bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
First-in-Human Case Study: Multipotent Adult Progenitor Cells for Immunomodulation After Liver Transplantation
Authors: Soeder Yorick , Loss Martin , Johnson Christian L. , Hutchinson James A. , Haarer Jan , Ahrens Norbert , Offner Robert , Deans Robert J. , Van Bokkelen Gil , Geissler Edward K. , Schlitt Hans J. , Dahlke Marc H. 
Published: June 2015

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells and multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs) have been proposed as novel therapeutics for solid organ transplant recipients with the aim of reducing exposure to pharmacological immunosuppression and its side effects. In the present study, we describe the clinical course of the first patient of the phase I, dose-escalation safety and feasibility study, MiSOT-I (Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Solid Organ Transplantation Phase I). After receiving a living-related liver graft, the patient was given one intraportal injection and one intravenous infusion of third-party MAPC in a low-dose pharmacological immunosuppressive background. Cell administration was found to be technically feasible; importantly, we found no evidence of acute toxicity associated with MAPC infusions.

Significance
Liver transplantation is the only definitive treatment for liver failure. However, in order to prevent rejection of the graft, patients must receive lifelong pharmacological immunosuppression, which itself causes clinically significant side effects. This study provides preclinical evidence that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs) can prolong allogeneic solid organ transplant survival in animals by switching the host response toward operational tolerance. To examine the safety and feasibility of MAPC therapy in patients receiving a living-related or dead-before-donation unrelated donor liver graft, the MiSOT-I (Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Solid Organ Transplantation Phase I) trial was designed. The first study patient, a 27-year-old male with liver cirrhosis of unknown etiology, received a living-related adult right liver graft from his brother. MAPC administration in both the operating room (day 0) and intensive care unit (day 2) was feasible, and no evidence was seen of acute complications associated with the cell infusion. The absence of any acute clinical complications of cell infusion is reassuring for the future administration of MAPCs.
« Un vieux contre un neuf » : une étude des réactions des consommateurs à l’égard des offres de reprise
Authors: Guillard Valérie , Johnson Guillaume 
Published: June 2015

L’objectif de cet article est d’étudier les réactions des consommateurs à l’égard des offres de reprise des vieux objets proposées par les enseignes. Contraintes à l’origine par des réglementations environnementales, ces offres ont évolué pour devenir des outils promotionnels à part entière. Elles ne consistent plus seulement à racheter les objets possédés mais également à diminuer le prix d’achat des nouveaux produits via un bon d’achat et/ou à redonner les objets collectés à des associations caritatives. L’analyse de 23 entretiens confirme et enrichit la littérature sur la reprise en montrant que les réactions des consommateurs dépendent i) d’une comparaison entre les coûts et les bénéfices attribués à de tels programmes ; ii) de la prise en compte ou non de la valeur résiduelle des objets rapportés et iii) d’une analyse critique des incitations proposées. Les implications pour les décideurs des organisations marchandes et non marchandes sont discutées.
Synthesis of Nonnatural Oligonucleotides Made Exclusively of Alkynyl C‐Nucleosides with Nonnatural Bases
Authors: Chiba Junya , Inouye Masahiko 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThis unit describes detailed procedures for the preparation of nonnatural C‐nucleosides comprising seven types of nonnatural nucleobases attached to 1′‐position of 2′‐deoxyribose through an acetylene bond with the β‐configuration. In addition, derivatization of these alkynyl C‐nucleosides into the corresponding phosphoramidites and the subsequent oligonucleotide synthesis are also presented. The processes are depicted in three parts. The first basic protocol deals with the synthesis of a key intermediate, 5‐O‐DMTr‐protected 1‐ethynyl‐2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐ribofuranoside. The second basic protocol mentions the procedures of the preparation of nonnatural C‐nucleosides by a palladium‐catalyzed coupling reaction of the ethynyl intermediate and halogen‐attached nonnatural nucleobases. The synthetic procedures of the corresponding nonnatural phosporamidites are also described. The third basic protocol presents the solid‐phase, automated synthesis of nonnatural oligonucleotides composed exclusively of the nonnatural C‐nucleotides. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Potential positive feedback between Greenland Ice Sheet melt and Baffin Bay heat content on the west Greenland shelf
Authors: Castro de la Guardia Laura , Hu Xianmin , Myers Paul G. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractGreenland ice sheet meltwater runoff has been increasing in recent decades, especially in the southwest and the northeast. To determine the impact of this accelerating meltwater flux on Baffin Bay, we examine eight numerical experiments using an ocean‐sea ice model: Nucleus for European Modelling of the Ocean. Enhanced runoff causes shoreward increasing sea surface height and strengthens the stratification in Baffin Bay. The changes in sea surface height reduces the southward transport through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and strengthens the gyre circulation within Baffin Bay. The latter leads to further freshening of surface waters as it produces a larger northward surface freshwater transport across Davis Strait. Increasing the meltwater runoff leads to a warming and shallowing of the west Greenland Irminger water on the northwest Greenland shelf. These warmer waters can now more easily enter fjords on the Greenland coast and thus provide additional heat to accelerate the melting of marine‐terminating glaciers.
Lightning strikes to tall objects: A study of wave interactions at the return‐stroke front using a nonlinear transmission line model
Authors: De Conti Alberto , Silveira Fernando H. , Visacro Silvério 
Published: June 2015

AbstractA theoretical study is presented to investigate lightning strikes to towers, with focus on wave interactions occurring at the return‐stroke front due to the arrival of current pulses that propagate upward on the channel after being transmitted from the tower. The lightning channel is represented as a transmission line including corona and nonlinear losses. Analyses for the hypothetical case of a lossless channel considering matched tower and channel impedances show that the arrival of current pulses at the upward moving return‐stroke front leads to an increase in corona currents leaving the channel. This transient process generates current pulses whose arrival at the tower top can be interpreted as the effect of a current reflection at the upward moving front, even though no impedance discontinuity exists at that point if return‐stroke and leader channel properties are assumed the same. In the more realistic case of a lossy channel considering unmatched channel and tower impedances, the nonlinear channel resistance modifies the current pulses that propagate along the channel so that they merge smoothly with the return‐stroke front. In this case, the interaction of the current pulses transmitted from the tower to the channel with the upward moving return‐stroke front does not lead to features that can be clearly interpreted as the result of current reflections at that point in the evaluated conditions. Finally, it is argued that the current reflection coefficient at the tower top should be viewed as a current dependent parameter as opposed to a constant, linear value.
A Single‐Step Synthesis of Electroactive Mesoporous ProDOT‐Silica Structures
Authors: Kim Jeonghun , Kim Byeonggwan , Anand Chokkalingam , Mano Ajayan , Zaidi Javaid S. M. , Ariga Katsuhiko , You Jungmok , Vinu Ajayan , Kim Eunkyoung 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe single‐step preparation of highly ordered mesoporous silica hybrid nanocomposites with conjugated polymers was explored using a novel cationic 3,4‐propylenedioxythiophene (ProDOT) surfactant (PrS). The method does not require high‐temperature calcination or a washing procedure. The combination of self‐assembly of the silica surfactant and in situ polymerization of the ProDOT tail is responsible for creation of the mesoporosity with ultralarge pores, large pore volume, and electroactivity. As this novel material exhibits excellent textural parameters together with electrical conductivity, we believe that this could find potential applications in various fields. This novel concept of creating mesoporosity without a calcination process is a significant breakthrough in the field of mesoporous materials and the method can be further generalized as a rational preparation of various mesoporous hybrid materials having different structures and pore diameters.
Total Synthesis of Limonin
Authors: Yamashita Shuji , Naruko Akito , Nakazawa Yuki , Zhao Le , Hayashi Yujiro , Hirama Masahiro 
Published: June 2015

AbstractLimonoids are highly oxygenated C13α‐triterpenes and common secondary metabolites. Several hundred congeners have been isolated to date. The first total synthesis of (±)‐limonin, the flagship congener of the limonoids, is now reported and features 1) a tandem radical cyclization generating the BCD ring system with the C13α configuration that is essential to the limonoids and a Robinson annulation to construct the limonoid androstane framework, 2) a singlet‐oxygen cycloaddition and a Baeyer–Villiger oxidation to synthesize the highly oxidized D ring, and 3) a Suárez reaction to construct the unique AA′ ring system.
Enhanced Raman Scattering from Vibro‐Polariton Hybrid States
Authors: Shalabney Atef , George Jino , Hiura Hidefumi , Hutchison James A. , Genet Cyriaque , Hellwig Petra , Ebbesen Thomas W. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractGround‐state molecular vibrations can be hybridized through strong coupling with the vacuum field of a cavity optical mode in the infrared region, leading to the formation of two new coherent vibro‐polariton states. The spontaneous Raman scattering from such hybridized light–matter states was studied, showing that the collective Rabi splitting occurs at the level of a single selected bond. Moreover, the coherent nature of the vibro‐polariton states boosts the Raman scattering cross‐section by two to three orders of magnitude, revealing a new enhancement mechanism as a result of vibrational strong coupling. This observation has fundamental consequences for the understanding of light‐molecule strong coupling and for molecular science.
Preparation and properties of a novel flame retardant polyurethane quasi‐prepolymer for toughening phenolic foam
Authors: Ding Haiyang , Wang Jifu , Liu Juan , Xu Yuzhi , Chen Riqing , Wang Chunpeng , Chu Fuxiang 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACTA novel phosphorus‐ and nitrogen‐containing polyurethane quasi‐prepolymer (PNPUQP) was synthesized and incorporated into phenolic foam (PF) in different ratios in order to improve the toughness. The structure of PNPUQP was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The effects of PNPUQP on the flame retardant properties, thermal stability and mechanical properties of modified PF were investigated. The results suggested that the addition of 3 wt % PNPUQP increased the toughness of PF and improved the flame retardancy. The investigation on the morphology of PF and modified PF by scanning electron microscope (SEM) certified the good toughness of the PNPUQP on PF. Additionally, the thermal properties of the foams were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) under N2 atmosphere. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42424.
Compatibility and nonlinear viscoelasticity of polychloroprene/polyvinyl chloride blends with nitrile butadiene rubber as a compatibilizer
Authors: Jiang Guiyang , Feng Chi , Zhang Hongmei , Zhang Yong , Yamagishi Uichiro , Toya Hideki , Fujii Nobuhiko 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACTMiscible polychloroprene/polyvinyl chloride (CR/PVC) blends with nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) as a compatibilizer were prepared. The effect of NBR on the compatibility between CR and PVC was mainly analyzed by studying the thermal behavior and the phase structure of CR/PVC blends. An obvious decrement in the Tg of PVC phase successfully provided an explanation for the compatibilization of NBR. Due to the improved compatibility between CR and PVC, the size of PVC particles in CR/PVC blends decreased a lot according to the scanning electronic microscopic images. The significant improvement of mechanical properties of CR/PVC blends was in good agreement with the better compatibility between CR and PVC phases. The softening effect of NBR on the nonlinear viscoelasticity of CR/PVC blends was also studied by RPA 2000. Temperature sweep test by RPA 2000, a less reported characterization method of Tg, was successfully applied to measure Tg of CR/PVC blends and study the compatibilization of NBR. The reason for better thermal stability and the thermal decomposition mechanism of CR/PVC blends were analyzed according to the results of TGA. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42448.
Synthesis and application of a natural plasticizer based on cardanol for poly(vinyl chloride)
Authors: Chen Jie , Liu Zengshe , Li Ke , Huang Jinrui , Nie Xiaoan , Zhou Yonghong 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACTA natural plasticizer with multifunctional groups, similar in structure to phthalates, cardanol derivatives glycidyl ether (CGE) was synthesized from cardanol by a two‐step modification process and characterized by FT‐IR, 1HNMR, and 13CNMR. The resulting product was incorporated to PVC (CGE/PVC), and plasticizing effect was compared with PVC incorporated with two kinds of commercial phthalate ester plasticizers bis (2‐ethylhexyl) benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylate (DOTP) and diisononyl phthalate (DINP). Dynamic mechanical analysis and mechanical properties testing of the plasticized PVC samples were performed in order to evaluate their flexibility, compatibility, and plasticizing efficiency. SEM was employed to produce fractured surface morphology. Thermogravimetric analysis and discoloration tests were used to characterize the thermal stabilities. Dynamic stability analysis was used to test the processability of formulations. Compared with DOTP and DINP plasticized samples, CGE/PVC has a maximum decrease of 9.27% in glass transition temperature (Tg), a maximum increase of 17.6% in the elongation at break, and a maximum increase of 31.59°C and 25.31 min in 50% weight loss (T50) and dynamic stability time, respectively. The obtained CGE also has slightly lower volatility resistance and higher exudation resistance than that of DOTP and DINP. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42465.
N‐halamine‐modified polyglycolide (PGA) multifilament as a potential bactericidal surgical suture: In vitro study
Authors: Umair Malik Muhammad , Jiang Zhiming , Safdar Waseem , Xie Zhiwei , Ren Xuehong 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACTIn this study, new cationic homopolymer and anionic copolymer were synthesized, and deposited onto polyglycolide sutures using a layer‐by‐layer assembly technique. The coated sutures were rendered antibacterial by chlorinating with dilute solution of household bleach solution at pH 7. The chlorination treatment transformed the NH groups of anionic copolymer into N‐halamine structures. The N‐halamine‐modified sutures were challenged with Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria at different contact times. The suture with chlorine loading of 0.22% completely inactivated both bacterial strains in 30 min contact time. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and analytical titration confirmed the successful deposition of the N‐halamine multilayers. The effect of layer‐by‐layer coatings of polyelectrolytes on the chlorine loading and antibacterial efficacy of sutures was evaluated. The straight‐pull and knot‐pull strength tests performed on the sutures reported slight decline in tensile properties after chlorination treatment. The in vitro hemolysis and cytocompatibility tests revealed that the N‐halamines‐based antibacterial sutures were biocompatible. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42483.
Effect of amphiphilic compatibilizers on the filler dispersion and properties of polyethylene—thermally reduced graphene nanocomposites
Authors: Mittal Vikas , Chaudhry Ali U. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACTCompatibilizers of different chemical structures and specifications were used to enhance the filler exfoliation in nanocomposites of polyethylene and thermally reduced graphene prepared by melt mixing route. The mechanical performance of the compatibilized nanocomposites was observed to be better than PE/G nanocomposites due to enhanced extent of filler exfoliation and distribution. Highest increase of 45% in tensile modulus and 13% in peak stress was observed in the composites. Overall, from the mechanical, rheological, thermal, and calorimetric properties, the compatibilizers with best performance were ethylene acrylic acid (EAA) copolymer and chlorinated polyethylene (CPE25). Furthermore, the extent of filler exfoliation was observed to increase with increasing EAA content thus confirming positive interactions between EAA and thermally reduced graphene, though no specific chemical interactions could be detected. The composite properties were observed to reach maximum around 7.5 wt % EAA content, followed by reduced performance due to extensive matrix plasticization. The observed behaviors were a result of interplay of opposing factors like filler exfoliation due to compatibilizer addition and matrix plasticization due to its lower molecular weight, thus the observed optimum comaptibilizer amount was specific to the compatibilizer. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2015,132, 42484.
Chitosan/silk fibroin composite scaffolds for wound dressing
Authors: Guang Shanyi , An Yang , Ke Fuyou , Zhao Dongmei , Shen Yuhua , Xu Hongyao 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACTThree‐dimensional (3D) chitosan/silk fibroin (CS/SF) porous composite scaffolds have been prepared by simply coating a thin layer of CS onto spunlaced SF scaffolds via hydrogen‐bonding assembly technique, and they were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and mechanical property measurements. The results show that porous scaffolds have a pore diameter around 50–200 μm, and improved mechanical property compared with SF, resulting from strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions between CS and SF, together with the maintained β‐sheet structure of SF. The medical and biological properties of the composite scaffolds were further evaluated. The results demonstrate that they possess good biocompatibility and a broad spectrum of antimicrobial properties. The in vivo animal experiments show that the composite scaffolds promote skin regeneration of rats without any teratogenic effect and inflection, thus they are very promising in the application of wound dressings. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42503.
Molecular cloning and promoter analysis of the specific salicylic acid biosynthetic pathway gene phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (AaPAL1) fromArtemisia annua
Authors: Zhang Ying , Fu Xueqing , Hao Xiaolong , Zhang Lida , Wang Luyao , Qian Hongmei , Zhao Jingya 
Published: June 2015

AbstractPhenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL) is the key enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of salicylic acid (SA). In this study, a full‐length cDNA of PAL gene (named asAaPAL1) was cloned fromArtemisia annua. The gene contains an open reading frame of 2,151 bps encoding 716 amino acids. Comparative and bioinformatics analysis revealed that the polypeptide protein ofAaPAL1was highly homologous to PALs from other plant species. Southern blot analysis revealed that it belonged to a gene family with three members. Quantitative RT‐PCR analysis of various tissues ofA. annuashowed thatAaPAL1transcript levels were highest in the young leaves. A 1160‐bp promoter region was also isolated resulting in identification of distinctcis‐regulatory elements including W‐box, TGACG‐motif, and TC‐rich repeats. Quantitative RT‐PCR indicated thatAaPAL1was upregulated by salinity, drought, wounding, and SA stresses, which were corroborated positively with the identifiedcis‐elements within the promoter region.AaPAL1was successfully expressed inEscherichia. coliand the enzyme activity of the purified AaPAL1 was approximately 287.2 U/mg. These results substantiated the involvement ofAaPAL1in the phenylalanine pathway.
Erythropoietin produced by genetic‐modified NIH/3T3 fibroblasts enhances the survival of degenerating neurons
Authors: Li Yi‐Chin , Chen Shiu‐Jau , Chien Chung‐Liang 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBackgroundErythropoietin (EPO) has potent neuroprotective effects. The short‐term delivery of high‐dose EPO seemed to improve patients’ neuromuscular functions; however, excessive EPO resulted in systematically high hematocrit and thrombotic risk. In our study, we established a cellular material for future in vivo studies of neurodegenerative diseases based on EPO provided regionally at a nontoxic level.MethodsA mouse EPO cDNA was subcloned into the pCMS‐EGFP vector and transfected into NIH/3T3 fibroblasts to design a biological provider that can regionally release EPO for the treatment of neurological diseases. After G418 selection, a stable EPO‐overexpressing cell line, EPO‐3T3‐EGFP, was established. To further confirm the neuroprotective abilities of secreted EPO from EPO‐3T3‐EGFP cells, a cell model of neurodegeneration, PC12‐INT‐EGFP, was applied.ResultsThe expression level of EPO was highly elevated in EPO‐3T3‐EGFP cells, and an abundant amount of EPO secreted from EPO‐3T3‐EGFP cells was detected in the extracellular milieu. After supplementation with conditioned medium prepared from EPO‐3T3‐EGFP cells, the survival rate of PC12‐INT‐EGFP cells was significantly enhanced. Surprisingly, a fraction of aggregated cytoskeletal EGFP‐tagged α‐internexin in PC12‐INT‐EGFP cells was disaggregated and transported into neurites dynamically. The immunocytochemical distribution of IF proteins, including NF‐M, phosphorylated‐NF‐M, and the α‐INT‐EGFP fusion protein, were less aggregated in the perikaryal region and transported into neurites after the EPO treatment.ConclusionThe established EPO‐overexpressing NIH/3T3 cell line, EPO‐3T3‐EGFP, may provide a material for future studies of cell‐based therapies for neurodegenerative diseases via the secretion of EPO on a short‐term, high‐dose, regional basis.