bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nonionic Dendritic and Carbohydrate Based Amphiphiles: Self‐Assembly and Transport Behavior
Authors: Prasad Suchita , Achazi Katharina , Schade Boris , Haag Rainer , Sharma Sunil K. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractHerein, a new series of non‐ionic dendritic and carbohydrate based amphiphiles is synthesized employing biocompatible starting materials and studied for supramolecular aggregate formation in aqueous solution. The dendritic amphiphiles 12 and 13 possessing poly(glycerol) [G2.0] as hydrophilic unit and C‐10 and C‐18 hydrophobic alkyl chains, respectively, exhibit low critical aggregation concentration (CAC) in the order of 10−5m and hydrodynamic diameters in the 8–10 nm range and supplemented by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. Ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐Vis) and fluorescence spectroscopy suggests the effective solubilization of hydrophobic guests by the self‐assembled architectures, with the nanotransporters 12 and 13 possessing the highest encapsulation efficiency of 80.74 and 98.03% for curcumin. Efficient uptake of encapsulated curcumin in adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial (A549) cells is observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Amphiphiles 12 and 13 are non‐cytotoxic at the concentrations studied, however, curcumin encapsulated samples efficiently reduce the viability of A549 cells in vitro. Experimental studies indicate the ability of amphiphile 13 to encapsulate 1‐anilinonaphthalene‐8‐sulfonic acid (ANS) and curcumin with binding constant of 1.16 × 1055m−1 and 1.43 × 106m−1, respectively. Overall, our findings demonstrate the potential of these dendritic amphiphiles for the development of prospective nanocarriers for the solubilization of hydrophobic drugs.
Dual Ag/ZnO‐Decorated Micro‐/Nanoporous Sulfonated Polyetheretherketone with Superior Antibacterial Capability and Biocompatibility via Layer‐by‐Layer Self‐Assembly Strategy
Authors: Deng Yi , Yang Lei , Huang Xiaobing , Chen Junhong , Shi Xiuyuan , Yang Weizhong , Hong Min , Wang Yuan , Dargusch Matthew S. , Chen Zhi‐Gang 
Published: May 2018

AbstractPolyetheretherketone is attractive for dental and orthopedic applications due to its mechanical attributes close to that of human bone; however, the lack of antibacterial capability and bioactivity of polyetheretherketone has substantially impeded its clinical applications. Here, a dual therapy implant coating is developed on the 3D micro‐/nanoporous sulfonated polyetheretherketone via layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly of Ag ions and Zn ions. Material characterization studies have indicated that nanoparticles consisting of elemental Ag and ZnO are uniformly incorporated on the porous sulfonated polyetheretherketone surface. The antibacterial assays demonstrate that Ag‐decorated sulfonated polyetheretherketone and Ag/ZnO‐codecorated sulfonated polyetheretherketone effectively inhibit the reproduction of Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria. Owing to the coordination of micro‐/nanoscale topological cues and Zn induction, the Ag/ZnO‐codecorated sulfonated polyetheretherketone substrates are found to enhance biocompatibility (cell viability, spreading, and proliferation), and hasten osteodifferentiation and ‐maturation (alkaline phosphate activity (ALP) production, and osteogenesis‐related genetic expression), compared with the Ag‐decorated sulfonated polyetheretherketone and the ZnO‐decorated sulfonated polyetheretherketone counterparts. The dual therapy Ag/ZnO‐codecorated sulfonated polyetheretherketone has an appealing bacteriostatic performance and osteogenic differentiation potential, showing great potential for dental and orthopedic implants.
Low‐Temperature Sintering of Stereocomplex‐Type Polylactide Nascent Powder: From Compression Molding to Injection Molding
Authors: Fu Meirui , Liu Zhenwei , Bai Dongyu , Ling Fangwei , Bai Hongwei , Zhang Qin , Fu Qiang 
Published: May 2018

AbstractStereocomplex (SC) crystallization between poly(l‐lactide) (PLLA) and poly(d‐lactide) (PDLA) exhibits tremendous potential to improve the properties of polylactide (PLA), but the practical processing of SC‐type PLA (SC‐PLA) is significantly hindered by the insufficient melt stability and serious degradation after complete melting of SC crystallites over 240 °C. In a previous work, powder metallurgy inspired low‐temperature (180–210 °C) compression sintering is proposed to fabricate SC‐PLA products from its nascent powder. However, its industrial application is still challenging mainly due to the low production efficiency (half an hour is required) as well as the weak ability to fabricate products with complex shapes. In this work, an effort to rapidly fabricate complex‐shaped SC‐PLA products using low‐temperature injection molding technology is reported, where SC‐PLA nascent powder is partially melted. To ensure appropriate powder flowability, small amounts of glyceryl monostearate are incorporated as a lubricant. The results show that, both the self‐nucleation and flow‐induced nucleation effects facilitate the SC crystallization across the interfaces between adjacent unmelted powder particles, which considerably shortens the sintering cycle to about 2 min. In this way, complex‐shaped SC‐PLA products (such as gears) with superb performance are successfully fabricated by injection molding for the first time.
Geometrical proofs for the global solvability of systems
Authors: Bergamasco Adalberto Panobianco , Parmeggiani Alberto , Zani Sérgio Luís , Zugliani Giuliano Angelo 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWe study a linear operator associated with a closed non‐exact 1‐form b defined on a smooth closed orientable surface M of genus . Here we present two proofs that reveal the interplay between the global solvability of the operator and the global topology of the surface. The first result brings an answer for the global solvability when the system is defined by a generic Morse 1‐form. Necessary conditions for the global solvability bearing on the sublevel and superlevel sets of primitives of a smooth 1‐form b have already been established; we also present a more intuitive proof of this result.
Inhibition is impaired in children with obsessive‐compulsive symptoms but not in those with tics
Authors: Mancini Christian , Cardona Francesco , Baglioni Valentina , Panunzi Sara , Pantano Patrizia , Suppa Antonio , Mirabella Giovanni 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACTBackground: Impaired inhibitory control is thought to be a core deficit in psychiatric disorders where patients exhibit problems with controlling urges. These problems include the urge to perform movements typical of Tourette syndrome and the urge to execute compulsive actions typical of obsessive‐compulsive disorder. However, the picture emerging from studies that address this issue is controversial. Furthermore, most studies have only focused on reactive control (the ability of subjects to react to a stop signal), but not on proactive control (the ability of patients to shape their response strategies in anticipation of known task demands).Objectives: We assessed reactive and proactive inhibitory control in drug naïve children/adolescents affected by Tourette syndrome, obsessive‐compulsive disorder, and in those in which the 2 disorders co‐occur.Methods: Reaching version of the stop signal task and of a simple reaction time task were given to 37 unmedicated patients (mean age ± SD, 11.0 ± 2.3) and to 37 healthy age‐ and gender‐matched controls (mean age ± SD, 10.8 ± 1.6).Results: Both reactive and proactive inhibition scaled with the severity of obsessive‐compulsive symptoms, but not with those of tic symptoms (ie, inhibitory control in uncomplicated Tourette patients was comparable with that of healthy controls).Conclusions: We suggest that the cognitive mechanisms underlying tics and compulsions controls are likely to be different. Possibly the preserved ability to suppress actions in uncomplicated Tourette patients allows them to experience a greater feeling of self‐control, and this fact might play a key role in evolution of the disorder beyond adolescence. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Inverse optimal control for asymptotic trajectory tracking of discrete‐time stochastic nonlinear systems in block controllable form
Authors: Elvira‐Ceja Santiago , Sanchez Edgar N. 
Published: May 2018

SummaryThis paper concerns an inverse optimal control–based trajectory tracking of discrete‐time stochastic nonlinear systems. It is assumed that the nonlinear system can be transformed to the so called nonlinear block controllable form. Additionally, the synthesized control law minimizes a cost functional, which is posteriori determined. In contrast to the optimal control technique, this scheme avoids to solve the stochastic Hamilton‐Jacobi‐Bellman equation, which is not an easy task. Based on a discrete‐time stochastic control Lyapunov function, the proposed optimal controller is analyzed. The proposed approach is applied successfully to the two degrees‐of‐freedom helicopter with uncertainties in real time.
A trajectory‐based sampling strategy for sequentially refined metamodel management of metamodel‐based dynamic optimization in mechatronics
Authors: Lefebvre Tom , De Belie Frederik , Crevecoeur Guillaume 
Published: May 2018

SummaryDynamic optimization problems based on computationally expensive models that embody the dynamics of a mechatronic system can result in prohibitively long optimization runs. When facing optimization problems with static models, reduction in the computational time and thus attaining convergence can be established by means of a metamodel placed within a metamodel management scheme. This paper proposes a metamodel management scheme with a dedicated sampling strategy when using computationally demanding dynamic models in a dynamic optimization problem context. The dedicated sampling strategy enables to attain dynamically feasible solutions where the metamodel is locally refined during the optimization process upon satisfying a feasibility‐based stopping condition. The samples are distributed along the iterate trajectories of the sequential direct dynamic optimization procedure. Algorithmic implementation of the trajectory‐based metamodel management is detailed and applied on two case studies involving dynamic optimization problems. These numerical experiments illustrate the benefits of the presented scheme and its sampling strategy on the convergence properties. It is shown that the acceleration of the solution time of the dynamic optimization problem can be achieved when evaluating the metamodel that is lower than 90% compared to the computationally expensive model.
Preparation and characterization of temperature‐ and pH‐responsive diblock copolymers and their silica‐coated nanoparticles
Authors: Yang Zhenglong , Fu Kangyu , Yu Jing , Zhou Peiting , Cheng Zhihao 
Published: May 2018

Multiresponsive amphiphilic poly(N,N‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)‐b‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PDMAEMA‐b‐PNIPAM) was successfully synthesized by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. Poly(N,N‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)‐b‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) has thermal and pH stimuli responsiveness. Their lower critical solution temperature and hydrodynamic radius can be adjusted by varying the copolymer composition, block length, solution pH, and temperature. In addition, a convenient method has been established to prepare cross‐linked silica‐coated nanoparticles with PDMAEMA‐b‐PNIPAM micelles as a template, resulting in good organic/inorganic hybrid nanoparticles defined as 175 to 220 nm. The structure and morphology were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1HNMR), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and transmission electron microscopy‐energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (TEM‐EDS).
Pediatric superior vena cava syndrome: An evidence‐based systematic review of the literature
Authors: Nossair Fadi , Schoettler Peter , Starr Joanne , Chan Anthony K. C. , Kirov Ivan , Paes Bosco , Mahajerin Arash 
Published: May 2018

AbstractSuperior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) results in vascular, respiratory, and neurologic compromise. A systematic search was conducted to determine the prevalence of pediatric SVCS subtypes and identify clinical characteristics/treatment strategies that may influence overall outcomes. Data from 101 case reports/case series (142 patients) were analyzed. Morbidity (30%), mortality (18%), and acute complications (55%) were assessed as outcomes. Thrombosis was present in 36%, with multi‐modal anticoagulation showing improved outcome by >50% (P = 0.004). Infant age (P = 0.04), lack of collaterals (P = 0.007), acute complications (P = 0.005), and clinical presentation may have prognostic utility that could influence clinical decisions and surveillance practices in pediatric SVCS.
Associations between neutrophil recovery time, infections and relapse in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Løhmann Ditte J. A. , Asdahl Peter H. , Abrahamsson Jonas , Ha Shau‐Yin , Jónsson Ólafur G. , Kaspers Gertjan J. L. , Koskenvuo Minna , Lausen Birgitte , De Moerloose Barbara , Palle Josefine , Zeller Bernward , Hasle Henrik 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundChildren with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated similarly show different toxicity and leukemic responses. We investigated associations between neutrophil recovery time after the first induction course, infection and relapse in children treated according to NOPHO‐AML 2004 and DB AML‐01.ProcedureNewly diagnosed patients with AML with bone marrow blast <5% between day 15 after the start of the treatment and the start of second induction course, and in complete remission after the second induction course were included (n = 279). Neutrophil recovery time was defined as the time from the start of the course to the last day with absolute neutrophil count <0.5 × 109/l. Linear and Cox regressions were used to investigate associations.ResultsNeutrophil recovery time after the first induction course was positively associated with neutrophil recovery time after the remaining courses, and longer neutrophil recovery time (≥25 days) was associated with increased risk of grade 3–4 infections (hazard ratio 1.4, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1–1.8). Longer neutrophil recovery time after the first induction (>30 days) was associated with the increased risk of relapse (5‐year cumulative incidence: 48% vs. 42%, hazard ratio 1.7, 95% CI, 1.1–2.6) for cases not treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in first complete remission.ConclusionLonger neutrophil recovery time after the first induction course was associated with grade 3–4 infections and relapse. If confirmed, this knowledge could be incorporated into risk stratification strategies in pediatric AML.
The Limits of Primary Radiation Forces in Bulk Acoustic Standing Waves for Concentrating Nanoparticles
Authors: Reyes Christopher , Fu Lin , Suthanthiraraj Pearlson P. A. , Owens Crystal E. , Shields C. Wyatt , López Gabriel P. , Charbonneau Patrick , Wiley Benjamin J. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractAcoustic waves are increasingly used to concentrate, separate, and pattern nanoparticles in liquids, but the extent to which nanoparticles of different size and composition can be focused is not well‐defined. This article describes a simple analytical model for predicting the distribution of nanoparticles around the node of a 1D bulk acoustic standing wave over time as a function of pressure amplitude, acoustic contrast factor (i.e., nanoparticle and fluid composition), and size of the nanoparticles. Predictions from this model are systematically compared to results from experiments on gold nanoparticles of different sizes to determine the model's accuracy in estimating both the rate and the degree of nanoparticle focusing across a range of pressure amplitudes. The model is further used to predict the minimum particle size that can be focused for different nanoparticle and fluid compositions, and those predictions are tested with gold, silica, and polystyrene nanoparticles in water. A procedure combining UV‐light and photoacid is used to induce the aggregation of nanoparticles to illustrate the effect of nanoparticle aggregation on the observed degree of acoustic focusing. Overall, these findings clarify the extent to which acoustic resonating devices can be used to manipulate, pattern, and enrich nanoparticles suspended in liquids.
Monodispersed Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles Enhance the Osteogenic Differentiation of Adipose‐Derived Stem Cells through Activating TGF‐Beta/Smad3 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Guo Yi , Xue Yumeng , Niu Wen , Chen Mi , Wang Min , Ma Peter X. , Lei Bo 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIt is important to understand the interaction mechanisms between nanomaterials and adipose‐derived stem cells for biomedical application. Nanoscale bioactive glass has positive effects on guiding osteoblasts differentiation and bone regeneration. However, the effects and molecular mechanism of monodispersed bioactive glass nanoparticles on the osteogenic differentiation of adipose‐derived stem cells are still not clear up to now. In this study, the effects and underlying molecular mechanism of monodispersed bioactive glass nanoparticles on the osteogenic differentiation of adipose‐derived stem cells are investigated in minute detail. The results show that nanoparticles (100–200 nm) can be absorbed by stem cells and is distributed in cytoplasm and nucleus. In both culture conditions (normal and osteoinductive), nanoparticles (80 µg mL−1) can significantly enhance the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells through upregulating the alkaline phosphatase activity, osteogenic genes and protein expressions, as well as calcium deposition. Further study suggests that the activation of transforming growth factor‐beta/Smad3 signaling pathway plays an important role in the osteogenic differentiation of adipose‐derived stem cells enhanced by monodispersed nanoparticles. This study may have important implications for better understanding of stem cells fate induced by monodispersed nanoparticles and provide a promising approach toward stem cells‐based bone regeneration.
The effect of topical piperine combined with narrowband UVB on vitiligo treatment: A clinical trial study
Authors: Shafiee Anoosh , Hoormand Mahmood , Shahidi‐Dadras Mohammad , Abadi Alireza 
Published: May 2018

Vitiligo is the most common acquired hypopigmentary disease in the community. Piperine as an herbal extract derived from black pepper has strong impact on the melanocyte proliferation and adverse side effects less than synthetic drugs such as corticosteroids. For the first time, this study was aimed to evaluate the effect of topical piperine combined with narrowband ultraviolet B (NB‐UVB) on vitiligo treatment. In this double‐blind clinical trial, 63 patients with facial vitiligo were randomly divided into 2 groups: treated with piperine (case) and placebo (control). Also, both groups received NB‐UVB phototherapy every other day for 3 months. In the case group, 10 patients have burning sensation on their skin areas (p value = .002). Also, redness of the treated areas was observed in 6 patients (p value = .028). Both side effects were temporary. Regarding repigmentation at time intervals of 1, 2, and 3 months after treatment, its level in the case group was significantly higher than the control group (p value < .001). Based on our findings, the combination therapy with NB‐UVB/topical piperine has more influence on facial vitiligo than that of NB‐UVB alone. It could be concluded that the simultaneous use of NB‐UVB and topical piperine has a remarkable effect on treatment of vitiligo.
Comparative analysis of symmetric division deg index as potentially useful molecular descriptor
Authors: Furtula Boris , Ch. Das Kinkar , Gutman Ivan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThere are several dozens of vertex–degree–based (VDB) molecular structure descriptors currently studied and proposed to be used in quantitative structure‐property/activity relationships (QSPR/QSAR) researches. Among them, just a couple are recognized as promising and worth of practical applications. One of the newest is the symmetric division deg index (SDD). This article is devoted to a thorough multifaceted analysis of SDD and its comparison with other VDB topological indices. We show that the applicative potential of SDD is comparable to already well‐established VDB structure descriptors. Additionally, some of conducted tests indicate its supremacy over other VDB molecular indices.
Computational strategies for predicting free radical scavengers' protection against oxidative stress: Where are we and what might follow?
Authors: Galano Annia , Raúl Alvarez‐Idaboy Juan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractOxidative stress, which is frequently induced by an overproduction of free radicals (FR), poses a high risk to human health. Thus, finding efficient strategies for scavenging FR is a research area of current interest. Among many other aspects, this involves identifying chemical compounds capable of offering antioxidant protection (AOP) and quantifying such protection. This review summarizes different computational approaches that can contribute to gain a deeper knowledge on this subject. Several reaction mechanisms that may contribute to AOP are discussed, as well as some key factors influencing their relative importance including the chemical nature of the reacting FR, the polarity of the environment and the pH in aqueous solution. Kinetics‐based analyses to characterize antioxidants, through their FR scavenging activity, are presented. Trends in such activity, from the data currently available in the literature are provided. Some key aspects, regarding AOP, that still deserves further investigation, are discussed.
Determination of carbon isotope ratios for honey samples by means of a liquid chromatography/isotope ratio mass spectrometry system coupled with a post‐column pump
Authors: Kawashima Hiroto , Suto Momoka , Suto Nana 
Published: May 2018

RationaleLiquid chromatography/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (LC/IRMS) has been used to authenticate and trace products such as honey, wine, and lemon juice, and compounds such as caffeine and pesticides. However, LC/IRMS has several disadvantages, including the high cost of the CO2 membrane and blocking by solidified sodium persulfate. Here, we developed an improved system for determining carbon isotope ratios using LC/IRMS.MethodsThe main improvement was the use of a post‐column pump. Using the improved system, we determined δ13C values for glucose with high accuracy and precision (0.1‰ and 0.1‰, respectively; n = 3). The glucose, fructose, disaccharide, trisaccharide, and organic acid constituents of honey samples were analyzed using LC/IRMS.ResultsThe δ13C values for glucose, fructose, disaccharides, trisaccharides, and organic acids ranged from −27.0 to −24.2‰, −26.8 to −24.0‰, −28.8 to −24.0‰, −27.8 to −22.8‰, and − 30.6 to −27.4‰, respectively. The analysis time was a third to a half of that required for analysis by previously reported methods.ConclusionsThe column flow rate could be arbitrarily adjusted with the post‐column pump. We applied the improved method to 26 commercial honey samples. Our results can be expected to be useful for other researchers who use LC/IRMS.
Fault‐tolerant leader‐follower formation control of marine surface vessels with unknown dynamics and actuator faults
Authors: Zhang Jin‐Xi , Yang Guang‐Hong 
Published: May 2018

SummaryThis paper concentrates on the leader‐follower formation control problem for marine surface vessels with unknown nonlinear dynamics and actuator faults. The unknown inertia matrix and multiplicative fault render the existing methods infeasible. To solve this problem, a low‐complexity prescribed performance controller is first proposed without the help of auxiliary neural/fuzzy systems or adaptive mechanisms. A modification technique is further adopted to relax the initial condition, such that global closed‐loop stability is guaranteed. Finally, simulation results illustrate the above theoretical results.