bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dual Endothelin Receptor Blockade Acutely Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Patients With Insulin Resistance and Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Ahlborg Gunvor , Shemyakin Alexey , Böhm Felix , Gonon Adrian , Pernow John 
Published: February 2007

OBJECTIVE—Endothelin (ET)-1 is a vasoconstrictor and proinflammatory peptide that may inhibit glucose uptake. The objective of the study was to investigate if ET (selective ETA and dual ETA+ETB) receptor blockade improves insulin sensitivity in patients with insulin resistance and coronary artery disease.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Seven patients (aged 58 ± 2 years) with insulin resistance and coronary artery disease completed three hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp protocols: a control clamp (saline infusion), during ETA receptor blockade (BQ123), and during combined ETA (BQ123) and ETB receptor blockade (BQ788). Splanchnic blood flow (SBF) and renal blood flow (RBF) were determined by infusions of cardiogreen and p-aminohippurate.RESULTS—Total-body glucose uptake (M) differed between the clamp protocols with the highest value in the BQ123+BQ788 clamp (P &lt; 0.05). The M value corrected by insulin was higher in the BQ123+BQ788 than in the control clamp (P &lt; 0.01) or the BQ123 clamp (P &lt; 0.05). There was no difference between the control clamp and the BQ123 clamp. Mean arterial pressure did not change during the control clamp, whereas it decreased during both the BQ123 (P &lt; 0.01) and BQ123+BQ788 (P &lt; 0.05) clamps. RBF increased and renal vascular resistance decreased in the BQ123+BQ788 clamp (P &lt; 0.05) but not in the BQ123 clamp. There was no change in SBF in either clamp.CONCLUSIONS—Dual ETA+ETB receptor blockade acutely enhances insulin sensitivity in patients with insulin resistance and coronary artery disease, indicating an important role for endogenous ET-1.
Association of Television Viewing With Fasting and 2-h Postchallenge Plasma Glucose Levels in Adults Without Diagnosed Diabetes
Authors: Dunstan David W. , Salmon Jo , Healy Genevieve N. , Shaw Jonathan E. , Jolley Damien , Zimmet Paul Z. , Owen Neville ,   on behalf of the AusDiab Steering Committee
Published: February 2007

OBJECTIVE—We examined the associations of television viewing time with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2-h postchallenge plasma glucose (2-h PG) levels in Australian adults.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—A total of 8,357 adults aged &gt;35 years who were free from diagnosed diabetes and who attended a population-based cross-sectional study (Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study [AusDiab]) were evaluated. Measures of FPG and 2-h PG were obtained from an oral glucose tolerance test. Self-reported television viewing time (in the previous week) was assessed using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) of insulin sensitivity (HOMA-%S) and β-cell function (HOMA-%B) were calculated based on fasting glucose and insulin concentrations.
RESULTS—After adjustment for confounders and physical activity time, time spent watching television in women was positively associated with 2-h PG, log fasting insulin, and log HOMA-%B and inversely associated with log HOMA-%S (P &lt; 0.05) but not with FPG. No significant associations were observed with glycemic measures in men. The β-coefficients across categories of average hours spent watching television per day (&lt;1.0, 1.0–1.9, 2.0–2.9, 3.0–3.9, and ≥4.0) for 2-h PG in women were 0 (reference), 0.009, 0.047, 0.473, and 0.501, respectively (P for trend = 0.02).
CONCLUSIONS—Our findings highlight the unique deleterious relationship of sedentary behavior (indicated by television viewing time) and glycemic measures independent of physical activity time and adiposity status. These relationships differed according to sex and type of glucose measurement, with the 2-h PG measure being more strongly associated with television viewing. The findings suggest an important role for reducing sedentary behavior in the prevention of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, especially in women.
Impact of Disease Characteristics on the Efficacy of Duloxetine in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain
Authors: Ziegler Dan , Pritchett Yili L. , Wang Fujun , Desaiah Durisala , Robinson Michael J. , Hall Jerry A. , Chappell Amy S. 
Published: February 2007

OBJECTIVE—To evaluate the impact of baseline disease variables related to diabetes and diabetic neuropathy severity on efficacy and safety of duloxetine in the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—The impact of baseline conditions was evaluated using the data from three pooled placebo-controlled studies for combined duloxetine, doses of 60 mg q.d. and 60 mg b.i.d., versus placebo. The primary efficacy measure was the weekly mean of 24-h average pain severity, and night pain was the secondary measure. Safety and tolerability were assessed.
RESULTS—There were no significant (P &gt; 0.10) interactions of treatment by age (&lt;65 or ≥65 years), type of diabetes (type 1 or type 2), duration of diabetes (median split &lt;9.18 or ≥9.18 years), duration of diabetic neuropathy (&lt;2, 2 to &lt;6, or ≥6 years), severity of diabetic neuropathy (baseline Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument score &lt;5 or ≥5), baseline A1C level (median split &lt;7.6 or ≥7.6%), or baseline insulin use (yes/no). Significant interactions for both pain measures were observed in baseline pain subgroups (Brief Pain Inventory average pain, ≥6 and &lt;6). Duloxetine was more effective in the subgroup with more pain. No significant association was found between any other subgroups (P &gt; 0.10). Significant interactions (P &lt; 0.1) occurred with treatment-emergent adverse events when stratified by subgroups.
CONCLUSIONS—Pain severity but not variables related to diabetes or neuropathy may predict the effects of duloxetine in diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain. The efficacy of duloxetine is related to the initial pain severity and is generalizable across a broad spectrum of diabetic patients, including those with the highest severity of diabetes or neuropathy.
Rate of Healing of Neuropathic Ulcers of the Foot in Diabetes and Its Relationship to Ulcer Duration and Ulcer Area
Authors: Ince Paul , Game Fran L. , Jeffcoate William J. 
Published: February 2007

OBJECTIVE—To examine the outcome of neuropathic foot ulcers and to seek associations between healing and features of the ulcers at baseline.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Data were collected prospectively during the course of routine management. All patients were selected who presented to a single unit between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2004 with neuropathic foot ulcers and without evidence of either peripheral arterial disease or infection. Associations were sought between ulcer characteristics at baseline and clinical outcome.
RESULTS—A total of 154 patients (66.9% male) presented with 410 ulcers. Age was 57.4 ± 12.0 years (means ± SD). A total of 178 (43.4%) ulcers were on the plantar aspect of the foot; 73.7% of ulcers had a cross-sectional area of &lt;1 cm2. Median ulcer duration at referral was 15 days (range 1–1,046). Healing without amputation was observed in 91.7%. The percentage of ulcers healed at 12, 20, and 52 weeks were 59.3, 70.5, and 86.6%, respectively. Significant associations were observed between area at referral and outcome type (χ2 P &lt; 0.0001), prior ulcer duration (Kruskal-Wallis P = 0.006), and time to healing (Kruskal-Wallis P = 0.014), as well as between ulcer duration and time to healing (Spearman ρ, r = 0.104, P = 0.047). There was no difference between plantar and nonplantar ulcers.
CONCLUSIONS—The rate of healing in this cohort provides a benchmark for comparison with other centers. While further work is needed to determine how outcomes can be improved in unselected series such as these, the confirmation of close relationships between ulcer duration at referral, ulcer area, and outcome emphasizes the importance of early expert assessment of newly occurring neuropathic ulcers.
Impaired Skin Microvascular Reactivity in Painful Diabetic Neuropathy
Authors: Quattrini Cristian , Harris Nigel D. , Malik Rayaz A. , Tesfaye Solomon 
Published: February 2007

OBJECTIVE—The pathogenesis of painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is not clear. Following our in vivo observations of increased sural nerve epineurial blood flow in patients with PDN, we investigated the cutaneous microcirculation of the foot by laser Doppler flowmetry to determine if the epineurial findings were just confined to the nerve or more widespread in other vascular beds.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We measured foot skin vasodilator responses to acetylcholine (Ach) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and vasoconstrictor responses to sympathetic (deepest possible gasp) stimulation in 5 healthy control subjects, 10 non-neuropathic diabetic (NND) patients, 10 diabetic patients with painless neuropathy (PLDN), and 8 diabetic patients with PDN.
RESULTS—In PDN, there were significantly reduced responses to Ach (ANOVA P = 0.003) and vasoconstrictor inspiratory gasp (ANOVA P &lt; 0.001) but not to SNP (NS). Post hoc analysis showed significant differences in Ach-induced vasodilation between PDN and nondiabetic control subjects (P &lt; 0.05) as well as between PDN and NND (P &lt; 0.05) but not PDN and PLDN (NS). There were no significant differences for SNP-induced vasodilation. However, there were significant differences in the vasoconstrictor response between PDN and control, NND, and PLDN (P &lt; 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS—We found an impairment of cutaneous endothelium-related vasodilation and C-fiber–mediated vasoconstriction in PDN. Inappropriate local blood flow regulation may have a role in the pathogenesis of pain in diabetic neuropathy. Prospective studies are required to determine the temporal relationship of these changes in relation to the emergence of neuropathic pain.
Rate of convergence to the semi-circle law for the Deformed Gaussian Unitary Ensemble
Authors: Götze Friedrich , Tikhomirov Alexander , Timushev Dmitry 
Published: February 2007

Abstract
It is shown that the Kolmogorov distance between the expected spectral distribution function of an n × n matrix from the Deformed Gaussian Ensemble and the distribution function of the semi-circle law is of order O(n
−2/3+v
).
High-quality MBE growth of AlχGa1-χ
As-based THz quantum cascade lasers
Authors: Roch Tomas , Andrews Aaron , Fasching Gernot , Benz Alexander , Schrenk Werner , Unterrainer Karl , Strasser Gottfried 
Published: February 2007

Abstract
High-quality GaAs-based quantum cascade laser (QCL) structures for the terahertz (THz) emission have been grown by solid source molecular-beam epitaxy. Ex-situ high-resolution x-ray diffraction shows that layer thickness and its control is the most critical growth aspect and that the lasing potential of the structure can be determined by the thickness accuracy of the layers. For our samples, the thickness tolerance for working lasing structures emitting approximately 100 μm was determined to be minimally above 1% for a 15 μm active region which was composed of 54.6 nm cascade cells. Increasing interface roughness adversely affects the lasing threshold and power.
Creep strain recovery of Fe-Ni-B amorphous metallic ribbon
Authors: Juríková Alena , Csach Kornel , Miškuf Jozef , Ocelík Václav 
Published: February 2007

Abstract
Creep strain recovery and structural relaxation of the amorphous metallic glass Fe40Ni41B19 after longtime loading at different annealing temperatures below the glass transition temperature have been studied using anisothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dilatometry (TMA). It has been demonstrated that structural relaxation effects depend on the stress-annealing temperature of the amorphous ribbon. The structural relaxation states of the amorphous ribbon annealed at different temperatures under and without applied stress have been compared. The activation energy spectra were calculated from the anisothermal dilatometric measurements using the modern method based on the Fourier transformation technique. The influence of the annealing temperature on the shape of creep strain recovery spectra has been analyzed.
A Light‐Driven Pseudo[4]rotaxane Encoded by Induced Circular Dichroism in a Hydrogel
Authors: Ma X. , Wang Q. , Qu D. , Xu Y. , Ji F. , Tian H. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractA light‐driven pseudo[4]rotaxane 1, based on α‐cyclodextrin (α‐CyD) and cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]), is prepared in an easy and convenient manner. The reference pseudo[2]rotaxane 2 and pseudo[3]rotaxane 2′ are obtained via the insertion of α‐CyD and CB[7] onto the dumbbell 3, thus including an azobenzene unit and two viologen moieties, respectively. The CyD macrocycle in pseudo[4]rotaxane 1 can be photochemically stimulated to shuttle accompanied with obvious induced circular dichroism (ICD) signals. The ICD performances of these pseudorotaxanes, including ICD in aqueous solution, variable‐temperature ICD, ICD in confected hydrogel systems and in solid‐state films, are investigated for their conformational identification. The photo‐driven shuttling of the CyD macrocycle in pseudo[4]rotaxane 1 is easier than in the CyD‐based pseudo[2]rotaxane 2, especially in non‐solution media. This can be attributed to the space exploitation of CB[7]‐included parts, which aid the movement of α‐CyD.
Nanopiezotronics
Authors: Wang Z. L. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis article introduces the fundamental principle of nanopiezotronics, which utilizes the coupled piezoelectric and semiconducting properties of nanowires and nanobelts for designing and fabricating electronic devices and components, such as field‐effect transistors and diodes. The physics of nanopiezotronics is based on the principle of a nanowire nanogenerator that converts mechanical energy into electric energy. It is anticipated to have a wide range of applications in electromechanical coupled electronics, sensing, harvesting/ recycling energy from the environment, and self‐powered nanosystems.
Inside Front Cover: Photoinduced Nitrosyl Linkage Isomers Uncover a Variety of Unconventional Photorefractive Media (Adv. Mater. 5/2007)
Authors: Schaniel D. , Imlau M. , Weisemoeller T. , Woike T. , Krämer K. W. , Güdel H.‐U. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractPhotorefraction, i.e., a light‐induced change of the refractive index, is uncovered as general feature of light‐induced linkage isomers in [ML5NO]n± compounds, independent of the metals M, the ligands L, or the charge n. Dominik Schaniel and co‐workers report on p. 723 that huge amplitudes of refractive‐index changes, up to 10–2, give rise to pronounced holographic light scattering, which is visualized by impressively bright cones of scattered light, as shown on the inside cover.
Quantification of performance of sensor networks for fault diagnosis
Authors: Narasimhan Sridharakumar , Rengaswamy Raghunathan 
Published: February 2007

AbstractSafety and optimality are crucial requirements in every industrial process. The success of any fault diagnosis technique depends critically on the sensors measuring the important process variables. Choosing an appropriate sensor network is a combinatorially difficult problem, especially when the number of potential measurements is large. There has been considerable amount of work that has been done on developing algorithms for sensor network design for fault diagnosis based on quantitative and qualitative models. Various objectives, such as cost, reliability and fault resolution have been used in the sensor network design. While these design algorithms can provide the best design locations for a given cost, the value of the sensor network for fault diagnosis or benefit accrued is usually not quantified in a manner that is transparent to the user. This is an important aspect that needs to be addressed if these algorithms have to be assimilated into industrial practice. An approach for characterizing the value of a sensor network from a fault diagnosis perspective is proposed. This notion of value can be used directly in sensor network design algorithms. The proposed concepts are explained through a simple example and numerical simulations of a CSTR. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007
Mass transfer in coal seams for CO2 sequestration
Authors: Wang F. Y. , Zhu Z. H. , Massarotto P. , Rudolph V. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractCO2 sequestration in coal seams is a relatively new technique to simultaneously achieve enhanced coal bed methane production and reduced CO2 emission. In this article, we integrate understandings in individual research fields to provide improved insight into the nature of this complex process. Our current overall model constructed from a number of sub‐models consists of mass transfer in four pore types, namely, fractures, micro‐, meso‐, and macro‐pores, all having pore size dependent characteristics. Key parameters are estimated using well established methods from the general literature. Three mechanisms of coal swelling leading to permeability variations during adsorption are proposed based on molecular simulations. The macroscopic level model is validated using a true tri‐axial stress coal permeameter, which provides previously unpublished, accurate dynamic measurements of systems properties in three orthogonal directions including changes to the coal matrix volume. The integrated model provides a more complete and flexible representation for this complex system. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007
Effect of order of mixing on morphology and thermal properties of the compatibilized PBT and ABS alloys/OMT nanocomposites
Authors: Xiao Junfeng , Hu Yuan , Lu Hongdian , Cai Yibing , Chen Zuyao , Fan Weicheng 
Published: February 2007

AbstractPoly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene terpolymers (ABS) alloys/organically modified montmorillonite (OMT) nanocomposites using terpolymers of random ethylene, methyl acrylate, and glycidyl methacrylate as the reactive compatibilizer were prepared by different melt‐mixing sequences. The microstructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and high‐resolution electron microscopy. It was found that order of mixing affects the dispersion state of OMT in the alloy matrix. The crystallization behavior of PBT in the compatibilized PBT and ABS alloys/OMT nanocomposites was studied by wide angle X‐ray diffraction. It revealed that order of mixing has influence on the preferential crystal growing direction of PBT owing to the antagonistic effect of ABS and OMT. Thermogravimetric analyses and differential scanning calorimetry also showed order of mixing changes the thermal property of the compatibilized PBT and ABS alloys/OMT nanocomposites. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 2130–2139, 2007
Swelling behaviors of ionic poly(N,N‐dimethylacrylamide‐co‐acrylamide) hydrogels in various media
Authors: Çaykara Tuncer , Akçakaya İlkay 
Published: February 2007

AbstractPolyelectrolyte hydrogels were synthesized from N,N‐dimethylacrylamide, acrylamide, and itaconic acid with ammonium persulfate as a free‐radical initiator in the presence of methylene(bis)acrylamide as a crosslinker. The swelling behavior of the ionic poly(N,N‐dimethylacrylamide‐co‐acrylamide) hydrogels was investigated in pure water, in KSCN solutions with pHs 4 and 9, and in water–acetone mixtures according to the itaconic acid content in the hydrogel. The pulsatile swelling behavior of these hydrogels was studied both in water–acetone and in pH 2–9 buffer solutions. Although the equilibrium swelling ratio of the hydrogels with low concentrations of itaconic acid was almost not affected by changes in the temperature, the equilibrium swelling ratio of the hydrogels with high concentrations of itaconic acid increased in the temperature range of 20–50°C. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 2140–2145, 2007
Acrylic‐based nanocomposite resins for coating applications
Authors: Nobel M. L. , Mendes E. , Picken S. J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractAcrylic‐based nanocomposite resins have been investigated in view of future application in water borne automotive coatings by the aid of postemulsification processes. Mechanical, flow and leveling properties of the nanocomposite resins, containing various concentrations of silicate, have been investigated. The results are related to morphological information obtained from TEM and WAXS measurements in the liquid suspension as well as from the cured film. At low silicate loadings, when flow properties are still acceptable for typical emulsification processing, a strong increase in modulus of the cured coating films is observed because of the mainly exfoliated silicate platelets. The rate of increase in modulus of the cured films decreases at higher silicate loadings. Analyzing the mechanical data, using Halpin–Tsai theory indicates that this is due to less perfect exfoliation at higher silicate loading, which is confirmed by TEM analysis. In addition at higher silicate loading, the flow properties of the resin as analyzed by DMA show solid‐like behavior. This can lead to poor film formation in future application. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 2146–2156, 2007
Batch and continuous processing of polymer layered organoclay nanocomposites
Authors: Demirkol Emre A. , Kalyon Dilhan M. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe generation of nanocomposites upon intercalation and exfoliation of clay tactoids using melt compounding is a difficult process. In this study various polymeric binders were melt compounded with organophilic clay particles using myriad methods, including sonication, batch mixing, and twin screw extrusion. The characterization of the compounded samples employing X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that there is little intercalation and exfoliation when nonpolar poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) and poly(propylene) (PP) binders were used, resulting in no significant changes in the dynamic properties of the suspensions upon small‐amplitude oscillatory shearing. On the other hand, when polar polymeric binders, i.e., silanol terminated poly(dimethyl siloxane) and maleic anhydride modified PP were used for compounding with organoclays, TEM and XRD revealed intercalation with some partial exfoliation, resulting in increases in the dynamic properties, along with sensitivity to the thermomechanical history during processing. These results reinforce earlier findings, which suggest that the interfacial properties between the organoclays and the polymeric binders need to be tailored properly to enable the generation of nanocomposites of organoclays using melt compounding technologies. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1391–1398, 2007
Degradation kinetics of acrylonitrile/methyl vinyl ketone copolymers
Authors: Hou Chen , Guo Zhenliang , Liu Junshen , Ying Liang 
Published: February 2007

AbstractMethyl vinyl ketone (MVK) was first used to successfully copolymerize with acrylonitrile (AN). This was achieved by using azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator. Differential scanning calorimetry results of the degradation of AN/MVK copolymers in air are presented. The apparent activation energy of degradation of the copolymers was calculated with Kissinger method. Effects of copolymerization conditions on the apparent activation energy of the copolymers were studied. It has been found that increasing dimethyl sulfoxide concentration in the solvent mixture leads to a rapid increase in the degradation apparent activation energy of AN/MVK copolymers. The apparent activation energy decreases quickly along with increase in the comononer MVK concentration, and this change becomes less prominent as the weight ratio of MVK/AN goes beyond 7/93. The apparent activation energy shows a trend of increase as the copolymerization temperature increases. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1386–1390, 2007