bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The thermal conductivity of Nylon 6/clay nanocomposites
Authors: Zhou Hu , Zhang Shimin , Yang Mingshu 
Published: March 2008

AbstractNylon 6/clay nanocomposites (NCNs) of different clay loadings are prepared by melt compounding. The effects of clay loading and dispersion on the thermal conductivity of NCNs are investigated using XRD, TEM, DSC, and POM. The results show that the thermal conductivity of the exfoliated NCNs decreases with an increase of clay content; but the thermal conductivity of the intercalated NCNs does not decrease, indeed, it increase markedly at high clay content. Such results observed in the exfoliated NCNs are opposite to the expectation of the classic Maxwell thermal conduction model. The further investigations indicate that such decrease observed in the exfoliated NCNs is due mainly to the exfoliation of clay layers. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Soy‐based polyurethanes by nonisocyanate route
Authors: Javni Ivan , Hong Doo Pyo , Petrović Zoran S. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractPolyurethanes by a nonisocyanate route were prepared by reacting carbonated soybean oil with different diamines. The effect of amine structure and carbonate to amine ratio on polyurethane structure and mechanical, physical, and swelling properties was studied. The reactants 1,2‐ethylenediamine, 1,4‐butylenediamine, and 1,6‐hexamethylenediamine were used with the carbonate to amine ratio of 1 : 0.5, 1 : 1, and 1 : 2. It was found that along with urethane formation, the amine group reacted with ester groups to form amides. All amines produced elastomeric polyurethanes with glass transitions between 0 and 40°C and hardness between 40 and 90 Shore A. The reaction of epoxidized soybean oil with carbon dioxide was optimized resulting in complete conversion of epoxy to cyclic carbonate groups ending in polyurethanes with higher crosslinking density and much higher tensile strength than previously reported for similar polyurethanes. Swelling in toluene and water depended on crosslinking density and the polarity of polyurethane networks controlled by the cyclic carbonate‐to‐amine‐ratio. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Preparation and characterization of interpenetration polymer network films based on poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(acrylic acid) for drug delivery
Authors: Yue Yu‐Mei , Xu Kun , Liu Xiao‐Guang , Chen Qiang , Sheng Xiang , Wang Pi‐Xin 
Published: March 2008

AbstractA series of full interpenetrating polymer network (full‐IPN) films of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were prepared by radical solution polymerization and sequential IPN technology. Attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, swelling properties, mechanical properties, morphology, and glass transition temperature of the films were investigated. FTIR spectra analysis showed that new interaction hydrogen bonds between PVA and PAA were formed. Swelling property of the films in distilled water and different pH buffer solution was studied. Swelling ratio increased with increasing PAA content of IPN films in all media, and swelling ratio decreased with increasing PVA crosslink degree. Tensile strength and elongation at break related not only to the constitution of IPNs but also to the swelling ratio of IPNs. Mechanical property of glutaraldehyde (0.5%) for poly(vinyl alcohol) crosslinking was better than that of glutaraldehyde (1.0%). DSC of the IPN films showed only a single glass transition temperature (Tg) for each sample, and Tg data showed a linear relationship with network composition. Morphology was observed a homogeneous structure, indicating the good compatibility and miscibility between PAA and PVA. Potential application of the IPN films in controlled drug delivery was also examined using crystal violet as a model drug. The release rate of the drug was higher at 37°C than 25°C for all IPNs and also increased slightly with decreasing of poly(acrylic acid) content. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Professional storytelling in clinical dental anatomy teaching
Authors: Kieser Jules , Livingstone Vicki , Meldrum Alison 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe aim of the present work was to see if storytelling in a clinical dental anatomy course would increase student satisfaction. We enhanced teaching by spontaneous storytelling in problem‐based learning, in half of the third‐year dentistry class. At the end of the course, we administered an anonymous questionnaire to the students in the class, consisting of 12 questions that students had to answer on a Likert scale of 1–5. An overall satisfaction score was obtained and we used a linear mixed model to compare differences in satisfaction between the two groups, with “group” as the fixed effect. We also conducted an exploratory factor analysis of the responses to investigate whether there were distinct constructs within the data. Overall satisfaction is high, with students “with stories” having higher satisfaction than those “without stories.” The former group consistently gives higher satisfaction scores, regardless of which question is being asked. Factor analysis provides evidence that storytelling nurtures reflective learning, while students work on their clinical anatomy problems. Anat Sci Ed 1:84–89, 2008. © 2008 American Association of Anatomists.
Effects of oral kaempferol on the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen and one of its metabolites, 4‐hydroxytamoxifen, after oral administration of tamoxifen to rats
Authors: Piao Yongji , Shin Sang‐Chul , Choi Jun‐Shik 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIt has been reported that tamoxifen is a substrate of P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) and microsomal cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A, and kaempferol is an inhibitor of P‐gp and CYP3A. Hence, it could be expected that kaempferol would affect the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen. Thus, tamoxifen was administered orally (10 mg/kg) without or with oral kaempferol (2.5 and 10 mg/kg). In the presence of kaempferol, the total area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time zero to time infinity (AUC) of tamoxifen was significantly greater, Cmax was significantly higher and F was considerably greater than those without kaempferol. The enhanced bioavailability of oral tamoxifen by oral kaempferol could have been due to an inhibition of CYP3A and P‐gp by kaempferol. The presence of kaempferol did not alter the pharmacokinetic parameters of a metabolite of tamoxifen, 4‐hydroxytamoxifen. This could have been because the contribution of CYP3A to the formation of 4‐hydroxytamoxifen is not considerable in rats. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Decline in the prevalence of neural tube defects following folic acid fortification and its cost‐benefit in South Africa
Authors: Sayed Abdul‐Rauf , Bourne David , Pattinson Robert , Nixon Jo , Henderson Bertram 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: In October 2003 South Africa embarked on a program of folic acid fortification of staple foods. We measured the change in prevalence of NTDs before and after fortification and assessed the cost benefit of this primary health care intervention. METHODS: Since the beginning of 2002 an ecological study was conducted among 12 public hospitals in four provinces of South Africa. NTDs as well as other birth defect rates were reported before and after fortification. Mortality data were also collected from two independent sources. RESULTS: This study shows a significant decline in the prevalence of NTDs following folic acid fortification in South Africa. A decline of 30.5% was observed, from 1.41 to 0.98 per 1,000 births (RR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.49–0.98; p = .0379). The cost benefit ratio in averting NTDs was 46 to 1. Spina bifida showed a significant decline of 41.6% compared to 10.9% for anencephaly. Additionally, oro‐facial clefts showed no significant decline (5.7%). An independent perinatal mortality surveillance system also shows a significant decline (65.9%) in NTD perinatal deaths, and in NTD infant mortality (38.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in NTD rates postfortification is consistent with decreases observed in other countries that have fortified their food supplies. This is the first time this has been observed in a predominantly African population. The economic benefit flowing from the prevention of NTDs greatly exceeds the costs of implementing folic acid fortification. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mortality rates in subjects with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and their siblings
Authors: Burd Larry , Klug Marilyn G. , Bueling Robyn , Martsolf John , Olson Meredith , Kerbeshian Jacob 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Our objective was to estimate the mortality rate in subjects with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and their siblings whose FASD status was unknown. METHODS: We used the state FASD Registry to link subjects with FASD to a North Dakota birth certificate. We were able to link 304 of 486 cases (63%). We used the birth certificates to identify the mother and children born to the mother (siblings). We then searched for death certificates for both the FASD cases and their siblings. We then calculated the annual and age‐adjusted mortality rates for the siblings of the Registry cases and compared them with mortality rates from North Dakota. RESULTS: The FASD case mortality rate was 2.4%, with a 4.5% mortality rate for their sibings, accounting for 14% of all deaths when compared to the North Dakota residents matched by age and year of death. The sibling deaths accounted for 21.5% of all cause mortality matched by age and year of death. The age‐standardized mortality ratios were 4.9 for the FASD cases and 2.6 for their siblings whose FASD status was unknown. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality rates for FASD cases and their siblings were increased and represent a substantial proportion of all cause mortality in North Dakota. Prevention of FASD may be a useful strategy to decrease mortality. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Use of local rank‐based spatial information for resolution of spectroscopic images
Authors: de Juan Anna , Maeder Marcel , Hancewicz Thomas , Tauler Romà 
Published: March 2008

AbstractSpectroscopic images are singular chemical measurements that enclose chemical and spatial information about samples. Resolution of spectroscopic images is focused on the recovery of the pure spectra and distribution maps of the image constituents from the sole raw spectroscopic measurement. In image resolution, constraints are generally limited to non‐negativity and the spatial information is generally not used. Local rank analysis methods have been adapted to describe the local spatial complexity of an image, providing specific pixel information. This local rank information combined with reference spectral information allows the identification of absent compounds in pixels with low compound overlap. The introduction of this information in the resolution process under the form of constraints helps to increase the performance of the resolution method and to decrease the ambiguity linked to the final solutions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
One‐Pot Synthesis of Nitrones from Primary Amines and Aldehydes Catalyzed by Methyltrioxorhenium
Authors: Cardona Francesca , Bonanni Marco , Soldaini Gianluca , Goti Andrea 
Published: March 2008

AbstractOne‐pot condensation/oxidation of primary amines and aldehydes using urea–hydrogen peroxide (UHP) as the stoichiometric oxidant in the presence of methyltrioxorhenium (MTO) as catalyst affords nitrones in a simple and regioselective manner. UHP is a practical and safe source of H2O2, and its use here instead of aqueous H2O2 solutions also simplifies greatly the workup procedure as extractions with organic solvents can be avoided. Typically, at the end of the reaction the solid urea is simply filtered off. From a sustainability point of view, this one‐pot synthesis is simple to perform, takes place under mild conditions, has a high atom economy, and releases water as the only by‐product.
Enhanced sensitivity to DNA damage induced by cooking oil fumes in human OGG1 deficient cells
Authors: Wu Mei , Che Wangjun , Zhang Zunzhen 
Published: March 2008

AbstractCooking oil fumes (COFs) have been implicated as an important nonsmoking risk factor of lung cancer in Chinese women. However, the molecular mechanism of COFs‐induced carcinogenicity remains unknown. To understand the molecular basis underlying COFs‐induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity as well as the roles of hOGG1 in the repair of COFs‐induced DNA damage, a human lung cancer cell line with hOGG1 deficiency, A549‐R was established by using a ribozyme gene targeting technique that specifically knockdowned hOGG1 in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells. MTT and comet assays were employed to examine cell viability and DNA damage/repair, respectively, in A549‐R and A549 cell lines treated with COF condensate (COFC). RT‐PCR and Western blot results showed that the expression of hOGG1 in A549‐R cell line was significantly decreased compared with that in A549 cell line. The concentration of COFC that inhibited cell growth by 50% (the IC50) in the A549‐R cell line was much lower than that in the A549 cell line, and more COFC‐induced DNA damage was detected in the A549‐R cell line. The time course study of DNA repair demonstrated delayed repair kinetics in the A549‐R cell line, suggesting a decreased cellular damage repair capacity. Our results showed that hOGG1 deficiency enhanced cellular sensitivity to DNA damage caused by COFC. The results further indicate that hOGG1 plays an important role in repairing COF‐induced DNA damage. Our study suggests that COFs may lead to DNA damage that is subjected to hOGG1‐mediated repair pathways, and oxidative DNA damage may be involved in COF‐induced carcinogenesis. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Admissible Orders of Jordan Loops
Authors: Kinyon Michael K. , Pula Kyle , Vojtěchovský Petr 
Published: March 2008

AbstractA commutative loop is Jordan if it satisfies the identity x2(yx) = (x2y)x. Using an amalgam construction and its generalizations, we prove that a nonassociative Jordan loop of order n exists if and only if n≧ 6 and n≠ 9. We also consider whether powers of elements in Jordan loops are well‐defined, and we construct an infinite family of finite simple nonassociative Jordan loops. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 17: 103–118, 2009
Direct sums of balanced functions, perfect nonlinear functions, and orthogonal cocycles
Authors: LeBel Alain , Horadam K. J. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractDetermining if a direct sum of functions inherits nonlinearity properties from its direct summands is a subtle problem. Here, we correct a statement by Nyberg on inheritance of balance and we use a connection between balanced derivatives and orthogonal cocycles to generalize Nyberg's result to orthogonal cocycles. We obtain a new search criterion for PN functions and orthogonal cocycles mapping to non‐cyclic abelian groups and use it to find all the orthogonal cocycles over Z2t, 2 ≤ t ≤ 4. We conjecture that any orthogonal cocycle over Z2t, t ≥ 2, must be multiplicative. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 16: 173–181, 2008
Experimental evaluation of alternative fermentation media for L‐lactic acid production from apple pomace
Authors: Gullón Beatriz , Alonso José Luis , Parajó Juan Carlos 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: A variety of nitrogen sources were tested for lactic acid production. Corn steep liquor is a low‐cost by‐product that could replace some of the expensive nutrients of the general lactobacilli media. This work deals with the optimisation of the composition of a low‐cost medium for lactic acid production from apple pomace by Lactobacillus rhamnosus CECT‐288.RESULTS: Corn steep liquor (CSL) and yeast extract (YE) were evaluated as nutrient sources for lactic acid production from apple pomace. In comparison with media containing CSL, experiments with YE led to higher volumetric productivities but lower lactic acid concentrations and product yields. The presence of YE increased the production of acetic acid. In media containing 0.2 g CSL g−1 potential sugars, 29.5 g lactic acid L−1 was obtained after 24 h, at good yield (35.5 g per 100 g dry apple pomace) and productivity (1.23 g L−1 h−1), with a lactic acid/acetic acid mass ratio of 98 g g−1.CONCLUSION: The experimental results proved that CSL is a suitable nutrient source for lactic acid production from apple pomace, even though the volumetric productivity was lower than in experiments employing YE. Considered as a nutrient supplement, CSL presents advantages over YE not only in terms of cost but also in terms of product yield, final lactic acid concentration and lactic acid/acetic acid mass ratio. The utilisation of apple pomace as the raw material and CSL as the sole nutrient source (both cheap by‐products) enables the production of lactic acid by an economical, environmentally friendly process. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Biosorption of heavy metals from aqueous solution using modified activated carbon: comparison of linear and nonlinear methods
Authors: Lai Yi‐Ling , Annadurai Gurusamy , Huang Fu‐Chang , Lee Jiunn‐Fwu 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Biosorption of heavy metals from aqueous solution by modified activated carbon with Phanerochaete chrysosporium immobilised in Ca‐alginate beads was investigated using a batch system and comparison of linear and nonlinear methods.RESULTS: The amount of Cu(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II) ion sorption by the beads was as follows: activated carbon with P. chrysosporium immobilised in Ca‐alginate beads (ACFCA) (193.4, 181.8, 136.6 mg g−1) > activated carbon immobilised in Ca‐alginate beads (ACCA) (174.8, 162.0, 130.7 mg g−1) > P. chrysosporium (F) (148.8, 125.6, 120.4 mg g−1) > activated carbon (AC) (138.8, 112.3, 109.3 mg g−1) > plain Ca‐alginate beads (PCA) (125.4, 105.2, 98.2 mg g−1). The widely used Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were utilised to describe the biosorption equilibrium process.CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the immobilisation of modified activated carbon with P. chrysosporium in Ca‐alginate beads is suitable for a batch system. The isotherm parameters were estimated using linear and nonlinear regression analyses. The surface charge density of the biosorbents varied with the pH of the medium; the maximum biosorption of heavy metal ions on the biosorbents was obtained when the pH was between 5.6 and 7.4. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
6‐[123I]Iodo‐2‐[[4‐(2‐methoxyphenyl) piperazin‐1‐yl]methyl]imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine as potential SPECT agent for imaging dopamine D4receptor: synthesis andin vivoevaluation in a nonhuman primate
Authors: Alagille David , Koren Andrei O. , Kudej Greg , Staley Julie , Cosgrove Kelly , Seibyl John , Tamagnan Gilles D. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe dopamine D4receptor subtype has drawn considerable attention due to its potential implication in schizophrenia and erectile dysfunction. 6‐[123I]Iodo‐2‐[[4‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)piperazin‐1‐yl]methyl]imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine [123I]‐1, a potent and selective new dopamine D4agonist, was synthesized by classical iododestannylation using sodium [123I]iodide and chloramine‐T. Radiolabeling yield varied from 34 to 38% with a radiochemical purity exceeding 99%. Despite a goodin vitroprofile,in vivoevaluation of this radioligand in baboon showed no brain uptake after i.v. injection. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Physiographically sensitive mapping of climatological temperature and precipitation across the conterminous United States
Authors: Daly Christopher , Halbleib Michael , Smith Joseph I. , Gibson Wayne P. , Doggett Matthew K. , Taylor George H. , Curtis Jan , Pasteris Phillip P. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractSpatial climate data sets of 1971–2000 mean monthly precipitation and minimum and maximum temperature were developed for the conterminous United States. These 30‐arcsec (∼800‐m) grids are the official spatial climate data sets of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The PRISM (Parameter‐elevation Relationships on Independent Slopes Model) interpolation method was used to develop data sets that reflected, as closely as possible, the current state of knowledge of spatial climate patterns in the United States. PRISM calculates a climate–elevation regression for each digital elevation model (DEM) grid cell, and stations entering the regression are assigned weights based primarily on the physiographic similarity of the station to the grid cell. Factors considered are location, elevation, coastal proximity, topographic facet orientation, vertical atmospheric layer, topographic position, and orographic effectiveness of the terrain. Surface stations used in the analysis numbered nearly 13 000 for precipitation and 10 000 for temperature. Station data were spatially quality controlled, and short‐period‐of‐record averages adjusted to better reflect the 1971–2000 period.PRISM interpolation uncertainties were estimated with cross‐validation (C‐V) mean absolute error (MAE) and the 70% prediction interval of the climate–elevation regression function. The two measures were not well correlated at the point level, but were similar when averaged over large regions. The PRISM data set was compared with the WorldClim and Daymet spatial climate data sets. The comparison demonstrated that using a relatively dense station data set and the physiographically sensitive PRISM interpolation process resulted in substantially improved climate grids over those of WorldClim and Daymet. The improvement varied, however, depending on the complexity of the region. Mountainous and coastal areas of the western United States, characterized by sparse data coverage, large elevation gradients, rain shadows, inversions, cold air drainage, and coastal effects, showed the greatest improvement. The PRISM data set benefited from a peer review procedure that incorporated local knowledge and data into the development process. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Obesity in long‐term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Asner S. , Ammann R.A. , Ozsahin H. , Beck‐Popovic M. , von der Weid N.X. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBackgroundChildhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with current cure rates reaching 80% emphasizes the necessity to determine treatment related long‐term effects. The present study examines the prevalence of and the risk factors for overweight and obesity in a cohort of ALL survivors treated and living in the French speaking part of Switzerland.MethodsIn this retrospective two‐center study, height and weight of 54 patients diagnosed with ALL in first complete remission and treated with chemotherapy only were recorded at specified time points during treatment and off‐therapy. Body mass index (BMI) and its age‐ and gender‐adjusted standard deviation score (BMI‐SDS) were calculated for the patients and their parents separately. Overweight and obesity were defined by a threshold of BMI‐SDS >1.645 and BMI‐SDS >1.96, respectively.ResultsAt last follow‐up, 16 (30%) of the 54 survivors were overweight and 10 (18%) were obese. The off‐treatment period was most at risk with 11 of the 16 becoming overweight and 9 of the 10 becoming obese during that period. Overweight/obesity at diagnosis and abnormal maternal BMI were significantly associated with abnormal weight at follow‐up, while age at diagnosis, gender, cumulative dose of steroids and paternal BMI showed no association.ConclusionsConsistent with published evidence from other regions of the developed and developing world, there is a significant prevalence of obesity in young ALL survivors in the French speaking part of Switzerland. Factors significantly associated with this late effect were mostly related to the familial background rather than to the treatment components. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;51:118–122. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.