bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Confining Free Radicals in Close Vicinity to Contaminants Enables Ultrafast Fenton‐like Processes in the Interspacing of MoS2 Membranes
Authors: Chen Yu , Zhang Gong , Liu Huijuan , Qu Jiuhui 
Published: April 2019

AbstractHeterogenous Fenton‐like reactions are frequently proposed for treating persistent pollutants through the generation of reactive radicals. Despite great efforts to optimize catalyst activity, their broad application in practical settings has been restricted by the low efficiency of hydrogen peroxide or persulfate decomposition as well as ultrafast self‐quenching of the activated radicals. Theoretical calculations predicted that two‐dimensional (2D) metallic 1T phase MoS2 materials with exposed (001) surfaces and (100) edges should have remarkable affinity towards crucial intermediates in the peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation process. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and in situ Raman spectroscopy were used to show that the exposed metallic Mo sites accelerate the rate‐limiting step of electron transfer. A lamellar membrane made from a stack of 2D MoS2 with tunable interspacing was then designed as the catalyst. The non‐linear transport between the MoS2 nanolayers leads to high water diffusivity so that the short‐lived reactive radicals efficiently oxidize contaminants.
Hydrodifluoromethylation of Alkenes with Difluoroacetic Acid
Authors: Meyer Claudio F. , Hell Sandrine M. , Misale Antonio , Trabanco Andrés A. , Gouverneur Véronique 
Published: April 2019

AbstractA facile method for the regioselective hydrodifluoromethylation of alkenes is reported using difluoroacetic acid and phenyliodine(III) diacetate in tetrahydrofuran under visible‐light activation. This metal‐free approach stands out as it uses inexpensive reagents, does not require a photocatalyst, and displays broad functional group tolerance. The procedure is also operationally simple and scalable, and provides access in one step to high‐value building blocks for application in medicinal chemistry.
Robust output consensus for a class of fractional‐order interval multi‐agent systems
Authors: Wang Liming , Zhang Guoshan 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThis paper is devoted to the robust output consensus problem of fractional‐order interval multi‐agent systems (FOIMASs) with fixed undirected topologies, where the fractional order, the system matrix, and the input matrix are perturbed simultaneously, and there exist linear coupling relationships among the fractional order and the perturbations of the system matrix and the input matrix. According to the information of the agents' neighbors, we design a distributed output feedback protocol. A sufficient condition guaranteeing the robust output consensus of FOIMASs is derived in terms of nonlinear matrix inequalities. By the matrix transformation and the singular value decomposition, the nonlinear matrix inequalities are transformed into linear matrix inequalities, and the output feedback gain matrix is obtained. A numerical simulation example is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Visualization of giant virus particles and development of “VIRAMOS” for high school and university biology course
Authors: Akashi Motohiro , Fukaya Sho , Uchiyama Chieko , Aoki Keita , Takemura Masaharu 
Published: April 2019

AbstractSeveral educational trials on handling viruses and or virology have been reported. However, given their small size, direct visualization of these viruses under a microscope has been rarely performed. The so‐called “giant viruses” are larger than other viruses with a particle size greater than 200–300 nm. This enables their direct visualization under a light microscope more easily than other viruses. In this study, we developed two new types of teaching material for learning about viruses and cellular organisms using mimivirus, one of the well‐known giant viruses. One teaching material involves using glass slides with enclosed mimivirus particles, and another is a paper‐based teaching material, named VIRAMOS (http://tlab-edusys.azurewebsites.net/content/viramos_en.pdf). Using these, students can investigate and learn about viruses and cellular organisms. © 2019 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 47(4):426–431, 2019.
Mixture of Azolium Tetraphenylborate with Isopropylthioxanthone: A New Class of N‐Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Photogenerator for Polyurethane, Polyester, and ROMP Polymers Synthesis
Authors: Trinh Thi Kim Hoang , Malval Jean‐Pierre , Morlet‐Savary Fabrice , Pinaud Julien , Lacroix‐Desmazes Patrick , Reibel Corine , Héroguez Valérie , Chemtob Abraham 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIn the search of smarter routes to control the conditions of N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHCs) formation, a two‐component air‐stable NHC photogenerating system is reported. It relies on the irradiation at 365 nm of a mixture of 2‐isopropylthioxanthone (ITX) with 1,3‐bis(mesityl)imidazoli(ni)um tetraphenylborate. The photoinduced liberation of NHC is evidenced by reaction with a mesitoyl radical to form an NHC‐radical adduct detectable by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The NHC yield can be determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy through the formation of a soluble and stable NHC–carbodiimide adduct. To deprotonate the azolium salt and liberate the NHC, a mechanism is proposed in which the role of base is played by ITX radical anion formed in situ by a primary photoinduced electron‐transfer reaction between electronically excited ITX (oxidant) and BPh4− (reductant). An NHC yield as high as 70 % is achieved upon starting with a stoichiometric ratio of ITX and azolium salt. Three different photoNHC‐mediated polymerizations are described: synthesis of polyurethane and polyester by organocatalyzed step‐growth polymerization and ring‐opening copolymerization, respectively, and generation of polynorbornene by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization using an NHC‐coordinated Ru catalyst formed in situ.
Autonomous Supramolecular Interface Self‐Healing Monitored by Restoration of UV/Vis Absorption Spectra of Self‐Assembled Thiazole Layers
Authors: Hupfer Maximilian L. , Herrmann‐Westendorf Felix , Kaufmann Martin , Weiß Dieter , Beckert Rainer , Dietzek Benjamin , Presselt Martin 
Published: April 2019

AbstractLongevity of complex organic devices critically depends on the supramolecular integrity of the constituting layers and interfaces. Because the latter are soft matter, they can structurally respond to perturbation of their supramolecular structure by relaxing back to a thermodynamically favorable state. To use this response for self‐healing of optoelectronically active layers and particularly interfaces, the degraded dyes in these layers need to be exchanged with non‐degraded ones. Here, we present a dye layer interfaced between a solid surface and a dye reservoir that autonomously self‐heals after photo‐degradation of single molecules to restore its optical function. Surface sensitive in situ photothermal deflection spectroscopy reveals that this supramolecular self‐healing approach critically depends on the thermodynamic stability of the layer, the chemical change of the dye upon degradation, and the medium dissolving the degraded dye and providing the reservoir dyes. Hence, the interplay of these parameters is key to successfully using this supramolecular self‐healing approach to thin layers and interfaces in organic device for increased sustainability of organic optoelectronics and related fields.
A two‐step proximal‐point algorithm for the calculus of divergence‐based estimators in finite mixture models
Authors: Mohamad Diaa Al , Broniatowski Michel 
Published: April 2019

AbstractEstimators derived from the expectation‐maximization (EM) algorithm are not robust since they are based on the maximization of the likelihood function. We propose an iterative proximal‐point algorithm based on the EM algorithm to minimize a divergence criterion between a mixture model and the unknown distribution that generates the data. The algorithm estimates in each iteration the proportions and the parameters of the mixture components in two separate steps. Resulting estimators are generally robust against outliers and misspecification of the model. Convergence properties of our algorithm are studied. The convergence of the introduced algorithm is discussed on a two‐component Weibull mixture entailing a condition on the initialization of the EM algorithm in order for the latter to converge. Simulations on Gaussian and Weibull mixture models using different statistical divergences are provided to confirm the validity of our work and the robustness of the resulting estimators against outliers in comparison to the EM algorithm. An application to a dataset of velocities of galaxies is also presented.The Canadian Journal of Statistics47: 392–408; 2019 © 2019 Statistical Society of Canada
Functional evaluation of carboxy metabolites of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists featuring scaffolds based on L‐valine or L‐tert‐leucine
Authors: Wouters Elise , Mogler Lukas , Cannaert Annelies , Auwärter Volker , Stove Christophe 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIndole‐ and indazole‐based synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs), featuring valine or tert‐leucine substituents, are commonly abused new psychoactive substances (NPS). A major metabolic pathway for these SCRAs is hydrolysis of the terminal amide or methylester functionalities. Although these hydrolysis products were already detected as main ingredients in some “legal highs,” these metabolites are often poorly characterized. Here, we report a systematic investigation of the activity of 7 common hydrolysis metabolites of 15 SCRAs featuring scaffolds based on L‐valine or L‐tert‐leucine in direct comparison to their parent compounds. An activity‐based cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) bio‐assay was used for activity profiling of SCRAs and their metabolites in a stable HEK293T cell system. The recruitment of β‐arrestin2 to the activated CB1 (each fused to one part of a split Nanoluciferase) was provoked by adding the (putative) SCRAs. Luminescence of the functionally complemented luciferase was monitored by a 96‐well plate‐reader. The major hydrolysis metabolites of 5F‐AB‐PINACA, ADB‐CHMICA, ADB‐CHMINACA, ADB‐FUBICA, and their methyl‐ and ethylester derivatives showed no detectable CB1 activation at concentrations up to 1 μM. On the other hand, metabolites of 5F‐ADB‐PINACA, AB‐CHMINACA, and ADB‐FUBINACA did retain activity, although significantly reduced as compared to the parent compounds (EC50 values >100 nM). Activity‐based characterization of SCRAs and their metabolites at CB1 may not only allow a better insight into the complex interplay between SCRAs and their metabolites in intoxications, but may also allow application of the concept of “activity equivalents” present in biological fluids or, alternatively, in confiscated materials.
Retinoic acid signaling in heart development
Authors: Nakajima Yuji 
Published: April 2019

SummaryRetinoic acid (RA) is a vitamin A metabolite that acts as a morphogen and teratogen. Excess or defective RA signaling causes developmental defects including in the heart. The heart develops from the anterior lateral plate mesoderm. Cardiogenesis involves successive steps, including formation of the primitive heart tube, cardiac looping, septation, chamber development, coronary vascularization, and completion of the four‐chambered heart. RA is dispensable for primitive heart tube formation. Before looping, RA is required to define the anterior/posterior boundaries of the heart‐forming mesoderm as well as to form the atrium and sinus venosus. In outflow tract elongation and septation, RA signaling is required to maintain/differentiate cardiogenic progenitors in the second heart field at the posterior pharyngeal arches level. Epicardium‐secreted insulin‐like growth factor, the expression of which is regulated by hepatic mesoderm‐derived erythropoietin under the control of RA, promotes myocardial proliferation of the ventricular wall. Epicardium‐derived RA induces the expression of angiogenic factors in the myocardium to form the coronary vasculature. In cardiogenic events at different stages, properly controlled RA signaling is required to establish the functional heart.
A gas Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy methodology for the rapid and accurate discrimination of chicken spoilage through volatiles analysis
Authors: Tan Zong , Huang Zhixuan , Lv Yue , Li Yuansong , Chen Da 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe discrimination of chicken spoilage is extremely important in order to guarantee the quality and safety of chicken before consumption, and requires an efficient and reliable method. We aimed to find a rapid and accurate method to discriminate the level of spoilage of chicken, and have developed a gas Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (G‐FTIR) methodology based on analysing volatiles from chicken samples. In this method, the volatiles of chicken samples were first measured by the G‐FTIR spectrometer. After that, a chemometrics method combining principal component analysis (PCA) with support vector machine (SVM) was developed to encode the G‐FTIR spectra. With the combination of G‐FTIR spectra and the chemometrics method, a relationship between the spoilage levels of chicken and the G‐FTIR spectra of volatiles was established. As a result, the spoilage levels of chicken samples were accurately distinguished with a prediction accuracy of 100%, for samples stored at both normal (20 °C) and cold (4 °C) temperatures. The results obtained were correlated with the routine total volatile basis nitrogen (TVB‐N) method for validation. In addition, The G‐FTIR detection process for each sample could be performed within 3 min, requiring no chemical reagents. The G‐FTIR methodology performed well for the rapid discrimination of chicken spoilage, which could also be extended to the detection of other spoiled foods.
What is the health cost of haze pollution? Evidence from China
Authors: Hao Yu , Zhao Mingyuan , Lu Zhi‐Nan 
Published: April 2019

SummaryIntroductionHaze pollution has become a serious threat to the health of residents and has brought about considerable economic costs. The objectives of this study are to examine the relationship between haze pollution and residents' health and to estimate the health cost of haze pollution.MethodsUsing macro data on 74 major Chinese cities, this study employs a static panel data model and a dynamic panel generalized method of moments model to investigate the impact of haze pollution on the mortality of residents. On the basis of the estimation results, the value of a statistical life (VOSL) method is used to evaluate the economic cost of haze pollution on residents' health.ResultsIn 74 major cities of China, an increase in concentration of PM2.5 pollutants by 1 μg/m3 may cause the mortality rate to rise by 25 per million people. The VOSL of haze pollution in China is about 1.53 million yuan. The health cost of residents from haze in 74 major cities of China in 2016 was about 888 billion yuan, equivalent to about 2% of the these cities' GDP.ConclusionsHaze pollution has serious damage to the health of urban residents and therefore brings about considerable economic losses.
Circular RNA expression profile in gingival tissues identifies circ_0062491 and circ_0095812 as potential treatment targets
Authors: Li Jie , Xie Ruiyue 
Published: April 2019

AbstractCircular RNAs (circRNAs) emerging as a novel class of endogenous, conserved noncoding RNAs, which have been reported to be participated in immune‐inflammatory response recently, yet their function in periodontal inflammation has remained elusive. This study aimed to analyze the specific circRNAs expressed in periodontal inflammation process through Illumina (San Diego, CA) sequencing technology combining with experimental validation. The inflamed and healthy gingival tissues from patients were selected to explore the expression statues of circRNAs. In brief, 1304 dysregulated circRNAs were identified in inflamed gingival tissues. Besides, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was conducted to investigate the functions of abnormally expressed circRNAs in periodontitis as well as their host‐linear genes. Furthermore, the interaction network of circRNAs‐miRNAs (microRNA) was constructed to reveal the key circRNAs (circ_0095812, circ_0120299, circ_0125699, circ_0062491, and circ_0043115) in the pathobiology of periodontitis. Subsequently, we have investigated the expression pattern of circ_0062491 (downregulated) and circ_0095812 (upregulated) among 30‐paired periodontitis patients and healthy individuals by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Moreover, circ_0062491 was identified as the sponge of miR‐584 which play a key role in periodontitis.
Long noncoding RNA H19 promotes chemotherapy resistance in choriocarcinoma cells
Authors: Yu Shuran , Wu Chenchun , Tan Qianxia , Liu Huining 
Published: April 2019

AbstractChoriocarcinoma (CC) is a trophoblast tumor prone to early distant organ metastases. At present, the main treatment for CC is chemotherapy, but chemotherapy resistance readily occurs and leads to treatment failure. H19 is a long noncoding RNA, and its abnormal expression has been found in various tumors, including CC. H19 is also considered to be related to the drug resistance mechanism of the same cancers. To investigate the role of H19 in drug‐resistant CC cells, the following experiments were designed. We used human CC cell line JEG‐3 to establish cell lines resistant to methotrexate and 5‐fluorouracil (JEG‐3/MTX and JEG‐3/5‐FU) and detected the expression of H19 in JEG‐3, JEG‐3/MTX, JEG‐3/5‐FU cells, JEG‐3 with MTX, and JEG‐3 with 5‐FU. We found that the expression of H19 in the JEG‐3/MTX and JEG‐3/5‐FU cells were significantly higher than that in JEG‐3 cells. JEG‐3 cells were treated with MTX or 5‐FU for and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction assay revealed that H19 messenger RNA expression increased. Furthermore, after H19 was knocked out, the drug resistance index of the JEG‐3/MTX and JEG‐3/5‐FU cells decreased; the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability diminished significantly; and apoptosis increased significantly. Finally, we detected the total and phosphorylation protein expression of phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in the JEG‐3/MTX and JEG‐3/5‐FU cells. The total protein of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR in the H19 knockout resistant cells showed no significant change relative to those in the H19 non‐knockout resistant cells, whereas the phosphorylated proteins of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR were significantly decreased. Phosphorylated proteins of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR in the JEG‐3/MTX and JEG‐3/5‐FU cells were significantly higher than that in JEG‐3 cells. After using inhibition of phosphorylated PI3K/AKT/mTOR, the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of the JEG‐3/MTX and JEG‐3/5‐FU cells diminished significantly; and apoptosis increased significantly. On the basis of the above experiments, we concluded that H19 is related to the drug resistance of CC, and the knockout of H19 can reduce the drug resistance of resistant CC cells; and decrease the proliferative, migratory, and invasive ability; and increase the apoptosis. PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway might be involved in H19‐mediated effects. H19 is expected to be a therapeutic target for the treatment of drug‐resistant chorionic carcinoma.
Gene coexpression networks analysis of sickle stroke risk
Authors: Liu Fang‐Fang , Wang Juan , Hu Fan , Wei Qing , Li Ke 
Published: April 2019

AbstractStroke is one of the most destructive complications of sickle cell disease (SCD), and SCD is also the most common cause of childhood stroke. Sickle cell stroke is complex and has a genetic endothelial basis. Here, we further investigated this genetic basis using weighted gene coexpression network analysis. This systems biology approach revealed the correlation between coexpressed gene modules and sickle stroke risk. The pink module was significantly correlated with stroke risk and genes in this module were mainly related to GO:0044877 (protein‐containing complex binding). In addition hub genes were identified through protein‐protein interaction enrichment analysis, including CXCR7, VCAM1, CD44, BMP2, SMAD3, BCL2L1, ITPR2, ITPR3, etc. These hub genes were significantly enriched for three Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways including “gastric acid secretion,” “pathways in cancer,” and “TGF‐ β signaling pathway.” Altogether, our results based on this innovative method provided some novel understanding of the pathology of sickle cell stroke. Hub genes identified in this study could be potential targets for screening and prevention of stroke risk in SCD children.
Pectolinarin inhibits proliferation, induces apoptosis, and suppresses inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast‐like synoviocytes by inactivating the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B pathway
Authors: Wang Laifang , Wang Na , Zhao Qing , Zhang Bingyi , Ding Yanjie 
Published: April 2019

AbstractRheumatoid arthritis fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (RA‐FLSs), a pathological hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), exhibit the characteristics of tumor cells. The extracts of Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense have been shown to possess antitumor and anti‐inflammatory activities. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of pectolinarin, a flavonoid compound isolated from C. japonicum var. ussuriense, on RA. Cell viability was evaluated by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐tetrazolium bromide assay. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry analysis and Western blot analysis of Bax and Bcl‐2 levels. Inflammation was assessed by detecting the expressions and secretion of interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐8 using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was also measured. The effects of pectolinarin on the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway were examined by Western blot. We found that pectolinarin significantly inhibited cell viability at 24 and 48 hours in a dose‐dependently manner in RA‐FLSs. Pectolinarin reduced the apoptotic rate, increased Bax level, and decreased Bcl‐2 level in RA‐FLSs. Pectolinarin inhibited the messenger RNA expression and secretion of IL‐6 and IL‐8, as well as the production of PGE2 and NO in RA‐FLSs. Furthermore, pectolinarin inactivated the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway in RA‐FLSs. Activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway by 740Y‐P impaired the effects of pectolinarin on cell viability, apoptosis, and inflammation in RA‐FLSs. In conclusion, pectolinarin suppressed cell proliferation and inflammatory response and induced apoptosis in RA‐FLSs via inactivation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.
Group exposure and response prevention for college students with social anxiety: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Zaboski Brian A. , Joyce‐Beaulieu Diana , Kranzler John H. , McNamara Joseph P. , Gayle Cindi , MacInnes Jann 
Published: April 2019

AbstractObjectiveSocial anxiety increases college student drop‐out risk and stifles employment opportunities. Group cognitive‐behavioral therapy with exposure (CBT ERP) has the potential to alleviate campus resource strain but remains under‐researched with college students. The present study investigated the efficacy of group CBT ERP in a randomized clinical trial on a college campus.MethodThirty‐one postsecondary students were randomly assigned to an exposure‐only group or an active control.ResultsLinear mixed‐effects models indicated significant Group × Time interactions for general social anxiety (t = −2.02, g = 0.62) and depression (t = −2.77, g = 0.55); nonsignificant main effects were found for group and time variables. On a measure of fear of negative evaluation, only the main effect of time was significant (t = 2.15, p = 0.032).ConclusionsWhen compared to an active control group, CBT ERP is an efficacious and time‐effective treatment for college students experiencing social anxiety.