bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fiber‐based light sources for biomedical applications of coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering microscopy
Authors: Gottschall Thomas , Meyer Tobias , Baumgartl Martin , Jauregui Cesar , Schmitt Michael , Popp Jürgen , Limpert Jens , Tünnermann Andreas 
Published: August 2015

AbstractDuring the past decade coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy has evolved to one of the most powerful imaging techniques in the biomedical sciences, enabling the label‐free visualization of the chemical composition of tissue in vivo in real time. While the acquisition of high‐contrast images of single cells up to large tissue sections enables a wide range of medical applications from routine diagnostics to surgical guidance, to date CARS imaging is employed in fundamental research only, essentially because the synchronized multiple wavelength pulsed laser sources required for CARS microscopy are large, expensive and require regular maintenance. Laser sources based on optical fibers can overcome these limitations combining highest efficiency and peak powers with an excellent spatial beam profile and thermal stability. In this review we summarize the different fiber‐based approaches for laser sources dedicated to coherent Raman imaging, in particular active fiber technology and passive fiber‐based frequency conversion processes, i.e. supercontinuum generation, soliton self‐frequency shift and four‐wave mixing. We re‐evaluate the ideal laser parameters for CARS imaging and discuss the suitability of different laser concepts for turn‐key operation required for routine application in clinics.
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Synthesis of Miktoarm Star‐Shaped Polymers with POSS Core via a Combination of CuAAC Click Chemistry, ATRP, and ROP Techniques
Authors: Doganci Erdinc , Tasdelen Mehmet Atilla , Yilmaz Faruk 
Published: August 2015

Well‐defined AB‐type miktoarm star‐shaped polymers with a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) core are prepared by combination of the “core‐first” and “arm‐first” approaches using ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) and copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) click reactions. The clickable octakis‐azido‐hydroxyl‐POSS as the core molecule and alkyne end‐functionalized precursor polymers (methoxypoly(ethylene glycol), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and polystyrene) are synthesized independently according to the well‐known procedures including ring‐opening reaction of octaglycidyldimethylsilyl POSS using sodium azide, etherification of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) monomethyl ether using propargyl bromide and sequential atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate or styrene and following nucleophilic substitution reactions of the these polymers with sodium azide. In subsequent step, octa‐armed poly(ε‐caprolactone) star‐shaped polymer ((PCL)8‐POSS‐(N3)8) containing azido functionalities in the core is synthesized via “core‐first” approach through ROP of ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL). Finally, alkyne end‐functionalized polymers are introduced to the (PCL)8‐POSS‐(N3)8 via “arm‐first” approach using the CuAAC click reaction under ambient conditions, yielding AB‐type miktoarm star‐shaped polymers. Based on 1H NMR spectroscopy calculations, the number of PEG, PMMA, and PSt arms in (PCL)8‐POSS‐(mPEG)7, (PCL)8‐POSS‐(PMMA)5, and (PCL)8‐POSS‐(PSt)6 star‐shaped polymers is found as 7.1, 4.9, and 5.9, respectively.
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The advanced algorithm for tracking objects (AALTO)
Authors: Limpert George , Houston Adam , Lock Noah 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTThe advanced algorithm for the tracking of objects (AALTO) constructs tracks from objects, such as thunderstorms or mesocyclones, detected by multiple weather radars at irregular time intervals. It is important to have high accuracy in tracking thunderstorms to generate skilful forecasts and high‐quality climatologies and, fundamentally, to ensure that any derived product from tracks captures only that particular storm, and in its entirety. AALTO incorporates many of the best practices of existing tracking algorithms and techniques employed by meteorologists in constructing tracks. AALTO differs from existing algorithms designed to track meteorological phenomena that manifest in radar data in the following ways: (1) AALTO is designed to track objects from multiple radars, enabling analysis over a larger domain than if a single radar was used; (2) improved tracking is realized through improved initial motion estimates and directional thresholding and (3) AALTO looks both at the track history and at the subsequent possible positions along a track when constructing the best possible tracks, mimicking the approach that would be taken by a human meteorologist. Verification was done using metrics that were objectively determined to distinguish between good and degraded tracks; a description of the approach to determine the appropriate metrics is presented. An overview of the AALTO tracking procedure and an example case are presented in this study.
Inferring Association between Compound and Pathway with an Improved Ensemble Learning Method
Authors: Song Meiyue , Jiang Zhenran 
Published: August 2015

AbstractEmergence of compound molecular data coupled to pathway information offers the possibility of using machine learning methods for compound‐pathway associations’ inference. To provide insights into the global relationship between compounds and their affected pathways, a improved Rotation Forest ensemble learning method called RGRF (Relief & GBSSL – Rotation Forest) was proposed to predict their potential associations. The main characteristic of the RGRF lies in using the Relief algorithm for feature extraction and regarding the Graph‐Based Semi‐Supervised Learning method as classifier. By incorporating the chemical structure information, drug mode of action information and genomic space information, our method can achieve a better precision and flexibility on compound‐pathway prediction. Moreover, several new compound‐pathway associations that having the potential for further clinical investigation have been identified by database searching. In the end, a prediction tool was developed using RGRF algorithm, which can predict the interactions between pathways and all of the compounds in cMap database.
Curcumin suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome activation and protects against LPS‐induced septic shock
Authors: Gong Zizhen , Zhou Jiefei , Li Hui , Gao Yanhong , Xu Congfeng , Zhao Shengnan , Chen Yingwei , Cai Wei , Wu Jin 
Published: August 2015

ScopeThe NLRP3 inflammasome responds to various pathogen‐derived factors and danger‐associated molecules, mediating IL‐1β maturation, therefore is involved in multiple inflammatory diseases. Curcumin has been shown to possess strong anti‐inflammatory activity, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we sought to investigate the role and mechanism of curcumin on the inhibition of mature IL‐1β production via the regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome.Methods and resultsCurcumin dramatically inhibited the production of mature IL‐1β in LPS‐primed macrophages triggered by multiple NLRP3 inflammasome activators, and also reduced the level of cleaved caspase‐1 as measured by western blot and ELISA. Curcumin prevented K+ efflux, the common trigger for NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and attenuated lysosomes disruption and intracellular ROS formation as well. The inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome by curcumin was in part mediated via the suppression of extracellular regulated protein kinases phosphorylation. Furthermore, administration of curcumin significantly reduced peritoneal IL‐1β and HMGB‐1 concentration induced by LPS and improved the survival of mice suffering from lethal endotoxic shock.ConclusionCurcumin potently inhibits the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome which may contribute to its anti‐inflammatory activity. Our finding offers a mechanistic basis for the therapeutic potential of curcumin in septic shock and other NLRP3 inflammasome‐driven diseases.
Proportional stress and strain paths in barodesy
Authors: Medicus Gertraud , Kolymbas Dimitrios , Fellin Wolfgang 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAsymptotic behaviour of soil deserves particular attention: If soil is deformed with a proportional strain path, the resulting stress path approaches asymptotically a proportional stress path. In this arcticle, we review existing experimental evidence on this phenomenon and discuss it in the frame of barodesy. Here, the presented relation is a modification of a barodetic expression and includes Jáky's relation, inhibits tensile stress and is able to predict asymptotic stress ratios based on experimental findings. The proposed relation is compared with experimental data as well as with the so‐called stress‐dilatancy relations and other constitutive relations proposed so far. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Numerical study of inter‐particle bond failure by 3D discrete element method
Authors: Shen Zhifu , Jiang Mingjing , Wan Richard 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThe cohesive‐frictional nature of cementitious geomaterials raises great interest in the discrete element method (DEM) simulation of their mechanical behavior, where a proper bond failure criterion is usually required. In this paper, the failure of bond material between two spheres was investigated numerically using DEM that can easily reproduce the failure process of brittle material. In the DEM simulations, a bonded‐grain system (composed of two particles and bond material in between) was discretized as a cylindrical assembly of very fine particles connecting two large end spheres. Then, the bonded‐grain system was subjected to compression/tension, shear, rolling and torsion loadings and their combinations until overall failure (peak state) was reached. Bonded‐grain systems with various sizes were employed to investigate bond geometry effects. The numerical results show that the compression strength is highly affected by bond geometry, with the tensile strength being dependent to a lesser degree. The shear, rolling and torsion strengths are all normal force dependent; i.e., with an increase in the normal force, these strengths first increase at a declining rate and then start to decrease upon the normal force exceeding a critical value. The combined actions of shear force, rolling moment and torque lead to a spherical failure envelope in a normalized loading space. The fitted bond geometry factors and bond failure envelopes obtained numerically in this three‐dimensional study are qualitatively consistent with those in previous two‐dimensional experiments. The obtained bond failure criterion can be incorporated into a future bond contact model. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Activity of the external urethral sphincter evoked by genital stimulation in male rats
Authors: Juárez Raúl , Zempoalteca René , Pacheco Pablo , Lucio Rosa Angélica , Medel Alfonso , Cruz Yolanda 
Published: August 2015

AimsTo determine whether the external urethral sphincter (EUS) fasciculi of male rats respond to the mechanical stimulation of genital structures and to characterize the pattern of the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the three regions of the EUS: the cranial (CrEUS), the medial (MeEUS) and the caudal (CaEUS).MethodsElectromyographic signals were recorded from the CrEUS, MeEUS and CaEUS regions of the male rat's EUS, before, during and after the mechanical stimulation of the urogenital structures.ResultsThe CrEUS, MeEUS and CaEUS regions responded when brushing and squeezing the foreskin and glans as well as to penile and prostatic urethral distension. The CaEUS EMG amplitude (P < 0.01) and frequency (P < 0.05) were lower in comparison to the CrEUS and MeEUS responses to the mechanical stimulation. In addition, the CaEUS was characterized by a short or no afterdischarge. In contrast, the CrEUS and MeEUS responded by presenting a long discharge after the penile or prostatic urethral distension.ConclusionsThe activity of the EUS is modulated by both, cutaneous and visceral genitourinary stimuli, with motor units being activated by mechanoreceptors located in the foreskin, glans, bladder, and urethra. The CrEUS, MeEUS and CaEUS have differential EMG patterns, indicating that the EUS consists of three anatomically and functionally different regions. Precise coordination in the muscular activity of these regions may be crucial for the control of male expulsive urethral functions, i.e., during voiding and ejaculation.Neurourol. Urodynam. 35:914–919, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Myeloid cell‐mediated renal injury in rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis depends upon spleen tyrosine kinase
Authors: Ryan Jessica , Ma Frank Y , Han Yingjie , Ozols Elyce , Kanellis John , Tesch Greg H , Nikolic‐Paterson David J 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAntibody‐dependent activation of myeloid cells within the glomerulus plays a central role in rapidly progressive forms of glomerulonephritis. The spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) is expressed by all leukocytes, except mature T cells, and is required for signalling via the B‐cell receptor, Fc receptors, and some integrins. Syk has been proposed as a therapeutic target in glomerulonephritis. However, little is known of Syk activation in human kidney disease, while studies in experimental glomerulonephritis using non‐selective Syk inhibitors require validation via conditional gene deletion. The current study addressed both of these important points. Syk activation (Tyr525/526phosphorylation) was examined in a cohort of 96 patients with different glomerulonephritides. Syk activation was evident in infiltrating leukocytes, mainly neutrophils and macrophages, in 36/40 cases of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. In contrast, non‐proliferative diseases showed little or no Syk activation. Glomerular and interstitial cells exhibiting Syk activation correlated with renal function and systemic inflammation. Next, we examined mice with conditionalSykgene deletion in myeloid cells (SykMy) versusSykf/flittermate controls in nephrotoxic serum nephritis – a model of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. ControlSykf/fmice featured a transient neutrophil influx at 3 h and severe disease on day 9 of nephrotoxic serum nephritis, with crescent formation, macrophage infiltration, inflammation, kidney fibrosis, and renal dysfunction. In contrast,SykMymice had significantly reduced neutrophil and macrophage infiltration despite equivalent glomerular deposition of humoral reactants.SykMymice exhibited reduced crescent formation, inflammation, and fibrosis, with improved renal function on day 9 of nephrotoxic serum nephritis. In conclusion, Syk activation is prominent in infiltrating myeloid cells in human rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, and functional studies demonstrate thatSykdeletion in myeloid cells is protective in mouse nephrotoxic serum nephritis. Copyright © 2015 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
End group polarity and block symmetry effects on cloud point and hydrodynamic diameter of thermoresponsive block copolymers
Authors: Xiang Xu , Ding Xiaochu , Chen Ning , Zhang Beilu , Heiden Patricia A. 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTThermoresponsive block copolymers are of interest for delivery vehicles in the body. Often an interior domain is designed for the active agent and the exterior domain provides stability in the bloodstream, and may carry a targeting ligand. There is still much to learn about how block sequence and chain end identity affect micelle structure, size, and cloud points. Here, hydrophilic oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate and more hydrophobic di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate monomers were polymerized to give amphiphilic block copolymers with amphiphilic chain ends. The block sequence and chain end identity were both controlled by appropriate choice of RAFT chain transfer agents to study the effect of ‘matched’ and ‘mismatched’ chain end polarity with amphiphilic block sequence. The affect of matching or mismatching chain end polarity and block sequence was studied on the hydrodynamic diameter, cloud point, and temperature range of the chain collapse on linear di‐ and triblock copolymers and star diblock polymers. The affects of matching or mismatching chain end polarity were significant with linear diblock copolymers but more complex with triblock and star copolymers. Explanations of these results may help guide others in designing thermoresponsive block copolymers. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 2838–2848
Naphthalic anhydride derivatives: Structural effects on their initiating abilities in radical and/or cationic photopolymerizations under visible light
Authors: Xiao Pu , Dumur Frédéric , Zhang Jing , Graff Bernadette , Morlet‐Savary Fabrice , Fouassier Jean Pierre , Gigmes Didier , Lalevée Jacques 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTOnly one naphthalic anhydride derivative has been reported as light sensitive photoinitiator, this prompted us to further explore the possibility to prepare a new family of photoinitiators based on this scaffold. Therefore, eight naphthalic Naphthalic anhydride derivatives (ANH1‐ANH8) have been prepared and combined with an iodonium salt (and optionally N‐vinylcarbazole) or an amine (and optionally 2,4,6‐tris(trichloromethyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine) to initiate the cationic polymerization of epoxides and the free radical polymerization of acrylates under different irradiation sources, that is, very soft halogen lamp (∼ 12 mW cm−2), laser diode at 405 nm (∼1.5 mW cm−2) or blue LED centered at 455 nm (80 mW cm−2). The ANH6 based photoinitiating systems are particularly efficient for the cationic and the radical photopolymerizations, and even better than that of the well‐known camphorquinone based systems. The photochemical mechanisms associated with the chemical structure/photopolymerization efficiency relationships are studied by steady state photolysis, fluorescence, cyclic voltammetry, laser flash photolysis, and electron spin resonance spin‐trapping techniques. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 2860–2866
High solids TEMPO‐mediated radical semibatch emulsion polymerization of styrene
Authors: González‐Blanco Roberto , Cunningham Michael F. , Saldívar‐Guerra Enrique 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTA bicomponent initiation system consisting of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐N‐oxyl (TEMPO) and the water soluble initiator potassium persulfate (KPS) was used to develop a robust and versatile semibatch emulsion polymerization process to obtain polystyrene (PS) latexes with solids contents of 5–40 wt %. A window of operating conditions was found that yielded high conversion (>95%) stable latexes and well controlled polymers, overcoming limitations found in previous attempts at developing similar processes using TEMPO. The critical parameters studied were surfactant concentration, monomer concentration in the nucleation step and the monomer feed rate in the semibatch step. Methyl acrylate (MA) was used in the nucleation step to improve the nitroxide efficiency (NEff). Latexes having molecular weight distribution (MWD) with dispersity (Đ) lower than 1.5, average particle size (Dp) from ≈32 to ≈500 nm, nitroxide efficiencies NEff up to ≈1.0 and monomer conversions >90% were obtained in less than 12 h with solids contents up to 40 wt %. These results constitute a significant advance over prior efforts in TEMPO‐mediated polymerization in aqueous dispersions. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 49–62
Wide‐angle X‐ray scattering study of the lamellar/fibrillar transition for a semi‐crystalline polymer deformed in tension in relation with the evolution of volume strain
Authors: Farge Laurent , Boisse Julien , Dillet Jérôme , André Stéphane , Albouy Pierre‐Antoine , Meneau Florian 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTThis work is devoted to the study of the deformation mechanisms of a high‐density polyethylene deformed in tension. Specific treatments were applied to synchrotron wide‐angle X‐ray scattering patterns obtained in situ with the aim of quantifying: (i) the evolution of the apparent crystal sizes during the deformation process, (ii) the reorientation dynamics of the fragmented crystals while aligning their chains along the drawing axis during the establishment of the fibrillar morphology, and (iii) the reorientation dynamics of the amorphous chains. In addition, the volume strain evolution was measured using 3D digital image correlation. The cavitation phenomenon was found to mainly occur during the lamellae fragmentation phase. At the end of the deformation process, when the lamellar structure is destroyed, the fragmented crystals have new degrees of freedom and become free to rotate to align their chains along the drawing axis. Crystal fragmentation is then no longer needed to allow material deformation, and there is no further volume strain increase. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015, 53, 1470–1480
Reciprocated suppression of polymer crystallization toward improved solid polymer electrolytes: Higher ion conductivity and tunable mechanical properties
Authors: Bi Sheng , Sun Che‐Nan , Zawodzinski Thomas A. , Ren Fei , Keum Jong Kahk , Ahn Suk‐Kyun , Li Dawen , Chen Jihua 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTSolid polymer electrolytes based on lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide and polymer matrix were extensively studied in the past due to their excellent potential in a broad range of energy related applications. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) are among the most examined polymer candidates as solid polymer electrolyte matrix. In this work, we study the effect of reciprocated suppression of polymer crystallization in PVDF/PEO binary matrix on ion transport and mechanical properties of the resultant solid polymer electrolytes. With electron and X‐ray diffractions as well as energy filtered transmission electron microscopy, we identify and examine the appropriate blending composition that is responsible for the diminishment of both PVDF and PEO crystallites. A three‐fold conductivity enhancement is achieved along with a highly tunable elastic modulus ranging from 20 to 200 MPa, which is expected to contribute toward future designs of solid polymer electrolytes with high room‐temperature ion conductivities and mechanical flexibility. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015, 53, 1450–1457
Di‐nitrogen–vacancy–hydrogen defects in diamond: a computational study
Authors: Peaker C. V. , Goss J. P. , Briddon P. R. , Horsfall A. B. , Rayson M. J. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractDensity functional theory was used to determine selected experimentally observable properties of the and point defects in diamond. We report that the symmetry of the defects are and retrospectively with the hydrogen(s) saturating carbon radicals that are produced when the vacancy is formed. has an accessible negative charge state if the Fermi energy lies above around 2.4 above the valence band top, as contains only species with their valence satisfied, only the neutral charge state of this species is thermodynamically stable. We predict that N2 VH0 would be detectable in infrared, with a C–H stretch mode around 3050 for the neutral species, shifting to 2700 in the negative charge state. is also expected to be visible in infrared, with the presence of two, sterically interacting H atoms resulting in peaks with higher wave numbers, being around 3370 and 3540 for the anti‐symmetric and symmetric stretch modes, respectively. Similarities can be drawn between the bandstructures of and the isoelectronic N centre, from which we predict the likely electronic optical transition for this centre. is expected to not give rise to any sharp electronic transitions.