bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improved swelling–deswelling behavior of poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) gels with poly(N,N′‐dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate) grafts
Authors: Dutta Sujan , Dhara Dibakar 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTThermoresponsive and pH‐responsive gels were synthesized fromN‐isopropyl acrylamide (NIPA) andN,N′‐dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) monomers. Gelation reactions were carried out with both conventional free‐radical polymerization (CFRP) and controlled free‐radical polymerization [reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT)] techniques. The CFRP gels were prepared by polymerizing mixtures of NIPA and DMAEMA in 1,4‐dioxane in presence ofN,N'‐methylene bisacrylamide (BIS) as cross‐linker. The RAFT gels were prepared by a the polymerization of NIPA via a similar process in the presence of different amounts of poly(N,N′‐dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate) macro chain‐transfer agent and the crosslinker. These gels were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry. SEM analysis revealed a macroporous network structure for the RAFT gels, whereas their volume phase‐transition temperatures (VPTTs) were found to be in the range 32–34°C, close to that of poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) gels. However, the CFRP copolymer gels exhibited a higher VPTT; this increased with increasing DMAEMA content. The RAFT gels exhibited higher swelling capabilities than the corresponding CFRP gels and also showed faster shrinking–reswelling behavior in response to changes in temperature. All of the gels showed interesting pH‐responsive behavior as well. The unique structural attributes exhibited by the RAFT gels can potentially open up opportunities for developing new materials for various applications, for example, as adsorbents or carrier of drugs or biomolecules. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2015,132, 42749.
Transparent and conductive indium tin oxide/polyimide films prepared by high‐temperature radio‐frequency magnetron sputtering
Authors: Wen Yu , Liu Huan , Yang Shiyong , Fan Lin 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTA highly transparent and thermally stable polyimide (PI) substrate was prepared and used for the fabrication of indium tin oxide (ITO)/PI films via radio‐frequency magnetron sputtering at an elevated substrate temperature. The effect of the deposition conditions, that is, the oxygen flow rate, substrate temperature, sputtering power, and working pressure, on the optical and electrical properties of the ITO/PI films were investigated from the microstructural aspects. The results indicate that the optical and electrical properties of ITO were sensitive to the oxygen. Moreover, it was beneficial to the improvement of the ITO conductivity through the adoption of a high substrate temperature and sputtering power and a low working pressure in the deposition process. A two‐step deposition method was developed in which a thick bulk ITO layer was overlapped by deposition on a thin seed ITO layer with a dense surface to prepare the highly transparent and conductive ITO/PI films. The ITO/PI film after annealing at 240°C gave a transmittance of 83% and a sheet resistance of 19.7 Ω/square. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42753.
Preparation of polydimethylaminoethyl methacrylate grafted attapulgite via ceric ion‐induced redox polymerization
Authors: Xu Hang , Yang Haicun , Xue Sheng , Pan Ji , Ni Qingting , Gong Fanghong 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTHybrid nanocomposites consisting of polydimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (PDMAEMA) and attapulgite (ATP) were prepared by using a surface thiol‐Ce (IV) redox initiation system via graft from approach. Initially, ATP was chemically modified with γ‐mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MTS) to anchor thiol groups on the surface (ATP‐MTS). Subsequently, surface‐initiated polymerization of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate was performed by using ATP‐MTS and cerium (IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN) in aqueous nitric acid (HNO3) to afford hybrid particles (ATP‐g‐PDMAEMA). Evidence of grafting of PDMAEMA was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The crystal structure of PDMAEMA grafted ATP was characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Morphology of ATP‐g‐PDMAEMA was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effects of concentration of Ce (IV), HNO3, and reaction temperature were examined by determining the percentage of grafting (PG). With other condition kept constant, the optimum conditions were obtained as follows: the reaction temperature was 50°C, Ce (IV) and HNO3 concentrations were 12.5 mmol/L and 1 mol/L, respectively, when 0.2 g of ATP‐MTS, 1 mL of DMAEMA, and 4 mL of aqueous solution were used. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42762.
Damage‐Associated Molecular Patterns Generated in Osteoarthritis Directly Excite Murine Nociceptive Neurons Through Toll‐like Receptor 4
Authors: Miller Rachel E. , Belmadani Abdelhak , Ishihara Shingo , Tran Phuong B. , Ren Dongjun , Miller Richard J. , Malfait Anne‐Marie 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveTo determine whether selected damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) present in the osteoarthritic (OA) joints of mice excite nociceptors through Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR‐4).MethodsThe ability of S100A8 and α2‐macroglobulin to excite nociceptors was determined by measuring the release of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP‐1) by cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells as well as by measuring the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in cultured DRG neurons from naive mice or from mice that had undergone surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) 8 weeks previously. The role of TLR‐4 was assessed using TLR‐4–/– cells or a TLR‐4 inhibitor. The [Ca2+]i in neurons within ex vivo intact DRGs was measured in samples from Pirt‐GCaMP3 mice. Neuronal expression of the Tlr4 gene was determined by in situ hybridization. DMM surgery was performed in wild‐type and TLR‐4–/– mice; mechanical allodynia was monitored, and joint damage was assessed histologically after 16 weeks.ResultsDRG neurons from both naive and DMM mice expressed Tlr4. Both S100A8 and α2‐macroglobulin stimulated release of the proalgesic chemokine MCP‐1 in DRG cultures, and the neurons rapidly responded to S100A8 and α2‐macroglobulin with increased [Ca2+]i. Blocking TLR‐4 inhibited these effects. Neurons within intact DRGs responded to the TLR‐4 agonist lipopolysaccharide. In both of the calcium‐imaging assays, it was primarily the nociceptor population of neurons that responded to TLR‐4 ligands. TLR‐4–/– mice were not protected from mechanical allodynia or from joint damage associated with DMM.ConclusionOur experiments suggest a role of TLR‐4 signaling in the excitation of nociceptors by selected DAMPs. Further research is needed to delineate the importance of this pathway in relation to OA pain.
Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Patients With Cryopyrin‐Associated Periodic Syndromes: A Large Database Study
Authors: Houx Laetitia , Hachulla Eric , Kone‐Paut Isabelle , Quartier Pierre , Touitou Isabelle , Guennoc Xavier , Grateau Gilles , Hamidou Mohamed , Neven Bénédicte , Berthelot Jean‐Marie , Lequerré Thierry , Pillet Pascal , Lemelle Irène , Fischbach Michel , Duquesne Agnès , Le Blay Pierre , Le Jeunne Claire , Stirnemann Jérome , Bonnet Christine , Gaillard Dominique , Alix Lilian , Touraine Renaud , Garcier François , Bedane Christophe , Jurquet Anne‐Laure , Duffau Pierre , Smail Amar , Frances Camille , Grall‐Lerosey Martine , Cathebras Pascal , Tran Tu Anh , Morell‐Dubois Sandrine , Pagnier Anne , Richez Christophe , Cuisset Laurence , Devauchelle‐Pensec Valérie 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveTo determine the type and frequency of musculoskeletal symptoms at onset and during followup of cryopyrin‐associated periodic syndromes (CAPS).MethodsWe retrospectively recorded the articular and muscular symptoms of patients with CAPS followed up in French hospitals. Data were presented as frequencies or the median (range), and patient groups were compared using chi‐square test, Fisher's exact test, and Mann‐Whitney test.ResultsThe study included 133 patients (33 children), 20 with familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome, 88 with Muckle‐Wells syndrome, 22 with chronic infantile neurologic, cutaneous, articular syndrome, and 3 with unclassified CAPS. The median age was 35 years (range 0–78 years) at the time of the study, 1 year (range 0–41 years) at symptom onset, and 23 years (range 0–58 years) at diagnosis. The disease was sporadic in 17% of the patients. Cutaneous symptoms predominated at onset (77%), followed by articular symptoms (30%). The p.Thr348Met and p.Arg260Trp NLRP3 mutations were significantly associated with the presence and absence of articular symptoms at onset, respectively. During followup, 86% of the patients had musculoskeletal symptoms, 88% had arthralgia, and 58% had arthritis, but only 9% had joint destruction. Tendinopathies occurred in 21.5% of the patients, tender points in 16.5%, and myalgia in 33%. Only 3 patients had typical knee deformities. Radiographs were rarely obtained. Except for bone deformities, osteoarticular symptoms occurred at similar frequencies in the different CAPS phenotypes.ConclusionJoint manifestations were frequent in all CAPS phenotypes. Bone deformities were rare. Musculoskeletal manifestations varied within given families but tended to worsen over time.
Progranulin Overproduction Due to Fli‐1 Deficiency Contributes to the Resistance of Dermal Fibroblasts to Tumor Necrosis Factor in Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Ichimura Yohei , Asano Yoshihide , Akamata Kaname , Noda Shinji , Taniguchi Takashi , Takahashi Takehiro , Toyama Tetsuo , Tada Yayoi , Sugaya Makoto , Sato Shinichi , Kadono Takafumi 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveProgranulin is a growth factor that is active in wound repair and is an antagonist of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors, regulating fibroblast activation, angiogenesis, and inflammation. Because long‐standing activation of gene programs related to wound healing is a hallmark of systemic sclerosis (SSc), we sought to investigate the role of progranulin in SSc.MethodsProgranulin expression levels in human and murine skin samples were determined by immunohistochemical analysis and quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. The role of progranulin in fibroblast activation was examined using a gene‐silencing technique. Progranulin levels in serum obtained from 60 patients with SSc and 16 healthy control subjects were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsProgranulin expression was increased in SSc dermal fibroblasts compared with normal dermal fibroblasts, both in vivo and in vitro. Transcription factor Fli‐1, a deficiency of which is involved in the activation of SSc dermal fibroblasts, served as a potent repressor of the progranulin gene, and Fli‐1+/− mice and bleomycin‐treated wild‐type mice exhibited up‐regulated expression of progranulin in dermal fibroblasts. SSc dermal fibroblasts were resistant to the antifibrotic effect of TNF, but this resistance was reversed by gene silencing of progranulin. Serum progranulin levels were elevated in patients with early diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc), especially in those with inflammatory skin symptoms, and were positively correlated with the C‐reactive protein level.ConclusionProgranulin overproduction due to Fli‐1 deficiency may contribute to the constitutive activation of SSc dermal fibroblasts by antagonizing the antifibrotic effect of TNF. Progranulin may also be involved in the inflammatory process associated with progressive skin sclerosis in early dcSSc.
Simple procedure applying lactose induction and one‐step purification for high‐yield production of rhCIFN
Authors: Bashir Hamid , Ahmed Nadeem , Khan Mohsin Ahmad , Zafar Ahmad Usman , Tahir Saad , Khan Muhammad Islam , Khan Faidad , Husnain Tayyab 
Published: August 2015

AbstractRecombinant consensus interferon (CIFN) is a therapeutic protein with molecular weight of 19.5 kDa having broad spectrum antiviral activity. Recombinant human CIFN (rhCIFN) has previously been expressed in Escherichia coli using isopropyl‐β‐d‐thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG), a non‐metabolizable and expensive compound, as inducer. For economical and commercial‐scale recombinant protein production, it is greatly needed to increase the product yield in a limited time frame to reduce the processing cost. To reduce the cost of production of rhCIFN in E. coli, induction was accomplished by using lactose instead of IPTG. Lactose induction (14 g/L) in shake flask experiment resulted in higher yield as compared with 1 mM IPTG. Finally, with single‐step purification on DEAE sepharose, 150 mg/L of >98% pure rhCIFN was achieved. In the present study, an attempt was made to develop a low cost process for producing quality product with high purity. Methods devised may be helpful for pilot‐scale production of recombinant proteins at low cost.
Polymorphisms in maternal folate pathway genes interact with arsenic in drinking water to influence risk of myelomeningocele
Authors: Mazumdar Maitreyi , Valeri Linda , Rodrigues Ema G. , Ibne Hasan Md Omar Sharif , Hamid Rezina , Paul Ligi , Selhub Jacob , Silva Fareesa , Mostofa Md Golam , Quamruzzaman Quazi , Rahman Mahmuder , Christiani David C. 
Published: August 2015

BACKGROUNDArsenic induces neural tube defects in many animal models. Additionally, studies have shown that mice with specific genetic defects in folate metabolism and transport are more susceptible to arsenic‐induced neural tube defects. We sought to determine whether 14 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in genes involved in folate metabolism modified the effect of exposure to drinking water contaminated with inorganic arsenic and posterior neural tube defect (myelomeningocele) risk.METHODSFifty‐four mothers of children with myelomeningocele and 55 controls were enrolled through clinical sites in rural Bangladesh in a case–control study of the association between environmental arsenic exposure and risk of myelomeningocele. We assessed participants for level of myelomeningocele, administered questionnaires, conducted biological and environmental sample collection, and performed genotyping. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to measure inorganic arsenic concentration in drinking water. Candidate single‐nucleotide polymorphisms were identified through review of the literature.RESULTSDrinking water inorganic arsenic concentration was associated with increased risk of myelomeningocele for participants with 4 of the 14 studied single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in genes involved in folate metabolism: the AA/AG genotype of rs2236225 (MTHFD1), the GG genotype of rs1051266 (SLC19A1), the TT genotype of rs7560488 (DNMT3A), and the GG genotype of rs3740393 (AS3MT) with adjusted odds ratio of 1.13, 1.31, 1.20, and 1.25 for rs2236225, rs1051266, rs7560488, and rs3740393, respectively.CONCLUSIONOur results support the hypothesis that environmental arsenic exposure increases the risk of myelomeningocele by means of interaction with folate metabolic pathways. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 103:754–762, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bayesian outbreak detection in the presence of reporting delays
Authors: Salmon Maëlle , Schumacher Dirk , Stark Klaus , Höhle Michael 
Published: August 2015

One use of infectious disease surveillance systems is the statistical aberration detection performed on time series of counts resulting from the aggregation of individual case reports. However, inherent reporting delays in such surveillance systems make the considered time series incomplete, which can be an impediment to the timely detection and thus to the containment of emerging outbreaks. In this work, we synthesize the outbreak detection algorithms of Noufaily et al. (2013) and Manitz and Höhle (2013) while additionally addressing right truncation caused by reporting delays. We do so by considering the resulting time series as an incomplete two‐way contingency table which we model using negative binomial regression. Our approach is defined in a Bayesian setting allowing a direct inclusion of all sources of uncertainty in the derivation of whether an observed case count is to be considered an aberration. The proposed algorithm is evaluated both on simulated data and on the time series of Salmonella Newport cases in Germany in 2011. Altogether, our method aims at allowing timely aberration detection in the presence of reporting delays and hence underlines the need for statistical modeling to address complications of reporting systems. An implementation of the proposed method is made available in the R package surveillance as the function “bodaDelay”.
Stability of ubiquinol‐10 (reduced form of coenzyme Q10) in human blood
Authors: Matsuo Kazuhiko , Kasai Kazuaki , Hosoe Kazunori , Funahashi Iwao 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe ratio of ubiquinol‐10 in total coenzyme Q10 (TQ10) in human plasma has been proposed as a useful biomarker of oxidative stress. Since ubiquinol‐10 is easily oxidized in air, it is necessary to perform suitable processing at medical institutions prior to analysis. To establish stable storage conditions for blood to determine the ubiquinol‐10/TQ10 ratios properly, the effects of temperature conditions on the stability of ubiquinol‐10 were studied. Blood samples were collected from nine male Japanese volunteers. Changes in ubiquinol‐10/TQ10 ratios in blood samples were evaluated under three temperature conditions (room temperature, refrigerated and ice‐cooled). Plasma levels of ubiquinol‐10 and ubiquinone‐10 were determined by an HPLC system with electrochemical detection and the ubiquinol‐10/TQ10 ratios were calculated. We found that the ubiquinol‐10/TQ10 ratio was stable up to 8 or 4 h when blood samples were stored in refrigerator or ice‐cold container, respectively, and its decreases during these periods were <1.0%. We conclude that, in order to evaluate ubiquinol‐10/TQ10 ratios, blood samples should be stored in a refrigerator or an ice‐cold container, and processed for plasma separation within 4 h. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pedagogy of second order homogeneous differential equations: A holistic approach using a Matlab workbook
Authors: Shankar P. M. 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTA Matlab workbook is developed to facilitate a better understanding of the multiple approaches available to solve homogeneous second order differential equations with constant coefficients. With minimal input consisting of the coefficients and initial conditions, the workbook displays all aspects of the differential equation such the phase plane plot, state of the equilibrium, solutions based on roots of the characteristic equation, Laplace transforms and Runge‐Kutta methods. The workbook format is such that it displays results as if the instructor is solving the differential equation on a blackboard with definitions, explanations, solution of unknown constants and comparison of solutions from multiple approaches. Several examples are provided which demonstrate the potential of the workbook in enhancing the pedagogy by letting instructors and students observe all aspects, thereby providing a holistic approach. The workbook (with examples and the Matlab script as a .p file) is available to all from the author's university website. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput. Appl. Eng. Educ. 24:114–121, 2016; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cae; DOI 10.1002/cae.21677
Acid–Base Catalyst Discriminates between a Fructose 6‐Phosphate Aldolase and a Transaldolase
Authors: Stellmacher Lena , Sandalova Tatyana , Leptihn Sebastian , Schneider Gunter , Sprenger Georg A. , Samland Anne K. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe residues responsible for binding the catalytic water molecule were interchanged between the closely related enzymes fructose 6‐phosphate aldolase A (FSAA) and transaldolase B (TalB) from Escherichia coli. In FSAA, this water molecule is bound by hydrogen bonds to the side chains of three residues (Gln59, Thr109 and Tyr131), whereas in TalB only two residues (Glu96 and Thr156) participate. Single and double variants were characterised with respect to fructose 6‐phosphate aldolase and transaldolase activity, stability, pH dependence of activity, pKa value of the essential lysine residue and their three dimensional structure. The double variant TalBE96Q F178Y showed improved aldolase activity with an apparent kcat of 4.3 s−1. The experimentally determined pKa values of the catalytic lysine residue revealed considerable differences: In FSAA, this lysine residue is deprotonated at assay conditions (pKa 5.5) whereas it is protonated in TalB (pKa 9.3). Hence, a deprotonation of the catalytic lysine residue, which is a prerequisite for an efficient nucleophilic attack in TalB, is not necessary in FSAA. Based upon these results, we propose a new mechanism for FSAA with Tyr131 as general acid.
A Facile Molten‐Salt Route for Large‐Scale Synthesis of NiFe2O4 Nanoplates with Enhanced Lithium Storage Capability
Authors: Huang Gang , Du Xinchuan , Zhang Feifei , Yin Dongming , Wang Limin 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBinary metal oxides have been deemed as a promising class of electrode materials for high‐performance lithium ion batteries owing to their higher conductivity and electrochemical activity than corresponding monometal oxides. Here, NiFe2O4 nanoplates consisting of nanosized building blocks have been successfully fabricated by a facile, large‐scale NaCl and KCl molten‐salt route, and the changes in the morphology of NiFe2O4 as a function of the molten‐salt amount have been systemically investigated. The results indicate that the molten‐salt amount mainly influences the diameter and thickness of the NiFe2O4 nanoplates as well as the morphology of the nanosized building blocks. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge–discharge measurements have been conducted to evaluate the lithium storage properties of the NiFe2O4 nanoplates prepared with a Ni(NO3)2/Fe(NO3)3/KCl/NaCl molar ratio of 1:2:20:60. A high reversible capacity of 888 mAh g−1 is delivered over 100 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1. Even at a current density of 5000 mA g−1, the discharge capacity could still reach 173 mAh g−1. Such excellent electrochemical performances of the NiFe2O4 nanoplates are contributed to the short Li+ diffusion distance of the nanosized building blocks and the synergetic effect of the Ni2+ and Fe3+ ions.
Combination of Cyanine Behaviour and Giant Hyperpolarisability in Novel Merocyanine Dyes: Beyond the Bond Length Alternation (BLA) Paradigm
Authors: Parthasarathy Venkatakrishnan , Pandey Ravindra , Stolte Matthias , Ghosh Sampa , Castet Frédéric , Würthner Frank , Das Puspendu Kumar , Blanchard‐Desce Mireille 
Published: August 2015

AbstractMerocyanine dyes that exhibit antithetic cyanine‐like behaviour and giant first‐order hyperpolarisability (β) values have been designed. These cyanine‐type dyes open up an intriguing route towards molecular‐based electro‐optic materials as well as new second‐harmonic generation dyes for imaging.
ChemInform Abstract: Ba2In2Q5 (Q: S, Se): Synthesis, Crystal Structures, Electronic Structures, and Optical Properties.
Authors: Gao Wenhui , Wu Kui , Lai Kangrong , Yang Zhihua , Pan Shilie 
Published: August 2015

AbstractHigh quality single crystals of the title compounds are synthesized by solid state reactions of the elements (950—1000 °C, 40—50 h, 70—90% yield) and characterized by single crystal XRD, IR and Raman spectroscopy, UV/VIS/NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and DFT electronic band structure calculations.
ChemInform Abstract: High Performance Na‐Doped Lithium Zinc Titanate as Anode Material for Li‐Ion Batteries.
Authors: Chen Wei , Zhou Zhengrong , Wang Rongrong , Wu Zhengtao , Liang Hanfeng , Shao Lianyi , Shu Jie , Wang Zhoucheng 
Published: August 2015

AbstractLi2‐xNaxZnTi3O8 (x = 0—0.20) are prepared by calcination of stoichiometric amounts of ball milled (12 h) nano‐TiO2, Li2CO3, Na2CO3, and Zn(OAc)2 (750 °C, 5 h).