bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A hybrid simulation platform for learning microprocessors
Authors: Papazoglou Panayotis M. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractModern engineering applications are based on microprocessors and microcontrollers. Thus, the microprocessor (uP) architecture constitutes a core course component in engineering education. Many technologies have been used by the Universities in the past 30 years for learning uPs. In the 1980s, hardware platforms have been used (e.g., MPF‐I) for learning assembly programming in hexadecimal mode of popular microprocessor models. The above platforms have been replaced by software simulators where the uP components are represented by visual objects. The software based approaches have lack of uP architecture customization and are limited only in assembly programming. On the other hand, the existing hardware based tools are low level and very complicated. Thus, the students do not work on uP design and assembly language development. In this paper, a novel hybrid simulator platform which changes the educational point of view regarding the uP learning methodology is presented. The proposed hybrid simulation platform (HSP) consists of hardware components which represent the uP architectural units and software components for system operation and administration. Using the HSP, students freely select the uP hardware based components and build their own architecture. On the other hand, professors can create educational scenarios with customizable experimental architectures.
Enzymatic Synthesis of Lignin‐Based Concrete Dispersing Agents
Authors: Jankowska Dagmara , Heck Tobias , Schubert Mark , Yerlikaya Alpaslan , Weymuth Christophe , Rentsch Daniel , Schober Irene , Richter Michael 
Published: March 2018

AbstractLignin is the most abundant aromatic biopolymer, functioning as an integral component of woody materials. In its unmodified form it shows limited water solubility and is relatively unreactive, so biotechnological lignin valorisation for high‐performance applications is greatly underexploited. Lignin can be obtained from the pulp and paper industry as a by‐product. To expand its application, a new synthesis route to new dispersing agents for use as concrete additives was developed. The route is based on lignin functionalisation by enzymatic transformation. Screening of lignin‐modifying systems resulted in functionalised lignin polymers with improved solubility in aqueous systems. Through grafting of sulfanilic acid or p‐aminobenzoic acid by fungal laccases, lignin became soluble in water at pH≤4 or pH≤7, respectively. Products were analysed and evaluated in miniaturised application tests in cement paste and mortar. Their dispersing properties match the performance criteria of commercially available lignosulfonates. The study provides examples of new perspectives for the use of lignin.
Proximal left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis should be considered when using the prognostic value of the residual SYNTAX score: Data from 10343 consecutive patients with long‐term follow up in the real world
Authors: Gao Guofeng , Feng Lei , Zhang Dong , Song Chenxi , Zhu Chenggang , Song Weihua , Zhao Yanyan , Xu Bo , Yin Dong , Dou Kefei 
Published: March 2018

AbstractObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic significance of the residual SYNTAX score (rSS) in a large‐scale cohort of consecutive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients and to analyze whether residual proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (pLAD) lesions affect the prognosis of patients with same or similar rSS levels.BackgroundThe rSS, measured after PCI, has been assessed as an independent predictor of long‐term clinical outcome and a tool for quantification of incomplete revascularization, and still needs to be validated in various PCI populations. When using rSS to determine an objective level of reasonable incomplete revascularization, it is currently undefined whether a pLAD lesion deserves more attention.MethodsThe calculations of baseline SYNTAX scores (bSS) and rSS were performed in 10,343 consecutive patients undergoing PCI in Fuwai Hospital from January 2013 to December 2013. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as a composite of all‐cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), and any revascularization. Secondary endpoints included the individual components of the MACE, cardiac death, and all‐cause death/MI.ResultsMACE and cardiac death rates were significantly higher among patients with residual pLAD stenosis ≥70%. rSS and residual pLAD stenosis ≥70% were both strong independent predictors of MACE. Compared with rSS, rSS plus residual pLAD stenosis was superior in predicting 30‐month MACE (P = .0016).ConclusionsrSS is a strong independent predictor of long‐term adverse clinical outcomes. Residual pLAD lesions affect the prognosis of patients with same or similar rSS levels.
X‐ray canary in the cath lab: Posterior cataracts
Authors: Ahmad Tariq Ali , Gilchrist IanC. 
Published: March 2018

Key Points

Cataract formation in the posterior subcapsular region of the lens is a lesion highly specific to both high‐dose acute radiation exposure and chronic low‐dose exposure.
Low‐dose radiation may not manifest lens changes for several decades after initial exposure.
Cardiac catheterization team members need to be educated on, and protected from, this form of radiation injury as its long latency period between exposure and physical damage may acutely reduce the sense of hazard amongst healthcare radiation workers.
5‐Year clinical follow‐up of the COBRA (complex coronary bifurcation lesions: Randomized comparison of a strategy using a dedicated self‐expanding biolimus A9‐eluting stent vs. a culotte strategy using everolimus‐eluting stents) study
Authors: Bennett J. , Adriaenssens T. , McCutcheon K. , Dens J. , Desmet W. , Sinnaeve P. , Vrolix M. , Dubois C. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractObjectivesWe evaluated healing responses with optical coherence tomography, and long‐term clinical outcomes after treatment with a dedicated stent versus a conventional culotte technique.BackgroundDedicated bifurcation stents have been proposed as an alternative treatment for coronary bifurcation lesions. The long‐term performance of dedicated stents versus conventional dual‐stent techniques for the treatment of complex coronary bifurcation lesions is unknown.MethodsForty patients with true coronary bifurcation lesions were randomized to treatment with a dedicated Axxess bifurcation stent in the proximal main vessel and additional Biomatrix stents in branches versus culotte stenting using Xience stents.ResultsThe percentage of uncovered struts in each bifurcation segment at 9 months (primary endpoint) was similar between groups. Five‐year clinical follow‐up was available for all patients and included major adverse cardiac events [MACE; a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemia‐driven target lesion revascularization (TLR)], target‐vessel (TVR) and non‐target‐vessel revascularization (non‐TVR), non‐TLR and stent thrombosis. At 5 years, in the culotte group, one patient had undergone TLR and another suffered a clinical MI, resulting in 10% MACE versus none in the Axxess group. TVR (5% vs. 10%, P = 0.54) and non‐TVR (5% vs. 20%, P = 0.39) rates were similar between the Axxess and culotte groups, respectively. There was no stent thrombosis.ConclusionCompared with culotte stenting with Xience, complex coronary bifurcation stenting using a dedicated strategy combining the Axxess and Biomatrix stents results in similar stent strut coverage at 9 months, and excellent clinical outcomes at 5 years.
Bio‐Oil as a Potential Biomass‐Derived Renewable Raw Material for Bio‐Phenol Production
Authors: Zhu Lijuan , Jin Feng , Fan Minghui , Liu Junxu , Chang Rui , Jia Qifang , Tang Chi , Li Quanxin 
Published: March 2018

AbstractA route for directional conversion of bio‐oil into phenol by means of coupling the catalytic cracking of the bio‐oil with the hydroxylation of the bio‐oil‐based benzene‐rich aromatics is proposed. High selectivity for phenol in the resulting organic liquid was achieved, with an almost complete conversion of the bio‐oil. Co‐cracking of the bio‐oil with methanol over a Zn‐modified zeolite significantly enhanced the yields of aromatics and decreased the deactivation of the catalyst during the catalytic cracking of the bio‐oil. The phenol yield depended on the metal oxide catalysts, the temperature, and the reaction time during hydroxylation of the benzene‐rich aromatics. The reaction pathway of converting bio‐oil into phenol was elucidated based on the products identified and the characterization of the catalysts.
Establishing the optimal blocks' order in SO‐PLS: Stepwise SO‐PLS and alternative formulations
Authors: P. Campos Maria , Sousa Ricardo , S. Reis Marco 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMethods capable of handling multiple blocks of data have increased in popularity both in industry and academia, namely, in the fields of chemistry, food and beverages, pharmacology, and biology. Among the multiblock methodologies, sequential orthogonalized partial least squares (SO‐PLS) has been attracting great interest, given its interpretation capabilities (eg, the possibility to estimate the relative additional contributions of each block to predict the response and the degree of mutual overlap, ie, the blocks' communalities) associated to desirable modeling features, such as the independence from the relative scaling of the different data blocks and the flexibility to handle blocks with different dimensionalities and pseudo‐ranks. Given the sequential nature of SO‐PLS, it is critically dependent on the order of the blocks used. When a priori knowledge exists about the natural ordering of the blocks (eg, data arising from sequential operations in a production process), this specification is straightforward. However, in the absence of such knowledge or in cases where no order should be preferred a priori (as happens in the case study of this article), SO‐PLS faces the problem of having to find the most adequate one through the exhaustive search of all permutations. This problem is particularly relevant when the number of blocks is larger than 3, getting exponentially worse as this number increases. Situations where the number of natural data blocks is significant are already quite frequent (eg in multistage batch operations) and will tend to occur more often in the future, as Manufacturing 4.0 takes its course and data sources from the entire value chain become more abundant. Therefore, more efficient and systematic approaches are required to retain the benefits of SO‐PLS while coping with the increasing demands for data processing and analysis in Big Data applications. In this article, we introduce Stepwise SO‐PLS as an efficient algorithm for selecting the blocks ordering when performing SO‐PLS, with capabilities of block exclusion (a feature not shared by other current multiblock approaches). A robust statistical comparison framework based on Monte Carlo cross‐validation is employed to compare the proposed stepwise SO‐PLS formulation with the current systematic approach for selecting the block order and its new variant allowing for blocks selection, in their prediction capabilities. A real case study of the prediction of Madeira wine age will be used for establishing the comparison.
Harnessing Biology to Deliver Therapeutic and Imaging Entities via Cell‐Based Methods
Authors: Joshi Bishnu P. , Hardie Joseph , Farkas Michelle E. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe accumulation of therapeutic and imaging agents at sites of interest is critical to their efficacy. Similarly, off‐target effects (especially toxicity) are a major liability for these entities. For this reason, the use of delivery vehicles to improve the distribution characteristics of bio‐active agents has become ubiquitous in the field. However, the majority of traditionally employed, cargo‐bearing platforms rely on passive accumulation. Even in cases where “targeting” functionalities are used, the agents must first reach the site in order for the ligand–receptor interaction to occur. The next stage of vehicle development is the use of “recruited” entities, which respond to biological signals produced in the tissues to be targeted, resulting in improved specificities. Recently, many advances have been made in the utilization of cells as delivery agents. They are biocompatible, exhibit excellent circulation lifetimes and tissue penetration capabilities, and respond to chemotactic signals. In this Minireview, we will explore various cell types, modifications, and applications where cell‐based delivery agents are used.
Sulfones as Synthetic Linchpins: Transition‐Metal‐Free sp3–sp2 and sp2–sp2 Cross‐Couplings Between Geminal Bis(sulfones) and Organolithium Compounds
Authors: Trost Barry M. , Kalnmals Christopher A. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractA valuable umpolung strategy that highlights the ambiphilic nature of the bis(phenylsulfonyl)methyl synthon and demonstrates its utility as a synthetic linchpin is reported. Although the bis(phenylsulfonyl)methyl group is typically introduced as an sp3‐carbon nucleophile, it is demonstrated that it can also function as an effective sp2‐carbon electrophile in the presence of organolithium nucleophiles. Alkyl‐ and aryllithiums couple with the central carbon of the bis(phenylsulfonyl)methyl unit to ultimately generate trisubstituted alkenes, comprising formal sp3–sp2 and sp2–sp2 cross‐couplings between organolithium reagents and bis(sulfones). This process occurs almost instantaneously at −78 °C in the absence of any transition metals. By developing this curious transformation, it has been demonstrated that bis(phenylsulfonyl)methane is a valuable synthetic linchpin, which can undergo two C−C bond‐forming processes as an sp3‐nucleophile, followed by a third C−C bond‐forming reaction as an effective sp2‐electrophile. This discovery significantly enhances the utility of this ubiquitous, but underutilized, linker group.
A Conductive Self‐Healing Double Network Hydrogel with Toughness and Force Sensitivity
Authors: Liu Shunli , Li Kewen , Hussain Imtiaz , Oderinde Olayinka , Yao Fang , Zhang Jiuyang , Fu Guodong 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMechanically tough and electrically conductive self‐healing hydrogels may have broad applications in wearable electronics, health‐monitoring systems, and smart robotics in the following years. Herein, a new design strategy is proposed to synthesize a dual physical cross‐linked polyethylene glycol/poly(acrylic acid) (PEG/PAA) double network hydrogel, consisting of ferric ion cross‐linked linear chain extensions of PEG (2,6‐pyridinedicarbonyl moieties incorporated into the PEG backbone, PEG‐H2pdca) as the first physical network and a PAA‐Fe3+ gel as the second physical network. Metal‐ion coordination and the double network structure enable the double network hydrogel to withstand up to 0.4 MPa tensile stress and 1560 % elongation at breakage; the healing efficiency reaches 96.8 % in 12 h. In addition, due to dynamic ion transfer in the network, the resulting hydrogels exhibit controllable conductivity (0.0026–0.0061 S cm−1) and stretching sensitivity. These functional self‐healing hydrogels have potential applications in electronic skin. It is envisioned that this strategy can also be employed to prepare other high‐performance, multifunctional polymers.
Detection and Imaging of Aβ1‐42 and Tau Fibrils by Redesigned Fluorescent X‐34 Analogues
Authors: Zhang Jun , Sandberg Alexander , Konsmo Audun , Wu Xiongyu , Nyström Sofie , Nilsson K. Peter R. , Konradsson Peter , LeVine Harry , Lindgren Mikael , Hammarström Per 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWe revisited the Congo red analogue 2,5‐bis(4′‐hydroxy‐3′‐carboxy‐styryl)benzene (X‐34) to develop this highly fluorescent amyloid dye for imaging Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology comprising Aβ and Tau fibrils. A selection of ligands with distinct optical properties were synthesized by replacing the central benzene unit of X‐34, with other heterocyclic moieties. Full photophysical characterization was performed, including recording absorbance and fluorescence spectra, Stokes shift, quantum yield and fluorescence lifetimes. All ligands displayed high affinity towards recombinant amyloid fibrils of Aβ1‐42 (13–300 nm Kd) and Tau (16–200 nm Kd) as well as selectivity towards the corresponding disease‐associated protein aggregates in AD tissue. We observed that these ligands efficiently displaced X‐34, but not Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) from recombinant Aβ1‐42 amyloid fibrils, arguing for retained targeting of the Congo red type binding site. We foresee that the X‐34 scaffold offers the possibility to develop novel high‐affinity ligands for Aβ pathology found in human AD brain in a different mode compared with PiB, potentially recognizing different polymorphs of Aβ fibrils.
APTRA‐Based Luminescent Lanthanide Complexes Displaying Enhanced Selectivity for Mg2+
Authors: Walter Edward R. H. , Williams J. A. Gareth , Parker David 
Published: March 2018

AbstractA series of three europium(III) complexes has been created in which an APTRA moiety has been integrated into the sensitising chromophore (APTRA=o‐aminophenol‐N,N,N‐triacetate). The constitutionally isomeric complexes EuL1 and EuL2 feature the APTRA unit linked to a metal‐bound pyridine ring through an alkynyl unit, differing according to the disposition of the APTRA substituents relative to the C≡C unit (para‐N and para‐O). In EuL3, the APTRA ring is directly bonded to the Eu‐coordinated pyridine (para‐O). The metal binding affinities for magnesium, calcium and zinc ions have been measured by using emission and excitation spectroscopy. The pyridylalkynylaryl systems, EuL1 and EuL2, offer superior affinity and selectivity for Mg2+. The Mg2+ affinities are surprisingly very different from prior studies on structurally related systems that incorporate organic fluorophores as reporters, as opposed to the macrocyclic Eu complex moiety. A much‐reduced affinity for calcium and zinc—possibly arising from the lower donor ability of the aryl N or O atoms arising from extended conjugation—means that magnesium ion concentrations can be measured directly in serum for the first time, by using such an approach. An apparent dissociation constant for magnesium binding of Kd=2.4 mm was calculated in the serum background.
Tuning Optoelectronic and Chiroptic Properties of Peptide‐Based Materials by Controlling the Pathway Complexity
Authors: López‐Andarias Alicia , López‐Andarias Javier , Atienza Carmen , Chichón Francisco J. , Carrascosa José L. , Martín Nazario 
Published: March 2018

AbstractSupramolecular chemistry has evolved from the traditional focus on thermodynamic on‐pathways to the complex study of kinetic off‐pathways, which are strongly dependent on environmental conditions. Moreover, the control over pathway complexity allows nanostructures to be obtained that are inaccessible through spontaneous thermodynamic processes. Herein, we present a family of peptide‐based π‐extended tetrathiafulvalene (exTTF) molecules that show two self‐assembly pathways leading to two distinct J‐aggregates, namely metastable (M) and thermodynamic (T), with different spectroscopic, chiroptical, and electrochemical behavior. Moreover, cryo‐transmission electron microscopy (cryo‐TEM) reveals a different morphology for both aggregates and a direct observation of the morphological transformations from tapes to twisted ribbons.
Incidence of arrhythmias and impact of permanent pacemaker implantation in hospitalizations with transcatheter aortic valve replacement
Authors: Doshi Rajkumar , Decter Dean H. , Meraj Perwaiz 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundThis study sought to analyze in‐hospital outcomes associated with preexisting and newly implanted permanent pacemaker (PPM) in patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). PPM implantation following the development of conduction abnormalities is a common adverse event following TAVR. Furthermore, PPM implantation rates are higher in TAVR hospitalizations compared with the surgical alternative, thus we have analyzed the predictors of pacing post‐TAVR.HypothesisWe hypothesize that incidence of arrhythmias are high post‐TAVR and have worse adverse outcomes after receiving PPM.MethodsThe study population was identified from the National Inpatient Sample database between 2012 and 2014. TAVR population was identified using ICD‐9‐CM procedure codes 35.05 and 35.06. Hospitalizations were divided into 3 group: (1) with preexisting PPM, (2) with newly implanted PPM, and (3) without any PPM.ResultsOverall, 0.8% of hospitalizations presented with preexisting PPM and 23.7% of hospitalizations received new PPM. The overall incidence of atrial fibrillation was 44.5%, left bundle branch block 8.9%, complete atrioventricular block 9.5%, and right bundle branch block 2.7%. In‐hospital mortality was higher in hospitalizations receiving PPM compared with those without (4.9% vs 4.0%; P = 0.05). Length of stay and cost were higher in the group receiving new PPM. Female sex, atrial fibrillation, left bundle branch block, and second‐degree and complete atrioventricular block were significant predictors for receiving PPM after TAVR.ConclusionsA risk stratification for hospitalizations with conduction disorders is necessary to avoid longer hospital stays, added costs, and mortality. Further research is warranted to investigate additional predictors for PPM after TAVR.
Late‐Stage Functionalization of Drug‐Like Molecules Using Diversinates
Authors: Kuttruff Christian A. , Haile Margit , Kraml Johannes , Tautermann Christofer S. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractLate‐stage functionalization (LSF) is a powerful method to quickly generate new analogues of a lead structure without resorting to de novo synthesis. We have leveraged Baran Diversinates to carry out late‐stage functionalizations on lead structures from internal drug discovery projects and accurately predicted regioselectivities using computational methods. Our functionalization successfully afforded specific regioisomers which were in line with our predictions. To enhance reactivity, decrease reaction time, and increase reaction yields, we have developed new functionalization conditions involving iron(III) catalysis. Finally, we demonstrate how our LSF reactions using Baran Diversinates can lead to new analogues with improved in vitro DMPK parameters.
The sparse least square support vector regression for estimating illumination chromaticity
Authors: Zhu Zhenmin , Liu Quanxin , Song Ruichao , Chen Shiming 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe fusion of estimating algorithms for illumination chromaticity is an important strategy in computational color constancy and it has attracted the much attention of domestic and foreign scholars. Some effective approaches have been proposed to build the framework of the fusion, such as Committee‐based Color Constancy, BP neural network, and machine learning regression. In this article, the framework of least square support vector regression (LS‐SVR) is applied to illumination estimation fusion and provides a novel sparse method of LS‐SVR. According to the experience of previous research, the complexity in training LS‐SVR is obviously lower than it in training SVR, but due to all of the characters in images are chosen as the support vectors, the computation in LS‐SVR takes more time. In order to improve accuracy and reduce time consumption, this study uses sparse strategy that only weighted samples that illumination chromaticity of image have higher weight than other images can be selected as the support vectors. Training via a part of the images with high‐weight, the sparse LS‐SVR can achieve a satisfactory result. Experiment with real images shows that this sparse LS‐SVR method performs better than SVR, LS‐SVR and current some other color constancy algorithms especially in the aspects of computing speed and accuracy.