bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bioconversion of lignin and its derivatives into polyhydroxyalkanoates: Challenges and opportunities
Authors: Kumar Prasun , Maharjan Anoth , Jun Hang‐Bae , Kim Beom Soo 
Published: December 2018

AbstractRenewable energy resources are considered to be promising for the development of a sustainable circular economy. Among various alternatives, the microbial route for various biofuels production is quite lucrative. Use of cellulose and lignocellulose for methane, H2, organic acids, ethanol, and cellulase has been explored a lot in the past few decades. The major leftover or a coproduct of these processes belongs to lignin—an aromatic cross‐link polymer and one of the most abundant complex compounds on earth. A successful bioconversion route of lignin into high‐value products is highly desirable for biorefinery perspective. It requires a complex set of enzymes/catalysts to decompose lignin through depolymerization and oxygen removal leading to its monomers that can be metabolized by engineered organisms to synthesize muconic acids, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), methane, and other high‐value products. This article will focus on the opportunities and challenges in the bioconversion of lignin and its derivatives into PHAs.
Uncontrolled maternal chronic respiratory diseases in pregnancy: A new potential risk factor suggested to be associated with anorectal malformations in offspring
Authors: van de Putte Romy , de Blaauw Ivo , Boenink Rianne , Reijers Monique H.E. , Broens Paul M.A. , Sloots Cornelius E.J. , van Heijst Arno F.J. , van Gelder Marleen M.H.J. , Roeleveld Nel , van Rooij Iris A.L.M. 
Published: December 2018

BackgroundChronic respiratory diseases and use of antiasthmatic medication during pregnancy may both play a role in the etiology of congenital anorectal malformations (ARM). However, it is unclear, whether the medication use or the underlying condition would be responsible. Therefore, our aim was to unravel the role of maternal chronic respiratory diseases from that of antiasthmatic medication in the etiology of ARM.MethodsWe obtained 412 ARM patients and 2,137 population‐based controls from the Dutch AGORA data‐ and biobank. We used maternal questionnaires and follow‐up telephone interviews to obtain information on chronic respiratory diseases, antiasthmatic medication use, and potential confounders. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).RESULTSWe observed higher risk estimates among women with chronic respiratory diseases with and without medication use (1.4 [0.8–2.7] and 2.0 [0.8–5.0]), both in comparison to women without a chronic respiratory disease and without medication use. Furthermore, increased ORs of ARM were found for women using rescue medication (2.4 [0.8–7.3]) or a combination of maintenance and rescue medication (2.5 [0.9–6.7]). In addition, increased risk estimates were observed for women having nonallergic triggers (2.5 [1.0–6.3]) or experiencing exacerbations during the periconceptional period (3.5 [1.4–8.6]).CONCLUSIONSAlthough the 95% CIs of most associations include the null value, the risk estimates all point towards an association between uncontrolled chronic respiratory disease, instead of antiasthmatic medication use, with ARM in offspring. Further in‐depth studies towards mechanisms of this newly identified risk factor are warranted.
Deutschlandweit erstmalige Anwendung von UHPFRC im Eisenbahnbrückenbau
Authors: Fischer Oliver , Schramm Nicholas , Lechner Thomas 
Published: December 2018

AbstractUltrahochfester faserbewehrter Beton (UHPFRC) zeichnet sich durch ein extrem dichtes Gefüge und sehr hohe Festigkeiten sowie exzellente Dauerhaftigkeitseigenschaften aus. Dadurch wird eine extrem langlebige, materialsparende und gewichtsreduzierte, schlanke Bauweise ermöglicht, die völlig neue Möglichkeiten und Einsatzbereiche im Fertigteil‐Brückenbau eröffnet. Im Zuge der Überbauerneuerung einer bestehenden Bahnbrücke über den Dürnbach auf dem Streckennetz der Tegernsee‐Bahn konnte der Werkstoff nun in Deutschland erstmalig für eine Eisenbahnbrücke besonders zweckmäßig und vorteilhaft eingesetzt werden. So konnte damit ein schlankes Bauwerk mit sehr geringer Konstruktionshöhe realisiert werden, das als vergleichsweise leichtes Gesamtfertigteil in einer kurzen Sperrpause eingehoben wurde. Die gewünschte Vergrößerung des Durchflussquerschnitts bei Hochwasser war daher ohne jegliche Anpassung der Gleislage möglich und die bestehenden Widerlager konnten aufgrund des geringen Eigengewichts des neuen Überbaus beibehalten werden. Der Überbau wurde als Fertigteil‐Plattenbrücke mit Trogquerschnitt in Spannbetonbauweise ausgeführt. Der vorliegende Teil 1 des Beitrags geht auf die Konzeption und die Realisierung sowie die im Zuge des Projekts gewonnenen Erkenntnisse ein. Im späteren zweiten Teil wird über die Ergebnisse der begleitenden wissenschaftlichen Untersuchungen berichtet werden.
Use of bevacizumab as a single agent or in adjunct with traditional chemotherapy regimens in children with unresectable or progressive low‐grade glioma
Authors: Zhukova Nataliya , Rajagopal Revathi , Lam Adrienne , Coleman Lee , Shipman Peter , Walwyn Thomas , Williams Molly , Sullivan Michael , Campbell Martin , Bhatia Kanika , Gottardo Nicholas G. , Hansford Jordan R. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractIn pediatric low‐grade gliomas not amenable to complete resection, various chemotherapy regimens are the mainstream of treatment. An excellent overall survival of these patients makes justification of the intensification of chemotherapy difficult and calls for the development of new strategies. Bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has been successfully used in combination with irinotecan in a number of adult and pediatric studies and reports. Fifteen patients at median age of 7 years old (range 3 months to 15 years) were treated with bevacizumab in combination with conventional low‐toxicity chemotherapy. The majority had chiasmatic/hypothalamic and midline tumors, seven had confirmed BRAF pathway alterations including neurofibromatosis type 1 (2). Fourteen patients had more than one progression and three had radiotherapy. No deaths were documented, PFS at 11 and 15 months was 71.5% ± 13.9% and 44.7% ± 17.6% respectively. At the end of follow‐up 40% of patients has radiologically stable disease, three patients progressed shortly after completion of bevacizumab and two showed mixed response with progression of cystic component. Rapid visual improvement was seen in 6/8 patients, resolution of endocrine symptoms in 2/4 and motor function improvement in 4/6. No relation between histology or BRAF status and treatment response was observed. Treatment‐limiting toxicities included grade 4 proteinuria (2) and hypertension (2) managed with cessation (1) and pausing of therapy plus antihypertensives (1). In conclusion, bevacizumab is well tolerated and appears most effective for rapid tumor control to preserve vision and improve morbidity.
RASSF1‐AS1, an antisense lncRNA of RASSF1A, inhibits the translation of RASSF1A to exacerbate cardiac fibrosis in mice
Authors: Guo Min , Liu Tangyu , Zhang Shujie , Yang Longbiao 
Published: December 2018

AbstractCardiac fibrosis is associated with various cardiovascular diseases and can eventually lead to heart failure. Dysregulation of long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are recognized as one of the key mechanisms of cardiac diseases. However, the roles and underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs in cardiac fibrosis have not been explicitly defined. Here, we investigated the role of an antisense (AS) lncRNA from the Ras association domain‐containing protein 1 isoform A (RASSF1A) gene locus, named RASSF1‐AS1, in the development of cardiac fibrosis. Cardiac fibrosis mouse model was established by isoproterenol injection. We found that RASSF1A protein was downregulated, whereas RASSF1‐AS1 was markedly upregulated during cardiac fibrosis. Overexpression and knockdown of mouse primary cardiac fibroblasts showed that RASSF1‐AS1 negatively regulated RASSF1A expression at the post‐transcriptional level. According to the landscape analysis and sense‐AS binding evaluation, RASSF1‐AS1 partially overlaps with RASSF1A messenger RNA (mRNA) at the exon2 region. RNA pull‐down and luciferase activity assays confirmed that RASSF1‐AS1 directly bound to RASSF1A mRNA and suppressed its translation. Furthermore, wild‐type RASSF1‐AS1 had a promoting effect on nuclear factor‐κB activation and cardiac fibrosis, but mutated RASSF1‐AS1, in which the binding region was deleted, had no effect. In conclusion, RASSF1‐AS1 inhibits the translation of RASSF1A to exacerbate cardiac fibrosis in mice, indicating a potential application of RASSF1‐AS1 as a therapy target for cardiac fibrosis.
Nutritional, physicochemical, and functional quality of beetroot (Beta vulgarisL.) incorporated Asian noodles
Authors: Chhikara Navnidhi , Kushwaha Komal , Jaglan Sundeep , Sharma Paras , Panghal Anil 
Published: December 2018

AbstractBackground and objectivesNoodles are staple food for many Asian countries as these are easy to prepare, economic, and convenient, thus gaining popularity throughout world. However, wheat flour‐based noodles are deficient in essential nutrients. So, the present study was planned to investigate the potential of beetroot pulp (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) as a component in noodle manufacturing to improve the nutritional status. Phytochemical analysis, cooking qualities, pasting properties, color, and sensory profile of Asian noodles were determined.FindingsStudy revealed that beetroot pulp addition to wheat flour greatly influenced the cooking, color, functional, phytochemical, nutritional, and sensory characteristic of formulated noodles. Pulp addition significantly (p < 0.05) improved the nutritional value, bioactive compounds, and the color intensity. On increasing the level of incorporation of beetroot (0%–40%), there was an increment in antioxidant activity (free radical scavenging activity, determined according to the elimination of DPPH radicals) (21.20 ± 0.10%–50.30 ± 1.0%), total phenol content determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu reaction (117.02 ± 1.0–152.20 ± 1.0 mg/100 g), and betalains content (0–140.48 ± 0.01 mg/100 g). Lightness of color value significantly decreased from 68.27 ± 0.051 to 35.7 ± 0.30, indicating darker color on pulp addition. There was an increase in fat uptake (15.96 ± 0.070%–18.76 ± 0.5%), cooking time (5 ± 0.10–6 ± 0.20 min), and gruel losses (0.075 ± 0.005–0.195 ± 0.002 g/100 g) with pulp addition.ConclusionsNoodles with 30% beetroot pulp were considered best as this significantly improved (p < 0.05) the nutritional, phytochemical, cooking, and sensory quality attributes. This particular level can be recommended for delivering staple food with better nutritional contents and suitable cooking as well as eating quality parameters.Significance and noveltyThe research explored the possibility of beetroot pulp addition to noodle for the development of functional staple food.
Promising Techniques for Depolymerization of Lignin into Value‐added Chemicals
Authors: Ren Tianyu , Qi Wei , Su Rongxin , He Zhimin 
Published: December 2018

AbstractAs the world's second most renewable resource, lignin has been studied for depolymerization into useful chemicals and fuels for many years. However, although good results were achieved in laboratory tests, it is difficult to apply those techniques into industrial production. One of the main obstacles is the costly separation tasks of complex degradation products, as reflected from the case of industrial production of vanillin from lignin. In this article, we introduce and discuss the degradation strategies and products that are potential for lignin depolymerization into valuable chemicals on a commercial scale. Based on the viewpoint of not only conversion and yield but also the complexity of degradation products, five categories of products and corresponding processes are recommended as more promising chemicals for industrial production in the near future.
Nitrogen‐Doped Cu2S/MoS2 Heterojunction Nanorod Arrays on Copper Foam for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Wang Xianming , Wang Jianzhi , Zhang Xiaoxiao , Tian Qifeng , Liu Manyu , Cai Ning , Xue Yanan , Chen Weimin , Li Wei , Yu Faquan 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe fabrication of non‐noble element electrocatalysts with comparable catalytic activity with Pt‐based materials is in great requirements for water splitting to achieve sustainable hydrogen production. Cu2S/MoS2 heterojunction nanorod arrays on copper foam were prepared for this purpose. The nitrogen doping was achieved in situ. HRTEM, SEM, XPS and EDX verified the heterojunction interfacial texture and the defect‐rich nanoarray configuration. The heterojunction interfacial texture, the defect rich configuration and the outward active sites optimized the structure required as a high‐efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalyst. As a result, the charge transfer resistance of the nanoarrays was estimated to be 5.4 Ω at −200 mV versus RHE, even lower than both the precursors. The electrochemical double layer capacitance was 49.95 mF cm−2, which was higher than both the precursors. The Cu2S/MoS2 heterojunction nanoarrays‐like electrocatalyst exhibited significant performance with a low overpotential (91 mV at 10 mA cm−2) and a small Tafel slope (41 mV dec−1) in alkaline electrolyte with 85.3 % retained ability after 1000 cycle runs. This work paves a road for developing high‐performance HER electrocatalysts.
Esterification of Tertiary Amides by Alcohols Through C−N Bond Cleavage over CeO2
Authors: Toyao Takashi , Nurnobi Rashed Md. , Morita Yoshitsugu , Kamachi Takashi , Hakim Siddiki S. M. A. , Ali Md. A. , Touchy Abeda S. , Kon Kenichi , Maeno Zen , Yoshizawa Kazunari , Shimizu Ken‐ichi 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe front cover artwork for our 10th Anniversary Issue is provided by the research groups of Ken‐ichi Shimizu at Hokkaido University and Kazunari Yoshizawa at Kyushu University (Japan). The image shows a C−N bond cleavage reaction catalyzed by CeO2. See the Full Paper itself at https://doi.org/10.1002/cctc.201801098.
Temperature Dependent Spectroscopic Properties of Cu+ and Dy3+ Co‐Doped Phosphate Glass: Band Gap Analysis and Cu Nanocluster‐Enhanced Dy3+ Luminescence
Authors: Jiménez José A. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThis paper reports on the effects of temperature on light absorption and emission in Cu+ and Dy3+ co‐doped phosphate glass, which is of interest for photonic applications. First, the temperature dependence of the absorption edge of the glass in connection with Cu+ ions absorption was assessed. A thermally‐induced red shift attributed to Cu+ ion‐lattice interactions was observed and analyzed through optical band gap determinations in the context of indirect‐allowed transitions. Application of the Varshni model for the dependence of the energy gaps with temperature allowed to estimate the 0 K energy gap at 2.87 (±0.01) eV. Furthermore, Dy3+ photoluminescence (PL) along with Cu nanoparticles (NPs) absorption was monitored in real‐time during an isothermal treatment by the in situ concurrent PL and absorption microspectroscopy technique. Periods of enhancement and quenching of Dy3+ emission linked to bidirectional energy transfer processes involving non‐plasmonic Cu clusters and plasmonic Cu NPs were revealed. The formation of Cu NPs was promoted by tin(II) used as reductant. It is the first time to the author's knowledge that the 0 K energy gap is estimated for a highly Cu+‐doped glass and that the enhancement of Dy3+ PL by Cu clusters is exposed.
Identification of Individual Reaction Steps in Complex Radical Reactions Involving Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Lien Jennifer , Su Mengqi , Guo Ting 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe front cover artwork is provided by the group of Prof. Ting Guo at the University of California, Davis. The image shows a triple‐jump model for explaining complex radical reactions such as hydroxyl radical (.OH) trapping by BMPO molecules catalyzed by gold nanoparticles. Read the full text of the Communication at 10.1002/cphc.201800780.
Dual Templating Fabrication of Hollow SAPO‐34 Molecular Sieves for Enhanced MTO Catalytic Activity and Selectivity
Authors: Yang Hong , Miao Ping , Sun Qi , Zhang Yi , Tian Dayong 
Published: December 2018

AbstractMicron‐sized SAPO‐34 zeolites with hollow morphology are first prepared using triethylamine (TEA) and diethylamine hydrochloride (DEA·HCl) as dual templates via a facial one‐pot hydrothermal treatment. It is revealed that the morphology and crystal size of the obtained zeolites change significantly with the increased DEA·HCl/Al2O3 ratio. Due to the reduced diffusion distance, larger micropore volume, and slightly stronger acid strength, the hollow materials demonstrate greatly enhanced catalytic activity in the methanol‐to‐olefins reaction. Because of the simple synthesis procedure, this method is of great importance and has the potential to be scaled up to an industrial level.
Synthesis of Quinolines Through Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Coupling Catalyzed by Rhenium PN(H)P Complexes
Authors: Wei Duo , Dorcet Vincent , Darcel Christophe , Sortais Jean‐Baptiste 
Published: December 2018

AbstractA practical and sustainable synthesis of substituted quinolines was achieved through the annulation of 2‐aminobenzyl alcohol with various secondary alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, or nitriles, under hydrogen‐borrowing conditions. Under the catalysis of well‐defined rhenium complexes bearing tridentate diphosphinoamino ligands, the reaction proceeded efficiently (31 examples were isolated with yields up to 96 %) affording a variety of quinoline derivatives.
Amputation‐induced reactive oxygen species signaling is required for axolotl tail regeneration
Authors: Al Haj Baddar Nour W. , Chithrala Adarsh , Voss S. Randal 
Published: December 2018

BackgroundAmong vertebrates, salamanders are unparalleled in their ability to regenerate appendages throughput life. However, little is known about early signals that initiate regeneration in salamanders.Results
Ambystoma mexicanum embryos were administered tail amputations to investigate the timing of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the requirement of ROS for regeneration. ROS detected by dihydroethidium increased within minutes of axolotl tail amputation and levels remained high for 24 hr. Pharmacological inhibition of ROS producing enzymes with diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI) and VAS2870 reduced ROS levels. Furthermore, DPI treatment reduced cellular proliferation and inhibited tail outgrowth.ConclusionsThe results show that ROS levels increase in response to injury and are required for tail regeneration. These findings suggest that ROS provide instructive, if not initiating cues, for salamander tail regeneration. Developmental Dynamics 248:189‐196, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Metabolic disorders in heart failure and cancer
Authors: Lena Alessia , Coats Andrew J.S. , Anker Markus S. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractIn an aging population, the number of patients affected by heart failure and cancer is constantly increasing and together these two conditions account for more than 50% of all deaths worldwide. Both diseases share similar risk factors including smoking, obesity, and hypertension. Presenting symptoms may also be similar, with patients frequently complaining of dyspnea, fatigue, and anorexia. Many affected patients, especially those with more advanced heart failure or cancer, suffer also from metabolic disorders. These can lead eventually to muscle wasting, sarcopenia, and cachexia. These complications are associated with increased morbidity, a poorer quality of life, a worse prognosis and indeed they represent an independent risk factor for the advancement of the underlying disease itself. Very few therapeutic options have been established to treat these co‐morbidities. For sarcopenia the only validated treatment is resistance training. Moreover, there is currently no guideline recommended therapy for the treatment of cachexia. New treatment strategies are urgently needed to prevent and treat muscle and wasting disorders in patients with chronic diseases such as cancer and chronic heart failure.
Propofol attenuates postoperative hyperalgesia via regulating spinal GluN2B‐p38MAPK/EPAC1 pathway in an animal model of postoperative pain
Authors: Wong Stanley S.‐C. , Sun Liting , Qiu Qiu , Gu Pan , Li Qing , Wang Xiao‐Min , Cheung Chi Wai 
Published: December 2018

AbstractBackgroundTotal intravenous anesthesia with propofol has been shown to reduce postoperative pain in some clinical studies, but knowledge of its underlying analgesic mechanism remains limited. In this study, we compared the analgesic effects of propofol versus isoflurane in an animal model of postoperative pain and evaluated its underlying molecular mechanisms.MethodsPlantar incision was made in the hind paws of rats under general anesthesia with 2.5% of inhalational isoflurane (isoflurane group) or intravenous infusion of propofol (1.5 mg kg−1 min−1, propofol group). Mechanical allodynia was assessed by paw withdrawal threshold before and after incision. Spinal dorsal horns (L3–L5) were harvested 1 hr after incision to assess the level of phosphorylated GluN2B, p38MAPK, ERK, JNK, and EPAC using Western blot and immunofluorescence.ResultsMechanical allodynia induced by plantar incision peaked at 1 hr and lasted for 3 days after incision. It was significantly less in the propofol group compared with the isoflurane group in the first 2 hr following incision. The incision‐induced increases in phosphorylated GluN2B, p38MAPK, and EPAC1 were significantly reduced in the propofol group. The number of spinal dorsal neurons co‐expressed with EPAC1 and c‐Fos after the incision was significantly lower in the propofol group.ConclusionPropofol reduced pain responses in an animal model of postoperative pain and suppressed the spinal GluN2B‐p38MAPK/EPAC1 signaling pathway. Since the p38MAPK/EPAC pathway plays a critical role in the development of postoperative hyperalgesia, our results provide evidence‐based behavioral, molecular, and cellular mechanisms for the analgesic effects of propofol when used for general anesthesia.SignificanceThese findings may provide a new mechanism for the postsurgical analgesic effect of propofol, which is particularly interesting during the subacute period after surgery as it is the critical period for the development of persistent postsurgical pain.
Investigating predictive tools for refinery effluent hazard assessment using stream mesocosms
Authors: Cailleaud Kevin , Bassères Anne , Gelber Clémentine , Postma Jaap F. , ter Schure Anneke T.M. , Leonards Pim E.G. , Redman Aaron D. , Whale Graham F. , Spence Mike J. , Hjort Markus 
Published: December 2018

Abstract

Hazard assessment of refinery effluents is challenging because of their compositional complexity. Therefore, a weight-of-evidence approach using a combination of tools is often required. Previous research has focused on several predictive tools for sophisticated chemical analyses: biomimetic extraction to quantify the potentially bioaccumulative substances, 2-dimensional gas chromatography, modeling approaches to link oil composition to toxicity (PETROTOX), and whole-effluent toxicity assessments using bioassays. The present study investigated the value of these tools by comparing predicted effects to actual effects observed in stream mesocosm toxicity studies with refinery effluents. Three different effluent samples, with and without fortification by neat petroleum substances, were tested in experimental freshwater streams. The results indicate that the biological community shifted at higher exposure levels, consistent with chronic toxicity effects predicted by both modeled toxic units and potentially bioaccumulative substance measurements. The present study has demonstrated the potential of the predictive tools and the robustness of the stream mesocosm design to improve our understanding of the environmental hazards posed by refinery effluents. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:650–659. © 2018 SETAC