bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Syndiospecific polymerization of styrene in the presence of cyclic olefins: A new approach for molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and stereoregularity controls for syndiotactic polystyrene
Authors: Tzeng Fu‐Yuan , Tsai Jing‐Cherng 
Published: November 2010

AbstractA new approach for facilitating microstructural controls for syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS), in which, styrene polymerization is conducted in the presence of cyclic olefins and hydrogen, is proposed. Detailed structural analyses revealed that cyclic olefins are not incorporated into the polystyrene main chain; instead, they are capable of interrupting the chain propagation processes by binding onto the active catalyst to form a cyclic‐olefin‐coordinated active site. Thus, in the presence of hydrogen, chain transfer by hydrogen addition occurs selectively, which leads to the generation of drastically lower molecular weight sPS with a narrower range of molecular weight distribution. Chain end structural analyses of the resulting polymers revealed that styrene polymerization under theses conditions involves a selective chain transfer pathway for providing styrene polymers with uniform chain end structures. A unique method for inducing a selective chain transfer reaction by using non‐incorporated cyclic olefins to regulate the chain reaction mechanism is demonstrated. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Syntheses and characterization of block copolymers of poly(aliphatic ester) with clickable polyphosphoester
Authors: Wang Yu‐Cai , Yuan You‐Yong , Wang Feng , Wang Jun 
Published: November 2010

AbstractWe report a series of biocompatible and biodegradable block copolymers of poly(ε‐caprolactone) with “clickable” polyphosphoester (PPE). The block copolymers are synthesized through controlled ring‐opening polymerization of five‐membered cyclic phosphoester monomer, propargyl ethylene phosphate (PAEP), initiated with poly(ε‐caprolactone) macroinitiator. The polymerization followed first‐order kinetics with living polymerization characteristics, thus the molecular weight and composition of copolymers are tunable by adjusting the feed ratio of PAEP monomer to macroinitiator. Azide‐functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) has been grafted to the copolymer to demonstrate the reactive feasibility by Cu(I)‐catalyzed “click” chemistry of azides and alkynes, generating “brush‐coil” polymers. The mild conditions associated with the click reaction are shown to be compatible with poly(ε‐caprolactone) and PPE backbones, rendering the click reaction a generally useful method for grafting numerous types of functionality onto the block copolymers. The block copolymers also show good biocompatibility to cells, suggesting their suitability for a range of biomaterial applications. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Synthesis, characterization and properties of N‐maleimide side‐chain liquid crystalline copolymers
Authors: de Ojeda J. M. Bautista , Quijada‐Garrido I. , Barrales‐Rienda J. M. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractA homologous series of side‐chain liquid crystalline (SCLC) poly{[N‐[10‐((4‐(((4′‐n‐hexyloxy)benzoyl)oxy)phenoxy)carbonyl)‐n‐decyl]maleimide]‐co‐[N‐(n‐octadecyl)maleimide]} [(ME6)‐co‐(MI‐18)] random copolymers with various MI‐18 contents have been synthesized and their properties studied. The high content in threo‐disyndiotactic sequences of the maleimide main chain seems responsible for the stability of the highly ordered smectic mesophase. The relationship between structure and composition on thermotropic mesophase was investigated by polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X‐ray diffraction. For copolymers with mesogenic unit contents less than ∼0.655 molar fraction the transition from (SA) texture to isotropic (I) is maintained, as shown by the TCl, ΔHCl and ΔSCl amounts and intermolecular spacing 4.42–4.53 Å and intralayer correlation lengths of 44.2–45.2 Å. The layer thickness does not appreciably depend on copolymer composition. However, copolymers with non‐mesogenic comonomer MI‐18 molar contents larger than >0.655 molar fraction X(M), are no longer liquid crystalline materials, despite its packing is preserved without any detectable appearance of birefringence. Thermodynamic boundaries of the liquid crystalline state have been established through a phase diagram. The properties of this n‐hexyloxy pendant group‐based series are compared to those of the analogous materials containing methoxy pendant groups (ME1), and differences are accounted for in terms of the local side‐chain packing within the mesophase. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Adhesion of nonplanar wrinkled surfaces
Authors: Kundu Santanu , Davis Chelsea S. , Long Thomas , Sharma Ravi , Crosby Alfred J. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractTopological patterns on polymer surfaces can significantly alter and control adhesion. In this study, the effect of surface wrinkles on a spherical surface on adhesion has been studied. Surface wrinkling induced by swelling of a crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane elastomer constrained by a stiff, thin surface layer (silicate) is used to produce topographic features of various length scales over a large curved area. By controlling the properties of the stiff layer and the applied strain conditions, surface wrinkles of varying amplitude and wavelength are obtained. The effect of wrinkle morphology on adhesion is quantified, and the results display a transition from enhancement of adhesion to decrease depending upon wrinkle dimensions. A simple phenomenological model is proposed that describes the change of adhesion behavior as a function of wrinkle morphology. Our results provide a critical understanding toward tuning the adhesion behavior of nonplanar surfaces consisting of periodic topographic structures. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011
Quantitative proteomics for investigating psychiatric disorders
Authors: Filiou Michaela D. , Turck Christoph W. , Martins‐de‐Souza Daniel 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe underlying pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders remains elusive. The use of quantitative proteomics to investigate disease‐specific protein signatures holds great promise to improve the understanding of psychiatric disorders and identify relevant biomarkers. In this review, we discuss quantitative proteomic approaches for elucidating molecular mechanisms of psychiatric disorders, i.e. anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression, by studying specimens from animal models and patients. We present gel‐based, label‐free and stable isotope‐labeling methodologies and evaluate their strengths and limitations in the context of psychiatric research, with a focus on 15N metabolic labeling of live animals due to its increased accuracy and potential for future applications. We also review biomarker candidate validation methods and present quantitative proteomic studies from the literature that aim to disentangle the molecular pathobiology of psychiatric disorders and identify candidate biomarkers. Finally, we explore the applicability of implementing proteomic methods as a routine diagnostic tool in the clinical laboratory.
OCAM: A new tool for studying the oligomeric diversity of MscL channels
Authors: Gandhi Chris S. , Walton Troy A. , Rees Douglas C. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractWe have developed a new technique to study the oligomeric state of proteins in solution. OCAM or Oligomer Characterization by Addition of Mass counts protein subunits by selectively shaving a protein mass tag added to a protein subunit via a short peptide linker. Cleavage of each mass tag reduces the total mass of the protein complex by a fixed amount. By performing limited proteolysis and separating the reaction products by size on a blue native PAGE gel, a ladder of reaction products corresponding to the number of subunits can be resolved. The pattern of bands may be used to distinguish the presence of a single homo‐oligomer from a mixture of oligomeric states. We have applied OCAM to study the mechanosensitive channel of large conductance (MscL) and find that these proteins can exist in multiple oligomeric states ranging from tetramers up to possible hexamers. Our results demonstrate the existence of oligomeric forms of MscL not yet observed by X‐ray crystallography or other techniques and that in some cases a single type of MscL subunit can assemble as a mixture of oligomeric states.
Residual interactions in unfolded bile acid‐binding protein by 19F NMR
Authors: Basehore H. Kenney , Ropson Ira J. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe folding initiation mechanism of human bile acid‐binding protein (BABP) has been examined by 19F NMR. Equilibrium unfolding studies of BABP labeled with fluorine at all eight of its phenylalanine residues showed that at least two sites experience changes in solvent exposure at high denaturant concentrations. Peak assignments were made by site‐specific 4FPhe incorporation. The resonances for proteins specifically labeled at Phe17, Phe47, and Phe63 showed changes in chemical shift at denaturant concentrations at which the remaining five phenylalanine residues appear to be fully solvent‐exposed. Phe17 is a helical residue that was not expected to participate in a folding initiation site. Phe47 and Phe63 form part of a hydrophobic core region that may be conserved as a site for folding initiation in the intracellular lipid‐binding protein family.
Development of nanocomposites for anode materials in Li‐ion batteries
Authors: Ochs Rolf , Szabó Dorothée Vinga , Schlabach Sabine , Becker Sebastian , Indris Sylvio 
Published: November 2010

AbstractNanocomposites based on SnO2 with carbon scaffold were used as highly porous anode films on Ni substrates. The films were obtained by in situ deposition of the particles without any binder or excess carbon black avoiding any secondary treatment. Compared to similarly prepared uncoated SnO2 nanoparticles as well as conventionally prepared powder samples the capacity loss of the in situ deposited nanocomposite films is significantly reduced. Thus, this newly developed anode material combined with in situ film formation is a promising approach for high capacity anodes in Li‐ion batteries.magnified imageSEM‐micrograph of a SnO2/C nanoparticle film.
Optical and Electroluminescent Properties of Conjugated Polyrotaxanes
Authors: Brovelli Sergio , Cacialli Franco 
Published: November 2010

AbstractConjugated polyrotaxanes are conjugated polymeric semiconductors engineered at a supramolecular level by threading the conjugated moiety into molecular macrocycles, such as cyclodextrins (CD). CD‐threaded rotaxanes thus provide a class of model compounds with reduced interchain interactions which enable us to explore the influence of such interactions on the fundamental photophysics of conjugated semiconductors. CD rotaxination also endows these materials with additional sites for functionalization, thus resulting in extremely versatile structures. Our current understanding of the photophysics of these materials is reviewed, both in solid/liquid solutions and in neat films, as a function of the relevant parameters, such as the threading ratio and the concentration, and with the help of rotaxanes incorporating a variety of different backbones.
Experiences in developing the mCRL2 toolset
Authors: Groote J. F. , Keiren J. J. A. , Stappers F. P. M. , Wesselink J. W. , Willemse T. A. C. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThis paper presents practices and experiences in developing the formal methods toolset mCRL2. Findings are presented based on years of experiences in developing tools in an academic environment. Practical problems and ways to solve them are discussed. We also present the direction that we foresee for the coming years of development in formal methods tool support. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Control and monitoring of the quartz crystal current in the quartz crystal oscillator
Authors: Satoh Tomio , Izyan Ruslan Ruzaini , Itoh Kengo , Marumo Masahide , Akitsu Tetsuya 
Published: November 2010

AbstractNovel circuit design is proposed for low‐frequency quartz crystal oscillator circuit with the enhanced control of excitation level. The function of the limiter circuit was analyzed on the base of the negative resistance of the CMOS‐inverter quartz oscillator reviewed for the fundamental mode of a quartz crystal microbalance resonator, and appropriate gain control and drive current reduction were realized by adding a capacitor between one terminal of the quartz crystal and the ground level. Experimental result and the absolute value of the negative resistance are compared with the conventional Colpitts circuit. © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Primary study of spiral dynamics inspired optimization
Authors: Tamura Kenichi , Yasuda Keiichiro 
Published: November 2010

AbstractLogarithmic spiral phenomena are often appeared in nature. In this letter, we show that a logarithmic spiral can realize an effective strategy regarding the metaheuristics and propose a new two‐dimensional metaheuristics called spiral optimization utilizing a feature of the logarithmic spiral. The simulation results for two‐dimensional benchmark problems show the effectiveness and the potential of the proposed method. © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Effect of sublethal hexavalent chromium exposure on the pituitary‐ovarian axis of a teleost, Channa punctatus (Bloch)
Authors: Mishra Ashish K. , Mohanty Banalata 
Published: November 2010

AbstractExposure to sublethal hexavalent chromium (as 2 and 4 mg L−1 potassium dichromate for 1 and 2 months) during late preparatory to mid prespawning phase of annual reproductive cycle severely affected the pituitary‐ovarian axis of a teleost Channa punctatus. Gonadosomatic index (GSI), ovarian histopathology, immunocytochemistry of the pituitary gonadotrophs (LHβ‐immunoreactive cells), and serum 17β‐estradiol level revealed distinct dose and duration‐dependent effects. Gonadosomatic index was declined. Diameter of ovary as well as ovarian follicles was reduced along with a distinct variation in the percentage of follicles. The greater percentage of previtellogenic follicles (stage I) and decline in vitellogenic ones (stage II and stage III) compared to control indicated the arrest of follicular development. The percentage of atretic follicles was also increased indicating toxic impact of metal on ovary. Decreased serum level of ovarian steroid 17β‐estradiol further indicated the same. Chromium interference of the pituitary was demonstrated as atrophy and less immunointensity of LH‐immunoreactive gonadotrophs. Thus, the hexavalent chromium impaired the pituitary‐ovarian axis affecting at the sites of both pituitary and ovary. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2012.
Comparing toxicity endpoints on Lecane quadridentata (Rotifera: Monogononta) exposed to two anticholinesterases pesticides
Authors: Pérez‐Legaspi Ignacio Alejandro , Quintanar J. Luis , Rico‐Martínez Roberto 
Published: November 2010

AbstractToxicity tests were performed on the freshwater rotifer Lecane quadridentata exposed to the pesticides carbaryl and methyl parathion (lethal, sublethal, and chronic) to compare the sensitivity between different endpoints: (a) 48‐h mortality; (b) 30‐min in vivo inhibition of esterase activity; (c) 5‐day inhibition of the instantaneous growth rate. The emphasis of this work was to find the most appropriate endpoint to evaluate the toxicity of these pesticides in view of their sensitivity, duration, and ecological relevance. The comparison between the three toxicity tests show that the 5‐day chronic tests have the lowest EC50 (2.22 and 6.6 mg/L), lowest‐observed‐effect concentration (2.5 and 2.5 mg/L), and no‐observed‐effect concentration (1.0 and 1.2 mg/L) values for carbaryl and methyl parathion, respectively. This indicates that the estimate of the instantaneous rate of natural increase r is the most sensitive endpoint regarding the toxicity of these pesticides. This sensitivity might be due to the effect on reducing the growth potential form the first generation on. Lethal and sublethal tests are closely related, suggesting that the immediate effect after inhibition of esterases is death. In general, the sensitivity of L. quadridentata is similar to other species of rotifers exposed to methyl parathion. Therefore, the 5‐day chronic toxicity test with the freshwater rotifer L. quadridentata should be considered a good candidate to evaluate the effect of anticholinesterase pesticides, due to its high sensitivity and ecological relevance. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2012.
Cultural Adaptation of an Evidence Based Intervention: From Theory to Practice in a Latino/a Community Context
Authors: Domenech Rodríguez Melanie M. , Baumann Ana A. , Schwartz Audrey L. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe cultural tailoring of interventions to reach underserved groups has moved from descriptive and proscriptive models to their application with existing evidence based treatments. To date few published examples illustrate the process of cultural adaptation. The current paper documents the adaptation of an evidence based parent training intervention, Parent Management Training—Oregon Model (PMTO™), for Spanish‐speaking Latino parents using both process (Domenech Rodríguez and Wieling in Voices of color: first‐person accounts of ethnic minority therapists, Sage, Thousand Oaks, 2004) and content (Bernal et al. in J Abnorm Child Psychol 23:67–82, 1995) models. The adaptation took place in stages: a pilot study to ensure feasibility, focus groups to establish appropriate format and goals, and a test of the intervention. Throughout the process the treatment manual was treated as a living document. Changes were applied and documented as the team developed improvements for the adaptation. The present discussion details both process adaptations, (e.g., engaging the treatment developer, community leaders, and parents, and decentering the manual), and content adaptations, (e.g., shaping the appropriateness of language, persons, metaphors, concepts, contexts, methods, and goals). The current research provides support for the idea that cultural adaptations can improve service delivery to diverse groups and can be conducted systematically with documentation for replication purposes. Suggestions for improving the empirical measurement and documentation of the adaptation process are included.
The possibility of evidence-based psychiatry: depression as a case
Authors: Stojanov Drozdstoy , Korf Jakob , de Jonge Peter , Popov Georgi 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Considering psychiatry as a medical discipline, a diagnosis identifying a disorder should lead to an effective therapy. Such presumed causality is the basis of evidence-based psychiatry. We examined the strengths and weaknesses of research onto the causality of relationship between diagnosis and therapy of major depressive disorder and suggest what could be done to strengthen eventual claims on causality. Four obstacles for a rational evidence-based psychiatry were recognised. First, current classification systems are scientifically nonfalsifiable. Second, cerebral processes are—at least to some extent—nondeterministic, i.e. they are random, stochastic and/or chaotic. Third, the vague or lack of relationship between therapeutic regimens and suspected pathogenesis. Fourth, the inadequacy of tools to diagnose and delineate a functional disorder. We suggest a strategy to identify diagnostic prototypes that are characterised by a limited number of parameters (symptoms, markers and other characteristics). A prototypical diagnosis that may either support or reject particular elements of current diagnostic systems. Nevertheless, one faces the possibility that psychiatry will remain a relatively weak evidence-based medical discipline.
Intestinal helminths induce haematological changes in dogs from Jabalpur, India
Authors: Qadir S. , Dixit A.K. , Dixit P. , Sharma R.L. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe effect of canine intestinal helminths on the haematological profile of 200 dogs, of both sexes and variable age, visiting university veterinary clinics for routine examination was investigated. The dogs were assigned to parasitized (n = 39) and non-parasitized (n = 161) groups of animals. Coprological examination revealed a 19.5% prevalence of different species of the helminths. Of these animals, 10.25% had mixed infections with Ancylostoma caninum, Toxascaris spp. and Dipylidium caninum. The intensity of A. caninum infection was the highest, with mean egg counts of 951.43 (standard error 88.66), followed by Toxascaris 283.33 (standard error 116.81) and D. caninum. The parasitized animals had significantly lower levels of haemoglobin, packed cell volume and total erythrocyte counts than non-parasitized animals (P < 0.01). Values of other parameters, except for lymphocytes and eosinophils, were not different between the two groups. Analyses of the haematological profile revealed normocytic hypochromic anaemia in the parasitized group of animals.
Non echo planar, diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction sequence) compared with echo planar imaging for the detection of middle-ear cholesteatoma
Authors: Kasbekar A V , Scoffings D J , Kenway B , Cross J , Donnelly N , Lloyd S W K , Moffat D , Axon P R 
Published: November 2010

AbstractObjectives:We evaluated use of the periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction diffusion-weighted imaging sequence, compared with conventional echo planar magnetic resonance imaging, in the detection of middle-ear cholesteatoma.Material and methods:Sixteen patients awaiting second-stage combined approach tympanoplasty and three patients awaiting first-stage combined approach tympanoplasty underwent magnetic resonance imaging with both (1) the periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction sequence (i.e. non echo planar imaging) and (2) the array spatial sensitivity encoding technique sequence (i.e. echo planar imaging). Two neuroradiologists independently evaluated the images produced by both sequences. Radiology findings were correlated with surgical findings.Results and analysis:Seven cholesteatomas were found at surgery. Neither of the assessed imaging sequences were able to detect cholesteatoma of less than 4 mm. Rates for sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values are presented.Conclusion:Decisions on whether or not to operate for cholesteatoma cannot be made based on the two imaging sequences assessed, as evaluated in this study. Other contributing factors are discussed, such as the radiological learning curve and technical limitations of the magnetic resonance imaging equipment.
Gendered practices of counterinsurgency
Authors: KHALILI LALEH 
Published: November 2010

AbstractCurrent US counterinsurgency doctrine is gendered diversely in the different geographic locations where it is formulated, put in practice, and experienced. Where Iraqi and Afghan populations are subjected to counterinsurgency and its attendant development policy, spaces are made legible in gendered ways, and people are targeted – for violence or ‘nation-building’ – on the basis of gender-categorisation. Second, this gendering takes its most incendiary form in the seam of encounter between counterinsurgent foot-soldiers and the locals, where sexuality is weaponised and gender is most starkly cross-hatched with class and race. Finally, in the Metropole, new masculinities and femininities are forged in the domain of counterinsurgency policymaking: While new soldier-scholars represent a softened masculinity, counterinsurgent women increasingly become visible in policy circles, with both using ostensibly feminist justifications for their involvement.