bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cocrystallization of ethylene/1‐octene copolymer blends during crystallization analysis fractionation and crystallization elution fractionation
Authors: Suriya Kanokpon , Anantawaraskul Siripon , Soares João B. P. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBlending of ethylene/1‐octene copolymers can be used to achieve a well‐controlled broad chemical composition distribution (CCD) required in several polyolefin applications. The CCD of copolymer blends can be estimated using crystallization analysis fractionation (CRYSTAF) or crystallization elution fractionation (CEF). Unfortunately, both techniques may be affected by the cocrystallization of chains with different compositions, leading to profiles that do not truly reflect the actual CCD of the polymer. Therefore, understanding how the polymer microstructure and the analytical conditions influence copolymer cocrystallization is critical for the proper interpretation of CRYSTAF and CEF curves. In this investigation, we studied the effect of chain crystallizabilities, blend compositions, and cooling rates on cocrystallization during CEF and CRYSTAF analysis. Cocrystallization is more prevalent when the copolymer blend has components with similar crystallizabilities, one of the components is present in much higher amount, and fast cooling rates are used. CEF was found to provide better CCD estimates than CRYSTAF in a much shorter analysis time. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011
Construal level, rumination, and psychological distress in palliative care
Authors: Galfin John M. , Watkins Edward R. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBackgroundPatients with a life‐limiting illness, such as cancer, and their carers experience elevated psychological distress. However, the psychological mechanisms underpinning distress in palliative care have been little studied. Recent theories predict that individuals who experience increased uncertainty in the context of ongoing difficulties, such as palliative patients and their carers, will (a) think more abstractly; (b) ruminate more; and (c) be more distressed.MethodsPalliative patients (n = 36, 90% with cancer), their carers (n = 29), and age‐matched controls (n = 30) completed standardized questionnaires to assess anxiety, depression, and rumination, and open‐ended interviews to identify their concerns and idiosyncratic levels of rumination. Concerns were analyzed linguistically for level of abstraction.ResultsAs predicted, (i) palliative patients and carers reported significantly more uncertainty, rumination, and abstract thinking than controls; (ii) uncertainty, abstractness, and rumination were associated with psychological distress.ConclusionsAbstraction and rumination are psychological mechanism potentially involved in increased psychological distress in palliative care.Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Conformational changes induced by ATP‐hydrolysis in an ABC transporter: A molecular dynamics study of the Sav1866 exporter
Authors: Oliveira A. Sofia , Baptista António M. , Soares Cláudio M. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractATP‐Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters are ubiquitous membrane proteins that use energy from ATP binding or/and hydrolysis to actively transport allocrites across membranes. In this study, we identify ATP‐hydrolysis induced conformational changes in a complete ABC exporter (Sav1866) from Staphylococcus aureaus, using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. By performing MD simulations on the ATP and ADP+IP bound states, we identify the conformational consequences of hydrolysis, showing that the major rearrangements are not restricted to the NBDs, but extend to the transmembrane domains (TMDs) external regions. For the first time, to our knowledge, we see, within the context of a complete transporter, NBD dimer opening in the ADP+IP state in contrast with all ATP‐bound states. This opening results from the dissociation of the ABC signature motif from the nucleotide. In addition, in both states, we observe the opening of a gate entrance in the intracellular loop region leading to the exposure of the TMDs internal cavity to the cytoplasm. To see if this opening was large enough to allow allocrite transport, the adiabatic energy profile for doxorubicin passage was determined. For both states, this profile, although an approximation, is overall downhill from the cytoplasmatic to the extracellular side, and the local energy barriers along the TMDs are relatively small, evidencing the exporter nature of Sav1866. The major difference between states is an energy barrier located in the cytoplasmic gate region, which becomes reduced upon hydrolysis, suggesting that allocrite passage is facilitated, and evidencing a possible molecular mechanism for the active transport in these proteins. Proteins 2011; © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Optimizing the wavelength response in one‐dimensional p‐Si Schottky barrier optical PSDs
Authors: Henry Jasmine , Livingstone John 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThis paper reports on the varying wavelength response of optical position detectors made of different Schottky barrier metals, titanium, tantalum and aluminium. The best sensitivities came from the titanium devices, followed by the tantalum devices and finally the aluminium devices. The most linear devices were fabricated from tantalum followed by aluminium and the worst from titanium. The devices responded well under low intensity LED illumination indicating that common and cheap light sources are suitable for producing strong linear responses in these PSDs. Long wavelength illumination usually produced the highest sensitivities, though this depended on the Schottky metal used. Titanium devices averaged an increase of 250% between the responses for short (480 nm) and long wavelength (873 nm) light. The corresponding increase for tantalum devices was 125% while it was 116% for aluminium devices.
Hole distribution in nitrogen‐doped TiO2 anatase nanoparticles
Authors: Li Hui , Lei Yinkai , Tu Rui , Zheng Yongping , Pan Chunxu , Xiao Wei 
Published: March 2011

AbstractHole distributions introduced by a N doping atom in N‐doped TiO2 anatase nanoparticles are studied with first principles calculations. A nitrogen atom substitutes an oxygen atom in a TiO2 nanoparticle and introduces a hole in the particle. The empty state may be on the top of the valence band or inside the band gap as an impurity band. If the empty state is on the top of the valence band, the hole mainly distributes on the nitrogen atom and the two dangling atoms. The empty states on the dangling oxygen atoms introduced by the nitrogen doping atom can activate the dangling oxygen atoms and increase their oxidation ability. For example, the dangling oxygen atoms may oxidize absorbed small toxic molecules. The summation of the empty states on the nitrogen atom and the two dangling oxygen atoms is close to a constant and which is about one half of the total empty state of the particle for most of the substitutional configurations. Nitrogen atom can also generate an impurity band inside the band gap. This impurity band can make the N‐doped anatase particle absorb the visible lights. Eventually, the photo‐catalytic properties of anatase particles may be changed by the N‐doping processes. Most of the dopant formation energies in the particles are lower than that in the bulk. So, nitrogen doping process maybe easier in the small particle sample than in the bulk materials.
Effect of crystallisation on the magnetic properties of FeCuNbBSi amorphous thin films produced by sputtering
Authors: Celegato Federica , Coisson Marco , Tiberto Paola , Vinai Franco , Baricco Marcello 
Published: March 2011

AbstractSoft magnetic thin films of FeCuNbSiB alloy having different thickness were deposited on a Si3N4 substrate by rf sputtering. The target was made of amorphous ribbons having nominal composition Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9. The amorphicity of as‐deposited films has been checked by X‐ray diffraction technique. Selected samples have been submitted to controlled annealing to induce the amorphous‐to‐crystalline transformation. The influence of thermal treatments on the hysteresis properties has been studied as a function of thickness and microstructure on as prepared and annealed samples. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Adiabatic nucleation in devitrifying “fragile” oxide glasses
Authors: Meyer Erich , Soares Vitorvani 
Published: March 2011

AbstractA simple adiabatic nucleation theory predicts nucleation rates in “fragile” oxide glasses (T00/Tg > 0.6, where T00 is the Fulcher temperature and Tg is the glass transition temperature) with an average deviation of only nine orders of magnitude (too high) and shows (within this uncertainty) correctly which glasses present devitrification and which ones do not, in experiments during “laboratory times.” The theory could not yet be extended to “strong” glasses because of the very low Fulcher temperatures of these glasses (T00/Tg < 0.6), where the Stokes‐Einstein relation loses its validity completely and where viscosity extrapolations from above Tg get very uncertain. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Strong Influence of Polymer Architecture on the Microstructural Evolution of Hafnium‐Alkoxide‐Modified Silazanes upon Ceramization
Authors: Papendorf Benjamin , Nonnenmacher Katharina , Ionescu Emanuel , Kleebe Hans‐Joachim , Riedel Ralf 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe present study focuses on the synthesis and ceramization of novel hafnium‐alkoxide‐modified silazanes as well as on their microstructure evolution at high temperatures. The synthesis of hafnia‐modified polymer‐derived SiCN ceramic nanocomposites is performed via chemical modification of a polysilazane and of a cyclotrisilazane, followed by cross‐linking and pyrolysis in argon atmosphere. Spectroscopic investigation (i.e., NMR, FTIR, and Raman) shows that the hafnium alkoxide reacts with the N–H groups of the cyclotrisilazane; in the case of polysilazane, reactions of N–H as well as Si–H groups with the alkoxide are observed. Consequently, scanning and transmission electron microscopy studies reveal that the ceramic nanocomposites obtained from cyclotrisilazane and polysilazane exhibited markedly different microstructures, which is a result of the different reaction pathways of the hafnium alkoxide with cyclotrisilazane and with polysilazane. Furthermore, the two prepared ceramic nanocomposites are unexpectedly found to exhibit extremely different high‐temperature behavior with respect to decomposition and crystallization; this essential difference is found to be related to the different distribution of hafnium throughout the ceramic network in the two samples. Thus, the homogeneous distribution of hafnium observed in the polysilazane‐derived ceramic leads to an enhanced thermal stability with respect to decomposition, whereas the local enrichment of hafnium within the matrix of the cyclotrisilazane‐based sample induces a pronounced decomposition upon annealing at high temperatures. The results indicate that the chemistry and architecture of the precursor has a crucial effect on the microstructure of the resulting ceramic material and consequently on its high‐temperature behavior.
I‐Motif Nanospheres: Unusual Self‐Assembly of Long Cytosine Strands
Authors: Zikich Dragoslav , Liu Ke , Sagiv Lior , Porath Danny , Kotlyar Alexander 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe synthesis and characterization of novel DNA structures based on tetraplex cytosine (C) arrangements, known as i‐motifs or i‐tetraplexes, is reported. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigation shows that long C‐strands in mild acidic conditions form compact spherically shaped nanostructures. The DNA nanospheres are characterized by a typical uniform shape and narrow height distribution. Electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) measurements performed on the i‐motif spheres clearly show their electrical polarizability. Further investigations by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at ultrahigh vacuum reveals that the structures exhibit an average voltage gap of 1.9 eV, which is narrower than the voltage gap previously measured for poly(dG)–poly(dC) molecules in similar conditions.
Survival After Liver Transplantation Using Hepatitis C Virus‐Positive Donor Allografts: Case‐Controlled Analysis of the UNOS Database
Authors: Burr Andrew T. , Li YouFu , Tseng Jennifer F. , Saidi Reza F. , Bozorgzadeh Adel , Shah Shimul A. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBackgroundNumerous reports have documented reduced graft and patient survival after use of hepatitis C (HCV) seropositive allografts in liver transplantation (OLT). We aimed to examine if the use of a HCV+ liver allograft affects patient and graft survivals compared to HCV− donor allografts in a case‐controlled analysis of the united network for organ sharing (UNOS) database.MethodsWe examined 63,149 liver transplants (61,905 donors HCV−; 1,244 donors HCV+) from the UNOS standard transplant analysis and research (STAR) file from 1987 to 2007. Donor and recipient demographics and outcomes were collected in which donor HCV serology was complete. A case‐controlled cohort from 11 donor and recipient variables comparing donor HCV− and HCV+ allografts (n = 540 in each group) was created using propensity scores with a matching algorithm. Graft and patient survival was estimated using Kaplan–Meier survival curves.ResultsSignificant differences were evident in the unadjusted cohort between recipients who received HCV+ and HCV− allografts, including HCV+ recipients, donor and recipient age, and model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) exception cases. Use of HCV+ allograft resulted in significantly lower graft survival (8.1 vs. 10.6 years; P = 0.001) and patient survival (10.2 vs. 12.3 years; P = 0.01) after OLT. In the matched cohort, HCV seropositivity had no detrimental effect on the graft (P = 0.57) or patient (P = 0.78) survival after OLT.ConclusionsThis is the first population‐based analysis to show that after adjusting for donor and recipient characteristics there was no difference in graft or patient survival with the use of HCV+ donor liver allografts compared to HCV− donor liver allografts.
Dynamic tuning of human withdrawal reflex receptive fields during cognitive attention and distraction tasks
Authors: Bjerre L. , Andersen A.T. , Hagelskjær M.T. , Ge N. , Mørch C.D. , Andersenl O.K. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractObjectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate supraspinal modulation of human lower limb reflex receptive fields (RRFs) on the plantar side of the foot during cognitive tasks either distracting the subjects or actively directing their attention to the electrical stimuli directed to the sole of the foot.Methods: Twelve healthy volunteers participated. Nociceptive withdrawal reflexes (NWRs) were recorded in the ankle flexor tibialis anterior. The RRF was acquired by randomized activation of ten stimulation sites on the sole of the foot. The RRF was assessed during baseline, distraction, and attention in randomized order. Distraction was induced by the Stroop test, while attention was induced by requiring the subjects to localize the site of the stimulation and thereby forcing them to focus on the sole of the foot.Results: The area of the RRF was significantly enlarged during the distraction task compared to baseline (P <0.05), whereas the RRF area was significantly reduced during the attention task compared to baseline (P <0.05).Conclusion: The size of the RRF area was modulated by the cognitive state demonstrating a link between the cognitive activity and the descending control on spinal withdrawal reflex pathways.
Focus as emphasis: Conceptual and performance implications for hospitals
Authors: McDermott Christopher M. , Stock Gregory N. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractFocus in hospitals has been heralded as the next frontier in improving its efficiency and efficacy (Herzlinger, 2004). However, there is scarce empirical work examining its effects in this setting. Focus in hospitals can take several different forms, ranging from standalone specialty centers to a hospital that chooses to emphasize in some operational way a particular specialty while still offering a full range of services. Although standalone facilities can be found in many locations, the vast majority of hospitals must follow the latter route to achieve focus. Current conceptualizations and measures of focus struggle to capture this construct in a way that does not assume a narrowing of range of offerings. In contrast to the traditional view of focus as narrowing, in this paper, we address the perspective of focus as emphasis. We select cardiology as the specialty and use secondary data for more than 264,000 patients in New York State to examine the relationship between focus as emphasis and hospital cost performance. Our results support the notion that such focus is associated with lower costs. Moreover, our results also show that focus in hospitals can be operationalized as a disproportionate emphasis on one line of service, without necessarily narrowing the overall range of services provided.
Effects of water quality and trophic status on helminth infections in the cyprinid fish,Schizothorax nigerHeckel, 1838 from three lakes in the Kashmir Himalayas
Authors: Zargar U.R. , Yousuf A.R. , Chishti M.Z. , Ahmed F. , Bashir H. , Ahmed F. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractWater quality greatly influences the population density of aquatic biota, including parasites. In order to evaluate the relationship between fish parasites and water quality in Kashmir Himalayas, we assessed helminth parasite densities inSchizothorax nigerHeckel, 1838 (an endemic cyprinid fish of Kashmir) from three lakes, namely Anchar, Manasbal and Dal, which reflected the varied stages of eutrophication. The overall prevalence of helminth infections was higher in the hypertrophic Anchar Lake (prevalence = 18.6%) compared to Manasbal Lake, which was the least eutrophied (prevalence = 6.4%). Furthermore, mean prevalence of monoxenous and heteroxenous parasites was higher in lakes containing higher levels of water degradation (Anchar and Dal). The mean number of helminth species per fish host was the highest in the hypertrophic lake (1.3 ± 0.3) in comparison to the least eutrophic lake (0.2 ± 1.5). Variability of calculated infection indices (prevalence, mean intensity and mean abundance) revealed that helminth parasite composition in the fish was affected by the lakes' environmental stress (degraded water quality). Therefore, data on the density of helminth parasites in fish can provide supplementary information on the pollution status of a water body.
Age and growth of the snowy grouper,Epinephelus niveatus, off the Brazilian coast
Authors: Costa Paulo A.S. , Braga Adriana C. , Rubinich Juan P. , Ávila-da-Silva Antônio Olinto , Neto Cassiano M. 
Published: March 2011

The age and growth of the snowy grouper,Epinephelus niveatus, from central and south-eastern Brazil were studied by otolith analysis from a sample of 341 specimens, ranging from 325 to 1216 mm in total length (TL) caught with bottom longlines between 1996 and 1998. Otolith length grew proportionally with the increasing TL of the fish. Marginal increment analysis indicated that a single opaque band forms each year during autumn–winter. The maximum estimated age was 54 years, which significantly extends the previously estimated life-span of 21–29 years for this species. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters for both sexes were estimated as L∞ = 1098.4 mm TL, K = 0.062 year−1and t0 = –2.68. The study revealed differences in mean length-at-age and size at recruitment, as well as in growth parameters between the central and the south-eastern Brazilian coast, which can be attributed mainly to different fishing pressures. The snowy grouper was found at depths of 82–492 m, and showed a positive relationship between age and depth, suggesting differential movements of older fish to deeper waters.
Latent class analysis of co-morbidity in the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey in England 2007: implications for DSM-5 and ICD-11
Authors: Weich S. , McBride O. , Hussey D. , Exeter D. , Brugha T. , McManus S. 
Published: March 2011

BackgroundPsychiatric co-morbidity is complex and ubiquitous. Our aim was to describe the extent, nature and patterning of psychiatric co-morbidity within a representative sample of the adult population of England, using latent class analysis.MethodData were used from the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, a two-phase national household survey undertaken in 2007 comprising 7325 participants aged 16 years and older living in private households in England. The presence of 15 common mental health and behavioural problems was ascertained using standardized clinical and validated self-report measures, including three anxiety disorders, depressive episode, mixed anxiety depressive disorder, psychosis, antisocial and borderline personality disorders, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit disorder, alcohol and drug dependencies, problem gambling and attempted suicide.ResultsA four-class model provided the most parsimonious and informative explanation of the data. Most participants (81.6%) were assigned to a non-symptomatic or ‘Unaffected’ class. The remainder were classified into three qualitatively different symptomatic classes: ‘Co-thymia’ (12.4%), ‘Highly Co-morbid’ (5.0%) and ‘Addictions’ (1.0%). Classes differed in mean numbers of conditions and impairments in social functioning, and these dimensions were correlated.ConclusionsOur findings confirm that mental disorders typically co-occur and are concentrated in a relatively small number of individuals. Conditions associated with the highest levels of disability, mortality and cost – psychosis, suicidality and personality disorders – are often co-morbid with more common conditions. This needs to be recognized when planning services and when considering aetiology.
Does readiness to change predict in‐session motivational language? Correspondence between two conceptualizations of client motivation
Authors: Hallgren Kevin A. , Moyers Theresa B. 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTAims  Client language reflecting motivation for changing substance use (i.e. change talk) has been shown to predict outcomes in motivational interviewing. While previous work has shown that change talk may be elicited by clinician behaviors, little is known about intrapersonal factors that may elicit change talk, including clients' baseline motivation for change. The present study tested whether in‐session change talk differs between clients based on their readiness for change.Design and setting  First‐session audio recordings from Project MATCH, a large multi‐site clinical trial of alcohol treatments.Participants  Project MATCH out‐patients (n = 69) and aftercare patients (n = 48) receiving motivational enhancement therapy (MET).Measurements  Client language from first‐session MET was coded using the Sequential Code for Observing Process Exchanges. Readiness and stages of change were assessed using both categorical and dimensional variables derived from the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment and the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale, administered prior to first treatment sessions.Findings  Stage of change scales followed some of the expected correspondence with change talk, although the associations were generally small in magnitude and inconsistent across measures and treatment arms. Higher overall readiness did not predict more overall change talk, contemplation had mixed associations with preparatory change talk, and preparation/action did not predict commitment language.Conclusions  Motivational language used in initial sessions by people receiving counselling for excessive alcohol consumption does not appear to be associated with readiness to change as construed by the Transtheoretical Model.