bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rituximab treatment in patients with IVIg‐dependent immune polyneuropathy: A prospective pilot trial
Authors: Gorson Kenneth C. , Natarajan Neela , Ropper Allan H. , Weinstein Robert 
Published: September 2006

AbstractWe studied the effect of rituximab in allowing a reduction in dose of intravenous immune globulin (IVIg) in six patients with IVIg‐dependent, relapsing immune polyneuropathy. Rituximab (375 mg/m2intravenously each week for 4 weeks) was administered in a prospective, open‐label design to two patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), two with multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), one with neuropathy and anti–myelin‐associated glycoprotein (MAG) antibody neuropathy, and one with Sjögren syndrome (SS) ataxic neuropathy. The primary endpoint was a reduced cumulative IVIg dosage by at least 25% at 1 year after rituximab therapy compared to the previous year. Secondary endpoints included an improved summed strength score by at least 5 points on the Medical Research Council scale, an increased sensory score by at least 4 points, or an improved Rankin disability score by at least 1 grade. Total IVIg dosage decreased by greater than 25% in one patient with SS neuropathy and one with MMN; the dosage was unchanged in one with CIDP, slightly reduced in the patient with anti‐MAG neuropathy, and increased in one with CIDP and another with MMN. There was no improvement in secondary endpoints. No adverse events occurred. In this small prospective study, rituximab did not reduce IVIg requirements in the majority of patients with IVIg‐dependent, immune‐mediated polyneuropathies. Muscle Nerve, 2006
Analysis of liquefaction susceptibility of nearly saturated sands
Authors: Jafari‐Mehrabadi Ahmad , Abedinzadegan Abdi Majid , Popescu Radu 
Published: September 2006

AbstractA new constitutive formulation for simulating the behaviour of nearly saturated sands under seismic loads is presented. The formulation is based on combining the Henry's law for dissolution of gas in water, the ideal or perfect gas law and the law of conservation of mass. The effects of transient air dissolution in water on the compressibility of partially saturated soils are also taken into account. The model was calibrated based on numerical simulations of isotropically consolidated cyclic triaxial tests conducted on partially saturated samples of Toyoura sand. A multi‐yield plasticity soil constitutive model implemented in the finite element code DYNAFLOW was used for these numerical simulations. It is shown that the formulation proposed here is able to reasonably predict the soil cyclic undrained behaviour at various degrees of saturation (95% and higher). Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Distinct functions of neuronal synaptobrevin in developing and mature fly photoreceptors
Authors: Rister Jens , Heisenberg Martin 
Published: September 2006

AbstractNeuronal synaptobrevin (n‐Syb, alias VAMP2), a synaptic vesicle membrane protein with a central role in neurotransmission, is specifically cleaved by the light chain of tetanus neurotoxin (TNT) that is known to reliably block neuroexocytosis. Here, we study fly photoreceptors transmitting continuous, graded signals to first order interneurons in the lamina, and report consequences of targeted expression of TNT in these cells using the UAS/GAL4 driver/effector system. Expressing the toxin throughout photoreceptor development causes developmental, electrophysiological, and behavioral defects. These can be differentiated by confining toxin expression to shorter developmental periods. Applying a method for controlled temporal and spatial TNT expression, we found that in the early pupa it impaired the development of the retina; in the midpupa, during synapse formation TNT caused a severe hypoplasia of the lamina that persisted into adulthood and left the photoreceptor‐interneuron synapses of the lamina without function. Finally, during adulthood TNT neither blocks synaptic transmission in photoreceptors nor depletes the cells of n‐Syb. Our study suggests a novel, cell type‐specific function of n‐Syb in synaptogenesis and it distinguishes between two synapse types: TNT resistant and TNT sensitive ones. These results need to be taken into account if TNT is used for neural circuit analysis. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol, 2006
Gβγ that interacts with adenylyl cyclase in opioid tolerance originates from a Gs protein
Authors: Wang Hoau‐Yan , Burns Lindsay H. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractWe previously demonstrated that chronic morphine induces a change in G protein coupling by the mu opioid receptor (MOR) from Gi/o to Gs, concurrent with the instatement of an interaction between Gβγ and adenylyl cyclase types II and IV. These two signaling changes confer excitatory effects on the cell in place of the typical inhibition by opioids and are associated with morphine tolerance and dependence. Both signaling changes and these behavioral manifestations of chronic morphine are attenuated by cotreatment with ultra‐low‐dose naloxone. In the present work, using striatum from chronic morphine‐treated rats, we isotyped the Gβ within Gs and Go heterotrimers that coupled to MOR and compared these to the Gβ isotype of the Gβγ that interacted with adenylyl cyclase II or IV after chronic morphine treatment. Isotyping results show that chronic morphine causes a Gs heterotrimer associated with MOR to release its Gβγ to interact with adenylyl cyclase. These data suggest that the switch to Gs coupling by MOR in response to chronic morphine, which is attenuated by ultra‐low‐dose opioid antagonist cotreatment, leads to a two‐pronged stimulation of adenylyl cyclase utilizing both Gα and Gβγ subunits of the Gs protein novel to this receptor. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol, 2006
Reduction in nerve growth factor availability leads to a conditioning lesion‐like effect in sympathetic neurons
Authors: Shoemaker S.E. , Sachs H. Hyatt , Vaccariello S.A. , Zigmond R.E. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractAxotomized peripheral neurons are capable of regeneration, and the rate of regeneration can be enhanced by a conditioning lesion (i.e., a lesion prior to the lesion after which neurite outgrowth is measured). A possible signal that could trigger the conditioning lesion effect is the reduction in availability of a target‐derived factor resulting from the disconnection of a neuron from its target tissue. We tested this hypothesis with respect to nerve growth factor (NGF) and sympathetic neurons by administering an antiserum to NGF to adult mice for 7 days prior to explantation or dissociation of the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) and subsequently measuring neurite outgrowth. The antiserum treatment dramatically lowered the concentration of NGF in the SCG and increased the rate of neurite outgrowth in both explants and cell cultures. The increase in neurite outgrowth was similar in magnitude to that seen after a conditioning lesion. To determine if exogenous NGF could block the effect of a conditioning lesion, mice were injected with NGF or cytochrome C immediately prior to unilateral axotomy of the SCG, and for 7 days thereafter. A conditioning lesion effect of similar magnitude was seen in NGF‐treated and control animals. While NGF treatment increased NGF levels in the contralateral control ganglion, it did not significantly elevate levels in the axotomized ganglion. The results suggest that the decreased availability of NGF after axotomy is a sufficient stimulus to induce the conditioning lesion effect in sympathetic neurons. While NGF administration did not prevent the conditioning lesion effect, this may be due to the markedly decreased ability of sympathetic neurons to accumulate the growth factor after axotomy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol, 2006
Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‐2 (TIMP‐2) regulates neuromuscular junction development via a β1 integrin‐mediated mechanism
Authors: Lluri Gentian , Langlois Garret D. , McClellan Brian , Soloway Paul D. , Jaworski Diane M. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractExtracellular matrix (ECM) molecules play critical roles in muscle function by participating in neuromuscular junction (NMJ) development and the establishment of stable, cytoskeleton‐associated adhesions required for muscle contraction. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are neutral endopeptidases that degrade all ECM components. While the role of MMPs and their inhibitors, the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), has been investigated in many tissues, little is known about their role in muscle development and mature function. TIMP‐2 −/− mice display signs of muscle weakness. Here, we report that TIMP‐2 is expressed at the NMJ and its expression is greater in fast‐twitch (extensor digitorum longus, EDL) than slow‐twitch (soleus) muscle. EDL muscle mass is reduced in TIMP‐2−/− mice without a concomitant change in fiber diameter or number. The TIMP‐2−/− phenotype is not likely due to increased ECM proteolysis because net MMP activity is actually reduced in TIMP‐2−/− muscle. Most strikingly, TIMP‐2 colocalizes with β1 integrin at costameres in the wild‐type EDL and β1 integrin expression is significantly reduced in TIMP‐2−/− EDL. We propose that reduced β1 integrin in fast‐twitch muscle may be associated with destabilized ECM‐cytoskeletal interactions required for muscle contraction in TIMP‐2−/− muscle; thus, explaining the muscle weakness. Given that fast‐twitch fibers are lost in muscular dystrophies and age‐related sarcopenia, if TIMP‐2 regulates mechanotransduction in an MMP‐independent manner it opens new potential therapeutic avenues. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol, 2006
Development of composites with recycled PET matrix
Authors: Ronkay F. , Czigány T. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractInjection molded composites with recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) matrices, reinforced with glass and basalt fiber were prepared, containing 15, 30 and 45 wt % fiber. Fiber fracture and the interaction of various fibers and the matrix were analyzed in the micro‐droplet test during processing. It was established that the basalt fibers, which are much cheaper than glass fibers improve substantially the tensile and flexural moduli without causing a significant decrease in the tensile and impact strength values. It was shown that the approximate critical fiber length calculated from the maximum pull‐out fiber length from the fracture surfaces differs from that determined by micro‐droplet tests. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Wettability and spectroscopic characterization of silylated wood samples
Authors: Mohammed‐Ziegler Ildikó , Hórvölgyi Zoltán , Tóth András , Forsling Willis , Holmgren Allan 
Published: September 2006

AbstractSurfaces of three European wood species (namely, English oak, Hungarian oak, and Scots pine) and two tropical wood species (namely, teak and cloves) were silylated with dichlorodimethylsilane (DDS), dichlorodiphenylsilane (DPS) and octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) in the first step, and with chlorotrimethylsilane (CTMS) as a monofunctional reagent in a second step. Attenuated total reflection‐Fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FT‐IR) and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) measurements were performed in order to characterize the surface composition of the treated samples. The progress of surface modification was also monitored by contact angle measurements of different test liquids (water, formamide and diiodomethane). The water contact angles were found to be in the range of 80° to 145°. The most hydrophobic surface was obtained by two‐step silylation by OTS and CTMS (water contact angles were between 131° and 140°). Interestingly, the hydrophobicity of DDS‐treated samples showed a significant decrease after additional silylation by CTMS. The surface free energy values were evaluated in terms of the Lifshitz‐van der Waals/acid‐base theory. The results obtained by the surface analytical methods (i.e. FT‐IR and ESCA measurements) were compared with the contact angle data. These results suggest that in the case of DDS‐treated samples, CTMS molecules substitute partly the DDS molecules, thus only physisorption of the silylating agents is supposed at room temperature. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Advanced surface modification of ultra‐high molecular weight poly(ethylene) by helium plasma immersion ion implantation
Authors: Tóth A. , Mohai M. , Ujvári T. , Bertóti I. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractPlasma immersion ion implantation is an emerging, versatile, relatively simple and cost‐effective surface modification technique, alternative to conventional ion implantation. With this method even irregularly shaped objects can be uniformly treated, enhancing thus their surface properties. Ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene is a principal biomaterial currently used in total joint arthroplasty, the wear of which and in particular the wear debris induced osteolysis is the main cause of the premature failure of the hip joint prostheses.In order to improve the wear resistance of ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene, in this work it was surface treated by plasma immersion ion implantation in helium. Process parameters like acceleration voltage, fluence and fluence rate were varied systematically. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy was applied to monitor the surface chemical changes. Alterations induced in the surface mechanical and wear properties like hardness, reduced modulus and volume loss were determined by nanoindentation and multipass wear test measurements. The results demonstrate that the applied treatment can significantly modify the surface chemical and nanomechanical properties and increase the wear resistance of ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flame retardancy of epoxy resin with phosphorus‐containing reactive amine and clay minerals
Authors: Toldy A. , Tóth N. , Anna P. , Keglevich Gy. , Kiss K. , Marosi Gy. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractFlame retardant effect of newly synthesized phosphorus‐containing reactive amine, which can be used both as crosslinking agent in epoxy resins and as flame retardant, was explored. The effect of montmorillonite and sepiolite additives on thermal stability and flame retardancy was compared in the epoxy resin matrix. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Novel dually responsive hydrogel with rapid deswelling rate
Authors: Xiang Yuan‐Qing , Zhang Yan , Chen Da‐Jun 
Published: September 2006

AbstractHydrogels based on 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), methacrylic acid (MAA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) were prepared by free radical polymerization. The prepared hydrogels were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The states of water in the hydrogels were probed using differential scanning calorimetry and three types of water (free, freezing bound and non‐freezing bound) were detected, the contents of which were calculated. Compared with conventional poly(HEMA‐co‐MAA) hydrogels, the deswelling rate of the poly(HEMA‐co‐PEGMA‐co‐MAA) hydrogels is significantly improved, owing to the introduction of PEGMA. The deswelling process can be well described with a first‐order kinetics equation. Moreover, the swelling ratio of poly(HEMA‐co‐PEGMA‐co‐MAA) hydrogels exhibits a temperature dependence. Based on the analysis of the components of the hydrogels, a brushed core/shell structure is proposed for these, and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy observations. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Kinetic modeling of controlled living microemulsion polymerizations that use reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer
Authors: Hermanson Kevin D. , Liu Shiyong , Kaler Eric W. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractReversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization is a useful technique for the formation of polymers with controlled architectures and molecular weights. However, when used in the polymerization of microemulsions, RAFT agents are only able to control the polymer molecular weight only at high RAFT concentrations. Here, a kinetic model describing RAFT microemulsion polymerizations is derived that predicts the reaction rates, molecular weight polydispersities, and particle size. The model predicts that at low RAFT concentrations, the RAFT agent will be consumed early in the reaction and that this will result in uncontrolled polymerization in particles nucleated late in the reaction. The higher molecular weight polydispersity that is observed in RAFT microemulsion polymerizations is the result of this uncontrolled polymerization. The model also predicts a shift in the conversion at which the maximum reaction rate occurs and a decrease in the particle size with increasing RAFT concentration. Both of these trends are also consistent with those observed experimentally. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6055–6070, 2006
Synthesis and self‐assembly morphologies of amphiphilic multiblock copolymers [poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐polystyrene]n via trithiocarbonate‐embedded PEO macro‐RAFT agent
Authors: Jia Zhongfan , Xu Xuewei , Fu Qiang , Huang Junlian 
Published: September 2006

AbstractAn amphiphilic multiblock copolymer [poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐polystyrene]n [(PEO‐b‐PS)n] is synthesized by using trithiocarbonate‐embedded PEO as macro‐RAFT agent. PEO with four inserted trithiocarbonate (Mn = 9200 and Mw/Mn = 1.62) groups is prepared first by condensation of α, ω‐dihydroxyl poly(ethylene oxide) with S, S′‐Bis(α, α′‐dimethyl‐α″‐acetic acid)‐trithiocarbonate (BDATC) in the presence of pyridine, then a series of goal copolymers with different St units (varied from 25 to 218 per segment) are obtained by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The synthesis process is monitored by size exclusion chromatography (SEC), 1H NMR and FT‐IR. The self‐assembled morphologies of the copolymers are strongly dependent of the length of PS block chains when the chain length of PEO is fixed, some new morphologies as large leaf‐like aggregates (LLAs), large octopus‐like aggregates (LOAs), and coarse‐grain like micelles (CGMs) are observed besides some familiar aggregates as large compound vesicles (LCVs), lamellae and rods, and the effect of water content on the morphologies is also discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6071–6082, 2006
Synthesis of well‐defined macromonomers by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization and a click reaction
Authors: Liu Qingchun , Chen Yongming 
Published: September 2006

AbstractThis article presents a new strategy for synthesizing a series of well‐defined macromonomers. Bromine‐terminated polystyrene and poly(t‐butyl acrylate) with predetermined molecular weights and narrow distributions were prepared through the atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene and t‐butyl acrylate initiated with ethyl 2‐bromoisobutyrate. Then, azido‐terminated polymers were obtained through the bromine substitution reaction with sodium azide. Catalyzed by CuBr/N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine, the azido end group reacted with propargyl methacrylate via a 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction, and ω‐methacryloyl‐functionalized macromonomers were thus obtained. The end‐group transformation yields were rather high, as characterized by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectra and 1H NMR analysis. By this effective and facile approach, some novel macromonomers that otherwise are difficult to achieve, such as poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐polystyrene, were easily prepared. Radical homopolymerizations of these macromonomers were performed, and a series of comb polymers were prepared. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6103–6113, 2006
Synthesis, photoluminescence, and electrochromic properties of wholly aromatic polyamides bearing naphthylamine chromophores
Authors: Liou Guey‐Sheng , Yen Hung‐Ju 
Published: September 2006

AbstractA series of novel polyamides with pendent naphthylamine units having inherent viscosities of 0.15–1.02 dL/g were prepared via direct phosphorylation polycondensation from various diamines and a naphthylamine‐based aromatic dicarboxylic acid, 1‐[N,N‐di(4‐carboxyphenyl)amino]naphthalene. These amorphous polyamides were readily soluble in various organic solvents and could be cast into transparent and tough films. The aromatic polyamides had useful levels of thermal stability associated with high glass‐transition temperatures (268–355 °C), 10% weight loss temperatures in excess of 480 °C, and char yields at 800 °C in nitrogen higher than 60%. These polymers showed maximum ultraviolet–visible absorption at 350–358 nm and exhibited fluorescence emission maxima around 435–458 nm in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone solutions with fluorescence quantum yields ranging from 0.4 to 15.0%. The hole‐transporting and electrochromic properties were examined with electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods. Cyclic voltammograms of the polyamide films cast onto an indium tin oxide coated glass substrate exhibited one oxidative redox couple around 1.08–1.16 V (oxidation onset potential) versus Ag/AgCl in an acetonitrile solution and revealed good stability of the electrochromic characteristics, with a color change from colorless to green at applied potentials ranging from 0 to 1.6 V. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6094–6102, 2006
3D crystal growth model for understanding the role of plasma pre‐treatment on CVD diamond crystal shape
Authors: Silva F. , Achard J. , Bonnin X. , Michau A. , Tallaire A. , Brinza O. , Gicquel A. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractThe progress that has been achieved over the past few years on the growth of thick and high purity homo‐epitaxial single crystal diamond by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) has opened a wide range of possible applications in areas such as optics or power electronics. Recently, high quality single crystals were produced at LIMHP with growth rates close to 20 µm/h using relatively high microwave power density, both in continuous and pulsed mode [1, 2]. However, these results are conditioned by the use of an in‐situ etching of the diamond substrate prior to growth using a H2/O2 plasma. This pre‐treatment results in better and smoother morphologies of the homoepitaxial diamond layer [3] compared to growth on an untreated substrate. Moreover, the initial quality of the diamond substrate was demonstrated to be critical for the final morphology of the CVD epitaxial film. Still, the impact of surface defects on the initial diamond substrate and the role of the pre‐treatment on the final morphology of the grown film remained partially unclear. Indeed, diamond homoepitaxial growth on untreated substrates leads to unexpected morphology and geometry of the crystal. To explain these observations, a 3D purely geometrical growth model has been developed, involving the growth rate of (100), (111), as well as (110) and (113) faces. The model provi‐ des a consistent explanation of the substrate pre‐treatment effect on the growth and morphology of the crystal. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Theoretical studies on 〈100〉 dislocations in single crystal CVD diamond
Authors: Fujita N. , Blumenau A. T. , Jones R. , Öberg S. , Briddon P. R. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractDislocations are common defects in both natural as well as in CVD‐grown diamond. Recent advances in the growth of high quality single crystal CVD diamond have led to an increased interest in the atomistic and electronic structure of 〈100〉 dislocations. These dislocations are observed as mixed‐type 45° and pure edge dislocations. Hence in this work we present ab initio modelling studies on these two types of dislocations. The 45° dislocation is found to be by far more stable than the pure edge and both dislocations lead to states in the electronic band gap. An alternative structure for the mixed‐type dislocation, which is not straight but kinked and consists of short edge and screw segments, was found slightly higher in energy than the straight structure. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)