bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Recent Advances in Zeolite‐like Cluster Organic Frameworks
Authors: Lin Li‐Dan , Zhao Dan , Li Xin‐Xiong , Zheng Shou‐Tian 
Published: August 2018

AbstractDuring the past decade, research on the design and synthesis of zeolite‐like metal–organic frameworks (ZMOFs) has developed greatly. As an important subclass of ZMOFs, zeolite‐like cluster organic frameworks (ZCOFs) built from 4‐connected metal‐cluster secondary building units (SBUs) and appropriate linear organic ligand bridges have attracted sustained interest, because such materials not only integrate the merits of inorganic zeolites, ZMOFs, and metal clusters, including interesting topologies, high surface areas, extra‐large cavities and channels, structural tunability, and unique physicochemical properties from various metal clusters, but also open up a new avenue to design and fabricate hybrid zeolite‐like materials that have many potential applications in material sciences. In this review, recent developments in ZCOFs are summarized by classifying the ZCOFs into four categories according to the composition of the SBUs: 1) ZCOFs based on metal–halide cluster SBUs, 2) ZCOFs based on metal–oxygen cluster SBUs, 3) ZCOFs based on metal–chalcogen cluster SBUs, and 4) ZCOFs based on mixed types of metal‐cluster SBUs. Besides, challenges associated with the design and synthesis of ZCOFs and the vast potential of this area are also discussed.
PIDA‐Mediated Formal Olefinic C=C Bond Cleavage of α‐Oxo‐Ketene N,N‐Acetals toward Substituted Oxazolines
Authors: Guo Tenglong , Huang Fei , Jiang Quanbin , Yu Zhengkun 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe hypervalent iodine reagent PhI(OAc)2 (PIDA) mediated the formal oxidative C=C bond cleavage and subsequent cyclization of internal olefins, that is, α‐oxo‐ketene N,N‐acetals, which afforded substituted oxazolines. Isothiazoline derivatives were obtained from the reactions of α‐thioxo‐ketene N,N‐acetals with PIDA under the same conditions. Hydrolysis of the resultant oxazoline derivatives led to highly functionalized oxazolones. A plausible mechanism was proposed based upon the formation of isothiazoline‐type intermediates.
Prediction and Experimental Validation of Co‐Solvent Influence on Michaelis Constants: A Thermodynamic Activity‐Based Approach
Authors: Wangler Anton , Böttcher Dominik , Hüser Aline , Sadowski Gabriele , Held Christoph 
Published: August 2018

AbstractCo‐solvents are known to influence the Michaelis constant
of enzyme‐catalyzed reactions. In the literature, co‐solvent effects on
are usually explained by interactions between enzyme and co‐solvent. Very recent works replaced substrate concentrations with thermodynamic activities to separate enzyme–co‐solvent from substrate–co‐solvent interactions This yields the thermodynamic‐activity‐based Michalis constant
. In this work, this approach was extended to alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)‐catalyzed reduction of acetophenone (ACP), a two‐substrate reaction. It was experimentally found that polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 increased
of ACP and decreased
of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). To predict
values, non‐covalent interactions between substrates and reaction media were taken into account by electrolyte perturbed‐chain statistical associating fluid theory (ePC‐SAFT) modelling. In contrast to experimental
values, their activity‐based pendants
were independent of co‐solvent. To further verify the approach, the reduction of 2‐pentanone catalyzed by the same ADH was investigated. Interestingly, the addition of PEG caused a decrease of both
of 2‐pentanone and
of NADH. Based on
values obtained from
in co‐solvent‐free conditions and activity coefficients from ePC‐SAFT, the influence of the co‐solvent on
was quantitatively predicted. Thus, the approach known for pseudo one‐substrate reactions was successfully transferred to two‐substrate reactions. Furthermore, the advantage of thermodynamic activities over concentrations in the field of enzyme kinetics is highlighted.
Prospective study of germline genetic testing in incident cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Brand Randall , Borazanci Erkut , Speare Virginia , Dudley Beth , Karloski Eve , Peters Mary Linton B. , Stobie Lindsey , Bahary Nathan , Zeh Herbert , Zureikat Amer , Hogg Melissa , Lee Kenneth , Tsung Allan , Rhee John , Ohr James , Sun Weijing , Lee James , Moser A. James , DeLeonardis Kim , Krejdovsky Jill , Dalton Emily , LaDuca Holly , Dolinsky Jill , Colvin Arlene , Lim Cynthia , Black Mary Helen , Tung Nadine 
Published: August 2018

BACKGROUNDThe objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) in 32 cancer susceptibility genes in individuals with newly diagnosed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). A key secondary objective was to evaluate how often PGVs would have been undetected with existing genetic testing criteria.METHODSFrom May 2016 through May 2017, this multicenter cohort study enrolled consecutive patients aged 18 to 89 years with histologically confirmed PDAC diagnosed within the previous 12 weeks. Demographics, medical histories, and 3‐generation pedigrees were collected from participants who provided samples for germline DNA analysis.RESULTSFour hundred nineteen patients were deemed eligible, 302 were enrolled, and 298 were included in the final cohort. Clinically actionable variants were reported in 29 PDAC patients (9.7%), with 23 (7.7%) having a PGV associated with an increased risk for PDAC. Six of 23 individuals (26%) with PDAC‐associated gene mutations did not meet currently established genetic testing criteria. According to guideline‐based genetic testing, only 11 of the 23 PGVs (48%) in known PDAC genes would have been detected. Six additional patients (2%) had PGVs associated with an increased risk for other cancers.CONCLUSIONSThese findings support the significant prevalence of PGVs associated with PDAC and the limitations of current paradigms for selecting patients for genetic testing, and they thereby lend support for universal germline multigene genetic testing in this population.
Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 is expressed in vasopressinergic neurons within the magnocellular subdivision of the rat paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus
Authors: Shenton F.C. , Pyner S. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractChanges in plasma osmolality can drive changes in the output from brain centres known to control cardiovascular homeostasis, such as the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). Within the PVN hypotonicity reduces the firing rate of parvocellular neurons, a neuronal pool known to be involved in modulating sympathetic vasomotor tone. Also present in the PVN is the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4) ion channel. Activation of TRPV4 within the PVN mimics the reduction in firing rate of the parvocellular neurons but it is unknown if these neurons express the channel. We used neuronal tracing and immunohistochemistry to investigate which neurons expressed the TRPV4 ion channel protein and its relationship with neurons known to play a role in plasma volume regulation. Spinally projecting preautonomic neurons within the PVN were labelled after spinal cord injection of FluoroGold (FG). This was followed by immunolabelling with anti‐TRPV4 antibody in combination with either anti‐oxytocin (OXT) or anti‐vasopressin (AVP). The TRPV4 ion channel was expressed on 63% of the vasopressinergic magnocellular neurosecretory cells found predominantly within the posterior magnocellular division of the PVN. Oxytocinergic neurons and FG labelled preautonomic neurons were present in the same location, but were distinct from the TRPV4/vasopressin expressing neurons. Vasopressinergic neurons within the supraoptic nucleus (SON) were also found to express TRPV4 and the fibres extending between the SON and PVN. In conclusion within the PVN, TRPV4 is well placed to respond to changes in osmolality by regulating vasopressin secretion, which in turn influences sympathetic output via preautonomic neurons.
A transmurally heterogeneous orthotropic activation model for ventricular contraction and its numerical validation
Authors: Barbarotta Luca , Rossi Simone , Dedè Luca , Quarteroni Alfio 
Published: August 2018

AbstractModels for cardiac mechanics require an activation mechanism properly representing the stress‐strain relations in the contracting myocardium. In this paper, we propose a new activation model that accounts for the transmural heterogeneities observed in myocardial strain measurements. In order to take the anisotropy of the active mechanics into account, our model is based on an active strain formulation. Thanks to multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient tensor, in this formulation, the active strains orthogonal to the fibers can be naturally described. We compare the results of our novel formulation against different anisotropic models of the active contraction of the cardiac muscle, as well as against experimental data available in the literature. We show that with the currently available models, the strain distributions are not in agreement with the reported experimental measurements. Conversely, we show that our new transmurally heterogeneous orthotropic activation model improves the accuracy of shear strains related to in‐plane rotations and torsion.
Estimating distemper virus dynamics among wolves and grizzly bears using serology and Bayesian state‐space models
Authors: Cross Paul C. , van Manen Frank T. , Viana Mafalda , Almberg Emily S. , Bachen Daniel , Brandell Ellen E. , Haroldson Mark A. , Hudson Peter J. , Stahler Daniel R. , Smith Douglas W. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractMany parasites infect multiple hosts, but estimating the transmission across host species remains a key challenge in disease ecology. We investigated the within and across host species dynamics of canine distemper virus (CDV) in grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) and wolves (Canis lupus) of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). We hypothesized that grizzly bears may be more likely to be exposed toCDVduring outbreaks in the wolf population because grizzly bears often displace wolves while scavenging carcasses. We used serological data collected from 1984 to 2014 in conjunction with Bayesian state‐space models to infer the temporal dynamics ofCDV. These models accounted for the unknown timing of pathogen exposure, and we assessed how different testing thresholds and the potential for testing errors affected our conclusions. We identified three mainCDVoutbreaks (1999, 2005, and 2008) in wolves, which were more obvious when we used higher diagnostic thresholds to qualify as seropositive. There was some evidence for increased exposure rates in grizzly bears in 2005, but the magnitude of the wolf effect on bear exposures was poorly estimated and depended upon our prior distributions. Grizzly bears were exposed toCDVprior to wolf reintroduction and during time periods outside of known wolf outbreaks, thus wolves are only one of several potential routes for grizzly bear exposures. Our modeling approach accounts for several of the shortcomings of serological data and is applicable to many wildlife disease systems, but is most informative when testing intervals are short.CDVcirculates in a wide range of carnivore species, but it remains unclear whether the disease persists locally within theGYEcarnivore community or is periodically reintroduced from distant regions with larger host populations.
Changes to the water repellency and storage of different species of deadwood based on decomposition rate in a temperate climate
Authors: Błońska Ewa , Klamerus‐Iwan Anna , Łagan Sylwia , Lasota Jarosław 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe aim of this study is to demonstrate the changes to the physical properties and water repellency (WR) of deadwood depending on the species and rate of decomposition. An innovative element of this study is the measurement of droplets' contact angle to the surface of the wood. Five species of trees at three different stages of decomposition were selected for the present study. The deadwood Silver Fir (Abies alba), Common Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Common Alder (Alnus glutinosa), and Common Aspen (Populus tremula) were selected. The WR of the wood was determined based on water drop penetration time; and the surface free energy (SFE) was determined based on the measured angles. Moreover, Owens–Wendt and Van Oss–Chaudhury–Good models were used to determine SFE. The advancement of deadwood decomposition can be determined by observing the physical changes to the wood. Marked changes in density, moisture, porosity, and weight loss in subsequent stages of degradation were found in the wood of all tested species. Changes to the physical properties of wood result in changes to its WR and wettability. As the degree of decomposition increases, different species of wood may absorb water more quickly, and the surface of the wood may become more hydrophilic. Our results indicate that deadwood increases water storage in forest ecosystems. Assuming that deadwood covers approximately 5.7 m3/ha in a Polish forest, total water storage could increase from 0.8 to 4.7 m3/ha depending on the wood species and decomposition rate.
Performance analysis of chaotic FSO communication system under different weather conditions
Authors: Niaz Ambreen , Qamar Farhan , Ali Mudassar , Farhan Romana , Islam Muhammad Khawar 
Published: August 2018

AbstractFree space optics (FSO) is a competent technology for wireless communication providing solutions to bandwidth, cost, and portability challenges in radio frequency communication. This paper presents a numerical approach for securing information in free space by using chaos produced through semiconductor lasers. Laser rate equations are applied to model chaos generated by semiconductor laser, followed by chaos masking scheme to hide the message signal inside the generated chaos before transmission. As FSO communication link availability and efficiency is a major concern in different atmospheric conditions, therefore fog, rain, and haze conditions are analyzed and compared for FSO communication‐based on Q‐factor and eye diagram patterns. The results are further studied for both FSO communication models, ie, with and without applying chaos masking scheme.
Second‐order fading statistics of massive‐MIMO vehicular radio communication channels
Authors: Waseer Waleed Iqbal , Junaid Nawaz Syed , Gulfam Sardar M. , Mughal M. Junaid 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThis paper presents an intensive study on the fading statistics of massive multiple‐input–multiple‐output vehicular communication channels. A geometry‐based channel model is proposed, where both ends of the link are considered to be equipped with large‐scale three‐dimensional antenna arrays, whereas the scattering volumes in their vicinity are modeled as flexible (ie, shiftable, scalable, and rotatable) along all the dimensions to adapt various dynamic vehicle‐to‐everything radio propagation scenarios. Both ends of the link are modeled as flexible to be static or mobile in different directions and with independent velocities, to adapt both the vehicle‐to‐vehicle and vehicle‐to‐infrastructure scenarios. Joint and marginal three‐dimensional angle‐of‐arrival and angle‐of‐departure statistics of the channel are studied. The analysis is further extended from plain angle‐of‐arrival/angle‐of‐departure statistics to the characterization of dispersion of energy in the angular domain by using various notable angular spread quantifiers. A correlation between the received signals on two different antenna elements of the array, at two different time instants, on two distinct frequencies, and at two different spatial positions along the node mobility route is thoroughly investigated. This analysis is further extended to analytically study the Doppler spectrum characteristics and second‐order fading statistics of the channel. The considered second‐order fading statistics quantifiers are fading rate variance, level crossing rate, average fade duration, and coherence distance. The impact of various physical (eg, link distance, direction, and speed of node mobility), geometric (eg, shape and orientation of scattering volume), and antenna (eg, beam pattern, beam width, and beam switching) parameters on the angular spread, received signal correlations, Doppler spectrum characteristics, and second‐order fading statistics of the channel is thoroughly investigated. The conducted analysis is highly significant for devising efficient interference mitigation methods, error correction codes, modulation schemes, antenna beams, and receiver designs for emerging massive multiple‐input–multiple‐output vehicle‐to‐vehicle communication links, which, in turn, serves the purpose of efficient spectrum utilization.
The effect of age and smoking on the hippocampus and memory in late middle age
Authors: Hawkins Keith A. , Emadi Nazli , Pearlson Godfrey D. , Taylor Beth , Khadka Sabin , King Diana , Blank Karen 
Published: August 2018

AbstractFrom middle age the hippocampus atrophies at an accelerating rate. Factors that further this acceleration may hasten memory decline and the onset of memory disorder. We studied associations between smoking history, age, ApoE e4 genotype, vascular risk factors, hippocampal volume, and cognition in 67 middle‐aged subjects (mean age = 56 years) who were offspring of parents with dementia. Subjects underwent isotropic T1‐weighted 3 T MRI brain scanning with FreeSurfer volumetric data extraction for the hippocampus, a neuropsychological assessment battery, extensive medical data collection, and ApoE genotyping. ApoE e4, vascular risk variables, and alcohol history were unrelated to hippocampal volume. Hippocampal volume correlated negatively with age and positively with memory performance, but not with global cognition. Aging diminished hippocampal volume by 0.52% per year. Female subjects (only two males smoked) with a heavy smoking history (≥ 9.5 pack‐years; n = 11) exhibited hippocampal volumes that were 7.4% smaller than the volumes of females (n = 37) with a light or no smoking history. In our sample by late middle age, a history of moderate to heavy smoking is associated with hippocampal atrophy equivalent to 12 years of aging. Since only a small number of subjects within the sample have a smoking history, validation of this finding in larger samples is desirable.
Meta‐analysis of the use of amniotic membrane to prevent recurrence of intrauterine adhesion after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis
Authors: Zheng Fei , Zhu Bin , Liu Yumo , Wang Ruifeng , Cui Yuechong 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundVarious adjuvant therapies have failed to improve clinical symptoms and pregnancy rates among patients with moderate‐to‐severe intrauterine adhesion.ObjectivesTo evaluate the ability of amniotic membrane to prevent the recurrence of intrauterine adhesion after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis.Search strategyThe Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed databases were searched for articles published before December 31, 2017, using the terms: (“amnion”) and (“intrauterine adhesions” or “Asherman syndrome” or “IUA” or “endometrial injury” or “uterine adhesion” or “hysteroscopic” or “hysteroscopic adhesiolysis”).Selection criteriaRandomized controlled trials of amniotic membrane therapy after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis.Data collection and analysisFour studies were included in the meta‐analysis (300 patients in total). Dichotomous outcomes were expressed as relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Continuous variables were expressed as mean difference.Main resultsAmniotic membrane increased menstrual blood volume after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis (mean difference 6.15, 95% CI 4.20–8.11; P<0.001). By contrast, this treatment did not affect the rates of intrauterine adhesion recurrence (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.61–1.16; P=0.290); pregnancy (RR 1.40, 95% CI 0.78–2.50; P=0.260); or spontaneous abortion (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.38–1.99; P=0.750).ConclusionsThe use of amniotic membrane increased menstrual blood volume but failed to improve other measures assessed in the current meta‐analysis.
Progesterone maintains the status of granulosa cells and slows follicle development partly through PGRMC1
Authors: Yuan Xiao‐Hua , Yang Chun‐Rong , Wang Xi‐Ning , Zhang Li‐Li , Gao Xiao‐Rui , Shi Zi‐Yun 
Published: August 2018

Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) mediates antimitotic and antiapoptotic actions of progesterone in granulosa cells, which indicates that PGRMC1 may play a key role in maintaining the status of granulosa cells. The current study investigated the effects of progesterone on intracellular signaling involved in differentiation, follicle development, inflammatory responses, and antioxidation, and determined the role of PGRMC1 in these processes. Our results demonstrated that progesterone slowed follicle development and inhibited p‐ERK1/2, p‐p38, caspase‐3, p‐NF‐κB, and p‐IκB‐α signals involved in differentiation, steroidogenesis, and inflammatory responses in granulosa cells. Progesterone inhibited the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and the cholesterol side‐chain cleavage enzyme and decreased pregnenolone production. A PGRMC1 inhibitor and a PGRMC1 small interfering RNA ablated these inhibitory effects of progesterone. Interfering with PGRMC1 functions also decreased cellular antioxidative effects induced by an oxidant. These results suggest that PGRMC1 might play a critical role in maintaining the status of granulosa cells and balancing follicle numbers.
Multi‐functional microbial fuel cells for power, treatment and electro‐osmotic purification of urine
Authors: Gajda Iwona , Greenman John , Santoro Carlo , Serov Alexey , Atanassov Plamen , Melhuish Chris , Ieropoulos Ioannis A 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDIn this work, a small‐scale ceramic microbial fuel cell (MFC) with a novel type of metal–carbon‐derived electrocatalyst containing iron and nicarbazin (Fe‐NCB) was developed, to enhance electricity generation from neat human urine. Substrate oxidation at the anode provides energy for the separation of ions and recovery from urine without any chemical or external power additions.RESULTSThe catalyst was shown to be effective in clear electrolyte synthesis of high pH, compared with a range of carbon‐based metal‐free materials. Polarisation curves of tested MFCs showed up to 53% improvement (44.8 W m−3) in performance with the use of Fe‐NCB catalyst.Catholyte production rate and pH directly increased with power performance while the conductivity decreased showing visually clear extracted liquid in the best‐performing MFCs.CONCLUSIONSIron based catalyst Fe‐NCB was shown to be a suitable electrocatalyst for the air‐breathing cathode, improving power production from urine‐fed MFCs. The results suggest electrochemical treatment through electro‐osmotic drag while the electricity is produced and not consumed. Electro‐osmotic production of clear catholyte is shown to extract water from urine against osmotic pressure. Recovering valuable resources from urine would help to transform energy intensive treatments to resource production, and will create opportunities for new technology development. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.