bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Design of Heterocomplementary H‐Bonding RAFT Agents – Towards the Generation of Supramolecular Star Polymers
Authors: Bernard Julien , Lortie Frédéric , Fenet Bernard 
Published: December 2008

AbstractSupramolecular poly(vinyl acetate) PVAc 3‐arms stars were successfully generated by Reversible Addition–Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT)‐polymerized chains bearing hydrogen‐bonding heterocomplementary associating units. Chain Transfer Agents (CTA) bearing thymine‐ and diaminopyridine‐based units were first synthesized and proved to mediate efficiently the polymerization of VAc. The binding ability of the chains in solution was then demonstrated by 1H NMR and GPC measurements, proving the formation of the supramolecular stars.magnified image
Elaboration and Morphology Investigation of Poly (styrene‐co‐acrylic acid)/Poly(styrene‐co‐N,N‐dimethylacrylamide) Interpolymer Complexes
Authors: Hamou Assia Siham Hadj , Djadoun Said , Meurer Bernard , Weill Gilbert 
Published: December 2008

AbstractSummary: Random copolymers of styrene with acrylic acid (SAA) and with N, N‐dimethylacrylamide (SAD) of different compositions were prepared and characterized.Depending on the nature of the solvent and the densities of interacting species incorporated within these polystyrene matrices, novel materials as soluble interpolymer complexes in THF or precipitates from butan‐2‐one were elaborated when SAA and SAD copolymers are mixed together due to the presence of specific interpolymer interactions. These specific intermolecular interactions were evidenced by ATR/FTIR spectroscopy, qualitatively from the appearance of new bands in the 1800–1550 cm−1 region and quantitatively using adequate spectral curve fitting for the determination of the fraction of the different species. The DSC analysis showed that all these materials as soluble or precipitate interpolymer complexes exhibited one composition‐dependence glass transition temperature Tg, indicating that they are homogenous on a 20–40 nm scale. Information about the mixing at a smaller scale obtained by solid state proton NMR, provided from measurements of proton spin relaxation times T1 (H) and T1ρ (H) in the laboratory and rotatory frames carried out for SAA‐27, SAD‐17 and their (70/30 and 50/50) mixtures as cast from THF or butan‐2‐one, confirmed similar phase behaviour promoted by a solvatation effect.The single T1 (H) observed in the pure components and their blends as cast from both THF and butan‐2‐one confirm that these blends are homogeneous on the scale of 20–40 nm. Furthermore, the T1ρ (H) recoveries indicate that the blends were homogeneous on the scale of 2–3 nm only when cast from THF, while composite recovery curves T1ρ (H) were however observed with SAA‐27 and its mixtures of different ratios below 120 °C when butan‐2‐one is the casting medium.
Hydrogen Bonding Complexes of Poly(styrene‐co‐2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate) and Poly (styrene‐co‐4‐vinylpyridine)
Authors: Bouzouia Fatiha , Djadoun Said 
Published: December 2008

AbstractSummary: Random copolymers of poly(styrene‐co‐4‐vinylpyridine) (S4VP) and poly (styrene‐co‐2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate) (SHEA) of different compositions were prepared and characterized. An investigation of the effects of solvent and densities of the interacting species incorporated within these copolymers showed that novel and various hydrogen bonding interpolymer complexes of different structures were elaborated when these copolymers are mixed together. The specific interactions that occurred within the SHEA copolymers and the elaborated complexes were evidenced by FTIR qualitatively from the appearance of a new band at 1604 cm−1 and quantitatively using appropriate spectral curve fitting in the carbonyl and pyridine regions. The intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions that occurred between the hydroxyl groups of the SHEA and the nitrogen atom of the pyridine groups in the S4VP are stronger than the self‐associations within the SHEA. In the solid state, a DSC analysis showed that the variation of the glass transition temperatures of these materials with the composition behaved differently with the densities of interacting species and were analyzed quantitatively. A thermal stability study of the synthesized copolymers and of their different mixtures carried by thermogravimetry confirmed a similar behaviour.
Phase Diagram of Gelatin Plasticized by Water and Glycerol
Authors: Coppola Mara , Djabourov Madeleine , Ferrand Maria 
Published: December 2008

AbstractSummary: Gelatin is widely used in capsules manufacturing. Most of the capsules in pharmaceutical applications are hard capsules made out of concentrated solutions of gelatin, where water has been progressively removed during the drying process. More recently soft capsules found an increasing interest in pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications where they are filled and sealed with a liquid substance. In order to keep the shells of capsules flexible after drying at room temperature, plasticizer is added to the gelatin aqueous solutions. We present in this paper a systematic investigation of gelatin films, equilibrated under a range of relative humidity (RH). The films contain glycerol as plasticizer P or only water and gelatin, (G). In order to analyze the role of the plasticizer, we fixed various P/G ratios and measured the water retention versus RH. Films were characterized by DSC (Mettler Toledo DSC823). Glass transition temperature Tg, melting temperature Tm and enthalpy associated with helix‐coil transition were determined. The role of water and glycerol was examined in relation with the large variations of these transition temperatures with film composition. Non equilibrium effects are also discussed, in particular concerning the glass transition temperature, the relaxation effects and the water repartition between amorphous coils and helical structure. In conclusion, we propose a unique phase diagram of the gelatin films with any proportion of water and glycerol.
Removal of Evans Blue by using Nickel‐Iron Layered Double Hydroxide (LDH) Nanoparticles: Effect of Hydrothermal Treatment Temperature on Textural Properties and Dye Adsorption
Authors: Saiah Fatiha Boukraa Djellal , Su Bao‐Lian , Bettahar Noureddine 
Published: December 2008

AbstractSummary: The use of low‐cost adsorbent has been investigated as a replacement for the current expensive methods of removing dyes from wastewater. The sorption of acid dye (Evans Blue) from aqueous effluents onto anionic clays (hydrotalcite‐like) has been studied. Hydrotalcite may be an effective adsorbent of organic molecules due to its hydrophobic nature and the accessibility of its interlayer region. Ni/Fe layered double hydroxide (LDH), with a molar ratio of 3, were synthesised by coprecipitation followed by hydrothermal treatment at different temperatures (85, 100 and 140 °C) for 4 days. The materials were characterised by X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and N2 adsorption‐desorption (BET). The diffractograms and FT‐IR spectroscopy of the fresh materials showed that the hydrotalcite is present in all samples. The XRD pattern obtained was typical of a hydrotalcite, where the interlayer anion is CO, XRD and Infrared spectroscopy complemented each other by showing that with treatment the degree of order increased regardless of the type of treatment. Furthermore, it was shown that aging at increased temperature and pressure increased crystallinity. TEM showed that crystal size increased with aging temperature, so that growth occurred on the edges resulting in the formation of hexagonal plate shaped hydrotalcite crystals. The surface area decreased with increasing the hydrothermal treatment temperature. The effects of various parameters such as hydrothermal treatment temperature, crystallite size, contact time and calcination on the extent of adsorption were investigated. The studies of the removal efficiency of the reactive textile dye: Evans Blue (Direct Blue 53) by NiFeCO3 HDLs showed that the effect of hydrothermal treatment temperature on adsorption increases with aging temperature. The Evans Blue (EB) removal percent increased with increasing contact time. Above the 70%, 50% and 20% of EB adsorption occurred in the first 2 min for HDL‐140, HDL‐100 and HDL‐85°C respectively. Furthermore, it was found that the calcined materials are much more effective than the original LDH in removing Evans Bleu dye from an aqueous solution.
Formation of Mixed Ionic Complementary Peptide Fibrils
Authors: Boothroyd Stephen , Saiani Alberto , Miller Aline F. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractSummary: Two peptides (FEFEFKFK and HHHHHHFEFEFKFK) have been synthesised and their phase diagrams mapped out as a function of concentration and temperature. Both peptides formed self‐supporting fibrillar hydrogels above a similar critical molar gelation concentration with a fibril diameter corresponding to the length of the fully stretched monomer. Mixing the peptides in a 9:1 ratio of FEFEFKFK to histadine functionalized FEFEFKFK in the presence of nanogold particles (binds to the histadine groups) resulted in thicker fibres suggesting that two fibrils associate together to form a fibre. TEM studies revealed that the gold particles were distributed throughout the hydrogel and adjacent to both sides of the fibrillar structures with an average distance between particles of 21 nm. It is postulated that the peptides form anti‐parallel beta sheet fibrils that associate together via π‐stacking interactions between the imidazole side chains of the histadine groups to form a fibre, where on average 1 in every 44 peptides is functionalized.
Symmetric Versus Asymmetric “Homologous” Vinylic Cross‐Linkers in Two‐Components Networks: Formation of Pseudo‐Conetworks or Pseudo‐IPNs
Authors: Reinecke Helmut , Gallardo Alberto 
Published: December 2008

AbstractRadical copolymerizations of heterologous comonomers are compositionally heterogeneous, unless the reaction is performed in continuous conditions. A bicomponent network prepared from a heterogeneous reaction like the mentioned before is therefore a complex structure where chains with different compositions are linked through the cross‐linker molecules. It is theoretically shown here that the use of cross‐linkers with different structural homologies toward the two comonomers may lead to very different topologies. Thus, a mixture of symmetric cross‐linkers, each one homologous to each comonomer, tends to form interpenetrated networks (IPNs). However, the use of a single bihomologous asymmetric cross‐linker, where each of the functionalities is homologous toward each of the comonomers, tends to form conetworks. It is shown here that the higher the differential reactivity between the groups, the higher is the tendency toward these extreme structures.magnified image
An Experimental Study on the Free‐Radical Copolymerization Kinetics with Crosslinking of Styrene and Divinylbenzene in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
Authors: García‐Morán Pedro R. , Jaramillo‐Soto Gabriel , Albores‐Velasco Martha E. , Vivaldo‐Lima Eduardo 
Published: December 2008

AbstractA study on the effect of process conditions and composition of the reacting mixture on the kinetics and particle properties in the copolymerization of styrene and divinylbenzene in supercritical carbon dioxide is presented. Polystyrene‐block‐polydimethylsiloxane and Krytox 257 FSL (Dupont) were used as stabilizers, and their performance compared. A 38 mL, high‐pressure view cell, equipped with one frontal and two lateral sapphire windows, was used as the reacting vessel. The polymer product was characterized for total monomer conversion, gel content, molecular weight averages of the sol fraction and particle size distribution. Acceptable polymerization rates and partially‐agglomerated spherical particles were produced under the conditions tested.magnified image
Randomized comparison of tolterodine with vaginal estrogen cream versus tolterodine alone for the treatment of postmenopausal women with overactive bladder syndrome
Authors: Tseng Ling‐Hong , Wang Alex C. , Chang Yao‐Lung , Soong Yung‐Kuei , Lloyd L. Keith , Ko Yet‐Jane 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAimsTo investigate whether vaginal estrogen cream combined with tolterodine is more effective than tolterodine alone in the treatment of postmenopausal women with overactive bladder (OAB).Materials and MethodsThis is an unblinded study without placebo. A preliminary study consisted of tolterodine 2 mg twice per day for 3 months had been conducted for 25 postmenopausal women with OAB. Over a period of 11 months, 80 postmenopausal women with OAB underwent a prospective randomized trial. These patients were equally randomized into two groups. The interventions for the 12‐week treatment period included 2 mg tolterodine twice per day for the group A and 2 mg tolterodine twice per day/vaginal conjugated equine estrogen 0.625 mg twice a week for the group B. Identical pre‐ and post‐treatment assessments included bladder diary, Urogenital Distress Inventory‐6 (UDI‐6), and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire‐7 (IIQ‐7).ResultsAll 80 women (65.2 years, range 58–73) completed this study. The between groups comparison showed that the group B had significant improvements in mean daytime frequency and voided volume after treatment (14.8–5.8 vs. 14.1–6.4, P = 0.001 and 115.8–141.9 vs. 108.5–134.5, P = 0.007, respectively). Additionally, a comparison of the final total scores of UDI‐6 and IIQ‐7 between the two groups revealed that the group B had a statistically significant improvement in quality of life than that in the group A (8.6–6.9 vs. 9.5–7.2, P < 0.001 and 9.4–6.1 vs. 10.2–6.5, P < 0.001, respectively). Changes in the other symptoms, including nocturia, urgency and urge incontinence, were not statistically significant but actually achieved improved in both groups.ConclusionsA combination of vaginal estrogen cream and tolterodine is a potential therapy for postmenopausal women with OAB. Neurourol. Urodynam. 28:47–51, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Non‐linear seismic analysis of RC structures with energy‐dissipating devices
Authors: Mata P. , Barbat A. H. , Oller S. , Boroschek R. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe poor performance of some reinforced concrete (RC) structures during strong earthquakes has alerted about the need of improving their seismic behavior, especially when they are designed according to obsolete codes and show low structural damping, important second‐order effects and low ductility, among other defects. These characteristics allow proposing the use of energy‐dissipating devices for improving their seismic behavior. In this work, the non‐linear dynamic response of RC buildings with energy dissipators is studied using advanced computational techniques. A fully geometric and constitutive non‐linear model for the description of the dynamic behavior of framed structures is developed. The model is based on the geometrically exact formulation for beams in finite deformation. Points on the cross section are composed of several simple materials. The mixing theory is used to treat the resulting composite. A specific type of element is proposed for modeling the dissipators including the corresponding constitutive relations. Special attention is paid to the development of local and global damage indices for describing the performance of the buildings. Finally, numerical tests are presented for validating the ability of the model for reproducing the non‐linear seismic response of buildings with dissipators. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Potential Starch Utilisation in a Model Processed Cheese System
Authors: Gampala Pradymna , Brennan Charles S. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractA range of three commercial starch ingredients (differing in amylose/ amylopectin ratios) were incorporated into a processed cheese formulation. The use of starch in the cheese system significantly increased the cook (final) viscosity of the cheese mixture compared to the control formulation. Starch containing high amounts of amylose produced hot cheese pastes with the highest final viscosity values. Processed cheese firmness was significantly increased with starch addition. Cheese products with high‐amylose starch recorded a five‐fold increase in firmness, whereas high amylopectin‐based starches yielded a two‐fold increase in firmness. No significant differences were observed in the adhesive and cohesive properties of the processed cheeses when starch was added to the formulation. The addition of starch to the cheese samples significantly reduced the degree of melt of the processed cheese samples compared to the control. The high‐amylose starch exhibited a minimum of a 26% reduction in the degree of melt compared to the control sample. The amount of cheese melt decreased with increased starch content.
Synthesis of Higher Fatty Acid Starch Esters using Vinyl Laurate and Stearate as Reactants
Authors: Junistia Laura , Sugih Asaf K. , Manurung Robert , Picchioni Francesco , Janssen Leon P. B. M. , Heeres Hero J. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThis paper describes the synthesis of long‐chain fatty esters of corn starch (starch laurate and starch stearate) with a broad range in degree of substitution (DS = 0.24−2.96). The fatty esters were prepared by reacting the starch with vinyl laurate or vinyl stearate in the presence of basic catalysts (Na2HPO4, K2CO3, and Na acetate) in DMSO at 110°C. The yellowish products were characterized by 1H‐, 13C‐NMR and FT‐IR. The DS of the products is a function of the carbon number of the fatty acid chain, vinyl ester to starch ratio and the type of catalyst. When performing the reactions using Na2HPO4 as the catalyst, the DS for the starch laurate compounds is higher than for the corresponding starch stearates. For low vinyl ester to starch ratios, an increase in the vinyl ester concentration leads to higher product DS values. At higher ratios, the DS decreases, presumably due to a reduction of the polarity of the reaction medium. K2CO3 and Na acetate are superior catalysts with respect to activity compared to Na2HPO4 and products with DS values close to 3 were obtained.
A case of bilateral luxatio erecta
Authors: Camarda Lawrence , Martorana Umberto , D’Arienzo Michele 
Published: December 2008

AbstractLuxatio erecta is an uncommon form of glenohumeral dislocation. Cases of bilateral inferior shoulder dislocation (luxatio erecta) are very rare, and only ten cases have been described in literature. We describe a case of a woman with bilateral luxatio erecta of the shoulders treated with close reduction, immobilization and rehabilitation. The patient had fallen downstairs while clinging to both lateral banisters.
The effect of landscape heterogeneity on host–parasite dynamics
Authors: Su Min , Li Wenlong , Li Zizhen , Zhang Fengpan , Hui Cang 
Published: December 2008

AbstractEnvironmental heterogeneity has been shown to have a profound effect on population dynamics and biological invasions, yet the effect of its spatial structure on the dynamics of disease invasion in a spatial host–parasite system has received little attention. Here we explore the effect of environment heterogeneity using the pair approximation and the stochastic spatially explicit simulation in which the lost patches are clustered in a fragmented landscape. The intensity of fragmentation is defined by the amount and spatial autocorrelation of the lost habitat. More fragmented landscape (high amount of habitat loss, low clustering of lost patches) was shown to be detrimental to the parasitic disease invasion and transmission, which implies that the potential of using artificial disturbances as a disease‐control agency in biological conservation and management. Two components of the spatial heterogeneity (the amount and spatial autocorrelation of the lost habitat) formed a trade‐off in determining the host–parasite dynamics. An extremely high degree of habitat loss was, counter‐intuitively, harmful to the host. These results enrich our understanding of eco‐epidemiological, host–parasite systems, and suggest the possibility of using the spatial arrangement of habitat patches as a conservation tool for guarding focal species against parasitic infection and transmission.
Viability selection on early body mass and the effect of female body size on fecundity: a study on the leaf‐eared mouse Phyllotis darwini
Authors: Nespolo Roberto F. , Bacigalupe Leonardo D. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractViability selection and fecundity of size‐related traits has been demonstrated to be strong in vertebrates. In small mammals, both offspring and adult size are important for viability and fecundity, respectively. We studied the role of early phenotypic selection on size attributes and female fecundity in the leaf‐eared mouse (Phyllotis darwini). Our results support that larger females produce more offspring, and since the likelihood of attaining adulthood is similar for different sizes of the females, those larger females also produce more offspring that attain sexual maturity. From the offspring perspective, larger pups at birth have significantly more probability of attaining sexual maturity. However, weaning mass and growth rate did not show any differential survival. Our study suggests that early selection could be important and could prevent further episodes of selection by early culling of the distribution of sizes, and that “effective” fecundity is strongly dependent on the size of the female.
Role of spinal microglia in myositis‐induced central sensitisation: An immunohistochemical and behavioural study in rats
Authors: Chacur Marucia , Lambertz Daniela , Hoheisel Ulrich , Mense Siegfried 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTThere is increasing evidence that spinal glial cells play an important role in chronic pain states. However, so far no data on the role of microglia in muscle pain are available. The aim of the present study was to investigate the involvement of spinal microglial cells in chronic muscle pain. In a rat model of chronic muscle inflammation (injection of complete Freunds adjuvant into the gastrocnemius‐soleus muscle) alterations of microglia were visualized with quantitative OX‐42 immunohistochemistry in the dorsal horn of the segments L4 and L5 12 days after induction of inflammation. In behavioural experiments the influence of chronic intrathecally applied minocycline – a specific microglia inhibitor ‐ or an antibody against tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α; a cytokine released from microglia) on pain‐related behaviour was investigated after 1, 3, 6, and 12 days. The immunhistochemical data show that in the deep laminae of the spinal dorsal horn microglial cells reacted with morphological changes to the muscle inflammation. Following inflammation, the mean boundary length surrounding the OX‐42 immunostained area was significantly shorter. This indicates that microglial cells were activated by the myositis and withdrew their processes. Chronic intrathecal administration of minocycline or anti TNF‐α with an osmotic mini‐pump largely normalised the inflammation‐induced changes in spontaneous exploratory behaviour and attenuated the hypersensitivity to mechanical stimulation. Both the immunohistochemical and behavioural data show that spinal microglial cells are involved in nociceptive processes in the cause of a chronic muscle inflammation.