bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Voluntary activation in the triceps brachii at short and long muscle lengths
Authors: Cheng Arthur J. , Rice Charles L. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe aim was of this study was to determine whether voluntary activation calculated using the interpolated twitch technique (ITT) would be underestimated by muscle length–induced changes in the twitch amplitude evoked at rest after maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) in the elbow extensors. In 12 healthy men, calculated voluntary activations were compared at short (20° of elbow flexion) and long muscle lengths (120°) using the actual post‐MVC doublet, and the predicted post‐MVC doublet estimated from linear or nonlinear extrapolations. Actual post‐MVC doublet amplitudes were smaller at 20° versus 120°. At 20°, the predicted post‐MVC doublet obtained from nonlinear extrapolation was larger, and voluntary activation values improved by 5–33% at the submaximal voluntary contraction intensities (≤80% of MVC). When voluntary drive is compromised, this method of extrapolation is useful to account for mechanical limitations that blunt the actual post‐MVC doublet, which otherwise leads to underestimation of voluntary activation. Muscle Nerve, 2010
Probabilistic muscle characterization using QEMG: Application to neuropathic muscle
Authors: Pino L.J. , Stashuk D.W. , Boe S.G. , Doherty T.J. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractClinicians who use electromyographic (EMG) signals to help determine the presence or absence of abnormality in a muscle often, with varying degrees of success, evaluate sets of motor unit potentials (MUPs) qualitatively and/or quantitatively to characterize the muscle in a clinically meaningful way. The resulting muscle characterization can be improved using automated analysis. As such, the intent of this study was to evaluate the performance of automated, conventional Means/Outlier and Probabilistic methods in converting MUP statistics into a concise, and clinically relevant, muscle characterization. Probabilistic methods combine the set of MUP characterizations, derived using Pattern Discovery (PD), of all MUPs detected from a muscle into a characterization measure that indicates normality or abnormality. Using MUP data from healthy control subjects and patients with known neuropathic disorders, a Probabilistic method that used Bayes' rule to combine MUP characterizations into a Bayesian muscle characterization (BMC) achieved a categorization accuracy of 79.7% compared to 76.4% using the Mean method (P> 0.1) for biceps muscles and 94.6% accuracy for the BMC method compared to 85.8% using the Mean method (P< 0.01) for first dorsal interosseous muscles. The BMC method can facilitate the determination of “possible,” “probable,” or “definite” levels for a given muscle categorization (e.g., neuropathic) whereas the conventional Means and Outlier methods support only a dichotomous “normal” or “abnormal” decision. This work demonstrates that the BMC method can provide information that may be more useful in supporting clinical decisions than that provided by the conventional Means or Outlier methods. Muscle Nerve, 2010
Plakins in striated muscle
Authors: Boyer Justin G. , Bernstein Marija A. , Boudreau‐Larivière Céline 
Published: September 2009

AbstractStriated muscle cells contain numerous architectural proteins that contribute to the function of muscle as generators of mechanical force. Among these proteins are crosslinkers belonging to the plakin family, namely plectin, microtubule‐actin crosslinking factor (ACF7/MACF1), bullous pemphigoid antigen 1 (Bpag1/dystonin), and desmoplakin. These plakin family members, in particular plectin and Bpag1/dystonin, exist as several isoforms. The domain organization of these plakin variants dictates their subcellular location and the proteins with which they interact. Several studies suggest that plakins exert unique functions within various compartments of the muscle cell including the sarcolemma, the sarcomere, both neuromuscular and myotendinous junctions in skeletal muscle, and the intercalated discs in cardiac muscle. Plakins may also regulate the cellular placement and function of specific organelles, notably the nucleus, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, and sarcoplasmic reticulum. Here we review and summarize our current knowledge of the function of plakins in striated muscle cells. Muscle Nerve, 2009
Site characterization model using least‐square support vector machine and relevance vector machine based on corrected SPT data (Nc)
Authors: Samui Pijush , Sitharam T. G. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractStatistical learning algorithms provide a viable framework for geotechnical engineering modeling. This paper describes two statistical learning algorithms applied for site characterization modeling based on standard penetration test (SPT) data. More than 2700 field SPT values (N) have been collected from 766 boreholes spread over an area of 220 sqkm area in Bangalore. To get N corrected value (Nc), N values have been corrected (Nc) for different parameters such as overburden stress, size of borehole, type of sampler, length of connecting rod, etc. In three‐dimensional site characterization model, the function Nc=Nc (X, Y, Z), where X, Y and Z are the coordinates of a point corresponding to Nc value, is to be approximated in which Nc value at any half‐space point in Bangalore can be determined. The first algorithm uses least‐square support vector machine (LSSVM), which is related to a ridge regression type of support vector machine. The second algorithm uses relevance vector machine (RVM), which combines the strengths of kernel‐based methods and Bayesian theory to establish the relationships between a set of input vectors and a desired output. The paper also presents the comparative study between the developed LSSVM and RVM model for site characterization. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Subdomain radial basis collocation method for heterogeneous media
Authors: Chen Jiun‐Shyan , Wang Lihua , Hu Hsin‐Yun , Chi Sheng‐Wei 
Published: September 2009

AbstractStrong form collocation in conjunction with radial basis approximation functions offer implementation simplicity and exponential convergence in solving partial differential equations. However, the smoothness and nonlocality of radial basis functions pose considerable difficulties in solving problems with local features and heterogeneity. In this work, we propose a simple subdomain strong form collocation method, in which the approximation in each subdomain is constructed separately. Proper interface conditions are then imposed on the interface. Under the subdomain strong form collocation construction, it is shown that both Neumann and Dirichlet boundary conditions should be imposed on the interface to achieve the optimum convergence. Error analysis and numerical tests consistently confirm the need to impose the optimal interface conditions. The performance of the proposed methods in dealing with heterogeneous media is also validated. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gendered giving: the influence of social norms on the donation behavior of men and women
Authors: Croson Rachel T. A. , Handy Femida , Shang Jen 
Published: September 2009

Abstract
We study if men and women are subject to different influences when determining their level of charitable giving. In particular, we examine differential sensitivities to social norms among donors to a public radio station. Our survey of 975 donors finds that male donors are more likely than female donors to use social norms to inform their own behavior. We conduct a laboratory experiment to investigate the influence of social information on social norm formation and giving. Our results suggest that temporarily created social norms influence giving by men significantly more than by women. This result replicates and establishes the causal relationship between social norms and donations suggested by our field findings. We conclude with a discussion of theoretical and practical implications of these results.
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis, characterization, and swelling behaviors of chitosan‐g‐poly(acrylic acid)/poly(vinyl alcohol) semi‐IPN superabsorbent hydrogels
Authors: Liu Jianghua , Wang Wenbo , Wang Aiqin 
Published: September 2009

AbstractA series of granulated semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) superabsorbent hydrogels composed of chitosan‐g‐poly(acrylic acid) (CTS‐g‐PAA) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were prepared by solution polymerization using ammonium persulfate (APS) as an initiator and N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker. The effects of reaction conditions such as the concentration of MBA, the weight ratio of AA to CTS, and the content of PVA on water absorbency were investigated. Infrared (IR) spectra and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses confirmed that AA had been grafted onto CTS backbone, and PVA semi‐interpenetrating into CTS‐g‐PAA networks. SEM analyses indicated that CTS‐g‐PAA/PVA has improved porous surface and PVA was uniformly dispersed in CTS‐g‐PAA network. The semi‐IPN hydrogel containing 10 wt% PVA shows the highest water absorbency of 353 and 53 g g−1 in distilled water and 0.9 wt% NaCl solution, respectively. Swelling behaviors revealed that the introduction of PVA could improve the swelling rate and enhance the pH stability of the superabsorbent hydrogel. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of cooling rate on the surface resistivity of polymer/multi‐walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites
Authors: Lim Geon‐Oh , Min Kyoung‐Tae , Kim Gue‐Hyun 
Published: September 2009

AbstractIn this study, ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and polystyrene (PS) were melt‐mixed with multi‐walled carbon nanotube (CNT) (MWCNT), respectively. The effect of mixing time, rotor speed, and cooling rate on surface resistivity was investigated. EVA/MWCNT and PS/MWCNT nanocomposites with percolation threshold <1 wt% of MWCNT were prepared using conventional melt‐compounding method. When fast cooling was applied for these nanocomposites, a surface resistivity of 106 Ω/square was obtained at around 7 wt% of MWCNT for EVA and 105 Ω/square at around 3.5 wt% of MWCNT for PS. However, when slow cooling was applied, a surface resistivity of 106 Ω/square was obtained at 0.75 wt% of MWCNT for EVA and 105 Ω/square at around 0.5 wt% of MWCNT for PS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report which recognizes the importance of cooling rate on the surface resistivity of polymer/MWCNT nanocomposites. This finding may be potential to the commercialization of the CNT‐based polymer nanocomposites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers
New dithiacrown–ether butadienyl dyes: synthesis, structure, and complex formation with heavy metal cations
Authors: Vedernikov Artem I. , Ushakov Evgeny N. , Kuz'mina Lyudmila G. , Churakov Andrei V. , Strelenko Yuri A. , Wörner Michael , Braun André M. , Howard Judith A. K. , Alfimov Michael V. , Gromov Sergey P. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBenzothiazole type butadienyl dyes containing a dithia‐15‐crown‐5 (2a) or dithia‐18‐crown‐6 ether (2b) moieties were synthesized. The structures of dyes 2a,b and their complexes with Ag+ and Pb2+ were studied by an X‐ray crystallography. It was found that the conformations of dithiacrown–ether moieties of dyes 2a,b are unfavorable for complex formation and change significantly upon binding of Ag+ or Pb2+. The complexation of 2a,b with Ag+, Cd2+, Pb2+, and Hg2+ in water–acetonitrile mixtures with different contents of water (PW = 0–75%, v/v) was studied by 1H NMR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and polarography. In anhydrous acetonitrile, the stability constants of 1:1 complexes change in the sequence Cd2+ < Pb2+ ≤ Ag+ << Hg2+ in the case of 2a and in the sequence Cd2+ < Ag+ < Pb2+ << Hg2+ in the case of 2b. As PW increases, the thermodynamic stability of Ag+ complexes increases. The opposite effect is observed for the complexes with Cd2+, Pb2+, and Hg2+. When PW ∼ 50%, the stability constants of complexes with Cd2+ and Pb2+ become too small to be measured. The selectivity of ligands 2a,b toward Hg2+ versus Ag+ is very high at any PW values (selectivity coefficients > 104). The complexation of 2a,b with Hg2+ at PW ≤ 50% is accompanied by a substantial hypsochromic effect. This allows dithiacrown‐containing butadienyl dyes to be used as selective optical molecular sensors for heavy metal ions, in particular, in aqueous solutions. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and multiparameter sensor properties of the crown‐containing thiophene derivatives
Authors: Fedorova Olga , Lukovskaya Elena , Mizerev Artem , Fedorov Yury , Bobylyova Alla , Maksimov Anton , Moiseeva Anna , Anisimov Aleksander , Jonusauskas Gediminas 
Published: September 2009

AbstractA novel ditopic receptor was constructed as a combination of bisthiophene with pyridinylvinyl and crown‐containing styryl fragments. In the receptor, the pyridine residue was able to coordinate Fe2+, Cd2+, and Mg2+ metal cations, whereas the oxocrown ether moiety bound with the alkaline earth metal (Mg2+, Ca2+, and Ba2+) cations. 1H NMR, optical, electrochemical, and ESI‐MS results provided conclusive evidence of a complex formation through both the coordination centers of the molecule. The obtained results showed that cation complexation induces optical and electrochemical changes, particularly for each binding center. This type of multiparameter sensor provides interesting perspectives for the future design of unique sensors, promising different analytical techniques. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Healthcare expenditures for privately insured people with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Ouyang Lijing , Grosse Scott D. , Amendah Djesika D. , Schechter Michael S. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractWith improved survival and new therapies for people with cystic fibrosis (CF), updated information on medical care expenditures for those individuals is needed. We estimated medical care expenditures, including both insurance reimbursements and patient out‐of‐pocket expenses, for privately insured people with CF and investigated how those expenditures varied with certain complications of CF. From a private insurance claims database of people covered by health plans associated with large corporate employers, we identified people with CF who were currently receiving medical care for the disorder and characterized their medical expenditures during the period 2004–2006. We selected a matching group of people who did not have CF based on age, sex, and geographic area, and calculated incremental expenditures associated with CF. We also examined the effect of age and certain complications of CF on these expenditures. The annual medical care expenditure for a person with actively managed CF averaged $48,098 in 2006 dollars, which was 22 times higher than for a person without CF. This ratio is high relative to other chronic disorders. Outpatient prescription medications made up the largest component of total expenditures for people with CF (39%). Those who were recorded in claims data as having a liver or lung transplant, malnutrition, diabetes, or a chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa pulmonary infection incurred much higher expenditures than people without these conditions. People with CF will incur high medical expenditures throughout their lifespan. These findings will assist in the development of economic evaluations of future CF screening and management initiatives. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:989–996. ©2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Surface Coating of RDX with a Composite of TNT and an Energetic‐Polymer and its Safety Investigation
Authors: An Chong‐Wei , Li Feng‐Sheng , Song Xiao‐Lan , Wang Yi , Guo Xiao‐De 
Published: September 2009

AbstractTo improve the safety of RDX (hexogen), an energetic polymer (HP‐1) was introduced to coat RDX with 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT) by combining the solvent–nonsolvent and the aqueous suspension‐melting method. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and X‐ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) were employed to characterize the samples, and the role of HP‐1 in the coating process was discussed. The impact sensitivity, friction sensitivity, and the thermal stability of unprocessed and coated RDX were investigated, and the explosion heat of samples was also estimated. Results indicate that HP‐1 improves the wetting ability of the liquid coating material on RDX surface and reinforces the connection between RDX and the coating material. By surface coating, the impact and friction sensitivity of RDX decrease obviously; the drop height (H50) is increased from 37.2 to 58.4 cm, and the friction probability is reduced from 92 to 38%. The activation energy (E) and the self‐ignition temperature increase by 10457.38 J⋅mol−1 and 1.8 K, respectively. The explosion heat is reduced merely by 0.93%.
The Microstructure of TATB‐Based Explosive Formulations During Temperature Cycling Using Ultra‐Small‐Angle X‐Ray Scattering
Authors: Willey Trevor M. , Hoffman D. Mark , van Buuren Tony , Lauderbach Lisa , Gee Richard H. , Maiti Amitesh , Overturf George E. , Fried Laurence E. , Ilavsky Jan 
Published: September 2009

AbstractTATB (1,3,5 triamino‐2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene), an extremely insensitive explosive, is used both in polymer‐bound explosives (PBXs) and as an ultra‐fine pressed powder (UFTATB). Many TATB‐based explosives, including LX‐17, a mixture of TATB and Kel‐F 800 binder, experience an irreversible expansion with temperature cycling known as ratchet growth. Additional voids, with sizes hundreds of nanometers to a few micrometers, account for much of the volume expansion. Measuring these voids is important feedback for hot‐spot theory and for determining the relationship between void size distributions and detonation properties. Also, understanding mechanisms for ratchet growth allows future choice of explosive/binder mixtures to minimize these types of changes, further extending PBX shelf life. This paper presents the void size distributions of LX‐17, UFTATB, and PBXs using commercially available Cytop M, Cytop A, and Hyflon AD60 binders during temperature cycling between −55 and 70 °C. These void size distributions are derived from ultra‐small‐angle X‐ray scattering (USAXS), a technique sensitive to structures from about 2 nm to about 2 μm. Structures with these sizes do not appreciably change in UFTATB. Compared to TATB/Kel‐F 800, Cytop M and Cytop A show relatively small increases in void volume from 0.9 to 1.3% and 0.6 to 1.1%, respectively, while Hyflon fails to prevent irreversible volume expansion (1.2–4.6%). Computational mesoscale models combined with experimental results indicate both high glass transition temperature as well as TATB binder adhesion and wetting are important to minimize ratchet growth.
A Determination of the Hansen Solubility Parameters of Hexanitrostilbene (HNS)
Authors: Williams Darren L. , Kuklenz Karl D. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe temperature‐dependent solubility of hexanitrostilbene (HNS) [CAS# 20062‐22‐0] was determined in ten solvents and solvent blends using the Tyndall effect. Thermodynamic modeling of the data yielded Flory interaction parameters, the molar enthalpy of mixing, the molar entropy of mixing, and the molar Gibbs energy of mixing. All solutions exhibited endothermic enthalpies and positive entropies of mixing. The presence of water in some of the solvent blends made dissolution increasingly endothermic and disfavored solubility. The solubilities of HNS at 25 °C were used to determine the three‐component Hansen solubility parameters (HSP) (δD=18.6, δP=13.5, δH=6.1 MPa1/2) and the radius of the solubility sphere (R0=5.8 MPa1/2). The HSP determined for HNS using group‐additivity (δD=21.0, δP=13.3, and δH=8.6 MPa1/2) also correctly predicted the optimum solvents for this explosive.
NMR solution structures of actin depolymerizing factor homology domains
Authors: Goroncy Alexander K. , Koshiba Seizo , Tochio Naoya , Tomizawa Tadashi , Sato Manami , Inoue Makato , Watanabe Satoru , Hayashizaki Yoshihide , Tanaka Akiko , Kigawa Takanori , Yokoyama Shigeyuki 
Published: September 2009

AbstractActin is one of the most conserved proteins in nature. Its assembly and disassembly are regulated by many proteins, including the family of actin‐depolymerizing factor homology (ADF‐H) domains. ADF‐H domains can be divided into five classes: ADF/cofilin, glia maturation factor (GMF), coactosin, twinfilin, and Abp1/drebrin. The best‐characterized class is ADF/cofilin. The other four classes have drawn much less attention and very few structures have been reported. This study presents the solution NMR structure of the ADF‐H domain of human HIP‐55‐drebrin‐like protein, the first published structure of a drebrin‐like domain (mammalian), and the first published structure of GMF β (mouse). We also determined the structures of mouse GMF γ, the mouse coactosin‐like domain and the C‐terminal ADF‐H domain of mouse twinfilin 1. Although the overall fold of the five domains is similar, some significant differences provide valuable insights into filamentous actin (F‐actin) and globular actin (G‐actin) binding, including the identification of binding residues on the long central helix. This long helix is stabilized by three or four residues. Notably, the F‐actin binding sites of mouse GMF β and GMF γ contain two additional β‐strands not seen in other ADF‐H structures. The G‐actin binding site of the ADF‐H domain of human HIP‐55‐drebrin‐like protein is absent and distorted in mouse GMF β and GMF γ.
Electrical and optical properties of boron‐doped nanocrystalline silicon films deposited by PECVD
Authors: Li Zhe , Zhang Xiwen , Han Gaorong 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBoron‐doped nanocrystalline silicon (nc‐Si:H) films were deposited by plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). A variety of techniques, including X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman scattering (RS), UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy and conductivity measurement were used to characterize the grown materials. Lightly B‐doped samples are well crystallized, while the undoped and heavily doped ones are amorphous. The optical bandgap decreases as the substrate temperature, radio‐frequency (RF) power density, and diborane concentration increase. The influence of many deposition parameters such as diborane concentration, substrate temperature, RF power and deposition pressure on electrical, optical properties, and deposition rate were systemically studied. The optimum combination of deposition parameters was suggested to obtain the appropriate boron‐doped nc‐Si:H thin films that can be applied as a p‐type layer or window‐layer material for silicon thin‐film solar cells.
Pr3+ luminescence center in Lu2Si2O7 host
Authors: Nikl M. , Begnamini A. M. , Jary V. , Niznansky D. , Mihokova E. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractPr3+‐doped Lu2Si2O7 (LPS:Pr) microcrystalline phosphor was prepared by the sol–gel method. We study the LPS:Pr luminescence properties under UV and X‐ray excitation within 80–500 K. The emission spectrum is dominated by fast 5d–4f band peaking at 261 nm having 16 ns decay time. By purely optical contactless methods we determine the energy barrier of 300 meV for thermal ionization of the Pr3+ 5d1 relaxed excited state in LPS host. The barrier is high enough to keep the room temperature quantum efficiency of the Pr3+ luminescence center close to unity. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)