Multivehicle coverage control for a nonstationary spatiotemporal field

This paper presents a multivehicle sampling algorithm to generate trajectories for nonuniform coverage of a nonstationary spatiotemporal field characterized by spatial and temporal decorrelation scales that vary in space and time, respectively. The sampling algorithm described in this paper uses a nonlinear coordinate transformation that renders the field locally stationary so that existing multivehicle control algorithms can be used to provide uniform coverage. When transformed back to the original coordinates, the sampling trajectories are concentrated in regions of short spatial and temporal decorrelation scales. For fields with coupled spatial statistics, i.e., the spatial decorrelation scales are functions of both spatial dimensions, the coordinate transformation is implemented numerically, whereas for decoupled spatial statistics, the transformation is expressed analytically. We show that the analytical transformation results in vehicle motion that preserves the vehicle sampling speed (which is a measure of vehicle speed scaled by the ratio of the spatial and temporal decorrelation scales), in the original domain; the sampling speed determines the minimum number of vehicles needed to cover a spatiotemporal domain. Theoretical results are illustrated by numerical simulations.     

Clotrimazole-loaded Eudragit® RS100 nanocapsules: Preparation,characterization and in vitro evaluation of antifungal activity against Candida species

Clotrimazole is a common choice for the treatment of vulvovaginal infections, but its low solubility and some side effects pose a challenge to its application. This work evaluated the feasibility to formulate clotrimazole-loaded cationic nanocapsules using Eudragit® RS100 and medium chain triglycerides as polymer and oily core, respectively, by the method of interfacial deposition of a preformed polymer. The physicochemical characteristics of nanocapsule formulations were evaluated at 0 day and 60 days after preparation. Particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, pH and drug content were stable during this period. In addition, nanocapsules were able to protect clotrimazole from photodegradation under UV radiation. By the dialysis bag diffusion technique, the nanosized formulations showed prolonged release of clotrimazole by anomalous transport and first order kinetics. A microbiological study was carried out by the microdilution method and showed that nanocapsules (mean size: 144 nm; zeta potential: + 12 mV) maintained the antifungal activity of clotrimazole against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata strains susceptible and resistant to fluconazole.     

Interaction of β‐casein with (−)‐epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate assayed by fluorescence quenching: effect of thermal processing temperature

The interactions between the flavan‐3‐ol (?)‐epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) and bovine β‐casein in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) of pH 6.5 subjected to thermal processing at various temperatures (25–100 °C) were investigated using fluorescence quenching. The results indicated that different temperatures had different effects on the structural changes and EGCG‐binding ability of β‐casein. At temperatures below 60 °C, the β‐casein–EGCG interaction changed little (P > 0.05) with increasing temperature. At temperatures above 80 °C, native assemblies of β‐casein in solution dissociated into individual β‐casein molecules and unfolded, as demonstrated by a red shift of the maximum fluorescence emission wavelength (λ_max) of up to 8.8 nm. The highest quenching constant (K_q) and the number of binding sites (n) were 0.92 (±0.01) × 10¹³ m ^?1 s^?1 and 0.73 (±0.02) (100 °C), respectively. These results provide insight into the potential of interactions between β‐casein–EGCG that may modulate bioactivity or bioavailability to be altered during thermal process.     

Dietary Monounsaturated Fatty Acids Are Protective Against Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Over 50 years of research has sought to define the role dietary fat plays in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Although optimal dietary fat quantity has been keenly pursued over past decades, attention has recently centered on the value of dietary fat quality. The purpose of the present review is to provide a critical assessment of the current body of evidence surrounding efficacy of dietary monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) for reduction of traditional risk factors defining metabolic syndrome (MetS) and CVD. Due to existing and emerging research on health attributes of MUFA rich diets, and to the low prevalence of chronic disease in populations consuming MUFA rich Mediterranean diets, national dietary guidelines are increasingly recommending dietary MUFA, primarily at the expense of saturated fatty acids (SFA). Consumption of dietary MUFA promotes healthy blood lipid profiles, mediates blood pressure, improves insulin sensitivity and regulates glucose levels. Moreover, provocative newer data suggest a role for preferential oxidation and metabolism of dietary MUFA, influencing body composition and ameliorating the risk of obesity. Mounting epidemiological and human clinical trial data continue to demonstrate the cardioprotective activity of the MUFA content of dietary fat. As the debate on the optimal fatty acid composition of the diet continues, the benefit of increasing MUFA intakes, particularly as a substitute for dietary SFA, deserves considerable attention.     

Enzymatic synthesis of monosaccharide fatty acid esters and their comparison with conventional products

5-O-Acyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-D-xylofuranose and 6-O-acyl1,2∶3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-D-galactopyranose were enzymatically prepared from the corresponding monosaccharide acetals and commercial (crude) fatty acid mixtures. Subsequent acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the isopropylidene group(s) gave monosaccharide esters with overall yields of 59–88%, where the monoester content was at least 80% (galactose oleate) and typically 90% for the other preparations. In contrast to sugar fatty acid esters prepared by conventional, high-temperature (trans)esterification, the enzymatically obtained monosaccharide esters contained no appreciable quantities of undersirable side products, and the only contaminants were monosaccharides and fatty acids.     

Polymeric reagents: Part 1. Synthesis of polymer-anchored amines useful for curing epoxy resins

A range of polymers carrying amino-functions [NHEt, NHBuⁿ, NEt₂, NPr, N(CH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂)₂, NMeCH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂ or NEtCH₂CH₂CH₂ NH₂] has been synthesised via amination of styrene-vinylbenzyl chloride copolymers, poly(epichlorohydrin) and poly(2-chloroethyl vinyl ether), and via homopolymerisation and copolymerisation (with styrene) of (n-butyl)(vinylbenzyl)-ammonium chloride. Some of the polymers showed promise as curing agents for epoxy resins.     

Causal attribution, perceived benefits, and morbidity after a heart attack: An 8-year study.

In a sample of 287 heart attack victims who were interviewed 7 weeks and 8 years after their attack or who were known to have died during follow-up, interrelations among causal attributions for the attack, perceived benefits of the attack, survivor morbidity, and heart attack recurrence were explored. Analyses focused on early cognitive predictors of heart attack recurrence and 8-year morbidity and on the effects of surviving another heart attack on cognitive appraisals. Independently of sociodemographic characteristics and physicians' ratings of initial prognosis, patients who cited benefits from their misfortune 7 weeks after the first attack were less likely to have another attack and had lower levels of morbidity 8 years later. Attributing the initial attack to stress responses (e.g., worrying, nervousness) was also predictive of greater morbidity in 8-year survivors and blaming the initial attack on other people was predictive of reinfarctions. Men who survived a subsequent heart attack were more likely than men who did not have additional attacks to cite benefits and made more attributions 8 years after the initial attack. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)