bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Shape optimization of shell structures based on NURBS description using automatic differentiation
Authors: Espath L. F. R. , Linn R. V. , Awruch A. M. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe consolidation of the link among four fields in computational mathematics and mechanics is the main objective of this work. Surfaces based on NURBS (non‐uniform rational B‐spline), mathematical optimization, the finite element method (FEM) in structural analysis, and automatic differentiation (AD) are applied in shape optimization of shells. This problem is performed taking into account the fact that material and mechanical characteristics influence both, the structural shape and the thickness variation, in order to obtain the best performance with respect to a specific criterium. Some techniques were implemented to modify the shell geometry conserving the same parameterization without a new finite element mesh generation. The shape modification is carried out using an optimization code based on the data obtained by a finite element analysis and gradients evaluation. In this work the optimization procedure is performed using an SQP (Sequential Quadratic Programming) algorithm, where the variables are the control points in homogeneous coordinates, the knot vectors, and the thickness. The functional value is determined by the FEM and gradients are evaluated using AD. Some examples are analyzed and discussed. As a consequence of the shape optimization, shells with high structural performance and aesthetically beautiful shapes can be obtained. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Knowledge and health beliefs of Jamaican adolescents with sickle cell disease
Authors: Bhatt Komal , Reid Marvin E. , Lewis Norma A. , Asnani Monika R. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBackgroundThe adolescent stage of life is generally perceived to be a challenging period, which may be magnified when a chronic illness such as sickle cell disease (SCD) is present. In this study, we sought to determine the knowledge and health beliefs of Jamaican adolescents with SCD as these factors may impact their self‐management skills.ProcedureAn interviewer‐administered questionnaire was completed by 117 patients (93 SS:24 SC; 48 males:69 females) between the ages of 15 and 19 years at their routine health maintenance visit to the Sickle Cell Unit, UWI. A maximum total score of 17 could be attained for knowledge. The health belief questions were assessed using a 5‐point Likert scale and correlations between knowledge and health beliefs were done. Multiple regression models were created to study the predictors of knowledge and health belief scores. The study was granted ethical approval by UWI/UHWI Ethics Committee.ResultsThe mean knowledge score was 64% (range 88–29%). No differences were found in the mean knowledge scores between genotypes and educational attainment but females appeared to score higher than males (P‐value <0.05). Most adolescents perceived SCD to be a severe illness and thought it is important for people to know their SCD status. However, almost 30% thought their partners would be hard to convince for testing. Higher knowledge scores predicted positive health beliefs in the adolescent.ConclusionsWhereas most adolescents were knowledgeable about how the disease was inherited and tested for, further education especially about disease and pregnancy complications is needed. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011; 57: 1044–1048. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Self‐assembly and secondary structures of linear polypeptides tethered to polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanoparticles through click chemistry
Authors: Lin Yung‐Chih , Kuo Shiao‐Wei 
Published: March 2011

AbstractIn this study, we used click chemistry to synthesize a new macromolecular self‐assembling building blocks, linear polypeptide‐b‐polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) copolymers, from a mono‐azido–functionalized POSS (N3‐POSS) and several alkyne‐poly(γ‐benzyl‐L‐glutamate) (alkyne‐PBLG) systems. The incorporation of the POSS unit at the chain end of the PBLG moiety allowed intramolecular hydrogen bonding to occur between the POSS and PBLG units, thereby enhancing the α‐helical conformation in the solid state, as determined through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction analyses. POSS‐b‐PBLG underwent hierarchical self‐assembly, characterized using small‐angle X‐ray scattering, to form a bilayer‐like nanostructure featuring α‐helical or β‐sheet conformations and POSS aggregates. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the thermal degradation temperature increased significantly after incorporation of the POSS moiety, which presumably formed an inorganic protection layer on the nanocomposite's surface. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Plasma Polymerization of Zinc Acetyl Acetonate for the Development of a Polymer‐based Zinc Release System
Authors: Duque Luis , Förch Renate 
Published: March 2011

AbstractGrowing interest in novel materials for biomedical applications has promoted the investigation of composite materials that involve metal ions or metallic nanoparticles embedded in an organic polymeric matrix. The aim of the current work was the development of metal containing thin organic films, the material characterization and a study of the metal release properties when immersed in aqueous solution. Using a multitude of standard surface analytical tools and sophisticated optical techniques it could be shown that the plasma deposits of zinc acetylacetonate consist of nanometre‐sized ZnO particle inclusions in a highly oxygenated organic matrix. Infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy suggests some retention of the complex structure of the monomer. This is lost upon immersion in water as the zinc is released into the surrounding solution. The amount of zinc in the film and its release was shown to be dependent on the plasma conditions used and the thickness of the film. The ultimate goal of this study is the development of a zinc metal release system showing antimicrobial properties. magnified image
The structural and optical properties of Volmer–Weber‐type ZnO nanorods
Authors: Park Se‐Jeong , He Weizhen , Qiu Jijun , Kim Jin Woo , Lee Ik Jae , Kim Beomkeun , Kim Hyung‐Kook , Hwang Yoon‐Hwae 
Published: March 2011

AbstractVolmer–Weber‐type ZnO nanorods (VW ZnO NRs) were fabricated by using a hybrid method combined with RF sputtering and hydrothermal methods. The structural and optical properties of VW ZnO NRs were investigated by using synchrotron X‐ray diffraction (XRD), micro‐Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that VW ZnO NRs showed wurtzite structure and were vertically standing on a substrate with a compressive stress from the substrate that can be reduced by annealing. In the micro‐Raman study, a forbidden E1(LO) mode in a bulk ZnO was observed in VW ZnO NRs due to the many edges in NR structures. It was also confirmed that VW ZnO NRs have a wurtzite structure by observing E2 low and E2 high peaks. In the PL spectra, VW ZnO NRs showed a broad emission in the visible range, especially yellow emission, with a weak UV emission. The UV emission was monotonously enhanced on increasing the annealing temperature. The yellow emission was enhanced in the annealed sample at 200 °C due to an evaporation of hydroxyl groups (OH−) on the surface of VW ZnO NRs.
Tensor and spatially resolved analysis of microscopic stress fields in polycrystalline alumina by polarized Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Zhu Wenliang , Pezzotti Giuseppe 
Published: March 2011

AbstractA spectroscopic method is shown to resolve the full set of components of the residual stress tensor, as it locally develops on the microstructural scale in polycrystalline alumina. A polarized/confocal Raman probe is employed. As a first step, the local crystallographic orientation of alumina grains is extracted from the angular dependence of the intensities of polarized Raman bands (i.e., upon in‐plane rotation experiments) and expressed in terms of three Euler angles. Then, the stress tensor components for an unknown multiaxial stress state, expressed in their most general form through the Euler transformation matrix, are retrieved from solving the system of linear equations linking them to the observed spectral shifts of different (polarized) Raman bands. In order to clarify the sub‐surface characteristics of the Raman probe and their effect of the assessment of the stress field stored among the alumina grains, both in‐depth (defocusing) and in‐plane (focal shift) analyses were first carried out to quantitatively determine the three‐dimensional response of the Raman probe. Then, a computer‐aided data restoration procedure was applied to the experimental data, which minimized the averaging effect of the laser probe and brought about the actual magnitude of the residual stress components. From the physics viewpoint, the most relevant feature of the newly proposed stress analysis is that stress tensor components could be individually determined without a direct knowledge of the secular equation pertaining the corundum crystal.
Improvement of the multilayer morphology (alumina/Cu/YIG/Cu) to characterize YIG thin film
Authors: Khalil Ismaïl , Siblini Ali , Chatelon Jean Pierre , Blanc‐Mignon Marie Françoise , Rousseau Jean Jacques 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe aim of our study is to characterize yttrium iron garnet (YIG) thin film for its applications in the microwaves and magneto‐optical domains. For this purpose, we have manufactured a microinductor by deposition of YIG film between two copper layers on an alumina substrate. Multilayers have been deposited by radio‐frequency magnetron sputtering technique. Thin films of YIG are amorphous after deposition; a post‐thermal annealing at 740 °C for 2 h is necessary to obtain satisfactory magnetic properties. In this work, we have studied the effects of different parameters concerning the substrate surface state, deposition and post‐thermal treatment of YIG and copper thin films on their structure and morphological properties. We have come against several mechanical and electrical problems: crack formation, detachment of YIG or Cu films from the substrate, deterioration of Cu films, open or short circuits. The roughness of alumina substrate and the annealing mode play an important role on the quality of the microinductor prototype. After several tests by varying different parameters, we have established a protocol permitting to manufacture a prototype of good quality. This prototype is characterized using: profilometry, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometry, and a precision LCR meter.
Ion mobility mass spectrometric investigation of ellagitannins and their non‐covalent aggregates
Authors: Franceschi Pietro , Vrhovsek Urska , Guella Graziano 
Published: March 2011

AbstractMass spectrometry is an established analytical technique in high‐throughput metabolomics, often coupled with ultra‐performance liquid chromatographic separation (UPLC). Since ion formation under ‘soft’ conditions is a complex phenomenon resulting in fragmentation, clustering and adduct formation, the extraction of meaningful information from holistic metabolomic profiling of biological samples requires the understanding of the physicochemical phenomena occurring inside an ionization source. In this paper we investigate the ionization dynamics of two ellagitannins (sanguiin H6 and lambertianin C) by combining state of the art mass spectrometric techniques (MALDI, ESI, APCI), ion mobility (IMS) and NMR. These compounds can be used as prototype of an important class of bio‐active compound present in relevant concentrations in some food matrices. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of soil moisture stress from flowering to grain maturity on functional properties of Sri Lankan rice flour
Authors: Gunaratne Anil , Ratnayaka Upul Kumari , Sirisena Nihal , Ratnayaka Jennet , Kong Xiangli , Arachchi Lal Vidana , Corke Harold 
Published: March 2011

AbstractFunctional properties of flour from rice variety BG 250 (short‐season) and BG 359 (long‐season) exposed to soil water stress from flowering to grain maturity were investigated. Protein content was reduced in both varieties but lipid was reduced only in BG 359 in response to soil moisture stress. AAM content decreased in BG 250 but unaffected in BG 359. Water stress increased swelling power, onset of pasting, peak viscosity, granular breakdown, gel hardness, and cohesiveness in both varieties. Gelatinization temperatures in both varieties were unaffected by water stress, while gelatinization enthalpy was increased in BG 359 but unchanged in BG 250. A double endotherm (type I and type II) appeared in AM–lipid complex in all the flour samples. Type I AM–lipid complex was reduced in BG 359 in response to water stress. Only a single endotherm appeared in the re‐formed AM–lipid complex in gelatinized starch. The magnitude of the ΔH of re‐formed AM–lipid complex was reduced in BG 359 in response to soil moisture stress, but unaffected in BG 250. Water stress decreased AP retrogradation in BG 359 while it was unaffected in BG 250.
Influence of prior acid treatment on physicochemical and structural properties of acetylated sorghum starch
Authors: Singh Harinder , Chang Yung‐Ho , Sodhi Navdeep Singh , Singh Narpinder 
Published: March 2011

AbstractInfluence of prior acid treatment on acetylation of starch isolated from an Indian sorghum cultivar was investigated. The starch was acid thinned (AT) using 0.1, 0.5, and 1 M HCl for 1.5 h and then acetylated (Ac) with acetic anhydride (8% w/w). The acid thinning and subsequent acetylation appeared to reduce the percentage acetylation as indicated by degree of substitution. Ac‐AT starches exhibited significantly different physicochemical, thermal, pasting, and gel textural properties from those of AT and Ac starches. Starches after dual modification showed higher solubility, lower AM content, gelatinization temperatures, retrogradation, peak viscosity, and gel hardness than native starch. Enthalpy and range of gelatinization were observed to be higher in dual modified starches than native starch. However, no significant changes in granule morphology or crystalline pattern of Ac‐AT starches were observed compared with native starch.
Effect of acid–ethanol on the physicochemical properties of Dioscorea opposita Thunb. and Pueraria thomsonii Benth. starches
Authors: Jiang QianQian , Gao Wenyuan , Li Xia , Zhang Junying , Huang Luqi 
Published: March 2011

AbstractDioscorea opposita Thunb. and Pueraria thomsonii Benth. starches were hydrolyzed with 0.36% HCl under ethanol conditions during 1, 3, 5, 8, and 12 h. Structural and physicochemical characteristics studies of C‐type D. opposita Thunb. and P. thomsonii Benth. starches were carried out using SEM, XRD, and FTIR spectroscopy. From the FTIR result, it was determined that the amorphous areas of starch granules were hydrolyzed successfully. The SEM and XRD results revealed that the interior was preferentially hydrolyzed and the degree of crystallinity increased for D. opposita and P. thomsonii starches. However, the two kinds of starches were hydrolyzed in different ways. The starch granules of D. opposita presented bread‐like in shape after acid hydrolysis. While the P. thomsonii Benth. starch granules were degraded for concaves formed on the surface, and several small particles appeared. Water‐binding capacity and AM content were observed to be lower for both starches. The thermal results revealed that the hydrolyzed starches showed the lower ΔHgel than the native starches, which can be related to the preferential destruction of amorphous areas in the granules.
Type of Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy Incision: Parallel or Vertical?
Authors: Ersoz Feyzullah , Arikan Soykan , Sari Serkan , Bektas Hasan , Ozcan Ozhan 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBackgroundThe lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS) technique is considered the optimal surgical treatment for chronic anal fissures (CAFs), although questions remain regarding the best technique. The present study investigated whether the type of anoderm incision (vertical or parallel to the anus) affects wound healing, wound‐related complications, incontinence, and recurrence rates in CAF patients undergoing open LIS.MethodsThis prospective randomized clinical study divided 52 patients undergoing LIS for CAF into two groups. In group 1 (n = 25) the incision was made vertical to the anus; and in group 2 (n = 27) it was made parallel to the anus. Incision sites were not sutured in either group. Wound site complications, wound healing times, perianal itching, incontinence, and recurrence rates were evaluated.ResultsComplications involving bleeding, hematoma, abscess formation, or fistulization were not observed in either group. Complications were observed in 5 patients of group 1 (1 wound infection, 1 ecchymosis, 2 flatus incontinence, 1 recurrence) and in three patients of group 2 (2 wound infections, 1 flatus incontinence). Overall wound complication, incontinence, and recurrence rates were 7.7, 5.8, and 1.9%, respectively. The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of wound complications, incontinence, or recurrence. Itching duration was significantly longer in group 1 (p < 0.0001) Complete wound healing was slower in group 1 than group 2 (19.44 ± 6.82 vs. 10.59 ± 3.48 days, p < 0.0001).ConclusionsWound healing time and perianal itching duration were significantly reduced when anoderm incisions were made parallel to the anus compared to those made vertical to the anus.
Extensive peritoneal calcification and small intestinal perforation in a peritoneal dialysis patient: A case report
Authors: Tu Hsing‐Yang , Hsia Ching‐Chih , Chen Tom , Chen Ran‐Chou 
Published: March 2011

AbstractA 56‐year‐old woman was maintained on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (PD) for 12 years. The patient presented to our hospital with chief complaints of intermittent abdominal pain and frequent loose stool. Plain radiograph of abdomen revealed extensive peritoneal calcification. Computed tomography confirmed the extensive peritoneal calcification and revealed a large right ovarian cyst. Torsion of the right ovarian cyst was suspected. Right oophorectomy was performed. Small intestinal perforation developed 37 days after the operation. The patient expired because of peritonitis and sepsis. Extensive peritoneal calcification is a rare and serious complication after long‐term PD. Intestinal perforation is a rare complication of PD. Pathognomic signs of imaging studies can be important in early diagnosis and treatment.
Absorption and metabolism of olive oil secoiridoids in the small intestine
Authors: Pinto Joana , Paiva-Martins Fátima , Corona Giulia , Debnam Edward S. , Jose Oruna-Concha Maria , Vauzour David , Gordon Michael H. , Spencer Jeremy P. E. 
Published: March 2011

The secoiridoids 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol-elenolic acid (3,4-DHPEA-EA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol-elenolic acid dialdehyde (3,4-DHPEA-EDA) account for approximately 55 % of the phenolic content of olive oil and may be partly responsible for its reported human health benefits. We have investigated the absorption and metabolism of these secoiridoids in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Both 3,4-DHPEA-EDA and 3,4-DHPEA-EA were relatively stable under gastric conditions, only undergoing limited hydrolysis. Both secoiridoids were transferred across a human cellular model of the small intestine (Caco-2 cells). However, no glucuronide conjugation was observed for either secoiridoid during transfer, although some hydroxytyrosol and homovanillic alcohol were formed. As Caco-2 cells are known to express only limited metabolic activity, we also investigated the absorption and metabolism of secoiridoids in isolated, perfused segments of the jejunum and ileum. Here, both secoiridoids underwent extensive metabolism, most notably a two-electron reduction and glucuronidation during the transfer across both the ileum and jejunum. Unlike Caco-2 cells, the intact small-intestinal segments contain NADPH-dependent aldo-keto reductases, which reduce the aldehyde carbonyl group of 3,4-DHPEA-EA and one of the two aldeydic carbonyl groups present on 3,4-DHPEA-EDA. These reduced forms are then glucuronidated and represent the major in vivo small-intestinal metabolites of the secoiridoids. In agreement with the cell studies, perfusion of the jejunum and ileum also yielded hydroxytyrosol and homovanillic alcohol and their respective glucuronides. We suggest that the reduced and glucuronidated forms represent novel physiological metabolites of the secoiridoids that should be pursued in vivo and investigated for their biological activity.
Transcriptional and physiological changes of alfalfa in response to aluminium stress
Authors: CHEN Q. , ZHANG X. D. , WANG S. S. , WANG Q. F. , WANG G. Q. , NIAN H. J. , LI K. Z. , YU Y. X. , CHEN L. M. 
Published: March 2011

SUMMARYMedicago sativais an excellent pasture legume, but it is very sensitive to aluminium (Al) toxicity. To better understand the mechanism ofM. sativasensitivity to Al, a forward suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) cDNA library for an Al-sensitive cultivar,M. sativaL. cv. Yumu No. 1 (YM1), under 5 μmAl stress over a 24 h period was constructed to analyse changes in its gene expression in response to Al stress. Sequence analysis for the SSH cDNA library generated 291 high-quantity expression sequence tags (ESTs). Of these, 229 were known as functional ESTs, 137 of which have already been reported as Al response genes, whereas the other 92 were potentially novel Al-associated genes. The up-regulation of known Al resistance-associated genes encoding the transcription factor sensitive to proton rhizotoxicity 1 (STOP1) and malate transporterMsALMT1(Al-activated malate transporter) as well as genes for antioxidant enzymes was observed. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis validated the reliability of the SSH data and confirmed the up-regulated expression ofSTOP1andMsALMT1under 5 μmAl stress. The analysis of physiological changes indicated that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde levels were elevated rapidly under 5 μmAl stress, suggesting that severe oxidative stress occurred in the YM1 roots. The up-regulation of antioxidant-related genes might be an important protective mechanism for YM1 in response to the oxidative stress induced by 5 μmAl toxicity. Al-induced malate exudation was increased drastically during the early period after Al treatment, which might have been due to the up-regulation and function ofMsALMTandSTOP1. However, malate exudation from the YM1 roots declined quickly during the subsequent period, and a gradual decrease in malate content was simultaneously observed in the YM1 roots. This result is in agreement with the observation that organic acid metabolism-associated enzymes such as phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, citrate synthase and malate dehydrogenase were not present in the SSH library. This might be a major reason for the YM1 sensitivity to Al.