bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nuclear Deterrence in Asia and the Pacific
Authors: Evans Gareth 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe Asia Pacific region includes six of the world's nine nuclear‐armed states, and in all of them relevant policymakers, still caught in a Cold War mindset, continue to believe in nuclear deterrence as a force for peace and stability, perceiving nuclear disarmament to be not only unachievable, but undesirable. But—whether the context is major powers seeking to neutralise threats from each other (United States, Russia, China and India), non‐nuclear allies seeking nuclear protection from various threat contingencies (Japan, South Korea and Australia) or vulnerable states seeking a ‘strategic equaliser’ (Pakistan and North Korea)—the traditional strategic arguments for nuclear deterrence are much weaker than they may first seem. Whatever may have been the case for the Cold War years, in today's world the risks associated with the acquisition or retention of nuclear weapons far outweigh any conceivable utility they may have. The financial arguments against them—that they are indefensibly costly—are strong. And the humanitarian arguments are overwhelming: nuclear weapons remain the most indiscriminately inhumane ever devised, and they should be outlawed as chemical and biological weapons have been. Making disarmament happen will never be easy, but—with the right political leadership—is not impossible. Focusing, realistically, in the first instance on minimization rather than elimination, practical steps can be taken to dramatically reduce nuclear weapon numbers, deployment and alert status, and doctrinal reliance on them. Doing so would dramatically reduce, both regionally and globally, the now ever‐present risk of nuclear catastrophe.
Absence of Interleukin‐17 Receptor A Signaling Prevents Autoimmune Inflammation of the Joint and Leads to a Th2‐like Phenotype in Collagen‐Induced Arthritis
Authors: Corneth Odilia B. J. , Mus Adriana M. C. , Asmawidjaja Patrick S. , Klein Wolterink Roel G. J. , van Nimwegen Menno , Brem Maarten D. , Hofman Yara , Hendriks Rudi W. , Lubberts Erik 
Published: October 2013

ObjectiveInterleukin‐17A (IL‐17A) signals through the IL‐17 receptor (IL‐17R) A/C heterodimer. IL‐17RA serves as a common receptor subunit for several IL‐17 cytokine family members. Lack of IL‐17RA signaling may therefore have additional effects beyond those of lack of IL‐17A alone. The present study was undertaken to determine the role of IL‐17RA signaling in autoimmune arthritis.MethodsDisease incidence and severity were scored in type II collagen–treated wild‐type, IL‐17RA–deficient, and IL‐23p19–deficient mice. T helper cell profiles and humoral immune responses were analyzed at several time points. Pathogenicity of T cells and total splenocytes was determined by in vitro functional assay. IL‐17RA signaling was blocked in vivo in mice with antigen‐induced arthritis (AIA).ResultsComparable to the findings in IL‐23p19–deficient mice, IL‐17RA–deficient mice were completely protected against the development of collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA). However, IL‐17RA–deficient mice exhibited an increased number of IL‐4–producing CD4+ T cells, distinct from IL‐17A+CD4+ T cells. This was associated with fewer plasma cells, lower production of pathogenic IgG2c antibody, and increased production of IgG1 antibody. Both isolated CD4+ T cells and total splenocytes from IL‐17RA–deficient mice had a reduced ability to induce IL‐6 production by synovial fibroblasts in the setting of CIA, in a functional in vitro assay. Furthermore, blocking of IL‐17RA signaling in AIA reduced synovial inflammation.ConclusionThese results demonstrate that absence of IL‐17RA leads to a Th2‐like phenotype characterized by IL‐4 production and suggest that IL‐17RA signaling plays a critical role in the regulation of IL‐4 in CIA and the development of autoimmune inflammation of the joint.
Incentive subsidy scheme design with elastic transport demand
Authors: Zou Wenqian , Mizokami Shoshi 
Published: October 2013

SUMMARYHuge public transport subsidies caused by deficits have become a heavy financial burden on some local governments due to the decline of bus passenger numbers. It is essential to apply the performance‐based contract to bus services considering maximization of social welfare. This paper constructs an incentive subsidy contract considering the decision‐making powers of the service level and calculating the proper frequency elasticity aiming at two problems of performance‐based contracts. Meanwhile, we consider a role of bus operators ignored by most researchers. Under the scheme, the decision‐making power of the service level is discussed based on five assumptions, and meanwhile, bus operators are motivated to reduce cost and improve service level in the scheme. The case of the bus service of Arao city indicates that the optimal frequency equals to zero when bus operators decide frequency. If bus operators determine efforts, the optimal effort also equals to zero with the goal of maximizing the profit. Also, bus operators can play their roles in lessening cost and improving service level to help bus operators and the local government achieve a win‐win situation, which maximizes the social benefit in this subsidy scheme when all factors are decided by the government. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of a novel fluorescent probe based on 7‐nitrobenzo‐2‐oxa‐1,3‐diazole skeleton for the rapid determination of vitamin B12 in pharmaceuticals
Authors: Shang Zhuo Bin , Wen Ya Juan , Yan Xiao Qing , Sun Huan He , Wang Yu , Jin Wei Jun 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTA new fluorescent probe, 4‐N,N‐di(2‐hydroxyethyl)imino‐7‐nitrobenzo‐2‐oxa‐1,3‐diazole (HINBD) was synthesized in a single step with reasonably good yield. The water‐soluble HINBD emits strongly in the visible region (λex = 479 nm, λem = 545 nm) and is stable over a wide range of pH values. It was found that vitamin B12 (VB12) had the ability to quench the fluorescence of HINBD, and the quenched fluorescence intensity was proportional to the concentration of VB12. A method for VB12 determination based on the quenching fluorescence of HINBD was thus established. Interference effects of various substances, including sugars, vitamins, amino acids, inorganic cations and some organic substances have been studied. Under optimal conditions, the linear range is 0.0–2.4 × 10–5 mol/L. The determination limit is 8.3 × 10–8 mol/L. The method was applied to measure VB12 in pharmaceutical preparations with satisfactory results. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Temperature‐sensitive elastin‐mimetic dendrimers: Effect of peptide length and dendrimer generation to temperature sensitivity
Authors: Kojima Chie , Irie Kotaro , Tada Tomoko , Tanaka Naoki 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTDendrimers are synthetic macromolecules with unique structure, which are a potential scaffold for peptides. Elastin is one of the main components of extracellular matrix and a temperature‐sensitive biomacromolecule. Previously, Val‐Pro‐Gly‐Val‐Gly peptides have been conjugated to a dendrimer for designing an elastin‐mimetic dendrimer. In this study, various elastin‐mimetic dendrimers using different length peptides and different dendrimer generations were synthesized to control the temperature dependency. The elastin‐mimetic dendrimers formed β‐turn structure by heating, which was similar to the elastin‐like peptides. The elastin‐mimetic dendrimers exhibited an inverse phase transition, largely depending on the peptide length and slightly depending on the dendrimer generation. The elastin‐mimetic dendrimers formed aggregates after the phase transition. The endothermal peak was observed in elastin‐mimetic dendrimers with long peptides, but not with short ones. The peptide length and the dendrimer generation are important factors to tune the temperature dependency on the elastin‐mimetic dendrimer. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 101: 603–612, 2014.
Structural characterization and bioactivity evaluation of an acidic proteoglycan extract from Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies for PTP1B inhibition and anti‐diabetes
Authors: Pan Deng , Wang Linqiang , Hu Bingwen , Zhou Ping 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTA water‐soluble PTP1B inhibitor, named FYGL‐a, was fractionated for structure investigation and bioactivity evaluation. FYGL‐a is an ingredient of a reported antihyperglycemia extract from Ganoderma Lucidum fruiting bodies. Composition analysis indicated that FYGL‐a was a 100.2 kDa acidic proteoglycan, consisting of 85 ± 2% heteropolysaccharide chain with rhamnose, galactose, glucose, and glucuronic acid residues in a mole ratio of 1.0:3.7:3.9:2.0, and the 15 ± 2% protein moiety of FYGL‐a was covalently bonded to the polysaccharide chain in O‐linkage type via threonine residues. The complete sequence of FYGL‐a was characterized systematically by periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, methylation analysis, 1H & 13C 1D NMR, and 2D NMR (HSQC, HMBC, NOESY, COSY, & TOCSY). The chemical structure of FYGL‐a was determined as following, which may play special role in the competitive inhibition of PTP1B and antihyperglycemia potency. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 101: 613–623, 2014.
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Quantitative analysis of five tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamines in urine by liquid chromatography–atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Xia Baoyun , Xia Yang , Wong Joshua , Nicodemus Keegan J. , Xu Meng , Lee John , Guillot Tonya , Li James 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTA liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of five total tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamines (TSNA), including free and conjugated forms in urine. The limits of detection for 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanol, N′‐nitrosonornicotine, 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanone, N′‐nitrosoanatabine and N′‐nitrosoanabasine were 0.6, 0.6, 10.0, 0.4 and 0.4 pg/mL, respectively, with a linear calibration range of up to 20,000 pg/mL. Intra‐ and inter‐day precision for TSNA measurements ranged from 0.82 to 3.67% and from 2.04 to 7.73% respectively. For total TSNAs, the β‐glucuronidase amount was optimized for hydrolysis time and yield. Different liquid chromatography columns and mobile phases with different pH conditions were evaluated. The validated method was then applied to 50 smoker and 30 nonsmoker urine samples. Our results suggest that this sensitive and relatively simple analytical method is suitable for application to epidemiological investigations of health risks associated with the exposure to tobacco smoke or secondhand smoke in both smokers and nonsmokers. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Structure‐guided RP‐HPLC chromatography of diastereomeric α‐helical peptide analogs substituted with single amino acid stereoisomers
Authors: Huang YiBing , Pan Ling , Zhao LianJing , Mant Colin T. , Hodges Robert S. , Chen Yuxin 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTAn α‐helical model peptide (Ac‐EAEKAAKE‐X‐EKAAKEAEK‐amide) was used as a template to examine the efficacy of conventional reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC) in separating peptide analogs with single substitutions (at position X) of diasteromeric amino acids Ile, allo‐Ile, d‐Ile and d‐allo‐Ile. We compared differences in peptide retention behavior on a C8 column and a C18 column at different temperatures. We demonstrated how subtle differences in peptide secondary structure affected by the different substitutions of amino acids with identical overall hydrophobicity enabled effective resolution of these peptide analogs. We also demonstrated the ability of RP‐HPLC to separate Ile‐ and allo‐Ile‐substituted analogs of a 26‐residue α‐helical antimicrobial peptide (AMP), with the substitution site towards the C‐terminus of the α‐helix. These peptides show different values of antibacterial activity and hemolytic activity, and different selectivity against bacteria and human cells. Our results underline the ability of RP‐HPLC to resolve even difficult diasteromeric peptide mixtures as well as its value in monitoring very subtle hydrophobicity changes in de novo‐designed AMP. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simultaneous determination of three major lignans in rat plasma by LC‐MS/MS and its application to a pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of Diphylleia sinensis extract
Authors: Zhao Chengliang , Zhang Nan , He Weiyan , Li Rui , Shi Dan , Pang Li , Dong Ning , Xu Hong , Ji Honglei 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTA sensitive and selective liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of three major lignans (podophyllotoxin, epipodophyllotoxin, and 4′‐demethylpodophyllotoxin) in rat plasma using diphenhydramine as the internal standard. The analytes were detected using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer that was equipped with an electrospray ionization source in the positive ion and selected reaction monitoring modes. The linearity of the calibration curve was good, with coefficients of determination (r2) >0.9914 for all of the analytes. The developed method was successfully applied for the simultaneous determination of the three lignans in rat plasma following oral administration of Diphylleia sinensis extract to rats. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Designing controllers for physics‐based characters with motion networks
Authors: Backman Robert , Kallmann Marcelo 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTWe present a system that allows non‐programmers to create generic controllers for physically simulated characters. The core of our system is based on a directed acyclic graph of trajectory transformations, which can be modified by feedback terms and serve as reference motions tracked by the physically simulated character. We then introduce tools to enable the automatic creation of robust and parameterized controllers suitable for running in real‐time applications, such as in computer games. The entire process is accomplished by means of a graphical user interface, and we demonstrate how our system can be intuitively used to design a SIMBICON‐like walking controller and a parameterized jump controller to be used in real‐time simulations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A local adaptive Catmull–Rom to reduce numerical dissipation of semi‐Lagrangian advection
Authors: Huang Zhanpeng , Han Liang , Gong Guanghong 
Published: October 2013

AbstractWe propose an adaptive Catmull–Rom interpolation to improve accuracy of semi‐Lagrangian advection for smoke simulation. Original Catmull–Rom improves numerical accuracy but overshoot violates global stability. Monotonic Catmull–Rom is unconditionally stable, whereas it sweeps out detail features due to overly suppression operations. Our method modifies original Catmull–Rom to obtain second‐order accuracy and unconditional stability. It flattens locations where interpolations might break through global bounds but maintains local overshoots to conserve diversity of fluid flow. The scheme is easy to collaborate with existing fluid simulators to improve small features. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Group Contribution Concept for Computer‐Aided Design of Working Fluids for Refrigeration Machines
Authors: Khetib Y. , Larkeche O. , Meniai A.‐H. , Radwan A. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe operation and performance of any refrigeration system depends mainly on the choice of the working fluids. Since classical compounds like the chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons are now completely phased out, substitutes are required. In previous works, a method for computer‐aided design and test of alternative compounds were presented. Relevance and importance of the group contribution concept for such methods are investigated, considering two model systems, namely, the ejecto‐compression and absorption refrigeration machines with specific configurations like insertion of a distillation column and elimination of the condenser, respectively. The obtained results allow extending this approach to model other complex refrigeration systems.
Carbon Dioxide Mass Transfer into Solvents in a Zeolite Hybrid Device
Authors: Gómez‐Díaz D. , Navaza J. M. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractCarbon dioxide (CO2) mass transfer processes are analyzed in hybrid equipment which involves a zeolitic membrane and a physical or chemical solvent. This separation device was chosen because the membrane can be used to produce a stream of higher CO2 concentration to be treated by gas‐liquid absorption. The analysis of the mass transfer behavior of this gas through the solid phase is an important step before more complicated gas streams are applied. The combined use of both techniques can improve the global separation process because they allow performing a previous separation with a positive effect on the cost of the later separation operations. The influence of the liquid phase nature used in one chamber of the membrane contactor upon CO2 global mass transfer is analyzed. Also the effect caused by the absorption regime, liquid and gas flow rates, and the pressure corresponding to the gas chamber on CO2 mass transfer is studied to evaluate the importance of each variable.
CO2 Capture by Liquid Solvents and their Regeneration by Thermal Decomposition of the Solid Carbonated Derivatives
Authors: Barzagli F. , Lai S. , Mani F. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe chemical capture of CO2 by either aqueous Na2CO3 and K2CO3 or nonaqueous solutions of the amines 2‐amino‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanol (AMP) or piperazine (PZ) is described. The captured CO2 is stored as solid NaHCO3, KHCO3, and AMP or PZ carbamates. Solid NaHCO3 and KHCO3 are decomposed at 200 °C and 250 °C, respectively, to regenerate the carbonates for their reuse. In the experiments with AMP or PZ, the solid carbamates are decomposed at 80 °C–110 °C to regenerate the free amines. The absence of water in the desorption‐regeneration step is intriguing and could have the potential of reducing one of the major disadvantages of aqueous absorbents, namely the energy cost of the regeneration step and amine degradation, yet preserving the efficiency of the absorption in the liquid phase.
Kinetic Modeling of Methane Hydrate Formation in the Presence of Low‐Dosage Water‐Soluble Ionic Liquids
Authors: Nazari K. , Moradi M. R. , Ahmadi A. N. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe kinetic and thermodynamic effects of three typical low‐dosage imidazolium‐based ionic liquids (ILs) on methane hydrate formation and dissociation were investigated, considering the anion nature and subcooling and/or overpressure driving forces. Isochoric hydrate formation and dissociation data were obtained by the modified slow step‐heating method. ILs proved to have a dual effect on both formation and dissociation of methane hydrate including thermodynamic and kinetic inhibition. Kinetic modeling of methane hydrate inhibition by low‐dosage ILs was performed. Kinetic analysis showed that IL inhibitors mainly cause a delay in the nucleation or hydrate growth step. The related inhibition mechanism was resolved regarding the ionic nature and electrostatic interactions of ILs with water molecules. Two binomial exponential kinetic relations were derived and used for simple methane hydrate formation in the presence of ILs as kinetic hydrate inhibitors. The proposed relations can serve for a quick estimation of the nature, extent, strength, and effectiveness of ILs on various gas hydrates.
Uncovering the Missing Link between Molecular Electrochemistry and Electrocatalysis: Mechanism of the Reduction of Benzyl Chloride at Silver Cathodes
Authors: Klymenko Oleksiy V. , Buriez Olivier , Labbé Eric , Zhan Dong‐Ping , Rondinini Sandra , Tian Zhong‐Qun , Svir Irina , Amatore Christian 
Published: October 2013

AbstractHerein, the traditional views that contrast the important areas of electrocatalysis and molecular electrochemistry are challenged. By extending Laviron′s seminal concept, we show that these two domains only represent idealized limits of a much broader continuum. More importantly, we show that electrochemical systems that apparently behave experimentally as if under diffusion control (i.e. systems that obey the founding molecular electrochemistry paradigm) may be controlled by electrocatalytic steps, that is, in which the activation of electroactive substrates exclusively occurs through adsorbed intermediates. This analysis is supported through quantitative experimental and theoretical investigations on the reduction of benzyl chloride at silver electrodes. At silver cathodes, the reduction wave of benzyl chloride as monitored at the usual scan rates is dramatically shifted to more positive potentials by about 0.5 V versus that at inert (e.g. glassy carbon) electrodes. This approach, which is based on the use of fast‐scan cyclic voltammetry and simulations (KISSA‐1D), combined with our previous results from surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and density functional theory (DFT) analysis, allow us to fully unravel the mechanistic origin of this dramatic effect and quantitatively validate this mechanism, which has eluded many research groups until now. In practice, this example provides a missing link between the traditional areas of electrocatalysis and molecular electrochemistry. Furthermore, it bridges the chemical areas of organometallic/inorganic catalysis and electrochemical activation by showing that the inner‐sphere concept, as developed by Taube and Myers for inorganic reactions, applies perfectly to electrochemical reactions of molecular substrates.
A Photoreducible Copper(II)‐Tren Complex of Practical Value: Generation of a Highly Reactive Click Catalyst
Authors: Harmand Lydie , Lambert Romain , Scarpantonio Luca , McClenaghan Nathan D. , Lastécouères Dominique , Vincent Jean‐Marc 
Published: October 2013

AbstractA detailed study on the photoreduction of the copper(II) precatalyst 1 to generate a highly reactive cuprous species for the copper(I)‐catalyzed alkyne‐azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) click reaction is presented. For the photoactive catalyst described herein, the activation is driven by a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process harnessing a benzophenone‐like ketoprofenate chromophore as a photosensitizer, which is equally the counterion. The solvent is shown to play a major role in the CuII to CuI reduction process as the final electron source, and the influence of the solvent nature on the photoreduction efficiency has been studied. Particular attention was paid to the use of water as a potential solvent, aqueous media being particularly appealing for CuAAC processes. The ability to solubilize the copper‐tren complexes in water through the formation of inclusion complexes with β‐CDs is demonstrated. Data is also provided on the fate of the copper(I)‐tren catalytic species when reacting with O2, O2 being used to switch off the catalysis. These data show that partial oxidation of the secondary benzylamine groups of the ligand to benzylimines occurs. Preliminary results show that when prolonged irradiation times are employed a CuI to Cu0 over‐reduction process takes place, leading to the formation of copper nanoparticles (NPs). Finally, the main objective of this work being the development of photoactivable catalysts of practical value for the CuAAC, the catalytic, photolatent, and recycling properties of 1 in water and organic solvents are reported.