bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Overview of the Malaria Control Programme in Zambia
Authors: Chanda Emmanuel , Kamuliwo Mulakwa , Steketee Richard W. , Macdonald Michael B. , Babaniyi Olusegun , Mukonka Victor M.
Published: December 2012

The Zambian national malaria control programme has made great progress in the fight against Malaria. The country has solid, consistent, and coordinated policies, strategies, and guidelines for malaria control, with government prioritizing malaria in both the National Health Strategic Plan and the National Development Plan. This has translated into high coverage of proven and effective key preventive, curative, and supportive interventions with concomitant marked reduction in both malaria cases and deaths. The achievements attained can be attributed to increased advocacy, communication and behaviour changes, efficient partnership coordination including strong community engagement, increased financial resources, and evidence-based deployment of key technical interventions in accordance with the national malaria control programme policy and strategic direction. The three-ones strategy has been key for increased and successful public-private sector partner coordination, strengthening, and mobilization. However, maintaining the momentum and the gains is critical as the programme strives to achieve universal coverage of evidence-based and proven interventions. The malaria control programme’s focus is to maintain the accomplishments, by mobilizing more resources and partners, increasing the government funding towards malaria control, scaling up and directing interventions based on epidemiological evidence, and strengthen active malaria surveillance and response to reduce transmission and to begin considering elimination.
A Novel Human Membrane Protein Interacting with the Short Fiber of Enteric Adenovirus
Authors: Favier Anne-Laure , Grzela Renata , Tcherniuk Siergiej , Harsi Marianna Charlotte , Chroboczek Jadwiga
Published: December 2012

Human enteric adenoviruses of species F, HAdV-40 and HAdV-41 (Ad40 and Ad41), are associated with gastroenteritis in children. Ad attachment to the primary receptor on the cell surface is mediated by the distal head domain of the fiber protein, an antenna-like component of the adenovirus capsid. Differently from the majority of human Ads that possess one type of fiber on their capsid, the Ad40 and 41 have two distinct fibers. The long fiber recognizes the host membrane protein CAR, which permits virus attachment, but nothing is known about the role of the short fiber. Using the head domain of the Ad41 short fiber, we fished out a putative membrane protein that has never been previously described. This partner of the short fiber of enteric Ad41 (ParAd41) is a small, hydrophobic protein with three putative trans membrane domains, which interacts with the Ad41 short fiber but not with the Ad41 long fiber or with the fiber of respiratory Ad2 serotype. ParAd41 is localized in intracellular membranes including the nuclear membrane. Saturation of the short fiber with ParAd41 inhibits virus infectivity, which substantiates the putative role of ParAd41 in enteric Ads tropism. It is conceivable that the interaction of the short fiber with ParAd41 mediates virus postattachment endocytosis step as well as interaction with the nuclear membrane prior to the injection of viral DNA into the nucleus, thus enabling enteric adenovirus infection. This study is the first one to probe the molecular nature of enteric Ad41 tropism.
The Patient Satisfaction Survey: What does it mean to your bottom line?
Authors: Petrullo Kristin A. , Lamar Stacey , Nwankwo-Otti Oby , Alexander-Mills Kinta , Viola Deborah
Published: December 2012

The primary objective of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is to improve the health care delivery system for all Americans. In April 2011, a reward system initiative for hospitals was announced that focused enhanced reimbursement incentives to hospitals that improved overall care and maintained patient satisfaction. This initiative begins in fiscal year 2013 for Medicare insured patients and is anticipated that private insurers will soon follow this standard.Patient satisfaction has become one of the determinants of health care. Its measures include access, outcome, effectiveness of service provided, and other variables intended to improve population health. Important economic decisions are being influenced with this data. This study explores the impact of the patient satisfaction survey instrument with reimbursement and how this process has influenced care decisions of one large health system in the northeast. It identifies strengths and weaknesses within this health system that have affected the bottom line.Key Words: Patient satisfaction, quality of care, financing, Medicare reimbursement, Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, Affordable Care Act, Partnership for Patients
Aplicação da zero latency enterprise em um data mart comercial para suporte à tomada de decisão em tempo real
Authors: Arrivabene Adriano , Sassi Renato Jose
Published: December 2012

A Tecnologia da Informação tornou-se aliada do mundo corporativo, dispo¬nibilizando infraestrutura de comunicação, gerando grande volume de infor¬mações. Para armazená-las foram implantados bancos de dados, em destaque o Data Mart, criado para armazenar informações selecionadas. No entanto, os cenários extraídos do Data Mart não eram atuais, havia uma latência de tempo, o tempo entre a ocorrência de um evento e a execução de uma ação ou resposta era considerável. Minimizar a latência de tempo (Latência Zero) passou a ser um desafio. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar as vantagens da aplicação da Latência Zero no suporte à tomada de decisão em um Data Mart Comercial de uma empresa do ramo da construção civil. Foi proposto um Data Mart na Latência Zero para a extração de cenários de suporte à tomada de decisão. As análises evidenciam que as necessidades foram aten¬didas com as extrações realizadas no Data Mart proposto.
Uma análise das publicações sobre modularidade nos periódicos no Brasil
Authors: Mathias Eduardo , Kubota Flávio Issao , Cauchick Miguel Paulo A.
Published: December 2012

Atualmente, as empresas buscam práticas organizacionais para atender uma demanda mercadológica cada vez mais competitiva. Uma dessas práticas é a adoção da modularidade, que decompõe o projeto de um produto ou sua linha de produção em módulos. A modularidade busca simplificar a arqui¬tetura do produto, reduzir os custos de projeto e de processo e, assim, pro¬porcionar um diferencial às empresas, permitindo a customização em massa. Nesse contexto, objetiva-se neste trabalho realizar uma busca por artigos relacionados à modularidade na indústria automotiva brasileira publicados nos principais periódicos nacionais específicos ou ligados à Engenharia de Produção. Assim, tem-se como propósito analisar as publicações identi¬ficadas e seu foco de estudo. Os resultados indicam que a modularidade ainda não é muito explorada nas publicações no Brasil, concluindo-se que os artigos são, em geral, empíricos, centrados na modularidade de projeto e de produção e que uma maior quantidade de trabalhos deveria ser identificada sobre a modularidade de uso.
Fulerenos: Uma breve revisão
Authors: Pereira Jose Antonio Maciel
Published: December 2012

Neste artigo, faz-se uma revisão do que se vem publicando na literatura sobre o tema de fulerenos até o ano de 2009. Utiliza-se a metodologia qualitativa exploratória para descrever os temas abordados. Conclui-se que, estas pes¬quisas não parecem demonstrar um engajamento firme entre pesquisadores, universidade e empresas. Esta relação deve ser estimulada na busca de novas descobertas do uso de, principalmente, aplicações de fulerenos em nanotec¬nologia, sendo que as nanoformas de carbono, poderão trazer em forma de nanotubos, grandes mudanças na vida da sociedade.
The use of wild plants as food in pre-industrial Sweden
Authors: Svanberg Ingvar
Published: December 2012

This paper is a review of the actual gathering and use of wild edible plants in the 18th and 19th centuries, with a brief concluding discussion on the present day use of wild plants as food within Sweden. The peasants and the nomads in pre-industrial Sweden utilised very few wild plant taxa as food. Many even despised the wild fruits and green plants. Some plants and fruits were earlier mostly eaten fresh on the spot, or gathered for consumption in bread, gruel or soup. Other fruits were dried or preserved in other ways. In times of food shortages the amount of wild plants increased in the diet, but still the peasantry and nomads were often able to use fish and game to provide enough nutrients.

With access to cheap sugar in the early 20th century wild fruits (Vaccinium myrtillus L., V. vitis-idaea L., and Rubus chamaemorus L.) increased in importance, especially among urban-dwellers and within food industry. In the last few decades fungi have also become part of the urban diet. Fifty years ago working class people gathered only Cantharellus cibarius (Fr.) and occasionally Boletus edulis Bull. Nowadays more taxa are utilised within the Swedish households, and especially the easy to pick Cantharellus tubaeformis (Pers.) has become very popular recently. Harvesting fruits and mushrooms in the forests is a popular pastime for many urban people, but also a source of income for immigrants and especially foreign seasonal labour. The only traditional green wild food plant that is regularly eaten in contemporary Sweden is Urtica dioica L.
Strategic construal of in and out in English particle verbs (PVs)
Authors: Geld Renata , Maldonado Ricardo
Published: December 2012

Author/s

Renata GeldUniversity of Zagreb, CroatiaRicardo MaldonadoUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico

 

ABSTRACT

The central aim of this work is to describe the strategic construal of in and out in English particle verbs. The term strategic construal assumes the following: 1) exploration of strategic thinking in L2 learning and processing, and 2) exploration of dynamic and subjective construction of meaning pertaining to the human ability to understand and portray the same situation in alternate ways (Langacker 1987). In other words, the paper relies on two theoretical paradigms with self-evident commonalities – a strong link between language and cognition, and the insistence on the individual and subjective nature of meaning construction. The aim was to investigate whether L2 users of English are aware of the symbolic nature of language when dealing with highly schematic linguistic categories. Our hypotheses were that construal of in and out is comparable to their cognitive linguistic description in English as L1 and that it shows a cognitively motivated path from the topological to the aspectual. Both hypotheses have been confirmed.
Macmillan Collocations Dictionary for Learners of English
Authors: Fuertes-Olivera Pedro A.
Published: December 2012

Reviewed by Pedro A. Fuertes-OliveraUniversidad de Valladolid, Spain

 

1. INTRODUCTION

The Macmillan Collocations Dictionary for Learners of English (MCD) is a monolingual print dictionary aimed primarily at helping upper-intermediate to advanced students in productive use situations, such as taking English exams (especially the IELTS exams) and working in academic or professional environments. It has over 121,000 collocational phrases, a figure that leads Coffey to claim that the MCD attaches more collocates to each headword than competing dictionaries, for example, the Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English (OCD) (Coffey 2011: 329).
L’influence des circonstances du décès sur l’ajustement au deuil
Authors: Thériault Hélène , Séguin Monique , Drouin Marc-Simon
Published: December 2012

La littérature scientifique explique que plusieurs variables peuvent influencer l’ajustement au deuil. La nature du décès – plus particulièrement un décès après suicide – a été identifiée comme une des variables pouvant contribuer à rendre le deuil plus complexe. La présente étude a pour but d’évaluer les réactions survenant plusieurs années après un décès par suicide (n = 31) et par maladie (n = 38) ainsi que le lien avec les facteurs contribuant au développement de complications. Les mesures incluaient des questionnaires auto-administrés évaluant les réactions des personnes endeuillées (échelle de dépression, traumatique, de détresse) ainsi que le style d’attachement. Seul le style d’attachement insécure et l’intensité des réactions traumatiques prédisent le développement d’un deuil compliqué, éléments sur lesquels il serait important d’intervenir.
Étude des facteurs d’ajustement au deuil après un suicide et après un décès soudain non intentionnel
Authors: Bournival Chantal , Séguin Monique , Drouin Marc-Simon
Published: December 2012

La question de savoir si le deuil après suicide est plus difficile qu’une autre forme de deuil est encore débattue dans la littérature contemporaine. Cependant, outre la nature du décès, d’autres variables peuvent expliquer la difficulté du processus d’ajustement au deuil. Parmi ces variables, il y a la satisfaction de couple, la satisfaction de vie et l’attachement. Cette étude a comparé des femmes veuves endeuillées après un suicide (n = 22) et des femmes veuves endeuillées à la suite d’un décès non intentionnel (n = 24). Les résultats indiquent que les femmes endeuillées par le suicide d’un proche, comparativement à celles ayant vécu un autre type de deuil à la suite d’un décès non intentionnel, rapportaient davantage de détresse psychologique et une plus grande insatisfaction face à la vie et au couple. En revanche, la détresse ressentie n’est pas associée à la nature du décès, mais le niveau de satisfaction de vie et de couple serait davantage lié à la difficulté du deuil vécu.
No Phoria
Authors: Pal Virendra K , Agrawal Ajai , Suman Suwarna , Pratap VB
Published: December 2012

Purpose:

Cover-Uncover test is used to examine for phoria or tropia. It is believed that most eyes are orthophoric or heterophoric, however we believe that there is always tropia, if a proper careful cover test is done.

Design:

Prospective observational study

Methods:

Visibly orthophoric cases without any ocular pathology were included and were examined by correct method of cover test by all authors and collected data were analyzed.

Results:

One thousand cases of 5-20 years age group, with 682 males and 318 females were included in this study. Cover test revealed a small angle deviation in all cases with exotropia commoner than esotropia. Small angle deviations were usually 2-10 prism diopters (PD), and no associated ocular pathology was present in microtropia. No phoria was present in any case.

Conclusion:

All eyes have tropias and no phorias are normally present.
Contaminated Dextrose Normal Saline: A Cause of Endogenous Endophthalmitis in an Immunocompetent Subject
Authors: Chaudhry Mridu , Baisakhiya Shikha , Bhatia MS , Gupta Ritesh , Bajaj Aakarsh
Published: December 2012

Endogenous endophthalmitis is an intraocular infection caused by haematogenous spread of microorganisms from distant foci. It accounts for 2-8% of all cases of endophthalmitis. The common causative organisms include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella. Candida and Aspergillus are the common fungal isolates reported. Endogenous endophthalmitis usually occurs in immunocompromised subjects but increasingly a large number of cases have been reported among immunocompetent patients. We report a case of endogenous endophthalmitis in an immunocompetent subject after intravenous fluid therapy for gastroenteritis.
Waardenburg Syndrome
Authors: Bansal Yuvika , Jain Parul , Goyal Gaurav , Singh Malvika , Mishra Chittranjan
Published: December 2012

Waardenburg syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by varying degree of deafness associated with pigmentary anomally and defects of neural crest cell derived structures. Four distinct subtypes showing marked interfamilial and intrafamilial variability have been described. We report a girl showing constellation of complete heterochromia, dystopia canthorum, white forelock, and synorphys. Other affected family relatives with heterochromia have been depicted in pedigree.
Bilateral Papilledema in Hypocalcemia
Authors: Goyal JL , Kang Jasneet , Gupta Ramesh , Anand Abhishek , Arora Ritu , Jain Parul
Published: December 2012

Papilledema is a rare but recognized complication of hypocalcaemia with primary or surgically induced hypoparathyroidism. We report a case with primary hypocalcaemia who presented with bilateral cataract with Papilledema as the first clinical manifestation. Long-term complications of chronic hypocalcaemia like bilateral cataract, papilledema and basal ganglia calcification are rare. In this case we are highlighting the importance of hypocalcaemia as a rare but eminently treatable cause of Papilledema.
A Cost Analysis Study of Vitero-Retinal Surgery in a Tertiary Care Ophthalmic Hospital for Development of Users Charges
Authors: Singh Sanju , Sinha Rajesh
Published: December 2012

Ten cases of Vitero-Retinal Surgery were studied to find actual cost incurred on patient care, so as to workout the modalities to develop package system for Vitero-Retinal Surgery. The cost analysis for the package had been divided into ‘primary cost’ in which cost of manpower, cost of consumable, cost of linen and laundering, cost of central sterile supply department (CSSD) and manifold was included. In “overhead cost”, building cost, cost of other fixed assets, electricity and water consumption, sanitation and air conditioning was included to find total cost for deriving the package cost.
Geriatric Emergency Preparedness and Response Workshops: An Evaluation of Knowledge, Attitudes, Intentions, and Self-Efficacy of Participants
Authors: Roush Robert Ellis , Tyson Sandra Kay
Published: December 2012

Objective: Older persons have levels of frailty and disability that place them at far greater risk of harm in disasters than younger adults, making it crucial for all agency planners, public health workers, and health care providers to be aware of age-appropriate considerations of preparedness and response. This research evaluated the knowledge and utilization intentions of participants of a geriatric emergency preparedness and response (GEPR) continuing education program that was designed to provide this training.

Methods: A qualitative training evaluation was conducted using course evaluation questionnaires from GEPR workshops offered in 2009 in 7 nationwide cities through a partnership of the University of Texas Center for Biosecurity and Public Health Preparedness with the Texas Consortium Geriatric Education Center at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston.

Results: Evaluations were completed by 292 participants. Respondents were able to name specific information learned, give examples of applications of the material, and devise plans for further action. Participants believed that their ability to do their jobs had increased, and they provided insightful suggestions instructive to both trainers and to leaders of health care organizations.

Conclusions: The results of the evaluation suggest that GEPR workshops are effective in increasing the knowledge of participants and their intentions to use it. There is both a need and a demand for this training. Developers and trainers should provide participants with sufficient time for absorbing the information, consider tailoring the training to the local context, and provide opportunity for practical application, particularly planning exercises.

(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2012;6:385-392)
Results of Medical Countermeasure Drills Among 72 Cities Readiness Initiative Metropolitan Statistical Areas, 2008-2009
Authors: Jones Jaime R. , Neff Linda J. , Ely Elizabeth K. , Parker Andrew M.
Published: December 2012

Objective: The Cities Readiness Initiative is a federally funded program designed to assist 72 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in preparing to dispense life-saving medical countermeasures within 48 hours of a public health emergency. Beginning in 2008, the 72 MSAs were required to conduct 3 drills related to the distribution and dispensing of emergency medical countermeasures. The report describes the results of the first year of pilot data for medical countermeasure drills conducted by the MSAs.

Methods: The MSAs were provided templates with key metrics for 5 functional elements critical for a successful dispensing campaign: personnel call down, site activation, facility setup, pick-list generation, and dispensing throughput. Drill submissions were compiled into single data sets for each of the 5 drills. Analyses were conducted to determine whether the measures were comparable across business and non-business hours. Descriptive statistics were computed for each of the key metrics identified in the 5 drills.

Results: Most drills were conducted on Mondays and Wednesdays during business hours (8:00 am-5:00 pm). The median completion time for the personnel call-down drill was 1 hour during business hours (n = 287) and 55 minutes during non-business hours (n = 136). Site-activation drills were completed in a median of 30 minutes during business hours and 5 minutes during non-business hours. Facility setup drills were completed more rapidly during business hours (75 minutes) compared with non-business hours (96 minutes). During business hours, pick lists were generated in a median of 3 minutes compared with 5 minutes during non-business hours. Aggregate results from the dispensing throughput drills demonstrated that the median observed throughput during business hours (60 people/h) was higher than that during non-business hours (43 people/h).

Conclusion: The results of the analyses from this pilot sample of drill submissions provide a baseline for the determination of a national standard in operational capabilities for local jurisdictions to achieve in their planning efforts for a mass dispensing campaign during an emergency.

(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2012;6:357–362)
Ultrastretchable Fibers with Metallic Conductivity Using a Liquid Metal Alloy Core
Authors: Zhu Shu , So Ju‐Hee , Mays Robin , Desai Sharvil , Barnes William R. , Pourdeyhimi Behnam , Dickey Michael D.
Published: December 2012

The fabrication and characterization of fibers that are ultrastretchable and have metallic electrical conductivity are described. The fibers consist of a liquid metal alloy, eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn), injected into the core of stretchable hollow fibers composed of a triblock copolymer, poly[styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐styrene] (SEBS) resin. The hollow fibers are easy to mass‐produce with controlled size using commercially available melt processing methods. The fibers are similar to conventional metallic wires, but can be stretched orders of magnitude further while retaining electrical conductivity. Mechanical measurements with and without the liquid metal inside the fibers show the liquid core has a negligible impact on the mechanical properties of the fibers, which is in contrast to most conductive composite fibers. The fibers also maintain the same tactile properties with and without the metal. Electrical measurements show that the fibers increase resistance as the fiber elongates and the cross sectional area narrows. Fibers with larger diameters change from a triangular to a more circular cross‐section during stretching, which has the appeal of lowering the resistance below that predicted by theory. To demonstrate their utility, the ultrastretchable fibers are used as stretchable wires for earphones and for a battery charger and perform as well as their conventional parts.
Thin‐Wall Assembled SnO2 Fibers Functionalized by Catalytic Pt Nanoparticles and their Superior Exhaled‐Breath‐Sensing Properties for the Diagnosis of Diabetes
Authors: Shin Jungwoo , Choi Seon‐Jin , Lee Inkun , Youn Doo‐Young , Park Chong Ook , Lee Jong‐Heun , Tuller Harry L. , Kim Il‐Doo
Published: December 2012

Hierarchical SnO2 fibers assembled from wrinkled thin tubes are synthesized by controlling the microphase separation between tin precursors and polymers, by varying flow rates during electrospinning and a subsequent heat treatment. The inner and outer SnO2 tubes have a number of elongated open pores ranging from 10 nm to 500 nm in length along the fiber direction, enabling fast transport of gas molecules to the entire thin‐walled sensing layers. These features admit exhaled gases such as acetone and toluene, which are markers used for the diagnosis of diabetes and lung cancer. The open tubular structures facilitated the uniform coating of catalytic Pt nanoparticles onto the inner SnO2 layers. Highly porous SnO2 fibers synthesized at a high flow rate show five‐fold higher acetone responses than densely packed SnO2 fibers synthesized at a low flow rate. Interestingly, thin‐wall assembled SnO2 fibers functionalized by Pt particles exhibit a dramatically shortened gas response time compared to that of un‐doped SnO2 fibers, even at low acetone concentrations. Moreover, Pt‐decorated SnO2 fibers significantly enhance toluene response. These results demonstrate the novel and practical feasibility of thin‐wall assembled metal oxide based breath sensors for the accurate diagnosis of diabetes and potential detection of lung cancer.
Enhanced Cycling Performance of Li‐O2 Batteries by the Optimized Electrolyte Concentration of LiTFSA in Glymes
Authors: Li Fujun , Zhang Tao , Yamada Yuki , Yamada Atsuo , Zhou Haoshen
Published: December 2012

A series of non‐aqueous electrolytes were prepared by dissolving lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (LiTFSA) in triglyme and tetraglyme (Gx, x = 3 and 4), respectively, with varied molar ratios. With the electrolytes the cycling performance of Li‐O2 batteries showed a strong dependence on the molar ratios between LiTFSA and Gx. It was found that the molar ratio of 1 to 5 was critical for the cycling‐performance of Li‐O2 batteries. High stability over 20 discharge–recharge cycles at 500 mA/gcarbon and in an O2 flow was obtained in LiTFSA‐(Gx)5 (x = 3 and 4). The discharge product at cathode could be directly detected and identified as the dominant crystalline product Li2O2 on the 1st and 20th discharged electrodes using X‐ray diffraction technique (XRD), which indicates rechargeability and feasibility of the electrolytes LiTFSA‐(Gx)5 (x = 3 and 4) for Li‐O2 batteries. At 1000 mA/gcarbon their capacities could be stabilized for 10 cycles. To our knowledge, this behavior of dependence of cycling performance of Li‐O2 batteries on the concentration of Li salts is presented here for the first time, and it may be extended to other Li salts and solvents and suggest a new route for screening cycling‐stable electrolytes for Li‐O2 batteries.
Multifluid Modeling of the Desulfurization Process within a Bubbling Fluidized Bed Coal Gasifier
Authors: Armstrong Lindsay‐Marie , Gu Sai , Luo Kai H. , Mahanta Pinakeswar
Published: December 2012

The desulfurization process to a two‐dimensional (2‐D) and three‐dimensional (3‐D) Eulerian–Eulerian computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model of a coal bubbling fluidized gasifier is introduced. The desulfurization process is important for the reduction of harmful SOx emissions; therefore, the development of a CFD model capable of predicting chemical reactions involving desulfurization is key to the optimization of reactor designs and operating conditions. To model the process, one gaseous phase and five particulate phases are included. Devolatilization, heterogeneous, and homogeneous chemical reactions as well as calcination and desulfurization reactions are incorporated. A calcination‐only model and a calcination plus desulfurization model are simulated in 2‐D and 3‐D and the concentrations of SO2 leaving the reactors are compared. The simulated results are assessed against available published experimental data. The influence of the fluidized bed on the desulfurization is also considered. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 1952–1963, 2013
XUV‐induced transient phase gratings for probing ultra‐fast carrier generation and recombination processes in wide‐bandgap semiconductors
Authors: Gabrysch Markus , Schwenke Jörg , Balciunas Tadas , He Xinkui , Rakowski Rafal , Johnsson Per , Canton Sophie E. , Isberg Jan , L'Huillier Anne
Published: December 2012

A method for probing the temporal evolution of ultra‐fast carrier generation and recombination processes in wide‐bandgap semiconductors, e.g. diamond, is described. Two extreme ultraviolet (pump) pulses produced by high‐order harmonic generation in Argon gas (with a photon energy of 32 eV) are superimposed on a sample with a small angle between them, inducing periodic changes in the refractive index of the material causing it to act as a transient diffraction grating. A delayed synchronized infrared (probe) pulse gets diffracted on the induced phase grating and is detected in the first diffraction order. By varying the time‐delay between pump and probe, the full temporal evolution of the free carrier generation and recombination processes can be resolved. Feasibility calculations and the first steps towards experimental implementation are presented.
Encapsulation of magnetic nickel nanoparticles via inverse miniemulsion polymerization
Authors: Romio Ana Paula , Rodrigues Heloísa H. , Peres Augusto , Da Cas Viegas Alexandre , Kobitskaya Elena , Ziener Ulrich , Landfester Katharina , Sayer Claudia , Araújo Pedro H. H.
Published: December 2012

In this work, the encapsulation of magnetic nickel nanoparticles in polyacrylamide particles was performed via inverse miniemulsion polymerization. The dispersion of nickel nanoparticles was characterized in polar solvents including water, ethanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide using different stabilizers. The best results were obtained when the nonionic stabilizer poly(ethylene glycol) octadecyl ether (Brij 76) was used to stabilize the nickel nanoparticles in dimethyl sulfoxide. In addition, the block copolymer poly(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide) was used as a surfactant to create inverse miniemulsions while minimizing the coalescence of the miniemulsion droplets. Different types of salts such as zinc, nickel, and sodium nitrates were tested as lipophobes to retard Ostwald ripening. Transmission electron microscopy images of polyacrylamide/nickel particles synthesized with zinc and nickel salts as lipophobes indicate that nickel nanoparticles are embedded in the polyacrylamide matrix. Magnetization curves show that the saturation magnetization of polyacrylamide/nickel particles is only slightly below that of the pure nickel nanoparticles. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Influence of silica nanofiller on the isothermal crystallization and melting of polyurethane elastomer
Authors: Blagojević Sanja Lučić , Buhin Zrinka , Igrec Ivona
Published: December 2012

In this article, isothermal crystallization kinetic of the linear hydroxyl polyester urethane (PUR), as well as influence of amorphous silica nanofiller, was investigated. With the aim to investigate the influence of filler surface modification on the crystallization process of polyurethane matrix, nonmodified silica, as well as silica modified with methacrylsilane and octylsilane, were used as fillers for PUR composite preparation. The crystallization kinetics depending on temperature of the isothermal crystallization and volume fraction of filler by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were investigated. The measurements at temperatures 7, 12, and 17°C for PUR and composites with 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 vol % of filler were done. Kinetic parameters of the isothermal crystallization n and K were determined according to Avrami model. Melting of the isothermally crystallized samples was also investigated. Results of the research indicate that by increasing the isothermal crystallization temperature, the crystallization rate of the PUR soft phase decreases and that the perfection of the crystallites is improved. By addition of all fillers up to ≈1 vol %, the crystallization rate increases; however, addition of a higher amount of the filler significantly decreases the crystallization rate. It was found that surface modification can significantly affect crystallization rate and that the nucleation efficiency of silica increases in the following order: methacrylsilane‐modified silica < nonmodified silica < octylsilane‐modified silica. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Preparation and properties of covalently colored polymer latex based on a new anthraquinone monomer
Authors: Li Botian , Shen Jie , Jiang Yiming , Wang Jishuai , Kan Chengyou
Published: December 2012

1‐(6‐acrylamidohexylamino)‐4‐(methylamino)anthraquinone (AHMAQ), a blue polymerizable dye, was first synthesized from an anthraquinone derivative, and its chemical structure was confirmed by 1H‐NMR and IR. Then, a series of covalently colored polymer latexes were prepared by semi‐continuous emulsion copolymerization of styrene (St), butyl acrylate (BA), and AHMAQ using 4,4′‐azobis(4‐cyanovaleric acid) (ACVA) as initiator, and the influences of AHMAQ and ACVA on the emulsion polymerization as well as the properties of the resulted copolymer latexes were investigated. Results showed that both the conversion of the dye monomer and the molecular weight of the latex polymer decreased with the increase of AHMAQ amount from 0 to 0.3 wt %. Increasing the ACVA amount resulted in higher monomer conversion but larger gel ratio, and optimum amount of ACVA was 1.2 wt % to the total monomers. Comparing with the noncovalently blue latex film colored with the unreactive dye, the light fastness of the blue P(St‐BA‐MAA‐AHMAQ) latex films was greatly promoted by the covalent incorporation of chromophores with polymer matrix. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Strength, permeability, and durability of hybrid fiber‐reinforced concrete containing styrene butadiene latex
Authors: Kim Dong‐Hyun , Park Chan‐Gi
Published: December 2012

Hybrid fiber‐reinforced concrete (HFRC) is examined in this study. Two types of synthetic fibers were considered: polyvinyl alcohol fiber/macro synthetic fiber (PVA/MSF) and polypropylene fiber (PP)/MSF. Styrene butadiene latex was added at 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% of the cement weight. Tests carried out for the study included compressive strength, flexural strength, chloride ion penetration, abrasion resistance, and impact resistance. The results demonstrated that higher latex contents improved the dispersibility of the fibers because of the increased workability of the HFRC and the improved adhesion. Formation of a latex film improved the strength, permeability resistance, abrasion resistance, and impact resistance. PVA/MSF HFRC had better properties than PP/MSF HFRC. This was attributed to stronger hydrogen bonding by the hydrophilic PVA fibers, which led to superior resistance to micro‐cracking and crack propagation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Tropisetron suppresses collagen synthesis in skin fibroblasts via α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and attenuates fibrosis in a scleroderma mouse model
Authors: Stegemann Agatha , Sindrilaru Anca , Eckes Beate , del Rey Adriana , Heinick Alexander , Schulte Jan S. , Müller Frank U. , Grando Sergei A. , Fiebich Bernd L. , Scharffetter‐Kochanek Karin , Luger Thomas A. , Böhm Markus
Published: December 2012

Objective

There is increasing evidence that serotonin (5‐hydroxytryptamine [5‐HT]) and distinct 5‐HT receptors are involved in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that tropisetron, a routinely used antiemetic agent previously characterized as a 5‐HT3/4 receptor–modulating agent, can directly affect collagen synthesis in vitro and attenuate experimentally induced fibrosis in vivo.

Methods

Functional in vitro studies were performed using human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). Signal transduction studies included immunofluorescence analysis, Western immunoblotting, promoter reporter assays, cAMP/Ca2+ measurements, and use of pharmacologic activators and inhibitors. Gene silencing was performed using small interfering RNA. Putative receptors of tropisetron were detected by semiquantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and immunofluorescence. The murine model of bleomycin‐induced scleroderma was used to assess the antifibrogenic and antifibrotic effects of tropisetron in vivo. Collagen expression in vitro, ex vivo, and in situ was determined by real‐time RT‐PCR analysis, Western immunoblotting, sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and immunohistochemical analysis.

Results

Tropisetron suppressed collagen synthesis induced by transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1). This effect was independent of 5‐HT3/4 receptor but was mediated via α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR). Suppression of TGFβ1‐induced collagen synthesis occurred via an unknown molecular mechanism not involving modulation of the Smad, cAMP, Akt, c‐Jun, or MAPK pathway. In vivo, tropisetron not only prevented skin fibrosis but also reduced the collagen content in established dermal fibrosis induced by bleomycin.

Conclusion

Tropisetron directly reduces collagen synthesis in HDFs via an α7nAChR‐dependent mechanism. The antifibrogenic and antifibrotic effects of this agent observed in a mouse model of bleomycin‐ induced scleroderma indicate the future potential of tropisetron in the treatment of fibrotic diseases such as scleroderma.
A visual analytic study of retracted articles in scientific literature
Authors: Chen Chaomei , Hu Zhigang , Milbank Jared , Schultz Timothy
Published: December 2012

Retracting published scientific articles is increasingly common. Retraction is a self‐correction mechanism of the scientific community to maintain and safeguard the integrity of scientific literature. However, a retracted article may pose a profound and long‐lasting threat to the credibility of the literature. New articles may unknowingly build their work on false claims made in retracted articles. Such dependencies on retracted articles may become implicit and indirect. Consequently, it becomes increasingly important to detect implicit and indirect threats. In this article, our aim is to raise the awareness of the potential threats of retracted articles even after their retraction and demonstrate a visual analytic study of retracted articles with reference to the rest of the literature and how their citations are influenced by their retraction. The context of highly cited retracted articles is visualized in terms of a co‐citation network as well as the distribution of articles that have high‐order citation dependencies on retracted articles. Survival analyses of time to retraction and postretraction citation are included. Sentences that explicitly cite retracted articles are extracted from full‐text articles. Transitions of topics over time are depicted in topic‐flow visualizations. We recommend that new visual analytic and science mapping tools should take retracted articles into account and facilitate tasks specifically related to the detection and monitoring of retracted articles.
Semantic similarity of ontology instances using polarity mining
Authors: Narock Tom , Zhou Lina , Yoon Victoria
Published: December 2012

Semantic similarity is vital to many areas, such as information retrieval. Various methods have been proposed with a focus on comparing unstructured text documents. Several of these have been enhanced with ontology; however, they have not been applied to ontology instances. With the growth in ontology instance data published online through, for example, Linked Open Data, there is an increasing need to apply semantic similarity to ontology instances. Drawing on ontology‐supported polarity mining (OSPM), we propose an algorithm that enhances the computation of semantic similarity with polarity mining techniques. The algorithm is evaluated with online customer review data. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the baseline algorithm in multiple settings.
Why it is necessary to translate curcumin into clinical practice for the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome?
Authors: Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: December 2012

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is the yellow‐orange pigment of dried Curcuma longa L. rhizomes (turmeric). During the past two decades, there has been a large volume of published studies describing the biological and pharmacological properties of this phytochemical including anticancer, anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, antithrombotic, antiatherosclerotic, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, memory enhancing, antiparkinsonism, antirheumatic, anti‐infectious, antiaging, antipsoriatic, and anticonvulsant activities. In addition, curcumin has been shown to be extremely safe and interact with multiple molecular targets that are involved in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. Curcumin could favorably affect all leading components of metabolic syndrome including insulin resistance, obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, decreased HDL‐C and hypertension, and prevent the deleterious complications of MetS including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Owing to its antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties, curcumin can also exert several pleiotropic effects and improve endothelial dysfunction, adipokine imbalances, and hyperuricemia which usually accompany MetS. Despite the potential tremendous benefit of this multifaceted phytopharmaceutical, no trial result has yet been publicized on this issue. This review seeks to briefly summarize the ample scientific evidence that supports the therapeutic efficacy of curcumin, at least as an adjunctive treatment, in patients with MetS. © 2012 BioFactors, 2013
Stem cell microencapsulation for phenotypic control, bioprocessing, and transplantation
Authors: Wilson Jenna L. , McDevitt Todd C.
Published: December 2012

Cell microencapsulation has been utilized for decades as a means to shield cells from the external environment while simultaneously permitting transport of oxygen, nutrients, and secretory molecules. In designing cell therapies, donor primary cells are often difficult to obtain and expand to appropriate numbers, rendering stem cells an attractive alternative due to their capacities for self‐renewal, differentiation, and trophic factor secretion. Microencapsulation of stem cells offers several benefits, namely the creation of a defined microenvironment which can be designed to modulate stem cell phenotype, protection from hydrodynamic forces and prevention of agglomeration during expansion in suspension bioreactors, and a means to transplant cells behind a semi‐permeable barrier, allowing for molecular secretion while avoiding immune reaction. This review will provide an overview of relevant microencapsulation processes and characterization in the context of maintaining stem cell potency, directing differentiation, investigating scalable production methods, and transplanting stem cells for clinically relevant disorders. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 667–682. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Crystal Structures and Proton Conductivities of a MOF and Two POM–MOF Composites Based on CuII Ions and 2,2′‐Bipyridyl‐3,3′‐dicarboxylic Acid
Authors: Wei Meilin , Wang Xiaoxiang , Duan Xianying
Published: December 2012

We have succeeded in constructing a metal–organic framework (MOF), [Cu(bpdc)(H2O)2]n (H2bpdc=2,2′‐bipyridyl‐3,3′‐dicarboxylic acid, 1), and two poly‐POM–MOFs (POM=polyoxometalate), {H[Cu(Hbpdc)(H2O)2]2[PM12O40]⋅n H2O}n (M=Mo for 2, W for 3), by the controllable self‐assembly of H2bpdc, Keggin‐anions, and Cu2+ ions based on electrostatic and coordination interactions. Notably, these three compounds all crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/n, and the Hbpdc− and bpdc2− ions have the same coordination mode. Interestingly, in compounds 2 and 3, Hbpdc− and the Keggin‐anion are covalently linked to the transition metal copper at the same time as polydentate organic ligand and as polydentate inorganic ligand, respectively. Complexes 2 and 3 represent new and rare examples of introducing the metal N‐heterocyclic multi‐carboxylic acid frameworks into POMs, thereby, opening a pathway for the design and the synthesis of multifunctional hybrid materials based on two building units. The Keggin‐anions being immobilized as part of the metal N‐heterocyclic multi‐carboxylic acid frameworks not only enhance the thermal stability of compounds 2 and 3, but also introduce functionality inside their structures, thereby, realizing four approaches in the 1D hydrophilic channel used to engender proton conductivity in MOFs for the first time. Complexes 2 and 3 exhibit good proton conductivity (10−4 to ca. 10−3 S cm−1) at 100 °C in the relative humidity range 35 to about 98 %.
CFD Modeling of Wet Electrostatic Precipitators in Coaxial Wire‐Tube Configuration
Authors: Kaiser Sven , Walzel Peter , Fahlenkamp Hans
Published: December 2012

Die Auslegung von Elektroabscheidern ist komplex, vor allem dann, wenn die angestrebten Prozessbedingungen durch eine sehr hohe Beladung des Hintergrundgases mit Partikeln oder Tropfen gekennzeichnet sind. In diesem Fall führt die große Anzahl von partikelgebundener Ladung zu einer signifikanten Störung der Koronaentwicklung, wodurch ein Rückgang der Abscheideleistung verursacht wird. Dieser Effekt ist als Corona‐Quenching bekannt. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Entwicklung eines auf Computational Fluid Dynamics basierenden numerischen Modells, das diesen Effekt abbilden kann.
Cultivation of Cells and Microorganisms in Wave‐Mixed Disposable Bag Bioreactors at Different Scales
Authors: Junne Stefan , Solymosi Thomas , Oosterhuis Nico , Neubauer Peter
Published: December 2012

Disposable bioreactors have gained an increasing importance in recent years in the pharmaceutical production. Wave‐mixed reactors were among the first systems which were applied. In contrast to stirred tank reactors, wave‐mixed bioreactors are characterized by low shear forces while the gas exchange is realized by the large gas‐liquid interface. Oxygen transfer rates obtained are often in a range between 50 and 300 h–1. By applying nutrient‐limiting fed‐batch cultivations, in which the oxygen consumption of a culture is controlled, bacteria can be also cultivated in wave‐mixed reactors. This article describes the successful scale‐up of an Escherichia coli fed‐batch cultivation from the 12‐L to the 120‐L scale using a disposable bioreactor, in which a final biomass concentration of 45 g L–1 was obtained.
First Examples of Hybrids Based on Graphene and a Ring‐Shaped Macrocyclic Polyoxometalate: Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties
Authors: Li Shiwen , Liu Rongji , Ngo Biboum Rosa , Lepoittevin Bénédicte , Zhang Guangjin , Dolbecq Anne , Mialane Pierre , Keita Bineta
Published: December 2012

This work introduces facile synthetic methods of two new classes of green materials based on graphene (G) and the macrocyclic polyoxometalate [H7P8W48O184]33– (P8W48) alone or assembled with an imidazolium‐based poly(ionic liquid) (PIL). The polyoxometalate serves as both an efficient graphite oxide reductant and a stabilizer. Owing to the strong adsorption of P8W48 on the resulting G sheets, water‐dispersible P8W48@G hybrids were obtained without the need for surfactant or polymeric stabilizers. The P8W48@G hybrids were characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The presence of G in these hybrids induces an outstanding enhancement in the electrochemical properties of P8W48 in comparison with those observed with glassy carbon. Moreover, P8W48@G‐ and P8W48@PIL‐G‐based electrodes exhibit remarkable stability during prolonged potential cycling in various aqueous electrolytes. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first examples of successful syntheses of a high nuclearity polyoxometalate and graphene assemblies that might facilitate photoelectrocatalysis of multielectronic reactions.