bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adverse effects associated with persistent stimulation of Leydig cells with hCG in vitro
Authors: Aggarwal Archana , Misro Man M. , Maheshwari Ankur , Sehgal Neeta , Nandan Deoki 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe detrimental effects of persistent stimulation with hCG were investigated in rat Leydig cells in vitro. Significant rise in lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) with concomitant attenuation in the activities of antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione‐S‐transferase was observed. Transcripts for catalase and superoxide dismutase were also depleted. Subsequent to each hCG challenge, the total antioxidant capacity in the target cells also declined significantly (P < 0.05). There was an increase in cell apoptosis (23%), which was associated with a rise in caspase‐3 activity, PARP cleavage, and Fas, FasL, caspase‐8 expression. While Bax and Caspase‐9 expression remained unchanged, Bcl‐2 demonstrated a marked decline. Taken together, the above data indicate that persistent hCG stimulation of Leydig cells induced adverse effects leading to oxidative stress and apoptosis which was channeled primarily through the extrinsic pathway. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 76: 1076–1083, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Padé family of iterations for the matrix sector function and the matrix pth root
Authors: Laszkiewicz Beata , Ziȩtak Krystyna 
Published: July 2009

AbstractA family of iterations for the sector function based on the Padé table of a certain hypergeometric function is derived and investigated. This generalizes a result of Kenney and Laub for the sign function and yields a whole family of iterative methods for computing the matrix pth root.It is proved that the iterations for the matrix sector function corresponding to the main diagonal of the Padé table preserve the structure of a group of automorphisms associated with a scalar product.The regions of convergence of the Padé iterations for the matrix sector function are investigated theoretically and experimentally. Certain conjectures formulated on the regions of convergence have been verified in particular cases. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A preliminary study on multiscale ELLAM schemes for transient advection‐diffusion equations
Authors: Cheng Aijie , Wang Kaixin , Wang Hong 
Published: July 2009

AbstractWe study multiscale Eulerian–Lagrangian localized adjoint methods (MsELLAMs) for transient linear advection‐diffusion equations with oscillatory coefficients, which arise in mathematical models for describing flow and transport through heterogeneous porous media, composite material design, and other applications. Several MsELLAM schemes are presented and studied. Numerical experiments are presented to observe the numerical performance of these MsELLAM schemes. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2010
Incisor microwear textures of five bioarcheological groups
Authors: Krueger K. L. , Ungar P. S. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractDental microwear texture analysis has proven to be a valuable tool for inferring aspects of subsistence behaviour in human groups and diet in other mammals. Studies have to date been limited to molar teeth. Here we report on the first microwear texture analysis of incisors. Five bioarcheological groups were included in this analysis: Aleuts from various islands in the Bering Sea (n = 24), Arikara from the Mobridge site in South Dakota (n = 18), ethnic Chinese cannery workers from Kodiak Island (n = 16), a Late Woodland Bluff sample from Jersey County, Illinois (n = 18) and Puye Pueblo from Pajarito Plateau in New Mexico (n = 18). First, point clouds with 0.18 µm lateral spacing and 0.005 µm vertical resolution were obtained from maxillary central incisor labial surfaces using a white‐light confocal profiler. Four adjoining fields were sampled for a total area of 276 µm × 204 µm for each specimen. Surface data were then imported into scale‐sensitive fractal analysis software for texture characterisation. Results indicate significant variation among groups in anisotropy, fill volume and heterogeneity. These differences are likely related to differences in diet, degrees and types of non‐dietary incisor use, as well as exposure to abrasives. This study also suggests that texture variables most useful for characterising and comparing incisor microwear may differ from those most useful for distinguishing molar microwear patterns. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polyamide‐6/high‐density polyethylene blend using recycled high‐density polyethylene as compatibilizer: Morphology, mechanical properties, and thermal stability
Authors: Vallim Márcio R. , Araujo Joyce R. , Spinacé Márcia A. Silva , De Paoli Marco‐A. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBlends of polyamide‐6 (PA6) or postindustry polyamide‐6 (piPA6) and high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) or recycled high‐density polyethylene (rHDPE) were processed in single and twin‐screw extruders. The use of rHDPE in the blends promotes a significant decrease of size domains and improvement in the mechanical properties. The thermal stability was also slightly improved compared with PA6 and HDPE blends. The Molau test exhibited a stable emulsion in formic acid, which can be attributed to the formation of an interfacial copolymer involving polar amino end groups of PA6 and the rHDPE, respectively. These results indicate that recycled polymers can be used in the production of polymer blends with improved properties. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Low‐loss planar optical waveguides fabricated from polycarbonate
Authors: Chen Jian‐guo , Zhang Tong , Zhu Jin‐song , Zhang Xiao‐yang , Zhou Jing‐lun , Fan Jiang‐feng , Hu Guo‐hua 
Published: July 2009

AbstractLow‐loss slab waveguides with air as overcladding based on a high glass transition temperature (Tg) polycarbonate were fabricated through spin‐coating. Optical absorption and thermo‐optic coefficient were investigated by spectrum analysis and prism coupler, respectively. Prism‐coupling and charge‐coupled device (CCD) camera imaging method were exploited together to evaluate the overall propagation loss of slab waveguides. The measured results of prism coupler were 0.282 dB/cm at 1310 nm and 0.197 dB/cm at 632.8 nm, whereas 0.07 dB/cm at 632.8 nm using CCD camera imaging method. Based on the same material, straight ridge waveguides and multimode interference couplers were fabricated through photolithograph and reactive ion etching, revealing smooth sides and excellent definition. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Synthesis and characterization of LiBOB‐based PVdF/PVC‐TiO2 composite polymer electrolytes
Authors: Aravindan Vanchiappan , Vickraman Palanisamy 
Published: July 2009

AbstractSynthesis and characterization of composite polymer electrolytes based on lithium bis(oxalato)borate (LiBOB) and a host matrix of nanoparticulate anatase dispersed in phase‐separated poly(vinylidenefluoride) (PVdF)‐poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) are described. Ethylene carbonate (EC) and diethyl carbonate (DEC) were used as plasticizers in the membranes, and nanoparticulate TiO2 (anatase) was used as the filler. The membranes were characterized by SEM, XRD, and a.c. impedance measurements. A membrane with 2.5 wt% filler exhibited a conductivity of 5.43 × 10−4 S.cm−1 at ambient temperature. Filler levels above 2.5 wt% increased the crystallinity of the membranes, rendering them less conducting. Activation energy and coherent length of the composite polymer electrolytes have also been calculated. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Heterocyclic polyimides containing siloxane groups in the main chain
Authors: Damaceanu Mariana‐Dana , Bacosca Irina , Bruma Maria , Robison Jenifer , Rusanov Alexander 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND: Among the polymers widely studied for applications in advanced techniques, aromatic polyimides have received considerable attention due to their outstanding thermal stability associated with good electrical and mechanical properties. However, these polymers are usually difficult to process, being insoluble and without a glass transition. To improve the processing characteristics of polyimides, modification of their structure is often achieved by the introduction of flexible linkages in the macromolecular chain or various substituents on the aromatic rings.RESULTS: A series of polyimides and intermediate polyamidic acids were synthesized from aromatic oxadiazole‐diamines and a dianhydride containing a siloxane bridge (R2SiOSiR2). These polymers exhibit good solubility in certain organic solvents and can be cast into thin and very thin films from their solutions. They exhibit high thermal stability with decomposition being above 440 °C and relatively low glass transition temperatures in the range 160–190 °C. These polymers show strong photoluminescence in the blue spectral region.CONCLUSION: The introduction of oxadiazole rings together with siloxane groups into the chains of aromatic polyimides gives highly thermostable polymers with remarkable solubility and film‐forming ability and that emit blue light, being attractive for applications in micro‐ and nanoelectronics and other related advanced fields. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Adults matter: Protecting children from the negative impacts of bullying
Authors: Conners‐Burrow Nicola A. , Johnson Danya L. , Whiteside‐Mansell Leanne , McKelvey Lorraine , Gargus Regina A. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThis study examines the degree to which support from parents and teachers buffers the level of depression for four groups of children involved in bullying (victim, bully, bully‐victims, or not involved children). Nine hundred and seventy‐seven 5th‐, 9th‐, and 11th‐grade students in the rural South completed questionnaires on bullying, social support, and depression. Children who were not involved in bullying reported less depression and more social support than children involved in bullying, and bully‐victims were the most at‐risk group. Furthermore, results indicate that in all four bully status groups, children reported fewer symptoms of depression when support from parents was high compared to when it was low. For all groups except victims, when parental support was low, support from teachers was associated with fewer symptoms of depression. When parental support was high, the impact of support from the teacher was not significant. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Emotion, understanding, and social skills among boys at risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Kats‐Gold Inna , Priel Beatriz 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThere is growing interest in the role of emotional competence in middle school children's adjustment and functioning, yet many populations remain underresearched. Few studies have explored the emotional competence, especially emotion understanding, of children with, or at risk of, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and even fewer have examined the role emotion understanding plays in these children's social skills. Our study investigates a profile of the emotion understanding capacities of Israeli boys at risk of ADHD and evaluates its association with their social skills. One hundred and fifty‐two boys (grades 4–6) were each assigned to an at‐risk (n = 66) or comparison (n = 86) group based on their scores on an ADHD symptoms questionnaire (Conners Rating System–Revised). The two groups were matched on age, socioeconomic status and class, and school environment. Group comparisons revealed that relative to their non–at‐risk counterparts, at‐risk boys demonstrated less mature emotion understanding. Finally, our findings indicate that poor emotion understanding plays a more notable role in the social functioning of at‐risk than non–at‐risk children. This study's contribution to the understanding and school treatment of children with ADHD emotional and social competencies is discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Deposition of Biodegradable Polycaprolactone Coatings Using an In‐line Atmospheric Pressure Plasma System
Authors: Tynan John , Ward Pat , Byrne Gerry , Dowling Denis. P. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractPolycaprolactone (PCL) is a biodegradable and bioresorbable polymer with applications ranging from use in packaging to medical sutures. In this study, the use of an atmospheric pressure plasma to deposit plasma polymerised PCL (P‐PCL) coatings from a PCL diol precursor is evaluated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated the retention of PCL functional groups in the deposited coating. Changes in coating surface energy were monitored with time after deposition using the contact angle technique. The rate of degradation of 500 nm thick P‐PCL coatings was assessed after immersion in a phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) solution at 37 °C. It was observed that slower rates of P‐PCL coating degradation were obtained for coatings deposited at higher applied powers and lower precursor flow rates.
Or0504–Investigations on the Effect of Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) Treatment as a Preconditioning Method for Low Temperature Silicon Wafer Bonding
Authors: Michel Benedikt , Eichler Marko , Klages Claus‐Peter 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe individual effects of an atmospheric‐pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) treatment in oxygen on the low temperature bonding behavior of native oxide covered silicon wafers are evaluated. The role of oxide porosity as well as the hindering influence of embedded water molecules are particularly emphasized. The need for maximization of surface silanol density is relativized. Reasons are given, why highly reactive groups and catalytic agents are not expected to have severe influence on the improvement of bond strengthening.
Reactive Plasma Jet High‐Rate Etching of SiC
Authors: Eichentopf Inga‐Maria , Böhm Georg , Meister Johannes , Arnold Thomas 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe material removal of SiC utilizing a 2.45 GHz microwave‐driven plasma jet source in comparison with a 13.56 MHz RF excited plasma jet source at atmospheric pressure has been investigated. A coaxial nozzle with a central tube for helium, CF4 and O2 feeding the plasma and the outer ring‐shaped nozzle for N2 to shield the plasma jet from the surrounding air is applied. Additionally an O2 gas flow is provided and its effect on the etching rate is discussed for varied [CF4]/[O2] ratios. By optimizing the ratio of CF4 and O2 gas flow an improvement in etching rates and a change in surface roughness have been found. An increase of the etching rate with a decrease of the CF4 ratio has been detected for both jets. The etching rate of the microwave excited jet has been improved additionally by heating the SiC sample up to 350 °C.
Study of Shape and Distribution of TiO2 Nanorods Produced by Atmospheric Pressure Plasma
Authors: Aliofkhazraei Mahmood , Rouhaghdam Alireza Sabour , Ghobadi Ehsan , Mohsenian Ehsan 
Published: July 2009

AbstractA new method in plasma surface engineering called pulsed plasma electrolytic deposition (PPED) was applied to copper substrates. Corrosion properties of the produced layers were evaluated via potentiodynamic polarization. Results indicated relations among treatment time as well as peak applied voltage, frequency, and duty cycle on average density of TiO2 nanorods significantly. Investigation of the corrosion characteristics showed that the magnitude of corrosion resistance strongly followed from the experimental parameters of applied treatment as well as the average density of TiO2 nanorods. The average density of TiO2 nanorods measurements was done via figure analysis with minimum possible errors.
RF‐Ionised Physical Vapour Deposition for Cu Thin Films: Deposition on Polymer Substrate
Authors: Guesmi Ismael , de Poucques Ludovic , Teule‐Gay Lionel , Bretagne Jean , Boisse‐Laporte Caroline 
Published: July 2009

AbstractIonised physical vapour deposition (IPVD), performed with a magnetron and a one‐loop radio frequency (RF) coil, was used to deposit copper thin films on polymer substrates in order to cover complex shapes. This process allows improving the films conformity and their resistivity by ionising the sputtered vapour. The coil coupling was adapted in order to optimise the process. The film resistivity is influenced by the RF power and the pressure. A substrate cleaning phase, required to obtain good film adhesion, was done using the RF coil. The influence of treatment parameters (pressure, RF power, duration) was studied on the adhesion. Optical emission and absorption spectroscopy were performed to identify and quantify neutral and ionic copper species in the plasma and furthermore to study the influence of the coil on the vapour properties.
Docetaxel down‐regulates the expression of androgen receptor and prostate‐specific antigen but not prostate‐specific membrane antigen in prostate cancer cell lines: Implications for PSA surrogacy
Authors: Kuroda Kenji , Liu He , Kim Sae , Guo Ming , Navarro Vincent , Bander Neil H. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBACKGROUNDDocetaxel (DOC) has potent anti‐tumor efficacy as a result of promoting microtubule assembly and microtubule bundling thereby impairing mitosis. Knowing that some anti‐microtubule agents affect the polarity of prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression and that androgen ablation can up‐regulate PSMA expression, we sought to determine any effect of DOC on PSMA expression in prostate cancer (PC) cell lines as a prelude to a clinical effort. As controls, we also looked at the expression of androgen receptor (AR) and prostate‐specific antigen (PSA).METHODSThe effect of DOC on cell viability and PSMA, AR, and PSA expression was examined by flow cytometry and immunoblotting using LNCaP, CWR22Rv1, and MDA‐PCa‐2b cells. The effect of DOC on PSA levels of LNCaP and MDA‐PCa‐2b cells was also measured in conditioned media. The effect of DOC was also studied using LNCaP and MDA‐PCa‐2b cells that were transfected to over‐express AR.RESULTSPSMA levels were not affected by DOC treatment. Unexpectedly, we found DOC significantly down‐regulated both AR and PSA in a dose‐dependent manner in the cell lines studied. Over‐expression of AR partially abrogated the cytotoxic effects of DOC.CONCLUSIONSWhile DOC did not affect PSMA expression, it was unexpectedly found to down‐regulate AR and PSA. DOC‐induced down‐regulation of AR might be one of the anti‐tumor mechanisms active in PC. Down‐regulation of PSA may account for the significantly higher PSA response rates (45–50%) relative to measurable response rates (8–17%) reported in DOC PC trials and have implications for PSA surrogacy observations derived from DOC trials. Prostate 69: 1579–1585, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Majorana zero modes in graphene with trigonal warping
Authors: Dóra Balázs , Gulácsi Miklós , Sodano Pasquale 
Published: July 2009

AbstractWe study the low energy properties of warped monolayer graphene, where the symmetry of the original honeycomb lattice reveals itself. The zero energy solutions are Majorana fermions, whose wave function, originating from the corresponding modified Dirac equation is spatially localized. Experimental consequences are discussed. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The impact of soil moisture modifications on CBL characteristics in West Africa: A case‐study from the AMMA campaign
Authors: Kohler M. , Kalthoff N. , Kottmeier C. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractWithin the framework of the AMMA campaign in 2006, the response of surface properties to precipitation and their effect on the state of the convective boundary layer (CBL) and on convective instability were analysed. The observation periods covered the pre‐monsoon onset (SOP 1) and the mature monsoon phase (SOP 2) and were performed in southwest Burkina Faso. Precipitation caused a distinctive increase in the volumetric soil moisture content in the upper 20 cm of the soil. Coupled with the increase in soil moisture, a continuous decrease of surface and soil temperature with time was observed. Changes in surface temperature, albedo, and a higher availability of water affected the partitioning of the energy balance. Highest values of the Bowen ratio were found during SOP 1 when the surface was dry and vegetation sparse. In SOP 2, a higher vegetation cover made the albedo and Bowen ratio less sensitive to changes in soil moisture. Modifications of surface fluxes influenced the CBL conditions. The CBL height in SOP 1 was 1658 m and in SOP 2 877 m. The heat budget of the CBL was dominated by sensible heat flux convergence, whereas the moisture budget was controlled by both advection and latent heat flux convergence. It was confirmed by the measurements that the diurnal development of convective instability was dominated by the CBL evolution and controlled by changes in the mid‐ or upper troposphere to a minor degree only. Linear correlations were found between the near‐surface equivalent potential temperature and both convective available potential energy and convection index. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Suitability of tetrahydofuran as a dopant and the comparison to other existing dopants in dopant‐assisted atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry in support of drug discovery
Authors: Cai Yanxuan , McConnell Oliver , Bach Alvin C. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractIn this paper, we investigated the suitability of tetrahydofuran (THF) as a dopant and compared it against other common dopants for atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry (APPI‐MS). In a systematic analysis of 37 drug standards and 100 Wyeth proprietary drug candidates, THF was found to increase ionization efficiency as high as 33‐fold when introduced through a syringe pump at a flow rate of 20 µL/min, and as high as 114‐fold when introduced through the mobile phase at 100 µL/min. As a dopant, THF is as effective as acetone, better than anisole, and slightly less effective than toluene for the majority of the test compounds. The increase in ionization efficiency by THF was found to be compound‐dependent. THF was more effective in facilitating the ionization of polar compounds than of non‐polar compounds. With THF, toluene and acetone as dopants, a single type of molecular ion ([M+H]+ or M+•) is produced for analyte molecules. However, anisole can cause the formation of an ion cluster for polar analytes. The cluster contains [M–2H+H]+, M+•, and [M+H]+ ions with varied ratios. This complexity may make interpretation of spectra difficult for unknown compounds when complimentary data are not available. Our findings indicate that THF is a suitable dopant in the daily usage for increasing ionization efficiency, especially when THF is used as the mobile phase or as an organic modifier in the mobile phase. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.