bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antitumor Activities of Wrightia arborea
Authors: Ronok Zahan  , Laizuman Nahar  , Ashik Mosaddik  , Mohammad Abdur Rashid  , Amir Hassan  , Mansoor Ahmed  
Published: December 2013

Wrightia arborea (Br.) (Family-Apocynaceae), locally known as Sathkurchi, is a small deciduous tree with small branches and densely velvety leaves. This study was designed to investigate the antioxidant and anti tumor activities of leaves of W. arborea.
Antioxidant potential was evaluated in vitro by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging- and reducing power- assay method which was concentration dependent that was 25-200 µg/ml. The extract showed scavenging activity with IC50 value of 15.23 ± 4.10 µg/ml for DPPH and also showed reducing activity in dose dependent manner. In addition, total phenol and flavonoid content were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and were found to be 112.54 ± 9.74 mg/g plant extract (in GAE) and 247.14 ± 15.45 mg/g plant extract (in quercetin equivalent), respectively. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated by phosphomolybdenum method and was found to be 117.27 ± 12.36 mg/g plant extract (in ascorbic acid equivalents). The anti tumor effect of the methanol extractwas determined with doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg b.wt against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in mice with respect to the determination of tumor volume, tumor weight, % of cell growth inhibition, % increase in life span (%ILS), and hematological parameter (WBC, RBC and hemoglobin).
The methanol extract of W. arborea decreased the tumor weight significantly compared to control group at all the mentioned doses and the highest was observed at the dose of 20 mg/kg b. wt. (1.28 ± 0.15 g). The % of cell growth inhibition increased in dose dependent manner like 36.43 ± 7.45, 58.76 ± 9.43 and 98.43 ± 12.45 at the doses of 5, 10, 20 mg/kg b.wt. respectively. The %ILS was also enhanced in all the doses where 20 mg/kg b.wt showed maximum effect (105.5 ± 3.57). Heamoglobin (Hb) content was significantly increased 8.12 ± 2.6, 10.23 ± 1.62 and 12.12 ± 2.09 g/dL at the doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg b.wt. respectively, compared to EAC control mice (4.95 ± 1.80 g). There was a significant (p< 0.05, p< 0.01, p<0.001) decrease in RBC count and increase in WBC counts in extract treated animals when compared to EAC control animals.
This is the first report of biological activities of leaves of W. arborea and it showed significant antioxidant as well as antitumor activity.
Toward policies for climate change mitigation: “Barriers for family‐sized biogas in the District of Gihanga, Burundi”
Authors: Nkunzimana Leonard , Huart Michel , Zaccai Edwin 
Published: December 2013

AbstractIn the context of climate change mitigation and poverty reduction, it has been argued that biogas energy is relevant, as it is economically and ecologically useful. In the 1980s, biogas use played an important role in the development of Burundi. Many schools and public institutions had implemented such installations. Unfortunately, many biogas infrastructures were destroyed in the civil war of the 1990s. This study analyzes what could be done, after a decade of crisis, to develop that sector. It aims to assess how and to what extent the inhabitants of villages are willing to contribute to the development of biogas technologies. We interviewed 150 farmers in order to assess their perception on the ecologic and economic features of biogas plants if implemented in their villages. The influence of socioeconomic, cultural, and demographic factors of households was assessed in this study. Results suggest that the maximum amount that a household is willing to pay each month for biogas use at a family level is positive for large‐size households, households that are aware of climate change, consumers of candles, households with high income, households with an educated head, women, and breeders. However, the willingness decreases for households with older head of families. The study concludes that awareness campaigns on biogas benefits and financial and nonfinancial incentives are necessary. This policy should probably and primarily be oriented toward some more receptive categories of the population. Women should be fully involved, considering their positive motivation toward sustaining this sector.
Nitrogen and phosphorous limitations significantly reduce future allowable CO2 emissions
Authors: Zhang Q. , Wang Y. P. , Matear R. J. , Pitman A. J. , Dai Y. J. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractAllowable CO2 emissions are the emissions of CO2 allowed in order to follow a prescribed atmospheric CO2 concentration pathway. Allowable emissions depend on the uptake rates by the land and ocean and carbon‐climate interaction. Few Earth System Models used for estimating allowable emissions include nitrogen limitation on land, and none include phosphorus. We provide the first estimate of how nitrogen and phosphorus limitations alter the allowable emissions between 2006 and 2100 for two representative concentration pathways (RCPs). We show that nutrient limitations on land have little influence on ocean carbon uptake but reduce the land carbon uptake and allowable emissions by 69 Pg C (21%) for RCP2.6 and by 250 Pg C (13%) for RCP8.5 by 2100, as compared with the emissions estimated using integrated assessment models. We therefore demonstrate the importance of nutrient limitations in estimating future CO2 emissions to achieve the climate change limits implied by RCPs.
Boundary layer dynamics during the Ocean‐Atmosphere‐Sea‐Ice‐Snow (OASIS) 2009 experiment at Barrow, AK
Authors: Boylan Patrick , Helmig Detlev , Staebler Ralf , Turnipseed Andrew , Fairall Chris , Neff William 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThree‐dimensional atmospheric turbulence measurements were conducted from seven sonic anemometers on two different towers in Barrow, AK, during the spring of 2009 as part of the Ocean‐Atmosphere‐Sea‐Ice‐Snow (OASIS) campaign. This was the largest number of side‐by‐side atmospheric turbulence measurements in the Arctic at one time. These analyses allowed for (1) a comparison of the instrumental measurement approaches and (2) a comparison of the variability of the lower atmospheric surface layer at these measurement heights and tower sites. Friction velocity estimates were affected for a sonic anemometer that was operated on the tower in the near vicinity of a building module. Boundary layer height (BLH) was estimated from sonic anemometer measurements based both on a turbulence variable estimator and a temperature gradient method. Results from both methods were compared to radiosonde‐estimated BLH and generally underestimated the BLH for shallower depths. Conditions with low BLH (< 100 m) often lasted for several days. The seven ozone depletion events (ODE) that were observed during the OASIS campaign had a tendency of coinciding with BLH of less than 50 m and stable atmospheric conditions; however, there was not a clear relationship between the occurrence of ODE and wind speed or wind direction as ODE occurred under a wide range of conditions of BLH, wind speed, local wind direction, and atmospheric stability. Comparisons of these surface layer dynamics to sites in Antarctica and Greenland reveal that boundary layer dynamics are not the primary driving force that fosters the unique ozone chemistry at this coastal Arctic site.
In Situ Synthesis of Self‐Assembled Gold Nanoparticles on Glass or Silicon Substrates through Reactive Inkjet Printing
Authors: Abulikemu Mutalifu , Da'as Eman Husni , Haverinen Hanna , Cha Dongkyu , Malik Mohammad Azad , Jabbour Ghassan Elie 
Published: December 2013

AbstractA facile and low cost method for the synthesis of self‐assembled nanoparticles (NPs) with minimal size variation and chemical waste by using reactive inkjet printing was developed. Gold NPs with diameters as small as (8±2) nm can be made at low temperature (120 °C). The size of the resulting NPs can be readily controlled through the concentration of the gold precursor and oleylamine ink. The pure gold composition of the synthesized NPs was confirmed by energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDXS) analysis. High‐resolution SEM (HRSEM) and TEM (HRTEM), and X‐ray diffraction revealed their size and face‐centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure, respectively. Owing to the high density of the NP film, UV/Vis spectroscopy showed a red shift in the intrinsic plasmonic resonance peak. We envision the extension of this approach to the synthesis of other nanomaterials and the production of tailored functional nanomaterials and devices.
Hexagonal Bipyramidal [Ta2B6]−/0 Clusters: B6 Rings as Structural Motifs
Authors: Li Wei‐Li , Xie Lu , Jian Tian , Romanescu Constantin , Huang Xin , Wang Lai‐Sheng 
Published: December 2013

AbstractIt has been a long‐sought goal in cluster science to discover stable atomic clusters as building blocks for cluster‐assembled nanomaterials, as exemplified by the fullerenes and their subsequent bulk syntheses.1, 2 Clusters have also been considered as models to understand bulk properties, providing a bridge between molecular and solid‐state chemistry.3 Because of its electron deficiency, boron is an interesting element with unusual polymorphism. While bulk boron is known to be dominated by the three‐dimensional (3D) B12 icosahedral motifs,4 new forms of elemental boron are continuing to be discovered.5 In contrast to the 3D cages commonly found in bulk boron, in the gas phase two‐dimensional (2D) boron clusters are prevalent.6–8 The unusual planar boron clusters have been suggested as potential new bulking blocks or ligands in chemistry.6a Herein we report a joint experimental and theoretical study on the [Ta2B6]− and [Ta2B6] clusters. We found that the most stable structures of both the neutral and anion are D6h bipyramidal, similar to the recently discovered MB6M structural motif in the Ti7Rh4Ir2B8 solid compound.9
Drug‐loaded polyurethane/clay nanocomposite nanofibers for topical drug‐delivery application
Authors: Saha Kasturi , Butola Bhupendra Singh , Joshi Mangala 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTIn this study, polyurethane/nanoclay nanocomposite nanofibrous webs were prepared by electrospinning. An antiseptic drug, chlorhexidine acetate (CA), was loaded onto montmorillonite clay and was then incorporated into polyurethane nanofibers. For comparison, the CA drug was loaded directly into the polyurethane solution dope used to electrospin the nanofibers. The emphasis was on investigating the effect of the drug loading into the nanoclay vis‐à‐vis direct drug loading on the drug‐release behavior of nanofibrous webs. The nanofibrous webs were also evaluated for other properties, such as moisture vapor transmission, porosity determination, contact angle measurement, and antibacterial activity, which are important for topical drug‐delivery application. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40230.
Hypercholesterolemia and Risk of Incident Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis in US Women
Authors: Wu Shaowei , Li Wen‐Qing , Han Jiali , Sun Qi , Qureshi Abrar A. 
Published: December 2013

ObjectivePsoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disorder associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have been shown to have elevated cholesterol levels. However, it is not known whether hypercholesterolemia is associated with an increased risk of psoriasis or psoriasis with PsA. We undertook this study to determine whether a history of hypercholesterolemia is associated with the risk of developing incident psoriasis and psoriasis with PsA in a cohort of US women.MethodsWe included a total of 95,540 participants from the Nurses' Health Study II (1991–2005). Information on personal history of physician‐diagnosed hypercholesterolemia and related medication use was collected during the followup period. Clinician‐diagnosed psoriasis and psoriasis with PsA were ascertained and confirmed using supplementary questionnaires. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).ResultsDuring 1,320,765 person‐years of followup, we documented 646 participants with incident psoriasis, 165 of whom had concomitant PsA. Hypercholesterolemia was associated with elevated risks of incident psoriasis (HR 1.25 [95% CI 1.04–1.50]) and psoriasis with PsA (HR 1.58 [95% CI 1.13–2.23]) in multivariate‐adjusted models. Participants with hypercholesterolemia lasting for ≥7 years were at a higher risk of developing psoriasis (HR 1.29 [95% CI 1.03–1.61]) (P for trend = 0.0002) and psoriasis with PsA (HR 1.68 [95% CI 1.12–2.52]) (P for trend = 0.002). These associations persisted among participants who never took cholesterol‐lowering medications. There was no association between cholesterol‐lowering drugs and risk of psoriasis or psoriasis with PsA.ConclusionOur study provides evidence that hypercholesterolemia, a well‐known cardiovascular risk factor, is also associated with an elevated risk of psoriasis and psoriasis with PsA.
Photocurrent Enhancement in Diketopyrrolopyrrole Solar Cells by Manipulating Dipolar Anchoring Terminals on Alkyl‐Chain Spacers
Authors: Tang Ailing , Lu Zhenhuan , Bai Shuming , Huang Jianhua , Chen Yuxia , Shi Qiang , Zhan Chuanlang , Yao Jiannian 
Published: December 2013

AbstractWe chose DPP‐BDT‐DPP {DPP=diketopyrrolopyrrole, BDT=4,8‐di‐[2‐(2‐ethylhexyl)‐thienyl]benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene} as a model backbone and varied the anchoring groups [C5H11, COOCH3, and SiCH3(OSiCH3)2] terminated on the N‐substituted alkyl‐chain spacer of the DPP units to study the effect of anchoring terminals on the morphology of blend film and on the device performances of bulk heterojunction solar cells. By replacing the nonpolar C5H11 anchoring terminal with the polar COOCH3 anchoring terminal leads to an enhancement in the short‐circuit current density (Jsc) (4.62 vs. 9.32 mA cm−2), whereas the value of Jsc sharply decreases to 0.45 mA cm−2 if the C5H11 anchoring terminal is replaced by a SiCH3(OSiCH3)2 group. The changes in Jsc are associated with changes in the π–π stacking distance (3.39→3.34 Å vs. 3.39→3.45 Å) and the phase size (50→20 nm vs. 50→>250 nm) through alteration of the anchoring group from C5H11 to COOCH3 versus from C5H11 to SiCH3(OSiCH3)2. Interestingly, the anchoring terminals bring about drastic changes in molecular orientations, which result in different out‐of‐plane hole transport. This is the first time this effect has been systemically demonstrated to improve photocurrent generation by manipulating the dipolar anchoring groups terminated on the alkyl‐chain spacer.
Nutzerzufriedenheit mit dem thermischen Komfort in Bürogebäuden mit Umweltenergiekonzepten
Authors: Kalz Doreen , Hölzenbein Fabian , Pfafferott Jens , Vogt Gisela 
Published: December 2013

AbstractMit längerfristigen Nutzerbefragungen in zwei unmittelbar benachbarten Bürogebäuden in Freiburg wurden das Temperaturempfinden der Nutzer und deren Zufriedenheit mit dem thermischen Raumkomfort zweimal täglich erfasst. Ein Bürogebäude wird im Sommer mit einem maschinellen Nachtlüftungskonzept konditioniert und das zweite verfügt über eine Betonkerntemperierung und eine Zu‐ und Abluftanlage. Auf Basis der vorhandenen Daten aus der Erhebung wurde mit Hilfe von Regressionsanalysen ein Modell zur Vorhersage der Komforttemperatur berechnet und mit den Modellen in DIN EN 15251 verglichen.User satisfaction with thermal comfort in office buildings applying environmental energy concepts. This paper presents results of a long‐term evaluation of occupant perception of and satisfaction with thermal comfort in two neighbouring office buildings in Freiburg. They were obtained in field surveys by daily questioning and accompanying measurements in high temporal resolution. One office building is conditioned during summer according to a night‐time ventilation concept and the second uses concrete core conditioning and a supply/exhaust ventilation system. Based on the survey data and a regression analysis, a model was calculated to predict the comfort temperature depending on the cooling concept employed. Results were compared to the comfort models of DIN EN 15251.
Development of hollow fiber‐supported liquid‐phase microextraction and HPLC‐DAD method for the determination of pyrethroid metabolites in human and rat urine
Authors: Bartosz Wielgomas , Marcin Wiśniewski , Wojciech Czarnowski 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTA simple hollow fiber liquid‐phase microextraction method for the determination of synthetic pyrethroid metabolites, 3‐phenoxybenzoic acid and 4‐hydroxy‐3‐phenoxybenzoic acid, in human and rat urine was developed and validated. A polypropylene hollow fiber tightly fitted onto a Nylon rod and impregnated with organic solvent served as a disposable extraction device. Desorption of analytes was carried out in NaOH solution, analyzed further by gradient HPLC and diode array detection method. Important factors were identified using Taguchi OA16 (45) orthogonal array design and further optimized using univariate approach. The optimum method performance was observed when 1 mL of urine hydrolyzed with 0.2 mL of concentrated HCl was further supplemented with 100 mg of NaCl and extracted for 120 min into dihexyl ether immobilized in the pores of the hollow fiber. Metabolites were desorbed into 0.1 mL of 0.1 M NaOH for another 120 min. Limits of detection and quantitation of 15 and 50 ng/mL were obtained for both analytes. Relative standard deviations of 1.6–12.6% over the linear range (50–10,000 ng/mL, r > 0.9906) were observed. Intra‐ and inter‐day accuracies of the method ranged from 98.3 to 109.5% and from 93.3 to 110.9%, respectively. The optimized method was applied to the analysis of real urine samples collected from rats exposed orally to cypermethrin. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Management of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation and Subsequent Outcomes in Contemporary Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: Insights From the Society of Thoracic Surgeons CAPS‐Care Atrial Fibrillation Registry
Authors: Steinberg Benjamin A. , Zhao Yue , He Xia , Hernandez Adrian F. , Fullerton David A. , Thomas Kevin L. , Mills Roger , Klaskala Winslow , Peterson Eric D. , Piccini Jonathan P. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractBackgroundPostoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a well‐recognized complication of cardiac surgery; however, its management remains a challenge, and the implementation and outcomes of various strategies in clinical practice remain unclear.HypothesisWe hypothesize that treatment for POAF is variable, and that it is associated with particular morbidity and mortality following cardiac surgery.MethodsWe compared patient characteristics, operative procedures, postoperative management, and outcomes between patients with and without POAF following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons multicenter Contemporary Analysis of Perioperative Cardiovascular Surgical Care (CAPS‐Care) registry (2004–2005).ResultsOf 2390 patients who underwent CABG, 676 (28%) had POAF. Compared with patients without POAF, those with POAF were older (median age 74 vs 71 years, P < 0.0001) and more likely to have hypertension (86% vs 83%, P = 0.04) and impaired renal function (median estimated glomerular filtration rate 56.9 vs 58.6 mL/min/1.73 m2, P = 0.0001). A majority of patients with POAF were treated with amiodarone (77%) and β‐blockers (68%); few (9.9%) underwent cardioversion. Patients with POAF were more likely to experience complications (57% vs 41%, P < 0.0001), including acute limb ischemia (1.0% vs 0.4%, P = 0.03), stroke (4.0% vs 1.9%, P = 0.002), and reoperation (13% vs 7.9%, P < 0.0001). Length of stay (median 8 days vs 6 days, P < 0.0001), in‐hospital mortality (6.8% vs 3.7%, P = 0.001), and 30‐day mortality (7.8 vs 3.9, P < 0.0001) were all worse for patients with POAF. In adjusted analyses, POAF remained associated with increased length of stay following surgery (adjusted ratio of the mean: 1.27, 95% confidence interval: 1.2‐1.34, P < 0.0001).ConclusionsPostoperative AF is common following CABG, and such patients continue to have higher rates of postoperative complications. Postoperative AF is significantly associated with increased length of stay following surgery.
Lincoln estimates of mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) abundance in North America
Authors: Alisauskas Ray T. , Arnold Todd W. , Leafloor James O. , Otis David L. , Sedinger James S. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractEstimates of range‐wide abundance, harvest, and harvest rate are fundamental for sound inferences about the role of exploitation in the dynamics of free‐ranging wildlife populations, but reliability of existing survey methods for abundance estimation is rarely assessed using alternative approaches. North American mallard populations have been surveyed each spring since 1955 using internationally coordinated aerial surveys, but population size can also be estimated with Lincoln's method using banding and harvest data. We estimated late summer population size of adult and juvenile male and female mallards in western, midcontinent, and eastern North America using Lincoln's method of dividing (i) total estimated harvest, , by estimated harvest rate, , calculated as (ii) direct band recovery rate, , divided by the (iii) band reporting rate, . Our goal was to compare estimates based on Lincoln's method with traditional estimates based on aerial surveys. Lincoln estimates of adult males and females alive in the period June–September were 4.0 (range: 2.5–5.9), 1.8 (range: 0.6–3.0), and 1.8 (range: 1.3–2.7) times larger than respective aerial survey estimates for the western, midcontinent, and eastern mallard populations, and the two population estimates were only modestly correlated with each other (western: r = 0.70, 1993–2011; midcontinent: r = 0.54, 1961–2011; eastern: r = 0.50, 1993–2011). Higher Lincoln estimates are predictable given that the geographic scope of inference from Lincoln estimates is the entire population range, whereas sampling frames for aerial surveys are incomplete. Although each estimation method has a number of important potential biases, our review suggests that underestimation of total population size by aerial surveys is the most likely explanation. In addition to providing measures of total abundance, Lincoln's method provides estimates of fecundity and population sex ratio and could be used in integrated population models to provide greater insights about population dynamics and management of North American mallards and most other harvested species.
Effect of number and ratio of positive lymph nodes in hypopharyngeal cancer
Authors: Hua Yong‐hong , Hu Qiao‐ying , Piao Yong‐feng , Tang Qiu , Fu Zhen‐fu 
Published: December 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe number and ratio of positive lymph nodes are important prognostic factors in gastric cancer, but there is little data reported in hypopharyngeal cancer.MethodsMedical data from 81 patients with hypopharyngeal cancer undergoing radical hypopharyngectomy and cervical lymph node dissection were reviewed.ResultsThe median survival time was 84, 54, 30, and 13 months in patients with N0, N1, N2, and N3, respectively, and 84, 51, and 17 months with positive lymph node ratios (N ratio) 0, <10%, and >10%, respectively. Of the 24 N1 patients, the 20 patients that had an N ratio <10% had a better prognosis than the 4 patients with an N ratio >10%. Similar data was seen for the N2 patients. Tumor (T) classification, adjuvant therapy, and N ratio were independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis.ConclusionThe positive lymph node ratio is complementary to the current N classification system. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: 111–116, 2015