bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Glycolysis of the rigid PUR‐PIR foam modified with starch
Authors: Czupryński Bogusław , Liszkowska Joanna , Paciorek‐Sadowska Joanna 
Published: February 2012

AbstractIntroduction of natural fibbers and natural materials into plastics makes their biodegradation easier. Time of degradation of plastic wastes (also foams) in dump becomes shorter. In order to facilitate biodegradation of foams, starch in amount from 5% to 25% wt with respect to the mass of other components was introduced into polyurethane–polyisocyanurate (PUR‐PIR) foams. Starch is susceptible to the action of bacteria in soil and thus, to decomposition. Polyurethane foams can be subjected to easy chemical degradation in glycols. From among all PUR‐PIR foams prepared, one foam with optimum properties (S10 containing 10% wt of starch) was selected for further experiments. Then, the waste “original” foam S10 was subjected to glycolysis in diethylene glycol and ethanolamine (as catalyst). Glycolysate was applied for synthesis of “new” foams. Three foams GS10 containing 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 of chemical equivalent (ch.eq.) of glycolysate with respect to amount of the original polyol Rokopol RF 55 were prepared. Effect of the amount of glycolysis product in foam composition on properties on the “new” foams was studied. Foam W was used as a reference without starch (W). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Monte Carlo simulation of molecular weight distribution and copolymer composition in transamidation reaction of polyamides
Authors: Yao Zhen , Sun Jia‐Ming , Wang Qiang , Zhou Guang‐Da , Cao Kun 
Published: February 2012

AbstractMelt mixing of polyamides results in exchange reaction and generation of copolymers. In this work, Monte Carlo method is used to simulate the time evolution of molecular weight distribution (MWD) and copolymer composition during the exchange reaction process between polyamides with AA and BC structure. The influences of initial composition and molecular weight have been investigated. Decrease in the difference between the average molecular weight of two kinds of polyamides results in faster approach of the MWD toward Flory's distribution and higher probability of producing copolymers. When the ratio between the numbers of initial molecules of two homopolymers is increased, the number of generated copolymers is reduced and the wider MWD is obtained. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Corrosion resistance conferred by superhydrophobic fluorinated polyacrylate–silica composite coatings on cold‐rolled steel
Authors: Weng Chang‐Jian , Peng Chih‐Wei , Chang Chi‐Hao , Chang Ya‐Han , Yeh Jui‐Ming 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe superhydrophobic surface (SHS) applied for corrosion protection in this study was prepared from an organic fluorinated polyacrylate incorporated with methyltriethoxysilane (MTES)‐based silsesquioxanes spheres. The SHS, with a contact angle of about 153.2°, was coated onto the surface of cold‐rolled steel (CRS) with spin‐coating technology. The coating materials applied as anticorrosive coatings were based on a series of electrochemical corrosion‐protection measurements in saline conditions. The SHS coating on CRS was found to provide superior corrosion protection to that of the hydrophobic organic coating in a series of electrochemical measurements in 3.5 wt % aqueous NaCl electrolyte. This form of coating could also provide better corrosion protection to coated CRS substrates and could serve as an effective barrier against aggressive species. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Novel fabrication technique for three‐dimensional micropatterned electrospun poly(DL‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) acid
Authors: Leung Linus H. , Naguib Hani 
Published: February 2012

AbstractCurrent tissue engineering scaffolds created by electrospinning techniques are mostly limited to two‐dimensional membranes. In this article, a novel method for fabricating three‐dimensional (3D) fibrous scaffolds is presented. The fabrication technique uses the saturation of carbon dioxide in poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) acid to lower the glass‐transition temperature of the polymer to allow for the sintering of multiple layers of electrospun films. The effect of gas saturation on the films was first examined by variation of the saturation pressure and time. Fiber sintering was observed as the saturation pressure and time were increased. Next, the adhesion strength between two layers of scaffolds that were sintered by gas saturation was examined, and a higher pressure of 400 psi was found to better adhere the layers of the membranes together. From the first two parts of this study, the optimal combination of gas saturation parameters was determined to a pressure of 400 psi for 3 min. With this set of parameters, 3D structures were fabricated by the sintering of 30 layers of electrospun scaffolds. Also, by patterning individual layers using microfeatured plates, we improved the open porosity. This demonstration of the ability to fabricate 3D scaffolds improves current electrospinning techniques and maintains a desirable fibrous structure for tissue engineering. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Synthesis and characterization of novel epoxy‐modified waterborne polyurethanes and their use in carbon fiber sizing
Authors: Liu Zhanqing , Tian Yanhong , Kang Sumei , Zhang Xuejun 
Published: February 2012

AbstractNovel epoxy‐modified waterborne polyurethanes (EPUs) were synthesized from toluene 2,4‐diisocyanate, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), dimethylolbutyric acid, and 2,3‐epoxy‐1‐propanol (glycidol). The chemical structures of the EPU products were characterized by 1H‐NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The thermal properties of the EPUs were examined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). TGA showed that the EPUs had good thermal stability, with an initial decomposition temperature higher than 250°C. DSC analysis showed that the glass‐transition temperature of EPU1 was higher than that of EPU2. When the EPUs were heated above 150°C, the curing reaction took place. In this study, the EPUs were used for carbon fiber sizing. The mechanical interfacial strength between the fibers and the matrix was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) testing. The SEM images of the fracture sections of the composites proved that the interfacial adhesion between the fibers and the matrix improved after the EPU sizing treatment. The composites exhibited the highest value of ILSS after the EPU1 sizing treatment. The excellent properties of the EPUs confer it with potential applications in carbon fiber sizing. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Antimicrobial finishing of wool using an oxidative pretreatment to enhance the exhaustion of quaternary ammonium compounds
Authors: Gao Yuan , Kyratzis Ilias Louis 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAntimicrobial treatments of textiles confer multiple benefits to the textiles and the wearers. We previously demonstrated that a pretreatment of wool with peroxymonosulfate and sulfite uniquely enabled the wool to exhaust large quantities of the cationic biocide poly(hexamethylene biguanide). In this study, we extended our previous work to quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), using cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as an example. QACs are cationic biocides widely used in household and industrial disinfectants. It was found that the pretreatment enabled the otherwise unreceptive wool to exhaust up to 10% of CPC on the weight of wool. The presence of CPC on the wool was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The exhaustion proceeded rapidly and efficiently at room temperature and could be slightly enhanced at 40–60°C but was not affected by pH over a broad range. Dyeing with reactive dye had little effect on the exhaustion, but acid dye, premetalized dye, and chrome dye decreased CPC exhaustion by 25–50%. Wool fabrics finished with CPC exhibited a strong antimicrobial ability, deactivating 99.9% of Escherichia coli inoculated into the fabrics. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Covalently immobilized Mn(III)deuteroporphyrin on chitosan: An efficient and recyclable catalyst for aerobic oxidation of cyclohexane
Authors: Sun Chengguo , Hu Bingcheng , Zhao Donghui , Liu Zuliang 
Published: February 2012

AbstractChitosan‐supported Mn(III)deuteroporphyrin chlorine [Mn(III)DPCl‐CTS] catalyst was prepared by convalent binding of Mn(III)deuteroporphyrin‐bearing carboxyl groups on the side chain of the macrocycle ring to chitosan. The supported catalyst was found to efficiently catalyze the hydroxylation of cyclohexane with air as oxygen source. The effect of various reaction parameters, such as reaction time, temperature, and pressure on the catalytic performances, was in detail investigated and the designed installed oxidation equipment was convenient for on‐line sampling during the reaction every time. Under an optimum temperature of 140°C and a pressure of 0.7 MPa, the obtained cyclohexane conversion (16.9%) and chemoselectivity (88.7%) for cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone were much better than those observed with unsupported Mn(III)deuteroporphyrin and synthetic Mn(III) tetraphenylporphyrin. An intermolecular interaction between amino moieties in chitosan and dipropionic groups in Mn(III)deuteroporphyrin was suggested to play a role in the high conversion of this system. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Characterization of radiation‐grafted polymer films using CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy and confocal Raman microscopy
Authors: Wallasch Frank , Abele Matthias , Gubler Lorenz , Wokaun Alexander , Müller Klaus , Scherer Günther G. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractPreirradiated poly(tetrafluoroethylene‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (FEP) base film were grafted with different amounts of an α‐methylstyrene (AMS) and methacrylonitrile (MAN) copolymer. The molar ratio of AMS and MAN in the grafted polymer was determined using 13C‐ CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy and compared with the molar ratio determined with FTIR spectroscopy. The distribution of the components across the thickness of the grafted films was determined using confocal Raman microscopy. The validation of the confocal Raman microscopy was performed with FEP films grafted with MAN only, where pronounced grafting fronts were observed. The local degree of grafting for AMS/MAN co‐grafted FEP films was calculated for each sample based on the intensity profiles, taking the mass of the grafted polymer and its molar ratio into account. The grafting of the AMS/MAN co‐grafted films was found to be homogeneous over the thickness, even in case of small amounts of the copolymer (15 mass%). The homogeneity of the grafting across the film thickness is a prerequisite to obtain sufficient proton conductivity after sulfonation of the radiation‐grafted films. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Characterizations of chitosan‐based highly porous hydrogel—The effects of the solvent
Authors: Dang Qi Feng , Zou Shu Hua , Chen Xi Guang , Liu Cheng Sheng , Li Jing Jing , Zhou Xuan , Liu Ya , Cheng Xiao Jie 
Published: February 2012

AbstractIn this study, the influences of different solvents on highly porous chitosan (CS)‐based hydrogel have been investigated by monitoring the characterizations of the hydrogel. The results determined from rheological analysis and scanning electron microscope showed that all the CS dissolved in different solvents used in this study, when neutralized by α,β‐glycerophosphate solution, could transform into a highly porous three‐dimensional hydrogel at a certain temperature, and the aperture size and shape of the pores were related to solvent variety and solvent strength. The cytocompatibility and in vivo injection experiments demonstrated that the hydrogel prepared with acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, or lactic acid as the solution of CS had low toxicity and high histocompatibility. This study suggested that the gelation temperatures, pH values, turbidity, complex viscosities, and porous structures of the hydrogels for certain experimental applications could be tailored by adjusting the solvent variety and solvent strength of the CS solution. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Preparation, characterization, and drug‐release properties of PEG‐DA‐based copolymer hydrogel microspheres
Authors: Tan Guoxin , Liao Jingwen , Ning Chengyun , Zhang Lin 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe research was to design a carrier used in tissue engineering and drug‐release system. In this article, a new dispersion polymerization system without organic solvent was described to prepare poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate/2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (PEG‐DA/HEMA) copolymer hydrogel microspheres as carrier, which introduced chitosan (CS) as reaction medium and costabilizer, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as steric stabilizer and benzoy peroxide (BPO) as initiator. The effects of mass ratios of monomers, concentration of stabilizer and initiator on partilcle size and polydispersity index (PDI) of microspheres were investigated. Furthermore, bovine serum albumin (BSA) as protein model, the composition of copolymer, size, and polydispersity index of microspheres were employed to study the amount and released ratio of loaded BSA in this article. The results showed that hydrogel microspheres with 3.26 ± 0.24 μm in particle size and 1.03 ± 0.008 in PDI, obtained with mass ratios of PEG‐DA 60/HEMA 40, 2 wt % of stabilizer content and 2 wt % of initiator content (relative to total mass of monomers), had 124.57 ± 3.14 mg/g in the amount of loaded BSA and 59.09 ± 1.43% of released ratio. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Hedgehog signaling controls fibroblast activation and tissue fibrosis in systemic sclerosis
Authors: Horn Angelika , Palumbo Katrin , Cordazzo Cinzia , Dees Clara , Akhmetshina Alfiya , Tomcik Michal , Zerr Pawel , Avouac Jerome , Gusinde Johannes , Zwerina Jochen , Roudaut Hermine , Traiffort Elisabeth , Ruat Martial , Distler Oliver , Schett Georg , Distler Jörg H. W. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractObjectiveHedgehog signaling not only plays crucial roles during human development but also has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases in adults. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of the hedgehog pathway in fibroblast activation in systemic sclerosis (SSc).MethodsActivation of the hedgehog pathway was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The effects of sonic hedgehog (SHH) on collagen synthesis were analyzed by reporter assays, real‐time PCR, and Sircol assays. Myofibroblast differentiation was assessed by quantification of α‐smooth muscle actin and stress fiber staining. The role of hedgehog signaling in vivo was analyzed by adenoviral overexpression of SHH and using mice lacking 1 allele of the gene for inhibitory receptor Patched homolog 1 (Ptch+/− mice).ResultsSHH was overexpressed and resulted in activation of hedgehog signaling in patients with SSc, with accumulation of the transcription factors Gli‐1 and Gli‐2 and increased transcription of hedgehog target genes. Activation of hedgehog signaling induced an activated phenotype in cultured fibroblasts, with differentiation of resting fibroblasts into myofibroblasts and increased release of collagen. Adenoviral overexpression of SHH in the skin of mice was sufficient to induce skin fibrosis. Moreover, Ptch+/− mice with increased hedgehog signaling were more sensitive to bleomycin‐induced dermal fibrosis.ConclusionWe demonstrated that the hedgehog pathway is activated in patients with SSc. Hedgehog signaling potently stimulates the release of collagen and myofibroblast differentiation in vitro and is sufficient to induce fibrosis in vivo. These findings identify the hedgehog cascade as a profibrotic pathway in SSc.
Development and validation of a highly sensitive LC‐MS/MS‐ESI method for the determination of nobiletin in rat plasma: application to a pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Kumar Avinash , Devaraj V. C. , Giri Kalpesh C. , Giri Sanjeev , Rajagopal Sriram , Mullangi Ramesh 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTA highly sensitive, rapid assay method has been developed and validated for the estimation of nobiletin in rat plasma with liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization in the positive‐ion mode. The assay procedure involves extraction of nobiletin and citalopram (internal standard, IS) from rat plasma with liquid–liquid extraction. Chromatographic separation was achieved using an isocratic mobile phase (0.2% formic acid–acetonitrile, 20:80, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min on an Atlantis dC18 column (maintained at 40 ± 1 °C) with a total run time of 2.0 min. The MS/MS ion transitions monitored were 403.2 → 373.0 for nobiletin and 325.2 → 109.0 for IS. Method validation was performed as per Food and Drug Administration guidelines and the results met the acceptance criteria. The lower limit of quantitation achieved was 0.05 ng/mL and the linearity range extended from 0.05 to 51.98 ng/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were in the range of 1.96–14.3 and 6.21–12.1, respectively. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Natural emergence
Authors: Pernu Tuomas K. , Annila Arto 
Published: February 2012

AbstractEmergence is analyzed by the principle of least action. The supreme law of nature describes diverse systems as actions that evolve from one state to another by consuming free energy in least time. As the system will either gain or lose quanta at the step of evolution, the systemic characteristics after the change of state cannot be reduced to those before the change. The change will invariably entail also a change in inter‐actions, which are flows of energy on paths that integrate ingredient systems to a synergistic system. New qualities will emerge along with opening interactions just as old ones will disappear along with ceasing interactions. The analysis of emergence as a natural process reveals that its irreducible and unpredictable nature does not result from complexity as such but because the natural process itself is molding the surroundings where it is evolving. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity, 2012
Evolutionary structure optimization of hierarchical neural network for image recognition
Authors: Suzuki Satoru , Mitsukura Yasue 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to optimize the structure of hierarchical neural networks. In this paper, structure optimization is used to represent a neural network by the minimum number of nodes and connections, and is performed by eliminating unnecessary connections from a trained neural network by means of a genetic algorithm. We focus on a neural network specialized for image recognition problems. The flow of the proposed method is as follows. First, the Walsh–Hadamard transform is applied to images for feature extraction. Second, the neural network is trained with the extracted features based on a back‐propagation algorithm. After neural network training, unnecessary connections are eliminated from the trained neural network by means of a genetic algorithm. Finally, the neural network is retrained to recover from the degradation caused by connection elimination. In order to validate the usefulness of the proposed method, face recognition and texture classification examples are used. The experimental results indicate that a compact neural network was generated, maintaining the generalization performance by the proposed method. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 95(3): 28–36, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10384
Structure–Photoluminescence Quenching Relationships of Iridium(III)–Tris(phenylpyridine) Complexes (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 7/2012)
Authors: Ruggi Albert , Mauro Matteo , Polo Federico , Reinhoudt David N. , De Cola Luisa , Velders Aldrik H. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe cover picture shows two “gladiator” compounds illustrating the Structure‐Photoluminescence Quenching Relationship (SPQR) observed in hemicaged Ir(III)–tris(2‐phenylpyridine) complexes bearing a capping unit (“gshield”), either on the pyridine or on the phenyl side. The presence of a capping unit on the pyridine side induces a dramatic 40 % decrease in oxygen quenching of the luminescence with respect to the uncapped complex, as a consequence of the shielding of the LUMO; conversely, shielding of the phenyl rings, where the HOMO is partially localized, does not induce any change in the degree of oxygen quenching. The Roman Empire initialism SPQR and the “hemicaged” laurel further symbolize this study, with the emperor's thumps up and down indicating the winning and losing gladiator, respectively. Details of the synthesis and the structural, photophysical, theoretical, and electrochemical characterization are discussed in the article by L. De Cola, A. H. Velders et al. on p. 1025 ff. magnified image
First toxicity data of chlorophenols on marine alga Dunaliella tertiolecta: Correlation of marine algal toxicity with hydrophobicity and interspecies toxicity relationships
Authors: Ertürk M. Doğa , Saçan Melek Türker 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
The toxicity of phenol and 13 chlorinated phenols to the marine alga Dunaliella tertiolecta is presented for the first time. The newly generated marine algal toxicity data was found to correlate strongly with the widely used hydrophobicity parameter—the logarithm of the n-octanol–water partition coefficient (log KOW). Interspecies relationships using the new marine algal toxicity data of chlorophenols with the previously published data on bacterium (Vibrio fischeri), protozoan (Tetrahymena pyriformis), daphnid (Daphnia magna), freshwater alga (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata), and fish (Pimephales promelas) revealed promising results that could be exploited in extrapolations using freshwater data to predict marine algal toxicity. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 1113–1120. © 2012 SETAC
The indirect antinociceptive mechanism of 15d‐PGJ2 on rheumatoid arthritis‐induced TMJ inflammatory pain in rats
Authors: Quinteiro M.S. , Napimoga M.H. , Mesquita K.P. , Clemente‐Napimoga J.T. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBackgroundInflammation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) induced by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have resulted in persistent pain and caused distress to many patients. Considering that not all patients respond to traditional drugs therapy to RA and it has demonstrated that 15‐deoxy‐Δ12,14‐prostaglandin J2 (15d‐PGJ2) into TMJ has a potential peripheral antinociceptive effect, the aim of this study was to evaluate the peripheral effect of 15d‐PGJ2 in RA‐induced TMJ inflammatory hypernociception.MethodsAntigen‐induced arthritis (AIA) was generated in rats with methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA). RA‐induced TMJ hypernociception was assessed by measuring the behavioural nociceptive responses. After behavioural experiments, the animals were terminally anaesthetized and periarticular tissues were removed and homogenized. The supernatants were used to evaluate the levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β and keratinocyte‐derived chemokine (KC) by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay as well the expression of PKCε and PKA by western blotting analysis.ResultsThe intra‐articular injection of mBSA, but not phosphate buffered saline (control), in immunized rats induced dose‐ and time‐dependent behavioural nociceptive responses in which the peak of nociceptive responses were obtained by using 10 μg/TMJ of mBSA after 24 h. Pretreatment with 15d‐PGJ2 (30, 100 and 300 ng/TMJ) inhibited the RA‐induced TMJ inflammatory hypernociception. In addition, 15d‐PGJ2 reduced the RA‐induced release of TNF‐α, IL‐1β and KC (p < 0.05) as well the expression of PKA and PKCε (p < 0.05).ConclusionsIn the present study, we demonstrated that 15d‐PGJ2 was able to reduce the RA‐induced TMJ inflammatory hypernociception by an indirect mechanism. This antinociceptive effect is in part due to decrease of TNF‐α, IL‐1β and KC levels and PKA/PKCε expression in the TMJ.