bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effectiveness of Sibling Skills Support Training Programme (KABEP) in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Türkahmetoğlu Kübra , Ceyhun Ayşe Tuba
Published: June 2024

The research aims to examine the efficacy of The Sibling Skills Support Training Program (SSSTP) concerning both children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their typically developing (TD) siblings. Specifically designed for TD siblings with a family member diagnosed with ASD, SSSTP is under scrutiny in this study. The research cohort encompasses three individuals, aged 7-20, diagnosed with ASD and receiving education at a Special Education and Rehabilitation Centre in Istanbul, Türkiye. Additionally, the study includes three TD siblings within the same age range as the individuals with ASD. In the study, multiple probe design was used to investigate the effectiveness of The Sibling Skills Support Training Program (SSSTP). Developed as a skill teaching program, SSSTP is specifically designed for typically developing (TD) siblings. Its primary objective is to aid these siblings in instructing their brothers or sisters with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in acquiring self-care and daily living skills. In line with this program, the training process of siblings with typical development was carried out in two stages: awareness training and skills training program. The implementation process was completed in an average of 18 sessions with each participant pair. According to the findings of the study, it was concluded that SSSTP was effective in helping children diagnosed with ASD learn the target skill. The results obtained from the follow-up sessions were consistent with the results of the instructional sessions. The social validity results of the study illustrated that the opinions of the participants and their families were positive.
“First Generation” Automated DNA Sequencing Technology
Authors: Slatko Barton E. , Kieleczawa Jan , Ju Jingyue , Gardner Andrew F. , Hendrickson Cynthia L. , Ausubel Frederick M.
Published: October 2011

Beginning in the 1980s, automation of DNA sequencing has greatly increased throughput, reduced costs, and enabled large projects to be completed more easily. The development of automation technology paralleled the development of other aspects of DNA sequencing: better enzymes and chemistry, separation and imaging technology, sequencing protocols, robotics, and computational advancements (including base‐calling algorithms with quality scores, database developments, and sequence analysis programs). Despite the emergence of high‐throughput sequencing platforms, automated Sanger sequencing technology remains useful for many applications. This unit provides background and a description of the “First‐Generation” automated DNA sequencing technology. It also includes protocols for using the current Applied Biosystems (ABI) automated DNA sequencing machines. Curr. Protoc. Mol. Biol. 96:7.2.1‐7.2.28. © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Engineering Designer Nucleases with Customized Cleavage Specificities
Authors: Sander Jeffry D. , Maeder Morgan L. , Joung J. Keith
Published: October 2011

Engineered designer nucleases can be used to efficiently modify genomic sequence in a wide variety of model organisms and cell types. Zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), consisting of an engineered zinc finger array fused to a non‐specific cleavage domain, have been extensively used to modify a broad range of endogenous genes. Protocols for engineering ZFNs targeted to specific gene sequences of interest using the context‐dependent assembly (CoDA) method are described in this unit. Curr. Protoc. Mol. Biol. 96:12.13.1‐12.13.16. © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Phylogenetic Analysis of Protein Sequence Data Using the Randomized Axelerated Maximum Likelihood (RAXML) Program
Authors: Rokas Antonis
Published: October 2011

Phylogenetic analysis is the study of evolutionary relationships among molecules, phenotypes, and organisms. In the context of protein sequence data, phylogenetic analysis is one of the cornerstones of comparative sequence analysis and has many applications in the study of protein evolution and function. This unit provides a brief review of the principles of phylogenetic analysis and describes several different standard phylogenetic analyses of protein sequence data using theRAXML(Randomized Axelerated Maximum Likelihood) Program.Curr. Protoc. Mol. Biol. 96:19.11.1‐19.11.14. © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Enhanced Performance of I2‐Free Solid‐State Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells with Conductive Polymer up to 6.8%
Authors: Kim Jeonghun , Koh Jong Kwan , Kim Byeonggwan , Ahn Sung Hoon , Ahn Hyungju , Ryu Du Yeol , Kim Jong Hak , Kim Eunkyoung
Published: October 2011

An iodine‐free solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cell (ssDSSC) is reported here, with 6.8% energy conversion efficiency—one of the highest yet reported for N719 dye—as a result of enhanced light harvesting from the increased transmittance of an organized mesoporous TiO2 interfacial layer and the good hole conductivity of the solid‐state‐polymerized material. The organized mesoporous TiO2 (OM‐TiO2) interfacial layer is prepared on large‐area substrates by a sol‐gel process, and is confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and grazing incidence small‐angle X‐ray scattering (GISAXS). A 550‐nm‐thick OM‐TiO2 film coated on fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) glass is highly transparent, resulting in transmittance increases of 8 and 4% compared to those of the bare FTO and conventional compact TiO2 film on FTO, respectively. The high cell performance is achieved through careful control of the electrode/hole transport material (HTM) and nanocrystalline TiO2/conductive glass interfaces, which affect the interfacial resistance of the cell. Furthermore, the transparent OM‐TiO2 film, with its high porosity and good connectivity, exhibits improved cell performance due to increased transmittance in the visible light region, decreased interfacial resistance (Ω), and enhanced electron lifetime (τ). The cell performance also depends on the conductivity of HTMs, which indicates that both highly conductive HTM and the transparent OM‐TiO2 film interface are crucial for obtaining high‐energy conversion efficiencies in I2‐free ssDSSCs.
Molybdenum Carbide‐Catalyzed Conversion of Renewable Oils into Diesel‐like Hydrocarbons
Authors: Han Junxing , Duan Jinzhao , Chen Ping , Lou Hui , Zheng Xiaoming
Published: October 2011

In the paper, we report for the first time that the conversion of renewable oils into diesel‐like hydrocarbon mixtures can be realized on molybdenum carbides with high activity and selectivity. The molybdenum carbide catalyst exhibited much better resistance to leaching than noble metals and could be reused consecutively for sixteen times without deactivation. Mechanism investigations indicated that molybdenum carbide and palladium showed different reaction selectivities and it was speculated that the level of difficulty in acyl‐to‐alkyl rearrangement of surface acyl intermediates on molybdenum carbide and palladium resulted in the different product selectivity.
Synthesis of Sulfur‐Substituted α‐Stereogenic Amides and Ketones: Highly Enantioselective Sulfa‐Michael Additions of 1,4‐Dicarbonylbut‐2‐enes
Authors: Zhao Fangli , Zhang Wen , Yang Yuanyong , Pan Yuanhang , Chen Wenchao , Liu Hongjun , Yan Lin , Tan Choon‐Hong , Jiang Zhiyong
Published: October 2011

Conjugate addition to 1,4‐dicarbonylbut‐2‐enes will generate an α‐stereogenic center with respect to one of the carbonyl groups, which informally, can be considered as an inversion of normal reactivity patterns orumpolungprotocol. In this paper, the addition oftert‐butyl mercaptan to 1,4‐dicarbonylbut‐2‐enes including (E)‐4‐oxo‐4‐arylbutenamides and (E)‐4‐oxo‐4‐arylbutenones has been developed, to synthesize a series of chiral sulfur‐substituted α‐stereogenic amides and ketones in high regioselectivity and enantioselectivity (up to 98%ee).
General and Efficient Organocatalytic Synthesis of Indoloquinolizidines, Pyridoquinazolines and Quinazolinones through a One‐Pot Domino Michael Addition‐Cyclization‐ Pictet–Spengler or 1,2‐Amine Addition Reaction
Authors: Rueping Magnus , Volla Chandra M. R. , Bolte Michael , Raabe Gerhard
Published: October 2011

An asymmetric organocatalyzed reaction sequence involving a Michael addition of various 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds to α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes with subsequent diastereoselective Pictet–Spengler cyclization has been developed. The substrate scope was found to be general and optically active indoloquinolizidines were isolated as single diastereomers in high yields with high to excellent enantioselectivites. In addition to tryptamine, the reaction has also been successfully applied to other nucleophiles including o‐aminobenzylamine and anthranilamide giving rise to pyridoquinauolines and quinazolinones.
Phase‐Transfer‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of 1,1‐Disubstituted Tetrahydroisoquinolines
Authors: Shirakawa Seiji , Liu Kun , Ito Hironobu , Le Thanh Nguyen , Maruoka Keiji
Published: October 2011

A highly efficient catalytic asymmetric synthesis of 1,1‐disubstituted tetrahydroisoquinolines has been achieved via asymmetric alkylation or Michael addition of 1‐cyanotetrahydroisoquinolines using binaphthyl‐modified N‐spiro‐type chiral phase‐transfer catalysts.
A Twitchell Reagent Revival: Biodiesel Generation from Low Cost Oils
Authors: de Arriba Ángel L. Fuentes , Simón Luis , Alcázar Victoria , Cuellar Jorge , Lozano‐Martínez Patricia , Morán Joaquín R.
Published: October 2011

The transesterification of triglycerides with short‐chain alcohols, such as methanol, is the most used process for the obtention of biodiesel. This is a biphasic reaction which can occur both in polar and apolar phases. Using lipophilic sulphonic acids as catalysts, the transesterification reaction takes place primarily in the oil phase. Under these conditions, the reaction rates are considerably improved, with conversions up to 98% in 90 min at 80 °C and with 17.6% mol of catalyst. The most remarkable features of this process are that the catalytic efficiency is not affected by the presence in the oil of free fatty acids or small amounts of water, the transesterification takes place at low temperature (below the boiling point of methanol) and high conversions are reached within a short time. Therefore, low‐cost feedstocks containing high levels of FFA (free fatty acids) and water can be used as raw material for biodiesel production. Finally, catalyst recovery by adsorption on a silica gel column was also tested.
Asymmetric Organocatalytic Intramolecular Aza‐Michael Addition of Enone Carbamates: Catalytic Enantioselective Access to Functionalized 2‐Substituted Piperidines
Authors: Liu Jian‐Dong , Chen Ying‐Chun , Zhang Guo‐Biao , Li Zhi‐Qiang , Chen Peng , Du Ji‐Yuan , Tu Yong‐Qiang , Fan Chun‐An
Published: October 2011

The synthetically useful functionalized 2‐substituted piperidines containing a lateral ketone group have been strategically accessed via an organocatalytic enantioselective intramolecular aza‐Michael addition of enone carbamates, in which a novel internal substrate combination of the enone moiety as Michael acceptor and the carbamate moiety as Michael donor was revealed in asymmetric bifunctional organocatalysis. This heteroatom conjugate addition, which was realized by using a catalytic chiral Cinchona‐based primary‐tertiary diamine and an achiral Brønsted acid, mostly proceeded in high yield and good to excellent stereocontrol (up to 99% ee). This reaction provides an alternative catalytic asymmetric method for installing the stereogenic nitrogen‐containing carbon center in functionalized 2‐substituted piperidines, leading to the development of a straightforward and expeditious synthesis of some naturally occurring bioactive 2‐substituted piperidine alkaloids.
N‐Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC)‐Rhodium‐Catalyzed Carbonylative CC Bond Formation of Allenols with Arylboronic Acids under Carbon Monoxide
Authors: Choi Soo Young , Chung Young Keun
Published: October 2011

(3‐Butyl‐1‐methylimidazole)(1,5‐cyclooctadiene)rhodium chloride [Rh(Ibm)(cod)Cl] was found to be an efficient catalyst in the carbonylative arylation of allenols with arylboronic acids in the presence of carbon monoxide. Efficient, simple, and versatile methods for the synthesis of 2‐methylene‐1‐arylbut‐3‐en‐1‐ones have thus been developed.
Oxidative Nitration of Alkenes with tert‐Butyl Nitrite and Oxygen
Authors: Taniguchi Tsuyoshi , Yajima Atsushi , Ishibashi Hiroyuki
Published: October 2011

A method for the oxidative nitration of alkenes using a combination of tert‐butyl nitrite and molecular oxygen to give β‐nitro alcohols and their nitrate derivatives has been developed. The present reaction provides a practical method for the synthesis of nitro compounds because of the mild reaction conditions, the use of inexpensive reagents and a simple experimental procedure.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Tandem N‐Vinylation and Cyclization of Anilines and Haloenynes: An Efficient Approach to Substituted Quinolines
Authors: Wang Yuxing , Liao Qian , Zhao Peng , Xi Chanjuan
Published: October 2011

The palladium‐catalyzed tandem amination of haloenynes and intramolecular cyclization has been developed. The reaction provides a novel route for the synthesis of quinoline derivatives with high yields.
Gold‐Catalyzed Oxidative Cyclizations of 2‐Oxiranyl‐1‐alkynylbenzenes for Diastereoselective Synthesis of Highly Substituted 2‐Hydroxyindanones
Authors: Chaudhuri Rupsha , Liu Rai‐Shung
Published: October 2011

We report the gold‐catalyzed oxidative cyclizations of 2‐oxiranyl‐1‐alkynylbenzenes into highly substituted 2‐hydroxyindanone frameworks bearing a tertiary alcohol. Such gold‐catalyzed reactions comprise an initial internal redox reaction, sulfoxide oxidation of α‐carbonyl gold‐carbenoids, followed by gold‐catalyzed formal ene reactions on the resulting diketone intermediates.
Transition Metal‐Free TEMPO‐Catalyzed Oxidative Cross‐ Coupling of Nitrones with Alkynyl‐Grignard Reagents
Authors: Murarka Sandip , Studer Armido
Published: October 2011

An efficient mild one‐pot protocol for the cross‐coupling of nitrones and alkynyl‐magnesium compounds using a catalytic amount of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐N‐oxyl radical (TEMPO) as an environmentally benign organic oxidant and dioxygen as terminal oxidant is described. These coupling reactions can be performed without adding any transition metal on various N‐tert‐butylnitrones and alkynyl‐Grignard reagents. Moreover, the alkynylated nitrone products are readily transformed to regioisomerically pure 3,5‐disubstituted isoxazoles.
Efficient One‐Pot Synthesis of Dibenzopyranones via a Decarboxylative Cross‐Coupling and Lactonization Sequence
Authors: Luo Jiaying , Lu Youling , Liu Saiwen , Liu Jing , Deng Guo‐Jun
Published: October 2011

A highly selective palladium bis(acetoacetonate)/copper(I) chloride [Pd(acac)2/CuCl] catalytic system for the preparation of dibenzopyranones has been developed. Tandem decarboxylative coupling and lactonization can be realized in one pot using commercially available starting materials. The reaction proceeded well for a range of different substrates.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Sulfonamidation/Oxidation of Imines: Access to Multifunctional Benzimidazoles
Authors: Fu Shaomin , Jiang Huanfeng , Deng Yuanfu , Zeng Wei
Published: October 2011

O‐Sulfonamidophenylimines undergo intramolecular sulfonamidation/oxidation to produce 1,2‐disubstituted benzimidazoles upon treatment with palladium(II) chloride/(diacetoxyiodo)benzene and potassium carbonate at room temperature. The substituent scope at the 2‐position of the benzimidazole can be extended to alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, acyl, and ester functional groups under mild conditions.
Copper‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Indole‐Fused Benzodiazepines[1]
Authors: Biswas Subhasish , Batra Sanjay
Published: October 2011

The copper‐catalyzed synthesis of indole‐fused benzodiazepine via a cascade reaction between 3‐halo‐1H‐indole‐2‐carbaldehydes and substituted 1,2‐phenylenediamines is reported. Reactions with N‐Boc‐protected indole‐aldehydes are found to be more efficient to afford indole[3,2‐b][1,5]benzodiazepines.
Bicyclization of Isocyanides: A Synthetic Strategy for Fused Pyrroles
Authors: Zhang Lingjuan , Xu Xianxiu , Xia Wenming , Liu Qun
Published: October 2011

On the isocyanide carbon atom, two CC sigma bonds are formed in the bicyclization reaction of the readily available acyclic substrates with tosylmethyl isocyanides. The reaction can proceed under extremely mild and metal‐free conditions to give the products in high to excellent yields. The powerful potential of this strategy deserves attention because it is a new paradigm for trapping of the incipient imidoyl anion, by a carbon electrophile instead of a proton.
Genetic variation in CNTNAP2 alters brain function during linguistic processing in healthy individuals
Authors: Whalley Heather C. , O'Connell Garret , Sussmann Jessika E. , Peel Anna , Stanfield Andrew C. , Hayiou‐Thomas Marianna E. , Johnstone Eve C. , Lawrie Stephen M. , McIntosh Andrew M. , Hall Jeremy
Published: October 2011

Language impairments are a characteristic feature of autism and related autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Autism is also highly heritable and one of the most promising candidate genes implicated in its pathogenesis is contactin‐associated protein‐like 2 (CNTNAP2), a gene also associated with language impairment. In the current study we investigated the functional effects of variants of CNTNAP2 associated with autism and language impairment (rs7794745 and rs2710102; presumed risk alleles T and C, respectively) in healthy individuals using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during performance of a language task (n = 66). Against a background of normal performance and lack of behavioral abnormalities, healthy individuals with the putative risk allele versus those without demonstrated significant increases in activation in the right inferior frontal gyrus (Broca's area homologue) and right lateral temporal cortex. These findings demonstrate that risk associated variation in the CNTNAP2 gene impacts on brain activation in healthy non‐autistic individuals during a language processing task providing evidence of the effect of genetic variation in CNTNAP2 on a core feature of ASDs. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Genistein in Sanfilippo disease: A randomized controlled crossover trial
Authors: de Ruijter Jessica , Valstar Marlies J. , Narajczyk Magdalena , Wegrzyn Grzegorz , Kulik Wim , IJlst Lodewijk , Wagemans Tom , van der Wal Willem M. , Wijburg Frits A.
Published: October 2011

Objective:

Sanfilippo disease (mucopolysaccharidosis type III [MPS III]) is a rare neurodegenerative metabolic disease caused by a deficiency of 1 of the 4 enzymes involved in the degradation of heparan sulfate (HS), a glycosaminoglycan (GAG). Genistein has been proposed as potential therapy but its efficacy remains uncertain. We aimed to determine the efficacy of genistein in MPS III.

Methods:

Thirty patients were enrolled. Effects of genistein were determined in a randomized, crossover, placebo‐controlled intervention with a genistein‐rich soy isoflavone extract (10mg/kg/day of genistein) followed by an open‐label extension study for patients who were on genistein during the last part of the crossover.

Results:

Genistein resulted in a significant decrease in urinary excretion of total GAGs (p = 0.02, slope −0.68mg GAGs/mmol creatinine/mo) and in plasma concentrations of HS (p = 0.01, slope −15.85ng HS/ml/mo). No effects on total behavior scores or on hair morphology were observed. Parents or caregivers could not predict correctly during which period of the crossover a patient was on genistein.

Interpretation:

Genistein at 10mg/kg/day effectively reduces urinary excretion of GAGs and plasma HS concentration in patients with MPS III. However, the absolute reduction in GAGs and in HS is small and values after 12 months of treatment remain within the range as observed in untreated patients. No clinical efficacy was detected. Substantially higher doses of genistein might be more effective as suggested by recent studies in animal models. ANN NEUROL 2012;71:110–120
Rare copy number variants are an important cause of epileptic encephalopathies
Authors: Mefford Heather C. , Yendle Simone C. , Hsu Cynthia , Cook Joseph , Geraghty Eileen , McMahon Jacinta M. , Eeg‐Olofsson Orvar , Sadleir Lynette G. , Gill Deepak , Ben‐Zeev Bruria , Lerman‐Sagie Tally , Mackay Mark , Freeman Jeremy L. , Andermann Eva , Pelakanos James T. , Andrews Ian , Wallace Geoffrey , Eichler Evan E. , Berkovic Samuel F. , Scheffer Ingrid E.
Published: October 2011

Objective:

Rare copy number variants (CNVs)—deletions and duplications—have recently been established as important risk factors for both generalized and focal epilepsies. A systematic assessment of the role of CNVs in epileptic encephalopathies, the most devastating and often etiologically obscure group of epilepsies, has not been performed.

Methods:

We evaluated 315 patients with epileptic encephalopathies characterized by epilepsy and progressive cognitive impairment for rare CNVs using a high‐density, exon‐focused, whole‐genome oligonucleotide array.

Results:

We found that 25 of 315 (7.9%) of our patients carried rare CNVs that may contribute to their phenotype, with at least one‐half being clearly or likely pathogenic. We identified 2 patients with overlapping deletions at 7q21 and 2 patients with identical duplications of 16p11.2. In our cohort, large deletions were enriched in affected individuals compared to controls, and 4 patients harbored 2 rare CNVs. We screened 2 novel candidate genes found within the rare CNVs in our cohort but found no mutations in our patients with epileptic encephalopathies. We highlight several additional novel candidate genes located in CNV regions.

Interpretation:

Our data highlight the significance of rare CNVs in the epileptic encephalopathies, and we suggest that CNV analysis should be considered in the genetic evaluation of these patients. Our findings also highlight novel candidate genes for further study. ANN NEUROL 2011;70:974–985
Development of a mass transfer model for simulation of sulfur dioxide removal in ceramic membrane contactors
Authors: Shirazian Saeed , Rezakazemi Mashallah , Marjani Azam , Rafivahid Mohammad Sadegh
Published: October 2011

This paper presents mass transfer simulation of sulfur dioxide (SO2) removal in a ceramic membrane contactor by means of computational fluid dynamics techniques. The membrane contactor considered here is a tubular ceramic contactor. A two‐dimensional mass transfer model was developed to describe the absorption of SO2 in N,N‐dimethylaniline as absorbent. Physical absorption was considered in this work. Computational fluid dynamics techniques were applied to solve the model equations including continuity and momentum equations. The simulations were focused on the behavior of gas and liquid phases to obtain the distribution of SO2 concentration in the membrane contactor. The effect of the operating parameters on the performance of the ceramic contactor was investigated. The simulation results revealed that the gas flow rate has significant effect on the removal of SO2, whereas the liquid flow rate does not affect the SO2 removal significantly. It is indicated that the main mass transfer resistance is located in the membrane and gas phase because of high tortuosity of the ceramic membrane and high partition coefficient for SO2 between gas and liquid phases respectively. © 2011 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spinning of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers incorporated with modified calcium silicate
Authors: Kusuktham Boonsri
Published: October 2011

The spinning of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) filaments in laboratory‐scale was studied. The objective was to study the effect of modified calcium silicate (CS) with vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) on the melt spinning of PET fibers. The CS was modified with VTES (2% v/v) in diethyl ether at room temperature for 24 h. The modification of CS with VTES improved agglomeration of CS, hydrophobic, and heat‐resistance properties. These properties were expected that modified CS could be used as the filler in melt spinning of PET. The incorporation of modified CS in PET was spinnable. The addition of CS in PET improved its heat resistance. Also, the filler had an effect on the mechanical properties of polyester fibers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Preparation and characterization of molecularly imprinted polymer of bovine serum albumin
Authors: Zhang Jing , Ma Jinqin , Yue Xuanfeng , Bu Xinli , Han Yanting
Published: October 2011

Molecularly imprinted polymer beads of bovine serum albumin (BSA) were prepared via inverse phase suspension polymerization, using BSA as the template molecule, a combination of acrylamide and methacrylic acid (MAA) as double functional monomers, and N, N′‐methylene bisacrylamide as the crosslinker. The effect of different monomer ratios and degrees of crosslinking were investigated. When both selectivity and physical properties of the resultant polymer beads were taken into account, the ratio of MAA in the total monomers was chosen at 40% (m/m) and the degree of crosslinking at 30% (n/n), the resultant polymer beads had good selectivity (α = 2.77) and good physical properties. The effects of pH and temperature were studied. It turned out that the functionalization of polymers of BSA prepared via inverse‐phase suspension polymerization exhibited specific recognition for BSA. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Preparation and characterization of carbon nanofiber reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane nanocomposites
Authors: Barick A. K. , Tripathy D. K.
Published: October 2011

The effect of CNFs on hard and soft segments of TPU matrix was evaluated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscope. The dispersion and distribution of the CNFs in the TPU matrix were investigated through wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), polarizing optical microscope (POM), and atomic force microscope (AFM). The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the inclusion of CNF improved the thermal stability of virgin TPU. The glass transition temperature (Tg), crystallization, and melting behaviors of the TPU matrix in the presence of dispersed CNF were observed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The dynamic viscoelastic behavior of the nanocomposites was studied by dynamical mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and substantial improvement in storage modulus (E') was achieved with the addition of CNF to TPU matrix. The rheological behavior of TPU nanocomposites were tested by rubber processing analyzer (RPA) in dynamic frequency sweep and the storage modulus (G') of the nanocomposites was enhanced with increase in CNF loading. The dielectric properties of the nanocomposites exhibited significant improvement with incorporation of CNF. The TPU matrix exhibits remarkable improvement of mechanical properties with addition of CNF. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Facile synthesis of high refractive index thiophene‐containing polystyrenes
Authors: An Young Chul , Konishi Gen‐ichi
Published: October 2011

High refractive index polymer films have been extensively investigated because of their wide application potentials. We now designed thiophene‐containing polystyrene as colorless and transparent high‐refractive‐index thin film. The copolystyrenes were synthesized by general radical polymerization with controlled mole ratios 0 : 10, 1 : 9, 3 : 7, 5 : 5, 7 : 3, 9 : 1, 10 : 0 (styrene : p‐bromostyrene), respectively. Next, the thiophene‐containing polystyrenes were synthesized by Suzuki‐Miyaura coupling reaction. The chemical structures of synthesized thiophene‐containing polystyrene in accordance with ratios were confirmed by using 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, and FTIR. The effect of the thiophene units on refractive index according to copolymer ratios were confirmed by using prism coupler. The thiophene‐containing polystyrene showed improved refractive index ranging from 1.58 to 1.67 and birefringence in the range of 0.0001–0.0019. The thermal stability and thermal behaviors of thiophene‐containing polystyrene also can be confirmed by TGA and DSC. The polymers have high glass transition temperature in the range of 108°C–177°C. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Thermally activated polymerization behavior of bisphenol‐S/methylamine‐based benzoxazine
Authors: Liu Yanfang , Zhang Jian , Liu Zhao , Li Zhihong , Yue Zaiqin
Published: October 2011

A bifunctional benzoxazine monomer, 6,6′‐bis(3‐methyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐benzo[e] [1,3]oxazinyl) sulfone (BS‐m), was synthesized from bisphenol‐S, methylamine, and formaldehyde via a solution method. The chemical structure of BS‐m was characterized with 1H and 13C‐nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The ring‐opening polymerization reaction of BS‐m monomer was studied by FTIR, 13C solid‐state NMR, and differential scanning calorimetry. With the polymerization reaction proceeding, the intensities of the FTIR absorption peaks of CH2, COC, and CNC of the oxazine ring decreased gradually, and some of these absorption peaks disappeared. The shapes and intensities of the absorption peaks associated with benzene ring, sulfone group, and aromatic CS bond changed in various ways. The changes in the solid‐state 13C‐NMR pattern, including chemical shifts, intensity of resonances, and line‐width, were observed from the spectra of BS‐m and the corresponding polybenzoxazine. The melting process of BS‐m overlapped with the beginning of the ring‐opening polymerization reaction. The polymerization kinetic parameters were evaluated for nonisothermal and isothermal polymerization of BS‐m. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Controlled mechanical and swelling properties of poly(vinyl alcohol)/sodium alginate blend hydrogels prepared by freeze–thaw followed by Ca2+ crosslinking
Authors: Xie Liang , Jiang Man , Dong Xiaogang , Bai Xia , Tong Jin , Zhou Jiang
Published: October 2011

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/sodium alginate (SA) blend hydrogels have immense potential for use as functional biomaterials. Understanding of influences of processing parameters and compositions on mechanical and swelling properties of PVA/SA blend hydrogels is very important. In this work, PVA/SA blend hydrogels with different SA contents were prepared by applying freeze–thaw method first to induce physical crosslinking of PVA chains and then followed by Ca2+ crosslinking SA chains to form interpenetrating networks of PVA and SA. The effects of number of freeze–thaw cycles, SA content and Ca2+ concentration on mechanical properties, swelling kinetics, and pH‐sensitivity of the blend hydrogels were investigated. The results showed that the blend hydrogels have porous sponge structure. Gel fraction, which is related to crosslink density of the blend hydrogels, increased with the increase of freeze–thaw cycles and strongly depended on SA content. The SA content exerts a significant effect on mechanical properties, swelling kinetics, and pH‐sensitivity of the blend hydrogels. The number of freeze–thaw cycles has marked impact on mechanical properties, but no obvious effect on the pH‐sensitivity of the PVA/SA blend hydrogels. Concentration of CaCl2 aqueous solution also influences mechanical properties and pH‐sensitivity of the blend hydrogel. By altering composition and processing parameters such as freeze–thaw cycles and concentration of CaCl2 aqueous solution, the mechanical properties and pH‐sensitivity of PVA/SA blend hydrogels can be tightly controlled. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Synthesis, characterization, and gamma radiation effects over well‐defined poly(vinylsiloxanes) copolymers
Authors: Satti A. J. , Nador F. , Vitale C. , Radivoy G. , Andreucetti N. A. , Ciolino A. E. , Vallés E. M.
Published: October 2011

Anionic ring‐opening polymerization (AROP) was employed for the controlled synthesis of linear model block copolymers of 1,3,5,7‐tetrametil‐1,3,5,7‐tetravinyl(cyclotetrasiloxane) (V4) and 1,3,5‐dimethyl(cyclotrisiloxane) (D3) monomers by using sec‐butyl lithium (sec‐Bu−Li+) as initiator, and high‐vacuum anionic polymerization techniques. V4 copolymerization was promoted by employing D3 and sec‐Bu−Li+ producing living silanolates that open the stable V4 ring. For this purpose, two strategies were applied: (a) sequential addition of monomers, and (b) one‐step copolymerization at different reaction temperatures. According to the experimental results, higher levels of V4 incorporation (∼ 18.14 mol %) were obtained by mixing both co‐monomers and performing the reaction at high temperature (80°C). This strategy allowed the control of the V4 incorporation into the copolymer structure, giving the opportunity of synthesizing model vinyl‐siloxane polymers. The gamma radiation of these materials showed that lower doses are needed to achieve the same gel content as in a model poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). In such a sense, these results constitute one of the first reports regarding the effect of gamma radiation on vinyl‐containing silicon polymers, and may be of fundamental importance if a biomedical cross‐linked rubber‐type PDMS is needed at earlier doses of sterilization. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Synthesis and characterizations of poly(4‐alkylthiazole vinylene)
Authors: Guo Xia , Fan Haijun , Zhang Maojie , Huang Yu , Tan Songting , Li Yongfang
Published: October 2011

Two poly(thiazole vinylene) derivatives, poly(4‐hexylthiazole vinylene) (P4HTzV) and poly(4‐nonylthiazole vinylene) (P4NTzV), were synthesized by Pd‐catalyzed Stille coupling method. The polymers are soluble in common organic solvents such as o‐dichlorobenzene and chloroform, and possess good thermal stability. P4HTzV and P4NTzV films exhibit broad absorption bands at 400–720 nm with an optical bandgap of 1.77 eV and 1.74 eV, respectively. The HOMO (the highest occupied molecular orbital) energy levels of P4HTzV and P4NTzV are −5.11 and −5.12 eV, respectively, measured by cyclic voltammetry. Preliminary results of the polymer solar cells based on P4HTzV : PC61BM ([6,6]‐phenyl‐C‐61‐butyric acid methyl ester) (1 : 1, w/w) show a power conversion efficiency of 0.21% with an open‐circuit voltage of 0.55 V and a short circuit current density of 1.11 mA cm−2, under the illumination of AM1.5G, 100 mW cm−2. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Preparation and characterization of acrylonitrile‐ethyl methacrylate copolymers and the effect of LiClO4 salt on electrical properties of copolymer films
Authors: Vargün Elif , Sankır Mehmet , Usanmaz Ali , Kanbur Yasin , Abacı Ufuk , Güney H. Yüksel
Published: October 2011

Copolymers of poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐ethyl methacrylate), P(AN‐EMA), with three different EMA content and parent homopolymers were synthesized by emulsion polymerization. The chemical composition of copolymers were identified by FTIR, 1H‐NMR and 13C‐NMR spectroscopy. The thermal properties of copolymers were modified by changing the EMA content in copolymer compositions. Various amounts of LiClO4 salt loaded (PAN‐co‐PEMA) copolymer films were prepared by solution casting. The dielectric properties of these films at different temperatures and frequencies were investigated. It was found that the dielectric constant and ac‐conductivity of copolymer films were strongly influenced by the salt amounts and EMA content in copolymers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Polyurethane foams with the contribution of products of hydroxyalkylation of N,N′‐bis(2‐hydroxyalkyl)oxamides with alkylene carbonates—obtaining and properties
Authors: Zarzyka Iwona , Naróg Dotota , Stagraczyński Ryszard
Published: October 2011

In the reactions of N,N′‐bis(2‐hydroxyethyl)oxamide (BHEOD) with an excess of ethylene carbonate (EC) and N,N′‐bis(2‐hydroxypropyl)oxamide (BHPOD) with an excess of propylene carbonate (PC), the hydroxyethoxy and hydroxypropoxy derivatives of oxamide (OD) were obtained, respectively, distinguished by an increased thermal stability. First time, these derivatives were used as polyol components to obtain foamed polyurethane plastics with the contribution of 4,4′‐diisocyanate diphenylmethane (MDI). The rigid polyurethane foams of a slight water uptake, good stability of dimensions, enhanced thermal stability, and compression strength were obtained. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Polyamine functionalized glycidyl methacrylate terpolymers as scavengers for metal ions uptake from organic solutions
Authors: Bukowska Agnieszka , Bukowski Wiktor
Published: October 2011

Resins with amine functionalities were obtained as a result of chemical modification of low crosslinked terpolymers of glycidyl methacrylate with styrene and divinylbenzene or diethylene glycol dimethacrylate. The loading of amine groups, swelling in the selected organic solvents, and thermal properties of the resins were studied. FTIR, DSC, TGA, SEM, and stereomicroscopy methods were also applied for exploring of the resins. The amine functionalized resins were tested as sorbents for uptake of cobalt(II), copper(II), iron(III), and manganese(II) ions from methanol and its mixtures with methylene chloride. The study show that all polyamine functionalized resins uptake quickly Cu(II) ions from methanol solutions. Their ability to remove cobalt(II), iron(III), and manganese(II) ions from solution depended on the mutual compatibility of solvents and resins. It increases clearly when the mixtures of methanol and methylene chloride are applied. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
75‐kd sirtuin 1 blocks tumor necrosis factor α–mediated apoptosis in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes
Authors: Oppenheimer Hanna , Gabay Odile , Meir Hadar , Haze Amir , Kandel Leonid , Liebergall Meir , Gagarina Viktoria , Lee Eun Jin , Dvir‐Ginzberg Mona
Published: October 2011

Objective

Sirtuin 1 (SirT1) has been implicated in the regulation of human cartilage homeostasis and chondrocyte survival. Exposing human osteoarthritic (OA) chondrocytes to tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) generates a stable and enzymatically inactive 75‐kd form of SirT1 (75SirT1) via cathepsin B–mediated cleavage. Because 75SirT1 is resistant to further degradation, we hypothesized that it has a distinct role in OA, and the present study was undertaken to identify this role.

Methods

The presence of cathepsin B and 75SirT in OA and normal human chondrocytes was analyzed. Confocal imaging of SirT1 was used to monitor its subcellular trafficking following TNFα stimulation. Coimmunofluorescence staining for cathepsin B, mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit IV, and lysosome‐associated membrane protein 1 together with SirT1 was performed. Human chondrocytes were tested for apoptosis by fluorescence‐activated cell sorter analysis and immunoblotting for caspases 3 and 8. Human chondrocyte mitochondrial extracts were obtained and analyzed for 75SirT1–cytochrome c association.

Results

Confocal imaging and immunoblot analyses following TNFα challenge of human chondrocytes demonstrated that 75SirT1 was exported to the cytoplasm and colocalized with the mitochondrial membrane. Consistent with this, immunoprecipitation and immunoblot analyses revealed that 75SirT1 is enriched in mitochondrial extracts and associates with cytochrome c following TNFα stimulation. Preventing nuclear export of 75SirT1 or reducing levels of full‐length SirT1 and 75SirT1 augmented chondrocyte apoptosis in the presence of TNFα. Levels of cathepsin B and 75SirT1 were elevated in OA versus normal chondrocytes. Additional analyses showed that human chondrocytes exposed to OA‐derived synovial fluid generated the 75SirT1 fragment.

Conclusion

These data suggest that 75SirT1 promotes chondrocyte survival following exposure to proinflammatory cytokines.
Losses Induce Consistency in Risk Taking Even Without Loss Aversion
Authors: Yechiam Eldad , Telpaz Ariel
Published: October 2011

It is posited that because of the attentional effect of losses, individuals would show more behavioral consistency in risk‐taking tasks with losses, even in the absence of loss aversion. In two studies, the consistency of risky choices across different experience‐based tasks was evaluated for gain, loss, and mixed (gain loss) tasks. In both studies, losses facilitated the consistency across tasks: the correlation between risk‐taking choices in different tasks increased when the tasks involved frequent losses. Study 2 also showed a positive effect of losses on temporal consistency. Losses increased the correlation between risk‐taking levels across two sessions that were 45 days apart. Also in Study 2, losses induced consistency between experiential risk‐taking choices and self‐reported ratings of risky behavior. In both studies, the positive effect of losses on consistency was observed even when the average participant did not exhibit loss aversion. Taken together, the results indicate that losses increase the consistency of risk‐taking behavior and suggest that this is due to the effect of losses on attention. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tunable fluorescent pH sensor based on water‐soluble perylene tetracarboxylic acid/Fe3+
Authors: Xu Ping , Pan Cuicui , Zhao Yingjie , Kong Xiangxue , Sun Juanjuan , Xu Maoyou , Shi Zhiqiang
Published: October 2011

A novel fluorescent pH sensor with tunable response range was designed based on highly fluorescent 3,4:9,10‐perylene tetracarboxylic ammonium, which could coordinate the paramagnetic Fe3+ ions to turn off its fluorescence and could also release Fe3+ to turn on the fluorescence again at higher pH. The fluorescent pH sensor was tunable in the presence of different ligands in aqueous solution. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
One‐step method for plasma determination of ibuprofen by chemiluminescence‐coupled ultrafiltration and application in a pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Xiong Xunyu , Zhang Qunzheng , Nan Yefei , Gu Xuefan
Published: October 2011

A simple one‐step method is established for plasma determination of ibuprofen and its pharmacokinetic study. The method involves simple sample pre‐treatment by dilution, rapid separation by ultrafiltration (UF) and online sensitive detection by chemiluminescence (CL) based on significant intensity enhancement of ibuprofen on the weak CL of potassium permanganate and sodium sulphite in an acidic system. The calibration curve for ibuprofen is linear in the range 0.1–50.0 µg/mL in rat plasma. Average recoveries of ibuprofen at 0.80, 12.0 and 40.0 µg/mL amounted to 98.0 ± 4.2%, 101.2 ± 3.6% and 99.3 ± 5.4%, respectively. Standard deviations of intra‐ and inter‐day measurement precision and accuracy are within ±10.0%. The detection limit for ibuprofen is 10.0 µg/L in plasma samples. Pharmacokinetic study of ibuprofen by the validated method shows that the mean plasma drug concentration–time course confirms to a classical two‐compartment open model with first‐order absorption. The proposed method will be an alternative for pre‐clinical pharmacokinetic study of ibuprofen and other non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and luminescence properties of a blue‐emitting Sr3.5Y6.5O2(PO4)1.5(SiO4)4.5:Eu2+ phosphor
Authors: Xia Zhiguo , Zhuang Jiaqing
Published: October 2011

A novel blue‐emitting Sr3.5Y6.5O2(PO4)1.5(SiO4)4.5:Eu2+ phosphor was synthesized via a solid‐state reaction. Powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrated that the Sr3.5Y6.5O2(PO4)1.5(SiO4)4.5 host had a hexagonal crystal structure in the space group P63/m and unit cell parameters a = 9.418 Å, c = 6.900 Å. The as‐prepared phosphor showed a blue emission and all the main emission peaks were located at around 466 nm for different excitation wavelengths of 297, 333 and 391 nm. The temperature dependence of the photoluminescence property was investigated in the range 20–250 °C, and the emission intensity decreased to 71% of the initial value at room temperature on increasing the temperature to 150 °C. According to the classical theory of fluorescent thermal quenching, the activation energy (ΔE) for the thermal quenching luminescence of the as‐prepared Sr3.45Y6.5O2(PO4)1.5(SiO4)4.5:0.05Eu2+ phosphor was determined to be 0.20 eV. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biotreibstoffe aus Entwicklungsländern
Authors: Zah Rainer , Gmünder Simon , Ehrensperger Albrecht
Published: October 2011

Das Kyoto‐Protokoll zur Treibhausgasreduktion und steigende Ölpreise, aber auch Lobbyarbeit vom Landwirtschaftssektor und von der Automobilindustrie haben global zu einem Boom der Biotreibstoffe geführt. Aufgrund des durch die Agrarflächen beschränkten Mengen‐Potenzials, der absehbaren Konkurrenz zur Nahrungsmittelproduktion und den oftmals hohen Umweltauswirkungen liegt das nachhaltige Marktpotenzial von Biotreibstoffen deutlich unter 10% des gesamten weltweiten Treibstoffkonsums. Trotz dieser Nachteile existieren gerade in Entwicklungsländern auch Nischen für die nachhaltige Produktion von Bioenergie. Oftmals ist es dabei sinnvoller, Biomasse für lokale Strom‐ und Wärmeproduktion zu nutzen, statt Biotreibstoffe für den Export zu produzieren.
Einwanderungsrouten nach Mitteleuropa
Authors: Schmitt Thomas
Published: October 2011

Der Großteil der heute im westlichen Mitteleuropa vorkommenden Tagfalter‐ und Widderchenarten leitet sich von der nacheiszeitlichen Besiedlung dieses Gebietes ab, die weitgehend aus den klassischen mediterranen Rückzugsgebieten erfolgte. Für das hier betrachtete Untersuchungsgebiet erfolgte weitgehend eine Besiedlung westlich oder östlich der Alpen, die eine starke Barrierewirkung für Besiedlungen aufweisen. Die Arten, die im westlichen Mitteleuropa unter glazialen Bedingungen weit verbreitet waren, haben sich unter den warmen Bedingungen der Nacheiszeit in die Gebirge und die arktischen Zonen zurückgezogen. Deshalb kommen sie im westlichen Mitteleuropa rezent fast ausschließlich in den Hochlagen der Alpen vor. Jedoch gibt es auch einige Arten, die sowohl unter glazialen wie auch unter warmzeitlichen Bedingungen in den tieferen Lagen des westlichen Mitteleuropas existieren können, wobei sie hier jedoch entweder besser unter den glazialen oder den warmzeitlichen Bedingungen überleben können.
Die Naturgeschichte von Gut und Böse
Authors: Wuketits Franz M.
Published: October 2011

Moral ist ein Resultat der Evolution durch natürliche Auslese. Sie ermöglicht die Stabilität von Gruppen, die den beteiligten Individuen Vorteile bringt und ist daher zumindest in Ansätzen – als moralanaloges Verhalten – auch bei nichtmenschlichen Primaten und anderen Säugetierarten ausgeprägt. Von entscheidender Bedeutung ist der reziproke Altruismus, der die längste Zeit allerdings nur in relativ kleinen Gruppen anzutreffen war und von der Selektion gefördert wurde. Seine Ausweitung stößt daher auf grundsätzliche Schwierigkeiten und wir müssen mit Grenzen unserer Moralfähigkeit rechnen. Aus evolutionstheoretischer Perspektive (evolutionäre Ethik) ist der Mensch von Natur aus weder gut noch böse. Unter bestimmten kulturellen Rahmenbedingungen kann er enorme destruktive Potenziale entwickeln, aber auch Anreize zu kooperativem, helfendem Verhalten erfahren.
Die große Reise der kleinen Schnecken
Authors: Wendler Silke
Published: October 2011

Wenn es um die Suche nach Fortpflanzungspartnern geht, haben Schnecken es im Allgemeinen schwer. Aufgrund ihrer mangelnden Mobilität werden Partner normalerweise in einem kleinen geographischen Radius gesucht. Umso erstaunlicher war die Entdeckung, dass im Erbgut der nur 2 mm großen Schnecke Tornatellides boeningi erhebliche Unterschiede bestehen.
Stille Mutationen, große Wirkung
Authors: Kronberg Inge
Published: October 2011

“Stille Wasser sind tief” – diese Redensart gilt offenbar auch für stille Mutationen. Neue Untersuchungen zeigen, dass geringfügige Änderungen der DNA‐Basensequenz zu schwerwiegenden Erkrankungen führen können, auch wenn sie die Aminosäuresequenz von Proteinen nicht verändern.