bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, Characterisation and Optical Properties of Silica Nanoparticles Coated with Anthracene Fluorophore and Thiourea Hydrogen‐Bonding Subunits
Authors: Calero Pilar , Martínez‐Máñez Ramón , Sancenón Félix , Soto Juan 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBifunctionalised hybrid silica nanoparticles have been synthesised and characterised, and their optical emission properties in the presence of certain anions in acetonitrile solutions have been studied. The alkoxysilane derivatives N‐butyl‐N′‐[3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]thiourea (1), N‐phenyl‐N′‐[3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]thiourea (2) and 3‐[(anthracen‐10‐yl)methylthio]propyltriethoxysilane (3) were prepared and used to functionalise uncoated LUDOX silica nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 18 ± 2 nm. The functionalisation of the nanoparticle surfaces was carried out by two different approaches. The first approach relies on the consecutive grafting of the two subunits. In this protocol, the nanoparticles were first functionalised with anthracene derivative 3 (solid NA), and then treated with the corresponding binding sites 1 or 2 to result in the NA‐Pt3 and NA‐Bt3 solids. The second approach deals with the simultaneous grafting of 1 or 2 and the signalling subunit 3 in different ratios. This method was used for the preparation of the NA1Pt1, NA1Bt1, NA1Pt3 and NA1Bt3 nanoparticles. The bifunctionalised silica nanoparticles were characterised by using standard techniques. Acetonitrile suspensions of NA nanoparticles (5 mg in 20 mL) showed anthracene bands centred at ca. 350, 370 and 390 nm. Upon excitation at 365 nm, a typical emission band with fine structure in the 390–450 nm range was observed. Similar absorption and emission spectra were found for the bifunctionalised nanoparticles. The work is completed with a prospective study of the fluorescence of the prepared nanoparticles in the presence of organic (acetate, benzoate) and inorganic (F–, Cl–, Br–, CN–, HSO4– and H2PO4–) anions. The apparent binding constants (adsorption constants) for the interaction of NA‐Pt3 with anions in acetonitrile were determined by performing a Langmuir‐type analysis of fluorescence titration data.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Inter‐ and Intrachain Spin‐Transition Processes in One‐Dimensional Polynuclear Iron(III) Complexes of N,N′‐Ethylenebis(acetylacetonylideneimine) Bridged by 1,3‐Bis(4‐pyridyl)propane and 1,4‐Bis(imidazolyl)butane
Authors: Imatomi Shinya , Hashimoto Shingo , Matsumoto Naohide 
Published: November 2008

AbstractTwo one‐dimensional (1D) polynuclear iron(III) complexes, [FeIII(acacen)(bpyp)]BPh4 (1) and [FeIII(acacen)(bimb)]BPh4 (2), were synthesized [acacen = N,N′‐ethylenebis(acetylacetonylideneiminato); bpyp = 1,3‐bis(4‐pyridyl)propane; bimb = 1,4‐bis(imidazolyl)butane]. Complexes 1 and 2 show gradual spin‐crossover (SCO) behavior over a wide temperature range from 100 to 300 K and from 220 to higher than 350 K, respectively. The single‐crystal X‐ray structures of two complexes in the high‐spin (HS), low‐spin (LS), and the midpoint between HS and LS states were determined. Crystal structures of both complexes consist of two molecular units (Fe1 and Fe2), where complex 1 consists of two crystallographically independent 1D chains and complex 2 consists of one 1D chain involving two molecular units. At the temperature midway between the HS and LS states, the Fe–N bond lengths in the two units are different from each other. At the midpoint, complex 1 consists of alternately arrayed independent HS and LS chains, whereas complex 2 consists of alternately arrayed HS and LS units within a chain. The results demonstrate two different SCO mechanisms of a 1D complex, that is, SCO occurs in chain‐by‐chain fashion for 1 and in adjacent Fe units within a chain for 2. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Bone inflammation and altered gene expression with type I diabetes early onset
Authors: Motyl Katherine J. , Botolin Sergiu , Irwin Regina , Appledorn Daniel M. , Kadakia Tejas , Amalfitano Andrea , Schwartz Richard C. , McCabe Laura R. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractType I diabetes is associated with bone loss and marrow adiposity. To identify early events involved in the etiology of diabetic bone loss, diabetes was induced in mice by multiple low dose streptozotocin injections. Serum markers of bone metabolism and inflammation as well as tibial gene expression were examined between 1 and 17 days post‐injection (dpi). At 3 dpi, when blood glucose levels were significantly elevated, body, fat pad and muscle mass were decreased. Serum markers of bone resorption and formation significantly decreased at 5 dpi in diabetic mice and remained suppressed throughout the time course. An osteoclast gene, TRAP5 mRNA, was suppressed at early and late time points. Suppression of osteogenic genes (runx2 and osteocalcin) and induction of adipogenic genes (PPARγ2 and aP2) were evident as early as 5 dpi. These changes were associated with an elevation of serum cytokines, but more importantly we observed an increase in the expression of cytokines in bone, supporting the idea that bone, itself, exhibits an inflammatory response during diabetes induction. This inflammation could in turn contribute to diabetic bone pathology. IFN‐γ (one of the key cytokines elevated in bone and known to be involved in bone regulation) deficiency did not prevent diabetic bone pathology. Taken together, our findings indicate that bone becomes inflamed with the onset of T1‐diabetes and during this time bone phenotype markers become altered. However, inhibition of one cytokine, IFN‐γ was not sufficient to prevent the rapid bone phenotype changes. J. Cell. Physiol. 218: 575–583, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Subnuclear targeting of the Runx3 tumor suppressor and its epigenetic association with mitotic chromosomes
Authors: Pande Sandhya , Ali Syed A. , Dowdy Christopher , Zaidi Sayyed K. , Ito Kosei , Ito Yoshiaki , Montecino Martin A. , Lian Jane B. , Stein Janet L. , van Wijnen Andre J. , Stein Gary S. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractRunx proteins are tissue‐specific transcriptional scaffolds that organize and assemble regulatory complexes at strategic sites of target gene promoters and at intranuclear foci to govern activation or repression. During interphase, fidelity of intranuclear targeting supports the biological activity of Runx1 and Runx2 proteins. Both factors regulate genes involved in cell cycle control and cell growth (e.g., rRNA genes), as well as lineage commitment. Here, we have examined the subcellular regulatory properties of the third Runx member, the tumor suppressor protein Runx3, during interphase and mitosis. Using in situ cellular and biochemical approaches we delineated a subnuclear targeting signal that directs Runx3 to discrete transcriptional foci that are nuclear matrix associated. Chromatin immunoprecipitation results show that Runx3 occupies rRNA promoters during interphase. We also find that Runx3 remains associated with chromosomes during mitosis and localizes with nucleolar organizing regions (NORs), reflecting an interaction with epigenetic potential. Taken together, our study establishes that common mechanisms control the subnuclear distribution and activities of Runx1, Runx2, and Runx3 proteins to support RNA polymerase I and II mediated gene expression during interphase and mitosis. J. Cell. Physiol. 218: 473–479, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Targeting of focal adhesion kinase by small interfering RNAs reduces chondrocyte redifferentiation capacity in alginate beads culture with type II collagen
Authors: Kim Yun Hee , Lee Jin Woo 
Published: November 2008

AbstractType II collagen is a major protein that maintains biological and mechanical characteristics in articular cartilage. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is known to play a central role in integrin signaling of cell–extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions, and chondrocyte–type II collagen interactions are very important for cartilage homeostasis. In this study, we focused on phosphorylation of FAK and MAP kinase in chondrocyte–type II collagen interaction and dedifferentiation, and the effects of FAK knockdown on chondrocyte‐specific gene expression and cell proliferation were determined. The addition of exogenous type II collagen to chondrocytes increased levels of tyrosine phosphorylation, p‐FAKY397, and p‐ERK1/2. In contrast, expression levels of p‐FAKY397and p‐ERK1/2, but not p‐Smad2/3, were decreased in dedifferentiated chondrocytes with loss of type II collagen expression. Type II collagen expression was significantly increased when dedifferentiated chondrocytes were transferred to alginate beads with TGF‐β1 or type II collagen, but transfected cells with small interfering RNA for FAK (FAK‐siRNA) inhibited mRNA expression of type II collagen and SOX‐6 compared to the control. These FAK‐siRNA‐transfected cells could not recover type II collagen even in the presence of TGF‐β1 or type II collagen in alginate beads culture. We also found that FAK‐siRNA‐transfected cells decreased cell proliferation rate, but there was no effect on glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) secretion. We suggest that FAK is essentially required in chondrocyte communication with type II collagen by regulating type II collagen expression and cell proliferation. J. Cell. Physiol. 218: 623–630, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Electrothermal model of optocoupler for SPICE
Authors: Górecki Krzysztof , Stepowicz Witold J. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractIn the paper a new electrothermal model of the optocoupler for SPICE is proposed. The model is based on electrical models of the LED and the bipolar phototransistor with their parameters dependent on temperature, their thermal models including both the self‐heating phenomenon and the mutual thermal interactions between the LED and the phototransistor, and the dependences describing electrical power dissipated in these components. The final form of the electrothermal model of the optocoupler elaborated by the authors, dedicated to the d.c. and a.c. computations, was implemented in SPICE. The usefulness of the new model was experimentally verified for the optocoupler 4N25. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Universal tenets or diametrical differences? An analysis of ecotourism definitions from China and abroad
Authors: Donohoe Holly M. , Lu Xiaoli 
Published: November 2008

AbstractIn recent years, there has been increasing attention afforded ecotourism development in China. However, a national ecotourism framework has yet to emerge. This has forced planners, managers, policy‐makers and researchers to look abroad for guidance. And, this raises sensitivity concerns related to Chinese cultural values, perspectives, and expectations regarding nature‐based tourism experiences. This study analyzes contemporary Chinese ecotourism definitions with the objective to identify a set of common definitional themes. These themes are them compared to a set of ecotourism tenets established through antecedent analysis of definitions from abroad. A discussion of universal tenets, cultural values, diametrical differences, and the achievement of sustainable ecotourism ensues. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)‐Coated MWCNTs Tethered to Conducting Substrates: Facile Electrochemistry and Enhanced Coloring Efficiency
Authors: Bhandari Shweta , Deepa Melepurath , Srivastava Avaneesh Kumar , Lal Chhotey , Kant Rama 
Published: November 2008

AbstractComposite films of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)‐coated over functionalized multiwalled coiled and linear carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been fabricated by a simple oxidative electropolymerization route. The nanotubular morphology of the polymer–CNT composite is responsible for the lower charge transfer impedance, lower internal resistance, and superior capacitive response in comparison to that shown by the control PEDOT film doped by trifluoromethanesulfonate ions. This facile electrochemistry exhibited by the PEDOT–CNT composite film ensues in a remarkably high coloration efficiency of 367 cm2 · C−1 at 550 nm, hitherto unrealized for PEDOT; thus demonstrating the huge potential the PEDOT–CNT composite film has as cathode for the entire spectrum of electrochromic devices.magnified image
Using perdeuterated surfactant micelles to resolve mixture components in diffusion‐ordered NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Zielinski Matthew E. , Morris Kevin F. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractDiffusion‐ordered NMR spectroscopy resolves mixture components on the basis of differences in their respective diffusion coefficients or molecular sizes. However, when components have near‐identical diffusion coefficients, they are not resolved in the diffusion dimension of a diffusion‐ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) spectrum. Adding surfactant micelles to these mixtures has been shown to enhance resolution when the component molecules interact differentially with the micelles. This approach is similar to that used in electrokinetic chromatography (EKC) where modifiers like micelles or polymers are used to enhance the separation of mixture components. In this study, perdeuterated surfactants are added to analyte mixtures studied with the DOSY technique. Since no micelle resonances appear in the mixture spectra, the difficulty associated with performing biexponential analyses in spectral regions where analyte and surfactant resonances overlap is avoided. The approach is demonstrated using mixtures of peptides with near‐identical diffusion coefficients. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
13C and 15N NMR spectra of aminobenzimidazoles in solution and in the solid state
Authors: Ángeles García M. , Claramunt Rosa M. , Solčan Tomáš , Milata Viktor , Alkorta Ibon , Elguero José 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe 13C [hexadeutero‐dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO‐d6), hexamethyl‐phosphoramide (HMPA)‐d18and solid‐state] and 15N (solid‐state) NMR spectra of six C‐aminobenzimidazoles have been recorded. The tautomerism of 4(7)‐aminobenzimidazoles and 5(6)‐aminobenzimidazoles has been determined and compared with B3LYP/6‐311 + + G(d,p) calculations confirming the clear predominance of the 4‐amino tautomer and the slight preference for the 6‐amino tautomer. GIAO‐calculated absolute shieldings compare well with experimental chemical shifts. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metabolite profiling of fecal water extracts from human colorectal cancer
Authors: Monleón Daniel , Morales José Manuel , Barrasa Antonio , López Jose Antonio , Vázquez Carlos , Celda Bernardo 
Published: November 2008

AbstractColorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in developed countries. There is a need for better preventive strategies to improve the outcome of this disease. The increasing availability of high‐throughput methodologies opens up new possibilities for screening new markers. The application of NMR metabolic profiling to fecal water extracts has interesting potential as a diagnostic tool for detecting colorectal cancer. We obtained NMR metabolic profiles of fecal water extracts from patients with colorectal cancer and healthy individuals, to characterize possible differences between them and to identify potential diagnostic markers. Our results show that metabolic profiling of fecal water extracts is a cheap, reproducible and effective method for detecting colorectal cancer markers and therefore complements other stool‐screening methods. A low concentration of short‐chain fatty acids, such as acetate and butyrate, previously associated with the development of colorectal cancer, appears to be the most effective marker. Concentrations of proline and cysteine, which are major components of most colonic epithelium mucus glycoproteins, also display significant changes in samples from colorectal cancer. Differentiation between fecal water extracts from controls and patients with colorectal cancer by NMR spectroscopy combined with chemometric techniques opens up new possibilities for developing new, efficient, high‐throughput screening protocols. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Attitudes and perceptions about prenatal diagnosis and induced abortion among adults of Pakistani population
Authors: Arif Muhammad Osman , Fatmi Zafar , Pardeep Bhisham , Ali Tuba , Iqbal Hameed , Bangash Haider Khan , Pervaiz Rushna , Altaf Hira , Baba Javed Ali 
Published: November 2008

AbstractObjectivesPerception and attitude regarding prenatal screening and induced abortion vary across different populations. This study assesses the attitudes and perceptions regarding prenatal screening and induced abortion among Pakistani adults.MethodsWe conducted a cross‐sectional study among adults (18+) coming to the Aga Khan University Hospital, a private tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.ResultsMajority (65%) of the study population had knowledge about prenatal screening and it was acceptable to most (85.5%) of them. Significant proportion had high acceptance for induced abortion (23%) of a fetus that has serious congenital anomalies. On the other hand, 15% were unwilling to consider termination of pregnancy (TOP) in any circumstances. Women had more favorable attitude toward induced abortion. Most of the respondents (63%) were in favor of abortion if fetal death was imminent as a result of a congenital abnormality. Majority wanted mutual consultation of husband and wife for making decision regarding induced abortion (84%).ConclusionThere was a considerable discord in opinion about abortion in the study population. Health care providers should involve both parents in making decisions about abortions and counsel them adequately about congenital disorders. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative voltammetry of the reduction of methyl benzoate in THF reveals strong ion pairing of the radical anion with tetra‐n‐butyl cations
Authors: Baron Ronan , Kershaw Neil M. , Donohoe Timothy J. , Compton Richard G. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe reduction of methyl benzoate was studied in tetrahydrofuran (THF), 0.1 M TBAP, both at platinum and glassy carbon macroelectrodes and at platinum microelectrodes. While cyclic voltammograms obtained at macroelectrodes show extensive distortion due to ohmic drop, this distortion is negligible for cyclic voltammograms obtained at microelectrodes. The system methyl benzoate/methyl benzoate radical anion was found to be chemically reversible. The fitting of chronoamperometric measurements using the Shoup and Szabo's expression obtained at microdisc electrodes allowed us to estimate the diffusion coefficient of methyl benzoate. Cyclic voltammetry was modelled allowing the determination of the formal potential, $E_f^0$, of the transfer coefficient, α, and of the standard heterogeneous kinetic constant for the electron transfer, k 0. Furthermore, it was found that the diffusion coefficient for the radical anion produced at the electrode surface has an apparent value of 2.1 × 10−6 ± 0.5 cm2 s−1 (25 °C) which is ca. 10 times smaller than the value obtained for the diffusion coefficient of methyl benzoate (2.1 × 10−5 ± 0.1 cm2 s−1). Taking into account the species present in solution, this result could only be explained by a strong ion pairing between the methyl benzoate anion radical and the tetra‐n‐butylammonium cation used as an electrolyte ion in the solution. The ion pair is found to be stable on the time scale of cyclic voltammetry and no evidence of any following homogeneous chemical reaction was found. Further studies involved the performance of cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry at low temperatures (down up to −81 °C) and the analysis of this data allowed the determination of the activation energy, E A, through an Arrhenius plot, both for the diffusion coefficient and for the electron transfer reaction. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A simple model of coupled synoptic waves in the land surface and atmosphere of the northern Sahel
Authors: Parker Douglas J. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractA simple dynamic model is developed to describe the observed interactions between the atmosphere and the soil moisture patterns of the northern Sahel. In the model, the atmosphere follows quasi‐geostrophic dynamics, while land‐atmosphere coupling is described by simple linear relationships. Dry surfaces heat the atmospheric boundary layer, while wet surfaces cool the boundary layer, relative to the equilibrium state of the atmosphere and land surface. In turn, cloud processes, which are assumed to maximise in the cool, humid phase of an atmospheric disturbance, cool the land surface through wetting (rainfall) and reduction of the incoming solar flux. These assumptions lead to a linear system which can be solved numerically to obtain modal solutions, and the adjoints (optimal excitation) of these. Moist convective influences on the atmospheric state are not explored in detail.The coupling with the land surface leads to the existence of unstable modes, which do not exist in the atmosphere‐only part of the system. Solutions can be easterly or westerly propagating, according to wave number, with the longer waves tending to be easterly. Propagation relies on a favourable configuration between the atmospheric and soil moisture anomalies: easterly propagation requires the surface temperature pattern to be shifted to the east of the atmospheric temperature pattern. In contrast, optimal excitation of the fastest‐growing mode occurs when the atmospheric pattern has a thermal anomaly lying to the east of a strong surface temperature (and moisture) anomaly. These results have value for weather prediction, and indicate the usefulness of soil moisture data for forecasters. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
An alternative evaluation of FMEA: Fuzzy ART algorithm
Authors: Keskin Gülşen Aydın , Özkan Coşkun 
Published: November 2008

AbstractFailure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a technique used in the manufacturing industry to improve production quality and productivity. It is a method that evaluates possible failures in the system, design, process or service. It aims to continuously improve and decrease these kinds of failure modes. Adaptive Resonance Theory (ART) is one of the learning algorithms without consultants, which are developed for clustering problems in artificial neural networks. In the FMEA method, every failure mode in the system is analyzed according to severity, occurrence and detection. Then, risk priority number (RPN) is acquired by multiplication of these three factors and the necessary failures are improved with respect to the determined threshold value. In addition, there exist many shortcomings of the traditional FMEA method, which affect its efficiency and thus limit its realization. To respond to these difficulties, this study introduces the method named Fuzzy Adaptive Resonance Theory (Fuzzy ART), one of the ART networks, to evaluate RPN in FMEA. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A continual improvement framework with integration of CMMI and six‐sigma model for auto industry
Authors: Lin Lie‐Chien , Li Tzu‐Su , Kiang Judy P. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractDuring the recent years, the major driving forces of customer preference, vehicle safety, environmental protection, and flat demand for new cars led to a proliferation of car models and associated price reduction in the auto supply chain. To react to the complex and competitive environment, auto suppliers are urgent to conduct continual improvement (CI) in an effective and systematic way. Thus, this paper presents a framework for CI. The Integrated Development System is proposed to integrate both capability maturity model integration and six‐sigma approach. By implementing the framework, an automaker can establish a solid process‐based management system, identify critical processes, and optimize these processes. For demonstrating the application of this framework, a case study is presented and the result shows that all expected processes' performance targets are achieved, which has dramatically improved by 70% compared with the past records. Apparently, the proposed framework would act as a useful reference to improve an organization's process maturity. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.