bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Norms to Facts: The Realization of Rights in Common and Civil Private Law
Authors: Dedek Helge
Published: July 2012

Every legal system that ties judicial decision making to a body of preconceived norms has to face the tension between the normative formulation of the ideal and its approximation in social reality. In the parlance of the common law, it is, more concretely, the remedy that bridges the gap between the ideal and the real, or, rather, between norms and facts. In the common law world—particularly in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth—a lively discourse has developed around the question of how rights relate to remedies. To the civilian legal scholar—used to thinking within a framework that strictly categorizes terms like substance and procedure, subjective right, action, and execution—the concept of remedy remains a mystery. The lack of “remedy” in the vocabulary of the civil law is more than just a matter of attaching different labels to functional equivalents, it is the expression of a different way of thinking about law. Only if a legal system is capable of satisfactorily transposing the abstract discourse of the law into social reality does the legal machinery fulfill its purpose: due to the pivotal importance of this translational process, the way it is cast in legal concepts thus allows for an insight into the deep structure of a legal culture, and, convergence notwithstanding, the remaining epistemological differences between the legal traditions of the West. A mixed jurisdiction must reflect upon these differences in order to understand its own condition and to define its future course.
L’exercice des parentés et la transmission des savoirs relationnels
Authors: Dupré Florence
Published: July 2012

Le développement et la systématisation de l’utilisation des réseaux Internet dans l’Arctique inuit canadien depuis le début des années 2000 ouvrent un champ d’observations et d’analyses nouveau à l’anthropologie. À la suite de plusieurs enquêtes de terrain menées dans la communauté de Sanikiluaq (îles Belcher, Nunavut, Canada) entre mars 2007 et avril 2010, cet article propose de s’intéresser à la définition et aux pratiques des relations de parenté sur les sites de réseaux sociaux. S’appuyant sur l’analyse de pages personnelles de sites Bebo et Facebook, il développe tout particulièrement la question de l’identification, de l’exercice et de la diffusion des savoirs relationnels qikirtamiut (i.e. des habitants de l’archipel) sur Internet, dans le contexte d’une transmission intergénérationnelle que les jeunes parents de la communauté décrivent comme problématique – tant au niveau de la circulation effective des connaissances, que des changements notables des milieux communautaires et familiaux contemporains.
« Oeuvres frontières » de l’art numérique
Authors: Fourmentraux Jean-Paul
Published: July 2012

En engageant un travail artistique plus collectif et interdisciplinaire, les technologies numériques transforment également la carrière sociale des oeuvres d’art. Figures idéaltypiques d’une économie de la qualité où prévalent organisations par projets et marchés de prototypes, les oeuvres d’art numériques constituent désormais le vecteur de nouveaux développements technologiques. Bénéficiaires de dispositifs inédits de soutien public en faveur de l’innovation, les arts numériques tendent en effet vers la création de valeurs qui ne relèvent plus exclusivement du monde des arts. L’article interroge les logiques de conception et de régulation du travail qui en découlent, orientées vers une pluralité d’enjeux : exposition (artistique et scientifique), invention (technologique) et innovation (économique). Il met l’accent sur les ressorts et tensions de tels montages et éclaire les dynamiques d’attribution et de valorisation de ces produits de l’art numérique.
Le domaine artistique contemporain de l’Arctique canadien dans l’environnement numérique
Authors: Maire Aurélie
Published: July 2012

Dans l’Arctique canadien, l’accès aux technologies numériques représente un atout majeur, tant au niveau socioculturel que politique et économique, du fait que sa démarche s’inscrit dans deux valeurs hautement prisées dans les sociétés inuit : l’ouverture sur le monde et l’exigence de visibilité. Au Nunavut comme ailleurs, Internet permet de partager les expériences individuelles et collectives, en privilégiant la prise de parole. Dans un contexte où la reproductibilité numérique des oeuvres d’art et des savoirs devient aisément accessible, les modes de gestion des droits d’auteur établis dès les années 1950 sont aujourd’hui remis en question alors que de nouvelles préoccupations d’ordre éthique et moral interviennent. Selon une approche théorique et méthodologique empruntée à l’anthropologie, l’ethnolinguistique et l’histoire de l’art, cette note de recherche propose une réflexion sur les enjeux socioculturels inhérents à l’utilisation d’Internet dans le domaine de la création artistique contemporaine de l’Arctique canadien. Axée sur la double question des droits d’auteur et de propriété intellectuelle, la discussion engagée tente de saisir les systèmes de valeurs inuit qui s’y réfèrent, en relation avec la notion de propriété des idées.
Inégalités de santé et parcours de vie : réflexions sur quelques déterminants sociaux de l’expérience d’hommes considérés comme vulnérables
Authors: Roy Bernard , De Koninck Maria , Clément Michelle , Couto Éric
Published: July 2012

Dans le cadre d’une recherche portant sur les inégalités de santé en milieu de vie de trois territoires de la région de Québec, la présence d’écarts appréciables est ressortie au sein de deux sous-populations : les familles monoparentales ayant de jeunes enfants et les hommes de 45 à 64 ans d’un quartier urbain. Devant ces résultats, l’équipe de recherche a élaboré une seconde étude afin de repérer les facteurs structurels et sociaux pouvant être en jeu dans la production de ces inégalités. Ce sont les résultats portant sur les hommes et découlant de cette seconde recherche qui sont discutés dans le présent article. Une approche par parcours de vie a été adoptée et les données recueillies ont été analysées chronologiquement et selon différents parcours de vie (famille d’origine, vécu scolaire, travail, parcours résidentiel). Les caractéristiques personnelles, les liens sociaux et les ressources sociosanitaires utilisées par les répondants ont également été pris en compte. Chacun des parcours présentés par chaque entrevue a aussi été caractérisé par la résilience ou la non-résilience selon une démarche consensuelle interjuge afin d’en dégager des facteurs de vulnérabilité ou de protection. L’article se conclut par une discussion établissant des liens entre les résultats obtenus et d’autres recherches qui se sont intéressées aux réalités vécues par les hommes.
La construction identitaire des garçons et la réussite au cégep
Authors: Roy Jacques , Bouchard Josée , Turcotte Marie-Anne
Published: July 2012

L’objet de cet article est de rendre compte des éléments tenant spécifiquement à la construction identitaire des garçons dans leur rapport à l’univers scolaire. Le matériel de base de cet article puise à une récente étude que nous avons réalisée en milieu collégial et qui portait sur la réussite scolaire selon le genre1. Les principaux constats de l’enquête par questionnaire réalisée auprès d’un échantillon de 611 étudiants répartis dans 27 collèges et d’entrevues de groupe effectuées auprès de 64 cégépiens, sont présentés dans la perspective d’une mise en relation du processus de construction identitaire chez les garçons avec leur parcours scolaire. En point de discussion, deux modèles compréhensifs traduisant l’existence de formes de socialisation différenciées selon le genre des étudiants sont exposés.
Comprendre les masculinités rurales : un portrait basé sur la santé psychologique
Authors: Roy Philippe , Tremblay Gilles
Published: July 2012

Les hommes ruraux forment une clientèle particulièrement vulnérable en matière de suicide et de détresse psychologique et ils utilisent peu les services de santé. Comme toute inégalité sociale de santé, cette situation se heurte à plusieurs valeurs chères au service social. Malgré son portrait préoccupant, la santé psychologique des hommes ruraux demeure un sujet largement négligé au Québec, comme dans la plupart des pays industrialisés, ce qui contribue à son invisibilité. Cet article vise à mieux comprendre les réalités objectives et subjectives des hommes ruraux qui influencent leur santé psychologique. Un volet de l’analyse aborde les principaux paradigmes compréhensifs des hommes et des masculinités qui se sont intéressées aux masculinités rurales, ce qui ouvre sur des pistes de recherche.
Oxide Sandwiched Metal Thin‐Film Electrodes for Long‐Term Stable Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Schubert Sylvio , Hermenau Martin , Meiss Jan , Müller‐Meskamp Lars , Leo Karl
Published: July 2012

Oxide/silver/oxide multilayers as semitransparent top electrode for small molecule organic solar cells (OSCs) are presented. It is shown that two oxide layers sandwiching a central metal layer greatly improve the stability and lifetime of the organic solar cell. Thermally evaporated MoO3, WO3, or V2O5 layers are employed as an interlayer for subsequent silver deposition and significantly change the morphology of the ultrathin silver layer, improving charge extraction and electrodes series resistance. The transmittance of the electrode is increased by introducing oxide or oxide and organic multilayers as capping layer, which leads to higher photocurrent generation in the absorber layer. Application of 1 nm MoO3/11 nm Ag/10 nm MoO3/50 nm Alq3 multilayer electrodes in OSCs lead to an efficiency of 2.6% for a standard ZnPc:C60 cell, showing superior performance compared to devices with pure silver top contacts. The device lifetime is also strongly increased. MoO3 layers can saturate and stabilize the inner and outer metal surface, passivating it against most of the degradation mechanisms. With such an oxide/silver/oxide multilayer electrode, the time until the glass encapsulated OSC is degraded to 80% of its starting efficiency is enhanced from 86 h to approximately 4500 h compared to an OSC without an oxide interlayer.
A continuous‐effect membrane distillation process based on hollow fiber AGMD module with internal latent‐heat recovery
Authors: Yao Kun , Qin Yingjie , Yuan Yingjin , Liu Liqiang , He Fei , Wu Yin
Published: July 2012

A continuous‐effect membrane distillation (CEMD) process was developed by equipping air gap membrane distillation (AGMD)‐based and strictly‐parallel hollow fiber module with internal heat recovery. Its performance was indicated by flux, performance ratio and evaporation efficiency. Two kinds of CEMD modules made from different membrane fibers were tested. A face‐centered central composite experimental design was conducted to investigate the influences of operating variables including cold‐feed temperature, hot‐feed temperature, and feed‐in flow rate on the performance. Within the studied experimental range, the maximum PR of 13.8 was obtained. A theoretical model based on governing transport equations was established to predict the process performance, and the model described the experimental data fairly well. In light of the model, possible ways to further increase PR were predicted. The dilute aqueous sugar solution was successfully concentrated 12‐fold to a final concentration of about 20 wt % by using CEMD process with a final PR of 8.2. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 1278–1297, 2013
Polyimide/substituted polyaniline–copolymer–nanoclay composite thin films with high damping abilities
Authors: Longun J. , Iroh J. O.
Published: July 2012

Polyimide (PI)/poly(N‐ethyl aniline‐co‐aniline‐2‐sulfonic acid)–clay (SPNEAC) nanocomposite films containing water‐soluble SPNEAC were successfully synthesized. Atomic force microscopy studies showed a homogeneous distribution of coated clay particles in the PI matrix. The particle sizes varied between about 50 nm and about 220 nm in height and 6–7 μm in length in the nanocomposite containing 5 wt % SPNEAC. Average surface roughnesses of 0.253 and 34.9 nm were obtained for neat PI and the 5 wt % SPNEAC–PI nanocomposite, respectively. Dynamic mechanical spectrometry was used to study the viscoelastic transitions and their temperatures. The dynamic mechanical spectrometry results show a decreasing glass‐transition temperature of the nanocomposites with increasing SPNEAC weight fraction. The area under the α‐transition peak, which is associated with damping and impact energy, increased with increasing SPNEAC weight fraction. The impact energy of the nanocomposites was estimated with a viscoelastic model. It increased with increasing SPNEAC weight fraction, and a maximum value of 84.9 mJ was obtained. The viscoelastic model was based on the area under the α‐transition peak, rubbery plateau modulus, and sample volume. A 5 wt % addition of SPNEAC improved the impact energy of neat PI films by 300%. Scanning electron micrographs of the nanocomposite films showed a less compact cross‐sectional morphology. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Synthesis of highly stable dispersions of copper nanoparticles using sodium hypophosphite
Authors: Lai Dongzhi , Liu Tao , Jiang Guohua , Chen Wenxing
Published: July 2012

Highly stable dispersions of copper nanoparticles with an average diameter of 80 nm were synthesized using a straightforward and cost‐effective method in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a stabilizer and without any inert gas protection. Sodium hypophosphite was used as the reducing agent in low pH value aqueous medium. The copper nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanism of the PVP on the stabilization of copper nanoparticles is also discussed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Separation of methanol from methanol/water mixtures with pervaporation hybrid membranes
Authors: Hu Keyan , Nie Junde , Liu Junsheng , Zheng Jiuhan
Published: July 2012

A series of pervaporation (PV) hybrid membranes were prepared via the crosslinking of poly(vinyl alcohol) with formaldehyde solution with N‐3‐(trimethoxysilyl) propyl ethylenediamine (TMSPEDA) as a hybrid precursor of the sol–gel process. Both the thermal stability and separation performances of the prepared hybrid membranes were investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the thermal degradation temperature of the hybrid membranes was beyond 250°C. Differential scanning calorimetry indicated that both the glass‐transition temperature and the crystallization temperature increased with elevated TMSPEDA contents in the hybrid membranes. PV experiments demonstrated that for membranes A–D, both the permeation flux and separation factor indicated the same trade‐off effect. Moreover, it was found that for individual membranes, the permeation flux increased as the feed temperature was increased. Meanwhile, the separation factor revealed an change trend opposite to that of the permeation flux. Furthermore, proper addition of TMSPEDA in the hybrid membrane was found to reduce the permeation activation energy. On the basis of these findings, we deduced that these hybrid membranes have potential applications in the separation of methanol/water mixtures. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Effect of ultrasonic irradiation on the microstructure and the electric property of PP/CPP/MWNT composites
Authors: Yang Lin , Zhang Zhiye , Wang Xinlong , Chen Jinyao , Li Huilin
Published: July 2012

Poly(propylene) (PP)/chlorinated PP (CPP)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) composites are prepared via melting blend with a MWNT masterbatch obtained by a solution process under ultrasonic irradiation. The effects of ultrasonic irradiation on the microstructure and the electric properties of the PP/CPP/MWNT composites are systematically investigated through a combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), and rheological measurements. Ultrasonic irradiation can remarkably decrease the volume resistivity of the PP/CPP/MWNT composites. The results of SEM and TEM show that the ultrasonic irradiation is beneficial to the dispersion of MWNTs in the PP/CPP/MWNT composites and the exfoliation of the MWNT agglomerates. When the MWNT content is more than 3.0%, ultrasonic irradiation can evidently increase the percent crystallinity of the PP/CPP/MWNT composites. The introduction of ultrasonic irradiation can increase the elastic modulus (G′), viscous modulus (G″), and complex viscosity (η*) of the PP/CPP/MWNT composites at low frequency. Ultrasonic irradiation is also shown to improve the interfacial adhesion of MWNT and the interaction between the PP matrix and MWNT. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
UV‐activated hydrosilation reaction for silicone polymer crosslinking
Authors: Sangermano M. , Marchi S. , Meier P. , Kornmann X.
Published: July 2012

In this article hydrosilation was employed to achieve a fully cured three‐dimensional silicone network. The UV‐activated hydrosilation reaction was investigated focusing on the curing conditions and their relationships to physical properties. After finding the optimum catalyst concentration, it was observed that by decreasing the molecular weight of the vinyl oligomer a slight increase of the Tg value was achieved together with a complete suppression of the Tm. It was possible to fully cure samples up to 4 cm of thickness. The dark curing process was evaluated by FTIR analyses and it was evidenced an important increase on dark‐polymerization, which is dependent on the length of the UV‐irradiation time. This result shows the versatility of UV‐curing technique for silicone network formation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Fluorogenic affinity gels constructed from clickable boronic acids
Authors: Ahsan Uddin Khan Mohammad , Ye Lei
Published: July 2012

Boronate affinity gel was prepared by immobilizing azide‐functionalized boronic acid on alkyne‐modified Sepharose. Different azide‐functionalized boronic acids were synthesized from 2‐, 3‐, and 4‐aminophenylboronic acids. One of the azide‐functionalized boronic acids, 3BII, displayed weak and unexpected fluorescence emission. Using Cu(I)‐catalyzed 1,3‐dipolar azide‐alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction (click chemistry), the azide‐functionalized boronic acid could be immobilized on alkyne‐modified Sepharose 4B under very mild reaction condition. Immobilization of boronic acid 3BII also led to a new fluorogenic affinity gel, which displayed dose‐dependent fluorescence intensity change upon binding fructose and glucose at physiological pH. The clickable boronic acids may be used as simple and modular building blocks to construct molecular recognition materials and surfaces for different applications including bioseparation, sensing and controlled drug delivery. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Synthesis, characterization, and conductivity studies of polypyrrole/copper sulfide nanocomposites
Authors: Ramesan M. T.
Published: July 2012

Nanocomposites of polypyrrole (PPy) containing copper sulfide (CuS) were synthesized by an in situ chemical oxidative polymerization. The nanocomposites were characterized by FTIR, SEM, XRD, DSC, TGA, and conductivity studies. The FTIR spectra ascertained the chemical interlinking of polypyrole with metal sulfide nanoparticles. Morphological analysis showed that the nanoparticles were uniformly covering the entire substrate. The XRD pattern reveals that the nanoparticle incorporated polypyrrole showed a crystalline nature and the crystallinity of the polymer increases with increase in concentration of CuS nanoparticles. From DSC, an increase in glass transition temperature shows the increased orderness in the polymer composite than in the pure polypyrrole. Thermal analysis (TGA) of the composite showed a progressive increase in the thermal stability with increase in content of CuS. The frequency dependent electrical properties (a.c. conductivity) of the nanocomposites were higher than that of polypyrrole. The d.c. electrical conductivity increased with increase in amount of nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. The results obtained for these composites have greater scientific and technological interest. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
The morphology and properties of poly(methyl methacrylate)‐cellulose nanocomposites prepared by immersion precipitation method
Authors: Fahma Farah , Hori Naruhito , Iwata Tadahisa , Takemura Akio
Published: July 2012

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)‐cellulose nanofibers nanocomposite were prepared by an immersion precipitation method using various nanofiber contents. Solvent exchange was used to disperse the cellulose nanofibers in dimethylacetamide (DMAc) so that they could be easily mixed with PMMA solution. Atomic force microscopy images show that the thickness of the nanofibers dispersed in DMAc is around 2–3 nm. The nanocomposites obtained were translucent. The thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry analyses show that with increasing cellulose nanofiber content the thermal stability and the glass transition temperature (Tg) of polymer matrix shift to higher temperature. The tensile modulus and strength increased with increasing nanofiber content. Dynamic mechanical analysis profiles show that the presence of cellulose nanofibers affects the storage modulus of PMMA nanocomposites over the whole range of temperatures studied. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Analysis of void shape and size in the collector plate and polycaprolactone molecular weight on electrospun scaffold pore size
Authors: Hong Jong Kyu , Xu Guan , Piao Daqing , Madihally Sundararajan V.
Published: July 2012

Many variations in the electrospinning process have emerged to control pore size needed in tissue scaffolds including introducing voids in the collector plate. However, the effect of different shapes and sizes of voids on fiber and pore sizes is not well understood. In this study, we evaluated the effect of void size and shapes in the collector plate on polycaprolactone (PCL) fiber size and pore size. First, we performed experiments using three different sizes of circular voids (0.9, 1.4, and 1.9 cm). Also, we evaluated the effect of triangular and rectangular voids. Further, changes in the electrical field within the voids were evaluated using computational fluid dynamic software COMSOL. Fibers using mixtures of PCL (high, medium, and low molecular weight) formed using void collector plate and performed degradation characteristics for 30 days in physiological conditions (37°C and 7.4 pH). These results showed that the size and the morphology of fibers are not affected by the geometrical patterns of the voids. However, fiber alignment is affected by the void shape due to favorable rearrangement in the electrical field. Fibers can be formed by mixing PCL of different molecular weight, and degradation of PCL fiber was accelerated by the mixture with low molecular weight. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Gene profiling of Chikungunya virus arthritis in a mouse model reveals significant overlap with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Nakaya Helder I. , Gardner Joy , Poo Yee‐Suan , Major Lee , Pulendran Bali , Suhrbier Andreas
Published: July 2012

Objective

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito‐borne alphavirus that causes a chronic debilitating polyarthralgia/polyarthritis, for which current treatments are often inadequate. To assess whether new drugs being developed for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) might find utility in the treatment of alphaviral arthritides, we sought to determine whether the inflammatory gene expression signature of CHIKV arthritis shows any similarities with RA or collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA), a mouse model of RA.

Methods

Using a recently developed animal model of CHIKV arthritis in adult wild‐type mice, we generated a consensus CHIKV arthritis gene expression signature, which was used to interrogate publicly available microarray studies of RA and CIA. Pathway analyses were then performed using the overlapping gene signatures.

Results

Gene set enrichment analysis showed that there was a highly significant overlap in the differentially expressed genes in the CHIKV arthritis model and in RA. This concordance also increased with the severity of RA, as measured by the inflammation score. A highly significant overlap was also seen between CHIKV arthritis and CIA. Pathway analysis revealed that the overlap between these arthritides was spread over a range of different inflammatory processes. Involvement of T cells and interferon‐γ (IFNγ) in CHIKV arthritis was confirmed in studies of MHCII‐deficient mice and IFNγ‐deficient mice, respectively.

Conclusion

These results suggest that RA, a chronic autoimmune arthritis, and CHIKV disease, usually a self‐limiting viral arthropathy, share multiple inflammatory processes. New drugs and biologic therapies being developed for RA may thus find application in the treatment of alphaviral arthritides.
Safety and pharmacodynamics of rontalizumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: Results of a phase I, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind, dose‐escalation study
Authors: McBride Jacqueline M. , Jiang Jenny , Abbas Alexander R. , Morimoto Alyssa , Li Jing , Maciuca Romeo , Townsend Michael , Wallace Daniel J. , Kennedy William P. , Drappa Jorn
Published: July 2012

Objective

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of autoantibodies and inflammation in multiple organ systems. Elevation of messenger RNA levels of interferon (IFN)–regulated genes (IRGs) has been described in the peripheral blood of SLE patients and has been associated with disease activity. The safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of rontalizumab, a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that neutralizes IFNα, were assessed in a phase I dose‐escalation study of single and repeat doses of rontalizumab in adults with mildly active SLE. The present report describes the safety results and the impact of rontalizumab on expression of IRGs, IFN‐inducible proteins, and autoantibodies.

Methods

Patients were enrolled into dose groups ranging from 0.3 to 10 mg/kg, administered via intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous routes. Expression levels of 7 IRGs and IFN‐inducible serum proteins were monitored as potential biomarkers for the PD activity of rontalizumab.

Results

An acceptable safety profile was demonstrated for rontalizumab in patients with SLE. Prespecified criteria for dose‐limiting toxicity were not met. The incidence of serious adverse events was comparable across cohorts. The PK properties were as expected for an IgG1 monoclonal antibody and were proportional to dose. Following administration of rontalizumab, a rapid decline in the expression of IRGs was observed in the 3 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg IV cohorts, and this effect could be sustained with repeat dosing. There was no apparent decline in the levels of IFN‐inducible proteins or levels of anti–double‐stranded DNA and anti–extractable nuclear antigen autoantibodies following treatment with rontalizumab.

Conclusion

The preliminary safety, PK profile, and observed PD effects of rontalizumab support further evaluation of its safety and efficacy in SLE.
Association of two independent functional risk haplotypes in TNIP1 with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Adrianto Indra , Wang Shaofeng , Wiley Graham B. , Lessard Christopher J. , Kelly Jennifer A. , Adler Adam J. , Glenn Stuart B. , Williams Adrienne H. , Ziegler Julie T. , Comeau Mary E. , Marion Miranda C. , Wakeland Benjamin E. , Liang Chaoying , Kaufman Kenneth M. , Guthridge Joel M. , Alarcón‐Riquelme Marta E. ,   BIOLUPUS and GENLES Networks, Alarcón Graciela S. , Anaya Juan‐Manuel , Bae Sang‐Cheol , Kim Jae‐Hoon , Joo Young Bin , Boackle Susan A. , Brown Elizabeth E. , Petri Michelle A. , Ramsey‐Goldman Rosalind , Reveille John D. , Vilá Luis M. , Criswell Lindsey A. , Edberg Jeffrey C. , Freedman Barry I. , Gilkeson Gary S. , Jacob Chaim O. , James Judith A. , Kamen Diane L. , Kimberly Robert P. , Martín Javier , Merrill Joan T. , Niewold Timothy B. , Pons‐Estel Bernardo A. , Scofield R. Hal , Stevens Anne M. , Tsao Betty P. , Vyse Timothy J. , Langefeld Carl D. , Harley John B. , Wakeland Edward K. , Moser Kathy L. , Montgomery Courtney G. , Gaffney Patrick M.
Published: July 2012

Objective

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody production and altered type I interferon expression. Genetic surveys and genome‐wide association studies have identified >30 SLE susceptibility genes. One of these genes, TNIP1, encodes the ABIN1 protein. ABIN1 functions in the immune system by restricting NF‐κB signaling. The present study was undertaken to investigate the genetic factors that influence association with SLE in genes that regulate the NF‐κB pathway.

Methods

We analyzed a dense set of genetic markers spanning TNIP1 and TAX1BP1, as well as the TNIP1 homolog TNIP2, in case–control populations of diverse ethnic origins. TNIP1, TNIP2, and TAX1BP1 were fine‐mapped in a total of 8,372 SLE cases and 7,492 healthy controls from European‐ancestry, African American, Hispanic, East Asian, and African American Gullah populations. Levels of TNIP1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and ABIN1 protein in Epstein‐Barr virus–transformed human B cell lines were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively.

Results

We found significant associations between SLE and genetic variants within TNIP1, but not in TNIP2 or TAX1BP1. After resequencing and imputation, we identified 2 independent risk haplotypes within TNIP1 in individuals of European ancestry that were also present in African American and Hispanic populations. Levels of TNIP1 mRNA and ABIN1 protein were reduced among subjects with these haplotypes, suggesting that they harbor hypomorphic functional variants that influence susceptibility to SLE by restricting ABIN1 expression.

Conclusion

Our results confirm the association signals between SLE and TNIP1 variants in multiple populations and provide new insight into the mechanism by which TNIP1 variants may contribute to SLE pathogenesis.
Potential roles of interleukin‐17A in the development of skin fibrosis in mice
Authors: Okamoto Yoshinobu , Hasegawa Minoru , Matsushita Takashi , Hamaguchi Yasuhito , Huu Doanh Le , Iwakura Yoichiro , Fujimoto Manabu , Takehara Kazuhiko
Published: July 2012

Objective

Although transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) have been considered to play central roles in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc), other cytokines may also be crucial for the development of SSc. The aim of this study was to examine the roles of T helper cytokines in the development of skin fibrosis.

Methods

To compare the roles of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines, we examined bleomycin‐induced SSc in mice deficient for interferon‐γ (IFNγ), interleukin‐4 (IL‐4), and IL‐17A. The mechanism by which IL‐17A contributes to bleomycin‐induced fibrosis was investigated in vivo and in vitro. The outcome of mice lacking IL‐17A was also investigated in TSK‐1 mice.

Results

The loss of IL‐17A significantly attenuated bleomycin‐induced skin fibrosis, whereas a deficiency of IFNγ or IL‐4 did not. Leukocyte infiltration and the expression of TGFβ and CTGF messenger RNA in bleomycin‐injected skin were significantly reduced in IL‐17A–deficient mice compared with wild‐type (WT) mice. Daily bleomycin injections induced the expression of IL‐17A in the skin and potent IL‐17A producers in splenic CD4+ T cells from WT mice. Furthermore, a skin fibroblast cell line expressed increased TGFβ, CTGF, and collagen after the addition of recombinant IL‐17A. IL‐17A deficiency also attenuated skin thickness in TSK‐1 mice.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that IL‐17A contributes to skin fibrosis in 2 mouse models of SSc. These findings suggest that inhibition of IL‐17A represents a therapeutic target for antagonizing fibrotic skin disorders such as SSc.
Effect of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs on the C‐reactive protein level in rheumatoid arthritis: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Tarp Simon , Bartels Else M. , Bliddal Henning , Furst Daniel E. , Boers Maarten , Danneskiold‐Samsøe Bente , Rasmussen Mette , Christensen Robin
Published: July 2012

Objective

To evaluate the effects of oral nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, with a prespecified focus on the different NSAIDs.

Methods

We performed a systematic search in Medline via PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBase via OVID, the Institute for Scientific Information Web of Science, and other sources. Eligible trials were parallel‐group, randomized, placebo‐controlled trials of oral NSAID therapy in RA patients for which there were extractable CRP data. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated from the differences in means of CRP levels between groups (active treatment minus placebo) divided by the pooled SDs. For the meta‐analysis, a random‐effects model was used to estimate the overall change in CRP level, and stratified analysis was used to examine differences among NSAIDs.

Results

We included 19 trials of 10 different NSAIDs. Overall, NSAIDs showed no effect on the CRP level (SMD 0.01 [95% CI −0.03, 0.06], P = 0.62). However, the prespecified stratified analysis indicated varying effects on the CRP level according to the different NSAIDs; lumiracoxib caused a statistically significant and consistent (I2 = 0%) increase in the CRP level (SMD 0.13 [95% CI 0.01, 0.25], P = 0.037), whereas naproxen caused a statistically significant and consistent (I2 = 0%) decrease in the CRP level (SMD −0.11 [95% CI −0.20, −0.02], P = 0.022).

Conclusion

Overall, NSAIDs have no effect on the CRP level. However, the nonselective NSAID naproxen was associated with a significant decrease in the CRP level, whereas the cyclooxygenase 2–selective NSAID lumiracoxib was associated with a significant increase in the CRP level. This finding is interesting considering the suspected influence of NSAIDs on cardiovascular complications.
Th1 and Th17 lymphocytes expressing CD161 are implicated in giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica pathogenesis
Authors: Samson Maxime , Audia Sylvain , Fraszczak Jennifer , Trad Malika , Ornetti Paul , Lakomy Daniela , Ciudad Marion , Leguy Vanessa , Berthier Sabine , Vinit Julien , Manckoundia Patrick , Maillefert Jean‐Francis , Besancenot Jean‐François , Aho‐Glele Serge , Olsson Nils Olivier , Lorcerie Bernard , Guillevin Loïc , Mouthon Luc , Saas Philippe , Bateman Andrew , Martin Laurent , Janikashvili Nona , Larmonier Nicolas , Bonnotte Bernard
Published: July 2012

Objective

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most frequently occurring vasculitis in elderly individuals, and its pathogenesis is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to decipher the role of the major CD4+ T cell subsets in GCA and its rheumatologic form, polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

Methods

A prospective study of the phenotype and the function of major CD4+ T cell subsets (Th1, Th17, and Treg cells) was performed in 34 untreated patients with GCA or PMR, in comparison with 31 healthy control subjects and with the 27 treated patients who remained after the 7 others withdrew.

Results

Compared with control subjects, patients with GCA and patients with PMR had a decreased frequency of Treg cells and Th1 cells, whereas the percentage of Th17 cells was significantly increased. Furthermore, an analysis of temporal artery biopsy specimens obtained from patients affected by GCA for whom biopsy results were positive demonstrated massive infiltration by Th17 and Th1 lymphocytes without any Treg cells. After glucocorticoid treatment, the percentages of circulating Th1 and Th17 cells decreased, whereas no change in the Treg cell frequency was observed. The frequency of CD161+CD4+ T cells, which are considered to be Th17 cell precursors, was similar in patients and control subjects. However, these cells highly infiltrated GCA temporal artery biopsy specimens, and their ability to produce interleukin‐17 in vitro was significantly enhanced in patients with GCA and patients with PMR and was correlated with a decrease in the phosphorylated form of STAT‐1.

Conclusion

This study is the first to demonstrate that the frequency of Treg cells is decreased in patients with GCA and patients with PMR, and that CD161+CD4+ T lymphocytes, differentiated into Th1 cells and Th17 cells, are involved in the pathogenesis of GCA and PMR.
α,α′‐Diarylacenaphtho[1,2‐c]phosphole P‐Oxides: Divergent Synthesis and Application to Cathode Buffer Layers in Organic Photovoltaics
Authors: Matano Yoshihiro , Saito Arihiro , Suzuki Yuto , Miyajima Tooru , Akiyama Seiji , Otsubo Saika , Nakamoto Emi , Aramaki Shinji , Imahori Hiroshi
Published: July 2012

A divergent method for the synthesis of α,α′‐diarylacenaphtho[1,2‐c]phosphole P‐oxides has been established; α,α′‐dibromoacenaphtho[c]phosphole P‐oxide, which was prepared through a TiII‐mediated cyclization of 1,8‐bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)naphthalene, underwent a Stille coupling with three different kinds of aryltributylstannanes to afford the α,α′‐diarylacenaphtho[c]phosphole P‐oxides in moderate to good yields. X‐ray crystallographic analyses and UV/Vis absorption/fluorescence measurements have revealed that the degree of π‐conjugation, the packing motif, the electron‐accepting ability, and the thermal stability of the acenaphtho[c]phosphole π‐systems are finely tunable with the α‐aryl substituents. All the PO and PS derivatives exhibited high stability in their electrochemically reduced state. To use this class of arene‐fused phosphole π‐systems as n‐type semiconducting materials, we evaluated device performances of the bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaics (OPV) that consist of poly(3‐hexylthiophene), an indene‐C70 bisadduct, and a cathode buffer layer. The insertion of the diarylacenaphtho[c]phosphole P‐oxides as the buffer layer was found to improve the power conversion efficiency of the polymer‐based OPV devices.
An Active Disturbance Rejection Based Approach to Vibration Suppression in Two‐Inertia Systems
Authors: Zhao Shen , Gao Zhiqiang
Published: July 2012

This study concerns the resonance problems found in motion control, typically described in a two‐inertia system model as compliance between the motor and the load. We reformulate the problem in the framework of active disturbance rejection control (ADRC), where the resonance is assumed to be unknown and treated as disturbance, estimated and mitigated. This allows the closed‐loop bandwidth to go well beyond the resonant frequency, which is quite difficult using existing methods. In addition, such level of performance is achieved with minimum complexity in the controller design and tuning: no parameter estimation or adaptive algorithm is needed, and the controller is tuned by adjusting one parameter, namely, the bandwidth of the control loop. It is also shown that the proposed solution applies to both the velocity and position control problems, and the fact that ADRC offers an effective and practical motion control solution, in the presence of unknown resonant frequency within the bandwidth of the control system. Finally, frequency response analysis is performed where stability margin is obtained before the simulation results are verified in the hardware experiments.
The use of pH‐sensitive nitroxide spin probe to study diffusion of acids diffusion of HCl and CCl3COOH in Glassy Glycerol/Water Mixture
Authors: Paschenko S. V. , Dzuba S. A. , Khramtsov V. V. , Tsvetkov Yu. D.
Published: July 2012

Proton transfer from surrounding matrix to imidazolidine‐based nitroxide spin probe in viscous solution is shown to affect noticeably the nitroxide solid‐like EPR spectrum. The use of this property is suggested for studying diffusion of guest acid molecules. Diffusion of hydrochloric and trichloroacetic acid in glassy 85%/ 15% wt:wt glycerol/water mixture has been studied. Values of diffusion coefficient obtained in the range 3·−9 − 5·−8cm2/s show a remarkable breakdown of the Stokes‐Einstein law. The data may be fitted by the empirical law D ∝︁ η−b, with b ≈ 0.6.
A. coherent vs. incoherent hydrogen dynamics across or through a barrier: Infrared laser pulse controlled ultrafast H‐atom switching in two‐dimensional asymmetric double well potentials
Authors: Došlić N. , Kühn O. , Manz J.
Published: July 2012

The laser induced isomerisation of malonaldehyde derivatives is studied using a two‐dimensional model Hamiltonian. The two selected coordinates describe the H‐atom motion coupled to a heavy atom mode which modulates the reaction barrier. On the basis of the solutions of the time‐dependent Schrödinger equation pulse characteristics are determined which yield an efficient switching of the H‐atom wavepacket between the two isomers within a pump‐dump scheme. The influence of various system parameters such as the heavy‐light atom coupling and the direction of the dipole moment is investigated.
The quantum dynamics of proton transfer in the hydrogen bond
Authors: Horsewill A. J. , Brougham D. F. , Jenkinson R. I. , Mcgloin C. J. , Trommsdorff H. P. , Johnson M. R.
Published: July 2012

Double proton transfer in the hydrogen bonds of carboxylic acid dimers has been investigated via measurements of the dispersion of the proton spin‐lattice relaxation time, T1, using magnetic field‐cycling NMR. A plot of the spin‐lattice relaxation rate, T1−1, as a function of magnetic field, provides a direct measurement of the motional spectrum and hence of the proton transfer rate. In the materials studied, these NMR experiments are optimised for the low temperature region where the dynamics are dominated by incoherent quantum tunnelling. Measurements of the proton transfer rate at higher temperatures have been made using quasi‐elastic neutron scattering (QENS) and these facilitate the characterisation of the transition between quantum and classical dynamics in the intermediate temperature region. The role of tunnelling in the excited vibrational states of the double minimum potential (DMP) which characterises the system is revealed in these measurements and has been analysed according to the behaviour of a particle in a DMP which is coupled to a bath of phonons. The complementarity between the NMR and QENS techniques is emphasised and discussed, and the dynamic range accessible to the field‐cycling NMR technique is explored through studying a range of related materials.
Proton transfer and hydrogen bonding with transition metal atoms and hydride hydrogen by IR and NMR studies
Authors: Epstein L. M. , Shubina E. S.
Published: July 2012

The present review considers the results of investigations of novel types of hydrogen bonds inherent in transition metal complexes, namely H‐bonds with the metal atom (XH…M) and with hydrogen atom of transition metal hydrides and boron hydrides (XH…HM), (XH…HB). The spectral (IR, NMR) evidence of the hydrogen bond formation due to interaction of proton donors with metal and hydride hydrogen as proton acceptors is presented. The thermodynamic and spectral characteristics of these hydrogen bonds are determined. An analysis of similarity between spectral and thermodynamic properties of the novel and classical H‐bonding with organic bases is carried out. The participation of these hydrogen bonds in proton transfer is analyzed.
Proton transfer reaction in N‐methyl‐2‐hydroxy‐Schiff bases
Authors: Filarowski Aleksander , Koll Aleksander , Glowiak Tadeusz , Majewski Eugeniusz , Dziembowska Teresa
Published: July 2012

The structure of two ortho‐hydroxy N‐methyl Schiff bases as well as the selfcondensation product of 2‐(N‐methyliminomethyl)‐phenol are determined by X‐Ray crystallography and by ab initio DFT, on B3LYP/6‐31G** level, calculations. Electronic coupling between acidic and basic centres of the molecules, especially effective in the proton transfer structure, is discussed on the basis of detailed analysis of differentiation of bond lengths both in aromatic and chelate rings. Consequences of this coupling on the intramolecular hydrogen bonding and proton transfer process are discussed.
Compared 13C NMR spectra of acetanilide and N‐methylacetamide
Authors: Barthes Mariette , Ribet Michèle
Published: July 2012

Acetanilide and N‐methylacetamide are both crystals in which the existence of non linear excitations (self‐trapped excitons or acoustic polarons) have been postulated as an explanation of the unconventional amide spectroscopy. This theory is debated and a dynamic proton transfer along the hydrogen bond could be an alternative explanation for the unexpected sidebands and temperature dependences.

Our compared 13C NMR study demonstrates a similar behaviour for the EFG at the 14N atom in these both compounds, indicating a very close electronic density around the nitrogen in both cases, and thus does not confirm the hypothesis of a proton transfer in N‐methylacetamide.
Diversity of excited state deactivation paths in heteroazaaromatics with multiple intermolecular hydrogen bonds
Authors: Dobkowski Jacek , Herbich Jerzy , Galievsky Victor , Thummel Randolph P. , Wu Feiyue , Waluk Jacek
Published: July 2012

Transient absorption and luminescence studies were performed for several heteroazaaromatic molecules which possess both hydrogen bonding donor and acceptor groups, and which are capable of forming cyclic, double intermolecular hydrogen bonds. In protic solvents, these systems exhibit complex photophysics, manifested by a strong quenching of the fluorescence. In dipyrido[2,3‐a:3′,2′‐i]carbazole and 7,8,9,10‐tetrahydropyri‐do[2,3‐a]carbazole, photoinduced double proton transfer is observed in the first excited singlet state, leading to tautomeric species which emit strongly Stokes‐shifted fluorescence. The large and temperature‐independent rate of this reaction is observed for the case in which a cyclic complex with an alcohol molecule is formed already in the ground state. Another excited state depopulation channel, internal conversion caused by proton movement in the cyclic complex, is observed in alcohol solutions of 2‐(2′‐pyridyl)‐indoles and pyrido[2,3‐a]carbazole. In these cases, formation of cyclic, doubly hydrogen‐bonded structures occurs in the excited state and involves solvent rearrangement. The rate of this process changes with solvent viscosity and becomes negligible at low temperatures, when the viscosity is high. Fast internal conversion has also been observed in hydrogen‐bonded complexes with azaaromatic bases. Its mechanism can be explained by intermolecular charge transfer interactions. In alcohol solutions of 2‐(2′‐pyridyl)indoles, transient absorption results point to yet another channel of excited state deactivation – photoionization, occurring faster than S1 decay.