bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Antiretroviral Agent Nelfinavir Mesylate
Authors: Sanchez Cecilia G. , Molinski Steven V. , Gongora Rafael , Sosulski Meredith , Fuselier Taylor , MacKinnon Stephen S. , Mondal Debasis , Lasky Joseph A. 
Published: September 2017

ObjectiveTransforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) is considered a key factor in fibrogenesis, and blocking TGFβ1 signaling pathways diminishes fibrogenesis in animal models. The objective of this study was to determine whether nelfinavir mesylate (NFV), a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating HIV infection, could be repurposed to treat pulmonary fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).MethodsNormal human lung, ventricular, and skin fibroblasts as well as lung fibroblasts from SSc patients were used to determine the effects of NFV on fibroblast‐to‐myofibroblast differentiation mediated by TGFβ1. The efficacy of NFV was also evaluated in an animal model of SSc (bleomycin‐induced pulmonary fibrosis). In addition, in silico analysis was performed to determine novel off‐target effects of NFV.ResultsNFV inhibited TGFβ1‐mediated fibroblast‐to‐myofibroblast differentiation in lung fibroblasts through inhibition of the TGFβ1 canonical pathway. NFV also inhibited differentiation of skin and ventricular fibroblasts and adipocyte precursors into myofibroblasts. Activation of the TGFβ1/mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway inhibited autophagy in lung fibroblasts, favoring collagen deposition, and NFV counteracted this effect in a dose‐dependent manner. Moreover, NFV significantly reduced lung injury and collagen deposition in an animal model of SSc. In silico analysis of NFV binding proteins revealed new putative beneficial mechanisms of action, consistent with known common pathways in fibrogenesis.ConclusionNFV abrogates TGFβ1‐mediated fibroblast‐to‐myofibroblast differentiation and pulmonary fibrosis through off‐target protein binding, a finding that supports consideration of this FDA‐approved medication as an antifibrotic agent.
Guidewire electrosurgery‐assisted trans‐septal puncture
Authors: Khan Jaffar M. , Rogers Toby , Eng Marvin H. , Lederman Robert J. , Greenbaum Adam B. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractObjectivesElectrifying a coronary guidewire may be a simple escalation strategy when trans‐septal needle puncture is unsuccessful.BackgroundRadiofrequency energy to facilitate trans‐septal puncture through a dedicated device is costly and directly through a trans‐septal needle may be less safe. Our technique overcomes these limitations.MethodsThe technique was used in patients when trans‐septal needle penetration failed despite excessive force or tenting of the atrial septum. A coronary guidewire, connected to an electrosurgery pencil, was advanced through the trans‐septal needle, dilator, and sheath to perforate the interatrial septum during a short burst of radiofrequency energy. With the guidewire tip no longer “active,” the dilator and sheath were advanced safely over the wire into the left atrium.In posthoc validation, radiofrequency assisted Brockenbrough needle and coronary guidewire punctures were made in freshly explanted pig hearts and compared under microscopy.ResultsEight patients who required trans‐septal access for structural intervention were escalated to a guidewire electrosurgery strategy. Six patients had thickened fibrotic septum and two had prior surgical patch repair. Crossing was successful in all patients with no procedure related complications.The size of punctures (1.11 ± 0.40 mm vs 0.37 ± 0.08 mm, P = .009) and blanched penumbra (3.62 ± 1.23 mm vs 0.72 ± 0.29 mm, P = .003) in pig atrial septum were larger with an electrified needle than electrified guidewire. The hole generated by the electrified guidewire was smaller than by the nonelectrified needle.ConclusionsWhen conventional trans‐septal puncture fails, a coronary guidewire can be used to deliver brief radiofrequency energy safely and effectively. This technique is inexpensive and accessible to operators.
Management of left main coronary artery obstruction after transcatheter aortic valve replacement utilizing a periscope approach
Authors: Drexel Todd , Helmer Gregory , Garcia Santiago , Raveendran Ganesh 
Published: September 2017

AbstractCoronary obstruction is a rare but potentially fatal complication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). It can result from native leaflet or stent frame obstruction of the coronary ostia. There are reports detailing the difficulty of percutaneous coronary intervention following TAVR, but none that describe a periscope approach to access the left main ostia in the presence of a braided nitinol frame. This report describes an alternative approach to access a coronary artery when the valve stent struts are prohibitive to equipment delivery.
A comparison of the fully repositionable and retrievable Boston Lotus and direct flow medical valves for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis: A single center experience
Authors: Giannini Francesco , Latib Azeem , Montorfano Matteo , Ruparelia Neil , Romano Vittorio , Longoni Matteo , Ferri Luca , Jabbour Richard , Mangieri Antonio , Regazzoli Damiano , Ancona Marco , Buzzatti Nicola , Azzalini Lorenzo , Tanaka Akihito , Agricola Eustachio , Chieffo Alaide , Alfieri Ottavio , Colombo Antonio 
Published: September 2017

AbstractBackgroundSecond generation transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) devices have been designed to reduce the rate of paravalvular leak (PVL) and other complications. An important technological advancement has been the ability to fully reposition devices to facilitate optimal implantation depth and position to reduce the likelihood of PVL.ObjectivesTo compare procedural and 30‐day outcomes according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC)‐2 criteria following TAVI with the fully repositionable and retrievable Lotus and DFM devices.Methods and Results175 patients with severe aortic stenosis underwent transfemoral TAVI with the Lotus (n = 60) and DFM (n = 115) valve. Baseline clinical characteristics did not differ between the two groups. All devices were successfully implanted, with one case of valve embolization in the Lotus group. Device success (95 vs. 98.2%, P = 0.89), VARC‐defined combined safety (90 vs. 93%, P = 0.48), and clinical efficacy (86.7 vs. 90.4%, P = 0.65) rates at 30‐days were similar between Lotus and DFM groups. There was no severe PVL; one patient in both Lotus and DFM group developed moderate PVL after the procedure. The Lotus valve was associated with a higher rate of new pacemaker implantation (37.3 vs. 11.2%, P < 0.001) and a lower mean aortic gradient (9.4 ± 5 vs. 12.3 ± 5, P < 0.001) at 30‐days as compared with the DFM valve.ConclusionsIn this single‐center, retrospective analysis, both Lotus and DFM devices demonstrated excellent device success, safety and efficacy at 30‐day follow‐up. The DFM valve was associated with minimally higher transvalvular gradients but lower new pacemaker implantation rates when compared to the Lotus valve.
A Bunch‐like Copper Oxide Nanowire Array as an Efficient, Durable, and Economical Catalyst for the Methanolysis of Ammonia Borane
Authors: Cui Liang , Cao Xueying , Sun Xuping , Yang Wenrong , Liu Jingquan 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe dehydrogenation of ammonia borane (AB) is an effective method to produce and store hydrogen, but efficient, durable, and low‐costing dehydrogenation catalysts are lacking. In this work, we successfully prepared a self‐supported bunch‐like copper oxide nanowire array on copper foam (b‐CuO NA/CF) through a facile in situ wet oxidation and annealing method. b‐CuO NA/CF shows high catalytic activity for the methanolysis of AB with an initial turnover frequency of 13.3 mol
molCuO−1 min−1 and an activation energy of 34.7 kJ mol−1. Moreover, this self‐supported bunch‐like nanoarray catalyst could be easily separated from fuel solutions with excellent stability and maintained its activity even after prolonged use. It is thus an efficient, economical, and durable catalyst for hydrogen fuel cells.
Ultrathin Cobalt‐Based Metal–Organic Framework Nanosheets with Both Metal and Ligand Redox Activities for Superior Lithium Storage
Authors: Ning Yanqun , Lou Xiaobing , Li Chao , Hu Xiaoshi , Hu Bingwen 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe controllable synthesis and structural tailoring of nanostructured metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is of huge significance in boosting their potential for rechargeable batteries. We herein present the facile synthesis of cobalt‐based ultrathin metal–organic framework nanosheets (referred to as “u‐CoTDA”) by using 2,5‐thiophenedicarboxylic (H2TDA) as the organic building block through a one‐pot ultrasonic method for the first time. The obtained u‐CoTDA exhibits high reversible capacity (790 mAh g−1 after 400 cycles at 1 A g−1) and excellent rate capability (694 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1), which outperforms its bulk counterpart. Moreover, the detailed lithiation/delithiation processes of u‐CoTDA were studied by the combination of Co K‐edge X‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), O K‐edge soft X‐ray spectroscopy (sXAS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques, which demonstrate that both the CoII centers and organic ligands of u‐CoTDA are involved in the reduction/oxidation processes.
Synthesis of Tetranuclear Palladium(II) Complexes and Their Catalytic Activity for Cross‐Coupling Reactions
Authors: Puls Florian , Richter Nils , Kataeva Olga , Knölker Hans‐Joachim 
Published: September 2017

AbstractWe have developed a short and simple synthesis of tetranuclear palladium(II) complexes that have been structurally confirmed by X‐ray analysis. These complexes were formed in about 30 % overall yield by spontaneous metalation of dimethylaminoarene derivatives and exhibit a high stability. We have studied the utility of the tetranuclear palladium(II) complexes as precatalysts for Mizoroki–Heck and Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reactions. Our novel complexes show excellent catalytic activities with high turnover numbers (TON) and high turnover frequencies (TOF) (e.g., for the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction: TON up to 538000 and TOF up to 23400 h−1 at room temperature).
Circuit model of photoswitchable proteins
Authors: Rakos Balázs 
Published: September 2017

SummaryReversibly photoswitchable fluorescent proteins have already found applications in many biology‐related areas such as superresolution cellular imaging, interaction, and movement tracking of proteins. However, they are of great potential in information storage systems, and logic computing circuits of the future, as well. In this work, we present a simple circuit model capable of simulating the photoswitching behavior of such proteins. The circuit consists of basic electronic elements, and it can be easily extended to simulate complex photoswitching behavior, as well.
On gel electrophoresis of dielectric charged particles with hydrophobic surface: A combined theoretical and numerical study
Authors: Majee Partha Sarathi , Bhattacharyya Somnath , Gopmandal Partha Pratim , Ohshima Hiroyuki 
Published: September 2017

AbstractA theoretical study on the gel electrophoresis of a charged particle incorporating the effects of dielectric polarization and surface hydrophobicity at the particle–liquid interface is made. A simplified model based on the weak applied field and low charge density assumption is also presented and compared with the full numerical model for a nonpolarizable particle to elucidate the nonlinear effects such as double layer polarization and relaxation as well as surface conduction. The main motivation of this study is to analyze the electrophoresis of the surface functionalized nanoparticle with tunable hydrophobicity or charged fluid drop in gel medium by considering the electrokinetic effects and hydrodynamic interactions between the particle and the gel medium. An effective medium approach, in which the transport in the electrolyte‐saturated hydrogel medium is governed by the Brinkman equation, is adopted in the present analysis. The governing electrokinetic equations based on the conservation principles are solved numerically. The Navier‐slip boundary condition along with the continuity condition of dielectric displacement are imposed on the surface of the hydrophobic polarizable particle. The impact of the slip length on the electrophoresis is profound for a thinner Debye layer, however, surface conduction effect also becomes significant for a hydrophobic particle. Impact of hydrophobicity and relaxation effects are higher for a larger particle. Dielectric polarization creates a reduction in its electrophoretic propulsion and has negligible impact at the thinner Debye length as well as lower gel screening length.
A large‐scale medieval dam‐lake cascade in central Europe: Water level dynamics of the Havel River, Berlin–Brandenburg region, Germany
Authors: Kaiser Knut , Keller Nora , Brande Arthur , Dalitz Stefan , Hensel Nicola , Heußner Karl‐Uwe , Kappler Christoph , Michas Uwe , Müller Joachim , Schwalbe Grit , Weiße Roland , Bens Oliver 
Published: September 2017

AbstractAn interdisciplinary study was carried out to trace the hydrological changes of the Havel River in northeastern central Europe over the last ca. 2000 years. This research was driven by the hypothesis that the present‐day riverscape is to a large degree a result of medieval and modern human transformation of the drainage system. The river system forms a series of dammed lakes and river sections that were greatly altered through hydraulic engineering in the past. Along the middle course of the Havel, 16 sedimentary sequences available for geoarchaeological and paleoecological research were analyzed in order to reconstruct regional water level dynamics. Chronological control was ensured through a multitude of palynological, dendrochronological, archaeological, and radiocarbon data. The sections upriver from the Brandenburg/H. and Spandau weirs, representing sites with historic watermills, reveal substantial water level changes during the late Holocene. Generally, lower water levels before and higher levels during the medieval German colonization of that area (ca. A.D. 1180/1250) can be inferred. This water level increase, which is primarily attributed to dams constructed for watermills and secondarily due to a multitude of fish weirs, took place rapidly and amounted to a relative height of ca. 1.5 m. It enlarged the river's cross‐sections and increased the size of existing lakes or initiated secondary lakes that previously aggraded, and thus caused flooding of large parts of land. The rising water level even influenced the settlement topography to a large degree. Several medieval rural settlements were abandoned due to flooding. In total, a ca. 150‐km long dammed lake cascade was formed.
Altered white‐matter integrity in unaffected siblings of probands with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Chien Yi‐Ling , Chen Yu‐Jen , Hsu Yung‐Chin , Tseng Wen‐Yih Isaac , Gau Susan Shur‐Fen 
Published: September 2017

AbstractDespite the evidence of altered white‐matter tract property in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), little is known about their unaffected siblings. This study aimed to investigate white‐matter integrity in unaffected siblings of ASD probands. Thirty‐nine unaffected siblings (mean age 15.6 ± 6.0 years; 27 males, 69.2%) and 39 typically developing controls (TDC) (14.2 ± 5.6 years; 26 males, 66.7%) were assessed with diffusion spectrum images and neuropsychological tests. Using the tract‐based automatic analysis and the threshold‐free cluster weighted (TFCW) scores, we searched for the segments among 76 tracts with the largest difference over the entire brain compared to TDC. Tract integrity was quantified by calculating the mean generalized fractional anisotropy (mGFA) values of the segments with the largest difference in TFCW scores. Unaffected siblings showed reduced mGFA in the bilateral frontal aslant tracts, the right superior longitudinal fasciculus 2 (SLF2), the frontostriatal tracts from the right dorsolateral and left ventrolateral prefrontal cortices, the thalamic radiations of the left ventral and the right dorsal thalamus, the callosal fibers of the splenium, and the increased mGFA of the callosal fibers of the precuneus and the left inferior longitudinal fasciculus. Among these, reduced right SLF2 mGFA was associated with social awareness deficits; impaired frontostriatal tract was associated with internalizing problems, while right frontal aslant tract integrity was associated with visual memory deficits. In conclusion, unaffected siblings showed the aberrant integrity of several white‐matter tracts, which were correlated with clinical symptoms and neurocognitive dysfunction. The altered tract integrity could be further examined in the probands with ASD. Hum Brain Mapp 38:6053–6067, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Gray matter volumes of early sensory regions are associated with individual differences in sensory processing
Authors: Yoshimura Sayaka , Sato Wataru , Kochiyama Takanori , Uono Shota , Sawada Reiko , Kubota Yasutaka , Toichi Motomi 
Published: September 2017

AbstractSensory processing (i.e., the manner in which the nervous system receives, modulates, integrates, and organizes sensory stimuli) is critical when humans are deciding how to react to environmental demands. Although behavioral studies have shown that there are stable individual differences in sensory processing, the neural substrates that implement such differences remain unknown. To investigate this issue, structural magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired from 51 healthy adults and individual differences in sensory processing were assessed using the Sensory Profile questionnaire (Brown et al.: Am J Occup Ther 55 (2001) 75–82). There were positive relationships between the Sensory Profile modality‐specific subscales and gray matter volumes in the primary or secondary sensory areas for the visual, auditory, touch, and taste/smell modalities. Thus, the present results suggest that individual differences in sensory processing are implemented by the early sensory regions. Hum Brain Mapp 38:6206–6217, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Do hospitals respond to rivals' quality and efficiency? A spatial panel econometric analysis
Authors: Longo Francesco , Siciliani Luigi , Gravelle Hugh , Santos Rita 
Published: September 2017

AbstractWe investigate whether hospitals in the English National Health Service change their quality or efficiency in response to changes in quality or efficiency of neighbouring hospitals. We first provide a theoretical model that predicts that a hospital will not respond to changes in the efficiency of its rivals but may change its quality or efficiency in response to changes in the quality of rivals, though the direction of the response is ambiguous. We use data on eight quality measures (including mortality, emergency readmissions, patient reported outcome, and patient satisfaction) and six efficiency measures (including bed occupancy, cancelled operations, and costs) for public hospitals between 2010/11 and 2013/14 to estimate both spatial cross‐sectional and spatial fixed‐ and random‐effects panel data models. We find that although quality and efficiency measures are unconditionally spatially correlated, the spatial regression models suggest that a hospital's quality or efficiency does not respond to its rivals' quality or efficiency, except for a hospital's overall mortality that is positively associated with that of its rivals. The results are robust to allowing for spatially correlated covariates and errors and to instrumenting rivals' quality and efficiency.
The Affordable Care Act's insurance market regulations' effect on coverage
Authors: Wettstein Gal 
Published: September 2017

AbstractMuch of the debate surrounding reform of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) revolves around its insurance market regulation. This paper studies the impact on health insurance coverage of those provisions. Using data from the American Community Survey, years 2008–2015, I focus on individuals, ages 26 to 64, who are ineligible for the subsidies or Medicaid expansions included in the ACA to isolate the effect of its market regulation. To account for time trends, I utilize a differences‐in‐differences approach with a control group of residents of Massachusetts who were already subject to a similarly regulated health insurance market. I find that the ACA's regulations caused an increase of 0.95 percentage points in health insurance coverage for my sample in 2014. This increase was concentrated among younger individuals, suggesting that the law's regulations ameliorated adverse selection in the individual health insurance market.
Challenges facing community health workers inBrazil's Family Health Strategy:Aqualitative study
Authors: Grossman‐Kahn Rebecca , Schoen Julia , Mallett John William , Brentani Alexandra , Kaselitz Elizabeth , Heisler Michele 
Published: September 2017

SummaryCommunity health worker (CHW) programs are implemented in many low‐ and middle‐income countries such as Brazil to increase access to and quality of care for underserved populations; CHW programs have been found to improve certain indicators of health, but few studies have investigated the daily work of CHWs, their perspectives on what both helps and hinders them from fulfilling their roles, and ways that their effectiveness and job satisfaction could be increased. To examine these questions, we observed clinic visits, CHW home visits, and conducted semistructured interviews with CHWs in 7 primary care centers in Brazil—2 in Salvador, Bahia, and 5 in São Paulo, SP—in which CHWs are incorporated into the work of all primary care health teams. In addition to enhancing communication between the medical system and the community, CHWs consider their key roles to be helping persuade community members to seek medical care and increasing health professionals' awareness of the social conditions affecting their patients' health. Key obstacles that CHWs face include failure to be fully integrated into the primary care team, inability to follow‐up on identified health needs due to limited resources, as well as community members' lack of understanding of their work and undervaluing of preventative medicine. Increased training, better incorporation of CHWs into clinic flow and decision making, and establishing a clear community awareness of the roles and value of CHWs will help increase the motivation and effectiveness of CHWs in Brazil.
A DFT Survey of the Effects of d‐Electron Count and Metal Identity on the Activation and Functionalization of C−H Bonds for Mid to Late Transition Metals
Authors: Moulder Catherine A. , Cundari Thomas R. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe contribution of metal identity to the activation and functionalization of methane by a series of three‐coordinate imide complexes is evaluated in silico for a 3‐by‐3 block of metals from Fe to Pt. Three mechanisms were studied: oxidative addition (OA) to the metal; hydrogen atom abstraction (HAA) by the imide nitrogen; and, [2+2] addition across the metal‐imide bond. In no studied case, was a [2+2] mechanism preferred, perhaps suggesting this mechanism is largely (entirely?) the domain of d0 imides. There is a diagonal relationship within the nonet of metals studied in that OA is preferred for earlier, heavier (5d) members of the series, transitioning to an HAA mechanism for later, lighter (3d) imides. DFT indicates that important parameters in partitioning between HAA and OA mechanisms include the strength of the metal‐imide π‐bond, the ability of larger metals to accommodate increases in formal oxidation state and coordination number, and the soft acid/base compatibility of larger transition metals with soft hydride and methyl ligands