bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cutaneous nerve biomarkers in transthyretin familial amyloid polyneuropathy
Authors: Ebenezer Gigi J. , Liu Ying , Judge Daniel P. , Cunningham Kelly , Truelove Shaun , Carter Noel D. , Sebastian Blessan , Byrnes Kelly , Polydefkis Michael 
Published: June 2017

ObjectiveTo determine the utility of skin biopsies as a biomarker of disease severity in subjects with amyloid neuropathy.MethodsFive groups of patients were studied: (1) transthyretin (TTR) familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP; n = 20), (2) TTR mutation carriers without peripheral neuropathy (TTR‐noPN; n = 10), (3) healthy controls (n = 20), (4) diabetic neuropathy disease controls (n = 20), and (5) patients with light‐chain (AL) amyloid (n = 2). All subjects underwent neurological examination and 3mm skin biopsies. Sections were stained with anti‐PGP9.5, anti‐TTR, and Congo red. Intraepidermal (IENFD), sweat gland (SGNFD), and pilomotor nerve fiber densities (PMNFD) were measured. Correlations between the amount of amyloid present (amyloid burden), fiber subtype, and Neuropathy Impairment Score in the Lower Limbs (NIS‐LL) were evaluated.ResultsIENFD, SGNFD, and PMNFD were all significantly reduced in TTR‐FAP patients versus healthy controls, whereas TTR‐noPN subjects had intermediate reductions. Lower nerve fiber densities were associated with NIS‐LL (p < 0.001). Congo red staining revealed brilliant red amyloid deposits confirmed by apple‐green birefringence within dermal collagen, sweat glands, and arrector pili that engulfed axons. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity to detect amyloid in skin were 70% and 100%. Both AL amyloidosis and 2 of 10 TTR‐noPN subjects were Congo red–positive. Amyloid burden correlated with IENFD (r = −0.63), SGNFD (r = −0.67), PMNFD (r = −0.50), and NIS‐LL (r = −0.57). Wild‐type TTR staining was less prominent in TTR‐FAP patients.InterpretationCutaneous amyloid was detected in 70% of TTR‐FAP and 20% of TTR‐noPN subjects. Amyloid burden correlated strongly with reductions in IENFD, SGNFD, PMNFD, and NIS‐LL. Skin is an attractive tissue to establish an amyloid diagnosis, and amyloid burden has potential as a biomarker to detect treatment effect in TTR‐FAP drug trials. Ann Neurol 2017;82:44–56
Thermally Stable and Regenerable Platinum–Tin Clusters for Propane Dehydrogenation Prepared by Atom Trapping on Ceria
Authors: Xiong Haifeng , Lin Sen , Goetze Joris , Pletcher Paul , Guo Hua , Kovarik Libor , Artyushkova Kateryna , Weckhuysen Bert M. , Datye Abhaya K. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractCeria (CeO2) supports are unique in their ability to trap ionic platinum (Pt), providing exceptional stability for isolated single atoms of Pt. The reactivity and stability of single‐atom Pt species was explored for the industrially important light alkane dehydrogenation reaction. The single‐atom Pt/CeO2 catalysts are stable during propane dehydrogenation, but are not selective for propylene. DFT calculations show strong adsorption of the olefin produced, leading to further unwanted reactions. In contrast, when tin (Sn) is added to CeO2, the single‐atom Pt catalyst undergoes an activation phase where it transforms into Pt–Sn clusters under reaction conditions. Formation of small Pt–Sn clusters allows the catalyst to achieve high selectivity towards propylene because of facile desorption of the product. The CeO2‐supported Pt–Sn clusters are very stable, even during extended reaction at 680 °C. Coke formation is almost completely suppressed by adding water vapor to the feed. Furthermore, upon oxidation the Pt–Sn clusters readily revert to the atomically dispersed species on CeO2, making Pt–Sn/CeO2 a fully regenerable catalyst.
Zinc–Zinc Double Bonds: A Theoretical Study
Authors: Echeverría Jorge , Falceto Andrés , Alvarez Santiago 
Published: June 2017

AbstractWhile double bonds are known for transition metals of Groups 9 and 10 as well as for boron and p‐block elements of Groups 14–16, Zn sits in a small region of the periodic table with no well‐characterized double bonds. A qualitative reasoning indicates that zero‐valent zinc has the potential to form Zn=Zn double bonds. A computational study in search for complexes that might showcase this new bond type is presented here.
Fusion von Liposomen in einer DNA‐programmierten Kaskade
Authors: Löffler Philipp M. G. , Ries Oliver , Rabe Alexander , Okholm Anders H. , Thomsen Rasmus P. , Kjems Jørgen , Vogel Stefan 
Published: June 2017

AbstractSynthetisch hergestellte und funktionalisierte nanoskopische Behälter werden in der Synthesebiologie eingesetzt, um räumlich abgegrenzte chemische Prozesse auszuführen. Systeme mit zunehmender Komplexität erfordern Methoden zur räumlichen und zeitlichen Kontrolle der eingeschlossenen Spezies. Hier wird diese Herausforderung durch ein DNA‐kodiertes Design für die aufeinanderfolgende Fusion mehrerer Liposompopulationen adressiert. Eine Liposomfusion in drei Stufen wurde durch orthogonal hybridisierende Paare membranverankerter Oligonukleotide kontrolliert. Jedes Fusionsereignis führte zu einer effizienten Vermischung der eingeschlossenen Volumen und zur Übertragung eines Oligonukleotides, das durch molekulare Erkennung die Einleitung der nachfolgenden Stufe ermöglicht. Im Unterschied zur proteingesteuerten Vesikelfusion in eukaryotischen Zellen und Synapsen nutzt die hier vorgestellte künstliche Fusionskaskade das vielseitige Kodierungspotenzial der DNA‐Hybridisierung.
Stereoretentive Olefinmetathese: ein Weg zur kinetischen Selektivität
Authors: Montgomery T. Patrick , Ahmed Tonia S. , Grubbs Robert H. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractDie Olefinmetathese ist ein wertvolles Verfahren für Wissenschaft und Industrie. In letzter Zeit rückte die stereoretentive Olefinmetathese als eine Methode für die selektive Erzeugung von sowohl E‐ als auch Z‐Olefinen in den Fokus. In früheren Untersuchungen wurde nachgewiesen, dass die stereochemische Konfiguration der Ausgangsolefine zu Anfang der Umwandlung beibehalten wird. Als sich die Reaktion dem Gleichgewichtszustand näherte, wurden jedoch thermodynamische E/Z‐Verhältnisse erreicht. Bei neueren Untersuchungen lag das Hauptaugenmerk auf der Synthese von Katalysatoren, mit denen die inhärente thermodynamische Präferenz eines Olefins überwunden und ein kinetisch begünstigtes Olefinisomer erzeugt werden kann. Diese Berichte führten zur Entwicklung von stereoretentiven Katalysatoren, mit denen nicht nur selektiv Z‐Olefine erhalten werden, sondern auch E‐Olefine. Fortschritte bei der stereoretentiven Olefinmetathese unter Verwendung von Wolfram‐, Ruthenium‐ und Molybdänkatalysatoren werden hier dargelegt.
Gold(Core)–Lead(Shell) Nanoparticle‐Loaded Titanium(IV) Oxide Prepared by Underpotential Photodeposition: Plasmonic Water Oxidation
Authors: Negishi Ryo , Naya Shin‐ichi , Kobayashi Hisayoshi , Tada Hiroaki 
Published: June 2017

AbstractUnderpotential photodeposition of Pb yields an ultrathin shell layer on the Au(111) surface of Au nanoparticle(NP)‐loaded TiO2 (Au/TiO2) with heteroepitaxial nanojunctions. The localized surface plasmon resonance of Au/TiO2 undergoes no damping with the Pb‐shell formation, and the Pb shell offers resistance to aerobic oxidation. Mesoporous films comprising the Au(core)–Pb(shell) NP‐loaded TiO2 and unmodified Au/TiO2 were formed on fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) electrode. Using them as the photoanode, photoelectrochemical cells were fabricated, and the photocurrent was measured under illumination of simulated sunlight. The photocurrent for water splitting is dramatically enhanced by the Pb‐shell formation. The photoelectrochemical measurements of the hot‐electron lifetime and density functional theory calculations for model clusters indicate that the Pb‐shell effect originates from the charge separation enhancement.
A DNA‐Programmed Liposome Fusion Cascade
Authors: Löffler Philipp M. G. , Ries Oliver , Rabe Alexander , Okholm Anders H. , Thomsen Rasmus P. , Kjems Jørgen , Vogel Stefan 
Published: June 2017

AbstractChemically engineered and functionalized nanoscale compartments are used in bottom‐up synthetic biology to construct compartmentalized chemical processes. Progressively more complex designs demand spatial and temporal control over entrapped species. Here, we address this demand with a DNA‐encoded design for the successive fusion of multiple liposome populations. Three individual stages of fusion are induced by orthogonally hybridizing sets of membrane‐anchored oligonucleotides. Each fusion event leads to efficient content mixing and transfer of the recognition unit for the subsequent stage. In contrast to fusion‐protein‐dependent eukaryotic vesicle processing, this artificial fusion cascade exploits the versatile encoding potential of DNA hybridization and is generally applicable to small and giant unilamellar vesicles. This platform could thus enable numerous applications in artificial cellular systems and liposome‐based synthetic pathways.
Enantioselective Hydroazidation of Trisubstituted Non‐Activated Alkenes
Authors: Meyer Daniel , Renaud Philippe 
Published: June 2017

AbstractA one‐pot procedure for the enantioselective hydroazidation of non‐activated trisubstituted alkenes is described. Hydroboration with monoisopinocampheylborane (IpcBH2) provides dialkylboranes that are in situ selectively converted into monoalkyl‐substituted catecholboranes; these undergo radical azidation upon treatment with benzenesulfonyl azide and a radical initiator. Enantiomerically enriched azides were thus obtained in yields of 59–81 % and enantioselectivities of up to 94:6 e.r. (98:2 e.r. if the intermediate dialkylborane is purified by crystallization). A rapid access to enantiomerically pure (+)‐rodocaine is also described. The use of other arenesulfonyl radical traps enables enantioselective hydroallylation, hydrosulfanylation, and hydrobromination reactions with yields of 71–86 %.
Loosening of Lipid Packing Promotes Oligoarginine Entry into Cells
Authors: Murayama Tomo , Masuda Toshihiro , Afonin Sergii , Kawano Kenichi , Takatani‐Nakase Tomoka , Ida Hiroki , Takahashi Yasufumi , Fukuma Takeshi , Ulrich Anne S. , Futaki Shiroh 
Published: June 2017

AbstractDespite extensive use of arginine‐rich cell‐penetrating peptides (CPPs)—including octaarginine (R8)—as intracellular delivery vectors, mechanisms for their internalization are still under debate. Lipid packing in live cell membranes was characterized using a polarity‐sensitive dye (di‐4‐ANEPPDHQ), and evaluated in terms of generalized polarization. Treatment with membrane curvature‐inducing peptides led to significant loosening of the lipid packing, resulting in an enhanced R8 penetration. Pyrenebutyrate (PyB) is known to facilitate R8 membrane translocation by working as a hydrophobic counteranion. Interestingly, PyB also actively induced membrane curvature and perturbed lipid packing. R8 is known to directly cross cell membranes at elevated concentrations. The sites of R8 influx were found to have looser lipid packing than surrounding areas. Lipid packing loosening is proposed as a key factor that governs the membrane translocation of CPPs.
Quantum‐Assisted Metrology of Neutral Vitamins in the Gas Phase
Authors: Mairhofer Lukas , Eibenberger Sandra , Cotter Joseph P. , Romirer Marion , Shayeghi Armin , Arndt Markus 
Published: June 2017

AbstractIt has recently been shown that matter‐wave interferometry can be used to imprint a periodic nanostructure onto a molecular beam, which provides a highly sensitive tool for beam displacement measurements. Herein, we used this feature to measure electronic properties of provitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin K1 in the gas phase for the first time. The shift of the matter‐wave fringes in a static electric field encodes the molecular susceptibility and the time‐averaged dynamic electric dipole moment. The dependence of the fringe pattern on the intensity of the central light‐wave diffraction grating was used to determine the molecular optical polarizability. Comparison of our experimental findings with molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory provides a rich picture of the electronic structures and dynamics of these biomolecules in the gas phase with β‐carotene as a particularly interesting example.
Race/Ethnicity and Cardiovascular Events Among Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Barbhaiya Medha , Feldman Candace H. , Guan Hongshu , Gómez‐Puerta Jose A. , Fischer Michael A. , Solomon Daniel H. , Everett Brendan , Costenbader Karen H. 
Published: June 2017

ObjectiveSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is more prevalent and results in more severe outcomes among blacks, Asians, and Hispanics than among whites. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among SLE patients. We undertook this study to examine racial/ethnic variations in risk of CVD events among SLE patients.MethodsWithin the Medicaid Analytic eXtract from 2000 to 2010, we identified patients ages 18–65 years with SLE (≥3 International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision 710.0 codes, ≥30 days apart) and with ≥12 months of continuous enrollment. Subjects were followed up from the index date to the first CVD event (myocardial infarction [MI] or stroke), death, disenrollment, loss to follow‐up, or end of follow‐up period. Race/ethnicity‐specific annual CVD event rates were calculated. Cox regression models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), accounting for competing risk of death and adjusting for baseline demographics and comorbidities.ResultsOf 65,788 SLE patients, 93.1% were women and ∼42% were black, 38% were white, 16% were Hispanic, 3% were Asian, and 1% were American Indian/Alaska Native. Mean ± SD follow‐up was 3.8 ± 3.1 years. CVD event rates were highest among blacks (incidence rate [IR] 10.57 [95% CI 9.96–11.22]) and lowest among Asians (IR 6.63 [95% CI 4.97–8.85]). After multivariable adjustment, risk of CVD events was increased among blacks (HR 1.14 [95% CI 1.03–1.26]) compared to whites. Hispanics and Asians had a lower risk of MI (HR 0.61 [95% CI 0.48–0.77] and HR 0.57 [95% CI 0.34–0.96], respectively), while blacks and Hispanics had a higher risk of stroke (HR 1.31 [95% CI 1.15–1.49] and HR 1.22 [95% CI 1.03–1.44], respectively).ConclusionAmong SLE patients enrolled in Medicaid, the risk of MI was lower among Hispanics and Asians compared to whites, while the risk of stroke was elevated among blacks and Hispanics compared to whites.
Transaminase Levels and Hepatic Events During Tocilizumab Treatment: Pooled Analysis of Long‐Term Clinical Trial Safety Data in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Genovese Mark C. , Kremer Joel M. , van Vollenhoven Ronald F. , Alten Rieke , Scali Juan Jose , Kelman Ariella , Dimonaco Sophie , Brockwell Laura 
Published: June 2017

ObjectiveTo investigate liver enzyme abnormalities and hepatic adverse events (AEs) during long‐term tocilizumab treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in clinical trials.MethodsData were pooled from patients who received intravenous tocilizumab (4, 8, or 10 mg/kg with or without disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs [DMARDs]) in phase III or IV clinical trials, long‐term extensions, and a pharmacology study. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were measured routinely in these trials. AE rates were measured per 100 patient‐years of tocilizumab exposure for this pooled analysis.ResultsOverall, 16,204.8 patient‐years of tocilizumab exposure (mean ± SD duration of exposure 3.9 ± 2.0 years) were evaluated for 4,171 patients. ALT and AST elevations greater than the upper limit of normal (ULN) occurred in 70.6% and 59.4% of patients, respectively. ALT/AST elevations were >1–3× ULN in 59%/55% of patients, >3–5× ULN in 8.9%/3.3% of patients, and >5× ULN in 2.9%/0.9% of patients. Most elevations occurred during the first year of treatment. Single ALT/AST elevations >3× ULN occurred in 7.7%/3.6% of patients, and ≥2 consecutive elevations >3× ULN occurred in 1.9%/0.4% of patients. Elevations >3× ULN returned to normal in 80% of patients (median of 5.6 weeks to normalization). A total of 2.5% of patients withdrew from tocilizumab treatment following ALT/AST elevations. A total of 7 hepatic serious AEs (SAEs) (0.04 per 100 patient‐years [95% confidence interval 0.02–0.09]) occurred in the tocilizumab studies.ConclusionTransaminase elevations with tocilizumab were frequent, but rates of hepatic SAEs were low in this clinical trial data set. Regular monitoring, with dose adjustment of tocilizumab/DMARDs for persistent elevations, is recommended.
A Condition for Boundedness of Solutions of Bidimensional Switched Affine Systems With Multiple Foci and Centers
Authors: Zhu Liying 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis paper studies boundedness of solutions of bidimensional switched affine linear systems. Every subsystem of the systems has a single stable/ unstable focus/ center and all the equilibria pairwise differ. By using the multiple polar coordinate systems method, this paper proposes a condition of boundedness of solutions of such switched systems under periodic/ quasi‐periodic switching paths. The condition is also shown a sufficient condition of global asymptotic region stability of such switched systems with respect to a region containing all multiple equilibria. A global asymptotic region‐stabilizing control, a periodic/ quasi‐periodic switching path, and a corresponding algorithm are all designed for such switched control systems. An illustrative example demonstrates the effectiveness and practicality of our new results.
Dead‐beat regulation of mechanical juggling systems
Authors: Menini Laura , Possieri Corrado , Tornambè Antonio 
Published: June 2017

AbstractIn this paper, mechanical systems subject to impacts and contacts, that would be not controllable if the impacts were absent (usually called jugglers), are considered. On the basis of an algorithm taken from the literature and of a new procedure to determine a reference trajectory for such a class of systems, a fully algorithmic procedure, able to compute a control input that achieves dead–beat regulation of the “uncontrollable” subsystem just by using impacts, is given. Such a procedure exploits some tools borrowed from algebraic geometry that allow to solve parametric systems of equalities and inequalities. A practical example of application of the given procedure is reported.
Improved Controller Design for Uncertain Positive Systems and its Extension to Uncertain Positive Switched Systems
Authors: Zhang Junfeng , Zhao Xudong , Zhang Ridong , Chen Yun 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis paper is concerned with the controller design of uncertain positive systems. First, we decompose the feedback gain matrix Km×n into m×n non‐negative components and m×n non‐positive components. For the non‐negative components, each component contains only one positive element and the other elements are zero. Similarly, each non‐positive component contains only one negative element and the other ones are zero. Then, a simple and effective controller design approach of uncertain positive systems is proposed by incorporating the decomposed feedback gain matrix into the resulting closed‐loop systems and further applied to uncertain positive switched systems. It is shown that the designed controller is less conservative compared with those in the literature. Finally, a numerical example is provided to verify the validity of the proposed design.
Decrease in short‐latency afferent inhibition during corticomotor postexercise depression following repetitive finger movement
Authors: Miyaguchi Shota , Kojima Sho , Sasaki Ryoki , Kotan Shinichi , Kirimoto Hikari , Tamaki Hiroyuki , Onishi Hideaki 
Published: June 2017

AbstractIntroductionThis study aimed to clarify cortical circuit mechanisms contributing to corticomotor excitability during postexercise depression (PED) following repetitive nonfatiguing movement. We investigated changes in short‐latency afferent inhibition (SAI) and short‐interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) by paired‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) during PED.MethodsA total of 16 healthy subjects performed repetitive abduction movements of the right index finger at 2.0 Hz for 6 min at 10% maximum voluntary contraction. We measured SAI evoked by pairing ulnar nerve stimulation with TMS (interstimulus interval, 22 ms) before and during PED (n = 10, experiment 1). We also measured SICI evoked by paired TMS (interstimulus interval, 2 ms) at 80% resting motor threshold (n = 10, experiment 2), and at 80% active motor threshold (n = 8, experiment 3) before and during PED.ResultsSingle motor evoked potential amplitude significantly decreased 1–2 min after the movement task in all experiments, indicating reliable PED induction. In experiment 1, SAI significantly decreased (disinhibited) 1–2 min during PED, whereas in experiments 2 and 3, SICI showed no significant change during PED.ConclusionThis study suggests that cholinergic inhibitory circuit activity decreases during PED following repetitive nonfatiguing movement, whereas GABAA circuit activity remains stable.
MyMOOCSpace: A cloud‐based mobile system to support effective collaboration in higher education online courses
Authors: Ramírez‐Donoso Luis , Rojas‐Riethmuller Juan S. , Pérez‐Sanagustín Mar , Neyem Andrés , Alario‐Hoyos Carlos 
Published: June 2017

AbstractIn recent years, institutions of higher education have been using Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) as an alternative to enhance and innovate traditional classroom practices. One of the approaches to this type of innovation consists of using the platforms where MOOCs are hosted for the development of courses that are aligned to their on‐campus curricular contents. They are known as Small Private Online Courses (SPOCs), which allow online access to knowledge for groups of students with a well‐defined profile. The platforms where MOOCs (and SPOCs) are hosted have been designed to support large volumes of data and visits. However, these platforms present important limitations regarding the implementation of collaborative learning activities. To address this problem, this article presents MyMOOCSpace, a cloud‐based mobile system aimed at supporting effective collaboration in MOOCs, by combining key aspects of collaboration from the research area of Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) with game‐based dynamics. MyMOOCSpace has been tested in three quasi‐experiments that were run in four Latin‐American universities with a total of 68 participants. The objective was to assess its usability and its effect in enhancing collaboration among students in a SPOC. The results obtained on usability show that MyMOOCSpace is easy to use, and that participants felt pleased with while using it. Finally, it was observed that MyMOOCSpace managed to enhance interaction and collaboration among students.
Data science in education: Big data and learning analytics
Authors: Klašnja‐Milićević Aleksandra , Ivanović Mirjana , Budimac Zoran 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis paper considers the data science and the summaries significance of Big Data and Learning Analytics in education. The widespread platform of making high‐quality benefits that could be achieved by exhausting big data techniques in the field of education is considered. One principal architecture framework to support education research is proposed.