bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preparation and properties of oxadiazole‐containing polyacetylenes as electron transport materials
Authors: Wang Xin , Guan Shanyi , Xu Hongyao , Su Xinyan , Zhu Xuhui , Li Chun 
Published: February 2010

AbstractA series of functional polyacetylenes (PAs) bearing diphenyl oxadiazole pendant groups (P1–P4) were prepared, and the resultant polymers are completely soluble in common organic solvents. Their structures and properties were characterized and evaluated by DSC, TGA, UV, PL, CV, and EL analyses. The results show that all the resulting polymers possesses low LUMO energy level and high thermal stability, and the resultant functional polyacetylenes without spacer group between the polyacetylene conjugated main chain and oxadiazole pendant groups (P1–P3) show lower LUMO energy level (∼−3.87 eV) and higher thermal properties (Tg) than that (P4) with a flexible spacer. The resultant polymer (P2) was applied as an ETM in bilayer electroluminescent devices and effectively enhances external quantum efficiency and the brightness of device, and decreases turn‐on voltages of devices. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1406–1414, 2010
Chemistry of 2‐oxazolines: A crossing of cationic ring‐opening polymerization and enzymatic ring‐opening polyaddition
Authors: Makino Akira , Kobayashi Shiro 
Published: February 2010

AbstractChemistry of 2‐oxazolines is involved in the polymer synthesis fields of cationic ring‐opening polymerization (CROP) and enzymatic ring‐opening polyaddition (EROPA), although both polymerizations look like a quite different class of reaction. The key for the polymerization to proceed is combination of the catalyst (initiator) and the design of monomers. This article describes recent developments in polymer synthesis via these two kinds of polymerizations to afford various functional polymers having completely different structures, poly(N‐acylethylenimine)s via CROP and 2‐amino‐2‐deoxy sugar unit‐containing oligo and polysaccharides via EROPA, respectively. From the viewpoint of reaction mode, an acid‐catalyzed ring‐opening polyaddition (ROPA) is considered to be a crossing where CROP and EROPA meet. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1251–1270, 2010
Swelling kinetics of poly(aspartic acid)/poly(acrylic acid) semi‐interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels in urea solutions
Authors: Zhao Ying , Tan Tianwei , Kinoshita Takatoshi 
Published: February 2010

AbstractSemi‐interpenetrating network (semi‐IPN) hydrogels, composed of poly(aspartic acid) (PAsp) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) with various ratios of PAsp to AAc, were prepared. In this work, swelling kinetics was investigated through calculating some parameters. The swelling ratios were measured at room temperature, using urea solutions as liquids to be absorbed. Compared to in deionized water, the hydrogels showed larger swelling ratios in urea solutions, which might be attributed to the chemical composition of urea. The equilibrium swelling ratio could achieve 600 g/g, and the equilibrium urea/water contents were more than 0.99. The diffusion exponents were between 0.5 and 0.7, suggesting that the solvent transport into the hydrogel was dominated by both diffusion and relaxation controlled systems. Therefore, the PAsp/PAAc semi‐IPN hydrogels were appropriate to carry substances in a urea/water environment for pharmaceutical, agricultural, environmental, and biomedical applications. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 666–671, 2010
Influence of matrix glass transition temperature on the memory effect of polymer‐dispersed liquid crystals
Authors: Du Xin , Yan Bin , Wang Yinghan 
Published: February 2010

AbstractIn this article, macroinitiators with different glass transition temperature (Tg) were synthesized by reversible additional‐fragmental chain transfer polymerization, and used to prepare polymer‐dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) with methyl acrylate. The memory effect of these PDLCs was investigated. The results showed that remarkable memory effect exhibit only in PDLCs with high and lowTgblock chain. The possible mechanism responsible for the behavior is sketched. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 729–732, 2010
Inactivation of Bacteria and Biomolecules by Low‐Pressure Plasma Discharges
Authors: von Keudell A. , Awakowicz P. , Benedikt J. , Raballand V. , Yanguas‐Gil A. , Opretzka J. , Flötgen C. , Reuter R. , Byelykh L. , Halfmann H. , Stapelmann K. , Denis B. , Wunderlich J. , Muranyi P. , Rossi F. , Kylián O. , Hasiwa N. , Ruiz A. , Rauscher H. , Sirghi L. , Comoy E. , Dehen C. , Challier L. , Deslys J. P. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractThe inactivation of bacteria and biomolecules using plasma discharges were investigated within the European project BIODECON. The goal of the project was to identify and isolate inactivation mechanisms by combining dedicated beam experiments with especially designed plasma reactors. The plasma reactors are based on a fully computer‐controlled, low‐pressure inductively‐coupled plasma (ICP). Four of these reactors were built and distributed among the consortium, thereby ensuring comparability of the results between the teams. Based on this combined effort, the role of UV light, of chemical sputtering (i.e. the combined impact of neutrals and ions), and of thermal effects on bacteria such as Bacillus atrophaeus, Aspergillus niger, as well as on biomolecules such as LPS, Lipid A, BSA and prions have been evaluated. The particle fluxes emerging from the plasmas are quantified by using mass spectrometry, Langmuir probe measurements, retarding field measurements and optical emission spectroscopy. The effects of the plasma on the biological systems are evaluated using atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry, electrophoresis, specially‐designed western blot tests, and animal models. A quantitative analysis of the plasma discharges and the thorough study of their effect on biological systems led to the identification of the different mechanisms operating during the decontamination process. Our results confirm the role of UV in the 200–250 nm range for the inactivation of micro‐organisms and a large variability of results observed between different strains of the same species. Moreover, we also demonstrate the role of chemical sputtering corresponding to the synergism between ion bombardment of a surface with the simultaneous reaction of active species such as O, O2 or H. Finally, we show that plasma processes can be efficient against different micro‐organisms, bacteria and fungi, pyrogens, model proteins and prions. The effect of matrices is described, and consequences for any future industrial implementation are discussed.magnified image
Effects of nicotine on pulmonary surfactant proteins A and D in ovine lung epithelia
Authors: Lazic Tatjana , Matic Milan , Gallup Jack M. , Van Geelen Albert , Meyerholz David K. , Grubor Branka , Imerman Paula M. , de‐Macedo Marcia M.M.A. , Ackermann Mark R. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractMaternal smoking during pregnancy increases the incidence and severity of respiratory infections in neonates. Surfactant proteins A and D (SP‐A and SP‐D, respectively) are components of pulmonary innate immunity and have an important role in defense against inhaled pathogens. The purpose of this study was to determine if nicotine exposure during the third trimester of pregnancy alters the expression of SP‐A and SP‐D of fetal lung epithelia. Pregnant ewes were assigned to four groups; a nicotine‐exposed full‐term and pre‐term group, and control full‐term and pre‐term group. Lung tissue was collected for Western blot and IHC analysis of SP‐A level, Western blot analysis of SP‐D level and qPCR analysis of SP‐A and SP‐D mRNA expression. Exposure to nicotine significantly decreased SP‐A gene expression (P = 0.01) and SP‐A protein level in pre‐term lambs. This finding suggests that maternal nicotine exposure during the last trimester of pregnancy alters a key component of lung innate immunity in offspring. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010; 45:255–262. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease proteomics
Authors: Rodríguez‐Suárez Eva , Duce Antonio M. , Caballería Juan , Arrieta Félix Martínez , Fernández Estefanía , Gómara Carolina , Alkorta Nere , Ariz Usue , Martínez‐Chantar M. Luz , Lu Shelly C. , Elortza Felix , Mato José M. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractPurpose: Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an important cause of chronic liver injury that has gained concern in clinical hepatology. The principal aim of this study was to find differences in protein expression between patients with NAFLD and healthy controls.Experimental design: Changes in protein expression of liver samples from each of the three groups of subjects, controls, non‐alcoholic steatosis, and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), were analyzed by DIGE combined with MALDI TOF/TOF analysis, a proteomic approach that allows to compare hundreds of proteins simultaneously.Results: Forty‐three proteins exhibiting significant changes (ratio ≥1.5, p<0.05) were characterized, 22 comparing steatosis samples versus control samples and 21 comparing NASH versus control samples. Ten of these proteins were further analyzed by Western blot in tissue samples to confirm the observed changes of protein expression using DIGE. The proteins validated were further tested in serum samples of different cohorts of patients.Conclusions and clinical relevance: Following this approach we identified two candidate markers, carbamoyl phosphate synthase 1 and 78 kDa glucose‐regulated protein, differentially expressed between control and NASH. This proteomics approach demonstrates that DIGE combined with MALDI TOF/TOF and Western blot analysis of tissue and serum samples is a useful approach to identify candidate markers associated with NAFLD, resulting in proteins whose level of expression can be correlated to a disease state.
A formal approach to robustness testing of network protocol with time constraints
Authors: Yin Xia , Wang Zhiliang , Jing Chuanming , Wu Jianping 
Published: February 2010

AbstractNetwork protocols often have time constraints. Robustness testing of network protocol with time constraints aims to detect vulnerabilities of its implementation. However, related theory is not well developed. This paper proposes a novel Timed NPEFSM model containing sufficient inputs with various time values and their processing rules to formalize complex protocol with time constraints. In order to test delay transitions, Grid Timed NPEFSM is proposed and it can be generated by state characterization of Timed NPEFSM based on time sampling. Thus, these two models jointly guide robustness testing of protocol with time constraints. For test generation, we propose timed anomalous test case in which only state under test is characterized by time sampling and this method can simplify test sequences largely without compromising test coverage. We also propose several strategies to construct test sequences for timed transitions. To inject test data efficiently and effectively, three types of timed compound anomalous test cases are proposed and the algorithm of generating timed compound anomalous test cases considering both single‐field and multi‐field mutations is then presented. Standard test specification language TTCN‐3 is extended to describe timed compound anomalous test case. We illustrate our test method using an intra‐domain routing protocol OSPFv2. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surface chemical composition and conformation of liquid crystalline polymers studied with ToF‐SIMS and XPS
Authors: Lau Yiu‐Ting R. , Weng Lu‐Tao , Ng Kai‐Mo , Chan Chi‐Ming 
Published: February 2010

AbstractIn this work, we examined the effects of the liquid crystalline ordering on the surfaces of thermotropic fluorocarbon‐hydrocarbon polymers (FmHn, with m = 8; n = 8, 10) by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) combined with principal component analysis (PCA). XPS results showed that the liquid crystal surfaces of the polymers were enriched with hydrocarbon segments. PCA of ToF‐SIMS data further showed that reversible structural changes between the amorphous and ordered states of the polymers occurred. As these polymers ordered at room temperature, their surfaces were transformed from the amorphous state with fluorocarbon‐segment enrichment to the fully ordered liquid crystal states with hydrocarbon‐segment enrichment. All these results suggested that the molecular orientation controlled the surface composition of the liquid crystalline polymers notwithstanding the surface energy. The axial alignment of the rigid fluorocarbon mesogens anchored the flexible hydrocarbon segments at the surface. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preferential anodic oxidation of second‐phase constituents during anodising of AA2024‐T3 and AA7075‐T6 alloys
Authors: Saenz de Miera M. , Curioni M. , Skeldon P. , Thompson G. E. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractModel analogues of the metallurgical phases found in 2xxx and 7xxx series aluminium alloys were produced by magnetron sputtering and employed to investigate the local and general anodising behaviour of the alloys. Electrochemical tests, allied with scanning and transmission electron microscopy, enabled insight into the local anodising behaviour of the constituents and related effects on the overall porous oxide morphology. Under potentiodynamic conditions, the observed anodic current peaks of the commercial alloys were related with the anodic oxidation of specific second‐phase particles. At 0 V, magnesium‐containing particles, including S‐phase, were preferentially removed from the alloy surface; at 5–6 VSCE, the copper‐ and/or iron‐containing particles, such as θ phase and Al7Cu2Fe particles were anodically oxidised. The initial voltage transient revealed for the commercial alloys during galvanostatic anodising was related to the previous findings and reproduced by the use of coupled alloy analogues. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the voltage transient associated with oxidation of second‐phase material influence the morphology of the anodic film formed on the aluminium matrix. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improving the reliability of diagnostic tests in population‐based agreement studies
Authors: Nelson Kerrie P. , Edwards Don 
Published: February 2010

AbstractMany large‐scale studies have recently been carried out to assess the reliability of diagnostic procedures, such as mammography for the detection of breast cancer. The large numbers of raters and subjects involved raise new challenges in how to measure agreement in these types of studies. An important motivator of these studies is the identification of factors that contribute to the often wide discrepancies observed between raters' classifications, such as a rater's experience, in order to improve the reliability of the diagnostic process of interest. Incorporating covariate information into the agreement model is a key component in addressing these questions. Few agreement models are currently available that jointly model larger numbers of raters and subjects and incorporate covariate information. In this paper, we extend a recently developed population‐based model and measure of agreement for binary ratings to incorporate covariate information using the class of generalized linear mixed models with a probit link function. Important information on factors related to the subjects and raters can be included as fixed and/or random effects in the model. We demonstrate how agreement can be assessed between subgroups of the raters and/or subjects, for example, comparing agreement between experienced and less experienced raters. Simulation studies are carried out to test the performance of the proposed models and measures of agreement. Application to a large‐scale breast cancer study is presented. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sleep: an important factor in stress‐health models
Authors: Benham Grant 
Published: February 2010

AbstractA growing body of literature supports the notion that psychological stress negatively impacts physical health. In parallel to this programme of stress/health investigations, researchers are demonstrating the deleterious health effects of poor sleep. The current study simultaneously examines the association of both stress and sleep with health. Two hundred and eighteen subjects completed an anonymous survey packet that included stress, sleep and health measures. Psychological stress (as assessed by both life‐events and by self‐perceived stress), daytime sleepiness and poor sleep quality, but not sleep quantity, were all negatively associated with health. A regression model that integrated both stress measures was a statistically significant predictor of health. Adding the sleep measures to the stress‐health model accounted for a statistically significantly greater proportion of the variance in health scores, with the stress + sleep model accounting for 39–56 per cent of the variance in health scores depending on the health measure used. These results suggest that studies of stress and health may benefit from the inclusion of sleep measures and that, from a practical standpoint, poor sleep might be best understood not simply as a sequela of psychological stress but rather as a factor that should be actively addressed as part of the treatment programme. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploring Grade 11 students' conceptual pathways of the particulate nature of matter in the context of multirepresentational instruction
Authors: Adadan Emine , Trundle Kathy Cabe , Irving Karen E. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractThis study investigated the conceptual pathways of 19 Grade 11 introductory chemistry students (age 16–17) as they participated in a multirepresentational instruction on the particulate nature of matter (PNM). This study was grounded in contemporary conceptual change theory, in particular, research on students' conceptual pathways that focuses on the interaction between students' existing conceptions and instruction, which might give rise to observing multiple paths. This mixed method study combined a quantitative research design with qualitative data collection and analysis methods. Data were collected through open‐ended questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis to portray the patterns of students' conceptual pathways of the PNM from pre to postinstruction to 3 months after the instruction. An interpretive analysis of the qualitative data revealed six different conceptual pathways varying between radical progress and no additional progress (stable) after the multirepresentational instruction and between stable (no change) and full decay over a 3‐month period following the instruction. The identified patterns of conceptual pathways provide information about the manner in which conceptual change occurred, as well as suggest potential implications for instructional practices. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 47: 1004–1035, 2010
Learning curve for lung area to head circumference ratio measurement in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia
Authors: Cruz‐Martinez R. , Figueras F. , Moreno‐Alvarez O. , Martinez J. M. , Gomez O. , Hernandez‐Andrade E. , Gratacos E. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the learning curve for the fetal lung area to head circumference ratio (LHR) calculation in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).MethodsThree trainees with the theoretical knowledge, but without prior experience in the LHR measurement, were selected. Each trainee and one experienced examiner measured the observed to expected (O/E)‐LHR in the lung contralateral to the side of the hernia by two methods—manual tracing of lung borders and multiplication of the longest diameters—in a cohort of 95 consecutive CDH fetuses. The average difference between the three trainees and the expert in the O/E‐LHR measurement was calculated. A difference below 10% was considered to indicate an accurate measurement. The average learning curve was delineated using cumulative sum analysis (CUSUM).ResultsThe CUSUM plots demonstrate that the learning curve was achieved by 77 and 72 tests performed for the area obtained by the manual‐tracing and multiplication‐of‐the‐longest‐diameter methods, respectively.ConclusionThe minimum number of scans required for an inexperienced trainee to become competent in examining the LHR is on average 70. Copyright © 2010 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Social cognition
Authors: Bodenhausen Galen V. , Todd Andrew R. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractSocial cognition research investigates the way information present in the social environment is represented and used in adaptively guiding behavior. Representations of persons and of social relationships form the basic building blocks of social cognition, and we review what is known about how such representations are constructed and constituted. In particular, we review a range of mechanisms whereby observers can infer the psychological qualities of the actors they encounter, including relatively automatic processes as well as more thoughtful and deliberative ones. Prominent approaches for situating person representations within the context of interpersonal relationships are also reviewed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.This article is categorized under:Psychology > Reasoning and Decision Making
Exclusion of Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules with Indeterminate Fine‐Needle Aspiration Cytology After Negative 18F‐Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography: Interim Analysis
Authors: Traugott Amber L. , Dehdashti Farrokh , Trinkaus Kathryn , Cohen Mark , Fialkowski Elizabeth , Quayle Frank , Hussain Hameda , Davila Rosa , Ylagan Lourdes , Moley Jeffrey F. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBackgroundIn all, 20% of fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies of thyroid nodules have an indeterminate diagnosis; of these, 80% are found to be benign after thyroidectomy. Some previous reports indicate that positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) imaging may predict malignancy status. We now report results on the first 51 patients in the largest prospective study of FDG‐PET in patients with an indeterminate thyroid nodule FNA.MethodsEligible patients had a dominant thyroid nodule that was palpable or ≥1 cm in greatest dimension as seen by ultrasonography, and indeterminate histology of the FNA biopsy specimen. Participants underwent preoperative neck FDG‐PET alone or FDG‐PET with computed tomography (FDG‐PET/CT). Images were evaluated qualitatively and semiquantitatively using the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax). Final diagnosis was determined by histopathologic analysis after thyroidectomy. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed.ResultsA total of 51 patients underwent preoperative FDG‐PET or FDG‐PET/CT. Studies without focally increased uptake localized to the lesion were considered negative. For all lesions (10 malignant, 41 benign), the sensitivity, specificity, positive‐predictive value (PPV), and negative‐predictive value (NPV) were 80%, 61%, 33%, and 93%, respectively. Postoperatively, two malignant and six benign lesions were found to be <1 cm by pathology examination; one lesion was not measured. When these lesions were excluded, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 100%, 59%, 36%, and 100%, respectively.ConclusionsBased on these preliminary data, FDG‐PET may have a role in excluding malignancy in thyroid nodules with an indeterminate FNA biopsy. This finding justifies ongoing accrual to our target population of 125 participants.