bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Process of Making Antimicrobial Polymers from Quaternary Ammonium Maleic Di‐Ester Surfmers and Methyl Methacrylate by Emulsion Polymerization
Authors: Dominic G. John , Yashoda M. P. , Ajith Kumar M. P. , Prasannakumar Shankarappa 
Published: April 2016

SummaryThe purpose of this article is to develop degradable quaternary ammonium polymerizable surfactants and their copolymers with methyl methacrylate. Such polymers work efficiently against harmful microbes. The antimicrobial properties were tested against recombinant E. coli to understand its efficiency over superbugs. E. coli culture was developed by introducing pET22b vector having ampicillin resistance gene. Current research paper also focuses on novel synthetic route in obtaining quaternary ammonium maleates. Both the surfmer and copolymer were characterized by spectral methods such as FTIR and NMR. Surface properties of the polymers were studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique was employed to study the extent of bacterial viable cell damage. The degradable property of the surfmers was studied by using FTIR‐technique. The thermal properties of the polymer were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).
Thermo‐Optical Properties of Amino Acid Modified ZnO‐PVA Colloidal Suspension Under CW Laser Illumination
Authors: Tamgadge Yuoraj , Pahurkar Vikas , Sunatkari Ashok , Talwatkar Swarnalata , Muley Gajanan 
Published: April 2016

SummaryIn this paper, we present synthesis of amino acids (l‐arginine and l‐alanine) assisted surface modification of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) using chemical precipitation method. Study emphasizes the utility of l‐arginine over l‐alanine in the synthesis process and ZnO NPs with average particle size of 18 nm have been successfully obtained using l‐arginine. Structural properties were evaluated using powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDAX) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) that confirmed the purity, surface morphology and hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure of ZnO NPs. Linear optical studies using ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐vis) spectroscopy and Fourier transform infra‐red (FT‐IR) spectroscopy indicated the blue shift of excitons absorption wavelength and surface modification by amino acids. Blue shifting is more prominent for l‐arginine and optical band gap of 3.48 eV has been achieved in the present case. Third order nonlinearity (nonlinear refraction and absorption) of ZnO NPs embedded in polyvinyl alcohol (ZnO‐PVA colloidal suspension) was studied by Z‐scan technique at wavelength 632.8 nm in continuous wavelength regime which shows negative nonlinearity with self‐defocusing effect. Large value of n2 and β were obtained in case of ZnO NPs passivated by l‐arginine and effect was attributed to thermal lensing. Thermally stimulated third order nonlinear susceptibility (x(3)) for ZnO‐PVA colloids have also been calculated and presented.
Synthesis and Characterization of New Organosoluble and Thermally Stable Polyimides Containing Pyridine and Anthracene Units
Authors: Amutha N. , Tharakan Simi Annie , Sarojadevi M. 
Published: April 2016

SummaryA series of new polyimides were obtained by the polycondensation reactions of the three diamines containing pyridine and anthracene units with various aromatic tetra carboxylic dianhydrides via both two‐step and one‐step methods. The precursors and monomers were characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR, 1H‐NMR and 13C‐NMR techniques. The structure of the polyimides was confirmed by FT‐IR, and 1H‐NMR spectroscopy, inherent viscosity and molecular weight measurements. All the polyimides are soluble in aprotic solvents such as NMP, DMF, DMAc and DMSO. These polyimides exhibit Tg in the range of 213–317 °C and 10% weight loss (T10) takes place in the range of 414‐531 °C in N2 401–521 °C in air and the char yield varies between 38–54%. The polymer films have tensile strength in the range of 84–110 MPa, elongation at break in the range of 11.2–13.8% and tensile modulus in the range of 1.1–1.4 GPa and low moisture absorption (0.87–1.16). All of these new polymers show excellent thermal stability and the polyimide films have good mechanical properties.
Sustainable Development Through Feedstock Recycling of Plastic Wastes
Authors: Vasudeo Rane Ajay , Abitha V. K. , Vinayak K. , Jayaja P. , Gaikwad Shripal 
Published: April 2016

SummaryThe usage of plastic materials in daily life has continuously increased over the last 30 years. The amount of plastic consumed per inhabitant in the industrialized countries has increased by a factor of 60 over this period, while the generation of plastic wastes has grown at a similar rate. Recycling of plastic materials is now an important field in the plastics industry, not just an activity born under environmental pressure. The recycling processes include industrial operations in which secondary materials are reprocessed and/or monomers recovered for further polymerization; such processes are termed secondary and tertiary recycling. At present, there are three main alternatives for the management of plastic wastes in addition to land filling: (i) mechanical recycling by melting and regranulation of the used plastics, (ii) feedstock recycling and (iii) energy recovery. Consequently, feedstock recycling appears as a potentially interesting approach, based on the conversion of plastic wastes into valuable chemicals useful as fuels or as raw materials for the chemical industry. The cleavage and degradation of the polymer chains may be promoted by temperature, chemical agents, catalysts, etc. The purpose of this work is to describe and review the different alternatives developed for the feedstock recycling of plastic wastes, with emphasis on both the scientific and technical aspects.
Force training induces changes in human muscle membrane properties
Authors: Z'Graggen Werner J. , Trautmann Joël P. , Bostock Hugh 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Human muscle membrane properties can be assessed in vivo by recording muscle velocity recovery cycles (MVRCs). This study was undertaken to study the effect of muscle force training on MVRC parameters. Methods: MVRCs with 1 to 5 conditioning stimuli were recorded from brachioradialis muscle before and after 2 weeks of muscle force training in 12 healthy subjects. The effects of training on relative refractory period and early and late supernormality were quantified. Results: Force training induced a reduction of relative refractory period (P < 0.0001), while early supernormality was increased (P < 0.02) and peaked earlier (P < 0.01). Late supernormality and the increases in late supernormality due to 2 and 5 conditioning stimuli remained unchanged. Conclusions: Muscle force training leads to hyperpolarization of the resting muscle membrane potential, probably caused by an increase in the number of sodium pump sites. Muscle Nerve 54: 144–146, 2016
Involvement of distal sensory nerves in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Isak Baris , Tankisi Hatice , Johnsen Birger , Pugdahl Kirsten , Torvin MØLler Anette , Finnerup Nanna Brix , Christensen Peter BrØGger , Fuglsang‐Frederiksen Anders 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACTIntroductionThe diagnostic criteria for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) require normal sensory nerve conduction studies (NCS) or abnormal NCS only in the presence of neuropathy of identified etiology. In this study, we investigated the presence and extent of involvement of Aß sensory fibers in ALS.MethodsDistal sensory NCS [antidromic dorsal sural (DS) and orthodromic medial plantar (MP)] and conventional sensory NCS (unilateral median sensory and bilateral sural nerves) were performed in 16 definite and 2 probable ALS patients (based on Awaji criteria) and 31 controls.ResultsAbnormal conventional sensory NCS were found in 8 (44.4%) ALS patients and 1 (3.2%) control subject (P = 0.002), whereas abnormal distal sensory NCS were found in 12 (66.7%) ALS patients and 3 (9.6%) controls (P < 0.0001).ConclusionDistal sensory NCS were more often abnormal than conventional sensory NCS in ALS. Muscle Nerve 54: 1086–1092, 2016
Limited‐memory adaptive snapshot selection for proper orthogonal decomposition
Authors: Oxberry Geoffrey M. , Kostova‐Vassilevska Tanya , Arrighi William , Chand Kyle 
Published: April 2016

SummaryReduced order models are useful for accelerating simulations in many‐query contexts, such as optimization, uncertainty quantification, and sensitivity analysis. However, offline training of reduced order models (ROMs) can have prohibitively expensive memory and floating‐point operation costs in high‐performance computing applications, where memory per core is limited. To overcome this limitation for proper orthogonal decomposition, we propose a novel adaptive selection method for snapshots in time that limits offline training costs by selecting snapshots according an error control mechanism similar to that found in adaptive time‐stepping ordinary differential equation solvers. The error estimator used in this work is related to theory bounding the approximation error in time of proper orthogonal decomposition‐based ROMs, and memory usage is minimized by computing the singular value decomposition using a single‐pass incremental algorithm. Results for a viscous Burgers' test problem demonstrate convergence in the limit as the algorithm error tolerances go to zero; in this limit, the full‐order model is recovered to within discretization error. A parallel version of the resulting method can be used on supercomputers to generate proper orthogonal decomposition‐based ROMs, or as a subroutine within hyperreduction algorithms that require taking snapshots in time, or within greedy algorithms for sampling parameter space. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inconvenient Truth? Do Collective Bargaining Agreements Help Explain the Mobility of Teachers within School Districts?
Authors: Goldhaber Dan , Lavery Lesley , Theobald Roddy 
Published: April 2016

AbstractWe utilize detailed teacher‐level longitudinal data from Washington State to investigate patterns of teacher mobility in districts with different collective bargaining agreement (CBA) transfer provisions. Specifically, we estimate the log odds that teachers of varying experience and effectiveness levels transfer out of their schools to other schools in the district in Washington kindergarten through 12th grade (K‐12) public schools. We find little consistent evidence relating voluntary transfer provisions in CBAs to patterns in teacher mobility, but do find evidence that patterns in within‐district mobility by teacher experience and effectiveness vary between districts that do not use seniority in involuntary transfer decisions and those that use seniority as a tiebreaker or the only factor in these moves. In models that consider teacher experience, the interaction between teacher experience and school disadvantage in teacher transfer decisions is more extreme in districts with strong involuntary seniority transfer protections; novice teachers are even more likely to stay in disadvantaged schools, and veteran teachers are even more likely to leave disadvantaged schools. On the other hand, models that consider value‐added measures of teacher effectiveness suggest that more effective teachers are less likely to leave disadvantaged schools in districts that do use seniority in involuntary transfer decisions, that is, seniority transfer provisions could actually make the distribution of output‐based measures of quality more equitable. Taken together, these results suggest that seniority transfer provisions may have differential impacts on the distributions of teacher experience and effectiveness.
Synthesis, characterization, photo physical properties of two isomeric forms of an azo dye supported by DFT calculations and their interaction with DNA
Authors: Ganguly Durba , Santra Ramesh C , Mondal Tapan K , Das Saurabh 
Published: April 2016

AbstractA new azo compound 2‐(2‐hydroxyphenylazo)‐indole‐3/‐acetic acid was synthesized. It is a yellow solid when freshly prepared but upon exposure to light turns red gradually. The change in color may be controlled by lowering the temperature or by keeping the compound in the dark. IR and mass spectroscopy of the two forms are similar while UV‐vis, NMR and HPLC are different suggesting isomerization. Fluorescence emission of the yellow compound at 370 nm following excitation at 280 nm is different from the red showing emission at 460 nm upon excitation at 350 nm. Spectroscopy and fluorescence lifetime data suggest change from the yellow form to red is reversible. DFT calculations show the yellow and red forms to be the torsional rotamer and the trans isomer respectively.The cis isomer was determined theoreticallybut could not be isolated.The trans is stable than the cis by 18.825 kcal mol−1.Interaction of the isomers with DNA was studied with the help of UV‐vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Binding parameters suggest change in spatial orientation makes the trans compound a slightly better binder of DNA than the torsional rotamer.
Comparative Study of Individual and Mixed Aqueous Electrolytes with ZnFe2O4 Nano–flakes Thin Film as an Electrode for Supercapacitor Application
Authors: Vadiyar Madagonda M. , Bhise Sagar C. , Patil Sandip K. , Kolekar Sanjay S. , Chang Jia‐Yaw , Ghule Anil V. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractIn the present work, ZnFe2O4 nano‐flakes thin films are grown on stainless steel substrate using mechanochemical approach. The prepared thin films are characterized and used as working electrodes for supercapacitor application. Investigation for an ideal electrolyte is systematically carried out by comparing three aqueous electrolytes such as LiOH, NaOH, KOH (1 M) and their binary mixtures (1:1 v/v of 1 M each electrolyte) on the basis of their supercapacitive performances. Among the electrolytes, 1 M KOH is found to be an ideal electrolyte, which demonstrates higher specific capacitance (433 F g−1), cycle stability (91 % retention up to 4000 cycles), energy density (86 Wh kg−1), respectively. The binary mixtures of LiOH‐NaOH, NaOH‐KOH and LiOH‐KOH electrolytes show relatively less specific capacitance of 106, 146 and 180 F g−1, respectively. The use of mixed electrolytes and underlying factors affecting the performance are investigated in detail for the first time. The physical parameters such as conductivity, density, viscosity, contact angle and hydrated ionic radius of aqueous electrolytes influencing the specific capacitance of the ZnFe2O4 nano‐flakes based electrode is studied.
Improved and A Simple Approach For Mass Production of Graphene Nanoplatelets Material
Authors: La Mr. Duong Duc , Bhargava Suresh , Bhosale Sheshanath V. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractGraphene has become the most studied nanomaterial of the past decade, due to its unique electronic properties which are essential for various applications such as electronics, sensors, transistors, batteries, as well as conducting polymer composites. There are several report outlined to prepare few layers of graphene nanoplatelets, however, few of them suffer from few drawbacks such as use of toxic reagents (oleum) tedious method and also suffer from production of defect free graphene. Herein, we describe mass production of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) by exfoliation of natural graphite flakes in single step using sodium persulfate and sulphuric acid at room temperature followed by washing with dry acetone. The produced GNPs (∼100 %) are tens of microns in diameter with thickness are about 10–20 nm. We have also evaluated role of water for exfoliation of graphite. The formed GNPs were confirmed by SEM, TEM, and AFM microscopy.
High Efficient Mesoporous Co3O4 Nanocatalysts For Methane Combustion at Low Temperature
Authors: Han Zhen , Zhang Hengqiang , Dong Bing , Ni Yangyang , Kong Aiguo , Shan Yongkui 
Published: April 2016

AbstractCo3O4 nanomaterials with different morphology were easily prepared by calcining Co(OH)2 precursor at different temperatures. The obtained mesoporous Co3O4 with special surface structure had excellent catalytic activity for methane combustion. The specific rate of methane combustion over mesoporous Co3O4 reach up to 1.8 μmol g−1 s−1 at 300 °C. It is close to the specific rate over the supported noble metal catalysts and higher than that over the transition metal oxide catalysts reported in the literature. TEM images, H2‐TPR profiles and XPS spectra analysis testified that some vacancy, antisite, dislocation and grain boundary defects in narrow junction regions around the pore openings may be the origin of the excellent catalytic activity of the mesoporous Co3O4 nanomaterials.
pH‐Responsive Indicator Displacement Assay of Acetylcholine Based on Acridine–p‐Sulfonatocalix[4]arene Supramolecular System: Fluorescence Off/On Switching and Reversible pKa Shift
Authors: Sayed Mhejabeen , Shinde Ketaki , Shah Ramesh , Pal Haridas 
Published: April 2016

AbstractHost‐guest complexes of protonated (AcH+) and neutral (Ac) forms of biologically important acridine dye with p‐sulfonatocalix[4]arene (SCX4) and their responses towards acetylcholine (AcCh) as a competitive binder has been investigated using photochemical studies. Unlike Ac, the AcH+ undergoes strong binding with SCX4 and their differential binding results in a large upward pKa shift for the bound dye. Dye binding to SCX4 causes a drastic fluorescence quenching, witnessing a strong fluorescence “turn OFF”, which is switched to strong fluorescence “turn ON” by the presence of neurotransmitter, AcCh, acts as a stimulus cum competitive binder. This is a unique system showing controlled binding and release for both AcH+ and Ac forms of the dye triggered by AcCh, convincingly established through absorption, pKa tuning, fluorescence modulation and NMR shift. Fluorescence “OFF/ON” switching observed in this study demonstrates an efficient indicator displacement methodology, achieving a control over the selectivity in binding and release of the dye/analyte, having prospective uses in designing new optical sensors and smart functional materials for analytical and biological applications.
Ten‐Electron Donor Indenyl Anion in Binuclear Transition‐Metal Sandwich Complexes: Electronic Structure and Bonding Analysis
Authors: Zendaoui Saber‐Mustapha , Saillard Jean‐Yves , Zouchoune Bachir 
Published: April 2016

AbstractWhereas dinuclear sandwich complexes of pentalene, azulene and naphthalene are not uncommon, their bis‐indenyl counterparts are scarce, with only two M2(indenyl)2 examples known so far. This paper investigates by the means of DFT calculations the possibility for such compounds to exist for the M=Sc−Ni and Y‐(Re)‐Pd series. Stable diamagnetic species are predicted for total valence electron counts (TNE) of 34 and 40. The most favored situation corresponds to TNE = 34. For this electron count, which exhibits full ligand hapticity, no formal metal‐metal bond exists, but only weak non‐bonding attraction. Adding supplementary electrons (TNE > 34) results in partial ligand decoordination. When TNE < 34, metal‐metal bonding is predicted to compensate electron deficiency, with the largest formal bond order for TNE = 26. However, in the case of the series of the first‐row metals, the metal‐metal interaction is rather weak, thus favoring the existence of low‐lying high‐spin states. On the other hand, all the second‐row (and Re) complexes are computed to be diamagnetic. It is concluded that there is no specific reason for M2(indenyl)2 complexes not being isolable.
Synaptic number changes in the medial prefrontal cortex across adolescence in male and female rats: A role for pubertal onset
Authors: Drzewiecki Carly M. , Willing Jari , Juraska Janice M. 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACTAdolescence is a unique period of development, marked by maturation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a region important for executive functioning. During this time, the human PFC decreases in overall volume and thickness. Likewise in adolescent rodents, losses of neurons, dendrites, dendritic spines and neurotransmitter receptors have been documented within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), sometimes with sex and layer specificity. However, changes in the number of synapses during this time have not been examined. In the present study, we stereologically quantified the number of synaptophysin‐immunoreactive boutons in the male and female rat mPFC across multiple time points from the juvenile period through adulthood (postnatal days (P) 25, 35, 45, 60 and 90). In females, there was a significant decrease in synaptophysin boutons between P35 and P45, coinciding with the onset of puberty. In males, there was no significant main effect of age on synaptophysin boutons; however, in both males and females, pubertal onset was associated with significant synaptic losses. These results suggest that puberty is a critical period for synaptic pruning within the rat mPFC, potentially contributing to maturation of adolescent executive function. Synapse 70:361–368, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Targeted sequencing of maternal plasma for haplotype‐based non‐invasive prenatal testing of spinal muscular atrophy
Authors: Chen M. , Lu S. , Lai Z. F. , Chen C. , Luo K. , Yuan Y. , Wang Y. S. , Li S. Q. , Gao Y. , Chen F. , Asan  , Chen D. J. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractFive pregnant women with a child affected by spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) were recruited between November 2014 and March 2015. Deletion of exons 7 and/or 8 in the SMN1 gene were identified by multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification (MLPA), the current standard diagnostic test for SMA. Parental and fetal haplotypes of the SMN1 gene were determined in each family from haplotype‐based non‐invasive testing of blood samples and maternal plasma, respectively. Fetal haplotype was compared with the results of MLPA of fetal DNA obtained from amniotic fluid or chorionic villi. Parental haplotypes were constructed successfully in the five families. Assisted by the information on parental haplotype, non‐invasive testing of maternal plasma identified one fetus with homozygous deletion of exons 7 and 8, two fetuses with heterozygous deletion of exons 7 and 8 and two normal fetuses. These results were consistent with the diagnosis by MLPA. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.