bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Protective coatings for intraocular wirelessly controlled microrobots for implantation: Corrosion, cell culture, and in vivo animal tests
Authors: Pokki Juho , Ergeneman Olgaç , Chatzipirpiridis George , Lühmann Tessa , Sort Jordi , Pellicer Eva , Pot Simon A. , Spiess Bernhard M. , Pané Salvador , Nelson Bradley J. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractDiseases in the ocular posterior segment are a leading cause of blindness. The surgical skills required to treat them are at the limits of human manipulation ability, and involve the risk of permanent retinal damage. Instrument tethering and design limit accessibility within the eye. Wireless microrobots suturelessly injected into the posterior segment, steered using magnetic manipulation are proposed for procedures involving implantation. Biocompatibility is a prerequisite for these procedures. This article investigates the use of polypyrrole‐ and gold‐coated cobalt‐nickel microrobots. While gold has been used in ocular implants, no ocular implantation involving polypyrrole is reported, despite its well‐established biocompatibility properties. Coated and uncoated microrobots were investigated for their corrosion properties, and solutions that had contained coated and uncoated microrobots for one week were tested for cytotoxicity by monitoring NIH3T3 cell viability. None of the microrobots showed significant corrosion currents and corrosion potentials were as expected in relation to the intrinsic nobility of the materials. NIH3T3 cell viability was not affected by the release medium, in which coated/uncoated microrobots were stored. In vivo tests inside rabbit eyes were performed using coated microrobots. There were no significant inflammatory responses during the first week after injection. An inflammatory response detected after 2 weeks was likely due to a lack of longer‐duration biocompatibility. The results provide valuable information for those who work on implant technology and biocompatibility. Coated microrobots have the potential to facilitate a new generation of surgical treatments, diagnostics and drug‐delivery techniques, when implantation in the ocular posterior segment will be possible. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 836–845, 2017.
An improved preparation method for cross‐sectional TEM specimens of films deposited on metallic substrates
Authors: Ma Bingyang , Shi Kaicheng , Shang Hailong , Zhang Anming , Li Rongbin , Li Geyang 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACTCross‐sectional TEM analysis is one of the most important techniques to characterize microstructures of films. However, the complex process, low efficiency, and low success rate of specimen preparation limit its application. This paper analyzed the main causes of low success rate and proposed an improved method for specimen preparation of films deposited on metallic substrates. This method consisting of twin‐jet electropolishing and one‐sided rocking ion milling is high in efficiency and success rate. Microsc. Res. Tech. 79:276–279, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Electron microscopic visualization of complementary labeled DNA with platinum‐containing guanine derivative
Authors: Loukanov Alexandre , Filipov Chavdar , Mladenova Polina , Toshev Svetlin , Emin Saim 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACTThe object of the present report is to provide a method for a visualization of DNA in TEM by complementary labeling of cytosine with guanine derivative, which contains platinum as contrast‐enhanced heavy element. The stretched single‐chain DNA was obtained by modifying double‐stranded DNA. The labeling method comprises the following steps: (i) stretching and adsorption of DNA on the support film of an electron microscope grid (the hydrophobic carbon film holding negative charged DNA); (ii) complementary labeling of the cytosine bases from the stretched single‐stranded DNA pieces on the support film with platinum containing guanine derivative to form base‐specific hydrogen bond; and (iii) producing a magnified image of the base‐specific labeled DNA. Stretched single‐stranded DNA on a support film is obtained by a rapid elongation of DNA pieces on the surface between air and aqueous buffer solution. The attached platinum‐containing guanine derivative serves as a high‐dense marker and it can be discriminated from the surrounding background of support carbon film and visualized by use of conventional TEM observation at 100 kV accelerated voltage. This method allows examination of specific nucleic macromolecules through atom‐by‐atom analysis and it is promising way toward future DNA‐sequencing or molecular diagnostics of nucleic acids by electron microscopic observation. Microsc. Res. Tech. 79:280–284, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Contrast‐enhanced susceptibility weighted imaging with ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide improves the detection of tumor vascularity in a hepatocellular carcinoma nude mouse model
Authors: Yang Shuo‐hui , Lin Jiang , Lu Fang , Dai Yuan‐yuan , Han Zhi‐hong , Fu Cai‐xia , Hu Feng‐lin , Gu Hong‐chen 
Published: January 2016

PurposeTo evaluate the effectiveness of contrast‐enhanced susceptibility‐weighted imaging with ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO‐enhanced SWI) in the assessment of intratumoral vascularity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Materials and MethodsOrthotopic xenograft HCC nude mouse models were established first and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations were performed on a 1.5T MR scanner 28 days later. Three groups of mice, 10 in each, were imaged using unenhanced and USPIO‐enhanced SWI at doses of 4, 8, and 12 mg Fe/kg. Intratumoral susceptibility signal intensity (ITSS) was scored. ITSS‐to‐tumor contrast‐to‐noise ratio (ITSST‐CNR) was measured. These measurements were compared between unenhanced and USPIO‐enhanced SWI at each dose and differences in the measurements between different dose groups were estimated. Correlation between ITSS and tumor microvessel density (MVD) was analyzed.ResultsCompared with unenhanced SWI, significantly higher ITSS was identified on USPIO‐enhanced SWI at doses of 8 mg Fe/kg (Z = –2.000, P = 0.046) and 12 mg Fe/kg (Z = –2.333, P = 0.020). Significantly higher ITSST‐CNR was found on USPIO‐enhanced SWI than that on unenhanced SWI (P < 0.05). Significantly higher ITSST‐CNR at a dose of 8 mg Fe/kg was observed than that at 4 mg Fe/kg (Z = –3.326, P = 0.001). Positive correlation between ITSS on USPIO‐enhanced SWI at a dose of 8 mg Fe/kg and tumor MVD was demonstrated (r = 0.817, P = 0.004).ConclusionUSPIO‐enhanced SWI at a dose of 8 mg Fe/kg greatly improves the detection of intratumoral vascularity in a xenograft HCC model. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:288–295.
How Artists Create: An Empirical Study of MFA Painting Students
Authors: Sawyer R. Keith 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThis paper reports on an interview study with MFA students in two different full‐time MFA degree programs in painting. The interviews were conducted as part of two ethnographic studies, each one academic year in length, of art and design schools at two U.S. universities. The goal was to explore the extended process whereby MFA student artists, in the second and final year of their degree program, create the works to be displayed in their public graduation exhibition. Using a grounded theory approach, an emergent theory was developed from the interviews, with additional information provided by studio observations and analyses of the graduation exhibitions and the accompanying written theses. This emergent theory describes the artistic creative process to be wandering, unpredictable, non‐linear, and embedded in the physical act of generating work. There is no evidence that either moments of insight, or the attempt to be original, play a role in their creative process. This emergent theory is compared with theories of the creative process by creativity researchers, and with theories of the design process proposed by design studies researchers.
Defining Creativity: Don't We Also Need to Define What Is Not Creative?
Authors: Simonton Dean Keith 
Published: January 2016

AbstractI argue that any attempt to define creative ideas cannot fully succeed without also defining uncreative ideas. This argument begins by defining three parameters that characterize a potentially creative thought: the idea's initial probability (p), the final utility (u), and the creator's prior knowledge of that utility (v). The three parameters then lead to a three‐criterion multiplicative definition of personal creativity, namely, c = (1 − p)u(1 − v), where the first factor indicates originality and the third factor surprise. Although creativity can only maximize as originality, utility, and surprise all approach unity, the same definition indicates that there are seven different ways that creativity can minimize. These alternatives were identified as (a) routine, reproductive, or habitual ideas, (b) fortuitous response bias, (c) irrational perseveration, (d) problem finding, (e) rational suppression, (f) irrational suppression, and (g) blissful ignorance. If the third parameter v is omitted, then the number of creative and noncreative outcomes reduces to just four, making creativity indistinguishable from irrational suppression. The alternative outcomes are then illustrated using the classic two‐string problem. Besides providing a more finely differentiated conception of creativity failures, the definition has critical implications regarding the processes and procedures required to generate highly creative ideas.
The Influence of Openness to Experience on Perceived Employee Creativity: The Moderating Roles of Individual Trust
Authors: Xu Sen , Jiang Xueting , Walsh Ian J. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractIn this paper, we explain the influence of co‐worker trust on the effect of employees' openness to experience on their perceptions of their own creativity. We surveyed 199 working professionals in Ireland and found that openness to experience was positively associated with both employees' perceptions of their radical creativity and incremental creativity. In addition, the relationship between openness to experience and incremental creativity was negatively moderated by cognition‐based trust in his or her co‐worker. In conclusion, we discuss the theoretical and managerial implications of our findings and highlight directions for future research.
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp), a renewed multipurpose crop for a more sustainable agri‐food system: nutritional advantages and constraints
Authors: Gonçalves Alexandre , Goufo Piebiep , Barros Ana , Domínguez‐Perles Raúl , Trindade Henrique , Rosa Eduardo A S , Ferreira Luis , Rodrigues Miguel 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe growing awareness of the relevance of food composition for human health has increased the interest of the inclusion of high proportions of fruits and vegetables in diets. To reach the objective of more balanced diets, an increased consumption of legumes, which constitutes a sustainable source of essential nutrients, particularly low‐cost protein, is of special relevance. However, the consumption of legumes also entails some constraints that need to be addressed to avoid a deleterious impact on consumers' wellbeing and health. The value of legumes as a source of nutrients depends on a plethora of factors, including genetic characteristics, agro‐climatic conditions, and postharvest management that modulate the dietary effect of edible seeds and vegetative material. Thus, more comprehensive information regarding composition, especially their nutritional and anti‐nutritional compounds, digestibility, and alternative processing procedures is essential. These were the challenges to write this review, which focusses on the nutritional and anti‐nutritional composition of Vigna unguiculata L. Walp, an emerging crop all over the world intended to provide a rational support for the development of valuable foods and feeds of increased commercial value. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of acidification on the protection of alginate‐encapsulated probiotic based on emulsification/internal gelation
Authors: Qu Fangning , Zhao Meng , Fang Yapeng , Nishinari Katsuyoshi , Phillips Glyn O , Wu Zhengjun , Chen Chen 
Published: January 2016

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe method of emulsification/internal gelation is commonly used to prepare alginate microspheres for lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This paper focused on the influence of acidification parameters, i.e. acid/Ca molar ratio and acidification time, on the physical properties and cell protection efficiency of microspheres and their correlations.RESULTSWith increasing acid/Ca molar ratio and acidification time, the average diameter of microspheres decreased and their mechanical strength increased. Interestingly, wet alginate microspheres shrank in simulated gastric juice (SGJ) while they swelled in bile salts solution (BS). The shrinkage or swelling ratio decreased with increasing mechanical strength. Correlation analysis showed that the encapsulated cell survivals in both SGJ and BS were positively correlated with the mechanical strength of microspheres but negatively with the shrinkage or swelling ratio. BacLight LIVE/DEAD assay suggested that the viability of encapsulated cells in fresh, SGJ‐treated and BS‐treated microspheres was closely related to cell membrane integrity.CONCLUSIONAcidification is a key step during microsphere preparation, which strongly affected the physical properties of alginate microspheres, resulting in different cell protection efficiency. The resulting well‐protected LAB can be applied in probiotics foods. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Quantitative Comparison of the Antimicrobial Efficiency of Leaching versus Nonleaching Polymer Materials
Authors: Bruenke Joerg , Roschke Ingolf , Agarwal Seema , Riemann Thomas , Greiner Andreas 
Published: January 2016

New antimicrobial materials will be more and more in the focus for hygienic and clinical disease control. Antimicrobial materials have to be distinguished in leaching and nonleaching materials. For many applications of antimicrobial materials on implants the use of nonleaching materials is essential. Therefore, the antimicrobial efficiency of leaching and nonleaching polymers has been investigated quantitatively in vitro in direct comparison on a highly relevant implant of central venous catheters (CVCs) using a well‐established called Certika test. This test is especially designed to test antimicrobial properties of leachable and nonleachable materials. This contribution demonstrates that newly developed nonleaching antimicrobial CVCs are equivalent to conventional leaching CVC systems in their antimicrobial performance against gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria, as well as Candida species. The use of new nonleaching antimicrobial polymers as shown here for CVCs represents a different mode of action with the aim to prevent infections also with antibiotic‐resistant strains and reduced side effects.
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Design Strategies in Hydrothermal Polymerization of Polyimides
Authors: Baumgartner Bettina , Bojdys Michael J. , Skrinjar Philipp , Unterlass Miriam M. 
Published: January 2016

Hydrothermal polymerization (HTP) is a technique to synthesize highly crystalline polyimides in solely water. The process involves monomer salt intermediates also able to undergo other polymerizations during the HTP experiment: sub‐hydrothermal polymerization (sHTP) and solid‐state polycondensation (SSP). Both processes yield semicrystalline polyimides at best. This is widely believed to result from irreversible bond‐formation and the incorporation of conformational defects during chain growth. Here, microwave‐assisted HTP is used, allowing for controlling the heating time to the reaction temperature, and thus to strongly reduce sHTP. Moreover, we show that highest crystallinity can be obtained in the higher hydrothermal regime (≈200 °C), and synthesize two polyimides of sufficient crystallinity to refine their crystal structures from powder X‐ray diffraction data. This study brings us one step closer to a general picture and rational design of the hydrothermal synthesis of polyimides.
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Novel polyurethane‐based thermosensitive hydrogels as drug release and tissue engineering platforms: design and in vitro characterization
Authors: Boffito Monica , Gioffredi Emilia , Chiono Valeria , Calzone Stefano , Ranzato Elia , Martinotti Simona , Ciardelli Gianluca 
Published: January 2016

AbstractPoloxamer P407 (P407) is a Food and Drug Administration approved triblock copolymer; its hydrogels show fast dissolution in aqueous environment and weak mechanical strength, limiting their in vivo application. In this work, an amphiphilic poly(ether urethane) (NHP407) was synthesized from P407, an aliphatic diisocyanate (1,6‐hexanediisocyanate) and an amino acid derived diol (N‐Boc serinol). NHP407 solutions in water‐based media were able to form biocompatible injectable thermosensitive hydrogels with a lower critical gelation temperature behavior, having lower critical gelation concentration (6% w/v versus 18% w/v), superior gel strength (G′ at 37 °C about 40 000 Pa versus 10 000 Pa), faster gelation kinetics (<5 min versus 15–30 min) and higher stability in physiological conditions (28 days versus 5 days) compared to P407 hydrogels. Gel strength and PBS absorption at 37 °C increased whereas dissolution rate (in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) at 37 °C) and permeability to nutrients (studied using fluorescein isothiocyanate–dextran model molecule) decreased as a function of NHP407 hydrogel concentration from 10% to 20% w/v. By varying the concentration, NHP407 hydrogels were thus prepared with different properties which could suit specific applications, such as in situ drug/cell delivery or bioprinting of scaffolds. Moreover, deprotected amino groups in NHP407 could be exploited for the grafting of bioactive molecules obtaining biomimetic hydrogels. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Phase behavior of binary blends ofPP/PP‐g‐AA: limitations of the conventional characterization techniques
Authors: Saffar Amir , Jalali Dil Ebrahim , Carreau Pierre J , Ajji Abdellah , Kamal Musa R 
Published: January 2016

AbstractIn this study, miscibility/immiscibility issues of a binary blend consisting of polypropylene (PP) and acrylic acid grafted polypropylene (PP‐g‐AA) were investigated using rheometry,DSC, dynamic mechanical and thermal analysis (DMTA),AFMand time‐of‐flight secondary‐ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS). Phase separation analysis of such blend systems is a challenge and complex due to chemically similar components as well as the low value of acrylic acid groups in the graft copolymer. Thus, it is crucial to determine if the present blend shows some degree of miscibility or develops co‐continuous morphology between the components. The analysis of rheometrical,DSCandDMTAresults indicated no sensitivity of these classical techniques for detecting the miscibility or immiscibility of such a system. However,AFMdata effectively detected dispersed‐phase domains corresponding to thePP‐g‐AArich phase. The results, for the first time, indicated that the start of phase separation occurs at a critical copolymer concentration between 2 and 5 wt%. Furthermore it was observed that, as thePP‐g‐AAcontent increases, the size and continuity of the dispersed phase increase and reach a highly continuous morphology. Additionally,ToF‐SIMSchemical imaging was carried out to aid in the interpretation of theAFMdata. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Properties of AOT reverse micelle interfaces with different polar solvents
Authors: Luna M. Alejandra , Correa N. Mariano , Silber Juana J. , Falcone R. Dario , Moyano Fernando 
Published: January 2016

The behavior of polar solvents such as formamide, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, dimethylformamide (DMF), and dimethylacetamide (DMA), entrapped in n‐heptane/sodium 1,4‐bis‐2‐ethylhexylsulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse micelles (RMs) was investigated using absorption, emission, and the red edge excitation shift technique.We use the solvatochromism behavior of the hemycianine 4‐(4‐[dimethylamino]‐styryl)‐1‐methylpyridinium iodide (HC) to investigate the physicochemical properties such as micropolarity, microviscosity, and hydrogen bond (H‐bond) interaction in the non‐aqueous RMs. Our results demonstrate that AOT surfactant interacts through H‐bond with formamide, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerol,and this interaction is responsible for weakening the electrostatic interaction between HC‐AOT when entrapped in n‐heptane/AOT RMs in absence of a polar solvent. On the other hand, when non‐H‐bond donor solvents (DMF and DMA) are incorporated inside the RMs, the structure of both pure solvents is destroyed upon encapsulation by the Na+‐DMF or Na+‐DMA interaction at Ws (Ws = [polar organic solvent]/[AOT]) ≤1.5.Our results show how the physicochemical properties, such as micropolarity, microviscosity, and H‐bond interaction, of non‐aqueous n‐heptane/AOT RMs interfaces can be dramatically changed by simply using different non‐aqueous polar solvent. Thus, these results can be very useful for employing these RMs, stabilizing enzymes, and using them as nanoreactors. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparative study of sputter‐deposited SnO2 films doped with antimony or tantalum
Authors: Weidner Mirko , Jia Junjun , Shigesato Yuzo , Klein Andreas 
Published: January 2016

AbstractSnO2 films doped with antimony or tantalum were sputter‐deposited for comparison, using an identical set of parameters. The influence of dopant concentration and choice of deposition parameters such as substrate temperature on the optoelectronic properties, especially film resistivity, were determined. Comparative analysis shows that tantalum doping yields lower film resistivity, probably due to an increased inhibiting influence of grain boundary scattering in the case of antimony doping. Sputter‐deposited tantalum‐doped films with lower than previously achieved resistivity , carrier density , and mobility are reported, while maintaining optical transmittance above 85% at a film thickness 400 nm. Ta/Sb co‐doped thin films were synthesized for the first time, achieving similar results.Comparison of resistivity values achievable by doping sputter‐deposited tin oxide films with antimony (blue) or tantalum (red) as a function of dopant concentration.
Synthesis and Properties of (3‐Phenyl‐1‐azulenyl)tetracyanobetadienes and Tris(aryltetracyanobetadiene)s Connected with 1,3,5‐Tri(1‐azulenyl)benzene Core
Authors: Shoji Taku , Maruyama Akifumi , Tanaka Miwa , Nagai Daichi , Shimomura Erika , Fujimori Kunihide , Ito Shunji , Okujima Tetsuo , Toyota Kozo , Yasunami (the late) Masafumi 
Published: January 2016

AbstractTris[(3‐phenyl‐1‐azulenyl)tetracyanobutadiene]s and tris(aryltetracyanobutadiene)s connected to a 1,3,5‐tri(1‐azulenyl)benzene core (tris‐AzTCBDs) have been prepared by the Pd‐catalyzed alkynylation of tris(3‐iodo‐1‐azulenyl)benzene derivative with the corresponding 1‐ethynylazulene or ethynylbenzene derivatives under Sonogashira–Hagihara cross‐coupling conditions, followed by the reaction with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) in a formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition‐retroelectrocyclization (CA–RE) reaction. The intramolecular charge‐transfer (ICT) interactions of the new chromophores were investigated by the comparison with those of the model tetracyanobutadiene derivatives with azulene substituents (AzTCBDs), which were prepared by the reaction of the corresponding 1‐ethynylazulene derivative with iodoarenes, followed by the CA–RE reaction with TCNE, utilizing UV/Vis spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. The redox behavior of the alkyne precursors and the tetracyanobutadiene derivatives was examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), which revealed their multistep electrochemical reduction properties. Moreover, significant color changes of these compounds were observed by visible spectroscopy under the electrochemical reduction conditions.