bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A 6‐month, open‐label study of memantine in patients with frontotemporal dementia
Authors: Diehl‐Schmid Janine , Förstl Hans , Perneczky Robert , Pohl Corina , Kurz Alexander 
Published: January 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate safety and effects on cognition and behavior of memantine 20 mg/day in the treatment of patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).MethodsThis was a single‐center, 6‐month, open, uncontrolled study. Sixteen outpatients with a diagnosis of FTD were enrolled.ResultsOn the CIBIC plus 26 weeks after baseline four of the 16 patients were minimally improved, four were unchanged, seven were minimally worse and one patient was moderately worse. Neither the Neuropsychiatric Inventory nor the Frontal Behavioral Inventory demonstrated statistically significant differences in behavior between baseline and final visit. There was an increase in the total Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale score, reflecting a decline in cognitive performance. Executive functions as well as activities of daily living and extrapyramidal motor symptoms (EPMS) remained unchanged during the trial.ConclusionThe number of patients was small, so that the evidence given by statistical tests is limited. Thus, the present study can only show trends regarding drug effects. As memantine is well‐tolerated, further randomized and controlled studies should be conducted to evaluate drug efficacy. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Trismus in patients with oropharyngeal cancer: Relationship with dose in structures of mastication apparatus
Authors: Teguh David N. , Levendag Peter C. , Voet Peter , van der Est Henri , Noever Inge , de Kruijf Willy , van Rooij Peter , Schmitz Paul I. M. , Heijmen Ben J. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractBackgroundOur aim was to assess the correlation between the radiation therapy (RT) dose to the mastication apparatus and trismus of oropharyngeal cancer patients.MethodsEighty‐one patients treated with RT were analyzed. The masseter, pterygoid, and temporalis muscles and the coronoid and condyl were delineated on axial CT slices. The mean dose in these structures was correlated with outcome of quality of life questionnaires.ResultsFifty‐six (88%) patients responded; 16% of the patients scored grade 3/4 on the Head & Neck 35 “opening mouth” question. A significant correlation was observed between dose in masseter and pterygoid muscles and trismus (p = .02).ConclusionPatients treated with brachytherapy received a lower dose in masticatory muscles. A steep dose‐effect relationship between mean dose in masseter muscle and pterygoid muscles and the probability of having trismus complaints was observed; with every additional 10 Gy to the pterygoid muscle, an increase of the probability of trismus of 24% was observed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2008
A reactive bond orbital investigation of the Diels‐Alder reaction between 1,3‐butadiene and ethylene: Energy decomposition, state correlation diagram, and electron density analyses
Authors: Hirao Hajime 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe reactive bond orbital (RBO) method (Hirao, Chem Phys Lett 2007, 443, 141) is extended and applied to the Diels‐Alder reaction between 1,3‐butadiene and ethylene, with the aim of understanding the nature of their interaction. The roles of distortion, electrostatic, exchange, polarization, and charge transfer (CT) interaction energies at the transition state of the reaction are evaluated by means of RBO energy decomposition analysis. The effects of the hypothetical interactions on electron density redistribution are also identified by analysis based on the RBO method. CT is shown to play essential roles in the new bond formation between the reacting molecules and their internal bond order alterations. However, each of the CT interactions from butadiene to ethylene and from ethylene to butadiene does not necessarily contribute to the bond‐order alteration process effectively. A state correlation diagram approach based on the RBO method is also proposed, and its usefulness in understanding the origin of the barrier in the Diels‐Alder reaction is demonstrated. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2008
Antibacterial and Hemolytic Activities of Quaternary Pyridinium Functionalized Polynorbornenes
Authors: Eren Tarik , Som Abhigyan , Rennie Jason R. , Nelson Christopher F. , Urgina Yelena , Nüsslein Klaus , Coughlin E. Bryan , Tew Gregory N. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractIn this study, amphiphilic polyoxanorbornene with different quaternary alkyl pyridinium side chains were synthesized. The biological efficiencies of these polymers, with various alkyl substituents, were determined by bacterial growth inhibition assays and hemolytic activity (HC50) against human red blood cells (RBCs) to provide selectivity of these polymers for bacterial over mammalian cells. A series of polymers with different alkyl substituents (ethyl, butyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl and phenylethyl) and two different molecular weights (3 and 10 kDa) were prepared. The impact of alkyl chain length divided the biological activity into two different cases: those with an alkyl substituent containing four or fewer carbons had a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 200 µg · mL−1 and a HC50 greater than 1 650 µg · mL−1, while those with six or more carbons had lower MICs ≤ 12.5 µg · mL−1 and HC50 ≤ 250 µg · mL−1. Using MSI‐78, the potent Magainin derivative which has an MIC = 12.0 µg · mL−1 and HC50 = 120 µg · mL−1, as a comparison, the polymers with alkyl substituents ≤C4 (four carbons) were not very potent, but did show selectivity values greater than or equal to MSI‐78. In contrast, those with alkyl substituents ≥C6 were as potent, or more potent, than MSI‐78 and in three specific cases demonstrated selectivity values similar to, or better than, MSI‐78. To understand if these polymers were membrane active, polymer induced lipid membrane disruption activities were evaluated by dye leakage experiments. Lipid composition and polymer hydrophobicity were found to be important factors for dye release.magnified image
Trends in Polyolefin Chemistry
Authors: Kaminsky Walter 
Published: January 2008

AbstractPolyolefins have grown faster in recent years than many other polymers. The production of poly(propylene) increased rapidly when it was possible to optimize the isotacticity of the polymer chain. New fields for future polymer sciences are the defined short and long chain branched polyolefins, block copolymers by chain shuttling, living and emulsion polymerization, and polyolefin nanocomposite materials. These research fields will create polymers with new and specific properties and applications in the near future. Compared to the formation of polymers in nature, the possibilities are today very limited for the synthetic chemistry. Especially, there are great deficits in tailoring the microstructure of copolymers with two or more monomers in a well defined way. It will be a great challenge to solve this problem but then it opens up exciting advantages.magnified image
Factors Effecting the Performance of Montmorillonite/Magnesium Hydroxide/Poly(propylene) Ternary Composites, 1
Authors: Bagheri Rouhollah , Liauw Christopher M. , Allen Norman S. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractA two‐level factorial experimental design was used to examine the combined effects of o‐MMT gallery polarity, surface modification of MDH, MA‐g‐PP and antioxidant addition, together with processing variables, on the burning behaviour and thermal stability of ternary composites based on PP, MDH and o‐MMT. Regression equations highlighted the detrimental effect of o‐MMT intercalants and possible improvement in the dispersion of o‐MMT at higher MDH levels. A polar gallery environment (providing quat OH groups) led to increased char formation, and MA‐g‐PP combined with o‐MMT led to a higher oxidation onset temperature. Addition of o‐MMT to PP/MDH composites can lead to a reduction in the level of MDH required for effective flame retardation.magnified image
Deeper Insight into Structures of Modified AEROSIL Particles Synthesized via Conventional Heating and Microwave Heating
Authors: Nothdurft Lars , Glück Tobias , Dempwolf Wibke , Schmidt‐Naake Gudrun 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe contribution deals with the comparison of microwave heating and conventional oil bath heating. Silicon dioxide nanoparticles were grafted with MPTMS under acid conditions. Those particles contain a polysiloxane shell with physically adsorbed and chemically bound fractions which can be separated by Soxhlet extraction. The resulting fractions were analyzed with TGA and MALDI‐TOF MS; one to determine the amount of physically adsorbed and chemically bound fractions and the other to get deeper insight into the polysiloxane structures. Furthermore, it was our aim to clarify which fraction can be visualized using MALDI‐TOF MS. Our results show that the ratio of chemically bound MPTMS is higher when using microwave heating, but the same structures in the physically adsorbed fraction were built in both cases.magnified image
Peculiar ‘Reptational’ Movements of Single Synthetic Polymer Chains on Substrate Observed by AFM
Authors: Kumaki Jiro , Kawauchi Takehiro , Yashima Eiji 
Published: January 2008

AbstractPeculiar ‘reptational’ movements of isotactic PMMA chains on mica are observed by in situ AFM. The polymer molecules comprise long flexible chains that exhibit reptative, or snake‐like, motion on the substrate along the direction of the polymer chain. Intriguingly, some chains underwent forward then backward motion in which the head of the chain moved in a curvilinear manner along the previous contours of the polymer chain. No limitation in the direction of movement for the ends of the polymer chain was anticipated based on an assumed reptational mechanism. As a result, the chains recovered a conformation that had been adopted prior to the initial movement. Several factors that may affect the movement are discussed.magnified image
A phenylenevinylene‐thiophene‐phenyleneethynylene copolymer: synthesis, characterization, and photovoltaic properties
Authors: Zou Yingping , Tan Zhan'ao , Huo Lijun , Li Yongfang 
Published: January 2008

AbstractA phenylenevinylene‐thiophene‐phenyleneethynylene copolymer, poly{[1′,4′‐bis‐(thienyl‐vinyl)]‐2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene‐vinylene‐alt‐1,4‐dioctyloxyl‐phenyleneethynylene}(PTPPV‐ PPE), was synthesized by the Sonogashira Pd‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reaction. The copolymer possesses higher thermal decomposition temperature (Td = 382°C) compared with poly{[1′,4′‐bis‐ (thienyl‐vinyl)]‐2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene‐vinylene} (PTPPV). The absorption and photoluminescence (PL) peaks of PTPPV‐PPE solution and solid film locate in between those of the homopolymers of PTPPV and poly(1,4‐dioctyloxyl‐phenyleneethynylene) (PPE), and closer to that of PTPPV. Photovoltaic cell was fabricated based on the blend of PTPPV‐PPE and PCBM with a weight ratio of 1:1. The primary result shows an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.72 V which is higher than that of the PTPPV (0.67 V), and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.3% under the illumination of AM1.5, 100 mW/cm2 which is much better than that of PPEs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lymphadenopathy as the primary manifestation of malignant transformation in two patients with severe congenital neutropenia
Authors: Gamper Christopher J. , Takemoto Clifford M. , Schowinsky Jeffrey , Borowitz Michael J. , Horwitz Marshall S. , Strouse John J. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractWe present the cases of two patients with severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) who both developed generalized adenopathy. Although both had recent histories that placed infection high on the differential of causes for the adenopathy, biopsies demonstrated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) as the etiology. The risk of malignant transformation in SCN is known to be significantly elevated, and these cases illustrate the need for physicians of such patients to keep myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and AML high on the differential when patients manifest atypical symptoms. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:1072–1075. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of small molecule plasticizer on the coordination crosslinking reaction between acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber and copper sulfate
Authors: Yuan Xiaofang , Shen Fei , Wu Guozhang , Wu Chifei 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe effects of small molecule plasticizer of liquid acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber (LNBR) on coordination crosslinking reaction between acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber (NBR) and copper sulfate (CuSO4) were investigated. Attenuated total reflectance infrared (ATR‐IR), curing curves analysis, equilibrium swelling method, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile test, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used in this work. The ATR‐IR analysis showed that the peak of restricted CN is more explicit in NBR/CuSO4/LNBR system. The curing curve analysis showed that NBR/CuSO4/LNBR has higher torque. The results of equilibrium swelling method and DSC displayed that NBR/CuSO4/LNBR has higher crosslink density and glass transition temperature, respectively. And NBR/CuSO4/LNBR has stronger tensile strength and longer elongation at break from tensile test. SEM revealed the reasons that the NBR/CuSO4/LNBR has better mechanical properties. All the results showed that addition of an amount of LNBR to NBR/CuSO4 system could accelerate the coordination crosslinking reaction between NBR and CuSO4. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers
The effects of curing cycles on properties of the epoxy system 3221/RH glass fabric composites
Authors: Xuhui Hong , Youqing Hua 
Published: January 2008

AbstractIn this work, the epoxy system 3221 and its glass fabric laminates were thermally cured under different curing temperatures. The curing degree of the resin was increased with elevated reaction temperature. Dynamic mechanical analysis was performed on the laminate coupons and glass transition temperature (Tg) and relative stiffness (E′) of composites were measured before and after soaked in distilled water at 70°C. A shift in glass transition temperature to higher values and the splitting of the tan δ curve were observed with extent of cure under dry conditions. Tg values shifted to lower temperatures after immersion. Under wet condition, the change in Tg1 was very small when the curing degree was up to 96%. The relative stiffness experienced a reduction both in initial modulus and the initial sharp drop temperature after immersion. It also suggested that the excessively high curing temperature (>130°C) had a negative effect on the retention of relative stiffness under wet condition. Both the interlaminar shear strength and dielectric properties of laminates were determined before and after immersion. The compared results demonstrated that the elevated curing temperature played a good influence on both of the properties before aged. However, for samples cured above 130°C, lower retention of interlaminar shear strength and poor dielectric properties were observed during immersion due to their higher moisture contents. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers
Microstructure changes in poly(ethylene terephthalate) in thick specimens under complex biaxial loading
Authors: Marco Yann , Chevalier Luc 
Published: January 2008

AbstractWe present an experimental investigation into the strain‐induced crystalline microstructure, under biaxial elongation in Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The aim of our study is to achieve both mechanical tests representative from the blow‐moulding process, and micro‐ structural measurements. We therefore examine how the microstructure of a polymer subjected to a complex strain field evolves in terms of its crystalline ratio, its molecular orientation and the size of its crystallites. PET injection‐moulded thick specimens were subjected to bi‐axial elongation tests, both equibiaxial and sequential, using several elongation speeds, draw ratios and temperatures (above and close to Tg). The strain field was determined using a home‐developed image correlation technique that allowed us to identify all the strain components at each point of the specimen, even when the strain field was not homogeneous. After the completion of the strain path, the specimens were either quenched at room temperature or cooled down very quickly using liquid nitrogen, in order to dissociate the contribution of stretching from that of relaxation. Microstructure observations were achieved by means of differential densimetry and WAXD (Wide Angle X‐ray Diffraction) using a synchrotron beam. The results obtained confirm the strong link between the stress tensor and the crystals orientation and the crucial influence of molecular orientation on final microstructure (crystalinity ratio, crystals morphology). POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers
Palladium‐mediated polymerization of cyclic diazoketones
Authors: Ihara Eiji , Hiraren Toshimitsu , Itoh Tomomichi , Inoue Kenzo 
Published: January 2008

AbstractPalladium‐mediated polymerization of cyclic diazoketones was investigated. Although cyclic diazoketones 1a,b derived from cyclohexanone and 1‐tetralone did not homopolymerize, they can be used as a comonomer for copolymerization with polymerizable acyclic diazoketones. On the other hand, an α,β‐unsaturated cyclic diazoketone 2a prepared from 2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one polymerized to give a polymer poly2a′ with Mn = 1400 in a 23.8% yield. Addition of some nucleophiles to CC bond in poly2a′ was carried out. Copolymerization of 2a and its dimethyl‐substituted analogues 2b,c with acyclic diazoketones was also investigated. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1638–1648, 2008
Functionalization and molecular dynamics study of carboxy‐terminated poly(1‐vinylpyrrolidin‐2‐one): A potential soluble carrier of biomolecules
Authors: Baldoli Clara , Oldani Claudio , Maiorana Stefano , Ferruti Paolo , Ranucci Elisabetta , Bencini Marco , Contini Alessandro 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe reactivity of carboxy‐terminated poly(1‐vinylpyrrolidin‐2‐one) (PVP‐COOH) 40‐mers 1 with various small bi‐functionalized molecules has been investigated. A number of new differently functionalized PVP 3–11 have been successfully obtained demonstrating that the presence of the bulky PVP chain did not hamper the reactivity of the carboxy group. This would imply that in solution the carboxyl group is not buried inside the coil, but well exposed to the solvent, as further confirmed by a molecular dynamics conformational study. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1683–1698, 2008
Divergent synthesis and self‐assembly of amphiphilic polymeric dendrons with selective degradable linkages
Authors: Urbani Carl N. , Lonsdale Daria E. , Bell Craig A. , Whittaker Michael R. , Monteiro Michael J. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractEnhancing the structural complexity and functionality of the building blocks allows the construction of supramolecular assemblies. In this work, we demonstrate a strategy for the design and synthesis of complex macromolecular architectures. We use atom transfer radical polymerization to produce well‐defined polymers with telechelic end‐group functionality, and “click” them together to form functional 3rd generation dendrons, and incorporated degradable linkages and certain functionality at the polymer chain‐ends of each generation. The 3rd generation polymeric dendrons consisted of homopolymer polystyrene (PSTY) with either four solketals or eight alcohols, diblock PSTY and poly(t‐butyl acrylate), and amphiphilic diblock. The peripheral ends consisting of alcohols create functionalization points for further chemical modification or chemical coupling and the cleavable linkages between the 2nd and 3rd generations all provide the first steps toward smart nanostructures. Importantly, we can synthesize these dendrons in pure form. The self‐assembly of the amphiphilic dendrons (the inner and outer generations consisting of PSTY and polyacrylic acid, respectively) in water produced micelles of uniform size with an aggregation number of 43 dendrons per micelle. The size of the micelles was small (DH =20.7 nm) and comparable to the size found by transmission electron microscopy (14–18 nm). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1533–1547, 2008
A couples intervention for patients facing advanced cancer and their spouse caregivers: outcomes of a pilot study
Authors: McLean Linda M. , Jones Jennifer M. , Rydall Anne C. , Walsh Andrew , Esplen Mary Jane , Zimmermann Camilla , Rodin Gary M. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractObjective: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a couples intervention in improving marital functioning in advanced cancer patients and their spouse caregivers. A secondary objective was to determine its impact on other symptoms of psychosocial distress and its feasibility and acceptability as a clinical intervention.Methods: Using a one‐arm pre‐ and post‐intervention prospective design, 16 couples were provided 8 weekly sessions of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy, modified and manualized for the cancer population. Subjects' marital functioning (Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale [RDAS]), symptoms of depression (Beck Depression Inventory‐II [BDI‐II]), and hopelessness (Beck Hopelessness Scale) were assessed through self‐report at T0 (baseline), T1 (after four sessions), T2 (after eight sessions), and T3 (3 months post‐intervention follow‐up).Results: RDAS scores improved from T0 to T2, with 87.5% of the couples showing some improvement (0.5–5 points) or significant improvement (>5 points) in marital functioning and 68.8% scoring in the non‐distressed range (⩾48 RDAS). At T3, 60% of the couples (n=15) continued to score in the non‐distressed range on the RDAS. BDI‐II scores were significantly higher for patients than for caregivers. There was a significant reduction in the mean BDI‐II score from T0 to T3 in all subjects (n=30). This reduction was more significant for the patients (n=15).Conclusions: Providing support to couples at this challenging time may result in improved marital functioning and an opportunity for relational growth during end‐stage cancer. This study serves as the first step in the development of an empirically validated intervention for couples. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.