bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound‐stimulated peripheral nerve regeneration within asymmetrically porous PLGA/Pluronic F127 nerve guide conduit
Authors: Park Sang Chul , Oh Se Heang , Seo Tae Beom , Namgung Uk , Kim Jin Man , Lee Jin Ho 
Published: June 2010

AbstractRecently, we developed a novel method to fabricate a nerve guide conduit (NGC) with asymmetrical pore structure and hydrophilicity using poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) and Pluronic F127 by a modified immersion precipitation method. From the animal study using a rat model (sciatic nerve defect of rat), we recognized that the unique PLGA/Pluronic F127 tube provided good environments for nerve regeneration. In this study, we applied low‐intensity pulsed ultrasound as a simple and noninvasive stimulus at the PLGA/F127 NGC‐implanted site transcutaneously in rats to investigate the feasibility of ultrasound for the enhanced nerve regeneration through the tube. The nerve regeneration behaviors within the ultrasound‐stimulated PLGA/Pluronic F127 NGCs were compared with the NGCs without the ultrasound treatment as well as normal nerve by histological and immunohistochemical observations. It was observed that the PLGA/Pluronic F127 tube‐implanted group applied with the ultrasound had more rapid nerve regeneration behavior (∼0.71 mm/day) than the tube‐implanted group without the ultrasound treatment (∼0.48 mm/day). The ultrasound‐treated tube group also showed greater neural tissue area as well as larger axon diameter and thicker myelin sheath than the tube group without the ultrasound treatment, indicating better nerve regeneration. The better nerve regeneration behavior in the our NGC/ultrasound system may be caused by the synergistic effect of the asymmetrically porous PLGA/Pluronic F127 tube with unique properties (selective permeability, hydrophilicity, and structural stability, which can provide good environment for nerve regeneration) and physical stimulus (stimulation of the Schwann cells and activation of the neurotrophic factors). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2010.
Study of the production of hydrogen bubbles at low current densities for electroflotation processes
Authors: Jiménez Carlos , Talavera Beatriz , Sáez Cristina , Cañizares Pablo , Rodrigo Manuel A. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBACKGROUND: Flotation processes are widely used in waste‐water treatment and it is quite important to have a tool to determine and optimize the size distribution of the bubbles produced. In this work, the electrochemical production of bubbles to enhance the performance of electrocoagulation processes by flotation is studied. To do this, a current density range characteristic of electrocoagulation processes is used to produce microbubbles (<5 mA cm−2), instead of the higher values used in other studies to characterize electroflotation in non‐combined processes.RESULTS: Current density and pH were found to influence the process significantly. In the range used, higher current densities allow a larger number of small size bubbles to be obtained, appropriate for use in electroflotation processes. However, at the boundaries of the range, the size of the bubbles was increased advising against use. Neutral pH values also favour the formation of small bubbles, and the presence of possible competing reactions have to be considered because they diminish the gas flow and affect the number of bubbles and their size. The roughness of the surface of the electrode material also has an important influence.CONCLUSIONS: The image acquisition and analysis system developed allows measurement of the size distribution of hydrogen bubbles in the range of current densities studied. Current density and pH seem to be the main parameters affecting the mean diameter of bubbles and the amount of gas produced, and the electrode material may also influence hydrogen production significantly. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Electrochemical oxidation of Crystal Violet in the presence of hydrogen peroxide
Authors: Zhang Hui , Wu Jie , Wang Zhongqiong , Zhang Daobin 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBACKGROUND: The combination of electrochemical oxidation using a Ti/RuO2IrO2 anode with hydrogen peroxide has been used for the degradation of Crystal Violet. The effect of major parameters such as initial pH, hydrogen peroxide concentration, current density, electrolyte concentration and hydroxyl radical scavenger on the decolorisation was investigated.RESULTS: The decolorisation rate increased with initial pH and hydrogen peroxide concentration, but decreased with electrolyte and radical scavenger concentration. The decolorisation rate increased with current density, but the increase became insignificant after current density exceeded 47.6 mA cm−2. On the other hand, hydrogen peroxide decomposition rate increased with initial pH and current density, but decreased with electrolyte and radical scavenger concentration. The amount of hydrogen peroxide decomposed during 30 min reaction increased linearly with hydrogen peroxide dosage. The main intermediates were separated and identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) technique and a plausible degradation pathway of Crystal Violet was proposed. At neutral pH, the electrochemical process in the presence of hydrogen peroxide was more efficient than that in the presence of Fenton's reagent (electro‐Fenton process).CONCLUSION: The anodic oxidation process could decolorise Crystal Violet effectively when hydrogen peroxide was present. Almost complete decolorisation was achieved after 30 min reaction under the conditions 2.43 mmol L−1 hydrogen peroxide, 47.6 mA cm−2 current density and pH0 7, while 62% COD removal efficiency was obtained when the reaction time was prolonged to 90 min. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Removal of organic matter in freshwater sediment by microbial fuel cells at various external resistances
Authors: Song Tian‐Shun , Yan Zai‐Sheng , Zhao Zhi‐Wei , Jiang He‐Long 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBACKGROUND: Besides acting as power sources, sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFC) could be explored to remove organic matter in sediments and then maintain the water quality in aquatic environments. Until now, the role of the external resistance in the removal of organic matter by SMFC has received only limited attention. In this work, the removal of organic matters in sediments by lab‐scale SMFCs at five different external resistances from 10 to 1000 Ω was investigated.RESLUTS: The external resistance in SMFCs had a strong influence on the working potentials of anodes. Application of a 100 Ω external resistance corresponded to the lowest internal resistance and highest removal efficiency of organic matter in sediment. The removal efficiency of readily oxidizable organic matter in a layer of sediment with a distance of 0–1 cm to the anode reached 28.3 ± 1.9% at 100 Ω external resistance after 2 months of operation. In addition, there existed a linear relationship between current production from the SMFCs and removal efficiency of organic matter from sediments.CONCLUSIONS: The performance of SMFCs for the removal of organic matter in sediments could be enhanced through the selection of optimal external resistance. The SMFC real‐time removal process could be monitored remotely using current generated. Thus, SMFCs offer an attractive alternative for the environmentally‐friendly removal of organic matter in sediments. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Preparation and application of a molecularly imprinted polymer for the determination of trace metolcarb in food matrices by high performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Qian Kun , Fang Guozhen , He Jinxing , Pan Mingfei , Wang Shuo 
Published: June 2010

AbstractIn this article, for the first time, a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the metolcarb was prepared by bulk polymerization using metolcarb as the template, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross‐linker. The prepared polymer was characterized by FT‐IR, static and kinetic adsorption experiments, and the results showed that it has been successfully synthesized and had good selective ability for metolcarb. The MIP was applied as a sorbent in molecularly imprinted SPE coupled with HPLC‐UV for separation and determination of trace metolcarb in three kinds of food matrices at three concentration levels. Under the optimal conditions, the LODs (S/N=3) of cabbage, cucumber and pear were 7.622, 6.455 and 13.52 μg/kg, respectively, and recoveries were in the range of 68.80–101.31% with RSD (n=3) below 3.78% in all cases. To demonstrate further the selectivity of the MIP obtained, a comparison with commercially available C18 SPE was performed. The results indicated that molecularly imprinted SPE showed better chromatography, better selectivity and higher recoveries for metolcarb than commercially available C18 SPE.
Modeling the separation of small peptides by cation‐exchange chromatography
Authors: Harscoat‐Schiavo Christelle , Raminosoa Fenomanana , Ronat‐Heit Evelyne , Vanderesse Régis , Marc Ivan 
Published: June 2010

AbstractCation‐exchange chromatography was applied for the separation of short synthetic peptide standards, with various charges and hydrophobicities. The methodology to develop simple, reproducible and accurate models, based on physicochemical peptide properties, was described. A multilinear regression method was used for the calculation of the models, and descriptors were chosen according to the observed phenomena. The predictive and interpretative ability of the chromatographic models was evaluated considering cross‐validated data (root mean‐squared error of calibration, root mean‐squared error, root mean‐squared error of cross‐validation and the Fisher ratio). Hydrophobic coefficients for amino acids were calculated with or without consideration of peptide sequences. A simple model, with only two parameters (charge and hydrophobic coefficient) was built. It enabled an accurate prediction of short peptide elution (up to nine residues). As the model was intended for further characterization of complex mixtures of unknown peptides, some mixtures were analyzed to investigate possible interactions between molecules. Peptides eluted in exactly the same pattern as when injected alone, supporting the use of these models for complex mixtures of small peptides.
A short history of muddy floods
Authors: Boardman J. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractThe term ‘muddy flood’ has been used widely in the lowland, arable areas of western and central Europe to describe muddy runoff from arable fields that causes damage to property. There is some evidence that muddy floods are much more frequent in the last two decades than previously. It is clear though that there is very substantial under‐reporting of the phenomena even in areas where they have been recognised for 20 years e.g. UK and France. Reconstructions based on questionnaires, news media and local authority records have had some success in historical analysis of muddy flood frequency but there is still a huge data deficiency. Records from some countries are woefully lacking e.g. Germany, Spain and Italy.Costs of muddy flooding are substantial especially in the loess belt of Belgium. The number of properties flooded in France suggests also that costs are high; similarly in England (UK) where costs for case studies are known but not for the country as a whole.There are two quite different solutions to the problem of muddy flooding. Protection can be provided by engineering devices: retention ponds, dams, trenches. This is an ‘end of pipe’ solution with severe cost implications and risks with regard to the design return period. Alternatively, land use change on relatively small areas of catchments, can be shown to be effective at reducing flood‐risk hazard. A combination of the two has proved most effective at several sites in Europe. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Friction evaluation of lubricated laser‐textured surfaces
Authors: Predescu Adrian , Pascovici Mircea D. , Cicone Traian , Popescu Cristian S. , Grigoriu Constantin , Dragulinescu Dumitru 
Published: June 2010

AbstractDespite a large amount of work dedicated to the study of the effects of textured surfaces in tribological pairs, there is still a need for accurate and convincing experimental results to prove the benefic effects predicted theoretically. This paper presents an original experimental set‐up with a partially textured flat pin sliding on a rotating disc in the presence of a thin lubricating film of constant thickness. The texture was composed of a series of parallel grooves cut on the half of the pin front face. The main objective of the reported work was the experimental assessment of hydrodynamic performances (load capacity and friction force) for parallel, partially textured sliders and the comparison with a similar step slider. Preliminary results have clearly put in evidence the collective hydrodynamic effect of partially textured surfaces. The stepped configuration has shown greater load capacity with respect to textured configuration. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interactions of New Synthesized Fluorescent Cationic Amphiphiles Bearing Pyrene Hydrophobe with Plasmid DNA: Binding Affinities, Aggregation and Intracellular Uptake
Authors: Sheng Ruilong , Luo Ting , Zhu Yingdan , Li Hui , Cao Amin 
Published: June 2010

AbstractIn this work, we prepared a novel series of cationic amphiphiles denoted as the Py‐cations (Py‐Gly, Py‐Ala, Py‐Cap, Py‐G1‐Lys and Py‐G2‐Lys) bearing fluorescent pyrene and various hydrocarbon linkers between the pyrene hydrophobe and cationic block. Employing these new cationic amphiphiles with pyrene as the fluorescent probe, the interactions between these Py‐cations and plasmid DNA (pDNA) in distilled water and 0.1 M PBS buffer solution have been explored by means of UV‐vis and fluorescent spectrometers, and ethidium bromide dye displacement and agarose‐gel retardant assays were also implemented to evaluate their pDNA binding affinities in aqueous solution. Furthermore, the average sizes and morphologies of self‐assembled Py‐cation/pDNA lipoplex aggregates were examined by dynamic laser light scattering (DLS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that these fluorescent cationic amphiphiles showed blue fluorescence emission of pyrene probe at λ = 340 nm in distilled water while their interactions with pDNA led to new strong green emission at λ = 490 nm, and this may be due to the stacking of pyrene and new formation of excimers via the rigid pDNA templated self‐assembly. It was also revealed that the binding between new Py‐cations and pDNA in aqueous solution was strongly influenced by the Py‐cation hydrophobicity, charges of the cation and the presence of electrolytes. With respect to the Py‐cation/pDNA aggregate morphologies, very interesting 1‐D hybrid nanofibers were predominantly observed by AFM for the Py‐Cap/pDNA aggregates. In addition, utilizing a COS‐7 cell‐line, in‐vitro cellular uptakes of new cationic amphiphiles with pyrene probe were studied and visualized by fluorescent microscopy. As a result, this may provide a new approach to investigate the interactions between synthetic cationic lipids and nucleic acids, and pave an alternative clue to design new organic gene delivery carriers.magnified image
The Design of Polymer‐based Nanocarriers for Effective Transdermal Delivery
Authors: Kim Junoh , Shim Jongwon , Kim Yong‐Jin , Char Kookheon , Suh Kyung‐Do , Kim Jin‐Woong 
Published: June 2010

AbstractThis study reports a facile and practical means to non‐invasively deliver biologically active ingredients through the skin using polymer‐based nanocarriers. For this, polymer nanocapsules were fabricated with different surface charges as well as glass transition temperatures and we observed their ability to deliver the encapsulated active ingredient, coenzyme Q10, through the skin layer. Direct imaging of a probe molecule, Nile Red, and a matrix polymer labeled with fluorescence moiety, Lucifer Yellow, allowed us to demonstrate that the probe molecule readily permeates into the deep skin, while the matrix polymer stays in the stratum corneum layer due to electrostatic interactions. Quantitative characterization of the penetrating amount of coenzyme Q10 using the Frantz cell method proved that, to achieve improved delivery efficiency, the nanocapsule should have a low glass transition temperature as well as positive surface charges.magnified image
Structural investigation on phenyl‐ and pyridin‐2‐ylamino(methylene)naphthalen‐2(3H)‐one. Substituent effects on the NMR chemical shifts
Authors: Venkatachalam Taracad K. , Pierens Gregory K. , Campitelli Marc R. , Reutens David C. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractSchiff bases bearing phenyl and pyridyl groups were synthesized by condensation of appropriate amines with 2‐hydroxynaphthaldehyde. These Schiff bases were obtained as colored crystalline solids. The proton NMR spectra of these compounds showed a doublet for the NH protons indicating a keto tautomer for these Schiff bases. The pyridyl‐substituted Schiff bases containing hydroxyl moiety were found to show the most downfield shift for the NH protons in DMSO solvent, and this was rationalized due to the formation of a six‐ and five‐membered ring using hydrogen bonds for these two compounds. Correspondingly, the olefinic proton of the Schiff bases is also found to be a doublet due to coupling to the amine proton. These Schiff bases exhibited thermochromic properties. Detailed NMR spectral analysis for both the phenyl‐ and pyridyl‐substituted Schiff bases is presented. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multi‐time‐step domain coupling method with energy control
Authors: Mahjoubi N. , Krenk S. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractA multi‐time‐step integration method is proposed for solving structural dynamics problems on multiple domains. The method generalizes earlier state‐space integration algorithms by introducing displacement constraints via Lagrange multipliers, representing the time‐integrated constraint forces over the individual time step. It is demonstrated that displacement continuity between the subdomains leads to cancelation of the interface contributions to the energy balance equation, and thus stability and algorithmic damping properties of the original algorithms are retained. The various subdomains can be integrated in time using different time steps and/or different state‐space time integration schemes. The solution of the constrained system equations is obtained using a dual Schur formulation, allowing for maximum independence of the calculation of the subdomains. Stability and accuracy are illustrated by a numerical example using a refined mesh around concentrated forces. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater: Estimating fertility from subadult skeletons
Authors: Robbins Gwen 
Published: June 2010

AbstractRecent research interest has focused on the bioarchaeology of children. Although paleodemography is essential for accurate reconstructions of lifestyle and health in past populations, currently there is no published technique for estimating fertility and life expectancy at birth for skeletal populations in which adults are under‐enumerated. This paper provides a formula to predict Gross Reproductive Rate (GRR) from the proportion of young infants to subadults in a skeletal population. The formula was developed from 98 of Coale and Demeny's Female Model West Life Tables, which represented diverse fertility and mortality rates. The formula's accuracy was examined using independent samples from historical and archaeological cemeteries. Estimates of GRR from the subadult fertility formula were compared with estimates from Bocquet‐Appel and Masset's juvenile:adult ratio. Results indicate that the subadult fertility formula predicts GRR with consistent accuracy (R2 = 0.98) and precision (± 1 offspring) in the model life tables, across diverse subadult age structures and demographic characteristics. The formula is useful for subadult populations with a proportion of perinates:subadults between 0.12 and 0.45. The adult component of the sample is not included in the analysis and thus the formula is similarly useful in cases where adults are under‐enumerated, or not. When applied to historical and archaeological populations, estimates for GRR are similar to previous estimates from the juvenile:adult ratio. Because crude birth rate and life expectancy at birth can be calculated from GRR using established fertility centred approaches to demography, the subadult fertility formula allows skeletal populations of diverse composition to be included in demographic research, essential for understanding of how mortality and fertility are affecting the morbidity profiles of subadult samples and for comparative bioarchaeological analyses. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Zwitterionic sulfobetaine‐modified non‐woven fabric for blood filtration
Authors: Yang Chao , Sun Kang , Liu Jiaxin , Wang Hong , Cao Ye 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBlood filtration requires a high removal ratio of leukocytes and with simultaneous high recovery ratio of platelets and other beneficial components. Problems are often encountered with blood filter materials in terms of high platelet loss. Zwitterions such as phosphorylcholine, sulfobetaine and carboxybetaine show effective resistance against protein adsorption and platelet adhesion. The study reported was aimed at achieving surface modification of poly(butylene terephthalate) non‐woven fabric (PBTNF) using UV radiation‐induced graft copolymerization of a zwitterionic sulfobetaine,N‐(3‐sulfopropyl)‐N‐methacroyloxyethyl‐N,N‐dimethylammonium betaine (SMDB), in order to improve the wettability and platelet recovery ratio of the PBTNF. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy results showed that SMDB was successfully grafted onto the PBTNF. Photoinitiator concentration, monomer concentration and UV irradiation time affected markedly the degree of grafting. Critical wetting surface tension, water wetting time and hemolysis tests showed an improvement in wettability and blood compatibility as a result of graft copolymerization of SMDB. A blood filter material composed of SMDB‐modified PBTNF reduced platelet adhesion and had higher platelet recovery compared to poly(acrylic acid)‐modified PBTNF. It was found that SMDB monomer was successfully grafted onto PBTNF using UV radiation. The degree of grafting of SMDB could be controlled by varying the photoinitiator concentration, monomer concentration and UV irradiation time. SMDB‐modified PBTNF showed significant improvement in wettability and blood compatibility. The zwitterionic structure of SMDB is resistant to platelet adhesion. The SMDB‐modified PBTNF could be a candidate for a blood filter material and in other medical applications. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry