bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Microfluidic Whispering Gallery Mode Optical Sensors for Biological Applications
Authors: Wang Yuye , Zeng Shuwen , Humbert Georges , Ho Ho‐Pui 
Published: November 2020

AbstractWhispering gallery mode (WGM) resonators have been exploited as a highly sensitive and efficient sensing technique in the past few years. They offer the advantages of ultrahigh sensitivity, compact size, and label‐free sensing capability. More recently, with the rapid development of microfluidic technologies, many integrated WGM sensors, by combining the portability of lab‐on‐chip devices and the high sensitivity of WGM resonators, have emerged. The capabilities of efficient sample handling and multiplexed analyte detection offered by these systems have led to many biological and chemical sensing applications, especially for the detection of single particle or biomolecule. In this review, different sensing mechanisms based on integrated whispering gallery mode resonators are introduced. Various geometries of WGM cavities including solid, liquid, and hollow resonators and a detailed discussion on their integration with microfluidic devices are also covered. Different types of packaging schemes and integration methods are compared in terms of ease of fabrication and device performance. Finally, recent applications of microfluidic‐based WGM sensors for detecting biological and chemical target molecules are discussed, with a prospect on future challenges and trends of development in microfluidics for multiplexed detection.
The Utilization of Poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline)‐b‐Poly(ε‐caprolactone) Ellipsoidal Particles for Intracellular BIKDDA Delivery to Prostate Cancer
Authors: Kocak Polen , Oz Umut Can , Bolat Zeynep Busra , Ozkose Umut Ugur , Gulyuz Sevgi , Tasdelen Mehmet Atilla , Yilmaz Ozgur , Bozkir Asuman , Sahin Fikrettin , Telci Dilek 
Published: November 2020

AbstractProstate cancer is the most common cancer, which is about 15–20% among male cancers worldwide. As most common strategies such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or surgery alone can be unsuccessful in the treatment of prostate cancer, this study aims to develop a new approach to deliver newly generated proapoptotic gene, BIKDDA, to androgen independent prostate cancer cells, 22RV1, using new generation nanocarriers called ellipsoids. As far as it is known, this is the first study that assesses the ability of proapoptotic gene BIKDDA to induce apoptosis in prostate cancer cell. BIKDDA encapsulating PEtOx‐b‐PCL‐based ellipsoids are fabricated by solvent‐switch method, and their morphology, size, and BIKDDA content are characterized. Gene delivery efficiency of BIKDDA loaded PEtOx‐b‐PCL ellipsoids is demonstrated by analysis of BIK mRNA expression with real‐time PCR. The apoptotic effect of PEtOx‐b‐PCL ellipsoids loaded with BIKDDA (EPs‐BIKDDA) on 22RV1 is shown by Annexin V staining. The obtained results demonstrate that the treatment of 22RV1 cells with EPs‐BIKDDA can significantly increase BIK mRNA levels by 4.5‐fold leading to cell death. This study not only represents BIKDDA as a potential therapeutic strategy in prostate cancer but also the capacity of ellipsoids as promising in vivo gene delivery vehicles.
Hydrophobic Cross‐Linked Poly(dimethylsiloxane)‐Based Sorbents for Oil Spill Applications
Authors: Askin Sule , Kizil Soner , Bulbul Sonmez Hayal 
Published: November 2020

AbstractWith the increase of industrialization and urbanization, humankind faces massive oil‐based pollution due to tanker accidents, human error, and natural disasters. For this, hydrophobic sorbents are fabricated and their applications for the removal of oil from polluted water sources are investigated. These hydrophobic sorbents are prepared by the condensation reaction of poly(dimethylsiloxane) and tris[3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]isocyanurate cross‐linker via bulk polymerization. The obtained sorbents exhibit high oil sorption capacity, fast absorption–desorption kinetics, and great reusability. Moreover, they can selectively absorb oil from the water surface, thus making them practical for water clean‐up applications.
Fiber‐Optic Photoacoustic Generator Realized by Inkjet‐Printing of CNT‐PDMS Composites on Fiber End Faces
Authors: Oser Patrick , Jehn Johannes , Kaiser Michael , Düttmann Oliver , Schmid Fabian , Schulte‐Spechtel Levin , Rivas Sergio Sánchez , Eulenkamp Constanze , Schindler Christina , Grosse Christian U. , Wu Datong 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIn recent years, photoacoustic generators based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) are manufactured in a variety of ways, which influences the properties of the generators with respect to frequency bandwidth, sound wave pressure, robustness, and reproducibility. Due to the high optical absorption of MWCNTs and the high thermal expansion coefficient of PDMS, this combination is ideally suited for use as a photoacoustic generator. This study presents a novel method to produce photoacoustic generators based on long‐term stable MWCNT and PDMS inks with a high reproducibility by means of inkjet‐printing. The MWCNT‐PDMS layers (thicknesses of 2–4 µm), printed directly onto the distal end face of a multimode glass fiber, show a good homogeneity and low optical transmission (19–21%). After the preparation of the fiber pieces, the inkjet printer performs all steps automatically in a time period of 30–60 s per layer. The generated ultrasonic pressure (0.39–0.54 MPa) and frequency bandwidth (1.5–12.7 MHz) can be measured at a distance of ≈4 mm with a laser fluency of 12.7 mJ cm−2. These highly reproducible printed photoacoustic generators can be well used for nondestructive material testing and medical applications.
Risk of Hospitalization and Death for COVID‐19 in People with Parkinson's Disease or Parkinsonism
Authors: Vignatelli Luca , Zenesini Corrado , Belotti Laura M.B. , Baldin Elisa , Bonavina Giuseppe , Calandra‐Buonaura Giovanna , Cortelli Pietro , Descovich Carlo , Fabbri Giovanni , Giannini Giulia , Guarino Maria , Pantieri Roberta , Samoggia Giuseppe , Scaglione Cesa , Trombetti Susanna , D'Alessandro Roberto , Nonino Francesco ,   ParkLink Bologna group
Published: November 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe risk of COVID‐19 and related death in people with Parkinson's disease or parkinsonism is uncertain. The aim of the study was to assess the risk of hospitalization for COVID‐19 and death in a cohort of patients with Parkinson's disease or parkinsonism compared with a control population cohort, during the epidemic bout (March–May 2020) in Bologna, northern Italy.MethodsParticipants of the ParkLink study with the clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease or parkinsonism and people anonymously matched (ratio 1:10) for sex, age, district, and Charlson Index were included. The hospital admission rate for COVID‐19 (February 26–May 31, 2020) and the death rate for any cause were the outcomes of interest.ResultsThe ParkLink cohort included 696 subjects with Parkinson's disease and 184 with parkinsonism, and the control cohort had 8590 subjects. The 3‐month hospitalization rate for COVID‐19 was 0.6% in Parkinson's disease, 3.3% in parkinsonism, and 0.7% in controls. The adjusted hazard ratio (age, sex, district, Charlson Index) was 0.8 (95% CI, 0.3–2.3, P = 0.74) in Parkinson's disease and 3.3 (1.4–7.6, P = 0.006) in parkinsonism compared with controls. Twenty‐nine of the infected subjects died; 30‐day fatality rate was 35.1%, without difference among the 3 groups. Six of 10 Parkinson's disease/parkinsonism patients had the infection during hospitalization or in a nursing home.ConclusionsParkinson's disease per se probably is not a risk factor for COVID‐19 hospitalization. Conversely, parkinsonism is an independent risk factor probably because of a more severe health status, entailing higher care dependence and placement in high‐infection‐risk accommodations. © 2020 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Min‐max fuzzy goal programming ‐ Taguchi model for multiple additives optimization in expansive soil improvement
Authors: Ikeagwuani Chijioke Christopher , Nwonu Donald Chimobi , Onah Hyginus Nwankwo 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThis present study optimizes multiadditives for the improvement of the properties of expansive soil by integrating min‐max fuzzy goal programming model, a variant of fuzzy goal programming, into Taguchi optimization method. The multiadditives, which included ordinary Portland cement (OPC), quarry dust (QD), and sawdust ash (SDA), had various levels assigned to them in the Taguchi designed experiment, and they were all added by air‐dried weight of the expansive soil. Responses that included differential free swell, California bearing ratio, and unconfined compressive strength were determined using the Taguchi designed experiment. Concurrent analysis of the data obtained from the responses was performed using the min‐max fuzzy goal programming and the optimum combinations of additives that resulted in the significant improvement of the soils were obtained at 20% SDA, 20% QD, and 8% OPC. In addition, scanning electron micrograph analysis for the expansive soil that was combined with the optimum combination of additives showed cementitious compound formation in the soil‐additives mixtures and this confirmed lucidly that min‐max fuzzy goal programming can be integrated in Taguchi method to optimize additives for the improvement of expansive soil properties.
A novel scheme for time‐fractional semi‐relativistic Vlasov–Maxwell system based on laser‐plasma interaction with linear polarization and Landau damping instability
Authors: Zubair Tamour , Lu Tiao , Usman Muhammad 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe Vlasov–Maxwell system is a revolutionary tool to model and analyze the dynamic behavior of the collisionless plasma in the existence of the electromagnetic field. In this perspective, the investigation of this system with the concept of the time‐fractional derivative is the new benchmark and also one of the main objectives of this article. To construct the numerical solution, we propose and implement a novel scheme which grounded on finite‐difference and spectral approximations. The temporal variables are tackled by using finite‐difference approximations, whereas spatial variables approximated via sifted Gegenbauer polynomials. Various simulations are performed to explore new phenomena, demonstrate the accuracy and reliability of the proposed method. Convergence, error bound and stability of the suggested methods are investigated numerically. Moreover, the developed method can be used conveniently to examine the numerical solution of other multidimensional highly nonlinear fractional or variable order problems of physical nature.
A Cationic Stearamide‐based Solid Lipid Nanoparticle for Delivering Yamanaka Factors: Evaluation of the Transfection Efficiency
Authors: Alkan Funda , Varlı Hanife Sevgi , Demirbilek Murat , Kaplan Engin , Laçin Nelisa Türkoğlu 
Published: November 2020

AbstractInduced pluripotent stem cells (IPSC) are preferred as an alternative source for regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and drug screening due to their unique properties. As seen from the previous studies in the literature, most of the vector systems to transfer reprogramming factors are viral‐based and have some well‐known limitations. This study aims to develop a non‐viral vector system for the transfection of reprogramming factors. Cationic stearamide lipid nanoparticles (CSLN) were prepared via the solvent diffusion method. The obtained CSLNs were used for the delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA) encoding Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and GFP to fibroblast cell lines. The optimization studies, for zeta potential and particle size of the conjugate, was performed to achieve high cell viability. CSLN63 with 36.5±0.06 mV zeta potential and 173.6±13.91 nm size was used for the transfection of Fibroblast cells. The transfection efficiency was observed by following GFP expression and was found as 70 %±0.11. The expression of the Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 was determined by RT‐qPCR; an increase was observed after the 12th cycle in Klf4 (Ct averages: 13,41), Sox2 (Ct averages; 12,4), Oct4 (Ct average; 13,77). The tendency of colonization was observed. The upregulation efficiency of Oct4 and SSEA‐1 with CSLN and another non‐viral vector designed for the transportation of Yamanaka factors developed in our lab previously were compared with flow cytometer analysis.
Fetal neurodevelopmental recovery in donors after laser surgery for twin‐twin transfusion syndrome
Authors: Rajagopalan Vidya , Ashouri Karam , Llanes Arlyn , Vanderbilt Douglas L. , Lepore Natasha , Bluml Stefan , Lai Hollie A. , Wisnowski Jessica , Chon Andrew H. , Chmait Ramen H. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundFetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) provide a unique opportunity to non‐invasively measure markers of neurodevelopment in survivors of twin‐twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS).ObjectiveTo characterize fetal brain maturation after laser surgery for TTTS by measuring brain volumes and cerebral metabolite concentrations using fetal MRI + MRS.Study DesignProspective study of dual surviving fetuses treated with laser surgery for TTTS. At 4–5 postoperative weeks, fetal MRI was used together with novel image analysis to automatically extract major brain tissue volumes. Fetal MRS was used to measure major metabolite concentrations in the fetal brain.ResultsTwenty‐one twin pairs were studied. The average (±SD) gestational age at MRI was 25.89 (±2.37) weeks. Total brain volume (TBV) was lower in the donors, although cerebral volumes were not different between twin pairs. Recipients showed lower proportions of cortical and cerebellar volumes, normalized to TBV and cerebral volumes. MRS data showed that biochemical differences between twin brains were related to discrepancy in their brain volumes.ConclusionAlthough donors have a smaller TBV compared to recipients, proportionality of brain tissue volumes are preserved in donors. MRS maturational markers of fetal brain development show that recovery in donors persists 4 weeks after surgery.
Safety‐II—Resilience in the face of abnormal operation
Authors: Cutchen Steven S. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractTraditional process safety, Safety‐I, is the condition where adverse outcomes are minimized, for example, OSHA PSM. Adverse Outcomes result from unusual (erroneous) actions in usual conditions. Safety‐I applies to situations that were planned. While process safety incident rates have improved dramatically under Safety‐I, industry seems to have reached an asymptote. There is a Safety‐I gap for unplanned situations, those with no procedures, the initiating event type for a majority of incidents. Work‐as‐Done does not align with Work‐as‐Imagined. Operational Discipline defined in terms of following procedures cannot apply. Safety‐II, the condition where adaption and recovery to safe conditions are maximized, applies where Safety‐I is weak. Adverse Outcomes result from usual (normal) actions in unusual conditions, when workers do what appears to make sense at the time, but the situation is not as expected. Safety‐I and Safety‐II processes are both vital. System improvement results from Safety‐I. System robustness results from Safety‐II. Safety‐II provides for Resilience. Safety‐II is not formally implemented in the United States. This article introduces the concepts behind Safety‐II, the justification for adoption of Safety‐II to cover unplanned operation, and an outline for beginning implementation.
A novel method for fault tree uncertainty analysis using error propagation methods
Authors: Freeman Raymond “Randy” 
Published: November 2020

AbstractFault tree analysis (FTA) is a widely used methodology in the process industries. FTA is used for the development of failure mechanisms, computation of failure frequencies and the determination of the probability of failure on demand of safety systems. Much of the data used in a FTA study are uncertain. For example, the failure rate of a pump is often not known with great precision. Likewise the failure rates of instrumentation are often known only within some defined limits. The common practice, used by analysts in the quantification of a fault tree, is to use the most likely or best guess as to the needed failure rate data. The use of best guess values as data inputs to the quantification of a fault tree creates uncertainty in the computed results. This paper presents a general methodology for the determination of the impact of uncertainty on the results of a fault tree study. The general methodology is based on the mathematics of propagation of error and variance contribution analysis. For a fault tree that contains 10 event minimal cut sets, the methodology will compute the variance in the probability (or frequency) of the top event with a maximum error of 5%. For five event minimal cut sets the error in variance of the top event probability (or frequency) will be no more than 2%. An example is presented to illustrate the application of the fault tree uncertainty analysis methodology to a real world problem.
Assessing the important factors of sustainable agriculture development: An Indicateurs de Durabilité des Exploitations Agricoles‐Analytic Hierarchy Process study in the northern region of Vietnam
Authors: Ngo Thanh , Nguyen Hai‐Dang , Ho Huong , Nguyen Vo‐Kien , Dao Thuy T. T. , Nguyen Hai T. H. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractCombining the systemic indicators of sustainable agriculture provided by the Indicateurs de Durabilité des Exploitations Agricoles (IDEA) framework and the pairwise comparison method provided by the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique, this study examined 644 farmers in the Northern region of Vietnam (using Bac Giang province as a case study) to identify and rank those important factors according to their contributions to the farmer's practices. We found that the Economic dimension is the most important factor that contributes 54% toward the overall Sustainable Agriculture, followed by the Socio‐territorial dimension (29%) and then the Agroecology dimension (17%). We further argue that while it is reasonable for farmers to focus on the sustainable economic performance aspect of their farms, there is a need for the local authorities to be involved to maintain a balanced sustainable agriculture development in the region.
Interrogation of chemical changes on, and through, the bacterial envelope of Escherichia coli FabF mutant using time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry
Authors: Dimovska Nilsson Kelly , Grandén Johan , Farewell Anne , Fletcher John S. 
Published: November 2020

Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) using a primary ion beam of (CO2)6k+ was used to analyse chemical changes in the bacterial envelope of a fabF knock‐out Escherichia coli strain. fabF is the gene coding for FabF, the enzyme involved in the elongation of FA(16:1) to FA(18:1) and has been associated with plasmid transfer that can lead to acquired multiantibiotic resistance. Comparison of the membrane composition between fabF mutant E. coli and wild type E. coli during the logarithmic and stationary growth phases at two culture temperatures (37°C and 30°C) revealed substantial depletion of FA(18:1) in the fabF mutant during logarithmic growth that resulted in a correlated reduction in FA(cp19:0) during stationary phase. While no clear temperature dependence on the effect of the fabF mutation was found, a reduction in cyclopropanation was observed at lower culture temperature in the wild type strain. Additionally, depth profile analysis revealed a ‘thickening’ of the lipid A layer on the surface of the bacteria during stationary phase and also the appearance of cyclic enterobacterial common antigen (ECACYC) below the surface of the bacteria upon the shift from logarithmic to stationary growth phase.
Supramolecular Structure of Temperature‐Dependent Polymeric Hydrogels Modulated by Drug Incorporation
Authors: Franco Margareth K. K. D. , Sepulveda Anderson F. , Vigato Aryane A. , Oshiro Alisson , Machado Ian Pompermayer , Kent Ben , Clemens Daniel , Yokaichiya Fabiano , de Araujo Daniele Ribeiro 
Published: November 2020

AbstractPoloxamers or Pluronics® (PL) have been described as promising pharmaceutical and cosmetics matrices. Herein, we have explored the structural organization of hydrogel formulations composed of PL F‐127 and PL L‐81, considering their different hydrophilic‐lipophilic balances and interactions with an antimigraine drug, sumatriptan succinate (SMT). Hydrogels phase organizations were investigated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) to establish the relationship between structural features and drug release modulation. XRD analysis revealed very low intensity peaks for hydrogels containing SMT due to the presence of small amounts of SMT as crystalline form, which is an evidence of drug incorporation into hydrogels. At physiological temperature, a structural transition from lamellar to hexagonal was observed after SMT incorporation. In addition, SANS patterns displayed a distorted hexagonal structure, (calculated
>experimental
), indicating the presence of a comprised structure compared to a perfect hexagonal assembly. This structural shift however have no influence on the drug release mechanism, allowing the SMT molecules to access the micellar and intermicellar hydrophilic spaces, with release mechanism dependent on the drug diffusion (R2=0.998 ≥ 0.986) from the hydrogel to the medium and release constant (Krel) values from 9.8 to 14.7 %.h−1; 31.5 to 39.1 %.h−1/2; 0.84 to 1.2 %.h−n for Zero‐order, Higuchi and Korsmeyer‐Peppas models, respectively. Using SMT as a drug model, it could be concluded that the drug access to the micellar/intermicellar hydrophilic spaces can be modulated by interplaying the polarity of binary PL‐based hydrogels. Therefore, drug release constants and mechanisms will be then dependent on the hydrogels physico‐chemical and structural properties, which determine the drug diffusion from the hydrogel to the release medium.
Selective Dehydrofluorination of 1,1,1,3,3‐Pentafluoropropane to Synthesize Tetrafluoropropylene and Trifluoropropyne over the ZnO/Cr2O3 Catalysts
Authors: Jia Wenzhi , Fang Xiuxiu , Fang Chentao , Hu Caihong , Song Jiandong , Luo Mengfei 
Published: November 2020

AbstractA series of ZnO/Cr2O3 catalysts were prepared by an impregnation method, and the promoted role of ZnO on the activity for selective dehydrofluorination of 1,1,1,3,3‐pentafluoropropane (CF3CH2CHF2) to tetrafluoropropylene (CFH=CHCF3 and CH2=CFCF3) and 3,3,3‐trifluoropropyne (CH≡CCF3) was investigated. The ZnO/Cr2O3 catalysts were characterized by XRD, Raman, BET, NH3‐TPD and XPS. As more Zn was loaded, both the crystallite size of the Cr2O3 and the surface area of catalysts both increased. The surface acidity of catalysts was the highest (1.02 μmol g−1) when 2 mol % of ZnO was added. Surface Cr species on the surface of ZnO/Cr2O3 catalysts were identified, including Cr2O3, Cr(OH)3 and CrO3. As the ZnO content increased, the relative content of Cr2O3 elevated, while the relative contents of Cr(OH)3 and CrO3 decreased. It was found that the selectivities to four products (E−CFH=CHCF3, Z‐CFH=CHCF3, CH2=CFCF3 and CH≡CCF3) were greatly affected by the ZnO loading and reaction temperature. For the 2ZnO/Cr2O3 catalyst, the lowest selectivities to E‐ and Z‐CFH=CHCF3 were 61.2 and 15.7 %, respectively, while CH2=CFCF3 and CH≡CCF3 achieved the highest selectivity (11.7 % and 9.8 %, respectively) at 450 °C due to the highest surface acidity.