bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Posterior regeneration in Isodiametra pulchra (Acoela, Acoelomorpha)
Authors: Perea-Atienza Elena , Botta Maria , Salvenmoser Willi , Gschwentner Robert , Egger Bernhard , Kristof Alen , Martinez Pedro , Achatz Johannes Georg 
Published: October 2013

Abstract

Introduction
Regeneration is a widespread phenomenon in the animal kingdom, but the capacity to restore damaged or missing tissue varies greatly between different phyla and even within the same phylum. However, the distantly related Acoelomorpha and Platyhelminthes share a strikingly similar stem-cell system and regenerative capacity. Therefore, comparing the underlying mechanisms in these two phyla paves the way for an increased understanding of the evolution of this developmental process.
To date, Isodiametra pulchra is the most promising candidate as a model for the Acoelomorpha, as it reproduces steadily under laboratory conditions and is amenable to various techniques, including the silencing of gene expression by RNAi. In order to provide an essential framework for future studies, we report the succession of regeneration events via the use of cytochemical, histological and microscopy techniques, and specify the total number of cells in adult individuals.

Results

Isodiametra pulchra is not capable of regenerating a new head, but completely restores all posterior structures within 10 days. Following amputation, the wound closes via the contraction of local muscle fibres and an extension of the dorsal epidermis. Subsequently, stem cells and differentiating cells invade the wound area and form a loosely delimited blastema. After two days, the posterior end is re-patterned with the male (and occasionally the female) genital primordium being apparent. Successively, these primordia differentiate into complete copulatory organs. The size of the body and also of the male and female copulatory organs, as well as the distance between the copulatory organs, progressively increase and by nine days copulation is possible. Adult individuals with an average length of 670 μm consist of approximately 8100 cells.

Conclusion

Isodiametra pulchra regenerates through a combination of morphallactic and epimorphic processes. Existing structures are “re-modelled” and provide a framework onto which newly differentiating cells are added. Growth proceeds through the intercalary addition of structures, mirroring the embryonic and post-embryonic development of various organ systems. The suitability of Isodiametra pulchra for laboratory techniques, the fact that its transcriptome and genome data will soon be available, as well as its small size and low number of cells, make it a prime candidate subject for research into the cellular mechanisms that underlie regeneration in acoelomorphs.
The effects of education based on extended health belief model in type 2 diabetic patients: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Bayat Fatemeh , Shojaeezadeh Davoud , Baikpour Masoud , Heshmat Ramin , Baikpour Maryam , Hosseini Mostafa 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Background
Type II diabetes and its complications impose a large economic burden on health care systems. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of educational intervention based on extended health belief model on type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods
120 patients with type II diabetes referring to randomly selected hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences were enrolled in this educational intervention study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups (intervention and control). Data were collected using a questionnaire including demographic information and extended health belief model constructs. Two face to face educational sessions were conducted for each patient. Data were collected in two groups at three stages of the study; before the educational sessions and at 3 months and 6 months intervals. Analysis was performed by SPSS (17.0) and STATA (11.0) using independent T-test, Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, analysis of covariance and Generalized Estimating Equation. A p value of less than 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant.

Results
The educational program had a positive and significant impact (p < 0.0001) on extended health model belief constructs (including perceived susceptibility, perceived intensity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers and self-efficacy) in experimental group, 3 and 6 months after the intervention.

Conclusions
The results of this study showed the importance of extended health belief model based education in improving the model constructs and increasing self-efficacy in patients with type-2 diabetes.
B lymphocytes and B-cell activating factor promote collagen and profibrotic markers expression by dermal fibroblasts in systemic sclerosis
Authors: François Antoine , Chatelus Emmanuel , Wachsmann Dominique , Sibilia Jean , Bahram Seiamak , Alsaleh Ghada , Gottenberg Jacques-Eric 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Introduction
B lymphocytes might play a pathogenic role in dermal fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc). B-cell activating factor (BAFF), a key cytokine for B-cell activation, is increased in the serum and the skin of patients with SSc. However, the ability of B cells directly to stimulate dermal fibroblasts and the role of BAFF are not fully understood. We therefore investigated the involvement of B cells and BAFF in the expression of collagen and profibrotic markers by dermal fibroblasts.

Methods
Cocultures of blood B cells from healthy blood donors and normal or SSc dermal fibroblasts stimulated with anti-IgM and BAFF were performed. Alpha-SMA, TIMP1, MMP9, COL1A1, COL1A2, and COL3A1 mRNA expression were determined by quantitative RT-PCR. Soluble collagen, BAFF, IL-6, IL-1β, TGF-β1, and CCL2 protein secretion were assessed.

Results
Coculture of blood B cells and dermal fibroblasts isolated from SSc patients induced IL-6, TGF-β1, CCL2, and collagen secretion, as well as Alpha-SMA, TIMP1, and MMP9 expression in dermal fibroblasts. Transwell assays demonstrated that this induction was dependent on cell-cell contact. Addition of anti-IgM and BAFF to the coculture increased IL-6, CCL2, TGF-β1, and collagen secretion. B cell- and BAFF-induced collagen secretion was highly reduced by anti-TGF-β1 antibodies.

Conclusions
Our results showed for the first time a direct role of B cells on the production of collagen by dermal fibroblasts, which is further enhanced by BAFF. Thus, these results demonstrate a new pathogenic role of B cells and BAFF in fibrosis and systemic sclerosis.
How Do Firms Become Different? A Dynamic Model
Authors: Selove Matthew 
Published: October 2013

This paper presents a dynamic investment game in which firms that are initially identical develop assets that are specialized to different market segments. The model assumes that there are increasing returns to investment in a segment, for example, as a result of word-of-mouth or learning curve effects. I derive three key results: (1) Under certain conditions there is a unique equilibrium in which firms that are only slightly different focus all of their investment in different segments, causing small random differences to expand into large permanent differences. (2) If, on the other hand, sufficiently large random shocks are possible, firms over time repeatedly change their strategies, switching focus from one segment to another. (3) A firm might want to reduce its own assets in the smaller segment in order to entice its competitor to shift focus to this segment. This paper was accepted by J. Miguel Villas-Boas, marketing.
Mechanical Properties of Wood from the Relict Abies pinsapo Forests
Authors: Esteban Luis García , de Palacios Paloma , Fernández Francisco García , Ovies Julia 
Published: October 2013

The mechanical properties of Abies pinsapo Boiss., a relict species from the south of Spain, have been studied very little due to its scarcity and the high level of protection of this species. Forest fire prevention measures involving felling of mature trees have enabled the species to be characterized for the first time. A comparison of its three regions of provenance, (1) Sierra de Grazalema, (2) Sierra Bermeja, (3) Sierra de las Nieves, was included in this evaluation. Tests were conducted using small dimension defect-free test pieces in accordance with the corresponding Spanish mechanical property test standard. In order to relate the findings to the wood anatomy, measurements were taken of tracheid length and diameter, tracheid wall thickness, and growth rate.
The mean values per region of provenance (1, 2, 3) were Charpy impact strength, 16.9, 12.4, 14.3 (J); modulus of rupture (MOR), 74.9, 68.8, 71.1 (N/mm2); tensile strength perpendicular to the grain (tangential), 1.9, 2.0, 1.8 (N/mm2); tensile strength perpendicular to the grain (radial), 2.0, 2.0, 1.9 (N/mm2); splitting strength, 2.4, 2.3, 2.3 (N/mm); and compressive strength parallel to the grain, 40.0, 39.9, 39.9 (N/mm2). The findings showed that the values of most of the properties studied in the three regions of provenance did not present statistically significant differences.
Estimating Upper Percentiles of Strand Thickness for Oriented Strand Board
Authors: Young Timothy M. , Guess Frank M. , Chastain Jennifer S. , León Ramón V. 
Published: October 2013

Statistical reliability methods are applied to estimate the upper percentiles of strand thickness for the face layers of oriented strand board (OSB) panels manufactured from six mills in the Eastern United States. The influence of thick strands on OSB properties (thickness swell, TS; internal bond, IB; and modulus of rupture, MOR) has been well documented. However, there is an absence in the literature of characterizing wood strand thickness for OSB mills in the context of statistical reliability methods. With induced percentile left censoring for improved model fitting, bootstrapping methods are employed for better estimating the upper percentiles and confidence intervals for strand thickness. The upper percentiles of flakes may be costly, damage equipment, or cause dimensional instability in OSB.
The distributions of wood strands were nonnormal, and best-fit distributions varied from the log-logistic, largest extreme value, lognormal, and Weibull. The mean and median strand thicknesses for all mills were 0.0322 inches (0.8179 mm) and 0.0310 inches (0.7874 mm), respectively. The coefficient of variation for all mills was 39.1 percent. Parametric bootstrap confidence intervals for the 95th percentile with no censoring varied in length from 0.0009 inches (0.0229 mm) to 0.0145 inches (0.3683 mm). Nonparametric bootstrap confidence intervals for the 95th percentile with no censoring varied in length from 0.0005 inches (0.0127 mm) to 0.0225 inches (0.5175 mm). Study results were strengthened from the validation study in that the training intervals were either contained within, or overlapped, the validation intervals.
Trends in Lumber Processing in the Western United States. Part II: Overrun and Lumber Recovery Factors
Authors: Keegan Charles E. , Morgan Todd A. , Blatner Keith A. , Daniels Jean M. 
Published: October 2013

This article describes trends in three measures of lumber recovery for sawmills in the western United States: lumber overrun (LO), lumber recovery factor (LRF), and cubic lumber recovery (CLR). All states and regions showed increased LO during the last three decades. Oregon and Montana had the highest LO at 107 and 100 percent, respectively. Alaska had the lowest LO at 31 percent, followed by the Four Corners Region (i.e., Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah). Because sawmills in the western United States use the Scribner Log Rule (SLR) as the unit of log input, higher LO is not a clear indication that mills are using improved sawing technology and techniques. At best, LO is an imprecise measure of production efficiency.
Better measures of lumber output per unit input include LRF and CLR. These measures are substantially better than LO because they are based on the cubic volume of solid wood fiber in a log, thus eliminating a number of the problems associated with the SLR. Oregon, followed by Washington, had the highest LRF (8.67 and 8.43 board feet lumber tally per cubic foot of logs, respectively) and the highest CLR (52% and 50%, respectively). Alaska had the lowest LRF and CLR. Changes in LRF and CLR suggest that sawmills in the western United States have used improved sawing technology and techniques to increase the volume of lumber recovered even as log sizes have decreased.
Strand Movement During Oriented Strand Composite Mat Formation
Authors: Perry Spencer , Pugel Anton , Halteman William , Shaler Stephen 
Published: October 2013

The properties of strand-based wood composites are known to be strongly influenced by strand orientation and horizontal density variation. While the influence of these geometrical factors on performance has been extensively investigated for more than 20 years, little research has been reported on how the strands move during the forming process to become oriented and located. Better knowledge of strand movement will allow for understanding of and improvement in mat formation through rational modification of equipment settings and ultimately design concepts.
An industrial forming line was used to quantify the effect of strand length on strand movement from the bunker through the picker rolls, dissolving rolls, and orienting heads. Initial locations of dyed strands in the forming bin bunker were predetermined. After processing through the forming head, the location and orientation of individual strands were optically measured before and after the orienting deck.
Nine-inch strands were found to have a more variable flow rate through the picker rolls relative to 4-inch strands. Substantial strand mixing and horizontal travel across the width of the forming head occurs prior to the orientation deck. This indicates that modifications in the strand chute will influence the cross-direction movement uniformity and final product density variation more than orienting deck modifications. As expected, longer strands were shown to project significantly farther along the orienting deck as well as to provide better alignment. A particle screen analysis showed that the doffing and dissolving rolls generated 70 percent of the unders (smallest screen fraction) in the forming process.
Progress in Research on Fire Retardant–Treated Wood and Wood-Based Composites: A Chinese Perspective
Authors: Wang Fengqiang , Wang Qingwen , Wang Xiangming 
Published: October 2013

Research on fire retardant–treated wood and wood-based composites has been conducted in China for over two decades. Although many kinds of fire retardants for wood and wood-based composites have been studied, the focus is still mainly on compounds or mixtures containing phosphorus, nitrogen, and boron, which can be used in a water solution for solid wood impregnation. Fire-retardant treatment methods for wood-based panels are either pretreatment of veneers, fibers, particles, or strands before hot pressing or impregnation of waterproof panels with fire-retardant solutions. Though attempts have been made in laboratories and factories to mix the fire retardants with glues, it has proven very difficult to spray the glue smoothly and to deliver effective amounts of fire retardants during the manufacture of panels. The mechanisms of phosphorus–nitrogen–boron fire retardants have been investigated systematically. The results indicate that the phosphorus–nitrogen compounds and the boron compounds are highly synergistic in effective fire-retardant formulations. The catalytic charring effect of a fire retardant on wood is a key factor in its efficacy. A chemical fire-retardant mechanism for boric acid is also proposed.
Research on fire retardants for wood–plastic composites has been attracting more attention in recent years; however, most results are preliminary because of the difficulty in identifying or formulating a fire-retardant system that is effective for both wood and plastics.
Only preliminary research has been conducted on smoke suppression for wood; innovative efforts will be needed to conduct further research.
Tool Wear When Cutting Wood Fiber–Plastic Composite Materials
Authors: Saloni Daniel , Buehlmann Urs , Lemaster Richard L. 
Published: October 2013

Wood fiber–plastic composite materials, a relatively new material, are finding applications mainly in the US residential and commercial construction markets. Thus, the volume of material produced and used is steadily increasing while the range of applications keeps expanding. So far, attention has been paid mainly to primary production processes of wood fiber–plastic materials, while secondary manufacturing processes have attracted less attention. However, with the broadening applications of such materials and their increasing use, secondary manufacturing processes for wood fiber–plastic materials are gaining importance.
This study investigated the performance of five commercially available wood fiber–plastic composite materials and solid wood (eastern white pine) with respect to tool wear and resulting material surface roughness. Large performance differences between different wood fiber–plastic composite materials and between solid wood and wood fiber–plastic composite materials with respect to tool wear were found. Solid wood did wear the exchangeable tungsten carbide knives with a standard cobalt binder and ultrafine carbide grain knives used for the tests 12 to 42 times less than the wood fiber–plastic composite materials. However, some wood fiber–plastic materials were found to have a smoother surface than solid wood after 38.2 m of cutting. As this research showed, different wood fiber–plastic composite formulations behave differently when subjected to secondary manufacturing processes, and more research is needed to better understand the underlying causes for those observations.
Linear Regression Models to Predict Special Post Production from Logs of Deresinated Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) Trees
Authors: Gallis Christos , Spyroglou Gavriil , Papajannopoulos Antonios 
Published: October 2013

The goal of this study was to develop model equations to predict the production of special posts from aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) deresinated trees. Resin tapping causes some changes in the wood structure around the applied tapped area as a result of the resination of wood cells. Local communities have started to use timber from deresinated aleppo pine trees to produce small-sized posts for agriculture and green house use. The experimental sample consisted of 120 logs from the Sithonia peninsula forest in northern Greece. The logs were processed in a local sawmill to produce posts of four different sizes for agriculture use. The final product was 2-m-long posts measuring 4 by 4, 5 by 5, 6 by 6, and 8 by 8 cm.
Posts measuring 4 by 4, 5 by 5, and 6 by 6 cm were to be used for field tomato cultivation and 8 by 8-cm posts were for use in vineyards.
Linear regression model equations were developed for each post product. The models predicted the number of posts produced in relation to the diameter at the middle of the log and its utilized volume. On the basis of 120 logs processed, it was possible to draw secure associations using this model. Statistical analysis showed that the mean diameter effect was the most pronounced in all models.
The Prolonged Effect of Plasma Treatment upon Dielectric Properties of Wood-Based Composites
Authors: Svrzic Srdjan , Todorovic Petar 
Published: October 2013

A more profitable application of wood-based composites would certainly include the possibility of their use as a dielectric material in the form of electrical insulation. The profitability and the price difference between materials normally used for these insulating purposes and those based on wood would easily justify the interest to study the dielectric properties of such composites. There is another reason why an extension in use of these composites might become important. It originates from the general shortage of high-quality wood. Thus, the related properties of hardboard and medium-density fiberboard were investigated as well as plywood and particleboard. The modifications included treatments by direct current plasma glow discharge, vacuum, conditioning of samples at room temperature for prolonged periods of time, and their combinations.
A relationship was discovered between the applied treatment procedures and the investigated dielectric parameters. The comparison between the treatment effects indicates those most convenient for the purpose of production of electrical insulating and also assists in differentiating which treatment processes lead to improved properties of the investigated wood-based composites.
Wood Properties of Young Acacia mangium Trees Planted in Indonesia
Authors: Makino Kazuko , Ishiguri Futoshi , Wahyudi Imam , Takashima Yuya , Iizuka Kazuya , Yokota Shinso , Yoshizawa Nobuo 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
This study evaluated the wood properties of 5- and 7-year-old Acacia mangium trees planted in West Java, Indonesia. A plot (20 by 20 m) was selected in each stand. The stem diameter and stress-wave velocity (SWV) were measured for all trees (n = 24 and 18 for 5- and 7-y-old trees, respectively) in the plots. Core samples were taken from all trees in each plot using an increment borer to measure the basic density (BD) and compressive strength parallel to the grain (CS). The mean ± standard deviation stem diameter was 13.1 ± 3.0 and 21.9 ± 3.8 cm in 5- and 7-year-old trees, respectively. There was no significant correlation between stem diameter and SWV. The mean BD and CS for 5-year-old trees were 0.42 ± 0.02 g cm−3 and 30.0 ± 4.4 MPa, respectively, and for 7-year-old trees were 0.45 ± 0.02 g cm−3 and 32.8 ± 3.6 MPa, respectively. There was a positive correlation between BD and CS in 5- and 7-year-old trees (r = 0.790 and 0.583, respectively). The radial variation patterns for BD and CS were similar in 5- and 7-year-old trees: BD and CS gradually increased to about 6 cm from the pith, after which it was almost constant toward the bark. The results suggest that xylem maturation depends on the growth diameter in A. mangium.
Modeling the Effect of Nail Corrosion on the Lateral Strength of Joints
Authors: Zelinka Samuel L. , Rammer Douglas R. 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
This article describes a theoretical method of linking fastener corrosion in wood connections to potential reduction in lateral shear strength. It builds upon published quantitative data of corrosion rates of metals in contact with treated wood for several different wood preservatives. These corrosion rates are then combined with yield theory equations to calculate a loss in lateral capacity as a function of time. The calculations are straightforward and can be performed in a spreadsheet or simple computer program. They can accommodate time-dependent and moisture-dependent corrosion rates. The latter of these capabilities can easily be recognized as important, inasmuch as corrosion rates of fasteners are recognized as being dependent on moisture content of the wood in which they are embedded. The calculation method is dependent on corrosion rate, and the method is therefore limited by the lack of agreement in corrosion rates presented in the literature. Within these limitations, the article examines how different corrosion rates and changes in corrosion rates affect the mechanical properties and service life of nailed wood joints.