bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fabrication and improved performance of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) for packaging by addition of high molecular weight natural rubber
Authors: Modi Sunny J. , Cornish Katrina , Koelling Kurt , Vodovotz Yael 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACTThe packaging industry is searching for alternative materials to attain environmental sustainability. Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) is a semicrystalline polymer that meets this sustainability goal since it is bioderived and biodegradable. However, its brittle nature and relatively high water permeation and transmission rates make it unsuitable for packaging applications. In addition, PHBV has poor mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties above 160 °C, limiting its use in cast sheets and thermo‐formed packaging applications. To improve these properties, new blends of PHBV with high molecular weight natural rubber at 5, 10, 15, and 25% by weight were fabricated, and physico‐chemical properties of the blends were characterized. The rubber in the blends aided in the following: increased thermal stability since the complex viscosities of the blends were improved by one log over pure PHBV at 170 °C, created more uniform melting peaks attesting to improved homogeneity, decreased water permeation to a level similar to that of traditional thermoplastics; increased the elongation at break, and stabilized the Young's modulus. Therefore, these blends can potentially be used in‐place of traditional, petroleum‐based thermoplastics in cast sheets and thermoforms. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43937.
Cationic hybrids from poly(N,N‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) covalently crosslinked with chloroalkyl silicone derivatives effective in binding anionic dyes
Authors: Lazar Maria Marinela , Varganici Cristian–Dragos , Cazacu Maria , Dragan Ecaterina Stela 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACTThe synthesis and characterization of some novel ionic organic/inorganic hybrids containing quaternary ammonium salt groups in the side chain, built on the basis of poly(N,N‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate), as an organic component and cation provider, and chloroalkyl‐functionalized silicone derivatives as crosslinkers and anion generators, are reported in this work. The resulted structures were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The swelling behavior of the ionic hybrids in water as a function of pH as well as the water vapor sorption capacity in dynamic regime was also studied. The cationic hybrids have a higher swelling capacity at pH 2 compared with deionized water (pH 6) due to the presence of tertiary amine groups belonging to the organic compound. The ionic organic/inorganic hybrids were tested as potential sorbents for anionic species such as dyes [e.g., methyl orange (MO)]. The equilibrium sorption capacity increased with the increase of the organic component up to around 32 mg MO/g hybrid. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43942.
Efficiency of silver‐based antibacterial additives and its influence in thermoplastic elastomers
Authors: Tomacheski Daiane , Pittol Michele , Ferreira Ribeiro Vanda , Marlene Campomanes Santana Ruth 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACTStyrene‐butylene/ethylene‐styrene‐based thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are polymers with soft touch properties that are widely used for manufacturing devices that involve hand contact. However, when contaminated with microorganisms these products can contribute to spreading diseases. The incorporation of antibacterial additives can help maintain low bacteria counts. This work evaluated the antibacterial action of TPE loaded with silver ions and silver nanoparticles. The additives nanosilver on fumed silica (NpAg_silica), silver phosphate glass (Ag+_phosphate), and bentonite organomodified with silver (Ag+_bentonite) were added to the TPE formulation. The compounds were evaluated for tensile and thermal properties and antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). All the additives eliminated over 90% of E. coli, but only NpAg_silica killed more than 80% of S. aureus population. The better effect of NpAg_silica was attributed to the additive's high specific surface area, which promoted greater contact with bacteria cells. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43956.
A pre‐polyaddition mediation of castor oil for polyurethane formation
Authors: Sharma Chandan , Edatholath Saji S. , Raman Unni A. , Umasankar Patro T. , Aswal Vinod K. , Rath Sangram K. , Harikrishnan G. 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACTWe report a simple, serendipitous, two step mediation that overcomes the polyaddition threshold of castor oil during polyurethane formation. The mediation facilitates formation of polyurethane systems directly from castor oil without triricinolein chain extension or the use of supplementary hydroxyl compounds. The mediation involves refluxing castor oil with n‐Butyl lithium in the presence of a solvent followed by water addition. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this mediation by successfully generating two important polyurethane systems (foam and coating) from castor oil. We identify that the mediation introduces two new compounds in castor oil namely, a lithiated diglyceride and a lithium salt of fatty acid. We characterize the new polyurethane synthesized for their hard‐soft segmented morphology, glass transition temperature, and thermomechanical properties. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43964.
Neuronal Nogo‐A in New‐born Retinal Ganglion Cells: Implication for the Formation of the Age‐related Fiber Order in the Optic Tract
Authors: Su Dongqiang , Liu Huaicun , Chan Sun‐on , Wang Jun 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACTNogo‐A is highly expressed in oligodendrocytes in the adult central nervous system (CNS). Recently it was found that Nogo‐A is also expressed in some neuronal types during development. Here, we examined the expression pattern of Nogo‐A in both the retina and optic tract (OT) of mouse embryos from E12 to E15. After perturbation of its function in the OT for 5 hr in the brain slice culture system using a Nogo‐A specific antibody or antagonist of its receptor (NEP1‐40), the optic nerve fibers and growth cones were traced with DiI. We showed that most Tuj‐1 positive new‐born neurons at E12 were Nogo‐A positive. At E15, retinal neurons reduced the Nogo‐A expression. It was worth noting that some projecting axons expressed Nogo‐A along the retinofugal pathway. On the basis of their specific locations within the superficial half of the OT and the colocalization with GAP‐43 (a marker for the newly born growth cones and axons), we concluded that those Nogo‐A positive axons were the newly arrived retinal fibers. Blocking the function of Nogo‐A with Nogo‐A antibody or NEP1‐40 resulted in the shift of DiI labeled axons and growth cones from the superficial half to the whole depth of the OT. These results indicate that Nogo‐A in the newly born retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons are involved in sorting out the newly arrived axons to the subpial region of the OT. Anat Rec, 299:1027–1036, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mass Transfer and Hydrodynamic Aspects of Kinetics Studies in Light Oil Sweetening: A Review
Authors: Ganguly Sudip K. , Varun Neetu , Sharma Anshul , Gill Kareena , Gupta Poonam , Jain Suman L. , Pellegrini Laura A. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractLPG (liquid petroleum gas) sweetening is a very important refining process in which mercaptans are extracted from LPG by caustic solution, resulting in mercaptide salts. Subsequently, these mercaptides are oxidized in the presence of air and catalyst to disulphides involving gas liquid (G‐L) reactions in an oxidizer. This review discusses design and operational aspects of a laboratory G‐L oxidizer which are essential for determination of intrinsic kinetic parameters of the mercaptide oxidation step. These kinetic parameters are subsequently used for scale‐up and design of grass root industrial scale oxidizers. The sweetening is categorized as a slow reaction. Hence, reaction takes place both in the film and the bulk. Transport of oxygen across the air to the aqueous alkaline phase in the oxidizer is critical and controlled by the liquid film mass transport term. Thus, oxygen transportation limitations need to be overcome and ensured before conducting kinetic studies. This paper fills the gap between laboratory reactor design and operational aspects by presenting a detailed review on chemical engineering analysis for maximization of the volumetric mass transfer coefficient using operational aspects of an agitated sparged G‐L reactor.
Process Engineering Aspects of Vertical Column Photobioreactors for Mass Production of Microalgae
Authors: Pawar Sanjay B. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractMicroalgae cultivation can be made sustainable on a large‐scale by lowering the costs associated with closed photobioreactors (PBRs). It can be achieved through the appropriate design of closed PBRs to achieve maximum productivity. The cultivation of microalgae is very sensitive to temperature, pH, shear stress, irradiance, and operating conditions of the PBR. The understanding of design parameters is a prerequisite for scale‐up of gas‐sparged vertical column PBRs. The hydrodynamics of gas‐sparged vertical column PBRs play a very critical role in the optimum production of microalgae and avoiding the carbon loss (unabsorbed CO2 out of total supplied). In this article, the effects of design parameters on microalgae productivity in various vertical column PBRs, i.e., flat panel, bubble column, and airlift (draft tube) column, are critically reviewed. The microalgae production in PBRs is essentially a three‐phase operation. Hence, the hydrodynamic aspects of two‐ and three‐phase flow in the vertical column PBR are emphasized with respect to its scale‐up prospect. The flow regimes and CFD modeling aspects of gas‐sparged PBRs are also covered in this review.
A Cytochrome P450‐Mediated Intramolecular Carbon–Carbon Ring Closure in the Biosynthesis of Multidrug‐Resistance‐Reversing Lathyrane Diterpenoids
Authors: King Andrew J. , Brown Geoffrey D. , Gilday Alison D. , Forestier Edith , Larson Tony R. , Graham Ian A. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe Euphorbiaceae produce a wide variety of bioactive diterpenoids. These include the lathyranes, which have received much interest due to their ability to inhibit the ABC transporters responsible for the loss of efficacy of many chemotherapy drugs. The lathyranes are also intermediates in the biosynthesis of range of other bioactive diterpenoids with potential applications in the treatment of pain, HIV and cancer. We report here a gene cluster from Jatropha curcas that contains the genes required to convert geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate into a number of diterpenoids, including the lathyranes jolkinol C and epi‐jolkinol C. The conversion of casbene to the lathyranes involves an intramolecular carbon–carbon ring closure. This requires the activity of two cytochrome P450s that we propose form a 6‐hydroxy‐5,9‐diketocasbene intermediate, which then undergoes an aldol reaction. The discovery of the P450 genes required to convert casbene to lathyranes will allow the scalable heterologous production of these potential anticancer drugs, which can often only be sourced in limited quantities from their native plant.
Intramolecular Tetrylene Lewis Adducts: Synthesis and Reactivity
Authors: Schneider Julia , Krebs Kilian M. , Freitag Sarah , Eichele Klaus , Schubert Hartmut , Wesemann Lars 
Published: June 2016

AbstractA series of benzyl(diphenylphosphino) and o‐phenyl(diphenlyphosphino) substituted germylenes and plumbylenes were synthesized by nucleophilic substitution between the respective lithium reagent and tetrylene halide. The Lewis pairs were characterized by X‐ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. The reactivity of the tetrylenes was investigated with respect to azide addition. In the germylene case, the germaniumimide was formed as the kinetically controlled product, which rearranges upon heating to give the phosphinimide. The stannylene and plumbylene derivatives react with adamantylazide to give the azide adducts. 1‐Pentene reacts diastereoselectively with the phosphagermirane to give a cyclic addition product. Trimethysilylacetylene shows an addition with the benzylphosphino‐substituted germylene and plumbylene to give the cycloheteropentene molecules. The addition product between phenylacetylene and the four membered Ge‐P adduct shows after addition at room temperature a 1,4‐phenylmigration to give a cyclic phosphine. Alkylnitrene insertion into a Ge−C bond of the alkyne addition product of the phosphagermirane was found in reaction with adamantylazide.
Mild and Low‐Pressure fac‐Ir(ppy)3‐Mediated Radical Aminocarbonylation of Unactivated Alkyl Iodides through Visible‐Light Photoredox Catalysis
Authors: Chow Shiao Y. , Stevens Marc Y. , Åkerbladh Linda , Bergman Sara , Odell Luke R. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractA novel, mild and facile preparation of alkyl amides from unactivated alkyl iodides employing a fac‐Ir(ppy)3‐catalyzed radical aminocarbonylation protocol has been developed. Using a two‐chambered system, alkyl iodides, fac‐Ir(ppy)3, amines, reductants, and CO gas (released ex situ from Mo(CO)6), were combined and subjected to an initial radical reductive dehalogenation generating alkyl radicals, and a subsequent aminocarbonylation with amines affording a wide range of alkyl amides in moderate to excellent yields.
Vergleich verschiedener Messverfahren zur Partikelgrößenanalyse am Beispiel von nanodispersem ZrO2‐Pulver
Authors: Steinborn Gabriele , Gemeinert Marion , Schmidt Wolfram 
Published: June 2016

AbstractFünf verschiedene Messverfahren wurden zur Partikelgrößenanalyse von nanodispersen ZrO2‐Pulver verglichen. Mit der Laserstreulichtanalyse, der dynamischen Lichtstreuung (heterodyne DLS und homodyne DLS‐PCS), der Sedimentationsanalyse im Zentrifugalfeld und der Ultraschallspektrometrie wurden wässrige ZrO2‐Suspensionen mit verschiedenen Feststoffkonzentrationen hinsichtlich ihrer Partikelgrößenverteilung analysiert. Als Referenz diente die REM‐Analyse zur Ermittlung der Primärpartikelgröße (ca. 40 nm). Mit den hier vorgestellten Messverfahren konnten in den entsprechenden Suspensionen nur Sekundärpartikel im Bereich von 105 nm bis 224 nm detektiert werden, die somit auf das Vorhandensein von Aggregaten bzw. harten Agglomeraten hinweisen.
Anode Preparation Strategies for the Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Water Based on Strong Interactions between Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Cationic Acetylammonium Pyrene Moieties in Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Koelewijn Jacobus M. , Lutz Martin , Detz Remko J. , Reek Joost N. H. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractA strategy is reported for the immobilization of iridium‐based water oxidation catalyst 3 onto fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) anodes evaluated for the electrocatalytic oxidation of H2O. The strategy is based on noncovalent π–π interactions between multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and the cationic acetylammonium pyrene moiety (Pyr+) covalently attached to a NHC IrCp*Cl2 catalytically active center (NHC=N‐heterocyclic carbene, Cp*=C5Me5). The dispersive properties of the Pyr+ moiety in compound 3 leads to the formation of stable MWCNT dispersions in aqueous solutions. In addition, the MWCNT/3 assembly shows activity in the Ce4+‐driven oxidation of H2O. FTO/MWCNT/3 anodes show increased current densities when used as a working electrode for the electrocatalytic oxidation of H2O. At higher anodic polarizations initially high current densities were achieved; however, these currents prove to be non‐sustained due to delamination and degradation of the catalytically active surface. The immobilization strategy is limited to applications below 1.4 V vs normal hydrogen electrode (NHE) as oxidation of the pyrene backbone is evident at higher potentials.
A Green Approach to High‐Performance Supercapacitor Electrodes: The Chemical Activation of Hydrochar with Potassium Bicarbonate
Authors: Sevilla Marta , Fuertes Antonio B. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractSustainable synthesis schemes for the production of porous carbons with appropriate textural properties for use as supercapacitor electrodes are in high demand. In this work a greener option to the widely used but corrosive KOH is proposed for the production of highly porous carbons. Hydrochar products are used as carbon precursors. It is demonstrated that a mild alkaline potassium salt such as potassium bicarbonate is very effective to generate porosity in hydrochar to lead to materials with large surface areas (> 2000 m2 g−1) and a tunable pore size distribution. Furthermore, the use of KHCO3 instead of KOH gives rise to a significant 10 % increase in the yield of activated carbon, and the spherical morphology of hydrochar is retained, which translates into better packing properties and reduced ion diffusion distances. These features lead to a supercapacitor performance that can compete with, and even surpass, that of KOH‐activated hydrochar in a variety of electrolytes.
The oceanic concordance of phylogeography and biogeography: a case study in Notochthamalus
Authors: Ewers‐Saucedo Christine , Pringle James M. , Sepúlveda Hector H. , Byers James E. , Navarrete Sergio A. , Wares John P. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractDispersal and adaptation are the two primary mechanisms that set the range distributions for a population or species. As such, understanding how these mechanisms interact in marine organisms in particular – with capacity for long‐range dispersal and a poor understanding of what selective environments species are responding to – can provide useful insights for the exploration of biogeographic patterns. Previously, the barnacle Notochthamalus scabrosus has revealed two evolutionarily distinct lineages with a joint distribution that suggests an association with one of the two major biogeographic boundaries (~30°S) along the coast of Chile. However, spatial and genomic sampling of this system has been limited until now. We hypothesized that given the strong oceanographic and environmental shifts associated with the other major biogeographic boundary (~42°S) for Chilean coastal invertebrates, the southern mitochondrial lineage would dominate or go to fixation in locations further to the south. We also evaluated nuclear polymorphism data from 130 single nucleotide polymorphisms to evaluate the concordance of the signal from the nuclear genome with that of the mitochondrial sample. Through the application of standard population genetic approaches along with a Lagrangian ocean connectivity model, we describe the codistribution of these lineages through a simultaneous evaluation of coastal lineage frequencies, an approximation of larval behavior, and current‐driven dispersal. Our results show that this pattern could not persist without the two lineages having distinct environmental optima. We suggest that a more thorough integration of larval dynamics, explicit dispersal models, and near‐shore environmental analysis can explain much of the coastal biogeography of Chile.
D1‐ and D2‐like dopamine receptors within the nucleus accumbens contribute to stress‐induced analgesia in formalin‐related pain behaviours in rats
Authors: Faramarzi G. , Zendehdel M. , Haghparast A. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractBackgroundStressful experiences can produce analgesia, termed stress‐induced analgesia (SIA). Meanwhile, it has been widely established that the mesolimbic dopamine pathway and nucleus accumbens (NAc) have a profound role in pain modulation. In this study, we examined the role of accumbal dopamine receptors in antinociception caused by forced swim stress (FSS) in order to understand more about the function of these receptors within the NAc in FSS‐induced analgesia.MethodStereotaxic surgery was unilaterally performed on adult male Wistar rats weighing 230–250 g (some on the left and some on the right side of the midline). Two supergroups were microinjected into the NAc with a D1‐like dopamine receptor antagonist, SCH‐23390, at doses of 0.25, 1 and 4 μg/0.5 μl saline per rat or Sulpiride as a D2‐like dopamine receptor antagonist at the same doses [0.25, 1 and 4 μg/0.5 μl dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) per rat]; while their controls just received intra‐accumbal saline or DMSO at 0.5 μl, respectively. The formalin test was performed after rats were subjected to FSS (6 min, 25 ± 1 °C) to assess pain‐related behaviours.ResultsThe results demonstrated that intra‐accumbal infusions of SCH‐23390 and Sulpiride dose‐dependently reduced FSS‐induced antinociception in both phases of the formalin test. However, the percentage decrease in area under the curve (AUC) values calculated for treatment groups compared to formalin‐control group was more significant in the late phase than the early phase.ConclusionOur findings suggest that D1‐ and D2‐like dopamine receptors in the NAc are involved in stress‐induced antinociceptive behaviours in the formalin test as an animal model of persistent inflammatory pain.What does this study add

Forced swim stress (FSS) induces the antinociception in both phases of formalin test.

Blockade of accumbal dopamine receptors attenuate the antinociception induced by FSS.

Stress‐induced analgesia is dose‐dependently reduced by dopamine receptor antagonists in both phases, although it is more prominent during the late phase.
Pain hypersensitivity in congenital blindness is associated with faster central processing of C‐fibre input
Authors: Slimani H. , Plaghki L. , Ptito M. , Kupers R. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractBackgroundWe have recently shown that visual deprivation from birth exacerbates responses to painful thermal stimuli. However, the mechanisms underlying pain hypersensitivity in congenital blindness are unclear.MethodsTo study the contribution of Aδ‐ and C‐fibres in pain perception, we measured thresholds and response times to selective C‐ and Aδ‐fibre activation in congenitally blind, late blind and normally sighted participants. Ultrafast constant‐temperature heat pulses were delivered to the hand with a CO2 laser using an interleaved adaptive double staircase procedure. Participants were instructed to respond as quickly as possible when detecting a laser‐induced sensation. We used a 650 ms cut‐off criterion to distinguish fast Aδ‐ from slow C‐fibre–mediated sensations.ResultsCongenitally blind participants showed significantly faster reaction times to C‐ but not to Aδ‐fibre–mediated sensations. In contrast, thresholds for Aδ‐ and C‐fibre stimulation did not differ between groups. Late blind individuals did not differ from sighted controls in any aspect. A follow‐up experiment using only suprathreshold stimuli for Aδ‐ and C‐fibre activation confirmed these findings and further showed that congenitally blind individuals detected significantly more C‐fibre–mediated stimuli than sighted controls. A decomposition analysis of the reaction times indicated that the faster response times in the congenitally blind are due to more efficient central processing of C‐fibre–mediated sensations.ConclusionThe increased sensitivity to painful thermal stimulation in congenital blindness may be due to more efficient central processing of C‐fibre–mediated input, which may help to avoid impending dangerous encounters with stimuli that threaten the bodily integrity.What does this study add?

Hypersensitivity to heat pain in congenital blindness is associated with faster responses to C‐fibre activation, likely caused by more efficient central processing of C‐fibre–mediated input.