bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic Variability and Selection Parameters for Yield and Its Contributing Traits in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell)
Authors: Saini Pawan Kumar , Singh S V , Yadav R K , Singh Lokendra , Shweta  , Singh S K , Tripathi Harshit , Dwivedi Swapnil , Tiwari Utkarsh
Published: March 2024

Ten bread wheat genotype and their all possible cross combinations excluding their reciprocals (10 parents+45 F1s+45 F2s) were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications during Rabi2022-2023 at Student’s Instructional Farm, C. S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology-208002, Kanpur, U.P to get the extent of variability and related parameters to select effectively for grain yield and quality character. It is the big challenge for researchers to get high grain yield with high protein. The data was recorded on fourteen characters viz., days to heading (50%), days to maturity, plant height (cm), number of productive tillers per plant, chlorophyll content, spike length (cm), number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike, weight of grain per spike (g), 1000 grain weight (g), biological yield (g), harvest index (%),protein content (%) and grain yield per plant (g). The variability among parents was highest for days to maturity it ranged from 117.33 to 137.67 with the mean value 126.60. The variation in F1 progenies was highest for plant height ranged from 85.97 to 120.53 with the mean value of 96.71.The variation in F2 progenies was highest for plant height ranged from 83.70 to 120.20 with the mean value of 94.99. The result showed higher estimated values for phenotypic coefficient of variability(PCV) of all the fourteen characters as compared to their corresponding genotypic coefficient of variability (GCV). Highest value of PCV and GCV were noted for grain yield per plantin both generation F1s and F2s except GCV were observed for none of the character F1s. high heritability estimates were recorded for all characters in both generation F1s and F2s.High genetic gain was observed for grain yield per plant followed by biological yield per plant in both generation F1s and F2s.
Azospirilla and Nitrogen Fertilization to Promote Maize Seed Development and Yield
Authors: Paula Marco Túlio G. de , Franco Miguel Henrique R. , Oliveira Roberta C. de , Lana Regina Maria Q. , Wendling Beno , Lemes Ernane M.
Published: March 2024

Aims: This study evaluated the interaction of Azospirillum brasilense (Ab) strains and nitrogen fertilizer doses on maize.

Study Design: Laboratory experiment evaluated Ab strains (PCR and PTF) on maize seed germination and vigor (completely randomized design). Field experiment evaluated Ab strains and nitrogen fertilization on maize yield parameters (randomized block design).

Place and Duration of Study: The germination and vigor experiment (10 days in April 2019) was implemented in a controlled environment at the Seed Analysis Laboratory of the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Brazil. The field experiment (137 days in winter 2019) was implemented at the Fisioplant Research Station (Uberlândia, Brazil) under commercial maize crop management.

Methodology: In controlled conditions (laboratory), 200 seeds of maize (K9105VIP3, Riber KWS Seeds) were incubated (25 °C) with the Ab strain solutions for germination and vigor evaluations. In the field, 60,000 plants ha-1 (0.5 m space between sowing lines) of maize were cropped under combinations of nitrogen fertilizer and volumes of Ab strains (treatments) for leaf nitrogen, SPAD index, leaf count, fresh and dry maize shoot biomass, one-thousand grains weight, grain rows per maize ear, productivity (kg ha-1).

Results: Treatment with 100 mL ha-1 of Ab PFT strain increased maize seed germination and vigor more than Ab PCR strain and control (no-inoculation or fertilizer). The number of grain rows of the 100% N + 150 mL ha-1 of Ab PFT strain and the maize shoot dry mass of the 100% N (no-inoculation) were higher than the control. The treatments did not affect the SPAD index, weight of one thousand grains, fresh maize shoot biomass, or productivity.

Conclusion: Using Ab with nitrogen fertilizer is a promising strategy to improve maize crop responses; however, more studies are needed to detail the ideal management of Ab strains for maize crops and yield construction.
Biochemical Changes: Their Potential Role against Fungal Disease Resistance Development in Mustard
Authors: Shrivastav Aditi , Tripathi Manoj Kumar , Tiwari Prakash N. , Singh Purnima
Published: March 2024

Rape-seed mustard is an imperative edible oilseed crop which is adversely affected by different biotic stresses causing import of edible oils from abroad. The experiment was carried out for screening mustard genotypes based on disease indexing and putative role of diverse biochemical parameters in development of resistant against three major fungal diseases. A modified 0-9 scale was used for rating of disease indicators to calculate disease incident (DI). In disease indexing, mustard genotypes L-4, GSC-7 and PC-6 were considered as immune against Alternaria brassicae, Maya, L-4, China, GSL-1, GSC-7, PC-5, PC-6 and RP-9 were classified as immune against Albugo candida while L-4 and PC-5 were found immune against Erysiphe cruciferarum. The study of biochemical constituents demonstrated that these immune genotypes accumulated higher osmolytes content including free proline content and total phenol under diseased condition showing their tolerance ability against these pathogens. The tolerant genotypes also had lesser lipid peroxidation rate as indicated by malondialdehyde content analysis to induce lesser effect on total chlorophyll, amino acids, proteins and soluble sugars including reducing and non-reducing sugars. These identified genotypes have wider scope for further phyto-pathological studies and utilization in development of fungal resistance breeding.
Maximizing Oil Recovery in a Marginal Oilfield: Niger Delta Case Study
Authors: Ita Okon, Edet , Ndubuka Chinedu Ikenna
Published: March 2024

Marginal field development and production are often abandoned by operators because of finding reliable and available equipment and services to enable the field to be developed. These challenges make it difficult to economically produce such fields. This research demonstrates the use of industry-based simulators (PIPESIM, ECLIPSE and PETREL) to design well completion model, Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP). model, simulate, and evaluate the performance of ESP on a typical marginal oilfield. The main objective of this study is to effectively optimize oil production from marginal fields in the Niger Delta using Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP). ECLIPSE software was used for the reservoir description. PIPESIM was used to design the artificial lift system (ESP) for five oil wells and PETREL was used to integrate the whole system for effective production optimization. The performance of ESP wells was simulated and compared with the naturally flowing wells. The results obtained from the production forecast showed that the ESP wells gave superior oil production when compared to natural flowing wells. From the simulation results, it was observed that the cumulative oil recovery without ESP was 33,684,736 stb while that recovered with ESP was 87,751,136 stb (about 261% oil increment). The findings of this study will enable petroleum engineers to design ESP systems and well completion that would effectively optimize oil production from marginal fields in the Niger Delta. Furthermore, the findings of the study will offer new and exciting ways to process and transform abandon oilfields into productive marginal oilfields.
Intelligent Energy Management System: Harnessing Fuzzy Logic for Charge Control
Authors: Areola R. I. , Adetunmbi A.O. , Okimi Thomas O.
Published: March 2024

Aim: Charge controller that leverages fuzzy logic was developed to enhance the efficiency of traditional charge controllers. A model was constructed and assessed for its performance through MATLAB/Simulink. It allows for flexibility in controlling the variability of renewable energy sources. It also improves the efficiency and lifespan of energy storage systems while minimizing the impact on the grid and environment. 

Study of the design: The PV system consists of a PV module, PWM inverter, MPPT controller and DC-DC converter which are connected using MATLAB/Simulink environment.

Methodology: we conducted validation tests to substantiate the advantages of our fuzzy charge controller. The creation of fuzzy rules was based on the system's performance and subsequently translated into precise values with the assistance of a fuzzy inference system. This Research Project was Completed in Two Months.

Results: Our findings clearly demonstrate that the implementation of fuzzy logic control results in superior charge controller performance. This, in turn, safeguards against battery discharging and overcharging during unpredictable weather conditions.

Conclusion: These protective measures are made possible through the decision-making capabilities of the DC-DC buck-boost converter, which effectively regulates both the voltage and current output of the PV module.
Comparative Analysis of Piston Rings Made with Aluminum Titanium Carbide (AlTiC-75-2) and Carbon Cast Steel (AISI 1540) Materials Using Numerical Method
Authors: Duodu Enock A. , Hinneh Vivian , Kuttin Kannie Winston , Otchere John Nana
Published: March 2024

Aim: The main purpose of this study is to perform a comparative analysis of piston rings made with aluminum titanium carbide (AlTiC-75-2) and carbon cast steel (AISI 1540) materials using numerical method.  
Study Design: Numerical methods.
Materials and Methods: The 3D piston rings were modelled with SOLIDWORDS version 2019 and imported to ANSYS 2020 RI environment for simulation and analysis.
Results: The study revealed that AISI 1540 and AlTiC-75-2 had maximum deformations of 1.0356 mm and 1.0773 mm, respectively. Also, when the equivalent elastic strains of the piston rings were compared, it was revealed that, the maximum and minimum elastic strain of the AlTiC-75-2 piston was 4.8826e-3 and 2.2581e-5, respectively, whiles the maximum and minimum elastic strain of AISI 1540 was 2.1878e-5 and 2.1878e-5 respectively. Numerical results further showed that AISI 1540 piston suffered the least elastic strain while the AlTiC piston ring endured more elastic strain. Furthermore, results showed that the maximum Von Mises stresses induced in AlTiC-75-2 and AISI 1540 piston rings were 915.2 MPa and 911.27 MPa, respectively, which implies that stresses induced in both rings were beneath the compressive yield strengths of the individual materials, therefore both rings could withstand the load imposed.
Conclusion: Result shows that the AISI 1540 ring has high minimum value than AlTiC which makes it more suitable material in terms of failure as against AlTiC-75-2 with a low minimum safety factor of 0.094187 as against 0.10182 for carbon cast steel. The study therefore recommends that AlTiC-75-2 should be considered as one of the most suitable materials for piston ring design.
Development and Assessment of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose-Based Floating Tablets for Ciprofloxacin HCL Using Direct Compression Technique
Authors: Gopaiah K. Venkata , Kumar J N Suresh , Teja M. Ramya , Lokesh T. , Sruthi D. Sai , Roja M. , Rushitha N. , Vahedunnisa SK.
Published: March 2024

The key findings and conclusions include: such as formulation approaches as aim and objective Development of floating tablets using sodium bicarbonate and HPMC aimed at enhancing gastric residence time for improved drug bioavailability. Physicochemical Compliances The formulated tablets met compliance standards for various physicochemical parameters, including dimensions, floating time, tablet density, and drug content. Method of Formulations F2, F5, and F6 displayed favorable drug release profiles, with the F7 formulation exhibiting excellent release characteristics. in the evaluation the drug release kinetics studies show Kinetic analysis revealed that F2, F5, F6, and F7 formulations followed the Korsmeyer–Peppas model, indicating non-Fickian diffusion with 'n' values ranging from 0.521 to 0.633 and the stability indicates the Optimal storage conditions for stability were determined as 2-8°C for 60 days. Formulations F2, F5, F6, and F7 demonstrated stability at room temperature, 40°C, and 2-8°C for 30 days, with refrigerated storage maintaining stability throughout the 60 days. In conclusion, the developed hydrodynamically balanced tablets of Ciprofloxacin HCl exhibit promising physicochemical characteristics, dissolution profiles, and stability. These tablets hold the potential for enhancing drug bioavailability, making them a viable option for localized drug delivery in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Surviving the death and dying process of children and adolescents: experiences of nursing professionals / Sobrevivendo ao processo de morte e morrer de crianças e adolescentes: vivências de profissionais de enfermagem
Authors: de Sousa Góes Emerlyn Roberta , Cazissi da Silva Camila , Palacio Fernandes Cabeça Luciana , De Lione Melo Luciana
Published: March 2024

Objetivo: compreender como os profissionais de enfermagem de uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica vivenciam o processo de luto decorrente da morte de crianças/adolescentes. Método: pesquisa qualitativa, realizada em hospital público, do estado de São Paulo, com doze profissionais de enfermagem, por meio de entrevista aberta com a questão norteadora “Conte-me, em detalhes, como você tem enfrentado o luto após a morte de uma criança e/ou adolescente na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica”. Resultados: emergiram seis categorias que foram organizadas em dois eixos temáticos. Conclusão: Os profissionais de enfermagem revelaram diversas crenças facilitadoras e estratégias de enfrentamento do processo de morte e morrer. Recomenda-se que as instituições de saúde ofereçam atendimento de saúde mental para os profissionais de saúde.
Using latent class analysis to identify aggressors and victims of peer harassment
Authors: Giang Michael T. , Graham Sandra
Published: September 2007

This study used latent class analysis (LCA) to identify and classify individuals into aggressor and victim latent classes. Participants were over 2,000 sixth grade students who completed peer nomination procedures that identified students who had reputations as perpetrators and/or victims of physical, verbal, or relational harassment. Results showed five latent classes. Consistent with previous research, LCA identified latent classes of victims, aggressors, and socially adjusted students. However, rather than a single aggressive‐victim subgroup, LCA identified latent classes of highly‐victimized aggressive‐victims and highly‐aggressive aggressive‐victims. Comparisons showed differences in mean profiles and classification criteria between LCA and traditional dichotomization approaches. Adjustment outcomes showed that highly‐victimized aggressive‐victims generally experienced greater negative psychological and social adjustment outcomes than highly‐aggressive aggressive‐victims. Implications of these findings for better assessment of victim and aggressor subgroups were discussed. Aggr. Behav. 34:203–213, 2008.© 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Molecular weight tuning and spectral studies of novel CN‐PPVs via Gilch reaction route
Authors: Li Sheng‐Biao , Zhu Xu‐Hui , Zhao Lei , Tang Chao , Ma Zhun , Li Ting‐Cheng , Fan Qu‐Li , Wei Wei , Cao Yong , Huang Wei
Published: September 2007

Two novel cyano‐containing PPVs (CN‐PPVs) with different solubilizing alkyloxyl groups were synthesized through Gilch reaction from the monomer 2‐cyano‐5‐(4′‐alkoxyphenyl)‐1,4‐bisbromomethylbenzene. The structures of the polymers were determined by NMR, FTIR, and elemental analysis (EA). The results show that the solubility, thermal stability, and fluorescence properties of CN‐PPVs vary with differing molecular weight. The relationship between the molecular weight of the polymers and the amount of 4‐methoxyphenol used was consistent with anionic polymerization, of which the molecular weight is known to be inversely related to the amount of the initiator. When the number‐average molecular weight (Mn) is in the range of 30,000–100,000, the solubility of the polymers was very good in chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, and toluene, and have good film properties. The fluorescence emission maxima range from 457 to 520 nm, exhibiting appreciable red‐shift with the increase of the molecular weight. This series of novel CN‐PPVs also bear high thermal stability. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007
Crystallization behavior of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)/graphite oxide composites
Authors: Hua Lei , Kai Wei Hua , Inoue Yoshio
Published: September 2007

A series of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL)/graphite oxide (GO) composites were synthesized through the ring‐opening polymerization of ϵ‐caprolactone with GO as an initiator. The crystallization behavior of the PCL–GO composites and the effects of the PCL–GO composites as nucleation agents on the crystallization behavior of PCL were also studied. The introduction of GO as PCL–GO composites shortened the crystallization half‐time for both the isothermal crystallization and nonisothermal crystallization of PCL, and this clearly indicated that GO in the PCL–GO composites had a great nucleating effect on the crystallization of pure PCL. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007
Effects of the ethylene–propylene–diene monomer microstructural parameters and interfacial compatibilizer upon the EPDM/montmorillonite nanocomposites microstructure: Rheology/permeability correlation
Authors: Mohammadpour Y. , Katbab A. A.
Published: September 2007

Attempts have been made to investigate the effects of ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM) rubber structural parameters on the developed microstructure, mechanical properties, rheology, and oxygen gas permeability of EPDM/organically modified montmorillonite (O‐MMT) nanocomposite samples prepared via melt mixing. Maleic anhydride grafted EPDM (EPDM‐g‐MAH) has been employed as an interfacial compatibilizer. The influence of the EPDM melt viscosity and chain linearity on the extent of exfoliation of the clay nanolayers has been evaluated through the calculation of the nanolayer aspect ratio (length/thickness) with the Halpin–Tsai model. The results are consistent with the X‐ray diffraction patterns of the samples. The flocculation of the clay nanolayers has been found to be more probable when O‐MMT is mixed with highly branched, low‐molecular‐weight EPDM. More exfoliation occurs when EPDM rubber with a high molecular weight but low branching is used. This has been confirmed by more nonlinear melt rheology behavior and broadening of the retardation time spectra. Maleated EPDM has been shown to be effective in enhancing the molecular intercalation of the clay nanolayers and the prevention of flocculation in both low‐molecular‐weight and high‐molecular‐weight EPDM matrices. Dynamic melt rheology measurements have revealed nonterminal behavior within the low‐frequency range by interfacially compatibilized molten samples with an EPDM‐g‐MAH/clay ratio of 3, regardless of the matrix molecular weight and chain linearity. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007
Application of the Monte Carlo simulation method to the investigation of peculiar free‐radical copolymerization reactions: Systems with both reactivity ratios greater than unity (rA > 1 and rB > 1)
Authors: Najafi Mohammad , Haddadi‐Asl Vahid , Mohammadi Yousef
Published: September 2007

With a Monte Carlo simulationmethod, copolymer properties have been thoroughly studied, and the influence of the reactivity ratios and feed composition has been taken into consideration. Instantaneous alterations of the copolymer composition and copolymer heterogeneity, which is also called a randomness parameter, have been examined with data obtained from the simulation at each stage of the copolymerization reaction. The results prove the azeotropic behavior of copolymerization reactions in which both reactivity ratios are greater than unity, although some special reactivity ratio combinations ignore the azeotropic behavior. The copolymer composition reaches an azeotrope point at the end of the copolymerization reaction when the copolymerization is an azeotropic reaction. In addition, the randomness parameter takes its maximum value at the azeotrope point when reactivity ratio rA is equal to reactivity ratio rB. Finally, increasing the reactivity ratios causes no change in the trend of copolymer composition/feed composition curves when rA is equal to rB. However, the curves produced with larger rA and rB values show more fluctuations. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007
Characterization of hydrogels prepared by the γ irradiation of aqueous solutions of acrylamide and N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone comonomers
Authors: Abd Alla Safaa G. , Kandeel Marwa M. , El‐Naggar Abdel Wahab M.
Published: September 2007

Copolymer hydrogels were prepared through the γ irradiation of aqueous solutions composed of different ratios of acrylamide (AAm) and vinyl pyrrolidone (VP) monomers. The chemical structure, thermal stability, and structural morphology of the hydrogels were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The IR spectroscopy analysis showed the formation of copolymerization and the presence of hydrogen bonding. The TGA study showed that the AAm/VP‐based hydrogels possessed higher thermal stability than polyacrylamide (PAAm). However, the thermal stability of the AAm/VP hydrogels increased with an increasing ratio of the VP component. The study of the swelling kinetics in water showed that all the hydrogels reached the equilibrium state after 24 h. However, the AAm/VP‐based hydrogels showed swelling in water that was lower than that of the hydrogel based on pure AAm. Meanwhile, the degree of swelling of the AAm/VP‐based hydrogels decreased with an increasing ratio of VP in the feeding solutions. The results showed that the PAAm and AAm/VP‐based hydrogels prepared at 50 kGy were affected by a change in the temperature around 25°C, whereas the hydrogels prepared at 25 kGy did not show this characteristic. However, the hydrogels prepared at different doses displayed reversible pH character. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007
Synthesis and characterization of colorless polyimide nanocomposite films
Authors: Ju Chul Ha , Kim Jeong‐Cheol , Chang Jin‐Hae
Published: September 2007

A poly(amic acid) was prepared through the reaction of 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride and 2,2′‐bis(trifluoromethyl) benzidine in N,N‐dimethylacetamide. Hybrid films were obtained from blend solutions of the precursor polymer and the organoclay dodecyltriphenylphosphonium–mica, with the organoclay content varying from 0 to 1.0 wt %. The cast films of poly(amic acid) were heat‐treated at different temperatures to create polyimide (PI) hybrid films. These PI hybrid films showed excellent optical transparency and were almost colorless. The intercalation of PI chains in the organoclay was examined with wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction and electron microscopy. In addition, the thermomechanical properties were tested with differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis, and the gas permeability was determined. The addition of only a small amount of the organoclay was sufficient to improve the thermal and mechanical properties of the PI, with the maximum enhancement being observed with 0.5 wt % organoclay. However, the water vapor permeability decreased with the clay loading increasing from 0 to 0.5 wt %. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007
Cure kinetics of a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol a epoxy network (n = 0) with isophorone diamine
Authors: Fraga Francisco , Penas Marcos , Castro Carlos , Rodríguez‐Núñez Eugenio , Martínez‐Ageitos José Manuel
Published: September 2007

The study of the cure reaction of a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A epoxy network with isophorone diamine is interesting for evaluating the industrial behavior of this material. The total enthalpy of reaction, the glass‐transition temperature, and the partial enthalpies at different curing temperatures have been determined with differential scanning calorimetry in dynamic and isothermal modes. With these experimental data, the degree of conversion and the reaction rate have been obtained. A kinetic model introduces the mechanisms occurring during an epoxy chemical cure reaction. A modification of the kinetic model accounting for the influence of the diffusion of the reactive groups at high conversions is used. A thermodynamic study has allowed the calculation of the enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007
Enhanced mechanical performances of waterborne polyurethane loaded with lignosulfonate and its supramolecular complexes
Authors: Cui Guojuan , Xia Wenbing , Chen Guangjun , Wei Ming , Huang Jin
Published: September 2007

The modified waterborne polyurethane (WPU) with enhanced mechanical properties has been prepared after introducing lignosulfonate calcium (LS). Meanwhile, the LS was associated with WPU component by chemical grafting and/or physical attraction and hence produced a star‐like network with LS and its supramolecular complexes as center. Especially, when the LS content was 1.5 wt %, the strength and elongation of WPU/LS blends (WLS) simultaneously increased. At this time, the center of network was dominated by the single molecules of spherical LS. Thereafter, with the increase of LS content, the strength of WLS blends increased unceasingly up to 6.0–7.5 wt % of LS loading while the elongation gradually decreased. Because the LS tend to aggregate as supramolecular complexes spontaneously, the center of network was gradually replaced by the LS supramolecular complexes. The structural changes of WLS blends were characterized by FTIR, DSC, and DMA. The results suggested that the LS component was mostly fused with hard‐segments of WPU component and hence induced the formation of physical interaction, importantly for hydrogen bonding, depending on the compulsive association of chemical grafting and the impulse of similar hydrophilicity between the hard‐segment and LS. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Properties of Highly Potent Tubulysin D Analogues
Authors: Patterson Andrew W. , Peltier Hillary M. , Sasse Florenz , Ellman Jonathan A.
Published: September 2007

Ten analogues of tubulysin D were synthesized and assayed against established mammalian cell lines, including cancer cells measuring inhibition of cell growth by an MTT assay. These experiments establish for the first time the essential features for the potent cytotoxicity of tubulysin D. The activities of analogues 2 to 5 demonstrate that numerous modifications may be introduced at the C‐terminus of the natural product with only modest loss in activity, while the activities of analogues 6 to 8 suggest that a basic amine must be present at the N‐terminus to maintain activity. Most surprisingly, analogue 10 establishes that replacement of the chemically labile O‐acyl N,O‐acetal with the stable N‐methyl group results in almost no loss in activity. In aggregate, these structure–activity relationships enable the design of analogues such as 11 that are smaller and considerably more stable than tubulysin D but that maintain most of its potent cell‐growth inhibitory activity.
Duration of testosterone suppression and the risk of death from prostate cancer in men treated using radiation and 6 months of hormone therapy
Authors: D'Amico Anthony V. , Renshaw Andrew A. , Loffredo Brittany , Chen Ming‐Hui
Published: September 2007

BACKGROUND.

The authors evaluated whether the duration of androgen suppression (AS) after the completion of hormone therapy (HT) was associated with the risk of prostate cancer‐specific mortality (PCSM) and all‐cause mortality (ACM).

METHODS.

The study cohort was comprised of 220 men who received radiation therapy (RT) and 6 months of HT for prostate cancer between 1996 and 2005. The duration of AS was defined as the time to return to the baseline testosterone level after the completion of HT. Grays and Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate whether the duration of AS after the completion of HT was associated with the time to PCSM and ACM, respectively, after adjusting for known prognostic factors.

RESULTS.

An increasing duration of AS was associated with a decreased risk of PCSM (adjusted hazards ratio [HR], 0.89; P = .003) and ACM (HR, 0.94; P = .007). Men who had prostate cancer with Gleason scores from 8 to 10 had significantly lower cumulative incidence estimates of PCSM (P = .04) if the duration of AS plus the length of HT administration was ≥2 years compared with <2 years. After a median follow‐up of 6.1 years, the respective 5‐year estimates were 0% and 38%.

CONCLUSIONS.

The duration of AS after 6 months of HT was associated with the risk of PCSM and ACM. This duration could be used to identify men who have prostate cancer with Gleason scores from 8 to 10 in whom 6 months of HT produces long‐term testosterone suppression, which may provide the cancer‐specific survival benefit observed with long‐term HT. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Analyzing the feasibility of building a new mass storage system on distributed resources
Authors: Huang H. Howie , Karpovich John F. , Grimshaw Andrew S.
Published: September 2007

The average PC now contains a large and increasing amount of storage with an ever greater amount left unused. We believe there is an opportunity for organizations to harness the vast unused storage capacity on their PCs to create a very large, low‐cost, shared storage system. What is needed is the proper storage system architecture and software to exploit and manage the unused portions of existing PC storage devices across an organization and make it reliably accessible to users and applications. We call our vision of such a storage system Storage@desk (SD). This paper describes our first step towards the realization of SD—a study of machine and storage characteristics and usage in a model organization. We studied 729 PCs in an academic institution for 91 days, monitoring the configuration, load and usage of the major machine subsystems, i.e. disk, memory, CPU and network. To further analyze the availability characteristics of storage in an SD system, we performed a trace‐driven simulation of some basic storage allocation strategies. This paper presents the results of our data collection efforts, our analysis of the data, our simulation results and our conclusion that an SD system is indeed feasible and holds promise as a cost‐effective way to create massive storage systems. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Autosomal loci associated with a sex‐related difference in the development of autoimmune phenotypes in a lupus model
Authors: Misu Naoko , Zhang Mingcai , Mori Shiro , Miyazaki Tatsuhiko , Furukawa Hiroshi , Sasaki Takeshi , Nose Masato , Ono Masao
Published: September 2007

Sex‐related differences (SrD) are a general characteristic of human autoimmune diseases. There is an increasing body of evidence that suggests a link between sex‐related hormones and autoimmune onsets. Here, through a genetic approach using a lupus mouse model, we attempted to show the involvement of genetic factors in the development of SrD in autoimmune diseases. Using MRL/lpr × (MRL/lpr × C57BL/6.Faslpr)F1 (MBN2) mice, the whole genome was searched to identify linkage loci to autoimmune phenotypes inherited from a lupus MRL/Mp.Faslpr (MRL/lpr) strain of mice, which exhibits glomerulonephritis, splenomegaly and antinuclear autoantibody. The genome‐wide association study confirmed four linkage loci on chromosomes 4, 7, 13, and 17. Furthermore, differential analyses performed using male and female groups of MBN2 mice revealed that two loci located on chromosomes 4 (41–72 cM, MRL/lpr allele) and 7 (4–21 cM, B6/lpr allele) were male specific and suppressed autoimmune phenotypes. Notably, the sum effect of the two loci adequately explained a range of SrD developed in the MBN2 mice. Our present findings suggest the presence of a male‐predominant mechanism underlying the development of SrD in autoimmunity, depending on the effects of autosomal loci under an undefined male‐specific condition.
Type I interferon regulates pDC maturation and Ly49Q expression
Authors: Toma‐Hirano Makiko , Namiki Sahori , Miyatake Shoichiro , Arai Ken‐ichi , Kamogawa‐Schifter Yumiko
Published: September 2007

Ly49Q is expressed on peripheral mouse plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC). Immature Ly49Q‐negative pDC precursors acquire Ly49Q in the bone marrow and then migrate into the periphery. While searching for molecules that regulate pDC maturation, we found that type I interferon (IFN) inhibited Ly49Q acquisition in vitro. Infections that induce type I IFN production by cells other than pDC (a condition mimicked by poly(I:C) injection in vivo) increase the prevalence of Ly49Q– pDC in the bone marrow and peripheral lymphoid organs in wild‐type but not IFN‐α/β receptor knockout BALB/c mice. Moreover, in vivo exposure to type I IFN causes some Ly49Q–, but not Ly49Q+, pDC to convert to conventional DC, defined as B220– CD11c+ CD11b+ cells. These data suggest that type I IFN regulates pDC development and affects their distribution in the body.
f‐Block‐Element–f‐Block‐Element NMR Spin–Spin Coupling
Authors: Dietel Anna M. , Tok Oleg , Kempe Rhett
Published: September 2007

This is a report on the synthesis and structure of novel dinuclear YbII complexes. In one of the described compounds, the two YbII centres are in close proximity and chemically different. Thus, an f‐block‐element–f‐block‐element coupling pattern was observed. The low‐field 171Yb signal consists of a central singlet and two satellites with integral intensities of about 7 % each. This 14 % approximately corresponds to the natural abundance of the 171Yb isotope and was assigned as a doublet arising from 1J(171Yb, 171Yb) spin–spin coupling with a magnitude of 76.1 Hz. Furthermore, the relevance of such studies in understanding dimer equilibria and the rearrangement chemistry of rather bulky structural ensembles is discussed.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)
Synthesis and Charaterisation of Chromium Oxyselenide (Cr2Se0.7O2.3) Formed from Chemical Vapour Synthesis: A New Antiferromagnet
Authors: Boscher Nicolas D. , Carmalt Claire J. , Prieto A. Garcia , Pankhurst Quentin A. , Palgrave Robert G. , Parkin Ivan P.
Published: September 2007

Chromium oxyselenide Cr2Se0.71O2.30 was synthesised by chemical vapor synthesis of chromium oxychloride and diethyl selenide. The material adopts the Cr2Se3 structure type with a = 6.26(3) Å and c = 17.45(3) Å. The Raman spectrum shows bands at 225 and 550 cm–1. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and wavelength dispersive analysis by X‐rays confirmed the material was homogeneous and of uniform composition Cr2Se0.71O2.30. The material is an antiferromagnet with a Neel temperature of 43 K. This is the first solid‐state chromium oxyselenide reported and shows that the hard oxygen and soft selenium can co‐exist in the same lattice if formed under the kinetic product conditions of a rapid gas‐phase reaction.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)
Thermal degradation behaviors and flame retardancy of PC/ABS with novel silicon‐containing flame retardant
Authors: Zhong Hanfang , Wei Ping , Jiang Pingkai , Wang Genlin
Published: September 2007

A novel flame retardant (DVN) containing silicon, phosphorus, and nitrogen has been synthesized from the reaction of 9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxa‐10‐phosphaphenanthrene‐10‐oxide (DOPO), vinylmethyldimethoxy silane (VMDMS) and N‐β‐(aminoethyl)‐γ‐aminopropyle methyl dimethoxy silane (NMDMS), then incorporated into polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC/ABS) alloy. The flame retardancy of PC/ABS/DVN is evaluated by cone calorimeter and limited oxygen index (LOI) and the thermal degradation behavior is investigated by thermogravimetric analysis under nitrogen and air. The PC/ABS/DVN sample was thermally degraded at 400°C for different amounts of time and studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to better understand the mechanism of flame retardancy. The results show that the thermal stability and flame retardancy of PC/ABS are improved by incorporation of DVN. Scanning electric microscopy results show that the outer surface of the char layer of PC/ABS/DVN after the LOI test is smooth and the internal structure is like swollen cells, which benefits the flame retardancy of PC/ABS. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Numerical parameter study of the thermal behaviour of a gypsum plaster board at fire temperatures
Authors: Wullschleger Luc , Ghazi Wakili Karim
Published: September 2007

Based on a comparison between the measured and the calculated temperature evolutions within a gypsum plaster board subject to fire, a numerical parameter study regarding the material properties of gypsum at elevated temperatures has been carried out. This allowed quantifying the individual influence of different quantities and their deviations on the calculated thermal behaviour of this material. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
When religion and obsessive–compulsive disorder collide: Treating scrupulosity in ultra‐orthodox Jews
Authors: Huppert Jonathan D. , Siev Jedidiah , Kushner Elyssa S.
Published: September 2007

Evidence‐based practice suggests that clinicians should integrate the best available research with clinical judgment and patient values. Treatment of religious patients with scrupulosity provides a paradigmatic example of such integration. The purpose of this study is to describe potential adaptations to make exposure and response prevention, the first‐line treatment for obsessive–compulsive disorder, acceptable and consistent with the values of members of the Ultra‐Orthodox Jewish community. We believe that understanding these challenges will enhance the clinician's ability to increase patient motivation and participation in therapy and thereby provide more effective treatment for these and other religious patients. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 63: 925–941, 2007.
Object‐relations and spirituality: Revisiting a clinical dialogue
Authors: Gurney Andrea G. , Rogers Steven A.
Published: September 2007

Antagonism and separateness has characterized the relationship between psychotherapy and religion/spirituality throughout the history of psychology, beginning with Freudian psychoanalytic theory. Recently, however, spirituality, broadly defined as a transcendent relationship with a higher being, has begun to reemerge as a central concept in therapeutic work. There is fertile ground for exploring how spirituality can be enfolded into psychotherapeutic practice, particularly from an object‐relations standpoint. The purpose of this article, therefore, is to examine points of convergence and divergence between spirituality and object‐relations theory and explore the integration of spirituality with object‐relations therapy, with the hope of replacing historical antagonism with thoughtful and intentional integration. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 63: 961–977, 2007.
Relational spirituality and depression in adolescent girls
Authors: Desrosiers Alethea , Miller Lisa
Published: September 2007

This study examines the possibility that relational spirituality may be inversely associated with the relatively higher rates of adolescent depression found in girls as compared with boys. Subjects were 615 adolescents, representing a diverse range of religious, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Overall spirituality and depression were measured using The Brief‐Multidimensional Measure of Religiosity/Spirituality and the Beck Depression Inventory, respectively. Overall, both level of depression and level of relational spirituality were higher in girls as compared with boys. Regression analyses conducted independently for boys and girls revealed that daily spiritual experiences, forgiveness, and religious coping were associated with less‐depressive symptomatology exclusively in girls. This pattern in the findings suggests that uniquely in girls, depression may be associated with disruptions in a relational form of spirituality. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 63: 1021–1037, 2007.
Hereditary properties of combinatorial structures: Posets and oriented graphs
Authors: Balogh József , Bollobás Béla , Morris Robert
Published: September 2007

A hereditary property of combinatorial structures is a collection of structures (e.g., graphs, posets) which is closed under isomorphism, closed under taking induced substructures (e.g., induced subgraphs), and contains arbitrarily large structures. Given a property $\cal {P}$, we write $\cal {P}_{n}$ for the collection of distinct (i.e., non‐isomorphic) structures in a property $\cal {P}$ with n vertices, and call the function ${n} \mapsto |\cal {P}_{n}|$ the speed (or unlabeled speed) of $\cal {P}$. Also, we write $\cal {P}^{n}$ for the collection of distinct labeled structures in $\cal {P}$ with vertices labeled $1,\ldots,{n}$, and call the function ${n} \mapsto |\cal {P}^{n}|$ the labeled speed of $\cal {P}$. The possible labeled speeds of a hereditary property of graphs have been extensively studied, and the aim of this article is to investigate the possible speeds of other combinatorial structures, namely posets and oriented graphs. More precisely, we show that (for sufficiently large n), the labeled speed of a hereditary property of posets is either 1, or exactly a polynomial, or at least $2^{n}-{1}$. We also show that there is an initial jump in the possible unlabeled speeds of hereditary properties of posets, tournaments, and directed graphs, from bounded to linear speed, and give a sharp lower bound on the possible linear speeds in each case. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 56: 311–332, 2007
The generalized Randić index of trees
Authors: Balister Paul , Bollobás Béla , Gerke Stefanie
Published: September 2007

The generalized Randić; index ${R}_{-\alpha}(T)$ of a tree T is the sum over the edges ${u}{v}$ of T of $(d(u)d(v))^{-\alpha}$ where ${d}(x)$ is the degree of the vertex x in T. For all $\alpha > 0$, we find the minimal constant $\beta_{0}=\beta_{0}(\alpha)$ such that for all trees on at least 3 vertices, ${R}_{-\alpha}(T)\leq\beta_{0}(n+1)$, where ${n}={n}(T)= |{V}(T)|$ is the number of vertices of T. For example, when $\alpha=1, \beta_{0}={15\over 56}$. This bound is sharp up to the additive constant—for infinitely many n we give examples of trees T on n vertices with ${R}_{-\alpha}(T)\geq \beta_{0}(n- 1)$. More generally, fix $\gamma > 0$ and define $\tilde {n}=(n- n_{1})+\gamma {n}_{1}$, where ${n}_{1}= {n}_{1}(T)$ is the number of leaves of T. We determine the best constant $\beta_{0}=\beta_{0}(\alpha, \gamma)$ such that for all trees on at least 3 vertices, ${R}_{-\alpha}(T)\leq \beta_{0}(\tilde {n}+{1})$. Using these results one can determine (up to ${o}(n)$ terms) the maximal Randić; index of a tree with a specified number of vertices and leaves. Our methods also yield bounds when the maximum degree of the tree is restricted. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 56: 270–286, 2007
Generating even triangulations of the projective plane
Authors: Suzuki Yusuke , Watanabe Takahiro
Published: September 2007

We shall determine the 20 families of irreducible even triangulations of the projective plane. Every even triangulation of the projective plane can be obtained from one of them by a sequence of even‐splittings and attaching octahedra, both of which were first given by Batagelj 2. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 56: 333–349, 2007
Integrins mediate β‐amyloid‐induced cell‐cycle activation and neuronal death
Authors: Frasca Giuseppina , Carbonaro Viviana , Merlo Sara , Copani Agata , Sortino Maria Angela
Published: September 2007

Early intracellular events responsible for cell‐cycle induction by β‐amyloid (Aβ) in neurons have not been identified yet. Extracellular signal–regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) have been identified in this pathway, and inhibition of ERK activity prevents cell‐cycle activation and reduces neuronal death induced by Aβ. To identify upstream events responsible for ERK activation, attention has been focused on integrins. Treatment of SH‐SY5Y cells, differentiated by long‐term exposure to 10 μM retinoic acid with a neutralizing anti‐α1‐integrin antibody significantly reduced Aβ‐induced neuronal death. However, cell‐cycle analysis showed that treatment with anti‐α1‐integrin per se produced changes in the distribution of cell populations, thus hampering any effect on Aβ‐induced cell‐cycle activation. 4‐Amino‐5‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐7(t‐butyl)pyrazol(3,4‐D)pyramide, an inhibitor of src protein kinases that colocalizes with focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and is involved in integrin signaling, was effective in reducing activation of the cell cycle and preventing induction of neuronal death by Aβ while inhibiting ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Similar results were obtained when FAK expression was down‐regulated by siRNA silencing. The present study identifies a sequence of early events in the toxic effect of Aβ in neuronal cultures that involves interaction with integrins, activation of FAK/src, enhanced phosphorylation of ERK1/2, and induction of the cell cycle, all leading to neuronal death. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inhibition of the Rho/ROCK pathway reduces apoptosis during transplantation of embryonic stem cell‐derived neural precursors
Authors: Koyanagi Masaomi , Takahashi Jun , Arakawa Yoshiki , Doi Daisuke , Fukuda Hitoshi , Hayashi Hideki , Narumiya Shuh , Hashimoto Nobuo
Published: September 2007

Rho‐GTPase has been implicated in the apoptosis of many cell types, including neurons, but the mechanism by which it acts is not fully understood. Here, we investigate the roles of Rho and ROCK in apoptosis during transplantation of embryonic stem cell‐derived neural precursor cells. We find that dissociation of neural precursors activates Rho and induces apoptosis. Treatment with the Rho inhibitor C3 exoenzyme and/or the ROCK inhibitor Y‐27632 decreases the amount of dissociation‐induced apoptosis (anoikis) by 20–30%. Membrane blebbing, which is an early morphological sign of apoptosis; cleavage of caspase‐3; and release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria are also reduced by ROCK inhibition. These results suggest that dissociation of neural precursor cells elicits an intrinsic pathway of cell death that is at least partially mediated through the Rho/ROCK pathway. Moreover, in an animal transplantation model, inhibition of Rho and/or ROCK suppresses acute apoptosis of grafted cells. After transplantation, tumor necrosis factor‐α and pro‐nerve growth factor are strongly expressed around the graft. ROCK inhibition also suppresses apoptosis enhanced by these inflammatory cytokines. Taken together, these results indicate that inhibition of Rho/ROCK signaling may improve survival of grafted cells in cell replacement therapy. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Coherence of climatic reconstruction from historical documents in China by different studies
Authors: Ge Quansheng , Zheng Jingyun , Tian Yanyu , Wu Wenxiang , Fang Xiuqi , Wang Wei‐Chyung
Published: September 2007

Much effort has been spent in the last few decades to reconstruct the climate over China using a variety of historical documents. However, differences in the results of reconstructions exist even when people are using similar documents. In order to address this issue, 14 published temperature series by different studies were analyzed for coherence and mutual consistency. The analyses on their temporal fluctuations indicate that for the individual time series (standardized) on the 10‐years time scales, 57 of the 91 correlation coefficients reach the significance level of 99%. The spatial patterns among the different time series also show high coherency. In addition, consistency also exhibit when comparing the reconstructions with other available natural climate change indicators. Above information was subsequently used to synthesize the temperature series for the last 500 and 1000 years. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society