bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of telbivudine therapy in liver failure patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection
Authors: Wang Luwen , Chen Hui , Fan Cheng , Gong Zuojiong 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThe objective of this study was to evaluate the short‐term efficacy and safety of telbivudine therapy as compared to lamivudine therapy in liver failure patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. These data were collected from 38 liver failure patients with chronic HBV infection who were randomly enrolled to one of the two treatments. All patients received comprehensive treatments; 20 patients were treated with telbivudine, and the other 18 patients were treated with lamivudine. The serum levels of HBV DNA, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, prothrombin time activity, and creatine kinase were determined every 7 days for 8 weeks. The results showed that the serum HBV DNA levels in patients treated with either telbivudine or with lamivudine declined gradually after the 2nd week of treatment. However, HBV DNA levels in the telbivudine group fell to the lower limit of detection (<5 + E2 copies/ml) after the 5th week, which was more rapid than in the lamivudine group. In addition, the total bilirubin and prothrombin time activity of the patients with telbivudine treatment showed a more significant improvement as compared to the patients treated with lamivudine from the start of the 5th week. All patients tolerated telbivudine or lamivudine treatment well. The patients treated with telbivudine did not have elevated serum creatine kinase or myopathic symptoms during the 8‐week treatment period. Thus, telbivudine treatment is superior to lamivudine treatment in improving the condition of patients with liver failure as a result of chronic HBV infection in the short term. J Med. Virol. 85:1907–1912, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Study of a tabernacle with a remarkable architectural structure: In situ examination using Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Prieto A. C. , Martínez O. , Souto J. , Avella M. , Guedes A. 
Published: July 2013

In order to characterize ornamental stones and gemstones from the monstrance ‘Tabernáculo de la Colegiata de S. Pedro’ in Lerma, Burgos, a Raman spectroscopy in situ non‐destructive study has been performed on these materials.The Raman spectra obtained correspond to cornalline‐like chalcedony, nephrite jade, quartz veinlets, agates with moganite and jasper, together with goethite showing several degrees of alteration. Various types of marble and lapis lazuli were identified.The lapis lazuli samples show different Raman spectra depending on the blue–white chromatic gradient, due to the variations in the sulfur concentration. Raman spectroscopy allows for the correlation of the presence of radical molecular ions S2−, S3− and SO42−, with the colour centres and colouration of lapis lazuli.Two varieties of marble are present, one of brown tones with greyish‐white incrustations and another with alternating white and black veinlets with yellow inclusions. In the former, white masses of microcrystalline calcite appear together with quartz inclusions, around which brown halos of goethite develop as an alteration product. In the latter, they show calcite in the white veinlets and calcite with graphite in the black ones. The mineralogical analysis of ornamentals stones on art objects allows determining their degree of conservation and the extension of the deterioration, in order to establish strategies for the cleaning and restoration. These results are an important factor to date the object and for shedding light about its authorship. Furthermore, it could eventually help to establish connections between the tabernacle‐monstrance and other tabernacles in Castilla y León. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Developing a Pet Owners' Tourism Constraints Scale – The Constraints to Take Dogs to Tourism Activities
Authors: Chen Annie Huiling , Peng Norman , Hung Kuang‐peng 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTThe objectives of this research were to develop a scale for constraints on bringing dogs along on tourism activities and to examine the influence of these constraints on owners' intentions to take dogs along on tourism activities. The responses of 518 Taiwanese dog owners were examined through exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The findings revealed three dimensions of pet‐related tourism constraint (i.e. pets' specific constraints, pets' interpersonal constraints and pets' structural constraints). This measurement scale was found to be both valid and reliable. In addition, the constraints were found to negatively influence owners' intentions to take pets along on tourism activities. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of Size and Specific Surface Area of Boron Nitride Particles on the Crystallization of Bacterial Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate)
Authors: Puente Jorge Arturo Soto , Esposito Antonella , Chivrac Frédéric , Dargent Eric 
Published: July 2013

SummaryThree different grades of Boron Nitride (BN) powder (BN NX1, BN NX5 and BN HCV) having different mean particle size (0.7 to 11 μm) and specific surface area (16 to 40 m2 · g−1) were used as nucleating agents for poly (3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) at a fixed concentration of 2 wt %. Polarized Optical Microscopy (POM) observations, coupled to Differential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC) measurements, allowed to monitor both the isothermal and non‐isothermal crystallization of neat and nucleated PHBVs. It was found that the addition of BN to PHBV modifies the mechanisms of crystallization by starting it at lower supercooling degrees and reducing the half‐crystallization time. This work proved that DSC can replace POM whenever POM does not allow to estimate directly the average linear growth rate of the spherulites during crystallization. The Hoffman‐Lauritzen theory was used to explain the effects of the addition of different grades of BN on PHBV crystallization. As a result, a transition from growth regime III to the growth regime II could be observed for nucleated PHBVs, no matter the grade of BN added. It was evidenced that the coupling between the amorphous and the crystalline phase is modified by the presence of the BN particles. In particular, for a given concentration of nucleating agent, it is the mean size and the specific surface area of BN particles that affect PHBV crystallization.
Siloxane Oligomers with Epoxy Pendant Groups
Authors: Mukbaniani Omari , Aneli Jimsher , Esartia Izabela , Tatrishvili Tamar , Markarashvili Eliza , Jalagonia Natia 
Published: July 2013

SummaryHydrosilylation reaction of 2.4.6.8‐tetrahydro‐2.4.6.8‐tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane with allyl glycidyl ether at 1:4.1 molar ratios of initial compounds in the presence of platinum hydrochloric acid (0.1 M solution in THF), Karstedt's catalyst (Pt2[(VinSiMe2)2O]3) and platinum on the carbon have been studied and 2.4.6.8‐tetrapropyl glycidyl‐2.4.6.8‐tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane has been obtained. For hydrosilylation reaction order, rate constants and activation energy have been determined in the presence of Karstedt's catalyst. Ring–opening polymerization reaction of D4R in the presence of catalytic amount of powder‐like potassium hydroxide has been carried out. Linear methylsiloxane oligomer with regular arrangement of propyl glycidyl groups in the side chain has been obtained. The reaction of epoxy group containing compounds with primary and secondary amines has been carried out and corresponding amino hydroxyl groups containing compounds have been obtained. The synthesized organosiloxanes were studied by FTIR, 1H, 13C and 29Si NMR spectroscopies. Comb‐type oligomers were characterized by size‐exclusion chromatography, wide‐angle X‐ray methods. Via sol‐gel processes of 2.4.6.8‐tetrapropyl glycidyl‐2.4.6.8‐tetramethylcycltetrasiloxane, ethylene diamine and tetraethoxysilane doped with lithium trifluoromethylsulfonate (triflate) or lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide solid polymer electrolyte membranes have been obtained. The dependence of ionic conductivity as a function of temperature and salt concentration has been studied. It is shown that the conductivity of membrane containing 15 wt % of triflate type salt concentration is higher on the 3 orders than analogous containing the same amount of the salt lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide. The difference is described in terms of ion mobilities in the polymer matrix.
Tailored (Bio)Interfaces via Surface Initiated Polymerization: Control of Grafting Density and New Responsive Diblock Copolymer Brushes
Authors: Lilge Inga , Steuber Marc , Tranchida Davide , Sperotto Elena , Schönherr Holger 
Published: July 2013

SummaryPolymer brush synthesis by surface initiated polymerization (SIP) comprises a powerful strategy to tailor interfacial properties. Among others, the passivation of solid substrates against non‐specific protein adsorption or the implementation of stimuli responsive properties can be achieved. In this context controlled radical polymerization approaches are frequently employed. Here we report on our efforts in the synthesis of oligo and di(ethylene glycol) methylether methacrylate (OEGMA and DEGMA)‐based brushes with (i) controlled grafting density and (ii) new diblock copolymer structures. We assembled mixed self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) comprising octadecanethiol (ODT), 16‐mercaptohexadecanoic (MHDA) and ω‐mercaptoundecyl bromoisobutyrate (MUBiB) on gold to initiate the controlled radical polymerization of OEGMA and DEGMA. The SAMs as well as the polymer layers obtained by atom transfer radical polymerization for a constant polymerization time were characterized by contact angle measurements with water, FTIR spectroscopy, ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that ODT and MHDA assemble in the mixed SAMs preferentially and despite the different endgroups very similar brushes were obtained. SAMs with fractional surface coverages of the initiator ω‐mercaptoundecyl bromoisobutyrate of > 0.45 showed no further increase in brush thickness, which is in line with a mushroom to brush transition below this coverage. In addition, diblock copolymer brushes comprising POEGMA and poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) (PtBA) blocks were obtained for the first time. The PtBA block was successfully hydrolyzed to yield POEGMA‐block‐poly acrylic acid (PAA) brushes.
Suppression of inflammatory cascade is implicated in methyl amooranin‐mediated inhibition of experimental mammary carcinogenesis
Authors: Mandal Animesh , Bhatia Deepak , Bishayee Anupam 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBreast cancer represents the second leading cause of cancer‐related deaths among women worldwide and preventive therapy could reverse or delay the devastating impact of this disease. Methyl‐amooranin (methyl‐25‐hydroxy‐3‐oxoolean‐12‐en‐28‐oate, AMR‐Me), a novel synthetic oleanane triterpenoid, reduced the incidence and burden of 7,12‐dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)‐induced mammary tumors in rats through antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects. Since chronic inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of breast cancer and several synthetic oleanane compounds are known potent anti‐inflammatory agents, we aim to investigate anti‐inflammatory mechanisms of AMR‐Me by monitoring various proinflammatory and stress markers, such as cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) and heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), and nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) signaling during DMBA mammary tumorigenesis in rats. Mammary tumors were harvested from a chemopreventive study in which AMR‐Me (0.8–1.6 mg/kg) was found to inhibit mammary carcinogenesis in a dose–response manner. The expressions of COX‐2, HSP90, NF‐κB, and inhibitory κB‐α (IκB‐α) were determined by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. AMR‐Me downregulated the expression of intratumor COX‐2 and HSP90, suppressed the degradation of IκB‐α, and reduced the translocation of NF‐κB from cytosol to nucleus. Our present study provides the first in vivo evidence that NF‐κB‐evoked inflammatory cascade is a major target of AMR‐Me in breast cancer. Our current results together with our previous findings suggest that disruption of NF‐κB signaling contributes to anti‐inflammatory, antiproliferative, and apoptosis‐inducing mechanisms involved in AMR‐Me‐mediated chemoprevention of rat mammary carcinogenesis. These encouraging mechanistic results coupled with a safety profile should facilitate the clinical development of AMR‐Me as breast cancer chemopreventive drug. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Task‐specific tremor in violinists: Evidence of coactivation in the 3 to 8 Hz frequency range
Authors: Lee André , Tominaga Kenta , Furuya Shinichi , Miyazaki Fumio , Altenmüller Eckart 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTBackgroundTask‐specific tremor in musicians severely impairs fine motor control. However, little is known about its pathophysiology. Here, we quantify electromyography (EMG) properties in primary bowing tremor—in particular, muscular coactivation—to determine whether primary bowing tremor affects a specific frequency range of coactivation.MethodsWe quantitatively compared EMG properties of the wrist muscles between 4 professional violinists who had task‐specific tremor and 4 age‐matched healthy controls.ResultsWe observed bowing tremor‐specific muscular coactivation in the frequency range of 3 to 8 Hz only in the patients but not in the healthy controls. No muscular activity was observed at the resonance‐frequency range.ConclusionsOur findings indicate an association between coactivation and bowing tremor at a specific frequency range (3–8 Hz). The absence of EMG activity and coactivation in the mechanical‐reflex frequency of the wrist suggests that central mechanisms play a more dominant role than mechanical‐reflex mechanisms in primary bowing tremor. © 2013 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
It is time to abandon “Expected bladder capacity.” Systematic review and new models for children's normal maximum voided volumes
Authors: Martínez‐García Roberto , Úbeda‐Sansano Maria Isabel , Díez‐Domingo Javier , Pérez‐Hoyos Santiago , Gil‐Salom Manuel 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBackgroundThere is an agreement to use simple formulae (expected bladder capacity and other age based linear formulae) as bladder capacity benchmark. But real normal child's bladder capacity is unknown.AimsTo offer a systematic review of children's normal bladder capacity, to measure children's normal maximum voided volumes (MVVs), to construct models of MVVs and to compare them with the usual formulae.MethodsComputerized, manual and grey literature were reviewed until February 2013. Epidemiological, observational, transversal, multicenter study. A consecutive sample of healthy children aged 5–14 years, attending Primary Care centres with no urologic abnormality were selected. Participants filled‐in a 3‐day frequency–volume chart. Variables were MVVs: maximum of 24 hr, nocturnal, and daytime maximum voided volumes. Factors: diuresis and its daytime and nighttime fractions; body‐measure data; and gender. The consecutive steps method was used in a multivariate regression model.ResultsTwelve articles accomplished systematic review's criteria. Five hundred and fourteen cases were analysed. Three models, one for each of the MVVs, were built. All of them were better adjusted to exponential equations. Diuresis (not age) was the most significant factor. There was poor agreement between MVVs and usual formulae. Nocturnal and daytime maximum voided volumes depend on several factors and are different.ConclusionsNocturnal and daytime maximum voided volumes should be used with different meanings in clinical setting. Diuresis is the main factor for bladder capacity. This is the first model for benchmarking normal MVVs with diuresis as its main factor. Current formulae are not suitable for clinical use. Neurourol. Urodynam. 33:1092–1098, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Subdivision shell elements with anisotropic growth
Authors: Vetter Roman , Stoop Norbert , Jenni Thomas , Wittel Falk K. , Herrmann Hans J. 
Published: July 2013

SUMMARYA thin shell finite element approach based on Loop's subdivision surfaces is proposed, capable of dealing with large deformations and anisotropic growth. To this end, the Kirchhoff–Love theory of thin shells is derived and extended to allow for arbitrary in‐plane growth. The simplicity and computational efficiency of the subdivision thin shell elements is outstanding, which is demonstrated on a few standard loading benchmarks. With this powerful tool at hand, we demonstrate the broad range of possible applications by numerical solution of several growth scenarios, ranging from the uniform growth of a sphere, to boundary instabilities induced by large anisotropic growth. Finally, it is shown that the problem of a slowly and uniformly growing sheet confined in a fixed hollow sphere is equivalent to the inverse process where a sheet of fixed size is slowly crumpled in a shrinking hollow sphere in the frictionless, quasistatic, elastic limit. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
First‐trimester hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotropin and development of hypertension
Authors: Brennan M. C. , Wolfe M. D. , Murray‐Krezan C. M. , Cole L. A. , Rayburn W. F. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTObjectiveThis study aimed to determine whether urine levels of hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotropin (HhCG) in the first trimester are predictive of subsequent development of hypertension during pregnancyMethodThis prospective cohort study consisted of women seeking care before 12 weeks gestation. A clean catch urine was obtained at the first prenatal visit and tested for HhCG and creatinine levels. The median HhCG levels and multiples of the median (MoM) by gestational age were compared between the groups that either developed hypertension or did not.ResultsUrine HhCG were determined for 204 women between 4 weeks 4 days to 11 weeks 6 days. The median HhCG of those who developed gestational hypertension (n = 7) or preeclampsia (n = 15) did not differ from the group that did not (median: 284 ng/mg creatinine vs 365 ng/mg; p = 0.55). If the MoM of HhCG for the no hypertension group was 1.00, the MoM of HhCG for the hypertension group was 0.93 (p = 0.93). A possible association was observed after 10 weeks between low HhCG levels and the development of late‐onset hypertension (≥34 weeks).ConclusionsPrenatal screening for subsequent hypertension is unreliable with a single measurement of maternal urine HhCG at 10 weeks or less. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combined data assimilation of ozone tropospheric columns and stratospheric profiles in a high‐resolution CTM
Authors: Barré J. , Peuch V.‐H. , Lahoz W. A. , Attié J.‐L. , Josse B. , Piacentini A. , Eremenko M. , Dufour G. , Nedelec P. , von Clarmann T. , El Amraoui L. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractStratospheric ozone profiles from MLS and tropospheric ozone columns from IASI have been assimilated into the MOCAGE model during the month of July 2009, using a variational (3D‐FGAT) technique. This study compares the separate and combined analysis of IASI tropospheric columns and MLS stratospheric profiles, in order to investigate possible synergistic effects. The contributions on the ozone distribution of each data assimilation experiment are discussed and self‐consistency is evaluated via χ2 test, Observations minus Analyses and Observations minus Forecasts diagnostics. The results show that MLS assimilation has a significant impact on the model troposphere. An evaluation of the stratospheric distribution is made using independent MIPAS stratospheric profiles. IAGOS flights are used to evaluate the impact of the dataset assimilated in the troposphere and in the UTLS region. Comparisons to MIPAS independent observations show an improvement of the ozone vertical profile in the stratosphere and in the UTLS due to the assimilation of MLS observations. The IASI analyses show the strongest improvements on ozone distributions in the free troposphere. The combined assimilation shows the most realistic ozone fields overall in the stratosphere, UTLS and troposphere. Though neither instrument covers the entire atmospheric column alone, the combined MLS and IASI analyses show also the best agreement with the independent total ozone columns data from the OMI dataset. Bias, RMSE and correlation are significantly improved compared to the free running model. This set of validations show that the vertical structure of the ozone fields is strongly improved by assimilation. By combining the pieces of information brought by IASI and MLS in the analyses, combined assimilation provides highly realistic ozone fields.
The Flux‐Form Semi‐Lagrangian Spectral Element (FF‐SLSE) method for tracer transport
Authors: Ullrich Paul A. , Norman Matthew R. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThe spectral element dynamical core has been demonstrated to be an accurate and scalable approach for solving the equations of motion in the atmosphere. However, it is also known that use of the spectral element method for tracer transport is costly and requires substantial parallel communication over a single time step. Consequently, recent efforts have turned to finding alternative transport schemes which maintain the scalability of the spectral element method without its significant cost. This article proposes a conservative semi‐Lagrangian approach for tracer transport which uses upstream trajectories to solve the transport equation on the native spectral element grid. This formulation, entitled the Flux‐Form Semi‐Lagrangian Spectral Element (FF‐SLSE) method, is highly accurate compared to many competing schemes, allows for large time steps, and requires fewer parallel communications over the same time interval than the spectral element method. In addition, the approach guarantees local conservation and is easily paired with a filter which can be used to ensure positivity. This article presents the dispersion relation for the 1D FF‐SLSE approach and demonstrates stability up to a Courant number of 2.44 with cubic basis. Several standard numerical tests are presented for the method in 2D to verify correctness, accuracy and robustness of the method, including a new test of a divergent flow in Carteisan geometry.
A Facile Molten‐Salt Route to Graphene Synthesis
Authors: Liu Xiaofeng , Giordano Cristina , Antonietti Markus 
Published: July 2013

AbstractEfficient synthetic routes are continuously pursued for graphene in order to implement its applications in different areas. However, direct conversion of simple monomers to graphene through polymerization in a scalable manner remains a major challenge for chemists. Herein, a molten‐salt (MS) route for the synthesis of carbon nanostructures and graphene by controlled carbonization of glucose in molten metal chloride is reported. In this process, carbohydrate undergoes polymerization in the presence of strongly interacting ionic species, which leads to nanoporous carbon with amorphous nature and adjustable pore size. At a low precursor concentration, the process converts the sugar molecules (glucose) to rather pure few‐layer graphenes. The MS‐derived graphenes are strongly hydrophobic and exhibit remarkable selectivity and capacity for absorption of organics. The methodology described may open up a new avenue towards the synthesis and manipulation of carbon materials in liquid media.