bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and enzyme inhibitory activity of natural plant flavonoids and their synthesized derivatives
Authors: Nile Shivraj Hariram , Keum Young Soo , Nile Arti Shivraj , Jalde Shivkumar S. , Patel Rahul V. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe synthesized flavonoid derivatives were examined for their antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, xanthine oxidase (XO), urease inhibitory activity, and cytotoxicity. Except few, all the flavonoids under this study showed significant antioxidant activity (45.6%–85.5%, 32.6%–70.6%, and 24.9%–65.5% inhibition by DPPH, ferric reducing/antioxidant power, and oxygen radical absorption capacity assays) with promising TNF‐α inhibitory activity (42%–73% at 10 μM) and IL‐6 inhibitory activity (54%–81% at 10 μM) compared with that of control dexamethasone. The flavonoids luteolin, apigenin, diosmetin, chrysin, O3Ꞌ, O7‐dihexyl diosmetin, O4Ꞌ, O7‐dihexyl apigenin, and O7‐hexyl chrysin, showed an inhibition with IC50 values (4.5‐8.1 μg/mL), more than allopurinol (8.5 μg/mL) at 5 μM against XO and showing more than 50% inhibition at a final concentration (5 mM) with an IC50 value of ranging from 4.8 to 7.2 (μg/mL) in comparison with the positive control thiourea (5.8 μg/mL) for urease inhibition. Thus, the flavonoid derivatives may be considered as potential antioxidant and antigout agents.
Development of synthetic perfluorinated photobioreactor system for simultaneous carbon dioxide separation and promotion of microalgae growth and productions
Authors: Lee Yu‐Hsiang , Weng Tsu‐Chun 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDCO2 is the primary impurity in many fuel gases and may reduce the efficiency of fuel combustion and generate incomplete residues in the product, leading to energy waste and environmental issues after emission. Currently although plants/microalgae‐mediated approaches have been widely used for CO2 separation/digestion, they usually emphasize CO2 removal efficacy for the purpose of environment protection, but give less consideration to subsequent CO2 manipulation for cell culture that restricts their effectiveness thereafter. To address the above issues, a perfluorinated photobioreactor system (PPBRS) enabling CO2 separation and controlled microalgae cultivation was developed in this study.RESULTSResults showed that the PPBRS provided >85% CO2 separation efficiency from 60%‐N2/40%‐CO2 within 5 days by using perfluorocarbon as the CO2 absorbent. Nannochloropsis oculata cultured with 20 mL min‐1 perfluorocarbon containing 2% CO2 isolated from the gas mixture exhibited 2‐fold higher cell concentration and yielded 1.8‐, 2.5‐, and 2‐fold (P < 0.05 for all) increased productions of biomass, lipid, and eicosapentaenoic acid, respectively, compared with the group with air aeration without PFC for 5 days.CONCLUSIONPerfluorocarbon is recyclable and all procedures including CO2 extraction, collection of purified gas, and delivery of isolated CO2 to cell culture are a continuous process without need for additional handling. The PPBRS thus provides an efficacious, easy‐to‐use, and cost‐effective means for simultaneous CO2 separation and enhanced microalgae production that can be applied for use in industry. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Novel protein therapeutic joint retention strategy based on collagen‐binding Avimers
Authors: Hulme Joanne T. , D'Souza Warren N. , McBride Helen J. , Yoon Bo‐Rin Park , Willee Angela M. , Duguay Amy , Thomas Melissa , Fan Bin , Dayao Maria Rosalyn , Rottman James B. , Merriam Kim , Xie Jiansong , Smith Richard , Alba Benjamin M. , Case Ryan B. , Dang Khue , Montalvan Anielka , Grinberg Natalia , Sun Hong , Black Roy A. , Gabel Christopher A. , Sims John E. , Moore Kevin , Bakker Alice , Li Peng 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACTDesigning drugs to treat diseases associated with articular joints, particularly those targeting chondrocytes, is challenging due to unique local environmental constraints including the avascular nature of cartilage, the absence of a closed joint compartment, and a highly cross‐linked extracellular matrix. In an effort to address these challenges, we developed a novel strategy to prolong residence time of intra‐articularly administered protein therapeutics. Avimer domains are naturally found in membrane polypeptides and mediate diverse protein–protein interactions. Screening of a phage Avimer domain library led to identification of several low affinity type II collagen‐binding Avimers. Following several rounds of mutagenesis and reselection, these initial hits were transformed to high affinity, selective type II collagen‐binding Avimers. One such Avimer (M26) persisted in rat knees for at least 1 month following intra‐articular administration. Fusion of this Avimer to a candidate therapeutic payload, IL‐1Ra, yielded a protein construct which simultaneously bound to type II collagen and to IL‐1 receptor. In vitro, IL‐1Ra_M26 bound selectively to cartilage explants and remained associated even after extensive washing. Binding appeared to occur preferentially to pericellular regions surrounding chondrocytes. An acute intra‐articular IL‐1‐induced IL‐6 challenge rat model was employed to assess in vivo pharmacodynamics. Whereas both IL‐1Ra_M26 and native IL‐1Ra inhibited IL‐6 output when co‐administered with the IL‐1 challenge, only IL‐1Ra_M26 inhibited when administered 1 week prior to IL‐1 challenge. Collagen‐binding Avimers thus represent a promising strategy for enhancing cartilage residence time of protein therapeutics. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:1238–1247, 2018.
Strengthening links between waterfowl research and management
Authors: Roberts Anthony , Eadie John M. , Howerter David W. , Johnson Fred A. , Nichols James D. , Runge Michael C. , Vrtiska Mark P. , Williams Byron K. 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACTWaterfowl monitoring, research, regulation, and adaptive planning are leading the way in supporting science‐informed wildlife management. However, increasing societal demands on natural resources have created a greater need for adaptable and successful linkages between waterfowl science and management. We presented a special session at the 2016 North American Duck Symposium, Annapolis, Maryland, USA on the successes and challenges of linking research and management in waterfowl conservation, and we summarize those thoughts in this commentary. North American waterfowl management includes a diversity of actions including management of harvest and habitat. Decisions for waterfowl management are structured using decision analysis by incorporating stakeholder values into formal objectives, identifying research relevant to objectives, integrating scientific knowledge, and choosing an optimal strategy with respect to objectives. Recently, the consideration of the value of information has been proposed as a means to evaluate the utility of research designed to meet objectives. Despite these advances, the ability to conduct waterfowl research with direct management application may be increasingly difficult in research institutions for several reasons including reduced funding for applied research and the lower perceived value of applied versus theoretical research by some university academics. In addition, coordination between researchers and managers may be logistically constrained, and communication may be ineffective between the 2 groups. Strengthening these links would help develop stronger and more coordinated approaches for the conservation of waterfowl and the wetlands upon which they depend. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
Magnitude and regulation of zooplankton community production across boreal lakes
Authors: F. St‐Gelais Nicolas , Sastri Akash R. , del Giorgio Paul A. , Beisner Beatrix E. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractA major outstanding question in plankton ecology is whether the regulation of zooplankton production at the community level follows the same patterns that have been observed for individual populations. We used a novel biochemical approach to estimate in situ rates of crustacean zooplankton community production in 83 boreal lakes, with the objective of identifying the main drivers of zooplankton production at the community level across the boreal landscape. Our results show that the relationship of zooplankton community production to average community body size, total biomass, and temperature is comparable to what has been observed for individual populations. At the community level, however, there are additional drivers, including lake morphometry, and catchment properties, which further influence zooplankton production and which cannot be inferred from population level patterns.
Foot and ankle reconstruction with vertically designed deep inferior epigastric perforator flap
Authors: Akdag Osman , Karamese Mehtap , Yıldıran Gokce Unal , Sutcu Mustafa , Tosun Zekeriya 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIntroductionThe deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap is one of the most commonly utilized flaps of reconstructive surgery. Although the horizontal flap design is the most commonly used, this flap can be vertically designed to avoid drawbacks such as excessive tissue dissection, relatively reduced flap perfusion, and scarification of the contralateral flap opportunity. The aim of this report is to present our case series for foot and ankle reconstruction with vertical designed DIEP flap.Patients and methodsThe free vertically designed DIEP flaps (VDIEP) were used in eight patients (7 male, 1 female) whose age is in a range of 20–66 years for soft tissue reconstructions in the ankle and foot region over a five‐year period. The range of defects’ size was from 8 × 5 cm to 15 × 7 cm and the causes were electrical burn, trauma and diabetic foot infections.ResultsFlap dimensions varied from 10 × 6 cm to 17 × 9 cm. All the flaps had two or more perforators, and all flaps survived completely. There were no early or late complications. We followed up the patients for 10 months in average. We observed no functional problems, especially in main motions of foot and ankle like eversion, inversion, flexion or extension except one patient. Donor site scars were acceptable in all patients.ConclusionsThe VDIEP flap may be an option for selected lower extremity soft tissue reconstructions, and it may be an alternative to classically designed abdominal flaps.
Rapid dual‐echo ramped hybrid encoding MR‐based attenuation correction (dRHE‐MRAC) for PET/MR
Authors: Jang Hyungseok , Liu Fang , Bradshaw Tyler , McMillan Alan B. 
Published: October 2017

PurposeIn this study, we propose a rapid acquisition for MR‐based attenuation correction (MRAC) in positron emission tomography (PET)/MR imaging, in which an ultrashort echo time (UTE) image and an out‐of‐phase echo image are obtained within a single rapid scan (35 s) at high spatial resolution (1 mm3), which allows accurate estimation of a pseudo CT image using 4‐class tissue classification (discrete bone, discrete air, continuous fat, and continuous water).MethodsIn dual‐echo ramped hybrid encoding (dRHE), a UTE echo is directly followed by a second out‐of‐phase echo, in which hybrid spatial encoding combining single‐point imaging and 3‐dimensional radial frequency encoding is used to improve the quality of both images. Two‐point Dixon reconstruction is used to estimate fat‐ and water‐separated images, and UTE images are used to estimate bone. Air and bone segmentation is improved by using multiple UTE images with an advanced hybrid‐encoding scheme that allows reconstruction of multiple UTE images. To evaluate the proposed method, dRHE‐MRAC PET/MR brain imaging was performed in 10 subjects. Dice coefficients and PET reconstruction errors relative to CT‐based attenuation correction were compared with existing system MRAC approaches.ResultsIn dRHE‐MRAC, the Dice coefficients for soft tissue, air, and bone were respectively 0.95 ± 0.01, 0.62 ± 0.06, and 0.78 ± 0.05, which was a significantly improved result compared with existing approaches. In most brain regions, dRHE‐MRAC showed significantly reduced PET error (less than 1%) with P values less than 0.05.ConclusionsDual‐echo ramped hybrid encoding enables rapid and robust imaging for MRAC with a very rapid acquisition. Magn Reson Med 79:2912–2922, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Correlation between the CAG repeat size and electrophysiological findings in patients with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy
Authors: Kim Hyunjin , Lim Young‐Min , Lee Eun‐Jae , Oh Yeo Jin , Kim Kwang‐Kuk 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACTIntroductionSpinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is caused by the expansion of a CAG repeat in the androgen receptor gene. The relationship between the CAG repeat size and electrophysiological findings is not completely understood.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 62 SBMA patients to assess the correlation between their CAG repeat size and electrophysiological findings.ResultsIn multiple regression analysis including age at examination and disease duration, we identified a negative correlation between the CAG repeat size and the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude. No significant correlation was found between the CAG repeat size and sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude.DiscussionContrary to previous reports of motor‐ and sensory‐dominant phenotypes correlating with CAG repeat sizes, the CAG repeat size was negatively correlated only with CMAP amplitude, and not with SNAP amplitude. Muscle Nerve 57: 683–686, 2018
Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Cerebrospinal Fluid Ubiquitin in Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinsonian Disorders
Authors: Sjödin Simon , Hansson Oskar , Öhrfelt Annika , Brinkmalm Gunnar , Zetterberg Henrik , Brinkmalm Ann , Blennow Kaj 
Published: October 2017

PurposeDysfunctional proteostasis, with decreased protein degradation and an accumulation of ubiquitin into aggregated protein inclusions, is a feature of neurodegenerative diseases. Identifying new potential biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) reflecting this process could contribute important information on pathophysiology.Experimental designA developed method combining SPE and PRM‐MS is employed to monitor the concentration of ubiquitin in CSF from subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Four independent cross‐sectional studies are conducted, studies 1–4, including controls (n = 86) and participants with AD (n = 60), PD (n = 15), and PSP (n = 11).ResultsThe method shows a repeatability and intermediate precision not exceeding 6.1 and 7.9%, respectively. The determined LOD is 0.1 nm and the LOQ range between 0.625 and 80 nm. The CSF ubiquitin concentration is 1.2–1.5‐fold higher in AD patients compared with controls in the three independent AD‐control studies (Study 1, p < 0.001; Study 2, p < 0.001; and Study 3, p = 0.003). In the fourth study, there is no difference in PD or PSP, compared to controls.Conclusion and clinical relevanceCSF ubiquitin may reflect dysfunctional proteostasis in AD. The described method can be used for further exploration of ubiquitin as a potential biomarker in neurodegenerative diseases.
Large cosolutes, small cosolutes, and dihydrofolate reductase activity
Authors: Acosta Luis C. , Perez Goncalves Gerardo M. , Pielak Gary J. , Gorensek‐Benitez Annelise H. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractProtein enzymes are the main catalysts in the crowded and complex cellular interior, but their activity is almost always studied in dilute buffered solutions. Studies that attempt to recreate the cellular interiorin vitrooften utilize synthetic polymers as crowding agents. Here, we report the effects of the synthetic polymer cosolutes Ficoll, dextran, and polyvinylpyrrolidone, and their respective monomers, sucrose, glucose, and 1‐ethyl‐2‐pyrrolidone, on the activity of the 18‐kDa monomeric enzyme,Escherichia colidihydrofolate reductase. At low concentrations, reductase activity increases relative to buffer and monomers, suggesting a macromolecular effect. However, the effect decreases at higher concentrations, approaching, and, in some cases, falling below buffer values. We also assessed activity in terms of volume occupancy, viscosity, and the overlap concentration (where polymers form an interwoven mesh). The trends vary with polymer family, but changes in activity are within threefold of buffer values. We also compiled and analyzed results from previous studies and conclude that alterations of steady‐state enzyme kinetics in solutions crowded with synthetic polymers are idiosyncratic with respect to the crowding agent and enzyme.
Bilateral tubal pregnancies after a single‐embryo transfer
Authors: Sugawara Nobuo , Sato Rie , Kato Mika , Manome Tomomi , Kimura Yasuyuki , Araki Yasuhisa , Araki Yasuyuki 
Published: October 2017

AbstractCaseTo present an extremely rare case of bilateral tubal pregnancies following a single‐embryo transfer in a woman with a 4 year history of infertility prior to seeking assisted reproductive technology.OutcomeA pregnancy resulted from the transfer of an embryo that had been thawed from a frozen blastocyst during a hormone replacement cycle. An ultrasound that was performed at 5 weeks and 5 days of gestation revealed a gestational sac, embryo, and heartbeat in the right fallopian tube and similar signs of a gestational sac in the left fallopian tube. A laparoscopy revealed clear signs of an ectopic pregnancy in the ampulla of the right fallopian tube. Signs of swelling also were seen in the ampulla of the left fallopian tube. As the possibility of bilateral tubal pregnancies could not be ruled out, both fallopian tubes were removed. Pathological tests revealed chorionic villi and trophoblasts in both the left and right fallopian tubes.ConclusionAll previously reported cases of bilateral tubal pregnancies have been a result of multiple ovulations or multiple‐embryo transfer and no case of bilateral tubal pregnancies after a single‐embryo transfer has ever been reported. No genetic testing was performed; thus, it cannot be definitively stated that the divided chorionic villi and trophoblasts came from only one embryo.
On input‐to‐state stability of rigid‐body attitude control with quaternion representation
Authors: Hu Jinchang , Zhang Honghua 
Published: October 2017

SummaryThe concept of input‐to‐state stability (ISS) is important in robust control, as the state of an ISS system subject to disturbances can be stably regulated to a small region around the origin. In this study, the ISS property of the rigid‐body attitude system with quaternion representation is thoroughly investigated. It has been known that the closed loop with continuous controllers is not ISS with respect to arbitrarily small external disturbances. To deal with this problem, hybrid proportional‐derivative controllers with hysteresis are proposed to render the attitude system ISS. The controller is far from new, but it is investigated in a new aspect. To illustrate the applications of the results about ISS, 2 new robust hybrid controllers are designed. In the case of large bounded time‐varying disturbances, the hybrid proportional‐derivative controller is designed to incorporate a saturated high‐gain feedback term, and arbitrarily small ultimate bounds of the state can be obtained; in the case of constant disturbances, a hybrid adaptive controller is proposed, which is robust against small estimate error of inertia matrix. Finally, simulations are conducted to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategies.
Solvability conditions and design for synchronization of discrete‐time multiagent systems
Authors: Stoorvogel Anton A. , Saberi Ali , Zhang Meirong , Liu Zhenwei 
Published: October 2017

SummaryThis paper provides solvability conditions for state synchronization with homogeneous discrete‐time multiagent systems with a directed and weighted communication network under partial‐ or full‐state coupling. Our solvability conditions reveal that the synchronization problem is solvable for all possible, a priori given, set of graphs associated with a communication network only under the condition that the agents are at most weakly unstable (ie, agents have all eigenvalues in the closed unit disc). However, if an upper bound on the eigenvalues inside the unit disc of the row stochastic matrices associated with any graph in a given set of graphs is known, then one can achieve synchronization for a class of unstable agents. We provide protocol design for at most weakly unstable agents based on a direct eigenstructure assignment method and a standard H2 discrete‐time algebraic Riccati equation. We also provide protocol design for strictly unstable agents (ie, agents have at least one eigenvalue outside the unit disc) based on the standard H2 discrete‐time algebraic Riccati equation.
The AutoSOAR autonomous soaring aircraft part 2: Hardware implementation and flight results
Authors: Depenbusch Nathan T. , Bird John J. , Langelaan Jack W. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAutonomous soaring has the potential to greatly improve both the range and endurance of small robotic aircraft. This paper describes the results of a test flight campaign to demonstrate an autonomous soaring system that generates a dynamic map of lift sources (thermals) in the environment and uses this map for on‐line flight planning and decision making. The aircraft is based on a commercially available radio‐controlled glider; it is equipped with an autopilot module for low‐level flight control and on‐board computer that hosts all autonomy algorithms. Components of the autonomy algorithm include thermal mapping, explore/exploit decision making, navigation, optimal airspeed computation, thermal centering control, and energy state estimation. A finite state machine manages flight behaviors and switching between behaviors. Flight tests at Aberdeen Proving Ground resulted in 7.8 h flight time with the autonomous soaring system engaged, with three hours spent climbing in thermals. Postflight computation of energy state and frequent observations of groups of birds thermalling with our aircraft indicate that it was effectively exploiting available energy.
Learning to Write With Interactive Writing Instruction
Authors: Williams Cheri 
Published: October 2017

AbstractInteractive writing is a process‐oriented instructional approach designed to make the composing and encoding processes of writing overt and explicit for young students who are learning to write. It is particularly suitable for students who struggle with literacy learning. This article describes one first‐grade teacher's use of interactive writing to teach her students what it means to write and how they could go about it. The project documents the writing processes, conventions, and strategies that the teacher taught during interactive writing lessons across one academic year and illustrates how the students learned and subsequently used those conceptual tools to mediate their independent writing. Results of the project demonstrate the expediency of interactive writing instruction for supporting the learning‐to‐write process and hold important implications for writing instruction in the early childhood program.