bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Study on flame‐retardancy and thermal degradation behaviors of intumescent flame‐retardant polylactide systems
Authors: Xuan Shanyong , Wang Xin , Song Lei , Xing Weiyi , Lu Hongdian , Hu Yuan 
Published: June 2011

AbstractTwo intumescent flame‐retardant (IFR) additives, IFR‐I and IFR‐II, were synthesized and their structure was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. Polylactide (PLA) was modified by the two IFRs to obtain flame‐retardant composites. The flammability of the PLA/IFR composites was characterized by the vertical burning test UL‐94 and limiting oxygen index. The limiting oxygen index values of the PLA composites increased with increase of IFR content. The PLA composite with 20 wt% IFR‐I could pass the UL‐94 V0 rating, while the composite with 30 wt% IFR‐II could not. The results of pyrolysis combustion flow calorimetry showed that the heat release capacity of PLA composites with 30 wt% IFR‐I decreased 43.1% compared with that of pure PLA. The thermal degradation and gas products of PLA/IFR‐I systems were monitored by thermogravimetric analysis and thermogravimetric analysis infrared spectrometry. Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the surface morphology of the char residue. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Reaction kinetics and thermal properties of epoxidised cresol novolac/4,4′‐diglycidyl (3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethylbiphenyl) epoxy resin composite cured with aromatic diamine
Authors: Liu Zhongguo , Zhang Gang , Tu Kuifeng , Zhao Sen , Han Miaomiao , Ni Jing , Ma Wenjia , Na Hui 
Published: June 2011

AbstractA series of novel composites based on different ratios of epoxidised cresol novolac (ECN) and 4,4′‐diglycidyl(3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethylbiphenyl) epoxy resin (TMBP) have been prepared with the curing agent 4,4′‐methylenediamine (DDM) and 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS), respectively. The investigation of cure kinetics was performed by differential scanning calorimetry using an isoconversional method. The high thermal stabilities of the cured samples were also studied by thermogravimetric analysis. In addition, no phase separation was observed for cured ECN/DDM and ECN/DDS blending with different amounts of TMBP by dynamic mechanical analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, the cured systems also exhibited excellent impact properties and low moisture absorption. All the results indicate that the ECN/TMBP/DDM and ECN/TMBP/DDS systems are promising materials in electronic packaging. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
The oxidative polymerization of p‐phenylenediamine with silver nitrate: Toward highly conducting micro/nanostructured silver/conjugated polymer composites
Authors: Ćirić‐Marjanović Gordana , Marjanović Budimir , Bober Patrycja , Rozlívková Zuzana , Stejskal Jaroslav , Trchová Miroslava , Prokeš Jan 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThe oxidative polymerization of p‐phenylenediamine with silver nitrate by using various oxidant/monomer mole ratios in aqueous solutions of both acetic and nitric acid was studied experimentally and computationally. The produced micro/nanostructured conducting poly(p‐phenylenediamine)–silver composites, reaching the conductivities >104 S/cm, were characterized by conductivity and density measurements, gel permeation chromatography, transmission electron microscopy, UV–visible, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopies. The highest conductivity was 31,700 S/cm for poly(p‐phenylenediamine) base–silver (81.4 wt % Ag). The unexpected increase of conductivity after deprotonation of polymer component is discussed on the basis of interfacial electrical barriers and their removal. Theoretical study of the mechanism of p‐phenylenediamine oxidation has been based on the AM1 semi‐empirical quantum chemical computations of the heat of formation of the reaction intermediates, taking into account the influence of pH and solvation effects. Quantum chemical predictions of molecular structure of poly(p‐phenylenediamine) were correlated with spectroscopic findings. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Zyflamend inhibits the expression and function of androgen receptor and acts synergistically with bicalutimide to inhibit prostate cancer cell growth
Authors: Yan Jun , Xie Bingxian , Capodice Jillian L. , Katz Aaron E. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBACKGROUNDInterference of androgen receptor (AR) signaling is a target for prostate cancer (CaP) chemoprevention and treatment. We hypothesize that Zyflamend (ZYF) assert its anti‐cancer effect by disrupting AR signaling. We also hypothesize that it may act synergistically with the anti‐androgen bicalutimde to inhibit CaP cell growth.METHODSWestern blotting, ELISA and reporter assays were done to test ZYF on AR signaling. Semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR and AR half‐life were also examined. Potential synergism between ZYF and bicalutimide were tested via cytotoxicity, colony formation assays, flow cytometry, and Western blotting in the human CAP line, LNCaP and 22RV1.RESULTSZYF reduced AR protein, mRNA and protein stability levels in LNCaPs. ZYF also reduced both full‐length AR protein and truncated AR protein in the 22Rv1 cell line. Nkx3.1 and PSA were also reduced at the mRNA level. PSA promoter activity and secretion were lower after treatment of cells with ZYF. DHT induction of cell proliferation and AR responsiveness revealed reduction of AR, Nkx3.1, and PSA protein were demonstrated with ZYF treatment. Co‐treatment with bicalutimide reducing cell growth, induced apoptosis, and reduced Bcl‐2 and BclxL, caspase‐3 and PARP. Co‐treatment also reduced Nkx3.1 and PSA protein.CONCLUSIONSThese data indicate that ZYF suppresses cell growth mediated by AR signaling, and suggests that the co‐treatment with the anti‐androgen bicalutimide and ZYF may be a promising approach for cancer therapy and may demonstrate the mechanism of action of ZYF. Prostate 72:244–252, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Claudin‐4‐targeted therapy using Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin for prostate cancer
Authors: Maeda Toshihiro , Murata Masaki , Chiba Hideki , Takasawa Akira , Tanaka Satoshi , Kojima Takashi , Masumori Naoya , Tsukamoto Taiji , Sawada Norimasa 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBACKGROUNDClostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) triggers lysis of epithelial cells through binding to tight‐junction proteins claudin‐3 (Cldn3) and Cldn4, which are over‐expressed in prostate cancer. We investigated the potential of Cldn‐targeted therapy using CPE.METHODSWe investigated the expression levels and subcellular localization of Cldn3 and Cldn4 in primary human prostate cancer tissues, human prostate cancer cell lines (22Rv1, DU145, and PC3) and normal human prostate epithelial cells (PrECs). Cytotoxic effects of CPE on these cells were examined by colorimetric assay. We studied whether knockdown of Cldn3 and/or Cldn4 expression using RNA interference influenced CPE‐mediated cytotoxicity. The therapeutic effect of CPE was evaluated in PC3 xenografts in athymic mice.RESULTSCldn4 and Cldn3 were expressed in primary human prostate cancer tissues, 22Rv1, DU145, and PC3. Cldn4 protein was expressed in PrEC. Cldn4 was distributed along whole cell membranes of the cancer cell lines, whereas it was localized at tight junctions in PrEC. CPE‐mediated cytotoxicity was greatly detected in PC3, but was hardly detectable in PrEC. Reduced expression of Cldn4, but not Cldn3, led to remarkable decreases of cytotoxicity in both PC3 and 22Rv1. The injection of CPE around PC3 xenografts significantly suppressed tumor growth.CONCLUSIONCPE‐mediated cytotoxicity was observed in human prostate cancer cell lines, but barely detected in normal human PrECs. The cytotoxic effect depended not only on the expression level of Cldn4 protein but also on its subcellular localization. These results suggest that Cldn4‐targeted therapy using CPE may be a new treatment for prostate cancer. Prostate 72:351–360, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Thermal resistance, gain, and antiguiding factor of GaN‐based cyan laser diodes
Authors: Scheibenzuber W. G. , Schwarz U. T. , Lermer T. , Lutgen S. , Strauss U. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractWe present a highly precise method to determine the thermal resistance and the antiguiding factor of (Al,In)GaN laser diodes. Knowing the thermal resistance, we are able to exclude thermal effects and study the charge carrier density dependence of the optical gain and the refractive index. From these properties we determine the antiguiding factor. The method is applied to 489 nm (Al,In)GaN laser diodes with a high charge carrier density in the active region. For these laser diodes we find a high antiguiding factor of 10 ± 1 at the laser wavelength.magnified image
Schematic drawing of the heat transport in a Fabry–Perot‐type ridge laser diode.
On the measurement of the Casimir torque
Authors: Chen Xiang , Spence John C. H. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractWe discuss the possibility of measuring the recently proposed Casimir torque between bi‐refringent crystals, using a torsion pendulum in dark vacuum. By simulation, we analyze the effects of precession, surface polish, and torque due to stray charge. We determine the experimental conditions under which the torque might be measured, and conclude that these are achievable with modern instrumentation, and we give an estimate of errors.
The Impact of Local Demand on Innovation in a Global Industry
Authors: Fabrizio Kira R. , Thomas L. G. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractLocalization of knowledge flows has been extensively examined in the literature on innovation. However, almost all previous research has focused on technological knowledge. This study examines why knowledge of demand can also be tacit and localized. We provide a detailed empirical study of the global pharmaceutical industry and find not only that demand is as important as technological knowledge in determining the pattern of innovation in this industry but also that innovation is a locally determined phenomenon. These findings contribute to research regarding determinants of innovations and provide an explanation for geographic patterns of innovation that is distinct from technological knowledge spillovers. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pulsed‐wave tissue Doppler echocardiography for the analysis of fetal cardiac arrhythmias
Authors: Tutschek B. , Schmidt K. G. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractObjectivesRhythm analysis of the fetal heart is hampered by the inability to routinely obtain electrocardiographic recordings of the fetus. Doppler studies of fetal cardiac tissue movements, assessing cardiac movements both qualitatively and quantitatively, have recently been described. We used a conventional high‐resolution ultrasound system to obtain rhythm data from pulsed‐wave tissue Doppler signals of the fetal heart in normal cardiac rhythm and in a variety of fetal cardiac arrhythmias.MethodsFifty‐five fetuses with normal (sinus) rhythm, 45 fetuses with rhythm disturbances and two neonates (one with arrhythmia and one with normal sinus rhythm) were studied. Using a conventional high‐resolution ultrasound system equipped for fetal studies, but without specific tissue Doppler hardware or software, we performed pulsed‐wave tissue Doppler echocardiography (PW‐TDE) of atrioventricular valve ring excursions to study the atrial and ventricular mechanical actions. In the neonates, electrocardiograms were also recorded.ResultsPW‐TDE in normal fetuses shows a typical pattern of tissue motion parallel to the long axis of the heart and in the opposite direction to the blood flow, both in systole and diastole. This pattern is easily obtained from the tricuspid valve annulus in normal sinus rhythm and shows characteristic changes in various fetal arrhythmias.ConclusionPW‐TDE of atrioventricular valve annulus movement patterns may prove to be a valuable additional tool for assessing fetal cardiac arrhythmias. Copyright © 2011 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Standardisierte Charakterisierung optischer Komponenten
Authors: Ristau Detlev 
Published: June 2011

AbstractZielsetzung des vorliegenden Beitrages ist es, einen Überblick zu den einschlägigen Messverfahren für die Bestimmung von Qualitätsparametern optischer Schichten und Laserkomponenten zu vermitteln. Im Vordergrund stehen dabei standardisierte Prüfverfahren für die spektralen Übertragungseigenschaften, für die optischen Verluste durch Streuung und Absorption, sowie die laserinduzierten Zerstörschwellen von Schichtoptiken. Die grundlegenden Prinzipien der Messverfahren werden erläutert und durch ausgewählte Beispiele illustriert. Der Beitrag soll die Messverfahren auf praktischer Ebene vorstellen und auch Hinweise für eine tiefere Einsicht in die Materie geben.
What a Difference Family‐Driven Makes: Stories of Success and Lessons Learned
Authors: Slaton A. Elaine , Cecil Carol W. , Lambert Lisa E. , King Teresa , Pearson Malisa Marie 
Published: June 2011

AbstractCommunity Psychology's emphasis on citizen participation aligns with the nationwide children's mental health family movement and is clearly evident in communities that have made sustainable system changes. The national family movement has long advocated for the meaningful engagement of families and youth who are the focus population of the federal Children's Mental Health Initiative. Little rigorous research about the experience of families in leadership positions or of their impact on systems of care has been done. In the absence of scientifically acquired evidence, this article offers the reader a glimpse into the authority, influence and credibility earned by four family leaders as well as their impact on local system of care communities. Their stories occur in four distinct macro level arenas: governance, evaluation, legislative advocacy, and workforce development. In the end, common attributes emerge from their stories, providing anecdotal information useful to identifying the qualities of successful family leadership and their impact on sustainable macro level changes.
Colours of fruit and vegetables and 10-year incidence of CHD
Authors: Oude Griep Linda M. , Monique Verschuren W. M. , Kromhout Daan , Ocké Marga C. , Geleijnse Johanna M. 
Published: June 2011

The colours of the edible part of fruit and vegetables indicate the presence of specific micronutrients and phytochemicals. The extent to which fruit and vegetable colour groups contribute to CHD protection is unknown. We therefore examined the associations between fruit and vegetables of different colours and their subgroups and 10-year CHD incidence. We used data from a prospective population-based cohort including 20 069 men and women aged 20–65 years who were enrolled between 1993 and 1997. Participants were free of CVD at baseline and completed a validated 178-item FFQ. Hazard ratios (HR) for the association between green, orange/yellow, red/purple, white fruit and vegetables and their subgroups with CHD were calculated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. During 10 years of follow-up, 245 incident cases of CHD were documented. For each 25 g/d increase in the intake of the sum of all four colours of fruit and vegetables, a borderline significant association with incident CHD was found (HR 0·98; 95 % CI 0·97, 1·01). No clear associations were found for the colour groups separately. However, each 25 g/d increase in the intake of deep orange fruit and vegetables was inversely associated with CHD (HR 0·74; 95 % CI 0·55, 1·00). Carrots, their largest contributor (60 %), were associated with a 32 % lower risk of CHD (HR 0·68; 95 % CI 0·48, 0·98). In conclusion, though no clear associations were found for the four colour groups with CHD, a higher intake of deep orange fruit and vegetables and especially carrots may protect against CHD.
Vitamin A deficiency in patients with hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease
Authors: Peres W. A. F. , Chaves G. V. , Gonçalves J. C. S. , Ramalho A. , Coelho H. S. M. 
Published: June 2011

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with oxidative stress and vitamin A possesses antioxidant activity. The objective of the present study was to investigate vitamin A nutritional status in chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), according to biochemical, functional and dietetic indicators correlating these findings with liver function, liver damage and death. Vitamin A nutritional status was analysed by serum retinol levels, dietetic indicators and functional indicators. A total of 140 patients with HCV-related liver disease were enrolled. Vitamin A deficiency was detected in 54·3 % of all patients, and there was a progressive drop in serum retinol levels from chronic hepatitis C patients towards cirrhosis and HCC patients. Increased total bilirubin, liver transaminases and prothrombin time, presence of hepatic encephalopathy and ascites were related to reduced serum retinol levels, and values ≤ 0·78 μmol/l of serum retinol were associated with liver-related death. A high prevalence of inadequate intake of vitamin A was observed in all stages of chronic liver disease. The functional indicator was not an adequate parameter for evaluating the vitamin A nutritional status. Therefore, serum retinol concentration is related to severity of the disease, liver complications and mortality. The effectiveness of nutritional counselling and measures of intervention in this group in improving vitamin A nutritional status should be examined further in a controlled study.
Manager Characteristics and Capital Structure: Theory and Evidence
Authors: Bhagat Sanjai , Bolton Brian , Subramanian Ajay 
Published: June 2011

AbstractWe investigate the effects of manager characteristics on capital structure in a structural model. We implement the manager’s optimal contracts through financial securities that lead to a dynamic capital structure, which reflects the effects of taxes, bankruptcy costs, and manager-shareholder agency conflicts. Long-term debt declines with the manager’s ability, inside equity stake, and the firm’s long-term risk, but increases with its short-term risk. Short-term debt declines with the manager’s ability, increases with her equity ownership, and declines with short-term risk. We show support for these implications in our empirical analysis.
Gerontological autism: terms of accountability in the cultural study of the category of the Fourth Age
Authors: HAZAN HAIM 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTThis paper poses an epistemological challenge to students and researchers of old age. It argues that people in deep old age are a testimony to the failure to generate a language by which to comprehend extra-cultural phenomena, which aborts a meaningful dialogue between researchers and subjects. The arguments put forward are based on an analysis of the unique position of the very old as an ultimate, unconstructable ‘other’, as they appear in the relevant anthropological discourse, and maintains that cultural standing of that category is anchored in a symbolic and existential space that prevents communication with its inhabitants. The social processes that lead to this state of absent translation and a deadlock of interpretation are analysed by using examples a longitudinal study of the oldest old conducted by the Herczeg Institute on Aging in Israel. An alternative option for a new conceptual articulation of ways of understanding ageing is proposed; one that is free of conventional but ineffectual paradigms.
Discriminant functions for isotropic configurations in robot manipulators
Authors: Duleba Ignacy 
Published: June 2011

SUMMARYIn this paper, a family of discriminant functions is defined for searching isotropic configurations in robot manipulators. A subfamily of the functions extensively exploits properties of symmetric polynomials derived from a manipulability matrix. The complexity analysis of computing the discriminant functions is provided. Possible applications of the functions are mentioned and illustrated.
Self-reported outcome measures in the health of older people: from research to standard clinical practice
Authors: El Miedany Yasser , Toth Mathias 
Published: June 2011

SummaryAgeing is creating policy challenges for most developed countries and increasing the pressure on health and social care systems. The health status of patients is best described based on their own reports and quantitative data concerning factors such as functional disability, psychological status, pain, falls or cardiovascular risk, are critical to follow changes in patients’ condition and response to therapy. Standardized information concerning health status and co-morbidity risks can be collected easily and effectively from a ‘patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) questionnaire’ completed by the patient. Such data allow accurate description, months or years later, of changes in status. Without such records, neither the patient nor the health professional can remember the patient's earlier status reliably. This article will discuss the concept of PROMs and how they can be implemented into standard clinical practice.
Aortic mineralisation in children with congenital cardiac disease
Authors: Baños-González Manuel A. , Calderón-Colmenero Juan , Aranda-Fraustro Alberto , Peña-Duque Marco A. , Martínez-Ríos Marco A. , Valente-Acosta Benjamín , Linares-López Carlos , Delgado-Granados Hugo , de la Peña-Díaz Aurora 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBackgroundCongenital cardiac diseases are the most frequent congenital malformations. In adult patients, the mineralisation of the aorta due to cardiovascular disease is very common, but vascular mineralisation in paediatric cardiopathies is a topic less studied. This study shows that children with a complex congenital cardiopathy show a high degree of vascular mineralisation in the ascending aorta. This can be part of the cardiac failure pathophysiology due to congenital cardiopathies.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the presence and degree of vascular mineralisation in samples of the ascending and descending aorta of children with complex congenital cardiopathies.DesignWe conducted a cross-sectional study.SubjectsWe obtained 34 vascular tissues from the autopsies of 17 children with congenital cardiac disease.MethodsWe used a scanning electron microscope with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy in order to analyse the vascular tissues.ResultsThe amount of minerals was two times higher in the ascending aorta than in the descending aorta of children with congenital cardiac disease.ConclusionsThe study provides evidence that vascular mineralisation can start at an early age, and that it is higher in the ascending aorta than in the descending aorta.
Region-1 field aligned currents in experiments on laser-produced plasma interacting with magnetic dipole
Authors: Shaikhislamov I. F. , Zakharov Yu. P. , Posukh V. G. , Boyarintsev E. L. , Melekhov A. V. , Antonov V. M. , Ponomarenko A. G. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractIn previous experiments by the authors a generation of intense field aligned current (FAC) system on Terrella poles was observed. In the present report a question of these currents origin in a low latitude boundary layer of magnetosphere is investigated. Experimental evidence of such a link was obtained by measurements of magnetic field generated by tangential sheared drag. Results suggest that compressional and Alfven waves are responsible for FAC generation. The study is most relevant to FAC generation in the Earth and Hermean magnetospheres following pressure jumps in Solar Wind.