bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
N‐glycan engineering of a plant‐produced anti‐CD20‐hIL‐2 immunocytokine significantly enhances its effector functions
Authors: Marusic Carla , Pioli Claudio , Stelter Szymon , Novelli Flavia , Lonoce Chiara , Morrocchi Elena , Benvenuto Eugenio , Salzano Anna Maria , Scaloni Andrea , Donini Marcello 
Published: November 2017

AbstractAnti‐CD20 recombinant antibodies are among the most promising therapeutics for the treatment of B‐cell malignancies such as non‐Hodgkin lymphomas. We recently demonstrated that an immunocytokine (2B8‐Fc‐hIL2), obtained by fusing an anti‐CD20 scFv‐Fc antibody derived from C2B8 mAb (rituximab) to the human interleukin 2 (hIL‐2), can be efficiently produced in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. The purified immunocytokine (IC) bearing a typical plant protein N‐glycosylation profile showed a CD20 binding activity comparable to that of rituximab and was efficient in eliciting antibody‐dependent cell‐mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) of human PBMC against Daudi cells, indicating its fuctional integrity. In this work, the immunocytokine devoid of the typical xylose/fucose N‐glycosylation plant signature (IC‐ΔXF) and the corresponding scFv‐Fc‐ΔXF antibody not fused to the cytokine, were obtained in a glyco‐engineered ΔXylT/FucT N. benthamiana line. Purification yields from agroinfiltrated plants amounted to 20–35 mg/kg of leaf fresh weight. When assayed for interaction with FcγRI and FcγRIIIa, IC‐ΔXF exhibited significantly enhanced binding affinities if compared to the counterpart bearing the typical plant protein N‐glycosylation profile (IC) and to rituximab. The glyco‐engineered recombinant molecules also exhibited a strongly improved ADCC and complement‐dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). Notably, our results demonstrate a reduced C1q binding of xylose/fucose carrying IC and scFv‐Fc compared to versions that lack these sugar moieties. These results demonstrate that specific N‐glycosylation alterations in recombinant products can dramatically affect the effector functions of the immunocytokine, resulting in an overall improvement of the biological functions and consequently of the therapeutic potential.
2D Enzyme Cascade Network with Efficient Substrate Channeling by Swinging Arms
Authors: Yang Yuhe R. , Fu Jinglin , Wootten Shaun , Qi Xiaodong , Liu Minghui , Yan Hao , Liu Yan 
Published: November 2017

AbstractIn living cells, compartmentalized or membrane‐associated enzymes are often assembled into large networks to cooperatively catalyze cascade reaction pathways essential for cellular metabolism. Here, we report the assembly of an artificial 2D enzyme network of two cascade enzymes—glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)—on a wireframe DNA origami template. Swinging arms were used to facilitate the transport of the redox intermediate of NAD+/NADH between enzyme pairs on the array. The assemblies of 2D enzyme networks were characterized by gel electrophoresis and visualized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The spatial arrangements of multiple enzyme pairs were optimized to facilitate efficient substrate channeling by exploiting the programmability of DNA origami to manipulate the key parameters of swinging arm length and stoichiometry. Compared with a single enzyme pair, the 2D organized enzyme systems exhibited higher reaction efficiency due to the promoted transfer of intermediates within the network.
Tunable Performance of Manganese Oxide Nanostructures as MRI Contrast Agents
Authors: Bañobre‐López Manuel , García‐Hevia Lorena , Cerqueira M. Fatima , Rivadulla Francisco , Gallo Juan 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe development of responsive magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents opens the door to a highly sensitive and specific diagnosis of altered physiological conditions. In this field, manganese dioxide (MnO2) is starting to be a leading contributor due to its susceptibility to conditions relevant to human diseased states, such as cancer. So far, the preclinical application of MnO2 has mainly been in the form of nanosheets, with enhancements of magnetic resonance imaging signals up to 50‐fold upon activation. Herein, we thoroughly investigate, through a simple reaction, a series of MnxOy samples and correlate their phase composition and structure/morphology to the performance as classic/responsive MRI contrast agents in response to redox changes. Signal enhancements as high as 140‐fold were obtained from MnO2 nano‐urchins, and their capability as responsive magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents was demonstrated in vitro.
Metal‐Catalyzed Synthesis and Use of Thioesters: Recent Developments
Authors: Hirschbeck Vera , Gehrtz Paul H. , Fleischer Ivana 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWhile thioesters are common intermediates in biochemical processes, they are much less appreciated in organic synthesis, also compared to other carboxylic acid derivatives. However, their chemistry and reactivity is intriguing and diversified, reaching much further than the acyl substitution and aldol chemistry. Herein, we focus on metal‐catalyzed reactions for the synthesis of thioesters as well as their transformations. Reactions such as thiocarbonylation, cross‐coupling, decarbonylation, allylic substitution or dual photoredox/metal catalysis are discussed. On one hand, new atom economic methods allow for convenient synthesis of thioesters from well available starting materials. On the other hand, various synthetically important compounds can by synthesized due to the multifaceted reactivity of thioesters that we aimed to depict.
Tsuji–Trost Reaction of Non‐Derivatized Allylic Alcohols
Authors: Akkarasamiyo Sunisa , Sawadjoon Supaporn , Orthaber Andreas , Samec Joseph S. M. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractPalladium‐catalyzed allylic substitution of non‐derivatized enantioenriched allylic alcohols with a variety of uncharged N‐, S‐, C‐ and O‐centered nucleophiles using a bidentate BiPhePhos ligand is described. A remarkable effect of the counter ion (X) of the XPd[κ2‐BiPhePhos][η3‐C3H5] was observed. When ClPd[κ2‐BiPhePhos][η3‐C3H5] (complex I) was used as catalyst, non‐reproducible results were obtained. Study of the complex by X‐ray crystallography, 31P NMR spectroscopy, and ESI‐MS showed that a decomposition occurred where one of the phosphite ligands was oxidized to the corresponding phosphate, generating ClPd[κ1‐BiPhePhosphite‐phosphate][η3‐C3H5] species (complex II). When the chloride was exchanged to the weaker coordinating OTf− counter ion the more stable Pd[κ2‐BiPhePhos][η3‐C3H5]++[OTf] − (complex III) was formed. Complex III performed better and gave higher enantiospecificities in the substitution reactions. Complex III was evaluated in Tsuji–Trost reactions of stereogenic non‐derivatized allylic alcohols. The desired products were obtained in good to excellent yields (71–98 %) and enantiospecificities (73–99 %) for both inter‐ and intramolecular substitution reactions with only water generated as a by‐product. The methodology was applied to key steps in total synthesis of (S)‐cuspareine and (+)‐lentiginosine. A reaction mechanism involving a palladium hydride as a key intermediate in the activation of the hydroxyl group is proposed in the overall transformation.
Design and Fabrication of Temperature‐Sensitive Nanogels with Controlled Drug Release Properties for Enhanced Photothermal Sterilization
Authors: Li Luoyuan , Fu Limin , Ai Xicheng , Zhang Jianping , Zhou Jing 
Published: November 2017

AbstractInvited for the cover of this issue is the groups of Limin Fu at the Renmin University of China and Jing Zhou at the Capital Normal University. The image depicts the bacteria being attacked by heat‐activated nanogel drug‐carriers. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201702796.
A 3D Covalent Organic Framework with Exceptionally High Iodine Capture Capability
Authors: Wang Chang , Wang Yu , Ge Rile , Song Xuedan , Xing Xueqing , Jiang Qike , Lu Hui , Hao Ce , Guo Xinwen , Gao Yanan , Jiang Donglin 
Published: November 2017

AbstractUsing porous materials to cope with environmental issues is promising but remains a challenge especially for removing the radioactive vapor wastes in fission because of harsh adsorption conditions. Here we report a new, stable covalent organic framework (COF) as a porous platform for removing iodine vapor—a major radioactive fission waste. The three‐dimensional COF consists of a diamond topology knotted by adamantane units, creates ordered one‐dimensional pores and are highly porous. The COF enables the removal of iodine vapor via charge transfer complex formation with the pore walls to achieve exceptional capacity. Moreover, the 3D COF is “soft” to trigger structural fitting to iodine while retaining connectivity and enables cycle use for many times while retaining high uptake capacity. These results set a new benchmark for fission waste removal and suggest the great potential of COFs as a designable porous material for challenging world‐threatening pollution issues.
CFD‐PBE‐PBE simulation of an airlift loop crystallizer
Authors: Li Qian , Cheng Jingcai , Yang Chao , Mao Zai‐Sha 
Published: November 2017

AbstractA complete solver (CFD‐PBE‐PBE) for crystallization processes in an airlift loop crystallizer is developed in OpenFOAM (open‐source field operation and manipulation) in this work. It combines computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with population balance equations (PBE) for both gas bubbles and crystals. Models for gas‐liquid mass transfer and chemical reaction are included as well in the solver. PBE describing bubble coalescence and breakage is solved by the cell average method. Primary nucleation, secondary nucleation, and particle growth are considered in the PBE describing the crystallization process. The solver is validated with the formation of calcium carbonate via the reaction of CO2 with Ca(OH)2 solution in an airlift reactor. Effects of the chemical enhancement factor and crystallization kinetics on predictions are systematically investigated. Variation of predicted pH value, concentration of Ca2+, mean particle size, and crystal size distribution (CSD) with time is in qualitative and semi‐quantitative agreement with the published experimental data, when the appropriate crystallization kinetics are used. Effects of operation parameters such as initial concentration and superficial gas velocity are further numerically examined. The increase in superficial gas velocity results in the increasing consumption rates of OH‐ and Ca2+, while the particle diameter seems unchanged in the present simulation. A higher initial concentration of reactants will lead to a smaller particle diameter and a narrower CSD. The predicted results indicate that the developed solver is feasible, and can be used for the design and scale‐up of airlift loop crystallizers.
Predictors of an abnormal postexercise ankle brachial index: Importance of the lowest ankle pressure in calculating the resting ankle brachial index
Authors: Armstrong David W.J. , Tobin Colleen , Matangi Murray F. 
Published: November 2017

BackgroundThe postexercise ankle‐brachial index (ABI) is useful in patients with suspected peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and a normal resting ABI. Our objective was to determine the independent predictors of an abnormal postexercise ABI.HypothesisWe hypothesized that the lowest ankle systolic pressure to calculate the resting ABI would be associated with an abnormal post‐exercise ABI.MethodsAmong 619 consecutive patients referred for suspected PAD, we calculated the postexercise ABI in patients with a normal resting ABI. An ABI <0.90 at rest was considered abnormal. We investigated 3 definitions of an abnormal postexercise ABI, defined as either <0.90, or >5% or >20% reduction compared with rest.ResultsUsing multivariate analysis, the lowest ABI (calculated using the lowest and not the highest ankle systolic pressure) was consistently the most powerful independent predictor of an abnormal postexercise ABI. Patients with an abnormal lowest resting ABI were significantly more likely to have an abnormal postexercise ABI, as well as a significantly greater reduction in the ABI compared with rest. The lowest ABI had a high specificity (95%) but low sensitivity (82%) for a postexercise ABI <0.90.ConclusionsAn abnormal lowest ABI (calculated with the lowest ankle systolic pressure) is the most important independent predictor of an abnormal ABI response to exercise in patients with a conventionally normal ABI. All such patients should be exercised and their ABI measured postexercise.
Exercise protects myelinated fibers of white matter in a rat model of depression
Authors: Xiao Qian , Wang Feifei , Luo Yanmin , Chen Linmu , Chao Fenglei , Tan Chuanxue , Gao Yuan , Huang Chunxia , Zhang Lei , Liang Xin , Tang Jing , Qi Yingqing , Jiang Lin , Zhang Yi , Zhou Chunni , Tang Yong 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe antidepressive effects of exercise have been a focus of research and are hypothesized to remodel the brain networks constructed by myelinated fibers. However, whether the antidepressant effects of exercise are dependent on changes in white matter myelination are unknown. Therefore, we chose chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) as a model of depression and designed an experiment. After a 4‐week CUS period, 40 animals were tested using the sucrose preference test (SPT) and the open field test (OFT). The depressed rats then underwent 4‐week running exercise. Next, electron microscopy and unbiased stereological methods were used to investigate white matter changes in the rats. After the 4‐week CUS stimulation, body weight, sucrose preference and scores on the OFT were significantly lower in the depression rats than in the unstressed rats (p < .05). After undergoing a 4‐week running exercise, the depression rats showed a significantly greater sucrose preference than the depression control rats without running exercise (p < .05). Furthermore, the white matter parameters of the depression rats (including the white matter volumes, the length and volumes of myelinated fibers, and the volumes and thickness of the myelin sheaths) were significantly reduced after the CUS period (p < .05). However, these white matter parameters were significantly increased after running exercise (p < .05). The present study is the first to provide evidence that running exercise has positive effects on white matter and the myelinated fibers of white matter in depressed rats, and this evidence might provide an important theoretical basis for the exercise‐mediated treatment of depression.
Towards a smart selection of resources in the cloud for low‐energy multimedia processing
Authors: Mahmoudi Sidi Ahmed , Belarbi Mohammed Amin , Mahmoudi Saïd , Belalem Ghalem 
Published: November 2017

SummaryNowadays, image and video processing applications have become widely used in many domains related to computer vision. Indeed, they can come from cameras, smartphones, social networks, or from medical devices. Generally, these images and videos are used for illustrating people or objects (cars, trains, planes, etc) in many situations such as airports, train stations, public areas, sport events, and hospitals. Thus, image and video processing algorithms have got increasing importance, they are required from various computer vision applications such as motion tracking, real time event detection, database (images and videos) indexation, and medical computer‐aided diagnosis methods. The main inconvenient of image and video processing applications is the high intensity of computation and the complex configuration and installation of the related materials and libraries. In this paper, we propose a new framework that allows users to select in a smart and efficient way the computing units (CPU or/and GPU) in a cloud‐based platform, in case of processing one image (or one video in real time) or many images (or videos). This framework enables to affect the local or remote computing units for calculation after analyzing the type of media and the algorithm complexity. The framework disposes of a set of selected CPU and GPU‐based computer vision methods, such as image denoising, histogram computation, features descriptors (SIFT, SURF), points of interest extraction, edges detection, silhouette extraction, and sparse and dense optical flow estimation. These primitive functions are exploited in various applications such as medical image segmentation, videos indexation, real time motion analysis, and left ventricle segmentation and tracking from 2D echocardiography. Experimental results showed a global speedup ranging from 5× to 273×(compared to CPU versions) as result of the application of our framework for the above‐mentioned methods. In addition to these performances, the parallel and heterogeneous implementations offered lower power consumption as result of the fast treatment.
GPU‐accelerated backtracking using CUDA Dynamic Parallelism
Authors: Carneiro Pessoa Tiago , Gmys Jan , de Carvalho Júnior Francisco Heron , Melab Nouredine , Tuyttens Daniel 
Published: November 2017

SummaryNew GPGPU technologies, such as CUDA Dynamic Parallelism (CDP), can help dealing with recursive patterns of computation, such as divide‐and‐conquer, used by backtracking algorithms. In this paper, we propose a GPU‐accelerated backtracking algorithm using CDP that extends a well‐known parallel backtracking model. The search starts on CPU, processing the search tree until a first cutoff depth. Based on this partial backtracking tree, the algorithm analyzes the memory requirements of subsequent kernel generations. The proposed algorithm performs no dynamic allocation of memory on GPU, unlike related works from the literature. The proposed algorithm has been extensively tested using the N‐Queens Puzzle problem and instances of the Asymmetric Traveling Salesman Problem (ATSP) as test‐cases. The proposed CDP algorithm may, under some conditions, outperform its non‐CDP counterpart by a factor up to 25. But, it may also be up to twice slower. The CDP‐based implementation has much better worst case execution times and makes algorithm's performance less dependent on the tuning of parameters. Compared to other CDP‐based strategies from the literature, the proposed algorithm is on average 8× faster. The proposed algorithm is also hybridized with another CDP‐based strategy from the literature. The combination of strategies is in average 4.5× faster than the related strategy. We also identify some difficulties, limitations, and bottlenecks concerning the CDP programming model which may be useful for helping potential users.
Cascade Production of Lactic Acid from Universal Types of Sugars Catalyzed by Lanthanum Triflate
Authors: Liu Dajiang , Kim Kwang Ho , Sun Jian , Simmons Blake A. , Singh Seema 
Published: November 2017

AbstractLignocellulosic biomass conversion into value‐added platform chemicals in the non‐toxic, water‐tolerant Lewis acid, and water solutions bears the hallmark of green chemistry. Lactic acid derived from biomass is an important chemical building block for biodegradable polymers such as polylactide. Herein, a universal method of converting lignocellulosic sugars into lactic acid using catalytic amount of water‐stable Lewis acid La(OTf)3 is demonstrated. The lignocellulosic sugars studied in this work include 1) pyrolytic sugars from pyrolysis oil, and 2) sugars derived from ionic liquid (IL)‐pretreated biomass. Under moderate conditions (250 °C, 1 h), levoglucosan (major pyrolytic sugar), glucose, and xylose were converted into lactic acid with carbon‐based molar yields of 75, 74, and 61 %, respectively. Furthermore, roughly 49 mol % (based on levoglucosan) and 74 wt % (relative to pretreated biomass) of lactic acid were obtained from the conversion of pyrolytic sugars and sugar‐rich fraction after lignin removal from switchgrass, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first reported conversion of pyrolytic sugar into lactic acid by chemocatalysis and also lignocellulosic sugars are converted into lactic acid without hydrolysis. This approach could potentially be extended to other lignocellulosic sugars after simple removal of lignin from biomass pretreatment, rendering moderate to high yields of lactic acid.
A real‐world, observational study of weekly exenatide added to basal insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (NCT02895672)
Authors: Stryker Matthew D. , Kane Michael P. , Busch Robert S. 
Published: November 2017

SummaryAimThis is a pre‐post observational study from an endocrinology ambulatory care practice which assessed the effectiveness and safety following the addition of a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) agonist, weekly exenatide (Bydureon), to basal insulin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Liraglutide plus basal insulin served as a comparison group.Materials and methodsA data collection form was utilized to collect study‐related information. The primary study outcome was change in HbA1c from baseline to 12 months after GLP‐1 receptor agonist therapy was added to basal insulin therapy. Secondary outcomes were change in weight, percentage of patients achieving an HbA1c of <7% (53 mmol/mol) or ≤6.5% (48 mmol/mol) and changes in blood pressure and lipid parameters. Safety was assessed by a collection of reported adverse events.ResultsOne‐hundred and fifty patients met inclusion criteria (seventy‐five per treatment arm). After 1 year of therapy, HbA1c decreased by 0.7% in the entire cohort (once‐weekly exenatide: −0.7%; once‐daily liraglutide: −0.8%; no significant between‐group difference). More subjects in the weekly exenatide arm achieved an HbA1c < 7% (53 mmol/mol) (P = .03), but a comparable number achieved an HbA1c ≤ 6.5% (48 mmol/mol). Although significantly more patients achieved an HbA1c < 7% (53 mmol/mol) in the once‐weekly exenatide arm, the baseline HbA1c was lower (7.9%) than the liraglutide arm (8.4%). No significant differences were observed between groups for other secondary outcomes. A similar number of subjects discontinued therapy, mainly due to gastrointestinal‐ill effects, and hypoglycaemia incidence did not increase compared with the previous year.ConclusionThe addition of once‐weekly exenatide to basal insulin was associated with appreciable reductions in HbA1c and weight without an increase in hypoglycaemia.
A Flexible Lead‐Free BaTiO3/PDMS/C Composite Nanogenerator as a Piezoelectric Energy Harvester
Authors: Luo Cuixian , Hu Sihuan , Xia Mengjie , Li Pengwei , Hu Jie , Li Gang , Jiang Huabei , Zhang Wendong 
Published: November 2017

AbstractA novel approach to develop high‐performance flexible piezoelectric nanogenerators (PNGs) by using a lead‐free BaTiO3/polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS)/C composite thin film is proposed. The lead‐free BaTiO3 nanoparticles (NPs) are successfully fabricated using a facile modified (nano‐scale precursors) solid‐phase method. The synthesized BaTiO3/PDMS/C composite PNG exhibits an output voltage of approximately 7.43 V with periodically beating from a vibrator, which is increased by 143 % compared to the PNGs without C doping. The maximum power is shown to reach up to approximately 7.92 μW with a load resistance of 2 MΩ when the C content of PNGs is 3.2 wt %.The generated electric energy can be effectively stored by the energy storage capacitor (47 μF) and is successfully used to light a commercial red light‐emitting diode (LED). These results show that the BaTiO3/PDMS/C composite is a promising candidate for large‐scale lead‐free piezoelectric nanogenerator applications.