bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Surface‐functionalized polyurethane nanoparticles for targeted cancer therapy
Authors: Mattu Clara , Silvestri Antonella , Wang Tian Ran , Boffito Monica , Ranzato Elia , Cassino Claudio , Ciofani Gianni , Ciardelli Gianluca 
Published: February 2016

AbstractPolymer nanoparticles (nps) have gained growing interest as carriers for anticancer drugs as they can target tumour tissues by both passive and active pathways. While the passive targeting mechanisms mainly rely on the small size of the carriers, active targeting requires surface modifications of the polymer core in order to introduce specific functionalities to actively recognize cancer cells. The present work proposes an innovative method for the preparation of surface‐functionalized nps based on the use of biodegradable polyester‐ and polyester/ether‐urethanes (PURs) embedding amino functionalities. Two polyurethanes were prepared, one based on just poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) diol (PCL‐PUR) and the other based on both PCL diol and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) (70/30 ratio, PCL‐PEG‐PUR). Nanoparticles of small size ranging between 150 and 200 nm and negative ζ potential (ranging from −18 mV to −27 mV) were obtained. Functional groups were exposed post nps preparation as confirmed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ninhydrin assay and 1H NMR, which evidenced a 24% tert‐butyloxycarbonyl cleavage for PCL‐PUR‐NH2 nps and 29% for PCL‐PEG‐PUR‐NH2 nps. The monoclonal antibody Herceptin (HER), which targets HER‐2 receptors, was coupled through ethyl(dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide/N‐hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS) mediated chemistry. The optimal HER:NH2 ratio was determined to be 1:16 for the PEG‐containing PUR and 1:8 for PCL‐PUR. HER‐nps maintained the intrinsic cytotoxicity of the antibody, as shown by the ca 50% decrease of HER‐2‐expressing HeLa cell viability. The results indicate that our protocol for surface functionalization of PUR nps, based on surface exposure of previously inserted functional groups followed by covalent coupling of biomolecules, is suitable for the preparation of nps for active recognition of target cells. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Life‐safety concerns in chemical plants
Authors: Prugh Richard W. 
Published: February 2016

The safety and health standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Act do not specifically address life safety in chemical plants, other than requiring owners and operators to “provide a safe place to work” and to ensure that “employees may evacuate the workplace safely.” NFPA 101 would classify chemical plants as high‐hazard industrial occupancies, and a primary concern is to ensure “minimal danger to occupants in case of fire or other emergency before they have time to use exits to escape.” NFPA 1 also requires that the design and operation of buildings and facilities “provide an environment for the occupants that is reasonably safe from fire and similar emergencies, for the amount of time needed to evacuate.” Thus, most life‐safety requirements are concerned with safe exit.There are, however, other life‐safety hazards that should be of concern to chemical plant owners and operators. They include many single‐exit locations, such as the upper levels on distillation/fractionation columns, scrubbers, and other tall equipment; elevated work platforms as atop multistory buildings and smokestacks; platforms above tank cars, tank trucks, and hopper cars; at the head of bucket elevators; work spaces above false ceilings; and ladder‐access roofs over operating areas. Also, chemical‐plant life‐safety hazards include flash fire (flammable vapors and combustible dusts); releases of toxic gases and vapors; and vessel rupture from runaway reaction or other causes of overpressure. This article presents practical countermeasures for these life‐safety hazards. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 35: 18–25, 2016
Motion Behavior of Nonmetallic Inclusions at the Interface of Steel and Slag. Part I: Model Development, Validation, and Preliminary Analysis
Authors: Liu Chao , Yang Shufeng , Li Jingshe , Zhu Libin , Li Xiaogang 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
The motion behavior of nonmetallic inclusions at the interface of molten steel and slag fundamentally affects the removal of inclusions. Therefore, from an analysis of forces, this study constructed a mathematical model of inclusion movement. Compared with other models that only consider the forces acting on nonmetallic inclusions at the interface, the proposed model considers not only cases in the inclusions which enter the slag interior and rebound into the molten steel, but also the effect of fluid flow containing the inclusions with different Re numbers on the drag force. The application of this established model has not taken Reynolds number of fluid flow into consideration. The model can predict the motion of inclusions at the interface and in nearby areas and provide a curve of inclusion displacement vs time. The mathematical model was verified with a physical model, with the curve of displacement vs time obtained from physical experiment being consistent with the calculated curve. The preliminary calculation results show that inclusions having liquid film at their surfaces are rebounded into the steel when they have size within a certain range but enter the slag phase directly when they are beyond that size range.
Medical Tourism for CCSVI Procedures in People with Multiple Sclerosis: An Observational Study
Authors: Metz Luanne M. , Greenfield Jamie , Marrie Ruth Ann , Jette Nathalie , Blevins Gregg , Svenson Lawrence W. , Alikhani Katayoun , Wall Winona , Dhaliwal Raveena , Suchowersky Oksana 
Published: February 2016

AbstractBackground:Many Canadians with multiple sclerosis (MS) have recently travelled internationally to have procedures for a putative condition called chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI). Here, we describe where and when they went and describe the baseline characteristics of persons with MS who participated in this non–evidence-based medical tourism for CCSVI procedures.Methods:We conducted a longitudinal observational study that used online questionnaires to collect patient-reported information about the safety, experiences, and outcomes following procedures for CCSVI. A convenience sample of all Albertans with MS was recruited between July 2011 and March 2013.Results:In total, 868 individuals enrolled; 704 were included in this cross-sectional, baseline analysis. Of these, 128 (18.2%) participants retrospectively reported having procedures for CCSVI between April 2010 and September 2012. The proportion of participants reporting CCSVI procedures declined from 80 (62.5%) in 2010, to 40 (31.1%) in 2011, and 8 (6.3%) in 2012. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, CCSVI procedures were independently associated with longer disease duration, secondary progressive clinical course, and greater disability status.Conclusions:Although all types of people with MS pursued procedures for CCSVI, a major driver of participation was greater disability. This highlights that those with the greatest disability are the most vulnerable to unproven experimental procedures. Participation in CCSVI procedures waned over time possibly reflecting unmet expectations of treated patients, decreased media attention, or that individuals who wanted procedures had them soon after the CCSVI hypothesis was widely publicized.
‘Effective’ collisions in weakly magnetized collisionless plasma: importance of Pitaevski’s effect for magnetic reconnection
Authors: Zelenyi Lev M. , Artemyev Anton V. 
Published: February 2016

In this paper we revisit the paradigm of space science turbulent dissipation traditionally considered as myth (Coroniti, Space Sci. Rev., vol. 42, 1985, pp. 399–410). We demonstrate that due to approach introduced by Pitaevskii (Sov. J. Expl Theor. Phys., vol. 44, 1963, pp. 969–979; (in Russian)) (the effect of a finite Larmor radius on a classical collision integral) dissipation induced by effective interaction with microturbulence produces a significant effect on plasma dynamics, especially in the vicinity of the reconnection region. We estimate the multiplication factor of collision frequency in the collision integral for short wavelength perturbations. For waves propagating transverse to the background magnetic field, this factor is approximately $({\it\rho}_{e}k_{x})^{2}$ with ${\it\rho}_{e}$ an electron gyroradius and where $k_{x}$ is a transverse wavenumber. We consider recent spacecraft observations in the Earth’s magnetotail reconnection region to the estimate possible impact of this multiplication factor. For small-scale reconnection regions this factor can significantly increase the effective collision frequency produced both by lower-hybrid drift turbulence and by kinetic Alfvén waves. We discuss the possibility that the Pitaevskii’s effect may be responsible for the excitation of a resistive electron tearing mode in thin current sheets formed in the outflow region of the primary X-line.
Arménienkarmir, sogdienkrmʾyret hébreukarmīl« rouge »
Authors: Korn Agnes 
Published: February 2016

AbstractArmeniankarmir“red” has often been considered as deriving from East Iranian, thus speaking in favour of relations between Armenian and Sogdian, a Middle Iranian language spoken at considerable distance from Armenia. For the origin of Hebrewkarmīl, on the other hand, a Middle Persian “karmīr” has been suggested. In either case, the etymology would be Proto-Indo-European*ku̯ṛ́mi-“worm” (be it directly or as a borrowing from Sanskritkṛ́mi-) from which the colour term would be derived in a way parallel to Frenchvermeil“scarlet” fromver“worm”, thus a term referring to a red dye obtained from scale insects (cochineals). I argue thatkarmīris not a Middle Persian word for “red”, that Sogdian is unlikely to be the source of the Armenian and Hebrew words, and that an Indian origin is not probable either because of the specific features of the Indian scale insect dye. Conversely, Armenian scarlet was widely known and appreciated already in antiquity, so that, for historical as well as linguistic reasons, the origin of the word is likely to be an Iranian language within the region where Armenian was spoken.
Visualizing the orientational dependence of an intermolecular potential
Authors: Sweetman Adam , Rashid Mohammad A. , Jarvis Samuel P. , Dunn Janette L. , Rahe Philipp , Moriarty Philip 
Published: February 2016

AbstractScanning probe microscopy can now be used to map the properties of single molecules with intramolecular precision by functionalization of the apex of the scanning probe tip with a single atom or molecule. Here we report on the mapping of the three-dimensional potential between fullerene (C60) molecules in different relative orientations, with sub-Angstrom resolution, using dynamic force microscopy (DFM). We introduce a visualization method which is capable of directly imaging the variation in equilibrium binding energy of different molecular orientations. We model the interaction using both a simple approach based around analytical Lennard–Jones potentials, and with dispersion-force-corrected density functional theory (DFT), and show that the positional variation in the binding energy between the molecules is dominated by the onset of repulsive interactions. Our modelling suggests that variations in the dispersion interaction are masked by repulsive interactions even at displacements significantly larger than the equilibrium intermolecular separation.
Earth's oldest mantle fabrics indicate Eoarchaean subduction
Authors: Kaczmarek Mary-Alix , Reddy Steven M. , Nutman Allen P. , Friend Clark R. L. , Bennett Vickie C. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThe extension of subduction processes into the Eoarchaean era (4.0–3.6 Ga) is controversial. The oldest reported terrestrial olivine, from two dunite lenses within the ∼3,720 Ma Isua supracrustal belt in Greenland, record a shape-preferred orientation of olivine crystals defining a weak foliation and a well-defined lattice-preferred orientation (LPO). [001] parallel to the maximum finite elongation direction and (010) perpendicular to the foliation plane define a B-type LPO. In the modern Earth such fabrics are associated with deformation of mantle rocks in the hanging wall of subduction systems; an interpretation supported by experiments. Here we show that the presence of B-type fabrics in the studied Isua dunites is consistent with a mantle origin and a supra-subduction mantle wedge setting, the latter supported by compositional data from nearby mafic rocks. Our results provide independent microstructural data consistent with the operation of Eoarchaean subduction and indicate that microstructural analyses of ancient ultramafic rocks provide a valuable record of Archaean geodynamics.
Lazy workers are necessary for long-term sustainability in insect societies
Authors: Hasegawa Eisuke , Ishii Yasunori , Tada Koichiro , Kobayashi Kazuya , Yoshimura Jin 
Published: February 2016

AbstractOptimality theory predicts the maximization of productivity in social insect colonies, but many inactive workers are found in ant colonies. Indeed, the low short-term productivity of ant colonies is often the consequence of high variation among workers in the threshold to respond to task-related stimuli. Why is such an inefficient strategy among colonies maintained by natural selection? Here, we show that inactive workers are necessary for the long-term sustainability of a colony. Our simulation shows that colonies with variable thresholds persist longer than those with invariable thresholds because inactive workers perform the critical function of replacing active workers when they become fatigued. Evidence of the replacement of active workers by inactive workers has been found in ant colonies. Thus, the presence of inactive workers increases the long-term persistence of the colony at the expense of decreasing short-term productivity. Inactive workers may represent a bet-hedging strategy in response to environmental stochasticity.
Development of non-defective recombinant densovirus vectors for microRNA delivery in the invasive vector mosquito, Aedes albopictus
Authors: Liu Peiwen , Li Xiaocong , Gu Jinbao , Dong Yunqiao , Liu Yan , Santhosh Puthiyakunnon , Chen Xiaoguang 
Published: February 2016

AbstractWe previously reported that mosquito densoviruses (MDVs) are potential vectors for delivering foreign nucleic acids into mosquito cells. However, considering existing expression strategies, recombinant viruses would inevitably become replication-defective viruses and lose their ability for secondary transmission. The packaging limitations of the virion represent a barrier for the development of MDVs for viral paratransgenesis or as high-efficiency bioinsecticides. Herein, we report the development of a non-defective recombinant Aedes aegypti densovirus (AaeDV) miRNA expression system, mediated by an artificial intron, using an intronic miRNA expression strategy. We demonstrated that this recombinant vector could be used to overexpress endogenous miRNAs or to decrease endogenous miRNAs by generating antisense sponges to explore the biological functions of miRNAs. In addition, the vector could express antisense-miRNAs to induce efficient gene silencing in vivo and in vitro. The recombinant virus effectively self-replicated and retained its secondary transmission ability, similar to the wild-type virus. The recombinant virus was also genetically stable. This study demonstrated the first construction of a non-defective recombinant MDV miRNA expression system, which represents a tool for the functional analysis of mosquito genes and lays the foundation for the application of viral paratransgenesis for dengue virus control.
Coherently Tunable Triangular Trefoil Phaseonium Metamaterial
Authors: Nguyen D. M. , Soci Cesare , Ooi C. H. Raymond 
Published: February 2016

AbstractPhaseonium is a three-level Λ quantum system, in which a coherent microwave and an optical control (pump) beams can be used to actively modulate the dielectric response. Here we propose a new metamaterial structure comprising of a periodic array of triangular phaseonium metamolecules arranged as a trefoil. We present a computational study of the spatial distribution of magnetic and electric fields of the probe light and the corresponding transmission and reflection, for various parameters of the optical and microwave beams. For specific values of the probing frequencies and control fields, the phaseonium can display either metallic or dielectric optical response. We find that, in the metallic regime, the phaseonium metamaterial structure supports extremely large transmission, with optical amplification at large enough intensity of the microwave thanks to strong surface plasmon coupling; while, in the dielectric regime without microwave excitation, the transmission bandwidth can be tuned by varying the control beam intensity. Implementation of such phaseonium metamaterial structure in solid-state systems, such as patterned crystals doped with rare-earth elements or dielectric matrices embedded with quantum dots, could enable a new class of actively tunable quantum metamaterials.
Phantom limb perception interferes with motor imagery after unilateral upper-limb amputation
Authors: Lyu Yuanyuan , Guo Xiaoli , Bekrater-Bodmann Robin , Flor Herta , Tong Shanbao 
Published: February 2016

AbstractA potential contributor to impaired motor imagery in amputees is an alteration of the body schema as a result of the presence of a phantom limb. However, the nature of the relationship between motor imagery and phantom experiences remains unknown. In this study, the influence of phantom limb perception on motor imagery was investigated using a hand mental rotation task by means of behavioral and electrophysiological measures. Compared with healthy controls, significantly prolonged response time for both the intact and missing hand were observed specifically in amputees who perceived a phantom limb during the task but not in amputees without phantom limb perception. Event-related desynchronization of EEG in the beta band (beta-ERD) in central and parietal areas showed an angular disparity specifically in amputees with phantom limb perception, with its source localized in the right inferior parietal lobule. The response time as well as the beta-ERD values were significantly positively correlated with phantom vividness. Our results suggest that phantom limb perception during the task is an important interferential factor for motor imagery after amputation and the interference might be related to a change of the body representation resulting from an unnatural posture of the phantom limb.
Treatment of beta amyloid 1–42 (Aβ1–42)-induced basal forebrain cholinergic damage by a non-classical estrogen signaling activator in vivo
Authors: Kwakowsky Andrea , Potapov Kyoko , Kim SooHyun , Peppercorn Katie , Tate Warren P. , Ábrahám István M. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractIn Alzheimer’s disease (AD), there is a loss in cholinergic innervation targets of basal forebrain which has been implicated in substantial cognitive decline. Amyloid beta peptide (Aβ1–42) accumulates in AD that is highly toxic for basal forebrain cholinergic (BFC) neurons. Although the gonadal steroid estradiol is neuroprotective, the administration is associated with risk of off-target effects. Previous findings suggested that non-classical estradiol action on intracellular signaling pathways has ameliorative potential without estrogenic side effects. After Aβ1–42injection into mouse basal forebrain, a single dose of 4-estren-3α, 17β-diol (estren), the non-classical estradiol pathway activator, restored loss of cholinergic cortical projections and also attenuated the Aβ1–42-induced learning deficits. Estren rapidly and directly phosphorylates c-AMP-response–element-binding-protein and extracellular-signal-regulated-kinase-1/2 in BFC neurons and restores the cholinergic fibers via estrogen receptor-α. These findings indicated that selective activation of non-classical intracellular estrogen signaling has a potential to treat the damage of cholinergic neurons in AD.
WBSMDA: Within and Between Score for MiRNA-Disease Association prediction
Authors: Chen Xing , Yan Chenggang Clarence , Zhang Xu , You Zhu-Hong , Deng Lixi , Liu Ying , Zhang Yongdong , Dai Qionghai 
Published: February 2016

AbstractIncreasing evidences have indicated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are functionally associated with the development and progression of various complex human diseases. However, the roles of miRNAs in multiple biological processes or various diseases and their underlying molecular mechanisms still have not been fully understood yet. Predicting potential miRNA-disease associations by integrating various heterogeneous biological datasets is of great significance to the biomedical research. Computational methods could obtain potential miRNA-disease associations in a short time, which significantly reduce the experimental time and cost. Considering the limitations in previous computational methods, we developed the model of Within and Between Score for MiRNA-Disease Association prediction (WBSMDA) to predict potential miRNAs associated with various complex diseases. WBSMDA could be applied to the diseases without any known related miRNAs. The AUC of 0.8031 based on Leave-one-out cross validation has demonstrated its reliable performance. WBSMDA was further applied to Colon Neoplasms, Prostate Neoplasms and Lymphoma for the identification of their potential related miRNAs. As a result, 90%, 84% and 80% of predicted miRNA-disease pairs in the top 50 prediction list for these three diseases have been confirmed by recent experimental literatures, respectively. It is anticipated that WBSMDA would be a useful resource for potential miRNA-disease association identification.
Non-electrolytic synthesis of copper oxide/carbon nanocomposite by surface plasma in super-dehydrated ethanol
Authors: Kozak Dmytro S. , Sergiienko Ruslan A. , Shibata Etsuro , Iizuka Atsushi , Nakamura Takashi 
Published: February 2016

AbstractElectrolytic processes are widely used to synthesize different nanomaterials and it does not depend on what kind of the method has been applied (wet-chemistry, sonochemistry, plasma chemistry, electrolysis and so on). Generally, the reactions in the electrolyte are considered to be reduction/oxidation (REDOX) reactions between chemical reagents or the deposition of matter on the electrodes, in line with Faraday’s law. Due to the presence of electroconductive additives in any electrolyte, the polarization effect of polar molecules conducting an electrical current disappears, when external high-strength electric field is induced. Because initially of the charge transfer always belongs of electroconductive additive and it does not depend on applied voltage. The polarization of ethanol molecules has been applied to conduct an electric current by surface plasma interaction for the synthesis of a copper oxide/carbon nanocomposite material.
High-Contrast Gratings based Spoof Surface Plasmons
Authors: Li Zhuo , Liu Liangliang , Xu Bingzheng , Ning Pingping , Chen Chen , Xu Jia , Chen Xinlei , Gu Changqing , Qing Quan 
Published: February 2016

AbstractIn this work, we explore the existence of spoof surface plasmons (SSPs) supported by deep-subwavelength high-contrast gratings (HCGs) on a perfect electric conductor plane. The dispersion relation of the HCGs-based SSPs is derived analyt- ically by combining multimode network theory with rigorous mode matching method, which has nearly the same form with and can be degenerated into that of the SSPs arising from deep-subwavelength metallic gratings (MGs). Numerical simula- tions validate the analytical dispersion relation and an effective medium approximation is also presented to obtain the same analytical dispersion formula. This work sets up a unified theoretical framework for SSPs and opens up new vistas in surface plasmon optics.