bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Reinforcing Efficiency of Carbon Black, Conductive Carbon Black, and Carbon Nanotube in Natural Rubber
Authors: Sae‐Oui Pongdhorn , Thepsuwan Uthai , Thaptong Puchong , Sirisinha Chakrit 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTProperties of natural rubber (NR) filled with various fillers, i.e., furnace black (N330), conductive carbon black (XE2‐B), and carbon nanotube (CNT) were investigated. Both untreated and sonicated carbon nanotubes were used and designated as U‐CNT and S‐CNT, respectively. The filler content was varied from 0 to 8 phr. Regardless of the filler type, the increase in the filler content not only results in increased compound viscosity, reduced cure time, and enhanced cross‐link density but also leads to the increase in the modulus and hardness of the vulcanizates. For N330 and XE2‐B, the tensile strength increases continuously with increasing filler content. However, for both U‐CNT and S‐CNT, the tensile strength tends to increase with increasing filler content up to 2 phr and decreases noticeably afterward. At any given filler content, the CNTs give the vulcanizates with the highest values of electrical and thermal conductivities, storage modulus, and tan δ, followed by XE2‐B and N330, respectively. Results also elucidate that the sonication of CNT without the presence of surfactant prior to mixing could not improve the degree of CNT dispersion, leading to insignificant difference in properties of the U‐CNT‐filled and S‐CNT‐filled vulcanizates.
Manufacturing of PAN or PU Nanofiber Layers/PET Nonwoven Composite as Highly Effective Sound Absorbers
Authors: Rabbi Amir , Bahrambeygi Hossein , Nasouri Komeil , Shoushtari Ahmad Mousavi , Babaei Mohammad Reza 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTThe main aim of this study was to investigate the usability of polyurethane (PU) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers for improving the sound absorption of conventional polyester nonwovens in wide band of frequencies along with weight and thickness reduction. The effect of nanofiber and nonwoven layers number, nanofiber layers surface density, and the type of nanofiber polymer on the sound absorption was studied. To find the optimum conditions for achieving high sound absorption, response surface methodology was used. The results showed that the sound absorption of composite samples is improved when the nanofiber layer number or its surface density increased. The results also showed that the sound absorption of composites is enhanced by using PAN instead of PU. At a constant surface density, the higher resonant peak, without shifting, was achieved with increasing the nanofiber layers number. Optimization process showed that samples containing PAN nanofiber layers with surface density of 4.72 g/m2 and six nonwoven layers have highest average sound absorption coefficient.
Porcine nasal epithelial cultures for studies of cystic fibrosis sinusitis
Authors: Dean Nichole , Ranganath Neel K. , Jones Brandon , Zhang Shaoyan , Skinner Daniel , Rowe Steven M. , Sorscher Eric J. , Woodworth Bradford A. 
Published: April 2014

BackgroundTransgenic cystic fibrosis (CF) murine models do not develop spontaneous lung or sinus disease, 2 major causes of morbidity in human CF patients. Because of these limitations, transgenic cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)−/− pigs have been developed and are currently being characterized. These CF animal models have phenotypes closely resembling that of human CF subjects. The objectives of the current study were to develop primary porcine nasal epithelial (PNE) cultures and evaluate their usefulness as a means to investigate sinonasal transepithelial transport and CFTR function.MethodsPNE derived from the septum or turbinates of CFTR+/+ and CFTR−/− pigs were cultured at an air‐liquid interface to confluence and full differentiation. Epithelial monolayers were mounted in Ussing chambers to investigate pharmacologic manipulation of ion transport. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and scanning electron microscopy of monolayers were used to indicate degree of ciliation and cell differentiation.ResultsStimulation of CFTR‐mediated anion transport (ΔIsc in μA/cm2) was significantly greater in epithelia derived from the septum when compared to turbinates (33.04 ± 1.17 vs 18.9 ± 0.73; p < 0.05). Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)‐activated Cl− secretion was absent in CFTR−/− and present in CFTR+/+ epithelia. Calcium‐activated Cl− (CaCC) secretion was increased in CF; however, overall Cl− transport through CaCCs was very low. Degree of ciliation (90%) and CBF were similar between groups.ConclusionSeptal PNE exhibit a robust ion transport phenotype and indicate CFTR−/− sinus disease could be attributable to diminished alternative pathways for Cl− transport. Overall, PNE have similarities to human respiratory epithelia not demonstrated in murine cells and represent useful in vitro models for studying CF sinus disease.
Kinetic study of catechin extracted from Areca catechu seeds using green extraction method
Authors: Ruslan Muhammad Syafiq Hazwan , Ganeson Theivanan , Hasan Manzurudin , Idham Zuhaili , Mohd Setapar Siti Hamidah , Zaini Muhammad Abbas Ahmad , Morad Noor Azian , Che Yunus Mohd Azizi 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTCatechin that is known for its antioxidant, antihypertension and anticancer properties can be obtained from Areca catechu. In this study, accelerated water extraction (AWE) method was used to extract catechin from A. catechu seeds. The extraction parameters tested were temperature (120, 140 and 160 °C), static time (5, 10 and 15 min) and static cycle (1, 2 and 3 cycles). A. catechu extracts were analysed using liquid chromatography time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry to quantify the amount of catechin. Highest oil yield of 390.00‐mg oil/g sample was obtained at temperature of 140 °C, 15 min of extraction time and 3 cycles. On the other hand, the highest catechin amount of 0.0716‐mg catechin/g sample was obtained at 140 °C, 10 min and 2 cycles. The effect of extraction temperature was studied using the second‐order kinetic model, and it showed good regression coefficient of more than 0.99. It suggests that the model could be applied to describe the extraction of catechin from A. catechu seeds. Based on the model, the initial extraction rate, the equilibrium extraction capacity and the extraction rate coefficient were evaluated to explain the AWE process at temperatures ranging from 120 to 160 °C. © 2014 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation and study of intumescent flame retardant poly(butylene succinate) using MgAlZnFe‐CO3 layered double hydroxide as a synergistic agent
Authors: Liu Yue‐Jun , Mao Long , Fan Shu‐hong 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTIntumescent flame retardant consisting of ammonium polyphosphate and melamine, and MgAlZnFe‐CO3 layered double hydroxides (LDHs) prepared by the constant pH coprecipitation method, were added to poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) via melt blending to obtain novel intumescent flame retardant poly(butylene succinate) (IFR‐PBS) composites. A study on the effect of MgAlZnFe‐CO3 LDHs on the mechanical, thermal, and flame retardancy properties of IFR‐PBS composites was investigated. It was revealed that IFR‐PBS composites exhibited both excellent flame retardancy and antidripping properties when the content of MgAlZnFe‐CO3 LDHs was 1% (the total loading of flame retardant was 20%), for a goal of vertical flammability (UL‐94) V‐0 rate and a limiting oxygen index value of 35. The results showed that a suitable amount of MgAlZnFe‐CO3 LDHs had a noticeable synergistic effect on IFR‐PBS composites. Importantly, tensile strength and flexural strength were improved by the presence of MgAlZnFe‐CO3 LDHs. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40736.
Ultrasound‐induced nucleation in microcellular polymers
Authors: Gandhi Abhishek , Asija Neelanchali , Chauhan Hemant , Bhatnagar Naresh 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTIn this study, microcellular Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene foams with high cell density and expansion ratio has been manufactured using ultrasound‐induced nucleation technique in solid‐state batch foaming process. Influence of sonication time, sonication frequency, and ultrasound power were found very crucial in designing of cellular morphology. The initial 10 s of ultrasound exposure was found to influence the foam morphology critically. Longer periods of ultrasound exposure developed foams with lower average cell size as compared to foams developed with lesser ultrasound exposure time. Higher sonication power resulted in foams with uniform morphology and higher cell densities as compared to foams developed with lower sonication intensities. Finally, the ultrasonic frequency was also found to influence the morphology intensely. Low frequency sonication resulted in foams with uniform cell distribution, whereas high frequency sonication developed bimodal microcellular type of microstructure. The results coherently demonstrate that with the advent of ultrasonic waves, the energy barrier for cell nucleation swiftly decreases which enhances the cell density in the final foamed product. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40742.
Transparency of rubber‐toughened polymer blend containing plasticizer
Authors: Takahashi Shuji , Nobukawa Shogo , Yamaguchi Masayuki 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTTransparency and its temperature dependence were studied for rubber‐toughened polymer blends composed of poly(methyl methacrylate), core–shell latex–rubber particles, and plasticizers such as tricresyl phosphate and di(2‐ethylhexyl)adipate. The transparency of the blends was found to be improved by the addition of the plasticizers. This phenomenon is attributed to the uneven distribution of the plasticizer in the blends. Furthermore, it was found that the plasticizers improve the transparency in a wide temperature range, because the plasticizer addition reduces the difference in the thermal expansion, and thus the temperature dependence of the refractive index, between poly(methyl methacrylate) and the rubber phases. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40775.
Poly(methyl vinyl ether‐alt‐maleic anhydride) functionalized with 3‐aminophenylboronic acid: A new boronic acid polymer for sensing diols in neutral water
Authors: Cegłowski Michał , Gierczyk Błażej , Schroeder Grzegorz 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTAmidation of poly(methyl vinyl ether‐alt‐maleic anhydride) with 3‐aminophenylboronic acid was used to prepare a new boronic acid polymer. The binding of catechol dye, Alizarin Red S to the polymer obtained resulted in getting a stable, colored sensor which was used to establish association constants with different diols in competitive assay. The binding of different diols was readily detected by color change and absorbance values measured at 450 nm were used to calculate the association constants. The polymer obtained formed high‐affinity complexes with ribonucleosides, particularly cytidine and uridine. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40778.
Stimulation of luminescence of mycelium of luminous fungusNeonothopanus nambiby ionizing radiation
Authors: Kobzeva Tatiana V. , Melnikov Anatoly R. , Karogodina Tatiana Y. , Zikirin Samat B. , Stass Dmitri V. , Molin Yuri N. , Rodicheva Emma K. , Medvedeva Svetlana E. , Puzyr Alexey P. , Burov Andrey A. , Bondar Vladimir S. , Gitelson Joseph I. 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTThe luminescent system of higher luminous fungi is not fully understood and the enzyme/substrate pair of the light emission reaction has not been isolated. It was suggested that luminescence of fungi involves oxidase‐type enzymes, and reactive oxygen species are important for fungal light production. Generation of reactive oxygen species can be stimulated by ionizing irradiation, which has not been studied for luminous fungi. We report the effect of X‐irradiation on the luminescence of fungusNeonothopanus nambi. Experiments were performed with mycelium on a home‐built setup based on an X‐ray tube and monochromator/photomultiplier tube. Application of X‐rays does not change the emission spectrum, but after approximately 20 min of continuous irradiation, light production from unsupported mycelium starts growing and increases up to approximately five times. After peaking, its level decreases irrespective of the presence of X‐irradiation. After staying at a certain level, light production collapses to zero, which is not related to the drying of the mycelium or thermal impact of radiation. The observed shape of kinetics is characteristic of a multistage and/or chain reaction. The time profile of light production must reflect the current levels of radicals present in the system and/or the activity of enzyme complexes involved in light production. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chronic treatment with prazosin or duloxetine lessens concurrent anxiety‐like behavior and alcohol intake: evidence of disrupted noradrenergic signaling in anxiety‐related alcohol use
Authors: Skelly Mary J. , Weiner Jeff L. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractBackgroundAlcohol use disorders have been linked to increased anxiety, and enhanced central noradrenergic signaling may partly explain this relationship. Pharmacological interventions believed to reduce the excitatory effects of norepinephrine have proven effective in attenuating ethanol intake in alcoholics as well as in rodent models of ethanol dependence. However, most preclinical investigations into the effectiveness of these drugs in decreasing ethanol intake have been limited to acute observations, and none have concurrently assessed their anxiolytic effects. The purpose of these studies was to examine the long‐term effectiveness of pharmacological interventions presumed to decrease norepinephrine signaling on concomitant ethanol self‐administration and anxiety‐like behavior in adult rats with relatively high levels of antecedent anxiety‐like behavior.MethodsAdult male Long‐Evans rats self‐administered ethanol on an intermittent access schedule for eight to ten weeks prior to being implanted with osmotic minipumps containing either an a1‐adrenoreceptor antagonist (prazosin, 1.5 mg/kg/day), a β1/2‐adrenoreceptor antagonist (propranolol, 2.5 mg/kg/day), a serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (duloxetine, 1.5 mg/kg/day) or vehicle (10% dimethyl sulfoxide). These drugs were continuously delivered across four weeks, during which animals continued to have intermittent access to ethanol. Anxiety‐like behavior was assessed on the elevated plus maze before treatment and again near the end of the drug delivery period.ResultsOur results indicate that chronic treatment with a low dose of prazosin or duloxetine significantly decreases ethanol self‐administration (P < 0.05). Furthermore, this decrease in drinking is accompanied by significant reductions in the expression of anxiety‐like behavior (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that chronic treatment with putative inhibitors of central noradrenergic signaling may attenuate ethanol intake via a reduction in anxiety‐like behavior.
Identification and quantification of basophils in the airways of asthmatics following segmental allergen challenge
Authors: Dijkstra Dorothea , Hennig Christian , Hansen Gesine , Biller Heike , Krug Norbert , Hohlfeld Jens M. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractDuring asthma attacks, allergens activate sensitized basophils in the lung, thereby aggravating symptoms. Due to the paucity of basophils in bronchial lavage fluid and the lack of specific basophil detection and quantification methods, basophil‐directed research in these samples was hampered in the past. This study aimed to establish and validate a flow cytometry‐based basophil detection and quantification method for human basophils from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and blood as a prerequisite for a better understanding of their pathogenic contribution and subtyping of asthma phenotypes. BAL and blood leukocytes from seasonal asthmatics were analyzed by flow cytometry. Chipcytometry, a highly sensitive single‐cell analysis method, was used to validate the staining panel for basophils. Cell differentials of May–Grünwald–Giemsa‐stained cytospins were used to compare basophil percentages. BAL basophils are identifiable as CD123+HLA‐DR−CD3−CD14−CD19−CD20−CD56− cells in flow cytometrical analysis. Their identity was validated by Chipcytometry. CD203c was highly expressed by BAL basophils, whereas it was expressed at variable levels on blood basophils. The two quantification methods correlated, although more basophils were detected by flow cytometry. Furthermore, the increase in basophil percentages in the lung correlated with the decrease in the basophil percentages in the blood after allergen challenge. We here validated a reliable basophil quantification method, which is independent of the cell's activation and degranulation state. The results obtained with this method indicate that basophils are directly recruited from the blood circulation to the airway lumen. © 2014 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Suppression of Weather Clutter by Means of Log‐Normal/CFAR Circuit Modified from CA LOG/CFAR Circuit
Authors: Sayama Shuji , Ishii Seishiro 
Published: April 2014

SUMMARYWe have observed weather clutter including targets (ships) using an S‐band radar with a frequency of 3.05 GHz, a beamwidth of 1.8°, and a pulse width of 0.5 μs. To investigate weather clutter amplitude statistics, we introduce the Akaike information criterion (AIC). We have found that the weather clutter amplitudes obey log‐normal, Weibull, and log‐Weibull distributions with shape parameters of 0.329 to 0.477, 4.40 to 4.55, and 11.93 to 16.44, respectively, for data within the beamwidth of an antenna. We propose the log‐normal/CFAR circuit, modified from a cell‐averaging (CA) LOG/CFAR circuit. It is found that weather clutter is suppressed with improvement of 51.58 dB by log‐normal/CFAR.
Long‐Term Generation Scheduling Method with Constrained Numbers of Unit Commitment and Fuel Constraints on Thermal Units
Authors: Hashimoto Hiroyuki , Hirano Hideaki , Hirose Koichi , Isaji Keisuke , Takahashi Junichi 
Published: April 2014

SUMMARYThe long‐term generation scheduling in power utilities is aimed at maintaining power supply sufficiency and estimating fuel consumption. Multiperiod constraints, such as the allowable number of unit commitments of thermal units and fuel consumption with a given total amount of fuel, must be taken into appropriate consideration for practical economic scheduling in the long‐term scheduling horizon. Due to the large size and complexity of such scheduling problems, it is difficult to obtain solutions collectively in terms of stability and processing time in operational situations. We propose a new scheduling method which consists of “preparative processing” and “detailed optimization processing.” The former acts to divide the long‐term problem with multiperiod constraints into time units of a week according to quick and simplified scheduling results, and the latter acts to minimize the total operation cost on the basis of those weekly partitioned problems. The processing starts with an optimal scheduling result excluding the aforementioned two multi‐period constraints and proceeds to sequentially resolve the violation of each constraint with quantitative consideration of interrelationships between them. This paper describes the validation and effectiveness of the proposed method through the real world example of Chubu Electric Power Company.
Development of Motor Stator with Rectangular‐Wire Lap Winding and an Automatic Process for Its Production
Authors: Ishigami Takashi , Tanaka Yuichiro , Homma Hiroshi 
Published: April 2014

SUMMARYAimed at providing small high‐power motors with excellent efficiency, a motor stator with rectangular‐wire lap windings and an automatic process for its production were developed. The structure of the windings, namely, two continuous “α‐shaped” coils, and the coil‐production method (involving simultaneous coil forming and coil insertion) enable mass production of this stator. The slot‐fill rate for a prototype stator was 80.5%, and the total height of the coil ends was 60 mm to 72 mm. On the basis of the ratio of the sectional areas of two types of the motors, its efficiency was estimated to be 3.7% higher than the efficiencies of motor stators with round‐wire concentric windings (at a rotation speed of 1000/min). In addition, the number of coil parts and the number of welding points were greatly reduced compared to those of a stator with segmented‐coil wave windings.
Ligand‐Free Ullmann‐Type C–Heteroatom Couplings Under Practical Conditions
Authors: Güell Imma , Ribas Xavi 
Published: April 2014

AbstractA new practical ligand‐free protocol for copper‐catalyzed C–heteroatom cross‐coupling reactions (Ullmann‐type) is described. The use of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as the solvent overcomes the need to use organic auxiliary ligands; thus, DMSO is revealed as a nontoxic and superior solvent for Ullmann‐type coupling reactions. This method allows the arylation of a wide range of amides, alcohols, and amines under practical conditions with bromobenzene and iodobenzene derivatives and will likely find direct application in current organic synthesis. The competitive reactivity among different functional groups is reported and rationalized, and the possibility to achieve selective arylation reactions is demonstrated.
Stereoselective Access to β‐C‐Glycosamines by Nitro‐Michael Addition of Organolithium Reagents
Authors: Delaunay Thierry , Poisson Thomas , Jubault Philippe , Pannecoucke Xavier 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe nitro‐Michael addition of organolithium species to 2‐nitroglycal derivatives was investigated. This methodology affords straightforward and stereoselective access to C‐nitroglycosides, which are excellent precursors to C–N‐acetylglycosamines. The corresponding products bearing an aromatic, heteroaromatic, alkynyl, alkenyl, or alkyl moiety were isolated in good yields with excellent selectivities. The β isomer was isolated as a single stereoisomer in most cases, and the structure was clearly elucidated by NMR spectroscopy experiments.
HIF factors cooperate with PML‐RARα to promote acute promyelocytic leukemia progression and relapse
Authors: Coltella Nadia , Percio Stefano , Valsecchi Roberta , Cuttano Roberto , Guarnerio Jlenia , Ponzoni Maurilio , Pandolfi Pier Paolo , Melillo Giovanni , Pattini Linda , Bernardi Rosa 
Published: April 2014

AbstractAcute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is epitomized by the chromosomal translocation t(15;17) and the resulting oncogenic fusion protein PML‐RARα. Although acting primarily as a transcriptional repressor, PML‐RARα can also exert functions of transcriptional co‐activation. Here, we find that PML‐RARα stimulates transcription driven by HIF factors, which are critical regulators of adaptive responses to hypoxia and stem cell maintenance. Consistently, HIF‐related gene signatures are upregulated in leukemic promyelocytes from APL patients compared to normal promyelocytes. Through in vitro and in vivo studies, we find that PML‐RARα exploits a number of HIF‐1α‐regulated pro‐leukemogenic functions that include cell migration, bone marrow (BM) neo‐angiogenesis and self‐renewal of APL blasts. Furthermore, HIF‐1α levels increase upon treatment of APL cells with all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA). As a consequence, inhibiting HIF‐1α in APL mouse models delays leukemia progression and exquisitely synergizes with ATRA to eliminate leukemia‐initiating cells (LICs).