bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite film reinforced with natural halloysite nanotubes
Authors: Huang Dajian , Wang Wenbo , Kang Yuru , Wang Aiqin 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBiodegradable polymer/clay nanocomposites have attracted tremendous attentions because of their excellent properties and ecofriendly advantages. In this article, a series of nanocomposite films were prepared by introducing of halloysite nanotubes (HTs) into chitosan (CS)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix using the solution casting method, and the effect of HT as nanofillers on the properties of polymer/HT nanocomposites was explored. The results indicated that the tensile strength of CS/PVA/HT3 and elongation at break of CS/PVA/HT2 sharply increased by 39.72% and 26.14% in comparison with the pure CS/PVA film, respectively. The water resistance and thermal stability of polymer/HT nanocomposites were also improved compared with the pure CS/PVA film, but the optical property of the nanocomposite films was not affected by introducing HT into the CS/PVA matrix. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Survivor typologies predict medical surveillance participation: the childhood cancer survivor study
Authors: Cox Cheryl L. , Zhu Liang , Hudson Melissa M. , Steen Brenda D. , Robison Leslie L. , Oeffinger Kevin C. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgroundAdult survivors of childhood cancer adhere poorly to recommended medical surveillance. We sought to identify modifiable factors that contribute to non‐adherence.MethodsLatent class analysis categorized survivors (ages 18–52 years) at risk of cardiac, breast, or bone late sequelae on the basis of their health‐related concerns, fears, and motivation. These classifications were compared at two time points for self‐reported adherence to recommended echocardiography, mammography, and bone densitometry screening.ResultsThree classes (worried, collaborative, and self‐controlling) characterized survivors in each of the three risk groups: cardiac (N = 564; Bayesian information criterion [BIC] = 10,824.66; Lo–Mendell–Rubin parametric likelihood ratio test [LRMLRT] P = .002), breast (N = 584; BIC = 11,779.97; LRMLRT P < .001), and bone (N = 613; BIC = 11,773.56; LMRLRT P = .028). Only 9% of at‐risk survivors in the self‐controlling class reported undergoing bone density screening in 2005, compared with 17.2% in the collaborative class (P = .034). Thirteen percent of the self‐controlling, 24% of collaborative (P = .025), and 34% of worried (P = .010) classes reported undergoing bone densitometry in 2009. Whereas 73% of at‐risk survivors in the worried class reported having had an echocardiogram in 2009, only 57% of the collaborative (P = .040) and 43% of self‐controlling (P < .001) classes did. In 2005 and 2009, respectively, fewer survivors in the self‐controlling class (37% and 53%) than in the collaborative (51%, P = .038 and 70%, P = .01) and worried (58%, P = .002 and 69%, P = .025) classes reported undergoing mammograms.ConclusionsModifiable intrapersonal characteristics associated with these three classes predict self‐reported participation in medical surveillance. Continued observation and validation of these survivor profiles may inform tailored interventions to enhance survivors' screening participation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Plasma Polymerization of a Saturated Branched Hydrocarbon. The Case of Heptamethylnonane
Authors: De Vos Caroline , Vandencasteele Nicolas , Kakaroglou Alexandros , Nisol Bernard , de Graeve Iris , Van Assche Guy , Van Mele Bruno , Terryn Herman , Reniers François 
Published: September 2012

Abstract2,2,4,4,6,8,8‐Heptamethylnonane (HMN), a saturated branched hydrocarbon precursor, is deposited by means of atmospheric plasma DBD. Hydrophobic coatings starting from this precursor which is liquid at room temperature can be obtained. The degree of polymerization of the coating seems to be dependent on the amount of provided precursor. The coatings were characterized by FTIR, TOF‐SIMS, WCA, SE, and XPS. magnified image
Deposition and Characterization of a Low‐εr Thin Film Based on Plasma‐Polymerized 4‐Cumylphenol Cyanate Ester
Authors: Zhao Xiong‐Yan , Wang Ming‐Zhu , Sun Zhan‐Ying 
Published: September 2012

AbstractA novel low‐εr polycyanurate film, plasma‐polymerized 4‐cumylphenol cyanate ester (PPCPCE) film is prepared by plasma deposition of 4‐cumylphenol cyanate ester (CPCE). Different from the conventional thermal polymerization of cyanate ester monomers, the plasma polymerization of CPCE proceeds mainly via the opening of π‐bonds of the O–CN cyanate ester functional groups which are further formed into a large π‐conjugated system[0]. Structural and morphology characterizations show that a smooth and homogenous PPCPCE film with a large π‐conjugated system and a high retention of the aromatic ring structure can be obtained at a lower discharge power of 5 W, which gives a low‐εr of 2.51. A higher discharge power brings about more severe molecular fragmentation and a significantly rougher film surface. magnified image
GEOMORPHOLOGICAL CONTROLS ON VEGETATION RESPONSES TO FLOW ALTERATIONS IN A MEDITERRANEAN STREAM (CENTRAL‐WESTERN SPAIN)
Authors: Bejarano M. D. , Sordo‐Ward A. , Marchamalo M. , González del Tánago M. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACTThe expected recovery of the natural conditions of large regulated rivers over the distance downstream from a dam is limited by relative tributary size according to the Serial Discontinuity Concept; however, geomorphology may also influence the recovery process. We examined the woody vegetation of the riparian zone in seven river segments distributed along the regulated reach of the Tiétar River in central‐western Spain, which flows through two distinct geomorphic templates. Whereas the annual runoff has decreased by 30% on average along the entire studied reach following the construction of the Rosarito Dam and the initiation of field irrigation in the region, the magnitude and frequency of the peak flows decreased by 30% immediately downstream from the dam but recovered the natural values with the distance downstream. We evaluated the recovery patterns toward the natural riparian conditions by comparing woody species composition, diversity and distribution of vegetation patches established prior to and after dam completion. Our results did not indicate a recovery gradient of any of the analysed vegetation attributes downstream from the dam. Instead, we found that the difference in the slope of the stream channel and banks, the width of the valley and the size of substratum particles among the surveyed patches were factors that significantly mediated dam and tributary effects on vegetation and influenced the degree of vegetation recovery. Hence, the maintenance of the intensity of the flow alteration scheme by the numerous water withdrawals and the low tributary contributions, coupled with differential geomorphological characteristics along the reach, overwhelmed the natural tendency for the river to restore its natural conditions with distance downstream. Improving water management and, particularly, restoring endangered riparian ecosystems require a detailed understanding of existing and potential woody species behaviour across the geomorphological settings of rivers. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Monoclonal Antibodies Against Lgr5 Identify Human Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Kemper Kristel , Prasetyanti Pramudita R. , De Lau Wim , Rodermond Hans , Clevers Hans , Medema Jan Paul 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
In colorectal cancer (CRC), a subpopulation of tumor cells, called cancer stem cell (CSC) fraction, is suggested to be responsible for tumor initiation, growth, and metastasis. The search for a reliable marker to identify these CSCs is ongoing as current markers, like CD44 and CD133, are more broadly expressed and therefore are not highly selective and currently also lack function in CSC biology. Here, we analyzed whether the Wnt target Lgr5, which has earlier been identified as a marker for murine intestinal stem cells, could potentially serve as a functional marker for CSCs. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting-based detection of Lgr5, using three newly developed antibodies, on primary colorectal tumor cells revealed a clear subpopulation of Epcam+Lgr5+ cells. Similarly, primary CRC-derived spheroid cultures, known to be enriched for CSCs, contain high levels of Lgr5+ cells, which decrease upon in vitro differentiation of these CSCs. Selection of the Lgr5high CRC cells identified the clonogenic fraction in vitro as well as the tumorigenic population in vivo. Finally, we confirm that Lgr5 expression is dependent on the Wnt pathway and show that Lgr5 overexpression induces clonogenic growth. We thus provide evidence that Lgr5 is, next to a functional intestinal stem cell marker, a selective marker for human colorectal CSCs.
Nanomaterials‐supported Pt catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Authors: Saha Madhu Sudan , Neburchilov Vladimir , Ghosh Dave , Zhang Jiujun 
Published: September 2012

This paper reviews over 100 articles related to the development of nanotubes, nanofibers, and nanowires as catalyst supports for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Several different novel methods for support and catalyst synthesis are discussed in detail. The fabrication processes for these nanomaterial‐supported platinum (Pt) catalysts, catalyst layers, and membrane electrode assemblies are also reviewed. On the basis of the literature review, several research directions for catalyst cost reduction, catalytic activity, and durability enhancement are proposed in this paper.This article is categorized under:Fuel Cells and Hydrogen > Science and Materials
Heparan sulfate derived disaccharides in plasma and total urinary excretion of glycosaminoglycans correlate with disease severity in Sanfilippo disease
Authors: de Ruijter J. , IJlst L. , Kulik W. , van Lenthe H. , Wagemans T. , van Vlies N. , Wijburg F. A. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgroundSanfilippo disease (Mucopolysaccharidosis III) is a neurodegenerative lysosomal disorder characterized by accumulation of the glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate (HS). MPS III has a large phenotypic variability and early assessment of disease severity is difficult. We investigated the correlation between disease severity and the plasma concentration of HS (pHS, defined by the sum of the heparan sulfate derived disaccharides obtained after enzymatic digestion) and urinary total GAGs level (uGAGs, measured by the dimethylene blue test) in a cross‐sectional cohort of 44 MPS III patients.MethodsDisease severity was established on the basis of the age of complete loss of independent walking and of full loss of speech in all patients. Hazard ratios (HR) were obtained with cox‐regression analysis. In order to allow prediction of a severe phenotype based on a cut‐off value for pHS, patients were divided in two groups (severely affected and less severely affected) based on predictive mutations or on the age of full loss of speech. Receiver operator characteristics (ROC) were obtained for pHS.ResultspHS and uGAGs were independently and linearly associated with an increased risk of speech loss with a HR of 1.8 (95 % CI 1.3–2.7) per 500 ng/ml increase of HS in plasma (p = 0.002), and a HR of 2.7 (95 % CI 1.6–4.4) per 10 mg/mmol creatinine increase of uGAGs (p < 0.001). pHS and uGAGS were less strongly associated with loss of walking. The area under the ROC curve for pHS was 0.85, indicating good discrimination.ConclusionpHS and uGAGs may be useful biomarkers for prediction of severity in MPS III.
Witnessing Phenotypic and Molecular Evolution in the Fruit Fly
Authors: Heil Caiti S. S. , Hunter Mika J. , Noor Juliet K. F. , Miglia Kathleen , Manzano-Winkler Brenda , McDermott Shannon R. , Noor Mohamed A. F. 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
This multi-day exercise is designed for a college genetics and evolution laboratory to demonstrate concepts of inheritance and phenotypic and molecular evolution using a live model organism, Drosophila simulans. Students set up an experimental fruit fly population consisting of ten white-eyed flies and one red-eyed fly. Having red eyes is advantageous compared to having white eyes, allowing students to track the spread of this advantageous trait over several generations. Ultimately, the students perform polymerase chain reaction and gel electrophoresis at two neutral markers, one located in close proximity to the eye color locus and one located at the other end of the chromosome. Students observe that most flies have red eyes, and these red-eyed flies have lost variation at the near marker but maintained variation at the far marker hence observing a “selective sweep” and the “hitchhiking” of a nearby neutral variant. Students literally observe phenotypic and molecular evolution in their classroom!
Age at menarche, menstrual patterns, and menstrual characteristics in Jordanian adolescent girls
Authors: Bata Majed S. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo estimate the distribution of age at menarche and investigate menstrual patterns and symptoms among adolescent Jordanian girls.MethodsMenstrual status data were collected from 596 secondary‐school students from the Amman area via a self‐administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, cross‐tabulation, and correlation coefficient calculations were used where appropriate, and probit analysis was applied to estimate mean ± SD age at menarche.ResultsThe students' mean age was 15.7 ± 1.5 years. Mean age at menarche was 13.1 ± 1.1 years for those who recalled it and 12.8 ± 1.4 years per the probit analysis. Menstruation duration was 4 to 7 days for 73.6% of the students, and it was more than 7 days for 2.2%. Mid‐cycle pain was reported by 30.9% and dysmenorrhea by 37.6% of the students, 8% of whom needed to miss school 1 day per cycle. Body mass index was correlated with age at menarche (P = 0.002).ConclusionThe mean age at menarche was close to that reported in studies from Europe and the USA, but it was younger than the age reported in studies from Africa.
Open-loop control of cavity oscillations with harmonic forcings
Authors: Sipp Denis 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThis article deals with open-loop control of open-cavity flows with harmonic forcings. Two-dimensional laminar open-cavity flows usually undergo a supercritical Hopf bifurcation at some critical Reynolds number: a global mode becomes unstable and its amplitude converges towards a limit cycle. Such behaviour may be accurately captured by a Stuart–Landau equation, which governs the amplitude of the global mode. In the present article, we study the effect on such a flow of a forcing characterized by its frequency ${\omega }_{f} $, its amplitude ${E}^{\ensuremath{\prime} } $ and its spatial structure ${\mathbi{f}}_{E} $. The system reacts like a forced Van der Pol oscillator. In the general case, such a forcing modifies the linear dynamics of the global mode. It is then possible to predict preferred forcing frequencies ${\omega }_{f} $, at which the global mode may be stabilized with the smallest possible forcing amplitude ${E}^{\ensuremath{\prime} } $. In the case of a forcing frequency close to the frequency of the global mode, a locking phenomenon may be observed if the forcing amplitude ${E}^{\ensuremath{\prime} } $ is sufficiently high: the frequency of the flow on the limit cycle may be modified with a very small forcing amplitude ${E}^{\ensuremath{\prime} } $. In each case, we compute all harmonics of the flow field and all coefficients that enter the amplitude equations. In particular, it is possible to find preferred forcing structures ${\mathbi{f}}_{E} $ that achieve strongest impact on the flow field. In the general case, these are the optimal forcings, which are defined as the forcings that trigger the strongest energy response. In the case of a forcing frequency close to the frequency of the global mode, a forcing structure equal to the adjoint global mode ensures the lowest forcing amplitude ${E}^{\ensuremath{\prime} } $. All predictions given by the amplitude equations are checked against direct numerical simulations conducted at a supercritical Reynolds number. We show that a global mode may effectively be stabilized by a high-frequency harmonic forcing, which achieves suppression of the perturbation frequencies that are lower than the forcing frequency, and that a near-resonant forcing achieves locking of the flow onto the forcing frequency, as predicted by the amplitude equations.
Streamwise dispersion and mixing in quasi-two-dimensional steady turbulent jets
Authors: Landel Julien R. , Caulfield C. P. , Woods Andrew W. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractWe investigate experimentally and theoretically the streamwise transport and dispersion properties of steady quasi-two-dimensional plane turbulent jets discharged vertically from a slot of width $d$ into a fluid confined between two relatively close rigid boundaries with gap $W\ensuremath{\sim} O(d)$. We model the evolution in time and space of the concentration of passive tracers released in these jets using a one-dimensional time-dependent effective advection–diffusion equation. We make a mixing length hypothesis to model the streamwise turbulent eddy diffusivity such that it scales like $b(z){ \overline{w} }_{m} (z)$, where $z$ is the streamwise coordinate, $b$ is the jet width, ${ \overline{w} }_{m} $ is the maximum time-averaged vertical velocity. Under these assumptions, the effective advection–diffusion equation for $\phi (z, t)$, the horizontal integral of the ensemble-averaged concentration, is of the form ${\partial }_{t} \phi + {K}_{a} {\text{} {M}_{0} \text{} }^{1/ 2} {\partial }_{z} \left(\phi / {z}^{1/ 2} \right)= {K}_{d} {\text{} {M}_{0} \text{} }^{1/ 2} {\partial }_{z} \left({z}^{1/ 2} {\partial }_{z} \phi \right)$, where $t$ is time, ${K}_{a} $ (the advection parameter) and ${K}_{d} $ (the dispersion parameter) are empirical dimensionless parameters which quantify the importance of advection and dispersion, respectively, and ${M}_{0} $ is the source momentum flux. We find analytical solutions to this equation for $\phi $ in the cases of a constant-flux release and an instantaneous finite-volume release. We also give an integral formulation for the more general case of a time-dependent release, which we solve analytically when tracers are released at a constant flux over a finite period of time. From our experimental results, whose concentration distributions agree with the model, we find that ${K}_{a} = 1. 65\pm 0. 10$ and ${K}_{d} = 0. 09\pm 0. 02$, for both finite-volume releases and constant-flux releases using either dye or virtual passive tracers. The experiments also show that streamwise dispersion increases in time as ${t}^{2/ 3} $. As a result, in the case of finite-volume releases more than 50 % of the total volume of tracers is transported ahead of the purely advective front (i.e. the front location of the tracer distribution if all dispersion mechanisms are ignored and considering a ‘top-hat’ mean velocity profile in the jet); and in the case of constant-flux releases, at each instant in time, approximately 10 % of the total volume of tracers is transported ahead of the advective front.
Systems of display: the making of anatomical knowledge in Enlightenment Britain
Authors: BERKOWITZ CARIN 
Published: September 2012

AbstractLate eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century anatomy depended upon a variety of visual displays. Drawings in books, particularly expensive, beautiful and elaborately illustrated books that have been the objects of historians' fascination, were understood to function alongside chalk drawings done in classrooms, casual and formalized experience with animal and human corpses, text describing or contextualizing the images, and preserved specimens. This article argues that British anatomists of the late Enlightenment discovered and taught an intelligible, orderly Nature through comprehensive systems of display. These systems trained vision, and, taken as a whole, they can be used to understand a visual culture of science. Displays helped anatomists, artists and natural philosophers learn to see both the tiniest and the rarest of parts and an overall general plan of anatomy and relationship of parts. Each type of display was materially different from the others and each served to perfect human vision for a group of natural philosophers who valued sensory experience – primarily that of vision, but also that of touch – as the basis of learning. Together, these displays allowed the anatomist to see, in all of its dimensions, human nature, frozen in the ordered and unstressed state of fresh death, a comprehensible guide to life and its functions. A pedagogical context of use defined and bound such displays together as complementary parts of a unified project. A system of display stood in for Nature and at the same time represented her ordering by anatomists.
Genomic structure, organization and localization of the acetylcholinesterase locus of the olive fruit fly,Bactrocera oleae
Authors: Kakani E.G. , Trakala M. , Drosopoulou E. , Mavragani-Tsipidou P. , Mathiopoulos K.D. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAcetylcholinesterase (AChE), encoded by theacegene, is a key enzyme of cholinergic neurotransmission. Insensitive acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been shown to be responsible for resistance to OPs and CBs in a number of arthropod species, including the most important pest of olives trees, the olive fruit flyBactrocera oleae. In this paper, the organization of theB. oleae acelocus, as well as the structural and functional features of the enzyme, are determined. The organization of the gene was deduced by comparison to theacecDNA sequence ofB. oleaeand the organization of the locus inDrosophila melanogaster. A similar structure between insectacegene has been found, with conserved exon-intron positions and junction sequences. TheB. oleae acelocus extends for at least 75 kb, consists of ten exons with nine introns and is mapped to division 34 of the chromosome arm IIL. Moreover, according to bioinformatic analysis, the Bo AChE exhibits all the common features of the insect AChE. Such structural and functional similarity among closely related AChE enzymes may implicate similarities in insecticide resistance mechanisms.
Genetic variation of Gongylonema pulchrum from wild animals and cattle in Japan based on ribosomal RNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I genes
Authors: Makouloutou P. , Setsuda A. , Yokoyama M. , Tsuji T. , Saita E. , Torii H. , Kaneshiro Y. , Sasaki M. , Maeda K. , Une Y. , Hasegawa H. , Sato H. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe gullet worm (Gongylonema pulchrum) has been recorded from a variety of mammals worldwide, including monkeys and humans. Due to its wide host range, it has been suggested that the worm may be transmitted locally to any mammalian host by chance. To investigate this notion, the ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA), mainly regions of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) 1 and 2, and a cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) region of mitochondrial DNA of G. pulchrum were characterized using parasites from the following hosts located in Japan: cattle, sika deer, wild boars, Japanese macaques, a feral Reeves's muntjac and captive squirrel monkeys. The rDNA nucleotide sequences of G. pulchrum were generally well conserved regardless of their host origin. However, a few insertions/deletions of nucleotides along with a few base substitutions in the ITS1 and ITS2 regions were observed in G. pulchrum from sika deer, wild boars and Japanese macaques, and those differed from G. pulchrum in cattle, the feral Reeves's muntjac and captive squirrel monkeys. The COI sequences of G. pulchrum were further divided into multiple haplotypes and two groups of haplotypes, i.e. those from a majority of sika deer, wild boars and Japanese macaques and those from cattle and zoo animals, were clearly differentiated. Our findings indicate that domestic and sylvatic transmission cycles of the gullet worm are currently present, at least in Japan.