Application of Chitosan-Based Biomaterials for Blood Vessel Regeneration

Summary: Vascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the western world. Autologous vessels remain the standard for coronary grafting and peripheral bypass surgery; however, their availability in patients can be limited. Therapeutic angiogenesis using growth factors, genes, or progenitor cells has been given considerable scientific attention over the last decade, but has not yet provided a definitive clinical benefit. Biomaterials could be developed to protect protein, DNA and cells against hostile conditions. Chitosan, a natural polymer of glucosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine, has been widely studied in tissue engineering due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and muco-adhesive and antimicrobial properties. Notably, the application of chitosan has been gaining attention in the vascular field due to its structural similarity to glycosaminoglycans, which are components of a tissue's extracellular matrix. In this review, chitosan-based materials, and their use in tissue engineered blood vessels, and as protein, gene and cell vectors for angiogenic therapy are discussed.     

Isomorphism of Modular Group Algebras of p-Mixed Abelian Groups

Let A be a torsion-free abelian group and F a free subgroup of A. We prove that if A/F is a reduced p-group and A/(F + C) is reduced for every p-pure subgroup C of A, then A is free.

Let KG be the group algebra of an abelian group G over a field K of prime characteristic p. Denote by S(KG) the p-component of the group V(KG) of normalized units of KG (of augmentation 1). Let H be an arbitrary group and KH ? KG as K-algebras. We prove the following. First, assume that G is a splitting group, the p-component G _p of G is simply presented, and the field K is perfect. Then H _p  ? G _p . If, in addition, G is p-mixed, then G _p is a direct factor of S(KG), and G is a direct factor of V(KG), each with the same simply presented complement. Secondly, we introduce a class of special p-mixed abelian groups and prove that, if G belong to this class, then any group basis of the group algebra KG splits. Besides, H is p-mixed and splits. Thirdly, if G is a special p-mixed abelian group and G _p is a reduced totally projective p-group, then H ? G. These results correct some essential inaccuracies and incompleteness in the proofs of results in this direction of Danchev [3-8 Danchev , P. V. ( 1998 ). Isomorphism of commutative group algebras of mixed splitting groups . Compt. Rend. Acad. Bulg. Sci. 51 : 13 – 16 . Danchev , P. V. ( 2000 ). Isomorphism of modular group algebras of totally projective abelian groups . Communications in Algebra 28 : 2521 – 2531 . Danchev , P. V. ( 2001 ). On a question of W. L. May concerning the isomorphism of modular group algebras . Communications in Algebra 29 : 1953 – 1958 . Danchev , P. V. ( 2001 ). Normed units in Abelian group rings . Glasg. Math. J. 43 : 365 – 373 . Danchev , P. V. ( 2002 ). Invariants for group algebras of splitting abelian groups with simply presented components . Compt. Rend. Acad. Bulg. Sci. 55 : 5 – 8 . Danchev , P. V. ( 2004 ). A note on the isomorphic modular group algebras of abelian groups with simply presented p-components . Compt. Rend. Acad. Bulg. Sci. 57 : 13 – 14 . ].     

Combined Photoredox/Enzymatic C−H Benzylic Hydroxylations

Chemical transformations that install heteroatoms into C?H bonds are of significant interest because they streamline the construction of value‐added small molecules. Direct C?H oxyfunctionalization, or the one step conversion of a C?H bond to a C?O bond, could be a highly enabling transformation due to the prevalence of the resulting enantioenriched alcohols in pharmaceuticals and natural products,. Here we report a single‐flask photoredox/enzymatic process for direct C?H hydroxylation that proceeds with broad reactivity, chemoselectivity and enantioselectivity. This unified strategy advances general photoredox and enzymatic catalysis synergy and enables chemoenzymatic processes for powerful and selective oxidative transformations.     

Cortical sensitivity to periodicity of speech sounds

Previous non-invasive brain research has reported auditory cortical sensitivity to periodicity as reflected by larger and more anterior responses to periodic than to aperiodic vowels. The current study investigated whether there is a lower fundamental frequency (F0) limit for this effect. Auditory evoked fields (AEFs) elicited by natural-sounding 400 ms periodic and aperiodic vowel stimuli were measured with magnetoencephalography. Vowel F0 ranged from normal male speech (113 Hz) to exceptionally low values (9 Hz). Both the auditory N1m and sustained fields were larger in amplitude for periodic than for aperiodic vowels. The AEF sources for periodic vowels were also anterior to those for the aperiodic vowels. Importantly, the AEF amplitudes and locations were unaffected by the F0 decrement of the periodic vowels. However, the N1m latency increased monotonically as F0 was decreased down to 19 Hz, below which this trend broke down. Also, a cascade of transient N1m-like responses was observed in the lowest F0 condition. Thus, the auditory system seems capable of extracting the periodicity even from very low F0 vowels. The behavior of the N1m latency and the emergence of a response cascade at very low F0 values may reflect the lower limit of pitch perception.     

Phase-field models for brittle and cohesive fracture

In this paper we first recapitulate some basic notions of brittle and cohesive fracture models, as well as the phase-field approximation to fracture. Next, a critical assessment is made of the sensitivity of the phase-field approach to brittle fracture, in particular the degradation function, and the use of monolithic versus partitioned solution schemes. The last part of the paper makes extensions to a recently developed phase-field model for cohesive fracture, in particular for propagating cracks. Using some simple examples the current state of the cohesive phase-field model is shown.     

International inter-comparison exercise on $${}^{153}\hbox {Sm}$$

Samarium-153 (\({}^{153}\hbox {Sm}\)) is a short-lived radionuclide that decays to stable europium-153 via beta emission, with subsequent de-excitation via gamma emission and internal conversion. Historical measurements of \({}^{153}\hbox {Sm}\) by gamma spectrometry and beta liquid scintillation counting have shown a low bias compared to beta proportional counting. In order to investigate this, four national laboratories jointly conducted an experimental inter-comparison exercise on a certified \({}^{153}\hbox {Sm}\) sample, created from neutron activation of samarium-152. Radiometric measurements were conducted using gamma spectrometry, liquid scintillation counting, gas proportional counting, and passivated implanted planar silicon detectors and compared across the four institutions against the certified value. The results from this experiment are presented together with a number of conclusions which suggest that the current published cumulative fission yield for \({}^{153}\hbox {Sm}\), as used by many laboratories, is approximately 15% high and is the likely cause of the previously observed bias.