bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improving the antifouling property of poly(vinyl chloride) membranes by poly(vinyl chloride)‐g‐poly(methacrylic acid) as the additive
Authors: Fang Li‐Feng , Zhou Ming‐Yong , Wang Na‐Chuan , Zhu Bao‐Ku , Zhu Li‐Ping 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTTo improve the antifouling property of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membranes, a series of poly(methacrylic acid) grafted PVC copolymers (PVC‐g‐PMAA) with different grafting degree were synthesized via one‐step atom transfer radical polymerization process utilizing the labile chlorines on PVC backbones followed by one‐step hydrolysis reaction. PVC/PVC‐g‐PMAA blend membranes with different grafting degree and copolymer content were prepared by nonsolvent induced phase separation method. The surface chemical composition, surface charge, membrane structures, wettability, permeability, separation performances and the fouling resistance of blend membranes were carefully investigated. The results indicated that the PMAA chains were segregated towards the surface and the membranes were endowed with negative charge. The hydrophilicity and permeability of the blend membranes were obviously improved. Furthermore, the antifouling ability especially at neutral or alkaline environments was also significantly increased. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42745.
Thermal and mechanical properties of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐based hydrogels as a function of porosity and medium change
Authors: Chatterjee Prithwish , Dai Annie , Yu Hongyu , Jiang Hanqing , Dai Lenore L. 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTPoly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) has been a well‐known stimuli–responsive material and has been used in multiple novel applications. One of the key attributes to make the hydrogel more attractive is to control the response time and temperature. This work focused on comparing the physical properties, such as response time, transition temperature, heat of fusion, and mechanical strength, of macroporous and microporous PNIPAAm hydrogels, respectively. It was found that the macroporous hydrogels synthesized from a low‐temperature polymerization with addition of tetramethyl orthosilicate exhibited a faster response time and superior mechanical strength. Furthermore, to modulate the transition temperature, both the macroporous and microporous hydrogels were subjected to different qualities of media by introducing a cosolvent (methanol) or an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate). Interestingly, addition of a cosolvent demonstrated a more pronounced effect on the macroporous hydrogel, whereas the surfactant resulted in a more pronounced effect on the microporous hydrogel. Such results revealed that based on their porosity; there were appreciable differences when the PNIPAAm hydrogels interacted with media molecules. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42776.
Sperm of Galeorhinus galeus (Elasmobranchii, Triakidae) Traverse an Excurrent Duct System Characterized by Pronounced Regionalization: A Scanning Electron and Light Microscopy Study
Authors: McClusky Leon Mendel 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTThe transport and subsequent maturation of spermatozoa in the vertebrate excurrent duct require the creation of a series of biochemically defined luminal milieus along the length of the duct. Such specialization is accomplished, among others, by changes in the epididymal histoarchitecture. Here we show that the intratesticular and extratesticular genital ducts of mating Galeorhinus galeus exhibit pronounced regionalization both in terms of epithelial histology and lumen diameter size. Findings also reveal distinct differences in the manner in which the spermatozoa were found in each segment of the duct. Novel scanning electron microscopy evidence is presented showing that the wide lumen ductuli epididymides, which ultimately convey the spermatozoa to the proximal epididymis, show functional specialization as well. The wall of the former consisted of cuboidal ciliated and nonciliated cells whose spatial arrangement in the duct wall resulted in a luminal surface showing lengthy rows of cilia‐free areas, with each row bordered on both sides by a single row of cilia. The proximal epididymis comprised several subregions whose epithelial histology varied widely. The distal epididymis and ampulla of the epididymis possessed many fingerlike projections and transverse septa, respectively. As the main storage site for spermatozoa, the ampulla completed the bundling of spermatozoa into spermatozeugmata. These were circular sperm masses in which the heads of the spermatozoa were aligned side by side and embedded in a seminal matrix, while their tails extended outward. These findings of pronounced regionalization differ greatly from the rather uniform epididymal histology seen in some rays. Anat Rec, 298:1938–1949, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hypertension and Estrogen Deficiency Augment Aneurysmal Remodeling in the Rabbit Circle of Willis in Response to Carotid Ligation
Authors: Tutino Vincent M. , Mandelbaum Max , Takahashi Akira , Pope Liza C. , Siddiqui Adnan , Kolega John , Meng Hui 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTIncreased cerebral blood flow has been shown to induce pathological structural changes in the Circle of Willis (CoW) in experimental models. Previously, we reported flow‐induced aneurysm‐like remodeling in the CoW secondary to flow redistribution after bilateral common carotid artery (CCA) ligation in rabbits. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that loading rabbits with biological risk factors for vascular disease would increase flow‐induced aneurysmal remodeling in the CoW. In the same series as the previously‐reported bilateral CCA‐ligation‐alone (n = 6) and sham surgery (n = 3) groups, eight additional female rabbits (the experimental group in this study) were subjected to two risk factors for intracranial aneurysm (hypertension and estrogen deficiency) and then bilateral CCA ligation. Upon euthanasia at 6 months, vascular corrosion casts of the CoW were created and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy for morphological changes and aneurysmal damage. In rabbits with hypertension and estrogen deficiency, arterial caliber increased throughout the CoW, similar to rabbits with CCA ligation alone. However, aneurysmal remodeling (i.e., local bulging) in the CoW was significantly greater than in CCA‐ligation‐only rabbits and was more widespread, presenting in regions that did not show aneurysmal changes after CCA ligation alone. Furthermore, hypertension and estrogen deficiency caused greater increases in vessel length and tortuosity. These results suggest that hypertension and estrogen deficiency make the CoW more vulnerable to flow‐induced aneurysmal remodeling and tortuosity. We propose they do so by lowering the tolerance of vascular tissue to hemodynamic forces caused by CCA ligation, thus lowering the threshold necessary to incite vascular damage. Anat Rec, 298:1903–1910, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
BAPX‐1/NKX‐3.2 Acts as a Chondrocyte Hypertrophy Molecular Switch in Osteoarthritis
Authors: Caron Marjolein M. J. , Emans Pieter J. , Surtel Don A. M. , van der Kraan Peter M. , van Rhijn Lodewijk W. , Welting Tim J. M. 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveOsteoarthritis (OA) development involves a shift of the articular chondrocyte phenotype toward hypertrophic differentiation via still poorly characterized mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to test our hypothesis that the function of BAPX‐1/NKX‐3.2 is impaired in OA chondrocytes and leads directly to loss of hypertrophic protection of the articular chondrocyte, which is central in the changing chondrocyte phenotype that drives OA.MethodsHuman articular chondrocytes (HACs; from healthy and OA donors) and SW‐1353 chondrocytic cells were exposed to bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP‐7), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), tumor necrosis factor, or OA synovial fluid (SF; 20% [volume/volume]). Loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function experiments for BAPX‐1/NKX‐3.2 were performed. Mouse experimental models of OA were used, and (immuno)histochemistry of tissue sections was performed. Gene and protein expression of BAPX‐1/NKX‐3.2 and chondrogenic, hypertrophic, and OA‐related mediators were determined by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis and immunoblotting. In addition, alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity and prostaglandin E2 levels were measured.ResultsBAPX‐1/NKX‐3.2 expression correlated negatively with expression of chondrocyte hypertrophic markers (RUNX‐2, COL10A1, AP), cartilage‐degrading enzymes (matrix metalloproteinase 13, ADAMTS‐5), and mediators of inflammation (cyclooxygenase 2, IL‐6) in healthy and OA chondrocytes, as well as in OA induced chondrocytes. BAPX‐1/NKX‐3.2 positivity was diminished in articular chondrocytes in the knee joints of mice with experimental OA. Knockdown of BAPX‐1/NKX‐3.2 in HACs did not influence the expression of SOX9, COL2A1, or aggrecan, but led to an acute hypertrophic shift in the HAC phenotype. Overexpression of BAPX‐1/NKX‐3.2 decreased hypertrophic gene expression in HACs. Furthermore, the hypertrophic OA chondrocyte phenotype could be counteracted by overexpression of BAPX‐1/NKX‐3.2 and by BMP‐7 in a BAPX‐1/NKX‐3.2 dependent manner.ConclusionOur findings indicate that BAPX‐1/NKX‐3.2 is a molecular switch that is involved in controlling the hypertrophic phenotype of the postdevelopmental (OA) articular chondrocyte.
Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Mitochondrial DNA and Its Autoantibody in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and a Proof‐of‐Concept Trial of Metformin
Authors: Wang Haiting , Li Ting , Chen Sheng , Gu Yueying , Ye Shuang 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveNeutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been shown to play an important role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis by activating plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) and the type I interferon (IFN) pathway. NETs composed of self‐DNA are considered to be of nuclear origin and are a major source of anti‐DNA autoantibody generation. This study was undertaken to evaluate whether mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) resides in NETs, to evaluate whether mtDNA and anti‐mtDNA antibodies cause dysregulation of the PDC–IFNα pathway, and to investigate the clinical implication in SLE.MethodsPatients with SLE (n = 102), patients with rheumatoid arthritis (n = 30), and healthy donors (n = 40) were enrolled in in vitro studies. NETs were generated from phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA)–stimulated peripheral neutrophils. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect NET formation ex vivo and in lupus nephritis renal biopsy samples. The mtDNA levels and type I IFN–inducible gene scores were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Anti‐mtDNA antibodies, anti–double‐stranded DNA (anti–dsDNA) antibodies, and IFNα were detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Purified PDCs were stimulated by isolated NETs, mtDNA, or dsDNA, combined with anti‐mtDNA or dsDNA IgG, or other culture conditions. Additional patients with SLE (n = 113) were enrolled in a proof‐of‐concept trial. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of metformin on a background of corticosteroids and conventional immunosuppressive agents in patients with mild or moderate lupus. The primary end point was the efficacy of metformin for reducing disease flare.ResultsWe detected mtDNA in NETs, and anti‐mtDNA antibody levels were elevated in SLE patients compared with controls and significantly correlated with IFN scores and the disease activity index. The presence of anti‐mtDNA antibodies was disproportionately associated with lupus nephritis, and correlated better than anti‐dsDNA antibody levels with the lupus nephritis activity index. Mitochondrial DNA was deposited in NETs in lupus nephritis renal biopsy specimens. In addition, mtDNA/anti‐mtDNA were greater inducers of PDC IFNα production via Toll‐like receptor engagement than dsDNA/anti‐dsDNA. We assessed the effect of metformin on down‐regulating the NET mtDNA–PDC–IFNα pathway. Metformin decreased PMA‐induced NET formation and CpG‐stimulated PDC IFNα generation. A proof‐of‐concept trial of metformin add‐on treatment of mild or moderate SLE resulted in decreases in clinical flares, prednisone exposure, and body weight.ConclusionOur findings establish a link between mtDNA in NETs, anti‐mtDNA antibodies, and PDC IFNα pathogenesis in SLE, and highlight that specific strategies to down‐regulate this pathway, such as treatment with metformin, may be new approaches to treat SLE.
Interpretation of an Extended Autoantibody Profile in a Well‐Characterized Australian Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma) Cohort Using Principal Components Analysis
Authors: Patterson K. A. , Roberts‐Thomson P. J. , Lester S. , Tan J. A. , Hakendorf P. , Rischmueller M. , Zochling J. , Sahhar J. , Nash P. , Roddy J. , Hill C. , Nikpour M. , Stevens W. , Proudman S. M. , Walker J. G. 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveTo determine the relationships between systemic sclerosis (SSc)–related autoantibodies, as well as their clinical associations, in a well‐characterized Australian patient cohort.MethodsSerum from 505 Australian SSc patients were analyzed with a commercial line immunoassay (EuroLine; Euroimmun) for autoantibodies to centromere proteins CENP‐A and CENP‐B, RNA polymerase III (RNAP III; epitopes 11 and 155), the 90‐kd nucleolar protein NOR‐90, fibrillarin, Th/To, PM/Scl‐75, PM/Scl‐100, Ku, topoisomerase I (topo I), tripartite motif–containing protein 21/Ro 52, and platelet‐derived growth factor receptor. Patient subgroups were identified by hierarchical clustering of the first 2 dimensions of a principal components analysis of quantitative autoantibody scores. Results were compared with detailed clinical data.ResultsA total of 449 of the 505 patients were positive for at least 1 autoantibody by immunoblotting. Heatmap visualization of autoantibody scores, along with principal components analysis clustering, demonstrated strong, mutually exclusive relationships between CENP, RNAP III, and topo I. Five patient clusters were identified: CENP, RNAP III strong, RNAP III weak, topo I, and other. Clinical features associated with CENP, RNAP III, and topo I were consistent with previously published reports concerning limited cutaneous and diffuse cutaneous SSc. A novel finding was the statistical separation of RNAP III into 2 clusters. Patients in the RNAP III strong cluster had an increased risk of gastric antral vascular ectasia, but a lower risk of esophageal dysmotility. Patients in the other cluster were more likely to be male and to have a history of smoking and a history of malignancy, but were less likely to have telangiectasia, Raynaud's phenomenon, and joint contractures.ConclusionFive major autoantibody clusters with specific clinical and serologic associations were identified in Australian SSc patients. Subclassification and disease stratification using autoantibodies may have clinical utility, particularly in early disease.
Easy Access to Supramolecular Gels of the Nonsteroidal Anti‐inflammatory Drug Diflunisal: Synthesis, Characterization, and Plausible Biomedical Applications
Authors: Parveen Rumana , Dastidar Parthasarathi 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBy exploiting salt formation, a new series of primary ammonium monocarboxylate salts of a nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug, namely, diflunisal, was synthesized. The majority of the salts thus synthesized turned out to be good gelators of various solvents, including the solvents (e.g., methyl salicylate and pure water) typically used for topical gel formulation. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies of a few gelator and nongelator salts in the series revealed details of the hydrogen‐bonding networks present in the salts. Furthermore, one such gelator salt, namely, the diflunisal salt of serinol, was found to be biocompatible (MTT assay), and its anti‐inflammatory (PGE2 assay) response turned out to be as good as that of the parent drug, which is indicative of its potential in biomedical applications.
Connection of predictability of major stratospheric sudden warmings to polar vortex geometry
Authors: Taguchi Masakazu 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis study explores a possible connection between predictability variations of major stratospheric sudden warmings (MSSWs) during Northern winter and the geometry of the polar vortex. We compare 1‐month hindcasts from 1979 to 2012 of the Japan Meteorological Agency to the Japanese 55‐year Reanalysis data. Results show that error variations of medium range (≈14 day) forecasts of 21 actual MSSWs do depend on the observed geometry of the polar vortex: the errors are larger for vortex split MSSWs when the polar vortex is highly stretched as characterized by a high aspect ratio and an amplified zonal wavenumber 2 component.
Orthogonal collocation methods using Mathematica© in the graduate chemical engineering curriculum
Authors: Binous Housam , Bellagi Ahmed 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTWe present in this pedagogical paper several important aspects of the application of orthogonal collocation for solution of Chemical Engineering problems. These include: the Stefan–Maxwell diffusion; the start‐up of a Poiseuille Flow in a Newtonian Fluid; the transient heat conduction with temperature‐dependent thermal conductivity; and the reaction‐diffusion in a drop. The presented method of resolution (i.e., orthogonal collocation) of such problems can be easily introduced in any graduate‐level chemical engineering numerical method course. Indeed, this technique has been used for the past four year at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) in the graduate‐level core numerical methods course called CHE 560. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput. Appl. Eng. Educ. 24:101–113, 2016; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cae; DOI 10.1002/cae.21676
Constructions of ‘Illegal’ Immigration and Entitlement to Citizenship: Debating an Immigration Law in Greece
Authors: Figgou Lia 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis study explores the ways in which constructions of immigrants' illegality and accounts on the meaning of naturalization and citizenship serve as argumentative resources against a particular immigration law in Greece. Data consisted of transcripts of parliamentary speeches by political party leaders who opposed the law. Analysis used the tools and concepts of discursive and rhetorical social psychology and identified three main lines of arguing. The first set clear boundaries between ‘legal’ and ‘illegal’ immigration and constructed immigrants' (il)legal entry as a category defining criterion. The second represented legal status as subject to change and constructed immigrants as ‘legalized’, in order to argue against their entitlement to citizenship. Finally, in another sort of accounting, regularization and naturalization procedures were trivialized, as the speakers negotiated the necessary, and also the ideal conditions of co‐existence and participation in a nation–state. The findings are discussed in relation to their potential contribution (i) to the existing literature on the constituted and constitutive nature of the category of illegal immigration and (ii) to a social psychological approach to citizenship. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthetic Model of the Oxygen‐Evolving Center: Photosystem II under the Spotlight
Authors: Yu Yang , Hu Cheng , Liu Xiaohong , Wang Jiangyun 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe oxygen‐evolving center (OEC) in photosystem II catalyzes a water splitting reaction. Great efforts have already been made to artificially synthesize the OEC, in order to elucidate the structure‐function relationship and the mechanism of the reaction. Now, a new synthetic model makes the best mimic yet of the OEC. This recent study opens up the possibility to study the mechanism of photosystem II and photosynthesis in general for applications in renewable energy and synthetic biology.
Artifact‐Free Quantification and Sequencing of Rare Recombinant Viruses by Using Drop‐Based Microfluidics
Authors: Tao Ye , Rotem Assaf , Zhang Huidan , Cockrell Shelley K. , Koehler Stephan A. , Chang Connie B. , Ung Lloyd W. , Cantalupo Paul G. , Ren Yukun , Lin Jeffrey S. , Feldman Andrew B. , Wobus Christiane E. , Pipas James M. , Weitz David A. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractRecombination is an important driver in the evolution of viruses and thus is key to understanding viral epidemics and improving strategies to prevent future outbreaks. Characterization of rare recombinant subpopulations remains technically challenging because of artifacts such as artificial recombinants, known as chimeras, and amplification bias. To overcome this, we have developed a high‐throughput microfluidic technique with a second verification step in order to amplify and sequence single recombinant viruses with high fidelity in picoliter drops. We obtained the first artifact‐free estimate of in vitro recombination rate between murine norovirus strains MNV‐1 and WU20 co‐infecting a cell (Prec=3.3×10−4±2×10−5) for a 1205 nt region. Our approach represents a time‐ and cost‐effective improvement over current methods, and can be adapted for genomic studies requiring artifact‐ and bias‐free selective amplification, such as microbial pathogens, or rare cancer cells.
Highly Selective Copper Catalyst Supported on Mesoporous Carbon for the Dehydrogenation of Ethanol to Acetaldehyde
Authors: Wang Qing‐Nan , Shi Lei , Lu An‐Hui 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe dehydrogenation of ethanol to acetaldehyde is of great importance in synthetic chemistry and the fine chemical industry. In this study, we report that a mesoporous‐carbon‐supported Cu catalyst exhibited a high reaction rate and excellent product selectivity in ethanol dehydrogenation to acetaldehyde. Under the severe conditions of an ethanol concentration of 15 vol % and a gaseous hourly space velocity of 8 600 h−1, the Cu‐based carbon catalyst maintains a conversion of ≈73 % and an acetaldehyde selectivity of ≈94 % at 553 K. Meanwhile, a prominent space time yield (225 h−1) of acetaldehyde is obtained, which is far higher than that (112 h−1) on the mesoporous‐SBA‐15‐supported Cu catalyst. Ethanol adsorption studies prove that the enrichment of the carbon support for reactants makes a contribution to the high reaction rate. Importantly, kinetic measurements indicate that the scarce surface groups of the mesoporous carbon support minimize the secondary reactions of acetaldehyde, which are generally catalyzed by OH and/or COOH on the surface of the support as exemplified by the mesoporous‐SBA‐15‐supported Cu catalyst. This accounts for the excellent selectivity toward acetaldehyde on the mesoporous‐carbon‐supported Cu catalyst. Therefore, these surface characteristics of the carbon support show great advantages in this dehydrogenation reaction.
(+)‐Cinchonine‐Decorated Dendrimers as Recoverable Organocatalysts
Authors: Rull Jordi , Casals Martí , Sebastián Rosa M. , Vallribera Adelina , Majoral Jean‐Pierre , Caminade Anne‐Marie 
Published: August 2015

AbstractFirst‐ and fourth‐generation phosphorus dendrimers decorated on their surface with (+)‐cinchonine moieties for the use as organocatalysts have been prepared. The first‐generation dendrite showed the highest activity and enantioselectivity in the α‐amination of several β‐dicarbonyl compounds. A positive dendritic effect was observed. Its recovery and reuse over 10 cycles was demonstrated without loss of activity. Preliminary studies of the scope of the reaction have been performed.