bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Is advanced maternal age a risk factor for congenital heart disease?
Authors: Best Kate E. , Rankin Judith 
Published: June 2016

BackgroundStudies have reported that advanced maternal age is a risk factor for congenital heart disease (CHD), but none of these have been performed in the United Kingdom. Currently, women in the United Kingdom are not referred for specialist fetal echocardiography based on maternal age alone. The aim of this study is to examine the association between maternal age at delivery and CHD prevalence in the North of England.MethodsSingleton cases of CHD notified to the Northern Congenital Abnormality Survey and born between January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2013, were included. Cases with chromosomal anomalies were excluded. The relative risk (RR) of CHD according to maternal age at delivery was estimated using Poisson regression.ResultsThere were 4024 singleton cases of nonchromosomal CHD, giving a prevalence of 8.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.8–8.3) per 1000 live and stillbirths. There was no association between maternal age at delivery and CHD prevalence (p = 0.97), with no evidence of an increased risk of CHD in mothers aged ≥35 compared to aged 25 to 29 (RR = 0.99; 95% CI, 0.89–1.09). There were no significant associations between maternal age at delivery and severity III CHD (p = 0.84), severity II CHD (p = 0.74), or severity I CHD (p = 0.66), although there was a slight increased risk of severity I CHD in mothers aged ≥35 (RR = 1.27; 95% CI, 0.83–1.95).ConclusionWe found little evidence that advanced maternal age is a risk factor for CHD. There is no evidence that women in the United Kingdom should be referred for specialist prenatal cardiac screening based on their age. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 106:461–467, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ist die Schnecke, was sie isst?
Authors: Tetsch Larissa 
Published: June 2016

AbstractManche Meeresnacktschnecken betreiben mit aus Algen aufgenommenen Chloroplasten Photosynthese und können deshalb vollständig auf weitere Nahrung verzichten. Die Stabilität der “gestohlenen” Chloroplasten wurde mit Gentransfervorgängen vom Algenkerngenom ins Schneckenkerngenom erklärt. Diese Theorie ist inzwischen widerlegt, und es scheint, dass die Chloroplasten ihre Stabilität effektiven Photoschutzmechanismen und einer im Vergleich zu den Chloroplasten der Landpflanzen höheren Codierungsdichte verdanken.
Imposante Fliegenjäger: Am Nistplatz der Kreiselwespen
Authors: Petrischak Hannes 
Published: June 2016

AbstractKein von Insekten begeisterter Naturfreund kann sich der Faszination der Kreiselwespe (Bembix rostrata) entziehen, wenn er einmal ihr eindrucksvolles Treiben am Nistplatz erlebt hat. Mit ihrer Größe, ihren Flugkünsten und einer unermüdlichen Brutfürsorge zählt sie zu den besonderen Attraktionen der heimischen Insektenwelt. Unsere einzige nach Bundesartenschutzverordnung geschützte Grabwespe ist allerdings selten, denn ihre Lebensräume – meist offene Sandflächen von Binnendünen – sind vielerorts verschwunden.
Chinarindenbäume (Cinchona)
Authors: Rösemann Ulrich 
Published: June 2016

AbstractUnter den Tieren hat der Mensch die “Big Five” auf Grund ihrer Größe und Kraft erkoren, doch bei den Pflanzen ist dies ein schlechtes Maß. Betrachtet man ihren Nutzwert für die Menschheit als wichtige Nahrungs‐ oder Medizinalpflanze, spielt die Gattung der Chinarindenbäume in der oberen Liga mit.
Randomized clinical trial of intraoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography versus laparoscopic bile duct exploration in patients with choledocholithiasis
Authors: Poh B R , Ho S P S , Sritharan M , Yeong C C , Swan M P , Devonshire D A , Cashin P A , Croagh D G 
Published: June 2016

Abstract

Background
Various minimally invasive approaches exist for the management of choledocholithiasis at the time of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim of this study was to compare endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with laparoscopic bile duct exploration (LBDE) and test the hypothesis that intraoperative ERCP is no different to LBDE in terms of rate of bile duct clearance or retained stones.

Methods
Eligible patients with choledocholithiasis undergoing emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized to intraoperative ERCP or LBDE in a 1 : 1 ratio. The primary outcomes were rates of bile duct clearance and retained stones. Secondary outcomes were postprocedure complication rate, mortality rate, postoperative length of hospital stay, conversion to open surgery rate, procedural time and total duration of surgery.

Results
Some 104 patients were randomized, and 52 patients in each group were included in an intention-to-treat analysis. Duct clearance rates were 87 per cent for patients who had intraoperative ERCP and 69 per cent for those in the LBDE group (P = 0·057). The rate of retained stones was lower in the ERCP group than in the LBDE group: 15 versus 42 per cent respectively (P = 0·004). Median postoperative length of stay was shorter with ERCP (2 days versus 3 days for LBDE; P = 0·015).

Conclusion
Intraoperative ERCP is more effective than LBDE in terms of minimizing the rate of retained stones in patients with choledocholithiasis undergoing emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Registration number: ACTRN12613000761763 (http://www.anzctr.org.au/).
A novel bioanalytical method based on UHPLC‐HRMS/MS for the quantification of oleuropein in human serum. Application to a pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Lemonakis Nikolaos , Mougios Vassilis , Halabalaki Maria , Skaltsounis Alexios– Leandros , Gikas Evagelos 
Published: June 2016

AbstractA highly sensitive, rapid and specific ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography, coupled to negative electrospray ionization high‐resolution tandem mass spectrometry, method was developed and validated in order to investigate the absorption of dietary oleuropein (OE) in human subjects. Serum samples were collected at predefined time points, after oral administration of an olive leaf extract enriched in OE (204.4 mg OE per capsule) to two subjects. Subsequently, samples were analyzed by the developed method after a simple solid‐phase extraction step. Chromatographic separation was operated with aqueous formic acid, 0.1% (v/v), and acetonitrile following a gradient program at a flow rate of 0.45 mL/min in an RP‐C18 (50 × 2.1 mm, 1.9 μm) column with a total run time of 2.7 min. The method was validated and successfully applied to the determination of OE in human serum, with the pharmacokinetic analysis of the data revealing a biphasic response.
Synergistic association of STX1A and VAMP2 with cryptogenic epilepsy in North Indian population
Authors: Baghel Ruchi , Grover Sandeep , Kaur Harpreet , Jajodia Ajay , Parween Shama , Sinha Juhi , Srivastava Ankit , Srivastava Achal Kumar , Bala Kiran , Chandna Puneet , Kushwaha Suman , Agarwal Rachna , Kukreti Ritushree 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIntroduction“Common epilepsies”, merely explored for genetics are the most frequent, nonfamilial, sporadic cases in hospitals. Because of their much debated molecular pathology, there is a need to focus on other neuronal pathways including the existing ion channels.MethodsFor this study, a total of 214 epilepsy cases of North Indian ethnicity comprising 59.81% generalized, 40.19% focal seizures, and based on epilepsy types, 17.29% idiopathic, 37.38% cryptogenic, and 45.33% symptomatic were enrolled. Additionally, 170 unrelated healthy individuals were also enrolled. Here, we hypothesize the involvement of epilepsy pathophysiology genes, that is, synaptic vesicle cycle, SVC genes (presynapse), ion channels and their functionally related genes (postsynapse). An interactive analysis was initially performed in SVC genes using multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR). Further, in order to understand the influence of ion channels and their functionally related genes, their interaction analysis with SVC genes was also performed.ResultsA significant interactive two‐locus model of STX1A_rs4363087|VAMP2_rs2278637 (presynaptic genes) was observed among SVC variants in all epilepsy cases (P1000‐value = 0.054; CVC = 9/10; OR = 2.86, 95%CI = 1.88–4.35). Further, subgroup analysis revealed stronger interaction for the same model in cryptogenic epilepsy patients only (P1000‐value = 0.012; CVC = 10/10; OR = 4.59, 95%CI = 2.57–8.22). However, interactive analysis of presynaptic and postsynaptic genes did not show any significant association.ConclusionsSignificant synergistic interaction of SVC genes revealed the possible functional relatedness of presynapse with pathophysiology of cryptogenic epilepsy. Further, to establish the clinical utility of the results, replication in a large and similar phenotypic group of patients is warranted.
Age‐specific birth rates in women with epilepsy: a population‐based study
Authors: Farmen Anette Huuse , Grundt Jacob Holter , Tomson Torbjörn , Nakken Karl O. , Nakling Jakob , Mowinchel Petter , Øie Merete , Lossius Morten I. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate birth rates and use of hormonal contraception in different age groups among women with epilepsy (WWE) in comparison to women without epilepsy.Materials and MethodsDemographic data and medical information on more than 25,000 pregnant women (40,000 births), representing 95% of all pregnancies in Oppland County, Norway, were registered in the Oppland Perinatal Database in the period 1989–2011. Data were analyzed with respect to epilepsy diagnoses, and 176 women with a validated epilepsy diagnosis (303 pregnancies) were identified. Age‐specific birth rates in these women were estimated and compared with age‐specific birth rates in women without epilepsy in the same county.ResultsIn WWE over 25 years of age, birth rates were significantly lower than in those of the same age group without epilepsy. In women below 20 years of age, birth rates were similar in those with and without epilepsy. The use of hormonal contraceptives prior to pregnancy was lower among WWE under 25 years than in the corresponding age group without epilepsy.ConclusionsHealth professionals who counsel WWE who are of fertile age should be aware of the strongly reduced birth rates in WWE over 25 years of age, and the lower rates of use of contraceptives among young WWE.
Intestinal mucoadhesive devices for oral delivery of insulin
Authors: Banerjee Amrita , Lee JooHee , Mitragotri Samir 
Published: June 2016

AbstractOral delivery of proteins such as insulin has been a long‐lasting challenge owing to gastrointestinal degradation and poor permeability of therapeutic macromolecules across biological membranes. We have developed mucoadhesive intestinal devices for oral delivery of insulin to address this challenge. Here we demonstrate a combination of intestinal devices and a permeation enhancer, dimethyl palmitoyl ammonio propanesulfonate (PPS), for oral delivery of insulin. The devices were delivered from a capsule coated with a pH‐responsive enteric coating. The devices adhere to intestinal mucosa, release their protein load unidirectionally, and prevent enzymatic degradation in the gut. Devices were found to completely release their drug load within 3–4 hr and showed excellent strength of mucoadhesion to porcine intestine. Devices loaded with insulin and PPS significantly decreased blood glucose levels by 30 and 33% in diabetic and nondiabetic rats, respectively. These studies demonstrate that intestinal mucoadhesive devices are a promising oral alternative to insulin injections and therefore should be further explored for the treatment of diabetes.
Designed Proteins as Novel Imaging Reagents in Living Escherichia coli
Authors: Pratt Susan E. , Speltz Elizabeth B. , Mochrie Simon G. J. , Regan Lynne 
Published: June 2016

AbstractFluorescence imaging is a powerful tool to study protein function in living cells. Here, we introduce a novel imaging strategy that is fully genetically encodable, does not require the use of exogenous substrates, and adds a minimally disruptive tag to the protein of interest (POI). Our method was based on a set of designed tetratricopeptide repeat affinity proteins (TRAPs) that specifically and reversibly interact with a short, extended peptide tag. We co‐expressed the TRAPs fused to fluorescent proteins (FPs) and the peptide tags fused to the POIs. We illustrated the method using the Escherichia coli protein FtsZ and showed that our system could track distinct FtsZ structures under both low and high expression conditions in live cells. We anticipate that our imaging strategy will be a useful tool for imaging the subcellular localization of many proteins, especially those recalcitrant to imaging by direct tagging with FPs.
Mesoporous High‐Surface‐Area Copper–Tin Mixed‐Oxide Nanorods: Remarkable for Carbon Monoxide Oxidation
Authors: Peng Honggen , Liu Yang , Li Yarong , Zhang Xianhua , Tang Xianglan , Xu Xianglan , Fang Xiuzhong , Liu Wenming , Zhang Ning , Wang Xiang 
Published: June 2016

AbstractMesoporous, high‐surface‐area Cu–Sn mixed‐oxide nanorods were fabricated for the first time by nanocasting with the use of mesoporous KIT‐6 silica as the hard template. The Cu–Sn nanorods are significantly more active than 1 % Pd/SnO2 for the oxidation of CO and possesses long‐term durability and potent water resistance; they thus have the potential to replace noble metal catalysts for emission‐control processes.
Synthesis and Catalytic Properties of New Metalloporphyrin‐Based Porous Organic Framework Materials with Single and Accessible Sites
Authors: Meng Shuang , Zou Xiaoqin , Liu Chuanfang , Ma Heping , Zhao Nian , Ren Hao , Jia Mingjun , Liu Jia , Zhu Guangshan 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIt is a big challenge to homogenize heterogeneous catalysts with molecular catalytic performance. With this target in mind, herein, we describe a facile strategy for direct incorporation of single catalytic sites in 3D open porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs). The synthesis of the PAF (denoted as PAF‐76) as well as its derivatives (PAF‐76‐M, M=Fe, Mn, Zn) was achieved by the use of tetrakis(4‐bromophenyl)methane as tetrahedral nodes and tetrakis(4‐bromophenyl)porphyrin as planar nodes. The connection of monomers into an extended network of PAF‐76 was monitored by 13C NMR and FTIR spectroscopies. The prepared PAF‐76s showed 3D porous structures with surface areas of 450–700 m2 g−1, pore volumes of 0.3–0.4 cm3 g−1, and pore sizes around 1.2 nm. The direct incorporation of metalloporphyrin components into the PAF‐76‐M frameworks has allowed the uniform distribution of metal ionic sites throughout the PAF‐76‐M particles. The combined merits of isolated metal sites and suitable pore size make PAF‐76 a good candidate for heterogeneous catalysis. The catalytic performances of the porphyrin/metalloporphyrin‐based active sites in the PAF‐76s were evaluated by aerobic oxidation reactions of styrene, which are usually carried out with homogeneous systems. Metal‐functionalized PAF‐76s (PAF‐76‐M) exhibit enhanced turnover frequencies for styrene conversion (16.9–50.9 mol mol(M)−1 h−1) compared with molecular catalysts (0–35.0 mol mol(M)−1 h−1), and improved selectivity toward phenylacetaldehyde (85.7–99 %) in contrast to their corresponding monomers (0–75.5 %). The robustness of PAF‐76 in terms of high thermal stability, good recyclability, and excellent solvent resistance showed that these PAF‐76 materials hold great promise for developing heterogeneous catalysts.
Tetrathiafulvalene–7,7,8,8‐Tetracyanoquinodimethane and Tetrathiafulvalene–2,3,5,6‐Tetrafluoro‐7,7,8,8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane Organic Charge‐Transfer Complexes: Reusable Catalysts for Electron‐Transfer Reactions
Authors: Hoshyargar Faegheh , O'Mullane Anthony P. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe application of organic charge‐transfer complexes such as TTF‐TCNQ (TTF=tetrathiafulvalene, TCNQ=7,7,8,8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane) is well known in the area of organic electronics. However, the applicability of this material and its derivatives has not been explored for catalytic reactions. Herein, we report on the catalytic properties of both TTF‐TCNQ and the significantly less‐known fluorinated analogue TTF‐TCNQF4 (TCNQF4=2,3,5,6‐tetrafluoro‐7,7,8,8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane). The model reaction of ferricyanide ion reduction by thiosulfate ions was chosen, for which it was found that both materials were indeed catalytically active. Significantly, the fluorinated TCNQF4 analogue showed considerably higher catalytic activity than TTF‐TCNQ. In addition, TTF‐TCNQF4 was found to be highly stable under the catalytic conditions and could be recovered and reused without any loss in performance for at least 10 catalytic cycles. This work opens up new avenues for investigating these types of materials for catalytic reactions.
Rational Design of Push–Pull Fluorene Dyes: Synthesis and Structure–Photophysics Relationship
Authors: Shaya Janah , Fontaine‐Vive Fabien , Michel Benoît Y. , Burger Alain 
Published: June 2016

AbstractOur work surveyed experimental and theoretical investigations to construct highly emissive D–π–A (D=donor, A=acceptor) fluorenes. The synthetic routes were optimised to be concise and gram‐scalable. The molecular design was first rationalised by varying the electron‐withdrawing group from an aldehyde, ketotriazole or succinyl to methylenemalonitrile or benzothiadiazole. The electron‐donating group was next varied from aliphatic or aromatic amines to saturated cyclic amines ranging from aziridine to azepane. Spectroscopic studies correlated with TD‐DFT calculations provided the optimised structures. The selected push–pull dyes exhibited visible absorptions, significant brightness, important solvatofluorochromism, mega‐Stokes shifts (>250 nm) and dramatic shifts in emission to the near‐infrared. The current library includes the comprehensive characterization of 16 prospective dyes for fluorescence applications. Among them, several fluorene derivatives bearing different conjugation anchors were tested for coupling and demonstrated to preserve the photophysical responses once further bound.
Debenzylative Cycloetherification: An Overlooked Key Strategy for Complex Tetrahydrofuran Synthesis
Authors: Tikad Abdellatif , Delbrouck Julien A. , Vincent Stéphane P. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractTetrahydrofuran (THF) is a major structural feature found in many synthetic and natural products displaying a variety of biological properties. This review summarizes the main synthetic approaches that have been developed to construct tetrahydrofuran moieties involving debenzylative cycloetherification reactions (DBCE). Interestingly, this reaction is regio‐ and stereoselective without the requirement of a selective protection/deprotection strategy. Many applications of this process have been reported, including carbafuranoside synthesis, regioselective deprotection of the benzyl group positioned γ to an alkene, and total synthesis of natural products. The stereochemical outcome and the mechanism of these interesting transformations are also discussed.
Diiron(III)–μ‐Fluoro Bisporphyrins: Effect of Bridging Ligand on the Metal Spin State
Authors: Sil Debangsu , Kumar Amit , Rath Sankar Prasad 
Published: June 2016

AbstractA hitherto unknown family of diiron(III)–μ‐fluoro bisporphyrins has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Fluoride abstraction from SbF6− and BF4− resulted in the synthesis of the μ‐fluoro complexes of ethane‐ and ethene‐bridged diiron(III) bisporphyrins. Two such complexes were structurally characterized, which revealed a single fluoro bridge between two iron centers with a remarkably bent Fe‐F‐Fe unit. Although isoelectronic with the μ‐hydroxo complexes, the μ‐fluoro species are quite divergent in terms of the electronic structure and properties. UV/Vis spectroscopy of the μ‐fluoro complex exhibits a large redshift (ca. 18 nm) of the Soret band in comparison to their μ‐hydroxo analog. Combined analysis by single crystal X‐ray structure determination and Mössbauer and 1H NMR spectroscopy revealed the presence of two equivalent iron(III) centers in the μ‐fluoro complexes in both solid and solution phases. In contrast, the iron(III) centers of the μ‐hydroxo complexes are known to be inequivalent. Variable‐temperature magnetic studies show a weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the iron(III) centers of the μ‐fluoro complexes with coupling constants (J) ranging from −33 to −40 cm−1. The experimental results were further supported by DFT calculations.
Post‐Synthetic Polymerization of UiO‐66‐NH2 Nanoparticles and Polyurethane Oligomer toward Stand‐Alone Membranes for Dye Removal and Separation
Authors: Yao Bing‐Jian , Jiang Wei‐Ling , Dong Ying , Liu Zhi‐Xian , Dong Yu‐Bin 
Published: June 2016

AbstractMetal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are widely used as porous materials in the fields of adsorption and separation. However, their practical application is largely hindered by limitations to their processability. Herein, new UiO‐66‐Urea‐based flexible membranes with MOF loadings of 50 (1), 60 (2), and 70 wt % (3) were designed and prepared by post‐synthetic polymerization of UiO‐66‐NH2 nanoparticles and a polyurethane oligomer under mild conditions. The adsorption behavior of membrane 3 towards four hydrophilic dyes, namely, eosin Y (EY), rhodamine B (RB), malachite green (MG), and methylene blue (MB), in aqueous solution was studied in detail. It exhibits strong adsorption of EY and RB but weak adsorption of MG and MB in aqueous solution. Owing to the selective adsorption of these hydrophilic dyes, membrane 3 can remove EY and RB from aqueous solution and completely separate EY/MB, RB/MG, and RB/MB mixtures in aqueous solution. In addition, the membrane is uniformly textured, easily handled, and can be reused for dye adsorption and separation.
Understanding the Reactivity of Planar Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Towards the Graphene Limit
Authors: García‐Rodeja Yago , Solà Miquel , Fernández Israel 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe Diels–Alder reactivity of maleic anhydride towards the bay regions of planar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was explored computationally in the DFT framework. The process becomes more and more exothermic and the associated activation barriers become lower and lower when the size of the system increases. This enhanced reactivity follows an exponential behavior that reaches its maximum for systems having 18–20 benzenoid rings in their structures. This peculiar behavior was analyzed in detail by using the activation strain model of reactivity in combination with energy decomposition analysis. The influence of the change in the aromaticity of the polycyclic compound during the process on the respective activation barriers was also studied.
Unexpected Behavior of the Heaviest Halogen Astatine in the Nucleophilic Substitution of Aryliodonium Salts
Authors: Guérard François , Lee Yong‐Sok , Baidoo Kwamena , Gestin Jean‐François , Brechbiel Martin W. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractAryliodonium salts have become precursors of choice for the synthesis of 18F‐labeled tracers for nuclear imaging. However, little is known on the reactivity of these compounds with heavy halides, that is, radioiodide and astatide, at the radiotracer scale. In the first comparative study of radiohalogenation of aryliodonium salts with 125I− and 211At−, initial experiments on a model compound highlight the higher reactivity of astatide compared to iodide, which could not be anticipated from the trends previously observed within the halogen series. Kinetic studies indicate a significant difference in activation energy (Ea=23.5 and 17.1 kcal mol−1 with 125I− and 211At−, respectively). Quantum chemical calculations suggest that astatination occurs via the monomeric form of an iodonium complex whereas iodination occurs via a heterodimeric iodonium intermediate. The good to excellent regioselectivity of halogenation and high yields achieved with diversely substituted aryliodonium salts indicate that this class of compounds is a promising alternative to the stannane chemistry currently used for heavy radiohalogen labeling of tracers in nuclear medicine.