bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Negotiating mobile identity in the global nightscape
Authors: Jankowski Krzysztof Z. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractTransnational and migrant identities have traditionally been theorised around axes of identity such as ethnicity or labour position; drawing on the mobilities paradigm and social geography, I discuss how representations of movement transform identity and life in the destination. This approach puts mobility at the core of transnational studies and elaborates on perspectives of space that span place to mobility. To investigate this, I conducted an ethnography in the nightlife district Lan Kwai Fong (LKF), Hong Kong. In LKF, transnational movement creates an expectation that life in Hong Kong will stand apart from home. This transforms LKF with the expectation that life is going to be better and more amazing than previously. Movement also creates the expectation of difference and novelty. Participants evaluated LKF on its merits as an exotic destination. In parallel, the curators of LKF aim to foster a sense of discovery, of finding somewhere new and different. Discovery validates movement as successful and distantiates subjects from place and into a spatial configuration of ephemerality and change. But for people living in Hong Kong, discovery has to be supplanted with a more permanent narrative of belonging without losing sight of mobility. New immobile subjects weave stories of mobility into their practices in LKF. They live mobile identities such as expatriate or exchange student, which keep the fantasy and spatial reality of mobility ongoing.
Protective effects of cinnamon bark extract against ischemia–reperfusion injury and arrhythmias in rat
Authors: Sedighi Mehrnoosh , Nazari Afshin , Faghihi Mahdieh , Rafieian‐Kopaei Mahmoud , Karimi Arash , Moghimian Maryam , Mozaffarpur Seyyed Ali , Rashidipour Marzieh , Namdari Mehrdad , Cheraghi Mostafa , Rasoulian Bahram 
Published: June 2018

Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon) is a plant with potent antioxidant activity and has been used in traditional medicine for improvement of heart function. The effects of cinnamon bark ethanolic extract were investigated against ischemia‐induced arrhythmias and heart injury in an in vivo rat model of regional heart ischemia. The extract was also standardized, and its antioxidant activity was evaluated. Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to 30 min of ischemia by occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by 5 days of reperfusion. Thirty‐two animals were randomized to receive daily oral administration of vehicle or C. zeylanicum bark extract (intragastric, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg) 14 days before ischemia. C. zeylanicum was standardized through HPLC analysis. Administration of cinnamon bark extract significantly improved ischemia/reperfusion‐induced myocardial injury as evidenced by reduction of the infarct size. Also, during the ischemic period, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular ectopic beats episodes decreased as compared with that of the control group. The extract stabilized the ST segment changes and QTc shortening, decreased R‐wave amplitude, and increased heart rate during ischemia. The extract also caused significant elevations in serum superoxide dismutase and glutation proxidase activities as well as a significant decrease in serum cardiac troponin I, lactate dehydrogenase, and malondialdehyde levels, 5 days after reperfusion. In HPLC analysis, the amounts of Cinamic acid, Methyl eugenol, and Cinnamaldehyde were 8.99 ± 0.5, 13.02 ± 1.8, and 14.63 ± 1.1 mg/g, respectively. The results show that the ethanolic extract of cinnamon bark is able to protect the heart against ischemia–reperfusion injury probably due to its antioxidant properties. Hence, it might be beneficial in these patients and this remedy might be used for preparation of new drugs.
A robust approach to singular spectrum analysis
Authors: Rodrigues Paulo Canas , Lourenço Vanda , Mahmoudvand Rahim 
Published: June 2018

AbstractSingular spectrum analysis (SSA) is a nonparametric method for time series analysis and forecasting that incorporates elements of classical time series analysis, multivariate statistics, multivariate geometry, dynamical systems, and signal processing. Although this technique has shown to be advantageous over traditional model‐based methods, in particular, one of the steps of the SSA algorithm, which refers to the singular value decomposition (SVD) of the trajectory matrix, is highly sensitive to data contamination. Specifically, and because SVD decomposition is least squares based, the presence of a single outlier, if extreme, may be enough to draw the leading principal component towards itself resulting in possible misinterpretations, which may subsequently, in particular and in the case of time series analysis, lead to reduced quality of model fit and forecast accuracy. In order to alleviate this problem, a robust SSA algorithm is proposed, where a robust SVD procedure replaces the least squares based one in the original SSA procedure. The SSA and the robust SSA approaches are compared in terms of model fit quality via Monte Carlo simulations that contemplate both clean and noisy/contaminated time series. The adequacy and value of the proposed approach is then compared with the standard SSA using real data about the industrial production index.
Absolute quantitation of acetaminophen‐modified human serum albumin in acute liver failure patients by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Geib Timon , LeBlanc André , Shiao Tze Chieh , Roy René , Leslie Elaine M. , Karvellas Constantine J. , Sleno Lekha 
Published: June 2018

RationaleAcetaminophen (APAP) is a well‐known analgesic, deemed a very safe over‐the‐counter medication. However, it is also the main cause of acute liver failure (ALF) in the Western world, via the formation of its reactive metabolite, N‐acetyl p‐benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), and its covalent attachment to liver proteins. The aim of this study was to develop a sensitive and robust quantitative assay to monitor APAP‐protein binding to human serum albumin (HSA) in patient samples.MethodsA combination of isotope dilution, peptic digestion and solid‐phase extraction coupled to liquid chromatography/multiple reaction monitoring (LC/MRM) was employed. An external calibration curve with surrogate modified protein spiked into blank serum was used for absolute quantitation. Samples were analyzed by LC/MRM to measure the modified active site peptide of HSA. The LC/MRM assay was validated and successfully applied to serum samples from patients suffering from APAP‐induced ALF.ResultsAccuracy ranged from 83.8–113.3%, within‐run coefficient of variation (CV) ranged from 0.3–6.9%, and total CVs from 1.6–10.6%. Patient samples ranged from 0.12–3.91 nmol/mL NAPQI‐HSA; in‐between the assay dynamic range of 0.11–50.13 nmol/mL serum. In vivo median concentrations were found to be 0.62 nmol/mL and 0.91 nmol/mL for non‐spontaneous survivors (n = 25) and individuals with irreversible liver damage (n = 10), respectively (p‐value = 0.028), demonstrating significant potential as a biomarker for ALF outcome.ConclusionsA fast and sensitive assay was developed to accurately quantify NAPQI‐HSA as a biomarker for APAP‐related covalent binding in human serum.
Robot‐assisted percutaneous screw placement combined with pelvic internal fixator for minimally invasive treatment of unstable pelvic ring fractures
Authors: Liu Hua‐shui , Duan Sheng‐jun , Liu Shi‐dong , Jia Feng‐shuang , Zhu Li‐ming , Liu Min‐cen 
Published: June 2018

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of the combination of robot‐assisted percutaneous screw placement and pelvic internal fixator (INFIX) for minimally invasive treatment of unstable anterior and posterior pelvic ring injuries.MethodsFrom September 2016 to June 2017, twenty‐four patients with unstable anterior and posterior pelvic ring injuries were treated with TiRobot‐assisted percutaneous sacroiliac cannulated screw fixation on the posterior pelvic ring combined with robot‐assisted pedicle screw placement in the anterior inferior iliac spine along with INFIX on the anterior pelvic ring. The results of the treatment, including surgery duration, fluoroscopy frequency, total drilling, amount of blood loss, fracture healing time, and postoperative functional outcomes were recorded and compared with another 21 similar patients who underwent conventional manual positioning surgery.ResultsThe TiRobot group incurred significantly shorter duration of surgery; less fluoroscopy frequency, intraoperative bleeding, and total drilling than in the conventional group (P < 0.05). Postoperative radiological follow‐up showed that all screws were in the safe area and no screw penetrated the cortex. All wounds healed by primary intention and no iatrogenic damage to the blood vessels, nerves, and organs occurred. Patients showed good tolerance to INFIX and reported no discomfort. The mean follow‐up duration was 5.4 months; the fractures were all healed, no loss of reduction occurred, and the mean Majeed score at the last follow‐up did not show any difference.ConclusionTiRobot‐assisted percutaneous screw placement combined with INFIX for the anterior and posterior pelvic ring injuries is accurate, safe, less invasive, and shows satisfactory efficacy, suggesting it is a better method for minimally invasive treatment of unstable pelvic ring fractures.
Distributed optimal resource allocation of second‐order multiagent systems
Authors: Deng Zhenhua , Liang Shu , Yu Weiyong 
Published: June 2018

SummaryIn this paper, the resource allocation problems of multiagent systems are investigated. Different from the well‐studied resource allocation problems, the dynamics of agents are taken into account in our problem, which results that the problem could not be solved by most of existing resource allocation algorithms. Here, the agents are in the form of second‐order dynamics, which causes the difficulties in designing and analyzing distributed resource allocation algorithms. Based on gradient descent and state feedback, two distributed resource allocation algorithms are proposed to achieve the optimal allocation, and their convergence are analyzed by constructing suitable Lyapunov functions. One of the two algorithms can ensure that the decisions of all agents asymptotically converge to the exact optimal solution, and the other algorithm achieves the exponential convergence. Finally, numerical examples about the economic dispatch problems of power grids are given to verify the effectiveness of the obtained results.
A robust economic MPC for changing economic criterion
Authors: D' Jorge Agustina , Anderson Alejandro , González Alejandro H. , Ferramosca Antonio 
Published: June 2018

SummaryThis note presents a robust economic model predictive control controller suitable for changing economic criterion. The proposal ensures feasibility under any change of the economic criterion, thanks to the use of artificial variables and a relaxed terminal constraint, and robustness in presence of additive bounded disturbances. The resulting robust formulation considers a nominal prediction model and restricted constraints (in order to account for the effect of additive disturbances). The controlled system under the proposed controller is shown to be input‐to‐state stable in the sense that it is asymptotically steered to an invariant region around the best admissible steady state. An illustrative example shows the benefits and the properties of the proposed controller.
Polyaniline‐ZnO Hybrid Nanocomposites with Enhanced Photocatalytic and Electrochemical Performance
Authors: Qin Runhua , Hao Lingyun , Liu Yi , Zhang Yueling 
Published: June 2018

AbstractIn this paper, polyaniline‐zinc oxide (PANI‐ZnO) nanocomposites (NCPs) were prepared by in‐situ chemical polymerization process. The prepared PANI‐ZnO was characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, laser size tester, XPS, UV‐Vis DRS and PL. The photocatalytic ability was evaluated for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. The results indicated that the addition of PANI effectively enhanced the photocatalytic activity of bare ZnO. PANI‐ZnO exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic properties, the reaction rate constant (0.01944 min−1) is higher than that of bare ZnO (0.00245 min−1) and PANI (0.00585 min−1). Scavenger test was used to determine the role of active species, combining the analysis results of UV‐Vis DRS and PL, accordingly the photocatalytic mechanism of PANI‐ZnO was proposed. Meanwhile, the as‐prepared PANI‐ZnO NCPs were used to decorate glassy carbon electrode (GCE), and the electrochemical properties of bare GCE and PANI‐ZnO/GCE have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results indicated that the addition of PANI‐ZnO effectively enhanced the electrochemical property of bare GCE. The maximum current density of PANI‐ZnO/GCE is 0.698 mA cm−2, which is higher than that of bare GCE (0.312 mA cm−2). Herein, the surface modification layer of PANI‐ZnO plays a critical role in enhancing current output.
Nanocrystalline Pyrite for Photovoltaic Applications
Authors: Khalid Sadia , Ahmed Ejaz , Khan Yaqoob , Riaz Khalid Nadeem , Malik Mohammad Azad 
Published: June 2018

AbstractTransition metal sulfides (TMSs) are of special interest in energy conversion and storage devices. Amongst all sulfides, fool's gold or iron pyrite (FeS2) is potentially an attractive candidate for photovoltaic applications. Iron pyrite has risen to prominence due to its distinct properties and abundance in nature to meet the large scale needs. It is considered as environmentally benign solar absorber material with high absorption coefficient, α > 6 x105 cm−1 for λ ≥ 700 nm and suitable energy bandgap (Eg=0.95 eV). Numerous physical and chemical methods have been employed to deposit nanocrystalline pyrite thin films directly from source materials or indirectly by sulfuration. This review gives an overview of pyrite as a low cost photovoltaic absorber material for contemporary solar cell structures. In addition, practical approaches like the rational design of nanocomposites, band gap engineering and nanostructure synthesis of pyrite for improving its properties particularly photovoltaic properties are also deliberated. Moreover, limitations, challenges, remedies and prospects of pyrite as potential photovoltaic material are also reviewed to further advance the development of pyrite‐based solar cell configurations.
Changes in Emission Properties by π‐Stacking and Conformation Adjustment of an Imidazole‐Tethered Naphthalimide Derivative
Authors: Singh Munendra Pal , Tarai Arup , Baruah Jubaraj Bikash 
Published: June 2018

AbstractSolid state self‐assemblies of 2,4‐dinitrophenolate, 2,4,6‐trinitrophenolate salts of N‐(3‐imidazol‐1‐yl‐propyl)‐1,8‐naphthalimide (abbreviated as imidanap) have distinguishable π‐stacking patterns, each stack influences fluorescence emission causing fluorescence quenching. It is found that the solid sample of nitrate or bromide salt of imidanap retains fluorescence properties of the parent compound. Photo‐induced electron transfer process in solution gets prominence upon interactions of imidanap with hydrobromic as well as nitric acid but in the nitrophenolate salts the effect of π‐interactions over‐ride the effect of protonation of imidazole to change intensity of fluorescence emission. DFT calculations using B3LYP functional with 6–31+G (d,p) as basis set have revealed LUMO in the imidanap and in the respective nitrophenolate salts are localized on the naphthalimide unit whereas HOMO in each case is localization differently over the rings other than the naphthalimide ring. Studies based on 1H NMR suggest that water causes conformation adjustments of imidanap by forming hydrogen bonds. This enhances photo‐induced electron transfer (PET) emission of the imidanap until a limiting concentration of water is reached, beyond which increase in amount of water causes quenching of emission. The PET‐ON state of imidanap generated by addition of water to an acetonitrile solution is quenched by 2,4,6‐trinitrophenol due to charge‐transfer interactions.
Synthesis of New Heteroaryl α‐Aminophosphonates and Evaluation of Their Cytotoxicity against Human Breast Cancer MCF‐7 Cell Lines
Authors: Kuruva Chandra S. , Gandavaram Syam P. , Kadiam Venkata S. , Valluru Lokanatha , Chamarthi Naga R. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBreast cancer has a rate of occurrence of one in nine. Aromatase also named estrogen synthase which is found to be associated with breast cancer and it has also been one of the targets for treatment and the current work explores the potentiality of a new heteroaryl α‐aminophosphonates 9 a‐j. The new heteroaryl α‐aminophosphonates 9 a‐j were synthesized using the reactions involving 2‐aminobenzothiazole (6), various heteroaryl aldehydes 7 a‐j and 2,3‐dihydro[1, 3,2]oxazaphospholo[4, 5‐b]pyridine‐2‐oxide (5). The QSAR (quantitative structure activity relationship) descriptors, PreADMET (adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity) analysis and binding interaction simulation studies with X‐Ray crystallographic structure of Aromatase have positively forwarded us for the cytotoxicity evaluation of the title compounds by Morphological study, Cell proliferation inhibition assay (MTT), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay and Hoechst staining (apoptosis). An improved apoptotic cell number was observed in Hoechst staining using compounds 9 e and 9 h further corroborated by LDH assay. Current work supports to conclude the promising ability of the title compounds to induce apoptosis through nuclear fragmentation of breast cancer cells by regulating their metabolic functions.
An Electrochemical Comparison of Single‐Walled and Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes Utilizing Paeonol as the Model Drug
Authors: Mane Suyash , Chatterjee Sanghamitra 
Published: June 2018

AbstractHerein, we report the development of a selective and highly sensitive electrochemical sensing of paeonol at carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Trace amount of paeonol was quantitated by employing square wave voltammetry technique for the first time based on the electrochemical oxidation of the analyte at the modified electrodes. The single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) based sensor exhibited higher recognition ability of paeonol in comparison with the multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) based sensor. The linear dynamic range was found to be 100 nM – 25 μM for SWNTs modified GCE and 1–25 μM for MWNTs modified GCE. The sensitivity at SWNTs modified GCE was ∼ 3.5 times more than that at MWNTs modified GCE. The limit of detection was estimated to be 9.57 nM and 0.63 μM corresponding to SWNTs and MWNTs modified GCE respectively. The influence of experimental parameters affecting sensor response was optimized. The stability, reproducibility tests and interference effects were demonstrated to confirm the reliability of the proposed sensor. The applicability of the developed sensor was successfully assessed through convenient measurements of paeonol in biological samples and Cortex moutan which exhibits anticancer effect.
High‐Performance Red/Near‐IR Carbon Dots as Fluorescence Probes for Tumor Imaging In Vivo
Authors: Yang Sheng‐Tao , Liu Jia‐Hui , Wang Ping , Yang Shengnan , Ge Lin , Yan Sijia , Sun Ya‐Ping 
Published: June 2018

AbstractCarbon dots (CDots) are brightly fluorescent, especially in the same green spectral region overlapping that of the green fluorescent protein, and also benign and nontoxic. For imaging in vivo, however, red/near‐IR probes are required for the high optical transmittance through tissues and the contrast against interference from autofluorescence background. Herein, high‐performance red/near‐IR CDots are designed and prepared by modifying the core carbon nanoparticles in CDots with the incorporation of selected dye species into the nanoparticle structure. The representative modified CDots thus obtained are used as fluorescence probes in the in vivo imaging of normal and tumor‐bearing nude mice via various exposure pathways. The results suggest that these red/near‐IR CDots are indeed excellent probes for fluorescence imaging in vivo, especially with their enhanced tumor uptake. The potentially far‐reaching implications of being able to design and synthesize the modified CDots of strong optical absorptions and bright fluorescence emissions in the red/near‐IR are discussed in terms of their broad applicability to in vivo imaging and theranostics.
Enhancing Bifunctional Catalytic Activity of Oxygen Reduction and Evolution Reaction via One‐Pot Formation of MnO2‐Carbon Hybrid Nanocomposite
Authors: Kim Hye‐min , Saito Nagahiro , Kim Dae‐wook 
Published: June 2018

AbstractWhile manganese dioxide (MnO2) is a promising bifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction and evolution reaction (ORR/OER) in alkaline media, electrochemical performance of bulk MnO2 limited by their poor electrical conductivity. Herein, we fabricate a MnO2‐carbon nanoparticle hybrid composite (MO‐CNP) by applying the plasma discharge in the single precursor of purple benzene. This synthesis route facilitates a simultaneous formation of MnO2 and carbon, which induced a homogeneously mixed and firmly anchored hybrid composite. As a result, as‐obtained MO‐CNP‐1 shows more than 12 times higher electrical conductivity than that of prepared conventionally. Thus, formation of MO‐CNP could be accompanied by a synergy between MnO2 and CNP as electrocatalyst, and consequently, electrochemical properties were significantly improved. In comparison with CNP, the ORR potential of MO‐CNP‐1 was positively shifted from –0.28 to –0.23 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), and current density has increased more than 2 times. Although the ORR activity of MO‐CNP‐1 was still far a little short of the commercial Pt/C, the MO‐CNP‐1 indicated significant higher OER activity, which demonstrated excellent overall catalytic capability of MO‐CNP‐1 as bifunctional catalyst.
Formation of N‐rich Hierarchically Porous Carbon via Direct Growth ZIF‐8 on C3N4 Nanosheet with Enhancing Electrochemical Performance
Authors: Tan Bin , Luo Huan , Xie Zailai 
Published: June 2018

AbstractPresented here are the synthesis of series N‐rich hierarchically porous carbons via disposition of ZIF‐8 on g‐C3N4 nanosheets and their uses as electrode materials in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and supercapacitor. Electron microscopy images show the successful formation of 2D carbon structures through using layered C3N4 as a novel template and ZIF‐8 as carbon precursor. The meso and macropores of the ZIF‐8 derived carbons are significantly developed with g‐C3N4 incorporation. Electrochemical measurements demonstrate that the resulting 2D carbons exhibit enhancing performance of supercapacitance up to 159.0 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g, meanwhile the optimized electrocatalytic activity for ORR in O2 saturated 0.1 M KOH electrolyte, with a distinct oxygen reduction peak at 0.71 V that was comparable to the value of the referenced Pt/C catalyst. Notably, this is the first investigation of layered g‐C3N4 supported ZIF‐8 derived carbons for ORR and supercapacitance. This work may offer a new way to prepare novel electrocatalysts by effective integration of ZIF‐8 derived carbon and the g‐C3N4 skeleton.