bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Polyelectrolyte‐Assisted Noncovalent Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes with Ordered Self‐Assemblies of a Water‐Soluble Porphyrin
Authors: Andrade Suzana M. , Raja Perumal , Saini Vipin K. , Viana Ana S. , Serp Philippe , Costa Sílvia M. B. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe self‐assembly and induced supramolecular chirality of meso‐tetrakis(4‐sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TSPP) on both single‐wall (SWCNT) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) are investigated. Under mild pH conditions (pH 3), TSPP forms aggregates when CNTs are dispersed in an aqueous solution containing positively charged polyelectrolytes such as poly‐L‐lysine (PLL) or poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH). Evidence for the geometry of the porphyrin aggregates is obtained from absorption spectra, whereby the fingerprints of J‐ and H‐aggregates are clearly seen only in the presence of smaller‐diameter nanotubes. J‐aggregates are better stabilized with PLL, whereas in the presence of PAH mainly H‐aggregates prevail. Excited‐state interactions within these nanohybrids are studied by steady‐state and time‐resolved fluorescence. The porphyrin emission intensity in the nanohybrid solution is significantly quenched compared to that of TSPP alone, and this implies strong electronic interaction between CNTs and porphyrin molecules. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) further supports that porphyrin arrays are associated with the MWCNT sidewalls wrapped in PLL. In the case of the SWCNT hybrid, spherical structures associated with longer fluorescence lifetime appeared after one week, indicative of H‐aggregates of TSPP. The latter are the result of π–π stacking of porphyrin units on neighboring nanotubes facilitated by the strong tendency of these nanotubes to interact with each other. These results highlight the importance of optimum dimensions and surface‐area architectures of CNTs in the control/stability of the porphyrin aggregates with promising properties for light harvesting.
Visualization of dynamic fault tolerance rerouting for data traffic in wireless sensor network
Authors: Jeong Young‐Sik , Park Jong Hyuk 
Published: August 2012

SUMMARYIn wireless sensor network environments, a phenomenon of data concentration may occur in one or certain sensor nodes in the process of transmitting sensing data from a source sensor node to a sink node. In this case, the overhead that occurs in the sensor node affects the performance of the entire sensor network. In addition, in the sensor network, excessive sensing data traffic or data loss may occur depending on the variability of the topology of the sensor network. In this paper, visualization for dynamic rerouting is designed and implemented, which visibly provides packet movement routes between sensor nodes and transmitted packet traffic transmission capacity to Geography Markup Language‐based maps having GPS coordinate information. A mechanism for the visualization for dynamic rerouting to detect sensing data overheads and sensor node faults occurring in sensor networks and dynamically rerouting of data is proposed. In addition, information on rerouting route paths from source sensors to sink nodes is visually provided. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Generation of CD4CreERT2 transgenic mice to study development of peripheral CD4‐T‐cells
Authors: Aghajani Katayoun , Keerthivasan Shilpa , Yu Yu , Gounari Fotini 
Published: August 2012

AbstractAfter thymic emigration CD4‐T‐cells continue to differentiate into multiple effector and suppressor sublineages in peripheral lymphoid organs. In vivo analysis of peripheral CD4‐T‐cell differentiation has relied on animal models with targeted gene mutations. These are expressed either constitutively or conditionally after Cre mediated recombination. Available Cre transgenic strains to specifically target T‐cells act at stages of thymocyte development that precede thymic selection. Tracing gene functions in CD4‐T‐cell development after thymic exit becomes complicated when the targeted gene is essential during thymic development. Other approaches to conditionally modify gene functions in peripheral T‐cells involve infection of in vitro activated cells with Cre expressing lenti‐, retro‐, or adenoviruses, which precludes in vivo analyses. To study molecular mechanisms of peripheral CD4‐T‐cell differentiation in vivo and in vitro we generated transgenic mice expressing a tamoxifen inducible Cre recombinase (CreERT2) under the control of the CD4 gene promoter. We show here that in CD4CreERT2 mice Cre is inducibly and selectively activated in CD4‐T‐cells. Tamoxifen treatment both in vivo and in vitro results in efficient recombination of loci marked by LoxP sites. Moreover, this strain shows no abnormalities related to transgene insertion. Therefore it provides a valuable tool for studying gene function during differentiation of naïve peripheral CD4‐T‐cells into effector or suppressor sub‐lineages. genesis 50:908–913, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Intercalation of Amino Acids into Eu3+‐Doped Layered Gadolinium Hydroxide and Quenching of Eu3+ Luminescence
Authors: Gu Qingyang , Sun Yahong , Chu Nankai , Ma Shulan , Jia Zhiqian , Yang Xiaojing 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe NO3–‐type Eu3+‐doped layered gadolinium hydroxide (NO3–LGdH:Eu) was prepared by a developed homogeneous precipitation method through hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) hydrolysis with hydrothermal treatment. Two amino acid anions, phenylalanine (Phe) and tyrosine (Tyr), were intercalated into LGdH:Eu to form composites Phe–LGdH:Eu and Tyr–LGdH:Eu. Photoluminescence studies show that the incorporation of Phe and Tyr into the host layer can sharply quench the Eu3+ luminescence. This simple method is expected to be applied in biological systems for detecting amino acids.
Influence of mineral fillers on the fire retardant properties of wood‐polypropylene composites
Authors: Nikolaeva Marina , Kärki Timo 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTThe effects of mineral fillers on the fire retardancy of wood‐polypropylene composites have been studied. Wood‐polypropylene composites containing mineral fillers have been compounded in a conical twin‐screw extruder. A composite manufactured without any mineral filler addition has been used as a reference. The flame resistance properties of the composite materials have been studied using the cone calorimeter. The results show that the introduction of mineral fillers into the wood‐polypropylene composites has a favourable effect on the fire resistance properties of the composite materials. The reaction‐to‐fire properties have been improved according to the fire classification of construction products based on the Euroclass system. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Contrast enhancement of computed tomography images by adaptive histogram equalization‐application for improved ischemic stroke detection
Authors: Tan T. L. , Sim K. S , Tso C. P. , Chong A. K. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe visualization of computed tomography brain images is basically done by performing the window setting, which stretches an image from the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine format into the standard grayscale format. However, the standard window setting does not provide a good contrast to highlight the hypodense area for the detection of ischemic stroke. While the conventional histogram equalization and other proposed enhanced schemes insufficiently enhance the image contrast, they also may introduce unwanted artifacts on the so‐called “enhanced image.” In this article, a new adaptive method is proposed to excellently improve the image contrast without causing any unwanted defects. The method first decomposed an image into equal‐sized nonoverlapped sub‐blocks. After that, the distribution of the extreme levels in the histogram for a sub‐block is eliminated. The eliminated distribution pixels are then equally redistributed to the other grey levels with threshold limitation. Finally, the grey level reallocation function is defined. The bilinear interpolation is used to estimate the best value for each pixel in the images to remove the potential blocking effect. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 22, 153–160, 2012
A new approach to medical image stitching using minimum average correlation energy filter and peak to side‐lobe ratio
Authors: Salbiah S. , Somaya A. , Arof H. , Saleh Z. S. , Ibrahim F. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractStandard X‐ray images using conventional screen‐film technique have a limited field of view and failed to visualize the entire long bone on a single image. To produce images with whole body parts, digitized images from the films that contain portions of the body parts are assembled using image stitching. This article presents a new medical image stitching method that uses minimum average correlation energy filters to identify and merge pairs of X‐ray medical images. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated in the experiments involving two databases that contain a total of 40 pairs of overlapping and nonoverlapping images. Then the experimental results are compared to those of the normalized cross correlation (NCC) method. It is found that the proposed method outperforms the NCC method in identifying both the overlapping and nonoverlapping medical images. The efficacy of the proposed method is further vindicated by its average execution time which is about five times shorter than that of the NCC method. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 22, 166–171, 2012
Image‐guided navigation of single‐element focused ultrasound transducer
Authors: Kim Hyungmin , Chiu Alan , Park Shinsuk , Yoo Seung‐Schik 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe spatial specificity and controllability of focused ultrasound (FUS), in addition to its ability to modify the excitability of neural tissue, allows for the selective and reversible neuromodulation of the brain function, with great potential in neurotherapeutics. Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance has limitations due to its complicated examination logistics, such as fixation through skull screws to mount the stereotactic frame, simultaneous sonication in the MRI environment, and restrictions in choosing MR‐compatible materials. To overcome these limitations, an image‐guidance system based on optical tracking and preoperative imaging data is developed, separating the imaging acquisition for guidance and sonication procedure for treatment. Techniques to define the local coordinates of the focal point of sonication are presented. First, mechanical calibration detects the concentric rotational motion of a rigid‐body optical tracker, attached to a straight rod mimicking the sonication path, pivoted at the virtual FUS focus. The spatial error presented in the mechanical calibration was compensated further by MRI‐based calibration, which estimates the spatial offset between the navigated focal point and the ground‐truth location of the sonication focus obtained from a temperature‐sensitive MR sequence. MRI‐based calibration offered a significant decrease in spatial errors (1.9 ± 0.8 mm; 57% reduction) compared to the mechanical calibration method alone (4.4 ± 0.9 mm). Using the presented method, pulse‐mode FUS was applied to the motor area of the rat brain, and successfully stimulated the motor cortex. The presented techniques can be readily adapted for the transcranial application of FUS to intact human brain. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 22, 177–184, 2012
ENTRY INTO PHARMACEUTICAL SUBMARKETS: A BAYESIAN PANEL PROBIT ANALYSIS
Authors: Amisano Gianni , Giorgetti Maria Letizia 
Published: August 2012

SUMMARYWe study entry into pharmaceutical submarkets by using a dynamic panel probit model. We develop a Bayesian version of Wooldridge's approach to dealing with unobserved heterogeneity. We distinguish between greenfield entry (entry with first product) and undifferentiated entry, which may take the form of introducing further products. We extend the standard reduced form model to consider company size in the submarket and across all submarkets. We find that greenfield and undifferentiated entries have different determinants, that global and submarket size measures have different effects and that sunk costs often have positive effects on entry due to a commitment mechanism. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investment decisions in manufacturing: assessing the effects of real oil prices and their uncertainty
Authors: Drakos Konstantinos , Konstantinou Panagiotis Th. 
Published: August 2012

SUMMARYWe investigate the effects of real oil prices and their uncertainty on investment decisions. Making use of plant‐level data, we estimate dynamic, discrete‐choice models that allow modeling investment inaction, under different assumptions related to initial conditions and unobserved heterogeneity. We find that increases in real oil price changes and in real oil price uncertainty significantly reduce the likelihood of investment action, in line with the predictions of irreversible investment theory. We also document that investment decisions exhibit strong, pure state dependence and are also significantly affected by initial conditions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of methylmercury exposure on behavior and cerebellar granule cell physiology in aged mice
Authors: Bellum Sairam , Thuett Kerry A. , Bawa Bhupinder , Abbott Louise C. 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTEpidemiology studies have clearly documented that the central nervous system is highly susceptible to methylmercury toxicity, and exposure to this neurotoxicant in humans primarily results from consumption of contaminated fish. While the effects of methylmercury exposure have been studied in great detail, comparatively little is known about the effects of moderate to low dose methylmercury toxicity in the aging central nervous system. We examined the toxic effects of a moderate dose of methylmercury on the aging mouse cerebellum. Male and female C57BL/6 mice at 16–20 months of age were exposed to methylmercury by feeding a total dose of 5.0 mg kg−1 body weight and assessed using four behavioral tests. Methylmercury‐treated aged mice performed significantly worse in open field, footprint analysis and the vertical pole test compared with age‐matched control mice. Isolated cerebellar granule cells from methylmercury‐treated aged mice exhibited higher levels of reactive oxygen species and reduced mitochondrial membrane potentials, but no differences in basal intracellular calcium ion levels compared with age‐matched control mice. When aged mice were exposed to a moderate dose of methylmercury, they exhibited a similar degree of impairment when compared with young adult mice exposed to the same moderate dose of methylmercury, as reported in earlier studies from this laboratory. Thus, at least in mice, exposure of the aged brain to moderate concentrations methylmercury does not pose greater risk compared with the young adult brain exposed to similar concentrations of methylmercury. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Newly developed mouse newborn behavioral testing method for evaluating the risk of neurotoxicity of environmental toxicants
Authors: Nagao Tetsuji , Kagawa Nao , Komada Munekazu 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTAlthough there have been a vast number of behavioral toxicology studies carried out on adult mice and rats, there have been few neurobehavioral studies utilizing their newborn animals. Thus, we developed a mouse newborn behavioral testing method for evaluating the risk of neurotoxicity of chemicals, by means of determining the newborn's activity using the tare function of an analytical balance. The unstable weighing values resulting from movement of the newborn on the balance recorded by a personal computer every 0.1 s, and the total activities of a newborn from the start time of weighing to individual times of evaluation were calculated. In addition, we confirmed the usefulness of our method by determining the activity of mouse newborns with microcephaly induced by prenatal exposure to a neurotoxicant, methylnitrosourea. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of large‐area irradiated laser phototherapy on peripheral nerve regeneration across a large gap in a biomaterial conduit
Authors: Shen Chiung‐Chyi , Yang Yi‐Chin , Liu Bai‐Shuan 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThis paper proposes a novel biodegradable nerve conduit comprising 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) cross‐linked gelatin, annexed with β‐tricalcium phosphate (TCP) ceramic particles (EDC‐Gelatin‐TCP, EGT). In this study, the EGT‐implant site in rats was irradiated using a large‐area 660 nm AlGaInP diode laser (50 mW) to investigate the feasibility of laser stimulation in the regeneration of a 15‐mm transected sciatic nerve. The animals were divided into three groups: a sham‐irradiated group (EGT/sham); an experimental group undergoing low‐level laser (LLL) therapy (EGT/laser); a control group undergoing autologous nerve grafts (autografts). Twelve weeks after implantation, walking track analysis showed a significantly higher sciatic functional index (p < 0.05) and improved toe spreading development in the EGT/laser and autograft groups than in the EGT/sham group. In electrophysiological measurement, both the mean peak amplitude and the area under the compound muscle action potential curves in the EGT/laser and autograft groups showed significantly improved functional recovery than the EGT/sham group (p < 0.05). Compared with the EGT/sham group, the EGT/laser and autograft groups displayed a reduction in muscular atrophy. Histomorphometric assessments revealed that the EGT/laser group had undergone more rapid nerve regeneration than the EGT/sham group. The laser‐treated group also presented greater neural tissue area as well as larger axon diameter and thicker myelin sheath than the tube group without the laser treatment, indicating improved nerve regeneration. Thus, these assessments demonstrate that LLL therapy can accelerate the repair of a transected peripheral nerve in rats after being bridged with EGT conduit. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 101A:239–252, 2013.
In vitro evaluation of the effects of yttria–alumina–silica microspheres on human keratinocyte cells
Authors: Radu T. , Chiriac M. T. , Popescu O. , Simon V. , Simon S. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe behavior of yttria–alumina–silica spray‐dried microspheres was investigated in vitro on a human keratinocyte cell line, first to exclude their cytotoxicity. The HaCaT cells were chosen due to their well‐characterized phenotype and their phagocytic ability. Microscopic analysis and cell viability tests showed no negative effect of the microspheres on cells morphology and behavior. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy results evidenced the cellular internalization of the microspheres at 48 h after their incubation with cultured cells. The shape, size distribution, structure, composition, and chemical states of the elements on samples surface were analyzed by SEM, transmission electron microscopy, x‐ray diffraction, and x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, because these properties could influence their internalization by cells. The yttrium distribution on the microspheres surface was indicated by fluorescence microscopy imaging. The microspheres dimension and shape inside the cells was in accordance with their dimension and shape before incubation. The microspheres seemed captured and engulfed by the cells in native form and appeared resistant to degradation over the first 48 h. Most of the analyzed cells took up more microspheres, suggesting that the microspheres were actively phagocytosed by the cells and accumulated within the cytoplasm. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy results on Al and Si atomic environments denoted Al–O–Si crosslinks, which improve the surface protection to corrosion. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2013.
Therapeutic plasmapheresis and red blood cell exchange in a sickle cell trait patient with rhabdomyolysis
Authors: Huang Richard S.P. , Tholpady Ashok , Wahed Amer , Chang Brian , Bai Yu 
Published: August 2012

AbstractWe report a case of a 16‐year‐old African‐American male with sickle cell trait and a past medical history significant for asthma that was transferred to our hospital for management of respiratory failure. On the fourth day of hospitalization, the patient was found to have increased creatine kinase (CK) levels and urine myoglobin levels consistent with rhabdomyolysis. No clear etiology was identified. Aggressive standard hydration and urine alkalization were applied without response. On the sixth day of hospitalization, the patient underwent a 1–1.5 plasma volume therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) resulting in a transient reduction of serum CK and myoglobin by 50%, which became elevated once again within 4 h. Since his clinical presentation resembles exertional rhabdomyolysis documented in patients with sickle cell trait, RBC exchange was performed. The patient tolerated the procedure without complications. In addition to his improved overall condition, the patient's post‐exchange CK and serum myoglobin levels dropped dramatically without rebound. To our knowledge, this case represents the first reported case of TPE followed by RBC exchange in a SCT patient with rhabdomyolysis. J. Clin. Apheresis 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Perforated meckel's diverticulum presenting as a hematocele on scrotal sonography
Authors: Kwait Dylan C. , Nazarenko Anna , Derman Anna , Lui Paul 
Published: August 2012

AbstractHemorrhage from ectopic gastric mucosa is the most common presenting symptom of Meckel's diverticulum. Diverticular perforation, although rare, is a potentially life‐threatening complication. Various imaging modalities can aid in the preoperative detection of Meckel's diverticulum. We report the sonographic findings of a hematocele as the heralding sequela of a perforated Meckel's diverticulum in an 11‐month‐old boy. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2013
Development by Technology Seeding
Authors: Moseson Alexander J. , Lama Lewis , Tangorra James 
Published: August 2012

AbstractTechnology is critical to international development, but the theory and practice of leveraging technology for humanitarian goals is not well developed. Technology Seeding is thus presented as a comprehensive model that draws upon proven design and technology transfer scholarship. Key characteristics include (i) design as the point of intervention, (ii) the building of technology from first principles (both scientific and disciplinary) and (iii) local adaptation. A case study that led in part to the methodology's development is presented. Technology Seeding, which enables and empowers the marginalized, is shown to be well suited for socially just long‐term sustainable development. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Conceptions of Creativity and Relations with Judges' Intelligence and Personality
Authors: Storme Martin , Lubart Todd 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe aim of this study is to describe naïve conceptions of creativity and offer some explanation for their variability. Two methods are used to analyze conceptions of creativity. The first one consists of analyzing adjectives that are associated by naïve judges with the notion of creativity of an advertisement. The second one consists of predicting the evaluation of creative level of advertisements by naïve judges, through the assessment of dimensions such as the originality of these advertisements or the quality of their design. Results show that with both methods, originality is always the most characteristic dimension of creativity. Moreover, the results show that the variability of the importance given to the dimensions of creativity is linked to certain characteristics of judges. In particular, factor g is positively related to the weight given to originality in creativity. A personality trait, preference for novelty, is also positively associated with greater weight for originality in creativity judgments.