bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An organically modified montmorillonite/nylon‐12 composite powder for selective laser sintering
Authors: Yan C.Z. , Shi Y.S. , Yang J.S. , Liu J.H. 
Published: January 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to reinforce the selective laser sintering (SLS) parts of nylon‐12 using organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT).Design/methodology/approachA dissolution‐precipitation process is developed to prepare an OMMT/nylon‐12 composite powder (3 wt% OMMT). X‐ray diffraction (XRD) was used to characterize nanostructure features. The dispersion of OMMT in the nylon‐12 matrix was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The effect of OMMT on the thermal properties of nylon‐12 was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The mechanical properties of the SLS parts made from the composite powder and neat nylon‐12 powder were measured and compared.FindingsThe X‐ray diffraction and SEM results indicate that the OMMT is intercalated by nylon‐12 molecular chains and uniformly dispersed in the nylon‐12 matrix during the dissolution‐precipitation process, and thus the OMMT/nylon‐12 intercalated nanocomposites are formed. The DSC and TGA results show that the OMMT can increase the melting enthalpy, relative crystalline content, crystallization temperature and thermal stability of nylon‐12. The tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus and impact strength of the SLS specimens made from the composite powder are 23.2, 31.7, 18.7, 32.4 and 8.4 percent higher than those of neat nylon‐12 SLS specimens, respectively, while the elongation at break decreases by 17.5 percent.Research limitations/implicationsThe conclusion of forming intercalated nanocomposites was drawn from the XRD results in the present work. Further work should be done to observe the nanostructures of the materials by transmission electron microscope.Originality/valueA dissolution‐precipitation process was used to prepare OMMT/nylon‐12 composite powders for SLS process. During the preparation process the OMMT could be intercalated by nylon‐12 molecular chains and uniformly dispersed in the nylon‐12 matrix, thus forming the OMMT/nylon‐12 intercalated nanocomposites. Therefore, the mechanical and thermal properties of nylon‐12 SLS parts were enhanced.
Public international law of the international telecommunication instruments: cyber security treaty provisions since 1850
Authors: Rutkowski Anthony 
Published: January 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to describe the history of cyber security public international law since 1850 that is found in treaty instruments developed by the signatory nations of what is now known as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Because of the esoteric nature of the subject and, until recently, the very difficult access to reference materials, knowledge of these provisions was confined to a handful of scholars.Design/methodology/approachTo prepare this article, it was necessary to download the entire new ITU History Portal collection of treaty instruments, adding the US archive collection scans of missing documents, conversion to plain text, identification and linking of key provisions across time, detecting the differences, and then pursuing related material to find out why the text arose.FindingsWhat the material reveals is a 150‐year history of cybersecurity law that is not only relevant to significant developments today, but also controlling as a set of obligations that virtually every nation has accepted.Research limitations/implicationsIt is hoped that this article will not only be helpful going forward in dealing with the difficult challenges of evolving these provisions, but will also serve as a kind of template for a new generation that not only questions authority, but also appreciates the value of source materials, accessing them, and doing the necessary analysis rather than just visiting a search engine.Originality/valueThe history of the cyber security public international law in the international telecommunication treaty instruments has never been compiled before.
Tell me the rule – I have plenty of good information: rule 1: leadership development is first about leaders who are develop‐able
Authors: Casullo David 
Published: January 2011

PurposeThis paper is intended to inform the reader of the author's expertise.Design/methodology/approachThe author's opinion is based primarily on 27 years of leadership and executive leadership development in the business realm and over five years of related practical research.FindingsOnly leaders with demonstrated ability in key areas and a desire to learn can be significantly developed.Practical implicationsLeadership development and succession planning should focus on correctly identifying leaders as a first priority.Originality/valueThe paper serves as a reminder to executives and HR leaders charged with the responsibility of identifying and developing leaders for the future of their organization.
Strategy without intelligence, intelligence without strategy
Authors: Gilad Benjamin 
Published: January 2011

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to point out how little competitors matter for companies' long‐term success, how little support executives receive with intelligence that does matter, and to offer a different solution.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses numerous examples of competitive failures and success that point out the limits of competitors' impact on a company's performance. It covers the theory of strategic positioning and industry change drivers and provides a practical definition of strategic intelligence.FindingsCompetitors do not matter to executives; “competitive intelligence” has been misinterpreted as competitor‐watching and has therefore had no real value to executives, and companies leave their executives vulnerable to disastrous blindsiding.Practical implicationsCompanies should and could markedly improve their intelligence support of top executives, but need to rethink their whole approach to competitive intelligence. Companies can also significantly improve the way they monitor the competitive environment by redirecting their efforts.Originality/valueExecutives are short changed by their organizations' own processes of closely watching competitors. For the first time, this paper exposes the myth that competitive intelligence – as practised by more than 90 percent of the Fortune 500 – has value for executives and offers a unique approach to improving companies' strategic intelligence capability.
B cell-targeted therapy with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody in a mouse model of Graves' hyperthyroidism
Authors: Ueki I , Abiru N , Kobayashi M , Nakahara M , Ichikawa T , Eguchi K , Nagayama Y 
Published: January 2011

Summary
Graves' disease is a B cell-mediated and T cell-dependent autoimmune disease of the thyroid which is characterized by overproduction of thyroid hormones and thyroid enlargement by agonistic anti-thyrotrophin receptor (TSHR) autoantibody. In addition to antibody secretion, B cells have recently been recognized to function as antigen-presenting/immune-modulatory cells. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of B cell depletion by anti-mouse (m) CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) on Graves' hyperthyroidism in a mouse model involving repeated injection of adenovirus expressing TSHR A-subunit (Ad-TSHR289). We observe that a single injection of 250 µg/mouse anti-mCD20 mAb eliminated B cells efficiently from the periphery and spleen and to a lesser extent from the peritoneum for more than 3 weeks. B cell depletion before immunization suppressed an increase in serum immunoglobulin (Ig)G levels, TSHR-specific splenocyte secretion of interferon (IFN)-γ, anti-TSHR antibody production and development of hyperthyroidism. B cell depletion 2 weeks after the first immunization, a time-point at which T cells were primed but antibody production was not observed, was still effective at inhibiting antibody production and disease development without inhibiting splenocyte secretion of IFN-γ. By contrast, B cell depletion in hyperthyroid mice was therapeutically ineffective. Together, these data demonstrate that B cells are critical not only as antibody-producing cells but also as antigen-presenting/immune-modulatory cells in the early phase of the induction of experimental Graves' hyperthyroidism and, although therapeutically less effective, B cell depletion is highly efficient for preventing disease development.
Association of functional polymorphisms in promoter regions ofIL5, IL6andIL13genes with development and prognosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases
Authors: Inoue N , Watanabe M , Morita M , Tatusmi K , Hidaka Y , Akamizu T , Iwatani Y 
Published: January 2011

SummaryTo clarify the association of genetic producibility of interleukin (IL)-5, IL-6 and IL-13, which are secreted by T helper type 2 (Th2), with the development and prognosis of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), we genotyped IL5−746C/T, IL6−572C/G and IL13−1112C/T polymorphisms, which are functional polymorphisms in the promoter regions of the genes regulating these cytokines. Fifty-seven patients with intractable Graves' disease (GD), 52 with GD in remission, 52 with severe Hashimoto's disease (HD), 56 with mild HD and 91 healthy controls were examined in this study. The IL13−1112T allele, which correlates with higher producibility of IL-13, was more frequent in patients with GD in remission than in those with intractable GD [P = 0·009, odds ratio (OR) = 3·52]. The IL5−746T allele, which may correlate with lower levels of IL-5, was more frequent in patients with GD in remission than controls (P = 0·029, OR = 2·00). The IL6−572G allele carriers (CG and GG genotypes), which have higher producibility of IL-6, were more frequent in AITD patients (P = 0·033, OR = 1·75), especially in GD in remission (P = 0·031, OR = 2·16) and severe HD (P = 0·031, OR = 2·16) than in controls. Interestingly, both allele and genotype frequencies of Th2 cytokine genes were similar between GD and HD patients. In conclusion, functional polymorphisms in the genes encoding Th2 cytokines are associated differently with the development and prognosis of AITD from each other.
Quantitative and functional profiles of CD4+ lymphocyte subsets in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with lymphopenia
Authors: Gómez-Martín D , Díaz-Zamudio M , Vanoye G , Crispín J C , Alcocer-Varela J 
Published: January 2011

SummaryLymphopenia is a common clinical manifestation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, its physiopathogenic role and the contribution of different T cell subsets in this setting have not been addressed fully. The aim of this study was to characterize T cell subsets quantitatively and functionally and their association with lymphopenia and azathioprine treatment in SLE. We included 84 SLE patients and 84 healthy controls and selected 20 patients for a 6-month longitudinal analysis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated, and T cell subsets were analysed by flow cytometry. Functional analyses included autologous and allogeneic co-cultures of T cells. Our data show persistently lower absolute numbers of CD4+CD25high T cells [regulatory T cells (Tregs)] (1·9 versus 5·2, P &lt; 0·01) and CD4+CD69+ T cells (3·2 versus 9·3, P = 0·02) and higher activity scores (4·1 versus 1·5, P = 0·01) in SLE patients with lymphopenia compared with those without lymphopenia. Lymphopenia increased the risk for decreased numbers of CD4+CD25high cells (relative risk 1·80, 95% confidence interval 1·10–2·93; P = 0·003). In addition, azathioprine-associated lymphopenia was characterized by decreased absolute numbers of CD4+CD69+ and CD4+interleukin (IL)-17+ cells compared to disease activity-associated lymphopenia. Functional assays revealed that SLE effector T cells were highly proliferative and resistant to suppression by autologous Tregs. In summary, lymphopenia was associated with deficient numbers of CD4+CD25high and CD4+CD69+ cells and resistance of effector T cells to suppression by Tregs, which could contribute to the altered immune responses characteristic of SLE. Furthermore, azathioprine treatment was associated with decreased numbers of CD4+CD69+ and CD4+IL-17+ cells and diminished Treg suppressive activity.
Engagement of activated Notch signalling in collagen II-specific T helper type 1 (Th1)- and Th17-type expansion involving Notch3 and Delta-like1
Authors: Jiao Z , Wang W , Xu H , Wang S , Guo M , Chen Y , Gao J 
Published: January 2011

Summary
Our previous study demonstrated that T helper (Th) cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) display an altered expression profile of Notch receptors and enhanced activation of Notch signalling. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of distinct Notch receptors and ligands in the activation and differentiation of collagen II (CII)-reactive Th cells upon antigen-specific restimulation. Spleen mononuclear cells (SMNCs) from CII-immunized DBA/1J mice were restimulated by culturing with CII. CII-specific proliferation and differentiation of T cells were determined by tritiated thymidine (3[H]-TdR) incorporation and flow cytometric analysis, respectively. The mRNA expression of Notch receptors and Hes1 was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). There was a clear increase in the percentage of Th1 cells and Th17 cells after CII restimulation. No significant difference was observed in the percentage of regulation T cells (Treg) in SMNCs with or without CII restimulation. CII restimulation induced up-regulated transcript levels of Hes1 in CII-reactive CD4+ T cells. The mRNA level of Notch3 was also up-regulated significantly, while the levels of the other three Notch receptors were not increased. Inhibition of Notch signalling by N-[N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)-L-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester (DAPT) and Notch3 antibody decreased the collagen-specific T cell proliferation and attenuated Th1- and Th17-type responses, while treatment with Notch ligand Delta-like 1 promoted such a response. The present study demonstrates that Notch signalling is engaged in CII-specific Th1- and Th17-type expansion in which Notch3 and Delta-like1 were involved. Selective inhibition of Notch signalling mediated by Notch3 or Delta-like1 may offer a new strategy for the treatment of RA.
Determination of the structure of the MinD–ATP complex reveals the orientation of MinD on the membrane and the relative location of the binding sites for MinE and MinC
Authors: Wu Wei , Park Kyung‐Tae , Holyoak Todd , Lutkenhaus Joe 
Published: January 2011

SummaryThe three Min proteins spatially regulate Z ring positioning in Escherichia coli and are dynamically associated with the membrane. MinD binds to vesicles in the presence of ATP and can recruit MinC or MinE. Biochemical and genetic evidence indicate the binding sites for these two proteins on MinD overlap. Here we solved the structure of a hydrolytic‐deficient mutant of MinD truncated for the C‐terminal amphipathic helix involved in binding to the membrane. The structure solved in the presence of ATP is a dimer and reveals the face of MinD abutting the membrane. Using a combination of random and extensive site‐directed mutagenesis additional residues important for MinE and MinC binding were identified. The location of these residues on the MinD structure confirms that the binding sites overlap and reveals that the binding sites are at the dimer interface and exposed to the cytosol. The location of the binding sites at the dimer interface offers a simple explanation for the ATP dependence of MinC and MinE binding to MinD.
NifB and NifEN protein levels are regulated by ClpX2 under nitrogen fixation conditions in Azotobacter vinelandii
Authors: Martínez‐Noël Giselle , Curatti Leonardo , Hernandez Jose A. , Rubio Luis M. 
Published: January 2011

SummaryThe major part of biological nitrogen fixation is catalysed by the molybdenum nitrogenase that carries at its active site the iron and molybdenum cofactor (FeMo‐co). The nitrogen fixation (nif) genes required for the biosynthesis of FeMo‐co are derepressed in the absence of a source of fixed nitrogen. The nifB gene product is remarkable because it assembles NifB‐co, a complex cluster proposed to comprise a [6Fe‐9S‐X] cluster, from simpler [Fe‐S] clusters common to other metabolic pathways. NifB‐co is a common intermediate of the biosyntheses of the cofactors present in the molybdenum, vanadium and iron nitrogenases. In this work, the expression of the Azotobacter vinelandii nifB gene was uncoupled from its natural nif regulation to show that NifB protein levels are lower in cells growing diazotrophically than in cells growing at the expense of ammonium. A. vinelandii carries a duplicated copy of the ATPase component of the ubiquitous ClpXP protease (ClpX2), which is induced under nitrogen fixing conditions. Inactivation of clpX2 resulted in the accumulation of NifB and NifEN and a defect in diazotrophic growth, especially when iron was in short supply. Mutations in nifE, nifN and nifX or in nifA also affected NifB accumulation, suggesting that NifB susceptibility to degradation might vary during its catalytic cycle.
The effect of extensive flooding in Hull on the glycaemic control of patients with diabetes
Authors: Ng J. , Atkin S. L. , Rigby A. S. , Walton C. , Kilpatrick E. S. 
Published: January 2011

Diabet. Med. 28, 519–524 (2011)AbstractAims To examine the impact of extensive flooding in a UK city in 2007 on the glycaemic control of patients with diabetes mellitus.Methods This was a longitudinal study in patients with diabetes mellitus 12 months before and after the floods in Hull and East Yorkshire, UK. All patients registered with diabetes mellitus were sent questionnaires about their experiences during and after the floods. Glycaemic control for patients directly affected by the floods was compared against those unaffected.Results Of 1743 respondents, 296 patients had been affected by the floods (110 insulin treated, 186 lifestyle and oral agents) and 1447 unaffected (482 insulin treated, 965 lifestyle and oral agents). There was a rise in mean HbA1cof affected individuals comparing 12 months before the floods with 12 months after [mean (95% confidence interval), 7.6% (7.5–7.7) vs. 7.9% (7.7–8.0),P = 0.002], but not those unaffected [7.5% (7.4–7.6) vs. 7.5% (7.4–7.6),P = 0.46]. The difference was mainly in insulin‐treated patients [8.6% (8.3, 8.9) affected vs. 8.2% (8.1, 8.3) unaffected, (P = 0.002)].Conclusions Glycaemic control deteriorated in diabetes patients following the floods but was almost exclusively confined to patients taking insulin and was worst at 6–9 months following the event. Insulin‐treated patients may need specific targeting in the event of a natural disaster.
Immediate effect of a wrist and thumb brace on bimanual activities in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy
Authors: LOUWERS ANNOEK , MEESTER‐DELVER ANKE , FOLMER KATINKA , NOLLET FRANS , BEELEN ANITA 
Published: January 2011

Aim  The aim of this study was to determine the immediate effect of wearing a wrist and thumb brace on the performance of bimanual activities in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy.Method  In a pre‐ and post‐test cohort study of 25 children (age range 4–11y; mean age 8y 4mo [SD 2y 2mo]; 16 males, 9 females) with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy with a Zancolli classification hand score of I, IIA, or IIB (mild and moderate hand dysfunction; children with a Zancolli classification of III – severe hand dysfunction – were excluded from this study), performance of bimanual activities was evaluated with the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) on three occasions: one assessment with a static wrist and thumb brace placed on the affected hand and two other assessments without a brace. The differences between AHA scores obtained at the three assessments were evaluated using the repeated measures analysis of variance.Results  Performance of bimanual activities while wearing the brace improved significantly compared to performance without the brace (p<0.001). With the brace, the mean AHA score increased by 3.2 (95% confidence interval 2.1–4.3) from 59.1 to 62.3. The scores of the two assessments without the brace did not differ significantly.Interpretation  In children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy, bracing of the wrist and thumb immediately improves spontaneous use of the affected upper limb in bimanual activities, possibly because bracing permits a more functional hand position.
Defective motion processing in children with cerebral visual impairment due to periventricular white matter damage
Authors: WEINSTEIN JOEL M , GILMORE RICK O , SHAIKH SUMERA M , KUNSELMAN ALLEN R , TRESCHER WILLIAM V , TASHIMA LAUREN M , BOLTZ MARIANNE E , MCAULIFFE MATTHEW B , CHEUNG ALBERT , FESI JEREMY D 
Published: January 2011

Aim  We sought to characterize visual motion processing in children with cerebral visual impairment (CVI) due to periventricular white matter damage caused by either hydrocephalus (eight individuals) or periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) associated with prematurity (11 individuals).Method  Using steady‐state visually evoked potentials (ssVEP), we measured cortical activity related to motion processing for two distinct types of visual stimuli: ‘local’ motion patterns thought to activate mainly primary visual cortex (V1), and ‘global’ or coherent patterns thought to activate higher cortical visual association areas (V3, V5, etc.). We studied three groups of children: (1) 19 children with CVI (mean age 9y 6mo [SD 3y 8mo]; 9 male; 10 female); (2) 40 neurologically and visually normal comparison children (mean age 9y 6mo [SD 3y 1mo]; 18 male; 22 female); and (3) because strabismus and amblyopia are common in children with CVI, a group of 41 children without neurological problems who had visual deficits due to amblyopia and/or strabismus (mean age 7y 8mo [SD 2y 8mo]; 28 male; 13 female).Results  We found that the processing of global as opposed to local motion was preferentially impaired in individuals with CVI, especially for slower target velocities (p=0.028).Interpretation  Motion processing is impaired in children with CVI. ssVEP may provide useful and objective information about the development of higher visual function in children at risk for CVI.
HDAC6 regulates aggresome‐autophagy degradation pathway of α‐synuclein in response to MPP+‐induced stress
Authors: Su Min , Shi Ji‐Jun , Yang Ya‐Ping , Li Jun , Zhang Yan‐Ling , Chen Jin , Hu Li‐Fang , Liu Chun‐Feng 
Published: January 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 117, 112–120.AbstractIncreasing evidence suggests that the ubiquitin‐binding histone deacetylase‐6 (HDAC6) plays an important role in the clearance of misfolded proteins by autophagy. In this study, we treated PC‐12 cells over‐expressing human mutant (A53T) α‐synuclein (α‐syn) and SH‐SY5Y cells with MPP+. It was found that HDAC6 expression significantly increased and mainly colocalized with α‐syn in the perinuclear region to form aggresome‐like bodies. HDAC6 deficiency blocked the formation of aggresome‐like bodies and interfered with the autophagy in response to MPP+‐induced stress. Moreover, misfolded α‐syn accumulated into the nuclei, resulting in its reduced clearance, and finally, the number of apoptotic cells significantly increased. Taken together, HDAC6 participated in the degradation of MPP+‐induced misfolded α‐syn aggregates by regulating the aggresome‐autophagy pathway. Understanding the mechanism may disclose potential therapeutic targets for synucleinopathies such as Parkinson’s disease.