bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Amphoteric liposomes enable systemic antigen‐presenting cell–directed delivery of CD40 antisense and are therapeutically effective in experimental arthritis
Authors: Andreakos Evangelos , Rauchhaus Una , Stavropoulos Athanassios , Endert Gerold , Wendisch Volkmar , Benahmed Amina S. , Giaglis Stavros , Karras James , Lee Sam , Gaus Hans , Bennett C. Frank , Williams Richard O. , Sideras Paschalis , Panzner Steffen 
Published: March 2009

AbstractObjectiveMediation of RNA interference by oligonucleotides constitutes a powerful approach for the silencing of genes involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disease, but in vivo application of this technique requires effective delivery to immune cells and/or sites of inflammation. The aim of the present study was to develop a new carrier system to mediate systemic administration of oligonucleotides to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) joints, and to develop an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)–based approach to interfere with CD40–CD154 interactions in an experimental model of RA.MethodsA novel liposomal carrier with amphoteric properties, termed Nov038, was developed and assessed for its ability to systemically deliver an ASO directed against CD40 (CD40‐ASO). Male DBA/1 mice with collagen‐induced arthritis were treated with Nov038‐encapsulated CD40‐ASO, and the effects of treatment on various parameters of disease activity, including clinical score, paw swelling, lymph node responses, and inflammatory cytokine production in the joints, were assessed.ResultsNov038 was well tolerated, devoid of immune‐stimulatory effects, and efficacious in mediating systemic oligonucleotide delivery to sites of inflammation. In mice with collagen‐induced arthritis, Nov038 enabled the therapeutic administration of CD40‐ASO and improved established disease, while unassisted CD40‐ASO was ineffective, and anti–tumor necrosis factor α (anti‐TNFα) treatment was less effective in this model. Nov038/CD40‐ASO efficacy was attributed to its tropism for monocyte/macrophages and myeloid dendritic cells (DCs), resulting in rapid down‐regulation of CD40, inhibition of DC antigen presentation, and reduction in collagen‐specific T cell responses, as well as decreased levels of TNFα, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and IL‐17 in arthritic joints.ConclusionAmphoteric liposomes represent a novel carrier concept for systemic and antigen‐presenting cell–targeted oligonucleotide delivery with clinical applicability and numerous potential applications, including target validation in vivo and inflammatory disease therapeutics. Moreover, Nov038/CD40‐ASO constitutes a potent alternative to monoclonal antibody–based approaches for interfering with CD40–CD40L interactions.
On the estimation of the heavy‐tail exponent in time series using the max‐spectrum
Authors: Stoev Stilian A. , Michailidis George 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThis paper addresses the problem of estimating the tail index α of distributions with heavy, Pareto‐type tails for dependent data, that is of interest in the areas of finance, insurance, environmental monitoring and teletraffic analysis. A novel approach based on the max self‐similarity scaling behavior of block maxima is introduced. The method exploits the increasing lack of dependence of maxima over large size blocks, which proves useful for time series data.We establish the consistency and asymptotic normality of the proposed max‐spectrum estimator for a large class ofm‐dependent time series, in the regime of intermediate block‐maxima. In the regime of large block‐maxima, we demonstrate the distributional consistency of the estimator for a broad range of time series models including linear processes. The max‐spectrum estimator is a robust and computationally efficient tool, which provides a novel time‐scale perspective to the estimation of the tail exponents. Its performance is illustrated over synthetic and real data sets. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Falling and explosive, dormant, and rising markets via multiple‐regime financial time series models
Authors: Chen Cathy W. S. , Gerlach Richard H. , Lin Ann M. H. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractA multiple‐regime threshold nonlinear financial time series model, with a fat‐tailed error distribution, is discussed and Bayesian estimation and inference are considered. Furthermore, approximate Bayesian posterior model comparison among competing models with different numbers of regimes is considered which is effectively a test for the number of required regimes. An adaptive Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling scheme is designed, while importance sampling is employed to estimate Bayesian residuals for model diagnostic testing. Our modeling framework provides a parsimonious representation of well‐known stylized features of financial time series and facilitates statistical inference in the presence of high or explosive persistence and dynamic conditional volatility. We focus on the three‐regime case where the main feature of the model is to capturing of mean and volatility asymmetries in financial markets, while allowing an explosive volatility regime. A simulation study highlights the properties of our MCMC estimators and the accuracy and favourable performance as a model selection tool, compared with a deviance criterion, of the posterior model probability approximation method. An empirical study of eight international oil and gas markets provides strong support for the three‐regime model over its competitors, in most markets, in terms of model posterior probability and in showing three distinct regime behaviours: falling/explosive, dormant and rising markets. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Teaching local area networking in a secure virtual environment
Authors: Steffen G. D. , Abu‐Mulaweh H. I. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractSpace, cost, and security are major concerns associated with the local area network teaching/learning process. Teaching even the most basic networking techniques requires a minimum of two computers per student with additional systems for more involved experiments. The overhead and space requirements become quite staggering for large class sizes. The students, just learning and unaware, can furthermore be susceptible to outside intrusion or cause accidental adverse affects upon the network to which they attach. Teaching local area networking in a virtual environment can reduce space, cost, and security concerns. This article addresses the setup of a virtual environment, managing multiple student environments, properly securing virtual machines, and laboratory experiments in virtual environments. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 18: 547–554, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com; DOI 10.1002/cae.20228
Computer‐aided tool for teaching mechanical clutch systems design
Authors: Muñoz‐Abella B. , Álvarez‐Caldas C. , Rubio L. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThis paper describes an educational computer application—MecClutch—focused on teaching the design process of mechanical clutches and their operational conditions to Mechanical Engineering students. The software is divided into three sections: (1) multimedia files, pictures, and videos, produced in order to teach the working of the mechanism, (2) theoretical information related to mechanical clutches, and (3) interactive problems that allow to design a mechanical clutch and test changes in operational conditions when varying the value of critical design parameters. This software has become a very useful tool for undergraduate Mechanical Engineering students in compliment to theoretical classes or alone, as a self‐study tool. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 19: 493–500, 2011
Investigation of the Ion Storage/Transfer Behavior in an Electrical Double‐Layer Capacitor by Using Ordered Microporous Carbons as Model Materials
Authors: Nishihara Hirotomo , Itoi Hiroyuki , Kogure Taichi , Hou Peng‐Xiang , Touhara Hidekazu , Okino Fujio , Kyotani Takashi 
Published: March 2009

AbstractOrdered microporous carbon: The mechanism of an electrical double‐layer capacitor containing zeolite‐templated carbons as model microporous materials was investigated in detail (see figure). Its three‐dimensionally ordered and connected micropores were found to greatly reduce ion‐transfer resistance and, therefore, exhibited a high rate performance.magnified imageAn ordered microporous carbon, which was prepared with zeolite as a template, was used as a model material to understand the ion storage/transfer behavior in electrical double‐layer capacitor (EDLC). Several types of such zeolite‐templated carbons (ZTCs) with different structures (framework regularity, particle size and pore diameter) were prepared and their EDLC performances were evaluated in an organic electrolyte solution (1 M Et4NBF4/propylene carbonate). Moreover, a simple method to evaluate a degree of wettability of microporous carbon with propylene carbonate was developed. It was found that the capacitance was almost proportional to the surface area and this linearity was retained even for the carbons with very high surface areas (>2000 m2 g−1). It has often been pointed out that thin pore walls limit capacitance and this usually gives rise to the deviation from linearity, but such a limitation was not observed in ZTCs, despite their very thin pore walls (a single graphene, ca. 0.34 nm). The present study clearly indicates that three‐dimensionally connected and regularly arranged micropores were very effective at reducing ion‐transfer resistance. Despite relatively small pore diameter ZTCs (ca. 1.2 nm), their power density remained almost unchanged even though the particle size was increased up to several microns. However, when the pore diameter became smaller than 1.2 nm, the power density was decreased due to the difficulty of smooth ion‐transfer in such small micropores.
Semiparametric inference for survival models with step process covariates
Authors: Hanson Timothy , Johnson Wesley , Laud Purushottam 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe authors consider Bayesian methods for fitting three semiparametric survival models, incorporating time‐dependent covariates that are step functions. In particular, these are models due to Cox [Cox (1972)Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series B, 34, 187–208], Prentice & Kalbfleisch and Cox & Oakes [Cox & Oakes (1984)Analysis of Survival Data, Chapman and Hall, London]. The model due to Prentice & Kalbfleisch [Prentice & Kalbfleisch (1979)Biometrics, 35, 25–39], which has seen very limited use, is given particular consideration. The prior for the baseline distribution in each model is taken to be a mixture of Polya trees and posterior inference is obtained through standard Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. They demonstrate the implementation and comparison of these three models on the celebrated Stanford heart transplant data and the study of the timing of cerebral edema diagnosis during emergency room treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis in children. An important feature of their overall discussion is the comparison of semi‐parametric families, and ultimate criterion based selection of a family within the context of a given data set. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 37: 60–79; © 2009 Statistical Society of Canada
Log‐rank permutation tests for trend: saddlepointp‐values and survival rate confidence intervals
Authors: Abd‐Elfattah Ehab F. , Butler Ronald W. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractSupposep + 1 experimental groups correspond to increasing dose levels of a treatment and all groups are subject to right censoring. In such instances, permutation tests for trend can be performed based on statistics derived from the weighted log‐rank class. This article uses saddlepoint methods to determine the mid‐P‐values for such permutation tests for any test statistic in the weighted log‐rank class. Permutation simulations are replaced by analytical saddlepoint computations which provide extremely accurate mid‐P‐values that are exact for most practical purposes and almost always more accurate than normal approximations. The speed of mid‐P‐value computation allows for the inversion of such tests to determine confidence intervals for the percentage increase in mean (or median) survival time per unit increase in dosage. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 37: 5‐16; 2009 © 2009 Statistical Society of Canada
Discrete‐time survival trees
Authors: Bou‐hamad Imad , Larocque Denis , Ben‐Ameur Hatem , Mâsse Louise C. , Vitaro Frank , Tremblay Richard E. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractTree‐based methods are frequently used in studies with censored survival time. Their structure and ease of interpretability make them useful to identify prognostic factors and to predict conditional survival probabilities given an individual's covariates. The existing methods are tailor‐made to deal with a survival time variable that is measured continuously. However, survival variables measured on a discrete scale are often encountered in practice. The authors propose a new tree construction method specifically adapted to such discrete‐time survival variables. The splitting procedure can be seen as an extension, to the case of right‐censored data, of the entropy criterion for a categorical outcome. The selection of the final tree is made through a pruning algorithm combined with a bootstrap correction. The authors also present a simple way of potentially improving the predictive performance of a single tree through bagging. A simulation study shows that single trees and bagged‐trees perform well compared to a parametric model. A real data example investigating the usefulness of personality dimensions in predicting early onset of cigarette smoking is presented. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 37: 17‐32; 2009 © 2009 Statistical Society of Canada
Tulp3 is a critical repressor of mouse hedgehog signaling
Authors: Cameron Don A. , Pennimpede Tracie , Petkovich Martin 
Published: March 2009

AbstractPrecise regulation of the morphogen sonic hedgehog (Shh) and modulation of the Shh signaling pathway is required for proper specification of cell fate within the developing limbs and neural tube, and resultant tissue morphogenesis. Tulp3 (tubby‐like protein 3) is a protein of unknown function which has been implicated in nervous system development through gene knockout studies. We demonstrate here that mice lacking the Tulp3 gene develop abnormalities of both the neural tube and limbs consistent with improper regulation of Shh signaling. Tulp3−/− embryos show expansion of Shh target gene expression and display a ventralization of neural progenitor cells in the caudal neural tube. We further show that Tulp3−/−/Shh−/− compound mutant embryos resemble Tulp3 mutants, and express Shh target genes in the neural tube and limbs which are not expressed in Shh−/− embryos. This work uncovers a novel role for Tulp3 as a negative regulatory factor in the Hh pathway. Developmental Dynamics 238:1140–1149, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
IFN‐γ‐STAT1 signal regulates the differentiation of inducible Treg: Potential role for ROS‐mediated apoptosis
Authors: Chang Jae‐Hoon , Kim Yeon‐Jeong , Han Seung‐Hee , Kang Chang‐Yuil 
Published: March 2009

AbstractRegulatory CD4+ T cells are important for the homeostasis of immune cells, and their absence correlates with autoimmune disorders. However, how the immune system regulates Treg homeostasis remains unclear. We found that IFN‐γ‐deficient‐mice had more forkhead box P3 (FOXP3+) cells than WT mice in all secondary lymphoid organs except the thymus. However, T‐bet‐ or IL‐4Rα‐deficient mice did not show a similar increase. In vitro differentiation studies showed that conversion of naïve T cells into FOXP3+ cells (neo‐generated inducible Treg (iTreg)) by TGF‐β was significantly inhibited by IFN‐γ in a STAT‐1‐dependent manner. Moreover, an in vivo adoptive transfer study showed that inhibition of FOXP3+ iTreg generation by IFN‐γ was a T‐cell autocrine effect. This inhibitory effect of IFN‐γ on iTreg generation was significantly abrogated after N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine treatment both in vitro and in vivo, indicating that IFN‐γ regulation of iTreg generation is dependent on ROS‐mediated apoptosis. Therefore, our results suggest that autocrine IFN‐γ can negatively regulate the neo‐generation of FOXP3+ iTreg through ROS‐mediated apoptosis in the periphery.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Application of Aluminum Anilido‐Oxazolinate Complexes
Authors: Chen Chi‐Tien , Weng Han‐Jade , Chen Ming‐Tsz , Huang Chi‐An , Peng Kuo‐Fu 
Published: March 2009

AbstractA family of aluminum complexes containing anilido‐oxazolinate ligands are described. Reactions of five anilido‐oxazolinate ligand precursors, HNPhTriMeOxa, HNPhDiiPrOxa, HNPhOMeOxa, HNPhSMeOxa, or HNPhOxa, with 1 molar equiv. of AlMe3 in toluene give the aluminum dimethyl complexes (NArOxa)AlMe2 [Ar = 2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl, (NPhTriMeOxa)AlMe2 (1); Ar = 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl, (NPhDiiPrOxa)AlMe2 (2); Ar = 2‐methoxyphenyl, (NPhOMeOxa)AlMe2 (3); Ar = 2‐methylthiophenyl, (NPhSMeOxa)AlMe2 (4); Ar = phenyl, (NPhOxa)AlMe2 (5), respectively]. The molecular structures are reported for compounds 1–4. Their catalytic activities toward the ring‐opening polymerization reactions of L‐lactide or ϵ‐caprolactone in the presence of BnOH are also under investigation. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Reactivity of C,N‐Chelated Stannylene with Azobenzene
Authors: Padělková Zdeňka , Nechaev Mikhail S. , Lyčka Antonín , Holubová Jana , Zevaco Thomas A. , Růžička Aleš 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe reactivity of a C,N‐chelated stannylene L2Sn [L = 2‐(Me2NCH2)C6H4] with azobenzene yielded two different products. In the case of reaction in diethyl ether at room temperature, the cyclic complex L2Sn–N(Ph)–N(Ph)–SnL2 was isolated. The second compound, isolated from the reaction in boiling THF, is the product of C–H activation and ortho‐metallation of azobenzene, the cyclic [2‐(SnL2)‐C6H4]–N–N–[C6H4‐2‐(SnL2)]. Byproducts in the second reaction are the free ligand (LH) and the cyclic complex L2Sn–(L)Sn–Sn(L)2–O(H). (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Recent advances in the conversion of bioglycerol into value‐added products
Authors: Pagliaro Mario , Ciriminna Rosaria , Kimura Hiroshi , Rossi Michele , Della Pina Cristina 
Published: March 2009

AbstractA versatile platform chemical and energy vector, bioglycerol from biodiesel manufacturing is increasingly finding new commercial applications. We report on some of the main achievements for converting glycerol into high‐value products and energy developed in the last two years, and conclude by providing an outlook on the evolving status of bioglycerol in the chemical industry.
Moisture barrier and physical properties of acetylated derivatives with increasing acetylation degree
Authors: Bourlieu Claire , Ferreira Mariana , Barea Bruno , Guillard Valérie , Villeneuve Pierre , Guilbert Stéphane , Gontard Nathalie 
Published: March 2009

AbstractFour acetostearin products with increasing acetylation degree were synthesized by chemical interesterification followed by fractionation/blending stages. Their physical properties and functional barrier properties were studied and compared to the properties of technical tristearin. Increasing acetylation degree (AD) modified the triacylglycerols crystal habits and probably led to an increase in acyl chain fluidity, which induced, at macroscopic levels, a decrease in solid fat content (SFC), in melting point, in surface and bulk material hydrophobicity, and an increased moisture effective diffusivity. Water vapor permeability (WVP) coefficients of the materials were partially influenced by the AD factor, but also by the development of macroscopic cracks in lipids presenting high SFC. Acetylated stearin up to 47% (acetyl mol/mol of esterified chain) presented the lowest WVP at 20 °C resulting from an adequate balance between hydrophobicity and mechanical properties of the material.
NMR study of the lipid profile of mullet raw roe and bottarga
Authors: Scano Paola , Rosa Antonella , Locci Emanuela , Dessi M. Assunta , Lai Adolfo 
Published: March 2009

AbstractSamples of mullet (Mugil cephalus) roes from two different fishing areas were studied by means of 1H, 13C and 31P NMR and GC techniques. The lipid fraction of unprocessed roes and that of the corresponding salted and dried commercial products “bottarga” were analyzed and the data compared. Roes of mullets from different origin showed different composition regarding mainly triacylglycerols, monounsaturated and n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The NMR spectra of processed roes, compared to those of the corresponding raw materials, showed a release of free fatty acids and the formation of other minor molecular components, such as free fatty alcohols, lysophospholipids, and diacylglycerols, thus indicating that hydrolytic processes were the main consequence of manufacturing. An increase of cholesterol ester concentration after processing was also detected. Through the analysis of the 31P NMR spectra, it was possible to follow the fate of the phospholipids and the formation of lysophospholipids induced by the salting and drying procedures.
Comparison of techniques for the extraction of tobacco seed oil
Authors: Stanisavljević Ivana T. , Veličković Dragan T. , Todorović Zoran B. , Lazić Miodrag L. , Veljković Vlada B. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe yield and fatty acid (FA) composition of the oil obtained from the seeds of a semi‐oriental tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plant, type Otlja, by various recovery techniques, which are: Soxhlet extraction (SE), maceration (ME), indirect and direct ultrasonic extraction (IUE and DUE, respectively) and cold pressing (CP), were compared. The solvent extractions of ground tobacco seeds (TS) were carried out by n‐hexane, while CP was used to recover the oil from the TS. The highest oil yield (32.9 g/100 g, i.e. 93% of the oil content in the seeds) was achieved by CP. Ultrasonically assisted solvent extractions appear to be inefficient in recovering the oil from the ground TS, as the oil yields were only 45–55% of the oil content, depending on the extraction conditions. Independently of the technique applied, linoleic acid was the major FA of the tobacco seed oil (TSO). The compositions of the TSO extracted by SE, ME, IUE and CP were very similar to each other, and the composition of the TSO recovered by DUE depended on the ultrasonic power input. The content of linoleic acid was reduced, while the content of saturated FA was increased by increasing the ultrasonic power from 5 to 50 W.
Synergism on antioxidant activity between natural compounds optimized by response surface methodology
Authors: Capitani Caroline D. , Carvalho Ana C. L. , Botelho Patricia B. , Carrapeiro Mariana M. , Castro Inar A. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractDespite the increase in the use of natural compounds in place of synthetic derivatives as antioxidants in food products, the extent of this substitution is limited by cost constraints. Thus, the objective of this study was to explore the synergism on the antioxidant activity of natural compounds, for further application in food products. Three hydrosoluble compounds (x1 = caffeic acid, x2 = carnosic acid, and x3 = glutathione) and three liposoluble compounds (x1 = quercetin, x2 = rutin, and x3 = genistein) were mixed according to a “centroid simplex design”. The antioxidant activity of the mixtures was analyzed by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) methodologies, and activity was also evaluated in an oxidized mixed micelle prepared with linoleic acid (LAOX). Cubic polynomial models with predictive capacity were obtained when the mixtures were submitted to the LAOX methodology (ŷ = 0.56 x1 + 0.59 x2 + 0.04 x3 + 0.41 x1x2 – 0.41 x1x3 – 1.12 x2x3 – 4.01 x1x2x3) for the hydrosoluble compounds, and to FRAP methodology (ŷ = 3.26 x1 + 2.39 x2 + 0.04 x3 + 1.51 x1x2 + 1.03 x1x3 + 0.29 x2x3 + 3.20 x1x2x3) for the liposoluble compounds. Optimization of the models suggested that a mixture containing 47% caffeic acid + 53% carnosic acid and a mixture containing 67% quercetin + 33% rutin were potential synergistic combinations for further evaluation using a food matrix.