bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Superior self‐cleaning features on wool fabric using TiO2/Ag nanocomposite optimized by response surface methodology
Authors: Montazer Majid , Behzadnia Amir , Moghadam Mohammad Bameni 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWool fabrics with superior self‐cleaning properties produced using titanium dioxide/silver nanocomposite. The TiO2/Ag nanocomposite first synthesized under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and sonication and then applied on wool fabrics along with citric acid (CA) as a crosslinking agent to stabilize the nanoparticles on the wool surface. The optimum conditions of different properties of the treated wool fabrics obtained using response surface methodology as a statistical method. The role of three independent variables including titanium dioxide/silver nanocomposite (TiO2/Ag), CA, and sodium hypophosphite evaluated to optimize the processing conditions. Fabrics color variation determined after irradiation with three diverse UV sources including sunlight, UV‐A, and UV‐C rays. Increasing the concentration of TiO2/Ag nanocomposite increased the color removal and decreased the water absorption time. Further, increasing the concentration of CA led to increase adsorption of TiO2/Ag nanocomposite on the fabric surface improved self‐cleaning features of treated wool fabrics. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Spot laser melt electrospinning of a fiber bundle composed of poly(lactide)/poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl alcohol) pie wedge fibers
Authors: Shimada Naoki , Ogata Nobuo , Nakane Koji , Ogihara Takashi 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe melt‐electrospinning system with a spot‐like carbon dioxide laser melting device was used to form fibers directly from solid‐like polymer rods. Fiber bundles were made from pie wedge fibers comprised of poly(lactide) (PLA) and poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl alcohol) (EVOH) by gathering the fibers and twisting them together, and then melt electrospinning was performed for the bundles using the spinning system. Nanofibers with an average fiber diameter of ca. 400 nm were successfully obtained from the bundle by the optimization of manufacturing parameters such as laser output power, voltage, and collector distance. To investigate the morphological structure of the electrospun fibers, each structural component was extracted from the fibers with its solvent. It was found that three types of fibers with different morphology were produced during the melt‐electrospinning process: fibers consisting of only a PLA component, fibers consisting of only an EVOH component, and fibers consisting of a PLA/EVOH mixture. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Melt rheological and compatibility properties of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate)/ poly(acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene) blends
Authors: Wang Hai , Qian Qingrong , Jiang Xia , Liu Xinping , Xiao Liren , Huang Baoquan , Chen Qinghua 
Published: April 2012

AbstractIn this study, a series of maleic anhydride (MA)‐grafted poly(acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene) (ABS‐g‐MAH) were prepared via a melt banbury process on a RM‐200B torque rheometer and used as a compatibilizer for recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate)/poly(acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene) (R‐PET/ABS) blends. The melt rheological and compatibility properties of R‐PET/ABS blends were investigated. It had been found that 5 wt % of MA was an optimum concentration for the preparation of ABS‐g‐MAH. About 1 wt % of ABS‐g‐MAH prepared at the MA optimum conditions shows good compatibility for the basic blend of R‐PET/ABS 85/15 w/w. Rheological and SEM characterizations confirmed that the phase reversal of blends occurred at R‐PET/ABS ratio of 75/25 w/w. DMA results indicated that R‐PET was partially miscible with ABS, and ABS‐g‐MAH was an efficient compatibilizer for R‐PET/ABS blends. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Comparative analysis of probe‐based ramp metering with detector‐based and pretimed ramp metering
Authors: Kattan Lina , Saidi Saeid 
Published: April 2012

SUMMARYIn this paper, a probe‐based adaptive ramp metering approach has been developed and compared with a detector‐based and pretimed ramp metering approaches using PARAMICS microsimulation model made by Quadstone Limited. Both examined probe‐based and detector‐based ramp metering approaches adopt the same problem formulation; however, they differ by the data source that provides estimates of their input parameters. The probe‐based approach takes as main input space mean speed extracted from vehicle probes moving constantly on the entire freeway. The detector‐based approach takes the density readings directly from point detectors placed upstream and downstream of each on‐ramp. The developed approach formulates the ramp metering rates to simultaneously reduce freeway travel time and decrease delays on ramps. A dynamic weighting scheme is adopted in this formulation to give different weighting schemes to the various freeway sections and the on‐ramps. These weights are able to adjust dynamically based on prevailing and forecasted traffic conditions to give priority in each step to the sections of the freeways or/and on‐ramps experiencing critical traffic conditions. The comparative analysis of the three ramp metering approaches was conducted on an 8‐km freeway section on Highway 2 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The results of the analysis indicate that the probe‐based algorithm consistently outperformed the two other approaches in terms of all performance measures. The probe‐based approach is shown to exceed the performance of the detector‐based approach with a market share of vehicle probes as low as 3%. The results of the analysis are promising and show the effectiveness of developing ramp metering control algorithms taking the main input parameters from vehicle probes on the freeway. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development and validation of a highly sensitive LC‐MS/MS‐ESI method for the determination of bicalutamide in mouse plasma: application to a pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Sharma Kuldeep , Pawar Gopal V. , Giri Sanjeev , Rajagopal Sriram , Mullangi Ramesh 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTA highly sensitive, rapid assay method has been developed and validated for the estimation of bicalutamide in mouse plasma using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization in the negative‐ion mode. The assay procedure involves extraction of bicalutamide and tolbutamide (internal standard, IS) from mouse plasma with a simple protein precipitation method. Chromatographic separation was achieved using an isocratic mobile phase (0.2% formic acid:acetonitrile, 35:65, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min on an Atlantis dC18 column (maintained at 40 ± 1°C) with a total run time of 3.0 min. The MS/MS ion transitions monitored were m/z 428.9 → 254.7 for bicalutamide and m/z 269.0 → 169.6 for IS. Method validation was performed as per FDA guidelines and the results met the acceptance criteria. The lower limit of quantitation achieved was 1.04 ng/mL and the linearity range extended from 1.04 to 1877 ng/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were in the ranges of 0.49–4.68 and 2.62–4.15, respectively. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative HPLC of pigments of irregularly coloured eggshells: application to aliquots of powdered shell from quail
Authors: Gorchein A. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTTwelve quail eggshells from farmed Coturnix coturnix japonica were separately ground to fine powder and two aliquots of each (average weights 13.86 mg and 51.90 mg) were extracted with formic acid. Biliverdin (38–284 pmol/mg) and protoporphyrin (841–1666 pmol/mg) were measured by HPLC. There was good agreement between the values for the corresponding samples and with those for two entire eggshells from the same source. The preparation of a homogenate as a powder from heterogeneously pigmented eggshells has the advantage that not all of the sample needs to be initially extracted for analysis and residual material can be stored in a stable form and used for repeat measurements and for longitudinal studies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cytotoxicity of a Novel Oil/Water Microemulsion System Loaded with Mitomycin‐C in In Vitro Lung Cancer Models
Authors: Kotmakchiev Mustafa , Kantarcı Gülten , Çetintaş Vildan B. , Ertan Gökhan 
Published: April 2012

Abstract

Strategy, Management and Health Policy

Enabling Technology, Genomics, Proteomics
Preclinical Research
Preclinical Development Toxicology, Formulation Drug Delivery, Pharmacokinetics
Clinical Development Phases I‐III Regulatory, Quality, Manufacturing
Postmarketing Phase IV

The aim of the study was to develop a novel oil/water microemulsion system to increase the cytotoxic effect of mitomycin C (MMC) on human lung cancer cell lines through comparison to the conventional MMC solution. The microemulsion formulation was composed of soybean oil, lecithin, Tween 80, ethanol, and water. Characterization of the microemulsions was carried out by means of particle size, viscosity, conductivity, storage stability, in vitro drug release, and in vitro hemolysis. Putative anticancer activity was determined using Calu1 and A549 carcinoma cell lines with an XTT [2,3‐bis‐(2‐methoxy‐4‐nitro‐5‐sulfophenyl)‐2H‐tetrazolium‐5‐carboxanilide] cell proliferation assay. Drug release from the MMC‐loaded microemulsion was sustained for more than 5 h while release from MMC solution was completed within 2 h. Based on the results of cytotoxicity study, a higher anticancer effect was observed with mitomycin C‐loaded microemulsion (MMC‐M), with IC
50 values being approximately twofold to fourfold higher than that seen with the MMC solution on Calu1 and A549 carcinoma cell lines, respectively. In conclusion, MMC microemulsion has several advantages including slower drug release, a more pronounced anticancer effect at lower MMC doses, potentially leading to lower systemic toxicity potential if leakage occurs from the tumor site.
The ecological–evolutionary interplay: density‐dependent sexual selection in a migratory songbird
Authors: Ryder Thomas B. , Fleischer Robert C. , Shriver W. Greg , Marra Peter P. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractLittle is understood about how environmental heterogeneity influences the spatial dynamics of sexual selection. Within human‐dominated systems, habitat modification creates environmental heterogeneity that could influence the adaptive value of individual phenotypes. Here, we used the gray catbird to examine if the ecological conditions experienced in the suburban matrix (SM) and embedded suburban parks (SP) influence reproductive strategies and the strength of sexual selection. Our results show that these habitats varied in a key ecological factor, breeding density. Moreover, this ecological factor was closely tied to reproductive strategies such that local breeding density predicted the probability that a nest would contain extra‐pair offspring. Partitioning reproductive variance showed that while within‐pair success was more important in both habitats, extra‐pair success increased the opportunity for sexual selection by 39% at higher breeding densities. Body size was a strong predictor of relative reproductive success and was under directional selection in both habitats. Importantly, our results show that the strength of sexual selection did not differ among habitats at the landscape scale but rather that fine‐scale variation in an ecological factor, breeding density, influenced sexual selection on male phenotypes. Here, we document density‐dependent sexual selection in a migratory bird and hypothesize that coarse‐scale environmental heterogeneity, in this case generated by anthropogenic habitat modification, changed the fine‐scale ecological conditions that drove the spatial dynamics of sexual selection.
Methyl 1,2‐Orthoesters as Useful Glycosyl Donors in Glycosylation Reactions: A Comparison with n‐Pent‐4‐enyl 1,2‐Orthoesters
Authors: Uriel Clara , Ventura Juan , Gómez Ana M. , López J. Cristóbal , Fraser‐Reid Bert 
Published: April 2012

AbstractMannopyranose‐derived methyl 1,2‐orthoacetates (R = Me) and ‐benzoates (R = Ph) can function as glycosyl donors – upon BF3·Et2O activation in CH2Cl2 – in glycosylation reactions with monosaccharide acceptors to afford disaccharides in good yields. In the process, glycosylation is preferred to acid‐catalyzed rearrangement leading to methyl mannopyranosides. Methyl 1,2‐orthoesters can be also used in regioselective glycosylation protocols with monosaccharide diols, in which they display good regioselectivity.
The cause of unproportionately large higher mode contributions in the inelastic seismic responses of high‐rise core‐wall buildings
Authors: Munir A. , Warnitchai P. 
Published: April 2012

SUMMARYIn the conventional seismic design of high‐rise reinforced concrete core‐wall buildings, the design demands such as design shear and bending moment in the core wall are typically determined by the response spectrum analysis procedure, and a plastic hinge is allowed to form at the wall base to limit the seismic demands. In this study, it is demonstrated by using a 40‐story core‐wall building that this conventional approach could lead to an unsafe design where the true demands—the maximum inelastic seismic demands induced by the maximum considered earthquake—could be several times greater than the design demands and be unproportionately dominated by higher vibration modes. To identify the cause of this problem, the true demands are decomposed into individual modal contributions by using the uncoupled modal response history analysis procedure. The results show that the true demands contributed by the first mode are reasonably close to the first‐mode design demands, while those contributed by other higher modes are much higher than the corresponding modal design demands. The flexural yielding in the plastic hinge at the wall base can effectively suppress the seismic demands of the first mode. For other higher modes, however, a similar yielding mechanism is either not fully mobilized or not mobilized at all, resulting in unexpectedly large contributions from higher modes. This finding suggests several possible approaches to improve the seismic design and to suppress the seismic demands of high‐rise core‐wall buildings. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Subspace system identification of support excited structures—part II: gray‐box interpretations and damage detection
Authors: Kim Junhee , Lynch Jerome P. 
Published: April 2012

SUMMARYA theoretical framework is presented for the estimation of the physical parameters of a structure (i.e., mass, stiffness, and damping) from measured experimental data (i.e., input–output or output‐only data). The framework considers two state‐space models: a physics‐based model derived from first principles (i.e., white‐box model) and a data‐driven mathematical model derived by subspace system identification (i.e., black‐box model). Observability canonical form conversion is introduced as a powerful means to convert the data‐driven mathematical model into a physically interpretable model that is termed a gray‐box model. Through an explicit linking of the white‐box and gray‐box model forms, the physical parameters of the structural system can be extracted from the gray‐box model in the form of a finite element discretization. Prior to experimental verification, the framework is numerically verified for a multi‐DOF shear building structure. Without a priori knowledge of the structure, mass, stiffness, and damping properties are accurately estimated. Then, experimental verification of the framework is conducted using a six‐story steel frame structure under support excitation. With a priori knowledge of the lumped mass matrix, the spatial distribution of structural stiffness and damping is estimated. With an accurate estimation of the physical parameters of the structure, the gray‐box model is shown to be capable of providing the basis for damage detection. With the use of the experimental structure, the gray‐box model is used to reliably estimate changes in structural stiffness attributed to intentional damage introduced. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ICV‐transplanted human glial precursor cells are short‐lived yet exert immunomodulatory effects in mice with EAE
Authors: Kim Heechul , Walczak Piotr , Muja Naser , Campanelli James T. , Bulte Jeff W.M. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractHuman glial precursor cells (hGPs) have potential for remyelinating lesions and are an attractive cell source for cell therapy of multiple sclerosis (MS). To investigate whether transplanted hGPs can affect the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of transplanted hGPs together with the in vivo fate of these cells using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and bioluminescence imaging (BLI). At 14 days post‐EAE induction, mice (n = 19) were intracerebroventricularly (ICV) injected with 5 × 105 hGPs that were magnetically labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) particles as MR contrast agent and transduced with firefly luciferase for BLI of cell survival. Control mice (n = 18) received phosphate buffered saline (PBS) vehicle only. The severity of EAE clinical disability in the hGP‐transplanted group was significantly suppressed (P < 0.05) with concomitant inhibition of ConA and MOG‐specific T cell proliferation in the spleen. Astrogliosis was reduced and a lower activity of macrophages and/or microglia was observed in the spinal cord (P < 0.05). On MRI, SPIO signal was detected within the lateral ventricle from 1 day post‐transplantation and remained there for up to 34 days. BLI indicated that most cells did not survive beyond 5–10 days, consistent with the lack of detectable migration into the brain parenchyma and the histological presence of an abundance of apoptotic cells. Transplanted hGPs could not be detected in the spleen. We conclude that ICV transplantation of short‐lived hGPs can have a remote therapeutic effect through immunomodulation from within the ventricle, without cells directly participating in remyelination. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the trypanosoma cruzi/host cell interplay
Authors: Romano Patricia Silvia , Cueto Juan Agustín , Casassa Ana Florencia , Vanrell María Cristina , Gottlieb Roberta A. , Colombo María Isabel 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi has a complex biological cycle that involves vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. In mammals, the infective trypomastigote form of this parasite can invade several cell types by exploiting phagocytic‐like or nonphagocytic mechanisms depending on the class of cell involved. Morphological studies showed that when trypomastigotes contact macrophages, they induce the formation of plasma membrane protrusions that differ from the canonical phagocytosis that occurs in the case of noninfective epimastigotes. In contrast, when trypomastigotes infect epithelial or muscle cells, the cell surface is minimally modified, suggesting the induction of a different class of process. Lysosomal‐dependent or ‐independent T. cruzi invasion of host cells are two different models that describe the molecular and cellular events activated during parasite entry into nonphagocytic cells. In this context, we have previously shown that induction of autophagy in host cells before infection favors T. cruzi invasion. Furthermore, we demonstrate that autophagosomes and the autophagosomal protein LC3 are recruited to the T. cruzi entry sites and that the newly formed T. cruzi parasitophorous vacuole has characteristics of an autophagolysosome. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of T. cruzi invasion in nonphagocytic cells. Based on our findings, we propose a new model in which T. cruzi takes advantage of the upregulation of autophagy during starvation to increase its successful colonization of host cells. 2012 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 2012
Development of a biodegradable bone cement for craniofacial applications
Authors: Henslee Allan M. , Gwak Dong‐Ho , Mikos Antonios G. , Kasper F. Kurtis 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThis study investigated the formulation of a two‐component biodegradable bone cement comprising the unsaturated linear polyester macromer poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) and crosslinked PPF microparticles for use in craniofacial bone repair applications. A full factorial design was employed to evaluate the effects of formulation parameters such as particle weight percentage, particle size, and accelerator concentration on the setting and mechanical properties of crosslinked composites. It was found that the addition of crosslinked microparticles to PPF macromer significantly reduced the temperature rise upon crosslinking from 100.3°C ± 21.6°C to 102.7°C ± 49.3°C for formulations without microparticles to 28.0°C ± 2.0°C to 65.3°C ± 17.5°C for formulations with microparticles. The main effects of increasing the particle weight percentage from 25 to 50% were to significantly increase the compressive modulus by 37.7 ± 16.3 MPa, increase the compressive strength by 2.2 ± 0.5 MPa, decrease the maximum temperature by 9.5°C ± 3.7°C, and increase the setting time by 0.7 ± 0.3 min. Additionally, the main effects of increasing the particle size range from 0–150 μm to 150–300 μm were to significantly increase the compressive modulus by 31.2 ± 16.3 MPa and the compressive strength by 1.3 ± 0.5 MPa. However, the particle size range did not have a significant effect on the maximum temperature and setting time. Overall, the composites tested in this study were found to have properties suitable for further consideration in craniofacial bone repair applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 100A: 2252–2259, 2012.
Innovative magnetic scaffolds for orthopedic tissue engineering
Authors: Panseri S. , Russo A. , Giavaresi G. , Sartori M. , Veronesi F. , Fini M. , Salter D. M. , Ortolani A. , Strazzari A. , Visani A. , Dionigi C. , Bock N. , Sandri M. , Tampieri A. , Marcacci M. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe use of magnetism in tissue engineering is a very promising approach, in fact magnetic scaffolds are able not only to support tissue regeneration, but they can be activated and work like a magnet attracting functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) injected close to the scaffold enhancing tissue regeneration. This study aimed to assess thein vivobiocompatibility and osteointegrative properties of novel magnetic scaffolds. Two hydroxyapatite/collagen (70/30 wt %) magnetic scaffolds were magnetized with two different techniques: direct nucleation of biomimetic phase and superparamagnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) on self‐assembling collagen fibers (MAG‐A) and scaffold impregnation in ferro‐fluid solution (MAG‐B). Magnetic scaffolds were implanted in rabbit distal femoral epiphysis and tibial mid‐diaphysis. Histopathological screening showed no inflammatory reaction due to MNPs. Significantly higher bone healing rate (ΔBHR) results were observed in MAG‐A in comparison to MAG‐B. Significant differences were also found between experimental times with an increase in ΔBHR from 2 to 4 weeks for both scaffolds in trabecular bone, while only for MAG‐B (23%,p< 0.05) in cortical bone. The proposed magnetic scaffolds seem to be promising for magnetic guiding in orthopedic tissue engineering applications and they will be suitable to treat also several pathologies in regenerative medicine area. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 100A: 2278–2286, 2012.