bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biocompatibility and Structural Stability of a Laminin Biopolymer
Authors: Freire Elisabete , Sant'Ana Barroso Madalena Martins , Klier Richard Norman , Coelho‐Sampaio Tatiana 
Published: October 2011

AbstractPolylaminin (polyLM) is a polymerized form of the extracellular matrix protein laminin obtained upon pH acidification. Here microscopy and spectroscopic tools are used to study the cell compatibility and the structural stability of polyLM, aiming at establishing its robustness as a biopolymer for therapeutic use. PolyLM is cell compatible as judged by the efficiency of attachment and neuritogenesis. It is resistant to low temperature. Addition of urea or an increase in hydrostatic pressure leads to polymer disassembly. PolyLM biofilms remain stable for 48 h in contact with cell culture medium. The sedimented polymer recovered after centrifugation and adsorbed on a glass coverslip preserved its original structure and its biological properties.magnified image
Corrosion at the urea injection in SCR‐system during component test
Authors: Nockert J. , Norell M. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe corrosion behaviour of the austenitic stainless steels 304L and 904L was investigated after component testing in diesel exhaust urea environment. Cross‐sectional analyses and depth profiling of corrosion products were performed with Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The samples of both materials displayed high amounts of silicon oxide on their surfaces, though this did not appear to have an active role in the corrosion. The higher alloyed 904L exhibited only small signs of corrosion and the inner oxide below the silicon oxide was chromium rich. Substantial nitrogen uptake was detected, presumably due to the presence of NH3, cyanates and similar species. The lower alloyed 304L showed more severe corrosion. The oxide on the 304L samples mainly consisted of iron oxide apart from the silicon oxide present. The nitrogen uptake was less pronounced and possibly connected to presence of nitride precipitates. The most pronounced corrosion was detected at sites where deposits frequently form and decompose. Those deposits are a probable nitrogen source and may also form compounds enabling the breakdown of the oxide.
Off‐resonance artifacts correction with convolution in k‐space (ORACLE)
Authors: Lin Wei , Huang Feng , Simonotto Enrico , Duensing George R. , Reykowski Arne 
Published: October 2011

AbstractOff‐resonance artifacts hinder the wider applicability of echo‐planar imaging and non‐Cartesian MRI methods such as radial and spiral. In this work, a general and rapid method is proposed for off‐resonance artifacts correction based on data convolution in k‐space. The acquired k‐space is divided into multiple segments based on their acquisition times. Off‐resonance‐induced artifact within each segment is removed by applying a convolution kernel, which is the Fourier transform of an off‐resonance correcting spatial phase modulation term. The field map is determined from the inverse Fourier transform of a basis kernel, which is calibrated from data fitting in k‐space. The technique was demonstrated in phantom and in vivo studies for radial, spiral and echo‐planar imaging datasets. For radial acquisitions, the proposed method allows the self‐calibration of the field map from the imaging data, when an alternating view‐angle ordering scheme is used. An additional advantage for off‐resonance artifacts correction based on data convolution in k‐space is the reusability of convolution kernels to images acquired with the same sequence but different contrasts. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Stress‐enhanced clonal selection algorithm for structural topology optimization
Authors: Wu C. Y. , Ku C. C. 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARYRecently, numerous modified versions of immune algorithms (IAs) have been adopted in both theoretical and practical applications. However, few have been proposed for solving structural topology optimization problems. In addition, the design connectivity handling and one‐node connected hinge prevention, which are vital in the application of population‐based methods with binary representation for structural topology optimization, have not been applied to IAs in the literature. A stress‐enhanced clonal selection algorithm (SECSA) incorporating an IA with a dominance‐based constraint‐handling technique and a new stress‐enhanced hypermutation operator is proposed to rectify those deficiencies. To demonstrate the high viability of the presented method, comparisons between the presented SECSA and genetic algorithm‐based methods were made on minimum compliance and minimum weight benchmark structural topology design problems in two‐dimensional, three‐dimensional, and multiloading cases. In each case, SECSA was shown to be competitive in terms of convergence speed and solution quality. The main goal of this study is not only to further explore the capabilities of IAs, but also to show that an IA with appropriate enhancements can lead to the development of attractive computational tools for global search in structural topology optimization. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A method for creating a class of triangular C1 finite elements
Authors: Papanicolopulos S.‐A. , Zervos A. 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARYFinite elements providing a C1 continuous interpolation are useful in the numerical solution of problems where the underlying partial differential equation is of fourth order, such as beam and plate bending and deformation of strain‐gradient‐dependent materials. Although a few C1 elements have been presented in the literature, their development has largely been heuristic, rather than the result of a rational design to a predetermined set of desirable element properties. Therefore, a general procedure for developing C1 elements with particular desired properties is still lacking.This paper presents a methodology by which C1 elements, such as the TUBA 3 element proposed by Argyris et al., can be constructed. In this method (which, to the best of our knowledge, is the first one of its kind), a class of finite elements is first constructed by requiring a polynomial interpolation and prescribing the geometry, the location of the nodes and the possible types of nodal DOFs. A set of necessary conditions is then imposed to obtain appropriate interpolations. Generic procedures are presented, which determine whether a given potential member of the element class meets the necessary conditions. The behaviour of the resulting elements is checked numerically using a benchmark problem in strain‐gradient elasticity. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Case of the Execution of Swedish Soldiers at the Market Square in Cracow (17th c.)
Authors: Kępa M. , Szostek K. , Wrębiak A. , Gląb H. , Buśko C. , Glowa W. , Dryja S. 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTCreating a more complete image of our past requires cooperation among many branches of science. A joint effort by archaeologists, anthropologists and historians allowed us to establish the origin and cause of death of four individuals found in a layer dating to the early modern period ina medieval burial ground in the Market Square in Cracow. In the course of interdisciplinary analyses, it was found that the skeletons were the remains of four males aged between 30 and 50, who probably were soldiers of a Swedish garrison occupying Cracow in the mid‐17th century. The finding was confirmed by archaeological evidence parts of protective codpieces (Lat.suspensus) and burial stratigraphy typical of this period) and specific changes in the skeletons attributable to warfare. At the same time, characteristic traumatic lesions of the cervical vertebrae and traces of binding of the upper and lower limbs indicate that the soldiers had been condemned to death by beheading. Historical sources confirm that Swedish soldiers were executed in Cracow's Market Square in 1657. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Roman Skeleton with Possible Treponematosis in the North‐East of the Iberian Peninsula: A Morphological and Radiological Study
Authors: Rissech Carme , Roberts Charlotte , Tomás‐Batlle Xavier , Tomás‐Gimeno Xavier , Fuller Benjamin , Fernandez Pedro Luis , Botella Miguel 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTThe main goal of this paper is to describe and discuss pathological lesions observed in a Roman skeleton (between 2nd and 3rd century AD) from the north‐east region of the Iberian Peninsula (St Nicasi 18–24 site. Gavà, Barcelona), which may be compatible with treponematosis. Most of the skeleton, with the exception of the neurocranium, was recovered. Only the left tibia was affected, whereas the rest of the recovered skeletal remains were unaffected. Macroscopic examination revealed a male individual between 25 and 30 years of age at death with a sabre‐shaped left tibia. The proximal half of the diaphysis was pitted and the bone overall enlarged. The surface of the tibia showed occasional vascular impressions where, in some instances, small raised plaques of new bone appeared to bridge over them, specifically in the most affected area of the proximal half of the tibia. No destructive lesions were observed. Radiographic examination and gross inspection at the cross section of the tibia showed encroachment into the medullary cavity of coarse cancellous bone and cancellization of the cortex. The observed lesions indicate that the tibia was affected by a chronic infectious disease. Differential diagnoses were considered, and these included other infectious diseases, fibrous dysplasia, Paget's disease, chronic varicose ulcers affecting bone and trauma, with the conclusion that the disease affecting the tibia could have been treponematosis.This could be significant in the history of the treponematoses being one of the oldest examples of treponematosis in pre‐Columbian Europe. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of ultrastable eu‐complex/polystyrene composite luminescent nanoparticles using a solvent swelling method
Authors: Li Zhanjun , Zhang Hongwu , Shen Jiangshan 
Published: October 2011

AbstractNanoparticles composed of Eu‐complex, Eu(TTA)3Phen, and polystyrene (PS) were successfully synthesized through an improved solvent swelling method. The unstable Eu(TTA)3Phen could be protected by the hydrophobic shell of PS nanoparticles. This method is very appropriate to embed unstable luminescent molecules into polymer nanoparticles. The as‐synthesized luminescent PS nanoparticles have been turned out to be water‐dispersible, strong red luminescent, ultrastable in strong acid and alkali, and luminescence lifetime enhanced. A cell imaging assay was further carried out and strong luminescent signal could be obtained, which showed that the as‐synthesized luminescent Eu‐complex/PS nanoparticles are a good candidate to be used as luminescent nanoparticles in tumor cell detection. This solvent swelling method is simple, easy to scale‐up, and has great potential in the preparation of other luminescent nanoparticles. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
Recent advances in solid‐state organic lasers
Authors: Chénais Sébastien , Forget Sébastien 
Published: October 2011

AbstractOrganic solid‐state lasers are reviewed, with a special emphasis on works published during the last decade. Referring originally to dyes in solid‐state polymeric matrices, organic lasers also include the rich family of organic semiconductors, paced by the rapid development of organic light‐emitting diodes. Organic lasers are broadly tunable coherent sources, potentially compact, convenient and manufactured at low cost. In this review, we describe the basic photophysics of the materials used as gain media in organic lasers with a specific look at the distinctive features of dyes and semiconductors. We also outline the laser architectures used in state‐of‐the‐art organic lasers and the performances of these devices with regard to output power, lifetime and beam quality. A survey of the recent trends in the field is given, highlighting the latest developments in terms of wavelength coverage, wavelength agility, efficiency and compactness, and towards integrated low‐cost sources, with a special focus on the great challenges remaining for achieving direct electrical pumping. Finally, we discuss the very recent demonstration of new kinds of organic lasers based on polaritons or surface plasmons, which open new and very promising routes in the field of organic nanophotonics. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Life prediction for CIGS solar modules part 2: degradation kinetics, accelerated testing, and encapsulant effects
Authors: Coyle Dennis J. , Blaydes Holly A. , Northey Rebecca S. , Pickett James E. , Nagarkar Kaustubh R. , Zhao Ri‐An , Gardner James O. 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTCopper indium gallium di‐selenide (CIGS) solar cells from Global Solar Energy, Inc. and development cells from another manufacturer are laminated in non‐barrier packaging and exposed to a variety of temperature and humidity conditions, and measured degradation rates fit to a kinetic expression. The kinetic constants are then used in a life model that is based on time‐dependent mass and energy balances governing module temperature and the diffusion of water through a module package subjected to weather conditions.Cells with an aluminum‐doped zinc oxide window layer degrade approximately 25× faster than cells having an indium tin oxide window layer, and so require much lower permeability barrier films in a flexible package. The electrically conducting adhesive used to connect bottom and top contact to solder‐coated ribbons can be a major factor in degradation. This difference may only be apparent at lower temperatures, which drastically affects real‐world lifetime. Preliminary Florida and Arizona data confirm this.The key assumption in the model is that the instantaneous rate of degradation is proportional to the relative saturation of the encapsulant with water (0–100%), and not the absolute concentration of water in the encapsulant (10−3–10−2 g/cm3). This leads to the model prediction that it is only the diffusion time constant tc = LESE/WVTR that determines the degradation and life of a packaged cell and that thicker encapsulants with higher water solubility will significantly extend cell life. Experimental data for three different encapsulant materials with and without a moisture barrier film confirm these predictions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of antisocial and psychopathic traits on emotional facial expression recognition in alcohol abusers
Authors: Acharya Rupali , Dolan Mairead 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTAs there are independent reports that alcohol dependence and antisocial personality pathology (particularly psychopathy) are associated with impaired face affect recognition, we examined the relationship between antisocial personality traits and face affect recognition in 23 detoxified inpatient alcohol abusers and 26 healthy controls. All participants were rated on the Antisocial Personality Questionnaire (APQ), and the alcohol abuse sample was rated on the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version. A computerized face affect recognition task was used to assess the six basic emotions. Overall, alcohol abusers were significantly worse than healthy controls at recognizing emotional facial expression, particularly anger and sadness. Recognition of disgust was negatively correlated with psychopathy (particularly the social deviance factor) and with several subscales of the impulsivity/hostility factor on the APQ. Fear recognition was also negatively correlated with a number of APQ subscales within the impulsive/hostility factor. Our findings point to the importance of assessing co‐morbid antisocial personality pathology in studies looking at face affect recognition deficits in substance abusers. The work also suggests that the interpersonal difficulties seen in some alcohol abusers may be related to impairments in emotional information that are primarily due to co‐morbid personality pathology. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Proteomic analysis of the extremely thermoacidophilic archaeon Picrophilus torridus at pH and temperature values close to its growth limit
Authors: Thürmer Andrea , Voigt Birgit , Angelov Angel , Albrecht Dirk , Hecker Michael , Liebl Wolfgang 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe thermoacidophilic archaeon Picrophilus torridus belongs to the Thermoplasmatales order and is the most acidophilic organism known to date, growing under extremely acidic conditions around pH 0 (pHopt 1) and simultaneously at high temperatures up to 65°C. Some genome features that may be responsible for survival under these harsh conditions have been concluded from the analysis of its 1.55 megabase genome sequence. A proteomic map was generated for P. torridus cells grown to the mid‐exponential phase. The soluble fraction of the cells was separated by isoelectric focusing in the pH ranges 4–7 and 3–10, followed by a two dimension (2D) on SDS‐PAGE gels. A total of 717 Coomassie collodial‐stained protein spots from both pH ranges (pH 4–7 and 3–10) were excised and subjected to LC‐MS/MS, leading to the identification of 665 soluble protein spots. Most of the enzymes of the central carbon metabolism were identified on the 2D gels, corroborating biochemically the metabolic pathways predicted from the P. torridus genome sequence. The 2D master gels elaborated in this study represent useful tools for physiological studies of this thermoacidophilic organism. Based on quantitative 2D gel electrophoresis, a proteome study was performed to find pH‐ or temperature‐dependent differences in the proteome composition under changing growth conditions. The proteome expression patterns at two different temperatures (50 and 70°C) and two different pH conditions (pH 0.5 and 1.8) were compared. Several proteins were up‐regulated under most stress stimuli tested, pointing to general roles in coping with stress.
Suffering and distress at the end‐of‐life
Authors: Krikorian Alicia , Limonero Joaquín T. , Maté Jorge 
Published: October 2011

AbstractObjectiveSuffering frequently occurs in the context of chronic and progressive medical illnesses and emerges with great intensity at end‐of‐life. A review of the literature on suffering and distress‐related factors was conducted to illustrate the integrative nature of suffering in this context. We hope it will result in a comprehensive approach, centered in the patient‐family unit, which will alleviate or eliminate unnecessary suffering and provide well‐being, when possible.MethodsAn extensive search of the literature on suffering and distress in end‐of‐life patients was conducted. While the present review is not a systematic one, an in‐depth search using the terms ‘Suffering’, ‘Distress’, End‐of‐Life', ‘Palliative Care’, and ‘Terminal illness’ was conducted using search engines such as PubMed, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, EBSCO‐Host, OVID, and SciELO.ResultsTaking into account the comprehensive and integrative nature of suffering, factors related to the physical, psychological, spiritual, and social human dimensions are described. As well, some treatment considerations in the palliative care context are briefly discussed.ConclusionsSuffering is individual, unique, and inherent to each person. Assessment processes require keeping in mind the complexity, multi‐dimensionality, and subjectivity of symptoms and experiences. Optimal palliative care is based on continuous and multidimensional evaluation and treatment of symptoms and syndromes. It should take place in a clinical context where the psychological, spiritual, and socio‐cultural needs of the patient‐family unit are taken care of simultaneously. A deep knowledge of the nature of suffering and its associated factors is central to alleviate unnecessary suffering. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surface DBD for Deposition of PEO‐Like Plasma Polymers
Authors: Gordeev Ivan , Šimek Milan , Prukner Václav , Choukourov Andrei , Biederman Hynek 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThis work investigates the possibility to prepare PEO‐like plasma polymers by using an AC surface dielectric barrier discharge in argon with admixtures of di(ethylene glycol) monovinyl ether vapors at atmospheric pressure. The surface discharge was driven in an amplitude‐modulated regime with a driving AC frequency of 5 kHz with a variable discharge duty cycle of 0.2–0.8. Deposition of plasma polymers was tested for variable argon flow rate of 0.5–2 slm and for various distances between the discharge electrode surface and deposition substrates. The measurements of electro‐optical discharge characteristics and infrared analysis of deposited films were performed to fix suitable deposition conditions. Best retention of PEO‐like character was obtained for the following conditions: the distance between substrates and discharge surface of 3 mm, argon flow rate of 1 slm, excitation AC high voltage of 2.2 kV (peak‐to‐peak) and discharge duty cycle of 0.4.magnified image
Full‐Thickness Characterization of Plasma Polymerized Hexane Films Irradiated by an Electron Beam
Authors: Pedersen Rasmus H. , Scurr David J. , Roach Paul , Alexander Morgan R. , Gadegaard Nikolaj 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThin plasma polymerized hexane (ppHex) films have been shown to be useful as a novel resist for electron beam lithography. We present time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy analysis of ∼50 nm thick ppHex films deposited at two different RF powers (10 and 50 W) followed by exposure to an electron beam at various doses. As‐deposited, high‐power and low‐power films exhibit differences in chemical composition, explaining an experimentally observed difference in solubility. Exposure of the ppHex films to an electron beam at high doses (>5 mC cm−2) increases the amount of cross‐linking in the ppHex film, rendering them insoluble in a developer, and allowing for the material to be used as a novel resist for electron beam lithography.magnified image
Representing and comparing protein folds and fold families using three‐dimensional shape‐density representations
Authors: Mavridis Lazaros , Ghoorah Anisah W. , Venkatraman Vishwesh , Ritchie David W. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe question of how best to compare and classify the (three‐dimensional) structures of proteins is one of the most important unsolved problems in computational biology. To help tackle this problem, we have developed a novel shape‐density superposition algorithm called 3D‐Blast which represents and superposes the shapes of protein backbone folds using the spherical polar Fourier correlation technique originally developed by us for protein docking. The utility of this approach is compared with several well‐known protein structure alignment algorithms using receiver‐operator‐characteristic plots of queries against the “gold standard” CATH database. Despite being completely independent of protein sequences and using no information about the internal geometry of proteins, our results from searching the CATH database show that 3D‐Blast is highly competitive compared to current state‐of‐the‐art protein structure alignment algorithms. A novel and potentially very useful feature of our approach is that it allows an average or “consensus” fold to be calculated easily for a given group of protein structures. We find that using consensus shapes to represent entire fold families also gives very good database query performance. We propose that using the notion of consensus fold shapes could provide a powerful new way to index existing protein structure databases, and that it offers an objective way to cluster and classify all of the currently known folds in the protein universe. Proteins 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.