bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Solid‐Phase Extraction of Hemoglobin from Human Whole Blood with a Coordination‐Polymer‐Derived Composite Material Based on ZnO and Mesoporous Carbon
Authors: Jia Yuan , Xu Xinxin , Ou Jinzhao , Liu Xiaoxia 
Published: August 2017

AbstractA composite material, ZnO@MC, has been synthesized successfully by calcination using a one‐dimensional zinc‐based coordination polymer as the precursor. In ZnO@MC, ZnO particles with a size of about 5–8 nm are dispersed evenly in a mesoporous carbon matrix. Adsorption experiments at pH 6.8 with 2 mg ZnO@MC as adsorbent illustrated an adsorption efficiency of 92.3 % in 5 mL hemoglobin (Hb) solution with a concentration of 100 mg L−1. In contrast, the adsorption of bovine serum albumin can almost be ignored under the same conditions. The selectivity originates from a strong ZnII–histidine interaction between ZnO@MC and hemoglobin. The adsorption behavior of hemoglobin on ZnO@MC fits the Temkin model perfectly with a capacity as high as 11646 mg g−1. The hemoglobin adsorbed on the composite material can be eluted easily with sodium dodecyl sulfate stripping reagent with an extraction efficiency of 87.7 %. Circular dichroism spectra and protein activity studies suggest the structure and biological activity of hemoglobin is the same before and after the adsorption/desorption experiment. Finally, the ZnO@MC composite material was employed to extract hemoglobin from human whole blood without any pretreatment, and gave a very satisfactory result.
C−H Insertion as a Key Step to Spiro‐Oxetanes, Scaffolds for Drug Discovery
Authors: Nicolle Simon M. , Nortcliffe Andrew , Bartrum Hannah E. , Lewis William , Hayes Christopher J. , Moody Christopher J. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractA new route to spiro‐oxetanes, potential scaffolds for drug discovery, is described. The route is based on the selective 1,4‐C−H insertion reactions of metallocarbenes, generated from simple carbonyl precursors in flow or batch mode, to give spiro‐β‐lactones that are rapidly converted into spiro‐oxetanes. The three‐dimensional and lead‐like properties of spiro‐oxetanes are illustrated by the conversion of the 1‐oxa‐7‐azaspiro[3,5]nonane scaffold into a range of functionalized derivatives.
Direct Carbonation of Glycerol with CO2 Catalyzed by Metal Oxides
Authors: Ozorio Leonardo P. , Mota Claudio J. A. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractFive metal oxides (ZnO, SnO2, Fe2O3, CeO2, La2O3) were produced by the sol–gel method and tested in the direct carbonation of glycerol with CO2. Initial tests with Fe2O3 showed that the best reaction condition was 180 °C, 150 bar, and 12 h. The other oxides were evaluated at these conditions and were all active to the formation of glycerol carbonate. Zinc oxide was the most active catalyst, with a yield of 8.1 % in the organic carbonate. The catalytic activity decreased upon washing and drying the ZnO catalyst between the runs. Nevertheless, the activity is maintained if the ZnO is washed and calcined at 450 °C between the runs. FTIR and TGA results indicated the formation of ZnCO3 as the main cause of catalyst deactivation, which may be decomposed upon calcination of the material. No appreciable leaching of Zn was observed, indicating a truly heterogeneous catalysis.
Long‐term spatial and temporal variations of vegetative drought based on vegetation condition index in China
Authors: Liang Liang , Sun Qin , Luo Xiang , Wang Jiahui , Zhang Lianpeng , Deng Meixia , Di Liping , Liu Zhixiao 
Published: August 2017

AbstractInformation concerning the spatial and temporal characteristics of vegetative drought is essential for decision‐making and for many environmental and agricultural applications. This study presents a comprehensive spatio‐temporal analysis of vegetative drought conditions that used the vegetation condition index (VCI) data product obtained from NOAA/AVHRR (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) to reveal the vegetative drought patterns across China from 1981 to 2015. Considering the characteristics of VCI as drought indicators, multiple methods were designed for these analyses, including drought frequency analysis, trend analysis, anomaly index analysis, and Mann‐Kendall testing. The results show that China is a country with high vegetative drought frequency, but that most areas experienced only slight or moderate periods of drought. In addition, drought has obvious seasonal and geographical differences and occurs with greater frequencies in regions that are highly affected by monsoons such as the northern and southern regions—particularly in the spring and autumn. In contrast, vegetative drought frequencies in regions less affected by monsoons such as the Tibetan Plateau and the northwestern regions were much lower except in northern Sinkiang, eastern Inner Mongolia, and southern Tibet. During 1981–2015, the VCI had an increasing trend in most areas of China (except in the southern region, where it decreased), indicating a reduced frequency of vegetative drought throughout the country. Moreover, the trend was wavelike rather than a one‐way change and could be divided into four phases: (1) a slowly increasing phase from 1981 to 1990, (2) an intensively fluctuating phase from 1991 to 2000, (3) a steadily increasing phase from 2001 to 2010, and (4) a slowly decreasing phase after 2010. Mann‐Kendall analysis further suggested that upward trends of the VCI were more evident in spring and autumn than in summer and that both trends mutated in 1997. Specifically, the trend reached the 0.05 level of significance in the spring.
On the treatment of uncertainty in seismic vulnerability and portfolio risk assessment
Authors: Sousa Luis , Silva Vitor , Marques Mário , Crowley Helen 
Published: August 2017

SummaryIn a related study developed by the authors, building fragility is represented by intensity‐specific distributions of damage exceedance probability of various damage states. The contribution of the latter has been demonstrated in the context of loss estimation of building portfolios, where it is shown that the proposed concept of conditional fragility functions provides the link between seismic intensity and the uncertainty in damage exceedance probabilities. In the present study, this methodology is extended to the definition of building vulnerability, whereby vulnerability functions are characterized by hazard‐consistent distributions of damage ratio per level of primary seismic intensity parameter—Sa(T1). The latter is further included in a loss assessment framework, in which the impact of variability and spatial correlation of damage ratio in the probabilistic evaluation of seismic loss is accounted for, using test‐bed portfolios of 2, 5, and 8‐story precode reinforced concrete buildings located in the district of Lisbon, Portugal. This methodology is evaluated in comparison with current state‐of‐the‐art methods of vulnerability and loss calculation, highlighting the discrepancies that can arise in loss estimates when the variability and spatial distributions of damage ratio, influenced by ground motion properties other than the considered primary intensity measure, are not taken into account.
Ecotoxicological properties of ketoprofen and the S(+)-enantiomer (dexketoprofen): Bioassays in freshwater model species and biomarkers in fish PLHC-1 cell line
Authors: Mennillo Elvira , Arukwe Augustine , Monni Gianfranca , Meucci Valentina , Intorre Luigi , Pretti Carlo 
Published: August 2017

Abstract

The increased use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has resulted in their ubiquitous presence in the environment. The toxicological properties of these 2 widely prescribed NSAIDs, namely racemic ketoprofen and its enantiomer S(+)-ketoprofen (dexketoprofen), were evaluated, firstly, by acute and chronic toxicity tests using 3 representative model organisms (Vibrio fischeri, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, and Ceriodaphnia dubia) and, secondly, by evaluating the responses of biotransformation systems and multidrug resistance–associated proteins (MRP1/MRP2) using the Poeciliopsis lucida hepatocellular carcinoma 1 (PLHC-1) fish hepatic cell line. Toxicity data from both acute and chronic dexketoprofen exposure indicated higher sensitivity through inhibition of bioluminescence and algal growth and through increased mortality/immobilization compared to racemic ketoprofen exposure. The growth inhibition test showed that racemic ketoprofen and dexketoprofen exhibited different effect concentration values (240.2 and 65.6 μg/L, respectively). Furthermore, racemic ketoprofen and dexketoprofen did not exert cytotoxic effects in PLHC-1 cells and produced compound-, time-, and concentration-specific differential effects on cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) and glutathione S-transferase levels. For CYP1A, the effects of racemic ketoprofen and dexketoprofen differed at the transcriptional and catalytic levels. Exposure to racemic ketoprofen and dexketoprofen modulated MRP1 and MRP2 mRNA levels, and these effects were also dependent on compound, exposure time, and concentration of the individual drug. The present study revealed for the first time the interactions between these NSAIDs and key detoxification systems and different sensitivity to the racemic mixture compared to its enantiomer. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:201–212. © 2017 SETAC
Silver (nano)materials cause genotoxicity in Enchytraeus crypticus, as determined by the comet assay
Authors: Maria Vera L. , Ribeiro Maria João , Guilherme Sofia , Soares Amadeu M.V.M. , Scott-Fordsmand Janeck J. , Amorim Mónica J.B. 
Published: August 2017

Abstract

Enchytraeids have been used in standard ecotoxicity testing for approximately 20 yr. Since adopting the standard test for survival and reproduction, a number of additional tools have been developed, including transcriptomics and enzymatic biomarkers. So far, a genotoxicity tool and endpoint have not been used; hence, the goals of the present study included optimization of the in vivo alkaline comet assay in Enchytraeus crypticus. Further, the effect of silver nanomaterial (Ag NM300K, dispersed, 15 nm) was tested and compared with silver nitrate. Hydrogen peroxide was used as a positive control. The various steps were optimized. The fully detailed standard operating procedure is presented. Silver materials caused genotoxicity, this being differentiated for the nano and non-nano forms. Silver nitrate caused genotoxicity after 3 d of exposure in a dose-related manner, although after 7 d the effects were either reduced or repaired. Ag NM300K caused higher genotoxicity after 7 d for the lowest concentration, highlighting a potential nonmonotonic dose–response effect. Overall, the comet assay showed the power to discriminate effects between materials and also toxicity at low relevant doses. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:184–191. © 2017 SETAC
Environmental behavior, potential phytotoxicity, and accumulation of copper oxide nanoparticles and arsenic in rice plants
Authors: Liu Jing , Dhungana Birendra , Cobb George P. 
Published: August 2017

Abstract

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are widely used in many industries. The increasing release of CuO NPs from both intentional and unintentional sources into the environment may pose risks to rice plants, thereby reducing the quality or quantity of this staple grain in the human diet. Not only has arsenic (As) contamination decreased rice yield, but As accumulation in rice has also been a great human health concern for a few decades. New technologies have succeeded in removing As from water by nanomaterials. By all accounts, few studies have addressed CuO NP phytotoxicity to rice, and the interactions of CuO NPs with As are poorly described. The present study 1) reviews studies about the environmental behavior and phytotoxicity of CuO NPs and As and research about the interaction of CuO NPs with As in the environment, 2) discusses critically the potential mechanisms of CuO NP and As toxicity in plants and their interaction, and 3) proposes future research directions for solving the As problem in rice. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:11–20. © 2017 SETAC
Comparison of the levonorgestrel‐releasing intrauterine system, hysterectomy, and endometrial ablation for heavy menstrual bleeding in a decision analysis model
Authors: Louie Michelle , Spencer Jennifer , Wheeler Stephanie , Ellis Victoria , Toubia Tarek , Schiff Lauren D. , Siedhoff Matthew T. , Moulder Janelle K. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBackgroundA better understanding of the relative risks and benefits of common treatment options for abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) can help providers and patients to make balanced, evidence‐based decisions.ObjectivesTo provide comparative estimates of clinical outcomes after placement of levonorgestrel‐releasing intrauterine system (LNG‐IUS), ablation, or hysterectomy for AUB.Search strategyA PubMED search was done using combinations of search terms related to abnormal uterine bleeding, LNG‐IUS, hysterectomy, endometrial ablation, cost‐benefit analysis, cost‐effectiveness, and quality‐adjusted life years.Selection criteriaFull articles published in 2006–2016 available in English comparing at least two treatment modalities of interest among women of reproductive age with AUB were included.Data collection and analysisA decision tree was generated to compare clinical outcomes in a hypothetical cohort of 100 000 premenopausal women with nonmalignant AUB. We evaluated complications, mortality, and treatment outcomes over a 5‐year period, calculated cumulative quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs), and conducted probabilistic sensitivity analysis.Main resultsLevonorgestrel‐releasing intrauterine system had the highest number of QALYs (406 920), followed by hysterectomy (403 466), non‐resectoscopic ablation (399 244), and resectoscopic ablation (395 827). Ablation had more treatment failures and complications than LNG‐IUS and hysterectomy. Findings were robust in probabilistic sensitivity analysis.ConclusionsLevonorgestrel‐releasing intrauterine system and hysterectomy outperformed endometrial ablation for treatment of AUB.
Time‐dependent effect of electrical stimulation on osteogenic differentiation of bone mesenchymal stromal cells cultured on conductive nanofibers
Authors: Zhu Siqi , Jing Wei , Hu Xiaoqing , Huang Zirong , Cai Qing , Ao Yingfang , Yang Xiaoping 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBone tissue engineering using bone mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) is a multidisciplinary strategy that requires biodegradable scaffold, cell, various promoting cues to work simultaneously. Electrical stimulation (ES) is known able to promote osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, but it is interesting to know how can it play the strongest promotion effect. To strengthen local ES on BMSCs, parallel‐aligned conductive nanofibers were electrospun from the mixtures of poly(L‐lactide) (PLLA) and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and used for cell culture. Osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs was conducted by applying ES (direct current, 1.5 V, 1.5 h/day) perpendicular to the fiber direction during the day 1–7, day 8–14, or day 15–21 period of the osteoinductive culture. In comparison with ES‐free groups, bone‐related markers and genes were found significantly up‐regulated when ES was applied on BMSCs growing on nanofibers having higher conductivity. When the ES was applied at the earlier stage of osteoinductive culture, the promotion effect on osteogenic differentiation would be stronger. In the presence of a BMP blocker, the down‐regulated expressions of bone‐related genes were able to be slightly recovered by ES, especially when the ES was applied at the beginning of osteoinductive culture (i.e. day 1–7). The promotion effect generated by ES in the early stage was found sustainable to later stages of differentiation, while those ES applied at later stages of differentiation should have missed the optimal point. In other words, later ES was not so necessary in inducing the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 3369–3383, 2017.
Upper airway surgery for obstructive sleep apnea reduces blood pressure
Authors: Pang Kenny P. , Pang Edward B. , Pang Kathleen A. , Vicini Claudio , Chan Yiong Huak , Rotenberg Brian W. 
Published: August 2017

Objectives/HypothesisTo evaluate if upper airway surgery reduces blood pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).Study DesignProspective series.MethodsA prospective series of 112 consecutive OSA patients with hypertension (HTN). All patients were > 18 years old, respiratory disturbance index >5, all levels of apnea‐hypopnea index (AHI), with a history of HTN treated with medication for at least 6 months. Surgical procedures included septoplasty, turbinate reduction, palate surgery, and tongue base reduction.ResultsThere were 92 men and 20 women, with a mean age of 48.6 years, mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.5 (range, 19.7–34.7). Mean follow‐up was 16.1 months. The mean preoperative AHI was 32.6 (range, 1.2–104), with the mean lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT) of 79.9% (range, 52%–93%). The mean adjusted preoperative and postoperative systolic blood pressure (SBP) was reduced from 146 ± 15.3 mm Hg to 122 ± 12.5 mm Hg (P < .001), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was reduced from 91 ± 10.2 mm Hg to 76 ± 7.8 mm Hg (P < .001). There was a decrease in overall BMI from 27.5 ± 3.6 to 25.5 ± 3.0 (P < .001); however, based on multivariate analysis, the reduction in SBP and DBP was not affected by this BMI reduction. Fifty‐eight patients (51.8%) did not require their antihypertensive after surgery. There was poor correlation noted between HTN with AHI, LSAT, and oxygen duration <90%.ConclusionsUpper airway surgery does reduce SBP and DBP in patients with OSA.Level of Evidence4. Laryngoscope, 128:523–527, 2018
Final Analysis of the Accuracy and Precision of Methods to Calculate the Sediment Retained by Check Dams
Authors: Ramos‐Diez Iván , Navarro‐Hevia Joaquín , San Martín Fernández Roberto , Mongil‐Manso Jorge 
Published: August 2017

AbstractKnowing how much sediment check dams have trapped during their lifespan is essential to estimate their effectiveness or the sediment yields of their basins. Methods to calculate the volume of sediment trapped by check dams play an important role in the understanding of these issues. Several authors have proposed different methods to measure the volume of retained sediment, but their accuracy has, as yet, not been precisely determined and is currently a subject of debate.We compare the most frequently used methods (geometric: prism, pyramid and geometric; topographic: Digital Terrain Models (DTMs), trapezoids and sections methods) to evaluate their accuracy and precision in determining the volume of sediment retained by check dams. Our calculations are based on ten virtual check dams simulated in several gullies of Saldaña (Spain), where we determine their volumetric capacity for trapping sediment (real volume). This was made by means of an intensive topographic survey of these gullies, employing a terrestrial laser scanning system to obtain a high‐resolution digital elevation model (5 × 5 cm, ±2 mm).The results showed that topographic methods provided a very good fit to real volume with a difference of around 8%, being the sections method the most accurate. Geometric methods were less accurate, showing differences of up to 28%. Thus, the results obtained until now by geometric methods should be considered with caution. Although topographic methods were more accurate, they require many field data and much time than the others. So geometric methods can still be useful by correcting their results using our obtained percentage of variation. Knowing the accuracy of the methods before measuring is essential to obtain the most reliable results to analyse the role of check dams in controlling sediment, erosion processes and land degradation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simultaneous MR thermometry and acoustic radiation force imaging using interleaved acquisition
Authors: de Bever Joshua T. , Odéen Henrik , Hofstetter Lorne W. , Parker Dennis L. 
Published: August 2017

PurposeA novel and practical method for simultaneously performing MR acoustic radiation force imaging (ARFI) and proton resonance frequency (PRF)‐shift thermometry has been developed and tested. This could be an important tool for evaluating the success of MR‐guided focused ultrasound procedures for which MR‐thermometry measures temperature and thermal dose and MR‐ARFI detects changes in tissue mechanical properties.MethodsMR imaging was performed using a gradient recalled echo segmented echo‐planar imaging pulse sequence with bipolar motion encoding gradients (MEG). Images with ultrasound pulses (ON) and without ultrasound pulses (OFF) during the MEG were interleaved at the repetition time (TR) level. ARFI displacements were calculated by complex subtraction of ON–OFF images, and PRF temperature maps were calculated by baseline subtraction. Evaluations in tissue‐mimicking phantoms and ex vivo porcine brain tissue were performed. Constrained reconstruction improved the temporal resolution of dynamic measurements.ResultsSimultaneous maps of displacement and temperature were acquired in 2D and 3D while keeping tissue heating < 1°C. Accuracy of the temperature maps was comparable to the standard PRF sequence. Using constrained reconstruction and subsampled k‐space (R = 4.33), 3D simultaneous temperature and displacement maps can be acquired every 4.7 s.ConclusionThis new sequence acquires simultaneous temperature and displacement maps with minimal tissue heating, and can be applied dynamically for monitoring tissue mechanical properties during ablation procedures. Magn Reson Med 79:1515–1524, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
A molecular breadboard: Removal and replacement of subunits in a hepatitis B virus capsid
Authors: Lee Lye Siang , Brunk Nicholas , Haywood Daniel G. , Keifer David , Pierson Elizabeth , Kondylis Panagiotis , Wang Joseph Che‐Yen , Jacobson Stephen C. , Jarrold Martin F. , Zlotnick Adam 
Published: August 2017

AbstractHepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein is a model system for studying assembly and disassembly of icosahedral structures. Controlling disassembly will allow re‐engineering the 120 subunit HBV capsid, making it a molecular breadboard. We examined removal of subunits from partially crosslinked capsids to form stable incomplete particles. To characterize incomplete capsids, we used two single molecule techniques, resistive‐pulse sensing and charge detection mass spectrometry. We expected to find a binomial distribution of capsid fragments. Instead, we found a preponderance of 3 MDa complexes (90 subunits) and no fragments smaller than 3 MDa. We also found 90‐mers in the disassembly of uncrosslinked HBV capsids. 90‐mers seem to be a common pause point in disassembly reactions. Partly explaining this result, graph theory simulations have showed a threshold for capsid stability between 80 and 90 subunits. To test a molecular breadboard concept, we showed that missing subunits could be refilled resulting in chimeric, 120 subunit particles. This result may be a means of assembling unique capsids with functional decorations.