bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nitric oxide generating copper–chitosan particles for wound healing applications
Authors: Fontana Kathleen , Ventimiglia Leslie , Mutus Bulent 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDNitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule that plays many roles during infection, inflammation, and wound healing processes. Due to the role of NO in wound repair, a novel NO generation system was developed based on copper–chitosan complexes that can be used for the topical generation of NO. Chitosan, a biocompatible polymer, chelates copper ions. Copper in the +1 state can reduce nitrite (NO2–) and convert it into NO. With glucose, a reducing sugar, present in the system, Cu+2 can be returned to Cu+1 to complete the catalytic cycle.RESULTSCopper–chitosan milli‐ and micro‐sized particles were produced using microfluidic techniques. Copper–chitosan milli‐particles (Cu‐chito) did produce nitric oxide (NO). The maximum rates of NO production were ∼ 1.40 nmol min‐1 g‐1 (Cu‐chito) and 1.08 nmol min‐1 g‐1 (Cu‐chito + glucose). The milli‐particles were tested with ARPE‐19 cell lines in cell proliferation assays. Cu‐chito particle treatments with nitrite showed 130% more growth in comparison with chitosan milli‐particles not containing copper. Furthermore, Cu‐chito treatments of nitrite + glucose showed 152% more growth in comparison with control groups, and 118% in comparison with Cu‐chito with nitrite alone. The activity of intracellular NO target, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP‐2 and ‐9), were shown to increase by 60% after 48 h of Cu‐chito ± glucose treatments.CONCLUSIONNO‐releasing copper–chitosan derivatives were produced, with proof of concept for nitric oxide release and positive effects on a cell culture model of wound healing. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Magnetic susceptibility increases as diamagnetic molecules breakdown: Myelin digestion during multiple sclerosis lesion formation contributes to increase on QSM
Authors: Deh Kofi , Ponath Gerald D. , Molvi Zaki , Parel Gian‐Carlo T. , Gillen Kelly M. , Zhang Shun , Nguyen Thanh D. , Spincemaille Pascal , Ma Yinghua , Gupta Ajay , Gauthier Susan A. , Pitt David , Wang Yi 
Published: March 2018

BackgroundThe pathological processes in the first weeks of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion formation include myelin digestion that breaks chemical bonds in myelin lipid layers. This can increase lesion magnetic susceptibility, which is a potentially useful biomarker in MS patient management, but not yet investigated.PurposeTo understand and quantify the effects of myelin digestion on quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) of MS lesions.Study TypeHistological and QSM analyses on in vitro models of myelin breakdown and MS lesion formation in vivo.Population/SpecimensAcutely demyelinating white matter lesions from MS autopsy tissue were stained with the lipid dye oil red O. Myelin basic protein (MBP), a major membrane protein of myelin, was digested with trypsin. Purified human myelin was denatured with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). QSM was performed on phantoms containing digestion products and untreated controls. In vivo QSM was performed on five MS patients with newly enhancing lesions, and then repeated within 2 weeks.Field Strength/Sequence3D
‐weighted spoiled multiecho gradient echo scans performed at 3T.AssessmentRegion of interest analyses were performed by a biochemist and a neuroradiologist to determine susceptibility changes on in vitro and in vivo QSM images.Statistical TestsNot applicable.ResultsMBP degradation by trypsin increased the QSM measurement by an average of 112 ± 37 ppb, in excellent agreement with a theoretical estimate of 111 ppb. Degradation of human myelin by SDS increased the QSM measurement by 23 ppb. As MS lesions changed from gadolinium enhancing to nonenhancing over an average of 15.8 ± 3.7 days, their susceptibility increased by an average of 7.5 ± 6.3 ppb.Data ConclusionMyelin digestion in the early stages of MS lesion formation contributes to an increase in tissue susceptibility, detectable by QSM, as a lesion evolves from gadolinium enhancing to nonenhancing.Level of Evidence: 1Technical Efficacy: Stage 3J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1281–1287.
VERT, a virtual clinical environment, enhances understanding of radiation therapy planning concepts
Authors: Leong Aidan , Herst Patries , Kane Paul 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIntroductionThe ability to understand treatment plan dosimetry and apply this understanding clinically is fundamental to the role of the radiation therapist. This study evaluates whether or not the Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training (VERT) contributes to teaching treatment planning concepts to a cohort of first‐year radiation therapy students.MethodsWe directly compared a custom‐developed VERT teaching module with a standard teaching module with respect to the understanding of treatment planning concepts using a cross‐over design. Students self‐reported their understanding of specific concepts before and after delivery of the VERT and standard teaching modules and evaluated aspects of VERT as a learning experience. In addition, teaching staff participated in a semi‐structured interview discussing the modules from an educational perspective.ResultsBoth the standard teaching module and VERT teaching module enhanced conceptual understanding and level of confidence in the student cohort after both teaching periods. The proportion of students reporting a perceived increase in knowledge/confidence was similar for the VERT teaching module for all but two scenarios. We propose that an integrated approach, providing a strong theoretical conceptual framework, followed by VERT to situate this framework in the (simulated) clinical environment combines the best of both teaching approaches.ConclusionThis study has established for the first time a clear role for a tailored VERT teaching module in teaching RT planning concepts because of its ability to visualise conceptual information within a simulated clinical environment.
Not all rotors, effective ablation targets for nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation, are included in areas suggested by conventional indirect indicators of atrial fibrillation drivers: ExTRa Mapping project
Authors: Sakata Kensuke , Okuyama Yusuke , Ozawa Tomoya , Haraguchi Ryo , Nakazawa Kazuo , Tsuchiya Takeshi , Horie Minoru , Ashihara Takashi 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundEffects of nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation (non‐PAF) ablation targeting complex fractionated atrial electrogram (CFAE) areas and/or low voltage areas (LVAs) are still controversial.Methods and ResultsA recently developed online real‐time phase mapping system (ExTRa Mapping) was used to conduct LVA mapping and simultaneous ExTRa and CFAE mapping in 28 non‐PAF patients after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Nonpassively activated areas, in the form of meandering rotors and/or multiple wavelets assumed to contain non‐PAF drivers, partly overlapped with CFAE/LVAs but not always coincided with them.ConclusionReal‐time rotor imaging, rather than conventional indirect indicators only, might be very useful for detecting non‐PAF drivers.
Ultrasound Elastography of the Median Nerve in Patients With Acromegaly: A Case‐Control Study
Authors: Burulday Veysel , Doğan Adil , Şahan Mehmet Hamdi , Arıkan Şenay , Güngüneş Aşkın 
Published: March 2018

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to compare the cross‐sectional area and ultrasound elastographic findings of the median nerve of patients with acromegaly and healthy participants.MethodsThe acromegaly group comprised 15 patients with a previous diagnosis of acromegaly, and an age‐ and sex‐matched control group included healthy participants. Strain elastographic and shear wave elastographic findings and the cross‐sectional areas of the groups were compared. A 6–15‐MHz multifrequency transducer was used for ultrasound evaluations.ResultsA total of 30 hands of 15 patients with acromegaly (7 male and 8 female) with a mean age ± SD of 50.00 ± 10.17 years and 40 hands of 20 healthy control participants (9 male and 11 female) with a mean age of 49.50 ± 10.17 years were taken into consideration for statistical analyses. The cross‐sectional area of the patients with acromegaly was significantly higher than that of the healthy controls (13.43 ± 3.12 versus 8.32 ± 1.94 mm2; P < .05). Median nerve stiffness was significantly increased in the acromegaly group compared with the control group (axial and longitudinal, 37.15 ± 6.4 and 37.0 ± 6.19 versus 18.7 ± 4.1 and 19.2 ± 3.58 kPa, respectively; P < .001).ConclusionsThese preliminary results have demonstrated that patients with acromegaly seem to have increased stiffness and cross‐sectional area of the median nerve compared with healthy participants.
Tribological behaviour of SnO2 nanoparticles as an oil additive on brass
Authors: Tao Chuanlin , Wang Bingxu , Barber Gary C. , Schall J. David , Lan Huiqing 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn this research, the tribological behaviour of oil‐based SnO2 nanofluid was evaluated using flat‐on‐flat reciprocating sliding tests on brass. Oleic acid was used as surfactant to improve the stability of SnO2 nanofluid. The morphology of the worn surfaces was observed using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. It was found that oil‐based SnO2 nanofluid reduced the coefficient of friction up to 65.4% and the wear volume loss up to 43.7%. In the analysis of the chemical composition inside the wear track, a tribosintered or embedded patchy film containing tin was observed, which protected the surface against wear and lowered the coefficient of friction. The SnO2 nanoparticles might also roll or slide between 2 mating surfaces to prevent adhesive wear.
In silico Predicted Glucose‐1‐phosphate Uridylyltransferase (GalU) Inhibitors Block a Key Pathway Required for Listeria Virulence
Authors: Kuenemann Melaine A. , Spears Patricia A. , Orndorff Paul E. , Fourches Denis 
Published: March 2018

AbstractPeptidoglycan walls of gram positive bacteria are functionalized by glycopolymers called wall teichoic acid (WTA). In Listeria monocytogenes, multiple enzymes including the glucose‐1‐phosphate uridylyltransferase (GalU) were identified as mandatory for WTA galactosylation, so that the inhibition of GalU is associated with a significant attenuation of Listeria virulence. Herein, we report on a series of in silico predicted GalU inhibitors identified using structure‐based virtual screening and experimentally validated to be effective in blocking the WTA galactosylation pathway in vitro. Several hits such as C04, a pyrimidinyl benzamide, afforded promising experimental potencies. This proof‐of‐concept study opens new perspectives for the development of potent and selective GalU inhibitors of high interest to attenuate Listeria virulence. It also underscores the high relevance of using molecular modeling for facilitating the identification of bacterial virulence attenuators and more generally antibacterials.
Multiple supercontinuum generation based on a single mode‐locked seed fiber laser
Authors: Amiri Iraj S. , Hassan N. A. , Ahmad H. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn this work, multiple supercontinuum spectrum generation using single pulsed seed fiber laser is demonstrated. A mode‐locked laser that operates at 17.6 MHz repetition rate is filtered into six different wavelengths with 1 nm full‐width‐half‐maximum over the range from 1560.4 nm to 1565.4 nm using a tunable band‐pass filter. Each filtered wavelength is amplified and launched into a highly nonlinear medium to generate supercontinuum. The multiple supercontinuum spectra span a bandwidth of over 1000 nm each—in the wavelength range from 1200 nm to 2200 nm.
Wearable planar inverted‐F antenna with stable characteristic and low specific absorption rate
Authors: Gao Guoping , Hu Bin , Wang Shaofei , Yang Chen 
Published: March 2018

AbstractA dual band PIFA antenna with EBG structure in application to wearable communication system is investigated in this article. The proposed antenna is designed to work at 2.4/5.8 GHz WLAN band by two horizontal radiation units, and then the dual band EBG with two rectangular rings is designed, which is quite a simple structure. The two zero‐reflection phases and band‐gaps of S21<−20 dB are observed in the designed working bands. Both of the measurement and simulation show that the performance of the proposed antenna under bending condition is stable, and by virtue of the EBG structures, several significant characteristics are obtained such as the unidirectional radiation, high gain, and low SAR value, which are necessary for WBAN applications.
Design and analysis of a low‐pass filter utilizing a slotted‐ground‐plane resonator
Authors: Wang Chien‐Jen , Hsu Li‐Jung 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn this article, the frequency‐response analysis of an H‐shaped slot resonator etched in the ground plane is shown by using transmission‐line analysis and even‐and‐odd mode analysis. Based on a stepped‐impedance structure, we systematically derive a resonance analysis of the slot resonator, addressing resonance conditions, and harmonic responses. The design rule of the slotted‐ground‐plane resonator was successfully derived. The design equations and figures regarding the impedance ratio of the H‐shaped slot resonator have been analytically proven so that the resonant modes can be predicted without electromagnetism simulation software. Aided by the proposed design procedure, we demonstrate a low‐pass filter (LPF) with a unit‐cell topology, which consists of a uniform‐impedance transmission line, an H‐shaped slot resonator, and two C‐like slot resonators which are also designed with the same design rule. By embedding the two C‐like slot resonators inside the H‐shaped slot resonator, several additional transmission zeros are excited in frequency characteristics so that the device achieves wideband rejection performance. Finally, to enhance the frequency characteristics of the LPF, a modified case is also presented by adding a rectangular stub at the transmission line.
Directional monopole antenna using half PMC and PEC ground plane
Authors: Lee Jae‐Gon , Lee Jeong‐Hae 
Published: March 2018

AbstractA vertical monopole antenna having a directional radiation pattern is proposed in this paper. The proposed monopole antenna is located vertically on the half‐and‐half finite ground plane of perfect magnetic conductor (PMC) and perfect electric conductor (PEC). The ground dimension is set to be 1λ0. In case of the conventional monopole antenna, the surface currents on a ground plane are cancelled out because of the symmetrical ground with respect to the monopole. However, the surface currents of the presented monopole antenna are not cancelled out due to an asymmetrical ground and flows in one direction, so that the electromagnetic (EM) wave of an antenna does not radiate omni‐directionally but directionally. In this paper, a corrugated soft surface is employed to realize the PMC ground. The measured peak gain and the 10 dB bandwidth are measured to be 4.5 dBi and about 20% at the resonant frequency of 2.4 GHz, respectively.
Low‐loss and highly‐selective differential bandpass filter on integrated passive device process
Authors: Pakasiri Chatrpol , Hsu Keng‐Chi , Wang Sen 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis letter presents a low‐loss and highly‐selective differential bandpass filter (BPF) with high common‐mode rejection ratio (CMRR). The presented integrated passive device process provides high quality lumped elements, and therefore a low insertion loss of the BPF can be obtained. The circuit also uses series‐shunt resonators for controlling its differential‐ and common‐mode transmission zeros. Moreover, with a proper choice of circuit component values, a high common‐mode rejection can be controlled at a specific frequency without alternating properties of the filter. The chip area of the filter is 3.74 mm2 including all testing pads. Additionally, the differential BPF achieves a 1.5‐dB insertion loss and 11‐dB return loss with a 73% 3‐dB bandwidth at 2.2 GHz. Finally, the peak CMRR at the frequency of interest is up to 50 dB.
Dual‐band on‐/off‐body reconfigurable antenna for wireless body area network (WBAN) applications
Authors: Tong Xuanfeng , Liu Changrong , Liu Xueguan , Guo Huiping , Yang Xinmi 
Published: March 2018

AbstractA dual‐band dual‐mode reconfigurable antenna for on‐body and off‐body communication is presented. The antenna is operating at Industrial, Scientific, and Medical band, specifically, on‐body mode at 2.45 GHz band and off‐body mode at 5.8 GHz band. Ring slot is etched on the circular patch to form the off‐body mode with almost no influence on the on‐body mode. Three PIN diodes are utilized to act as switches between on‐body and off‐body modes. The total size of the antenna is π × 242 × 1.6 mm3. The antenna was fabricated to validate the simulation results. The antenna was measured on pork, measured results agree well with the simulated ones. The maximum measured gain of on‐body mode and off‐body mode are 0.36 dBi and 5.06 dBi, respectively. Specific absorption rate (SAR) value is less than 1.6 W/kg when the input power below 19.5 dBm which is enough for WBAN applications.
Tunable narrow bandwidth of a bandpass filter combined microstrip and suspended substrate stripline
Authors: Alaqil Hassan , Hong Jiasheng 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis paper introduces a narrow bandwidth tunable filter. The filter has been tuned electronically by using varactor diodes. A set of mechanically tuning screws have been utilized to overcome the manufacturing tolerance of the filter's resonators. In contrast to most the combline filters, which depend on the cross‐coupling approach to generate the transmission poles, the proposed filter has a pair of transmission zeros located on both sides of the passband, by employing two uncoupled microstrip resonators that have been electronically tuned independently. The proposed filter bandwidth tuning range is 59–88 MHz with 3 dB fractional bandwidth 1.94–2.76 respectively. A detailed demonstration of the suggested tunable filter is introduced based on a mathematical approach.
Hybrid square ring patch‐slot antenna for dual‐band circular polarized operation
Authors: Hyun Mooyeol , Sung Youngje , Kim Eungsoo 
Published: March 2018

AbstractA new design of a circular polarized hybrid patch‐slot antenna operating in dual band is investigated. The proposed structure is a hybrid square ring‐patch slot implemented on both sides of a single layer and has two radiating elements. The square ring patch, which operates in the low band, is implemented on the top layer of the substrate. For the high band, the square ring slot is placed on the ground plane. Each radiating element is fed by the same T‐shaped feed structure. The prototype achieves impedance bandwidths (|S11| ≤ −10 dB) of 7.73% and 12.03%, axial ratio (AR) bandwidths (AR ≤ 3 dB) of 1.7% and 2.61% at two different bands, respectively.
A compact missile‐borne conformal array antenna with off‐axis radiation
Authors: Li Cun L. , Shi Xiao W. , Wang Hai H. , Li Xin 
Published: March 2018

AbstractA missile‐borne conformal array antenna with off‐axis radiation is designed in this article. 16 inclined radiation elements are connected by a power divider to form a conformal array, which consists of an active patch and a parasitic patch with an open‐circuit stub. By coplanar coupled feeding and adjusting the length of the open‐circuit stub, the radiation pattern toward axis‐direction of missile is realized. Experimental results show the antenna can cover 5.25–5.45 GHz with −10 dB return loss and with off‐axis radiation. Due to its excellent electrical performance and conformal ability, it can be widely used on the missiles.
Dual polarized triple‐band dielectric resonator based hybrid MIMO antenna for WLAN/WiMAX applications
Authors: Sahu Nikesh Kumar , Das Gourab , Gangwar Ravi Kumar 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn this article, a dual polarized triple‐band dielectric resonator based hybrid multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) antenna is presented. The proposed MIMO antenna is designed with the help of two cylindrical dielectric resonators along with two symmetrical modified Y‐shaped microstrip printed lines. Two metallic strips and a slot on the ground plane are used to enhance the isolation. A prototype of the proposed design is fabricated and tested to validate the simulation outcomes. The measured outcomes confirmed that the proposed antenna can be utilized in three different frequency bands such as 2.21–3.13, 3.40–3.92, and 5.30–6.10 GHz with fractional bandwidth of 34.45%, 14.2%, and 14%, respectively. The modified Y‐shaped printed line is used to obtain circular polarization in the upper frequency band with fractional axial ratio (AR) bandwidth of 4.18%. Besides, MIMO performance has also been examined in terms of diversity parameters like envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), mean effective gain (MEG), diversity gain (DG), and channel capacity loss (CCL).
Compact spiral band pass filter with low group delay
Authors: Noraei Yeganeh Ali , Sedighy Seyed Hassan 
Published: March 2018

AbstractA complementary coupled spiral transmission line with center via is proposed to design band pass filter with compact and simple profile, low group delay, and low insertion loss. A compact wideband band pass filter is designed and fabricated for demonstration which has 26% bandwidth, 0.3 dB insertion loss, and compact size as 0.41 × 0.23 λg with very low group delay, 0.28 ns. These good specifications prove the capability of the proposed approach to design of band pass filter compared with the literatures.
The three‐dimensional structure of NeoB: An aminotransferase involved in the biosynthesis of neomycin
Authors: Dow Garrett T. , Thoden James B. , Holden Hazel M. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe aminoglycoside antibiotics, discovered as natural products in the 1940s, demonstrate a broad antimicrobial spectrum. Due to their nephrotoxic and ototoxic side effects, however, their widespread clinical usage has typically been limited to the treatment of serious infections. Neomycin B, first isolated from strains of Streptomyces in 1948, is one such drug that was approved for human use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1964. Only within the last 11 years has the biochemical pathway for its production been elaborated, however. Here we present the three‐dimensional architecture of NeoB from Streptomyces fradiae, which is a pyridoxal 5′‐phosphate or PLP‐dependent aminotransferase that functions on two different substrates in neomycin B biosynthesis. For this investigation, four high resolution X‐ray structures of NeoB were determined in various complexed states. The overall fold of NeoB is that typically observed for members of the “aspartate aminotransferase” family with the exception of an additional three‐stranded antiparallel β‐sheet that forms part of the subunit–subunit interface of the dimer. The manner in which the active site of NeoB accommodates quite different substrates has been defined by this investigation. In addition, during the course of this study, we also determined the structure of the aminotransferase GenB1 to high resolution. GenB1 functions as an aminotransferase in gentamicin biosynthesis. Taken together, the structures of NeoB and GenB1, presented here, provide the first detailed descriptions of aminotransferases that specifically function on aldehyde moieties in aminoglycoside biosynthesis.