Systemically Injectable Enzyme‐Loaded Polyion Complex Vesicles as In Vivo Nanoreactors Functioning in Tumors

The design and construction of nanoreactors are important for biomedical applications of enzymes, but lipid‐ and polymeric‐vesicle‐based nanoreactors have some practical limitations. We have succeeded in preparing enzyme‐loaded polyion complex vesicles (PICsomes) through a facile protein‐loading method. The preservation of enzyme activity was confirmed even after cross‐linking of the PICsomes. The cross‐linked β‐galactosidase‐loaded PICsomes (β‐gal@PICsomes) selectively accumulated in the tumor tissue of mice. Moreover, a model prodrug, HMDER‐βGal, was successfully converted into a highly fluorescent product, HMDER, at the tumor site, even 4 days after administration of the β‐gal@PICsomes. Intravital confocal microscopy showed continuous production of HMDER and its distribution throughout the tumor tissues. Thus, enzyme‐loaded PICsomes are useful for prodrug activation at the tumor site and could be a versatile platform for enzyme delivery in enzyme prodrug therapy.     

A robust Lagrangian-DNN method for a class of quadratic optimization problems

The Lagrangian-doubly nonnegative (DNN) relaxation has recently been shown to provide effective lower bounds for a large class of nonconvex quadratic optimization problems (QAPs) using the bisection method combined with first-order methods by Kim et al. (Math Program 156:161–187, 2016). While the bisection method has demonstrated the computational efficiency, determining the validity of a computed lower bound for the QOP depends on a prescribed parameter \(\epsilon > 0\). To improve the performance of the bisection method for the Lagrangian-DNN relaxation, we propose a new technique that guarantees the validity of the computed lower bound at each iteration of the bisection method for any choice of \(\epsilon > 0\). It also accelerates the bisection method. Moreover, we present a method to retrieve a primal-dual pair of optimal solutions of the Lagrangian-DNN relaxation using the primal-dual interior-point method. As a result, the method provides a better lower bound and substantially increases the robustness as well as the effectiveness of the bisection method. Computational results on binary QOPs, multiple knapsack problems, maximal stable set problems, and quadratic assignment problems illustrate the robustness of the proposed method. In particular, a tight bound for QAPs with size \(n=50\) could be obtained.     

New predictor‐corrector scheme for solving nonlinear differential equations with Caputo‐Fabrizio operator

In this paper, we develop a new, simple, and accurate scheme to obtain approximate solution for nonlinear differential equation in the sense of Caputo‐Fabrizio operator. To derive this new predictor‐corrector scheme, which suits on Caputo‐Fabrizio operator, firstly, we obtain the corresponding initial value problem for the differential equation in the Caputo‐Fabrizio sense. Hence, by fractional Euler method and fractional trapeziodal rule, we obtain the predictor formula as well as corrector formula. Error analysis for this new method is derived. To test the validity and simplicity of this method, some illustrative examples for nonlinear differential equations are solved.     

Paper like free-standing hybrid single-walled carbon nanotubes air electrodes for zinc–air batteries

Flexible electrode architectures based on non-functionalized (P2) and functionalized (P3) single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were fabricated via a simple vacuum filtration process. A hybrid layer of various compositions of P2- and P3-SWNTs forms free-standing membranes (~80 μm in thickness), and their electrochemical performance was evaluated as an air electrode AEP_2/P3 in zinc–air batteries. Such bifunctionalized air electrodes showed uniform surface morphology with interconnected micron-sized porous structure with high porosity (~70%). The N₂ adsorption isotherms at 77 K are of type IV with BET-specific surface areas of AE_(60/40) and AE_(80/20) to be 130.54 and 158.76 m² g⁻¹, respectively, thus facilitates high active surface area for active oxygen reduction/evolution reactions. BJH pore size distribution of AE_(60/40) and AE_(80/20) shows maximum pores with diameter <15 nm. The zigzag interlaying of the SWNTs imparts mechanical stability and flexibility in zinc–air batteries. Zinc–air batteries with optimized compositions of P2- and P3-SWNTs in air electrode AE_(60/40) had ionic conductivity ~1 × 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ and delivered higher discharge capacity ~300 mAh g⁻¹ as compared to AE_(80/20) composition. The unique properties of AE_(P2/P3) studied in this work would enable flexible air electrode architectures in future metal–air batteries.     

Yrast bands in N = 91 isotones

The in-beam spectroscopy on N = 91 isotones has been carried out using the ¹²C + ¹⁵⁰Nd reaction. The νi _13/2 and νh _11/2 bands of ¹⁵³Sm have been extended up to 33/2⁺ and 31/2^-, respectively. Two new γ-rays have been located on the top of the unfavored band with νi _13/2 configuration in ¹⁵⁷Dy. Two identical relationships have been established in the low-spin region of the yrast νi _13/2 configuration between ¹⁵³Sm and ¹⁵⁵Gd, and between unfavored bands of ¹⁵⁵Gd and ¹⁵⁷Dy. Here all these nuclei have the same neutron number N = 91. Received: 28 June 2000 / Accepted: 20 October 2000     

Primal-Dual Path-Following Algorithms for Determinant Maximization Problems With Linear Matrix Inequalities

Primal-dual path-following algorithms are considered for determinant maximization problem (maxdet-problem). These algorithms apply Newton's method to a primal-dual central path equation similar to that in semidefinite programming (SDP) to obtain a Newton system which is then symmetrized to avoid nonsymmetric search direction. Computational aspects of the algorithms are discussed, including Mehrotra-type predictor-corrector variants. Focusing on three different symmetrizations, which leads to what are known as the AHO, H..K..M and NT directions in SDP, numerical results for various classes of maxdet-problem are given. The computational results show that the proposed algorithms are efficient, robust and accurate.     

Molecularly Imprinted Nanogels Acquire Stealth In Situ by Cloaking Themselves with Native Dysopsonic Proteins

Protein corona formation was regulated on the surface in vivo by molecular imprinting to enable polymeric nanogels to acquire stealth upon intravenous administration. Albumin, the most abundant protein in blood, was selected as a distinct protein component of protein corona for preparing molecularly imprinted nanogels (MIP-NGs) to form an albumin-rich protein corona. Intravital fluorescence resonance energy transfer imaging of rhodamine-labeled albumin and fluorescein-conjugated MIP-NGs showed that albumin was captured by MIP-NGs immediately after injection, forming an albumin-rich protein corona. MIP-NGs circulated in the blood longer than those of non-albumin-imprinted nanogels, with almost no retention in liver tissue. MIP-NGs also passively accumulated in tumor tissue. These data suggest that this strategy, based on regulation of the protein corona in vivo, may significantly influence the development of drug nanocarriers for cancer therapy.     

New yrast excited states of the N = 84 nucleus 142Ce observed in deep inelastic reactions

Excited states of ¹⁴²Ce, populated in deep inelastic reactions of ⁸²Se projectiles bombarding ¹³⁹La target, have been studied up to medium spins using in-beam γ spectroscopy techniques. Three new levels have been identified at 2625, 2995, 3834 keV, and assigned as 8⁺, 9^(-) and 11^(-), respectively. These new yrast states follow closely the level systematics of the even mass N = 84 isotones. Their strctures have been discussed with the help of empirical shell model calculations. Received: 2 November 2001 / Accepted: 15 January 2002