bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Model Based Self‐Learning System Engineering Approach
Authors: Singla Abneesh , Nathan Visvanathan Thanigai , Vageesh S
Published: December 2016

System requirements engineering is relatively matured discipline with many trusted and dependable methods and techniques that fairly helps in identifying, analyzing, specifying, managing, verifying, and validating the system requirements. Yet the major challenge perceived in system engineering and development of software that is persisting over many years and pervasive across all domains is the requirements development, analysis, management, and validation. Still there are projects attributing to the defects in system requirements as the prime cause of its failure. Is a radical change to the current approach and techniques is essential or is it that we are not able to put the best practices designed into good use or both? Is there something else amiss that is not proportioned into these methods or tools and needs to be accounted into it? Several approaches attempt to increase the standardized portion by making it more objective and diminish the subjective substance. Towards this objective numerous tools and models were evolved over past several years aiming to standardize the requirements acquisition practice through various instruments like a questionnaire, design of use‐cases or models that consumes inputs from every stakeholder and use a standard template that brings in objectivity eliminating the ambiguity. These models are as intelligent as per the capabilities of the templates or the outlines created and matures per their exposure levels to the scenarios. They concentrates more on the methodology, patterns or blueprint to capture different characteristics and properties associated to the product in the requirements and the domain perspective is less deliberated. Domain viewpoint is of utmost importance to ensure the functioning of the product in the required environment and ambiance with required performance criteria that is suitable to the product. The “Domain Driven Design” is yet another approach to capture the requirements, develop and maintain it. A study of these three different approaches from the existing literature is done in this paper bringing out their prominent features, advantages and shortcomings. The proposed model delves deep into augment the domain facets of the products to ensure the definition of requirements are comprehensive and all‐inclusive to facilitate the flawless development and complete testing by reducing the ambiguity and enhancing the clarity. It also targets to produce all relevant artifacts like use cases, test scenarios, documentation etcetera. Collation and embedding of the precious and adept data from the experienced system engineers is one of the best features of the suggested model.
A model based system engineering approach to design Avionics systems: Present and Future prospect
Authors: Chakraborty Sandeep , Kashyap Kunal , Shukla Bal Krishna
Published: December 2016

System complexity in Defense and Aerospace Industry is increasing day by day. Conventional System Engineering is document centric. Text based documents describe system specification, store the records, describe concept of operations and interfaces etc. There are numerous design challenges faced by system engineer while working on text based requirements. Programs are prone to errors during Requirements Definition phase. Also as designs grow and change, maintaining documents becomes an uphill task. Model based approach in System Engineering has ability to detect defect at much more early stage than conventional text based method. Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) uses various block diagrams, state machines, mathematical equations, functional flow diagrams, object‐oriented models which help to understand the Data flow between various subsystems. This paper explains the advantages of model based system engineering over conventional text based approach, a seamless transition strategy from Document‐based to model‐based approach and its various applications in defense and Aerospace domain with future prospect.
A Configurable Simulation Framework to Aid the System Design of Precision Landing and Take‐Off System for High Performance Flying Vehicle
Authors: Chowhan Kishan Singh
Published: December 2016

Flight simulation has proved to be a very important and vital tool in the Aircraft Industry today. It can be employed for the evolution of Aircraft Systems and for Proving Design Concepts. Engineering Simulations are used as design aids for a planned aircraft program and these are used to evaluate the aircraft systems and to improve, validate their designs. The mathematical models of the aircraft or the flying vehicle platform and its systems play very significant role in the Engineering simulation framework.

An Engineering simulation framework has been developed to include a flying vehicle platform, Navigation system and Ground based sensor systems to aid the precision take‐off and landing in all weather conditions. Precise Simulation models of Navigation system including its inherent errors on board the flying vehicle; various ground based sensors based on their accuracy, performance have been added to the Engineering Framework to aid the system design of a comprehensive precision Take‐off and Landing system. The simulation framework allows the system engineer to study the variation of the accuracies of sensor characteristics and their effects on the performance of the system before finalizing the elements of the Precision Landing and Take‐off (PLTO) System.
An Approach to Develop a Remotely Operated Integrated Avionics Test Suit
Authors: Madhava Gadicherla , Mohan Talapureddi Murali , Chakraborty Sandeep , Nama Naveen
Published: December 2016

Integration testing and functional validation & verification are few of the key phases of Aircraft Development Life Cycle. This is performed by integrating the avionic system on complex dynamic test platforms in a controlled lab environment. The avionic systems are in general, composed of a combination of multiple LRUs (Line Replaceable Units) / LRMs (Line Replaceable Modules). Test platforms referred to as Integrated test benches (ITB) comprise of dynamic aircraft simulation models running on multiple host computers, IO servers, breakouts, power supply control units and internal airflow management modules for avionics cooling. This paper proposes a means of making the Integration Test Benches remotely available across multiple locations seamlessly, without incurring substantial cost, thereby eliminating the need for building and maintaining the test benches at multiple locations. This approach explores a novel technique that can be leveraged to make a single bench accessible globally within the organization by leveraging various concepts of IOT (Internet of things) and cloud technology.
Design of a Student Satellite‐ PISAT
Authors: Agarwal Gaurav , Kumar Ajay , Nayak Mahendra M , Agarwal V K
Published: December 2016

PISAT is imaging satellite being developed by students from consortium of engineering colleges led by PES University. PES Imaging Satellite (PISAT) is a Low cost three axis stabilized imaging satellite with pointing accuracy of ±5 degrees about Yaw, Roll and Pitch axis and body rates of ±0.05 degrees/sec. It will be placed at an altitude of 720 kilometres with an inclination of 97.886 degrees and in Polar sun synchronous orbit. The principal objective of satellite telemetry is to provide mission data as well as information for operational use, failure analysis, and to predict spacecraft performance. The aim of the mission is operationalization of 3‐axis stabilized spacecraft, to capture images and process it. PISAT is designed to receive S‐band FSK/FM modulated signal, demodulate and extract the commands sent from ground. System engineering concepts have been extensively used in the development of PISAT and students have benefited in getting good hands on experience on system engineering.
Development of CanSat
Authors: S Sharath Kumar , K Adithya , A B Ranjith Srinivas , Rao Sharath
Published: December 2016

A CanSat is a simulation of a real satellite, integrated within the volume and shape of a cylindrical structure. The challenge is to fit all the major subsystems found in a satellite, such as power, sensors and a communication system into this minimal volume. The CanSat is then launched to an altitude of few hundred meters by a rocket or dropped from a platform or captive balloon and its mission begins: To carry out a scientific experiment and achieve a safe landing. CanSat is composed of a Carrier and a Lander. Carrier's objective is to measure and transmit variation in Hydrogen gas concentration; change in temperature; altitude by non GPS system; GPS coordinates during its descent. Release of Lander from Carrier at an altitude of 150 m from ground, imaging in the nadir direction is the Lander's mission.
Micro Unmanned Aerial Mission Systems: An SE / Model Based Design Framework and Approach to MICAV 2014
Authors: Burman Abhishek , Ghosh Arnab , Aravindh A V , Ramanna Rahul , C Chinmaya , Koli Nilesh Uttam , Nandhuri Anil , B Ram Kumar , M Supriya G
Published: December 2016

This paper presents a Systems Engineering [SE] approach for the Design and Development [D&D] of Unmanned Mission Systems built around Mini / Micro Aerial Vehicles [M‐UAV / MAV]. Life‐cycle concepts and issues are addressed with emphasis on the usage of automation and matrix methods in the fuzzy front‐end of design. An automated model‐based design framework to systematically explore a large design space is presented in the main paper. Typical problems associated with MAV design, such as sizing and selection of components based on minimal and often‐incomplete information, means to navigate D&D pitfalls and Systems Integration [SI] challenges are qualitatively addressed in the process. Region‐specific issues that are often encountered in the Indian developmental context are also included. The team's approach to MICAV 2014, a National MAV Design Competition jointly organized by CSIR‐NAL and DRDO‐ADE which had been used to fine‐tune the Design Framework post‐competition, is used to illustrate case‐examples.
Joint Road Forward: a new set of tools for including excluded perspectives on transport infrastructure
Authors: Krishna Harsha , Frank Andreas , Palavalli Bharath M. , Meijer Sebastian , Subrahmanian Eswaran
Published: December 2016

Planning of transportation infrastructure is built upon an established set of planning methods to estimate the need for and specifications of roads, amongst others. The abstraction from the real world as needed for applying clear planning tools has grown to considerably differ from the complex urban fabric of activities underlying the transport demand, such as food distribution, commercial activities, education networks, health, etc, especially in busy metropolitan areas. Inclusion of new parameters and use cases in design poses new methodological challenges. The socio‐cultural context of urban areas provides for meaningful explanations for the use of urban infrastructure. The cultural context determines the expectations placed on the infrastructure by the people. For example, accessibility for the elderly and children, security and availability.

Rapid urbanisation and increased economic inequality in cities has provided additional parameters to understand the longevity and contribution of transport infrastructure. The use of new methods such as the availability of real time data, sensor based data and additional social network analytical methods can provide new insights to understand the needs of the urban masses. Transport infrastructure needs to cater to local needs and become part of a larger ecosystem of a city. In this work we outline a new methodology to use games and simulations based upon city sensing to include stakeholders ignored by the traditional planning processes.
System Identification & Modelling of GMRT (Giant Meter Wave Radio Telescope)
Authors: Gupta Nandini , Andrew Geetha , Jain Monika R. , Balakrishna Hari , Sanadhya Vivek , Mayya Y.S.
Published: December 2016

GMRT is a unique Indian facility for radio astronomical research to support precision tracking of celestial objects. Currently a type II position servo at GMRT provides ∼1 arc min tracking accuracy. The tracking accuracy deteriorates in the presence of wind gusts. To improve the tracking accuracy, it is proposed to upgrade GMRT servo system with modern high performance controllers, e.g., a Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controller. However, in order to design a LQG controller, accurate telescope model is required which can be obtained through an experimental approach based on response measurements (System Identification). This paper presents the experimental setup, test conditions and results of system identification experiments carried out for the Elevation axis of one of the telescopes of GMRT. The model was then validated through simulation experiments. The response of the identified system closely matches that of the physical telescope, setting the stage for designing an optimum controller for GMRT.
Subspace‐based Wavelet preprocessed Data‐driven Predictive Control
Authors: Vajpayee Vineet , Mukhopadhyay Siddhartha , Tiwari Akhilanand Pati
Published: December 2016

This paper introduces a methodology for designing a subspace‐based data‐driven predictive control with wavelet preprocessing. In a data‐driven control, especially when SNR is low, it becomes difficult to obtain reliable predictor coefficients. Therefore, it is imperative to have a processed and informative dataset for stable controller operation. Wavelet being capable of better noise rejection from process dynamics motivates to perform wavelet filtering before designing the control law. Methodology for deriving the predictor from subspace matrices of processed data is presented. A predictive controller, estimated from the dataset, is designed for power control of a nuclear reactor core for a load‐following operation. The efficacy of the proposed technique is demonstrated by Monte Carlo simulations in stationary as well as non‐stationary noise cases.
Application of Systems Engineering on Moreelsebrug: A case study
Authors: Beg Saania , Perez Jorge Cinca , Mustafa Jadallah Haj
Published: December 2016

The increasing rural‐urban migration as well as industrialization and urbanization in the city of Utrecht, Netherlands, has led to overcrowding of the cities. The Moreelse Brug is an under‐construction bridge to aid this problem of crossing over the railway tracks to reach the other side of the city. In this article, we are applying systems engineering to our system of interest: Moreelsebrug and we shall perform various analysis for the same. The V‐model of systems engineering is the backdrop of our approach to apply systems engineering on Moreelseburg and hence, various analysis like environmental, stakeholder and risk were carried out. Functional requirements and Concept of Operations are also thoroughly considered as part of the system architecture. Taking into account the basic idea of systems engineering can help in the enhancement of the bridge's usefulness and ensure improved reliability and long term efficiency.
Raman micro‐spectroscopy applied to treatment resistant and sensitive human ovarian cancer cells
Authors: Moradi Hamid , Ahmad Abrar , Shepherdson Dean , Vuong Nhung H. , Niedbala Gosia , Eapen Libni , Vanderhyden Barbara , Nyiri Balazs , Murugkar Sangeeta
Published: December 2016

Despite the many advances intended to enhance the response to treatment, the survival rate of patients with ovarian cancer has only marginally improved in the past few decades. One major cause for this, is the lack of diagnostics for platinum‐resistant disease. The goal of this study was to determine whether Raman micro‐spectroscopy in conjunction with multivariate statistical analysis could discriminate between chemically fixed cisplatin‐resistant (A2780cp) and cisplatin‐sensitive (A2780s) human ovarian carcinoma cells. Raman spectra collected from individual cells were pre‐processed and subsequently analyzed with Principal Component Analysis – Linear Discriminant Analysis (PCA‐LDA). Statistically significant differences (P <  0.0001) were observed between the Raman spectra of A2780s and A2780cp cells. A diagnostic accuracy of 82% was obtained using the PCA‐LDA classifier model for the discrimination between the A2780s and A2780cp cells. The loading plot analysis suggests that relative increases in proteins and glutathione in the cisplatin‐resistant cells compared to the cisplatin‐sensitive cells

are most likely the major source of discrimination between the two types of cells. These results support the potential application of Raman spectroscopy in the identification of chemo‐resistant tumors prior to treatment.

magnified image

are most likely the major source of discrimination between the two types of cells. These results support the potential application of Raman spectroscopy in the identification of chemo‐resistant tumors prior to treatment.
A useful way to develop effective in vivo skin optical clearing agents
Authors: Shi Rui , Guo Li , Zhang Chao , Feng Wei , Li Peng , Ding Zhihua , Zhu Dan
Published: December 2016

Skin optical clearing has shown tremendous potential in improving various optical imaging performances, but there is some certain blindness in screening out high‐efficiency in vivo optical clearing methods. In this work, three optical clearing agents: sucrose (Suc), fructose (Fruc) and PEG‐400 (PEG), and two chemical penetration enhancers: propylene glycol (PG) and thiazone (Thiaz) were used. PEG was firstly mixed with the two penetration enhancers, respectively, and then mixed with Fruc and Suc, respectively, to obtain six kinds of skin optical clearing agents (SOCAs). Optical coherence tomography angiography was applied to monitor SOCAs‐induced changes in imaging performances, skin optical properties, refractive index mismatching extent, and permeability rate. Experimental results demonstrated that PEG+Thiaz+Suc has the optimal capacity in enhancing the imaging performances, decreasing the scattering and the refractive index mismatching since Thiaz is superior to PG, and Suc is superior to Fruc. This study indicates that the optimal SOCA can be obtained directly by means of additionally adding or replacing the similar category substance in preexisting SOCAs with some more effective reagents. It not only provides an optimal SOCA, but also provides a useful way to develop more effective SOCAs.

Cross‐section skin structural texture (a), reconstructed blood flow distribution information (b), before or after treated with different SOCAs.

magnified image

Cross‐section skin structural texture (a), reconstructed blood flow distribution information (b), before or after treated with different SOCAs.
Activated α2‐Macroglobulin Induces Mesenchymal Cellular Migration Of Raw264.7 Cells Through Low‐Density Lipoprotein Receptor‐Related Protein 1
Authors: Ferrer Darío G. , Dato Virginia Actis , Jaldín‐Fincati Javier R. , Lorenc Valeria E. , Sánchez María C. , Chiabrando Gustavo A.
Published: December 2016

Distinct modes of cell migration contribute to diverse types of cell movements. The mesenchymal mode is characterized by a multistep cycle of membrane protrusion, the formation of focal adhesion, and the stabilization at the leading edge associated with the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components and with regulated extracellular proteolysis. Both α2‐Macroglobulin (α2M) and its receptor, low density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 1 (LRP1), play important roles in inflammatory processes, by controlling the extracellular activity of several proteases. The binding of the active form of α2M (α2M*) to LRP1 can also activate different signaling pathways in macrophages, thus inducing extracellular matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) activation and cellular proliferation. In the present study, we investigated whether the α2M*/LRP1 interaction induces cellular migration of the macrophage‐derived cell line, Raw264.7. By using the wound‐scratch migration assay and confocal microscopy, we demonstrate that α2M* induces LRP1‐mediated mesenchymal cellular migration. This migration exhibits the production of enlarged cellular protrusions, MT1‐MMP distribution to these leading edge protrusions, actin polymerization, focal adhesion formation, and increased intracellular LRP1/β1‐integrin colocalization. Moreover, the presence of calphostin‐C blocked the α2M*‐stimulated cellular protrusions, suggesting that the PKC activation is involved in the cellular motility of Raw264.7 cells. These findings could constitute a therapeutic target for inflammatory processes with deleterious consequences for human health, such as rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis and cancer. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1810–1818, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Curcumin as a potential candidate for treating hyperlipidemia: A review of cellular and metabolic mechanisms
Authors: Panahi Yunes , Ahmadi Yasin , Teymouri Manouchehr , Johnston Thomas P. , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: December 2016

Curcumin is an herbal polyphenol extensively investigated for antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and hypolipidaemic properties. In the present review, the efficacy of curcumin for improving a plasma lipid profile has been evaluated and compared with statins, a well‐known class of medicines for treating hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidaemia. Curcumin is presumably most effective in reducing triglyceride (TG), while statins are most efficient in lowering low‐density lipoproteins‐cholesterol (LDL‐C). Additionally, various molecular and metabolic mediators of cholesterol and plasma lipid homeostasis are discussed in relation to how they are modulated by curcumin or statins. Overall, curcumin influences the same mediators of plasma lipid alteration as statins do. Almost all the pathways through which cholesterol trafficking takes place are affected by these agents. These include gastrointestinal absorption of dietary cholesterol, hepatocellular removal of plasma cholesterol, the mediators of reverse cholesterol transport, and removal of cholesterol from peripheral tissues. Moreover, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging potential of curcumin limits the risk of lipid peroxidation that triggers inflammatory responses causing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and atherosclerosis. Taken together, curcumin could be used as a safe and well‐tolerated adjunct to statins to control hyperlipidaemia more effectively than statins alone.
An in vivo transfection system for inducible gene expression and gene silencing in murine hepatocytes
Authors: Hubner Eric K. , Lechler Christian , Kohnke‐Ertel Birgit , Zmoos Anne‐Flore , Sage Julien , Schmid Roland M. , Ehmer Ursula
Published: December 2016

Background

Hydrodynamic tail vein injection (HTVI) of transposon‐based integration vectors is an established system for stably transfecting mouse hepatocytes in vivo that has been successfully employed to study key questions in liver biology and cancer. Refining the vectors for transposon‐mediated hepatocyte transfection will further expand the range of applications of this technique in liver research. In the present study, we report an advanced transposon‐based system for manipulating gene expression in hepatocytes in vivo.

Methods

Transposon‐based vector constructs were generated to enable the constitutive expression of inducible Cre recombinase (CreER) together with tetracycline‐inducible transgene or miR‐small hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression (Tet‐ON system). Transposon and transposase expression vectors were co‐injected into R26R‐mTmG reporter mice by HTVI. Cre‐mediated gene recombination was induced by tamoxifen, followed by the administration of doxycycline to drive tetracycline‐inducible gene or shRNA expression. Expression was visualized by immunofluorescence staining in livers of injected mice.

Results

After HTVI, Cre recombination by tamoxifen led to the expression of membrane‐bound green fluorescent protein in transfected hepatocytes. Activation of inducible gene or shRNA expression was detected by immunostaining in up to one‐third of transfected hepatocytes, with an efficiency dependent on the promoter driving the Tet‐ON system.

Conclusions

Our vector system combines Cre‐lox mediated gene mutation with inducible gene expression or gene knockdown, respectively. It provides the opportunity for rapid and specific modification of hepatocyte gene expression and can be a useful tool for genetic screening approaches and analysis of target genes specifically in genetically engineered mouse models.
Points on the curve: An analysis of methods for assessing the shape of vertebrate claws
Authors: Tinius Alexander , Patrick Russell Anthony
Published: December 2016

The form of amniote claws has been extensively investigated, often with inferences about ecological association being drawn from studies of their geometry. Various methods have been used to quantify differences in the geometry of claws, but rarely have the underlying assumptions of such methods been addressed. Here, we use one set of bird claws and apply six methods (five that have been previously used, and a new one) that are tasked with comparing their shape. In doing so, we compare the (1) ability of these methods to represent the shape of the claw; (2) validity of the assumptions made about underlying claw geometry; (3) their ability to be applied unambiguously; and (4) their ability to differentiate between predetermined functional clusters. We find that of the six methods considered only the geometric morphometric approach reveals differences in the shapes of bird claws. Our comparison shows that geometry‐based methods can provide a general estimate of the degree of curvature of claw arcs, but are unable to differentiate between shapes. Of all of the geometry‐based approaches, we conclude that the adjusted version of the Zani (2000) method is the most useful because it can be applied without ambiguity, and provides a reliable estimate of claw curvature. The three landmarks that define that method (tip and base of the claw arc, plus the intersection between said claw arc and a line drawn perpendicular from the midpoint of tip and claw base) do not all bear biological significance, but relatively clearly circumscribe the length‐to‐height ratio of the claw, which relates to its curvature. Overall, our comparisons reveal that the shape of avian claws does not differ significantly between climbing and perching birds, and that the utilization of preordained functional clusters in comparative data analysis can hinder the discovery of meaningful differences in claw shape. J. Morphol. 278:150–169, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals,Inc.
Hospital pharmacists’ perspectives on the role of key performance indicators in Australian pharmacy practice
Authors: Lloyd Georgia F. , Singh Shamsher , Barclay Peter , Goh Sue , Bajorek Beata
Published: December 2016

Background

To date, there is no national or international consensus on which key performance indicators (KPIs) should be used to measure hospital pharmacy performance.

Aim

To explore hospital pharmacists’ perspectives on the role of KPIs and to use their perspectives to suggest a set of KPIs for use in Australian hospital pharmacy practice.

Methods

The study comprised of two parts. Part A involved semi‐structured interviews with hospital pharmacists from major Sydney metropolitan hospitals; interviews were conducted until theme saturation was attained. Part B involved an online survey comprising Likert‐scale responses and open‐ended questions; the survey was distributed nationally to pharmacists via the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) eNewsletter and Facebook page.

Results

Part A: 19 hospital pharmacists were interviewed. Part B: 49 online surveys were received (after excluding incomplete submissions). Overall, the emergent themes identified that hospital pharmacists agreed that KPIs are a valuable tool for individual and departmental performance measurement; the use of KPIs was challenged by data collection difficulties, a lack of engagement from staff, and a lack of clarification regarding the intended use of KPIs and their relevance. The study identified a consolidated set of seven KPIs, proposed as standard measures for hospital pharmacy practice.

Conclusion

There is a perceived need to develop national standardised KPIs to demonstrate the value of pharmacy services at the individual and departmental levels. However, there are challenges that will need to be addressed before the implementation of a set of consolidated KPIs that encompasses the full scope of pharmacy activities.
Evaluation of the type and structure of the imprints used on the surface of medicines
Authors: Pires Carla , Vigário Marina , Cavaco Afonso
Published: December 2016

Background

Drug imprints on the surfaces of medicines could be used as accessible and economic anti‐counterfeiting measures.

Aims

To identify and study the structure of different types of imprints and discuss potential problems related to their structure and/or format.

Methods

In total, 531 Portuguese package leaflets (PLs) were manually inspected to confirm and collect the description of the imprints. The number of letters, symbols or mixtures of both was quantified in each imprint. An electronic tool was used to evaluate the linguistic characteristics.

Results

Only 7.9% of 531 PLs described imprints. Fifty‐five imprints were identified: 23 (41.8%) only formed by letters and 32 (58.2%) formed by letters, numbers or symbols. It was possible to identify 171 words.

Conclusion

It seems that the imprints were not systematically used as anti‐counterfeiting measures. Experimental studies and the updating of pharmaceutical regulation on the suitability and specificities of these imprints are recommended.
Production of d‐allulose from d‐glucose by Escherichia coli transformant cells co‐expressing d‐glucose isomerase and d‐psicose 3‐epimerase genes
Authors: Zhang Wenli , Li Hao , Jiang Bo , Zhang Tao , Mu Wanmeng
Published: December 2016

BACKGROUND

d‐Allulose is a novel and low‐calorie rare monosaccharide that is a C‐3 epimer of d‐fructose. Because of its excellent physiological properties and commercial potential, d‐allulose has attracted researchers' interests. Based on the Izumoring strategy, d‐allulose is converted from d‐fructose by d‐psicose 3‐epimerase (DPEase), while d‐fructose is converted from d‐glucose by d‐glucose isomerase (GIase). In this study, we created a cellular system capable of converting d‐glucose to d‐allulose in a one‐step process that co‐expressed the GIase from Acidothermus cellulolyticus and the DPEase from Dorea sp. CAG.

RESULTS

The co‐expression plasmid pETDuet‐Dosp‐DPE/Acce‐GI was generated and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells. The recombinant co‐expression cells exhibited maximum catalytic activity at pH 6.5 and 75 °C. These cells were thermostable at less than 60 °C. The addition of Co2+ significantly increased the catalytic activity by 10.8‐fold. When the reaction equilibrium was reached, the ratio of d‐glucose, d‐fructose and d‐allulose was approximately 6.5:7:3, respectively.

CONCLUSION

A recombinant co‐expression strain that catalysed the bioconversion of d‐allulose from d‐glucose in a one‐step process was created and characterised. When adding 500 g L−1 d‐glucose as a substrate, 204.3 g L−1 d‐fructose and 89.1 g L−1 d‐allulose were produced. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Triggering the Self‐Healing Properties of Modified Bromobutyl Rubber by Intrinsically Electrical Heating
Authors: Le Hong Hai , Böhme Frank , Sallat Aladin , Wießner Sven , auf der Landwehr Maria , Reuter Uta , Stöckelhuber Klaus‐Werner , Heinrich Gert , Radusch Hans‐Joachim , Das Amit
Published: December 2016

In this study, the development and characterization of an intrinsically self‐healable material have been reported based on bromobutyl rubber (BIIR) modified with imidazole (Im) and loaded with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as reinforcing and electrically conducting agent. The ionic imidazolium groups facilitate an ionic network, which imparts the composites a pronounced self‐healing behavior. The cation‐π bondings between modified BIIR and CNT surface improve the rubber‐filler interaction leading to a better mechanical performance and a higher electrical conductivity of the composites. It has been demonstrated that the healing process can be accelerated by applying an electrical current across a damaged surface of a test specimen owing to the Joule heating effect. The recovery of the mechanical and electrical properties of the composites is investigated under different test conditions and specifically discussed in terms of the rubber‐filler interactions and the filler dispersion. The applied scientific approach with the exploration of the unique nature of the imidazolium modified and CNT loaded BIIR may promote developments for a new class of rubber materials for different smart and technological applications.

image
Contractivity results in ordered spaces. Applications to relative operator bounds and projections with norm one
Authors: Mokhtar‐Kharroubi Mustapha
Published: December 2016

This paper provides various “contractivity” results for linear operators of the form where C are positive contractions on real ordered Banach spaces X. If A generates a positive contraction semigroup in Lebesgue spaces , we show (M. Pierre's result) that is a “contraction on the positive cone”, i.e. for all provided that .  We show also that this result is not true for 1 ⩽ . We give an extension of M. Pierre's result to general ordered Banach spaces X under a suitable uniform monotony assumption on the duality map on the positive cone . We deduce from this result that, in such spaces, is a contraction on for any positive projection C with norm 1. We give also a direct proof (by E. Ricard) of this last result if additionally the norm is smooth on the positive cone. For any positive contraction C on base‐norm spaces X (e.g. in real spaces or in preduals of hermitian part of von Neumann algebras), we show that for all where N is the canonical half‐norm in X. For any positive contraction C on order‐unit spaces X (e.g. on the hermitian part of a algebra), we show that is a contraction on . Applications to relative operator bounds, ergodic projections and conditional expectations are given.
Controlled Supramolecular Architecture Transformation from Homopolymer to Copolymer through Competitive Self‐Sorting Method
Authors: Li Hui , Fan Xiaodong , Min Xin , Qian Yongchao , Tian Wei
Published: December 2016

Supramolecular copolymers can not only enrich the diversity of the polymer backbone but also exhibit certain special and improved properties compared with supramolecular homopolymers. However, the synthesis procedure of supramolecular copolymers is relatively complicated and time‐consuming. Herein, a simple transformation from an AB2‐based supramolecular hyperbranched homopolymer to an AB2+CD2‐based supramolecular hyperbranched alternating copolymer by the “competitive self‐sorting” strategy is reported. After adding CD2 monomer, which bears a competitive neutral guest moiety (TAPN) and two receptive benzo‐21‐crown‐7 host moieties (B21C7), to the as‐prepared AB2‐type supramolecular hyperbranched homopolymer constructed by the self‐assembly of dialkylammonium salt (DAAS, A group)‐functionalized pillar[5]arene (MeP5, B groups) monomers, the initial homopolymer structure is disrupted and then reassemble into a new supramolecular hyperbranched alternating copolymer based on the competitive self‐sorting interaction between MeP5‐TAPN and B21C7‐DAAS. This study supplies a convenient approach to directly transform supramolecular homopolymers into supramolecular copolymers.

image
Mass spectrometry‐driven drug discovery for development of herbal medicine
Authors: Zhang Aihua , Sun Hui , Wang Xijun
Published: December 2016

Herbal medicine (HM) has made a major contribution to the drug discovery process with regard to identifying products compounds. Currently, more attention has been focused on drug discovery from natural compounds of HM. Despite the rapid advancement of modern analytical techniques, drug discovery is still a difficult and lengthy process. Fortunately, mass spectrometry (MS) can provide us with useful structural information for drug discovery, has been recognized as a sensitive, rapid, and high‐throughput technology for advancing drug discovery from HM in the post‐genomic era. It is essential to develop an efficient, high‐quality, high‐throughput screening method integrated with an MS platform for early screening of candidate drug molecules from natural products. We have developed a new chinmedomics strategy reliant on MS that is capable of capturing the candidate molecules, facilitating their identification of novel chemical structures in the early phase; chinmedomics‐guided natural product discovery based on MS may provide an effective tool that addresses challenges in early screening of effective constituents of herbs against disease. This critical review covers the use of MS with related techniques and methodologies for natural product discovery, biomarker identification, and determination of mechanisms of action. It also highlights high‐throughput chinmedomics screening methods suitable for lead compound discovery illustrated by recent successes.
How Do I Treat Cervical Dystonia With Botulinum Toxin by Using Ultrasound?
Authors: Jost Wolfgang H.
Published: December 2016

The therapy of cervical dystonia with botulinum toxin was established in the late 1980s. It is accepted as the therapy of choice, and the good results have been confirmed in many studies. In the last decade, tremendous developments have influenced our clinical work, and it seems that this will also influence the clinical outcome positively. Such developments include: first, the more anatomically based view and classification of cervical dystonia; second, the use of sonography to visualize the muscles and inject more precisely; and, third, the awareness that the action of the muscles involved is not physiological, but dysfunctional. Now it is time to combine the classification, the use of sonography and the new pathofunctional approach, to obtain the best clinical results.
A 12‐week intervention with nonivamide, a TRPV1 agonist, prevents a dietary‐induced body fat gain and increases peripheral serotonin in moderately overweight subjects
Authors: Hochkogler Christina M. , Lieder Barbara , Rust Petra , Berry David , Meier Samuel M. , Pignitter Marc , Riva Alessandra , Leitinger Alina , Bruk Anne , Wagner Simone , Hans Joachim , Widder Sabine , Ley Jakob P. , Krammer Gerhard E. , Somoza Veronika
Published: December 2016

Scope

A bolus administration of 0.15 mg nonivamide has previously been demonstrated to reduce energy intake in moderately overweight men. This 12‐week intervention investigated whether a daily consumption of nonivamide in a protein‐based product formulation promotes a reduction in body weight in healthy overweight subjects and affects outcome measures associated with mechanisms regulating food intake, e.g. plasma concentrations of (an)orexigenic hormones, energy substrates as well as changes in fecal microbiota.

Methods and results

Nineteen overweight subjects were randomly assigned to either a control (C) or a nonivamide (NV) group. Changes in the body composition and plasma concentrations of satiating hormones were determined at fasting and 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after a glucose load. Participants were instructed to consume 0.15 mg nonivamide per day in 450 mL of a milk shake additionally to their habitual diet. After treatment, a group difference in body fat mass change (–0.61 ± 0.36% in NV and +1.36 ± 0.38% in C) and an increase in postprandial plasma serotonin were demonstrated. Plasma metabolome and fecal microbiome read outs were not affected.

Conclusions

A daily intake of 0.15 mg nonivamide helps to support to maintain a healthy body composition.
Narrow‐leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) β‐conglutin proteins modulate the insulin signaling pathway as potential type 2 diabetes treatment and inflammatory‐related disease amelioration
Authors: Lima‐Cabello Elena , Alche Victor , Foley Rhonda C. , Andrikopoulos Sofianos , Morahan Grant , Singh Karam B. , Alche Juan D. , Jimenez‐Lopez Jose C.
Published: December 2016

Scope

We have investigated the potential use of β‐conglutin protein isoforms from narrow‐leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) as a diabetes treatment.

Methods and results

We produced purified recombinant β1‐, β2‐, β3‐, β4‐, and β6‐conglutin proteins and showed that β1, β3, and β6 could bind to insulin. To assess β‐conglutin proteins modulatory effect on insulin activation meditated kinases, whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures from type 2 diabetes (T2D) and healthy control subjects (C) were incubated with conglutin proteins. The treatment of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from T2D patients with β1, β3, and β6 proteins increased up to threefold mRNA and protein levels of genes important in insulin signaling pathways, namely insulin receptor substrate 1/p85/AKT/glucose transporter type 4. This was accompanied by a comparable fold‐change decrease in the mRNA expression level of pro‐inflammatory genes (iNOS and IL‐1β) and proteins compared to healthy controls. The β2 and β4 isoforms had no effect on the insulin signaling pathway. However, these β‐conglutin proteins elicited pro‐inflammatory effects since levels of mRNA and proteins of inducible nitric oxide synthase and IL 1 beta were increased.

Conclusion

Our results raise the possibility of using these particular β‐conglutin proteins in the prevention and treatment of diabetes, as well as their potential as anti‐inflammatory molecules.
Arthritis management in primary care – A study of physiotherapists' current practice, educational needs and adherence to national guidelines
Authors: Andersson Siv Folkhammar , Bergman Stefan , Henriksson Elisabet Welin , Bremander Ann
Published: December 2016

Background

With an increasing number of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in primary care, our aim was to investigate arthritis‐related practice in physiotherapy and to study adherence to evidence‐based care.

Methods

Seventy physiotherapists (PTs) working in primary care were emailed a questionnaire to investigate current practice and the number of roles assumed by PTs, the degree of confidence, educational needs and adherence to national guidelines in managing patients with OA or RA. Interventions supported by national guidelines were compared with reports of treatment modalities in the questionnaire.

Results

Sixty‐four (91%) PTs responded, and they reported a higher degree of confidence in assessment, treatment and education of patients with OA than for those with RA (p < 0.001). The total number of roles assumed by the PTs was higher in the management of OA than for RA (p < 0.001). PTs who assumed a greater number of roles also reported a stronger degree of confidence in assessing OA (p = 0.036). Those who assumed fewer roles also reported less confidence in RA treatment (p = 0.045). Recommendations in the guidelines were followed by the majority of PTs for eight of 11 treatment modalities in OA and for six of six in RA.

Conclusions

PTs reported a lower degree of confidence and the assumption of fewer roles in managing patients with RA compared with OA. There was good adherence to the national guidelines for almost all the treatment modalities listed. Even so, the results indicate a need for education, especially in chronic inflammatory arthritis care.
A monolithic hybrid finite element strategy for nonlinear thermoelasticity
Authors: Jog C. S. , Gautam G. S. J.
Published: December 2016

This work deals with the formulation and implementation of a mixed finite element formulation for nonlinear thermoelasticity. In the literature, a ‘consistent’ mixed formulation to reduce spurious oscillations in thermal stresses has been developed which involves the use of a temperature interpolation that is one order lower than the displacement interpolation functions. However, such a strategy would require a very fine mesh in problems where thermal gradients are high. In order to reduce the computational cost, we propose a new hybrid formulation for both the mechanical and thermal parts of the stress tensor, that not only overcomes membrane, shear, and volumetric locking but also eliminates thermal stress oscillations, even with the use of a coarse mesh. For transient problems, a new energy‐momentum conserving time stepping scheme is also proposed so that linear and angular momenta and energy are conserved exactly in the fully discrete hybrid framework in the absence of loading and dissipation. Several examples for the St. Venant–Kirchhoff and Ogden material models where the solutions are compared against either analytical or other numerical strategies show the efficacy of the developed procedure. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diabetes prevalence is associated with different community factors in the diabetes belt versus the rest of the United States
Authors: Myers Candice A. , Slack Tim , Broyles Stephanie T. , Heymsfield Steven B. , Church Timothy S. , Martin Corby K.
Published: December 2016

Objective

To investigate differences in community characteristics associated with diabetes prevalence between the Diabetes Belt and the rest of the contiguous United States (U.S.)

Methods

County‐level adult diabetes prevalence estimates (i.e., percent of people [≥20 years] with diagnosed diabetes 2009) were used from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in addition to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to carry out a spatial regime analysis to identify county‐level factors correlated with diabetes prevalence in the Diabetes Belt versus the remainder of the U.S.

Results

Counties outside of the Diabetes Belt demonstrated stronger positive associations between diabetes prevalence and persistent poverty and greater percentages of unemployed labor forces. For counties in the Diabetes Belt, diabetes prevalence showed a stronger positive association with natural amenities (e.g., temperate climate and topographic features) and a stronger negative association with fitness/recreation facility density.

Conclusions

Community‐level correlates of diabetes prevalence differed between the Diabetes Belt and elsewhere in the U.S. Economic hardship was shown to be more relevant outside the Diabetes Belt, while recreational context effects were more pronounced among counties within the region. Prevention and treatment targets are geographically unique, and public health efforts should acknowledge these differences in crafting policy.
Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma: A case of local recurrence and metastases to loco‐regional lymph nodes that responded to chemotherapy
Authors: Ogden Sally , Harave Srikrishna , McPartland Jo , Brennan Bernadette , Jeys Lee , Losty Paul , Pizer Barry
Published: December 2016

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is a rare soft tissue tumour with intermediate malignant potential. We report the case of a patient with local recurrence of AFH in two locations and lymph node metastases 18 months after primary surgical excision. The patient was treated with six cycles of ifosfamide and doxorubicin chemotherapy and a further three courses of ifosfamide monotherapy. Reassessment imaging showed a good response to chemotherapy with reduction in size of the two tumours of local recurrence and the lymph node metastases. This case demonstrates that AFH can respond to chemotherapy, even though it is rarely used.