bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Storage quality in different brines of pickled capers (Capparis spp).
Authors: Özcan Musa , Akgül Attila
Published: March 2010

Middle sized buds of Capparis spinosa L. var. spinosa and Capparis ovata Desf. var. canescens (Coss.) Heywood collected from wild plants were pickled for two months. The buds after the fermentation were processed in 10% and 20% brines. Storage stability of the fermented capers was determined by physical, chemical and microbiological analysis at certain interval in 10 and 20% old or fresh brines 180 days. Storaged in 10% and 20% old or fresh brines for 180 days of pickled buds of both species maintained the product quality in all samples. Acidity was higher in old brine during storage. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) growth was observed only in 10% fresh brine, it decreased from initial and 30 days at C. ovata and C. spinosa, respectively. C. spinosa, compared with C. ovata was desirable due to low sediment and more firm texture. During storage of buds in fresh brines, sediment and off-flavour were not observed for both species. Pickled products can be stored in fresh brine long-term containing at least 10% salt concentration.
Molecular prediction of the triglycerides of sheep milk fat by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.
Authors: Nájera A. L. , Barcina Y. , De Renobales M. , Barron L. J. R.
Published: March 2010

115 individual peaks were obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography of the sheep milk fat. Triglyceride components of the chromatographic peaks were predicted by means of mathematical equations relationing the log k' of the chromatographic peaks to the molecular variables, equivalent carbon number (ECN) of the possible triglycerides, and chain length (CL) and number of double bounds (DB) of each of the fatty acids of the triglyceride. The 12 main fatty acids obtained by gas chromatography of the total triglyceride fraction were used to estimate the triglyceride composition of the sheep milk fat. The triglycerides presenting high random percentages were considered the principal molecular species when more than one triglyceride were predicted in a chromatographic peak. The main estimated triglycerides of the sheep milk fat were C4:0-C16:0-C16:0, C6:0-C14:0-C16:0, C4:0-C14:0-C16:00, C4:0-C16:0-C18:1 and C6:0-C14:0-C18:1.
Antioxidant activity of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) extracts on natural olive and sesame oils.
Authors: Özcan Musa
Published: March 2010

The antioxidant activities of chloroform and methanol extracts of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) were tested in natural olive and sesame oils stored at 55 °C, by measuring peroxide values after regular intervals. The concentrations of extracts and citric acid had been used as 1% and 2%. The extracts (except for 12,16 and 20 days in storage of olive oil) exhibited high antioxidant activity compared with control sample in olive and sesame oil. Antioxidant effects of both extracts and citric acid levels in olive oil showed statistically different after from 4 days of storage (p < 0.01 ). The most effective concentration on sesame oil during storage had 2% chloroform extract. Furthermore, especially 2% concentrations of both solvent extracts of rosemary shown significantly antioxidative activity in compared with citric acid on sesame oil.
Studies on non-traditional oils: l. Detailed studies on different lipid profiles of some Rosaceae kernel oils
Authors: Hassanein Minar M. M.
Published: March 2010

Kernel oils obtained from apricot, peach and plum, produced as by-products from food canning industry, were analyzed by capillary GC and HPLC. The fatty acid composition of the fractionated mono-, di- and triacylglycerol was elucidated. Oleic acid ranged from 64 to 72% in triacylglycerol (TAG), whereas linoleic acid ranged from 17% to 27%. The TAG profile showed the presence of 0 0 0 (35-42%), LOO (22-28%), LLO (7-16%), LOP and LLS (6-7%), OOP (6-10.4%). Campesterol-, 5-stigmasterol-, β-sitosterol-. isofucosterol, 7-stigmasterol and avenasterol were detected in the three analyzed oils. Sterylglycosides were also determined and showed some characteristic profiles. The three kernel oils contained appreciable amounts of tocopherols in which gamma-tocopherol was the predominating one. Alpha-and delta-tocopherols were also present in smaller quantities. Results obtained can be used to characterize these kernel oils and facilitate their differentiation from the other oils.
Synthesis and surface active properties of cationic surface active agents from crude rice bran oil
Authors: El-Dougdoug W. I. A.
Published: March 2010

Cationic surfactants of 2-hidroxy-3-(2- alkylamidopolyethyl amino) propane-1-triethylammonium hydroxides (ix-xui)a-d were prepared from fatty acids (i)a-d [palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic acid] and mixed fatty acids of crude rice bran oil ie [RBO]. The reaction of these acids with ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine andletraethylenepentamine (ii)a-d produced (iii-vii)a-d. The produced amidopolyethylamine (iii-vii)a-d reacted with 2-epoxypropylenetriethylammonium chloride (viii) to give the cationic surfactants (ix-xiii)a-d . The produced derivatives were purified and characterized by microanalysis, molecular weight determination, infra-red (IR), and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectra. The surface active properties and inhibition efficiency of the prepared cationic surfactants were determined.
Effects of sesame and bitter almond seed oils on mycelium growth of Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Sing.
Authors: Kalyoncu Ismail Hakki , KaSik Giyaseddin , Özcan Musa , Özturk Celaleddin
Published: March 2010

Secondary mycelium growth of Agaricus bisporus from Nigde University Mushroom Research Centre (Aksaray-Nigde) was monitored in malt extract agar medium containing sesame or bitter almond seed oils. With 1 % sesame oil, highest growth was established and less growth period was determined as 27.4 days. All of the samples with sesame oil showed better growth according to the control, being the stimulative effect of sesame oil higher than that of bitter almond oil.
Effect of glycerol on the lipids in the red alga Gratelupia doryphora.
Authors: Ivanova A. P. , Robaina R. R. , Martín J. , Stefanov K. L.
Published: March 2010

The red alga Gratelupia doryphora was cultivated in Provasoli enricher (plain) seawater and in a glycerol media. The incubation in seawater leads to an increase in the percentage of polyunsaturated acids, while the glycerol increase the total lipid content. If the alga is being grown as a heterotrophic culture, it is possible to increase the alga biomass as well as the content of biologically-active fatty acids.
National Survey of Cardiologists’ Standard of Practice for Continuous ST-Segment Monitoring
Authors: Sandau Kristin E. , Sendelbach Sue , Frederickson Joel , Doran Karen
Published: March 2010

Background Continuous ST-segment monitoring can be used to detect early and transient cardiac ischemia. The American Heart Association and American Association of Critical-Care Nurses recommend its use among specific patients, but such monitoring is routine practice in only about half of US hospitals.

Objective To determine cardiologists’ awareness and practice standards regarding continuous ST-segment monitoring and the physicians’ perceptions of appropriate patient selection, benefits and barriers, and usefulness of this technology.

Methods An electronic survey was sent to a random sample of 915 US cardiologists from a pool of 4985 certified cardiologists.

Results Of 200 responding cardiologists, 55% were unaware of the consensus guidelines. Of hospitals where respondents admitted patients, 49% had a standard of practice for using continuous ST-segment monitoring for cardiac patients. Most cardiologists agreed or strongly agreed that patients in the cardiovascular laboratory (87.5%) and intensive care unit (80.5%) should have such monitoring. Cardiologists routinely ordered ST monitoring for patients with acute coronary syndrome (67%) and after percutaneous coronary intervention (60%). The primary factor associated with higher perceptions for benefits, clinical usefulness, and past use of continuous ST-segment monitoring was whether or not hospitals in which cardiologists practiced had a standard of practice for using this monitoring. A secondary factor was awareness of published consensus guidelines for such monitoring.

Conclusion Respondents (55%) were unaware of published monitoring guidelines. Hospital leaders could raise awareness by multidisciplinary review of evidence and possibly incorporating continuous ST-segment monitoring into hospitals’ standards of practice.
Demand for Nursing Care for Patients in Intensive Care Units in Southeast Poland
Authors: Wysokinski Mariusz , Ksykiewicz-Dorota Anna , Fidecki Wieslaw
Published: March 2010

Background The Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System is widely used in both Western Europe and the United States to assess the level of patients’ need for nursing care. Poland currently has 3 types of intensive care according to a territorial division of the country and the scope of medical treatment offered: poviat, voivodeship, and clinical.

Objective To determine the need for nursing care for patients in the 3 types of intensive care units in southeastern Poland.

Methods The investigation was conducted at 6 intensive care units in southeastern Poland in 2005 and 2006. Two units were randomly selected from each type of intensive care unit. A total of 155 patients from the units were categorized according to scores on the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System 28.

Results Among the 3 types of units, patients varied significantly with respect to age, length of hospitalization, and scores on the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System 28. Nevertheless, demand for nursing care during night and day shifts was similar in all 3 types. On the basis of the patients’ scores, all 3 types of units provided appropriate staffing levels necessary to meet the demands for nursing care. Most patients required category III level of care.

Conclusion Need or demand for nursing care in intensive care units in Poland varies according to the type of intensive care unit and can be determined on the basis of scores on the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System 28.
TLR4 Signaling in Stromal Cells Is Critical for the Initiation of Allergic Th2 Responses to Inhaled Antigen
Authors: Tan Anna M. , Chen Hui-Chen , Pochard Pierre , Eisenbarth Stephanie C. , Herrick Christina A. , Bottomly H. Kim
Published: March 2010

Allergic asthma is an inflammatory lung disease driven by Th2. We have shown that both Th1 and Th2 sensitization to inhaled OVA depend on the presence and concentration of LPS, where high concentrations (LPShi) induce Th1 and low concentrations (LPSlo), Th2. Stromal cells (SCs), such as airway SCs, exacerbate established airway disease; however, little is known about their role early during sensitization. In this study, using bone marrow chimeric mice to restrict TLR4 signaling to either the SC compartment (SC+HPC−) or the hematopoietic cell (HPC) compartment (SC−HPC+), we report that HPC TLR4 is necessary and sufficient for Th1 sensitization to OVA-LPShi, whereas TLR4 in both compartments is required for Th2 sensitization to OVA-LPSlo. Surprisingly, although SC+HPC− mice were unable to generate a Th1 response to OVA-LPShi, they instead mounted a robust Th2 response, indicating that in the presence of higher concentrations of LPS, SC TLR4 is sufficient for Th2 sensitization. We show that the SC TLR4 response to LPS leads to induction of Th2-inducing dendritic cells that upregulate Notch ligand Jagged-1 but not Delta-4. Furthermore, airway SCs upregulate thymic stromal lymphopoietin in response to exposure to both OVA-LPSlo and OVA-LPShi. These studies demonstrate that SC TLR4 signaling is critically involved in Th2 but not Th1 sensitization to inhaled Ag.
Triptolide Inhibits IL-12/IL-23 Expression in APCs via CCAAT/Enhancer-Binding Protein α
Authors: Zhang Yan , Ma Xiaojing
Published: March 2010

Triptolide is a biologically active component purified from Chinese herbal plant Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. It is widely used in East Asia for treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, nephritis, Bechect’s disease, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma. However, its immunological mechanisms are poorly understood. IL-12 and IL-23 are closely related heterodimeric cytokines that share the common subunit p40. They are produced by APCs and are key factors in the generation and effector functions of Th1 and Th17 cells, respectively. They have been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune disorders. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism whereby triptolide inhibits the expression of the p40 gene in APCs. We demonstrate that triptolide does so at the transcriptional level in part through targeting CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBPα), which directly interacts with the p40 promoter and inhibits its transcription in inflammatory macrophages. Triptolide can activate the transcription of C/EBPα, and phosphorylation of Ser21 and Thr222/226 critical for C/EBPα inhibition of p40. Further, activation of C/EBPα by triptolide is dependent on upstream kinases ERK1/2 and Akt-GSK3β. This study provides mechanistic insights into the immunomodulatory capacity of triptolide and has strong implications for its therapeutic applications in autoimmune diseases.
A characterization of round spheres in terms of blocking light
Authors: Schmidt Benjamin , Souto Juan
Published: March 2010

A closed Riemannian manifold

M

is said to have cross (compact rank one symmetric space) blocking if whenever

p ≠ q

are less than the diameter apart, all light rays from

p

can be shaded away from

q

with at most two point shades. Similarly, a closed Riemannian manifold is said to have sphere blocking if for each

p \in M

all the light rays from

p

are shaded away from

p

by a single point shade. We prove that Riemannian manifolds with cross and sphere blocking are isometric to round spheres.
Conformal arc-length as $\frac 1 2$-dimensional length of the set of osculating circles
Authors: Langevin Rémi , O'Hara Jun
Published: March 2010

The set of osculating circles of a given curve in

\boldsymbol S^3

forms a lightlike curve in the set of oriented circles in

\boldsymbol S^3

. We show that its “

\frac 1 2

-dimensional measure” with respect to the pseudo-Riemannian structure of the set of circles is proportional to the conformal arc-length of the original curve, which is a conformally invariant local quantity discovered in the first half of the last century.
Delayed Quasilinear Evolution Equations with $BV$-Coefficients
Authors: Bárta Tomáš
Published: March 2010

In this paper we investigate local and global existence as well as asymptotic behavior of the solution for a class of abstract (hyperbolic) quasilinear equations perturbed by bounded delay operators. We assume that the leading operator is of bounded variation in time. In the last section, the abstract results are applied on a heat conduction model.
Entropy Numbers of Limiting Embeddings of Logarithmic Sobolev Spaces into Exponential Spaces
Authors: Edmunds David E. , Gurka Petr
Published: March 2010

It is known that in certain limiting cases, spaces of Sobolev type modelled upon Zygmund spaces are embedded in Orlicz spaces of exponential type. Estimates of the entropy numbers of such embeddings are studied.
When's your birthday? The self‐reference effect in retrieval of dates
Authors: Rathbone Clare J. , Moulin Chris J. A.
Published: March 2010

Material encoded with reference to the self is better remembered. One interpretation of this effect is that the self operates to organise retrieval of memories. We were motivated to find out whether this organisational principle extended to everyday information and for material not explicitly related to the self. Participants generated friends' birthdays from memory and then gave their own birthday. We found that participants were particularly likely to recall birthdays from on or around the date of their own birthday. Thus, memory for birthdays clusters around self‐relevant information, even when there is no specific attempt to recall self‐related material. Birthdays clustered somewhat around the time of testing, important dates in the calendar, and for a close other, but not to the extent of the participants' birthdays. We suggest this is a demonstration of the organisational structure of the self in memory. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Phase II study of 153Sm‐EDTMP and high‐dose melphalan as a peripheral blood stem cell conditioning regimen in patients with multiple myeloma
Authors: Dispenzieri Angela , Wiseman Gregory A. , Lacy Martha Q. , Hayman Suzanne R. , Kumar Shaji K. , Buadi Francis , Dingli David , Laumann Krista M. , Allred Jake , Geyer Susan M. , Litzow Mark R. , Gastineau Dennis A. , Inwards David J. , Micallef Ivana N. , Ansell Stephen M. , Porrata Luis , Elliott Michelle A. , Johnston Patrick B. , Hogan William J. , Gertz Morie A.
Published: March 2010

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable illness affecting nearly 20,000 individuals in the United States per year. High‐dose melphalan (HDM) with autologous hematopoietic stem cell support (ASCT) is one of the mainstays of therapy for younger patients, but little advancement has been made with regards to conditioning regimens. We opted to combine 153Samarium ethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonate (153Sm‐EDTMP), a radiopharmaceutical approved for the palliation of pain caused by metastatic bone lesions, with HDM and ASCT in a Phase II study. Individualized doses of 153Sm were based on dosimetry and were calculated to deliver 40 Gy to the bone marrow. The therapeutic dose of 153Sm‐EDTMP was followed by HDM and ASCT. Forty‐six patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed disease were treated. Study patients were compared to 102 patients contemporaneously treated with HDM and ASCT. Fifty‐nine percent of study patients achieved a very good partial response (VGPR) or better. With a median follow‐up of 7.1 years, the median overall survival and progression free survival (PFS) from study registration was 6.2 years (95% CI 4.6–7.5 years) and 1.5 years (1.1–2.2 years), respectively, which compared favorably to contemporaneously treated non‐study patients. Addition of high‐dose 153Sm‐EDTMP to melphalan conditioning appears to be safe, well tolerated, and worthy of further study in the context of novel agents and in the Phase III setting. Am. J. Hematol. 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Relationship of resting hemoglobin concentration to peak oxygen uptake in heart failure patients
Authors: Agostoni Piergiuseppe , Salvioni Elisabetta , Debenedetti Chiara , Vignati Carlo , Cattadori Gaia , Contini Mauro , Magrì Damiano , Palermo Pietro , Gondoni Erica , Brusoni Denise , Fiorentini Cesare , Apostolo Anna
Published: March 2010

Anemia is frequent in chronic heart failure (HF). To calculate what change in peak oxygen uptake (
$ {\dot {\bf V}} $O2) should be expected in the event of changes in hemoglobin concentration, we studied the correlation between peak $ {\dot {\bf V}} $O2 and hemoglobin concentration in a large HF population. We carried out retrospective analysis of all cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) performed in our HF Clinic between June 2001 and March 2009 in HF patients who had a resting hemoglobin concentration measurement taken within 7 days of the CPET. We collected 967 CPETs, 704 tests were considered maximal and analyzed. We identified 181 patients (26%) as anemic. Peak $ {\dot {\bf V}} $O2 was lower (P < 0.001) in anemic patients (971 ± 23 ml/min) compared with nonanemic (1243 ± 18 ml/min). The slope of the $ {\dot {\bf V}} $O2 vs. hemoglobin ratio was 109 ml/min/g/dl at peak exercise. This correlation remained significant also when several confounding variables were analyzed by multivariate analysis. As an average, each gram of hemoglobin accounts, at peak exercise, for 109 ml/min change in $ {\dot {\bf V}} $O2 which is equivalent to 0.97 ml/min/kg. Therefore, in HF patients anemia treatment should increase $ {\dot {\bf V}} $O2 by 109 ml/min for each g/dl of hemoglobin increase. Am. J. Hematol. 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Two synthesis routes of organometallic precursors for the elaboration of SiCNYO pre‐alloyed nanopowders
Authors: Chehaidi Sirine , Foucaud Sylvie , Maître Alexandre , Goursat Paul , Bessada Catherine , Rakhmatullin Aydar , Champavier Yves
Published: March 2010

Two routes were simultaneously investigated to prepare organometallic precursors. They were characterized by NMR and FTIR techniques. In the first route, yttrium acetate was silylated by trimethylchlorosilane before its dissolution in hexamethydisilazane. That leads to a liquid precursor containing SiCNYOH elements. In the second route, a precursor with the same elements was elaborated by dissolution of an amminolysed yttrium compound in tetramethyldisiloxane. The amminolysed yttrium compound was obtained through the amminolysis of the yttrium trichloride by triethylamine [N(C2H5)3]. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Carbonyl group‐containing organometallic intramolecular‐coordination five‐membered ring compounds
Authors: Omae Iwao
Published: March 2010

Carbonyl group‐containing organometallic intramolecular‐coordination five‐membered ring compounds are easily synthesized by the following five reaction methods: (1) cyclometalation, especially, orthometalation reactions; (2) the reactions of the moieties of an unsaturated carboncarbon bond attached to a carbonyl group (CCCO, CCCO); (3) the reactions of an unsaturated carboncarbon bond with carbon monoxide (CC and CO, CC and CO); (4) carbonylative ring expansion reactions; and (5) others. These compounds are very easily and regio‐specifically synthesized with many kinds of metal compounds, including both transition metals and main group metals. Many of such the reactions are easily applied to organic syntheses. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of carbon nanotube hydrophobicity on the mechanical properties of carbon nanotube‐reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane nanocomposites
Authors: Smart Simon , Fania David , Milev Adriyan , Kannangara G. S. Kamali , Lu Max , Martin Darren
Published: March 2010

Double walled carbon nanotubes (DWNT) were functionalized by reacting methanol, dodecylamine, or octadecylamine with a toluene 2,4‐diisocyanate linker through a two‐stage reaction procedure. TGA coupled with FTIR analysis of both the decomposition products and the DWNT samples demonstrated that the functionalization procedure was successful and proceeded as expected for all samples. A preliminary investigation of the reinforcing capabilities of the functionalized DWNT in a thermoplastic polyurethane host polymer was then conducted. Tensile testing of the resultant nanocomposites demonstrated that the octadecylamine functionality provided the greatest enhancement in tensile strength and toughness. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Phase separation behavior and morphologies of PMMA/poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile)/clay nanocomposites prepared by solution mixing
Authors: Lee Minho , Lee Kyunghoon , Min Byong Hun , Kim Jeong Ho
Published: March 2010

Nanocomposites of blends of PMMA and poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) (SAN) with natural (PM) or organically modified montmorillonite clays (Cloisite 30B, 25A, and 15A) were prepared by solution mixing and the effect of clay on the phase separation behavior along with morphologies of nanocomposites was investigated. Nanocomposites containing clay C30B prepared from methyl ethyl ketone showed the noticeable decrease in the cloud points. None of the other nanocomposites showed the increase in the cloud point. Location of clay particles in the phase separated matrix is observed to be different depending on the type of clays and solvents. The lowest cloud point of nanocomposites containing C30B may arise from the good dispersion of C30B where Clay C30B may act as the nucleating agent inducing phase separation. Dynamic mechanical and thermal analyses support above observations. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Numerical investigation of die geometry effect on LDPE annular extrudate swell
Authors: Mu Y. , Zhao Guoqun , Zhang Chengrui
Published: March 2010

Extrudate swell is a common phenomenon in the polymer processing. The investigation of its mechanism has both scientific and industrial interest. In the study, the swell phenomenon of LDPE flowing through annular extrusion die is investigated by using finite element simulation. The effects of die geometry on the annular extrudate swell and on the polymer flow patterns are discussed in detail. The rheology of LDPE is described by using viscoelastic PTT (Phan‐Thien‐Tanner) constitutive model and the corresponding material parameters are obtained by fitting the material functions detected on a strain‐controlled rheometer. The mathematical model of annular extrudate swell is established and its finite element model is derived in the study. A penalty method is employed to solve the extrudate swell problem with a decoupled algorithm. The computation stability is improved by using the discrete elastic‐viscous split stress (DEVSS) algorithm with the inconsistent streamline‐upwind (SU) scheme. The essential flow characteristics of polymer melts flowing through annular extrusion die with different die contraction angles, different ratios of parallel length to inner radius, and different ratios of outer to inner radius are then predicted by using the proposed numerical method and the mechanism of swell phenomenon is further discussed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Degradation of poly(L‐lactide) by a mesophilic bacterium
Authors: Kim Mal Nam , Park Sang Tae
Published: March 2010

A Gram negative, rod‐shaped mesophilic bacterium active for poly(L‐lactide) (PLA) degradation was isolated through the enrichment culture and clear‐zone method. The isolated strain was identified to be Bordetella petrii PLA‐3 on the basis of 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. B. petrii PLA‐3 was active not only for the degradation of low‐molecular‐weight PLA but also for the degradation of high‐molecular‐weight PLA. The strain seemed to attack the crystalline part of PLA as well as the amorphous region. The PLA film incubated in compost inoculated with the isolated strain lost its weight more notably and exhibited a lower molecular weight than that incubated in the sterilized compost without living microorganisms. Moreover, the profile of the cumulative amount of CO2 after 20 days of burial in the sterilized compost and subsequent inoculation of the isolated strain into compost was nearly the same as that of CO2 evolved from PLA buried in compost with the isolated strain at the very beginning when the time was shifted by 20 days. This indicated that not only the abiotic hydrolysis but also the microbial enzymes of the strain contributed to the initial chain cleavage of PLA molecules and resolved the doubt that PLA molecules should be initially cleaved into very low‐molecular‐weight substances by abiotic hydrolysis to be subsequently absorbed into and biodegraded by microorganisms. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Design optimization of extrusion‐blow‐molded parts using prediction‐reliability‐guided search of evolving network modeling
Authors: Yu Jyh‐Cheng , Juang Jyh‐Yeong
Published: March 2010

Industries often adopt a two‐stage design for blow‐molded parts. The part thickness distribution is first determined by structural analysis to satisfy loading requirements, and this is followed by programming of the die‐gap opening to realize the thickness distribution. This study proposes a soft‐computing‐based optimization scheme integrating part design and molding process control to search for the die‐gap programming of the molding process with minimum part weight while satisfying performance constraints. Finite element analysis tools are applied to simulate the extrusion‐blow‐molding process and structural analysis. To reduce the number of simulations, the proposed scheme first establishes a neural network (NN) model from a small experimental design to simulate the system response, and it searches for the model optimum with a genetic algorithm (GA). Because the prediction generality of an NN from small training samples will be limited, this work proposes fuzzy reasoning for the prediction reliability of the model to guide the GA search for a quasi‐optimum. The verification of the optimum is added to retrain the model, and the process iterates until convergence is reached. The iteration automatically distributes additional samples in the most probable space of the design optimum for the evolving model and improves the sampling efficiency. A high‐density polyethylene bottle design is presented to illustrate the application and for comparison with the Taguchi method and a simple iteration of NN and GA. The proposed scheme outperforms the other two and provides a feasible optimum from a robust convergence. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
The effect of multiwalled carbon nanotube dimensions on the morphology, mechanical, and electrical properties of melt mixed polypropylene‐based composites
Authors: Dubnikova Irina , Kuvardina Evgeniya , Krasheninnikov Vadim , Lomakin Sergey , Tchmutin Igor , Kuznetsov Sergey
Published: March 2010

The effect of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) dimensions and surface modification on the morphology, mechanical reinforcement, and electrical properties of PP‐based composites, prepared by melt mixing, has been studied. The MWCNTs of small (d < 10 nm) and large (d = 40–60 nm) diameters with various intrinsic aspect ratios (L/d) have been used as filler. Transmission electron microscopy and very cold neutrons (VCN) scattering showed that both as‐received and surface modified small diameter MWCNT(1)s exhibit a strong tendency to bundle or cluster together in melt compared to both long MWCNT(3)s and short MWCNT(2)s large diameter nanotubes. The fractions of isolated nanotubes are higher and the mass‐fractal dimensions are lower for thick MWCNT‐based nanocomposites. The nanotubes of all types are heterogeneous nucleation sites for PP crystallization. The tensile and DMA testing results revealed that both long thick MWCNT(3)s with L/d ≈ 300 and thin MWCNT(1)s with highest intrinsic L/d > 1000 exhibit similar reinforcing effects, because drastically decreasing the effective aspect ratio (L/d)eff of the thin flexibly nanotubes within polymer matrix. The nanocomposites based on the long large diameter MWCNT(3)s demonstrated the lowest percolation threshold equal to 1.5 vol % loading, highest dielectric and electromagnetic waves shielding properties. It was concluded that the choice of optimal diameter and length of MWCNTs is right approach to the improvement in the dispersion state and straightness of multiwelled carbon nanotubes in polymer melt as well as to enhancement of their efficiency as reinforcing and conductive nanosized filler. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Gamma‐irradiated metallocenic polyethylene and ethylene‐1‐hexene copolymers
Authors: Satti Angel José , Andreucetti Noemí Amalia , Quijada Raúl , Sarmoria Claudia , Pastor José María , Vallés Enrique Marcelo
Published: March 2010

The aim of this work is to present a detailed study of the changes introduced by gamma radiation on several metallocenic polyethylene copolymers. Therefore, metallocenic polyethylene and copolymers with 3.3, 9.2, and 16.1 mol % of hexene comonomer content were synthesized and irradiated with 60Co gamma radiation under vacuum at room temperature with radiation doses ranging from 0 to 100 kGy. Size Exclusion Chromatography data show that crosslinking reactions predominate over scission, even for the copolymer with the highest tertiary carbon content. Over a certain critical dose, which depends on the molecular weight and molecular structure of the initial polymer, an insoluble gel forms. The irradiated polymers also exhibit complex rheological behavior with increasing melt viscosity and elasticity, consistent with long chain branching and/or crosslinking. FTIR confirms depletion of terminal vinyl groups and increase of trans unsaturations with dose. The rate at which these two reactions evolve seems to depend on the comonomer content of the irradiated copolymers. Differential scanning calorimetry and Raman spectroscopy analyzes indicate less crystallinity and thicker interphases in irradiated materials. A mathematical model, which accounts for scission and crosslinking reactions, fitted well the evolution with radiation dose of the measured molecular weight data. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Preparation of novel lanthanide complexes with hindered amine via solid‐state reaction and preliminary evaluation of their efficiency as light stabilizers
Authors: Yang Tao , Feng Jiachun
Published: March 2010

In this research, a series of lanthanide complexes with a low molecular weight hindered amine have been synthesized for the first time from lanthanide chloride and bis‐(2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐4‐piperidinyl)‐decanedioicacid (L) by simply using a solvent‐free solid‐state reaction. Elemental and thermo analysis suggest that the component of the complexes is LnLCl3 2H2O (Ln = Y, La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Er). Infrared spectra indicate that the lanthanide ions are coordinated with oxygen atoms of the carbonyl group in ligand. Polypropylene films containing the ligand and complexes were prepared by melt blending and compression molding, and were exposed to UV irradiation before and after ethanol extraction. The measurements of carbonyl index, thermal decomposition temperature, and tensile elongation at break reveal that these complexes have comparable photostabilizing efficiency and improved extraction resistance compared to the ligand alone. This study suggests that hindered‐amine lanthanide complexes can provide novel approach to the cheap and efficient light stabilizers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Detecting relationships among categories using text classification
Authors: Mengle Saket S. R. , Goharian Nazli
Published: March 2010

Discovering relationships among concepts and categories is crucial in various information systems. The authors' objective was to discover such relationships among document categories. Traditionally, such relationships are represented in the form of a concept hierarchy, grouping some categories under the same parent category. Although the nature of hierarchy supports the identification of categories that may share the same parent, not all of these categories have a relationship with each other—other than sharing the same parent. However, some “non‐sibling” relationships exist that although are related to each other are not identified as such. The authors identify and build a relationship network (relationship‐net) with categories as the vertices and relationships as the edges of this network. They demonstrate that using a relationship‐net, some nonobvious category relationships are detected. Their approach capitalizes on the misclassification information generated during the process of text classification to identify potential relationships among categories and automatically generate relationship‐nets. Their results demonstrate a statistically significant improvement over the current approach by up to 73% on 20 News groups 20NG, up to 68% on 17 categories in the Open Directories Project (ODP17), and more than twice on ODP46 and Special Interest Group on Information Retrieval (SIGIR) data sets. Their results also indicate that using misclassification information stemming from passage classification as opposed to document classification statistically significantly improves the results on 20NG (8%), ODP17 (5%), ODP46 (73%), and SIGIR (117%) with respect to F1 measure. By assigning weights to relationships and by performing feature selection, results are further optimized.
Biomimetic Synthesis of Metal Ion‐Doped Hierarchical Crystals Using a Gel Matrix: Formation of Cobalt‐Doped LiMn2O4with Improved Electrochemical Properties through a Cobalt‐Doped MnCO3Precursor
Authors: Kokubu Takao , Oaki Yuya , Uchiyama Hiroaki , Hosono Eiji , Zhou Haoshen , Imai Hiroaki
Published: March 2010

We have synthesized spinel type cobalt‐doped LiMn2O4(LiMn2−yCoyO4, 0≤y≤0.367), a cathode material for a lithium‐ion battery, with hierarchical sponge structures via the cobalt‐doped MnCO3(Mn1‐xCoxCO3, 0≤x≤0.204) formed in an agar gel matrix. Biomimetic crystal growth in the gel matrix facilitates the generation of both an homogeneous solid solution and the hierarchical structures under ambient condition. The controlled composition and the hierarchical structure of the cobalt‐doped MnCO3precursor played an important role in the formation of the cobalt‐doped LiMn2O4. The charge–discharge reversible stability of the resultant LiMn1.947Co0.053O4was improved to ca. 12 % loss of the discharge capacity after 100 cycles, while pure LiMn2O4showed 24 % loss of the discharge capacity after 100 cycles. The parallel control of the hierarchical structure and the composition in the precursor material through a biomimetic approach, promises the development of functional materials under mild conditions.
Semicontinuous bioreactor production of a recombinant human therapeutic protein using a chemically inducible viral amplicon expression system in transgenic plant cell suspension cultures
Authors: Huang Ting‐Kuo , Plesha Michael A. , McDonald Karen A.
Published: March 2010

Plant cell culture is an alternative for the production of recombinant human therapeutic proteins because of improved product safety, lower production cost, and capability for eukaryotic post‐translational modification. In this study, bioreactor production of recombinant human alpha‐1‐antitrypsin (rAAT) glycoprotein using a chemically inducible Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) viral amplicon expression system in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana cell culture is presented. Optimization of a chemically inducible plant cell culture requires evaluation of effects of timing of induction (TOI) and concentration of inducer (COI) on protein productivity and protein quality (biological functionality). To determine the optimal TOI, the oxygen uptake rate (OUR) of the plant cell culture was chosen as a physiological indicator for inducing maximum rAAT expression. Effects of COI on rAAT production were investigated using a semicontinuous culture, which enables the distinction between effects of growth rate and effects of inducer concentration. An optimized semicontinuous bioreactor operation was further proposed to maximize the recombinant protein production. The results demonstrated that the transgenic plant cells, transformed with the inducible viral amplicon expression system, maintain higher OUR and exhibit lower extracellular protease activity and lower total phenolics concentration in the optimized semicontinuous bioreactor process than in a traditional batch bioreactor operation, resulting in a 25‐fold increase in extracellular functional rAAT (603 µg/L) and a higher ratio of functional rAAT to total rAAT (85–90%). Surprisingly, sustained rAAT production and steady state, long‐term bioreactor operation is possible following chemical induction and establishment of the viral amplicons. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010; 106: 408–421. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of topography on the functional development of human neural progenitor cells
Authors: Wu Ze‐Zhi , Kisaalita William S. , Wang Lina , Zachman Angela L. , Zhao Yiping , Hasneen Kowser , Machacek Dave , Stice Steven L.
Published: March 2010

We have fabricated a topographical substrate with a packed polystyrene bead array for the development of cell‐based assay systems targeting voltage‐gated calcium channels (VGCCs). Human neural progenitor cells (H945RB.3) cultured on both flat and topographical substrates were analyzed in terms of morphological spreading, neuronal commitment, resting membrane potential (Vm) establishment and VGCC function development. We found, by SEM imaging, that arrayed substrates, formed with both sub‐micrometer (of 0.51 µm in mean diameter) and micrometer (of 1.98 µm in mean diameter) beads, were capable of promoting the spreading of the progenitor cells as compared with the flat polystyrene surfaces. With the micrometer beads, it was found that arrayed substrates facilitated the neural progenitor cells' maintenance of less negative Vm values upon differentiation with bFGF starvation, which favored predominant neuronal commitment. Almost all the progenitor cells were responsive to 50 mM K+ depolarization with an increase in [Ca2+]i either before or upon differentiation, suggesting the expression of functional VGCCs. Compared to the flat polystyrene surfaces, microbead arrayed substrates facilitated the development of higher VGCC responsiveness by the progenitor cells upon differentiation. The enhancement of both VGCC responsiveness and cell spreading by arrays of micrometer beads was most significant on day 14 into differentiation, which was the latest time point of measurement in this study. This study thus rationalized the possibility for future substrate topography engineering to manipulate ion channel function and to meet the challenge of low VGCC responsiveness found in early drug discovery. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;106: 649–659. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Stable propagation of human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells on decellularized human substrates
Authors: Abraham Sheena , Sheridan Steven D. , Miller Bradley , Rao Raj R.
Published: March 2010

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) that include human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have gained enormous interest as potential sources for regenerative biomedical therapies and model systems for studying early development. Traditionally, mouse embryonic fibroblasts have been used as a supportive feeder layer for the sustained propagation of hPSCs. However, the use of nonhuman‐derived feeders presents concerns about the possibility of xenogenic contamination, labor intensiveness, and variability in experimental results in hPSC cultures. Toward addressing some of these concerns, we report the propagation of three different hPSCs on feeder‐free extracellular matrix (ECM)‐based substrates derived from human fibroblasts. hPSCs propagated in this setting were indistinguishable by multiple criteria, including colony morphology, expression of pluripotency protein markers, trilineage in vitro differentiation, and gene expression patterns, from hPSCs cultured directly on a fibroblast feeder layer. Further, hPSCs maintained a normal karyotype when analyzed after 15 passages in this setting. Development of this ECM‐based culture system is a significant advance in hPSC propagation methods as it could serve as a critical component in the development of humanized propagation systems for the production of stable hPSCs and its derivatives for research and therapeutic applications. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010
Identifiying New Technologies, Products and Strategies for Resource Efficiency
Authors: Lang‐Koetz C. , Pastewski N. , Rohn H.
Published: March 2010

New technologies can be the basis for resource‐efficient products and services and thus create eco‐innovations, either by creating new functionalities in existing or new application fields or by substituting existing technologies in existing or new application fields. In this paper, an overview over different technology fields, products and strategies with resource efficiency potential, such as nanotechnologies, material science, manufacturing technologies, process technologies and cross‐cutting issues, is presented. There is a special focus on applications from nanotechnology issuing, e.g. functional surfaces or new ‘smart' materials with special functionalities. Furthermore, it is shown how companies can use the method Resource Efficiency Technology Radar to identify and evaluate technologies with resource efficiency in order to incorporate them into their development activities.
Resource Cost Accounting (RKR) – A Synthesis of Business Management and Technology
Authors: Kunsleben A. , Tschesche J. R.
Published: March 2010

Resource Cost Accounting (known by its German acronym RKR) is a tool of the Efficiency Agency in North‐Rhine/Westphalia (Germany) that identifies and describes a company's cost‐saving potential with regard to resource consumption. By consistently synthesizing the company's key managerial and technical data and by allocating costs to their actual cost drivers, RKR is able to identify points along the production cycle with latent cost‐savings potential. Rather than merely “jump‐starting” continual improvement within a company, RKR anchors this firmly and permanently into the business. Assuming the relevant price data is available, it is even possible to extend the use of RKR analysis beyond the scope of one's own company.
Comparison of Electrochemical Synthesis of Ammonia by Using Sulfonated Polysulfone and Nafion Membrane with Sm1.5Sr0.5NiO4
Authors: Liu Ruiquan , Xu Gaochao
Published: March 2010

Polysulfone (PSF) and sulfonated polysulfone (SPSF) were synthesized and characterized by IR spectrum. Sm1.5Sr0.5NiO4 (SSN) and Ni‐Ce0.8Sm0.2O2−δ (Ni‐SDC, Ni‐samarium doped ceria) were prepared and characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Ammonia was synthesized from wet hydrogen and dry nitrogen with applied voltage, using SSN as cathode, Ni‐SDC as anode, Nafion and SPSF as proton membrane respectively. The performances of Nafion and SPSF membranes in ammonia synthesis were investigated and compared at atmospheric pressure and low temperature (25–100°C). The results demonstrated that the proton conducting performances of Nafion and SPSF membranes were similar and the highest rates of evolution of ammonia were up to 1.05×10−8 and 1.03×10−8 mol·cm−2·s−1 respectively at 80°C and 2.5 V.
Preparation of Amino‐functionalized Multiwall Carbon Nanotube/Gold Nanoparticle Composites
Authors: Ding Mingyu , Zheng Rui
Published: March 2010

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were modified orderly with carboxyl groups and amino groups. The MWNT/gold nanoparticle composites were formed when the amino‐functionalized MWNT was interacted with gold colloids. The functionalized MWNT was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The amino‐functionalized MWNT allows further attaching gold nanoparticles through electrostatic interaction between the negatively charged gold nanoparticles and amino groups on the surface of the MWNT. The composite of gold nanoprticles and amino‐functionalized MWNT was characterized by transmission electron microscopy. This method decorating carbon nanotubes can be used to identify the location of functional groups, i.e. defect sites on carbon nanotubes.
Impact of the Aliphatic Dicarboxylate Chain of Novel Dinuclear Palladium(II) Complexes: Synthesis and Biological Evaluation
Authors: Gao Enjun , Zhu Mingchang , Wu Qiong , Liu Lei , Liu Hongyan , Liu Fuchun , Huang Yun , Wang Lei , Shi Qunzhi , Zhang Wanzhong
Published: March 2010

Five dinuclear palladium(II) complexes with HOOC(CH2)nCOOH (n=2–6) and 2,2′‐bipyridine ligands were synthesigned by a reaction with K2PdCl4. To prepare such complexes with different aliphatic dicarboxylate chain lengths was in an attempt to correlate this length factor, which influences the biological activity of the complexes, with fluorescence spectra, DNA cleavage and cytotoxic activity. The results indicate that the complexes bind to fish sperm DNA (FS‐DNA) in an intercalative mode via fluorescence spectra, and the five complexes show different cleavage of supercoiled DNA, and then a cytotoxicity assay of these dinuclear palladium(II) complexes on human tumor cell lines was performed. In most of the cell lines, complex 5 (n=6) and 4 (n=5) showed much higher cytotoxicity than cis‐platin. On the other hand, complex 3 (n=4) was found to be moderately active, and complex 1 (n=2), complex 2 (n=3) were found only marginally cytotoxic. Implications of these findings were discussed from a structure‐activity relationship.