bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of aminated PVCs using an aprotic solvent: DMSO
Authors: Kusy Robert P. , Whitley John Q. , Lee Sungyol 
Published: August 2010

AbstractPoly(vinyl chloride) was post‐polymerization copolymerized with a highly basic amine, piperazine, using an aprotic solvent, dimethyl sulfoxide. By using this highly dipolar solvent, a more dilute nucleophile concentration and a lower reaction temperature were possible than in methanol‐moderated reactions. The linear substitutional reaction dominated over both the crosslinked substitutional reaction and the elimination reaction. From the nitrogen assays, pH response curves, and colorimetric results, the evidence suggests that this route may be more promising for fabricating electrode membranes or other components in which an ionically conductive film is desirable.
Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(N‐Isopropyl Acryl Amide)‐g‐Poly(Linoleic Acid)/Poly(Linolenic Acid) Graft Copolymers
Authors: Alli Abdulkadir , Hazer Baki 
Published: August 2010

AbstractTo diversify edible oil thermoresponsive polymer composites, polymeric linoleic acid peroxide (PLina) and polymeric linolenic acid peroxide (PLinl) were obtained by the autoxidation of linoleic acid (Lina) and linolenic acid (Linl), respectively. The autoxidation of Lina and Linl under air at room temperature rendered waxy soluble polymeric peroxide, having a soluble fraction in chloroform of more than 91 wt% and containing up to 1.0 wt% of peroxide. The soluble polymeric oil macro‐peroxide was used to initiate the free radical polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide, NIPAM, resulting in PLina‐g‐PNIPAM and PLinl‐g‐PNIPAM graft copolymers, respectively. The PNIPAM content of the graft copolymers was calculated using the elemental nitrogen analysis of graft copolymers. Thermal analysis, FTIR, 1H NMR, and SEM techniques were used in the characterization of the products. The hydrophobic effect of the fatty acid macro peroxides on the thermal response rate of the graft copolymers was investigated by means of swelling‐deswelling behaviors in response to temperature change. They have a thermoresponsive character and exhibit a volume phase transition at approximately 27–30 °C, which is 1–4 °C lower than that of pure PNIPAM. A plastizer effect of PLina and PLinl in graft copolymers was observed, indicating a lower glass transition temperature than that of pure PNIPAM.
The impact of a firm's make, pseudo‐make, or buy strategy on product performance
Authors: Park Jin‐Kyu , Ro Young K. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThe bulk of the product architecture and make‐buy choice literature deals with product architecture changes from integral to modular form. This development is often associated with a firm's tendency to change from a make to a buy strategy. However, a few studies investigate the change of product architecture in the reverse direction – from modular to integral form – and the subsequent change in the firm sourcing decision from a buy to a make strategy. These studies hold to the presumption that a firm following a make strategy will outperform firms following a buy strategy in dealing with integral product architectures. Based on the knowledge‐based view, we argue for the viability of a sourcing strategy between the pure make and buy strategies – a pseudo‐make strategy. We also argue that as product architecture changes from a modular to integral form, firms adopting this pseudo‐make strategy are likely to show better product performance than firms following a pure make or buy strategy due to the relative knowledge advantages of the pseudo‐make strategy in dealing with the integral product architecture. We examine the impact of the make/pseudo‐make/buy strategies on product performance in the U.S. bicycle derailleur and freewheel market from 1980 to 1992 and provide theoretical and managerial implications of our results. Our findings highlight an important distinction between the pseudo‐make and make‐buy strategies that has not previously been fully appreciated in the extant literature, and as a result increases our understanding of why some firms do not switch strategies from a buy to a make strategy when product architecture changes from modular to integral form as previously expected.
ASYMPTOTIC EQUIVALENCE OF ALMOST PERIODIC SOLUTIONS FOR A CLASS OF PERTURBED ALMOST PERIODIC SYSTEMS
Authors: PINTO MANUEL , TORRES VICTOR , ROBLEDO GONZALO 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThe solutions of a perturbed linear ordinary differential equation (ODE) system are studied. Provided that some integrability and oddness conditions are satisfied, we show that they are asymptotically equivalent at t = ±∞ to the solutions of the unperturbed one. This fact is used to determine the existence of almost periodic or pseudo-almost periodic solutions of the perturbed system.
Seroprevalence ofEchinococcus granulosusinfection in Croatian patients with cystic liver disease
Authors: Tabain I. , Sviben M. , Ljubin-Sternak S. , Vilibić-Čavlek T. , Mlinarić-Galinović G. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractCystic liver disease (CLD), presenting with solitary or multiple cysts in the liver, is a common diagnosis today, primarily due to the frequent application of modern radiological methods. There is a wide range of possible causes. CLD of infective origin is usually caused by an echinococcal species. During the past three decades a number of cystic echinococcosis (CE) control programmes have led to a significant decrease in the incidence of human hydatidosis in some endemic areas. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence ofE. granulosusinfection in Croatian patients with CLD. A total of 540 serum samples from patients with hepatic cysts detected by imaging methods were screened for the presence ofE. granulosusIgG antibodies using semiquantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The Western blot technique was used as a confirmatory test for the CE diagnosis. The overallE. granulosusseroprevalence rate in patients with CLD was 3.9%. There was no significant difference in seroprevalence rate between male and female patients (P = 0.541). According to age groups, there was a significant difference in seropositivity among age groups (P = 0.002). The highest seroprevalence rate was detected in the youngest age group (up to 18 years), both in males and females (20% and 13%, respectively). This study indicates that CE still represents a public health problem in Croatia. Preventive measures should be used to controlEchinococcusinfections, including avoidance of contact with infected dogs, egg-contaminated soil or plants; control and treatment of dogs with antihelmintics; hand washing, improved sanitation and health education.
International academic cooperation on international relations in the interwar period: the International Studies Conference
Authors: RIEMENS MICHAEL 
Published: August 2010

AbstractBased on considerable archival research in Switzerland and France, this article considers the creation of specialised institutions and centres for scientific research, discussion and information on international questions after the First World War. It analyses the origins and development of the International Studies Conference from 1928 until 1946, and it pays particular attention to the institutional setting provided by the ISC. With the help of an international questionnaire of the League of Nations from the early 1930s the article also discusses the university teaching of IR in the US, Great Britain and on the European continent in the interwar period, and it looks at some of the institutional settings, especially academic institutions (departments, chairs, schools and so on), that were available at the time.
Distributive domestic response
Authors: TAW JENNIFER MORRISON 
Published: August 2010

AbstractWhen former US ambassador to Pakistan, Wendy Chamberlin, said of the US, ‘We are a player in the Pakistani political system’, she was pointing out how challenging it is to achieve US policy goals under the kinds of volatile political conditions engulfing that country. In late 2007, the Bush administration was banking on the political future of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who had recently returned to Pakistan, and was still providing President Pervez Musharraf with the substantial aid and support it had been giving him since 9/11. And yet by early 2008, Benazir Bhutto was dead, assassinated as she rose from her car to greet crowds of supporters, and Pervez Musharraf was a political liability, since his party had suffered a resounding defeat in the February 2008 election. These events demonstrated that even the foreign policies of a country as powerful as the US can be scuttled by the flux and flow of local power politics.
SUR UN THÉORÈME DE GÉOMÉTRIE SPHÉRIQUE: THÉODOSE, MÉNÉLAÜS, IBN ʿIRĀQ ET IBN HŪD
Authors: RASHED ROSHDI , AL-HOUJAIRI MOHAMAD 
Published: August 2010

AbstractIn his encyclopedic book (al-Istikmāl), the mathematician of Saragossa, Ibn Hūd (d. 1085/478 H.), established by an intrinsic demonstration of spherical geometry, a remarkable theorem which generalizes the proposition III.11 from Theodosius’s Spherics and integrates the propositions III.23-25 from Menelaus’s Spherics. In this paper, we study this theorem and the demonstration of Ibn Hūd. The reader will find also some established and translated texts (Ibn Hūd, Ibn ʿIrāq, al-Ṭūsī) addressing the same theme.
Limits to ‘thinking space relationally’
Authors: Jones Martin 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThis paper is written by a geographer and discusses the importance of ‘thinking space relationally’ in, and for, the social sciences. According to its advocates, relational thinking insists on an open-ended, mobile, networked and actor-centred geographic becoming. I position relational space within the lineage of philosophical approaches to space, drawing on examples taken mainly from human geography. Following this, the paper highlights some silences and limits, namely factors that constrain, structure and connect space. I acknowledge relationality but insist on the connected, sometimes inertial, and always context-specific nature of spatiality. The paper then considers the normative implications of this for politics, thinking first about regions, and then about policy.
The earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa stimulates abundance and activity of phenoxyalkanoic acid herbicide degraders
Authors: Liu Ya-Jun , Zaprasis Adrienne , Liu Shuang-Jiang , Drake Harold L , Horn Marcus A 
Published: August 2010

Abstract
2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) is a widely used phenoxyalkanoic acid (PAA) herbicide. Earthworms represent the dominant macrofauna and enhance microbial activities in many soils. Thus, the effect of the model earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) on microbial MCPA degradation was assessed in soil columns with agricultural soil. MCPA degradation was quicker in soil with earthworms than without earthworms. Quantitative PCR was inhibition-corrected per nucleic acid extract and indicated that copy numbers of tfdA-like and cadA genes (both encoding oxygenases initiating aerobic PAA degradation) in soil with earthworms were up to three and four times higher than without earthworms, respectively. tfdA-like and 16S rRNA gene transcript copy numbers in soil with earthworms were two and six times higher than without earthworms, respectively. Most probable numbers (MPNs) of MCPA degraders approximated 4 × 105 gdw−1 in soil before incubation and in soil treated without earthworms, whereas MPNs of earthworm-treated soils were approximately 150 × higher. The aerobic capacity of soil to degrade MCPA was higher in earthworm-treated soils than in earthworm-untreated soils. Burrow walls and 0–5 cm depth bulk soil displayed higher capacities to degrade MCPA than did soil from 5–10 cm depth bulk soil, expression of tfdA-like genes in burrow walls was five times higher than in bulk soil and MCPA degraders were abundant in burrow walls (MPNs of 5 × 107 gdw−1). The collective data indicate that earthworms stimulate abundance and activity of MCPA degraders endogenous to soil by their burrowing activities and might thus be advantageous for enhancing PAA degradation in soil.
TFInfer: a tool for probabilistic inference of transcription factor activities
Authors: Asif H. M. Shahzad , Rolfe Matthew D. , Green Jeff , Lawrence Neil D. , Rattray Magnus , Sanguinetti Guido 
Published: August 2010

Abstract
Summary: TFInfer is a novel open access, standalone tool for genome-wide inference of transcription factor activities from gene expression data. Based on an earlier MATLAB version, the software has now been extended in a number of ways. It has been significantly optimised in terms of performance, and it was given novel functionality, by allowing the user to model both time series and data from multiple independent conditions. With a full documentation and intuitive graphical user interface, together with an in-built data base of yeast and Escherichia coli transcription factors, the software does not require any mathematical or computational expertise to be used effectively.
Availability: http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/gsanguin/TFInfer.html
Contact: gsanguin@staffmail.ed.ac.uk
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
GASSST: global alignment short sequence search tool
Authors: Rizk Guillaume , Lavenier Dominique 
Published: August 2010

Abstract
Motivation: The rapid development of next-generation sequencing technologies able to produce huge amounts of sequence data is leading to a wide range of new applications. This triggers the need for fast and accurate alignment software. Common techniques often restrict indels in the alignment to improve speed, whereas more flexible aligners are too slow for large-scale applications. Moreover, many current aligners are becoming inefficient as generated reads grow ever larger. Our goal with our new aligner GASSST (Global Alignment Short Sequence Search Tool) is thus 2-fold—achieving high performance with no restrictions on the number of indels with a design that is still effective on long reads.
Results: We propose a new efficient filtering step that discards most alignments coming from the seed phase before they are checked by the costly dynamic programming algorithm. We use a carefully designed series of filters of increasing complexity and efficiency to quickly eliminate most candidate alignments in a wide range of configurations. The main filter uses a precomputed table containing the alignment score of short four base words aligned against each other. This table is reused several times by a new algorithm designed to approximate the score of the full dynamic programming algorithm. We compare the performance of GASSST against BWA, BFAST, SSAHA2 and PASS. We found that GASSST achieves high sensitivity in a wide range of configurations and faster overall execution time than other state-of-the-art aligners.
Availability: GASSST is distributed under the CeCILL software license at http://www.irisa.fr/symbiose/projects/gassst/
Contact: guillaume.rizk@irisa.fr; dominique.lavenier@irisa.fr
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
A Minimally Invasive Cox-Maze Procedure Operative Technique and Results
Authors: Lee Anson M. , Clark Kal , Bailey Marci S. , Aziz Abdulhameed , Schuessler Richard B. , Damiano Ralph J. 
Published: August 2010

Objective The Cox-Maze procedure (CMP) for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) traditionally has required a median sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass. This study describes a method using ablation technologies to create the full Cox-Maze lesion set through a 5- to 6-cm right minithoracotomy. Methods Twenty-two consecutive patients underwent a CMP through a right mini-thoracotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass. All patients were followed prospectively with electrocardiogram and 24-hour Holter monitoring at 3, 6, and 12 months. The CMP lesion set was created using bipolar radiofrequency energy and cryotherapy. Results There was no operative mortality or major complications. Two patients required a permanent pacemaker. Five patients (23%) had early atrial tachyarrhythmias. At last follow-up (mean, 18 ± 12 months), all the patients (n = 22) were free from atrial dysrhythmias. At 3 months (n = 19), 84% of patients were off antiarrhythmic drugs. At 6 months (n = 18), 94% of patients were free from AF and off antiarrhythmic medications. At 12 months (n = 16), 81% of patients were free from AF and off antiarrhythmic drugs and three patients remained on warfarin for a mechanical mitral valve. Conclusions A full CMP can be performed through a right mini-thoracotomy with outstanding short-term results. This less invasive procedure can be offered to patients without compromising efficacy.
Neochordae Implantation Made Easy with an Adjustable Device Early Report of Acute and Chronic Animal Experiments
Authors: Maisano Francesco , Denti Paolo , Vanermen Hugo K. , Seeburger Joerg , Falk Volkmar , Mohr Friedrich Wilhelm , Mack Michael J. , Alfieri Ottavio R. 
Published: August 2010

Objective Neochordae implantation is a well-established surgical solution for the treatment of mitral valve prolapse. The main limitation to wide usage of the technique has been the difficulty associated with accurate determination of neochordal length. We describe a system specifically designed to facilitate rapid, uncomplicated implantation and off-pump, beating heart adjustment of neochordae. Methods Five swine underwent implantation of the adjustable neochordal system (V-Chordal; Valtech Cardio LTD, Israel) while on cardiopulmonary bypass after cutting native chordae to create a significant lesion. Neochordae length was adjusted with millimeter-level resolution, off-pump after discontinuation from bypass. Results In all animals, the implant was successful. Under echocardiographic monitoring, flail lesions were corrected in all cases, using the anatomic landmarks or the degree of mitral regurgitation for real-time guidance. At postmortem gross examination, the implant and the neochordae were completely healed with evidence of tissue ingrowth. Conclusions Preliminary animal experience suggests that the V-Chordal-adjustable neochordae system can be safely and effectively implanted, with accurate and precise adjustment of chordal length. The design of the device is suitable for a minimally invasive environment because of the long, flexible shafted design of the delivery system.
Endoscopic Radial Artery Harvest Produces Equivalent and Excellent Midterm Patency Compared with Open Harvest
Authors: Dimitrova Kamellia R. , Hoffman Darryl M. , Geller Charles M. , DeCastro Helbert , Dienstag Bill , Tranbaugh Robert F. 
Published: August 2010

Objective A recent multicenter study reported reduced patency of aortocoronary bypass grafts when the saphenous vein was harvested by endoscopic technique compared with patency of vein grafted after harvest by the traditional “open” approach. Our aim was to compare the patency rates of radial artery graft (RAG) harvested endoscopically with those harvested using an open technique. Methods Two cohorts were identified: from January 1995 to January 2000, 724 consecutive patients had one or both radial arteries harvested through an open technique, and from February 2000 to January 2008, 727 consecutive patients had endoscopic radial artery (RA) harvest. All patients who underwent symptom-indicated angiography in our institution at any time after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery were identified. Results Two hundred two patients had angiograms for symptoms: 90 of these patients (119 RAG) had open RA harvest and were studied 78.3 ± 40 months (range, 1–156 months) after CABG. The other 112 patients (148 RAG) had endoscopic RA harvest and underwent angiography 36 ± 24 months (range, 1–96 months) after CABG. The two groups had identical demographics and risk profiles. Overall patency of the “open” RAG was 78.9% versus 83.7% for the endoscopic group (P = 0.3). Patency increased to 90% in both groups when the RAG was anastomosed to a native coronary vessel with stenosis >80%. Conclusions Endoscopic and open RA harvesting techniques have equivalent and excellent midterm and long-term patency rates in CABG patients studied by angiography for recurrent symptoms of myocardial ischemia. The degree of stenosis of the target vessel strongly influences the patency rate independent of the harvesting technique.
Biochemical composition of ovine follicular fluid in relation to follicle size
Authors: Nandi S. , Kumar V. Girish , Manjunatha B. M. , Gupta P. S. P. 
Published: August 2010

The aim of this study was to biochemically characterize ovine follicular fluid and to relate possible changes in composition to follicular size. Ovaries were collected from adult and cycling non‐pregnant slaughtered sheep (Ovis aries) during breeding season. A total of 104 pairs of ovaries were investigated and these data were then compared. Follicular fluid was aspirated from small (< 2 mm), medium (2–4 mm) and large (> 4 mm) nonatretic ovarian follicles. The follicular fluid was centrifuged at 4°C and 5000 g for 30 min to remove any cells and stored at −80°C prior to assay. Follicular fluid samples were analyzed for glucose, total protein, cholesterol, triglycerides, lactate, urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase. Data were analyzed by the linear regression model. As follicles became larger, the concentrations of glucose and cholesterol significantly (P < 0.05) increased while those of triglycerides, lactate, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase significantly (P < 0.05) decreased.
Comparative genomics identifies a cis‐regulatory module that activates transcription in specific subsets of neurons in Ciona intestinalis larvae
Authors: Yoshida Reiko , Horie Takeo , Tsuda Motoyuki , Kusakabe Takehiro G. 
Published: August 2010

The larval nervous system of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis exhibits an abstract form of the vertebrate nervous system. The Ci‐Gαi1 gene, which encodes a G‐protein α subunit, is specifically expressed in distinct sets of neurons in C. intestinalis larvae, including papillar neurons of the adhesive organ, ocellus photoreceptor cells, and cholinergic and GABAergic neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). A GFP reporter gene driven by the 4.2‐kb 5′ flanking region of Ci‐Gαi1 recapitulated the endogenous gene expression patterns. Comparative genomic analysis of the Gαi1 gene between C. intestinalis and Ciona savignyi identified an 87‐bp highly conserved non‐coding sequence located between –3176 and –3090 bp upstream of the gene. Deletion of this conserved upstream sequence resulted in the complete loss of reporter expression in the central nervous system, while reporter expression in the adhesive organ and mesenchyme cells remained unaffected. The conserved upstream sequence can activate gene expression from basal promoters in the brain vesicle, although it requires additional cis‐regulatory sequences to fully activate the CNS‐specific gene expression. These results suggest that different types of central neurons share a common transcriptional activation mechanism that is different from that of papillar neurons.