bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterisation of Fungal Bioflocculants and Its Application in Water Treatment
Authors: David O. M. , Oluwole O. A. , Ayodele O. E. , Lasisi T. 
Published: April 2019

Bioflocculants of microbial origin have the advantage of being safe, biodegradable and harmless to the environment. Production of bioflocculant by two fungi isolates and the factors affecting its production were investigated in this study. Primary screening of fungi for the production of bioflocculants, efficiencies and conditions for the optimum production of the bioflocculants were determined using standard microbiological and chemical methods. Aspergillus flavus MCB 271 and Aspergillus niger MCBF 08 were the best bioflocculant producers among the fourteen fungal isolates screened. Aspergillus flavus optimally produced bioflocculant with glucose and peptone as sole carbon and nitrogen sources respectively. Calcium ions (Ca2+) at 78.4% served as best cation sources for bioflocculant production with optimal pH of 7 and temperature of 40°C. Aspergillus niger MCBF 08 produced bioflocculant optimally when the media had peptone as a nitrogen source and maltose as a sole carbon source. The two species achieved the maximum flocculating activity of 97% (A. flavus MCBF 271) and 86% (A. niger MCBF 08) at pH values of 7 on the 3rd day of the study and caused a reduction in bacterial load of the wastewater samples by 58.73% and 60.85% respectively. These bioflocculants are thus potential replacement for synthetic flocculants conventionally used for wastewater treatment.
Isozyme Pattern and Morpho-agronomical Traits Based Genetic Divergence Studies in Maize (Zea mays L.) Inbreds
Authors: Kumari Ranju , Singh A. K. , Sharma V. K. 
Published: April 2019

The present investigation was carried out with an objective to study genetic divergence based on morpho-agronomical traits and isozyme pattern in eight maize inbreds. These inbreds were evaluated in randomized block design with three replication for ten morph-agronomical traits. Horizontal starch gel electrophoresis technique used to study the isozyme polymorphism in different tissues of eight inbreds. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the inbreds for all the ten morpho-agronomical traits. Nature and extent of genetic divergence for morpho-agronomical traits was measured using average taxonomic distances as a measure of dissimilarity coefficient. Eight inbreds were clustered into four groups (A, B, C, D) based on dissimilarity coefficient. Cluster B and cluster D showed the highest inter cluster distance (2.2422) and the lowest was observed between clusters B and C (1.0401). Cluster A exhibited the highest intra cluster distance (0.8519). Based on inter cluster distances inbreds present in cluster B and D were found more diverse consisted of inbred CML 186 and CM 600 respectively. Six isozyme systems were used for characterization and divergence studies based on similarity coefficients. Inbreds were classified into six clusters (A, B, C, D, E and F). The lowest (0.5957) similarity coefficient exist between inbreds CM 600 and CML 176 and the highest (0.8132) existed between inbreds CML 186 and CML 144. Cluster analysis in both cases reflected the moderate level of genetic divergence among the inbred lines but result may not be completely similar, but somewhat distinct and complementary in nature. Isozyme patterns was found to effective in revealing the nature of relationship among the inbred lines Therefore, divergence study using one estimate can’t replace the need to evaluate the relationship on the basis of the other which may be to used as parents in hybridization programme.
Continuous Control and Enhancement of Excitonic Valley Polarization in Monolayer WSe2 by Electrostatic Doping
Authors: Shinokita Keisuke , Wang Xiaofan , Miyauchi Yuhei , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Matsuda Kazunari 
Published: April 2019

AbstractEnhancement and continuous control of the excitonic valley polarization in electrostatically doped monolayer WSe2 are demonstrated. Under excitation with circularly polarized light, 20% valley polarization of excitons around the charge neutrality condition at 70 K is increased to 40% by modulating the electron/hole density up to 2 × 1012 cm−2. This increase originates from slow valley relaxation for neutral exciton between the K and −K valleys owing to screening of long‐range e–h exchange interactions by doped carriers. The gate‐dependences of the exciton valley polarization at various temperatures are reproduced by theoretical calculations, which holds potential for next‐generation valleytronic devices continuously controlled by an applied bias voltage.
High‐Yield Fabrication, Activation, and Characterization of Carbon Nanotube Ion Channels by Repeated Voltage‐Ramping of Membrane‐Capillary Assembly
Authors: Min Hyegi , Kim Yun‐Tae , Moon Seung Min , Han Jae‐Hee , Yum Kyungsuk , Lee Chang Young 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe interior channels of carbon nanotubes are promising for studying transport of individual molecules in a 1D confined space. However, experimental investigations of the interior transport have been limited by the extremely low yields of fabricated nanochannels and their characterization. Here, this challenge is addressed by assembling nanotube membranes on glass capillaries and employing a voltage‐ramping protocol. Centimeter‐long carbon nanotubes embedded in an epoxy matrix are sliced to hundreds of 10 µm‐thick membranes containing essentially identical nanotubes. The membrane is attached to glass capillaries and dipped into analyte solution. Repeated ramping of the transmembrane voltage gradually increases ion conductance and activates the nanotube ion channels in 90% of the membranes; 33% of the activated membranes exhibit stochastic pore‐blocking events caused by cation translocation through the interiors of the nanotubes. Since the membrane‐capillary assembly can be handled independently of the analyte solution, fluidic exchange can be carried out simply by dipping the capillary into a solution of another analyte. This capability is demonstrated by sequentially measuring the threshold transmembrane voltages and ion mobilities for K+, Na+, and Li+. This approach, validated with carbon nanotubes, will save significant time and effort when preparing and testing a broad range of solid‐state nanopores.
Random Copolymers Outperform Gradient and Block Copolymers in Stabilizing Organic Photovoltaics
Authors: Kong Chen , Song Byeongseop , Mueller Emily A. , Kim Jinsang , McNeil Anne J. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractRecent advances have led to conjugated polymer‐based photovoltaic devices with efficiencies rivaling amorphous silicon. Nevertheless, these devices become less efficient over time due to changes in active layer morphology, thereby hindering their commercialization. Copolymer additives are a promising approach toward stabilizing blend morphologies; however, little is known about the impact of copolymer sequence, composition, and concentration. Herein, the impact of these parameters is determined by synthesizing random, block, and gradient copolymers with a poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) backbone and side‐chain fullerenes (phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM)). These copolymers are evaluated as compatibilizers in photovoltaic devices with P3HT:PC61BM as the active layer. The random copolymer with 20 mol% fullerene side chains and at 8 wt% concentration in the blend gives the most stable morphologies. Devices containing the random copolymer also exhibit higher and more stable power conversion efficiencies than the control device. Combined, these studies point to the random copolymer as a promising new scaffold for stabilizing bulk heterojunction photovoltaics.
Complement and coagulation cascades in trauma
Authors: Satyam Abhigyan , Graef Elizabeth R. , Lapchak Peter H. , Tsokos Maria G. , Dalle Lucca Jurandir J. , Tsokos George C. 
Published: April 2019

Trauma remains a major cause of death throughout the world, especially for patients younger than 45 years. Due to rapid advances in clinical management, both in the acute and prehospital settings, trauma patients survive devastating injuries at unprecedented rates. However, these patients can often face life threatening complications that stem from the robust innate immune response induced by severe hemorrhage, leading to further tissue injury rather than repair. The complement and coagulation cascades are key mediators in this disordered reaction, which includes the development of trauma‐induced coagulopathy. There is increasing evidence that cross‐talk between these two pathways allows rapid amplification of their otherwise targeted responses and contributes to overwhelming and prolonged systemic inflammation. In this article, we summarize the initial steps of innate immune response to trauma and review the complex complement and coagulation cascades, as well as how they interact with each other. Despite progress in understanding these cascades, effective therapeutic targets have yet to be found and further research is needed both to improve survival rates as well as decrease associated morbidity.
Cooperative Catalysis of an Alcohol Dehydrogenase and Rhodium‐Modified Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica
Authors: Himiyama Tomoki , Waki Minoru , Maegawa Yoshifumi , Inagaki Shinji 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe combined use of a metal‐complex catalyst and an enzyme is attractive, but typically results in mutual inactivation. A rhodium (Rh) complex immobilized in a bipyridine‐based periodic mesoporous organosilica (BPy‐PMO) shows high catalytic activity during transfer hydrogenation, even in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA), while a homogeneous Rh complex exhibits reduced activity due to direct interaction with BSA. The use of a smaller protein or an amino acid revealed a clear size‐sieving effect of the BPy‐PMO that protected the Rh catalyst from direct interactions. A combination of Rh‐immobilized BPy‐PMO and an enzyme (horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase; HLADH) promoted sequential reactions involving the transfer hydrogenation of NAD+ to give NADH followed by the asymmetric hydrogenation of 4‐phenyl‐2‐butanone with high enantioselectivity. The use of BPy‐PMO as a support for metal complexes could be applied to other systems consisting of a metal‐complex catalyst and an enzyme.
Effects of Molecular Structure on the Physical, Chemical, and Electrical Properties of Ester‐Based Transformer Insulating Liquids
Authors: Raof Nurliyana Abdul , Yunus Robiah , Rashid Umer , Azis Norhafiz , Yaakub Zaini 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThis article presents the experimental studies carried out on the environmental friendly polyol ester insulating liquids to investigate the effect of molecular structure on the physical, chemical, and electrical properties. Six different polyol esters that can be produced from the transesterification of various methyl esters with neopentylglycol/trimethylolpropane alcohols were synthesized and compared with those of refined, bleached, and deodorized palm oil (RBDPO) and mineral transformer oil. The finding suggests that the physical properties like fire point, pour point, and viscosity are very much affected by the molecular weight and molecular composition of the polyol esters. The electrical properties are also highly influenced by the molecular structure‐related characteristics, such as the polarity, dipole polarization, carbon chain length, and degree of branching. The results confirm the findings of previous studies that the polyol esters and RBDPO have more polarity and dipole polarization compared to mineral oil. The experimental evidence showed that the newly synthesized insulating liquids have favorable thermal and electrical properties, thus suggesting that the insulating liquids have the potential to replace conventional insulating liquids to provide a more sustainable power system in the future.
Revisiting Perioperative Hair Removal Practices
Authors: Edmiston Charles E. , Leaper David J. , Barnes Sue , Johnson Helen Boehm , Barnden Marsha , Paulson Marie H. , Wolfe Jacob L. , Truitt Karen 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe standard of practice for perioperative hair removal is largely based on research that is outdated and underpowered. Although there is evidence to support the practice of clipping instead of shaving, current recommendations are to remove hair only when absolutely necessary. Human hair is bacteria‐laden and challenging to disinfect, and clipping can be a safe method of hair removal that does not damage the skin. This article considers the removal of hair at the incision site with clippers, either before the patient enters the OR or in a manner that completely contains clipped hair, for every procedure, not just when absolutely necessary. There have been only two studies to date comparing clipping with no hair removal; more research is needed on this subject.
Novel calcitriol analogue with an oxolane group: In vitro, in vivo, and in silico studies
Authors: Obiol Diego J. , Martínez Andrea , Ferronato María J. , Quevedo Mario A. , Grioli Silvina M. , Alonso Eliana N. , Gómez Generosa , Fall Yagamare , Facchinetti María M. , Curino Alejandro C. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe active form of vitamin D3, calcitriol, is a potent antiproliferative compound. However, when effective antitumor doses of calcitriol are used, hypercalcemic effects are observed, thus blocking its therapeutic application. To overcome this problem, structural analogues have been designed with the aim of retaining or even increasing the antitumor effects while decreasing its calcemic activity. This report aims at gaining insights into the structure–activity relationships of the novel oxolane‐containing analogue, AM‐27, recently synthesized. We herein demonstrate that this compound has antiproliferative and antimigratory effects in squamous cell carcinoma, glioblastoma, and breast cancer cell lines. Analyses of the mechanisms underlying the AM‐27 effects on cell viability revealed induction of apoptosis by the analogue. Importantly, nonmalignant cell lines were little or not affected by the compound. In addition, the analogue did not produce hypercalcemia in mice. Also, in silico studies involving docking and molecular dynamics techniques showed that AM‐27 is able to bind to the human vitamin D receptor with a higher affinity than the natural ligand calcitriol, a feature that is mostly derived from an electrostatic interaction pattern. Altogether, the proapoptotic effect observed in cancer cells, the lack of calcemic activity in mice, and the differential effects in normal cells suggest the potential of AM‐27 as a therapeutic compound for cancer treatment.
Synthesis, docking studies, and pharmacological evaluation of 5HT2C ligands containing the N′‐cyanoisonicotinamidine or N′‐cyanopicolinamidine nucleus
Authors: Magli Elisa , Kędzierska Ewa , Kaczor Agnieszka A. , Severino Beatrice , Corvino Angela , Perissutti Elisa , Frecentese Francesco , Saccone Irene , Massarelli Paola , Gibuła‐Tarłowska Ewa , Kotlińska Jolanta H. , Santagada Vincenzo , Caliendo Giuseppe , Fiorino Ferdinando 
Published: April 2019

AbstractN′‐Cyanoisonicotinamidine and N′‐cyanopicolinamidine derivatives, linked to an arylpiperazine moiety, were prepared and their affinities to the 5‐HT1A, 5‐HT2A, and 5‐HT2C receptors were evaluated. Several of the newly synthesized compounds, tested by binding studies, showed nanomolar affinity at the 5‐HT1A and 5‐HT2C receptors and moderate or no affinity for other relevant receptors (D1, D2, α1, and α2). Compound 8e (Ki = 21.4 nM) was the most affine for the 5‐HT2C receptor, showing, at the same time, a high selectivity with respect to the other receptors analyzed. Compounds 4a and 4c, instead, showed an interesting mixed 5‐HT1A/5‐HT2C activity with Ki values of 21.3/11.5 and 23.2/6.48 nM, respectively. The compounds with better affinity and selectivity binding profiles toward 5‐HT2C (4a, 4c, 8b, and 8e) were selected for further in vivo assays to determine their functional activity. Finally, to rationalize the obtained results, molecular docking studies were performed. The results of the pharmacological studies showed that compounds 4a, 8b, and 8e exerted antidepressant‐like effects and 4a and 8e revealed also significant anxiolytic properties. Among the developed derivatives, the most promising compound seems to be 4a, which displayed antipsychotic‐, antidepressant‐ and anxiolytic‐like properties. No side effects, like catalepsy, motor‐impairment or ethanol‐potentiating effects, were observed after the injection of the tested compounds.
Cumulative Risk of the Oxytocin Receptor Gene Interacts with Prenatal Exposure to Oxytocin Receptor Antagonist to Predict Children's Social Communication Development
Authors: Friedlander Edwa , Yirmiya Nurit , Laiba Efrat , Harel‐Gadassi Ayelet , Yaari Maya , Feldstein Ohad , Mankuta David , Israel Salomon 
Published: April 2019

Compelling evidence for the far‐reaching role of oxytocin (OT) in social cognition and affiliative behaviors set the basis for examining the association between genetic variation in the OT receptor (OXTR) gene and risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In the current study, gene–environment interaction between OXTR and prenatal exposure to either OT or OXTR antagonist (OXTRA) in predicting early social communication development was examined. One hundred and fifty‐three children (age: M = 4.32, SD = 1.07) were assigned to four groups based on prenatal history: children whose mothers prenatally received OXTRA and Nifedipine to delay preterm labor (n = 27); children whose mothers received Nifedipine only to delay preterm labor (n = 35); children whose mothers received OT for labor augmentation (n = 56), and a no intervention group (n = 35). Participants completed a developmental assessment of intelligence quotient (IQ), adaptive behavior, and social communication abilities. DNA was extracted via buccal swab. A genetic risk score was calculated based on four OXTR single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs53576, rs237887, rs1042778, and rs2254298) previously reported to be associated with ASD symptomatology. OXTRrisk‐allele dosage was associated with more severe autism diagnostics observation schedule (ADOS) scores only in the OXTRA group. In contrast, in the Nifedipine, OT, and no intervention groups, OXTRrisk‐allele dosage was not associated with children's ADOS scores. These findings highlight the importance of both genetic and environmental pathways of OT in signaling early social development and raise the need for further research in this field. Autism Res 2019, 12: 1087–1100. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Lay SummaryIn the current study, we examined if the association between prenatal exposure to an oxytocin receptor antagonist (OXTRA) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) related impairments are dependent on an individual's genetic background for the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR). Children who carried a greater number of risk alleles for the OXTR gene and whose mothers received OXTRA to delay preterm labor showed more ASD‐related impairments. The results highlight the importance of both genetic and environmental pathways of oxytocin in shaping early social development.
UV light‐tunable fluorescent inks and polymer hydrogel films based on carbon nanodots and lanthanide for enhancing anti‐counterfeiting
Authors: Chen Bing , Xie Houpeng , Wang Sui , Guo Zhiyong , Hu Yufang , Xie Hongzhen 
Published: April 2019

AbstractNovel water‐soluble green fluorescent carbon nanodots (CNs) using methacrylic acid and m‐phenylenediamine as precursors were first synthesized using a one‐pot hydrothermal method. Red fluorescent lanthanide complexes were prepared using lanthanide ion Eu3+ and pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid. The optical properties of CNs were characterized using ultraviolet visible (UV) spectra and fluorescence spectra, microscopic morphology was characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS), and the elemental composition was characterized using Fourier transform‐infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). The fluorescence spectra of the lanthanide complexes were also measured. A simple strategy was developed to prepare UV light‐tunable fluorescent inks and polymer hydrogels films based on CNs and lanthanide complexes. The fluorescent inks and polymer hydrogels films could be repeatedly switched between green and red fluorescence. The change of color depended on luminescence of the CNs and the lanthanide complexes under 254 and 365 nm UV light, respectively. The UV light‐tunable fluorescent inks and polymer hydrogels films could enhance its anti‐counterfeiting function for data and information.
A Photoswitchable Trivalent Cluster Mannoside to Probe the Effects of Ligand Orientation in Bacterial Adhesion
Authors: Despras Guillaume , Möckl Leonhard , Heitmann Anne , Stamer Insa , Bräuchle Christoph , Lindhorst Thisbe K. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractWe have recently demonstrated, by employing azobenzene glycosides, that bacterial adhesion to surfaces can be switched through reversible reorientation of the carbohydrate ligands. To investigate this phenomenon further, we have turned here to more complex—that is, multivalent—azobenzene glycoclusters. We report on the synthesis of a photosensitive trivalent cluster mannoside conjugated to an azobenzene hinge at the focal point. Molecular dynamics studies suggested that this cluster mannoside, despite the conformational flexibility of the azobenzene‐glycocluster linkage, offers the potential for reversibly changing the glycocluster's orientation on a surface. Next, the photoswitchable glycocluster was attached to human cells, and adhesion assays with type 1 fimbriated Escherichia coli bacteria were performed. They showed marked differences in bacterial adhesion, dependent on the light‐induced reorientation of the glycocluster moiety. These results further underline the importance of orientational effects in carbohydrate recognition and likewise the value of photoswitchable glycoconjugates for their study.
Chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention failure: Learning from failure
Authors: Karatasakis Aris , Brilakis Emmanouil S. 
Published: April 2019

Key Points

Experienced operators can achieve high success rates in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention.
Complications remain an important cause of chronic total occlusion intervention failure. Every effort should be made to prevent them and treat them appropriately should they occur.
The most common failure mechanism for antegrade cases is failure to cross the occlusion with a guidewire. For retrograde cases the causes of failure are inability to cross the collateral (one third), inability to perform reverse CART (one third), and inability to cross with a microcatheter after guidewire crossing (one third).