated asymmetric hydrogenation reactions of prochiral olefins in which very high enantioselectivities of up to 96:4 were achieved.
Tuning the Electron Storage Potential of a Charge‐Photoaccumulating RuII Complex by a DFT‐Guided Approach
Authors: Randell Nicholas M. , Rendon Julia , Demeunynck Martine , Bayle Pierre‐Alain , Gambarelli Serge , Artero Vincent , Mouesca Jean‐Marie , Chavarot‐Kerlidou Murielle 
Published: July 2019

AbstractMolecular photosensitizers that are able to store multiple reducing equivalents are of great interest in the field of solar fuel production, where most reactions involve multielectronic reduction processes. In order to increase the reducing power of a ruthenium tris‐diimine charge‐photoaccumulating complex, two structural modifications on its fused dipyridophenazine‐pyridoquinolinone ligand were computationally investigated. Addition of an electron‐donating oxime group was calculated to substantially decrease the reduction potentials of the complex, thus guiding the synthesis of a pyridoquinolinone‐oxime derivative. Its spectroscopic and (spectro)electrochemical characterization experimentally confirmed the DFT predictions, with the first and second reduction processes cathodically shifted by −0.24 and −0.14 V, respectively, compared to the parent complex. Moreover, the ability of this novel artificial photosynthetic system to store two photogenerated electrons at a more reducing potential, via a proton‐coupled electron‐transfer mechanism, was demonstrated.
Five‐Membered Ruthenacycles: Ligand‐Assisted Alkyne Insertion into 1,3‐N,S‐Chelated Ruthenium Borate Species
Authors: Zafar Mohammad , Ramalakshmi Rongala , Pathak Kriti , Ahmad Asif , Roisnel Thierry , Ghosh Sundargopal 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBuilding upon previous work, the chemistry of [(η6‐p‐cymene)Ru{P(OMe)2OR}Cl2], (R=H or Me) has been extended with [H2B(mbz)2]−(mbz=2‐mercaptobenzothiazolyl) using different Ru precursors and borate ligands. As a result, a series of 1,3‐N,S‐chelated ruthenium borate complexes, for example, [(κ2‐N,S‐L)PR3Ru{κ3‐H,S,S’−H2B(L)2}], (2 a–dand2 a’–d’; R=Ph, Cy, OMe or OPh and L=C5H4NS or C7H4NS2) and [Ru{κ3‐H,S,S’‐H2B(L)2}2], (3: L=C5H4NS,3’: L=C7H4NS2) were isolated upon treatment of [(η6‐p‐cymene)RuCl2PR3],1 a–d(R=Ph, Cy, OMe or OPh) with [H2B(mp)2]−or [H2B(mbz)2]−ligands (mp=2‐mercaptopyridyl). All the Ru borate complexes,2 a–dand2 a’–d’are stabilized by phosphine/phosphite and hemilabile N,S‐chelating ligands. Treatment of these Ru borate species,2 a’–c’with various terminal alkynes yielded two different types of five‐membered ruthenacycle species, namely [PR3{C7H4S2‐(E)‐N‐C=CH(R’)}Ru{κ3‐H,S,S’−H2B(L)2}], (4–4’; R=Ph and R’=CO2Me or C6H4NO2; L=C7H4NS2) and [PR3{C7H4NS‐(E)‐S‐C=CH(R’)}Ru{κ3‐H,S,S’−H2B(L)2}], (5–5’,6and7; R=Ph, Cy or OMe and R’=CO2Me or C6H4NO2; L=C7H4NS2). All these five‐membered ruthenacycle species contain an exocyclic C=C moiety, presumably formed by the insertion of a terminal alkyne into the Ru−N and Ru−S bonds. The new species have been characterized spectroscopically and the structures were further confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Theoretical studies and chemical‐bonding analyses established that charge transfer occurs from phosphorus to ruthenium center following the trend PCy3<PPh3<P(OPh)3<P(OMe)3.
The Rise of Phosphaethynolate Chemistry in Early Transition Metals, Actinides, and Rare‐Earth Complexes
Authors: Grant Lauren N. , Mindiola Daniel J. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractIn the last seven years, chemistry of the phosphaethynolate reagent, Na(OCP)(1,4‐dioxane)2.5, has seen a surge in organic and inorganic chemistry—A renaissance to cyanate chemistry in a new guise. Whereas there have been many reports of main group reactivity with [OCP]−, largely from group 14, in more recent times the use of electropositive metals has garnered significant interest given their ability to disguise in various oxidation states. Herein, we report and discuss advances in such studies of [OCP]− with early transition metal and f‐block metal scaffolds.
Carbocatalytic Oxidative Dehydrogenative Couplings of (Hetero)Aryls by Oxidized Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Liquid Phase
Authors: Wirtanen Tom , Aikonen Santeri , Muuronen Mikko , Melchionna Michele , Kemell Marianna , Davodi Fatemeh , Kallio Tanja , Hu Tao , Helaja Juho 
Published: July 2019

AbstractHNO3‐oxidized carbon nanotubes catalyze oxidative dehydrogenative (ODH) carbon–carbon bond formation between electron‐rich (hetero)aryls with O2 as a terminal oxidant. The recyclable carbocatalytic method provides a convenient and an operationally easy synthetic protocol for accessing various benzofused homodimers, biaryls, triphenylenes, and related benzofused heteroaryls that are highly useful frameworks for material chemistry applications. Carbonyls/quinones are the catalytically active site of the carbocatalyst as indicated by model compounds and titration experiments. Further investigations of the reaction mechanism with a combination of experimental and DFT methods support the competing nature of acid‐catalyzed and radical cationic ODHs, and indicate that both mechanisms operate with the current material.
Beneficial effect of adding γ‐AlOOH to the γ‐Al2O3 washcoat of a PdO catalyst for methane oxidation
Authors: Almohamadi Hamad , Smith Kevin J. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe beneficial effect of adding γ‐AlOOH to the γ‐Al2O3 washcoat of a ceramic cordierite (2MgO · 2Al2O3 · 5SiO2) monolith, used to support a PdO catalyst, is reported for methane oxidation in the presence of water at low temperature (<500°C). The mini‐monolith (400 cells per square inch (CPI), 1 cm diameter × 2.54 cm length; ~52 cells) was washcoated using a suspension of γ‐Al2O3 plus boehmite (γ‐AlOOH), followed by calcination and then deposition of Pd by wet impregnation. An optimum solid content of 25 wt% in the washcoat suspension was used to obtain a ~25 wt% washcoat on the monolith. The presence of γ‐AlOOH enhanced the thermal and mechanical stability of the washcoat, provided that the γ‐AlOOH content was <8 wt%. Temperature‐programmed methane oxidation (TPO) showed that the addition of γ‐AlOOH to the γ‐Al2O3 washcoat decreased the catalyst activity. However, when H2O (2 vol% and 5 vol%) was present in the feed gas, the γ‐AlOOH improved the catalyst activity and stability. A γ‐AlOOH content of ~5 wt% in the washcoat was determined to provide the highest catalyst activity and stability for CH4 oxidation in the presence of water.
Elevation of high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin T at admission is associated with increased 3‐month mortality in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with thrombolysis
Authors: Sui Yi , Liu Ting , Luo Jianfeng , Xu Bing , Zheng Liqiang , Zhao Weijin , Guan Qi , Ren Li , Dong Chunyao , Xiao Ying , Qin Xue , Zhang Yao 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBackgroundElevated levels of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) have been associated with unfavorable outcomes in cardiac patients. However, no studies, to date, have discussed the prognostic value of high‐sensitivity cTnT (hs‐cTnT) in thrombolyzed patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).HypothesisWe hypothesized that elevated levels of hs‐cTnT would be associated with poorer clinical outcomes in AIS patients treated with intravenous tissue‐type plasminogen activator (IV tPA).MethodsFrom January 2017 to February 2018, a total of 241 AIS patients treated with IV tPA within 4.5 hours of onset were recruited. On admission, patients were stratified into either normal or elevated hs‐cTnT groups according to a cutoff value of 14 ng/L. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify determinants of hs‐cTnT elevation and to detect whether elevated hs‐cTnT was associated with disability and/or mortality.ResultsIn multivariable regression analysis, older age (P < .001) and stroke etiology (P = .024) were significantly associated with elevated hs‐cTnT levels. After adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics, hs‐cTnT elevation was still significantly associated with 14‐day major disability (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 3‐5, model 1, P = .019, odds ratio [OR] 2.677; model 2, P = .015, OR 2.834), 14‐day composite unfavorable outcome (mRS 3‐6, model 1, P = .005, OR 3.525; model 2, P = .003, OR 3.976), 30‐day mortality (P = .049, OR 4.545) and 90‐day mortality (P = .049, OR 3.835).ConclusionsElevation of hs‐cTnT at admission is associated with an increased risk of 90‐day mortality in AIS patients treated with IV tPA.
Clostridium difficile infection in fever patients with gynecological malignancies
Authors: Yanazume Shintaro , Tokudome Akio , Fukuda Mika , Togami Shinichi , Kamio Masaki , Ota Shunichiro , Kobayashi Hiroaki 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBackgroundAlthough Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) often results in severe manifestations due to toxin‐producing clostridium, the correlation between CDI and having a fever in gynecological malignancies is not completely understood.AimsThe incidence, and clinical features, and clinical management of CDI in patients with gynecological malignancies who have fevers were investigated, and the clinical managements of this complication are discussed.Methods and resultsWe retrospectively reviewed 485 patients newly diagnosed with invasive gynecological cancers who underwent anticancer treatment between July 2012 and December 2016. The diagnosis of CDI was performed using enzyme immunoassays for C difficile glutamate dehydrogenase and toxin A/B enzyme immunoassay. The cumulative risk of CDI was 9.5% (six of 63) in overall fever patients and 6.3% (six of 95) in patients with fever episodes. Two CDI patients (33.3%) did not show diarrheal symptoms, with the fever of unknown origin criteria prompting their CDI testing and diagnosis. CDI patients were treated using vancomycin or metronidazole without suffering from fatal clinical course. Overall, eight patients with gynecological malignancies were diagnosed with CDI, including two patients with fever lower than 38.5°C. The cumulative risk of CDI was 0.48% (eight of 1652) for all admitted patients and 1.6% (eight of 485) in those with gynecological malignancies. Of all the patients with confirmed CDI, only one had a history of administration of antibiotics prior to onset of CDI symptoms.ConclusionCDI does not always present with typical manifestations in malignancy patients. Investigation of CDI, regardless of gastrointestinal symptoms or history of antibiotic use, is warranted in cases of fever of unknown origin in gynecological malignancy.
Streptococcus mutans isolated from a 4‐year‐old girl diagnosed with infective endocarditis
Authors: Kondo Yoshio , Hoshino Tomonori , Ogawa Midori , Hidaka Kiyoshi , Hasuwa Tomoyuki , Moriuchi Hiroyuki , Fujiwara Taku 
Published: July 2019

AbstractObjectivesInfective endocarditis (IE) has an extremely high fatality rate. In this study, we isolated a strain of Streptococcus mutans, which we called HM, from the blood drawn from a 4‐year‐old girl diagnosed with IE. We aimed to fully type the HM strain and investigate its biological properties, including its virulence with respect to IE.Material and methodsA 16S rRNA phylogenetic tree and glucosyltransferase gene sequences were used to type HM. Serotyping was performed using the Ouchterlony method. Morphological observations were made using phase contrast and electron microscopy. Fibrinogen adhesion and biofilm formation were investigated to examine the tissue colonization properties of HM, whereas its bodily origin was determined from its fingerprinting pattern.ResultsThe isolated strain was S. mutans serotype e. However, its morphology was observed to be short chains, unlike that of the NCTC 10449 reference strain. Fibrinogen adhesion and biofilm formation were more apparent than in NCTC 10449. The fingerprinting pattern showed that HM came from the patient's saliva.ConclusionsHM differs from NCTC 10449 in its higher fibrinogen affinity. HM was also found to be derived from the oral cavity. These results highlight the importance of good oral hygiene for the prevention of IE in children.
An efficient voltage to delay conversion method for DCVSL cells and its application in high speed all‐digital time‐based quantization
Authors: Valiollahi Sepideh , Ardeshir Gholamreza 
Published: July 2019

SummaryTranslating the analog input voltage to delay of delay cells is a necessity for realizing digital time‐based quantization. Usually, this conversion is done through additional elements, imposing extra power and area. This paper proposes a voltage to delay conversion method for cross‐coupled differential cascode voltage switch logic (DCVSL) cells, without adding any extra elements to their basic structures. Cross‐coupled delay cells are superior to conventional CMOS inverters in terms of lower power consumption, propagation delay, and area. However, controlling their delay is a demanding task due to their asynchronous charging and discharging. The key features of the proposed method are (a) controlling the delay of DCVSL cells just by see‐saw changing of PMOS transistors source voltages; (b) reducing the propagation delays of DCVSL cells by simultaneously accelerating the charging and discharging processes; (c) reducing the power consumption by decreasing both the switching time and short‐circuit current; (d) employing the proposed voltage to delay conversion method to develop a low power, small area, all‐digital time‐based analog to digital converter (ADC). The proposed 4‐bit ADC, implemented in TSMC 65‐nm CMOS technology, consumes 0.37 mW at conversion speed of 2 GHz with SNDR 20.9 dB and SFDR 30.2 dB, and occupies an active area of 0.0029 mm2.
LARPA: A learning automata‐based resource provisioning approach for massively multiplayer online games in cloud environments
Authors: Aslanpour Mohammad Sadegh , Ghobaei‐Arani Mostafa , Heydari Morteza , Mahmoudi Nader 
Published: July 2019

SummaryNowadays, with the development of communication systems, massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) have become very popular. In these games, the players all over the world dynamically interact with each other by sending play actions such as shootings, movements, or chatting in the form of MMOG sessions in real time through a large‐scale distributed environment. Leveraging affordable cloud computing to host such services is a widely investigated issue. It is because the arrival rate of players to the game environment has to make fluctuations, and the players expect services to be always available with an acceptable quality of service (QoS), especially in terms of the response time. Therefore, the dynamic provisioning of resources in order to deal with fluctuating demands due to variability in the arrival rate of players of the MMOG services is highly recommended. In this paper, we propose a learning‐based resource provisioning approach for MMOG services that is based on the combination of the autonomic computing paradigm and learning automata (LA). The remarkable performance of the proposed approach in terms of response time, cost, and allocated virtual machines (VMs) is assessed through simulation and comparison with the existing approaches.