A bibliometric analysis of clinical research on fracture-related infection

Background: Infection following orthopaedic trauma surgery is increasingly recognized as one of the major research priorities with as primary goal, improving patient care. This increased interest has been anecdotally recognized through published research, research grants, and, finally, with the development of the fracture-related infection (FRI) consensus group. In 2017, the accepted consensus definition of FRI was published, which has been followed by consensus recommendations from both a surgical and medical perspective. A bibliometric analysis was performed to objectively describe the trends in published clinical research related to FRI. Methods: The terms related to FRI were searched in the Web of Science database between 2000 and 2020. The characteristics of clinical research on FRI regarding the author, country, journal, institution, scientific output, top 100 most cited articles, and trend topics were analyzed using Bibliometrix and WPS Office. Results: A total of 2597 records were eligible for inclusion in this bibliometric approach, with studies originating from 89 countries, including eight languages. The United States of America (USA) published the highest number of articles and citations. International collaborations were present between 72 countries, with the most active country being the USA. The most contributive institution was the University of California. The highest number of papers and citations were from the Injury-International Journal of the Care of the Injured and the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma. The top 100 most cited articles were published in 27 different journals, with the number of citations ranging between 97 and 1004. The latest trend topics were related to the diagnosis of FRI. Conclusion: The present bibliometric analysis shows the research characteristics and trends of FRI from multiple perspectives. The fact that there is an increasing number of studies being published on FRI shows the agreement among scientists and clinicians that standardization with respect to this topic is very important

Reactive uptake coefficients for multiphase reactions determined by a dynamic chamber system

Dynamic flow-through chambers are frequently used to measure gas exchange rates between the atmosphere and biosphere on the Earth's surface such as vegetation and soils. Here, we explore the performance of a dynamic chamber system in determining the uptake coefficient γ of exemplary gases (O3 and SO2) on bulk solid-phase samples. After characterization of the dynamic chamber system, the derived γ is compared with that determined from a coated-wall flow tube system. Our results show that the dynamic chamber system and the flow tube method show a good agreement for γin the range of 10−8 to 10−3. The dynamic chamber technique can be used for liquid samples and real atmospheric aerosol samples without complicated coating procedures, which complements the existing techniques in atmospheric kinetic studies.</p

Tin‐Containing Graphite for Sodium‐Ion Batteries and Hybrid Capacitors

The limited Na-storage capacity of graphite anodes for sodium-ion batteries (∼110 mAh g−1) is significantly enhanced by the incorporation of nanosized Sn (17 wt%). The composite (SntGraphite), prepared by simple annealing of graphite with SnCl2, shows a specific capacity of 223 mAh g−1 (at 50 mA g−1) combined with excellent cycle life (i. e., 96 % of capacity retention after 2,200 cycles at 1 A g−1) and initial Coulomb efficiency (90 %). The combined storage of sodium in graphite (by solvent co-intercalation) and Sn (by alloy formation) is followed by in situ X-ray diffraction and in situ electrochemical dilatometry (ECD). While the additional tin almost doubles the electrode capacity, its contribution to the electrode expansion (∼3 %) is surprisingly small. The use of SntGraphite as anode for sodium-ion hybrid capacitors with activated carbon as cathode provides a maximum energy and power density of ∼93 Wh kg−1 and 7.8 kW kg−1, with a capacity retention of ∼80 % after 8,000 cycles.Peer Reviewe

Tin-Containing Graphite for Sodium-Ion Batteries and Hybrid Capacitors

The limited Na-storage capacity of graphite anodes for sodium-ion batteries (∼110 mAh g−1) is significantly enhanced by the incorporation of nanosized Sn (17 wt%). The composite (SntGraphite), prepared by simple annealing of graphite with SnCl2, shows a specific capacity of 223 mAh g−1 (at 50 mA g−1) combined with excellent cycle life (i. e., 96 % of capacity retention after 2,200 cycles at 1 A g−1) and initial Coulomb efficiency (90 %). The combined storage of sodium in graphite (by solvent co-intercalation) and Sn (by alloy formation) is followed by in situ X-ray diffraction and in situ electrochemical dilatometry (ECD). While the additional tin almost doubles the electrode capacity, its contribution to the electrode expansion (∼3 %) is surprisingly small. The use of SntGraphite as anode for sodium-ion hybrid capacitors with activated carbon as cathode provides a maximum energy and power density of ∼93 Wh kg−1 and 7.8 kW kg−1, with a capacity retention of ∼80 % after 8,000 cycles.Peer Reviewe

Tin‐containing graphite for sodium‐ion batteries and hybrid capacitors

The limited Na-storage capacity of graphite anodes for sodium-ion batteries (∼110 mAh g−1) is significantly enhanced by the incorporation of nanosized Sn (17 wt%). The composite (SntGraphite), prepared by simple annealing of graphite with SnCl2, shows a specific capacity of 223 mAh g−1 (at 50 mA g−1) combined with excellent cycle life (i. e., 96 % of capacity retention after 2,200 cycles at 1 A g−1) and initial Coulomb efficiency (90 %). The combined storage of sodium in graphite (by solvent co-intercalation) and Sn (by alloy formation) is followed by in situ X-ray diffraction and in situ electrochemical dilatometry (ECD). While the additional tin almost doubles the electrode capacity, its contribution to the electrode expansion (∼3 %) is surprisingly small. The use of SntGraphite as anode for sodium-ion hybrid capacitors with activated carbon as cathode provides a maximum energy and power density of ∼93 Wh kg−1 and 7.8 kW kg−1, with a capacity retention of ∼80 % after 8,000 cycles

Astragalus Polysaccharide RAP Selectively Attenuates Paclitaxel-Induced Cytotoxicity Toward RAW 264.7 Cells by Reversing Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if an Astragalus polysaccharide (RAP) can protect immune cells from the toxic side effects of paclitaxel (Taxol), a powerful anti-tumor drug whose equally powerful side effects limit its clinical use.Methods: We hypothesized that RAP can reduce the toxic effects induced by Taxol. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a series of studies in vivo and in vitro. First, we confirmed RAP’s effects in vivo utilizing BALB/c mice inoculated with 4T1 mouse breast cancer cells as the tumor model. Mice were treated with RAP and/or Taxol, and the differences in the life spans were recorded. Second, a co-culture cell model was used to study the protective effect of RAP on cells vis-a-vis Taxol. The cell cycle and apoptosis of RAW 264.7 cells that were treated with RAP with/without Taxol were checked by flow cytometry and Hoechst staining. Proteins involved in the cell cycle and apoptosis were also tested by Western blot to reveal the probable mechanism.Results: RAP prolonged the life span of tumor-bearing mice treated with Taxol. The in vitro experiments showed that Taxol suppressed the proliferation of RAW 264.7 cells while RAP protected the RAW 264.7 cells from Taxol-induced suppression. The protection is selective because RAP had no effect on 4T1 cells. Furthermore, Taxol clearly led to cell cycle arrest mainly at the G2/M phase and generated cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 cells, while RAP blocked cell cycle arrest and protected cells from apoptosis. Taxol up-regulated the protein levels of P-H2A, PARP, Chk1, p53, and p21 and down-regulated Bcl-Xl and Mcl-1, and RAP reversed the expression of all these proteins.Conclusion: These results suggested that RAP can protect immune cells from Taxol-induced toxicity, by changing the cell cycle and apoptosis

Aryl Functionalization as a Route to Band Gap Engineering in Single Layer Graphene Devices

Chemical functionalization is a promising route to band gap engineering of graphene. We chemically grafted nitrophenyl groups onto exfoliated single-layer graphene sheets in the form of substrate-supported or free-standing films. Our transport measurements demonstrate that non-suspended functionalized graphene behaves as a granular metal, with variable range hopping transport and a mobility gap ~ 0.1 eV at low temperature. For suspended graphene that allows functionalization on both surfaces, we demonstrate tuning of its electronic properties from a granular metal to a gapped semiconductor, in which charge transport occurs via thermal activation over a gap ~ 80 meV. This non-invasive and scalable functionalization technique paves the way for CMOS-compatible band gap engineering of graphene electronic devices

Hypoxia leads to significant changes in alternative splicing and elevated expression of CLK splice factor kinases in PC3 prostate cancer cells

© 2018 The Author(s). Background: Mounting evidence suggests that one of the ways that cells adapt to hypoxia is through alternative splicing. The aim of this study was firstly to examine the effect of hypoxia on the alternative splicing of cancer associated genes using the prostate cancer cell line PC3 as a model. Secondly, the effect of hypoxia on the expression of several regulators of splicing was examined. Methods: PC3 cells were grown in 1% oxygen in a hypoxic chamber for 48 h, RNA extracted and sent for high throughput PCR analysis at the RNomics platform at the University of Sherbrooke, Canada. Genes whose exon inclusion rate PSI (ψ) changed significantly were identified, and their altered exon inclusion rates verified by RT-PCR in three cell lines. The expression of splice factors and splice factor kinases in response to hypoxia was examined by qPCR and western blotting. The splice factor kinase CLK1 was inhibited with the benzothiazole TG003. Results: In PC3 cells the exon inclusion rate PSI (ψ) was seen to change by >25% in 12 cancer-associated genes; MBP, APAF1, PUF60, SYNE2, CDC42BPA, FGFR10P, BTN2A2, UTRN, RAP1GDS1, PTPN13, TTC23 and CASP9 (caspase 9). The expression of the splice factors SRSF1, SRSF2, SRSF3, SAM68, HuR, hnRNPA1, and of the splice factor kinases SRPK1 and CLK1 increased significantly in hypoxia. We also observed that the splice factor kinase CLK3, but not CLK2 and CLK4, was also induced in hypoxic DU145 prostate, HT29 colon and MCF7 breast cancer cell lines. Lastly, we show that the inhibition of CLK1 in PC3 cells with the benzothiazole TG003 increased expression of the anti-apoptotic isoform caspase 9b. Conclusions: Significant changes in alternative splicing of cancer associated genes occur in prostate cancer cells in hypoxic conditions. The expression of several splice factors and splice factor kinases increases during hypoxia, in particular the Cdc-like splice factor kinases CLK1 and CLK3. We suggest that in hypoxia the elevated expression of these regulators of splicing helps cells adapt through alternative splicing of key cancer-associated genes. We suggest that the CLK splice factor kinases could be targeted in cancers in which hypoxia contributes to resistance to therapy