bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A loss of function mutation in the COL9A2 gene causes autosomal recessive Stickler syndrome
Authors: Baker Stuart , Booth Carol , Fillman Corrine , Shapiro Michael , Blair Michael P. , Hyland James C. , Ala‐Kokko Leena 
Published: June 2011

AbstractStickler syndrome is characterized by ocular, auditory, skeletal, and orofacial abnormalities. We describe a family with autosomal recessive Stickler syndrome. The main clinical findings consisted of high myopia, vitreoretinal degeneration, retinal detachment, hearing loss, and short stature. Affected family members were found to have a homozygous loss‐of‐function mutation in COL9A2, c.843_c.846 + 4del8. A family with autosomal recessive Stickler syndrome was previously described and found to have a homozygous loss‐of‐function mutation in COL9A1. COL9A1, COL9A2, and COL9A3 code for collagen IX. All three collagen IX α chains, α1, α2, and α3, are needed for formation of functional collagen IX molecule. In dogs, two causative loci have been identified in autosomal recessive oculoskeletal dysplasia. This dysplasia resembles Stickler syndrome. Recently, homozygous loss‐of‐function mutations in COL9A2 and COL9A3 were found to co‐segregate with the loci. Together the data from the present study and the previous studies suggest that loss‐of‐function mutations in any of the collagen IX genes can cause autosomal recessive Stickler syndrome. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Flexible and conservative features of social systems in tufted capuchin monkeys: comparing the socioecology ofSapajus libidinosusandSapajus nigritus
Authors: Izar Patrícia , Verderane Michele P. , Peternelli‐dos‐Santos Lucas , Mendonça‐Furtado Olívia , Presotto Andréa , Tokuda Marcos , Visalberghi Elisabetta , Fragaszy Dorothy 
Published: June 2011

AbstractSocioecological models assume that primates adapt their social behavior to ecological conditions, and predict that food availability and distribution, predation risk and risk of infanticide by males affect patterns of social organization, social structure and mating system of primates. However, adaptability and variation of social behavior may be constrained by conservative adaptations and by phylogenetic inertia. The comparative study of closely related species can help to identify the relative contribution of ecological and of genetic determinants to primate social systems. We compared ecological features and social behavior of two species of the genusSapajus,S. nigritusin Carlos Botelho State Park, an area of Atlantic Forest in São Paulo state, andS. libidinosusin Fazenda Boa Vista, a semi‐arid habitat in Piauí state, Brazil.S. libidinosusperceived higher predation risk and fed on clumped, high quality, and usurpable resources (fruits) all year round, whereasS. nigritusperceived lower predation risk and relied on evenly distributed, low‐quality food sources (leaves) during periods of fruit shortage. As predicted by socioecology models,S. libidinosusfemales were philopatric and established linear and stable dominance hierarchies, coalitions, and grooming relationships.S. nigritusfemales competed less often, and could transfer between groups, which might explain the lack of coalitions and grooming bonds among them. Both populations presented similar group size and composition and the same polygynous mating system. The species differed from each other in accordance with differences in the characteristics of their main food sources, as predicted by socioecological models, suggesting that phylogenetic inertia does not constrain social relationships established among femaleSapajus. The similarity in mating systems indicates that this element of the social system is not affected by ecological variables and thus, is a more conservative behavioral feature of the genusSapajus. Am. J. Primatol. 74:315–331, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of SiO2 and Al2O3 nanofillers on polyethylene properties
Authors: Panaitescu Denis , Ciuprina Florin , Iorga Michaela , Frone Adriana , Radovici Constantin , Ghiurea Marius , Sever Serban , Plesa Ilona 
Published: June 2011

AbstractPolymers filled with inorganic nanoparticles have become interesting materials as dielectrics because of their improved mechanical and electrical properties compared with the unfilled polymers and with polymer microcomposites. These improvements are mainly due to the large surface area of nanoparticles and new polymer–nanofiller interface characteristics. In the present work, polyethylene nanocomposites with SiO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles were prepared by melt mixing. Mechanical and electrical properties of these composites were determined and morphological aspects were revealed by scanning electron microscopy, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy. The effect of nanostructure and the importance of nanofiller dispersion were analyzed in connection with mechanical and electrical properties. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Accelerated weathering of pectin/poly(vinyl alcohol) blends studied by spectroscopic methods
Authors: Kaczmarek Halina , Da¸browska Aldona , Vuković‐Kwiatkowska Irena 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThe blends of pectin (PEC) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) at different components ratios were prepared by mixing in water. Thin polymeric films of PEC/PVA blends and pure polymers were obtained by casting method. All samples were then artificially aged using Suntest apparatus (Atlas) up to 780 h. The changes in chemical structure during sample ageing have been monitored by infrared and ultraviolet‐visible absorption spectroscopies. The first stage of weathering (up to ∼ 300 h) was very slow and alteration of chemical structure was negligible in all samples. Prolonged ageing (>300 h) caused more significant degradation processes. FTIR spectra exhibited the highest changes in hydroxyl and carbonyl band ranges indicating the efficient photooxidation of macromolecules. The mechanisms of the observed processes have been discussed. It was found that PVA undergoes faster photoxidative degradation than pectin aged at the same conditions. The PEC/PVA blends exhibited the improved resistance to weathering comparing with both polymers aged individually. Mutual stabilization effect can be explained by intermolecular interactions between PEC and PVA confirmed by spectroscopic methods. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Robust adaptive tracking control of distributed delay systems with actuator and communication failures
Authors: Jin Xiaozheng , Yang Guanghong , Peng Li 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThis paper is concerned with the robust adaptive fault‐tolerant tracking control problem for a class of distributed delay systems against faulted and perturbed actuators and communications. As all the faults on actuators and communications, network delays in control and communication channels, and perturbations in communications and exogenous disturbances are unknown, some adaptation schemes are developed to adjust controller parameters in real‐time for constructing a class of distributed compensation controllers based on the delayed signals. Then, according to the information from the adaptive mechanism, the effect of each actuator and communication fault, network delay, channel perturbation and exogenous disturbance can be eliminated completely by using the proposed distributed adaptive‐state feedback controllers. Furthermore, asymptotic tracking results of the distributed closed‐loop systems can be achieved based on Lyapunov stability theory. An example is provided to further illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed direct adaptive design technique.Copyright © 2011 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Luminescence in Li2Sr2Al2PO4F9:Dy3+ ‐ a novel nanophosphor
Authors: Shinde K. N. , Dhoble S. J. 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTEarlier research has revealed numerous advantages of the wet chemical method in reaction acceleration, yield improvement, enhanced photoluminescence properties and the evolution of new material phases. In the present study the novel nanophosphor Li2Sr2Al2PO4F9:Dy3+ was synthesized by a one‐step wet chemical method. Formation of single‐phase compounds was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and characterized by photoluminescence (PL) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The average diameter of the particles was calculated from the TEM image as ca. 20 nm. The synthesized nanophosphor exhibited intense blue and yellow emissions at 482 and 575 nm, respectively, owing to the Dy3+ ion, by Hg‐free excitation at 387 nm, i.e. solid‐state lighting excitation. The results obtained showed that phosphors have the potential for applications in the lamp industry. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Acceleration of neuronal precursors differentiation induced by substrate nanotopography
Authors: Migliorini Elisa , Grenci Gianluca , Ban Jelena , Pozzato Alessandro , Tormen Massimo , Lazzarino Marco , Torre Vincent , Ruaro Maria Elisabetta 
Published: June 2011

AbstractEmbryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation in specific cell lineages is a major issue in cell biology particularly in regenerative medicine. Differentiation is usually achieved by using biochemical factors and it is not clear whether mechanical properties of the substrate over which cells are grown can affect proliferation and differentiation. Therefore, we produced patterns in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) consisting of groove and pillar arrays of sub‐micrometric lateral resolution as substrates for cell cultures. We analyzed the effect of different nanostructures on differentiation of ES‐derived neuronal precursors into neuronal lineage without adding biochemical factors. Neuronal precursors adhered on PDMS more effectively than on glass coverslips. We demonstrated that neuronal yield was enhanced by increasing pillars height from 35 to 400 nm. On higher pillar neuronal differentiation reaches ∼80% 96 h after plating and the largest differentiation enhancement of pillars over flat PDMS was observed during the first 6 h of culture. We conclude that PDMS nanopillars accelerate and increase neuronal differentiation. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011;108: 2736–2746. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hydrophilic interaction chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric analysis of anastrozole in human plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Ji Hye Young , Sohn Ji‐Hong , Lee Hye Suk 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTA hydrophilic interaction chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for determination of anastrozole in human plasma. Anastrozole and irbesartan (internal standard) were extracted from human plasma with a mixture of dichloromethane and methyl tert‐butyl ether (30:70, v/v). Analysis of the analytes was performed on a Luna HILIC column with the mobile phase of acetonitrile–10 m m ammonium formate (95:5, v/v) and detected by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in the selected reaction monitoring mode. The standard curve was linear (r2 = 0.9992) over the concentration range of 0.10–50.0 ng/mL using 200 μL of plasma sample. The coefficient of variation and relative error for intra‐ and inter‐assay at four QC levels were 1.2–10.0% and −7.2–3.2%, respectively. The present method was applied successfully to the pharmacokinetic study of anastrozole after oral administration of 1 mg anastrozole tablet to healthy male volunteers. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enhancing education in electronic sciences using virtual laboratories developed with effective practices
Authors: Garcia I. A. , Pacheco C. L. , Garcia J. N. 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTThe aim of a Virtual Lab project is to provide students access via the Internet to various experiments in those Universities where the infrastructure resources are poor. Moreover, a Virtual Lab is based on a distance education concept due to the fact that certain students may be interested in studying even at places which are far away from University eliminating the necessity to be there in person. However, methodologies used in the development of this kind of educational applications have too many problems: a lack of common theoretical frameworks which can be used by anyone in the project, and excessive formality in both technical and pedagogical factors. So, considering these factors, the introduction of “effective practices” within an alternative methodology to develop this kind of software is proposed. The applications of the Virtual Lab have been tested with the students enrolled at Technological University of the Mixtec Region and the initial educational results of the implementation of the DCLab software are presented. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 22:283–296, 2014; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cae; DOI 10.1002/cae.20554
Microstructured Mixers and Hydrocyclons for Multiphase Contacting and Separation
Authors: Rodermund Kathrin , Grünewald Marcus , Schael Frank , Herbstritt Frank , Heck Joachim 
Published: June 2011

AbstractDie Kontaktierung und Trennung nicht mischbarer Fluide ist bei chemischen Synthesen sowohl im eigentlichen Reaktionsschritt als auch bei der Aufarbeitung von großer Bedeutung. Mikrostrukturierte Bauteile sind dabei aufgrund ihres Potenzials, kurze Stofftransportwege bei gleichzeitig großen spezifischen Oberflächen zu ermöglichen, von besondererm Interesse. Während Apparate für einphasigen Betrieb bereits umfassend untersucht sind, stehen systematische Untersuchungen von mikrostrukturierten Dispergier‐ und Trennapparaten noch am Anfang. Die Eignung ausgewählter Mikromischer und Hydrozyklone für Anwendungen im Bereich der Mehrphasensysteme wird diskutiert.
A Microstructured, Flexible and Modular Device for Desorption: The High Efficiency Contactor
Authors: Dercks Benedikt , Zecirovic Rebeka , Ruffert Gerhard , Grün Marcus P. , Grünewald Marcus 
Published: June 2011

AbstractDas Prinzip eines Mikrosiebkontaktors als Trennapparat wurde zunächst im Labormaßstab umgesetzt und die Effizienz anhand von Strippversuchen experimentell untersucht. Im nächsten Schritt erfolgte ein Scale‐up des Labormoduls zu einem Stack mit gesteigerter Kapazität. Die Möglichkeiten des Numbering‐up durch das Stapeln mehrerer Siebe in dem Apparat und der seriellen Verschaltung mehrerer Apparate wurden experimentell gezeigt.
Pricing barrier and American options under the SABR model on the graphics processing unit
Authors: Tian Yu , Zhu Zili , Klebaner Fima C. , Hamza Kais 
Published: June 2011

SUMMARYIn this paper, we presented our study on using the graphics processing unit (GPU) to accelerate the computation in pricing financial options. We first introduced the GPU programming and the SABR stochastic volatility model. We then discussed pricing options with quasi Monte Carlo techniques under the SABR model. In particular, we focused on pricing barrier options by quasi Monte Carlo and conditional probability correction methods and on pricing American options by the least squares Monte Carlo method. We then presented our GPU‐based implementation for pricing barrier options and hybrid CPU–GPU implementation for pricing American options. In addition, we described techniques for efficient use of GPU memory. We provided details of implementing these GPU numerical schemes for pricing options and compared performances of the GPU programs with their CPU counterparts. We found that GPU‐based computing schemes can achieve 134 times speedup for pricing barrier options, while maintaining satisfactory pricing accuracy. For pricing American options, we also reported that when the least squares Monte Carlo method is used, special techniques can be devised to use less GPU memory, resulting in 22 times speedup, instead of the original 10 times speedup. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Carbon Monoxide Oxidation on Pt Single Crystal Electrodes: Understanding the Catalysis for Low Temperature Fuel Cells
Authors: García Gonzalo , Koper Marc T. M. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractHerein the general concepts of fuel cells are discussed, with special attention to low temperature fuel cells working in alkaline media. Alkaline low temperature fuel cells could well be one of the energy sources in the next future. This technology has the potential to provide power to portable devices, transportation and stationary sectors. With the aim to solve the principal catalytic problems at the anode of low temperature fuel cells, a fundamental study of the mechanism and kinetics of carbon monoxide as well as water dissociation on stepped platinum surfaces in alkaline medium is discussed and compared with those in acidic media. Furthermore, cations involved as promoters for catalytic surface reactions are also considered. Therefore, the aim of the present work is not only to provide the new fundamental advances in the electrocatalysis field, but also to understand the reactions occurring at fuel cell catalysts, which may help to improve the fabrication of novel electrodes in order to enhance the performance and to decrease the cost of low temperature fuel cells.
Alterations of sex‐typical microanatomy: Prenatal stress modifies the structure of medial preoptic area neurons in rats
Authors: Gerecke Kim M. , Kishore Rehka , Jasnow Aaron , Quadros‐Menella Princy , Parker Susan , Kozub Frederick J. , Lambert Kelly G. , Kinsley Craig Howard 
Published: June 2011

AbstractPrenatal stress disrupts normal sexual differentiation and behavior with concomitant alterations in brain development; however, its effects on the cytoarchitecture of neurons in the sexually dimorphic medial preoptic area (mPOA) of the hypothalamus is not known. Morphometric analysis of the mPOA of adult rats showed sex differences as neurons from control females had significantly greater numbers of basal dendritic branches and cumulative basal dendritic length as compared to control male neurons. Prenatal stress significantly altered these sexual dimorphisms, as prenatally stressed (P‐S) males had increased measures of cell body area, perimeter, cumulative basal dendritic length, and branch point numbers as compared to control males. Prenatal stress also altered the cytoarchitecture in the female mPOA neurons as P‐S female neurons had significantly greater measures for primary dendritic branch number and a trend towards significance for several additional measures as compared to control females. Therefore, there are significant effects of both sex and prenatal stress on neuronal architecture in the mPOA that may help to explain the well‐documented alterations in reproductive behaviors observed in P‐S animals. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 54:16–27, 2012.
Enhanced stress responses in adolescent versus adult rats exposed to cues of predation threat, and peer interaction as a predictor of adult defensiveness
Authors: Wright Lisa D. , Muir Katherine E. , Perrot Tara S. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractDevelopment of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis is influenced by external factors during early life in mammals, which optimizes adult function for predicted conditions. We have hypothesized that adolescence represents a sensitive period for the development of some aspects of adult stress response regulation. This was based on prior work showing that repeated exposure of rats to a stressor across an adolescent period increases fearfulness in a novel environment in adulthood and results in lower levels of dopamine receptor subtype‐2 protein in prefrontal cortex. Here, we further our investigation of both acute and long‐term effects of repeated adolescent stressor exposure on physiological (i.e., corticosterone) and behavioral (i.e., defensive behavior) measures of stress responding in male and female rats. Furthermore, we compared outcomes with those following identical manipulations administered in early adulthood and found that animals exposed to cues of predation threat during adolescence showed the most robust defensive responses to a homotypic stressor encountered in adulthood. Peer interaction during control manipulation in adolescence was identified as an important individual characteristic mediating development of adult defensive strategies. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 54:47–69, 2012.
Development of hand preference for object‐directed actions and pointing gestures: A longitudinal study between 15 and 25 months of age
Authors: Cochet Hélène 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThe development of hand preferences for object‐directed actions and pointing gestures was investigated in toddlers sampled bimonthly between 15 and 25 months of age. Language level was also assessed, in an attempt to examine the relationship between handedness and language development. Results did not reveal any changes over the study period in the mean Handedness Index of the whole sample, both for bimanual manipulative activities and pointing gestures. However, the categorization of participants as left‐handers, right‐handers, or non‐lateralized revealed that most of children presented nonlinear individual trajectories in the development of hand preference. Moreover, the only significant correlations observed between hand preferences for manipulation and pointing were negative correlations between the strength of hand preferences at 19 and 21 months of age, suggesting that manipulative actions and communicative gestures are controlled by different networks in the left cerebral hemisphere. These findings are discussed in relation to the development of speech–gesture links in infancy. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 54:105–111, 2012.
Variability of moisture in coarse woody debris from several ecologically important tree species of the Temperate Zone of Europe
Authors: Pichler Viliam , Homolák Marián , Skierucha Wojciech , Pichlerová Magdaléna , Ramírez David , Gregor Juraj , Jaloviar Peter 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTDeadwood moisture affects multiple functions of downed logs in forest ecosystems. They include provision of habitats for xylobionts, additional water stores and organic carbon stocks. In contrast to Northern American forests, little is known about moisture variability in downed logs of important tree species within the Temperate Zone of Europe. Therefore, our study aimed at elucidating this variability according to species, site and decay class (DC). Measurements were taken by TDR during two vegetation periods in eight Carpathian natural forests representing distinct site conditions, ranging from xerothermophilous to subalpine. Downed logs of Quercus spp., Abies alba Mill., Fagus sylvatica L., and Picea abies L., belonging to various DCs, were selected and instrumented with TDR probes. Species and DC‐specific TDR calibration showed the importance of intrinsic wood porosity. The course of deadwood moisture consisted of drying during the early decay stage, except for A. alba and F. sylvatica, and an intense water reabsorption at later decay stages. Average moisture for all species and sites displayed seasonal trends, reflecting the occurrence of precipitation clusters and dry periods, as well as short‐term fluctuations. Cross‐spectral analysis revealed that both sapwood and heartwood participated in wetting and drying processes, but only after reaching an advanced stage of decay. New findings can be applied in interpreting, modelling and predicting deadwood water stores, habitat properties and respiration. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.