bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Separating maps on weighted function algebras on topological groups
Authors: Maghsoudi Saeid , Nasr-Isfahani Rasoul 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
Let G
1 and G
2 be locally compact groups and let ω
1 and ω
2 be weight functions on G
1 and G
2, respectively. For i = 1, 2, let also C
0(G
i, 1/ω
i) be the algebra of all continuous complex-valued functions f on G
i such that f/ω
i vanish at infinity, and let H: C
0(G
1, 1/ω
1) → C
0(G
2, 1/ω
2) be a separating map; that is, a linear map such that H(f)H(g) = 0 for all f, g ∈ C
0(G
1, 1/ω
1) with fg = 0. In this paper, we study conditions under which H can be represented as a weighted composition map; i.e., H(f) = φ(f ℴ h) for all f ∈ C
0(G
1, 1/ω
1), where φ: G
2 → ℂ is a non-vanishing continuous function and h: G
2 → G
1 is a topological isomorphism. Finally, we offer a statement equivalent to that h is also a group homomorphism.
Educational Gradient in HIV Diagnosis Delay, Mortality, Antiretroviral Treatment Initiation and Response in a Country with Universal Health Care
Authors: Sobrino-Vegas Paz , Rodríguez-Urrego Johana , Berenguer Juan , Caro-Murillo Ana María , Blanco José Ramón , Viciana Pompeyo , Moreno Santiago , Bernardino Ignacio , del Amo Julia , CoRIS  
Published: November 2011

Background The aim of this study was to analyse associations between educational level and delayed HIV diagnosis (DD), late initiation of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), overall and in subjects with timely HIV diagnosis, virological and immunological responses to cART, and mortality from HIV diagnosis and cART initiation. Methods This was a multicentre cohort study of HIV-positive treatment-naive subjects in Spain between 2004–2009. Logistic and Cox regression analyses were used. Results Of 4,549 subjects, 44.5% had low education level (LOW), 34.4% medium education level (MED) and 21.1% high education level (HIG). In men, DD was more common in MED (OR 1.3 [95% CI 1.0, 1.7]) or LOW [OR 1.8 (95% CI 1.4, 2.3)] compared to HIG. In women, the opposite was observed; women with HIG were 40% more likely to have DD than those with LOW (OR 1.4 [95% CI 0.8, 2.5]). In individuals with timely HIV diagnoses, percentages of late cART initiators were similar (LOW 9.5%, MED 11.4% and HIG 7.0%; P=0.114). Immunological (LOW 68%, MED 76% and HIG 84%) and virological (LOW 76%, MED 83% and HIG 86%) responses to cART increased significantly with educational level; these increases remained significant in multivariate analyses. Mortality for LOW subjects was higher than for HIG, from HIV diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR] 2.3 [95% CI 1.1, 4.9]) and from cART initiation (HR 1.8 [95% CI 0.8, 3.9]). Conclusions We found important differences by educational level in diagnosis delay, virological and immunological responses to cART and mortality in a country with universal health care. Women with high educational level are at higher risk of having delayed HIV diagnoses. Educational level should be taken into account when designing HIV testing and clinical management strategies.
Polymorphisms in the Interleukin 4, Interleukin 13, and Corresponding Receptor Genes Are Not Associated with Systemic Sclerosis and Do Not Influence Gene Expression
Authors: BROEN JASPER C.A. , DIEUDE PHILLIPE , VONK MADELON C. , BERETTA LORENZO , CARMONA FRANCISCO D. , HERRICK ARIANE , WORTHINGTON JANE , HUNZELMANN NICHOLAS , RIEMEKASTEN GABRIELA , KIENER HANS , SCORZA RAFAELLA , SIMEON CARMEN P. , FONOLLOSA VICENT ,   the Spanish Systemic Sclerosis Group, CARREIRA PATRICIA , ORTEGO-CENTENO NORBERTO , GONZALEZ-GAY MIGUEL A. , AIRO’ PAOLO , COENEN MARIEKE J. , TSANG KELLY , ALIPRANTIS ANTONIOS O. , MARTIN JAVIER , ALLANORE YANNICK , RADSTAKE TIMOTHY R.D.J. 
Published: November 2011

Objective.Polymorphisms in the genes encoding interleukin 4 (IL4), interleukin 13 (IL13), and their corresponding receptors have been associated with multiple immune-mediated diseases. Our aim was to validate these previous observations in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and scrutinize the effect of the polymorphisms on gene expression in various populations of peripheral blood leukocytes.Methods.We genotyped a cohort of 2488 patients with SSc and 2246 healthy controls from The Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, and France. Taqman assays were used to genotype single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the following genes: (1) IL4 (−590C>T/rs2243250); (2) IL4 receptor alpha (IL4RA) (Q576R/rs1801275); (3) IL13 (R130Q/rs20541 and −1112C>T/rs1800925); and (4) IL13RA1 (43163G>A/rs6646259). The effect of these polymorphisms on expression of the corresponding genes was assessed using quantitative RT-PCR on RNA derived from peripheral blood B cells, T cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, monocytes, and myeloid dendritic cells. We investigated whether these polymorphisms influenced development of pulmonary complications over 15 years in patients with SSc.Results.None of the investigated polymorphisms was associated with SSc or any SSc clinical subtype. We did not observe any effect on transcript levels in the cell subtypes or on development of pulmonary complications.Conclusion.Our data showed that polymorphisms in IL4, IL13, and their receptors do not play a role in SSc and do not influence the expression of their corresponding transcript in peripheral blood cells.
Association of IL-12B Genetic Polymorphism with the Susceptibility and Disease Severity of Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: WONG RUEY-HONG , WEI JAMES CHENG-CHUNG , HUANG CHUN-HUANG , LEE HONG-SHEN , CHIOU SHANG-YAN , LIN SHIN-HUA , CAI YAN-WEI , HUNG PEI-HSUAN , WANG MING-FUU , YANG SHUN-FA 
Published: November 2011

Objective.Interleukin 23 (IL-23) stimulates the differentiation of T helper 17 (Th17) cells, which are involved in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Binding of IL-23 to the IL-23 receptor complex activates Janus kinases 2 and tyrosine kinase 2, which phosphorylate IL-23R and subsequently promote the transcription of theIL-17gene.IL-12Bencodes a p40 subunit common to IL-12 and IL-23. We evaluated the effects ofIL-12BandIL-23Rgenotype on the occurrence and clinical features of AS.Methods.A total of 362 patients with AS and 362 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Genotypes ofIL-12BA1188C (rs3212227) andIL-23RC2370A (rs10889677) were identified by polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment-length polymorphism. Disease activity and functional status were assessed by Bath AS indices.Results.Subjects carryingIL-12BCC [matched relative risk (RRm) 1.93, 95% CI 1.23–3.03] andIL-12BAC (RRm1.73, 95% CI 1.21–2.46) genotypes had a significantly greater risk of developing AS than subjects with theIL-12BAA genotype. Subjects carrying bothIL-12BCC andIL-23RAA genotypes also had a significantly higher risk (RRm2.98, 95% CI 1.51–5.89) of developing AS compared to those withIL-12BAA andIL-23RCC/CA genotypes, and this interaction betweenIL-12BandIL-23Rwas significant. Patients with AS who hadIL-12BCC andIL-12BAC genotypes had an obviously increased Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index score compared to those who carried theIL-12BAA genotype (4.3 vs 3.7).Conclusion.TheIL-12BA1188C genotype was associated with the development and disease severity of AS.
Controlled Crack Propagation Experiments with a Novel Alumina‐Based Refractory
Authors: Skiera E. , Malzbender J. , Mönch J. , Dudczig S. , Aneziris C. G. , Steinbrech R. W. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractInnovative, carbon‐reduced and carbon‐free refractory materials are currently under development within the framework of the DFG priority program “FIRE”. Among various novel material solutions an alumina‐based refractory with titania and zirconia additives (AZT) has gained special interest for application in high temperature processes under thermal shock conditions. The resistance against fracture of the AZT material and, for comparison, of a pure alumina refractory was examined by controlled crack propagation experiments. Wedge splitting and compact tension tests with in situ crack growth observation, partially on microstructural level, have been performed for both materials. Based on the measured room temperature values of dissipated energy, refractory stiffness and fracture stress, the Hasselman thermal shock parameterR″″ was determined. The results allow to predict that AZT is less prone to scale thermal shock damage than pure alumina. The microstructural observations reveal that growth and opening displacement of the main crack is accompanied in AZT by pronounced microcracking, branching and bridging processes. First efforts are also directed towards a mechanical quantification of this fracture behavior in terms of anR‐curve representation (fracture resistance as a function of apparent crack length). The specific problems ofR‐curve evaluation that exist in AZT due to nonlinear deformation behavior are addressed and the influence of the observed crack growth mechanisms is discussed.
In‐Flight Inkjet Self‐Assembly of Spherical Nanoparticle Aggregates
Authors: Sowade Enrico , Hammerschmidt Jens , Blaudeck Thomas , Baumann Reinhard R. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractRecently, there has emerged a growing interest in many disciplines to use the principle of self‐assembly in order to manufacture ensembles of nanostructures. Self‐assembly processes organize autonomously building blocks into patterns or structures without human intervention. We report on combining inkjet printing and self‐assembly as a manufacturing method for spherical aggregates. The aggregates consist of a high number of colloidal nanospheres arranged as stable ball‐shaped structures. The method allows the patterned deposition of spherical aggregates on any surface due to an in‐flight self‐assembly process of the nanospheres.
Antifungal properties of chitosan salts in laboratory media
Authors: Ren Jianming , Liu Jingli , Li Rongchun , Dong Fang , Guo Zhanyong 
Published: November 2011

AbstractSome aliphatic carboxylic acids were used to produce chitosan (CS) salts by reaction with CS, and their antifungal activity against three kinds of phytopathogens was estimated by hypha measurement in vitro. The fungicidal assessment showed that all of the CS salts had excellent activity against the tested fungi. Their inhibitory indices were 41.15–64.15, 56.25–76.56, and 35.94–68.75% for Cladosporium
cucumerinum (Ell.) et Arthur, Monilinia
fructicola (Wint.) Honey, and Fusarium
oxysporum sp. Cucumis sativus L., respectively, at 1000 μg/mL; these indices were higher than that of CS. It was confirmed that the amino groups' protonation was important for the antifungal activity of CS derivatives. The substituted groups with stronger electronegativity drew more electrons from the nitrogen atoms in the derivative molecules, which relatively strengthened the polycationic character of the CS derivatives. Therefore, the antifungal activity of the CS salts was improved. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Puncture deformation and fracture mechanism of oriented polymers
Authors: Yang Y. , Ponting M. , Thompson G. , Hiltner A. , Baer E. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the effect of orientation by solid‐state cross‐rolling on the morphology, puncture deformation, and fracture mechanism of an amorphous TROGAMID material and three semicrystalline polymers: high‐density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and nylon 6/6. In amorphous TROGAMID, it was found that orientation preferentially aligned polymer chains along the rolling deformation direction and reduced the plastic deformation of TROGAMID in a low‐temperature puncture test. The decrease of ductility with orientation changed the fracture mechanism of TROGAMID from ductile hole enlargement failure in the unoriented control to a more brittle delamination failure in TROGAMID cross‐rolled to a 75% thickness reduction. For semicrystalline polymers HDPE, PP, and nylon 6/6, the randomly oriented crystalline lamellae in the controls were first oriented into an oblique angle to the rolling direction (RD) before the lamellae became fragmented and preferentially oriented with the chain axis parallel to the RD. The morphological change resulted in the decrease of ductility in HDPE in the low‐temperature puncture test. In PP and nylon 6/6, the brittle fracture of unoriented controls was changed into ductile failure when they were cross‐rolled to a 50% thickness reduction. This was attributed to the tilted crystal lamellae morphology, which permitted chain slip deformation of crystals with the chain axis parallel to the maximum shear stress direction. With further orientation of PP and nylon 6/6 to a 75% thickness reduction, the failure mechanism changed back to brittle fracture as the morphology transformed into a layered discoid structure with the chain axis of the fragmented crystal blocks parallel to the RD; this prevented chain slip deformation of the crystals. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Effective properties of particle reinforced polymeric mould material towards reducing cooling time in soft tooling process
Authors: Nandi A. K. , Datta S. , Orkus J. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractCooling time in soft tooling process using conventional mold materials is normally high. Although increase of effective thermal conductivity of mold material by inclusion of high thermally conductive fillers reduces the cooling time, it affects other properties (namely, stiffness of mold box and flow ability of melt mold material), which play important roles in soft tooling process. Therefore, to apply composite polymer in soft tooling process as mold material simultaneous studies of these properties are important. In this work, extensive experimental studies are made on the effective thermal conductivity, modulus of elasticity and viscosity of composite polymeric mold materials namely Polyurethane and RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanizing)‐2 silicone rubber, with aluminum and graphite particle reinforcements. To find suitable models of the effective properties of composite mold materials, which are required to decide the optimum amount of filler content before actual application, attempts are made to fit the experimental results using various models reported in the literature. Finally, different aspects in reducing cooling time in soft tooling process and further activities are reported. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Sulphonated poly ether ether ketone/amino‐diphenylsilandiol composite electrolyte for PEM fuel cells
Authors: Ahmed Z. , Belitto S. , Di Vona M. L. , Trombetta M. , Traversa E. , Licoccia S. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractA composite polymeric membrane to be used as electrolyte in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells has been prepared and characterized. The membrane is composed of an acidic polymer, sulfonated polyetheretherketone, and of basic filler, amino‐diphenylsilandiol, a functionalized organically modified silane. Attenuated total reflectance (ATR)/fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) demonstrated the occurrence of a specific interaction of the polymer SO3H groups with the basic function of the filler. Such interaction reflected in reduced swelling, enhanced thermal stability, and good proton conductivity values at intermediate temperatures (σ ≈ 10−2 S cm−1 at 100°C). © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Characterization of polyisobutylene succinic anhydride chemistries using mass spectrometry
Authors: Rivera‐Tirado Edgardo , Aaserud David J. , Wesdemiotis Chrys 
Published: November 2011

AbstractRepresentative Polyisobutylene succinic anhydride (PIBSA) samples have been studied by different MS techniques including Electrospray Ionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance MS (ESI‐FTMS) (positive and negative modes), Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance MS (negative mode), and Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time‐of‐Flight (positive and negative modes). Negative ion ESI‐FTMS produces the best results. Differences between “mono‐succan” and “di‐succan” content can readily be observed. The source of the PIBSA (PIBSA‐I and PIBSA‐II processes) can be easily distinguished and the formation of methyl esters and amide derivatives can provide complementary data. The experiments have demonstrated the capabilities of mass spectrometry to detect and characterize such polymers samples. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Tuning of electrochromic properties by copolymerization of monoalkoxythiophenes and dialkoxythiophenes
Authors: Tu Shijian , Wang Yuechuan , Lan Jianwu , Zheng Qingkang , Wei Jian , Chen Sheng 
Published: November 2011

AbstractMonoalkoxysubstituted and dialkoxysubstitued thiophene monomers were synthesized by the nucleophilic substitution and transetherification reactions. Electrochemical homopolymerization of 3‐octyloxythiophene (OOT) and 3,4‐dioctyloxythiophene (DOOT), copolymerization of OOT with DOOT were performed via potentiodynamic and potentiostatic methods in the supporting electrolyte. Both the copolymer and homopolymers were characterized via cyclic voltammetry, scanning electron microscopy, gel permeation chromatography, and spectroelectrochemical analysis. In the redox process of the polymers, it was linear relationship between the peak current and the scanning rate in their cyclic voltammograms. The copolymer of P(OOT‐co‐DOOT) showed obvious change of color between red and bright blue in reduced and oxidized states, that has a great difference with the homopolymers. The morphology studies indicated that the electrochemical deposition of P(OOT‐co‐DOOT) proceeds via a mechanism of nucleation and two‐dimensional growth. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Palmitoyl‐dl‐Carnitine is a Multitarget Inhibitor of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Development
Authors: Wenderska Iwona B. , Chong Matthew , McNulty James , Wright Gerard D. , Burrows Lori L. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBacteria growing in biofilms are often in metabolic and physiological states that do not respond well to antibiotics, and thus, are major contributors to chronic diseases. Biofilm inhibitors, therefore, have the potential to be used alone or as adjuvants to conventional antibiotic therapies. Here, we screened a chemically diverse collection of protein kinase inhibitors for molecules that perturb biofilm development. Among the inhibitory molecules identified, palmitoyl‐dl‐carnitine (pdlc) impaired Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli biofilm formation in a dose‐dependent manner. The pdlc affected multiple pathways implicated in P. aeruginosa biofilm development; it stimulated motility, inhibited activity of the Las quorum sensing system, and overrode the biofilm‐promoting effects of subminimal inhibitory concentrations of aminoglycosides and high levels of the second messenger, cyclic‐di‐GMP. Palmitic acid, but not carnitine, inhibited biofilm formation but did not stimulate motility, suggesting that pdlc works through unique mechanisms. The ability to target multiple pathways involved in biofilm formation is desirable in an inhibitor, which makes pdlc an interesting lead for antibiofilm therapies.
Determination of Hemin‐Binding Characteristics of Proteins by a Combinatorial Peptide Library Approach
Authors: Kühl Toni , Sahoo Nirakar , Nikolajski Melanie , Schlott Bernhard , Heinemann Stefan H. , Imhof Diana 
Published: November 2011

AbstractStudies of the binding of heme/hemin to proteins or peptides have recently intensified as it became evident that heme serves not only as a prosthetic group, but also as a regulator and effector molecule interacting with transmembrane and cytoplasmic proteins. The iron‐ion‐containing heme group can associate with these proteins in different ways, with the amino acids Cys, His, and Tyr allowing individual modes of binding. Strong coordinate‐covalent binding, such as in cytochrome c, is known, and reversible attachment is also discussed. Ligands for both types of binding have been reported independently, though sometimes with different affinities for similar sequences. We applied a combinatorial approach using the library (X)4(C/H/Y)(X)4 to characterize peptide ligands with considerable hemin binding capacities. Some of the library‐selected peptides were comparable in terms of hemin association independently of whether or not a cysteine residue was present in the sequence. Indeed, a preference for His‐based (≈39 %) and Tyr‐based (≈40 %) sequences over Cys‐based ones (≈21 %) was detected. The binding affinities for the library‐selected peptides, as determined by UV/Vis spectroscopy, were in the nanomolar range. Moreover, selected representatives efficiently competed for hemin binding with the human BK channel hSlo1, which is known to be regulated by heme through binding to its heme‐binding domain.
On the integration of the baroreflex control mechanism in a heterogeneous model of the cardiovascular system
Authors: Blanco P.J. , Trenhago P.R. , Fernandes L.G. , Feijóo R.A. 
Published: November 2011

SUMMARYThe aim of the present work is to describe the integration of a mathematical model for the baroreceptor reflex mechanism to provide regulatory action into a dimensionally heterogeneous (3D–1D–0D) closed‐loop model of the cardiovascular system. Such heterogeneous model comprises a 1D description of the arterial tree, a 0D network for the venous, cardiac and pulmonary circulations and 3D patient‐specific geometries for vascular districts of interest. Thus, the detailed topological description of the arterial network allows us to perform vasomotor control actions in a differentiated way, while gaining insight about the effects of the baroreflex regulation over hemodynamic quantities of interest throughout the entire network. Two examples of application are presented. Firstly, we simulate the hemorrhage in the abdominal aorta artery and analyze the action of the baroreflex over the system. Secondly, the self‐regulated closed‐loop model is applied to study the influence of the control action in the hemodynamic environment that determines the blood flow pattern in a cerebral aneurism in the presence of a regurgitating aortic valve. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Expectation–maximization‐based joint data detection and channel estimation for a cellular multi‐carrier code division multiple access network using single‐hop relaying
Authors: Kabaoğlu Nihat 
Published: November 2011

SUMMARYThis paper is concerned with channel estimation and data detection for a cellular multi‐carrier code division multiple access network using single‐hop relaying in the presence of frequency selective fading channels. The proposed expectation–maximization (EM) algorithm was used to jointly estimate both the coefficients of the channel between a relay and a base station and the data. EM algorithm is particularly suited to multi‐carrier code division multiple access systems because they have multi‐carrier signal format. The considered network uses single‐hop relaying technique to provide a higher quality transmission to the users with low quality channels. The base station (managing mechanism) gives them an opportunity to send their messages via the users with high quality channels in a time sharing mode. The performance of the proposed EM algorithm, with and without hopping and with cooperative communication technique, was analyzed by a computer simulation, and the results are presented. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.