bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alpha particle destabilization of the toroidicity-induced Alfvén eigenmodes
Authors: Cheng C. Z. 
Published: July 2002

The high-frequency, low mode number toroidicity-induced Alfvén eigenmodes (TAE) [Phys. Fluids 29, 3695 (1986)] are shown to be driven unstable by the circulating and/or trapped α particles through the wave–particle resonances. Satisfying the resonance condition requires that the α-particle birth speed vα≥vA/2‖m−nq‖, where vA is the Alfvén speed, m is the poloidal mode number, and n is the toroidal mode number. To destabilize TAE modes, the inverse Landau damping associated with the α-particle pressure gradient free energy must overcome the velocity space Landau damping due to both the α particles and the core electrons and ions. The growth rate was studied analytically with a perturbative formula derived from the quadratic dispersion relation, and numerically with the aid of the nova-k code. Stability criteria in terms of the α-particle beta βα, α-particle pressure parameter (ω*/ωA) (ω* is the α-particle diamagnetic drift frequency), and (vα/vA) parameters will be presented for the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) [Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Conference on Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research, Crystal City, VA, 1990 (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, in press)], Compact Ignition Tokamak (CIT) [Phys. Scr. T16, 89 (1987)], and the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) [ITER Documentation Series, No. 21 (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1991)].
The volume-averaged α-particle beta threshold for TAE instability also depends sensitively on the core electron and ion temperature. Typically the volume-averaged α-particle beta threshold is in the order of 10−4. Typical growth rates of the n=1 TAE mode can be in the order of 10−2ωA , where ωA=vA/qR . Other types of global Alfvén waves are stable in deuterium–tritium (D–T) tokamaks due to toroidal coupling effects.
A reversibly immortalized human hepatocyte cell line as a source of hepatocyte‐based biological support
Authors: Kobayashi Naoya , Westerman Karen A. , Tanaka Noriaki , Fox Ira J. , Leboulch Philippe 
Published: July 2002

AbstractThe application of hepatocyte transplantation (HTX) is increasingly envisioned for temporary metabolic support during acute liver failure and provision of specific liver functions in inherited liver‐based metabolic diseases. Compared with whole liver transplantation, HTX is a technically simple procedure and hepatocytes can be cryopreserved for future use. A major limitation of this form of therapy in humans is the worldwide shortage of human livers for isolating an adequate number of transplantable human hepatocyes when needed. Furthermore, the numbers of donor livers available for hepatocyte isolation is limited by competition for their use in whole organ transplantation. Considering the cost of hepatocyte isolation and the need for immediate preparation of consistent and functional cells, it is unlikely that human hepatocytes can be obtained on such a scale to treat a large number of patients with falling liver functions. The utilization of xenogenic hepatocytes will result in additional concerns regarding transmission of infectious pathogens and immunological and physiological incompatibilities between animals and humans. An attractive alternative to primary human hepatocytes is the use of tightly regulated human hepatocyte cell lines. Such cell lines can provide the advantages of unlimited availability, sterility and uniformity. We describe here methods for creating transplantable human hepatocyte cell lines using currently available cell cultures and gene transfer technology.
Association analysis of polymorphisms in the mu opioid gene and heroin abuse in Chinese subjects
Authors: Li Tao , Liu Xiehe , Zhu Zuo Hong , Zhao Jinghua , Hu Xun , Sham Pak C. , Collier David A. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractWe examined four polymorphisms in the mu opioid receptor gene in 282 Chinese heroin addicts from Sichuan Province, Southwest China and compared the allele and genotype frequencies to those in 258 normal controls from the same geographic region. Two of these polymorphisms (Ala6Val and Ser147Cys) were not polymorphic in the Chinese, with only Ala6 and Ser147 observed. The frequencies of the two other polymorphisms were significantly different from those observed in Caucasians, African Americans and Native Americans. The Asn40Asp and IVS2 + 691G/C polymorphisms did not differ significantly for allele (p= 0.16; p = 0.21), genotype (p= 0.32; p = 0.09) or haplotype frequencies (p= 0.24) between the Chinese heroin‐addicted cases and normal controls. Similarly, we did not detect any association when the population was stratified by gender, route of administration (nasal inhalation and/or injection) and age‐at‐onset (above or below 25 years). This indicates that the mu opioid receptor is not likely to be a major genetic risk factor for heroin abuse in this population.
Alcohol and gastrointestinal cancer: pathogenic mechanisms
Authors: SEITZ HELMUT , POSCHL GUDRUN 
Published: July 2002

AbstractAbstract Chronic heavy alcohol consumption leads to a significantly increased risk of cancer in the oropharynx, larynx and the oesophagus. In the liver, chronic alcohol abuse results in cirrhosis, a precursor of hepatocellular cancer. More recentepidemiologic studies also demonstrate that regular alcohol consumption, even in low amounts, has an enhanced risk for rectal cancer and cancer of the breast. Alcohol by itself is not a carcinogen. However, alcohol can increase the susceptibility of various organs to chemical carcinogens by a variety of mechanisms. Among these, increased activation of procarcinogens through microsomal enzyme induction, a change in the metabolism and/or distribution of carcinogens, interference with the system that repairs carcinogen‐induced DNA alkylations, direct mucosal tissue damage with consecutive stimulation of cellular regeneration and alcohol‐mediated malnutrition may be of importance. In the upper gastrointestinal tract the production of acetaldehyde and free radicals via cytochrome P450 2E1 and via alcohol dehydrogenase may lead to tissue damage and to secondary hyper‐regeneration. In addition, local mechanisms may also be involved in the co‐carcinogenic process. In the rectal mucosa acetaldehyde seems to be an important factor in carcinogenesis and may be predominantly produced by faecal bacteria.
Butyrylcholinesterase: an enzyme antidote for cocaine intoxication
Authors: MATTES CAROL E. , BELENDIUK GEORGE W. , LYNCH THOMAS J. , BRADY ROSCOE O. , DRETCHEN KENNETH L. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractCocaine‐associated toxicity is the result of effects on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. Since the primary route of cocaine inactivation is enzymatic degradation by butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), we sought to determine if the administration of purified human enzyme would ameliorate the lethal effects of cocaine. While the cardiovascular, autonomic or central nervous systems were unaffected by BChE, the enzyme reduced the adverse effects of cocaine including hypertension, hyperactivity and convulsions. BChE decreased both the brain and blood levels of cocaine and shifted the metabolites towards the production of the inactive product ecgonine methyl ester and away from the physiologically active metabolites, norcocaine and benzoylecgonine. We conclude that BChE would appear to be an ideal antidote in the treatment of cocaine intoxication and has potential therapeutic application.
Patterns of phonological disability in Cantonese‐speaking children in Hong Kong
Authors: Cheung Pamela , Abberton Evelyn 
Published: July 2002

AbstractTone, vowel and consonant production are described for a large group of Cantonese‐speaking children assessed in speech and language therapy clinics in Hong Kong. The patterns of disability follow predictions made on the basis of work on normal phonological development in Cantonese, and on psychoacoustic factors in acquisition: consonants account for more disability than vowels, and tones are least problematic. Possible articulatory and auditory contributions to explanation of the observed patterns are discussed.
Automated protein sequence database classification. II. Delineation Of domain boundaries from sequence similarities.
Authors: Gracy J , Argos P 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
MOTIVATION: Decomposing each protein into modular domains is a basic prerequisite to classify accurately structural units in biological molecules. Boundaries between domains are indicated by two similar amino acid sequence segments located within the same protein (repeats) or within homologous proteins at notably different distances from their respective N- or C-termini. RESULTS: We have developed an automated method that combines such positional constraints derived from various detected pairwise sequence similarities to delineate the modular organization of proteins. The procedure has been applied to a non-redundant data set of 26 990 proteins whose sequences were taken from the PIR and SWISS-PROT databanks and shared &lt;60% sequence identity amongst pairs. The resultant clustering, delineation and multiple alignment of 24 380 sequence fragments yielded a new database of 4364 domain families. Comparison of the domain collection with that of PRODOM indicates a clear improvement in the number and size of domain families, domain boundaries and multiple sequence alignments. The accuracy and sensitivity of the method are illustrated by results obtained for ankyrin-like repeats and EGF-like modules. AVAILABILITY: The resulting database, called DOMO, is available through the database search routine SRS at Infobiogen (http://www.infobiogen.fr/srs5/), EBI (http://srs.ebi.ac.uk:5000/) and EMBL (http://www.embl-heidelberg.de/srs5/) World Wide Web sites. CONTACT: gracy@infobiogen.fr
An inducible helix–Gly–Gly–helix motif in the N‐terminal domain of histone H1e: A CD and NMR study
Authors: Vila Roger , Ponte Imma , Jiménez M. Angeles , Rico Manuel , Suau Pedro 
Published: July 2002

AbstractKnowledge of the structural properties of linker histones is important to the understanding of their role in higher‐order chromatin structure and gene regulation. Here we study the conformational properties of the peptide Ac‐EKTPVKKKARKAAGGAKRKTSG‐NH2 (NE‐1) by circular dichroism and 1H‐NMR. This peptide corresponds to the positively charged region of the N‐terminal domain, adjacent to the globular domain, of mouse histone H1e (residues 15–36). This is the most abundant H1 subtype in many kinds of mammalian somatic cells. NE‐1 is mainly unstructured in aqueous solution, but in the presence of the secondary‐structure stabilizer trifluoroethanol (TFE) it acquires an α‐helical structure. In 90% TFE solution the α‐helical population is ∼40%. In these conditions, NE‐1 is structured in two α‐helices that comprise almost all the peptide, namely, from Thr17 to Ala27 and from Gly29 to Thr34. Both helical regions are highly amphipathic, with the basic residues on one face of the helix and the apolar ones on the other. The two helical elements are separated by a Gly–Gly motif. Gly–Gly motifs at equivalent positions are found in many vertebrate H1 subtypes. Structure calculations show that the Gly–Gly motif behaves as a flexible linker between the helical regions. The wide range of relative orientations of the helical axes allowed by the Gly–Gly motif may facilitate the tracking of the phosphate backbone by the helical elements or the simultaneous binding of two nonconsecutive DNA segments in chromatin.
Cost-effectiveness of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Cohen Laura P. , Isaza Nicolas , Hernandez Inmaculada , Lewis Gregory D. , Ho Jennifer E. , Fonarow Gregg C. , Kazi Dhruv S. , Bellows Brandon K. 
Published: March 2023

ImportanceAdding a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2-I) to standard-of-care treatment in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) reduces the risk of a composite outcome of worsening heart failure or cardiovascular mortality, but the cost-effectiveness in US patients with HFpEF is uncertain.ObjectiveTo evaluate the lifetime cost-effectiveness of standard therapy plus an SGLT2-I compared with standard therapy in individuals with HFpEF.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsIn this economic evaluation conducted from September 8, 2021, to December 12, 2022, a state-transition Markov model simulated monthly health outcomes and direct medical costs. Input parameters including hospitalization rates, mortality rates, costs, and utilities were extracted from HFpEF trials, published literature, and publicly available data sets. The base-case annual cost of SGLT2-I was $4506. A simulated cohort with similar characteristics as participants of the Empagliflozin in Heart Failure With a Preserved Ejection Fraction (EMPEROR-Preserved) and Dapagliflozin in Heart Failure With Mildly Reduced or Preserved Ejection Fraction (DELIVER) trials was used.ExposuresStandard of care plus SGLT2-I vs standard of care.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe model simulated hospitalizations, urgent care visits, and cardiovascular and noncardiovascular death. Future medical costs and benefits were discounted by 3% per year. Main outcomes were quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), direct medical costs (2022 US dollars), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of SGLT2-I therapy from a US health care sector perspective. The ICER of SGLT2-I therapy was evaluated according to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association value framework (high value: &amp;lt;$50 000; intermediate value: $50 000 to &amp;lt;$150 000; and low value: ≥$150 000).ResultsThe simulated cohort had a mean (SD) age of 71.7 (9.5) years and 6828 of 12 251 participants (55.7%) were male. Standard of care plus SGLT2-I increased quality-adjusted survival by 0.19 QALYs at an increased cost of $26 300 compared with standard of care. The resulting ICER was $141 200 per QALY gained, with 59.1% of 1000 probabilistic iterations indicating intermediate value and 40.9% indicating low value. The ICER was most sensitive to SGLT2-I costs and effect of SGLT2-I therapy on cardiovascular death (eg, increasing to $373 400 per QALY gained if SGLT2-I therapy was assumed to have no effect on mortality).Conclusions and RelevanceResults of this economic evaluation suggest that at 2022 drug prices, adding an SGLT2-I to standard of care was of intermediate or low economic value compared with standard of care in US adults with HFpEF. Efforts to expand access to SGLT2-I for individuals with HFpEF should be coupled with efforts to lower the cost of SGLT2-I therapy.
Initiatives to improve living conditions in the U.K. around World War I
Authors: Ohtsubo Akira 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe movement to provide government subsidies to public housing arose in the U.K., in the early 20th century. Housing environment and dwelling unit environment were improved through this movement. This study examines improvements in the provisions of housing Acts and housing estates around World War I (WWI). Major findings of this study are as follows: Government subsidies or loans, dwelling unit density, and relaxation of byelaws were established in the provisions of the housing Acts. Further,—improvements to living conditions were realized in housing estates during WWI, and many other improvements suggested in the recommendation of Tudor Walters report were realized after WWI.
A Smart MMP13‐Responsive Injectable Hydrogel with Inflammatory Diagnostic Logic and Multiphase Therapeutic Ability to Orchestrate Cartilage Regeneration
Authors: Tianyuan Zhao , Haoyuan Deng , Jianwei Li , Songlin He , Xu Li , Hao Li , Zhen Yang , Haotian Deng , Peiqi Li , Xiang Sui , Shuangpeng Jiang , Quanyi Guo , Shuyun Liu 
Published: March 2023

AbstractDespite numerous attempts to engineer cartilage tissue in recent years, significant challenges remain regarding hyaline cartilage regeneration. One main reason is that the overactivated inflammatory response after injury suppresses inherent cartilage regenerative capabilities. Since the arthritic microenvironment is constantly changing during posttraumatic stress, an inflammatory diagnostic logic‐based hydrogel for cartilage regeneration is developed for the first time through cross‐linking of 4‐arm poly(ethylene glycol)‐vinyl sulfone (PEG‐VS) and specific matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 13‐sensitive peptides. The hydrogel exhibits diagnostic logic to identify the pathological cue MMP13 and accordingly determine drug release kinetics in an inflammatory microenvironment. Additionally, multiphase therapeutic ability is designed to program different cargo release behaviors to match the inflammation‐chondrogenesis cascade for better cartilage regeneration. Here, it is first proposed that MMP13 is a suitable diagnostic biomarker to modulate the inflammatory microenvironment in the early stage of cartilage injury. In vitro and in vivo studies show that the hydrogel has good injectability, on‐demand anti‐inflammation, and immunomodulation capabilities. Ultimately, loaded with multiple therapeutic factors, the hydrogel shows both microenvironmental modulation and chondrogenesis therapeutic ability, resulting in satisfactory hyaline cartilage regeneration. This study provides critical insight into the design and biological mechanism of both diagnostic and therapeutic ability‐based cartilage tissue engineering strategies.
New Polymerized Small Molecular Acceptors with Non‐Aromatic π‐Conjugated Linkers for Efficient All‐Polymer Solar Cells
Authors: Zhang Zhe , Li Zhixiang , Wang Peiran , Chen Hongbin , Ma Kangqiao , Zhang Yunxin , Duan Tainan , Li Chenxi , Yao Zhaoyang , Kan Bin , Wan Xiangjian , Chen Yongsheng 
Published: March 2023

AbstractDeveloping new polymerized small molecular acceptor (PSMA) is pivotal for improving the performance of all‐polymer solar cells. On the basis of this newly developed CH‐series small molecule acceptors, two PSMAs are reported herein (namely PZC16 and PZC17, respectively). To reduce the molecular torsion caused by the traditional aromatic π‐bridges, non‐aromatic conjugated units (ethynyl for PZC16 and vinylene for PZC17) are adopted as the linkers and their effect on the photo‐physical properties as well as the device performance are systematically investigated. Both polymer acceptors exhibit co‐planar molecular conformation, along with broad absorption ranges and suitable energy levels. In comparison with the PM6:PZC16 film, the PM6:PZC17 film exhibits more uniform phase separation in morphology with a distinct bi‐continuous network and better crystallinity. The PM6:PZC17‐binary‐based devices exhibit a satisfactory PCE of 16.33%, significantly higher than 9.22% of the PZC16‐based devices. Impressively, PM6:PZC17‐based large area device (ca. 1 cm2) achieves an excellent PCE of 15.14%, which is among the top performance for reported all‐polymer solar cells (all‐PSCs).
Regulating the Unhybridized O 2p Orbitals of High‐Performance Li‐Rich Mn‐Based Layered Oxide Cathode by Gd‐Doping Induced Bulk Oxygen Vacancies
Authors: Xu Jia , Wan Jing , Zhang Wen , Li Yuyu , Cheng Fangyuan , Cheng Zexiao , Xu Yue , Sun Shixiong , Li Qing , Fang Chun , Han Jiantao 
Published: March 2023

AbstractLi‐rich Mn‐based layered oxides (LRLOs) with ultrahigh specific capacities are promising cathode materials for high energy density lithium‐ion batteries. Nevertheless, severe irreversible oxygen release, structure degradation, capacity and voltage attenuation hinder their commercialization due to the uncontrollable oxygen redox chemistry originated from unhybridized O 2p orbitals. Herein, a strategy to generate bulk oxygen vacancies is proposed. And bulk oxygen vacancies are constructed by lowering the formation energy of oxygen vacancies in LRLOs via Gd‐doping. The energy level and the amount of unhybridized O 2p states are reduced to partly inhibit the oxygen redox activity. Surprisingly, the oxygen redox is not fully activated in the first cycle and is further activated in the second cycle. Moreover, the reduced oxygen redox activity significantly suppresses the oxygen release, lattice volume change, layered‐to‐spinel phase transition. As a result, the amount of oxygen gas release is reduced from 98.80 to ≈0 nmol mg−1 in the first cycle. Superior cycle stability of 90.4% capacity retention after 300 cycles and small voltage decay of only 1.013 mV per cycle are achieved. This study provides a valuable bulk oxygen vacancies strategy to regulate the unhybridized O 2p orbitals for designing high‐performance Li‐rich Mn‐based layered oxide cathode materials.
Toward High Conversion Efficiency of Thermoelectric Modules through Synergistical Optimization of Layered Materials
Authors: Li Wenjie , Poudel Bed , Kishore Ravi Anant , Nozariasbmarz Amin , Liu Na , Zhang Yu , Priya Shashank 
Published: March 2023

AbstractWaste‐heat electricity generation using high‐efficiency solid‐state conversion technology can significantly decrease dependence on fossil fuels. Here, a synergistical optimization of layered half‐Heusler (hH) materials and module to improve thermoelectric conversion efficiency is reported. This is realized by manufacturing multiple thermoelectric materials with major compositional variations and temperature‐gradient‐coupled carrier distribution by one‐step spark plasma sintering. This strategy provides a solution to overcome the intrinsic concomitants of the conventional segmented architecture that only considers the matching of the figure of merit (zT) with the temperature gradient. The current design is dedicated to temperature‐gradient‐coupled resistivity and compatibility matching, optimum zT matching, and reducing contact resistance sources. By enhancing the quality factor of the materials by Sb‐vapor‐pressure‐induced annealing, a superior zT of 1.47 at 973 K is achieved for (Nb, Hf)FeSb hH alloys. Along with the low‐temperature high‐zT hH alloys of (Nb, Ta, Ti, V)FeSb, the single stage layered hH modules are developed with efficiencies of ≈15.2% and ≈13.5% for the single‐leg and unicouple thermoelectric modules, respectively, under ΔT of 670 K. Therefore, this work has a transformative impact on the design and development of next‐generation thermoelectric generators for any thermoelectric material families.
Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells by Tailoring of Interfaces
Authors: Xia Jianxing , Sohail Muhammad , Nazeeruddin Mohammad Khaja 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe interface tailoring is crucial for the efficiency and stability of Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs). The reported interface engineering primarily focuses on the energy level turning and trap state passivation to improve the photovoltaic performance of PSCs. In this review, molecule modifications are classified according to the basics of electron transfer mechanisms for the interface tailoring of materials. An in‐depth analysis of energy level modification and trap passivation, as well as the universal Density Functional Theory (DFT) method employed in interface tailoring. In addition, strategies to address environmental protection and large‐scale mini‐modules fabrication by interface engineering are also discussed. This review can guide the researchers in understanding interface engineering to design interface materials for efficient, stable, and eco‐friendly PSCs.