bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of alkali treatment on the fine structure and morphology of bamboo fibers
Authors: Das Mahuya , Chakraborty Debabrata 
Published: September 2006

AbstractBamboo fibers in the form of strips and dust were treated with NaOH solution of varying concentration (10, 15, and 20%). These treated and untreated samples were then subjected to FTIR and morphological studies. Again XRD study was carried out on those treated and untreated bamboo samples in both strip and dust form. It was found that during alkali treatment a lattice transformation from cellulose‐I to cellulose‐II took place. It is observed from IR index value that the conversion is maximum in between 15 and 20% of alkali treatment. Swelling in NaOH introduces considerable changes in crystallinity, orientation angle, etc. Degree of crystallinity and crystallinity index for bamboo strips increases with increasing treatment concentration of alkali and falls off after 15% alkali concentration. This is also supported by d‐spacing value. Orientation factor fx was calculated from the FWHM and it was found that fx value has been increased from 0.9879 to 0.9915 for 15% alkali treated and again lowered to 0.8522 for 50% alkali treated samples. Same observation of X‐ray study was obtained for dust samples but at an earlier concentration. Morphological study of bamboo dust with scanning electron microscope indicates fibrillation at higher alkali concentration. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 5050–5056, 2006
Influence of various crosslinking systems on the mechanical properties of gas phase EPDM/PP thermoplastic vulcanizates
Authors: Maiti Madhuchhanda , Patel Jaydeep , Naskar Kinsuk , Bhowmick Anil K. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractDynamically cured thermoplastic elastomers or thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) are widely used nowadays for their unique characteristics. In this paper, gas phase ethylene–propylene–diene terpolymer (GEPDM)/Polypropylene (PP) TPVs with various crosslinking systems have been extensively studied to optimize the curative level in each crosslinking system with special reference to their mechanical properties. Optimized systems were compared for heat aging, recyclability, crosslink density, morphology studies, and dynamic mechanical analysis. Crosslinking by peroxide in the presence of triallyl cyanurate as a coagent gives best overall performance with reference to excellent heat aging behavior, tension set, and compatibility between GEPDM and PP. Conventional EPDM/PP system was also compared with GEPDM/PP system. GEPDM/PP system was found to exhibit better behavior in all respects. Significant correlations were obtained between delta torque values obtained from Moving Die Rheometer and modulus or cross link density of TPVs irrespective of the nature of crosslinking agent. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 5463–5471, 2006
Synergistic effect of supported nickel catalyst with intumescent flame‐retardants on flame retardancy and thermal stability of polypropylene
Authors: Song Rongjun , Zhang Baoyan , Huang Baotong , Tang Tao 
Published: September 2006

AbstractSupported nickel catalyst (Ni‐Cat) was used as a catalyst to improve the flame retardancy of intumescent flame‐retardants (IFR) systems based on ammonium polyphosphate and pentaerythritol (PETOL) in polypropylene (PP) matrix. Limited oxygen index (LOI), UL‐94 rating, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the flame retardancy and thermal stability of the PP systems, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to analyze the microstructure and composition of the chars formed during measuring LOI value and after combustion at 800°C. The catalytic effect of Ni‐Cat was shown in an increase of LOI, a change in the char microstructure, and improvement of the thermal stability in the PP systems, which result from the synergistic effect of Ni‐Cat and IFR. The results from FE‐SEM and FTIR spectra of the char can explain how this synergistic effect happened. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 5988–5993, 2006
Influence of leather stretching to gain area yield on its stress‐relaxation behavior
Authors: Manich A. M. , de Castellar M. D. , González Berania , Ussman M. H. , Marsal A. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractFour bovine leathers subjected to five stretching procedures in water at different temperatures between 60 and 80°C and drawing ratios between 1.20 and 1.40 were analyzed to demonstrate the suitability of the generalized Maxwell model to fit the different stress‐relaxation processes related to the structural hierarchy of leather. This consists of a set of three Maxwell units connected in parallel to represent the high‐rate, the medium‐rate, and the low‐rate stress‐relaxation processes, and a Hookean spring in parallel to represent the residual stress at the equilibrium. The high‐rate, the medium‐rate and the low‐rate relaxation times were approximately of 0.6, 10, and 200 s, respectively. Stretching of leather under different conditions to gain area yield in addition to a reduction in thickness also produces a decrease in leather density but not always induce hardening of leather. Leather stretching increases the initial stress when leather is strained 20% for stress‐relaxation tests. The effect of stretching on the residual stress depends on the level of stretching. The hardening effect of stretching measured by relative softness showed a good relationship with the medium‐rate relaxed stress. The harder the stretched leather the higher the decrease in the medium‐rate relaxed stress. Softness also showed a good relationship with the low‐rate relaxation time. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 6000–6008, 2006
Processing and property improvement of polymeric composites with added ZnO nanoparticles through microinjection molding
Authors: Huang C. K. , Chen S. W. , Wei W. C. J. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractThe use of nanoparticulates in polymeric materials has become a potential alternative for organic–inorganic composite materials because of their versatility in property modification and ease of batch fabrication. This paper investigates the kneading and mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP) with added nano‐ZnO powder in sizes of 10–30 nm, through batch kneading and microinjection molding processes. The results show that the PP microgears with added ZnO nanoparticles are well replicated with clear structural definition. The resulting composites with a small amount of nanofiller added exhibit significant improvement in wear resistance and mechanical properties. The possible strengthening and wearing mechanisms is discussed based on the investigation of the worn and fractured surfaces of the composites. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 6009–6016, 2006
Submicrometer characterization of surfaces of epoxy‐based organic–inorganic nanocomposite coatings. A comparison of AFM study with currently used testing techniques
Authors: Špírková Milena , Šlouf Miroslav , Bláhová Olga , Farkačová Tereza , Benešová Jaroslava 
Published: September 2006

AbstractSurface properties (morphology, hardness) of transparent colorless epoxy‐based organic–inorganic nanocomposite coatings were investigated by atomic force microscopy, optical and scanning electron microscopy, nanoindentation, and the Persoz pendulum test. Friction and wear coefficients were obtained from tribological experiments. The influence of mechanical properties and the size, shape, and concentration of additives (colloidal silica particles and montmorillonite sheets) on the measured surface characteristics are discussed. It was found that the highest surface hardness (assigned by nanoindentation, pendulum test or expressed as the scratch resistance) exhibited materials with the glass‐transition temperature close to 20°C. Microcopy techniques revealed that surface morphology is influenced by both types of admixtures: on the nanometer scale by colloidal silica particles and on micrometer scale by montmorillonite platelets. Already 1 wt % of montmorillonite increased friction coefficients and wear resistance without distinctive changes of tensile properties. However, the addition of ˜ 20 wt. % of silica nanoparticles was necessary for the increase of wear and scratch resistances. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102:5763–5774, 2006
Synthesis of Some New Quinoxalines and 1,2,4‐Triazolo[4,3‐a]‐quinoxalines for Evaluation of in vitro Antitumor and Antimicrobial Activities
Authors: El‐Hawash Soad A. M. , Habib Nargues S. , Kassem Mervat A. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractTwo novel series of quinoxalines derived from 3‐phenylquinoxalin‐2(1H)‐one and 2‐hydrazino‐3‐phenylquinoxaline, namely 1‐substituted‐3‐phenylquinoxaline‐2(1H)‐ones, 2a–c, 3a–d, and 4; 2‐(3‐oxo‐3,3a,4,5,6,7‐hexahydroindazol‐2‐yl)‐3‐phenylquinoxaline 6; N‐ cyclopentylidene or benzylidene‐N′‐(3‐phenylquinoxaline‐2‐yl)hydrazines, 7 and 18; 1‐substituted‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazolo[4,3‐a]quinoxalines, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, and 16 have been synthesized in order to evaluate their antitumor and antimicrobial activities. Preliminary screening at NCI showed that compounds 2b, 2c, 3b, 3c, and 9 exhibited a moderate to strong growth inhibition activity on various tumor panel cell lines between 10–6 to 10–5 molar concentrations. Compound 3b was the most active with a broad spectrum of activity. Compound 3c showed selectivity towards CNS‐cancer SF‐639, leukemia CCRF‐CEM, and melanoma SK‐MEL‐5 (GI50 = 4.03, 6.46, and 4.17 μM, respectively). On the other hand, the in vitro microbiological data revealed that the prepared compounds showed mild antimicrobial activity.
Role of aggrecanase 1 in Lyme arthritis
Authors: Behera Aruna K. , Hildebrand Ethan , Szafranski Jon , Hung Han‐Hwa , Grodzinsky Alan J. , Lafyatis Robert , Koch Alisa E. , Kalish Robert , Perides George , Steere Allen C. , Hu Linden T. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractObjectiveArthritis is one of the hallmarks of late‐stage Lyme disease. Previous studies have shown that infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, results in degradation of proteoglycans and collagen in cartilage. B burgdorferi do not appear to produce any exported proteases capable of digesting proteoglycans and collagen, but instead, induce and activate host proteases, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which results in cartilage degradation. The role of aggrecanases in Lyme arthritis has not yet been determined. We therefore sought to delineate the contribution of aggrecanases to joint destruction in Lyme arthritis.MethodsWe examined the expression patterns of aggrecanases 1 and 2 (ADAMTS 4 and 5, respectively) in B burgdorferi–infected primary human chondrocyte cell cultures, in synovial fluid samples from patients with active Lyme arthritis, and in the joints of mice by real‐time quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting techniques. Bovine cartilage explants were used to determine the role of aggrecanases in B burgdorferi–induced cartilage degradation.ResultsADAMTS‐4, but not ADAMTS‐5, was induced in human chondrocytes infected with B burgdorferi. The active forms of ADAMTS‐4 were increased in synovial fluid samples from patients with active Lyme arthritis and were elevated in the joints of mice infected with B burgdorferi. Using cartilage explant models of Lyme arthritis, it appeared that the cleavage of aggrecan was predominantly mediated by “aggrecanases” rather than MMPs.ConclusionThe induction of ADAMTS‐4 by B burgdorferi results in the cleavage of aggrecan, which may be an important first step that leads to permanent degradation of cartilage.
The role of fibroblasts and fibroblast‐derived factors in periprosthetic osteolysis
Authors: Koreny Tamas , Tunyogi‐Csapó Miklós , Gál Istvan , Vermes Csaba , Jacobs Joshua J. , Glant Tibor T. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractObjectiveThis study was undertaken to investigate how fibroblasts respond to stimulation with particulate wear debris and/or conditioned media obtained from pathologic tissue, and whether these activated fibroblasts express compounds that are involved in bone resorption.MethodsConditioned media from explant cultures of synovial tissue, periprosthetic soft tissue (interface membranes), titanium particles, and proinflammatory cytokines were used to stimulate fibroblasts. RNase protection assay was used to measure altered gene expression, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot hybridization, and flow cytometry were used to determine fibroblast protein expression. Tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase staining was used to identify multinucleated osteoclast‐like cells.ResultsThe most dominant compounds measured in the conditioned media from interface membranes were tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP‐1), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), IL‐6, IL‐8, and vascular endothelial growth factor. Fibroblasts phagocytosed particulate wear debris and responded to cytokine/chemokine stimulation. The most prominent up‐regulated genes and proteins secreted by fibroblasts in response to stimulation were matrix metalloproteinase 1, MCP‐1, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, cyclooxygenase 1 (COX‐1), COX‐2, leukemia inhibitory factor 1, transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1), and TGFβ receptor type I. In addition, interface membrane fibroblasts expressed RANKL and osteoprotegerin in response to stimulation with conditioned media, TNFα, or IL‐1β. Stimulated fibroblasts cocultured with bone marrow cells in the presence of macrophage colony‐stimulating factor induced osteoclastogenesis.ConclusionInterface membrane fibroblasts respond directly to particulate wear debris, possibly via phagocytosis, expressing proinflammatory cytokines and RANKL. Thus, these cells may be actively involved in osteoclastogenesis and pathologic (periprosthetic) bone resorption.
Transglutaminase 2 limits murine peritoneal acute gout‐like inflammation by regulating macrophage clearance of apoptotic neutrophils
Authors: Rose David M. , Sydlaske Anya D. , Agha‐Babakhani Amir , Johnson Kristen , Terkeltaub Robert 
Published: September 2006

AbstractObjectiveMonosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) crystals have remarkable inflammatory potential. However, gouty inflammation is spontaneously self‐limited, an occurrence recognized since antiquity. Gouty synovitis is driven and sustained by neutrophil influx. Importantly, macrophage phagocytosis of apoptotic (but not necrotic) neutrophils is antiinflammatory. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that efficient clearance of apoptotic neutrophils by macrophages is one of the factors that restrains the progression of gouty inflammation. Macrophage expression of transglutaminase 2 (TG2), a multifunctional protein with reciprocally regulated transamidation and purine nucleotide–binding activities, promotes apoptotic leukocyte uptake. In this study, we tested the specific role of macrophage TG2 expression in MSU crystal–induced inflammation.MethodsWe studied MSU crystal–induced peritonitis in TG2−/− and congenic TG2+/+ mice. We also studied the effects of TG2 on apoptotic cell uptake by cultured macrophages.ResultsTG2−/− mice demonstrated more progressive neutrophilic accumulation than did TG2+/+ mice, which was associated with delayed clearance of apoptotic neutrophils during MSU crystal–induced peritonitis. We observed defective phagocytosis of apoptotic leukocytes by TG2−/− peritoneal macrophages, which was corrected by soluble extracellular TG2. Transamidation catalytic activity of TG2 was not required to mediate macrophage uptake of apoptotic leukocytes. In contrast, the TG2 nucleotide binding site residue K173 was critical for this TG2 function. TG2 bound to GDP, ADP, or ATP (but not to GTP) rescued defective apoptotic leukocyte uptake by TG2−/− macrophages.ConclusionEnhancement of apoptotic neutrophil uptake by macrophage‐derived TG2 restrains gout‐like neutrophilic peritoneal inflammation. Differential binding of TG2 by purine nucleotides may contribute to clinical variability in the extent and duration of gouty inflammation.
Treatment of giant cell arteritis using induction therapy with high‐dose glucocorticoids: A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, randomized prospective clinical trial
Authors: Mazlumzadeh Mehrdad , Hunder Gene G. , Easley Kirk A. , Calamia Kenneth T. , Matteson Eric L. , Griffing W. Leroy , Younge Brian R. , Weyand Cornelia M. , Goronzy Jörg J. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractObjectiveGlucocorticoid (GC) therapy for giant cell arteritis (GCA) is effective but requires prolonged administration, resulting in adverse side effects. The goal of the current study was to test the hypothesis that induction treatment with high‐dose pulse intravenous (IV) methylprednisolone permits a shorter course of therapy.MethodsTwenty‐seven patients with biopsy‐proven GCA were enrolled in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study to receive IV methylprednisolone (15 mg/kg of ideal body weight/day) or IV saline for 3 consecutive days. All patients were started on 40 mg/day prednisone and followed the same tapering schedule as long as disease activity was controlled. The numbers of patients with disease in remission after 36, 52, and 78 weeks of treatment and taking ≤5 mg/day prednisone were compared. Cumulative prednisone dose, number of relapses, and development of adverse GC effects were assessed.ResultsTen of the 14 IV GC–treated patients, but only 2 of 13 control patients, were taking ≤5 mg/day prednisone at 36 weeks (P = 0.003). This difference was maintained; there was a higher number of sustained remissions after discontinuation of treatment in the IV GC–treated group and a lower median daily dose of prednisone at 78 weeks (P = 0.0004). The median cumulative dose of oral prednisone, excluding the IV GC dose, was 5,636 mg in the IV GC–treated group compared with 7,860 mg in the IV saline–treated group (P = 0.001).ConclusionInitial treatment of GCA with IV GC pulses allowed for more rapid tapering of oral GCs and had long‐term benefits, with a higher frequency of patients experiencing sustained remission of their disease after discontinuation of treatment.
Aggregation of opinions based on correlated cues and advisors
Authors: Budescu David V. , Yu Hsiu‐Ting 
Published: September 2006

AbstractWe study the process by which decision makers (DMs) aggregate probabilistic opinions from multiple, correlated sources with a special emphasis on the determinants of the DM's confidence, which is a predictor of the DM's willingness to accept the implications of the aggregation process. Our model assumes that (a) DM combines the advisors' opinions by weighting them according to the amount of information underlying them, and (b) the DM's confidence increases as a function of a variety of factors that reduce the variance of the aggregate. We report results of three studies that manipulate the predictive validity of the cues and their inter‐correlations. Most of the models' predictions are supported but, contrary to the model's prediction, the DMs' confidence is not sensitive to the inter‐cue correlation. The best predictors of the DMs' confidence are the perceived predictability of the event, the level of agreement among the advisors, and the advisors' self‐reports of confidence. This pattern of results is explained by the ‘system neglect’ hypothesis. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Holoprosencephaly: Clinical, anatomic, and molecular dimensions
Authors: Cohen M. Michael 
Published: September 2006

AbstractHoloprosencephaly is addressed under the following headings: alobar, semilobar, and lobar holoprosencephaly; arrhinencephaly; agenesis of the corpus callosum; pituitary abnormalities; hindbrain abnormalities; syntelencephaly; aprosencephaly/atelencephaly; neural tube defects; facial anomalies; median cleft lip; minor facial anomalies; single maxillary central incisor; holoprosencephaly‐like phenotype; epidemiology; genetic causes of holoprosencephaly; teratogenic causes of holoprosencephaly; SHH mutations; ZIC2 mutations; SIX3 mutations; TGIF mutations; PTCH mutations; GLI2 mutations; FAST1 mutations; TDGF1 mutations; and DHCR7 mutations. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 76:658–673, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Molecular analysis of successful cell line selection in transfected GS‐NS0 myeloma cells
Authors: Barnes Louise M. , Bentley Catherine M. , Moy Nicola , Dickson Alan J. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractThe production of recombinant proteins from mammalian cells is now an essential part of biotechnology. However, despite this importance, the detailed characteristics of good producing cell lines remain largely unknown. The industrially important GS‐NS0 mammalian expression system is able to produce large amounts of protein from relatively few copies of recombinant genes. This makes GS‐NS0 cell lines ideal candidates to study the consequence of recombinant plasmid transfection in mammalian cells. This study investigated the molecular features of a panel of 17 randomly chosen GS‐NS0 cell lines engineered to produce a recombinant antibody. The research analysed antibody production via enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and investigated the molecular features of the transfectants by Northern, Southern and copy number analysis. The cell lines generated produced a range of antibody concentrations. In addition, for transfectants defined as producers of recombinant antibody there was a positive correlation between specific productivity and heavy chain mRNA expression. The use of Northern and Southern analysis allowed determination of the functional integrity of the transfected plasmid. Over 50% of the transfectants studied had molecular defects at the level of mRNA and/or cDNA. Cell lines were identified with suspected defects in the regulatory regions of transfected genes in addition to cell lines which lacked recombinant genes. Also, “false‐positive” cell lines were generated which were able to overcome the GS selection pressure without producing any recombinant antibody. This article discusses these findings in relation to vector design. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;96: 337–348. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Culture media optimization for growth and phycoerythrin production from Porphyridium purpureum
Authors: Kathiresan S. , Sarada R. , Bhattacharya Sila , Ravishankar G.A. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractPorphyridium spp. is a red micro alga and is gaining importance as a source of valuable products viz., phycobiliproteins (PB), sulfated exopolysaccharides, and polyunsaturated fatty acids with potential applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. In the present study, the effects of the major media constituents of Porphyridium species were studied using response surface methodology (RSM) on biomass yield, total PB and the production of phycoerythrin (PE). A second order polynomial can be used to predict the PB and PE production in terms of the independent variables. The independent variables such as the concentrations of sodium chloride, magnesium sulfate, sodium nitrate, and dipotassium hydrogen phosphate influenced the total PB and PE production. The optimum conditions showed that total PB was 4.8% at the concentration of sodium chloride 26.1 g/L, magnesium sulfate 5.23 g/L, sodium nitrate 1.56 g/L, and dipotassium hydrogen phosphate 0.034 g/L. In case of optimum PE production (3.3%), the corresponding values are 29.62, 6.11, 1.59, and 0.076 g/L, respectively. PE production depends greatly on the concentrations of chloride, nitrate, and sulfate as well as phosphate of which the former possess the maximum effect. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;96: 456–463. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Using CCSSE in planning for quality enhancement
Authors: Balog Scott E. , Search Sally P. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractThis chapter describes how Tallahassee Community College used CCSSE data as part of its overall student‐retention program, consisting of faculty workshops, analysis of state accountability data, and conscious incorporation of best practices. The resulting Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) meets accreditation requirements and strengthens the college's strategic plan.