bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and characterization of fluorine‐containing PAA‐b‐PTPFCBPMA amphiphilic block copolymer
Authors: Li Yongjun , Zhang Sen , Liu Hao , Li Qingnuan , Li Wenxin , Huang Xiaoyu 
Published: October 2010

AbstractA series of perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) aryl ether‐based amphiphilic diblock copolymers containing hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and fluorophilic poly(p‐(2‐(p‐tolyloxy)perfluorocyclobutoxy)phenyl methacrylate) segments were synthesized via successive atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). 2‐MBP‐initiated and CuBr/N,N,N′,N′,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine‐catalyzed ATRP homopolymerization of the PFCB‐containing methacrylate monomer, p‐(2‐(p‐tolyloxy)perfluorocyclobutoxy)phenyl methacrylate, can be performed in a controlled mode as confirmed by the fact that the number‐average molecular weights (Mn) increased linearly with the conversions of the monomer while the polydispersity indices kept below 1.38. The block copolymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn ≤ 1.36) were synthesized by ATRP using Br‐end‐functionalized poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) (PtBA) as macroinitiator followed by the acidolysis of hydrophobic PtBA block into hydrophilic PAA segment. The critical micelle concentrations of the amphiphilic diblock copolymers in different surroundings were determined by fluorescence spectroscopy using N‐phenyl‐1‐naphthylamine as probe. The morphology and size of the micelles were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic laser light scattering, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
Reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of a typical hydrophobic monomer of styrene within microreactor of shell‐corona hollow microspheres suspending in water
Authors: Zhang Minchao , Zhang Wangqing 
Published: October 2010

AbstractReversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of a typical hydrophobic monomer of styrene within microreactor of shell‐corona hollow microspheres of poly(styrene‐co‐methacrylic acid) suspending in water is studied. The shell‐corona hollow microspheres contain a hydrophilic corona of poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) and a cross‐linked polystyrene shell, which can suspend in water because of the hydrophilic corona of PMAA. The size of the shell‐corona hollow microspheres is about 289 nm and the extent of the microcavity of the hollow microsphere is 154 nm. These shell‐corona hollow microspheres can act as microreactor, within which the typical hydrophobic monomer of styrene, the RAFT agent of S‐benzyl dithiobenzoate and the initiator of 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile can be encapsulated and RAFT polymerization of styrene takes place in well controlled manner in water. It is found that the resultant polymer of polystyrene has a competitively low polydispersity index and its number‐average molecular weight linearly increases with monomer conversion. The method is believed to be a new strategy of RAFT polymerization of hydrophobic monomer in aqueous solution. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
New hydrogels from interpenetrated physical gels of agarose and chemical gels of polyacrylamide: Effect of relative concentration and crosslinking degree on the viscoelastic and thermal properties
Authors: Fernández Emiliano , Hernández Rebeca , Teresa Cuberes M. , Mijangos Carmen , López Daniel 
Published: October 2010

AbstractIn this article, we report on the viscoelastic and thermal properties of agarose–polyacrylamide (PAAm) interpenetrating polymer hydrogels (IPHs) and semi‐IPHs as a function of agarose concentration and PAAm crosslinking degree. The results demonstrated that the agarose is able to gel in the presence of crosslinked and linear IPHs. In addition, the reticulation of PAAm in the presence of agarose is confirmed for the case of IPHs giving rise to systems with dimensional stability at high temperatures. The formation of a fully IPH was ascertained at low agarose concentrations. A study of the morphology and nanoscale elasticity of the different systems has been carried out with atomic force microscopy/ultrasonic force microscopy (UFM). UFM data provide further evidence of interpenetration, allowing us to visualize—if present—phase‐separated domains with nanoscale resolution for the various crosslinking degrees and PAAm and agarose concentrations used during the formation of the IPHs. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2010
Hemoglobin depletion from plasma: Considerations for proteomic discovery in Sickle Cell disease and other hemolytic processes
Authors: Williams Lisa M. , Fu Zongming , Dulloor Pratima , Yen Timothy , Barron‐Casella Emily , Savage William , Van Eyk Jennifer E. , Casella James F. , Everett Allen 
Published: October 2010

AbstractPurpose: Hemoglobin (Hb) depletion with nickel affinity chromatography has been shown to increase the number of proteins identified in proteomic studies of erythrocytes, but limited data exist on the application of this technique in depletion of Hb from plasma or serum required for clinical biomarker studies. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of using nickel‐beads for Hb depletion of plasma.Experimental design: Nickel–nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni–NTA) affinity chromatography was used to deplete Hb from hemolyzed plasma samples obtained from children with sickle cell disease (SCD, n=7) and normal human plasma (n=4). Ni–NTA‐bound proteins were analyzed by one‐dimensional GE, followed by in‐gel digestion for characterization using an LTQ‐Orbitrap hybrid mass spectrometer. In addition, the loss of two non‐Hb‐related plasma proteins, thrombospondin1 and L‐selectin, by Ni–NTA was determined by ELISA (SCD n=6, non‐SCD controls n=2).Results: Ni–NTA resulted in an average 60% decrease in plasma protein concentration, which was not hemolysis dependent. Specifically, Hb (7 peptides) and the top three proteins, α‐2‐macroglobulin (75 peptides), apolipoprotein B‐100 (73 peptides), and albumin (42 peptides) were Ni–NTA bound. In addition, using an ELISA assay two non‐Hb‐associated plasma proteins thrombospondin1 and L‐selectin were decreased by Ni‐NTA.Conclusions and clinical relevance: Hb depletion with Ni–NTA is effective for Hb removal but is not specific. There is a potential for deleterious depletion of potential biomarkers that may limit the applicability of this method. Consideration of alternate methods of Hb depletion for clinical proteomics may be warranted.
An efficient scheme to handle bursty behavior in secure group communication using binomial key trees
Authors: Aparna R. , Amberker B. B. 
Published: October 2010

AbstractSecure group communication (SGC) is one of the important research areas and numerous applications are relied upon SGC model. In some applications, such as pay‐per‐view, periodical electronic information distribution, etc., many users join and leave the group at the same moment known as bursty behavior. In this paper, we propose a scheme for handling bursty behavior. We use binomial key tree (BKT) for managing the secure group, which is quite efficient in handling rekeying strategies. We handle all the possible bursty behavior scenarios and analyze the communication and computation costs for the worst cases. We compare our scheme with the scheme proposed by Wong et al. and show that our scheme is efficient in terms of cost of encryptions and cost of key generation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tunable Vancomycin Releasing Surfaces for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Shukla Anita , Avadhany Sareena N. , Fang Jean C. , Hammond Paula T. 
Published: October 2010

AbstractLocal drug delivery methods allow for the opportunity to supply potent multispectrum antibiotics such as vancomycin hydrochloride to sites of infection, while avoiding systemic toxicity. In this work, layer‐by‐layer assembly of polymer multilayer films is applied to create vancomycin delivery coatings. By taking advantage of the versatile layer‐by‐layer spray and dip coating techniques, thin films were generated based on electrostatic and other secondary interactions discovered to exist between the film components. The importance of film interdiffusion during growth in promoting interactions between film components is found to be critical in the direct incorporation of the weakly charged vancomycin drug in these multilayer films. The resulting coatings are engineered with unprecedented drug densities ranging from 17–220 μg mm−3 (approximately 20 wt%) for films that are micron to submicron scale in thickness, delivering vancomycin over timescales of 4 h to 2.5 days. The released drug is highly effective in inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus growth in vitro. Taking advantage of the difference in release characteristics between dip and spray assembled films, a composite film architecture was engineered to have both a bolus vancomycin release followed by a period of linear sustained drug release. The control over drug densities and release profiles displayed in this work is necessary to address the requirements of varying medical conditions, including those where immediate infection elimination is needed or long term infection prevention is required.
Group scanning scheme for fast target channel decision in seamless handover of wireless networks
Authors: Choi Jae‐Kark , Yoo Sang‐Jo 
Published: October 2010

AbstractIn wireless networks, when a mobile roaming station decides to initiate a handover, it should scan multiple channels operated by neighboring base stations (BSs) (or access points (APs)) in order to find an appropriate target base station before the actual handover. In some wireless networks, the active base station is able to provide a list of channels operated by neighboring base stations. However, some of these candidate channels may not be accessible to the mobile station (MS); nonetheless, the MS scans the candidate channels consecutively. For this reason, it may take a relatively long time for the MS to select an adequate target base station channel. This process can degrade the quality of service (QoS) during handovers. To shorten the scanning latency efficiently, in this paper we propose a cooperative channel scanning method whereby groups of MSs scan candidate channels using a dispersive schedule. They then share the scanning results amongst themselves, which results in a fast handover channel decision. To apply the proposed method to a real network environment, we present a group scanning architecture and detailed application scenarios appropriate for IEEE 802.16e worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) networks. Numerical analyses and simulation results show that our proposed method achieves a shorter target channel scanning latency. Our method is thus more efficient in terms of scanning time and channel selection accuracy. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nitrogen turnover and loss during storage of slurry and composting of solid manure under typical Vietnamese farming conditions
Authors: TRAN M. T. , VU T. K. V. , SOMMER S. G. , JENSEN L. S. 
Published: October 2010

SUMMARYA high proportion of plant nutrients present in animal feed are excreted and therefore animal manure can be an important source of nitrogen (N) for crop production if losses of plant nutrients to the environment during storage and processing are minimized. The present study examines gaseous N losses from stored pig slurry and during composting of solid manure as affected by protein and fibre content in the feed and manure management. Two slurry storage treatments (with and without cover) and three additives to solid manure composting (straw only, straw+lime and straw+superphosphate) were examined for three common types of pig feed in Vietnam (low-protein high-fibre, medium-protein medium-fibre and high-protein low-fibre).Feed type was found to affect the N content in pig slurry or manure and thus potential N losses. The fraction of N loss caused by N emission from covered slurry storage was 0·25–0·30 of initial N content, while that from uncovered slurry was 0·60–0·70. After 90 days of storage, 1·15–1·20 times the initial ammonium-N (NH4-N) was found in the covered slurry and 0·40–0·50 in the uncovered. The fraction of N lost during composting with superphosphate was 0·25–0·35 of initial total N, while with lime or straw the total N loss was 0·45–0·55. With added superphosphate, 1·25–1·60 times the initial NH4-N in manure was found in the compost after 80 days compared with only 0·11–0·22 for lime and 0·22–0·36 for straw only. Covering stored slurry and addition of superphosphate when composting solid pig manure are thus important methods for Vietnamese farmers to minimize N losses and produce compost with a high content of plant-available N.
The Q fever epidemic in The Netherlands: history, onset, response and reflection
Authors: ROEST H. I. J. , TILBURG J. J. H. C. , VAN DER HOEK W. , VELLEMA P. , VAN ZIJDERVELD F. G. , KLAASSEN C. H. W. , RAOULT D. 
Published: October 2010

SUMMARYThe 2007–2009 human Q fever epidemic in The Netherlands attracted attention due to its magnitude and duration. The current epidemic and the historical background of Q fever in The Netherlands are reviewed according to national and international publications. Seroprevalence studies suggest that Q fever was endemic in The Netherlands several decades before the disease was diagnosed in dairy goats and dairy sheep. This was in 2005 and the increase in humans started in 2007. Q fever abortions were registered on 30 dairy goat and dairy sheep farms between 2005 and 2009. A total of 3523 human cases were notified between 2007 and 2009. Proximity to aborting small ruminants and high numbers of susceptible humans are probably the main causes of the human Q fever outbreak in The Netherlands. In general good monitoring and surveillance systems are necessary to assess the real magnitude of Q fever.
Poverty, development, and environment
Authors: BARBIER EDWARD B. 
Published: October 2010

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the complex relationship that exists between poverty and natural resource degradation in developing countries. The rural poor are often concentrated in fragile, or less favorable, environmental areas. Consequently, their livelihoods can be intimately dependent on natural resource use and ecosystem services. The relationship between poverty and natural resource degradation may depend on a complex range of choices and tradeoffs available to the poor, which in the absence of capital, labor, and land markets, is affected by their access to outside employment and any natural resource endowments. The paper develops a poverty–environment model to characterize some of these linkages, and concludes by discussing policy implications and avenues for further research.
Healthy food purchasing among African American youth: associations with child gender, adult caregiver characteristics and the home food environment
Authors: Surkan Pamela J , Coutinho Anastasia J , Christiansen Karina , Dennisuk Lauren A , Suratkar Sonali , Mead Erin , Sharma Sangita , Gittelsohn Joel 
Published: October 2010

AbstractObjectiveTo examine how factors related to the home food environment and individual characteristics are associated with healthy food purchasing among low-income African American (AA) youth.SubjectsA total of 206 AA youth (ninety-one boys and 115 girls), aged 10–14 years, and their primary adult caregivers.SettingFourteen Baltimore recreation centres in low-income neighbourhoods.DesignCross-sectional study. We collected information about food purchasing, the home food environment, sociodemographic and psychosocial factors drawn from social cognitive theory. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the factors associated with the frequency and proportion of healthy food purchases in all youth and stratified by gender. Low-fat or low-sugar foods were defined as healthy.ResultsYouth purchased an average of 1·5 healthy foods (range = 0–15) in the week before the interview, comprising an average of 11·6 % (range = 0–80 %) of total food purchases. The most commonly purchased healthy foods included water and sunflower seeds/nuts. Healthier food-related behavioural intentions were associated with a higher frequency of healthy foods purchased (OR = 1·4,P< 0·05), which was stronger in girls (OR = 1·9,P< 0·01). Greater caregiver self-efficacy for healthy food purchasing/preparation was associated with increased frequency of healthy purchasing among girls (OR = 1·3,P< 0·05). Among girls, more frequent food preparation by a family member (OR = 6·6,P< 0·01) was associated with purchasing a higher proportion of healthy foods. No significant associations were observed for boys.ConclusionsInterventions focused on AA girls should emphasize increasing food-related behavioural intentions. For girls, associations between caregiver self-efficacy and home food preparation suggest the importance of the caregiver in healthy food purchasing.
Polymer–Clay Nanocomposites by Miniemulsion Polymerization
Authors: Mičušík Matej , Reyes Yuri , Paulis María , Leiza Jose Ramon 
Published: October 2010

To prepare PCN by means of in-situ miniemulsion polymerization is not an easy task, since clay can interact with all components in the system (monomer, surfactant, hydrophobe) influencing thus the droplet size distribution after miniemulsification step as well as the polymerization loci. As a result the mechanisms of miniemulsion polymerization in the presence of the clay are not fully understood and stable latexes with reasonable solids content are difficult to achieve. The ideal case of miniemulsions stabilized by surfactants is, when the organoclay platelets are encapsulated inside the polymer particles. Despite that the clear evidence of fully encapsulated clay platelets inside the polymer particles was not achieved up to now, the idea of clay inside the droplets/particles not influencing the stability, providing high solids content with low surfactant loading (high amounts of surfactant might impart deleterious properties to the films cast from the latexes) and generally not bringing another complexity to already complex miniemulsion polymerization, is very attractive.
Effect of a Multifaceted Intervention on Adherence to Hand Hygiene among Healthcare Workers: A Cluster-Randomized Trial
Authors: Mertz Dominik , Dafoe Nancy , Walter Stephen D. , Brazil Kevin , Loeb Mark 
Published: October 2010

Objectives.Adherence to hand hygiene among healthcare workers (HCWs) is widely believed to be a key factor in reducing the spread of healthcare-associated infection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a multifaceted intervention to increase rates of adherence to hand hygiene among HCWs and to assess the effect on the incidence of hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization.Design.Cluster-randomized controlled trial.Setting.Thirty hospital units in 3 tertiary care hospitals in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.Intervention.After a 3-month baseline period of data collection, 15 units were randomly assigned to the intervention arm (with performance feedback, small-group teaching seminars, and posters) and 15 units to usual practice. Hand hygiene was observed during randomly selected 15-minute periods on each unit, and the incidence of MRSA colonization was measured using weekly surveillance specimens from June 2007 through May 2008.Results.We found that 3,812 (48.2%) of 7,901 opportunities for hand hygiene in the intervention group resulted in adherence, compared with 3,205 (42.6%) of 7,526 opportunities in the control group (P < .001; independent t test). There was no reduction in the incidence of hospital-acquired MRSA colonization in the intervention group.Conclusion.Among HCWs in Ontario tertiary care hospitals, the rate of adherence to hand hygiene had a statistically significant increase of 6% with a multifaceted intervention, but the incidence of MRSA colonization was not reduced.
Effect of immunoglobulin G (IgG) interchain disulfide bond cleavage on efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin for immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
Authors: Machino Y , Ohta H , Suzuki E , Higurashi S , Tezuka T , Nagashima H , Kohroki J , Masuho Y 
Published: October 2010

Summary
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been used widely to treat immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), but the mechanisms of its action remain unclear. We investigated the affinity for Fcγ receptors (FcγRs) and the thrombocytopenia-ameliorating effect of S-sulfonated gammaglobulin (SGG) and S-alkylated gammaglobulin (AGG), in comparison with unmodified gammaglobulin (GG), in a mouse ITP model. Cleavage of immunoglobulin (Ig)G interchain disulfide bonds by either S-sulfonation or S-alkylation did not decrease the affinity for FcγRIIA (CD32A) and FcγRIIB (CD32B), but did decrease the affinity for FcγRIA (CD64A) and FcγRIIIA (CD16A), presumably because of changes in H-chain configuration. The interchain disulfide bond cleavage decreased the affinity much more for mouse FcγRIV than for mouse FcγRIIB. The ability of AGG to ameliorate ITP was greatly diminished, while SGG, whose disulfide bonds are reconstituted in vivo, was as effective as GG. These results suggest that the interchain disulfide bonds are important for therapeutic effect. It is also suggested that the interaction of IVIG with the inhibitory receptor FcγRIIB is insufficient for effective amelioration of ITP and that, at least in this model, direct binding of IVIG to FcγRIIIA is also required.
Lack of anti-tumour reactivity despite enhanced numbers of circulating natural killer T cells in two patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Vyth-Dreese F A , Sein J , Van De Kasteele W , Dellemijn T A M , Van Den Bogaard C , Nooijen W J , De Gast G C , Haanen J B A G , Bex A 
Published: October 2010

Summary
Natural killer T (NK T) cells play a central role as intermediates between innate and adaptive immune responses important to induce anti-tumour reactivity in cancer patients. In two of 14 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients, treated with interferon (IFN)-α, we detected significantly enhanced numbers of circulating NK T cells which were typed phenotypically and analysed for anti-tumour reactivity. These NK T cells were T cell receptor (TCR) Vα24/Vβ11+, 6B11+ and bound CD1d tetramers. No correlation was observed between NK T frequencies and regulatory T cells (Tregs), which were also enhanced. NK T cells expressed CD56, CD161, CD45RO and CD69 and were predominantly CD8+, in contrast to the circulating T cell pool that contained both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, as is found in healthy individuals. It is unlikely that IFN-α triggered the high NK T frequency, as all other patients expressed low to normal NK T numbers. A parallel was observed in IFN-α-related increase in activation of NK T cells with that in conventional T and non-T cells. Normal interleukin (IL)-7, IL-12 and IL-15 plasma levels were found. In one of the patients sporadic NK T cells were detected at the tumour site. α-Galactosylceramide (αGalCer) stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells or isolated NK T cell lines from both patients induced IFN-γ, but no IL-4 and no response towards autologous tumour cells or lysates. The clinical course of disease in both patients was not exceptional with regard to histological subtype and extent of metastatic disease. Therefore, despite a constitutive high peripheral frequency and in vitroαGalCer responsiveness, the NK T cells in the two RCC patients did not show anti-tumour responsiveness.