bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Potential of DMSO as greener solvent for PES ultra‐ and nanofiltration membrane preparation
Authors: Evenepoel Nicholas , Wen Shufen , Tilahun Tsehaye Misgina , Van der Bruggen Bart 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACTIn this article, the performance of polyethersulfone (PES) ultra‐ and nanofiltration membranes, prepared with the non‐toxic solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), was investigated. The membranes were prepared by immersion precipitation via phase inversion. Experimental results proved that DMSO is a better alternative to N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) as solvent for PES ultrafiltration membranes as the membranes had a higher permeability and rejection of bovine serum albumin (BSA). An explanation was found based on experimental cloud point data and scanning electron microscopy images showing the morphology. The rejection of BSA and rose Bengal (RB) was proportional to the polymer concentration. On the contrary, the permeability decreased with increasing polymer concentration. For a casting thickness of 250 µm, an optimal balance between permeability and rejection of macromolecules for ultrafiltration was found at 24 wt % PES. The permeability was inversely proportional to the casting thickness, but a small decrease in rejection was observed when lowering the thickness. A good balance between permeability and rejection of RB was found, using a reference nanofiltration membrane of 28.5 wt % PES with 150 µm casting thickness. This membrane achieved a RB rejection of 95.3% and a pure water flux of 2.03 L m−2 h−1 bar−1. The membrane thickness and polymer concentration did not have a clear influence on the hydrophilicity of the membranes. It can be concluded that DMSO is a benign alternative as compared to traditional solvents such as NMP and also results in better PES membrane performances. DMSO is a perfectly suitable solvent for ultrafiltration applications and has potential to be used for nanofiltration applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46494.
Hierarchical self‐assembly of Y‐shaped amphiphilic triblock polyurethane/poly(acrylic acid) complexes: Giant vesicles, vesicles, 3D network, and bulk structures
Authors: Lai Shuangquan , Jin Yong , Li Hanping , Sun Xiaopeng , Pan Jiezhou 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACTA simple and effective approach to induce hierarchical self‐assembly of Y‐shaped amphiphilic triblock polyurethane/poly(acrylic acid) complexes system in aqueous media is reported here. Hydrogen bonding interactions and electrostatic repulsive forces, which can be controlled by regulating the pH condition of complexes solution, were the main driving forces to induce morphological transitions. With the gradual decrease of pH value, a variety of micro‐/nanostructures including giant vesicles, small vesicles, multi‐layer three‐dimensional (3D) porous network structures and “bulk” structures were successively obtained. Among these structures, the micron‐scale multi‐layer 3D porous network structure formed from block copolymer/homopolymer complexes was rarely reported. Therefore, this research demonstrates that the hierarchical self‐assembly of polymers complexes in aqueous media is a viable approach to construct different interesting micro‐/nanostructure assemblies, and supplies a new clue for the fabrication of multi‐layer 3D porous network structures. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46503.
Ultrasmall Ag nanocrystals supported on chitosan/PVA nanofiber mats with bifunctional properties
Authors: Wang Dong , Lu Qifang , Wei Mingzhi , Guo Enyan 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACTBifunctional nanofiber mats consisting of chitosan (CS), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and silver nanocrystals (Ag NCs) have been fabricated by a facile electrospinning method. The formation and presence of Ag NCs supported on CS/PVA nanofibers are confirmed by ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction. The morphology of the samples is characterized by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The prepared Ag NCs/CS/PVA nanofiber mats show pronounced antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and excellent filtration property for suspended particulate matter (SPM) particles. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46504.
Boron Tribromide‐Assisted Chiral Phosphoric Acid Catalysts for Enantioselective [2+2] Cycloaddition
Authors: Sakamoto Tatsuhiro , Mochizuki Takuya , Goto Yuta , Hatano Manabu , Ishihara Kazuaki 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBBr3‐assisted chiral phosphoric acid catalysts for enantioselective [2+2] cycloaddition were developed. The reactions of phenyl vinyl sulfide with α‐substituted acroleins proceeded, and the corresponding [2+2] cycloadducts were obtained with high enantioselectivity. In particular, the [2+2] cycloadduct obtained from methacrolein is a synthetically useful optically active cyclobutane, which could be transformed to a key intermediate for (+)‐frontalin, a pheromone of Asian elephants.
Direct C−H Arylation Meets Perovskite Solar Cells: Tin‐Free Synthesis Shortcut to High‐Performance Hole‐Transporting Materials
Authors: Chang Yu‐Chieh , Lee Kun‐Mu , Lai Chia‐Hsin , Liu Ching‐Yuan 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn contrast to the traditional multistep synthesis, we demonstrate herein a two‐step synthesis shortcut to triphenylamine‐based hole‐transporting materials (HTMs) through sequential direct C−H arylations. These hole‐transporting molecules are fabricated in perovskite‐based solar cells (PSCs) that exhibit promising efficiencies up to 17.69 %, which is comparable to PSCs utilizing commercially available 2,2′,7,7′‐tetrakis[N,N‐di(4‐methoxyphenyl)amino]‐9,9′‐spirobifluorene (spiro‐OMeTAD) as the HTM. This is the first report describing the use of step‐saving C−H activations/arylations in the facile synthesis of small‐molecule HTMs for perovskite solar cells.
Click‐evoked auditory brainstem responses and autism spectrum disorder: A meta‐analytic review
Authors: Talge Nicole M. , Tudor Brooke M. , Kileny Paul R. 
Published: March 2018

Behavior does not differentiate ASD risk prior to 12 months of age, but biomarkers may inform risk before symptoms emerge. Click‐evoked auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) may be worth consideration due to their measurement properties (noninvasiveness; reliability) and conceptual features (well‐characterized neural generators), but participant characteristics and assessment protocols vary considerably across studies. Our goal is to perform a meta‐analysis of the association between ABRs and ASD. Following an electronic database search (PubMed, Medline, PsycInfo, PsycArticles), we included papers that were written in English, included ASD and typically‐developing (TD) groups, and reported the information needed to calculate standardized mean differences (Hedges's g) for at least one ABR latency component (I, III, V, I‐III, III‐V, I‐V). We weighted and averaged effect sizes across conditions and subsets of participants to yield one estimate per component per study. We then performed random‐effects regressions to generate component‐specific estimates. ASD was associated with longer ABR latencies for Waves III (g = 0.5, 95% CI 0.1, 0.9), V (g = 0.7, 95% CI 0.3, 1.1), I‐III (g = 0.7, 95% CI 0.2, 1.2), and I‐V (g = 0.6, 95% CI 0.2, 1.0). All components showed significant heterogeneity. Associations were strongest among participants ≤8 years of age and those without middle ear abnormalities or elevated auditory thresholds. In sum, associations between ABRs and ASD are medium‐to‐large in size, but exhibit heterogeneity. Identifying sources of heterogeneity is challenging, however, due to power limitations and co‐occurrence of sample/design characteristics across studies. Research addressing the above limitations is crucial to determining the etiologic and/or prognostic value of ABRs for ASD. Autism Res 2018, 11: 916–927. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Lay SummaryAuditory brainstem responses (ABR) may be associated with ASD, but participant characteristics and assessment protocols vary considerably across individual studies. Our goal is to combine the results across these studies to facilitate clarity on the topic. Doing so represents a first step in evaluating whether ABRs yield potential for informing the etiology of ASD risk and/or ASD symptom profiles.
Chinese children with autism: A multiple chemical elements profile in erythrocytes
Authors: Wu Jing , Liu Duo‐Jian , Shou Xiao‐Jing , Zhang Ji‐Shui , Meng Fan‐Chao , Liu Ya‐Qiong , Han Song‐Ping , Zhang Rong , Jia Jin‐Zhu , Wang Jing‐Yu , Han Ji‐Sheng 
Published: March 2018

Several lines of evidence suggested that abnormal levels of certain chemical elements may contribute to the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The present work aimed to investigate the multiple chemical elements profile in the erythrocytes of autistic versus typically developing children (TDC) of China. Analyses were carried out to explore the possible association between levels of elements and the risk as well as the severity of ASD. Erythrocyte levels of 11 elements (32%) among 34 detected elements in autistic group were significantly different from those in the TDC group. To our knowledge, this is the first study which compared the levels of rare earth elements in erythrocytes between children with or without ASD. Five elements including Pb, Na, Ca, Sb, and La are associated with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) total score. Also, a series of tendencies were found in this research which was believed to affect auditory response, taste, smell, and touch, as well as fear or nervousness. It can be concluded that Chinese autistic children suffer from multi‐chemical element imbalances which involves a complex combination of genetic and environmental factors. The results showed a significant correlation between abnormal levels of several chemical elements and the severity of the autistic syndrome.Lay SummaryIt is suggested that abnormal levels of some chemical elements may contribute to the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In this work, the impact of element imbalances on the risk and severity of ASD was investigated, focusing on the analysis of abnormal levels of the multi‐chemical elements profile in erythrocytes compared with typically developing children. Furthermore, the results showed a significant correlation between abnormal levels of several chemical elements and the severity of the autistic syndrome.Autism Res2018, 11: 834–845. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
On the performance of adaptive preprocessing technique in analyzing high‐dimensional censored data
Authors: Khan Md Hasinur Rahaman 
Published: March 2018

AbstractPreprocessing for high‐dimensional censored datasets, such as the microarray data, is generally considered as an important technique to gain further stability by reducing potential noise from the data. When variable selection including inference is carried out with high‐dimensional censored data the objective is to obtain a smaller subset of variables and then perform the inferential analysis using model estimates based on the selected subset of variables. This two stage inferential analysis is prone to circularity bias because of the noise that might still remain in the dataset. In this work, I propose an adaptive preprocessing technique that uses sure independence screening (SIS) idea to accomplish variable selection and reduces the circularity bias by some popularly known refined high‐dimensional methods such as the elastic net, adaptive elastic net, weighted elastic net, elastic net‐AFT, and two greedy variable selection methods known as TCS, PC‐simple all implemented with the accelerated lifetime models. The proposed technique addresses several features including the issue of collinearity between important and some unimportant covariates, which is often the case in high‐dimensional setting under variable selection framework, and different level of censoring. Simulation studies along with an empirical analysis with a real microarray data, mantle cell lymphoma, is carried out to demonstrate the performance of the adaptive pre‐processing technique.
Mechanisms driving the lactate switch in Chinese hamster ovary cells
Authors: Hartley Fiona , Walker Tracy , Chung Vicky , Morten Karl 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe metabolism of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells in a production environment has been extensively investigated. However, a key metabolic transition, the switch from lactate production to lactate consumption, remains enigmatic. Though commonly observed in CHO cultures, the mechanism(s) by which this metabolic shift is triggered is unknown. Despite this, efforts to control the switch have emerged due to the association of lactate consumption with improved cell growth and productivity. This review aims to consolidate current theories surrounding the lactate switch. The influence of pH, NAD+/NADH, pyruvate availability and mitochondrial function on lactate consumption are explored. A hypothesis based on the cellular redox state is put forward to explain the onset of lactate consumption. Various techniques implemented to control the lactate switch, including manipulation of the culture environment, genetic engineering, and cell line selection are also discussed.
Unexpected instabilities explain batch‐to‐batch variability in cell‐free protein expression systems
Authors: Hunter Dominic J.B. , Bhumkar Akshay , Giles Nichole , Sierecki Emma , Gambin Yann 
Published: March 2018

AbstractCell‐free methods of protein synthesis offer rapid access to expressed proteins. Though the amounts produced are generally only at a small scale, these are sufficient to perform protein‐protein interaction assays and tests of enzymatic activity. As such they are valuable tools for the biochemistry and bioengineering community. However the most complex, eukaryotic cell‐free systems are difficult to manufacture in house and can be prohibitively expensive to obtain from commercial sources. The Leishmania tarentolae system offers a relatively cheap alternative which is capable of producing difficult to express proteins, but which is simpler to produce in large scale. However, this system suffers from batch‐to‐batch variability, which has been accepted as a consequence of the complexity of the extracts. Here we show an unexpected origin for the variability observed and demonstrate that small variations in a single parameter can dramatically affect expression, such that minor pipetting errors can have major effects on yields. L. tarentolae cell‐free lysate activity is shown to be more stable to changes in Mg2+ concentration at a lower ratio of feed solution to lysate in the reaction than typically used, and a higher Mg2+ optimum. These changes essentially eliminate batch‐to‐batch variability of L. tarentolae lysate activity and permit their full potential to be realized.
Population-based cohort study of surgical myotomy and pneumatic dilatation as primary interventions for oesophageal achalasia
Authors: Markar S R , Mackenzie H , Askari A , Faiz O , Hoare J , Zaninotto G , Hanna G B 
Published: March 2018

Abstract

Background
The aim of this national population-based cohort study was to compare rates of reintervention after surgical myotomy versus sequential pneumatic dilatation for the primary management of oesophageal achalasia.

Methods
Patients with oesophageal achalasia diagnosed between 2002 and 2012, and without an intervention in the preceding 5 years were identified from the Hospital Episode Statistics database. Patients were divided into two groups based on the primary treatment, and propensity score matching was used to compensate for differences in baseline characteristics.

Results
Some 14 705 patients were diagnosed with oesophageal achalasia, of whom 7487 (50·9 per cent) received interventional treatment: 1742 (23·3 per cent) surgical myotomy, 4534 (60·6 per cent) pneumatic dilatation and 1211 (16·2 per cent) endoscopic botulinum toxin injection. As age increased, the proportion of patients receiving myotomy decreased and the proportion undergoing dilatation increased. Patients who underwent surgical myotomy were younger (mean age 44·8 years versus 58·5 years among those who had pneumatic dilatation; P &lt; 0·001), a greater proportion had a Charlson co-morbidity index score of 0 (90·1 versus 87·7 per cent; P = 0·003) and they were more commonly men (55·6 versus 51·8 per cent; P = 0·020). Following propensity score matching, the safety of the two initial treatment approaches was equivalent, with no difference in incidence of oesophageal perforation (1·3 and 1·4 per cent after myotomy and dilatation respectively; P = 0·750). However, dilatation was associated with increased need for reintervention (59·6 versus 13·8 per cent; P &lt; 0·001) and frequency of reinterventions (mean 0·34 versus 0·06 per year; P &lt; 0·001).

Conclusion
Surgical myotomy was associated with a lower rate of reintervention and could be offered as primary treatment in patients with oesophageal achalasia who are fit for surgery. For those unfit for surgery, pneumatic dilatation may provide symptomatic relief with approximately 60 per cent of patients requiring reintervention.
Thirty-day mortality in patients undergoing laparotomy for small bowel obstruction
Authors: Peacock O , Bassett M G , Kuryba A , Walker K , Davies E , Anderson I , Vohra R S 
Published: March 2018

Abstract

Background
Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common indication for emergency laparotomy. There are currently variations in the timing of surgery for patients with SBO and limited evidence on whether delayed surgery affects outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of time to operation on 30-day mortality in patients requiring emergency laparotomy for SBO.

Methods
Data were collected from the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) on all patients aged 18 years or older who underwent emergency laparotomy for all forms of SBO between December 2013 and November 2015. The primary outcome measure was 30-day mortality, with date of death obtained from the Office for National Statistics. Patients were grouped according to the time from admission to surgery (less than 24 h, 24–72 h and more than 72 h). A multilevel logistic regression model was used to explore the impact of patient factors, primarily delay to surgery, on 30-day mortality.

Results
Some 9991 patients underwent emergency laparotomy requiring adhesiolysis or small bowel resection for SBO. The overall mortality rate was 7·2 per cent (722 patients). Within each time group, 30-day mortality rates were significantly worse with increasing age, ASA grade, Portsmouth POSSUM score and level of contamination. Patients undergoing emergency laparotomy more than 72 h after admission had a significantly higher risk-adjusted 30-day mortality rate (odds ratio 1·39, 95 per cent c.i. 1·09 to 1·76).

Conclusion
In patients who require an emergency laparotomy with adhesiolysis or resection for SBO, a delay to surgery of more than 72 h is associated with a higher 30-day postoperative mortality rate.
Associations between apparent diffusion coefficient and electromyography parameters in myositis—A preliminary study
Authors: Meyer Hans‐Jonas , Emmer Alexander , Kornhuber Malte , Surov Alexey 
Published: March 2018

AbstractObjectiveMRI is widely used in several muscle disorders. Diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) is an emergent imaging modality sensitive to microstructural alterations in tissue. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) is used to quantify the random motion of water molecules. Electromyography (EMG) is a clinically used diagnostic tool in myositis. The aim of this study was to elucidate possible associations between ADC values and EMG findings in myositis patients.MethodSeven patients (eight investigated muscles) with myositis (mean age 51.43 ± 19 years) were included in this study. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology in every case. DWI was obtained with a 1.5‐T scanner using two b‐values 0 and 1000 s/mm². In all patients, a needle electromyography (EMG) was performed within 3 days to the MRI. The following EMG parameters were studied: motor unit action potential (MUAP) amplitudes and durations, as well as pathological spontaneous activity. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to analyze associations between investigated parameters.ResultsThe estimated mean ADCmean value was 1.51 ± 0.29 × 10−3 mm²/s, mean ADCmin was 1.28 ± 0.27 × 10−3 mm²/s, and mean ADCmax was 1.73 ± 0.28 × 10−3 mm²/s. Correlation analysis identified significant associations between ADCmean and duration of the MUAP (p = .78 P = .0279) and between ADCmin and duration of the MUAP (p = .85, P = .01). There were no significant differences according to pathological spontaneous activity.ConclusionADCmean and ADCmin showed strong positive correlations with the duration of the MUAP in myositis patients. Both modalities might similarly reflect muscle fiber loss in myositis patients.
An overview of protective strategies against ischemia/reperfusion injury: The role of hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning
Authors: Hentia Ciprian , Rizzato Alex , Camporesi Enrico , Yang Zhongjin , Muntean Danina M. , Săndesc Dorel , Bosco Gerardo 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIntroductionIschemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease, has been recognized as the most frequent causes of devastating disorders and death currently. Protective effect of various preconditioning stimuli, including hyperbaric oxygen (HBO), has been proposed in the management of I/R.MethodsIn this study, we searched and reviewed up‐to‐date published papers to explore the pathophysiology of I/R injury and to understand the mechanisms underlying the protective effect of HBO as conditioning strategy.ResultsAnimal study and clinic observation support the notion that HBO therapy and conditioning provide beneficial effect against the deleterious effects of postischemic reperfusion. Several explanations have been proposed. The first likely mechanism may be that HBO counteracts hypoxia and reduces I/R injury by improving oxygen delivery to an area with diminished blood flow. Secondly, by reducing hypoxia–ischemia, HBO reduces all the pathological events as a consequence of hypoxia, including tissue edema, increased affective area permeability, postischemia derangement of tissue metabolism, and inflammation. Thirdly, HBO may directly affect cell apoptosis, signal transduction, and gene expression in those that are sensitive to oxygen or hypoxia. HBO provides a reservoir of oxygen at cellular level not only carried by blood, but also by diffusion from the interstitial tissue where it reaches high concentration that may last for several hours, improves endothelial function and rheology, and decreases local inflammation and edema.ConclusionEvidence suggests the benefits of HBO when used as a preconditioning stimulus in the setting of I/R injury. Translating the beneficial effects of HBO into current practice requires, as for the “conditioning strategies”, a thorough consideration of risk factors, comorbidities, and comedications that could interfere with HBO‐related protection.