bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Studies on the optimal conditions for synthesizing poly(butylene succinate‐co‐terephthalate) copolyesters with targeted properties
Authors: Tsai Ping‐Hsun , Wang Ching‐Huang , Kan Lou‐Sing , Chen C. Will 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTThe aliphatic‐aromatic copolyesters are becoming more important due to their desirable mechanical properties and biodegradability. In this study, a series of Poly(butylene succinate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBST) of various monomer compositions were synthesized from succinic acid (SA), dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), and 1,4‐butanediol (BDO) in the presence of tetrabutyl titanate (Ti(Obu)4). The experiment was divided into three parts. The first part is a 23 factorial design with permutations of three factors, namely, temperature, molar ratio of BDO/DMT, and molar ratio of SA/DMT in polycondensation. Our statistical analysis showed that the temperature has a more significant effect on the intrinsic viscosity ([η]) of PBST than the other two factors. The number‐average molecular weight (Mn) of the PBST was determined from the intrinsic viscosity by using the Berkowitz model of Mn = 1.521 × 105[η]1.5. The second part of the experiment is a time course investigation of polycondensation under various temperatures, molar ratios of BDO/(DMT + SA), and concentrations of Ti(Obu)4. Our results showed the best polycondensation occurred at 1.5 hr with [η] reaching 0.49 dL/g when the temperature was held at 250 °C, BDO/(SA + DMT) = 1.2 mol/mol with SA/(SA + DMT) = 50 mol%, and 0.97 mmol of Ti(Obu)4 per mol of SA + DMT. The third part of the experiment involves searching for the best molar ratio of SA/(SA + DMT) in obtaining desirable polymer properties and biodegradability. The results showed that the highest melting point of PBST can be as high as 177 °C at SA/(SA + DMT) = 30 mol%. The maximum tensile strength of 25.6 MPa is obtained at SA/(SA + DMT) = 30 mol%. The maximum elongation at break of 269.3% and the maximum Young's modulus of 754.8 MPa are reached at SA/(SA + DMT) = 60 mol% and at SA/(SA + DMT) = 30 mol%, respectively. The fastest lipase‐decomposition rate of PBST reached 100 % at day six for samples with molar ratio SA/(SA + DMT) = 80 mol%. © 2011 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Alteration of the mechanical and thermal properties of nylon 6/nylon 6,6 blends by nanoclay
Authors: Jarrar Rabab , Mohsin Mahmood A. , Haik Yousef 
Published: October 2011

AbstractNylon 6 [N(6)], nylon 6,6 [N(6,6)], and their blends at different clay loadings were prepared. The mix was melted and injected into strip‐shaped samples. Mechanical and thermal analyses were performed to investigate the effect of blending and the incorporated clay on the mechanical and thermal properties. Enhancements in the Young's modulus and hardness were obtained for all of the nanocomposites, with a 55% increase in Young's modulus after the addition of 6 wt % nanoclay, although the improvement in tensile strength depended on the blend ratio, with greatest effects on the 50% N(6)/50% N(6,6) blend with increases of 44 and 59% for 2 and 4% clay loadings, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis showed an enhancement in the thermal properties in the 50% N(6)/50% N(6,6) blend at 2% clay loading, and the blend exhibited ductile behavior at this loading. Increases in the crystallization peak temperatures of 10–15° in N(6,6) and the two blends 30% N(6)/70% N(6,6) and 50% N(6)/50% N(6,6) were observed after the addition of the clay. The nanoclay enhanced the γ‐/β‐form crystals in N(6) and N(6,6) neat polymers and also in the blends. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy FT‐IR revealed the formation of hydrogen bonding and the possible formation of ionic bonds between the polymers and the nanoclay, which resulted in enhancements in the mechanical properties of the blends. The distribution of the nanoclay in the blend was well dispersed, as shown by X‐ray diffraction analysis. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Barriers to task‐based information access in molecular medicine
Authors: Kumpulainen Sanna , Järvelin Kalervo 
Published: October 2011

AbstractWe analyze barriers to task‐based information access in molecular medicine, focusing on research tasks, which provide task performance sessions of varying complexity. Molecular medicine is a relevant domain because it offers thousands of digital resources as the information environment. Data were collected through shadowing of real work tasks. Thirty work task sessions were analyzed and barriers in these identified. The barriers were classified by their character (conceptual, syntactic, and technological) and by their context of appearance (work task, system integration, or system). Also, work task sessions were grouped into three complexity classes and the frequency of barriers of varying types across task complexity levels were analyzed. Our findings indicate that although most of the barriers are on system level, there is a quantum of barriers in integration and work task contexts. These barriers might be overcome through attention to the integrated use of multiple systems at least for the most frequent uses. This can be done by means of standardization and harmonization of the data and by taking the requirements of the work tasks into account in system design and development, because information access is seldom an end itself, but rather serves to reach the goals of work tasks.
Potential pharmacokinetic interactions between antiretrovirals and medicinal plants used as complementary and African traditional medicines
Authors: Müller Adrienne C. , Kanfer Isadore 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTThe use of traditional/complementary/alternate medicines (TCAMs) in HIV/AIDS patients who reside in Southern Africa is quite common. Those who use TCAMs in addition to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment may be at risk of experiencing clinically significant pharmacokinetic (PK) interactions, particularly between the TCAMs and the protease inhibitors (PIs) and non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). Mechanisms of PK interactions include alterations to the normal functioning of drug efflux transporters, such as P‐gp and/or CYP isoenzymes, such a CYP3A4 that mediate the absorption and elimination of drugs in the small intestine and liver. Specific mechanisms include inhibition and activation of these proteins and induction via the pregnane X receptor (PXR). Several clinical studies and case reports involving ARV–herb PK interactions have been reported. St John's Wort, Garlic and Cat's Claw exhibited potentially significant interactions, each with a PI or NNRTI. The potential for these herbs to induce PK interactions with drugs was first identified in reports of in vitro studies. Other in vitro studies have shown that several African traditional medicinal (ATM) plants and extracts may also demonstrate PK interactions with ARVs, through effects on CYP3A4, P‐gp and PXR. The most complex effects were exhibited by Hypoxis hemerocallidea, Sutherlandia frutescens, Cyphostemma hildebrandtii, Acacia nilotica, Agauria salicifolia and Elaeodendron buchananii. Despite a high incidence of HIV/AIDs in the African region, only one clinical study, between efavirenz and Hypoxis hemerocallidea has been conducted. However, several issues/concerns still remain to be addressed and thus more studies on ATMs are warranted in order for more meaningful data to be generated and the true potential for such interactions to be determined. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative analysis of the antifungal drug anidulafungin by LC‐online SPE‐MS/MS in human plasma
Authors: Burhenne Heike , Kielstein Jan T. , Burkhardt Olaf , Kaever Volkhard 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to develop a fast and robust method for the quantitation of the antifungal drug anidulafungin in human plasma samples by generic two‐dimensional liquid chromatography (online‐SPE/reversed phase LC) coupled to a tandem‐quadrupole mass spectrometer (LC‐online SPE‐MS/MS). Online SPE was performed using an Oasis HLB cartridge column and for reversed‐phase chromatography a Nucleodur Gravity C18 column was used. A 100 μL aliquot of human plasma was extracted with 200 μL of 80:20 MeOH–0.2 M ZnSO4 (v/v) as precipitation reagent containing ascomycin as internal standard (IS). The supernatant was directly injected for analysis. The total run time was 4.5 min. Anidulafungin and ascomycin were detected in the positive ionization mode. The method performance data for anidulafungin, such as limit of detection (0.013 µg/mL), lower limit of quantitation (0.04 µg/mL), linearity (R2 = 0.9999) and concentration range (0.04–10 µg/mL) were ascertained. Intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were ≤6.6% and intra‐ and inter‐day accuracies were 98.5–101.0 and 100.0–102.5%, respectively. The assay was successfully applied for quantitation of anidulafungin in patient plasma samples. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Posttraumatic torsional injury as an indirect cause of fibular intraneural ganglion cysts: Case illustrations and potential mechanisms
Authors: Spinner Robert J. , Ibrahim Elshiekh Mohanad Ahmed , Tubbs R. Shane , Turner Norman S. , Amrami Kimberly K. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractTrauma has been loosely associated with the development of fibular intraneural ganglion cysts. Sporadic reports of direct trauma to the proximal lateral leg in the region of the superior tibiofibular joint (STFJ) capsule support the development of a capsular rent and the subsequent egress of joint fluid from the articular joint. This report provides evidence to suggest that indirect trauma from torsion can link concomitant ankle injury and fibular nerve palsy (foot drop) and fibular intraneural ganglion cysts. We present two cases to illustrate different potential mechanisms. One patient sustained an ankle ligamentous injury which was translated through the interosseous membrane (IOM) to the proximal leg region, affecting the STFJ and the fibular nerve (ascending pathway). The second patient had blunt injury to the popliteal fossa in combination with a twisting injury to the leg. In this latter case we offer two plausible explanations: (1) combined knee and ankle injury resulting in an ascending pathway mechanism; and (2) a knee injury which disrupted the STFJ, resulting in a translational force down the leg (descending pathway). We believe that fibular intraneural cysts from the STFJ result from direct and indirect trauma. Additional reports of similar cases and sophisticated biomechanical testing will allow us to delineate the exact mechanisms for these injury patterns. Clin. Anat. 25:641–646, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Religion and Social Capital: Identity Matters
Authors: Hopkins Nick 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTThis paper considers how our understanding of religious identifications may be enriched through social psychological theorizing on group identity. It reviews a range of work (for example, sociological and social psychological) concerning Islam and Muslim identities and develops the case for viewing religious identities as constructed in and through argument. It then seeks to draw out the implications of such an approach for understanding group relations. Although minority religious identifications are often assumed to undermine social cohesion, the social networks within and between groups can contribute to inter‐group harmony. For example, reciprocal relationships characterized by trust and reciprocity can constitute forms of social capital that facilitate civic integration. Yet, how such social networks are used and how relationships are developed depends on group members' understandings of their collective identity. As this is contested, it follows that analyses of intergroup relations must attend to group members' identity‐related arguments and the strategic concerns that lie behind them. The utility of this perspective is illustrated briefly with empirical material (arising from interviews conducted with Muslim activists) which hints at the importance of investigating social actors' own theories of social capital and how it can be developed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Social Psychology, Religion and Inter‐Group Relations: Hamas Leaders' Media Talk about their Vision for the Future
Authors: McVittie Chris , McKinlay Andy , Sambaraju Rahul 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTThis paper focuses on the relationship between Islam and the secular aspects of society which differentiate Islamic societies from other states. Bound up with this question is the issue of the extent to which Islamists challenge proposals that religion should be ‘set aside’ when people act as citizens by arguing that Islam embraces the whole of life. Using discourse analysis we examine extracts from media interviews with leaders of the Islamist Hamas movement about Islam and its application within the Gaza strip. The interviewees construct religion as being congruent with existing social practices within Gaza. This allows interviewees to make three claims: that the introduction of Islam will make no difference to existing society, that Islam will be tolerant of existing social practices, and that potentially criticisable political acts should be viewed in civic rather than religious terms. By so doing, the interviewees display sensitivity to potential distinctions between religious and civic practices and attend to inferences that might arise in respect of inter‐group relations. Constructions of religion and of civic society can thus be viewed as participants' rather than analysts' concerns and should be examined for their functions within both distal and local contexts. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Meta‐stereotypes of Groups with Opposite Religious Views: Believers and Non‐Believers
Authors: Saroglou Vassilis , Yzerbyt Vincent , Kaschten Cécile 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTRecent research on meta‐stereotypes, that is, ingroup members' beliefs about how the outgroup sees them, may be of importance for intergroup relations between believers and non‐believers, especially in the context of increasingly secularized societies. How do believers and non‐believers think that outgroup members, respectively non‐believers and believers, see them? Do these meta‐stereotypes accurately reflect the outgroup's actual stereotypes? We investigated these questions by focusing on a series of relevant characteristics selected on the basis of previous research on religion and personality. Participants (n = 100) provided their stereotypes and meta‐stereotypes on eight personality traits. Believers and non‐believers tended to share the meta‐stereotype that the outgroup members see them as respectively high versus low in prosociality and conservatism and low versus high in hedonism and impulsivity. In contrast, believers seemed to ignore that non‐believers see them as dogmatic and non‐believers often exaggerated their meta‐stereotypes in comparison to how believers actually saw them. Finally, highly identified group members tended to deny the outgroup's core characteristic, that is, believers' relative higher altruism and non‐believers' relative lower dogmatism. We discuss the importance of knowing commonalities and discrepancies between stereotypic and meta‐stereotypic perceptions for understanding intergroup perceptions and relations between groups that hold conflicting religious positions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Discrepancy in the assessment of jailed side branch lesions by visual estimation and quantitative coronary angiographic analysis
Authors: Shin Dong‐Ho , Koo Bon‐Kwon , Waseda Katsuhisa , Park Kyung Woo , Kim Hyo‐Soo , Corral Maria , Lansky Alexandra , Honda Yasuhiro , Fearon William F , Fitzgerald Peter J 
Published: October 2011

AbstractObjective: We sought to evaluate the variability in the assessment of jailed side branch (SB) lesions by visual estimation and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and to compare those results with fractional flow reserve (FFR). Methods: Twenty jailed SB lesions with available FFR (median 0.76; range, 0.39–0.94) were selected from the PRESSURE trial. Lesions were assessed by three independent QCA core laboratories with different QCA systems and by three different cardiologist groups (five European bifurcation club members, five Korean experts, and five trainees). Agreements of the continuous measurements were expressed as the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and average coefficient of variance (CV), and those of the categorical values as kappa. Results: Mean minimum lumen diameter (MLD) and % diameter stenosis differed among the three QCA systems up to 0.30 mm and 9.65%, respectively (P < 0.001). Three QCA systems showed fair agreement for the measurements of reference diameter, % diameter stenosis, MLD, and lesion length (ICC 0.346–0.686, CV 8.7–29.5%), and a poor agreement on stenosis of 75% or more (Fleiss κ 0.14 and mean κ 0.18). Agreements of visual estimation among the three groups were poor to fair (Fleiss κ 0.167–0.367). Sensitivity and specificity for predicting ischemia‐inducible lesion (FFR < 0.75) were 64.7% and 48.0% for visual estimation and 56.6% and 56.6% by QCA, respectively. Visual estimation overestimated the % diameter stenosis and functional significance of the lesions compared with QCA (P < 0.001) and FFR (P = 0.036). Conclusions: Angiographic assessment of jailed SB lesions by both QCA and visual estimation showed variability. Visual estimation tended to overestimate the severity of jailed SB lesions compared to FFR and QCA. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed One‐Pot Syntheses of 9‐(Pyridin‐2‐yl)‐9H‐carbazoles through a Tandem CH Activation/CX (X=C or N) Formation Process
Authors: Chu Jean‐Ho , Lin Pi‐Shan , Lee Ya‐Ming , Shen Wei‐Ting , Wu Ming‐Jung 
Published: October 2011

AbstractA new one‐pot synthesis of 9‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐9H‐carbazoles through the simultaneous CH activation and palladium(II)‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of N‐phenylpyridin‐2‐amines with potassium aryltrifluoroborates is presented. Silver acetate and 1,4‐dioxane proved to be the best oxidant and solvent, respectively. The product yields fluctuated from modest to excellent and the reaction showed sufficient functional group tolerance. p‐Benzoquinone served as an important ligand for the transmetalation and reductive elimination steps in the catalytic process. The kinetic isotope effects (kH/kD) for the first and second CH activation/CC or CN formation steps were measured as 2.14 and 1.18, respectively. Finally, a rational catalytic mechanism is presented based on all experimental evidence.
Interfacial Complexation Reactions of Sr2+ with Octyl(phenyl)‐N,N‐diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine Oxide for Understanding Its Extraction in Reprocessing Spent Nuclear Fuels
Authors: Stockmann T. Jane , Lu Yu , Zhang Jing , Girault Hubert H. , Ding Zhifeng 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe complexation reactions between strontium (Sr2+) and octyl(phenyl)‐N,N‐diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) were studied at the aqueous|1,2‐dichloroethane (w|DCE) and aqueous|room‐temperature ionic liquid (w|RTIL) microinterfaces, in order to understand its extraction in reprocessing spent nuclear fuels, remediation of environmental contamination, and potential radiological isotope feed stock for 90Y from its isotope 90Sr in fission byproducts. The stoichiometry (or metal to ligand ratios) and overall complexation constant (β) for these reactions at these two interfaces are described herein. Two stoichiometries at the w|DCE interface were discovered, that is, [Sr(CMPO)2]2+ and [Sr(CMPO)3]2+ with β values of 4.5×1019 and 5.5×1025, respectively. Only one stoichiometry was observed at the w|RTIL interface: [Sr(CMPO)3]2+ with β equal to 1.5×1034. The larger complexation constant for [Sr(CMPO)3]2+ at the w|RTIL interface than those found at the w|DCE interface supported the previous observation of a greater distribution ratio in the aqueous–RTIL metal extraction than that in the aqueous–alkane processing. The kinetics of the reactions at the w|RTIL interface was slow. The stoichiometries at the w|DCE interface were confirmed using biphasic electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (BESI‐MS) as well as direct injection of Sr2+ and CMPO mixture by means of a “shaking flask” experiment to conventional ESI‐MS.
Evaluation of Platinum–Ethacrynic Acid Conjugates in the Treatment of Mesothelioma
Authors: Zanellato Ilaria , Bonarrigo Ilaria , Sardi Manuele , Alessio Manuela , Gabano Elisabetta , Ravera Mauro , Osella Domenico 
Published: October 2011

AbstractMalignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) cells are characterized by chemoresistance associated with glutathione (GSH) metabolism. Ethacrynic acid (EA) is able to inhibit the detoxifying enzyme glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST), which catalyzes the conjugation between GSH and Pt‐based drugs. With the aim of obtaining active bifunctional drugs, a PtII complex containing two EA moieties as leaving groups, namely cis‐diamminobis(ethacrynato)platinum(II), was synthesized, characterized, and tested on four MPM cell lines. The resulting antiproliferative activity was compared with that elicited by the analogue PtIV complex, cis,cis,trans‐diamminodichloridobis(ethacrynato)platinum(IV) (ethacraplatin) and by the co‐administration of free EA and cisplatin. The PtII and PtIV bifunctional complexes showed poorer performance than the reference drug cisplatin alone or in combination with EA. After treatment, cellular GST activity remained consistently unchanged, while the GSH level increased.
Flow cytometry as a diagnostic tool in lymphomatous or leukemic meningitis
Authors: Ahluwalia Manmeet S. , Wallace Paul K. , Peereboom David M. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractIn patients with neoplastic meningitis (NM), early diagnosis is highly desirable because the rapid institution of intrathecal therapy may mitigate the course of the disease. Cytology, long considered the “gold standard” for diagnosis, has low sensitivity because of both the paucity of cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and morphological similarities between benign and malignant cells. A comprehensive review of the literature from 2005 through 2011 was performed that focused on diagnostic modalities for lymphomatous meningitis. Several studies demonstrated the sensitivity of flow cytometry to be several‐fold higher than that of cytology for the detection of CSF leukemia/lymphoma. Patients with negative cytology but positive flow cytometry results are often asymptomatic and have lower CSF cell counts and neoplastic B‐cell percentages compared with patients with positive cytology findings. Flow cytometry is a highly sensitive technique capable of accurately detecting malignant cells, even in samples with very low cell counts. Flow cytometry allows for the earlier detection of NM before the onset of clinical symptoms and CSF pleocytosis and therefore may enable more effective treatment. Future consensus regarding standardized flow cytometric antibody panels, with uniform definitions of positivity, is likely to further advance the early detection of NM by flow cytometry and permit broader clinical applicability. Cancer 2012;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.