bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous quantitative determination of 13 active components in the traditional Chinese medicinal preparation Suanzaoren oral liquid by HPLC coupled with diode array detection and evaporative light scattering detection
Authors: Zhu Lin , Wang Zhenru , Zhai Xinran , Sui Zhenyu , Wang Di , Li Qing , Bi Kaishun , He Bosai , Wang Tiejie
Published: March 2017

To control the quality of different forms of Suanzaoren decoction, an effective and reliable method for the simultaneous determination of 13 major components (neomangiferin, mangiferin, spinosin, liquiritin apioside, liquiritin, 6′′′‐feruloylspinosin, senkyunolide I, timosaponin BII, isoliquiritoside, timosaponin C, jujuboside A, jujuboside B, and timosaponin AIII) was developed and validated for the first time in this study using high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection and evaporative light scattering detection. The chromatographic separation was performed on a Venusil MP C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) at 30°C with a gradient of acetonitrile/redistilled water as the mobile phase. Diode array detection was carried out at a wavelength of 275 nm. The drift tube temperature and the nitrogen gas flow rate of the evaporative light scattering detection were set at 50°C and 1.6 L/min, respectively. The newly developed method was successfully applied to the determination of 13 components in lab‐prepared Suanzaoren oral liquid, Suanzaoren mixture, and clinical Suanzaoren granules, and this study showed that this was a useful way to comprehensively evaluate the quality of Suanzaoren decoction in different forms of the preparation.
Analysis of genetic variants of transferrin in human serum after desialylation by capillary zone electrophoresis and capillary isoelectric focusing
Authors: Caslavska Jitka , Lanz Christian , Burda Patricie , Tobler Micha , Thormann Wolfgang
Published: March 2017

Capillary electrophoresis analysis of transferrin in human serum is used to assess genetic variants after desialylation with neuraminidase and iron saturation to reduce the complexity of the transferrin pattern and thus facilitate the recognition of transferrin polymorphisms. Asialo‐transferrin forms are analyzed by capillary zone electrophoresis using assay conditions as for the monitoring of carbohydrate‐deficient transferrin or by capillary isoelectric focusing in a pH 5–8 gradient which requires immunoextraction of transferrin prior to analysis. With the carrier ampholytes used, peaks for iron saturated and iron depleted transferrin are monitored which indicates complexation of iron ions by carrier ampholytes. For BC, CD, and BD genetic variants, the expected peaks for B, C, and D forms of transferrin were detected with both methods. Monitoring of CC patterns revealed three cases, namely those producing double peaks in both methods, a double peak in capillary isoelectric focusing only and a double peak in capillary zone electrophoresis only. For all samples analyzed, data obtained by capillary isoelectric focusing could be confirmed with gel isoelectric focusing. The two capillary electrophoresis methods are shown to represent effective tools to assess unusual transferrin patterns, including genetic variants with dissimilar abundances of the two forms.
Boron Subphthalocyanine Coupled to Methacrylate‐Rich Terpolymers by Nitroxide Mediated Polymerization: The Subphthalocyanine Dictates the Phase Transition Temperatures
Authors: Sampson Kathleen L. , Lessard Benoît H. , Cho Eunjung , Bender Timothy P.
Published: March 2017

The control of the glass transition temperature (Tg) of methacrylic acid–styrene terpolymers with n‐butyl methacrylate (BMA) is scoped to assess their potential to alter the thermal transitions of boron subphthalocyanine (BsubPc)‐containing polymers. The change in kinetics and physical properties of the terpolymers are observed under different synthetic and process conditions such as varying molar feed of BMA, addition of 1,4‐dioxane solvent, reaction time, concentration of N‐tert‐butyl‐N‐(1‐diethylphosphono‐2,2‐dimethylpropyl) nitroxide (SG1) mediator and initiator type to find the optimal conditions. Four terpolymers are then coupled to BsubPc using the established process. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis shows that the backbone polymer composition has little effect on the Tg of the poly‐BsubPcs. Solid‐state fluorescence spectroscopy reveals that after annealing the films at temperatures higher than the Tg, BsubPc aggregates are formed and, therefore, the arrangement of the polymers is dominated by the BsubPc moiety and its self‐aggregation.

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Random ℓ‐colourable structures with a pregeometry
Authors: Ahlman Ove , Koponen Vera
Published: March 2017

We study finite ℓ‐colourable structures with an underlying pregeometry. The probability measure that is used corresponds to a process of generating such structures by which colours are first randomly assigned to all 1‐dimensional subspaces and then relationships are assigned in such a way that the colouring conditions are satisfied but apart from this in a random way. We can then ask what the probability is that the resulting structure, where we now forget the specific colouring of the generating process, has a given property. With this measure we get the following results: (1) A zero‐one law. (2) The set of sentences with asymptotic probability 1 has an explicit axiomatisation which is presented. (3) There is a formula (not directly speaking about colours) such that, with asymptotic probability 1, the relation “there is an ℓ‐colouring which assigns the same colour to x and y” is defined by . (4) With asymptotic probability 1, an ℓ‐colourable structure has a unique ℓ‐colouring (up to permutation of the colours).
A note on prime models in weakly o‐minimal structures
Authors: Tari Somayyeh
Published: March 2017

Let be a weakly o‐minimal structure with the strong cell decomposition property. In this note, we show that the canonical o‐minimal extension of is the unique prime model of the full first order theory of over any set . We also show that if two weakly o‐minimal structures with the strong cell decomposition property are isomorphic then, their canonical o‐minimal extensions are isomorphic too. Finally, we show the uniqueness of the prime models in a complete weakly o‐minimal theory with prime models.
Forecastable and Guidable Bubble‐Propelled Microplate Motors for Cell Transport
Authors: Hu Narisu , Zhang Bin , Gai Meiyu , Zheng Ce , Frueh Johannes , He Qiang
Published: March 2017

Cell transport is important to renew body functions and organs with stem cells, or to attack cancer cells with immune cells. The main hindrances of this method are the lack of understanding of cell motion as well as proper transport systems. In this publication, bubble‐propelled polyelectrolyte microplates are used for controlled transport and guidance of HeLa cells. Cells survive attachment on the microplates and up to 22 min in 5% hydrogen peroxide solution. They can be guided by a magnetic field whereby increased friction of cells attached to microplates decreases the speed by 90% compared to pristine microplates. The motion direction of the cell–motor system is easier to predict due to the cell being opposite to the bubbles.

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A History of Dystonia: Ancient to Modern
Authors: Newby Rachel E. , Thorpe Deborah E. , Kempster Peter A. , Alty Jane E.
Published: March 2017

Before 1911, when Hermann Oppenheim introduced the term dystonia, this movement disorder lacked a unifying descriptor. While words like epilepsy, apoplexy, and palsy have had their meanings since antiquity, references to dystonia are much harder to identify in historical documents. Torticollis is an exception, although there is difficulty distinguishing dystonic torticollis from congenital muscular torticollis. There are, nevertheless, possible representations of dystonia in literature and visual art from the pre‐modern world. Eighteenth century systematic nosologists such as Linnaeus, de Sauvages, and Cullen had attempted to classify some spasmodic conditions, including torticollis. But only after Charcot's contributions to clinical neuroscience were the various forms of generalized and focal dystonia clearly delineated. They were categorized as névroses: Charcot's term for conditions without an identifiable neuroanatomical cause. For a time thereafter, psychoanalytic models of dystonia based on Freud's ideas about unconscious conflicts transduced into physical symptoms were ascendant, although there was always a dissenting “organic” school. With the rise of subspecialization in movement disorders during the 1970s, the pendulum swung strongly back toward organic causation. David Marsden's clinical and electrophysiological research on the adult‐onset focal dystonias was particularly important in establishing a physical basis for these disorders. We are still in a period of “living history” of dystonia, with much yet to be understood about pathophysiology. Rigidly dualistic models have crumbled in the face of evidence of electrophysiological and psychopathological overlap between organic and functional dystonia. More flexible biopsychosocial frameworks may address the demand for new diagnostic and therapeutic rationales.
The Presence of Alpha‐Synuclein in Skin from Melanoma and Patients with Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Rodriguez‐Leyva Ildefonso , Chi‐Ahumada Erika , Mejía Manuel , Castanedo‐Cazares Juan P. , Eng William , Saikaly Sami K. , Carrizales Juan , Levine Todd D. , Norman Robert A. , Jimenez‐Capdeville Maria E.
Published: March 2017

Background

The misfolding and prion‐like propagation of the protein α‐synuclein (α‐syn) is the leading molecular signature in Parkinson's disease (PD). There is a significant coincidence ofPDand melanoma that may suggest a shared pathophysiology. This study compared the presence of α‐syn in neural crest‐derived tissues, such as nevi, melanoma, skin tags, and skin biopsies from patients withPDand healthy controls.

Methods

Biopsies from participants withPDwere obtained from patients from a tertiary referral center for dermatology and neurology in Mexico and a private dermatopathology center in Florida between January 2015 and March 2016. Biopsies from 7 patients with melanoma, 15 with nevi, 9 with skin tags, 8 withPD, and 9 skin biopsies from healthy volunteers were analyzed for immunohistochemical determination of α‐syn and tyrosinase. All analyses were performed by pathologists who were blinded with respect to the clinical diagnosis.

Results

In healthy controls, positive α‐syn status was restricted to scattered cells in the basal layer of the epidermis and accounted for 1 ± 0.8% of the analyzed area. In patients withPD, there was increased staining for α‐synPD(3.3 ± 2.3%), with a higher percentage of positive cells in nevi (7.7 ± 5.5%) and melanoma (13.6 ± 3.5%). There was no increased staining in skin tags compared with healthy controls.

Conclusion

Patients withPDand melanoma have increased staining for α‐syn in their skin. The authors propose that neurons and melanocytes, both derived from neuroectodermal cells, may share protein synthesis and regulation pathways that become dysfunctional inPDand melanoma.
Applications for self‐administered mobile cognitive assessments in clinical research: A systematic review
Authors: Moore Raeanne C. , Swendsen Joel , Depp Colin A.
Published: March 2017

Frequent, brief and repeated self‐administered mobile assessments of cognitive function, conducted in everyday life settings, are a promising complementary tool to traditional assessment approaches. Mobile cognitive assessments promote patient‐centered care and might enhance capacity to inform individual‐level outcomes over time (i.e. detecting subtle declines in cognitive function), as well as in assessing cognition and its correlates in the naturalistic environment. The goal of this systematic review was to assess the feasibility and psychometric properties of mobile cognitive assessments. Through a comprehensive search, we identified 12 articles using self‐administered, mobile phone‐based cognitive assessments. Studies sampled participants between 1 and 6 times per day for 1–14 days. Samples ranged in age from 14 to 83 years old and were generally healthy populations without cognitive impairment. Working memory was the most frequently‐assessed cognitive domain (n = 7), followed by attention/reaction time (n = 4). Seven studies reported adherence, with mean adherence rates of 79.2%. In addition to positive evidence of feasibility, there was general support for high levels of between‐ and within‐person reliability and construct validity. While research has only begun to explore the utility of mobile cognitive assessments, studies to‐date indicate they may be a promising complementary tool to traditional assessment methods with potential to improve clinical care and research.
MRI reveals therapeutical efficacy of stem cells: An experimental study on the SOD1(G93A) animal model
Authors: Bontempi Pietro , Busato Alice , Bonafede Roberta , Schiaffino Lorenzo , Scambi Ilaria , Sbarbati Andrea , Mariotti Raffaella , Marzola Pasquina
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The first part of the experiment identifies and validates MRI biomarkers distinctive of the disease progression in the transgenic superoxide dismutase gene (SOD1(G93A)) animal model. The second part assesses the efficacy of a mesenchymal stem cell‐based therapy through the MRI biomarkers previously defined.

Methods

The first part identifies MRI differences between SOD1(G93A) and healthy mice. The second part of the experiment follows the disease evolution of stem cell‐treated and non–stem‐cell treated SOD1(G93A) mice. The analysis focused on voxel‐based morphometry and T2 mapping on the brain tissues, and T2‐weighted imaging and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) on the hind limbs.

Results

Comparing diseased mice to healthy control revealed gray matter alterations in the brainstem area, accompanied by increased T2 relaxation time. Differences in muscle volume, muscle signal intensity, fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity were measured in the hind limbs. In the comparison between stem cell‐treated mice and nontreated ones, differences in muscle volume, muscle signal intensity, and DTI‐derived maps were found.

Conclusion

MRI‐derived biomarkers can be used to identify differences between stem cell‐treated and nontreated SOD1(G93A) mice. Magn Reson Med 79:459–469, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Radiofrequency heating studies on anesthetized swine using fractionated dipole antennas at 10.5 T
Authors: Eryaman Yiğitcan , Lagore Russell L. , Ertürk M. Arcan , Utecht Lynn , Zhang Patrick , Torrado‐Carvajal Angel , Türk Esra Abaci , DelaBarre Lance , Metzger Gregory J. , Adriany Gregor , Uğurbil Kâmil , Vaughan J. Thomas
Published: March 2017

Purpose

To validate electromagnetic and thermal simulations with in vivo temperature measurements, and to demonstrate a framework that can be used to predict temperature increase caused by radiofrequency (RF) excitation with dipole transmitter arrays.

Methods

Dipole arrays were used to deliver RF energy in the back/neck region of the swine using different RF excitation patterns (n = 2–4 per swine) for heating. The temperature in anesthetized swine (n = 3) was measured using fluoroscopic probes (n = 12) and compared against thermal modeling from animal‐specific electromagnetic simulations.

Results

Simulated temperature curves were in agreement with the measured data. The root mean square error between simulated and measured temperature rise at all locations (at the end of each RF excitation) is calculated as 0.37°C. The mean experimental temperature rise at the maximum temperature rise locations (averaged over all experiments) is calculated as 2.89°C. The root mean square error between simulated and measured temperature at the maximum temperature rise location is calculated as 0.57°C. (Error values are averaged over all experiments.)

Conclusions

Electromagnetic and thermal simulations were validated with experiments. Thermal effects of RF excitation at 10.5 Tesla with dipoles were investigated. Magn Reson Med 79:479–488, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Power‐efficient routing for SDN with discrete link rates and size‐limited flow tables: A tree‐based particle swarm optimization approach
Authors: Awad Mohamad Khattar , El‐Shafei Mohammed , Dimitriou Tassos , Rafique Yousef , Baidas Mohammed , Alhusaini Ammar
Published: March 2017

Software‐defined networking is a promising networking paradigm for achieving programmability and centralized control in communication networks. These features simplify network management and enable innovation in network applications and services such as routing, virtual machine migration, load balancing, security, access control, and traffic engineering. The routing application can be optimized for power efficiency by routing flows and coalescing them such that the least number of links is activated with the lowest link rates. However, in practice, flow coalescing can generally overflow the flow tables, which are implemented in a size‐limited and power‐hungry ternary content addressable memory (TCAM). In this paper, a set of practical constraints is imposed to the software‐defined networking routing problem, namely, size‐limited flow table and discrete link rate constraints, to ensure applicability in real networks. Because the problem is NP‐hard and difficult to approximate, a low‐complexity particle swarm optimization–based and power‐efficient routing (PSOPR) heuristic is proposed. Performance evaluation results revealed that PSOPR achieves more than 90% of the optimal network power consumption while requiring only 0.0045% to 0.9% of the optimal computation time in real‐network topologies. In addition, PSOPR generates shorter routes than the optimal routes generated by CPLEX.
Cousins not twins: intratumoural and intertumoural heterogeneity in syndromic neuroendocrine tumours
Authors: Flynn Aidan , Dwight Trisha , Benn Diana , Deb Siddhartha , Colebatch Andrew J , Fox Stephen , Harris Jessica , Duncan Emma L , Robinson Bruce , Hogg Annette , Ellul Jason , To Henry , Duong Cuong , Miller Julie A , Yates Christopher , James Paul , Trainer Alison , Gill Anthony J , Clifton‐Bligh Roderick , Hicks Rodney J , Tothill Richard W
Published: March 2017

Hereditary endocrine neoplasias, including phaeochromocytoma/paraganglioma and medullary thyroid cancer, are caused by autosomal dominant mutations in several familial cancer genes. A common feature of these diseases is the presentation of multiple primary tumours, or multifocal disease representing independent tumour clones that have arisen from the same initiating genetic lesion, but have undergone independent clonal evolution. Such tumours provide an opportunity to discover common cooperative changes required for tumourigenesis, while controlling for the genetic background of the individual. We performed genomic analysis of synchronous and metachronous tumours from five patients bearing germline mutations in the genes SDHB, RET, and MAX. Using whole exome sequencing and high‐density single‐nucleotide polymorphism arrays, we analysed two to four primary tumours from each patient. We also applied multi‐region sampling, to assess intratumoural heterogeneity and clonal evolution, in two cases involving paraganglioma and medullary thyroid cancer, respectively. Heterogeneous patterns of genomic change existed between synchronous or metachronous tumours, with evidence of branching evolution. We observed striking examples of evolutionary convergence involving the same rare somatic copy‐number events in synchronous primary phaeochromocytoma/paraganglioma. Convergent events also occurred during clonal evolution of metastatic medullary thyroid cancer. These observations suggest that genetic or epigenetic changes acquired early within precursor cells, or pre‐existing within the genetic background of the individual, create contingencies that determine the evolutionary trajectory of the tumour. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exposure to statins is associated to fracture risk reduction in elderly people with cardiovascular disease: evidence from the AIFA‐I‐GrADE observational project
Authors: Rea Federico , Bonassi Stefano , Vitale Cristiana , Trifirò Gianluca , Cascini Silvia , Roberto Giuseppe , Chinellato Alessandro , Lucenteforte Ersilia , Mugelli Alessandro , Corrao Giovanni ,   On behalf of the I‐GrADE investigators
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Conflicting findings were observed from clinical trials and observational studies evaluating the association between the use of statins and the risk of fracture. A case–control study nested into a cohort of elderly patients on treatment with statins for cardiovascular secondary prevention was performed on this issue.

Methods

The cohort was formed by 13 875 individuals aged ≥65 years from several Italian health units receiving statins after hospital discharge for cardiovascular outcomes. From this cohort, 964 patients who experienced fracture were identified (i.e., cases). Up to five controls were randomly selected for each case from the underlying cohort. Conditional logistic regression was used to model the risk of fracture associated with adherence to statins, which was measured from the proportion of days covered (PDC) by treatment. A set of sensitivity analyses was performed in order to account for sources of systematic uncertainty.

Results

Compared with patients with low adherence (PDC ≤ 40%), those on intermediate (PDC 41–80%) and high (PDC > 80%) adherence exhibited a risk reduction of 21% (95% confidence interval 6% to 23%) and 25% (7% to 40%). Similar effects were observed among patients younger and older than 80 years, as well as among men, while there was no evidence that adherence to statins affected the risk of fracture among women. Sensitivity analyses revealed that the associations were consistent and robust.

Conclusions

Use of statins for secondary cardiovascular prevention is associated with fracture risk reduction in elderly people. Further studies are required to better clarify the statin–fracture association in postmenopausal women. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Design and synthesis of thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione based conjugated copolymers for organic solar cells
Authors: Kotturappa Chandrashekara G , Gopikrishna Murali M , Rao Arun D , Ramamurthy Praveen C
Published: March 2017

A new series of conjugated copolymers (PBDT‐TPD, PBDT‐Th‐TPD, PBDT‐TT‐TPD) containing donor–acceptor (D − A) structure electron‐rich benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene (BDT) units with branched alkyl thiophene side chains and electron‐deficient 5‐(2‐octyl)‐4H‐thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6(5H)‐dione (TPD) units was designed and synthesized. To tune the optical and electrochemical properties of the copolymers, the conjugation length of the copolymers was extended by introducing π‐conjugated spacers such as thiophene and thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene units. It was observed that PBDT‐TPD showed broader absorption spectra in the longer wavelength region and the absorption maximum was red‐shifted compared to that of PBDT‐Th‐TPD, PBDT‐TT‐TPD. Stokes shifts were calculated to be 52 nm for PBDT‐TPD, 153 nm for PBDT‐Th‐TPD and 146 nm for PBDT‐TT‐TPD. Further, PBDT‐TPD exhibited a deeper highest occupied molecular orbital energy level of −5.53 eV as calculated by cyclic voltammetry. Bulk heterojunction solar cells fabricated using PBDT‐TPD as donor material exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 1.92%. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Development of a new tandem mass spectrometry method for urine and amniotic fluid screening of oligosaccharidoses
Authors: Piraud Monique , Pettazzoni Magali , Menegaut Louise , Caillaud Catherine , Nadjar Yann , Vianey‐Saban Christine , Froissart Roseline
Published: March 2017

Rationale

The first step in the diagnosis of oligosaccharidoses is to evidence abnormal oligosaccharides excreted in urine, usually performed by the poorly sensitive but efficient thin layer chromatography (TLC) method. Developing a tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) technique could be of great interest to replace TLC.

Methods

Abnormal underivatized oligosaccharides have been recently studied using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, allowing the unambiguous identification of oligosaccharidoses. Based on this previous work, we developed an advantageous and efficient liquid chromatography (LC)/MS/MS method using a more common triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer for oligosaccharides analysis.

Results

Oligosaccharidoses (n = 97) and control (n = 240) urine samples were analysed. A specific pattern was obtained for each oligosaccharidosis using this method. In urine, it allows not only the identification of all the oligosaccharidoses previously identified by TLC (fucosidosis, alphamannosidosis, aspartylglucosaminuria, GM1 gangliosidosis, sialidosis, galactosialidosis and Schindler disease), but also extends the field of diagnosis to mucolipidosis type II, Sandhoff disease, and β‐mannosidosis. The same technique was applied to 16 amniotic fluid supernatants from oligosaccharidosis‐affected foetuses (n = 16) compared with 37 unaffected. All the affected foetuses could be clearly identified: sialidosis (n = 3), galactosialidosis (n = 4), aspartylglucosaminuria (n = 1), mucolipidosis type II (n = 4) or GM1 gangliosidosis (n = 4). This technique can be applied to early prenatal diagnosis as well as to the oligosaccharidosis screening in the case of non‐immune hydrops fetalis.

Conclusions

The method is quick and easy to run, with an LC analysis time of 13 min per sample. The quantitative validation could not be obtained in the absence of a specific standard and of a labelled internal standard for each compound. Even if this LC/MS/MS method is only qualitative, it is very specific and much more sensitive than TLC. It allows the urinary screening of oligosaccharidoses, even mild or late‐onset forms, and the screening of antenatal forms in amniotic fluid. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of piperine metabolites in rats by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization quadruple time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Gao Tingting , Xue Haiping , Lu Lu , Zhang Tong , Han Han
Published: March 2017

Rationale

Piperine is a major constituent of Piper nigrum L. and is a naturally bioactive alkaloid. Structural changes in piperine have been shown to result in different biological effects. The present study aims to investigate piperine metabolites in rat plasma, bile, urine, and feces after oral administration.

Methods

The metabolic pathway of piperine in vivo was investigated using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography (UHLPC) combined with electrospray ionization quadruple time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry (QTOF‐MS). Piperine metabolites were found and identified by fragmentation patterns and accurate mass measurements.

Results

The 12 metabolites detected and identified were divided into three groups: methylenedioxycyclic ring‐opening metabolites (M01–M08), methylenedioxycyclic ring‐oxidizing metabolites (M09–M11), and piperidine ring‐cleavage metabolites (M12). Seven piperine metabolites, including M02, M03, M04, M05, M09, M10 and M11, were reported for the first time in the literature.

Conclusions

Results showed that the principal metabolism pathways of piperine in rat were reduction and demethylation after ring‐opening, and that UHPLC/QTOF‐MS can serve as an important analytical platform to gather the piperine metabolism profile. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of femoral tunnel positions on graft stress in outside‐in ACL reconstruction surgery during continuous knee motion: A simulation study
Authors: Kang Kyungmin , Bae Tae Soo
Published: March 2017

Background:

Previous studies regarding the optimal femoral tunnel location for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction were based on static experiments at specific angles, and did not consider continuous motion of the knee.

Methods:

Twenty‐four surgical sites were set and continuous kinematic data, obtained from motion analysis, was used to describe knee movement. The bending angle and stress of the ACL graft as well as the length of the femoral tunnel was calculated through multi‐flexible body dynamics analysis.

Results:

The lowest stress was found at both 5 mm and 10 mm radius at a proximal posterior of 45°, and the highest stress was also found at a distal 15 mm radius. Relatively high stresses were also identified between the distal and anterior regions as well as the distal and posterior regions at 15 mm radius.

Conclusion:

Considering the availability of surgery, it was identified that the optimum femoral tunnel location is at 10 mm radius locations at a proximal posterior of 45°.
Relative attitude formation control of multi‐agent systems
Authors: Song W. , Tang Y. , Hong Y. , Hu X.
Published: March 2017

This paper investigates the relative attitude formation control problem for a group of rigid‐body agents using relative attitude information on SO(3). On the basis of the gradient of a potential function, a family of distributed angular velocity control laws, which differ in the sense of a geodesic distance dependent function, is proposed. With directed and switching interaction topologies, the desired relative attitude formation is showed to be achieved asymptotically provided that the topology is jointly quasi‐strongly connected. Moreover, several sufficient conditions for the desired formation to be achieved exponentially and almost globally are given. Additionally, numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed distributed control laws. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Robust practical output regulation for a class of uncertain linear minimum‐phase systems by output‐based event‐triggered control
Authors: Liu Wei , Huang Jie
Published: March 2017

In this paper, we consider the robust practical output regulation problem for a class of SISO uncertain linear minimum‐phase systems subject to external disturbances by an output‐based event‐triggered control law, where the reference inputs and the external disturbances are both generated by a so‐called exosystem with known dynamics. Our approach consists of two steps. First, on the basis of the internal model principle, we convert the problem into the robust practical stabilization problem of a well‐defined augmented system. Second, we design an output‐based event‐triggered mechanism and an output‐based event‐triggered control law to solve the stabilization problem, which in turn leads to the solvability of the original problem. What is more, we show that the event‐triggered mechanism prevents the Zeno behavior from happening. A numerical example is given to illustrate the design. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simulated Sunlight‐Mediated Photodynamic Therapy for Melanoma Skin Cancer by Titanium‐Dioxide‐Nanoparticle–Gold‐Nanocluster–Graphene Heterogeneous Nanocomposites
Authors: Cheng Yan , Chang Yun , Feng Yanlin , Liu Ning , Sun Xiujuan , Feng Yuqing , Li Xi , Zhang Haiyuan
Published: March 2017

Simulated sunlight has promise as a light source able to alleviate the severe pain associated with patients during photodynamic therapy (PDT); however, low sunlight utilization efficiency of traditional photosensitizers dramatically limits its application. Titanium‐dioxide‐nanoparticle–gold‐nanocluster–graphene (TAG) heterogeneous nanocomposites are designed to efficiently utilize simulated sunlight for melanoma skin cancer PDT. The narrow band gap in gold nanoclusters (Au NCs), and staggered energy bands between Au NCs, titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs), and graphene can result in efficient utilization of simulated sunlight and separation of electron–hole pairs, facilitating the production of abundant hydroxyl and superoxide radicals. Under irradiation of simulated sunlight, TAG nanocomposites can trigger a series of toxicological responses in mouse B16F1 melanoma cells, such as intracellular reactive oxygen species production, glutathione depletion, heme oxygenase‐1 expression, and mitochondrial dysfunctions, resulting in severe cell death. Furthermore, intravenous or intratumoral administration of biocompatible TAG nanocomposites in B16F1‐tumor‐xenograft‐bearing mice can significantly inhibit tumor growth and cause severe pathological tumor tissue changes. All of these results demonstrate prominent simulated sunlight‐mediated PDT effects.
Quantified Binding Scale of Competing Ligands at the Surface of Gold Nanoparticles: The Role of Entropy and Intermolecular Forces
Authors: Goldmann Claire , Ribot François , Peiretti Leonardo F. , Quaino Paola , Tielens Frederik , Sanchez Clément , Chanéac Corinne , Portehault David
Published: March 2017

A basic understanding of the driving forces for the formation of multiligand coronas or self‐assembled monolayers over metal nanoparticles is mandatory to control and predict the properties of ligand‐protected nanoparticles. Herein, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance experiments and advanced density functional theory (DFT) modeling are combined to highlight the key parameters defining the efficiency of ligand exchange on dispersed gold nanoparticles. The compositions of the surface and of the liquid reaction medium are quantitatively correlated for bifunctional gold nanoparticles protected by a range of competing thiols, including an alkylthiol, arylthiols of varying chain length, thiols functionalized by ethyleneglycol units, and amide groups. These partitions are used to build scales that quantify the ability of a ligand to exchange dodecanethiol. Such scales can be used to target a specific surface composition by choosing the right exchange conditions (ligand ratio, concentrations, and particle size). In the specific case of arylthiols, the exchange ability scale is exploited with the help of DFT modeling to unveil the roles of intermolecular forces and entropic effects in driving ligand exchange. It is finally suggested that similar considerations may apply to other ligands and to direct biligand synthesis.
Ultrasonic Pretreatment Transesterification for Solid Basic‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters
Authors: Guo Pingmei , Ma Suhuan , Huang Fenghong
Published: March 2017

Generally, ultrasound irradiation is required throughout the reaction for fatty acid methyl esters (FAME, namely, biodiesel) production, which is energy‐consuming and difficult to scale‐up. In order to improve the industrial application of ultrasonic technology, a systematic study of ultrasonic pretreatment solid basic (Na2SiO3)‐catalyzed transesterification for FAME production from cottonseed oil was carried out, and the effect of ultrasonic waves on the properties of Na2SiO3 catalyst was assessed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization of fresh and collected catalysts. An ultrasonic frequency of 30 kHz, ultrasonic power of 200 W and ultrasonic pretreatment irradiation time of 30 min was determined to guarantee a satisfactory degree of transesterification. The optimum production was achieved in the reaction system at 45 °C with methanol/cottonseed oil molar ratio 5:1, catalyst dosage 3% and stirring speed 350 rpm resulting in a FAME yield of above 97% after 60 min of reaction under mechanical stirring with the ultrasonic pretreatment process. The new process has a shorter reaction time, a more moderate reaction temperature, a less amount of methanol and catalyst than only the mechanical stirring process without essential damage to activity and the structure of catalyst. These results are of great significance for applying the ultrasonic pretreatment method to produce FAME.
TRPV1 and TRPA1 in cutaneous neurogenic and chronic inflammation: pro-inflammatory response induced by their activation and their sensitization
Authors: Gouin Olivier , L’Herondelle Killian , Lebonvallet Nicolas , Le Gall-Ianotto Christelle , Sakka Mehdi , Buhé Virginie , Plée-Gautier Emmanuelle , Carré Jean-Luc , Lefeuvre Luc , Misery Laurent , Le Garrec Raphaele
Published: March 2017

Cutaneous neurogenic inflammation (CNI) is inflammation that is induced (or enhanced) in the skin by the release of neuropeptides from sensory nerve endings. Clinical manifestations are mainly sensory and vascular disorders such as pruritus and erythema. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 and ankyrin 1 (TRPV1 and TRPA1, respectively) are non-selective cation channels known to specifically participate in pain and CNI. Both TRPV1 and TRPA1 are co-expressed in a large subset of sensory nerves, where they integrate numerous noxious stimuli. It is now clear that the expression of both channels also extends far beyond the sensory nerves in the skin, occuring also in keratinocytes, mast cells, dendritic cells, and endothelial cells. In these non-neuronal cells, TRPV1 and TRPA1 also act as nociceptive sensors and potentiate the inflammatory process. This review discusses the role of TRPV1 and TRPA1 in the modulation of inflammatory genes that leads to or maintains CNI in sensory neurons and non-neuronal skin cells. In addition, this review provides a summary of current research on the intracellular sensitization pathways of both TRP channels by other endogenous inflammatory mediators that promote the self-maintenance of CNI.
Use of white matter reference regions for detection of change in florbetapir positron emission tomography from completed phase 3 solanezumab trials
Authors: Fleisher Adam S. , Joshi Abhinay D. , Sundell Karen L. , Chen Yun‐Fei , Kollack‐Walker Sara , Lu Ming , Chen Sherry , Devous Michael D. , Seibyl John , Marek Kenneth , Siemers Eric R. , Mintun Mark A.
Published: March 2017

Introduction

We compared subject‐specific white matter (SSWM) and whole cerebellum (CBL) reference regions for power to detect longitudinal change in amyloid positron emission tomography signal.

Methods

Positive florbetapir positron emission tomography scans were analyzed from participants (66 placebo treated and 63 solanezumab treated) with mild dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease from the EXPEDITION and EXPEDITION2 studies. For comparison to CBL, a second normalization was performed on longitudinal data using an SSWM correction factor (SSWM normalization ratio [SSWMnr]). Analysis of covariance assessed baseline to 18‐month change between treatment with solanezumab and placebo. Sample and effect size estimations provided magnitude of observed treatment changes.

Results

Longitudinal percent change between placebo and solanezumab using CBL was not significant (P = .536) but was significant for SSWMnr (P = .042). Compared with CBL, SSWMnr technique increased the power to detect a treatment difference, more than tripling the effect size and reducing the sample size requirements by 85% to 90%.

Discussion

Adjusting longitudinal standardized uptake value ratios with an SSWM reference region in these antiamyloid treatment trials increased mean change detection and decreased variance resulting in the substantial improvement in statistical power to detect change.
Quality of Life and Patient Satisfaction Following Male-to-Female Sex Reassignment Surgery
Authors: Papadopulos Nikolaos A. , Lellé Jean-Daniel , Zavlin Dmitry , Herschbach Peter , Henrich Gerhard , Kovacs Laszlo , Ehrenberger Benjamin , Kluger Anna-Katharina , Machens Hans-Guenther , Schaff Juergen
Published: March 2017

Background

Surveys on quality of life (QOL) of male-to-female (MTF) transsexuals have found low QOL scores before and increased satisfaction scores after sex-reassignment surgery (SRS). To our knowledge, many of them lack standardized questionnaires and comparisons with normative data to evaluate different vaginoplasty techniques.

Aim

To analyze patient satisfaction and QOL after SRS.

Methods

Forty-seven patients participated in this study. All patients had surgery with our self-developed combined technique on average 19 months before the survey. They completed a self-developed indication-specific questionnaire concerning demographic and socioeconomic issues and postoperative satisfaction. Furthermore, a standardized self-assessment questionnaire on satisfaction and QOL (Fragen zur LebenszufriedenheitModule [FLZM]; Questions on Life SatisfactionModules) was used. The FLZM consists of three modules (general life satisfaction, satisfaction with health, and satisfaction with body image) with scores of weighted satisfaction for each item. Results of the general and health modules were compared with normative data.

Outcomes

Demographics, QOL, general life satisfaction, satisfaction with health, and satisfaction with body image.

Results

The self-developed indication-specific questionnaire showed that 91% experienced an improvement of QOL. All patients stated they would undergo SRS again and did not regret it at all. Patients stated their femininity significantly increased. For the FLZM, the sum score for general life satisfaction (P < .001) was significantly lower than the normative data, whereas the sum score of the satisfaction with health module (P = .038) did not reach statistical significance. The two modules also showed positive trends for different items. Values of the body image module showed a significant increase in satisfaction with breasts (P < .001) and genitals (P = .002).

Clinical Implications

The findings of this survey emphasize the importance of SRS in the interdisciplinary gender-reassignment process. The detailed description of our combined technique could help to improve the surgical outcome and patient satisfaction of this complex and non-standardized surgery.

Strengths and Limitations

This is the first description of a new surgical technique (combined technique) for MTF SRS. QOL was assessed by a large number of patients by standardized questionnaires and could be compared with normative data. Because this is a retrospective study, we can draw only careful conclusions for pre- and postoperative changes.

Conclusion

Our self-developed combined surgical technique seemed to have a positive influence on QOL after SRS. Satisfaction with breasts, genitals, and femininity increased significantly and show the importance of surgical treatment as a key therapeutic option for MTF transsexuals.
An additional analysis of estimation techniques for the degree of financial leverage
Authors: Stelk Steven , Park Sang‐Hyun , Medcalfe Simon , Dugan Michael T.
Published: March 2017

This study compares three different empirical proxies for the financial leverage component of a systematic risk‐composition model employed in prior financial research. We consider one static accounting measure and two elasticity‐based measures. We find that the traditional static accounting measure of financial leverage provides statistically different estimates of financial leverage when compared to estimates from elasticity‐based measures of the degree of financial leverage. The findings are important because the elasticity‐based models for the degree of financial leverage have clear theoretical links to market‐based models of systematic risk, while the static accounting measure of financial leverage does not. Practitioners and researchers should carefully consider why they are estimating financial leverage and choose the appropriate method for doing so given the goals and potential consequences for biased estimation.
News, Noise, and the Nature of Politics in Late Medieval English Provincial Towns
Authors: Fletcher Christopher
Published: March 2017

Recent research has stressed the importance of “popular politics” in English political culture especially after the Peasants' Revolt and during the political disturbances of the fifteenth century. Scholars have begun to explore how the structures of local political culture could inflect the nature of politics on a national level, notably through petitioning and the circulation of open letters and manifestos, thus moving beyond the nobility and gentry to consider the influence on late medieval political life of the society and culture of rural and urban communities that were far from the center of power. This article is a contribution to a growing body of work that aims to show how particular aspects of provincial urban politics affected national political culture. By focusing first on news distribution and contemporary conceptual structures that linked rumor, noise, and riot in one continuum; and by then considering the relationship between communal mobilization at times of political crisis and everyday policing institutions such as the hue and cry, the article investigates how the nature of political life in provincial towns affects our understanding of late medieval English political culture as a whole.
The British Empire and International Terrorism: India's Separate Path at the League of Nations, 1934–1937
Authors: Barton Mary
Published: March 2017

In October 1934, a Croatian terrorist organization assassinated King Alexander of Yugoslavia in the streets of Marseilles, France. His murder caused an international crisis because of the safe haven given to the group by the Italian and Hungarian governments. The assassination led the world's first peacekeeping body, the League of Nations, to intervene and to propose a legal solution for the political crisis. In November 1937, the league completed two antiterrorism treaties. Only the British colonial government of India ratified the terrorism convention, which was, by contrast, rejected by the United Kingdom on legal and political grounds. This article examines the European origins of the League of Nation's consideration of international terrorism and the divisions that occurred between Delhi and London over supporting the antiterrorism measure. Delhi's separate membership in the League of Nations allowed the colonial government to deviate from London and to sign a treaty deemed necessary for domestic security.
Local flow characterization using bioinspired sensory information
Authors: Colvert Brendan , Chen Kevin , Kanso Eva
Published: March 2017

Most marine creatures exhibit remarkable flow sensing abilities. Their task of discerning hydrodynamic cues from local sensory information is particularly challenging because it relies on local and partial measurements to accurately characterize the ambient flow. This is in contrast to classical flow characterization methods, which invariably depend on the ability of an external observer to reconstruct the flow field globally and identify its topological structures. In this paper, we develop a mathematical framework in which a local sensory array is used to identify select flow features. Our approach consists of linearizing the flow field around the sensory array and providing a frame-independent parameterization of the velocity gradient tensor which reveals both the local flow ‘type’ and ‘intensity’. We show that a simple bioinspired sensory system that measures differences in flow velocities is capable of locally characterizing the flow type and intensity. We discuss the conditions under which such flow characterization is possible. Then, to demonstrate the effectiveness of this sensory system, we apply it in the canonical problem of a circular cylinder in uniform flow. We find excellent agreement between the sensed and actual flow properties. These findings will serve to direct future research on optimal sensory layouts and dynamic deployment of sensory arrays.