bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Use of ionic liquids in extraction
Authors: Steltenpohl Pavol , Graczová Elena 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
In order to separate liquid mixtures, common distillation is not always suitable, especially if relative volatility of the mixture components is close to or equals unity, thus avoiding separation based on the vapor enrichment by more volatile component. To overcome this limitation of distillation, several alternatives were suggested including pressure swing and extraction distillation. Another, principally different, separation method used for the liquid mixtures separation is liquid-liquid extraction. Separation efficiency of this method is closely related to the basic extraction solvent characteristics, capacity and selectivity. In order to minimize costs connected with extraction, new extraction solvents are developed, among which ionic liquids show high potential due to their tunable properties. Here, efficiency of traditional extraction solvent, benzene, was compared to that of tetradecyltrihexylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquid in separation of ethanol from its aqueous solution. The comparison was assessed on the base of results of a counter-current extractor simulation. Further, some economic aspects of this separation procedure were discussed. Optimum consumption of extraction solvent was identified taking into account alcohol-to-water molar (mass) ratio in the final extract as optimization criterion.
The influence of weather conditions on annual height increments of Scots pine
Authors: Kaźmierczak Katarzyna , Zawieja Bogna 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Annual height increments are a very important characteristic of Scots pine. They have a direct effect on the determination of the dendrometric properties of a stand, such as volume increment. In the present study the data concern height increments of the main shoot in selected age classes of trees (age 72 to 92 years). A relationship is determined between the values of the increments and meteorological conditions such as temperature, precipitation and sunshine. On the basis of lasso regression analysis, precipitation in the year preceding the incremental season was shown to have the greatest effect on height increments of Scots pine.
Effect of storage on physical and functional properties of extracellular vesicles derived from neutrophilic granulocytes
Authors: Lőrincz Ákos M. , Timár Csaba I. , Marosvári Krisztina A. , Veres Dániel S. , Otrokocsi Lilla , Kittel Ágnes , Ligeti Erzsébet 
Published: December 2014

AimTo carry out a systematic study on the effect of different storage conditions on the number as well as the physical and functional properties of antibacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from human neutrophilic granulocytes.MethodsProduction of EVs with antibacterial properties was initiated by opsonized Zymosan A particles. The number of released fluorescent EVs was determined by flow cytometry following careful calibration. Physical properties and size of EVs were investigated by flow cytometry, dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy. Functional properties of EVs were tested by bacterial survival assay.ResultsStorage at +20°C or +4°C resulted in a significant decrease of EV number and antibacterial effect after 1 day. Storage at −20°C did not influence the EV number up to 28 days, but induced a shift in EV size and almost complete loss of antibacterial function by 28 days. Storage at −80°C had no significant effect either on EV number or size and allowed partial preservation of the antibacterial function up to 28 days. Snap‐freezing did not improve the results, whereas the widely used cryoprotectants induced EV lysis.ConclusionStorage significantly alters both the physical and functional properties of EVs even if the number of EVs stays constant. If storage is needed, EVs should be kept at −80°C, preferably not longer than 7 days. For functional tests, freshly prepared EVs are recommended.
Upper gastrointestinal bleeding after open heart surgery
Authors: Mahdi Aithoussa , Noureddine Atmani , Younes Moutakiallah , Mehdi Bamous , Abdessamad Abdou , Fouad Nya , Aniss Seghrouchni , Amal Wahid Fouad , Mohamed Drissi , Abdedaim Hatim Ghadbane , Youssef El Bekkali , Abdelatif Boulahya 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Objective: The occurrence of digestive complications especially upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) has increased after cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of UGIB and identify the independent risk factors. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of 1077 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) from 1994 to 2012 The group of patients with UGIB (n
1 = 20) was compared with the population group (n
2 = 1057). Demographic characteristics, therapeutic management, endoscopic findings, and outcomes were analyzed. Through a regression analysis we identified independent risk factors of UGIB. Results: The mean age of the group n
1 was 58.2 ± 12.4 years and 50.18 ± 13.5 years in the group n
2. UGIB occurred about 13 ± 5.5 days after cardiac surgery. Gastroduodenal ulcer was the most common etiology of hemorrhage (n = 13, 65%). Renal insufficiency, previous gastric ulcer, increased lactate concentration during CPB, prolonged mechanical ventilation, use of vasopressor drug and pulmonary infection was likely contributing factors in UGIB. Conclusion: UGIB following open cardiac surgery is most frequently secondary to gastroduodenal ulceration. Many determinant factors of bleeding are incriminated. Surgeons must be aware of these factors to avoid fatal complications.
Air embolism: A rare complication of esophagogastroduodenoscopy!
Authors: Jhaveri Ajay B. , Shah Sharad C. , Shah Prasanna S. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractNeurological complications of gastrointestinal endoscopy are extremely rare; cerebral air embolism has been described and can be severe and fatal. A high index of suspicion for an air embolism is a must in case of procedural or periprocedural cardiopulmonary instability and neurologic symptoms, particularly in patients with recognized risk factors. The diagnosis of an air embolism is often difficult and is complicated by the fact that air may be rapidly absorbed from the circulation. Simple maneuvers to decrease the impact of a potential air embolism include; stopping the procedure, administering high flow 100% oxygen, placing the patient in Trendelenburg and left lateral decubitus position, and discontinuing nitrous oxide. C T Scan and 2 D ECHO are important diagnostic tests.
Endovascular Treatment of Aneurysms of the Popliteal Artery by a Covered Endoprosthesis
Authors: Wissgott Christian , Lüdtke Christopher W. , Vieweg Hendryk , Scheer Fabian , Lichtenberg Michael , Schlöricke Erik , Andresen Reimer 
Published: December 2014

Purpose The current gold standard of popliteal artery aneurysm (PAA) treatment is saphenous vein bypass grafting. The aim of this retrospective single-center study is to investigate the safety and efficacy in the treatment of PAA by an endovascular implanted covered endoprosthesis. Materials and Methods Ten patients, mean age 64.6 (range, 52-78) years, with PAA were treated with an expanded Polytetrafluoroethylen (ePTFE)-covered stent graft (Viabahn®, W.L. Gore and Associates Inc, Flagstaff, AZ, USA). In median, 1.4 prostheses were implanted with a median length of 180 mm. Follow-up visits included determination of ankle-brachial index (ABI) and color-coded duplex sonography. Results The technical success rate was 100% (10/10). Clinically, there was an increase in ABI from 0.62 ± 0.17 to 0.91 ± 0.15 postinterventionally and to 0.89 ± 0.16 after an average follow-up of 24.7 months. During the follow-up period, 2 (20%) stent occlusions occurred; both of them were treated with a bypass graft. Conclusion The treatment of PAA with covered endoprosthesis is a safe and effective alternative to open surgical therapy, where open surgical therapy is contraindicated or patient refused open surgery.
INFLUENCE OF MODIFIED NATURAL RUBBER ON PROPERTIES OF NATURAL RUBBER–CARBON NANOTUBE COMPOSITES
Authors: Nakaramontri Yeampon , Nakason Charoen , Kummerlöwe Claudia , Vennemann Norbert 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACT
Carbon nanotube (CNT)–filled natural rubber (NR) composites were prepared by using an internal mixer and a two-roll mill. Various types of NR, including unmodified NR, epoxidized NR (ENR), and maleated NR (MNR), were used. The chemical reactions between rubber molecules and functional groups on the CNT surface were characterized by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Cure characteristics, tensile properties, relaxation behavior, and electrical conductivity of the various gum rubbers and the CNT-filled rubber composites were investigated. It was found that the addition of CNTs significantly affected the composite properties. This is due not only to the excellent properties of the CNT itself but also to the physical and chemical interactions between modified rubber molecules and CNT surfaces. On comparison between the three types of NR, it was observed that the ENR-CNT composite showed the highest values of delta torque, tensile strength, and initial relaxation modulus. This confirms the homogeneous distribution of CNT particles in the ENR matrix, which in turn resulted from enhanced interactions of functional groups on CNT surfaces and epoxide groups in ENR molecules. Furthermore, electrical conductivity as a function of CNT content was examined to estimate the electrical percolation threshold value and to determine the state of dispersion of CNTs.
The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement and European Civil Society: A Case Study on Networked Advocacy
Authors: Losey James 
Published: December 2014

AbstractWhy was the European Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), initially expected to be easily approved, ultimately rejected? Losey examines the role of civil society organizations in influencing this outcome. He describes how a small core group of national and transnational civil society organizations, supported by a range of communications technologies, played critical roles at different times, often acting more as network nodes than as traditional leaders. They successfully disrupted the ACTA negotiation process, which was seen as an attempt to push previously rejected provisions into law through a different avenue. This article documents the advocacy process beyond the more visible uses of digital media by social movements, and analyzes the less visible networks of civil society organizations in information policy debates.
Blast from the Past? A Comparative Analysis of Broadcast Licensing in the Digital Era
Authors: Schweizer Corinne , Puppis Manuel , Künzler Matthias , Studer Samuel 
Published: December 2014

AbstractThe advent of new broadcasting technologies has eliminated spectrum scarcity as a constraint on broadcasting, and with it one of the justifications for broadcast licensing. Have nations moved away from licensing as a form of regulation of their broadcasting sectors? And concomitantly, is there less opportunity to use licensing as a means of promoting the public interest in broadcasting? The authors address these questions through a comparative study of licensing requirements for terrestrial broadcasting and other forms of television and radio distribution in 18 Western nations.
Participatory Transparency in Social Media Governance: Combining Two Good Practices
Authors: Dreyer Stephan , Ziebarth Lennart 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Can the Terms of Policies of social media platforms be made more comprehensible, transparent, and consumer-friendly? Dreyer and Ziebarth suggest that “participatory transparency,” based in the community of users, can help overcome contractual complexity and legal jargon while increasing user awareness. They recommend the use of autonomous bodies of third-party users to crowd-source platform-specific suggestions for improvements, and to translate terms and provisions into practical pointers. Implementation may be slow because platform providers may resist this approach, but the authors argue that the process has many benefits for the providers as well.
Drama as Philosophical Genre
Authors: Wahman Jessica 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACT
This article argues that theater can make a meaningful contribution to pluralist philosophy. As a performed narrative involving multiple perspectives, drama can illuminate the complexity and legitimacy of a plurality of theoretical commitments, whereas direct argumentation must weaken the opposition by putting it in a less compelling light. Dramatic performance can maximize philosophy's talent for questioning by conveying the rich possibilities and tensions among conflicting and contextually situated points of view without ultimately taking a definitive stance.
A Wound and a Prayer
Authors: MacKendrick Karmen 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACT
The focus of philosophical interest has shifted for decades between language and body, which are often seen as irreducibly opposed. There are some images or figures, however, that can be understood as intersections or hybrids of the two. The wound works this way in theological discourse, serving both as a devotional image and as a prayerful language.
Titan's interaction with the supersonic solar wind
Authors: Bertucci C. , Hamilton D. C. , Kurth W. S. , Hospodarsky G. , Mitchell D. , Sergis N. , Edberg N. J. T. , Dougherty M. K. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractAfter 9 years in the Saturn system, the Cassini spacecraft finally observed Titan in the supersonic and super‐Alfvénic solar wind. These unique observations reveal that Titan's interaction with the solar wind is in many ways similar to unmagnetized planets Mars and Venus and active comets in spite of the differences in the properties of the solar plasma in the outer solar system. In particular, Cassini detected a collisionless, supercritical bow shock and a well‐defined induced magnetosphere filled with mass‐loaded interplanetary magnetic field lines, which drape around Titan's ionosphere. Although the flyby altitude may not allow the detection of an ionopause, Cassini reports enhancements of plasma density compatible with plasma clouds or streamers in the flanks of its induced magnetosphere or due to an expansion of the induced magnetosphere. Because of the upstream conditions, these observations may be also relevant to other bodies in the outer solar system such as Pluto, where kinetic processes are expected to dominate.
Linkages of remote sea surface temperatures and Atlantic tropical cyclone activity mediated by the African monsoon
Authors: Taraphdar Sourav , Leung L. Ruby , Hagos Samson 
Published: December 2014

AbstractWarm sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in North Atlantic and Mediterranean (NAMED) can influence tropical cyclone (TC) activity in the tropical East Atlantic by modulating summer convection over western Africa. Analysis of 30 years of observations demonstrates that warm NAMED SST is linked to a strengthening of the Saharan heat low and enhancement of moisture and moist static energy in the lower troposphere over West Africa, which favors a northward displacement of the monsoonal front. These processes also lead to a northward shift of the African easterly jet that introduces an anomalous positive vorticity from western Africa to the main development region (50°W–20°E; 10°N–20°N) of Atlantic TCs. By modulating multiple African monsoon processes, NAMED SST explains comparable and approximately one third of the interannual variability of Atlantic TC frequency as that explained by local wind shear and local SST, respectively, which are known key factors that influence Atlantic TC development.
Externally driven plasmaspheric ULF waves observed by the Van Allen Probes
Authors: Takahashi Kazue , Denton Richard E. , Kurth William , Kletzing Craig , Wygant John , Bonnell John , Dai Lei , Min Kyungguk , Smith Charles W. , MacDowall Robert 
Published: December 2014

AbstractWe analyze data acquired by the Van Allen Probes on 8 November 2012, during a period of extended low geomagnetic activity, to gain new insight into plasmaspheric ultralow frequency (ULF) waves. The waves exhibited strong spectral power in the 5–40 mHz band and included multiharmonic toroidal waves visible up to the eleventh harmonic, unprecedented in the plasmasphere. During this wave activity, the interplanetary magnetic field cone angle was small, suggesting that the waves were driven by broadband compressional ULF waves originating in the foreshock region. This source mechanism is supported by the tailward propagation of the compressional magnetic field perturbations at a phase velocity of a few hundred kilometers per second that is determined by the cross‐phase analysis of data from the two spacecraft. We also find that the coherence and phase delay of the azimuthal components of the magnetic field from the two spacecraft strongly depend on the radial separation of the spacecraft and attribute this feature to field line resonance effects. Finally, using the observed toroidal wave frequencies, we estimate the plasma mass density for L = 2.6–5.8. By comparing the mass density with the electron number density that is estimated from the spectrum of plasma waves, we infer that the plasma was dominated by H+ ions and was distributed uniformly along the magnetic field lines. The electron density is higher than the prediction of saturated plasmasphere models, and this “super saturated” plasmasphere and the uniform ion distribution are consistent with the low geomagnetic activity that prevailed.
Rheological and Viscoelastic Properties of Novel Sunflower Oil‐Span 40‐Biopolymer–Based Bigels and Their Role as a Functional Material in the Delivery of Antimicrobial Agents
Authors: Behera B. , Dey S. , Sharma V. , Pal K. 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACTIn this paper, the mechanical properties of sunflower oil‐span 40‐natural gum bigels were evaluated. The bigels were prepared by mixing the oleogels of sunflower oil‐span 40 and the hydrogels of natural gums. The types of molecular interactions occurring were studied by FTIR spectroscopy. Rheological and textural behavior of the bigels was determined by dynamic rheological studies and a static mechanical tester. The Peleg and Normand equation was used to determine the viscoelastic behavior of the bigels. The efficiency of these food‐grade bigels as carriers for the delivery of metronidazole (model drug) was studied. In vitro drug release was carried out under physiological conditions. The antimicrobial efficiency of the bigels was checked against Escherichia coli. FTIR studies showed hydrogen bonding within the bigels as the major molecular interaction. The rheological and mechanical studies showed that the bigels exhibited pseudoplastic flow behavior. The bigels were viscoelastic in nature. Diffusion mediated drug release was observed. All the bigels showed an equal antimicrobial efficacy in comparison to the available marketed formulation.
Monitoring and Targeting the Initial Dimerization Stage of Amyloid Self‐Assembly
Authors: Bram Yaron , Lampel Ayala , Shaltiel‐Karyo Ronit , Ezer Anat , Scherzer‐Attali Roni , Segal Daniel , Gazit Ehud 
Published: December 2014

AbstractAmyloid deposits are pathological hallmark of a large group of human degenerative disorders of unrelated etiologies. While accumulating evidence suggests that early oligomers may account for tissue degeneration, most detection tools do not allow the monitoring of early association events. Here we exploit bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis to detect and quantify the dimerization of three major amyloidogenic polypeptides; islet amyloid polypeptide, β‐amyloid and α‐synuclein. The constructed systems provided direct visualization of protein‐protein interactions in which only assembled dimers display strong fluorescent signal. Potential inhibitors that interfere with the initial intermolecular interactions of islet amyloid polypeptide were further identified using this system. Moreover, the identified compounds were able to inhibit the aggregation and cytotoxicity of islet amyloid polypeptide, demonstrating the importance of targeting amyloid dimer formation for future drug development.
Ligand Transformations and Efficient Proton/Water Reduction with Cobalt Catalysts Based on Pentadentate Pyridine‐Rich Environments
Authors: Basu Debashis , Mazumder Shivnath , Shi Xuetao , Baydoun Habib , Niklas Jens , Poluektov Oleg , Schlegel H. Bernhard , Verani Cláudio N. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractA series of cobalt complexes with pentadentate pyridine‐rich ligands is studied. An initial CoII amine complex 1 is prone to aerial oxidation yielding a CoIII imine complex 2 that is further converted into an amide complex 4 in presence of adventitious water. Introduction of an N‐methyl protecting group to the ligand inhibits this oxidation and gives rise to the CoII species 5. Both the CoIII 4 and CoII 5 show electrocatalytic H2 generation in weakly acidic media as well as in water. Mechanisms of catalysis seem to involve the protonation of a CoIIH species generated in situ.
Gold‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Anti‐Markovnikov Hydroamination of Alkylidenecyclopropanes
Authors: Timmerman Jacob C. , Robertson Bradley D. , Widenhoefer Ross A. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractThe cationic gold phosphine complex [{PCy2(o‐biphenyl)}Au(NCMe)]+SbF6− (Cy=cyclohexyl) catalyzes the intermolecular, anti‐Markovnikov hydroamination reaction of monosubstituted and cis‐ and trans‐disubstituted alkylidenecyclopropanes (ACPs) with imidazolidin‐2‐ones and other nucleophiles. This reaction forms 1‐cyclopropyl alkylamine derivatives in high yield and with high regio‐ and diastereoselectivity. NMR spectroscopic analysis of gold π‐ACP complexes and control experiments point to the sp hybridization of the ACP internal alkene carbon atom as controlling the regiochemistry of the ACP hydroamination reaction.
Morphology and mechanical properties of dual‐curable epoxyacrylate hybrid composites
Authors: Su Yu‐Chieh , Don Trong‐Ming 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACTA dual‐curable epoxyacrylate (EA) oligomer with one epoxide group and one vinyl group at each end was synthesized for the application as adhesive sealant in the liquid crystal display panels. However, after UV and thermal cure, the EA resin was brittle with a poor resistance to crack initiation and propagation. Liquid rubbers with different functional end groups were thus tried as toughening agents for the EA resin. Among all the rubber‐toughened EAs, the EA‐V5A5 added with vinyl‐terminated and amino‐terminated butadiene‐acrylonitrile copolymers (VTBN and ATBN) each at 5 phr had the highest fracture toughness, tensile strength, and elongation at break but a lower initial modulus. To raise the modulus, submicron‐sized silica particles (∼170 nm) with surface vinyl functional groups were further added to the EA‐V5A5 to prepare the hybrid composites. Because of interfacial chemical bonding provided by the surface vinyl functional groups, both modulus and fracture toughness were increased by adding silica particles, without any appreciable decrease in extensibility. For the hybrid composite at 20 phr silica particles, the initial modulus, fracture toughness, and fracture energy were raised by 10.3, 100, and 267%, respectively, when compared to the neat epoxyacrylate. Owing to their strong interfacial bonding, the increase of fracture toughness was mainly due to the crack deflection and bifurcation on silica particles, in addition to the rubber particle bridging and tearing as evidenced by SEM pictures on the fracture surface. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41820.