bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Polyamide Single‐Ion Electrolyte Membrane for Application in Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Sun Yubao , Rohan Rupesh , Cai Weiwei , Wan Xifei , Pareek Kapil , Lin An , Yunfeng Zhang , Cheng Hansong 
Published: July 2014

AbstractA bis(sulfonyl)imide incorporated, high‐molecular‐weight gel single‐ion polyamide polymer electrolyte (LiPA) is designed and synthesized by using a polycondensation reaction followed by exchange of H+ with Li+ ions. All the bis(sulfonyl)imide anions are immobilized in the polymer chains, which gives rise to a substantially higher lithium cation transference number of 0.88 than the corresponding values of conventional liquid‐based electrolytes or dual‐ion gel polymer electrolytes of inorganic salts, and also provides smooth channels for Li+ ion transport in the polymer matrix. A gel single‐ion polymer electrolyte membrane, comprised of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and LiPA, is successfully prepared with an ionic conductivity of 3.8×10−4 S cm−1 at room temperature, well suited for applications in lithium‐ion batteries. Good battery performance of the membrane is demonstrated in an assembled Li‐ion battery cell at both room temperature and at elevated temperature.
Effect of viscous damping devices on the response of seismically isolated structures
Authors: Wolff E. D. , Ipek C. , Constantinou M. C. , Tapan M. 
Published: July 2014

SummaryViscous and other damping devices are often used as elements of seismic isolation systems. Despite the widespread application of nonlinear viscous systems particularly in Japan (with fewer applications in the USA and Taiwan), the application of viscous damping devices in isolation systems in the USA progressed intentionally toward the use of supplementary linear viscous devices due to the advantages offered by these devices. This paper presents experimental results on the behavior of seismically isolated structures with low damping elastomeric (LDE) and single friction pendulum (SFP) bearings with and without linear and nonlinear viscous dampers. The isolation systems are tested within a six‐story structure configured as moment frame and then again as braced frame. Emphasis is placed both on the acquisition of data related to the structural system (drifts, story shear forces, and isolator displacements) and on non‐structural systems (floor accelerations, floor spectral accelerations, and floor velocities). Moreover, the accuracy of analytical prediction of response is investigated based on the results of a total of 227 experiments, using 14 historic ground motions of far‐fault and near‐fault characteristics, on flexible moment frame and stiff braced frame structures isolated with LDE or SFP bearings and linear or nonlinear viscous dampers. It is concluded that when damping is needed to reduce displacement demands in the isolation system, linear viscous damping results in the least detrimental effect on the isolated structure. Moreover, the study concludes that the analytical prediction of peak floor accelerations and floor response spectra may contain errors that need to be considered when designing secondary systems. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Screening of a new cadmium hyperaccumulator, Galinsoga parviflora, from winter farmland weeds using the artificially high soil cadmium concentration method
Authors: Lin Lijin , Jin Qian , Liu Yingjie , Ning Bo , Liao Ming'an , Luo Li 
Published: July 2014

Abstract

A new method, the artificially high soil cadmium (Cd) concentration method, was used to screen for Cd hyperaccumulators among winter farmland weeds. Galinsoga parviflora was the most promising remedial plant among 5 Cd accumulators or hyperaccumulators. In Cd concentration gradient experiments, as soil Cd concentration increased, root and shoot biomass decreased, and their Cd contents increased. In additional concentration gradient experiments, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities increased with soil Cd concentrations up to 75 mg kg−1, while expression of their isoenzymes strengthened. Catalase (CAT) activity declined and CAT isoenzyme expression weakened at soil Cd concentrations less than 50 mg kg−1. The maxima of Cd contents in shoots and roots were 137.63 mg kg−1 and 105.70 mg kg−1, respectively, at 100 mg kg−1 Cd in soil. The root and shoot bioconcentration factors exceeded 1.0, as did the translocation factor. In a field experiment, total extraction of Cd by shoots was 1.35 mg m−2 to 1.43 mg m−2 at soil Cd levels of 2.04 mg kg−1 to 2.89 mg kg−1. Therefore, the artificially high soil Cd concentration method was effective for screening Cd hyperaccumulators. Galinsoga parviflora is a Cd hyperaccumulator that could be used to efficiently remediate Cd-contaminated farmland soil. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:2422–2428. © 2014 SETAC
Assessment of skeletal muscle proteolysis and the regulatory response to nutrition and exercise
Authors: Pasiakos Stefan M. , Carbone John W. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractSkeletal muscle proteolysis is highly regulated, involving complex intramuscular proteolytic systems that recognize and degrade muscle proteins, and recycle free amino acid precursors for protein synthesis and energy production. Autophagy‐lysosomal, calpain, and caspase systems are contributors to muscle proteolysis, although the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is the primary mechanism by which actomyosin fragments are degraded in healthy muscle. The UPS is sensitive to mechanical force and nutritional deprivation, as recent reports have demonstrated increased proteolytic gene expression and activity of the UPS in response to resistance and endurance exercise, and short‐term negative energy balance. However, consuming dietary protein alone (or free amino acids), or as a primary component of a mixed meal, may attenuate intramuscular protein loss by down‐regulating proteolytic gene expression and the catabolic activity of the UPS. Although these studies provide novel insight regarding the intramuscular regulation of skeletal muscle mass, the role of proteolysis in the regulation of skeletal muscle protein turnover in healthy human muscle is not well described. This article provides a contemporary review of the intramuscular regulation of skeletal muscle proteolysis in healthy muscle, methodological approaches to assess proteolysis, and highlights the effects of nutrition and exercise on skeletal muscle proteolysis. © 2014 IUBMB Life, 66(7):478–484, 2014
Characterization of Oryzias latipes glucocorticoid receptors and their unique response to progestins
Authors: Miyagawa Shinichi , Lange Anke , Tohyama Saki , Ogino Yukiko , Mizutani Takeshi , Kobayashi Tohru , Tatarazako Norihisa , Tyler Charles R. , Iguchi Taisen 
Published: July 2014

AbstractVarious receptor bioassays, including estrogens, androgens and thyroid hormones, have been developed and applied successfully for assessing hormone function in a wide range of animal species, including fish. In fish, corticosteroids play a pivotal role in physiology as they do in mammals, but far less is known about the corticosteroid receptor system in fish compared with in mammals. Here we established a transient transactivation assay using the Japanese medaka, Oryzias latipes, glucocorticoid receptors (olGRs) and mineralocorticoid receptor to analyse their functional properties in a fish. We found that olGR2 was highly responsive to glucocorticoids, similar to the human GR, whereas the olGR1 subtype was minimally responsive. Thus, olGR2 most likely mediates glucocorticoid signaling in medaka. We further tested crosstalk between GRs and other steroid hormones, and found that progestins could activate or inactivate olGR2‐mediating transcription, depending on the presence or absence of cortisol. The transactivation assays developed for medaka GRs provide tools to gain useful insights into corticosteroid signaling in fish and for in vitro screening of environmental substances activating GRs. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In vitro evaluation of the effects of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) on IL‐2 production in human T‐cells
Authors: Midgett Kristin , Peden‐Adams Margie M. , Gilkeson Gary S. , Kamen Diane L. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractPerfluorinated compounds, such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), have been shown to alter various immune functions suggesting they are immunotoxic. This study assessed the effects of PFOS and PFOA on interleukin (IL)‐2 production in the human Jurkat T‐cell line and PFOS in healthy human primary T cells. Jurkat cells were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA)/phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), anti CD‐3/anti CD‐28, or anti CD‐3, and dosed with 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 50, 75, or 100 µg ml−1 PFOS or 0, 0.005, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, or 10 µg ml−1 PFOA. Jurkat cells stimulated with PHA/PMA or anti CD‐3 exhibited decreased IL‐2 production beginning at 50 µg PFOS ml−1 and 5 µg PFOS ml−1 respectively, but stimulation with anti‐CD3/anti‐CD28 resulted in no changes compared with the control. Addition of the PPAR‐alpha antagonist GW6471 to PFOS‐dosed cells stimulated with PHA/PMA resulted in decreases in IL‐2 production starting at 50 µg PFOS ml−1, which suggests PFOS affected T‐cell IL‐2 production via PPAR‐alpha‐independent mechanisms. Exposure to PFOA, PFOA + GW6471, or PFOS + PFOA in Jurkat cells resulted in no significant differences in IL‐2 production. In vitro dosing studies using healthy primary human CD4+ T cells were consistent with the Jurkat results. These data demonstrated that PFOA did not impact IL‐2 production, but PFOS suppressed IL‐2 production in both a human cell line and human primary cells at dose levels within the high end of the human exposure range. A decrease in IL‐2 production is characteristic of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and should be further investigated. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Real‐time in situ monitoring of poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) coating of coronary stents using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
Authors: Zhong Qi , Mao Qunlong , Yan Jin , Liu Wenming , Zhang Tao , Liu Jianguo 
Published: July 2014

AbstractMonitoring erosion progress of biodegradable drug carrying polymer coated on coronary drug eluting stents (DES) is largely hindered because of the small amount of coating material as well as the irregular profile of coating, both of which make the monitoring using traditional methods highly challenging. In our study, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), a widely used method in the study of metal corrosion, was used to address the challenges traditional methods face. In vitro, remained mass and molecular weight drop data of film‐like poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA) samples due to degradation were monitored using traditional mass loss measurement and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) methods. The obtained data were compared to the changes of capacitance and impedance measured by EIS from PLGA‐coated stainless slices with an equivalent electrical circuit model. The results showed that the changes of the resistance and capacitance obtained by EIS, which indicates transformations of PLGA coating, can be correlated to the degradation measured by traditional methods, such as SEC. Furthermore, EIS method was applied to monitor and evaluate the erosion progress of a real stent with PLGA coating. Our results suggested that EIS method can accurately monitor real‐time erosion process of thin polymer coatings on DES in situ. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 103B: 691–699, 2015.
Platelet‐Activating Factor Mediates the Cytotoxicity Induced by W7FW14F Apomyoglobin Amyloid Aggregates in Neuroblastoma Cells
Authors: Sirangelo Ivana , Giovane Alfonso , Maritato Rosa , Nunzia D'Onofrio , Iannuzzi Clara , Giordano Antonio , Irace Gaetano , Balestrieri Maria Luisa 
Published: July 2014

ABSTRACTW7FW14F apomyoglobin (W7FW14F ApoMb) amyloid aggregates induce cytotoxicity in SH‐SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells through a mechanism not fully elucidated. Amyloid neurotoxicity process involves calcium dyshomeostasis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Another key mediator of the amyloid neurotoxicity is Platelet‐Activating Factor (PAF), an inflammatory phospholipid implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. Here, with the aim at evaluating the possible involvement of PAF signaling in the W7FW14F ApoMb‐induced cytotoxicity, we show that the presence of CV3899, a PAF receptor (PAF‐R) antagonist, prevented the detrimental effect of W7FW14F ApoMb aggregates on SH‐SY5Y cell viability. Noticeably, we found that the activation of PAF signaling, following treatment with W7FW14F ApoMb, involves a decreased expression of the PAF acetylhydroase II (PAF‐AH II). Interestingly, the reduced PAF‐AH II expression was associated with a decreased acetylhydrolase (AH) activity and to an increased sphingosine‐transacetylase activity (TAS) with production of N‐acetylsphingosine (C2‐ceramide), a well known mediator of neuronal caspase‐dependent apoptosis. These findings suggest that an altered PAF catabolism takes part to the molecular events leading to W7FW14F ApoMb amyloid aggregates‐induced cell death. J. Cell. Biochem. 115: 2116–2122, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Study on active coke‐based adsorbents for SO2 removal in flue gas
Authors: Zuo Yanran , Yi Honghong , Tang Xiaolong , Zhao Shunzheng , Zhang Bowen , Wang Zhixiang , Gao Fengyu 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBACKGROUNDA series of active coke‐based adsorbents from different sources, treated with acid‐base, modified by metal compounds and calcined at different temperatures were investigated for SO2 removal from flue gas.RESULTSThe desulfurization performance of the pure active coke was low, but it was improved after treatment with acid‐base, especially HNO3. The active coke loaded with 8% Na2CO3 and 7% Cu(NO3)2 and calcined at 250–350 °C was best for SO2 removal. Compared with the untreated active coke, the time for which A‐H‐8‐7 maintained DE at 90% increased from 4 min to 40 min and the value of DE of A‐H‐8‐7 increased from 0.131 mmol g‐1 to 0.526 mmol g‐1. The acid‐base treatment was effective in forming rich pore structures and HNO3 treatment formed carbonyl groups which favored desulfurization. Sodium and copper modification made a large number of unsaturated groups and chelating bonds formed and sodium and copper elements were dispersed adequately and existed as different compounds in the active coke. The active ingredients for desulfurization were different at different calcination temperatures. Cu(NO3)2 tended to break down into Cu2O at higher temperatures. Most adsorption products were sulfate species (SO42‐) which combined with supported copper and sodium and then formed Na2Cu(SO4)2.CONCLUSIONActive coke loaded with 8% Na2CO3 and 7% Cu(NO3)2 and calcined at 250–350 °C showed good performance for SO2 removal. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Impact of electronic health records on the patient experience in a hospital setting
Authors: Migdal Christopher W. , Namavar Aram A. , Mosley Virgie N. , Afsar‐manesh Nasim 
Published: July 2014

BACKGROUNDThe impact of electronic health records (EHRs) and their effects on optimizing the patient experience has been debated nationally. Currently, there is a paucity of data in this area, and existing research offers conflicting results. Since 2006, the Assessing Residents' CI‐CARE (ARC) program has evaluated the physician‐patient interaction of resident physicians at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Health utilizing a 20‐item questionnaire administered through facilitator‐patient interviews.OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of EHR implementation on the patient experience.DESIGNRetrospective cohort study.SETTINGTwo academic medical campuses: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica.METHODSA total of 3417 surveys, spanning December 1, 2012 to May 30, 2013, were assessed. This included patient representation from 9 departments within UCLA Health. Surveys were analyzed to assess physician‐patient communication. Statistical comparisons were made using χ analysis.RESULTSAll 16 questions assessing physician‐patient communication received better responses in the 3 months following EHR implementation, compared to the 3 months prior to implementation. Of these, 9 questions illustrated statistically significant improvement, whereas the improvement in the remaining 7 questions was not statistically significant.DISCUSSIONThese results suggest that EHRs may improve physician‐patient communication. The ARC infrastructure allowed for observation of this trend; however, future research should aim to further validate and understand the etiologies of this improvement. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2014;9:627–633. © 2014 Society of Hospital Medicine
Ovipositor morphology of cosmetid harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones, Laniatores): A new source of informative characters
Authors: Walker Eric A. , Townsend Victor R. 
Published: July 2014

ABSTRACTThe external morphology of the penis is an important source of systematic characters in phylogenetic studies of harvestmen. Modern taxonomic studies generally include micrographs generated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to illustrate penis morphology. In contrast, the external morphology of the ovipositor has largely been ignored for harvestmen belonging to the suborder Laniatores. Comparative studies of ovipositor microanatomy using SEM are especially lacking for species belonging to the superfamily Gonyleptoidea. In an effort to determine if the ovipositor could be a useful source of informative characters for these harvestmen, we investigated interspecific variation in the external morphology of the ovipositor for 14 species from the family Cosmetidae. Our SEM‐based study revealed that the external surface of the distal tips of the ovipositors of most species was generally divided into four symmetrical lobes, although we observed a bilobed condition in Erginulus clavotibialis and Erginulus subserialis. The distal surfaces were also generally smooth, with the exception of the ovipositor of Erginulus weyerensis, which featured small surface setae. In addition, we observed considerable interspecific variation in the morphology of the peripheral setae on the distal tip, especially with respect to relative size, morphology of the shaft, and number, symmetry, and shapes of the distal tips. The functional significance, if any, of variation in the structure of the peripheral setae is unclear. Additional behavioral studies of copulation and oviposition are needed to determine the functional relationships between reproductive morphology and behavior. The morphological variation that we observed suggests that future taxonomic studies of cosmetid harvestmen, and potentially other gonyleptoidean taxa, would benefit from the inclusion of descriptions of ovipositor morphology. J. Morphol. 275:1376–1385, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Measurement of proton resonance frequency shift coefficient during MR‐guided focused ultrasound on Thiel embalmed tissue
Authors: Karakitsios Ioannis , Dogadkin Osnat , Le Nhan , Melzer Andreas 
Published: July 2014

PurposeTo estimate the value of proton resonance frequency (PRF) shift coefficient of explanted Thiel embalmed animal and human tissue used as a preclinical model for treatment with MR‐guided focused ultrasound (FUS).MethodsThiel embalmed human liver, ovine liver, and porcine muscle were heated using two methods: bulk heating and FUS‐induced heating. Phase‐referenced PRF thermometry was applied during cooling of the tissue to obtain a series of phase difference,
, maps. A fiber‐optic thermocouple was inserted in the tissue to measure the temperature difference,
. The PRF shift coefficient was calculated from the measured
.ResultsIn the case of bulk heating, the mean values (±SD) of the PRF coefficient for Thiel embalmed ovine liver, porcine muscle, and human liver were: 0.017 (5 × 10−4) ppm/°C, 0.015 (6 × 10−4) ppm/°C, and 0.012 (6 × 10−4) ppm/°C, respectively. Similar values were found in tissues heated with FUS.ConclusionThe values of PRF coefficient measured for the Thiel embalmed tissue were higher than the values for fresh tissue, suggesting that embalming a tissue with Thiel fluid can affect PRF thermometry. The chemical composition of the Thiel fluid and the electrical conductivity may explain these results. Magn Reson Med 74:260–265, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis of degradable molecular brushes via a combination of ring‐opening polymerization and click chemistry
Authors: Shi Yi , Wang Xiaofeng , Graff Robert W. , Phillip William A. , Gao Haifeng 
Published: July 2014

ABSTRACTAcid‐degradable molecular brushes with polycarbonate backbone and densely grafted side chains (∼1.9 SCs per backbone repeating unit) were synthesized for the first time using the grafting‐onto method. Extremely efficient copper‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition click reactions between the polycarbonate backbone containing two pendant azido groups per backbone unit and alkynyl‐terminated poly (methyl acrylate) (ay‐PMA72, average degree of polymerization DP = 72) SCs were demonstrated to finish in 10 min with a quantitative conversion of the azido groups. Similar grafting efficiencies were also achieved when using alkynyl‐terminated polystyrene (ay‐PS), poly(ethylene oxide) (ay‐PEO), and poly (t‐butyl acrylate)‐b‐polystyrene (ay‐PtBA‐b‐PS) to successfully prepare molecular brushes with high grafting density (>1.8 SCs per backbone repeating unit). Under acidic condition, the polycarbonate backbones were completely degradable and the final degraded product of the molecular brushes was a linear polymer chain with molecular weight two times of the SCs. When a mixture of hydrophobic ay‐PS and hydrophilic ay‐PEO chains was used, amphiphilic heterobrushes PC‐g‐(PS‐co‐PEO) were synthesized, which could self‐assemble into micelles or vesicles in selective solvents, depending on the ratio of the two SCs in the brush. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 239–248
Financial hardship and the intensity of medical care received near death
Authors: Tucker‐Seeley Reginald D. , Abel Gregory A. , Uno Hajime , Prigerson Holly 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBackgroundAlthough end‐of‐life (EOL) care can present a substantial financial burden for the household, the influence of this burden on the intensity of care received at the EOL remains unknown. The goal of this study was to determine the association between financial hardship and intensive care in the last week of life.MethodsThe Coping with Cancer (CwC) Study is a longitudinal, multisite cohort study of terminally ill cancer patients and their informal caregivers, September 2002–February 2008. Patients (N = 281) were followed from baseline to death, a median of 4.4 months after baseline assessment. Intensive care was defined as the use of resuscitation and/or ventilation in the patient's last week of life. Financial hardship was measured at study baseline as a positive response to whether the household had to use all or most of their savings because of the family member's illness.ResultsTwenty‐nine percent reported financial hardship, and 9% received intensive EOL care. Patients reporting financial hardship had a 3.22 (95% CI: 1.38, 7.53) higher likelihood of receiving intensive EOL care compared with patients not reporting financial hardship. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and patient preferences, patients reporting financial hardship had a 3.05 (95% CI: 1.22, 7.62) higher likelihood of receiving intensive EOL care.ConclusionThe depletion of a family's financial resources is a significant predictor of intensive EOL care, over and above the influence of sociodemographic characteristics and patient preferences. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.