bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors Associated with Allergen Sensitizations in Patients with Asthma and/or Rhinitis in China
Authors:   China Alliance of Research on Respiratory Allergic Disease (CARRAD), Li Jing , Huang Ying , Lin Xiaoping , Zhao Deyu , Tan Guolin , Wu Jinzhun , Zhao Changqing , Zhao Jing , Spangfort Michael D. , Lai Xuxin , Zhong Nanshan 
Published: February 2012

Background Allergen sensitization is influenced by genetic and environmental factors; however, the factors related to sensitizations in patients with rhinitis and asthma in China are largely unknown. This study investigated the factors associated with allergen sensitizations in patients with asthma and rhinitis in China. Methods A cross-sectional survey was performed in 6304 patients with asthma and/or rhinitis from four regions of China. Patients completed a standardized questionnaire related to respiratory and allergic symptoms, family history of allergic diseases, smoking history, environmental exposure, and eating behaviors. They underwent skin-prick tests (SPTs) with 13 common aeroallergens. Blood samples were collected from 2268 of patients for specific IgE (sIgE) measurements against 16 common aeroallergens. Results Patients with both asthma and rhinitis had higher prevalence of SPT and sIgE positivity to most allergens than those with asthma or rhinitis alone (p < 0.0001). Male gender, family history of allergic rhinitis, air-conditioner usage, sleeping on a mattress, and frequently eating meat were associated with increased risk of SPT and sIgE positivity. Using air-conditioner and sleeping on a mattress were further found to be associated with sIgE positivity to mites and molds. However, increased age and fish, fruit, and raw vegetable intake decreased the risk of SPT and sIgE positivity. Conclusion Family history of allergic rhinitis, male gender, using an air conditioner, sleeping on a mattress, and frequent meat consumption are risk factors for allergen sensitizations, whereas increased age and frequent fish, fruit, and raw vegetable consumption may protect patients with asthma and/or rhinitis from developing sensitizations in China.
Healing of patellar fractures in two kittens
Authors: Bush M. A. , Whiting C. , Langley-Hobbs S. J. , Hermer J. V. 
Published: February 2012

SummaryTwo kittens aged between four and five months were presented having sustained patellar fractures. In both cases, healing was subsequently documented radiographically; this has not been reported previously in the literature.One kitten had bilateral patellar fractures – the symptomatic right stifle was treated with a pin and tension-band-wire which later failed, at which point partial patellectomy was performed. The fracture of the left patella was minimally displaced and was treated conservatively. A radiograph of the left patella taken eleven months after initial presentation showed complete healing of the fracture. The second case was treated surgically with a circumferential wire; healing of the fracture was demonstrated radiographically at twelve weeks postoperatively. Radiographic images taken five weeks postoperatively had shown some narrowing of the fracture gap.These two cases demonstrate that bony union of patellar fractures can be documented, given a long enough duration of radiographic follow-up; circumferential wire was an effective treatment in a displaced fracture, and conservative treatment resulted in complete healing of a minimally displaced fracture.
Relationships between Physical Activity, Symptoms and Quality of Life among Inpatients with Severe Mental Illness
Authors: Bonsaksen Tore , Lerdal Anners 
Published: February 2012

Introduction: Interest in researching physical activity in relation to mental health is growing. This exploratory study investigated the relationships between self-reported physical activity, depression, anxiety and quality of life in patients with severe mental illness. Method: A cross-sectional, correlational design study was conducted at a psychiatric hospital department in eastern Norway. A convenience sample of 18 inpatients with severe mental illness was used. Physical activity was measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire; anxiety and depression were measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; and quality of life was measured with the World Health Organization Quality of Life — BREF. Correlation and multiple regression analyses were employed. Results: Bivariate analyses showed that patients with more depression and anxiety symptoms reported lower quality of life. There was no bivariate relationship between physical activity and quality of life, except in the psychological domain. Regression analyses confirmed relationships between higher depression and anxiety scores, and lower quality of life, whereas physical activity remained unrelated to quality of life. Conclusion: Preliminary findings indicate that the lack of relationship between physical activity and quality of life may be due to participants' severity of illness. Physical activity may be more important to quality of life in better-functioning patients.
Highly Efficient and Thermally Stable Polymer Solar Cells with Dihydronaphthyl‐Based [70]Fullerene Bisadduct Derivative as the Acceptor
Authors: Meng Xiangyue , Zhang Wenqing , Tan Zhan'ao , Li Yongfang , Ma Yihan , Wang Taishan , Jiang Li , Shu Chunying , Wang Chunru 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe efficiency of polymer solar cells (PSCs) can be essentially enhanced by improving the performance of electron‐acceptor materials, including by increasing the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level, improving the optical absorption, and tuning the material solubility. Here, a new soluble C70 derivative, dihydronaphthyl‐based C70 bisadduct (NC70BA), is synthesized and explored as acceptor in PSCs. The NC70BA has high LUMO energy level that is 0.2 eV higher than [6,6]‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), and displays broad light absorption in the visible region. Consequently, the PSC based on the blend of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and NC70BA shows a high open‐circuit voltage (Voc = 0.83 V) and a high power conversion efficiency (PCE = 5.95%), which are much better than those of the P3HT:PCBM‐based device (Voc = 0.60 V; PCE = 3.74%). Moreover, the amorphous nature of NC70BA effectively suppresses the thermally driven crystallization, leading to high thermal stability of the P3HT:NC70BA‐based solar cell devices. It is observed that the P3HT:NC70BA‐based device retains 80% of its original PCE value against thermal heating at 150 °C over 20 h. The results unambiguously indicate that the NC70BA is a promising acceptor material for practical PSCs.
Efficient suppression of radiation damping in individual plasmonic resonators: towards high‐Q nano‐volume sensing
Authors: Della Valle G. , Bozhevolnyi S.I. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractRecent results on radiation damping suppression in individual plasmonic resonators using conformal bending of the structure, which suppresses the electric‐dipole response in favor of magnetic dipole one, are overviewed. It is demonstrated that bending of linear plasmonic nano‐antennas increases significantly their Q factors above the electrostatic limit while preserving the nature of resonance along with its exceptional features, such as linear size‐dependent tunability and robust field enhancement. The approach, which makes use of strong lateral confinement exhibited by the slow plasmonic modes (slow‐SPPs) bound to ultra‐narrow metallic structures, turned out to be quite general, and its experimental demonstration has been attained with circularly curved nano‐rod antennas. Furthermore, this approach suggested novel configurations of plasmonic single particle nanosensing with enhanced features, allowing record‐high figures of merit along with unprecedented spatial resolution in nanofiber‐based split‐cylinder structures.
Complexity of networks II: The set complexity of edge‐colored graphs
Authors: Ignac Tomasz M. , Sakhanenko Nikita A. , Galas David J. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractWe previously introduced the concept of “set‐complexity,” based on a context‐dependent measure of information, and used this concept to describe the complexity of gene interaction networks. In a previous paper of this series we analyzed the set‐complexity of binary graphs. Here, we extend this analysis to graphs with multicolored edges that more closely match biological structures like the gene interaction networks. All highly complex graphs by this measure exhibit a modular structure. A principal result of this work is that for the most complex graphs of a given size the number of edge colors is equal to the number of “modules” of the graph. Complete multipartite graphs (CMGs) are defined and analyzed. The relation between complexity and structure of these graphs is examined in detail. We establish that the mutual information between any two nodes in a CMG can be fully expressed in terms of entropy, and present an explicit expression for the set complexity of CMGs (Theorem 3). An algorithm for generating highly complex graphs from CMGs is described. We establish several theorems relating these concepts and connecting complex graphs with a variety of practical network properties. In exploring the relation between symmetry and complexity we use the idea of a similarity matrix and its spectrum for highly complex graphs. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity, 2012
Synthesis and Physicochemical Characterisation of Gd‐DTPA Derivatives as Contrast Agents for MRI
Authors: Laurent Sophie , Henoumont Céline , Vander Elst Luce , Muller Robert N. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractParamagnetic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents are the compounds most used in clinical studies. Among these, the derivatives of Gd‐DTPA (gadoliniumdiethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, Magnevist®, Bayer HealthCare) have been extensively studied. The first part of this work consists of a comparison of various derivatives of Gd‐DTPA [mono‐, bis‐ or pentaamides; C‐functionalised (C2, C4, C5, N6) or diester derivatives] according to their synthesis and to the most important parameters that regulate their efficacy. The synthesis of bis(amide)s consists of only one step and is thus easier than the synthesis of the C4 derivatives, which needs several steps and requires a tedious purification. These last compounds are, however, more stable against transmetallation with another ion such as zinc [more than 50 % of the gadolinium complex remains after 4300 min while this percentage falls under 40 % for most of the bis(amide) compounds] and generally have higher relaxivities. Moreover, the residence time of the water molecule in the first coordination sphere of the gadolinium complex (τM) is shorter for the C4 derivatives and does not limit the relaxivity. In the second part of this work, an overview of different kinds of recently developed paramagnetic contrast agents is presented: new systems to improve the relaxivity, like fullerenol compounds, apoferritin or zeolite complexes, lipophilic complexes (in structures like micelles or liposomes), macromolecular products as well as small complexes interacting with human serum albumin (HSA).
Hydroxy Group Acidities of Partially Protected Glycopyranosides
Authors: Matwiejuk Martin , Thiem Joachim 
Published: February 2012

AbstractA comprehensive acidity study of carbohydrate hydroxy groups has been carried out. Relative acidities (Ke) were determined spectrophotometrically for partially methylated methyl α‐D‐glycopyranosides. Apparently, the acidity is strongly affected by intramolecular hydrogen bonding as well as stereochemistry and solvation. By comparison with pKe and pKa values of aliphatic alcohols and polyols the first estimation of the pKa values for partially protected glycopyranosides was obtained. These findings contribute to the understanding of the relative reactivities of carbohydrate hydroxy groups.
Inelastic velocity ratio
Authors: Hatzigeorgiou George D. , Papagiannopoulos George A. 
Published: February 2012

SUMMARYKnowledge of maximum velocity is essential for the design of structures and especially those with supplementary dampers. Although the nonlinear time history analysis leads to reliable estimation of actual velocities, it seems to be complicated for the everyday engineering practice due to the increased computational cost. This paper proposes an alternative for single‐degree‐of‐freedom (SDOF) systems to estimate the actual velocity in a straightforward and effective manner. More specifically, this study examines the inelastic velocity ratio (IVR), i.e., the ratio of the maximum inelastic to the maximum elastic velocity of an SDOF system, the knowledge of which allows the computation of maximum inelastic velocity directly from the corresponding elastic counterpart. The proposed method is general and can be applied to both conventional structures and structures with supplementary dampers. Extensive parametric studies are conducted to obtain expressions for IVR in terms of the period of vibration, viscous damping ratio, force reduction factor, and soil class. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Personality Changes in Bulimia Nervosa after a Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Authors: Agüera Zaida , Krug Isabel , Sánchez Isabel , Granero Roser , Penelo Eva , Peñas‐Lledó Eva , Jiménez‐Murcia Susana , Menchón Jose Manuel , Fernández‐Aranda Fernando 
Published: February 2012

AbstractObjectivesThe goals of this study were to evaluate changes in personality traits in outpatients with bulimia nervosa and specific clinical predictors of such personality changes, after cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).MethodThe sample comprised 100 purging bulimia nervosa outpatients (DSM‐IV‐TR). Assessment measures included the Eating Disorders Inventory‐2, Symptom Check List Revised and Temperament and Character Inventory‐Revised, as well as other clinical and psychopathological indices. All measures were administered before and after 22 weeks of group CBT.ResultsThe temperament traits of Harm Avoidance and Reward Dependence and the character traits of Self‐Directedness and Self‐Transcendence changed after CBT. Pre–post CBT reduction in Eating Disorders Inventory‐2 total score predicted the decrease and increase in Harm Avoidance and Self‐Directedness, respectively.ConclusionsResults suggest that group CBT in outpatient women settings influence changes in some personality traits, which appear mainly related to an overall improvement in eating pathology. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Activity dynamics and behavioral correlates of CA3 and CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons
Authors: Mizuseki Kenji , Royer Sebastien , Diba Kamran , Buzsáki György 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe CA3 and CA1 pyramidal neurons are the major principal cell types of the hippocampus proper. The strongly recurrent collateral system of CA3 cells and the largely parallel‐organized CA1 neurons suggest that these regions perform distinct computations. However, a comprehensive comparison between CA1 and CA3 pyramidal cells in terms of firing properties, network dynamics, and behavioral correlations is sparse in the intact animal. We performed large‐scale recordings in the dorsal hippocampus of rats to quantify the similarities and differences between CA1 (n > 3,600) and CA3 (n > 2,200) pyramidal cells during sleep and exploration in multiple environments. CA1 and CA3 neurons differed significantly in firing rates, spike burst propensity, spike entrainment by the theta rhythm, and other aspects of spiking dynamics in a brain state‐dependent manner. A smaller proportion of CA3 than CA1 cells displayed prominent place fields, but place fields of CA3 neurons were more compact, more stable, and carried more spatial information per spike than those of CA1 pyramidal cells. Several other features of the two cell types were specific to the testing environment. CA3 neurons showed less pronounced phase precession and a weaker position versus spike‐phase relationship than CA1 cells. Our findings suggest that these distinct activity dynamics of CA1 and CA3 pyramidal cells support their distinct computational roles. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Near‐infrared fluorescence imaging of mouse myocardial microvascular endothelium using Cy5.5‐lectin conjugate
Authors: Nguyen Cecilia , Bascaramurty Saro , Kuzio Bozena , Gregorash Lori , Kupriyanov Valery , Jilkina Olga 
Published: February 2012

AbstractCy5.5‐lectin, a non‐toxic conjugate, combines the benefits of near‐infrared (NIR) imaging, such as significant reduction of background fluorescence and increased tissue depth penetration, with its affinity for vascular endothelial cells. When compared to endothelial staining methods using FITC‐lectin and ICAM2 antibodies, Cy5.5‐lectin was confirmed to specifically bind endothelial cells and produce a fluorescence signal both in real‐time and post‐infusion. Ex‐vivo experiments with isolated hearts demonstrated that binding was limited to perfused areas of the myocardium. With mouse in‐vivo tail‐vein injections, other organs such as the liver, spleen, and kidney were also stained and yielded similar quality images of the heart. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Monte Carlo Simulation of the Microstructure of Linear Olefin Block Copolymers
Authors: Anantawaraskul Siripon , Somnukguande Punnawit , Soares João B.P. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractSummary: Linear olefin block copolymers (OBCs) are novel polyolefins with unique properties developed using the chain shuttling polymerization technology. Typically, OBCs are made in a single reactor with two catalysts having different 1‐olefin reactivity ratios and a chain shuttling agent (CSA), producing linear polymer chains with complex, multi‐block structures, although a dual reactor approach is also possible In this study, OBC chain microstructures were examined using Monte Carlo simulation. Effects of polymerization parameters (chain shuttling probability, propagation probability, and catalyst ratio) on the distribution of number of blocks per chain were investigated and reported for the first time. These results provide useful insights on how to control and describe the microstructures of these important polymers and can be used to establish quantitative relationships between the microstructure and properties of OBCs.
Probing Liquid‐Liquid Phase Separation of a Polyethylene Blend with Thermal Analysis
Authors: Ren Minqiao , Wu Changjiang , Sheng Jianfang , Guo Meifang , Chen Erqiang 
Published: February 2012

AbstractSummary: A series of polyethylene (PE) blends consisting of a high density polyethylene (HDPE) and a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) with a butene‐chain branch density of 77/1000 carbon was prepared at different concentrations. The LLDPE only crystallized below 50 °C, therefore, above 80 °C and below the melting temperature of HDPE, only HDPE crystallized in the PE blends. A specifically designed multi‐step experimental procedure based on thermal analysis technique was utilized to monitor the liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) of this set of PE blends. The main step was first to quench the system from the homogeneous temperatures and isothermally anneal them at a prescribed temperature higher than the equilibrium melting temperature of the HDPE for the purpose of allowing the phase morphology to develop from LLPS, and then cool the system at constant rate to record the non‐isothermal crystallization. The crystallization peak temperature (Tp) was used to character the crystallization rate. Because LLPS results in HDPE‐rich domains where the crystallization rates are increased, this technique provided an experimental measure to identify the binodal curve of the LLPS for the system indicated by increased Tp. The result showed that the LLPS boundary of the blend measured by this method was close to that obtained by phase contrast optical microscopy method. Therefore, we considered that the thermal analysis technique based on the non‐isothermal crystallization could be effective to investigate the LLPS of PE blends.
Morphology and Stress Whitening of Heterophasic Poly(propylene) Copolymer/High Density Polyethylene Blends
Authors: Jang Hee Jung , Kim Soon‐Deok , Choi Wonsook , Chun Yong Sung 
Published: February 2012

AbstractSummary: Effect of high density polyethylene (HDPE) addition on the morphology of heterophasic poly(propylene) copolymer (HPC) was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Stress whitening developed upon dart impact was evaluated using Gardner‐type impact tester. In the TEM study of HPC/HDPE blends, a core‐shell morphology was observed of HDPE encapsulated by ethylene‐propylene rubber (EPR). At low HDPE weight fractions (95/5 and 90/10 HPC/HDPE), the size of dispersed phase increased compared to pure HPC. However, further increase in HDPE leads to a decrease in domain size. The impact strength reached a maximum at 90/10 HPC/HDPE blend, and then decreased with further increase in HDPE content. The stress whitening of HPC was decreased with addition of HDPE. This decrease is attributed to the difference in the shrinkage between HPC and HPC/HDPE blends. The pressure‐volume‐temperature relationship supports that an additional volume contraction of HDPE can reduce the stress whitening of HPC.
Evolution of induced fabric in a strain space multiple mechanism model for granular materials
Authors: Iai Susumu , Tobita Tetsuo , Ozutsumi Osamu 
Published: February 2012

SUMMARYThe strain space multiple mechanism model idealizes the behavior of granular materials based on a multitude of virtual simple shear mechanisms oriented in arbitrary directions. Within this modeling framework, the virtual simple shear stress is defined as a quantity that depends on the contact distribution function as well as the normal and tangential components of inter‐particle contact forces, which evolve independently during the loading process. In other terms, the virtual simple shear stress is an intermediate quantity in the upscaling process from the microscopic level (characterized by the contact distribution and inter‐particle contact forces). The stress space fabric (i.e. the orientation distribution of the virtual simple shear stress) produces macroscopic stress through the tensorial average. Thus, the stress space fabric characterizes the fundamental and higher modes of anisotropy induced in granular materials. Comparing an induced fabric associated with the biaxial shear of plane granular assemblies obtained via a simulation using Discrete Element Method to the strain space multiple mechanism model suggests that the strain space multiple mechanism model has the capability to capture the essential features in the evolution of an induced fabric in granular materials. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A representation method for describing a deagglomerating process in continuous mixer
Authors: Xie Linsheng , Li Peinin , Ma Yulu , Sha Jin 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAn improved analysis method based on two parameters: deagglomerating energy density and average deagglomerating energy is proposed in this work to describe the deagglomerating capacity and deagglomerating effect of the mixing flow field. This improved method combined with experimental results demonstrate that deagglomerating energy density can represent the deagglomerating capacity of flow field, and average deagglomerating energy is able to stand for the deagglomerating effect of agglomerate in mixing process. POLYM. COMPOS. 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers