bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PKU‐21: A Novel Layered Germanate Built from Ge7 and Ge10 Clusters for CO2 Separation
Authors: Liang Jie , Su Jie , Peng Fei , Zeng Yongfei , Sun Junliang 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe attractive properties of layered inorganic materials, which make them suitable for numerous applications in chemical industries and life sciences, originated from their crystalline framework structures. Here, we report a new layered germanate PKU‐21, which was prepared by the hydrothermal synthesis method using 2‐propanolamine (MIPA) as the structure‐directing agent. The structure of PKU‐21 was determined from synchrotron single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and synchrotron powder X‐ray diffraction data. It reveals a complicated framework structure containing 18 unique Ge atoms in the asymmetric unit. PKU‐21 is the first layered germanate built from both Ge7 and Ge10 clusters, following the 3‐dimensional germanate PKU‐17. The preparation and structure of PKU‐21 are discussed in comparison with PKU‐17, which provides new insight into the formation mechanism of germanates. Gas sorption experiments indicate that the layered PKU‐21 sample exhibits a better CO2 sorption selectivity over N2 and CH4 at 298 K than at 273 K, making it a promising candidate for CO2 separation.
In Vivo Energy Transfer from Bacteriochlorophyll c, d, e, or f to Bacteriochlorophyll a in Wild‐Type and Mutant Cells of the Green Sulfur Bacterium Chlorobaculum limnaeum
Authors: Harada Jiro , Shibata Yutaka , Teramura Misato , Mizoguchi Tadashi , Kinoshita Yusuke , Yamamoto Ken , Tamiaki Hitoshi 
Published: November 2017

AbstractGreen sulfur bacteria have light‐harvesting antenna systems, called chlorosomes, which usually contain one of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) c, d, and e molecules depending on the bacterial strain. Additionally, BChl f has never been found in nature but was observed in chlorosomes of the constructed mutant. In this study, we used the brown‐colored green sulfur bacterium Chlorobaculum limnaeum RK‐j‐1 strain possessing BChl e, and constructed its mutants accumulating only either BChl c, d, or f. In the mutant cells, these pigments showed different electronic absorption spectra, and their Qy peaks shifted hypsochromically in the order of BChls c, d, e, and f. The energy transfer from the chlorosomal aggregates to BChl a in these mutant cells was observed at 77 K by using picosecond time‐resolved fluorescence measurements. According to the Förster energy‐transfer mechanism, the energy‐transfer efficiency from the chlorosomal aggregates to BChl a decreased in the order of BChl c, BChl d, BChl e to BChl f.
Estimation of the Volume of Blood in a Small Disc Punched From a Dried Blood Spot Card
Authors: Hewawasam Erandi , Liu Ge , Jeffery David W. , Gibson Robert A. , Muhlhausler Beverly S. 
Published: November 2017

A specialized dried blood spot (DBS) collection system (PUFAcoat™) in combination with liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) has enabled the measurement of numerous analytes in minimal volumes of blood. The current study aimed to determine the volume of blood in 3 and 6 mm discs obtained from our DBS system. The volume of blood in 3 and 6 mm discs obtained from DBS cards is estimated using four different methods: (i) gravimetric analysis; (ii) LC‐MS/MS; (iii) a hemoglobin colorimetric assay; and (iv) GC. Differences in the estimated volume are compared between methods, and variations in estimated blood volume within and between individuals are determined. The average volume of blood in a DBS disc is calculated to be 1.6 ± 0.4 μL and 8.7 ± 1.9 μL for 3 and 6 mm discs, respectively. This estimate is similar between direct and indirect analytical methods and between DBS samples with different starting volumes independent of the method, but there is considerable variation in the volume of blood in comparably‐sized DBS discs from different individuals. Current methods enable the estimation of the blood volume in a small disc obtained from a DBS but a method that can both accurately measure volume and store blood on a DBS is required.Practical Applications: This study demonstrates that it is possible to evaluate the volume of blood contained in a small disc punched from a dried blood spot (DBS) card using a range of different methods, but there is considerable variation in the estimate of volume in samples collected from different individuals. These variations could potentially result in overestimation or underestimation of endogenous levels of various metabolites if presuming a fixed volume, which may be clinically significant. Although there are several ways to correct for blood volume contained on a DBS, the practicality and the universality of these methods are questionable. Ideally, the development of a tool to better determine the volume of blood and/or to precisely spot a volume of blood is required to ensure accuracy when expressing the results of DBS analyses per unit of blood.The volume of blood in a 3 or 6 mm disc obtained from a DBS needs to be known to accurately quantify endogenous levels of metabolites per unit of blood using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry.
Small bowel obstruction after transoral robotic surgery
Authors: McClellan Joseph , Achim Virginie , Clayburgh Daniel 
Published: November 2017

AbstractBackgroundHead and neck surgery is not often considered a risk factor for intestinal ileus and small bowel obstruction. However, many of these patients may have had prior abdominal surgery, a known risk factor for small bowel obstruction, and may be at risk for bowel obstruction after a surgical procedure of the head and neck.MethodsWe present a case describing a patient who, after undergoing transoral robotic surgery, experienced delayed postoperative ileus and eventual small bowel obstruction requiring exploratory laparotomy and bowel resection.ResultsAlthough the patient required total parenteral nutrition for several days, he eventually was able to resume tube feeds, and after several months was able to tolerate an oral diet.ConclusionAlthough uncommon complications of head and neck surgery, intestinal ileus and small bowel obstruction can develop as the result of stress/inflammation, postoperative narcotic pain medication, and prior abdominal surgery.
Imbalanced Osteogenesis and Adipogenesis in Mice Deficient in the Chemokine Cxcl12/Sdf1 in the Bone Mesenchymal Stem/Progenitor Cells
Authors: Tzeng Yi-Shiuan , Chung Ni-Chun , Chen Yu-Ren , Huang Hsin-Yi , Chuang Wen-Po , Lai Dar-Ming 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACT

Bone and bone marrow serve as an imperative ecosystem to various types of cells participating in critical body functions. The chemokine Cxcl12, also known as stromal cell-derived factor 1 (Sdf1), is one of the communication factors in the marrow microenvironment that regulates hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell homeostasis. However, the function of Cxcl12 in other bone marrow cells in vivo is yet to be discovered. Here we report a novel function of Cxcl12 in postnatal bone development and homeostasis. Targeted deletion of Cxcl12 in Paired related homeobox 1 (Prx1)-expressing or osterix (Osx)-expressing mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MSPCs), but not in mature osteoblasts, resulted in marrow adiposity and reduced trabecular bone content. In vivo lineage tracing analysis revealed biased differentiation of MSPCs toward adipocytes. In contrast, adult-stage deletion of Cxcl12 in Osx-expressing cells led to reduced bone content but not adiposity. Targeting the receptor Cxcr4 in the Prx1-expressing cells also resulted in reduced trabecular bone content but not adiposity. Our study reveals a previously unidentified role of the MSPC-secreting Cxcl12 that regulates its osteogenesis and adipogenesis through the cell-autonomous and non-autonomous mechanism, respectively; which could further influence the homeostatic control of the hematopoietic system. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Assessment of chemotherapy on various biochemical markers in breast cancer patients
Authors: Paz Márcia F. C. J. , Gomes Antonio L. , Islam Muhammad T. , Tabrez Shams , Jabir Nasimudeen R. , Alam Mohammad Z. , Machado Kátia C. , de Alencar Marcus V. O. B. , Machado Keylla C. , Ali Eunus S. , Mishra Siddhartha K. , Gomes Leonardo F. , Sobral André Luiz Pinho , e Sousa João M. C. , de Souza Geane F. , Melo‐Cavalcante Ana Amélia C. , da Silva Juliana 
Published: November 2017

AbstractChemotherapy is a standard treatment method for the patients with locally advanced breast cancer. Lately, cyclophosphamide (CYP) and doxorubicin (DOX) are used as the major chemotherapeutic agents especially for the treatment of breast cancer. Till date, no serum biomarker has been able to provide an early diagnosis of breast cancer. This study aimed to assess inflammatory, cardiac, renal and hematological markers in 56 breast cancer patients (BCP) before, during and after termination of chemotherapy with CYP and DOX. Blood samples were collected from the patients at the each treatment stages mentioned above. These samples were assessed for interleukin 6 (IL‐6), interleukin 10 (IL‐10), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), creatinine, hemoglobin (Hb), leukocyte, platelet and Na+/K+‐ATPase levels either by ELISA or colorimetric methods. The results suggest a significant increase in IL‐6 level at all the stages in BCP as compared to control group. On the other hand, IL‐10, CK and Na+/K+‐ATPase levels were found to be significantly declined during all the stages. Moreover, the majority of hematological parameters remained unchanged throughout the treatment period with the exception of creatinine and Hb which showed slight modulation in their level at different stages. Based on the results, we conclude that breast cancer and co‐treatment with CYP and DOX, interfere arious biological markers, thereby, showing the physiological imbalance.
The Impact of Financial Crises on the Poor
Authors: Rewilak Johan 
Published: November 2017

AbstractFinancial crises have detrimental impacts on the economy via depressed economic growth and rising unemployment, however, their impact on the poorest in society is relatively under‐researched. This paper investigates the impact of three different types of financial crises on the income of the poor. Using a variety of estimation techniques and controlling for a lagged dependent variable, the results suggest that currency crises are the most harmful to the poor, followed by banking crises. Debt crises only have a statistically significant effect on the income of the poor in richer countries. © 2017 The Authors Journal of International Development Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Re‐evaluation of MIS 3 glaciation using cosmogenic radionuclide and single grain luminescence ages, Kanas Valley, Chinese Altai
Authors: Gribenski Natacha , Jansson Krister N. , Preusser Frank , Harbor Jonathan M. , Stroeven Arjen P. , Trauerstein Mareike , Blomdin Robin , Heyman Jakob , Caffee Marc W. , Lifton Nathaniel A. , Zhang Wei 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACTPrevious investigations observed a period of major glacial advances in Central Asia during marine oxygen isotope stage (MIS) 3 (57–29 ka), out of phase with global ice volume records. We have re‐examined the Kanas moraine complex in the Altai Mountains of Central Asia, where an MIS 3 glaciation had been previously inferred. New and consistent cosmogenic exposure and single‐grain luminescence ages indicate that the Kanas complex was formed during MIS 2 (29–12 ka), which brings its timing in line with the global ice volume record. We also identified a lateral moraine from a more extensive ice extent that dates to late MIS 5/MIS 4. To place our results in a wider contextual framework, we review the chronologies of another 26 proposed major MIS 3 glacial advances in Central Asia. For most of these sites, we find that the chronological data do not provide an unequivocal case for MIS 3 glaciation.
Raman study on the effects of annealing atmosphere of patterned graphene
Authors: Son Jangyup , Choi Minkyung , Hong Jongill , Yang In‐Sang 
Published: November 2017

Despite extensive research on graphene, there are still lacks of understanding the structural changes under harsh stress environments such as high current in uncontrolled atmosphere. Investigating the structural changes of graphene patterned into device at high temperature would be important as the electrical current path of graphene becomes narrower and thus stronger in heat dissipation. In this paper, we performed a comparative study of the structural and electronical changes of graphene for as‐grown graphene and patterned graphene in a microbridge shape heated up to 500 °C in air or Ar. While the as‐grown graphene heated in air or Ar was nearly free from the structural changes, the microbridge graphene exhibited strong structural changes after annealing in Ar, i.e. the broadening in the G and the 2D peaks remained even after cooling back to 30 °C. On the other hand, the microbridge graphene heated in air was observed to release stress probably due to formation of vacancies by oxygen adsorption. The different behavior of microbridge graphene heated in Ar from that of as‐grown graphene in the same condition is obvious. This means that graphene in microscopic devices should be treated differently from the as‐grown graphene. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structure Tuning of Electrostatically Self‐Assembled Nanoparticles through pH: The Role of Charge Ratio
Authors: Mariani Giacomo , Schweins Ralf , Gröhn Franziska 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSystems that can be controlled through external triggers are of interest for a variety of applications from medicine to energy conversion. Here, the effects of pH on the electrostatic self‐assembly of generation four poly(amidoamine) dendrimers and a divalent azo dye, keeping constant the charge ratio, are discussed. Nanoparticles stabilized by an excess of dendrimer charge form at 3.5 ≤ pH ≤ 8.5. The nanoparticle structure strongly depends on pH: at 7 ≤ pH ≤ 8.5, where only the dendrimer primary amines are protonated, spherical particles form, while at 3.5 ≤ pH < 7 where also the tertiary amines are protonated, cylinders form. Not only the nanoparticle structure but also the interaction of the molecular building blocks is controlled by pH: the dye stacking changes and the twist angle of the dye molecules increases as the pH decreases. Results are related to changes in the dye–dendrimer and dye–dye interaction, in particular spherical nanoparticles are formed when the interaction is small. Finally, the structures at different pH and constant charge ratio are compared to results at constant loading ratio to understand the overall role of the pH in electrostatic self‐assembly. A pH‐responsive shape is of great interest, for example, for drug delivery.
Layer‐by‐Layer Assembly of κ‐Casein Amyloid Fibrils for the Preparation of Hollow Microcapsules
Authors: Lee Jubong , Lee Ji‐Hye , Yeom Bongjun , Char Kookheon 
Published: November 2017

AbstractAmyloids are known to self‐assemble into fibril forms derived from natural or artificial proteins exhibiting superior mechanical properties, stability, and biocompatibility. However, few studies have investigated the applications of amyloid fibrils. Herein, the layer‐by‐layer growth of zwitterionic κ‐casein amyloid fibrils (κCFs) to prepare stable hollow microcapsules is investigated, which is potentially applicable to drug delivery systems. The growth of κCFs increases linearly when electrostatic interactions between the constituent pair become more prominent, for instance, cationic κCFs paired with poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate) (PSS), and anionic κCFs paired with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride). In contrast, the increase in film thickness shows the exponential‐to‐linear transition when hydrogen bonding is responsible for adsorption between cationic κCFs and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). It is thus concluded that stable κCF/PSS hollow microcapsules are prepared by using the electrostatic interaction. However, the κCF/PAA hollow microcapsules are ruptured due to the breakage of hydrogen bonding upon removal of sacrificial templates.
Image quality and dose for a multisource cone‐beam CT extremity scanner
Authors: Gang Grace J. , Zbijewski Wojciech , Mahesh Mahadevappa , Thawait Gaurav , Packard Nathan , Yorkston John , Demehri Shadpour , Siewerdsen Jeffrey H. 
Published: November 2017

PurposeThis work investigates the dose characteristics and image quality of a multisource cone‐beam CT scanner dedicated for extremity imaging.MethodsThe scanner has an x‐ray source with three separate anode–cathode units evenly distributed along the longitudinal direction. A nominal scan protocol fires the three sources sequentially, and a total of 600 projections (200 for each source) are acquired over a source–detector orbit of 210o. Dose was measured using a Farmer chamber in three CTDI phantoms stacked end‐to‐end. Measurements were performed at the central and four peripheral locations of a CTDI phantom on the axial plane and repeated along the longitudinal direction. The extent of 3D sampling of the three‐source configuration was assessed in the Fourier domain through noise power spectrum measurements from air scans and compared with that from a single‐source scan. A modified Defrise phantom and anthropomorphic knee and hand phantoms were used for visual assessment of cone‐beam artifacts in the reconstructed images.ResultsThe dose distribution for the three‐source configuration exhibits radial asymmetry on the axial plane consistent with a short‐scan geometry. Along the longitudinal direction, the highest dose was measured at the central axial plane where the field of view (FOV) from all three sources overlaps and falls off more slowly toward the end compared to a single‐source configuration. The extent of 3D sampling is improved throughout the FOV as each source compensates for missing frequencies from the adjacent source. As a result, the reduction in streak and shading artifacts is apparent in the reconstructed images of all three phantoms. The improvement in image quality from the three‐source configuration is most pronounced in joint spaces farther from the central axial plane.ConclusionsInitial assessment of the multisource scanner demonstrated the advantages over single‐source designs in a compact scanner with large longitudinal FOV. The reduction in cone‐beam artifact is particularly valuable for extremity imaging where high‐contrast articular surfaces are present away from the central axial plane and/or throughout the FOV.
Preparation and characterization of silicone rubber through the reaction between γ‐chloropropyl and amino groups with siloxane polyamidoamine dendrimers as cross‐linkers
Authors: Dong Fuying , Lu Hang , Feng Shengyu , Tang Xinde 
Published: November 2017

A novel heat‐curable silicone rubber (MCSR/Si‐PAMAM) was prepared by using siloxane polyamidoamine (Si‐PAMAM) dendrimers as cross‐linkers and polysiloxane containing γ‐chloropropyl groups as gums. The chemical cross‐linking occurs through the reaction between Si‐PAMAM dendrimers and polysiloxane containing γ‐chloropropyl groups. The effect of various amounts of cross‐linkers on mechanical properties of MCSR/Si‐PAMAM was discussed in this paper. MCSR/Si‐PAMAM exhibits favorable mechanical properties with a tensile strength of 10.06 MPa and a tear strength of 47.9 kN/m when the molar ratio r of [N‐H]/[CH2CH2CH2Cl] is 1:1. These excellent mechanical properties can be attributed to the formation of concentrative cross‐linking from Si‐PAMAM dendrimers in the cross‐linking networks, along with the introduction of Si–O–Si units in the internal structure of dendrimers. The introduction of Si–O–Si units reduces the steric hindrance of molecular structure, which facilitates the N–H bonds in the interior layers of dendrimers to react with γ‐chloropropyl groups. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis results indicate that MCSR/Si‐PAMAM is thermally stable even at high temperatures in a nitrogen atmosphere. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis reveals that the glass transition peak of MCSR/Si‐PAMAM is not identified in the temperature range −150 to −30°C, only a melting endothermic peak at −40°C.
Preparation and characterizations of inherent flame retarded polyamide 66 containing the phosphorus linking pendent group
Authors: Li Yuanyuan , Liu Ke , Zhang Jidong , Xiao Ru 
Published: November 2017

Polyamide 66 (PA66) containing the phosphorus linking pendent group with inherent flame retardancy property was prepared by condensation polymerization of hexamethylene diammonium adipate (AH salt) and 9,10‐dihydro‐10‐[2,3‐di(hydroxycarbonyl)propyl]‐10‐phosphaphenanthrene‐10‐oxide (DDP) as a co‐monomer. Prior to condensation polymerization, DDP was reacted with hexamethylene diamine (HMDA), which made DDP easier to react with AH salt. Then, the DDP‐HMDA was introduced into AH salt solution to prepare inherent flame retarded PA66 (FRPA66). Fourier transform infrared spectra, nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, tensile test, vertical burning test, limiting oxygen index test, cone calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy were utilized to investigate the properties of FRPA66. Experimental results indicated that the bulky pendent phosphorus group tended to destroy the structure regularity of FRPA66 and the molecular weight, crystallinity, and thermal stability reduced. The tensile strength of FRPA66 containing 5 wt% of DDP was 58.44 MPa, and it can achieve a V‐0 rating according to the vertical burning test with the limiting oxygen index value of 33.2%. This indicated that the inherent flame retarded PA66 expanded the application of PA66 materials.
Chitosan as a biosorbent for adsorption of iron (II) from fracking wastewater
Authors: Kaveeshwar Aditya R. , Sanders Melanie , Ponnusamy Senthil Kumar , Depan Dilip , Subramaniam Ramalingam 
Published: November 2017

In this work, porous chitosan (CS) was investigated as a biosorbent for the removal of iron (II) from the synthetic fracking wastewater. The underlying problem with the production water from fracking industries is that it contains iron (II) up to 55 mg/L, which needs to be eliminated. Porous CS had a specific surface area of 1.05 m2/g with the average pore diameter of 319 A, as determined by using Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller surface area analysis. The kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamic analysis confirm that the porous CS can be a potential candidate for iron (II) removal. Both the pseudo‐first‐order model and pseudo‐second‐order model have good fit on iron (II) adsorption with the porous CS. Kinetic studies revealed that the CS‐iron (II) adsorption system was controlled by intraparticle diffusion. The monolayer adsorption capacity of the porous CS from Langmuir model was found to be 51.81 mg/g. The experimental data were fitted against common adsorption isotherms and yielded excellent fits in the following order: Langmuir > Temkin > Freundlich > Dubinin‐Radushkevich isotherms. Thermodynamic studies revealed that the adsorption of iron (II) onto porous CS was feasible and spontaneous. The adsorption process is endothermic, and the entropy is the driving force.