bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thermoresponsive Properties of Copolymer Gels Induced by Appropriate Hydrophilic/Hydrophobic Balance of Monomer Combination
Authors: Ida Shohei , Kawahara Toru , Fujita Yuki , Tanimoto Satoshi , Hirokawa Yoshitsugu 
Published: April 2015

SummaryThe novel thermoresponsive polymer gels were found to be designed by copolymerization of hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomers. Thermoresponsive properties of these novel copolymer gels could be easily regulated by the monomer structures and the feed ratio. First, we copolymerized hydrophilic N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAAm) and hydrophobic N‐n‐butylacrylamide (NBAAm) in various feed ratio, and found that certain compositions (DMAAm : NBAAm = 70 : 30 ∼ 40 : 60) gave the thermoresponsive gels with sharp volume phase transition. It was because of appropriate hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance in the network as same as poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) gel, in which the balance of hydrophilic amide group and hydrophobic isopropyl group produces thermoresponsive property. Then, we examined the effect of comonomer structures on thermoresponsive behavior of the copolymer gels by utilizing butyl acrylamide isomers (s‐butyl, i‐butyl, and t‐butyl) as hydrophobic component. As a result, all the gels copolymerized by butylacrylamide having isomeric butyl groups with DMAAm were found to show the thermoresponsive properties such as sharp change of the degree of swelling and collapsed temperature, which would be related to the hydration structure of water.
Ring‐Expansion Living Cationic Polymerization of Vinyl Ethers: Optimized Ring Propagation
Authors: Kammiyada Hajime , Ouchi Makoto , Sawamoto Mitsuo 
Published: April 2015

SummaryFor the “ring‐expansion” living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers that has recently been achieved for the first time with a hemiacetal ester‐embedded cyclic initiator (1), we investigated the effects of reaction conditions (Lewis acid catalysts/activators, solvents, temperature, and reagent concentration) on the selectivity and controllability for construction of ring chains. For example, the choice of the Lewis acid catalysts turned out crucial. Specifically, tin tetrabrommide (SnBr4) was suitable, with which an undisturbed ring‐expansion propagation proceeded without irreversible side reactions, to selectively construct the ring topology, though accompanied by “ring fusion” into fused ring polymers of higher molelcular weights. The fusion event, however, could be suppressed by decreasing concentration of the initiator, namely, polymers to be formed therefrom. Under these optimized conditions, the propagation is controlled enough to allow sequential addition of monomers to give either chain‐extended homopolymers or block copolymers. Thus, the ring‐expansion cationic polymerization is potentially a powerful tool to construct ring polymer architectures with precision control similar to that for linear living polymers.
Genetic variability of the retromer cargo recognition complex in parkinsonism
Authors: Gustavsson Emil K. , Guella Ilaria , Trinh Joanne , Szu‐Tu Chelsea , Rajput Alex , Rajput Ali H. , Steele John C. , McKeown Martin , Jeon Beom S. , Aasly Jan O. , Farrer Matthew J. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackgroundA pathogenic mutation (VPS35 p.D620N) within the retromer complex has been shown to segregate with late‐onset Parkinson's disease (PD). Several studies have subsequently detected the mutation in patients with PD and not in controls.MethodsMutation screening of the coding regions of the retromer cargo recognition complex genes (VPS26A/B, VPS29, and VPS35) was carried out in patients with PD (n = 396), atypical parkinsonism (n = 229), and in 368 controls.ResultsOverall, we identified five rare nonsynonymous mutations in VPS26A and one in VPS35; none were observed in VPS26B or VPS29. Three VPS26A variants (p.K93E, p.M112V, and p.K297X), identified in patients with atypical parkinsonism, were not observed in controls from this study (n = 368) or from publically available data sets (n = 4,426).ConclusionOur results support the hypothesis that rare variants in the retromer complex genes may be involved in the development of parkinsonism, although further studies are warranted before any solid conclusions can be drawn. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Comparisons of the results of peripheral nerve defect repair with fibrin conduit and autologous nerve graft: An experimental study in rats
Authors: Longo Marco Vinicius Losso , Marques de Faria José Carlos , Isaac Cesar , Nepomuceno Andre Coelho , Teixeira Nuberto Hopfgartner , Gemperli Rolf 
Published: April 2015

IntroductionThe standard treatment for nerve defects is nerve autograft. There is no conduit available that provides the same regenerative capacity of nerve autograft. This study evaluated the histological and functional recovery of nerve defects treated with fibrin conduit in comparison to the nerve autograft, in a rat model.MethodA sciatic nerve injury model (10‐mm defect) was performed in 20 Wistar rats, nerve defect was reconstructed using a fibrin conduit (n = 10). A nerve autograft was used as control (n = 10). The walking behavior was measured by footprint analysis at 4, 8, and 12 weeks and sciatic function index was determined. After 12 weeks, histological analysis was performed to evaluate the regenerated nerve and measured axonal density. The triceps surae muscle weight was also evaluated.ResultsThe fibrin conduit group showed less improvement in walking behavior compared to nerve autograft (−53 ± 2 vs. −36 ± 2; P < 0.001 at 12 weeks). The fibrin conduit group presented axonal density of 40.0 axons/10.995μm2 and the nerve autograft group had 67.2 axons/10.995μm2 (P < 0.001). The triceps surae muscle weight ratio of the fibrin conduit group was 41 ± 3% versus 71 ± 4% of the nerve autograft group (P < 0.001).ConclusionThe fibrin conduit could be used for nerve reconstruction following peripheral nerve injury in the rat model. However, the functional recovery in the fibrin conduit repair group was worse than that in nerve autograft group and the nerve repair with the fibrin conduit has less myelinated fibers when compared to the repair with nerve autograft. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 36:59–65, 2016.
An electrodiagnostic technique for assessing palmar proper digital nerves of the hand: Normative data and clinical application
Authors: Zanette Giampietro , Lauriola Matteo Francesco , Tamburin Stefano 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTIntroduction: There is no standard electrodiagnostic technique for palmar proper digital nerves (PaPDNs). In this study we investigated sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs) to PaPDN stimulation in normal subjects and patients. Methods: SNAPs of PaPDNs were recorded in response to selective antidromic stimulation at the web space and mixed nerve stimulation at the wrist in 14 controls. The selectivity of PaPDN stimulation and the effect of recording electrode position on SNAP amplitude were studied. The technique was tested in 2 patients with PaPDN lesions. Results: The technique yielded selective PaPDN stimulation at the web space. SNAP amplitude to PaPDN stimulation was influenced by age and was larger than SNAP amplitude to wrist stimulation. The recording electrode positions influenced SNAP amplitude. In patients, we documented PaPDN lesions, which were confirmed at surgery, whereas conventional wrist mixed nerve stimulation yielded negative findings. Conclusions: Selective PaPDN stimulation at the web space is feasible and may be helpful for electrodiagnosis of PaPDN lesions. Muscle Nerve 52: 972–980, 2015
High sensitivity sensing of nitroaromatic explosive vapors based on polytriphenylamines with AIE‐active tetraphenylethylene side groups
Authors: Dong Wenyue , Pan Yuyu , Fritsch Martin , Scherf Ullrich 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTTwo polytriphenylamines (PTPAs) (P1 and P2) with aggregation induced emission (AIE)‐active tetraphenylethylene side groups have been designed and successfully synthesized. Both polymers only faintly emit in dilute solution but show strong emission in aggregated state, meaning that they are AIE‐active. The detection of 1,3,5‐trinitrobenzene (TNB) vapors has been investigated by photoluminescence (PL) quenching in polymer films. High solid state quantum yields and donor‐acceptor interactions of the electron‐rich PTPA chains with the TNB analyte, hereby, induce a high sensing sensitivity, both for P1 and P2 films towards TNB vapor. Contacting thin P1 and P2 films with saturated TNB vapor, the PL intensity was quenched by 85% for P1 and 89% for P2 within 600 s, respectively. The sensing process is reversible, >90% of the PL is recovered, also after repeated cycling. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 53, 1753–1761
Fabrication of asymmetrically superhydrophobic cotton fabrics via mist copolymerization of 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate
Authors: Xi GuangHui , Fan WanChao , Wang Lu , Liu XiangDong , Endo Takeshi 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTWe report here a simple strategy for fabricating asymmetrically superhydrophobic cotton fabric via a mist copolymerization of three monomers, 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFMA), 2‐isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (IEM), and divinylbenzene (DVB). The copolymer layer on the cotton surface was confirmed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis and attenuated total reflection (ATR) accessory, and the nanoscale hierarchical structures in the polymeric layer were demonstrated by observation of field emission scanning electron microscope (FE‐SEM). Surface characterization reveals that the modified surface is superhydrophobic, but the opposite side of the modified cotton fabric has the hydrophilic nature of cotton. More experimental data suggest that the good water adsorptivity and vapor transmissibility of the original cotton fabric were inherited after the surface modification. These properties are of great significance in textile and medical applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 1862–1871
Crystal structure of a novel two domain GH78 family α‐rhamnosidase from Klebsiella oxytoca with rhamnose bound
Authors: O'Neill Ellis C. , Stevenson Clare E. M. , Paterson Michael J. , Rejzek Martin , Chauvin Anne‐Laure , Lawson David M. , Field Robert A. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTThe crystal structure of the GH78 family α‐rhamnosidase from Klebsiella oxytoca (KoRha) has been determined at 2.7 Å resolution with rhamnose bound in the active site of the catalytic domain. Curiously, the putative catalytic acid, Asp 222, is preceded by an unusual non‐proline cis‐peptide bond which helps to project the carboxyl group into the active centre. This KoRha homodimeric structure is significantly smaller than those of the other previously determined GH78 structures. Nevertheless, the enzyme displays α‐rhamnosidase activity when assayed in vitro, suggesting that the additional structural domains found in the related enzymes are dispensible for function. Proteins 2015; 83:1742–1749. © 2015 The Authors. Proteins: Structure, Function, and Bioinformatics Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Preoperative Imaging Features are Associated with Surgical Complications Following Carotid Body Tumor Resection
Authors: Straughan David M. , Neychev Vladimir K. , Sadowski Samira M. , Ellis Ryan J. , Thomas Francine , Patronas Nicholas J. , Pacak Karel , Kebebew Electron , Nilubol Naris 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackgroundSurgical resection remains the treatment of choice for carotid body tumors (CBTs). Although perioperative complications such as carotid artery injury and neurological deficits occur infrequently, they can be devastating. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether clinical factors or preoperative imaging findings can accurately predict perioperative complications.MethodsTwenty CBTs were resected from 19 patients. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the neck were used to measure the degree of circumferential involvement of the CBT to the internal carotid artery (ICA), carotid artery narrowing, tumor length, tumor volume, and the distance from the tip of the C2 dens to the superior aspect of the CBT (dens‐CBT). Operative reports and Shamblin classification (I–III) of each tumor were independently reviewed. Preoperative imaging features were compared to perioperative cranial nerve injury (CNI), rates of carotid artery injury, and major carotid artery repairs, as well as Shamblin classifications ≥II.ResultsCNI was associated with a high‐lying CBT (dens‐CBT = 1.8 vs. 2.9 cm, p < 0.01). All four patients with CNI had a dens‐CBT of <3 cm. Neither tumor length and tumor volume nor the involvement of the ICA (≥180° as measured by CT or MRI) was associated with CNI, carotid artery injury, major carotid artery repair, or Shamblin II or III classification. No carotid artery narrowing was observed in any of the cases.ConclusionsPreoperative measurement of the dens‐CBT is helpful in identifying CBTs at risk for CNI after surgical resection.
Overexpression and characterization of a Ca2+ activated thermostable β-glucosidase with high ginsenoside Rb1 to ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3 bioconversion productivity
Authors: Xie Jingcong , Zhao Dongxia , Zhao Linguo , Pei Jianjun , Xiao Wei , Ding Gang , Wang Zhenzhong 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
The thermostable β-glucosidase gene from Thermotoga petrophila DSM 13995 was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The activity of the recombinant β-glucosidase was 21 U/mL in the LB medium. Recombinant β-glucosidase was purified, and its molecular weight was approximately 81 kDa. The optimal activity was at pH 5.0 and 90 °C, and the thermostability of the enzyme was improved by Ca2+. The β-glucosidase had high selectivity for cleaving the outer and inner glucopyranosyl moieties at the C-20 carbon of ginsenoside Rb1, which produced the pharmacologically active minor ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3. In a reaction at 90 °C and pH 5.0, 10 g/L of ginsenoside Rb1 was transformed into 6.93 g/L of Rg3 within 90 min, with a corresponding molar conversion of 97.9 %, and Rg3 productivity of 4620 mg/L/h. This study is the first report of a GH3-family enzyme that used Ca2+ to improve its thermostability, and it is the first report on the high substrate concentration bioconversion of ginsenoside Rb1 to ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3 by using thermostable β-glucosidase under high temperature.
The Reduced RUM as a Logit Model: Parameterization and Constraints
Authors: Chiu Chia-Yi , Köhn Hans-Friedrich 
Published: April 2015

AbstractCognitive diagnosis models (CDMs) for educational assessment are constrained latent class models. Examinees are assigned to classes of intellectual proficiency defined in terms of cognitive skills called attributes, which an examinee may or may not have mastered. The Reduced Reparameterized Unified Model (Reduced RUM) has received considerable attention among psychometricians. Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) or Expectation Maximization (EM) are typically used for estimating the Reduced RUM. Commercial implementations of the EM algorithm are available in the latent class analysis (LCA) routines of Latent GOLD and Mplus, for example. Fitting the Reduced RUM with an LCA routine requires that it be reparameterized as a logit model, with constraints imposed on the parameters. For models involving two attributes, these have been worked out. However, for models involving more than two attributes, the parameterization and the constraints are nontrivial and currently unknown. In this article, the general parameterization of the Reduced RUM as a logit model involving any number of attributes and the associated parameter constraints are derived. As a practical illustration, the LCA routine in Mplus is used for fitting the Reduced RUM to two synthetic data sets and to a real-world data set; for comparison, the results obtained by using the MCMC implementation in OpenBUGS are also provided.
Comparison of Ethyl Acetate with Hexane for Oil Extraction from Various Oilseeds
Authors: Lohani Umesh C. , Fallahi Parisa , Muthukumarappan K. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe aim of the current research was to determine a less hazardous, cheaper and less toxic alternative solvent for hexane for extraction of oil from different oilseeds showing equivalent oil yield and oil quality. A full factorial design with three levels of extraction temperature (80, 100 and 120 °C) and three levels of extraction time (40, 65 and 90 min) with constant solvent to seed ratio value of 4:1 was used to extract the oil. Maximum oil was recovered from canola followed by flax, mustard and camelina. The oil content of canola was found in range of 21.08–36.44, and 25.12–40.38 % for hexane and ethyl acetate, respectively. The heating values of oil extracted from all oilseeds using hexane and ethyl acetate were found in the range of 38.04–39.98 and 37.98–39.37 MJ/kg, respectively. Least viscosity was found for flax seed using hexane followed by camelina, canola and mustard as compared to ethyl acetate. Viscosity of flax oil ranged from 27.23–37.19, and 31.16–55.52 cP for hexane and ethyl acetate solvents, respectively. Considering human safety, less environmental impact, comparable oil yield and quality parameters, ethyl acetate can be a promising alternative to hexane.
Conjuring the Ghosts of Missing Children: A Monte Carlo Simulation of Reproductive Restraint in Tokugawa Japan
Authors: Drixler Fabian F. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThis article quantifies the frequency of infanticide and abortion in one region of Japan by comparing observed fertility in a sample of 4.9 million person-years (1660–1872) with a Monte Carlo simulation of how many conceptions and births that population should have experienced. The simulation uses empirical values for the determinants of fertility from Eastern Japan itself as well as the best available studies of comparable populations. This procedure reveals that in several decades of the eighteenth century, at least 40 % of pregnancies must have ended in either an induced abortion or an infanticide. In addition, the simulation results imply a rapid decline in the incidence of infanticide and abortion during the nineteenth century, when in a reverse fertility transition, this premodern family-planning regime gave way to a new age of large families.
Hippocampal subfield surface deformity in nonsemantic primary progressive aphasia
Authors: Christensen Adam , Alpert Kathryn , Rogalski Emily , Cobia Derin , Rao Julia , Beg Mirza Faisal , Weintraub Sandra , Mesulam M.‐Marsel , Wang Lei 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackgroundAlzheimer neuropathology is found in almost half of patients with nonsemantic primary progressive aphasia (PPA). This study examined hippocampal abnormalities in PPA to determine similarities to those described in amnestic Alzheimer disease.MethodsIn 37 PPA patients and 32 healthy controls, we generated hippocampal subfield surface maps from structural magnetic resonance images and administered a face memory test. We analyzed group and hemisphere differences for surface shape measures and their relationship with test scores and APOE genotype.ResultsThe hippocampus in PPA showed inward deformity (CA1 and subiculum subfields) and outward deformity (CA2–4 + dentate gyrus subfield) and smaller left than right volumes. Memory performance was related to hippocampal shape abnormalities in PPA patients, but not controls, even in the absence of memory impairments.ConclusionsHippocampal deformity in PPA is related to memory test scores. This may reflect a combination of intrinsic degenerative phenomena with transsynaptic or Wallerian effects of neocortical neuronal loss.
Reactivity of copper–α-synuclein peptide complexes relevant to Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Dell’Acqua Simone , Pirota Valentina , Anzani Cecilia , Rocco Michela M , Nicolis Stefania , Valensin Daniela , Monzani Enrico , Casella Luigi 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the presence of abnormal α-synuclein (αSyn) deposits in the brain. Alterations in metal homeostasis and metal-induced oxidative stress may play a crucial role in the aggregation of αSyn and, consequently, in the pathogenesis of PD. We have therefore investigated the capability of copper–αSyn6 and copper–αSyn15 peptide complexes, with the 1–6 and 1–15 terminal fragments of the protein, to promote redox reactions that can be harmful to other cellular components. The pseudo-tyrosinase activity of copper–αSyn complexes against catecholic (di-tert-butylcatechol (DTBCH2), 4-methylcatechol (4-MC)) and phenolic (phenol) substrates is lower compared to that of free copper(ii). In particular, the rates (kcat) of DTBCH2 catalytic oxidation are 0.030 s−1 and 0.009 s−1 for the reaction promoted by free copper(ii) and [Cu2+–αSyn15], respectively. On the other hand, HPLC/ESI-MS analysis of solutions of αSyn15 incubated with copper(ii) and 4-MC showed that αSyn is competitively oxidized with remarkable formation of sulfoxide at Met1 and Met5 residues. Moreover, the sulfoxidation of methionine residues, which is related to the aggregation of αSyn, also occurs on peptides not directly bound to copper, indicating that external αSyn can also be oxidized by copper. Therefore, this study strengthens the hypothesis that copper plays an important role in oxidative damage of αSyn which is proposed to be strongly related to the etiology of PD.
Fathers' and Mothers' Verbal Responsiveness and the Language Skills of Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Flippin Michelle , Watson Linda R. 
Published: April 2015

Purpose
In this observational study, we examined the interactions of 16 young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents to investigate (a) differences in verbal responsiveness used by fathers and mothers in interactions with their children with ASD and (b) concurrent associations between the language skills of children with ASD and the verbal responsiveness of both fathers and mothers.

Method
Parent verbal responsiveness was coded from video recordings of naturalistic parent–child play sessions using interval-based coding. Child language skills were measured by the Preschool Language Scale–Fourth Edition (Zimmerman, Steiner, & Pond, 2002).

Results
For both fathers and mothers, parent verbal responsiveness was positively associated with child language skills. Mothers' responsiveness was also significantly associated with child cognition. After controlling for child cognition, fathers' verbal responsiveness continued to be significantly related to child language skills.

Conclusions
Although other studies have documented associations between mothers' responsiveness and child language, this is the 1st study to document a significant concurrent association between child language skills of children with ASD and the verbal responsiveness of fathers. Findings of this study warrant the inclusion of fathers in future research on language development and intervention to better understand the potential contributions fathers may make to language growth for children with ASD over time as well as to determine whether coaching fathers to use responsive verbal strategies can improve language outcomes for children with ASD.