bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Nonsense Polymorphism (R392X) in TLR5 Protects from Obesity but Predisposes to Diabetes
Authors: Al-Daghri Nasser M. , Clerici Mario , Al-Attas Omar , Forni Diego , Alokail Majed S. , Alkharfy Khalid M. , Sabico Shaun , Mohammed Abdul Khader , Cagliani Rachele , Sironi Manuela 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
The TLR5 gene encodes an innate immunity receptor. Mice lacking Tlr5 (T5KO) develop insulin resistance and increased adiposity. Owing to the segregation of a dominant nonsense polymorphism (R392X, rs5744168), a portion of humans lack TLR5 function. We investigated whether the nonsense polymorphism influences obesity and susceptibility to type 2 diabetes (T2D). R392X was genotyped in two cohorts from Saudi Arabia, a region where obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are highly prevalent. The nonsense allele was found to protect from obesity (pcombined = 0.0062; odds ratio, 0.51) and to associate with lower body mass index (BMI) (pcombined = 0.0061); this allele also correlated with a reduced production of proinflammatory cytokines. A significant interaction was noted between rs5744168 and sex in affecting BMI (pinteraction = 0.006), and stratification by gender revealed that the association is driven by females (pcombined = 0.0016 and 0.0006 for obesity and BMI, respectively). The nonsense polymorphism also associated with BMI in nonobese women. After correction for BMI, the 392X allele was found to represent a risk factor for T2D with a sex-specific effect (pinteraction = 0.023) mediated by females (p = 0.021; odds ratio, 2.60). Fasting plasma glucose levels in nondiabetic individuals were also higher in women carrying the nonsense allele (p = 0.012). Thus, in contrast to T5KO mice, loss of human TLR5 function protects from weight gain, but in analogy to the animal model, the nonsense allele predisposes to T2D. These effects are apparently sex-specific. Data in this study reinforce the hypothesis that metabolic diseases, including T2D, are associated with immune dysregulation.
Reversion of Somatic Mutations of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus–Specific Human Monoclonal Antibody Fab19 Reveal a Direct Relationship between Association Rate and Neutralizing Potency
Authors: Bates John T. , Keefer Christopher J. , Utley Thomas J. , Correia Bruno E. , Schief William R. , Crowe James E. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe role of affinity in determining neutralizing potency of mAbs directed against viruses is not well understood. We investigated the kinetic, structural, and functional advantage conferred by individual naturally occurring somatic mutations in the Ab H chain V region of Fab19, a well-described neutralizing human mAb directed to respiratory syncytial virus. Comparison of the affinity-matured Ab Fab19 with recombinant Fab19 Abs that were variants containing reverted amino acids from the inferred unmutated ancestor sequence revealed the molecular basis for affinity maturation of this Ab. Enhanced binding was achieved through mutations in the third H chain CDR (HCDR3) that conferred a markedly faster on-rate and a desirable increase in antiviral neutralizing activity. In contrast, most somatic mutations in the HCDR1 and HCDR2 regions did not significantly enhance Ag binding or antiviral activity. We observed a direct relationship between the measured association rate (Kon) for F protein and antiviral activity. Modeling studies of the structure of the Ag–Ab complex suggested the HCDR3 loop interacts with the antigenic site A surface loop of the respiratory syncytial virus F protein, previously shown to contain the epitope for this Ab by experimentation. These studies define a direct relationship of affinity and neutralizing activity for a viral glycoprotein–specific human mAb.
Competition for Antigen at the Level of the APC Is a Major Determinant of Immunodominance during Memory Inflation in Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection
Authors: Farrington Lila A. , Smith Tameka A. , Grey Finn , Hill Ann B. , Snyder Christopher M. 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
The unique ability of CMV to drive the expansion of virus-specific T cell populations during the course of a lifelong, persistent infection has generated interest in the virus as a potential vaccine strategy. When designing CMV-based vaccine vectors to direct immune responses against HIV or tumor Ags, it becomes important to understand how and why certain CMV-specific populations are chosen to inflate over time. To investigate this, we designed recombinant murine CMVs (MCMVs) encoding a SIINFEKL-enhanced GFP fusion protein under the control of endogenous immediate early promoters. When mice were infected with these viruses, T cells specific for the SIINFEKL epitope inflated and profoundly dominated T cells specific for nonrecombinant (i.e., MCMV-derived) Ags. Moreover, when the virus encoded SIINFEKL, T cells specific for nonrecombinant Ags displayed a phenotype indicative of less frequent exposure to Ag. The immunodominance of SIINFEKL-specific T cells could not be altered by decreasing the number of SIINFEKL-specific cells available to respond, or by increasing the number of cells specific for endogenous MCMV Ags. In contrast, coinfection with viruses expressing and lacking SIINFEKL enabled coinflation of T cells specific for both SIINFEKL and nonrecombinant Ags. Because coinfection allows presentation of SIINFEKL and MCMV-derived Ags by different cells within the same animal, these data reveal that competition for, or availability of, Ag at the level of the APC determines the composition of the inflationary response to MCMV. SIINFEKL’s strong affinity for H-2Kb, as well as its early and abundant expression, may provide this epitope’s competitive advantage.
The Mechanism of Tissue-Restricted Antigen Gene Expression by AIRE
Authors: Žumer Kristina , Saksela Kalle , Peterlin B. Matija 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
The autoimmune regulator is a critical transcription factor for generating central tolerance in the thymus. Recent studies have revealed how the autoimmune regulator targets many otherwise tissue-restricted Ag genes to enable negative selection of autoreactive T cells.
A novel approach for ultra‐deep adsorptive desulfurization of diesel fuel over TiO2–CeO2/MCM‐48 under ambient conditions
Authors: Xiao Jing , Wang Xiaoxing , Fujii Mamoru , Yang Qiujing , Song Chunshan 
Published: March 2013

SignificanceA novel approach for ultra‐deep desulfurization of diesel fuel was proposed, in which the original fuel was treated by light irradiation before adsorptive desulfurization (ADS) over the TiO2–CeO2/MCM‐48 adsorbent under ambient conditions. A superior capacity of 95 cm3‐fuel/g‐adsorbent (32 times higher than that of the original fuel) was achieved. The promoting effect of light irradiation was likely through in situ peroxides generation in fuel under visible light/sunlight, which may oxidize organosulfur to form strongly adsorbed sulfones over the adsorbent.
The Origin of the Emission Properties of π‐Conjugated Molecules that have an Acid‐responsive Benzimidazole Unit
Authors: Inouchi Toshifumi , Nakashima Takuya , Kawai Tsuyoshi 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe photophysical properties, especially the emission properties, of π‐conjugated molecules with an acid‐responsive N‐methylbenzimidazole unit have been characterized and compared between T‐shaped cross‐conjugated and linear conjugated molecules. X‐ray crystal structures and optimized structures based on DFT calculations suggest a planar conformation of the 2‐thienyl‐N‐benzimidazole structure even after protonation where intramolecular S–N and NH–S interactions, respectively, are responsible for the stabilization of planar structures. Despite the planarity in the ground state, the T‐shaped cross‐conjugated molecules exhibit the twisted intramolecular charge‐transfer (TICT) emission in response to protonation, whereas the corresponding linear conjugated molecule without a horizontal π‐system does not have a charge‐transfer state. The difference in the separation of frontier molecular orbitals of the HOMO and LUMO and the energy barrier of the rotation about the thienyl ring predicted by the DFT calculations accounts for the difference in the emission decay process between the linear and cross‐conjugated molecules with a protonated benzimidazole unit. An orthogonally allocated π‐conjugated system appears to be essential for the emergence of TICT characteristics upon protonation in terms of the separation of molecular orbitals of the HOMOs and LUMOs, as well as the ease of rotation.
Parameters characterizing the kinetics of the nonisothermal crystallization of thermoplastic starch/poly(lactic acid) composites as determined by differential scanning calorimetry
Authors: Li Sha , Xiong Zhouyi , Fei Peng , Cai Jie , Xiong Hanguo , Tan Jun , Yu Yan 
Published: March 2013

AbstractTo guide the use of thermoplastic starch (TPS)/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites, the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of pure PLA and TPS/PLA composites were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at three different cooling rates. The results indicate that the TPS/PLA composites showed different crystallizations because of their different contents and different cooling rates. TPS, as a nucleating agent, improved the crystallinity of the PLA and constrained the mobility of the PLA chains. Three theoretical models, namely, the Avrami, Ozawa, and Mo models, were used to describe the process of nonisothermal crystallization. The Avrami analysis modified by Jeziorny and the Mo method was successful in describing the nonisothermal crystallization process of the pure PLA and the TPS/PLA composites. However, the Ozawa analysis could not give an adequate description. Kinetic parameters such as the Avrami exponent, kinetic crystallization rate constant, relative degree of crystallinity, and crystallization enthalpy, among others, were determined at various scanning rates. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
High flux and rejection with chiral chitosan composite nanofiltration membranes: Preparation and characterization
Authors: Mu Tao , Cong Yuehua , Zhang Baoyan 
Published: March 2013

AbstractTwo series of novel composite nanofiltration (NF) membranes were prepared by the overcoating of polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes with a mixture of chitosan and chitosan derivatives modified with two different chiral compounds. The two chiral compounds and their chitosan derivatives were characterized by IR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and polarimetry. The structure of the membrane was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The rejection and flux of the composite NF membranes were strictly related to the chiral compound grafted to chitosan and its composition in the mixture. An extremely high rejection, 98.23%, was observed with P2–3 of the polymer (P2) composite NF membrane, and the flux remained as high as 351 L m−2 h−1 at 0.4 MPa with 1000 mg/L NaCl. These results, together with SEM and IR images of the composite NF membrane, indicated that the chiral compound structure was crucial for the structure and function of the composite membrane. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Synergistic effects of β‐modification and impact polypropylene copolymer on brittle‐ductile transition of polypropylene random copolymer
Authors: Zhu Yanling , Luo Feng , Bai Hongwei , Wang Ke , Deng Hua , Chen Feng , Zhang Qin , Fu Qiang 
Published: March 2013

AbstractIn this work, the synergistic effects of β‐modification and impact polypropylene copolymer (IPC) on brittle–ductile (B–D) transition behavior of polypropylene random copolymer (PPR) have been investigated. It is interesting to find that adding both IPC and β‐nucleating agent into PPR has three effects: (i) leading to a significant enhancement in β‐crystallization capability of PPR, (ii) contributing to the shift of B–D transition to lower temperatures, (iii) increasing the B–D transition rate. The reason for these changes can be interpreted from the following two aspects. On one hand, the transition of crystalline structure from α‐form to β‐form reduces the plastic resistance of PPR matrix, thus causing the initiation of matrix shear yielding much easier during the impact process. On the other hand, the well dispersed rubbery phase in IPC with high molecular mobility at relatively low temperatures is beneficial to the shear yielding of PPR matrix and, subsequently, the great improvement in impact toughness of the ternary blends. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Dispersion control of immiscible polymer blend using selective heating by infrared laser irradiation
Authors: Saito Takushi , Kawaguchi Tatsuya , Satoh Isao 
Published: March 2013

AbstractIn this study, a selective heating technique by irradiating an infrared laser to an immiscible polymer blend was proposed to actively control the distribution of the dispersed phase in the blend. In the technique, the viscosity ratio between the matrix and dispersed phases was not changed by the molecular weight or shear rate but was changed by the controlled temperature distribution due to selective heating. The feasibility of the proposed technique was investigated through a numerical simulation of the temperature field and an experimental study using a test blend. The results showed that the technique successfully caused the deformation of relatively large droplets and enhanced the micro‐scale dispersion. It was also confirmed that the droplet size of the dispersed phase could be estimated by a simple method similar to the conventional technique: the chart of capillary number change with respect to the viscosity ratio. From the obtained results, it was concluded that the technique proposed in this study is a promising candidate for the development of a new blend process. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Properties of crosslinked polyurethanes obtained by acrylic side‐group polymerization and of their blends with various plant oils
Authors: Oprea Stefan 
Published: March 2013

AbstractNovel polyurethane elastomers have been developed to incorporate plant oil into their matrix. Bisphenol A glycerolate diacrylate was used as a chain extender for the polyurethane prepolymer obtained from poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol and 1,6‐hexane diisocyanate. The curing of the polyurethane acrylate matrix in the presence of the plant oil results in a network matrix which includes renewable resources in their structure. The effects of the inclusion of different vegetable oil (such as soybean oil, rapeseed oil, cotton oil, or sunflower oil) into the crosslinked polyurethane acrylates matrix were studied by evaluating various properties of the films such as the thermal behavior, the tensile properties, and the surface properties. The increases in chain extender content determine an increase of the thermal stability (the 10% weight loss decomposition temperatures increase from 325 to 375°C) and mechanical strength (from 3 to 9 MPa). Contact angle measurements have shown that the hydrophobic property of the films surface slightly increased with the incorporation of plant oil into the crosslinked polyurethane matrix. In addition, polyurethane/plant oil blends exhibit enhanced mechanical strength (from 3 to 9.8 MPa), as well as an increased roughness reaching a maximum average (113 nm) in the case of cotton oil. All polyurethane/plant oil blend present higher values for glass transition temperature and slightly enhanced values for thermal stability. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Preparation of hairy particles by grafting PEG onto the poly(styrene‐co‐maleic anhydride) surface and PEG effect on SiO2 nanoparticles adsorption
Authors: Song LinYong , Nie WangYan , Zhou YiFeng 
Published: March 2013

AbstractHairy particles were prepared by immobilization of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) on the surface of poly(styrene‐co‐maleic anhydride) (poly(S‐co‐MA)) spheres. It was found that the carbonyl groups on the poly(S‐co‐MA) surface can be conveniently esterified with the hydroxyl groups of PEG. Chemical and morphological changes were analyzed by FT‐IR, TEM, and water contact angle. Results revealed that, with the immobilization of PEG, the morphology of poly(S‐co‐MA) turned from a smooth surface to a hairy‐like structure and the hydrophilicity of the polymer particles improved. In addition, berry‐like polymer/silica particles can be obtained by using the hairy particles as template. The PEG hairy chains show steric repulsion during the deposition of silica nanoparticles by in situ sol‐gel process. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Bauzustandsanalyse und Instandsetzung von Nagelbindern
Authors: Rug Wolfgang , Paarmann Volker , Toppel Jörg 
Published: March 2013

AbstractSeit 1930 werden in Deutschland Fachwerkbinder aus Brettern oder Bohlen und Nagelverbindungen mit Spannweiten bis 30 m hergestellt. Wegen ihrer Wirtschaftlichkeit wurden sie gerade häufig in den Zeiten verwendet, in denen eine sparsame Baustoffverwendung ökonomisch wichtig war. Bestehende Hallenkonstruktionen mit Nagelbindern können heute auch weiterhin ohne Einschränkung genutzt werden, wenn sie vor ihrer Um‐ und Weiternutzung einer fachkundigen Bauzustandsanalyse unterzogen werden. Der Beitrag befasst sich mit den Fragen der Analyse des Bauzustandes und der Beseitigung von typischen Baumängeln und Bauschäden. Vorgefundene Schäden und Baumängel können, wie die Beispiele zeigen, in aller Regel mit einfachen handwerklichen Methoden beseitigt werden.Investigationstage of construction and maintenance of nail trussesSince 1930 in Germany are manufactured trusses made of boards or planks and nail joints in lengths up to 30 m. Due to their efficiency, they were very often used in the days when an economical use of building materials was economically important. Existing indoor structures with nail trusses can now continue to be used without restriction if they are subjected to prior to implementation and continued use of a specialized construction stage analysis. The article deals with the issues of analysis of building condition and the elimination of typical construction defects and structural damages. Corpus of damage and construction defects can, as the examples show, are usually eliminated with simple craft methods.
Nord/Süd‐Metrolinie Amsterdam – Schild Transfer System (STS)
Authors: Friedemann Wolf , Fennker Jens‐Rüdiger , Schwitte Marion , Otten Frank 
Published: March 2013

AbstractDer Bau der Nord/Süd‐Metrolinie Amsterdam in den Niederlanden ist ein herausforderndes Tunnelbauprojekt in innerstädtischer Umgebung. Aufgrund des vorhandenen Baugrunds, enger und abgetreppter Stationsbauwerke sowie dichter übertägiger Bebauung sind innovative Lösungen notwendig, um den maschinellen Tunnelvortrieb im Hydroschildmodus zu ermöglichen. Bei herkömmlichen Start‐ und Zielvorgängen für Hydroschildvortriebe im drückenden Grundwasser kommen gewöhnlich ein Dichtblock vor der Station und eine Brillendichtung bzw. ein kurzer Dichttopf in der Station zum Einsatz. Sie stellen ein redundantes System für Start‐/Zieldichtungen dar. Aus geometrischen Gründen ist dies beim Bau der Metrolinie in Amsterdam nicht immer möglich. Deshalb wurde das so genannte innovative Schild Transfer System (STS) entwickelt, mit dem alle erforderlichen Start‐ und Zieldichtebenen in die Station verlegt werden können. Ein wesentliches Merkmal des STS stellt die Möglichkeit des Transports der TBM durch die Stationen inklusive dem Überwinden von bis zu 1,65 m hohen Stufen dar. Der nachfolgende Artikel beschreibt die Konstruktion des STS aus statischer und baubetrieblicher Sicht und erläutert die Unterschiede zu herkömmlichen Start‐ und Zielvorgängen.North/South Metro Line Amsterdam – Shield Transfer System (STS) – a technical innovation for the construction of a metro tunnel in urban environmentThe construction of the North/South metro line in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is a challenging tunnelling project in an urban environment. Innovation and creativity are needed to enable tunnelling with a mixed shield TBM, which considers the existing ground conditions, the narrow station structures and the densely built‐up areas on the surface. A sealing block in front of the station and lip sealing or a short sealing pot within the station are usually used for conventional launch and arrival situations of mixed shield tunnelling in pressurized groundwater conditions. They represent a redundant system for launch and arrival situations. Due to geometric reasons, these sealing systems cannot always be used in the construction of the Metro Line in Amsterdam. Therefore, the innovative Shield Transfer System (STS) was developed. The big advantage of which is that all the required launch and arrival sealing systems can be installed inside the stations. The transfer of the TBM through the stations, including the lifting over the steps (heights of up to 1.65 m), is an essential feature of the STS. The following article describes the construction of the STS from a static and constructional point of view and is explaining the differences with respect to conventional launch and arrival situations.
Begehbare Achterbahn in Duisburg
Authors: Staffa Michael , Kemme Carola 
Published: March 2013

AbstractEine begehbare Großskulptur wurde 2011 auf einem Abraumhügel in Duisburg erbaut. Auf ein doppelt gekrümmtes Hauptrohr wurde die Gehbahn als unregelmäßige Treppe mit einem Belag aus Gitterrosten aufgebracht. Die Konstruktion wurde mit Hilfe eines parametrischen Geometriemodells geplant. Dieses Modell ermöglichte die Planung des geometrisch extrem schwierigen Projekts. Auf Grund der schlechten Bodenverhältnisse und der daher sehr geringen zulässigen Bodenpresssung musste die Gründung ungewöhnlich stark dimensioniert werden. Wegen der Schwingungsanfälligkeit der Konstruktion wurden an signifikanten Stellen Horizontal‐Dämpfer eingebaut.An accessible rollercoaster in DuisburgAn accessible oversize sculpture was built in 2011 on an excavation heap in Duisburg. On a double curved tube a footway was applied with unregular stairs of steel gratings. The structure was planned with aid of a parametric model. This model enabled the design of the geometrically extreme difficult project. Due to the bad soil conditions and for this reason the low soil strength, the foundations had to be dimensioned exceptionally huge. Vibration absobers were assembled on significant places in order to insulate horizontal oscillation.