bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Near–infrared photodynamic inactivation of S. pneumoniae and its interaction with RAW 264.7 macrophages
Authors: Leite Ilaiáli S. , Geralde Mariana C. , Salina Ana C.G. , Medeiros Alexandra I. , Dovigo Lívia N. , Bagnato Vanderlei S. , Inada Natalia M. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractPneumonia is the main cause of children mortality worldwide, and its major treatment obstacle stems from the microorganisms increasing development of resistance to several antibiotics. Photodynamic therapy has been presenting, for the last decades, promising results for some subtypes of cancer and infections. In this work we aimed to develop a safe and efficient in vitro protocol for photodynamic inactivation of Streptococcus pneumoniae, one of the most commonly found bacteria in pneumonia cases, using two near‐infrared light sources and indocyanine green, a FDA approved dye. Photodynamic inactivation experiments with bacteria alone allowed to determine the best parameters for microbial inactivation. Cytotoxicity assays with RAW 264.7 macrophages evaluated the safety of the PDI. To determine if the photodynamic inactivation had a positive or negative effect on the natural killing action of macrophages, we selected and tested fewer indocyanine green concentrations and 10 J/cm2 on macrophage‐S. pneumoniae co‐cultures. We concluded that ICG has potential as a photosensitizer for near‐infrared photodynamic inactivation of S. pneumoniae, producing minimum negative impact on RAW 264.7 macrophages and having a positive interaction with the immune cell's microbicidal action.magnified image
Evaluation of Prediction of Polymorphisms of DNA Repair Genes on the Efficacy of Platinum‐Based Chemotherapy in Patients With Non‐Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Network Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Yu Shao‐Nan , Liu Gui‐Feng , Li Xue‐Feng , Fu Bao‐Hong , Dong Li‐Xin , Zhang Shu‐Hua 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACTThis network meta‐analysis (NMA) was conducted to compare the predictive value of 14 SNPs in eight DNA repair genes on the efficacy of platinum‐based chemotherapy in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These included ERCC1 (rs11615, rs3212986, rs3212948), XRCC1 (rs25487, rs25489, rs1799782), XPD (rs13181, rs1799793), XPG (rs1047768, rs17655), XPA (rs1800975), XRCC3 (rs861539), APE1 (rs3136820), and RRM1 (rs1042858). The PubMed and Cochrane library databases were reviewed from their inception to February 2017 and studies which met our inclusion criteria were included in our investigation. This network meta‐analysis combines direct and indirect evidence to assess the predictive value of 14 SNPs in eight DNA repair genes on the efficacy of platinum‐based chemotherapy in NSCLC. We evaluated the predictive value through the use of the odd ratios (OR) and drawing surface under the cumulative ranking curves (SUCRA). A total of 26 eligible cohort studies were enrolled in this NMA. The pairwise meta‐analysis indicated that in terms of overall response ratio (ORR), ERCC1 (rs11615), XRCC1 (rs25487, rs1799782), and XPD (rs13181) polymorphisms are associated with the efficacy of platinum‐based chemotherapy in NSCLC. The result of this NMA suggests that there is no significant difference in predictive value of 8 DNA repair genes on the efficacy of platinum‐based chemotherapy in NSCLC patients. The rank of SUCRA values of the 14 SNPs in the eight DNA repair genes were: XPD (rs1799793)→ERCC1 (rs3212986)→XPA(rs1800975)→ERCC1(rs3212948)→XRCC1(rs25487)→XRCC3(rs861539)→APE1(rs3136820)→ERCC1(rs11615)→XRCC1(rs1799782)→RRM1(rs1042858)→XPD(rs13181)→XPG (rs1047768)→XPG(rs17655)→XRCC1(rs25489). ERCC1(rs11615), XRCC1(rs25487, rs1799782) and XPD(rs13181) polymorphisms were better predictors in evaluating the efficacy of platinum‐based chemotherapy in NSCLC patients. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 4782–4791, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rainbow spanning trees in complete graphs colored by one‐factorizations
Authors: Horn Paul 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBrualdi and Hollingsworth conjectured that, for even n, in a proper edge coloring of using precisely colors, the edge set can be partitioned into spanning trees which are rainbow (and hence, precisely one edge from each color class is in each spanning tree). They proved that there always are two edge disjoint rainbow spanning trees. Krussel, Marshall, and Verrall improved this to three edge disjoint rainbow spanning trees. Recently, Carraher, Hartke and the author proved a theorem improving this to rainbow spanning trees, even when more general edge colorings of are considered. In this article, we show that if is properly edge colored with colors, a positive fraction of the edges can be covered by edge disjoint rainbow spanning trees.
Determination of oral bioavailability of curcuminoid dispersions and nanoemulsions prepared from Curcuma longa Linnaeus
Authors: Lu Pei Shan , Inbaraj Baskaran Stephen , Chen Bing Huei 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDCurcuminoid from Curcuma longa Linnaeus has been demonstrated to be effective in anti‐cancer and anti‐inflammation. The objectives of the present study were to prepare curcuminoid dispersion and nanoemulsion from C. longa and determine their oral bioavailabilities in rats.RESULTSAfter curcuminoid extraction using 99.5% ethanol, bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), demethoxycurcumin (DMC) and curcumin were separated within 10 min by high‐performance liquid chromatography using an Eclipse XDB‐C18 column (Agilent, Palo Alto, CA, USA) and a gradient mobile phase of 0.1% aqueous formic acid and acetonitrile, with a flow rate of 1 mL min−1, column temperature of 35 °C and detection wavelength of 425 nm. Curcuminoid nanoemulsion at a particle size of 12.1 nm and encapsulation efficiency 98.8% was prepared using lecithin, Tween 80 and water. A pharmacokinetic study in rats revealed that the parameters including Tmax, Cmax, t1/2 and the area under the curve were higher for curcuminoid nanoemulsions than for curcuminoid dispersion at the same dose employed for gavage administration, whereas, for intravenous injection, an opposite trend was shown. The oral bioavailabilities of BDMC, DMC, curcumin and total curcuminoids in nanoemulsion and dispersion were 34.39 and 4.65%, 39.93 and 5.49%, 47.82 and 9.38%, and 46 and 8.7%, respectively.CONCLUSIONThe results of the present study demonstrate a higher oral bioavailability after incorporation of curcuminoid into nanoemulsion, facilitating its application as a botanic drug. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Selective analysis of aristolochic acid I in herbal medicines by dummy molecularly imprinted solid‐phase extraction and HPLC
Authors: Ge Yanhui , Guo Pengqi , Xu Xinya , Chen Guoning , Zhang Xuemei , Shu Hua , Zhang Bilin , Luo Zhimin , Chang Chun , Fu Qiang 
Published: May 2017

In this study, surface molecularly imprinted polymers were prepared as the selective sorbents for separation of aristolochic acid I in herbal medicine extracts by a facile approach. A less toxic dummy template, ofloxacin, was used to create specific molecule recognition sites for aristolochic acid I in the synthesized polymers. The polymers were characterized by Fourier‐transfer infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analysis, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption test. The adsorption capacity was calculated using adsorption kinetics, selectivity, and recycling experiments. The obtained polymers exhibited high thermostability, fast equilibrium time, and excellent binding ability. Subsequently, the polymers applied as the solid‐phase extraction absorbent was proposed and used for the enrichment and analysis of aristolochic acid I in herbal plants. The result showed that the aristolochic acid I was enriched up to 16 times after analysis by using high‐performance liquid chromatography. The good linearity for aristolochic acid I was obtained in the range of 0.1–200 μg/mL (R2 = 0.9987). The recovery and precision values were obtained (64.94–77.73%, RSDs% ≤ 0.8%, n = 3) at three spiked concentration levels. This work provided a promising method for selective enrichment, extraction, and purification of aristolochic acid I from complex herbal plants.
Thermal Properties of Graphene Filled Polymer Composite Thermal Interface Materials
Authors: Zhang Ping , Zeng Jianhua , Zhai Siping , Xian Yaoqi , Yang Daoguo , Li Qiang 
Published: May 2017

Recent years have witnessed a staggering escalation in the power density of modern electronic devices. Because increasingly high power density accumulates heat, efficient heat removal has become a critical limitation for the performance, reliability, and further development of modern electronic devices. Thermal interface materials (TIMs) are widely employed between the two solid contact surfaces of heat sources and heat sinks to increase heat removal for electric devices. Composites of graphene and matrix materials are expected to be the most promising TIMs because of the remarkable thermal conductivity of graphene. Here, the recent research on the thermal properties of graphene filled polymer composite TIMs is reviewed. First, the composition of graphene filled polymer composite TIMs is introduced. Then, the synthetic methods for graphene filled polymer composite TIMs are primarily described. This study focuses on introducing the methods for improving and characterizing the thermal properties of graphene filled polymer composite TIMs. Furthermore, the challenges facing graphene filled poly­mer composite TIMs for thermal management applications in the modern electronic industry and the further progress required in this field are discussed.
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Effects of Alkyl Aluminum on SiO2‐Supported Silyl‐Chromate(Cr)/Imido‐Vanadium(V) Bimetallic Catalysts for Producing Bimodal Polyethylene
Authors: Liu Bangming , Zhao Ning , Jin Yulong , Cheng Ruihua , He Xuelian , Liu Zhen , Liu Boping 
Published: May 2017

AbstractSiO2‐supported Cr–V bimetallic catalyst can be used for producing bimodal polyethylene which can be applied for high‐performance pipe material. Alkyl aluminum are used to prereduce the bimetallic catalysts, and the effects of alkyl aluminum for the bimetallic catalyst are fully studied by catalyst characterization, polymerization kinetics, and the properties of polymer product by the comparison with the catalyst without prereduction. The result shows that the optimum polymerization activity is almost double after the catalyst is prereduced by triisobutylaluminum (TIBA), and the needed dosage of alkyl aluminum also is decreased significantly. The alkyl aluminum of the prereduced catalyst can also act as a chain transfer agent, significantly reducing the molecular weight of the polymer. The diethylaluminum chloride (DEAC) is mostly deactivating the Cr species during the ethylene polymerization. The synthesized catalysts, prereduced by TIBA, triethylaluminum (TEA), and DEAC, all exhibited good hydrogen response and comonomer interposition ability, which will be favorable for the further application of the bimetallic catalyst in the industrial field.
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Simultaneous measurement of T2 and apparent diffusion coefficient (T2+ADC) in the heart with motion‐compensated spin echo diffusion‐weighted imaging
Authors: Aliotta Eric , Moulin Kévin , Zhang Zhaohuan , Ennis Daniel B. 
Published: May 2017

PurposeTo evaluate a technique for simultaneous quantitative T2 and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping in the heart (T2+ADC) using spin echo (SE) diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI).Theory and MethodsT2 maps from T2+ADC were compared with single‐echo SE in phantoms and with T2‐prepared (T2‐prep) balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP) in healthy volunteers. ADC maps from T2+ADC were compared with conventional DWI in phantoms and in vivo. T2+ADC was also demonstrated in a patient with acute myocardial infarction (MI).ResultsPhantom T2 values from T2+ADC were closer to a single‐echo SE reference than T2‐prep bSSFP (–2.3 ± 6.0% vs 22.2 ± 16.3%; P < 0.01), and ADC values were in excellent agreement with DWI (0.28 ± 0.4%). In volunteers, myocardial T2 values from T2+ADC were significantly shorter than T2‐prep bSSFP (35.8 ± 3.1 vs 46.8 ± 3.8 ms; P < 0.01); myocardial ADC was not significantly (N.S.) different between T2+ADC and conventional motion‐compensated DWI (1.39 ± 0.18 vs 1.38 ± 0.18 mm2/ms; P = N.S.). In the patient, T2 and ADC were both significantly elevated in the infarct compared with remote myocardium (T2: 40.4 ± 7.6 vs 56.8 ± 22.0; P < 0.01; ADC: 1.47 ± 0.59 vs 1.65 ± 0.65 mm2/ms; P < 0.01).ConclusionT2+ADC generated coregistered, free‐breathing T2 and ADC maps in healthy volunteers and a patient with acute MI with no cost in accuracy, precision, or scan time compared with DWI. Magn Reson Med 79:654–662, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Multiple boli arterial spin labeling for high signal‐to‐noise rodent brain perfusion imaging
Authors: Vallatos Antoine , Gilmour Lesley , Chalmers Anthony J. , Holmes William M. 
Published: May 2017

PurposeA systematic method is proposed for optimizing a promising preclinical arterial spin labeling (ASL) sequence based on the use of a train of adiabatic radiofrequency pulses labeling successive boli of blood water.MethodsThe sequence optimization is performed and evaluated using brain imaging experiments in mice and in rats. It involves the investigation of several parameters, ranging from the number of adiabatic pulses and labeling duration to the properties of the adiabatic hyperbolic secant pulses (ie, amplitude and frequency modulation).ResultsSpecies‐dependent parameters are identified, allowing for robust fast optimization protocols to be introduced. The resulting optimized multiple boli ASL (mbASL) sequence provides with significantly higher average signal‐to‐noise ratios (SNR) per voxel volume than currently encountered in ASL studies (278 mm−3 in mice and 172 mm−3 in rats). Comparing with the commonly used flow‐sensitive alternating inversion recovery technique (FAIR), mbASL‐to‐FAIR SNR ratios reach 203% for mice and 725% for rats.ConclusionWhen properly optimized, mbASL can offer a robust, high SNR ASL alternative for rodent brain perfusion studies Magn Reson Med 79:1020–1030, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Dynamic and steady‐state oxygen‐dependent lung relaxometry using inversion recovery ultra‐fast steady‐state free precession imaging at 1.5 T
Authors: Bauman Grzegorz , Pusterla Orso , Santini Francesco , Bieri Oliver 
Published: May 2017

PurposeTo demonstrate the feasibility of oxygen‐dependent relaxometry in human lung using an inversion recovery ultra‐fast steady‐state free precession (IR‐ufSSFP) technique.MethodsElectrocardiogram‐triggered pulmonary relaxometry with IR‐ufSSFP was performed in 7 healthy human subjects at 1.5 T. The data were acquired under both normoxic and hyperoxic conditions. In a single breath‐hold of less than 9 seconds, 30 transient state IR‐ufSSFP images were acquired, yielding longitudinal (T1) and transversal (T2) relaxometry parameter maps using voxel‐wise nonlinear fitting. Possible spatial misalignments between consecutive IR‐ufSSFP parameter maps were corrected using elastic image registration. Furthermore, dynamic relaxometry oxygen wash‐in and wash‐out scans were performed in one volunteer. From this, T1‐related wash‐in and wash‐out time constants (τwi, τwo) were calculated voxel‐wise on registered maps using an exponential fitting model.ResultsFor healthy lung, observed T1 values were 1399 ± 77 and 1290 ± 76 ms under normoxic and hyperoxic conditions, respectively. Oxygen‐related reduction of T1 was statistically significant in every volunteer. No statistically significant change, however, was observed in T2, with normoxic and hyperoxic T2 values of 55 ± 16 and 56 ± 17 ms, respectively. The observed average τwi was 87.0 ± 28.7 seconds, whereas the average τwo was 73.5 ± 21.6 seconds.ConclusionIR‐ufSSFP allows fast, steady‐state, and dynamic oxygen‐dependent relaxometry of the human lung. Magn Reson Med 79:839–845, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Assessment of the Relationship between Body Mass Index and Incidence of Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalized Overweight and Obese Patients
Authors: Samuel Sophie , Gomez Leigh , Savarraj Jude P , Bajgur Suhas , Choi Huimahn A. 
Published: May 2017

Study ObjectiveTo assess whether a positive linear association exists between body mass index (BMI) and incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in overweight and obese hospitalized patients.DesignSingle‐center retrospective observational cohort study.SettingLarge academic tertiary care medical center.PatientsA total of 1452 adults hospitalized between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2014, who weighed more than 100 kg and had a BMI of 25 kg/m2 or greater on admission, and received heparin subcutaneously for VTE prophylaxis. Patients were categorized into four subgroups based on World Health Organization BMI classification: overweight (141 patients), obese class I (305 patients), obese class II (324 patients), and obese class III (682 patients).Measurements and Main ResultsThe primary outcome was occurrence of VTE in each subgroup; all‐cause mortality and length of hospital stay were secondary outcomes. A linear trend test did not show an association between occurrence of VTE and BMI of 25 kg/m2 or greater. VTE occurred in 7 (5%) of 141 patients in the overweight group, 5 (2%) of 305 in the obese class I group, 8 (3%) of 324 in the class II group, and 18 (3%) of 682 in the class III group (p=0.573). In addition, no linear association was noted between all‐cause mortality or length of hospital stay and BMI of 25 kg/m2 or greater. Overall mortality was 10% (146/1452 patients). Ten deaths (7%) occurred in the overweight group, 45 (15%) in the obese class I group, 38 (12%) in the obese class II group, and 53 (8%) in the obese class III group (p=0.067). The median length of hospital stay was 5 days (interquartile range 3–9, p=0.122) for all patients.ConclusionIn overweight and obese hospitalized patients who weighed more than 100 kg and had a BMI of 25 kg/m2 or greater, the incidence of VTE did not increase incrementally with increasing severity of obesity.
CudaFilters: A SignalPlant library for GPU‐accelerated FFT and FIR filtering
Authors: Nejedly Petr , Plesinger Filip , Halamek Josef , Jurak Pavel 
Published: May 2017

SummarySignal filtering is one of the essential tasks in signal processing. It may become an extremely time‐consuming process, as in the case of intracranial electroencephalogram recordings (eg, 30‐min records) with a large number of channels (up to 256) and high sampling frequencies (up to 5 kHz in research related to ultra‐high‐frequency oscillations). The usual way of dealing with time consumption is process parallelization. Moreover, parallelization using graphic processing unit (GPU) allows further shortening of computing times thanks to the large number of GPU cores. This paper describes a library for GPU‐accelerated finite impulse response (FIR) and fast Fourier transform (FFT) filtering—“CudaFilters.” This library is designed for SignalPlant software—a free tool for signal analysis. The resultant acceleration in computing times was 5× to 40× depending on the task, data, and hardware configuration. The results were also compared to computing speeds in Matlab.
2‐Methoxylated FA Display Unusual Antibacterial Activity Towards Clinical Isolates of Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CIMRSA) and Escherichia coli
Authors: Carballeira Néstor M. , Montano Nashbly , Morales Christian , Mooney Joseph , Torres Xiomara , Díaz Dakeishla , Sanabria‐Rios David J. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe naturally occurring (6Z)‐(±)‐2‐methoxy‐6‐hexadecenoic acid (1) and (6Z)‐(±)‐2‐methoxy‐6‐octadecenoic acid (2) were synthesized in 7–8 steps with 38 and 13% overall yields, respectively, by using an acetylide coupling approach, which made it possible to obtain a 100% cis‐stereochemistry for the double bonds. In a similar fashion, the acetylenic analogs (±)‐2‐methoxy‐6‐hexadecynoic acid (3) and (±)‐2‐methoxy‐6‐octadecynoic acid (4) were also synthesized in 6–7 steps with 48 and 16% overall yields, respectively. The antibacterial activity of acids 1–4 was determined against clinical isolates of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (ClMRSA) and Escherichia coli. Among the series of compounds, acid 4 was the most active bactericide towards CIMRSA displaying IC50s (half maximal inhibitory concentrations) between 17 and 37 μg/mL, in sharp contrast to the 6‐octadecynoic acid, which was not bactericidal at all. On the other hand, acids 1 and 3 were the only acids that displayed antibacterial activity towards E. coli, but 1 stood out as the best candidate with an IC50 of 21 μg/mL. The critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) of acids 1–4 were also determined. The C18 acids 2 and 4 displayed a five‐fold lower CMC (15–20 μg/mL) than the C16 analogs 1 and 3 (70–100 μg/mL), indicating that 4 exerts its antibacterial activity in a micellar state. None of the studied acids were inhibitory towards S. aureus DNA gyrase discounting this type of enzyme inhibition as a possible antibacterial mechanism. It was concluded that the combination of α‐methoxylation and C‐6 unsaturation increases the bactericidal activity of the C16 and C18 FA towards the studied bacterial strains. Acids 1 and 4 stand out as viable candidates to be used against E. coli and CIMRSA, respectively.
Salivary exosomal PSMA7: a promising biomarker of inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Zheng Xiaowen , Chen Feng , Zhang Qian , Liu Yulan , You Peng , Sun Shan , Lin Jiuxiang , Chen Ning 
Published: May 2017

AbstractInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an intestinal immune-dysfunctional disease worldwide whose prevalence increasing in Asia including China. It is a chronic disease of the gastrointestinal tract with unknown cause. Exosomes are small vesicles in various body fluids. They have diameters of 40–120 nm, and one of their functions is long-distance transfer of various substances. In this study, we investigated the contents of salivary exosomes in patients with IBD and in healthy controls to explore a new biomarker in patients with IBD. In this study, whole saliva was obtained from patients with IBD (ulcerative colitis (UC), n = 37; Crohn’s disease (CD), n = 11) and apparently healthy individuals (HC, n = 10). Salivary exosomes were extracted from samples, and the proteins within the exosomes were identified by liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS). The results showed that more than 2000 proteins were detected in salivary exosomes from patients with IBD. Through gene ontology analysis, we found that proteasome subunit alpha type 7 (PSMA7) showed especially marked differences between patients with IBD and the healthy controls, in that its expression level was much higher in the CD and UC groups. This exosomal protein is related to proteasome activity and inflammatory responses. So we conclude that in this research, salivary exosomal PSMA7 was present at high levels in salivary exosomes from subjects with IBD. It can be a very promising biomarker to release the patients from the pain of colonoscopy.