bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thermoplastic polymers as modifiers for urea–formaldehyde wood adhesives. III. In situ thermoplastic‐modified wood composites
Authors: Das S. , Matuana L. M. , Heiden P. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractAcrylic monomers and free‐radical initiators were dispersed in an aqueous urea–formaldehyde (UF) suspension and polymerized in situ to afford a suspension containing 5 wt % thermoplastic (5 g of thermoplastic/100 mL of suspension). The viscosity of the thermoplastic‐modified UF suspension (65 wt % solids at 25°C) ranged from 240 to 437 cP versus 121 cP for the unmodified UF control. Wood‐flour composites (sugar maple and 50 wt % adhesive) were prepared with thermoplastic‐modified UF suspensions and cured with the same cycle used for the composites prepared with the unmodified UF adhesive (control). The effect of the thermoplastic‐modified UF adhesive was evaluated on the notched Izod impact strength and equilibrium moisture uptake of the wood‐flour composites. The notched Izod impact strength of the composites prepared with modified UF adhesives increased by as much as 94% above that of the control. The increase depended on the initiator and the monomer composition. The modification affected the equilibrium moisture uptake and rate of moisture uptake in the wood‐flour composites. Preliminary results for particleboard prepared with 10 wt % modified UF adhesive (5% thermoplastic in the UF resin) and unoptimized cure conditions confirmed a significant effect of the thermoplastic modification on both the internal‐bond strength and thickness swelling of the particleboard. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Effects and properties of poly(arylene ether benzonitrile)s of various molecular weights blended with sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)
Authors: Wu Han‐Lang , Ma Chen‐Chi M. , Lin Chun‐Chieh , Chiu Yie‐Chan , Chen Chih‐Yuan , Chiang Chin‐Lung 
Published: November 2007

AbstractPoly(arylene ether benzonitrile) (PAEBN) was synthesized with 2,6‐dichlorobenzonitrile and biphenol. PAEBNs with various molecular weights (MWs), 1,640,000 and 185,000 g/mol, were synthesized by control of the stoichiometry of the monomers and were blended with sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK). The effects of MW on the water uptake, swelling, methanol permeability, and proton conductivity of the SPEEK/PAEBN blend membranes were investigated. The molecular mobility of the SPEEK/PAEBN blends was also examined in this study. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Cholinergic innervation of the frontal cortex: Differences among humans, chimpanzees, and macaque monkeys
Authors: Raghanti Mary Ann , Stimpson Cheryl D. , Marcinkiewicz Jennifer L. , Erwin Joseph M. , Hof Patrick R. , Sherwood Chet C. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractCholinergic innervation of the frontal cortex is important in higher cognitive functions and may have been altered in humans relative to other species to support human‐specific intellectual capacities. To evaluate this hypothesis we conducted quantitative comparative analyses of choline acetyltransferase‐immunoreactive axons in cortical areas 9, 32, and 4 among humans, chimpanzees, and macaque monkeys. Area 9 of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is involved in inductive reasoning and specific components of working memory processes, while area 32 of the medial prefrontal cortex has been implicated in theory of mind. Area 4 (primary motor cortex) was also evaluated because it is not directly associated with higher cognitive functions. The findings revealed no quantitative species differences in the three cortical areas examined, indicating that human cognitive specializations are not related to a quantitative increase in cortical cholinergic input. However, species‐specific morphological specializations were observed. Clusters of cholinergic fibers that may be indicative of cortical plasticity events were present in chimpanzees and humans, but not in macaques. The other significant morphology noted was the common and distinctive oval or ovoid perisomatic staining in macaque cortices. This feature was also sporadically observed in chimpanzee cortex. Our findings suggest a potential alteration of cortical cholinergic afferents within the prefrontal cortex of humans and chimpanzees, to the exclusion of macaque monkeys. J. Comp. Neurol. 506:409–424, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Eulerian–Lagrangian grid coupling and penalty methods for the simulation of multiphase flows interacting with complex objects
Authors: Sarthou A. , Vincent S. , Caltagirone J. P. , Angot Ph. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractOur purpose is to develop an efficient coupling between incompressible multiphase flows and fixed or moving obstacles of complex shape. The flow is solved on a fixed Cartesian grid and the solid objects are represented by surface elements. Our strategy is based on two main originalities: the generation and management of the objects are ensured by computer graphics software and front‐tracking methods, while the coupling between the flow and the obstacle grids is ensured by a fictitious domain approach and new high‐order penalty techniques. Several validation problems are presented to demonstrate the interest and accuracy of the method. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genuinely multidimensional characteristic‐based scheme for incompressible flows
Authors: Razavi S. E. , Zamzamian K. , Farzadi A. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper presents a novel multidimensional characteristic‐based (MCB) upwind method for the solution of incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. As opposed to the conventional characteristic‐based (CB) schemes, it is genuinely multidimensional in that the local characteristic paths, along which information is propagated, are used. For the first time, the multidimensional characteristic structure of incompressible flows modified by artificial compressibility is extracted and used to construct an inherent multidimensional upwind scheme. The new proposed MCB scheme in conjunction with the finite‐volume discretization is employed to model the convective fluxes. Using this formulation, the steady two‐dimensional incompressible flow in a lid‐driven cavity is solved for a wide range of Reynolds numbers. It was found that the new proposed scheme presents more accurate results than the conventional CB scheme in both their first‐ and second‐order counterparts in the case of cavity flow. Also, results obtained with second‐order MCB scheme in some cases are more accurate than the central scheme that in turn provides exact second‐order discretization in this grid. With this inherent upwinding technique for evaluating convective fluxes at cell interfaces, no artificial viscosity is required even at high Reynolds numbers. Another remarkable advantage of MCB scheme lies in its faster convergence rate with respect to the CB scheme that is found to exhibit substantial delays in convergence reported in the literature. The results obtained using new proposed scheme are in good agreement with the standard benchmark solutions in the literature. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Country‐of‐origin, localization, or dominance effect? An empirical investigation of HRM practices in foreign subsidiaries
Authors: Pudelko Markus , Harzing Anne‐Wil 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis article contributes to two recurring and very central debates in the international management literature: the convergence vs. divergence debate and the standardization vs. localization debate. Using a large‐scale sample of multinationals headquartered in the United States, Japan, and Germany, as well as subsidiaries of multinationals from these three countries in the two other respective countries, we test the extent to which HRM practices in subsidiaries are characterized by country‐of‐origin, localization, and dominance effects. Our results show that overall the dominance effect is most important (i.e., subsidiary practices appear to converge to the dominant U.S. practices). Hence, our results lead to the rather surprising conclusion for what might be considered to be the most localized of functions—HRM—that convergence to a worldwide best practices model is clearly present. The lack of country‐of‐origin effects for Japanese and German multinationals leads us to a conclusion that is of significant theoretical as well as practical relevance. Multinationals might limit the export of country‐of‐origin practices to their core competences and converge to best practices in other areas. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Activation of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways after soman poisoning in rat cerebellar granule neurons
Authors: Pejchal J. , Österreicher J. , Kassa J. , Tichý A. , Mokrý J. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe expression of activated p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) and activated MAPK transcription factors c‐jun, c‐myc and elk‐1 were examined in rat cerebellum after soman poisoning to determine the pathogenetic mechanism of the non‐specific long‐term effects of nerve agents. Male Wistar rats were poisoned by intramuscular administration of soman at a dose 60 µg kg−1 (70% LD50) and samples were taken 1, 7 and 14 days after poisoning, immunohistochemically stained and p‐p38MAPK, p‐c‐jun, p‐c‐myc and p‐elk‐1 expressions were measured using image analysis. Control groups were administered with saline instead of soman. The expression of activated p38MAPK and c‐myc increased 14 days after soman poisoning while c‐jun and elk‐1 expressions remained unchanged 1, 7 and 14 days after soman poisoning. Delayed activation of p38 MAPK and its targets might be involved in the pathogenetic mechanism of the long‐term neurophysiological toxic effects of nerve agents. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Heparin modification of calcium phosphate bone cements for VEGF functionalization
Authors: Lode A. , Reinstorf A. , Bernhardt A. , Wolf‐Brandstetter C. , König U. , Gelinsky M. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractA promising strategy to promote angiogenesis within an engineered tissue is the local and sustained delivery of an angiogenic factor by the substitute itself. Recently, we reported on functionalization of Biocement D (BioD) and several modifications of this calcium phosphate bone cement with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Maintenance of biological activity of VEGF after release from the cement was improved by modification of BioD with mineralized collagen type I (BioD/coll). However, BioD/coll composites showed a higher initial burst of VEGF release than do the unmodified BioD. In the present study, VEGF release from BioD/coll composites modified with different amounts of heparin was investigated. We found a distinct reduction of the initial burst of release by adding heparin in a concentration‐dependent manner. Moreover, the heparin modification had a positive impact on the biological activity of released VEGF. An advancement of biological properties of BioD/coll by addition of heparin was further shown by improved adhesion of endothelial cells on the cement surface. Characterization of material properties of the heparin‐modified BioD/coll composites revealed a finer microstructure with smaller HA‐particles and a higher specific surface area than heparin‐free BioD/coll. However, higher amounts of heparin resulted in a reduced compressive strength. The rheological properties of these cement pastes have been found to be favorable for good handling particularly with regard to their clinical application. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 2008
The effect of combined application of TGFβ‐1, BMP‐2, and COLLOSS® E on the development of bone marrow derived osteoblast‐like cells in vitro
Authors: van der Zande M. , Walboomers X. F. , Briest A. , Springer M. , Álava J. I. , Jansen J. A. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis study investigated the combined application of Transforming Growth Factor β‐1 (TGFβ‐1) and Bone Morphogenetic Protein‐2 (BMP‐2) to stimulate osteogenic expression in vitro. TGFβ‐1 and BMP‐2 fulfill specific roles in the formation of new bone. COLLOSS® E, a bone‐derived collagen product containing a variety of naturally occurring growth factors, was also used. Growth factors were administered to osteoblast‐like cells from rat bone marrow (RBM). Proliferation and differentiation were monitored up to 24 days, by measuring total DNA content, alkaline phosphatase activity, and calcium content. Genetic expression of a set of differentiation markers at day 7 was measured by Q‐PCR. Adding BMP‐2 alone induced high proliferation rates, compared to the growth factor supplemented groups, and it induced high differentiation rates, compared to the control group. Adding TGFβ‐1 combined with BMP‐2, TGFβ‐1 alone, or COLLOSS® E resulted in a significant decrease in proliferation rate, but an increase in differentiation rate, compared to the control group. Additive or synergistic effects of application of TGFβ‐1 and BMP‐2 were not observed. The observed effects of COLLOSS® E mainly resembled those of TGFβ‐1 application alone. It can be concluded that BMP‐2 is the most suitable candidate for osteogenic stimulation of RBM cells in these settings. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 2008
Self‐assembling cyclodextrin based hydrogels for the sustained delivery of hydrophobic drugs
Authors: Daoud‐Mahammed S. , Grossiord J. L. , Bergua T. , Amiel C. , Couvreur P. , Gref R. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis study aims to investigate the rheological properties of self‐assembling gels containing cyclodextrins with potential application as injectable matrix for the sustained delivery of poorly soluble drugs. The ability of these gels to entrap two hydrophobic molecules, benzophenone (BZ) and tamoxifen (TM), and to allow their in vitro sustained release was evaluated. In view of their future pharmaceutical use, gels were sterilized by high hydrostatic pressures (HHP) and tested for their biocompatibility. The gels formed instantaneously at room temperature, by mixing the aqueous solutions of two polymers: a β‐cyclodextrin polymer (pβCD) and a hydrophobically modified dextran by grafting alkyl side chains (MD). MD‐pβCD gels presented a viscoelastic behavior under low shear, characterized by constant values of the loss modulus G″ and the storage modulus G′. The most stable gels were obtained for a total polymer concentration Cp of 6.6% and 7.5% (w/w), and a polymer ratio MD/pβCD of 50/50 and 33/67 (w/w). BZ and TM were successfully incorporated into MD‐pβCD gels with loading efficiencies as high as 90%. In vitro, TM and BZ were released gradually from the gel matrix with less than 25% and 75% release, respectively, after 6 days incubation. HHP treatment did not modify the rheological characteristics of MD‐pβCD gels. Moreover, the low toxicity of these gels after intramuscular administration in rabbits makes them promising injectable devices for local delivery of drugs. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 2008
The cancer nuclear microenvironment: Interface between light microscopic cytology and molecular phenotype
Authors: True Lawrence D. , Jordan C. Diana 
Published: November 2007

AbstractA definitive diagnosis of cancer may be rendered by microscopic assessment of only a few cells in an appropriate clinical setting due to the distinctive nuclear structure of most cancer cells in comparison to nuclei of normal human cells. The molecular architecture of non‐neoplastic human nuclei—of the nuclear matrix and of matrix‐associated proteins and nucleic acids—is being characterized in exquisite molecular detail. What is missing is the application of the findings and tools of molecular biology to understanding the cytological structure of cancer nuclei. This article delves into the basis of nuclear structure at different levels of resolution—light microscopic, electron microscopic, and molecular. J. Cell. Biochem. 104: 1994–2003, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Developmental expression and differential cellular localization of obscurin and obscurin‐associated kinase in cardiac muscle cells
Authors: Borisov Andrei B. , Raeker Maide Ö. , Russell Mark W. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractObscurin and obscurin‐associated kinase are two products of the obscurin transcriptional unit that encodes a recently identified giant muscle‐specific protein obscurin. In this study, we characterized the developmental expression and cellular localization of obscurin and obscurin‐associated kinase in cardiac muscle cells. We cloned murine obscurin‐associated kinase and found that it is abundantly expressed in the heart as two isotypes encoded by 2.2 and 4.9 kb sequences. The 2.2 kb isotype of the kinase was more prominently expressed than the 4.9 kb isotype. Both obscurin and the kinase‐like domains were progressively upregulated since the early stages of cardiac development. Obscurin‐associated kinase was expressed at higher levels than obscurin at early stages of cardiomyogenesis. Increasing intensity of obscurin expression in the developing heart positively correlated with progressive cell differentiation and was higher in the ventricles compared to the atria. These data were supported by the results of experiments with primary cardiac cell cultures. Obscurin localization changed from a weakly immunopositive diffuse pattern in poorly differentiated cells to an intensely immunolabeled cross‐striated distribution at the level of mid‐A‐bands and Z‐disks during the assembly of the myofibrillar contractile apparatus. In dividing myocytes, unlike the interphase cells, obscurin translocated from disassembling myofibrils into a diffuse granulated pattern segregated separately from α‐actinin‐immunopositive aggregates. Obscurin‐associated kinase was localized mainly to cell nuclei with increasing incorporation into the Z‐disks during differentiation. Our results suggest that these two novel proteins are involved in the progression of cardiac myogenesis during the transition to advanced stages of heart development. J. Cell. Biochem. 103: 1621–1635, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression and distribution of S100 protein in the nervous system of the adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Germanà A. , Marino F. , Guerrera M.C. , Campo S. , de Girolamo P. , Montalbano G. , Germanà G.P. , Ochoa‐Erena F.J. , Ciriaco E. , Vega J.A. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractS100 proteins are EF‐hand calcium‐binding protein highly preserved during evolution present in both neuronal and non‐neuronal tissues of the higher vertebrates. Data about the expression of S100 protein in fishes are scarce, and no data are available on zebrafish, a common model used in biology to study development but also human diseases. In this study, we have investigated the expression of S100 protein in the central nervous system of adult zebrafish using PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. The central nervous system of the adult zebrafish express S100 protein mRNA, and contain a protein of ∼10 kDa identified as S100 protein. S100 protein immunoreactivity was detected widespread distributed in the central nervous system, labeling the cytoplasm of both neuronal and non‐neuronal cells. In fact, S100 protein immunoreactivity was primarily found in glial and ependymal cells, whereas the only neurons displaying S100 immunoreactivity were the Purkinje's neurons of the cerebellar cortex and those forming the deep cerebellar nuclei. Outside the central nervous system, S100 protein immunoreactivity was observed in a subpopulation of sensory and sympathetic neurons, and it was absent from the enteric nervous system. The functional role of S100 protein in both neurons and non‐neuronal cells of the zebrafish central nervous system remains to be elucidated, but present results might serve as baseline for future experimental studies using this teleost as a model. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Methylphenidate use in children and risk of cancer at 18 sites: results of surveillance analyses
Authors: Oestreicher Nina , Friedman Gary D. , Jiang Sheng‐Fang , Chan Jim , Quesenberry Charles , Habel Laurel A. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractPurposeA recent report linked methylphenidate (MPH) use in children to cytologic abnormalities in plasma lymphocytes, a possible cancer biomarker. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of MPH use and childhood cancer risk.MethodsUsing automated pharmacy databases and the SEER‐affiliated cancer registry of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program (KPMCP), we compared cancer rates at 18 sites among 35 400 MPH users who received it before age 20 to rates among KPMCP membership (age, sex, and calendar year standardized). Medical records of MPH exposed cancer cases were reviewed to identify the presence of established risk factors.ResultsThere were 23 cancers among MPH users, versus 20.4 expected (standardized morbidity ratio, SMR = 1.13, 95% confidence interval (0.72, 1.70)). Given the small number of cancers, site‐specific SMR estimates were imprecise. Only one SMR was statistically significant at the p < 0.05 level, which given the number of comparisons is consistent with the absence of a true association at any site. MPH use was associated with increased risk of lymphocytic leukemia (SMR = 2.64 (1.14, 5.20)), based on eight observed cases). The medical records of these exposed cases did not reveal any lymphocytic leukemia risk factors (prior cancer, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, or Down syndrome).ConclusionsOur results are consistent with no moderate or strong association between MPH use and cancer risk in children, although our ability to examine dose and duration of use or risk at specific sites was limited by small numbers. Further study of MPH use and lymphocytic leukemia risk is needed to determine whether our results are due to chance alone. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation of 3‐arm star polymers (A3) via Diels–Alder click reaction
Authors: Dag Aydan , Durmaz Hakan , Hizal Gurkan , Tunca Umit 
Published: November 2007

AbstractDiels–Alder click reaction was successfully applied for the preparation of 3‐arm star polymers (A3) using furan protected maleimide end‐functionalized polymers and trianthracene functional linking agent (2) at reflux temperature of toluene for 48 h. Well‐defined furan protected maleimide end‐functionalized polymers, poly (ethylene glycol), poly(methyl methacrylate), and poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) were obtained by esterification or atom transfer radical polymerization. Obtained star polymers were characterized via NMR and GPC (refractive index and triple detector detection). Splitting of GPC traces of the resulting polymer mixture notably displayed that Diels–Alder click reaction was a versatile and a reliable route for the preparation of A3 star polymer. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 302–313, 2008