bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and thermal properties of ester‐type crosslinked epoxy resins derived from lignosulfonate and glycerol
Authors: Ismail Tuan Noor Maznee Tuan , Hassan Hazimah Abu , Hirose Shigeo , Taguchi Yoichi , Hatakeyama Tatsuko , Hatakeyama Hyoe 
Published: December 2009

AbstractAmong various biomass‐based components, both lignin and glycerol are important, since they are abundantly produced as by‐products in industrial processes. Accordingly, in the present study, new types of crosslinked epoxy resins were synthesized from lignin and glycerol. Polymers derived from two types of lignin‐based crosslinked epoxy resins were prepared through two‐step reactions, ester‐carboxylic acid derivative preparation followed by crosslinked epoxy resin preparation, in order to establish a crosslinked epoxy resin system in which glycerol units were included. The resins obtained were labeled as follows: series 1, lignosulfonate‐glycerol polyacid (Ser1LSGLYPA); and series 2, glycerol diglycidyl ether (Ser2GLYDGE). The functional groups of the resins were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The thermal properties of the resins were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry. The glass transition temperature of the crosslinked epoxy resins increased with increasing LSGLYPA and GLYDGE contents for Ser1LSGLYPA and Ser2GLYDGE, respectively. The thermal degradation temperature for Ser1LSGLYPA and Ser2GLYDGE did not show significant change, suggesting that the crosslinked epoxy resins were thermally stable. The mass residue at 500 °C was not affected by the changes of LSGLYPA and GLYDGE contents. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
A study of the flame‐retardant properties of polypropylene/Al(OH)3/Mg(OH)2 composites
Authors: Liang Jizhao , Zhang Yingjie 
Published: December 2009

AbstractPolymeric materials are used extensively, but their applications are limited because many of them are flammable. Therefore ways to make them flame retardant have received much attention. In this work, polypropylene (PP) was used as the matrix resin, aluminium hydroxide (Al(OH)3) and magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) as flame‐retardant additives and zinc borate (ZB) as a flame‐retardant synergist. PP/Al(OH)3/Mg(OH)2 and PP/Al(OH)3/Mg(OH)2/ZB flame‐retardant composites were prepared with a twin‐screw extruder. The flame‐retardant properties, i.e. oxygen index (OI), burning velocity and smoke density, of the composites were measured. The results showed that OI increased with an increase of the filler content and decreased with an increase of the filler particle diameter. The burning velocity decreased with an increase of the filler content, while it first increased and then decreased with an increase of the filler particle diameter. The smoke density decreased with an increase of the filler content and increased with an increase of the filler particle diameter. There was a flame‐retardant synergy between Al(OH)3/Mg(OH)2 and ZB in the composites, and the smoke suppression effect was marked when ZB was added. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Proteins in ecotoxicology – How, why and why not?
Authors: Lemos Marco F. L. , Soares Amadeu M. V. M. , Correia António C. , Esteves Ana C. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe growing interest in the application of proteomic technologies to solve toxicology issues and its relevance in ecotoxicology research has resulted in the emergence of “ecotoxicoproteomics”. There is a general consensus that ecotoxicoproteomics is a powerful tool to spot early molecular events involved in toxicant responses, which are responsible for the adverse effects observed at higher levels of biological organization, thus contributing to elucidate the mode of action of stressors and to identify specific biomarkers. Ultimately, early‐warning indicators can then be developed and deployed in “in situ” bioassays and in environmental risk assessment. The number of field experiments or laboratory trials using ecologically relevant test‐species and involving proteomics has been, until recently, insufficient to allow a critical analysis of the real benefits of the application of this approach to ecotoxicology. This article intends to present an overview on the applications of proteomics in the context of ecotoxicology, focusing mainly on the prospective research to be done in invertebrates. Although these represent around 95% of all animal species and in spite of the key structural and functional roles they play in ecosystems, proteomic research in invertebrates is still in an incipient stage. We will review applications of ecotoxicoproteomics by evaluating the technical methods employed, the organisms and the contexts studied, the advances achieved until now and lastly the limitations yet to overcome will be discussed.
Plant secretome: Unlocking secrets of the secreted proteins
Authors: Agrawal Ganesh Kumar , Jwa Nam‐Soo , Lebrun Marc‐Henri , Job Dominique , Rakwal Randeep 
Published: December 2009

AbstractPlant secretomics is a newly emerging area of the plant proteomics field. It basically describes the global study of secreted proteins into the extracellular space of plant cell or tissue at any given time and under certain conditions through various secretory mechanisms. A combination of biochemical, proteomics and bioinformatics approaches has been developed to isolate, identify and profile secreted proteins using complementary in vitro suspension‐cultured cells and in planta systems. Developed inventories of secreted proteins under normal, biotic and abiotic conditions revealed several different types of novel secreted proteins, including the leaderless secretory proteins (LSPs). On average, LSPs can account for more than 50% of the total identified secretome, supporting, as in other eukaryotes, the existence of novel secretory mechanisms independent of the classical endoplasmic reticulum‐Golgi secretory pathway, and suggesting that this non‐classical mechanism of protein expression is, for as yet unknown reasons, more massively used than in other eukaryotic systems. Plants LSPs, which seem to be potentially involved in the defense/stress responses, might have dual (extracellular and/or intracellular) roles as most of them have established intracellular functions, yet presently unknown extracellular functions. Evidence is emerging on the role of glycosylation in the apical sorting and trafficking of secretory proteins. These initial secretome studies in plants have considerably advanced our understanding on secretion of different types of proteins and their underlying mechanisms, and opened a door for comparative analyses of plant secretomes with those of other organisms. In this first review on plant secretomics, we summarize and discuss the secretome definition, the applied approaches for unlocking secrets of the secreted proteins in the extracellular fluid, the possible functional significance and secretory mechanisms of LSPs, as well as glycosylation of secreted proteins and challenges involved ahead. Further improvements in existing and developing strategies and techniques will continue to drive forward plant secretomics research to building comprehensive and confident data sets of secreted proteins. This will lead to an increased understanding on how cells couple the concerted action of secreted protein networks to their internal and external environments.
The Microbicidal Effect of Low‐Temperature Plasma Generated by Corona Discharge: Comparison of Various Microorganisms on an Agar Surface or in Aqueous Suspension
Authors: Scholtz Vladimír , Julák Jaroslav , Kříha Vítězslav 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe sensitivity of various microbes to the low temperature plasma generated by negative corona discharge in the point‐to‐plane mode was tested. On the surface of agar semisolid cultivation media, the inhibition zones in microbial cultures were obtained and their areas were compared as a measure of microbicidal effect for nine microbial species including bacterial spores and a yeast species. This experimental arrangement resembles the testing of antibiotic sensitivity by the well‐known disc diffusion technique. The effect of comparable magnitude was found for all vegetative forms, but Candida albicans and Deinococcus radiodurans appeared to be the most and Geobacillus stearothermophilus the least susceptible. The effect on spores was in order of magnitude lesser than on vegetative forms. Following the action of the same plasma on bacteria in aqueous suspensions, the complete sterilization of Escherichia coli was achieved within 120 s and Staphylococcus epidermidis within 4–5 min. On the other hand, the yeast Candida albicans in water appeared to be less susceptible requiring 30 min for its complete inactivation.magnified image
Cyanosis revealing hepatopulmonary syndrome in a child with dyskeratosis congenita
Authors: Renoux M.C. , Mazars N. , Tichit R. , Counil F. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractWe report the case of a 5‐year‐old child with dyskeratosis congenita who presented cyanosis and dyspnea at exertion. He had severe hypoxemia with elevated alveolar‐arterial oxygen gradient in the setting of liver disease. Technetium‐99m‐labeled macroaggregated albumin scan showed abnormally high uptake in the brain, confirming hepatopulmonary syndrome. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010; 45:99–102. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Acute pulmonary toxicity following intralesional administration of bleomycin for a lymphovenous malformation
Authors: Atwa Khalid , Abuhasna Said , Shihab Zuhair , Hashaykeh Nidal , Hasan Rashed 
Published: December 2009

AbstractObjectiveTo describe the clinical course and treatment of an infant with acute pulmonary toxicity following intralesional administration of bleomycin for a lymphovenous malformation.DesignCase report.SettingA tertiary care University‐affiliated hospital.Patient, Intervention, and ResultsAn 8‐month‐old girl developed acute respiratory distress with profound hypoxemia complicated by pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum 1 day following intralesional administration of bleomycin. She was treated with bilateral chest tube insertion, systemic corticosteroids, pentoxifylline, and supportive care. At the most recent follow‐up 5 months after the onset of the respiratory event, the patient is active, walks, and talks without any evidence of pulmonary diseases clinically. This is the youngest infant reported, to date, with acute bleomycin pulmonary toxicity following intralesional administration of bleomycin resulting in acute respiratory insufficiency followed by complete recovery.ConclusionsThis case illustrates the importance of early recognition and aggressive treatment of acute bleomycin toxicity resulting from intralesional administration of this medication for lymphovenous malformations. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010; 45:192–196. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Croup presentations to emergency departments in Alberta, Canada: A large population‐based study
Authors: Rosychuk Rhonda J. , Klassen Terry P. , Metes Dan , Voaklander Donald C. , Senthilselvan Ambikaipakan , Rowe Brian H. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractBackgroundCroup is a common pediatric respiratory illness. While croup is generally a mild disease, exacerbations may be seen in the Emergency Department (ED) setting. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of croup presentations to EDs made by infants (≤2 years old) in the province of Alberta, Canada.MethodsThe Ambulatory Care Classification System and other Alberta provincial administrative databases were used to obtain all ED encounters for croup during six fiscal years (April 1999 to March 2005). Information extracted included demographics, ED visit timing, and subsequent visits to non‐ED settings. Data analysis included descriptive summaries and directly standardized visit rates.ResultsThere were 27,355 ED visits for croup made by 20,019 infants. Most (78.2%) had only one croup‐related ED visit; males (62.3% of ED visits) more commonly presented than females. Biennial trends were apparent in the sex standardized visit rates which increased from 43.4/1,000 in 1999/2000 to 49.6/1,000 in 2003/2004 for odd fiscal years, and from 30.9/1,000 in 2000/2001 to 34.1/1,000 in 2004/2005 for even years. The directly standardized visit rates varied by socio‐economic proxy: generally Welfare recipients had the highest rates, Aboriginals the lowest. Admission occurred in 8.0% of the cases; 5.4% had a repeat ED visit within 7 days following discharge. Overall, 71.9% of individuals had yet to have a non‐ED follow‐up visit by 1 week; the estimated median time to the first follow‐up visit was 33 days (95% CI: 31–36).ConclusionCroup is a common presenting problem in Alberta EDs. The important findings include an overall increase in the rates of presentation over the study period, disparities based on age, sex, and socio‐economic/cultural status, and the low rate of early follow‐up. Targeted interventions could be implemented to address specific groups and reduce croup‐related ED visits. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010; 45:83–91. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
pH‐dependent stability of neuroserpin is mediated by histidines 119 and 138; Implications for the control of β‐sheet A and polymerization
Authors: Belorgey Didier , Hägglöf Peter , Onda Maki , Lomas David A. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractNeuroserpin is a member of the serpin superfamily. Point mutations in the neuroserpin gene underlie the autosomal dominant dementia, familial encephalopathy with neuroserpin inclusion bodies. This is characterized by the retention of ordered polymers of neuroserpin within the endoplasmic reticulum of neurons. pH has been shown to affect the propensity of several serpins to form polymers. In particular, low pH favors the formation of polymers of both α1‐antitrypsin and antithrombin. We report here opposite effects in neuroserpin, with a striking resistance to polymer formation at acidic pH. Mutation of specific histidine residues showed that this effect is not attributable to the shutter domain histidine as would be predicted by analogy with other serpins. Indeed, mutation of the shutter domain His338 decreased neuroserpin stability but had no effect on the pH dependence of polymerization when compared with the wild‐type protein. In contrast, mutation of His119 or His138 reduced the polymerization of neuroserpin at both acidic and neutral pH. These residues are at the lower pole of neuroserpin and provide a novel mechanism to control the opening of β‐sheet A and hence polymerization. This mechanism is likely to have evolved to protect neuroserpin from the acidic environment of the secretory granules.
Myoglobin strikes back
Authors: Brunori Maurizio 
Published: December 2009

AbstractOver the last half century, myoglobin (Mb) has been an excellent model system to test a number of concepts, theories, and new experimental methods that proved valuable to investigate protein structure, function, evolution, and dynamics. Mb's function, most often considered just an oxygen repository, has considerably diversified over the last 15 years, especially because it was shown to have a role in the biochemistry of quenching and synthesizing nitric oxide in the red muscle, thereby protecting the cell. To tackle protein's structural dynamics by innovative biophysical methods, Mb has been the best prototype; laser flash technology made it possible to obtain molecular movies by time‐resolved Laue crystallography (with ps resolution). This approach unveiled the complexity of the energy landscape and the structural basis of the stretched interconversion between conformational substates of a protein.
A new structure‐based classification of sulfide:quinone oxidoreductases
Authors: Marcia Marco , Ermler Ulrich , Peng Guohong , Michel Hartmut 
Published: December 2009

AbstractSulfide:quinone oxidoreductases (SQR) are ubiquitous membrane‐bound flavoproteins involved in sulfide detoxification, in sulfide‐dependent energy conservation processes and potenatially in the homeostasis of the neurotransmitter sulfide. The first 2 structures of SQRs from the bacterium Aquifex aeolicus (Marcia et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2009; 106:9625–9630) and the archaeon Acidianus ambivalens (Brito et al., Biochemistry 2009; 48:5613–5622) were determined recently by X‐ray crystallography revealing unexpected differences in the active sites and in flavin adenine dinucleotide binding. Besides the reciprocal differences, they show a different conformation of the active site compared with another sulfide oxidizing enzyme, the flavocytochrome c:sulfide dehydrogenase (FCSD) from Allochromatium vinosum (protein data bank id: 1FCD). In addition to the new structural data, the number of available SQR‐like protein sequences is continuously increasing (Pham et al., Microbiology 2008; 154:3112–3121) and the SQR activity of new members of this protein family was recently proven too (Chan et al., J Bacteriol 2009; 191:1026–1034). In the light of the new data, here we revisit the previously proposed contradictory SQR classification and we define new structure‐based sequence fingerprints that support a subdivision of the SQR family into six groups. Our report summarizes the state‐of‐art knowledge about SQRs and highlights the questions that still remain unanswered. Despite two decades of work already done on these enzymes, new and most exciting discoveries can be expected in the future. Proteins 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Temperature dependent stability of self‐assembled molecular rows
Authors: Blankenburg S. , Schmidt W. G. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractMonte Carlo simulations on the basis of first‐principles total‐energy calculations are used to rationalize the formation of well‐separated (∼11 Å) molecular rows of phenylglycine upon co‐adsorption of adenine and phenylglycine on Cu(110) [Chen and Richardson, Nature Materials 2, 324 (2003)].Adsorption‐induced Friedel oscillations of the substrate charge density give rise a lateral modulation of the adsorption energy sufficiently large to explain the experimental observation of well separated molecular rows at room temperature (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Photoluminescence and surface photovoltage of ethynyl derivative‐terminated Si(111) surfaces
Authors: Yang Florent , Hunger Ralf , Rademann Klaus , Rappich Jörg 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe electrochemical grafting of ethynyl derivatives on Si(111) surfaces has been investigated by means of pulsed photoluminescence (PL) and surface photovoltage (SPV) techniques. Ethynyl derivatives (ethynyl‐MgCl, ethynyl‐MgBr, propynyl‐MgBr, and phenylethynyl‐MgBr) from Grignard compounds were used. By SPV, a high surface photovoltage signal, UPh, is observed. The halogene in the Grignard reagents influences strongly the electronic properties and the polymerisation process, i.e. Br in the Grignard compound leads to better electronic properties than Cl. The propynyl‐terminated Si surface shows the highest PL intensity and at the same time the weakest UPh signal, i.e. this polymeric layer induces the smallest amount of recombination active defects at the interface but also the smallest change in surface band bending. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Canonical Hamiltonian representation of pseudoenergy in shear flows using counter‐propagating Rossby waves
Authors: Heifetz E. , Harnik N. , Tamarin T. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractPseudoenergy serves as a non‐canonical Eulerian Hamiltonian of linearized shear flow systems. It is non‐canonical in the sense that the canonical Hamilton equations cannot be written when the dynamical variable is taken as the (potential) vorticity. Here we apply the counter‐propagating Rossby wave kernel (KRW) perspective to obtain a compact form of the pseudoenergy as a domain integral of the local KRW pseudomomentum carried by the instantaneous KRW phase speed in the mean flow frame of reference. Written this way, with the generalized momenta taken as the KRW pseudomomenta and the generalized coordinates as the instantaneous KRW locations, canonical Hamilton equations can be derived both in their continuous (using functional derivatives) and discrete (using function derivatives) forms.As a simple example of the insight such a formulation can yield, we reexamine the classical stability transition from Rayleigh to Couette flow. In this transition the instability is lost even though the classical necessary conditions of Fjørtoft and Rayleigh are still satisfied. The pseudoenergy‐KRW formulation allows to interpret the stabilization both as an inability of the KRWs to phase lock constructively, and in terms of the pseudoenergy becoming negative. These two apparent different rationalizations are shown to be essentially one and the same. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Multi‐metal shell coated with surface modification of polystyrene bead cores to improve its adhesion metal shell
Authors: Lee Jun‐Ho , Lee Youngkwan , Nam Jae‐Do 
Published: December 2009

AbstractWe investigated the delamination problem at the metal‐polymer interface and the mechanical buckling of the metal layer at a localized area of the metallic shell under compression between two parallel plates. First, polystyrene (PS) beads were synthesized by dispersion polymerization and then their sulfonation process. After sequential electroless deposition, the average size of multi‐metal coated sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) bead was ca 4.95 µm. Using the electromechanical indentation, the electrical resistance of a single metal‐coated SPS bead decreased with increasing compressive strain without delamination at the metal‐polymer interface, and its electrical resistance showed 5.65 Ω. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Subzero Glass Transition of Waxy Maize Starch Studied by Differential Scanning Calorimetry
Authors: Sang Yijun , Alavi Sajid , Shi Yong‐Cheng 
Published: December 2009

AbstractA mixture of waxy maize starch and water (1:2, w/w) was heated in a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) pan to different temperatures to obtain different degrees of gelatinization. Each pan was then quenched to ‐30°C and rescanned, and the subzero glass transition temperature (Tg′) of the content was determined. A three‐phase model of a starch granule—a mobile amorphous phase, a rigid amorphous phase, and a crystalline phase—was used to interpret results and explain the glass transitions in starch. Waxy maize starch had an onset gelatinization temperature (To) of 61.5°C, peak temperature (Tp) of 70.3°C, and completion temperature (Tc) of 81.7°C. The Tg′ was clearly noted after the starch and water mixture was heated to Tp and Tc, but was small and barely observable when the mixture was heated up to To and immediately cooled to ‐30°C. When the starch and water mixture was heated to 55°C, which was 6°C below the To, and held for 2 h, a Tg′ was observed. Moreover, Tg′ began to appear and was observable if the starch and water mixture was heated to 10°C below gelatinization onset temperature (51°C) and annealed for 2 h without any gelatinization. Further holding at ‐7°C showed a clear subzero glass transition of annealed native starch granules.