bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fiber Optics
Authors: Nakahara Tsuneo , Tanaka Shigeru , Nishimura Masayuki 
Published: December 2006

AbstractThe article contains sections titled:1.Introduction2.Structure of Optical Fibers2.1Basic Structure2.2Multimode Fibers2.3Single‐mode Fibers2.4Dispersion‐modified Fibers2.4.1Dispersion‐shifted Fibers2.4.2Nonzero Dispersion‐shifted Fiber2.4.3Dispersion‐flattened Fibers2.5Functional Fibers2.5.1Dispersion‐compensating Fibers2.5.2Rare‐earth‐doped Fibers2.5.3Polarization‐maintaining Fibers3.Raw Materials and Production3.1Silica Fibers3.1.1Preform Production3.1.1.1Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition (MCVD) Method3.1.1.2Outside Vapor Deposition (OVD) Method3.1.1.3Vapor‐Phase Axial Deposition (VAD) Method3.1.1.4Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition (PCVD) Method3.1.2Fiber Drawing3.2.Non‐silica Fibers3.2.1Multicomponent Glass Fibers3.2.2Plastic Cladding Fibers3.2.3All‐plastic Fibers3.2.4Infrared Fibers4.Characterisitics of Optical Fibers4.1Transmission Loss4.2Dispersion4.3Multimode Dispersion4.3.1Chromatic Dispersion4.3.2Polarization Mode Dispersion4.4Nonlinearity5.Reliability of Optical Fibers5.1Mechanical Strength5.2Hydrogen‐induced Loss Increase5.3Radiation‐induced Loss Increase6.Applications of Optical Fibers6.1Optical Fiber Cables6.2Fiber Connection Technologies6.3Optical Fiber Sensors7.Future Prospects7.1New Fibers7.1.1Photonic Crystal Fiber (PCF)7.1.2Holey Fiber (HF)7.1.3Photonic Band‐gap Fiber (PBGF)7.2New Systems7.2.1Soliton System7.2.2Code Division Multiplex (CDM)The optical fiber is one of the most important key technologies that support the current information technology (IT) era. Optical fibers are now widely used not only as an excellent transmission medium for optical communication but also as optical functional devices, such as optical amplifiers. Both optical fibers and their manufacturing technologies have evolved dramatically toward higher performance and improved productivity. Their applications have also been expanded from optical communication to a variety of fields, such as optical sensors. This article reviews various aspects of optical fibers: structures & materials, fabrication techniques, optical characteristics & reliability, and applications.
Adenoviral Gene Delivery from Multilayered Polyelectrolyte Architectures
Authors: Dimitrova M. , Arntz Y. , Lavalle P. , Meyer F. , Wolf M. , Schuster C. , Haïkel Y. , Voegel J.‐C. , Ogier J. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractThe alternate layer‐by‐layer (LBL) deposition of polycations and polyanions for the build up of multilayered polyelectrolyte films is an original approach that allows the preparation of tunable, biologically active surfaces. The resulting supramolecular nanoarchitectures can be functionalized with drugs, peptides, and proteins, or DNA molecules that are able to transfect cells in vitro. We monitor, for the first time, the embedding of a bioactive adenoviral (Ad) vector in multilayered polyelectrolyte films. Ad efficiently adsorbs on poly(L‐lysine)–poly(L‐glutamic acid) (PLL–PGA), PLL–HA (HA: hyaluronan), poly(allylamin hydrochloride)–poly(sodium‐4‐styrenesulfonate) (PAH–PSS), and CHI–HA (CHI: chitosan) films; it preserves its transduction capacity (which can reach 95 %) for a large number of cell types, and also allows vector uptake into receptor‐deficient cells, thus abrogating the restricted tropism of Ad.
Evaluation by various experimental approaches of the crosslink density of urethane networks based on hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene
Authors: Sekkar V. , Narayanaswamy K. , Scariah K. J. , Nair P. R. , Sastri K. S. , Ang How Ghee 
Published: December 2006

AbstractCrosslink density (CLD) is an important characteristic for elastomeric polymer networks. The mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the elastomers are critically dependant on the CLD. Several methods have been adopted for its determination, but swelling and stress–strain methods continue to be more popular because of the convenience associated with these techniques. In this article, the determination of CLD of allophanate–urethane networks based on hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene and toluene diisocyanate with swelling and stress–strain methods is reported. The Flory–Rhener relationship was applied to calculate CLD from the swelling data. CLDs were also calculated from the initial slope of the stress–strain curve (Young's modulus), Mooney–Rivlin plots, equilibrium relaxation moduli, and dynamic mechanical properties. A comparison was drawn among the values obtained with the various methods. Although the CLD values obtained from Mooney–Rivlin plots were slightly lower than those obtained from swelling data, the values obtained with Young's modulus and storage modulus were considerably higher. The values obtained with swelling and equilibrium relaxation moduli data were very close to each other. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3129–3133, 2007
On the inhibiting effect of phenolic compounds in the photopolymerization of acrylates under high‐intensity and polychromatic UV/visible lights
Authors: Mauguière‐Guyonnet F. , Burget D. , Fouassier J. P. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractThe photopolymerization of wood coatings under UV and visible light in industrial type conditions has been investigated. The inhibiting effect of the phenolic compounds found in wood extractives, especially quercetin, on the final properties of the coating (hardness, gel content) as well as the polymerization kinetics (rates, final conversion) has been discussed. Model clear‐coating formulations — based on an acrylate oligomer, a reactive diluent and a bis‐acylphosphine oxide as photo‐initiator — have been used. This article focuses on the influence of the nature of the acrylate oligomer (polyester, epoxy, polyurethane), the type of phenolic derivative (POHs) and the irradiation conditions (UV conveyor, Xe lamp). It appears that lead to through the strong inner‐filter effect in the presence of quercetin is responsible for the loss of all the observed properties. In order to mimic what happens at the wood–coating interface, the role of the diffusion of the phenolic derivatives have been also investigated and discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3285–3298, 2007
Water‐soluble copolymers. III. Two‐step terpolymerization of acrylamide, acrylic acid, and acryloyloxyethyl trimethylammonium chloride
Authors: Peng Xiaohong , Peng Xiaochun , Shen Jiarui 
Published: December 2006

AbstractTerpolymerization of acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AA), and acryloyloxyethyl trimethylammonium chloride (DAC) was studied in aqueous solution by a two‐step polymerization method, consisting of adiabatic polymerization until reaching a maximum temperature and following retaining temperature for maturation. A redox agent:promotor triad‐initiating system was employed as an initiator. The effects of various parameters on terpolymerization were investigated. The optimum values were obtained at the DAC:AA molar feed ratio and the total monomer concentration, at the oxidant:reductant ratio and total redox agent concentration, and at the promotor concentration and redox agent:promoter ratio. The structure of the terpolymer was identified by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and 13C NMR spectroscopy. And the terpolymer composition was agreed favorably with feed ratio. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3278–3284, 2007
Development of nanocomposites of bentonite with polyaniline and poly(methacrylic acid)
Authors: Singhal Rahul , Datta Monika 
Published: December 2006

AbstractNanocomposites of bentonite with polyaniline (PANI), poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA), and poly(aniline‐co‐methacrylic acid) (PANI‐co‐PMAA) were prepared by in situ intercalative polymerization technique. The nanocomposites were characterized by FTIR and UV–visible spectroscopies, XRD, SEM, TEM, as well as TG‐DTA studies. The in situ intercalative polymerization of PANI, PMAA, and PANI‐co‐PMAA within bentonite layers was confirmed by FTIR, XRD, SEM, as well as TEM studies. XRD confirmed the intercalation of polymers and copolymer in bentonite. The average particle size of the nanocomposites was found to be in the range of 250–500 nm. The thermal stability was found be the highest for PANI‐co‐PMAA‐bentonite. The swelling behavior studies suggest that these nanocomposites hold potential for their utilization in absorption of toxic materials from waste water. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3299–3306, 2007
Hydrosilylation and dehydrocondensation reactions of methylhydridesiloxane to acrylic and methacrylic acids
Authors: Mukbaniani O. , Zaikov G. , Pirckheliani N. , Tatrishvili T. , Meladze S. , Pachulia Z. , Labartkava M. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractThe hydrosilylation of α,ω‐bis(trimethylsiloxy) methylhydridesiloxane (degree of polymerization ≈ 53) with acrylic and methacrylic acid with various ratios of the initial compounds, in the presence of platinum hydrochloric acid, has been investigated. In the presence of platinum hydrochloric acid, competitive dehydrocondensation reactions take place with the formation of various oligomers with various chemical links. In the later stages of the reaction, three‐dimensional systems have been obtained. During dehydrocondensation, the reaction order, reaction rate constants, and activation energy have been determined. The structures of the synthesized oligomers have been determined with IR and NMR spectroscopy data. Gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, and X‐ray analyses of the synthesized oligomers have been carried out. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3243–3252, 2007
A novel approach to excellent UV protecting cotton fabric with functionalized MWNT containing water vapor permeable PU coating
Authors: Mondal S. , Hu J. L. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractThis research paper presented a novel approach of developing excellent protection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation of cotton fabrics by means of water vapor permeable (WVP) coatings containing multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT), a stable and strongly UV absorbing species. The WVP of MWNT containing UV protective coatings of the present development are formed from solution polymer of hydrophilic polyurethane (HPU). MWNTs were dispersed in HPU solution by functionalization of MWNT. The nanotube containing HPU coating shows excellent protection against UV radiation, with only 1 wt % of MWNT (calculated based on solid content of the polymer), a UV Protection Factor (UPF) of 174 and with 2.5 wt % of MWNT a UPF of 421 was obtained, which stated excellent protection (UPF ≥50) according to the Australian/New Zealand standards. Scanning electron micrographs of coated fabrics surface showed a film like polymer coating, confirming the fabric surface was successfully coated by polyurethane. The coated fabrics would maintain very good water vapor permeability, hence confirmed the wearing comfort. Room temperature (20–23°C) range soft segment crystal melting of HPU enhances the permeability of coated fabrics. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3370–3376, 2007
Relation between thermal conductivity and network formation with polymerizable liquid crystals
Authors: Kato Takashi , Nakamura Takashi , Agari Yasuyuki , Ochi Mitsukazu 
Published: December 2006

AbstractThe molecules with the mono‐ and bi‐function at the sides in the acrylic PLC mixtures were aligned by the rubbing method. The alignment was immobilized by the photo polymerization to result the homogeneous acrylic films, which have good alignment with the higher order parameters. The thermal conductivity along the molecular long axis direction showed the larger magnitude of 0.62 W/m · K, which is independent on ratio of the main chain and the side chain fractions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3169–3174, 2007
Effect of HIPS on polymorphism, melting, and crystallization behavior of sPS crystallized dynamically from melting state
Authors: Zhou Weihua , Lu Ming , Zheng Junjun , Zhang Zishou , Mai Kancheng 
Published: December 2006

AbstractSyndiotactic polystyrene/highly‐impact polystyrene (sPS/HIPS) blends were prepared with a twin‐screw extruder. Differential scanning calorimetry and wide angle X‐ray diffractometry were used to investigate the effect of the maximal melting temperature, the content of HIPS and cooling rates on the melting and crystallization behavior and crystal forms of sPS. The experimental results indicated that the addition of low content of HIPS induced the formation of more α‐crystal, whereas the addition of high content of HIPS favored the formation of β‐crystal for sPS/HIPS blends crystallized dynamically from low melting temperature. Both sPS and its blends produced only β‐crystal as crystallized from high melting temperature. The crystallization temperatures of sPS and its blends decreased as the melting temperature increased, favoring the formation of β‐crystal. Higher temperature of sPS crystallization favored the formation of more content of α‐crystal while lower temperature of sPS crystallization produced more content of β‐crystal. Cooling rates showed no significant effect on the crystal form of sPS and its blends, but influenced the melting behavior of both sPS and its bends. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3353–3361, 2007
Effect of jet stretch on polyacrylonitrile as‐spun fiber formation
Authors: Ji Bao‐Hua , Wang Cheng‐Guo , Wang Yan‐Xiang 
Published: December 2006

AbstractIn this article, the effect of jet stretch ratio on the extrudate die‐swell effect of polyacrylonitrile spinning solution and the structure and properties of as‐spun fibers was systematically analyzed by means of X‐ray diffraction (XRD), electron microprobe analysis, and the measurement of die‐swell ratio, boiling‐water shrinkage, porosity, mechanical properties analysis, etc. It revealed the formation mechanism of the die‐swell effect and spin orientation and its influences on the structure and properties of as‐spun fibers. It showed that with the increase of the jet stretch ratio the die‐swell ratio became smaller, both the degree of spin orientation and the crystallinity increased, the microstructure of as‐spun fibers became compact and homogeneous, and the cross section tended to be circular. As a result, the breaking tenacity of as‐spun fibers and resultant precursors all increased. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3348–3352, 2007
Sorption‐induced release of antimicrobial isopropanol in EVOH copolymers as determined by ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy
Authors: Cava D. , Sammon C. , Lagaron J. M. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractThis paper deals with the evaluation of the sorption‐induced release of an antimicrobial component, i.e., isopropanol, from two ethylene‐vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymers as measured by ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy. Three different swelling agents were considered namely, water, methanol, and ethanol, whose kinetics of diffusion were also evaluated during sorption. From the transport behavior of the latter components, it was found that a pseudo‐Fickian diffusion process appeared to take place in all systems. The corresponding simultaneous polymer plasticization was easily followed by evaluation of the sorption‐induced thickness expansion and swelling rate. The data indicated that the swelling process appeared to lag the sorption of the penetrant during the first instances of the uptake most probably due to the existence of a Langmuir (antiplasticization) regime previously reported for these polymers. The crossed‐diffusion of entrapped antimicrobial isopropanol was related to a typical swelling‐induced release process, which was found to be strongly dependent on the nature of the penetrant and on the composition of the polymer matrix. The results demonstrated both the usefulness of the ATR‐FTIR technique to uniquely characterize the complex phenomena that take place during sorption‐induced release and the suitability of EVOH copolymers for controlled release in antimicrobial applications. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3431–3437, 2007
Mouse mutants with neural tube closure defects and their role in understanding human neural tube defects
Authors: Harris Muriel J. , Juriloff Diana M. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractBACKGROUND: The number of mouse mutants and strains with neural tube closure defects (NTDs) now exceeds 190, including 155 involving known genes, 33 with unidentified genes, and eight “multifactorial” strains. METHODS: The emerging patterns of mouse NTDs are considered in relation to the unknown genetics of the common human NTDs, anencephaly, and spina bifida aperta. RESULTS: Of the 150 mouse mutants that survive past midgestation, 20% have risk of either exencephaly and spina bifida aperta or both, parallel to the majority of human NTDs, whereas 70% have only exencephaly, 5% have only spina bifida, and 5% have craniorachischisis. The primary defect in most mouse NTDs is failure of neural fold elevation. Most null mutations (>90%) produce syndromes of multiple affected structures with high penetrance in homozygotes, whereas the “multifactorial” strains and several null‐mutant heterozygotes and mutants with partial gene function (hypomorphs) have low‐penetrance nonsyndromic NTDs, like the majority of human NTDs. The normal functions of the mutated genes are diverse, with clusters in pathways of actin function, apoptosis, and chromatin methylation and structure. The female excess observed in human anencephaly is found in all mouse exencephaly mutants for which gender has been studied. Maternal agents, including folate, methionine, inositol, or alternative commercial diets, have specific preventative effects in eight mutants and strains. CONCLUSIONS: If the human homologs of the mouse NTD mutants contribute to risk of common human NTDs, it seems likely to be in multifactorial combinations of hypomorphs and low‐penetrance heterozygotes, as exemplified by mouse digenic mutants and the oligogenic SELH/Bc strain. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antifungal triazole derivative triadimefon induces ectopic maxillary cartilage by altering the morphogenesis of the first branchial arch
Authors: Di Renzo Francesca , Broccia Maria L. , Giavini Erminio , Menegola Elena 
Published: December 2006

AbstractBACKGROUND: The triazole derivative, triadimefon (FON), induces branchial arch abnormalities in post‐implantation rat embryos cultured in vitro, and cranio‐facial malformations in mouse fetuses. Ectopic maxillary cartilage has been also described as a typical FON‐related malformation. This work studies the morphogenesis of the ectopic cartilage in rat embryos and fetuses exposed in vivo to FON during the early postimplantation period. METHODS: Pregnant rats were treated with 0, 250, and 500 mg/kg FON on Day 9.5 of pregnancy (D9.5) and sacrificed at term (D20), during the early fetal period (D17) or at different embryogenetic periods (D10, D11, D12). The skeleton was examined after stain of bone and cartilage or of cartilage alone respectively at term or at D17. The neural crest cell (NCC) migration and compaction was investigated at D10 and D11 and the cranial nerve organization described at D12. RESULTS: Triadimefon is teratogenic in rats under the chosen experimental conditions. The malformations were at the level of the cranio‐facial and axial skeleton at term and of the hindbrain nerves in embryos. A NCC abnormal migration and compaction was observed at the level of the first branchial arch: in FON‐exposed embryos NCC were detected at the level of both maxillary and mandibular processes, whereas control embryos showed the immunostained tissue only at the level of the mandibular bud. CONCLUSIONS: The pathogenic pathway, proposed to explain the ectopic cartilage, is the displacement of part of the NCC‐derived tissues at the maxillary region of the first branchial arch. Birth Defects Res (Part B). © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ectoplasmic specialization: a friend or a foe of spermatogenesis?
Authors: Yan Helen H.N. , Mruk Dolores D. , Lee Will M. , Cheng C. Yan 
Published: December 2006

AbstractThe ectoplasmic specialization (ES) is a testis‐specific, actin‐based hybrid anchoring and tight junction. It is confined to the interface between Sertoli cells at the blood–testis barrier, known as the basal ES, as well as between Sertoli cells and developing spermatids designated the apical ES. The ES shares features of adherens junctions, tight junctions and focal contacts. By adopting the best features of each junction type, this hybrid nature of ES facilitates the extensive junction‐restructuring events in the seminiferous epithelium during spermatogenesis. For instance, the α6β1‐integrin–laminin 333 complex, which is usually limited to the cell–matrix interface in other epithelia to facilitate cell movement, is a putative apical ES constituent. Furthermore, JAM‐C and CAR, two tight junction integral membrane proteins, are also components of apical ES involving in spermatid orientation. We discuss herein the mechanisms that maintain the cross‐talk between ES and blood–testis barrier to facilitate cell movement and orientation in the seminiferous epithelium. BioEssays 29: 36–48, 2007. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluating hypotheses for the origin of eukaryotes
Authors: Poole Anthony M. , Penny David 
Published: December 2006

AbstractNumerous scenarios explain the origin of the eukaryote cell by fusion or endosymbiosis between an archaeon and a bacterium (and sometimes a third partner). We evaluate these hypotheses using the following three criteria. Can the data be explained by the null hypothesis that new features arise sequentially along a stem lineage? Second, hypotheses involving an archaeon and a bacterium should undergo standard phylogenetic tests of gene distribution. Third, accounting for past events by processes observed in modern cells is preferable to postulating unknown processes that have never been observed. For example, there are many eukaryote examples of bacteria as endosymbionts or endoparasites, but none known in archaea. Strictly post‐hoc hypotheses that ignore this third criterion should be avoided. Applying these three criteria significantly narrows the number of plausible hypotheses. Given current knowledge, our conclusion is that the eukaryote lineage must have diverged from an ancestor of archaea well prior to the origin of the mitochondrion. Significantly, the absence of ancestrally amitochondriate eukaryotes (archezoa) among extant eukaryotes is neither evidence for an archaeal host for the ancestor of mitochondria, nor evidence against a eukaryotic host. BioEssays 29: 74–84, 2007. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sustainability reporting in Norway – an assessment of performance in the context of legal demands and socio‐political drivers
Authors: Vormedal Irja , Ruud Audun 
Published: December 2006

AbstractThis article explores the influence of societal, political and regulatory characteristics and developments on the quality of corporate sustainability disclosures in Norway. The paper presents an assessment both of mandatory reporting under the Norwegian Accounting Act, and of voluntary reporting in annual and separate non‐financial reports, by the 100 largest firms in Norway. Our results reveal that only 10% of the companies comply with the legal requirements on environmental reporting, while only half of the firms comply with the legal reporting provisions on working environment and gender equality. The vast majority of firms also report unsatisfactorily on non‐financial issues in the voluntary disclosures assessed. Analysing the causes of these results, we contend that the situation is characterized by (1) an apparent lack of political and social drivers for sustainability reporting in Norway and (2) an absence of sufficient monitoring and enforcement of the environmental reporting legislation on the part of Norwegian authorities. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.