bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Developing entrepreneurial competences in students in the life sciences: the Lifetech Ad-Venture program
Authors: Alcaraz-Rodriguez Rafael , M. Alvarez Mario , Villasana Marcia 
Published: October 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to identify how an entrepreneurship program in the life-sciences impacts the development of their entrepreneurial skills and values in undergraduate students.

Design/methodology/approach
– A quantitative study was conducted at Tecnologico de Monterrey, a private university in Mexico. Questionnaires were administered to life-sciences students before and after the entrepreneurship course to analyze and identify the development of pre-defined entrepreneurial characteristics.

Findings
– Results indicate a positive and significant impact on several of the 13 entrepreneurial characteristics evaluated in the study (negotiation skills, need of achievement and initiative). Empirical insights gained in the study suggest that gender does not yield to differences in the degree of involvement in activities, and that previous entrepreneurship experience may contribute to enhanced engagement in the program.

Research limitations/implications
– The paper reports on students from one university campus. Future research should include students from other locations in the country.

Practical implications
– It is evident that university entrepreneurship programs have an impact on students' skills and values; however, the challenge still remains in the design of those programs to include more activities and draw on the students' own competences.

Originality/value
– This paper contributes with evidence from an entrepreneurship program implemented in a Latin American university, a region for which documentation of the degree of success of entrepreneurship education is limited in the literature.
Coating properties of shellac modified with synthesised epoxidised-novolac resin
Authors: Fahim Ansari Mohammad , Sarkhel Gautam , Nath Goswami Dipendra , Baboo Bangali 
Published: October 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to improve the properties of shellac by blending with epoxidised novolac resin for its use as coating material for metal surfaces.Design/methodology/approach– Epoxidised-novolac resin was synthesised by epoxidation of novolac resin, which in turn was synthesised by reaction of phenol with formaldehyde. The epoxidised-novolac resin was blended with different weight ratios of shellac ranging 10-50 weight per cent with an interval of 10 weight per cent. Films of the blends were studied for different coating properties using standard procedure.Findings– Significant improvement in coating properties of shellac such as gloss, scratch hardness and impact resistance was observed on blending with epoxidised novolac resin. Resistance towards water and alkali increased, while acid resistance decreased, with the increase in concentration of epoxidised novolac resin in the blends. Contact angle measurement revealed that blends showed more resistance towards polar solvent than non-polar ones.Research limitations/implications– Epoxidised-novolac resin used in the study was synthesised of epoxy equivalent of 187. Epoxidised-novolac resin of different epoxy equivalent can also be synthesised and used for blending and studying the properties.Practical implications– Blending of shellac with epoxidised-novolac resin improved the coating properties of shellac, which was further enhanced with the treatment of butylated melamine formaldehyde resin. The formulation can be used as coating material for metal surfaces.Originality/value– Blending of shellac with epoxidised-novolac resin was done for the first time. The formulation can be utilised for developing coating material for metal surfaces.
Novel comonomer synthesis from thiophene-2-carbonyl chloride and polydimethylsiloxane modified cyclohexanone formaldehyde resin
Authors: Kizilcan Nilgun , Istif Merve 
Published: October 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to produce an electroactive monomer containing ketonic resins and then to investigate redox reaction between Fe+3 and bounded thiophene in comonomers. First, thiophene functionalised ketonic resins (Th-CFPDMSR) were synthesised by esterification reaction of thiophene-2-carbonyl chloride (ThCCl) and hydroxyl groups of cyclohexanone formaldehyde resin (CFR). Th-CFPDMSR was then polymerised by ferric salt. Thiophene modified ketonic resins (Th-CFPDMSR) as comonomers were characterised by common techniques such as gel permeation chromatography, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimeter and scanning electron microscope.Design/methodology/approach– Th-CFPDMSR comonomers were synthesised by esterification reaction of ThCCl and hydroxyl groups of ketonic resins. Then, the in-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) of ThC-CFR in the presence of iron (III) chloride salt (FeCl3) was accomplished in chloroform/acetonitrile mixture solutions at room temperature.Findings– Important structural factor determined quantitatively for Th-CFPDMSR is the CFPDMS/TCCl ratio after reaction. The mole ratio effect of TCCl and ketonic resin on the solubility, molecular weight, melting temperature (Tm) and glass transition temperature (Tg) values of the comonomers (TCCl-CFPDMSR) was investigated.Research limitations/implications– The ferric ion (Fe+3) has a standard oxidation potential. Furthermore, FeCl3 can react with thiophene to produce a cation radical. FeCl3 cannot react with hydroxyl groups of ketonic resins. When ferric is used for ISCO application at relatively low temperatures (e.g. < 20°C), the oxidation reactions are usually less aggressive.Practical implications– This work provides technical information for the synthesis of conducting block copolymer and for the synthesis of chain-extended resins. The modified resins contain thiophene. The chemical oxidation system has been used to polymerise these thiophene groups, and resins with much higher molecular weight might be produced. The resins may also promote the adhesive strength of a coating and corrosion inhibition to metal surfaces of a coating.Originality/value– Novel Th-CFPDMSR comonomers were synthesised. These comonomers have higher Tg and Tm values than CF-PDMSR alone. The chemical oxidation system has been used to polymerise these thiophene functionalised ketonic resins.
Physicochemical colourants effects on polymeric composites printing toner
Authors: Bazrafshan Zahra , Ataeefard Maryam , Nourmohammadian Farahnaz 
Published: October 2014

Purpose– This paper aims to report on production of the colour digital printing toners cyan, magenta and yellow. Colour digital electrophotographic printing is currently in high demand. The provision of a large colour gamut depends on appropriate selection of precise colourants to produce toner capable of producing a thin layer on paper.Design/methodology/approach– Printing toners were synthesised by the emulsion aggregation method, and then evaluated for chemical constitution and effects of the colourant substituents.Findings– Results demonstrated that increasing the polarity of a pigment produced better dispersion and lower particle size with narrower distribution and even better colour reproduction. While, changing a pigment’s characteristics did not affect the toner shape or its thermal properties.Practical implications– The developed method provides a simple way to synthesise colour printing toner.Social implications– Emulsion aggregation toners provide less hazardous materials during printing.Originality/value– Evaluations of the influence of solid-state parameters and physicochemical properties of the pigments on printing toner characteristics were done for the first time.
Pendulum hardness of polyurethane coatings during curing
Authors: Huang Zhifeng , Ma Xiaoyang , Qiao Zemin , Wang Shujuan , Jing Xinli 
Published: October 2014

Purpose
– This paper aims to disclose the evolution of pendulum hardness of two-component acrylic polyurethane coatings during the cure process and attempts to describe the quantitative relationship between pendulum hardness and curing time. These findings are helpful for the study of fast curing acrylic polyurethane coatings.

Design/methodology/approach
– The pendulum hardness method was used to monitor the hardness of two-component acrylic polyurethane coatings during curing. The quantitative relationship between pendulum hardness and curing time can be obtained with Avrami equation.

Findings
– The evolution of coating pendulum hardness can be divided into three stages. By using the Avrami equation that explained the influence of both the acid value and the curing temperature on the drying speed of hydroxyl acrylic resin, the evolution of coating pendulum hardness during curing can also be accurately described.

Research limitations/implications
– It should be noted that the physical meaning of the Avrami exponent, n, is not yet clear.

Practical implications
– The results are of great significance for the development of fast-curing hydroxyl-functional acrylic resins, with the potential to improve the drying speed of the coatings used in automotive refinish.

Originality/value
– It is novel to divide the pendulum hardness into three stages, and, for the first time, the Avrami equation is utilized to describe the evolution of coating pendulum hardness during curing.
Increased serum C‐reactive protein level in Japanese patients of psoriasis with cardio‐ and cerebrovascular disease
Authors: Takahashi Hidetoshi , Iinuma Shin , Honma Masaru , Iizuka Hajime 
Published: October 2014

AbstractPsoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, which may be associated with metabolic syndrome accompanied by cardio‐ and cerebrovascular diseases. We investigated the relation between serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) and cardio‐ and cerebrovascular diseases in Japanese psoriasis vulgaris patients. Ninety‐seven psoriasis vulgaris patients and 79 healthy controls were assessed for serum CRP levels by immunoturbidimetry. The data were analyzed in terms of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores, and comorbidity of cardio‐ and cerebrovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. Serum CRP levels in psoriasis vulgaris patients were significantly higher than those of healthy controls. There was no significant difference between male and female CRP levels in either psoriasis or healthy controls. No correlation was detected between PASI scores and serum CRP levels, either. Psoriasis with cardio‐ and cerebrovascular disease showed significantly higher CRP levels compared with those without the diseases. Furthermore, psoriasis with metabolic syndrome showed significantly higher serum CRP levels than those without the metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, serum CRP level is increased in psoriasis, and may be a useful marker for the prediction of the future risk of cardio‐ and cerebrovascular disease.
Detailed clinicopathological characterization of progressive alopecia areata patients treated with i.v. corticosteroid pulse therapy toward optimization of inclusion criteria
Authors: Sato Misato , Amagai Masayuki , Ohyama Manabu 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe management of progressive alopecia areata (AA) is often challenging. Recently, i.v. corticosteroid pulse therapy has been reported to be effective for acute and severe AA, however, inclusion criteria have not been sufficiently precise, leaving a chance that its efficacy could be further improved by optimizing therapeutic indications. In our attempts to delineate the factors that correlate with favorable outcomes, we minutely evaluated the clinicopathological findings and the prognoses of single‐round steroid pulse‐treated progressive AA cases with full sets of image and pathology records during the course. Almost complete hair regrowth has been achieved and maintained up to 2 years in five out of seven AA patients with varying degrees of clinical severity. Interestingly, the worst clinical presentation observed during the course correlated with the size of the area where hairs with dystrophic roots were pulled rather than the extent of visible hair loss on the first visit. Dermoscopy detected disease spread but contributed little in assessing prognoses. Dense perifollicular cell infiltration was detected in all cases treated within 4 weeks of onset and those treated later but with excellent response. Importantly, the cases with poor or incomplete hair regrowth were treated 6–8 weeks of onset and showed moderate inflammatory change with high telogen conversion rate. These findings mandate global dermoscopy and hair pull test for judging the treatment indication and suggest that early administration of high‐dose corticosteroid, ideally within 4 weeks of onset, enable efficient suppression of active inflammation and maximize the effectiveness of the remedy.
Impedimetric Characterization of Adsorption of Listeria monocytogenes on the Surface of an Aluminum‐Based Immunosensor
Authors: Chai Changhoon , Lee Jooyoung , Oh Se‐Wook , Takhistov Paul 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe impedimetric characteristics of an immunosensor depend on the electrical properties of an immunosensor substrate. The impedimetric characteristics of an immunosensor compared with adsorption of Listeria monocytogenes were investigated on an aluminum surface insulated with an electrically resistive aluminum oxide layer. Antibody for L. monocytogenes (anti‐L. monocytogenes) was immobilized on an aluminum surface that was insulated with a native air‐formed aluminum oxide layer. The resistance of impedance (R) value of an aluminum‐based immunosensor decreased, especially at 104 to 106 Hz, where the effect of the reactance of impedance (X) was minimal when L. monocytogenes was adsorbed on the immunosensor surface. The R value of the immunosensor at 81 kHz decreased proportionally to the concentration of L. monocytogenes from 1.3 to 4.3 log CFU mL−1. The adsorption of L. monocytogenes produced local protrusions on the immunosensor surface, causing physicochemical changes in the ionic layer formed on the immunosensor surface by a sinusoidal electrical signal input, which might help electrical current to flow and cause the R value to decrease.
Pro‐inflammatory IL‐1beta and/or TNF‐alpha up‐regulate matrix metalloproteases‐1 and ‐3 mRNA in chondrocyte subpopulations potentially pathogenic in osteoarthritis: in situ hybridization studies on a single cell level
Authors: Kunisch Elke , Kinne Raimund W. , Alsalameh Rayya J. , Alsalameh Saifeddin 
Published: October 2014

AbstractAimIn osteoarthritis chondrocytes, matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and their inhibitors are induced by interleukin (IL)‐1beta or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐alpha and balanced by inhibitors, but their messenger RNA (mRNA) expression has not been studied in individual cells.MethodsNormal articular chondrocytes (10 donors; age 50 ± 6 years, mean ± SEM) were stimulated in a monolayer for 24 h with IL‐1beta, TNF‐alpha, or transforming growth factor (TGF)‐beta1 (10 ng/mL each), alone or in combination. mRNA expression for MMP‐1, MMP‐3 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)‐1 was studied by in situ hybridization (35S‐cRNA) and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) (n ≥ 3 each).ResultsWhereas < 5% chondrocytes constitutively expressed MMP‐1, a higher percentage expressed MMP‐3 and TIMP‐1 (31.1 ± 1.8%; 36.7 ± 2.8%, respectively). Upon stimulation with IL‐1beta, TNF‐alpha or IL‐1beta/TNF‐alpha, the percentage of cells positive for MMP‐1, MMP‐3 and TIMP‐1 rose significantly (IL‐1beta: 31.5%, 54.5% and 60.2%, respectively; TNF‐alpha: 35.4%, 56.6%, 50.9%; IL‐1beta/TNF‐alpha: 38.8%, 45.2%, 52.1%). In bulk population (RT‐PCR), mRNA for MMP‐1 and MMP‐3 was also induced by IL‐1beta (11.9‐fold, 1.2‐fold, respectively), TNF‐alpha (4.8‐fold, 1.0‐fold) or IL‐1beta/TNF‐alpha (14.7‐fold, 1.4‐fold), an effect attenuated by TGF‐beta1. TIMP‐1 mRNA, in contrast, was down‐regulated by IL‐1beta, TNF‐alpha or IL‐1beta/TNF‐alpha, an effect again partially reverted by TGF‐beta1. Finally, collagen type II mRNA was down‐regulated by IL‐1beta, TNF‐alpha or IL‐1beta/TNF‐alpha (by 90%, 50% and 98%, respectively) and that of collagen type I was up‐regulated (5.7‐fold, 3.0‐fold, 3.7‐fold).ConclusionsUp‐regulation of MMP‐1/MMP‐3 by IL‐1beta and/or TNF‐alpha in a fraction of chondrocytes in vitro suggests that a subpopulation of catabolic cells may also exist in osteoarthritis. These cells may undergo considerable dedifferentiation, as indicated by a decreased collagen‐II/collagen‐I ratio.
Detection of Mediterranean fever gene mutations in Egyptian children with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Salah Samia , El‐Shabrawi Mortada , Lotfy Hala Mohamed , Shiba Hala Fathy , Abou‐Zekri Maha , Farag Yomna 
Published: October 2014

AbstractAimThe aim of the current study is to investigate the prevalence of familial Mediterranean fever gene (MEFV) mutations in a cohort of Egyptian children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and to characterize familial Mediterranean fever (FMF)‐IBD patients, helping better understanding of IBD pathogenesis.MethodsThe study enrolled 17 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 15 with Crohn's disease(CD), 10 with indeterminate colitis (IC) and 33 healthy children as controls. All cases and controls were tested for 12 FMF gene mutations by reverse hybridization after multiplex polymerase chain reaction amplification and DNA sampling.ResultsEighty‐eight percent of the IBD patients carried the mutations, with Sequence variant V627A being the commonest versus 42.4% of controls. No associations were found between MEFV gene mutations, and phenotypic characteristics of IBD patients.ConclusionIBD patients, in populations with a high background carrier rate of MEFV variants, should be screened for MEFV gene mutations, especially those diagnosed as indeterminate colitis. Testing larger numbers of healthy Egyptian children for MEFV gene mutation is important to further determine the allele frequency in Egypt.
Secure our Future: Towards a European Energy Strategy
Authors: Oettinger Günther H. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractEnergy is the lifeblood of our society. Our way of life is inconceivable without reliable and affordable supplies of energy: electricity, heat and fuel. Never before has the world needed so much energy: we use almost twice as much as we did in 1980. If this trend continues, it will be difficult to avoid a major energy crisis, with electricity cuts, petrol or gas shortages.
Challenging the European Climate Debate: Can Universal Climate Justice and Economics be Reconciled with Particularistic Politics?
Authors: Creutzig Felix , Hedahl Marcus , Rydge James , Szulecki Kacper 
Published: October 2014

AbstractResearchers from various disciplines have built impressive but distinct compendia on climate change; the defining challenge for humanity. In the spirit of Lord Dahrendorf, this paper represents the output of interdisciplinary collaboration and integrates state‐of‐the‐art academic expertise from the fields of philosophy, economics and governance. Our focus is on Europe, which is widely perceived as a leader in climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, leadership weakness on climate over recent years, largely due to recession and political vacillation, is eroding this perception. What is needed is a firm justification for strong climate action, acknowledgement of the available tools, awareness of the reasons for our failures to date, and a realistic, but goal‐oriented strategy for an integrated climate policy. We therefore present current normative insights from climate justice research highlighting the need to make institutions responsive to those most vulnerable; we discuss the economics of the transition to a low‐carbon economy, pointing to key policy instruments and post‐2020 climate targets for the EU; we contrast the normative and quantitative synoptic principles with the particularistic implementation schemes and politics of (not) implementing measures on the ground; and we suggest a careful coordination of European climate policies with acute challenges that could increase both climate justice and political feasibility.
Possible ‘Contributions’ of European Energy Intensive Industries to the Global Climate Agreement
Authors: Ancygier Andrzej , Serzysko Anna 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe outcome of the climate negotiations in Warsaw in November 2013 was met with disappointment: by early 2015 all countries were asked to present their initial contributions to the climate agreement to be signed in Paris that same year. This new wording was considered to be a weakening of the final agreement: instead of a clear timeframe for the presentation of the mitigation commitments, countries were asked to come up with vaguely defined initial contributions. In this article we argue that far from being a threat to an ambitious climate agreement, contributions open new possibilities of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Above all, contributions can play a significant role in reducing CO2 emissions in two sectors that are steadily increasing their share of global emissions: steel and cement. Although the consumption of these two products is predicted to increase considerably in the future, available technologies allow only a limited reduction in emissions. One of the ways to significantly limit emissions from the steel and cement sectors is to invest in Research, Development and Deployment (RD&D) of ‘breakthrough technologies’ that could bring benefits in the future. Due to the long time span between the initial investment and the results they produce, such activities can only be conducted with strong support from the governments, which could consider them as their contribution to the future climate goals.
The Arms Trade Treaty from a Global Civil Society Perspective: Introducing Global Policy's Special Section
Authors: Bolton Matthew , Whall Helena , Pytlak Allison , Guerra Hector , James Katelyn E. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe 2013 Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) offers the first comprehensive, global and legally binding standards on the trade and transfer of conventional arms. The idea for the treaty was conceived not in the boardrooms of weapons manufacturers, nor in the assembly halls of statecraft, but rather by civil society activists and Nobel Laureates – practitioners, academics, survivors and researchers and advocates. And its robust provisions on human rights, humanitarian law and gender were championed by states often marginalized by traditional arms control. The resultant treaty is a sort of ‘platypus’ of international law – simultaneously an arms control regime, an instrument of human rights and humanitarian law and a trade agreement. Given its widespread acceptance and likely rapid entry into force, it could have a wide‐ranging impact on global policy making in many issue areas. But as with any new framework of global policy, the ATT represents a compromise, recognizing the legitimacy of states' rights to trade in weapons. This special section on the ATT, written from the perspective of scholars and practitioners associated with the civil society campaign that championed the treaty, reviews the ATT's normative implications, role of NGOs and implementation challenges.