bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gender differences in onabotulinum toxin A dosing for adductor spasmodic dysphonia
Authors: Lerner Michael Z. , Lerner Benjamin A. , Patel Amit A. , Blitzer Andrew 
Published: September 2016

Objectives/HypothesisThe objective of this study was to determine the influence of gender on onabotulinum toxin A dosing for the treatment of adductor spasmodic dysphonia symptoms.Study DesignRetrospective review.MethodsA chart review of the senior author's database of botulinum toxin injections was performed. Patients diagnosed with adductor spasmodic dysphonia who received onabotulinum toxin A (BoNTA) injections to the thyroarytenoid muscle for at least 5 years were included for study. Patients who received alternate formulations of botulinum toxin (Myobloc, Dysport, or Xeomin) and patients with alternate diagnoses, such as abductor spasmodic dysphonia, tremor, and oromandibular dystonia, were excluded. The average BoNTA dose was calculated for each patient and statistical analysis was performed comparing the male and female groups.ResultsA total of 201 patients (52 males and 149 females) met inclusion criteria. The average follow‐up times for the male and female groups were 10.2 ± 3.6 and 11.1 ± 4 years, respectively. The average BoNTA doses for the male and female groups were 0.6 ± 0.42 U and 1.3 ± 1.1 U, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using an independent samples two‐tailed t test yielding a P value of .0000000002. A large effect size was noted with Cohen's d = 0.85.ConclusionsThe data from this retrospective chart review reveal a statistically and clinically significant correlation between female gender and higher average BoNTA dose for symptom control in adductor spasmodic dysphonia. Explanations for this observation are speculative and include a possible inverse relationship between optimal BoNTA dose and vocal fold mass and possibly greater neutralizing antibody formation among female patients.Level of Evidence4. Laryngoscope, 127:1131–1134, 2017
An Injectable Self‐Healing Hydrogel Based on Chain‐Extended PEO‐PPO‐PEO Multiblock Copolymer
Authors: Yu Hansen , Liu Yunfei , Yang Haiyang , Peng Kang , Zhang Xingyuan 
Published: September 2016

Injectable hydrogels have been commonly used as drug‐delivery vehicles and tried in tissue engineering. Injectable self‐healing hydrogels have great advantage over traditional injectable hydrogels because they can be injected as a liquid and then rapidly form bulk gels in situ at the target site under physiological conditions. This study develops an injectable thermosensitive self‐healing hydrogel based on chain‐extended F127 (PEO90‐PPO65‐PEO90) multi‐block copolymer (m‐F127). The rapid sol–gel transition ability under body temperature allows it to be used as injectable hydrogel and the self‐healing property allows it to withstand repeated deformation and quickly recover its mechanical properties and structure through the dynamic covalent bonds. It is hoped that the novel strategy and the fascinating properties of the hydrogel as presented here will provide new opportunities with regard to the design and practical application of injectable self‐healing hydrogels.
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Methylglyoxal in Metabolic Disorders: Facts, Myths, and Promises
Authors: Matafome Paulo , Rodrigues Tiago , Sena Cristina , Seiça Raquel 
Published: September 2016

AbstractGlucose and fructose metabolism originates the highly reactive byproduct methylglyoxal (MG), which is a strong precursor of advanced glycation end products (AGE). The MG has been implicated in classical diabetic complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy, but has also been recently associated with cardiovascular diseases and central nervous system disorders such as cerebrovascular diseases and dementia. Recent studies even suggested its involvement in insulin resistance and beta‐cell dysfunction, contributing to the early development of type 2 diabetes and creating a vicious circle between glycation and hyperglycemia. Despite several drugs and natural compounds have been identified in the last years in order to scavenge MG and inhibit AGE formation, we are still far from having an effective strategy to prevent MG‐induced mechanisms. This review summarizes the endogenous and exogenous sources of MG, also addressing the current controversy about the importance of exogenous MG sources. The mechanisms by which MG changes cell behavior and its involvement in type 2 diabetes development and complications and the pathophysiological implication are also summarized. Particular emphasis will be given to pathophysiological relevance of studies using higher MG doses, which may have produced biased results. Finally, we also overview the current knowledge about detoxification strategies, including modulation of endogenous enzymatic systems and exogenous compounds able to inhibit MG effects on biological systems.
Effect of fibrin sealant in positioning and stabilizing microvascular pedicle: A comparative study
Authors: Kim Jeong Tae , Kim Youn Hwan , Kim Sang Wha 
Published: September 2016

AbstractIntroductionFibrin sealants have had applications in hemostasis, cohesion, and promotion of healing in plastic surgery. In this article, we review cases where fibrin sealant was used to stabilize microvascular pedicles and compared with previous free flaps performed without fibrin sealant.MethodsBetween 2008 and 2010, 62 consecutive patients underwent free tissue transfer for reconstruction; this involved 33 latissimus dorsi perforator flaps, 14 thoracodorsal artery perforator flaps, 9 latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps, 3 lateral thoracic artery perforator flaps, and 3 transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps, used in head and neck reconstruction, lower limb reconstructions, breast reconstructions, and facial palsy reconstruction. Following microvascular anastomosis, the microvascular pedicles were placed in the optimal position, and fibrin sealant was used to fix and stabilize them. The complications, such as venous thrombosis, arterial thrombosis, hematoma, and vascular pedicle kinking, were compared with that of 672 previous free flaps without fibrin sealant for stabilizing microvascular pedicles.ResultsAmong the 62 free tissue transfers using fibrin sealant, there was only one complication involving flap failure (1.6%), in this case due to venous thrombosis. Analysis of 672 free flaps performed without application of fibrin sealant revealed 24 complications (3.6%), due to 3 venous thrombosis, 1 arterial thrombosis, 4 vascular pedicel compression due to hematoma, and 16 pedicle kinking. However, the comparison of complications between the free flap using fibrin sealant and the free flap without fibrin sealant were not statistically significant (P = 0.65).ConclusionsFibrin sealant can be used to prevent vascular kinking and to position anastomosed vessels after successful micro‐anastomosis and allow the reconstructive surgeon to overcome challenging situations of vascular pedicle related complications © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 37:406–409, 2017.
Elucidation of the Enantiodiscrimination Properties of a Nonracemic Chiral Alignment Medium through Gel‐based Capillary Electrochromatography: Separation of the Mefloquine Stereoisomers
Authors: Al‐Massaedh “Ayat Allah” , Schmidt Manuel , Pyell Ute , Reinscheid Uwe M. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractEnantiodiscrimination and enantioseparation are two highly important processes in chemistry, often performed by using NMR spectroscopy and chromatography. For a better understanding of the mechanistic details, the same system should be studied by both methods. In addition, isotropic and anisotropic NMR parameters should be obtained, the latter using alignment media so that residual dipolar couplings and chemical‐shift anisotropies can be measured. Consequently, a chiral alignment medium was used for the first time in chiral gel‐based capillary electrochromatography with the four stereoisomers of the antimalaria drug mefloquine as test compounds. Chromatographic data verify that enantiodiscrimination obtained with this alignment gel is caused by differences in the equilibrium constants related to associate formation. Hence, the chromatographic separation provides physicochemical data that form a basis for the understanding and optimization of alignment processes, and vice versa.
Comparative evaluation of methods approximating drug prescription durations in claims data: modeling, simulation, and application to real data
Authors: Meid Andreas D. , Heider Dirk , Adler Jürgen‐Bernhard , Quinzler Renate , Brenner Herrmann , Günster Christian , König Hans‐Helmut , Haefeli Walter E. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare the predictive accuracy of different methods suggested for approximation of drug prescription durations in claims data.MethodsWe expanded a well‐established modeling and simulation framework to compare approximated drug prescription durations with ‘true’ (i.e., simulated) durations. Real claims data of persons aged ≥65 years insured by the German nationwide ‘Statutory Health Insurance Fund’ AOK between 2010 and 2012 provided empiric input parameters that were completed with missing information on actual dosing patterns from an observational cohort. The distinct approximation methods were based on crude measures (one tablet a day), population‐averaged measures (defined daily doses), or individually‐derived measures (longitudinal coverage approximation of the applied dose, COV). As a proof‐of‐principle, we assessed the methods' performance to predict the well‐characterized bleeding risks of anticoagulant, antiplatelet, and/or non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs.ResultsWhen applied to modeling and simulation data sets, the closest, least biased, and thus most accurate approximation was observed using the COV approximation. In a real‐data example, rather similar results to an external reference were obtained for all methods. However, some of the differences between methods were meaningful, and the most reasonable and consistent results were obtained with the COV approach.ConclusionBased on theoretically most accurate approximations and practically reasonable estimates, the individual COV approach was preferable over the population‐averaged defined daily dose technique, although the latter might be justified in certain situations. Advantages of the COV approach are expected to be even bigger for drug therapies with particularly large dosing heterogeneity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inverse vulcanization of elemental sulfur and styrene for polymeric cathodes in Li‐S batteries
Authors: Zhang Yueyan , Griebel Jared J. , Dirlam Philip T. , Nguyen Ngoc A. , Glass Richard S. , Mackay Michael E. , Char Kookheon , Pyun Jeffrey 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTHigh sulfur content copolymers were prepared via the inverse vulcanization of elemental sulfur with styrene. This reaction was carried out at a relatively low temperature and invokes a new chain transfer mechanism of abstraction of benzylic protons to form stable copolymers. The use of styrene as a comonomer for inverse vulcanization was attractive due to the low cost and wide spread industrial use of styrenics in free radical processes. The copolymers were used as the active cathode material in Li‐S batteries that exhibited outstanding device performance, maintaining 489 mAh/g capacity after 1000 cycles. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 107–116
Polyaniline–graphene oxide nanocomposites: Influence of nonconducting graphene oxide on the conductivity and oxidation‐reduction mechanism of polyaniline
Authors: Mooss Vandana A. , Athawale Anjali A. 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTThe present endeavor focuses on the unusual interactions between polyaniline and graphene oxide (PANi–GO) which radically affects the properties of nanocomposites as it is an emerging material for many potential applications. A series of nanocomposites have been synthesized by varying the weight percentage of highly nonconducting GO with respect to aniline which exhibit superior properties in terms of shelf life, processability and conductivity due to the synergistic effect of GO and PANi. A comparison of the resistances of samples reveal that though as‐synthesized GO is insulating (80 MΩ), when added to PANi (283 kΩ) in small amounts yields conducting composites (50–280 Ω). Up to 5 weight % concentration, GO renders conductivity to the composite probably by increasing the doping level of PANi. Nonetheless, no further increase in conductivity observed on addition of more than 5 wt% GO in the composite has dictated us to unravel the structure property relationship between PANi and GO, where GO facilitates the formation of partially reduced phase of PANi, thereby restricting the electronic transport. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 3778–3786
Toughening hydrogels by immersing with oppositely charged polymers
Authors: Li Yang , Peng Xin , Zhao Di , Shi Shengjie , He Changcheng , Wang Huiliang 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTA very simple yet novel strategy to significantly enhance the mechanical properties of hydrogels is reported. Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) hydrogels with aligned macroporous channels are immersed in the aqueous solutions of poly(dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride) (PDMDAAC). Strong electrostatic interactions are formed between the anionic PAA and cationic PDMDAAC chains. In the resultant PAA/PDMDAAC hybrid hydrogels, the mass ratio of PDMDAAC to PAA is about 0.2 and PDMDAAC is uniformly distributed throughout the gels. The mechanical properties of the formed hybrid hydrogels are largely enhanced in comparison with the original PAA hydrogels. The hybrid hydrogels exhibit high tensile strengths (0.38–1.73 MPa), elastic moduli (0.21–1.59 MPa) and toughness (up to 3.0 MJ/m3), about several to more than 10 times those of the corresponding PAA hydrogels. In addition, the PAA/PDMDAAC hydrogels also show excellent and very rapid shape recovery ability in both air and deionized water. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 2432–2441
The structure of a doripenem‐bound OXA‐51 class D β‐lactamase variant with enhanced carbapenemase activity
Authors: June Cynthia M. , Muckenthaler Taylor J. , Schroder Emma C. , Klamer Zachary L. , Wawrzak Zdzislaw , Powers Rachel A. , Szarecka Agnieszka , Leonard David A. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractOXA‐51 is a class D β‐lactamase that is thought to be the native carbapenemase of Acinetobacter baumannii. Many variants of OXA‐51 containing active site substitutions have been identified from A. baumannii isolates, and some of these substitutions increase hydrolytic activity toward carbapenem antibiotics. We have determined the high‐resolution structures of apo OXA‐51 and OXA‐51 with one such substitution (I129L) with the carbapenem doripenem trapped in the active site as an acyl‐intermediate. The structure shows that acyl‐doripenem adopts an orientation very similar to carbapenem ligands observed in the active site of OXA‐24/40 (doripenem) and OXA‐23 (meropenem). In the OXA‐51 variant/doripenem complex, the indole ring of W222 is oriented away from the doripenem binding site, thereby eliminating a clash that is predicted to occur in wildtype OXA‐51. Similarly, in the OXA‐51 variant complex, L129 adopts a different rotamer compared to I129 in wildtype OXA‐51. This alternative position moves its side chain away from the hydroxyethyl moiety of doripenem and relieves another potential clash between the enzyme and carbapenem substrates. Molecular dynamics simulations of OXA‐51 and OXA‐51 I129L demonstrate that compared to isoleucine, a leucine at this position greatly favors a rotamer that accommodates the ligand. These results provide a molecular justification for how this substitution generates enhanced binding affinity for carbapenems, and therefore helps explain the prevalence of this substitution in clinical OXA‐51 variants.
Large‐scale analysis of intrinsic disorder flavors and associated functions in the protein sequence universe
Authors: Necci Marco , Piovesan Damiano , Tosatto Silvio C. E. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractIntrinsic disorder (ID) in proteins has been extensively described for the last decade; a large‐scale classification of ID in proteins is mostly missing. Here, we provide an extensive analysis of ID in the protein universe on the UniProt database derived from sequence‐based predictions in MobiDB. Almost half the sequences contain an ID region of at least five residues. About 9% of proteins have a long ID region of over 20 residues which are more abundant in Eukaryotic organisms and most frequently cover less than 20% of the sequence. A small subset of about 67,000 (out of over 80 million) proteins is fully disordered and mostly found in Viruses. Most proteins have only one ID, with short ID evenly distributed along the sequence and long ID overrepresented in the center. The charged residue composition of Das and Pappu was used to classify ID proteins by structural propensities and corresponding functional enrichment. Swollen Coils seem to be used mainly as structural components and in biosynthesis in both Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. In Bacteria, they are confined in the nucleoid and in Viruses provide DNA binding function. Coils & Hairpins seem to be specialized in ribosome binding and methylation activities. Globules & Tadpoles bind antigens in Eukaryotes but are involved in killing other organisms and cytolysis in Bacteria. The Undefined class is used by Bacteria to bind toxic substances and mediate transport and movement between and within organisms in Viruses. Fully disordered proteins behave similarly, but are enriched for glycine residues and extracellular structures.
Robust controller design for input‐delayed systems using predictive feedback and an uncertainty estimator
Authors: Sanz Ricardo , Garcia Pedro , Albertos Pedro , Zhong Qing‐Chang 
Published: September 2016

SummaryThis paper deals with the problem of stabilizing a class of input‐delayed systems with (possibly) nonlinear uncertainties by using explicit delay compensation. It is well known that plain predictive schemes lack robustness with respect to uncertain model parameters. In this work, an uncertainty estimator is derived for input‐delay systems and combined with a modified state predictor, which uses current available information of the estimated uncertainties. Furthermore, based on Lyapunov–Krasovskii functionals, a computable criterion to check robust stability of the closed‐loop is developed and cast into a minimization problem constrained to an LMI. Additionally, for a given input delay, an iterative‐LMI algorithm is proposed to design stabilizing tuning parameters. The main results are illustrated and validated using a numerical example with a second‐order dynamic system. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Design of a robust receiver for chaotic switching maps of DC‐DC power electronics transmitter converters for secure communication
Authors: Thukral Manish Kumar , Sherpa Karma Sonam , Garg Kumkum 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis paper aims to open a new vista of research in the direction of possible application of power electronics DC‐DC converters in analog chaotic communication. Most of the work reported on analog chaotic communication is based on the pioneer work of Pecora and Caroll, with synchronization between transmitter and receiver. Receiver based on synchronization, also known as coherent receiver, has a disadvantage of parameter mismatch and is sensitive to noise. In the present work, firstly, a secure transmitter using chaotic DC‐DC converters is proposed that encrypts information using chaotic switching map technique. In chaotic switching map technique, the message is encrypted by randomly switching from one chaotic converter to another. The bifurcation parameter of the randomly switched chaotic converter is modulated by the message. Secondly, an attempt has been made to design a robust non‐coherent receiver that is adaptable to the switching chaotic transmitters, even in the presence of noise. Once the receiver identifies the chaotic converter, it can decode the message as per the decryption algorithm. With the proposed non‐coherent receiver, the disadvantages of coherent receivers can be overcome. We have also devised a prototype smart meter, used in smart distribution grid for implementing the proposed communication technique. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Graphene and Graphene‐Based Composites: A Rising Star in Water Purification ‐ A Comprehensive Overview
Authors: Gandhi Muniyappan Rajiv , Vasudevan Subramanyan , Shibayama Atsushi , Yamada Manabu 
Published: September 2016

AbstractGraphene is an interesting two‐dimensional carbon sheet possessing single‐layered atom thickness that confers unique physical and chemical properties. The pristine graphene sheets have some limited applications in water purification, but the modification of graphene into the graphene composite by the incorporation of some functional groups or nanoparticles on the surface extensively increases its environmental applications. Recently, graphene nanocomposites have found to show very promising applications in all types of water purification. The present review highlights the recent developments in the applications of graphene and graphene‐based composites as adsorbent, catalyst, photocatalyst, electrocatalyst, photoelectrocatalyst, and disinfection and desalination agent in comprehensive water purification systems. We primarily focus on the environmental engineering applications of graphene nanocomposites as sorbent materials for the elimination of toxic inorganic (cationic and anionic), organic, and mixed/multiple pollutants, and as catalysts for the degradation of toxic organic contaminants using catalytic oxidation, photocatalytic oxidation, electrocatalytic oxidation, and photoelectrocatalytic oxidation. We have also discussed the use and feasibility of graphene nanocomposites in water disinfection and desalination. Finally, the future challenges and perspectives are discussed.
Integrated modeling in urban hydrology: reviewing the role of monitoring technology in overcoming the issue of ‘big data’ requirements
Authors: Hutchins Michael G. , McGrane Scott J. , Miller James D. , Hagen‐Zanker Alex , Kjeldsen Thomas R. , Dadson Simon J. , Rowland Clare S. 
Published: September 2016

Increasingly, the application of models in urban hydrology has undergone a shift toward integrated structures that recognize the interconnected nature of the urban landscape and both the natural and engineered water cycles. Improvements in computational processing during the past few decades have enabled the application of multiple, connected model structures that link previously disparate systems together, incorporating feedbacks and connections. Many applications of integrated models look to assess the impacts of environmental change on physical dynamics and quality of landscapes. Whilst these integrated structures provide a more robust representation of natural dynamics, they often place considerable data requirements on the user, whereby data are required at contrasting spatial and temporal scales which can often transcend multiple disciplines. Concomitantly, our ability to observe complex, natural phenomena at contrasting scales has improved considerably with the advent of increasingly novel monitoring technologies. This has provided a pathway for reducing model uncertainty and improving our confidence in modeled outputs by implementing suitable monitoring regimes. This commentary assesses how component models of an exemplar integrated model have advanced over the past few decades, with a critical focus on the role of monitoring technologies that have enabled better identification of the key physical process. This reduces the uncertainty of processes at contrasting spatial and temporal scales, through a better characterization of feedbacks which then enhances the utility of integrated model applications. WIREs Water 2017, 4:e1177. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1177This article is categorized under:

Science of Water > Methods